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Labels and expectations have dogged the South Africa captain through his career, but he’s over them now

Firdose Moonda09-Jun-2025Don’t tell anyone but maybe, quietly, and very, very privately, Temba Bavuma is getting excited for the next few days.And why the hell not? On Wednesday, he will lead South Africa out at Lord’s for their first World Test Championship final, one they reached powered by team spirit.His is not a side filled with superstars, he is rarely listed among the great Test captains, and South Africa are not in the Big Three. But here they are, greater than the sum of their parts, punching above their weight, and – if you listen carefully to the outside noise – showing what’s possible for cricket outside of the India-England-Australia axis. Those are massive responsibilities to shoulder, but no bigger than those Bavuma has already hefted.”I don’t allow myself to get caught up in all the emotion about it, because I guess I know there’s a lot more important and bigger things out there,” Bavuma said before South Africa left for the UK. “I’ve accepted what comes with being in the presence of the national team. There’s good that comes with that and there’s the negative that comes with it.”Related

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• Philander: SA shouldn't be hasty with 'fantastic leader' Bavuma

• Australia line up title defence after 13 wins in 19 Tests

So here we go again, with the story of how South African sport is always about more than the game: from how it was used as a political tool, in support of and as resistance against apartheid, to how it serves to provide hope to a nation filled with socioeconomic problems. Now you also know what we know: that it matters and it matters so damn much.Bavuma has lived some of this and he has lived it intensely for almost a decade. His Test debut in 2014, as the first black African batter to play for South Africa, was one thing but it was the century he scored against England in Cape Town in 2016 that opened the door to expectations that he may never be able to shut.”The first time I really came across that [the bigger responsibility of being a black African player in the South African team] was when I scored my first international hundred,” he said. “One of the articles you wrote – the headline was ‘Temba Bavuma: a product of transformation’ [it was “Africa applauds a son of transformation”]. At that point, I wasn’t super clued up about transformation and all of that, and when it was introduced at that moment, I struggled to accept it. A couple of years later, I see the positivity in it, but I also see how the narrative kept following me through the good and the bad of my career.”Maybe the media was wrong to create that narrative, but it seemed unavoidable, especially as it came a few years after Cricket South Africa introduced a quota specifically for black African players, and mere months after a group of black African players complained about the way they had been treated by CSA. More recently, Bavuma has played (and captained) in the shadow of the Social Justice and Nation-Building hearings, which threatened to tear South African cricket apart. Having gone through all that, he also knows that the discussion about race can never be totally avoided.”I’m not emotional about it. We [black African players] accept if we don’t score runs in two or three games, you’re going to be called certain names. You accept that even if you do well, there will be people who will be questioning why you are in the team or why you are leading the team.Since the start of December 2019, Bavuma has scored nearly 1800 Test runs at 48.4•Gallo Images/Getty Images”The bigger responsibility is to try and carry yourself with dignity so that other black players who are batters, who hopefully also become leaders, don’t see it as a burden being within the Proteas team. I don’t think that’s really going to change.”But it’s starting to. Last summer, when Bavuma was the leading run-scorer in the home series against Sri Lanka and finished with two centuries in four Tests, he talked about finally being able to be spoken of, and to, as just Bavuma the cricketer and captain, titles he felt he’d earned a few years prior.”If I look at the last four or five years in Test cricket, I think I’ve been more than a solid performer. I’ve probably scored the most runs within the team. My average has been up there,” he said.He’s right. Since December 2019, in a period of lean batting, Bavuma has been South Africa’s leading run-scorer in Tests and averages close to 50. Is it a case of those numbers not being celebrated as much as they should?”I try not to live off what the hype is out there,” Bavuma said. “If the stats are telling a different story to what people are saying, then why should I really worry about people who are trying to find things that aren’t really there? Maybe the difference now is that I’ve started to score 100-plus scores and that’s probably given a lot more confidence to people. But in terms of actual run-scoring, I’ve been doing it for the last four to five years. I find myself in the ICC’s top ten – that doesn’t happen over a space of six months, so I’ve obviously grown as a batter, I’ve grown as a player, as well as a leader.”Bavuma is currently sixth on the ICC’s Test rankings and even that is barely spoken about, but it points to someone who is both consistent and in form, which are two labels hardly ever pinned on him. Why is that?Shukri Conrad’s presence as South Africa’s Test coach has helped the players just focus on their game, says Bavuma, and “not worry about the peripheral stuff that in the past we’ve allowed to poison our culture”•Matthew Lewis/ICC/Getty ImagesIt may be that the seven-year gap between his first and second Test hundreds was long enough to cause people to doubt him. It may also be that his poor form in T20I cricket (where he was also captain till early 2023) was conflated with his ability as a Test player. Whatever it is, Bavuma is now over it and happy to say so.”My career has been an incredible one for me, not from a statistical point of view, but from the experiences I’ve had. With all the things I’ve gone through, all the things I’ve managed to overcome, you almost get to a point where you feel like it can’t get any worse” he said. “I’ve been disappointed. I’ve been rejected. I’ve been embarrassed. So I don’t feel like there’s anything that can really be any worse than what I’ve gone through. And I take a lot of belief and comfort in the fact that here I am, I’m still standing stronger than ever. I believe that I have whatever it takes mentally to deal with whatever comes my way. The acceptance comes from that.”He reached that point when he began to see that being the Test captain didn’t have to be all-consuming. The realisation came around the time he welcomed his first child and was replaced as the T20I captain. That was also the time when current Test coach Shukri Conrad took charge.”In the earlier parts of my leadership, I tried to take on a lot of responsibility because when I came in as a captain, there was a lot of turmoil happening in the team off the field. I allowed myself to get caught up in all of that and didn’t pay due diligence to me as the batter, as the player,” he said.”Now, as much as I’m a team player, I’m not insecure in allowing other guys to lead within the space. Working with a guy like Shukri has really made it simple and easy for players to just play their cricket, not worry about all the other external or peripheral stuff that in the past we’ve kind of allowed to filter and poison our culture. Players are in a space where they can just play their best cricket.”Conrad’s mantra of “this is going to look different” has given South Africa the freedom to dream while also setting a standard. It also has its foundations in respecting the work-life balance of a player, which, in Bavuma’s case, includes fatherhood, a milestone that has changed his perspective about what’s important.Tony de Zorzi (left) and Tristan Stubbs were two of three South Africa batters to score debut hundreds in the Chattogram Test last year•AFP/Getty Images”Growing up, cricket’s obviously always been the main thing. You’d hear the older guys saying that cricket is not everything, but as a young guy that’s all you ever knew. Now I have a different, stronger purpose in a child and really understand that whether I score 100, whether I score 50, whether I don’t score runs, it doesn’t change how that little guy looks at me.”Bavuma’s son, Lihle, is 21 months old and he won’t be making the trip to London. Neither will his wife, Phila, who is taking exams in architecture. But Bavuma’s parents and siblings will be in attendance to watch the culmination of a journey that only properly began after South Africa’s disastrous tour of New Zealand with an under-strength side in February 2024. They lost that 0-2 and then had to win seven out of their eight remaining Tests to qualify for the final.In August, they won 1-0 in the West Indies, but they only really started to believe they had a chance when they were in Bangladesh in October. Bavuma was out injured but still part of the travelling party.”We had a very inexperienced side in foreign conditions, against a team that can be very competitive in their own conditions,” Bavuma said. “And you look at the performances there. Kyle Verreynne scored a hundred in the first Test, KG [Rabada] took a five-for – that’s never easy as a seamer in the subcontinent. And then in the second Test, you had Tony [de Zorzi], Stubbo [Tristan Stubbs], Wiaan Mulder, who is really starting to live up to the expectation that he came in with as a 20-year old, and Senuran Muthusamy as well. He came in as almost a super sub in the game, scored runs and took wickets as well. For me, it was almost like the turning point.”With debut hundreds from de Zorzi, Stubbs and Mulder in Chattogram, South Africa proved to themselves they could bat big, an asset missing from their arsenal before. From there, they had to beat Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home, which they did, and what had seemed to be a long shot a year before – reaching the final – became reality.”We don’t have the wealth of experience that the Australians have, but we’ve got a bunch of guys who play for each other. We believe our chances are 50-50″•ICC via Getty ImagesBavuma admitted to hiding in the toilet when the winning runs were hit against Pakistan in Centurion late last year, too nervous to watch but quietly hopeful.”You obviously have to be optimistic, in whatever challenge or campaign that you start,” he said. “We set the vision as a team as to what we wanted to achieve but a lot of it at the beginning was just trying to find the best make-up of our team. We used quite a lot of players and then without even knowing, we kind of started ticking off a lot of milestones, beating different countries in different conditions, having young guys stepping up and putting in match-winning performances. Along the way, we were still kind of trying to find our philosophy as a team. What was always there within the group was just this willingness to win, this willingness to play with each other and this willingness to just find a way to make sure that things go our way.”Now, they are one step from the summit against the defending champions. Some former players have indicated that South Africa don’t deserve to be there, and they know they go in as underdogs.”We don’t have the superstars,” Bavuma said. “We don’t have the wealth of experience that the Australians have, but we’ve got a group of guys who are super determined to make sure that the result is in our favour. We’ve got a bunch of guys who play for each other. We’ve got a bunch of guys who are desperate to be the man for the occasion. We know we’re coming up against a strong, experienced side in Australia, but we believe our chances are 50-50.”Those odds will be different depending on who you ask, but what isn’t in dispute is that this final is the most important match of the careers of these South African players, and Bavuma in particular.”It will probably be the biggest thing in my career. I grew up wanting to play Test cricket, so now I have an actual opportunity to be in the Test final, but also to lead the team as well. I don’t think it gets bigger than that. What gets bigger than that is obviously winning it. What gets bigger than winning it is winning another one. At this point in time, that’s probably the biggest thing in my career.”And that is worth getting excited about.

The team is youthful and there is promise, but there are significant gaps in skill and strategy, and no serious body of work to look back at

Andrew Fidel Fernando05-Oct-20231:58

Spin-heavy Sri Lanka could sneak into knockouts

If there had been hype building for this Sri Lanka side through their Asia Cup campaign, much of it burned down, like a Vesak lantern that catches fire and ends in a smouldering mess, as a result of that calamitous final – a total of 50 all out tends to have this effect.But there been a hard-fought victory against Pakistan to reach that final, plus two wins over Bangladesh through the course of the campaign, as well as a victory over Afghanistan that was partly the result of the opposition’s miscalculations. There is enough of a body of work to suggest this is no pushover team, even if they had to qualify for this World Cup via a qualifier in Zimbabwe (in a tournament they went unbeaten in, by the way).Expectations at home, though, are muted. Dare fans dream of a semi-final spot? Right now, it seems more sensible to find reasons to keep a lid on the excitement.Related

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Chief among these reasons, perhaps, is that captain Dasun Shanaka has been on perhaps the longest stretch of batting misery as can be remembered for a Sri Lanka cricketer (and this is something of a crowded field). We won’t run through his recent run of scores here, largely because even stating these facts seems malicious. Suffice to say the guy averages 9.78 and has struck at 76 since March this year and, if anything, the scores are getting leaner.If he were not captain, he would have been dropped. In fact, despite his having led Sri Lanka to better ODI results than in the years prior to his captaincy, Sri Lanka’s selectors still seriously considered letting him go in the days following 50 all out. Part of why they have retained him is because no other player is seriously gunning for the job, of which there may be two interpretations: either no one wants to be saddled with the leadership of this team for a World Cup campaign, or there remains trust in Shanaka within the dressing room.Still, a non-performing captain is unlikely to venture the kind of risks that might see a side with such limited resources overperform in the tournament, which, let’s be honest, is what they would be doing if they were in that final four. He is a diminished force in selection conversations. And if, early in the tournament especially, someone needs to be told they are left out of the XI… how does Shanaka even broach that conversation?Beyond this big one, several other concerns.Kusal Perera will likely start the tournament as the opener that partners Pathum Nissanka, but there remain serious doubts as to whether his ailing body can withstand a 50-over tournament that puts teams on a travel-train-play treadmill for almost six weeks. Even when Shanaka contributes, Sri Lanka have been poor at providing the finishing fireworks that good ODI sides frequently produce with the bat. And though several of Sri Lanka’s batting performances in the Asia Cup were founded on Kusal Mendis’ innings, Mendis has not historically been a sustainer of good form.If Dasun Shanaka were not captain, he would have been dropped•AFP/Getty ImagesEven the bowling attack, which has bowled out 13 of its last 15 oppositions, has hit new snags. Wanindu Hasaranga is not in the squad, after aggravating a hamstring injury. Hasaranga had not completely cracked ODI cricket, so perhaps this is not as substantial a bowling loss as it may appear. But his batting brought crucial balance, particularly in the context of Shanaka’s form. Maheesh Theekshana remains under an injury cloud too.If Sri Lanka go with Matheesha Pathirana in their starting XI, as they are likely to do, they will have to find a second new-ball bowler to partner Dilshan Madushanka. For all the pace and death-overs skill that Pathirana brings, he remains unable to swing the new ball, for now. In the Asia Cup, it came down to Shanaka – whose average speeds are in the mid 120kph range – to bowl in the powerplay.Pathirana is, to some extent, a fitting mascot for the team. It is youthful (only five of 15 squad members are over 30, and three of those are 32 or younger), and, to some extent, full of promise. But there are also significant gaps in skill and strategy, and no serious body of work to which they can point.Where once Sri Lanka built conscientiously towards global events, they have tended to lurch scriptlessly towards them in the past seven years. If there is hope, it is hope in youth; that someone will find a new gear. That collectively, there are enough unknowns here, that they will surprise.

National team’s white-ball success and players’ availability behind influx of Englishmen

Matt Roller04-Dec-2021There was a time when English cricketers spending the winter in Australia could expect to find themselves starting the season in the second grade. Now, they are the hottest commodity available: 15 of the 24 confirmed overseas signings for this year’s Big Bash are Englishmen, all eight teams have at least one in their squad and both Sydney teams have three. England’s domination of last season’s overseas player pool was not a one-off.”I don’t know – I thought the Aussies hated us,” Ben Duckett, whose stint at Brisbane Heat will be his first in the BBL, joked this week when asked how English players had come to dominate the overseas player pool. Availability is the biggest factor, with BBL clubs keen to make signings for the full season and players keen to trade the English winter for Australian sunshine but England’s recent success in limited-overs internationals and unrivalled white-ball depth have also been crucial.”When Australia were the best Test team in the world in the 2000s,” one recruitment insider said, “you’d see their fringe players go to England and play in the County Championship every year. It’s the same dynamic in the Big Bash, but for white-ball cricket.” The cycle is self-reinforcing: England’s success makes their fringe players more attractive signings in overseas leagues, and their fringe players’ exposure to those tournaments creates a pool of players ready for international selection. As demonstrated by a reserve squad’s 3-0 ODI series win against Pakistan this year, there is immense strength in depth.Related

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• How England came to dominate the Big Bash League's overseas pool

Liam Livingstone’s breakthrough year in an England shirt is a case in point. In 2019, Livingstone sat down with the ECB to discuss his winter plans and agreed that he would be best served by playing in T20 leagues rather than touring Australia with England Lions. “I’d already played two winters of Lions cricket,” Livingstone explained. “I wanted to go away, get out my comfort zone and learn in these different environments.”The pressure you get as an overseas player is probably like no other and there’s pressure on you to perform, right from game one, wherever you go in the world. It really sets you up better for when you get back to international cricket.” After two dominant seasons with Perth Scorchers, he slotted into England’s T20I side this year and made a 42-ball hundred in his fourth game since returning. Coaches who have worked for counties or Hundred teams have cherry-picked players who they think could follow his lead – or used their contacts for recommendations.Several other players find themselves in a similar position now, hence the involvement of so many Englishmen in not only the BBL, but the Abu Dhabi T10 and the Pakistan Super League too: like Livingstone, Phil Salt and Will Jacks both played in the Big Bash last season and have had excellent T10 campaigns, while Tom Banton, who starred for Brisbane Heat two years ago, will fly from Abu Dhabi to the Lanka Premier League this weekend.Livingstone is proof that Big Bash success provides players with a clear route to selection in T20 internationals. Eoin Morgan regularly cited the competition last winter while talking up James Vince, who made 98 not out and 95 in Sydney Sixers’ two knockout games last season and was a travelling reserve in England’s World Cup squad.James Vince was dominant in last season’s knockout stages•Getty ImagesReece Topley, who will make his BBL debut for Melbourne Renegades next week, said that the tournament will give players “an opportunity… to impress the right people” ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. Tymal Mills, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Curran, George Garton and Sam Billings will all be in the conversation for selection for England’s squad and could further their respective cases in the next two months.For players who are slightly further from international selection – six of the 15 Englishmen in this year’s BBL are uncapped in T20Is – a winter in Australia provides a chance to develop in a league that they grew up watching on cold winter mornings. There is no major difference in the flat limited-overs pitches found in both countries but few county cricketers have experienced Australia’s vast ground dimensions. Nottinghamshire’s Joe Clarke will trade Trent Bridge for the MCG during his stint at Melbourne Stars: “I have to adapt my game for the ground, which is fantastic,” he said.The majority of the English imports will be familiar names to Australian fans but a handful may be unknown. It is a reflection of the BBL’s lack of financial pulling power – salaries in the league are relatively low given the competition’s duration – that only a handful of major international names are now involved and the addition of a third overseas slot in each playing XI last season has opened the door for lesser-known overseas players.Hobart Hurricanes have signed Harry Brook, the PCA’s young player of the year for the 2021 English season, as a specialist middle-order batter who could exploit the Power Surge overs, as well as Jordan Thompson, Brook’s Yorkshire team-mate and a combative seam-bowling allrounder. Tom Abell, the innovative middle-order batter who has been approached by Jos Buttler for tips on playing the reverse-scoop, will join up with the Heat after England Lions’ tour match against Australia A and Laurie Evans will be the glue holding the Scorchers’ batting line-up together.At the other end of the scale, Vince and Alex Hales will again be expected to lead the way for their respective Sydney teams, with Billings putting a frustrating few months running the drinks behind him by hitting 90 off 45 balls in a warm-up match this week. Curran’s return is also significant for the Sixers – he has been a key player with both bat and ball during his two previous seasons with them – while Garton will hope to build on a solid IPL season with Royal Challengers Bangalore through all-round contributions for Adelaide Strikers.England players in BBL 2021-22:
Adelaide Strikers: George Garton
Brisbane Heat: Tom Abell, Ben Duckett
Hobart Hurricanes: Harry Brook, Jordan Thompson
Melbourne Renegades: Reece Topley
Melbourne Stars: Joe Clarke
Perth Scorchers: Laurie Evans, Tymal Mills
Sydney Sixers: Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, James Vince
Sydney Thunder: Sam Billings, Alex Hales, Saqib Mahmood

Mikel Arteta has been left completely blown away by a “silky” forward, with the manager now personally requesting Arsenal sign him in the January transfer window.

Arteta keen on new forward amid injury woes

Yet again, the Gunners have been plagued by injuries this season, with the likes of Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres all spending time on the sidelines already.

With Gyokeres only recently returning from a muscle injury, Mikel Merino was given the nod at striker against Chelsea on Sunday, and the Spaniard repaid Arteta for his faith in him, scoring the equalising goal in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Arteta certainly isn’t short on top-quality attacking options, having spent big during the summer, but the sheer number of injuries he has already been forced to contend with may be a concern for the manager, who will be determined for nothing to derail his side’s Premier League title push.

As such, the manager has personally requested the signing of Villarreal forward Alberto Moleiro for the January transfer window, according to a report from Spain, which states the 43-year-old has been left completely blown away by his performances since moving to Villarreal.

A number of Europe’s top clubs have set their sights on Moleiro, but the Gunners are now the side most determined to get a deal done, with Arteta of the belief he would be a perfect fit for his system.

Arteta values the forward’s versatility, and a deal could be relatively affordable, with the Spanish club setting an asking price of over €30m (£26m).

"Silky" Moleiro tearing it up in La Liga

The Spaniard has already matched his La Liga goal tally from the 2024-25 campaign, having found the back of the net six times in 14 outings this season, while also providing two assists.

Mikel Arteta suggests Arsenal star could be out until 2026 after injury update

He could be missing until after the new year.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 29, 2025

Lauded as “silky” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Villarreal star is also capable of playing on both wings and through attacking midfield, making him a versatile option for Arteta, although scout Ben Mattinson has suggested he could flourish in a slightly deeper midfield role.

Arsenal are looking to compete on all fronts this season, with a Premier League and Champions League double potentially on the cards, considering they are currently top of both.

As such, it would be a savvy move to bring in some additional strength in depth during the January window, and Moleiro’s versatility, coupled with the low asking price, means he could be the ideal addition to the squad.

England assistant coach says lack of warm-up matches is ‘the way of the modern game’

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Nov-2025England have defended their limited Ashes preparation ahead of the start of their warm-up game against the Lions at Lilac Hill in Perth on Thursday. The three-day match-up is England’s only match practice ahead of next Friday’s first Test at Optus Stadium, which assistant coach Marcus Trescothick described as “the way of the modern game”.Ashes tours have historically started with a series of warm-up fixtures between travelling squads and either domestic or invitational teams, but they have been greatly reduced in recent series as boards look to streamline schedules.England have largely eschewed warm-up fixtures since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took over as head coach and captain, preferring training camps and intra-squad matches, but have generally started series strongly. They have won all the first Test in each of their last five overseas tours, including in India, Pakistan and New Zealand last year.”It’s the way that the series are generally done – for us and for other opposition teams – around the world nowadays,” Trescothick told reporters in Perth on Tuesday. “With the volume of cricket that’s played [elsewhere], you don’t have the time for preparations like potentially playing two or three first-class games, which has happened in the past.”I think you generally roll with a prep game, or some facilities – whatever you have available – and you go from there. Of course, most of the guys have been playing in New Zealand for us. Some of the guys have come out from England, but it’s the way of the modern game nowadays.”Michael Vaughan, who opened the batting with Trescothick on England’s 2002-03 tour to Australia, has questioned the value in playing on a club ground which will “bounce really low” ahead of the first Test on an Optus Stadium which is expected to be fast with steep bounce.Related

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But Trescothick said England were “very happy” with their preparation: “We’ve had facilities here with the nets, and obviously then the nets out in the middle, and then we’ve got the preparation game here as well.”In my day, playing at the Waca was very unique and very different, but you prepare yourself for those sorts of changes in facilities and pitches as you go along. We’ll have three days of prep at Optus, just to get used to pitches and we go along with that, and we’ll go from there. We’re very happy at the moment.”Ben Duckett, who will open the batting in next week’s first Test, arrived in Perth last week and said that facing England’s fast bowlers in the nets has provided “pretty good” preparation following a white-ball tour to New Zealand.”I don’t know what the right answer is,” Duckett told the podcast. “We play a lot of cricket at the minute, and we’ve obviously just come off the back of our summer. We’re certainly not lacking any gametime.”I don’t make those plans, but I’m pretty happy getting ready in the nets. If we’re facing Jofra [Archer], Woody [Mark Wood] and those guys everyday, I think that will be pretty good prep.”England’s preparation has been heavily criticised by former players, with Ian Botham suggesting their slimline schedule “borders on arrogance”. It stands in clear contrast to Australia’s build-up, with 14 members of their 15-man squad for the first Test involved in the ongoing round of Sheffield Shield fixtures.

MatériaMais Notícias

Principais contratações do Corinthians para 2024, Igor Coronado e Rodrigo Garro dificilmente atuam juntos como titulares. António Oliveira só começou com a dupla de meias nas derrotas contra o Juventude e RB Bragantino, pelo Brasilerão.

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➡️ Vai dar Brasil? Aposte no Lance! Betting e fature com a Copa América

Embora o retrospecto de Coronado e Garro atuando desde o início não seja animador, António Oliveira não fechou as portas para utilizar a dupla em mais jogos, mas ainda busca o equilíbrio necessário dentro do sistema de jogo para os dois meias receberem mais minutos juntos.

➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão

– É evidente que o talento sempre terá espaço, mas existe uma coisa que se chama equipe e nunca irá se priorizar da equipe, quando eu achar que a equipe estará equilibrada com os dois juntos é ok. Quando eu não achar que isso não é possível, vamos ter paciência, mas é assim, são jogadores muito talentosos, que vão nos ajudar, vão ter oportunidade, que trabalham muito, que estão querendo muito ajudar e estamos muito satisfeitos e orgulhosos do trabalho deles – salientou António Oliveira após a vitória na Sul-Americana.

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Enquanto Garro se estabeleceu como titular absoluto no Corinthians, Coronado sofreu com problemas físicos e ainda não se adaptou a intensidade do futebol brasileiro. Além de lidar com a dengue, o camisa 77 ficou afastado por cerca de três semanas por um problema no quadril.

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos do Brasileirão

Existe a expectativa de que Garro e Coronado atuem juntos na próxima quarta-feira (22), quando o Corinthians recebe o América-RN, pela partida de volta da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil.

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CorinthiansIgor CoronadoRodrigo Garro

Tottenham have been given a clear path to sign Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo following an update from reliable journalist David Ornstein.

The 25-year-old, who has marked himself out as one of the Premier League’s most devastating forwards these last 12 months, is attracting serious interest from across England and beyond, with Spurs believed to be firmly in the mix for his signature.

Semenyo’s been involved in nine of Bournemouth’s 11 total goals scored in the league so far, contributing to 81 per cent of their total attacking output, which is the highest percentage of any Premier League player this season (The Analyst).

The African also boasts 10 goals from his last 18 top flight appearances going back to April, with a total of six goals and three assists this season alone thus far. Man City boss Pep Guardiola is among the experts to laud Semenyo’s “extraordinary” form, and Tottenham recruitment chiefs are said to be massive fans of his too.

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23/11/2025

Lucas Bergvall

Concussion

23/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

23/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

23/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

The former Bristol City star signed a brand-new contract earlier this year, which quashed hopes of Tottenham or any other Premier League giant tempting him away from the Vitality last summer.

Semenyo extended his deal until 2030, giving the Cherries plenty of negotiating power to demand a club-record fee for their star player.

However, while reports have suggested that Bournemouth value him at around £75 million, Spurs could now sign him for significantly less in January.

Tottenham given clear Antoine Semenyo path as David Ornstein update leaves Bournemouth exposed

That is because Semenyo’s new deal, according to Ornstein on X, contains a £62.5 million release clause which becomes active for a limited time when the transfer window reopens.

In Ornstein’s words, the clause leaves Bournemouth ‘powerless’, and could allow Tottenham or any other interested suitor to bypass negotiations with Andoni Iraola’s side and head straight to Semenyo’s representatives — giving the north Londoners an obvious route to his signature as early as the winter.

The links to Spurs are nothing new, and Frank has already made his feelings about Semenyo pretty clear when speaking to reporters about the player last season.

Semenyo’s potential arrival holds even greater appeal due to the fact he won’t be competing at the African Cup of Nations this season, with Ghana failing to qualify for the tournament in what is a serious boost for Frank, considering the Dane also gets to keep hold of Mohammed Kudus.

The prospect of Semenyo playing on the left and Kudus playing on the right is a very exciting one, but it is worth noting that they’ll have to contend with a host of rivals for his services as well, perhaps even more so after the news of a tantalising release clause.

Since leaving Tottenham Hotspur in search of trophies back in 2013, Harry Kane, who has been named as one of the best strikers in the world, has continued his remarkable record in front of goal, having found the back of the net a whopping 108 times in 113 games for Bayern Munich.

Harry Kane’s goal return by season

Appearances (all competitions)

Goals

2023-24

45

44

2024-25

51

41

2025-26

17

23

Not only has the 32-year-old established himself as Bayern’s talisman, but he has also remained a consistent source of goals for England at international level, most recently scoring a brace in the Three Lions’ final World Cup qualifier in Albania.

Thomas Tuchel’s side have secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup in style, having won every single game in Group K without conceding a goal, and fans will be dreaming of football finally ‘coming home’, after two heartbreaking losses in finals of the Euros.

With one of the world’s best strikers leading the line, England certainly have a chance, and the captain recently surpassed a record set by three-time World Cup-winner Pele.

Harry Kane moves ahead of Pele for international goals

Indeed, courtesy of the brace against Albania, Kane has now moved ahead of Pele for international goals, while also going 25 clear of nearest-rival Wayne Rooney at the top of the Three Lions’ all-time goalscoring charts.

As such, it will come as no surprise that Thomas Frank has previously made it clear he wants to re-sign the former Tottenham star, saying: “He is an unbelievable player who did fantastic for Spurs and is doing fantastic for Bayern. Top player. I think there’s a lot of Tottenham fans, including myself, who would like to see Kane back.”

Frank’s comments came after learning about a clause in the Bayern Munich star’s contract, which means he will be available for just £54m in January, while Spurs also have a first option to sign the centre-forward, should they decide to open talks with the German club.

Kane is in the form of his life at Bayern, and will have aspirations of winning the Champions League this season, so it may be difficult to tempt him to return to N17, but if Tottenham were able to do so, he would undoubtedly be a fantastic signing, and could go on to break the Premier League goal record too.

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Tottenham Hotspur took the lead in short time against Aston Villa at the weekend, and Thomas Frank’s clear impetus on fast starts is an exciting addition indeed.

But Spurs failed to make that early advantage count as Unai Emery’s Villa gained momentum and left with the spoils in the Premier League. Tottenham’s wretched home form drags on.

Evident is the deep creative issue the Lilywhites are struggling to uproot at the moment. But there’s much room for optimism, with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski working hard to return from their long-term injuries.

(1) Crystal Palace

12

17.1

(2) Man United

11

14.9

(3) Man City

17

14.4

(4) Arsenal

15

13.6

(5) Liverpool

14

13.6

(14) Tottenham

14

8.3

Such midfielders are the playmaking stars in north London, true, but Xavi Simons was signed as a difference-maker, and he’s failing to inspire thus far.

Xavi Simons' Spurs career so far

Simons, 22, joined Tottenham from RB Leipzig this summer for around £51m. The Netherlands international has long been regarded among the brightest talents of his age bracket, and he posted 22 goals and 24 assists across two seasons in Germany.

But the English game is a tough one, and across eight fixtures in a Tottenham shirt so far, Simons has yet to open his account, assisting once, on his debut against West Ham United.

He’s a tenacious little player but needs to get up to speed with the pace and rigorousness of the Premier League, and find his footing from a creative standpoint too.

Considering the injured midfielders working hard to return could threaten Simons’ starting berth in the coming months, there’s a case to be made that Frank will utilise the one-time Barcelona academy star from a wider berth.

But with Mikey Moore currently out on loan with Rangers, that spot may well be taken in the years to come.

The Spurs teenager coming for Mikey Moore's shirt number

Moore is still only 18, but already he has featured 21 times for Tottenham’s senior set-up, scoring once and assisting two goals. Scouts have lauded him for his “world-class” potential, and he had a big fan in Ange Postecoglou.

Last season, en route to Tottenham’s Europa League triumph, the teenager bagged his first senior goal against IF Elfsborg, drawing all the plaudits.

Hailed as a “superstar” of a prospect by journalist Fabrizio Romano, Moore’s dynamic approach to his game will serve him well as his physical development continues, and though he’s struggled on loan with Rangers this term, that is more of a reflection of the sinking ship that is Ibrox, embroiled in so many problems this season.

The England U19 captain, with seven goals from 13 games, operates across the frontline, but the left channel is ostensibly the position he is most naturally suited to, with his electric pace and ability to leave defenders munching dust lending itself to the role.

And, while he has yet to establish himself as a prolific force on the senior stage, Moore’s staggering returns on the development scene have created quite the noise around his name. In the U18 Premier League, for example, the diminutive forward posted 17 goals and 12 assists across just 22 appearances. ​​​​​​

Tottenham U18

24

19 (13)

Tottenham

21

1 (2)

Rangers

7

0 (1)

Tottenham U21

5

2 (2)

Tottenham U19

5

0 (0)

Already, the fleet-footed talent ranks among the top 16% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for assists per 90, data courtesy of FBref, and this natural-born creativity is something Tottenham could clearly add to their ranks right now, especially with Simons flattering to deceive.

Simons is an immensely talented attacking midfielder, and he will surely come good, but Moore is a one-of-a-kind talent, striking that balance between entertaining, showpiece football and the intelligent and calculated approach needed to steer through the many grittier moments of a campaign.

Youth scout Jacek Kulig has hailed Moore as “one of the most talented players of his generation in Europe”, and there’s no question that Spurs expect him to play a pivotal role under Frank’s wing in the years to come.

Last season, former Spurs boss Postecoglou had said he’s “very mature for a 17-year-old”, able to grasp the different facets of multi-positional play while retaining prolificness at youth level.

Maddison has even made the rather bold claim of Moore being Neymar-esque when carrying the ball down the wing, artful and elegant but also in full control.

This current campaign will teach him a thing or two about adversity, with Rangers having won just one of their opening eight Premiership matches, languishing some 13 points behind surprise league leaders Hearts.

Of course, there’s nothing to say that Simons and Moore couldn’t operate in harmony in the Tottenham attack, but, as acknowledged already, Kulusevski and Maddison are currently recovering on the sidelines.

The success of Spurs’ Swedish star when shuffled into a central creative berth underscores the size of the task in front of Simons, who was criticised by football.london for his ‘poor’ performance against Aston Villa at the weekend, hit with a 5/10 match rating.

All told, Frank has still made a steady start to life at the Tottenham helm, but he has several creases to iron out, and if Simons continues to struggle in his creative role, Moore might just return and find a pathway toward the starting line-up.

He has already been billed as a teenage talent with the potential to feature on the Premier League billboards, and that will soon be put to the test under Frank’s leadership.

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