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The South Australia captain made 103 as the home side were only able to pick up four wickets on the third day

Tristan Lavalette30-Oct-2025On the opposite bank of the Swan River from where he made his Test debut nearly 12 months ago, South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney returned to form with a classy century to set up an intriguing final day at the WACA where Cameron Green and Brendan Doggett loom large.Trailing by 92 runs on the first innings, South Australia dominated day three on a flattening surface with McSweeney, batting at No. 3, making 103 off 168 balls and sharing a 153-run second-wicket partnership with Henry Hunt.Having scored just 73 runs from his previous four Shield innings, McSweeney is not deemed to be in the Ashes selection mix on the back of a tough start to his Test career last summer.After receiving a life early in his innings, McSweeney was in complete command and showed why he is so highly rated among Australia’s hierarchy.”Any cricketer wants to play for Australia and playing in that Baggy Green is an awesome feeling,” McSweeney said. “For me, it’s just about trying to play my best cricket, win games for South Australia, make hundreds and hopefully one day I get another crack.”Whether it be this series [Ashes], or whenever the time comes, I’ll be ready to go.”McSweeney and Hunt put South Australia in a position where they can dictate with a declaration likely early on day four. There will be spotlight on Doggett and Green as selectors mull over Australia’s Ashes squad.Returning from a hamstring injury, Doggett overcame a rusty start to finish with six wickets in WA’s first innings, including dismissing Green for a duck. Green is playing this match as a specialist batter with a return to bowling likely during WA’s next Shield game against Queensland starting on November 11.There is the threat of damp weather spoiling the finish of this match, with rain forecast on Friday afternoon.The third day finished in sunshine after the start was delayed by 45 minutes due to rain. Hunt and Conor McInerney dug in against a WA pace attack that had run rampant in the first innings.McInerney had started to find his rhythm with a couple of lovely boundaries down the ground. Having toughed out the first 18 overs, McInerney fell in tame fashion after being knocked over having not offered a shot to a straight delivery from offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli bowling around the wicket.While WA’s quicks struggled to penetrate, Rocchiccioli caused problems with his trademark bounce as he tried to once again be the talismanic figure of the attack.But he was thwarted by McSweeney, who started to lift the intensity with sharp footwork as the game went through a lull towards lunch. Out of nowhere, McSweeney on 19 lost concentration and hit quick Cameron Gannon to mid-on but Liam Haskett spilt the catch.The game went back in its shell after lunch until the unusual sight of a swarm of bees hovering over the field caused a five-minute delay. Having reached his 50 off 128 balls, Hunt decided to up the ante on resumption and whacked Rocchiccioli for a towering six into the part of the ground undergoing major redevelopment.McSweeney was in fluent touch and drove superbly, trusting the surface which had shown little of the sharp bounce from earlier in the match. WA captain Sam Whiteman resorted to left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly, whose only two wickets of his first-class career had come during Australia A’s recent tour of India.But Connolly has a knack of making things happen and claimed his maiden Shield wicket when he had Hunt caught behind with a lovely flighted delivery that bounced sharply off the surface.There was no stopping McSweeney, who reached his first century this season with a six over mid-on but he fell shortly after when wicketkeeper Joel Curtis claimed a superb catch diving to his left.WA players wore black armbands as a mark of respect for Ben Austin, a 17-year-old club cricketer in Melbourne who died after being struck on the neck by a ball at training on Tuesday.

Southampton have been granted permission following a managerial application ahead of Championship action returning, it has been revealed.

Southampton fan pundit calls for “experienced” manager

The Saints and Sport Republic have taken their time in regards to appointing Will Still’s permanent successor after sacking him at the beginning of the month.

A number of bosses have been linked with the St Mary’s vacancy, but it is interim manager Tonda Eckert who has been catching the eye after back-to-back wins against QPR and Sheffield Wednesday prior to the international break.

There have been suggestions the 32-year-old is in line to receive the permanent Southampton manager job, however, the pressure is on Sport Republic after a number of failures in recent times. Southampton fan pundit Ray Hunt even stated that supporters “want to see an experienced manager” come in.

“Sport Republic have appointed five permanent mangers in their three full seasons in charge. During that period, they have overseen two relegations from the Premier League, and one promotion with their only success, Russell Martin, but failed to give him the tools needed to succeed in the top flight.

“Moving forward, fans will want to see an experienced manager, who’s widely respected with a clear structure. We cannot repeat mistakes from the past. It is a huge task they simply have to get right. Take your time, give Tonda time in that interim, but ultimately make the right decision. The fans won’t tolerate another failure.”

Meanwhile, it has been added that Eckert is set to get the next three Championship fixtures to increase his chances of landing the role.

Now, it has been revealed the lengths the Saints have had to go to for Eckert to be in the dugout over the coming weeks despite already being employed as U23 coach.

Southampton apply for new visa to keep Eckert in charge

According to Sport 1, ‘Southampton applied for a work visa for Eckert for the upcoming matches so they could continue working with him’. It is claimed that the Saints ‘already received this visa for the next few games – meaning Eckert can continue’.

Tonda Eckert’s coaching career

Role

Years

1.FC Koln U17

Assistant manager

2013-2016

RB Salzburg YL

Assistant manager

2016-2017

RB Leipzig YL

Assistant manager

2017-2019

FC Bayern U17

Assistant manager

2019-2020

Barnsley

Assistant manager

2020-2022

Genoa

Assistant manager

2022-2025

Southampton U23

Manager

2025

Southampton

Interim manager

2025 – present

Eckert had a different visa as U23 coach, with the situation labelled ‘complex’ as ‘England’s employment law is extremely complicated, especially in football’, with clubs needing to ‘provide detailed justifications to the authorities as to why they prefer a foreign coach to an English candidate’.

Should Eckert get another positive result at The Valley this weekend and then again at home to Leicetser City and away to Millwall, then the speculation surrounding him landing the job on a long-term basis will only increase.

Southampton told to appoint new manager over Eckert who "ticks every box"

Celtic have been meticulously assessing options to succeed Martin O’Neill in the dugout and may now have identified a new figure that could become a serious contender to take the Scottish Premiership champions forward.

At 73 years of age, O’Neill deserves plenty of plaudits for taking a step out of his comfortable stable of punditry work for another spell in charge of his old side, even if he may only be around for a brief period of time.

The victories over Falkirk and Rangers brought back some much-needed morale to the Celtic dressing room. However, the Bhoys’ defeat to FC Midtjylland in midweek prompted the former Republic of Ireland boss to make his stance clear on a longer stay in Glasgow.

He told TNT Sports: “I will be here as long as the football board wants me, it’s as simple as that. That could be at the end of the week, it could be after the Kilmarnock game. I just don’t know.”

Later, he added after being asked if he was in constant discussions with the hierarchy, fuelling speculation that he may not be in charge beyond the international break: “No I’m not and I don’t really want to be. I just want to be told when my time is up.”

Kjetil Knutsen continues to be in the Celtic running as his Bodo/Glimt contract comes to an end. Meanwhile, Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna is a Parkhead candidate due to his sterling work at Portman Road.

With speculation bound to continue over the coming days, a new name has entered the picture as a potential successor to interim coach O’Neill.

Celtic place Brian Barry-Murphy on manager shortlist

According to Alan Nixon on his Patreon, Celtic have shortlisted Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy as a managerial candidate to take over permanently at Parkhead.

Middlesbrough are also on the hunt for a new head coach as Rob Edwards completes a controversial move to Wolverhampton Wanderers, though the Scottish champions appear ready to throw a spanner in the works amid their links to the City Football Group.

Previously, he was head coach at Rochdale before a spell in charge of Manchester City’s elite development squad, and he has also further coaching experience in a technical role at Leicester City.

Celtic could land an alternative manager with a secret release clause

Cardiff City find themselves fourth on 26 points and could go top of the table should they win their game in hand. Predominantly adopting a 4-2-3-1, the Bluebirds have been an attacking force this campaign, scoring the joint-third most goals in League One.

Nevertheless, managing Celtic is a whole different kettle of fish due to the pressures associated with the role. It remains to be seen who will be trusted to lead their bid to retain the Scottish Premiership title.

It’s a new week, and Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank will be gearing up for a return to Premier League action at the weekend, when his side travel to Arsenal.

Tottenham have been a mixed bag this season, certainly more secure and steely than last year under Ange Postecoglou’s leadership, but lacking the snap and verve that the fanbase associates with the core of the club. To dare is to do, after all.

Someone embodying that mantra right now is Troy Parrott, whose stunning hat-trick at the weekend saw Ireland defeat Hungary and seal a World Cup play-off spot, having only days before bagged a brace to sink Portugal.

The AZ Alkmaar centre-forward, 23, is shaping into quite the goalscorer, becoming the player Spurs knew he could be after he graduated from the academy.

Parrott's record at Spurs

In July 2024, Tottenham sold Parrott to AZ Alkmaar for around £7m. The Republic of Ireland international had made his Premier League debut aged 17, but only ended up featuring three further times across all competitions before leaving for good, having completed no less than five stints out on loan.

AZ Alkmaar

61

33

MK Dons

47

10

Preston

34

4

Excelsior

32

17

Ipswich

18

2

Millwall

14

0

Tottenham

4

0

In fact, each of the goalscorer’s four senior outings for the Lilywhites came during the 2019/20 campaign, and while Spurs knew when they sold him last year that he had untapped potential, it was clear he was going to struggle for minutes given the club’s attacking pecking order.

There was plenty of chatter regarding Parrott and his potential, even at that nascent stage. Of course, comparisons against Harry Kane were drawn, and talent scout Jacek Kulig has since praised him for his “incredible” performances over in the Netherlands, making good on that potential that was stunted by injuries.

There was always the promise of success. While he didn’t enjoy a prolific spell with Preston North End in the Championship, the player’s tenacity could not be questioned. His former manager Ryan Lowe said: “His work rate is phenomenal. For the size of him, he is a bit of a unit inside. He’s not massive, but very strong, uses his body very well & he got down the sides plenty of times.”

If this tells us anything, it’s that development in football is not linear, and it can take talented prospects a time to find their footing after showing initial promise at the foot of their professional career.

Tottenham must learn from their past mistake – if selling Parrott for a small fee could be called an error – and devote plenty of time to their new version of the Irish hero, who arrives in London at the start of 2026.

Spurs have a bigger talent than Parrott

Parrott is growing into his skin, so sharp and dynamic in the final third. There is an expectation that he should kick on and enjoy further success over the coming years, and Spurs may have to watch ruefully on as he makes headway.

However, that poignancy will be tempered and then some by the emergence of Mason Melia, who has completed a transfer rising to £3m last season, slated to join in January after the completion of the Irish league campaign.

Having idolised Kane and made his professional debut as a 15-year-old, the rangy striker is establishing himself as quite the hot prospect, with his former youth coach Hughie Nolan remarking that “nothing has fazed him” as he has raised his level again and again over his formative years.

The Athletic’s Connor O’Neill said after the announcement that he’s “easily the best young talent I have seen in the League of Ireland”. Parrott left his homeland and signed for Spurs before he could make his senior bow, but Melia arguably has more hype around him, and still only 18, there is so much scope for growth.

Having already featured 98 times for St. Patrick’s Athletic, notching 25 goals and eight assists, Melia will provide an interesting dimension to a Tottenham side crying out for attacking inspiration. Richarlison and Dominic Solanke have not provided the answer, for differing but equally concerning reasons.

Mathys Tel is a young and talented striker, beginning to show signs of the talent that Tottenham saw when bringing him over from Bayern Munich, but the jury is very much out and there are questions relating to whether the 20-year-old has what it takes to lead the line in the Premier League.

Moreover, he has recently emerged as a transfer target for Roma in Serie A, the Italians viewing him as an alternative option to Manchester United as the winter transfer window draws near.

With Parrott doing so well at the moment, it’s inevitable that wistful gazes will be cast toward the Irishman as he establishes himself as one of Europe’s most underrated strikers.

But while there’s a romanticism about a potential deal in 2026, bringing him back home, there’s little need when Tottenham have already signed a more talented Irish striker in Melia, who is now just over a month away from heading down N17.

Frank’s ability to nurture young prospects is well known in England, and Tottenham’s wider embracing of their youth suggests that Melia has made the right choice in moving to the capital and choosing white. He might be a “hidden gem” at the moment, as said by analyst Ben Mattinson, but Melia will soon establish himself as a major player in the Premier League, notably described as “the Irish Alexander Isak” for his effortless strike of the ball.

Will he need a bit of time? It’s more than likely. But the teenager is an aggressive and mobile striker, willing to make runs and connect play while simultaneously keeping one eye on goal at all times.

His wealth of experience, despite his young age, suggests that Tottenham may well hit the jackpot with his addition to the ranks. Parrott might be the talk of the town in Ireland right now, but in Melia, the Londoners have signed a young forward with the capacity to outstrip his older countryman and seal his place among Spurs’ finest forwards of the modern age, something Parrott was unable to do before leaving for a small fee.

Keown called Spurs star "embarrassing" in 2024, now they must "double" his wages

This Tottenham Hotspur star has turned his fortunes around after being called “embarrassing” last year.

ByDan Emery Nov 17, 2025

The 681 runs scored in Ranchi was the highest aggregate for an ODI match between India and South Africa

Sampath Bandarupalli30-Nov-2025681 – Runs scored by India and South Africa in the first ODI of the series in Ranchi, the highest aggregate for an ODI match between the two teams, surpassing the 662 at Wankhede in 2015, when South Africa scored 438 while India made only 224.6 – Hundreds for Virat Kohli in ODIs against South Africa, the most by any batter, going one ahead of Sachin Tendulkar and David Warner, who scored five apiece.352 – ODI sixes hit by Rohit Sharma are the most by any batter in the format, going past Shahid Afridi’s tally of 351.Related

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• Kohli dictates South Africa's reality from within his bubble

20 – Century partnerships between Rohit and Kohli in ODIs, equaling those of Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, and only behind the 26 between Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.The 136-run stand between Kohli and Rohit in Ranchi was their eighth century partnership in ODIs at home, but the first since 2020. These are the most by a pair in India, alongside Tendulkar-Ganguly and Tendulkar-Virender Sehwag.7 – Sixes hit by Kohli in Ranchi. Only twice did he hit that many in an ODI before – eight against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram in 2023 and seven against Australia in Jaipur in 2013.Kohli’s seven sixes are the joint second-most for India in an ODI against South Africa, behind Yusuf Pathan’s eight in 2011, while Ishan Kishan also hit seven in Ranchi in 2022.India hit a total of 16 sixes on Sunday, the most by them in an ODI against South Africa. Only once before did India hit ten sixes against South Africa – 12 in Gwalior in 2010.ESPNcricinfo Ltd173 – Kohli’s batting average in ODIs in Ranchi. It is the second-highest for any batter at a venue in men’s ODIs where they have scored 500-plus runs. Kohli has scored 519 runs in five innings there, with three hundreds and a fifty. All his three hundreds at this venue have been 120-plus scores, only behind Hashim Amla’s four in Centurion.11 – South Africa’s total at the fall of the third wicket in Ranchi, the second-lowest from which any team ended up posting a 300-plus total in ODIs. The lowest is 10 for 3 by Australia, when they finished with 368 against Sri Lanka at the SCG in 2006.South Africa added 321 runs after the fall of the third wicket, the most by them in an ODI and the fifth-most by any team after being three down.1 – South Africa’s innings is the first in ODI cricket where as many as five players batting at No. 4 and lower scored 35-plus runs.South Africa’s No. 4 and lower batters scored a total of 319 runs, the second-most in an ODI innings, behind 341 by India against England in Cuttack in 2017.10 – Four-plus wicket hauls for Kuldeep Yadav in ODIs, the joint-most by an Indian spinner, alongside Anil Kumble. Only two bowlers have taken more four-fors in ODIs for India – Mohammed Shami (16) and Ajit Agarkar (12).392 – International matches played by Rohit and Kohli together for India, the most by a pair, surpassing Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who played 391 together. Overall, only five pairs have played more international matches together than Rohit and Kohli.

Jordan Silk made 104, Brad Hope made 76 and Jake Weatherald made 67 to build his Ashes case and help Tasmania fight back after a top-order collapse

AAP04-Oct-2025The man Jake Weatherald hopes to partner at the top of the Australian order did him a big favour on day one of the opening Sheffield Shield clash between Queensland and Tasmania.Test and Queensland opener Usman Khawaja dropped Weatherald at first slip off the bowling of Jack Wildermuth when he had made just four on Saturday at Allan Border Field.Weatherald took full advantage of his life, hitting two boundaries in the same over. The in-form Tasmania opener went on to make 67 from 99 balls to continue his relentless runscoring over the past 12 months.Related

• Webster misses Sheffield Shield opener with ankle injury

He partnered with captain Jordan Silk to rescue the visitors’ innings after Silk’s decision to bat first looked to be backfiring horribly.Reeling at 33 for 3, Tasmania steadied and were 299 for 6 at stumps. Silk led the way with 104, his 13 first-class century, and Bradley Hope made 76.Weatherald is coming into Ashes selection calculations thanks to his run of form. He was Shield’s leading runscorer season and made 183 in July for Australia A against Sri Lanka. But he said after Saturday’s play that he had heard “nothing” from national selectors.”It was a good – a bit of luck. You need that when you’re opening,” Weatherald said of his early life. “I was happy with how I moved after that – it was a rough little start.”You probably get a little bit of that, ‘I get an opportunity to kick on now, have that bad shot, that rash shot, out of the kitchen’. Sometimes you just miss it or snick it straight to slips and you get out, so it was good I kicked on from there. I felt really good.”He hit eight boundaries and had a crucial 80-run stand for the fourth wicket with his captain before Michael Neser took a sharp reflex return catch with one hand.Weatherald said he and Silk tried to put the pressure back on the Queensland attack in their stand.Silk went on to make his 104 from 170 balls and was filthy with himself when he was also out caught and bowled to Mitch Swepson. The spinner’s catch was much more straightforward thanks to a leading edge.Wildermuth was eventually rewarded when he trapped Hope lbw, ending his 171-ball knock.Jake Doran and Nikhil Chaudhary were the not out batters, while Neser (2-53 from 18 overs) was the only multiple wicket-taker.Tasmania suffered a blow when Australian all-rounder Beau Webster was ruled out of the game because of an minor ankle injury.

After three years away from managing, Dusty Baker is back—and his return will take on an international flavor.

Baker will manage Nicaragua in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the country's baseball federation announced Monday afternoon. It will be the 76-year-old's first managerial gig since his retirement from the Houston Astros.

Nicaragua is currently ranked No. 16 in the World Baseball and Softball Confederation men's baseball rankings. The team finished 19th in its first ever appearance in the tournament in 2023.

Baker managed the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and Astros during his long Major League Baseball career. He won 2,183 games in 26 seasons, along with three pennants and a World Series title in 2022.

The 2026 edition of the WBC is scheduled to begin on March 5. The Nicaraguans will be grouped with the Dominican Republic, Israel, the Netherlands and Venezuela in pool play in Miami.

Premier League star Ola Aina has been told to “own up” after revealing that he is at the “talking stage” with a fellow football player’s girlfriend. The Nottingham Forest defender claims that the woman in question likes him more than her current clinch, but their budding relationship remains secret for now. Aina is being urged to address the issue with his love rival.

Forest star Aina makes shock revelation

Nigeria international Aina made his shocking revelation when appearing on show. The versatile 29-year-old said he was there to seek advice from the children and adults on the panel for what has become an obvious “dilemma”.

The former Chelsea and Fulham player, who has been at the City Ground since 2023, was happy to state in public that he has become close with the partner of a fellow performer. He now finds himself in a difficult position.

Aina said: “My dilemma is I'm in a talking stage with another baller's girl.” Asked if he is able to reveal the identity of the other player, the Forest full-back added: “Can't disclose that one.” He went on to confirm that he is at the “talking” stage, rather than the “walking” one, with the surprising scenario only playing out over a matter of weeks.

AdvertisementGettyLove triangle: Aina offered advice on what to do

Quizzed on whether interest has been reciprocated, Aina said that he “knows she likes me back”. He went on to say that he can “easily” take his fellow player one-on-one, but saw it put to him that the girl in question may be “a bit of a clout chaser” as she pits “two footballers” against one another.

Aina maintains that: “I believe she likes me more.” He has, however, been advised to clear the air with everybody involved. The ‘Aunties’ told him to “own up to the guy” and “be honest” about what has happened.

One of the children on the panel added: “Me personally, I think she's only there for your money. You're a professional footballer, you're earning bread, plenty more girls will come. She's on a permanent sin bin off the pitch, red card.”

The two sides proceeded to battle it out in a bid to convince Aina of their argument. He eventually sided with the Aunties, much to their delight. That would suggest that he is ready to speak with the fellow professional that he has become locked in a love triangle with.

Untimely injury: Aina underwent hamstring surgery

Aina does, however, have plenty of his plate at the moment. Away from his private life, every effort is being made to recover from an untimely injury that has kept him out of action since September. His last appearance for Forest came on August 31.

An unfortunate knock was then picked up during the first international break of the 2025-26 campaign, as he headed off with Nigeria. A hamstring problem has been difficult to shake, with surgery required a matter of days after being forced onto the treatment table.

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GettyAfrica Cup of Nations: Will Aina figure for Nigeria?

Aina did not figure for Forest at all during Ange Postecoglou’s ill-fated 39-day spell in charge of the Reds. He has been unable to show current coach Sean Dyche what he is capable of, with it revealed that he is unlikely to grace a Premier League fixture again until 2026.

Dyche has said when delivering a fitness update on his walking wounded: “The ones left not with us yet are Taiwo [Awoniyi], Woody [Chris Wood] and Douglas [Luiz] – although they are getting closer. Ola is getting closer to fitness but obviously can’t be with us until January.”

That is because, alongside his rehabilitation, Aina is in contention to represent Nigeria at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. Selection there would come as a surprise, given how much football he has missed over recent months.

The Super Eagles may take a calculated gamble on the 48-cap star, allowing him to rebuild form and fitness before returning to Trentside. The 35th edition of AFCON is set to get underway on December 21 and run through to January 18. Nigeria have been placed in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.

B Sai Sudharsan brought grit, composure and a glimpse of permanence to India’s most unsettled slot

Sidharth Monga23-Jul-2025

B Sai Sudharsan found fluency after a watchful start•Getty Images

Since the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy late last year, India have gone through five No. 3s. There have been seven changes in all: Devdutt Padikkal took over from the injured Shubman Gill at the start, then Gill came back; Gill was then dropped and KL Rahul took over; then Gill came back, became captain, and took the vacant No. 4 slot, handing over No. 3 to B Sai Sudharsan; then Karun Nair had that spot for two Tests before it came back to Sai Sudharsan.It appeared to be a late call between Sai Sudharsan and Nair at Old Trafford and for a while it looked like both of them would play, going by signs in the India nets. Both of them were in the slips for catching drills, and Sai Sudharsan did some visualising drills on top of wet covers a day before the Test. On the morning of the Test, India saw mixed signals from the conditions: overcast skies and a pitch that had been under covers called for extra seam, but the dry pitch with some cracks demanded spin as well.Eventually, India decided to cover both bases and were forced to choose between Sai Sudharsan and Nair for No. 3. India went back to their plan at the start of the series: ask for the giant shoes of Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara, the last two regular No. 3s for India, to be filled by a batter who averaged 39.93 in first-class cricket.Related

Pant retires hurt after inside-edging a reverse sweep onto his right foot

Sai Sudharsan fifty guides India after they lose Pant to injury

Not since WV Raman in 1988 have India handed out a debut to a specialist batter averaging under 40 in first-class cricket. Usually, you need to average close to 60 in first-class cricket to get close to the Test side as a specialist batter in India. They made an exception for Suryakumar Yadav in recent times; he averages 42.33 in first-class cricket including that one Test experiment.Sai Sudharsan’s case is different. Almost everybody who has seen him has been bullish about him. R Ashwin played against him in club cricket when Sai Sudharsan was 17, and he was amazed that someone so young had an actual working game plan against him. He had left midwicket open, but Sai Sudharsan didn’t play a single ball against the spin until Ashwin overpitched.Two years later, the same Ashwin ran out of money in a bidding war for Sai Sudharsan at a Tamil Nadu Premier League auction. At the IPL, Gujarat Titans bet big on him. That is the second big endorsement, from Ashish Nehra, considered a sharp cricket brain. And then, when the national selectors overlook your first-class numbers to push you into Test cricket, there has to be something special about you. Two things always stood out about what the decision-makers would say about him: his competitiveness and that he finds ways to score runs.1:47

Sai Sudharsan: ‘Shubman communicates very well as captain’

And yet, the jump up to Test cricket is a big one. Ben Stokes, who is a sharp and instinctive captain, wasted little time in actually attempting to get him caught down the leg side. And he did oblige England with two leg-side dismissals. Test cricket can be ruthless: he had to make way for the next two Tests for the sake of the balance of the side.Back at No. 3 now, on a pitch that was already showing signs of uneven bounce and appreciable sideways movement, Sai Sudharsan showed those two exact qualities: competitiveness and finding a way.”It was actually a really enjoyable experience,” Sai Sudharsan said of the contest against the short ball and Stokes. “Because the best bowler in the country is steaming in, trying to hit you hard, and you were batting there and giving your best for the team. That’s one of the best feelings you can have. And of course playing against England on their home soil, definitely, you have to be ready for that aggressive nature. So I enjoyed it very well.”Stokes, in particular, troubled him the most, both with his straight lines and short-pitched bowling. He also tried to get under his skin when Sai Sudharsan took him on and hit a four. Stokes clapped him all the way back from his follow-through. And since Sai Sudharsan was running his runs after hitting the pull, he could see Stokes right in his face. And, as he said it, he enjoyed it.2:28

Manjrekar: Sai Sudharsan’s game tailor-made for Test cricket

For an innings that can be considered slow by many used to modern batting pace, Sai Sudharsan played at least five shots that will make any highlights reel: two dismissive pulls with his front leg in the air a la Gordon Greenidge, a back-foot punch for four off Stokes, and two whippy cover-drives against spin. He was, as has been said of him, finding ways.Between scoring shots, Sai Sudharsan had to endure looking scratchy at times. If he was slightly unlucky at Headingley for getting out the way he did, he was slightly lucky Jamie Smith dropped him when he again tickled one down the leg side. “If he would’ve taken the catch, I would walked off,” he said matter-of-factly. “That’s about it.”Sai Sudharsan’s innings was crucial for India in this match because England hadn’t necessarily made full use of the conditions in the first session and were beginning to make amends after lunch. He walked in at the fall of yet another wicket just before or after a break. He weathered the storm the way India have been desperate for their No. 3 to do even as wickets fell at the other end.This was the first half-century by an India No. 3 in nine Tests starting from that Border-Gavaskar Trophy. There will be days when Sai Sudharsan will be more fluent. There will also be days when he won’t enjoy the rub of the green. But by steering the team towards a good score on a day that they likely lost Rishabh Pant to a suspected foot fracture, Sai Sudharsan has shown enough to back up the promise shown in him and give India hopes they might have found a No. 3.

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير حقيقة ما تردد خلال الساعات الماضية بشأن تلقّي لاعب الأهلي إمام عاشور عرضًا من الدوري الأمريكي، وموضحًا موقف اللاعب داخل الفريق في المرحلة الحالية.

وقال شوبير في برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الأحد: “سألت عن موضوع إمام عاشور والعرض الأمريكي وما يُقال حوله، وقيل لي: لم نسمع شيئًا من هذا الكلام على الإطلاق، أؤكد أن آدم وطني نفى وصول أي عرض”.

وأضاف: “على العكس تمامًا، إمام بدأ يعود بشكل جيد جدًا، والأمور أصبحت جيدة بالنسبة له بنسبة 100%، واللاعب سعيد للغاية بمشاركته التدريجية في المباريات، سواء عشر دقائق أو ربع ساعة، حتى يستعيد فورمته ومستواه”.

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وتابع: “إمام لاعب رائع ولا غنى عنه، والجميع في النادي سعداء به، والجهاز الفني كذلك سعيد بأدائه وبالتزامه”.

واختتم: “إمام لم يتحدث في أي شيء خاص بالرحيل، وكل اهتمامه الأول والأخير هو استعادة مستواه بالكامل، وأي شخص يقول إن إمام تلقّى عرضًا الآن.. قُل له إن الأهلي نفى ذلك تمامًا، قد يأتي عرض لاحقًا، الله أعلم، لكن هذا هو الموقف الحالي”.