Jadeja and Rohit met with match-referee Pycroft to clarify visuals of spinner rubbing a substance on his bowling finger

Nagraj Gollapudi09-Feb-2023The Indian team management has told ICC match referee Andy Pycroft that Ravindra Jadeja was applying pain-relief cream to the index finger of his bowling hand in the video clips widely circulated on social media on the first day of the Nagpur Test against Australia.In the video footage, Jadeja was seen taking a substance off the back of Mohammed Siraj’s palm with his right hand. Jadeja then appeared to rub this substance on to the index finger of his left hand – his bowling arm – just before beginning to bowl a delivery. At no point in the footage was Jadeja seen rubbing anything on the ball itself, though he did have the ball in his hands at the time.Related

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The incident took place when Australia were 120 for 5, by which time Jadeja had already dismissed Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw and Steven Smith.ESPNcricnfo has learned that immediately after play ended on the first day, Jadeja along with India captain Rohit Sharma and the team manager, were shown a video clip of Jadeja’s actions. Pycroft, it is understood, wanted to just inform them about the incident and no charge has been laid against Jadeja.While the incident triggered debates on social and mainstream media, it is learned that the Australia team had not brought the matter to the attention of the match referee. According to the playing conditions, the match referee can independently probe such incidents without needing a complaint to be lodged. And under the Laws of Cricket, the bowler needs the umpire’s permission to apply any sort of substance on their hands to ensure the condition of the ball remains unaffected.Jadeja had made a successful return to international cricket after a five-month injury layoff on the first day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He ran through Australia’s middle order, dismissing Labuschagne and Renshaw off successive deliveries, before picking up the wickets of Smith, Todd Murphy and Peter Handscomb. He finished with 5 for 47, as Australia were dismissed for 177 in their first innings in Nagpur.

Sheffield United showed in the transfer window that has just slammed shut that they are willing to fork out excessive wads of cash in order to try and win an instant promotion back up to the Premier League.

After all, landing Tom Cannon for £10m would have dented the Bramall Lane bank account significantly, but will be viewed as a risk worth taking to give Chris Wilder’s men somewhat of an edge in the ongoing Championship promotion race.

Those in South Yorkshire will just hope Cannon doesn’t go down as an excessive waste of money if he can’t live up to his previous Stoke City best, with Rhian Brewster a lavish buy in the striker department that certainly hasn’t gone to plan.

Rhian Brewster's struggles at Sheffield United

If Cannon’s £10m valuation is considered jaw-dropping now, plenty of eyebrows must have been raised when Liverpool youngster Brewster joined the Bramall Lane ranks for a weighty £23.5m in 2020.

The Reds sensation had fired home an impressive 13 strikes in the U21 ranks at the Anfield giants before taking the leap to join Wilder’s camp, but it’s fair to say he hasn’t lived up to his bumper price tag donning a Blades strip.

Frustratingly, Brewster has only managed to find the back of the net seven times across 106 United appearances, with two of those even coming about just this campaign.

1. Rhian Brewster

£23.5m

2. Sander Berge

£22m

3. Aaron Ramsdale

£18.5m

4. Oli McBurnie

£17.5m

5. Lys Mousset

£10m

But, the 24-year-old has been through the wars when it comes to injury troubles since his statement move took place, resulting in Brewster missing a mammoth 99 games across four seasons just by being in the treatment room.

The ex-England U21 international will just be thankful for the patience his side have shown in him, but there will no doubt be a lot of regrets still that United didn’t use the Brewster cash more wisely to pick up an alternative striker, who the Blades were linked with around the same time the injury-prone number seven joined.

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The £60m attacker Sheffield United could have signed instead

Hindsight is a wonderful thing of course, with many hopeful that Brewster would kick on and become a great in the United first-team fold after his promising beginnings at Liverpool.

However, that hasn’t come to be, whilst another target around this time in Ollie Watkins has solidified himself as a feared Premier League sharpshooter with Aston Villa.

Reports suggested in August 2020 that United were one of three clubs looking at Watkins before his big £25m move to Villa Park materialised, with Crystal Palace the other outfit allegedly keeping tabs on the-then promising Brentford centre-forward.

For just £2m more than Brewster’s steep £23m valuation, the Blades could have won themselves a far better deal instead of falling victim to a costly blunder, as Watkins continues to go from strength to strength under Unai Emery on some pressurised stages.

Games

203

105

Goals

82

7

Assists

35

3

At the time of writing, the former Bees man has a bumper 82 goals next to his name donning Villa claret and blue, with all-time Premier League top goalscorer Alan Shearer even going on to laud the 29-year-old as “sensational”.

It has been quite the meteoric rise for the centre forward since his humble days at Brentford, with the 5 foot 11 star now a recognised senior England international off the back of his exploits in the West Midlands, on top of also being valued at £60m amid interest from Arsenal this winter.

Brewster was tipped for similarly lofty heights – having once been labelled as a “natural finisher” by Jurgen Klopp – but the Blades flop will have just tunnel vision at this moment in time surrounding his second-tier employers winning promotion.

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Crystal Palace are sitting 12th in the Premier League after 25 games played, winning seven games, drawing nine, and losing nine. The Eagles are on 30 points, putting them seven points off a top-half spot, and 13 points from the relegation zone.

Oliver Glasner’s side have struggled more on the attacking end this season, scoring just 29 goals in their 25 matches played and averaging 43.8% possession – the fourth lowest in the division – but taking 13.9 shots per match which is the tenth highest in the league.

But, it is the defensive stability that Glasner’s shape gives the Eagles, conceding 13 shots per game, and only shipping 32 goals, that has given them a good base to work from and has allowed them to go on a good run of form.

Crystal Palace's current midfield options

One area the Eagles have struggled for consistency this campaign is in their two central midfield spots.

It’s not as though they lack options, with Cheick Doucoure, Adam Wharton, Jefferson Lerma, Will Hughes, Justin Devenny and Daichi Kamada all playing in the midfield pairing at one point or another this season.

Marc Guehi was even required to play in midfield for one week due to injuries in the squad, which has highlighted the inconsistency in that area due to both fitness concerns and the poor form of certain players.

Due to the all-action role the central midfielders play in Glasner’s system, they have to be able to control the tempo on the ball, go from box to box to provide support in all phases and break up play to protect the defensive line, especially when the wing-backs are flying high.

But the Eagles may well have already had the perfect man for that job on loan back in 2023, who only made nine appearances for the club, totalling 536 minutes.

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Crystal Palace had a Doucoure upgrade

Albert Sambi Lokonga joined Crystal Palace on loan in January 2023 from Arsenal but only managed nine appearances for the club.

Since then, the midfielder has taken his game up a level, spending 2023/24 on loan with Luton Town, before making the move to Sevilla on an initial loan deal, with an option to buy.

It’s over the last 18 months or so that the Belgian has developed immensely, with his exploits at Kenilworth Road last term even seeing him be compared to Moises Caicedo, as per FBref.

So, how does he compare to the £115m Chelsea player and Doucoure?

When comparing Lokonga’s underlying numbers this season to Doucoure and Caicedo, you can see the Belgian has demonstrated even better progressive numbers than the latter at Chelsea, both with carries and passing.

As mentioned earlier, Glasner’s midfield two are often all-action, having to win their duels to protect the defence, but also help progress play on the ball.

Lokonga, despite having some lower defensive action numbers than the other two midfielders, demonstrates a good level of balance between the two sides of the game.

Whilst it’s easy to say in hindsight, perhaps the midfielder joining on another loan with an option to buy could have been a good move for Palace, in order to add another midfielder of a similar profile to deal with injuries in that area.

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MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras talvez viva a sua pior fase no Brasileirão-2022. Já são três jogos sem vencer e com um desempenho bem diferente daquele que convenceu a todos de que se tratava do principal favorito ao título. Alguns fatores podem explicar essa queda rendimento, como o cansaço, o calendário apertado, o elenco curto, o desgaste mental e as atuações abaixo da média de peças importantes do elenco.

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Dessa forma, o LANCE! elencou essas situações que poderiam interferir no rendimento brasileiro no campeonato. Apesar de se manter na liderança, o time desperdiçou oportunidades de disparar na ponta da tabela e ficar mais tranquilo na competição. Agora, apenas um ponto separa o Verdão do vice-líder Corinthians.

Cansaço físico

O Palmeiras começou seu ano antes de todos os seus concorrentes devido à disputa do Mundial de Clubes, logo em fevereiro, portanto antecipou processos e impôs à equipe uma intensidade que apenas seria atingida em uma etapa mais à frente da temporada. Até aqui são 47 jogos disputados, todos os duelos possíveis em 2022.

Mesmo estando em julho, evidentemente o elenco passaria a sentir os efeitos dessa antecipação, como Abel Ferreira vem falando há um tempo, sobre não saber como seus jogadores estariam depois de determinado momento da temporada. Manter o ritmo e a intensidade que o Alviverde vinha apresentando exige muito fisicamente. Nem a melhor das preparações resiste a isso tudo.

Elenco curto e janela aberta de forma tardia

Desde o início de 2022, Abel e sua comissão técnica optaram por diminuir o número de jogadores do elenco e trabalhar com um leque mais compacto, que aumentaria a competitividade interna e facilitaria o trabalho de gestão, mantendo todos integrados e prontos para entregar performance quando fossem acionados pelo técnico.

Acontece que algumas perdas não dispõem de peças de reposição, o que exige que alguns jogadores sejam utilizados mais constantemente, como Danilo, Zé Rafael, Scarpa, Veiga, Rony e Dudu. São os atletas mais decisivos, mas não têm substituto e nem poderiam neste momento, porque a janela somente abrirá em 18 de julho, quando Merentiel e López serão inscritos para jogarem.

Desgaste mental e manter foco em três competições distintas

O Palmeiras talvez seja o time com o melhor aspecto mental do futebol brasileiro, mas manter isso o tempo todo em todos os jogos não é fácil para nenhum ser humano, ainda mais como três torneios simultâneas, cada uma com sua peculiaridade: um mata-mata nacional, um continental e um campeonato por pontos corridos.

Desde o ano passado já se discutia a postura do Verdão na Libertadores e no Brasileirão, teoricamente seria mais fácil engajar o time para um mata-mata do que em 38 rodadas. Talvez isso esteja influenciando neste momento da temporada. Vivo e favorito nas três frentes, o Alviverde tem um desafio para lidar e para se manter.

Jogadores que não atravessam boa fase

Mesmo que seja um time cuja força principal é o coletivo, o Palmeiras tem algumas peças que fazem a diferença quando o restante não está funcionando. Acontece que algumas delas não atravessam suas melhores fases, como são os casos de Danilo, Raphael Veiga e até mesmo Dudu. São três dos pilares alviverdes que não estão bem.

Veiga passou por Covid-19, depois por lesão muscular e ainda não retomou a boa fase que o levou a ser cogitado na Seleção Brasileira, que convocou Danilo, que desde então não tem apresentado as credenciais que chamaram a atenção de Tite. Já Dudu não tem brilhado como costuma e todos sabem que isso faz toda a diferença.

Conclusão

A “sorte” palmeirense é poder passar por essa fase de oscilação justamente no momento em que as outras equipes também demonstram inconsistência. Isso dá margem para se recuperar e seguir buscando os outros torneios, como a Copa do Brasil, em que precisa reverter vantagem do São Paulo nas oitavas de final. O DNA do time no mata-mata será acionado ainda nesta semana.

شهدت مدينة مصراتة الليبية مساء الثلاثاء أحداثًا مؤسفة عقب نهاية مباراة أهلي طرابلس والسويحلي، بعدما تعرضت بعثة الفريق الأول للنادي الأهلي، بقيادة المدير الفني حسام البدري، لاعتداءات من جماهير الفريق المضيف فور إطلاق صافرة النهاية.

ووقعت الأحداث عقب تعادل الفريقين بهدفين لمثلهما، في مباراة جاءت ضمن منافسات الدوري المحلي، وشهدت توترًا شديدًا داخل وخارج الملعب، صاحبته حالة من التحريض وبث خطاب الكراهية.

طالع أيضًا | هادي خشبة: كهربا فرض نفسه في ليبيا.. وثنائي الأهلي والزمالك ضمن اهتمامات أهلي طرابلس

وصرح عماد العلام، مدير مركز الإعلام بالنادي، وفقًا لصحيفة “المرصد” الليبية”، أن الفريق والجهازين الفني والإداري اضطروا لمغادرة مصراتة فورًا بعد الاعتداء الذي طال أفراد البعثة، مشيرًا إلى أن الطبيب التونسي للفريق تعرض للضرب، كما تم التعدي على المدير الفني حسام البدري، وسط مطاردة من الجماهير امتدت حتى غرف تبديل الملابس.

وأضاف أن بعض اللاعبين اضطروا للدفاع عن أنفسهم باستخدام أسطوانات إطفاء الحريق، في محاولة لتأمين أنفسهم وسط حالة من الفوضى والفزع.

وأكد أن مصور الفريق عبد الباري أبوصلوعة تم نقله إلى المستشفى بعد إصابته خلال الاعتداء.

As their search to replace Philippe Clement on a permanent basis continues, one candidate has now issued his first response on taking the Rangers job when the summer arrives.

Rangers still searching for Clement replacement

In a season to forget, those at Ibrox decided that it was one defeat too many for Clement against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership and instantly turned towards Barry Ferguson to take interim charge. Since then, results on the pitch have remained inconsistent in the Scottish Premiership, but hopeful on the European front – defeating Fenerbahce 3-1 in their Europa League last 16 first-leg.

In the background, meanwhile, Rangers’ managerial search has continued with several names already threatening to steal the headlines. The likes of Steven Gerrard have even been mentioned over a return, whilst Rafa Benitez has also been linked with the vacant job in what would be quite the appointment.

Of course, Celtic have enjoyed great success since welcoming the return of Brendan Rodgers, who has earned redemption after causing plenty of heartbreak by leaving in his last stint. Now, Rangers could repeat that genius by handing Gerrard a similar opportunity at Ibrox.

If it’s not to be Gerrard or Benitez, however, then it could be a former Premier League manager who has already had his say on replacing Clement in Scotland this summer.

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Speaking to Sky Sports, Russell Martin responded about taking the Rangers job when the summer arrives, saying on Monday Night Football: “I think I am realistic. I don’t think I will get another Premier League chance right now. I think like most managers that come up from the Championship – ‘not quite good enough for the Premier League’.

“It’s maybe unfair on the managers that get there at times, because you are there with a squad that has been so successful the year before but isn’t quite ready for the Premier League.

“There is only two managers that have been taken out of the Championship for a long time – Nathan Jones and Graham Potter. The others have to get there and try and stay there and really get success.

“I really don’t know (where is next). I am open to working abroad, in England again – I want to work back in the Premier League now I have got a taste of it. I want to get back there and I believe I can, so we will just have to wait and see.”

Hiring Martin would be a gamble for Rangers

When compared to names such as Benitez and Gerrard, Martin represents a risk that Rangers must deliberate over when the summer arrives. The former Premier League manager failed to hit the heights at Southampton in the top flight and was sacked after earning just five points.

Remaining stubborn over his style proved a costly decision for the attacking 4-3-3 manager and that’s something that Rangers must look at themselves. The Saints weren’t set up to play Martin’s risky possession-based approach, so the Gers must ultimately question whether the squad that Clement left behind would be better suited on that front.

As the summer approaches, there’s no doubt that those in charge at Ibrox have a major decision to make, whether that results in the arrival of Martin to replace Clement or not.

Guillermo Almada, Matías Almeyda, and Gabriel Milito are among the candidates to replace him.

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Cruz Azul was eliminated by América in the semifinalsTheir 19-match unbeaten streak came to an endwill face the Whitecaps in the Champions Cup Final on June 1Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Despite guiding Cruz Azul to the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Vicente Sánchez’s days as head coach of are numbered. According to a report, the Uruguayan will step down following the June 1st final against the Vancouver Whitecaps, regardless of the outcome.

Club executives have already begun their search for a new manager to lead the team in the upcoming Apertura 2025. With one of the most valuable rosters in Liga MX, Cruz Azul’s leadership is intent on bringing in a tactician capable of maximizing the squad’s potential and implementing a modern, high-level approach.

Three names top the list of preferred candidates for sporting director Iván Alonso and club president Víctor Velázquez: Guillermo Almada, Matías Almeyda, and Gabriel Milito.

Almada, currently under contract with Pachuca, has long been a target for Cruz Azul. His willingness to move on after the Club World Cup has reopened the door for negotiations. However, a buyout clause remains a hurdle.

Matías Almeyda, who recently parted ways with AEK Athens, is also a strong contender. His previous success with Chivas—winning both Liga MX and the Concacaf Champions League—along with his ability to build strong locker rooms, makes him a favorite within Cruz Azul’s board. With no club ties at the moment, Almeyda would only require an agreement on salary.

Gabriel Milito, though less experienced, has caught the eye for his attractive, possession-based style, reminiscent of Martín Anselmi’s tenure. While he lacks the same track record, his footballing philosophy appeals to the club’s desire for a more dynamic and modern game.

Other names in the mix include Renato Paiva (currently at Botafogo) and Diego Alonso, who is a free agent and has family ties to Iván Alonso. However, these options are said to be less prioritized.

ESPN was the first to report the news of Cruz Azul looking to hire a new coach.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

While Sánchez has delivered positive results—keeping Cruz Azul competitive and reaching a continental final—sources indicate that the decision to part ways stems from deeper concerns. Chief among them is dissatisfaction with Sánchez’s training methods, which the front office reportedly views as outdated and not aligned with the tactical sophistication required at the top level.

Additionally, there’s frustration within the organization regarding Sánchez’s failure to utilize advanced performance software already in place at the club. The underuse of these tools, seen as essential for monitoring and improving player output, has been noted as a wasted investment.

Sánchez’s tactical approach during the semifinal second leg against América also drew heavy criticism internally. Club leadership was reportedly disappointed with the team’s passive stance in a crucial match, especially against a bitter rival, ultimately leading to another painful elimination.

While Sánchez will remain in charge through the Champions Cup final to avoid disrupting the squad’s focus, his departure is set in motion. Sources say the announcement will be made official in early June, signaling the end of his brief but eventful tenure at the helm.

Getty Images SportWHAT ERIK LIRA SAID

Cruz Azul have now turned their full attention to the upcoming CONCACAF Champions Cup Final. Following the team’s semifinal exit in the Clausura 2025, defender Erik Lira addressed fans with a message of gratitude and optimism:

“We’re grateful to the fans because they’re important to us. This is football—sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and it’s all part of the process,” Lira said. “Something big is coming. We’ve been showing our quality as a team, and sooner or later, the reward will come.”

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CRUZ AZUL?

Cruz Azul will take a few days off following their elimination from the Clausura 2025 before shifting focus to their upcoming Champions Cup final. will face the Vancouver Whitecaps on June 1 at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, with continental glory on the line.

Tailenders Tom Andrews and Nathan Ellis rescued Hobart Hurricanes from 96 for 7, but 146 proved short in the end

Tristan Lavalette18-Jan-2023

Emerging allrounder Aaron Hardie continued his breakout BBL season with a career best knock to lead Perth Scorchers past Hobart Hurricanes at the Optus Stadium.Chasing 147, Scorchers stuttered early before Hardie took control and combined with Josh Inglis in a 127-run partnership to overwhelm Hurricanes. Hardie finished 90 not out from 62 balls as Scorchers cruised to victory with 15 balls to spare.Scorchers remain locked in an intense battle for the top spot with arch-rival Sydney Sixers, while Hurricanes are stuck in a congested middle of the ladder.Hardie making No. 3 his ownHaving been on the fringes of Scorchers’ line-up in recent seasons, Hardie was tipped to make a big impact, and he duly delivered. He started the season with a half-century against Sixers batting at No. 6, but had to move up the order with the departures of Faf du Plessis and Adam Lyth.And Hardie has notched three half-centuries – all achieved while chasing – in five innings since his promotion. His belligerence and intimidating aura at the crease resembles injured team-mate Mitchell Marsh, who Hardie has effectively been able to replace.Related

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After Scorchers were in early trouble against Hurricanes, Hardie was composed early before flattening Hurricanes’ strong attack with a flurry of boundaries all around the wicket. So dominant was Hardie that he overshadowed the big-hitting Inglis, who hit 53 off 35 balls, and continued his strong season with a half-century marked by outrageous scoop shots.Dooley’s injury sours another impressive performanceLeft-arm spinner Patrick Dooley has been a revelation this season as underlined by his 16 wickets at a remarkable economy of just over six.Such have been his stellar performances that Dooley, who is a lawyer in his day job, was even bandied around as a left-field contender for Australia’s upcoming Test tour of India. His eye-catching bowling action and effervescent personality has made him something of a cult figure.Dooley was in the thick of the action early after he convinced skipper Matthew Wade to review a not-out lbw decision on Cameron Bancroft. It appeared fanciful at first glance, but Dooley was vindicated when replays showed that the ball had hit in line.He loomed as key but became hampered by an apparent groin injury. Dooley pushed ahead and bowled four overs on the trot even though he was clearly inconvenienced. He finished with superb figures of 1 for 20 off four overs, but Hurricanes will be sweating on his fitness as they fight for a finals’ berth.Lance Morris finished with figures of 2 for 21•Getty Images

‘Wild Thing’ Morris unleashedThere has been a lot of hype over Lance Morris, who is on the fringes of Australia’s Test team, and was even selected for the upcoming India tour. Able to hit speeds over 150kph, 24-year-old Morris is probably the fastest bowler in the country, nicknamed ‘Wild Thing’ in a nod to former Australia speedster Shaun Tait.But he has struggled in T20 cricket over the years, and has been in and out of Scorchers’ strong attack since returning from Test-squad duties against South Africa. Recalled and looking to carve out a spot ahead of the finals, Morris produced arguably his best performance in his short BBL career.With Jimi Hendrix’s famous ‘Wild Thing’ song reverberating around the ground, Morris lived up to his reputation with a fiery burst during the powerplay. On a fast surface – a contrast to the slower decks at the stadium earlier in the season – Morris bounced out hard-hitting opener Caleb Jewell before welcoming Wade with a brute of a short delivery.Something had to give between two firebrands, and Morris prevailed with a change of pace that rattled Wade, whose attempted flick down the leg side was brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Inglis. Morris nearly claimed his first three-wicket haul in T20s when another hostile bouncer almost had Zak Crawley holing out to backward square. He finished with 2 for 21 from four overs, and it might just be enough to hold his place.Andrews, Ellis upstage the top orderHurricanes’ explosive batting order struggled to fire in warm conditions. Perth-bred Tim David threatened and smashed spinner Ashton Agar for a huge six before hitting powerfully straight to deep midwicket.In major trouble at 96 for 7, Hurricanes had an unexpected late rally through Tom Andrews and Nathan Ellis, who combined for a 44-run partnership.Sporting a century in first-class cricket, Andrews is clearly no mug with the bat, but had faced just one delivery in his previous two BBL games this season. He put the foot down during a 25-run power surge as Hurricanes grabbed late momentum. Andrews unexpectedly top-scored for Hurricanes with 27, while Ellis’ knock of 24 was his highest T20 score in his 50th innings.

Andy Balbirnie lauded Tucker’s hundred, McBrine’s all-round show and Tector’s fifties, as Ireland returned to Tests after four years

Mohammad Isam07-Apr-2023

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan praised the visiting Ireland team for mounting a comeback on the third day of the Dhaka Test, but said that the hosts had never lost faith in themselves at any stage of the game. Ireland recovered from 13 for 4 – and then 51 for 5 – at one stage to eventually score 292 in the second innings, and set Bangladesh a respectable 138 to chase.”We didn’t think we would lose the Test, but in this format you get a lot of time to stage a comeback,” Shakib said. “It is lesser in ODIs and even lesser in T20s. Ireland played well yesterday. We didn’t expect it. They showed a lot of fight, but that’s their nature. They are fighters. That’s what they showed to us.”Bangladesh eventually won the solitary Test of the tour by seven wickets, although they had to be patient with the ball for most of the third day. It was arguably Ireland’s best day in Test cricket, particularly poignant as they were playing the format after four years. Earlier in the match, although their batting had collapsed and folded for 214 in the first innings, their bowlers reduced Bangladesh to 40 for 3, before the hosts eventually ended 155 ahead.Related

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Meanwhile, there were questions around the lack of overs that Shakib bowled on the third day, even as Ireland mounted a fight. Bangladesh’s fast-bowling coach Allan Donald himself wasn’t sure after play as to the motive behind the move, as Shakib opted to bowl just six overs across the third day. When asked the reason for his choice after the win, Shakib was typically nonchalant in his reply at first, but later said he wanted to build a strong Test bowling attack.”There’s no real explanation. Someone isn’t bound to bowl,” he said. “If you have five or six weapons, you don’t have to use them all the time. Does it mean that the other Bangladesh bowlers aren’t good enough? I believe that we have good bowlers to take 20 wickets in a Test match.”They have certainly showed it – especially on a good pitch, the type we don’t really play on. Mirpur usually doesn’t have such a good wicket for three or four days running.”Shakib said that one of the ways Bangladesh wants to play positive cricket is by having a robust bowling attack so that it not only gives the captain more options to bowl the opposition out, but also provides some balance to the side.”You need more bowling options if you want to take 20 wickets; there’s no other way,” he said. “You will only want fewer bowlers when you have a defensive mentality, like when you want to draw the game or somehow bat well. If you want to win, you have to play with five or six bowlers.”[Mehidy Hasan] Miraz is capable of batting at No. 7, which gives us more bowling options. It is good for our team. We can rotate the bowlers, and not put too much pressure on one bowler. Taijul [Islam] obviously bowled a lot in this game, and he bowled well, but we still have a lot more options now.”Lorcan Tucker hit 108 on Test debut, while Andy McBrine got 72 and six wickets•BCB

‘Pressure was on Bangladesh’ – Ireland captain BalbirnieAndy Balbirnie, Ireland’s captain, said they believed that a 180-run target for Bangladesh would have been tricky even as the pitch remained good enough for batting on the fourth day.”The wicket was still pretty good,” he said. “Ebadot [Hossain] bowled well in the morning. He attacked the stumps, but we were confident we could get a 180 lead. Our message was [that] all the pressure was on Bangladesh. If they had lost this game, there would have been a lot more people in this press room.”Even if they were 100 for none chasing 130, the pressure was on them; no one expected Ireland to come here and win a Test match. We knew we needed early wickets, but the way Litton [Das] played took the momentum away. But we stuck at it, [and] created chances, but it just wasn’t to be.”Balbirnie was full of praise for offspinner Andy McBrine and wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker for their performance in this game. McBrine followed a six-for with the ball in the first innings with a 72 with the bat in the second – thus becoming only the second overseas cricketer to take six wickets and score a half-century in a Test in Bangladesh – while Tucker hit 108 and became the second Irishman to score a Test hundred on debut.”[McBrine is] a really high-quality performer, someone you always want in and around your team,” Balbirnie said. “I thought his innings yesterday was top class, took the momentum that Lorcan had set up and went with it. He had a clear plan when he was batting, [and] he’s very good for the ball.”I thought first innings we were maybe off with the ball. I know we took ten wickets, but they went at a decent rate. So I can’t really fault the bowlers. We hadn’t bowled long periods in a while, and coming back for third spells and their efforts were really good, and all the bowlers wanted the ball in their hand.”Balbirnie said that Tucker’s century was one of the best he had seen by an Irish batter. He also mentioned about Harry Tector’s twin fifties as noteworthy performances, with the batter also being on Test debut.”I am so thrilled for him. Over the last 18 months, he has come into his own,” Balbirnie said. “That was arguably as good a hundred as I’ve seen in an Irish shirt. Kevy (Kevin O’Brien)’s first hundred [in Ireland’s first Test] is up there, but yesterday he counter-punched. And it was an amazing effort having kept for 70-80 overs; his body wasn’t used to that, and having not played a Test match.”But there were a lot of special performances – Harry’s two 50s in the game. The top order could have done better, but it’s a good sign the middle order is going well going into next week [when Ireland play two Tests against Sri Lanka].”

Former Manchester United star Jesse Lingard claims people didn't have his 'best interests at heart' when he signed for Nottingham Forest in 2022.

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Lingard opens up on failed Forest moveClaims it wasn't his decisionNow enjoying life in South KoreaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Lingard joined the then newly-promoted club at the end of his Manchester United contract in 2022, despite interest in his services from West Ham, who he had enjoyed a successful loan spell with in the 2020-21 campaign. And the former England international has now opened up on where things went wrong that summer.

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Lingard told: "The Forest deal, when we were going through that – and I don't want to go into too much detail – but I wasn't in control of anything at that time. I basically didn't have a choice. I knew what I wanted to do, I knew what offer was on the table from West Ham and what was on offer from Forest – there was a place I'd have preferred to go. But people have their own say and at the time I didn't really feel like I could voice my opinion. Now I can see people didn't have my best interests [at heart]. But obviously West Ham didn't happen. I went to Forest."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Lingard played just 20 times for the Midlands club, scoring two goals and creating two more in his one season at the City Ground. He has since moved on to FC Seoul, where he says he has "found peace" having made "100% the right choice".

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR LINGARD?

Lingard, whose deal with the South Korean club ends in November, said of his future: "Other possibilities are out there – of course you are going to think about it. We are only human. We will see what happens when the transfer window opens."