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No men’s internationals have taken place in New Chandigarh, but most of the India players have been here during IPL 2025

Sidharth Monga10-Dec-20251:28

Why did it feel like Hardik batted on a different pitch?

Big picture – New Chandigarh makes men’s international debutThere is a feeling India are such strong favourites for the home World Cup in two months that the one way to deny them a successful title defence is to catch them on the wrong side of the toss on a damp pitch or a dewy night.South Africa discovered first-hand in Cuttack that India are formidable even on such a night. They will now scramble from eastern India to the north-west with no training day in New Chandigarh and go again on Thursday evening.Related

Hardik shows what he can do when fit and firing

India will be aware that despite their 6-2 head-to-head record against South Africa in recent encounters, T20s can surprise any team on a given night. They want to have reacted to almost every kind of contingency in their nine remaining matches at home before the World Cup. New Chandigarh will be just one such stop.This, incidentally, is the first men’s international at the venue. India and Australia played two women’s ODIs there in September this year.Form guideIndia WWWLW
South Africa LLLWLThere is nothing wrong with South Africa’s combination, but India might just be a bit too strong for them in these conditions•Associated PressIn the spotlight – Arshdeep Singh and Quinton de KockThe first over of the chase in Cuttack set the tone for the rest of the night. Arshdeep Singh sought to make the most of whatever movement was on offer, and he got the dangerous Quinton de Kock in the first over. It is a match-up that Arshdeep has had the better of in all T20 cricket: 41 balls, 38 runs, five wickets. Watch out for this contest again. Perhaps South Africa might let Aiden Markram take first strike because de Kock is a key batter for them.Team news – Changes only if conditions ask for themIn Cuttack, India were close to their best XI if you leave aside the question of Rinku Singh. If the pitch is dry, they can stick in Kuldeep Yadav for Arshdeep; if they worry about batting depth, Harshit Rana can play in Arshdeep’s place. Other than that, they don’t need to fiddle.India (probable): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Shivam Dube, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Jasprit Bumrah.South Africa might have lost big but the combination didn’t have much wrong. At a pinch, they might think of an allrounder in Lutho Sipamla’s place.South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Aiden Markram (capt), 3 Tristan Stubbs, 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 David Miller, 6 Donovon Ferreira, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Lutho Sipamla/Corbin Bosch/George Linde, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Anrich Nortje.1:29

Jitesh on competition with Samson – ‘He’s like a big brother’

Pitch and conditionsWith no tall stands around it, the playing surface of New Chandigarh tends to not get affected too much by the dew. Teams batting first in the IPL hold a 6-5 record in New Chandigarh. Scores of above 200 have been defended successfully, as has been a 111. Fast bowlers tend to hold sway there.Stats and trivia Only three players have hit 100 sixes and taken 100 wickets in T20Is. Hardik Pandya is one wicket short of joining this list of Sikandar Raza, Mohammad Nabi and Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh. Arshdeep has taken the joint-highest powerplay wickets for India: 47. He is tied with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Jasprit Bumrah is only the fifth player to have taken 100 wickets in each of the three international formats. Shakib Al Hasan, Lasith Malinga, Tim Southee and Shaheen Shah Afridi are the others.

He was sharp on the field, making batters overthink, and off the field, spoke out against petty-minded administrators

Suresh Menon25-Jun-2025At a Rolling Stones concert in Bengaluru many years ago, Dilip Doshi, then an ex-India cricketer, spotted Rahul Dravid, a current player, and escorted him towards the stage. Mick Jagger, Doshi’s good friend, was performing. I was sitting with my family nearby and saw this as entirely natural. Doshi was a team man and saw colleagues as family.It was the attitude that saw him stand up for Dilip Vengsarkar after a misunderstanding at Sharjah airport in the 1980s that led to Vengsarkar being deported to India. A bunch of Indian stars who were with the team then didn’t raise any objections. It was a commentary on the times in which Doshi played his cricket in India: it was every man for himself and the devil was assisted in his effort to take the hindmost.Of the left-arm spinners who had the misfortune to play under the huge shadow of Bishan Singh Bedi, Doshi was probably the most gifted and understood his craft better than most. He made his debut at around the same age that Bedi played his last Test (past 30) and still claimed over a hundred wickets, a tribute as much to his competitiveness as his resilience. It helped that he played first-class cricket in England; it kept him fit and saw him bowl to the best batters on the international circuit.Related

Dilip Doshi – The man apart (2006)

Doshi: 'Spin bowling is a battle of wits' (2008)

Dilip Doshi, former India left-arm spinner, dies aged 77

His strike rate (81.7) was only a whit behind Bedi’s (80.3), but in the era of Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Srinivas Venkataraghavan, it was generally considered sacrilege to look beyond the quartet. Every spinner who followed was expected to combine the aesthetics and effectiveness of that generation.Doshi was his own man. He gave the ball a rip that spun it alarmingly on helpful wickets and confused batters on good ones – batters who were taken in by the apparent effort. In this he was a bit like Clarrie Grimmett, who spun it the least when he seemed to be putting in the most effort. As that great left-arm spinner Wilfred Rhodes said, it is enough if the batter it’s spinning. Doshi was not only a thinking bowler himself, he was the cause for overthinking in batters.With his thick glasses and slightly distracted air, Doshi reminded many of the absent-minded professor who knew he had found the solution to the problem the previous day but couldn’t recall where he had left his work. But in fact, he was sharp and knew exactly what was happening around him. Some of his powers of observation found release in his autobiography Spin Punch, which earned praise from the likes of Garry Sobers, but didn’t find too many cheering in his own team.Doshi was not afraid to speak his mind, even during his playing career•AFP/Getty ImagesHe played for India at a time when the authorities kept players in check by injecting individuals with large quantities of insecurity. You had to be in the right camp, support the right official, and engage in public-relations work all the time. Doshi was unafraid to speak his mind. In Spin Punch, he went public with how team meetings were invariably about money and how much could be made how; cricket was discussed if at all only incidentally. He saw the BCCI as a self-aggrandising body, and his one-time friend Sunil Gavaskar as a “petty tyrant”.I am not sure he wanted to play a role in Indian cricket after his retirement, but if he did, he had trodden on too many toes for that to happen. Toes, his own, played an important role in the Doshi legend, when, bowling with broken ones that needed much medication, he bowled India to victory in the Melbourne Test of 1981. Fans love a performer who cuts through the pain barrier, and for a while Doshi, India’s leading spinner, became a national hero despite the fact that he was not Bedi.Yet, in the end, Doshi might have echoed Jagger to sum up a career that gave “Satisfaction” as much to himself as to lovers of the game of which he was a shining representative.

Ruben Amorim has now been Manchester United manager for just over one year, but there hasn’t exactly been much for Red Devils fans to shout about.

The Portuguese manager failed to bring them European football, and has a frankly poor record during his 12-month stint at Old Trafford.

The former Sporting CP manager has taken charge of 55 games for the Red Devils so far, winning 22, losing 22 and drawing 11.

His record in the Premier League is even worse, with United winning just 12 times under his tutelage in the top flight, suffering defeat 18 times.

One of the issues Amoirm has struggled with is profiling players in his infamous 3-4-2-1 system. There are still question marks over the suitability of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in a pivot.

The continued struggles of Fernandes and Casemiro

In modern football, having athletic midfielders is essential for success. A pivot of Casemiro, now aged 34 and still a brilliant ball-winner, next to Fernandes, who has been shoehorned into a deeper role by Amorim despite being one of the best number tens in the Premier League, has struggled.

That particular pairing has been Amorim’s go-to this term, but there is nothing to suggest it is optimising them. In fact, with Fernandes so deep, there is a case to be made that it is hurting the team.

United great Paul Scholes said earlier in the season that “there is no doubt” United’s captain should be playing as a ten.

He excels close to goal, with this goal in his recent hat-trick for Portugal a prime example of how effective he is in the final third.

As for Casemiro, the Brazilian is certainly lacking physically, despite being such a good ball-winner, averaging 3.62 tackles and interceptions per game this term.

As far back as 2023, Jamie Carragher said his “legs have gone.” He certainly needs someone more physically dominant playing next to him.

It is not just Fernandes and Casemiro who are being misprofiled by Amorim, though.

The two players struggling under Amorim

You certainly need to sign very specific players for Amoirm’s system to be a success. Indeed, the misprofiling of Fernandes as a deep-lying playmaker is just one example of making square pegs fit into round holes.

An area similar to that is at wing-back. They are, essentially, wingers, often the highest players for United, in one-vs-one situations with opposition full-backs. Amad is a player who fits the mould, but Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui do not.

Premier League Panel, an account on X, said their efforts in Monday’s 1-0 home defeat to Everton were “plain garbage.” Indeed, it wasn’t their best night at the office, but the roles they are being asked to perform, acting as wingers, are not playing to their strengths.

The fact that they are full-backs by trade certainly shows. Dorgu has just one assist playing high and wide on the left under Amorim. Mazraoui has also managed just the one, although he has played at centre-back, too.

Looking at their creative stats, you get a clear picture of the fact that they are misprofiled.

For example, focusing on the Premier League from last season and the start of 2025/26, Dorgu averages 0.3 crosses per game compared to 0.2 for Mazraoui.

Key passes

1.24

0.58

Expected assists

0.12xA

0.06xA

Crosses

0.3

0.2

Take-ons completed

0.36

0.87

Goal-creating actions

0.18

0.06

United lack an attacking threat out wide at the moment. Playing two full-backs at wing-back, who, it is worth noting, are good players when used correctly, is not helping.

It is certainly something Amorim should look to address in the coming weeks.

His time at United has been one to forget so far, but there is still time to salvage the season. It will be interesting to see if he keeps Dorgu and Mazraoui out wide, or switches them up for more attacking players.

Cunha upgrade: Man Utd could see £80m bid accepted for world's "best player"

This attacking star could improve Man Utd going forward

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 26, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Grêmio conheceu seus adversários na Libertadores na noite de segunda-feira (18), após o sorteio dos grupos da competição, na sede da Conmebol, no Paraguai. O Imortal encara Estudiantes, da Argentina, The Stronguest, da Bolívia, e Huachipato, do Chile, no Grupo C do torneio continental.

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Desta forma, o Tricolor Gaúcho tem pela frente, dentre os times brasileiros, alguns dos adversários mais complicados neste início de Libertadores. O Grêmio irá enfrentar os atuais campeões bolivianos e chilenos, além do vencedor da última Copa Argentina, já na fase de grupos da competição.

➡️Com R$100, você pode faturar R$2000 na Lance! Betting com o futuro campeão da Libertadores 2024!

Tetracampeão da Libertadores, o Estudiantes vive um momento de reconstrução e faz boa campanha na Copa da Liga Argentina, estando em terceiro no seu grupo. Se classificou à Libertadores por vencer a copa nacional, em dezembro do último ano.

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Além do tradicional time argentino, o Grêmio encara o The Strongest, que venceu o Campeonato Boliviano em 2023, mas avança ao mata-mata da Liberta desde 2017. Por último, o menos conhecido Huachipato, que conquistou o Chileno e jogará a maior competição da América do Sul pela terceira vez; em 2013, derrotou o Imortal em plena Arena do Grêmio, apesar de não ter chegado às oitavas.

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

LOGÍSTICA

Sempre uma das maiores preocupações em Libertadores, a logística traz notícias boas e más para o Tricolor Gaúcho. O Grêmio será o brasileiro que menos se deslocará na fase de grupos, com “apenas” 10.760 quilômetros acumulado de viagens. No entanto, terá de encarar a temida altitude de La Paz, na Bolívia, casa do The Strongest, a mais de 3.000 metros acima do nível do mar.

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DATAS

1ª rodada (2 a 4 de abril): The Strongest (BOL) x Grêmio2ª rodada (9 a 11 de abril): Grêmio x Huachipato (CHI)3ª rodada (23 a 25 de abril): Estudiantes (ARG) x Grêmio4ª rodada (7 a 9 de maio): Huachipato (CHI) x Grêmio5ª rodada (14 a 16 de maio): Grêmio x Estudiantes (ARG)6ª rodada (28 a 30 de maio): Grêmio x The Strongest (BOL)

Tudo sobre

GrêmioLibertadores

Angry Roberto De Zerbi raged at Mason Greenwood and his Marseille team-mates after the French giants' defeat against Lille on Friday in a Ligue 1 clash. Marseille suffered their fourth league defeat of the 2025-26 campaign as their four-game unbeaten run across all formats finally ended. Former Manchester United star Greenwood had a rare off day on the pitch which did not go unnoticed by his manager.

Greenwood and Co's nightmare outing

After enjoying a fine debut campaign in Ligue 1 in the 2024-25 season, where he scored 21 league goals in 34 matches, Greenwood has picked up from where he left off in the current campaign. The forward has already scored 10 Ligue 1 goals in 14 appearances and provided three assists.

The clash against Lille, however, proved to be a rare off day for the ex-United winger. Marseille players hardly turned up in the match and looked scrappy as Ethan Mbappe's 10th-minute goal was enough to secure three points for Lille. Marseille wasted an opportunity to go above reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain as they now sit third in the Ligue 1 table behind Lens and PSG.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesDe Zerbi slammed Greenwood and Marseille stars

De Zerbi was understandably furious with his team's lacklustre performance as he told reporters after the match: "We played badly and we deserved to lose. We didn't string three passes together. We lost every second ball. Even with dribbling, we couldn't beat anyone. Defensively, we were never as aggressive as we usually are. We were passive from the first minute to the last. One shot on target for a player like Greenwood isn't enough for him. Shooting so infrequently isn't sufficient."

He added: "Yes, it's true, I'm very angry, I didn't expect us to play like that. Bad, bad. I take it personally, but everyone has to take it personally. When you play for OM, you can't play like that. I have no other explanation."

Greenwood credited De Zerbi for his form revival

Greenwood, who was banished from United in 2023, has thrived in France with Marseille and established himself as a key piece for De Zerbi.

The 24-year-old recently credited his manager De Zerbi for hepling him shine in France, as he told Telefoot: "I’m in a really good place thanks to the coach and my teammates. I feel good and I hope to improve, to win more awards this season. Roberto De Zerbi? He’s the brains of the team, the architect of our game. He helps me understand football much better, he helps me improve every day."

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AFPCan Greenwood make England comeback?

After reviving his career in Ligue 1, Greenwood is reportedly considering a return to the England national team, despite being blacklisted by the FA and manager Tuchel, according to . 

Former Watford forward Troy Deeney has also backed the ex-Red Devils star to make his return to the Three Lions side as he wrote in : "Football cannot be a place where people are written off after mistakes, alleged or not, in their younger years. This is not to dismiss the seriousness of those allegations. Greenwood will live with them forever. In truth, he does not owe an explanation to football supporters. It is his friends and family he must prove himself to. But, if he wants an England return, he must address it in public – prove he is worthy of wearing the England shirt, show he can be trusted. Rebuilding trust is the only way this can ever happen and it is an incredibly hard thing to achieve. It would be taxing on Greenwood himself having to face such justified scrutiny. If Greenwood can face that and come through it. He deserves a second chance with England. If there were to be no way back whatsoever, the game is setting a dangerous precedent. Sending a message that any mistake in your personal life rules you out for good."

Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner made big contributions with the bat in New Zealand’s small chase

Vithushan Ehantharajah29-Oct-2025New Zealand completed a clinical series victory over England with a game to spare, dismantling their opponents in the second ODI at Seddon Park by five wickets.Much like the first ODI, this was a formality for the hosts, this time dismissing their opponents for 175. In a repeat performance, it was Daryl Mitchell who led them with 56 not out to go with his 78 not out in Mount Manganui on Saturday, after Rachin Ravindra’s 54 helped break the back of a manageable chase. New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner blitzed an unbeaten 34 from 17 to add an exclamation point on their dominance, reinforced by the 101 balls unused in their innings, firing them to a 2-0 lead heading into Saturday’s third and final match in Wellington.But the spoils truly belonged to Blair Tickner, who enjoyed a joyful return to international cricket with 4 for 34. Tickner’s career-best figures in the format come after a two-year absence from the side. His presence in the game was squarely on Matt Henry’s left calf strain, after he had initially been drafted into the squad to replace Kyle Jamieson. The time between his 34th and this 35th international cap has been emotionally taxing, after his wife, Sarah, was diagnosed with leukaemia. Though still undergoing chemotherapy, she is now in remission. Each day is a blessing, and Wednesday was another for the 32-year-old quick.For England, it was anything but. For the second time in five days, they have been inserted and removed with minimal fuss, the first ODI’s 223 in Mount Maunganui trumped by a far-less accomplished display in Hamilton. It was the tenth time they have been bowled out in their last 16 goes at setting a total.Rachin Ravindra anchored the chase•Getty Images

This time, Harry Brook could not save them. England’s limited overs captain found himself at the crease at the end of the 12th over with England 51 for 3, eventually falling for 34, 101 shy of what he mustered in the series opener. Jamie Overton, the only other visiting batter to pass six then, was the standout here, muscling 42 off 28.With a card full of Ashes runners and riders, consecutive batting mishaps may well have further-reaching consequences. The first Test in Perth is just over three weeks away.Jofra Archer, on his first appearance of the winter, and playing against New Zealand in an ODI for the first time since 2019’s World Cup final, was the only silver lining, taking 3 for 23 from his ten overs. Four of those were maidens, including a wicket maiden in the first over of the chase. Operating around 90mph throughout, he threatened both edges of the bat and looked in great nick. With more runs to work with, it might not have been in vain.Both captains were keen to bowl first, but it was Santner who had the honour after winning a toss delayed by an early shower. And though his seamers could not make as spectacular use of early conditions as they did when England lost their first four wickets for just 10 in the first encounter, a similar, restrictive haul was still forthcoming.Jacob Duffy, taking the new ball, dismissed Ben Duckett for 1 at the start of his second over. Jamie Smith’s attempt at a third leg-side boundary saw him sky Zak Foulkes into the hands of Kane Williamson at backward point.Daryl Mitchell made a telling contribution again•Getty Images

Joe Root, having ticked over to 25, then found himself tangled in the new leg-side-wide laws. Tickner benefitted from greater leeway with a couple of deliveries beyond the pads, much to Root’s annoyance. A third brought a cursory whiff of the bat for an inside edge taken by wicketkeeper Tom Latham sprawling gleefully to his left.The most inexplicable dismissal was that of Jacob Bethell, emerging from a drinks break to hook Nathan Smith to Foulkes at deep square for 18. His previous delivery, the over before, had seen a similar shot fall just short of Will Young charging in from the boundary.It was already looking like Brook or bust before Jos Buttler was trapped in front for Smith’s second. A powerful four off Smith, followed by a lapped six off Santner, hinted at a repeat of Brook’s audacious fourth century in New Zealand. Santner dropping Brook on nought – a spectacular effort mid-off – looked like it could come back to bite the hosts. But it was Santner who pocketed his opposite number, courtesy of a successful acrobatic effort from Young at backward point, pouching an aerial cut.Once Sam Curran was undone by a beauty from Michael Bracewell – fizzed in from around the wicket, gripping and turning sharply past the edge and clipping the left-hander’s off bail – Overton took the initiative. The allrounder greeted Tickner’s return to the attack with a smeared four through midwicket and then an advancing clump over long-on.Tickner had the final say, forcing Overton into a flat-bat swipe that nestled into Santner’s hands at mid-off, not long after Brydon Carse had pulled the seamer flat to Mitchell at deep square. And when Adil Rashid flayed to square leg, England were done and dusted with 14 overs left on the table.Archer’s first strike four balls into the chase – too quick for Young, pinning him on the pad in front of middle – was a hint that England could make a match of it. His initial spell of 1 for 8 from five overs was a contributing factor to New Zealand’s lowly powerplay of 32 for 1. After the powerplay, Overton forced Williamson to inside edge onto his stumps, and England were up and about.Jofra Archer picked up three wickets and bowled at high speeds throughout•Getty Images

By the time Archer returned for his second spell, the stand between Ravindra and Mitchell had reached 33, with the required runs now 88 from 31 overs. A brace of fours off Rashid took Ravindra to a-run-a-ball 53, his tenth fifty-plus score in ODIs.An unfortunately well-timed pull shot off Archer brought about Ravindra’s end, stinging the palms of Rashid at fine leg. Archer’s third, off his last delivery – Bracewell caught down the leg side – saw a whiff of jeopardy return to proceedings.But 17 taken off Rashid in the 31st over, courtesy of towering straight sixes from Santner and then Mitchell, who then reverse swept the legspinner to move past fifty for the 17th time in ODIs, saw that disappear for good.Mitchell and Santner’s decisive stand was only 59* but they came in a hurry. The latter took Carse for 12, then all but one of the 15 from the next over, delivered by Overton. He then watched on as Mitchell’s ballooned a top-edge to third. An ungainly end to what was otherwise another comprehensive performance. For England, their 50-over struggles continue with this tenth defeat from 14 in 2025.

Curtis Jones says Liverpool are "in the sh*t" after their demoralising 4-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. Defeat at Anfield condemned the Reds to their worst run of form in 71 years, with many scratching their heads at how they can arrest this slide. While some players will have kept their anger for the changing rooms, Jones gave a brutally honest post-match interview.

Liverpool's plight is 'unacceptable'

Following Liverpool's 4-1 loss to PSV on Wednesday night, which came days after a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, midfielder Jones held nothing back when analysing his side's woeful run of form. The England international said their results have been "unacceptable" and that everyone needs to do better.

He told RTE: "I don’t have the answers. Honestly, I don’t. I’m saying that to everybody. It’s just unacceptable. I don’t even have to wait to think about it. I’m past being angry inside. I’m at the point now where I just don’t have the words. It’s hard because I’m playing for the team I support. I’m a fan, and I’ve seen this club all my life. In a long, long time, I haven’t experienced a Liverpool team going through a period like this with results like these. But at the end of the day, we still have that badge on our chest. And until that badge is gone, we’re always going to fight. We’re going to try and get this team back to where it needs to be, show everyone again what this club is about and why people call it the best team in the world. But right now, we’re in the s***, and it needs to change."

AdvertisementLiverpool 'too nice' now

The 24-year-old also believes that the fear factor once associated with Anfield is nowhere to be found. He also thinks that the Liverpool team are being a bit too "nice" and should be pressing sides like "absolute dogs".

He also told CBS: "You just want to be a man out there and you just want to tackle someone and just be a dog out there. It’s got to be on me and the rest of the lads to change this around to not be so nice where teams are coming here thinking, ‘We’re gonna win here and score two, three, four goals’. This used to be a place that you hated to come – with the fans and how we’re going to play and how we’re going to press and be absolute dogs. Now we hardly even play. There’s times where we do play but off the ball stuff… I think that is the stuff that has to change."

'Cannot continue like this'

Naturally, Slot cut a dejected figure after yet another history-making loss. Reds legend Jamie Carragher does not think the club should sack Slot but even the Dutchman is increasingly doubting his own competency. 

He said: "I'm not questioning the players, because I know that we have very good players. Their mentality after us going 1-0 down was also what I was hoping for, but also what you have to expect if you are a Liverpool player. So it's something normal for me that you're questioning your line-ups, you're questioning your tactics, you're questioning the substitutions you make, but that's also what you do if you don't lose every single time. But it's normal for me to question the choices I make, because I've said many times that I'm responsible for this situation. But the players have so much quality that this cannot continue like this."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for struggling Liverpool?

After a run of nine defeats in their last 12 games in all competitions, on top of losing six of their last seven in the Premier League, Liverpool will be low on confidence heading into a clash with lowly West Ham this weekend. The Hammers have picked up their form in recent weeks and will be hopeful of causing another upset. After that, the Reds take on Sunderland and struggling Leeds United as a huge run of matches beckons.

Roston Chase became the first batter to retire out during a men’s T20I featuring two Full Member teams when he went off during West Indies’ chase of 190 in the deciding game against Pakistan in Lauderhill on Sunday.West Indies had gotten off to a good start, with Alick Athanaze scoring a 40-ball 60 opening the innings, but they slowed down once he was dismissed to leave the scoreboard reading 110 for 3 at the end of the 13th over. The requirement then was 80 runs from 42 balls.While Sherfane Rutherford, the No. 4, got going immediately, Chase struggled to go big, hitting just two fours in a 12-ball 15 before he was called back to the dugout – 41 runs were needed off 18 balls after that, and West Indies only managed 27 to concede the series 2-1.There has been only one previous instance of a batter retiring out in a men’s T20I featuring a Full Member team: in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Namibia’s opening batter Nikolaas Davin retired out after scoring 18 from 16 balls in a chase of 126 in ten overs against England in North Sound. The other ten such dismissals have all been recorded in matches involving two Associate teams.Chase, incidentally, had been retired out once before in a T20, at the ILT20 earlier this year. His team Abu Dhabi Knight Riders batted first in that game against MI Emirates, and Chase, batting at No. 6, had failed to get a move on after walking out in the 12th over, scoring 20 from 13 at the end of the 18th over, when he was retired out.

Thomas Frank has changed the dynamics at Tottenham Hotspur, and though it’s been a tough start to the campaign for the Londoners, we are perhaps seeing shoots of success.

Spurs had only won once across eight matches before Frank challenged his former club, Brentford, and came away with the spoils, thus reviving a fight for European contention. There is much ground still to cover this season, but defeat on home turf against the Bees would have made things tricky indeed.

There was something to be observed about Tottenham’s attacking play, with their xG total against Brentford coming in at 2.18, their highest in the Premier League since the season opener against Burnley in a 3-0 win.

But what about the defending? Tottenham have not been as compact and well-drilled at the rearguard this season as may have been anticipated when Frank was appointed. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, elite centre-backs both, have more to give.

Spurs' defensive record under Thomas Frank

Before keeping his protege, Keith Andrews, out, Frank watched on as Tottenham conceded 15 goals across five Premier League matches, failing to win any of those games.

At times, Spurs have been something of a shambles at the back. Some of the defending against Fulham just over a week ago would be a case in point.

What is the source of this struggle? Structural problems? A taint lingering from the erratic Ange Postecoglou era?

The main thing is that many of the goals Tottenham have shipped this term have been avoidable – though, aren’t they all?

Tottenham put in an improved defensive display, but Romero and Van de Ven and the rest need to work harder still if they are to rival some of the sternest Spurs defences in modern times. Think Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. Think Ledley King.

For now, Frank must make do with what he has got, but come next season, he may find he has the north London club’s next version of King ascending to first-team action.

Spurs' new version of Ledley King

King was quite the defender. Rivalling Harry Kane for the crown of Tottenham’s finest academy graduate of the past three decades, he broke into the first team in 1999, playing the sum of his career at White Hart Lane.

Harry Redknapp once hailed King as “an absolute freak”, so powerful and tenacious in the defensive third.

The former England international was sharp-witted and boasted that rare ability to time things to perfection, his defensive skillset operating on some unerring internal stopwatch.

To have a new prospect emerge and emulate the club icon would be a difficult thing indeed, but in Luka Vuskoic, ENIC Group might just have their man.

Tottenham signed Vuskovic in 2023 and have handed him to Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga on a one-year loan deal. The 18-year-old is thriving in Germany, showing he has the talent to rival someone like King down the line, perhaps even with a more robust and promising skillset than someone like Van de Ven.

Van de Ven can score goals, alright, but so can Vuskovic, the teenage talent showing in Germany this year that he has something of a penchant for the spectacular.

A rare profile, Vuskovic ranks among the top 3% of central defenders in the Bundesliga this season for goals scored, the top 9% for chances created and the top 1% for aerial duel success rate per 90, as per FBref. He has what it takes to be a superstar.

The Premier League is regarded by many to be the toughest league in the world, but it’s interesting to note that Vuskovic is perhaps playing slicker stuff than Spurs’ athletic centre-back, and that bodes well for his future in London.

Matches (starts)

14 (14)

11 (11)

Goals

3

2

Assists

0

0

Clean sheets

4

2

Touches*

68.1

79.2

Accurate passes*

52.1 (91%)

51.0 (86%)

Chances created*

0.1

0.6

Dribbles*

0.3

0.3

Recoveries*

3.7

4.1

Tackles + interceptions*

2.2

1.5

Clearances*

3.3

8.8

Duels (won)*

3.1 (48%)

7.5 (67%)

Errors

2

1

The fact that Van de Ven has won less than half of his duels in the Premier League this season is an indicator that he needs to do more to stop the rot that has spread.

But such rot is in its early stages, and can be dealt with. Frank has options for the rest of the term, but adding Vuskovic to the mix could inject that King-like presence to help take the project to the next level.

Anylst Ben Mattinson described him as a “freak athlete” and a “freak talent” with a “scary ceiling,” so the echoes between him and King are underscored there.

Whether the Croatian talent adapts to life in the Premier League remains to be seen, but the signs are promising. He could be a centre-half who ends up overtaking two top stars in Van de Ven and Romero, scratching a similar ballpark to someone like King.

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1 ByDan Emery 4 days ago

Only 69 runs required for victory but history dictates South Africans will remain nervous to the last

Andrew Miller13-Jun-20253:39

Steyn: SA on the brink of a ‘fantastic achievement’

No team in world cricket, and arguably the whole of sport, has a more brutal relationship with the finishing line than South Africa.It’s cruel, but essential, to state this up front, much as Shukri Conrad, their impressively phlegmatic head coach, did when – with their place in the World Test Championship final up for grabs – they slipped to 19 for 3, chasing 148, against Pakistan in December.”Do you want to be remembered as chokers?” was the gist of Conrad’s message, as the cricket world – more engaged with this contest than could ever have been possible without the WTC’s over-arching narrative – began to snipe from the shadows in the prescribed manner.The players duly got their act together and hauled themselves over the line by two wickets, in what Conrad later coined “Camel classic”, in reference to the nerve-settling smoke break he’d had with a handful of his players.Related

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If that Pakistan run-chase was a moment to savour, it is nothing compared to the euphoria that South Africa now know is within their reach, after a day of batting dominance at Lord’s that might have been beyond their most fevered hopes and desires. And yet, even now, they dare not make eye contact with the prospect, lest the whole edifice comes crashing down.Speaking at the close of play on day three, for instance, Ashwell Prince, South Africa’s batting coach, was asked about the magnitude of Temba Bavuma’s performance – on one leg for most of his unbeaten 65, while carrying one of the most unconscionable burdens in world sport, as he extended his unbroken third-wicket stand with Aiden Markram to 143.Prince started to respond with the sincerity that his captain’s heroics deserved, but checked himself mid-flow: “Maybe I should answer that question after the game.”And so, there can – and will – be no counting of chickens as South Africa’s day of destiny dawns at Lord’s on Saturday. Least of all against an Australia that are not simply the defending WTC champions, but – as their proud record in world finals can attest – as habitually certain of their ability to win from any situation as South Africa tend to be consumed by fatalism.”The messaging has been the same throughout,” Prince said. “Make them believe that they can do it, and then just step out the way and allow them to go and do it.”One of the things we said before the run-chase is: ‘the game will finish when it finishes’,” he said. “Whether that is tomorrow at lunchtime or whatever, the end of the match will take care of itself. For us, the most important thing is to remain in the moment. And from a batting point of view, that means play one ball at a time.”3:33

Prince: This team’s greatest strength is its unity

The calm within South Africa’s dressing room, Prince added, was a testament to Conrad’s unflustered approach to his role.”Shukri must get a lot of credit for that,” he said. “As soon as Aiden and Temba came up the stairs [after the third day], the first thing he said was, ‘guys, do the same as you do every night’. Don’t change a thing. Tomorrow morning, come and do the same warm-ups that you do every day. We obviously understand the magnitude of the situation and what’s at stake, but just stay calm and take it in your stride.”Just stay calm… it’s easier said than done, given what South Africa know of their fractured big-match psyche, but moreover what they know everyone else knows of it.Not that the team will be allowing the thoughts to fly so far ahead of the process, but it’s safe to assume that the ICC is already preparing its big-match montage to accompany South Africa’s winning moment… just as was the case in the last World Cup final to be staged at Lord’s, back in 2019.On that occasion, the tape memorably froze in the split-second before Jos Buttler whipped off the bails for the title-sealing run-out… and the ghosts of England’s many and miserable failures flooded into the picture. But, on this occasion, will it even be possible to exorcise so many all at once?2:56

Hayden lauds Bavuma’s ‘champion effort’

For there’s been a horror story for every format and every generation since South Africa’s readmission, up to and including their agonising loss to India – 30 runs needed from 30 balls – in their first T20 World Cup final appearance in Barbados last year.For the current scenario, however, there’s an even more on-the-nose shortcoming – arguably the founding father of the chokers tag. In Bridgetown once again, in South Africa’s very first Test match back in the fold, Kepler Wessels and Peter Kirsten had carried their side to 122 for 2, chasing 201 for victory, against a West Indies pace attack led by Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.A rest day intervened – and premature celebrations were had. But, upon the resumption, those 79 runs were never remotely challenged, as South Africa’s remaining eight wickets were culled for just 25 runs. Against an attack featuring Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon – and in light of their first-innings collapse of 5 for 12 – history is primed to repeat itself if there’s even the slightest dropping of the guard.”There’s no desire to get ahead of ourselves,” Daniel Vettori, Australia’s assistant coach, said. “I think it’s one wicket, that’s the starting point. I don’t think there’ll be any thinking around how to get eight dismissals. It’ll be simply about getting one and seeing what can happen from there.”Perhaps this fatalism really does all come from the outside now. Prince acknowledged there was a bit of low-key superstition at play while South Africa’s crucial stand was growing – everyone staying seated then rushing to the bathroom at drinks, or when Bavuma’s hamstring required treatment – but overall, he insisted the pursuit of positives was the defining aspect of their day. Even during the frustrating morning session, while Starc and Hazlewood were adding 58 for the tenth wicket.2:23

Day 3 review: Markram’s knock could be career-defining

“I think there were signs, starting yesterday evening, when you’re sitting and watching the game, that all those type of things might be positive for us,” Prince said. “There was a little bit of frustration, obviously, with the ball dropping short of the cordon all the time. But if you reverse that when we bat, it’s a little sign that something might be in our favour. The stats suggest that day three might be the best for batting, and their Nos. 9, 10 and 11 were pretty comfortable against a pretty good bowling attack.”Whether the cricket can now take care of itself, only the fourth day’s events can tell. And yet, South Africa already know they have given a good account of themselves, through the brilliance of Kagiso Rabada’s nine wickets, and the indomitability of their senior batting pair. Regardless of the final act, they have arguably already shown that the ends justify the means, when it comes to their scrutinised route to this showpiece occasion.”There was no talk about proving anybody wrong,” Prince said. “Obviously there was a lot of talk about our route to the final, and who we played against, and people have their opinions about that. I can promise you now, we’d love to play against everybody more often, especially if there’s some big-money series that we can also make some money [from].”But the important thing, from Shukri’s point of view, is to make the players aware of how good they are, and if you take them lightly, you might come short. I’m sure Australia wouldn’t have approached the game in that manner. But perhaps the rest of the world, watching the final or predicting what’s going to happen in the final, might have had that opinion.”