da leao： As speculation continues to arrive about Sandro Tonali’s future, Newcastle United are reportedly in pole position to sign a midfield star who could replace the impressive Italian.

Juventus interested in Sandro Tonali

da betway： When Newcastle were without Tonali at the start of the season, it showed. Eddie Howe’s side struggled in pursuit of Champions League qualification and were lacking that added power in the middle of the park. Ever since the return of the Italian, however, the Magpies have dominated the majority of their midfield battles and formed quite the trio between Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.

Premier League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Sandro Tonali

Bruno Guimaraes

Joelinton

Starts

28

38

29

Progressive Passes

128

271

116

Tackles Won

32

47

35

Ball Recoveries

117

188

149

The perfect blend of combative midfielders and those who have the ability to step onto the front foot, not many can stand in the way of Newcastle’s bulldozing midfield three at their best.

As a result, interest was always likely to arrive with reports in Italy now indicating that Juventus are interested in signing Tonali in this summer’s transfer window. The Italian giants are seemingly looking to bring the midfielder back to the Serie A for the first time since he left AC Milan in what should send alarm bells ringing around St James’ Park.

Jamie Carragher has been among those to praise the Newcastle midfielder this season, even including him in his Monday Night Football Team of the Season. The Sky Sports pundit said when asked why: “I went for Tonali because Newcastle look like they are going to finish third in the Premier League.

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“I don’t think many people would have predicted that. They’ve won a trophy for the first time in 70 years. But they actually made a poor start to the season. I don’t think their season turned around until Eddie Howe put him [Tonali] in the holding role.”

Of course, it remains to be seen whether Tonali will give into the temptation of Italy, but it seems as though Newcastle have a much-needed plan in place nonetheless.

Newcastle now leading race to sign Matteo Guendouzi

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle are now leading the race to sign Matteo Guendouzi from Lazio this summer. The former Arsenal midfielder is reportedly valued at just €40m (£34m) and could now be on his way back to the Premier League if Tonali decides to leave St James’ Park.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Sandro Tonali

Matteo Guendouzi

Starts

28

37

Progressive Passes

128

316

Tackles Won

32

21

Ball Recoveries

117

173

Not only does Guendouzi progress play better than Tonali, he has also outperformed the impressive Guimaraes in that department. Since leaving the Premier League with a whimper, the Frenchman has simply discovered another level to his game.

Earning plenty of praise ever since his time at the Emirates, football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed Guendouzi a “fantastic signing” by Marseille in 2021 and the midfielder has only proved to be equally as fantastic at Lazio.

Celtic have an abundance of talent that could attract interest from elsewhere this summer, but Brendan Rodgers won’t let his star players leave on the cheap if recent developments are to be taken as an indication.

Celtic set to field interest in star players this summer

The Bhoys enjoyed another successful season and came out the other side with a domestic double, enjoying plenty of highs along the way including progression in the Champions League.

In a tale as old as time, proving yourself in Glasgow under the pressure of playing for Celtic usually attracts watchful eyes from elsewhere, so it will come as no surprise to hear that Nicolas Kuhn is of interest to Premier League outfit Brentford.

Following a campaign where he registered 36 goal contributions, the former Germany Under-20 international has emerged as a candidate to replace Bryan Mbeumo at the Gtech Community Stadium should the latter complete a £60 million switch to Manchester United.

Greg Taylor is set to become a free agent and has a two-year deal on the table from PAOK. It is still unclear if he plans to stay at Parkhead or move on to new pastures at this point in time.

Either way, Brendan Rodgers could be set to ring the changes at Celtic this summer. The Bhoys endured a moderate level of inconsistency towards the end of the campaign, indicating that freshness is needed to prop up their quest for a fifth Scottish Premiership title on the trot.

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Retaining their star players will be a central part of that mission, though there have now been further developments regarding another high-level operator who is wanted by two of Europe’s giants.

The state of play on Daizen Maeda's Celtic future

According to Sozcu vis Sport Witness, Fenerbache could step up their pursuit of Celtic forward Daizen Maeda after their initial plan to bid £8.5 million for the Japan international was deemed ‘laughable’ by the Scottish champions.

Now, it is said that the Bhoys want to recoup at least £21 million if he is sold, while Tottenham Hotspur have also entered the race for his signature off the back of claiming the Europa League title and could hijack Fener with a higher number.

Daizen Maeda’s excellent season at Celtic – all competitions

Appearances

51

Goals

33

Assists

12

Maeda is contracted to Celtic for another two years and has a new agreement on the table in Glasgow. There has been no news regarding whether he plans to accept an extension, making transfer interest a natural consequence now the window is here.

Despite the Hoops’ penchant to sell for profit, Maeda is a unique case and is arguably their most important player at the moment.

Keeping the 27-year-old around for the immediate future is imperative, though if one of Fenerbache or Tottenham Hotspur meet Celtic’s demands, it may become difficult to retain his services.

France international Theo Hernandez has completed a move to Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal, marking the end of a six-year tenure at AC Milan. However, his departure has not been without drama. In a brutal farewell posted on his Instagram account, the defender directed clear criticism toward the current Milan hierarchy, accusing them of failing to match his ambition and disregarding the values that once defined the club.

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• Hernandez left Milan for Al-Hilal
• Was denied an extension by the Serie A giants
• Will earn €20 million per season in Saudi Arabia

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hernandez’s future had been uncertain for months, especially as he entered the final year of his contract with the Rossoneri. Despite his desire to remain in Milan, negotiations for a renewal never gained traction. Reports indicate that club officials were unwilling to meet his salary demands, a move that effectively signalled the end of his time at San Siro.

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• GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While Atletico Madrid, his former club, initially showed strong interest, they failed to reach an agreement with Milan. That collapse in talks opened the door for Al-Hilal, who stepped in with an irresistible offer that Hernandez eventually accepted, reversing a prior decision to reject the Saudi side.

• WHAT HERNANDEZ SAID

  In his farewell note, Hernandez reflected on his journey with Milan, recounting the highs of winning the 2022 Serie A title and the Italian Super Cup. But alongside the gratitude was a noticeable tone of discontent.

  He wrote: "After six years at this club, the time has come to say goodbye.
  "I arrived at AC Milan in 2019 with dreams, desire, and the excitement of wearing a jersey steeped in history. Today I leave after experiencing unforgettable moments, such as winning Serie A and the Italian Super Cup, and above all, after sharing a locker room with extraordinary people.
  "A heartfelt thank you to my teammates, to every coach who believed in me, and especially to Paolo Maldini, for his support, vision, and leadership. And thanks to the Rossoneri fans, who have always been there, in good times and bad. Feeling your support has been a privilege I will never forget and will always hold in my heart."

  Hernandez’s statement painted a picture of a club losing its identity.

  "My decision to leave was not an easy one," he said. "I always knew where I wanted to be, and AC Milan has always been my priority. But, unfortunately, not everything depends on one person. The direction the club has taken and some recent decisions do not reflect the values or ambition that brought me here. It's time to close one chapter and begin another—different, but equally important to me.
  I leave with my head held high because I have always given everything for this club, committing myself fully and sharing the same dreams as these fans. I leave with a full heart and with the hope that AC Milan will soon return to the place it deserves. Milan will always be a part of me. Forza Milan Always.”

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR HERNANDEZ?

  Now turning the page, Hernandez begins a new journey with Al-Hilal, where Simone Inzaghi, another familiar face from Italian football, will manage him. His debut for the Riyadh-based club is likely to come on August 20, when Al-Hilal face Al-Qadsiyah in the Saudi Super Cup semifinal. He joins a star-studded squad that includes former Premier League talents such as Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

And what’s the lowest fourth-innings total by a team that won a Test with nine wickets down?

Steven Lynch25-Aug-2020There were six Tests in England this summer but not a single Test debutant – how often has this happened? asked Dominic Wood from Turkey
That’s a good spot, because actually this is the first English summer ever that has had Test cricket but no new caps at all. There have been two previous Test summers with no debutants for England – 1953 and 2011 – but both of those featured new players from the visiting teams. In 1953, Australia blooded Alan Davidson and legspinner Jack Hill in the first Test, at Trent Bridge, and batsman Jim de Courcy in the third, at Old Trafford. In 2011, Sri Lanka introducedThisara Perera in the first Test of the season, in Cardiff, and Lahiru Thirimanne in the third, in Southampton.What’s the lowest fourth-innings total by a team that won a Test with nine wickets down? asked Narasimhan Vuruputoor from India
There have now been 14 Tests that ended in one-wicket victories for the side batting last. The lowest total involved, by quite a distance, is 104 for 9 – by New Zealand against West Indies in Dunedin in 1979-80. Next is England’s 173 for 9 against South Africa in Cape Town in 1922-23.The highest such score came in a match fresh in the memory – England’s Ben Stokes-inspired 362 for 9 to beat Australia at Headingley last August.I noticed that Everton Weekes reached double figures in his first 14 Test innings, and when I checked Frank Worrell he did too (sadly, Clyde Walcott didn’t). But is 14 the Test record? asked Samuel Harris from Barbados
You’re right about the Three Ws: Everton Weekes reached double figures in his first 14 Test innings (going on to hundreds in five of them) before falling for 1 in his 15th, against England at Old Trafford in 1950, while Frank Worrell also had 14 before he fell for 6 in Adelaide in 1951-52. Clyde Walcott, however, was out for 8 in his first Test innings, against England in Bridgetown in 1947-48.Tamim Iqbal holds the one-day record of most runs scored at a single venue: 2619 at the Shere Bangla, Mirpur•AFPTwo players, both openers, started their Test careers by reaching double figures in 15 successive innings – Sid Barnes of Australia, and England’s Geoff Pullar. But the leader on this particular list, with 16 double-figure scores from debut, is another Australia opener, Colin McDonald: he won his first cap in 1951-52, and did not have a single-figure score until he finished with 7 not out as Australia beat West Indies in Kingston in 1954-55. McDonald was not actually dismissed in single figures until his 24th innings, when Tony Lock removed him for 1 in the opening match of the 1956 Ashes series, at Trent Bridge.The England opener Brian Bolus, who died earlier this year, holds the record for a whole career with no single-figure scores: he had 12 innings in his seven Tests, with a lowest of 14.Does Sanath Jayasuriya still hold the record for most runs in ODIs at a single ground? asked Neville de Alwis from Sri Lanka
Sanath Jayasuriya scored 2514 runs in one-day internationals at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, which remained a record for a single ground from 2009 until January 2018, when Tamim Iqbal passed it: he now has 2619 runs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.Seven other batsmen have made 2000 runs on a single ground in ODIs. Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim so far have 2472 and 2351 respectively at Mirpur, while Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar scored 2464 and 2179 in Sharjah. Kumar Sangakkara amassed 2156 runs at the Premadasa, Ricky Ponting 2108 at Melbourne, and Brendan Taylor so far has 2067 at the Harare Sports Club. Here’s the list of most runs at a venue by a player.Don Bradman figured in 11 Test series – did he score centuries in every one of them? asked Joel Pojas from the Philippines
I’ve included this one as it’s the birth anniversary of Don Bradman in a couple of days’ time. Test cricket’s greatest batsman did feature in 11 Test series in all – eight against England – and made a century in every one of them, as this list shows. In nine of his series, the Don scored two or more hundreds – the only ones in which he managed just one apiece were the Ashes of 1928-29 (his first series, aged 21), and the Bodyline tour of 1932-33, when he missed one of the matches.Use our feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

It was a fun night for us MLB fans at SI Betting! Not only did our over bet cash in the fourth inning of the Astros-Cardinals game, we got to see the first perfect game since 2012 courtesy of Domingo German, who dazzled vs. the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum.

It was the 24th perfect game in MLB history and the fourth in franchise history for the Yankees.

The Yankees offense erupted for an 11-0 win and even Giancarlo Stanton looked alive with two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs.

And If you saw that one coming… please share your crystal ball.

In the spirit of sleeping offenses erupting, we are going to repeat our over play in the Astros-Cardinals game Thursday night.

Games at Busch Stadium are now averaging 10.58 runs per game after last night’s 10-7 victory for the Astros in St. Louis. Tonight’s line is set at 9.5 — a run higher than last night — but we are still rolling with the over.

Here’s why:

There used to be few things more reliable than Adam Wainwright pitching at home, but things have changed dramatically in 2023. Not only is Wainwright’s ERA all the way up at 6.52 with an xERA even higher at 6.88, his home ERA is 7.03. According to Statcast, his xBA is in the bottom 1% of the league, his xSLG is in the bottom 2%, and his barrel rate is in the bottom 15%. Not only that, but he quite simply isn’t striking batters out anymore. Wainwright’s 4.63 Ks per nine is not only a career-low, it’s in the bottom 1% of MLB. Last night, we saw Jose Altuve tee off in his return while Jose Abreu also had multiple hits and a home run. Kyle Tucker was also productive, and this could be dangerous for the Cardinals tonight as Wainwright’s 40.3% fly ball rate this season is the highest of his career.

On the other side of this one is J.P. France for the Astros. Houston owes France a solid, after he has given them four quality starts in June with little to no run support. We think they will tonight, but we also think the Cardinals will get a few knocks in as well. France’s 3.58 ERA is well below his 4.38 xERA and the Cardinals have scored an average of 5.21 runs per game at home this season.

Both bullpens have been vulnerable of late, and everything about this matchup — including the ballpark — favors the hitters.

The Bet: Astros-Cardinals Over 9.5 

After winning Euro 2022 in dramatic fashion, the holders took it to another level by beating La Roja on penalties

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Inspired by retro sportswear and Lioness kits of the pastFeatures classic English colours in a modern and energetic execution Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL

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It had to be Chloe Kelly, didn't it? After delivering the Lionesses' first European Championship title three years ago at Wembley in what seemed to be the most dramatic of circumstances, the winger took it one step further on Sunday as she smashed home the winning spot-kick to ensure that trophy goes back to England with her and Sarina Wiegman's side once more, as they beat Spain 3-1 on penalties in the Euro 2025 final, the scores having stood level at 1-1 after extra-time.

Two years on from their 1-0 win over the Lionesses in the World Cup final, La Roja looked like they were going to get the better of them on this big stage, too, when Mariona Caldentey broke the deadlock with a brilliant header midway through the first half. It was what Spain deserved as they dominated the opening stages, but their inability to add to that lead would prove costly, with Esther Gonzalez, Salma Paralluelo and Caldentey herself all spurning great opportunities as they game progressed.

England were thus never out of it. Their pressing caused Spain problems and created some openings, but it was when Kelly came off the bench to replace the injured Lauren James that they were able to fight back. The Arsenal winger delivered a terrific cross for Alessia Russo, and her header back across the face of goal levelled things up.

From there, momentum swung back and forth. The Lionesses, having already played two lots of extra-time in the knockout stages, looked tired and Spain seemed set to take advantage, then England would suddenly find new energy and cause real problems. A draw was the fair result, really, but there are no draws in finals. One team had to win and, having dug deep in the quarter-finals on penalties, the Lionesses were able to do so again, with Kelly confidently blasting the ball beyond Cata Coll to propel the legacy of this team to a whole new level – while sealing a third European Championship title in a row for the iconic and incomparable Wiegman.

GOAL rates England's players from St. Jakob Park.

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Hannah Hampton (8/10):

Stood tall to pretty much everything Spain threw at her, with there nothing she could do about the goal. Saved two penalties in the shootout, too.

Lucy Bronze (7/10):

Switched off for the goal, giving Caldentey a free header. Got better as the game went on though, influencing possession plenty with her movement.

Leah Williamson (7/10):

Stood up tall to most things in the centre of defence.

Jess Carter (7/10):

Was much more settled after a couple of tough outings. Justified Wiegman's decision to bring her back in.

Alex Greenwood (6/10):

Continuing in a role that has her out of position, Spain made sure to test her and it often proved fruitful. She grew more accustomed to the challenge as the game progressed, though.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Keira Walsh (7/10):

Grew much more influential as the game went on and England got more of a foothold in it, with some great movement and tidy passing.

Georgia Stanway (6/10):

Struggled to win as many duels as usual, but did plenty of good work off the ball away from that and mopped up nicely when defending.

Ella Toone (5/10):

Looked lively when she could get involved, it just wasn't often enough.

Getty ImagesAttack

Lauren Hemp (5/10):

Put in a real shift defensively but, going forward, she looked uncomfortable on the right throughout. Should've done better with a big opportunity in the first half, too.

Alessia Russo (7/10):

Fantastic header back across goal to equalise. Was her only real chance and she took it brilliantly.

Lauren James (4/10):

Limped off before half-time, with her clearly not fit enough to start after suffering an ankle knock in the previous round.

Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Chloe Kelly (8/10):

Created a couple of good chances, including the brilliant cross which Russo headed home to level things up. Fired home the winning spot-kick.

Michelle Agyemang (5/10):

Introduced earlier than usual and without England changing their approach, which prevented her from being as impactful as in previous rounds.

Beth Mead (5/10):

Placed in a central midfield role, which was a surprise. Struggled to get involved.

Niamh Charles (N/A):

Played the final chunk of extra time when Bronze went off injured.

Grace Clinton (N/A):

On for Stanway late on.

Sarina Wiegman (6/10):

Took a huge risk by starting James when she clearly wasn't fit and it didn't pay off, with the winger watching a big chance go by at one end before being caught out defensively on her side for Spain's opener. Kelly's introduction, though, helped to change the game as the Lionesses dug deep again, while Wiegman's trust in Carter also reaped rewards as she picked up her third European title in a row.

The summer transfer window officially opens for business next month and Celtic have already completed their first signing, although he will not officially join until the start of July.

Kieran Tierney will re-join the Scottish giants in the summer after his contract with Arsenal expires at the end of June, which means that the Scotland international will return on a free transfer.

The former Hoops academy graduate enjoyed a terrific first spell at Parkhead, racking up 37 assists in 170 matches in all competitions before his £25m move to The Emirates in 2019.

This suggests that Brendan Rodgers is set to have a brilliant attacking left-back option at his disposal when the 2025/26 campaign gets underway later this year.

Celtic are also set to be in the market for a player to play ahead of Tierney in the left wing position after it was revealed that Jota could be on the sidelines for up to nine months with a knee injury.

That could put the Hoops on alert for a new winger in the summer transfer window because losing the Portuguese talent to a long-term injury is a big blow.

Why losing Jota is a big blow for Celtic

The Scottish Premiership champions reportedly paid a fee of £8m to bring the attacker back to Parkhead from Rennes in the January transfer window, 18 months after they sold him to Al Ittihad for £25m.

This shows that the Hoops were willing to pay big money to reunite with the exciting winger, and for good reason, after his first spell on the flanks in Glasgow.

As you can see in the graphic above, Jota was an absolute joy to watch during his time in the team under Ange Postecoglou in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns, as he delivered goals and assists on a regular basis, whilst playing on the left and the right wing.

Prior to his recent injury, the former Benfica starlet showed that kind of form again with a return of four goals and two assists in seven starts in the Premiership during the second half of this season.

The Celtic star hit the ground running on his homecoming to Glasgow, despite scoring just one goal for Rennes in the first half of the campaign, and looked set for a strong end to the season after his fast start to life back at the club.

Unfortunately, the Scottish giants will now have to deal without having Jota for the best part of a year, which is a blow because they have lost a star who has proven that he can score and assist goals on a regular basis in Scotland.

Celtic could, however, find a perfect replacement for the Portuguese gem for the start of next season by signing their latest reported transfer target.

Celtic eyeing move for English attacker

According to The Herald, Celtic are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign 23-year-old attacker Tyrhys Dolan from Championship side Blackburn Rovers.

The report claims that the Hoops are monitoring his situation with the English side, as Rodgers seemingly lines up a swoop for the talented forward.

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

Dolan’s current contract at Ewood Park is due to expire at the end of June and this means that the Scottish giants could swoop in to land him for a compensation fee, as he came up through the youth ranks at Blackburn and they would still be entitled to a nominal fee. This is quite remarkable considering the Scottish Sun suggests that he is actually valued around the £10m mark.

The Herald adds, though, that fellow Premiership side Rangers have already made contact with the player to be informed about his situation, which shows that Celtic are not the only side interested in a swoop for the English attacker.

It is now down to the Hoops to win the race for the Championship star’s signature because he could come in as a perfect replacement for Jota for Rodgers.

Why Dolan would be a perfect Jota replacement for Celtic

Like the Portuguese forward, Dolan is a versatile right-footed winger who can play out on the right or on the left flank, which means that he can play down the line as a touchline winger on the right or on the left as an inverted winger who cuts inside to create space for an overlapping full-back.

That could make him an ideal left-winger for Tierney to play with because the English ace could drift infield onto his stronger right foot and drag the right-back, which could provide the Scottish defender with opportunities to deliver crosses in from the space that creates.

This means that the Blackburn star could be the perfect Jota replacement from a stylistic perspective, because of his ability to fulfill the tactical roles that the £8m signing could play for Rodgers.

Of course, Celtic also need a winger who has the quality to provide goals and assists at the top end of the pitch to help them win matches and trophies, and Dolan also has the potential to be that forward as well.

24/25 Championship	Tyrhys Dolan
Appearances	44
Goals	7
Conversion rate	14%
Big chances created	7
Key passes	44
Assists	6
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old star has delivered seven goals and six assists in the Championship this term, which is a respectable, but not outstanding, return.

It is more impressive when you consider that Blackburn rank 16th in the Championship for xG, with 51.7 xG in 46 games, which shows that they are not a front-footed team that consistently creates chances.

Celtic, meanwhile, racked up 84.0 xG in 33 matches before the split. This means that Dolan, who Tony Mowbray once hailed as scoring a “wonderful” goal, would be in a team that creates significantly more chances for their attacking players.

Therefore, the English star could add far more goals and assists to his game by playing in an attacking, dominant, side in Glasgow, which could turn his decent haul of 13 goals and assists into Jota-esque contributions over the course of a Premiership season.

Worth less than Scales: Rodgers must axe Celtic's "fantastic" star

Celtic must ruthlessly cash in on the defender who is worth even less than Liam Scales.

By
Dan Emery

May 11, 2025

Therefore, Dolan could be the perfect replacement for the injured Jota as a low-cost signing, given his contract situation, who fits tactically and has the potential to be an excellent operator in the final third.

She always had the power, and now Shafali Verma wants to build on her confidence and add consistency to it for a better-rounded game

Daya Sagar and Vishal Dikshit02-Oct-20242:47

Shafali: ‘I have worked on the mental side of my game’

Consistency, power-hitting, and confidence. Shafali Verma wants to combine the three things she has learnt at different stages of her career to take India to glory at the T20 World Cup next month.She always had the power, it was her “natural game”. Consistency is something she has picked up more recently, highlighted by her maiden international century in June this year. And she is hoping to tap into the confidence she gained from leading India to victory in the Under-19 T20 World Cuplast year, where she was also the third-highest scorer.”I will draw inspiration from the Under-19 World Cup last year,” Shafali told ESPNcricinfo at a QUA brand shoot in Delhi recently. “Of course, it was a massive thing for women’s cricket in India that we won an ICC trophy. It was the biggest moment of my life and I will take confidence from that so that we can lift the T20 World Cup this year as well.Related

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Shafali puts Bristol behind on day of relentless record-breaking

New and improved Shafali has brought method to her madness

“Our main focus right now is that we win the [World Cup] trophy. Individual goals and records are a part of the game. But there’s no better feeling than your team winning, and those nights I get good sleep.”Shafali has been part of the India team’s camps at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru in the lead up to the T20 World Cup, which runs from October 3 to 20 in Sharjah and Dubai. She hasn’t played any competitive cricket since the T20 Asia Cup in July, and since she didn’t feature in the Hundred and didn’t put her name in the WBBL draft for the upcoming season, she has been utilising this time to work on herself in different ways.”At the start of my career, I just used to go out and hit, but now I’ve made some changes mentally”•Getty Images

“I’m not playing the WBBL and the Hundred because I’m working on my fitness and mental levels,” she said. “But even when I played those tournaments, I learnt that fitness is very important because if you want to play long knocks then having good fitness is extremely important.”One such long knock Shafali played recently was when she scored the double-hundred against South Africa in the home Test in June.”That day I told myself I had to play a long innings, and not let that opportunity go,” she said. “I don’t know how many bad patches and struggles I went through before that, and such knocks are so rare. But that day everything was going well and my aim was to play for as long as possible.”Speaking about consistency, she said, “At the start of my career, I just used to go out and hit, but now I’ve made some changes mentally. Now I have the game to block a couple of deliveries as well, I can play along the ground too. You become more consistent once you make mental changes in your game. I’m hoping to carry on this consistency and do well for the team.”The T20 World Cup in 2020 was my first World Cup and that time I used to go after every ball. Early in your career, such thing may work, but after a point the opposition starts doing video analysis and they can work out your game when it comes to your strengths and weaknesses. I didn’t do that well in the 2023 T20 World Cup either but I learnt a lot from that tournament.”Now people have started to say my consistency has improved and in the last three-four years I’ve learnt how important being consistent is. I’m just 20 now and plan to get better from the learnings of the last three-four years.”Shafali’s USP, right from her early days in the Women’s T20 Challenge which led to her India debut at the age of 15 in 2019, has been her power hitting, something she doesn’t want to let go of.”These kinds of things you learn from an early age and I have worked a lot on it,” she said. “Now it comes very naturally to me. But it’s not like if something comes naturally then you don’t have to work hard on it. Just like you work on your weaknesses, you should work on your strengths as well. So the truth is that I’ve learnt this from childhood and now it comes naturally to me.”

The Bangladesh senior men’s team is set to arrive in Lahore on August 13, four days before their scheduled arrival, for a two-Test series. The team will train for three days each at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium before the first Test in Rawalpindi from August 21.The players’ preparations had been disrupted as a result of the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh. The overseas coaching staff of the team also couldn’t join the players at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka last week because of security concerns. BCB is currently following up with the coaches’ respective embassies for security clearances.The departure ahead of schedule came after an invitation from the PCB to the BCB to ensure the visiting players have “adequate and fair training opportunities” ahead of the Tests.Related

• Mushfiqur, Taskin back in Bangladesh Test squad for Pakistan series

• BCB set to meet new sports head as calls for reform grow louder

• Naseem back in Test squad, Shakeel named vice-captain for Bangladesh series

• Bangladesh in turmoil: how will cricket be impacted?

“Sports is not only about winning and losing, it’s also about [camaraderie],” Salman Naseer, PCB chief operating officer, said in a statement. “I remain confident that the extra training sessions in Lahore will allow the players to showcase their best skills and talent on the global stage.”The Bangladesh players have been training individually at the Shere Bangla under coach Shohel Islam for the last three days.”We thank the PCB for giving the Bangladesh cricket team the opportunity to have additional training in Pakistan,” BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said in a statement. “This will certainly help the players to [acclimatise] to the conditions and prepare better for the ICC World Test Championship series.”Bangladesh’s Test cricketers had a training camp in Chattogram that was disrupted because of the anti-government protests across the country last month. There have been political rallies inside the Shere Bangla premises, too.The BCB ended up managing to send the high-performance team to Australia, and the Bangladesh A team to Pakistan. The latter’s departure was delayed by a few days, and the team reached Islamabad on Saturday. Bangladesh A will play two four-day matches and three one-day matches in Pakistan, which will run alongside the senior team’s Test matches in Rawalpindi and Karachi. The Bangladesh squad for the Tests is expected to be announced on Sunday.

After what feels like an eternity, Glasgow Rangers finally have their man. The 49ers believe that Russell Martin is the manager to take the Ibrox side to the next level.

The former Southampton manager has been out of work since his sacking on the South coast last December and faces a baptism of fire in Glasgow.

Indeed, some sections of the support do not believe he is the right man to lead the club into next season and beyond, citing his failure at the Saints as a main reason.

However, looking at his playing style and his ability to get his team attacking at every opportunity during games, he could well be a success at Rangers.

First things first, the 49ers must back him accordingly and allow Martin to bring in players who fit his system.

Improving the defence is a priority for the Gers this summer, as they haven’t truly replaced Connor Goldson’s presence at the back ever since he left the club last summer.

Why Rangers still need to replace Goldson

Goldson spent six years at Ibrox after joining from Brighton and Hove Albion in the summer of 2018, becoming one of Steven Gerrard’s first signings.

Between then and May 2024, the Englishman made a total of 309 competitive appearances for the Light Blues, missing just 22 games through injury across six seasons.

He was a beacon of consistency, no doubt about that. The time was right for the club to sell him, however, as the 2023/24 campaign saw several mistakes creep into his game.

There were times that he regularly got caught out by long balls over the top, but one under-par season shouldn’t detract from just how effective he was before that.

He was perhaps at his best during the 2020/21 campaign. That year, Rangers won their first league title in a decade, going through the whole league season undefeated in the process.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2023/24

48

0

3

2022/23

38

3

3

2021/22

61

4

4

2020/21

56

8

3

2019/20

52

4

2

2018/19

54

4

0

Goldson didn’t miss a single Premiership game as the club conceded just 13 goals, keeping 26 clean sheets.

The Englishman won a staggering 71% of his total duels per game that term, while also making three clearances, 1.3 tackles and being dribbled past only 0.2 times per game in the top flight.

Goldson was at his peak then, and while the level may have dipped over the following few seasons, he remained the first-choice centre-back under a succession of managers.

To replace him last year, Philippe Clement brought in Robin Propper. The move didn’t exactly work out as planned, and it appears as though he is set to leave after a single season.

It looks as though money is available for Martin to bolster his squad this summer. Signing a couple of defenders is certainly high on the list.

Could he potentially bring in someone whom he signed for two of his three previous clubs to Ibrox? It would prove to be a shrewd move if he does…

Martin's dream first signing at Rangers

In order to get the fans onside straight away, Martin will have to offload the deadwood and sign some excellent players. Several names have been linked prior to his appointment, including Cameron Burgess, Metinho and Largie Ramazani recently.

Now it looks as though the newest target is familiar to Martin, which means Rangers could soon make their first summer signing.

Harry Darling is a defender who played under Martin at both Swansea and MK Dons and could make for a fairly solid first signing under the new manager, especially with the Light Blues now joining the chase for his signature.

The centre-back is out of contract at Swansea, meaning he wouldn’t cost the Gers a penny, with the Daily Record naming him as a potential option for the club last month.

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Wrexham, Stoke City and Norwich City are also keen on him. However, the allure of playing under Martin, plus the chance to win trophies and play European football, means Glasgow is likely his preferred destination.

If so, he could be an ideal replacement for Goldson.

Why Rangers must sign Harry Darling

Darling joined Swansea in 2022 and made 112 appearances across his three seasons with the Welsh side.

The 25-year-old managed to score 12 goals, indicating that he can provide a goal threat at set pieces, akin to Goldson at Rangers.

In the Championship last season, Darling won 65% of his total duels contested per game. He showcased his strengths in one-on-one battles.

Elsewhere, the defender made five clearances, recovered 3.9 balls and made 0.8 tackles per game in the second tier, having notably been praised by his manager Luke Williams after a “heroic” performance against West Bromwich Albion at the turn of the year.

The thing that stands out is his attacking qualities. Indeed, when compared to positional peers across Europe’s top 14 leagues, Darling ranks in the top 3% for non-penalty goals, the top 4% for total shots and in the top 7% for assists per 90.

He loves to get forward as often as possible, evidenced by the fact that he ranks in the top 6% for touches in the attacking penalty area and in the top 15% for progressive carries per 90 for Swansea.

These statistics suggest Darling would be a solid signing for Rangers ahead of the new season.

Not only does he have an excellent rapport with Martin, but the Englishman is capable of offering a threat in the opposition penalty area.

Signing a player with this quality for nothing could see the new manager get off to a promising start in his new role.

Rangers official in South America today to watch 6-cap international live

Rangers have sent an official to South America to take a closer look at a midfielder.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 5, 2025