Wayne and Coleen Rooney remain “really keen” on starring in a “fly-on-the-wall” documentary series that lifts the lid on their personal lives.
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Rooney out of work after leaving PlymouthExpected to get back into punditryWife inundated with offers after I'm A CelebFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Manchester United legend Wayne is currently out of work after seeing his latest managerial stint at Championship side Plymouth brought to a close after just 25 games. While he is trying to salvage his reputation, wife Coleen is seeing her stock soar on the back of a runner-up finish on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here.
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Offers are said to have flooded in when it comes to media and promotional work, with Wayne preparing to take a back seat as Coleen spreads her wings. A source has told : “Wayne is still determined to make it as a football manager, but he’s in no rush. He’s told Coleen he’s happy to be around more to support her and allow her to spread her wings to do many of the things she’s keen to embark on.
“Since I’m A Celeb, Coleen has received a lot of offers for TV work as well as branding and business opportunities, and Wayne is prepared to be more of a stay-at-home dad. He’s hoping to do a bit more TV and punditry work which Coleen is happy about as she thinks he’s really good at it. She sees the strain being a manager has on him, and she hates that part of the job.”
THE GOSSIP
The insider added, with cameras set to be invited into the Rooney household: “There is still the chance of a fly on the wall show which Coleen and Wayne have discussed and are really keen to do.”
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For now, Wayne and Coleen are making the most of a rare opportunity to spend some quality time together as a family. They recently enjoyed a winter break in the French skiing resort of Chamonix. Closer’s source went on to say: “This holiday was the first time Wayne and Coleen have been on their own for months. Wayne was living away from home in Plymouth most of the time. Then, Coleen flew off to I’m A Celeb, so they’ve been like ships passing in the night,’ our insider says.
“At times they went weeks without properly seeing each other. But they were able to reset on holiday and spend lots of time together skiing, enjoying meals and nights out, and having some rest and relaxation. Coleen and Wayne have become really close again. Even though they’re used to time apart, it’s been hard and absence really has made the heart grow fonder. They’re in a great place.”
A partir deste domingo, o Flamengo iniciará uma série de reuniões com técnicos portugueses para contratar o substituto de Renato Gaúcho, de preferência, até o dia 22, já que Marcos Braz e Bruno Spindel, vice-presidente de futebol e diretor executivo da pasta, respectivamente, retornarão ao Brasil no dia seguinte e já com a expectativa de aterrissar no Rio – ao menos – com um contrato alinhavado na bagagem.
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A primeira reunião poderia ser com Paulo Sousa, comandante da seleção polonesa, mas bastante interessado em ouvir o projeto do Fla, neste sábado. Contudo, como Braz teve que adiar a ida em um dia, o encontro também foi postergado. Bruno Macedo, agente de Carlos Carvalhal e Jorge Jesus, falará com a cúpula rubro-negra nas próximas horas.
O LANCE! ouvir jornalistas portugueses, que destacaram a “grande variabilidade no plano tático” de Paulo Sousa (veja mais aqui). O perfil do treinador animou, sobretudo, pelo técnico ser mais flexível em tal aspecto, algo que prejudicou um radical Domènec Torrent, que concorreu diretamente com Hierro e Carlos Carvalhal, após “tour” de Braz e Spindel feito assim que Jesus saiu.
Pressionados por conta de uma temporada frustrante, os dirigentes do Fla estão cientes de que não há margem para “tiro errado”, embora haja o trunfo de ter um significativo período até o próximo treinador iniciar os trabalhos na pré-temporada, no dia 10 – algo que nem o Mister e nem o catalão tiveram.
A tendência é que Carvalhal (que já externou o interesse de comandar o Fla em outras ocasiões, apesar de vínculo com o Braga até meados do ano), Rui Vitória (sem clube após recente demissão no Spartak Moscou) e Jorge Jesus sejam ouvidos pessoalmente na capital de Portugal, o QG dos dirigentes por lá.
Spindel, inclusive, destacou que a “entrada” por Lisboa se dá muito pelo fato de Jesus estar por lá, mas que a viagem pode ser desdobrada por mais dias e até outros países. E, apesar de o Mister já ter indicado que não deixará o Benfica por conta própria, aceitou se reunir com os dirigentes rubro-negros até para saber as suas preferências e, quem sabe, dar pitacos sobre os alvos lusitanos do clube, como uma espécie de “conselheiro” mesmo.
-A gente nunca viaja não tendo proximidade de um lado. Temos que tomar um cuidado muito grande para que, quando não tivermos um determinado êxito com um certo técnico, se comecem que era plano C, D e E. Não é justo com os profissionais. Isso nada tem a ver com a pessoal ser A, B ou C. O que posso falar para a torcida do Flamengo é que estamos bem tranquilos e conscientes na busca por um profissional – disse Braz, antes do embarque.
A princípio, Braz e Spindel retornam no dia 23, mas fazem as reuniões até esta quarta-feira (22). A ver se os “cafezinhos” culminarão, enfim, no substituto de Renato Gaúcho – já são 20 dias sem treinador.
The half-time whistle blew. Arsenal had not raced but slowly walked into a 2-0 lead against Steve Cooper’s Leicester City.
The Emirates Stadium was its usual bouncy hive of positivity…until it wasn’t. This was supposed to be an easy fixture, particularly after away visits to Aston Villa, Spurs and Manchester City recently.
Things are never easy, though, not in the Premier League. The Gunners found that out on Saturday afternoon.
Perhaps overconfident that they’d see the game out, Mikel Arteta’s men soon found themselves pegged back. A brace from James Justin had dug the Foxes out of a hole that didn’t look escapable.
Just hours after title rivals Manchester City had dropped points, Arsenal were about to do the same. Enter, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz.
The board went up to signal seven added minutes and then with just mere knockings left, Trossard found the net via Wilfred Ndidi from a corner – yes another one – and then Havertz was fortunate to prod home right in the very last moments. Job done, at last. That was far more stressful than it needed to be. Alas, 4-2 looks a pretty scoreline.
After such a game, it’s only right that the spotlight falls on Arsenal’s defence.
Arsenal's defensive record in 2024/25
A clean sheet at Villa, a clean sheet at Tottenham, and nearly 60 minutes of football with ten men without conceding against City. This was supposed to be easy for Arteta’s men, the team boasting one of the best defensive records in the land.
Prior to today, they had kept three shutouts in five matches and were good value for another this weekend.
In the first half, Arsenal looked incredibly comfortable. William Saliba was bullying Jamie Vardy at every available opportunity and Gabriel, the wall that he is, was unfazed by anything thrown in his direction.
That said, it was a tussle between two of the aforementioned players. Saliba tripped Vardy and down he went. What happened next? Justin was heading home via a deflection off Havertz. Alarm bells weren’t quite ringing just yet until the Leicester right-back popped up again with a delightful volley from the edge of the area.
He wanted it far more than Riccardo Calafiori which was a rarity on the day. Truth be told, the Italian couldn’t have done too much about such a strike but that aside he was simply phenomenal in north London this weekend.
He completed 100% of his dribbles, won three tackles and battled hard to win a whopping 13 duels. As his heatmap will tell you below, he wasn’t just operating as a normal left-back. Far from it in fact.
The summer signing from Bologna galivanted forward with great regularity, as well as operating in little pockets of space in midfield. It was like watching Oleksandr Zinchenko on steroids.
Calafiori has boundless energy and he showed as much on Saturday, playing a vital role in helping Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli return to form.
It is perhaps no surprise that since Arsenal have had a functioning left side, the winger has rediscovered himself, now contributing to three goals in the last two games.
So, how about the right-hand side?
Arsenal's very own Trent Alexander-Arnold
Over the last few years, there has been no disputing the quality of Trent Alexander-Arnold in forward areas.
The Liverpool right-back is one of the best passers of a football in the world, supplying a staggering 83 assists from defence during his time at Anfield so far.
Trent Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool
That being said, his defensive abilities – although now improving – have always left a question mark.
So, what if you had someone as creative as Trent, but a defensive monster? Well, in Jurrien Timber Arsenal may well be discovering just that.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Okay, he’s not got the same swagger as Liverpool’s golden boy, nor does he have the relentless ability to unlock a backline with a defence-splitting pass. He’s pretty damn good though.
The Dutchman endured a cruel first term with the Gunners, sustaining an ACL injury on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest. Since coming back into the team at the start of the new season, however, he has been excellent.
Timber initially began the campaign at left-back and made quite the impression, inverting from that role and operating as a deep-lying midfielder while in possession.
Against Manchester City and now Leicester, he has moved to right-back in the absence of Ben White who is struggling with an injury niggle.
Minutes played
90
Touches
97
Accurate passes
63/68 (93%)
Assists
1
Key passes
7
Crosses
1/5
Successful dribbles
1/2
Long balls
2/2
Ground duels won
5/7
Aerial duels won
1/2
Tackles
4
Well, the former Ajax man has been fantastic. On Saturday, he won six of his nine duels, won four tackles and played a staggering seven key passes. Seven key passes from full-back? That’s a ridiculous haul.
To put that number into context, it’s right up there with some of the performances we’ve seen from Alexander-Arnold over the last few years.
One of those seven key passes ended up turning into a goal as the defender jumped forward to support the attack and then assist Martinelli’s opener.
Timber received the ball on the overlap and cut it back into a lovely area inside the box. Martinelli swivelled and found the net. How grateful the Brazilian was for his colleague’s service. He is finally off the mark this season.
White was phenomenal last term and played a huge hand in Arsenal’s second-place finish. With Timber now firing, it’s amazing to think the Englishman could now struggle to get back in the team.
Saved by Trossard & Saka: Arteta must finally drop 105-touch Arsenal star
The Gunners managed to snatch a win at the death on Saturday afternoon…
When it appeared that Coritiba had announced the signing of Neymar on their website on Friday night, fans might have started to get excited.
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Coritiba announce Neymar signingClub website hackedStar's tough time in Saudi Arabia continuesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Brazilian Serie B side had to quickly dampen the mood and reveal the truth that their website had been hacked and they were not going to be signing the country's all-time leading goalscorer. The post on the website claimed Neymar had agreed to join at the end of his contract with Al-Hilal this summer and would aim to return to the club to the top flight of Brazilian football.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Neymar has not agreed to sign with Coritiba, and soon after the fake post was uploaded to the club's website, Coritiba's IT team had the website shut down and back under control, with the post deleted. Neymar has been linked with a move back to Brazil after his contract with the Saudi Arabian club expires, although he is more likely to switch to his boyhood club Santos. The Brazilian's time in Riyadh has been a disaster with injuries limiting his playing time drastically, but he did make a scoring return recently and has time to turn his fortunes around.
DID YOU KNOW?
Coritiba are not the first club to suffer from a hacking incident. In May 2024, Fluminense announced on their website that they had signed Manchester City's Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland after "intense negotiations and a great effort from our board". Although to the disappointment of the Brazilian fans again, it was just another hacker.
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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?
Neymar has reportedly given the 'green light' to a return to Brazil via Santos and could seek a move away from Saudi Arabia as early as this month. The Brazilian's contract with Al-Hilal runs until summer of this year but he may choose to forgo those earnings in favour of an early return to his boyhood club. The prospect of playing for again for Santos and preparing for the World Cup could prove too tempting.
Viktoria Plzen boss Miroslav Koubek admitted that they deliberately targeted Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
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Onana's mistake allowed Plzen to score
Hosts persistent in pressing the keeper
Koubek instructed his players to test Onana
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Plezn's approach paid off as Onana’s mistake led to the opening goal of the match on Thursday night. Just two minutes into the second half, Onana attempted to initiate play from the back, but Pavel Sulc intercepted his pass. He then quickly laid the ball across the box for Matej Vydra who found the back of the net with ease, giving the home side a surprising lead.
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WHAT KOUBEK SAID
Speaking after the game, Koubek confirmed to reporters that Plzen’s plan was to exploit Onana’s vulnerabilities.
"Yes, that was our tactic," he said. "I told them to shoot from every viable opportunity."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Koubek’s tactical gamble almost paid off handsomely, but Plzen failed to hold on to their advantage, ultimately succumbing to United’s determined response with Rasmus Hojlund scoring a brace to bail out his team-mate. After two consecutive defeats in the Premier League, it was a welcome victory for Ruben Amorim, who is yet to implement his vision and philosophy at Carrington after a month of taking charge.
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DID YOU KNOW?
The latest error comes just days after Onana faced criticism for his performance in Manchester United’s 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest. In that game, United found themselves trailing early to a second-minute strike by Nikola Milenkovic. Although Hojlund once again came to United’s rescue with an equaliser, Onana’s inability to keep out Morgan Gibbs-White’s long-range effort in the second half helped give Forest the win. The England international’s speculative shot appeared to deceive Onana, who misjudged the trajectory as it flashed past him into the net.
Tottenham transfer chiefs have held internal talks over bringing in a £21 million starlet, as attention turns to who Ange Postecoglou could look to sign next after completing a £65 million deal for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke.
Spurs agree Solanke signing as Postecoglou gets his new forward
It's been a busy few days at Spurs, with the search for a new number nine to replace Harry Kane now drawing to a conclusion with Solanke's pending arrival.
Tottenham now offered club's £25 million Player of the Year with Solanke
The Lilywhites have been approached by intermediaries.
ByEmilio Galantini Aug 9, 2024
The former Liverpool ace bagged 21 goals in all competitions under Andoni Iraola last season in what was a career-best campaign for him personally, only just missing out on a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024.
On Friday, following week-long transfer talks, Spurs reached a complete agreement to sign Solanke, who will come in to provide Postecoglou with a star signing in a position the Australian personally wanted to reinforce.
Postecoglou will be ecstatic to get his top transfer target over the line before deadline day on August 30, with the 58-year-old previously confirming that Spurs were on the look out for a talismanic new forward.
"At Celtic, I had Kyogo, who was a sort of out and out number nine and in Japan, I've always had a striker," said Postecoglou on Spurs signing a new striker.
Player
Goals scored
Son Heung min
17
Richarlison
12
Dejan Kulusevski
8
Brennan Johnson
5
Cristian Romero
5
James Maddison
4
"It just depends, like last year we had to be a bit creative, it's fair to say. You know but if Harry would have stayed I definitely would have used him! So I think for us what's more important is the type of striker we get. You know we play a certain way. We demand certain things from a physical perspective from the technical aspects of it that it's going be a striker that fits that mould."
After signing Solanke, it is believed Tottenham are also after a new winger and full-back, with Emerson Royal also on the verge of joining AC Milan.
Tottenham hold internal talks over signing Michael Kayode
According to The Boot Room, a player on Spurs' radar to potentially succeed Emerson is Fiorentina starlet Michael Kayode.
The 20-year-old, who impressed over his 26 Serie A appearances for La Viola last season, is rumoured to command a £21 million price tag. TBR claim that Spurs chiefs have internally discussed signing Kayode before the deadline, but he is just one a few full-back targets on their radar.
Michael Kayode tussling with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
“This one is really strong,” said Pino Vitale to Radio Firenze Viola (via HITC), after Kayode's brilliant one-v-one performance against Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia last season.
“Incredible. He forced Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to chase him. It was the best match ever since (Vincenzo) Italiano took over Fiorentina. They didn’t let Napoli play and ate them up. (Full-backs Fabiano) Parisi and Kayode are strong and played an excellent game.
“Kvaratskhelia had to change wings due to the way Kayode controlled him! There is no need to worry about him. He is only 19 years old, but he is a ‘player’.”
Less than three overs were possible at Eden Park with the attention now switching to the ODIs
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Apr-2021Australia and New Zealand shared the spoils in the T20I series after rain forced the decider at Eden Park to be abandoned with less than three overs bowled.The contest had been reduced to 13 overs per side after a delayed start but shortly after the game began the rain returned and though the umpires did their best to keep the match going it became too heavy and did not relent.”The forecast wasn’t great, you just hope it goes round,” Australia captain Meg Lanning said. “It’s disappointing; [I] think it would have been a really good game. Both sides were playing reasonably well and at an amazing stadium as well. Frustrating, that’s for sure.”It was the first time since 2017, when they lost to England during the Ashes, that Australia had not taken away a T20I prize on offer – a run that includes two tri-series and two World Cups.In the short period of play possible New Zealand had again bowled well in the powerplay with Australia only able to score two boundaries off the 17 deliveries sent down. Rosemary Mair had struck in her first over when Beth Mooney guided a catch to short third where Lauren Down, who had replaced the injured Frances Mackay, held on well.There was time for Alyssa Healy to play her best shot of the series, a thumping straight drive off Jess Kerr, but two balls later the players went off.Australia had made one change to their side with a swap of pace bowlers – Tayla Vlaeminck returning in place of Darcie Brown who had made her debut in Napier. Ellyse Perry became the most capped T20I cricketer with her 123rd appearance, overtaking New Zealand’s Suzie Bates.New Zealand were again without captain Sophie Devine who did not play the last two games of the series because she had been suffering from fatigue. It remains to be seen whether she is available for the one-day series which starts on Sunday but Mackay has definitely been ruled out with a partial tear to her right calf.”Frankie was outstanding with bat and ball in Napier and showed plenty of grit playing with an injury,” New Zealand head coach Bob Carter said. “We wish her all the best in her recovery and thank her for what she’s added to the group.”The focus will now turn to the ODIs which will be played entirely in Mount Maunganui. A victory for Australia in the opening match would give them a world record 22 wins in a row, beating the 21 of Ricky Ponting’s 2003 which they currently stand level with.
Newcastle United are battling with two Premier League rivals to complete the signing of a £76m-rated player who Real Madrid and Brazil superstar Vinicius Jr has raved about, according to a fresh transfer claim.
Newcastle transfer news
A recent rumour has suggested that the Magpies are willing to spend close to the £30m asking price for the signature of James Trafford, seeing the Burnley goalkeeper as an ideal long-term signing to replace Nick Pope at St James' Park.
Newcastle may have missed out on the signing of former Crystal Palace star Michael Olise, who has instead sealed a summer move to Bayern Munich, but Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville is seen as a great alternative. The Dutchman was named the Championship's best player last season, but is unlikely to want to remain in the division.
The Magpies are also believed to be one of the interested parties when it comes to Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, who could leave Old Trafford before the 2024/25 season gets underway. Southampton, Everton, West Ham and Fulham all all mentioned as possible suitors, though.
While new signings are essential, retaining the services of influential current players is also vital, and one report has claimed that Alexander Isak could agree a new contract St James', which would be a massive boost.
Newcastle want to sign "very strong" £76m ace
According to a report from Spain, Newcastle are among the clubs keen on signing Barcelona centre-back Ronaldo Araujo this summer, potentially triggering his €90m (£76m) release clause in the process. Manchester United and Manchester City are both also believed to be in the mix, however, as they look to snap up one of La Liga's leading defenders.
Barcelona defenderRonald Araujo.
Araujo could be a genuine statement signing by Newcastle if they strike a deal this summer, considering his reputation as an elite centre-back in the modern game.
Real Madrid superstar Vinicius has singled the Uruguayan out for praise, calling him "the best defender I have ever faced", while Carles Puyol has also waxed lyrical over him in the past, admitting: "Right now, if he’s not the best central defender in the world, he’s among the top three. He’s young, he still has room for improvement and I think we have a very good central defender at Barcelona for many years to come."
With key defender Sven Botman still out injured for a number of months with a serious knee issue, a top-quality player needs to come in at Newcastle his month, especially considering Jamaal Lascelles is also out, and Fabian Schar is an ageing figure despite his quality service to the club.
Ronald Araujo's 2024 Copa America stats
Total
Appearances
4
Starts
4
Goals
0
Assists
1
Aerial duel wins per game
4.5
Clearances per game
3.8
Interceptions per game
1.5
Araujo would be perfect in that respect, and one report has suggested that the Magpies would be willing to increase his current £114,000-a-week wages, but the competition from City and United is clearly strong. At 25, he is at a great point in his career to come in and be a star for Newcastle for many years, and an average of 4.5 aerial duel wins per game at Copa America this summer highlights a physicality suited for English football.
Andrew Tye and Jhye Richardson shared seven wickets between them for the Scorchers
Sreshth Shah06-Jan-2021
Mitchell Marsh led the Scorchers batting effort with a 27-ball 57*•Cricket Australia via Getty Images
After no wins in their first four games, the Perth Scorchers have now run up a hat-trick of wins, the latest, in front of a home crowd, coming against table-toppers Sydney Sixers, who were beaten comprehensively by 86 runs. Half-centuries from Colin Munro and Mitchell Marsh took them to a competitive 183, after which Andrew Tye and Jhye Richardson shared seven wickets between them to bowl the Sixers out for 97.The result took the Scorchers up to sixth on the points table, only four points away from breaking into the top four.Sixers recover after early Scorchers onslaughtThe Scorchers’ English opening pair of Jason Roy and Liam Livingstone brought out the fireworks early against Jackson Bird as the home side raced away to 22 in two overs after being asked to bat. Livingstone rode his luck, top-edging a six and whipping shots off his pads that just eluded the fielders, but was then caught for a 13-ball 16 looking to clear offspinner Steve O’Keefe over deep midwicket in the fourth over.That brought in Munro at No. 3, and he began with a four off Jake Ball and a six off O’ Keefe to get going. But at the other end, Roy was struggling with his timing. It was thanks to Munro’s aggression that at the ten-over mark the Scorchers had reached 71, with Roy’s strike rate below a run-a-ball. Munro reached his half-century in the 12th over one ball after hitting X-factor sub Lloyd Pope for a six. But the legspinner took his revenge midway through the over when Munro mistimed a sweep to the backward square fielder to be dismissed for a 34-ball 50. Two overs later, Roy was out to Pope after an excruciating 31-ball 27, caught in the deep after a slog. At that stage, the Scorchers were 3 for 99 after 14 overs.Andrew Tye was the destroyer-in-chief, with 4 for 20•Getty Images
Marsh leads death-overs assaultMarsh walked in at Roy’s dismissal and drilled a drive through the covers off his first ball to set the tone. With Josh Inglis chipping in from the other end, Marsh hit Dan Christian for two fours in a 17-run 16th over. He then hammered Ball for a six and a four off the 17th.But the biggest over was the 18th, delivered by O’Keefe, where Marsh hit a baseball-style swat over the bowler’s head for six with Inglis, too, hitting a six and a four. That 19-run over, despite Inglis’ dismissal, set the Scorchers up for a score over 170. They went better. Marsh struck three more fours in the last two overs – that added up to 27 – to bring up his tenth T20 half-century and set the Sixers a target of 184. The Sixers conceded 85 runs in the last six overs as the Scorchers had the momentum going into the break.Richardson, Tye seal the dealThe Sixers have successfully chased steep targets in three of their last four wins, so early wickets were key for the Scorchers, and they got the first of those when the in-form Josh Philippe looked to clip a short ball from Jason Behrendorff over square leg, only for the leading edge to go to first slip. Four balls later, James Vince was out for a three-ball duck when he edged a drive off Richardson behind the stumps.Jack Edwards and captain Daniel Hughes looked to counterattack in their 34-run stand for the third wicket but the latter fell to Tye, trying to cut but failing to clear backward point. Marsh then struck in his first over – the eighth of the chase – when his short ball was slashed by Jordan Silk, facing his first ball, straight to third man. Tye then took his second when Christian’s attempt at a leg-side hoick took the splice and gave a simple catch to mid-on, ensuring the Sixers had lost half their side for 52, including three batsmen who did not get off the mark.Carlos Brathwaite lasted only three balls, as his attempt to ramp Richardson’s short ball found backward point instead, and if it wasn’t for a well-utilised Power Surge by Edwards and the lower-order batsmen, the Sixers would have been out for much less. O’Keefe and Bird hit some big blows to take the Sixers’ score close to 100 before a return spell from Tye and Richardson closed the game with over three overs to spare.
Kohli’s quickfire 40 also proved vital as Australia failed to defend 194 under stand-in captain Matthew Wade
Daniel Brettig06-Dec-2020Hardik Pandya’s heavy hitting delivered India a T20I series victory over Australia and their third consecutive win of the tour to give the captain Virat Kohli something to show for his trip down under in an undulating encounter at the SCG.ALSO WATCH: Match highlights – Natarajan, Hardik seal series for India (India subcontinent only)The Australians were led by Matthew Wade in the absence of Aaron Finch due to injury, and he led from the front with a swift half-century at the top of the order. But the remainder of the Australian innings was spasmodic, and without any of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc, the bowling attack was well and truly below the usual level of expertise.Kohli, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan ensured India would be in the contest until its closing passages, whereupon Pandya lined up his scoring zones with brutal efficiency. Daniel Sams was defending 14 from the final over, but with a pair of towering blows beyond the straight midwicket boundary, India claimed the series with two balls to spare.T Natarajan celebrates a wicket with his captain Virat Kohli•Getty Images
Wade bats where he wantsIn 31 previous T20Is, Wade had opened just four times. Handed the keys to the car on Sunday as stand-in captain, Wade made the most obvious captain’s call available to him – promoting himself to the top of the order and the role in which he had been so dominant for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL. There was an international basis for the decision – Wade’s only score beyond 50 had been as an opener against India as far back as 2012, also at the SCG.In Canberra on Friday, Wade had looked somewhat lost in the middle order, an experience not uncommon to his T20I career. But at the top he was able to dictate terms, and the boundaries followed almost as if by clockwork through a more tightly packed new-ball field. Wade’s crisp striking to kick off the innings gave the Australians a supercharged start, and his progress to 58 gave him some truly striking numbers as a T20I opener. How much more often he gets the chance remains to be seen.Wade, followed by fadeIt was a surprise when Wade found a fielder – Kohli no less – when he tried to find or clear the boundary a 12th time, and a still greater surprise when Kohli dropped it. Certainly Wade registered who he had hit the ball towards and then immediately turned on his heels as if already dismissed. This was a mistake, since the direction of the dressing rooms meant Wade took his eye off the ball, and then found himself run out by Kohli’s return.Australia’s loss of early momentum was also down to T Natarajan, who in two games has shown himself to not only be at ease in international company, but a valuable point of difference among so may right-armers. Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah’s absence was felt, but nowhere near as keenly as that of their Australian counterpartsThe remainder of the innings was overall a failure to fulfill Wade’s early promise, as Steven Smith could not quite find his timing, Glenn Maxwell did not hang around long enough to do genuine damage, and the late contributions of Moises Henriques and Sams were cameos rather than definitive exclamation points on the innings. All the while, the hosts and the visitors knew that Australia had a severely weakened bowling attack with which to defend their tally.ALSO WATCH: Video highlights – Kohli falls while chasing a wide one (India subcontinent only)Hardik Pandya produced a stunning innings to win India the series•Getty Images
Legspin excelsMitchell Swepson had struggled to drop onto the right length at Manuka Oval, having been called up at short notice, and dragged short of where he wanted to be as a result. He appeared far better adjusted to the T20I format this time around, and in combination with Adam Zampa seemed to have bowled the overs that were going to keep the touring side short of their target. Notable was the appearance of a wrong’un to deceive the otherwise fluent Sanju Samson, on a pitch that offered just enough grip to the slow bowlers.Zampa, too, had his moments, albeit somewhat more expensive. His dismissal of Dhawan arrived through a fraction of extra bounce from an overspun delivery, and Kohli’s respect for Zampa’s offerings was evident throughout their duel. The disappearance of Maxwell for 19 from his first and only over, however, hinted at some of the punishment being meted out elsewhere, to a decisive effect as far as the game was concerned.Pace is vanquishedIf Mitchell Starc had struggled to contain India’s batsmen on a similar SCG surface before the tour caravan moved to Canberra, there was always a question to be asked of how the likes of Sams, Andrew Tye and Sean Abbott – equivalent to a middling BBL pace attack – were going to fare against a line-up lacking only Ravindra Jadeja. Sams and Tye both had their moments, the former offering handy changes of pace including the change-up that found Kohli’s outside edge, and the latter impressing with an extra turn of pace that might easily have won at least one lbw verdict.However, as the chase evolved and India’s batsmen found their range, the bowlers looked increasingly defenceless. Wade elected not to return to Abbott after his first two overs went for 17, a curious call given the fact that the SCG is his home ground, and relied upon Tye and Sams for the final two overs. Defending 25, they gave up the runs from 10 of the 12 balls required. Australia’s depth has been well and truly tested over these two series and, while balanced against the need to prepare for a Test series, been found wanting.