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Three things hurt India considerably in the three-match spin-fest at the Premadasa: their luck at the toss, their execution of the sweep, and their resource deployment

Sidharth Monga09-Aug-2024India have just lost an ODI series in what can objectively be termed pretty extreme conditions. In no bilateral ODI series of three matches or fewer have so many wickets fallen to spin: 43 out of 54, which also includes three run-outs, leaving just eight for the quicks. Only once has more spin been employed in a three-match ODI series, back in 1997-98 when Zimbabwe toured Sri Lanka.ESPNcricinfo LtdHaving not won an ODI series against India since 1997, having lost the T20Is 3-0, Sri Lanka took a calculated risk. They were missing a handful of their first-choice quicks because of injuries, and did what they needed to do to make the ODIs competitive. They prepared pitches that would offer appreciable turn and natural variation to spin bowlers, and enjoyed a bit of luck in winning all three tosses and getting the best of batting conditions.At any other venue, batting first in a day-night game is fraught with danger because dew can handicap spinners in the evening, but this is where the R Premedasa Stadium’s history is worth knowing. There was a time not long ago when it used to be impossible to chase in day-night matches at this venue, dew or no dew. The stadium was built in low-lying marshy land, and the underlying moisture would come up to the surface of the pitch in the evening, giving fast bowlers a significant advantage.Related

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In the decade before the 2011 World Cup, 32 of the 45 day-night matches at the Premadasa were won by sides winning the toss. Before that World Cup, though, the playing surface was raised by three-and-a-half feet, and it did the trick. Sri Lanka chased successfully in their quarter-final and semi-final. The relevance of this history lesson now is that if you make a dry track, you need not worry about it getting better to bat on with the evening moisture or dew playing a significant role.Sri Lanka got their strategy right, had the rub of the green, and bowled superbly despite India getting off to three quick starts, thanks almost exclusively to Rohit Sharma, and defeated a side that had gone unbeaten through last year’s World Cup before the final, and one that had been dominating Sri Lanka in recent years.ESPNcricinfo LtdWe don’t have the HawkEye data to back it up, but the commentators suggested that it turned more and more as the matches progressed, and it does bear out in the batters’ output against spin. However, there seems to have been a clear difference between the sides in terms of approach. Sri Lanka seemed to be more conservative against spin while India looked to attack them more. It gave India a slightly better scoring rate but hurt them significantly with the wickets lost.In his analysis of his team’s batting, Rohit made an interesting point. He said India didn’t play the sweep shot as often or as well as Sri Lanka did. His observation was spot-on on both counts. Not only did Sri Lanka employ the various varieties of sweep more often, they also fared much better when they did. There is a good reason why India didn’t try it as often: they a lost a wicket on every fifth attempt.ESPNcricinfo LtdIf played well, the sweep brings more than just the immediate runs scored. It makes the fielding captain defend more areas of the field, opening up spaces elsewhere. That is particularly true if you play the reverse-sweep well. The threat of the reverse-sweep can force captains to deploy a deep point and open up the extra-cover region. It also messes with the spinners’ length.Historically, India haven’t been the greatest of sweepers. Improving on all kinds of sweep was the endeavour when Rahul Dravid and Rohit led the side. As with all things, there is a delicate balance: you improve on this new shot but don’t disregard your traditional strength, which is to get to the pitch of the ball or go right back. That India weren’t excellent on that front in this series is something that will concern them, especially Virat Kohli, who was twice caught on the front foot without getting anywhere close to the ball, giving him little chance to recover against the ball that didn’t turn.ESPNcricinfo LtdThese numbers don’t automatically make India a poor team against spin. Over the same period since 2019, India have the best average against spin in ODIs and only England and South Africa have scored quicker than them. Nor do those numbers necessarily make them the best batting unit against spin. It probably suggests that when there is appreciable assistance for spinners, India perhaps don’t do enough to force the opposition bowlers out of their comfort zones. This is something Rohit has said India will continue to work on.The one other thing that stood about India’s series loss was their less-than-optimal use of bowling resources. Even that possibly came down to their obsession with keeping a seam-bowling allrounder ready should Hardik Pandya not be available. That is possibly why they persisted with Shivam Dube through the series when the conditions called for a spin-bowling allrounder in Riyan Parag. Sri Lanka’s spinners, then, not only fared better but also bowled a lot more than India’s: 81.1% of their team’s overs to India’s 65.3. Some of this might have been down to there being more assistance for spinners in the second innings but the make-up of India’s XI perhaps also had something to do with their willingness to pay a short-term price for what they believe is a long-term pursuit.

The Nagpur Test against Australia was the most recent example of India’s lower-order scoring invaluable runs to win the game

Karthik Krishnaswamy13-Feb-20232:58

Chopra: Jadeja currently the best Test allrounder in the world

For two-thirds of the second day of the Nagpur Test, Australia seemed to channel the spirit of India’s bowlers from the Bengaluru Test of 2017.In Bengaluru, India had been bowled out for 189 on day one and by stumps had slipped further, by allowing Australia to get away to a strong start. Then they had regrouped and turned in a bowling display of remarkable discipline to begin the process that culminated in one of India’s greatest-ever comeback wins.In Nagpur, Australia were bowled out for 177 on day one, and by stumps had bowled loosely and let India’s top order get away to a quick start. Then they regrouped at the start of day two, tightened their lines and lengths, and chipped away at the wickets.Related

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• Will Starc play in Delhi? Boland happy to make it tough for the selectors

In Bengaluru, India reduced Australia to 269 for 7. In Nagpur, Australia did even better, reducing India to 240 for 7.At this point, the trajectories of the two Test matches, so tightly entwined this far, decided to go their separate ways. In Bengaluru, India bowled Australia out for 276. In Nagpur, Australia ran into Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.If this were a videogame, India had keyed in their cheat code.Jadeja and Axar put on 88. In home Tests since the start of 2021, it was India’s 11th partnership of 50 or more for the seventh wicket or below. Axar and Mohammed Shami would then go on to make it 12, adding 52 for the ninth wicket.In this time, no other team has had nearly as many 50-plus lower-order stands at home as India, with England and Pakistan a distant second with eight each. Four of India’s 12 50-plus lower-order stands, meanwhile, have gone on to breach the century mark. Only one other team, Sri Lanka, has had as many as two.Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja added 88 for the eighth wicket in Nagpur•BCCIThe most remarkable thing about India’s lower-order interventions in home Tests is how frequent they’ve been. The 50-plus stands have come at the rate of nearly one every four partnerships; New Zealand are next best, with one in 7.33 partnerships adding 50 or more.It’s always been a facet of home advantage in Test cricket that the lower orders of home teams tend to perform better than those of the visiting team. Lower-order batters tend not to have all-weather techniques, and they are likelier as a result to contribute with runs and stickability in familiar conditions. At home, moreover, they face bowling attacks who are less suited to the conditions than the home attack.Over their decade of dominance at home, India have almost always had strong lower orders. Jadeja, R Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha, for instance, were heavy contributors to their four series wins in the 13-Test 2016-17 season. Australia will remember Saha’s century in Ranchi, where he and Cheteshwar Pujara turned a situation of parity into one of overwhelming Indian dominance, and the Saha-Jadeja partnership in Dharamsala that put India’s noses ahead in a tense struggle for the first-innings spoils.Since the start of the home Test series against England in early 2021, however, India’s lower order has gone to another level in home Tests. Jadeja sat out that series with an injury, but Axar made his debut, and Washington Sundar, who had made two key lower-order contributions in his debut Test just before this series, at the Gabba, also featured.India profited from five 50-plus lower-order stands in that series, and four of them stretched to 80 or beyond. Washington and Ashwin were involved in three each, and Axar in one, an eighth-wicket century stand in Ahmedabad.Axar’s lethal bowling in that series turned him into a near-certain pick in home Tests. With Axar joining Jadeja and Ashwin, India now had three frontline spinners who were also genuine allrounders in home conditions, with one of them, Jadeja, a genuine allrounder anywhere in the world.This meant India could pick all three in nearly every home Test without worrying about their batting, and still play two fast bowlers.R Ashwin has five Test hundreds•BCCISince the start of 2021, India’s spin-bowling allrounders have terrific records at home. Washington and Jadeja average over 60 – they’ve played only three and four home Tests in this period, respectively – Axar 31.22, and Ashwin 28.38.This has made winning in India, already the hardest task for away teams in Test cricket, even harder.As Nagpur showed, lower-order contributions have knock-on effects that go beyond just runs added. From seven down, India added 160 runs to their total, and extended their innings by 56.2 overs.All those extra overs of wear and tear meant Australia batted on a more challenging pitch than they would have if they’d run through India’s lower order quickly. All those extra overs in the field meant Australia’s batters played on a more challenging pitch with tired legs and tired minds.Over the course of a four-Test series, all those extra overs bowled are extra workloads for bowlers to recover from. Australia played a four-man attack in Nagpur, and they may have to do so again in Delhi if Cameron Green isn’t fully fit to perform his all-round duties.All the lower-order contributions have had another effect too – they’ve moved the spotlight away from India’s top-order issues. Since the start of 2021, both Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli have home averages in the 20s, and have looked far less assured against spin than they did in their pomp. KL Rahul’s only played one Test in this period, but he’s facing scrutiny over his form too. Their two most consistent middle-order contributors in home conditions in recent months, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, both missed the Nagpur Test with injury. Pant is out for the entire series, and possibly the rest of the year too, and it isn’t yet certain if Iyer will return to play in Delhi.This piece could have been talking about all that. But it isn’t, because India have a cheat code in home Tests.

He’s happy being a spinner who doesn’t spin the ball and he’s ferocious when he gets a chance to bat

Alagappan Muthu04-Oct-20202:15

Moody: Can’t win by scoring just 19 boundaries in Sharjah

David Warner is set. It has taken him a while to get here. But finally, he is hitting a cricket ball so hard you wince watching it all happen.Imagine what it would take to beat him. To confound him to such an extent that he is bent over at the crease, held up by his bat, all of his power made totally redundant.This was a wide yorker of the finest quality. It had pace. It was accurate. And, best of all, it was the last thing the batsman expected… because it was bowled by a spinner.Krunal Pandya punched the air with a real sense of purpose. He had given away only nine runs in the over, the 15th of the innings, and he had taken a wicket, leaving the Sunrisers with an improbable task: 70 to win off only 30 balls – 12 of which would be shot out of the cannon that Jasprit Bumrah calls a right hand.Mumbai owed a lot of their victory on Sunday to Krunal. In fact, according to ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats, he had the greatest influence on the outcome of the match among his team-mates. In simple terms, his efforts mattered more than any other Mumbai player’s, and remember this iis a line-up that features T20 royalty.Krunal Pandya’s all-round show helped Mumbai Indians to their third win of IPL 2020•ESPNcricinfo LtdKrunal began his spell in the powerplay, where only two fielders are allowed on the boundary, which in Sharjah is barely 70m. He also had to deal with bowling into the hitting arc of the left-handed Warner. All of this points to a high degree of difficulty that the bowler has to negotiate and Krunal did beautifully. Dude hit four boundaries off four balls, but gave away only three in 24.And he’ll have to finish his full quota more often than not because there is no other option. Mumbai – or even India for that matter – can’t afford to rush Hardik Pandya into bowling after his back injury. The international players will be off on their tour of Australia immediately after the IPL. They can’t afford to go without their premier allrounder again.So Krunal is adapting to his new role. He only wobbles the ball now because he knows his pace (often exceeding 100kph) and his accuracy are his best bets to making a batsman hit where he wants. Krunal is so invested in this that he even experimented with a round-arm action to mess with Warner’s bat-swing. Anything to gain an edge.Krunal Pandya slammed two sixes and two fours in his four-ball innings•BCCIKrunal’s bowling showcased intelligence and clarity of thought. But there is a bit of anarchy in it as well. He’s happy being a spinner who doesn’t actually spin the ball. There was anarchy in his batting as well. Pure, pulse-pounding anarchy.In most of Mumbai’s matches, shots of their dugout late in the innings would reveal him in full gear and with a fearsome expression. He wanted in. He was ready to take on the world’s best death bowlers and put them into the stands. He had extra incentive to do that in Sharjah.Siddharth Kaul had just mercilessly yorked his little brother Hardik. You don’t mess with family like that. And so, big brother took strike, in his crease, his knees bent, his body in a crouch and set to spring on anything loose. Like a length ball. Krunal made it disappear over long-on. The strike was so pure that even cameraman lost track of the ball. This routine continued as Mumbai shot from 187 to 208 in the space of four balls – 6, 4, 4, 6.No batsman who has got to face at least two balls after having walked into bat in the 20th over in the IPL, has struck at a higher rate than Krunal’s 500 (FIVE HUNDRED!). Suddenly it wasn’t so clear which of the Mumbai siblings was the biggest six hitter. The question had to be put to Krunal at the press conference and, with a giant smile on his face, which then turned to out and out laughter, he simply said. “I’ll say [both] Pandyas are the biggest six-hitters.”IPL, you’ve been warned.

He last played for the team 21 years ago, but former Boston Red Sox pitcher-turned-TBS analyst Pedro Martinez remains a prominent voice in the team's sprawling media landscape.

When Martinez weighed in on the Red Sox's still-stunning trade of designated hitter Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, Boston's fans took notice. The Hall of Fame pitcher mounted a fierce defense of Devers amid recent reporting that painted a picture of a divided Red Sox organization.

"I was shocked (when I heard about the deal), because if you try to sell to me, knowing Raffy Devers, that Raffy is a bad teammate or he's not a team player, you're lying," Martinez said. "You're gonna tell me he's a bad influence in the clubhouse? He's not."

The Devers trade has embarrassed Boston's front office amid an up-and-down year (and decade). The Red Sox traded Devers despite what has become an 8-2 record in their last 10 games, and the team has made the playoffs once since winning the 2018 World Series.

"The thing they mishandled from the get-go… this should've been in the hands of baseball people, not front-office people," Martinez said. "Not leaking it to the media. Not having a back-and-forth with the media, and (manager) Alex (Cora), and (president) Sam Kennedy, and (general manager Craig) Breslow."

Manchester United urged to snub Adam Wharton & Elliot Anderson in favour of signing USMNT star Tyler Adams to end their transfer search for a new midfielder. Ruben Amorim is desperate to make a quality signing in his engine room, and the club is expected to back him in the winter market to get on board a midfielder.

United's shortlist miss Adams

The Red Devils are expected to back Amorim in the winter market as he looks to stamp his authority on a squad still searching for coherence. United have not been shy in the transfer market over the past decade, investing more than £800 million ($1070m) between 2020 and 2025 and adding a further £219m ($293m) this summer alone. Yet for all that spending, the search for a reliable midfield anchor continues. Casemiro was brought in from midfield, but his future hangs in the balance with his contract set to expire in the summer. 

Brighton’s Carlos Baleba remains a long-term priority, but the south coast club have shut the door on any January negotiations. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is admired Adam Wharton, meanwhile, has impressed at Crystal Palace and harbours ambitions of Champions League football, yet he recently committed his future with a new contract and has not pressed for a move. Each target brings quality, but also complications. Against that backdrop, has suggested United could find a more immediate and tactically suitable solution in Tyler Adams. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMaking a case for Tyler Adams

Adams’ numbers this season are striking. Among Premier League midfielders, only Moisés Caicedo has made more interceptions, while the American has also racked up 35 tackles. At Bournemouth, his presence has freed Alex Scott to play higher up the pitch, knowing there is security behind him. 

Adams has increasingly been described as a natural fit for the so-called Makelele role, the deep-lying shield perfected by Claude Makelele and later embodied by players such as Casemiro and Rodri. Rodri’s Ballon d’Or triumph in 2024 was widely seen as overdue recognition of that role’s importance. Similarly, when Luka Modric broke the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly in 2018, he did so with Casemiro working to protect the defence behind him. And Adams understands that responsibility.

"My role in football is not the prettiest role," Adams explained. "I’m not the one going out every weekend like Antoine Semenyo scoring goals and dribbling past players. I want to win and know how to win and know that my role in any team can be invaluable if played right. I’m selfless and want to do the work that other guys want me to do to make them look good."

From Leeds setback to Bournemouth revival

After arriving at Bournemouth from Leeds in 2023, injury curtailed his first season, limiting him to just one start. Adams had come close to joining Chelsea before that move, with the London club hunting for a No.6 before eventually landing Moises Caicedo. Last season marked a turning point. Under Andoni Iraola, Adams became a regular fixture, and that upward trajectory has continued into the current campaign as Bournemouth’s win percentage improves noticeably when the American is in the side. And the midfielder credited Iraola for that resurgence.

"I can’t repay Bournemouth enough for the trust they had in me," he said. "They were signing a player that was injured and didn’t expect when I would be back. I played two or three games in my first season so to get a run of games, I’m just eager to grow and show what I’m capable of doing.

"The manager. The way that he plays, the way he sets up his team every week and the belief he instils in each of us and their role and job in the team. The players really believe it. All the little details we are really focused on. We had a very strong pre-season, it was good having the group healthy going into the pre-season compared to last season where we had injuries and couldn’t find the cohesiveness for a few games. Now you can see the chemistry between the players."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next?

On Monday night, Adams will walk out at Old Trafford as Bournemouth visit United in the Premier League. It is an opportunity for the United hierarchy to assess, at close quarters, what the USMNT captain brings to the table. With Baleba unavailable, Wharton settled, and Anderson hesitant, the case for Adams is gaining momentum. He may not arrive with the hype of a marquee signing, but could do the job for Amorim. 

Jude Bellingham has been handed a 2026 World Cup boost, with Nigel Winterburn exclusively telling GOAL that he does not expect Thomas Tuchel to overlook any “big names” when it comes to piecing together his England squad. There will inevitably be some disappointed performers when a 26-man group is named, but said selection will be loaded with talent.

Strength in depth: Who will make England's 2026 World Cup squad?

The Three Lions boast strength in depth across just about every department, with quality cover able to step in and counter any untimely form and fitness issues. Tuchel finds himself in the enviable position of dipping into a star-studded talent pool.

The odd question has been asked of England’s defensive options – particularly at left-back, where nobody has nailed down that role – but there is an abundance of options heading forward.

Harry Kane is the undisputed No.9 for his country, and the man in charge of the captain’s armband, with nobody breathing heavily down his neck just yet. When it comes to playmaking berths and wide attacking posts, picks become a little trickier to settle upon.

Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham and Morgan Gibbs-White all harbour dreams of making the plane heading to the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.

They cannot all get the nod. Questions have been asked of whether Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ Bellingham could be left behind, with Tuchel making it clear that he will not bring any divisive characters with him that threaten to disturb collective harmony.

AdvertisementBellingham under threat: Will Real Madrid star make the cut?

Quizzed on whether he can see Tuchel leaving a so-called ‘big name’ behind, ex-Three Lions defender Winterburn – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “No, I don’t. It would depend on who considers what player to be a big name. We are already seeing that Thomas Tuchel is about the team. He’s not afraid to make decisions, it doesn’t look like he is going to pamper anybody. You could flip it round a bit and say there are some players that we think might be there but due to form or injury won’t make the squad. Our attacking talent out wide is huge. I would suggest that there may be one or two of those players that may not make the squad. That is simply because of the amount of numbers we have got in those positions.”

Getty Images

Tuchel warning & encouraging words from Henderson

Tuchel said when warning the likes of Bellingham and Palmer – who have missed games due to injury – that nobody is guaranteed a place in his squad: “For this moment we stick with our choice and the radical statement is that we don’t collect the most talented players. We collect the guys who have the glue and cohesion to be the best team. Because we need to arrive as the best team. We will arrive as underdogs at the World Cup because we haven’t won it for decades and we will play against teams who have repeatedly won it during that time. So we have to arrive as a team or we will have no chance.”

Those that work alongside Bellingham remain adamant that he is a positive presence in the England squad. Jordan Henderson has said of a player that he struck up a close bond with at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar: “He is very special, very special. We have a few special players in this squad, to be fair. But, with Jude, I think we all knew he was a very special player when he first came into the squad. The way he trains, the way he lives his life around football, loves the game, wants to improve and there is the ability that he has on the pitch. He is a world-class player and I know there will be a lot of stories and a lot of headlines, but for him, it is just about focusing on football.”

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Getty Images SportWorld Cup draw date: When England will discover group stage opponents

There will be another international break in March, as Bellingham and Co get a final opportunity to prove their worth to Tuchel. For now, though, everyone connected with the England camp is waiting to discover who they will face in the 2026 World Cup group stage – with that draw set to take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on December 5.

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O Palmeiras aguarda o desfecho da negociação com o Zenit, da Rússia, para vender o atacante Artur. O clube alviverde está disposto a liberar o atleta pelos 15 milhões de euros (R$ 80,5 mi, na cotação) oferecidos pelos russos – além de outros 3 milhões de euros (R$ 16,11 mi, na cotação atual) por metas atingidas. O jogador, no entanto, não se vê convencido a mudar de ares e ainda não bateu o martelo.

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O próprio Zenit também não trata a negociação como prioridade e tirou o pé há alguns dias. A equipe de São Petersburgo foca em outras tratativas que serão desenroladas durante a janela de transferências.

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O Verdão e o antigo estafe de Artur foram as partes que mais se mostraram empolgadas com o fechamento do negócio. O clube alviverde, no início, até foi relutante, já que firmou o retorno do atacante recentemente, em março de 2023, mas considerou o valor oferecido pelos russos, já que os números, contando as bonificações, representam o dobro do que foi investido em menos de um ano.

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Outro motivo que faz a direção palmeirense considerar negociar o camisa 14 é o desempenho em campo. Importante no seu retorno ao Palmeiras, o jogador terminou a temporada perdendo espaço na equipe titular e fora da espinha dorsal da equipe montada pelo técnico Abel Ferreira.

➡️ Chapéu! Como Abel Ferreira atuou na negociação de Caio Paulista com o Palmeiras

Ainda que não esteja dando muita atenção para a negociação, o Zenit mantém o interesse em ter Artur. Assim, a decisão sobre a evolução das tratativas passa diretamente pelo atleta.

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Como trocou recentemente de agente, o atacante tem vivido menos “pressão” para definir o futuro profissional e reflete sobre a situação enquanto passa férias no Ceará.

Fiery burst wrecks hosts’ hopes of taking lead, before Gubbins’ fifty builds for visitors

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay31-Jul-2025 Hampshire 293 (Middleton 79, Weatherley 62, Taylor 5-55) and 139 for 2 (Gubbins 55*) lead Worcestershire 249 (Libby 100*, Hose 82, Baker 5-72) by 183 runsSonny Baker’s five-wicket haul and a Nick Gubbins half-century helped drive Hampshire into the ascendency on Day Three of the Rothesay County Championship clash against Worcestershire.Baker’s morning burst of three wickets saw him to figures of 5 for 72, as Jake Libby’s 100 not out could not see Worcestershire into the lead despite early promise, as his side were bowled out for 249.With a lead of 44, the visiting side batted through the day with relative comfort on a flattening wicket, as Joe Weatherley and Fletcha Middleton made early progress for their side.Gubbins then scored an unbeaten 55 to see his side to 139 for 2 at the close, with the away side well in the hunt for a third County Championship victory of the season.With a lengthy delay to the start of proceedings on the third morning of the match, Hampshire enjoyed an excellent start to the day as Baker produced an eye-catching three wicket burst to reduce Worcestershire to 189 for 5.The visitors welcomed a stroke of luck in the second over of the day when Adam Hose feathered a strangle down the leg-side, to depart without adding to his overnight score, before Baker picked up the wickets of Brett D’Oliveira (1) and Ethan Brookes (0) as the hosts reeled under the clouds at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Searching for their first Rothesay County Championship win since mid-May, Hampshire began the afternoon session in similar vein to the morning, with Libby watching his side fall behind in the contest.Matthew Waite helped add 34 with the Worcestershire opener, before he nicked off to James Fuller for a cautious 21 as the Division One strugglers watched another promising position fall away beneath them as they limped to 223 for 6.Part-timer Nick Gubbins was thrown the ball in the 80th over of the innings as the visitors looked to move things on before taking the new ball but were overjoyed when Tom Taylor was pinned LBW in an innocuous over as the home side slid further behind the eight-ball.Hampshire tightened their grip on the match, as Kyle Abbott (1 for 27) and Baker removed Ben Allison and Adam Finch, with Libby 98 not out and his side still trailing by 46 runs.Libby added the two runs required to reach a gritty century off 235 balls, registering the first century by a Worcestershire player at Visit Worcestershire New Road this summer.Baker capped a fine individual performance as he returned in the next over to secure his five-wicket haul and ensure his side took a healthy lead of 44 runs into their second innings, with Worcestershire all-out one run short of a batting bonus-point.Hampshire lost Joe Weatherley in the 11th over of their reply, when he was LBW to a full ball from Waite but marched on unfazed to pass fifty with comfort.Middleton got in and showed signs of extending his good form from the first innings but was unable to capitalise on his positive start as he was caught behind off an Adam Finch delivery, with his side 120 runs in front.Gubbins made his way to a comfortable half-century as the evening drew to a close, as he and Tilak Varma batted through to stumps with Hampshire in total control at 139 for 2, with a commanding 183-run lead heading into the final day.

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Parte da torcida do Palmeiras está furiosa com os dirigentes do clube, especialmente a presidente, Leila Pereira, e o diretor de futebol, Anderson Barros. Mas se depender da mandatária, essa parceria ainda vai durar um bom tempo, algo que não se pode garantir sobre Abel Ferreira, que tem contrato somente até o fim de 2024 e ainda não deu sinais de que vai renovar.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasLeila Pereira revela quantos reforços quer trazer para o Palmeiras em 2024Palmeiras11/10/2023PalmeirasLeila Pereira aumenta o tom contra organizada do Palmeiras: ‘Câncer do futebol brasileiro’Palmeiras11/10/2023PalmeirasCom três joias do Palmeiras, jornal inglês lista as maiores promessas do futebol mundialPalmeiras11/10/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Em entrevista coletiva nesta quarta-feira (11), na Academia de Futebol, Leila admitiu que quer contar com Abel até o fim de seu hipotético segundo mandato, que seria de 2025 a 2027. Ela afirmou que já conversou com o treinador sobre esse desejo, mas que até agora o português tem ficado em cima do muro.

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

– Sobre o Abel, ele tem contrato até dezembro de 2024, eu já conversei com ele, que é um desejo que eu tenho que ele fique comigo até o final do segundo mandato. Ele não fala nem que sim, nem que não. Mas eu vejo que o Abel está muito feliz, ele fica chateado que algumas pessoas tem a memória muito curta. Não tenho dúvida que o Abel é o maior da história do Palmeiras, mas ele não tem obrigação de vencer todos os campeonatos.Ele fica chateado com todo esse problema da violência. Ele tem mulher, tem filhas, e se isso chega na presidente, ele tem receio que chegue nele.

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+ Leila Pereira aumenta o tom contra organizada do Palmeiras: ‘Câncer do futebol brasileiro’

Por outro lado, Leila Pereira consegue garantir a permanência de outro personagem do departamento de futebol: o diretor Anderson Barros. No entanto, isso não deve agradar muito o torcedor, que está insatisfeito com o trabalho do profissional. A avaliação da mandatária, porém, é completamente diferente e a ideia é manter Barros até que ela deixe o clube.

– O Anderson chegou em dezembro de 2019 e em toda essa trajetória dele no Palmeiras conquistou nove títulos, sendo duas Libertadores. Ele é o responsável direto da contratação do maior treinador da história do Palmeiras. Eu não tenho dúvida que o Anderson é um profissional que qualquer clube gostaria de ter e nós temos a sorte de tê-lo por aqui. Eu tenho profundo orgulho de tê-lo ao meu lado. O Anderson é um dos grandes responsáveis por esse sucesso. Enquanto eu estiver aqui, o Anderson será o meu grande parceiro.

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+ Leila Pereira revela quantos reforços quer trazer para o Palmeiras em 2024

Leila Pereira, Anderson Barros e Abel Ferreira já estão trabalhando no planejamento para a temporada 2024 do Palmeiras. Na mesma entrevista coletiva, a presidente declarou que pretende trazer de três a quatro reforços para a comissão técnica, e que esses nomes já estão com o departamento de análise para avançar nas contratações.

Aston Villa are poised to wave goodbye to a “wonderful footballer” pretty shortly, as a new report reveals this week.

Aston Villa turn corner under Unai Emery after disastrous start

It took Unai Emery’s side five Premier League games to score their first goal of the season, with Matty Cash’s long-range pile driver against newly-promoted Sunderland finally opening their account.

After a very difficult summer transfer window marred by issues with PSR, their severe lack of attacking impetus had many supporters fearing the worst, but in a huge sigh of relief for the Villans, they’re starting to hit an excellent run of form.

Since Cash burst the net at the Stadium of Light, Villa have sealed two wins from two of their opening Europa League games, whilst securing precious back-to-back Premier League wins against Fulham and Burnley.

The recent departure of Monchi, who left his role as Aston Villa sporting director, also marks the beginning of a new era, with former Real Sociedad chief Roberto Olabe brought in as Villa’s replacement.

In one of his final acts as the club’s ‘president of football operations’, Monchi agreed to let midfielder Enzo Barrenechea join José Mourinho’s Benfica on loan with an obligation to buy.

Enzo Barrenechea on the verge of permanent Aston Villa exit to Benfica

Interestingly, according to A Bola this week, the conditions of his loan-to-buy clause mean that Barrenechea is just one game away from becoming a permanent Benfica player and leaving Villa Park for good.

Apparently, all requirements for the permanent option to be triggered are nearly met, including appearances, and Villa are about to receive a £10 million payment for the Argentine, on top of the £2.5 million loan fee they got in the summer, right after he makes another cameo.

Indeed, once Barrenechea is given his next nod for Benfica, he’ll have met the 15 games required to activate his permanent move to Portugal.

The 24-year-old joined Villa in a swap deal last year with Douglas Luiz heading the other way to Juventus, but he hasn’t made a single appearance for Villa.

He was sent out on loan to Valencia in his debut season, where he seriously impressed for the La Liga side, though it is now Mourinho who’s poised to snap up Villa’s forgotten “wonderful footballer”.

“You called me to talk about my favourite player,” said coach Andrea Bonatti, who worked with the player at Juve’s youth academy.

“He is a wonderful footballer. He has many virtues. He is very technical, he controls the ball very well under pressure, he has that ability that comes from futsal, which allows him to have good ball coverage. He has an excellent short game with both legs. And a great long movement, when you have to give speed to the game.

“He is very brave in aerial play, in heading. He is very helpful in defensive and offensive actions in the air. He covers a lot of ground, he is a 6 that gives a lot of balance, that frees up a lot for the teammate next to him. He is always on alert, with a great tactical sense, giving orders to avoid transitions against the rival team.”