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Athletic Club want to block Barcelona's pursuit of Nico Williams as they aim to "defends its interests" with La Liga.

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Athletic Club to "defends its interests"Hold meeting with La LigaWant to block Barcelona's pursuit of Nico WilliamsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Barca sporting director Deco confirmed earlier this week that the club are keen to sign Williams, something Athletic are prepared to contest considering their rivals' financial woes. They have released a statement confirming they have met with La Liga to discuss the case.

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Athletic Club said: "The meeting was held in Madrid in response to a request from Athletic Club made within the framework of compliance with financial fair play. Among the topics discussed was FC Barcelona's ability to sign players after FC Barcelona sporting director Deco publicly acknowledged that they will try to sign a player from our first team. Deco's statements add to the public statements made by FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta himself, admitting that the Blaugrana club "is working to be within the 1:1 rule" and that, therefore, it is not currently within the parameters of said rule for registering players."

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Barcelona's financial situation has long been messy, with the club most recently receiving a fine from UEFA for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations. They continue to sign players, though, with the Williams saga following the capture of goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

The signing of Williams would certainly boost Barca from a football perspective, with the winger doing so much damage for the Spain national team when teamed up with Lamine Yamal.

Hayley Matthews and Georgia Wareham add their names to the growing list of players calling for permanent third umpires and DRS in every game

Alex Malcolm31-Oct-2023Discontent continues to grow among WBBL players and coaches surrounding the lack of both DRS and third umpires in certain games this season. Melbourne Renegades duo Georgia Wareham and Hayley Matthews expressed their frustration at the current situation and their hopes for greater technology to be implemented permanently in the future.There have been several instances in the WBBL season so far where incorrect stumping and run out decisions have affected the outcomes of matches when there has been no third umpire available.Only 24 matches of the 59-game season are full television broadcasts with DRS and third umpire reviews available to the teams and the standing officials. The rest of the matches are televised via slimmed-down broadcasts designed for streaming and do not feature DRS technology or even a third umpire.Related

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In three of those games there have been incorrect stumpings and run outs that could have easily been overturned with a third umpire in place, including a not out decision that went in favour of Hobart Hurricanes’ Lizelle Lee overnight that cost Sydney Thunder dearly.Cricket Australia has already said they will look at having third umpires in place for every game next year but nothing will change this season.Renegades have not been on the receiving end of any incorrect stumping or run out calls, but they do believe they have received some lbw and caught behind decisions against them in tight games that might have been overturned if DRS were available.Wareham expressed the sentiment of the Renegades’ group at the current situation.”I think as a playing group it’s pretty frustrating, knowing that those moments in the game are really massive,” Wareham said on Tuesday. “And that it’s sort of changing the way that teams are winning, I guess, and what team wins on the day by those moments.”I think that’s what’s really frustrating when we can’t quite get those decisions right. But I mean, at the end of the day, you can’t do much out there. So I guess it’s up to the big dogs at the end.”Matthews has been involved with the WBBL from its very early seasons and has seen the growth of women’s franchise leagues globally first-hand in recent years. She believes the WBBL needs to have DRS in all games if it is to maintain its place as the world’s premier women’s T20 franchise tournament.”I think it would be a great step,” Matthews said. “We’re obviously seeing all over the world now, in all the franchise competitions you’ve got DRS, third umpire, and full broadcasts in every single game being played. I think WBBL has been the leading tournament for quite some years and it’s the ninth season in. I think I’d love to see it being implemented now and I think that on its own would help raise the standard of the game even more.But Renegades’ captain said her team can’t stress about the current situation for the remainder of this season.”I think you’ve just got to try to control the controllables,” Matthews said. “If we sit and kind of stress about all the things that we aren’t able to control, I think it’s just going to make us more frustrated at the end of the day. So as batters, try to use our bat as much as possible.”

Florian Neuhaus has caused a scandal with a video of himself circulating online, which has landed the midfielder in serious trouble at Monchengladbach.

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Neuhaus' video in drunken state goes viralMidfielder labelled club chief 'the worst in the world'Has been banished to the U23s Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Germany international Neuhaus will have to pay a "hefty fine" after his controversial video in a drunken state while enjoying vacation in Mallorca went viral. In addition, the 28-year-old will not be training with the first team for the next four weeks, having been banished to the Borussia Monchengladbach U23 team. The Bundesliga club announced this three days after the video became public.

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On Sunday evening, a ten-second video was shared on social media showing Neuhaus talking to Gladbach fans in Mallorca. In the video, he says things like "he's the worst manager in the world" and later "Don Rollo gives Florian Neuhaus one, two, three, four million." He is referring to sporting director Roland Virkus. Initially, it was unclear whether the phrase about the "worst manager" was uttered by Neuhaus, as he is not visible in the video at the relevant moment.

There was also speculation afterwards about a mutual separation. Neuhaus had recently fallen short of expectations at Gladbach. The midfielder, who played for Germany in 2022, only made two starts in the Bundesliga last season.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

"Florian Neuhaus' behaviour and statements are damaging to the club and unacceptable. His words have harmed the club and deeply disappointed those involved. This is not compatible with the values of the club," said Monchengladbach managing director Stefan Stegemann.

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Neuhaus currently holds the role of vice-captain at Borussia Monchengladbach, but following the recent debacle, questions are being raised about his suitability for a continued leadership role. Compounding the issue, the 28-year-old has fallen out of favour with head coach Gerardo Seoane and has spent the majority of the season watching from the bench, making just 18 appearances in all competitions. Once linked with the likes of Bayern Munich and Liverpool, recent speculation from Germany suggests the 28-year-old midfielder could join Augsburg this summer.

Shubha, Rodrigues, Bhatia and Deepti all scored half-centuries to steer India past 400

Valkerie Baynes14-Dec-2023Impressive debuts from two young players at opposite ends of the experience spectrum led India to an imposing first-innings total on the opening day of their Test against England.Satheesh Shubha, representing her country for the first time, and Jemimah Rodrigues, playing her maiden Test after 113 white-ball appearances for India, both scored half-centuries on an accommodating pitch in Navi Mumbai as India posted 410 for 7, the second-highest total by a team on the opening day of a women’s Test behind England’s 431 for 4 against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1935, having bowled their opponents out for 44.By midway through the first evening session of this four-day fixture, the hosts’ run rate hadn’t dipped below 4.5 per over. Yastika Bhatia and Deepti Sharma, with three Test caps between them heading into the match, also racked up fifties and each played roles in key partnerships – Bhatia with Harmanpreet Kaur, who fell agonisingly short of her half-century in a strange yet familiar run out, and Deepti with Sneh Rana.Shubha’s selection was a surprise. She hardly played for Railways this season amid a lack of opportunities after moving from Karnataka, but was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the WPL. And the 24-year-old left-hander gave more than a glimpse of what her franchise can expect as she eased to 69 off 76 balls, coming in at No. 3 with her side 25 for 1 after they chose to bat.Smriti Mandhana, dropped on 5 by Tammy Beaumont running back from short leg to catch a top edge that ballooned straight up in the second over, managed just 17 before she chopped onto her stumps off Lauren Bell. Kate Cross then sent Shafali Verma’s off stump cartwheeling with a delivery that moved away just enough to beat the bat, leaving India 47 for 2.But then Shubha and Rodrigues settled into a 115-run partnership that not only steadied the innings but kept the home side scoring at an impressive rate, the 23-year-old Rodrigues finding the gaps seemingly at will as Shubha looked right at home. When the latter cut Cross through backward point with ease, using the pace of the ball for one of her 13 fours, a half-century was just one more stroke away. She produced that three balls later, driving so sweetly down the ground it looked like she had been doing this forever.Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma steered India past 400•BCCIHeather Knight couldn’t cling onto a sharp chance to her right at slip that would have given Sophie Ecclestone her first wicket of the match when Shubha was on 51. That was the last ball before lunch and the India duo picked up where they left off after the break until Ecclestone broke through to remove Shubha, who picked out Nat Sciver-Brunt at short midwicket.Rodrigues forged ahead, bringing up her fifty with the first of two fours in three balls, a beautiful off-drive off Bell. Back-to-back boundaries off Ecclestone followed next over for Rodrigues, driven through the covers and swept fine, but she eventually fell to Bell in a moment of indecision that left her neither playing forward nor back and bowled between bat and pad.Bell put down a sitter to let off Bhatia on 15, her top edge off Charlie Dean looping up but going through Bell’s hands as she ran in from mid-on. Bhatia and Harmanpreet’s union for the fifth wicket was unbroken on 71 at tea, India having scored 125 runs in the afternoon session.They bettered Shubha and Rodrigues’ stand by one off the same number of balls (146) before Harmanpreet was run out right when she should have had an overthrow to bring up her half-century. Having pushed the ball towards covers, she set off but had to turn back. As Danni Wyatt hit the stumps direct with an underarm throw, Harmanpreet’s bat got stuck in the pitch just short of her crease. The dismissal went from the realms of bizarre to ignominious given that she had been run out in a similar way in India’s T20 World Cup semi-final loss to Australia in February.Bhatia produced some wonderful drives and rammed home her authority on the innings with the first six of the match, pulling Lauren Filer over deep-backward square leg to bring up her fifty. But Bell made up for her earlier mistake when she held a catch at mid-on to give Dean the wicket she should have had earlier and send Bhatia on her way.Rana was off the mark immediately, turning Dean through fine leg for four on the next ball and she settled into a 92-run partnership with Deepti, who produced nine fours and an emphatic six off Ecclestone over wide long-on. England’s bowlers lacked penetration and their tiring fielders were left to rue those missed chances. Then Deepti brought up her third fifty from as many Test matches with a four off Bell through square leg late in the day.That was before Sciver-Brunt ripped out Rana’s leg stump, and Pooja Vastrakar negotiated a tense final over from Ecclestone as the opening day of the first women’s Test hosted by India since 2014 and England’s first on these shores since 2005 ended up very much in the home side’s favour.

The England international scored twice and assisted another as Enzo Maresca's side tore the European champions apart

Cole Palmer inspired Chelsea to Club World Cup glory as the England international produced a virtuoso performance against European champions Paris Saint-Germain to secure the global crown for Enzo Maresca's side. Palmer scored twice and provided an assist as the Blues became the inaugural winners of FIFA's revamped tournament in New Jersey with a 3-0 victory.

Despite being the underdogs, Chelsea began the final on the front foot, and Palmer curled narrowly wide after a fine team move. Robert Sanchez did have to react well to keep out Desire Doue at the other end, but the Blues's early pressure eventually told midway through the first half when Palmer guided a shot into the bottom corner after good work by Malo Gusto.

Palmer produced an almost identical finish after quick feet created room inside the penalty area for him to make it 2-0, and the Blues made it three before half-time when Palmer carried the ball towards the edge of the penalty area before playing in Joao Pedro to chip the onrushing Gianluigi Donnarumma.

PSG looked to get themselves back into the game after the break, but both Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha were both denied by stunning Sanchez saves, while substitute Liam Delap twice forced Donnarumma into strong stops shortly after replacing Pedro. Joao Neves then saw red in the closing stages for PSG after he pulled Marc Cucurella's hair.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from MetLife Stadium…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

Robert Sanchez (10/10):

Easily his best game for the club. Made excellent saves to deny Dembele, Vitinha and Doue while his ability to bait PSG's press led to him springing attacks with his diagonal passes. Who needs Mike Maignan?!

Malo Gusto (8/10):

He got help, but that shouldn't take anything away from how he kept Kvaratskhelia quiet. Also proved a useful out-ball in attack, as illustrated by the role he played in setting up the opener for Palmer.

Trevoh Chalobah (8/10):

It's amazing to think that Chelsea still might get rid of the England defender this summer. He read the game mightily well and ensured Dembele barely had a sniff.

Levi Colwill (8/10):

Equally impressive alongside Chalobah at the heart of the Blues' defence. His passing out of defence also kicked-off a series of Chelsea attacks.

Marc Cucurella (8/10):

Showcased his excellent defensive instincts throughout. Cut out Doue's pass for what would have been a certain Hakimi goal at 0-0, and continued to get himself in the way of PSG's forwards thereafter.

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Reece James (7/10):

Helped Gusto out up against Kvaratskhelia while also doing a decent job on getting close to Ruiz in midfield. Looks increasing comfortable in his new role.

Moises Caicedo (9/10):

Returned from injury and was absolutely everywhere, particularly in the first half. Never let Vitinha have any room while shielding the ball expertly when he picked up possession. Capped an outstanding season.

Enzo Fernandez (7/10):

Did some good defensive work in closing down Vitinha and Neves. Didn't really offer much in possession before being forced off due to injury after an hour.

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Cole Palmer (10/10):

What a player! Bounced back from his early miss to expertly net the opening two goals before laying in Pedro for Chelsea's third. Left Beraldo and Mendes in the dust on a number of occasions while also working hard to get back defensively.

Joao Pedro (9/10):

Looked in the mood from minute one as he pressed relentlessly from the front. Held the ball up well, made a couple of key defensive headers and got the goal his performance deserved with a fine chipped finish over Donnarumma.

Pedro Neto (7/10):

His final ball was sometimes lacking, but he worked so hard to get up and down the left flank. Ensured Hakimi couldn't have a say on the game with his tracking back.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Andrey Santos (7/10):

Put himself about well in midfield after replacing Fernandez.

Liam Delap (7/10):

Twice denied by Donnarumma in an energetic showing for the final quarter of the game.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (6/10):

Thrown on for the final 12 minutes.

Christopher Nkunku (6/10):

Replaced Neto in the closing stages.

Enzo Maresca (10/10):

Didn't fear the PSG press, and instead ensured his side played with even more energy themselves to expose the European champions. Looks to have found a system that could lead to more glory going forward.

Lawrence Neil-Smith bagged three wickets while player of the match Brad Hope took two as New South Wales failed to push the game into the fourth day

AAP and ESPNCricinfo staff20-Nov-2023Tasmania have maintained their dominant start to the Sheffield Shield season, thumping New South Wales by an innings and one run to stay top of the table after five rounds.After resuming on day three at 46 for 3, New South Wales worked hard at Bellerive Oval to take the game into the final day and make the home side bat again but fell short.Spinner Jarrod Freeman made the key breakthrough late in the final session, trapping Ben Dwarshuis lbw for 21 and ending his 51-run stand for the eighth wicket with Chris Green.Freeman also had Chris Tremain caught behind for a golden duck, ending the match, with the Blues dismissed for 311. The visitors could only manage 181 on day one and Tasmania took control with their first innings of 493.Tasmania are the only unbeaten side after five rounds and this is their third win. They are on 28.77 points, with second-placed Western Australia on 25.22.Ryan Hackney and Matthew Gilkes put on 82 for the fourth wicket early on Monday, raising the Blues hopes that they could take the game up to Tasmania. Gilkes made 56 while Hackney made 44.Ollie Davies top-scored with 62 and Green made his highest Shield score, an unbeaten 61 that came off 159 balls and featured 10 fours, as he and Dwarshuis batted deep into the afternoon.But the Blues lost their last three wickets in four overs and remain second-last on the ladder. Tasmania’s Bradley Hope was player of the match for his unbeaten century and two wickets.Lawrence Neil-Smith took 3 for 57 in the Blues second innings, while Freeman and Hope claimed two wickets apiece.New South Wales will host Tasmania from November 28 in their next Shield game with Test spinner Nathan Lyon set to return after being rested from the trip to Hobart.

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has admitted that he is still haunted by the memory of slipping against Chelsea and falling away in the title race.

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Gerrard gives '20 Questions' interviewReflects on careerAdmits he's 'haunted' by Chelsea memoryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking in an interview for TNT Sports' 20 Questions series, the former Reds captain opened up about various aspects of his playing career, including "a football moment that still haunts you". It's no surprise that Gerrard answered "Chelsea 2014", referring to the game in which his side lost 2-0 and effectively forfeited their grip on the 2013-14 Premier League title. His slip enabled Demba Ba to run through to score.

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Gerrard's playing career was full of extraordinary highs, including the 2005 Champions League win in Istanbul, but his inability to guide Liverpool to a Premier League title during his career means that the disappointing 2013-14 season still weighs heavily on his head over a decade later, and somewhat defines his legacy.

DID YOU KNOW?

The bonds forged during that historic title race still mean a lot to Gerrard; in the same interview, asked which two players he'd sit beside in his dream dressing room, one of his picks was Luis Suarez. After all, the partnership between the pair was electric, with Gerrard and Suarez providing Liverpool with 100 goals and 52 assists during their four years together.

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Gerrard was sacked by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in January after an underwhelming 18-month spell at the helm. His disappointing Saudi adventure came after a tricky time at Aston Villa, leaving the former Liverpool captain's future managerial career in some doubt. He may have to follow in Frank Lampard's footsteps and drop back down to the EFL in order to rebuild his reputation as a coach.

Babar and Fakhar scored fifties before Pakistan lost their way in a chase of 195

Abhimanyu Bose14-Jan-20241:20

Allen happy to play ‘high-risk cricket on good wickets’

Finn Allen’s blistering 41-ball 74 and a four-wicket haul from Adam Milne put New Zealand 2-0 up in the five-match series against Pakistan in Hamilton.Allen put on half-century partnerships with Devon Conway and Kane Williamson for the first two wickets as New Zealand looked set for a mammoth total once more, after registering 226 in Auckland. But Abbas Afridi and Haris Rauf helped Pakistan claw back and keep the hosts to 194, despite Mitchell Santner’s late cameo.After losing two early wickets, Pakistan seemed to be in the driving seat with Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman putting on 87. But Milne, Ben Sears and Ish Sodhi ran through Pakistan’s batting to secure the win for New Zealand.Related

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Allen fires for New Zealand After scores of 38 and 34 in his last two T20Is – and two half-centuries in the Super Smash in between – Allen continued his good form, hitting Rauf for a six and a four off his first two balls. Shaheen Shah Afridi wasn’t spared either as Allen deposited him for a six over deep midwicket.Allen continued to take on Rauf, who gave away 30 in his first two overs. Abbas was also welcomed to the attack with a 11-run over.If Pakistan thought spin could deter Allen, they were mistaken. He welcomed Usama Mir with two boundaries in his first over, before hitting him for a six and a four in his next over. The six – a half-tracker pulled over deep midwicket – brought up a 24-ball half-century.Williamson, meanwhile, was ticking along nicely at the other end, and took a liking to Jamal, who had dismissed Conway. Williamson hit the fast bowler for a six and four to take New Zealand to 111 for 1 at the halfway mark. But that was his last contribution to the game, as he retired hurt after feeling tightness in his right hamstring.Allen then muscled Mir over backward point for a six but the legspinner had his revenge when he cleaned the opener up with a wrong’un for 74. It was the first time Allen had scored above 20 in three successive T20Is in his 37-match career.Abbas and Rauf pull Pakistan back With Allen back in the hut, Abbas struck on either side of two tight overs from Mir and Rauf to effectively leave New Zealand five down. Rauf then severely dashed their hopes of getting to 200 with a triple-wicket penultimate over. He first had Glenn Phillips caught at backward point, then had Milne hole out to long-on for a golden duck, before cleaning up Sodhi to finish with 3 for 38.Santer tried his best – first hitting Abbas for six and then taking 14 off a Jamal over – but was run out in the last over as New Zealand were kept to 194.Fakhar Zaman showed scant respect to spin•AFP/Getty ImagesBabar, Fakhar dominate Mohammad Rizwan hit a six off the first ball he faced, but Tim Southee and Adam Milne sent the openers back early. Milne thought he had a second wicket only for Sears to drop Fakhar at backward square leg. Fakhar was yet to get off the mark, and it proved to be an expensive drop.While Babar was the aggressor at the start, Fakhar soon caught up. He smacked three sixes in two overs as Pakistan ended the powerplay on 61 for 2. He hit Sodhi for sixes off successive balls before back-to-back fours off Mile helped him to a 23-ball fifty. However, two balls later, he played on.Babar had raced to 21 off his first ten balls, taking on anything short. He got a reprieve on 27, when Chapman shelled a sitter at backward point. Even after losing Fakhar, he batted steadily and brought up his second successive half-century.Sears, Sodhi and Milne close out the win With the asking rate mounting on Pakistan, Sears had Iftikhar Ahmed caught at fine leg. Sodhi then dismissed Azam Khan and Jamal in quick time.Babar was still fighting on, hitting Southee and Santner for sixes. Shaheen also joined in, taking Santner on.But Sears had Babar miscue to mid-off to end Pakistan’s resistance. Milne took two off two in the penultimate over before Southee sealed the win.

Frenkie de Jong’s renewal is on hold as Barcelona await confirmation of his new agent amid lingering tension and salary concerns.

Barcelona won’t begin renewal talks until new agent is appointedDe Jong has split with longtime agent Ali DursunThe club want to renew without increasing his salaryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , Barcelona are keen to renew De Jong’s contract but remain at a standstill. The midfielder has yet to officially cut ties with his former agent, Ali Dursun, halting all negotiations. While De Jong has agreed in principle to continue at the club, he must appoint a new representative before formal talks can begin.

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The Dutch midfielder's contract renewal is part of Deco’s broader plan to lock in key players for the future, a strategy already completed with the likes of Lamine Yamal, Gavi, and Ronald Araujo. However, De Jong’s renewal holds even more weight due to Barca’s tight financial situation. His current deal includes €22 million (£18m/$25m) gross in salary next season €19m (£16m/$22m) from a past signing bonus and €3m (£2.5m/$3.4m) in loyalty bonuses with potential to go higher based on performance. Deferring some of that amount would offer financial breathing room and improve their transfer flexibility.

DID YOU KNOW?

The 28-year-old was previously put up for sale by the club, a decision that left a lasting mark. Despite feeling hurt, De Jong is now willing to let go of the past and continue with the Catalan giants, especially after a strong finish to last season and the recent birth of his child, which reportedly influenced his desire for stability.

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Barcelona will resume talks once De Jong’s new agent, likely Pini Zahavi, who already represents Robert Lewandowski and Hansi Flick, is formally appointed. The club hope to finalise a long-term extension that doesn’t raise wages but could help with Financial Fair Play through wage deferrals.

South Africa head coach says his inexperienced players now know the ‘harsh reality of Test cricket’ after being thrown in the deep-end

Firdose Moonda08-Feb-2024South Africa’s Test players in New Zealand feel like “Burnley going to Anfield every week” according to coach Shukri Conrad, who called their 281-run defeat in the first match a “jolt and a wake-up call.”While Conrad has known for seven months that he would not have a full-strength squad for the series because of player obligations to the SA20 and prepared accordingly, the gulf between his side and New Zealand’s seems to have hit home in Mount Maunganui after South Africa were completely outplayed in all areas and lost in four days.”It’s not okay. It’s tough for everyone here. It’s like Burnley going to Anfield every week,” Conrad said. “If it was a T20, you know one performance can win the game. [In Tests] it’s five days of relentless effort and pressure. You’ve got to be on top of your game all the time against a quality side like New Zealand.”Related

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Jamieson, Santner bowl NZ to victory after Williamson's twin centuries and Ravindra's 240

For context, Burnley are currently 19th on the English Premier League table and take on leaders Liverpool at Anfield this weekend.Conrad described the players, six of whom were on debut in the first Test, to be “in decent spirits,” but admitted they have been made to confront the quality of their own abilities. “A few of them would have taken a knock in terms of the harsh realities that Test cricket brings, and possibly how far away they still are. Many feel that they’re closer to the Test side than they currently are,” he said. “You go through a few days like they have been through, and that’s a jolt and a wake-up call.”He was particularly critical of two aspects of the team’s game: fielding and batting. South Africa dropped both Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra in the first innings which proved extremely costly. The pair shared a stand of 232, Williamson went on to score 118, Ravindra piled on 240 and South Africa conceded 511 in total.”If we took our chances on day one … you know you’re going to have to live on the breadcrumbs. Every now and again, when a slice comes around, you’ve got to grab it with both hands. And we didn’t. That first day could have been different. And then if we batted properly…”Only David Bedingham scored a half-century for South Africa in the Test match, while Keegan Petersen and Zubayr Hamza failed to convert starts. Those three were the batters who had played Tests before the New Zealand tour, and Conrad said he expected more from them given the inexperience through the rest of the rank.”Pressure does a hell of a lot of things to you,” he said. “Often guys come to this level and feel silver bullets need to be landing from all over. In fact all you do is simplify matters. It’s easy to say go out and back yourself but when your every move is magnified and your technique is being cut to shreds on TV and elsewhere, that’s what the harsh reality of Test cricket is. This is what players are going to have to deal with.”

“A few of them would have taken a knock in terms of the harsh realities that Test cricket brings, and possibly how far away they still are. Many feel that they’re closer to the Test side than they currently are.”South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad

Asked if the batting performance, specifically, was an indictment on South Africa’s first-class system, Conrad said: “When Tony de Zorzi walked in to make his debut, he walked in after Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar,” he said. “Then Temba Bavuma walked in at No. 4. There was lots of experience at Test level.”If he had walked out to bat for the first time the other day, he would have walked out with somebody who was also making his debut, and at three was also someone making his debut. All of these guys are inexperienced at this level. They’ve got heaps of first-class experience but they don’t have any Test experience, and there’s a massive gap anywhere in the world, not only in South Africa.”The current South African squad averages 96 first-class caps per player, which speaks to Conrad’s point that there is a level of know-how in the squad. But it seems that their initial hopes of emulating the women’s team – who won a T20I and an ODI against Australia for the first time on their current tour – were setting the bar a bit too high.”Every time you play in a Test there’s an expectation that, even though maybe you can’t do all the swimming strokes, perhaps you can doggy paddle for a reasonable time and not drown,” Conrad said. “Yes, they’ve been thrown in the deep end. But it’s a great opportunity for the players to put their hands up and, as a group, to go back to the first-class system and spread the gospel in terms of what the requirements are and what their experiences were. Hopefully in that way we can uplift the standard and not create expectation at every turn when someone gets a five-wicket haul or scores a hundred at domestic level. But, yes, it is a sink or swim situation.”