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Bukayo Saka is in contention to feature in Arsenal’s heavyweight clash with Manchester City on Sunday after returning to first-team training ahead of the game. The forward has missed the Gunners last three fixtures in all competitions against Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Athletic Club after picking up a hamstring injury in his side’s 5-0 Premier League victory over Leeds on August 23.

• Arsenal given hope as report states Saka could return against City

  A new report from the states that Saka could be available for selection when Arsenal entertain Pep Guardiola’s City at the Emirates Stadium. Should Saka make an early return to the fold, it would represent a huge boost as Mikel Arteta’s side go in search of their third win in a row following the victories over Forest and Athletic.

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  Captain Odegaard remains a doubt for City's trip to the Emirates

  The report also states that Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has stepped up his training ahead of the City game, but the early indications are that it could be a fixture too soon for the midfielder. The Norway international was substituted in the 3-0 win over Forest last weekend with a shoulder problem.

• Saka missed England's wins over Andorra and Serbia through injury

  Saka made a good start to the 2025-26 season with Arsenal, scoring in the victory over Leeds before being withdrawn with his injury. The winger subsequently missed England’s World Cup-qualifying double header against Andorra and Serbia earlier this month.

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  Arsenal to face stern test against Pep Guardiola's in-form City

  It remains to be seen whether Saka will play a part when Arsenal lock horns with City on home soil. Guardiola’s men travel to north London off the back of successive victories over Manchester United and Napoli in the Premier League and Champions League respectively.

حقق فريق بيراميدز فوزًا ثمينًا خارج ملعبه على حساب الجيش الرواندي بهدفين دون رد، في اللقاء الذي جمعهما على ملعب “كيجالي بيلي ستاديوم” بالعاصمة الرواندية، ضمن ذهاب الدور التمهيدي الأول لبطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وسجل هدفي بيراميدز المهاجم المتألق فيستون ماييلي، حيث افتتح التسجيل في الدقيقة 49 بتسديدة قوية من خارج منطقة الجزاء، قبل أن يعود ليعزز تقدم فريقه بالهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 86 من داخل المنطقة، ليضع فريقه في موقف مثالي قبل مواجهة الإياب.

ويخوض بيراميدز هذه النسخة بصفته حامل لقب دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بعدما توّج بالبطولة للمرة الأولى في تاريخه الموسم الماضي على حساب صن داونز الجنوب إفريقي، وهو ما يزيد من طموحات الفريق لمواصلة المنافسة على البطولة القارية.

طالع أيضًا | مدرب إيجل نوار البوروندي يتحدى الأهلي ويعلن عبر “بطولات” موقفه من خوض المباراتين في القاهرة

ومن المقرر أن تُقام مباراة الإياب في القاهرة يوم الأحد 5 أكتوبر المقبل، حيث يحتاج بيراميدز للتعادل أو الفوز بأي نتيجة ليحسم تأهله رسميًا إلى الدور التالي.

وينتظر الفائز من هذه المواجهة، فريق التأمين الإثيوبي في دور الـ32 من البطولة، ليبدأ بعدها مشوار أصعب نحو الأدوار المتقدمة. أهداف مباراة بيراميدز والجيش الرواندي بدوري أبطال إفريقيا

Jimmy Peirson struck a sparkling century as the home side cantered to their target

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff25-Oct-2024

Queensland stormed to their first One-Day Cup win of the season by nine wickets despite a masterclass century by South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney.Left-arm paceman Liam Guthrie set up the victory at Allan Border Field as the visitors were bowled out for 218 with McSweeney, who is a contender for the Test squad to face India, playing a lone hand with 137 off 131 balls.Related

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The Bulls chased down the total with ease in the 33rd over to secure a bonus point with wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson middling an array of pulls, cuts and drives in a blistering unbeaten 100 off 98 balls.”Personally I am in a great spot with my technique and how I am going about my business and it was so nice to get a win,” Peirson told AAP. “I missed out on selection for the first couple of one-dayers and had real grit between my teeth to do the job today. It was so great to get it done.”Usman Khawaja played a key role early before Test hopeful Matt Renshaw found confidence and form with a whirlwind unbeaten 72 off 52 balls,.Earlier Guthrie bowled the dangerous Jake Fraser-McGurk with an inswinger and his three quick wickets in six pinpoint overs put the hosts on top.At the other end, Tom Straker got rid of the in-form Alex Carey and brought McSweeney to the crease at 9 for 2.South Australia were 29 for 4 in the 12th over and on the rack. McSweeney had initial support from Thomas Kelly in a 90-run stand for the fifth wicket.After that, wickets tumbled as McSweeney unfurled an assortment of sweetly timed cover drives both over and through the infield as the skipper made it appear as though he was batting on a different pitch to his teammates.”One of the finest knocks we have seen in one-day cricket,” former Australia coach and batter Darren Lehmann said in commentary.Lehmann is pushing for either McSweeney or NSW opener Sam Konstas to partner Khawaja at the top of the order in the Test series against India.McSweeney will captain the Australia A side against India next week in Mackay. Peirson will join the side for the second game in Melbourne.He is behind Alex Carey and Josh Inglis in the Australian pecking order and is close to national honours.”George [Bailey] has been very clear that is how they see things at the moment,” Peirson said. “Alex has been doing the Test job, Ingo is behind him nipping at his heels and I am behind Ingo. It is a healthy place to be. I am very clear about where I stand. You are always pushing to get yourself closer to play Test cricket.”Any game for Australia A is a massive honour and there is no doubt runs on the board get you talked about. I am glad to link up with Buddha [McSweeney] again, a good Queensland boy.”

NZ are coming off a long break without Test cricket but their captain backs them to hit the ground running in Galle

Madushka Balasuriya17-Sep-20241:24

Phillips: ‘SL is a tough place to come and win’

New Zealand might not have played a Test since March but they will have little time to get up to speed ahead of a packed Test schedule to close out the year. September’s two-Test series against Sri Lanka will be followed by a three-Test tour of India in October and November, before they head back home to host England in November and December for three more Tests.All eight of these games will encompass the remainder of their World Test Championship cycle, with New Zealand very likely needing to win at least five of them to be in with a chance of making the final at Lord’s.A one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, which was not part of the WTC cycle, was ideally supposed to serve as a warm-up for subcontinental conditions. However, rain – and wet outfield – meant that that game was abandoned without a single ball bowled. Captain Tim Southee though chose to focus on the positives.”We’ve had a bit of a break from Test cricket since the end of our home summer and now we’ve got an important part in terms of the Test championship cycle,” Southee said on the eve of the first Test in Galle. “We’ve got eight games between now and December, so it’s an exciting times for us as a Test side and tough times ahead of us – here in Sri Lanka obviously, India in India and then England at home.”Yeah it was disappointing [not to play against Afghanistan] but we still spent a week [in India] which we got some positives out of. We got some training in, some great training here. We spent some time together as a Test side – been a while since we’ve been together – so to have that time, and bonding over that time in India was important as well.”Key among the preparations has been in the spin-bowling department, with New Zealand bringing in Rangana Herath – whose 102 Test wickets in Galle are second only to Mutthiah Muralidaran – as spin-bowling coach.”[He’s] a guy who’s taken over 100 Test wickets on this ground, and been a Sri Lankan great. We’ve got three left-arm spinners in the squad, who he’s been working closely with, along with our other spinners.”New Zealand’s strength though lies not as much in specialisation, but rather their diversity of approach, and an ability to adapt to different conditions. While Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel offer frontline spin options, the likes of Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell offer further options. Then, alongside Southee, the likes of Matt Henry, Ben Sears and Will O’Rourke all offer variety in seam.”I think historically here, Galle in particular, spin has played a pretty big part,” Southee said. “But as pace bowlers if you can come here and do well, that’s a tough challenge but a very rewarding challenge.”You look at the balance of squad, we’ve got specialist spinners, we’ve got guys at the top of the order that can offer spin options, as well as four quality seam bowlers that offer different options as well. I think we’ve got a number of bases covered, I guess it’s just figuring out what balance is the right one to go in with in these conditions.”And that can change from the first match to the second match, and then obviously when you go to India it could change again. So I think it’s about having a squad that can cover all bases.”For Southee, meanwhile, there is also a historic milestone not far off on the horizon. Currently on 380 wickets, he’s just 20 strikes away from becoming the 18th player to 400 Test wickets, and the second from New Zealand to the feat after Sir Richard Hadlee.”I guess over time, when you play for a long period, you’re able to I guess come close to those, but still being 20 wickets away is a lot of tours, especially in this part of the world. But yeah, every game you’re going out and trying to do your role and take some wickets for your side and it’d be nice if you do achieve those milestones along the way.”

أعرب خالد صبحي، مدافع منتخب مصر، عن سعادته بتحقيق الفوز على إثيوبيا في المباراة التي أقيمت ضمن منافسات التصفيات المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.

وحقق منتخب مصر، الفوز على نظيره إثيوبيا بهدفين مقابل لا شيء، في الجولة السابعة من التصفيات المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم.

طالع.. حسام حسن: موقف إمام عاشور محسوم.. والناس نسيت ما فعلته مع لاعب الزمالك

وقال خالد صبحي في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”:” حصلنا على الثلاث نقاط وتمكنا من إسعاد الشعب المصري كله، أغلقنا هذه الصفحة وسنركز على مواجهة بوركينا فاسو المقبلة”.

وتابع: “انتهينا من شوط، ويتبقى شوط آخر في بوركينا فاسو، وأتمنى التوفيق والصعود من هناك”.

رفع منتخب الفراعنة رصيده إلى 19 نقطة في صدارة ترتيب المجموعة الأولى في تصفيات إفريقيا لكأس العالم، بينما تتواجد إثيوبيا بالمركز الخامس، برصيد 6 نقاط.

ويحتاج منتخب مصر إلى التعادل على الأقل في مباراته المقبلة أمام بوركينا فاسو من أجل التأهل رسميًا إلى مونديال 2026.

Glasgow Rangers supporters still do not know who the club’s next head coach is going to be, as Ibrox chiefs continue to run the rule over a number of candidates.

It has been reported by the Daily Mail that Andrew Cavenagh is set for face-to-face talks, alongside Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart at Rangers, with managers, including Davide Ancelotti and Russell Martin.

The same report, though, added that Steven Gerrard, who won the Scottish Premiership with the Gers in the 2020/21 campaign, is still in the running for the job.

Part of what made the English manager’s team at Ibrox so successful was that they were able to successfully recruit domestic talent, including central midfielder Glen Kamara.

Why Glen Kamara was a key signing for Steven Gerrard

The Finland international, who came through the Arsenal academy, made his big breakthrough in senior football with Dundee in the Premiership, playing 64 games in 18 months at Dens Park.

Rangers swooped to sign him for £50k in the January window of 2019, as his deal was due to expire that summer, and it was a move that was later described as the “steal of the century” by Scott Arfield.

His 64 appearances for Dundee meant that Gerrard was bringing in a proven Premiership performer who could hit the ground running in the Premiership as an impact signing, rather than needing time as either a young player or as someone who was not used to Scottish football.

Kamara went on to play 193 games for Rangers, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists, before being sold to Leeds United for £5m in 2023.

He was a key signing for Gerrard, though, because his ability to hit the ground running allowed him to be a star from the get-go, and he went on to play a significant role in the title-winning side, starting 28 of the 38 league games and completing 91% of his attempted passes.

Rangers, and potentially Gerrard if he gets the job for a second time, could repeat that masterclass by swooping for another Dundee star this summer.

Rangers have held talks to sign Dundee star

According to Daily Record reporter Scott Burns, Rangers have held talks over a deal to sign Dundee right wing-back Josh Mulligan, who is out of contract, in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Light Blues have explored a move to land the 22-year-old ace, although they face competition from Charlton Athletic, but have put talks on hold for now until their managerial pursuit comes to an end.

Whilst talks are on hold for the defender, who was dubbed a future Scotland international by Kai Watson, the club should look to pursue this further as soon as possible because he could be Glen Kamara 2.0.

Why Josh Mulligan could be Glen Kamara 2.0

The versatile Scottish ace, who can play as a wing-back or as a central midfielder, as outlined by Watson, could be a repeat of the masterclass that Gerrard played with Kamara because he is a proven Premiership performer with time ahead of him to develop and improve.

Mulligan, who was described as a “Rolls-Royce” and as a “powerful” player by Simon Ferry, is only 22 but has already racked up 122 appearances for Dundee, 63 of which have come in the Premiership.

As you can see in the table above, the young defender offered solid defensive work, with zero errors that directly led to shots or goals, whilst also providing a creative outlet down the right flank.

These statistics show that Mulligan is a solid and reliable Premiership performer, despite his young age, in both his work in and out of possession, as he can step in to make vital tackles and interceptions without making many mistakes, and has an impact in the final third.

This means that the Ranger transfer target could follow in Kamara’s footsteps as a proven Premiership star coming to Ibrox directly from Dundee to hit the ground running in Glasgow.

Mulligan could make an instant impact on the pitch for the next manager, given his performances for Dundee in the division this season, and that is why he could be an excellent, and bargain on a free transfer, addition to the squad.

Ryan Kent 2.0: Rangers in strong position to sign "outstanding" star

Rangers are in a strong position to sign a star who could be their next Ryan Kent.

By
Dan Emery

May 28, 2025

Everton have plenty of work to do this summer as David Moyes shapes his squad and he now looks to have made a key decision involving one of his experienced stars, per a report.

Everton set for a summer of considerable change

While the Toffees’ emotional move away from Goodison Park has been the main story this term, it is easy to forget that Everton have an abnormal amount of players in the ranks with uncertain futures.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young lead a host of stars who are set to see their contracts expire, while several loanees could also depart, leaving David Moyes with an uphill task to ensure he has adequate depth come 2025/26.

Making early inroads, Everton have lined up Leeds United full-back Junior Firpo on a free transfer. Despite the Friedkin Group’s financial muscle, inexpensive deals will still be needed to balance the books in line with PSR regulations.

After too long in the doldrums of relegation battles, the Toffees find themselves heading towards a new dawn brimming with optimism about what the future could hold. Nevertheless, this summer will balance ruthlessness against sentimentality, potentially breeding some emotional goodbyes involving first-team regulars over recent years.

Out of the stars mentioned, Calvert-Lewin feels like the most likely candidate to leave after a contract stand-off that has been a repeated point of contention among supporters. Now, the dominoes are starting to fall as Moyes wields the axe in a window that is set to provoke dramatic changes for all involved.

Everton set to cut ties with Ashley Young

According to Football Insider, Everton are set to part ways with veteran defender Ashley Young this summer due to Moyes’ decision that the 39-year-old isn’t going to be part of his plans at Bramley Moore. The former Manchester United man, who was labelled “outstanding” by Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, has fallen out of favour as a starter at Goodison Park and now looks unlikely to be offered a new deal ahead of next season.

Forget Beto: Everton starlet showed why he could be a future £100m star

Everton confidently beat Fulham 3-1 on the road courtesy of this top performer in attack.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 11, 2025

Notching an impressive total of 93 goals for club and country, Young has registered two strikes and four assists in 68 appearances for Everton since arriving on a free transfer in 2023. Providing adequate cover across both full-back positions, the ex-Three Lions international has turned out to be a savvy piece of business during a time where the club had to work under heavy financial constraints.

Unfortunately, it appears Young and Everton are now at the end of the road with each other and look set to shake hands before moving in their respective directions.

Who is the greatest player in Liverpool’s modern history? Certainly, if we’re talking about post-millenial brilliance, Steven Gerrard sits at the top of the tree.

Gerrard might be the greatest player in the Merseysiders’ history anyway, utterly incredible and synonymous with the city’s beating red heart.

However, we’re looking at Liverpool’s resurgence over the past decade, here, when Jurgen Klopp saved a team from drowning and turned it back toward the light.

So many superstars have graced Anfield’s pitch since the former German manager was appointed as Brendan Rodgers’ successor, but it’s hard to argue against Virgil van Dijk being the cream of the crop.

Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool's hero

When Liverpool paid Premier League rivals Southampton a £75m sum to take their prized centre-back in January 2018, many opposing fans chuckled at such an obscene figure for a defender.

But it’s difficult to say that Liverpool and their Dutch skipper haven’t had the last laugh, with Van Dijk transforming the Reds’ shaky backline and leading them to glory, winning all the biggest honours, coming within a whisker of Lionel Messi on the Ballon d’Or podium in his prime and immortalising his name as the leader of Liverpool in their finest period in modern times.

The 33-year-old is no longer a bright new voice in the Premier League but he’s still matchless in defence, so important this season as Arne Slot’s side surprised everyone and assumed a commanding lead at the top of the table – 11 points clear with seven games to go.

And he’s not done yet. Van Dijk has completed 313 appearances for Liverpool and won the full gamut, and though his lucrative contract is into its eleventh hour, he’s recently allayed fans’ concerns by confirming that talks are ongoing regarding a renewal.

This will be crucial for the Anfield side as it steers into the second year of Slot’s project, giving the Netherlands icon another year (or two) to drive the stake of his legacy even deeper into the rich Liverpool soil.

To be fair, you’d have to say that Mohamed Salah is Liverpool’s best signing in a long, long time. The Egyptian joined the club from AS Roma for just £34m and has gone on to claim legendary status.

However, his arrival preceded the skipper’s. He was followed from the Serie A by another though, and it is he who stands proud as Liverpool’s standout signing.

Liverpool's best signing after Van Dijk

You’ve probably already guessed who it is. While Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and co have reshaped Liverpool’s midfield and charged the club’s charge toward the Premier League title this season, it’s not them.

While Ibrahima Konate, Luis Diaz and and Cody Gakpo have been instrumental in Liverpool’s success in recent years, it’s Alisson Becker between the sticks who has been the life-juice since arriving in the early knockings of Klopp’s still-standing (even if he’s gone) dynasty.

Liverpool paid a world-record £67m fee – for a goalkeeper – to secure Alisson’s signature, but it still feels like something of a bargain. Quite simply, the Brazil international’s positional rivals all pale in comparison.

Slot has been more than happy to chip in about his keeper’s calibre, hailing his “world-class” saves. He’s the best of the best, with his stunning display at the Parc des Princes in February the perfect illustration of his lofty skills.

Making nine stunning saves and preventing an xG total of 2.26 goals, as per Sofascore, the South American called it “the performance of my life” as Liverpool somehow survived a ceaseless onslaught and emerged victorious – they lost the return leg, of course, but Alisson still put in a good shift.

First-leg match-winner, Harvey Elliott, also called his towering teammate “the best in the world” – and it’s a fair claim indeed.

It’s not just this season that the 32-year-old’s been in fine fettle, as you surely know. Back in May 2023, Klopp declared that his shot-stopping star had been the club’s “most consistent player” through a testing year.

In fact, injuries aside, Alisson is rarely in the firing line for poor performances, with his leadership, command and shot-saving prowess all converging to present a player who is truly the complete package.

The fact that Alisson, who arrived at Liverpool way back when, remains Liverpool’s best signing since Van Dijk was brought into Klopp’s squad six months earlier makes a telling comment on the issues behind recruitment over recent years.

It also details a pretty firm assessment regarding the Reds’ absolutely staggering longevity, not really making the sweeping changes of their divisional rivals over the past eight years or so.

Liverpool have done well to prudently tie Giorgi Mamardashvili down, but whether he’ll reach the same incredible heights as the Brazilian is another question entirely.

The Georgian keeper is set to join from Valencia this summer in a deal worth £29m, but the 24-year-old is sure to spend some time serving as Alisson’s understudy, replacing Caoimhin Kelleher as the able deputy leaves in search of a first-choice spot.

Alisson’s place is at Anfield for the foreseeable, but he’s about to enter the penultimate year of his contract and could leave for a transfer fee in one year’s time or maybe see his £150k-per-week deal out to its end.

In any case, the 6 foot 4 sensation is one of Liverpool’s finest modern players, so important, so influential, over the years. There’s a firm case to be made that all who have walked through the gates since have failed to outstrip him.

Better than Diaz & Gakpo: "Perfect" £62m star wants to sign for Liverpool

Arne Slot is hoping to make a range of signings this summer to improve Liverpool’s starting 11.

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 7, 2025

He made his name with Mumbai Indians two years ago and is trying to perform as an improved cricketer with Punjab Kings

Ashish Pant25-Apr-2025″It’s not about being good, it’s about knowing that you are good.”This realisation dawned upon Nehal Wadhera when he faced Jofra Archer for the first time in a Mumbai Indians (MI) practice game ahead of IPL 2023. All of 22 at the time, and yet to make his T20 debut, here was Wadhera facing one of the fastest bowlers in the world.He didn’t just survive but even impressed the MI management so much that he was handed a T20 debut in the IPL in the team’s season opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).Related

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“When I batted against Archer, I think that was an actual moment where I got that self-confidence,” Wadhera said in a press interaction. “It is very important for you to know that you are good. And when I played Archer in the practice games, it was in a way a realisation moment for me.”And from there, I got the confidence that yes, I am prepared for this level. And then, wherever I got the chance, I did well. I think my confidence was sky-high thereon.”Wadhera had a decent debut season, scoring 241 runs in ten innings, with two fifties and a strike rate of 145.18. The MI stint helped him realise that he belonged at this level. It also opened a lot of avenues. He was part of the title winning 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Punjab team, where he scored 175 runs in six innings at an average of 58.33 and a strike rate of 162.03.The common factor in both his Punjab and MI stints was his batting position. It was never fixed. From opening the batting to slotting in at No. 7, Wadhera has been a floater throughout his T20 career. It’s not ideal for a player, but it’s something he has trained himself for since he was a kid.”Yes, this thing about me playing in every number… if you look at the last two years, when I was playing for Mumbai as well, my batting was very flexible, there was no fixed position,” he said. “Sometimes I have opened, sometimes I batted two down, sometimes at No. 3, 4, 5, 6.

“I don’t go with the intention that I want to score a hundred in this match or help the team reach 200-250. Because if you plan so far ahead, you end up not doing well. And I have faced this before.”

“Since my early playing days, my preparation has been to adjust to any position in the batting order because I have never had a fixed position. I want to do well in any position wherever I get a chance. I have kept my preparation in such a way that I should know how to play every situation. I think that’s helped me.”Wadhera, 24, is now part of Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2025. Two years back he was a new kid on the block, there was no baggage, and limited expectations from him. But at PBKS, there is an INR 4.2 crore price tag attached. He also now has two years of IPL experience and is expected to play a key role in the PBKS line-up. It’s something he relishes.”I would like to say that I love playing under tough situations,” Wadhera said. “Honestly, players who can win matches from tough situations only go on to play for India. You have to be a match-winner to be able to play for the Indian team.”And Wadhera has often found himself in such tough situations in IPL 2025. He began the season with an unbeaten 25-ball 43 against Lucknow Super Giants, staying unbeaten in the chase. Against Rajasthan Royals, he top-scored with 62 off 41, even though that came in a losing cause.A couple of weeks later, he made amends against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where against some fiery bowling on a tricky Chinnaswamy surface, Wadhera hit an unbeaten 19-ball 33 to give PBKS an important win. He has 189 runs in seven innings so far this season at a strike rate of 146.51, but more than the runs, it’s his clarity that helps him.Wadhera spoke about the favourable match-up against Suyash Sharma, whom he targeted during the RCB game and his chat with head coach Ricky Ponting heading into his innings.”If we talk about the match against RCB, the coach came to me and he told me ,’Nehal, we just need a run-a-ball. You can just go easy.’ I said, ‘Okay, coach.’Nehal Wadhera has credited the Ricky Ponting-Shreyas Iyer partnership for making things work at PBKS•Punjab Kings”But as soon as I went inside, I felt that RCB had put a lot of pressure on us at that time. I thought that now that I am in, my match-ups bowlers are in front and this is my responsibility now to help my team cross the line.”When chasing smaller targets, if a wicket falls early, then there’s a lot of pressure. So, as soon as Suyash came on, I knew that he was just trying to bowl the googly and that made it easier for me to hit him straight.”It hasn’t been all rosy for Wadhera, especially in this last year. He had an average IPL 2024, where he managed just 109 runs in six innings, without a fifty and then a below-par SMAT 2024-25, where he scored 97 runs in six innings. It made him go back to the basics and analyse the root cause of his lean run.”There is always a time in everyone’s careers where you are not able to score well even when you are trying really hard. That time came with me this year, in Syed Mushtaq Ali,” Wadhera said. “But I am not someone who gives up.”I went through my videos to see what problems I was facing, why didn’t I do well in Mushtaq Ali. I just try to collect all the positives which I can, but at the same time, I also introspect all the weaknesses which can actually cause me trouble in my upcoming games and I am working on that.”I don’t go with the intention that I want to score a hundred in this match or help the team reach 200-250. Because if you plan so far ahead, you end up not doing well. And I have faced this before. I just go with the intent that if the ball is in my range, I have practiced well, I will go for my shot. Nine times out of ten, I know I’ll clear the ground. It is possible that I will get out once. But if I have worked so hard on a shot, I will back it.”Wadhera was also effusive in praise of Shreyas Iyer, the PBKS captain and the bond he shares with Ponting. The captain-coach duo had a stint together previously at Delhi Capitals, and Wadhera says it’s helped in welcoming the newbies into the PBKS set-up.Wadhera is someone who wants to work on his faults and get better, something PBKS could resonate with having not made the playoffs since 2014. They have both started IPL 2025 on the right note and will hope they now get into the final four, if not to the podium to lift the trophy.

It is hard to get enough overs because of which it is hard to get into rhythm because of which it is hard to get enough overs

Karthik Krishnaswamy04-Mar-20232:15

Axar: ‘Against spinners, the bowler in me tells me how to bat’

In the days leading up to it, all the talk surrounding the Border-Gavaskar series revolved around India’s spin attack, and how Australia would handle its triple threat. R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel were inevitably mentioned in one breath.Ashwin and Jadeja came into the series with vastly more experience than Axar, of course, but it didn’t seem like there would be a clear pecking order in how India would use them. Axar, at that point, had taken 47 wickets in eight Tests, at the ridiculous average of 14.29. Three wickets in Nagpur would have made him the joint-fastest Indian bowler, alongside Ashwin, to 50 Test wickets.Nagpur has come and gone, and so have Delhi and Indore, but Axar is still waiting for his 50th wicket. He’s only taken one wicket in the series, at an average of 103.00.Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar continue to be spoken of in the same breath, but that’s usually when their batting is being discussed. All three have made important runs in this series, most of all Axar, who is India’s second-highest run-getter with 185 at an average of 92.50. He’s passed 50 twice in the series, a feat managed by only one other player on either side, Usman Khawaja.Axar’s contributions in Indore summed up the weirdness of his series. He bowled 13 overs in an Australian first innings that spanned 76.3 overs, and none in their brief chase. He was not out twice, scoring 12 and 15, and was left stranded both times by Mohammed Siraj’s seeming lack of game awareness. In the first innings, Siraj was run out, late to respond to a call for a gettable second run that would have kept Axar on strike. In the second, Axar watched helplessly as Siraj was bowled slogging at Nathan Lyon.At that point, Axar turned his back on Siraj and marched to the dressing room, his partner remaining a pitch’s length behind him as the players made their way off the field. Being stranded was irksome enough; in that second innings, Axar was left stranded after being demoted to No. 9, behind Ashwin.India may have had sound reasons for this choice. It may have had something to do with Axar’s left-handedness. Or they may have felt that Ashwin and Axar were both capable of constructing a partnership with a set Cheteshwar Pujara, but reckoned that Axar’s six-hitting ablity would make him the handier option if one of the allrounders had to bat with Nos. 10 and 11.India may have had their reasons, but if you had watched Axar bat through this series, and seen how organised he had looked both in attack and defence, you may have wondered why he wasn’t batting at No. 7, above KS Bharat.Instead, Axar had come to occupy the strangest of roles: high-performing batter and occasional bowler slotted at No. 9.Axar Patel has had a lot of success with the bat but not so much with the ball in this series•BCCIThese things can and do happen when teams have multiple allrounders. It’s hard enough managing three spinners even if they can’t bat. They typically bowl a lot of overs, and often need to bowl long spells to get into rhythm, so when a team has three of them, it’s natural for one to be underbowled.In that sense, captaining Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar in India is nothing like captaining Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in Australia – a comparison Rohit Sharma made after India went 1-0 up in Nagpur. Rotating three fast bowlers is far easier than rotating three spinners.Rohit alluded to this himself on the eve of the Indore Test.”Look, Ashwin and Jadeja have bowled really well so I’ve to continue to make them bowl as much as possible. If you have three spinners, you know that the third spinner is always underbowled. This time it has been Axar in these two Test matches; you never know who that guy will be in the next two Test matches.”Because if guys are getting wickets from both sides, you have to continue to bowl them, as simple as that. That’s how it is. When Axar, Ash and Washington [Sundar] played in Ahmedabad against England [in 2021], Washi was the one who was underbowled. Probably didn’t even bowl too many overs. That’s how it is.”When you have guys taking wickets and are in good rhythm, you can sense that they need to bowl longer spells. Like fast bowlers, they take a little bit of time to get into rhythm. You need those fingers to come good for you. So you need at least 3-4 overs to get into that rhythm. Then the spinners can bowl longer spells than the fast bowlers.”It’s not necessarily a slight on Axar’s ability, then, that he’s only bowled 39 overs in the first three Tests, when Jadeja has bowled 106.1 overs and Ashwin 95.1.But over the course of the series, it’s become a chicken-and-egg situation. Because Ashwin and Jadeja have bowled well and taken wickets, Axar has only got to bowl short, infrequent spells. He has bowled his 39 overs over 11 spells, of which only two have lasted longer than five overs. Four have spanned just one over – he may only have bowled those overs to allow Ashwin and Jadeja to swap ends.By bowling so little, it’s possible Axar has lost a bit of rhythm, and that in turn has hurt his chances of getting longer spells. As the series has worn on, Australia’s batters have just looked more comfortable against Axar than against Ashwin and Jadeja, and ESPNcricinfo’s control data bears this out. Where they’ve managed control percentages of 75 and 79 against Ashwin and Jadeja, they’ve gone at 88 against Axar.