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Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is set to leave the Werkself this summer as he nears a free-agency move to Real Madrid, thanks to a special clause.

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Real Madrid to part ways with AncelottiAlonso set to leave Bayer LeverkusenAlonso has a special clause for Madrid departureFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

Real Madrid were supposed to be the best team in Europe after their signing of Kylian Mbappe, however, they have been dragged back down to Earth as they look set to go trophyless, unless there is a turnaround in the La Liga title race against Barcelona. As such, they are set to part ways with head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has received a lot of criticism this season, and replace the Italian with Bayer Leverkusen boss Alonso.

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It is very clear that Alonso will be Real Madrid's coach next season, but the Spaniard has a contract with Bayer Leverkusen until the summer of 2026. Sky France has now reported that Alonso has a special clause included in his contract with Die Werkself that would allow him to leave the club if Los Blancos came calling.

DID YOU KNOW?

The negotiations between Alonso and Real Madrid are still ongoing, and while it is highly likely that the 2010 World Cup winner will be on the touchline for Los Blancos, there are still a lot of details to be ironed out between the two parties. Sky France's report has also suggested that Alonso will sign a two-year deal with Madrid.

WHAT NEXT FOR ALONSO?

The Spanish coach will have a lot of planning to do when he joins Real Madrid this summer, as the squad is currently extremely unbalanced and cohesion among the players has been an issue.

Brett D’Oliveira adds three wickets in 15-run victory over Northants

ESPNcricinfo staff24-May-2023

Adam Hose’s powerful hitting and an excellent all-round performance from Usama Mir led Worcestershire Rapids to a 15-run victory over hosts Northamptonshire Steelbacks in their Vitality Blast clash.Hose, the Blast’s third-highest run-scorer last season with Warwickshire before joining Worcestershire in a bid to revive his red-ball career, picked up where he left off in the short format, striking 61 from 40 balls, including two sixes and six fours. There were also valuable contributions from Jack Haynes, Ed Pollock and Mir as Worcestershire reached 196 for 9.Despite the Steelbacks getting their innings off to a positive start, they were stymied by Mir, the Pakistan leg-spinner who claimed 3 for 21 in his four overs. He was well supported by Brett D’Oliveira, with 3 for 28, as Northamptonshire lost five wickets for 26 runs in the space of five overs after reaching 90 for 1 to finish on 181 for 8.Worcestershire opted to bat and opener Michael Bracewell got off the mark with a huge six over mid-wicket off Tom Taylor before he was caught at deep square leg off the next delivery. D’Oliveira smashed David Willey for successive fours but was bowled for 11 attempting to flick Taylor to fine leg.Hose sent Graeme White’s first delivery for six and by the end of the powerplay the Rapids were 57 for 2, having taken 32 runs off the fifth and sixth overs.Haynes reached 27 off 17 balls before he picked out long-on off Rob Keogh and Rapids were 82 for 3 at the halfway point of their innings.Hose survived a chance off James Sales on 43 when he drove to mid-off, where Willey failed to hold on, and reached his fifty off 34 balls. He sped to 61 before he skied a high full toss from White towards midwicket with the bowler covering good ground to take the return catch.Mir’s unbeaten 20 off just seven balls comprised two sixes before Adam Finch and Mitchell Stanley were run out in the final over.Usama Mir celebrates a wicket•Getty Images

Northamptonshire began their response assertively and reached fifty well inside the first five overs, but Mitchell Stanley picked up the wicket of Chris Lynn, caught by Pat Brown at deep backward square for 28 from 14 balls.Mir entered the attack in the eighth over and bowled Ricardo Vasconcelos for 32 with his fourth delivery. He switched to the pavilion end and snared the wicket of Saif Zaib, whose reverse sweep found Kashif Ali at short fine leg.Mir made it three wickets in three overs when he had Keogh caught by Brown at deep midwicket. That was after D’Oliveira had Willey caught by Haynes for 36 off 24 balls. D’Oliveira also claimed the wickets of Lewis McManus and Sales to cap a satisfying night for the Worcestershire captain and his team.

Chivas would not be opposed to selling the Mexican attacking midfielder

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He scored four goals and provided three assists in 17 matches during the Clausura 2025Alvarado joined Chivas in 2022 from Cruz Azul has a release clause of 15 millionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Reports from Mexico indicate that Cruz Azul are the most interested team in bringing Roberto Alvarado back to the club, after the midfielder left in 2022 to sign with Chivas. still own 50 percent of the player's rights, which could help negotiate his transfer from the for a lower price, since the attacker is still under contract with Guadalajara until 2029. The Mexico City club is reportedly trying to lower the 15 million release clause.

According to TUDN, the player “would not be opposed” to hearing offers from other clubs, as his future at Chivas remains uncertain. On the other hand, Cruz Azul – one of the strongest squads in Liga MX- has a real shot at the championship. As a result, Alvarado is expected to be one of the most sought-after players this summer. América is also reportedly interested in triggering his release clause, but signing Alvarado won't come cheap.

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It’s no secret that Alvarado is in the best form of his career. He is currently Chivas’ top player and, in every call-up from Javier Aguirre with the Mexican National Team, he's competing for a starting spot against Europe-basedplayers.

Alvarado is also being targeted by Tigres and Rayados, so it remains to be seen which club is most willing to pay his release clause. Both Monterrey-based teams have the financial resources to make a serious offer, so it will be interesting to see who becomes the highest bidder for or whether the player ultimately decides to stay with Chivas.

AFPDID YOU KNOW?

Since joining Chivas in 2022, Alvarado has been unable to help his team win any championships.was part of the squad that dramatically lost the Clausura 2023 final against Tigres. In that match, thanks to goals from Alvarado and Víctor Guzmán, took a 2–0 lead in the second leg, but Tigres managed to equalize in the second half and snatched the title from Guadalajara in extra time.

All of Alvarado's trophies came from other teams.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CRUZ AZUL AND AMÉRICA?

Both teams have secured their place in the Liguilla and are seen as title favorites. While already knows their opponent – León – Las Águilas must wait for the outcome of this Sunday’s match between Monterrey and Pachuca, which will determine their rival for the quarterfinals, scheduled for May 7 and 8.

Next week, La Máquina will also face Tigres in the second leg of the Champions Cup semifinals, making this a crucial part of the season for Vicente Sánchez’s squad.

Australia’s selectors have backflipped on their decision to leave out Travis Head in Nagpur by selecting him in Delhi because of his bowling ability. Matthew Kuhnemann has also leap-frogged Ashton Agar to make his Test debut as Australia select three specialist spinners and one fast bowler for the first time since 2017 with Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc both ruled unfit.Australia’s selector on tour Tony Dodemaide spoke to the media shortly before the toss in Delhi to explain the selectors’ decision-making. Having left Head out in Nagpur as a horses-for-courses selection due to his poor batting record on the subcontinent, and his struggles at the training camp in Bengaluru, Dodemaide explained that Head had been included in Delhi at the expense of Matt Renshaw because Australia felt they were missing a fifth bowling option in Nagpur.”Renners is really stiff,” Dodemaide said. “There’s no slight on him. He’s very much a valued player in our team planning moving forward. He was quite stiff, particularly in the first innings [in Nagpur]. So he hasn’t been dropped for those performances.”The key thing where we see the difference this time around is that Heady does offer quite a valuable option as a fifth bowler and that’s where we felt we were stretched in parts of the game in Nagpur and that fifth bowling option is something that we value, albeit another spinner. But we expect spin to dominate in any case.”

Ashton Agar struggling for form

Kuhnemann’s Test debut has come in extraordinary circumstances. Last week he was playing his first first-class match since October for Queensland at the MCG in Melbourne, having been biding his time as the second Queensland spinner behind Mitchell Swepson in their Sheffield Shield side.Kuhnemann was not selected in the initial India tour squad but flew into Delhi on Sunday as Swepson went home for the birth of his first child. Agar was picked as Australia’s second spinner in the XI in Sydney in the last home Test before the India tour and as the preferred left-arm orthodox spinner in the touring party.But Agar’s performance in Sydney against South Africa, and at the training camp in Bengaluru, meant that he was not a viable option to be picked in the first or second Test.”His red-ball game is not quite where he wants it to be,” Dodemaide said. “Matt Kuhnemann has come over and impressed. He got a chance in Sri Lanka, albeit in limited-overs form, he’s played well in domestic cricket this season and he’s impressed us in the nets. We just feel his style at the moment is more suited to these conditions.”Matthew Kuhnemann played 13 first-class matches before making his Test debut in Delhi•Getty Images

Kuhnemann made a similar shock ODI debut last year in Sri Lanka when Adam Zampa missed the tour on paternity leave.Australia have opted to not pick a second pace bowler for the first time since Chittagong in 2017 when Pat Cummins was the lone quick alongside Agar, Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe, although on that occasion that did have Hilton Cartwright’s medium pace.Boland was arguably Australia’s second-best bowler in Nagpur behind Todd Murphy but only bowled 17 overs for the Test. Australia’s selectors believe the conditions in Delhi make a second quick surplus to requirements.”It’s a bit unusual going the three spin and one quick,” Dodemaide said. “We feel the pitch here, the conditions, we feel that spin will dominate the game once again and from what we understand this pitch has been used three times already this year and there’s already substantial cracking in the areas where most of the game is going to be played. That’s the reason for going for the three spinners. The fifth bowler is important too.”We don’t have the seam bowling option of Cam on the table quite yet. We’re very confident and hope he’s continuing to progress and we expect him to be available for the third Test in Indore. That’s the context around selection for this one.”

Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc hopeful for Indore

Dodemaide defended the selectors’ decision to bring three players on tour who are not fit enough to be selected in the first two Tests. Josh Hazlewood is still battling an Achilles issue while Green and Starc were pushing to be fit for the second Test but neither were quite right with their respective finger injuries despite training fully on Wednesday.”We brought them over in the expectation they’d be available,” Dodemaide said. “Starcy and Greeny didn’t quite come up for this one. We fully expect them to be online for the third one.”Certainly if [Starc] was 100% we would have had a serious conversation about the bowling structure, about two [quicks] and two [spinners] as opposed to one [quick] and three [spinners]. Certainly, it’s great balance if you’ve got that seam bowling without shortening the batting with Greeny being available. That’s not the case and we deal with what you’ve got.”Cam’s been going through his return to play stuff. He hasn’t really completed all of what he was intended to do. He still hasn’t faced quick bowlers. He hasn’t done a lot of catching as well. He’s trained for quite some time. But there’s just enough reaction and discomfort there that it’s just not ready.”

تتواصل التحضيرات داخل رابطة الأندية المصرية لتنظيم بطولة كأس السوبر المصري للموسم الجديد 2025-2026، وسط تنسيق جارٍ مع اتحاد الكرة لتحديد الدولة المستضيفة ومواعيد المباريات.

وقال مصدر من داخل رابطة الأندية في تصريحات خاصة لموقع بطولات: “الرابطة حددت مواعيد مناسبة لإقامة بطولة كأس السوبر قبل حلول شهر ديسمبر، وتم إخطار اتحاد الكرة بهذه المواعيد”.

وأضاف: “لكن الاتحاد المصري لم يحسم حتى الآن الموقف الرسمي، بسبب عدم الاستقرار على الدولة التي ستستضيف البطولة المقبلة”.

طالع أيضًا | الاتحاد الكويتي يعلن تطورات عرض استضافة كأس السوبر المصري 2025 وموعد البطولة

وتقام بطولة كأس السوبر المصري بالنظام الجديد منذ موسمين، حيث تشهد مشاركة 4 فرق بدلًا من الشكل التقليدي الذي كان يقتصر على مواجهة بين بطلي الدوري والكأس فقط.

وتُوج النادي الأهلي بلقب النسخة الماضية من البطولة، التي أقيمت في الإمارات، بعد تفوقه على الزمالك بركلات الترجيح في المباراة النهائية.

ويشارك في النسخة المقبلة من البطولة كل من الأهلي بصفته بطل الدوري، والزمالك حامل لقب كأس مصر، وسيراميكا كليوباترا بطل كأس الرابطة، بينما يُنتظر تحديد الفريق الرابع – صاحب “الكارت الذهبي” – بالتنسيق بين اللجنة المنظمة، الرابطة، واتحاد الكرة، ويُرجح أن يكون بيراميدز.

يُذكر أن الأهلي يتصدر قائمة الأندية الأكثر تتويجًا بكأس السوبر المصري برصيد 15 لقبًا، فيما يمتلك الزمالك 4 ألقاب في المركز الثاني.

Mooney, Lanning, Gardner, Brown, Jonassen put in crucial contributions as India fall just short

Firdose Moonda23-Feb-2023Australia have reached a seventh successive T20 World Cup final but not without an almighty fight from India, who came five runs short in a thrilling semi-final in Cape Town. The margin of defeat is four runs smaller than it was at the Commonwealth Games final last year, but that will be little consolation for India, who came agonisingly close while chasing 173.They were clumsy in the field, conceded at least 15 runs through overthrows and misfields and dropped two crucial catches – of Meg Lanning on 1 and Beth Mooney on 32 – and were equally nervy between the wickets. Two crucial run-outs dented their chase including that of Harmanpreet Kaur, which led to India’s slide.The India captain was ill on the eve of the match and briefly hospitalised with a fever but fronted up to lead her side and almost took them home. After a poor start which left India on 28 for 3 in the fourth over, Harmanpreet shared in a 69-run fourth-wicket stand with Jemimah Rodrigues and then brought up her first fifty of the tournament. She had barely celebrated it when her bat got stuck in the ground while sliding it for a second run and Alyssa Healy was quick to break the stumps, leaving India’s middle and lower order to get 40 runs off the last 32 balls.

Shafali Verma fumbles, then flounders, then finally holds on

Shafali Verma was responsible for the first misfield on a messy day for India, when she dived over the top of a Healy drive to allow what should have been a single turn into two in the first over. India let at least two more ones get doubled up on before they got their first wicket when Healy charged against Radha Yadav and was stumped to give them some joy.Radha should have had another in her next over when Mooney lofted a drive to Shafali at long-on. The ball came to her at waist height and should have been easily taken but she let it slip through her hands and bounce over the boundary. Mooney went on to hit three more fours before trying to cut a Shikha Pandey ball that was too close to her body and found Shafali again. She was stationed at point and made no mistake this time for the simple catch. She was clearly relieved and celebrated by banging the ball into the turf. Mooney was dismissed on 54, which meant Shafali’s miss cost India 22 runs.

Ashleigh Gardner’s late attack

After Healy and Mooney’s opening stand of 52, and Mooney and Lanning’s 36-run stand off 27 balls, Ashleigh Gardner arrived to put the finishing touches on an innings that was well set up. She found her first boundary with a clip off Sneh Rana in an over that cost 14 runs and then upped the ante for high-octane entry into the last five overs. Gardner slog swept Radha over midwicket, then lofted her between long-off and cover and then took back-to-back boundaries off Renuka Singh. She had plundered 28 runs off her first 14 balls and put Australia in a position to push for a total above 170. She was bowled by a Deepti Sharma yorker in the 18th over, and Australia still managed 30 runs in the last two overs to reach 172.Ashleigh Gardner’s cameo pushed Australia forward•ICC/Getty Images

Mayhem in the middle

India’s chase started in the worst possible way when Shafali was given out lbw as she missed a flick off Megan Schutt. She was hit above the knee roll and reviewed, with both height and the prospect of the ball missing leg stump on the cards, but was confirmed out on umpire’s call. Five balls later, a Gardner arm ball trapped Smriti Mandhana in her crease as she tried to defend and Australia reviewed on suspicion of pad first. They were right and India had lost their openers.But the worst came in the over after that when Yastika Bhatia, included in the side after last playing in India’s tournament opener, flicked Darcie Brown to Grace Harris at short midwicket and set off for a run even though Rodrigues didn’t move. By the time Bhatia turned to get back, Harris’ throw had already reached Healy, who had the time to run in and break the stumps. India were 28 for 3 in the fourth over.Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur took India close•AFP/Getty Images

Rodrigues rides the wave and Harmanpreet falls short

Rodrigues and Harmanpreet were not rattled by the early wickets and took charge of the innings for the next 6.4 overs. Harmanpreet showed few signs of being under the weather and Rodrigues displayed the confidence she showed against Pakistan. Harmanpreet struck India’s first six with a strong swing over long-on and Rodrigues turned it on with two gorgeous lofted off drives off Georgia Wareham. India were 93 for 3 after 10 overs, with the required run rate at eight an over and the pair were going smoothly.Rodrigues started the second half of the innings with another classic drive and then tried to get cute against a Brown short ball. She shaped up to ramp it over Healy’s head but got a thin edge and was caught behind to leave her captain to complete the chase. Harmanpreet got to her fifty off 32 balls and took India to within 40 runs of victory before she was run-out for the first time in nearly five years in T20Is, and India’s lower order couldn’t take them over the line.

A Celtic exit in the summer of 2025 is “not out of the question at all”, according to a fresh update from a “superb” 24-year-old Hoops player.

Latest Celtic news

The January transfer window isn’t a million miles away now, so it is no surprise to see Celtic being linked with plenty of potential new signings. Highly-rated teenage Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller has emerged as an exciting target for the Scottish Premiership champions, but rivals Rangers are thought to be providing competition.

There are players who could head the other way in January, however, with Alexandro Bernabei one such figure, with the left-back reportedly playing his final game for Celtic, following a loan move to Internacional.

In terms of current injuries, Adam Idah was ruled out of the international break because of injury, with his involvement with the Republic of Ireland ending before their UEFA Nations League matches got underway. The hope is that he will be back in the fold sooner rather than later, though, with his withdrawal more precautionary than anything.

"Superb" Celtic ace hints at exit

Speaking to Fotbollskanalen [via The Daily Record], Gustaf Lagerbielke admitted that he may leave Celtic for FC Twente permanently next summer, having moved there on loan earlier this year: “It is a straight loan until the summer. Then there is always the possibility that I will be bought. So far it’s felt very good there so we’ll see how it goes forward.

“There is always that [chance of going back to Celtic]. I still have a contract there. It’s not out of the question at all. Then I’ll have to see closer to the end of the season what happens with everything. But it’s a fantastic club.”

The fact that Lagerbielke was even allowed to leave Celtic on loan during the summer window suggests that Brendan Rodgers doesn’t see him as a future part of his plans. This is despite him being admired by his manager, who said of him last December after a winning goal against Feyenoord: “It was a great moment for him because he hasn’t been involved in squads, other guys have been in front of him.

“But his attitude in training in the main has been superb and he has always been ready. The irony of him being sent off and then getting the goal was great, a really nice moment for him.”

Lagerbielke has generally done well in a Celtic shirt, winning the league title and Scottish Cup last season, but he was limited to only seven appearances in the former and may feel that a move away next year is best for his development.

Celtic man just got embarrassed by an £88m sensation for his country

The Celtic defender had a howler on Sunday evening with a poor performance against England.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 18, 2024

His admiration for the Hoops is clear, but he is also seemingly happy at Twente and likes the idea of his temporary switch being turned into a permanent one at the end of the season.

The Test series in India will be the sternest examination of Hashim Amla’s short captaincy career as it comes a time when his own form is under scrutiny

Firdose Moonda02-Nov-2015Among the few things Hashim Amla has allowed outsiders to know about him is that he does not like talking too much. At least not in public. Answers most often begin with, “Let’s see,” which then leads the questioner down a corridor of uncertainty, unsure whether Amla enjoys the ambiguity or prefers to answer with action. It is likely a bit of both.Amla is a complex character who does not come across the way a typical sportsperson does. Fire and fury do not form part of his on-field persona, the fervour is kept as hidden as the frustration, but they are both there. On this tour, that has perhaps been the case more than ever before.This is the most important Test series of Amla’s career. Simple as that. It will be the sternest examination of his short captaincy career and comes at a time when his own form is under scrutiny, which doubles the challenge that lies ahead. Which one should demand more of his attention – the lack of runs or leadership? He answered with his actions.Minutes after the warm-up match between the Indian Board President’s XI and the South Africans finished at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, Amla was back at the nets. He had only spent 18 minutes at the crease in the game, faced 12 balls and scored one run; he spent at least double that amount of time receiving throw-downs in a bid to return to his run-scoring ways.In seven innings on this India tour so far, Amla averages 17.85, but his lean run has extended well beyond that. Since his century against Ireland at the World Cup in March, Amla has played 15 ODI innings with only one score over 50 – a century against New Zealand in August. He averages 26.13 and has been out eight times under 20. In the same period, he has played four T20Is and had one Test innings, with a top score of 48.Exactly what he is struggling with is unclear, but footwork could be a small part of it. Amla has been stumped twice on this tour. It may not sound like much, but only until it is seen in context – he has only been stumped three times in his 123-innings ODI career. Among other things, his attention to detail in practising the sweep shot in the post-game net seemed to suggest he was working hard on his batting.

Unlike Graeme Smith, whose determination dripped out of every pore, Hashim Amla’s ambition is kept in the same place as the answers to the questions people ask of him – somewhere we don’t know – but is there.

The crease is not the only place Amla will be watching his step, though. From now on, every move he makes will be in the spotlight. He is the Test captain and the media and fan attention will reach fever pitch. The Indian obsession with the game has now gone beyond pure partisanship. The IPL allowed them to warm up to players from elsewhere and in some cases, take ownership of them, like they have done with AB de Villiers. The “A-B-D” chants are the new “Sachiiiiiin, Sachiiiiiiiin.” They have not composed a song for Amla, but they do not have to because their bond with him runs even deeper.Supporters around the world anyway recognise Amla as the good guy of world cricket, one who is loved for his humility. But it is exactly that demeanor which will define how Amla emerges from this tour. It remains to be seen whether his quiet nature is overpowered by the noise or if he can silence the sounds. At the moment, we only know how different he is from his opposite numbers.The Indian leader is created by his ability to be the authority. MS Dhoni was a military-man; Virat Kohli is movie-star material. Amla is neither. The only thing we have been able to gauge about Amla as captain thus far is that he leads with a quiet but cut-throat competitiveness.Graeme Smith, the former South Africa captain, who was in India to commentate on the limited-overs series, elaborated on it when he explained Amla’s deep desire to do well. Unlike Smith, whose determination dripped out of every pore, Amla’s ambition is kept in the same place as the answers to the questions people ask of him: somewhere we do not know about, but it is there. Amla’s approach to winning shows in the creativity he employs with his captaincy. He is not scared to try things – like declaring with a carrot to dangle in front of Sri Lanka in his first match in charge in Galle – and reads the game as though it was a textbook.Amla has made just one international century since the 2015 World Cup•Associated PressAmla has been particularly astute in managing his bowlers, bringing them back for key spells at key times, and ensuring they work in pairs. On this tour, his management of spinners will be crucial, especially if one of those spinners is Imran Tahir.The legspinner is primed for a comeback, but there are skeptics and their reasoning is sound. Although Tahir has excelled in limited-overs cricket, he has been disappointing at Test level. He needs to translate the control he keeps in ODIs and T20Is to Tests, and may only be able to do that if there is a captain to remind him. Tahir’s variations need to be reined in, his consistency maintained and he needs to be used cleverly. If Amla can get those right on spinner-friendly tracks, he could be halfway to making history in India.The other half will come from how he manages his youngsters. Although South Africa’s core is experienced thanks to the presence of de Villiers, du Plessis, Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, they have a youthful outer layer which could leave them vulnerable.Dean Elgar and Stiaan van Zyl are new to the opening role and have to understand and act on the importance of the solid start. Simon Harmer and Dane Piedt only have a few Tests to their names and cannot be left as targets for the Indian line-up if they play. If JP Duminy is ruled out, Temba Bavuma may have to play and if Morne Morkel is unavailable, Kagiso Rabada could be handed a Test debut. That would mean almost half the team could have less than 30 Tests between them. They will all need Amla’s experience to rub off.In India, experience is the one thing Amla does not lack for. He has been on three Test tours to India over the last 11 years and his record in the country is eye-popping. In six Tests, he has scored 823 runs including three centuries and one double-hundred, and averages 102.87. Can he draw on that to turn things around for himself and to inspire his team in this series? As the man himself would say, “Let’s see.”

Wicketkeeper-batter Regis Chakabva has been named Zimbabwe captain for the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh with regular captain Craig Ervineruled out with hamstring and knee injuries. Allrounder Sean Williams will also miss the series, with Zimbabwe Cricket saying he had been granted leave to “attend to some personal matters”. Blessing Muzarabani, who missed the T20I series against Bangladesh with an injury, continues to remain unavailable.Zimbabwe have also brought in fast bowler Brad Evans in place of the injured Tendai Chatara. Evans is yet to play an ODI, but was influential in Zimbabwe’s win in the third T20I, taking two wickets to hamper Bangladesh’s chase.Left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava returns to the ODI side, while quick Victor Nyauchi and left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza are also included. Masakadza was the third highest wicket-taker in last season’s Logan Cup (Zimbabwe’s domestic 50-over tournament) with 35 wickets in seven games while Nyauchi finished fourth on the list with 32 wickets in seven matches.Allrounder Tarisai Musakanda and batters Tadiwanashe Marumani and Tony Munyonga have also been added to the squad. Musakanda, who has played 15 ODIs so far, last played for Zimbabwe in the format in 2021. Marumani made his debut in the ODI series against Bangladesh last year – where he scored 21 runs across three matches – and has not played in the format for Zimbabwe since. Munyonga, meanwhile, is yet to make his ODI debut.Chakabva, who made his Zimbabwe debut in 2008, will lead the side for the first time.”It is an honour, one that I will definitely cherish,” Chakabva said. “I am a cool, calm guy so I will try to be myself as I always am. A bit unfortunate to lose Craig, who I have learned a lot from. I don’t think I will do anything different from my normal character. I will try to rally the guys.”While they have lost their last two ODI series, against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in January and June this year respectively, Zimbabwe have been on a roll in T20Is. They have won seven of their last eight T20Is, including an unbeaten qualification campaign that has earned them a spot in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia. They followed that by beating Bangladesh in last week’s T20I series 2-1 – the first time Zimbabwe have won a T20I series against Bangladesh.Chakabva said the ODIs would be a different prospect. “Bangladesh are a strong side. We have been playing some good cricket. We look forward to a good challenge with these guys. We expect to keep playing that way. The results will follow from that.”Obviously, ODIs are a different challenge. You have to play well for longer. It won’t be a T20 in a one-day game. We are looking to play positive cricket for a longer period of time. Points or no points, it is still a big series for us. We are looking forward to be as challenging as we can. We have India and Australia after this, so in some way, it is just one preparation for us leading up to those series.”The first ODI will be played on August 5, with the second and third to follow on August 7 and 10 respectively. All three matches will be played in Harare.Zimbabwe squad: Regis Chakabva (capt), Ryan Burl, Bradley Evans, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Wesley Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tarisai Musakanda, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba

Plays of the day from the match between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai

George Binoy04-May-2015The mis-match
Dwayne Smith will be embarrassed to watch a recording of the first over of the game. He did not get bat on a single ball from Mitchell Starc. Smith tried to play at four of the first five deliveries – having left the other one – but was extremely late on the shot every time and beaten outside off stump. Starc simply readjusted his radar for the sixth delivery, homing in on the stumps instead of just outside. Smith, with stagnant feet, was woefully late again and his off stump took a beating.The injury
Raina drove the last ball off the eighth over firmly towards point, where Mandeep Singh – the hero of Royal Challengers’ chase against Kolkata Knight Riders – dived smartly to his right to cut off the shot. The ball rolled a short distance away from Mandeep, though, and the instant reaction was to wonder why he wasn’t up and haring after it to prevent runs. Immediately it was apparent that all was not well because Mandeep got up and wrung his right hand in pain, his little finger appearing to have been dislocated. His team-mates converged on him in concern and he needed to go off the field for treatment.The huge hit
Super Kings boast a line-up filled with muscular batsmen who can bash the ball – Smith, McCullum, Raina, du Plessis, Dhoni, Bravo and Jadeja. The biggest six of the evening, however, was struck by small and wiry Pawan Negi, and it was humongous. He danced down the pitch to Yuzvendra Chahal and lofted straight and far with a mighty swing. The ball travelled so high that when it bounced, it bounced on the roof of the MA Chidambaram Stadium.The failed experiment
Royal Challengers had a misfiring opener of their own. Having replaced the resting Chris Gayle, Nic Maddinson was intent on charging Ishwar Pandey repeatedly. He was struck on the pad once and then missed a few other deliveries. There seemed to be little method to his aggressive approach and when the end came it was to one off the tamest deliveries he could hope to get. Maddinson charged at a straight full toss from Pandey, simply missed it with his clumsy swing, and was bowled.The hammer and feather
AB de Villiers could have beheaded Ashish Nehra had he hit the ball lower. So fierce was the drive off the front foot that all Nehra could do – and no one would have expected otherwise – was duck as the ball rocketed over him and to the straight boundary. A few balls later, de Villiers displayed a more delicate touch. With the keeper up to the stumps for the seamer, first slip standing back and a short third man in place, he dabbed Pandey late from off stump, placing it between the fielders with precision.