The good times keep rolling for Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side are flying in the Premier League, unbeaten in the Champions League and now through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

The North Londoners had the tough task of beating Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night, and they did so even with an almost entirely changed starting lineup.

There were impressive displays across the pitch for the hosts, including from Max Dowman, and if that wasn’t enough good news, Hale End is already brewing another version of the teenage sensation.

Dowman's performance against Brighton

Several Arsenal players shone against Brighton, from Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to the centre-back pairing of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

However, when it comes to the starter who got everyone talking and the fans on their feet the most, it’s impossible to ignore Dowman.

The 15-year-old became the youngest player to start a game in the club’s history, but you wouldn’t have guessed that from the way he played.

From the first minute until he was taken off, the Hale End gem gave the Seagulls’ backline hell, so much so that within no time at all, they were forced to double and triple team him.

Amazingly, that did little to stop him, and by the time he was taken off for Bukayo Saka in the 71st minute, he had completed five of nine dribbles – the most of anyone – played one key pass, won nine of 14 ground duels and won a foul.

Minutes

71′

Touches

34

Dribbles (Successful)

8 (5)

Fouls Won

4

Accurate Passes

14/16

Ball Recoveries

3

Ground Duels (Won)

14 (9)

Key Passes

1

Described as a “certified worldie of a talent” by analyst Rohan Jivan, the young Englishman was utterly sensational on the night, but given his performances earlier this season and in the summer, it was hardly a surprise.

With all that said, Dowman is still just a child, and as such, Arteta and Co have to be incredibly careful with how they manage him. Therefore, it may be a couple of years before he starts playing games regularly.

However, by that time, there might be another unreal Hale End talent playing alongside him in the team.

Hale End's next Max Dowman

Now, it must be said that Dowman currently appears to be a genuinely generational talent, the kind of player who will regularly compete for Ballon d’Ors in the future.

Therefore, the likelihood of Arsenal producing another talent of equal calibre in the coming years is extremely low.

However, that doesn’t mean the club won’t have another young gem who could come into the side and make them far more dangerous in attack while having some of the same skills as the 15-year-old.

In fact, there are a few players in Hale End today who could do just that, but one of the ones who feels most likely to succeed and follow Dowman into the side is Ceadach O’Neill.

The extremely exciting Northern Irishman joined the club from Linfield on an initial trial in November 2023 and has been a star of the academy ever since.

Right Winger

11

2

3

Left Winger

7

3

1

Centre-Forward

5

4

1

Right Midfield

2

0

1

Left Midfield

1

0

0

Like Dowman, the 17-year-old has already shown a great deal of positional versatility, as he’s played on both wings, up front and in wide midfield.

Moreover, he’s no stranger when it comes to chipping in with goal involvement, as in just ten appearances this season, he has already scored five goals and provided three assists.

Described as “brilliantly” talented by the Gunners’ U21 coach David Horseman, the Kilrea-born dynamo is also someone who could get the fans on their feet.

For example, one analyst has highlighted his “great technique, impressive ball striking and finishing with both feet,” which sounds quite a bit like the youngster who started on Wednesday night.

Ultimately, it’s still so early on in his career, but O’Neill looks like someone who could follow Dowman into the first team in the coming years and potentially form a brilliant partnership with him.

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Somerset recover from 99 for 5 to leave visitors looking over their shoulder

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-Sep-2025Somerset 381 for 7 (Aldridge 149*, Abell 118) vs HampshireCenturies from Tom Abell and Kasey Aldridge saw Somerset recover from a perilous position on the second day of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match against Hampshire at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.After the first-day washout, the hosts slumped to 99 for 5, having won the toss, before Abell and Aldridge put together a sixth-wicket stand of 221, Abell making 118 and Aldridge 149 not out. Keith Barker was the pick of the Hampshire bowling attack with 2 for 35 from 13 overs.For Abell, it was a second Championship hundred in successive games, while 24-year-old Aldridge’s score was a career-best, beating the 101 not out he made against Lancashire at Old Trafford in 2023. Together they enabled their team to close on 381 for 7.After a slightly delayed start due to a shower, Somerset had reached 21 without loss in the fourth over when Tom Kohler-Cadmore, on 10, pulled a catch to square leg off Barker, who quickly followed up by having Tom Lammonby caught behind for a duck.James Rew struck a six over fine leg off Barker before more rain interrupted play at shortly before 11.10am with Somerset 35 for 2. A further ten overs were lost when the action resumed at 10.45am with relegation-threatened Hampshire looking to maintain momentum.They did exactly that as with only eight runs added Archie Vaughan edged a defensive push off Kyle Abbott through to wicketkeeper Ben Brown. It was 69 for 4 when Rew, on 30, dragged a delivery from James Fuller onto his stumps.The lunch score was 83 for 4 off 21 overs. That became 99 for 5 when Lewis Goldsworthy, who had contributed 22 to a stand of 30 with Abell, was caught behind down the leg side by Brown to give offspinner Washington Sundar, making his Hampshire debut, a wicket.That was as good as it got for Hampshire, Abell and Aldridge settling in to play some sweetly-timed strokes. Aldridge pulled a six off Fuller as the pair put together a half-century stand off 88 balls.Abell moved to fifty with a firm clip off his legs for four off Eddie Jack, having faced 99 balls, and Aldridge, who is leaving at the end of the season to join Durham, followed to the same landmark off 76 deliveries. The century partnership was brought up off 143 balls and at tea Somerset had recovered to 208 for 5.The final session saw Aldridge reverse sweep a six off Washington, while a similar shot for four by Abell brought Somerset a first batting point and took the partnership past 150. A single off Fuller then took Abell to 96 and 1000 first class runs for the season.His 20th first class hundred was reached with a boundary through mid-off, Fuller again the bowler, having faced 164 balls and hit 13 fours. It followed an innings of 130 in the previous Championship match against Yorkshire at Taunton.When Aldridge played Washington through the off side for two it took the stand to 190, a Somerset record for the sixth-wicket against Hampshire. Aldridge had also been involved in the previous highest, 188 with James Rew at Taunton in 2023. He celebrated with a pulled six of Jack as the light closed in.A single of Felix Organ took the allrounder to his second first-class century, off 155 balls with 11 fours and three sixes. He cleared the ropes for the fourth time with the cleanest of straight hits off Organ before the spinner responded by bowling Abell as he stretched forward.Abell had faced 189 balls. His departure meant a second bowling point for Hampshire, who then lost Nick Gubbins to injury two balls into his fourth over of the innings. It was completed by Washington.Aldridge slog-swept a fifth six off Washington before Abbott bowled Ben Green in the first over with the second new ball. At stumps, Aldridge had faced 206 deliveries and extended his boundary count to 16 fours and five sixes.

Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot agreed that Jeremy Doku was "outstanding" in Manchester City’s victory over Liverpool, with the Belgian winger starring in a 3-0 win for the Blues. Reds boss Slot saw his side suffer another demoralising defeat at the Etihad Stadium, but he has played down any suggestion that the reigning Premier League champions are in crisis.

Seven defeats in 10: City inflict more misery on Liverpool

Liverpool have come unstuck in seven of their last 10 games in all competitions. Having swept to the English top-flight crown in dominant fashion last season, they are now sat eighth in the table – eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal through just 11 fixtures. Questions are being asked of what has gone wrong at Anfield.

Doku helped to generate more of those when running the Reds ragged in Manchester. He caused Liverpool’s defence problems all afternoon, with a player of the match performance being topped off by a stunning long-range goal that was whipped into the back of the net from the edge of the box.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGuardiola celebrates 1,000 games: Doku stars on landmark occasion

City boss Guardiola was full of praise for his players afterwards, with the Catalan coach enjoying an outing to remember on the occasion of his 1,000th game as a manager. He told : “My players gave me a good present with this performance against the champions. We had to perform good and many good things happened, they all performed to the highest level. Defensively it was really good. We know their threat in behind with Mo [Salah] and the quality of [Dominik] Szoboszlai and [Florian] Wirtz and we have incredible energy with our people.

“Playing at home and winning is good for the international break. Gigi [Donnarumma] made the saves he should. Both the full-backs were outstanding. The midfielders gave us a lot of passes and control. Of course the threat of Jeremy [Doku] was outstanding alongside Erling [Haaland].”

Asked if Doku put in his best display for City, Guardiola added: “One of the best by far, for influence. Their right-back Conor [Bradley] is so quick, I saw his game against Vinicius Junior [vs Real Madrid]. We made a really good game.”

Problems for Slot: Liverpool boss looking for answers

Liverpool boss Slot added on seeing his team picked apart by Doku and Co: “They were better than us. We had a very hard time bringing the ball out from the back and it was difficult to hold on to the ball. We struggled with Doku on the inside and [Nico] O'Reilly wide. Then, of course, a referee decision could have influenced a more positive half-time feeling for us. 2-0 down at half-time makes it very difficult to get a result here.

“Sometimes going in at 1-1 can give you something different in the second half. We solved some issues we were having in the second half. And then an unbelievable goal from Doku put us 3-0 down, but I still saw a team that wanted to get back into it.”

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GOALWhy didn't Salah track back? Tactical questions asked of Liverpool

Slot has seen his tactical approach questioned, with Doku being allowed to run riot against Bradley as Egyptian winger Salah refused to track back. Ex-Reds midfielder Danny Murphy told : “Doku was a pleasure to watch, irrespective of who you support and who you wanted to win. You had to admire his skill, pace, strength and bravery – and his goal was just amazing. The way Liverpool were set up, though, actually helped him shine.

“He was electric and the game's star man. This was the best I've seen him play in a City shirt, but Salah not being asked to defend made it so easy for him. It became a really productive area of the pitch for City, and was one of the reasons they won so comfortably in the end.

“Because Salah stayed high up the pitch when O'Reilly was flying forward, it left Bradley isolated, and with a dilemma – did he commit and stick with Doku, or drop off him and pick up O'Reilly charging forward instead? Bradley was caught in between both players a lot because he was unsure what to do, but whatever he did it felt like there was always so much space over there for City to exploit.

“I am not saying Salah should now become a completely different player – you don't want him running back every time you lose the ball, because sometimes you want him ready for the transition where O'Reilly is out of position. Salah almost got in a few times like that on Sunday, because of his pace, but there has to be balance.

“In a game like this one, where you are 20 minutes in and Doku has been running your right-back ragged, then you could drop in for a spell even if you've been told you don't have to. I don't understand why he didn't do it at all.”

Liverpool will return to action after the international break with a home date against Nottingham Forest on November 22, while City will travel to Newcastle on the same day.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após contar com o Allianz Parque na semifinal e na grande final do Paulistão 2024, o Palmeiras se prepara para retornar para a Arena Barueri nesta noite de quarta-feira (17).

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➡️ Siga o Lance! Palmeiras no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Verdão

O Verdão conta com um ótimo aproveitamento no estádio onde vai encarar o Internacional, em jogo válido pela 2ª rodada do Brasileirão 2024.

Em cinco jogos na Arena Barueri nesta temporada, o Palmeiras tem quatro vitórias e um empate, em partidas todas válidas pelo Paulistão.

O Verdão está invicto em Barueri há sete partidas e conta com um ótimo retrospecto atuando na sua ‘segunda casa’, em 39 jogos, foram 25 vitórias, 8 empates, 6 derrotas, 73 gols marcados e 31 gols sofridos.

Na temporada de 2023, o clube também precisou visitar a Arena Barueri na reta final do Brasileirão, e só saiu derrotado do clássico contra o Santos, inclusive ganhando do Internacional por 3 a 0.

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➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta!

Apesar de ter o Allianz Parque para o jogão contra o Flamengo no próximo domingo (21), o Palmeiras voltará para Barueri para encarar o Athletico-PR e o Vasco, pela sexta e oitava rodada do Brasileirão 2024.

Youngster Diego Leon may “not have to wait much longer” for his senior Manchester United debut.

Despite only turning 18 in April 2025, Leon had already made over 30 appearances in senior football with Cerro Porteno in his native Paraguay. Since joining the Red Devils in the summer, Leon has played exclusively for the Man United Under-21s, where he has caught the eye with his performances.

Leon is evidently an exciting talent and Man United, no doubt, will aim to avoid a repeat of what happened with Alvaro Carreras. The teenager has been in several matchday squads for Ruben Amorim’s side, who have acquired 10 points from an available 12 in their previous four games.

Reports from Leon’s home continent of South America, as per The Peoples Person, have suggested that the wing-back could soon be handed his senior debut at Old Trafford.

Leon is highly thought of at Carrington

To be part of a Premier League squad in any capacity is a sign that Amorim has been impressed by Leon. As per journalist Christian Martin, the Paraguayan is a firm part of the club’s plans going forward.

Having signed in January, Patrick Dorgu is yet to make a strong impression for Man United. Formerly of Lecce, the left-sided player has not started a game for the Red Devils since a 3-1 loss against Brentford at the end of September.

Diogo Dalot has been starting as the left-wing-back in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system since Dorgu was dropped. Naturally suited to the right-hand side, Dalot has also struggled in the position and given the injury troubles that both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have faced in recent years, Leon could well soon find himself involved in a first-team game.

Reportedly, Leon will “get his chance sooner rather than later.” Top flight football in Paraguay is, of course, a different level to the English Premier League, but Leon has already played consistent senior football, a rarity for a player of such a young age.

When exactly Leon will receive his chance remains to be seen, but given the impressions he has been making since arriving in the summer, it surely can not be long until the Paraguay international makes his bow for the Red Devils.

Man Utd offered chance to sign striker for bargain in January

Bangladesh have never had someone like Nahid Rana before, and must do everything they can to make sure he stays the course

Mohammad Isam02-Sep-2024Nahid Rana runs in like the wind from the Pavilion End at the Rawalpindi Stadium. He releases the ball like a catapult, from high up – he is 6’2″ after all. The 140kph deliveries thud into Litton Das’ gloves behind the stumps.It’s still scorching hot in Rawalpindi. There are barely 100 people in the stands. Rana, like so many other fast bowlers from the subcontinent, is used to bowling in empty stadiums. Rawalpindi, home of perhaps the most famous “express” in cricket, is no different. On this dull Monday morning, it’s possibly worse.But as Rana bowls, a sense of expectation seems to spread through the Bangladesh fielders. They are enjoying this. Taskin Ahmed, standing at fine leg, sports a broad smile. The batters are being hurried ball after ball. By a Bangladeshi fast bowler. If one ball tests the outside edge, the next is at the throat. It is thrilling. It’s not like anyone who has ever bowled for Bangladesh. It’s like the end of a long wait. The stands should have had more people.

****

Rana touches 150kph on a few occasions. He had crossed 150 on his Test debut against Sri Lanka. He is not entirely an unknown for Pakistan – they have seen him a fair bit in the last two weeks. But – you might have heard this before – “pace is pace, yaar”.Related

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• Fast times in Rawalpindi: how Nahid Rana became Bangladesh's latest pace sensation

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He strikes with his third ball. Shan Masood’s enterprise outside the off stump from earlier in the morning costs him – Rana’s extra pace rushes him into the stroke.Babar Azam had faced Rana just before Masood’s dismissal, but first ball of his next over, Babar’s forward press takes the outside edge. It’s a poor choice of shot. The edge goes to Shadman Islam at first slip.The same fielder, though, drops Mohammad Rizwan next ball. It would have been a golden duck for the in-form batter, a regulation chance. Rana has his hands on his head. There’s more reward waiting for him, though. First in the form of Saud Shakeel, who is caught behind for two in Rana’s next over.Pakistan’s captain. Their most celebrated batter. A batter averaging 61.55 before this Test. Bangladesh had plans for all three, and they all centred on Rana rattling them with pace. On the day, Rana sent them all back in his first three overs.He doesn’t celebrate much after any of the wickets. He walks to the fielders with a smile on his face, a very retro feel. It also feels a bit out of place – this is Rawalpindi, of all places.Pakistan are languishing, and Raza continues to bowl fast and testing lines against Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha. He steams in at Rizwan, who pulls out at the last moment due to movement behind the sight screen. Rana rushes back with a bouncer next ball. It hits Rizwan on the side of the helmet. Taskin has a word or two from fine leg. Hasan Mahmud mimics Litton’s stance when he is keeping to Rana. The other slip fielders muffle a laughter. Litton throws a laugh at Mahmud. The Bangladeshis are loving it. At 86 for 6, lunch couldn’t have come quicker for the home side.

****

Rana isn’t done yet. He returns for a short second spell after lunch, drawing Salman’s edge once. Najmul Hossain Shanto brings him back for a third spell as soon as Abrar Ahmed is on strike in the 42nd over. Rana removes the No. 10 quickly, but can’t get his fifth wicket. Mahmud, who has bowled superbly since the third evening, completes his five-for instead.Hasan has been Bangladesh’s best fast bowler across the two Tests. Shoriful Islam was disciplined in the first Test (before missing the second with an injury), and Taskin has been the leader of the attack in the second Test. But Rana is at the centre of the story. And not just for this performance. His pace has been significantly higher than anyone else’s.In general, the Bangladesh bowling attack has been better than Pakistan’s throughout the series. In this Test, Khurram Shahzad and Amir Hamza reduced Bangladesh to 26 for 6 in the first innings, but couldn’t complete the job. Like Mahmud and Rana did on the fourth day. They showed that they either have better skills or better execution. What Rana, playing just his third Test, did well was to marry his pace with great lines and lengths.Nahid Rana – head and shoulders above the rest•AFP/Getty ImagesAnd all of this from a fast bowler who first picked up the red ball just four years ago.Rana took up cricket seriously when his brother put him in a cricket academy in 2020, shortly after his college was done. He made his first-class debut in October 2021, following it up with a 32 wickets in the following season. Rana and Sumon Khan had both taken 30-plus wickets in the 2022-23 National Cricket League, a first for fast bowlers in the domestic first-class tournament in more than 11 years.

****

Rana, 21, is a new phenomenon in Bangladesh cricket. An out-and-out fast bowler who can bowl fast consistently, for long periods. Rana’s BPL debut was erratic, but he showed off his pace in every appearance. Not since Taskin had a Bangladeshi fast bowler rocked up at the BPL with this type of pace.Pace bowling has never quite been Bangladesh’s . Going back in history, Daulat Uz Zaman represented East Pakistan in the Pakistan domestic first-class competitions in the 1960s and 1970s and was known to be fast. Jahangir Shah Badsha was a well-known pace bowler but by the time he made his ODI debut, he was in his mid-30s. Mashrafe Mortaza had good pace in the early part of his career but injuries took their toll. Shahadat Hossain took four of the first six five-wicket hauls in Tests for Bangladesh fast bowlers, but his career went off the rails soon. Rubel Hossain at times bowled quick, but he was better with the white ball. Rana, so far, has looked like the real deal.But there are reasons to be cautious too. Robiul Islam took 15 wickets in two Tests against Zimbabwe in 2013, but faded away quickly. Ebadot Hossain took a stunning six-wicket haul in that famous win in Mount Maunganui, and showed general improvement after that, but hasn’t played since December 2022 because of a long-term injury.Rana will have plenty of advice coming his way but he should know he is special. He is Bangladesh’s fastest bowler ever. Fitness and health are key. The most crucial thing for a Bangladeshi star-in-the-making is to stay in the straight and narrow. Rana can’t be spoilt. And for the new dispensation in charge at the BCB, it will be their responsibility to keep him fresh, and let him bowl fast.

كشف الجهاز الفني لمنتخب مصر الثاني بقيادة حلمي طولان، عن التشكيل الأساسي لمواجهة الكويت في الجولة الافتتاحية للمجموعة الثالثة من بطولة كأس العرب، التي تنطلق مساء اليوم على استاد لوسيل.

ويشارك المنتخب المصري إلى جانب الكويت في المجموعة نفسها، والتي تضم أيضًا الإمارات والأردن، ضمن النسخة التي تحتضنها قطر في الفترة من 1 إلى 18 ديسمبر، وسط متابعة جماهيرية عربية كبيرة لمباريات الدور الأول.

ويأمل منتخب مصر في بداية قوية تحت قيادة المدرب حلمي طولان، الذي يسعى لتوجيه الفريق نحو الانطلاقة المثالية ومقارعة المنافسين على بطاقة التأهل إلى الدور الإقصائي منذ البداية.

من جهته، يدخل المنتخب الكويتي المباراة بعد تجاوز مرحلة الملحق، ويسعى لتقديم أداء مشرف أمام مصر وإظهار قدراته التنافسية، في مباراة تحظى باهتمام واسع من الجماهير العربية.

طالع أيضًا | بدلاء منتخب مصر أمام الكويت اليوم في كأس العرب.. الونش يُجاور أفشة تشكيل منتخب مصر الثاني أمام الكويت في كأس العرب

حراسة المرمى: محمد بسام

خط الدفاع: أكرم توفيق، رجب نبيل، ياسين مرعي، يحيى زكريا.

خط الوسط: محمد النني، عمرو السولية، غنام محمد.

خط الهجوم: مصطفى سعد “ميسي”، إسلام عيسى، محمد شريف.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

The Arizona Diamondbacks hoped for better news on star outfielder Corbin Carroll's hand after he was hit by a pitch Wednesday in Toronto against the Blue Jays. He has missed the team's last five games with left hand soreness and unfortunately, the Diamondbacks will miss his services for even longer.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo announced Monday that Carroll has a chip fracture in his left wrist and is headed for a stint on the injured list, via team host and reporter Jody Jackson. According to an MLB.com report, initial X-rays came back negative but an MRI Monday revealed the fracture.

"That's a little bit confusing to all of us," Lovullo said via Blake Niemann of Fox 10 Phoenix. "It's on the back of his hand, the impact of the ball hit the side of his hand which just goes to show you how hard these guys are throwing today. There's definitely that fracture and he's going to continue to get some opinions just to find out what that official diagnosis means and what the timeframe will be."

Disappointing news for the Diamondbacks, especially after slugger Eugenio Suarez left the team's game Monday after he was hit by a pitch on the right hand. Josh Naylor also exited the Diamondbacks' 10-0 win over the Chicago White Sox Monday.

Before the injury, Carroll slashed .255/.341/.573 with 20 home runs, 44 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He also has an MLB-leading nine triples on the season.

Athletics closer Mason Miller throws a baseball very, very hard. That's the most efficient, but not entirely helpful scouting report a manager could give a hitter tasked with turning around that velocity. For the visual learners, Miller is absolutely dominating the top of the charts when it comes to speed.

That 104.1 mph effort, which on first blush reads like a misprint, happened on Thursday night in the Athletics' 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Sean Murphy was the unfortunate batter in the box at the time of the pitch, which resulted in strike three swinging.

How does one go about hitting that? A salty ol' ball coach might tell you to choke up and move back in the box but they're not the one watching a hard object fly in at such a pace so it's easy for them to say. Miller finished fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting last season and made the All-Star team.

Perhaps the most surprising thing in this is that he hasn't exactly been a shutdown option out of the 'pen in his second full MLB season, carrying a 4.28 ERA as the All-Star break approaches. Miller is surrendering a hard-hit rate of 42.2% so when batters connect they connect.

The South Australia batter, who is captaining Australia A, plundered the England Lions attack

AAP06-Dec-2025

Nathan McSweeney threw up his hand to be the man to replace Usman Khawaja, with a superb double century for Australia A against the England Lions.As David Warner urged selectors to return Travis Head to No. 5 and put a specialist opener alongside Jake Weatherald, McSweeney made his case on Saturday.Related

Kellaway enhances his credentials with top score for Prime Minister's XI

Richardson stands out with four wickets as England Lions collapse

The 26-year-old finished unbeaten on 222 in Brisbane, posting his maiden double-century as Australia A went to stumps on day two at 554 for 7 in reply to the Lions’ 166.This match is now effectively over as a contest, with the hosts leading by 388 at Allan Border Field against a Lions side fielding three frontline bowlers with Test experience.But it has come at a perfect time for McSweeney, who also hit 63 for the Prime Minister’s XI against a more experience English attack last weekend.McSweeney is a natural No. 3 or No. 4, but was given the chance to open for Australia in three Tests last year against India. He was ultimately worked over by the world’s best bowler Jasprit Bumrah, before being dropped after averaging 14.4 across six innings.But he bounced back to form with a century for South Australia in late October, and now has scores of 103, 68, 63 and 222 not out in the past six weeks.Khawaja is hopeful of being fit for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide on December 17, but it remains to be seen whether the 38-year-old will be brought back in.Head hit 33 for Australia in the first innings at the Gabba after his Perth second innings heroics as opener, but the likes of Warner believe he is still better placed at No. 5 as a rear-guard option.”I think they need a genuine opener to compliment Jake Weatherald,” Warner said on Kayo.  “Because the way Jake plays you’re probably going to be hit or miss at the top of the order with two guys who like to go after the ball. That’s Australia’s problem.”If they have a couple of innings where that does happen and they lose early wickets, that’s going to come under the microscope.”Beyond Khawaja, Matt Renshaw has hit three Sheffield Shield centuries for Queensland this year but missed out for Australia A on Friday, scoring 8.Young Victorian Campbell Kellaway has also made a sound case this summer, with his 71 against the Lions on Friday following a century for the Prime Minister’s XI last week.But Saturday was McSweeney’s time to shine, routinely pulling England’s quicks and spinners to the boundary. Batting at No.3, some 11 of his 27 boundaries came in that fashion, while he also used his feet to hit spinner Jacob Bethell for a big six down the ground.Beau Webster also cover-drove well and hit 44 for Australia A after losing out in a selection battle for the Gabba Test, while Cooper Connolly struck 88.