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Manchester United have a conundrum in midfield which needs to be solved sooner rather than later.

Ruben Amorim’s infamous 3-4-2-1 system, which he is insistent on sticking to, operates with a double pivot. Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro are his first choices in that role this season.

That has left a few players out in the cold this season, without regular minutes. The two players who have tended to be left on the sidelines are Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte. The England international is yet to start a Premier League game this season, and former Sporting man Ugarte has not been able to get into the side over Casemiro.

It seems as though the Red Devils are targeting a new midfielder who can slot into the side.

Man Utd looking to sign England international

The Manuncian side have already begun a mini-revolution in the centre of the park. They have recently signed young Colombian Cristian Orozco, who will perhaps start in the youth team but could well be considered a first-teamer in the future.

Elliot Anderson is a name who is regularly linked with a move to Old Trafford but he’s not the only England international in the crosshairs of INEOS.

Indeed, according to a report from Football Insider, Atletico Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher is a player the club continue to ‘monitor’ ahead of the January transfer window.

There has been previous interest in the former Chelsea star from Premier League clubs. Crystal Palace wanted him last summer, and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested.

However, Amorim’s side are described as ‘frontrunners’ for Gallagher. As far as a fee is concerned, it has been reported that a bid in the region of £26m could be accepted.

Why Gallagher would be a good signing

The signing of Gallagher could well be a strong addition to United’s midfield. Described as a “warrior” in the middle of the park by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, he would bring Premier League experience.

Indeed, Gallagher has made 136 appearances in the English top flight, for boyhood side Chelsea, as well as loan spells at Crystal Palace and West Brom. That ready-made experience in the Premier League could be vital for Amorim, as he would need little to no adaptation period.

Of course, over the last 18 months, the former Chelsea star has been plying his trade in La Liga for Atleti. He’s played 69 times for Diego Simeone’s side, chipping in with six goals and six assists. That included a strike against Real Madrid in the Champions League last season.

If the Red Devils were to sign Gallagher this winter, he could prove to be the long-term replacement for Casemiro. United’s Brazilian midfielder is out of contract soon, and it seems like he could be on his way at the end of the campaign.

Indeed, he is a hard man to replace. The former Los Blancos star has been a key figure in that midfield pivot for Amorim, making 12 appearances and chipping in with three goals.

That included this effort against Gallagher’s former side, Chelsea, at Old Trafford.

Replacing Casemiro in that United midfield would not be easy for Gallagher. Aside from his potent threat in the final third, the Brazilian, of course, is a master at breaking up play and winning the ball back.

However, when looking at the stats, it suggests that the Atleti star possesses the skills to do just that. For example, he’s averaged 4.12 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes this season, compared to just 3.6 each game for Casemiro.

Progressive passes

3.73

5.07

Key passes

0.59

0.93

Progressive carries

2.75

0.67

Tackles and interceptions

4.12

3.60

Ball recoveries

4.71

5.60

Finding the man who can eventually step into Casemiro’s shoes was never going to be easy for Amorim. Yet, in Gallagher, United may have landed upon the perfect player. He still has plenty of quality on the ball and final third threat, whilst also being an efficient ball winner.

Furthermore, he’s also got energy, something Casemiro lacks. Indeed, he has been described as an “intensity monster” and as “one of the best midfielders in the sport when it comes to running long distances” by one notable analyst on social media.

£26m is a small fee in the current market, and should the Red Devils choose to pay it, they could have finally found the perfect player to replace Casemiro.

The new Garnacho: Man Utd ready £131m bid to sign the "best in the world"

Manchester United could be about to smash their transfer record in the upcoming January transfer window.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 30, 2025

There were concerns that Aston Villa would wane under Unai Emery’s management after a frustrating and turbulent summer transfer window that left the club with more questions than answers.

But the emphatic 4-0 win over Bournemouth before the November international break sealed Villa’s fifth win from six Premier League matches, lifting them up to sixth in the standings, just two points off third-place Chelsea.

That Anfield defeat stands as the one dot on the recent copybook, rather than a new and wider concern for Emery as his side lose their form and verve once again.

This team is ready to challenge for a Champions League spot and compete for silverware, domestically and abroad. The stars are rising to the occasion – again. Two of the club’s most important players stepped up big time against the Cherries.

The Villa stars who are stepping up

Aston Villa smashed Bournemouth on Sunday and four different Villans got themselves on the scoresheet. But it was the defensive third that arguably shone brightest, limiting the visitors to just 0.23 xG (expected goals) from open play.

Credit to Ezri Konsa – again. The 28-year-old has grown into one of the finest defenders in the country since joining Villa Park from Bristol City in July 2019.

Now, maturing as a leader, Konsa’s completeness at the rear has led Sky Sports’ Dan Bardell to claim he “gets into every Premier League team” apart from table-toppers Arsenal.

And, again, we must draw praise toward Emi Martinez, whose stormy summer on an individual level saw him come close to joining Manchester United. He wanted this move and left Villa Park at the end of the 2024/25 campaign with tearful eyes and grateful gesticulations toward the fans.

But the Argentina goalkeeper has been as strong as ever this year, and his penalty save against Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo proved significant in snuffing out danger and capitalising.

There was another star away from the offensive action at the weekend who continued his rise in form. Indeed, this defender has shaped into one of the Premier League’s finest in one regard.

The Villa star now "among the best in the league"

Continuity. At times, an underrated facet in football. Aston Villa’s backline have developed together over three campaigns, largely unaltered. This has drawbacks, because the football is always evolving and it never stops, but the intuitiveness across the back four and Martinez too emphasises the strength of Emery’s tactics.

He makes players better, and Matty Cash is a perfect example of this. The right-back joined Villa from Nottingham Forest for £16m in 2020, and he has since played 195 matches for the Midlands outfit, posting 12 goals and 12 assists apiece.

Now, the 28-year-old is considered a core part of the side, having started all 11 matches in the Premier League this season.

With such energy and gusto to blend attacking and defensive sides of the right-back game, Cash has made headway after an up-and-down 2024/25 season, thus negating the chinks in the right-side armour.

This was showcased perfectly against Andoni Iraola’s south coast side. So dangerous are Bournemouth on the counter, their forwards as electric as they come. But they left with neither points nor consolation strikes last weekend, and Cash was instrumental in that.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

53

Accurate passes

19/27 (70%)

Shots (on target)

1 (1)

Tackles won

1/2

Clearances

2

Ground duels won

3/7

Up against it, Cash kept the Cherries’ threatening forwards at bay while contributing offensively, enjoying the first chance of the game and providing a dynamic outlet down the right channel. For this, Birmingham Live’s John Townley awarded him an 8/10 match rating.

This was corroborated by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, in fact, who marvelled at the full-back’s display and hailed him as being “among the best in the league” when it comes to defending, aggression and mentality.

All told, Cash is a perfect example of a player who has embraced a manager’s tactics and worked tooth and nail toward an influential role. Villa are looking to go all the way in the Europa League, but also fight for the ascendancy in the Premier League and continue a journey which has gripped the fanbase since returning to the big time.

He has been one of the defining elements of this story, and he’s now one of the best in the division.

Fergie said Man Utd flop would reach Neville's level but he left for £2.5m

This former Man United star was billed for big things before his time at the club fizzled out.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 4, 2025

Middlesex promotion push takes a hit as Gloucestershire No. 3 notches maiden century

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay01-Aug-2025Gloucestershire 404 for 9 dec (Phillips 136, Hammond 71, Bancroft 58) drew with Middlesex 445 (Williamson 153, Hollman 60, De Caires 58, Du Plooy 57)Gloucestershire’s Joe Phillips hit his maiden first class century as the rain-ruined Rothesay County Championship Division Two match with Middlesex ended in an inevitable draw.After the third day washout, a still wet outfield prevented any play until 1.25pm, with a minimum of 68 overs left in the game. Resuming their first innings on 54 for 1, a deficit of 391, Gloucestershire extended it to 400 for 9 by stumps, 21-year-old Cornishman Phillips making 136 from 182 balls, with 19 fours.Miles Hammond contributed an attractive 71 and Cameron Bancroft 58. But there had been too little time on a placid pitch for the teams to conjure a decisive outcome and both had to settle for 15 points.Following an early lunch at 12.45pm, Phillips and skipper Bancroft played confidently on a pitch still proving surprisingly straightforward to bat on considering it was shaved at both ends.Unbeaten on 11 at the start, Phillips had a scare on 34 when advancing down the pitch to offspinner Josh De Caires and edging between wicketkeeper and first slip for four. It was a rare moment of anxiety for Gloucestershire as Bancroft was first to his half-century, off 104 balls, with nine fours.The experienced Aussie was looking in prime form and it was a surprise when, with the total advanced to 126, he was bowled off a bottom edge aiming to pull a boundary off left-arm seamer Noah Cornwell.By then Phillips was treating the sparse crowd to a range of sweetly-timed strokes off front and back foot, a single to deep cover off Luke Hollman’s legspin taking him to fifty off 92 deliveries, with five fours. Two more boundaries followed from fierce pull shots in the same Cornwell over.Ollie Price was soon looking equally at home on the two-tone coloured surface. A glorious square drive for four off Ryan Higgins took Truro-born Phillips past his previous best first-class score of 80, made on the same ground against Worcestershire in 2023.By tea, he had moved to 96 and, with Price unbeaten on 33, Gloucestershire were 209 for 2, still trailing by 236. A looping full toss from Sam Robson gave Phillips the chance to strike the boundary that brought up his century off 145 balls. It was his 15th four and he raised a clenched fist in the air to celebrate.Price departed soon afterwards for 34, caught behind top-edging a sweep off Robson’s leg-breaks. The dismissal meant a first bowling point for Middlesex on a day their promotion hopes suffered a damaging blow with Glamorgan’s victory over Lancashire.Phillips and Hammond took Gloucestershire to 250 and a batting point. With more bonus points up for grabs, neither team wanted to shake hands on the draw.Using his feet well to attack the spinners, Phillips continued on his merry way, while Hammond also went on the attack at every opportunity. Their entertaining stand of 66 in 12.1 overs ended when Phillips holed out to long-on off Higgins.Cheltenham-born Hammond, who often flourishes at the Festival, advanced to smack a straight six off De Caires as Gloucestershire progressed to a second batting point, losing James Bracey cheaply, caught at mid-on off De Caires with the total on 299.Hollman earned Middlesex a second bowling point when having Graeme van Buuren caught at slip. But Hammond moved to a fluent half-century off 63 balls before Zaman Akhter was seventh man out, caught at backward square leg sweeping a ball from Hollman with eight overs remaining.A Hammond six off Hollman took Gloucestershire to a third batting point before he fell aiming to clear long-on off Higgins. With three overs remaining, Middlesex took the second new ball and Cornwell had Matt Taylor caught behind to give his side maximum bowling points.There was still time for a Josh Shaw six off Higgins as he and Todd Murphy helped the hosts reach 400 in the very last over. Both teams could feel happy at the end of a thoroughly entertaining final hour.

Glasgow Rangers officially confirmed the departure of head coach Russell Martin on Sunday night after the Ibrox side failed to win for a sixth time in seven Scottish Premiership matches.

The former Scotland international only won five of his 17 matches in charge of Rangers, losing six times, and departs with the the Light Blues sat eighth in the league table.

Martin simply did not get enough wins on the board to win the Ibrox crowd over during his short tenure in Glasgow, which left the club to make a decision this early into the season.

Title-winning manager keen on Rangers job

The attention now turns to his successor. Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart must find a manager who is a better fit at Ibrox to get the season back on track.

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According to Football Insider, Steven Gerrard would jump at the chance to make a ‘sensational’ return to Glasgow to manage Rangers for a second time.

The report claims that the Light Blues will discuss a potential move for the out-of-work English manager when they sit down to identify a long-term replacement for Martin.

It adds that Gerrard is one of the ‘leading’ candidates for the job at this moment in time, although the outlet does not name any of the other contenders for the role.

Stewart and Thelwell could win the fans back over and get Ibrox rocking again by swooping to bring the Liverpool legend back to the club for a second stint in the dugout.

Why Steven Gerrard would get Ibrox rocking again

Rangers welcome Dundee United to Ibrox in the Premiership in the first match after the international break and the home crowd could be rocking for that clash if they see Gerrard back on the sidelines.

It could be a hero’s welcome for the English tactician around four years on from his move to Aston Villa from the Gers, which came after an incredibly successful time on the pitch.

He is, after all, a title-winner for the Light Blues. No manager has won the Premiership title for the club since he lifted the trophy at the end of the 2020/21 campaign. Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, Philippe Clement, Barry Ferguson, and Russell Martin all failed where he succeeded.

As you can see in the table above, Gerrard’s last 50 matches in charge of the Gers in the league were almost faultless, losing one game, as he turned the Gers into a winning machine.

The former Villa boss, once dubbed “amazing” by Glen Johnson, knows what Rangers are all about, he knows what the supporters want to see, and he knows how to win the Premiership.

Gerrard is the closest thing that the Light Blues can get to a proven manager, given his success at the club before, and that is why he could be the safest option for Stewart and Thelwell to bring in.

It is also why the club could get Ibrox rocking again for that clash with Dundee United after the international break because the fans know that he is a proven tactician who can get the team back on track, and may support and cheer for him accordingly.

He's like Mourinho: 54-year-old manager wants to replace Martin at Rangers

Russell Martin’s job as Rangers manager is no more, so who could be his replacement?

By
Matt Dawson

Oct 6, 2025

تحدث عبد الحليم علي مهاجم فريق الزمالك السابق، عن تأهل الفريق إلى نهائي بطولة كأس السوبر المصري بعد الفوز على بيراميدز. 

وتمكن فريق الزمالك من التأهل لنهائي كأس السوبر المصري لمواجهة الأهلي، عقب الفوز على بيراميدز بركلات الترجيح، في المباراة التي جمعت بين الفريقين اليوم على ملعب آل نهيان. 

طالع.. رجل مباراة الزمالك وبيراميدز في كأس السوبر المصري

وقال عبد الحليم في تصريحات على قناة “أبو ظبي الرياضية”: “أحمد عبد الرؤوف يثبت أنه مدرب جيد وحساباته تحققت، الزمالك فريق كبير ويعود في أي وقت، ولا تأمن مكر الزمالك والأندية الكبيرة”.

وأضاف: أحمد عبد الرؤوف مدرب ولد كبيرا ولديه ثقة بالنفس، وأدار المباراة بشكل جيد أمام مدير فني كبير في ظروف صعبة، ويستحق كل الأحترام والتقدير”.

وتابع: “جماهير الزمالك بالنسبة لي عشق، وهم كل شيء في حياتنا، هم التاريخ ويبنى عليهم كل شيء، جمهور الزمالك حاضر في أي مكان بالعالم، جماهير الزمالك حضرت، جمهور الزمالك قوة لناديهم، كأننا نلعب في القاهرة”.

Mustafizur replaced Starc at DC after having played for Bangladesh in Sharjah on Saturday

ESPNcricinfo staff18-May-20252:48

Cricinformed: A tale of contrasting top orders

Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to chase against Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2025 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.Kagiso Rabada returned for GT, replacing Gerald Coetzee. This is Rabada’s first game after he went back home to serve a one-month ban for the use of a recreational drug.DC made two changes. Mustafizur Rahman, who was in Sharjah last night and picked up 2 for 17 from four overs against UAE, replaced Mitchell Starc for DC. Vipraj Nigam came in for Madhav Tiwari.”Definitely not easy to start all over again but good rest for our fast bowlers,” Gill said.DC captain Axar Patel also wanted to bowl first given the dew. “We are thinking about only this game and not about the qualification,” he said.The match is being played on a black-soil pitch. When bowling from the south end, one square boundary is 66 metres, the other 58 metres. The straight boundary is 71 metres.Delhi Capitals: 1 Faf du Plessis, 2 Abhishek Porel, 3 KL Rahul (wk), 4 Sameer Rizvi, 5 Axar Patel (capt), 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Ashutosh Sharma, 8 Vipraj Nigam, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 T NatarajanImpact Player options: Karun Nair, Dushmantha Chameera, Sediqullah Atal, T Vijay, Madhav TiwariGujarat Titans: 1 Shubman Gill (capt), 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Sherfane Rutherford, 4 Shahrukh Khan, 5 Rahul Tewatia, 6 Rashid Khan, 7 Kagiso Rabada, 8 Arshad Khan, 9 R Sai Kishore, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Mohammed SirajImpact Player options: B Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, Mahipal Lomror, Anuj Rawat, Dasun Shanaka

The loss left Qalandars vulnerable to yet another round robin knockout

Danyal Rasool05-May-2025Karachi Kings clinched a thrilling final-over victory in a dramatic finish at the Gaddafi Stadium against arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars in their PSL 2025 game on Sunday. In a game that finished past midnight after a 90-minute rain delay, Kings, who had been behind in the chase almost throughout, scored the last 48 runs in 16 balls after a clutch onslaught at the death from Irfan Khan. In doing so, they leapfrogged Islamabad United to go up to second on the table, leaving Qalandars vulnerable to yet another round-robin knockout.Much of the chase was an exercise in improbability, though Kings did all the right things. Needing 168 in 15 overs with one fewer powerplay over thanks to the unexpected rain that descended upon the Lahore evening, David Warner took down the normally miserly Asif Afridi’s second over, plundering 20 off it. Significantly, he would end up bowling just one more, a sequence of events that ended up with medium pacer Daryl Mitchell needing to send down the final over.Tim Seifert took on Shaheen Shah Afridi, too, but with the baseline asking rate over 11, any passage of play where Qalandars could sneak a couple of tight overs in swung the contest wildly in their favour. As a result, despite Kings smashing 52 in the first four, when Qalandars did bowl three that yielded 23, and a few overs later another three which allowed just 22, the required rate ballooned to 16. The task was made even more unlikely by the important wickets the home side picked up; the top five had all been sent on their way, Irfan and Mohammad Nabi the final roadblocks to a certain Qalandars triumph.And yet, that roadblock proved insurmountable. Irfan began the comeback by going after Qalandars captain Shaheen with three sixes in an over before Nabi helped him bleed a further 20 runs out of Haris Rauf to suddenly bring the equation down to seven in a final over Mitchell had to bowl. Irfan, by now in the zone, lashed the third of those deliveries over long-off for six.When, nearly five hours earlier, Qalandars had been inserted in what was assumed to be a full game, they begun so forebodingly that when the rain came in the eighth over, Kings would likely have accepted the point a washout would give them. Mohammad Naeem struggled at the start of this tournament, but Qalandars have stuck by him, a faith he has gradually begun to repay. His languid excellence was in delightful evidence towards the tail-end of the powerplay, taking over the role of chief power hitter from Fakhar Zaman. Nabi, the most economical spinner in the tournament, saw 15 come off the fifth over, before Hasan Ali was dispatched for another 22 as Qalandars surged to 69 off six, a wristy flick off the final delivery that flew over midwicket for six bringing up a 22-ball 50.The end of the fielding restrictions made little impact on Naeem as another 13 were extracted from Nabi’s second, but a game-turning moment was around the corner. Aamer Jamal drew Naeem into holing out at long-on with the heavens immediately opening up thereafter. When play did resume after a prolonged delay, Qalandars initially picked up where they left off thanks to Fakhar hitting his stride and a handy cameo from Abdullah Shafique.But Abbas Afridi and Mir Hamza were dragging Kings back into the contest. The pair picked up three wickets inside seven balls in the 11th and 12th overs, with Shafique, Mitchell and Sam Billings all sent packing. A couple of overs later, Abbas produced another over that jabbed Qalandars twice; this time, Sikandar Raza and Fakhar – having just crossed 50 – were taken out of the contest before the death in a passage of play that saw four more wickets fall in seven balls.As a consequence, the last five produced a relatively modest 44 compared to what Naeem appeared to have promised the other side of the rain break. And, as Irfan showed them a couple of hours later, failing to cash in at the death can be a deadly error in T20 contests.

Derby County are reportedly in an eight-club battle to complete the signing of a player who has enjoyed a productive start to the season.

Eustace "delighted" with Derby draw

The Rams picked up a 1-1 draw at home to Bristol City on Friday evening, earning their first Championship point of the season and now sitting outside the relegation zone.

Speaking over the weekend, Derby manager John Eustace had good things to say about the result, no doubt being buoyed by what he saw.

“It’s about the squad, it’s about 46 games, not three games, and we’re delighted to get a point. We would have liked all three. I don’t think Bristol caused us any problems at all, apart from the free-kick at the end and their goal, which could have been stopped.

“So the first half an hour is really positive. When you’ve lost two games in a row and you go a goal down, it’s always difficult from a confidence point of view, but this group we never give up, they’ll keep going, and it’s a really good thing to have.

“I thought first half an hour, I thought we were excellent. I think we have to remember that we’re off the back of two defeats, which isn’t easy, and then we you go a goal down, you know it’s always going to be very difficult.”

Derby could do with further signings before the end of the summer transfer window next Monday, however, and a new update has emerged in that respect.

Derby battling seven clubs to sign "special" ace

According to a fresh claim from Football Insider, Chesterfield Town attacker Armando Dobra is a transfer “target” for Derby this summer. The Rams are far from alone in showing an interest, however, with Portsmouth, Oxford United, Barnsley, Luton Town, Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool, and Reading also in the mix to snap him up.

Dobra could be a great addition for Derby, even though some may have doubts about his ability to make the step up from a lower league.

The 24-year-old has already scored three goals in all competitions this season, highlighting his attacking prowess, and Francis Jeffers lauded him as a youngster back in 2021.

“I thought he was special tonight. He’s got loads of ability. He has to get his numbers better with assists and goals, which I’ve spoken to him about and everyone gets on at him about, but if we can get him on the ball in those danger areas then he’s going to be some player.”

Derby County make 8-figure bid to sign international at the top of his game

This is their third bid for the player.

4

By
Callum Kemp

Aug 21, 2025

Derby clearly need more attacking quality, even though five goals in three league games this season is a respectable return, and if they can beat the other seven clubs to Dobra’s signature, it could prove to be a coup over time.

Series of hard-hitting cameos give way to potent bowling display as home comforts prove decisive

Deivarayan Muthu08-Feb-2025
Rashid Khan’s MI Cape Town have been crowned the new champions of the SA20, after they denied Aiden Markram’s Sunrisers Eastern Cape a three-peat and decimated them for the third time this season, in front of a packed crowd at the Wanderers.After opting to bat, MICT felt at home – all of their top five play for Lions at the Wanderers – and sent the ball flying over the boundaries in the Highveld. The rarefied air suited their style of play: despite losing wickets, MICT kept attacking and posted 181 for 8 on the back of electric cameos. Three of their batters passed 30 and all of them struck at 150 or above. It was Dewald Brevis who truly brought the crowd alive with his 18-ball 38. Brevis, 21, capped the season as its rising star.MICT’s older stars Trent Boult and Kagiso Rabada then wrecked Sunrisers’ chase by sharing six wickets between them. Boult, in particular, hooped the new ball both ways in the powerplay, and ended with 4-0-9-2. Rashid and George Linde, the left-arm fingerspinner, then ramped up the pressure in the middle overs before Rabada wrapped up the victory. Sunrisers folded for 105 in 18.4 overs.MI have now ticked off title wins in every franchise T20 tournament they’ve been part of. IPL, CLT20 (now defunct), WPL, MLC, ILT20, SA20.Rickelton fires opening salvoRyan Rickelton threw the first punch at Marco Jansen, the best bowler of the competition, taking him for 29 off nine balls at an eye-popping strike rate of 322.22. When Jansen pitched it up, Rickelton pumped him over his head and then, when he shortened his lengths, Rickelton used the rarefied air of the Highveld to his advantage and hooked him away over the leg side.However, when Craig Overton took pace off, Rickelton couldn’t manufacture his own pace and ended up chipping a catch to mid-off.As for Rassie van der Dussen, he also showed attacking intent on the occasions he manufactured swinging room, but his execution wasn’t as good as Rickelton’s. Van der Dussen made 23 off 25 balls before Liam Dawson had him stumped in the ninth over. By then, Reeza Hendricks had also fallen to Richard Gleeson for a duck.Brevis interventionWhen it seemed like Sunrisers had seized control, Brevis intervened and put MICT back on track for a tall total. He walloped Dawson for back-to-back sixes down the ground and proceeded to line up Andile Simelane, who had replaced the injured Ottneil Baartman. Playing only his second SA20 game, Simelane wilted under pressure and leaked 14 in the only over he bowled.Kagiso Rabada struck in his first over and claimed four wickets in all•SA20Brevis then brought the roof down at the Wanderers when he launched a one-handed six off a slower variation from Overton in the 15th over. Linde, who had been promoted to No.5 to counter Dawson’s left-arm fingerspin, also did his job, hitting him for two sixes. When he attempted another six, he failed to clear long-off.After having been taken to the cleaners in the early exchanges, Jansen bounced back to cut Brevis’ innings short.Markram didn’t want to risk Similane at the death and hence decided to take matters into his own hands in the 17th over. Though he got rid of Connor Esterhuizen, the batter had already done the damage with a sequence of 6,6,4 in an 18-run over.Delano Potgieter and Rabada then ensured MICT breached 180.MICT’s bowling masterclassThat total looked a whole lot bigger when Boult, especially, made Sunrisers’ batters look silly in the powerplay. After he softened David Bedingham with inswingers, Rabada made the incision by having the batter chipping a catch to short cover for 5. Boult got his first wicket of the evening when he drew a leading edge from Jordan Hermann for 1.Boult had scarcely believable powerplay figures of 3-0-4-1 before he returned at the death to trick Tristan Subbs with a slower variation. Tom Abell briefly countered MICT’s strikes before Linde had him stumped for 30 off 25 balls. Linde continued to keep it tight along with his captain Rashid, who pinned Tony de Zorzi lbw for 26 in a boundary-less spell. During their chase, Sunrisers went without a boundary for 45 balls.Dawson ended the drought when he sent a thick outside-edge flying to the boundary off Rabada but the quick sunk the Sunrisers’ lower order with his nifty variations.From finishing bottom of the table in the first two seasons of the SA20, MICT clinched their first title on Saturday and celebrated under firework-filled skies.

The loss of Cameron Green’s overs are not viewed as vital, but the frontline bowlers will likely need a break at some point

Tristan Lavalette21-Nov-20245:56

Cummins: ‘Smith’s hands have made their way to Perth’

On the eve of the first Test, as he went about various media duties, Australia captain Pat Cummins appeared extremely relaxed and seemingly sported a permanent smile.He seems to have good reason to feel at ease. While much of the focus ahead of the series has been on the uncertainty over India’s line-up, Australia’s XI has been settled ever since uncapped Nathan McSweeney won the race to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.It’s an experienced group of players and they are relatively refreshed with a lot of forward planning having been made in a bid to get them through a gruelling five-match series played within seven weeks.Related

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In fast and bouncy Perth test, Lyon could be the trick question for India

Get to know India's newcomers: Four players who could be in action in Perth

But if there has been a cause for concern, it’s the fitness of allrounder Mitchell Marsh who has only bowled four overs since tearing his hamstring during the IPL.All of those overs were in the fourth ODI against England at Lord’s in September. He then pulled up sore and missed the subsequent match before playing as a specialist batter for Western Australia in two Sheffield Shield matches in October.Marsh had publicly declared ahead of the second Shield match, against Tasmania, that he would return to bowling but his body was not quite ready. His role with the ball has grown in significance for Australia with Cameron Green missing the entire series due to a stress fracture of his back.Having become a father a day earlier, his wife Greta giving birth to their first child, Marsh on Monday pushed through weariness and built up his bowling loads in a lengthy centre wicket session as Australia started their first Test preparations. There were no signs of discomfort as Marsh powered through the crease and he also impressed during Australia’s training session on Wednesday.”He will definitely bowl this Test. He is an allrounder and with the way us four bowlers set out, we never really budget around an allrounder bowling heaps,” Cummins said.Marsh, however, is unlikely to be able to cover Green’s workload. He was used sparingly during the seven Tests last summer where he never bowled more than nine overs in an innings.Marsh, 33, is set to be utilised across a couple of short spells, possibly relatively early in the innings given his ability to produce outswing and also around the 60-70 over mark with the old ball.”We never put an upper limit [on overs] on anyone,” Cummins said. “But he’s ready to go and happy to bowl as much as we need. I would imagine a few spells each innings. He’s been bowling great this week, his body is the best it has been for a while.”Mitchell Marsh has barely bowled since an injury in the IPL earlier this year•Getty ImagesAlong with Marsh and Travis Head’s handy offspin, Cummins might also revert to Marnus Labuschagne, who has emerged as an unlikely seam bowling option after lengthy stints in the Shield caught many observers by surprise. He has almost exclusively bowled seam rather than legspin, which has yielded him some success previously at Test level.Having taken the captaincy reins of Queensland, Labuschagne has utilised himself with the ball and took 2 for 5 from 6.2 overs in the season opener against Western Australia at the WACA. He then bowled 27 overs across the match against South Australia at Allan Border Field.His bowling has been marked by short-ball aggression, which he has also unfurled during Australia’s training sessions ahead of the first Test, providing a potential tactic for Cummins to utilise.”He’s always trying to impress the ball, which is great,” Cummins said. “He loves bowling. He’s one of those guys, as we know, who always wants to be involved. He’s bowled some handy overs for Queensland. Obviously, he’s got legspin, a bit of offspin in the past and then this year, it’s been on to pace bowling.”I’m sure he’ll get the ball at some stage and bowl quite a few bouncers as well. So that’s maybe something we’ll turn to at some point as well.”While there is intrigue over Australia’s back-up bowlers, a refreshed Cummins and his frontline attack are hoping to mostly shoulder the workload. He will enter the series having not played red-ball cricket since March in New Zealand.Cummins was earmarked to play a Shield match for New South Wales, but has instead played one domestic 50-over game and two ODIs against Pakistan.”I feel great. Couldn’t have asked for a better lead in, so hopefully it translates into a good summer,” he said. “I’ve been really lucky to have four or five months off to build up, get strong. I feel as strong and as fresh and as fit as I have for a long time.”