In what would be a statement move in his first few months in the job, Arsenal’s new sporting director Andrea Berta has now reportedly made an approach to sign a top Manchester United target.
All eyes on PSG for Arsenal
With the Premier League title race over and Liverpool confirmed as champions, Arsenal have all of their focus on the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain next Wednesday. Heading to France with a 1-0 deficit to overturn courtesy of Ousmane Dembele’s early strike last time out, the Gunners have it all to do.
Bournemouth’s trip to The Emirates this weekend should simply be seen as the chance for Mikel Arteta to rest key men. In a season full of injuries, the Spaniard must take control of the narrative and avoid what would be the most frustrating absences heading into Wednesday.
The Arsenal boss rallied his troops after their disappointing 1-0 defeat against PSG on Tuesday, telling reporters: “It’s half-time. I said exactly the same message after we beat Real Madrid 3-0 [in the quarter-final first leg at the Emirates]. Go to Paris, win the game, and we are through.
“That’s what we have to do. We saw two teams that are very aggressive, intense, not a lot of margins. Their keeper made two saves that normally are goals and those are the margins you have in these games.”
Mega Kiwior upgrade: Arsenal initiate talks for "superb" £34m monster
The experienced international could be just what Arsenal need.
ByJack Salveson Holmes May 2, 2025
After frustration in the title race, Arsenal will be desperate to avoid even more heartbreak on the European stage. There’s no doubt that winning the Champions League would have a major impact on Arteta’s project on and off the pitch too, especially when chasing summer transfer targets.
Berta makes Arsenal approach to sign Trincao
Instantly ruffling a few feathers, Berta has reportedly set his sights on a top Manchester United target. According to Record in Portugal, Berta has now made an approach to sign Francisco Trincao from Sporting CP this summer and has already had scouts in place to take note of his impressive campaign.
The winger, who is represented by the same agency as United stars Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro, has been reborn in Portugal following a failed spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Now, four years on from leaving the Premier League and failing to make his loan move permanent, Trincao could be back with a vengeance courtesy of Arsenal.
By signing the winger, Arsenal would also solve a major problem of theirs by welcoming an added creative spark and someone who would provide instant backup for Bukayo Saka.
Starts
31
17
Goals
8
6
Assists
14
10
Key Passes per 90
2.42
3.02
Described as “terrific” by U23 scout Antonio Mango in 2022, Trinaco has only reached new levels ever since and his eye for an assist is particularly impressive. As Martin Odegaard’s numbers continue to fall too, it’s the type of passing ability that Arteta arguably needs at his disposal more than ever at Arsenal.
da cassino： Cinco jogos, três derrotas, dois empates e um aproveitamento de 13,33% dos pontos. Os números mostram que Vanderlei Luxemburgo possui o pior aproveitamento de um técnico no comando do Corinthians no século em suas cinco primeiras partidas.
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da realbet： + Projeto de Luxemburgo falha, e Corinthians sai derrotado e pressionado na Copa do Brasil; veja notas
Segundo levantamento feito pelo portal Meu Timão, o início da terceira passagem de Luxa no Timão só está atrás de Geninho e Tite. Em 2006, o primeiro somou uma vitória e quatro derrotas, com 20% de aproveitamento. Já o ex-técnico da Seleção Brasileira e ídolo corintiano sofreu em sua primeira passagem, alcançando apenas três empates e duas derrotas em 2004, com os mesmos 20% de aproveitamento.
+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!
Antes de Luxa, o treinador que mais tropeçou no comando do clube alvinegro era Osmar Loss. Ele teve três derrotas, uma vitória e um empate em seu início, com 26,6% de aproveitamento.
continua após a publicidade
A sequência de Luxemburgo não é animadora. Em um intervalo de sete dias, o Timão enfrentará Flamengo e Fluminense, pelo Brasileirão, e viajará para confronto de vida ou morte na Libertadores, contra o Argentinos Juniors. A equipe está na zona do rebaixamento no campeonato nacional e em terceiro lugar no grupo da Libertadores.
+ Veja tabela e saiba as datas e horários dos confrontos das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil
VEJA OS TREINADORES DO CORINTHIANS NO SÉCULO COM PIOR APROVEITAMENTO NOS 5 PRIMEIROS JOGOS
Vanderlei Luxemburgo (2023) – 13,33% – dois empates e três derrotas
Geninho (2006) – 20% – uma vitória e quatro derrotas
Tite (2004) – 20% – três empates e duas derrotas
Juninho (2003) – 20% – uma vitória e quatro derrotas
Osmar Loss (2018) – 26,66% – três derrotas, uma vitória e um empate
da bet sport： With Ruud van Nisterooy likely heading for the sack at Leicester City, the Foxes have reportedly set their sights on a new name from the Championship to replace their manager.
Van Nistelrooy's Leicester nightmare coming to an end
da doce： Leicester always looked likely to have an uphill climb after losing Enzo Maresca to Chelsea last summer, but their decision to replace Steve Cooper with Van Nistelrooy turned their mission impossible. The former Nottingham Forest boss was given just 12 Premier League games in which he won 10 points with two wins, four draws and six defeats – leaving the Foxes two points above the dropzone.
To put into context just how poorly Leicester’s season has gone since then, they’ve picked up just 11 more points in the six months that have followed Cooper’s departure and have officially been relegated back down to the Championship. Van Nistelrooy has endured a nightmare spell in charge.
Leicester under Van Nistelrooy
Premier League Record (via Transfermarkt)
Games
22
Wins
3
Draws
2
Defeats
17
Goals Conceded
13
Goals Scored
49
Recording more defeats than goals scored, it seems unlikely that the Dutchman will remain at the helm despite his own recent admission that he would like to stay put at the club.
Van Nistelrooy told reporters after his side’s recent 2-0 win against Southampton: “I know what I want my future to look like. I’m very clear. I have learnt a lot in the past four months, in terms of every aspect of the club and team. I know what’s necessary. Then, of course, it’s a matter of being aligned with the club. I’m waiting for that conversation to take place.
"Unbelievable" manager with two promotions may replace Ruud at Leicester
The Foxes are looking at replacements for Ruud van Nistelrooy, as there is now “no doubt” the Dutchman will be sacked.
ByDominic Lund Apr 29, 2025
“It’s important to make a good evaluation. Because of the experience I’ve had, I know what’s necessary. You have to be on the same page to move forward. That’s what’s important. And that’s what we have to find out. It’s important to have those conversations internally. But I won’t share this before they take place.”
Instead of keeping hold of the former Manchester United forward, reports suggest that the Foxes are turning their attention towards a summer swoop to sign a Championship manager.
Leicester eyeing Liam Manning swoop
According to talkSPORT, Leicester are now eyeing a summer swoop to hire Liam Manning from Bristol City. The Robins’ manager has enjoyed an excellent campaign and saw his side’s shock place in the Championship play-offs confirmed last weekend. Now preparing to square off against Sheffield United on Thursday, Manning could have plenty of fans from Leicester keeping a keen eye on his side.
Bristol City will, of course, do everything to keep hold of the 39 year-old, having only just welcomed him into the job in November. Instantly praising Manning following his arrival, club Chairman Jon Lansdown said: “Liam is a great fit for the club and the style of play we want.
“He has a very detailed approach to coaching, improving players and getting the best out of them as his record at MK Dons and Oxford United shows, while he has valuable experience within the (Manchester) City Group and in Belgium.”
Barry McCarthy and Andy McBrine took three wickets each, as visitors lost all their wickets for the last 113 runs
Ekanth25-Jul-2024Zimbabwe 210 (Masvaure 74, Gumbie 49, McBrine 3-37, McCarthy 3-42) vs IrelandA wicketless first session gave the impression that Zimbabwe would dominate the first ever day of Test cricket in Northern Ireland, but Ireland took all ten wickets in just over 40 overs to vindicate Andy Balbirnie’s decision to bowl first on an overcast morning.Barry McCarthy’s relentless eight-over spell after lunch denied Joylord Gumbie a half-century, left Dion Myers looking clueless, and set up a 65-run session where the visitors couldn’t get away. Curtis Campher blew hot and cold but dismissed Prince Masvaure, the top scorer with 74, allowing Andy McBrine to run through the lower half of the middle order.Zimbabwe had their share of soft dismissals, and the risks their batters took, particularly after tea, backfired as they lost their last six wickets for 17 runs. A second spell of rain came amid the change of innings and took out about half an hour, which was enough for the umpires to call stumps.Zimbabwe had the upper hand going into the evening session despite losing three wickets in the afternoon. The sun had peeked out, and Sean Williams was off and running. Campher was bowling the odd beauty, but it was an innocuous back-of-a-length ball going down leg that strangled Masvaure.Williams continued to take on McBrine despite Masvaure falling, and hit two fours. The offspinner did create a chance in the 59th over, but McCarthy, running back from mid-on, spilled it. But Balbirnie was rewarded for keeping McBrine on as he turned one away to have Williams edge to slip.An adventurous first-ball swipe from Clive Madande, trying to pump the spinner down the ground, found mid-off. A bouncer from Mark Adair had Brian Bennett edge a pull to the wicketkeeper as Zimbabwe lost two wickets with the score on 193, and the next on 194. The bowling duo took another wicket each before McCarthy closed out the innings. McBrine, who started the session with the ball, bowled 11 straight overs and took 3 for 32.Prince Masvaure scored 74•Cricket Ireland
The initial damage was done after lunch. Gumbie and Masvaure, Zimbabwe’s openers, had batted through a session, softened the new ball and were inching towards a hundred stand. But Gumbie, who went into lunch unbeaten on 49, fell after facing 11 dots as he clipped a leg-stump half volley from McCarthy to Campher at square leg. Four balls later, a brief rain break forced players off the field.Masvaure was getting off strike as the bowlers strayed down leg often. A flick to fine leg was what brought up the opener’s fifty, even as Dion Myers took 14 balls to get off the mark. But Myers pulled Adair for two fours amid leaving balls with exaggerated rotations.But McCarthy bowled a legbreak, angling the ball in before straightening it off the pitch, to Myers to hit the top of off stump. He took two wickets and gave away 14 runs in an eight-over spell. Craig Ervine couldn’t get going, and the first aerial shot he played was a pull that went straight to McBrine at deep-backward square leg. Masvaure, who made 35 in both sessions, was solid all the while.Thick grey clouds, a bit of grass on the pitch, and lush outfield. The conditions couldn’t have been better for the seamers in the morning. But Gumbie and Masvaure saw off the new ball. Gumbie’s early movement across the crease to work the ball leg side resembled Steven Smith’s batting style and allowed him to score off balls in and around the fifth-stump line. Masvaure was more orthodox but just as compact to help see off McCarthy and Adair’s new-ball spell.There were a few nervy moments in the first hour. Gumbie was hit on the pad while offering no shot off McCarthy in the second over but was saved by the bounce. He edged Adair to deep third for four off the next over, fended one that reared off the pitch over the slips in the eighth, and was beaten by a jaffa that straightened off a full length in the 11th.But Gumbie, who hit the first six fours of the innings, was often able to cover the line and duck under the odd bouncer. The tension built up by Adair and Young’s consecutive maidens was dissipated in the following two overs where Masvaure drove overpitched balls. The let-off balls between the good ones allowed Zimbabwe to turn strike and go into lunch unbeaten. But loose batting and luck combined to wreck Zimbabwe’s advantage as they lost all ten wickets for 113 runs.
حمل داني كارفاخال، نجم نادي ريال مدريد، الأخطاء الفردية من لاعبي فريقه مسئولية الهزيمة أمام أتلتيكو مدريد بالدوري الإسباني.
ريال مدريد تعرض لخسارة كبيرة أمام أتلتيكو مدريد بخمسة أهداف مقابل هدفين اليوم السبت، في قمة منافسات الجولة السابعة من الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.
وقدم ريال مدريد مباراة سيئة على كافة المستويات وبالأخص من خط الدفاع الذي لم يقدم المستوى المطلوب ضد أتلتيكو مدريد.
اقرأ أيضًا.. ألفاريز: أردنا هزيمة ريال مدريد.. وكنا فعالين في الديربي
وقال كارفاخال في مقابلة مع قناة ريال مدريد: “نحن في ورطة حقًأ، خسارة الديبي ليست تجربة ممتعة ولقد واجهنا أصعب جزء وهو العودة بعد هذه الكبوات، واليوم استقبلنا الكثير من الأهداف”.
وأضاف: “الأخطاء الفردية كلفتنا المباراة، حدث خطأ نتج عنه ركلة جزاء ثم سجل جوليان الهدف من ركلة حرة، تأثرنا بالموقف ولم نلعب بأسلوبنا، إنها ثلاث نقاط وعلينا الاستمرار لأن هذه بطولة طويلة، أحيانًا تكون الهزيمة بتلك الطريقة مفيدة”.
وعن عدم حصول نيكولاس جونزاليس على بطاقة حمراء، واصل كارفاخال: “لم أر الحادثة تتكرر، لو لم تكن بطاقة حمراء لكان للحكم أسبابه بكل تأكيد”.
واختتم: “لقد تضررنا، بضع كلمات ستعزينا اليوم، لكن غدًا ستشرق الشمس من جديد، سنعمل بجد أكبر ولنجعل هذه الهزيمة تؤلمنا لنستمد الشجاعة من مشاعر اليوم”.
Liverpool’s victory over Leicester City on Sunday put Arne Slot within touching distance of the Premier League title.
The trophy’s plaque will be engraved with Liverpool’s name for the second time in its modern format, and no mistake. To fall now would be inconceivable.
Leicester put up a good fight but failed to prevent their relegation to the Championship, and there was one man who stepped up to force the three points in the Reds’ favour.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future is up in the air, and the scriptwriters will be delighted with their decision to make it him who scored the winning goal at the weekend.
Alexander-Arnold's big moment
Just 15 minutes from time, Leicester had succeeded in frustrating Liverpool and keeping it goalless at the King Power Stadium.
But then Slot brought Alexander-Arnold on, making his first appearance since being forced off with an ankle injury against PSG in early March.
A scramble in the box led to the Scouser in Liverpool’s team collecting from the left and curling a powerful strike past the Foxes defences. Chaos ensued.
But, the celebration felt charged with something deeper, a pure outpouring of emotion that maybe welled from Alexander-Arnold’s knowledge that such moments will be few and far between in a Liverpool jersey.
Real Madrid are confident that they will claim the Liverpool man’s signature when his contract expires this summer. And Trent’s celebration in hanging his shirt on the corner post felt, in a way, like he was hanging it up.
There’s no doubt all of a Liverpool persuasion want their vice-captain to stay, but it looks like Madrid’s inimitable pedigree at the top of the European game is going to hold sway here.
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However, Trent’s not the only high-profile Liverpool star set to depart this summer. There’s another whose fate appears sealed – if it wasn’t before – following Sunday’s events.
Big-money Liverpool star now looks finished
After three seasons, Darwin Nunez still hasn’t reached even the outer rim of the area he should be in at Liverpool, and Fabrizio Romano has been banging the same drum in recent months that he will indeed be sold this summer.
It’s a rueful scenario. Nunez is a likeable and hard-working player, joining Liverpool from Benfica in a club-record £85m deal in 2022 to much fanfare.
But, now aged 25, his development has been minimal, and it’s time for a change, with the Reds overreliant on Mohamed Salah’s incredible output to get them over the line this summer.
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez
At the root of it, Nunez simply doesn’t play enough under Slot’s wing. He’s only started once in the Premier League since Boxing Day, with a seven-goal return across all competitions hardly aligning with the lofty figure paid for his services. Against Leicester, the £140k-per-week striker didn’t even make it off the bench.
But from his struggle, the fruits of something new could blossom.
Without Nunez’s sale, the signing of a big-money replacement at number nine is precluded. The £150m-rated Alexander Isak might be out of reach, but the market is rich with attacking potential and Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes know their way around an astute deal.
Liverpool, in other words, are in good hands, but must cash in on their record buy, cutting their losses as it were, if Slot is to really put his own stamp on his team and defend his title with confidence next season.
Is it a bit presumptuous to name Liverpool champions? Arsenal are still in the race, after all. But it would take the mother of all collapses for Anfield to fall now, consigning themselves to one of sports’ great mess-ups.
Liverpool will rejoice in having struck gold, one year after Jurgen Klopp decided to call it a day, but the struggles of Manchester City and Arsenal’s injury-rotten luck cannot be relied on next year, and neither can Nunez.
Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota converse on the bench
Across his first two Premier League campaigns, in Klopp’s system, the Uruguay international was all energy and impetus. He was a thorn in Liverpool’s opponents’ sides. But the clinical edge wasn’t there. It was decidedly lacking, in fact.
With Slot at the helm, he’s regressed further still, not so much profligate as profitless in even finding opportunities to strike on goal for the Premier League’s runaway leaders.
Matches (starts)
29 (19)
36 (22)
25 (8)
Goals
9
11
5
Assists
3
8
4
Shots (on target)*
2.9 (1.3)
3.0 (1.3)
1.2 (0.5)
Big chances missed
20
27
6
Key passes*
1.0
0.9
0.4
Dribbles (success)*
0.6 (49%)
0.4 (43%)
0.3 (40%)
Tackles + interceptions*
0.5
0.7
0.8
Duels (won)*
2.8 (38%)
2.4 (38%)
2.2 (37%)
Though his defensive metrics are actually as good as they’ve ever been, this hardly compensates for Nunez’s lack of potency or indeed his declining output in ball-striking and creative pursuits.
Nunez has been an insoluble problem for two of the game’s finest contemporary managers, now, and there’s only one route out as he thrashes against the enclosing walls on Merseyside.
Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts
Nunez’s three-year stint at Liverpool hasn’t worked out. And yet, he won the Carabao Cup last season, registering 32 goal contributions in all competitions. He’s going to leave with a Premier League winner’s medal draped around his neck.
That two-goal cameo against Brentford in January, both goals struck in stoppage time.
A momentous result, one which allowed Slot’s side to capitalise on Arsenal’s shock defeat to West Ham United a day before and create significant space at the top of the table.
It was, in many ways, a watershed moment in the title battle, the first time rival resignation surfaced, Liverpool moving six points clear with a game in hand.
Perhaps, when we revisit this halycon era in the years to come, we will remember Nunez fondly, an erratic and mercurial talent who played his part through an important period.
But he has to be sold, having scarcely featured in the startling line-up under Slot’s wing this year. He has to be sold, paving the way for someone else to have a shot at centre-forward. Have a shot and score.
Slot's own Coutinho: Liverpool make contact with £60m “superstar”
Liverpool are looking to spend across a range of areas this summer.
Yorkshire were 100 for 2 chasing 167 before losing seven wickets for 42
ECB Reporters Network16-Jun-2024
Rishi Patel’s 64 proved crucial as no other batter in the match passed 40•Getty Images
Lewis Goldsworthy and Scott Currie equally shared six wickets to inspire a brilliant Leicestershire fightback against Yorkshire as they successfully defended a 167 target at Headingley to secure their fourth win from seven in this season’s Vitality Blast.The Foxes were bowled out for 166 in 19.5 overs. They looked under par on a good pitch – not a road, but true enough having elected to bat. Opener Rishi Patel top-scored with 64 off 47 balls.Yorkshire’s star-studded batting line-up then cruised to 100 for 2 in the 13th over of their chase, but Joe Root and Shan Masood both fell amidst a damaging collapse to 124 for 6 in the 17th. In the end, they finished on 146 for 9, losing by 20 runs.Left-arm spinner Goldsworthy, on loan from Somerset, had England’s Root caught at long-on on the way to 3 for 20 from three overs, while pacer Currie returned 3 for 19 from four. The Foxes jump into the North Group’s top four as a result.Yorkshire have now lost three, won three at the start of their campaign.An eventful six-over powerplay saw Leicestershire reach 60 for 3. Patel and opening partner Harry Swindells hit a six apiece, but the Foxes were pegged back as Vikings loanee fast bowler Conor McKerr had a hand in two of the three early wickets.He had Swindells caught at mid-off for 22 and helped to run out Rehan Ahmed at the striker’s end as the England man attempted a third run to deep backward point. McKerr was the fielder.From there, the Foxes lost wickets at inopportune times, with spinners Jafer Chohan and Dan Moriarty striking twice, a haul matched by seamer Matthew Revis.Patel reached his fifty off 31 balls, but the loss of wickets meant he couldn’t press the accelerator as not long after the Foxes were 100 for 5 after 11 overs.Patel fell caught at cover trying to reverse sweep against Moriarty’s left-arm spin – 146 for 7 in the 18th over – before former Viking Ben Mike hit a couple of sixes in a 28 which proved crucial in the final reckoning even if it didn’t feel like it would be at the time.In reply, Adam Lyth and Dawid Malan were by no means slow, but the openers were more controlled than Leicestershire had been early on, sharing 45 inside six overs.Both men caressed sixes over cover off Louis Kimber’s part-time off-spin as 13 came off the opening over before falling for 21 and 32 respectively as Yorkshire fell to 65 for 2 in the ninth. Lyth was bowled by Currie and Malan, who top-scored, caught at long-off against Goldsworthy.And those wickets were the early shoots of a successful Foxes fightback which was very similar to the one which saw them defend 141 to beat Durham at the Riverside last Wednesday.Root and Masood hit early sixes but fell in quick succession, leaving the Vikings 104 for four in the 14th. Root found long-on off Goldsworthy for 30 and Masood skewed Currie to backward point for 14.Wickets then tumbled at a decisive rate, quietening an expectant home crowd of 5,307.Goldsworthy had Jordan Thompson well caught at deep midwicket before Currie had last hope Donovan Ferreira caught behind for 22 – 136 for 8 with 11 balls left.Josh Hull comfortably defended 25 off the last over, removing Chohan on the way.
Manchester United star Manuel Ugarte has revealed his relationship with influencer Georgia May Heath after months of speculation.
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Ugarte posts loved-up Instagram pictureFans have linked the pair togetherHeath previously dated Kylian Mbappe Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Ugarte and Heath have been linked for months, since eagle-eyed fans spotted that the social media influencer had taken a photo in a room resembling one that served as a backdrop to a picture of the United midfielder. Now, the Uruguay international has posted a loved-up photo on Instagram, confirming that the pair are together.
AdvertisementGettyTHE GOSSIP
Heath has previously been linked with Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe, as the pair were spotted having dinner together in Greece, when the striker still played for PSG. Neither of the pair ever confirmed the relationship, however, and it appears she has firmly moved on from that rendezvous.
DID YOU KNOW?
Ugarte and Mbappe were team-mates at PSG but the midfielder has struggled somewhat at United. He has made 29 appearances for the club but was on the losing side in the Europa League final as the club limped to a 15th-placed finish.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
Ugarte will have to tear himself away from his new partner soon, as United face Leeds in a pre-season friendly on July 19.
Wes Agar has become the first player in the BBL to be traded as part of a pick exchange in the overseas draft. Agar joins Sydney Thunder after leaving Adelaide Strikers, who have improved their draft position in the second round.Agar will head to Thunder after eight seasons with Strikers. He played only four matches last season, having previously been an integral part of their attack. Thunder and Strikers swapped their second-round picks as part of the exchange.Strikers will receive Thunder’s early pick in the second round – the exact pick number will be determined in the draft lottery later in the year – while Thunder will get Strikers’ later pick. Thunder are set to get an earlier draft pick because they finished eighth last season while Strikers get a later pick after finishing third.Related
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It is the first move made by former New South Wales and Australia Test bowler Trent Copeland in his new role as Thunder’s General Manager.”He’s a proven performer in this format, and one of the Big Bash’s most likeable guys,” Copeland said. “We want to bring in players who will ultimately perform and win games for the club, but it’s also vitally important for us to attract good people who want to be a part of what we are building here.”Meanwhile, Strikers’ interim General Manager Shaun Williams was understanding of Agar’s decision to request a move.”We understand Wes’ desire for a fresh opportunity at the Sydney Thunder, and wish him all the best with the move,” he said. “We are pleased we were able to improve our draft position as part of this trade ahead of the BBL 14 draft later this year.”Agar, 27, had been Strikers’ best player in the 2020-21 season, taking 22 wickets at 20.77. He also took 18 wickets in 13 games in 2022-23. But he only managed to play four matches last year as Henry Thornton emerged as a preferred pace-bowling option, even as Strikers opted to play two legspinners.Despite only playing four matches and claiming just two wickets at an economy rate of 10.38, Agar is still highly rated by the Australian selectors and was called up as cover for Australia’s final T20I against West Indies in February. He moves to Sydney hoping for a fresh start as Thunder look to reconfigure their attack after a season where they struggled to strike with the ball.
Delhi Capitals captain admits his team was playing catch-up right from the powerplay
ESPNcricinfo staff20-Apr-20242:34
‘Capitals bowlers gave Head the start he wanted’
When Delhi Capitals opted to bowl in their first match of IPL 2024 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, they expected dew to play a role later in the evening. Which would have meant a target of around 220 also gettable. But the absence of dew in the chase helped Sunrisers Hyderabad, who got the balls to grip on the surface, register a 67-run win to move to second on the points table.”The only thought process behind [opting to bowl at the toss] was we thought there will be a bit of dew, which did not come,” Rishabh Pant, Capitals captain, said at the post-match presentation. “If we could have restricted them to 220-230 we still had a chance. [The ball] stopped more [on the surface] in the second innings than what we anticipated. But when you have 260-270 to defend, it gives bowlers confidence.”Sunrisers once again rode on the brilliant power-hitting display of openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who helped them score a record 125 for 0 in the powerplay, the highest in all men’s T20s. Abhishek fell for a 12-ball 46 while Head made 89 off 32 after his maiden IPL century in the last outing as Sunrisers posted 266 for 7, their third 250-plus total in IPL 2024.Related
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125 in 6 overs: Head and Sunrisers shatter T20 powerplay records
Head, Abhishek, Shahbaz, Natarajan break records and help SRH go second
“I think powerplay was one of the differences,” Pant admitted. “They got 120-130 runs in the powerplay and we were catching up throughout the match.”Pat Cummins, the SRH captain, had mixed feelings watching his openers bludgeon the opposition. “Part of me is very excited and elated, but the other thinks I will have to bowl on this later,” he said. “Amazing, every game they keep delivering and keep playing the way we want to.”Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma put on a blazing show in the powerplay•Associated PressThe game saw 213 runs being scored in the powerplay, both innings combined, again a record in T20 cricket. Capitals romped to 88 for 2 in their chase of 267 and Cummins said that the pitch came into play once the ball became old.”We saw in the powerplay, there was not much in it for the bowlers for both sides,” he said. “Once the game got on, the ball got softer and it started to hold a little bit. But 260-odd plays 200 [means it] is a good batting wicket.”Normally dew makes it hard [to grip the ball]. It slides on. But there was a little bit of grip out there, so maybe that was a factor also.”T Natarajan led Sunrisers’ charge with the ball, picking up 4 for 19, his best figures in T20s. Mayank Markande and Nitish Kumar Reddy also returned two wickets apiece, and Cummins was pleased with the discipline the bowlers showed.”Really happy with how we closed out. It was really disciplined, everyone was strong with their fields and how they wanted to bowl and executed well on the fly. It was not easy when they are trying to hit a six every ball.”Bhuvneshwar Kumar: SRH batters are ‘ruining us’T Natarajan bowled a triple-wicket maiden•BCCIThe leader of the SRH bowling attack, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, heaped praise on Natarajan’s effort in what was their fifth win in seven outings. Natarajan used his change-of-pace as well as was effective with the yorkers, making it tough for Capitals’ batters to line him up.”We know how good he is when it comes to Yorkers,” Bhuvneshwar said after the match. “He is someone who keeps working hard, a silent guy who goes unnoticed most of the times. But he is a star for us for so many years playing for SRH. We know how important he is for us, he is truly a match-winner.”For years, SRH were known to win games because of their bowling in the IPL. But for a change their batters are firing in unison and Bhuvneshwar, who returned 1 for 33 off his four overs, was happy for the bowlers to take a backseat. But he also had a word of caution for them.”For so many years, this is possibly the first time our batting is clicking so much,” he said. “As bowlers, we are happy to take the backseat and let the batters do their work and happy do defend so many runs. Honestly, they are ruining us; if one of the games we score 180-200 mentally, it will be tough for us bowlers to defend those. But great to see the way they are batting.”When you are defending those many runs, either of the things happen – you go for plenty of runs or you get teams out within 150. We accept the fact that when you defend so many runs, you can go for plenty of runs.”