All posts by n8rngtd.top

The incumbent No. 3 will be the batter under pressure ahead into the World Test Championship final in June

Andrew McGlashan13-Feb-20252:15

Marnus in or out? Finch and Clarke pick their WTC Final XIs

Aaron Finch believes Australia should drop Marnus Labuschagne for the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s in June with his lean run having extended too far to be accommodated.Australia face some tough selection calls for the final following the recent successful debuts of Sam Konstas, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis which has led to a battle for batting spots.Related

• Green hopeful of Shield return and county cricket ahead of WTC final

• Australia emerge from Test season with flying colours and new options

• Australia face Labuschagne call amid batting squeeze

Travis Head, who opened in Sri Lanka, said he expected Konstas to regain his position at the top of the order against South Africa while Cameron Green is in the frame to play as a specialist batter as he recovers from the back surgery that ruled him out of this season.It leaves Labuschagne, who has one century in his last 51 Test innings and an average of 31.54 since the start of the 2023, under significant pressure for his spot for the first time since establishing himself in 2019.”I’ve gone with Cameron Green or Josh Inglis. They’re at No. 3,” Finch said on ESPN’s when the panel was asked to pick their XIs for the WTC final.”And the reason is, I just think that [Labuschagne’s form] is such a concern because it’s been over four series. If it’s over two or three, I think that you can say, you know what, he’s just around the corner. But the fact that it’s been four, to me, that’s a really alarming sign.Marnus Labuschagne is the Australia batter under scrutiny•Getty Images

“Josh Inglis, I think to get him into the side, he will get that opportunity. Or if Cameron Green is healthy, he just provides so much extra to that bowling line-up as well as with the batting. He’s got the ability to bat anywhere in the order.”However, Michael Clarke and Callum Ferguson retained Labuschagne in their sides for the decider although Clarke said it could be make or break.”I hope they pick him for the Test Championship [final],” Clarke said. “It’s completely different conditions against a different team. He’s played a lot of county cricket. He knows English conditions as well as anyone.”Remember, he bats in the hardest place as well. I think No. 3 is the hardest place to bat in Test cricket. You’re right, the numbers don’t tell a lie. He’s out of form. He’s due.”And to me, I reckon the Test Championship…could be his last opportunity. Going to West Indies, I would like to think that’s an opportunity to give a young player a go if Marnus makes no runs in this Test Championship. If he does, then no doubt he holds his spot because he’s been a wonderful player.”Ferguson, meanwhile, would include both Labuschagne and Green with the latter batting at No. 6 and backing for frontline bowlers.”I’m backing the four bowlers in to get the job done in a one-off hit out in a Test match,” he said. “We didn’t use Mitch Marsh a lot over the last few years. He’s been in that No. 6 position. So we’ve played effectively without that stone cold all-rounder in that position, bowling 10 overs a day. So that’s how I see it.”Stand-in captain Steven Smith backed Labuschagne to emerge for his slump, seeing similarities in how he was low on runs before making four centuries in his last five matches.”Marn’s similar to me, in a way,” Smith said. “I’ve said this a lot of times about myself, there’s a difference between being out of form and out of runs.”I don’t think he’s out of form, personally. I’ve watched him train, I’ve watched him play and a lot of the things that he’s done so well are there. He knows he’d love to score more runs, we’d love him to score more runs, but in my opinion, it’s just around the corner.”

It was the third-highest successful chase in ODIs

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jun-2025Max O’Dowd’s 158 not out trumped George Munsey’s 191 as Netherlands pulled off the third-highest successful chase in ODI cricket in their World Cup League 2 match against Scotland in Dundee.Batting first after winning the toss, Scotland rode on Munsey’s record 191 off 150 balls to put up 369 for 6. It was the highest ODI score by an Associate batter, going past Paul Stirling’s 177 against Canada in 2010. Munsey had a great chance to score a double-hundred – when he fell, ten balls were still left in the innings.Captain Matthew Cross chipped in with 59 off 49 balls. He and Munsey added 150 off 101 balls for the fifth wicket and helped Scotland post a daunting total.O’Dowd, though, wasn’t frazzled. He and Michael Levitt added 67 in 9.2 overs before Safyaan Sharif dismissed Levitt. Two overs later, Sharif dismissed Zach Lion-Cachet as well to make it 75 for 2. O’Dowd and Scott Edwards put the chase back on track and took Netherlands to 143 in 21 overs.After Edwards and then Wesley Barresi fell, O’Dowd found an ally in Teja Nidamanuru. The two scored at a brisk pace and added 101 off 91 balls. With 91 needed from the last ten overs with six wickets in hand, Netherlands were the favourites. But on the very next ball, they lost Nidamanuru.Noah Croes, though, blasted 50 off just 29 balls to shut the door on Scotland. When he fell in the 48th over, Netherlands needed only a-run-a-ball 15. Fittingly, O’Dowd hit the winning runs – a six down the ground – to take his side home with four balls and four wickets to spare.

It will take a lot of rain to stop England from scoring 35 runs or India from taking four wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Aug-20253:37

Root: ‘Amazing spectacle to look forward to’ on fifth day

After the climax of The Oval Test spilled over into the final day because of poor light and rain in what has been a thrilling five-Test series, it’s fair to wonder what the weather on the 25th and last day of the series will be like.There is rain around, but there’s no reason to believe there won’t be time to get a result.Both England and India currently have a clear shot at victory, which keeps the possibilities of 2-2 or 3-1 still open. While England are just 35 runs away from lifting the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, India need another four wickets, including that of Chris Woakes, who is ready to bat one-handed if needed despite a suspected dislocated shoulder, which is in a sling.The weather forecast for Monday in London says it will mostly be cloudy and breezy with a couple of showers in the afternoon, expected around 2pm local time (6.30pm IST). If the first session is clear, with an 11am local time (3.30pm IST) start, the Test shouldn’t go into the afternoon. According to BBC Weather, there is some chance of rain even around 1pm local time, which, again, might not affect the outcome.The weather has been a feature of this Test – it has rained on three of the four days so far. In the dying moments of the final session of the fourth day, it was bad light that forced the players off the field at around 5.30pm local time, when at least half-an-hour’s play was still left, apart from the extended half-hour which allows action to go on till 6.30pm. It started to rain soon after the players went off and stumps were finally called at 6.01pm.

The three remaining teams – Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Barbados Royals – all have a shot at the playoffs

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2025

Jaydon Seales picked up three powerplay wickets and ended with 4 for 15•CPL T20/Getty Images

Jayden Seales’ four-wicket haul and Amir Jangoo’s unbeaten half-century set up a crucial six-wicket win for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons over Guyana Amazon Warriors on Wednesday. The win confirmed Falcons’ place in the CPL 2025 playoffs, with 11 points from ten matches.After Falcons chose to bowl first, Seales struck early and often, ripping through Amazon Warriors’ top order with pace. His opening burst included Moeen Ali falling in the fourth over, followed by the key wickets of Ben McDermott and Shimron Hetmyer in the final over of the powerplay, leaving Amazon Warriors reeling at 26 for 3.Shai Hope’s 14-ball 26, which included three fours and a six, briefly lifted Amazon Warriors. But Usama Mir’s ninth over proved pivotal – he bowled Hope and was involved in the run-out of Hassan Khan at the non-striker’s end.Amir Jangoo guided Falcons home•CPL T20/Getty Images

Amazon Warriors were eventually bowled out for 99 in 18.2 overs, with Mir returning 3 for 17 and Seales 4 for 15.Chasing 100, Falcons stumbled early, losing Andries Gous, Kevin Wickham, Karima Gore, and Shakib Al Hasan inside the powerplay, raising hopes of an Amazon Warriors fightback. However, opener Jangoo anchored the chase with an unbeaten 51. His 57-ball stay, which included three fours and two sixes, ensured there were no hiccups even as more wickets fell around him.Despite tight spells from spinners Moeen (2 for 10) and Imran Tahir (2 for 27), and a couple of late wickets, Jangoo remained composed and guided his team home with four balls to spare.The win marked a significant step forward for Falcons, who become the third team to qualify for the playoffs, joining St Lucia Kings and Trinbago Knight Riders.Mathematically, all three teams in the second half of the table – Amazon Warriors, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (six points from nine matches), and Barbados Royals (three points from seven) – are still in contention for the final playoff spot. But if Amazon Warriors win their next game against table-toppers Kings on Saturday, they are through to the playoffs, and Patriots and Royals will be out.

All the six SA20 2025-26 squads, and the players who went unsold

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-2025

MI Cape Town

Retained: Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Corbin Bosch
Wild Card: Kagiso Rabada
Pre-signing: Nicholas PooranAt the auction: Rassie van der Dussen (R5.2 million), Reeza Hendricks (R500,000), Dwaine Pretorius (R650,000), Tristan Luus (R650,000), Jason Smith (R500,000), Tom Moores (R200,000), Dane Piedt (R200,000), Tian van Vuuren (R1 million), Dan Lategan (R400,000), Tabraiz Shamsi (R500,000), Karim Janat (R1 million), Jacques Snyman (R200,000)Related

• Keshav Maharaj to lead Pretoria Capitals at SA20

• Brevis, Markram earn record sums at SA20 2025-26 auction

• Cape Town to host SA20 final

• Capitals name Ganguly head coach, Pollock assistant coach

Sunrisers Eastern Cape

Retained: Tristan Stubbs
Wild Card: Marco Jansen
Pre-signing: Jonny Bairstow, AM Ghazanfar, Adam MilneAt the auction: Quinton de Kock (R2.4 million), Matthew Breetzke (R6.1 million), Anrich Nortje (R5 million), Senuran Muthusamy (R1.5 million), Patrick Kruger (R450,000), Lutho Sipamla (R600,000), Mitchell van Buuren (R200,000), Jordan Hermann (R1.5 million), Beyers Swanepoel (R200,000), James Coles (R1 million), Chris Wood (R500,000), Lewis Gregory (R1 million), CJ King (R200,000), JP King (R200,000)

Joburg Super Kings

Retained: Faf du Plessis
Wild Card: Donovan Ferreira
Pre-signing: James Vince, Akeal Hosein, Richard GleesonAt the auction: Wiaan Mulder (R9 million), Nandre Burger (R6.3 million), Prenalen Subrayen (R1 million), Dian Forrester (R200,000), Steve Stolk (R200,000), Janco Smit (R200,000), Neil Timmers (R200,000), Shubham Ranjane (R200,000), Brandon King (R200,000), Rilee Rossouw (R500,000), Rivaldo Moonsamy (R400,000), Imran Tahir (R600,000), Reece Topley (R600,000)

Pretoria Capitals

Wild Card: Andre Russell
Pre-signing: Will Jacks, Sherfane RutherfordAt the auction: Keshav Maharaj (R1.7 million), Lungi Ngidi (R2.3 million), Dewald Brevis (R16.5 million), Lizaad Williams (R2.4 million), Craig Overton (R1 million), Saqib Mahmood (R1.5 million), Codi Yusuf (R225,000), Connor Esterhuizen (R3.2 million), Bryce Parsons (R1.9 million), Gideon Peters (R400,000), Junaid Dawood (R200,000), Will Smeed (R200,000), Meeka-eel Prince (R200,000), Bayanda Majola (R200,000), Wihan Lubbe (R200,000), Sibonelo Makhanya (R200,000)

Paarl Royals

Retained: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, David Miller, Bjorn Fortuin
Wild Card: Rubin Hermann
Pre-signing: Sikandar Raza, Mujeeb Ur RahmanAt the auction: Ottneil Baartman (R5.1 million), Gudakesh Motie (R375,000), Delano Potgieter (R2.6 million), Kyle Verreynne (R2.3 million), Keagan Lion-Cachet (R950,000), Asa Tribe (R200,000), Hardus Viljoen (R200,000), Jacon Johannes Basson (R200,000), Dan Lawrence (R500,000), Eshan Malinga (R1 million), Nqobani Mokoena (R200,000), Vishen Halambage (R200,000), Nqaba Peter (R500,000)

Durban’s Super Giants

Retained Noor Ahmad
Wild Card Heinrich Klaasen
Pre-signing Sunil Narine, Jos ButtlerAt the auction: Kwena Maphaka (R2.3 million), Aiden Markram (R14 million), Devon Conway (R325,000), Gerald Coetzee (R7.4 million), David Bedingham (R325,000), Marques Ackermann (R200,000), Eathan Bosch (R1.75 million), Andile Simelane (R200,000), Tony de Zorzi (R200,000), Dayyaan Galiem (R200,00), Taijul Islam (R500,000), Evan Jones (R200,000), Gysbert Wege (R200,000), David Wiese (R1.3 million), Daryn Dupavillon (R200,000)

Unsold players

Jordan Cox, Mustafizur Rahman, Tom Abell, Kusal Perera, Andile Phehlukwayo, Leus du Plooy, George Garton, Jayden Seales, Junior Dala, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Simon Harmer, Kyle Simmonds, Waqar Salamkheil, Brandon McMullen, Keacy Carty, Temba Bavuma, Tawanda Muyeye, Keith Dudgeon, Okhule Cele, Matthew Boast, Migael Pretorius, Nqobani Mokoena, James Anderson, Sonny Baker, Daniel Smith, Andries Gous, Grant Roelofson, Jewel Andrew, Schalk Engelbrecht, Thomas Kaber, Nathan Sowter, Caleb Saleka, Moeen Ali, Jordan Clark, Jason Roy, Jordan Thompson, Jacques Snyman, Beuran Hendricks, Ruan Haasbroek, Wayne Parnell, James Robb-Quinlan, Aphiwe Mnyandi, Jorich van Schalkwyk, George van Heerden, Jon-Jon Smuts, Nangialai Kharoti, Jean du Plessis, Duane Jansen, Binura Fernando.

Gloucestershire seamer Josh Shaw joins exodus after agreeing Somerset switch

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-2025Northamptonshire have re-signed Indian legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal and Australian seamer Harry Conway as overseas players for next season.Conway, who took 20 wickets in four Championship appearances earlier this year, will return for the start of the 2026 campaign. The 33-year-old is expected to be available for the first block of seven games in April and May.Chahal, meanwhile, has agreed to return for a third consecutive summer at Northants, joining for the second half of the season to play in the County Championship and Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Overall, he has taken 44 first-class wickets and seven in List A for the club.”Yuzi is a magnificent asset to this squad,” Northamptonshire’s head coach, Darren Lehmann, said. “His record across his career speaks for itself and he brings so much class and experience to the group. I loved working with him this year and am excited to go again in 2026.””For young spinners in the group like Nirvan Ramesh and Stuart van der Merwe, having Yuzi around to guide them will be a huge plus for their game.”On Conway, Lehmann added: “Harry is an excellent addition for 2026. His form last year was fantastic, and I am excited to work with him for a longer period. His ability to take wickets on all surfaces and presence around the team makes him an invaluable player.”Northants have also signed batter Louis Kimber on a two-year deal from Leicestershire. Largely known as a white-ball hitter and occasional offspinner, Kimber made headlines in 2023 after scoring 243 off 127 balls in the County Championship at Hove.”Louis brings with him a huge amount of knowledge and experience around county cricket as well as boosting our batting firepower,” Lehmann said. “He will no doubt attract people to Wantage Road with his explosive batting and I can’t wait to start working with him.”

Josh Shaw joins Somerset

Josh Shaw spent six years at Gloucestershire•Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Gloucestershire have seen another member of their seam-bowling group depart, after Josh Shaw signed for Somerset earlier this week.Shaw, 29, had been under contract at Bristol since 2019, having previously played on loan from Yorkshire. He follows Ajeet Singh Dale (Lancashire), Zaman Akhter (Essex), Archie Bailey (Durham), Tom Price and Dom Goodman (both Sussex) in leaving over the close season.”We have seen first-hand how impactful Josh can be,” Somerset’s director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said. “He has the ability to swing and seam the ball, and he is an excellent addition to our bowling unit.”We are fully aware of Josh’s strong character traits and his willingness to be the best version of himself, which will add real value to the dressing room as well as on the pitch. These attributes will be vital for us as we continue to compete across all competitions.”

[ad_pod ]

Loads of Tottenham fans have been reacting to the latest transfer news, as young starlet Troy Parrott has signed his first professional contract at the club.

Tottenham have just one senior striker available at the moment in Fernando Llorente, assuming we don’t count Vincent Janssen, but it looks like the club has already got one eye on the future.

Parrott, who turned 17 on Monday, has penned his first professional deal with the club, he confirmed on Twitter.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they’d come knocking in 2005…

The young striker has been in sensational form in the youth academy, and there were even talks of him getting a first team call-up at the height of Tottenham’s injury crisis.

The teenager has scored 11 times and added three assists in seven Under-18 league games this season, and he has also bagged three goals and one assist in five UEFA Youth League games, which includes a crucial goal in a 2-0 away win at Barcelona.

Fans are absolutely delighted to see the striking sensation commit his future to the club, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

According to a recent report from The Daily Mirror, the future of Asmir Begovic appears far from certain heading into the summer. The 31-year-old currently plays his football at Premier League outfit Bournemouth and has done so since leaving Chelsea back in 2017, although his recent demotion from Eddie Howe’s side in favour of Artur Boruc has called the goalkeeper’s future at the Vitality Stadium into question.

And that’s because a recent report from The Daily Mirror suggests that the Bosnia and Herzegovina international has had a bust-up with manager Howe to thus plunge his future into doubt – doubt Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez must seek to exploit in a bid to finally give Magpies number one Martin Dubravka something to think about.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, 30-year-old Dubravka made the move to St James’ Park back in January of last year on loan from Sparta Prague, with the Slovakia international going on to make a huge impact in the North East in keeping four clean sheets and shipping just 11 goals in 12 Premier League appearances for the club.

And with plenty of impressive performances amongst those 12 games, not least in their 1-0 success over Manchester United on debut back in February last year, Benitez sealed a permanent deal for the shot-stopper, who has continued to produce the goods this time round as well with seven clean sheets in 25 matches for the North East heavyweights.

Yet the 30-year-old did make something of an error at the weekend in allowing Son Heung-min’s shot to slip under him to thus consign Newcastle to a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham, but on the whole Dubravka has been a revelation at St James’ Park, and has comfortably become the club’s number one goalkeeper.

However, besides the Slovakian ace, the other options at Benitez’s disposal don’t exactly inspire much confidence, what with Karl Darlow and Rob Elliot the other senior goalkeepers on the books at Newcastle, and neither doing enough last term to convince Benitez of their top-flight capabilities – after all, there’s a reason Dubravka was brought in 13 months ago.

And while Freddie Woodman clearly has a bright future ahead of him, at the tender age of 21 and having played very little football at a high level, it would be a stretch to expect him to regularly deputise for Dubravka in the first team were he called upon – ultimately, the Slovakian star is comfortably the number one at St James’ Park, with no one else really close.

And that is why a move for a supremely accomplished goalkeeper in Begovic would go some way to adding greater competition in those Newcastle ranks, thus giving Dubravka more to think about so that errors like on Saturday simply cannot be repeated.

31-year-old Begovic may well have lost his place in Howe’s first team at Bournemouth in recent weeks, but one mustn’t forget how impressive he was for the Cherries last term in their run to 12th place in the Premier League, starting all 38 of their league games, and in that time keeping six clean sheets.

Add in a hugely rewarding spell at Stoke City, for whom the Bosnian kept 50 clean sheets and shipped just 210 goals in 173 appearances, and it’s pretty clear just how good Begovic is at Premier League level – he would be a number one at many sides in the division.

And while he may find it tough dislodging Dubravka from Benitez’s starting eleven, his arrival would certainly give the Slovakian something to think about, as he’ll be aware that mistakes like on Saturday could cost him his place in the team – that doesn’t seem likely at present though given the other options at Benitez’s disposal.

And with Begovic’s future at the Vitality Stadium somewhat uncertain after reported bust-up with Howe (as per The Daily Mirror), the door could be open for Benitez to lure the £70,000-a-week ace (as per Spotrac) to St James’ Park.

Newcastle fans… what do you think? Let us know!

[ad_pod ]When Paris Saint-Germain travel to Old Trafford this evening to take on Manchester United in the Champions League last 16, all eyes will be on two of the world’s most precocious youngsters; Kylian Mbappe, and Marcus Rashford.At 20 and 21 years of age respectively, it is interesting to see that both men are arguably their side’s key players right now, and are most certainly two players that are bang in form.

Why will they decide the outcome?

Usually, Mbappe would be a threat alongside both Neymar Jr and Edinson Cavani, but the latter duo will miss the game against the Red Devils through injury, leaving the young Frenchman to do it all alone.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

Similarly, Rashford is the man that United fans are currently relying on to score the goals week in, week out, and after being rested against Fulham last time out, the England international should be raring to go.

Both men are guaranteed to have chances at Old Trafford, as Rashford should be able to get in behind a depleted PSG backline which is missing Thomas Meunier and had to play youngster Stanley N’Soki at left back last time out against Bordeaux.

In United’s case, their defence consisting of the likes of Ashley Young and Eric Bailly could easily be found wanting by Mbappe’s pace; it looks set to be a game decided by whichever youngster packs their shooting boots.

Who looks more likely to threaten the goal?

Both men are unbelievably quick, and whilst Mbappe has always been a goalscorer since breaking onto the scene, Rashford has been given a new lease of life under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in a central role.

The Red Devils academy graduate has scored six league goals since the Norwegian took over – he was also named as the Premier League Player of the Month for January.

However, PSG’s World Cup winning prodigy is a much better player and shows efficiency beyond his years in front of goal; United must make a plan to attempt to stop him, but the Parisians mustn’t be complacent around Rashford.

Tottenham have been brilliant this season and although it’s a longshot, still have a chance in both the Premier League and Champions League.

Without spending a single penny and suffering badly from big injuries, Mauricio Pochettino and his players have just got on with things, not worrying about anything else apart from doing the business on the pitch.

There have been a number of terrific showings from Tottenham recently that have since brought them back into the Premier League title debate, whilst their Champions League aspirations are also very much alive and kicking.

Yet, whatever success they may or may not enjoy this season, Spurs cannot stand still in the transfer market again and must look to replenish their squad.

Whether he would want to play second-fiddle or Tottenham somehow integrated him within the starting line-up, Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic could be a brilliant summer coup.

Mitrovic, (who is valued at £22.5 million on Transfermarkt) is far greater than the Championship striker he could become if Fulham are to be relegated and would arguably good enough for Tottenham’s squad.

With the chance to play with a much greater surrounding of quality, Mitrovic could be looking at bettering the ten goals he has scored this season so far.

The Serbian international is still only 24-years-old as well, meaning that his career with Tottenham could be very long lasting and full of success eventually.

Tottenham have a squad full of young and exciting players, which Aleksandar Mitrovic would also fit the criteria of being too.

He is a bullish striker that is superb in the air and on the ground knocking the ball around. He would be far better than Fernando Llorente and would ultimately improve Tottenham’s choices massively.

Do you agree… Let us know!