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Left-arm spinner will “miss going home” but is happy to welcome friends and family to watch him play at the Wankhede

Srinidhi Ramanujam01-Dec-2021For Ajaz Patel, life has come full circle. The left-arm spinner was just a month-old baby when New Zealand last played a Test in Mumbai. And when Ajaz left Mumbai, the ‘City of Dreams’, as an eight-year-old, returning to play a Test here may have not even been in his dreams. But here he is, 25 years later, gearing up to play a Test in the city for his country, which he now calls his home.Watch live cricket on ESPN+ in the US

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Coming back to Mumbai makes him “nostalgic” and “emotional” with New Zealand set to fight for the series in the second Test from Friday, after eking out a draw in the Kanpur Test – a result Ajaz helped orchestrate in the final session of the fifth day along with debutant Rachin Ravindra in the fading light. For Ajaz, playing a Test in Mumbai is “something that I’m sure I will look back on very fondly in future”.”I was thinking about it when we landed in Mumbai yesterday,” Ajaz said. “It was nice coming out – we have come here with family for holidays [in the past]. It’s a little bit different now, obviously. This time I am with cricket.”I have come to the Wankhede for a lot of IPL games, thanks to Mitch McClenaghan. He has been very kind every time I have come here. I have also bowled here a few times, training and stuff like that. It is kind of nostalgic being here. I just have to cope with not being able to see the family. I’m sure I will be making a quick trip back home very frequently whenever that’s possible.”Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel helped New Zealand eke out a draw in fading light in Kanpur•BCCIFor someone whose parents have never “seen me play in person even back in New Zealand”, Ajaz said it would be “really special” for his family to come and watch him play from the stands at the Wankhede.”I have got various members of the family coming in on different days of the game,” he said. “I guess it’s the beauty of Test cricket. Everyone can come in on days that they are free.”I don’t think about it [playing in front of the family] as pressure, it’s more of excitement. I know we didn’t get off at the airport. I have got a lot of flashbacks – leaving Mumbai for the first time and coming back to Mumbai for the first time, coming to Mumbai for a wedding and stuff like that. For me, it’s going to be a very, very special moment.”The past week has been one of a roller coaster for Ajaz. It all started with him starring on a tense final day in Kanpur alongside Ravindra. The pair played eight overs together – with Ajaz facing 23 deliveries – with one wicket in hand to save the match. Ajaz said it was “a very cool moment” for the two Indian-origin players to be fighting for a draw against a strong home side and that in itself is “an amazing story”.Related

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Anatomy of a stalemate on a dead Kanpur pitch

“He [Ravindra] was calm out there. He has got a great head on his shoulders,” Ajaz said. “We spoke about playing the ball as straight as possible. If it goes past the outside edge, it goes past the outside edge but as long as we keep the stumps out of play and not get out in front of pads – that’s the most important part. I don’t think at any point I thought about the outcome, and I am not really sure if Rachin did. It makes things a lot easier.”Against the irony of us at home – towards the back end of the game and after the game was over – the two boys of Indian heritage, being brought up in New Zealand, playing against one of the biggest cricketing nations, trying to fight for a draw and that I suppose, [is] quite an amazing story in itself. It was special for us to be out there, and I thought that was quite fitting.”

West Ham United are looking to get a head start on rivals to the signing of a highly rated centre-forward as technical director Tim Steidten and co plot a potential £14 million offer.

West Ham's search for new forwards amid Lopetegui struggles

Manager Julen Lopetegui bought himself some much-needed time with a 2-1 win over Manchester United last weekend – which ultimately cost opposing manager Erik ten Hag his job – but an equally interesting test awaits them this afternoon in the Premier League.

Lopetegui identifies new £21m West Ham target he thinks will fit perfectly

The east Londoners are after new attackers.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 1, 2024

Nottingham Forest have started the season in fantastic form under Nuno Espirito Santo, losing just once and remaining unbeaten on the road, and they were responsible for Liverpool’s only defeat so far this campaign.

They’re set to ask questions of a struggling West Ham side who’ve won just four games in all competitions, and there have already been calls for Lopetegui to be sacked as David Sullivan reportedly ponders alternative options.

#11

27/10/2024

Man United (H)

Premier League

2-1 win

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Tottenham (A)

Premier League

4-1 loss

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05/10/2024

Ipswich (H)

Premier League

4-1 win

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28/09/2024

Brentford (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#7

25/09/2024

Liverpool (A)

Carabao Cup

5-1 loss

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21/09/2024

Chelsea (H)

Premier League

3-0 loss

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Fulham (A)

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1-1 draw

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31/08/2024

Man City (H)

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3-1 loss

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28/08/2024

Bournemouth (H)

Carabao Cup

1-0 win

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Crystal Palace (A)

Premier League

2-0 win

#1

17/08/2024

Aston Villa (H)

Premier League

2-1 loss

West Ham have sounded out ex-FC Porto boss Sergio Conceicao, according to some reports, with former assistant coach Edin Terzic also tipped to potentially replace Lopetegui if the east Londoners do opt to sack him.

However, Sullivan is reportedly eager to give Lopetegui more time and a chance to prove himself. Their next few Premier League games could be crucial as the Spaniard looks to build upon their victory over the Red Devils last weekend, and it is believed the ex-Spain boss is also making transfer plans behind the scenes.

Lopetegui is eager to sign a new striker in January amid Niclas Fullkrug’s injury woes, with both Michail Antonio and Danny Ings also out of contract next summer. Meanwhile, it is believed Lopetegui has identified Ibrahim Maza as a West Ham target, as the Hertha Berlin forward makes his way onto the club’s shortlist for 2025.

West Ham could make initial £14m offer for Yuri Alberto

As per reports from Spain, Corinthians sensation Yuri Alberto also remains on their radar.

West Ham were targeting Alberto in the summer, but a move for the 23-year-old didn’t come to fruition. They’re now back in the mix, though, with the east Londoners attempting to leapfrog Premier League rivals in the race for his signature.

West Ham are looking to get a head start in the race for Alberto, and could make an initial £14 million offer for the attacker – who boasts 24 goals across 51 appearances in all competitions this calendar year – with the “firm intention” of sealing a deal.

Previously called a “complete forward” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, Alberto has also been praised by the expert for his speed, athleticism and aerial ability.

Mason Greenwood reportedly missed Marseille's latest training session due to 'personal reasons' as his side prepare to face Angers this weekend.

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Marseille away to Angers this weekendGreenwood absent from trainingOut due to 'personal reasons'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , the former Manchester United man was absent from training on Friday ahead of Sunday's trip to Angers. But the report states the 'personal reasons' are nothing to worry about.

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Greenwood has been one of the best players in Ligue 1 this season so having him available for the Angers clash is a huge boost for Marseille. They sit second in the division and will look to try and close the gap on runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

DID YOU KNOW?

This season, Greenwood has scored 14 goals and bagged four assists in 22 appearances in all competitions for the French giants.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

After the Angers match, Greenwood's Marseille side host Saint Etienne in another Ligue 1 encounter on February 15.

The off-spinner took his 12th wicket of the match to seal victory on the final day

Danyal Rasool08-Dec-2021
What might have been a routine win turned into a fifth evening thriller in Dhaka, with Pakistan sealing an innings win moments before bad light was set to draw the curtains on the second Test match between these two sides. Fittingly, it was Sajid Khan who ended the day as he’d begun it – by trapping Taijul Islam in front. It was his 12th wicket of the game, and as Pakistan raged against the dying of the light, they found themselves rewarded with a Test match win, and 12 crucial World Test Championship points.Bangladesh looked as if they might just hold on after all in the final session when Shakib al Hasan – who scored a battling, valiant 63 – and Mehidy Hasan Miraz saw off the first hour of the final session without incident. But Babar Azam – don’t readjust your reading glasses – provided Pakistan with a breakthrough out of thin air as he coaxed Mehidy into a sweep that didn’t connect, Pakistan succeeding with the review to have him trapped in front.Soon after, Shakib, who played two very different innings in the last 24 hours or so, paid for a possible lapse in concentration as he played inside the line of a quicker one from Sajid. There was still time enough in the game, and Pakistan had burrowed their way into the tail. The great heist was on, and even more when Khaled Ahmed feathered one to Mohammad Rizwan. Pakistan were suddenly just one wicket away.At the same time, Bangladesh were creeping up to the magical 213 mark, at which Pakistan would be forced to bat again. With light soon poor enough to rule the fast bowlers out of the contest, Bangladesh would likely only need nine more runs to effectively seal a draw.Taijul and Ebadot Hossain decided against that option, preferring to block their way through until light came to their rescue. A frantic Babar whizzed through his bowling options; while Sajid was a fixture from one end, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Nauman Ali and even Babar himself turned their arm over from the other. But it was Sajid who had the final say as Taijul found himself struck in front, with the review failing to provide the stunned hosts any respite.A sensational bowling performance by Sajid last night was topped up by three early wickets for Pakistan – eight in the innings for Sajid – to bowl Bangladesh out for 87. That meant, with a lead of 213, Pakistan could enforce the follow-on, and the visitors weren’t done yet. Much as Pakistan have done almost all tour, they ripped through the top order, Afridi and Hasan Ali sending the top four back to the pavilion in under nine overs.Bangladesh began the day needing 25 to avoid the follow-on. But Sajid hadn’t finished his first over before he had his first wicket of the day, trapping Taijul in front for the first time on the day. With Dhaka bright and sunny after a few grey days, Afridi was allowed to operate from the other end, and took just two deliveries to uproot Khaled’s stumps, who was forced on strike after a mix-up with Shakib off the over’s first ball. Shakib, for his part, tried to shield No. 11 Ebadot while looking to be reasonably positive in a bid to cross the follow-on mark. The approach wasn’t without its risks, and he ended up spooning one to Azhar Ali at short cover.With the home side now suddenly needing to bat a full day to salvage a draw, they required something conspicuously absent all series – a contribution from their top order. It wasn’t to come, though. Debutant Mahmudul Hasan Joy was done for by a trademark Hasan dismissal to right-hand batters, drawing Joy on the front foot before the ball shaped back in, sneaking through the gap between bat and pad to knock back the stumps. The other opener, Shadman Islam, was trapped in front by Afridi, who had set him up with away-swingers before bringing one in that clattered into his pads.Pakistan were prowling, and it wasn’t long before more wickets fell. Each new ball bowler would pick up one more, Hasan thudding one into Mominul Haque’s pads in front of the stumps, before a brute of a short delivery saw Najmul Hossain Shanto helplessly scoop one up to gully off the splice of the bat.It brought together the two men who contributed Bangladesh’s finest passage of play with the bat all series. Mushfiqur and Liton had batted more than two sessions and added 206 runs for the fifth wicket in the first Test, and once more, they offered the most significant resistance to the Pakistan bowlers. Liton, in particular, did well to unsettle the spinners on a pitch that, with capable batters at the crease, appeared to cast its demons off. There was a moment of fortune for Liton against the luckless Nauman, Ali who drew his outside edge, only for no one to realise it and appeal for caught-behind.They saw off what was left off the new ball, and looked to score off Sajid when introduced, adamant not to repeat the mistakes of the first innings. They continued in much the same way post-lunch, stretching the partnership to 73 before Sajid – who else? – provided the breakthrough as Liton pulled him straight to Fawad Alam at square leg.For once, though that wicket didn’t open the floodgates, with Shakib partnering with Mushfiqur for handy partnership, combining for 49. Mushfiqur battled on while Shakib opted for a more conventional, sedate approach compared to his high-risk strokeplay in the first innings. All of that was overshadowed, though, by a decision to come through for a high-risk single minutes before the tea break. Mushfiqur put in a dive, but his bat had popped up before grounding, and after lengthy deliberations, the third umpire sent him on his way.It would set up that frenetic final session, and in a game where cloudy weather and grey skies dominated the narrative, it was against the Dhaka sunset that the most famous moments of the game were created.

Carlo Ancelotti issued a stern warning towards his Real Madrid attackers at half-time during the Madrid derby.

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Ancelotti issued warning towards star attackersMbappe scored the equaliser in the second halfReal face Man City on TuesdayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Real Madrid came back from behind to hold rivals Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw in a derby clash at Santiago Bernabeu last week. Julian Alvarez handed the visitors the lead in the 35th minute from the penalty spot but Los Blancos reacted strongly after the break as Kylian Mbappe netted the equaliser in the 50th minute.

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Manager Carlo Ancelotti was reportedly furious with the lack of fluency in his team's attack in the first 45 minutes as the Italian coach lashed out at his star attackers during the break. He had sent a stern warning to Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham that there would be consequences if things did not drastically change in the second half.

WHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI SAID

According to , the Italian coach reportedly said: "Either we do what we have prepared or there will be changes immediately."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

The Spanish champions will be back in action on Tuesday night as they travel to Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League play-offs fixture.

Chelsea believe that an astonishing double deal could be just what they need to fix Enzo Maresca’s defence at Stamford Bridge, and are willing to pay a massive amount to get it done, according to a fresh report.

Question marks over Chelsea's defence

Chelsea’s Premier League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield may have been just their second of the season, but it raised plenty of questions about their defence.

First-choice centre-back Wesley Fofana was serving a suspension, which saw Maresca field Tosin Adarabioyo alongside Levi Colwill, with Malo Gusto asked to play at left-back in Marc Cucurella’s absence.

Signed on a free transfer, Tosin did little to inspire confidence in him as he turned in a shaky performance, picking up a yellow card just six minutes in before being substituted after 53 minutes.

Neither Axel Disasi nor Benoit Badiashile have done much to stake a claim for a first-team spot either, which leaves Maresca still seeking truly world-class defenders at Stamford Bridge following the departure of Thiago Silva.

Chelsea’s options at centre-back 24/25

Player

Contract until

Tosin Adarabioyo

2028

Wesley Fofana

2029

Levi Colwill

2029

Axel Disasi

2029

Benoit Badiashile

2030

As a result, the Blues are expected to return to the transfer market to add more defenders to their ranks and have been strongly linked with a move to sign RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba, who they are believed to have been scouting.

Now, a fresh report has claimed that the west London side are eyeing up a mammoth double deal.

Chelsea to raid Benfica in £83m move

That is according to reports in Spain, who claim that Chelsea are in the process of preparing a €100m (£83.3m) offer to sign two Benfica defenders.

The pair in question are highly rated duo Antonio Silva and Tomas Araujo, with Chelsea having been strongly linked with the latter recently and even seeing a bid turned down for his services last summer.

It is claimed that Silva is also attracting attention from Arsenal and Manchester United, but that Chelsea are ready to invest heavily in the Portuguese international in order to get a deal done.

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Araujo, meanwhile, would arrive as a player for the future as much as for the present, in a similar manner to Renato Veiga’s arrival last summer, with the club seeing the Benfica duo as “a key opportunity to rejuvenate and improve their defensive lineup” amid ongoing uncertainty.

The 22-year-old can play at both right-back and centre-back and has started five times in Portugal’s top flight this season, where has partnered with 20-year-old Silva. He could provide cover both on the right side of defence and for injury-prone pair Gusto and Reece James when required.

Their arrivals would be unlikely to happen until the summer at the earliest, with Benfica almost certainly keen not to lose their first-choice defensive pairing in January, while it would probably also require Chelsea to make some major sales to make room for the duo.

With their current crop of defenders all tied to long-term contracts (the earliest expiry being in 2028), that could be far more easily said than done, a fact that could prove a major obstacle for this audacious deal.

Former Pakistan medium-pacer Asmavia Iqbal has been named as the new head of the women’s selection panel

Danyal Rasool28-Dec-2021Urooj Mumtaz has quit as chair of the women’s selection committee, the PCB announced in a statement. The former Pakistan player, who is also a television commentator, left the role “to focus on her professional commitments as well as to pursue other opportunities within the game,” the release stated.Former Pakistan medium-pacer Asmavia Iqbal has been named as the new chief of the selection panel and will be assisted by junior selection committee members Saleem Jaffar and Taufeeq Umar.”It has been a wonderful experience to head the selection committee and contribute in the growth and progression of women’s cricket,” Mumtaz said. “I am grateful for the opportunity and thank all my colleagues, while wishing the team the very best in the 2022 international commitments and beyond.”PCB chairman Ramiz Raja expressed his gratitude towards Mumtaz. “You worked diligently in your role for which the PCB is grateful and indebted. We wish you best for your future endeavours.”Related

Tania Mallick roped in to head PCB's women's cricket wing

Urooj Mumtaz leaves role as PCB's Head of women's cricket

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Mumtaz’s resignation is her second such departure this year. In May, she quit her position as Head of Women’s Cricket in Pakistan after her multiple roles with the board and in television came under increasing scrutiny. The PCB had begun to take a more uncompromising stance over potential conflicts of interest; Misbah ul Haq had also seen his term as chief selector and coaching position with Islamabad United come to an end while he served as head coach of the men’s side. At the time, Mumtaz was replaced as Women’s Cricket Head by Tania Mallick, a member of the Pakistan Olympic Association.Meanwhile, top-order batter Bismah Maroof confirmed she would be available for the ODI World Cup starting March 2022, scheduled to be held in New Zealand. The former Pakistan captain has been on maternity leave since last December and gave birth to a girl in August.”The past few months have been the best of my life,” Maroof said. “Becoming a mother and spending time with my daughter has given me immense pleasure, but it is now time to return to my passion of representing Pakistan at an international stage.”The maternity leave helped me realise the significance of navigating the balance of raising a child and maintaining my professional cricketing career as I missed being on the field each time I saw the girls in action. I can now resume my ambitions and aspirations of playing for Pakistan and hope to make a useful contribution in our target of doing well in New Zealand.”According to the PCB statement, under the board’s maternity policy, if Maroof is selected, “she will be allowed to be accompanied by her dependent child and one support person of her choice.”

New York City defender Mitja Ilenic made a dream come true when he performed Cristiano Ronaldo's celebration in the presence of Lionel Messi.

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Ilenic scored against Messi's MiamiCopied Ronaldo's 'Siu' celebrationSaid the taunt was a 'dream'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After Messi squared to Tomas Aviles to score an early goal for Inter Miami, Ilenic scored a first-half equaliser as his side played out a 2-2 draw in their opening game of the MLS season on Sunday. In his celebration, the 20-year-old copied Ronaldo's famous 'Siu' celebration as the Portugal and Al-Nassr hero's long-time rival Messi watched on.

AdvertisementWHAT ILENIC SAID

Ilenic was very happy with himself after pulling off a taunt in front of Messi as he explained his love for the 40-year-old ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United attacker.

"About the celebration, I'm a big fan of Cristiano, to be honest," he said after the game. "That was basically my dream: to do it in front of (Lionel) Messi. I would say it also shows my confidence and I'm super, super happy about it, that it happened today."

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NYCFC went ahead 10 minutes into the second half, but Messi helped bail out the Herons when he sent through Telasco Segovia to lift it over goalkeeper Matthew Freese deep in stoppage time. Messi then was seen in a heated argument with the referee and grabbed one of NYCFC's coaches by the neck in a fiery end to the match.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Messi scored the only goal of the game as his side beat Sporting Kansas City in the first leg of their Champions Cup tie this week, and will hope to fire his team into the next round when they meet again on Tuesday.

Sunderland succumbed to a second successive 0-0 draw in Championship action when facing off against Preston North End on Wednesday night.

It was a game that lacked vigour from both sides, with Preston no doubt happier with the stalemate when the full-time whistle sounded, as Paul Heckingbottom’s hosts find themselves just above the relegation spaces in the early second-tier standings.

Sunderland do still occupy top spot for the time being in the unpredictable division, but Le Bris will chalk this down as a missed opportunity to get back to winning ways, as many of his dependable first-teamers struggled to explode into life at Deepdale.

Sunderland underperformers vs Preston

It was very apparent from Sunderland’s goal-shy showing that they lacked the creativity of Jobe Bellingham in the midfield spots, who sat out the contest versus the Lilywhites owing to a suspension.

In his place stepped up ex-Preston man Alan Browne who was arguably poor coming up against his former employers, with the experienced number eight squandering possession 16 times in total across his 90 minutes on the pitch, alongside registering just one off-target effort from deep in a bid to break the deadlock.

Away from the more accomplished faces in Le Bris’ starting line-up, young Tommy Watson was surprisingly given a starting nod at Deepdale, with the 18-year-old homegrown Sunderland product fading in and out of the contest to the disappointment of his manager watching on.

Watson would only amass 27 touches of the ball – alongside only mustering up a single shot on Freddie Woodman’s goal – before Patrick Roberts came on in his place in the second 45 minutes – on a night where Sunderland really lacked anything in the forward areas.

Although Aaron Connolly spoke of his delight after the game of being given his first start for the Black Cats since making a free transfer move possible, he was also a bystander to a lot of the action up top and could be dropped for his team’s game versus Coventry City at the weekend.

Chalkboard

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

Connolly's performance in numbers

Potentially still rusty after only joining Sunderland in late September, the former Hull City man was way off the pace in Lancashire, not helped by the complete lack of service he was getting in attempting to make something happen in the drab contest.

The Black Cats number 24 would only accumulate a sorry nine touches in the game before being substituted off just after the hour mark, with no Bellingham in the side attempting to cut open the Preston defence to play Connolly into space, with Dan Neil also quiet in this regard on the night.

Even stand-in Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Moore would manage more touches, with the temporary shot-stopper amazingly registering 30 more.

Minutes played

62

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

9

Accurate passes

1/2

Shots

1

Big chances missed

1

Duels won

2/6

Even from those limited touches, the Irishman did manage to miss a big opportunity for the visitors – as Woodman denied the 24-year-old from point-blank range after Trai Hume darted forward to play him into space – but other numbers from his 62 minutes on the pitch make for bleak reading, with Connolly only managing to register one accurate pass all night long.

It was a bold call by Le Bris to start Connolly up top, considering his lack of action to date at the Stadium of Light, and it will be a decision that the Frenchman must surely regret even more now based off what he saw against the Lilywhites.

Pushed out to the flanks in Lancashire, it’s likely that Wilson Isidor will be moved back to the lone striker spot for the test of the managerless Sky Blues this Saturday, after firing home four goals from 11 league appearances to date.

Connolly will just be working on getting more up to speed behind the scenes in the build-up to this next league clash, with the 24-year-old no doubt frustrated with himself after this unmemorable display.

Sunderland struck gold selling £8m ace who's now worth millions less

Sunderland will now feel they made the right decision shifting on this star.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 4, 2024

Lucknow will host the first T20I now and Dharamsala the next two. The two Tests will be played in Mohali and Bengaluru

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Feb-2022The BCCI has announced the revised dates and venues for Sri Lanka’s tour of India, which will comprise three T20Is and two Tests. The tour begins with the first T20I in Lucknow on February 24, with the other two being back-to-back matches in Dharamsala on February 26 and 27.This will be followed by the first Test in Mohali from March 4, before the tour concludes with a day-night Test in Bengaluru starting March 12. Both Tests will be a part of the second cycle of the World Test Championship.Originally, the tour was scheduled to begin with the T20I series followed by the Tests, but as reported by ESPNcricinfo earlier, the BCCI decided to change the sequence. This was done after SLC’s request to allow a smoother bubble-to-bubble transfer of their T20I squad, which will have concluded a series in Australia just four days ahead of the first T20I against India.Another change was in the venues. Initially, the first Test was to be played in Bengaluru and the second in Mohali, while the T20Is were to be held in Mohali, Dharamsala and Lucknow. Now ending the tour in Bengaluru facilitates the visiting Sri Lanka side with a direct flight to Colombo.This will only be India’s third day-night Test at home – they hosted Bangladesh in 2019 and England in 2021 – and their fourth overall, the same number as Sri Lanka. Both teams have won two and lost one of their three day-night Tests so far.