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With one eye on finishing the season strongly ahead of the play-offs and the other on building a squad for the future, Sunderland have now reportedly taken a talented 18-year-old on trial and are closing in on securing his signature.

Sunderland have play-off place secured

With just four games to go in the Championship campaign, Sunderland sit as many as 16 points clear of seventh place West Bromwich Albion and have, therefore, already secured their place in the play-offs. If things stay as they are, then the Black Cats will square off against Sheffield United, who will be the favourites, shock contenders Bristol City and Frank Lampard’s resurgent Coventry City.

As ever though, the drama is far from over in the Championship and anything could still change below Regis Le Bris’ side in the fight to secure a place in the top six come May.

With the pressure off, Le Bris’ side have begun to falter ever so slightly, however, with a 0-0 draw against Norwich City followed up by a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Swansea City to leave those at the Stadium of Light frustrated.

Following defeat against the Welsh side, Le Bris told reporters: “It’s a disappointing result. We had a lot of possession, but it was difficult to create chances – they were well-organised and stuck to their style.

Worry for Le Bris as Newcastle eye possible move for £25m Sunderland star

This would be a massive blow for the Black Cats.

By
Henry Jackson

Apr 13, 2025

“They played with an aggressive shape. It wasn’t about keeping the ball – we did that – but we struggled to break them down and create real openings. We have to manage the squad. While the result wasn’t what we wanted, today was an opportunity for some players to get valuable minutes.”

Meanwhile, now that they’ve secured their play-off place no matter what, Sunderland have reportedly had the chance to turn their attention towards signing a future star.

Sunderland closing in on Isaac Allan

Having already offered Crystal Palace fullback Freddie Cowin an opportunity to impress, those at the Stadium of Light have now reportedly taken another young player on trial. According to the Sunderland Echo, Sunderland are now closing in on signing Isaac Allan from Lincoln City with the goalkeeper’s trial already underway and his chance to impress coming against Wolves’ youth side.

The 18-year-old is reportedly open to a summer move away from Lincoln even if the Imps offer him a senior contract at the club and that has seen Sunderland come swooping in.

Sunderland’s interest in a talented young player should come as no surprise. The Stadium of Light has become the land of opportunity for young players in recent years, whether that’s been thanks to the Black Cats’ academy or, indeed, their transfer business.

Both Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham are fine examples of that and now Allan could follow in their footsteps towards Le Bris’ side if he completes his move ahead of the summer. Another one for the future, Sunderland are attempting to build a side not only capable of gaining a Premier League place, but also maintaining it for years to come.

Who have the teams retained? Who have they released? And what do they need at the auction?

Hemant Brar, Shashank Kishore, S Sudarshanan15-Nov-2025 • Updated on 09-Dec-20256:53

Samson-Mhatre CSK’s new opening pair?

Chennai Super Kings

Players released: Ravindra Jadeja (traded to RR), Andre Siddarth, Deepak Hooda, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Matheesha Pathirana, Sam Curran (traded to RR), Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Rahul Tripathi, Shaikh Rasheed, Vansh Bedi, Vijay ShankarPlayers retained: MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson (traded in from RR), Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brewis, Shivam Dube, Urvil Patel, Noor Ahmad, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Khaleel Ahmed, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Mukesh Choudhary, Jamie Overton, Gurjapneet Singh, Anshul KambojPurse remaining: INR 43.40 crore out of INR 125 croreSlots remaining: 9 (4 overseas)What they need at the auction: A gun overseas allrounder to replace Curran. They have the purse to go hammer and tongs for Livingstone or Green. They will also look to sign a seam-bowling back-up for Ellis.

Delhi Capitals

Players released/traded out: Donovan Ferreira (traded to RR), Darshan Nalkande, Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Manvanth Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Sediqullah AtalPlayers retained/traded in: Nitish Rana (traded in from RR), Abishek Porel, Ajay Mandal, Ashutosh Sharma, Axar Patel, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Madhav Tiwari, Mitchell Starc, Sameer Rizvi, T Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Mukesh KumarPurse remaining: INR 21.80 crore out of INR 125 croreSlots remaining: 8 (5 overseas)What they need at the auction: DC need top-order options after they let go of Fraser-McGurk and du Plessis. Plus more overseas players since they are left with only three.Gujarat Titans traded Sherfane Rutherford to Mumbai Indians•Associated Press

Gujarat Titans

Players released/traded out: Sherfane Rutherford (traded to MI), Dasun Shanaka, Gerald Coetzee, Karim Janat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Mahipal LomrorPlayers retained/traded in: Anuj Rawat, Glenn Phillips, Gurnoor Brar, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Jos Buttler, Kagiso Rabada, Kumar Kushagra, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Arshad Khan, Nishant Sindhu, Prasidh Krishna, R Sai Kishore, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, B Sai Sudharsan, M Shahrukh Khan, Shubman Gill, Washington SundarPurse remaining: INR 12.90 crore out of INR 125 croreSlots remaining: 5 (4 overseas)What they need at the auction: A finisher, now that they are without Rutherford. They could also look at adding at least one allrounder to the mix.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Players released/traded out: Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Luvnith Sisodia, Moeen Ali, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Spencer Johnson, Venkatesh IyerPlayers retained/traded in: Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun ChakravarthyPurse remaining: INR 64.30 crore out of INR 125 croreSlots remaining: 13 (6 overseas)What they need at the auction: KKR could go in search of a wicketkeeper as well as an opening batter, since they have left out de Kock and Gurbaz. Them leaving out Iyer and Russell means they could well do with an allrounder. And their huge purse will allow them to do that.8:52

Who saw the Russell release coming?

Lucknow Super Giants

Players released/traded out: Aryan Juyal, David Miller, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Ravi Bishnoi, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Shardul Thakur (traded to MI), Akash Deep, Shamar JosephPlayers retained/traded in: Abdul Samad, Aiden Markram, Akash Singh, Arjun Tendulkar (traded in from MI), Arshin Kulkarni, Avesh Khan, Ayush Badoni, Digvesh Rathi, Himmat Singh, Manimaran Siddharth, Matthew Breetzke, Mayank Yadav, Mohammed Shami (traded in from SRH), Mitchell Marsh, Mohsin Khan, Nicholas Pooran, Prince Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shahbaz AhmedPurse remaining: INR 22.95 crore out of INR 125 croreSlots remaining: 6 (4 overseas)What they need at the auction: They need replacements for Miller and Bishnoi. Apart from that, they will be keen to have an allrounder.

Mumbai Indians

Players released/traded out: Arjun Tendulkar (traded to LSG), Bevon Jacobs, Karn Sharma, Lizaad Williams, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Reece Topley, Krishnan Shrijith, Satyanarayana Raju, Vignesh PuthurPlayers retained/traded in: Shardul Thakur (traded in from LSG), Sherfane Rutherford (traded in from GT), Mayank Markande (traded in from KKR), AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Santner, Naman Dhir, Raghu Sharma, Raj Bawa, Robin Minz, Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Will JacksPurse remaining: INR 2.75 crore out of INR 125 croreSlots remaining: 5 (1 overseas)What they need at the auction: They seem to have all bases covered with the current squad. Given they have just INR 2.75 crore left, don’t expect any big buys either.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Punjab Kings

Players released/traded out: Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Kyle Jamieson, Kuldeep Sen, Praveen DubeyPlayers retained/traded in: Arshdeep Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Marco Jansen, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Owen, Musheer Khan, Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Yuzvendra ChahalPurse remaining: INR 11.50 crore out of INR 125 croreSlots remaining: 4 (2 overseas)What they need at the auction: Given their first XII looks quite settled and they have only 11.5 crore left, expect a quiet auction for them as well.

Rajasthan Royals

Players released/traded out: Sanju Samson (traded to CSK), Nitish Rana (traded to DC), Akash Madhwal, Ashok Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kumar Kartikeya, Kunal Singh Rathore, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu HasarangaPlayers retained/traded in: Donovan Ferreira (traded in from DC), Ravindra Jadeja (traded in from CSK), Sam Curran (traded in from CSK), Dhruv Jurel, Jofra Archer, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Nandre Burger, Riyan Parag, Sandeep Sharma, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yudhvir SinghPurse remaining: INR 16.05 crore out of INR 125 croreSlots remaining: 9 (1 overseas)What they need at the auction: Spin-bowling options since they have left out all of Theekshana, Hasaranga and Kartikeya and only have Jadeja on that front. They can also look towards an experienced fast bowler.8:23

Do SRH see themselves as a settled XI?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Players released: Liam Livingstone, Lungi Ngidi, Mayank Agarwal, Manoj Bhandage, Swastik Chikara, Mohit RatheePlayers retained: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Jitesh Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Bethell, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Dar, Swapnil SinghPurse remaining: INR 16.40 crore out of INR 125 croreSlots remaining: 8 (2 overseas)What they need at the auction: An overseas fast bowling back-up for Hazlewood, especially with his workload likely to be stretched if he features in both the Ashes and T20 World Cup back-to-back. They may also need a back-up for Dayal, who has not played any cricket since the IPL 2025 final.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Players released/traded out: Mohammed Shami (traded to LSG), Atharva Taide, Sachin Baby, Abhinav Manohar, Wiaan Mulder, Adam Zampa, Simarjeet Singh, Rahul ChaharPlayers retained/traded in: Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, Brydon Carse, Eshan Malinga, Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, Jaydev Unadkat, Kamindu Mendis, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins, R Smaran, Travis Head, Zeeshan AnsariPurse remaining: INR 25.50 crore out of INR 125 croreSlots remaining: 10 (2 overseas)What they need at the auction: Having released Zampa and Chahar, they need a couple of spinners. They also need an allrounder and probably an Indian fast bowler.

Temba Bavuma hoping his side can set up “Super Saffaday” for their countrymen in Paris

Firdose Moonda20-Oct-2023There are Super Saturdays and then there are Super Saffadays and this is one of the latter.South Africa and England (hence Saffa: the casual expression for someone from South Africa – which is also where a lot of English professional sportspeople come from) have only played each other in international cricket and rugby once before on the same day and that was 25 years ago. In 1998, South Africa and England were tussling on day three of the Manchester Test, which was eventually drawn, and the Springboks beat England 18-0 in Cape Town. This time, they’re both on neutral ground playing at World Cups, an unprecedented occasion, which means there’s at least 10 hours of entertainment and rivalry guaranteed.Related

Temba Bavuma: 'It is going to hurt, it should hurt'

World Cup + Wankhede + Saturday night = Blockbuster?

Both teams on the ropes ahead of heavyweight contest

Let’s start with what’s at stake: in Paris, in a replay of the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, there’s a spot in the 2023 final up for grabs. It’s win or bust. In Mumbai, we’re not quite there yet. Both teams are only a third of the way through their group stage campaigns but already, they both need to get their trains back on track. South Africa and England are coming off losses against lower-ranked sides, after failing to chase fairly modest scores against Netherlands and Afghanistan respectively. South Africa’s loss stung particularly sorely, after they were also beaten by Netherlands at last year’s T20 World Cup, but one of their prominent countrymen has told them it doesn’t matter.”We believe in you guys. We trust you guys. One hiccup, but you know what to do,” Siya Kolisi, the Springbok captain said in a video message to the Proteas. “Enjoy it and play as hard as you can. You know that over 60 million South Africans will be supporting you, including us. So make it special.”Said by anyone else, those words may seem greeting-card glib but delivered by Kolisi, with his earnest tone and honest eyes, they carry enormous meaning. Kolisi is the poster child of the message that sport in South Africa is about more than a game. Born to a teenage girl in a township and raised by his grandmother, Kolisi as an adult found and adopted his half-siblings from an orphanage. He is the epitome of how sport can change lives. And while he knows that winning matches will never put food on ordinary South Africans’ tables, he also hopes it can provide some joy to people in a state of despair. A pre-tournament video promoting their campaign shows the Boks dedicating their performances to people and places that matter to them. Some do it for their hometowns, others late grandparents or parents, others for South African leaders and legends. Towards the end, Kolisi says they are doing it: “For you, South Africa, we are who we are because of you.”By the time you get to that point – 47 seconds into a one-minute clip – even if you have never heard of Kraaifontein or the Karoo, your eyes might be brimming. Now, Kolisi has called on Bavuma to jump on the same train, and to set the tone on Super Saffaday, where the cricket will be played first and should end just in time for the rugby to start. “The responsibility is on us to get things going the right way,” Temba Bavuma said at the Wankhede. “We have that responsibility to put smiles on our countrymen’s faces, and make sure we go out and entertain, and bring back the win.”Like Kolisi, Bavuma called the defeat to Netherlands “one blip” and said his team will not allow it to define this campaign or even their performances over the last year.”We acknowledge the fact that in the last couple of months, we’ve played a lot of good cricket. We can’t overlook that and allow one blip in our game to override everything that we’ve done. It’s easy to second-guess yourselves but it’s about not forgetting all the good work that we’ve done.”South Africa will be looking to bounce back after the defeat against Netherlands•ICC/Getty ImagesAnd against England, South Africa don’t have to look too far for evidence. Earlier this year, they beat England 2-1 in a crucial World Cup Super League series, which was squeezed into the SA20 window, to earn some of the points they needed for automatic qualification to this tournament. Rassie van der Dussen and Bavuma scored match-winning centuries in those matches, which will be confidence-boosting reminders after their dismissals in Dharamsala. Bavuma was bowled by a delivery that did not turn and van der Dussen reverse-swept Roelof van der Merwe straight to the square leg fielder. But for once, South Africa are not running away from their ghosts. Bavuma advanced down the track to smash a spinner for six in the nets at the Wankhede while van der Dussen was spotted practising his reverse-sweep in a suggestion that both are attempting to conquer their demons here and now. It may not work, but the new South African cricket way is to make sure they try.They’ve been given a license to thrill, and it has resulted in the top six playing some of the most dynamic cricket of the last two years. In case anyone forgot about that, David Miller served up a reminder when, at optional training on the eve of the match, he hit a six from the nets into the press box window, 14 rows up. More are expected to come on the day itself. “The guys that have played here, JP Duminy [batting coach] and Quinton [de Kock], have spoken about how it can be a batter’s paradise. You get value for your shots and the ball seems to travel further,” Bavuma said. “As batters it can build a lot of confidence. And if it is your day, you can fill your boots. And I guess just the atmosphere of it all, being a full ground, it can really be something to enjoy.”For Bavuma, the occasion holds special significance. He spent his early years idolising hometown hero Sachin Tendulkar (he was even nicknamed “Sachin” after him), and dreaming of one day playing at the Wankhede. Now he is here, not just playing but leading the national team. His story to international fame is not dramatic as Kolisi’s, and unlike Kolisi, he is not as public-facing a figure, but their ascendance at the same time is symbolic of a transforming South Africa that is slowly and painfully working through its past.On Super Saffaday, Bavuma will first lead out the Proteas before Kolisi does the same for the Springboks and 62 million hearts will stop for a second. South Africans don’t unite for too many things but when they do, they do it properly. It’s loud, it’s colourful and it’s passionate. The pulse of a nation will start with the first delivery in Mumbai and continue through to the final whistle in Paris. Whatever happens, it’s going to be a day to remember.

South Africa’s No. 4 talks about the challenges of batting, the myth of measuring success in hundreds, the banter, and the way forward

Firdose Moonda17-Jan-2022What were your expectations going into the series and did it end up playing out that way?
We knew they [India] were going to come in full of confidence. The only disappointment we have as a team was day one at Centurion. We lost the toss, they batted first and we just weren’t up to the task. That’s the only day we lost by very far. There were other days that were tight, where we won by a small margin and they won by a small margin, but in the end, we lost that day too far to get back into the match. I’m not looking for excuses, but we hadn’t played red-ball cricket for six months. Some people said after the World Cup we should have played some four-day cricket but the schedule was as such that the few days we had at home was quite vital, in terms of the mindset of the guys. From there, I thought we were brilliant. And also losing Quinny [Quinton de Kock]. We knew he wasn’t going to play the last two Tests but hearing about his retirement was a big blow. Maybe India saw that as an opportunity for them to get one over us. The way the guys responded was brilliant.How difficult was it to bat on the surfaces you were given?
It was tough. Definitely the toughest conditions I’ve batted on in my life. Most of the guys have said that. There were two world-class bowling attacks, which plays a part but the conditions in all three Tests, you just never felt you were in and you could bat with real confidence. A guy like Keegan Petersen was unbelievable in the way that he played, especially in the last Test. It was quite draining. It was a grueling Test series. It never lets you go. Every moment, every ball, every session, every day seemed to get bigger as the series went on. When you get on the bus, and you’re thinking about this and that and what-if and what must we do tomorrow. At night, you try to switch off but you’re thinking tomorrow is such a big day. If we can just do this right, it can put us in a good position. It was three-and-a-half weeks full on, it was quite grueling from a mental point of view.Related

• Bavuma expects de Kock to return with 'point to prove'

• Bumrah: 'Don't think anyone is in a weird space' with changes in captaincy and coaching staff

• Resolute van der Dussen plays forgotten hero amid Wanderers glory

• The pace comparison – Where Rabada and Co bettered India's fast bowlers

• The rise of Petersen, the wisdom of Elgar and a great SA victory

Given that there were only two hundreds in the series, and none by South Africa, would you say that centuries are not necessarily the only measure of success for batters in this country?
We all know that if you score big you are putting your team in a good position to win the game. But the pitches we’ve had here, while I’m not criticising them at all, it’s just that you can do everything right on the day and still get a ball that gets you out. Look at a guy like Ajinkya Rahane in the last Test and his two dismissals. Technically he didn’t do anything wrong. It just happens that way. Sometimes you look at conditions – like sometimes in the subcontinent, it’s flat to bat. And maybe New Zealand, the wicket they played Bangladesh on, they scored 400 and maybe Bangladesh scores 400, but that’s just not the nature of Test cricket in South Africa. You’ve got to look at it in context. Other teams’ batters are averaging 45 or 50. If you’re going to play the majority of your Test cricket in South Africa, I’m not convinced that that’s necessarily the yardstick you must measure yourself by. A 30 or a 50-run partnership for us in this series was massive. You get to a 50-run partnership and you know you’ve worked really hard to get there. You might have just scored 20 yourself but that partnership is so vital in the match. Those smaller contributions are so much more vital. Hundreds are not necessarily the deciding factor in a Test, it’s how you bat as a unit.

“We as a team would never act like that. Yes, there’s emotions and everything involved on the field. But the umpire’s call is final and even more so these days with technology so you trust.”van der Dussen on DRS drama in Cape Town

So you’re not too unhappy with not reaching any personal milestones yourself in this series?
After the first Test and getting out in the first innings at Wanderers, I was under pressure. As a No.4 batter, you need to make runs. There’s no two ways about it. I knew I hadn’t contributed like I wanted to. Luckily, I’ve played a lot of cricket at the Wanderers and coming out in that second innings, I knew if you go too much into survival mode, you are going to get out. You need to put bowlers under pressure. You need to be really definite in terms of your movements and your game plans and still show a little bit of aggression and try to get the bowlers out of their game plans. A guy like [Shardul] Thakur, if you just allowed him to bowl his length, it was almost impossible to score without taking a big risk. If that guy was honing in on that spot, and to his credit, he did, you needed to find a way to try and put him under pressure and try and get him out of that. The way Temba [Bavuma] went out in the first innings, it maybe looks bad, he walked into his channel and then he gets nicked off down leg but the thinking is I can’t let this guy settle because the way the pitches are, I am probably going to get out at some stage anyway. I am glad for the two innings that I could contribute. It was quite pressurised chases and I really wanted to make a contribution. It’s maybe not the weight of runs I normally would expect myself to get but in the context, it was pretty important.I have to ask you about the Wanderers first innings dismissal. Did you think you were out?
I saw afterwards people were quite critical saying that’s why reviews are there but I never saw the catch being taken. I knew I got bat onto it, it went onto my pad and the next moment, I heard celebration. I didn’t know where the ball was. You get an inside-edge, you are looking for the ball, you don’t know where it went. Somehow it went straight back [to the keeper], I don’t know how that happened. By that time, I saw the celebration and I looked up to Marais [Erasmus] and he had given me out. I had no reason in my mind to think I should refer it, because in my mind the catch had been taken cleanly and I knew I got bat on it and I was out. It was only when I got into the change room and I saw the replays but then it’s too late. It’s easy to say that the umpires should have, maybe because the nature of the catch and how it looked, should have said let’s have a look upstairs. That was quite disappointing especially coming off two innings in Centurion where I didn’t contribute. It did feel a bit like I don’t know what to do here. I’m giving it my all and it’s not clicking. Umpires are human, they make mistakes. Their argument was that even if they did check it, they would have given it out. That’s what they said afterwards.And that seemed to start a bit of banter that lasted through the rest of the series. What was your experience of that?
I enjoyed it. By nature, I am quite competitive. Growing up in a club cricket system in Pretoria, which is very hostile in terms of verbals, I’ve never been one to shy away from a bit of banter. The Indians called it sledging. I would never call it that. These days with cameras and stump mics, we don’t really know what sledging is but I did enjoy it. I’m always the type of guy – I play hard on the field. I’m obviously never going to be personal. It was a moment of me asking Rishabh [Pant] a few questions. Maybe he didn’t enjoy it too much. I’m not sure why. But there was certainly no hostility from my end. Maybe the way he took it – offence is taken and not given. I was at a nice position at short leg. I had access to him in that sense. And I could ask him a few questions. There was never any hostility. And from there, it just sort of blew up. When I went out to bat, they reciprocated quite nicely. It’s part of the game. It’s Test cricket. It’s tough out there, and everyone’s trying to level basically to gain an inch.Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma finished off the job for South Africa in Cape Town•AFP/Getty ImagesFor me, the goal there is to try and get a guy out of his mental comfort zone and for a few seconds just to think about something else that he probably maybe shouldn’t think about or that he wouldn’t normally think about when he’s playing well. That’s the sort of chess game that you play out there. And then that Wanderers Test I think, maybe I got that right. I don’t know if he would have played that shot if I wasn’t there or if I didn’t say anything. I know by nature he is that sort of player. In hindsight, it actually worked out very well for us, because I think that was a massive moment in the Test series for sure.Given the effect that words can have, did you think the series was in the bag when India started to shout at the stump microphone at Newlands?
As a changeroom, we did get that feeling, yes. And like Dean [Elgar] also said in his interviews for half-an-hour after that, it felt like they forgot about what they actually needed to do, their actual plans fell away and sort of got stuck in that moment that went against him and allowed him and Keegan to score quite freely. In a tricky chase like that, it was massive. We as a team would never act like that. Yes, there’s emotions and everything involved on the field. But the umpire’s call is final and even more so these days with technology so you trust. That’s the rules. That’s the playing conditions. We all abide by it. We definitely got that sense, as soon as that happened, and the way they reacted and the way they allowed it to affect them was again a massive moment in the series. I think Dean and Keegan did brilliantly to capitalise on that. They said, they could feel it out there, they realised that this is a moment and let’s make sure we use it to our advantage.That was a second successful chase in the series, how much belief did the Wanderers chase give you ahead of the decider?
We definitely thought we could chase 240 at the Wanderers. If we had to chase 280-plus, it’s a very different chase. With a target of 240 as a batting unit, you know, if there’s certain things that we can tick, then we’ll probably chase and it doesn’t matter what the situation or the conditions are. If we can get an opening stand of about 40, if we can get another partnership of about 50 and if we can have one guy bat deep and get an 80-plus you put the odds in your favour. We did that. There was a moment where I went in and if Dean and myself are in overnight, it makes your odds so much better. I was on 11 not out off about 50 balls or something, but the runs were not really the currency in that last hour, it was more a case of we go into the final day, two down, they’re up against it. That’s the structure that you chase any score really, in any format. You plan it and you know, if you do these things right, you’re going to give yourself a good chance. You break it down in a simple structure.Which attack would you rather face – South Africa’s or India’s?
Theirs. I think our attack was brilliant. Maybe it’s just the fact that the guys know how to bowl here. This Cape Town pitch was a bit of an anomaly. I’ve never really seen it like this, but I can speak for the Highveld. The guys know which lengths to bowl and which lengths are tough to score against. Our guys knowing that and staying in that and being disciplined in that makes it look really tough to bat against them. A guy like Shami who is so good in holding the channel, at some stages, it felt like he was looking to get you out and then it gave you an opportunity to score. The key on those wickets is just to stay disciplined, because you know, it’s almost impossible to score and it’s very easy to get out.What’s next for you as a Test cricketer?
As a No. 4 batter you must make runs and you must make hundreds. I’ve played 13 Tests and I don’t have a hundred yet. It’s the obvious thing. I do think about it and I hope that I still do get the opportunity to get there. And if I get there, I hope it is a really match-winning performance. At this stage, if you asked me if I wanted to score a hundred in the series or win the series, I’d say definitely win the series rather. I’ve always been that sort of player. I would hope to think that the smaller contributions that I did make also went a long way. I’d like to be the guy that contributes in a high-pressure chase and be the guy that’s there at the end and makes sure we don’t give the opposition anything. But your currency in batting is runs and milestones and that’s not something that you can sweep under the rug. It is something that I need to do.

I think there’s a lot of good people in South African cricket now. I can only speak from where we are as a team, there’s gonna be some growing pains, there’s going to be some miscommunication because there’s a whole new board, and it’s going to take some time to find each other. I honestly feel that everyone involved now has cricket in South Africa as the forefront of their priorities and the well-being of cricket and the well-being of the national teams and the franchise teams.

Do things feel better than they did a year ago?
Yeah, I think so. A year ago yes, we played Sri Lanka and beat them quite easily but we always expected to do that in our conditions then we went to Pakistan which was a tough tour. In West Indies, I felt it was a start of something that we can really do some big things. We showed some signs there, especially in our bowling that was really encouraging. Coming into this, after that first day it was almost like people are saying, ‘Oh but this was expected.’ It’s the No.1 team in the world, they are experienced, they are littered with superstars. But the more the days went on, as we come back, the belief slowly started getting there. We showed signs that we are on a level par with these guys, we are competing and we competed throughout. Our character and Dean and Temba and [Mark] Boucher’s characters of staying in the fight, take it to them, don’t give an inch – that is one of the characteristics that came through in the series. We stayed in the fight longer, we applied pressure for longer and we absorbed pressure for longer. In the end that’s probably what the difference between the two teams was.It’s a process, it’s not overnight when a new coach comes in and new staff. It’s a process and you’ve got to allow time for guys to buy into the process and start trusting the process.A big thing also, from a batting side, is the inclusion of Justin Sammons as our batting consultant. He is the best batting coach I’ve worked with in my life and the other guys are also starting to see that and see the value that he adds. In two high-pressure chases that we actually, on paper, got quite comfortably, you can’t underestimate the value that the batting coach and the coaching staff in general has put into that.Before the series, Dean Elgar said one of the hardest things over the last two years was seeing how much the coaching staff was criticised, and that the administrative upheaval meant the players sometimes didn’t even know who the suits are. What’s your take on that?
I think there’s a lot of good people in South African cricket now. I can only speak from where we are as a team, there’s gonna be some growing pains there’s going to be some miscommunication because there’s a whole new board, and it’s going to take some time to find each other. I honestly feel that everyone involved now has cricket in South Africa as the forefront of their priorities and the well-being of cricket and the well-being of the national teams and the franchise teams. It’s a process of different spheres of an organisation finding each other and working together. We can only speak as players about our coaching staff. I can honestly say that I think we have some of the best staff in the world; the most hardworking staff in the world. They prioritise us as a team and winning as a team and winning in the right way. That means acting in a right way, in a respectful way, in an honourable way, keeping the humility, whether we win or lose. Everyone really has those values at the forefront and as a team, it’s starting to show.What are you looking forward to from the white-ball matches?
There’s also been some great strides, if we look at the T20 World Cup and the way we played there. This series is going to be tough because they will want to come back from losing a Test series I am 100% convinced they didn’t expect to lose. We know it’s going to be tough but the vibe in the squad is very positive. We have some superstars, like Quinny and KG [Rabada], but it’s almost like we are moving away from that because we are focusing on how to win as a team and what the role is of all the 11 individuals, not just the one guy who can be a match-winner on the day. We’re looking at how the whole engine works together and understanding how to win, how to chase scores, how to bat at the death, how to bowl in the middle, how to bat in spinning conditions like we did in Sri Lanka, how to take the powerplay on, and really put emphasis on being aggressive up front like we did in West Indies, so all those different things. The end goal is to get to a point where it doesn’t matter what the conditions, what the opposition is, we know, if we play a certain way, and we execute, then we’re giving ourselves the best chance to win consistently.

The Mets were dealt a major blow to their offseason plans after slugging first baseman Pete Alonso agreed to spurn New York and sign a five-year contract with the Orioles in free agency.

The contract will pay Alonso $155 million, $31 million per season, and runs through the 2030 campaign. It’s the second time in as many days that the Mets lost out on one of their own free agents, following Edwin Díaz’s decision to join the Dodgers instead of returning to Queens.

There’s no way to sugarcoat it. If you’re a Mets fan, losing Alonso stings. Badly.

But that’s baseball, and now Steve Cohen & Co. will need to scour the market for a replacement, whether it be via a free agency signing of their own or potentially swinging a trade to find a new everyday first baseman. With that in mind, let’s explore some potential fits for the Mets at first base following Alonso’s departure.

Pete Alonso replacements for Mets this offseasonSign Cody Bellinger

Everton boss David Moyes opened up on Jack Grealish's injury fear after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's blow during the Chelsea clash. The Toffees went down 2-0 against the Blues at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto were on target for the hosts. This was Everton's sixth defeat of the Premier League season as they dropped to eighth in the league.

Palmer stars in Chelsea's win

Chelsea and English star Palmer scored his first goal for the Blues since September as the attacker returned from injury to help his side beat Everton 2-0 in the Premier League on Saturday. Amid an injury-hit season, the Blues talisman opened the scoring before the excellent Malo Gusto doubled the hosts' advantage. The Toffees barely laid a glove on Enzo Maresca's team as they claimed their first victory in five matches in all competitions.

Reacting to his performance against the Toffees, Palmer told BBC Sport after the match: "The game is never finished. We had many chances, we missed. But overall I'm happy with the clean sheet and the performance. We said many times with Cole [Palmer] we are a better team. Unfortunately, he was out for many games for us, but now he's back and for sure he will help us. 

"Maresca was also quick to laud the performances of Reece James and Malo Gusto – who scored and bagged an assist against Everton. They are good players and when they are good players they can play in every position. They can play full-back and midfielder. [Malo Gusto] took the chance and his assist for Cole, so I am very happy for Malo. If we are not able to win, win, win that still doesn't mean we're not ready to compete for titles. When you don't concede it's not just about one player, it's about all the team. Joao Pedro's press, Alejandro Garnacho's press."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMoyes opened up on injury problems

Everton dealt with a couple of injury blows during Saturday's clash, starting with Dewsbury-Hall's injury as he was forced off the ground in the 16th minute and was replaced by Carlos Alcaraz. Star winger and Manchester City loanee Grealish also complained about a hamstring after the full time whistle.

Providing an update on Grealish's condition, Moyes said: "Jack felt his hamstring so we just need to be careful with these boys."

On Dewsbury-Hall's situation, Moyes added: "It disrupted us for about 10, 15 minutes. “I thought we'd started the game well. In that period we just lost the goal… it’s hard to be disappointed with a lot of the stuff we've done. But I'm disappointed because we didn't win, disappointed because we've got a couple injuries, but not disappointed with how the players are going about it."

Maresca analyses Chelsea's performance

Speaking on his team's performance against Everton, manager Maresca told reporters: "This is the reason why I praise the players because with so many problems they are doing very well after a complicated week. Since I joined the club the last 48 hours has been the worst 48 hours since I joined the club because many people didn’t support us. So very happy for Malo in that moment that the effort from Malo and the rest showed that they are all there and want to help this club. Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn’t support me and the team. The Chelsea also boss was then asked if the issue was an internal problem or related to supporters and explained: In general. I love the fans and I am very happy with the fans."

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Getty Images SportChelsea's hectic December schedule

Chelsea still have four games to play before the end of the calendar year, starting on Tuesday with a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Cardiff City. The Blues then finish off 2025 with Premier League fixtures against Newcastle, Aston Villa and Bournemouth.

Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour stop in Kolkata descended into chaos as overcrowding, security breaches, and pitch invasions left the Argentina icon "visibly uncomfortable" before he exited the Salt Lake Stadium after less than 20 minutes. Fans who had paid hefty prices were left furious as mismanagement plunged the event into disorder.

• Messi's GOAT Tour turns sour in Kolkata

  Chaos engulfed Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on December 13 as Messi’s much-anticipated appearance lasted barely 20 to 25 minutes before he was escorted away amid local politicians swarming the pitch for photos with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. Over 85,000 fans had arrived for a glimpse of the football legend, but more than 100 individuals, politicians, officials, celebrities, and security staff swarmed the pitch as soon as Messi entered, obstructing visibility and disrupting the schedule. As frustration grew and fans realised they could hardly see the Argentine superstar, the atmosphere shifted rapidly from euphoria to anger.

  Stadium unrest escalated when groups of supporters began ripping out seats and hurling objects onto the pitch after Messi left the field. Videos showed fans climbing over barriers and jeering officials as the event collapsed under mismanagement. Reports confirmed that Messi, along with Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, were rushed out of the venue due to immediate safety concerns as organisers lost control of the situation.

  Former India midfielder Lalkamal Bhowmick, who participated in the exhibition match planned as part of the programme, later revealed to Sports Now that Messi had become "visibly uncomfortable" once the crowd began encroaching on him. The celebrity presence on the pitch, combined with an overwhelmed security apparatus, left the event in disarray. By the end of the night, Messi’s first Indian appearance of the tour had turned into a public-relations disaster, overshadowing the footballing spectacle.

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• AFP
  

  Kolkata event organizer Dutta arrested after celebs and politicians storm the field

  The fallout from the Kolkata chaos has spiralled into a significant controversy, prompting the arrest of lead organiser Shatadru Dutta and the launch of two police cases under multiple stringent legal sections. Authorities allege severe lapses in crowd management, public-order violations, and endangerment, leading to Dutta reportedly being denied bail and placed in 14-day police custody.

  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock and issued a public apology, acknowledging the failure to manage an event hosting a global icon. An inquiry committee comprising senior officials has already begun an investigation into the causes, with initial inspections suggesting that access control, security perimeter planning, and VIP coordination had collapsed simultaneously. The committee will assess accountability and recommend structural reforms to prevent such lapses at future large-scale events.

  Fan anger has continued to grow, with many supporters demanding refunds after paying high ticket prices only to be unable to see Messi during his rushed, heavily obstructed lap. Some accused organisers of prioritising dignitaries over genuine supporters, while others criticised the chaotic execution that turned a once-in-a-lifetime moment into disappointment. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Former Indian midfielder reveals Messi was 'visibly uncomfortable'

  Bhowmick’s account shed further light on Messi’s discomfort, describing how his demeanour changed as uncontrolled crowds converged on him for selfies and photos. He revealed that Messi initially appeared relaxed, signing autographs and greeting players, but quickly grew irritated when dozens of unplanned politicians and dignitaries flooded the pitch. According to Bhowmick, both Messi’s own security team and teammates Suarez and De Paul were visibly unhappy with how rapidly the environment deteriorated.

  Bhowmick told Sports Now: "Everything was going fine at the start as Messi walked into the stadium. He seemed relaxed, smiling, and shaking hands with all of us. He even gave autographs without hesitation. The moment too many people rushed onto the field and started clicking pictures, he became visibly uncomfortable. It got overcrowded very quickly, and we could see his reaction change as everyone around him started clicking pictures. He began showing signs of irritation, lost his cool, and everything went out of control."

  The mismanagement not only affected the fans but also deeply impacted the athletes involved in the exhibition match, which was meant to celebrate Messi’s presence in India. With officials and politicians crowding the field, players were unable to proceed with the programme as planned, creating confusion about whether the exhibition match would begin at all. The decision to cut the event short, Bhowmick confirmed, was driven by security concerns rather than Messi’s unwillingness to engage with supporters.

  The reaction in Kolkata contrasted sharply with Messi’s warm reception later in the day in Hyderabad, where he finally played with local youth players and addressed an appreciative crowd. The difference in experiences only intensified scrutiny of Kolkata's failed organisational effort.

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• AFP
  

  Messi's tour continues in Mumbai and Delhi after Hyderabad success

  Messi’s tour will continue as planned, with stops scheduled in Mumbai and New Delhi after the successful Hyderabad leg restored a sense of normalcy to the India visit.  Even so, Kolkata’s events will remain under investigation as authorities attempt to determine the scale of lapses and whether refunds or additional sanctions will follow.

  For organisers, the priority now is damage control as the inquiry committee prepares its findings and outlines responsibility for the widespread mismanagement. The repercussions could influence future international sporting events in the region, as stakeholders re-evaluate safety protocols and VIP handling procedures. Balancing crowd enthusiasm with proper infrastructure planning will be essential to rebuilding credibility.

  Meanwhile, Messi, Suarez, and De Paul are expected to proceed with engagements in a more controlled environment, with security teams implementing stricter procedures after Kolkata’s breakdown. With thousands of fans still eager to see the World Cup winner, ensuring smooth execution in the remaining cities will be crucial to salvaging the GOAT Tour’s legacy in India. The hope now is that Messi’s remaining appearances unfold in celebration, not controversy.

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O Palmeiras tem jogo contra o Cuiabá neste domingo (5), pela quinta rodada do Brasileirão. A bola vai rolar a partir das 18h30 (de Brasília), na Arena Pantanal (Mato Grosso), com transmissão do Premiere.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Verdão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Palmeiras

➡️ Aposte R$ 100 no Lance! Betting e receba R$ 216 se Palmeiras e Cuiabá balançarem as redes!

Confira todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre Palmeiras e Cuiabá (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
CUIABÁ X PALMEIRAS
BRASILEIRÃO – 5ª RODADA

🗓️ Data e horário: domingo, 5 de maio de 2024, às 18h30 (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Arena Pantanal, no Mato Grosso (MT)
📺 Onde assistir: Premiere
🟨 Árbitro: Bruno Arleu de Araújo
🚩 Assistentes: Thiago Henrique Neto Correa Farinha e Luiz Cláudio Regazone
🖥️ VAR: Charly Wendy Straub Deretti 

➡️ A maior cobertura do futebol brasileiro. Aproveite 30 dias grátis e assine o Premiere para assistir ao Verdão!

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

CUIABÁ (Técnico: Petit)
Walter; Matheus Alexandre, Gabriel, Bruno Alves, Alan Empereur e Ramon; Derik Lacerda, Fernando Sobral, Denílson e Clayson; Isidro Pitta.

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PALMEIRAS (Técnico: Abel Ferreira)
Weverton, Mayke, Gustavo Gómez, Murilo e Piquerez; Aníbal Moreno, Zé Rafael (Richard Ríos) e Raphael Veiga; Estêvão, Endrick e Flaco López.

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Onde assistirPalmeiras

تحدث عبد الحليم علي نجم الزمالك ومنتخب مصر السابق، عن فوز الأبيض على زيسكو يونايتد الزامبي، في دور المجموعات من بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية. 

وكان الزمالك قد حقق الفوز على فريق زيسكو الزامبي بهدف دون رد، في المباراة التي جمعت بين الفريقين، ضمن منافسات الجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات من بطولة الكونفدرالية.

طالع.. سيف الجزيري: لم نقدم أداء جيدًا أمام زيسكو.. واعتدنا على صعوبة أجواء إفريقيا

وقال عبد الحليم في تصريحات على قناة “الزمالك”: “الزمالك لم يعط إنذارًا للمنافسين ولكن أعطى جرس إنذار أن الفريق ليس قويًا، وسهل على أي فريق يأتي لمواجهة الزمالك في مصر ويحصل على نقطة”. 

وأضاف: “لدي تحفظ على الشوط الثاني للزمالك أمام زيسكو في إدارته، وتحفظ شديد على اللاعبين، المباراة كان من الوارد أن تخرج بشكل أسوأ على الزمالك، تشعر أن الفريق عشوائي”. 

وتابع: “الزمالك بدنيًا منهار، وأعطى المساحة لفريق زيسكو يونايتد في مباراة اليوم وتفوقوا عليه”.

Ruben Amorim says Manchester United must start playing better on the road as they head to Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest seeking only their second away victory of the season.

The Red Devils arrive at the City Ground buoyed by a three-match winning run, with Old Trafford triumphs against Sunderland and Brighton bookending a first victory at Liverpool since 2016.

But that memorable Anfield triumph represents United’s only away win of a season that has seen defeats at Manchester City and Brentford compound a humiliating Carabao Cup exit away to Grimsby.

Amorim's comments ahead of Nottingham Forest trip

Amorim says United need to be better in a variety of aspects as they prepare to head to Forest, who have won the sides’ last three Premier League meetings and recently appointed their third manager of the campaign.

The Portuguese collected his first Premier League win when overcoming new boss Dyche’s Everton outfit 4-0 last December and says he “more or less” knows what lies ahead as he seeks an away upturn.

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This is a massive positive for the Red Devils.

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“I watched the last game (back),” Amorim said of facing Forest on the one-year anniversary of his appointment as United manager.

“It was one of the first ones here that we won and we were so lucky in that game. You look at the result and it was not that result. It should not be that result.

“I watched (Forest) against Porto, against Bournemouth. The style of play is similar, different characteristics.

“I watched one game we did in pre-season with Sporting to try and understand how we played in that game, and it’s similar.

“He can change some characteristics of the players with the talent that they have, especially with (Morgan) Gibbs-White, (Elliot) Anderson, (Callum) Hudson-Odoi. Very good players.

“So, we need to be prepared for a different game. Against Brighton we had space to play. We are not going to have that space.

“We need to understand we are not being the same team away and at home, so we need to improve the way we control the environment.

“Every tackle is a big moment for the opponents’ fans, so we need to play better away. We are prepared for a very tough match.”

Man Utd targeting shock move for Vinicius Jr with Real Madrid price tag revealed

Amorim may well be tempted to stick with the same side that beat bogey team Brighton last weekend, when Bryan Mbeumo’s second of the day wrapped up a 4-2 victory.

Man Utd to "suffer" without Mbeumo and Diallo

The summer signing linked up well with Amad Diallo down the right and that bond extends off the field, but the pair are soon set to miss a chunk of time due to the Africa Cup of Nations, possibly missing up to seven Red Devils fixtures.