Former India coach says team can accommodate both Ashwin and Jadeja on overseas tours

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Sep-2019One of the debates during India’s tour of the West Indies centred on R Ashwin’s place in the side in overseas Tests, after the offspinner missed out on the starting XI in both the Antigua and Jamaica Tests. In both matches, India went with Ravindra Jadeja as the lone spinner, with coach Ravi Shastri explaining that the preference for Jadeja was based on his improved batting and sharp fielding skills.Former India captain and coach Anil Kumble, however, has backed Ashwin, insisting that he remains the No. 1 spinner in the side and India have to find a way to get him in. Ashwin has not played a Test for India since the first match the tour of Australia last year in Adelaide, where he suffered an abdomen injury that eventually ruled him out for the rest of the tour. Earlier that year, he had failed to finish the England series, after aggravating a hip injury. Despite the injuries, Ashwin’s figures in seven overseas Tests in 2018 were 24 wickets at 30.16.”He is still the best spinner that you have,” Kumble said in an interview with . “Yes, there have been a few incidents where he has had injuries and not performed to his potential, but Ashwin is your No. 1 spinner in the team. He should be a part of the squad, he should be in the playing XI, you have to make a way of getting him in.”Citing Ashwin’s batting credentials – the offspinner averages nearly 30 in Tests and has four centuries and 11 fifties – Kumble believed the team could accommodate both Ashwin and Jadeja, adding heft to their lower-order batting too.”I strongly believe that the team certainly can have two spinners in the squad, because both Ashwin and Jadeja are wonderful batsmen,” he said. “Ashwin has had four Test hundreds, Jadeja has been really consistent with the bat. He did that again in the West Indies, he’s a wonderful bowler too and both of them in tandem can certainly be handful for the opposition. So yes, when India travel outside, it’s not always that you get four bowlers to pick up 20 wickets.”Ideally, if you have a combination of three fast bowlers and two spinners, wherein your two spinners can also contribute with the bat, that’s the perfect scenario. And you have two front-line spinners who are equally good as batsmen, so I think it’s just a matter of time, I strongly believe that Ashwin will certainly make it into the playing XI. So, the management needs to look at that and I am a bit surprised that someone with the ability and quality of Ashwin is sitting out in a Test match.”Kumble also urged the selectors to have discussions about an exit plan for MS Dhoni, for the sake of clarity within the team and to ensure Dhoni got a proper send-off. There has been considerable speculation around Dhoni’s future following India’s semi-final exit from the World Cup. After the World Cup, Dhoni spent two weeks with the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army, where he has the rank of honorary Lieutenant Colonel, and had opted out of the West Indies tour. Rishabh Pant handled wicketkeeping duties for all formats on the tour.Getty ImagesWhile announcing the team for the Caribbean tour, MSK Prasad, India’s chairman of selectors, had stated that a cricketer like Dhoni “knows when to retire”, and went on to add that they had already started grooming youngsters. Kumble said that with the T20 World Cup a year away, roles and responsibilities, including back-ups need to be fixed, and if Dhoni is a part of plans for the T20 World Cup, he needed to be playing all games.”I think the selectors will have a take a call as to which is the likely team that you’d want in the World Cup because the World Cup is just a year away,” Kumble said. “You’d want a consistent team to be playing right throughout and that’s exactly what didn’t happen in the 50-over [World Cup] competition.”So, yes, there will be some discussions about an exit plan. But having said that, MS Dhoni certainly deserves a proper send-off, whenever he decides to move on from the sport. But for the team’s sake, the selectors need to sit down and have a discussion around what the plans are because it’s important that things be communicated.”If the selectors believe that Dhoni is in the scheme of things for the T20 World Cup then I think he should be playing every game. If he’s not, then it’s important that they have a discussion around how they need to make this happen. I think they need to do that in the next couple of months.”Pant has also shown some inconsistency. So, that’s a call the selectors need to make. Today, in spite of all of that, are you going to back him or someone else, or would you look back? I wouldn’t but I think it’s important that the selectors take a call on that.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in excellent form as of late, winning three of their last four matches in the Premier League.

Last weekend, Gary O'Neil's side narrowly overcame bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, beating them 1-0 at home, with the three points pushing them into ninth in the table.

However, their attention will turn to the FA Cup this week as the Wanderers welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to the Molineux.

Not many changes will be made or needed from the weekend, but it is expected that a strong team will be fielded – with just three potential alterations in store. Therefore, let’s take a look at the starting lineup that could see Wolves progress to the next round.

1 GK – Jose Sa

Jose Sa is the number one shot-stopper for Wolves, and he is expected to start once again, just like he did in the previous round against West Bromwich Albion.

2 RCB – Max Kilman

Max Kilman’s leadership will be important on Wednesday, and he has started every single game bar one this season.

3 CB – Santiago Bueno

Santiago Bueno hasn’t been handed a real opportunity yet by O’Neil, starting just twice in the league, but he should feature in the lineup tomorrow ahead of an ageing Craig Dawson.

4 LCB – Toti Gomes

Toti Gomes has been excellent this campaign, and his performance against the Blades will guarantee him a place.

The Portuguese defender won 11 duels while also having 102 touches on Sunday.

5 RM – Matt Doherty

Nelson Semedo is the player to be replaced by Matt Doherty, who has started all three FA Cup games this campaign.

6 CM – Mario Lemina

Mario Lemina should keep his place in the side after impressing at the weekend, making four tackles and two key passes.

The midfielder has also been immense all season, starting 23 times in the league.

7 CM – Tommy Doyle

Tommy Doyle has performed incredibly well when called upon this campaign, and he should return to the side in place of Joao Gomes.

The 22-year-old scored a worldie against Brentford in the first FA Cup tie, helping Wolves progress.

He was also a "stand-out" against West Brom in the Black Country derby, as per journalist Liam Keen, taking 87 touches and controlling the tie from the first whistle to the last.

8 LM – Rayan Ait Nouri

Rayan Ait Nouri was the creator of Wolves' only goal on Sunday, and he will keep his place in the left-wing back role.

9 RF – Pablo Sarabia

Pablo Sarabia was the player who headed home the Algerian’s sublime cross, and his threat in the final third will be needed against Brighton.

10 LF – Pedro Neto

Wolves’ biggest creator in the Premier League with nine assists will continue to prove to be undroppable, and he is one of the first names on the teamsheet.

The Portuguese ace also scored the opener against West Brom in the previous round.

MatériaMais Notícias

Contratado no início do mês de março, André Luís chegou ao Atlético-GO, emprestado pelo Corinthians, para ajudar a equipe na disputa do Campeonato Goiano, Copa do Brasil, Brasileirão e principalmente a Sul-Americana.

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> Veja classificação e simulador da Copa Sul-Americana-2021 clicando aqui

GALERIA
>Qual é o clube brasileiro mais vice do século 21? Confira o ranking

Com os grupos e confrontos definidos, o Dragão fará sua estreia na competição internacional nesta terça-feira, às 19h15. A partida é a primeira do atacante em um torneio que reúne equipes de todo o continente.

– Estou ansioso por essa minha primeira partida internacional por um clube brasileiro, ainda mais por ser um jogo contra um clube tradicional da Argentina. A Sul-Americana é uma competição disputada, e que todos ali tem o mesmo objetivo – disse André, antes de completar:

– Esse ano mudaram o formato e acredito que isso vai ser muito bom, a questão da fase de grupos obriga as equipes a realmente mostrarem seu futebol, e estamos confiantes em relação a isso. Espero poder ajudar o Dragão nessa estreia – concluiu.

Com quatro jogos e um gol marcado, André entra em campo na noite desta terça-feira, às 19h15, para encarar o Newells Old Boys, da Argentina.

كشف مصدر بـ الأهلي عن تفاصيل دور محمد رمضان بشأن ملف التعاقدات الخاصة بفريق الكرة قبل بداية الموسم الجديد، وذلك قبل غلق باب الانتقالات الصيفية، موضحًا مصير أمير توفيق مدير التعاقدات.

وكان مجلس إدارة الأهلي برئاسة محمود الخطيب قد قرر تعيين محمد رمضان في منصب المدير الرياضي لفريق الكرة بالفترة المقبلة، بجانب كونه مشرفًا على إدارة التعاقدات.

وقال المصدر في تصريحات خاصة لـ “بطولات”: “محمد رمضان المدير الرياضي للأهلي يقود ملف التعاقدات لنهاية الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية، ثم يتم بعدها دراسة بدائل أمير توفيق لتولي منصب مدير التعاقدات”.

طالع | محمد رمضان يعرض على كولر 3 مهاجمين أجانب قبل بطولة كأس السوبر المصري

واختتم: “هاني رمزي سيتواجد كمعاون لـ محمد رمضان في إدارة التعاقدات لحين الاستقرار على مدير التعاقدات الجديد بعد نهاية فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الحالية”.

ويخوض الأهلي مباراة هامة أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا، في نصف نهائي كأس السوبر المصري يوم الأحد 20 أكتوبر، وحال فوزه سينتظر الفائز من مباراة الزمالك وبيراميدز لمواجهته في النهائي.

وعقب نهاية منافسات السوبر المصري، ينتظر النادي الأهلي مباراة قوية أمام العين الإماراتي في بطولة كأس إنتركونتينتال.

ويلتقي الأهلي مع العين الإماراتي، يوم 29 أكتوبر الجاري، على استاد القاهرة الدولي في مباراة الجولة الثانية من مسابقة كأس إنتركونتينتال.

Celtic ended the January transfer window with only two additions to their first-team squad to bolster Brendan Rodgers' options across the park.

Meanwhile, they allowed David Turnbull to join Cardiff City on a permanent basis and sent Mikey Johnston and Marco Tilio on loan to West Bromwich Albion and Melbourne City respectively.

Adam Idah was brought in on loan from Norwich City on deadline day, after Nicolas Kuhn was bought from Rapid Wien on a five-and-a-half-year deal earlier in the window.

The two new signings did combine for the equaliser against Aberdeen on Saturday, though, as the Ireland international teed up the winger to fire into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.

However, the Hoops did not enjoy a fully successful transfer window as they failed to secure signings in several positions that were identified by Rodgers.

Celtic's January transfer window failings

Football Insider reported in January that Celtic's head coach wanted to bring in a centre-forward, a left-back, and a goalkeeper after the signing of Kuhn.

Idah arrived as another striker to compete with Kyogo Furuhashi and Hyeon-gyu Oh but the board failed to provide the Northern Irish tactician with the other additions that were desired.

The Daily Record also reported on deadline day that a central midfielder was on the agenda for the Hoops after Turnbull was allowed to join Cardiff and an injury to Reo Hatate forced the club to look at options in the market to bolster their midfield ranks.

This means that the Hoops ended the window with two of the up to five signings that they wanted to make, as they failed to bring in a left-back, a central midfielder, or a goalkeeper to improve the squad.

Football Scotland have since outlined the club's pursuit of a left-back and why they were unable to get one over the line before the deadline passed.

They claim that Celtic were keen on Estoril's Tiago Araujo in November of 2023 but his £4m price tag caused them to look elsewhere in the market.

Liverpool's Owen Beck was next on their list but the young defender was needed by the Reds after his loan spell with Dundee and could not be used for a third team in the same season.

They then asked Wolverhampton Wanderers about a possible loan deal for Hugo Bueno but were batted away by the Premier League side, who did not want to lose him.

Football Scotland add that Celtic also ambitiously targeted a swoop for Manchester City left-back Sergio Gomez but failed to convince the Cityzens to part ways with the Spaniard.

The Scottish giants, therefore, missed out on a huge upgrade in the number three position as the Premier League defender could have been a sensational signing to replace Greg Taylor as Rodgers' first-choice in that position.

Greg Taylor's form for Celtic

Celtic clearly felt they needed another option at left-back to compete with Taylor and Alexandro Bernabei, given their pursuit of Gomez and the other left-back targets.

The Scotland international has been the first-choice out of the pair over the past 18 months, under both Ange Postecoglou and Rodgers, and has been a solid, albeit unspectacular, option for the club.

Unlike academy graduate Kieran Tierney, who assisted 25 goals in 97 Scottish Premiership appearances, before him, Taylor does not offer an outstanding level of creativity from his position.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the 26-year-old gem played 31 league matches for the Scottish giants and contributed with four assists and two 'big chances' created for his side.

He also failed to register a single assist or any 'big chances' created in six Champions League starts for the Hoops, as he struggled in Europe.

Appearances

22

Assists

One

Big chances created

Seven

Interceptions per game

0.4

Duel success rate

50%

As you can see in the table above, Taylor has produced more high-quality opportunities for his teammates in the Premiership this term than he managed in the whole of last season already.

However, he has also lost half of his duels and made less than one interception every other game on average, which suggests that his play at both ends of the pitch leaves a bit to be desired.

The stats that show why Gomez would have been a huge upgrade

Celtic, possibly through little fault of their own as City wanted to keep him, missed out on a huge upgrade on Taylor as Gomez could have added more quality to the starting XI.

The 23-year-old dynamo joined the Premier League champions from Anderlecht in the summer of 2022 and has only started two top-flight games for the club since then.

His lack of minutes in England has stopped him from being able to showcase the best of his ability, which was on full display for his previous team in Belgium.

Appearances

39

Assists

11

Big chances created

15

Interceptions per game

1.3

Duel success rate

55%

As you can see in the table above, the Spanish gem provided consistent quality in the final third with his superb ability to create 'big chances' to assist his teammates from a left-back position, whilst he also won a higher percentage of his duels and made far more interceptions per game than Taylor has this term.

The £50k-per-week whiz ranked within the top 2% of full-backs in the division for Expected Assisted Goals (0.33) and the top 4% for assists (0.33) per 90 respectively.

Gomez, who talent scout Jacek Kulig once hailed as the "king of assists", also caught the eye at the U21 European Championships – won by England – for Spain last summer.

He produced three goals, two assists, and three 'big chances' created in five appearances at the tournament whilst playing further forward as a winger for his country.

These statistics show that the 23-year-old gem has the attacking quality to provide a huge threat from left-back, or the wing, whilst also being a solid defensive option.

Therefore, Rodgers missed out on a big upgrade on Taylor in January as the rarely-seen City squad option could have created more chances, provided more assists, and won more of his duels than the Scottish full-back for Celtic.

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, Glasgow Rangers have been saved from a campaign of mediocrity by appointing Philippe Clement in mid-October.

Under Michael Beale, the Light Blues lost three of their opening seven Premiership matches and even trailed Celtic by eight points in September, as it looked as though the league was over just as it had begun.

Following a dismal 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen, the Englishman was sacked and just two weeks later, Clement stepped into the hot seat and the club have not looked back since.

His success has been made even more surprising considering he has had to essentially utilise the same group of players which Beale had at his disposal, yet the 49-year-old manager has added a steeliness about them which could give them the edge over Celtic.

His activity in the January transfer window is also another reason why he could lead the Gers to plenty more trophies, signing three players who have all made a significant impact thus far.

Who Rangers signed during the winter

With the squad needing to be bolstered, Clement signed Fabio Silva (loan), Oscar Cortes (loan with option to buy) and Mohamed Diomande (loan with an obligation to buy) and they have been inspired signings, to say the least.

The trio have scored six goals for the club already and Diomande looks like he could be destined for greatness, likely landing the Light Blues a major profit in the coming years.

While incomings were required, Clement was also keen on trimming the squad and this involved moving a few players on who were deemed surplus to requirements.

Sam Lammers, who scored just twice since arriving from Atalanta last summer, was sent on loan to FC Utrecht, yet this was expected after a dismal six months for the club.

Moving on Jose Cifuentes, however, was perhaps a surprise, especially as he had not been given much time to really impress either Beale or Clement.

Why Jose Cifuentes moved out on loan

Having signed Diomande, plus seeing the likes of Nico Raskin, Ryan Jack, and Tom Lawrence all return from injury, it was inevitable that someone had to go to avoid such a cramped and competitive position.

The Ecuadorian midfielder ended up joining Brazilian side Cruzeiro earlier this month on a 12-month loan deal which has an option to buy and perhaps a return to South America may see the player return to his best form.

His move was expected to go through earlier than planned, but due to paperwork issues, it was delayed for a week.

Everything is now signed and sealed, and it looks as though that will be the last the Ibrox faithful see of the midfielder as he looks to kickstart his career in Brazil.

How Jose Cifuentes performed before Rangers

The 24-year-old had spent the previous three years at MLS side Los Angeles FC, playing over 100 matches for the club, eventually leading them to glory in the 2022 season as the club secured the title and Cifuentes was a key player throughout.

Across 36 MLS matches in 2022, the midfielder scored seven times while grabbing six assists and these proved crucial as the franchise won the title.

These numbers ranked him third in the whole squad in the league, while the player also ranked second for big chances created (11), fourth for key passes per game (1.3) and third for successful dribbles per game (1.5) as he clearly demonstrated plenty of attacking vigour throughout the season.

These performances obviously attracted Beale and signing a player with the quality that Cifuentes possessed should have significantly boosted the club’s midfield options.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite worked out like that, despite the South American shining in the USA, and it is another case of the Gers spending money on a player without receiving much back in return.

Jose Cifuentes’ Rangers statistics

As the summer transfer window edged towards the final few weeks, Cifuentes was on Beale’s radar, and he eventually secured his services for a cut price fee of just £1.2m, due to his LAFC contract expiring in December 2023.

Under Beale, however, the Ecuadorian made just nine starts as the club crashed out of the Champions League at the final hurdle while enduring a difficult start to their Premiership campaign.

Goals

0

Assists

1

Accurate passes per game

37.3

Big chances created

2

Key passes per game

0.6

Considering the midfielder had left LAFC in the middle of their season, it was a surprise when he struggled to get up to speed during games, especially in Scotland, and he was often wasteful in possession.

Of course, it takes new signings time to settle into their new surroundings, especially when you swap Hollywood for Glasgow, but there was something amiss with the player.

By the time he left the club, the £16k-per-week earner had featured just 20 times, with only 14 of them being starts and a fresh beginning could do him the world of good.

The former LAFC maestro failed to demonstrate the attacking qualities that made him such a big hit in America, registering just two big chances created, averaging only 0.6 key passes per game and grabbing one assist across his nine Premiership matches for the Gers.

The midfielder also only ranked seventh among his teammates for accurate passes per game (37.3) in the top flight, along with ranking 14th for accurate long balls per game (1.1) and a lowly 25th for successful dribbles per game (0.1), with the final stat representing a massive drop-off from his dribbling success during the 2022 MLS season.

Some players thrive when they arrive from MLS, yet others often struggle with the physicality of Scottish football, especially as they are not offered the same length of time on the ball as they are elsewhere.

There is no doubt that Cifuentes is technically gifted as a player, but his game just did not suit Rangers and Clement has done the best thing possible by moving him on quickly so that he can fulfil his potential.

Who knows, maybe he might return a better player, but with Diomande looking like he could be a huge asset, Cifuentes may have played his last game for Rangers.

Australia are unbeaten in eight Tests against England, but with their best batsman out, head to Leeds with the tide against them

The Preview by Matt Roller21-Aug-2019

Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes were England’s stand-out performers at Lord’s•Getty Images

Big pictureAfter eight consecutive Ashes Tests without a win, England come to Headingley full of confidence, while Australia, who can retain the urn with one win in the next three, are on the ropes. Welcome to Test cricket in 2019, where conventional wisdom is inverted.The mood around the respective teams owes much to two men. The first is Jofra Archer, the man Justin Langer had said Australia were planning to “keep wearing down, and get him back into his second or third and fourth spells,” before the second Test; in the event, Archer’s fifth spell in the first innings was the fastest of the Test, according to CricViz, and he ended not only with figures of 5 for 91 from his 44 overs, but having struck a psychological blow by striking both Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne with vicious bouncers.The second is Smith himself, who will miss the Leeds Test after suffering a delayed concussion from that Archer blow. The debate will roll on as to whether he should have been allowed to come back out to bat, but the cold hard facts are that Australia will be without the man who has scored 35 percent of their runs off the bat this series, despite missing one of their innings. In his absence, Tim Paine will be desperate for David Warner (18 runs at 4.50) and Usman Khawaja (91 at 22.75) to step up, while Cameron Bancroft is expected to be replaced by Marcus Harris.*But for all the doom, Australia have plenty with which they can reassure themselves. Labuschagne impressed with a determined effort in the fourth innings at Lord’s after being floored by the first legitimate ball he faced and looking horribly scratchy in the immediate aftermath, while Travis Head has quietly enjoyed an excellent start to the series. And they have plenty of recent experience of playing without Smith – if they were unconvincing without him in the home series against India, they still only lost it 2-1.Further, at a ground renowned for giving assistance to the seamers, their attack holds the edge over England’s. Pat Cummins is the leading wicket-taker in the series, and has given Jos Buttler in particular a torrid time: Cummins’ 59 balls to him have brought about the same number of scoring shots as dismissals (three each). James Pattinson is expected to replace Peter Siddle after being left out at Lord’s to ensure he was “cherry ripe”. That, despite Siddle having fond memories of Headingley after ripping through England there with 5 for 21 back in 2009.Incidentally, that Test was the last in the Ashes in Leeds, and while England have won two of their last three games there by an innings, they have also lost six of their last ten at the ground dating back to 2008.England, remember, have plenty of problems of their own. Trevor Bayliss admitted this week that Jason Roy – who has just 40 runs in four innings so far this series – “probably is suited to the middle order”, but it is expected that the attempt to turn him into a Virender Sehwag-style opener will continue this week. Joe Root failed in both innings at Lord’s, registering the first golden duck of his Test career in the second innings, and another difficult Test for him will surely result in a move back down the order.Joe Denly, meanwhile, has reached double figures in every innings, but has failed to pass 30, let alone 50; he knows that with Ollie Pope fit again, and on standby as a concussion replacement after making a Championship double hundred this week, he can hardly afford another underwhelming showing.The bowling attack is likely to be unchanged, though with Root’s captaincy under scrutiny after his perceived over-use of Archer last week Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad can expect to play bigger roles. Jack Leach has good memories of the ground after bowling Somerset to a Championship victory there in 2016 with 6 for 64, though spinners have averaged 34.87 at Tests in Leeds since 2014, compared to 30.94 for pace bowlers.Form guideEngland DLWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia DWWWDIn the spotlightJos Buttler said in the build-up to the Lord’s Test that he was “not far” from his best form, but with 49 runs in the series so far, he is yet to show it. There were hints during his second-innings 31 – in which he shifted down to number six, below Ben Stokes – of the player that excelled with the bat against India last summer, but he has not looked his usual free-scoring self, and it is even possible that he will be moved back to number seven at Headingley, below Jonny Bairstow, as England attempt to take the pressure off him. If, alongside those two, he can return to his best, then England’s engine room will start to look formidable rather than fragile.Smith has not only been Australia’s best batsman since returning from his ban, but also a constant presence in Tim Paine’s ear when Australia have had decisions to make. While Paine will undoubtedly miss Smith’s runs, he might appreciate the lack of an assertive voice on the field, and relish the opportunity to be the side’s real leader again. Paine has been poor with the bat, repeatedly falling into England’s short-ball trap, and inopportune in his use of DRS thus far; with Alex Carey scoring twin fifties for Sussex this week, there is a growing sense that Paine must provide a reminder of what he brings to the side if he is to continue as captain for Australia’s home summer.Team newsDespite Bayliss’ admission that Roy is probably better suited to the middle order, England are unlikely to make any changes to the order of their top four, and are expected to name an unchanged XI. Roy was hit on the helmet in the nets on Tuesday, and will be assessed once more before he is cleared to play. It seems likely he will still play, but his Surrey team-mate Ollie Pope is on standby if not, which would likely see Denly move up to open and Pope take his spot in the middle order. Stokes will continue at No. 5, while, Sam Curran’s run carrying the drinks is expected to continue, though England will consider bringing him in for Chris Woakes.England (probable): 1 Jason Roy, 2 Rory Burns, 3 Joe Root (capt), 4 Joe Denly, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler, 7 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 Jack Leach.Marcus Harris’ expected inclusion for Cameron Bancroft would mean five of Australia’s top six are left-handers, alongside Warner, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and Matthew Wade. James Pattinson for Peter Siddle appears the other likely change for Australia, with Marnus Labuschagne already set to take Steven Smith’s place at No. 4.Australia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Marcus Harris, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Travis Head, 6 Matthew Wade, 7 Tim Paine (capt & wk), 8 Pat Cummins, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Nathan Lyon.Pitch and conditionsHeadingley’s reputation as an archetypal English ground is unlikely to change with this Test, as the pitch has some grass on it and should provide some level of assistance for the seamers. Since 2009, seamers have taken 246 wickets in Tests at the ground, compared to just 52 for spinners, though slow bowlers have enjoyed some level of success as games have worn on and wickets have deteriorated.After rain threatened to wreck the second Test, this week should be much better. Light rain is forecast for the night before the game, and there will be plenty of cloud cover on the first two days, but the sun should manage to peek through by Saturday. There is barely a ticket going for the first four days, though there are plenty spare for day five on Monday.Stats that matter England have lost six of their last ten Tests at Headingley, and haven’t beaten Australia at the venue since 2001. This will be the first Ashes Test in Leeds since 2009. This is only the second time in David Warner’s Test career that he has registered four consecutive single-figure scores. Jason Roy averages 17.00 in three ODI innings at Headingley – his lowest ODI average at any English ground. Not since 1997 has a side gone into a third Ashes Test winless and gone on to win the series.Quotes”It changes a lot of batters’ approach towards our attack as well. It brings a number of the other guys more in the game, if you like, in a strange way. It is great to see him come into Test cricket and have such an impact. I’m sure he’ll make for some tasty viewing this Test match as well.”
Joe Root, England’s captain, is looking forward to letting Jofra Archer off the leash.“You don’t sit and tell people how to bat, we’ve spoken about out processes as players, making sure you’re well planned and well prepared. That’s all you can do, when you go out in the middle it’s about watching the ball and reacting to it. We know going into this Test that we’re going to be very well prepared and very well planned. So that’s all you can do.”
*

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has admitted he hasn't gone into 'detail' on plans for Manchester United Women as INEOS has been 'focused' on the men's side.

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• Man Utd had their worst WSL finish this year
• Earps among key names out of contract
• But Ratcliffe has been 'focused' on men's team

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The comments come off the back of a tough 2023-24 season for the Red Devils in the Women's Super League and have understandably caused concern among fans. United won a first major trophy when they beat Tottenham in the Women's FA Cup final but that only papered over the cracks in a campaign that saw the club register its worst-ever WSL finish, coming fifth.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Given that underperformance, a year on from United pushing Chelsea to the final day in the title race, many expected head coach Marc Skinner to be let go on the expiration of his contract this summer. However, the 41-year-old was handed a new deal, which prompted plenty of questions from the fanbase.

• WHAT RATCLIFFE SAID

  In an interview with , Ratcliffe has now admitted that plans for the women's team have not yet been outlined in great 'detail'. "We haven't got into that level of detail with the women's team yet," he said. "We've been pretty much focused on how we resolve the [men's] first team issues."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Such comments have added further concern for United fans in a summer which sees them sweating over the futures of some key names. Mary Earps, Katie Zelem, Nikita Parris and Lucia Garcia are among those out of contract, with the latter seemingly set for a move to Mexico.

Is there a worse sight in football than an opposition player racing to the away end to silence the travelling fans? Or when a player rubs salt in the wounds of rival stars by replicating the celebration often seen in front of their supporters? For fans, the answer will be a resounding no. For football's greatest wind-up merchants, however, there will be no sweeter feeling.

After Neal Maupay recently hit a James Maddison-esque bullseye into the minds of Tottenham Hotspur fans, Football FanCast has taken a look at the top 10 best football wind-up merchants, based on who fans of other teams love to hate the most.

10 Robbie Savage

Now known for leaving some fans frustrated in the gantry, there was once a time when Robbie Savage was leaving his opponents on the pitch just as frustrated. Though he was never a standout player, the Welshman was someone you'd rather have on your team rather than provoking you in the heat of battle in the Premier League.

It is fitting that Savage's voice is now often the one associated with the mute button among English football fans, given that it's an option that many of his opponents likely wish they had during his playing days.

9 Pepe

If this was a list of football's most brutal players, then Pepe would undoubtedly sit top. During his early Real Madrid days in particular, the veteran defender was as violent with his challenges as they come, often seen losing his head at opposition players.

That temper has often come at a cost throughout his career, however, having received 17 red cards and once even banned for 10 games during his time in La Liga. The Portugal defender is not one to mess with, as he took a more lethal approach than light-hearted teasing.

Ultimately, the fact that Pepe will go down as one of football's hotheads rather than one of the most impressive defenders to grace the game perfectly sums up just how many moments he had to forget.

8 Alfredo Morelos

Mention the name Alfredo Morelos to Celtic fans and you'll see the impact that the striker made during his time in the Scottish Premiership. In fact, mention his name to many Rangers fans and they'll likely have a mixed reaction, for the Colombian was often the man behind his own downfall at Ibrox.

By the time Morelos left the Gers last summer, he had built a reputation for saying the wrong things, receiving red cards at the worst possible times and clashes with Celtic captain Scott Brown. The forward just couldn't help himself on the biggest stages but will go down as one of the most famous players to pull on the Rangers colours in recent history, nonetheless.

7 Joey Barton

Stealing the headlines for his controversial comments about women's football ever since losing his managerial role at Bristol Rovers, Joey Barton wasn't exactly a well-liked character during his playing career, either, and that's without mentioning his sudden French accent whilst at Marseille.

The midfielder, often dubbed as one of football's villains, has a whole list of moments to forget, even spending time in prison for assault and affray and getting into a fight with teammate Ousmane Dabo. The list could go on, too. The fact is, it's not a real surprise that Barton is once again stealing the headlines for all the wrong reasons even after retirement.

6 Sergio Ramos

A serial winner and one of football's greatest-ever centre-backs, Sergio Ramos has taken every chance he can get to wind up rival fans throughout his career, all whilst winning every top honour possible. No matter the stage, though, Ramos has played up to his role as a pantomime villain.

The Spaniard particularly left Liverpool fans angered when he dragged star man Mohamed Salah down in the 2018 Champions League final, dislocating the Egyptian's shoulder and ending his night in the process. The Reds went on to lose in Kyiv and Ramos went on to lift a third consecutive Champions League trophy.

Months later, in an awkward moment, Ramos tapped Salah on the same shoulder on his way back from collecting his UEFA Defender of the Year award.

5 Emiliano Martinez

Whether it's celebrating in the faces of Manchester United fans after denying Bruno Fernandes from the spot or showing off his best dance moves in David Moyes-esque fashion, Emiliano Martinez is quick to rub salt in the wounds.

The Argentine hero's biggest wind-up moment came on the biggest stage when he won the World Cup Golden Glove following Argentina's penalty-shootout win over France in the final. Presented with the award, Martinez gestured towards the on-watching France fans, before later admitting: "I did it because the French booed me."

4 Neal Maupay

Quickly rising up the ranks for his antics is Maupay. The Brentford striker rarely misses the chance to take aim at the opposition and recently stole the headlines for copying Maddison's famous darts celebration at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But that's not the first time that the Frenchman has left plenty of north London fans unhappy.

Back in 2020, the Frenchman took aim at Arsenal fans after scoring against Southampton. A week prior, the then-Brighton & Hove Albion man had inadvertently injured Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Hitting the crying celebration to the cameras, Maupay admitted after the game that it was a dig aimed at those at the Emirates.

3 Jamie Vardy

No matter how far Jamie Vardy has come in the world of football, his knack for winding rival fans up has not changed. The Leicester City legend is often the first player booed by rival fans and, in turn, the first to celebrate right in front of them. He's even prone to mocking the mascots of opposition teams whilst celebrating, having once flapped his arms like an eagle against Crystal Palace and howled in front of the Wolves fans.

Where there is a Vardy goal, there is likely a celebration aimed at rival fans that follows to cement his place alongside some of football's greatest-ever wind-up merchants.

2 Diego Costa

One of the Premier League's craziest strikers, where there was drama, there was often Diego Costa. During his time at Chelsea, the forward somehow came away with just one red card, with his focus instead on ensuring his opponents were dismissed themselves. The most famous example of this came against Arsenal, as Costa somehow found a way to avoid red himself while getting Gabriel Paulista dismissed.

A natural goalscorer and one of the greatest wind-up merchants around, it will be a long time before Chelsea find a striker quite like Costa again, allowing Premier League fans to breathe a sigh of relief.

1 Luis Suarez

If you're Branislav Ivanovic and Giorgio Chiellini, look away now, as Luis Suarez enters number one as football's greatest wind-up merchant with his most famous moment in that regard coming at the expense of David Moyes.

The Uruguayan was accused of diving by the then-Everton boss in the build-up to Liverpool's Merseyside derby clash against the Toffees, leading to the infamous celebration. Clearly catching wind of the accusation, Suarez wheeled away in celebration after netting for the Reds, before diving right in front of Moyes' technical area.

Suarez, more so than anyone on this list, was often at the centre of football's dark arts all whilst earning a place in history as one of the best players to grace the beautiful game he made rather ugly at times. There was simply no beating the former Liverpool and Barcelona man, who is now plying his trade and likely winding up opposition fans in MLS with Inter Miami.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo seguiu a rotina de treinamentos com uma atividade realizada na manhã desta terça-feira (27), no CT da Barra Funda. Além da recuperação de Pablo e Orejuela, o departamento médico do clube também tem atenção para a dupla Eder e Gabriel Sara.

No Dia do Goleiro, veja os nomes da posição com mais jogos na história do São Paulo

Os dois seguem como dúvidas da equipe de Crespo paraa próxima quinta-feira (29), às 21h, no Morumbi, pela segunda rodada da fase de grupos da Taça Libertadores da América. Sara é o jogador que parece estar mais perto da volta.

CONFIRA A TABELA ATUALIZADA DO CAMPEONATO PAULISTA DE 2021!

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O meia, que está fora do time desde a volta das competições após uma piora da pandemia de Covid-19, fez um trabalho à parte com a fisioterapia do clube em um dos campos do CT da Barra Funda. Seu último jogo foi diante do Novorizontino, na derrota por 2 a 1, ainda em março.

🆕 Pablo e Orejuela treinaram mais uma vez com o grupo, enquanto Gabriel Sara fez um trabalho no gramado com a fisioterapia.#VamosSãoPaulo 🇾🇪

📸 Fellipe Lucena / saopaulofc pic.twitter.com/C3klnPZU5E

— São Paulo FC (@SaoPauloFC) April 27, 2021

Já Eder trata um pequeno estiramento na coxa e fez trabalhos internos no Reffis do Tricolor. Sua presença diante do Rentistas é improvável. Como o São Paulo tem mais dois dias de treinos, a comissão técnica de Hernán Crespo prefere esperar alguma evolução.