When there is no shortage of venues to choose from, why pick one where the air quality reaches dangerous levels at precisely that time of year?

Sidharth Monga03-Apr-2025When India and South Africa play their second Test there later this year, Guwahati will become the 17th venue to have hosted a Test in India in the last 10 years. It means India has 16 active Test venues that all have excellent facilities except for Green Park in Kanpur, which, last year, struggled to get cricket going even after rain stopped. It won’t happen, but even if we assume Kanpur is blacklisted, the BCCI had 15 options for the first Test of that South Africa series, starting November 14.It takes special apathy and lack of duty of care to still go ahead and schedule this Test in Delhi, where the poor air quality becomes a health emergency in November. On the Air Quality Index (AQI), a reading of over 300 is considered “very poor” and over 400 “severe”. India’s official AQI meters are not designed to measure air that gets so bad that it reaches four digits. On November 18 last year, the AQI officially reached 999. IQAir, a Swiss company that measures air quality, measured Delhi’s AQI on that day at 1600, according to the . It resulted in lockdown-like conditions. People were advised to leave home only in emergency. Schools were shut and outdoor activity barred even when they reopened.The situation in recent years has been so bad that 500 is considered a good day in November when the unholy combination of industrial pollution, vehicular fumes, construction activity, post-Diwali firecracker fumes and the burning of post-harvest stubble in neighbouring states is at play. Delhi’s landlocked geography and unfavourable wind directions make it the perfect storm.Related

• India's Tests against West Indies and South Africa swapped between Delhi and Kolkata

• BCCI contracts: Shreyas and Kishan back, Pant gets upgrade

• BCCI defends decision to hold India-SA Test in Delhi in November

• India to host West Indies and South Africa; Guwahati gets its first Test match

• Does the cricket audience matter? Only if they're at home, watching on TV

It is pertinent to avoid athletic activity in that air because the major air pollutant is PM 2.5, particulate matter that is less than 2.5mm in diameter. When we strain during athletic activity, our breathing gets deeper and more rapid, thus eliminating any chance of avoiding inhaling PM 2.5. The Central Pollution Control Board warned in 2017, when the AQI didn’t reach four figures, that running a marathon in those conditions could deposit two tablespoonfuls of toxic ash in your lungs. A Test match is no marathon but it is still elite high-performance athletic activity.To be fair, no Indian should need a refresher on this health emergency because it happens every year. The BCCI shouldn’t need reminding either. Here is a quick timeline of how cricket has been affected in Delhi in the last 10 years.In the first week of November 2016, two Ranji Trophy matches were called off as players “could not even stand outside”.In 2017, Sri Lanka players put on masks to deal with the pollution in Delhi•BCCIIn 2017, Sri Lanka took the field wearing masks in a Test match interrupted by air pollution. The players kept going off the field and vomiting. There were oxygen cylinders in the dressing room. Mohammed Shami and Suranga Lakmal vomited on the field.The ODI between India and Australia in March 2019 went off well, but later that year, on November 3, two Bangladesh players vomited on the field. The then BCCI president Sourav Ganguly tweeted to thank the two teams for playing the game “under tuff [sic] conditions”. ESPNcricinfo understands Ganguly, who had been elected BCCI president only a month earlier, privately expressed displeasure at the scheduling when he read this on November 1.The 2023 ODI World Cup featured four Delhi matches in October, which went off fine, but the one match in November nearly didn’t happen. This being an ICC event, there was at least a chance of the match being called off. Bangladesh skipped practice.And yet, here we are. Of all the gin joints in the world. Three weeks after Diwali. Another Test match that will expose not just the players but also spectators, who are otherwise warned to not leave home unless in an emergency, to life-shortening air pollution.The last time Delhi got a match in November, sources in the BCCI said off the record that matches are allotted to state associations on rotational basis, and that the BCCI can’t cross members who constitute the body in the first place. That doesn’t even begin to explain how Ahmedabad, which hosted England in February 2025, will get two more matches later in the same year.If this Test in Delhi does go ahead, India will have hosted only 14 internationals (two in Ahmedabad) between two matches in Delhi. Even if you restrict it to just Tests, there will have only been 14 India home Tests since the last one in Delhi. By comparison, Eden Gardens last got a Test in November 2019, which is 23 Tests ago. Ahmedabad will have hosted four Tests between the last Eden Gardens Test and the one it is scheduled to host in October against West Indies.These, though, are internal BCCI machinations that a private body should be free to partake in. Even the dismal treatment of fans in India can be seen as the BCCI enjoying the favourable end of the demand-supply stick. The wellbeing of players and spectators, though, is another matter. Cricket South Africa (CSA) will not protest, or cannot protest. There is no player union in India. The South African union can only make an indirect, unthreatening request. “Player well-being must always be the primary concern,” it told ESPNcricinfo. “All stakeholders need to recognise this and act accordingly.”The only entity that can act on this is the BCCI. There are still eight months to go. There is still time to do the right thing and move this Test elsewhere.

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O Santos vive um dilema para a final do Paulistão. O clube foi mandante na vitória diante do Bragantino, e a partida aconteceu na Neo Química Arena, do Corinthians. Não na Vila Belmiro. Para a decisão do domingo (31), apesar da questão sobre o estádio, a prioridade é voltar a jogar na capital paulista.

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➡️ Ambos marcam! Coloque R$100 no Lance! Betting e fature R$220 em Palmeiras x Novoritonzino

➡️ Tudo sobre o Peixe agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Santos

Com uma renda de mais de R$ 3 milhões e quase 45 mil pessoas no estádio, o jogo na casa do rival pode ser considerado um sucesso. Existe chance do retorno à Itaquera, mas a ideia de jogar no MorumBis também agrada. No entanto, o São Paulo chegou a vetar o aluguel do estádio para rivais, na primeira fase do Estadual.

O presidente Marcelo Teixeira abordou o tema na saída da Neo Química Arena e reiterou a preferência.

– Vamos aguardar a definição de quem será o finalista. Teremos a reunião na sexta na Federação Paulista, me parece que o Novorizontino faz questão de jogar na sua casa, o Palmeiras idem. Temos que aguardar o outro finalista para resolvermos essa situação. O Santos, se puder fazer essa decisão antecipada, vamos fazer desde já e vamos jogar em São Paulo – contou.

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O lateral Felipe Jonatan confirmou a intenção. Ele revelou que os jogadores ouviram sobre a preferência da diretoria para atuar em São Paulo, independentemente do adversário da final.

– Essa definição fica mais para a diretoria. Já escutamos algumas coisas que querem mandar o jogo em São Paulo independentemente do adversário. Vamos deixar isso com a diretoria. Mostramos que o Santos, onde jogar, temos que nos doar. Pegamos uma equipe de Série A, o Bragantino, formada e entrosada há muito tempo. Independentemente do local, aqui, no Morumbis, na Vila Belmiro, temos que entrar para ganhar porque é uma final – afirmou, em entrevista à Cazé TV.

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➡️ Santos tem renda milionária e quebra recorde de público na Neo Química Arena

O técnico Fábio Carille, diferentemente de Felipe Jonatan, preferiu despistar sobre a casa do Peixe no Estadual.

– Não foi falado sobre isso ainda, não deu tempo de discutir isso ainda. Não só eu como os jogadores, em conjunto com a diretoria, vamos honrar essa camisa o máximo possível para que possamos, em conjunto, decidir o que é melhor – disse o profissional, em entrevista coletiva.

Classificado à final do Paulistão após bater o Massa Bruta por 3 a 1, o Santos aguarda o vencedor entre Palmeiras e Novorizontino para conhecer seu adversário da final do estadual. A partida entre os outros semifinalistas acontece nesta quinta-feira (28), no Allianz Parque.

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PaulistãoPaulistão 2024Santos

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.

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”.

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.

Derbyshire 698 for 6 dec (Reece 211, Madsen 198, Andersson 85, Donald 55, Dal 52*) beat Kent 271 (Ekansh 71, Dawkins 61, Morley 5-99) and 198 (Compton 65, Evison 53, Reece 5-63) by an innings and 229 runsDerbyshire routed Kent by an innings and 229 runs in their final Rothesay County Championship match of the season at Canterbury.Luis Reece, who scored 211 in Derbyshire’s only innings, took 5 for 63, while Ben Aitchison and Zak Chappell both took two wickets apiece as the visitors sealed third place in Division Two. Ben Compton was Kent’s top scorer with 65 but the home side already knew they would finish bottom, regardless of the outcome.Kent began day four on 135 for 5 in their second innings, 291 behind, and their tissue-paper thin hopes of avoiding defeat faded when they lost Harry Finch in the fourth over of the morning, lbw to Aitchison for 14.Aitchison, whose sister Holly is in the England squad for today’s Rugby World Cup final with Canada, then got the key wicket of Compton, again lbw and although Corey Flintoff hung around for 35 balls, he eventually pulled Chappell straight to Aneurin Donald at square leg and was caught for 11.Grant Stewart gave a sparse crowd some entertainment, hooking Chappell for six, but the bowler than had Matt Parkinson caught by Donald at short leg for a six-ball duck.The visitors concluded a win that had looked inevitable for the best part of three days when Michael Cohen flashed at Reece and was caught by a diving Brooke Guest, also without scoring. The wicket meant Reece became only the 51st person worldwide to score a double-century and take five wickets in a first-class match.

Richard Thompson insists 100-ball format will not change before end of current rights cycle

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2025The tight turnaround between England’s international and the Hundred is a “short-term issue” which ECB chairman Richard Thompson has pledged will be solved for the next TV rights cycle.England’s men played one day before the start and two days after the end of the Hundred this year, leaving all-format players short on relevant preparation for the ongoing ODI series against South Africa. The same scenario will play out in 2026, with the Hundred expected to start two days after an ODI series against India and three days before the first Test against Pakistan.New investors in the Hundred will expect their England players to be available throughout the tournament. Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton and Ollie Pope missed London Spirit’s first game of this season, the day after the fifth Test at The Oval, which their incoming co-owner Nikesh Arora described as “disappointing” while calling for “better planning” by the ECB.Thompson acknowledged that the schedule is too crammed, speaking in his capacity as an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society during England’s third ODI against South Africa on Sunday. “There are no easy answers, but the reality is we can’t have our cake and eat it,” Thompson told Sky Sports.”We want England players to play. This is our premium white-ball competition and we want England players to play in it. What we have to do is find a way of ensuring the schedule before and after the tournament [is better]. Take this year: the gap was a day or two days… That can’t be right.Related

• McCullum: England must 'find ways to deal with' packed schedule

• Bethell: 'I've got to be ready to perform in Ashes'

• Jofra Archer: 'There was an ooh or an aah every single over'

• Hundred squads face 2026 'reset' in bid for competitive balance

• Breetzke stars as South Africa seal series in five-run thriller

“If we’re going to get this level of investment, we’ve got to commit to ensuring our England players are available. We don’t want that to be at the expense of the success of England. We need to find a balance, and ultimately we can look at the schedule and we can try and free up time.”We’ve done this deal in the middle of a rights schedule. Come ’28, when we then cut the next deal for the next four years, we can cut this in a different way. We might have a short-term issue here, but we can overcome that.”Ultimately, if a player feels they’re injured, they’re going to rest themselves. They won’t want to play on an injury. England is still everything here. But we are not prepared to accept that you can’t find a halfway house and work with the owners to ensure that the owner will get what they need, and England will get what it needs.”Thompson also said that the tournament’s format will not change from 100-balls-a-side to T20 during the current broadcast cycle, which runs to the end of the 2028 summer, and denied that the sale of stakes in the eight Hundred franchises equates to selling the month of August to private investors.”I can categorically tell you it’s 100 balls next year,” he said. “I don’t think anything will change in this rights cycle. Sky [the Hundred’s main broadcaster] have bought 100 [balls a side]. Sky are not going to want to change that. It’s up to the owners and the ECB to decide what that might be in the future.”This is not English cricket selling off the family silver. This is English cricket bringing in investors to enable us to have a tournament that could challenge the IPL.”

Norwich City have held talks with one manager who has a 100% win record over the recently sacked Liam Manning.

When Norwich City could appoint Manning’s replacement

The Canaries finally parted ways with Manning after a seventh straight Carrow Road defeat prior to the international break.

The 2-1 loss to Leicester City was Norwich’s 10th defeat from 15 Championship games, leaving them in 23rd place and four points off safety.

Sporting director Ben Knapper said in a statement that he understood criticism from supporters and is looking to “repair the relationship” with fans.

“We have tried absolutely everything possible to work through this incredibly challenging period but, unfortunately, given the recent run of results and performances, we have been left with no choice other than to make a change at this stage.

“Liam and his staff worked tirelessly to move our football club forward. They are all fundamentally good people and we wish them the very best in whatever comes next.

“We very much understand the frustration and criticism from our supporters at this stage. So far, results and performances on the pitch haven’t been good enough.

“We accept that responsibility, but it’s now imperative that we start to repair the relationship with our supporters and do everything we can to give them something to get behind.”

Birmingham City vs Norwich City

22nd November

Norwich City vs Oxford United

25th November

Norwich City vs QPR

29th November

Watford vs Norwich City

6th December

Sheffield United vs Norwich City

9th December

Something that will get supporters back on side will be to appoint a winning manager, with former midfielder Gary O’Neil linked with the vacancy.

Norwich, according to reliable reporter John Percy, have interviewed O’Neil and want to appoint a new manager by November 22, the day club football returns and the Canaries travel to Birmingham City.

Norwich City hold talks with Will Still

Sky Sports reporters Zinny Boswell, Lyall Thomas and Anthony Joseph shared a Norwich City manager update on Wednesday morning, naming the three bosses who the Canaries have spoken with.

As well as former player O’Neil, Norwich have also held talks with Jon Dahl Tomasson and Will Still, with the former Southampton manager available following his St Mary’s departure earlier this month.

Still, who plays a 3-4-1-2 system, struggled to turn the Saints around, winning two of his 13 Championship games which resulted in his sacking a week prior to Manning.

He did defeat Manning and Norwich 3-0 at Carrow Road in an EFL Cup second round tie, though, which began a terrible spell at home for the former Canaries boss.

Still has a 100% win record vs Manning, and he was impressing over in France with Lens before his move to England, being linked with numerous jobs.

The 33-year-old is still inexperienced in English football, though, and after his spell on the south coast, taking a chance on Still would be a gamble by the Norwich board as they look to climb out of the relegation zone.

It could be a risk worth taking, although O’Neil and Tomasson have more experience in English football than Still.

Luis Suárez acknowledged that there are “many things” in which he is “not an example” after serving multiple suspensions for Inter Miami this season. The Uruguayan opened up about his disciplinary issues and admitted MLS has been more challenging than he expected, having already missed several matches due to on-field incidents.

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  'An example of rebellion'

  In a wide ranging interview with , Suarez addressed the numerous controversies that have followed him around this season – and throughout his career. He suggested that it is a recurring pattern in his footballing life. 

  "I often think that I can be an example of rebellion, of resilience, of continuing to fight, of continuing to struggle. On the other hand, there are many things in which I'm not an example," he said. "And I accept it, I know it, and I understand it. I've always fought against criticism: I debuted for Nacional at 18, and they criticized me for missing goals. That's when I started trying to turn the page on those criticisms, and then when I went to Holland, they told me I was fat, and they said the same thing at Ajax. 

  "Later, at Liverpool, they attacked me for my acts of indiscipline. Then, at Barcelona, for going through bad spells. In every stage of my career, I've always fought against the same thing." 

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• AFP
  

  Childhood difficulties

  The Uruguayan striker – widely considered one of the greatest players of his generation – revealed that a difficult childhood might have influenced his antics on the pitch. 

  "It's been like this since I was a kid. I didn't have enough to eat and I always had to go out and find food for myself and my family. It was always, always like that," he said. "Ever since I've had a conscience, I've always fought against everything. I've never had anything easy. I've never had anything easy, and that's always made me fight to the end." 

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  A tricky time in MLS

  Suarez also admitted that he has found MLS much harder than he anticipated. He joined Miami before the 2024 season, arriving in a Miami team that also featured Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets. 

  "Well, to be honest, I was a little surprised by all the travel and matches, but that's because we also happened to be at the club during a period when we qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League, the League Cup, and the Club World Cup, always reaching the final stages, and that means a lot of travel," he explained. "The trips are long, at least two hours of flight time, but we're used to it. No complaints whatsoever, on the contrary, we're trying to enjoy what's left. Sometimes it seems like people underestimate us, but when it comes to competing, the results speak for themselves. Winning matches isn't easy; every match is a challenge for us."

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  Crucial stretch

  His comments come ahead of a crucial game for the Herons. They face FC Cincinnati next Saturday in the Eastern Conference semifinal. Suarez missed the previous fixture after picking up a one-game suspension for kicking out an opposing defender. Miami won that game 4-0, leading to some suggestions that the MLS Cup favorites might be better equipped to win without him.

A look at some of the takeaways from the men’s and women’s Super Smash that ended with Central Stags and Wellington Blaze winning respective titles

Deivarayan Muthu04-Feb-2025Stags’ youngsters roarNo Doug Bracewell (at the SA20 with Joburg Super Kings). No Ajaz Patel (injury). No Seth Rance (retired). No Josh Clarkson (impending fatherhood). No problem for Stags as they toppled a powerful Canterbury Kings side that included as many as ten players who have played international cricket for New Zealand.For the Stags, it was William Clark, 23, and Curtis Heaphy, 21, who sealed their chase of 136. Toby Findlay, another youngster, sparkled in the final, coming away with 3 for 29 in his four overs, including the big wicket of Daryl Mitchell. Having sussed out that the pitch was two-paced, Findlay used his variations well, often digging the ball into the track to mess with the timing of Kings’ batters. In his first season as a contracted CD player, Findlay emerged as a Super Smash champion and promises more for the future.Blair Tickner, the senior Stags seamer, finished with a chart-topping 16 wickets in nine innings at an average of 18.43 and economy rate of 9.21.Amelia Kerr shone with bat and ball in the Women’s Super Smash•Getty ImagesAmelia Kerr at it with ball and batHaving won the T20 World Cup with New Zealand in 2024, Kerr added the women’s Super Smash trophy to her cabinet. She racked up 441 runs in 12 innings – the highest in the men’s or women’s Super Smash this season – to go with 15 wickets in 11 innings at an economy rate of 6.06. Two of those wickets came in the final where Blaze successfully defended 104 in front of their home crowd.Kerr was also in the thick of the action in the Eliminator against Northern Brave, following up her 29 off 24 balls with 4 for 19. Blaze’s imports from across the Tasman, Hannah Darlington and Maitlan Brown, also played their part in them becoming back-to-back champions in the women’s competition.Jamieson, Shipley, Sears return to actionKyle Jamieson, Henry Shipley and Ben Sears, who were injured before the Super Smash, returned to action and hit full tilt in the competition. Having proved his fitness – and form – Sears also made New Zealand’s squad for the upcoming ODI tri-series in Pakistan and the Champions Trophy.Kyle Jamieson made a successful return from injury in the Super Smash•Getty ImagesAs for Jamieson and Shipley, they were part of an all-New Zealand Canterbury attack that troubled a number of batters. Jamieson, who didn’t play any competitive cricket for 10 months prior to the Super Smash, marked his return from back injury, with 2 for 26 against Otago Volts at Molyneux Park. Midway through the Super Smash, Jamieson earned a PSL deal with Quetta Gladiators and continued to operate without any apparent discomfort.In the men’s final, Jamieson burst through Jack Boyle’s defences with a sharp inducker and proceeded to dismiss Dane Cleaver, who had top-scored for Stags, but it was not enough for the Kings to wrest the title. Jamieson ended the tournament with 14 wickets in 12 innings at an excellent economy rate of 5.95.Shipley, who was also working his way back from a back injury, took 12 wickets in eight innings at an economy rate of 8.04. He also made some cameos with the bat in Kings’ run to another final.Meet Matt Boyle, the breakout star of the tournamentThough New Zealand don’t have the depth of India or England, they have some young talent bubbling through. Twenty-two-year-old Matt Boyle is the latest talent who is already being talked up as a future Black Cap. A tall left-hander who can hit the ball long and far, Boyle emerged as the top run-getter in the men’s Super Smash, with 377 runs in 11 innings at an average of 37.70 and strike rate of 156.43 for Kings. Matt is the younger brother of Jack, who has moved to Central Districts from Canterbury and son of Justin Boyle, who played for both Canterbury and Wellington.Central Stags are Men’s Super Smash champions•Getty ImagesBoyle had also showcased his power for New Zealand XI in December last year, when he clattered an unbeaten 57 off 34 balls against a Sri Lankan attack, which included mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana and slinger Nuwan Thushara, in a ten-over tour game in Lincoln.Bevon Jacobs watchAfter having secured an unexpected IPL deal with Mumbai Indians and having broken into the New Zealand squad, Bevon Jacobs turned up at the Super Smash for Auckand Aces, hitting 263 runs in eight innings at an average of 37.57 and strike rate of 140.64. His unbeaten 90 off 56 balls against Northern Brave in Hamilton was arguably the innings of this season. Having entered the fray at 30 for 3 in the fifth over, Jacobs propelled Aces to 187 for 5. Though Brave chased down the target, Jacobs served a reminder of his raw power and potential.After Aces were knocked out of the Super Smash, Jacobs headed to the UAE to link up with MI Emirates, the affiliate of his IPL side, in the ILT20.