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Ben Slater and Haseeb Hameed made unbeaten centuries as Nottinghamshire Outlaws bounced back from defeat at Leicester in their opening match with a eight-wicket victory over Sussex Sharks in their Metro Bank One-Day Cup match at the picturesque home of Welbeck Cricket Club in the north of the county.Opener Slater, who averages more than 53 in the List A format, again demonstrated his penchant for 50-over cricket by scoring 107 with Outlaws skipper Hameed making 101 not out as they shared a county List A third-wicket record partnership of 209 to inflict a heavy opening-match defeat on their Group B opponents, who managed only one win in the competition last season.Sussex were bowled out in the 48th over for 216 despite Fynn Hudson-Prentice’s 90 from 109 balls. The all-rounder hit nine fours and a six but found himself ploughing almost a lone furrow in an under-par performance by his side, who have up to now enjoyed a successful season, booking a home quarter-final in the Vitality Blast and building a healthy lead in Division Two of the Vitality County Championship.Luke Fletcher (three for 35) and Toby Pettman (three for 44) were the most successful Outlaws seamers, although Brett Hutton, who took one for 41 bowling his 10 overs in a single spell, made a strong comeback after three months out with an Achilles injury. Left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White (two for 35) also impressed.The Outlaws stuttered at the start of their chase, finding themselves eight for two after losing Freddie McCann for two and Jack Haynes without scoring, but Sussex were unable to make any further inroads as their opponents cruised home with 50 balls to spare.The 19-year-old McCann, in his second List A appearance following his debut at Leicester on Wednesday, spooned a catch to mid-on off Ari Karvelas, while Haynes registered his second consecutive duck with a loose shot that had him caught behind, after which Slater was fortunate with a top-edge off Karvelas that flashed just out of the wicketkeeper’s reach.But with a required rate of only 4.34 runs per over and a quick outfield, Slater and Hameed did not need to take risks and were able to comfortably pace their innings once the newness of the balls had worn off, moving the total to 48 for two from 10 overs, 93 for two from 20, and 140 for two from 30.Slater found the gaps regularly enough to pass fifty for the 18th time in this format from 54 balls with eight boundaries, Hameed reaching his from 69 balls with his third four, a return to form he will have enjoyed after enduring a lean time in 2023, if not the shot that took him there, a streaky edge off the leg-spin of Archie Lenham.The left-handed Slater was seldom troubled, reaching his seventh List A hundred when he pulled Karvelas for his 13th boundary as the Outlaws closed in on their target, Hameed hitting the same bowler for six, four, four and one to complete his.Sussex found the going tough from the outset after opting to bat first. The pitch seemed to lack pace and, in the face of excellent, tight bowling at both ends from Hutton and Fletcher, they lost both openers for 33 by the second ball of the 11th over.Tom Clark nibbled at one outside off stump off Hutton before Tom Haines edged his drive against Fletcher, Tom Moores doing the rest behind the stumps.Joined by Hudson-Prentice, Oli Carter sought to rebuild but the arrival of Pettman in the attack made scoring no easier.The 26-year-old seamer, who has had limited opportunities in his four years with Nottinghamshire, was making his first senior appearance since last August but made it count with two wickets in two balls as a frustrated Carter found the fielder at mid-on and Sussex captain John Simpson was leg before.Simpson’s dismissal exposed Sussex’s inexperienced middle-order and Hudson-Prentice soon lost two more partners as 19-year-old Daniel Ibraham was caught at slip and 18-year-old Henry Rogers, on debut, skied to long-on as Patterson-White found immediate turn.Hudson-Prentice and 20-year old off-spinner Bertie Foreman added 64 before some smart relay fielding involving extra cover Ben Slater, bowler Lyndon James and ‘keeper Tom Moores ran out the younger player.Fletcher returned to dismiss Lenham caught behind and Karvelas via a miscued pull, in between which Hudson-Prentice cracked consecutive boundaries off Pettman before he was caught at mid-off, as Sussex were all out with almost three overs wasted.

Aston Villa have now submitted a bid in the region of £40m for a “top” goalkeeper, with Emi Martinez looking likely to be heading for the exit door, according to a report.

Martinez's days could be numbered at Villa Park

Martinez has taken his game to the next level at Villa Park, scooping up the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award for the second time in three years last December, while also recently winning Premier League Save of the Season for a fantastic stop against Nottingham Forest.

As such, Unai Emery will no doubt be hoping to keep hold of his goalkeeper beyond the summer, but it appears as though the Argentina international could be heading for pastures new, with Manchester United and Atletico Madrid expressing an interest.

According to a report from Spain, Martinez has now ‘confirmed’ that he will leave Villa this summer, which means a replacement will be necessary, and recruitment chiefs haven’t wasted any time identifying a suitable heir.

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By
Charlie Smith

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It is added that Aston Villa have made a bid of around £40m for Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who could be the ideal replacement for their current shot-stopper, given his impressive performances in Ligue 1 throughout the 2024-25 season.

There is a belief that Chevalier could be a good fit in Emery’s squad, and negotiations over a deal are now underway, with news of whether the Villans’ move is successful expected to come in the next few weeks.

"Top" goalkeeper Chevalier is "similar" to David Raya

Football scout Ben Mattinson was left impressed by the Lille shot-stopper during the 2024-25 campaign, singling him out for high praise and comparing him to Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

It is little wonder the Frenchman is held in very high regard by Mattinson, given that he ranks in the 81st percentile for his save percentage per 90 over the past year, while also putting in some top performances for Lille in the Champions League last season.

The 23-year-old made a number of “world-class” saves to keep Borussia Dortmund at bay in March, which will no doubt go into the compilation alongside several fantastic stops in Ligue 1.

Aston Villa will no doubt be looking to bring in a goalkeeper who is proven at the top level to replace Martinez, and Chevalier certainly fits the bill in that regard, so it is exciting news they have now submitted a bid to bring the Lille star to Villa Park.

Manchester United are in a rut and no doubt just wish to see the back of the torrid 2024/25 campaign.

Make no mistake, the Red Devils have arrived at a critical juncture. In fact, this could be the most important transfer window in many years, for Ruben Amorim’s side are languishing in the Premier League’s 16th spot with one game to go, no European football after losing the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur.

United are at a low ebb, but they will bounce back. However, INEOS need to prove they are capable of overcoming adversity, and on the transfer front, it looks like Old Trafford are going to struggle to wield the same kind of transfer power given their current malaise.

Well, that’s actually debatable. Financially, Amorim’s side have taken a big blow, but their ability to draw the most talented players is very much still there.

Matheus Cunha would attest to that.

The latest on Matheus Cunha to Man Utd

Though Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expecting his club to make sales this summer, he’s also gearing up to reinforce several areas of the field, and scoring more goals is one of the most pressing demands.

Cunha will spearhead the hopeful resurgence.

Despite interest from other clubs, including Arsenal, Aston Villa and more besides from the Saudi Pro League, the Wolverhampton Wanderers star has his heart set on a move to the Theatre of Dreams, as per Sky Sports, with United’s failure to win the Europa League not expected to prevent them from triggering his £62.5m release clause.

Wolves’ Brazilian forward is versatile and deadly, through his goalscoring ability, steely athleticism, and creative flair.

Wolves have made steady gains through the campaign, but Cunha has provided an invariably reliable service (suspensions aside). The 25-year-old has even been described as an “absolutely sensational” player when it comes to his intelligence and decision-making by pundit Micah Richards.

Matches (starts)

32 (18)

Goals

15

Assists

2

Shots (on target)*

3.2 (1.3)

Big chances missed

2

Pass completion

79%

Big chances created

13

Key passes*

1.8

Dribbles*

1.9

Ball recoveries*

3.8

Tackles + interceptions*

1.6

Duels won*

5.6

Cunha is a brilliant player, but he alone cannot solve Amorim’s crisis. Indeed, Rasmus Hojlund has fallen by the wayside, and a replacement is needed.

Man Utd leading race for new striker

Hojlund is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer and is already attracting interest from Italy. This leaves Man United in a good position to sign Liam Delap, whose £30m release clause with Ipswich Town became active upon their relegation from the Premier League last month.

And according to Football Insider, United actually lead Chelsea in the race for the 22-year-old, with reports from elsewhere suggesting the Blues are focusing on Brighton’s Joao Pedro.

Everton are also in talks to sign the Englishman, but Football Insider believe United have the lead over the Toffees too to sign the England U21 international in the upcoming summer transfer window.

With Tractor Boys boss Kieran McKenna confirming his talisman is set to leave this summer, United are perfectly poised to complete a deal for a talented new striker, and for an affordable fee at that.

Why Liam Delap would succeed at Man United

Delap has passed his first test at top-flight level with flying colours, on an individual basis, at least. Having played 36 times in the Premier League, the striker has scored 12 goals, providing two assists to boot.

This is a bit of a double-edged boost for United fans, but Delap has already proven himself capable as a prolific goalscorer in a Premier League relegation battle.

That’s not to say Amorim has ever been dragged into an actual scrap for a place in next year’s edition, but Man United are set for their worst-ever Premier League finish and have suffered through many devastating losses across the campaign.

Delap is a clinical shooter, but he’s also athletic and powerful, eager to split through defences and make a menace of himself. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 13% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top five leagues in 2024/25 for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.

Cunha must be licking his lips. Let’s peer back at the Brazilian’s performance in the Premier League this season. If we recall, he might have scored loads of goals, only missing a smattering of chances, but creativity has also been part of his core quality.

Joint-sixth among Premier League forwards for big chances created this season and having also averaged 1.8 key passes per game, Cunha would be an almighty addition to a United side lacking in characters who can make things happen.

Hailed for his “incredible talent” by BBC Sport’s Alex Howell, Delap would be more than happy to finish sequences off clinically, but he’d need support and Bruno Fernandes can’t do it all on his own, if the skipper is even plying his trade at the club next season, with Al Hilal and more interested in securing his signature.

After missing just ten big chances in the Premier League this season, as per Sofascore, he’s underlined his clinical credentials and, moreover, his superiority over Man United’s Hojlund, whose four-goal return has also seen him miss six big chances.

Signing Premier League-proven forwards to enhance Amorim’s system is exactly what United need to be doing if they are to get themselves back on the right track.

There’s a long road ahead, but the Red Devils have the chance to showcase a new strategy that could breed sustainable long-term success. It’s been a terrible term, all right, but it’s time for this great club to turn a corner.

Not just Garnacho: Amorim must sell Man Utd dud who's a "serious problem"

Manchester United are in need of a serious overhaul this summer, with numerous players needing to be sold.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 24, 2025

After the chaos and jubilation of Thursday night, Manchester United returned to their usual selves on Sunday afternoon, as the Red Devils slipped to a 15th Premier League defeat of the season at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In many ways, it was the same old story for the hosts at Old Trafford, with Ruben Amorim forced to watch on as his lacklustre side squandered a litany of chances, before being punished late on by a sublime Pablo Sarabia free-kick.

Indeed, on a different day, Alejandro Garnacho could well have walked away with a hat-trick of assists, having picked out both Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount inside the box, while also seeing Rasmus Hojlund come agonisingly close to getting on the end of his clever pull-back.

The struggling Dane – who has scored just once in all competitions since mid-December – also failed to pick out Kobbie Mainoo when advancing into space in the second-half, with Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer subsequently stating that the “damaged” 22-year-old “isn’t ready” to be United’s starting striker.

24 goals in 88 games for the Red Devils makes for grim reading for the £64m man, with it no surprise that the addition of a new centre-forward is high on the agenda this summer – alongside the capture of Wolves talisman, Matheus Cunha.

Latest on Man Utd's search for a forward

With all of United’s eggs now in the Europa League basket, there remains an anxious wait as to whether or not INEOS will have a Champions League budget to work with next season, with so much resting on success on the continent.

Regardless of what happens between now and the end of May, however, it does appear that the Old Trafford hierarchy are intent on adding Cunha to their ranks, with Fabrizio Romano outlining that the Red Devils are leading the race for the Brazilian’s signature.

The 25-year-old has scored 14 goals in the league this season – including against Amorim’s side on Boxing Day – with The Athletic previously outlining that he is viewed as a solution for one of the two number ten berths in the 3-4-3 set-up.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

That same report had indicated that Ipswich Town starlet, Liam Delap, is being considered as a potential upgrade at centre-forward, although the Englishman is evidently not the only candidate, as revealed by Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.

As Luckhurst has noted, United have remained in contact with the agent of RB Leipzig sensation, Benjamin Sesko, having previously missed out on the Slovenian superstar back in the summer of 2022.

The interest in the 6 foot 5 striker – who has a £58m release clause in his current deal – appears to extend even further back than that, with prior reports outlining that the Red Devils rejected the chance to sign him for just £2.5m from NK Domzale as a teenager back in 2019.

This summer could then finally see the 21-year-old arrive at the Theatre of Dreams, with Sesko potentially set to represent the perfect upgrade on both Hojlund and Delap.

How Man Utd could upgrade their centre-forward ranks

For all United’s success in Europe – as they currently remain unbeaten in the Europa League – the fact of the matter is they have been simply abject domestically, having found themselves just two points above 17th-placed West Ham United.

A key issue has been the club’s woes at the top end of the pitch after scoring just 38 times in 33 top-flight games – almost half of what champions-elect Liverpool have recorded at the summit (75).

With Hojlund and the now stricken Joshua Zirkzee scoring just six league goals between them, the need of a new number nine is bordering on desperation – enter, Sesko.

Described as a “monster” of a striker by analyst Ben Mattinson, the 41-cap international has enjoyed another fine campaign in Germany, netting 20 times in 41 games in all competitions, including four goals in eight Champions League appearances.

Including his time at sister club Red Bull Salzburg, Sesko has now scored 12 league goals or more in each of his last three seasons. The 22-year-old Delap, for instance, has only broken into double figures for the first time in 2024/25, in what is his first campaign in a top-tier league.

Games (starts)

29 (27)

32 (29)

Goals

12

12

Big chances missed

10

10

Goal frequency

182mins

198mins

Assists

5

2

Big chances created

5

3

Key passes*

0.6

0.6

Pass accuracy*

67%

62%

Successful dribbles*

1.3

1.2

Aerial duels won*

56%

45%

As indicated in the table above, it is the Leipzig star who comes out on top too across a string of attacking and defensive metrics, showcasing just why United have been wise to maintain contact with his representatives in recent years.

A player with “incredible potential” – in the words of Jurgen Klopp – what particularly stands out is Sesko’s venomous shooting ability, having already chalked up a stunning catalogue of long-range, pinpoint efforts in his career thus far.

While there may be fears over enduring something of a Hojlund repeat, considering the potential price tag and age of the Slovenian hero, Sesko – unlike the current United man and Delap – has proven himself at the elite level over a number of seasons now.

He would represent the high-potential talent that Amorim and co are craving, who can make an instant impact.

For the third campaign in a row, the Red Devils look set to dip into the market for a new number nine – they simply can’t afford to get it wrong again…

He's a lot like Cunha: Man Utd hopeful of signing "frightening" £50m star

Manchester United are eyeing up a deal for a star who could be their own Matheus Cunha.

ByDan Emery Apr 21, 2025

The 21-year-old has only been playing professional cricket for 16 months but was drafted by Perth Scorchers on the urging of his Manchester Originals coach Simon Katich

Matt Roller13-Dec-2024Matty Hurst arrived in Perth as an unknown, young keeper-batter ahead of Sunday’s Big Bash League curtain-raiser at Optus Stadium, but has already made a significant impression on at least one Australian.Hurst, who turned 21 on Tuesday, was the only Manchester Originals player to enhance his reputation during their 2024 Hundred season. His boundary-hitting against genuine pace and high-quality spin matched with a temperament that belies his age, prompted Simon Katich, Originals’ coach, to recommend Hurst to Perth Scorchers ahead of September’s BBL draft.Scorchers’ management, led by coach Adam Voges, paid attention: after turning down an SA20 deal to guarantee his availability for the full season, Hurst was signed as a ‘silver’ pick on a contract worth A$200,000 (£100,000 approx.). He could play a vital role as wicketkeeping cover, with Josh Inglis set to miss at least some of the season with Australia’s Test squad.Related

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A talented all-round sportsman, Hurst grew up in the north-west of England between two rugby league strongholds. He supports Wigan Warriors – rather than local rivals St Helens – but was never physically big enough to have taken the sport seriously. Instead, he played age-group football for Manchester United as a central midfielder, with opponents including Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.But cricket was his real passion ever since he watched his dad Bill play club cricket in the Southport and District League for Winstanley Park, and he has been involved with Lancashire since the age of 10. “It first hit when I was around 14 that I could actually have a chance,” Hurst told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s always been a dream to play for Lancs, ever since getting into the academy.”At 14, he gave up football and went all-in on cricket, progressing through the Bunbury Festival, England Under-19s and Lancashire’s age-group teams to make his professional debut aged 19 in the Metro Bank Cup last summer. Since then, he has flourished: “You don’t take part just to be average,” Hurst said. “You want to be the best you can be.”He was the beneficiary last year when Phil Salt signed a replacement deal at the IPL shortly before the start of the County Championship season. That enabled Hurst to take the gloves and bat in the middle order, with his output of 677 runs at 32.23 – including a maiden hundred against Nottinghamshire – a rare positive in a Lancashire campaign which ended in relegation.But it was the Blast that helped his career take off, through an opportunity that emerged with Salt, Liam Livingstone and Jos Buttler at the T20 World Cup. In his first professional T20 innings, Hurst walked out in the fourth over with Lancashire 10 for 3, hit his first ball for four, and then shimmied down the pitch to launch his third for six.

“There’s not too many players I’ve looked forward to watching, but Hursty is definitely one of them. Hopefully he hits the ground running over there… I’ve got everything crossed for him.”Phil Salt on Matty Hurst

It was that sense of fearlessness that impressed Lancashire’s staff throughout the season – and prompted Katich to sign him on a wildcard deal in the Hundred. Again, he benefited from a high-profile absentee: Buttler’s calf injury left the Originals light on batting, and Hurst hit half-centuries in his first two innings as Salt’s opening partner.The highlight was an outrageous reverse-scoop for six off Spencer Johnson in his 50 against Oval Invincibles. “I’ve started developing the reverse over the last couple of years,” Hurst said. “I’ve got the game to be cute and clever when I need to be, but I’d back myself to clear any rope now… Old Trafford’s not a small ground. But you’re never perfect. You always want to improve.”He last played in Australia in early 2023 with England’s Under-19s, including two four-day matches with Jacob Bethell as his captain. They could come up against each other on December 23, with Bethell due to arrive for his stint with Melbourne Renegades next week after his remarkable maiden Test tour to New Zealand.Hurst cites Buttler and Salt as the two players he most enjoyed watching as a teenager, and Salt has acted as a mentor. “We always end up having good chats about batting and keeping,” Salt explained. “We spoke quite a bit about the short ball during the Hundred, and he made a couple of technical changes very, very quickly. He’s a bit of a sponge.”Katich believes Salt was influential in advising Hurst to make himself fully available for the BBL – and thereby leaving an England Lions tour early – ahead of other leagues, having himself kicked on while playing for Adelaide Strikers. “There’s not too many players I’ve looked forward to watching, but Hursty is definitely one of them,” Salt said. “Hopefully he hits the ground running over there… I’ve got everything crossed for him.”Hurst is joined in Perth by his Lancashire team-mate Keaton Jennings and the pair could even be competing for a spot when Scorchers are at full strength. “If you’d told me that I’d be doing this in February, I’d have probably laughed in your face,” Hurst said. “You’ve just got to take it in your stride: focus on yourself, be the best you can be and you’ll be perfectly fine.”The demand for his services after only one full season as a professional marks Hurst out as an archetypical young English player of the modern era, weighing up the potential benefits and drawbacks of an abundance of different opportunities in the off-season. But he has just signed a new three-year, all-format deal with Lancashire, and his ambition is clear: “My aim is to play for England, in all three formats. That’s the pinnacle.”

The former South Africa batter and captain looks back at her career, ahead to the World Cup in her country, and league life after

Firdose Moonda08-Feb-2023Mignon du Preez broke cricket’s glass ceiling in heels. Sort of.”When people hear the word ‘cricketer’, they think you need to be a little bit more butch. They don’t think you can be a cricketer and be girly. They think if you’ve got your nails done, surely you can’t catch a ball. I tried to show that you can still be a girly girl and be competitive,” she says. “There was a definitely a time when people would think cricket and that it’s only for boys.”Du Preez was one of the “Iconic Women” who took part in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour recently. Now retired and hoping to start a family, she played international cricket for over 15 years in a career that spanned South African women’s cricket’s transition from amateur to professional. And she did it all with long blonde hair.Related

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“We had to change people’s perception,” she says. “There was lack of visibility. Nobody knew about us. Our games were not televised and girls’ cricket was not a mainstream sport in schools. The hardest thing was to get girls to take up the sport.”Her own primary school did not have a girls’ team, so, like so many from the pioneering generation of women’s cricketers, she played with boys. “There was one parent that had a complaint because there was a girl [du Preez] in the team and their son was not playing and I remember the coaches said, ‘But she’s better than him,'” she says.There was no arguing with that. Du Preez was only 12 years old when she struck 258 in a 40-over match and “kind of realised that cricket could be a career choice”.Five years later she made her international debut. “It was during the holiday time and one of the players got injured and I got a call-up,” she says.Du Preez holds up the World Cup trophy during a promotional event for this year’s tournament in South Africa late last year•Liezl Zwarts/ICC T20 Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour by NissanIt was only seven years into her career that South Africa’s matches were first televised. In September 2014, SuperSport screened the three-match T20I series between South Africa and England. Earlier that year the team du Preez led reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup. The broadcast interest in them was reward for a decent campaign but they were unable to repay the faith immediately. South Africa were completely outplayed in the first two matches in England and also lost the third, though they put up more of a fight in that game.At the time du Preez was halfway through her captaincy, a role she was thrust into almost by accident at 22, when the regular captain was injured. “I was a very young captain, so tactically I felt like I kind of was thrown into the deep end and I didn’t really know much,” she says. “On the first couple of tours, I almost needed to have script notes for who is going to bowl when and where.”But what I thought I was really good at was people-management skills. I had an open-door policy and definitely wanted to get the best out of the players. We weren’t professional and so we were just trying to change perceptions.”That same year du Preez played her first, and only, Test, where she scored the century she describes as one of her career highlights, although not for the reasons you may think.”It was really special but also quite a challenging experience. What I remember most was how I got out in the second innings,” she says. “Because I did so well in the first innings, I just kind of hoped I would pick up where I left off. Poonam Yadav was bowling to me and I had this plan that if she tossed it up, I was going to use my feet and hit her. But then also, she’s a legspinner, so a sweep was a good option if she tosses it down leg. She ended up tossing it up and down leg, I double-stepped and missed it completely and got stumped. It was not your typical Test-match shot. Today you can get away with it, with a lot of innovative cricket being played, but then it was not the typical dismissal you would see in a Test.”Most South Africans would not even have been aware that the match took place. The women’s team didn’t become a big part of the national cricket conversation until 2017, when du Preez stepped down from the leadership but played in her 100th ODI and South Africa made the semi-final of the 50-over World Cup. “That’s when people started taking notice and our players started becoming role models. That was where the big change happened,” she said.Du Preez during a partnership with Celeste Raack of Ireland in the Fairbreak tournament in 2022. “What made that tournament special was the camaraderie,” she says. “It was where sport just united everybody”•FairBreak GlobalNow in 2023, South Africa find themselves in focus in women’s sport. Last month they hosted the inaugural Under-19 women’s T20 World Cup, and this month they host the senior event. In July-August, they will stage the netball World Cup, and the national women’s football team will compete in the World Cup for the second successive time – an incredible feat against the backdrop of the men not qualifying for the same event in 20 years (they qualified automatically as hosts in 2010).Du Preez is no longer involved in a playing capacity for South Africa but remains a keen observer from the sidelines, and is still a sportsperson through and through. On the day of this interview she was also in the nets.”It’s almost like riding a bike but sometimes it’s not like that,” she says. “The last time I didn’t play for a while, I struggled to get the timing because I was just so eager to get bat on ball and I’d be too early on every shot. But today I think it was a lot more relaxed. I think that comes with age. Practice is there to make mistakes and it ended up being fewer mistakes than I thought.”Like so many female cricketers, du Preez has put her name in the hat for the WPL auction, where she hopes to get what could be a life-changing deal. Although she recognises that the growth of leagues could be a threat to the international game, having spent so much of her career in the amateur era, no one will begrudge her cashing in. “These leagues pay their players really well but ultimately you want your best players to be available for national selection, and to do that you also need to ensure that you pay them well enough so that they want to play for their country,” she says.Essentially that’s part of the story for her own reasons for retiring. After she opted to step away from ODI cricket in April last year, du Preez was unable to keep her central contract because CSA do not offer single-format-only deals. With bills to pay, du Preez decided to call it quits completely and seek opportunities in franchise leagues.She won’t be lured into a national comeback for the World Cup but will be involved in the tournament in a commentary role. She will be rooting for South Africa, though.”If I think with my heart, I’m going to say they are going to win,” she says. “But if I think with my head, realistically, Australia have dominated women’s cricket in the last couple of years and they are just so far ahead. They’ve got a lot of talent to pick from. In South Africa we don’t have such a big pool. But I am excited to see a few other teams. England – they’ve also invested quite a bit – and then India, they’ve been really good recently and it will be really good if they do well because if India does well, women’s cricket does well.”Du Preez top-scored with 76 not out in the semi-final of the 2017 50-over World Cup but it wasn’t enough to get South Africa across the line•Getty ImagesClosing the gap between those top-tier teams and the rest is a subject that interests du Preez. She was involved in the inaugural Fairbreak T20 tournament in the UAE last year and has since become a marketing consultant for the organisation. She sees competitions like that one as a way to level the playing field.”Fairbreak gives opportunities to players that come from Associate nations to earn a living from cricket. They get their first professional contract and they get to play alongside their heroes. We had all the big names, from Stafanie Taylor and Sophie Devine to Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka,” she says.And though events like Fairbreak are competitive, it’s less about which team wins or loses and more about individuals gaining from it. “What made that tournament even more special was the camaraderie. When you go to a World Cup or the WBBL or the Hundred, it’s really feisty and the competition is fierce. This tournament was where sport just united everybody. It was so good just to see the interaction between the players and how the players from the Full-Member nations shared their knowledge with the Associate players and how everybody was rooting for them to do well. I remember everyone cheering for Wini [Malaysia captain Winifred Duraisingam]. It’s growing and it’s going to offer more opportunities.”One of the players at the tournament was then 18-year-old Henriette Ishimwe from Rwanda, who went on to take four wickets in four balls at the U-19 World Cup, leading Rwanda to a historic first win at a major tournament. Well before Ishimwe achieved that feat, she had fans from her time at Fairbreak. “My husband actually asked me to speak to Henriette because he wanted her shirt,” du Preez says.And in doing that du Preez and her husband, Tony, shattered another glass ceiling. It’s only recently that female sportspeople, especially in team sports, have become role models and du Preez believes that as perceptions continue to change, that will only increase. “I was part of the commentary team for the U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup and I was looking through the player bios and so many of the girls had women role models, and I was like, wow, we’ve done something right. Finally.”

Until Sunday, he had gathered consistently. Then came that one barnstorming performance

Saurabh Somani02-Nov-2020After their last-ball defeat against the Chennai Super Kings on October 29, the Kolkata Knight Riders had done a dance routine down the IPL 2020 points table going 5, 6, 7, 8 after every subsequent game because while they had lost, the teams clustered around them were winning. Before their last league match, against the Rajasthan Royals, it didn’t seem anomalous that the Knight Riders were at the bottom of the table, even though five teams were on 12 points.In a way, the Knight Riders’ position mirrored that of captain Eoin Morgan, who had become the batting mainstay of his side almost seamlessly. His team had gathered as many points as the others, but without quite as much of a flourish. Morgan had gathered runs as consistently as anyone else, but without that one barnstorming performance.It took one match, for both perceptions to course correct. The Knight Riders needed a spectacular win, and it was delivered on the back of a spectacular innings against the Rajasthan Royals.Morgan almost downplayed his 68 off 35 that drove the Knight Riders to a total of 191, saying dew had set in early which meant the ball was coming on to the bat better from the first innings itself. The facts are, that in a must-win game for both teams in which both came out swinging hard, only Morgan could score at the pace at which he did, for the length of time he did. Nobody else on either side made more than 40. Nobody who faced at least 20 balls approached his strike-rate. Pat Cummins’ bowling played its part in an eventual 60-run win for the Knight Riders, but arguably, Morgan’s contribution was even more important.His innings ticked some minor boxes in getting him a first half-century in IPL 2020, but that was incidental. Measuring the number of half-centuries for a batsman without context is anyway archaic in T20 cricket.But even by conventional measures, Morgan has had a quietly standout season for the Knight Riders. He’s crossed 400 runs, and in 14 innings, failed to go beyond single-digits just twice. Half of his innings have been scored at strike rates above 140. He’s been the team’s best batsman by some distance. And he’s done all this in a season where he was part of a captaincy change midway through the tournament.Before 2020, Morgan’s record in the IPL was decidedly tepid: an average of 21.35 at a strike rate of 121.13 across 52 matches. This year, the average has been 41.80 and the strike rate has jumped to 138.41. The value his batting has brought for the Knight Riders is understood better when seen through ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats, which give weightage to performances based on oppositions, match situations and the period of play in which runs are scored. Morgan’s Smart Runs tally is 445 – the highest in the league. Only KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner and Mayank Agarwal have more Smart Runs than Morgan.ESPNcricinfo LtdIt’s illustrative of just how valuable Morgan’s runs have been that the four men ahead of him are all openers, the position that has the maximum opportunity to pile on big scores in T20 cricket. Morgan has come in to bat on an average in the tenth over this IPL. If he has come in earlier, it’s because there has been a top-order failure. To still outscore a whole bunch of pedigreed batsmen who bat from Nos.1 to 4 in various teams, speaks to the dual aspect of Morgan’s batting this season: he’s got runs consistently, and he’s got them at rates that have been above-par for the match.Sometimes, like on Sunday against the Royals, stunningly above par.Morgan himself focussed more on the collective effort than his own knock. “Given the conditions, how good they were…. everybody in the middle order felt that you had a few balls to take your time and then you could hopefully take advantage later on in the innings,” he said at the press conference after the game. “Managed to do that, Andre Russell managed to do that, and a number of our other batsmen managed to contribute in posting a score of 190.”The words were understated, much like his tournament has been. It could be the way the tournament ends for Morgan and the Knight Riders, with their progression now dependent on the results of the two league stage matches that remain. Morgan himself didn’t appear too fussed, saying he was satisfied the Knight Riders had done all they could to stay in contention with that dominant show against the Royals.”I’ll have an eye on it in the background, but there’s nothing that we can control in that, so what will be, will be,” he said.Regardless of whether the Knight Riders make the playoffs or not, it’s been a breakthrough season of sorts for Morgan, the batsman. He has had sustained success in a competition he hadn’t cracked previously. He’s handled a transition of leadership mid-season, a tricky enough thing to manage on its own. And he’s done it when two of the greatest T20 players of all time in Russell and Sunil Narine have been unavailable for selection at various points.If the playoffs happen, he’ll get another chance to add a striking innings to the IPL 2020 memory bank. If not, he’ll have to wait and see if this batting upswing can be carried over when the IPL is played in India. Either way, what will be, will be.

Celtic went through a curious couple of days of speculation after it was reported that the club were set to sign central midfielder Bobby Clark for a fee of £6m.

It was claimed that the Hoops were on course to clinch a deal for the 20-year-old RB Salzburg starlet, who is currently on loan at Derby County, in the January transfer window.

However, Brendan Rodgers was quizzed about the link ahead of the clash with Dundee and said: “I wouldn’t normally say anything on anything, but I really don’t know where that has come from at all. Especially in October.”

Whilst it seems like the link to Clark was wide of the mark, it was not a total surprise to see a central midfield link, given that Reo Hatate’s form has tailed off this season.

Why Reo Hatate's form is a concern for Celtic

The Japan international was in influential presence in midfield last season with a return of ten goals and 14 ‘big chances’ created in 37 outings in the Scottish Premiership, per Sofascore.

Hatate provided a consistent threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals, but that has not been the case for him in the 2025/26 campaign so far.

The 27-year-old star has scored one goal, created one ‘big chance’, and failed to register any assists in six appearances in the Premiership, per Sofascore, as Celtic have failed to score in four of their last nine games in all competitions.

Rodgers needs more from his midfielders from an attacking perspective, because of Hatate’s concerning form, but signing Bobby Clark should not be the answer, as Paulo Bernardo is an even better option than him.

Why Celtic should unleash Paulo Bernardo

The Portugal U21 international has the quality to be the club’s next version of Hatate in the middle of the park, as a central midfielder who can score and create goals for the team.

Clark, meanwhile, has no goals and no assists in nine appearances for Derby in the Championship, per Sofascore, after a return of one goal and no assists in 17 matches in the Austrian Bundesliga for Salzburg in the 2024/25 campaign.

These statistics do not suggest that the English starlet would arrive at Parkhead to provide the goals and assists that the Hoops are currently lacking in midfield.

Starts

11

13

Goals

3

2

Conversion rate

10%

8%

Key passes

11

31

Big chances created

4

5

Assists

3

3

However, as you can see in the table above, Bernardo’s form in his first two full Premiership seasons with the club suggest that he has the potential to deliver quality in the final third.

The Portuguese whiz, who was hailed as “tenacious” by Rodgers, scored five goals and created nine ‘big chances’ in 24 Premiership starts in those two campaigns, which is a fairly impressive haul for a player who did not play week-in-week-out.

His statistics in the Premiership show that he is a better central midfield option than Clark, who has failed to make much of an impact at the top end of the pitch at Salzburg or Derby in the past 18 months, since leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2024.

Unfortunately, though, Rodgers has only handed Bernardo two appearances and one start in the Premiership this season, which means that he has not had many opportunities to showcase his quality in midfield.

Given Hatate’s drop-off in form, the Celtic manager should be looking to unleash the Portuguese talent in the coming weeks because he has the attacking potential to be the club’s next version of the Hatate that they had in the middle of the park last term.

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Liverpool have now reportedly joined the race to sign a rising star who could replace Ibrahima Konate, having already sent their scouts to watch the defender in action.

What next after Salah's explosive rant?

Just when they thought it couldn’t get any worse, Mohamed Salah found himself strolling through the mixed zone towards the first microphone available. And this was no friendly catch-up. The Egyptian unleashed a sensational rant, accusing Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” and claiming that there is no longer a relationship with manager Arne Slot.

So, where do Liverpool and Salah go next? The Egyptian has trained today and a decision is yet to be made as to whether he travels to face Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

According to The Athletic’s James Pearce, some teammates were expecting his rant and those higher up at Anfield knew it was only inevitable that the chances increased that he’d speak out with every passing week on the bench.

Slot maintains the backing of Anfield chiefs, however, who view his decision to drop Salah as a selection choice which was unlikely to be long-term.

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What’s more, as reported by the BBC’s Sami Mokbel, the relationship between Slot and Salah is genuinely broken at present and the Egyptian simply does not see a future at Liverpool whilst the Dutchman is in charge.

It’s the lowest moment of Liverpool’s season so far and one that they could certainly do without as the fixtures come thick and fast. Alas, business goes on for FSG, who have reportedly joined the race to solve another one of Slot’s glaring problems at Liverpool.

Liverpool join race to sign Jeremy Jacquet

According to Sky Sports’ Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool have now joined the race to sign Jeremy Jacquet, who has impressed their scouts at Stade Rennais.

The Reds have already made checks on the 20-year-old defender and could welcome his arrival to replace Konate in 2026. The Frenchman is in the worst form of his Liverpool career and has already played himself out of a potential move to Real Madrid. Now, with his contract still on course to expire in the summer, he could still leave as a free agent.

Dubbed “physically imposing” by Como scout Ben Mattinson back in May and as “an insane centre-back in the making” by Jacek Kulig, Jacquet has only come on leaps and bounds ever since. At 20 years old, he’s someone that should be on the radar of several top clubs.

For Liverpool, that physicality would be key. The Reds have been bullied far too often this season with Konate at the scene of the crime all too often.

Salah replacement: Liverpool keen to sign "one of the best wingers in Europe"

Newcastle United are now reportedly eyeing a January move to sign Davide Frattesi from Inter Milan, as the midfielder continues to struggle for a starting place at the San Siro.

The Magpies were interested in the midfielder in the summer and could now return for a missed target in the theme of their January transfer window. Alongside Frattesi, Newcastle have also been linked with James Trafford, who has been forced to play backup to Gianluigi Donnarumma after both joined Manchester City in the summer.

The England international could do nothing but watch as the Citizens came away 2-1 losers at St James’ Park, courtesy of an impressive brace from Harvey Barnes.

Speaking to reporters at full-time, Eddie Howe was full of praise for his side – saying: “I’m well aware of my record against Manchester City, that is something I take no pride in, really. Trying to figure out a way to beat them is very, very difficult.

“Even today’s game, it was so tight. The margins in Premier League games against them are so fine, but we came out on the right side today.

“I thought it was a great performance from the players, full of energy, heart and bravery. I’m delighted with how we played. The mindset was key and the attitude. The energy was back that was missing against Brentford and West Ham. Our running ability and power was there.”

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The Newcastle boss will be desperate for his side to kick on domestically now, before potentially welcoming further additions in the January transfer window.

The Magpies were boosted on the PSR front by the sale of Alexander Isak in the summer and could yet use that to pick up where they left off at the end of the summer window.

Newcastle now eyeing Davide Frattesi

As reported by Tuttomercatoweb and relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle are now eyeing a move to sign Frattesi in January. Those at St James’ Park were denied the opportunity to sign the midfielder by Inter Milan in the summer, but he’s started just once in Serie A ever since.

Now, the door seems to be open for the Magpies to make their move and add further depth to their midfield. What should also make any deal easier is the fact that Frattesi is represented by the same agency as Newcastle star Sandro Tonali.

Frattesi’s current struggles at Inter come as quite the surprise, given that former Italy boss Luciano Spalletti told reporters last year: “With the intensity and quality he has, he can really get at opposition defensive lines.

“He has the sense of curiosity to go out and attack. But he also has to do better to more technically clean with the ball at his feet. If he keeps working hard he can get even better.”

It now looks as though that improvement will have to take place elsewhere and potentially in the Premier League. After missing out in the summer, Newcastle have an ideal opportunity to make up for lost time.

Newcastle have already signed their answer to Haaland and he's not even a CF