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da bwin： Manchester United and INEOS have made contact with a £40 million+ star who has scored a European final hat-trick, as they look to bring him to Old Trafford, according to a recent report.

Two possible Man Utd exits in January

da dobrowin： The January transfer window opens in just over two weeks, so it is expected that behind the scenes at Old Trafford it could be rather busy, as the club’s board puts plans in place as to what they want to do over the next month or so for Ruben Amorim.

Related Man Utd now make approach to sign £62m ace as possible Rashford replacement

INEOS could accelerate Rashford’s potential Man United exit, as they eye his replacement.

Posts ByBrett Worthington Dec 16, 2024

It is unclear how busy the Red Devils could be in regards to arrivals, as financial fair play rules mean money is rather tight. Therefore, it could well be a case of moving players on in the hope of then being able to bring in reinforcements. INEOS appears ready to do that, as it’s emerged that two players could be allowed to leave in January.

The first player is defender Victor Lindelof, as Man United are prepared to sell the Swedish international in the New Year. The defender is out of contract at the end of the season, and instead of him leaving for free, United are looking to get around £5-6 million for him. Lindelof is said to be open to leaving Old Trafford, as he’s got several Premier League and Italian teams interested in his services.

Lindelof is not the only player who could leave, as Man Utd are also willing to let Marcus Rashford leave in January. The Englishman has struggled for form this season, and now Sir Jim Ratcliffe is possibly willing to let Rashford leave in order to raise cash funds. Rashford hasn’t been a regular under Amorim and was left out of the squad for the Manchester Derby on Sunday.

Man Utd make contact to sign £40m+ Ademola Lookman

Now, according to Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Manchester United have made contact with Ademola Lookman’s entourage over a possible transfer. The 27-year-old plays for Italian side Atalanta and has done so since August 2022, when he joined from RB Leipzig.

Lookman has been an instant hit in Bergamo since joining, as he scored 13 goals in 31 Serie A games in his first season, followed by 11 in 31, and so far, this season, he already has eight in 13. Lookman was very impressive for Atalanta last season and was key in them winning the Europa League, as he scored a hat-trick in the final that secured their famous win against Bayer Leverkusen.

His excellent form has continued, and he has now emerged on the radar of the Red Devils. Tavolieri reports that Lookman wants to return to England after his successful stint in Italy, and Atalanta have told the forward that they will negotiate a transfer as long as they receive a satisfactory offer.

Ademola Lookman’s 24/25 Serie A stats

Apps

13

Goals

8

xG

5.09

Goals per game

0.6

Assists

4

xAG

3.31

Touches

45.8

Big chances created

6

Key passes

2.3

Man United are among the teams to have contacted Lookman’s entourage, along with Liverpool and Chelsea. Bayern Munich are also interested in Lookman, but they are behind the English teams in the race, while PSG did have an agreement with Atalanta to sign Lookman, but the deal was rejected by manager Luis Enrique. Atalanta are not willing to discuss a transfer below €50 million, which is roughly £41 million.

Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli did not raise any hopes regarding Paul Pogba's return to competitive football ahead of this weekend's Ligue 1 clash against Rennes. Pogba had suffered an ankle sprain ahead of this month's international break, but returned to team training last weekend. That said, Pocognoli is "trying not to get ahead of himself" as far as Pogba's return is concerned.

Pogba's wait continues

Pogba last featured in a competitive match in September 2023, during his spell with Serie A giants Juventus. An 18-month doping ban, cut from four years, then forced him out of the game. Earlier this year, having completed his suspension, he was offered a shot at redemption by Monaco. In an emotional return, Pogba signed a two-year deal with the Ligue 1 club, marking a new phase in his career as he aims to return to his best. 

It has, however, not been all smooth sailing for the 2018 World Cup-winning midfielder. It was always going to be a Herculean task for Pogba to return to full fitness immediately after spending two years away from the pitch. "We have to be realistic and honest," said Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro back in July, toning down all the hype and expectation surrounding Pogba's return. 

AdvertisementAFPMonaco boss shies away from giving Pogba return timeline

Speaking in an interview with on Monday, Monaco head coach Pocognoli admitted that Pogba was closer than ever to making his debut for the club. However, he exercised caution and avoided giving any definitive timelines.

"My communication will remain down-to-earth, like our internal analysis," Pocognoli said when asked if Pogba was closer to achieving his goal of making a return. "I said we’ll judge him based on what he offers now. That’s also out of kindness. I hope [he is close to playing]. But the last time I said that… So I'm trying not to get ahead of myself. It will happen when it's meant to happen. All I can say is that, when he's on the pitch, I see someone who is happy and focused on getting back to the top level. There's no doubt about it."

He also added that him and his coaching staff are working hard to ensure he attains peak physical condition.

“My role now is to help him with the staff," he added. "And if we can even just bring a smile to his face during professional matches, that will be fantastic. Will it be easy? I can’t say. But we’re working on it, and Paul has a strong character. And I think the mind controls a lot of things."

Pocognoli is also counting on Pogba's experience and leadership, urging the former Manchester United and Juventus star to pass his knowledge to the next generation. "During one of my first internal meetings, I spoke about the club’s legacy. I believe that leaders, like Paul, must pass on their knowledge to the next generation, to the fans, to everyone involved with the club," he stated. "These experienced players must mentor the younger ones. I have to make sure they succeed. The more leaders we have, the more the pressure is distributed. If Paul is used effectively, the group can benefit from his influence.”

Injuries have delayed Pogba's return

The club developed a meticulous three-month rehabilitation program designed to ensure Pogba receives the best possible help to recondition his body to the intensity of a top five European league. "We expect a three-month process to be able to rehabilitate him. When you see it on TV, high-level sport can seem easy, but you have to realise the intensity required," Scuro further explained in July. "And Monaco is one of the most intense teams in Ligue 1 and in Europe in terms of play. So our players have to be very fit to be on the pitch. But it's our job to give him the tools to do that."

There was hope in October. It was believed that the mercurial Frenchman would be named in the squad to face Angers on October 18, just after the international break. But a minor knock ahead of the game prolonged his wait. 

Ahead of the most recent international break, Pocognoli had hinted that Pogba could finally be named in the squad for the game against Paris FC. Much to the disappointment of the fans and the coach, as well as the pain of Pogba, he suffered a minor grade two ankle sprain during a training session just two days before the game. 

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Getty ImagesCould Pogba make his debut this weekend?

There is a lot of cautious optimism surrounding Pogba's availability for Saturday's Ligue 1 encounter against Rennes. The 32-year-old participated in team training on Friday, and has not suffered any relapse as things stand. If he does, indeed, make his debut this weekend, it would be 26 months after he last played a game.

Aston Villa had to deal with some difficulties within the summer window, though they could be about to pounce to sign a star who is set to be on the market in January.

Aston Villa move on after frustrating window disrupted by PSR

Without going over old ground too much, the Villans were heavily hamstrung by PSR during the summer, and it is fair to say that Unai Emery didn’t have a tonne of freedom to acquire players in the West Midlands.

Late deals that saw Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott sign for Aston Villa provide squad depth, while Victor Lindelof has joined on a free transfer after his release from Manchester United.

Nevertheless, many supporters feel the Villans have been held to a higher standard than others by the authorities, something that Marc Albrighton has hammered home in a recent phone-in session on BBC Radio West Midlands.

He stated: “It is really frustrating because the Leicester victory was 10 years ago and somebody brings it up every single day – that is how special it was. To take that opportunity away from potentially happening to other clubs is scandalous really.

“I just think the PSR issue really needs sorting out. It’s so frustrating for clubs like Villa that have got the money but can’t they spend it. Then they are having to sell other players too – it’s making a mess. I think there’s a few things at the minute which needs looking at in football and that is one of them.”

If finances permit, Aston Villa are eyeing a £40 million move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in January. However, they are also plotting to add a new face to their backline that may arrive into conversation at a similar ballpark.

Aston Villa plot move to sign Athletic Club star Dani Vivian

According to reports in Spain, Aston Villa are plotting a move to sign Athletic Club defender Dani Vivian in January, though will need to compete with Premier League pair Manchester United and Newcastle United for his signature.

Putting him within reach financially, the 26-year-old has a release clause worth about £34.7 million, making him someone that could arrive for a relatively modest fee while strengthening Emery’s squad for the second half of the campaign.

Worth more than Isak: Aston Villa have hit the jackpot on "unstoppable" gem

Aston Villa have the tools to make it another fantastic season under Unai Emery’s management.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 5, 2025

Labelled “colossal” by Thom Harris, Vivian scored four times in 46 appearances last term and has started 2025/26 by playing a part in three consecutive La Liga victories, including a clean sheet against Rayo Vallecano.

Illustrating his quality of distribution from deep, the 26-year-old has maintained a pass accuracy rate of 79% in the Spanish top-flight, per Fotmob, completing 109 successful passes in total.

Aston Villa were hampered in their attempts to recruit properly this summer, though may now be set to atone for their frustrating window once the January market period gets underway.

Gus Atkinson joins Jofra Archer, Sam Cook and Jamie Overton as alternative seam-bowling options in England’s 16-man squad

Matt Roller06-Jul-20254:11

Stokes: We weren’t able to deliver our skills when needed

England will consider making changes to their bowling attack after a gruelling workload in their 336-run defeat to India, and have added Gus Atkinson to the squad for Thursday’s third Test at Lord’s after time out following a hamstring injury.England’s three frontline seamers – Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Chris Woakes – have all bowled between 77 and 82 overs in the first two Tests of the series. Atkinson joins Jofra Archer, Sam Cook and Jamie Overton as the alternative seam-bowling options in the 16-man squad for Lord’s, and the tight turnaround between Tests could prompt changes.”It’s no secret that we have spent some time in the field and bowled some overs in the first two games, and we’ll have to see how everyone pulls up over the next two days,” Ben Stokes said. “With it being a quick turnaround, there probably will be a decision we have to make given how everyone does pull up after this game.”Related

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Archer has not played a Test match since February 2021, but bowled regularly during intervals at Edgbaston this week, and Brendon McCullum hinted he will make his comeback next week. “We’ll let this one settle, and when we get to [Lord’s] we’ll have a good think about it,” McCullum told the BBC’s .Asked about Archer’s availability, McCullum said, “He’s fit and ready to go. Obviously the other boys have had two Test matches on the spin now, so you’d anticipate you would make a change at some stage with the line-up, and Jofra is one we’ll look at.”Stokes added, “Everyone’s in consideration for the game at Lord’s.”England’s margin of defeat – 336 runs – was their third-heaviest since Stokes took over as captain on a full-time basis, but he insisted that it will not affect them moving forwards. “We’ve obviously had some unbelievable wins and some bad defeats,” he said. “I feel I’m quite good – and the team is – at staying level throughout those ups and downs.”That is so important in a series where we knew coming in that it wasn’t going to be easy… We have to wipe this one under the carpet as quickly as we can, because Lord’s day one will be coming around pretty quickly. We will have one or two days to get the bodies right and recover, and all of a sudden, we will be out there flipping the coin.”He also played down the significance of England’s inability to take 20 wickets at Edgbaston. “You do have to appreciate how well India played with the bat,” Stokes said. “[They were] obviously pretty favourable conditions if someone got in; two of our lads showed that this week… You are allowed to let your opposition play well, and they definitely did that.”England squad for Lord’s Test against IndiaBen Stokes (capt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.

KL Rahul finished his IPL 2025 season at seventh place on the Orange Cap table with 539 runs from 13 innings

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-20251:14

Kumble: ‘Mukesh has become one-dimensional now’

Orange Cap tableOf course, things might – and will, likely – change, but KL Rahul has now finished his IPL with 539 runs from 13 innings, giving him the seventh spot on the table. Of the PBKS batters in action on Saturday, Shreyas Iyer’s 53 took him to 488 runs and the tenth position, with Prabhsimran Singh just after him with 486 runs following his 28.On Sunday, the first match pits Gujarat Titans (GT) against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, now Test team-mates, have a chance of adding to their tallies and even, perhaps, becoming the first to cross the 700-run mark this season. Sai Sudharsan is the Orange Cap holder with 638 runs, and Gill is just behind him with 636.Suryakumar Yadav of Mumbai Indians (MI), Mitchell Marsh of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Yashasvi Jaiswal of Rajasthan Royals (RR) round off the top five. Marsh and Jaiswal, of course, are done for the season, giving Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), currently No. 6 with 548 runs, a chance to move up the table.Purple Cap tableNot much changed here either, though with GT vs CSK the afternoon game on Sunday, the two men who are tied at the top of the table with 21 wickets apiece – Prasidh Krishna and Noor Ahmad – will get a chance to get away from the other. For Prasidh, though, there are more games left in the competition, while for Noor, this is going to be his last appearance this season.MI’s Trent Boult is at No. 3 with 19 wickets, followed by RCB’s Josh Hazlewood with 18, and Varun Chakravarthy of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is at No. 5 with 17. Varun, too, will be in action on Sunday, in the night game, when KKR go up against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).Here’s what ESPNcricinfo’s MVP table looks like.And here are some other IPL 2025 tables that show the season’s best performers in different aspects of the T20 game. Highest batting strike rates Best bowling economy rates Most sixes Best bowling figures in a match

Arsenal have their eyes on an “extraordinary” attacker amid their transfer talks for Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.

Andrea Berta has enjoyed an extremely busy and productive first summer window at the Emirates Stadium already, and Hincapie could be their latest in a long line of excellent additions for Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners have quietly transformed their squad this summer through purposeful reinforcements, with Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks, Martín Zubimendi anchoring the midfield, Christian Nørgaard offering depth, Noni Madueke adding pace on the wing, Cristhian Mosquera bolstering the defence, Viktor Gyökeres adding a proven goal return and Eberechi Eze injecting serious creativity behind the striker as their new number 10 in place of the injured Kai Havertz.

While Berta’s spending has been lavish, with reports placing the total close to or over £270 million, it has been strategically spread across key positions rather than wasted on a single marquee name.

This approach has reinforced multiple areas across the pitch and allows for serious tactical flexibility, as well as responding to the inevitable injuries of a demanding season – which has already happened following Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka’s injuries last weekend.

While Saka is expected to miss four weeks, Odegaard could play against Liverpool on Sunday (football.london). Still, the north Londoners now have quality players to jump in their place, unlike last season.

Arsenal have covered every base: creativity, goals, stability and versatility. With the structure now there, Arteta’s side look ready and raring to take the final step and bring home a Premier League trophy after over two decades of waiting.

They’ve already made an excellent start to the campaign, scoring six goals in two games whilst conceding zero – beating both Man United and Leeds respectively as Arteta’s side gear up for a tough trip to Anfield.

Despite their flurry of transfer activity this summer, they may not be done there, with Arsenal in talks to sign Piero Hincapie after agreeing terms with the Ecuador international as a replacement for FC Porto-bound Jakub Kiwior.

As well as this, with Arsenal often conducting their transfer plans months in advance, the club are scouting future targets.

Arsenal targeting Ajax forward Oscar Gloukh

As per The Mail and journalist Simon Jones, Arsenal have their eyes on four young stars ahead of potential moves, and one of them is highly-rated Ajax forward Oscar Gloukh.

The Israel international has only just signed for Ajax this summer from RB Salzburg for around £12.5 million, but Arsenal are believed to be eyeing Gloukh as a potential future signing alongside the likes of Jon Martin (Real Sociedad), Arnau Martinez (Girona) and Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjælland).

The 21-year-old Gloukh is a particularly interesting name, as he’s been linked with a move to the Premier League before and already boasts a fantastic reputation.

Orange Cap table

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) Virat Kohli leads the list with 505 runs from 11 innings, and Gujarat Titans’ (GT) B Sai Sudharsan is second, just one run behind from one fewer innings. Mumbai Indians’ (MI) Suryakumar Yadav is at No. 3 with 475 runs.Just two runs behind Suryakumar Yadav is Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. He has 473 runs from 12 innings. GT’s Jos Buttler (470) and Shubman Gill (465) are fifth and sixth on this table, respectively.

Purple Cap table

GT’s Prasidh Krishna continues to lead the table with 19 wickets from ten games, while RCB’s Josh Hazlewood is second with 18 wickets, also from ten outings.Arshdeep Singh is third on the list after his three-for against Lucknow Super Giants in Dharamsala. He has 16 wickets in 11 matches. There are two other players on 16 wickets along with Arshdeep – Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) Noor Ahmad and MI’s Trent Boult. But Arshdeep remains above them because of his superior economy rate.You can also take a look at what the ESPNcricinfo MVP table looks like at this stage.Here are some other IPL 2025 tables.

• Highest batting strike rates
• Best bowling economy rates
• Most sixes
• Best bowling figures in a match

MS Dhoni believes Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) selection changes have made their bowling attack easier to manoeuvre. After the five-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The win helped them snap a five-match losing streak in IPL 2025, but they are still at the bottom of the points table.CSK’s turnaround started by leaving out two senior players, Devon Conway and R Ashwin, and giving 24-year-old Anshul Kamboj and Khaleel Ahmed three overs each in the powerplay, which saw only 42 runs scored for the loss of two wickets, including that of Nicholas Pooran for just 8.”We made a few changes because we wanted to make sure our first six overs are slightly better because we need more bowlers in the first six,” Dhoni said in the post-match presentation. “We were actually putting too much pressure on Ash. He has bowled two overs on wickets that were not doing a lot and the batsmen were just expressing themselves.Related

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“We made a few changes where we could have more bowlers who could bowl in the first six and, if needed – if the fast bowlers, somebody goes for runs – we have Noor [Ahmad], who can drop in with one over. I feel this looks like a better attack, there’s more manoeuvrability for the captain. I feel, as a bowling unit, we have done well. As a batting unit, I think we can do even better.”After CSK restricted LSG to 166, which LSG’s captain Rishabh Pant said was “10-15 runs short”, CSK’s new opening pair of Shaik Rasheed and Rachin Ravindra put on 52 in 29 balls that lay the platform for the visitors.CSK had been struggling to score like other teams in the powerplay and Dhoni had said after their previous game – when they scored just 103 for 9 against KKR – that their kind of line-up was not going to post 60-odd runs in the first six overs. CSK posted nearly that much – 59 for 1 on Monday.”We were not getting the kind of starts that we wanted when it came to us as a batting unit,” he said on Monday, “and the fall of wickets at the wrong time [has hurt us] to some extent, but one of the reasons could be that the Chennai wicket’s slightly on the slower side. So, out of the first five or six games that we have played, we have played more games [four out of six] over there.”The starts of the batting unit has done slightly better when you actually played outside. So, maybe we need to play on wickets that are slightly better, it will give the batsmen the confidence to play their shots because you don’t want to play timid cricket. But at the same time, you want to figure out what is your release shot and back yourself and hit that shot. Don’t pick an option that is not good for that wicket, but at the same time, it’s very important to express [yourself].”

As doubts over Amadou Onana's future continue, Everton have reportedly already submitted their first bid to sign a potential replacement for the Belgian ahead of the summer transfer window.

Everton transfer news

The Toffees could finally be in for some positive news off the pitch, with talks underway to extend Dominic Calvert-Lewin's contract and links beginning to appear with potential incomings, despite the fact that they remain without a takeover. Funding such moves won't be easy this summer, given their lack of investment as things stand, but that's where the potential departure of Onana should help.

The Toffees are reportedly more willing to sacrifice the midfielder in order to raise funds this summer than star defender Jarrad Branthwaite, with the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester United both linked with moves for Onana this summer in a move that could be worth as much as £50m.

Though adding some crucial funds, losing Onana will still leave a gaping hole in Sean Dyche's squad and one that the Toffees must fill this summer. Starting next season with a depleted midfield would instantly leave Everton at a disadvantage, but the arrival of one target would help ease that concern.

Everton in talks for PL "phenomenon" who could be Branthwaite 2.0

He’s enjoyed an excellent start to life in the Premier League.

ByEthan Lamb May 31, 2024

According to Correio de Manha via Goodison News, Everton have submitted a £26m bid to sign Florentino Luis from Benfica this summer, but the Portuguese club are reportedly now looking for an additional £8.5m to round things up to a hefty £34.5m. Given Everton's financial position, it remains to be seen whether they'll be able to afford such a deal.

If they can, then Luis would certainly be worth the negotiations, especially if those at Goodison Park need to replace Onana in the coming months. Still just 24 years old, Luis is a Champions League player who is more than ready to step into the Premier League this summer.

"Superb" Luis can replace Onana

Everton are rarely without their critics in the transfer market, but in this instance, they would be breaking the trend to pull off some smart business by replacing Onana with Luis this summer. The Benfica man has earned praise from the likes of Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, who described his work rate as "superb", sharing numbers that show all the signs that he is capable of replacing Onana.

Everton would still be making a profit by selling Onana for £50m and welcoming Luis for £34m this summer, and profit should be the keyword for the Toffees as they look to avoid further FFP sanctions.

Progressive Carries

11

21

Progressive Passes

142

107

Tackles Won

45

38

Ball Recoveries

123

160

When the transfer window opens, the Benfica man will certainly be one to watch, as will Onana in a transfer saga that will undoubtedly have several moving parts.

Their bowling attacks are similarly matched but the difference could come in the spin department, where New Zealand look stronger

Firdose Moonda04-Mar-20251:39

Do South Africa have the best attack in the tournament?

Big picture: Run fest awaits SA, NZ

Here we are again. South Africa and New Zealand, the two best sides to have never won a World Cup, meet in a knockout match. Both have had their hands on trophy all the way back when it was called the ICC Knockout and possibly meant something else in terms of its significance in the global game. So make no mistake: winning this will not take away the desire for the big one but it will help to tide things over until 2027, when South Africa co-host the event with neighbours Zimbabwe and Namibia.Quietly, South Africa know they are actually building for that but the pressure to return home with something other than disappointment is ever-present. This is another chance to change that. New Zealand, after coming so close to the trophy at the 2019 World Cup, also carry scars but somehow seem less burdened by them. Perhaps a smaller population, with fewer socio-economic fractures that can be plastered over with sporting success helps them; maybe they’re just good at stoicism. Those are things to ponder later in the week when one of these two teams will play a final against a yet-to-be-decided opposition at a yet-to-be-decided venue. For now, they’ve both probably got the knockout they wanted.Facing each other, rather than India or Australia, appears to give them both a better chance of progressing to the final. And doing it in Pakistan, though both teams travelled from Dubai at different times on Monday, likely suits them more. Conditions are good for run-scoring and both have line-ups capable of posting big scores which suggests fans will be in for a run-fest. Their attacks are similarly matched to the point where both were hit by injury-enforced absences amongst the quicks. Some of the more interesting narratives could be around which of the tall men – Marco Jansen and Kyle Jamieson – can extract the most with their height or which of the attacking bowlers, Kagiso Rabada or Matt Henry, has the most success.Related

• Mitchell Santner goes from supporting role to main actor, to NZ's benefit

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A difference could come in the spin resources, where South Africa have chosen to operate with only one specialist in Keshav Maharaj but New Zealand have both captain Mitchell Santner and offspinner Michael Bracewell in their best XI. Maharaj had previously indicated he sees a spinners role as a more defensive one at this event so their economy rates are the numbers to watch here.Overall, this match promises an even contest without the hype that comes with playing a big three nation even though there is plenty of history. New Zealand dumped South Africa out of both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups and though the likes of us will talk about it, it’s worth remembering that the last of those was ten years ago and much cricket has been played since.Then, particularly for South Africa, the results seemed seismic. Now, ICC events happen annually and teams are dusting themselves off and starting again with much greater frequency. Does that mean it matters less if you lose at a crucial stage or even if you win? Ask one of these two, who have both spent the best part of the last three decades trying to win a major trophy and they’re likely to say no. Only one of them will have the chance to do it this time.

Form guide

South Africa: WWLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)

New Zealand: LWWWW

In the spotlight: David Miller and Kane Williamson

No one has quite said it yet but could this be the last time 35-year-old David Miller plays in an ODI tournament for South Africa? And if so, what kind of say will he have on it? He has limited opportunity in the tournament so far. He came to bat in the 43rd over against Afghanistan only to smash the winning runs against England, but has had almost-decisive knocks in both South Africa’s previous white-ball knockout games. At the 2023 ODI World Cup, Miller’s century gave South Africa something to defend in the semi-final after they were reduced to 24 for 4; at the 2024 T20 World Cup, he was looking good on 21 off 17 balls before being spectacularly caught on the boundary which could have taken South Africa within touching distance of the trophy. Miller has shown he enjoys the big occasion and has also indicated he is taking things year by year, so chances to play in knockouts are likely becoming fewer. After all his efforts, he will want to play a role in South Africa winning one.2:46

Latham: Scheduling is out of our control

Kane Williamson has back-to-back ODI centuries against South Africa, albeit they were scored six years apart. He made 106* against them in Birmingham in June 2019 and 133* against them at this venue in the tri-series that preceded this tournament, though that was not against a full-strength South African side. Overall, Williamson averages 57.35 against South Africa, his best against any opposition other than Zimbabwe. Though New Zealand have a line-up of creative and crafty hitters, Williamson’s role in New Zealand’s side continues to be of utmost importance as evidenced by his 81 against India in Dubai, where he kept New Zealand in the fight in what was ultimately a losing cause.Like many of the more experienced players at this event, at 34, Williamson may not get another opportunity to win an ODI trophy and will want to make the most of this one.

Team news

Openers Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi have both recovered from the illness that kept them out of the England game and are expected to be available for selection, but de Zorzi is expected to make way for Aiden Markram, who passed his fitness test on Tuesday. George Linde has been called up as a travelling reserve. The bowling make-up – two allrounders, one specialist spinner and two quicks – is expected to be unchanged.South Africa (possible): 1 Temba Bavuma (capt), 2 Ryan Rickelton, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 David Miller, 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi NgidiMitchell Santner and Temba Bavuma shake hands•AFP/Getty Images

New Zealand’s only question will be which one of Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway or Daryl Mitchell they will leave out. Conway sat out the India match for Mitchell, who played against Pakistan but not Bangladesh. Young and Ravindra both have centuries to their names at this competition which suggests the decision is between Mitchell and Conway, who has scores of 30 and 10 from his outings in the tournament.New Zealand: 1 Will Young, 2 Rachin Ravindra/Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Matt Henry, 10 Kyle Jamieson, 11 Will O’Rourke

Pitch and conditions

In five ODIs this year, the average first innings score is 316.5 and results have been shared between the team batting first and the chasing team. It’s expected to be another belter for the batters and tough outing for bowlers. While Heinrich Klaasen mentioned some drizzle on South Africa’s arrival in the city on Monday, the forecast is mild and clear for the semi-final.

Stats and trivia

• South Africa and New Zealand have played no bilateral white-ball cricket against each other since 2017 but played each other at the 2019 and 2023 World Cups and won a game a piece and the Pakistan tri-nation series, in a match which New Zealand won. In ICC tournaments, they have met 11 times, and New Zealand have won seven of those games.
• South Africa are the only country to have qualified for the knockouts of all of the last seven ICC events – across men’s, women’s and Under-19 tournaments. That includes the 2023 men’s ODI World Cup semi-final, the 2024 men’s T20 World Cup final, the 2025 World Test Championship final, the 2024 men’s Under-19 World Cup semi-final, the 2024 women’s T20 World Cup final and the 2025 women’s Under-19 final.

Quotes“Scheduling is an issue all around but when you do have time to rest and recover, you should. One day cricket can be quite exhausting on the body, and for us, it might be about making sure bowlers are ready for tomorrow. I don’t think they’re going to be doing much today in training.”
New Zealand travelled back to Pakistan from Dubai early on Monday morning and will use Tuesday to recuperate rather than train heavily according to captain Mitchell Santner. “We’ll approach it as we normally would. We obviously want to play our best cricket. We understand New Zealand will obviously come with a certain challenge and we’ll have to prepare accordingly but I think Marco [Jansen] said it, it’s just another game for us. Yes, it’s important but we definitely won’t be blowing it out of proportion. It’s the semi-final, we want to play our best cricket.”