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“I wanted to do something really special and make sure I was there till the end as well and finish the job’

Chinmay Vaidya25-Sep-2020Jess Kerr remembers getting the call.”Do you know what happened to Amelia?”The New Zealand women’s team had played an ODI against Ireland overnight. Since the match wasn’t televised, Jess hadn’t caught any of the action. She didn’t know yet what her sister had accomplished.”I just thought, ‘Oh yea she would’ve got a 50 or a few wickets’,” Jess recalled.Technically, she wasn’t wrong. At one point, Amelia Kerr did have 50 and a few wickets.”Then I checked the scoreboard and I was like ‘Oh my goodness that is insane’.”ALSO READ: The irresistible rise of Amelia Kerr, New Zealand’s ‘once-in-a-generation’ prospectThe scoreboard from June 13, 2018 revealed 232 not out to Amelia Kerr’s name with 31 boundaries and two sixes. Amelia had become the youngest cricketer, male or female, to hit a double hundred in an ODI. She was the second woman to reach a double century in a one-day match and the eighth cricketer overall to hit the milestone and now held the third-highest individual score in the format.”It was the first time I got the opportunity to open the batting, so I wanted to make the most of that opportunity,” Amelia recalled.She relished the chance to start the innings with in partnership with Amy Satterthwaite, someone Amelia says she watched a lot growing up and considers one of the best cricket brains around. She also got to watch Leigh Kasperek, normally her bowling partner, reach her first century.”My dad always told me once you get to a hundred make it big. Lots of people get out as soon as they get a hundred,” Amelia said. “Once I was in that zone, I wanted to do something really special and make sure I was there till the end as well and finish the job.”Amelia Kerr took three wickets in an over•Getty ImagesAmazingly, Amelia’s record-setting double hundred was only half of her total contribution to New Zealand’s 305-run win.”I checked the wickets too and it was five wickets,” Jess remembered.After batting through 50 overs, Amelia didn’t think her eventual five-wicket haul was going to happen. Even a nap during the innings break couldn’t shake the toll of a double hundred.”I didn’t think I was going to bowl,” Amelia said. “[Then captain] Suzie Bates told me to warm up and I was pretty sore, but again you’re representing your country and every time I have the ball or bat in my hand I want to do the best I can.”Amelia bowled seven overs, taking five wickets and conceding just 17 runs. “For me once I had the ball in hand it was just bowling, trying to bowl consistently and set batters up for plans and I sort of happened to get five wickets,” she said.”I’m very proud of her. Can’t really believe it still,” Jess said”I guess it was just one of those days where everything seemed to go your way,” Amelia added.Everything except for the law, that is. “I think I was too young to buy lottery tickets then,” Amelia said. “Should’ve got one of the girls to though.”Following her historic match, Amelia received her first central contract with New Zealand in August 2018. In June 2020, Jess joined her sister with a contract of her own following an appearance at the Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia.The duo are now back in Australia for the limited-overs tour as the women’s game resumes in the Covid-world, the pandemic having caused the ODI World Cup that was due to be held in New Zealand next February and March to be pushed back to 2022.”To be able to play in front of your friends and family for a tour is really special, but for a World Cup is a step higher. To be in a final for that would just be incredible especially with sort of the year that’s been happening too,” Jess said. “It’s good motivation.””There’s nothing like playing at home,” Amelia said. “Other countries coming over to New Zealand and experiencing the culture, playing in front of friends and family, you can’t beat that. It would be a big event for women’s sport in New Zealand.”

In the midst of the gloom that is South Africa’s World Cup campaign, their captain hasn’t lost his smile. Can his positivity rub off on his squad?

Alan Gardner in Cardiff14-Jun-2019″Hope can set you free.” So goes the famous strapline from . Then again, according to John Cleese’s character in , it’s the hope that kills you. “Who ever hoped like a cricketer?” That was RC Robertson-Glasgow, the great cricket writer of the mid-20th century.Now Faf du Plessis has added a new variation on the theme. “Hope is a very dangerous thing,” he said, as he mulled the gauntlet South Africa face at this World Cup, after losing their opening three games and suffering a washout in their fourth. His team are “in a position now where we need to win five games in five”, starting with Afghanistan in Cardiff on Saturday, and du Plessis has been focusing his players on the need to grab destiny by the lapels rather than just let things run their course.Who doesn’t love a sporting comeback story? Whether it’s Mumbai Indians losing five of their first six matches on their way to the 2015 IPL title, or the emotion-sapping turnarounds effected by Liverpool and Tottenham on their way to the Champions League final a few weeks ago; making insurmountable positions surmountable is what great teams do. So where is Faf taking his inspiration from? How does his team rope-a-dope their way to the World Cup title from here?”I’ll keep my secrets to myself,” he said with a smile. “No, it’s just been checking in with each guy individually, seeing where he or she is, making sure that I make clear to them that there needs to be purpose in what’s coming up. You can’t just hope for things to change. Hope is a very dangerous thing, try and get yourself out of that space as quickly as possible. Finding different keys in different players, where I feel that they can be better, where they can take more responsibility, more ownership. Trying to unlock players’ best that is lying somewhere underneath.”Faf du Plessis finds a reason to smile in overcast conditions•IDI via Getty ImagesThe rain that has bedevilled the tournament over the past week has given du Plessis the chance to hone his motivational patter. South Africa came in playing the chilled-out, under-the-radar card; now it’s “backs against the wall” and no room for mistakes. “Everyone has written the team off,” said du Plessis, which might be just the motivation they need. “Hopefully that allows guys to come out and play the way that they want and the way that they can. I truly believe if we do that, we’ll be a very dangerous team. We just haven’t fully unlocked the potential we have in our side.”We had a bad start to the tournament. But that’s done now, we have to make sure we put all our energy and focus into the now and what’s coming up next. I truly believe that if we carry those ghosts of the last week with us, it’s going to be tough to get out of the hole, so the conversations of the last couple of days, especially with all the rain around, gives me more time to check in with the players, make sure guys are on the right path and have put that week behind them.”Because you can’t be looking back. If we’re looking back we’re just going to float through this tournament, win one or two games, we’re not going to achieve what we want, so the fact there has been a bit of rain has given me clarity on the discussion we have with the team, and I feel that’s been really good off the field. In an ideal world, yes, you would like more practice, but also one net session now is not going to make the team play better. It’s more the conversations we are having, making sure that we’re strong and knowing exactly what we need to do. I felt in the first week the intensity in our play was down, that’s not good enough and that’s why our results weren’t the way we wanted.”The South Africa players form a huddle before play•Associated PressSouth Africa are not yet a certainty for the World Cup knackers yard, but it will take some top-level horse whispering from du Plessis to get them back into the chasing pack for the knockout stage. Still, with his easy manner and relaxed drawl, there is no sign that the pressure is beginning to tell. Rather than animatedly explain “I hate losing”, as his predecessor AB de Villiers did after a group defeat in the 2015 tournament, du Plessis is likelier to focus on the positive – or what “raises your tank”, as he put it.”I try and look at myself first and find ways that are my pillars and my keys to being strong. My family, my faith, my positive talking, my visualisation. Those are things that I draw energy from and it’s important you spend as much time on things that raise your tank and not spend too much time on things that drain you. I start with myself and then try and speak to the guys about what is it that keeps you in that real place where you feel like you’re at your best when playing cricket.”He could also manage to still crack a smile or two, despite admitting this was his biggest challenge leading South Africa. “But I suppose it’s what the last two years of captaining the side have prepared you for,” he said. “Whether it’s for good situations or bad situations, you try and mature as much as you can as a captain, try and be ready for when it’s really, really tough, because then your team looks to the leaders in the side. It’s a hard time but also a time I’m really owning up to the fact I need to step up and make sure I lead the team in a time when they need me.”Hope might be dangerous. But when du Plessis twinkles, well, who wouldn’t want to live dangerously?

Bangladesh’s chances of making the semis took a big hit after they faltered with both bat and ball

Srinidhi Ramanujam10-Oct-2024Karishma Ramharack’s four-wicket haul and Hayley Matthews’ quickfire 34 helped West Indies coast to an important eight-wicket victory against Bangladesh, in Sharjah. Having chased down the target of 104 in 12.5 overs, West Indies, with their second win in three matches, moved to top of Group B. Three teams from this group are now in contention for the two semi-final spots with South Africa and England also on four points, but the latter have played only two matches.Bangladesh succumbed to their second straight defeat in three matches and their chances of advancing to the knockouts took a big hit. Batting once again hurt Bangladesh as they lost six wickets for 27 runs after they were sent in to bat.

Ramharack rips through Bangladesh

West Indies used as many as seven bowlers but it was Ramharack who stood out by taking a wicket each in her four overs across different phases of the game. The offspinner struck with her very first delivery when opener Shathi Rani tried to sweep and missed. Shemaine Campbelle took the bails off in a flash to effect a stumping. In her second over, the last one in the powerplay, Dilara Akter moved across to sweep but missed, only to expose her middle stump and be bowled. When Ramharack came out to bowl in the 13th over, she mixed her lines well but kept the ball outside off. She had Sobhana Mostary stumped by making her come down the track to an outside offstump delivery. That ended the 40-run third-wicket stand for Bangladesh.Stafanie Taylor and Hayley Matthews added 52 for the opening wicket•ICC/Getty Images

Just when Nigar Sultana and Ritu Moni were looking to stitch a stand during the death overs, Ramaharack came back and knocked Moni out. Chinelle Henry took an excellent running catch after the batter came down and miscued a lofted shot to deep midwicket. Ramharack finished with 4 for 17.

Sultana’s slowdown

Bangladesh showed positive intent with the bat early on, with the openers charging down as early as the second over to go aerial. Nigar started briskly after the openers fell in the powerplay. She particularly took legspinner Afy Fletcher on and smacked three fours off her second over and moved to 20 off 17 balls. However, once Mostary fell in the 13th over and Fletcher struck twice in the 15th, Nigar, who was on 27 off 27, slowed down despite West Indies’ sloppy fielding. Her next 17 deliveries fetched just 12 runs and eventually, she fell to Matthews in the final over attempting a big heave towards deep midwicket.

Matthews steers WI’s chase

Bangladesh struggled to pitch the ball up and got punished as they erred on the shorter side. It allowed the West Indies batters to rock back and play their shots. Matthews, in particular, pounced on this opportunity in the powerplay and blunted the Bangladesh attack. After being on a run-a-ball seven, Matthews lined up the left-arm spin of Nahida Akter with a punch off the backfoot, piercing the gap between cover and extra cover. Two balls later, Nahida bowled short again and received the same treatment.Legspinner Fahima Khatun, after having given away just four runs off her first over, bowled short on off stump in the fifth over and Matthews stayed back and punched uppishly to find her third boundary on the off side. Marufa Akter overpitched the last ball of the powerplay, which Matthews drove through cover to bring up her sixth boundary. But she was bowled by a nip-backer from the fast bowler in the eighth over for a 22-ball 34. At the end of Marufa’s over though, West Indies needed just 49 off 72 balls which was taken care of by Stafanie Taylor – before she limped off retired hurt – and Deandra Dottin, who smashed an unbeaten 19 off just seven balls.

Carlo Ancelotti admitted that Vinicius Jr is under pressure to perform with Brazil and claimed that the winger will succeed in Selecao colours.

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• Ancelotti hailed Vini Jr as world-class
• Backed the winger to succeed for Brazil
• Brazil take on Ecuador in World Cup qualifier

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ancelotti hailed Vinicius Junior as 'one of the best in the world' as he claimed that the winger is under tremendous pressure to perform for the national team, as he cherishes playing for the Selecao. However, the ex-Real Madrid manager backed the player to bring success to the national team.

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• WHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI SAID

  Speaking to Marca, Ancelotti said: "He's extraordinary, fantastic, hard-working, a fighter. The Brazilian player has a lot of affection for the national team, and that can affect his natural thinking. He's under a lot of pressure to perform well, which prevents him from making mistakes. I'm convinced he'll give his best for the national team. He's one of the best in the world. He's always there."

  He added: "He's a hard worker and a fighter like few others. His best version will soon emerge."

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Vinicius Jr had an impressive outing with Los Blancos in the 2024-25 campaign as he scored 20 goals across all competitions and provided 17 assists. reported last month that the 24-year-old is on the verge of signing a new contract that will be valid until the summer of 2023. The player will earn €100 million (£84.6m) net over the five years.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CARLO ANCLELOTTI?

  Ancelotti will manage the five-time world champions for the first time on June 6 as they take on Ecuador in a World Cup qualifying game.

With Mohamed Salah’s contract continuing to tick down, Liverpool are reportedly lining up a summer swoop to sign a potential replacement who knows exactly how to win a league title.

Liverpool transfer news

The Egyptian King was once again at the centre of the positives at Anfield against Southampton as Liverpool survived a first-half scare to eventually win 3-1, courtesy of Salah’s two penalties. Now the Reds’ third all-time top goalscorer, it becomes more and more surprising by the day that their history-maker is on course to leave as a free agent this summer.

If his goals weren’t impressive enough, Salah has had something for everyone this season and is closing in on Thierry Henry’s Premier League assists record with 17 to his name – four more are required to beat the Arsenal legend’s long-standing total.

With nine games to do it, the Liverpool star looks destined to create history once again.

However, as Anfield witnesses greatness, that new contract is yet to come, and those on Merseyside have seemingly been forced to think about potential summer replacements, as if truly replacing Salah is even possible.

Liverpool scouting new goalscorer to replace star who saved them vs Saints

He’s flying this season.

By
Barney Lane

Mar 8, 2025

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now lining up a summer swoop to sign Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich, who value their winger at around €40m (£34m) which is ironically not too dissimilar from the price the Reds paid for Salah in 2017.

Unlike Salah, however, Coman would not be arriving at the peak of his powers. At 28 years old, the Frenchman has struggled for game time ahead of the likes of Michael Olise at Bayern Munich, and if Liverpool want to replace arguably the best player in the world, they need a consistent star.

"Incredible" Coman could receive impossible task

There was once a time when Coman was asked to step out of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben’s shadow to become Bayern’s star player, before doing exactly that.

Now, the Frenchman looks to have been returned to the shadows amid the arrival of Olise, who has stolen the spotlight in style since joining from Crystal Palace.

Having won eight Bundesliga titles and a Champions League during his time in Germany, it could easily be said that Coman has completed life at the Bavarians, making this summer an ideal time to move on.

If that is to be the case, he could receive an even tougher task than the one he was handed all those years ago in Germany. Instead of Robben and Ribery, it could be Salah who he is asked to replace as Liverpool desperately look to ease any potential blow caused by the Egyptian’s expiring contract.

Previously dubbed “incredible” by former manager Hansi Flick, it remains to be seen whether a summer departure would see the Frenchman get back to his best form or whether he’s simply past the peak of his powers.

Tasmania were bundled out in a session on the fourth day as the hosts cemented their standing as a domestic powerhouse

Tristan Lavalette24-Mar-2024Cameron Gannon and Corey Rocchiccioli tore through Tasmania late on day four as Western Australia clinched a hat-trick of Sheffield Shield titles with a crushing victory at the WACA.Needing an implausible 538 runs on a tricky surface, Tasmania lasted just 40.5 overs and were bowled out for 160 as they lost 5 for 18.Related

• 'This means more to me than the other two' – Paris pushes his limits to help WA to a Shield hat-trick

• Rocchiccioli fights off flu to elevate his case to be Lyon's heir

• Sheffield Shield team of the season: Webster, Davies, McAndrew… and who else?

• 'It's a difficult job' – Gannon prepares for Shield final after a career on the fringe

• Live Report: Western Australia vs Tasmania, Sheffield Shield final: WA aiming for hat-trick

Gannon, a fringe bowler for most of his long career, starred with a five-wicket haul, while Rocchiccioli finished with 3 for 55.Tasmania imploded against a withering new-ball spell from Gannon and Joel Paris left them at 26 for 3 after the wickets of Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim and Caleb Jewell.Any chance of a miracle ended when Beau Webster, the Shield’s leading run-scorer, fell late in the day as Tasmania’s forlorn chase ended rather tamely. Needing an outright victory to end an 11-year drought, Tasmania played aggressively but they never really had a realistic shot against WA’s brilliant attack.WA cemented themselves as Australian domestic cricket’s powerhouse after an almost flawless performance. It was only the second three-peat over the past 20 years and WA’s first since the late 1980s. WA are the only team to have won three in a row concurrently in the Shield and Marsh Cup.WA completely dominated all facets of the match, while Tasmania appeared overmatched having missed their chance of hosting the final after a last round loss to South Australia.Resuming at 221 for 3, WA’s blueprint was to bat for the long haul in a bid to totally shut Tasmania out of the contest. Hilton Cartwright and Aaron Hardie appeared to be doing just that as they motored to a century partnership.Matthew Wade walks off after his last first-class innings•Getty Images

Tasmania appeared to be going through the motions until the second new ball, but Webster provided a much-needed tonic with a spectacular diving one-handed catch at leg-slip to dismiss Hardie for 47 off Jarrod Freeman.Webster was in the thick of the action and rode a rollercoaster of emotions. He dropped Cooper Connolly at slip and was left exasperated when the bail did not dislodge after bowling a cracker to Cartwright that hit the top of off stump. The WA players on the team’s balcony could not believe their eyes, with a few of them rushing into the room to watch a replay.Webster made amends by holding on to an edge from Connolly as he threw the ball high in the air in celebration. Tasmania bowled a much better length and produced the type of disciplined effort they lacked for much of WA’s first innings.But Cartwright, who made a half-century in the first innings, defied Tasmania and continued his knack for the big stage having made a match-winning half-century in last month’s Marsh Cup final. Cartwright was hoping to end a lean season with a century, but fell agonisingly short when Webster had the last laugh with a delivery that trapped him lbw on the stroke of lunch.Tasmania had hoped to be batting in the second session, but were left frustrated by WA’s more than capable lower order. Tasmania’s earlier spark eroded as they toiled under the sun as WA’s lead raced past 500.Charlie Stobo added to Western Australia’s inroads•Getty Images

But Tasmania were left spooked by the dismissals of Charlie Stobo, who was bowled by a delivery that crept low, and Paris that reared off the surface.Tasmania’s agony was finally over by tea, but they were soon reeling at the crease with Wade nicking off Gannon in the second over. The dismissal ended the red-ball career of Wade, who received a standing ovation from some of the WACA faithful.Gannon and Paris bowled menacingly with the new ball as Jewell and Wakim fell in successive overs. WA sniffed a victory before the close, but Silk and Doran steadied the ship with a 62-run partnership. They managed to blunt the spin of Rocchiccioli and scored relatively quickly with WA boasting an expectedly attacking field.But Silk and Doran succumbed as the sparse sprinkling of fans in the terraces – with many fans having earlier left for the AFL match at nearby Optus Stadium – suddenly were getting excited.They were at fever pitch when Webster and Freemon fell in the same over from the unwavering Gannon as the extra 30 minutes was taken.WA were not to be denied as Paris claimed a spectacular catch to seal a famous triumph.

Brevis reprieve helps table-topping MICT to get out of sight in Qualifier 1

Firdose Moonda04-Feb-2025Mumbai Indians Cape Town will play in their first SA20 final after beating Paarl Royals by 39 runs in Qualifier 1 and turning around their fortunes from finishing last in both previous editions of the tournament. MICT have won five matches in a row and are running hot ahead of Saturday’s final at the Wanderers.Their yet-to-determined opposition will all be in action over the next two days with two-time defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape to play Joburg Super Kings in Wednesday’s Eliminator and the winner to take on Royals in Qualifier 2 on Thursday.While MICT’s win was comprehensive, and set up by them asking Royals to complete the highest successful chase at St George’s Park, it was not without controversy. They were 133 for 4 with a ball left in the 16th over when Dayyaan Galiem thought he had Dewald Brevis out for 16. Brevis pulled a full toss to deep backward square and an umpire review ruled the delivery a waist-high no-ball.Law 47.1 states that “any delivery, which passes or would have passed, without pitching, above waist height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease, is unfair. Whenever such a delivery is bowled, the umpire shall call and signal no ball.”Brevis’ front foot was outside the popping crease and he was not standing upright at the time of the shot but despite Paarl captain David Miller’s protests, the call stood. Brevis hit the next ball, a free-hit for six and Galiem was taken out of the attack in his next over after delivering another waist-high full toss which was judged a no-ball. That delivery also went for four. Mitch Owen completed the over, which ultimately cost 27 runs. MICT scored 60 runs in their last four overs and Brevis finished unbeaten on 44. After 15.5 overs in Paarl’s chase, their score was 136 for 6 which illustrates how impactful the no-ball and what followed was on the result.Miller was visibly upset on-field and when Galiem addressed at the post-match press conference, he confirmed that Royals did not feel the ball was high enough to be judged a no-ball. “That is obviously tight but that’s the match officials, they have to make the decisions,” he said. “it could have gone either way. We did feel like he was in a bent position and the shot was out in front of him as well, so potentially if that ball carried on going and it was in line with his body it perhaps could have been a touch lower. It was a touch and go and on another day that’s given and everything changes from there, but again I think we could have still been better in certain situations of the game.”One of those situations was Galiem’s no-ball in his next over, and he did not hesitate to acknowledge that. “I just misexecuted those two deliveries,” he said. “Such fine margins as well. I felt really confident after my first over as well and I just wanted to hit a yorker and I just didn’t want to miss on the short side. I misplaced the ball a little bit.”Rassie Van Der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton lifted MI Cape Town in the powerplay•SA20

He wasn’t the only one to misstep. Another tactical question arose when Galiem was taken out of the attack and Royals, despite having what Miller called “enough bowlers to pick from” in the post-match television interview chose not to use Andile Phehlulwayo. On the slower St George’s Park surface, his medium-pace may have been handy, but Phehlukwayo has not bowled at all in the tournament, even though two of his three appearances have come in the absence of Lungi Ngidi.All that suggests Royals have a few selection issues to deal with as they head into the Eliminator, including how they are going to find runs with Joe Root no longer part of the squad. Root left for national duty last week and though Owen is a promising replacement, he has done more with ball than bat so far. “He is obviously just adjusting to South African conditions but he’s an amazing player, we saw what he did in Australia and we know he’s got that about him, so it’s only a matter of time,” Galiem said.The team that has time now is MICT. Victory in the qualifier means they have three days to prepare for the final, albeit one of those will be a travel day, while the other team that qualifies will only have one. They recognise that as an obvious advantage. “It would have been first prize not to play another game heading into the final. We are glad that we ticked that off,” Kagiso Rabada said. “We are not taking anything for granted.”While Paarl have lost their last three games, MICT have not lost in seven matches, including a no-result, and are living up to their hype as the franchise with some of the biggest signings. “We have always had the players, but now I think we got together.” Rabada said. “The senior group had a lot to do with it in terms of pulling everyone together. There is also a familiarity between the players. That hunger is there. The hunger has always been there, but I think we just got together more as a team to put in those crucial performances at crucial times. I think that is what is getting us over the line.”Given the run of form they’ve had, they go into Saturday’s final as favourites, irrespective of who they play, and some would say the trophy looks like theirs to lose.

Suspended Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is in line for a surprise return to action next month after not featuring for over a year, according to reports.

Mykhailo Mudryk banned for positive drugs test

Mudryk’s absence from Chelsea’s first-team setup has now exceeded twelve months, with the Ukrainian international last appearing competitively on November 28 last year before his career ground to a dramatic halt.

The 24-year-old tested positive for meldonium, a performance-enhancing substance prohibited under anti-doping regulations.

Following confirmation of his B sample analysis in June, the FA formally charged Mudryk, leaving him facing a potential ban ranging between two and four years if found guilty.

Throughout the ordeal, Mudryk has maintained complete innocence, and even voluntarily undertook a lie detector test which supported his version of events.

Ukrainian sports journalists have theorised that contaminated stem cell treatment administered during international duty may explain the adverse finding, suggesting the injection originated from cattle previously exposed to meldonium.

Chelsea sanctioned the record £88.5 million transfer from Shakhtar in January 2023, initially viewing him as a transformative attacking signing after hijacking Arsenal’s deal.

However, his Stamford Bridge career proved underwhelming even before the suspension materialised, with inconsistent performances failing to justify the enormous investment.

The club reassigned his prestigious number ten shirt to Cole Palmer following Mudryk’s suspension, signalling their acceptance of a prolonged absence.

Chelsea also reinforced their attacking options by striking deals for Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens in the summer, further blocking any potential pathway back into Enzo Maresca’s plans.

Estevao 2.0: Chelsea looking to sign "one of South America's biggest jewels"

Chelsea could pick up their next Estevao.

By
Kelan Sarson

3 days ago

Reports have suggested that, once Mudryk is eligible to play again, Chelsea could allow the forward to join sister club Strasbourg on loan in a bid to reignite his career.

Mykhailo Mudryk in line for January return as Sevilla eye Chelsea loan deal

Now, according to journalist JM Villalba and Canal Sur Radio, that eligibility could be as early as next month.

Speaking to the Spanish broadcaster, Villalba has reported that Mudryk will be able to play again after January 17, and this has piqued interest from La Liga side Sevilla.

The club are considering a deal for Mudryk once he comes back midway through next month, which is a surprise when factoring in how very little we’ve heard about the winger’s return timeline.

If Mudryk is indeed eligible for a January renaissance, BlueCo should certainly green-light a temporary move away for him.

He quite simply needs game time and renewed confidence following the lengthy layoff, controversy and serious drop down Maresca’s pecking order, with the Spanish top flight potentially providing that needed reintroduction to competitive action.

That being said, it should be a dry loan with no option or obligation to buy, with Chelsea poised to make a key decision about Mudryk’s long-term future.

He still has six years remaining on his current contract, giving the Blues plenty of time to do so.

All the stats and records from a big win for the Jamaica Tallawahs over the St Lucia Kings

Sampath Bandarupalli27-Aug-202114 – The Jamaica Tallawahs’ Andre Russell recorded the fastest half-century in CPL history, in 14 balls, against the St Lucia Kings on Friday. The previous record was off 15 balls, by JP Duminy for the Barbados Tridents against the Trinbago Knight Riders in 2019.ESPNcricinfo Ltd255 for 5 – The Tallawahs’ total on Friday was the second-highest in CPL history. The Tallawahs were at the receiving end when the Knight Riders smashed 267 for 2 at Sabina Park in 2019. The previous highest total by the Tallawahs was 241 for 4, against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2019.49 – Runs scored by Russell in the last two overs of the Tallawahs’ innings, the joint-most by any batter across the 19th and 20th overs of a T20 innings (where ball-by-ball data is available). Umar Akmal also scored 49 runs in the last two overs during his unbeaten 115 in 2016.1 – Only previous instance of a batter walking in after 17 overs in a T20 innings and yet ending up with a fifty (where fall-of-wickets data is available) as Russell achieved today. Abhay Negi recorded the first such instance, having scored 50* off 15 balls for Meghalaya against Mizoram in 2019.120 – Margin of the Tallawahs’ win, the biggest in terms of runs in CPL history. The Patriots, by 119 runs, held the record, while defending their total of 199 against the Tallawahs in 2015.25 – The Tallawahs’ total included 25 extras, the highest in a CPL innings. The previous record was 24 by St Lucia Stars in 2017, against the Tallawahs, when they scored 176 in 19 overs. The seven no-balls by the Kings in the Tallawahs’ innings are the joint-most in a CPL innings.20.33 – Economy rate of Wahab Riaz during his three overs that cost 61 runs – the second-poorest economy for a bowler to have bowled a minimum of two overs in a CPL innings. In all T20s, only three players have conceded more than 61 runs while bowling three or fewer overs.

With their summer business officially underway courtesy of Antonio Cordero, Newcastle United and Eddie Howe are now reportedly ready to make their first approach to sign a big-money Premier League winner.

Newcastle confirm Antonio Cordero arrival

Starting as they mean to go on, Newcastle confirmed Cordero’s arrival from Malaga last week. The young Spaniard is set to officially arrive on 1 July when his current contract expires and he becomes free to complete his move to Tyneside.

After putting pen to paper, the young winger told the club website: “It’s truly an honour to be here, truly a pleasure. I am a person who likes to aspire high. Why not come to one of the best places in the world to do it. It’s a big step, and that’s one of the reasons I’m here. I’m happy to do it and have a great desire to get going already.”

Meanwhile, in what is likely to be one of his final acts as sporting director, Paul Mitchell welcomed Cordero to the club, saying: “Antonio is an exciting talent. We’re delighted to bring him to Newcastle United amidst interest in Spain and across Europe. He has lots of potential, and the next phase of his development will be for the club to select a loan move that will challenge him and build on his experiences.”

Following an impressive start to the summer, it seems as though the Magpies are only just getting started. Recent reports have indicated that they’ve already made an enquiry to sign Nottingham Forest star Anthony Elanga and Brighton’s Joao Pedro as they look to make up for missing out on Bryan Mbeumo.

Attacking reinforcements seem to be top of their wishlist too, with Howe now reportedly ready to make his first approach to sign a Premier League winner this summer.

Howe and Newcastle ready to make Grealish approach

According to The Sun, Howe is now ready to personally make an approach to sign Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City as he looks to help the England international revive his career courtesy of Newcastle.

The midfielder was dropped by Pep Guardiola on the final day of the season and reports have since revealed that he could miss out on a place in Manchester City’s Club World Cup squad as the exit door swings open.

The next move is key for Grealish with the World Cup coming up next summer and Thomas Tuchel recently making it clear that he needs to be back playing every week if he is to work his way back into the England squad.

£50m star so close to joining Newcastle his club are lining up replacement

The Magpies are reportedly closing in on a statement signing…

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By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 8, 2025

The Three Lions boss told reporters: “He is never shy of pressure. It’s the opposite. He grows in big matches but he’s a player who needs minutes and minutes and minutes and simply does not get them for a very long time. That’s basically everything. Nothing has changed.”

With that said, if any side can offer the former Aston Villa star that and cover his hefty £16m-a-year salary, it may well be Newcastle this summer.