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Plus, the BCCI – who have no opposition

Alan Gardner15-May-2023Some bowlers, when they get into the latter stage of their careers, pare down their repertoire and focus simply on executing their best skill again and again. Others keep looking to develop new tricks, real or imagined, and push themselves to engage with the opposition in innovative – perhaps even puerile – ways.Which brings us, as you’ve no doubt already guessed, to Stuart Broad’s reinvention as a teenage internet troll, a 36-year-old headband-wearing provocateur, shitposting his way through the summer. The England team’s Outside-Edgelord, if you will.Broad was always a prime candidate for this sort of thing, given the way he lapped up all the “smug Pommie cheat” banter that came his way during the 2013-14 Ashes. His very presence as a blond, pouting, celebrappealing member of the English establishment is enough to wind up some people, and that’s before you begin to factor in the 500-plus Test wickets.Now, at the start of another Ashes summer, he has decided to put down the controller and get fired up for the time-honoured phoney war that precedes any England-Australia skirmish. The first salvo came a few weeks ago during an outing for Nottinghamshire, when he revealed that he had been working on – wait for it, wait for it – an outswinger. “It’s designed, to be honest, for Marnus and Smith,” he said with a committed poker face.Related

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That’s Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith, the ICC’s No. 1 and No. 3-ranked Test batters. Who you suspect might have faced a bit of RFM away swing in their time. Perhaps for his next move, Broad will reveal that he has been working with Darren Stevens and plans to bowl 65mph with the keeper stood up to the stumps this summer. (Although given Labuschagne’s experiences on the “Stevo’s gonna get ya” circuit, that might not actually be such a bad idea.)Anyway, Broad then added in a newspaper interview that he considered the previous Ashes in Australia, which took place under pandemic restrictions in 2021-22, “a void series” – a calculated dangling of bait that was swallowed by more than a few down under. “The definition of Ashes cricket is elite sport with lots of passion and players at the top of their game,” Broad said, by which measure England didn’t actually contest the urn at all in the 1990s.By now, with the comment threads fizzing and empty bottles of Prime all over his bedroom floor, Broad was ready for a full-on flame war against anyone and everyone. Despite his semi-mythical status as the Bazball Nighthawk, he came out to bat against Lancashire – facing up to his old England mucker James Anderson – and flicked the Vs at the new orthodoxy, blocking his way to 3 off 50 balls to nick a draw for Notts. One famous mischief-maker who would surely look on approvingly is the late Shane Warne, a man for whom teenage rebellion was a way of life. This will be the first Ashes without any involvement from the Australian in over 30 years but the Light Roller likes to think that, while Broad stirs the pot in the physical realm, Warnie is up there in the windowless basement in the sky, teaching Loki and Beelzebub exactly how to grip the Zooter.

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Over in the IPL, meanwhile, another of the game’s great competitors was going back to basics. “If you can give it, you got to take it,” growled Virat Kohli after a typically feisty display in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s win over Lucknow Super Giants earlier this month. “Otherwise don’t give it.” Valuable lessons there in the immutable laws of playground pointing-and-shoving, following some beef between Kohli and his former India team-mate, now Lucknow mentor, Gautam Gambhir. Or was it with Kyle Mayers, whom Gambhir had gone to rescue? Maybe Naveen-ul-Haq, who had words with Kohli during the Lucknow innings? Whatever, whoever, Kohli is always up for a bit of give and take. Anyone who says otherwise can meet him round the back of the bike sheds in ten.

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While administrators in England and Australia can still afford themselves some hearty backslapping when they eye up space for another Ashes series on the FTP, the rest of the calendar for bilateral cricket isn’t in quite such fine fettle. But don’t worry, the BCCI has come up with a solution. Essentially, because most of the great piles of sweaty media rights cashola heading for the ICC coffers comes from the Indian market, they reckon most of it should come straight back to them, too. Who cares if cricket is still being played in Papua New Guinea/ Afghanistan/England, so long as India gets its (increasingly large) slice of pie? Call it equality, “Big One” style.

Sanju Samson, Navdeep Saini, Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin and others must impress the selectors ahead of the big event in October-November

Shashank Kishore07-Apr-2021The impressive debuts of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is and Krunal Pandya and Prasidh Krishna in ODIs against England have proved the match-readiness of India’s young talent in international cricket. Thanks to the IPL and the BCCI’s robust India A programme, the national side has an embarrassment of riches and multiple options for every position – all healthy signs for the selectors in a T20 World Cup year.As such, the IPL could have a massive influence on the make-up of India’s final squad for the tournament at home in October-November. But for several players, it will be particularly important, either because they have been left out of the India squad recently or haven’t been able to consistently make the playing XI.

Shikhar Dhawan

What the selectors might look for: powerplay game
Dhawan’s conservative approach early in the innings has been an issue in the past, but at the 2020 IPL, he struck at 139.13 in the first six overs – the fifth best among batsmen who played a minimum of 50 balls. Overall, his 618 runs in 17 innings – second best in the tournament behind KL Rahul – came at a strike rate of 144.73. None of the four other Indian batsmen at the Capitals who aggregated over 200 runs in the season got their runs at a faster rate. With Shreyas Iyer missing the 2021 IPL because of a shoulder injury, Dhawan will have a bigger role to play if the Capitals are to build on their runners-up finish last season. At 35, he is among the oldest contenders for a T20 World Cup spot. Having been left out of four of the five T20Is against England, he will want to make the most of the long stretch at the top of the order in the IPL to keep himself in contention.

Sanju Samson

What the selectors might look for: consistency
While he has timing and fierce ball-striking going for him, inconsistency hasn’t helped Samson’s cause. His highest score in six T20I outings for India in 2020 was 23, which was perhaps why he was overlooked for the series against England. But as the Rajasthan Royals captain this season, he will get a long run of matches to prove himself. Samson hasn’t played a lot of competitive cricket lately, and when he did, he managed only one half-century in five matches for Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in January. In the 2020 IPL he started with two match-winning half-centuries before tailing off mid-season, although he still finished as the Royals’ top scorer. This season the selectors will be looking for more consistency and impactful knocks from Samson.Only one of Ishant Kishan (left) and Surkyakumar Yadav might make it to the India playing XI at the World Cup•Deepak Malik/BCCI

Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav

What the selectors could look for: middle-overs acceleration
Both batsmen are products of Mumbai Indians’ robust scouting system. Kishan showed he was not afraid of the big stage when he smacked a match-winning half-century on T20I debut. He is a back-up keeping option and can bat anywhere in the top five. No one hit more sixes than Kishan at the 2020 IPL – a testament to his improved power game. His ability to go after the bowling from the get go makes him a fearsome prospect for the opposition.Yadav too has taken the IPL route to get a roaring start in international cricket. He is a 360-degree player who can drop anchor and play the enforcer at the same time. Over the years, he has become inventive with his strokeplay. His first scoring shot for India was a one-footed hook for six off Jofra Archer. He has scored 400-plus runs in the last three IPL seasons, two of which Mumbai won. Another good IPL could strengthen his place in the India side. However, it’s also possible that Kishan and Yadav could be competing for the same spot in the XI.

R Ashwin

What the selectors might look for: powerplay wickets and control
Ashwin is itching for an opportunity in white-ball cricket again after being dropped entirely from the set-up in 2017, but he isn’t fretting over it. He says this has helped him become calmer and focus on red-ball excellence. But India aren’t brimming with spin options in white-ball cricket at the moment; they went into the ODI series decider against England without a front-line spinner. Virat Kohli was testy when asked about Ashwin’s absence, insisting Washington Sundar remains India’s preferred offspiner, but it isn’t unusual for India to have two similar-style bowlers in the squad. Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh were both part of the 2016 T20 World Cup side. Ashwin has been a key member of the Delhi Capitals think tank and his 13 wickets at an economy of 7.66 in 15 games at the 2020 IPL were more than respectable. His seven wickets in the powerplay were the most by a spinner in the season, ahead of Axar Patel and Washington, and joint fifth overall. Can he force his way back into white-ball mix once again?A good IPL season for Rahul Chahar could put Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav under pressure•Saikat Das/BCCI

Kuldeep Yadav and Rahul Chahar

What the selectors might look for: wristspin options
Left-arm wristspinner Yadav has spent more time on the bench than in the middle since 2019, not only losing his spot in the India XI but also at the Kolkata Knight Riders, a franchise he has been part of since 2014. He managed only four wickets in nine innings in the 2019 IPL and one wicket in four in the 2020 IPL. In India’s 2020-21 season he took three wickets in four innings (three ODIs and a Test) and admitted he was confused about what lengths to bowl against England. Of all the players in this article, he is one who desperately needs a big IPL season to be in contention for that World Cup berth.Meanwhile, legspinner Chahar’s career has taken a different trajectory. For two seasons now, he has been the Mumbai Indians’ lead spinner, which, given he is 21, is a remarkable distinction. In the 2019 IPL he picked up 13 wickets in as many games, at an economy of 6.55. He followed it with 15 in 15 (econ of 8.16) in 2020. It’s clear that Chahar is a strike bowler; not a traditional leggie who gives it a rip but one who relies on change in length, angles, and bounce, like Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. Getting rid of the fear of being hit, Chahar says, has contributed immensely to his improved mindset. He has also shown the ability to bowl in different phases of an innings. Yuzvendra Chahal, India’s senior legspinner, has had an indifferent run lately, his T20I economy of 9.14 being the second worst among those who have bowled 50 or more overs since the start of 2019. And he has taken only 18 wickets in 21 T20Is in that period. While there may not be an immediate threat to Chahal’s place in the India squad, a strong performance from Chahar will keep Chahal on his toes and give the selectors another healthy selection dilemma.

Navdeep Saini

What the selectors might look for: death bowling
Raw pace, the ability to hustle batsmen with the short ball, and getting it to swing both ways make Saini a key component of the Royal Challengers Bangalore attack. But to make the step up to become a T20I regular and be in World Cup contention, he needs to build on his IPL gains from 2020, where he carried the team’s bowling alongside Chahal, Mohammed Siraj and Chris Morris. He faces stiff competition from other India quick bowlers like T Natarajan and Shardul Thakur, who is an all-round option. For long now, RCB have identified death bowling as an area of concern. If Saini can deliver telling spells and win them games to possibly qualify for the knockouts and beyond, he has an excellent chance of making the World Cup longlist.Navdeep Saini could make a strong case for himself if he delivers for RCB in the death overs•Saikat Das/BCCI

Deepak Chahar

What the selectors might look for: powerplay wickets and death bowling
He bowls the tough overs economically, and has pace and swing. Chahar has been on the periphery of India’s white-ball squads since 2019. He has taken nine wickets in the powerplay overs at an economy of 7.14 in 13 games for India. His corresponding figures in the IPL are 33 wickets at 7.58 in 48 innings for the Chennai Super Kings. Captain MS Dhoni has often preferred to give Chahar three overs in this phase because of his impressive economy. For India, he is ideally seen as a like-for-like replacement for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, but given the senior bowler’s spate of recent injuries, Chahar can always come in as a back-up.

Rahul Tewatia

What the selectors might look for: all-round back-up
Tewatia was part of the T20I squad against England but did not get a game. He is an explosive lower-order batsman who can also bowl two or three overs of handy legspin, offering all-round skills like the Pandya brothers do. Tewatia is best remembered for walloping Sheldon Cottrell for five consecutive sixes to turn around an impossible chase for the Rajasthan Royals in Sharjah last season. He is often praised for his street-smart approach, and he will do well to show some of that for the Royals in what could be an audition for a T20 World Cup berth.

يواجه منتخب مصر الثاني بقيادة مديره الفني حلمي طولان، نظيره منتخب الأردن، ضمن مباريات دور المجموعات من بطولة كأس العرب 2025.

وكان منتخب مصر قد تعادل في الجولة الماضية مع منتخب الإمارات بهدف لكل فريق، ضمن مباريات الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات ببطولة كأس العرب.

ويقع منتخب مصر في المجموعة الثالثة رفقة منتخبات الأردن والإمارات والكويت.

ويسعى منتخب مصر لتحقيق الفوز أو التعادل على أقل تقدير أمام الأردن، من أجل حسم التأهل إلى دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس العرب.

ويحتل منتخب مصر المركز الثاني في ترتيب المجموعة الثالثة لبطولة كأس العرب، برصيد نقطتين من التعادل مع الكويت والإمارات في الجولتين الأولى والثانية. موعد مباراة مصر والأردن في كأس العرب 2025

يواجه منتخب مصر نظيره منتخب الأردن، في تمام الساعة الرابعة والنصف من مساء اليوم الثلاثاء بتوقيت القاهرة، والخامسة والنصف بتوقيت قطر والسعودية والأردن. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة مصر والأردن في كأس العرب 2025

وسوف تذاع مباراة منتخب مصر الثاني مع نظيره منتخب الأردن عبر قنوات بي إن سبورت المفتوحة، وأبو ظبي الرياضية 1، وقناة الكأس، بالإضافة إلى ذلك، ستنقل المباراة عبر قناة دبي الرياضية 2، وقناة الشارقة الرياضية، وقناة إم بي سي مصر 2.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

Manchester United’s system under Ruben Amorim has led to huge questions being asked about the manager and his ability to lead the side forward in the future.

The 40-year-old has consistently used a 3-4-2-1 system at Old Trafford since his appointment last November, but the formation hasn’t worked as many would have expected.

He could only lead the Red Devils to a 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season, whilst also suffering a defeat in the final of the Europa League to Tottenham Hotspur.

The recent defeat against Everton on home soil led to further questions being directed his way, especially after refusing to move away from his tactics and push more attacking players forward.

However, the manager has desired additions of numerous players ahead of the January transfer window, with the midfield department one that looks set to be bolstered.

Man Utd’s hunt for a new midfielder in January

Over the last couple of weeks, United have ramped up their pursuit of Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson ahead of a potential move in the January window.

It’s been reported that the Red Devils are willing to complete a deal in the coming weeks for the England international after his remarkable start to the current campaign.

However, bitter rivals Manchester City have also now entered the race for the 23-year-old’s signature, which could lead to a huge battle for his services in the months ahead.

He’s not the only Premier League option currently in their sights at present, with Bournemouth star Tyler Adams another player being considered by INEOS ahead of January.

According to the Daily Mail, the hierarchy have held internal talks over a deal to land the American international who has started every Premier League game this season.

It also states that he’s seen as a cheaper option to improve the midfield department, but it remains to be seen if the Cherries would sanction his departure during the winter.

Why United’s latest target would end Mainoo’s stay

Just a couple of years ago, it appeared as though Kobbie Mainoo would be a crucial first-team member for United for many years to come, but it appears as though his time at the club could be coming to an end.

The midfielder has gone from a regular starter and an England international, to now being a player who has been massively restricted to substitute appearances off the bench.

His tally of nine league appearances, none of which were from a starting position, showcases the lack of faith the 40-year-old currently has in the 20-year-old sensation.

Unsurprisingly, the player has grown frustrated at the Red Devils in recent weeks, which has led to the player himself even requesting a move away ahead of January.

If the manager is simply refusing to utilise the youngster, it’s crucial he makes the next step in his career to continue his development and get back onto his recent trajectory.

It remains unclear whether the hierarchy will sanction a move away from Old Trafford for Mainoo, but his career at the club would be all but over with a move for Adams.

Should the American join, it would push him further down the pecking order, with the Bournemouth star producing some incredible numbers over the last couple of months for Andoni Iraola’s side.

Adams, who’s been labelled a “monster” by journalist Tomi Oladipo, has completed 88% of the passes he’s attempted, at an average of 45 per 90 – with both ranking him in the top 25% of all midfielders in the division.

Such numbers showcase his composed nature in possession, but that’s also reaffirmed by his tally of 0.3 times dispossessed per 90, which ranks him in the top 15% in the league.

However, out of possession, he’s been just as impressive, as seen by his phenomenal tallies of 2.6 tackles won and 1.6 interceptions made per 90 to date.

Despite his small frame, the American has also won 52% of the duels he’s entered, whilst completing 48% of the dribbles he’s attempted – further highlighting his all-round talents at the heart of the side.

It’s unclear if his current employers would sanction a departure in the coming weeks, but it’s evident that United would be getting themselves an incredible Premier League talent.

As for Mainoo, it appears to be the end at his boyhood club given his recent lack of action, with the player needing a move to reignite the spark in his professional career.

Cunha 2.0: INEOS to fast-track Man Utd bid for 'best winger in England'

Manchester United look set to make a huge move for one player in the upcoming January window.

By
Ethan Lamb

Dec 5, 2025

If Hall of Fame right fielder Reggie Jackson was Mr. October and Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter was Mr. November, Baltimore Orioles right fielder Tyler O'Neill is Mr. March.

On Thursday, O'Neill deposited a 2-1 offering from Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios over the right-field wall—marking the sixth straight Opening Day on which he has homered.

The three-run shot gave the Orioles a 5–0 lead, and extended O'Neill's MLB record. He broke the mark for most consecutive Opening Days with a home run last year; he'd shared it with catchers Yogi Berra, Gary Carter and Todd Hundley.

O'Neill's offensive acumen has fluctuated wildly this decade—he has seasons with oWARs of both 5.1 and 0.4, per Baseball Reference—but one part of the equation has remained the same.

The British Columbia native has topped 30 home runs twice—first in his fantastic 2021 campaign with the St. Louis Cardinals, and then again in 2024 with the Boston Red Sox.

MatériaMais Notícias

Goleiro da seleção argentina, Dibu Martínez tentou tomar o bastão de um policial durante briga entre torcedores do Brasil e Argentina antes do início da partida entre as duas equipes, na noite desta terça-feira (21), pelas Eliminatórias para a Copa do Mundo de 2026.

RelacionadasFora de CampoRacismo: Torcedora argentina teria chamado policial de ‘macaco’ em confusão no MaracanãFora de Campo21/11/2023Seleção BrasileiraBrasil x Argentina: entenda como começou a briga entre torcedores no MaracanãSeleção Brasileira21/11/2023Fora de CampoTorcedores de Brasil e Argentina brigam antes da bola rolar no Maracanã; vejaFora de Campo21/11/2023

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Dibu foi um dos atletas argentinos que foram até o local, no setor sul do estádio carioca, tentar minimizar a confusão que, no momento em que ele chegou, já tinha agentes de segurança da Polícia Militar do Rio de Janeiro. Os policiais, no entanto, só tentaram coibir as ações dos argentinos, o que gerou um conflito entre os profissionais e os torcedores.

Foi nesse momento em que Martínez saltou na tentativa de tirar o bastão do bolso de um dos policiais, arriscando fomentar ainda mais a confusão ou até mesmo sofrer alguma sanção, até como uma possível detenção por desacato a autoridade. Os jogadores da delegação argentina desceram aos vestiários, aonde permaneceram por cerca de 30 minutos até o início da partida.

EL DIBU DEFENDIENDO A LOS HINCHAS ARGENTINOS EN MEDIO DE LA REPRESIÓN POLICIAL pic.twitter.com/iEXBISudaW

— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) November 22, 2023

Para entender como a confusão entre torcedores brasileiros, argentinos e a polícia começou, clique aqui.

+ Veja tabela e simule os jogos do Brasileirão

Arsenal have made plenty of brilliant additions to the club this year.

The likes of Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, and Eberechi Eze, for example, have all significantly strengthened Mikel Arteta’s first team.

However, the powers that be have also made some excellent off-the-pitch additions, most notably new Sporting Director Andera Berta.

The Italian helped oversee the impressive summer transfer window and has done incredibly well on the contract front, and now he appears to be ensuring a first-team star is getting a deal reflective of his importance, a star who Gary Neville once lambasted.

Berta's contract magic at Arsenal

The first bit of business Berta got done after being appointed Arsenal’s new Sporting Director was tying the monstrous Gabriel Magalhães down to a new long-term contract.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

The Brazilian titan put pen to paper on a new four-year deal in early June that saw his weekly wage increase to £150k, and while that is an enormous sum of money, he’s more than worth it, having helped the club produce the best defence for two seasons running, and potentially a third this year.

Not long after the former LOSC Lille ace agreed to new terms, Hale End gem Myles Lewis-Skelly was putting pen to paper a long-term deal of his own, one that runs until 2030, and is fully deserved after a breakout season that saw him make 39 first-team appearances, including ten in the Champions League, and two against Real Madrid.

The next renewal came a couple of months later, when, after plenty of speculation, most of which seems to have been unfounded, Ethan Nwaneri followed his fellow academy graduate by agreeing a five-year deal with the club.

The 18-year-old didn’t play as many minutes as the full-back last season, but he still made 37 appearances, and more importantly, scored nine goals and provided two assists, which for a teenager is incredibly impressive.

Appearances

37

Minutes

1378′

Goals

9

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

Minutes per Goal Involvement

125.27′

Finally, the most recent contract extension Berta has overseen is that of William Saliba.

Arguably the most important of the lot, the French centre-back is regarded by many as one of the best in the world and has been consistently linked with a move to Real Madrid over the last couple of years.

With him and Gabriel at the back, there is no reason the Gunners can’t aim to win every competition they take part in.

Interestingly, while there have been four contract extensions, two players have simply seen their pay increase; Leandro Trossard and someone who’s gone from a potential problem to world-class.

The Arsenal ace who is now "the best in the world"

Like Trossard in the summer, David Raya has reportedly been handed a pay rise by Arsenal, and based on his performances over the last two years, it would be hard to say he doesn’t deserve it.

However, while he is now practically undroppable and one of the most important players in Arteta’s squad, that hasn’t always been the case.

For example, when he was initially signed on loan from Brentford in the summer of 2023, pundits and fans alike were somewhat bewildered by the move, if not outright dismissive, as Aaron Ramsdale was the club’s number one at that point.

Former keeper turned pundit Shay Given didn’t hold back in his assessment of the move, claiming the manager was “signing a problem.”

However, it soon became clear that the Spaniard would be the club’s new number one going forward, but that didn’t stop the criticism whenever he made a mistake or looked a little shaky.

For example, in the home game against Manchester City that October, Neville slammed the Barcelona-born shot-stopper, claiming, “I can spot a goalkeeper a mile off who is a nervous wreck, and David Raya is that at the moment.”

Fortunately, Arteta took little notice of the outside noise, and eventually the Bees’ former keeper settled into life at the Emirates and went from a possible problem to someone who has kept the North Londoners in a number of games over the years.

Moreover, he won the Golden Glove in his first season and repeated the feat last season, and he looks likely to do the same again this year, as in seven games, he has conceded just three goals.

On top of that, FBref rank the 30-year-old in the top 3% of keepers in the Premier League for save percentage per 90, so his excellent clean sheet record is not just down to the players in front of him.

With all that in mind, it is pretty difficult to disagree with Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley that the Gunners’ unreal number one is now “in the conversation for the best in the world.”

Ultimately, while an extra year or two would have been perfect, Raya fully deserves his pay rise, and so long as he keeps playing the way he is, he may have a Premier League title to go along with a third set of golden gloves come May.

Big-money Berta signing could already be on borrowed time at Arsenal

Kai Havertz’s impending return is bad news for one player at Arsenal.

Oct 8, 2025

Nicky Butt has warned a manager who Gary Neville called “incredible” not to take the Manchester United job, saying “it could ruin him.”

Respite for Amorim after Sunderland victory

The 2-0 victory over newly-promoted Sunderland prior to the international break provided Ruben Amorim with a little respite, but there will be much tougher tests to come in the coming weeks, with a daunting trip to Anfield this Sunday up first.

There has been plenty of speculation about Amorim’s future already this season, with Jamie Carragher suggesting the writing may already be on the wall, given that the 40-year-old simply isn’t a good fit for Man United.

Carragher said: “What he did at Sporting Lisbon was fantastic. But bringing a manager like that in with the system he plays I don’t think ever suited a club like Manchester United with the traditions at Manchester United.

“We are just waiting for the inevitable, unfortunately, because you don’t want people to lose their jobs. But this [Amorim’s time in charge] has to end as quickly as possible.”

It appears as though Sir Jim Ratcliffe is very committed to the Amorim project, however, having recently insisted he wants to give the Portuguese coach three years to prove himself.

That said, if there is not a major improvement in performances and results, it is very difficult to envisage the United boss lasting that long, and the rumour mill about potential replacements is already in full swing.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Paddy McGuinness recently asked Paul Scholes and Butt whether they’d like to see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer return to Old Trafford, but the latter was emphatic in his response, stating his former teammate shouldn’t consider the move.

The former Man United midfielder said: “The hard thing for Ole would be, if you come back the second time – it could ruin him. It won’t because of his legacy at the football club, but you could bring prime Sir Alex or Jose in at the minute and they wouldn’t be able to do anything with that squad. So for me, I hope it wouldn’t happen.”

Appointing "incredible" Ole would be step backwards

It is undeniable that Ole is one of the Red Devils’ best managers post Sir Alex Ferguson, with the Norwegian leading them to a second-placed finish in the 2020-21 campaign, but it would be a step backwards to bring him back to Old Trafford.

Vivell's a fan: Man Utd devise plan to sign "elite" £40m midfielder with Wharton

The Red Devils are very keen on bringing in a new midfielder.

ByDominic Lund Oct 14, 2025

United sacked the 52-year-old back in November 2021, after failing to win a trophy in nearly three years as manager, and he has since failed to make an impact at Besiktas, with the Turkish club dismissing the former striker back in August.

As such, despite being lauded as “incredible” by Neville for the job he did at Man United last time around, Ole shouldn’t be considered as a replacement for Amorim, who rakes in £6.5m-per-year.

South Africa contemplated the need for captain Temba Bavuma to retire hurt on the third day at Lord’s after he suffered a hamstring injury early in his second innings. But with the urging of Aiden Markram, they opted not to disrupt a partnership that went on to carry them to the brink of the World Test Championship title.Bavuma was on 6, two overs before tea, when he pulled up with the hamstring injury which initially required lengthy treatment on the outfield before he made it through to the interval. He was clearly hampered when running between the wickets – which was one of the key factors the South Africa hierarchy discussed – but in the end, there were few alarms with the running, which even raised the question of whether Australia had pressurised Bavuma enough.”We had to make a big call whether he continues to bat and how it will affect his strokeplay, how that might affect Aiden’s rhythm,” Ashwell Prince, South Africa’s batting coach, said. “If twos are being turned into one [or] they can’t run the twos or the threes. Both of them were adamant that Temba was going to continue. He wanted to continue.Related

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“Aiden was adamant that the partnership is the key. Obviously, had [Tristan] Stubbs gone in, we would have still had Temba’s wicket intact, but you start a new partnership. They were feeling pretty good and they wanted to continue.”Aiden was well aware that he’ll have to curb his intensity just in terms of running between the wickets to allow Temba to ease his way through it.”By the close, the two were still unbeaten together with a stand of 143, with Markram having brought up a masterful century, although there was a question mark over how Bavuma would pull up after the night’s sleep and the body having cooled down. It was hard to see, however, a situation where South Africa’s captain wouldn’t emerge on the fourth morning.”Temba is tough,” Prince said. “Aiden has great respect for Temba. In fact, I think this team’s greatest strength is the unity that they have in this camp… they are well aware that South Africa have had much greater individual players, but they’ve got something special going on in that dressing room, and that sort of helps them to drag each other along.”But with the task not quite finished, Prince was reluctant to be drawn into discussing the wider narrative of what could unfold for Bavuma on Saturday. “He’s had to fight throughout his career, and this could be a defining moment for his career,” he said. “I believe it’s the biggest stage of in terms of Test cricket. Maybe I should answer the question after the game.”

Aiden Markram kicked a stuttering Lucknow Super Giants innings into high gears, helping them recover from 54 for 3 in the eighth over to post 180 after opting to bat against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.Markram top-scored with 66, combining superbly with Ayush Badoni, who made a 33-ball half-century. Having not started in the bat-first XI, Badoni was pressed into action as an Impact Sub for Mitchell Marsh when LSG felt they needed some stability, before David Miller and Abdul Samad were unleashed the death.Badoni’s entry in the ninth over meant LSG couldn’t unveil pace sensation Mayank Yadav for his first game. Yadav, who broke through last year after clocking speeds regularly in excess of 150 clicks, had just returned from an extensive rehab for multiple injuries.Badoni, though, didn’t disappoint. Having earned a lbw reprieve through an umpire’s call in the 10th over on 7, he picked up pace in the 11th over when he hit Sandeep Sharma for back-to-back fours. At the other end, Markram sensationally countered Wanindu Hasaranga first, hitting him for back-to-back sixes, and then taking the attack to Maheesh Theekshana.The pair put on 76 off just 49 balls when Markram holed out to long-off, having hit five fours and three sixes in his 45-ball knock. Hasaranga ended the evening with figures of 4-0-31-2.His first wicket was arguably his biggest, of Rishabh Pant after he struggled to manoeuver the ball, eventually put out of his misery when he was caught behind trying to reverse-sweep a googly. Pant made 3 off 9.LSG’s start was scratchy as Jofra Archer, bowling full-tilt and hitting the deck with venom, had Mitchell Marsh top edge a pull to Shimron Hetmyer in the 3rd over. Nicholas Pooran was reprieved on 6 when Shubham Dubey put down a skier at square leg off Archer, but fell after adding just 5 when he was completely flummoxed by Sandeep Sharma’s slower ball.Sandeep’s finish would be as eventful, except he was at the receiving end of Samad’s sensational final-overs onslaught (he made 30 off 10). Samad showed why he was held back, pummelling four sixes in a final over that went for 27 to give LSG momentum at the break.