Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva claims his side's exit from the Club World Cup feels like a Champions League defeat.
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Visitors lead by 165 overnight, with hopes of pushing for third consecutive win
ECB Reporters Network31-Aug-2024Fifties by Jake Libby, Brett D’Oliveira and Adam Hose ensured Worcestershire would make Essex bat again in their rollercoaster match at Chelmsford.When bad light took the players off the field with 20 over remaining on day three of the Vitality County Championship match, Worcestershire had turned a 138-run first-innings deficit into a 165-run lead.Libby laid the foundations for the recovery with a 112-ball 65 at the top of the order. But it was an 80-run stand for the sixth wicket between D’Oliveira (51 from 71 balls) and Hose (64 off 91) – the pair coming together with two runs still required to erase the arrears – that gave Worcestershire hope of securing a third successive victory to move clear of the relegation area.Simon Harmer spearheaded the mercurial Essex attack, sending down 26 overs in the foreshortened day and taking 3 for 110, including the wicket of Hose to an extraordinary delivery. Essex will be looking for a first victory in four games on the final day to maintain their fading interest in the title race.Nightwatchman Joe Leach lasted just four balls on a grey, overcast morning before Sam Cook ended his 21-ball nought by inducing a thick edge through to the wicketkeeper. Gareth Roderick narrowly avoided a pair before he was turned around by Jamie Porter on six and nicked to second slip.Libby found good support from Kashif Ali in a 51-run third-wicket stand until Paul Walter was introduced and with his fourth ball had Ali following the ball across him through to slip.Libby survived a couple of scares but reached his fifty from the 90th ball faced, his eighth four helped on its way high over the wicketkeeper’s head. His latest partner Rob Jones took a liking to Harmer, hitting four successive boundaries, two of them identical shots on the sweep.However, the 55-run fourth-wicket stand was broken soon after lunch when Libby drove loosely at Cook and was caught low down at backward point. And six runs later, Jones went for another sweep against Harmer, this time more uppishly, and Dean Elgar completed the dismissal when running back from square leg.That left Worcestershire five down and still two runs short of making Essex bat again. That landmark was duly achieved and built on as Hose and D’Oliveira dug in obdurately initially to the extent that Porter came on for three overs and went off again without conceding a run. The first fifty of their partnership took 16 overs.The run-rate rose steeply with 31 runs added by the pair in the next four overs before Matt Critchley switched ends to give Harmer a rest and first ball had D’Oliveira fencing to second slip. Harmer’s rest spanned the tea break but his first ball after the interval brought the downfall of Hose, who padded up outside off-stump to a ball that turned prodigiously as it hit the crease to leave him bewildered to see the bails lying on the ground behind him.Harmer had a third wicket to his name when Ethan Brookes went to reverse-sweep, as he had successfully on several occasions in the first innings This time, however, the ball popped up off an edge to Robin Das diving full-length at short leg to cling on one-handed.With the floodlights on and the light deteriorating appreciably, Essex declined the option of taking the new-ball when it was due after 80 over, sticking with their spinners. The gesture proved in vain as the umpires deemed it too dark to continue an over later.
MS Dhoni’s quips and one-liners
ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2020If I tell everyone what it is, then they (CSK) won’t buy me at the auctions. It’s a trade secret.Dhoni tight-lipped on the secret behind CSK qualifying for the playoffs at will.I won’t count it as a bad performance. It was so bad that I can’t count it as a performance.
MS Dhoni usually didn’t mince his words after a poor display.You can convert 1.8 runs or 1.9 runs into twos, but not 1.75 or 1.7.
Some calculations from one of the best runners between wickets for when an outfield has dew.Personally I feel I use a bit too much of my brain in this format.
Has anyone summed up the Twenty20 format better?That’s why you should watch the game. What went wrong you would have realised.
There were times when journalists were at the receiving end of his one-liners.Another 20 days and you can apply for citizenship.
The feeling after India’s long tour of Australia in 2014-15.It’s like having 100kg put over you. After that even if you put a mountain, it will not make a difference.
What’s pressure? A matter of a few extra kilos.Whenever we have played with four fast bowlers, two things happen. One the captain gets banned, two we lose.
He often got straight to the point when discussing tactics.They actually feel it will be better off to put a bowling machine there.
When his bowlers didn’t like the new ODI rules introduced in 2013.God is not coming to save us.
The words of wisdom in the huddle before India’s successful defence of a below-par total in the 2013 Champions Trophy final.At the moment, we are not even using one, where will we bowl two?
The time he felt helpless when two-bouncer-an-over rule was introduced in ODIs, given how India’s fast bowlers were either injured or out of form.Frankly, I am quite bad at analysing technique; you have seen my technique.
But will we see him as an expert on the telly?We will be busy shopping. That’s something we can afford to do. There is nothing really in our hands.
What to do when your team’s fate lies in the hands of a match played by others.From Kishore Kumar, we have gone to Sean Paul.
Dhoni had to adapt to the old and the young during his stint as captain.You die, you die. You don’t see which is the better way to die.
His wit didn’t desert him during back-to-back whitewashes in England and Australia.I don’t mind repeating everything.
After he led India to the 2011 World Cup. A lot of Dhoni fans wouldn’t mind hearing those words now.The only person who can control Sreesanth is Sreesanth. It is beyond my control and I don’t think too much about.
Man-management MS Dhoni style.Till the full stop doesn’t come the sentence is not complete.
The time when he got metaphorical ahead of the 2011 World Cup final.One other guy won’t play.
It’s not easy remembering your XI, especially when it’s the first game of a World Cup campaign.The only thing that went well for us was the warm-up before the game.
The positives from a bad game.Frankly speaking I don’t understand Duckworth-Lewis. I just wait for the umpire’s decision.
He is like the rest of us.What happens inside a meeting, where the selectors, the captain and the coaches are there, when it comes out, it is disgusting and disrespectful.
The time when he got upset when discussions of the selection meeting were leaked to the media.If you are not 100 per cent fit and not at your best [and still play], it’s cheating.
When he made his stance on fitness clear after sitting out a Test series in Sri Lanka, in 2008.When you’ve played international cricket, you realise you never play 100 percent.When his stance on fitness evolved in a 2019 IPL match.I’ll just ask Mahela if he will lend Mendis for a couple of practice sessions.
That was a plan.You [media people] change my girlfriends every two days. Please let one continue for some time.
The days when Indian media loved speculating about all things Dhoni.We are told that Mumbai is a city which is always on the move. See, me and my boys have brought the entire city to a standstill today.
His reaction after crowds thronged to welcome the team at a parade following the World T20 win.Before I start I should say I read an article by you in Cricinfo. You’d said Australia were the favourites. Today I think me and the boys, we proved you wrong.
Speaking to Ravi Shastri after India’s victory over Australia in the semi-finals of the 2007 World Twenty20, MS Dhoni had revealed that he read our site.Now even PETA has said you can’t cosmetically remove the tail.
A woke answer from a woke captain – after many questions about India’s lower-order batting.You may put hybrid fuel in the car but the cylinder, the engine, everything, needs to be like that.
On whether India needs a fielding coach.I love to go back to Ranchi. I have three dogs at home. Even after losing a series or winning a series, they treat me the same way.
On the break from being India’s captain and under constant scrutiny.In countries like Australia or England, people speak English in such an accent that it is very hard to understand. So, at parties when locals come to us and start talking, even if we are not getting anything, we say ‘yeah’. Or if I have a drink in hand, I excuse myself by saying, ‘I’ll just get a drink’ but never show up in front of that person again
Early tours with the Indian team were challenging on many fronts.From 1929 hrs consider me as retired
Finally, Dhoni using his first Instagram post in six months to announce retirement in a way only he could
MatériaMais Notícias
da aposte e ganhe： O São Paulo encara o Tigre, nesta terça-feira (26), pela última rodada do Grupo D da Copa Sul-Americana. Na primeira posição da chave, com 13 pontos conquistados, o Tricolor está a três de distância dos argentinos. Mas há algum risco de eliminação? Quais são os critérios de desempate? Dorival pode se dar ao luxo de poupar jogadores na partida? O Lance! responde.
da apostaganha： Para os tricolores apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!
Como o São Paulo está a três pontos do Tigre, o máximo que o time argentino consegue chegar é o mesmo número de pontos, 13. Portanto, fica a pergunta de quais são os critérios de desempate para definir o único classificado diretamente às oitavas de final da Sul-Americana. A Conmebol define o saldo de gols como o primeiro critério de desempate. Em relação a isso, a situaçâo do São Paulo é muito cconfortável.
+ Clique aqui e veja como apostar no Brasileirão
O Tricolor tem 11 gols pró de saldo, contra apenas três do Tigre. Ou seja, para ser eliminado, o São Paulo precisa levar oito gols do clube argentino. Curiosamente, a defesa é um dos pontos fortes da equipe de Dorival Júnior no torneio, já que o time ainda não sofreu gols em cinco jogos disputados.
O outro critério de desempate é em relação ao número de gols feitos, critério que o São Paulo também leva vantagem. O Tricolor fez 11 tentos, já o Tigre balançou a rede em sete oportunidades. Portanto, apenas uma ‘tragédia’ tira a classificação do Tricolor para a próxima fase da Sul-Americana.
Arsenal have now submitted an opening offer for an “exceptional” young player, and they’ve had a response, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
After initially usurping Aaron Ramsdale in the starting XI, David Raya has established himself as a key player for the Gunners, making 36 appearances in the Premier League this season, but there are signs that Mikel Arteta has now started looking at bringing in a long-term heir.
Espanyol shot-stopper Joan Garcia is among the main targets, with the north Londoners recently holding talks over a deal for the Spaniard, who would prefer a move to the Emirates Stadium ahead of signing for Premier League rivals Manchester United.
Garcia has been a target for quite some time, having initially agreed to join Arteta’s side last year, and while they seem well-positioned to get a deal for the Spaniard over the line, Romano has now revealed that a move has been made for a different goalkeeper.
Arteta's a fan: Arsenal racing to sign "entertaining" Hazard-esque maestro
The Gunners have set their sights on a midfielder, who has been likened to former Chelsea star Eden Hazard.
By
Dominic Lund
May 11, 2025
In a recent update on X, the transfer expert stated that Arsenal have now submitted an opening offer of £1.25m for Chelsea goalkeeper Freddy Bernal, but the Blues were not convinced by their rivals’ proposal.
The Gunners’ rivals have knocked back the bid, given their eagerness to keep hold of Bernal, who is clearly impressing for the Blues at youth level, having also attracted the attention of several other unnamed clubs.
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Arsenal’s remaining Premier League fixtures |
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Newcastle United (h) |
May 18th |
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Given that he is just 16-years-old, the Chelsea ace is likely to be some way off a first Premier League start, but he has caught the eye with his performances for the U18s, having been lauded for his “exceptional distribution” by scout Felix Johnston earlier this season.
The youngster was also the only Chelsea youngster to be named in the England U17 squad earlier in the campaign, highlighting his potential, so it is little wonder the Gunners are keen on taking him to north London.
That said, with the Blues knocking back Arsenal’s offer, it seems unlikely they will be able to prise the teenager away from their London rivals, and Garcia could well be a preferable option, considering the 24-year-old is already proven at a much higher level.
The Espanyol star made 35 appearances in La Liga last season, during which time he caught the eye of football scout Ben Mattinson, who appeared to suggest he could be the perfect heir for Raya, given the similarities in their play-styles.
Australia batted more balls in this Test match than India, a simple but clear indicator that they really did try their very hardest in the face of big challenges
Daniel Brettig in Adelaide10-Dec-20181:06
Laxman: Both bowling units fantastic, the batting will decide series
For an optimistic half an hour, clapped on eagerly by Adelaide Oval’s final day faithful, it looked as though Nathan Lyon was going to be able to live up to his fourth evening talk of heroes.Aided by Josh Hazlewood, he guided Australia to within 32 runs of the most improbable result, before Lyon instead joined another offspinner, Tim May, in being at the non-striker’s end for a narrow defeat in an Adelaide Test. Twenty-five years ago, May and Craig McDermott took Australia within two runs of West Indies; this time around the margin was wider, but the result equally momentous.For decades, Australia’s home-ground advantage has never been more acute than against India. Never before had an Indian touring team won the opening match of a series down under, and only twice since 1988 against anyone have Australia lost. The fact that both these defeats, in Perth and Adelaide, have taken place away from the traditional opening fixture at the Gabba will be the source of a debate about cricket economics versus Australian team performance, but you also have to factor in this line-up’s loss of Steven Smith and David Warner.In addition to the numbness of defeat, the Australians had to cope with a more piercing feeling in the shape of a blow to the captain Tim Paine, resurrecting years of trouble with his right index finger. Paine’s insistence that the finger is “fine” rather resembled the “fit to play” insistence of a battered AFL player in the September finals, but it was also in keeping with the level of determination and “fight” expected of the team by Paine himself and the coach Justin Langer. These qualities were very much on display as the chase crept closer to a target that always seemed to be narrowly out of reach, as India’s unflagging bowlers conjured just enough false shots or wicket-taking balls.For Paine, the performance of the lower order in particular, putting on stands of 31, 41, 31 and 32 for the final four wickets, provided the whole team with sizeable evidence of what can be achieved by an even effort. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc also contributed significantly, the former keeping out 168 balls across the match, third-most among the whole Australian XI after Travis Head and Shaun Marsh. “Our whole bowling attack, you see those four together, you can see how much playing for Australia means to them,” Paine said. “Whether they’ve got the bat, ball, in the field, you can’t question those four guys’ commitment. They have a red hot crack for every single ball.
“If you want to be a good team you’ve got to be hard to beat and today we were hard to beat, I think we made India work harder than they thought they were going to have to work.”Australia captain Tim Paine
“That’s what we’re building to. That’s the style of cricket we want to play. They’re some of our more experienced players, I think the more they do that, the more it will rub off on the rest of this group. Couldn’t question any of those guys. I don’t think many people thought we’d get as close as we did today and certainly didn’t think we’d win but we have a lot of faith particularly in our lower order we bat pretty deep and Lyno [Nathan Lyon] is getting better all the time and those four or five have a crack when they in the middle.”It showed that anything is possible if you are prepared to stick it out and face a lot of balls it can change quickly, but we couldn’t quite get there. If you want to be a good team you have got to be hard to beat and today we were hard to beat, I think we made India work harder than they thought they were going to have to work, but sitting back now it is a huge opportunity because we didn’t cash in in the first innings and didn’t have batters out there today when they were tiring. Had we have had either of those we would have won this Test match so it’s pretty hard to take.”Frustrated as he was by the result, Paine maintained his views about how he and Langer were trying to adjust the way the Australian team played. There were moments of tension and hostility throughout the match, not least Ishant Sharma’s steepling bouncer and in-the-face celebration to defeat Travis Head on the final morning – Curtly Ambrose and Merv Hughes rolled into one. But the home side were composed throughout, with their worst moments of excess limited to a handful of extravagant or unwise shot choices.ALSO READ: Kohli reveals how the no-balls ‘pissed off’ Ishant“I thought it was fine. I thought it was played in good spirits. I don’t know about them. We didn’t pay any attention to them and we won’t be for the whole series. We can only concentrate on the brand and style of cricket we want to play,” Paine said. “From a cricket point of view we’ve got some things we need to tighten up and some areas we know we can. I thought today was a nice snapshot of the way we want to go about it. I thought we fought really hard, never gave in, you don’t have to talk rubbish and carry on like a pork chop to prove that.”That snapshot, of course, will be part of a wider picture, and in this sense there was one element of the Adelaide Test that did finish in an Australian victory. In terms of total balls faced, the Australians finished with 216.3 overs batted as against India’s 198.5 – a tally based largely on the obduracy of Cheteshwar Pujara, comfortably the highest scorer in the match. There were issues in terms of Australian shot selection, and also finding the right balance between defence and attack, demonstrated by the range of ways in which they attempted to deal with R Ashwin. But the overall impression was of a team trying, despite obvious limitations, to play a wider game.”We expect this series to be really tight,” Paine said. “So I think days like today when you make their fast bowlers come back two, three, four more times than they thought they probably had to. That can have a really telling impact on the back end of a big series, when it’s four Tests.”There’s a lot of cricket to be played and I thought you could see signs of their attack wearying this afternoon. So it’s a really key element for us, to get lots of overs into them. And I’m sure India are the same with us, they want to see our fast bowlers bowl a hell of a lot of overs. It’s going to be good to get to Perth and see who backs up better.”Over the entire history of Test matches, 54.43% of series have been won by the team facing more balls. It’s the sort of marginal gain that will be critical to this series, and to Australia’s fortunes until Smith and Warner return. In that sense, at least, Lyon and Hazlewood’s ultimately failed effort on the final afternoon may prove more useful to the final outcome than they think right now.
Heading into their contest at the Emirates Stadium, Newcastle United were still riding high off beating Chelsea 2-0 in the ongoing race to finish inside the Premier League’s Champions League spots.
However, the Magpies swiftly returned to reality after losing 1-0 to Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, meaning only point now separates Eddie Howe’s Toon from seventh placed Nottingham Forest. Unfortunately, only the top five are allowed a seat around Europe’s elite table.
Therefore, Newcastle will have to get back to winning ways at home to David Moyes’ Everton to cement a spot, with a number of underperformers very much at risk of being dropped from this crucial tie.
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Newcastle's biggest underperformers vs Arsenal
Newcastle just didn’t enter into this contest away from home with the same clinical edge they showed against Enzo Maresca’s Blues, as wasteful finishing ruined their day throughout. In short, it was obvious they missed Alexander Isak who was ruled out through injury,
Come the end of the finely poised clash, Newcastle actually bettered the hosts in terms of shots, but Arsenal just displayed more self-control in crunch moments, particularly when Declan Rice’s latest stunner proved to be the difference-maker between the two teams.
The visitors just didn’t have this same composure in their locker, with Anthony Gordon a real letdown throughout in the attacking areas, leading to the ex-Everton winger finishing the game with no efforts attempted on David Raya’s net. On top of this, a misjudged dribble from the Liverpool-born attacker would culminate in Rice firing home.
Moreover, Harvey Barnes would only muster up 14 touches of the ball down the opposing left channel on a quiet day at the office from the former Leicester City man, whilst Jacob Murphy would also fail to provide a spark down the wings when failed to register an accurate cross.
But, the most anonymous body perhaps just started for the final time donning the famous black and white stripes.
4/10 dud must never start for Newcastle again
Newcastle were, of course, hindered on their travels by 27-goal machine Isak being injured, but Howe would have hoped those in reserve would step up to the mark in the Swede’s costly absence.
Instead, Callum Wilson really struggled leading the line for the Magpies throughout, resulting in the 33-year-old being hooked by his manager just after the hour mark.
Minutes played
64
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
17
Shots
0
Accurate passes
8/8 (100%)
Successful dribbles
0/2
Total duels won
0/7
It hasn’t exactly been a standout season for Wilson away from his struggles in North London – with only one goal coming the former AFC Bournemouth striker’s way – but even this dire showing on the big stage against Arteta’s men felt like a low, especially as his St. James’ Park future hangs in the balance.
Across his forgettable 64-minute stint, Wilson failed to register a single shot on the Arsenal goal, failed to complete a single dribble to test the Gunners defence and further failed to win a solitary duel from seven attempts.
Just off this showing alone, Wilson is unlikely to be kept around past this season, particularly when there are promising young talents such as William Osula at Howe’s disposal in the striker department.
Osula came on in place of the 33-year-old veteran actually, and whilst he too didn’t test Raya, he did valiantly win two duels for the cause.
Therefore, the future may well lie with Osula now over persisting with a waning Wilson, with Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder equally displeased with the ageing forward’s performance when dishing out a low 4/10 rating his way.
Cursing his team’s careless finishing at the full-time whistle, Howe will pray he has Isak available again for the vital final day contest.
If he isn’t though, you would anticipate that Osula will be thrown into the deep-end, with Wilson now potentially exiting St James’ Park on a whimper.
Newcastle could sign "legendary" Isak replacement for £27m
Newcastle could lose Alexander Isak this summer amid interest from elsewhere.
ByRoss Kilvington May 18, 2025
Chelmsford proves unhappy temporary home for Seaxes as they suffer 98-run thumping
ECB Reporters Network31-May-2024Matt Parkinson claimed a hat-trick as Kent thrashed Middlesex by 98 runs at Chelmsford to open their 2024 Vitality Blast campaign with a win.Parkinson, who made the move from Lancashire over the winter, shone for his newly adopted county, claiming the scalps of Jack Davies, Tom Helm and Henry Brookes in his third over on route to figures of 4 for 25.It meant the hosts, playing the first of two home games at Chelmsford in this campaign were hustled out for 107 to fall way short of their victory target of 206.Earlier, Joe Denly was the mainstay of Kent’s 205 for 8 with 56 in 33 balls complete with two sixes and seven fours. Daniel Bell-Drummond, another man to be the scourge of Middlesex in the recent past, provided good support with 38. Luke Hollman returned 3 for 27 and Blake Cullen 3 for 47 in his first match of the season.Bell-Drummond and England opener Zak Crawley made an explosive start, each striking Cullen for huge sixes in the third over as they posted a 50-stand within 23 balls.It took a super catch running back at mid-wicket by Leus Du Plooy to end Crawley’s effort on 26, but Bell-Drummond continued the assault, pummelling Henry Brookes back over his head for six before being dropped by Joe Cracknell in the deep.The miss wasn’t costly as Tom Helm pulled off a ‘worldy’ in the next over diving full length at deep mid-on to send Bell-Drummond on his way for 38. It was the first of two in two balls for the impressive Hollman as Sam Billing suffered a first-ball duck. Hollman would snaffle a third when Tawanda Muyeye struck him straight to Cracknell to leave Kent 79 for 3.Denly was though in no mood to see a collapse and played the innings of substance, striking the ball powerfully straight and employing the scoop to good effect in a well-paced effort. He was one of three late wickets for Cullen but nevertheless the target of 205 looked daunting.Middlesex promoted du Plooy to opener, but the move backfired as he fell for 11 bowled by Grant Stewart.Ryan Higgins’ stay was brutal yet brief, one huge six followed by a mishit which ballooned to mid-off, Beyers Swanepoel the bowler to profit and skipper Stephen Eskinazi also holed out on the fence to give Stewart a second wicket.Eyes were now on Max Holden who made 121 in the same fixture last season. There would though be no repeat as he drilled one straight to Crawley on the boundary at mid-off from the spin of Marcus O’Riordan and at 49 for 4 the hosts were in a mess.Cracknell down at an unfamiliar position of No. 6 rather than at the top of the order came and went bowled by Parkinson. Davies blossomed briefly but then came Parkinson’s party piece to hasten the end of the rout.
Sri Lanka have given their women’s T20I side a youthful overhaul ahead of the three-match series against West Indies, making six changes to the side that competed in last month’s T20 World Cup qualifiers. Among them are the under-25 trio of Imesha Dulani, Sachini Nisansala and Kaushini Nuthyangana – they have eight T20Is between them – and the uncapped 17 year-old Rashmika Sewwandi. There are also recalls for the veteran pair of Oshadi Ranasinghe and Ama Kanchana, who last turned out for a T20I in September and February 2023 respectively.Making way are Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoka Ranaweera, Hansima Karunaratne, Anushka Sanjeewani and Achini Kulasuriya. Of these, the omissions of Sanjeewani and Kulasuriya are likely to raise eyebrows after both had made their mark in the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies.Kulasuriya had taken three wickets across the first and second ODIs before being rotated out in the third. Her economical spells had also played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s unbeaten run in the qualifiers. Sanjeewani meanwhile had seemingly smashed her way out of a lean patch with a match-defining 46-ball 55 two days ago.On the whole, the exclusions and their replacements have seen the average age of the squad drop from 29.4 to 26.25. Sewwandi, a batting allrounder, joins 15 year-old Shashini Gimhani – who made her debut in the qualifiers – in the 16-member squad, while there are now just six players above the age of 30.Despite these changes though, the batting unit remains as solid as ever, led by Chamari Athapaththu. Vishmi Gunaratne, still just 18, has already nailed down a spot at the top of the order, while the likes of Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Nilakshi de Silva and Kavisha Dilhari were all in the runs during the West Indies ODIs. There could also be game time for Dulani and allrounder Sewwandi, along with Nuthyangana, who is the only recognised wicketkeeper in the squad.The spin department as ever is stacked, and will be headed by the experienced trio of Ranasinghe, Inoshi Fernando and Sugandika Kumari. They will be supplemented by wristspinner Gimhani and left-arm spinner Nisansala – fresh off a five-wicket haul in her last ODI – while also being able to call on the services of Dilhari and Athapaththu. Meanwhile Kanchana, Kawya Kavindi and Sewwandi are the seam bowling options.The first T20I will take place in Hambantota on June 24 followed by the second and third matches on June 26 and 28.
Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Nilakshi De Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Inoshi Fernando, Sugandika Kumari, Ama Kanchana, Rashmika Sewwandi, Imesha Dulani, Shashini Gimhani, Kawya Kavindi, Sachini Nisansala, Kaushini Nuthyangana
da mrbet： While the dream for many Arsenal fans this summer will be to see Alexander Isak arrive in a big-money deal, the fact of the matter is that he feels pretty untouchable.
da realsbet： A reported £150m asking price has been slapped on his head and despite Mikel Arteta’s need to strengthen in attack, it’s unlikely you’ll see the Gunners fork out that amount of money, particularly considering they need fresh faces in other areas of the pitch too.
It perhaps explains why they’re currently working on a deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres, then. Reports in recent days suggest that they are in talks and an agreement may well be close.
But, if that move doesn’t come to fruition, attention could be turned to Benjamin Sesko and one other alternative.
Arsenal could sign £59m Sesko upgrade
Last summer, it looked as though Arsenal were going to sign Slovenian centre-forward, Sesko.
The striker had a release clause at RB Leipzig and despite interest from the north Londoners, he penned a new contract in Germany and decided to stay another year.
Well, a year on, Arsenal are still interested in the 21-year-old, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein noting earlier in the week that they have done a lot of work to potentially sign the player.
The player still has a release clause with certain conditions, meaning it could see Arsenal pay in the region of £67m.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
If they are seeking a cheaper alternative, then they need to look no further than Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy.
England’s elite clubs have all been presented with the opportunity to sign the striker this summer as according to German publication, BILD, the player has a release clause of £59m, which can only be triggered by a certain set of teams.
Those clubs are Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Barcelona.
It’s a strange situation but due to the nature of the release clause, if any of the sides above submitted a bid of £59m, Dortmund would have no choice but to accept.
How Guirassy compares to Sesko
Sesko, described as “the new Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig is clearly one of the most promising and exciting young strikers in the game right now.
In the Bundesliga, he’s scored 13 goals in 33 matches and registered a further eight across other competitions. It’s a solid tally considering his age, but Arsenal want to win now. Thus, signing Guirassy for a cheaper fee may well be the answer.
After all, when it comes to finding the net, he’s certainly more prolific. Aptly described as a “goal monster” by journalist Michael Adjei, also playing in Germany’s top-flight, Guirassy scored 21 in 30 league outings this season.
In all competitions, the 29-year-old has found the net on 34 occasions in 45 fixtures. While he was a menace domestically, it was in the Champions League where he racked up some astonishing numbers.
Guirassy most notably scored a hat-trick in the quarter-finals against Barcelona, which were three of 13 goals he scored in 14 European ties this season. He’s a man for the big occasion and being in his prime, he’s ready to help Arsenal now. Unlike Sesko, he’s not a project striker.
So, where else does he beat the Slovenian? We’ve crunched the numbers.
Guirassy vs Sesko in 2024/25 (league only)
Metric (per 90 mins)
Guirassy
Sesko
Goals
0.73
0.49
Assists
0.14
0.19
Shots
2.98
2.50
Pass success %
73%
68%
Key passes
0.87
0.72
Progressive passes
1.52
1.74
Successful take-ons
0.38
1.48
Aerial duels won
3.77
2.65
Stats via FBRef.
Analysing certain metrics, it’s no surprise to see that Guirassy is more dangerous in front of the goal considering he takes more shots. He’s also involved in the build-up play, registering more key passes every 90 minutes.
Sesko is certainly the more progressive and quicker of the two, certainly judging by the number of take-ons he achieves, but what’s crucial for the way Arteta uses his centre-forwards is that Guirassy trumps the Leipzig sensation for aerial duels won.
We’ve got two different profiles here, but at the end of the day, goals win you games of football and that’s what the Gunners have missed most this season.
The Dortmund star may well be 29 but he’s in his prime, he’s in the form of his life, and for £59m, you won’t find many better options.
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