تتواصل الاستعدادات المكثفة لانطلاق الموسم الكروي الجديد 2025-2026، حيث يشهد اليوم الأحد الموافق 3-8-2025، عددًا من المباريات الودية المثيرة التي تجمع كبار الأندية الأوروبية والعربية في مواجهات تحضيرية تحمل طابعًا تنافسيًا رغم طابعها غير الرسمي.

وتحظى هذه المباريات باهتمام جماهيري وإعلامي واسع، خاصة أنها تأتي قبل أيام قليلة من انطلاق الدوريات المحلية في مختلف البلدان، ما يجعلها فرصة أخيرة للمديرين الفنيين لاختبار جاهزية اللاعبين وتحديد التشكيل الأساسي الذي سيخوض غمار المنافسات الرسمية.

وتتجه الأنظار في مصر اليوم إلى النادي الأهلي الذي يخوض مواجهتين وديتين ضمن برنامج الإعداد للموسم الجديد، حيث يلتقي أولًا مع منتخب الشباب، قبل أن يعود للمشاركة في لقاء ودي آخر أمام فريق بتروجيت، وذلك ضمن خطة الجهاز الفني لتجربة أكبر عدد من اللاعبين وتحقيق الجاهزية الكاملة قبل انطلاق الدوري يوم 8 أغسطس.

وفي الوقت نفسه، يترقب عشاق الكرة الأفريقية منافسات بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين، والتي تُستكمل اليوم بثلاث مواجهات قوية، أبرزها لقاء المنتخب المغربي أمام نظيره الأنجولي.

وتتنوع المباريات الودية الأوروبية لتشمل مواجهات بين فرق بارزة مثل نيوكاسل وتوتنهام، وبورتو وأتلتيكو مدريد، ما يجعل اليوم الكروي زاخرًا بالإثارة والتشويق.

طالع أيضًا | جوائز دير جيست.. إمام عاشور أفضل لاعب في الدوري المصري 2024-2025 مواعيد مباريات اليوم الأحد 3-8-2025 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد مباريات كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين اليوم

كينيا ضد الكونغو الديمقراطية، الساعة 3 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “بي إن سبورتس”.

المغرب ضد أنجولا، الساعة 6 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “بي إن سبورتس”.

مدغشقر ضد موريتانيا، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “بي إن سبورتس”. مواعيد المباريات الودية اليوم

نيوكاسل ضد توتنهام، الساعة 2 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

ليستر سيتي ضد فيورنتينا، الساعة 5 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

الأهلي ضد منتخب الشباب، الساعة 6 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

السد ضد الاتفاق، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

نابولي ضد بريست، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

الأهلي ضد بتروجيت، الساعة 9 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

بورتو ضد أتلتيكو مدريد، الساعة 9 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

CA’s implicit argument that domestic cricketers are non-earning assets, and thus less deserving of good pay, is disingenuous and unlikely to pass muster

Daniel Brettig06-Apr-20174:17

Brettig: Players want a significant say in financial matters

In May 2014, Australia’s then treasurer, Joe Hockey, handed down his first federal budget in which he characterised a point of difference between those who contributed to the nation’s economy and those who did not. “We must always remember that when one person receives an entitlement from the government,” he said, “it comes out of the pocket of another Australian.” His speech ended with the phrase “we are nation of lifters, not leaners”.A little less than three years later, a similar sentiment pervades Cricket Australia’s formal pay offer to the Australian Cricketers’ Association. The recurring theme is that international cricketers fund the game, and are doing their domestic colleagues a mighty favour by bankrolling state and Big Bash League contracts.The document is littered with references to how international players deserve credit for sharing the money they earn with domestic players. On page six: “CA commends international men for continuing to support domestic cricket.” Page eight: “International men should also be commended for continuing to support domestic players.” Page 21: “International men deserve significant credit for supporting domestic players given that domestic cricket does not generate a financial surplus.”In summary, Australia’s international players have been deemed the game’s “lifters”, and domestic players the “leaners”. Following that logic, CA have indicated that rises in domestic player wages will be minimal over the next five years, with only international players eligible to share in any surpluses above projections.

The logic applied to the pay offer would appear to suggest that Australian cricket exists in distinctly separate realms: international players having nothing to do with their domestic counterparts. This is a hard claim to justify

Even this measure, allowing international men and women to share in the money raised from the staging of the matches in which they play, is merely vestigial next to what was available in the past. It is the only sliver of “blue sky” left for any players under the current deal, in sharp contrast to the fixed revenue percentage inked into all previous pay deals between CA and the ACA.Yet, the logic applied to the pay offer would appear to suggest that Australian cricket exists in distinctly separate realms: international players having nothing to do with their domestic counterparts and vice-versa. This is a hard claim to justify in light of the fact that the Sheffield Shield has long been described as the breeding ground for Australia’s Test team, while the recent growth of the BBL has put domestic players at the forefront of an area that stands to reap rich financial returns for CA over the coming decades.It has been odd to hear CA’s chief executive James Sutherland consistently talking up the BBL’s burgeoning status as a source of new fans but also new revenue for the game over the past six years, then contorting his logic in the context of the pay offer by saying: “It’s true that on the surface, the BBL may be starting to break even in certain quarters, but we’ve still got a very significant deficit from previous years”. Estimates for next year’s looming renewal of the BBL television rights deal have its value tripling from A$100 million (US$76m approx) to A$300 million (US$227m approx).Equally, all the game’s broadcast and commercial partners are happy to invest in Australian cricket out of the belief that domestic competitions are strong enough to produce international players whenever necessary. The success of the likes of Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb, two players moulded as much by the Shield as anything else, over the past season confirmed that this low-profile competition is vital to maintaining the standard of talent coming into the teams that generate the revenue CA builds its operations around.This is all without mentioning that CA has itself been pushing for greater cooperation across the nation over the past eight years, starting with the Australian Cricket Conference in 2010. That event led to reforms such as the start of the BBL, the introduction of an independent CA board of directors, and even the adoption of a national philosophy called “One Team”, meaning that CA and the state associations should all be pushing in one direction, leaving old differences behind. The pay offer’s repeated assertions that domestic players do not contribute to the financial whole make for quite the contradiction to all this – One Team, or divide and conquer?Cast in the role of Hockey for CA is Kevin Roberts, the board’s head of strategy and people, appointed after serving first as one of its first independent directors, and a former Sheffield Shield cricketer himself. Roberts is fair-minded and sharp, and has at least avoided Hockey’s mistake of being caught smoking a cigar on the day the 2014 budget was announced. But like the former treasurer, he has been caught between competing demands and ideologies – those that have been in place for two decades, and those of the new board and its chairman, the former Rio Tinto managing director David Peever.Things get curiouser still when examining the rich – and deserved – increases in pay allocated to female cricketers under the offer. In explaining why CA has moved to bring greater financial rewards to the women’s game in advance of the financial returns it currently gains, the board states that research suggests a past deficit is in need of correcting: “Independent experts have highlighted that the historical disproportionate investment in international men’s cricket relative to international women’s cricket has contributed to the value differential between the two.”That is an undeniably fair justification for bringing full professionalism to women’s cricket down under. But it is also an argument that may be applied to domestic cricket across the board, given how the BBL has flourished with the help of greater investment to promote the competition and its players. CA’s appeals to find more money for grass roots falls into similar territory – funding areas that don’t bring direct financial returns but help build the game as a whole.So it must be concluded that the reality of “lifters and leaners” in Australian cricket becomes more complex and nuanced the more closely one looks, not unlike that of the national economy. Which brings us to one more parallel between Hockey’s budget and the CA pay offer: the first was blocked from passing through the Parliament, the second stands about as much chance of being agreed to by the players.

da pixbet： West Ham spent most of the January transfer window chasing a centre-forward for Graham Potter, looking to replace Michail Antonio and Niclas Füllkrug who are out injured.

da heads bet： Eventually, in the final days of the window, a loan deal for Brighton’s Evan Ferguson materialised, reuniting the 20-year-old striker with Potter, who worked with him at Brighton.

However, with such focus on the striker position, the Hammers failed to recruit a midfielder, instead deciding to recall James Ward-Prowse from his Nottingham Forest loan to reinforce the midfield depth.

James Ward-Prowse's return to West Ham

Ward-Prowse joined West Ham in 2023 from Southampton, after Declan Rice left the club, joining for a fee of around £30m. In his first season, the midfielder made 37 Premier League appearances for the Hammers, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists.

But, after David Moyes left the club in the summer, with Julen Lopetegui taking over, it became clear the English midfielder wouldn’t have much of a role under the Spaniard, instead deciding to send him on loan to Nottingham Forest.

The 30-year-old has only made ten Premier League appearances so far this season, providing one assist and totalling 559 minutes to date. So, why bring him back?

James Ward-Prowse past two seasons comparison

Stats (per 90 mins)

2023/24

2024/25

Goals + Assists

0.42

0.16

xG

0.15

0.02

xAG

0.25

0.24

Progressive Carries

0.62

0.43

Progressive Passes

4.48

4.35

Shots Total

1.16

0.48

Key Passes

2.10

0.87

Shot-Creating Actions

3.51

2.17

Tackles + Interceptions

2.33

2.00

Stats taken from FBref

Whilst Potter could use certain qualities such as set-piece ability from Ward-Prowse returning, there is perhaps a better option waiting in the academy ranks, who should be given more of a chance in the second half of this campaign.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Expand Collapse West Ham's very own Carrick and Rice hybrid

West Ham’s 18-year-old midfielder, Lewis Orford, has been given a few chances from the bench since the arrival of Potter and could have been the perfect solution had Ward-Prowse remained at the City Ground.

He’s made two Premier League appearances under Potter already so knows the system. He’s also particularly well thought of with the the English midfielder having made his way through the academy, playing both U18 and U21 football for the club.

John Brewin, speaking to the Guardian, is one rave reviewer, speaking extremely highly of Orford, comparing the midfielder to the likes of Declan Rice and Michael Carrick in terms of his overall ability mixed with his tall and powerful frame.

West Ham clearly need support in this area, after recalling Ward-Prowse, but giving Orford extra minutes wouldn’t hurt at all.

It would prepare him for the future and perhaps even prove he is ready now to contribute at a higher level, fixing a fair few issues the Hammers midfield have had so far this season.

Related Their answer to Ferguson: West Ham must rue letting "incredible" ace leave

West Ham may have already let go of their own Ferguson in 2024

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Feb 4, 2025

With Mohit Sharma confounding batsmen with two kinds of slower balls and Sandeep Sharma firing in yorkers from around the wicket, Kings XI Punjab managed to defend 54 off the last six overs against a power-packed Delhi Daredevils line-up

Sidharth Monga08-May-2016There’s a reason why, going into Saturday night, that teams defending totals had won only nine times in the 35 previous matches. Batting while chasing has gone to the next level, and bowlers are struggling to keep up. It seemed Kings XI Punjab would continue the trend when they had only 53 runs in the bag in the last six overs. Their fielding was coming apart a little. There was dew around. Delhi Daredevils had eight wickets in hand. Only excellent death bowling – a commodity that is becoming rarer every day with heavy bats and short outfields everywhere – could prevent Daredevils from winning. It came from two of the best bowlers in this IPL, Mohit and Sandeep Sharma, with Marcus Stoinis and KC Cariappa contributing an over each.Mohit and Sandeep have arguably been the biggest delight of this otherwise predictable IPL. Sandeep has used the width of both the creases to make his yorkers less predictable. Mohit has added a yorker and an offcutter to his one big trick, the back-of-the-hand slower legcutter. The two have played a big role in all three wins for Kings XI this season.This comeback began with Mohit, who conceded only four runs in the 15th over, although it should have really only been two. He began with a slower legcutter, followed it with a quick bouncer, then the slower offcutter bouncer, and gave Karun Nair the yorker fourth ball. There was no room on the bouncers, the yorker was accurate, and Nair had now faced three dot balls. He had fallen behind a run a ball. The pressure showed in how he didn’t pick the next slower legcutter, only to watch David Miller drop it at wide long-on. Miller, running to his right, dropped the ball because he took his eyes off the ball momentarily to check if there was any danger of Glenn Maxwell, stationed at deep midwicket, was going to collide into him.going for the catch. Maxwell, who had earlier failed to dive for a ball not more than six feet away from him, was nowhere near him. That would have hurt more than the drop.The pressure on Nair, though, didn’t lift, and he lofted one towards Miller in the next over too. Cariappa benefited this time. His over went for just six, and Daredevils now needed 44 in the last three overs. With seven wickets in hand, two of them being Carlos Brathwaite and Chris Morris, Daredevils were still the favourites. The big decision for Kings XI was to be made now. Mohit had one over left, Sandeep had two. If they didn’t bowl Sandeep now, he would have to bowl 18 and 20. They trusted him enough to do so, and asked Stoinis to bowl the 17th.Now Stoinis knew the batsmen had to go after him. He knew the batsmen couldn’t afford to leave too much for the other two bowlers’ overs because they were in good form, and also because Mohali is a big playing field. Stoinis had already gone for 37 in three overs. If he kept up the rate, it would be difficult for the Sharmas to defend. He had to do better. He was up against the in-from Sam Billings and Brathwaite. Billings is dextrous, Brathwaite had hit seven sixes in 23 balls faced before this match. Stoinis gave it away that he was going to bowl slower balls by bringing third man and fine leg up. He wanted the batsmen to hit towards the bigger square boundaries. Brathwaite started cleverly with a bunted two, but Stoinis managed three perfect slower balls to Billings later in the over. The third was a bouncer, which Billings edged to the keeper as he looked to cut him over short third man.Now it was muscle v muscle. Brathwaite and Morris in, 40 to get off three overs, and the first of them would be bowled by a youngster they were hoping to bully. Sandeep bowls yorkers. He doesn’t do slower balls. But his yorkers can be wide, at the stumps, angling across the batsman from round the wicket or at the toes from that angle. On this day he chose to go round the wicket, asking Brathwaite to hit against the angle and into the bigger square boundary on the leg side.Sandeep’s first yorker to Brathwaite was a little short, perhaps by six inches, and Brathwaite whipped it through midwicket with a top-handed grip. Four. Still, Brathwaite knew if Sandeep got the yorker right it would be difficult to keep hitting there. Sandeep followed it with a short-of-a-length slower ball. Brathwaite tried the cute reverse shot over short third man, and missed. It might have looked strange, but Sandeep had executed his plan, bowling into the pitch with a strong leg-side field. Sandeep erred again next ball with Brathwaite biffing the low full toss way back into the stands.This can be demoralising for a young Indian bowler, who would have watched with awe as Brathwaite dismantled Ben Stokes in the World T20 final, but Sandeep didn’t budge from his plan. The next ball was a bouncer, which gave no room, and Brathwaite top-edged it to the deep fielder on the leg side.With 27 to defend in the last two, Mohit delivered the final blow. Four yorkers, a slower legcutter, and an offcutting slower bouncer handcuffed Morris and Rishabh Pant to leave Sandeep 24 to defend. This was excellent defensive bowling without mystery balls or unorthodox actions. This was just good plans and good execution of those plans. In a game with little room for error, this was one performance to cherish.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be targeting the loan signing of a forward from Barcelona, with under-pressure Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou still on the hunt for his first outfield transfer as we approach the business end of January.

Spurs eye new attacker after failed Randal Kolo Muani deal

The Lilywhites were involved in a high-profile race with Juventus for Randal Kolo Muani’s signature recently, but they eventually lost out to the Old Lady.

Tottenham now in pole position to sign "super" £30m Premier League forward

Spurs are the “biggest competitor”.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Jan 22, 2025

Tottenham held discussions with PSG over Kolo Muani, after the France international was deemed surplus to requirements by Luis Enrique and allowed to depart the Parc des Princes before February 3rd.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures	Date
Leicester City (home)	January 26
Brentford (away)	February 2
Man United (home)	February 16
Ipswich Town (home)	February 22
Man City (home)	February 26

The 26-year-old, who bagged a sensational 15 goals and 14 assists in all competitions during his best season at Eintracht Frankfurt, was deemed one of the best versatile forwards available on the market (David Ornstein), so Spurs officials will have been very disappointed to miss out on his services.

Now, Postecoglou’s side have re-entered the market for another wide player, as they look to back their manager who’s been forced to cope with a serious injury crisis at N17 throughout the campaign.

Tottenham are believed to be the main contenders to sign Tyler Dibling from Southampton, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, but his English colleague Lyall Thomas has since reported that the 18-year-old will command a hefty £55 million transfer fee.

The price quoted for Dibling could be too much for Tottenham mid-season, but there is another potential loan option in the form of Barcelona forward Ansu Fati.

The Spain international spent 2023/2024 on loan at Brighton, where he scored four goals and bagged one assist in 30 total appearances, since returning to the Camp Nou and enduring a very mixed season.

Fati has suffered from a few injury problems this term, which have largely kept him out of Hansi Flick’s first-team, and he’s failed to make any real impact when available.

Tottenham make proposal to sign Ansu Fati on loan

As per one Spanish media source, Tottenham could offer the £227,000-per-week attacker a route back to the Premier League.

Indeed, it is believed that Spurs have made a proposal to sign Fati on loan from Barcelona, which would include an option to buy. The Catalans could be tempted by this offer, as they actively seek to find the 22-year-old a new club.

However, Tottenham would need to take on a hefty portion of his wages, and Fati is apparently more in favour of remaining at his current club despite his squad status.

Nevertheless, Postecoglou’s men have apparently “set their sights” on signing Fati before the deadline.

Sheffield United really did flex their muscles during the winter transfer window with a mammoth seven new signings entering the building.

Three of those fresh recruits joined right at the death on deadline day too, with left-field faces Christian Nwachukwu and Jefferson Caceres relocating to England from Bulgaria and Peru respectively, alongside forgotten Crystal Palace centre-back Rob Holding joining on loan.

The last of those new arrivals could signal the end of this Blades stalwart’s concrete space in the XI, as Chris Wilder now goes about tinkering with his side..

The Sheffield United player who could be axed after Holding's arrival

This would be a harsh alteration to make, but Holding’s arrival on the scene could displace United captain Jack Robinson in the starting lineup moving forward.

After all, despite wearing the captain’s armband with pride when selected, the ex-Liverpool man has only started 17 of his side’s 30 Championship contests this season, meaning they would be able to survive without him regularly playing in the heart of defence.

When he has been fit, however, Robinson has been a consistent performer for the Blades over the years, with seven strikes next to his name from 140 games, alongside also being a brave battler at the back.

This campaign so far, Robinson has also won 4.9 duels per league contest when starring alongside his equally formidable partner in Anel Ahmedhodžić, with Wilder once even labelling the former Reds youth product as “excellent”.

But, the 57-year-old will be well aware that Holding wouldn’t have chosen to join the Blades on loan if he didn’t think regular minutes were going to come his way, with Wilder succeeding in the past few games with some last-minute alterations that could give him the confidence to boldly start the Palace outcast straight away.

Chris Wilder's success changing the Sheffield United lineup

Indeed, United’s last win away at Derby County saw Wilder throw both Harry Clarke and Hamza Choudhury straight into the first-team fold for their debuts.

On top of that, both Ben Brereton Diaz and Tom Cannon remained in attack at Pride Park fresh off playing just one game prior for their new employers, only for all these surprise calls to pay off come full-time.

Minutes played

78

62

90

90

Goals scored

0

1

0

0

Assists

1

0

0

0

Touches

19

27

64

60

Accurate passes

8/12 (67%)

16/19 (84%)

34/43 (79%)

27/33 (82%)

Successful dribbles

1/3

1/2

3/3

0/0

Total duels won

1/6

1/7

8/12

7/12

Looking at the table above, it’s clear from the numbers put in by the quartet that all four fresh faces left their mark on the 1-0 win, with both Cannon and Brereton Diaz combining well for the only strike of the day.

Whilst the new attacking pair showed off their prowess in front of goal, both Choudhury and Clarke showed off their dogged natures in helping their team grind out a hard-fought victory on the road with 15 combined duels won.

Therefore, it’s not completely out of the question that the Blades boss would gamble on introducing Holding straight into the first team fold, with the loan defender one figure who could be a capable performer at the level when up to full speed glancing at his 92 career Premier League appearances.

Holding will need to fight hard to secure a starting spot for good, however, with Robinson a rock at the back Wilder can rely on.

Worth even more than Cannon: Sheffield United have hit gold on £30k-p/w gem

Sheffield United already have some top talents in the building away from any new signings.

ByKelan Sarson Feb 2, 2025

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is pushing the club to offer a new long-term contract to an “amazing” ace ahead of the summer transfer window opening, according to a new report.

Crystal Palace sail into FA Cup 5th round

The Eagles secured their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Monday night, as they comfortably beat League Two side Doncaster Rovers 2-0. Goals from Daniel Munoz and Justin Devenny on either side of halftime were enough to get Palace through and book a tie against London rivals Millwall.

Textor could now sell £50m Crystal Palace star with Guehi this summer

It would not be a popular decision at Selhurst Park.

2 ByBen Browning Feb 10, 2025

The Eagles met Millwall not so long ago, as the pair were drawn against one another in the FA Cup in 2022, with Palace winning 2-1, and Glasner has labelled the fifth-round match “even more special”.

“I could feel the excitement in the dressing room,” the boss said after Monday’s victory at Doncaster Rovers. “It makes this game even bigger than it is.

“As long as you are in the competition, you can win it. We will go for it. I don’t know if it will work, but we will go for it – definitely. I’m pleased with the performance [against Doncaster]. Over the first 60 minutes, I think we controlled the game and didn’t give them anything.

“We wanted to give Ben [Chilwell] some minutes. We could see he’s comfortable in possession, in passing – a little bit more attacking than [Tyrick Mitchell].”

Glasner pushing Palace chiefs to offer long-term deal to Mateta

Away from matters on the pitch, according to Football Insider, Crystal Palace are looking to hold contract talks with striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, as they look to secure his long-term future at Selhurst Park.

The 27-year-old, who originally joined Palace on loan from Bundesliga side Mainz 05 in 2021 before joining on a permanent basis in 2022, is under contract at the Premier League side until the summer of 2027. The Eagles triggered the one-year option in the forward’s contract in December but are now keen to tie him down to a longer contract, with Glasner desperate for the club to retain his services.

Palace’s urgency to give Mateta a new contract comes as Spanish giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are interested in signing him, as well as Manchester United. 10 goals in 24 league games this season have put him on the radar of some big European sides, and the Eagles will be keen to avoid any transfer speculation when the summer arrives.

Apps

135

Goals

42

Assists

8

Mateta, who has been hailed as “amazing in the box” by Glasner, scored 16 goals in 35 Premier League games last season, becoming a real prominent figure for the South London side. If a new deal cannot be agreed upon, Palace still have time on their hands, as his contract doesn’t end for another two years, but it could become harder to refuse bids, especially if they reach the £50 million price tag that has been reportedly placed on his head.

24-Aug-2016Tillakaratne Dilshan exposed his leg stump inadvertently and allowed a Nathan Lyon delivery to bowl him off his thigh pad•Associated PressSri Lanka, however, fought back through Kusal Mendis, who struck a run-a-ball 69•AFPDinesh Chandimal kept Mendis company for 21 overs and they added 125 for the third wicket•Associated PressThe stand was broken when Chandimal perished attempting to play against the turn and was trapped lbw by Adam Zampa•AFPZampa struck two more times, removing Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva to help Australia regain control•Associated PressBut Kusal Perera provided the innings with a late thrust during his half-century•Associated PressHe was supported by Angelo Mathews who scored 57 off 60 balls. They added 103 for the sixth wicket in 94 balls•Associated PressSri Lanka’s hopes of a strong finish were thwarted by James Faulkner’s hat-trick. They were bowled out for 288 with seven deliveries remaining•AFPThisara Perera struck first ball, shaping on away from David Warner who nicked to the wicketkeeper•Associated PressAaron Finch inside-edged a slog to his stumps in the bowler’s next over as Australia were reduced to 16 for 2•Associated PressSteven Smith tried to get the innings back on track, but gave a simple catch to mid-on. When he fell, he had scored 30 out of his team’s total of 41•Associated PressGeorge Bailey struggled to get going and plonked around for 46 balls for his 27•Associated PressWhen Moises Henriques was stumped off Seekkuge Prasanna, Australia were struggling at 118 for 5•AFPWade, however, held firm and struck a gritty half-century. He added 64 for the sixth wicket with Travis Head before sweeping a full toss to the hands of deep mid wicket•Associated PressSri Lanka, however, surged closer to a win as Wade and Head fell in successive overs, the latter dismissed by Mathews•AFPAmila Aponso quickly wrapped up Australia’s last two wickets to finish with returns of 4 for 18 in only his second ODI, sealing Sri Lanka’s 82-run win•AFP

Stats highlights from the one-off Test between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Colombo, where the hosts chased down 388

Shiva Jayaraman18-Jul-20170:43

By the Numbers: SL’s highest successful chase in Tests

4 Number of higher targets successfully chased in Tests. The 388 that Sri Lanka chased down in this match is the highest any team has successfully chased in Asia. The previous highest in Asia was India’s chase of 387 against England in Chennai in 2008. The previous highest in Sri Lanka was Pakistan’s chase of 377 against the hosts in Pallekele in 2015.352 The highest target successfully chased by Sri Lanka in Tests before this one. It had come against South Africa at the P Sara Oval in 2006. Overall, this is only the third instance of them chasing down a target in excess of 300 runs. The other instance had come against Zimbabwe at the SSC in January 1998.188 Runs added by Sri Lanka for their last five wickets in the fourth innings – the second highest by them in any Test match. This was also the second highest added by the last five wickets in a successful chase and only the third time Sri Lanka had added more than 100 runs.1 Number of fourth-innings totals in Tests in Sri Lanka higher than the home team’s 391 for 6 in this match. New Zealand had made 397 in a losing cause at the SSC in 2009. This is also Sri Lanka’s second-highest fourth-innings total in Tests.653 Balls from spinners played out by Sri Lanka in the fourth innings – the third highest played out by any team in the fourth innings of a Test in Asia. This is also the second-highest number of balls a team has faced from spinners in a successful chase in Asia.ESPNcricinfo Ltd3 Number of individual scores higher than Niroshan Dickwella’s 81 in successful chases for Sri Lanka. Aravinda de Silva had made an unbeaten 143 against Zimbabwe at the SSC in 1997-98, which is the highest. Mahela Jayawardene’s 123 against South Africa at the P Sara Oval in 2006 is the only other hundred in successful chases for Sri Lanka in Tests. Asela Gunaratne’s unbeaten 80 slots in at No.5 in this list.5 Number of times before this, teams had won scoring the highest total of the match in the fourth innings of a Test in Asia. The previous such instance too had come in Sri Lanka, in Pallekele in 2015, when Pakistan had made 382 – the highest total in the fourth innings chasing 377.9/275 Match figures by Graeme Cremer – the best by a Zimbabwe captain in Tests. Overall, Cremer’s effort ranks seventh in the list of best match figures by a Zimbabwe bowler in Tests.87.3 Overs sent down by Cremer in this match – the most by any Zimbabwe bowler in Tests. The previous most were the 79 overs bowled by Ray Price in the Bulawayo Test against South Africa in 2001. Overall, Zimbabwe’s spinners bowled 190.2 overs in this Test – the most they have bowled in any match.317 The highest target successfully chased down without an individual hundred in the fourth innings before this match. New Zealand had achieved it against Bangladesh in a Test in Chittagong in 2008. Sri Lanka’s highest individual score in the fourth innings chasing a target of 388 in this match was Dickwella’s 81. Overall, Sri Lanka’s 391 is the fourth-highest score in the fourth innings of a Test without an individual hundred. India’s 445 in the Adelaide Test in 1977-78 is the highest such score.

Chelsea are believed to be targeting another Man United star alongside their interest in Kobbie Mainoo, with two players in Enzo Maresca’s squad heading towards the exit door.

Chelsea approach Kobbie Mainoo's agents over transfer

In the last week, credible media sources revealed Chelsea’s serious interest in signing Mainoo, who is currently in the midst of a contract debacle, as the England international sets his sights on improved terms.

Chelsea "in talks" for first 2025 signing in versatile £30 million forward

The west Londoners have entered negotiations.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jan 17, 2025

The 19-year-old rising star is on just £20,000-per-week at United, which hardly reflects his status as a Three Lions midfielder and crucial player to Ruben Amorim, but rumoured PSR concerns are stalling an agreement over a new contract for Mainoo.

As a result of this, it is reliably believed that Chelsea have approached Mainoo’s agents in an attempt to lure him, as reported by journalist and Stamford Bridge insider Simon Phillips on his Substack.

Chelsea’s next Premier League fixtures	Date
Wolverhampton Wanderers (home)	January 20
Man City (away)	January 25
West Ham (away)	February 3
Brighton (away)	February 14
Aston Villa (away)	February 22

“Chelsea also still want to bring in a new midfielder this window on request of Enzo Maresca,” wrote Phillips earlier this week.

“However, that does not need to be a new midfielder, and there are still chances that either Lesley Ugochukwu or Andrey Santos could be recalled, SPTC sources have heard again yesterday.

“There’s a chance Santos is recalled too by the way, something that we were not expecting to happen at all, until now, potentially.

“Chelsea have tried to turn the head of Kobbie Mainoo at Manchester United by approaching his agents, and this one is still potentially one that could happen this month, if the player decides he is keen on the move.”

While this is far from advanced, it appears Chelsea are seriously pursuing Mainoo, but he isn’t the only Red Devils sensation on their radar.

Chelsea target Alejandro Garnacho with Disasi and Nkunku set to leave

According to French newspaper L’Equipe, exciting United winger Alejandro Garnacho has emerged as a target for Maresca.

The Argentine is attracting reported interest from Antonio Conte’s Napoli, who appear to have set their sights on him as a potential replacement for the PSG-bound Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

However, Conte now faces competition from his former club. Chelsea are targeting Garnacho and have “launched” an operation over his potential signing, according to L’Équipe, who also provided an update on the futures of Christopher Nkunku and Axel Disasi.

The £275,000-per-week duo are apparently set to depart west London before deadline day on February 3, with Maresca’s squad facing a serious overhaul in the latter stage of this transfer window.

Going back to Garnacho, the 20-year-old has bagged eight goals and five assists in 31 appearances so far this campaign, putting in some exceptional displays, and he fits the mould of a young, exciting player that BlueCo has repeatedly targeted since Chelsea’s takeover.

Garnacho is also highly versatile, capable of playing anywhere across the attack – including the left-hand side, right-hand side, through the middle as a central attacking midfielder and even as a second striker. However, he won’t come cheap, as some reports suggest the South American could cost £70 million.