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Cricket Scotland is braced for another bout of legal action from an aggrieved former player after Hamza Tahir, the 28-year-old left-arm spinner, announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. In his retirement statement, Tahir declared that a fellow South Asian player had told him that, to succeed in the Scotland set-up, “you have to perform twice as well”.Tahir, 28, claimed 63 wickets in 48 matches for Scotland, including a best of 5 for 38 against Oman in 2019. However, he was omitted from the squad for the recent T20 World Cup campaign in the Caribbean, having been cut from Cricket Scotland’s list of contracted players in March.In his statement, Tahir declared that “enough is enough”, as he listed the grievances that had brought him to his decision, including a solitary appearance at a major international event, against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup in 2021, and an allegation that a senior coach “used the P word several times” during a national tour in 2020.”This is only a snippet of the obstacles put in place of players of colour,” Hamza said. “In major tournaments such as World Cups I’ve always felt l’ve been held back and not allowed to go and showcase to the world what I can do, and make a name for myself on the world stage.”Tahir’s comments come amid a period of intense turmoil for Cricket Scotland, a body which was found to be institutionally racist two years ago, after complaints by two other former players, Majid Haq and Qasim Sheikh, prompted an independent review. The entire board resigned on the eve of the publication of the “Changing the Boundaries” report in July 2022, which listed 448 examples of racism and discrimination, of which just five have progressed to disciplinary procedures.In recent weeks, Cricket Scotland has been embroiled in a row with a further former player, John Blain, who claims he was “exonerated” of allegations of racist behaviour after receiving a letter from the former interim CEO, Peter Fitzboydon, in January, but subsequently accused the board of attempting to “rewrite history” in its reappraisal of that position.In a statement, Cricket Scotland reiterated its “utmost sympathy for anyone who has experienced discrimination whilst involved in our sport”, and thanked Tahir for being a “tremendous servant to the Scotland men’s national team”.Trudy Lindblade, Cricket Scotland CEO, added: “I sympathise with those who harbour a feeling of injustice, and we will continue to engage respectfully throughout the mediation process.”The only viable route to common ground is through independent mediation in order to achieve reconciliation. Only then can we speak openly and work together to provide an inclusive sport that we can all be proud of.”Ongoing instability and recrimination, played out in front of the media, will only cause further damage to relationships and reputations, and deepen the wounds that need to heal.”

Ipswich Town find themselves back in the Championship next term and could now pounce for one of the EFL’s brightest stars in their hunt for promotion, according to a report.

Ipswich Town look to replace Liam Delap

There were some encouraging signs in the Tractor Boys’ Premier League showing last season. Still, ultimately, they didn’t produce enough and find themselves in the second-tier desperate for another bite of the top-flight cherry.

Liam Delap’s £30 million move from Ipswich to Chelsea has given Kieran McKenna plenty of leeway in his hunt for a new centre-forward. At the same time, he will have also been encouraged by George Hirst’s maiden goal for Scotland against Liechtenstein last week.

Atlanta striker Emmanuel Latte Lath emerged as an early contender to replace Delap at Portman Road. Despite only joining Atlanta United in January, he could now be set for a quickfire return to English football.

Addressing their striker hunt, Craig Finbow believes Ipswich could look to recruit two forwards this summer in an attempt to freshen up their frontline before the close of play.

He stated: “It could well be two strikers that they look to get in and that will be the intriguing part. What do we do, do we potentially go abroad, do we go down the lower leagues?

Ipswich Town’s forwards in 2024/25 – how did they all fare?

Liam Delap

Appearances – 40 Goals – 12

George Hirst

Appearances – 29 Goals – 5

Nathan Broadhead

Appearances – 21 Goals – 2

“We’ve done that before with varying levels of success. I’d be quite excited to go abroad and find a striker from there.”

The Tractor Boys could do with some inspiration in front of goal as they head back to familiar waters, and they are now reportedly lining up a move for a shining star who can score and create.

Ipswich Town join the race to sign Kwame Poku

According to Football League World, Ipswich are the latest club to show an interest in Peterborough United forward Kwame Poku. However, they are faced with stiff competition to try and land his services.

Birmingham City are keen admirers of the Ghana international upon their return to the second-tier, while Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers are also lurking in pursuit.

Ipswich hold talks to sign "fantastic" £35k-p/w maestro who McKenna loves

The Tractor Boys are in discussions to sign a midfielder.

ByDominic Lund Jun 9, 2025

Dubbed a “huge talent” by former Colchester United boss John McGreal, Poku shone on either flank for Posh in their unsuccessful bid to win promotion, registering 12 goals and 11 assists in 31 appearances across all competitions.

With his contract at an end, the 23-year-old could walk out of the door at the Weston Homes Stadium for a sizeable compensation package due to being under the age of 24.

Poku is also said to have attracted interest from abroad, so it is fair to say Ipswich may need to work their charm on this one if they have designs on bringing the versatile attacker to Portman Road.

Wolverhampton Wanderers will play Premier League football once again next season after they avoided relegation back down to the Championship.

The Old Gold had been battling it out at the bottom of the table for much of the campaign until recently, when Leicester City, Southampton, and Ipswich Town all had their places in the bottom three confirmed.

Vitor Pereira, who came in to replace Gary O’Neil, has guided the team to six successive wins in the Premier League, moving them clear of relegation, and supporters may be excited to see what he can achieve with a pre-season and a full campaign at the helm.

Wolves, who beat Leicester 3-0 last time out in the top-flight, could utilise the upcoming summer transfer window to provide the Portuguese head coach with even more quality to call upon to help the club push on in the league next season.

The first signing of the window, however, will be a player who is already at the club because Jorgen Strand Larsen’s loan deal will be converted into a permanent one for £23m, having reached his appearance threshold back in January.

He is currently on loan from Spanish side Celta Vigo and will put pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Old Gold to remain at Wolves beyond the end of this season.

Why Jorgen Strand Larsen has been a great signing

The Norwegian forward scored 13 goals in 37 matches for Celta Vigo in La Liga last season, before his move to England, and this meant that the club are bringing in a player with a proven goal record in a major European league.

Thankfully, Larsen has been able to translate that form over to the Premier League with Wolves this term, making himself an incredibly valuable member of Pereira’s squad and vital to their efforts to avoid relegation.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the 25-year-old star provides a physical presence at the top end of the pitch for the Old Gold, winning 2.1 aerial battles per game and 41% of his contests in the air overall.

As well as being a useful outlet for the team to alleviate pressure, the Norway international has also offered a big goal threat throughout the Premier League season.

As you can see in the table above, the £23m-rated star has outperformed his xG by roughly three goals, which shows that he is an effective and clinical finisher who can make the most of the chances that are created for him.

Impressively, Larsen has scored eight right-footed goals, three left-footed goals, and two headers, as well as two goals from outside the box, which speaks to how complete he is as a striker and why the forward has been an excellent signing.

Wolves could, now, find a dream strike partner for the Norwegian powerhouse by completing a move for a free agent they are reportedly keen on.

Wolves eyeing up Premier League forward

According to Football Insider, Wolverhampton Wanderers are plotting a swoop to sign Leicester striker Jamie Vardy on a free transfer in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Despite missing a penalty against the Old Gold last weekend, the former England international has emerged as a target for the club as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Vardy has already confirmed that his legendary association with Leicester will come to an end when his current contract expires this summer, which will provide Wolves with a chance to snap him up for nothing.

Football Insider reports that the striker wants to remain in the Premier League, and that Wolves view him as an impact player who could be a useful addition to their squad next season.

The 38-year-old star could come in as a short-term option to bolster Pereira’s attacking options, and he could be a fantastic one-two punch with Strand Larsen.

Why Wolves should sign Jamie Vardy

The Old Gold should sign the striker because he is a proven Premier League centre-forward who could almost guarantee an impact in the final third in the 2025/26 campaign.

Vardy, who has scored three goals against Wolves in his career, has scored 143 goals in the top-flight for the Foxes, which shows that he knows how to find the back of the net at that level.

Former Leicester winger Matt Piper claimed that the English attacker has the ability and the “hunger” to “consistently score goals”, which is backed up by his statistics over the years.

The current campaign is Vardy’s tenth season of Premier League football with the Foxes, and he has hit double figures for goals in seven of those, with a chance to do it for an eighth time before the end of this term.

As you can see in the table above, Vardy has consistently found the back of the net at an impressive rate throughout his time in the top-flight with Leicester.

The veteran attacker, who has scored 143 goals from 141.20 xG in his Premier League career, could be the perfect striker to come in and complement Strand Larsen, as an excellent player to bring off the bench.

Vardy could step in when the Norway international needs a rest, come in off the bench when required, or even form a strike partnership with the 25-year-old ace, whose physical presence could occupy defenders to provide the Englishman with space to constantly make runs off the last man.

Therefore, there are so many ways in which Pereira could utilise the 38-year-old marksman’s talents to make him an effective option alongside Strand Larsen next season, which is why Wolves must press ahead with a deal for the soon-to-be free agent.

He can help replace Neto: Wolves hold talks over signing "unplayable" star

Wolves will be looking to bolster their squad this summer.

1

By
Ross Kilvington

Apr 29, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are now in the race for an “unbelievable” England international, but they may need to qualify for the Champions League to compete for his signature, according to former goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Spurs' season hinges on Europa League triumph

The 5-1 battering at Anfield on Sunday afternoon was the latest extremely disappointing performance from Tottenham, in a season where there has been no shortage of poor results, but ultimately the loss is of little importance.

Spurs’ season now hinges entirely on their Europa League campaign, and they should be in a very strong position to reach the final in Bilbao, given that they are set to come up against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the semi-final.

A Europa League triumph would end the Lilywhites’ long wait for a trophy, while also granting them access to next season’s Champions League, which should place them in a strong position to bring in some top players this summer.

Related Tottenham now in position to seal "bargain signing" of "interesting" striker

They’re “well-placed” to do a deal.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Apr 27, 2025

In a recent interview with Football Insider, Robinson has now provided an update on a player Tottenham could target this summer, although he believes they will only be able to compete for his signature if they win the Europa League.

The former goalkeeper said: “Tottenham are in the race for Marcus Rashford; but without Champions League football, without the Europa League trophy, and Tottenham 17th in the Premier League? Sorry, you’re not in the conversation.”

As Rashford’s relationship with Ruben Amorim has “broken down”, the England international is expected to leave this summer, with a move to Barcelona potentially on the cards, while a permanent switch to Aston Villa remains a possibility.

The 27-year-old is not the only England international Spurs have their eye on, however, with a recent report revealing they are also serious contenders to sign Manchester City’s Jack Grealish.

"Unbelievable" Rashford impressing at Aston Villa

After falling out with Amorim, it was clear the left-winger needed to leave United in January, and he has started to look more like his former self since moving to Villa, picking up four goals and six assists in 17 matches.

Having once been lauded as “unbelievable” by Harry Maguire, it is clear the £300k-per-week forward has bags of talent, but United has been a graveyard for top players in recent years, and it is good to see him reignite his career elsewhere.

Should Tottenham manage to win the Europa League, a move to north London could be attractive to Rashford, but the signs are not good heading into their crucial semi-final against Bodo/Glimt.

Spurs have lost their last three Premier League games on the spin, and even if they manage to reach the final, it will be a very difficult task to beat Athletic Bilbao in their own stadium, or three-time Champions League winners Man United in a European final.

He has played just 12 Tests for South Africa in all these years, but away from the limelight, Simon Harmer has put together a truly remarkable body of work

Sampath Bandarupalli23-Oct-20254 – Harmer is only the fourth South Africa player to claim 1000 wickets in first-class cricket. Charlie Llewellyn (1013), Mike Procter (1417) and Allan Donald (1216) were the ones to get there before him.2 – Only two players who made their first-class debuts in the 21st century have taken 1000 wickets in the format. Harmer, whose first-class debut was in November 2009, and James Anderson, who had made his debut in May 2002. His milestone 1000th wicket came in July 2021. Anderson was also the last of the 216 bowlers to reach 1000 first-class wickets before Harmer.Related

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South Africa's tail wags and Pakistan's plans unravel

Harmer is the only bowler in the world with over 900 wickets since his first-class debut, with Malinda Pushpakumara’s 874 being the next best.514 – Wickets for Harmer in first-class cricket in England. Of those, 513 have come for Essex, all since 2017, and one for South Africa in a Test in 2022. Harmer is the only bowler with 500-plus first-class wickets in England since 2017, with Kyle Abbott’s 442 being the next highest.Harmer’s 35 five-fors and ten ten-wicket match hauls are also the most by any bowler in England in this period.Not to forget, Harmer has 453 wickets at home in South Africa, the second-highest since his first-class debut, behind only Shaun von Berg (522).Simon Harmer is an Essex legend, with 513 wickets for them in first-class cricket•Getty Images58 – Five-wicket hauls for Harmer in first-class cricket. Only Pushpakumara (80) and Gayan Sirisoma (61) have more five-fors than Harmer since his first-class debut in November 2009. R Ashwin (51) is the only other bowler with 50-plus five-fors in this period.Harmer’s effort in the Rawalpindi Test was his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket outside of England and South Africa, where he has 35 and 22 respectively. Harmer, however, has played only 11 first-class matches outside those two countries.331 – Wickets for Harmer in Chelmsford, the home ground of his county team, Essex. Only one bowler has taken more first-class wickets at a ground in the last 20 years – 374 by Tim Murtagh at Lord’s.Harmer has 27 five-wicket hauls across the 58 matches he played in Chelmsford, the most by a bowler at a venue in the last 20 years. Harmer has taken ten-plus wickets in a game on ten occasions at the venue, which is also the most.20 – Right-arm offspinners with 1000-plus wickets in first-class cricket before Harmer. Robert Croft was the last offspinner to reach 1000 wickets, having got there in 2007. (Twenty other players with 1000 FC wickets had multiple bowling styles throughout their careers, with right-arm off-break being one of them)55,618 – Balls that Harmer has bowled in his first-class career so far. Only one other player has bowled over 50,000 balls in the format since his debut – Nathan Lyon (55,790).

There was no Shakib Al Hasan, but Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nayeem Hasan managed to tie New Zealand down in knots

Mohammad Isam01-Dec-2023The scene is all too familiar. The Bangladesh spinner rips his fingers to snap out the ball. An umbrella of close-in fielders are waiting to pounce. The overseas batter picks the ball from the hand but can’t fully judge how much the ball will turn. Whether to play forward or back, he wonders. Crucially, the overseas batters doubt whether it will keep low or kick up. Except for that last part about the bounce, it was all standard stuff in Sylhet in the last four days.Bangladesh’s spinners have taken 15 wickets in this game so far. They have left their side on the verge of beating New Zealand at home for the first time with this big effort. Taijul Islam has stepped up as the attack leader in Shakib Al Hasan’s absence, although he told the reporter who asked him about it not to make him into a (old man). Mehidy Hasan Miraz is Taijul’s second fiddle, mainly playing as the team’s allrounder in this game. Nayeem Hasan only ever plays home Tests. He has never bowled abroad.Related

• Southee admits NZ bowlers 'did not apply pressure long enough'

• Taijul leaves Bangladesh three wickets away from victory on last day

• Calm and clinical Shanto brings back Bangladesh's smile

• Southee expects spin to play a big role in 'hard-fought' series

The band obviously is missing the lead man, but even without Shakib, Bangladesh’s spinners were lethal against New Zealand. Shakib’s absence usually leaves a big hole in both the batting order and the bowling attack. Now that it happens so often, especially in Tests, the rest of the team is getting used to it. Bangladesh have done well getting back to the basics, and doing what they do best, this point especially applying for the spinners. Taijul said that he only focuses on bowling in his one spot, and then trying his variations from that point.It was expected of the new captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to keep Taijul bowling continuously from one end. Generally an energetic personality, Shanto, however, kept things moving from both ends. He gave Taijul 20 overs but ensured the left-arm spinner kept bowling attacking lines. He allowed Shoriful to bowl six overs at the top, which Bangladeshi captains like Shakib and Mominul Haque have usually tended not to do in such situations. Shoriful picked up one wicket, keeping things tight as well.Shanto took off Mehidy after his first over, but later gave him two spells. Mehidy took a wicket early in his second spell, removing Henry Nicholls. Taijul bowled 15 on either side of the tea break, but with always a more concentrated off-stump line, as opposed to his defensive outside off-stump line when Shakib is around.Taijul did the job too for his captain, picking up three wickets in his first spell. After a short break, he took a wicket in his second spell. Shanto brought on Nayeem quite late on the day, but gave him an eight-over spell first, and then two more in the end. Shanto used Mominul for just two overs on the fourth day, maybe by popular choice after the part-time left-armer took three wickets in the first innings.Taijul said that Bangladesh have a job to do even without Shakib in the team. The players know their specific roles, but it also changes according to the shape of the game. He said that when they get on top of big teams, it suggests that Bangladesh are changing from within.”I can’t do what someone else is doing, and someone else can’t do what I do,” Taijul said about bowling without Shakib in the attack. “I stick to my plan. Whether we have Shakib or not, we have other spinners in the team. Plans change from game to game – someone takes the wickets, someone defends the runs. If I stopped the runs, Miraz or Nayeem would have taken the wickets. The main thing is, if the team is doing well.”It is a truly different feeling to beat big teams. We haven’t won the game yet but we are trying our hardest to win this game. Confidence goes up so that we can use this for the rest of the year. It suggests a change in the team. I don’t know how many matches we will win but I want to do something good for the Bangladesh team.”Bangladesh’s bowlers were all over New Zealand on the fourth day•AFP/Getty ImagesThere’s so much belief in Taijul that when he came into the attack to bowl at Kane Williamson, one of the Bangladesh fielders commented that Williamson was his wicket. Taijul said that it speaks of the confidence that the team has on him, but also that he is quite strong in his own belief of his line and length.”I guess they have faith in me that I can set (Williamson) up to take his wicket. I have been playing for nine years, you know.”I don’t really prepare in that particular way. I have only one preparation: my spot. I try to bowl in that spot, and try my variations from there,” he said.But what Taijul does, is quite difficult without the likes of Mehidy and Nayeem. Both are orthodox offspinners without any mystery deliveries but they keep batters honest on offstump. It is what they do well for long periods in a match. Of course, they have had their ups and downs, but Taijul and Mehidy have generally stepped up well when Shakib isn’t around.

“The fans will surely want the three remaining New Zealand wickets to fall quickly on the fifth morning. If it all goes to the spinners, it will be just reward for a band of bowlers who have done most of the running in this game”

Mehidy, in particular, had an interesting time in the World Cup recently, when his batting was more in the limelight. He batted in several spots, which is now being discussed as one of the reasons for Bangladesh’s failure in the tournament. It wasn’t Mehidy’s fault by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, he kept getting the runs in any position he was sent out. It probably affected his bowling a bit, but it is quite hard to knock Mehidy off his bowling spot in the last few years.Nayeem, meanwhile, has had to rely heavily on domestic cricket for much of his international career. He has only played a handful of home Tests since his debut five years ago. It is hard to motivate oneself plugging away in the domestic grind, but he seems to enjoy it. He took 36 wickets for Chattogram Division in this season’s NCL.The spin trio had to bring their A-game in this game as this is a difficult time in Bangladesh cricket. There’s lack of belief among their fans, which is reflected in the near-empty stands in all four days of the Test in Sylhet. There’s likely to be a few more coming to the stadium on the fifth morning. They will surely want the three remaining New Zealand wickets to fall quickly. If it all goes to the spinners, it will be just reward for a band of bowlers who have done most of the running in this game.

The 25-year old fast bowler offers his team a different mode of attack

Shashank Kishore09-Feb-20221:10

Prasidh: I was hitting similar lengths last game too but today there was more help from pitch

At six feet, three inches, Prasidh Krishna can generate bounce even on the most docile tracks. It helps that his stock ball is mostly back of a length. He trusts that length to such an extent that it’s become muscle memory.Not only does Prasidh bowl this length consistently, he does so at 140 clicks or more. That’s why West Indies had no answers against him. His opening burst of 4-2-3-2 stung them and what appeared to be a low-pressure chase was turned upside down.Prasidh didn’t bowl a single full delivery in his first four overs. Sixteen out of 24 balls reared up from short of length. Five of them nipped away off a length. The batters tried to weather this barrage but it was no use. West Indies were being made painfully aware that this wasn’t going to be a stroll.If the South Africa ODIs and these two against West Indies are any indication, India appear to be leaning towards hit-the-deck seamers, and in particular those capable of bossing the middle overs.When Prasidh first burst onto the big stage at the IPL in 2018, he wasn’t able to tell which way the ball would move. Only when he became a first-class regular in 2019 did he start to really understand his own action and release.Working with S Aravind, the current Karnataka bowling coach, has helped Prasidh develop a strong wrist position that enables him to control the sideways movement. In his playing days, Aravind was a master of making the ball move subtly off the pitch. It’s a trait he had to develop because he wasn’t blessed with raw pace. That actually went against him when Kolkata Knight Riders were looking for a replacement for the injured Kamlesh Nagarkoti at IPL 2018.Prasidh was preferred to Aravind and his life has never been the same since. More than the financial windfall, the IPL opened a window of unbelievable opportunities to a player who, until then, had only played a handful of first-class games in four full seasons.The (unintentional) wobble seam has given way to a more pronounced one. Proof that he knows exactly what he’s doing right now. Prasidh struck with his third delivery. A routine length ball kicked up from a spot outside off as Brandon King’s slash resulted in a thin edge through to Rishabh Pant. It was a poor bit of decision-making from the batter. The ball wasn’t full enough to drive, nor was it short enough to cut. An in-between shot to an in-between delivery got India an early breakthrough.Prasidh Krishna was too hot to handle•BCCINow, it was Darren Bravo’s turn to face the music. This wasn’t chin music. It wasn’t visceral pace or big banana swing. It was simple wicket-to-wicket bowling on what they call a “”. Slang for good-length spot. Except when a bowler well over 6′ hits that spot, the cricket ball jumps up at you. Bravo was caught in two minds. Should he get out of the way or get behind the line? This indecision nearly cost him. By the time he dropped his wrists to leave, he had worn a stinging blow on the shoulder.It’s entirely possible the effect of that delivery had a hand in Bravo’s eventual downfall. Once again, Prasidh landed one short of a length. Bravo pushed at it, anticipating the ball to deck back in. But this one moved away off the seam to take the faintest of edges through to Pant. Not given initially, the decision was overturned upon India’s review. This was Prasidh’s subtle mastery at play.Shamarh Brooks was next in the firing line. He was beaten on the inside edge, beaten on the outside edge, popped one off a leading edge and only just survived another vicious short ball. The Indians couldn’t help but have a chuckle. By the time Prasidh’s first spell ended, Brooks had limped to 2 off 20 deliveries.Cut to the 20th over and West Indies were 66 for 3. Not completely off track but you got the sense that they still needed Nicholas Pooran to bat through the innings. Guess who snuffed out that plan?Once again Prasidh had a batter in two minds. Caught between a block and a pull shot, Pooran only managed to nick off into the slips. This gangly 25-year-old offers a different mode of attack for India. He has widened their fast-bowling pool and in the process helped ensure their best talents can stay fresh and protected from bubble fatigue.But really, his work in the powerplay is the clincher. In 24 games between the end of the 2019 World Cup and the start of the ongoing ODI series against West Indies, India averaged 130.80 with the ball in the first 10 overs. That’s almost twice as bad as No. 2 on the list: Zimbabwe (76.85). Shami and Bumrah have played just six of those games together. Bhuvneshwar Kumar isn’t the force he once was. India were crying out for another wicket-taker and here he is. All six-feet-plus of him.

All the stats highlights from India’s innings in Perth, where they were bowled out for 150

Sampath Bandarupalli22-Nov-2024150 India’s total in Perth is their joint-lowest in the first innings of a Test match on Australian soil. They were bowled out for 150 at Sydney in 2000 after electing to bat first. Only once India recorded a lower first-innings total in Australia – 58 all-out at Brisbane in 1947 while batting second.3 Previous instances of visiting teams getting bowled out below 200 runs after electing to bat first in the Test series opener in Australia. England made only 134 in 1958 and 147 in 2021, while Sri Lanka got all out for 144 in a day-night Test in 2019, all three at the Gabba.5 All-out totals under 160 for India in Tests in 2024, including the 150 all out on Friday. Only twice did India get bowled out under 160 more often in Tests in a calendar year – six times in 1952 and 1959 and had five such totals in 2018.661 Runs by Rishabh Pant in Tests against Australia are the most by a visiting wicketkeeper on Australian soil, surpassing Alan Knott’s tally of 643. Pant has batted in 13 innings in Australia and has scored no less than 23 runs in all of them.Rishabh Pant was India’s most fluent batter•AFP/Getty Images18 Batters to have bagged a duck for India in Tests in 2024, with Devdutt Padikkal being the latest. These are the most number of Indian batters to be dismissed for a duck in Tests in a calendar year, surpassing 17 each in 1983 and 2008.7 Batters to top score in an innings while batting at No. 8 or lower for India on their Test debut, including Nitish Kumar Reddy. Only two of the previous six have been in the last 70 years – Stuart Binny against England in 2014 and Balwinder Sandhu against Pakistan in 1983.26 Batters to have completed 3000-plus runs in Test cricket for India, including KL Rahul, who got there in Perth on Friday. His current batting average of 33.78 is the third-lowest among the 26, behind R Ashwin (25.92) and Kapil Dev (31.05).505 Wickets between Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon in the 31 Test matches they played together. They are now the first quartet to bag 500-plus wickets in Test cricket. Cummins has 132 scalps, the most among the four, while Hazlewood, Starc and Lyon bagged 126, 125 and 122 respectively. (Only the players with 100-plus career wickets considered to be part of a quartet)1 Cummins dismissed Pant for the first time in Test cricket. Pant faced off Cummins in 12 innings thus far, scoring 104 runs off 168 balls, with ten fours and a six.

Carlo Ancelotti says he doesn't "owe" anyone a place in his Brazil 2026 World Cup squad after once again being asked about Santos star Neymar's prospects. The Brazil icon has repeatedly been left out of recent national squads due to injury issues, but after scoring a hat-trick for his club last time out, speculation over his World Cup place is intensifying. However, the Italian made it clear he will not be pressured into certain picks.

• Neymar was 'Brazil's undisputed star'

  According to two Brazilian greats, Neymar has been an icon for the national team over the past decade or so. He was their standard bearer at their home World Cup in 2014 as they bowed out in the semi-finals to a rampant Germany, but also helped them win gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The former Barcelona star was once one of the best players in the world but now he is 33 and has struggled with form and injury in his second spell at boyhood club Santos, although he has come good right at the end of the season for them as they aim to stave off relegation. Indeed, ex-AC Milan ace Cafu says that the forward is not the player he once was.

  He told : "For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil's undisputed star, carrying enormous expectations and responsibility on his own. But no one wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our hopes on him at the moment is difficult because he struggles to even play three games in a row."

  Despite that, 2002 World Cup winner Ronaldo has complete faith in his compatriot. "He's a crucial player for Brazil – there's no one else like Neymar. It's an exaggeration from a minority who believe he's neglecting his physical recovery. Anyone who has been in football knows perfectly how hard it is to come back from an injury and regain rhythm and confidence. He's right on track," he said.

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• AFP
  

  Ancelotti fires warning to Brazil stars

  Earlier this week, Ancelotti warned Neymar and Vinicius Junior, who has also struggled with injuries of late, that they need to be at "100%" to make Brazil's World Cup squad. 

  He said: "There are many players who are very good, I need to choose players that are 100%. It's not just Neymar, it could be [Real Madrid forward] Vinicius. If Vinicius is at 90%, I'll call up another player who is at 100%, because it's a team that has a very high level of competence, especially up front. Up front, we have really many good players."

  After Brazil found out they have Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti in their 2026 World Cup group, the Italian was once again asked about Neymar's chances of being involved in the tournament.

  He told reporters on Friday: "If we talk about Neymar, we have to talk about other players. We have to think about Brazil, which can be with Neymar or without Neymar, with other players or without other players. The definitive list we will make after the FIFA date in March. I understand very well that they are very interested in Neymar, I want to clarify that we are in December, the World Cup is in June, I will choose the team that will go to the World Cup in May. If Neymar deserves to be, if he is well, better than someone else, he will play in the World Cup and period. I don't owe anyone a debt."

• Who will be Brazil's next leader?

  Ancelotti was also asked which of his players can inspire Brazil to World Cup glory. The national side is packed with quality players such as Vinicius, Rodrygo, Estevao, Raphinha, and more. Despite all that talent, the former Real Madrid boss gave little away.

  "I can make a list of players who can be protagonists in the World Cup," he said. "It may be that now we don't have a referential player in this sense, but we will have many referential players. I can make a list, we have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, some of the best defenders, top midfielders and some players up front. I said I don't want players who want to be the best in the world, I want players who want to win the Cup. The important thing is not to have referents, but to have players who want to win."

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  Neymar faces uncertain future

  At the end of the season, Neymar is expected to have arthroscopic surgery to address a meniscus injury in his left knee. For now, he is trying to keep Santos in the Brazilian top flight, with Neymar's side currently just outside the relegation zone with one game remaining. After that, though, the veteran – who scored a hat-trick against Juventude this week – doesn't know what lies ahead for him in 2026, with his contract expiring in a matter of weeks.

  He told this week: "I don’t know, honestly. First, I want to finish this season and then think about it. Santos always comes first. I’m very happy for the goals and for helping Santos. We’re happy for the win. There’s one game left, and we have to give our all at Vila again. I always prioritise my health, nothing that would harm my career. It’s [the injury] manageable, something I’ve been dealing with for years. I’m doing everything to reach 100 percent. Scoring the goals today made me really happy. I’ve always been Neymar in every match, regardless of the situation. Sometimes things don’t go as planned because of the team’s form or injuries, but I’ve always shown up. I know what I can do on the pitch and always aim to give my best."

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has backed star forward Kylian Mbappe to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabeu as the French superstar closes in on the Portugal icon's incredible Madrid record. Mbappe experienced a slow start to his journey as a Madrid player but by the New Year, he had fully adjusted to life in the Spanish capital and ended the 2024-25 season strongly. In the current campaign, he has scored 25 goals so far.

Mbappe close to breaking Ronaldo's record

Mbappe has revealed in the past that he considered Ronaldo as his idol, alongside France legend Zinedine Zidane and that the two iconic footballers inspired him to play for Real Madrid. "I live a dream every day to play here. Zidane was my idol, I started because of him. This club has an aura, it's the best in the world. Since Cristiano arrived, I followed every game; he was my other idol. I met Zidane here when I was 13. I spent a week in Valdebebas and could only speak to Zidane because I didn't speak any other language than French. There were opportunities to stay but it wasn't possible because of my family. I couldn't come alone," the Frenchman had said earlier this year. He completed his dream move to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2024 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent.

Now, after spending just over a season at the Spanish capital, Mbappe is already close to breaking an incredible club record that was set by Ronaldo in 2013. The Portugal star had scored 59 goals in La Liga in a calendar year. In 2025, Mbappe has scored 55 goals and still has four matches left to play in 2025. 

AdvertisementGetty Images'He's among a chosen few'

Ahead of the club's upcoming clash against Celta Vigo, manager Alonso heaped praise on the France captain, as he said: "Kylian is on his way to making history at Real Madrid, just like Cristiano did. With his ambition, his statistics … he's among a chosen few. Working with him on a daily basis is great. His desire to influence others, his contagious energy, is something he shares with Cristiano. There, I see similarities."

He added: "Cristiano is Cristiano, and Kylian is Kylian. They're both exceptional. We're very lucky to have Kylian, and we have to make the most of it."

Alonso's right-back headache

New signing Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up a fresh injury as he sustained a thigh injury against Athletic Club earlier this week and is now ruled out for two weeks. The former Liverpool full-back was devastated by the fresh injury setback as he wrote on Instagram: "Absolutely gutted about this one. The timing of it hurts but I will work hard to come back stronger and better! See you in 2026 Madridistas."

With Trent and Dani Carvajal both out injured, Alonso might have to field midfielder Federico Valverde as a make-shift right-back in the next few matches. Reacting to the situation, Alonso said: "We'll have to assess what decision we take, but there are other options. Fede always puts the team first … I remember great games he's had against Barça, Juve. He's generous and wants to help the team. It was a good game, complete, an all-round [performance]. Now we want to find consistency. We've have to be where we need to be in April or May."

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GettyMadrid looking to overtake Barcelona in La Liga

Real Madrid will now look to stabilise their league form as they enter a crucial stretch of winter fixtures, with Mbappe expected to continue carrying much of the attacking responsibility. Their upcoming matches include three home games and Alonso will hope to pick up maximum points from those fixtures. With his goals keeping Madrid firmly in the title hunt, the club will hope that Mbappe’s historic year becomes the catalyst for a stronger run heading into 2026.