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Pakistan and Australia bring their A game; the fans bring their noisemakers

Osama Hamid07-Jul-2010Choice of game
Though I live in Birmingham, I was unable to go to Monday’s match, and as Pakistan won it, I was itching not to miss this one. Both sides have class players and I’d heard about the atmosphere the previous day, so I wanted to experience it for myself. My prediction was a close win for Pakistan as I believed they were more experienced in this format, although the Aussie side was full of match-winners and superstars.Team supported
I was supporting Pakistan, along with most of the Edgbaston crowd, and I desperately wanted some proper success for the team after all the controversy and dismal performances of the last few months.Key performer
There wasn’t any one standout player for Pakistan; most of the runs were made by the team, and the wickets were shared around, which is a sign of a strong team. If I had to pick someone, it would be Mohammad Aamer for his late cameo hitting and three crucial breakthroughs in the Australian innings. This got Pakistan to a total they could defend easily after a mini collapse, and his bowling quashed any hopes of the Australians getting away in the early overs.One thing I’d have changed

I would definitely have changed the number of horns and vuvuzelas inside the ground. The noise was so loud you could barely hear yourself think, and after three hours of it I was a bit tired, although the atmosphere they created was unlike any I had ever experienced before.Face-off I relished
I was really excited about the contest between Shoaib Akhtar and the Australian top order, especially David Warner, who had completely taken Shoaib apart in the first match, so I was quite disappointed that Warner only faced one ball from the Rawalpindi Express before being out lbw to Aamer. Akhtar’s bowling was much better than in the first match and he was quite comfortably the quickest bowler of the match, with several fizzers going past the noses of the Aussie batsmen.Wow moment
There were lots of fantastic moments, but the one I loved the most was when Mike Hussey got out to Umar Gul. He was looking increasingly dangerous as he had hit two fours off Gul, arguably Pakistan’s best death bowler, and it had gone down from 35 runs needed off 18 balls to 27 runs needed off 15 – very manageable, given what Hussey had done to Pakistan in the World Twenty20 semi-final. The umpire’s finger going up to the lbw appeal was a welcome sight for me, and it was cheered heavily by the crowd.Player watch
There were lots of players who fielded near my stand, which was right in front of the player’s shelters, and most of them were bowlers – among them Dirk Nannes and Mitchell Johnson, who was heckled for conceding 14 runs off the first over. Of the Pakistanis, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Akmal and Saeed Ajmal all fielded there, with Ajmal – who’s not the best fielder in the Pakistan team – receiving loud cheers for his dive to cut off a four near the end of the innings.Shot of the day
This one has to go to Shahid Afridi’s huge six off Shaun Tait’s 90mph bowling. It was amazing to see someone just stand and smack a ball travelling at such a speed over the construction site. A replacement ball needed to be taken.Crowd meter
The crowd were totally and utterly rooting for Pakistan, with the exception of a few Aussie supporters who had had the courage to turn up for the match. They were duly harassed and heckled relentlessly by the extortionate number of Pakistani fans, but fortunately they all took it good spirit. The atmosphere inside and outside the ground was electric, with the air horns and vuvuzelas being heard before the stadium was even in sight. The stands were a sea of green and although the match was not sold out, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was. Wonder what the atmosphere and noise would have been like if the whole ground had been open to spectators.Fancy-dress index
There were many painted faces and green wigs. I got a bit of a shock when I saw a person covered with green paint – not just his face but every exposed body part; he looked more a ghost than a Pakistan fan!See any green?•Getty ImagesEntertainment
There was lots of music but it would be helpful if it could be heard over the noise of the air horns and crowd. The Pakistani band the Raga Boyz, who had been brought in specially for this match, played live twice. When Pakistan were in action, “” was played and for Australia “Down Under” was just about discernible over the noise.Accessories
As I lived pretty close and the match was a Twenty20, I didn’t bring much, but my Pakistan shirt was a must as was some food and drink. I also brought an air horn with me but regretted it as it fell apart after the first innings, and after having to hear so much of it for so long all around me, I no longer had much interest in it.Banner of the day
There was one which said “Demolition in Progress”, which I thought was appropriate for the ground, and “I want to be like Gerrard and Rooney”, with the names crossed out and replaced with “Gul” and “Afridi”.Overall
It was a wonderful game of cricket with many high-quality passages of play. The atmosphere was great and with so many Pakistani fans in the ground, you couldn’t tell if you were in Pakistan or England, although the light rain at the start and the cold breeze later gave you a bit of a clue. I was happy I had the opportunity to see two talented sides compete with such a high standard of performance.Marks out of 10
8. The mark is lowered mainly because of the din from the air horns and vuvuzelas, although they did add a bit of an edge to the atmosphere. The cricket was of an extremely good standard, with only a few mistakes costing either side. I left feeling I had got my money’s worth, and I hope Pakistan carry this form into the two Test matches against Australia, which will be the real test.

We profile Ozias Bvute – perhaps the real power within the Zimbabwe Cricket Union

Steven Price07-Jul-2005

What does the future hold for Zimbabwe’s long-suffering supporters?© Getty Images
The crisis which is threatening to destroy cricket inside Zimbabwe took another twist in Harare yesterday, when the ICC hearing into allegations of racism levelled against the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) was halted before it had really got under way. The problem was that many of the witnesses refused to testify in the presence of three ZCU officials, and the one who caused the most alarm among those ready to face the hearing was Ozias Bvute.Bvute is something of a mysterious figure. Enquiries as to his exact role within the ZCU produce little of any substance, and repeated requests to the board for clarification remain unanswered. Even getting hold of a photograph of him is impossible. Officially, Bvute is the head of marketing, but like so much in Zimbabwe, the title appears barely to hint at his exact role within the organisation.Several sources said that anyone visiting the board’s offices in Harare recently were left in no doubt that while Chingoka was in London on ICC business, Bvute was running the show. Chingoka was keen to play that down when questioned, but whatever his official role, Bvute is a major player and appears to have assumed the role of managing director following the resignation of Vince Hogg last month.Bvute is described by those who have dealing with him as articulate, loud and flashy. He drives a BMW X5, wears stylish suits, and displays all the trappings of success in modern Zimbabwe. He is young – estimates put him in his early thirties – and runs his own business in Harare. One journalist told me that Bvute “knows how to push the right and wrong buttons with people. He understands power, and can be intimidating intellectually and with his physical presence.”Bvute’s cricket credentials appear almost non-existent, and his appointment in 2001 to the ZCU was as head of the Integration Implementation Committee, putting him in charge of the union’s integration policy relating to the advancement of black players. Many have described this role as being that of a “political commissar”, and from the off his links with the ruling Zanu-PF regime have been widely reported.Almost nothing is known about Bvute before that appointment, although Henry Olonga, the former Zimbabwe fast bowler who fled the country after his famous black-armband protest during the 2003 World Cup, said that Bvute and Max Ebrahim had already established a hardline organisation called the Campaign to Eradicate Racism in Zimbabwean Cricket. “They were pretty militant in their attitude,” Olonga recalled, “and were prepared to accuse people of being racist and to take drastic measures, such as calling the black players out of the mixed local leagues and getting them to form their own all-black league.”Bvute first began to attract more widespread attention during the World Cup when he tried to get Andy Flower dropped after he had also donned a black armband, a move which was thwarted when several leading players threatened to refuse to play. Bvute backed down, but was soon back in the limelight when a few days later he kicked Olonga off the team bus and ordered him to stop wearing Zimbabwe cricket kit.Bvute’s intimidatory side was again in evidence at the ZCU’s AGM later that year when one or two dissenters suggested that Robert Mugabe, the president of the board, did not deserve to be re-elected on the nod. “If the member knows what is good for his health,” Bvute snarled, “he will desist from asking such questions.”While Bvute’s supporters play down his connections with the Mugabe government, few actually believe that the two are not closely linked. “He constantly tells team members that he has been to [information minister] Jonathan Moyo’s office and been talking to him about cricket issues,” one former player said. “If that’s not being involved in politics in Zimbabwe today, nothing is.”But the extent of Bvute’s influence really became apparent during the Heath Streak crisis in April. Some claim that Bvute triggered the whole affair when he announced that Dion Ebrahim, of Asian descent and classified black for selection purposes, would be reclassified as white, thus limiting places in national teams this year to four white players. Streak objected, and Bvute demanded that Chingoka sack him. Accounts of what actually happened in the next few days vary, but what is not in question is that when Vince Hogg, the managing director of the ZCU and second only to Chingoka, brokered a possible compromise, he was immediately overruled by Bvute. It was then that his real standing became clear.In the next few months Bvute’s antics did little to help the ZCU’s cause. At the end of April he was involved in a public scuffle with Steve Mangongo, the chairman of selectors. Witnessess say that Mangongo was arguing that he had to have the freedom to pick the best side, white or black, while Bvute told him that he had to “pick who he was told to pick”. A tussle ensued which ended with Mangongo in a heador arm-lock, depending on which account you believe. Mangongo, a hardliner himself, stood down four months later, and was replaced by Bvute’s close ally, Max Ebrahim.As the crisis deepened, Bvute’s true colours became more visible. “It appears like they waited for someone to slip up,” said Olonga, “and as soon as Streak made those demands, he was fired. And anyone who stood up with him was gone as well.”On the pitch, Zimbabwe were in freefall, and Bvute wasn’t a happy man.When Pommie Mbangwa, a former Zimbabwe international turned commentator, dared to criticise the new-look side, Bvute stormed into the media box and told him that he was sacked. He later relented. And when Zimbabwe were humiliatingly bowled out for 35, Bvute reportedly turned on the (white) groundsman and blamed him for preparing a pitch designed to embarrass the Zimbabwe side.Over the summer Bvute assumed even more importance. In May he accompanied Chingoka for high-level meetings at Lord’s with the England & Wales CricketBoard. His increasing profile led to Lord Avebury, in the House of Lords,demanding that he, along with Chingoka, be banned from travelling to the European Union as they were “close supporters and collaborators of the [Mugabe] regime”. Avebury described Bvute as the board’s Zanu-PF representative.As the ZCU’s August annual general meeting loomed, there were rumours that some of the provincial associations were planning on opposing the existing board. Bvute’s response was to try to gain a foothold at a provincial level. It was alleged that he offered Vumindaba Moyo, a leading candidate to become chairman of Matabeleland, a job within the ZCU so that Moyo would campaign for him instead. But Bvute had almost no links with Matabeleland, and Moyo is reported to have told him to “go to hell”. As it was, the rebellion never materialised, and Bvute was re-elected.Almost all those who have opposed Bvute have now left the ZCU – either oftheir own volition or sacked. As his power grows, so does his own perception of his influence, and journalists who have dared to oppose the board have been intimidated by him.The latest indication of his status came when a source close to the ZCU revealed that Bvute had called in the Zimbabwe squad shortly before they left to take part in the Champions Trophy and told them that he was in charge and, as such, they should all call him “Sir”.And now the only person nominally above Bvute in the ZCU food chain is Chingoka. His position is safe, as he is an identifiable figurehead. Even Bvute realises that the cricket world would not tolerate someone with as little experience as him emerging as the new head of the ZCU. But Chingoka, a natural survivor, has realised which way the wind is blowing, and his utterances of late have been far more bullish than before.Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Bvute continues to exert more influence. What is sure is that while he has his hands on the reins, there will be no compromises and no chance of any settlement with the rebels.

Pakistan batter will be available for four games in opening Championship block

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Apr-2023

Yorkshire have signed Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel for an initial four-game spell as overseas player.With Shan Masood currently on international duty with Pakistan’s white-ball sides and Neil Wagner unable to join the club as planned due to injury, Yorkshire have moved to sign Shakeel, who will be available for next week’s LV= Insurance Championship fixture against Gloucestershire at Bristol.The club had previously announced Shai Hope as a short-term overseas signing as cover for Masood. The West Indies international made his debut in the ongoing game against Leicestershire and will be involved for the first three rounds of the season.Shakeel, 27, made his Pakistan Test debut on England’s tour in December, and recorded his maiden century against New Zealand in January.Related

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“Saud is a very talented young player, he will be a wonderful addition to our current squad,” Darren Gough, Yorkshire’s managing director of cricket, said. “He did well against England and New Zealand.”Here at Yorkshire we want to get the balance right between youth and experience and we now feel we have got a squad where we have plenty of opportunities for everyone.”We don’t want to be in a position like last year where we had to rely purely on youth at times – you need that balance in the line-up.”Masood, signed to take over as captain after a successful summer at Derbyshire, is set to miss Yorkshire’s first four matches due to his involvement in T20I and ODI series against New Zealand. With Wagner’s fitness uncertain, the club have said Shakeel’s deal could be extended.”We see this as a great signing,” Gough said. “Saud is coming over here looking to put his name in lights. He has already played for Pakistan – he’ll be in their Test squad in July most likely. He is coming here to develop his game and it’s great for us to have someone else of international experience coming into the Yorkshire dressing room.”

MatériaMais Notícias

A preparação do Flamengo para a Recopa Sul-Americana está finalizada. Nesta manhã, Vítor Pereira comandou a última atividade em campo visando a partida contra o Independiente Del Valle (EQU), nesta terça às 21h30. Para a decisão no Maracanã, o técnico tem reforços e baixas. As boas notícias ficam por conta do atacante Pedro e do volante Gerson, que serão relacionados para a final.

+O que mudou? Flamengo e Independiente Del Valle voltam a decidir Recopa no Maracanã

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Gerson, com dores musculares, ficou de fora do jogo de ida contra o Del Valle, no último dia 21. Pedro atuou na derrota por 1 a 0, mas deixou a partida em Quito também com dores musculares. Os dois não foram relacionados para o clássico contra o Botafogo – no qual o Flamengo atuou apenas com reservas – e treinam com os companheiros desde sexta, no Ninho – assim como nesta manhã.

Por conta das condições físicas dos jogadores, a dúvida na escalação permanece. Vítor Pereira só confirmará ao time quem iniciará a partida na terça, Os jogadores se apresentam no CT pela manhã.

Os desfalques ficam por conta de Bruno Henrique, Victor Hugo e Filipe Luís, entregues ao DM, e Léo Pereira, que está em transição após recuperar-se de lesão muscular sofrida no início de fevereiro.

Uma provável escalação do Flamengo tem Santos; Varela, Fabrício Bruno, David Luiz e Ayrton Lucas; Thiago Maia, Vidal (Gerson), Everton Ribeiro e Arrascaeta; Gabi e Pedro (Everton Cebolinha).

Central Sparks launched their Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign with an emphatic victory as they defeated Sunrisers by seven wickets at New Road, Worcester.In a season-opener between the teams that finished in the bottom two slots last season, Sparks started in style this time round thanks principally to a dazzling unbeaten 79 from just 48 balls by Davina Perrin.Sunrisers batted first and were lifted to 138 for 6 by Alice MacLeod’s 39-ball 54 against an attack led by Hannah Baker and Emily Arlott.It looked a slightly under par total and so it proved as Perrin, who hit two sixes and 13 fours, and Australian overseas player Courtney Webb made short work of the chase with an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 83 in 47 balls. Mady Villiers took 2 for 36 but Sparks cruised to 142 for three with 36 balls remaining.Put in on a glorious day at New Road, Sunrisers were given a bright start by Joanne Gardner who dominated an opening stand of 40 in 35 balls with Grace Scrivens but then both fell in three balls. Scrivens hesitated over a very tight single and was beaten by Perrin’s throw and Gardner was bamboozled by the flight of Baker’s first delivery and bowled. When Arlott bowled Villiers through a slog and Baker also bowled Cordelia Griffith, Sunrisers had slumped from 40 without loss to 50 for 4 in 19 balls.MacLeod and Jodi Grewcock batted with composure to add 50 in six overs and the former ensured her side had something to bowl at before missing an attempted sweep at Arlott and falling lbw to the penultimate ball of the innings.Sunrisers, who lost all seven games in the Charlotte Edwards Cup last year, needed to strike early with the ball and they did. They removed both openers in the first 13 balls as Ami Campbell hammered Eva Gray to point and Abi Freeborn was lbw through a failed sweep at Villiers.When Sparks skipper Eve Jones chipped Villiers to mid-off, it was 59 for 3 and the visitors still had a chink of hope but Perrin’s cleanly-hit onslaught, with measured and positive support from Webb, soon extinguished it and Sparks eased to victory.

كشف النادي الأهلي، تفاصيل إعارة اللاعب المغربي رضا سليم إلى الجيش الملكي المغربي، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الأخيرة.

وكان النادي الأهلي، قد أعار اللاعب المغربي من صفوفه إلى نادي الجيش الملكي، لمدة موسم واحد.

وأفاد مصدر لـ بطولات: “راتب رضا سليم مع الجيش الملكي 800 ألف دولار، الأهلي سيتحمل منهم 600 ألف دولار”.

طالع أيضًا | لجنة الحكام توضح لـ”بطولات” مدى أحقية الأهلي في ركلة جزاء لـ جراديشار أمام مودرن سبورت

وأشار إلى أنه لا يوجد بند يمنع مشاركة رضا سليم أمام الأهلي، إذا تواجه الفريقان هذا الموسم في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

يذكر، أن اللاعب المغربي رضا سليم الذي غاب في أغلب مباريات الموسم الماضي بسبب الإصابة بقطع جزئي في غضروف الركبة، خاض مع النادي الأهلي 44 مباراة، سجل 5 أهداف وصنع 3.

رضا سليم كان قد انضم إلى صفوف الأهلي في موسم 2023 قادمًا من فريق الجيش الملكي المغربي بعقد مدته 4 سنوات.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians encerrou nesta sexta-feira (4) a sua preparação para enfrentar o Ceará, neste sábado (5), às 20h30, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. O meia Maycon treinou com o elenco e pode ser novidade entre os relacionados.

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+ Confira detalhes da terceira camisa e a nova linha do Corinthians em alusão ao Mundial do Japão

O camisa 5 estava se condicionando fisicamente e ficou fora dos últimos três compromissos do Timão, contra Fluminense, Goiás e Flamengo. O jogador ficou mais de dois meses parado, se recuperando de uma fratura no segundo dedo do pé esquerdo, voltou no início de outubro, fez três partidas, sendo uma como titular, mas não se apresentava em forma.

Por outro lado, o atacante Adson segue afastado. Além de um problema na coxa esquerda, o atacante teve uma crise de apendicite nos últimos dias e precisou passar por cirurgia.

Renato Augusto treinou normalmente e pode ser titular contra o Vozão. O meia havia iniciado a vitória contra o Flamengo, na rodada passada, entre os reservas, mas treinou normalmente antes do duelo contra o Ceará.

Na atividade que encerrou a preparação corintiana para o compromisso deste fim de semana, o técnico Vítor Pereira promoveu um treinamento de posse de bola e marcação pressão em espaço reduzido e, por fim, um trabalho de finalizações.

A provável escalação inicial do Timão para enfrentar os cearenses é: Cássio; Bruno Méndez, Gil, Balbuena (Robert Renan) e Fábio Santos; Fausto Vera, Du Queiroz e Renato Augusto; Mateus Vital, Yuri Alberto e Róger Guedes.

يواصل منتخب مصر للناشئين استعداداته المكثفة للمشاركة في بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 سنة، المقرر إقامتها في الفترة من 3 إلى 27 نوفمبر المقبل بمشاركة غير مسبوقة تضم 48 منتخبًا.

وأكد أحمد الكاس المدير الفني للمنتخب، فخره الكبير بتأهل الفراعنة الصغار للحدث العالمي، مشيرًا إلى أن استضافة قطر للبطولة تعكس مكانتها كعاصمة للرياضة في المنطقة.

وقال في تصريحات صحفية: “نجاح قطر في تنظيم كأس العالم 2022 لا يزال يُلهم الجميع، وأنا واثق أن مونديال الناشئين سيكون على نفس المستوى من الإبهار والتنظيم الرائع”.

وأضاف: “نحن سعداء بالمشاركة في كأس العالم بعد غياب طويل منذ نسخة 1997، ونطمح لتقديم أداء قوي يليق باسم مصر، وسنعمل بكل قوة لنُظهر أن لدينا جيلاً واعدًا قادرًا على الوصول بعيدًا في البطولة”.

وتحدث أحمد الكاس عن طموحاته: “المجموعة قوية وكل المنتخبات لديها إمكانيات عالية، لكننا جاهزون للتحدي، ونأمل أن نُسعد جماهير مصر ونرفع علمها عاليًا حتى نهاية المشوار”.

طالع أيضًا | وزير الرياضة يدعم منتخب مصر قبل كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا

وكان المنتخب المصري قد بلغ ربع نهائي نسخة 1997، التي أقيمت في القاهرة، ويأمل الجيل الحالي من اللاعبين في تكرار هذا الإنجاز أو التفوق عليه، تحت قيادة الكاس، الذي سبق له تمثيل مصر في كأس العالم 1990 بإيطاليا.

ويخوض منتخب مصر منافسات البطولة ضمن المجموعة الخامسة، إلى جانب إنجلترا وفنزويلا وهايتي، حيث يستهل مشواره بمواجهة هايتي يوم 4 نوفمبر على ملاعب أكاديمية أسباير.

وتُعد نسخة 2025 الأولى ضمن خمس نسخ متتالية من بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 سنة تستضيفها قطر حتى عام 2029، في إطار خطة طموحة لتعزيز موقعها كمركز عالمي لتنظيم الأحداث الرياضية.

وسيُقام النهائي على استاد خليفة الدولي، أحد ملاعب كأس العالم 2022، فيما تُفتتح البطولة يوم 3 نوفمبر بلقاء منتخب قطر (الدولة المضيفة) أمام إيطاليا.

ويُشارك المنتخب المصري ضمن ستة منتخبات عربية تأهلت للبطولة، وهي: “قطر، السعودية، الإمارات، تونس، المغرب، ومصر”، علمًا أن السعودية كانت قد تُوجت بلقب البطولة في نسخة 1991، بينما حصدت البحرين، قطر، وعُمان المركز الرابع أعوام 1989، 1991، و1995 على التوالي.

Clarity of purpose at the crunch moment delivered both of England’s World Cup titles. Can the same work for the Ashes?

Matt Roller18-Jul-2023

England love semi-finals. Their best performances in both one-day and T20 cricket over the last five years – and maybe ever – have come in semis: the eight-wicket thrashing of Australia at Edgbaston in 2019, and the ten-wicket demolition of India in Adelaide last November.Now, they are at the equivalent stage of an Ashes series: two wins away from a trophy. It is a different format, with different coloured balls and kits, but seven members of England’s XI at Emirates Old Trafford this week have featured in at least one of those two semi-final routs, and two of them – Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes – played in both.These situations seem to focus the minds of England’s players, and sharpen their resolve. Their most recent semi-final defeat – against New Zealand in Dubai, in the 2021 T20 World Cup – came after a cruise through the group stage, which culminated in a defeat to South Africa in a game that was effectively a dead-rubber.The scenario was very different to that in both World Cup triumphs. In both tournaments, surprise results early in the group stages left them on the brink of elimination, needing to win four games in a row. In both tournaments, they resolved to double-down on their attacking approach. In both tournaments, the clarity brought out their best.In 2019, a rare team meeting at Edgbaston instigated by psychologist David Young prompted players to discuss candidly their fear of defeat and elimination ahead of their first must-win game against India. England resolved, as Woakes recalled in the book , that “If we were going to lose, we were going to go down swinging”. It was Stokes who opened up first that day, having been encouraged by Young over coffee the day before.Chris Woakes was a key performer as England routed Australia in the 2019 World Cup semi-final•Getty Images

And in 2022, Jos Buttler delivered a similar message at a training session at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, again before England’s first must-win game – this time, against New Zealand. “If anything, let’s fall on the positive side every time,” he told his team-mates. “We’re not going to go through the next few games and come away thinking, ‘I wish I took it on a bit more.'”Such moments often take on greater significance retroactively, assigned importance as inflection points in narrative arcs. Yet it was that clarity that Stokes alluded to at Lord’s, in the aftermath of a defeat that left England two-nil down with three to play: “It’s actually very exciting to know that the way in which we are playing our cricket couldn’t be more perfect for the situation we find ourselves in.”England’s ultra-attacking method with the bat came under sustained scrutiny in their defeat at Lord’s, with an expectation that they would rein themselves in at Headingley. Instead, they doubled down: they raced along at 4.79 runs per over in the third Test, their quickest scoring rate of the series so far.Woakes came into the side and played a significant role in that win, and acknowledged the parallels with those World Cup wins. “It maps it out for you, doesn’t it?” he said. “There are no ifs or buts or maybes: you’ve got no choice but to go and win. That probably suits this team nicely, as it has done the white-ball team when we’ve been in those situations.Related

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England, Australia and a men's Ashes that is locked and reloaded

'It might bring more out of us' – Stokes and England hope to beat the weather

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“Hopefully, those experiences of a few players can help them. Everyone knows that we’ve got to go out there and try and win: Ben’s a big fan of not drawing Test matches. It does map it out for us and set it up for us that we have to go out there and win – and we are in Manchester, so I’m sure there’ll be rain at some point.”Stokes has suggested that the weather forecast – which is bad all week, but particularly at the weekend – will play a role in England’s approach, emphasising their determination to force a result. And that is where this Ashes Test differs from a World Cup semi-final: only one team actually needs to win.”A draw’s good enough for them,” Stokes said. Pat Cummins insisted that Australia’s “first preference is always to try to win”, citing their disappointment at drawing the 2019 series two-all. But he also conceded: “As the game progresses, you maybe start working out how risky you want to be.””It makes everything that we’ve been doing more relevant,” Stokes added. “If we were to shy away from the task at hand, that wouldn’t get the best out of us as a team in terms of the personnel that we have at the moment. Knowing we need to win this one… probably suits us even more, to be honest.”England’s unprecedented success in fourth-innings run-chases under this regime has proved that they thrive on lucidity, stripping the sport’s most impenetrable format back to something simple. If they do treat this Test like an Ashes semi-final, recent precedent suggests it will be worth watching.

Aston Villa are now seen as the favourites to sign a winger who’s been likened to star loanee Marcus Rashford, despite reports the Man United outcast could remain under Unai Emery next season.

Aston Villa keen to explore £40m buy-out clause for Marcus Rashford

No final decision has been made just yet on Rashford staying at Villa Park beyond 2024/25, but according to reports, Emery’s side are keen to explore this option after the Englishman’s sensational start to life in the Midlands.

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Rashford boasts four assists from nine appearances in all competitions since joining Villa on a temporary deal in the January window, and according to reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, the 27-year-old has impressed club chiefs both in training and in the dressing room as well.

Player

Average match rating

Youri Tielemans

7.05

Marcus Rashford

6.96

Morgan Rogers

6.83

Tyrone Mings

6.80

Marco Asensio

6.79

However, there is still plenty to iron out before either party ultimately decides that the in-form forward remains where he is for next season. Rashford is attracting interest from Bayern Munich and other elite clubs abroad, and it is believed he would be open to a move to Europe (Ben Jacobs).

There is also the matter of Rashford’s seismic £300,000-per-week wages. He would almost certainly need to take a pay cut for a permanent Villa move, and even then, Rashford could end up being Emery’s highest-paid player by some distance.

While Fabrizio Romano has reported that Rashford staying at Villa is entirely possible, these factors could mean that a transfer may not be feasible for NSWE after all, especially depending on where they finish in the Premier League table and how much money they’ll have to spend this summer.

It is prudent for Villa to identify alternatives, and one of them could actually come in the form of Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.

Aston Villa in pole position to sign Noni Madueke from Chelsea

As per GiveMeSport, echoing other reports, the England international is attracting serious interest from Villa, who are eyeing a move for him alongside Newcastle United.

However, GMS reports that Villa are “leading the race” to sign Madueke this summer, and Chelsea are growing more tempted to cash in on the ex-PSV Eindhoven star despite his initial electric start to the campaign.

Madueke has been sidelined by a hamstring injury in recent weeks, but has returned to training and could feature against Tottenham next week. The 23-year-old boasts 12 goal contributions in all competitions (eight goals, four assists), though Chelsea would be prepared to sell if a suitable offer is made – one which would allow them to make a “marginal profit” off his £29 million signing back in 2023.

Members of Villa’s recruitment team are eager for the club to capitalise on Madueke’s uncertain future, and it is even believed that he could be open to leaving Stamford Bridge if there is no longer consistent game time on offer for him.

Interestingly, Football Transfers has called Madueke a “similar” player to Rashford, so he could be an excellent fall-back option in place of the United wantaway.