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Pandya’s injury has forced India to play without an extra batter, but their head coach says team “is not thinking about it”

Sidharth Monga04-Nov-20233:24

Dravid: Hardik the one player we don’t have a back-up for

The dreaded scenario is here. Probably the second-most irreplaceable player – just after Jasprit Bumrah – is out for the tournament for India. There is no getting away from the reality that for Hardik Pandya to be properly replaced, two players are needed.However, the good thing for India is that it has happened in phases, and they have already trialed an XI without that allrounder in it. And they have kept winning. In doing so, they had to adjust their combination and lose the comfort zone of extra batting cushion at No. 8 and also manage without the security of the sixth bowler.Rahul Dravid, India’s coach, is confident they can rise to the challenge of the missing sixth bowler, and said that they are not thinking too much about the runs the No. 8 can give them. Anyway you don’t say the batting ends at no. 7 because, in the words of Dravid, “Booms [Jasprit Bumrah] will take exception to that. Watch out for him in the corridor.””I don’t think we are going to think about it too much,” Dravid said when asked if not having that extra batting security has affected the main batters at all. “I think there’s only been one game where we’ve probably felt the need for Nos. 8 and 9, which was the game against England in Lucknow, and actually after the seventh wicket, the next couple of wickets gave us 46 critical runs on a tricky wicket.Related

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“So I think we got to have confidence in our 8, 9, 10, 11,” he added. “The ones that we have now, I think they are working very hard and they are doing the best that they can. And I don’t think the batsmen really, to be honest, need to think about it or worry about it. I think if you play good cricket through the 50 overs and play according to the situation and what the demands of the game are, I think there’s enough quality in that top seven to look after itself.”File photo: India haven’t missed Pandya at this World Cup since his injury•Getty ImagesDravid took comfort in knowledge that when Pandya was rested for the ODIs against Australia before the World Cup, their five specialist bowlers were enough to win them matches. And they were not even their best five.”He just said the facts,” Dravid said, when told how Temba Bavuma pointed out that India have only five bowlers now. “The sixth option is something that Hardik gave us. But we have been playing the last four games without the sixth bowling option. We also played a couple of games in the Australia series before the World Cup without the sixth option. We won two of our games, both in Mohali and in Indore, when we played only with five bowling options in those games as well.”So, we have responded really well to that challenge. Yes, of course, we probably won’t have that sixth bowling option in these games, but the response of the team and the players has been really good when we have not had it. So, I think we have played enough games without having it. And we seem to have done pretty well.”It is also just as well that Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer have hit form just in time then. Especially Gill, who missed the start of the tournament with dengue, an illness not easy to recover from as quickly as Gill has.”Shubman’s obviously coming back,” Dravid said. “He was in such good form and playing so well. It was just a little unfortunate for him that he picked up dengue at the start of the tournament. And it’s taken him a little bit of time to get over that. I think we underestimate the kind of effect something like that can have on you, and then having to come out and play in the heat and travel. And it’s been quite a hectic tournament as well. So sometimes you do underestimate how much of an impact that can have on your body. It is really nice for him to be able to grind out some really good runs for us in Bombay.”

Enzo Maresca has revealed that star midfielder Moises Caicedo was forced to start from the bench for Saturday's Premier League tie against Burnley due to the player's late arrival in London after the international break. The Ecuadorian played every minute of his country's two friendlies against New Zealand and Canada, reporting back to the west London club on Thursday evening.

• Maresca protects Caicedo from punishing workload

  The Blues boss would always prefer to have his destructive midfield enforcer on the field, but it appears the Ecuadorian's punishing workload has forced the decision. The Italian revealed that Caicedo only arrived back in London late on Thursday evening, leaving him with just a light session on Friday to prepare for the lunchtime kickoff in Lancashire. 

  Speaking ahead of the game, Maresca rebuffed suggestions he was looking ahead to a tricky week of fixtures for the Blues. Chelsea square off with Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, before hosting London rivals and Premier League leaders Arsenal next Sunday. While the Blues would be excused in prioritising those marquee fixtures, it appears the strenuous travel schedule for the 24-year-old was the only factor in his starting today's game from the bench. 

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  'The reason he is not playing is that it's impossible'

  When asked if he was resting Caicedo, with an eye on those upcoming fixtures, Maresca told TNT Sports "Nothing [to do with Barcelona and Arsenal]. The reason he is not in the first eleven is that came back Thursday night from Ecuador, from the national team, then just a light session with us yesterday, and the reason he is not playing is that it is impossible. To protect him a little bit."

• Caicedo a vital player for club and country

  Caicedo's brilliance in the Chelsea engine room has won him even more admirers of late, prompting pundits to suggest he could be a target for Real Madrid in the summer. His importance to the team has been noted by teammates too; Robert Sanchez said the 24-year-old is the best "midfielder in the world" after his influential display in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Tottenham earlier this month. 

  Obviously, the former Brighton man is just as important to his international side. Caicedo has been the main man for a side that has punched above its weight in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers. Ecuador finished second in the league table behind a ferocious defensive effort. La Tricolor conceded just five goals in their 18 qualification games. 

  Such is Caicedo's influence, that manager Sebastian Beccacece saw fit to play the Chelsea man for all 180 minutes in Ecuador's 0-0 draw against Canada and 2-0 victory over New Zealand earlier this week. 

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  Keeping Caicedo fresh over busy festive period crucial to Chelsea's season

  While Maresca may not have considered the immediate future in his decision to bench the energetic midfielder, keeping Caicedo fresh over the next month will be crucial. December is English football's busiest period. The Blues have eight games on the slate next month, including a Carabao Cup quarter final against Cardiff City and a Champions League clash away at Atalanta. To be without Caicedo for that intense period would present Maresca with a real selection headache. 

The Red Sox bolstered their starting pitching rotation on Thursday, having agreed to acquire right-handed starting pitcher Johan Oviedo in a trade with the Pirates.

The deal reportedly includes five players in total, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The highlight of the package Boston is sending to Pittsburgh is the Red Sox’s No. 3 prospect and top outfield prospect, Jhostynxon Garcia.

Oviedo, 27, made nine starts for the Pirates in 2025. He registered an ERA of 3.57 and had 42 strikeouts across 40 1/3 innings. Oviedo missed the entire ‘24 campaign and part of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. His last full season of work came in 2023, when he made 32 starts and had a 4.31 ERA.

In addition to Oviedo, the Red Sox will also receive left-handed pitcher Tyler Samaniego and catching prospect, 2025 fifth-round pick Adonys Guzman. The Pirates will also acquire another player alongside Garcia.

Garcia, 22, saw his first taste of MLB action in 2025, when he appeared in five games for the Red Sox. He struck out five times in a total of seven at-bats. Across 114 games in the minor leagues last season, he had a .810 OPS with 21 home runs and 75 RBIs.

Oviedo is now the second starting pitcher the Red Sox acquired this offseason. The team traded for Sonny Gray in late November, and now will add Oviedo to the mix, too.

One way to play both allrounders is by fielding an all-pace attack, but Australia last did that in 2010

Andrew McGlashan11-Jul-20231:54

Will Australia replace David Warner in the fourth Ashes Test?

In the gap between the Headingley and Old Trafford Tests, the minds of the Australia selectors will be occupied with the tough decision of what to do with the make-up of the side after Mitchell Marsh’s stunning return to Test cricket, and the availability of Cameron Green following his minor hamstring injury.As a result of that injury to Green, Marsh took his place for the third Test at Headingley, and plundered a run-a-ball 118 while also removing Zak Crawley twice in the match.”We’ve got a lot to consider and a lot to weigh up, and Mitch Marsh has put a question to us no doubt,” Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald said.Related

• What happens next? Recapping the crazy men's Ashes

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• Switch Hit: Wood, Woakes, Woohoo!

When the Ashes squad was originally announced, national selector George Bailey had indicated it was possible that both allrounders could play together. “That’s a potential, absolutely,” he said. “If that’s on the cards, it would be exciting times if you could start to squeeze in two or three allrounders into your top six if they were batting well enough.”However, despite the all-round performance in the third Test, Marsh himself was not so sure of that happening. “I don’t think there is [a chance of both him and Green playing in the same XI],” he told cricket.com.au in the aftermath of the loss at Headingley. “Unfortunately, there’s not, [and] that’s all right.”But Pat Cummins acknowledged that Marsh was tough to leave out. “Yeah, it’s possible,” Cummins said of playing both allrounders. “But, I mean, it was a pretty impressive week, wasn’t it?”So is there a way Marsh and Green can play in the same team? Here are a few options.

The big one: drop David Warner

Let’s start with what would be a huge moment were it to occur. David Warner’s twin failures at Headingley, in familiar style against Stuart Broad, could have come at a very bad time. If one of the top five was to be left out to accommodate Green – much in the way Usman Khawaja had lost his spot to make room for Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith in 2019 – then the spotlight will be on Warner.However, it’s only one game ago that he played a crucial role in Australia’s victory at Lord’s, making 66 in the first innings and combining for opening stands of 73 and 63 alongside Khawaja in some of the toughest batting conditions of the game under cloudy skies.Speaking following the second day at Headingley, McDonald lauded those performances by Warner, but while talking again after the loss, he stopped short of guaranteeing Warner his place for Old Trafford.”I think we’ve got everything to consider in terms of Mitch Marsh coming in – what the balance looks like, [and] our allrounders – and there will be an assessment of the players at the back end of this Test,” he said. “We’ve got an extra batter who’s put his hand up, and we’ll have to consider the options ahead.”There would be a cascading effect if Warner was left out, which could potentially mean destabilising the XI, as someone would need to open. Travis Head could be an option after filling the role in India, although those were vastly different conditions, and he remains key at No. 5. Labuschagne could go up one spot, but he’s not looking in the best of form at the moment. It was even put to McDonald whether Marsh could open, as he has recently done in ODIs.”He did pretty well down the middle order,” he said. “To put him up to open in English conditions would probably be something we haven’t discussed yet. But we do have some time between now and the next Test.”

Is Labuschagne vulnerable?

It seems an absurd question to ask, but for the first time since he returned to Test cricket during the 2019 Ashes, Labuschagne is going through, by his high standards, a lean run which has brought just two half-centuries in his last 21 innings.He has looked out of sorts on this tour, where he got a working over from India’s quicks in the World Test Championship final before nicking off to Stuart Broad’s outswinger at Edgbaston. At Headingley, his slog sweep to deep midwicket was the moment where England got themselves back into the match. Labuschagne has, however, reached double figures in seven of his eight innings on the tour.”I think the starts are the important part,” McDonald said. “If you can get a start, you can show your method can stand up to the challenges. Maybe he’s trying to expand at certain times when he doesn’t need to, and that’s a conversation he’ll be having with himself and the coaches. But I think if you’re not getting starts, it’s more of a concern.”Todd Murphy had a limited role in the third Test•AFP

Leave out the spinner

Headingley was the first time in 101 matches that Australia did not have Nathan Lyon in their side. They had managed to overcome his absence for much of Lord’s, but his replacement, Todd Murphy had a very limited role in the third Test.Murphy claimed Ben Stokes in the first innings but not before being dispatched for five sixes and, significantly, only bowled two overs during England’s chase – one before lunch and then another when only another 30 runs were needed.In theory, Green could slot in as another pace-bowling option as part of a five-man attack, which would also provide an incredibly long batting order. But it’s unlikely that Australia would go into a Test without a specialist spinner. It’s something they have not done since 2011-12 against India in Perth when they fielded a frontline attack of Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and Ben Hilfenhaus.Historically, Old Trafford has a history of assisting the spinners – Shane Warne famously loved the ground – by offering bounce as well as turn, although Lyon has only claimed three wickets in two outings there. In fact, since 2013, the ground has the second-worst average for spinners of all England’s men’s Test venues.”We like to have a balanced attack, and it gives you options,” McDonald said. “You can take pace out of the game and you become one dimensional – whether it be with the right-arm bowlers or just pace bowlers in general – without the ability to turn to a spinner. We’ll have to assess that, but as it sits at the moment, we do like to have the spinner in the team.”Does Cameron Green come straight back in?•Getty Images

Maybe, at the end of the day, they can’t

So it could back come back to what Marsh believes. He and Green can’t play in the same team. The one other factor to consider is that before his injury, Green had not found his top form on this tour either. His batting average after three Tests – including the WTC final – is 19.16, while his bowling average is also a very high 45.60. His biggest impact arguably has been while fielding in the gully region.And Green does not have to come straight back. For all that he is tipped to be a generational star, it is rare that a young player goes through the early stages of a career with being omitted somewhere.”There’s not a straightforward answer really,” McDonald said. “Cameron Green is important to the structure of the team as well, with his all-round capabilities. He’s going to be fully fit and available for Manchester, so there’s nothing to hide there. We’ve got a decision to make. It’s going to be tough.”

Vinicius Junior has urged Brazil to “switch into World Cup mode,” insisting the Selecao’s opportunity has finally arrived under coach Carlo Ancelotti. The Real Madrid star claims the Italian has transformed Brazil’s mentality, tactics and daily culture since taking charge by bringing calm, confidence and clarity to a team desperate to end a 24-year World Cup drought.

• Vinicius Jr sets the tone for the upcoming World Cup

  The bond between Ancelotti and Brazil has grown into one of the defining stories of the national team’s new era. When he left Madrid in the summer, a year after delivering another Champions League title, few expected his next job to be with the Selecao. But for one of the most decorated managers in football history, the lure of leading Brazil was irresistible.

  After six games – three wins and two draws – under the coach, the national team have qualified for the next World Cup and are aiming to end a long wait for the global crown, and Vinicius has given the clearest endorsement of the Italian.

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  How Ancelotti has 'evolved' Brazil

  Speaking to CBF’s official media, ahead of Brazil's international friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia, he said they are finally becoming the team they need to be: “With Ancelotti, we’re evolving and building a clear playing identity. Finding that balance before the World Cup will be crucial. We all have to get into the World Cup mindset and understand that our opportunity has arrived.”

  Vinicius explained the transformation in detail pointing out to the renewed confidence the manager has instilled within the team.

  “He’s done the same thing everywhere he’s gone—instilling confidence and getting the best out of every player in their ideal position. He always says his dream is to make the Brazilian people happy, to bring back the joyful football that defines us, and to win the World Cup.

  “He gives us calm and confidence. He reminds us that we already have the passion and intensity to wear this shirt—and that’s the hardest part. We just need to win so that his work gets the recognition it deserves.”

• Will Neymar be a part of Brazil's World Cup squad?

  Ancelotti's selections have also reflected a shift toward merit rather than reputation. Fitness, form and tactical fit have dictated squad decisions, even if it meant temporarily leaving out heavyweights like Vinicius, Rodrygo or Neymar. At the same time, Ancelotti has expanded the talent pool, integrating emerging names such as Endrick and Vitor Roque while encouraging competition by insisting that “around 70 players” are capable of reaching the World Cup squad.

  As Ancelotti builds a disciplined, modern Brazil, one monumental question hangs over the project: Will Neymar be part of that squad?

  His return to Santos has been overshadowed by repeated thigh and knee injuries, including a rectus femoris issue, his fourth setback since returning. Though the player insists his omission from recent squads is “technical, not physical,” doubts remain.

  Brazil's legendary striker Ronaldo, however, is adamant: “He’s a key player. We don’t have another Neymar. If he’s fit, Brazil will be stronger, simple as that. People don’t understand how hard it is to come back. It’s a gradual process.”

  Neymar continues to play full matches for Santos and has extended his contract until the end of 2025, with an option through the World Cup. Yet Ancelotti’s Brazil has learned to function without him.

  With Vinicius, Raphinha and Matheus Cunha leading the front line, the Selecao are balanced but sometimes lack moments of magic. Whether Neymar provides them again will decide his World Cup fate. And it will be Ancelotti’s biggest selection decision yet.

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  Vinicius and Ancelotti aiming for glory with Brazil

  If Brazil are to challenge for a sixth World Cup, the heart of that push will be the relationship between Vinicius and Ancelotti. Vinicius’ evolution under Ancelotti is one of European football’s success stories with two Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, Champions League Best Player 2023-24 and a Ballon d’Or favourite.

  Ancelotti refined him from a raw winger into one of the world’s most decisive attackers, improving his finishing, decision-making and leadership. That dynamic has now transferred seamlessly to Brazil. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Brazil stand at a crossroads. For 24 years, they have chased a sixth star. Now, under a calm, experienced leader and with a superstar maturing into his prime, belief is returning. 

Solitary Test cap came during Devon Malcolm’s famous Test at The Oval in 1994

Andrew Miller09-Mar-2021Joey Benjamin, the former Warwickshire, Surrey and England seam bowler, has died at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack.Benjamin, whose solitary Test appearance at The Oval in 1994 would prove to be one of England’s most memorable victories of the decade, claimed 387 first-class wickets in an 11-year career that began at Warwickshire in 1988.Born in St Kitts in 1961, Benjamin moved to England with his family at the age of 15, and settled initially in the Midlands, where he played Birmingham League cricket, and earned initial recognition with occasional fixtures for Staffordshire.It wasn’t until the age of 27 that he earned his first county contract, but with Warwickshire’s attack led by Gladstone Small, Tim Munton and Allan Donald, opportunities were limited and he played 25 first-class matches in four years before relocating to Surrey in 1992.With a bustling action and a distinctive whirl of arms in his delivery stride, Benjamin bowled accurate, lively away-swing from a high action, and immediately thrived in his new surroundings. In 1993, his second season, he was named Surrey’s Player of the Year, with a haul of 64 wickets at 27.85 including a career-best 6 for 19 against Nottinghamshire.The following year, his form was even better – 80 wickets all told at 20.72 – but Benjamin still seemed a long, long way from international recognition when, in the final weeks of the international season, he was handed his maiden England call-up at the age of 33.The venue was at least familiar. With England 1-0 down against South Africa after a bruising defeat in the first Test at Lord’s, Benjamin was picked on home soil for the series finale at The Oval, where he was preferred to Angus Fraser in England’s final XI, and completed a four-man pace attack alongside Phil DeFreitas, Darren Gough and Devon Malcolm.Devon Malcolm offers a cup of tea to his chicken-pox-afflicted team-mate Joey Benjamin in his hotel room•Graham Chadwick/Getty Images

He impressed from the outset, claiming 4 for 42 in 17 overs as South Africa were bowled out for 332, but the second innings was all about one man. Malcolm, famously struck on the helmet by Fanie De Villiers during England’s own first innings of 302, responded with the bowling spell of his life, scattering South Africa with a career-best 9 for 57 to set up an extraordinary eight-wicket win.And as was often the case at the time in English cricket, Benjamin’s success in the final Test of the summer was enough to secure him a winter tour berth, with Fraser omitted from England’s initial Ashes squad, and Kent’s Martin McCague also earning a recall.It would not prove to be an auspicious winter. Both Malcolm and Benjamin succumbed to a bout of chicken pox in the lead-up to the first Test at Brisbane, and despite having featured heavily in England’s warm-up fixtures at the start of the tour, he was not considered thereafter as England turned instead to a raft of seam-bowling replacements, Fraser and Chris Lewis among them.Benjamin did play in two matches of England’s B&H World Series one-day campaign, against Australia at Sydney and Zimbabwe at Brisbane, where he bowled Mark Dekker for his solitary ODI scalp. However, it had been clear long before the end of the tour that Benjamin was destined to remain a member of England’s one-Test wonder club.He didn’t dwell on what might have been, however, as he returned to Surrey in 1995 and claimed 53 wickets at a very respectable 25.01. But as the end of the decade approached, his opportunities began to wane, and he would be released by the club in 1999, just as Adam Hollioake’s team was embarking on its run of three County Championship titles in four years. He finished his Surrey career with 313 first-class wickets at 29.22, and a further 146 at 31.36 in List A cricket.His batting was very much of the hit-and-miss variety, as shown by a highest first-class score of 49 and an average of 11.38. His finest hour, however, was the one that got away – a thrilling NatWest Trophy semi-final in 1994, when his long-levered assault on Worcestershire’s then-towering target of 358 in 60 overs so nearly came good. With eight runs needed from two balls, and Benjamin on 25, he launched Stuart Lampitt towards the long-off boundary, but the lanky figure of Tom Moody was waiting on the rope to crush Surrey’s dreams.After retirement, Benjamin remained close to Surrey, and turned his focus to coaching at club and school level in his home town of Reigate.Martin Bicknell, Benjamin’s long-term Surrey team-mate, led the tributes to his fellow seamer on Twitter. “Just heard some shocking news about the loss of Joey Benjamin,” he wrote. “Joey was one of a kind, incredibly popular in the Surrey dressing room back in the day, so sad. RIP Benjy.””It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we must report the passing away of Joey Benjamin, long-time and much admired cricket coach at Reigate Priory Cricket Club and previously long-serving coach at Reigate Grammar School,” wrote the club chairman, John Bramhall, in an email to members.”Joey was a good friend to many of us at the club and at the school, and was much loved by those who he taught over the years. We all have good memories of Joey, who was a very special person.”Richard Thompson, Surrey’s chairman, said: “I’ve known Joey for 25 years and have gloried in his triumphs. I particularly remember the final Test at The Oval in 1994, where his performance earned him an Ashes tour. It was a long time coming as anyone who watched him bowl that season would testify.”Everything he did was with a smile and grace. He wore the brown cap very proudly with absolute distinction and will be long remembered at Surrey County Cricket Club. He has been taken too soon.”A Warwickshire statement said: “It is with great sadness that today Warwickshire County Cricket Club has learned of the passing of former fast bowler Joey Benjamin. The thoughts of everyone at Warwickshire CCC are with Joey’s family and close friends at this difficult time.”The ECB said in a statement: “The ECB is saddened to learn of the death of former England bowler Joey Benjamin at the age of 60. Our thoughts are with Joey’s friends and family.”

Newcastle United and Eddie Howe have inched closer to a successful Carabao Cup title defence, beating Bradford City in the third round and then drawing Tottenham Hotspur.

There’s a tough test, but Newcastle have a fine recent record against the Lilywhites, and the fluency of Howe’s side is building by the day.

It’s quite understandable in hindsight that the sale of Alexander Isak would disrupt the harmony and snap of United’s frontline, with goals scored in only two of their five Premier League games so far.

Isak left for Liverpool on deadline day, and Newcastle banked a record-breaking £125m fee. They lost one of the world’s finest strikers, who scored 27 times in black and white last season and who bagged against Arne Slot’s Reds at Wembley.

Newcastle did replace the Sweden striker with Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, but William Osula is also staking his claim for a big role this term.

William Osula's early-season form

Howe issued rotation as the top-flight and European action took a breath. Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and brace-scoring Joelinton all featured, but so too did the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley get some more minutes under their belt.

However, Osula might feel he was the biggest winner, scoring twice against the high-flying League One side to take his haul to three goals this season, also scoring in that frantic game against Liverpool in August.

Having signed from Sheffield United for £15m last summer, Osula scarcely played across his debut campaign at St. James’ Park, scoring once in the league.

But he’s making headway now.

Osula got himself on the scoresheet before 20 minutes had been played, and then again in the closing stages, sealing his side’s 4-1 victory.

He might have had a hat-trick save for some poor finishing after neat work from Gordon, but, as Howe noted during his post-match press conference, the Danish forward offered more than just goals, holding up well and linking up with his teammates. He looked dangerous and dynamic when playing down the wing.

“He’s done his chances no harm,” Howe said, discussing the potential of the 22-year-old starting in the Premier League once again.

However, Newcastle turned down a £30m approach from Eintracht Frankfurt for the fringe forward this summer, and Howe may come to regret rejecting such a hefty sum, especially when the Magpies have an academy talent who might be even better than his peer.

Newcastle have a bigger talent than Osula

The word on the street is that Newcastle still expect to sell Osula, perhaps next summer. There’s a player in there, but Osula is very much unrefined, and after what Howe described as a “turbulent” summer for the number nine, he finds himself third-fiddle on Tyneside.

Wissa is currently sidelined with a knee injury and has yet to make his debut after joining from Brentford, but Woltemade has shown plenty of promise after completing a club-record £69m move from Stuttgart, scoring on his debut and showcasing his talent thereafter.

Osula has been left somewhat in the lurch, even after scoring against Liverpool.

And with an up-and-coming talent like Sean Neave knocking on his door, Osula may well find himself completing that transfer away next summer.

A natural-born finisher, Neave, 18, has been riding the crest of a wave in Newcastle’s academy. He has always been a reliable goalscorer, but the youth’s ability to carry his form up the levels with relative ease suggests he may soon be knocking on Howe’s door. In fact, he might already be.

Six games into the season for Newcastle’s development side, Neave has scored three goals and provided one assist. No longer playing for the U18s, he is a regular starter in the Premier League 2, despite having reached adulthood only at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Neave is a “good finisher”, all right, as has been said by Newcastle blogger TomTalksToon, and he already stands at 6 foot 1. A gangly frame that does not inhibit his pace and athleticism, the teenager is akin to Isak, but let’s just wait and see if he can match the former Toon man’s almighty scoring record in the English top flight.

Perhaps Neave was somewhat frustrated to have been left out of the matchday squad against Bradford. However, his professional debut is sure to be right around the corner, with his electric pace and threat in the final third sure-fire ingredients for success in the Premier League.

Osula is more refined physically, but Neave is on a programme that is giving rise to his strength and athletic focus on the field. It’s only a matter of time.

And when that time comes, might Howe and co not regret cashing in on Osula when they had the chance? If Neave continues his meteoric rise with such speed, he may well overtake his goalscoring rival, which would do United’s chances of shipping him out for a big fee no favours.

Newcastle’s 4.6 xG (expected goals) total in the Premier League this season puts them 16th. Not great, but neither is it an accurate representation of the talent and the creativity coursing through Howe’s team.

Instead, Newcastle will continue to go from strength to strength, and Wissa and Woltemade will too.

It’s difficult to see how Osula surpasses either, so unpolished is the Denmark U21 international. And when considering Neave is waiting in the wings and bound to make his senior debut sooner rather than later, Howe may come to wish he had taken the £30m and ran.

Howe could unleash Newcastle's own Yamal in 18-year-old "elite talent"

Newcastle’s academy setting has changed for the better in recent years.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 24, 2025

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is pleased to 'put pressure' on their arch-rivals Real Madrid after a dominant win against Celta Vigo, featuring a strong yet explosive performance of Robert Lewandowski's hat-trick. However, Flick bemoans the "incredible" suspension of key Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who will miss the next fixture against Athletic Club after the international break.

• Barcelona's character shines in Balaidos victory

  Celebrating his 50th La Liga game in charge, Flick's side demonstrated a potent attacking display as they ran out 4-2 winners to cut the gap on league leaders Madrid to three points. The match saw three goals from Lewandowski and one more from Pedri for Barcelona, while Celta threatened with strikes from Iago Aspas and Jorgen Strand Larsen.

  The win, which came with eight shots on target from 20 attempts, showcased Barcelona's attacking prowess, contrasting with Celta's four shots on target from six attempts. Despite conceding two goals, Barcelona's control in the second period was evident, maintaining 63% possession and achieving 95% pass accuracy.

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  Flick's focus on continued pressure on Real Madrid

  Speaking after the match, Flick said: "Yes, of course, I'm happy. I think we made more mistakes in the first half than in the second. In the first half we were very good with the ball, and in the second half the team knew how to control the game.

  "In football, the previous match doesn't matter, you always have to look ahead to the next one, but it's good to put pressure on the team above us. The second half gives us confidence. I'm happy for the team."

  The Barcelona coach highlighted the strategic significance of the result, especially heading into the international break. "Pushing pressure on the opponent is good, we did it and I’m happy. Winning before the international break is also very good. I feel happy. We had to look out for ourselves and we applied the pressure well today." 

  This result positions Barcelona on 28 points, three behind Real Madrid's 31, with both teams having played 12 matches.

• Lewandowski's hat-trick sparks goalscoring resurgence

  The undeniable star of the evening was veteran striker Lewandowski, who netted a hat-trick to take his La Liga tally to seven goals. The Polish international, in his fifth start, demonstrated his enduring quality despite being 37 years old. Flick expressed confidence in Lewandowski's form, avoiding speculation about his future beyond the current season.

  "It’s too early to talk about Lewandowski’s next season. I can say that after his injury, I saw a different Robert, positive, confident. It’s very important for us that he scored three goals," Flick commented, acknowledging the striker's strong return to form. This performance is a significant boost for Barcelona's title aspirations, providing the cutting edge in attack they need to challenge Real Madrid.

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• De Jong suspension a blow for Barcelona

  While celebrating the victory, Flick voiced regret over the suspension of key midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman received two yellow cards during the match, resulting in a red card in the fifth minute of stoppage time, and will now miss Barcelona's next league fixture against Athletic Club. De Jong's absence will be keenly felt, given his crucial role.

  "I think De Jong controlled the game and is very important for us," Flick noted. "He’s playing at an incredible level. It’s not good that he’ll miss the next game because he’s important for us, but we’ll have to manage it. When we return from the break, I hope to have Pedri, Raphinha, and Joan [Garcia] available. We’ll see."

  De Jong’s influence on possession and pass accuracy is considerable, and his ability to dictate the tempo of games is vital for Barcelona. His suspension comes at a challenging time, especially with the team striving to maintain pressure on the league leaders.

They haven’t been in action since April, and have rested some players for the Australia T20Is, but Shamsi backs them to hit the ground running

Firdose Moonda28-Aug-2023A colder-than-normal winter in South Africa was accompanied by a quieter-than-normal cricket schedule which saw both the national men’s and women’s side out of action for several months. This week, with spring on the horizon, they’re back.The women, who have not played since reaching the T20 World Cup final in February, are in Pakistan for their first tour to that country while the men, who have been on a break since early April, take on Australia at home.It’s the start of an important period for both sides: a rebuilding phase for the women, who have lost senior players to retirement and a rebirth for the men’s team, after they finished last summer on a high under new support staff and now stack up for the ODI World Cup. In the months they’ve been inactive as national teams, some of their players have plied their trade in leagues around the world while others have balanced between taking a break and attending training camps and now, they say they’re ready to begin again.Even though South Africa’s international stocks are no longer as high as they once were – the men are ranked fifth in T20Is and sixth in ODIs – with ICC events every year, they have their eyes on at least one of the big prizes. And this time, they believe they are building the depth required for major tournament success and will start by testing that against the team who have historically pushed all their buttons: Australia.Related

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South Africa are resting key personnel from the curtain-raising T20Is. None of Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Heinrich Klaasen or Wayne Parnell will play in the three-match series, with Dewald Brevis, Donovan Ferreira and Matthew Breetzke in line for debuts. Given that those three have already made their names on the T20 franchise circuit, Tabraiz Shamsi was bullish when asked if they were going into the next series as second best.”Why would the South African cricket team be underdogs against anybody?” Shamsi replied. “Look at the quality in our change room, look at the quality of players we have and even though we’ve rested a few senior players, the guys who have come in are not weak links. Absolutely not. No matter who the opposition is, no matter how good they are, we respect them but we are not underdogs against any team in the world.”Assuming South Africa are going in undercooked is not entirely incorrect, especially against the backdrop of what their opposition have been doing. While South Africa were out of action, Australia (albeit not all the members of the T20I squad) were involved in one of the most intense English summers in recent memory. They competed in the World Test Championship final, and beat India, and then retained the Ashes with a 2-2 draw. While Shamsi would never discount the advantage of regular, competitive cricket, he pointed out that it does not always mean better preparation.”There’re pros and cons as we can see with the Australians, who have been playing a lot of cricket,” he said. “They’ve got a number of guys with injury concerns where we don’t necessarily have that sort of problem.”Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc and, most recently, Glenn Maxwell will all miss the T20Is with varying degrees of injuries while South Africa boast a fully fit and firing group that has been “put through our paces”, as Shamsi put it.”We’ve been working very hard,” he said. “Honestly, these dark circles under the eyes, they are not natural. We are well prepared.”Though it was hard to tell through a Zoom screen (yes, that’s still a thing), Shamsi did not look particularly tired, but cut a lean figure as a testament to the training he has been doing. He has also had some recent game time in the Lanka Premier League, where he finished as the joint third-highest wicket-taker in conditions which he hopes could mirror those at the World Cup in India.Tabraiz Shamsi made a splash in the Lanka Premier League with his left-arm wristspin•SLC”It was really nice to go to Sri Lanka and play a little bit in the subcontinent,” he said. “In terms of being game-ready, it definitely helps that I have played quite a lot of games in the last month.”What that means for his role in the national side remains to be seen. Though Shamsi had established himself as the premier spinner in the white-ball side throughout 2021 and 2022, he lost ground to Keshav Maharaj more recently, But Maharaj ruptured his Achilles in March and was expected to be out for the rest of the year. He has made a quicker-than-expected recovery and has been included in the squad along with Shamsi and Bjorn Fortuin. It is expected that only two of the three will make it to the World Cup, though Shamsi does not have any certainty on it just yet.”I’m not too sure,” he said. “We are going to see what happens with the make-up of the squad. But I just want to say, it’s a massive effort that Keshav has put in with his recovery. It normally takes about eight or nine months to recover from something like that. So that’s a huge credit to him and the medical staff that has helped him to recover. We are looking forward to having him back on the park and doing the magic that he does.”A call on whether Maharaj plays in the second and third T20I will be taken later this week, with the ODI series a priority. Though the T20Is are clearly experimental at this stage, Shamsi still described playing in them as a “responsibility” and said the results matter. “We don’t want to think too far ahead and look at the World Cup because we have eight international games ahead of that. I’m sure people won’t be happy if we lose eight games in a row,” he joked.Especially not against Australia.”Any opportunity you get to play, if it goes well for you, there’re a lot of positives you can take from it and even if a game or two doesn’t go your way, you learn from it,” he said. “You pick up on points and mistakes that you’ve made so that you can ensure that come the big, crunch games in the World Cup, you don’t repeat the mistakes. Australians like to play hard and so do we. It’s going to be spicy, it’s going to be exciting and that’s the way we like to play our cricket as well.”

Assistant coach says England will continue to target victory despite precarious overnight position

Andrew Miller06-Dec-20251:32

Trescothick: Trying to play the way we want to play

Marcus Trescothick, England’s assistant coach, insisted that the team would continue to stick to their principles, and “remain focused on how we try and win the game” despite a gruesome day with bat and ball at the Gabba that has left them on the brink of a 2-0 deficit in the Ashes.Speaking to TNT Sports shortly after the close of the third day’s play, Trescothick said that the team remained “fairly philosophical about what we’re trying to do”, but added that they were “not quite operating as we need to at the moment”, after a collapse of 6 for 80 in the floodlit evening session had torpedoed their hopes of overturning a 177-run deficit with wickets in hand.As had been the case in the first Test at Perth, England’s collapse came after a strong start to their second innings, and was largely of their own making. After reaching the dinner interval on 48 for 0, Ben Duckett was unlucky to be bowled by a ball from Scott Boland that kept low, but Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley then departed while driving on the up to Michael Neser – precisely the flawed shot selection that had left to a match-turning collapse of 3 for 0 in the series opener.It ran counter to the call from England’s first-innings centurion Joe Root, for his team-mates to “express themselves in the right way”, and whereas he’d salvaged the innings from 5 for 2 on the first day, this time he had no response. Mitchell Starc had been successfully negotiated by the openers but returned to prise Root out for 15, and when Harry Brook and Jamie Smith were extracted before the close, England still trailed by 43 runs with just Ben Stokes and Will Jacks of their recognised batters remaining.”They’ve been better than us today, and they’ve dominated today,” Trescothick said. “They’ve put us under a lot of pressure, and it’s always challenging when that happens.”We’re trying to score as many runs as we can. We’re trying to take wickets when we can. In certain areas, we probably haven’t been as good as we need to be, for long enough. And we’re trying, obviously, to do that and trying to put that right all the time.”Trescothick’s phlegmatic response to a catastrophic day was in keeping with England’s bid to maintain a positive team environment, and echoed similarly outlandish professions of optimism in previous contests – perhaps, most notably, spin coach Jeetan Patel’s insistence, on the eve of Ollie Pope’s astonishing 196 to beat India in Hyderabad in 2024, that “nothing was impossible” for this team and their self-belief.However, Pope will be back in the spotlight once again this evening, and for less glorious reasons. For the second match running, his skittish display when well set was the root cause of England’s collapse – in Perth, his inability to keep the score moving after a fast start resulted in a loose drive that cost him his wicket; here, with the conditions at their toughest and the onus on keeping wickets in hand until the morning session, he survived two wild drives in three deliveries that nearly went to hand off Brendan Doggett, before poking a return catch to Michael Neser in the very next over.Related

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Trescothick, however, refused to point fingers, and held back from criticizing the decision-making that had undermined England’s chances.”Of course, we work with them as coaches,” he said. “Myself, Baz [McCullum] will talk with them about what we’re trying to do, and the principle of our game, and how we’re trying to play our style of play.”When we get it right, sometimes we really dominate and we put pressure on oppositions, and at times we don’t always get it right, and we play bad shots, and potentially, of course, that gets highlighted.”But it is what it is. You’ve got to have some way of trying to play the game. Of course, we’ll look back on it, and every game, every innings, and talk with batters and discuss what we’re trying to do. And we’ll say, yeah, keep going … stick with trying to work out how we’re going to make it better for next time. We’ve got to stick to our principles and what we’re trying to do.”The irony is that Australia’s entire team offered a demonstration in how to build an innings on a cracked Gabba surface that, as Duckett discovered, can offer a few rogue deliveries but broadly speaking has played very true throughout. Every Australian from No.1-11 reached double-figures, for the first time since 1992, while none of them faced fewer than 30 balls.”Once the guys have been in the field for a period of time, like they have in the heat, and then you’re starting to lose a couple of wickets, it’s always tough,” Trescothick said. “We’ve been good in parts. We’ve had periods in the game where we’ve been sustained pressure, and put Australia under that the scrutiny that we needed to, it’s just maybe they’ve then fought back.”They’ve got through the periods of the new ball well, and made it tricky for us, so fair play to them. It’s not just necessarily things that we’ve done wrong. I think Australia have been pretty consistent in what they’ve tried to do.”It’s pretty obvious what they’re trying to do. They’re just trying to smash away on a good length, especially Boland from the far end … there’s a big crack just outside the channel of off stump, we’re all aware of that. They’ve hit consistent areas, and they’ve put us under pressure.”England arrived in Australia with high hopes of competing for their first series win in the country since 2010-11, and their first Ashes victory since 2015. Right now, however, they are racing towards their 15th defeat in their last 17 Tests, and arguably their most humiliating yet, given the chances they’ve had to dominate, and the relative weakness of a team that has been lacking three all-time great bowlers in Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.”When momentum gets in their favour and they do get on top of you, it’s obviously always a challenge.” Trescothick said. “We are strong enough, we are good enough to challenge with it at times and put a bit pressure back on, if you like. It’s just not quite happened today.”We’re trying to work that out ourselves,” he added, when asked how England had let so many strong positions slip away. “We can be a bit more consistent in the style and in the momentum of the game, and try and keep on top of it when we need to be. And potentially, we haven’t quite matched up to that when we needed to be. But you’ve got to try and remain focused and positive on what you’re trying to do.”We’ve still got an opportunity here. Yes, we’re behind still in the context of the game. We’ve got to come out tomorrow, try and get a partnership going with the last few wickets that we have, and get a total on the board that we can maybe have a little dart at.”The guys are disappointed, but we’re still trying to remain focused on how we try and win the game.”