حذر بيدجا مياتوفيتش، لاعب نادي ريال مدريد السابق، فينيسيوس جونيور وذلك بعدما جلس الأخير على مقاعد البدلاء خلال مواجهة الفريق الملكي يوم أمس الثلاثاء أمام أوليمبيك مارسيليا بدوري أبطال أوروبا.
ولم يدفع مدرب ريال مدريد، تشابي ألونسو، بفينيسيوس بشكل أساسي أمام مارسيليا، ضمن دور المجموعات أو مرحلة الدوري من دوري الأبطال على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو.
وفضل ألونسو التعويل على رودريجو جوس بشكل أساسي كجناح أيسر، حيث فاز ريال مدريد 2-1 في نهاية المطاف.
ونزل فينيسيوس في شوط اللقاء الثاني بدلًا من رودريجو وساهم في حصول ريال مدريد على ركلة جزاء سجل منها كيليان مبابي هدف الفوز للميرنجي.
اقرأ أيضًا .. فالفيردي: تلقينا ضربة موجعة أمام مارسيليا.. ونريد تسهيل الأمور على مبابي
ويعتقد مياتوفيتش في تصريحات إلى ”El Larguero”، أن فينيسيوس إذا لم يلعب بشكل جيد، فسوف يكون بديلًا مع ألونسو وهي فلسفة الأخير مع ريال مدريد.
وقال مياتوفيتش عن فينيسيوس: “أعرف فلسفة تشابي ألونسو ومنهجيته وهذا لا يفاجئني، لن يجد تشابي أي مشكلة في إراحة أي لاعب”.
وأضاف مياتوفيتش في حديثه: “يريد تشابي الحفاظ على حيوية جميع اللاعبين مع منحهم دقائق لعب كافية في كل مباراة تقريبًا، سواء في الدوري الإسباني أو دوري أبطال أوروبا”.
واختتم المهاجم السابق: “إذا لم تتدرب جيدًا دون حماس، لأنك لست لاعبًا أساسيًا فمن الواضح أنك لن تلعب مع ألونسو، لا داعي للقلق كثيرًا والأمر يعتمد على فينيسيوس. إذا بذل جهدًا أكبر سيلعب، وإذا لم يفعل سيلعب لاعب آخر”.
Sunderland are looking to build a squad capable of thriving in the top-flight and have now entered the race to sign a striker who excelled last season, according to a report.
Sunderland begin exciting summer of recruitment
Enzo Le Fee and Habib Diarra have been brought in at the Stadium of Light from Roma and Strasbourg, respectively, with the former becoming the Black Cats’ first addition of the window after a fine loan spell last season.
However, another brilliant piece of news for Sunderland is that Florent Ghisolfi has now arrived as their new Director of Football in the North East, and BBC radio’s Simon Pryde believes his remit will be solely focused on recruitment with Kristjaan Speakman handling external matters.
Sunderland manager RegisLeBris on the touchline
He stated: “I think Ghisolfi will be on recruitment. His umbrella will be over player recruitment and the first team squad. Speakman has a wide brief at the moment and this will allow him to focus because the structures in the Premier League are vastly different than those in the EFL.”
He added: “Ghisolfi has plenty of experience. (He was) assistant manager at Lorient for two years. (As a football director) he’s been at Lens, and he’s been at Nice, so he has a glowing reputation within football as a director.”
With that in mind, who could arrive to bolster the ranks? Reports suggest Lorient star Arthur Avom Ebong could be next to join Sunderland and discussions are an advanced stage between all parties over a £4 million deal.
Sunderland’s first five Premier League fixtures
West Ham United (H)
Stadium of Light
Burnley (A)
Turf Moor
Brentford (H)
Stadium of Light
Crystal Palace (A)
Selhurst Park
Aston Villa (H)
Stadium of Light
Now, the Black Cats are reportedly in the hat to sign a striker who showed a clinical edge in front of goal last term that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Sunderland position themselves to sign Luis Suarez
For the avoidance of doubt despite a name that will attract attention, Sunderland have entered the race to sign Almeria forward Luis Suarez this summer alongside Sporting Clube de Portugal, according to reports in Spain via Sport Witness.
The Colombia international registered 31 goals and eight assists in 43 matches across all competitions, though his side failed to gain promotion to the top-flight of Spanish football in the end.
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Tom Cunningham
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Notably, Sunderland and Ghisolfi are willing to pay the £21.5 million fee needed to tempt Suarez to England, while Sporting feel that figure is excessive.
However, they have doubts the Santa Marta-born man would favour a switch to the Stadium of Light as he is being lined up in Lisbon as a replacement for Viktor Gyokeres.
Talks have taken place with ‘several’ clubs regarding his future, though the Black Cats’ interest in the 27-year-old is said to be fresh, so it remains to be seen how this one pans out as Regis Le Bris looks to bolster his side’s chances of remaining in the Premier League.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes playing in Chennai is a “great opportunity” for the side to get used to the conditions, given it could be one of the venues for the Women’s ODI World Cup next year.India’s women’s team last played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk in a Quadrangular series in 2007. They last played a women’s Test here in 1976, and the ground hasn’t hosted any women’s T20Is yet. Since the end of 2022, all women’s internationals in India have either been in Navi Mumbai or Mumbai, till the ODI-leg of the South Africa series was hosted in Bengaluru last week. Following the one-off Test against South Africa starting on Friday in Chennai, India will also be playing three T20Is against them at the same venue.”As a team, it’s a great opportunity for us,” Harmanpreet said on the eve of the Test. “We are getting used to home conditions… even though they are home conditions, we don’t have much experience here. But I think this series will definitely give us a lot of confidence to see how the wicket is going to behave and what combinations we can look for [for the World Cup]. Before the World Cup, with [about] one year left, I think as a team we are taking this opportunity with both hands whenever we are playing home series. It’s a great opportunity to see how the wickets are and how we can improve our skills.”Related
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This will be India’s third Test in seven months. They played back-to-back Tests against England and Australia in December 2023, posting massive wins in both matches. Harmanpreet says playing those two matches has helped the side get rid of “overthinking” while playing in a format.Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur take part in close-catching drills•PTI
“In the long format you have to be there [in the middle] for four days. But if you think like that as a player you can overthink. The last time [we played a Test] we only thought about winning the sessions and that really helped us. This time also we will focus on each session. The best thing about Test cricket is you have time to come back. If you lose one session, you always have time to [make up for] things.”That’s the key point which our support staff told us: ‘just focus on each and every session and if you can [break it] down to two to two-and-a-half hours, think about how you’re going to perform as a player’. I think that really helps, [rather] than thinking that it’s a 100 overs [roughly per day] game which makes you overthink. Those little points really helped us win the last two Tests and we just want to continue [to apply] those.”India will be relying on head coach Amol Muzumdar’s red-ball experience heading into the Test, Harmanpreet said. Muzumdar, who played 171 first-class matches in a 20-year-long career, has also played two red-ball matches at Chepauk.”I didn’t have much experience in Test cricket when I got to captain those two Tests,” Harmanpreet said. “Amol sir help me. He has played lot of Test [red-ball] cricket and he has a lot of experience. With his experience, he has helped me with things like how to take decisions on the field. I do have a bit of an idea now.”We don’t have much idea about how Chennai wicket is going to play. We have only seen when the men were playing but women’s cricket is totally different… the pace, the way we bowl and bat, I think we’ll know that only once we take the field tomorrow, see how the pitch behaves and take decisions. The experienced support staff are definitely going to help us.”
Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta is personally keen on a high-earning centre-forward, who’d now reportedly jump at the chance to join Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal two-man striker target list with Andrea Berta holding talks
According to recent reports, two players currently stand out as Arsenal’s most desired striker targets – Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Arsenal seal first summer sale as "high level" player completes European move
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ByEmilio Galantini May 23, 2025
Going by the on-field and off-field numbers, it is clear to see why this is the case.
Gyokeres, who’s racked up a phenomenal 53 goals in all competitions for Sporting this season, could also depart the Primeira Liga side for a fee of up to £60 million, according to Fabrizio Romano, so he’d be an arguable bargain when factoring in the 26-year-old’s record.
Sporting CP
101
96
28
Coventry City
116
43
17
Brommapojkarna
67
25
9
FC St. Pauli
28
7
4
Swansea City
12
1
0
Brighton
8
1
1
Meanwhile, Sesko’s current release clause stands at £67 million, and the Slovenia international actually bettered his goalscoring tally from last season (18) with 21 goals across all competitions.
While some reports in Portugal earlier this week stated that Arsenal have agreed a £59m fee to sign Gyokeres from Sporting (O Jogo), this claim appears to have jumped the gun, as Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg stated on Friday that Berta is holding serious talks over a move for Sesko.
Arsenal’s pursuit of a top goalscorer remains very much open, as Berta identifies targets who he believes would be best-suited to Arteta.
Interestingly, as per journalist Simon Phillips last week, Arteta would personally prefer Sesko, while Berta is believed to be more of a fan of Gyokeres.
What’s clear, though, is Arsenal’s glaring need for another striker. Arteta has been forced to utilise midfielder Mikel Merino as an emergency striker for most of this calendar year, following injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
While the latter has since returned to action, it is imperative that Arsenal don’t wait any longer to sign a 25-plus-goals-per-season forward, as they look to mount a successful Premier League title challenge.
Dušan Vlahović would "immediately" join Arsenal this summer
According to some reports, there are other centre-forwards on Berta’s shopping list, albeit further down the pecking order when compared to Sesko and Gyokeres.
Journalist Daniele Longo, writing a piece for Calciomercato, shares that Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović is one of them.
Juventus' DusanVlahovicduring the warm up
The Serbia international is entering the final 12 months of his £359,000-per-week contract at Juve, and with no sign of a renewal, it would appear that the Old Lady must be more inclined to sell him this summer, rather than lose Vlahovic for nothing in 2026.
Longo states that Vlahovic “would immediately pack his bags” and join Arsenal if given the opportunity, and Berta personally wants the ex-Fiorentina star, even if he’s less of a transfer priority.
The “starting” price of any negotiations for Vlahovic comes at around £42 million, which could be seen by some as good value, considering the “machine” has scored at least 14 total goals per season since 2020/21.
If Berta were to seriously pursue him, Arsenal’s major obstacle would undoubtedly be Vlahovic’s extortionate wages.
While the mood around the club has dramatically improved following their Europa League win on Thursday night, Tottenham Hotspur have had to deal with plenty of problems this season.
The most significant has been the near-endless stream of injuries, which has made it impossible for Ange Postecoglou to field his first-choice defence for much of the campaign.
So, it’s not surprising to hear that Daniel Levy and Co are looking to add to their defensive ranks in the summer.
In fact, recent reports have touted a former Premier League player with a move to N17, a player who’s been compared to Cristian Romero.
Tottenham Hotspur transfer news
It looks like it will be a big summer for Spurs this year, so before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at a few of the club’s other targets, such as Oihan Sancet.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Athletic Bilbao monster will reportedly cost around £69m in the coming months, and while that is a lot, it might well be worth it, as in just 30 appearances, he has scored 17 goals and provided three assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.30 games, almost exclusively from midfield.
An even more expensive signing could be Matheus Cunha, with reports from earlier this month claiming that the North Londoners would be willing to spend £75m to secure his services ahead of the chasing pack.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhareacts
Again, it’s an enormous sum of money, but given the fact that the Brazilian international has scored 16 goals and provided four assists in 30 appearances this season, it might well be value for money.
However, as mentioned above, bringing in some more defensive cover appears to be one of the club’s priorities this summer, which helps explain their interest in Eric Garcia.
Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Tottenham are interested in signing the former Manchester City gem, who is currently on loan with Girona, from Barcelona.
In fact, the report goes a step further, claiming that the Lilywhites are ready to make an offer of around €15m for the Spanish defender, which amounts to about £13m.
Barcelona'sEricGarciareacts
It could be a bargain for a relatively young centre-back who has plenty of experience playing at a high level, and he’s already won comparisons to Romero.
How Garcia compares to Romero
So, before getting into the other reasons Spurs might want to sign Garcia this summer, it’s worth exploring this comparison to Romero and where it comes from.
Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one and, in this instance, has concluded that the Argentine star is the fourth most similar centre-back to the Spaniard.
The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots on target, passes into the penalty area, live passes, goal-creating actions, tackles, blocks and more, all per 90.
Garcia & Romero
Statistics per 90
Garcia
Romero
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.16
0.14
Shots on Target
0.40
0.53
Passes into the Penalty Area
0.48
0.53
Live Passes
73.4
71.5
Goal-Creating Actions
0.32
0.26
Tackles
2.06
2.17
Blocks
1.35
1.18
Aerial Duel Win %
55.6%
60.6%
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season
On top of winning comparisons to the World Cup-winning Lilywhites ace, the £99k-per-week “monster,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also has some seriously impressive underlying numbers in his own right.
For example, FBref places him in the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for goals, goals plus assists, shots on target, non-penalty expected goals, penalties won and tackles in the middle third, the top 3% for long pass completion and passes into the final third, the top 5% for progressive passes and much more, all per 90.
FC Barcelona'sEricGarciacelebrates scoring their fourth goal
Ultimately, even if he cost more than is being reported, Spurs would be smart to sign Garcia, so if they can get him for around £13m, then that would be a no-brainer, as he’d be an ideal backup for Romero and Micky van de Ven at the very least, if not a competitor for game time.
100% dribbles, 9 duels won: Spurs' 9/10 titan is as undroppable as Solanke
The Spurs star reminded everyone how good he really is last night.
Ruben Amorim watched on as his Manchester United side failed to fire once again away to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, albeit with the Portuguese coach perhaps as culpable as anyone for those struggles in front of goal.
The 40-year-old had bizarrely opted not to start Rasmus Hojlund at centre-forward for the trip to the City Ground, despite the fact that the struggling Dane had finally ended a 21-game goal drought at Leicester City prior to the international break.
That move was all the more perplexing considering that his replacement, Joshua Zirkzee, had even admitted to TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand prior to the match that he isn’t an orthodox striker – a fact that was evident as the Dutchman failed to register a single touch in the opposition box in the first half.
To Amorim’s credit, the former Sporting CP boss recognised his mistake after introducing Hojlund at the break, although despite a few clever runs from the 22-year-old – as well as an effort that lashed into the side netting – the club’s number nine never truly looked like getting on the scoresheet.
Joshua Zirkzee
With talk already rife regarding the potential signing of a new centre-forward this summer, namely Victor Osimhen, that need was heightened even further as Amorim was forced into chucking on Harry Maguire as an auxiliary striker in the closing stages as a last resort.
Harry Maguire's late cameo vs Forest
Having previously also deployed Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine against Crystal Palace in early February, the signs are there that the United boss isn’t fully invested in his striking options, a fact that Maguire’s impact certainly exposed.
After Zirkzee toiled and Hojlund also struggled to get into the game, United’s two best chances ultimately fell the way of the England international, as he made a nuisance of himself in the Forest box.
Looking like an old-fashioned number nine, the 32-year-old was unable to convert after heading Patrick Dorgu’s cross wide with the goal gaping, before coming even closer to snatching a draw at the death.
The 6 foot 4 centre-back brought the ball down and prodded it goalbound in the final knockings of stoppage time, only to see his last-gasp effort denied by opposite number, Murillo, on the line.
While those two openings perhaps came amid the mere chaos of throwing Maguire into the fray, it is telling that the experienced defender posed more of a threat in just under ten minutes than Zirkzee and Hojlund provided in 87 minutes prior to that.
Harry Maguire
Unless Amorim looks to mirror Mikel Arteta’s Mikel Merino experiment in even more extreme fashion – with the Spaniard now scoring five goals in eight games as Arsenal’s makeshift striker – then Maguire won’t be a short-term solution up top.
A permanent role change could be needed elsewhere, however, with regards to Bruno Fernandes.
Why Amorim needs to permanently change Fernandes' role
The Man Utd “genius” – as hailed by former boss Erik ten Hag – was shifted back into a number ten berth against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, having largely operated in a deep-lying role in recent weeks.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
On the evidence of his first-half display, the Portuguese playmaker seemingly appears better suited to being a permanent fixture of the midfield two, rather than operating in a more advanced role, having struggled to dictate proceedings in the opening 45.
While the 30-year-old did force a save from Matz Sels early on, after combining with Alejandro Garnacho, he largely found himself marked out of the game by opposition skipper, Ryan Yates, having been forced to then drop deeper anyway to try and get on the ball.
Fernandes’ stats vs Forest
Stat
Record
Touches
110
Pass accuracy
79%
Key passes
6
Shots on target
2
Shots off target
0
Big chances created
0
Successful dribbles
2/5
Duels won
7/17
Long balls completed
7/12
Possession lost
31x
Dribbled past
3x
Stats via Sofascore
It wasn’t until the half-time change, which saw Hojlund replace Manuel Ugarte, that Fernandes started to take control, a fact that was epitomised by his stunning switch to pick out the advancing Garnacho in behind.
In all, the £300k-per-week talisman registered six key passes on the night, with his creative quality in possession now looking better suited to that midfield berth, rather than as part of the forward line.
Bruno Fernandes
This isn’t a one-off either, with Fernandes having sparked a dramatic comeback against Everton back in February, after moving into the midfield two on the hour mark.
That has largely been his home since then, resulting in a run of form that saw the midfield maestro score against the likes of Fulham, Arsenal and Leicester, having also bagged a hat-trick in the Europa League against Real Sociedad.
To see the in-form star shining in that deeper berth is perhaps no surprise considering he has previously hinted at his desire to move “further back” as his career progresses, having also pointed to the win over the Toffees in April 2023, in which he lined up as a number six, as “one of the most complete games [he’s] played, at all levels”.
Interim boss Ralf Rangnick had even suggested prior to that that Fernandes was better suited away from an attacking midfield role, having stated in 2022:
Getting Fernandes closer to goal has largely looked the best solution to help reinvigorate the floundering attacking unit, yet with Mason Mount returning, and with Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo also in line to feature again this season, there are others perhaps better suited to that advanced berth.
As such, while the Maguire experiment may prove a short-lived change, the new United skipper must now enjoy a permanent switch to become one part of the first-choice midfield duo moving forward.
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All the stats as Akeal Hosein’s record five-for helps West Indies bag a mammoth win
Sampath Bandarupalli09-Jun-202439 Uganda’s total against West Indies is now the joint-lowest at the men’s T20 World Cup. The Netherlands also got bowled out for 39 runs against Sri Lanka in the 2014 edition.1 Uganda’s 39 all-out is also the lowest by any team against West Indies in men’s T20Is. Ireland’s 68 all-out in the 2010 T20 World Cup was the previous lowest against West Indies.It is also Uganda’s lowest total in men’s T20Is, with their previous lowest being 58 all-out against Afghanistan earlier in this tournament.134 West Indies’ win margin against Uganda is their first win by a margin of 100-plus runs in the men’s T20Is. Their previous biggest was by 84 runs against Pakistan in the 2014 T20 World Cup.2 West Indies’ 134-run win is the second-biggest by runs for any team in the men’s T20 World Cup. The biggest win was by 172 runs for Sri Lanka in 2007, when they bundled out Kenya to 88 while defending 260 for 6.1 Akeal Hosein became the first bowler from West Indies to bag a five-wicket haul at the men’s T20 World Cup. The previous best bowling figures for West Indies were 4 for 15 by Samuel Badree against Bangladesh in 2014.1 Number of bowling figures in men’s T20Is for West Indies, better than Hosein’s 5 for 11 against Uganda. Obed McCoy’s six for 17 against India in 2022 are the best figures for West Indies in this format.Hosein is also the first spinner to take a five-wicket haul for West Indies in the men’s T20Is.10 All ten batters dismissed in Uganda’s innings scored less than ten runs, the second instance of all ten batters getting out for a single digit score in an innings at the men’s T20 World Cup.
West Indies were the batting side in the first such instance, during the semi-final of the 2009 edition against Sri Lanka.8 Uganda batters were dismissed leg-before-wicket or bowled by the West Indies bowlers. Only once before, there have been eight or more leg-before-wicket or bowled dismissals in an innings at the men’s T20 World Cup – 9 by Scotland against Afghanistan in 2021.
The Punjab Kings seamer, who has been picked for India’s T20I squad, talks about his success as a death bowler this IPL season
Interview by Hemant Brar02-Jun-2022Punjab Kings were on their way to the Wankhede Stadium for the last league game of IPL 2022 when Arshdeep Singh heard he had been picked for India’s T20I squad for the South Africa series. With a match on hand, he couldn’t let the excitement overwhelm him at the time, but as the series gets closer, the feeling has been sinking in.Arshdeep was retained by Punjab ahead of the season, and he repaid that trust by becoming their go-to bowler in the death overs. Among those who bowled at least ten overs at the death, his economy of 7.58 in that phase was second only to Jasprit Bumrah’s 7.38. Overall, he picked up ten wickets in 14 games at an economy of 7.70. Arshdeep spoke about what went into the making of his breakout season.Was there any pressure of being a retained player for Punjab Kings? There was no pressure as such. Whenever you get a chance for a team, you try to give your 100%, no matter if it’s your first year or tenth, if you have been retained or have come through the auction. If a team has shown confidence in you, you have to do well for them and give your 100%.Related
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Arshdeep Singh for T20 World Cup? Bishop and Vettori like the idea
How do you see your growth as a bowler in the last couple of years? I feel I am a lot more consistent now. Earlier I used to bowl loose balls in between. Now I have worked on that a lot so that I don’t give the batter that release ball. All the batters who come to play in the IPL are quite experienced. They are aware and are good enough to hit you for a boundary whenever they get a bad ball. That’s one thing I have worked on a lot, that I consistently bowl in good areas with a good plan. In the coming days, the focus will be on how to improve it further.What specific drills did you do to become more consistent? I did a lot of single-wicket practice. Lots of repetitions of length ball and yorker. After doing it so many times in practice, you start understanding where your ball will land if you run at this particular speed with this particular angle.. I guess with all those repetitions, you start getting that feeling and that makes a lot of difference.Are you working on improving your bowling speed as well? Right now, I am trying to focus on consistency. The main thing is how consistent I am in hitting those lines and lengths, and in executing my plans.What about the fitness part? As a sportsperson, the goal is to stay as fit as possible. Every season, every month, every day, you try to work on it so that when you wake up in the morning, you feel energetic and not fatigued. So that’s the main focus – to maintain a good fitness level and that’s what I have been working on.”I feel I am a lot more consistent now. That’s one thing I have worked on a lot, that I consistently bowl in good areas with a good plan”•BCCIHave you made any changes to your diet to achieve that? As you know, it’s not easy to follow a diet in Punjabi households.Adrian Le Roux, our trainer at Punjab Kings, says that the best way of recovery is to sleep for at least eight hours [in a day] and keep yourself hydrated. I try to tick those boxes and it has helped my game a lot.You and Jasprit Bumrah bowled the joint-most yorkers this IPL season. Is that a delivery you worked specifically on? As I said earlier, repetitions make a lot of difference, because your control improves tremendously and you start getting the confidence that you can bowl it in the match as well. You practise with a normal ball, or with a slightly wet ball if there’s a chance of dew in the game. Sometimes you bowl to a batsman, sometimes you do single-wicket practice. Sometimes you can place boots or some other target to aim at. You can even challenge other bowlers in the nets to see who can hit the target the most times. That adds a fun element.You were the designated death-overs bowler for your team this season. Was that something communicated to you in advance? I guess the team’s combination was such that I was supposed to bowl one over at the start, one in the middle and two at the death. I was told before the tournament what my role would be. So in the practice games, I bowled accordingly. I thank the team management a lot for the role clarity they gave me. That helped me immensely as I knew when I have to bowl and so I could plan accordingly.When did you start feeling confident that you could bowl well at the death? I guess the first thing is, you must have that self-belief. Only then others will show confidence in you. Whenever you step onto the field, you step on with the confidence that no matter who is up against you, you will back your skills and do well for your team. You reach this level only if you have the required skills. After that, it is about who can adapt to the situation in the middle and excel.
In the death overs, you mixed your yorkers with slower ones very well. How do you decide which delivery to bowl when? It depends on the pitch. If the wicket is slow and you want to use it, or you want to use the bigger boundary, you bowl slower balls. If the wicket is flat, you go for the yorker. A bowler has to be adaptable as per the demands of the situation. Sometimes you have senior players around you, like we had [Kagiso] Rabada, so they tell you what is working on that particular day on that pitch, so you could try those. I guess from that you get a fair idea of what sort of variations you can use.You spoke about Rabada being around. From 2019 to 2021, you played with Mohammed Shami for Punjab. What sorts of chats did you have with them? I mainly asked them when they are in a good rhythm, what their frame of mind is. Similarly, when they are having a bad day, what they think. I have tried to pick those things from them and I guess they will help me a lot in future. But the biggest thing I have learnt from them is to enjoy the game.So do you enjoy bowling death overs? I enjoy bowling everywhere. Whenever I get a chance to perform for my team, I try to enjoy it. When you step onto the cricket field, be it a 50-over match or a 20-over match, you should try to enjoy the game, because this is something you love to do. Also, when you love your job and enjoy it, you don’t feel tired. That feel of representing the team, be it Punjab Kings, or Punjab, or the whole country in future, that’s a proud feeling, and it works as a boost.Did you have different plans for different batters at the death, or did you stick to one broad plan? Usually in the IPL, we have these bowlers’ meetings where you make plans based on the ground dimensions and the batsmen’s strong and weak points. Based on that you decide what to bowl to which batsman. But after that, it depends on how the wicket will play because you cannot plan for that. So it’s very important to adapt to the situation in the middle.Arshdeep with his family at home in Kharar, Chandigarh•Keshav Singh/Hindustan Times/Getty ImagesPunjab Kings had many power-hitters in the squad this season. Did bowling to them in the nets help you? Yes, that did help a lot, because when you bowl to such good players, you get an idea of what areas not to bowl in.You had an excellent economy this season but picked up only ten wickets in 14 games. Do you think a bowler can achieve only one of those two? It’s not like that. You cannot judge if you bowled well or not by your figures. Mainly it’s about how your effort was and if you gave your 100%, and whether you could execute your plans or not, because execution is in your control, results are not.Then how do you measure success? At the end of the day when you go to the bed, you should feel satisfied with the way you bowled, because wickets or runs won’t give you the full picture every time. But you know if you gave your 100% or not, or if you could execute your plans or not. It could be that you were trying to bowl a yorker but it turned out to be a half-volley and you got a wicket. Now that result is good for the team. Everyone knows you took a wicket but you know that you made a mistake and couldn’t execute what you wanted to. So before hitting the bed, when you recall what you did in the middle, that gives you the true picture. Stats cannot tell you those things, those things you feel yourself.
Although he is a freelance cricketer now, there is a sense that Rossouw cares about every franchise he plays for
Danyal Rasool18-Mar-2020Having just guided his new franchise, Multan Sultans, to the top of the PSL table and ensured they became the first team to qualify for the last four, Rilee Rossouw was faced by a decision he had said he never wanted to make again. With the coronavirus pandemic spreading around the world and several countries, including Rossouw’s native South Africa, introducing stringent border controls, he posted a tweet that will have reminded PSL fans of the gut-wrenching announcement he had made three years ago, when he played for Quetta Gladiators.”Unfortunately, I will no longer be involved in PSL 2020,” it read. “It has been a privilege to represent Multan Sultans and to play/work with the special people there! Thank you Pakistan for your hospitality and for making PSL5 a [sic] unforgettable experience for me!”Rossouw was leaving Pakistan to be home with his family, making him unavailable for the final group game and the knockout stage of the PSL. As it happened, the knockout stages would never take place, with the PSL forced into postponing the semi-finals and final as a precautionary measure after an overseas player displayed symptoms consistent with the coronavirus.
I hope and I wish everything goes to plan, and cricket comes back here, which there’s no doubt it’s going to
Though Rossouw had decided against touring Pakistan in 2017, too, the circumstances could hardly be more different. Then, the entire Quetta Gladiators overseas contingent had opted against making the trip, with Rossouw understood to have deliberated the hardest before finally deciding to stay away “with a sad heart”.It was a decision Rossouw admitted he regrets to ESPNcricinfo. “It’s something I’ve looked back at since, and felt a pang of regret about,” Rossouw said during a chat the day before he left Pakistan. “Having been back since every year and enjoyed the hospitality of Pakistan, I’ve always felt completely safe, and if I knew then what I know now, there’s every chance I would have come to a different conclusion.”The regret may have been compounded by how that final played out. Peshawar Zalmi’s overseas players had all travelled to Lahore, led by the charismatic Daren Sammy, and blown a depleted Quetta side away, romping to the title in the process. And while a number of players on the T20 circuit may have developed reputations for being mercenaries, Rossouw, at least in Pakistan, has built a reputation of caring deeply both for the league as well as the side he’s played for.Rilee Rossouw and Ahmed Shehzad walk off the field after winning PSL 2019•PCBThat side is now Multan, even if he is best known for his association with Quetta that culminated last year with a trophy against his name. Of players who missed at least one season, only Luke Ronchi is ahead of him in terms of runs scored in the PSL. It is, the BPL aside, his most successful T20 league, and Rossouw opened up on why the T20 circuit was going so swimmingly for him.”For me, first of all, it’s personal pride. I know many people think as a T20 player you’re just a gun for hire, but whatever team I play for, I’m eager to do my best. Whether it be here or the BPL, I enjoy my time as much as I can. I know some people can think it’s a bit of a hassle to be on tour all the time. But it is our job, you’ve gotta do it. I love what I do, so for me, it’s just about enjoying myself out there, especially my batting.”Just like every other season in Pakistan, Rossouw had plenty of time to enjoy his batting, particularly against his old team Quetta, who came in for the heaviest punishment. In a league game in Multan, Rossouw put Quetta to the sword in an astonishing onslaught in the final ten overs that would see Multan plunder 134. It included a century Rossouw clobbered off just 43 deliveries – the fastest in PSL history – to set up a win that epitomised the contrasting fortunes of the two sides since. From thereon, Multan wouldn’t to lose a game till after they had qualified, while Quetta wouldn’t win one until they found themselves mathematically eliminated from the competition.
If I knew then what I know now, there’s every chance I would have come to a different conclusionRoussouw on refusing to play in Pakistan in 2017
And while Rossouw took pleasure in his personal form, he had a soft spot for his old team-mates, too. “I love Quetta and my time at Quetta. They are still a franchise that is very close to me. Anything can happen in cricket, but unfortunately, things haven’t gone their way because of off-the-field stuff. Umar [Akmal, who was suspended from the tournament on its eve under the PCB’s anti-corruption code] plays a massive role at Quetta Gladiators, and his absence in the middle order has maybe hampered them a little bit. One or two guys have maybe been a little bit inconsistent in the tournament, which you can have in some seasons, too. I’m sure they’ll bounce back very strongly.”Multan has just been special for me. I enjoyed my time in the city, just to see how much cricket meant to the people. You see that in Karachi and Lahore and Pindi [Rawalpindi] as well, but in Multan, it really hit home what cricket is actually doing for this country. I hope and I wish everything goes to plan, and cricket comes back here, which there’s no doubt it’s going to. Just driving back from the games, you see the people on the roads waving and cheering. It was really, really special.”Rilee Rossouw topped the run-scorers’ chart•Raton Gomes/BCBBut it isn’t just the city that’s attracted Rossouw. The approach Multan have taken to the tournament is significantly different to the philosophy at Quetta, at least on the face of it. Multan had made clear they would prioritise data and analytics above all else to make decisions, both at the draft and during the competition, and while there was scepticism around the approach in a league where such ideas are very much yet to go mainstream, Multan used it to go top of the table by some distance.”I kind of liked it [the attitude towards data]. I think that it definitely can benefit you. I wouldn’t say there’s no benefit here. Especially for the captain to know exactly where to bowl to certain batsmen, what fields to set. From that point of view, I think it’s fantastic. And as a batsman, where you’re weak and where you’re strong it can help you with, too. You know what to work on, and you get a rough idea of where the bowlers are going to bowl to, so I think it’s fantastic.”I would definitely say you have to be careful with this, too. There are players here, and indeed players in every team, who could get overwhelmed with the volume of information coaches and analysts might be throwing at them, and players like that I feel you don’t need to bother too much. You just need to tell them you just need to go out and play your game and not to worry about data or analytics.”
I know many people think as a T20 player you’re just a gun for hire, but whatever team I play for, I’m eager to do my best
The discussions in Pakistan invariably circle back to safety, and the experience of cricketers spending such large amounts of time abiding by security protocols they are unlikely to see anywhere else in the world. There has been talk of some players feeling stifled by the restrictions on movements, and others feeling so comfortable with the state of affairs in the country they felt most security arrangements were gratuitous. That may in itself be a vote of confidence for the future of cricket in Pakistan, but Rossouw was happy to take pleasure in whatever little distraction he could get.”They kind of force us to stay in hotels, but we went to play some night golf a couple of nights ago. That was a fantastic experience. It was my first time ever playing night golf, but that was wonderful, I enjoyed it thoroughly.”Quetta and Multan fans could say the same about Rossouw’s exploits on the field. He may, for now, have become a T20 journeyman, but those who watched him closely in the PSL over the years will hope his travels continue to include stopovers in Pakistan every year.
Williamson, who is recovering from a groin injury, was not considered for the ODI series and will focus on preparing for the Test series
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2025
Matt Henry had missed the final two ODIs against England due to a calf strain•ICC via Getty Images
Matt Henry is set to return to action for New Zealand’s the upcoming three-match ODI series against West Indies, starting November 16 at the Hagley Oval.Henry, who missed the final two ODIs against England due to a calf strain, has been undergoing a “planned conditioning and rehabilitation block” to prepare for the ODI series, as well as the subsequent three-Test series in December.Blair Tickner, who was an injury replacement for Kyle Jamieson for the England series, has also retained his spot despite Jamieson’s return to action. Tickner took eight wickets in two matches against England.Related
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The pace bowling group also includes Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and Nathan Smith, while captain Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, and Rachin Ravindra will handle spin duties.Several players remain unavailable due to injury, including Mohammad Abbas (ribs), Finn Allen (foot), Lockie Ferguson (hamstring), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Ben Sears (hamstring). The NZC stated in a release that Kane Williamson, who is recovering from a groin injury, has not been considered for the ODI series and will focus on preparing for the Test series, which begins on December 2.Blair Tickner was impressive against England•Getty Images
“Matt is a vital member of this group and the senior leader of our pace attack, so it’ll be great to have him back for both the ODIs and Tests,” New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said of Henry. “He will be fresh and fit after a good rest, and we know he will be raring to go ahead of what promises to be a big five weeks with both the white and red ball.”Walter also praised Tickner’s recent form, saying, “Ticks was outstanding against England, and we’re pleased to keep rewarding players who step up when called upon.”Looking ahead to the West Indies challenge, Walter said: “They’re always a dangerous side, with players who can turn a game in an instant. It’s an important series for us as we continue to develop and grow in the format.”The New Zealand squad will gather in Christchurch on November 14. The team will be keen to extend their streak of ten consecutive home ODI series wins, following last month’s 3-0 clean sweep over England.Meanwhile, the ongoing five-match T20I series between New Zealand and West Indies is currently tied 1-1 after two games.New Zealand squad for West Indies ODIMitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young