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The spinners have varied backstories. The batters approach the game differently. And when it comes to fast bowlers, there’s very little to pick

Andrew McGlashan15-Jun-2023The latest series has the makings of the best Ashes since 2005 as a rejuvenated England take on the newly crowned World Test Champions. England have named their XI while only one question remains in Australia – so how do the two sides match up? You can have your say too.

Top order

England Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope
Australia David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus LabuschagneZak Crawley made his first fifty in nine innings against Ireland•PA Photos/Getty ImagesThere’s a significant difference in experience among the top threes: 80 caps in England’s trio compared to 203 for the Australians. Both come with one significant question mark as all eyes remain on David Warner to see whether he can chart the Test farewell he has planned out, while on the England side Zak Crawley’s position remains a hot topic, although he has received strong backing from Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.Related

• Never mind the Bazball, here's the Ashes

• Will Bazball work against Australia? Where will the Ashes be won and lost?

• Cummins coy on Australia bowling attack and Bazball plans

• Moeen views Ashes return as a 'free hit' after short-notice recall

• Nathan Lyon: 'I've never conquered this game of cricket and never will'

Ben Duckett is enjoying an impressive second coming as a Test batter while the latter stages of Usman Khawaja’s career is a wonderful story.At No. 3 you have a batter forging a path towards being a great – this series sees Marnus Labuschagne return to where his Test career took off in 2019. Ollie Pope, meanwhile, has flourished in this England side and comes in on the back of a double-hundred although his overall average remains 35.27.

Middle order

England Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes
Australia Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron GreenSteven Smith and Travis Head both scored WTC final hundreds•Associated PressThere are some fascinating match-ups here: two great No. 4s, two players at No. 5 who are eager to take the game on, and then two key allrounders. Joe Root has reverse-lapped pace bowlers for six during the Bazball era, but you are unlikely to see Steven Smith changing his game. In fact, signs suggest he’s back the zone he showed in 2019.Harry Brook has had a scintillating start to his Test career with an average of 81.80 and strike-rate of 99.03. Some of his strokeplay against New Zealand’s quicks was remarkable. Travis Head, meanwhile, was blazing away before Bazball was a thing: he started and ended Australia’s World Test Championship run with barnstorming centuries and Stokes recently singled him out for his style.Then there’s Stokes himself. What can we expect from the England captain? His value to the team is far more than just runs and wickets but he still needs those. In Cameron Green, Australia now have the all-round option that was long absent. He has already tasted Ashes success and in the last six months has struck a maiden hundred and taken a first five-wicket haul.

Wicketkeeper

England Jonny Bairstow
Australia Alex CareyJonny Bairstow returned behind the stumps against Ireland•Getty ImagesJonny Bairstow at No. 7 gives England a deep batting order, akin to what Adam Gilchrist provided Australia. And last summer, Bairstow was playing a manner that would’ve made Gilchrist proud, scoring 681 runs at 75.66 and a strike-rate of 96.59 until his broken leg kept him out for nine months. Alex Carey enters the Ashes following a very handy contribution in the WTC final, and despite the occasional question mark over his keeping, he was impressive on difficult Indian pitches and is largely secure.

Fast bowlers

England Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson
Australia Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, Josh HazlewoodMitchell Starc in conversation with Daniel Vettori•Getty ImagesOne combination that Australia could field would see them be the first team to select four bowlers with 200-plus Test wickets. However, Australia’s final combination remains to be seen and it’s very hard to see them leaving out Scott Boland, who, at the rate he is going, may still have time for 200 Test scalps too.England, though, will field a pairing that has taken 1267 Test wickets after both James Anderson and Stuart Broad were confirmed in the XI. They have, for now, held back the pace of Mark Wood though. Could that come back to haunt them?

Spinner

England Moeen Ali
Australia Nathan LyonNathan Lyon is closing in on 500 Test wickets•Getty ImagesThis is not the match-up that was expected. Moeen Ali has answered Stokes’ SOS to fill the hole left by the injury to Jack Leach. Australia have never been Moeen’s favourite opponent, although he played a useful role in 2015, but he comes in with a nothing-to-lose attitude.He’s up against one of the greatest. Nathan Lyon is approaching 500 Test wickets and was a pivotal figure in Australia’s WTC success. England, no doubt, will go after him but Lyon is prepared. “I have the record of most Test sixes in history so a couple won’t matter to me,” he told ESPNcricinfo before the tour. Without doubt Lyon is the better spinner; Moeen might provide more runs.

The reserves

England Mark Wood, Josh Tongue, Matthew Potts, Chris Woakes, Dan Lawrence
Australia Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Todd Murphy, Josh InglisMark Wood is expected to come into contention for England•PA Images via Getty ImagesBench strength will be vital with five Tests in six weeks, particularly for fast bowlers. Beyond whichever quick misses out for Australia at Edgbaston, they also currently have Michael Neser in the squad. England, of course, have the home advantage of calling up anyone they want. Josh Tongue made a solid impression on debut against Ireland. Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw wait in the wings if Australia need a fresh batter.

Dolphins batter still confident of making the step up to international level after a stunning start to the season

Firdose Moonda01-Nov-2021It was third time lucky for Khaya Zondo, who “missed” two previous opportunities to score a first-class double-hundred but celebrated 203* for the Dolphins against Western Province in the season-opening round of red-ball cricket.Zondo’s previous best of 175 came eight summers ago against Griqualand-West. Since then, he notched 157 in the 2016-17 season and four other centuries, all under 150. So this double-ton was a long time coming.”I missed out on a few opportunities in the past but this time the chance was there and I was able to take it,” Zondo told ESPNcrininfo. “It’s one of my goals for the season achieved.”His runs could not beat the rain, which ultimately resulted in a draw for the Dolphins, though they were in the perfect position to close the match out on the final afternoon. Western Province trailed by 34 runs with just three wickets in hand after three days so the Dolphins only had the mopping up to do on the fourth but persistent, unseasonal showers in Cape Town meant only 4.4 overs were possible.Instead, the story was Zondo, who has been in the headlines because of testimony given at the Social Justice and Nation-Building Hearings (SJN), where several witnesses have said that not picking him for South Africa’s fifth ODI against India on the 2015 tour was a mistake. Zondo himself spoke about the mental health impact the incident had on him and now plays with a slightly different technique and a much-matured mindset.”I was 25 then and I am 31 now, so I’ve gained six years experience and in that time, you go through so many situations,” he said. “One thing I have looked at technically is keeping my head in a very solid position. And mentally, I just want to make the most of every opportunity. In each game, I want to make sure I grow. Every ball I face is an opportunity to learn. I also want to be present for every moment because you don’t want to miss a moment. Someone told me, you only have to concentrate for half-a-second at a time and all those small moments make up the day.”Zondo’s innings was made up of 54,600 half-seconds, as he spent 455 minutes at the crease crafting his double-hundred. The bulk of it was scored on the second day, which he went into on 29 not out. A further 174 runs came in 68.4 overs, most of them against the second new-ball. “They had eight overs with the old ball on the second morning. Jason (Smith) and I thought that if we could get through that then by the time the new ball comes, and if we’d added about 40 or 50 runs, we’d have equipped ourselves to deal with it and wouldn’t be in such a vulnerable position,” Zondo said. “When the new ball came, we found we could play freely. We also didn’t have to overhit it to get to the boundary.”He struck 26 fours and two sixes in his innings and no-one, not even Wayne Parnell, was spared. Zondo hasn’t come up against Parnell for almost as many years – eight – as his last attempt to reach a double ton and recognised him as the main weapon in Western Province’s attack. “I haven’t faced Wayne Parnell for quite a long time. He was definitely their toughest bowler and bowled especially well on the first evening,” Zondo said. Parnell, who has returned from a Kolpak deal, finished with figures of 1 for 100.Zondo celebrated his double-hundred by taking a knee, a gesture that has been much-talked about in South African cricket, especially over the last week. “I thought it was nice to take a stance against discrimination and because I am a sportsperson, it’s mostly a stance against discrimination in sports,” he said. “I wanted to show support for my fellow athletes and people around the world. I feel like it’s something that we in South Africa can work on and I felt it was the right thing to do.”With Zondo’s non-selection at national level the subject of scrutiny at the same time he’s back among the runs again, does he still harbour ambitions of a South Africa call-up? Of course he does. “I’d like to think the door is open to me and that if I am performing, they would select me,” he said. “At the time, being left out hit me hard but I am still here, still playing and trying to improve.” In other results:Division One:
Duanne Olivier, Lutho Sipamla and Malusi Siboto took 17 wickets between them as the Lions opened their campaign with an innings and 72-run victory over North West. The Lions bowled North West out for 159, then took a 249-run lead, thanks largely to Ryan Rickleton’s 159 before dismissing North West for 177 to win inside three days. Marco Jansen starred in a thriller between the Titans and the Warriors at SuperSport Park, which the Warriors won by 1 wicket. In a see-saw match which started with the Titans shot out for 134, the Warriors took a 124-run first-innings lead before being set 236 to win. They were 180 for 7 at one point before half-centuries from Lesibe Ngoepe and Jansen, batting at No.7 and 8 respectively, put them on the brink of victory. The tail completed the job. Pite van Biljon’s 137 was met by Janneman Malan’s double and Ferisco Adams’ 127 in a high-scoring draw between the Knights and Boland. After the first day was washed out, Hardus Viljoen took 4 for 62 as the Knights were bowled out for 320. Boland took the lead and declared on 520 for 9 and had the Knights 143 for 2 when play was stopped. Division Two
Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland bowled Easterns out for under 225 in each of their innings to earn an innings and 109-run win. Luke Schlemmer’s 153 and Andile Mokgakane’s 98 allowed KZN-Inland to declare their first innings closed on 440 for 6. They bowled Easterns out for 107, asked them to follow-on and then dismissed them for 224 to ensure that even a full day lost to rain could not stop them closing out the game. Keith Dudgeon took 7 for 57 in the match. Border did their best to make a game out of it but did not have enough time to beat Limpopo, who needed 353 runs and had nine wickets in hand when stumps were drawn. Marco Marais’ 146 took Border to 392 in their first innings before Thomas Kaber took 6 for 75 as Limpopo were bowled out for 192. Border declared on 190 for 3 in their second innings, setting Limpopo 391 to win. Limpopo were 377 for 8, 14 runs adrift of the target, at stumps.

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية ما جاء في تقرير حكم مباراة ريال مدريد وسيلتا فيجو في الدوري الاسباني، وما استند عليه لقيامه بطرد ثلاث لاعبين من جانب الفريق المضيف.

وكان سيلتا فيجو قد تغلب على ريال مدريد بثنائية نظيفة، بعد أن أكمل وصيف الليجا حالياً المباراة بتسعة لاعبين بعد طرد فران جارسيا وألفارو كاريراس، قبل طرد إندريك من دكة البدلاء.

وأفادت الصحفية “أرانشا رودريجيز” أن حكم مباراة ريال مدريد وسيلتا فيجو قام في الدقيقة 20 بطرد فران جارسيا لحصوله على البطاقة الصفراء الثانية.

بينما قام حكم مباراة الفريقين بطرد ألفارو كاريراس لاعب ريال مدريد في الدقيقة 90 بعد أن وجه كلمات له: “أنت سئ للغاية”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. تشابي ألونسو يهاجم حكم مباراة ريال مدريد وسيلتا فيجو: متساهل.. وقراراته أربكتنا

وفي الدقيقة 90 تم طرد إندريك فيليبي لاعب ريال مدريد لوقوفه من على مقاعد البدلاء ومغادرته المنطقة الفنية والصراخ على الحكم الرابع.

وبعد انتهاء المباراة، كتب الحكم في تقريره أنه في أثناء المرور في النفق المؤدي لغرفة الملابس، لاحظ عدم ارتداء داني كارفاخال ملابس التدريب حيث كان يرتدي ملابس عادية، فقد اقترب منه وقال: “هذا هو المستوى الذي تحكم به، ثم تبكي في المؤتمر الصحفي”.

Tottenham Hotspur’s attack in 2025/26 has fallen way below the standards Thomas Frank will have expected, with the Dane previously working with numerous elite-level talents.

During his time as Brentford manager, he oversaw the likes of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo, with both players managing to register 20+ goal seasons in the Premier League.

At present, the Lilywhites don’t have a player capable of achieving such feats, with Richarlison the current top scorer on five goals from his first 12 appearances.

Investment is no doubt needed during the upcoming transfer windows to provide the manager with the ammunition he will need to take the club to the next level.

With January rapidly approaching on the horizon, the hierarchy have already wasted no time in targeting multiple players who will improve the situation within the final third.

Spurs’ hunt for added attacking signings this January

Over the last couple of weeks, Spurs have been named as just one of the Premier League sides interested in a move to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

They aren’t alone in their pursuit of the Ghanaian international, with Arsenal and Liverpool just two other clubs interested in a deal for the 25-year-old this winter.

According to TEAMtalk, the Lilywhites are willing to meet the attacker’s current £65m release clause, but it’s unclear if the player himself would be open to a move to North London.

However, he’s not the only attacker currently being lined up by the Spurs hierarchy, with Porto centre-forward Samu Aghehowa another talent the board are closely monitoring.

The Spaniard has already scored 11 times in his 18 appearances across all competitions, subsequently showcasing the impressive goalscoring nature he possesses in the final third.

The same news outlet has also confirmed that the Lilywhites are also willing to fork out a reported £80m for the 21-year-old’s signature, which could see the hierarchy splash £145m on the pair.

Why Spurs’ £102k targets would be Frank’s answer to Son & Kane

Over the last few seasons, the Spurs faithful have been massively blessed with numerous attacking talents, but none more so than Heung-min Son and Harry Kane.

The pair featured together for just shy of a decade in North London, with the duo breaking numerous long-standing records during their time alongside one another.

As a result of their success alongside each other in the Premier League, they combined between one another for a staggering 47 goals in England’s top-flight.

Such a tally is higher than any other partnership in the division’s 33-year history, highlighting the success they achieved when featuring together at the Lilywhites.

However, none of the players remain on the books in North London, with Son moving to LAFC in the recent summer window, whilst Kane joined Bayern Munich a little over two years ago.

Frank will no doubt be wishing he could rely upon such stars in the present day, but he could be about to get his own version, if the hierarchy complete deals for Semenyo and Samu this January.

The former of the duo would likely occupy the left-wing position, but did possess a huge attacking threat, as seen by his tally of nine combined goals and assists in the Premier League this season.

His underlying stats further showcase his talents in attacking areas this campaign, with the Ghanaian completing 1.9 dribbles and creating an average of 1.4 chances per 90.

Out of possession, the Cherries star has been just as impressive, subsequently making 5.3 recoveries and winning possession 0.9 times per 90 in the final third – with both ranking him in the top 15% of attackers in the league.

Games played

11

Goals & assists

9

Take-ons completed

1.9

Chances created

1.4

Progressive passes

3.6

Passes into opposition box

1.6

Shots on target

1.3

Recoveries made

5.3

However, he could form a deadly partnership with Samu in the years to come, with the Spaniard potentially being the beneficiary of Semenyo’s quality in North London.

During his spell in Portugal with Porto, the 21-year-old has already demonstrated his clinical nature, as seen by his remarkable tally of 36 goals in his first 60 outings for the club.

This campaign alone, he’s posted a 64% shot on target accuracy rate, whilst achieving a 0.86 goal per 90 record – ranking him in the top

8% of all strikers in Europe to date.

His tally of 5.9 touches in the opposition box per 90 showcases his picker instincts, which could see him getting on the end of Semenyo’s mazy runs in North London.

The duo, who earn a combined £102k, would cost a reported £145m this January, but such a figure would be superb business for two players of their quality.

Since Kane and Son’s respective departures, the club have been lacking quality in forward areas, with various moves for Semenyo and Samu finally handing Frank the talent he’s craved since taking the reins.

Frank must drop Bentancur to unleash Spurs star who's just "like Modric"

Tottenham Hotspur face PSG looking to claim revenge for the UEFA Super Cup final.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 26, 2025

Sunderland are believed to have contacted Real Madrid over the potential signing of one Spanish ace, as they look to seal an audacious piece of business.

It has been a dream start to life back in the Premier League for the Black Cats, with Regis Le Bris defying all expectations and silencing those who predicted them to be relegated straight back to the Championship this season.

New signings have excelled for Sunderland, helping them sit fourth in the table, but Le Bris will know that his side cannot afford to rest on their laurels, potentially even eyeing further new additions in the January transfer window.

They have been linked with plenty of players of late, with Barcelona star Fermin Lopez emerging as a stunning option, in a possible transfer record move to the Stadium of Light. Talks are believed to have opened regarding a mammoth £70m transfer.

It looks as though Lopez isn’t the only big-name target for Sunderland in La Liga, however, with another hugely gifted Spanish player now being mentioned as a target, too.

Sunderland make contact over Gonzalo Garcia signing

According to a report from Spain, Sunderland are in the mix to sign Gonzalo Garcia from Madrid, having made contact with the Spanish giants over a move to the Stadium of Light.

Fellow Premier League sides Aston Villa and Wolves are also mentioned in the update, with all three clubs willing to offer £17.6m for his services.

The fact that Garcia is a rumoured target for Sunderland sums up the incredible strides they have made under Le Bris, with the idea of signing a Real Madrid player unthinkable in the past.

The Black Cats are a genuinely enticing project currently, though, and the 21-year-old may well love the idea of a move there, having only managed one league start this season.

Garcia has scored five goals for Madrid, though, which is no mean feat in a team littered with world-class players, and scout Jacek Kulig has called him “incredible” in the recent past.

He has also represented Spain across three age groups, including the Under-21s, so there is so much for Sunderland to admire about him, not least the fact that most of his career is still ahead of him.

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Garcia’s versatility could also appeal to Le Bris, with the Spaniard a centre forward by trade, but also capable of excelling on either the left or right flank.

Talks open: Sunderland willing to make record £70m offer for Barcelona star

The MLB offseason is in its final stages as pitchers and catchers report for spring training this week.

There have been plenty of big signings throughout the winter, including the mega-deal Juan Soto inked to swap allegiances from the New York Yankees to the New York Mets, and the plethora of top-tier free agents that agreed to join the superteam that is the Los Angeles Dodgers on deferred contracts.

Despite the abundance of offseason movement, there are still some notable free agents who remain unsigned. Whether they're hoping to see a more lucrative offer come through or they're working to identify the best opportunity, plenty of quality players remain available on the open market.

The first spring training games get underway Feb. 20, so time is running out for those unsigned free agents if they want to spend the full spring with a team to get back into the swing of things. As the end of the offseason approaches and teams report to camps in Arizona and Florida, here's a look at the top five remaining free agents.

Alex Bregman, 3B

The former Houston Astros third baseman has been linked with several teams as the 2025 season nears. ESPN's Buster Olney reported Tuesday that Bregman is likely to sign with either the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs or Detroit Tigers–-three teams expected to vie for a playoff berth this year.

The 30-year-old is coming off the first Gold Glove season of his career at the hot corner and hasn't recorded a sub-4.0 bWAR season since 2021 when he was limited to 91 games. Bregman provides a consistent bat, having hit at least 19 home runs in every season that he's played at least 140 games.

Nick Pivetta, SP

Pivetta spent the last four-plus seasons in Boston, where he proved to be a durable innings eater susceptible to surrendering the long ball. Pivetta pitched at least 142 2/3 innings in each of the last four seasons while logging a 4.33 ERA over that span, though it’s worth pointing out Fenway Park is a hitter-friendly environment.

The market for Pivetta seemingly stalled as the offseason dragged on, though he's still arguably the top remaining starting pitcher available. The Red Sox' decision to give Pivetta a qualifying offer may have hampered his ability to find a new home in free agency, given Boston would be owed some draft compensation if he is signed by another team.

Andrew Heaney, SP

Heaney has bounced around the big leagues since 2021, playing for four different teams over the last four seasons, and he's looking to join a fifth in free agency. He's coming off a solid season with the Texas Rangers, registering a 4.28 ERA and 4.04 FIP in a career-high 31 starts.

The best left-handed pitcher remaining on the market, Heaney could be a quality middle-of-the-rotation starter.

J.D. Martinez, DH

Age seemingly began to catch up to Martinez in 2024. The slugger appeared in 120 games for the Mets and recorded 16 home runs, a .725 OPS and a 106 OPS+, all of which were his lowest or tied for his lowest in a single season since 2013 (excluding the shortened campaign in 2020).

Martinez will turn 38 in August, making a one-year deal the most likely outcome for him. With 331 career home runs and 14 seasons of MLB experience, Martinez could be a valuable veteran presence for a team looking to add some depth and a quality hitter to the mix.

Alex Verdugo, OF

The former New York Yankees outfielder hasn't received much attention during his first trip to free agency. Verdugo had the worst statistical season of his career in 2024, recording an 83 OPS+, .647 OPS and 0.8 bWAR. He struggled massively in the second half of the season, logging a .606 OPS in his final 53 games.

It wasn't the season he was hoping for before hitting the open market, and the general lack of interest in him reflects that. Still, he's only one season removed from the 2023 campaign during which he recorded a serviceable 2.6 bWAR and .745 OPS.

New Zealand have won four out of four matches, while South Africa are yet to settle on a combination

Firdose Moonda25-Jul-2025

New Zealand have four wins from as many games•Zimbabwe Cricket

Big Picture: Battle of new coachesThe match we already knew was going to happen a week ago is upon us after South Africa and New Zealand both qualified for the tri-series final when Zimbabwe were knocked out last weekend. The teams have even had a dress rehearsal, when they met in a match on Tuesday, and New Zealand have a clear upper hand.They are unbeaten in this event, with four wins from as many games, and have put in a quartet of clinical performances even as they have rotated through their squad. South Africa are yet to beat New Zealand in this competition, and are yet to settle on a combination with an inexperienced squad. The biggest issue is that they have routinely appeared a batter light, amplified by a struggling top order, and will need to put that right in the final.Both teams are looking for their first trophy under a new coach, which has been the subplot to this contest. Both, South Africa’s Shukri Conrad and New Zealand’s Rob Walter, worked for the same side not long ago as Walter was South Africa’s white-ball coach as recently as March. He took South Africa to the 2024 T20 World Cup final. But Walter’s record in bilateral series, especially T20Is, was poor, and when he resigned, Conrad was given the all-format job.Related

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South Africa won only one out of eight T20I series under Walter, and he always explained that as being because he did not have a full-strength squad available to him. Conrad was confident he would not face the same challenge, but in his first few matches in charge, has had to be without several regulars – including the captain Aiden Markram – and has had similar results. Though South Africa beat Zimbabwe twice, they were unable to get over the line against New Zealand. Conrad has a stronger playing group for his next assignment in Australia, but for now, he will want to get one over New Zealand to show what’s possible with the country’s next best.Walter has not had it all his way with New Zealand so far either. Ben Sears, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson and Kane Williamson were unavailable to play this series, and then Finn Allen had to withdraw with a foot injury. But Walter also used the opportunity to test depth and the waters in his first stint in charge. So far, he will be the happier of the two coaches with the results, but the final will determine who leaves with the biggest bragging rights.Form guideSouth Africa: LWLWW
New Zealand: WWWWWLhuan-dre Pretorius has a lot to prove at the international level•Zimbabwe Cricket

In the spotlight: Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Jacob DuffyAfter topping the SA20 run-charts last summer, big things were expected from Lhuan-dre Pretorius at the international level. But 32 runs in four T20Is must feel like a tough start for him. Pretorius started out opening the batting, and moved down No. 5 in the last round-robin match in what Conrad called an “experiment because I want to expose him to all sorts of situations and conditions”. Conrad has retained Pretorius in his squad for the Australia tour next month, and will be keen to see how he copes with changes in pace, which have undone him thus far. For his part, Pretorius will not want to play any reckless shots, which he has done twice in four innings, and show he has the temperament to succeed at the highest level.Jacob Duffy might struggle to get into New Zealand’s XI if Jamieson or Ferguson were available. But with the pair not in the squad, Duffy has been able to step into the spotlight. He is the only bowler who has generated noticeable extra bounce from the Harare surfaces, and has used the short ball to his advantage. All five of Duffy’s wickets have come against South Africa, and three with absolute snorters – the one to Gerald Coetzee in the fifth match was particularly memorable – and with an economy of 6.36, he has also been difficult to get away.Team News: Conway could openWith Reeza Hendricks dropped from South Africa’s white-ball sides to tour Australia, the final could be an important opportunity to show what he can do ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup. Pretorius should join Hendricks at the top of the order. South Africa like to use allrounders, so Senuran Muthusamy, George Linde and Corbin Bosch could all play, while a decision will be made on whether to go with an extra spinner in Nqaba Peter or seamer in Kwena Maphaka.South Africa (probable): 1 Reeza Hendricks, 2 Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), 3 Rassie van der Dussen (capt), 4 Rubin Hermann, 5 Dewald Brevis, 6 Senuran Muthusamy, 7 George Linde, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Nandre Burger, 10 Nqaba Peter/Kwena Maphaka, 11 Lungi NgidiDevon Conway could be back to open•Zimbabwe Cricket

Devon Conway could be back to partner in-form Tim Seifert at the top, while Bevon Jacobs might lose out to Daryl Mitchell. With their seamers all in good form, New Zealand could likely pick four of Zakary Foulkes, Will O’Rourke, Matt Henry, Adam Milne and Duffy.New Zealand (probable): 1 Tim Seifert (wk), 2 Devon Conway, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Mark Chapman, 6 Michael Bracewell, 7 Mitchell Santner (capt), 8 Zakary Foulkes, 9 Will O’Rourke, 10 Matt Henry/Adam Milne, 11 Jacob DuffyPitch and conditionsIn five of the six matches (apart from the last one between Zimbabwe and New Zealand on Thursday), the captain who has won the toss has chosen to chase. Batting against the new ball in the early afternoon has proved tricky, and seamers have found that bowling just back of a length is most effective. It has been difficult for spinners to get among the wickets, and for batters to score as quickly – as has become the norm in the T20 game. Expect a run rate of around eight an over.Stats and trivia South Africa and New Zealand have met 17 times in T20Is, with South Africa holding an 11-6 advantage. Before this series, South Africa had also beaten New Zealand in all four of their matches in multi-team tournaments. So far, though, New Zealand have won both matches against South Africa in this tri-series. New Zealand scored both the highest total of the competition, 190, in their victory over Zimbabwe on Thursday, and the highest powerplay score of 57 for 1 in the same match. They also have the series’ two highest wicket-takers in their ranks.Quotes”The final on Saturday will give us a really good idea of where everybody’s at. I’ll be disappointed if we didn’t put up a bold showing, and try and get one over New Zealand. It’s been exciting on a personal level. Just in the blink of an eye, the game’s finished, you’ve got to pack your bags, and go back to the hotel. It’s certainly not as drawn out as a Test match.”
South Africa’s coach Shukri Conrad is settling into the white-ball role“Throughout this series, we’ve done a lot of good stuff. Different guys stepping up at times is always a good thing, and does give us a bit of a selection headache.”
New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner was all smiles after they finished the group stage with the maximum points

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has urged his players to "stay humble" after their surprising 1-0 defeat to Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in the Conference League. On a night that was supposed to celebrate Selhurst Park's first-ever European fixture, the Eagles' dream turned sour as the visitors spoiled the occasion with a second-half winner and a stark reminder for the Premier League side.

• Eagles beaten on home soil by minnows

  Crystal Palace suffered a stunning home defeat to AEK Larnaca in the first-ever European match at Selhurst Park, losing 1-0 despite dominating large spells of the game. The Premier League side created 15 chances but failed to make their possession count, registering just one shot on target in a frustrating performance. Riad Bajic scored the only goal of the night in the 51st minute, punishing a defensive error from Jaydee Canvot to hand the Cypriot visitors a famous victory.

  The result ended Palace’s 14-match unbeaten home run and left supporters disappointed on what was meant to be a historic European night. Selhurst Park had been electric before kick-off, with banners and chants celebrating the club’s FA Cup triumph and newfound continental adventure. However, as Glasner’s men squandered chance after chance, the energy quickly turned to disbelief.

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  Glasner questions Palace 'environment'

  "You are always told when you play in the Premier League you win the Conference League," Glasner told reporters after the game. "Stay humble. I don’t know if any debutant is able to win the competition. I don’t think so. We will learn from it, the players will learn. It’s disappointing, a frustrating night, but maybe the whole environment needed it to stay humble."

  The Austrian coach admitted that his team’s failure to take their chances felt like "a little bit deja vu" after recent games in which they didn’t take their chances: "That's European football, and when you play the first time, maybe you have to learn that small mistakes get punished. We had enough chances to win the game, that's the story of not just today, but for many games. I think we had four or five big chances to score, but we didn't and made one mistake, and then you can lose a game like this, and it's now for us to learn from this and keep heads up."

• Inconsistency creeping in for south Londoners

  The defeat came at a time when optimism around Selhurst Park was soaring. Palace have enjoyed one of their best-ever starts to a Premier League season under Glasner, currently sitting eighth in the table with just one league loss in eight matches. They began the campaign by lifting the Community Shield after beating Liverpool on penalties, their second major trophy after having won the FA Cup, a few months earlier.

  In the Premier League, Palace’s form has been steady, highlighted by a 2-1 win over champions Liverpool and a 3-0 away victory at Aston Villa. Jean-Philippe Mateta has been the standout performer, scoring seven goals in all competitions, while Daichi Kamada and Tyrick Mitchell have also impressed. Yet despite these highs, recent weeks have seen a dip in consistency – the Larnaca loss followed a 3-3 draw with Bournemouth and a 2-1 defeat to Everton.

  For all their progress under Glasner, Thursday’s setback exposed how fine the margins are in European football. Against a Larnaca side ranked fifth in the Cypriot league, Palace’s lack of clinical edge and lapses in focus proved costly. The defeat also reignited questions about the squad’s depth and ability to manage playing two games a week.

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  Attention turns to Premier League clash with Arsenal

  Crystal Palace will look to regroup quickly as they turn their attention back to Premier League action. Glasner’s men face league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday – a daunting test that could reveal how much they’ve learned from Thursday’s humbling experience. In the longer term, Palace remain well-positioned domestically and still have time to recover in the Conference League group stage.

Paul Merson has taken aim at the West Ham United board for appointing Nuno Espirito Santo as Graham Potter’s successor, and explained why he’s not a good fit for the role.

West Ham sack Potter after Crystal Palace defeat

West Ham took their time to relieve Potter of his duties, but they finally pulled the trigger on Saturday, and Joe Cole has since suggested it was the correct decision, despite the board’s failure to back the Englishman in the transfer market.

Cole said: “The timing is unusual two days before a game but the writing was on the wall for Graham. To lose three London derbies the way they did wasn’t good enough. I don’t think he was given enough backing, in this transfer window in particular.”

The 50-year-old averaged just 0.92 points per match during his time as manager, which would be relegation form across a standard Premier League season, and the 2-1 home defeat against Crystal Palace last time out was the final straw.

The Hammers wasted no time bringing in a replacement for Potter, confirming the appointment of recently-sacked Nottingham Forest boss Nuno on Saturday evening.

Given that the former Forest manager led the Tricky Trees to Europe last season, it seems like a smart appointment from the West Ham hierarchy, but Merson isn’t convinced he’s the right man for the job.

Nuno needs to be backed by the board

Merson is correct to point out that the Hammers are struggling defensively, having conceded 13 goals in the Premier League already this season, the joint-highest number of any side.

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As such, Nuno could need backing in the January transfer window and beyond, and as with any manager, it may take some time for Nuno to get his ideas across, but it is a little harsh to suggest he isn’t the right man for the job.

The Portuguese manager is vastly experienced, and did a fantastic job at Forest, averaging 1.48 points per game to transform them from a relegation-threatened side into Europa League participants.

Nuno’s first test comes against Everton on Monday evening, with West Ham set to travel to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time.

Tottenham Hotspur defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha scored his third goal for the club in their 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at home on Saturday night.

The Portugal international rescued a point for his team with a cultured finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after a lay-off from Pape Matar Sarr, and it is safe to say that he enjoyed it.

Palhinha raced away to the corner, shirt ripped off, to celebrate with the Spurs fans, although some may argue that he should have taken the ball back to the halfway line to push for a winner in the final seconds.

The Portuguese ace has been a strong addition to the squad since his loan move from Bayern Munich in the summer, averaging 4.3 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premier League, per Sofascore.

Palhinha, who has won 65% of his duels in the top-flight this season, is a defensive enforcer at the base of the midfield, but he has added goals to his game in recent weeks.

Whilst he will hope to continue his fine form and go on to be remembered as a great midfielder for the club, he will never be the silky and elegant operator that Luka Modric was in the middle of the park.

Where Luka Modric ranks among Tottenham's all-time midfielders

Tottenham have had some terrific talents in midfield throughout their history. From the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Glen Hoddle to Christian Eriksen and Moussa Dembele.

In terms of what they achieved in their careers as a whole, Modric may well have the right to be called the best central midfielder to ever play for the club, even if his best performances came after he left North London.

The main reason for that is that he is the only central midfielder in the club’s history, whilst at Spurs or not, to have won the Ballon d’Or. In 2018, the Croatia international was crowned the best player in the world, six years after switching London for Madrid.

As you can see in the post above, the midfield maestro saw off competition from Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award that year.

Modric is also the most decorated player in the history of Real Madrid, having won 28 trophies in 13 seasons before his move to AC Milan this summer.

It is not just his accomplishments for Real Madrid and Croatia that make him arguably the best midfielder in Tottenham history, though, as he also delivered 17 goals and 24 assists in 160 matches during his time in England, per Transfermarkt.

Modric was a wizard in the middle of the park for Spurs. He glided across the pitch and used his energy and quality to unpick defences and provide moments of magic for fans to enjoy.

Palhinha is not that kind of midfielder. He is more of a destroyer at the base of the midfield. However, Thomas Frank does have another star who could be the club’s next Modric in the making.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Before his exit from North London, former chairman Daniel Levy sanctioned the signing of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for a fee of £51m. The early signs are that they may have found their next Modric.

Why Xavi Simons could be the next Luka Modric for Spurs

Unlike Palhinha, the Netherlands international is a silky and technical midfielder who is a joy to watch when he is at his best. Supporters have already had plenty of glimpses of that early on in his Spurs career, even if he has yet to score a goal.

When an attacking midfielder arrives for £51m with the reputation that Simons had, it is understandable for fans to expect goals and assists instantly. Particularly given that he produced 21 goals and 21 assists in two seasons with RB Leipzig, per Sofascore.

However, the 22-year-old star is finding his way into English football and within Thomas Frank’s system, which means that it is going to take time for him to show the very best of his ability.

Most of Simons’ outings in a Spurs shirt to date have come on the left flank, but it could be in a central midfield role where Frank is able to get the best out of him.

The Dutchman keeps wanting to drift inside to take the ball in central positions so that he can drive at the defence and make things tick in midfield, but then Destiny Udogie is left as the only player holding the width on the left.

His statistics in a left wing position also suggest that he would far better in the middle of the park, as he ranks highly among his positional peers in a host of statistics that you would expect a central-based player to excel in.

xG

0.14

Top 48%

xA

0.19

Top 25%

Assists

0.51

Top 11%

Chances created

2.02

Top 7%

Accurate long passes

3.54

Top 3%

Long pass accuracy

77.8%

Top 13%

Successful dribbles

1.52

Top 30%

Successful passes

33.37

Top 20%

As you can see in the table above, Simons has impressive output as a creative player and as a passer, whilst getting into goalscoring positions and dribbling past players are not two of his standout attributes.

This suggests that playing the Dutchman in the midfield three, possibly on the left, with a natural winger on the left for him to link up with could get the best out of the summer signing.

Simons was described as “tactically flexible” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, and Frank should make use of that flexibility by attempting to mould him into his own version of Modric.

The former Paris Saint-Germain starlet has the technical quality, elegance, creativity, and passing qualities to emulate the Croatian in North London, as another central midfielder who could be a joy to watch for supporters.

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He may not go on to win the Ballon d’Or, although you never know, but Simons has the potential to be a truly exciting player for Tottenham in the middle of the park, rather than out on the wing.