All posts by n8rngtd.top

An exemplary fielding performance and a perfectly executed 19th over help Australia eke out a narrow win

Valkerie Baynes24-Feb-20232:45

Baynes: Australia’s death bowling the difference

India needed 18 runs off nine balls when Ellyse Perry sprinted to her right from deep-backward square leg, threw herself into the air and flicked the ball back before tumbling over the boundary rope to save two runs. That moment epitomised what makes Australia tick. Every piece of effort is given at 100% and forms part of the whole juggernaut, which even when pushed by India in the T20 World Cup semi-final prevails by five runs.At the time, left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen – who hadn’t played since their opening match as Australia opted for legspinner Alana King for the next three games – was in the middle of executing the perfect 19th over, conceding just four runs when India needed 20 from 12 balls, and pegging Sneh Rana’s leg stump back with the last ball.With India left to get 16 off the last over, the eventual Player of the Match Ashleigh Gardner gave away only ten and claimed her second wicket as Perry again held her nerve and settled under a skier, by Radha Yadav, at long-on to allow Australia to snatch a berth in their seventh successive T20 World Cup final.Related

• The anatomy of India's heartbreak

• Australia clinch thriller to make seventh straight final

• Harmanpreet rues luck, missed chances after semi-final exit

After the win, Gardner said the victory ranked “pretty high” on Australia’s unmatched list of triumphs.”I think at the ten-over mark in India’s batting innings, everyone had probably written us off, but I think that just shows our character within our side and that’s why the best teams win in those types of positions,” she said.”What we speak about is when our backs are up against the wall, we always try and find a way, and today we probably had no right to win at one point there. They were cruising and then we found a way to get some wickets and ultimately came out on top.”It was similar to last year’s Commonwealth Games gold-medal match, which Australia had won by nine runs. That, combined with Thursday’s performance at Newlands, suggests the gap might be closing somewhat compared to the 85-run thumping they had dished out to India in the final of the T20 World Cup back in 2020.India, on the other hand, squandered their chances with crucial drops of Beth Mooney and Meg Lanning, Australia’s two biggest run-scorers on this occasion, as well as leaking runs through numerous misfields and overthrows.”We showed our class today in the field and we always speak about as a group being the best fielding team in the world, and I think today really showed that,” Gardner said. “Ellyse Perry was elite on the boundary. Whether it’s dropped catches, [or] missed opportunities in the field, those ultimately add up to quite a lot of runs and I think we took those moments when we really needed to.Player-of-the-Match Gardner contributed 31 off 18 balls with the bat and followed that with two wickets•ICC/Getty Images

“I certainly think Pez is probably the blueprint for our side going forward – certainly on the boundary. At the end of the day, that could have been the difference between us and them.”Gardner, who had also contributed an excellent 31 off 18 balls with the bat, revealed it was no accident that Australia are so strong in the field.”We have KPIs and there are markers that show us whether we’re positive or negative in the field,” she said. “So there’s a pretty clear indication of how we’ve fielded. We just know how to push each other. In our training sessions, there are always really high-pressure situations, and as athletes, we all push each other – whether it’s on the field or off the field, whether it’s in the gym, running.”That’s something we really pride ourselves on is being fit, being strong, and ultimately that’s one of the things that has an impact in the field.”India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who overcame illness to put her side in a winning position before being run out when her bat got stuck in the pitch, acknowledged that the difference in fielding was the key.”The Australian side, they always field very well; and from our side, we made some mistakes,” Harmanpreet said. “But again, we have to just learn [from] whatever mistakes we have made. But obviously, the Australian side is better than us. They always field well, and today also, after I got out, their body language completely changed. The way they stopped two-three boundaries, that also made a huge difference.”Jemimah Rodrigues, India’s second-highest run-scorer on the day, agreed: “When you lose, you always find a lot of reasons. You can blame anything… but yeah, that is one aspect. As an Indian team, we know that we need to improve our fielding and our running between wickets. Today the running between was really good but I think there’s so much to learn from.”Gardner, Jonassen and Mooney all said that competing under pressure in franchise tournaments such as their own WBBL and England’s much-newer Hundred had contributed to Australia’s strength, which is encouraging for India ahead of their inaugural WPL season, which starts next month.”It probably comes back to the exposure of those sorts of situations,” Jonassen said. “Having such a quality domestic set-up, having the WBBL, having some of the best international players coming over every year – that plays a significant part. Then we’re almost primed for those same situations on the international stage.”We’ve had a few young players making debuts in different formats this season as well that have come from those competitions, and we’re always looking to try and improve, and try and push each other to that next level and try and get the most out of each and every person because ultimately we know if we can gain an extra one or two percent individually, then the team’s collectively going to be better off.”And such is Australia’s depth that Jonassen jokingly revealed her disbelief when head coach Shelley Nitschke told her after training on match eve that she was back in the side.”I had to get her to repeat it because I had walked about ten laps after training yesterday, sort of getting my head around how I would mentally deal with if I missed out again,” Jonassen said. “I’ve got my partner and my mum who have flown over, so I was pretty disappointed up until today that I wasn’t able to play a game in front of them. Hopefully one more and it’s another successful one.”One more will mean a contest for the trophy against either hosts South Africa or England. Besides India at this World Cup, only England have looked capable of threatening Australia. Whoever it is will need to do more than just threaten, as India found out.

West Ham United haven’t been shy of spending money in recent transfer windows; just ask Julen Lopetegui after his first summer at the London Stadium.

Their spending stretches back several years but the 2022/23 season was one of the most notable, shelling out around £179m, making nine new signings, eight of which came in the summer transfer window, and one of which was made in January; Danny Ings.

The Hammers continued to try and find a reliable talisman, signing Gianluca Scamacca from Sassuolo for around £35.5m. The Italian went on to make just 27 appearances for the club, scoring just eight goals and totalling 1,342 minutes.

However, the biggest move of the window was bringing in Lucas Paqueta, signing the talented Brazilian from Lyon for around £51m, a club-record fee still yet to be broken.

Lucas Paqueta's time at West Ham

Since joining the club for a record fee, Paqueta has made 97 appearances, scoring 15 goals and supplying 14 assists across 7,321 minutes on the pitch.

He has been a key man for both Moyes and Lopetegui in his time at the club and is seen as one of the Hammers’ most important players.

The 27-year-old is an attacking midfielder with an eye for a pass, looking to use his creativity in deep areas to get West Ham out of sticky situations, and then higher up the pitch to create chances for his teammates, while chipping in with goals himself.

So far this season, Paqueta has made 13 appearances, managing two goals in 877 minutes.

However, the Brazil international has attracted interest from the likes of Manchester City in the past, and there are still murmurs that his future could be up in the air.

West Ham's possible Paqueta replacement

According to reports by The Sun, West Ham are considering a swoop for Manchester City’s, James McAtee. This comes after some doubts about Paqueta’s future at the club, as the Hammers may have to replace the Brazilian.

The reports suggest McAtee could be landed for around £20m, which could prove to be good value for the 22-year-old attacking midfielder. A “special” talent in the eyes of scout Jacek Kulig, he has already had a loan spell with Sheffield United in the Premier League, scoring five goals and providing four assists in his 33 games in all competitions.

So, how do the two players compare? We’ve got the answer from a statistical point of view.

Said to be “like Odegaard” by BBC Sports’ Carl Asaba, you can see when watching the midfielder that he has the tight space control and creativity to match the comparison, and his metrics begin to tell that story too.

Making 1.39 key passes per 90, completing 2.72 progressive carries and 2.52 progressive passes per 90, the 22-year-old has already showcased his ability on the ball whilst on loan at a relegation-battling side, and these numbers could improve further if in a better team on a consistent basis, with the freedom to express himself.

Whilst Paqueta’s numbers are better in many areas currently, the age gap is five years between the two, and if the City gem is afforded time to develop, whilst being trusted and given a platform to grow, he could easily hit the heights of West Ham’s star man and prove to be an excellent acquisition for the Irons.

Antonio axed for £30m signing in West Ham's dream XI after January

Here’s what West Ham’s starting XI could look like after a window of spending.

By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 17, 2024

Plays of the day from the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens

Abhishek Purohit11-Apr-2015Starting stutters
Royal Challengers Bangalore were the eighth and last franchise to begin their 2015 campaign, and for the opening over, their fielding was all over the place. Robin Uthappa began the match with a quiet steer to third man, and no more than a single was on as Abu Nechim bent to make a regulation stop. However, the ball slipped through Nechim’s grasp to gift Uthappa a four. Two balls later, Harshal Patel slid awkwardly to his left at midwicket and failed to prevent a Gautam Gambhir clip from racing for four. Two balls later, Uthappa was gifted an overthrow to add to an easy single to mid-on.Look who dropped it
This one was remarkable not only for what happened but also for the reactions that followed. On 31, Gambhir pulled Nechim flat and straight to deep square leg for the most takrable of catches, even for someone without the reputation of the man stationed in the position: AB de Villiers. But the South African did the unthinkable: he grabbed at the ball a touch too much and it popped out of his grasp. The habitually intense captain Virat Kohli was stunned enough to smile in disbelief. The disbelief was greater in de Villiers’ long, hard stare into blank spaces.You or me?
Bursts of confusion continued to appear in Royal Challengers’ fielding performance. In the 19th over, Andre Russell top-edged a slog off Harshal over cover. Sean Abbott and Varun Aaron ran after it from the inner circle. It stayed up in the air long enough for the men to have ideally decided who was to go for it. Abbott started to pull away as it came down, implying that Aaron was to be the man. Only, Aaron was nowhere near the ball as it plopped into the ground. He was closer to it than Abbott, though, and had to sheepishly pick it up.Mystery strikes back
Knight Riders’ latest mystery spinner, KC Cariappa, had already taken some punishment from Chris Gayle when de Villiers went after him. Cariappa was bowling a bit too full to make the batsman think about which way it was going to turn, and de Villiers hit him for a couple of fours and a six in the space of five deliveries. De Villiers jumped out to the last ball of the over, but this one was much flatter and zipped past the batsman. Uthappa did not deny his fellow Coorgi and pulled off a sharp stumping.

Former India opener will explore “new opportunities in the world of cricket and the business side of it”

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-2023M Vijay has called time on his international career to explore “new opportunities in the world of cricket and the business side of it”.Vijay played 61 Tests, 17 ODIs and nine T20Is in an international career that began in 2008 when he replaced Gautam Gambhir in India’s XI for the final Test of the 2008-09 Border Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur. He last turned out for India in the Perth Test in December 2018, and last played first-class and List A cricket, for Tamil Nadu, in late 2019. His last appearance in professional cricket was in the IPL, in September 2020.A classical Test opener, who, when at his peak, had a solid technique and immense patience against the new ball – his ability to leave the ball earned him great praise during India’s tour of England in 2014 – Vijay finished with 3982 Test runs in 105 innings at an average of 38.28. He made 12 centuries and 15 half-centuries, with a best of 167 against Australia in Hyderabad in 2013.Related

• Who is in our all-time Chennai Super Kings XI?

• The adequate artistry of M Vijay

“I am excited to announce that I will be exploring new opportunities in the world of cricket and the business side of it, where I will also continue to participate in the sport that I love and challenge myself in new and different environments,” 38-year-old Vijay said in a statement. “I believe this is the next step in my journey as a cricketer and I look forward to the new chapter in my life.”

Will Vijay explore opportunities in overseas T20 leagues?

In June last year, speaking at an event to launch the 2022 edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League, Vijay had said he wanted to “play as long as possible”. While he hasn’t said if he would be pursuing opportunities in T20 leagues around the world, Vijay’s retirement note didn’t make a mention of retirement from anything apart from international cricket.Not long ago, in fact, he had hinted at playing outside India. “I am almost done with BCCI and am looking for opportunities abroad,” Vijay had told former India batter WV Raman on Wednesdays With WV, a weekly show on . “After 30 in India, it’s a taboo. I think people see us as 80-year-olds walking on street.”The media should also address it differently. I feel you are peaking in your 30s. Sitting here right now, I feel I can bat the best way I can. But, unfortunately, the opportunities were less, and I had to search for chances outside. I honestly feel as a person, you can only do what’s in your hand. You can’t control the uncontrollable. Whatever happened, happened.”M Vijay had his best years in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings, winning the title in 2010 and 2011 with them•BCCI

Vijay was a key member of India’s Test squad for a five-year period between 2013 and 2018. From December 2013 to January 2015, when India played all their Test cricket away from home – in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia – Vijay faced the most balls and scored the second-most runs for the team. He was also one of only three players to average more than 40.Though a Test opener in the classical mould, Vijay also featured in 106 IPL games and led two franchises: Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) and Punjab Kings. However, much of his success came for Chennai Super Kings, with whom he won two IPL titles, in 2010 and 2011. The triumph in 2011 was particularly special as Vijay earned the Player-of-the-Match award for his 52-ball 95 in the final against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Overall, he scored 2619 runs in the IPL, with two centuries and 13 half-centuries, scoring his runs at a strike rate of 121.87.Vijay also had short stints with Essex and Somerset in the English county championship.”My journey from 2002-2018 has been the most wonderful years of my life,” he wrote in his retirement note. “It was an honour representing India at the highest level of sport. I am grateful to the opportunities provided by the BCCI, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, Chennai Super Kings and Chemplast Sanmar [the corporate that runs Jolly Rovers, Vijay’s club team in the TNCA league].”

Lionel Messi danced past two defenders before scoring a stunning goal for Inter Miami that saw him lob Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Messi on the scoresheet again
• Rolled back the years for typical finish
• Returned to MLS action after long rest

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Herons claimed a form of revenge over their domestic rivals for the shock MLS Cup play-off defeat that they suffered in 2024. That setback dashed silverware dreams for Messi and Co, but they are back in the hunt for more major honours this term.

  Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

Advertisement

• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  An unbeaten start to the 2025 campaign has been enjoyed, across MLS and CONCACAF Champions Cup competition, with Messi’s workload being carefully managed. He was returned to Javier Mascherano’s starting XI against Atlanta after seeing plenty of rest and bench duty.

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  It took just 20 minutes for Messi to make a decisive contribution as he pounced on a heavy touch, burst into the box, left one Atlanta defender on the deck and calmly clipped the ball over the onrushing Guzan. Inter Miami would go on to win the game 2-1 courtesy of a dramatic 89th-minute header from Fafa Picault.

Vinicius Junior has confirmed that he is ready to sign a new Real Madrid contract as he reiterated he is not interested in a Saudi Pro League move.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Vini Jr ready to sign new Madrid contract
• Will snub Saudi's lucrative offer
• Madrid take on Atletico on Tuesday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The winger has been the number one target for Saudi Pro League clubs who were reportedly ready to submit an outrageous bid to convince the player to move to the Middle East. reported last month that the Saudi officials were reportedly offering Vinicius Jr. €1 billion (£825m) in wages over five years, which would make him the highest paid footballer in the world.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Brazilian has maintained throughout that his goal is to stay at Santiago Bernabeu and win many more trophies with the Spanish giants. The player publicly revealed that he aims to sign a new Los Blancos deal as soon as possible and explained why he will not follow the money to Saudi Arabia.

• WHAT VINICIUS JR SAID

  Speaking to reporters, the 24-year-old said: "I am very calm because I have a contract until 2027 and I hope I can renew it as soon as possible because I am happy here. Everyone loves me and likes me very much. I couldn't be in a better place than here.

  "I am here to continue the story, everything that the president and the club have given me. I hope I can continue scoring more goals and playing more games with this shirt. I have won, but I can win much more and I can go down in the history of this club with so many great players who are legends."

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  Carlo Ancelotti's side will be back in action on Tuesday as they host rivals Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 fixture.

With defeat against Nottingham Forest leaving Julen Lopetegui on the verge of losing his job, West Ham United are reportedly already eyeing an impressive replacement for the Spaniard.

Lopetegui on the brink at West Ham

Sat in 14th after a summer of heavy investment, Lopetegui is now reportedly on the brink at West Ham. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Spaniard is under increasing scrutiny with forthcoming games against Everton and Newcastle United the chance to save his job.

Romano wrote in his Daily Briefing after the Hammers were brushed aside by Nottingham Forest: “Another defeat yesterday against Nottingham Forest puts Julen Lopetegui on the brink at West Ham.”

Another day to forget, West Ham’s 3-0 defeat against Forest represented a game between two sides in such contrasting positions compared to the expectations in pre-season. Some would have had Forest just above the dropzone whilst placing West Ham in contention for European qualification. After 10 games, however, it’s the latter who sit closest to the bottom three and Forest who are stealing the show in the Premier League.

It seems as though those at the London Stadium have seen enough too, with Lopetegui edging closer to the sack and a fresh candidate to replace the former Sevilla boss now emerging.

0 duels won: West Ham's "ineffective" ace was even worse than Alvarez

West Ham United were defeated by Nottingham Forest on Saturday

By
Ross Kilvington

Nov 3, 2024

According to Romano in his Daily Briefing, West Ham are now eyeing a move to appoint Edin Terzic to replace Lopetegui in what would be the German’s first job since leaving Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

Taking the Bundesliga giants all the way to the Champions League final, Terzic left many impressed but still finds himself without a job in what sums up the ruthless world of football management. Now, however, West Ham could hand the 42-year-old a route back into the technical area, with Romano writing: “The Hammers could appoint former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic as the 58-year-old’s successor.”

West Ham can make up for regret by hiring Terzic

With the more old-fashioned David Moyes heading out of the exit door in the summer, West Ham found themselves with one of the most exciting squads outside of the Premier League’s top six and the chance to appoint an equally exciting manager. Yet, in came Lopetegui – a manager who struggled at Wolves albeit without financial backing – and one who has ultimately not become famous for applying the exhilarating football that fans were desperate to see at the London Stadium.

The appointment felt subdued because it was exactly that. Whilst Brighton & Hove Albion took a risk by appointing Fabian Hurzeler before reaping the rewards ever since West Ham stuck with the safe choice only to be full of regret ever since. Now, they should turn to Terzic.

A young manager who proved his worth at Dortmund, Terzic would help get the best out of Mohammed Kudus again in similar fashion to how his 4-3-3 attacking system got the best out of Jadon Sancho. It may be months later, but it’s not too late for West Ham to get their appointment right at the second time of asking.

Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistan prime minister and board patron has nominated a 14-member committee led by Najam Sethi

Umar Farooq21-Dec-2022Ramiz Raja is no longer chairman of the PCB. His removal from the post and the current board was formally initiated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, who is also patron of the cricket board.A 14-member management committee, headed by former board head and prominent media analyst Najam Sethi, and including former Pakistan captains Shahid Afridi and Sana Mir will take interim charge of affairs. The committee will have 120 days in which they are expected to change the PCB’s constitution, bringing back the 2014 version to replace the current one (put in place in 2019).”The cricket regime headed by Ramiz Raja is no more,” Sethi tweeted late on Wednesday. “The 2014 PCB constitution stands restored. The Management Committee will work tirelessly to revive first class cricket. Thousands of cricketers will be employed again. The famine in cricket will come to an end.”