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Abhishek didn’t have a great start to the day and Gill had not been in great touch in the tournament, but both redeemed themselves, and how

Shashank Kishore22-Sep-20252:08

Chopra: Abhishek-Gill completely decimated the Pakistan attack

Abhishek Sharma’s evening started poorly. Three balls into India’s Super Four match against Pakistan at the 2025 Asia Cup, he put down a chance at deep third to reprieve Sahibzada Farhan. And when a shot at redemption came in the eighth over, he tipped the ball over the long-on boundary, giving Farhan another life. The result: a 34-ball half-century that set the platform for Pakistan.Having spent the rest of the innings patrolling various pockets in the outfield where he took an excellent catch to send back Saim Ayub, Abhishek’s real opportunity to redeem himself didn’t come until the start of India’s 172-run chase. Exactly a week ago, Abhishek had charged at Shaheen Shah Afridi, walloping ten off the first two balls to kickstart India’s chase.This time, Mohammad Haris was quick to play some mind games, standing up to the stumps to prevent Abhishek from charging again. Except, Afridi was having none of it. With Haris back to his usual spot, Afridi dished out a snarky bouncer. With a fine leg in place, the idea seemed legit, until Abhishek got inside the line and hooked him for six.Related

• Things Pakistan say, things Pakistan do, and the gap between them

• Agha on Fakhar dismissal: 'It did look like it bounced ahead of the keeper'

• Abhishek smashes 74 off 39 as India ease past Pakistan

• Abhishek: Didn't like Pakistan 'coming at us without any reason'

• Suryakumar: India vs Pakistan isn't a rivalry anymore

It was to be the start of a batting exhibition that helped Abhishek forget the nightmarish opening act. When he was finally out for a 39-ball 74, Abhishek had to drag himself off, visibly distraught at missing a century that was there for the taking. In between the drops and his dismissal, Pakistan’s vaunted pace attack was sent on a leather hunt.It didn’t matter if he was hustled off the previous delivery – like when Mohammad Nawaz put down a miscued pull at midwicket in the third over – or got streaky runs off thick outside edges. The intent to make a statement in the powerplay trumped everything.At the first sign of spin in the fourth over, he muscled Abrar Ahmed over deep square. And when Haris Rauf went hard length, he charged at him by opening up the off side. With Abhishek, beneath the intent is often a strong belief that this high-risk, high-reward approach will help deliver impact.”It’s just the way he is,” Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match press conference. “Abhishek is very selfless when it comes to his batting style. In the powerplay, he goes hard, but even after that he knows what’s required. He analyses situations, he’s learning every game. Most importantly, he never misses practice. Even if he doesn’t want to bat, he’ll be at the ground, doing something. If you keep working that hard, god always has plans for you.”1:56

Chopra: Pakistan spinners were underwhelming

On the eve of the match, that “something” was as significant as his powerplay salvo. He was helping his best friend, Shubman Gill, find his groove at an optional training session. Against UAE and Pakistan, Gill had been dismissed looking to attack. Two nights ago against Oman, he was cleaned up by a ripper of an inswinger.And so, even though they’d had a late night thanks to the drive back from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, Gill was back in the nets to work on a few aspects later in the evening with Abhishek and Varun Chakravarthy for company, while the rest of the squad enjoyed an off day.When Gill struggled for timing, Abhishek was beside him – at times offering inputs, sometimes even bowling certain deliveries in the absence of other net bowlers, to have Gill attempt certain shots until he got the .On Sunday, Gill had that almost immediately as he picked up two fours off Saim Ayub’s first over. But it wasn’t until he lofted Afridi over mid-off with nonchalance that he truly got going. Soon enough, there was a bit of bite. There were words exchanged, and tension was palpable.Gill wasn’t going to lie low. He responded by unleashing a shot that could be his trademark – the short-arm jab for four off Rauf. Hard length, high pace – no problem. As Rauf turned back to see Abhishek punch the bat and yelp “shot”, Rauf waved his hands away at him angrily.And then as Gill and Abhishek met mid-pitch, there was a fierce staredown with Rauf, followed by an exchange of words that needed the umpires to intervene. By then, India were flying, and the game was tilting.

“Abhishek is very selfless when it comes to his batting style. In the powerplay, he goes hard, but even after that he knows what’s required”Suryakumar Yadav

Gill kept threading gaps behind point both off pace and spin, hitting fearlessly through the line over extra cover, and even added range to his repertoire with a reverse sweep off Ayub, a stroke Suryakumar particularly relished.”With Shubman, everyone knows what kind of player he is,” Suryakumar said. “The only thing I’ll say is he knows how to score runs. Today he backed his shots, took fewer risks, trusted his strokes. And that reverse sweep – I was really happy. He’s been working on it a lot.”For a brief spell, the Gill-Abhishek madness that helped India pummel 69 in the powerplay made it seem like Pakistan were 15 short, like Salman Agha had assessed later. Afridi had been taken for 24 off his two wicketless overs, while Abrar and Ayub, despite their mystery spin, were equally flat.Abhishek reached his fifty off just 24 balls, and amid the war of words, he celebrated his landmark by blowing a kiss to the crowd – seemingly towards his family, while Suryakumar punched the air in the dugout. The best friends were now proving to be a menace to their opponents.”It’s really important to be very good friends off the field,” Suryakumar explained of their camaraderie. “When you open together, that bond matters. Sometimes you don’t have to say anything in the middle. Just a look is enough – to take a cheeky single, to complement each other if one’s flying or if one’s struggling. That friendship comes into the picture when they bat together.

“He [Gill] knows how to score runs. Today he backed his shots, took fewer risks, trusted his strokes. And that reverse sweep – I was really happy. He’s been working on it a lot”Suryakumar Yadav on Shubman Gill

“It’s like a fire and ice combination. They complement each other really well. And that’s what I want to see. If someone is batting brilliantly, the other can take the backseat and rotate the strike. It was required today to have a very good start. And they did [provide that].”There was also some history woven into the fire. Back in 2018 at the Under-19 World Cup semi-final, Afridi and his mates had needled Gill with the line: “our bowling isn’t Bangladesh.” Gill answered with a hundred and celebrated animatedly, hurling words towards the Pakistan team as he hit a last-ball six to bring up three figures. That day, Abhishek added the kicker: “Our batting isn’t Pakistan either.”Seven years later, in Dubai, flashes of that aggression and fire they exhibited as teenagers were in full view again. By the time Gill fell, India were cruising at 105 for 1 in ten overs. Abhishek batted on for a bit more to impart more agony.By the end, the dropped catches that had threatened to define Abhishek’s evening seemed distant. Instead, two friends who grew up pushing each other to be their best versions, and live their India dream together, delivered in a statement win.Their “fire and ice” was more than just a glimpse of an opening act that is here to stay.

The South Australia batter, who is captaining Australia A, plundered the England Lions attack

AAP06-Dec-2025Nathan McSweeney threw up his hand to be the man to replace Usman Khawaja, with a superb double century for Australia A against the England Lions.As David Warner urged selectors to return Travis Head to No. 5 and put a specialist opener alongside Jake Weatherald, McSweeney made his case on Saturday.Related

• Kellaway enhances his credentials with top score for Prime Minister's XI

• Richardson stands out with four wickets as England Lions collapse

The 26-year-old finished unbeaten on 222 in Brisbane, posting his maiden double-century as Australia A went to stumps on day two at 554 for 7 in reply to the Lions’ 166.This match is now effectively over as a contest, with the hosts leading by 388 at Allan Border Field against a Lions side fielding three frontline bowlers with Test experience.But it has come at a perfect time for McSweeney, who also hit 63 for the Prime Minister’s XI against a more experience English attack last weekend.McSweeney is a natural No. 3 or No. 4, but was given the chance to open for Australia in three Tests last year against India. He was ultimately worked over by the world’s best bowler Jasprit Bumrah, before being dropped after averaging 14.4 across six innings.But he bounced back to form with a century for South Australia in late October, and now has scores of 103, 68, 63 and 222 not out in the past six weeks.Khawaja is hopeful of being fit for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide on December 17, but it remains to be seen whether the 38-year-old will be brought back in.Head hit 33 for Australia in the first innings at the Gabba after his Perth second innings heroics as opener, but the likes of Warner believe he is still better placed at No. 5 as a rear-guard option.”I think they need a genuine opener to compliment Jake Weatherald,” Warner said on Kayo.  “Because the way Jake plays you’re probably going to be hit or miss at the top of the order with two guys who like to go after the ball. That’s Australia’s problem.”If they have a couple of innings where that does happen and they lose early wickets, that’s going to come under the microscope.”Beyond Khawaja, Matt Renshaw has hit three Sheffield Shield centuries for Queensland this year but missed out for Australia A on Friday, scoring 8.Young Victorian Campbell Kellaway has also made a sound case this summer, with his 71 against the Lions on Friday following a century for the Prime Minister’s XI last week.But Saturday was McSweeney’s time to shine, routinely pulling England’s quicks and spinners to the boundary. Batting at No.3, some 11 of his 27 boundaries came in that fashion, while he also used his feet to hit spinner Jacob Bethell for a big six down the ground.Beau Webster also cover-drove well and hit 44 for Australia A after losing out in a selection battle for the Gabba Test, while Cooper Connolly struck 88.

Arsenal are now seriously keen on signing Murillo, with Mikel Arteta personally an admirer, amid a new update on whether Nottingham Forest would consider a sale.

The Gunners are looking to bring in a new centre-back, with Gabriel set for a relatively lengthy spell on the sidelines, as confirmed by Arteta prior to the North London derby, with the manager saying: “Gabi unfortunately picked up an injury with the Brazil national team and he’s going to be out for weeks.”

“It’s clearly a blow because he’s our leader in our backline and, to me, it’s never a positive thing. The good thing is that we have very good options and we need to stand up now and do the job.”

As pointed out by Arteta, the Gunners have some quality back-up options, with Cristhian Mosquera, who has played a part in keeping five clean sheets this season, the natural replacement for the Brazilian at the heart of defence.

However, at 21-years-old, the Spaniard is still relatively inexperienced, and the north Londoners have now expressed an interest in signing a new centre-back ahead of the January transfer window.

Arsenal now seriously keen on signing Murillo

According to a report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are now seriously keen on signing Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, with his current club willing to sanction a departure if they receive an offer in the region of €80m – €90m (£70m – £79m).

The Gunners believe the 23-year-old could make an instant impact in defence, despite already having Gabriel and William Saliba on the books, and Arteta is personally a fan of the Forest star’s progressive style of play.

However, there could be major competition for the centre-back’s signature, with London rivals Chelsea also being named as potential suitors, alongside La Liga giants FC Barcelona.

The Brazilian has been a key player for the Tricky Trees so far this season, making 12 appearances in all competitions, with arguably his best performance coming in the 3-0 victory against Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

The Gunners’ chances of winning the Premier League title were further boosted when Forest emerged as shock winners at Anfield, with the one-time Brazil international opening the scoring, while also making a number of other key contributions.

Murillo’s performance vs Liverpool

Number completed

Clearances

13

Blocked shots

3

Duels (won)

6 (5)

Tackles

2

Lauded as “monstrous” by journalist Ryan Taylor, the Sao Paulo-born defender could have what it takes to become one of the best defenders in the world, but it would be very difficult for him to force his way into Arteta’s plans.

Gabriel and Saliba have formed a formidable partnership, with the Gunners maintaining by far the best defensive record in the Premier League this season, and Mosquera has proven himself as a solid back-up.

Arsenal's surprise replacement for Gabriel at centre-back Not played CB for a year: Arsenal have a surprise £50m Gabriel replacement

The talented Arsenal star could be just the solution Arteta needs ahead of the North London Derby.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 20, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a message of support to his Portugal team-mates ahead of their meeting with Armenia. The Selecao currently top Group F ahead of the final round of World Cup qualification games but defeat to Ireland on Thursday means they need to win to book their trip stateside next summer. And ahead of the game, Ronaldo took to Instagram to throw his backing behind the national team.

Ronaldo suspended for Armenia clash after red card

Ronaldo was sent home from the Portugal national team over the weekend ahead of their game against Armenia. The 40-year-old was shown his marching orders in the Selecao's 2-0 loss to Ireland last week as a Troy Parrott brace confirmed a huge win for the Boys In Green on Thursday.

The Portugal captain endured a frustrating evening at the Aviva Stadium last week having been sent off on the hour mark for an elbow on defender Dara O'Shea, marking the Al-Nassr striker's first ever dismissal on the international stage. Ronaldo is suspended for today's game against Armenia, and with straight red cards on the international stage resulting in a two-game ban, he would miss Portugal's World Cup 2026 opener should they avoid the play-offs.

Ronaldo was sent off despite insisting before the Ireland defeat that he'd be a 'good boy' upon his return to the country, stating: "I really like the fans here. The support they give to their national team is lovely.

"For me, it's a pleasure to play here again, I hope they don't boo me too much tomorrow – I swear that I'm going to try to be a good boy."

AdvertisementRonaldo's Instagram post to colleagues

Ronaldo will be watching the game from home, but voiced his support for the national team with an Instagram post on Sunday morning. "Go team! All together today and forever! For Portugal and for our flag!" the message read on his official social media account.

In Ronaldo's absence, Goncalo Ramos is expected to lead the line for Portugal against Armenia. The PSG striker has played as Ronaldo's deputy throughout qualifying, featuring off the bench in all five Selecao games.

The 24-year-old is yet to score in qualification but will fancy his chances of getting on the scoresheet in Porto when Portugal face off against Armenia. The Havakakan have lost four of five group games to date, including a 5-0 loss to today's opponents back in September, and have conceded 10 goals in total in the process.

AFPKey man returns for Portugal for Armenia clash

While Roberto Martinez is unable to call upon Ronaldo, the Portugal boss welcomes back another key attacker, who sat out the 2-0 loss to Ireland due to a ban of his own. Bruno Fernandes missed the defeat due to suspension but is expected to return to the starting XI for the meeting with Armenia.

Martinez is expected to go with a strong XI despite the calibre of opposition on Sunday afternoon. Portugal may sit top of the Group F in World Cup qualifying but their lead has been cut to just two points following a 2-2 draw with Hungary last month and Thursday's 2-0 defeat to Ireland.

Ireland take on Hungary in the other Group F tie, with the pair split by just a single point heading into matchday six. Back-to-back wins over Armenia and Portugal has seen Ireland force their way back into playoff contention but they need to win today in order to leapfrog Hungary into second.

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Ronaldo set to return to action with Al-Nassr

For Ronaldo, he'll hope to quickly move on from Thursday's dismissal when club side Al-Nassr face Al-Khaleej next weekend. Jorge Jesus has overseen a 100% start to the Saudi Pro League season, winning all eight of their opening matches.

Ronaldo has been a star player for Al-Nassr this season, scoring nine times in the Saudi Pro League. Only compatriot Joao Felix has scored more goals than the legendary striker this season, the former Chelsea man having struck 10 times.

Upcoming opponents Al-Khaleej, meanwhile, sit sixth in the table and have won two of their four away league matches this season. 

Manchester United have reportedly made a shock transfer approach for out-of-favour Real Madrid forward Endrick amid concern over Benamin Sesko's fitness. The Brazil international is eyeing a temporary move away from Santiago Bernabeu in the January transfer window after struggling for game time at Madrid under Xabi Alonso. With the World Cup fast approaching, the youngster is hoping to play as many matches as possible.

Getty Images SportEndrick ignored by Alonso

Endrick completed his dream move from Palmeiras to Madrid in the summer of 2024 but did not get enough game time under former manager Carlo Ancelotti in his maiden campaign at Santiago Bernabeu. While he appeared in 37 matches across competitions in the 2024-25 campaign, he managed to clock just 847 minutes on the pitch.

The situation has only got worse for Endrick ever since Xabi Alonso replaced Ancelotti at the helm this summer. The teenager has played just one match in the current season, with injuries playing a major role in his absence from the pitch. On Endrick's lack of game time, Alonso has said: "The situations in our recent matches have been very tight since Endrick returned. I hope he can get those minutes soon. He’s training well, he’s ready – but the right moment has to come."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMan Utd eye move for Endrick

Per , United have failed with an approach to sign Endrick amid concerns over Sesko's fitness. The Slovenian forward suffered an injury after coming on as a substitute in the club's latest Premier League clash against Tottenham. After the game, Amorim had expressed concern over Sesko's condition as he told reporters: "Because it's in the knee, we don't know, we need Ben to be a better team. I have no idea. Because it's the knee we never know." The striker later underwent scans on his knee, which revealed that the injury is not too serious and he is expected to recover swiftly. 

Endrick is desperate to seek a loan move in January as he does not want to miss out on the 2026 World Cup with Brazil and to book a berth in Carlo Ancelotti's side, he needs to play as much as possible. It has been reported that Ligue 1 outfit Lyon are the frontrunners to secure his services.

Ancelotti sends Endrick some advice

Ancelotti has suggested that Endrick should exit Santiago Bernabeu if he wants to break into his Brazil squad, telling : "Yes, I spoke with him at the beginning of this season. He was injured, but now he’s fine, back, and he has to think with his entourage about what’s best. Talk to the club, to see what’s best for him. Endrick is very young, this won’t be his last World Cup. He could play in the 2026 World Cup, because he has the quality for it, but he could also be in the 2030 World Cup, or the 2034 World Cup, and maybe even the 2038 World Cup (laughs). I believe it’s important for him to get back to playing and show his qualities."

In September, the Italian coach explained why Endrick didn't get many opportunities in his debut campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu. "Well, Endrick is like Estevao [Willian, at Chelsea]. He's a great talent. I think Estevao was lucky. The problem with young people who go to Europe is that they have a leading role here, but not much of a leading role there. I coached Endrick for a year and really liked him as a person and as a professional. And, obviously, he didn't play as well as he could, because Real Madrid had Rodrygo, Vini; competition in a big team is important, and that can affect a player's progression a little."

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Getty Images SportUnited also want a new midfielder

While their pursuit of Endrick is new, United's main focus remains on strengthening their midfield and the club have prepared a six-man shortlist of potential midfield options, which includes Premier League stars like Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson. Head coach Amorim is still working on a squad rebuild that can propel United back into contention for the biggest trophies.

Newcastle United dropped more points in the Premier League on Tuesday night, drawing 2-2 at home to Tottenham Hotspur in a chaotic game.

Eddie Howe’s side were the dominant team at St. James’ Park, but could not prevent Spurs’ only two shots on target from going in the back of the net.

After a goalless first half, it took until the 71st minute for the deadlock to be broken. It was Magpies midfielder Bruno Guimaraes who opened the scoring. He strolled onto Nick Woltemade’s layoff and fired home to give his side the lead, after good play by Anthony Gordon.

Just six minutes later, Spurs had their equaliser. Cristian Romero got in front of Dan Burn to score a clever diving header at the near post.

However, it did not take long for the home side to get back in front. They won a contentious penalty, which Gordon emphatically scored, his first Premier League strike since January.

Just as it looked like the Magpies might hold on, Spurs equalised, five minutes into added time. It was their captain, Romero, again, whose acrobatic overhead kick somehow found its way through a mass of Newcastle shirts and into the back of the net.

It was a disappointing result for the Magpies in a game they dominated. Indeed, their attack left a little to be desired.

Newcastle’s misfiring attack vs. Spurs

After scoring four goals at the Hill Dickinson Stadium against Everton last weekend, the Magpies might have expected to continue that sort of form.

However, they could only turn their 19 shots, and seven on target, into two goals, which proved to be too few.

One man who struggled to get into the game was Woltemade.

Although he grabbed the assist for Guimaraes’ goal, a neat lay-off into the Brazilian’s path, it was a tough night against the physicality of Romero and Mickey van de Ven.

The summer signing only had 36 touches of the ball and lost possession 12 times, as per Sofascore. He could only muster two shots and was often left fairly isolated against the Spurs centre-backs.

Another attacker who struggled for the Magpies was Jacob Murphy. The winger was unusually sloppy in the final third, completing just three out of ten attempted crosses.

Jordan Cronin, journalist for Newcastle World, said he ‘lacked conviction and concentration’ during the game.

However, it was not just Woltemade and Murphy who struggled against the Lilywhites.

Newcastle’s most disappointing player vs. Spurs

For all their domination, the Magpies struggled to get a real grip on the game. Indeed, Joelinton was another player who looked off the pace and did not have the sort of impact going forward that Howe might have wanted from him.

It was notable just how poorly the Brazilian performed on Tuesday night. Cronin was one of the people who criticised him, giving him a 5/10 for his efforts and explaining that he ‘needlessly gave the ball away’ too many times.

His fellow journalist, Charlie Bennett, also noted that Joelinton was “very sloppy” on the ball. The stats back that theory up, with Newcastle’s number seven losing the ball 11 times out of 49 touches, and having a pass accuracy of just 83%.

Touches

49

Pass accuracy

83%

Possession lost

11

Ground duels won

3/10

Number of times dribbled past

3

Key passes

1

It feels like Howe has an interesting selection call to make ahead of Newcastle’s next game, at home against Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

It is a game you can expect the Magpies to dominate, so perhaps their manager will want midfielders who look after the ball better.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

There are options, too. It seems almost certain that Guimaraes will slot back into the side after he only played 45 minutes on Tuesday, replacing Sandro Tonali.

Lewis Miley would deserve to keep his place in the starting lineup, and Jacob Ramsey is another player who could come into the fold.

Joelinton’s poor showing against Spurs may well have cost him his place in the side. Howe has other players at his disposal, all of whom may offer him extra quality on the ball.

It would certainly not be a surprise if Joelinton was rotated out of the side against the Clarets.

Fewer passes than Ramsdale: Howe must drop 6/10 Newcastle star after Spurs

Newcastle United were denied another Premier League win by Tottenham Hotspur last night.

ByEthan Lamb Dec 3, 2025

Travis Head’s remarkable century in Perth, and his comments that it’s a role he has talked about doing, is posing a tough call for selectors

Andrew McGlashan28-Nov-20252:24

Head innings should not give England an ‘out’

Khawaja – the argument for

If Khawaja was one of the best two opening options before the first Test, then, if he has overcome the back problems, surely he still is a few days later. It was unfortunate timing to get a bad back, but he’s not the first player to suffer that. He got a very good ball from Brydon Carse in the first innings in Perth, which he could only feather to the wicketkeeper.Related

• Head 'happy' to keep opening amid Khawaja debate

• Cricket Australia to ask Khawaja for explanation of 's***' pitch comments

• Khawaja's back to be examined as Australia float flexible order

• Head feared riling England's quicks during Perth onslaught

• England are not panicking – yet

Could this be a case of being careful what you wish for? There was a clamour to move David Warner aside before he left the Test stage in early 2024, and since then, Australia have been on a merry-go-round of openers. Clearly, Khawaja does not have masses of time left as a Test cricketer, but you need to be sure before jettisoning his experience: 6055 Test runs at an average of 43.56.Since the 2023 Ashes, it has been more of a struggle for Khawaja. He averages 31.84 in this period, but he’s doing the toughest role in Test cricket. While the runs may not have flowed freely – and let’s not erase that 232 against Sri Lanka from his record, otherwise a lot of players’ performances need to be questioned – he has still been able to soak up valuable time in the middle.For example, in the West Indies earlier this year, he faced over 300 balls – and only two batters survived more in the series. If part of the aim of the top order is to take the sting out of the new ball, start to tire England’s bowlers, and lay a base for the likes of Travis Head to flourish, there’s a role Khawaja can still play.Usman Khawaja averages 50.08 in first-class cricket at the Gabba•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesIt wasn’t as though he had come into the series in poor domestic form: his scores for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield were 69, 46, 0 and 87. Another factor to consider is Khawaja has an excellent record at the Gabba, where he averages 50.08 in first-class cricket at his home ground, and, significantly, 50.20 against the pink ball.It’s also one thing playing the way Head did when there’s a final target to focus on, rather than setting up a Test on the first day or in the first innings. There is also no doubt about Head’s destructive and match-winning abilities at No. 5.There is a middle ground to this. Head could move up to open, and Khawaja could slot in at No. 5, the spot where he returned to Test cricket with twin hundreds against England at the SCG in early 2022. There is also the notion of the flexible batting order, where, for example, Khawaja could open in the first innings but perhaps not in the second, depending on the game situation.

Khawaja – the argument against

Sometimes there is a course of events that makes an irresistible case. You could easily say that happened with Head’s innings in Perth, especially when the man himself said he had been offering to take up the role since Warner’s retirement.While Head’s innings finished in a flurry of shots, some verging on outrageous, it was the early stages that set things up for him, and suggested he has the game to do it for the longer term. Head was on 3 off 14 balls at one stage, before whipping Gus Atkinson through midwicket for the first of his 16 fours; his first really adventurous shot came when he ramped Carse over the slips in the eighth over. He hadn’t just come out swinging from ball one.Travis Head flourished with a century as opener in the Perth Test•Getty ImagesThere are currently more viable candidates for middle-order roles in the Australia Test side than there are for opening. Two of them, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis, are in this squad – one who was very unlucky to lose his place in the first place, and another who has just scored a rapid century against England Lions. You can throw Mitchell Marsh into the mix as well, even before delving deeper into the Sheffield Shield.So moving Head up to the top does not have to be a case of weakening a strength to strengthen a weakness. Arguably, it is creating an opening where there are stronger options to choose from. Khawaja’s form has left the door ajar, too: one century in 45 Test innings, even when it is a double hundred, is a questionable record.The notion of Khawaja moving to the middle order? That could be seen as kicking the can down the road. Only a few weeks ago, Steve Waugh had criticised selection chair George Bailey for not taking the tough decisions.Khawaja himself knows how sliding-door moments can play out. His window to return to the Test side came when Head caught Covid-19 before the SCG Test in the 2021-22 Ashes. On that occasion, Khawaja made such a compelling case that Australia found a way to keep him in the side. Marcus Harris, who opened at the SCG and made 76 on a tough MCG pitch the game before, has not played a Test since.

Como star Alisha Lehmann could not resist cracking a joke after she scored for Switzerland during an international friendly defeat to Belgium. The Swiss' first outing under new head coach Rafel Navarro ended in a 2-1 defeat but Lehmann was still in good spirits afterwards. The former Juventus star stepped off the bench to score Switzerland’s only goal, and followed it up with a wry grin.

• Lehmann strikes and smiles as Switzerland fall to Belgium

  Belgium struck first through Laura Deloose in the 36th minute, with her long-range effort clipping a defender and wrong-footing the goalkeeper. Switzerland’s best moment of the evening belonged to Lehmann, who took advantage of a defensive lapse shortly after entering the match in the 64th minute. Barely settled on the pitch, she pounced on Belgium’s miscommunication, slotting home with trademark composure to level the contest at 1-1, which was her ninth international goal. Switzerland pushed back with intention but were undone again late on, when Tinne De Caigny finished off a swift counter-attack with a towering header to restore Belgium’s lead.

  Speaking afterwards, Lehmann was upbeat despite the defeat. She said: "We did a lot of things well, we had our chances. And we'll learn from the mistakes we made and do better against Wales on Tuesday. It felt good. Also that I got more playing minutes again."

  Her goal was her fourth against Belgium, and she added: "The Belgians seem to suit me."

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• AFP
  

  A journey across continents and leagues

  Lehmann’s path from a talented teenager in Switzerland to a global figure in women’s football has been anything but linear. She moved to England at just 19 after breaking through at BSC YB Frauen, signing for West Ham United in the Women’s Super League. During her three seasons with the Hammers, she became a central figure in their 2018–19 FA Cup run, finishing as a finalist in one of the club’s most memorable campaigns. A short spell at Everton followed in 2021 before Lehmann settled at Aston Villa, where she spent three seasons. But after years in the WSL, she sought a new challenge, one rooted not only in footballing ambition. In the summer of 2024, she left England for Italy, joining Juventus and immediately tasting silverware as the Bianconere captured the Serie A title. The celebrations were exuberant, but her role was often rotational, a reminder of the fierce competition at one of Europe’s giants. In 2025, a fresh opportunity emerged, and Lehmann embraced it and signed with Como Women. 

• Lehman explained why she chose Como

  Set on the banks of the iconic Lake Como, the club offered not only picturesque surroundings but also a renewed sense of purpose. 

  She stated: "It's great to wake up every morning to a beautiful view. You wake up much happier." 

  Later, speaking to , Lehmann explained why she chose Como Women: "It’s an independent club, fully focused on women’s football – and that really matters to me. From the start, I could see this wasn’t just another team; it’s a project with real purpose and vision. [So] signing with FC Como Women just felt right.

  "We’re in a moment where women’s football can define itself on its own terms, and independent clubs like Como Women have the opportunity in leading the movement. [It] isn’t just about winning matches. It’s about building something that lasts. This is the first time I’ve joined an independent club. That was a big part of my decision. It shows there is a different way of doing things."

  She added: "I came here to play football and hope to earn my place by working hard. I came here to compete and to grow as an athlete. The rest will come if I stay true to that. For me, it’s simple: I want to play as much as possible, help the team, and enjoy football. What I love is that they [Como] take the game seriously, but also create space for players to be themselves.

  "There’s so much potential here. Italy’s performances have shown the quality and spirit in the game here, and now people are paying attention. I think the league is ready to take a big step forward. With more visibility, investment, and commitment to the players, Serie A Women can become a real force in Europe. Being part of that journey is something I’m really excited about."

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  What comes next for Lehmann and Switzerland?

  Switzerland will continue their preparation under Navarro with a second friendly in Jerez against Wales on Tuesday. After that, Lehmann will return to Italy to resume her Serie A campaign with Como, where her next league test comes against Parma on December 7.

The incessant rain couldn’t quite spoil the occasion, sparked by a social-media call to action, and the fans will have one more go at their white-shirt tribute to Virat Kohli on May 23

Ashish Pant18-May-2025The periphery of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on IPL match days is a hive of activity. The hawkers selling Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) jerseys and caps and flags, fans looking for any last-minute tickets, those with tickets searching for their gates, and most wearing the RCB red and gold, invariably with “Virat 18” on the back.The vibe was pretty much the same when IPL 2025 resumed after a week-long break in Bengaluru, with RCB taking on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). But there was one visible change. Yes, there were plenty of red jerseys, but amid those were white shirts… a lot of them.It started with a simple social media post, which called on RCB fans to pay tribute to Virat Kohli’s Test legacy by wearing a white Kohli shirt to the RCB-KKR game after he had announced his retirement from the format last week. The posts multiplied and soon went viral. But would people actually turn up in whites? The answer was a resounding yes.Related

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The signs were there on the eve of the game when some hawkers outside the venue were spotted selling white India jerseys with “Virat 18” on the back, and they had plenty of takers. On match day, it became even bigger. The usual RCB jerseys were available in huge numbers, but the white ones quickly became the crowd favourite. They were everywhere and everyone wanted to have a piece of it. Women, men, children – Bengaluru had turned white for their “King”.The IPL is a lot about the glitz, the loud music, the colour, the buzz, the vibrancy. The red RCB flags and the red and gold jerseys are as much a part of the Chinnaswamy feel as are the “Aaar-ceee-beee” chants. But Saturday wasn’t usual. This was Kohli’s first game after his retirement from Test cricket. So it didn’t matter that the forecast was for incessant rain in the evening, which ended up washing the game out. The fans wanted to be there and white was their colour of choice.”I got to know about this through Instagram. I didn’t even have a ticket for this game, I somehow scrambled for it today and got it,” Naman, an RCB fan, said when we caught up with him. “Virat Kohli is the best cricketer I have ever seen, and it was my duty to give him a tribute. He shouldn’t have retired.”

Chinnaswamy stadium is a proper vibe today. A sea of white amidst the usual red #RCBvKKR #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/lQqNLaawhN

— Ashish Pant (@ashishpant43) May 17, 2025