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Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin is under immense pressure heading into the clash with Hibernian at Ibrox in the latest round of the League Cup.

It feels like a huge game for the former Scotland international after a tricky start to life in Glasgow, losing 2-0 to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox last weekend.

As the title of the highlights above suggests, the pressure is mounting on the Rangers manager due to the poor start to the season, with no wins in their first five league games.

The Scottish giants were also knocked out of the Champions League at the play-off phase with a 9-1 defeat to Club Brugge, which did little to help supporters warm to the new head coach.

On top of the poor results on the pitch, both domestically and in Europe, Martin has ousted Nicolas Raskin from the first-team squad for the last two matches.

The Belgium international did not feature at all in the 0-0 draw with Celtic or the 2-0 defeat to Hearts either side of the international break, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will get any minutes against Hibernian this weekend, although it has been confirmed that he will be a part of the squad.

Why Russell Martin is making a mistake with Nicolas Raskin

Before the defeat to Hearts, Martin said: “Nico is back training with the group but he won’t be in the squad. He has a duty to make sure he earns the trust of all his other team-mates.”

Of course, we are not privy to what goes on behind the scenes. Martin could be in the wrong. Raskin could be in the wrong. Both parties could be in the wrong. What is for sure, though, is that this situation does not benefit the football club.

Legendary Rangers striker Ally McCoist said “you cannot bite your nose off to spite your face” when asked about the situation with the midfielder. He is spot on.

Raskin has proven that he can be a difference-maker for the Gers, as shown in the clip above, after a return of five goals and 11 assists in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore.

Rangers have scored two goals in their last five matches in all competitions, failing to score in any of their last three, and this shows that they are lacking his quality in possession at the top end of the pitch.

Appearances

33

12

Tackles per game

2.8

3.7

Interceptions per game

0.6

1.3

Ball recoveries per game

5.6

7.4

Ground duel success rate

57%

50%

Aerial duel success rate

56%

55%

As you can see in the table above, Raskin also brings defensive quality to the pitch that could have helped the Gers in their 2-0 loss to Hearts and the first half against Club Brugge, when they conceded five before only letting in one with him on the pitch in the second half.

Ultimately, performances and results have not been good enough for Rangers. Another loss, particularly if Raskin is not involved as a starter, should force the board to part ways with the boss.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

With this in mind, Kevin Thelwell and the board must consider swooping to appoint Kevin Muscat, whose contract at SH Port expires at the end of this year, per Transfermarkt.

Rangers Journal’s Kai Watson described the English-born head coach as a “perfect” choice and one the fans have “wanted” for several seasons earlier this month. He has been linked with the Ibrox post in previous years as well.

Why Rangers should appoint Kevin Muscat

Unless Martin can turn things around, starting against Hibernian on Saturday, the Light Blues should fire their head coach to appoint Muscat because he could resurrect Raskin’s Ibrox career and get the team back on track this season.

Above all else, the 52-year-old manager has proven that he can win trophies. He has won a league title and a domestic cup with SH Port, on top of two league titles and one cup with Melbourne Victory and one league title and a super cup with Yokohama F. Marinos, per Transfermarkt.

This shows that he knows how to build teams that can win major trophies. Perhaps the most impressive part of his record is that he has done it in three different countries: Australia, Japan, and China. This shows that he can adapt to different cultures and ways of playing and still build a side to win consistently.

2025 (24)

2.13

2nd

2024 (30)

2.60

1st

2023 (34)

1.88

2nd

2022 (34)

2.00

1st

2021 (18)

1.83

2nd

As you can see in the table above, Muscat has won two league titles in the last four seasons, and still has six games left of the current campaign to make it three in four.

Rangers could tempt him to give up on a chance to turn things around and win the league title with SH Port by offering him the job at Ibrox, should they decide to part ways with Martin.

As well as being a winning manager, Muscat also has a style of play that could get the best out of Raskin. The aforementioned Kai Watson claimed that the manager plays “fast attacking football” with “relentless pressing”.

This suggests that he would be the perfect head coach to get the best out of Raskin because that combines the two parts of his game that he thrives on, fast attacking play and pressing to win possession back.

As aforementioned, the Belgium international is a creative midfielder who can set his teammates up for high-quality chances on a regular basis, but he is also a combative and tenacious defender who wants to get stuck in and win the ball back high up the pitch.

Putting him in Muscat’s favoured 4-3-3 formation, per Transfermarkt, could allow him to thrive both in and out of possession at Ibrox once again, rather than having to sit at the base of a ball-dominant Martin side that does not give him as much freedom to burst forward or to get up the pitch to be combative off the ball.

Once worth £30m, Rangers flop now looks like he's worth less than Tavernier

This Glasgow Rangers flop who was once valued at £30m now looks worth even less than James Tavernier.

ByDan Emery Sep 17, 2025

Therefore, Rangers could revive Raskin’s Ibrox career by firing the underperforming Martin and appointing a head coach whose system and style would maximize the midfielder’s potential, while also enhancing the team’s overall winning culture.

Crucial rearguard puts nominal target beyond visitors’ reach on final day at Trent Bridge

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay14-Apr-2025Jack Haynes, the 24-year old batter who moved to Nottinghamshire last season, not only surpassed a previous best of 77 for the county, posted in his maiden innings a year and eight days, but continued to a crucial first century to add to the five he had made for Worcestershire.After three men had gone in the day’s first seven overs to leave his side just 222 ahead at 242 for 8, his final career-best 142, following a key 77-run recovery stand with Brett Hutton, secured the draw in the Rothesay County Championship first division against Essex at Trent Bridge.By the time Haynes’s hundred arrived, after eleven balls on 99 with the last man now in, the lead was 320 and 60 overs remained but Notts declined to declare and, when eventually all out for 385 after a delayed lunch, the nominal Essex target became 366 at seven per over.Though Nottinghamshire relaxed their bid for breakthroughs only in the last over, there never seemed the remotest chance they might induce panic as Paul Walter reached 41 and his captain Tom Westley a brisk 28 for Essex’s unbroken second-wicket before the umpires pulled stumps at 5pm.The frantic start first thing thus proved the falsest of dawns for the visitors who had seized their own trio of wickets in the opening 30 minutes only to be thwarted for 24.2 overs by the ninth-wicket pair as No 10 Hutton solidly bedded in.The new ball was available after six overs in the day but by then Shane Snater had already removed both nightwatchman Farhan Ahmed and Lyndon James, each caught behind for one, dangling the bat.A stupendous catch from Noah Thain, diving at mid-wicket to hold on inches above the grass as Fergus O’Neill middled a sweet clip off his pads, left Notts in deep peril with effectively 86 overs still to come.But wicket-taker Jamie Porter and partner Sam Cook proved far less threatening with the new ball than at any stage in the match hitherto and it was not until the last scheduled over before lunch that Hutton finally fell, heaving a catch to the boundary off Matt Critchley for 38.With the last pair together the interval was delayed and Haynes, now 94, was joined by Dillon Pennington. After several agonising attempts to pierce the infield on 99, he at last drove a four and broke into jubilant celebrations of a first hundred in sixteen games for Notts after his five seasons at Worcester.By lunch, with Essex now spreading the field far and wide to give Haynes singles he refused, the lead was 355 with 56 overs remaining. But Notts opted to bat on in the afternoon until Haynes hammered Thain down the ground and was held at long-on by Jordan Cox who threw the ball up, skipped over the rope and nipped back to complete the catch. In a final stand of 66 from ten overs, Haynes made 48 to Pennington’s unbeaten 13.When Essex batted again at 2.20pm, Pennington, taking the new ball, soon had Charles Allison missed at second slip on seven but later pulled up in his fifth over to leave the field with an apparent side strain. But Hutton, hero with the bat earlier, had Allison lbw to end his third championship innings for 27 in the third and last dismissal of the 65 final overs.

For the first time in 4671 completed ODIs, fast bowlers did not bowl a single ball in the game

Sampath Bandarupalli18-Feb-2025

Left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige took 5 for 11 in 7.3 overs against Oman•ICC/Getty Images

USA have broken the record for the lowest total successfully defended in a full men’s ODI. They beat Oman by 57 runs after scoring just 122 in their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match in Al Amerat.The previous lowest total successfully defended in a full ODI (not reduced) was India’s 125 against Pakistan in the Rothmans Four-Nations Cup in 1985. They won that match by 38 runs in Sharjah.USA’s fixture against Oman was dominated by spin. All nine bowlers used in the game were spinners, making it the first completed men’s ODI ever – after 4671 matches – without a single ball bowled by a fast bowler.The 19 wickets that fell also equalled the record for most wickets taken in an ODI by spinners, level with a Bangladesh-Pakistan ODI in Chattogram in 2011. Nosthush Kenjige took a career-best of 5 for 11 as Oman were dismissed for 65 in 25.3 overs.USA and Oman scored a total of only 187 runs in 61 overs, the second-lowest aggregate in an ODI where both teams were dismissed. The 41-over game between India and Bangladesh in 2014 had an aggregate of 163 runs.The dominance of spinners and low totals have been a trend at Al Amerat in this tournament, especially in games involving the hosts Oman. Teams batting first have been dismissed for fewer than 170 in all eight of Oman’s matches , while the other four games had 240-plus totals.In the previous match at Al Amerat on Sunday, Oman lost eight wickets in their chase of 96 against Namibia. JJ Smit was the only fast bowler in that game who bowled an over. Three of the four men’s ODIs where spinners took 17 or more wickets have been at Al Amerat.

As has become customary in Glasgow on a Champions League night, the world-famous anthem is greeted with defending cheers.

However, within a matter of minutes, all those in Govan and Glasgow’s surrounding areas could hear was a cacophony of boos.

The night could hardly have started any worse for Russell Martin’s side, conceding after three minutes and then again from a corner four minutes later, before Club Brugge added a third on the 20 minute mark, this the fastest Rangers have ever found themselves 3-0 down in a home European tie in their 69 years of continental history.

At that stage, the Belgian side appeared set to completely put the tie to bed, although it didn’t entirely turn out that way.

Straight after the break, teenaged debutant Jayden Meghoma’s low cross was tapped home by Danilo before, with 12 minutes to play, Djeidi Gassama thought he’d reduced the arrears further, but his goal was disallowed because referee François Letexier deemed that goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had two hands on the ball; a controversial VAR decision.

Thus, 1-3 it finished at Ibrox, leaving Rangers with a mountain to climb at Jan Breydelstadion next Wednesday, and a couple of Martin’s summer recruits in particular did not impress.

Nasser Djiga's calamitous night

Since joining on loan from Wolves this summer, Nasser Djiga has now started all eight matches this season, forming a centre-back partnership with John Souttar.

The Burkina Faso international arrived in Glasgow with plenty of Champions League experience, starting all ten of Crvena zvezda’s qualifiers and league phase fixtures last season, although you wouldn’t have known it three minutes in to this one.

Brugge’s opener, scored by Romeo Vermant, came about in bizarre circumstances.

Danilo had a shot blocked at one end, before Christos Tzolis’ hopeful ball forward was inexplicably just left by Djiga, running in the complete opposite direction, allowing Vermant to delicately lob the ball over a bemused and confused Jack Butland.

Graeme McGarry of the Herald labelled this the “worst defending I’ve ever seen” while, speaking on Sky Sports News, former Rangers striker Kris Boyd described this as “calamitous”, adding “Rangers just come up with new ways to concede goals…. Champions League football… forget it”.

This is such a concern because, as already alluded to, Martin appeared to have his centre-back partnership in Djiga and Souttar set in stone, albeit, after the former was sent off against Dundee ten days ago, this was not his first costly error.

Nevertheless, he is not one of Martin’s summer recruits coming under the most scrutiny following this damaging defeat.

Rangers' new signing could be dropped

James Tavernier has been a stalwart since joining Rangers a decade ago, making 521 appearances for the club, only ten men can boast more, among the first names on the team sheet throughout this period – until now that is.

The club captain was left on the bench for the first leg against Viktoria Plzeň in the previous round, with the same true again on Tuesday, with Max Aarons starting at right-back instead, very much a permanent fixture in Martin’s team, but could that be about to change?

Well, the 25-year-old did not impress against Brugge, as the table below documents.

Errors leading to shot

1

1st

Defensive actions

3

16th

Clearances

2

12th

Tackles

1

14th

Dribbles past

1

1st

Possession lost

7

11th

Duels contested

11

2nd

Duels won

4

10th

Fouls

2

1st

Touches

68

5th

Sofascore rating

6.7

20th

As the table highlights, only four players, namely the aforementioned Souttar and Djiga, as well as Brugge duo Brandon Mechele and Jorne Spileers, accumulated more touches than Aarons, despite the fact he was hooked with 20 minutes remaining, but he did little good with all this time spent in possession.

The full-back was dribbled past once, this when Tzolis came close to adding a fourth in first-half stoppage time, losing possession on seven occasions, while also winning just four of his 11 ground duels, which pretty much sums up his and Rangers’ night.

Journalist Scott Bradley asserted that Aarons “looks like he hasn’t kicked a ball before”, adding that he remains “absolutely baffled” as to why the “best right-back in the league”, namely Tavernier, is once again left watching from the dugout by under-fire Martin.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

All in all, a disastrous night for Rangers, leaving their Champions League dreams hanging by a thread, requiring a miracle when they visit West Flanders next mid-week.

Before then, already four points adrift of Premiership leaders Hearts and Celtic after just two fixtures, Martin can ill-afford yet more dropped points at St Mirren on Sunday, so it would be no surprise if captain Tavernier is restored to the team in Paisley.

Meghoma upgrade: Rangers ready to move for "technically gifted" £9m star

Even after signing Jayden Meghoma on loan from Brentford, Rangers have revived their interest in signing a “technically gifted” star once worth £9m.

Aug 19, 2025

أعلن الجهاز الفني لـ منتخب مصر مواليد 2007 بقيادة المدير الفني وائل رياض القائمة التي اختارها للانضمام لمعسكر مفتوح يبدأ في الثامن من شهر أكتوبر الجاري، وينتهي في السادس عشر من الشهر ذاته، في مركز المنتخبات الوطنية بمدينة السادس من أكتوبر.

واستدعى الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، أربعة لاعبين محترفين، تبعًا لاختيارات المدير الفني وائل رياض.

وعملت لجنة المحترفين بالاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم على التواصل مع الرباعي، في إطار جهودها لاستقطاب المواهب المصرية بالخارج، بالتنسيق مع الأجهزة الفنية للمنتخبات الوطنية.

وانضم الثنائي جوناس الملاح لاعب برومابويكارنا السويدي وكريم حسنين لاعب BSK 1933 النمساوي لمعسكر منتخب مصر مواليد 2007.

طالع | ضم ثنائي محترف لقائمة منتخب مصر قبل كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا

بينما تعذر انضمام كريم أحمد لاعب فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي بسبب الإصابة، كما تعذر انضمام ريان أبو الناي لاعب باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي بسبب ضيق الوقت، على أن ينضم الثنائي خلال المعسكرات المقبلة. قائمة منتخب مصر مواليد 2007

حراسة المرمى: إياد تامر (الأهلي) – يوسف البشير (إنبي) – مصطفى سامي (المقاولون العرب).

خط الدفاع:محمد الأمين (بتروجت) – إياد مدحت (الأهلي) – يوسف محمد (إنبي) – عبد الله محمد (بيراميدز) – محمد عبد البصير (إنبي) – أحمد بلال (طلائع الجيش) – ماهر خالد (سيراميكا كليوباترا) – يوسف محمود (بيراميدز) – علي باسم (حرس الحدود).

خط الوسط: كريم حسنين (BSK 1933 النمساوي) – عمرو الشوادفي (زد) – محمد صالح (لافيينا) – محمد ياسر (طلائع الجيش) – محمد سمير (الإسماعيلي) – جوناس الملاح (برومابويكارنا السويدي) – عمر ثروت (المقاولون العرب) – محمود صلاح (غزل المحلة) – محمد وائل (طلائع الجيش) – عمر العزب (إنبي) – حسام عاشور التقي (الزمالك) – أدهم كريم (الجونة) – إبراهيم عبد الفتاح (زد).

خط الهجوم: أحمد هيثم (راية) – يوسف صابر (المقاولون العرب) – حسن شريف (فاركو) – محمود حسن (الاتحاد السكندري).

Coad claims three of six wickets to fall, handing hosts two of maximum 10 points needed to secure second place

ECB Reporters Network27-Sep-2024Yorkshire will be promoted to Division One of the Vitality County Championship if they draw their final round clash with Northamptonshire at Headingley after Ben Coad claimed three of six wickets to fall when play finally got underway after tea on day two.Coad’s 3 for 29 from 12 overs, including his 300th first-class wicket, left Northamptonshire in trouble at 117 for 6 from 40 overs, handing Yorkshire two of the maximum 10 points they require to secure second place behind Sussex.The start of play was delayed until 3.30pm following first day rain and a wet outfield on day two.Northamptonshire, with nothing to play for but holding onto fourth place in Division Two, were inserted. George Hill also struck twice with his seamers and Jordan Thompson once.Visiting debutant Krish Patel, aged 18, impressed with 26 and George Bartlett top-scored with an unbeaten 41.Yorkshire are aiming to hold off the challenge of third-placed Middlesex, who have seen the opening two days of their clash with leaders Sussex abandoned at Hove.Northamptonshire have handed first-class debuts to both Patel and on-loan Nottinghamshire spinner Fateh Singh, the latter signed only for this game.Patel was the first to make an impact, and impressively too during an eye-catching 41-ball innings with five fours.He came through the Surrey age-groups, played one Metro Bank One-Day Cup game for his home county last season and then signed a two-year rookie professional contract at Wantage Road at the end of last month.Patel came to the crease late in the third over after Coad had removed opener Gus Miller, caught at first slip by Hill.The diminutive right-hander was strong through the covers off both front foot and back. One square drive off England fringe Test fast bowler Matthew Fisher was particularly memorable.He shared 42 with the more doughty Luke Procter before edging Thompson’s seam to second slip as the visitors fell to 44 for 2 in the 15th over.Only 20 more runs had been added when Hill bowled Procter, for 25, with his fifth ball, securing Yorkshire’s first point of the fixture.Hill had been capped by Yorkshire as the rain fell on day one and was again presented with his cap before play started to give Yorkshire’s supporters a chance to acclaim their 23-year-old allrounder.He added a second wicket when James Sales was bowled for 17 shouldering arms as Northamptonshire fell to 79 for 4 in the 30th over.Conditions were ever-changing through a competitive evening; sun, cloud and even a bit of rain.When Coad struck again – for wicket number 300 – the floodlights were on, with Saif Zaib edging to Hill at first slip. Northamptonshire were 106 for 5 in the 37th over.He also had nightwatcher Singh caught at short mid-off in his next over, securing Yorkshire’s second bowling bonus point. That, added to eight points for the draw, would be enough for a Division One return for the first time since 2022.Coad, aged 30, is playing his 76th first-class match and his 301 wickets have come at a mighty impressive 19.42 apiece.Northamptonshire’s Bartlett hit nine fours in his 52 balls.For Yorkshire, while promotion was not decided in this short burst of a session, they moved themselves to within touching distance.

After six long and arduous weeks of trying, it looks as though Manchester United are finally set to announce their second landmark signing of the summer.

Matheus Cunha arrived rather swiftly at the start of the window but since then it’s not been plain sailing for Jason Wilcox and Co. However, a breakthrough in negotiations was reached with Brentford a few days ago to seal the signing of Bryan Mbeumo for a fee of around £71m.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday that the winger had arrived at Carrington to complete the formalities of a move to Old Trafford.

Yet, United aren’t done there with a new centre-forward being earmarked by the recruitment team.

Man United's pursuit of a new striker

With Rasmus Hojlund scoring just four league goals in 2024/25, it’s abundantly clear that Ruben Amorim needed more firepower.

Mbeumo and Cunha will certainly provide that but they’re not out-and-out centre-forwards.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Nicolas Jackson is, however, and reports this weekend suggest that the club has held talks with the player’s agent over a potential move. Considering his hit-and-miss form at Chelsea, this isn’t one that is likely to excite Man United supporters.

Viktor Gyokeres’ name will, though. It’s been widely expected that the Swede will move to Arsenal this summer but with Amorim at the wheel, United have stood a chance of securing a player who played so well under the Portuguese at Sporting.

Well, it’s still a move that could come to fruition with reports from Portugal this weekend reporting some exciting news as far as United fans are concerned.

It suggests that with Arsenal’s move stalling, the Red Devils have leapt into the race again and are said to be ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement on a fee for the attacker.

It’s alleged that United are willing to pay just over €70m (£60m) to bring the player back to England.

Despite all of that, Romano has made it clear that the striker is still giving his priority to Arsenal.

Why Viktor Gyokeres could be Man United's answer to Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak’s name has been a hot topic this week with Liverpool laying down a statement of intent.

Indeed, The Athletic’s David Ornstein suggested that the Premier League winners were ready to do a deal at around £120m, but Newcastle United insist that he will not be going anywhere this summer.

That’s understandable considering just how good he was in 2024/25. The Swede found the net on 27 occasions in all competitions and scored 23 in the league, only second to Mo Salah.

In short, he was really rather impressive, showcasing exactly why some, including analyst Raj Chohan, think that he is “the best striker in the world.”

Well, if a player with 27 goals is up there as the best, so is Gyokeres. Described as “the best finisher in the world” by analyst Spencer Mossman and as a “monster” by journalist Alex Turk, there are not many better at hitting the net with such regularity as Isak’s fellow countryman.

Once of Coventry City and Brighton, Gyokeres has done it before in England, but it’s in Lisbon, Portugal, where he’s really found his footing.

On the way to winning the Portuguese league title last season, he scored 39 league goals in 33 games and beat the goalkeeper on 54 occasions in 52 outings across all competitions. That backed up a scintillating 2023/24 term in which the Sweden international bagged 43 in 50.

Like Isak, he’s incredibly prolific, and they do share some similar traits, notably in their ability to carry the ball long distances and run the channels.

Goals

1.25

0.75

Assists

0.22

0.20

Shots on target

2.12

1.34

Key passes

1.96

1.34

Progressive passes

2.18

2.88

Successful take-ons

1.92

1.37

Progressive carries

4.26

2.71

Aerials won

1.15

0.85

Signing a player with little experience of the Premier League is always a risk, but with United simply needing more firepower, if they could hijack Arsenal’s move for Gyokeres, it would be a serious statement of intent.

Long have they needed their answer to someone like Isak, a pure out-and-out goalscorer, a powerhouse forward. In Gyokeres, they’d surely find that.

Better signing than Mbeumo: Man Utd in talks to land "exceptional" £60m ace

Manchester United’s huge activity within the transfer market looks set to continue despite a deal for Bryan Mbeumo.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 20, 2025

This will be the first time the two teams face off in the longest format

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jul-2024 • Updated on 27-Jul-2024

Afghanistan are set to play their third Test in 2024•AFP/Getty Images

Afghanistan are set to face New Zealand in a one-off Test in September. The match will be played in Greater Noida in India. This will be the first time the two teams face each other in the longest format.This will be Afghanistan’s 10th Test, and their third in 2024 – the most they would have played in a calendar year.It will also be their first Test at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, which has previously served as Afghanistan’s adopted home ground.The Test is likely to be from September 9 to 13. That’s roughly one month before New Zealand’s three-Test tour of India, with the first of those games set to begin on October 16. New Zealand will tour Sri Lanka for a Test series in between – the dates are yet to be announced.”We are delighted to host a quality New Zealand Test team for the first time in our cricketing history. This is a testament to the hard work we have put in through numerous discussions and meetings with different boards on the sidelines of the various ICC Board Meetings,” ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf said. “The Blackcaps are an outstanding all-format team in world cricket, and we hope to reach an agreement with New Zealand Cricket for white-ball bilateral matches in the future.”Following the New Zealand Test, England, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa will be the only countries to not have played against Afghanistan in a Test match yet. Australia had pulled out from hosting them in a Test in 2021 citing humanitarian reasons.Australia had also pulled out of three-match T20I series scheduled for August this year, meaning Afghanistan had a hole in their schedule which will be partly filled by this New Zealand TestIn their two Tests so far in 2024, Afghanistan have lost to Sri Lanka and Ireland. They had also lost their one-off Test in Bangladesh last year, and their last win in the format came in March 2021, when they beat Zimbabwe in the UAE. In all, Afghanistan have a commendable 3-6 win-loss record in their first nine Tests.

The young opener appears set to be given the first chance at being Warner’s long-term white-ball replacement

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jun-20241:23

Clarke: Some Australia players might walk away from T20Is

David Warner has passed the opening baton over to Jake Fraser-McGurk, believing the 22-year-old can fill his role in both of Australia’s white-ball sides and potentially has a future in the Test team as well.Warner has become a mentor to Fraser-McGurk with the pair spending a lot of time together in the IPL, where they played for Delhi Capitals, and recently at the T20 World Cup when Fraser-McGurk joined as a travelling reserve.Related

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Australia review: Looking back at T20 World Cup 2024, and looking ahead to 2026

David Warner's international retirement confirmed after Australia exit

Warner’s international career came to an end with Australia’s Super Eight exit, meaning a new era at the top of the order looms in both limited-overs formats.”All yours now champion,” Warner captioned an Instagram Stories post on Wednesday of himself and Fraser-McGurk sharing a drink.Speaking to Australian reporters after the team’s exit was confirmed, Warner endorsed Fraser-McGurk’s credentials as an opener in T20s and ODIs.”Every time I put something out there I become a selector [but] I think he’s definitely got the ability to definitely do that,” Warner told and .”He can lock it in. And a bit like myself, you [have to learn] how to play…50-over cricket. That’s one thing that I learnt from Twenty20. I got dropped after seven games because I didn’t really understand how to play the game of one-day cricket.”So from a one-day perspective if he learns that and understands that he’ll have a fantastic career, especially batting in Australia. Best wickets in the world.”Fraser-McGurk, who played two ODIs against West Indies in February, hitting 51 runs off 23 balls across a pair of innings, and earlier in the season hammered a world-record 29-ball one-day century in the Marsh Cup, will likely be included for September’s tours of Scotland and England as Australia start to look to the future.Jake Fraser-McGurk won’t have to wait long for his next chance with Australia•Associated PressHowever, Fraser-McGurk himself has played down the prospect of following Warner as a red-ball opener after finding an experiment at the top of the order for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield didn’t suit him. He made 19 runs in four innings opening having earlier in the season scored a maiden first-class hundred at No. 6.”Last year when I was put up to open the batting in Shield cricket, that’s not me. Had Xavier Bartlett bowling huge outswingers on a green top at Adelaide Oval…it was torture. Hopefully won’t do that again, that’s one thing I won’t be able to do,” he told the .Warner acknowledged the competing demands that will come Fraser-McGurk’s way from the franchise scene but was encouraged by his desire to pursue first-class cricket.”Will he play Test cricket? I think he’ll have to have a breakout year in the next 12-18 months to prove himself,” Warner said. “I think we’ve all had to score hundreds to get your name up there [to] warrant that.”Hopefully when it comes to Shield cricket this year, he sticks at that. There’s going to be a lot of money thrown around to him for these Twenty20 leagues and it’s upon him and his management to keep him focused and aligned with what he wants to do. But I hope he does – I know he’s thinking like that. He wants to play red-ball cricket.”

Leeds United may be closing in on their first signing of the summer transfer window as they pursue a deal for Udinese central defender Jaka Bijol.

The Athletic reports that the clubs are in talks over a deal that could be worth up to £15.2m for the Slovenia international to make the move to Elland Road in the coming weeks.

It is claimed that the Championship champions are ‘optimistic’ about getting a deal over the line for the Serie A centre-back to bolster Daniel Farke’s options at the back ahead of a season in the Premier League.

The Athletic adds, however, that the club are less hopeful of a move to sign Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, despite placing a bid worth £22m in for the Senegal international.

This suggests that Diarra, who scored against England at the City Ground on Tuesday night, is unlikely to make the move to Elland Road this summer, whereas Bijol could be added to the squad.

What Habib Diarra could bring to Leeds

Missing out on a deal for the Senegal international could be a blow for the West Yorkshire outfit because the central midfielder has shown plenty of promise with his performances in Ligue 1 for Strasbourg.

Diarra ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of four goals and five assists in 30 matches in the French top-flight, which shows that he can make a decent impact at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position.

This, along with his performance against England, suggests that the 21-year-old star could bring a threat in front of goal for the Whites in the Premier League, as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

However, Diarra’s play out of possession does leave a bit to be desired and there would be concerns over his suitability defensively to the physical demands of the Premier League.

Appearances

30

Goals

4

Assists

5

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.1

Error led to shot

3

Ground duel success rate

49%

Aerial duel success rate

43%

As you can see in the table above, the Strasbourg star lost the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air in Ligue 1 this season, whilst only making 1.1 tackles and interceptions per game.

The central midfielder’s three errors that directly led to shots also suggest that he can be wasteful on the ball in his own third, as his sloppy passing was punished by opposition teams at times.

Diarra, therefore, may not be the perfect option for Leeds this summer because he would not bring defensive strength to go along with his technical qualities at the top end of the pitch.

This is why it should come as good news to supporters that the Whites are reportedly eyeing up another midfield star who would be even better than the Strasbourg ace.

Leeds eyeing deal for £25m midfielder

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds United are one of the teams eyeing up a deal to sign Rangers central midfielder Nicolas Raskin in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Championship champions, established Premier League side Aston Villa, Porto, Marseille, and Fiorentina are all interested in signing the Belgium international to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

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It states that Leeds have a long-standing interest in the Rangers star, which dates back to his time at Standard Liege in 2022, and that they view him as a perfect fit for Farke’s midfield in the top-flight next season.

TEAMtalk adds that the Scottish giants are keen to get maximum value out of the Belgian dynamo and are ready to demand a fee of up to £25m for the 24-year-old star.

Leeds must, now, push to win the race for the Scottish Premiership starlet because he could be an even better signing than Diarra this summer.

Why Leeds should sign Nicolas Raskin

The Rangers star would be a better addition for Farke to bolster his midfield options because he offers more both in and out of possession in comparison to the Senegal international.

Unlike Diarra, Raskin constantly looks to win possession back for his side with tackles and interceptions, making 5.0 tackles and interceptions combined in 12 appearances in the Europa League this season.

The 24-year-old ace, as shown in the clip above, can also step up to provide goals and assists when called upon, though, and is more than just a midfield destroyer.

Raskin ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of five goals and 11 assists in all competitions for the Light Blues, which suggests that he can offer a big threat in front of goal, particularly as a creator.

Appearances

30

33

Goals

4

4

Assists

5

10

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.1

3.4

Error led to shot

3

1

Ground duel success rate

49%

57%

Aerial duel success rate

43%

56%

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian midfield maestro outperformed Diarra at league level this season with his contributions at both ends of the pitch as a number eight.

These statistics suggest that Raskin, once hailed as “unbelievable” by ex-Rangers forward Kris Boyd, would offer far more to Leeds in midfield due to his ability to combine attacking flair with defensive steel.

For a fee of just £3m more than the £22m they bid for Diarra, Leeds could land a bargain by signing the Gers midfielder for £25m before the end of the summer window to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

Whilst both players are unproven in the Premier League to date, Raskin has showcased his defensive qualities on the European stage in the Europa League and still has time left on his side to develop further at the age of 24.

The new Phillips: Leeds want to sign £15m star with "undeniable" potential

Leeds United are reportedly keen on a star who would be Daniel Farke’s own Kalvin Phillips.

ByDan Emery Jun 9, 2025

With the available evidence from the 2024/25 campaign, though, it would appear as though the Rangers star would be a significantly better signing than Diarra, which is why the club should pursue a deal for him over the Strasbourg ace.