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Test quick’s stunning wicket-taking form continued, taking four out of five for Victoria as Jake Weatherald smashed a century and Daniel Drew finished 96 not out

Alex Malcolm09-Feb-2022Scott Boland picked up where he left off in the Ashes claiming four of five wickets to keep Victoria in the hunt after a century from Jake Weatherald and 96 not out from Daniel Drew put South Australia in a strong position on the opening day at Adelaide Oval.Boland was a one-man band for the visitors after the Redbacks won the toss and batted on a good batting strip. He knocked over Jake Carder and Travis Head in the same over before returning later to remove Weatherald for 122 and Test keeper Alex Carey.Boland claimed all four left-handers from around the wicket. He pinned Carder and Head on the crease and both were plumb lbw in almost identical fashion, within three balls of each other, to leave the Redbacks wobbling at 3 for 77. Head, who was player of the series in the Ashes, fell without scoring.But Weatherald and Drew took control of the match with an excellent 153-run stand. Weatherald put a difficult summer with the bat behind him striking 10 fours and two sixes on his way to his eighth first-class century. He played with typical aggression square of the wicket, punishing anything loose. Drew, playing in just his second first-class match and his first since 2019, struck 13 boundaries in his 243-ball stay. His 13th boundary came in the final over the day to move within four runs of a maiden first-class century but he faced three dots from Jon Holland to finish unbeaten on 96 at stumps.Drew might have got there without Boland’s disruptive spell with the second new ball. He picked up Weatherald from around the wicket with the opener closing the face to a ball that straightened off the seam and the leading edge ballooned to cover. Carey attempted a booming drive eight overs later and was bowled off the inside edge by a ball that just nibbled back off the seam.The only other Victorian bowler to break through was Mitchell Perry who removed Henry Hunt early in the day. Sam Harper took an outstanding juggling catch diving to his right for the first wicket of the morning.

His current contract expires in May next year but recent results have strengthened his hand

AAP23-Dec-2021Justin Langer has confirmed he wants to stay on as Australia’s men’s head coach for all three formats, putting off any suggestions of splitting the role.Langer had found himself under pressure to keep his job amid player feedback earlier this year, prompting high-powered meetings amid concerns he was at times too intense.However, he has since made it a point to relinquish control in some areas, handing more responsibility to his support staff.Australia’s maiden T20 World Cup win was expected to help his cause when cricket officials meet after the Ashes to discuss whether to renew his contract next year. Retaining the Ashes at home would almost cement that — after a period in which Australia recovered from the 2018 ball-tampering scandal to retain the urn in England but lost two home series to India.There had been some suggestion that the T20 triumph and home Ashes success would be the perfect way for Langer to go out on his terms. But just days before the Boxing Day Test, in which Australia can take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the Ashes, he said his passion for the job had not changed.”I’ve never thought differently to be honest,” Langer said on Thursday. “I’ve been consistent with what I’ve said for the last four years. I love my job. And the boys are playing well. No doubt about it. It’s a great team to be involved in. So nothing’s changed from my point of view.”When asked whether he wanted to keep charge of Tests, ODIs and T20s, Langer responded: “Yes”.Australia have a busy two years ahead in all formats, with their T20 World Cup defence on home soil starting next October. An ODI World Cup is booked for India at the end of 2023.There are also significant Test series ahead. Australia have a spate of tours to Asia, where they have not won a series in 10 years. Included in that is one to India next summer, which Langer has long identified as a place he desperately wants to win as a coach.Australia are also set to return to South Africa in 2023 for the first time since the ball-tampering scandal, while the Ashes will be played in England that year.
Plus there’s the aim of the Test Championship final, which Marnus Labuschagne identified as a motivation for trying to whitewash England this summer after narrowly missing out earlier this year.”We were envious of New Zealand and India that we weren’t there,” Langer said. “We would have loved to have been. It was a goal which we didn’t achieve unfortunately.”

Mujeeb Ur Rahman grabbed 2 for 6 off his 20 balls after Willey’s 81* and 2 for 9

Matt Roller03-Aug-2021David Willey hit the highest individual score of the men’s Hundred then took two wickets in the first ten balls of the run chase as the Northern Superchargers kept their knockout hopes alive by thrashing the winless London Spirit.Willey, standing in as Superchargers’ captain with Faf du Plessis still suffering symptoms of concussion and Ben Stokes taking an indefinite mental-health break from the game, hit six sixes in his 81 not out off 45 balls – his highest score in any format for three years – to lift his side to 155 on a used, two-paced pitch, cashing in against some wayward death bowling.He then gave himself a ten-ball spell with the new ball, setting the tone for an abject Spirit chase by having openers Adam Rossington and Josh Inglis caught at mid-on and cover, respectively. Eoin Morgan top-scored for the Spirit with 27, but Mujeeb Ur Rahman sucked any remaining life out of their innings with a miserly spell of 2 for 6 in 20 balls, as Spirit fell some 63 runs short in the Hundred’s most comprehensive drubbing to date.When there’s a Willey, there’s a way
Willey had managed six runs from his three innings in the Hundred to date, coming in at No. 5, No. 8 and No. 3, and struggling to make any impact. At Lord’s, he came in at No. 4 to create a left-right partnership with the in-form Harry Brook, in the hope that one of them would be able to target the short boundary at all times.It has often been suggested that Willey’s primary weakness as a limited-overs batter is against short balls into his body but he has worked hard to improve his game, and the Spirit’s plans to him were far too predictable. He had a stroke of luck early on when he top-edged a pull over keeper Rossington’s head, but cashed in against Blake Cullen, hoicking a bouncer over the short boundary to get up and running.A flashpoint came with Willey on 34, when he miscued a pull off a full-toss from Roelof van der Merwe to deep midwicket, only for it rightly to be given as a no-ball on height. He cashed in at the death, smiting Cullen for six over the scorebox and on to St John’s Wood Road, mis-hitting him over long-off and then slugging consecutives Mohammad Amir full tosses over the short boundary and into the Mound Stand.All told, Willey hit Cullen and Amir for 55 runs off 24 balls; his strike rate across his innings was exactly 180, on a night when no other batter scored at 140. He was ably supported by Brook – who hit an outrageous straight six into the top tier of the pavilion – and Dane Vilas, but this was Willey’s night.Men against boys
Fresh from his boundary blitz at the death, Willey embraced the finest traditions of captaincy by giving himself the new ball and keeping himself on for a second set. He found enough swing to prevent Rossington from freeing his arms and hitting him over the short leg-side boundary – as he had to Southern Brave’s attack in the Powerplay on Sunday – and had him and Inglis caught in the ring as they desperately tried to clear the infield.Things hardly got better for Spirit after they subsided to 5 for 2 from 10, and it had briefly looked as though Willey would single-handedly kill the game inside the Powerplay. He returned to bowl balls 16-20 and must have considered making himself the first man to bowl 20 of the first 25 by staying on at the far end. Instead, he didn’t even bring himself back to complete his allocation, resembling a club captain making sure everyone got value for their match fee by sharing the bowling around.Magnificent Mujeeb
Spirit had briefly threatened a revival when they hit 12 and 13 runs from consecutive sets of five balls, with Morgan and Luis Reece trading blows. But when Mujeeb was brought into the attack after 35 balls, he made sure that their hopes were fleeting.Bowling his usual assortment of mystery spin and turning the ball both ways at decent pace – he zipped a couple through at 65mph – Mujeeb conceded two runs from his first set of five, and two from a spell of ten balls which accounted for Nabi and saw Joe Denly play out six consecutive dot balls, before returning at the death to remove the swiping Amir. His figures of 2 for 6 made his the most economical spell in the men’s tournament to date.

MatériaMais Notícias

da realsbet： Não faltou emoção no confronto válido pela 5ª rodada da Copa do Nordeste, entre Altos e Campinense, na noite desta quarta-feira, no estádio Lindolfo Monteiro, localizado em Teresina. E quem se deu melhor foram os donos da casa. Ainda no primeiro tempo, Elielton abriu a contagem, fazendo com que no último minuto de jogo, Marcelo, ao defender um pênalti, garantisse a vitória para o Jacaré.

Com o resultado, a equipe do Piauí chegou aos 7 pontos, pulando para o 4º lugar do Grupo B, enquanto o time de Paraíba, por conta do revés, acabou estacionando na 6ª colocação com seus 2 pontos somados até o momento.

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da cassino： >Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS

ALTOS ABRE O PLACAR NO INÍCIO

Fazendo valer o fator casa, a equipe do Altos, que contava com a estreia de seu novo treinador Carlos Rabello, foi para cima do Campinense logo nos primeiros movimentos. Até meados dos 10 jogados, chegou com perigo algumas vezes, sendo a melhor delas através de Dieyson, porém o cruzamento do lateral acabou sendo afastado pelo sistema defensivo rival.

Aproveitando o momento, o Jacaré seguiu melhor e conseguiu tirar o zero do placar. Aos 12 minutos, após cruzamento de Diego Viana pela esquerda, Elielton antecipou-se à marcação e, de cabeça, mandou para o fundo das redes sem chances para o goleiro Mauro Iguatu.

RAPOSA VAI ATRÁS DO EMPATE

Em desvantagem no marcador, a equipe visitante passou a buscar seu gol de igualdade no jogo. Tentando ficar mais com a posse de bola, mostrava ofensividade nas jogadas explorando o lado esquerdo com Dieyson, um dos jogadores mais acionados até então.

Conseguindo encontrar espaços, já na reta final da etapa, teve duas boas chances de marcar seu tento, sendo elas com Olávio e Matheus Régis, porém em ambas a bola teimou em não entrar, mantendo o placar a favor dos mandantes.

VISITANTES SEGUIAM INSISTINDO

Na volta para o segundo tempo, o auxiliar técnico Fabrício Tavares, que ficou no lugar do técnico Ranielle Ribeiro, que acabou testando positivo para a Covid-19, realizou apenas um troca ao colocar Alan Leite no lugar de Matheus Régis. E a mudança surtiu efeito. Até meados dos 20 minutos, a Raposa oferecia mais perigo ao adversário, conseguindo criar boas jogadas com Olávio, Dione e companhia, porém a falta de pontaria não contribuía para o sucesso das jogadas.

RAPOSA DESPERDIÇA CHANCE DE OURO NO FIM

Com o tempo passando, o panorama do jogo passou a ficar morno. Sendo assim, ambos os treinadores resolveram recuar para seus suplentes promovendo algumas substituições visando o lado ofensivo.

Já nos últimos minutos, contando com os acréscimos dados pela arbitragem, o Campinense partiu para o tudo ou nada em busca de, ao menos, empatar o duelo. Porém, mesmo conseguindo chegar ao campo de defesa rival, pouco oferecia perigo ao goleiro Marcelo, até que aos 48, um penalidade foi confirmada para a Raposa, quando Olávio acabou sendo derrubado na área. Com a oportunidade de igualar tudo, os visitantes acabaram vendo o camisa do Altos brilhar ao fazer a defesa com os pés decretando a vitória dos donos da casa por 1 a 0.

FICHA TÉCNICA
ALTOS 1×0 CAMPINENSE

Data e horário: 16/02/2022, às 21h30 (de Brasília)
​Local: Estádio Lindolfo Monteiro, em Teresina (PI)
Árbitro:Raimundo Rodrigues de Oliveira Júnior (CE)
Assistentes:José Moracy de Sousa e Silva (CE) eZaqueu Eleutério Linhares (CE)

Cartões Amarelos:Serginho Paulista, 35’/1ºT; Jarbas, 37’/1ºT; Júlio Ferrari, 2’/2ºT;Alexandre Quaresma, 28’/2ºT; Emerson, 30’/2ºT

Gols: Elielton, 12’/1ºT (1-0)

ALTOS:Marcelo; João Carlos (Mosquito, aos 32’/2ºT), Vinícius Leandro, Lucas Souza e Dieyson (Júlio Ferrari); Jarbas, Alexandre Quaresma, Elielton (Danillo Bala, aos 40’/2ºT)e Diego Viana; Betinho e Manoel (Dico, aos 40’/2ºT).
(Técnico: Carlos Rabello)

CAMPINENSE:Mauro Iguatu; Felipinho, Christian (Michel Bennech, aos 31’/1ºT), Cleiton Potiguar e Emerson; Rafinha Silva, Juninho (Serginho Paulista, aos 31’/2ºT)e Dione; Matheus Régis (Alan Leite, no intervalo), Olávio e Iago (Juninho Potiguar, aos 30’/2ºT).
(Técnico: Fabrício Tavares)

The transfer window doesn't officially open until Friday, but that hasn't stopped clubs from getting to work on deals beforehand, and Tottenham Hotspur are no different.

Daniel Levy and Co clearly recognise the need to provide Ange Postecoglou with a new clinical number nine if the team are to climb back into the Champions League places next season, and based on recent reports, it looks like they might have found just the player.

However, while it's good news for the Australian and fans, it may well spell the end of the road for Richarlison in N17.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Spain (via TEAMtalk), Tottenham Hotspur are incredibly interested in signing Sevilla's star striker Youssef En-Nesyri this summer, and have already made an offer the player is 'ready to say yes to.'

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report claims there is interest from the Saudi Pro League and Manchester United are preparing an offer of their own in the coming days.

The Spanish giants are said to want at least €20m – £17m – for their reliable marksman, which, if true, could make him one of the best value-for-money signings this summer.

While the interest from other sides is far from ideal, the low asking price and revelation that En-Nesyri is eager to join Spurs means Levy and Co need to dot the i's and cross the t's as soon as possible on this deal, even if his arrival sees Richarlison's gametime dramatically shrink.

How En-Nesyri compares to Richarlison

So, with En-Nesyri potentially moving to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in the coming weeks, how does he stack up to Richarlison? Does his record in Spain suggest he'd waltz into the lineup and relegate the Brazilian to the bench?

In short, yes, yes, it does.

For example, over the last two seasons, the "pure goalscorer," as talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed him, has scored 38 goals and provided four assists in 89 games, meaning he's averaged a goal involvement every 2.11 games for two years straight.

In comparison, the former Toffees ace has scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 66 games across the same period, which equates to a goal involvement on average every 2.8 games.

However, it's not just his goalscoring that would make the Fès-born marksman the ideal upgrade; it's also his availability, which is, of course, the best ability.

Over the last two seasons, he has missed just three games through injury. Even if you go back to the start of the 2018/19 campaign, he's still missed just 27 games, and 16 of those were due to one muscle injury.

On the other hand, the Nova Venécia-born forward has missed 21 games through injury in the previous two campaigns alone and a whopping 41 matches since the start of the 18/19 season.

Spurs keen on signing "monumental" £27m Porro upgrade

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Jack Salveson Holmes

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Ultimately, while Richarlison has been better this year, he's still not been overly convincing during his time in North London and if Postecoglou is going to take the team back to the very top, then he's going to need a reliable goalscorer, which is exactly what En-Nesyri is.

في كل مباراة يخوضها النجم المصري محمد صلاح، يستهدف رقما قياسيا جديدا، سواء لمعادلته أو تحطيمه، أو تحقيق رقم لم يحقق من قبل.

محمد صلاح ساهم في أهداف هذا الموسم بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز أكثر من أي لاعب آخر، وخلال 28 مباراة، سجل 25 هدفًا وصنع 17، ويقترب صاحب الـ32 عامًا من استعادة جائزة الحذاء الذهبي.

وعلى مدار الموسم الرائع الذي قدمه صلاح، نجح النجم المصري في التسجيل في مرمى 17 فريقًا في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز حتى الآن.

عجز محمد صلاح عن التسجيل في مرمى فريقين فقط، وهما فولهام وكريستال بالاس، ولذلك إذا سجل في مرمى أي من الثنائي اللندني، سيحطم رقما قياسيا، عادل من خلاله سابقًا فان بيرسي وشيرار وآندي كول.

طالع أيضًا.. ماركا تحدد مركز محمد صلاح في سباق الكرة الذهبية 2025

وكان فان بيرسي قد سجل في مرمى 17 فريقًا خلال موسم 2011-2012 قبل الانتقال إلى مانشستر يونايتد، وهز شباك الخصوم 30 مرة بقميص آرسنالأ.

بينما آلان شيرر، فقد فعل ذلك في 1994-1995، وحقق الرقم مع بلاكبيرن بتسجيله 34 هدفًا خلال 42 مباراة خاضها، ولكنه لم يتخطى الـ17 فريقًا، رغم أن حينها كان الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز يمتلك 22 فريقًا وليس 20.

أول من وصل لهذا الرقم، وسجل في مرمى 17 فريقًا، كان آندي كول نجم مانشستر يونايتد السابق، خلال تسجيله 34 هدفًا في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز موسم 1993-1994.

محمد صلاح هو أحدث لاعب يفعل ذلك، فقد سجل في 17 فريقًا خلال موسمه الأول مع ليفربول 2017-2018، وكرر الأمر هذا الموسم 2024-2025.

الآن يسعى محمد صلاح للتسجيل ضد فولهام وكريستال بالاس، ليكون أول مهاجم في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز يسجل أمام جميع الفرق التي يواجهها.

في موسم 2017-2018، محمد صلاح لم يسجل في مرمى مانشستر يونايتد ذهابًا وإيابًا، كما هو الحال لـ سوانزي سيتي في ذلك الموسم.

بينما في مواجهتي فولهام وكريستال بالاس هذا الموسم بالدور الأول، لم يسجل محمد صلاح في مرمى الثنائي اللندني.

مواجهة كريستال بالاس القادمة لـ ليفربول ستكون يوم 25 مارس الجاري، بينما سيلاقي الريدز نظيره فولهام، يوم 6 أبريل المقبل.

MatériaMais Notícias

da bet7： Faustino Asprilla, Freddy Rincón, Pablo Armero, Yerry Mina e até Harold Lozano. Em sua apresentação oficial no Palmeiras, na tarde desta quinta-feira (13), o volante Eduard Atuesta mostrou que quer continuar o legado de outros conterrâneos no Verdão. E, para isso, é direto em sua colocação que veio ao clube alviverde em busca do título do Mundial de Clubes, competição prioritária da equipe no primeiro semestre, que será disputada em fevereiro, nos Emirados Árabes Unidos.

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da bet7：
– Conheço a história do Palmeiras e de vários jogadores colombianos importantes para nosso país que passaram por aqui e sempre foram um orgulho para nós. É muito bonito saber que os colombianos que foram nossos ídolos abriram as portas para a gente poder jogar aqui.

Rincón é o nome mais famoso no Brasil na lista dada pelo novo camisa 20 palmeirense. Trazido ao país pelo Verdão em 1994, foi vendido à Europa e trazido de volta ao clube um ano e meio depois. Acabou fazendo carreira no futebol brasileiro atuando por Corinthians, Santos e Cruzeiro e treinando diversas equipes pequenas em divisões de acesso.

Ídolos recentes, Mina e Armero ainda estão vivos nas lembranças palestrinas. Lozano é o mais obscuro, chegando ao Verdão em 1995 e indo embora no mesmo ano sem deixar saudades.

Um dos maiores nomes do futebol colombiano, Asprilla chegou ao Palmeiras em 1999 com a mesma missão de Atuesta: ganhar um Mundial. Diferente da ocasião, quando o clube acabou perdendo a decisão para os ingleses do Manchester United, desta vez o reforço contratado junto ao Los Angeles FC mostra otimismo em voltar de Abu Dhabi com o troféu.

– Vejo essa oportunidade no Palmeiras como uma escalada em minha carreira, uma oportunidade para fazer história, para crescer como jogador, para jogarmos muito bem e colocar esse campeonato em nosso escudo, para a nossa gente. É uma grande oportunidade em minha carreira. E espero aproveitar.

E depois de ver as partidas que levaram o Palmeiras às duas conquistas seguidas da Copa Libertadores, o volante diz que o mais difícil já foi alcançado. É hora de saltos maiores.

– Manter a equipe campeã era o mais difícil. mas agora estamos lá em cima. É hora de encontrar um pico ainda maior. E esse pico é o Mundial de Clubes.

continua após a publicidade

TABELA

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They might not have got the win, but Sunday evening’s game against Arsenal was a success for Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s side utterly outplayed the Premier League leaders in the first half, and despite losing Moises Caicedo for over half the match, came away with a point.

There were sensational performances across the pitch from the hosts, with the most impressive undoubtedly being Reece James’.

The club captain has been unreal all season for Chelsea, and now it looks like Cobham could already be brewing his heir.

James' performance against Arsenal

Now, James putting in a strong performance for Chelsea is really nothing new; he is the captain after all.

However, against Arsenal, the Englishman truly stepped it up to a whole other level and did so from the middle of the park, not right-back.

In a game that was billed as a midfield showdown between Caicedo and Declan Rice, it was the full-back who came out as comfortably the best player on the whole pitch, let alone the middle of it.

That might sound hyperbolic, but his man-of-the-match award would suggest otherwise.

On top of doing all the defensive work you would expect of him, the “gargantuan” presence, as dubbed by presenter Olivia Buzaglo, was a serious attacking threat and provided the assist for his side’s opener.

Moreover, he completed three of his four crosses, played two key passes, was successful in 100% of his dribbles and generally didn’t let up for the entire encounter.

In all, it was perhaps one of James’ best performances in a Chelsea shirt and a shining example of why so many people rate him so highly.

Therefore, fans should be ecstatic about the fact that Cobham may already be producing another version of the international monster.

Chelsea's next James

When it comes to producing top-quality Premier League talent, few academies can match Chelsea’s Cobham.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

As always seems to be the case, there is another cohort of incredible youngsters coming up at the moment, like Reggie Watson and Shim Mhueka.

However, there is another, perhaps slightly lesser-known prospect fans should start taking more notice of, someone who could be the next James: Lewi Richards.

The 17-year-old has been with the Blues since the under-8s level and became a scholar at the start of the season.

However, the youngster has made such an impression this year that he put pen to paper on his first professional paper just a couple of months later, at the end of October.

With that said, what makes him like James?

Well, the first thing is that, like the club captain, he has shown an impressive level of positional versatility, playing at right-back, left-back and centre-back for the u18 and u21 sides.

Right-Back

9

3

0

Centre-Back

5

0

1

Left-Back

2

0

0

Moreover, he even spent time playing in the middle of the park when he was playing for the lower levels of the academy.

On top of this ability to be deployed all over the pitch, the teen phenom has already shown an ability to marry technical quality with physicality.

For example, respected analyst-turned-Como scout Felix Johnston has described him as a “technically strong” prospect who is “monstrous in the tackle” as well as “fearless in the air” and blessed with “bags of pace.”

Ultimately, Richards still has plenty of development to do, but he looks to be an extraordinary academy prospect and one whose versatility, technical ability, and power mean he could be another James in a few years.

Man Utd lining up January move for "powerful" £53m Liverpool & Chelsea target

The Red Devils are looking to sign a 22-year-old, who is being targeted by some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

ByDominic Lund Dec 2, 2025

Big picture

Eoin Morgan is in his first season as full-time captain of an IPL team. When he takes the field on Sunday in Chennai, he will not just square off against David Warner’s Sunrisers Hyderabad, but also against Trevor Bayliss, a close confidante who helped Morgan plot England’s white-ball renaissance, which culminated in their 2019 World Cup win. Not to forget, Bayliss was the Knight Riders’ coach between 2012 and 2015, when they won the IPL twice, before joining the Sunrisers.The Kolkata Knight Riders haven’t made the playoffs since 2018; their quest for the title stretches even further back to 2014. While many others would have chopped and changed, the core of the Knight Riders is still the same. Sunil Narine and Andre Russell are still as big, if not bigger, as the newer signings like Pat Cummins or Shakib Al Hasan, who has been brought back by the franchise after being part of two title wins in 2012 and 2014. Dinesh Karthik continues to be a key finisher, while they have Shubman Gill as potential retention material going forward.Related

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• KKR depend on new-look spin attack, old death-overs smarts

• An IPL cloaked in a bubble of uncertainty

Among the few teams to conduct yearlong camps, the Knight Riders have a well-oiled Indian group of players, both in batting and in bowling. Kamlesh Nagarkoti was injured for two successive seasons, but has been persisted with. Shivam Mavi has also been retained despite a history of injuries. Their latest project is Varun Chakravarthy, the mystery spinner who broke into the Indian team based on his IPL 2020 performances, but has been let down by fitness issues. Can he build on his previous season?Over the last two seasons, the Knight Riders have somewhat been let down by their own strengths – the fluidity of the batting line-up has led to a hint of confusion. The three finishers in Morgan, Karthik and Russell have been shuffled around in the order. Maybe a bit more stability is the key for the team.The Sunrisers are among the more industrious sides, one that bank on collective work. Warner has empowered individuals, given the youngsters a long rope, and has been patient in developing a solid group of players, who’ve all thrived under his leadership. T Natarajan and Sandeep Sharma are prime examples.3:28

Are Sunrisers Hyderabad stronger than last season?

They will be boosted by Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return and Wriddhiman Saha’s emergence as a T20 opener. They also have two hungry individuals in Manish Pandey and Vijay Shankar, keen to prove a point after overcoming injuries in order to regain their berth in the national squad.Jonny Bairstow is in fine form, while they can also turn to the ever-reliable Kane Williamson if needed. Throw in the threat a Rashid Khan possesses and it makes for a heady cocktail that can trip up any opponent on a given day. The young group of Abdul Samad, Priyam Garg and Abhishek Sharma add to their batting riches.There are no clear favourites for this one. Just the promise of two solid teams, with very different philosophies and approaches, going head to head with the aim of starting on the right foot.

In the news

The match will test Warner’s fitness. Last month, Warner conceded that he had rushed back during the Test series against India following the groin injury he had suffered during the ODIs in December. Warner made himself available for the last two Tests in Sydney and Brisbane, when he was clearly still hampered by the injury. Another lengthy rehab was followed by an outing for New South Wales before he got on the plane to India for the IPL.This also marks Shakib’s return to the IPL, and to the Knight Riders. Last season, he was far away from the action as he was serving an ICC ban, and he starts out this time – if he gets in the XI – against the team he was with till before the suspension. His presence in the IPL this time hasn’t been uneventful either, as he opted for the Knight Riders gig over matches for Bangladesh, and the process was not without confusion.2:25

Will Andre Russell have a big season for KKR?

Likely XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Rahul Tripathi/Venkatesh Iyer, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Sunil Narine/Shakib Al Hasan, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Shivam Mavi/Harbhajan Singh, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Varun Chakravarthy Sunrisers Hyderabad:1 David Warner (capt), 2 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3 Manish Pandey, 4 Kane Williamson, 5 Vijay Shankar/Abhishek Sharma, 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 T Natarajan

Strategy punt

Harbhajan Singh has played much of his IPL cricket recently at Chepauk for the Chennai Super Kings. Friday’s opener at the venue threw up a slow black-soil-based surface that gripped and spun. Singh had been used regularly with the new ball by MS Dhoni, particularly against the left-handers. With Warner likely to open, there’s a case for Morgan to turn to Harbhajan with the new ball too. There’s good reason, too. The senior offspinner has dismissed Warner four times in the IPL.At IPL 2020, Warner struck at 133 in the powerplay, considerably slower than his overall record. While there may be a temptation to play Saha, who enhanced his reputation as an opener in IPL 2020, it could potentially be advantageous to open with the in-form Bairstow. The England wicketkeeper has struck for the Sunrisers at 142, and he’s in red-hot form too, having just been named Player of the Series during the ODI series against India.

Stats that matter

Manchester United and Bayern Munich have reportedly locked horns in a battle to sign Liga de Quito’s 16-year-old sensation Ederson Castillo. The midfielder has attracted serious interest from the European heavyweights after dazzling displays at youth level, though they face stiff competition from Atlético de Madrid and Anderlecht who are also tracking his progress.

• European giants circle Ecuadorian wonderkid

  According to reports emanating from and , the teenage midfielder has become the primary target for a host of Europe's most prestigious clubs. Castillo, who is currently plying his trade with Liga de Quito (LDU), has seen his stock rise meteorically following a breakthrough campaign with the youth sides.

  Despite being just 16 years of age, he was an instrumental figure in LDU’s recent triumph in the Ecuadorian U-19 tournament. His performances were marked by a maturity that belies his years, prompting the club’s hierarchy to invite him to train with the senior squad on multiple occasions. Reports indicate that both United and Bayern have moved to the front of the queue, registering concrete interest in the player as they look to secure his services before his valuation skyrockets. The battle for his signature is expected to be fierce, with European scouts now a regular presence at LDU's Pomasqui training complex, analysing every touch and pass the youngster makes as they prepare their final reports for club directors back in Manchester and Munich.

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  United and Bayern face stiff competition

  While the financial might of United and Bayern often clears the field, this transfer battle is far from a two-horse race. Atlético de Madrid are reportedly monitoring Castillo closely. The Spanish giants, led by Diego Simeone, have a long history of success with South American players who possess the requisite grit and technical quality. 

  Furthermore, Belgian outfit Anderlecht are firmly in the mix. While they cannot compete financially with the likes of United or Bayern, they offer a compelling sporting project: a proven pathway to first-team football in a development-friendly league. Anderlecht have already successfully recruited from Liga de Quito in the recent past, signing Nilson Angulo, which could give them a unique advantage in negotiations. The Belgian route is often seen as a smarter intermediate step for South American talents before making the jump to the Premier League or Bundesliga, allowing them to adapt to the European game away from the blinding spotlight of the very top tier.

• Ecuador's golden generation spurs interest

  This developing transfer saga is emblematic of a wider shift in the transfer market. Ecuador has rapidly established itself as the new "gold mine" for elite talent in South America. The unprecedented success of players like Moises Caicedo, Piero Hincapie, and Pervis Estupinan in Europe’s top five leagues has convinced top clubs that the region is producing "best-in-class" athletes who can adapt physically and technically to the rigours of European football.

  For United, a move for Castillo would be entirely consistent with the club’s revamped recruitment strategy under their new sporting structure. The Red Devils are keen to move away from paying exorbitant fees for established stars, focusing instead on identifying high-ceiling teenagers. Bayern share this philosophy, with their "Bayern Campus" project designed to integrate top international talents into the first team at a young age. Both clubs are desperate to find the "next Caicedo" at source, rather than paying a British record fee for him years later as Chelsea did.

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  FIFA regulations delay potential move

  Despite the intense speculation, any potential deal for Castillo comes with a significant logistical caveat: FIFA’s regulations on the international transfer of minors. Under current rules, Castillo cannot officially register and play for a European club until he turns 18. This means that any agreement reached in the coming months would likely mirror the structure of Chelsea’s high-profile deal for Kendry Paez, who is now on loan at Strasbourg.

  The fellow Ecuadorian wonderkid agreed to join the Blues at 15 but remained at Independiente del Valle to continue his development until he was old enough to move in June this year. For Castillo, a similar "pre-contract" arrangement is the most likely outcome. He would theoretically sign for a European giant but remain on loan at LDU for the next two years. This period would allow him to gain vital experience in the Ecuadorian Serie A and potentially the Copa Libertadores before crossing the Atlantic, ensuring he arrives in Europe ready to compete for a first-team place immediately.