Tim Robinson is in line for a T20I debut since nine players are unavailable due to the IPL
ESPNcricinfo staff03-Apr-2024Allrounder Michael Bracewell will captain New Zealand on their T20I tour of Pakistan as he makes his return to international cricket after injury while uncapped batter Tim Robinson is in line for a debut.Fast bowler Will O’Rourke, who made his Test and ODI debuts earlier this season, has also been named.Bracewell hasn’t played for New Zealand since March last year after suffering a ruptured right Achillies playing for Worcestershire in the T20 Blast in June and then a broken finger. He recently took a career-best 8 for 41 in the Plunket Shield.He will lead a squad that is missing nine players who are on IPL duty as well as Will Young, who is taking up an overseas deal with Nottinghamshire, Tom Latham, awaiting the birth of his second child, and Tim Southee, who wasn’t considered for selection to give him an extended period of conditioning after the home season.The tour will play an important role in firming up the final spots in New Zealand’s T20 World Cup squad.”Michael has faced a long period on the sideline and it’s exciting to see him back playing cricket again,” selector Sam Wells said. “The fact he’s back playing at a high level after an Achilles rupture is testament to his hard work and application.”He’s a well-respected leader and has captaincy experience for Wellington along with New Zealand A and New Zealand XI teams, which we believe holds him in good stead to lead the group in Pakistan.”Uncapped 21-year-old Robinson has been included after he was the second-leading run-scorer in the Super Smash with 298 runs at 59.60 at a strike rate of 187.42, including 139 off 64 balls against Otago.”Tim is still very early in his domestic career but his natural ability and explosive power was on full display this season,” Wells said. “Combined with his outstanding fielding, we believe he has a skill-set that’s well suited to the format.”We’ve been delighted with Will’s early efforts in international cricket, in both the formats he’s played so far. This tour will be an excellent chance for him to test his skills in foreign conditions.”New Zealand T20I squad vs PakistanMichael Bracewell (capt), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
يستعد فريق ليفربول، بقيادة المدرب آرني سلوت، لبدء موسم 2025/26 الذي سينطلق خلال شهر أغسطس الجاري، في إطار حملة الدفاع عن لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
ونجح ليفربول في تحقيق لقب بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي، الموسم الماضي 2024/25، في الفترة الأولى للمدرب آرني سلوت، بقيادة النجم المصري محمد صلاح.
وخاض ليفربول عدة مباريات ودية هذا الصيف استعدادًا للموسم الجديد، حيث فاز على بريستون بثلاثة أهداف لهدف، وخماسية نظيفة خلف الأبواب المغلقة ضد ستوك سيتي، وخسر من ميلان بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدفين.
اقرأ أيضًا | بدون رحمة.. رد فعل ليفربول بعد رفض عرضهم الأول لضم إيزاك
وواجه ليفربول نظيره يوكوهاما وفاز بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، وتتبقى له مباراتين وديتين يوم الإثنين المقبل ضد أتلتيك بلباو، في توقيتين متلاحقين.
وسيبدأ ليفربول الموسم الجديد بخوض مباراة كأس الدرع الخيرية ضد كريستال بالاس على ملعب “ويمبلي”، قبل لقاء الجولة الأولى من الدوري الإنجليزي ضد بورنموث.
ويفتقد ليفربول النجم الراحل ديوجو جوتا، الذي توفي إثر حادث مروع رفقة شقيقه الشهر الماضي، في حين انتقل لويس دياز إلى بايرن ميونخ. مواعيد مباريات ليفربول في شهر أغسطس 2025
ليفربول وأتلتيك بلباو، مباراتين وديتين، يوم الإثنين 4 أغسطس 2025، 7 و10 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.
ليفربول وكريستال بالاس، كأس الدرع الخيرية، يوم الأحد 10 أغسطس 2025، 5 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.
ليفربول وبورنموث، الجولة الأولى من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم الجمعة 15 أغسطس 2025، 10 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.
نيوكاسل يونايتد وليفربول، الجولة الثانية من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم الإثنين 25 أغسطس 2025، 10 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.
ليفربول وآرسنال، الجولة الثالثة من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم الأحد 31 أغسطس 2025، 6:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.
Relegation-threatened Middlesex closed a truncated opening day of their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Nottinghamshire on 162 for three as they began the last round of the 2023 season with one eye on Kent’s progress against Lancashire in Canterbury.Middlesex have to better Kent’s result or match it with at least one more bonus point than their rivals if they are to avoid joining Northamptonshire in Division Two next season.Given that they have won only two batting bonus points all season, skipper Toby Roland-Jones might have taken a few by surprise with his decision to bat first, although he might argue that his players are at least close to the four-an-over run-rate required in the 42 overs possible after rain delayed the start until 2pm.Whether they turn that into a substantial hand of points is another matter, especially since they have also lost Stevie Eskinazi, at least for the moment. He was hit on the head by a ball from Lyndon James on 23 and was not deemed fit to continue.It looks vital that the partnership between Ryan Higgins (60) and John Simpson (26), currently worth 69, turns into something substantial on day two.The day had begun with Nottinghamshire announcing the pending departure from the club of Jake Ball, their 32-year-old former England fast bowler, who was integral to the county winning the T20 Blast in 2017 and 2020 but has made only a handful of Championship appearances in recent seasons because of recurrent injury problems.Thankfully fit currently, and with Nottinghamshire already assured of remaining in Division One next season, Ball was given the chance to say a proper goodbye, making his first outing in the red-ball side since July in place of the Sri Lankan Asitha Fernando.He took the new ball alongside Brett Hutton, who has been the mainstay of the Nottinghamshire attack this year with Olly Stone and Luke Fletcher also sidelined. Neither of them started particularly well but took wickets in consecutive overs to remove both Middlesex openers with 33 on the board.Ball struck first, drawing an edge from Sam Robson for his 204th first-class wicket for the county, before Hutton straightened one to dismiss Mark Stoneman leg before.Eskinazi had an escape on four, dropped by Joe Clarke at first slip with Ball about to celebrate a second wicket, but the introduction of Lyndon James as Hutton took a breather brought a divided immediately when the all-rounder’s first delivery, angled in to Max Holden, took out the left-hander’s middle stump.Middlesex were 93 for three when Eskinazi, struck a nasty blow on the side of the head attempting to pull James, had to leave the field. Ironically, Eskinazi’s last Championship appearance in a disappointing season, against Lancashire two weeks ago, was as a concussion substitute after Holden was hurt during the warm-ups on day two.A brief stoppage for a shower at 117 for three was followed by another interruption after Steven Mullaney landed heavily making a diving stop, the Nottinghamshire skipper becoming the second injury casualty of the day, although he was soon back on the field.It will be determined overnight whether Middlesex need a concussion sub for Eskinazi. In the meantime, Higgins is taking the lead role on the field, reaching his second consecutive fifty and his ninth of the season, from 63 balls with six fours.The three changes made by Middlesex included the omission of Tim Murtagh, who is retiring at the end of the season at the age of 42, which means that his appearance in the eight-wicket defeat to Warwickshire at Lord’s, in which he took six for 83 in the first innings and eight in the match, was his final farewell after 23 years as a player, first at Surrey, and at Middlesex since 2007.
No evento realizado pelo Corinthians na Neo Química Arena para celebrar os 112 anos do Timão, o gerente de futebol do clube, Alessandro, forneceu atualizações em relação ao caso envolvendo Rafael Ramos.
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GALERIA – Relembre 12 momentos marcantes na história do Timão
Na última quarta-feira (31), oTribunal de Justiça do Rio Grande do Sul aceitou uma denúncia contra o lateral-direito corintiano, acusado de supostamente praticar crime de injúria racial contra o meia Edenílson, do Internacional. Dessa forma, o defensor português se tornou réu no processo criminal.
Apesar do processo naJustiça comum, Alessandro mostrou confiança no Departamento Jurídico do Timão, bem como no advogado contrato pelo clube para fazer a defesa do atleta,Daniel Bialski.
-Nosso Departamento Jurídico e o doutor Daniel (Bialski) estão à frente desse caso, estamos em contato todos os dias, acompanhando passo a passo. Algumas audiências já ocorreram, sem grandes novidades. Estamos confiantes – declarou o gerente de futebol corintiano.
O defensor do Timão também será julgado pelo Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva do Futebol (STJD), que acatou a recomendação feita por Paulo Sérgio Feuz, auditor do inquérito.
O julgamento no STJD estava marcado para terça-feira (30), porém Daniel Bianski conseguiu adiar o julgamento pois alegou compromisso previamente assumido para a data inicial do julgamento.
TABELA – Simule os jogos do Timão no Campeonato Brasileiro
ESTADO MENTAL DE RAFAEL RAMOS
Após se recuperar de uma lesão no músculo posterior de coxa, Rafael Ramos voltou a ficar à disposição de Vítor Pereira na vitória por 1 a 0 sobre o Red Bull Bragantino. Alessandro destacou que mesmo com os processos na Justiça comum e desportiva, o português está focado em ajudar o grupo.
– O atleta está bem, focado, vendo que a gente está participando de tudo e apto, provavelmente, para os próximos jogos. É um assunto que a gente deixa para o nosso Departamento Jurídico, que é apto para cuidar, e acompanhamos no dia a dia com o atleta, proporcionando segurança, trabalho e que sinta confortável para fazer aquilo que ele sabe fazer, que é futebol – destacou
Alessandro também contou que o clube está em contato direto com a família do jogador, e espera que o caso seja resolvido o quanto antes.
– Ele está bem, a noiva está com ele. Conversamos num determinado momento com a família dele também, que ainda não conseguiu visitá-lo. Ele sentiu muito nos primeiros dias e meses, foi um episódio muito ruim para ambos os lados, para ele e o Edenilson. O mais correto é que isso se defina o quanto antes, que se coloque um ponto final, para quem eles possam jogar futebol – concluiu Alessandro.
RELEMBRE O CASO
Durante o segundo tempo do empate em 2 a 2 entre Internacional e Corinthians, no Beira Rio, pela sexta rodada do Brasileirão, Edenílson afirmou que teria sido chamado de macaco pelo lateral corintiano Rafael Ramos, que foi preso em flagrante e precisou pagar R$ 10 mil de fiança para ser solto na oportunidade. Rafael nega a acusação.
O Instituto Geral de Perícias (IGP) divulgou uma nota, no dia 8 de junho, afirmando não ter identificado o que o lateral-direito do clube alviengro disse ao meia Edenílson. A perícia do IGP havia sido encomendada pela Polícia Civil do Rio Grande do Sul, que investiga o caso.
O resultado incomodou o atleta do Inter, que protestou em suas redes sociais. Edenílson tinha apagado todas as fotos da sua conta no Instagram e mudou nome para ‘Macaco Edenilson Andrade dos Santos’, em protesto.
Ambos atletas prestaram depoimento no STJD e mantiveram suas versões.
Glasgow Rangers produced yet another Jekyll and Hyde display in the Premiership, scoring a late winner to seal all three points against Dundee on Saturday evening.
Dundee went into the half-time interval holding a slim 2-1 advantage, which they soon stretched to 3–1 thanks to a goal from Scott Tiffoney.
Goals from James Tavernier, Tom Lawrence and then Cyriel Dessers – on his 100th appearance for the Light Blues – sealed another comeback victory.
Despite missing several chances throughout the tie, the Nigerian striker finished as the hero for Ferguson with his game-winning goal.
Cyriel Dessers’ display in numbers vs Dundee
Starting alongside Hamza Igamane, Ferguson once again operated with a 3-5-2, aiming to dominate the midfield, with plenty of chances being created for the two frontmen.
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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
It worked to an extent, with Dessers registering an incredible 12 shots – nine on target and three off – yet he missed five big chances.
He won only 50% of the duels he contested while losing possession 13 times and succeeding with just one dribble.
Dundee vs Rangers – Key Statistics
Metric
Highest-ranked
Accurate passes
Nicolas Raskin (47)
Key passes
Mohamed Diomande (4)
Tackles
Connor Barron (6)
Shots on target
Cyriel Dessers (9)
Ground duels won
Josh Mulligan (8)
Via Sofascore
Persistence paid off, as he slotted the ball home with three minutes left, but this shouldn’t paper over the cracks.
Igamane was also far from his best, losing the ball 17 times along with having just one shot on target. Dessers, however, appears to have finally shifted his scapegoat tag, despite still missing chances on a regular basis.
Has this now been passed on to Jack Butland? Who endured another poor display for the Ibrox side.
Rangers could now have found the new Dessers
Butland enjoyed a relatively solid debut season for the Gers. His mistake in the dying minutes of the Scottish Cup final against Celtic proved costly, but it was deemed a one-off.
Fast-forward nearly a year later, and the Englishman has made a few high-profile mistakes throughout the current season, with journalist Josh Bunting stating back in December that he was “in a real rut of form”, while looking “shaky”. His mistake against Motherwell at the start of March was costly in the eventual 2-1 defeat.
Jack Butland
He also clattered into an opponent during the match against St Mirren on Boxing Day, giving away a penalty that saw the Gers suffer defeat.
Against Dundee, Butland took 42 touches, was accurate with just four of his 13 long ball attempts and completed only 65% of his passes.
It was his mistake for Dundee’s second goal which looked as though it could cost Rangers, however. A weak Simon Murray shot somehow spilt out of his hands and into the path of Joe Shaughnessy, who slotted the ball home to make it 2-0 to the home side.
Given that this wasn’t his first mistake of the campaign, might his time at Ibrox be coming to an end? Especially with a new manager arriving in the summer.
A large section of the fanbase certainly hope so. His penalty shoot-out heroics against Fenerbahçe a few weeks ago are now a distant memory. Mistakes like these can cost the club titles, no doubt about that.
With Dessers having turned the corner, Butland is surely the new high-profile villain for the Ibrox faithful.
Ferguson upgrade: 49ers can hire "one of the best coaches ever" at Rangers
Even though Barry Ferguson continues to impress as interim Rangers manager, the 49ers ownership should instead hire “one of the best coaches ever”.
He has also backed Lloyd Pope despite the legspinner not playing a first-team game last season
Andrew McGlashan05-May-2023
Pace race: Spencer Johnson, Wes Agar, Nathan McAndrew and Jordan Buckingham•Getty Images
Head coach Jason Gillespie believes that South Australia have put together the strongest group of fast bowlers in state cricket amid signs of a rejuvenation in the team’s fortunes.Wes Agar, Jordan Buckingham and left-armer Spencer Johnson – the latter recently signing a contract after a breakout 2022-23 season – were all part of last month’s Australia A tour of New Zealand while Agar and Buckingham have since joined Nathan McAndrew in county cricket.Johnson finished the season with six and seven-wicket hauls in the Sheffield Shield and Buckingham, who is currently playing for Northamptonshire, claimed 6 for 78 on his Australia A debut. Meanwhile, McAndrew has taken two five-wicket hauls in three matches for Sussex but has had to make away for Steve Smith’s arrival.Related
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Alongside those quicks, South Australia also have Brendan Doggett and Harry Conway among their squad for the 2023-24 season which was confirmed on Friday.Having not been able to bowl a side out twice in the previous two seasons, South Australia claimed 20 wickets on three occasions last summer – two of those bringing victories against Tasmania and Western Australia either side of the BBL break. They also reached the final of the Marsh One-Day Cup.”We’ve really worked hard to get some depth in our bowling,” Gillespie told reporters in Adelaide. “We had three bowlers over with Australia A in New Zealand at the end of the Shield season [and] we’ve got three fast bowlers playing county cricket at the moment.”Not sure how many other states have got three fast bowlers playing in the County Championship so that’s a real feather in our cap here and a real credit to those individuals and being recognised for the work they do for South Australia which is great.”Being able to take 20 wickets consistently in Shield cricket, that’s what contributes to Shield wins. To have that bowling depth is fantastic and I think we’ve got the best depth of fast bowling in the country so really excited about that.”The two new additions to the South Australia men’s list for next season have come in the batting with the recruitment of Jake Fraser-McGurk from Victoria and the return of Kelvin Smith who was first contracted back in 2014 before falling out of the state system. Gillespie hopes to be able to unlock the potential of 21-year-old Fraser-McGurk who made his first-class debut at 17 and brought what remains his one half-century.”There’s a talented cricketer there,” Gillespie said. “He’s a fine you batsman and an absolute jet in the field. We are excited to afford him an opportunity and certainly believe he’s got the skills to play a significant role.”Kelvin Smith has earned another opportunity with South Australia•Getty Images
Smith made a return to South Australia colours with a last-minute comeback in the Marsh Cup final then the last Shield game of the season and will be in contention to fill the opening role created by Jake Weatherald’s move to Tasmania.”Kelvin is a great story having got exposure at a young age then lost that opportunity,” Gillespie said. “[He] continued to score runs at premier level, went over to another state [WA] and continued to score runs, didn’t quite get the opportunity there, came back and continued to score runs then an opportunity presented itself. We should all celebrate that as a fantastic cricket story.”Gillespie also called for continued patience in the development of legspinner Lloyd Pope who was among the players to sign a contract extension despite not playing a first-team game last season. Pope was the leading wicket-taker in the 2nd XI competition with 37 in five matches but could not force his way into the Shield or Marsh Cup sides, partly due to Ben Manenti’s success.”I felt this last season was Lloyd’s best season,” Gillespie said. “I know people go ‘that’s a bit weird, he hasn’t played a game’, but he’s continually developing his bowling. He’s making the improvements that he and the coaches identified. There’s no reason why Lloyd can’t play in the same side as Ben Manenti, just depending on circumstance and conditions.”Lloyd did nothing wrong, he was bowling beautifully and just has to be patient. We have to remember with Lloyd Pope, he’s 22 years old, he’s a young man and he’s in a craft that is notoriously one of the most challenging in our sport and think he’s progressing wonderfully well. We have a lot of faith and belief in Lloyd Pope and what he can bring to the table, not just in the next year but long term.”South Australia men’s contracts 2023-24 Wes Agar, Kyle Brazell (R), Jordan Buckingham, Aidan Cahill (R), Jake Carder, Alex Carey (CA), Harry Conway, Brendan Doggett, Daniel Drew, Jake Fraser-McGurk, David Grant, Travis Head (CA), Isaac Higgins (R), Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Harry Matthias (R), Nathan McAndrew, Nathan McSweeney, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Liam Scott, Henry Thornton, Spencer Johnson, Kelvin Smith CA = Cricket Australia contract, R = Rookie contract
Perhaps with replacing Mohamed Salah in mind, Liverpool have now reportedly set their sights on signing the Egyptian’s greatest rival to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or this summer.
Liverpool eye new forwards as Diaz, Jota and Nunez disappoint
Arne Slot’s debut campaign has gone so well at Anfield that the natural expectancy was that they would, one way or another, find a way past Paris Saint-Germain. For the first time in the Dutchman’s Liverpool career, however, his side’s weaknesses were laid bare up against a PSG side who are simply more complete under Luis Enrique these days.
Not just Nunez: Liverpool star who lost the ball every 3 mins let Slot down
Liverpool exit the Champions League in the last 16 after losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.
1 ByAngus Sinclair Mar 12, 2025
It was fairly fitting that arguably Europe’s best two sides needed penalties to decide what was a two-legged tie filled to the brim with world class quality and in many ways it summed up Darwin Nunez’s Liverpool career that he was the one who blinked first.
Between Diogo Jota’s frantic yet ineffective performance, Luis Diaz’s mixed display and Nunez’s own frustrating cameo, it became clearer than ever that the Reds need an attacking boost this summer, especially if Salah departs as a free agent.
If that is to be the case – and a disastrous one at that – then those at Anfield must pursue the signature of the Egyptian’s Ballon d’Or rival this summer, having already reportedly set their sights on his potential arrival.
According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are now eyeing a summer swoop to sign Raphinha from Barcelona in a move that would instantly ease their Salah blow and revive their frontline.
FC Barcelona's Raphinha in action with Real Sociedad's MartinZubimendi
Unlike this time last year, however, Barcelona are unlikely to part ways with Brazilian at the first chance they get. In fact, they’re likely to deny any offer at all for the winger’s signature, given how he has exploded into life to become one of Europe’s most lethal players in the current campaign – scoring 27 goals in all competitions.
"Special" Raphinha one of few who could replace Salah
When Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes go searching for a player capable of guaranteeing 20-plus goals a season whilst also taking up the role of main creator, they will struggle to find an extensive list of players able to come close to the levels that Salah has consistently shown. However, if they turn that search towards Spain they may just find one of a select few stars beginning to show similar traits.
Goals
13
27
Assists
7
17
Expected Goals
14.4
22
Key Passes
74
68
Although the numbers show just how unbelievable Salah’s season has been, Raphinha has been no slouch either and remains the Liverpool star’s greatest Ballon d’Or rival – especially after advancing in the Champions League.
At 28 years old, the former Leeds United winger is finally at the absolute peak of his powers and earning deserved praise from Hansi Flick as a result. The Barcelona boss told reporters earlier this season: “He has good dynamics with the ball and he has had an extraordinary match.
“His offensive and defensive dynamics, and his good technique, are something special. I have never had a player like him and he helps us a lot.”
Chelsea only played Brighton six days ago, losing 2-1 at the Amex Stadium in the FA Cup, leaving the Blues out of both domestic cup competitions now.
Despite having 57% possession, Enzo Maresca’s side only took seven shots in the game, creating zero “big chances”.
On the other hand, Brighton managed to create two “big chances” with only 43% possession, only taking six shots at goal throughout.
But, Chelsea now have a good chance to put things right, facing Brighton at the Amex Stadium again on Friday, this time in the Premier League, with the chance to secure their top-four spot for another week.
The latest Chelsea team news
Maresca confirmed in his press conference that Chelsea will be without Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, with the former now “out until the international break”. The muscular injury was confirmed to be worse than was first feared, with a scan showing he would be out for six to eight weeks.
Guiu is also going to be out “for a little while”, in the words of the manager, with a hamstring issue. This leaves Christopher Nkunku as one of Chelsea’s main striker options in the absence of the pair, but the Italian also stated they will find “other solutions”.
Chelsea'sNicolasJacksonreacts after sustaining an injury
On a more positive note, Maresca confirmed Chelsea captain, Reece James, is fit and available to face Brighton after being rested against them in the cup six days ago, as was the plan according to the Italian.
Roméo Lavia, Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana all remain out, but it was revealed Fofana has started to work with the group again and could be available as soon as the next few weeks, but Maresca will be careful not to rush anything.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Chelsea's Jackson, Guiu & Nkunku dilemma
Jackson and Guiu are the only two natural number nines Maresca has had at his disposal in the first-team, with the Senegal international scoring nine goals in 24 appearances this season, and the 18-year-old Spaniard netting six times in 13 appearances.
Marc Guiu
Their least natural fit in that position has proven to be Nkunku leading the line, which we saw against Brighton in the FA Cup to minimal effect.
Despite having a good goal-scoring record this season, scoring 13 goals in 31 appearances, Maresca has admitted himself the Frenchman isn’t a “proper” nine and is more of an attacking midfielder, who has different behaviours.
Jackson vs Guiu & Nkunku in 24/25
Stats (per 90 mins)
Jackson
Guiu
Nkunku
Goals
0.47
1.18
0.77
Assists
0.26
0.00
0.26
xG
0.59
N/A
0.78
Progressive Carries
2.12
N/A
1.57
Progressive Passes
1.40
N/A
2.35
Shots Total
3.26
3.92
2.97
Goals/Shot
0.14
0.30
0.22
Key Passes
1.30
1.25
1.76
Shot-Creating Actions
3.21
1.25
3.92
Aerial Duels Won
0.67
0.00
1.96
Stats taken from FBref
When comparing the underlying numbers of each forward this season, you can see how each one brings something slightly different to the table. Jackson provides an all-around profile, being able to progress play in the build-up, make runs in behind and also create for others.
Guiu, being a slightly more natural number nine build, is looking to do more of his work in the box, winning aerial duels (which doesn’t show up in the stats) and wanting to provide that finishing touch. With Nkunku being more of an attacking midfielder, wants to receive the ball deeper, get plenty of touches and be a big part of the game.
The Frenchman playing as the nine is still likely to be a solution for Maresca to use in these coming weeks, but it clearly isn’t the only one on his mind, and perhaps a slight tweak in positions between Nkunku and a certain other star could prove to be more fruitful.
Maresca's possible solution
Everyone already knows how good Cole Palmer is, Chelsea’s top scorer this season with 14 goals in 27 appearances. Earlier in the season, after scoring four goals against Brighton at Stamford Bridge, Theo Walcott praised the 22-year-old as a “gifted” talent, stating “he is going to be a Premier League legend”.
But, one option for Maresca could be to switch the positions of Palmer and Nkunku, with the Englishman playing as more of a “false nine” and the Frenchman being able to play off of him in tandem. This would the Englishman the freedom as a nine to drift around, picking up the ball and dragging central defenders with him everywhere he goes. This would open up spaces for others around him, one being Nkunku, but another being Noni Madueke, who would be a key ingredient to this recipe.
By setting the former Manchester City ace on the last line, his ability to drop into the half spaces, receive the ball slightly deeper and drag defenders with him, would allow Madueke to make runs inside from wide areas, attacking the space vacated between the central defenders which would allow Maresca to get more goal threat from his most direct winger this season.
Chelsea shot tally in their last 10 games
Fixture
Shots
Shots on Target
vs Fulham (H)
12
8
vs Ipswich (A)
20
5
vs Crystal Palace (A)
15
1
vs Morecambe (H)
28
8
vs Bournemouth (H)
26
10
vs Wolves (H)
19
7
vs Man City (A)
10
4
vs West Ham (H)
22
3
vs Brighton (A)
7
1
Stats from Sofascore
When analysing Chelsea’s shot tallies over the past ten games, you can see the highest Premier League shot tallies (26 against Bournemouth and 22 against West Ham) both started with Madueke on the right, whereas two of the three lowest tallies (12 against Fulham and 7 against Brighton) both came with a wing pairing of Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho.
Bringing that extra shot volume into the team in the absence of Jackson and the ability to run in behind will be key, which is why the trio of Palmer, Nkunku and Madueke could be the key for Maresca in this tough stint of the season coming up.
Chelsea must regret letting go of one of the "world's best" players for £0
This player has become one of the best in Europe after leaving Chelsea behind.
The left-arm fast bowler was with Mumbai from 2018 to 2020 as well but played only five games
ESPNcricinfo staff12-Nov-2022
Jason Behrendorff was with Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2020•BCCI
Australia’s left-arm fast bowler Jason Behrendorff will return to Mumbai Indians after Royal Challengers Bangalore traded him ahead of IPL 2023. He was acquired by Royal Challengers at the 2022 auction for his base price of INR 75 lakh but didn’t get any game-time.Behrendorff has been part of the IPL for the last five years but he has spent four of those years on the bench. He was with Mumbai from 2018 to 2020 but got a chance to play only in the 2019 season. That year, he picked up five wickets in as many games at an economy rate of 8.68.In 2021, Chennai Super Kings drafted him as a replacement for Josh Hazlewood. He did not make an appearance in the first half of the tournament, and Hazlewood returned when the competition resumed in the UAE.Behrendorff has represented Australia in nine T20Is, picking 7 wickets with a best of 4 for 21. In all, he has 117 wickets in 105 T20s at an economy of 7.41Jasprit Bumrah, Jofra Archer, Riley Meredith and Daniel Sams are some of the other fast bowlers Mumbai currently have in their squad. The most successful team in IPL’s history, Mumbai finished tenth in a ten-team tournament in 2022.The auction for the 2023 season will take place in Kochi on December 23. It will be a mini auction as opposed to the mega auction ahead of the 2022 edition, when the ten franchises had to rebuild their squads virtually from scratch. In addition to the money left over from their previous auction purse and the value of the players they release, each team will have an additional INR 5 crore (approx. US $607,000) to spend at this auction, making the overall purse INR 95 crore (approx. US $11.5 million).
India strolled to a nine-wicket win against Thailand in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup after spinners Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana and Rajeshwari Gayakwad shared seven wickets between them. Thailand were restricted to 37, their third-lowest total in the Asia Cup, which table-toppers India then chased down in six overs, losing just one wicket.Thailand started off cautiously, moving to just 16 for 1 at the end of the powerplay. The collapse began with Naruemol Chaiwai’s run-out in the seventh over following which Thailand lost their last eight wickets for just 17 runs.Thailand openers cautious Smriti Mandhana, playing her 100th T20I, once again stood in for Harmanpreet Kaur – who was out of the last game with a niggle – and opted to bowl keeping the damp conditions in mind.Thailand openers Nannapat Koncharoenkai and Natthakan Chantham started off watchfully as Deepti straightaway found sharp turn, and took just one run off the first over. Koncharoenkai broke the pressure with a drive to the boundary off quick Meghna Singh, who was swapped for Renuka Singh for this match, and in the following over Chantham brought out the sweep and got a boundary against Deepti, showing positive intent.But a couple of balls later, Chantham was deceived by the turn and was bowled.The collapse begins Koncharoenkai and Chaiwai continued their cautious approach, not taking any risks, and that resulted in Thailand playing out 27 dot balls in the powerplay. With Thailand having lost the prolific Chantham early, the onus was on captain Chaiwai to push them to a respectable total. But a quick throw from Meghna fielding at point resulted in her getting run-out for three in the seventh over.Rana struck the very next ball, sending Chanida Sutthiruang back for a duck with a delivery that turned in sharply from outside off stump. From there on, wickets fell regularly. Koncharoenkai’s carelessness resulted in her being run-out, and Gayakwad and Rana ripped through the middle order to leave Thailand reeling at 28 for 8 by the end of the 12th over.Nattaya Boochatham and Thipatcha Putthawong managed to stay at the crease for 17 balls but Deepti returned to break the ninth-wicket stand. Meghna accounted for the last wicket to fall in the 16th over.An easy win for semi-final bound India It was a straightforward chase for India. Following a quiet first over – India scored just three runs – from Boochatham, Sabbhineni Meghana and Shafali Verma managed to hit a boundary each in the next couple of overs. Following Shafali’s departure in the third over, Pooja Vastrakar joined Meghana at the crease and steered India to 22 for 1 in five overs. They finished the match in the sixth over, hitting four fours – two each – off Putthawong to guide India to a resounding win.