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Pakistan need to regroup even as rain forecast swirls around second ODI

Matt Roller09-Jul-2021

Big Picture

It’s a week short of two years since England played an ODI at Lord’s, and barring a 500-plays-500 tie, it’s hard to see how Saturday will match their last outing there. The euphoria on London’s streets in the past two weeks as England’s footballers edge closer and closer to European Championship glory has rarely been matched in terms of scale, but the scene in Trafalgar Square on July 14, 2019 was as close as another sport has come to replicating it in recent memory – limbs flying and beer thrown when Jos Buttler ran Martin Guptill out three miles away as England won their first 50-over World Cup.Needless to say, Saturday’s cast will be much-changed from the group that lifted the trophy, with only two of the 15 World Cup winners involved in both squads. In the aftermath of that final, the idea of Ben Stokes captaining England in an ODI in 2021 would have involved Eoin Morgan retiring prematurely and an injury to Buttler as a bare minimum, but these are unprecedented circumstances. Stokes’ involvement in Thursday’s thrashing at Cardiff was minimal, bowling a single over and being unused as a batter, but he can expect a greater role on Saturday.The other survivor is James Vince, whose international career looked as good as over until sporadic namechecks from Morgan while he was scoring freely in the BBL over the winter and this week’s last-minute recall. Vince was on the field as a sub fielder for Mark Wood during the Super Over two years ago, but one intervention he made in the final is little-known. With two required off the last ball, Vince came out as 12th man with a towel and a drink. “‘I think we win if we get a single,’ Vincey told me,” Stokes recalled in his book – mercifully, he checked the details with Marais Erasmus, rather than clipping a single into the leg side and celebrating with open arms on reaching the non-striker’s end only to find out there was still work to do.Much as Lord’s holds fond memories for Stokes and Vince, England have not been hugely successful there over the last six years. Since the start of the 2015-19 World Cup cycle, Lord’s is the only home ground where they have lost as many games as they have won, including a heavy defeat to Australia in the tournament itself. In his book , England’s white-ball analyst Nathan Leamon puts this down to two things: there has been more lateral movement for seamers at Lord’s than any other ground in ODIs, and overall scoring rates have been the slowest of any venues. Neither of those suits their batting-heavy strategy.Pakistan, by contrast, have won four of their last five ODIs at Lord’s, including victories against South Africa and Bangladesh in the 2019 World Cup. They will have a returning home crowd to content with – an English cricket ground will be at 100% capacity for the first time since 2019 – but a significant proportion will be made up of the Pakistani diaspora from around the UK.There is plenty to be said for Shahid Afridi’s advice to Pakistan this week – “We should forget this match as soon as possible!” he tweeted – given their recent record in 50-over cricket. They had lost one (two including a Super Over against Zimbabwe) of their last dozen ODIs heading into this series, and while a heavy defeat against a second-string side was humbling, it seems unlikely that Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam will fail to score a run between them for the second game in a row. England have won four consecutive tosses in their home ODIs this summer – if their luck finally runs out, Pakistan will be keen to bowl first under dark skies.

Form Guide

England WWWLW
Pakistan LWLWT

In the spotlight

Cardiff’s short straight boundaries are unforgiving for spinners, not least when bowling from the River Taff End when the risk of being chipped into the drink is all too real. As a result, Matt Parkinson‘s returns – 2 for 28 from seven overs – in the first ODI were pleasing for England. That said, while conditions were not conducive to legspin, the game situation meant he was not put under pressure by any recognised batters, and Saturday will probably be a bigger test. Discussion around Parkinson revolves around his pace (or lack thereof) and his struggles to left-handers, given his googly is still a work in progress; a strong series against a good batting line-up would help him answer both questions.Babar Azam‘s superlative record in England – 1006 ODI runs at 47.90 in 24 innings – was dented by his second-ball duck on Thursday, playing away from his body as he searched for bat on ball against the fiery Saqib Mahmood, but it is rare for him to fail twice in a row. His three ODI innings at Lord’s to date have brought scores of 30, 69 and 96, and he will be keen to consolidate his position as the ICC’s No. 1-ranked batter in the format, too.

Pitch and conditions

Saturday’s forecast for NW8 is not ideal, with dark clouds and persistent rain due throughout the morning, but the suggestion is that it should clear up in time for long enough to avoid a no-result. Lord’s has been relatively high-scoring in this year’s T20 Blast, with the three teams batting first posting 223, 183 and 166, but with the current batch of white balls swinging for prolonged periods at the start of an innings, conditions are likely to suit seamers early on.

Team news

It would be harsh for England to discard any of the side that routed Pakistan so comprehensively in Cardiff, though with three matches scheduled in six days, they may opt to give one of the seamers a rest, with Tom Helm, Jake Ball and David Payne the candidates to come in. With the bat, they will surely want to give Ben Duckett an opportunity at some stage in the series, but John Simpson can expect to keep the gloves on his home ground.England: (possible) 1 Phil Salt, 2 Dawid Malan, 3 Zak Crawley, 4 James Vince, 5 Ben Stokes (capt), 6 John Simpson (wk), 7 Lewis Gregory, 8 Craig Overton/Jake Ball, 9 Brydon Carse/Tom Helm, 10 Saqib Mahmood, 11 Matt ParkinsonPakistan were blown away so quickly that it was difficult to evaluate any individual performers on Thursday, and they are likely to stick with the same core and balance. Debutant Saud Shakeel was one of Mahmood’s four victims and it would be harsh to dispense with him after a single game, while the recalled Sohaib Maqsood showed a glimpse of his power-hitting when flogging Carse over cover for six. Haris Rauf bowled with good pace but was relatively expensive, and Mohammad Hasnain is waiting in the wings for an opportunity.Pakistan: (possible) 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Sohaib Maqsood, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11 Haris Rauf/Mohammad Hasnain.

Stats and trivia

• Ben Stokes will become the 25th England player to reach 100 caps in men’s ODIs, drawing level with Nick Knight. Eoin Morgan, the man he is standing in for, has the most, with 223 (and a further 23 for Ireland).
• Fakhar Zaman is the third-highest run-scorer in men’s ODIs this calendar year, with 349 runs in four innings. Mushfiqur Rahim (407 in nine) and Paul Stirling (546 in eight) are the two men ahead of him.
• Dawid Malan has made two fifties in his first four ODIs. If he can continue his run-scoring form, he is in with a chance of becoming the second England player to score an international hundred in all three formats, after Heather Knight.
• A comfortable win would see Pakistan leapfrog Australia and Bangladesh (on net run-rate) to go second in the World Cup Super League table.
• Zak Crawley has scored 378 runs in three innings against Pakistan in all formats, compared to 384 runs in 22 innings against all other international opponents.
  

  Quotes

  “Within sport we’re slightly in a different place to the public and having to be pretty careful with regards to Covid and not picking it up. It is slightly strange being stuffed in your hotel rooms when a lot of people are roaming around free but equally, it allows us to play in front of full houses and have this opportunity.”
  
  “It wasn’t a shocker but one bad day. Every day isn’t the same so I have a full confidence and belief on my boys and I will still tell them not to worry. There are ups and downs but you have to learn quickly from your mistakes. We will try our best to bounce back and not repeat our mistakes.”

Bayern Munich are in talks to offer new deal to Jamal Musiala as they could make the German star the club's joint top earner with Harry Kane.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Bayern determined to retain Musiala's services
• Real and Man City want German star
• Musiala could become club's joint highest earner

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  There has been speculation over the future of Musiala at Bayern Munich with European giants Real Madrid and Manchester City reportedly keen on signing the attacking midfielder. However, Sky Germany now reports that the Bavarian club are planning to offer a new lucrative long-term contract to the youngster.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bayern still have a lot of time to negotiate a new deal with Musiala as his current deal expires in 2026. The club have already initiated talks with the player's representatives as they plan to offer a new contract which will be valid until 2029 or 2030. The contract extension will also see the 21-year-old become the club's joint highest earner along with Kane. The England captain currently earns €25 million (£20.9m) per season in wages at Allianz Arena.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  At Bayern, Kane is followed by Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sane, who earn from €19m to €20m per season. Musiala's current wage is in the region of €8m to €9m.

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR JAMAL MUSIALA?

  The attacker has pulled out of the German squad for their upcoming Nations League clashes due to a hip problem. Bayern will hope that Musiala fully recovers during the international break and takes the field in their next Bundesliga fixture against Stuttgart on October 19.

Also, a bucketful of allrounders with many left-hand batting options included

Sidharth Monga18-Jan-20251:09

No Shami in Bangar’s XI for Champions Trophy

Transition can waitThere was some chatter around whether India would start their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup right away, and pick only those senior players who can be sure of playing two years from now for next month’s England ODIs and the Champions Trophy. However, after the Champions Trophy is a more natural reset point. As of now they have complete faith in Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, but when they sit down to pick the squad for the next ODI assignment after the Champions Trophy, they will surely take into account their game, their age, their fitness, their desire vis-a-vis the 2027 World Cup.Gill, a future ODI captain?When the incumbent captain is certain to lead the side for the next few years, the identity of the vice-captain is not that significant. This, though, is a team in transition. Should, for any reason, Rohit not be part of the team going forward, the selectors seem to have a captain in mind. Shubman Gill was the vice-captain of the last ODI squad too, has been a consistent run-getter, and is most at home in ODIs out of the three formats. His continuing as vice-captain, ahead of other senior players in the Champions Trophy squad, can be seen as a stamp of approval for him as the next captain.A bit of this, a bit of thatThere seems to be a clear impetus for multi-skilled players. They are not quite genuine allrounders – as in, they can’t play based on one discipline alone – but they add depth to the batting. India have picked four of these. Unfortunately, only one of them is a seam bowler – Hardik Pandya. Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are the three spinner-batters in the squad, which leaves room for only three out-and-out bowlers in the first XI and only three specialist fast bowlers in the 15-member squad.Mohammed Siraj did not find a place in the 15•AFP/Getty ImagesUnfortunate SirajHaving that many allrounders is sure to cause a casualty in one of the two specialist departments. Mohammed Siraj is the unfortunate one to miss out despite taking 47 wickets at 22.7 per wicket and conceding 5.41 per over since the start of 2023.According to captain Rohit and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, uncertainty around Jasprit Bumrah might have played a role. Rohit said that if Bumrah doesn’t make it, they want their fast bowler to be effective in all phases of the ODI innings. Rohit said that Siraj’s effectiveness comes down a bit if he doesn’t get the new ball.At any rate, the make-up of the squad suggests they expect conditions where they will regularly play three spinners. The question of not getting the new ball arises only if three quicks are playing. Keeping all that in mind, with Bumrah not certain to play, Rohit said they wanted Arshdeep Singh to be there for the “back end”.What is more interesting is that Harshit Rana is Bumrah’s cover in the three-ODI series against England, which precedes the Champions Trophy. That is probably because India already know what they get with Siraj. Rana is someone they want to take a look at. This is no indication that Siraj won’t be considered should Bumrah not be able to make it. Asked if the selectors had someone in mind if Bumrah didn’t make it, Agarkar said his panel was “just hoping Bumrah’s fit. We will have a chat if he’s not fit.”Domestic cricket – important or not?Sanju Samson scored a hundred in the last ODI he played while Rishabh Pant was not a regular in the last ODI series he was a part of. However, Samson was unlikely to be part of the discussions here because he was disciplined by his state association for allegedly not turning up for the one-day camp. If the national team goes ahead and ignores Samson’s absence in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, it sends a mixed signal after having just insisted on the importance of paying domestic cricket.However, there will always be exceptions. Kuldeep Yadav, who has now recovered from his sports hernia surgery, will walk back into the squad even though at various times the decision-makers keep saying injured players have to prove their match fitness in domestic cricket in order to make a comeback. Nor will they ask Bumrah to play domestic cricket if he has to play the Champions Trophy.Kuldeep Yadav is back after an injury layoff•Getty ImagesIt would be naive to think that the singularity of what Kuldeep and Bumrah do doesn’t play any part in exceptions being made for them. At the same time, circumstances are such that there is no domestic cricket on for Kuldeep’s team when he has been cleared for action. He has worked up to loads of 10-12 overs at the National Cricket Academy, where he has been recovering.Left-hand reservesIndia’s top five were in such sensational form the last time they played together that they select themselves in the first XI. However, they are all right-hand batters: Rohit, Gill, Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Rahul. Then the only seam-bowling allrounder, Pandya, is also a right-hand batter. No surprise that the next cabs in the rank are both left-hand batters: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Pant. All three of the spin allrounders are also left-hand batters. Axar, in particular, has been used to break up the right-hand batter cluster in the past.Possible first XI: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill (vice-capt), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Axar Patel/Washington Sundar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Jasprit Bumrah/Arshdeep Singh

Southampton were hit with a hammer blow on Saturday when they conceded in the 97th minute to lose to Millwall at The Den in their last Championship game of the month.

After fighting to make it 2-2 through Fin Azaz, the Saints defence fell asleep at a crucial moment to allow Tristan Crama to sneak in unmarked at the back post to score the winner.

It was a brutal way to lose a game of football, but it was also the first loss of Tonda Eckert’s time in interim charge, after four wins in his first four games in the dugout.

The latest on Tonda Eckert's future at Southampton

Football Insider recently reported that the German tactician is in the driving seat to land the role on a permanent basis, thanks to winning his first four matches in the Championship.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

The outlet claimed that the former U21s boss is the leading candidate to take the job from Sport Republic, ahead of more experienced managers who have been on the shortlist, including, but not limited to, Russell Martin.

However, Football Insider added that Eckert will still be given more time before a final decision is made, and that a permanent appointment is not imminent at this moment in time.

With this in mind, there is still time for Southampton to look elsewhere for their next manager, which is why they should push to hire Brendan Rodgers, who was linked with the role shortly after Will Still’s departure.

Why Southampton should hire Brendan Rodgers

Sport Republic, as they will, need to consider the short and long-term consequences with their next managerial appointment, because there are two elements at play.

In the short term, they need a manager, whether that is Eckert or someone else, who can guide the team up the table and into promotion contention to get back to the Premier League.

However, in the long term, the Saints need a boss who can then guide them to safety in the top-flight, because Martin was unable to do that after winning promotion with the club, which illustrates the importance of hiring a manager who can achieve both tasks.

Rodgers, once described as “world-class” by Gabby Agbonlahor, is a highly experienced Premier League manager who knows what it takes to be successful at that level, having managed Leicester, Liverpool, and Swansea in the top-flight.

As you can see in the table above, the only season that Rodgers did not have his team competing for a top-half finish was when he was sacked with ten matches to go in the 2022/23 campaign.

His overall history in the division suggests that he has the managerial chops to keep the Saints in the Premier League if they earn promotion, whilst Eckert has no previous experience at that level and would go in as a novice in that respect, just as Martin did.

Meanwhile, Rodgers is also coming off a second stint with Celtic in Scotland, where, as shown in the graphic above, he won four trophies in two full seasons in Glasgow.

The Northern Irish boss won four Premiership titles in four full seasons with the Hoops over two spells with the club, per Transfermarkt, which shows that the experienced manager also knows how to coach a team to win matches on a consistent basis.

That is further backed up by the fact that he won the Championship play-offs to win promotion to the Premier League with Swansea in the 2010/11 campaign, before finishing 11th in the top-flight with the Welsh outfit.

Rodgers is, therefore, a manager who has a proven track record of being able to achieve what Southampton need in the short and long-term, whilst Eckert has made a strong start to life in the Championship but does not have a proven record, with no top-flight experience.

"Really great coach" in pole position to be named permanent Southampton manager

The Saints are now edging closer to appointing a permanent manager.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Nov 28, 2025

This is why Sport Republic should push to appoint Rodgers as their new permanent manager, if the former Hoops boss is willing to make the move, because he could be a big upgrade on Eckert with his reputation and proven coaching ability.

The group stage of the Vitality Blast has been completed (with some Covid-19 disruption) and here’s a round-up of how the Australian contingent went

Andrew McGlashan19-Jul-2021

Josh Inglis (Leicestershire)

A magnificent tournament for Inglis who finished as the leading run-scorer in the group stage and struck two centuries – 103 off 62 balls against Northamptonshire and 118 off 61 against Worcestershire. At a time when the Australia T20 side has continued to struggle it was another strong nudge towards the selectors who have already taken notice of him, although he played as an opener throughout this campaign which isn’t where the vacancies really lie.

Marnus Labuschagne (Glamorgan)

One of the main reasons Labuschagne was not taken to West Indies was so he could have a sustained period of T20 cricket. A forced spell of isolation after being a Covid close contact interrupted things, but either side of that he made full use of his opportunities although as a team Glamorgan had a pretty miserable tournament with just three wins in 14 matches. Labuschagne struck four half-centuries in his eight innings having had none in the format before the competition started and was also Glamorgan’s second-highest wicket-taker.

D’Arcy Short (Hampshire)

A slightly underwhelming group stage for Short who made a lot of starts without quite converting although he was part of a Hampshire side that squeezed into the quarter-finals when a whole range of scenarios played out in their favour. Short saved his best for last as well with his one half-century coming in the final match against Glamorgan with 69 off 30 balls as they surged to a target of 186 in 13 overs.Related

• Labuschagne out of isolation with 2nd XI double century

• Could Smith's potential absence open T20 World Cup door for Labuschagne?

• Sussex seal quarter-final spot as Jofra Archer makes low-key return

• Inglis' second Blast ton sends Worcestershire crashing out

Cameron Bancroft (Durham)

Bancroft’s form faded towards the end of the group stage, with a top score of 20 in his last five innings, after a productive period in the middle of the competition where he made two half-centuries in five innings, both against Birmingham Bears at healthy strike-rates. They contributed to two of the five victories Durham managed as they missed a quarter-final berth. The majority of Bancroft’s innings were at No. 4.

Travis Head (Sussex)

It has not been the season Head would have hoped for with a lean T20 Blast following on from his County Championship struggles. He passed 20 in half of his innings but could not go beyond 27 and did not play the final two group matches although Sussex were able to secure a quarter-final slot.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Ben Dwarshuis (Worcestershire)

A solid haul for Dwarshuis, the Sydney Sixers left-armer, as he finished as Worcestershire’s second-highest wicket-taker. They probably came at a slightly higher cost than he would have liked but as is the case in the BBL he bowled a lot in tough periods – he sent down the third-most deliveries in the death overs (16-20) for the group stage behind Naveen-ul-Haq and Matty Potts. His overall numbers were also dented by the final two games where he went for 90 in seven overs.

Chris Green (Middlesex)

Sydney Thunder allrounder Green was a late call-up after Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s arrival at Middlesex was delayed. He had a memorable personal day against Kent where he claimed a career-best 5 for 32 which included a final-over hat-trick but it came in one of Middlesex’s nine defeats. Made some handy contributions with the bat including an unbeaten 26 off 13 balls in a successful chase of 217 against Hampshire.

Daniel Worrall (Gloucestershire)

Not much for Worrall to remember fondly from the tournament as he went wicketless in six consecutive innings and finished with an eye-watering average close to 100.

Tim David (Surrey)

A hurried late call-up for the Singaporean batter, who is a BBL regular and eligible for Australia, when Surrey were hit by an injury and illness crisis late in the competition. Only had two matches but gave another example of his finishing skills with 25 off 13 balls against Gloucestershire.

They had beaten Australia earlier this year. And with tactics and belief in place, they knew they could do it again

Firdose Moonda18-Oct-20243:30

Takeaways: How stunning South Africa ended Australia’s reign

“No DNA, Just RSA.”Welcome to another lesson in South African slangs.Just before the Men’s T20 World Cup final earlier this year, ESPNcricinfo introduced its readers to a short and sharp Afrikaans expression that has come to sum up South African sporting achievements. “Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie (They don’t know what we know),” is a rallying cry to remind South Africans of their difficult past, what differentiates them from people from elsewhere, and their determination, but it’s not the only national proverb.”No DNA, just RSA,” is a shorter, sharper phrase that also does the rounds on social media and is entirely apt for their semi-final win over Australia at the Women’s T20 World Cup. It tells a story of not having anything inherently special inbuilt in you or the systems around you, but channeling a champion mindset of overcoming adversity to come out on top. That is what the South African team did to register just their second T20I win over Australia in 11 attempts, their first at a World Cup and their most complete performance in a major semi-final.Related

• The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the South African sky

• South Africa stun serial winners Australia to enter World Cup final

• Stats – Australia's unbeaten run at Women's T20 World Cup ends

An eight-wicket victory with 16 balls to spare is as comprehensive as it sounds, and it came from a side that only first tasted victory over Australia earlier this year, after failing in eight attempts over 15 years. It also came from a side who made the right decisions against an opposition that has been tactically superior in the women’s game for decades, who had not been beaten in a T20 World Cup match in 15 games and had not lost a semi-final in 15 years.Laura Wolvaardt’s decision to bowl first went against conventional knockout game wisdom of putting runs on the board but was grounded in evidence. Seven of the 11 games played in Dubai at this tournament were won by chasing teams, no-one still really knows what a good score on these surfaces is. And of the five T20Is Australia have lost since the last World Cup, four were when they batted first. “We feel like runs on the board wouldn’t necessarily affect that (Australian) unit. It seems like they can chase whatever they want and are really up for a chase. So we just thought bowling first just suited us a bit better. Hopefully they didn’t know how hard to go, which ended up being the case,” Wolvaardt said afterwards.It wasn’t just a case of uncharacteristic Australian uncertainty, it was that South Africa made it tough for them, particularly in the powerplay. With some swing on offer, Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka were disciplined, and immediately afterwards their spinners backed them up by bowling slow and straight and their fielding was generally energetic. Boundary options were rare for Australia and by the end of the 16th over, they had only hit six fours. They finished with 11 fours and no sixes, and seemed to be “10 to 20 runs short,” on Wolvaardt’s assessment.Still, to watch South Africa chase in a knockout match of a World Cup is to ride an emotional rollercoaster that starts with hope, twists in anticipation, turns at panic and usually ends in disappointment. When Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits managed only four runs off the first two overs, a small but largely South African-supporting crowd grew restless and the boundaries that followed would have done little to decrease their stress levels.2:02

Anneke Bosch: ‘Hopefully leaving our best game for the final’

Brits’ first four was only thanks to a misfield from Annabel Sutherland at long-on and Wolvaardt’s came off an edge. Even when Brits cleared long-on for the first six of the match in the fourth over, hearts were in throats. Taking risks, however calculated they are, has historically also not ended well for South Africa. When Brits was bowled by a Sutherland jaffa, the familiar feelings of dread were resurrected, especially because of who was in next.Anneke Bosch, with a strike rate of 72.97 from three innings before this match, could easily have botched it. Instead, she bossed it.Seemingly out of nowhere, Bosch announced herself with a sweep off Sophie Molineux that beat deep midwicket and then danced down the track to send one over mid-off, and Australia had conceded their highest powerplay at this tournament of 43. But Bosch’s big-hitting did not surprise her own changeroom. Over the last two weeks, anyone from the South African camp who was asked maintained that she had been hitting the ball really well in the nets and that they were keeping her in the side because they believed she would come good. They also insisted she would stay at No. 3, ahead of Kapp, because it helped manage their premier allrounder’s workload. None of it seemed convincing because of Bosch’s record.With only one fifty from her last 14 T20I innings – including a 46 in Pakistan last month when she had to retire hurt – Australia were unlikely to have earmarked Bosch as the game-changer but Wolvaardt said her career-best was a long time in the making. “Anneke and Baakier (Abrahams), our batting coach, meet for coffee for like an hour every single day and just talk about batting,” Wolvaardt said. “He’s really been on her case, chasing her and making sure that she talks to him about her options.”Bosch described Abrahams, who has previously worked at men’s provincial sides in South Africa’s domestic system as having, “opened a whole new world of batting,” for her and boosted her confidence. “We spoke about all the different options and plans against different bowlers in different conditions. A lot of what happened today, we can give credit to him. He kept believing in us, or in me, even after a couple of bad games. He had my back and he believed in me. He told me a good innings is coming.”

“Tune in to watch. There could be something very special happening for a lot of South Africans in the next few days”South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt after making the second straight final

And so to the much-praised additions to the South African coaching staff, who were appointed in May. Abrahams is their first full-time batting coach and has made a noticeable difference to their approach and many of their strike rates but it’s the spin-bowling consultant and former international Paul Adams who has made the most impact on their mindset. As a player who rode the highs of expectation after becoming South Africa’s youngest Test cricketer at the age of 18 to one who suffered the lows of being dropped, going through coaching hiccups at Western Province and the emotional upheaval of the Social Justice and Nation Building hearings, Adams has seen it all. He has used that knowledge to bring a fresh, innovative mindset to the team and does something special and new before every match.This time it was meditation. “We all got in the huddle, he made us close our eyes, picture being here, listen to the sounds, listen to the noise and see ourselves doing well. It was like a guided visualisation,” Wolvaardt said.Happily for South Africa, they had some success they could picture in their mind after they beat Australia in Canberra earlier this year. Ten of the 11 players who were involved in that match were in this semi-final line-up and all of them had their own reasons to believe. “It made us realise that it is possible for us to beat them this time because we have done it before,” Bosch said.As tennis great Billie-Jean said, “If you can see it, you can be it,” and South Africa have done well to adopt that mantra too. The women’s team has always represented a diverse cross-section of society, not just across the racial spectrum but also the socio-economic one. Many of the players in this XI come from challenging backgrounds, where their basic needs were not being met, never mind their sporting ambitions nurtured. Through development programmes, small amounts of funding and a lot of blind faith, here they are. Compare that to Australia’s uber-professionalised system which is far ahead of anyone else’s, and the meaning of “No DNA, just RSA” might become clearer.And that is where the magic lies in what this South African side has already achieved. They have made a habit of delivering masterclasses in the art of possibility and they don’t intend to stop. “I try to make sure every day that I inspire,” Khaka, one of the greatest success stories of this side said. “Especially for the people that come from certain parts that I come from. I just want to send a message: it is possible. Anything that you want, you can do it.”In February 2023, South Africa’s women’s team became the first senior side to reach a World Cup final and now they have done it again. In between their two achievements, the men’s side also reached a World Cup final. Is the next step there for the taking? “Tune in to watch,” Wolvaardt said. “There could be something very special happening for a lot of South Africans in the next few days.”

Thomas Frank is clearly a clever man. The Tottenham Hotspur manager is a bona fide tactician, and he has credentials in the Premier League after lifting Brentford into the top flight and keeping them there with a flourish.

But the Danish coach’s skills haven’t yet translated to Tottenham, not in the same manner, not with the same snap and grace.

Tottenham are 11th in the league standings, and they have two points from their past five matches. Home ground misery has spilt from last season into the new campaign, and this is forming the crux of a general air of frustration that may threaten Frank’s tenure if he does not find a solution quickly.

Much has been made of the north Londoners’ creative problems this season, but Frank’s resilient and organised defensive structure is also leaving something to be desired, prompting Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici to start searching for reinforcements.

Spurs searching for a defender

Frank’s well-ordered system lends itself to stability in the Premier League. He is not known as an attack-centric coach, but the rises of Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa bear testament to his man-management skills and tactical expertise across the board.

But it’s clear that Tottenham need more high-quality depth at the rear, with questionable recruitment in recent years leading to a lopsided outfit that quite simply doesn’t boast the wider quality to challenge at the very top of the division.

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are talented centre-halves, but the pool is shallow beneath them, and that’s why Tottenham are gearing up for a winter raid on a Premier League rival.

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham are preparing an ambitious £40m bid for Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who has been among the standouts for Fabian Hurzeler this season.

The Dutchman is physical and technically dynamic, and given that he is contracted to the AMEX until 2027, now represents the perfect time to strike.

What Van Hecke would offer Spurs

Van Hecke, 25 years old, has been at Brighton since signing from NAC Breda in 2022, spending his first two years out on loan and since featuring 107 times across all competitions. He was immense last term, earning praise for his “unbelievable season” from his manager.

You may have seen Van Hecke’s name crop up in recent days. He netted a brace during Brighton’s frantic 4-3 defeat to winning machine Aston Villa, emulating both Romero and Van de Ven in that regard.

Standing at 6 foot 2 and with a limber frame, the Netherlands native is fast becoming one of the most dynamic and athletic centre-backs in the Premier League, ranking among the top 5% of positional peers in the division this season for goals scored, the top 21% for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for progressive passes and the top 1% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

This underscores both his athleticism and proactivity on the ball. In this, he shares traits with Romero, who has scored three times but also assisted two goals across all competitions this year.

But the central point here is that Van Hecke is good enough to start; he would not move to the capital and play under Frank only to languish on the fringes.

Romero is the captain and a real talismanic force for a squad in need of guidance, but given Van Hecke’s enterprising passing and willingness to run, might he threaten countryman Van de Ven’s place in the starting line-up?

Van de Ven simply isn’t winning enough duels this season. He is an elite athletic profile and a force to be reckoned with, but there is gas in the tank he is not burning right now, and a true challenger for his starting spot could jumpstart him into action.

Then again, Van Hecke does have the quality to nail down a berth, with former striker Pierre van Hooijdonk actually describing him as a “positively crazy” defender, something that can work in your favour as a centre-back, if harnessed effectively.

This Romero-esque player could prove a jackpot signing for Tottenham if signed, not only deepening Frank’s options but also enriching the quality of a team that has more to give.

Spurs star is becoming Frank's own version of Kane & he's not even a forward

This Tottenham star is becoming a talismanic force for Frank’s side.

By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 5, 2025

Ousmane Dembele has been dropped by Paris Saint-Germain for their Champions League trip to Arsenal following a bust-up with manager Luis Enrique.

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• World Cup winner has been in fine form
• Argued with coach after Ligue 1 victory
• Will not travel to London for Gunners tie

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The World Cup winner has been a talismanic presence for the Ligue 1 title holders this season. He has figured in all six of their domestic fixtures at the start of the 2024-25 campaign, registering four goals and the same number of assists.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Dembele has helped PSG back to first place in the French top flight, with the former Barcelona star seemingly rediscovering a spark in his homeland. He was handed a starting berth, and registered one of his assists for the season, in a 3-1 victory over Rennes on Friday.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  However, according to , the 27-year-old forward was involved in a heated argument with his manager after that contest. Spanish tactician Luis Enrique has never been one to bow to player power, and he has taken the decision to remove Dembele from his immediate plans.

• WHAT NEXT?

  The France international will not be included in PSG’s travelling squad for their clash with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. It remains to be seen how long he will be excluded for, with Luis Enrique in a position to dictate how severe the disciplinary sanctions are.

Liverpool’s Premier League win last season may have come as a surprise to many, especially after Arne Slot took the reins from the legendary Jürgen Klopp.

There’s little denying the Dutchman massively exceeded expectations at Anfield during his debut year, which may have heaped added pressure on his shoulders for 2025/26.

The Reds turned into the hunted rather than the hunters before a ball was kicked, but the £466m spending spree during the off-season only increased the size of the target on their backs.

However, it appears as though the 47-year-old could well be on borrowed time in the managerial role, after losing a remarkable six of the last seven league outings.

It remains to be seen how much time Slot will be given to transform the club’s fortunes, but the upcoming transfer window could present an opportunity to address some glaring issues.

Liverpool’s pursuit of new additions ahead of January

Over the last couple of days, Liverpool have been one of the clubs named in the pursuit of Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson in the January window.

Slot will have had the opportunity to view the Englishman first-hand over the weekend, as the 23-year-old featured for 90 minutes in the 3-0 defeat at Anfield.

However, any deal would be yet another huge investment, as Sean Dyche’s side are currently demanding £100m for his services – with Manchester United also interested in the Englishman.

He’s not the only youngster currently in their sights, with Juventus star Kenan Yildiz another player being considered by the board ahead of the upcoming window.

According to Football Insider, the Reds are closely monitoring the progress of the 20-year-old, who has already racked up five combined goals and assists in his 11 Serie A appearances.

Their report also states that Arsenal are another side tracking the Turkish international, even though the Italian side are reluctant to offload one of their key players.

Why Liverpool’s latest target would be a better signing than Semenyo

Despite spending heavily in the summer window, Liverpool’s attempts to bolster their squad in January could come to fruition, which could see Antoine Semenyo move to Anfield.

The Ghanaian has been in tremendous form during the early stages of 2025/26, with the 25-year-old already netting six times in his first 11 outings for Bournemouth.

He’s also registered three assists, taking his total goal contributions this season to nine – with the Reds supporters able to witness his talents first-hand on Merseyside.

The winger netted twice in the Reds’ 4-2 victory at Anfield on the opening day, a performance that will no doubt have caught the eye of Slot and the hierarchy.

He currently has a £65m release clause in his deal at the Vitality, with other sides such as Arsenal and Manchester United also targeting a deal for his signature this winter.

However, Liverpool should look past a deal for Semenyo and place all their attention on Yildiz, with the Juve star undoubtedly a bigger star for the immediate and long-term future.

When comparing the pair’s respective figures from the ongoing campaign, the Turkish star has dominated in numerous key areas, many of which could help correct the recent slump.

Yildiz, who’s been dubbed “the best youngster in the world” by one analyst, has registered more progressive carries and passes per 90 – showcasing his ability to get the ball into dangerous areas.

He’s also been able to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst notching more key passes per 90 – arguably being the solution to the Reds’ creative woes.

The Juve sensation’s dominance over Semenyo is further reflected in his higher take-on success rate and carries into the final third per 90 – potentially being able to star in a number ten or left-wing role.

Other numbers, such as higher shot-creating actions and more crosses completed per 90, offer yet another reason why the 20-year-old is a bigger talent – but it’s unclear how much a move would set the hierarchy back.

His talents and versatility could make him a phenomenal option for Slot and Liverpool, with such a deal adding needed quality into the club’s frontline, which could help save Slot’s job.

Semenyo would also be a superb signing, but based on the aforementioned numbers, it’s evident that Yildiz would be the perfect player to try and resurrect the club’s recent dismal form in the Premier League.

Worse than Konate: Slot must drop 2/10 Liverpool flop who lost 100% duels

Ibrahima Konate was not the only culprit during Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest.

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By
Matt Dawson

Nov 23, 2025

Vivianne Miedema felt “nervous” ahead of her return to Arsenal, with the Dutch striker on target for new club Manchester City in a WSL thriller.

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• Spent seven years in north London
• Made history & won trophies
• Now representing domestic rivals

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  After becoming the all-time leading scorer in Women’s Super League history during her time with the Gunners, Miedema decided to take on a new challenge in the summer of 2024. She has not moved far, with life in north London being swapped for that in the North West.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A first outing back in familiar surroundings was always going to be an emotional one, and Miedema admits that it was a struggle to control her emotions when lining up in front of a fan base that used to idolise her – with the 28-year-old turning from friend to foe.

• WHAT MIEDEMA SAID

  Arsenal were given another reminder of quite how clinical Miedema can be as she netted in an entertaining 2-2 draw. She posted on social media afterwards, with nobody left too disappointed after the spoils were shared: “There’s not been many games I’ve been more nervous for than for this one. but thank you and I’m grateful for the warm welcome (back) from all fans today.”

• WHAT NEXT?

  Miedema won the WSL title with Arsenal in 2018-19, along with three League Cups, and is hoping to get back on the trophy trail during her debut campaign with City. The 2024-25 season is now up and running, with everyone trying to wrestle a domestic crown away from defending champions Chelsea.