لاعب الهلال السعودي على أعتاب الرحيل بعد معسكر النمسا

كشفت تقارير صحفية سعودية، أن لاعب فريق الهلال على أعتاب الرحيل بعد نهاية المعسكر الخارجي المقرر إقامته في النمسا، الشهر المقبل.

وقالت صحيفة “الرياضية” السعودية، أن عبد الإله المالكي، لاعب وسط الهلال، اقترب من الرحيل بعد نهاية معسكر النمسا.

طالع| الهلال يدرس قرارًا غير متوقع بشأن كأس السوبر السعودي

وأضافت أن استمرار المالكي، 30 عامًا، مع الهلال يعتمد على التقرير الفني، الذي سيقدمه المدرب الإيطالي سيموني إنزاجي، للإدارة بنهاية المعسكر.

وعاد المالكي، الذي يرتبط بالهلال حتى يناير 2026 إلى صفوف القطب العاصمي، بعد انتهاء فترة إعارته الموسم الماضي مع الاتفاق، والتحق ببعثة الأزرق في كأس العالم للأندية، التي تختتم الأحد في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، لكنه لم يحظ بالمشاركة لعدم الجاهزية.

وتعرض المالكي لأزمات عديدة، أثرت على مشاركته مع الهلال، حيث أصيب بالرباط الصليبي أثناء مشاركته مع المنتخب السعودي في تصفيات كأس العالم 2022، ثم عاد في سبتمبر من العام ذاته، لكنه أصيب مجددًا بالرباط الصليبي في يناير 2023 خلال مباراة الهلال ضد الاتحاد، ما أدى لغيابه لفترة طويلة قبل إعارته للاتفاق.

ولعب المالكي مع الهلال خلال فترة عقده 11 مباراة، ست في دوري روشن على فترة موسمين، وثلاث في كأس آسيا، واثنتان في كأس الملك، بينما شارك مع الاتفاق الموسم الماضي في 23 مباراة، ولعب بقميص الاتحاد في 72 مباراة، وقبلها مع الوحدة 63 مباراة.

Phil Foden has the 'hunger' again – now Pep Guardiola must ensure Man City's golden boy gets back on the path to greatness

The midfielder looked refreshed in his side's Club World Cup opener but his coach must find a clear role for him in his new-look team

Manchester City paraded two of their shiny new signings in their Club World Cup opener against Wydad Casablanca, but it was the familiar face of Phil Foden who upstaged the underwhelming Rayan Cherki and even the impressive Tijjani Reijnders by providing the best storyline of the game, even if he had become the forgotten man last season.

Foden was sporting a new look that went back to basics and he delivered a performance that was markedly different from his displays just a few weeks earlier. City's favourite son scored the fastest goal of the tournament to give his team the lead then set up Jeremy Doku's volley with an inviting delivery from a corner. He probably should have scored again in the first half although goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid did produce an impressive save to keep out his effort from inside the box.

On the whole this was a hugely encouraging performance from Foden, largely because last season he looked like a shadow of the player who had fired City to a fourth consecutive Premier League title and swept all the individual prizes in England. The 25-year-old was far from the only City player who had a wobble last term, but his decline received the most scrutiny of all.

Getty Images SportFeeling 'fresh'

A season that was already one to forget about took a turn for the worse when Foden picked up an ankle injury at Manchester United and had to listen to demeaning chants about his mother as he trotted off the pitch with a sullen look on his face. He was absent for three weeks due to the injury but he has since admitted he returned too soon. The midfielder was given a smattering of minutes in City's remaining games, starting just once and being a late substitute in the FA Cup semi-final and final.

And after not playing at all in the last home game of the season against Bournemouth, he took the unusual step of speaking to the media and telling reporters he was going to ask to not be selected for England's June fixtures. He also revealed: "I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally. Sometimes there’s things in life that are bigger than football. This season I’ve struggled a little bit. If everything was OK I’d definitely be better on the field. Hopefully come next year I can get my head mentally right, get back where I left the season before, because I know what I’m capable of doing and the quality I have."

It might be dangerous to read too much into a Club World Cup fixture against opposition from a different continent, but in Philadelphia, making his first start in five and a half weeks, Foden looked refreshed, like he was reaping the benefits of resting and disconnecting after the worst season of his otherwise splendid career. That was certainly how he viewed it. "I got a little bit of time off, rested. New season, fresh me," he told reporters in Philadelphia.

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If Foden’s best season was helped by having a reduced role the year before, it was perhaps unsurprising that there would be a drop off. Foden had not been involved in the thick of City's campaign to win the treble in 2023 after picking up an injury and suffering from appendicitis during the run-in.

Kevin De Bruyne's injury early into the Champions League final meant he played most of the era-defining game in Istanbul and still felt a part of that historical achievement, but he did not play nearly as many minutes as the bulk of his team-mates. He therefore did not suffer from the burnout that affected some of his team-mates, most notably Jack Grealish and John Stones. He also benefited from there being no international or club tournaments the following summer.

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Foden went on to have the season of his life but he paid a heavy price for it. In 2023-24 Foden featured in 53 games for City plus all seven of England's matches at Euro 2024. It amounted to 5,000 minutes of football, the vast majority of which were played at the highest level with massive stakes. No wonder he was worn out. He explained: “Not a lot of footballers these days get much time off, so it’s very important. I struggled to switch off completely. I just rested with the family, did my own thing. I needed it."

Getty Images Sport'Want him to feel good'

And after getting the time off he craved and taking a step back towards his old form, Foden sent out a warning to City's opponents at the Club World Cup and their Premier League rivals ahead of next season: "The hunger inside me is back and I want to prove people wrong."

Guardiola was pleased to see signs of Foden's return, insisting: "He will be important. Of course, he will be." The coach had become concerned with Foden's state of mind and performances last season. And after he had revealed his mental struggles towards the end of the campaign, Guardiola said: "He’s a baby, baby, baby boy, from the academy, became one of the stars with us and all I want, we want is to help him.

"That is the most important thing. He needs rest and it’s going to happen now after Sunday, and step by step he’s going to come back. It’s what we want, I just want to, want to, want to help him. That is just what we want for him. I don’t care about his performance on the pitch, I want him to feel good, feel good and after the rest will come in an easy way."

Rest is not the only way that Guardiola can help Foden return to his old self. He needs a clear role in a team that is in a state of flux, with two new faces in midfield and attack in Cherki and Reijnders. Guardiola deployed an ultra-attacking line-up against Wydad which mostly resembled a 2-3-5 formation.

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AFPMake him the No.10

Foden was in a crowded attack, jostling for space with Reijnders, Cherki and Marmoush. It meant that he was often sitting deep in holding midfield alongside Reijnders when City were out of possession. The player was diplomatic about his positioning but also hinted he did not want to play there regularly.

He explained: "It’s different from what I’m used to. Obviously, when they had the ball, I was playing as a holding midfielder with a two. So, it’s something I’ve not been used to but I enjoyed it. I want to be in the middle as much as I can. Maybe not that deep, but a bit higher. But as long as I’m in the middle, I feel myself and comfortable."

Foden should not have to play so deep once Rodri is fit enough to start games regularly. And with the Spaniard looking like he will be forming a partnership with Reijnders, Foden should be playing in his preferred advanced position. There seems to be an obvious place for him: as the heir to De Bruyne as the No.10.

It should not be forgotten that De Bruyne was injured for half of the 2023-24 season and Foden picked up the slack and took on the role of City’s creator-in-chief admirably. As well as scoring a glut of goals he dictated the play. One of his best performances came against Newcastle, a game in which he did not score but effectively ran the show. He would still drift wide, but mainly so he could cut inside onto his left foot and ping the ball towards the far corner.

Após 'desencanto', Bustos comemora primeiro gol pelo São Paulo e sonha com mais

MatériaMais Notícias

No último domingo (18), Bustos finalmente desencantou e marcou seu primeiro gol vestindo a camisa do São Paulo, na vitória por 2 a 0 contra o Ceará, na Arena Castelão, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. O jogador entrou no segundo tempo no lugar de Luciano e, aos 47 minutos da etapa final, aproveitou um lance de Igor Gomes e tocou direto para as redes.

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A contratação do atacante foi anunciada em agosto, na última janela de transferências. O jogador estava no Girona, da Espanha, clube que pertence ao Grupo City, e chegou por empréstimo ao Morumbi, com acordo válido por um ano. A sua chegada atendeu um pedido direto de Rogério Ceni, que esperava um substituto para Calleri. Porém, mesmo que tenha vindo para ser mais uma opção no setor ofensivo, ainda não havia marcado nenhum gol.

Com quatro jogos até o momento, sua evolução na equipe tem sido nítida. Contra o Ceará, de acordo com dados divulgados pelo FootStats, guardou bons números no período que esteve em campo – no caso, durante todo o segundo tempo.

Em passes, liderou em acertos (16 certos contra dois errados). Também acertou o único cruzamento que tentou e contou com quatro finalizações – sendo o jogador que mais finalizou na etapa final da partida.

+ LANCE! transmite ao vivo e de graça jogos da Bundesliga. Confira todas as informações sobre o torneio e transmissão

Após o duelo, o jogador comemorou seu primeiro gol pelo Tricolor. De acordo com as suas palavras, estava ansioso pelo momento.

– Muito contente, porque estava ansioso por este momento. Queria muito marcar com esta camisa, e espero que seja o primeiro de muitos gols pelo São Paulo – disse.

No último dia 30 de agosto, o São Paulo conseguiu inscrever o jogador e o zagueiro Nahuel Ferraresi na Copa Sul-Americana. Bustos, que atuará com a camisa 39 (é o 19 na competição nacional) entrou na lista no lugar de Maioli, jovem das categorias de base que mal teve oportunidades com Ceni ao longo da temporada.

Assim, o atacante pode estar disponível para a importante final do continental, que acontece no dia primeiro de outubro, em Córdoba, na Argentina. O São Paulo busca romper jejum de dez anos sem títulos internacionais contra o Independiente Del Valle.

Aneurin Donald blitzes 63-ball century to take Hampshire through to semi-finals

Brad Wheal claims four-for as Worcestershire fall narrowly short in chase of 307

ECB Reporters Network27-Aug-2023Aneurin Donald’s spectacular second hundred in as many games has set up a Metro Bank semi-final for Hampshire at Warwickshire on Tuesday.Donald showcased the full range of his stroke repertoire during his magnificent 115, sharing in a fourth-wicket stand of 162 with Ben Brown as Hampshire made 306 for 9 after losing the toss. A brilliant second spell of 2-0-6-4 from Brad Wheal then secured a thrilling victory by ten runs as Worcestershire closed on 296 for 9.After an opening partnership of 49 between captain Nick Gubbins and Fletcha Middleton, whose fluent 41 set the tone, Donald joined forces with Ben Brown at 77 for 3 in the 16th over. The 26 year-old dominated for the next 21 overs, scoring his 115 from only 73 balls, with a plethora of boundaries – 13 fours and four sixes – accelerating Hampshire’s run rate to eight an over during his entertaining alliance with Brown.He reached his fifty from only 40 balls before easing through the gears, hitting Dillon Pennington for 18 from four deliveries, including a pulled six over midwicket, in reaching his second fifty from only 23.Donald passed two more landmarks with maximums: a baseball-style slap over long-on against Logan van Beek brought up Hampshire’s 200 and a pulled six over square leg took him to his century from 63 balls.At one stage, Hampshire looked set for a total in excess of 350 but the visitors dragged themselves back into the game, conceding only 34 runs from the last eight overs. Young slow left-armer Josh Baker stemmed the tide with the key scalps of Donald, who stung the hands of van Beek with a powerful drive to cover, and Liam Dawson, who was the first of five wickets to fall in six overs.But Hampshire had just enough on the board, despite a brave chase from Worcestershire, for whom captain Jake Libby made a run-a-ball 70.A second-wicket partnership of 124 in 21 overs between Gareth Roderick and Rob Jones laid the foundation for a spirited response, before both were dismissed in successive Dawson overs. Roderick made a 57-ball 64 before missing an attempted slog-sweep against a delighted Dawson, who extracted appreciable turn. Then Jones drove the veteran slow left-armer low to Gubbins at cover. After a fourth-wicket stand of 67 with Libby, Kashif Ali skied an attempted slog sweep against Crane.Worcestershire needed 93 from the last ten overs. Once Crane and Dawson were bowled out, the requirement was 50 from 30 balls.With more pace now on the ball, and six wickets still in hand, the momentum was with Worcestershire. Successive Libby boundaries against Ian Holland brought the target down to 35 off 24. But, after an expensive first spell, Wheal secured the win – and an Edgbaston semi-final – with four wickets in nine balls.

Perry hails Matildas' World Cup: Never seen anything like this

The allrounder previously represented Australia in football and scored in the 2011 quarter-final against Sweden

AAP10-Aug-2023

Ellyse Perry is currently recovering from a knee injury•Getty Images

Australia cricket superstar Ellyse Perry could easily have found herself playing alongside Sam Kerr and the other Matildas at the Women’s World Cup.An equally gifted footballer, Perry made her international debut at 16 – playing her first match for Australia against Hong Kong in 2007.The brilliant cricket allrounder made her first World Cup appearance during the 2011 tournament in Germany, scoring the Matildas’ only goal in the 3-1 quarter-final loss to Sweden.The 32-year-old earned 18 caps and scored three goals for Australia between 2007 and 2012.Related

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Primarily a defender, Perry also enjoyed a glittering career in domestic soccer playing for Central Coast Mariners, Canberra United and Sydney FC with teammates Kerr and Caitlin Foord.She competed at the International Women’s Club Championship with Sydney FC in 2013, when the squad defeated Japan’s WE League club NTV Beleza 1-0 but lost 3-2 to Chelsea.But as her sporting paths crossed, she sacrificed her soccer trajectory for the bat-and-ball game with her cricketing career exploding into superstardom from 2014.Perry went on to win eight world titles with Australia, 11 Women’s National Cricket League championships with NSW, and two Women’s Big Bash League titles with the Sydney Sixers.She is now delighted to see her former Matildas team-mates take the football world – and the Australian sporting public – by storm.”I don’t think we’ve ever really seen anything like this,” Perry said on Thursday. “The level that they’re playing at, the style that they’re playing, the amazing entertainment that they are.”Just to see what those girls have done for not only their team but for this sport and for women’s sport – it’s just been a phenomenal tournament.”Perry did not want to forget the achievements made by female athletes before the Matildas’ World Cup fever swept the nation.”There’s lots of precedent for this,” she said. “Traditionally, the Women’s Big Bash League has been the fourth most-watched sporting competition in the country – it seems a long time ago but back in 2020 we had 86,000 at the MCG.”It’s been a really steady evolution for women’s sport for a long period of time. “[General society] is shifting in line with a real push towards equality but also how much we value the incredible skill and endeavour of all of our female athletes and what they’re able to achieve.”Perry hopes the momentum around the World Cup can help the growth of domestic competitions.”We’ve got an amazing platform to be more successful and have more of a mark on the sporting landscape in Australia,” she said. “The product is there. Now it’s just about providing a platform for fans to be able to come along and have a really enjoyable time.”The next frontier for us is to make sure that we’re able to fill those stadiums.”Perry is currently recovering from a knee injury sustained last month in Ireland and meant she was withdrawn from the Hundred but is hopeful of being ready for the start of the domestic season in late September.

Man Utd intensify efforts to sign ex-Everton flop amid talk of €52m move from Saudi Arabian club

Manchester United are considering a move for Fiorentina's Moise Kean after the striker's resurgence in Serie A.

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  • United consider move for Kean
  • Striker under attention from Saudi clubs
  • Kean could return to Premier League where he struggled
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Kean has found a new lease of life in Florence, scoring 19 goals and registering three assists in 32 Serie A games last season, and, according to , is on United's radar. The Red Devils are desperately searching for a new striker and rebuffs from Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres have forced their attentions to the Italian forward. Ruben Amorim has been unable to find his ideal number nine from within the squad, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee failing to impress, and could look to trigger Kean's release clause of €52 million (£44.5m) available from 1 to 15 July.

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    United may have to move quickly to secure the services of Kean who is also the target of Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah. It is unclear whether the Italian striker would be open to a move to the Middle East, but could be tempted by a huge contract offer. Kean is also determined to keep his place in the national team ahead of the World Cup next summer and a move to United over Al-Qadsiah could keep him in hotter contention.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Kean has already played in the Premier League with Everton, but it did not go exactly how he would have wished. Signed as a brightly-tipped youngster, Kean struggled to adapt to life in England and was criticised for his attitude. His plight in England epitomised by the time he was taken off by Duncan Ferguson in the 88th minute after only being brought on as a substitute in the 70th minute against United at Old Trafford as a 19-year-old.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR KEAN?

    There is no guarantee that Kean chooses to leave Italy this summer, particularly to Manchester United. The striker is enjoying life at Fiorentina and helped the club achieve Europa Conference League qualification by finishing sixth. It is unclear whether he would consider following the likes of former Serie A stars Hojlund and Zirkzee to Old Trafford and may choose to remain in Italy.

Keith Barker five-for gives Hampshire upper hand against Somerset

Keith Barker blew Somerset away with his first LV=Insurance County Championship five-wicket haul of the season as Hampshire took control on day two at the Ageas Bowl. Left-arm seamer Barker had only taken 14 wickets in his opening eight red-ball appearances of 2023 but after a fine Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign, roared back with 5 for 32 to see off Somerset for 137.Andy Umeed scored 43, to follow up Jack Brooks’ first five-wicket haul of the season, but the visitors’ hopes of victory took a hefty blow. Despite a 171-run lead, Hampshire batted again and reached 45 without loss in 23 watchful evening overs to extend their lead to 216.After Sean Dickson had been brilliantly caught at third slip by James Vince off Barker in the third over, Tom Lammonby and Tom Abell bedded in for over an hour either side of lunch. The pair put on 51, but Abell lbw to Barker sparked a collapse from 51 for 1 to 67 for 5, from which they wouldn’t fully recover.Barker has endured an underwhelming Championship campaign, due in part to missing matches after he fractured both his hands while batting in the early stages. His 10 wickets in six One-Day Cup matches have warmed him up for the season’s final month.The former Warwickshire quick took a heavy-handed Lammonby’s outside edge before pinning Tom Kohler-Cadmore. Division One’s leading run scorer, heading into the round, James Rew prodded to short leg off Liam Dawson, Lewis Gregory played on to Mohammad Abbas, Ben Green edged Abbott behind and Neil Wagner was bowledUmeed – fresh from 613 One-Day Cup runs – had been in survival mode but once the eighth wicket fell started to unleash. He reached 43 before he missed a big swing and was stumped to give Dawson 3 for 61. Barker had the final word by having Shoaib Bashir lbw before celebrating his five wickets with his trademark one-arm raised celebrappeal.Somerset gave up a 171-run first-innings deficit but James Vince elected against enforcing the follow-on. Toby Albert and Fletcha Middleton bedded in, heeding century-maker Dawson’s advice to bat long to score runs. It made for a lifeless final 23 overs of the day – during which Wagner attempted a short-pitched onslaught on a pitch not suited to such a tactic, Hampshire closing on 45 without loss.Earlier, Brooks bolstered his impressive Ageas Bowl record to 21 wickets at an average of 16.85 in four matches with two morning wickets – as Hampshire added 26 to their overnight score to be bowled out for 308. Barker was caught off his inside edge before Dawson was pinned by Brooks to end his 115-run stay. Kyle Abbott swatted back-to-back boundaries to gather a second batting bonus point but chipped to cover.Brooks returned 5 for 56 – his third five-wicket haul on the ground – and first in four Championship appearances this season.

Bavuma to miss South Africa's World Cup warm-up games

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma will miss his team’s two World Cup warm-up games because he is travelling home for family reasons. South Africa are due to play Afghanistan and New Zealand on September 29 and October 2 in Thiruvananthapuram and will be led by Aiden Markram.Bavuma is expected to re-join the squad in time for South Africa’s opening match of the World Cup – against Sri Lanka in Delhi on October 7.Related

  • Miller, Klaasen key as SA look to shrug off nearly-men tag

  • Anrich Nortje, Sisanda Magala ruled out of World Cup

South Africa are already without fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala, both of whom were ruled out of the entire tournament due to injuries. Nortje has a suspected stress fracture of the back, while Magala is suffering a left knee injury.After his unbeaten 114 against Australia in the first ODI earlier this month, Bavuma suffered a hamstring niggle but was fit to play the next two games. He then suffered an inner thigh muscle strain and was rested from the fourth ODI as a precautionary measure. He returned for the final game of the series and made a two-ball duck.In Bavuma’s absence, Reeza Hendricks could open with Quinton de Kock in the warm-up matches in Thiruvananthapuram.

Arsenal set to make huge loss on Oleksandr Zinchenko as Fulham mull over £10m bid for Ukraine international amid AC Milan interest

Arsenal are likely to make massive loss on Oleksandr Zinchenko as Fulham mull over a £10 million ($13m) move.

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  • Arsenal could sell Zinchenko
  • Fulham eyeing move for full-back
  • AC Milan also interested
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The versatile Ukrainian has fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal as he clocked only 522 minutes in the Premier League in 15 appearances in the 2024-25 campaign. After being deemed surplus to Arteta's needs, the Gunners are considering parting ways with the player ahead of the new season.

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    Per , Fulham have joined the transfer race to sign Zinchenko this summer as they mull over a £10m move for the player, although Arsenal value him at £12.7m. The Ukraine star joined the club from Manchester City in 2022 for £32m, which means that the north London side are set to make a huge loss on the player.

  • WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

    quoted a source saying: "Zinchenko is a major target for Fulham. He looks almost certain to leave the Emirates this summer and there will be no shortage of takers."

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    WHAT NEXT FOR ZINCHENKO?

    The 28-year-old has also attracted interest from Serie A giants AC Milan, who see him as a possible replacement for Al-Hilal-bound Theo Hernandez. Zinchenko, however, is likely to pick a club in London as he feels settled in the capital.

Williamson aiming to play a part in New Zealand's warm-up games

Coach Gary Stead expects Southee to play New Zealand’s “first or second game” of the World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Sep-2023

Kane Williamson was continuing his rehab with the New Zealand team in England recently•Getty Images

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson plans “to have some involvement in the warm-up games” ahead of the World Cup, as he gradually makes his way back from a six-month lay-off.Williamson is returning to action after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the opening game of the IPL in March. He was continuing his rehab with the New Zealand team in England recently and said he was “progressing well”, though some amount of pain continues to linger.”It’s [about] working through those warm-up games to get as much out of it as I can – personally and as a team – without sort of bothering too much,” Williamson said on Wednesday before the team’s departure for India. “There is a strong desire to basically be involved in those as much as I can; we’ve got two of them before our first competition game. And basically it’s just wanting to progress [with] what I am doing now – the running, the fielding, and also time in the middle with the bat.”The load is going to keep increasing, so there is a little bit of an unknown. But it has felt pretty good really in the last few weeks, [I’m] hoping it continues to feel like that. But we’re definitely looking to touch on more stuff, [and] introducing myself into the game mode, which is something which we haven’t had the opportunity to do.”Related

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Pak vs NZ World Cup warm-up game to be played behind closed doors

Williamson highlighted that he still felt certain difficulties as he races against time to be fit to play England in the World Cup opening game in Ahmedabad on October 5. But before that, New Zealand face Pakistan on September 29, and South Africa on October 2 in their two warm-up fixtures.”Not so much the sprinting; more the slowing actually,” Williamson said of the challenges in recovery. “From sprinting to braking, and a little bit of change of direction. But it’s all been part of the plan, introducing it towards the end of the recovery. Having said that, there’s still obviously time to go with the overall part of it, and keep trying to bank on good days because the rule’s pretty much helpful in terms of just moving forward with it.”The injury has also forced Williamson to consider his fielding position and he has all but ruled out fielding at slip.”We will definitely consider some of that,” he said. “Where I field is usually at mid-off, which will probably remain the case. Probably slightly better suited to it than square of the wicket. Potentially some slip, but I won’t be standing there if we don’t require one.”Tim Southee dislocated and fractured his thumb against England•Getty Images

Southee will be ‘ready around first or second game’ – SteadFast bowler Tim Southee, who dislocated and fractured his thumb during the fourth ODI against England nearly two weeks ago, is on track to play in the early stages of the World Cup.Southee had surgery on returning home and New Zealand head coach Gary Stead was content with his “quick recovery”. Stead said Southee will not leave for India with the rest of the squad on Wednesday, and will instead join the team on Saturday.”Tim’s seen a hand specialist yesterday, and the key thing for him is really making sure the wound heals. We’re still really hopeful that he’ll be available early on in the tournament for selection,” Stead said. “He’s had five pins put in his thumb… He’s comfortable, and he’ll be ready somewhere around that first or second game.”So, it’s all gone really well. He’s had a check in with the surgeon and a hand therapist. They think there might be a little bit of pain still, but he’s a tough and resilient character. So we are fortunate to have him with our squad still.”New Zealand have brought in fast bowler Kyle Jamieson as cover and since he hasn’t been officially added to the squad of 15, he will not be available to take part in any of the warm-up matches.”Tim hasn’t been ruled out of the tournament,” Stead said. “The rules state that you can only get 15 players in your squad, so we’ve kept Kyle there as cover right now. And that’s really just to make sure that if another bowler goes down right before the first game – or if Tim doesn’t heal as quickly. If there’s some sort of setback, then we have someone there as a ready replacement.”New Zealand have already had Michael Bracewell ruled out of the World Cup with an Achilles injury, while Mitchell Santner had jarred his knee while fielding during the second ODI against England on September 10. But scans revealed no serious damage, and he is expected to be fit for New Zealand’s World Cup opener.

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