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Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy is backing the Reds to overturn their 3-0 deficit against Atalanta in the Europa League.

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Liverpool stunned at Anfield in 3-0 lossHoping to replicate Barcelona comebackMurphy backing former club to winWHAT HAPPENED?

Liverpool had no answer to Serie A side Atalanta in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash. A brace from former West Ham man Gianluca Scamacca and a third from Mario Pasalic leaves Jurgen Klopp's side with it all to do when they travel to Italy on Thursday. But Murphy believes the tie is not out of reach.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT DANNY MURPHY SAID

Speaking on talkSPORT, Murphy said: "I think we will see chaos. I think we will see Liverpool go 100 miles an hour from minute one and take a huge risk to try and score the first goal. It wouldn't surprise me if Liverpool go through. If Liverpool get the first goal a few of the Atalanta players will get nervous. They have to take that risk."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Reds famously came from 3-0 down to beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield during their run to Champions League glory in 2019. It will require a similar effort to conquer Atalanta who have already done the hard work at one of the world's most intimidating grounds.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

Having already secured silverware in the form of the Carabao Cup, Liverpool still have hope of winning two more trophies this season. They slipped up in the race for the Premier League crown against Crystal Palace last week but they are still within touching distance. A magical night against Atalanta could spark a flourish for the Reds in the final weeks of the campaign.

Inter Miami teenage star Diego Gomez is set to be sidelined for the foreseeable future with an ankle injury, the Herons revealed Monday.

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Diego Gomez suffers ankle injury for MiamiTeenager avoids the worstWill be available for Paraguay in OlympicsGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?

The 19-year-old Paraguayan collided with Nashville SC goalkeeper Elliot Panico in their clash Saturday evening – a 3-1 victory for the Herons. The teenager was stretchered off in tears, and ultimately, the worst was feared as a result.

However, the Herons announced Monday that he avoided serious injury and will be back in a timely manner – but still sidelined for over a month.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT INTER MIAMI SAID

A statement read: "Gómez suffered a high-grade ankle sprain in the first half of Inter Miami’s win over Nashville SC on Saturday. He has begun the recovery process and is expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Only six weeks was a sigh of relief for Miami fans around the world, but more importantly, supporters of Paraguay. The 19-year-old led them to the top of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games from CONMEBOL nations. The news on Monday means that he will be back and training by the end of June, roughly one month before the start of the major U23 men's soccer tournament.

getty imagesWHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

The Herons clash with the new England Revolution at the weekend as they take on the last-place team in the Eastern Conference. They'll look to make it three-straight wins in MLS action.

The 35-year-old allrounder will continue playing white-ball cricket, he said on Twitter

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jan-2019South African allrounder Ryan McLaren, 35, announced Thursday that he is retiring from first-class cricket. McLaren posted a screengrab on Twitter where he said it was the “right time” and that it was “time for some white ball fun.””I have learned from many to know when it’s the right time. The time has come for me to retire from first-class cricket. I’m grateful to share a changeroom with some of the best our country has produced. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for the support I have had from my wife, family, coaches and teammates both in SA and in county cricket. I have absolutely loved every part of what this game has taught me…time for some white ball fun now,” McLaren’s screengrab read.

pic.twitter.com/tocSW6Er7u

— Ryan Mclaren (@ryanmac23) January 31, 2019

The fast-bowling allrounder enjoyed reasonable success in limited-overs cricket for South Africa between 2009 and 2014, before being left out of their 2015 World Cup squad. He played only two Tests, which came four years apart. During his second Test against Australia in 2014, he picked up a mild concussion after being hit by a bouncer, and missed the rest of what would be his last Test series.He is, however, a well-travelled first-class cricketer. He debuted with Easterns in 2003-04 under Allan Donald, played for the Knights from 2005 to 2014, and briefly moved to Dolphins, before returning to finish with Knights, who he represented at the start of the year against Cape Cobras. McClaren also has stints in County cricket, including one as a Kolpak player for Kent between 2007 and 2009. Most recently, he played for Hampshire and Lancashire.In all, McLaren played 154 first-class matches to score 6298 runs at 33.86 and took 459 wickets at 27.61.

Criticism comes after Nathan Lyon walks off lbw without reviewing – and Mitchell Starc seemingly offers him no guidance – with two reviews at Australia’s disposal

Andrew McGlashan in Sydney06-Jan-20193:00

Martyn: Not enough desperation from Australia

Ricky Ponting has slammed Australia for showing “no desperation” after Nathan Lyon opted not to review his lbw when given out to Kuldeep Yadav despite there being two challenges remaining.Lyon walked off almost straightaway after the decision from umpire Ian Gould, as non-striker Mitchell Starc appeared to not offer any guidance on whether to use the DRS. The ball from Kuldeep was very full and may have hit Lyon’s boot flush, which means the umpire has to consider it goes straight on, and there could also have been a question as to whether Lyon got outside the line.”That dismissal actually says a lot to me about the mindset of this Australian team at the moment. There’s no desperation there whatsoever,” Ponting said on Seven, one of the host broadcasters. “Why wouldn’t they have had a look at that? They’ve still got the two reviews up their sleeve. There had to be some sort of doubt in that.”Given out straight away and Mitchell Starc just puts his hand out and says ‘oh well, it’s not me, it’s up to you to make [a call]’. Well, unfortunately, when you’re out there together it’s a partnership. You’ve got to do whatever you can to try and save your mate. And there was absolutely none of that there. And as it’s shown already that would have been given not out. Slack and not desperate enough.””You can see where Mitchell Starc is standing at the non-striker’s end,” he added. “One, look how wide he’s standing. There’s no need to be that wide in the first place. Nathan Lyon looks up, ‘Oh what do you reckon?’ ‘Oh I don’t know mate. Yeah I don’t know. But let’s not bother looking. We’ve only got two [reviews] up our sleeve.'”After the day’s play was curtailed by bad light with Australia having been asked to follow-on in a home Test for the first time in 31 years, Peter Handscomb insisted there were no issues with Lyon walking straight off”You ask Gazza, he thinks he was hit on the full on the middle toe or his big toe, it’s not often anyone in the world thinks they’re going to review that. So he waked off in no doubt, he knew he was out, so that’s fine. That’s his decision, we back that in completely.”Ponting’s forceful reaction was not his first stinging comment during the match. On the third day he had also made a pointed reference to Australia’s inability to make big runs following comments over the last couple of games that the pitches have not provided enough assistance to the home attack. “If they’re flat, get some runs on them,” he said.There have been suggestions of tensions in the Australia camp throughout this Test following the bowling performance on the opening day, where they went to a short-pitched tactic midway through the first session.When Lyon was asked on ABC Radio how the plans came about, he said. “I’m not really sure about, I wasn’t really happy about it to be honest. We missed out using the moisture in the wicket, thought we could have stuck there longer but the captain and the bowlers came up with a decent plan and unfortunately it didn’t work.”ALSO READ: The puzzle of Mitchell’s stark strugglesStarc himself is the most under scrutiny of the bowling having taken 1 for 123 from 26 overs in the first innings which has taken his average in his last nine Tests to 46.05.David Saker, the bowling coach, then gave an interview where he revealed heated discussions in the changing room which Tim Paine later denied were as hostile as had been made out.”We talked quite heavily about the day, more because we thought it was a really disappointing day and we just wanted to get our point across,” Saker said. “Some of it was quite aggressive and that’s not like me usually. I was quite animated, and I know I was not the only one. JL [coach Justin Langer] wasn’t happy. The bowlers know that.”

Wrexham have delivered back-to-back promotions for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, but the club are already “playing catch up” in League One.

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Red Dragons climbing into third tierAmbition of Hollywood co-owners rewardedBig summer ahead in North WalesWHAT HAPPENED?

That warning has been sounded a matter of hours after the Red Dragons confirmed a top-three finish in League Two. Having claimed the National League title in record-breaking style last season, the Welsh outfit are enjoying a meteoric rise up the EFL ladder.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

They will be playing third-tier football in 2024-25 for the first time in 20 years, with a considerable investment of faith and funds being rewarded. Wrexham have come a long way in a short space of time, and that means their Hollywood co-owners need to find more answers to difficult questions in the weeks to come.

WHAT KER SAID ABOUT WREXHAM

Wrexham’s executive director, Humphrey Ker, has told of the project Reynolds and McElhenney are working through: “Above everything, we have proven again this is not a gimmick, it's not a joke, it's a serious operation. We are playing catch up on infrastructure and facilities, but we will do everything to give players and staff the standards you would expect. And then we go again.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

Reynolds and McElhenney have made no secret of the fact that they want to guide Wrexham towards the Premier League, but the playing field will start to level out in League One and that will mean bigger challenges for head coach Phil Parkinson and a star-studded squad to overcome.

The drama surrounding Mithali Raj’s exclusion in the Women’s World T20 has taken another twist

Nagraj Gollapudi28-Nov-2018The drama surrounding Mithali Raj has taken another twist with head coach Ramesh Powar stating in an official report to the BCCI that the player had threatened to pull out of the Women’s World T20 and announce her retirement if she was not allowed to open. Powar has also said Raj, who is India’s ODI captain, should stop “blackmailing and pressurising” coaches and putting her interests ahead of the team’s.These revelations are part of the coach’s appraisal of India’s performance in the Caribbean, where they lost in the semi-final against England. Raj was omitted from that match, triggering the controversy. On Wednesday, Powar met BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and the board’s head of cricket operations Saba Karim before e-mailing his final report to the pair.It was as explosive as the letter Raj herself had sent to Johri and Karim earlier this week accusing the coach of “humiliating” her and threatening to “destroy” her career.His report, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, begins with these strong words: Minimum inputs in team meetings; not a single word of appreciation after finishing at the top of the table. Could not understand & adapt to team plan. Ignored her role and batted for own milestones. Lack of keeping the momentum going which was putting extra pressure on other batters. Worked really hard as a coach to address her power hitting, batting skills and running between the wickets in almost every session. In practice games she was struggling to score quickly, as wickets were low bounce & slow. Intent was missing. Could not lean and execute shots due to limited ability in skills &fitness.In his defence, Powar, who took charge as interim coach, replacing Tushar Arothe, in July, has blamed Raj for manipulating the coaching staff to suit herself at the team’s expense. “I hope Mithali Raj stops blackmailing, pressurising coaches & also stops putting her interest first than team’s,” he wrote. “I hope she will look at the bigger picture & work towards betterment of the Indian women’s cricket.”Raj is understood to be part of the group of high-profile senior players responsible for Arothe being forced to step down.

I'm deeply saddened & hurt by the aspersions cast on me. My commitment to the game & 20yrs of playing for my country.The hard work, sweat, in vain.
Today, my patriotism doubted, my skill set questioned & all the mud slinging- it's the darkest day of my life. May god give strength

— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) November 29, 2018

According to Powar, Raj issued her initial threat to retire and return home on the eve of India’s second group match, against Pakistan. She had not batted in the tournament opener, against New Zealand, during which India posted the highest total in the World T20. She had already been told she would bat in the middle order.Powar explained that Raj, predominantly an opener, had to be pushed down the order because she had struggled to score quickly in the practice games that were played on slow and low pitches. Keeping in mind that scoring against spin would be difficult, especially after the ball loses its hardness, India’s batsmen were told to capitalise on the Powerplay.India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and coach Ramesh Powar at the pre-departure press meet•Annesha GhoshAccording to Powar, Raj had agreed to the plan, which he said was “logical”. “Mithali’s lack of intent to score quickly in practice games prompted us to open with Taniya Bhatia, who always showed intent every time she batted. We used Taniya and D Hemalatha in Powerplay vs New Zealand, which got us 24 runs in 13 balls. It’s not always about individual milestones, it’s always about team strategies and executions.”But, on the eve of the Pakistan match, Powar said, he was “shell-shocked” by the information that Raj was on the verge of quitting not just the World T20 campaign, but her entire career.”Video analyst Mr Pushkar Sawant came to my room with the news that fielding coach Mr Biju George conveyed to him that Mithali is upset about not changing the batting order & not allowing her to open in Pakistan match. She has packed her bags to leave with announcement of retirement in the morning.”I was shell-shocked to understand why? Team had just beaten one of the top teams (New Zealand) and Mithali Raj a legend is still complaining about her batting position(which she agreed upon) & threatening to leave.”Powar said he was “sadden(ed) and baffle(d)” by the senior player’s attitude, which he summed up bluntly as: “for Mithali Raj she comes first and then team India”.To prevent any adverse effects on the team, Powar told the captain Harmanpreet and the vice-captain Smriti Mandhana that Raj would open on morning of Pakistan match. Simultaneously, Raj was also informed the same.”We opened with Mithali Raj due to pressure from travelling selector and Mithali’s threatening behaviour (retirement) to go back home if not given a chance to open the innings.”Chasing 134, India reached the target in the penultimate over with Raj finishing with a half-century but Powar said the late finish hurt the side’s net run-rate, which tends to be a crucial determining factor in global events.In all, Raj played out 17 dots in her 47-ball 56. Powar then gave her “one more opportunity” in the third match against Ireland to “prove her ability” as an opener and “execute the team strategies that is to bat with intent (dominance).” And Raj hit second fifty in a row to bag successive Player-of-the-Match awards. But the coach underlined the 25 dots in the 56-ball 51. “(That) added extra pressure & cost us Smriti, Jemimah’s [Rodrigues] wicket & net run-rate.”Powar pointed out that Raj “questioned” the plan to dominate at all times and that the situation between him and her proved an unnecessary distraction on the eve of the semi-final against England.Powar said Raj raised “tantrums” and created “chaos” and even told team manager Trupti Bhattacharya she “wanted to go back home as she was very upset that coach is not looking after a legend player like her.” There are several references to attitudinal issues and reluctance to participate in fielding and practice drills.Powar said that he and Bhattacharya had a telephone call with Karim, who advised them to sort out the matter “amicably”.

The England midfielder needs a strong end to the campaign to secure football's biggest individual prize even after his fast start in Spain

Back in October, as Lionel Messi collected the eighth Ballon d'Or of his illustrious career, there was a feeling that the 2024 winner was already known. Jude Bellingham had spent his first three months at Real Madrid ripping up the club's record-books, with some of Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo's early numbers already eclipsed. There was a school of thought – and genuine belief to come with it – that Bellingham could find the net 40 times in his debut campaign in Madrid.

And even if he didn't hit that mark, the calibre of his performances were something to behold. He weaved through defenders at the Diego Maradona Stadium to beat Napoli. He scored twice to beat Barcelona in his first Clasico. Girona, Union Berlin and others were all taken down on the strength of Bellingham's virtuosic showings alone.

Since then, though, things have rather slowed up for the England midfielder. Goals have become fewer and farther between, while injuries and suspensions have impacted what looked set to be a record-breaking campaign.

Still, Bellingham remains the front-runner for football's biggest individual prize, and now, he has the chance to reaffirm that status. The next few months will be the ultimate test of his quality, with Euro 2024 just around the corner. First, though, he will have to prove his worth by leading Madrid past tournament-favourites Manchester City in the Champions League.

Getty ImagesBellingham's BDO case

Bellingham hit the ground running in a Madrid shirt, scoring three in his first two games. In the months that followed, he bagged winning goals, crucial assists, and also embodied the spirit of Carlo Ancelotti's revamped side. He may have been a new face, but there Bellingham was, flying into slide tackles, complaining to referees, and shouting in Spanish after finding the net.

He had heard Gareth Bale's warnings about failing to connect with the fans, and his arms-spread celebration was ubiquitous. Bellingham was Madrid, and everyone at Santiago Bernabeu seemed to know it.

For a long time, that made him the unanimous pick for the 2024 Ballon d'Or. Not only was Bellingham scoring at a better rate than anyone on the continent, he was also doing so for a European heavyweight. A 20-year-old was carrying one of the biggest clubs in the world.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesDrop in output

Bellingham remains the Golden Ball frontrunner, but things have changed. For some time, Bellingham was on pace for 40 goals and 20 assists, and was earning comparisons to Zinedine Zidane. Ancelotti cooled expectations, suggesting that perhaps 20 goals would be a more reasonable target for a player who – despite his prowess – is still very much a box-to-box midfielder.

He still has 30 goal involvements in 32 games, but his grip on La Liga's Pichichi awed for the season's top goal-scorer is loosening after Girona's Artem Dovbyk and Osasuna's Ante Budimir joined him at the top of the charts on 16 strikes each.

Bellingham's red card against Valencia in early March and the two-match suspension that followed stalled some of the momentum of his campaign, as did the dislocated shoulder and sprained ankle injuries that hit him either side of the New Year. Criticism of Bellingham's reduction in output, therefore, is difficult to manifest.

It is also worth remembering that Bellingham is still just 20, has only been in Spain for nine months, and finds himself playing an entirely new position. Still, if it's numbers that rule the Ballon d'Or conversation, then his are starting to falter slightly.

GettyCrucial weeks ahead

And in the eyes of Ballon d'Or voters, at least, this is a crucial few weeks. Recent history has shown that the trophy is essentially secured over the spring and early summer – but can also be thrown away. For all of the talk that the honour should be based off year-round success, it's impossible to ignore the fact that those who vote seem to have short memories, and use what happens at the end of campaigns, as well as in summer tournaments, to make their decisions.

Benzema's 2022 campaign, for example, was built off a Champions League run in which he single-handedly dragged Madrid to a number of memorable European wins. Luka Modric, in 2018, did largely the same, his midfield orchestration and subsequent World Cup performances for Croatia earning him the nod. Even the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly ultimately came down to who performed more effectively in April and May when silverware is on the line.

The same, then, will go for Bellingham, whose credentials will undoubtedly – fairly or otherwise – be determined by the outcome of the next months.

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Getty ImagesToughest draw possible

Bellingham's Ballon d'Or campaign, then, arguably starts this week with the visit of Manchester City to the Bernabeu. Pep Guardiola's team aren't quite the juggernaut that won the treble last year, but they're getting close. Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne remain elite performers, while Phil Foden is enjoying the best season of his career. Throw in the usual excellence of Rodri, and total class of Bernardo Silva, and the Cityzens are just about favourites to win the Champions League again.

Bellingham will not be alone in his efforts to take City down in the quarter-finals, as Madrid have weapons all over the pitch, and a strong spine that will be able to keep the Premier League champions at bay for a time. But on the biggest nights, it's the razor-sharp edges and crucial difference-makers that ultimately count, and for Madrid, that has to be Bellingham.

He has already shown he is capable of turning in a number of signature showings, but producing a game-changing display at this stage of the Champions League, against the side who many feel will be lifting the trophy at Wembley in June, might just restore his sole claim to football's biggest individual honour.

If Madrid crash out, however, then Bellingham's absence from the final throes of club football's most popular competition will undoubtedly hurt his Ballon d'Or candidacy. Though Madrid are well on course to win La Liga, few voters are tuning in to the Spanish top-flight each week, and thus the midfielder would need to find another route to show himself on the biggest stage possible in the final months of the season.

80 teams from around the world have gathered in Bradenton, Florida to compete for a GA Championship at the U15 and U17 levels.

The 2024 MLS Generation Adidas Cup tournament has arrived, and it's set to be the most global version in its 15-year existence. Every MLS academy will be represented along with 49 different club academies from 15 countries across four continents.

In total, 80 teams, 40 in each age respective U15 and U17 age group, are set to compete at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. March 30-April 7.

Scouts from all over the world will be present to find the next hidden gems in youth soccer, while Manchester City fans will get their first televised glimpse of 'the best 14-year-old in the world' Cavan Sullivan amid reports he's signed with the Premier League giants.

Ex-Chelsea defender Filipe Luis's U17 Flamengo side will look to leave their mark, while Manchester United's U15 team features two club legends sons in its XI. And for the USMNT, the next starlet may announce his presence on the world's premier youth footballing stage.

GOAL takes a look at top prospects in the field this year, how to watch and more below…

WHAT IS THE GA CUP?

The GA Cup is one of the premier annual male youth soccer events in the world. Top prospects at the U15 and U17 level go head-to-head in a pinnacle event featuring MLS academy teams and top-tier club academy sides from around the globe.

The 2024 edition features clubs from Asia, North America, South America and Europe. Overall, 40 teams, split in to 10 groups of four, will compete in a group stage before the top-16 teams are sent into a single-elimination bracket — and then 10 group-winners and the six-best second place finishers will compete for the title. The next best-16 sides won't go home, though, as they'll compete in a consolation bracket.

Matches are played with 30-minute halves, and if the result of the regulation format ends in a draw, teams will settle the match from the spot in a penalty shootout.

AdvertisementHOW TO WATCH THE 2024 GA CUP

For the first-time ever, matches from the GA Cup will be streamed on Apple TV on MLS Season Pass. In total, 28 games, including the championship match from both the U15 and U17 age groups, will be streamed for viewers around the world.

The entire broadcast schedule can be seen below.

March 30

10 am ET | U15 | Atlanta United vs. Manchester United FC (England) | 10am ET

12 pm ET | U15 | New York Red Bulls vs. Toulouse FC (France)

2:30 pm ET | U17s | CF Montréal vs. AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands)

4:30 pm ET | U17s | Philadelphia Union vs. Atlas FC (Mexico)

March 31

10 am ET | U15 | Orlando City SC vs. Arsenal FC (England)

12 pm ET | U15 | Portland Timbers vs. Sporting CP (Portugal)

2:30 pm ET | U17s | Seattle Sounders FC vs. HNK Hajduk Split (Croatia)

4:30 pm ET | U17s | LAFC vs. River Plate (Argentina)

April 1

10 am ET | U15 | KRC Genk (Belgium) vs. FC Dallas 1

2 pm ET | U15 | Valencia CF (Spain) vs. Austin FC

2:30 pm ET | U17 | Flamengo (Brazil) vs. St. Louis CITY SC

4:30 pm ET | U17 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) vs. Houston Dynamo FC

April 3

10 am ET | U15 Round of 16

12 pm ET | U15 Round of 16

2:30 pm ET | U17 Round of 16

5 pm ET | U17 Round of 16

April 4

10 am ET | U15 Quarterfinal

12 pm ET | U15 Quarterfinal

2:30 pm ET | U17 Quarterfinal

5 pm ET | U17 Quarterfinal

April 6

10 am ET | U15 Semifinal

12 pm ET | U15 Semifinal

2:30 pm ET | U17 Semifinal

5 pm ET | U17 Semifinal

April 7

10 am ET | U15 Consolation Final (Premier)

12 pm ET | U15 Championship Final

2:30 pm ET | U17 Consolation Final (Premier)

5 pm ET | U17 Championship Final

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty/GOALWHEN DOES CAVAN SULLIVAN PLAY?

After notching an assist on his professional debut with Philadelphia Union II in MLS NEXT Pro action, the 14-year-old, who is set to sign for Manchester City, will make his 2024 GA cup debut this weekend.

Sullivan will be competing with the Union U17 squad, after making the championship game with the U15 squad in 2023. The reigning champions, the Union U17s will start their title defense with Sullivan on Saturday March 30 against Liga MX side Atlas FC. Then, on Sunday, they clash with MLS side FC Cincinnati before taking on the Vancouver Whitecaps on Monday.

All three matches will kick off at 4:30 pm ET, with Saturday's match being the lone contest streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

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U15 PLAYERS TO WATCH

James Donaldson | Goalkeeper | U15 Atlanta United

A USYNT Star at the U15 level, Donaldson is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers competing at the MLS NEXT level in the U15 age group.

Jelle Driessen | Midfielder | U15 KRC Genk

Driessen is the captain of the Belgium U15 youth national team and recently signed a professional contract with the club in 2024. Regarded as one of the best domestic talents in the league, he has a big future.

Jacey Carrick | Midfielder | U15 Manchester United

Son of Man United legend Michael, he was added to the Red Devils academy in 2016 at the age of six. Consistently playing a role across all academy levels over the years, this is his first GA Cup, where he will have an opportunity to make a name for himself on an international stage.

Kai Rooney | Forward | U15 Manchester United

Son of England, Everton and Manchester United legend Wayne, Kai was added to the Red Devils academy in 2016. He is also an England youth international, with prolific scoring rates at the club level. In 2022, he scored 56 goals and had 28 assists for the Man United academy. Expectations are high for the forward this GA cup.

After the left-arm quick 3 for 20 to limit New Zealand to 153 for 7, the allrounder made an ice-cool 34 to give his side their 11th successive T20I series win

The Report by Danyal Rasool02-Nov-2018Pakistan 154 for 4 (Babar 40, Hafeez 34*, Milne 2-25) beat New Zealand 153 for 7 (Anderson 44*, Munro 44, Afridi 3-20) by six wickets
Shaheen Afridi was superb at the death•AFPA masterful chase from Pakistan helped them secure their 11th straight series win – and 11th consecutive win in a T20I chase. They might have taken it to the last over – to the final two deliveries – but make no mistake, Pakistan were in charge of it almost every step of the way. Pakistan fans have too many bitter experiences over the years, and that mental scarring meant collective sighs of relief were not heaved until Mohammad Hafeez played one of the shots of the day to lift Adam Milne over extra cover for four to seal victory. But in truth, all throughout the innings, Pakistan had paced it well enough to remain one step ahead of New Zealand, who once again showed enough to suggest this will be a fiercely competitive tour. As has been the case with every other team in the world, though, they weren’t quite good enough for this Pakistan juggernaut.New Zealand had taken the attack to Pakistan from ball one – literally. Colin Munro, who played some marvellous shots during his 28-ball 44, smashed Imad Wasim for six off the game’s first ball, and a late flurry from Corey Anderson took them to 153. That is around the outer limit of what Pakistan have been able to muster over the past few T20Is, and they needed contributions from every one of their batsmen. They were up to the task, and though a tight penultimate over gave New Zealand hope, Sarfraz Ahmed’s men had done too much too well to be denied.After opting to bat, New Zealand tried to follow the template Pakistan have patented in these conditions. Colin Munro played the Fakhar Zaman role to perfection, getting New Zealand off to a flying start and hitting Imad out of the attack. They were up to 47 for 0 in the first five overs, before the youngest player on the pitch decided enough was enough.Shaheen Shah Afridi might have been slightly fortuitous to have as many to defend as he did in the final over a couple of days ago, but there could be no complaints today. He sucked out New Zealand’s momentum with a fabulous first over, conceding just three runs and capping it with the wicket of Glen Phillips, who was never really able to get away. That over was the start of what we might as well officially start calling The Squeeze, as Pakistan drained the life out of Kane Williamson’s men in the middle overs, who managed just 40 runs off the next eight overs. Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Imad and Shaheen all played starring roles in that phase, and New Zealand were reduced to biding their time and trying to keep as many wickets in hand for a big enough finish.They won that phase of play, thanks in part to Hasan Ali slightly off the pace at the death, but Corey Anderson still needed to play a blinder to ensure his side surged past 150. Hasan came in for severe punishment, his three overs going for 43 runs, while Shaheen at the other end bowled an exceptional 18th over, allowing just one run to ensure Pakistan didn’t have an even bigger chase on their hands.Pakistan followed the pattern of play New Zealand had set in the Powerplay. Perhaps a little too closely, in fact, by the end of six overs, they were 50 for 1, exactly the same score the visitors had managed in that period. Fakhar Zaman, returning from an injury, and Babar Azam, got Pakistan off to a brisk start, scoring 11 runs from each of the first three overs. Fakhar might have gone on to play a far more match-defining innings had Kane Williamson not taken a stunner that, even by his side’s high standards, was a jaw-dropping grab. Fakhar had slapped the ball to mid-off, far enough to the left of the fielder for the opener to feel safe about the shot. But Williamson dived full length to his left, sticking one hand out. The ball stuck, and both the batsmen batsman stared in disbelief at the sensational piece of catching they had just seen.Pakistan were a bit more fluent in the middle overs, with Babar and Asif Ali rotating the strike and finding boundaries regularly enough not to see the asking rate balloon out of control. But once Babar gave his wicket away as he lost his timing, New Zealand came back into the game. Hafeez took time to settle in, while Asif’s ability to rotate the strike suddenly disappeared; it was either six or nothing. With four overs to go, he missed a straight, waist high full toss from part-timer Colin Munro. It was arguably the worst ball bowled of the match, but Asif swung wildly through thin air as the ball cannoned into his back pad bang in front of middle.The asking rate had now hit 10, and this is where Hafeez took centrestage. Two sixes in an over off Ish Sodhi – who had bowled rather well up to then, eased the pressure as Pakistan plundered 17 off the 17th over. Malik at the other end was a picture of calm, and while he made just 10 runs, six of them came via a glorious hit in the 18th over that kept Pakistan on top of the asking rate, ensuring they needed chase just 14 off the final two.That became seven off a final over to be bowled by Adam Milne. Malik tried to make quick work of it when he lofted a leg-side full toss, only to see it sail into midwicket’s lap. But Pakistan still had one experienced head out in the middle, and Hafeez, who finished unbeaten on 34 off 21, was playing too well to come away leaving the job undone.Another series won, another challenger brushed aside. 2018 might not see a World T20 competition take place, but there is little doubt who commands top billing in this format these days.

Queensland enjoyed a solid opening day against Western Australia with Charlie Hemphrey continuing his good form

Alex Malcolm03-Nov-2018A patient 89 from Test hopeful Matt Renshaw underpinned a solid opening day for Queensland against Western Australia at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.Renshaw batted for four hours and faced 215 deliveries in his first half-century of the Shield season before Matt Kelly trapped him lbw from around the wicket with a ball that appeared to keep a fraction low.The Bulls laid a strong platform after winning the toss. Renshaw and Joe Burns put on a 90-run opening stand. Burns fell one short of a half-century, caught behind attempting a cut shot off Jhye Richardson. Marnus Labuschagne fell to a similar stroke from the same bowler guiding a ball to Josh Philippe in the gully for just 11.Renshaw and Charlie Hemphrey put on 77 before the opener fell in the 68th over. Sam Heazlett made just 21, clean bowled by the part-time offspin of Will Bosisto late in the day.Hemphrey backed up his fighting 87 in last week’s draw with South Australia with another half-century. He moved to 68 not out at stumps with 10 fours and a six. Jack Wildermuth remained 16 not out. While the Warriors did not make significant inroads they did keep the scoring under three runs per over on a fairly benign surface.