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Matthew Wade has announced his retirement from international cricket and will immediately transition into a coaching role with Australia for the T20I series against Pakistan next month.Wade was part of Australia’s side at the T20 World Cup in June and it had been expected that tournament would mark the end of his international career after he was overlooked for the tour of the UK in September. In March he had retired from red-ball cricket after Tasmania’s run to the Sheffield Shield final.Related

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Wade will continue to play in the BBL for Hobart Hurricanes and some franchise tournaments around the world. He will also now work with what is a reasonably youthful Australia T20I squad which will be coached by Andre Borovec while Andrew McDonald and his other assistants preparing for the Test series against India. Wade will also spend time with Australia’s coaching group during the ODI series in an unofficial capacity.”I was fully aware my international days were most likely over at the end of the last T20 World Cup. My international retirement and coaching has been a constant conversation with George [Bailey] and Andrew [McDonald] over the past six months,” Wade said.”Coaching has been on my radar over the last few years and thankfully some great opportunities have come my way, for which I am very grateful and excited.”Overall, Wade played 36 Tests, 97 ODIs and 92 T20Is for Australia between 2011 and 2024. He was a key figure in their T20 World Cup title in the UAE in 2021 where he became a finisher, hitting an unbeaten 41 off 17 balls in the semi-final against Pakistan.Finest hour: Matthew Wade was a star of Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup title•ICC via Getty Images

“As my international career closes, I want to thank all of my Australian team-mates, staff and coaches,” he said. “I enjoyed the ride as challenging as it can be at international level. Without good people around me I would have never got as much out of myself as I did.”I also thank my family, mum, dad and sisters for the countless hours they put in over the years getting me to games and training.”Lastly to Julia and the kids. I can’t thank them enough for the sacrifices they have made for me to continue to pursue my dreams. No words can explain how grateful I am to them, none of this would have happened without their support.”Wade’s Test career ended in 2021, during India’s previous tour, after he had made a successful return to the side as a specialist batter for the 2019 Ashes where he scored two centuries. His last ODI also came in 2021 when he briefly returned to the team after a gap of four years during the tour of West Indies in the Covid period.”Congratulations to Matthew on what has been a wonderful international career during which his skill and versatility has made him an outstanding performer across all formats,” Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said.”I’m delighted he will add to his massive contribution by coaching the next generation of stars and also continuing to light up the Big Bash with the Hobart Hurricanes.”

Snoop Dogg has never shied away from his love of football and was once handed a memorable gift from none other than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Snoop Dogg becomes new co-owner at Swansea City

Whether it be carrying the Olympic torch, performing at the Super Bowl or trying to become the next owner of ice hockey side the Ottawa Senators, Snoop Dogg has been involved in the sporting world for years.

The American rapper, real name Calvin Broadus, was surprisingly at the centre of Swansea City’s new home kit launch video for the 2025/26 season, with the south Wales side already being invested in by AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric.

Now, it has been confirmed that Snoop Dogg has become a Swansea co-owner and investor, and he described a move as “special”.

It always looked as if Snoop Dogg was set to follow in the footsteps of celebrities like Ryan Reynolds and Tom Brady, who are co-owners at Wrexham and Birmingham City respectively, after admitting last year that he had his eye on Scottish giants Celtic.

“Investing in a sports team has been something I have been looking at for a long time – if the chance came to invest in Celtic, I would be crazy not to take a look at it. I have watched so much soccer in Europe but I have never seen fans like the Celtic fans. There is something so special about them.”

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The Swans are Snoop Dogg’s new team, though, so he may stop wearing other club’s football shirts all around the world when performing.

Ronaldo once gifted Snoop Dogg a signed shirt

Back in 2022, Ronaldo was into his second stint as a Manchester United player, finishing the 2021/22 campaign with 24 goals and three assists for the Red Devils.

The Portuguese icon had returned to Old Trafford from Juventus and reached out to the rap superstar. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner decided to gift Snoop Dogg a signed Man Utd shirt, which resulted in the American thanking the forward on X.

Chelsea must win their final Club World Cup group stage game against ES Tunis to reach the knockout rounds.

Following a straightforward 2-0 win over LAFC in their opening match, Enzo Maresca’s side shipped three goals in the final 30 minutes to eventually lose 3-1.

Nicolas Jackson, who came on as a second-half substitute for Liam Delap, was sent off just four minutes into his cameo following a dreadful challenge on Ayrton Lucas.

With the Senegal international suspended, Delap will be trusted to lead the line against the African side on Wednesday, and he has played well.

The youngster grabbed an assist in his first-ever match for the Blues and looked like a real handful against Flamengo before being brought off.

If he maintains this form, Maresca may have landed himself a bargain as the Englishman will only continue to get better and better.

Another player who has impressed at the Club World Cup is Pedro Neto. He enjoyed a solid first season at Stamford Bridge, but can this tournament give him the platform to emerge as a key player under the Italian next season?

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ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025 Pedro Neto's Club World Cup statistics

The Portuguese winger was given a start against LAFC in the opening group stage match, and he certainly delivered.

Neto scored the opener against the MLS side with a well-taken finish after running onto a through ball.

The winger also completed 92% of his passes, made four key passes, succeeded with five of his seven dribbles and created a big chance.

He was arguably the club’s best player during the match, and he continued this form into the next game, despite Chelsea suffering a defeat.

Once again, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger opened the scoring for the Blues, capitalising on some poor defending from the opposition to race away and slot home his second goal of the tournament.

Goals

2

Assists

0

Big chances created

2

Key passes per game

2.5

Successful dribbles per game

4

Total duels won per game

6.5

Aside from his goal, he also created a big chance, made one key pass and attempted seven dribbles throughout the encounter.

These statistics prove that Neto has been the most dangerous player on the Chelsea side so far, and Maresca will need him to perform in a similar fashion against ES Tunis.

If so, the Stamford Bridge side will ease into the last 16. While Neto is shining stateside, it hasn’t stopped the manager from turning to the transfer market in order to bolster his wide options.

Indeed, one player who has been linked with a move to London might even be a more exciting prospect than Neto, that’s for sure.

Chelsea's search for a new winger

It isn’t a secret that the club are keen on bringing in another winger or two this summer. Players such as Mohammed Kudus, Tyler Dibling and Malick Fofana have been linked with the Blues of late.

While all three would make solid signings, with the latter two wonderful prospects for the future, it is Jamie Gittens who Maresca is desperate to sign this summer.

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The club had a bid of around £42m rejected by Borussia Dortmund a few weeks ago, as the German side were holding out for a much higher fee.

Although it looked as though they were the frontrunners in the race to sign the English talent, it now looks as though a European heavyweight are ready to rival Chelsea.

According to German outlet Kicker, Bayern Munich have now joined the race for Gittens, and they are reportedly in talks with the current Dortmund sensation.

This is a blow for Maresca, but the report does note that the Blues are still in ‘negotiations’ to bring the English forward to Stamford Bridge with a bid of £51m ‘on the table’.

Why Chelsea must sign Jamie Gittens

Neto has impressed so far during the Club World Cup, showing the promise that made the Blues splash out to sign him last summer.

Going into next season, he should have the right wing position sorted, especially as Noni Madueke’s future is uncertain.

That said, Gittens is still only 20 and no doubt a much more exciting prospect for the Blues on the opposite flank. He may have struggled to impress under Niko Kovac and his tactical system, but his spell at Dortmund has been a huge success.

Across 107 matches in all competitions, he has registered 31 goal contributions – 17 goals and 14 assists – with seven coming in the Champions League.

His performances last season led journalist Dougie Critchley to heap plenty of praise on the youngster, saying: “He’s only 20, and this is his breakout campaign, but some of his finishing has been absolutely world-class. Crucially, he’s already making decisive contributions in the BIGGEST games (Real, Bayern, Leverkusen, Frankfurt).”

There is absolutely no doubt that Gittens has an incredible future in the game. A fresh start is required, however, especially with Kovac looking like he will be at Dortmund for the long haul.

Such is his impact over the previous 365 days, Gittens ranks highly among his positional peers across several attacking metrics.

Not only does the winger rank in the top 15% for non-penalty goals (0.41) per 90, but he also ranks in the top 9% for progressive carries (5.51) and in the top 1% for successful take-ons (3.57) per 90 across Europe’s top five leagues.

In comparison, over the same period, Neto fails to even rank in the top 70% for non-penalty goals per 90 and in the top 60% for successful take-ons per 90, proving that Gittens is certainly the most exciting talent.

How much is Maresca willing to spend on Gittens, though? That is the question the supporters will hopefully find out the answer to sooner rather than later.

He could be a fantastic addition to the Chelsea side. With Bayern interested, however, will this prove to be Chelsea’s undoing? Or can they beat the six-time European Cup winners to the prodigious talent? Only time will tell.

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Van der Gugten triple-wicket maiden puts seal on impressive display from visitors

ECB Reporters Network06-Jun-2024Glamorgan 177 for 7 (Northeast 67, Carlson 54, Brooker 3-31) beat Middlesex 173 (Andersson 57, Crane 3-28, van der Gugten 3-30) by three wicketsSam Northeast made it over 400 runs in his two visits to Lord’s this season as Glamorgan beat Middlesex by three wickets to win their first ever T20 encounter at the home of cricket.Northeast, who made a record red-ball score of 335 on the hallowed turf in the County Championship back in April struck 67 in 45 balls (1×6 8x4s) as the visitors chased down a target of 174 with 10 balls to spare, despite 3 for 31 for Middlesex quick Henry Brookes.Northeast was aided by Kiran Carlson (54), whose landmark came in only 21 balls with five sixes.Earlier Middlesex were given a wonderful start by Martin Andersson 57, from 34 – his first T20 half-century as he and skipper Stephen Eskinazi (48) shared an opening stand of 108. However, Mason Crane (3 for 28) began the collapse before Timm Van der Gugten’s triple-wicket maiden (3 for 30) including the scalps of Luke Hollman, Tom Helm and Brookes saw Middlesex collapse to 173 all out.Eskinazi provided early impetus before Andersson, employed as a pinch-hitter in the continued absence of Leus Du Plooy, smote Van Der Gugten back over his head for six.Another followed before he was dropped at short fine leg on 29, Dan Douthwaite the unlucky bowler, the ball travelling to the fence. To rub salt in the wound, Andersson struck three further boundaries in the over.With Eskinazi plundering two sixes off Crane the hundred stand came up in the ninth over. However, Andersson’s dismissal stumped attempting a reverse sweep, ending a stand of 108, changed everything.Max Holden went cheaply to Crane and when Eskinazi fell in identical fashion later in the over the hosts hit the skids.Only Luke Hollman cleared the ropes in the remainder of the innings and Van der Gugten’s party piece in the 19th over, helped by a stunning catch from wicketkeeper Cooke left Middlesex looking well short.Noah Cornwell had Eddie Byrom caught at slip from the first ball of Glamorgan’s reply, but Carlson came out bristling aggression, striking first Helm and then Brookes for six.Helm switched to the Pavilion End only for Carlson to club him straight for another maximum as the 50 came up inside five overs.Pace gave way to spin but all were alike to the 26-year-old who planted successive balls from Josh De Caires over extra cover into the Compton Stand to race to 50 in 21 balls.The fun ended when he holed out at deep mid-on from the bowling of Ryan Higgins and when Australian Test opener Marnus Labuschagne was trapped in front by Hollman, at 84 for 3 the Seaxes sniffed a way back.De Caires bowled the dangerous Colin Ingram to heighten the intrigue, but first Northeast and then Cooke were given lives in the 13th over bowled by Hollman, wicketkeeper Davies missing a regulation stumping to reprieve the former on 44, before the latter was spilt at backward point.Middlesex paid for their profligacy, Northeast reaching 50 from 38 balls, while Cooke, who made an unbeaten 113 in this fixture last season, thrashed a Higgins delivery over extra cover for six.Northeast’s first six came soon afterwards and though he and Cooke fell before the end Glamorgan got home.

Aston Villa missed out on Champions League football for next season with a controversial 2-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford yesterday.

Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen’s goals in the second half secured the win for Ruben Amorim’s side, confining Unai Emery’s men to Europa League football.

The Villans were handed an uphill task after goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was given a straight red card after taking out Rasmus Hojlund after Matty Cash’s under-hit back pass.

However, the result could’ve been different for Emery’s men, after Morgan Rogers was adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, leading to the club making a complaint to the Premier League over the officiating decisions.

Despite the defeat and the questionable decisions made by the officials, numerous players failed to deliver, leaving the club with some big decisions to make during the off-season.

Aston Villa’s poor performers against Man Utd

As previously mentioned, goalkeeper Martinez made a huge mistake that handed Villa a tricky task to try and claim all three points against the Red Devils.

The Argentine has been linked with a move away from the West Midlands in recent weeks, meaning that his disappointing display at Old Trafford may be his last for the club.

However, he wasn’t alone in producing a disappointing display, with left-back Ian Maatsen struggling to impress, even giving away the penalty for Eriksen’s goal.

His poor showing didn’t stop there, losing possession a staggering 13 times, whilst also losing 100% of the ground duels he entered, looking way off the pace and contributing to the defeat.

Both will likely be frustrated with their lack of impact, but despite their respective outings, one other player massively struggled, with Emery needing to make a bold decision on his future.

The 5/10 Villa star who needs to be sold this summer

After missing out on the Champions League, Villa now have a huge summer ahead of themselves to prevent breaking the Premier League’s strict PSR rules.

The club have had to make sales over the last couple of summers, with this one likely to follow in the same vein given the failure to secure a place in Europe’s biggest competition.

Martinez is just one player touted with a move away from Villa Park, with midfielder Rogers another star who could see his future lie away from the club.

However, Emery must boldly sell fellow first-team member Ollie Watkins this summer, needing to cash in on the 29-year-old whilst his stock is at its highest.

He was subject to interest from Arsenal during the January transfer window, but the hierarchy rejected offers for their talisman, enabling him to play a key role in their Champions League aspirations.

However, his showing at Old Trafford was nothing short of a disappointment, failing to deliver the goods and once again going missing in a key encounter.

The England international featured for the entirety of the contest, registering just 21 touches – the fewest of any player who started the game – highlighting his lack of impact.

Minutes played

90

Touches

21

Shots taken

0

Dribbles completed

1/2 (50%)

Duels won

5/15

Passes completed

6/15 (40%)

Possession lost

12x

He also failed to register a single effort on goal and only completed 50% of his dribbles, further highlighting how poor he was when the ball fell his way.

Watkins’ disappointing showing didn’t end there, only winning five of the 15 duels he entered, often being dominated by the Red Devils’ backline in the defeat.

As a result, the striker was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by Birmingham World’s Charlie Haffenden – further demonstrating how poor he was yesterday.

After such a showing, the manager should look to offload him during the off-season, handing the opportunity for another player to thrive at the top end of the pitch.

Given the current financial situation, the hierarchy will face over the coming months, Watkins should be the first player sacrificed, offering Emery the chance to mount another Champions League push next season.

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Glasgow Rangers officially confirmed that Kevin Thelwell will take up a position as the club’s new sporting director ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The 51-year-old chief will arrive at Ibrox to take up his role when his contract with Premier League side Everton expires at the end of the season.

In part of his first official interview with the club’s website, Thelwell said: “From the first conversations, it was clear to me how ambitious the club is, and I’m excited to play a part in shaping its next chapter.”

Whilst this can be interpreted in many different ways, that comment from the Everton man suggests that there will be changes to the playing squad in the summer to align with the ambition of the club.

Thelwell will have the chance to ‘shape’ the team, which lost to Athletic Bilbao in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, and that could include ruthlessly getting rid of some of the club’s current players, who have failed to lead Rangers to a trophy this season.

One of the Gers players who could find themselves on the chopping block when the Everton chief officially takes up his position could be striker Cyriel Dessers.

Why Rangers should cash in on Cyriel Dessers

The Nigeria international was signed from Cremonese by Michael Beale ahead of the 2023/24 campaign for a reported fee of £4.3m, and the striker has had mixed success throughout his time at the club to date.

Dessers has scored 29 goals in the Scottish Premiership since the start of last season, which does not sound like a terrible return on paper, but his underlying numbers suggest that his performances have not been as impressive as his goal return indicates.

The experienced marksman has not made the most of the opportunities that have been created for him in the top-flight, missing a whopping 47 ‘big chances’ to go along with his 29 goals.

This shows that he has been incredibly wasteful with the high-quality openings that his teammates have created for him, which has made him a liability in the final third because Rangers cannot trust that he will deliver in big moments due to his lack of composure and quality in front of goal.

Dessers has not only struggled in the Premiership, as his statistics above illustrate, however, as the former Serie A attacker has also failed to deliver on the European stage.

Since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, the 30-year-old forward has scored four goals and missed ten ‘big chances’ in 19 appearances in the Europa League. This shows that he has rarely provided a goal threat in Europe for the Light Blues, once again, because of his wasteful finishing.

Dessers, as you can see in the clip above, has had his moments of class, which is also backed up by his return of 29 goals, but he has proven that he cannot be relied upon over the course of a season to lead the line for a team competing for titles.

The striker, as evidenced by the aforementioned statistics, has shown that he is not a reliable finisher, and that is why Thelwell should look to cash in on him to provide the next manager at Ibrox with an upgrade in the number nine position in the summer transfer window.

The incoming Rangers sporting director could seal an instant blinder, however, by axing a flop who has been an even worse signing than Dessers, Nedim Bajrami.

Why Thelwell should sell Bajrami

If Thelwell wants to shape the team in a way that tracks with the club’s high ambitions, seemingly to compete for trophies next season, then the underperformers in the squad should be moved on, if possible, this summer.

Rangers reportedly spent £3.4m to sign Bajrami from Italian side Sassuolo in the summer transfer window of 2024, and he has failed to live up to any hype that came from that amount of money being splashed on his services.

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To date, the Albania international has racked up three goals and one assist in 36 appearances in the Premiership and the Europa League combined for the Light Blues this season.

The 26-year-old arrived at Ibrox in what should be the prime years of his career. He is not a young player still learning his trade or a veteran at the end of his playing days, which suggests that it would have been fair to expect instant quality from him on the pitch.

Unfortunately, that has not been the case for Bajrami because, as shown by his aforementioned statistics, he has failed to deliver goals or assists on a regular basis from an attacking midfield or a wide position.

The Albanian attacker, who is reportedly on a wage of £12k-per-week, has scored one goal and failed to provide any assists in his last 13 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants.

As you can see in the table above, Bajrami has rarely contributed at the top end of the pitch and has failed to earn a place as a regular starter, under Philippe Clement or Barry Ferguson, whilst being weak in his duels out of possession as well.

These statistics show that the £3.4m signing has not given much back in return for the money that was spent on him. Meanwhile, Dessers has, at least, scored 29 goals and provided some good moments in a Rangers shirt in the last two seasons.

This suggests that he has been an even worse signing than the Nigerian forward because they cost a fairly similar amount of money, yet Bajrami has delivered significantly less on the pitch in his time at Ibrox.

With this in mind, Thelwell must instantly axe the attacking midfielder from the squad in the summer transfer window as one of his first moves to shape the squad in a new direction, moving on players who have not performed well enough for a team that wants to compete for titles.

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That could represent an instant blinder by the sporting director because it could free up space for a new attacker to be brought in, which could improve the team’s chances of success if they get the replacement right.

Tottenham Hotspur secured their place in the semi-final of the Europa League last night, with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.

Dominic Solanke’s first-half penalty was enough for Ange Postecoglou’s side, securing a 2-1 aggregate win after the 1-1 draw in North London last Thursday.

The triumph sets up a last-four clash with Bodo Glimt, moving the Lilywhites one step closer to European glory and potentially putting a superb end to a dismal season.

It certainly was a night to remember, giving a generation of supporters a new high in their time supporting the club, aiming to reach a first European final since 2019.

However, despite the impressive victory, numerous players failed to deliver in Germany, potentially putting their place in the side at huge jeopardy going forward.

Spurs’ poor performers against Eintracht Frankfurt

Winger Mathys Tel has been an inconsistent player to say the least since his January loan move from Bayern Munich, with last night no different for the Frenchman.

The 19-year-old only completed one of the five dribbles he attempted, whilst finding a teammate on just 33% of the times he delivered the ball into the 18-yard box.

He wasn’t the only one who struggled, with Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur looking a shadow of his former self during the victory over Frankfurt.

He featured for the entirety of the contest, but only managed to win 17% of the ground duels he entered, along with getting dribbled past twice as he was unable to make a huge impact on proceedings.

Despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other player failed to impress, with boss Postecoglou desperately needing to drop him ahead of Monday’s game with Nottingham Forest.

The Spurs player who needs to be dropped after Frankfurt

Injuries at Spurs have left Postecoglou with limited options at numerous points of the season, undoubtedly having a huge impact on the club’s lowly league standing.

Such an occurrence has allowed numerous players to stake their claim for a regular starting role, taking advantage of an opportunity that often wouldn’t be thrown in their direction.

Lucas Bergvall is arguably the biggest example of the situation, now being a vital member of the side, featuring for the entirety of the win against Frankfurt last night.

However, despite his success, winger Brennan Johnson was unable to have a similar impact, once again struggling to provide a reason as to why the hierarchy paid £47.5m for his signature.

The Welshman featured for 85 minutes before being replaced by Kevin Danso, with Ange opting to see out the result and switch to a back five for the closing stages.

Such a change was inevitable, but the 23-year-old did himself no favours during his time on the pitch, completing just 69% of the passes he attempted, whilst losing possession six times.

He also lost 66% of the duels he entered against the German opposition, whilst managing just 22 touches – a tally less than that of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who registered 45.

Brennan Johnson’s stats for Spurs against Frankfurt

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

85

Touches

22

Passes completed

11/16 (69%)

Duels lost

4/6 (66%)

Possession lost

6x

Shots taken

0

Dribbles completed

0

Stats via Sofascore

As a result of his showing last night, Johnson was handed a measly 6/10 match rating by the London Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick – highlighting how disappointing he was in the triumph.

Given his display, Ange simply has to drop the winger ahead of the clash with his former side, needing to give other players an opportunity to demonstrate their quality.

He’s struggled massively in recent weeks once again, potentially needing to be taken out of the firing line to recapture his early season form in North London.

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As a young tyro, he bowled a seismic over to set Pakistan on their way to the T20 World Cup title. Now he’s the elder statesman of their bowling pack

Osman Samiuddin29-May-2024It wasn’t dismissing Kumar Sangakkara twice in his debut Test, though that was pretty good. Or the five-fer at the MCG, though that was also pretty good. Not the swooping outswinger that did for Mitchell Johnson at Headingley, though it’s difficult to better that aesthetically. It wasn’t even the eight-ball spell in which he took four middle-order wickets against England at Lord’s, that euphoric high before the juddering comedown.None of it, not the swing, the pace, the youthfulness, the hair, any of it. No, what now feels most instructive from the early Mohammad Amir canon is the first over of the T20 World Cup final in 2009. You know this story. Lord’s. Firestarter Dilshan. Shahzaib round the corner. Ian Bishop, booming, calling it. Delirium in the stands, all over. Next month, as the ninth T20 World Cup enters its Super Eights, it’ll be 15 years since that over; what turned out to be a window into Amir’s past at that point and a glimpse into his future.Unsurprisingly for how important the over was – and that it’s Amir, a bowling nerd – he remembers it in some detail, the most telling of which is that, aged 17, six games and two weeks into his senior Pakistan career, it was he who hatched the plan.Related

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“I had watched Dilshan bat through the tournament and I figured he was hitting the Dilscoop whenever he was getting stuck in an innings,” Amir says. “You know how a bowler has a stock ball? This was his stock shot. When he gets stuck, he plays that shot. It was his release, his get-out shot. To stop it I thought, why not put him on the back foot?”Amir had first-hand knowledge of the shot, having been Dilscooped in Sri Lanka’s group-stage win over Pakistan earlier, also at Lord’s early on. So the day before the final, he went to the captain, Younis Khan, in the bowlers’ meeting and presented his plan. Bowl bouncers, hit the shorter side of back of a length, give him no room, no space. Younis had watched Amir’s development closely through the preceding domestic season, including being dismissed twice by him, and was happy to let the kid take the lead.Now a short-ball plan is hardly rocket science, least of all in today’s T20s, war-gamed as they often are right down to the last percentage point of intent in a batter’s shot. But to be 17, in your first major assignment, a world event, and this attentive to detail spoke of the preternatural abilities of young Amir; he had game sense in a way cricketers that age usually don’t.In any case, the greatness of the over lies in its near-perfect execution, beginning with a bouncer first ball. Angled across Dilshan, nearly 88mph, whizzing past his right ear and just over his right shoulder. The bouncer can be as difficult to get right first up as the inswinging yorker is. Too short or too much effort – on a bouncy track as Lord’s was that day – and it can sail over for wides. Not quick enough or the wrong line and it becomes a gimme. But if done right, then, without even taking a wicket, it makes an impact.Dilshan’s scoop was a fearsome weapon circa 2009 and Pakistan were almost single-minded in their planning to counter it•Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images”Most batsmen won’t think that in the first over, the first or even second ball he’ll bowl me a bouncer,” Amir says. “If you show that aggression and in a big game, it puts the batsman under some pressure. His plan has to change and you’re now one step ahead.”Shahid Afridi, another big influence in Amir’s first year, hared up to him after that ball. ‘” bowling no fear.” (Get right on top of him.) And the next two balls, Amir did, both sharp, around 88-89mph. But speed wasn’t the thing. Each rose from back of a length to near-about the height of Dilshan’s armpits – – angling across but not enough to afford him any room and no length to drive. In other words the balls played him rather than the other way round; both dots, Dilshan now growing fidgety. Bishop razor-sharp on air: “Another short ball, three short balls in a row, definite plan we’re seeing here.”Then, another bouncer, except, this time, a slower one. Dilshan was about a month early on the shot. “He got through the pull, and it almost went to [Kamran] Akmal off the back of his bat. That was the plan, that when you’re attacking a batter and trying to get him out, you try to puzzle him. You have to get him out. You can’t let him settle on one pace. I had bowled three dots to him. If I bowl him a cutter, Dilshan was the kind of batter who wouldn’t sit back after three dots. His natural game was to dominate. He pulled hard but didn’t connect.”By this stage, four balls in, besides the inherent challenge of a left-arm angle, Dilshan had already dealt with sharp bounce, nearly 90mph pace, subtle variations in length, a 10mph-drop in pace, and before the slower bouncer, a field change in which square leg moved to short fine and deep fine leg to deep square. Puzzled, as Amir says, and now, with the field switch, a temptation dangled: the get-out shot, the Dilscoop is on.The ice-cold precision with which the over had been executed thus far belied the nerves Amir had been feeling before the start. Younis had given him a coping mechanism a couple of weeks earlier when he had started for Pakistan in the pre-tournament warm-up game against India at The Oval. Though it was a warm-up, it was Amir’s first time playing for the senior Pakistan side.Bowl like it’s a domestic game, Younis Khan, Pakistan’s captain, said to Amir during the warm-up against India ahead of the 2009 World Cup. “When the captain tells you something like that, half the tension is gone,” Amir says•Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images”That game felt like it was an international, with a live telecast and the crowds,” he remembers. “I was really nervous, bowling the second or third over, and Younis came to me from mid-off. He said, take three deep, long breaths. Then, imagine you’re playing for National Bank [Amir’s domestic side that season]. Bowl like you did for them, like this is a domestic game. ‘ bowling .’ [Bowl without fear.] When the captain tells you something like that, half the tension is gone.”Deep breaths and then the big exhale. With his fifth ball, Amir went ever so slightly fuller – the ball bouncing to waist-height rather than chest – and across him, outside off again. Instead of trying to slap him through point or extra cover, shots that Dilshan played well, he couldn’t resist the scoop. He was in a situation and he need a get-out. Recognising that neither line nor length were his friends here, he transitioned to an attempted pull but ended up top-edging limply to short fine leg, Shahzaib Hasan’s most vital contribution to Pakistan, a smart catch over his shoulder. The tournament’s leading run-scorer, the player of the tournament, the third-highest strike rate among the top ten scorers, gone for a five-ball duck. It wasn’t the game – Afridi would later become its boss – but it was the first critical blow.Even though he was only a teenager, the cutthroat world of this little battle – take the batter down before they take you down – was one Amir would have been familiar with. His first, informal, trial as a pre-teen, had been to prevent a tape-ball legend from hitting him for more than two boundaries in an over. That one over (he conceded one boundary), bowled in slippers and got him into a big tape-ball tournament that evening, where he was spotted by a scout and whisked away to an academy in Rawalpindi and thus unto the world.And ultimately, after a long and convoluted interregnum he has found a way back to that ruthless world: no longer the bespoke bowler dreamt out of bright blue skies but a mass-produced unit from a sky the shade of concrete. That’s not meant as a slight so much as to assert that there is little romanticism around this Mohammad Amir. He is now a pure T20 bowler, traipsing around the world doing what he was doing the day he was spotted; a pared-back run-denier who has sharpened all the senses and tools he had at his disposal as that child, and simply shed all other baggage.Before his return for the series against New Zealand in April, he had not played for Pakistan in nearly four years, after a tawdry falling out with management. Whether he should be back, ahead of younger options such as Zaman Khan and Mohammad Wasim Jr, is a valid question. To which, of course, there is no definitive answer.Fifteen years ago, Pakistan were crowned T20 champions of the world•Julian Herbert/Getty ImagesAt 32, perhaps no, he shouldn’t be. As the second-highest wicket-taker over the last two seasons in the CPL, ahead of an ICC event in the Caribbean, perhaps he should be. As a bowler with an economy of 6.30 in the powerplay and 9.26 at the death in all T20s since September 2019 – placing him seventh and ninth among all pace bowlers (at least 600 balls and 300 balls bowled respectively in those phases) – there is a case. In a squad with Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, certain starters and expert in those phases, with Haris Rauf’s pace, backed up by the emergent Abbas Afridi, there is less of a case. Another left-arm pace option, on the other hand, is no bad thing.What is clear is how much T20 has changed since he bowled that over. Boundary sizes in that final were short square (60m and 64m) but much bigger in the other directions – ranging from 75m to 85m – than is common today. Pitches and balls, at least according to Amir, were not as unresponsive as they are now. Above all, to fixate on one single shot as Pakistan did on the Dilscoop as a threat is so… naïve. The scoop now, like a solid defensive in long-form batting, is merely the base off which 360-degree batting is built.”Now, from the first ball the batsman is playing scoops,” Amir says. “Your variations have to be so strong now. With the new ball you have to hit that right area and it’s only for an over, no more than that. After that, your basics, especially your variations, have to be strong. The batsman cannot predict what you are bowling. If he does, then 10-12 off an over is easy.”Every single ball you have to be on. Your variations, but especially your executions of it. That is where you have to really work hard as a bowler, to execute these days. You can bowl a slower ball or a yorker, and if you don’t get it right, then even half-hits are gone for six. The execution has to be 100% right.”Perhaps this is what Pakistan want from Amir, this broad sweep of experience and perspective, the pragmatic foil to the dreaminess of Naseem and Shaheen; we’re talking 15 years’ experience as well as winning hands in two ICC titles. Modern Pakistani fast-bowling careers don’t come as robust as this (which is saying something given the interruptions of Amir’s career). Then again, this is Pakistan selection, so it’s probably nothing of the sort. They’ve likely just panicked, lost faith in younger bowlers just when Amir has hit a decent run of form to impress men who he has, after all, played with.Maybe they’re hoping that the kid who was once wise beyond his years, is wiser still after all these years.

Allrounder admits to squad struggles in absence of seniors, including wife van Niekerk

Firdose Moonda15-Jul-2022Lizelle Lee’s shock retirement has left South Africa reeling in England and the onus is on the senior players to step up. That’s how allrounder Marizanne Kapp sees the situation after South Africa lost the one-day series with a game to spare and played well beneath their usual standards in the first two matches, especially as a batting unit.South Africa were bowled out for under 225 in each of the two matches, and only Chloe Tryon (88 in the first ODI), Laura Wolvaardt (58 in the second match) and Kapp (73, also in the second ODI) have had scores of significance. Lee, who had been partnering Wolvaardt at the top of the order before her retirement, may have added her name to that list. But her abrupt decision to step away from the international game last week means South Africa have been left without 100 ODI caps and almost a decade-worth of experience, and her absence is affecting them.”It’s definitely tough and not something that I expected,” Kapp said, after being asked how she was coping without Lee. “With Lizelle being one of my best friends, I have been struggling. Mentally, I have not been in the best space the last week or so, especially with Lizelle’s retirement.”Lee gave no specific reasons for walking away apart from being “ready for the next phase of my career,” which will include playing franchise T20 cricket. She also recently became a parent and her partner, Tanja Cronje and new baby have been traveling with her in the UK. Members of the South African squad have also not provided many clues about Lee’s decision with vice-captain Tryon only referring to her not being there and the team having to “get on with it”, a mantra Kapp has also adopted. “It’s going to take a lot more from the seniors going forward,” she said. “We are going to have to assist the juniors when it gets tough.”Kapp walked the talk in the second ODI after she shrugged off an indifferent performance with the ball (0 for 60 in nine overs) to show some defiance in the chase – albeit too little, too late. South Africa were 107 for 3 in the 20th over when Kapp came in to bat and lost 5 for 79 before she was dismissed, but she wanted to show her team-mates that a target of over 300 was not beyond them, even though it has never been done in women’s cricket before.”When people see a score of 330 they get a fright and that was the thing I was afraid of when we walked off the field – that some of the youngsters may think ‘we’ll never chase down those runs’. It’s just about backing yourself and for the seniors to pick up their hands,” she said, also emphasising her own role in the chase. “That’s the fun part of being an allrounder. I can always come back with the bat.”Related

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But Kapp did all of that against what she’s called one of the toughest periods of her career. Apart from Lee’s retirement, her wife Dane van Niekerk was today confirmed as being out of contention for the Commonwealth Games after failing to recover sufficiently from an ankle injury sustained in January. Without both Lee and van Niekerk, Kapp has found herself a little lonelier than usual, on and off the field, after traveling from the Fairbreak tournament to India and on to the UK, with her fourth bout of Covid-19 inbetween.”It’s obviously not ideal not to have Dane in the Commonwealth Games squad and not to have Lizelle. But that’s why we are a team. We have to give the youngsters opportunities to see what they can do,” she said. “We are so used to playing and traveling for such a long time that it’s nothing new to us. It shouldn’t be an excuse but for me personally, it gets to you: being away from home, being alone, not being with family. It is tough, but we chose this sport. We knew it was going to be tough. We just have to be strong, work as a team and support each other. It’s going to take a push from the seniors.”Through all of it, Kapp has had the backing of South Africa’s support staff as she bears her responsibilities, which she aims to keep doing through to the end of the tour. “I’m human and I’ve wanted to cry a few times on the field in the last two games but our team doctor has been absolutely brilliant,” Kapp said. “She assisted me and she has been there for me throughout this period. Mentally, it’s been tough. You have to pull yourself back together and get the job done. I can’t let the youngsters down. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and be strong.”

Something is happening at Chelsea this season.

Enzo Maresca’s side blew Spanish champions Barcelona away in the Champions League last Tuesday and then followed that up with a sensational performance against Arsenal in the Premier League.

The Blues were by far the better team for most of the first half, and even after Moises Caicedo was sent off, they scored a goal and held on for a point.

Now, having the Ecuadorian out for three games is a problem, but Maresca could solve it by unleashing one of Chelsea’s most exciting young stars.

Chelsea's solutions to Caicedo's red card

With it highly unlikely that Caicedo’s ban will be overturned – if it’s even appealed – Chelsea need to come up with a solution for the next three games. This is a player who is renowned as one of the best midfielders in the world, a player of the calibre of a certain Declan Rice. Therefore, replacing him will not be easy.

One answer could be to keep Reece James in the middle of the park, drop Enzo Fernández back next to him to create a double pivot and start Cole Palmer ahead of them.

Now, this would be quite a change, but it would allow the captain to continue to boss games from a central area and bring the club’s best player back into the most important part of the team.

Moreover, if the Englishman is pulling the strings in the ten position, Estevao can keep his place on the right, where he tore Barça to bits last week.

However, if Enzo only wants to make one personnel change to the side to keep up momentum, he could be extra brave and bring one of Cobham’s most exciting youngsters into the side: Reggie Walsh.

The 17-year-old star in the making is someone who could slot in next to James in the midfield and, especially against a poor Leeds United, earn some brilliant experience.

It would certainly be a bold move, but even though he’s so young, the academy gem is seen as “truly ridiculous” talent, per Como scout Felix Johnston, and has already made four appearances for the senior side.

Yet, with all that said, there is a far more realistic and sensible option Maresca could go for.

Chelsea's ideal solution to Caicedo's red card

With Dario Essugo unlikely to be fit enough to play a significant role over the next three games, Maresca should turn to Andrey Santos to cover for Caicedo.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The 21-year-old is still most certainly a little raw and clearly not the finished article, but there are a few reasons why he would be the perfect solution to the Blues’ problem.

The first is that with him being comfortable playing in central and defensive midfield, he could form a fluid partnership with James and Fernandez.

In other words, the three of them could rotate in and out of positions in the middle of the park, making life difficult for opposition defenders and attackers.

The second reason is that, thanks to his comfort in a variety of positions, he has developed a skill set that makes him effective in attack and, in the words of talent scout Jacek Kulig, a duel-winning “one-man war machine in midfield.”

For example, despite only playing 655 minutes across nine appearances this season, he has already produced four goal involvements.

His underlying numbers are also sensational.

Tackles Won

2.09

Top 3%

Tkl+Int

4.26

Top 7%

Goals + Assists

0.39

Top 8%

Pass Completion % (Long)

77.3%

Top 8%

Non-Penalty Goals

0.20

Top 9%

Goals/Shot

0.14

Top 15%

Clearances

2.33

Top 16%

Pass Completion %

88.3%

Top 17%

Fouls Drawn

1.74

Top 17%

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 3% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles won, the top 8% for goals plus assists, the 13% for dribblers tackled and more, all per 90.

Finally, given his brilliant box-to-box skill set, he would add some more dynamism and explosiveness to the middle of the park, which, against teams like Leeds, could make the Blues impossible to live with.

Ultimately, while nobody in the Chelsea squad can replace Caicedo in a like-for-like capacity, Santos could bring something else to the side and keep the quality level high.

Chelsea star who saved Caicedo is their "most underappreciated player"

The underrated Chelsea ace made sure Caicedo’s red card didn’t cost Enzo Maresca’s men against Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 30, 2025