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Steven Smith found some form while Pat Cummins made a successful return after a long layoff as New South Wales hammered Victoria in a their One-Day Cup clash at the Junction Oval after Josh Hazlewood was a late omission when he woke up ill.An early rain delay allowed both sides to attend a pre-match ceremony where Cricket Victoria unveiled the renamed Shane Warne stand on the western side of the ground. But shortly before that ceremony, Hazlewood walked out of the venue unaccompanied and headed back to the hotel on orders of the NSW team doctor having woken up feeling ill.”He looked terrible this morning,” Matthew Gilkes said post-match. “I think he had a headache and he looked like death. Feel for him. Hopefully he’s resting up and getting himself better.”He was replaced by Under-19 World Cup winner Charlie Anderson who took three wickets on his List A debut. Anderson, who was on the trip for experience only until Hazlewood was ruled out, had to wear Sam Konstas’ shirt as he did not have one made with his name on it.Related

• Sheffield Shield round-up: Openers stall, Smith frustrated, Carey flies

• Western Australia lose 8 for 1, all out for 53, Webster takes 6 for 17

• Shane Warne stand unveiled at the Junction Oval

Smith, Nic Maddinson and player of the match Gilkes, all made brisk half-centuries as the Blues piled up 336 for 8 from 45 overs, having been sent in after 10 overs of the match were lost. Most of Victoria’s bowlers were clobbered on a good pitch, but the veteran Peter Siddle was the exception. A month shy of his 40th birthday, Siddle took his first List A five-wicket haul in an 81-game career that has remarkably spanned 19 years. He finished with 5 for 49 in nine overs including the wickets of Smith, Gilkes, Cummins, Josh Philippe and Moises Henriques.Victoria never got close, bowled out for 196 in reply despite a blistering 57-ball 80 from Matthew Short who was playing his first game since injuring his adductor in the last ODI of Australia’s UK tour. Short looked in supreme touch as he tuned up for Australia’s upcoming ODI series against Pakistan where he is set to open the batting in the absence of Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh.Glenn Maxwell’s return to the Victoria senior side was not as productive. He made a run-a-ball 21 after scores of 14 and 10 in a four-day Victoria Second XI match last week. He did strike two massive sixes before falling caught behind trying to glide Anderson fine of short third.Smith’s return to form was noteworthy after scores of 3 and 0 in the Sheffield Shield match at the MCG. He entered in the 13th over after a 73-run opening stand between Philippe and Maddinson got the Blues off to a quick start. Smith looked on-song from the outset as he struck four fours and two sixes. One was a dismissive whip off the stumps over deep midwicket. He also unfurled some brilliant lap scoops off both the quicks and the spin of Todd Murphy.He was frustrated to be judged lbw when he missed a straight delivery from Siddle trying to whip square. Maddinson had already departed for 63 off 64. But Gilkes powered the back-end of the innings with a blistering 42-ball 74 which included eight fours and four sixes. Chris Green added 25 from 18 to close out the innings.Short was imperious at the start of the chase smashing the first two balls of the innings for four off Cummins. He clubbed five fours and five sixes and looked unstoppable but he kept losing partners at the other end.Cummins trapped Sam Harper lbw with an off-cutter to claim his first wicket of the season. Marcus Harris was bizarrely stumped when he failed to realise the ball had rolled behind him after an attempted sweep. Peter Handscomb and Tom Rogers both holed out before Short and Maxwell fell in quick succession as the required run-rate spiraled out of control. Green picked up two wickets late to finish with 3 for 27.

Says playing only two or three-Test series is “annoying” and “disappointing”

Firdose Moonda14-Nov-2024South Africa’s players want to play more matches in bilateral series in order to build a competitive edge and momentum as a national side, according to middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen.Asked how the team will approach the fourth and final T20 against India on Friday, given that they can no longer win the series, (and have not won a bilateral series in two years), Klaasen said they just wish they had more games.”That’s the nature of where we are as South African cricket. We don’t play five-match series any more,” he said after their 11-run defeat in Centurion. “How nice would it be if we win on Friday, and then we have another game on Sunday, going into it two-all?”Related

India look to add more shine to already glowing T20 credentials

Of course, the opposite could also happen and South Africa could go 3-1 down which would make any potential fifth game a dead-rubber but Klaasen was not pressed on that. Instead, he was unhappy with how little South Africa play across formats. “Our Test team is playing two-Test series, which is ridiculous in my eyes. It’s disappointing, and it doesn’t sit well with the players, because we want to play more cricket against these guys, and against the other countries as well, but we always find a way to just play two games or three games, and it’s annoying.”Though Klaasen retired from Tests in January this year, he still has strong feelings about the shorter formats, which South Africa play more regularly but not necessarily as much as they would like. South Africa have played a five-match T20I series only twice – in 2022 against India and in June 2021 in the West Indies. Just before that, they hosted Pakistan for a four-match T20I series. Apart from a 50-over series of five games at home against Australia before the 2023 World Cup, their ODI clashes have been limited to three matches since a Sri Lanka series in March 2019, which was preparation for that year’s World Cup, and they have not played a three-match Test series since the 2022-23 summer in Australia. They are also not scheduled to play any three-match series until hosting England and Australia in 2026.For comparison, since August last year, India have played three five-match T20I series (against West Indies, Australia and Zimbabwe) but have also only played three-match ODI series since early 2019. Their Test schedule is far busier than South Africa’s with five-Test series against Australia and England in the next eight months. The Australia Tests start in a week’s time and that squad is already preparing in Perth, while the T20I outfit competes in South Africa. “You see India are playing this Friday and next Friday, which is incredible, on two different sides of the world,” Klaasen said.India are not the only country who have split squads in operation. Recently, England’s Test squad finished a series in Pakistan while their white-ball outfit was in the West Indies, which speaks of both their demand as an opposition and their depth. South Africa could do something similar because they do have some players who are red or white-ball only, such as Klaasen, but whether they could field full competitive squads in two formats at the same time remains to be seen. A case in point is what happened earlier this year when most of South Africa’s first-choice Test players were unavailable for a tour to New Zealand because they were contractually bound to play in the SA20. South Africa lost 2-0, the first time they had ever lost a Test series to New Zealand. Still, they remain in contention for the World Test Championship final and can get there if they win all four home Tests this summer.Klaasen came out in support of his captain Aiden Markram•AFP/Getty ImagesThe planning for those is taking place now, with Kagiso Rabada rested from the India T20Is and Lungi Ngidi on a conditioning break. But Aiden Markram has continued to captain the side and will not get any red-ball domestic game time before those Tests. Markram is in a white-ball run-scoring rut and has not gone past 30 in his last 12 T20I innings. He was dismissed for 29 in Centurion, after hitting successive sixes off Varun Chakravarthy and then dragging him down to deep midwicket. Markram’s reaction was to scream and punch his bat, which Klaasen understood all too well.”If I put your career, as whatever job anyone does, on the table, and I said, ‘if you make one mistake, and that’s the end,’ you will be frustrated if you make a mistake. Not that his career is at all on the line, by the way,” he said. “I’m just saying, people need to understand that that’s what we go through. It’s in the heat of the moment. There’s a billion people that are going to be on your head if you fail. There’s a lot of frustration and he was looking fantastically in the way that he struck the ball tonight. It’s nice to see that he’s finding some rhythm in his game, and hopefully he will kick on.”He also hopes that for himself. Since leaving the MLC in July because of a family emergency, Klaasen has batted in eight T20s at domestic and international level combined, with one fifty. “It’s been a lean run, but I’ve also had a small break so it’s not that easy, in this format especially, just to come in and play aggressive cricket” he said. “For the style that I play, I just have to find some form. I know and understand my game at this moment, which is very nice, and I’m in a fortunate position to understand my game and know where I need to tweak. Also, I don’t look into that too much, because like I said, it’s been a long year, a tough year, and it was still a fantastic year for me.”In 2024 so far, Klaasen has played 55 T20 matches (across domestic and international) in four tournaments, the T20 World Cup and the ongoing bilateral series. He has a batting strike rate of 164.32, his highest for any calendar year.

Have West Ham United reinvested the money that they gained from selling Declan Rice to Arsenal in 2023 well? They made over £100m from that sale, and whilst they have signed plenty of big-name players since then, including the now-departed Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta, they have yet to have a better season than when Rice was in their midfield.

Of course, losing your captain to a London rival is never going to be an easy pill to swallow. However, they have spent money on two midfielders since his departure, namely Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, and signed Guido Rodriguez for free and Kalvin Phillips on a brief loan.

Yet, there still feels like a Rice-shaped hole in the midfield for the Hammers. Perhaps that will change this summer.

West Ham’s latest midfield target

It has certainly been a frustrating time for the Hammers when it comes to replacing their captain, and an England starter. Rice’s influence in the middle of the park has certainly been missed as they slowly slide down the table.

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However, a report from Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, suggests that the Hammers may have found the man to finally replace Rice, in the form of Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz. The report states that the Hammers have actually made a loan bid with an option to buy the Brazilian.

Indeed, the option to buy the 27-year-old could become obligatory if certain conditions are met. Luiz, who earns £138k-per-week according to Capology, would cost the Hammers £8.6m ahead of the loan.

They’d then need to pay a further £26m if he ends up moving to the London Stadium permanently.

Why Luiz would be a good signing

Despite a tough campaign for Juve in the 2024/25 season, with the midfielder constantly out of favour under a couple of managers, his quality is undeniable. He has already had success in the Premier League with Aston Villa.

His single season playing for the Old Lady so far certainly did not go to plan. He only made 27 appearances last term in all competitions, without scoring or assisting. The former Villa star notched up just 877 minutes, the equivalent of only 9.7 full 90-minute games.

Despite the outrageously low number of minutes played for Juve to date, Luiz certainly has the mettle to play in the Premier League. He racked up 204 Villa appearances, scoring 22 goals and registering 24 assists in that time. Statman Dave described him as a midfield “engine”, which is certainly what the Hammers are looking for.

Stepping into the shoes of Rice at the London Stadium will not be an easy task for Luiz. Let’s not forget just how much of an iconic figure the former Hammers captain is at the club.

He lifted the Conference League as captain in 2022/23, just weeks before he left.

In total, the London-born midfielder played 245 times for the East Londoners, scoring 15 goals, including this solo effort in their run to the Conference League final. Chelsea and England legend John Terry described him as “the best in his position in world football” back in 2021.

So, for former winger turned pundit Jermaine Pennant to claim that Luiz “can do everything that Rice can do and better” shows just how good of a midfielder he is. Indeed, there are stats which back up this bold claim from the former Liverpool winger.

Looking at numbers on FBref from 2023/24, Luiz’s last season in the Premier League, there are some standout stats. For example, that season he averaged 5.53 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, compared to 4.97 each game from Rice, while providing more of an impact in terms of goal contributions.

Luiz and Rice key stats 2023/24 PL season compared

Stat (per 90)

Luiz

Rice

Goals and assists

0.42

0.35

Pass accuracy

85.7%

83.4%

Passes into penalty area

1.17

1.11

Blocks

0.96

0.86

Ball recoveries

5.53

4.97

Stats from FBref

Signing Luiz on a loan deal with an option to buy him could be the dream move for West Ham. He is proven in the Premier League, and perhaps better, whisper it quietly, than Rice, a player they have struggled to replace over the last two years.

This relatively risk-free move could be ideal for the Hammers to help strengthen in midfield and climb back up the table.

Related Dream Kudus replacement: West Ham open talks to sign "special" £30m star

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Jul 15, 2025

Says the focus is now on the short turnaround between England defeat and upcoming fixture against USA

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jun-20243:17

Rapid fire: Should WI bring in McCoy or Shamar?

Daren Sammy told his West Indies team to put their eight-wicket loss to England “in the garbage” and insisted that they can still win an unprecedented third men’s T20 World Cup.West Indies set England 181 to win in St Lucia – at the ground bearing Sammy’s name – but only took two wickets as the defending champions cruised home with 15 balls to spare, thanks primarily to Phil Salt and Jonny Bairstow’s unbroken 97-run partnership for the third wicket. Sammy said that only on a flat pitch, his team were “about 25 runs short” of a winning total.”It’s part of the game,” Sammy said. “This loss will not dampen our spirits. We still believe we’ve got a team that could win this World Cup, and that’s what I’ll tell the guys inside when I speak to them: park this game, put it in the garbage. And we move forward to Barbados where we win against the USA, and then we have South Africa in Antigua on Sunday.”No-one said it was going to be easy. There are good teams in the tournament. Today, we came up against the defending champions and they got the better of us. But that doesn’t mean our tournament is over. Our destiny is in our own hands, and I feel I’ve got the 15, the group of men, that we believe that this tournament, we could win.”Related

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Phil proves he is worth his Salt

West Indies made two changes to the side that thrashed Afghanistan on Monday, reverting to the XI that beat New Zealand in Trinidad. Roston Chase and Romario Shepherd – who missed Monday’s game on paternity leave – replaced Shai Hope and Obed McCoy, who took 3 for 14 against Afghanistan and was unfortunate to miss out.”We could talk about it now in hindsight, but I’ve said it from day one: we have 15 potential match-winners,” Sammy said. “Obed did bowl well [against Afghanistan] but if you look at what Shepherd has done for us over the last year in T20 cricket, what he brings to the team, we thought going against them, especially the potential line-up England could have and the dual rule that he brings [was the right option].”West Indies are bottom of the nascent points table in Group 2 of the Super Eight and will almost certainly require wins against both USA and South Africa to qualify for next week’s semi-finals. “We did not execute our plans well enough – a couple of chances here and there – but in a tournament, there’s a game where the opposition will get the better of you,” Sammy said.”But that doesn’t mean we’re out of it. Now, in order to win, we’ve got to win all our matches and that’s what we’ll focus on. We’ll leave this game right here in St Lucia. It’s a short turnaround: we go to Barbados tomorrow and on Friday we have a game against the USA. We’ll meet as a selection group and see how best we could further improve our team based on the conditions.”

Every year, football’s elite gather in Paris to determine the winner of the Ballon d’Or.

Well, perhaps not if your name is Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian famously snubbed the awards evening in 2024 when he found out he’d been outvoted for the major accolade by Manchester City’s midfield sensation Rodri.

It was a landmark year for the Spaniard, who won the Premier League with City and also won the European Championships after defeating England in the final.

Having suffered a terrible ACL injury towards the end of the year, Rodri was not in the conversation to win the award again in 2025.

2014

Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid

2015

Lionel Messi

Barcelona

2016

Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid

2017

Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid

2018

Luka Modric

Real Madrid

2019

Lionel Messi

Barcelona

2021

Lionel Messi

PSG

2022

Karim Benzema

Real Madrid

2023

Lionel Messi

PSG/Inter Miami

2024

Rodri

Manchester City

2025

Ousmane Dembele

PSG

Instead, it was PSG’s Ousmane Dembele who reigned supreme, having starred as the Parisiens finally won the Champions League in 2024/25.

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ByCharlie Smith Sep 23, 2025

What made Dembele’s triumph all the more remarkable was the fact that he’d never actually been dominated for the award before.

He beat off some stiff competition, including Lamine Yamal, but what does the future have in store for the Spaniard? Well, with the help of Grok, the next ten winners of the Ballon d’Or have been predicted.

1 2026: A first crown for France's best Kylian Mbappe

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi no longer the players they once were, it was always predicted that Kylian Mbappe would rise to the top.

A victory in 2026 would be a long time coming for Madrid’s latest Galactico but it would be an award well deserved. There’s a World Cup in 2026, too. Perhaps he’s just led France to a second triumph in three attempts?

2 2027: The wonderkid triumphs for the first time Lamine Yamal

One of the favourites for 2025, Yamal finally gets the recognition on a global stage that he deserves in two years time. At the age of 17, he’s already won the Kopa Trophy for the best U21 player, and it feels only a matter of time before he’s officially crowned the best player in the world.

Cole Palmer already thinks he is, and with numbers like he’s achieved in 2024/25, scoring 18 and assisting 26, anything is possible. He is a generational talent, the rightful heir to Lionel Messi’s throne.

Games

55

Goals

18

Assists

25

3 2028: A victory for the Premier League Erling Haaland

Like Mbappe, Haaland has been tripped as a future Ballon d’Or winner for a while now but AI thinks we’ll have to wait another three years before seeing Manchester City’s goal machine given the gong.

Given the length of his contract, he’s set to stay in the Premier League for a long time and is likely to continue banging in the goals on a domestic and continental level. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he is the definitive best number 9 of all time once he hangs up his boots.

4 2029: Messi 2.0 does it again Lamine Yamal

We told you he was generational. Two years on from his first success, Yamal is set to be handed his second Ballon d’Or, truly following in the footsteps of the great Messi.

At this point in his career, he’ll still only be 22 years of age. His potential is utterly frightening.

5 2030: Another win for Real Madrid Vinicius Jr

Six years on from what he felt was a cruel loss at the hands of Rodri, Brazil’s heir to Neymar and Real Madrid’s heir to CR7, Vini Jr, will finally get his hands on football’s most prestigious individual award.

Although aged 30, AI thinks he’ll still be going strong for Real Madrid, and with it being a World Cup year, maybe, just maybe, Brazil have got their hands on the trophy again.

Games

51

Goals

20

Assists

17

6 2031: Another Barca great does it Pedri

Every player on this list so far has been a forward but Barcelona star Pedri is set to topple the Yamal dominance by winning the award himself, following in the footsteps of the amazing Luka Modric and Rodri, the last midfielders to win the award.

The Spaniard is only 22 at the time of writing but he had a captivating season for Barca as they reached the Champions League final and won LaLiga. He’s played 59 times in 2024/25, scoring six goals and assisting eight. If he does indeed win the Ballon d’Or in 2031, his longevity certainly will have been Modric-esque.

7 2032: Liverpool's new signing takes it home Florian Wirtz

On the cusp of signing for Liverpool, who knows where Florian Wirtz will be playing in seven years time but AI seems to reckon that after securing a transfer to a Champions League giant and putting in strong showings for Germany, he’ll be the best player in the world.

Well, if it’s with the Reds, it would be their first Ballon d’Or winner since a certain Michael Owen back in 2001.

Wirtz is certainly one of the finest playmakers in the world already, contributing to 31 goals (16 goals, 15 assists) in the 2024/25 season when he was still with Bayer Leverkusen.

8 2033: More success for Germany Jamal Musiala

Back-to-back success for Germany as Jamal Musiala picks up his first crown in 2033. This could be the start of a newfound dominance for Die Mannschaft, who with Musiala and Wirtz in tow, may well have won the 2032 European Championships.

AI is backing the attacking midfielder to trump everyone else due to Bayern Munich’s dominance, international accolades and consistent form.

9 2034: A third major honour awaits Lamine Yamal

Rounding things off is a third triumph for one of the best players this generation has seen; Yamal.

In 2034, he’s be 27 and at the peak of his career with AI predicting him to cement his legacy as a generational talent. If he isn’t already, he’s now a truly household name, one of the best players we’ve ever seen in the game and right up there with Messi.

Only two players, Messi and Ronaldo, have won it more than three times, while Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten are the only other players to have all taken it home on three occasions.

10 2035: Brazilian follows in the footsteps of Vini Jr Endrick

While Yamal will no doubt be in the conversation again after winning it for a third time, his reign is brought to a halt by another of LaLiga’s top wonderkids at the moment, Endrick.

AI predicts that the Brazilian striker will become a powerhouse over the next decade, potentially winning the World Cup 2034 Golden Ball before cementing himself as the best striker in the world in ten years’ time. Grok reckons that the forward’s physicality and finishing ability will give him the edge over Yamal at this point.

The best XI of players to never win the Ballon d'Or

Some of these players were brutally snubbed for the golden ball.

ByBarney Lane Oct 26, 2024

Leeds United’s frontline has played a huge role in their success throughout the Championship in 2024/25, undoubtedly contributing to their ability to claim the title.

The Whites registered a staggering tally of 95 goals in their 46 league outings – the highest tally in the division, scoring 24 more than the next highest team in Norwich City.

Joel Piroe was the club’s highest goalscorer during the title-winning campaign, with his tally of 19 goals also the most of any player in the second-tier, claiming the Championship’s Golden Boot award.

However, if the club are to survive in the Premier League next time around, they will need added reinforcements to hand boss Daniel Farke with the tools to improve the squad.

With the transfer window just around the corner, work has already been done behind the scenes to ensure a quick start is made this summer, leading to numerous names linked with a switch to Elland Road.

The latest on Leeds’ move to sign Callum Wilson this summer

Over the last couple of days, Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson has been the latest name linked with a move ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

The 33-year-old, who’s out of contract this summer, has spent the last five years at St James’ Park, registering 49 goals and playing a key role in their transformation over recent seasons.

However, they don’t appear to be alone in their chase for the former Bournemouth star, with West Ham United also said to be in the race for his signature.

His goalscoring record in England’s top-flight would undoubtedly be a key point for Farke in their pursuit, but Wilson has endured a torrid run with injuries that has restricted him to just two league starts this campaign.

Such a deal would likely be a risk, with the centre-forward likely to command a hefty wage given his experience, which could result in the Whites targeting other attackers this summer.

The former Leeds star who is now way better than Wilson

Undoubtedly, despite Piroe’s success in the Championship this campaign, Leeds will be targeting a talisman who is capable of stepping up to the plate in the Premier League.

The Dutchman has never featured in England’s top-flight, leading to question marks whether he will be able to cut it and be a success in such a division.

Wilson could be an attractive option given his current contract status, but his injury record should see the hierarchy steer clear of any potential move this summer.

They may have been better off keeping hold of Spanish talent Rafa Muijca, with the 26-year-old taking his career to the next level after departing Elland Road back in 2021.

He spent two years in Yorkshire, linking up with the youth setup after joining from Barcelona B, but was unable to break through the ranks and subsequently joined Las Palmas.

Fast forward to 2025, the striker is currently plying his trade for Qatari outfit Al-Sadd, currently enjoying one of the best goalscoring patches of his career – showcasing what the Whites are missing out on.

Mujica has registered 20 goals in his 27 appearances for his new outfit, offering a clinical edge that could’ve been of use to the Whites had they kept hold of him.

When comparing his stats from the current campaign, he’s massively outperformed transfer target Wilson, highlighting how big of a mistake the hierarchy made in allowing him to depart.

The Spaniard has not only massively outscored the Englishman, but has managed more shots on target per 90 along with a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – such a record that would’ve bolstered Farke’s attack.

Games played

18

17

Goals scored

18

0

Shot-on-target accuracy

44%

17%

Shots on target per 90

1.8

0.3

Pass accuracy

79%

75%

Take-on success

41%

14%

Aerials won

31%

11%

He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, as well as more aerials won, with his skillset potentially offering an all-around option in the final third had they kept hold of him.

Undoubtedly, it’s frustrating that the club made such a mistake in allowing the talisman to depart, with their loss now appearing to be Al-Sadd’s gain in 2025.

Whilst they won’t be able to get him back this summer, other targets will need to be explored, but given Wilson’s measly record and injury history, the Whites should be steering clear of a move for the Magpies star.

He's shades of Kalvin Phillips: Leeds plot move for "phenomenal" PL star

Leeds United are set for a big summer as they return to the Premier League ahead of the 2025/26 season.

ByEthan Lamb May 20, 2025

Celtic are all but confirmed Scottish Premiership champions after last weekend’s results, and Brendan Rodgers is already putting in work behind the scenes to bolster his squad for next campaign.

Celtic on the brink of being confirmed as champions

Brendan Rodgers’ changes worked a treat on home soil as Celtic saw off Kilmarnock in style to put the champagne on ice before the split.

Rangers may have clawed their way to an extended reprieve with a draw at Aberdeen the following day. Still, even the most optimistic of their supporters know it is only a matter of time before the Scottish Premiership crown heads to the east end of Glasgow.

Despite the popular misconception that both sides of the divide are competitors on an equal footing, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Should Celtic obtain a point from their first post-split outing, they will have won 13 out of the last 14 available titles by next weekend.

Unsurprisingly, Rodgers is already making strides on the transfer front to build for the new campaign, with Mathias Kvistgaarden on the agenda at Parkhead following his excellent form at Brondby.

Furthermore, the Bhoys are reportedly keen on a surprise move for Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka. The Slovakia international may be available this summer, potentially creating movement between the sticks despite Viljami Sinisalo and Kasper Schmeichel’s presence at the club.

Ruthless Brendan Rodgers could now get rid of big Celtic names this summer

The Hoops manager isn’t messing around.

1 ByHenry Jackson Apr 13, 2025

Celtic’s involvement in Champions League qualifiers next term has placed time pressure on new arrivals. Rodgers won’t want any delays as his side look to bed in future contributors.

Now, the Bhoys are believed to have an exciting winger in their sights that could add a new dynamic to his squad once the transfer window opens.

Celtic eye summer move for EFL Championship star

According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic are eyeing a move for Stoke City star Million Manhoef as Rodgers views the Netherlands Under-21 cap as a potential squad signing for next season.

The 23-year-old was brought to the Potters for £3 million last summer, and it is likely that is the most he would cost with his current employers now at threat of relegation to the English third-tier.

Celtic’s depth out wide – do they need another winger?

Jota

Only joined in January, likely to be key going forward.

Nicolas Kuhn

Could be susceptible to departure if interest arises.

Daizen Maeda

May be permanently moved to centre-forward this summer.

James Forrest

Veteran who will see out his career at Celtic.

Hyunjun Yang

Likely to stay at Parkhead after recent improvement.

Luis Palma

On loan at Olympiacos and certain to depart.

Conclusion: Celtic need another winger to maintain adequate squad depth.

Labelled “tricky” by journalist Dean Jones, Manhoef has registered six goals and four assists in 35 appearances this campaign and was a former target for city rivals Rangers. Formerly of Vitesse Arnhem, he has also created 48 chances and completed 48 dribbles on league duty since moving to the bet365 Stadium.

Now, Celtic appear to be firmly in the mix for his signature, which will come as a relief to supporters who are keen to see another body in the wide areas to ensure adequate cover is available.

The shy left-arm spinner who never wants to stop bowling in the nets has risen swiftly to become an important player for Delhi Capitals and India

Shashank Kishore08-Jul-2025Lisa Keightley, the former Australia batter and current assistant coach of Delhi Capitals, perhaps best captures N Shree Charani’s relentless drive in a viral Instagram reel from WPL 2025.Charani asks “Lisa ma’am” to let her bowl one more ball at the nets. Then, Keightley says: “You watch. She’ll come back, and she’ll go, Lisa, one more, one more ball. Does it for about 20 minutes.”Related

• Harmanpreet embraces 'happy headache' with India's depth on the rise

• India lift their fielding to the next level in bid to 'dominate no matter what'

This reel has regained traction in recent weeks, since Charani’s impressive T20I debut against England late June, when she picked up 4 for 12 – the best figures by an Indian debutant. In the two matches that followed, she has picked up four more wickets.At 20, Charani has already proven her ability to bowl across different phases of the game, a skill she’s honed over the past few years under the guidance of Andhra head coach Srinivas Reddy. The turning point came in 2022, when she was left out of India’s Under-19 World Cup squad, a snub that lit the fire within.Ananya Upendran, the former Hyderabad Women captain and now a lead scout at DC, remembers being captivated watching a teenaged Charani bowl during the T20 Challenger Trophy in October 2022, a few months prior to the inaugural Under-19 World Cup.N Shree Charani picked up four wickets on her T20I debut•Andy Kearns/Getty Images”To me, she was the most impressive bowler in that tournament,” Upendran tells ESPNcricinfo. “She had a smooth, high-arm action, great control, and was one of the quicker spinners on display. The pitches in Goa were quite slow, but because she bowled faster through the air, batters couldn’t just sit back and play her.”They were forced to come forward. That gave her a real edge. I was actually quite surprised she didn’t make the U-19 World Cup squad. What stood out to me was her natural control and understanding of length, even if she was still figuring out how to vary her pace. Physically, she was tall and strong, which helped her generate that pace through the air.”Charani’s spin attributes took shape in gully cricket, where she’d bowl left-arm fast. To succeed in tennis ball-cricket, you need to be quick through the air. She carried forward this quality when she gravitated towards spin bowling.”Even early on, her biggest strength was control, but equally impressive was her temperament,” Upendran explains. “And she’s brought that same level-headedness into the WPL as well. What really struck me was that she wasn’t at all overawed by the occasion. She was quietly confident in her skills, just going about her job.”In March this year, soon after making her WPL debut for Delhi Capitals, Charani had felt the India dream was just a “long-term goal.” Yet, a month later, she received her ODI cap from Sneh Rana in Sri Lanka. And two months on, Charani had earned her maiden T20I cap.”Charani is a quick learner,” says India Women bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi.Charani struck key blows on debut to Delhi Capitals’ delight during the WPL•BCCICharani prides herself on being fearless. Much of her early confidence has come from strong leadership around her. At matches or training during the WPL, she leaned on the calm assurance of Meg Lanning, whom she says “spoon-feeds” her exactly what’s needed.Charani’s use of the word “spoon-feeds” to describe Lanning’s guidance is almost childlike in its honesty. It’s not a word that comes from rehearsed soundbites. It’s clear she’s still getting used to the big stage.The support has extended beyond the field, too; Keightley has had a big influence. “In the pre-season camp in Pune, I was bowling at one pace, doing what I know,” Charani said on the DC podcast. “Lisa ma’am told me what I can do if someone’s going hard on me. She used to guide me for each and every ball. Her inputs were very helpful.”There’s a quiet resilience to Charani typical of youngsters coming up the ranks from nondescript centres. All she’s had growing up was sound backing from the family, and her own steely resolve of wanting to prove she was no less talented than kids around her.”From childhood, I played with my uncle, brother, dad and sister,” she said. “Whenever our friends near the colony played, I used to join. I played many sports – kho kho, badminton, athletics – but cricket was a constant.”In 2018-19, Charani’s [maternal uncle], who had grown up playing cricket in Hyderabad, persuaded her parents to send her for cricket trials. There, she caught the eyes of the age-group coaches. Reddy, in particular, was amazed at her athleticism – a byproduct of Charani being a promising track-and-field athlete – and fielding.”Batting and bowling came secondary; when someone fields like that, it stands out in age-group cricket especially,” Reddy says. “The speed across the outfield, her cutting of angles – it was very impressive. If I have to be brutally honest, it was her fielding, not bowling, that stood out initially. But over the past few years, she has really developed her game.”Today it’s impossible to take the ball away from her,” Reddy says, reiterating Keightley’s observation. “She’ll be the first to start bowling and the last to stop. And even after the nets are over, she’ll keep doing some spot bowling.”When Charani received her WPL cap from Jess Jonassen, she wasn’t nervous, but clear-headed and focused. “I always think about bowling to my strengths,” she said, recalling that debut game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. “That day, I stuck to that.”Shree Charani has shown a quiet resilience during her journey to the top•Getty ImagesHer first wicket was of Ellyse Perry. “I didn’t plan on getting her out,” she said sheepishly. “If I do small mistakes, she’ll pick it and hit me. So I just stuck to what Meg [Lanning] followed.”The WPL call came on the back of a strong showing at the Under-23 level, during the 2023-24 season, where Charani took a four-wicket haul and back-to-back five-for. The matches had a number of scouts in attendance, among them those from Mumbai Indians and DC. It was no surprise DC and Mi tussled to sign her; she was eventually signed for INR 55 lakh.”Charani was very quiet when she first came into the setup, and I think a big part of that was the language barrier – she wasn’t very comfortable or fluent in English at the time,” Upendran says. “But even then, you could see how eager she was to learn. At every training session, she would make an effort to talk to the senior bowlers, even if it was just a few words.”That’s one of the great things about the Capitals environment – you’ve got people like Jess Jonassen, Annabel Sutherland and Meg Lanning, who are always willing to help younger players. Even if the younger ones are hesitant to approach them, the seniors often take the initiative themselves. That kind of culture really helped Charani.”The bond she developed with Keightley – Lisa ma’am – was particularly special. Initially, their conversations were minimal – Keightley would ask questions and Charani would just nod or respond in monosyllables. By the end of the season, they were inseparable.”She’s naturally shy, so the language barrier made it harder for her to open up. But once she felt accepted and the team recognised how talented she was, her confidence really blossomed,” Upendran says. “The group helped too – players like Jemimah [Rodrigues], [V Sneha] Deepthi, Radha [Yadav] and Shikha [Pandey] were all incredibly welcoming, and that made a big difference.

While she may still be learning the language of interviews and post-match commitments, with the ball in hand there’s fluency in most things she’s done.

“As for her training habits, she absolutely loves to bowl. You could ask her, ‘Are you done?’ and she’d always say, ‘One more ball.’ Over time, with Lisa’s help, she also learned how to manage her workload better, understanding when to stop, how much was enough to feel ready. But she always wanted to end a session with a good delivery, because that’s the feeling she wanted to carry forward.”Charani’s rise comes at a crucial juncture, with two World Cups to be played in a span of 12 months. While she may still be learning the language of interviews and post-match commitments, with the ball in hand there’s fluency in most things she’s done. And the cricket world is beginning to take note.

We are just nine matches into the 2023 ODI World Cup but the batters seem to be enjoying their time in India

Sampath Bandarupalli12-Oct-2023

Climbing up the ladder in the first week

Though only one-fifth of the tournament has been completed by Thursday, the 12 hundreds have already surpassed the total tally scored in the 1975 (6), 1979 (2), 1983 (8), 1987 (11), 1992 (6) and 1999 (11) editions. If we only take into account the first ten matches in a World Cup, the 12 centuries in 2023 are by far the highest in any of the 13 editions. None of the previous 12 editions had more than five centuries in the first ten matches.