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Arsenal to “directly contact” £88m forward about joining after talks with his reps

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Arsenal are poised to hold talks with a marquee forward about joining Mikel Arteta’s side as the Gunners plan to be active in the January window, according to a new report.

Arsenal squad depth attracts praise after busy summer

Arsenal’s current campaign is increasingly defined by their excellent squad depth, arguably the best in the Premier League.

Despite consistent injuries in key areas, Arteta’s side have shown an ability not just to cope, but to thrive.

The summer’s heavy investment in new faces is already paying dividends, with Arsenal five points clear at the top of the table and on an unprecedented 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Brentford

Arsenal sealed a 2–0 win over Brentford on Wednesday, tightening their grip on the title race.

The routine win came courtesy of an early header from makeshift number nine Mikel Merino, who scored his 21st goal this calendar year, and a late strike from Bukayo Saka — despite Arteta enforcing an array of personnel changes.

What stands out is how Arsenal have seamlessly filled the gaps when injuries arise.

Arteta noted this week that this is one of the club’s “worst” injury spells in recent memory — and yet, the squad’s backup options have all stepped up to do their jobs.

Key defenders and attackers are still sidelined, and further absences could stretch the squad.

Gabriel Magalhaes is still weeks away from returning, and Arteta is waiting to discover the true extent of Cristhian Mosquera’s injury after he was hauled off against Brentford.

Kai Havertz also won’t be back for weeks after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee problem.

£282k-a-week star expressing wish to join Arsenal as agents open talks

His exit is a real possibility.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 4, 2025

That being said, Arsenal look better equipped than ever before to handle a long, demanding season — and, crucially, to maintain their push towards a first league title in 22 years.

Arsenal to 'directly contact' Juventus star Kenan Yildiz about joining

Despite their plethora of options right now, a report from Turkish Football now claims that Berta and Arteta are planning for the January window, and one man attracting their serious attention is Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz.

The Serie A rising star is currently Juve’s top performer, bagging four goals and three assists in the Italian top flight already this season after finishing last campaign as their standout attacker as well (WhoScored).

The 20-year-old is a wanted man in the Premier League, with Fabrizio Romano stating that Chelsea are big fans of Yildiz.

However, a lot of reports centre around Arsenal’s interest.

Corriere dello Sport stated earlier this week that Arsenal have held ‘new’ talks with Yildiz’s entourage, and this is backed up by Turkish Football.

The Gunners have already made their interest known to the player’s agents, but it is now believed that Arsenal will also ‘directly contact’ Yildiz about joining them after speaking to his representatives.

Yildiz’s ability to perform on the wing or almost anywhere across the front line — combined with his recent performances for club and country — make him an attractive target, with Juve still unwilling to meet his contract demands.

The impetus for the approach appears twofold.

On one hand, Yildiz’s contract renewal talks at Juventus have stalled, opening the door for Berta. On the other, Arsenal’s management seems determined to boost attacking depth — even after a major summer recruitment drive — perhaps aiming to add more youthful creativity and unpredictability to their forward line.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are also out of contract in under two years, and Yildiz would be a stellar option to replace them.

The Old Lady are poised to demand an eye-watering fee, though, reportedly around £88 million for their prized asset who ex-Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri called a ‘special talent’.

Juve may not find a club willing to shell out that much on Yildiz, but what’s crystal clear is that English sides are taking note of his exploits.

New loyalties – Ross Taylor joins growing list of dual-internationals

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Check out the growing list of male cricketers who have gone across borders to play more international cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Sep-2025Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor un-retiring to play for Samoa makes him the latest in a growing list of men who have turned out for more than one country.The first dual international was all the way back in 1881-82, when Billy Midwinter played for England in a three-Test series after having played two Tests for Australia against England. He went back to representing Australia and played six more Tests.In those early years Billy Murdoch, John Ferris, Sammy Woods, Frank Hearne, Albert Trott and Frank Mitchell did the same – playing Test cricket for Australia and England. Then there was the Nawab of Pataudi, Iftikhar Ali Khan, who played for England and India, and subsequently the instances of players who played for India and then Pakistan after the partition of the country in 1947.In the new millennium, among the players who have represented at least one Full Member team, only 18 male cricketers are recorded to have played for two countries in international cricket before Gavin Hamilton (Scotland and England) in 1999. Since then, excluding Hamilton, who went back to Scotland and played through the 2000s, there have been 25.T20 stars find new homesThe best known among these is Tim David, who played the last of his 14 T20Is for Singapore, where his father worked as an engineer, in 2020 before appearing for Australian against India in Mohali in September 2022.David Wiese had a stop-start career with South Africa as a bowling allrounder, playing six ODIs and 20 T20Is for them before shifting his loyalties to Namibia, for whom he has been a star player. Since the move in 2021, he has played nine ODIs and 34 T20Is for his new team and, like David, is popular in the franchise-league circuit.Tim David is one of the most in-demand players in the franchise T20 circuit•Getty ImagesAnother such cricketer is Hayden Walsh, who emerged as West Indies’ next big short-format spinner in November 2019, not long after playing for USA in Sandy’s Parish against Canada, Bermuda and Cayman Islands. But 25 ODIs and 39 T20Is (combined, for USA and West Indies) later, at 33, he appears to have fallen off the radar.Africans on the moveDaniel Jakiel played two T20Is for Zimbabwe in 2019 before moving to Malawi, for whom he has played 39 times, while Gregory Strydom played 12 ODIs for Zimbabwe, all in 2016, and then moved to Cayman Islands, where he has played six T20Is, all in 2019.Related

Former NZ international Tom Bruce switches to Scotland

Taylor comes out of retirement to play for Samoa

And then there are the more high-profile names, like Gary Ballance, who has played Test cricket for England and Zimbabwe – much like Kepler Wessels, who played Test cricket for Australia and South Africa in the 1980s and 1990s. Roelof van der Merwe, 40, is still going strong for Netherlands after switching from South Africa in 2015. He should be in action at the 2026 T20 World Cup too.Peter Moor moved from Zimbabwe to Ireland but retired as the 17th player to play Test cricket for two countries, without turning out for Ireland in ODIs or T20Is. Juan ‘Rusty’ Theron, who moved from South Africa in 2012 and became eligible to play for USA in 2019, hasn’t actually played international cricket since 2022. He was last seen in competitive cricket at the 2023 Major League Cricket before moving to the retired-cricketers circuit.Joe Burns, the new Italy captain•International Cricket CouncilThe Italian JobNews of an Italy team selection wouldn’t normally catch the attention of the rest of the cricket world but it did when Joe Burns, the former Australia Test opener, changed allegiance thanks to his mother’s heritage and was named Italy’s captain.Burns was not the first dual-international to play for Italy – that was former England fast bowler Jade Dernbach, who made the switch in 2019. He hasn’t played for Italy since October 2021 though.Eoin Morgan, the Ireland man in England, poses with the 2019 World Cup trophy•Getty ImagesThe England-Ireland switchEoin Morgan and fast bowler Boyd Rankin moved from Ireland to England well before Ireland became a Full Member nation, and Ed Joyce moved the other way after the step up for Ireland.Of them, Morgan was the biggest achiever, with the 2019 ODI World Cup win as captain the biggest highlight. Rankin retired in 2021 after having played most of his 13 years of international cricket for Ireland. He represented England in one Test, seven ODIs and two T20Is.Joyce played his only Test match for Ireland, but stood out for playing successive ODI World Cups for different countries. He helped Ireland qualify for the 2007 edition but played the tournament for England, and then switched back to Ireland in time for the 2011 tournament.Ross Taylor will become the latest in a long line of New Zealand cricketers to move to another country•Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTo New Zealand, from New ZealandTom Bruce became the latest to make the switch from New Zealand, to Scotland in August 2025, and is currently in action for his new team at the World Cup League 2 matches in Canada.He is not the first to make the journey, one way or the other.Corey Anderson might be the biggest name of the lot. His Test and ODI careers, from 2013 to 2017, were entirely for New Zealand – 13 and 49 matches in each formats respectively. His 42 T20Is have been more diverse: 31 for New Zealand, and the last 11 for USA.Mark Chapman went from Hong Kong to New Zealand. Now 31, Chapman was born in Hong Kong and played for them from 2014 to 2016 before moving full-time to New Zealand, for whom he has been a regular, especially in T20Is, for the past few years.Michael Rippon played all his nine ODIs for Netherlands but has played one T20I (out of 19) for New Zealand after making the switch in 2022.Luke Ronchi played for Australia in 2008-09 and then for New Zealand from 2013 to 2017. He became the first man to represent two Full Member countries in around two decades, Wessels having been the previous one. Ronchi played all his four Tests for New Zealand, four of his 85 ODIs for Australia and the rest for New Zealand, and three of his 33 T20Is for Australia and the rest for New Zealand.Geraint Jones, from Ashes-winning catch to Papua New Guinea•Getty ImagesDirk Nannes, Geraint Jones, and the restDirk Nannes played his only ODI for Australia, against Scotland, in 2009, not long after switching from Netherlands after having played two T20Is. He went on to play 15 T20Is for Australia but is better known for his exploits in franchise T20 cricket.Geraint Jones, best remembered for the catch that won England the Edgbaston Test in the 2005 Ashes, played 34 Tests and two T20Is for England, but played for both England and Papua New Guinea in ODIs – 49 for England, and two for PNG.Some of the other modern dual internationals are Izatullah Dawlatzai (Afghanistan and Germany), Amjad Khan (England and Denmark), Xavier Marshall (West Indies and USA) and Ryan Campbell (Australia and Hong Kong).

Will Ryan Reynolds, Rob Mac & Wrexham listen to January transfer advice? Phil Parkinson delivers update on plans for winter window

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Wrexham are being advised to splash more cash in the January transfer window, despite seeing Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac oversee a record-breaking recruitment drive in the summer of 2025. Phil Parkinson has suggested that calls to spend again may be ignored, with the Red Dragons not expecting to be particularly busy in the new year.

Record spend: Wrexham invested £30m-plus in summer window

More than £30 million ($39m) was invested in fresh faces at SToK Racecourse ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. On the back of three successive promotions, another overhaul of Parkinson’s squad was required in order to have it ready for life in the second tier.

Not every deal done has been a resounding success, despite bringing plenty of Premier League pedigree to North Wales. It was, however, always going to be tricky bedding in 13 new arrivals and getting them to hit the ground running.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTransfer plans: What Wrexham have in store for January

With consistency having been an issue at times, there have been calls for Wrexham to strengthen again when another market opens for business on January 1. Parkinson, though, is now seeking stability and continuity.

Quizzed on his transfer plans, Wrexham’s manager told : “We'll monitor the injury situation, but we made a lot of changes in the summer and I feel we're only just getting a settled feel in the building. We won't be making too many changes in the January window. We want to continue to work with the players we've got. When you bring in 13 players, that's a big turnaround.”

EFL pundit tips Wrexham to splash the cash

Former EFL player turned pundit Don Goodman is among those to have advised Wrexham to ask Reynolds and Mac for more money early in 2026. He has told : “What you are seeing at the minute is loads of teams that are evenly matched and that gives a real opportunity. And it could be that Wrexham might not get a better opportunity. So, with that in mind, I think there probably will be money available in January, if necessary.

“If they go and spend money in January, I would expect it to be quality over quantity. I would expect maybe it would be a couple of players brought in that would go straight into the starting 11 and improve them rather than players brought in for the squad.

“When I look at that table, they are one of four teams, from 11th to 14th, on 21 points, which is four points off a play-off spot. I would expect them to have a real go, and spend some money in January. I don't know whether financial fair play will kick in and play a part so they'll have to really be careful and get some out before getting some in. But I would expect them to have a go.”

Parkinson is aware of what is being said by others, but that does not mean that he has to listen. He has done things his way at Wrexham since taking the reins in 2021 – enjoying a historic run of success in the process.

He added when asked again if he could look to heed Goodman’s advice and dip into the transfer market for quality over quantity: “I don't think we'll need a lot. We're always looking and, of course, you never rest on your laurels as a manager or as a group of staff, but equally, I don't want to disrupt the group too much.”

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Getty/GOALAnother promotion push? Next up for Wrexham

Reynolds and Mac have always been prepared to dig into their pockets if Parkinson feels the need to bolster his ranks. Record revenue has been generated by the Red Dragons, and that is helping to further enhance any recruitment budgets.

Wrexham are, however, in a relatively comfortable position at present. With Parkinson welcoming players back from injury and fresh faces feeling more settled in new surroundings, another promotion push cannot be ruled out. A return to Championship action after the November international break will be made when taking on Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday.

Wareham stars again as Melbourne Renegades make it two from two

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

The defending champions are off to a flying start with their stand-in captain leading from the front

AAP11-Nov-2025

Georgia Wareham continued her fine start to WBBL•Getty Images

Melbourne Renegades 151 for 6 (Wareham 58*) beat Sydney Thunder 148 for 7Melbourne Renegades captain Georgia Wareham has claimed back-to-back player-of-the-match awards in a four-wicket win over Sydney Thunder.Filling in for the injured Sophie Molineux, Wareham smashed 58 off 32 deliveries in the run chase at Junction Oval after claiming 2 for 25 with her legspin.Wareham had starred just two days previously against Brisbane Heat with bat and ball and she backed that up.The heavens opened on several occasions during the match but the players pressed on through it. After the Thunder made 148 for 7 in their 20 overs the Renegades were in trouble at 73 for 5.Wareham and Nicole Faltum (37 off 26 deliveries) then combined in a match winning partnership that enabled the hosts to coast to victory with 11 balls to spare.Wareham’s placement was superb as she compiled her runs with minimal risk and plenty of nous in her fifth WBBL half-century .Earlier, Thunder had a solid start provided by Georgia Voll (26) and Tahlia Wilson (30). But from 60 without loss they slipped to 79 for four and that was largely due to the influence of Wareham.In her four accurate overs she dismissed the dangerous Thunder captain Phoebe Litchfield for just 12. Power hitting by Heather Knight and Anika Learoyd at the death gave the visitors a decent total but not enough to stop Wareham and Faltum.

Gabriel 2.0: Arsenal enter £79m race to sign "one of the best CBs in the PL"

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Arsenal have been utterly sensational so far this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side are flying in the Champions League, and look near enough unstoppable when it comes to the Premier League.

More impressively, the Gunners tore Tottenham Hotspur to shreds on Sunday afternoon without the man many would consider to have been their best player so far this year: Gabriel Magalhães.

The Brazilian has been sensational in defence and attack, and so fans should be excited about reports linking Arsenal with a star who could be looked at as another version of him.

Arsenal target another Gabriel

With the transfer window just over a month away from opening, it’s not been a surprise to see reports starting to link Arsenal with some brilliant players in recent weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, while the Gunners are fairly well-stacked in the position, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson has been touted for a £120m switch to the Emirates.

Likewise, despite Leandro Trossard’s impressive form this year, Kenan Yıldız continues to be linked with a move to the Premier League title challengers.

However, while incredibly talented, neither of these players can really be compared to Gabriel, unlike Murillo.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of a few clubs interested in the Brazilian defender.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Chelsea and Barcelona are keen to sign the talented centre-back, who Forest value at up to €90m, which is about £79m.

Therefore, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given his ability and similarities to Gabriel, one Arsenal should be pursuing.

Why Murillo would be another Gabriel

So to start with, there are the more superficial similarities between the pair, such as both being Brazilian centre-backs.

On top of that, there is the fact that when Arsenal signed Gabriel from LOSC Lille in the summer of 2020, he was 22 years old, and if they sign Murillo in the winter window, he’ll be just 23.

However, the comparison goes deeper than that, as, in addition to playing in the same position, the two defenders tend to play in a similar style as well.

For example, while he’s not quite as tall as the Gunners star, the “monstrous” Forest man, as dubbed by journalist Ryan Taylor, is someone who makes the most of his physicality.

Whether it’s in the air or on the ground, the former Corinthians gem is more than happy to go in for a full-throated challenge, which, more often than not, he comes out better off from.

However, don’t let that fool you into thinking the Sao Paulo-born titan is just an old-fashioned defender who can’t compete when it comes to the technical side of the game, as that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Like his compatriot, the 23-year-old is far more accomplished on the ball than most who don’t watch him on a weekly basis would expect.

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 5% of centre-backs in the league for successful take-ons, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for through balls and shot-creating actions from live-ball passes, the top 13% for progressive passes and more, all per 90.

% of Dribblers Tackled

100.0%

Top 2%

Blocks

1.83

Top 3%

Shots from Free Kicks

0.12

Top 5%

Interceptions

2.07

Top 5%

Successful Take-Ons

0.49

Top 5%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 7%

Passes Blocked

0.85

Top 7%

Ball Recoveries

4.87

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

1.46

Top 9%

Tkl+Int

3.65

Top 9%

Goals/Shot

0.25

Top 11%

Goals – xG

+0.09

Top 11%

Non-Penalty Goals – npxG

+0.09

Top 11%

Passes Attempted (Long)

9.99

Top 11%

Through Balls

0.24

Top 11%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

1.10

Top 11%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.12

Top 11%

Progressive Passes

4.87

Top 13%

SCA (Shot)

0.12

Top 13%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.24

Top 13%

Goals

0.12

Top 15%

When you consider those technical qualities alongside the fact that he helped Forest produce one of the defensive record in the country last season, it’s easy to see why one analyst made the bold claim that he’s “one of the best defenders in the Premier League.”

Ultimately, while he might not be on the exact same level as Gabriel – few defenders are – Murillo is clearly an exceptional player. Therefore, Arsenal would be wise to sign him before one of their rivals gets there first.

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مهاجم مانشستر سيتي السابق يهاجم محمد صلاح وفان دايك ويطالب بإقالة مدرب ليفربول

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

انتقد مهاجم نادي مانشستر سيتي السابق، محمد صلاح وفيرجيل فان دايك، لاعبا نادي ليفربول موضحًا أن مستوى الثنائي بات مختلفًا هذا الموسم.

ليفربول يعيش فترة صعبة للغاية خلال هذا الموسم، حيث يتعرض الريدز إلى هزائم متتالية في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز وكذلك دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وحقق ليفربول رقمًا سلبيًا بعدما هزم في 9 مناسبات من أصل آخر 12 مباراة لعبها النادي الإنجليزي في كافة المسابقات.

ويواجه آرني سلوت خطر الإقالة من منصبه كمدير فني لليفربول، وذلك وفقًا لما ورد في عدد من التقارير الصحفية والإعلامية.

وانخفض مستوى محمد صلاح بشكل مفاجئ خلال هذا الموسم، بالرغم من العروض الرائعة التي قدمها الدولي المصري خلال الموسم الماضي.

وأيد ويم كيفت، مهاجم مانشستر سيتي ومنتخب هولندا السابق، قرار إقالة سلوت من تدريب ليفربول في ظل مستوى الفريق هذا الموسم.

وقال كيفن في تصريحات لصحيفة ديلي تلجراف: “بتوقيعه مع فلوريان فيرتز وهوجو إيكيتيكي مقابل 137 مليون يورو و80 مليون يورو على التوالي، دفع ليفربول مخاطرة باهظة الثمن”.

وأضاف كيفن في حديثه: ”يتمتع لاعبا خط الوسط والمهاجم بالجودة، ومع ذلك لا يضمن هذا قدرتهما على المنافسة في كرة القدم الإنجليزية، فالنجاح في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز غالبًا ما يتطلب المزيد”.

أقرأ أيضًا .. ليفربول يراقب أحد مدربي الدوري الانجليزي لتعيينه خلفاً لـ سلوت وأوضح: “بعد مفاوضات صعبة ومطولة، كان الجميع في ليفربول سعداء بتجديد القائد فيرجيل فان دايك ومحمد صلاح لعقودهما، وهما ركيزتي نجاح الموسم الماضي، ومع ذلك فإنهما مختلفان تمامًا هذا الموسم”.

وأردف: “دفاع ليفربول بقيادة فان دايك يستقبل عددًا هائلًا من الأهداف، كذلك أداء صلاح محدود لكن، ألم ينسِ هذان اللاعبان مهاراتهما فجأة؟”.

واختتم: “بشكل عام، كان أداء ليفربول ضد نوتينجهام فورست وآيندهوفن محبطًا، لا توجد أي مؤشرات لإيقاف هذا التراجع، حتى الساحر آرني سلوت لا يستطيع قلب الأمور بين عشية وضحاها، لا يستطيع الفريق تسجيل الأهداف وما لم يخطر ببال أحد كان ممكنًا، إقالة سلوت بعد نتيجتين أو ثلاث نتائج سيئة أخرى هو أمر وارد”.

How the Gabba Test pitch will perform under lights

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The Sheffield Shield match ended late on day three with Queensland players saying the twilight period was key

AAP25-Nov-20252:51

Ehantharajah: This defeat will hurt for England

Gabba curator Dave Sandurski is set to prepare a pitch for the day-night second Ashes Test that will reward both batters and bowlers, just like in the recent Sheffield Shield clash.Queensland’s Matt Renshaw and Xavier Bartlett were standout performers in the day-night pink-ball Shield game at the Gabba which they won by seven wickets on day three.Related

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While the pitch for the Test will be a different strip, both players said the Gabba had presented a surface that rewarded bat and ball.Renshaw made 114 in the first innings while Bartlett scored 72 and took 4 for 35 in the second.The fact the Shield match finished at the end of the third day means Sandurski will get more preparation time with hot weather forecast ahead of the Test that starts Thursday week.”Gaining an extra day to get it close to that 10-day [preparation] period makes life just that little bit more comfortable,” Sandurski told AAP. “All indications are there is a bit of heat around. The wicket will dry out a lot quicker so you’ve got to make sure you keep enough moisture in it to last five days.”We try and make our wickets pretty much the same for four and five-day cricket. The aim is to provide a wicket where all players get a chance to perform their skills so hopefully all facets of the game come into the match.”Sandurski said the Shield match was indicative of how good batting and bowling would pay dividends at the Gabba.The Gabba during the day-night Sheffield Shield match•Getty ImagesThe two-day Test in Perth was a reflection of how England and Australia approached their task rather than the surface. “Years ago draws were acceptable but now they are not and people play more shots and can provide more chances,” added Sandurski.Bartlett identified the middle session, played in a twilight period under lights, as the key to success. Both he and Gurinder Sandhu extracted seam and pace from the surface in that period on day three.”Just on twilight the pink ball talks a little bit more and the game goes through massive ebbs and flows,” Bartlett told AAP. “You see wickets falling in clumps. You’ve got to stay in it and make the most of that middle session.”If the Test wicket is like the one we just played on it will be a really good cricket wicket. We got a result in three days but when you bat well you get rewarded and if you bowl well it’s the same.”Renshaw said that twilight period was a challenge and when the game could change quickly.”While batting it feels like you can get a ball with your name on it at some point, but I think it will be a pretty similar wicket to what we have normally had at the Gabba,” he said. “We saw the pink-ball Test a few years ago when West Indies were touring and it swung around at times and was also nice for batting.”

Rishabh Pant returns to India's Test squad for South Africa series

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Wicketkeeper-batter had returned to action with match-winning 90 for India A against South Africa A last week

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Nov-2025

Rishabh Pant led India A in the first four-day game against South Africa A•PTI

Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has returned to India’s Test squad for the two-match series against South Africa beginning on November 14 in Kolkata.Pant replaced N Jagadeesan while Akash Deep took Prasidh Krishna’s spot in the squad that beat West Indies 2-0 in October. Pant had missed that series as he was recovering from the foot fracture he suffered during the fourth Test against England in Manchester in July. Akash Deep was recovering from a back injury that had kept him out of the Duleep Trophy after his return from England; he has since played two rounds of the Ranji Trophy for Bengal. Mohammed Shami, who has played the first three rounds of the Ranji Trophy for Bengal and taken 15 wickets, was not picked.Pant proved his match fitness by captaining India A to victory in the first four-day game against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru last week. Pant made 90 in the second innings as India A chased down a target of 275.India’s Test captain Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are currently playing the T20I series in Australia, and will join the Test squad after the five-match series ends on November 8. Kuldeep Yadav was released from the T20I squad after the third match in Hobart so that he could prepare for the Test series by playing India A’s second four-day game against South Africa A starting on November 6.India play two Tests against South Africa from November 14 in Kolkata, and then from November 22 in Guwahati, a city that will be hosting Test cricket for the first time. India are currently third in the World Test Championship table with 61.90% points; South Africa, meanwhile, are fifth with 50% points, having most recently drawn a series 1-1 in Pakistan.India’s Test squad for South Africa seriesShubman Gill (capt), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash DeepIndia’s selectors also picked the A squad, led by Tilak Varma with Ruturaj Gaikwad his deputy, for the one-day series against South Africa A. The three matches are on November 13, 16 and 19 in Rajkot.India A’s squad for one-dayers vs South Africa ATilak Varma (capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Manav Suthar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Prabhsimran Singh (wk)

Zac Gallen Trade Destinations: Best Landing Spots for Diamondbacks Ace at Trade Deadline

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The Arizona Diamondbacks have decided to dive headfirst into selling at the 2025 MLB trade deadline. After dealing Josh Naylor and Randal Grichuk, Eugenio Suarez and their top pitchers are likely next. That means Zac Gallen could have a new home for the first time in his career.

Gallen was named first-team All-MLB and finished third in National League Cy Young voting in 2023. While he has struggled this season, the 29-year-old has a strong track record of success and will be hitting free agency after the season. He's talented, and has a reason to go all-in for the rest of the year.

In 22 starts this season, Gallen is 7-12 with a 5.60 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP, with 121 strikeouts against 47 walks in 127 innings. Compared to his career norms, Gallen's Statcast page for 2025 looks depressing. A change of scenery could likely do him good.

What follows is a look at four teams the could be a great fit for the veteran righty before the trade deadline.

New York Yankees

The Yankees landed the third baseman they needed by acquiring Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies, but if they're truly all-in this season, they'll need to find more pitching. They're sure to look for relievers over the next few days before the trade deadline, but they also need to find another starting pitcher.

Max Fried and Carlos Rodon have the top of the rotation locked down, but Clarke Schmidt was lost for the season thanks to Tommy John surgery, and Gerrit Cole is missing all of 2025 for the same reason. Luis Gil is on his way back, but it's a thin rotation. If New York really wants to make it back to the World Series and finish the year with a title, adding Gallen could be a big step.

Houston Astros

Like the Yankees, Houston's starting rotation is thin thanks to injuries. Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown have been great, but Cristian Javier and Spencer Arrighetti have missed time with injuries, while Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski are out for the year. While Javier and Arrighetti are on their way back, the Astros could use another top-level arm.

Gallen can be that guy, with a career 3.60 ERA, making his rough stats this year a complete outlier.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have been one of MLB's best stories this season, boasting an absolutely punishing offense. That said, if the Northsiders want to make a deep run this season, they'll need to add another starting pitcher. Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd have held things down at the top of the rotation, but the team is desperately missing Justin Steele.

Cubs starters rank 14th in MLB with a 3.96 ERA, but have allowed the fourth-most home runs (91) and rank 18th in innings pitched (554 2/3), which has strained the bullpen. They need another starter who can eat innings.

Toronto Blue Jays

Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt are a solid trio atop Toronto's rotation, but things fall off dramatically after them. The Blue Jays' starters currently rank 24th in ERA (4.39), and while Eric Lauer has been a nice story (6-2, 2.61), it's hard to believe he'll be able to keep up his pace. He has mildly outperformed his underlying metrics and gives up a lot of hard contact.

Another reliable, veteran arm would only help Toronto's push to steal the AL East away from the Yankees.

All-round Gardner sparks Sixers to another win

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Less than a fortnight after Sydney Sixers were mauled by Melbourne Stars, they have won the return bout to continue their late-season WBBL surge.Ash Gardner starred with her highest score in the league for more than two years, as well as taking three wickets, in the 16-run win on Wednesday at Drummoyne Oval. The Sixers improved to equal-second in the standings with Stars, and have a game in hand.On November 20, Stars great Meg Lanning unleashed a batting masterclass against Sixers, and her 135 remains the top score of the season. But since that heavy loss, Sixers are on a three-game winning streak, with one no-result. By contrast, Stars have lost their past two matches to fall three points behind top side Hobart Hurricanes.After Sixers won the toss on Wednesday, Gardner headlined their innings with a quickfire 50 from 31 balls, featuring seven fours and two sixes. It was her highest WBBL score since October 2023.Maia Bouchier’s 67 went in a losing cause•Getty Images

Opener Sophia Dunkley contributed 41 and Sixers reached a healthy 164 for 5.Stars looked shot when Gardner trapped Lanning lbw for just eight, leaving them 30 for 4.Enter Maia Bouchier, playing her first game of the WBBL season as a replacement for Marizanne Kapp. Bouchier combined with Kim Garth for a fifth-wicket stand of 82 that put Stars back in the hunt.After Gardner dismissed Garth for 17, Dani Gibson immediately hit three fours and suddenly the pressure was on Sixers.Stars were 131 for 5 in the 18th over when Bouchier rifled a low drive off Mady Villiers and Lauren Cheatle took an outstanding catch at cover. With Bouchier out for a match-high 67 from 40 balls, and Gibson dismissed in the next over for 17, Sixers could breathe again.Stars reached 148 for 8 as Gardner snared 3 for 31 from four overs.Sixers will close out the regular season against Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers, while Stars will play Sydney Thunder.