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A fine 112 not out from Ben Foakes, and half-centuries by Dom Sibley, Jamie Smith and Cameron Steel propelled title favourites Surrey to 339 for 4 after day one of their important LV= Insurance County Championship match against Warwickshire at the Kia Oval.Division One leaders and 2022 winners Surrey are aiming for back-to-back championship triumphs, and lead Essex and Hampshire by 17 and 48 points respectively with three rounds to go for the top three. Warwickshire, with an extra game in hand in fourth place, trailed Surrey by 56 points at the start of a match they must win to maintain any interest in the title race.But the champions proved more than a match for the Warwickshire attack with Foakes and Steel combining to add an unbroken 152 in 42 overs for the fifth wicket after Smith had waltzed to 60 from 72 balls in a stand worth 99 with Sibley, who put together a more prosaic 65 in almost four hours of dedicated crease occupation.Steel also played well for his unbeaten 69, from 115 balls and including 10 fours, and importantly repelling with Foakes the second new ball in the final hour to underline Surrey’s opening day dominance. Foakes has so far faced 181 balls, hitting 18 fours.Put in on a well-grassed surface, Surrey lost Rory Burns and Ryan Patel in the first 12 overs as they stumbled initially to 31 for two. Burns, on 11, edged Chris Rushworth’s ever-steady fast-medium low to third slip and Patel managed only a couple of pleasing drives before falling for 9 when Barnard angled one through his defences from around the wicket.Smith, though, immediately began to take on the Warwickshire seamers, skipping a couple of short steps down the pitch to unfurl one magnificent straight driven four off Barnard and, two balls later, hitting the same bowler to the extra cover ropes with a real flourish.On 25, Smith was fortunate to get an inside edge that saved him from being stumped when he advanced at Danny Briggs’ left arm spin and aimed an ugly hack, but otherwise he continued to bat with power and class.Henry Brookes’ first three overs cost 25 as Smith and Sibley both cashed in on some wayward deliveries as the fast bowler struggled for rhythm, and lunch was reached with Surrey having recovered in some style to 111 for two.Smith completed a 52-ball fifty in the first over after the interval, punching Olly Hannon-Dalby through the covers off the back foot for three, but Warwickshire sensed they were back in the fight when Barnard beat Smith with a ball angled in and beating an attempted whip past mid on to pluck out off stump after deflecting off his pads.Sibley was then joined by Foakes in an untroubled alliance of 57 in 16 overs before, wastefully, he drove Briggs straight to mid on, called his partner for a sharp single and was, correctly, sent back. Foakes, who had actually done well to avoid the ball, did not move as Hannon-Dalby picked up and threw to the keeper’s end with Sibley run out by yards.By tea Steel had helped Foakes steer Surrey to 224 for four and, in the day’s last session, the pair kept the scoreboard ticking steadily. Steel hit one memorable extra cover four off Will Rhodes’ medium pace and Foakes, who had completed his half-century on the stroke of tea, punched Rhodes between mid on and the bowlers’ stumps for one of the 16 boundaries in his third championship hundred of the season.

Players who perform well in the Championship regularly get signed for lavish fees by those in the upper echelons of the Premier League.

Take Archie Gray, for example. The 18-year-old shone for Leeds United in the second tier last season, helping the club reach the playoff final. Despite losing, it wasn’t long before Tottenham Hotspur came in with a £30m offer, which was duly accepted.

Elsewhere, Jude Bellingham emerged from the Birmingham City academy to establish himself as one of the finest talents in the Championship. He may have only played 41 games for the Blues, yet this didn’t stop Borussia Dortmund calling in 2020.

The 15 biggest transfer sales in EFL Championship history

Championship clubs have received some eye-watering fees from the biggest clubs in the country and beyond.

By
Ross Kilvington

Jan 29, 2025

Over the years, clubs from the second tier have also spent a lot on players. With finances steadily improving due to more lucrative TV deals, while most clubs have bolstered their profits by selling their best talent for premium prices, Championship sides have never had it so good.

As such, we at Football FanCast look deeper into the top 15 record signings made by clubs from the division below the Premier League.

15

Andre Gray

Brentford to Burnley (£9m)

Burnley’s 2014/15 season ended in relegation after just one season in the top flight, and Sean Dyche wasted no time splashing out the cash.

Andre Gray signed for £9m, becoming a club-record purchase at the time. He netted 23 times to fire Burnley back into the big time, carrying on this form during 2016/17 as the club avoided relegation. Money well spent indeed.

14

Dwight Gayle

Crystal Palace to Newcastle (£10m)

Newcastle United suffered relegation at the end of the 2015/16 Premier League campaign, but it was clear they wanted a swift return to the top flight. This led to the club signing striker Dwight Gayle, who arrived from Crystal Palace in a deal worth a reported £10m.

A return of 23 goals in just 32 matches for the Magpies signified how important a signing Gayle was, helping lead the club back to the promised land after just one season away.

The 35-year-old is currently playing for Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.

13

Maxime Esteve

Montpellier to Burnley (£10m)

Vincent Kompany signed Maxime Esteve on a loan deal in January 2024, hoping that his presence would help Burnley avoid the drop.

While the Frenchman became a key member of the starting XI, it wasn’t enough to save the club from slipping back into the Championship. However, this didn’t stop the Clarets from splashing out £10m to secure his services permanently after their relegation.

At the time of writing, he has yet to miss a league game for the club as they seek an immediate return to the Premier League.

12

Isaac Mbenza

Montpellier to Huddersfield (£11m)

Isaac Mbenza moved to Huddersfield Town on loan ahead of the 2018/19 season, but he couldn’t keep the club in the top division, despite netting against Manchester United.

A reported fee of £11m was agreed so that Mbenza would remain at Huddersfield, yet the winger would play just 43 games over the next two seasons before departing in 2021. Not the best way to spend a chunk of their parachute payment.

11

Matt Ritchie

Bournemouth to Newcastle (£12m)

Rafa Benitez wasted no time in bolstering his Newcastle squad after relegation in 2016. Dwight Gayle had joined, but it was the signing of Matt Ritchie which looked like the most impressive piece of business.

10 goal involvements for Bournemouth the season prior went a long way in the Cherries retaining their Premier League status, and this saw Newcastle spend £12m to secure his signature.

He went on to make over 200 appearances for the Magpies across the next eight seasons.

10

Ross McCormack

Fulham to Aston Villa (£12m)

In the same summer that Villa spent big money on signing Jonathan Kodjia, another striker also arrived at Villa Park. Ross McCormack had sparkled at Fulham, but a bid of £12m was always going to be accepted, despite his talents in front of goal.

The move soon turned into a nightmare. McCormack would manage just three goals during his spell with the club, working out at £4m each. Hardly money well spent in the transfer market.

9

Benik Afobe

Wolves to Stoke (£12m)

Benik Afobe helped Wolverhampton Wanderers secure the Championship title in 2018, leading the club to make his loan deal permanent.

However, he was on the move just two weeks later to Stoke City, who offered £12m for the striker. The move didn’t exactly work out as expected, especially considering the fee spent.

Across 51 matches for the Potters, Afobe managed a paltry nine goals and has since embarked on a nomadic career which has seen him play in Turkey and Qatar.

8

Harry Wilson

Liverpool to Fulham (£12m)

Fulham spent big during the summer of 2021 in a bid to secure promotion to the Premier League with Harry Wilson joining the Cottagers for £12m – and it turned out to be a crucial signing.

The Welshman was excellent throughout 2021/22, scoring 10 league goals while registering 20 assists in the second tier. He has continued to impress in the top flight, helping the club establish themselves as a solid Premier League outfit under Marco Silva.

7

Joel Piroe

Swansea to Leeds (£12m)

Joel Piroe emerged as one of the deadliest strikers in the second tier during his time with Swansea City. He scored 46 goals in 96 games for the Welsh side, ensuring there was plenty of interest in him during the summer of 2023.

Indeed, it would be Leeds United who would win the race, splashing out £12m on the Dutchman – and it looks like money well spent.

Since making the move to West Yorkshire, Piroe has netted 24 goals, and he will be hoping to end the club’s exile from the top flight this season.

6

Helder Costa

Benfica to Wolves (£13m)

Wolves spent what was a club-record fee of £13m to bring Helder Costa to the Midlands in January 2017, despite sitting 18th in the league table at the time.

He enjoyed a remarkable start, contributing 18 goal involvements during his first six months, before aiding the side as they cruised to the Championship title the following season, scoring five times.

That was as good as it would get for the winger, who scored only once more for Wolves.

Head coach McDonald ‘surprised’ at how aggressive England were against Boland at Edgbaston

Andrew McGlashan22-Jun-2023Scott Boland’s place in Australia’s side is likely to come under scrutiny for the second Test at Lord’s after he was taken for nearly six an over at Edgbaston.Head coach Andrew McDonald admitted there was some surprise at how aggressive England’s batters were against Boland who conceded 147 from 26 overs across the two innings, making it his highest economy rate in a first-class match where he’s bowled at least 20 overs by some distance.Related

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“We’d seen the way they go about it, they are ultra-aggressive,” McDonald said. “But I think Scott Boland, that match-up probably surprised us how aggressive they were against Scott. So that’s something we can look at and find better ways through.”Boland did dismiss Zak Crawley twice the game and was threatening under gloomy skies on the third evening, but for the first time in his Test career he was largely treated with disdain.Mitchell Starc, who was omitted in favour of Josh Hazlewood in the first Test, could be a straight swap for Boland, provided Hazlewood pulls up without problems from his return to the format.McDonald suggested that with a degree of hindsight about how conditions played out at Edgbaston, where the pitch was largely flat and slow, Starc could have had an impact.”I think the fact the line and length potentially over left-arm swing, and we didn’t feel as though we may have got swinging conditions here,” he said. “It’s really down to a gut feel at selection, it can be critiqued any way you want.”We feel as though, looking back on it, potentially Mitch could have played a role, there’s no doubt about that. But we felt like when we went into the game with all the information that we had, we made the best decision.Mitchell Starc was omitted in favour of Josh Hazlewood in the first Test•Getty Images”We took Starcy on that journey, he understands that and he understands the fact there are four more Test matches and he’s got a pivotal part to play within that.”One of the knock-on effects of England playing at such a rapid tempo is that the fast bowlers did not clock up massive workloads at Edgbaston. Captain Pat Cummins sent down the most with 32.2 overs and Hazlewood was used for 25 alongside Boland’s 26. Allrounder Cameron Green bowled just eight.McDonald said there was a plan mapped out of which bowlers may suit certain venues but that it could also be adjusted on the fly.”Our bowlers didn’t bowl as many overs as we probably expected in this Test match,” he said. “There’s a longer turnaround, so you can have a pencil plan but the reality is you see how they pull up, what the conditions are when we get to Lord’s, and you make a decision with what’s in front of you. The issue is we’ve got great depth in the fast bowling, and that’s one of our great strengths.”On the field, Australia played a largely defensive game during the opening Test, operating with three or four sweepers for large periods and sometimes only a slip and a gully. It was a tactic flagged before the series but came in for scrutiny which would likely have escalated had Cummins and Nathan Lyon not forged their match-winning stand. However, McDonald wasn’t going to be drawn into judging one team’s approach over another.”I think it should be more a celebration,” he said. “Two styles come together and produce a Test match like that. Certainly no vindication, we’ll go about it our way and England will go about it their way and we’ll see what happens at the end of the series.”We’re clear from the way that we play. I’ve suggested over the last 12-18 months it’s pretty clear the way that we do go and we feel as though we’ve got some great strengths around that.”

Sunderland haven’t always found life in the Premier League to be the smoothest experience.

Indeed, the Black Cats have finished rock bottom of the top-flight pile a miserable total of three times, with Regis Le Bris now desperately hoping he won’t be another dire face added to the list of managers who have sunk the Wearside outfit.

Sunderland’s chances of immediately staying afloat have been negatively impacted by Jobe Bellingham’s expected departure to Borussia Dortmund officially going through, but new signings galore will certainly soften that blow.

The top-flight underdogs won’t just be hunting down midfielders to replace their teenage sensation, however, with one new potential defensive addition already being lined up that could see the Stadium of Light outfit land their next version of Patrick Van Aanholt.

Van Aanholt's memorable Sunderland stint

Now back in his native Netherlands to see out his career, the attack-minded left-back was previously a fan’s favourite on Wearside when the Black Cats were in the Premier League during the 2010s.

In total, Van Aanholt would go on to amass a hefty nine goals and ten assists for the regular Wearside strugglers from 95 appearances, before banking Sunderland a sturdy £14m in 2017 when moving onto Crystal Palace.

Le Bris will hope as his team embarks on their new Premier League adventure that they can be as daring as the Dutchman once was coming out from defence, with right-back Trai Hume already proving last season his gung-ho qualities when chipping in with three goals and six assists in league action.

To complement Hume’s forward-thinking approach on the right channel, the Black Cats could be about to welcome a modern iteration of Van Aanholt into the building, with this goal-and-assist-heavy Spaniard now tipped to join the newly promoted team’s ranks.

Sunderland targeting new Van Aanholt

Le Bris’ men are slightly light in the left-back department, with the Premier League new boys only having Dennis Cirkin and Leo Hjelde to call upon there.

To boost their numbers down the left-hand side, Sunderland could soon snap up the services of wantaway Aston Villa defender Alex Moreno, with reports from Spain filtering through that the Black Cats are keen on adding the left-back to their roster for only £5m. They aren’t alone in their interest, unfortunately, with fellow newly promoted side Burnley also eyeing him up.

Before being chucked out on loan to Nottingham Forest for more minutes, Moreno did operate as a useful bright spark for Unai Emery’s men, as seen in this delightful effort cannoning in when Villa plied their trade in the Conference League back in 2023.

That is just one of three goals the “sensational” ace – as he was once labelled glowingly by football journalist Charlie Haffenden – has managed to pick up for Villa, with his vast career beyond England also further affirming his eye for a goal and assist.

His defensive class has been evident too, after picking up a respectable seven clean sheets across his Premier League playing days to date.

In total, Moreno has collected a healthy 56 goal contributions across his varied career, meaning he could soon go on to be Sunderland’s second coming of Van Aanholt down the left, such is his front-foot approach. Like the Dutchman – whom the Black Cats signed from Chelsea – Moreno would also be arriving from a Premier League rival, should he move to Wearside.

It will be a tough ask for Sunderland to come out on top in the race for the experienced full-back’s services – with Leeds United also hunting down the 32-year-old’s in-demand signature – but it would be a real statement buy if they were successful.

After all, Van Aanholt was last regularly rampaging down the left at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland were a Premier League regular, with Moreno perhaps the sort of buy the Black Cats need to make to become a top-flight staple again.

Sky Sports: Sunderland now in direct contact to sign £17m Ligue 1 forward

The Black Cats are looking to continue their summer business.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 10, 2025

Two 25-year-olds come to watch an MLC game to just knock off a bucket list item, only to return home as cricket fans

Peter Della Penna17-Jul-2023The national anthem had just finished playing at the Grand Prairie Stadium, and night three of Major League Cricket in Texas was moments away from the first ball. As the players took the field, a pair of 25-year-olds with a Jacob deGrom Texas Rangers jersey and a Ronald Acuna Jr. Atlanta Braves jersey walked with cups of beer in their hands toward their seats on the north side of the stadium.”Never been [to a cricket match and we’re] sports guys so I was like we might as well go watch it one time, go watch some ball and stick,” Parker Janse, who played shortstop and second base for the Stephen F Austin University college baseball team in Nacogdoches – known as the Lumberjacks – said. “I live in Dallas, it’s on the way home. We’ll stop by for the cricket for a little bit.”Janse, along with his dad Kevin – a Dallas police officer – and friend Jeremy Rodriguez, a former team-mate at Stephen F. Austin who is now on the coaching staff for the baseball team as the director of analytics and player development, were along for the ride. Earlier in the day, Janse paid US $325 for seats in the fourth row behind home plate as a birthday gift for his dad to watch the Texas Rangers beat the Cleveland Guardians 2-0. The game ended at 5.35pm, plenty of time to drive seven miles towards Dallas and stop off to buy a $30 ticket at the Grand Prairie Stadium to see San Francisco Unicorns take on Seattle Orcas.Related

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“Before this morning, nothing,” Janse said, when asked what he knew about cricket, other than that he also had an ex-girlfriend whose surname was Cricket. “We watched a few YouTube videos to get us ready for it. Kind of like a bucket list thing. We love all sports. We’re all in with the Orcas. Save the Orcas! They were handing these flags out [at the entrance gates] so it just solidified that we were going for them. We didn’t know who was playing until we walked in.””That’s not true,” Rodriguez cut in. “I texted you and said it was the Unicorns and the Orcas.””I thought that was a joke.””I was being dead serious.””I did not realise that it was actually the Unicorns vs the Orcas.””You wanna know something crazy?” Rodriguez, who is originally from Houston but now lives in Nacogdoches, 180 miles southeast of Grand Prairie, asked. “When we played baseball, we played here at the Airhogs Stadium before it became a cricket place. We used to play here a lot, actually. There used to be a swimming pool over there.” Rodriguez pointed to an area behind what used to be the outfield fence where part of the original entertainment zone, including a pool, had been removed to accommodate the renovation of the facility for cricket.A few minutes into play, Quinton de Kock tried to flick over the leg side and was bowled, drawing the first reaction out of Janse.”Ohhhh! A wicket! He’s out!” Janse shouted.”That’s our guy though,” Rodriguez shouted back. “We’re on the Orcas. So that’s not very exciting… We also know how to read the scoreboard now. Nine runs for one out for Seattle right now. The bowlers get six pitches and then they have to rotate.”A few minutes later, Orcas were back on track as Nauman Anwar hit a four back down the ground off Carmi le Roux straight towards Janse and Rodriguez.MLC staffer Christopher White shows a cricket ball for new fans and former college baseball players Jeremy Rodriguez and Parker Janse to get a feel of•Peter Della Penna”Ohhh, that’s gonna bounce over the fence. That’s gonna be four!” Janse shouted as he grabbed his Orcas flag and started waving it vigorously. “That’s four! How do you make an Orca sound? Arrrrr Arrrr Arrrr!!!” As Tajinder Singh Dhillon went to retrieve the ball near the boundary rope, Janse broke out the baseball fan-style trash talk. “Hey Dhillon! Probably wish you were on the Orcas, huh pal!”After a brisk start though, Anwar got out to a short ball he struggled to fend away, popping it up tamely to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade. Rodriguez didn’t hold back with his disappointment while looking at the replay on the stadium’s giant video board.”Oh, look at that checked swing, Jesus Christ,” Rodriguez blurted out before screaming towards Anwar walking off, “Hey! If you’re gonna swing the bat, swing it! Let’s go!””He got jammed!” Janse argued.”I don’t care if he got jammed. Get your bat through the zone and let it rip!”In the eighth over, cricket’s two newest fans were busy heckling Unicorns fielder Chaitanya Bishnoi. He was wearing jersey number 10 and was being shuffled around moving from deep fine leg to being asked to come back to field inside the 30-yard circle at short fine leg. “Ohhh… he is lost! Get this guy a map! Get this guy a map!” Janse shouted.But then Janse and Rodriguez saw something they had never come across on a baseball field. Shehan Jayasuriya walked across his stumps to play a ramped flick wide of the wicketkeeper for four. Initially, Janse and Rodriguez were slightly confused as Janse proclaimed, “I thought it was a foul ball to the backstop, but it’s four runs.” Then the replay of the shot was shown from the stump cam angle, eliciting a greater reaction.”Oh, my god. That was electric! That was electric!” Janse shouted before praising Jayasuriya’s shot selection further. “That’s situational hitting. He knew that number 10 was lost. He heard me tell him to get a map, so he knew that it was open out here.”At the end of the eighth over, Marcus Stoinis, wearing jersey number 17 for Unicorns, arrived nearby to field on the long-off boundary. Janse and Rodriguez didn’t hesitate to engage him.

“It’s quite a personal stadium in terms of like you can interact with the crowd. The crowd feels close, and you can hear what they’re saying and stuff like that, so it’s good to have a chat.”Marcus Stoinis

“Seventeen, I need your bicep curl routine,” Janse shouted. “That’s a hammer curl guy. You do a lot of hammers, a lotta hammer curls.”Stoinis couldn’t help but crack a smile before making the hammer curl motion while looking at Janse and Rodriguez, prompting the latter to scream, “Yeaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!””I can tell you’re rippin the hammer curls,” Janse shouted out again before turning to Rodriguez with further analysis. “He’s 100% jacked. He’s humongous. He would eat me.”A short while after this exchange, two MLC employees came by to say hello to these passionate and boisterous first-time fans. They were Christopher White, brother of Unicorns squad member David White, and Zubin Surkari. When Janse and Rodriguez were informed that Surkari’s most famous cricket moment was being hit in the box by a 95 mph full toss from Shaun Tait when Canada played Australia in the 2011 World Cup in India, Janse went straight to his phone to look it up on YouTube.Rodriguez: “Oh my god. You look in agony! You’re in so much pain.”Janse: “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh…. Oh my god. I’m so sorry! Ohhhhhhhhh….”Rodriguez: “Are you friends with that guy?”Surkari: “He bought me a beer afterward.”Rodriguez: “How many sixes did you hit off him?”Surkari: “I was out next ball.”

****

A few overs later, new batter Shimron Hetmyer skied a chance over short third where Haris Rauf, wearing jersey number 97 for Unicorns, backpedalled but couldn’t hold on to a chance. As the ball was in the air, Janse could see it was going to be a tough one.”You’re not catching that…. Told you! Ohhhhhhh…. Butterfingers!” Janse shouted. “Lay off the chicken wings there 97!””Ninety-seven in speed, zero in ball skills!” Rodriguez layered on top. “It was a can of corn. All he had to do is lay out.”In the next over, Stoinis was back fielding on the long-off boundary where he ran to his right to make an athletic stop, drawing more praise.”That’s great fielding there, 17,” Janse shouted. “Yes, sir! Way to push through the ball. Yes, sir! Hammer curls! Hammmeerrrrr currrrrrlsssssss!!!”Yo 17! How many sixes you got in you today?! Five, four?””Hopefully a few!” Stoinis shouted back in between a few laughs.”I think that means four in Australian,” Rodriguez said. “He’s gotta be my favorite player. He’s 17. Hammer curls. He’s sick. He’s ripped out of his mind. You know what? I think he just requested a trade to the Orcas. He’ll be on the Orcas by the end of the week. Is there a trade deadline coming up? Don’t worry, he’s gonna be there.”Marcus Stoinis: ‘It’s great that the American crew are getting engaged with cricket’•SportzpicsA quick Google search on the phone revealed that Stoinis was nicknamed “Oil”, allegedly because his Australian team-mates caught him greasing up tanning oil in the mirror. It only endeared him to Janse and Rodriguez even more as they watched him run from long-on to long-off, pulling double-duty fielding on the straight boundary alternating between overs.”I love this guy. I love him so much,” Janse said. “He’s the center fielder, basically. That’s Mike Trout. Their best fielder and hits with some ammo. So, he’s our favourite player. We’re 100% gonna watch his highlights when we get home.”Janse and Rodriguez watched Stoinis bowl the 17th over, cheering on by shouting “Oil! Oilllllll!!” as they got up and walked next to the sightscreen before leaving to go home for the night. After looking to just knock off a bucket list item, they want to come to the stadium and watch more cricket in the future. Stoinis and Unicorns may have lost on the night, but he won two new Texan cricket fans.”It was a few good interactions,” Stoinis told ESPNcricinfo after the game when asked about his particular exchanges with Janse and Rodriguez. “A bit of the usual sort of gym questions, bicep questions and that sort of stuff. So it was good fun, good energy and good supporters. This was much less hostile. This was good banter. Usually, it’s a passionate supporter from the other team in the other country. It’s quite a personal stadium in terms of like you can interact with the crowd. The crowd feels close, and you can hear what they’re saying and stuff like that, so it’s good to have a chat with a few of the fans.”I just think it’s great that the American crew are getting engaged with it, and they obviously understand pretty quickly how the sport is going. Even just talking to a few of the security guys, they were loving it. I asked one of them if their mates would be interested in watching cricket and if they’d come down to these games and they said ‘absolutely’. So it was nice. It feels like it’s being received well. It’s exciting for cricket to be played in the US, so hopefully, more and more people come and check it out.”

It’s not really worked for West Indies so far, but their spiritual successors have made a strong start, and have Pakistan’s bowlers in their sights

Matt Roller28-Oct-2021It was the batting approach that defined the most successful men’s T20 international side of the last decade: why worry about minimising dot balls when you can hit more sixes than the opposition? West Indies embraced that volatile, high-risk, high-reward strategy on their way to winning the 2012 and 2016 World Cups but it has faltered so far in the UAE: lose to Bangladesh on Friday and they will effectively be knocked out less than a week after their title defence began.But West Indies have natural successors as the poster boys for their focus on six-hitting. In the five-and-a-half years between men’s T20 World Cups, Afghanistan were by far the closest team to West Indies in terms of balls per six, dot-ball percentage, and ratio between fours and sixes. They have adopted a similar gameplan: packing their batting line-up with power-hitters rather than strike-rotators, and accepting that occasional low scores were worth the trade-off. “Boundary-hitting and outscoring the opposition in terms of boundaries is very important to your chances of success in T20,” Andy Flower, their consultant coach, said in the build-up to this tournament.But Pakistan, their opponents on Friday, will present a stern challenge. They have restricted India and New Zealand to 151 and 134 respectively in their first two games and their attack is an enticing combination of left-arm swing, two right-arm quicks, and three different types of spinner. With the game played in Dubai – where even West Indies’ power-hitters have struggled to clear the vast boundaries – Afghanistan’s batters will need to strike a balance, looking to target specific bowlers when match-ups are favourable.”We don’t have that kind of mindset that we just have to focus on hitting many sixes. You have to adjust yourself with the wicket as well,” Rashid said on Thursday in a virtual press conference. “Initially it’s very hard to go out and start hitting sixes and that’s what happened in the last couple of warm-up games against West Indies and also the main game against Scotland: the openers took a bit of time in the middle and they read the conditions, they read the situation, and then started going hard.”It’s all about targeting your own bowler and when you get that, you have to target that. It’s not about just going across for every ball. Whenever we get the opportunity to score some runs and we get the balls in our own zone, we as a team, we have that planning that we just need to go there and finish it with full confidence.”It’s not just about hitting too many sixes. These grounds are very hard to hit sixes [on], the wickets are not as good to hit the sixes. But still, taking ones, twos and boundaries will be something that is very key.”As ever with Afghanistan, there is a wider context to their performances. This World Cup is their first series since the withdrawal of US troops and the Taliban’s takeover and while Rashid insisted that “things are getting better, getting normal back home”, he reiterated that it was crucial for his team to “give [people] the kind of performances and kind of wins that they can celebrate” at a time of upheaval and distress.”We have only this thing in the mind: that we’re here for the World Cup,” he said. “We’re playing five games and we need to win three games. We have the skills and quality in the team that we can qualify for the semi-finals. That’s the only thing at the moment in the mind of each and every player. You can only do what’s in your hands.”It’s in our hands to play the five games of this group stage and try to qualify to the semi-finals and make the country proud.” If their batting line-up clicks on Friday, they will be well-placed to do just that.

MatériaMais Notícias

da bet sport： O São Paulo pode conquistar o título inédito da Copa do Brasil neste domingo (24). Após derrotar o Flamengo por 1 a 0 na partida de ida, no Maracanã, o Tricolor tem a vantagem do empate para se consagrar campeão. O jogo de volta acontece às 16h, no Morumbi. Diante de sua torcida, que já esgotou os ingressos para a decisão, a equipe são-paulina pode chegar à sua 21ª taça conquistada no Cícero Pompeu de Toledo.

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da imperador bet： + Flamengo x São Paulo na Copa do Brasil: saiba os clubes com mais títulos da competição

Somando títulos de Campeonato Paulista, Campeonato Brasileiro, Libertadores, Sul-Americana, Torneio Rio-São Paulo e Supercopa, o São Paulo já levantou 20 taças no Morumbi, sendo 17 em competições de mata-mata, tendo o Morumbi como uma verdadeira “casa pé quente”. A última conquista do Tricolor Paulista foi justamente em seu estádio: o Paulistão de 2021, diante do Palmeiras.

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Em busca da conquista inédita da Copa do Brasil, a equipe de Dorival Júnior quer confirmar a vantagem diante do Rubro-Negro e acrescentar mais um importante título a sua sala de troféus. Veja abaixo todos os títulos conquistados pelo São Paulo no Morumbi:

A difficult two years for the MCG pitch has continued with a Sheffield Shield match abandoned

Andrew McGlashan08-Dec-20195:18

What’s the fuss about Drop-In pitches?

December 2017The Ashes Test turned into a bore draw on a pitch that started without much life and got even more lifeless. Alastair Cook enjoyed it with 244 not out, but few others gained much from spectacle. The ICC rated the pitched “poor”, the first time an international surface in Australia had been given that mark, which effectively put the ground on notice over its future pitches. The pitch had been overseen at a time when the MCG was between head groundsman with Matt Page, who had been announced as David Sandurski’s replacement, yet to begin his role. The 2017-18 season would finish without a single outright result in a first-class match at the MCG.October 2018Under Page’s watch, attempts were made to bring life back to the MCG’s drop-in pitches. In the first part of the domestic season there was an innings win for Victoria (during which Marnus Harris scored 250) and draws with South Australia (which would have been a positive result but for a final-day washout) and Western Australia with a good spread of totals from 159 to 445.ALSO READ: ‘Unplayable’ MCG pitch was a ‘genuine’ risk to playersDecember 2018Details emerged of the long-term planning being put in place by Page to try and rejuvenate the pitch, updating the old-school drop-in pitch technology used at the ground to match those used at the Adelaide Oval – which had managed to produce entertaining drop-in surfaces – and the new Perth Stadium.”It may take us three to five years to get there, in terms of projects we want to knock off, but the Melbourne Cricket Club management have been really supportive of that and have been prepared to do whatever it takes to get to that overall goal,” Page said. “What emerged was these are the sorts of wickets we want to be renowned for in terms of giving everyone a chance. How do we go about doing that? As a part of that, it was seen that we need to look at what’s sitting under the wickets in the middle, how can we improve our wicket nursery, and then how do we start measuring pitch performance.”The pitch which forced the Sheffield Shield match to be called off•Getty ImagesDecember 2018A year on from the Ashes, the Test against India produced a result – a handsome 137-run victory for the visitors – but the pitch did not pass with flying colours. It was more the excellence of Jasprit Bumrah, with a great spell on the third day, that hastened the game forward after India had ground out 7 for 443 at 2.61 runs per over. The ICC rated the surface “average”, so not at the alarming level of 12 months previous but an indication there was still work to be done.November 2019After extensive work leading into the 2019-2020 season, the surface for the first Sheffield Shield match of the season received positive reviews for the pace and carry on offer for the quicks while legspinner Mitchell Swepson had a big say in Queensland’s victory. The match against New South Wales fizzled out into a draw because of rain over the last two days although Victoria captain Peter Handscomb believed more still needed to be done.”[The] MCG pitch hasn’t deteriorated for 10 years,” he told the . “So I think we need to start making the game accelerate at the start of it, maybe make it a bit greener like it is in Hobart where the game accelerates at the start and then becomes a good batting wicket after that. But that’s up to the groundsman and see how they go.”December 2019The opening day of the match against Western Australia was suspended in the 40th over after batsmen repeatedly took blows on the body with deliveries rearing from a good length and the match subsequently abandoned. The issue was understood to stem from how soft the surface was when play began; the fast bowlers created divots with their deliveries which then led to uneven bounce as they hardened. This was not the pitch due to be used for the Test against New Zealand.

A Champions League club are now “pushing hard” to sign a Sunderland star “immediately”, with a bid currently in the works, according to Sky Sports reporter Patrick Berger.

Wembley trip on the horizon for the Black Cats

The Black Cats didn’t exactly finish the Championship campaign in ideal fashion, losing their final five games, but they have managed to turn on the style when it matters, booking their spot at Wembley for the play-off final with a dramatic victory against Coventry City.

However, Regis Le Bris isn’t content with simply reaching the final, with the manager insisting his side must get the job done, saying: “Our focus is now fully on the final. It’s really clear — this is the main objective of the season.

“We have to take the final step. It will be tough, but we must put the work in now to make sure we’re ready.”

The importance of Sunderland restoring their Premier League status cannot be understated, not least because they could have a battle trying to keep hold of their key players beyond the summer, should they fail to return to the top flight.

In fact, in an update on X, Berger has now revealed that Borussia Dortmund are “pushing hard” to sign Jobe Bellingham “immediately”, with the German club keen to sign the midfielder prior to this summer’s Club World Cup.

An offer is currently being prepared, which Dortmund are planning to submit after Saturday’s play-off final, although they are yet to reach an agreement with Bellingham on personal terms, and they don’t believe they are in pole position for the youngster.

Should the Black Cats be willing to sanction a departure this summer, they would be looking to receive a fee of €25m – €30m (£21m – £25m).

Black Cats could struggle to keep hold of Bellingham even if they go up

It could be a very difficult task for Le Bris’ side to keep hold of the 19-year-old beyond the summer, given that a number of other English clubs are also in the race for his signature, such as Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.

The hope will be that the teenager is tempted to test himself in the Premier League, should Sunderland prevail against Sheffield United, but the opportunity to play in the Champions League could be tempting, with Dortmund recently securing qualification for next season’s competition.

Sunderland now want to sign 26 y/o defender who has just been relegated

He is expected to leave his current club.

By
Henry Jackson

May 20, 2025

In truth, news of Dortmund’s increased interest is an unwanted distraction ahead of the play-off final, and full focus must remain on Saturday’s game, which could be pivotal in terms of Sunderland’s future trajectory.

The Championship play-off final has become known as the ‘richest game in football’, and this year’s edition is set to be the most lucrative to date, with the winners set to receive a minimum of £220m in extra income next season.

Arsenal have finalised the signing of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea after activating a £5 million ($7m) release clause in his contract. This transfer marks the end of Arrizabalaga’s seven-year spell at Chelsea, during which he made 163 appearances and secured four major trophies. His initial switch to the Blues in 2018 from Athletic Club for £72m ($99m) still stands as the most expensive transfer ever for a goalkeeper.

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• Arsenal sign Arrizabalaga
• The Gunners add competition for Raya
• Spaniard ready to fight for his place

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite knowing that David Raya remains firmly established as Arsenal's starting goalkeeper, Arrizabalaga is not daunted by the competition. Sources close to the player reportedly suggest he is prepared to push hard for playing time and offer both depth and experience to the squad.

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• (C)Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In the summer of 2024, Arrizabalaga extended his stay at Chelsea by a year, keeping him under contract until June 2026. However, shortly after renewing, he was loaned out to Bournemouth for the 2024–25 season. At Bournemouth, Arrizabalaga replaced the experienced Neto, who ironically joined Arsenal on loan, as the Cherries’ first-choice keeper. The Spaniard excelled under manager Andoni Iraola, playing 35 Premier League matches and securing nine clean sheets.

• WHAT ARRIZABLAGA SAID

  After sealing his transfer to Arsenal, Arrizabalaga wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram: "THANK YOU, CHELSEA. After seven unforgettable years, the time has come to close a very special chapter in my life. Chelsea was my home, my family, and the place where I grew both as a footballer and as a person.
  
  "I arrived full of dreams and I leave with unforgettable memories: titles like the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup… but above all, moments shared with incredible people on and off the pitch. Thank you to the coaches, the staff, my teammates, and most of all, to you, the fans. Wearing this badge has been an honour and a source of pride. Now a new chapter begins, and I face it with the same passion and commitment as always. I leave with a heart full of gratitude. With love and respect, Kepa Arrizabalaga."

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR KEPA?

  Arsenal’s technical staff have reportedly admired Kepa for years, and this move ends a long-running interest, as revealed by . The minimal release fee made him an attractive option for several clubs, but it was the north London side that ultimately secured his signature.