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Andrés Iniesta, lenda do Barcelona, comentou em uma postagem do Santos após a vitória sobre o Palmeiras, pela partida de ida da final do Paulistão, e levou os torcedores do Peixe à loucura na web.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSantosCarille amplia bom retrospecto contra o Palmeiras e fica perto de cumprir profecia no SantosSantos01/04/2024PalmeirasAbel vê Santos superior ao Palmeiras na final do Paulistão, e reclama do calendárioPalmeiras31/03/2024SantosCarille avalia presença de Neymar e revela estratégia do Santos para segurar vantagem no AllianzSantos31/03/2024

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Logo após o duelo na Vila Belmiro, o Santos postou um vídeo de Diego Pituca parabenizando o elenco pela vitória sobre o Palmeiras, e Iniesta mostrou apoio ao Peixe com o seguinte emoji: ‘🙌’. O Alvinegro Praiano respondeu com saudações, e a torcida santista nas redes sociais pediu para a diretoria contratar o meia espanhol.

➡️ Com R$50 no Lance! Betting, você fatura R$255 se apostar no 1 a 1 entre Santos x Palmeiras

Aos 39 anos, Andrés Iniesta deixou o Vissel Kobe, do Japão, e está no Emirates Club, dos Emirados Árabes Unidos. O meio-campista ex-Barcelona soma 14 jogos na temporada, com três gols e uma assistência.

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A grande decisão entre Santos e Palmeiras será no domingo (7), às 18h, no Allianz Parque. O Peixe pode empatar no próximo final de semana que ainda leva o título do Paulistão. Em caso de vitória da equipe de Abel Ferreira por um gol de diferença, o duelo será decidido nos pênaltis.

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários do Paulistão

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IniestaSantos

توجه فيرجيل فان دايك، قائد نادي ليفربول، بطلب لجماهير فريقه، قبل مواجهة الريدز اليوم الأربعاء مع بي إس في آيندهوفن، بدوري أبطال أوروبا.

ليفربول سوف يلتقي مع آيندهوفن مساء اليوم الأربعاء على ملعب أنفيلد، ضمن بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا لحساب الجولة الخامسة من مرحلة الدوري.

ويسعى ليفربول للفوز على آيندهوفن ومصالحة جماهيره، عقب الخسارة القاسية التي مني بها الفريق أمام نوتينجهام فورست يوم السبت الماضي 3-0 بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وقال فان دايك لموقع ليفربول الرسمي: ”كانت هزيمة السبت أمام نوتينجهام فورست سيئة ويومًا صعبًا علينا جميعًا، والوضع الذي نجد أنفسنا فيه الآن غير مقبول”.

وأضاف: ”على الجميع أن يتحملوا المسؤولية وأن يظهروا الرغبة والشخصية اللازمة لتغيير الأمور، في الوقت الحالي، نخذل أنفسنا ونخذل المدرب، ونخذلكم جميعًا ونعلم أن هذا يجب أن يتغير”.

وأوضح فان دايك: ”كما قلت، علينا نحن إحداث هذا التغيير ولا أحد غيرنا، يمكننا التحدث عن الأخطاء وما يجب علينا فعله لكن الأمر يتعلق بالأفعال لا بالأقوال، على كل فرد منا أن ينظر في المرآة أولًا ثم كفريق واحد، علينا أن نتحد معًا لنظهر أننا أفضل من هذا وأقوى من هذا”.

وأردف: ”يبدأ كل شيء بالأساسيات؛ العمل الجاد والاستعداد للقتال من أجل كل كرة أولى وثانية والتنافس في كل مواجهة، وصد التسديدات والفوز في الصراعات الثنائية، علينا القيام بكل هذه الأمور كفريق واحد وإنها الطريقة الوحيدة”.

اقرأ أيضًا .. تشكيل ليفربول المتوقع أمام آيندهوفن اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وواصل: “يجب أن يكون اللعب ضدنا أصعب بالتأكيد لأن عدد الأهداف التي استقبلناها حتى الآن هذا الموسم ليس جيدًا على الإطلاق، وضد نوتينجهام فورست مرة أخرى كان الأمر سهلاً للغاية، لكن علينا أيضًا أن نتحلى بالشجاعة لنلعب بأسلوبنا الخاص، وأن نحافظ على هدوئنا ونسعى لخلق الفرص وأن لا نستسلم عندما تسير الأمور ضدنا”.

واستكمل: “في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز ودوري أبطال أوروبا لا يمكنك أن تفقد رباطة جأشك، لأن جودة الخصم تعني في أغلب الأحيان أنك ستعاقب”.

واستطرد: ”أعلم أنكم تشعرون بالإحباط من الوضع الراهن وأتفهم هذا الإحباط، كما قلت، أتحمل مسؤولية ما حدث وعلى الجميع تحمل المسؤولية أيضًا، لا يمكننا تجاهل حقيقة الوضع”.

وتابع: “لكننا نعود إلى أنفيلد هذا المساء ضد فريق قوي وهو بي إس في آيندهوفن، وسنحتاج إلى دعمكم ومساندتكم أكثر من أي وقت مضى”.

واختتم فيرجيل: “أعلم أننا نستطيع الاعتماد على ذلك، ونأمل أن نضع نهاية الأسبوع خلفنا ونظهر تضامننا وروحنا القتالية، ونقدم لكم جميعًا شيئًا يفرح قلوبكم مرة أخرى”.

It was a 438-run whackathon between UP Warriorz and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow

Sampath Bandarupalli08-Mar-20256:01

RCB ‘have a lot of work to do’

225 for 5 How much UP Warriorz (UPW) scored against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday – the highest total ever in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). The previous highest was 223 for 2 by Delhi Capitals in 2023, also against RCB.Before Saturday, UPW were the only team without a 200-plus total in the WPL – their previous highest total was 181 against Gujarat Giants in 2023.438 Runs scored by UPW and RCB in Lucknow – the most for a WPL match, going past the 403 runs scored by Giants and RCB in the opening match of this season.It is also the second-highest aggregate for a women’s T20, behind the 490 runs by Argentina and Chile in 2023. Argentina alone scored 427 in that game, the highest T20 total ever.99* Georgia Voll’s unbeaten innings against RCB is the joint-highest individual score in the WPL. Sophie Devine also had a 99-run knock for RCB against Giants in 2023.213 RCB’s total in the chase was their highest total in the WPL, but they fell 13 runs short of the target. It was also the joint-highest total while chasing in women’s T20s, alongside West Indies’ 213 for 3 against Australia in 2023.26 Runs scored by Sneh Rana in the 19th over of the chase, the most by a batter in one over in the WPL. Those 26 runs came off the first five balls faced by Rana in her innings, having come in at No. 10. Deepti Sharma conceded 28 runs, including a no-ball in that over, the most runs conceded by a bowler in one over in the WPL.121 Runs that UPW scored in the middle overs (7-16) against RCB – the most by any team in a WPL innings during that phase. They scored 67 runs in the powerplay (1-6), their highest in the WPL, but only 37 came in the death overs (17-20).202.94 Voll’s strike rate against the RCB spinners on Saturday. She scored 69 runs off 34 balls against them, with 12 fours and a six. She scored only 30 off 22 balls with five fours against the pace bowlers.WPL debutant Charlie Dean was at the receiving end of Voll’s wrath, conceding 36 runs in 16 balls, including seven boundaries. Only Harmanpreet Kaur (38 off Sneh Rana in 2024) has scored more runs off one bowler in a WPL innings.43 Runs scored by Voll playing the sweep shot during her unbeaten 99, by far the most any batter has scored in a WPL innings with the sweep, as per ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball logs. Voll attempted 15 sweep shots during her innings, of which nine were boundaries, including one six.

The 20-year-old allrounder from a small town close to Lucknow has already made a splash in IPL 2025

Shashank Kishore and Daya Sagar04-Apr-2025Vipraj Nigam, 20, is pleasantly surprised at how much recognition he has received over the past two weeks at IPL 2025.An allrounder signed by Delhi Capitals (DC) primarily for his legspin bowling, Nigam helped his team turn the tables on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on his IPL debut when he smashed a 15-ball 39 after going out at 113 for 6 in a tall chase of 210. DC won, with Ashutosh Sharma overshadowing Nigam with an unbeaten 66 in 31 balls.”I was nervous, but also excited,” Nigam tells ESPNcricinfo. “The feeling of earning the respect of your team-mates and coaches is something I can’t express in words. It’s been amazing to come and play with the same people I’ve watched on TV.”Related

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Nigam’s batting chops were never in doubt – he broke through into the Uttar Pradesh Under-19s as a batter first, and then legspin took over. When he picked up “13 or 14 wickets in two crucial matches”, an opportunity to be part of a junior camp at the National Cricket Academy [now Centre of Excellence, in Bengaluru] opened up soon after domestic cricket resumed after Covid, sometime in 2022. It was there that he realised the need to develop his all-round abilities.”They [the coaches] told me legspinning allrounders are rare,” he says. “After that, I started working on my bowling seriously.”What he thought was a small step turned into a giant leap when he earned further recognition at the UP T20 League in 2024, where he was the second-highest wicket-taker. Blessed with a quick-arm action modelled on his hero Yasir Shah, the former Pakistan legspinner, Nigam found his way past batters with his fizz. Those performances earned him trials with DC, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS).”A few other teams had invited me, but the Ranji Trophy was on, and I wanted to prioritise that,” he says. “But I did well at the trials wherever I went – they gave me good feedback. But there were no guarantees.”At the auction last year, Nigam was signed for INR 50 lakh, “big money” for the son of a primary schoolteacher from Barabanki, a small town near Lucknow. “My father never stopped me from playing cricket,” he says. “My mother would initially tell me it was important to study, but after a point even she started encouraging me. Sports wasn’t a thing at home.”

“I didn’t move to Lucknow initially, I’d do up and down by bus. There was this excitement of going every day to play, as a youngster you don’t think ‘oh, I have to travel this far’. It’s all you want to do. Now the journey has gotten more comfortable since I’ve bought a car”Vipraj Nigam

Sports wasn’t big in his hometown either. Those who aspired to play cricket had to move to Lucknow. Nigam, however, was fortunate to be under the mentorship of Sarwar Nawab, who had just started the lone cricket academy in Barabanki.As Nigam began to develop physically, Nawab worked on his power hitting, while state senior Zeeshan Ansari, who has also broken into the IPL this year, worked on Nigam’s legspin.Ansari played for India at the Under-19 World Cup in 2016 alongside Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan, but lost his way for a few years, failing to break into the UP senior team. During this period, Ansari kept his cricket dream burning by practicing and playing A-division cricket in Lucknow, while being a big brother for young Nigam.Nawab and Ansari helped enhance Nigam’s skills, but the proof of the pudding was in being able to play and perform in competitive games. Nawab happened to know Khaleeq Khan, who ran the UP Timber Cricket Club in the A division of the city’s club circuit. Khaleeq offered Nigam an opportunity to play for the club and he has been a regular since.”I didn’t move to Lucknow initially, I’d do up and down by bus,” Nigam says. “There was this excitement of going every day to play, as a youngster you don’t think ‘oh, I have to travel this far’. It’s all you want to do. Now the journey has gotten more comfortable since I’ve bought a car. Earlier, I used to walk, then take a bus, train there for five-six hours and come back. It used to be tiring.””I learnt a lot from several of my seniors,” Vipraj Nigam says of his UP team-mates•Delhi CapitalsAt the club, Nigam enhanced his skills by playing with the cream of UP’s next in line. “I learnt a lot from several of my seniors there,” he says. “Akshdeep Nath, Upendra Yadav, Mohammad Saif – all of them had Ranji Trophy experience. Playing and training with experienced players helped me tremendously.”Nigam also got to play with many of them when he earned a senior state debut in the 2024-25 season. UP made the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarter-finals after Nigam made an impression with the bat, an unbeaten 27 off eight balls against Andhra, a prelude of sorts to his IPL fireworks.”I feel very blessed to have had the journey I’ve had,” he says. “I’m learning from the best. KL Rahul is in my team. I’ve been speaking to him every day. Kevin Pietersen [the team mentor], Axar [Patel] , Kuldeep [Yadav] – they’re all amazing players. The IPL is such a platform where you see and learn from the best. I’d like to have a chance to speak to MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav.”For now, bowling and picking up wickets and being able to “make an impact” for DC and wherever he plays is enough for Nigam.

He added an unbroken 117 for the third wicket with KJ Perera as SL chased 192 down

Madushka Balasuriya07-Sep-2025

Zimbabwe put forward a team effort led by Tadiwanashe Marumani’s fourth T20I fifty to post an imposing 191 for 8. But Sri Lanka’s top four batters made light work of their target by ending the game with 14 balls and eight wickets to spare. With it, Sri Lanka took the series 2-1.Kamil Mishara will be the name on everyone’s lips after the game, though, with his 73 not out off 43 balls the shining light in an outstanding display of batting from the Sri Lankans. Pathum Nissanka (30 from 20 deliveries) and Kusal Mendis (30 off 17) once more delivered a strong start in the powerplay. But while Sri Lanka have long struggled to maintain that momentum, on Sunday, Mishara and the returning Kusal Perera dusted off the 192 chase with ease with an unbeaten stand of 117 from 63 balls.Earlier, Marumani rode his luck to propel Zimbabwe’s efforts, and he was ably assisted by cameos throughout the innings. At one point, Zimbabwe looked poised to breach 200, but Sri Lanka again excelled during the death overs, particularly with Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana, to ensure Zimbabwe had a total that was eventually gettable.Tadiwanashe Marumani scored a steady half-century•Zimbabwe Cricket

SL’s powerplay one-upmanshipAfter Zimbabwe posted their highest total against Sri Lanka – and their third highest total at the Harare Sports Club – Sri Lanka knew what they needed to do to chase it down.Part one played out as expected, with Kusal Mendis and Nissanka once more providing the Sri Lanka with a customary blistering start to the chase. The pair put on an opening stand of 58 off 32 deliveries, as Sri Lanka struck 67 runs in the powerplay for the loss of just one wicket.It was the ideal response to Zimbabwe, who had done similarly well in the powerplay by scoring 58 for 1. That effort had been led by a somewhat chancy knock by Marumani, who played anchor, as both Brian Bennett and Sean Williams provided the aggression.Dushan Hemantha picked up three wickets•Sri Lanka Cricket

Mishara announces himselfPrior to this tour, Mishara had briefly introduced himself to Sri Lanka’s cricket followers in 2022 during matches against India and Australia before swiftly finding himself back in the domestic wilderness. In the years since, he has crafted himself as a batter full of intent and aggression – it was ill-advised in the second T20I, but on Sunday, he showed how useful that skillset can be.Coming into bat late in the powerplay, Mishara soon found himself the senior man in a partnership with Perera, as both Mendis and Nissanka had fallen in quick succession. But with lopsided boundaries on offer, both Mishara and Perera smartly took the singles and twos on offer, without searching for the boundaries – a luxury afforded by the strong powerplay.However, a stunning loft down the ground for six, hitting through the line, signalled to all watching what Mishara was all about. It would be another ten deliveries until he found his next boundary, but scarcely was a dot ball registered under his watch.Mishara’s assurance also seemed to revive Perera, who had been dropped for the second T20I following a lean patch of form, but here he seemed to be finding his feet once more. The pair eventually began finding boundaries as and when needed, with Mishara in particular looking always keen to take on the onus. By the end, Mishara looked assured in a challenging middle-order role, one Sri Lanka will be hoping he can hold on to for a while.Sikandar Raza batted at a high tempo•Zimbabwe Cricket

Chameera, Pathirana dent Zimbabwe’s chargeSikandar Raza said after the game that he was absolutely thrilled with Zimbabwe’s batting effort, and with 191 on the board, you don’t have to wonder why. It was a performance built on a strong powerplay, but more importantly, smart and aggressive cricket throughout.Dushan Hemantha, for example, picked up three wickets – the most in the innings – and they were the prized scalps of Williams, Raza and Marumani. But such was the trajectory of the Zimbabwean innings that it hardly halted their momentum.Each of Zimbabwe’s top seven reached double digits, while five of them struck at a strike rate of 150 or more. It was the quintessential team innings, and one that saw them score 95 runs through the middle overs (7 to 16). Yet, by the end of the game, many watching on may have felt they were perhaps 30 runs short.That is primarily down to Sri Lanka’s excellent effort with the ball at the death, where they conceded just 38 runs and picked up four wickets, a period which culminated in a final over where the returning Pathirana gave away just six runs and accounted for two wickets – one of which was a run-out.

A significant update has now emerged regarding Raphael Wicky becoming Middlesbrough’s next manager, as the Championship side look to find the right replacement for Rob Edwards in the near future.

The exit of Edwards to Wolves has knocked Boro for six at an important point in the season, but it is vital that they don’t allow it to derail their Championship promotion push in the coming weeks and months.

A number of candidates have already been mentioned as potential options as the Englishman’s successor, including former Young Boys manager Wicky.

It has been claimed that Boro are serious about appointing the 48-year-old as their next boss after he impressed during talks, although he is far from the only candidate being mentioned for the job.

Former striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is a contender for the Championship side, with the Dutchman reportedly given Gareth Southgate’s endorsement, following their time working together with the England national team. Steven Gerrard, Gary O’Neill and Carlos Corberan are some of the other names to have been thrown around.

Wicky keen on taking Middlesbrough job

Now, according to a fresh claim from The Northern Echo, Wicky is keen on becoming Middlesbrough’s next manager, with the Swiss very much in the mix to come in.

He is said to be one of a host of overseas bosses who are “interested” in taking charge at the Riverside Stadium, following his exit from Young Boys last year, having spent two years at the club.

Wicky stands out as a strong option for Boro, with journalist Graeme Bailey describing him as an “impressive” individual, following a successful managerial career to date.

He won both the Swiss league title and Swiss Cup with Young Boys in the 2022/23 season, outlining his winning mentality, and at 48, he is still a relatively young manager who will bring fresh ideas to the Riverside.

It remains to be seen if the 4-4-2 diamond-playing Wicky will ultimately be Boro’s pick as their new boss, but the fact that the job appeals to him can only be a good thing, and his trophy-winning pedigree isn’t something that should be ignored.

Middlesbrough now considering move for ex-QPR manager recommended by Southgate

He’s been out of a managerial job since 2022.

1 ByTom Cunningham Nov 14, 2025

It is vital that the club don’t rush into the decision, however, instead ensuring that they have the best possible choice of manager to hopefully spearhead their return to the Premier League, rather than making a quick call and bringing in the wrong man.

How Middlesbrough feel about Raphael Wicky as Swiss manager holds Riverside talks

Hossan, Beg make half-centuries for visitors as Minto impresses again with three wickets

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay07-Sep-2025England U19 273 for 6 (Mohammed 104, Basir 3-35) beat Bangladesh U19 272 for 9 (Hossan 57, Beg 51, Minto 3-48) by four wicketsA superb Isaac Mohammed century guided England Men U19s to a four-wicket win against Bangladesh Men U19s in the second Youth one-day international at Loughborough.The Worcestershire batter, who was dropped on six, was the backbone of a potentially tricky run chase after half-centuries from Rifat Beg and Rizan Hossan helped Bangladesh post 272 for nine.James Minto claimed three for 48 from his 10 overs – to follow his five-wicket haul in the opening-match defeat – although the highlight of the innings was arguably Joe Moores’ stunning catch to remove KS Aleen off Manny Lumsden.Moores dived full length to his right at a floating slip to haul in a remarkable one-handed catch and then struck 47 alongside Mohammed at the top of the order to put the hosts on track in their pursuit.Mohammed went on to reach 104 from 95 balls, which included nine sixes, before Jack Nelson, who made his debut in the opening game on Friday, saw the Young Lions over the line with an unbeaten 35 from 38 balls.The five-match series is level 1-1 heading into the next match at Bristol on Tuesday.Despite the early loss of Zawad Abrar, caught at mid-off from Matthew Firbank’s bowling, Bangladesh edged the initial stages, reaching 67 for one after 10 overs.The drinks interval proved pivotal, as three wickets fell in three consecutive overs, after the break. The pace of Hampshire’s Manny Lumsden rushed Beg into a mistake, ending a promising knock of 51 from 52 balls. The soft dismissal of Azizul Hakim Tamim followed, as he offered a simple chance to square leg and Lumsden claimed his second wicket courtesy of Moores excellent catch.At 126 for four inside 20 overs, Bangladesh were precariously placed but Hossan, a centurion in Friday’s game and wicketkeeper Mohammed Abdullah rebuilt with a partnership of 69. It was ended when Abdullah mistimed a pull shot off Minto.Hossan, displaying power and subtlety, got to his fifty soon after, off 54 balls. His crucial wicket was taken the ball after he deposited a huge six onto the roof of an adjacent building, Jack Nelson being rewarded for perseverance.At 218 for six Bangladesh’s innings never really regained impetus, as Nelson’s leg-spin claimed another wicket in his next over, with Samiun Basir Ratul’s top edge being caught by Bryon Hatton-Lowe.Two further cheap wickets followed as the England bowlers continued to apply themselves, although late innings hitting from Al Fahad elevated the final total to 272-9 off 47 overs – three overs being reduced due to rain.In response, the England openers raced to f50 off 6.5 overs, to get ahead of the asking rate. Mohammed’s graceful straight hits and Moores’s scooped six, were highlights of a partnership worth 68. Moores was out gloving the ball behind, from Shahrir Al-Amin’s first delivery.The next wicket came somewhat against the run of play, Ben Mayes bowled by Ratul when the second-wicket partnership looked well set, leaving the score on 120 for two. Mohammed’s second successive fifty came shortly afterwards off 69 balls, and in a run soaked 26th over he struck three sixes off Hossan’s medium pace.At the other end, a sharp stumping sent Will Bennison back for 12, before skipper Thomas Rew departed for 14 to a catch in the deep, which just kept Bangladesh in the game with 59 runs needed off 14 overs.Mohammed was dismissed, holing out off Fahad, two balls after completing a composed century. The sixth-wicket pair of Nelson and Ralphie Albert took England to the brink of victory, which eventually came with 3.5 overs remaining.Moores said: “It was a really good win, I though last game we were pretty close for a lot of the time, we had a lot of good moments, we spoke about trying to build that for longer.”Obviously Isaac batted really well, he set the tone really nicely, the lads who came in after him followed it up really nicely as well. Everyone chipped in, it’s definitely good to get the win and go one-all.”Speaking about his scoop for six, Moores added: “It’s just going to your strengths as quickly as possible, I feel like those kinds of shots are one of my strengths. It felt like it was a good option.”Moores added about his diving slip catch: “I was very pleased, it’s one of those that sticks, it felt like it was going in slow motion, it was a nice feeling (to take the catch).”

The most prolific bowler in women’s T20Is talks about how she developed her key weapon, and her advocacy for various social issues

Firdose Moonda18-Jan-2025Megan Schutt doesn’t make it sound like she had a lot to work with.She described her pace as “perfect to be hit” and her action as “pretty horrible”. But two decades after she first took to cricket as a self-confessed “late bloomer”, she is the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20Is and has the most wickets in T20 World Cups. None of that happened by chance, but there was some kismet in how Schutt became an inswing bowler.Her cricketing journey started with her as the only girl in a group of boys, then “went a little backward” when she joined an all-girls’ team that played with a soft ball. She was then recruited into the age-group structures. “I bowled probably just straighties,” she says. “I was not so cluey about cricket or how to make the ball swing.” But a stress fracture she suffered at 16 forced her to think about her game.Related

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“I had to change my action a little bit and it changed my wrist somehow and turned me into an inswinger [bowler],” she said at the T20 Women’s World Cup in Dubai last year. “I can’t even tell you how – it was not on purpose, it was not shaped by anyone. I changed a little bit of my jump because I used to jump directly up. I then became a swing bowler.”It didn’t take her too long to see the advantages. “No one really bowled inswing when I was growing up, so it was just nice to be different,” she said. “Because I didn’t have the raw pace, if I didn’t have the swing, it would be very boring, I liked the X factor of how the ball moved and decided I would just rather focus on that than trying to bulk up and bowl fast when everyone was just getting injured anyway, so I stuck to what I knew.”Schutt may not be the biggest fan of her own bowling action but there’s no denying it has been effective•Getty ImagesWithin three years of that, Schutt was called up to Australia’s ODI squad and was given the new ball on debut but went wicketless. After picking up two wickets in her next match, she was included in the squad for the 2013 World Cup, against all expectation,. “My first two games were very average in my opinion, and so when I got the call, I was shocked. Obviously I was also absolutely over the moon, but I just didn’t expect it and I thought I was just going there to serve drinks, but it turned out extremely differently.”Schutt ended up playing every game and was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, which set the tone for a career of big-tournament success. Looking back more than a decade later, she’s only willing to take some of the credit for that breakthrough performance. “It helps when you’re new and no one knows who you are and what you do and you get a little bit of beginner’s luck,” she said. “I was just lucky to start with a bang.”This may sound a bit like she struggled with imposter syndrome but it was actually complete ignorance of the kind of environment she was stepping into: a team that was way ahead of its time, where professional structures were developed as early as 2008 and a winning culture was well established early.”I was so ill-informed,” Schutt said. “I didn’t know much about the whole cricketing world and probably didn’t know there was an Australian women’s cricket team until I was about 16. I didn’t know they were in their own dominant era and I probably didn’t grasp the concept of what I was a part of until I really appreciated my spot in the side.”I guess that came with the patch of learning, hard work and discipline. I didn’t deserve my position in the XI when I first came, so I definitely earned that eventually, but it took some time.”Rainbow warrior: off the field, Schutt has advocated for gay rights and other causes•Getty ImagesAustralia did not make the final of the next ODI World Cup, in 2017, after also losing in the 2016 T20 World Cup final to West Indies. The 2017 defeat to India in the semi-final had a massive impact because it was seen as an indicator that power dynamics in the women’s game were shifting. At least that is how Schutt would label it. “Everyone talks about the gap [between Australia and the rest]. I hate that. Other teams are building and it’s absolutely amazing because we’re only going to get more and more competitive teams,” she said.The last year underlines that point. Sri Lanka won T20 series in England and South Africa, and Bangladesh won an ODI and a T20 for the first time in South Africa. Among the results that affected Schutt directly, West Indies beat Australia in a T20 in Australia in 2023, and so did South Africa the following year. In two of the upsets of the year, West Indies knocked England out of the T20 World Cup in the group stage; South Africa won the semi-final of that tournament, against Australia; and New Zealand took the title after a string of defeats earlier in the year.Schutt, who had no boundaries scored off her in the first three matches of last year’s T20 World Cup, and had the second-lowest economy rate, will have been disappointed not to end up with the trophy, but secretly she might also have been pleased to see the game grow. “We’re not unbeatable. We would never say that we are, and we definitely want other teams to develop,” she said. “Realistically, you want this to be a 16-team tournament.”As the men’s cricketing world looks to concentrate resources and fixtures around the Big Three and there’s talk of a two-tier Test league, Schutt’s expansionist view makes her refreshingly different but that’s only the half of it. Off the field, she is known for being the most vocal member of the Australia team on a range of social issues.In you go: Schutt swings one through Tammy Beaumont’s defences in a 2023 Ashes game•PA Photos/Getty ImagesIt started with a personal quest: her advocacy for gay marriage when it became a subject of a postal-order survey in Australia in 2017. By then, Schutt and her partner, Jess Holyoake, were in a serious relationship and ready to take the next step. They were initially considering going to New Zealand, where same-sex marriage was legalised in 2013, but decided to wait and see if it would be possible to do it at home, all the while advocating for their rights.”One of my favourite quotes is, if you don’t like gay marriage, don’t get gay married, and it’s as simple as that,” Schutt said. “Jess and I are two very different humans and she was a bit scared to have the pride flag out on the window, but I said, this is exactly the time we need to be showing our flag and making sure we’re all together on this. I was pretty vocal about it.”A little under two-thirds of Australians (61.6%) voted in favour of same-sex marriage, a number that disappointed Schutt because “that’s still 38% that don’t agree with it”, which makes her feel uncomfortable. “There was a lot of misinformation out there and the campaign for the ‘no’ vote was pretty brutal,” she said. “Some of the pamphlets we got when we were living in Brisbane were pretty woeful, and I remember burning a couple of them in the sink of our little unit.”Since then, Schutt has gone on to campaign in the Indigenous Voices Referendum, which sought an alteration to the Australian constitution that would recognise indigenous Australians. And she raises awareness about the plight of Palestinians on her social media platforms. She is particularly moved by the deaths of children there, especially after her own child was born in 2021.Schutt, right, with her partner Jess Holyoake and their daughter Rylee, after the 2022 T20 World Cup win•Getty ImagesRylee now three, is what Schutt describes as a “wild child,” who was born three months prematurely and is autistic. That has given Schutt two other causes to raise awareness for. She is open about the challenges of going through neonatal intensive care and of living with neurodiversity. “Having Rylee early was really scary but it banded us together and it just shifted my whole world. It put cricket into perspective – suddenly that wasn’t the be-all and end-all. I didn’t realise that I probably had it on too much of a pedestal,” she said. “It’s also been the most amazing journey of my emotional side of things and seeing how I’d sometimes shut things off. It makes you do a lot of self-reflecting.”She has now done a “180-degree flip as a person, except for my sense of humour” and described motherhood as a process of finding out “who I am more and who I want to be and breaking some cycles that you know were there and you didn’t realise it as a kid”.Does that mean there’s a potential future as a human-rights campaigner? “I’m still trying to figure that out,” she said. “I want to do something that feels really worthwhile, and I’d like to do a little bit of coaching.”I’d love to teach inswingers around the world. It’s a real niche. I understand the art to it and I understand the game pretty well, and I feel like no one currently in bowling coaching around the world completely understands inswing bowling and the niches of it, and so I’d obviously love to do all kinds of bowling coaching. I’d love to teach inswingers around the world.”And this time, with plenty to work with.

Sri Lanka have history on their side, having won their last five T20Is against Pakistan going back to October 2019

Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Sep-20252:03

Chopra: SL could bring in an extra seamer in Abu Dhabi

Big PictureLet’s cool things down a little. Two high-profile, highly-charged matches have happened. Some hands have not found the company of other hands at times around cricket matches where hands and other hands are supposed to find the company of hands.We are not naming names, or specifying political indiscretions. But at least on Tuesday, there should be some peace. Perhaps even some love.Pakistan vs Sri Lanka tends to be borderline sappy.Related

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Both these teams also have some pride to resurrect. The reasons for Pakistan’s self-esteem doldrums are obvious. If Sri Lanka was Pakistan’s roommate in a sitcom right now, they’d be telling Pakistan to get their act together with an arm around their shoulders with insults dressed winkingly as compliments. Pakistan might point out that Sri Lanka aren’t doing so hot themselves, having lost to Bangladesh in the first Super Four match. Sri Lanka might respond by asking Pakistan to count the number of Asia Cup trophies on their cabinet. (Because this preview is written by a Sri Lankan, Sri Lankans get last word in all arguments.)Sri Lanka and Pakistan have not tested themselves against each other in T20Is for a while. The last time they played was in 2022, when in the 2010s they used to almost ritualistically have full tours every year.On the surface, they seem evenly matched, however. Pakistan have batting firepower issues. Sri Lanka have batting firepower issues. Pakistan are ranked seventh. Sri Lanka are ranked eighth. Both teams are attempting revivals. Sri Lanka believe theirs has really started. A win against Pakistan will help affirm it.Form guideSri Lanka: LWWWLPakistan: LWLWWIn the spotlightHaris Rauf has only played two T20Is against Sri Lanka, but has five wickets, and an economy rate of 6.85 against them. He was also Pakistan’s best quick in the last match against India, taking 2 for 26. Sri Lanka tend to back themselves against left-arm seam, with so many left-handers in the top order. But in the last match, they did lose three wickets to Mustafizur Rahman.Nuwan Thushara has become known for his outswing at the top of the innings, which has yielded him valuable powerplay wickets. In the last match however, Bangladesh’s Saif Hassan countered Thushara by running down the track and bludgeoning him straight. Thushara is a reasonably experienced bowler now. Can he bounce back?Pitch and conditionsAbu Dhabi tends to be one of the higher-scoring venues in the UAE. Although slower bowlers can sometimes prosper there. Sri Lanka won both matches here in the group stage.Team newsAlthough licking their wounds after the loss to India, Pakistan may keep the same XI.Pakiistan (possible): 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Saim Ayub, 4 Hussain Talat, 5 Mohammad Nawaz, 6 Salman Agha (capt.), 7 Faheem Ashraf, 8 Mohammad Haris, 9 Shaheen Afridi, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar AhmedSri Lanka are seriously considering adding a bowler. Maheesh Theekshana may come back into the XI.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kamil Mishara, 4 Kusal Perera, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt.), 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Nuwan ThusharaSri Lanka have won both their matches in Abu Dhabi so far•Getty Images

Stats and trivia Sri Lanka have won all five most-recent T20Is against Pakistan, a streak going back to October 2019. In the UAE, however, Pakistan have won four T20Is against Sri Lanka, out of seven encounters.Openers Pathum Nissanka and Sahibzada Farhan are the tournament’s No. 2 and No. 3 runscorers so far, behind india opener Abhishek Sharma. Sri Lanka’s other opener, Kusal Mendis, is fifth on that list.Quotes”We tend to have four ‘proper bowlers’ and then Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, and me, have to make up the other overs. But this is T20, and even our best bowlers sometimes go for 40 or 45. If we had another bowler, it would help. But we’re still deciding how to go forward.”Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka doesn’t have a fixed plan just yet

Martin O’Neill has steadied the ship as interim Celtic manager, but for how much longer will he be at the helm?

The 73-year-old has led the Hoops into the League Cup Final, ousting Rangers 3-1 at Hampden, while also enjoying back-to-back 4-0 victories in the Premiership, most recently hammering Kilmarnock 4-0 on Sunday.

The Northern Irishman returned to Glasgow 20 years after departing, having won three Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and the League Cup during his first stint in charge, also leading the Hoops to the UEFA Cup Final in 2003, beaten by José Mourinho’s Porto in Seville.

When he was appointed in 2000, this was seen as a bit of a risk, considering O’Neill had little top-level experience at the time, achieving promotions with Wycombe Wanderers and Leicester City, before winning two EFL Cups in charge of the Foxes.

So, could the Celtic board return to the English Football League for their next appointment, a quarter of a century on from O’Neill’s arrival at Parkhead?

Latest on Celtic's manager search

From the moment the dust settled following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation as Celtic manager on 27 October, Kieran McKenna has been among the front-runners for the job.

A report last week suggested he had emerged as the No.1 target to fill the vacancy, with speculation suggesting that he does have an affiliation to Celtic.

However, it was also noted that getting McKenna out of Ipswich will be no easy take, considering he is under contract at Portman Road until 2028, and the Tractor Boys, currently seventh in the EFL Championship, will not allow their most prized asset to leave without a fight.

Manager Focus

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Thus, as they search for alternatives, a report by the Daily Record claims that Celtic have held internal discussions at boardroom level about the possibility of appointing Brian Barry-Murphy – with interest in McKenna said to have ‘waned’.

The report indicates that Celtic chiefs are currently conducting interviews, with a new figure potentially in line to be in place for the Premiership clash away to St Mirren on Saturday, November 22.

As for Barry-Murphy, his father Jimmy was a Gaelic footballer and hurler, winning multiple major titles, thereby considered to be among the most legendary figures in the history of all Gaelic games.

Now, Brian is making a name for himself as a football coach across the Irish Sea, so could he soon swap South Wales for Glasgow?

What the next O'Neill would bring to Celtic

Following the Bluebirds’ relegation last season, thereby finding themselves outside England’s top two tiers for the first time since 2003, Barry-Murphy was appointed Cardiff City manager in the summer.

Well, up until very recently, Cardiff had been top of EFL League One, before back-to-back away defeats at Blackpool and Bolton have seen them sink down to fourth.

Nevertheless, they have reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, set to face Chelsea next month, and their league statistics this season are impressive.

Points

26

4th

Goals scored

22

3rd

Goals against

14

2nd

Big chances

41

1st

Big chances missed

30

1st

Possession

62.1%

1st

Accurate passes

407.5

1st

Shots per 90

14.4

2nd

Shots on target pet 90

4.9

2nd

Clean sheets

6

2nd

As the table documents, Cardiff lead the division when it comes to big chances missed, suggesting they’re playing well but have not earned as many points as they may deserve.

Meantime, the Bluebirds are in the top two for goals against and shots, while ranked first in the division for possession and accurate passes, evidence of Barry-Murphy’s style of play.

Before taking the Cardiff job, the Irishman had been in charge of Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad, overseeing plenty of success with the Sky Blues, which is very much where he honed his craft and playing philosophy.

Now, his work in South Wales is earning rave reviews, labelled a “very talented coach”, while Benedict Ferraby of EFL World has praised his ‘impressive start’ to life in the Bluebirds’ dugout as well as his ‘exciting’ style of play.

Of course, considering he has only ever managed Rochdale, Man City’s youth teams and now Cardiff for just 22 matches, appointing Barry-Murphy would be a risk, but one reminiscent of the hiring of O’Neill, a similar age at the time, back in 2000.

With no obvious candidate for the job, and Rodgers’ resignation coming out of nowhere, the Celtic board are targeting a younger ‘project’ manager.

Well, while McKenna appears perfectly suited to this role, securing his signature may not prove ascertainable, but Barry-Murphy could well be the ideal alternative.

Ange 2.0: Celtic board 'very keen' to interview 48 y/o McKenna alternative

Celtic should appoint an “immensely respected” manager not Kieran McKenna because he would be able to replicate Ange Postecoglou’s success in Glasgow

ByBen Gray Nov 13, 2025