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From afterthought to indispensable: Tadeo Allende is Inter Miami’s No. 2 man behind Lionel Messi – and may determine their MLS Cup fate

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Tadeo Allende struggled early, but his hot streak has arrived at the perfect time – and Inter Miami may need him more than ever in their push for MLS Cup.

Early in the season, Tadeo Allende kept missing chances – and he got plenty of them. The Argentine attacking midfielder, brought in by Inter Miami on loan from Celta Vigo last winter, was supposed to be the final piece in the Herons’ attack. His job was straightforward: bury the opportunities that would inevitably fall his way.

And there were always going to be plenty. That’s the reality of playing with Lionel Messi. When Messi gets on the ball, opponents tilt, their shape breaks, and gaps appear everywhere. The responsibility then shifts to those around him to exploit those spaces, time their runs and, ultimately, finish. Soccer is more nuanced than that – the rotations, the off-ball movements, the choreographed patterns – but at its core, Allende’s remit boiled down to one thing.

The problem was that he wasn’t finishing often enough. His 15 goals in all competitions looked solid on paper and even exceeded his xG, but Miami created such a high volume of chances that it always felt like there were more out there for him. Too often, he wasn’t getting into the most dangerous spots, and a few big opportunities slipped away.

Now, that has changed. Allende has found his scoring touch – and at the perfect time. Miami are charging toward MLS Cup, with Messi producing at a historic postseason rate, tying the league’s all-time playoff goals record with eight. But Allende has become the razor-sharp edge that completes the picture. And on Saturday, against Vancouver, the version of Allende that shows up may well determine whether Javier Mascherano’s side survives or goes home.

  • Getty

    A puzzling acquisition

    And now, we have to talk about Inter Miami’s transfer policy. It’s a tiring thing to discuss, all said. Many eagle-eyed onlookers noticed that focused heavily on Argentina-born talent. Their manager, Mascherano, played with Messi. Some dubbed Miami’s moves "Messi’s signings." Leo gets what Leo wants. And there could be an element of truth there. 

    One thing is for certain, though, Allende ran counter to a lot of what Miami needed. The Herons, during last year’s playoffs, were undone by a lack of pace in central defense and aging legs in midfield. What they required was a center back capable of stewarding a backline and a rugged, MLS-experienced supporting cast to plug holes in the midfield. 

    What they got, instead, were questionable options in defense and a Celta Vigo loanee with no MLS experience. Allende was a strange acquisition, unproven in the Spanish top flight and relatively inexperienced for a mid-table club in the Argentine league before. 

    The messaging from the club was that Allende could contribute all over. 

    "We're pleased to bring in attacker Tadeo Allende to further strengthen our attack. Tadeo's versatility bolsters our options up front as he can perform in different positions across the pitch. We're excited to bring him on board to help us compete in multiple competitions in 2025," said president of football operations Raúl Sanllehí at the time. 

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    A mixed start

    Allende was a mainstay in the side from the first minute, playing, as the club had promised, in a variety of different roles. But his primary task was, like for Messi's Argentina, to put in plenty of legwork and open spaces for when their star man had the ball – and do everything to win it back when they lost it. The early returns were good enough. Allende found the back of the net in four straight, and looked a real threat in the opening stages of the season. 

    But the goals soon dried up. After bagging against Charlotte on March 15, Allende went two months without finding the net. In that time, he tallied 15 shots – over two per game – and put just three of them on target. His chances were all pretty good ones, too, shots from close range – often from Messi feeds. In effect, Allende was asked to apply a finishing touch. And he wasn't doing it. 

    Still, he was good enough off the ball to justify his inclusion, and the mere fact that he chipped in here and there with a goal made him a worthy addition. He started all but six of Miami's regular season games in all competitions, and scored a crucial goal against Palmeiras in the Club World Cup.

    As for Miami, things were a little mixed. probably reached par as a team, losing to a superior side in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, finishing third in the Eastern Conference, and getting bounced from the Club World Cup by Champions League winners PSG. And, to be clear, Allende was not the problem for Defense was a clear issue. But Miami didn't lose a single game in which he scored. 

    It couldn't be ignored: when Allende was finding the net, good things were happening.

  • Getting hot in the playoffs

    In the playoffs, though, something has clicked. Somehow, Allende has become lethal. He has scored eight thus far in the postseason and seven in his last three games. He's not missing tap-ins, skewing headers, or making silly mistakes. His hat-trick that carried Miami past NYCFC in the Eastern Conference Finals was a truly wonderful thing, three excellent finishes to cap off a fine performance. 

    The third goal simply had Mascherano laughing. Yannick Bright provided the pass in behind. Allende timed his run perfectly, beat the defender for pace, and, with time to think, consider the angles, measure his shot, and contemplate all of the ways he could miss, he unleashed a delightful chip that floated over NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese and into the back of the net. It was the finish of a seasoned striker and a player operating with total confidence in his own abilities.

    Mascherano suggested it was all about confidence: 

    "There’s nothing stronger in soccer than a player’s conviction. When your players are convinced where to go and which road… tactics don’t exist anymore, nothing else exists. For me, is about joining them in that conviction and make the less mistakes," he said after the win. 

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    A slumping Luis Suarez

    Messi, historically, has needed a running mate. These things usually just happen, in truth. At Barcelona, he was surrounded by elite attacking talent everywhere: Neymar, Thierry Henry, Suarez, David Villa – to name a few. At PSG, he had Kylian Mbappe. For Argentina, various superstars have come and gone. 

    This isn’t necessarily American sports where a single superstar can be entirely shut down. You can’t ever really guard Messi out of a game. But he does need help. Last year, that was Suarez, who was truly excellent in his maiden MLS campaign. This season, though, his form has dropped. Suarez isn’t ineffective altogether, but his goal return has plummeted, and he, like Allende, was missing chances for fun at times. Miami, then, needed someone to step up at the right time. 

    And more broadly, that’s the role that Allende has fulfilled with aplomb. He is the clinical No. 2 at the moment, the reliable guy to make things happen when Messi is otherwise occupied. And perhaps more importantly, he’s the guy that Messi trusts enough to give the ball to. With Suarez slumping, that could be invaluable.

Amanda-Jade Wellington: 'Some strive to play for Australia, but that's not me'

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

It’s been three years since she played for her country, but allrounder hasn’t been short of job offers

Valkerie Baynes30-Jul-2025Amanda-Jade Wellington is something of a pioneer in women’s cricket.Still only 28 years old, Australian leg-spinner Wellington isn’t afraid to say she would choose the franchise circuit over an international career if it came to it, and is part of a new generation of women for whom that is a viable option.It’s arguably as much a case of Australia turning their back on her as Wellington moving on from them but, with her second Women’s Hundred season at Oval Invincibles starting against cross-town rivals London Spirit on Tuesday, Wellington is okay with that.”Personally, I think I’ve made the decision to stop playing international cricket,” Wellington tole ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast. “If there was ever an opportunity to play, I think I would personally prioritise franchise cricket over that.”I know it’s tough to say, but that’s something I really enjoy playing and it brings out the best of me in terms of personality and enjoyment. That’s one thing I’ve got to put first is my mental health and the way I play franchise cricket, the feeling and just being involved in it, is just a whole new level.”Don’t get me wrong, playing for Australia is amazing and it’s such an achievement. But to be able to travel the world, fly to different places, play a sport you love and just create bonds with so many different people and different franchises – the amount of people I’ve met – it’s ridiculous.”Wellington hasn’t played for Australia since the 2022 World Cup, the last of her 14 ODIs. She was part of the Commonwealth Games squad later that year but didn’t add to her eight T20 international appearances. She also has a solitary Test cap, having produced a Shane Warne-esque ball-of-the-century-style legbreak to remove Tammy Beaumont during the 2017 Women’s Ashes.She has since been overtaken by fellow leg-spinners Georgia Wareham and Alana King and is unable to break back into the Australian team, a fact she has come to terms with.”I absolutely love playing for Australia,” she said. “I’ve won a gold medal, I’ve won World Cups and I’ve got a baggy green. I feel like I’ve ticked all boxes, the feeling of playing for Australia and the achievement is unbelievable.”For me personally, I get more joy out of playing franchise cricket and that’s a personal thing. Someone else might be different, they might strive to play for Australia, but that’s just not me.Wellington’s prowess with the bat has been a vital part of her appeal as an overseas player•Andrew Miller”I’ve come to that realisation and I’ve come to that decision that for me, my mental health, I’m much better playing franchise cricket, being myself, being the person I am, rather than playing for Australia.”I just feel like if I play for Australia again, I’d be a whole different person and I don’t want to feel like that. That’s okay for me to say, because that’s how I feel.”Men’s cricket has seen a couple of high-profile international retirements in recent weeks, with South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen switching focus to T20 leagues and Andre Russell leaving West Indies while he has been pre-signed for this year’s SA20 and is expected to continue his IPL career.When Dane van Niekerk’s and Lizelle Lee’s South Africa careers ended, both took to franchise cricket to varying degrees, the latter playing domestic cricket in Australia and at the WBBL as recently as the season just gone.Deandra Dottin played franchise cricket only, including at the Hundred, before making her West Indies comeback, while Wellington’s Oval Invincibles team-mate Lauren Winfield-Hill – another who hasn’t played international cricket since 2022 – has been a regular in the Hundred and at the WBBL.

For me [and] my mental health, I’m much better playing franchise cricket, being myself, being the person I am, rather than playing for Australia.Wellington on the priorities in her career

But they remain the minority in a game where playing international cricket is still seen as the pinnacle.”I wouldn’t change my life for anything,” Wellington said. “I felt like I couldn’t be myself around certain people or certain teams. I feel a bit freer playing in the Hundred, playing at Somerset, playing in the WBBL. I feel more at home… it feels right.”That’s not to say franchise cricket doesn’t carry pressure of its own.”You’ve got all eyes on you,” Wellington added. “Being one of the overseas players, you’ve got a reputation of being one of the outstanding players or one of the MVPs. You’ve got to do all that you can for the team. Playing in franchise comes with that responsibility.”Another byproduct of the expansion of women’s franchise leagues is the prospect of keeping more players in the game for longer, on and off the field.Wellington said she was already thinking about opportunities beyond playing while she is part of tournaments run by major organisations around the world – “the networking stuff” – as she put it.The playing opportunity that has so far eluded her, however, is the WPL. She is keen to change that as early as next year and has been working on her batting in a bid to be recognised as a true allrounder.She took strides in that area when she was instrumental in taking Somerset to victory over Surrey in their opening One Day Cup fixture in April.Wellington had already taken three wickets when she arrived at the crease with her side, chasing a revised target of 238, needing 31 off 10 balls. She promptly struck four consecutive fours – six boundaries off seven deliveries in all – during an unbeaten 24 and Somerset ultimately won a last-ball thriller.

Her batting strike rate of 143.26 is second-best in the competition while she has taken 14 wickets at 25.42 and an economy rate of 4.95 with best figures of 4 for 47.In the T20 Blast, where Somerset finished bottom of the table, she took 13 wickets at 26.76 with an economy of 6.82 and best of 3 for 24.”I’ve been working on my batting for the last year or so,” Wellington said. “I really want to be known as an allrounder and someone who’s a bit of a pain to bowl to. I think of myself to be able to hit 360 around the ground and to manipulate the field in terms of moving around my crease and hitting to those funky areas.”Last season she was Invincibles’ second-highest wicket-taker with 10, one behind Marizanne Kapp, and Wellington’s 3 for 9 helped them open the tournament with a 45-run win against Birmingham Phoenix. Before that, she played for Southern Brave in 2022 and Manchester Originals in 2023.She was Player of the Match when her 3 for 16 helped Adelaide Strikers win a second straight WBBL title in 2023, and has been part of the Barbados Royals team that won back-to-back WCPL titles in 2023 and 2024.”One thing that stands out for the WPL is you can’t just be a one-trick pony in terms of you can’t just be a bowler, you can’t just be a batter,” she said. “You’ve got to have an all-round skill and that’s one thing that I’ve been prioritising in my batting as well.”So hopefully these little knocks will catch the eyes of some people and hopefully the standout performances will get noticed. Sometimes you’ve just got to be lucky as well in terms of the right moment getting picked up and people needing a certain skill base.”I’m really hoping next year is the lucky charm and I get picked up. I’m hoping if I do crack it, I can stay there for at least a couple of years.”

The Hundred to introduce player auction for 2026 season

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Salary pots increased significantly across men’s and women’s competitions in wake of equity sale

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Oct-2025The Hundred will switch from a draft system to a player auction for the 2026 season, imitating the long-standing method for squad-building in the IPL, while the overall salary pot for the men’s and women’s competitions will be significantly hiked, by 45% and 100% respectively, according to changes agreed in the wake of this year’s equity sale, which raised more than £550 million for the ECB.The maiden auction is set to take place in March 2026, and is one of several significant changes that were ratified by the Hundred’s Board on Thursday, as part of the ‘reset’ process to launch the first season in which the eight teams will be either co- or fully owned by private investors.In a bid to attract the best available players for the tournament, the total amount that men’s teams can spend per season will rise from the present level of £1.2 million to £2.05 million, while the women’s figure will rise to £880,000 per team. The base salaries for the lowest-paid women’s players will increase by 50%, from £10,000 to £15,000.According to the ECB, there will be salary caps in place, but also salary collars – a minimum spend per team per season – and the option of multi-year contracts will also be introduced. As flagged by ESPNcricinfo last year, the number of overseas players per squad is set to rise, from three to four – subject to Home Office clearance – with a total of 16-18 players permitted per squad.There will be no right to match, but direct signings will be permitted: up to two overseas players and two centrally-contracted England players. The window for such signings will extend from mid-November to mid-January, while the Hundred Board has also approved the retention of the wildcard system which will allow two players per franchise to be selected from the T20 Blast, via a player draft in June 2026.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

As a consequence, a cumulative pre-auction deduction will be factored in for each franchise, which will reduce the spend permitted at the auction depending on the number of players picked up beforehand.For the men’s competition, this will equate to: £350k (1 signing), £650k (2 players), £850k (3 players), £950k (4 players). For the women’s competition, the figures are: £130k (1 signing), £240k (2 players), £310k (3 players), £360k (4 players).Vikram Banerjee, the Managing Director of the Hundred, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for the Hundred. These changes will help us make the competition even better, ensuring we get the best players in the world and improving the standard of cricket and level of entertainment further again.Related

  • Brook set for £470,000 Hundred pay-day as franchises lock in retentions

  • Birmingham Phoenix appoint Shane Bond as men's head coach

  • End of the beginning as change looms for the Hundred

  • Yorkshire to start clearing debts of £25 million as Hundred money lands

  • Hundred sale process encounters delay over future TV rights

“Working alongside our new partners we’ve been exploring how we can take The Hundred forward and we’ve decided that moving to an auction will allow us to improve the competition. For a competition that has always been proud to innovate, we’re delighted to be holding the first auction in major UK sport.”In making this decision, we have stuck to three key principles: i) ensuring The Hundred attracts the best players in the world, ii) maintaining a competitive balance between the squads, iii) guaranteeing whatever changes we make work across the men’s and women’s games. “The decision to increase the men’s salary pot by 45% has been taken because market forces in the men’s game necessitate a more significant uplift to ensure we’re able to attract the best players in the world.”The salary pot for the women’s competition in the first year of The Hundred was £120,000, with the top-earning players earning £15,000 – the pot has risen for the third year in a row. With the pot now £880,000, top-earning players are set to earn in the region of £130,000, as well as a significant increase in salaries for those at base price.”Salaries in The Hundred women’s competition are very competitive, and they compare favourably with other franchise cricket competitions and across the landscape of women’s sport.”It’s been fantastic to work alongside our new partners, they’re already bringing energy and expertise and I know that together we can make The Hundred even better, for fans and players alike.”

'I knew what I wanted' – Adrien Rabiot reveals failed attempts to reunite with 'winner' Max Allegri before AC Milan switch as midfielder says he shares coach's 'way of thinking'

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot reflected on his incredible relationship – both on and off the pitch – with head coach Massimiliano Allegri. The French midfielder reunited with the coach at Milan in the summer after being sold by Marseille for engaging in a fight with his then-teammate Jonathan Rowe, but he revealed that he was contacted by other clubs in the Serie A.

  • Rabiot joins Milan after row with Rowe at Marseille

    Marseille’s season began in turmoil, with off-field chaos quickly eclipsing their opening Ligue 1 defeat to Rennes. The match itself faded into the background after a violent altercation erupted between Rabiot and his ex-teammate Rowe, forcing security to step in as tensions boiled over. The incident took a disturbing turn when 17-year-old Darryl Bakola, caught in the fray, was knocked unconscious.

    In the aftermath, head coach Roberto De Zerbi announced that both Rabiot and Rowe had been suspended and placed on the transfer list as part of the club’s disciplinary response. Club president Pablo Longoria condemned the episode, calling it “completely unheard of in the world of football.” Yet, in an unexpected development, De Zerbi later suggested that Rabiot could still have a future at the club.

    However, Rabiot's fate had been decided the moment he got involved in a pretty intense fight with Rowe. Marseille sold him to AC Milan for peanuts, and things have been looking positive for both Les Phoceens and the France international since their parting. 

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    Rabiot reflects on his relationship with Allegri

    Rabiot's move to Milan made a lot of sense from many angles. First of all, he was returning to the Serie A, a league where he spent five years from 2019 to 2024 before switching to Stade Velodrome. Secondly, he shares an incredible personal and professional relationship with head coach Allegri, whom he was coached by in Turin. 

    "He's a winner, and I like his personality, his coaching style, his passion for football, and his ambition," Rabiot told while speaking of the Italian manager "He always gives his all, and I see myself in his way of thinking. Off the pitch, he's always very positive, he cracks jokes, and he keeps us calm."

    The 30-year-old also revealed that he chose to join Juventus in 2019 because Allegri was the head coach at the time, before being replaced by Maurizio Sarri the same summer. "I met him months before the end of the season and immediately liked him," he said. "When I arrived in Turin, however, he was no longer there. When he returned in 2021, we created a great relationship. On and off the pitch."

    He also shared that the Milan expressed interest in signing him as a free agent in 2024. "Milan had also approached me last year, when I was a free agent, and we talked," added Rabiot. "Would the team have finished higher than eighth with me? I don't know, but given what we're doing now, I'd say I arrived at Milanello at the right time. 

    "The Rossoneri club also wanted me in July, when I was at Marseille, but it was difficult for me to leave. After that [dressing room fight] happened, other Italian clubs contacted me, but I knew what I wanted. Allegri told me: 'Let's see what happens…' and something really happened. I don't know how he does it, but he also foresees… the future (laughs)."

  • Rabiot isn't entertaining early Scudetto talks

    Milan are in a great position after 12 rounds of the Serie A and have emerged as one of the early contenders to challenge Napoli's throne for the Scudetto. However, Rabiot doesn't want to get too carried away despite the Rossoneri's purple patch, which includes the recent derby win over Inter.

    "Yes," the Frenchman responded when asked if it was too early to talk about the league title. "There's no point in thinking about the Scudetto: we're trying to win every game and achieve the goals we've set ourselves. The more the weeks go by, the more we see that the group has the right quality and mentality. Without injuries, we hope to be in a position to give it our chance in February-March."

    He also conceded that the next eight months will be extremely for him. "I have an important year ahead of me, where I can win with both Milan and France. I hope to do that and play all the way to the World Cup final."

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    Milan await Lazio challenge

    Allegri's troops have been unbeaten in the Italian top-flight since their opening day 2-1 defeat to Cremonese. Since then, they have won seven games and drawn four. With 25 points, they sit in second position on the Serie A table. They will welcome Lazio at the San Siro on Saturday.

Russell Martin 2.0: Southampton now closer to naming new permanent manager

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Despite a disastrous start to the season under Will Still, Southampton now found themselves only four points off the final playoff position in the early Championship table.

Three wins on the trot – since Still was dismissed – have helped to arrest the worrying slide, as the Saints aim to be in and around the promotion spaces now until the close of the dramatic 46-game campaign, to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

While the Still reign failed spectacularly, his immediate successor in Tonda Eckert looks to be a short-term figure who is now destined for long-term success at St. Mary’s, with the full-time reins perhaps handed to the transformative 32-year-old very shortly.

The latest on Southampton's manager situation

The German, who is used to managing the U21s on the South Coast, really can’t do much more right now to put himself out in front for the running to be the main Saints manager.

As has been mentioned, Eckert has led the once sorry outfit to three straight wins in league action, with a 5-1 win over ex-Southampton boss Nathan Jones last time out versus Charlton Athletic very much the pick of the bunch.

The powers that be at St Mary’s have clearly taken notice now of how much of an impressive turnaround Eckert has managed to mastermind, with Fabrizio Romano reporting – via GIVEMESPORT – that the stand-in manager has a good chance of being handed the reins permanently, amid internal talks behind the scenes at the club.

There had been other rumours suggesting Russell Martin could come back for another shot at promotion glory with the Saints, but instead of walking down memory lane, Southampton could be better off appointing Eckert right now, as he might well be Martin 2.0 for the rejuvenated Saints.

Why Eckert could be Southampton's next Martin

Martin is likely in desperate need of some time away from the pressures of the dug-out after experiencing his own Still-like failures at the helm of Rangers.

On the other hand, Eckert looks hungry and ready for a chance as Southampton’s main boss, having got a taste for it now, after largely settling for roles as an assistant manager and U21 manager during his coaching career to date.

Eckert at Southampton (U21 & interim)

Games managed

13

Wins

8

Draws

4

Losses

1

Goals scored

31

Goals conceded

19

Points accumulated

28

Sourced by Transfermarkt

When looking at Martin’s early career as a manager, he never looked back after being handed the MK Dons gig in 2019 at just 33 years of age, which is coincidentally only a year older than Eckert currently is, who boasts some impressive numbers on the South Coast as a U21 boss and as an interim stand-in after Still.

Martin gradually rose the EFL ladder to then take on the Southampton main post and clinch promotion, with 26 wins and 87 goals accumulated over 46 games in the second tier, making the now out-of-work manager a firm fan favourite at St. Mary’s.

Off the back of such a richly successful season, Martin was rightly hailed as a figure who prioritises “exciting attacking football” by analyst John Walker.

Safe to say, the excitement levels have returned to Southampton since Eckert has been given the temporary reins, with the barnstorming 5-1 success over the Addicks also calling back to when Martin was in the hot seat, with Adam Armstrong bagging two, and possession standing in the Saints’ favour at the full-time whistle at 59%.

Moreover, Eckert is willing to give the next generation of talents at Southampton chances to shine, having worked in the U21 ranks, much like Martin showed with the likes of Tyler Dibling before his big Everton switch.

It would be a big risk, but the numbers since Eckert took over from Still are very encouraging, with the German perhaps the man to take Southampton back to the Premier League, much like Martin pulled off during the memorable 2023/24 season.

Praised by Saints midfielder Finn Azaz for being “top level”, everything is pointing in the direction of Eckert being a very promising appointment with lots more to give.

Forget Eckert: Southampton could hire Still upgrade who impressed Arteta

Southampton can hire an upgrade on Will Still by bringing in this manager to replace Tonda Eckert.

1

By
Dan Emery

Nov 22, 2025

Bavuma 'excited' to have de Kock back in ODI fold

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Bavuma says de Kock had started hinting at wanting to reverse his ODI retirement as early as January

Abhimanyu Bose08-Oct-2025Quinton de Kock’s ODI retirement U-turn has South Africa captain Temba Bavuma excited, but he said that the wicketkeeper-batter might not get an “easy pass” into the XI, with the team loaded with in-form batters who have helped them win ODI series in Australia and England over the last few months.”I’m a little bit biased when it comes to Quinton. I grew up playing with Quinton from school cricket. So the fact that he is back, I’m as excited as a lot of fans out there,” Bavuma said on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai on Tuesday. “I think there’s quite a lot of batters, young batters especially, who have put up their names. So he is obviously going to have to do what he needs to do from a run-scoring point of view.”I don’t think he is oblivious to that. It’s not the case that he is getting an easy pass into the team. But I think it’s a case of, from where he has been in the abyss, per se, watching into the team, he wants to be a part of what has been created within the team.”Related

  • Bavuma out of Test series against Pakistan with calf strain

  • De Kock reverses ODI retirement

  • De Kock is back on his own with 'no strings attached'

Bavuma also revealed that de Kock had started hinting at wanting to reverse his ODI retirement as early as January. In de Kock’s absence, two left-hand wicketkeeper-batters – in Ryan Rickelton and Lhuan-dre Pretorius – have staked their claim for spots in South Africa’s XI. Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis have also been impressive, in addition to the more seasoned batters like Bavuma himself and Aiden Markram.”I chatted to him earlier this year, in January, just before we were going to the Champions Trophy. And there he started kind of throwing out the fact that he would like to be available. Before he went and spoke to Shukri [Conrad, South Africa head coach], he spoke to me. He made it clear that that’s what he would like to do. And we will support him.”Quinton is one of the good guys within the system, a super-talented player. So if it’s the Quinton who batted in the 2023 50-over World Cup, I don’t think anyone would say no to that.”South Africa will begin their World Test Championship defence in Pakistan•ICC/Getty Images

At the 2023 World Cup, de Kock scored 594 runs from ten innings, at a strike rate of 107.02, and finished as the third-highest run-scorer, helping South Africa reach the semi-finals.Apart from South Africa’s lead-up to a home ODI World Cup in 2027, Bavuma will also have to oversee their defence of the World Test Championship title, beginning with a two-Test series in Pakistan starting October 12. Bavuma will not be part of that series as he is recovering from a calf strain but he sounded positive about South Africa’s chances.”Pakistan selected five spinners into their squad, so that really shows you what type of conditions the guys will be faced with there,” Bavuma said. “Guys are back home now, busy with their preparation. So we’ll leave no stone unturned. We’ve been to Pakistan before. The Champions Trophy – yes, those were good wickets. But we are familiar with the place.”After that will be India. There’s Sri Lanka as well. So there’s a lot more of the subcontinent tours that we’re going to have to overcome the challenge. And then something a little bit more familiar back home with Australia and England. But then again, those are strong teams.”South Africa faced criticism from some quarters about getting favourable fixtures in the previous cycle, but Bavuma was adamant that they didn’t want to shy away from playing the best teams.”I know in the previous cycle, there was criticism around our route into the final, supposedly playing the weaker nations,” Bavuma said. “That’s not the case now. I think for us as players, we look at it with a lot of optimism. Firstly, as a competitor, as an international player, you can test yourself against the best players. And obviously from a team point of view, we keep going and achieving what we want to achieve.”

'Chaotic creativity' – Vincent Kompany hails Bayern Munich star Luis Diaz after last-gasp goal in St. Pauli win

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany hailed Luis Diaz’s “chaotic creativity” after the winger helped his side return to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over St. Pauli on Saturday afternoon. The Colombia international scored deep into stoppage time as the German giants successfully put their midweek loss at Arsenal in the Champions League to bed.

  • Diaz's late heroics inspire Bayern to victory over St. Pauli

    With the scoreline 1-1 heading into stoppage time at the Allianz Arena, Bayern looked on course to drop points against strugglers St. Pauli. The visitors took the lead after just six minutes when Burnley loanee Andreas Hountondji stunned the home supporters, before Diaz kick started his heroics with an incredible assist.

    The former Liverpool forward was on the ground when he somehow managed to flick the ball back to defender Raphael Guerreiro, who fired home to restore parity for Kompany’s men. And then after three minutes of additional time in the second half, Diaz headed home what looked to be the winner for Bayern, only for substitute Nicolas Jackson to make it 3-1 on 90+7.

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    Colombia forward missed Arsenal defeat following UEFA ban

    The victory saw Bayern bounce back from their 3-1 loss against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday. Tasting defeat for the first time in Europe’s elite club competition this season, the Bundesliga heavyweights fell to goals from Jurrien Timber, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli after youngster Lennart Karl scored in the first half.

    Diaz was absent from Bayern’s trip to north London after being handed a three-game UEFA ban following a poor challenge on Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi on 4 November. The 28-year-old will also miss the Bavarians’ next two Champions League games against Portuguese side Sporting CP and Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise on 9 December and 21 January respectively.

  • Bayern boss Kompany waxes lyrical over Diaz's superb assist

    But after inspiring Bayern to an all-important victory which saw them move eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, manager Kompany was full of praise for Diaz after the game.

    Describing Diaz’s remarkable assist for Guerreiro’s equaliser, Kompany said: “Lucho has got a kind of 'chaotic creativity'. He can always do something in chaos.

    “As a [former] defender, I always found it uncomfortable to play against such players because you never know whether you have the ball under control or he has it. He kept his head up while on the ground and played a great pass. He did the exact same move in training yesterday. That's a quality of his.”

    And hailing Bayern’s collective grit, Kompany added: “Such hard-fought wins are part of a season. That gives us confidence in the future that we can win in such situations. Compliments to the boys that they kept going and believed in themselves. We need that over the course of the season.”

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    Bundesliga giants' director of sport issues Kane update

    One player who did not find the back of the net against St. Pauli was Harry Kane, who has forged a brilliant relationship with Diaz in 2025-26. England captain Kane has scored 24 goals in just 20 games in all competitions for Bayern this season, while ex-Porto man Diaz has netted 12 times so far.

    However, while he was unable to add to his goal tally on Saturday, Kane was a topic of discussion after the game as Bayern director of sport Max Eberl issued a cryptic update on the striker’s future.

    When asked whether Bayern have entered into contract renewal discussions with Kane, whose current terms expire in 2027, Eberl told : “Harry knows exactly what he wants and we have plans for him. We would like to continue. We can very, very well imagine that, but we will basically discuss everything with Harry.”

    And when pressed on the future of defender Dayot Upamecano, whose contract expires next summer, Eberl added: “We definitely want it [a renewal]. I think we've communicated that clearly enough. I believe he feels very, very comfortable here.”

Podcast – Tim Southee on the New Zealand culture of consistency and class

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Southee tells ESPNcricinfo some of the secrets behind what makes New Zealand what they are

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2025Another ICC tournament, and it’s another deep run for New Zealand. What is it about the team and the culture around it that allows them to consistently compete at the highest level?With the Champions Trophy final coming up, Tim Southee joins Yash Jha on the Stump Mic podcast to share his thoughts on the New Zealand way, which makes them ever-present contenders on the biggest cricketing stage.

'Sent my head to Mars' – Arsenal fans left livid as Gabriel limps off with groin issue during Brazil's international friendly with Senegal at the Emirates

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Arsenal have been handed another blow in their pursuit of the Premier League crown after star defender Gabriel hobbled off with an apparent groin issue for Brazil. The centre-back was playing on home soil at the Emirates, in an international friendly against Senegal. In the second half, he went down in some discomfort and was subsequently taken off, looking furious.

  • Gabriel added to Arsenal injury list

    The Gunners already have a lengthy injury list, with the likes of Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli all missing in recent weeks. Riccardo Calafiori has reportedly returned to north London after picking up an injury while training with the Italian national team, he will miss their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Norway as a result. 

    Gabriel looks to be the latest player heading for the treatment table, which is terrible news for the north London club ahead of three crucial games after the international break.

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  • Arsenal fans react to Gabriel injury

    The sight of their most valuable defender exiting the pitch during an international friendly in their ground inevitably drew fiery reactions from the Arsenal faithful son social media. 

    One non-plussed fan, Jadinho97, wrote on X: "Gabriel getting injured on international duty at the Emirates has sent my head to Mars."

    Edduizy posted: "Gabriel off injured for Brazil in yet another useless friendly." 

    Another X user, @sakamvent asked: "What is the point of international breaks?  Calafiori and Gabriel are now injured, just when we thought we would catch a bit of break with injuries they start to pile up again." 

    LongJeff called the incident, "horrific horrible news." 

    BiancaKG had a more selfish reaction when she posted: "Gabriel getting injured doesn't bode well for my FPL Team."

  • Ever-present Gabriel the foundation of Arsenal's success

    The handwringing of angry Arsenal fans is understandable. Gabriel has played every minute of the Gunners' Premier League campaign so far this season, and has appeared in all four of their Champions League fixtures too. When Gabriel has featured this term, Arsenal have conceded just five times, while the Brazilian has also chipped in two goals of his own going forward.  

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    Arsenal's upcoming fixtures — Gabriel out for north London derby?

    The suspected injury could not come at a worse time for Mikel Arteta's side. First up after the international break, the Gunners take on their north London rivals Tottenham on November 23. That hellacious affair is quickly followed by a marquee matchup against Harry Kane's Bayern Munich. The Bavarian giants are undefeated this term, winning sixteen straight games to kick off their 2025/26 term. A massive week for the title hopeful's season concludes with another London derby, this time against third-placed Chelsea away at Stamford Bridge. 

    With a lengthening injury list, no player will be more crucial to these tricky fixtures than the totemic Brazilian. Arsenal fans will be hoping against hope that Gabriel was taken off as a precaution, and that he can feature in this upcoming gauntlet of games. 

Pakistan spinners raze Oman after Haris' fifty

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Despite making only 160 for 7, Pakistan cruise to a 93-run win in their Asia Cup opener

Danyal Rasool12-Sep-20251:59

Jaffer: Looks like Haris has worked on his game

Mohammad Haris’ fifty and a bowling performance far too good for an outmatched Oman side helped Pakistan cruise to a 93-run win in their Asia Cup opener. Haris smashed 66 off 43 deliveries in an innings where none of his team-mates were quite able to match his power or timing with the bat as he helped Pakistan get up to 160.Oman received early encouragement when a ball that kept low trapped the dangerous Saim Ayub in front. Sahibzada Farhan’s off-colour form persisted in a scratchy innings as Pakistan stumbled along to 31 in the first five overs, and it was up to Haris to inject impetus into the innings.Related

  • 'Confidence, backing is needed for any player' – Haris repays Hesson's faith

Sixteen came off the final powerplay over, and that was the start of the onslaught. Until then, Haris had 16 off 18. His next 25 balls produced 50 as Pakistan raced up close to eight runs per over, but once again, Oman pegged them back. Aamir Kaleem, the left-arm spinner, was the pick of the Oman bowlers as he had Haris drag on, before Salman Agha lapped a full toss off his first delivery to deep midwicket.It produced another barren spell for Pakistan and the boundaries dried up again. Fakhar Zaman struggled for timing and Hasan Nawaz, so often a hammer at the death, couldn’t get himself in and holed out off his 15th ball for nine runs. But a cameo from Mohammad Nawaz, who arrived in the 17th over, ensured Pakistan got past the 150-mark.Mohammad Nawaz contributed with both bat and ball•AFP/Getty Images

But Kaleem’s three wickets, and the overall assistance the Oman spinners got, suggested this might well end up being comfortably above par, especially in the face of Pakistan’s more accomplished spin options.And so it proved. A bright beginning for Oman’s batters was waylaid by a double strike from Saim Ayub in the powerplay. Nawaz and Pakistan’s two wristspinners Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed dried up the batters’ scoring options, and Oman began to bleed wickets. With the field spreading out and the asking rate rising, panic set in, and the innings began to capitulate. Oman slipped from 41 for 2 to 51 for 9 before being bowled out for 67; flashes of ability drowned under the gulf in quality Pakistan were able to bring to bear upon the contest.

Haris takes charge

It is knocks like these that keep Pakistan persisting with Haris through extended poor runs. He had scored just 54 runs in 11 innings before this game, but he was promoted up the order into the powerplay today. That is his strength, and having cut loose in the sixth over, he continued pumping the Oman bowlers, almost single-handedly maintaining Pakistan’s imposing run rate.2:11

Will Pakistan back this XI against India?

Farhan’s struggles at the other end threw Haris’ exploits into sharper relief. Even with the field spread out, Haris, having found his timing, continued to take on the boundary riders. His third six brought up just his second 50-plus score in the format, before a boundary the following ball saw him match his runs tally from the previous 11 innings. The 43 balls he faced for his 66 makes just this three deliveries short of his longest T20I innings in his 29-match career, and one that singlehandedly resurrected an innings that had begun to wobble.

Pakistan spin lays waste to Oman

Specialist fast bowlers have dropped down the pecking order in T20I cricket under Mike Hesson, but playing just the one in Shaheen Shah Afridi still came as a bit of a surprise at the toss. Oman began the chase in a solid manner and were 32 for 2 by the end of the fifth over. But Saim Ayub had taken both those wickets, and Pakistan began to unleash the rest of their spinners on this line-up that may never had played against bowling of this quality.Abrar, Nawaz and Muqeem first asphyxiated them, and then the wickets began to fall. Muqeem took out Mohammad Nadeem to make it 41 for 3, and from thereon it was a procession. Nawaz got into the act before Muqeem doubled up the following over. Afridi and Faheem Ashraf helped themselves as Oman lost seven wickets for ten runs, imparting upon the scoreline a tinge of embarrassment Oman’s bowlers certainly did not deserve.

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