Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly have both won races against time to be fit for Arsenal's Champions League semi-final against Lyon – but only one starts.
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Russo & Kelly were both doubts after knocksPair had to withdraw from Lionesses duty this monthBut recover for Arsenal's Champions League semi-finalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Russo and Kelly were both doubts for Saturday's Champions League semi-final first leg at home to Lyon, eight-time winners of this competition. Kelly pulled out of the England squad before the Lionesses' first game of the April international break due to a foot problem, while Russo had to withdraw between matches after picking up an issue in the 5-0 victory over Belgium.
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However, though both players couldn't be involved in Arsenal's league win over Leicester on Tuesday night, they have recovered in time for Saturday's huge game. Russo is fit enough to start, which is crucial given how important she is to the Gunners' play. Kelly, meanwhile, is able to make the bench.
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It's not all good news for Arsenal, though. The Gunners are without Daphne van Domselaar, their No.1 goalkeeper, due to an ankle problem that could well have ended her season. Manuela Zinsberger, who has largely been first-choice since joining the club in 2019, will deputise in her absence.
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RUSSO, KELLY & ARSENAL?
After Saturday's home leg against Lyon, Arsenal will travel to France to take on the eight-time European champions in the return game on April 27. The winner of this semi-final will face either Chelsea or Barcelona, the reigning champions, in May's Champions League final.
O técnico Tite convocou 27 jogadores para os amistosos da Seleção Brasileira contraCoreia do Sul e Japão, em junho. Durante a coletiva, o treinador analisou a presença da novidade da lista: Danilo, do Palmeiras, e respondeu sobre a possibilidade de contar com 26 atletas na Copa do Mundo, no Qatar, em novembro.
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– É um jogador (Danilo, do Palmeiras) que a gente vem acompanhando dentro daquele rol de uma série de atletas importantes, de 50 ou mais, na expectativa por jovens talentos que vêm surgindo. E essa sequência de bons jogos do Danilo como a final do Mundial, de Libertadores, jogos acompanhados ao vivo e nas visitas ao Palmeiras” Vamos buscando uma série de componentes importantes que credenciam o atleta a ser convocado – disse o treinador.
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Vale destacar que o duelo contra a Argentina, que seria realizado em junho, foi cancelado. As duas seleções medirão força em setembro. Os duelos contra Coreia do Sul e Japão serão disputados nos dias 2 e 6 de junho, em Seul e Tóquio. Para substituir o confronto com os hermanos, a CBF busca um adversário africano.
Com a ampliação da lista de convocados para a Copa do Mundo (de 23 para 26 atletas), Tite frisou que a possibilidade aumenta o leque de opções do meio para a frente. Ele também frisou que a seleção tem uma geração com “perninha rápida” e de alto nível técnico.
– Concordo que 26 te dá mais opções. No aspecto ofensivo te dá mais possibilidades. Temos uma geração com “perninha rápida”. Jogadores de um nível técnico impressionante. Pelo fato de ter experiências no mundo árabe, eu sei do aspecto físico. A perna vai inchar. A condição física é um fator importante. Ter essa opção de jogadores de velocidade e qualidade técnica é importante – analisou.
+Agente de Gabriel Jesus confirma interesse do Arsenal e coloca ‘mais seis clubes’ interessados no jogador
Após esses amistosos, a seleção terá a última uma Data Fifa em setembro, a última antes da Copa do Mundo. Nela, o Brasil terá pela frente a Argentina, no jogo suspenso das Eliminatórias Sul-Americanas e terá a possibilidade de medir forças contra o México, que também estará presente no Mundial.
Confira a lista de convocados:
Goleiros: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City) e Weverton (Palmeiras);
Zagueiros: Eder Militão (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Marquinhos (PSG) e Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
Laterais: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Danilo (Juventus), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Alex Telles (Manchester United), Guilherme Arana (Atlético-MG);
Meio-Campistas: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Danilo (Palmeiras) Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paquetá (Lyon), Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa);
Atacantes: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Matheus Cunha (Atlético de Madri), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Richarlison (Everton), Raphinha (Leeds United), Rodrygo (Real Madrid) e Vini Júnior (Real Madrid).
James Rodriguez says it is a "grave injustice" that FIFA have decided to exclude his Club Leon side from the 2025 Club World Cup.
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Club Leon expelled from Club World CupFIFA said team had failed to meet their criteriaRodriguez rails against "grave injustice"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
FIFA announced that Leon were not eligible to play in this summer's Club World Cup as they had "failed to meet the criteria on multi-club ownership" defined under the competition's regulations. The Mexican side are owned by Grupo Pachuca, which also controls fellow Liga MX team CF Pachuca – who have also qualified for the event. As a result, they were kicked out for owning two teams, as that is not allowed. Now, Leon star Rodriguez has criticised the governing body, saying they have "stained football".
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT JAMES RODRIGUEZ SAID
He said, via The Athletic: “I think it’s a grave injustice. We all believe that. We won on the pitch. The club and the players are hurt by this. Thinking about this, if we’re out, it’s not fair. The team that would replace us would be stained, football would be stained. So many fans have planned to travel to the tournament, how do you tell them that they can’t go? I have a lot of questions about all this. It’s odd. I think FIFA has to get their things together. Football is stained by this.”
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Leon qualified for the tournament by winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2023 but since then, the Club World Cup has been revamped, and new criteria are in place. The importance of competing in this tournament has only grown as the overall prize fund is £775 million ($1bn), with all 32 teams getting a piece of that pie. So Leon seem set to miss out on a big financial boost, too. They were poised to play Chelsea in the group stages, but that will no longer happen.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Leon are set to present their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on April 23 to try to get back into the Club World Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur have some tough fixtures coming up in December, most recently losing 1-0 away to Bournemouth. The Lilywhites have been on a frustrating run of form in recent weeks but will be hoping to turn that around, starting with a trip to Rangers in the Europa League.
It will see a return to Glasgow for Ange Postecoglou, where he is sure to get a hostile reception as a former Celtic manager.
The North Londoners also host Manchester United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on the 19th of December, before Liverpool make a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium just three days later.
Postecoglou will need to make full use of his full squad over the festive period, meaning 17-year-old sensation Mikey Moore is likely to get plenty of minutes.
Mikey Moore’s rise to the top
It has been a sensational rise for highly-rated teenager Moore. Postecoglou has put great faith in him this season, after giving him his debut last season.
The London-born starlet became Spurs’ youngest-ever Premier League player at 16 years, nine months, and three days old when he came on against Manchester City in the penultimate game of 2023/24.
Tottenham teenager Mikey Moore
The teenager has become far more prominent this season in the first team. He has played eight times in the first team, playing 288 minutes in total.
Impressively, the youngster has three starts, with two coming in the Europa League against Ferencvaros and AZ Alkmaar. The other came in the top flight, his first start in the competition, away to Crystal Palace in a 1-0 loss.
Moore, who is an England under-19 international, has certainly left a big mark on his teammates. James Maddison was full of praise for him after the game against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, comparing him to legendary winger Neymar.
Maddison said “I thought we had Neymar on the left wing”, which is very high praise for one so young.
Stat
Number
Mins per game
62
Big chances created
1
Key passes per game
0.7
Ball recoveries per game
1.3
Dribbles completed per game
0.7
Duels won per game
2.7
It certainly seems like Moore is the future of Spurs. The 17-year-old recently signed his first professional deal, putting pen to paper at the start of August. The Lilywhites will certainly be hoping they can keep hold of him in the long run.
Talents like the Spurs number 47 do not come around very often, but the Lilywhites may have fumbled someone over a decade ago who could have been their original Moore.
Spurs’ original Mikey Moore
The player in question here is Moroccan midfielder Adel Taarabt. The now 35-year-old, who is considered by many as a cult hero of modern-day English football, now plies his trade in the UAE for Al-Nasr SC. In his prime, he was an extravagant attacker who played without fear and with plenty of flair.
He made the move to White Hart Lane in 2007 as a 17-year-old from French side Lens. Originally, the attacker moved to North London on loan but made the move permanent after breaking into the first team.
Sadly, Taarabt never really lived up to the hype at Spurs, making just 15 appearances across three seasons for the club, just five more than Moore already has. However, the talent was most certainly there for all to see, just as it is with Moore.
Goal journalist James Westwood said there are “similarities to be drawn” between the former Spurs prodigy and the up-and-coming star. He explained that Moore “boasts the same level of skill” as the Moroccan, although will no doubt hope to be a regular for the Lilywhites, unlike Taarabt.
The former Morocco international left Spurs permanently in 2010 for £1m, who were managed by Harry Redknapp at the time. He made the move to Queens Park Rangers, after spending the previous season on loan at Loftus Road.
Although his talent never shone through in North London, the same cannot be said for his time in West London. Taarabt made 164 appearances for the Hoops, scoring 34 goals and grabbing 40 assists, dazzling fans with his quick feet and bags of skills.
After spending six seasons at QPR, Taarabt has since played for the likes of Fulham, AC Milan and Benfica. It will surely always be a real shame for Spurs fans to think about what could have been with the Moroccan prodigy.
Had he lived up to his potential, the Lilywhites could have had a world superstar in their side, but it was not to be. They will no doubt be hoping Moore can reach Neymar levels, as Maddison suggested, rather than struggling to live up to the hype like Taarabt.
Their own Palmer: Ange must rue selling Spurs' "unbelievable" game-changer
The sensational international is tearing it up away from Spurs this season.
A “fantastic” Liverpool player has no plans to leave the club, despite “rumours” suggesting otherwise, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.
Liverpool contract saga ongoing
The Reds couldn’t be faring much better under Arne Slot if they tried, with the Dutchman making an incredible start to life in charge at Anfield. His side are top of the Premier League heading into the New Year, but there is the distraction of sorting the futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
It is well-documented that all three are out of contract at Liverpool at the end of this season, and as things stand, none have signed extensions, acting as a huge concern. All three once again showed how priceless they are in Sunday’s 6-3 win away to Tottenham, all playing a key role in the victory.
At this point, Van Dijk and Salah arguably feel most likely to sign new Reds contracts, with the pair possibly content to see out the remaining best years of their career at Anfield.
The same cannot quite be said of Alexander-Arnold, however, with the 26-year-old continually linked with a move to Real Madrid. It is easy to see his head being turned by the reigning European champions, with Liverpool’s vice-captain wanting to build a great legacy, although that’s not to say he won’t decide to stay put instead. Now, a new update has emerged regarding another player.
"Fantastic" Liverpool ace won't be leaving
Taking to X, Plettenberg claimed that Luis Diaz isn’t planning to leave Liverpool any time soon, even though an exit has been mooted in some quarters:
Diaz is enjoying a brilliant season for Liverpool, scoring seven goals in 11 starts in the Premier League and proving to be one of the most dangerous attacking players in the country.
The 27-year-old has not only shone in his customary left-sided role but also leading the line centrally, and Emile Heskey has heaped praise on him, saying:
“After the issues he’s had to deal with off the field, he deserves so much credit, because he’s been fantastic. He had big boots to fill when Sadio Mane left, because Mane was such a brilliant player for Liverpool, and had such a crucial role. For me, Mane was arguably the best player at Liverpool during his time at the club – Mo Salah has been amazing, but for work rate and overall output, I think Mane was slightly ahead of him.”
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This is, therefore, great news for Liverpool, with Diaz potentially coming into his very best years now and still being contracted until the summer of 2027. Having been doubted by some, in terms of his lack of end product, he has silenced his critics emphatically this season.
وجه سيسك فابريجاس قائد آرسنال السابق، تحذيراً لـ لاعبي الجانرز ومدربه ميكيل أرتيتا وذلك قبل مواجهة ريال مدريد في لقاء الإياب الأسبوع القادم.
وفاز آرسنال أمس على نظيره ريال مدريد بنتيجة 0/3 في ذهاب دور الـ8 من دوري أبطال أوروبا، في نظامها الجديد على ملعب “الإمارات” (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).
يذكر أن لقاء الإياب بين الفريقين سيقام على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”، يوم الأربعاء المقبل في تمام الساعة التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.
اقرأ أيضاً.. ماركا: رسالة قوية من إدارة ريال مدريد بعد ثلاثية آرسنال.. حان وقت التغيير
وقال سيسك فابريجاس في تصريحات لشبكة “أمازون برايم”: “بعد الهدف الأول قلت إنهم بحاجة إلى هدف ثانٍ، وبعد الهدف الثاني قلت إنهم بحاجة إلى هدف ثالث”.
وأضاف فابريجاس محذراً لاعبي آرسنال وميكيل أرتيتا: “أود أن أقول إن الأمر قد حُسم، لكن ريال مدريد هو ريال مدريد”.
ويلتقي المتأهل من آرسنال وريال مدريد مع المتأهل من صدام باريس سان جيرمان وأستون فيلا، وذلك في مرحلة نصف نهائي البطولة، حسب القرعة التي تمت في وقت سابق من شهر فبراير الماضي.
Um dos grandes destaques da partida contra o Inter de Limeira, Pablo Maia foi eleito o craque da partida. Escalado pela primeira vez como titular do São Paulo pelo profissional na última quinta-feira (17), o jogador chamou atenção pelo seu ótimo desempenho.
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Pablo Maia tem somente vinte anos e foi capitão do São Paulo durante toda a Copinha neste ano. Eleito pelos próprios colegas, o jogador liderou na posição até o último jogo disputado pela equipe, nas semifinais contra o Palmeiras, onde foram desclassificados.
O desempenho do jogador chamou atenção de Rogério Ceni, que o convidou para integrar o elenco principal da equipe.
Nascido em Minas Gerais, o jovem atleta começou a jogar no São Paulo em 2017, ainda nas categorias de base. Além de atuar pelo Tricolor, também já jogou pela Portuguesa Santista.
Uma das suas principais participações na equipe foi na final do Paulista Sub-17, em 2019, onde Pablo foi autor de um dos gols decisivos que levou o Tricolor para a disputa de pênaltis contra o Palmeiras. As crias de Cotia foram campeãs.
+ Veja a situação do São Paulo na tabela do Paulistão 2022
Ano passado, já havia sido notado também por Hernán Crespo, sendo relacionado contra o Mirassol e o 4 de Julho.
Nesta temporada, ele entrou em campo pela primeira vez pelo profissional na partida contra o Ituano. Sua segunda oportunidade foi contra a Ponte Preta, onde quase foi autor de um gol, que bateu na trave do rival.
Porém, pela primeira vez, nesta última quinta-feira (17), na disputa contra a Inter de Limeira, Rogério Ceni escalou Pablo Maia como titular. Seu desempenho, por sua vez, chamou bastante atenção. Aos 26 minutos do primeiro tempo, abriu espaço e arriscou, porém, foi barrado pelo adversário.
Fora isso, criou bastante e foi bem participativo durante todo tempo que esteve em campo. Pablo Maia chamou atenção por seu modo de jogo e desempenho, sendo eleito como o craque da partida.
O São Paulo volta a campo contra o Santos no próximo domingo (20), às 21h30, no Estádio da Vila Belmiro. A cria de Cotia pode ser uma das opções de Ceni.
Good hands with the bat from Nielsen and Short kept the Strikers in the hunt before they were pipped to the post
Tristan Lavalette07-Dec-2021
Zahir Khan was named the Player of the Match for his 3 for 24•Cricket Australia via Getty Images
Melbourne Renegades banished the ghosts of their wooden-spoon finish last season with a stirring two-run victory over Adelaide Strikers, a triumph marked by eye-catching performances from their youngsters.However, it was veteran quick James Pattinson who stood up when it counted, with a superb final over in which he conceded just six runs as the Renegades defended their seemingly modest 9 for 153 under the roof at Marvel Stadium.The Renegades reined in a weakened Strikers batting order and were sparked by a spectacular catch from teenager Jake Fraser-McGurk. It capped an impressive all-round effort from an inexperienced side, which was led with the bat by the new opening pair of Mackenzie Harvey and Sam Harper, while young gun Will Sutherland had an impact with the ball.Fraser-McGurk does his best Maxwell impression The highly touted Fraser-McGurk, who missed out with the bat, has been likened as a fielder to Glenn Maxwell – a lofty comparison he well justified with an incredible acrobatic one-handed catch on the boundary to dismiss Jake Weatherald. Quite fittingly, he was wearing No. 23 because his high-flying heroics were reminiscent of NBA greats Michael Jordan and LeBron James.It inspired the Renegades, who put the clamps on in the middle overs through the accuracy of Zahir Khan. Ryan Gibson had to retire hurt in the 14th over after injuring his hamstring completing a single as the Strikers lost steam.The Strikers finally took the power surge in the 18th over and it paid dividends with 24 runs coming in two overs. But Pattinson held his nerve in a nerve-jangling final over with Daniel Drew unable to hit a six off the last ball to win the match.Mackenzie Harvey mostly played orthodox shots during the course of his half-century•Getty Images
Renegades’ young openers stand up Without new skipper Nic Maddinson, Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh, the Renegades’ batting line-up looked fragile and they needed a good start after electing to bat. Harper and Harvey obliged with a 65-run partnership.It wasn’t necessarily pretty, with the pair mustering just 22 runs in the four-over powerplay. Harper, who has struggled in the Sheffield Shield this season, was out of sync and his innings was a bit frenzied, marked by a slew of swings and misses.He was fortunate to have survived on 8 when bamboozled by a Rashid Khan googly only to be reprieved by a missed stumping from wicketkeeper Harry Nielsen, who replaced Ashes bound Alex Carey. It seemed to relax Harper, who took a liking to quicks Peter Siddle and Wes Agar with a six off the latter bringing up a 50-run stand.Harper fell shortly after to a sharp return catch by Matthew Short, but Harvey, who mostly played orthodox shots, calmly reached his maiden BBL half-century before being cleaned up by Rashid. The Renegades would have been satisfied with their new-look opening combination.James Pattinson bowled a superb last over to stop the Strikers short•Cricket Australia via Getty Images
Strikers’ quicks dominate at the death The Strikers, as per the norm, have been mostly overlooked in the lead-up to the season marked by the expected lengthy absences of Carey and Travis Head. Concern also revolves around an unfancied attack reliant on the brilliance of Rashid, but they limited the Renegades to a total under the average score of 165 batting first at Marvel Stadium.The Strikers appeared under pressure when debutant James Seymour decided to go for broke and the in-form 29-year-old, who scored a ton in the Sheffield Shield last month, smashed a six off his first ball. But his dismissal for 23 off 14 balls triggered a collapse as the Renegades lost six wickets for nine runs to fall short of a big total.Stand-in skipper Siddle, veteran Daniel Worrall, and English import George Garton got the better of the flustered Renegades batters with a succession of slower balls. They would have pleased coach Jason Gillespie, one of the most astute tacticians in the business, with the way they executed their plans.Short goes on the offensive Short has teased for some time but underachieved with an average of less than 15 across 34 innings, but here, the 26-year-old torched English quick Reece Topley and Pattinson with two massive sixes sailing into the second tier.He had a life on 26 when dropped by Pattinson and fell shortly later to Zahir with the spinner thrown the ball by stand-in skipper Kane Richardson in the fifth over. Still, Short did enough in 18 balls to suggest he could finally realise his potential.But, in a close game, the Strikers will be left pondering whether they utilised the power surge too late.
Former Yorkshire fast bowler starts work immediately after answering call to help club
ESPNcricinfo staff05-Dec-2021Darren Gough has been appointed managing director of Yorkshire cricket* as the club looks to rebuild in the wake of last week’s sacking of its coaching and medical staff.Yorkshire confirmed Gough’s appointment on Monday morning amid the fallout from Azeem Rafiq’s allegations of institutional racism at the club. Gough will start work immediately on an interim basis, initially until the end of the 2022 season, and one of his first tasks will be to oversee the recruitment of a new coaching team.”Yorkshire County Cricket Club has been part of my life since my earliest days in cricket when I made my debut in 1989, and I spent 15 happy years at the club,” Gough said in a statement issued by the club. “Like many, I have followed how the club handled the recent racism allegations with sadness and anger.”I want to play my part in rebuilding cricket in Yorkshire and I am looking forward to working with the exceptionally talented group of players here. I am also aware of my wider responsibility to listen to everyone and ensure that every person who is associated with this club feels welcome, instilling values we want associated with the White Rose: honesty, straight talking, hard work, integrity and excellence.”Gough added that he shared “the collective determination to face the issues head on with a series of positive actions”.”Change will not happen overnight, but I am certain that we can make Headingley roar again,” he said.Lord Kamlesh Patel, the club’s new chairman, said: “As a former captain of the club, Darren’s impact on the Yorkshire and England teams was considerable as a player. His infectious enthusiasm and will to win will be so important as we aim to be the best on and off the pitch.Darren Gough spent two weeks working with England in New Zealand in 2019-20•Getty Images”As we start on this journey with Darren, we want to engage everyone at the club and involve as many people as possible in shaping our direction. We have a considerable job ahead of us, but we are ready to embrace the opportunity together and build a brighter future for Yorkshire County Cricket Club”.As one of the most popular players in Yorkshire’s history, Gough claimed 453 first-class wickets in 15 years with the club, during which time he also picked up 229 wickets in 58 Test appearances for England, before finishing his career at Essex, where he still lives.Gough, 51, has been working in the media – doing commentary and hosting talkSPORT’s Drivetime radio show – and been involved in coaching on a consultancy basis since his retirement in 2008, including a stint with England’s Test squad in New Zealand in 2019-20.His new role is expected to be focused on strategy, planning, recruitment and development as he steps into the role vacated by Martyn Moxon on Friday – one of 16 members of the back-room staff axed in a dramatic statement of the club’s determination to put the racism scandal behind them.That issue is unlikely to resolved without further revelations, however. The 16 former employees are expected to seek legal advice on Monday, after it transpired that several of their number had sent a joint letter to the Yorkshire board in October, seen by ESPNcricinfo, outlining their deep unease at the club’s handling of the racism case, and its failure to rebut Rafiq’s extensive claims.*December 6, 10am GMT – This story was updated throughout after confirmation of Gough’s appointment
England captain says India defeat will “plant a little bit of doubt in Australia’s mind”
AAP01-Nov-2021Joe Root has declared the Gabba is no longer a stronghold, arguing doubt will linger in Australia’s minds when the Ashes start on December 8 because of their shock Test loss to India’s depleted XI.India stormed to an unexpected victory at the Gabba in January, snapping Australia’s undefeated Test streak at the ground that had dated back to 1988. The tourists completed a venue-record chase of 328; a feat made even more remarkable because Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwin, Mohammed Shami and several other first-choice players were unavailable.Uncertainty regarding England’s participation in the five-Test series had dominated the Ashes phoney war in recent months. But the series is now set to begin with its traditional curtain-raiser in Brisbane and Root, who departs alongside England’s red-ball specialists this week, has delivered a timely reminder about what occurred in Australia’s most recent Test.Related
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“Look at that India team that won at the Gabba. They were a long way from their first-choice XI but they had no fear,” England’s captain told the . “They stood up to Australia and won crucial parts of that Test.”It will give every player in our squad a huge amount of confidence and just plant a little bit of doubt in Australia’s mind. Having to go back there and play again for the first time against us, what with it being such a stronghold for them for such a long period of time. We now know that it’s not.”England have been the world’s busiest national cricket side throughout the Covid-19 era, whereas Australia’s series loss to India represents their only Test cricket since the pandemic erupted.Root has already equalled the English record for most Test centuries in a calendar year, reaching three figures on six occasions in 2021. He has yet to score a century in Australia but believes lessons learned from miserable 2013-14 and 2017-18 tours, which England lost by a combined scoreline of 9-0, will help him continue his red-hot form.”The two previous tours I think if anything I probably got a bit too desperate,” he said. That extra bit of experience off the back of a fruitful year for me personally puts me in a better place.”Root was understandably thrilled to have Ben Stokes back in England’s Ashes plans and mentally ready to return to cricket. Stokes required two surgeries to repair a finger injury, while he also took time out of the game for his own mental wellbeing.”I’d got an inkling. I’d had some good conversations with Ben over the period while he’s not been playing,” Root said. “It was just such a joy to hear him speak. You could almost hear his smile, if that makes sense, down the phone. You could tell he was so much happier within himself.”