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Riley Meredith’s opening spell was key as Hurricanes held off a late rally to set up a home BBL final

Tristan Lavalette21-Jan-2025

Riley Meredith took two early wickets•Getty Images

Speedster Riley Meredith shook up Sydney Sixers’ top-order in a ferocious opening spell before Hobart Hurricanes held off a late rally to set up a home BBL grand final.With Sixers chasing 174 in the Qualifier at Bellerive Oval, Meredith bent his back and rattled a batting line-up no longer with the services of Steven Smith. Sixers were in disarray at 5 for 3 before Kurtis Patterson, Jordan Silk and Lachlan Shaw provided fight.Needing 21 runs off the final over, Sixers fell well short with Shaw and Ben Dwarshuis thwarted by accurate death bowling from Chris Jordan.Sixers will host the Challenger on Friday and face the winner of tomorrow’s elimination final between Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars.Hurricanes – chasing their first title – will have plenty of time to rest before hosting the decider on January 27.Meredith sizzles with pace over 150kphOnly Lance Morris can challenge Meredith’s status as the fastest bowler in Australia. After having a breather in the regular-season finale against Melbourne Stars, a refreshed Meredith was fired-up and bowled the fieriest spell of the season.He claimed opener Josh Philippe for a duck in the opening over with a short delivery at 150kph that hurried onto the batter, whose pull shot was skied straight up in the air.After Cameron Gannon dismissed Jack Edwards for a duck, Meredith unleashed a torrid third over and had captain Moises Henriques edging to first slip, where Ben McDermott took a terrific catch diving to his left.He bowled a fierce bouncer clocked at 152 kph straight away to Silk in a delivery that was the fastest this season across any format. Meredith was well supported by Gannon, who had 2 for 10 from 3 overs in just his second BBL match after being an injury replacement for Billy Stanlake.Kurtis Patterson led Sydney Sixers’ fightback•Getty Images

Silk, Patterson fight in vain After such a disastrous start, Sixers mustered their wealth of experience to slowly get back in the hunt. Opener Patterson, replacing Smith, had watched all the carnage at the other end but he was unaffected and combined with SIlk in a 75-run partnership.Patterson has had a career revival in the Sheffield Shield, but it hasn’t translated to BBL success this season. But he batted fluently and notched Sixers’ 50 with a six after dispatching legspinner Peter Hatzoglou for six over deep midwicket.Patterson holed out on 48 in the 12th over, but Silk and youngster Shaw added another half-century partnership to give Sixers a glimmer of hope. But Silk fell with Sixers needing 31 off 9 balls and the task proved beyond big-hitter Dwarshuis.Another flier for Owen, late David fireworksMitchell Owen amid a breakout season has built a reputation as the BBL’s most formidable hitter in the powerplay. He further cemented his standing with another blistering display of power hitting after smashing 36 off 15 balls.Owen couldn’t find his timing from the get-go, but it didn’t matter as he still muscled a six down the ground in a 15-run first over off Edwards. Opening partner Caleb Jewell wisely was intent on giving the strike to Owen, who greeted Sixers debutant Mitchell Perry with a six over backward point.Owen scored 29 of Hurricanes’ 31 runs in the opening two overs as he added another six by dispatching Dwarshuis over midwicket. A massive score beckoned at 43-0 after 3 overs, but they were pegged back once Owen fell immediately after the powerplay.Mitchell Owen got off to a solid start•Getty Images

After starting the season as an opener, Matthew Wade had moved down the order and effectively fulfilled the finishing role on a couple of occasions but was promoted to No.3.He didn’t last long thanks to brilliance in the field from Edwards as Hurricanes were forced to rebuild with Jewell and McDermott struggling for boundaries in the middle overs.Jewell was knocked over by Dwarshuis for 41 in the power surge, taken in the 15th over, and that was probably a good result for Hurricanes as Tim David started with an edge that flew to the boundary followed by a six over the legside.His presence lifted McDermott, who got going late in the power surge with a huge six over midwicket off left-arm quick Hayden Kerr followed by a drive down the ground. David took over with typical late fireworks, hitting 25 off 10 balls, as Hurricanes finished strongly.Edwards’ brilliant catch sparks Sixers’ fightbackAfter being pummelled by Owen in the powerplay, Sixers mustered their experience to peg Hurricanes back. It started with Kerr cleverly mixing his lengths – in a template for the pace attack – to concede just four runs in the fourth over.Jafer Chohan, the Yorkshire legspinner playing his third BBL game, entered the attack after the powerplay and bravely tossed the ball up to Owen, whose eyes lit up but he couldn’t clear deep midwicket.Sixers were back in the game when Edwards brilliantly caught Wade at backward point in one of the best catches of the tournament. It was hit like a bullet, but the high-flying Edwards clung on with his right hand stretched in the air.Chohan bowled well and also claimed the wicket of McDermott but he finished on a sour note when David hit a half-tracker for six. He finished with 2 for 28 off 4 overs, but Sixers were left to rue sloppy bowling in the backend.

كشفت تقارير صحفية عالمية، مفاجأة بشأن أحد المدربين المرشحين والذي كان قد تردد أنه توصل لاتفاق لتدريب النادي الأهلي خلفاً للإسباني خوسيه ريبيرو.

وبحسب موقع “جول” البولندي، فإن فريق بوجون شتشيتسين البولندي كان يبحث عن مدرب بعد إقالة مدربه الساق روبرت كوليندويتش.

وأفادت التقارير أن مدرب الأهلي المحتمل توماس توماسبيرج سيصبح المدرب الجديد لفريق بوجون البولندي، بعدما تمت إقاله من نادي ميتلاند الدنماركي.

وكان صبر جماهير بوجون قد بدأ ينفذ بعد إقالة روبرت كوليندويتش ولم يكن هناك مدرب جديد قد تم تعيينه بدلاً منه، لكن يبدو أن الانتظار قد انتهى.

اقرأ أيضاً.. محترف الأهلي يتعرض لإصابة ويغيب عن مباراة الزمالك

وسيوقع توماس توماسبيرج الذي تمت إقالته من نادي ميتلاند على عقد لمدة ثلاث سنوات مع ناديه الجديد.

وكان توماسبيرج قد تم فسخ عقده بشكل مفاجئ مع ناديه السابق رغم النتائج الإيجابية التي حققها مع النادي الدنماركي.

وسيبقى جميع أعضاء الجهاز الفني الحالي لنادي بوجون في النادي وسينضم المدرب الدنماركي إلى النادي مع مساعدين جدد.

وكان توماسبيرج قد تلقى إشادة من أحد الصحفيين الدنماركيين قائلاً: “إذا كنت تريد لفريقك تحقيق نتائج جيدة كل أسبوع ولا يهمك إن كان أسلوبك أشبه بتيكي تاكا، فهذا هو المدرب المناسب لك”.

وأضاف أيضاً: “توماسبيرج مدرب عملي للغاية ويتبع نهجًا تقليدياً ناجحًا، كما أثبت مع ميتلاند عندما قادهم لبطولتين، وعند إقالته كان يمتلك سلسلة من 18 مباراة بدون هزيمة بمعدل 2.14 نقطة في المباراة الواحدة ولقد أقيل فقط لأن النادي أراد أسلوب مختلف تماماً”.

ويتواجد حالياً توماسبيرج في وارسو حيث يتابع لاعبيه المستقبليين من المدرجات في إحدى المباريات، وكان قد قاد ميتلاند في موسم 2023-2024 للفوز بالدوري الدنماركي وفاز سابقاً بكأس الدنمارك وخاض 115 مباراة.

Tak jak informowali @d_trzepacz, @wlodar85 i @UEFAComPiotrK , nowy trener Pogoni Szczecin Thomas Thomasberg oglada dzisoejsze spotkanie w Warszawie w towarzystwie włodarzy klubu.@PogonSportNet pic.twitter.com/WAv580uh6i — Dominik Markiewicz (@Markiewicz__Dom) September 28, 2025

A first-team Glasgow Rangers player could now seal a return to his former club during the summer transfer window, according to their technical director.

Rangers players who could leave this summer

The Russell Martin era is now in full swing at Ibrox, with the Englishman looking to make his presence felt from the off, bringing in players who suit his style of play and selling some unwanted stars.

Ross McCausland is one player who falls into the latter category, with Aris Limassol and two teams in the MLS among the clubs who are believed to be interested in snapping up the Northern Irishman before the end of the summer transfer window.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Diomande and Nicolas Raskin could leave Rangers for pastures new if big offers arrive in the coming weeks, with Besiktas expected to submit a new bid for the former imminently, though Martin would presumably like to keep them both.

Gers centre-back Robin Propper has been a divisive figure since arriving from FC Twente, not always fully convincing the masses with his performances, and a new update has now emerged regarding his future.

Propper could swap Rangers for Twente

Speaking to De Volkskrant [via Sport Witness], Twente technical director Jan Streuer has claimed that Rangers defender Proppper could seal a return to the club this summer, should Martin not see a future for him at Ibrox.

“We had too many changes at the back last season; something had to be done. It isn’t [very simple], because of all sorts of factors beyond your control. Just before last season, our captain, Robin Propper, left at the last minute. We really missed him. Rangers bought him.

“A Scottish top club, you can’t compete with that. Now there’s a new manager at Rangers, he might play less. Then he could return. But he’ll want to wait and see first whether he’ll actually play less. Do we have to decide: do we wait for that, or do we look further?”

Opinion may be split over Propper leaving Rangers before the new Scottish Premiership season gets underway, with his one-year stint at Ibrox not exactly earth-shattering to date. Ultimately, though, the 31-year-old’s future lies with Martin, who has paid him praise in the recent past, saying he has been “really impressed” with him since coming in as manager.

Given Propper’s age, though, and the fact that he isn’t likely to be seen as a key starter moving forward – he was limited to 21 starts in the Scottish Premiership last season – now does feel like a sensible time to move him on, receiving money for him before his contract begins to tick down.

Streuer does seem to have some doubts about Twente re-signing Propper, however, and if he does end up staying at Rangers, it certainly wouldn’t be a disaster.

As rumours continue to emerge about Alexander Isak’s future, Newcastle United have reportedly reached an advanced stage with their deal to welcome an incoming of their own.

Newcastle remaining stubborn on Isak stance

For the first time this summer, those around St James’ Park have every right to be concerned about Isak’s future. Liverpool have put their cards on the table and are willing to break their club record for a second time this summer to sign the Swede. But Newcastle won’t be swayed that easily. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Magpies’ stance remains that Isak is not for sale this summer.

With Champions League football secured last season and no major PSR concerns to worry about, Newcastle are still in a strong position when it comes to keeping hold of their star man. Whether that changes as the summer goes on remains to be seen, however.

Whilst the line remains that any striker that does arrive this summer will be playing alongside Isak, the names on Newcastle’s shortlist could certainly step up to play the main role if disaster strikes.

On that front, names such as Yoane Wissa particularly stand out. The Brentford forward enjoyed an excellent campaign last time out, scoring 19 Premier League goals, and could yet be on his way to St James’ Park before the end of the summer.

He’s not the only impressive name on Newcastle’s supposed shortlist, though. Reports are now going as far as to suggest that Newcastle have reached an advanced stage in their deal to welcome a Bundesliga star.

Newcastle reach advanced stage in Ekitike deal

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Newcastle are now expected to submit a second bid to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, with their deal now at an advanced stage. The Frenchman could reportedly cost as much as €80m (£69m) in what would see those at St James’ Park break their transfer record previously set by Isak when he arrived for £63m in 2022.

Interestingly, Romano recently claimed that if Liverpool miss out on Isak then they will turn their attention towards Ekitike in a lose-lose situation for Newcastle. Whether the Magpies have simply pushed on with their move to sign the forward, nonetheless, or it’s a clue about Isak’s future remains an unanswered question, though.

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What those in Tyneside are well aware of, however, is the talent that Ekitike has. Described as “dynamic” by German football writer Constantin Eckner, Newcastle could be about to form one of the Premier League’s best strike partnerships in Isak and the Frankfurt star.

Pat Cummins is due in the USA. The Australia fast bowler, last seen in action during the T20 World Cup that took place in America and West Indies, will begin his stint with the San Francisco Unicorns midway through the season at the Major League Cricket tournament.Cummins signed a four-year deal with the franchise. The 31-year-old has previously played in only one overseas T20 league, the IPL, and has not featured in Australia’s Big Bash League since the 2018-19 season due to his international commitments.The Unicorns have won only one of their three games so far this year and will enjoy the boost that Cummins will provide. He made history, picking up back-to-back hat-tricks at the T20 World Cup and, prior to that, led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the final in the IPL. He has played 151 T20s overall, picking up 172 wickets at an average of 26.66 and an economy rate of 8.11.Related

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Cummins’ arrival coincides with Sherfane Rutherford’s departure. The hard-hitting West Indies allrounder has not played any of the Unicorns’ matches so far and will miss the rest of the MLC due to a bereavement in the family.There were changes among the other teams as well with Ottneil Baartman replacing Gerald Coetzee (injury) at Texas Super Kings and Lungi Ngidi taking over from Wayne Parnell (player withdrawal) at Seattle Orcas.Baartman, the South Africa fast bowler, was ruled out of the T20 Blast currently taking place in England due to delays in getting his visa which left his schedule open. He has 107 wickets from 76 T20s and is known for his variations and death-bowling ability.Ngidi suffered a back injury during the SA20 at the start of the year and missed the IPL that followed but has since recovered and was part of South Africa’s squad at the T20 World Cup, along with Baartman.

There’s been a lack of activity in the transfer market so far this summer from Newcastle United, but fans shouldn’t worry; Eddie Howe’s side are looking to make several signings.

Having qualified for the Champions League on the final day of the Premier League season, the Magpies faithful will expect the squad to be rewarded for their Herculean efforts, winning the Carabao Cup too.

But sporting director Paul Mitchell stands down at the end of the month, and frustrations are already reaching boiling point for some given transfer targets like Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo appear to be headed elsewhere.

Mbeumo scored 20 goals across 38 top-flight fixtures, earning praise from Thomas Frank for his “unplayable” attacking performances.

However, with Mbeumo seemingly out of reach, Newcastle are turning their attention elsewhere, and might have found an exciting option perhaps not yet discussed by the biggest channels.

Newcastle enter race for Mbeumo alternative

As per Caught Offside, Newcastle are in the running for versatile RB Leipzig forward Antonio Nusa, though they are joined in their interest by a host of clubs, including Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

Valued at €45m (£38m), the 20-year-old has only been playing in Germany for a year but has made good progress, showcasing his range of attacking qualities. Thus, he could be snapped up before his stock rises higher still.

While there haven’t been any official proposals from the suitors yet, bids may materialise quickly, so Newcastle might be wise to act now and bring a top talent to St. James’ Park – one who might even outgrow Mbeumo in the future.

What Antonio Nusa would bring to Newcastle

Hailed as a “future icon” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Nusa has impressed across his maiden campaign in Germany, scoring five goals and supplying seven assists across 36 appearances.

The Norwegian talent has yet to find the kind of goalscoring form that has defined Mbeumo’s time in the Premier League, but there’s more to his skill set than that.

In the Champions League, particularly, he impressed. As per FBref, Nusa ranked among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s elite competition for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90.

There’s a long road ahead for Nusa if he wishes to prove himself as a better signing than Mbeumo in the future, but his underlying data certainly suggests he has what it takes.

League Stats 24/25 – Antonio Nusa vs Bryan Mbeumo

Stats (* per game)

Nusa

Mbeumo

Matches (starts)

25 (16)

38 (38)

Goals

3

20

Assists

3

7

Shots (on target)*

1.0 (0.3)

2.2 (1.1)

Big chances missed

1

9

Pass completion

78%

74%

Key passes*

0.8

1.8

Big chances created

6

17

Dribbles*

1.6

1.4

Ball recoveries*

3.1

4.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

1.7

Duels won*

4.1

4.7

Data via Sofascore

Nusa is still very young – five years Mbeumo’s junior, in fact – but you can already see a combativeness and efficiency in his ball-carrying that suggests he too could sustain complete performances in the Premier League.

Moreover, the Norway international might not have converted that many chances, but he only missed one big chance in the Bundesliga last term, highlighting an underlying clinical edge that Howe could harness over the coming years, using the player’s pace and power to get him into dangerous positions.

Mbeumo will cost a pretty penny to prise from Brentford this summer, and given the strength of Newcastle’s existing frontline, adding an up-and-coming talent who can challenge for places might just be the winning formula for Howe’s side, as they step back onto the continent’s biggest stage.

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Aston Villa have opened direct transfer talks with one player over joining Unai Emery next season, according to reports, as the Premier League top five contenders attempt to build upon another impressive campaign.

Aston Villa seal vital win over Tottenham in Champions League race

Nerves were rife throughout Villa Park in their crunch encounter against Tottenham on Friday night, before their opening goal 30 minutes from full-time, with defender Ezri Konsa breaking the deadlock before Boubacar Kamara doubled their advantage.

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Villa eventually ran out 2-0 victors over Ange Postecoglou’s side and cemented a crucial win in their chase for Champions League qualification.

The result means Emery’s side are still right in the thick of it, as they contend for a top five finish heading into the Premier League final matchday, and it is shaping up to be a dramatic last game with six teams involved in the battle for Europe.

Race for Champions League qualification

Points

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Chelsea

66

5. Aston Villa

66

6. Man City

65

7. Nottingham Forest

62

Emery, speaking after their victory against struggling Spurs, heaped praise on his players for making their home ground a serious fortress.

“I’m very grateful for the supporters,” Emery said. “Here, we are feeling strong and we’re feeling comfortable. We only lost one match here in the Premier League, the first match against Arsenal. Progressively, we were getting better. Of course, we drew some matches in the way, and now we are missing some points from those moments, but we have to accept it.

“We have to accept the 37 matches we’ve played being consistent, more or less, and getting the moment we are in now, feeling good and in our best moment. We’re achieving the challenges we are facing. We enjoyed in the FA Cup and in Carabao Cup, but mostly our moment in the Champions League.

“The Premier League is the most important competition we are facing because through it we are getting again our main objective, and the objective is to be in Europe.

“We are in Europe next year, but we are in the running for the Champions League positions, and we can have chances in the last match in Manchester to get it.”

Aston Villa open talks with Axel Disasi over joining next season

The result of their Champions League chase will have direct effects on their recruitment plans off the field, but that hasn’t stopped NSWE and Monchi from making moves behind-the-scenes.

Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi could remain beyond 2024/2025, with the Frenchman very highly-rated by Emery, his coaching staff and Villa’s transfer chiefs.

That is according to Foot Mercato, who state that Villa have already opened talks with Disasi over joining them next season.

The 27-year-old cost Chelsea £39 million to sign from Monaco in 2023, and Fabrizio Romano recently claimed that they’re keen to sell him for profit this summer. It is unclear how much Villa would be willing to pay to keep Disasi in the Midlands, but he could be a significant addition.

The defender has been called a “leader” at times, and his experience at the top level could be invaluable for Emery.

Arsenal have reportedly made a pre-summer offer to sign a Barcelona star for Mikel Arteta, with the La Liga title contenders and their president, Joan Laporta, responding to their ambitious approach.

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Kieran Tierney is set to join Celtic in July after agreeing a pre-summer contract in the January transfer window, while it is believed Oleksandr Zinchenko has been put on the transfer list by Arsenal after falling down Arteta’s pecking order.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games

Date

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Jakub Kiwior has started four of Arsenal’s last Premier League matches, as well as both Champions League quarter-final legs against Real Madrid, but this is only due to Gabriel Magalhaes being out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

The Poland international has performed impressively in that time, but that hasn’t stopped Arsenal from looking at new options in that position ahead of the summer.

Arsenal are one of the contenders to sign Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen, as per David Ornstein, and have held talks with the Spaniard’s camp already – so it is unclear what the future would hold for Kiwior if he were to come in.

In any case, it is clear that the north Londoners are in the market for another centre-back, and it is also believed Arsenal could move to bring in another full-back as Tierney and Zinchenko head towards the exit door.

One player who could reinforce both positions with serious quality is £223,000-per-week Barcelona star Jules Koundé.

The France international has proved indispensable to Hansi Flick’s title favourites, playing more La Liga minutes than any other player in his Catalans squad, with only Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Dani Olmo averaging more key passes per 90 than him in the final third (WhoScored).

Kounde’s contributed excellently, both in an offensive and defensive sense, leaving little wonder why Arteta is a big admirer of the ex-Sevilla sensation.

Arsenal make pre-summer bid for Barcelona defender Jules Koundé

According to reports in Spain, as cited by Football 365, Arteta has become “obsessed” with Kounde following his excellent 2024/2025 – and Andrea Berta has made an early attempt to back Arsenal’s manager with a swoop for the 26-year-old.

It is believed Arsenal have made a pre-summer offer worth £55 million for Kounde, but Laporta has swiftly responded with a polite no, as the defender is seen as far too important to even consider selling.

It was always a tall order for Arsenal to tempt Barca into selling their star man, who can play both centrally and a full-back, but it is clear to see why they made a bold attempt to do so.

“I played against him in the Champions League,” said France international teammate Dayot Upamecano.

“He’s a confident player and I hope things continue that way. He’s also a leader and he’s beginning to have a lot of experience. I wish him all the best.”

The league has morphed into a mature, austere version that suits it better than the glamour and grandeur it initially aimed for

Danyal Rasool09-Apr-2025A decade is never not a milestone, but it can also be an awkward period of time to draw any conclusions from. It’s probably a bit too late to begin evaluating whether you have made the right career choice, and hopefully too early to determine if you have got enough by way of retirement savings. It’s often best looked at through the softened sepia tint of hindsight, which has its own gentle way of smoothing out the roughest edges of circumstance, superimposing melancholy contentment where raw pain once existed. That might make any objective assessment difficult, but it’s always deeply personal.As Pakistan’s own T20 competition hits that milestone, what to make of it remains elusive, and personal. The Pakistan Super League launched its own official song for the tournament a few days out from its start, predictably drawing strong opinions on ultimately inconsequential promotional filler. The slogan it came up with – X – could perhaps be characterised the same way, though, corny pun aside, it gets something fundamental about this tournament right. This is an X to be interpreted rather than solved, with the PSL choosing to focus on the sense of belonging and connection with Pakistan, not the glamour or any delusions of grandeur that, at present, are hard to seriously keep up in Pakistan cricket.Much as the PSL would like to stand out as an independent entity, its fanbase is primarily Pakistan cricket’s fanbase, and the league starts at a time when Pakistan’s worn-down supporters have flitted from hope to disappointment and heartbreak in six months of non-stop international cricket. It’s impossible to say this is the nadir, but it does feel Pakistan appear to have left no stone unturned in their search. Stop-gap solutions for structural problems, the hounding out of high-profile coaching staff they had spent a fortune chasing, the appointments and sackings of captains on an almost monthly basis all culminated in an embarrassing early exit in a Champions Trophy they hosted before three weeks of humbling defeats in New Zealand rubbed salt into their wounds.Related

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That is the backdrop to the tenth anniversary of a league that deserves better. It has become a financial lifeline for the PCB over the years, one of the few brands associated with Pakistan that has actually appreciated in value. It laid the groundwork for Pakistan’s international isolation to end, and has inculcated a sense of regional identity that was never possible in the domestic first-class structure due to perpetual rejigging. Now, perhaps, it is also an escape if you want to watch Pakistan cricket without the sadness that watching Pakistan cricket evokes in so many.The danger of stagnation, though, is ever-present, and, with all six franchises up for rebidding at the end of its tenth year, potentially existential. The most dominant theme in the build-up week of the tournament, tellingly, has been a constantly escalating attack on the management of the PSL by one of the franchise owners. Multan Sultans’ Ali Tareen accused the PCB of letting the league embrace mediocrity, sparking a contretemps with Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal, who accused Tareen of “ridiculing and disrespecting” the league. They would later de-escalate, but it has shone a spotlight on how insecurities and fears about the future of the PSL run right to the top.No cricketer possibly did as much for the PSL – and Pakistan cricket – as Darren Sammy did•AFP via Getty ImagesThe PSL appears to have accepted that days of the league attracting the hottest properties in franchise cricket are behind them. The first pick for the first two seasons of the draft were Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum; this year it was Daryl Mitchell, last year David Willey. The glut of T20 leagues in a window the PSL believed it had to itself saw it constricted from either side when the UAE’s ILT20 and South Africa’s IPL-owners-backed SA20 popped up in the January-February window, drawing talent away. At the other end, the ever-expanding IPL began to spread into March, further reducing the PSL’s breathing space.As a result, the PSL made official what had been a de facto reality for several seasons, accepting its status as a second-tier league and moving directly into the IPL window. This change may not be permanent, and it divided opinion among the franchise owners, but operating in the IPL’s slipstream all but ended any issues around international clashes. While past seasons involved multiple late withdrawals, the replacement draft this time around comprised just two new picks, as just about every player who went unpicked at the IPL was available to the PSL.In its second season at the launch ceremony, the then PCB chairman unveiled the Spirit Trophy for the PSL, which, the official claim went, included 50,000 double-pointed Swarovski crystals. It took, the PCB’s website said, “inspiration from the brilliance of the universe”.Lahore Qalandars winning back-to-back PSL titles buoyed the city•AFP/Getty ImagesThat sort of vapid optimism of the early seasons has dulled, and, as the league bids farewell to its first decade, the pragmatism of middle age has replaced it. The aspiration for the PSL to become a global glamour brand never seemed tenable, but it has carved its way into Pakistan’s cultural identity. No one is pretending it will compete for international eyeballs while games clash directly with the IPL, but there is a recognition Pakistan was never doing this for anyone else, just for Pakistan.And a decade leaves memories Pakistan fans may cling to as a crutch in these unhappy times. Lahore’s overwhelming gratitude when Daren Sammy’s million-dollar smile lit up the Gaddafi Stadium for the first time in 2017 remains one of cricket’s most iconic recent days. So were Kings’ dismantling of arch-nemesis Lahore Qalandars at the National Stadium, Lahore’s emotions overflowing when they went back-to-back after years of propping up the table.It is perhaps the purest and least problematic fun to be had in Pakistan, something cricket fans may want more of, not less, as the international side recedes in relevance at the top end of the global game. Qalandars will take on Islamabad United – two sides as diametrically opposed as you’ll find anywhere in the franchise game – on the opening day. Perhaps, Kings have finally got it right this time under David Warner. Maybe Sultans will stop losing finals. None of it will make a cosmic difference large enough to suggest any inspiration from the brilliance of the universe. It is, after all, everyone’s ” X”. Not a bad way to end a decade.

He took a wicket off a no-ball once again and burned two reviews, before finding his groove to help India salvage something from the first day in Indore

Karthik Krishnaswamy01-Mar-2023Two balls, one after the other, behaving in entirely different ways: a defining feature of day one of the third Border-Gavaskar Test match in Indore, where a series of pitches with variable pace, turn and bounce reached a new level of variable.Ravindra Jadeja had been the recipient of two such balls earlier in the day, from Nathan Lyon. He’d successfully reviewed an lbw decision off the first ball, which had skidded into his back pad before he could bring his bat down, but he’d fallen to the next ball, which stopped on him and turned, causing him to drag an attempted square cut far straighter than intended. Aiming to slap the ball through point, he ended up caught by short extra-cover moving to his left.Now, two sessions later, in the 39th over of Australia’s innings, Jadeja bowled two such balls to Usman Khawaja. The first kept low, and the second spat up towards the batter’s gloves. Khawaja kept out the first, jabbing down hurriedly, and survived the next one, fending it between short leg and leg gully.Related

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At that point, Jadeja had figures of 16.3-4-45-2. Excellent, you’d think, until you viewed them in the context of the match situation. India had been bowled out for 109 in a mere 33.2 overs. Australia were 115 for 2 in 38.3 overs.It could have been different, but it wasn’t, and Jadeja had been in the thick of all the coulda woulda shoulda. He’d got Marnus Labuschagne to play on in just his second over, and Australia could have been 14 for 2, but he’d overstepped. It was the third time in the series that he’d had a wicket struck off for that reason.Not too long after that, Jadeja had played a part in burning two reviews against Khawaja. Ball-tracking suggested that both balls would have gone on to miss leg stump comfortably, and the first one also happened to pitch and strike Khawaja’s front pad outside leg stump.In the over after the second review, R Ashwin didn’t get to review a not-out decision when he struck Labuschagne’s front pad. The ball was a near-replay of Labuschagne’s dismissal in the first innings of the Delhi Test, and Ashwin had got his man only after taking recourse to the DRS. In Indore, however, India were perhaps too wary of asking for a review soon after they’d used up two in quick succession.Australia could have been – couldabeen, even – 38 for 2, but they weren’t.And so it went, as Khawaja and Labuschagne built the day’s biggest partnership, by far. They put on 96 runs, and occupied the crease for 198 balls. The entire India innings had lasted 200 balls.It wasn’t that India didn’t threaten to break this stand at various points. But it was the kind of day when nothing seemed to go their way. When Jadeja finally broke the second-wicket stand, the shooter he bowled Labuschagne with was the 49th ball of Australia’s innings to draw a false shot, according to ESPNcricinfo’s control data.Australia lost two wickets over those 49 not-in-control balls. India lost all 10 over the course of 51 not-in-control balls.Luck, it would seem, was on Australia’s side but they also had other things going for them. Pitches with sharp turn reduce a spinner’s margin for error, and both Ashwin and Jadeja took a while finding their groove. They beat the bat regularly from a traditional good length, and in the effort to bowl fuller and find the edge, they offered up more scoring opportunities than they otherwise might have. India couldn’t afford to attack too much given their low total, and their in-out fields were both a necessity and a source of frustration as Khawaja and Labuschagne picked up a steady stream of singles to deep fielders.It was that kind of day, the kind that’s usually reserved for visiting teams in India. But like they did in Pune six years ago, turning conditions can occasionally backfire on India. They know it, but they feel they play their best cricket on such pitches. Vikram Rathour, India’s batting coach, said as much in his end-of-day press conference.Steven Smith was dismissed late in the day as Ravindra Jadeja helped India claw back some lost ground•Getty Images”Of course you can collapse as a batting unit at times, but the thing is that we do prefer to play on turning tracks because I think that is our strength, that is where we are really good as a team,” he said. “How much that wicket turned, to be fair, the earlier two wickets, I don’t think they were bad wickets by any standard, they were wickets which turned, which we prefer.”Pitch preparation isn’t an exact science, and the same intentions applied to three different strips of turf can produce three very different pitches. Rathour said India were taken by surprise by just how much the ball turned on this Indore pitch, but he sympathised with the groundstaff for having had to prepare it at short notice.”Today it was drier than we expected and we saw that it did more,” Rathour said. “First day of a Test match, it did a lot more than we expected. But to be fair on the curators also, I think they hardly got time to prepare this wicket. They had a Ranji Trophy season here, and then it was pretty late that it was decided that the game was shifted from Dharamshala to this venue, so I don’t think they got enough time to really prepare the wicket.”On this pitch, batting seemed to become slightly easier as the day wore on. It may have been down to early moisture drying out over time, or to Australia batting for longer against an older ball, or to a pair of set batters spending a significant length of time at the crease. Whatever it was, it reflected in the control numbers.Australia’s batters achieved a control percentage of nearly 79 over their innings. India’s figure was just above 74%.But the uncertainty India’s bowlers created through Australia’s innings began reaping rewards after tea. The occasional frustrations of Jadeja had defined India’s bowling performance until then; now it became all about the one quality, above all, that’s made him a great cricketer – his persistence.Sometimes it can feel like a mildly negative quality; it took him until his 18th over to try bowling from over the wicket to the left-hander, by which time Khawaja was on 60. The change of angle caused immediate uncertainty out of the footmarks outside off stump, and brought out Khawaja’s sweep – he missed one, and top-edged his next attempt to the fielder at deep square leg.But it’s also a sign of Jadeja’s trust in his methods that it took him so long to try the new angle. The methods, the trust, and the skill underlying it all brought him, soon after, the wickets of Labuschagne and Steven Smith, and Australia’s false-shots-to-dismissal ratio reverted to the mean. By stumps, they’d lost four wickets while playing 69 false shots, and while they were still ahead of the game at 156 for 4, they were not nearly as far ahead as they may have hoped when they’d bowled India out so quickly.Jadeja had been the meme at the centre of it all: If you don’t love me at my *insert overstepping visual*, you don’t deserve me at my *insert wicket celebration*.