فليك يحسم موقف لامين يامال من المشاركة أمام فالنسيا ويوجه رسالة خفية لـ دي لا فوينتي

أجرى هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة مؤتمراً صحفياً للحديث عن آخر استعدادات فريقه لمواجهة فالنسيا مساء الغد ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم.

وقال فليك خلال مؤتمر صحفي نشرته صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية: “لقد قدم كوربيران أداء رائعا العام الماضي وساهم في استقرار الفريق، إنه مدرب يتكيف مع خصومه، لديهم لاعبين مميزين وفريق رائع”.

وأضاف عن لامين يامال الذي غاب عن المشاركة في تدريبات برشلونة اليوم وتعامل لويس دي لا فوينتي معه: “لا، لن يكون متاحاً للمباراة، إنه لأمر مؤسف، ذهب للمنتخب وهو يتألم ولعب وحصل على مسكنات للألم ليواصل اللعب، لعب 79 دقيقة و73 دقيقة، وهذا لا يمثل رعاية للاعبين، إسبانيا لديها أفضل اللاعبين في كل مركز، من الأفضل رعاية اللاعبين الشباب، أنا حزين لهذا الوضع”.

وواصل عن العودة للعب في الكامب نو: “نعلم الوضع في الملعب والنادي، تحدثت مع الرئيس وشرح لي كل شئ، أثق به ولن يتأثر الفريق، نحن نركز على أنفسنا وليس لدينا أعذار، علينا الفوز، لم نتوقع أن تكون الأمور هكذا، الأهم العقلية والسلوك في الملعب، قد يستغرق الأمر وقتًا أطول للعودة لكني أهتم بالفريق، أحب العمل لهذا النادي والعيش في هذه المدينة، لا شئ يتغير، سيكون هذا الموسم أصعب من الماضي وسنبذل قصارى جهدنا وسنقاتل حتى النهاية للفوز بالنقاط الثلاث”.

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وسئل فليك عن لامين يامال مع المنتخب الإسباني: “لم أتحدث معه، تلقيت رسالة نصية وبصعوبة أتحدث الإسبانية وهو لا يتحدث الإنجليزية، كان من الممكن أن يكون التواصل أفضل، مررت بنفس الموقف مع المنتخب وقبل ذلك كانت العلاقات جيدة دائماً، لا أعرف كيف أشرح ما يعاني له، يعاني من مجرد انزعاج بسيط في عظم العانة، لذا مشاركته ضد نيوكاسل أيضاً محل شك أما مشكلة الظهر فهي غير صحيحة”.

وحسم فليك موقف دي يونج و بيرنال والذي حصل على التصريح الطبي من المشاركة غداً: “لن يكون فرينكي حاضراً غداً ولن يلعب، لكن مارك سيجلس على دكة البدلاء، إنها الخطوة القادمة في رحلة عودته، نحن سعداء جداً بجودته في الفريق، غداً كل هذا الحماس للعودة لمقاعد البدلاء وعلينا أن نديره ونعتني به”.

وقال فليك عن حالة جافي: “بإمكانه أن يكون قلب هذا الفريق بفضل عقليته، هو يبذل قصارى جهده من أجل الفريق والنادي، كنت خائفاً من هذا الوضع بعد إصابته الخطيرة، بالنسبة لي، ما عليه فعله هو العمل والاجتهاد لنرى كيف سيتطور، لا نريد أن نضغط عليه في هذا الوضع، عليه ان يعود بصحة جيدة وواثقاً بجسده وركبته”.

وحول عودة تياجو ألكانتارا للجهاز الفني لبرشلونة ذكر فليك: “أنا سعيد جداً بعودته وكذلك جميع أعضاء الجهاز الفني، لم يكن من السهل إقناعه لكنه سيساعدنا كثيراً، بالنسبة لي هو يمتلك خبرة كبيرة وقادر على نقل خبرته للاعبين، أرى كيف يستمعون له ويمكنه أن يكون جزء أساسي من نجاحنا”.

وأكد فليك جاهزية رافينها لمباراة فالنسيا، قائلًا: “إنه بخير ومتاح، لقد تدرب جيداً مع أنه عاد مؤخراً”.

وأتم فليك عن اللعب في ملعب يوهان كرويف: “تحدثت مع اللاعبين ومع القائد وأخبروني أن الأمر لن يؤثر عليهم، اللعب هنا يختلف، لكن لا ينبغي أن يؤثر علينا، لقد فعلنا ذلك بالفعل ضد كومو”.

وختم توضيحاً لتصريحه بأن الغرور يقتل النجاح: “هناك أمور تحدث في الملعب أو غرفة الملابس ووظيفتي حلها، أريد من الجميع التركيز على الفريق ومعرفة ما يجب فعله، الفرق بين اللاعبين الجيدين والمتميزين هو أنهم يعرفون كيفية حل الأخطاء وأن يكونوا في المكان المناسب، إذا فكرت في اليوم، ربما لعبنا بنسبة 50% إلى 60%، هذا ما أريد غرسه في اللاعبين، الجميع يستحق 100%، لهذا السبب حققنا انتصارات وألقاب الموسم الماضي وعلينا العودة لذلك”.

"Good chance" – £70m forward could now choose to join Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to back new manager Thomas Frank in the summer transfer market, as the Lilywhites scour for more new forward options after sealing a £30 million permanent deal for Mathys Tel.

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Tel showcased flashes of his ability during his initial loan, which has now been made permanent for £15 million less than the originally agreed £45 million buy-option with Bayern Munich, and Frank has expressed his serious excitement over this move by chairman Daniel Levy.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

“Very, very excited about Mathys signing with a permanent deal,” said Frank.

“I think he’s a very talented player that can play across the front four positions. He’s a goalscorer that we can develop even further to be more consistent in his all-round game but also to more consistently land in the right positions in the box. So I’m looking forward to it.”

The Frenchman will help to replace Timo Werner, who’s returned to parent club RB Leipzig after a lacklustre one-and-a-half-year temporary stint in N17, but Spurs may soon find themselves needing another wide player.

Son Heung-min’s exit from Tottenham is seen as a real possibility this summer, with the 32-year-old about to enter the final 12 months of his contract. Levy just has this window to make any significant cash back off his sale, and he’s apparently placed a £50 million price tag on his head, according to reports in Asia.

Frank’s need for a potential Son replacement has prompted links to a few intriguing targets this week, including Man City’s Jack Grealish, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus and Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo.

Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts

The latter bagged 20 goals in all competitions under Frank last season, and Tottenham are believed to have held initial talks over signing Mbeumo, even if Man United have been tipped as his preferred destination (Sky Sports).

Fabrizio Romano also claims that Tottenham began internal conversations over a move for the Cameroonian as soon as Frank signed his Spurs contract, so he appears to be a serious option if United cannot meet Brentford’s valuation.

Good chance that Bryan Mbeumo chooses to join Tottenham

According to journalist Duncan Castles on The Transfers Podcast this week, there is a “good chance” that Mbeumo chooses to join Tottenham, contrary to reports of his United preference, but Levy needs to meet his £70 million asking price.

“The indication from Manchester United was Mbeumo had chosen to move there and verbally told them that his preference was to move there,” Castles said.

“But I’m not hearing exactly the same on that. I think there is a good chance that Mbeumo, should Tottenham get to the price that Brentford are asking, that he might choose Spurs ahead of Manchester United.

“There are a couple of obvious reasons for that. One is that it allows him to stay in London, and secondly, it allows him to carry on playing for Thomas Frank, who has joined Tottenham as the replacement for Ange Postecoglou.”

The versatile African would be a quality heir to Son on the right-hand side, and he’s adept at playing as a centre-forward too, meaning both Mbeumo and new signing Tel could help to ease the goalscoring burden on club-record signing Dominic Solanke.

Leeds now looking to sign "fantastic" £15m title-winner to replace Firpo

Leeds United are looking to sign a “fantastic” defender as a replacement for Junior Firpo this summer, with the left-back potentially leaving the Whites, according to a report.

Firpo's time at Elland Road may be coming to an end

Firpo played an important role in Leeds’ promotion from the Championship last season, with the Dominician Republic international picking up four goals and ten assists in 32 league appearances.

However, it now looks as though the left-back’s time at Elland Road could be coming to an end, with the 28-year-old’s contract set to expire this summer, and he has been attracting interest from the likes of Lazio and soon-to-be Premier League rivals Everton.

Last week, there were reports that Daniel Farke’s side have submitted a contract offer to extend the defender’s stay in Yorkshire, but a more recent update indicates that Firpo is set to depart, with the Whites now identifying a Premier League defender as a potential replacement.

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According to a report from Football Insider, Leeds are now looking to sign Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas, who would go straight into Farke’s starting XI, with the Reds likely to accept a bid of around £12m – £15m for the left-back in the summer.

With Arne Slot’s side making moves to sign AFC Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, they won’t stand in Tsimikas’ way if a suitable offer is received, potentially opening the door for a move to Elland Road.

Liverpool's KostasTsimikascelebrates after winning the Premier League

Transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke also offered a further update on Firpo’s future, saying: “Leeds are going to be in the market for a new left-back in this summer’s window with Junior Firpo likely to leave… [Tsimikas] could come straight into that team and improve them.”

Tsimikas could be "fantastic" Firpo replacement

The Greek defender didn’t exactly play a major role in Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph, making 18 appearances throughout the campaign, but he has impressed for the Reds in the past, having once been dubbed “fantastic” by journalist Ian Doyle.

With Leeds looking to avoid relegation from the top flight next season, it could be important to bring in players with top-level experience, and the 29-year-old fits the bill, receiving the Man of the Match award against RB Leipzig in the Champions League last October.

The Liverpool ace is also strong at winning back possession, ranking in the 95th percentile for interceptions per 90, and the 79th percentile for tackles, when compared to other full-backs over the past year.

Of course, it would be a shame to see Firpo leave, given the role the defender played in Leeds’ promotion last season, but there are plenty of signs that Tsimikas could be a solid replacement, and a fee of £15m wouldn’t break the bank.

Arsenal stepping up pursuit of £58m striker who's now keen on Emirates move

Arsenal are stepping up their pursuit of an “amazing” £58m striker, who’s now keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer, according to a report.

Gunners' striker pursuit heating up

A new striker has been of interest to the Gunners for quite some time, and there is no shortage of options on the shortlist, with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres seemingly one of the main targets, and talks over a deal have been held in recent days.

The north Londoners are confident about getting a deal for Gyokeres over the line, despite interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, but if they miss out on the Swedish striker, there are plenty of alternative targets in the frame.

Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins are the main options from within the Premier League, while RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has been liked for quite some time, and there has now been a development in the pursuit of the striker.

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According to a report from The Boot Room, Arsenal are stepping up their pursuit of Sesko, having conducted extensive background work to assess the forward, while also sending scouts to watch him in action against Bayern Munich.

The Slovenian’s entourage remain in active talks with the Gunners, but rivals Chelsea and Liverpool are also in discussions, so there could be fierce competition for his signature, with a £58m move to England now looking like the most likely outcome.

RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskoin action with Borussia Dortmund's Marcel Sabitzer and Pascal Gross

The 21-year-old is yet to make a final decision about where his future lies, but there is a feeling he is now leaning towards a move to the Emirates Stadium, which will be welcome news for Mikel Arteta’s side.

"Amazing" Sesko enjoying impressive Bundesliga campaign

It has been far from a perfect season for RB Leipzig, with the German side sacking Marco Rose at the end of March, while currently occupying sixth place in the Bundesliga, but the Slovenia international has managed to catch the eye with his performances.

The youngster has picked up 13 goals and five assists in 31 Bundesliga outings, while also regularly getting on the scoresheet in both the DFB Pokal and the Champions League.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Bundesliga

31

13

5

Champions League

8

4

0

DFB Pokal

4

4

1

Not only that, but NK Domzale sporting director Matej Orazem clearly believes the 6 foot 5 powerhouse is capable of playing at the highest level, having claimed he is “destined for greatness”, while also lauding him as “amazing”.

Of course, Isak would be a dream signing for Arsenal, given that he is proven in the Premier League, with the Swedish striker adding to his goal tally in his side’s 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion yesterday afternoon.

However, it may be difficult to prise the 25-year-old away from Newcastle, and there are plenty of signs that Sesko could be a solid alternative option.

Huge upgrade on Jota: Liverpool set to bid for the "best striker in Europe"

Wednesday evening is a huge night for Liverpool football club, with the side having the opportunity to claim the Premier League title without even kicking a single ball.

Arne Slot will claim the trophy if second-placed Arsenal fall to a defeat against Crystal Palace at the Emirates, subsequently securing the Reds’ second league triumph in five years.

It would be a superb achievement for the Dutchman after taking the reins from Jürgen Klopp in the summer, producing a seamless transition which has played a huge role in their success.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot

However, when the title is in the bag, attention will certainly turn towards the summer, with additions and departures needed if the side are to sustain the success they’ve endured in recent months.

One area of the pitch in particular has been subject to huge attention, with key signings needed in such a department to take Slot’s side to the next level in 2025/26.

The latest on Liverpool’s pursuit of new attackers this summer

Over the last couple of days, news emerged that Liverpool are set to sell striker Darwin Núñez this summer, just a couple of years after his big-money move to Anfield.

Any funds generated will likely hand the club a decent chunk to splash on a new talisman, with Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké just one name touted with a move to Merseyside.

Hugo Ekitike for Frankfurt.

However, despite their interest, the Bundesliga side undoubtedly don’t want to lose their star man, subsequently hiking his price tag to a staggering €100m (£85m).

Such a decision could see the hierarchy return to the drawing board and go back in for fellow target Alexander Isak after previously registering interest in his services.

According to Ben Jacobs via GIVEMESPORT, the Reds are set to make a bid for the Swede this window, but won’t be stumping up the Magpies’ £150m asking price.

Why Liverpool’s top target would be a huge upgrade on Diogo Jota

Striker Diogo Jota cost the club a fee in the region of £45m back in the summer of 2020, looking to inject added quality within the final third under former boss Klopp.

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota

The Portuguese international has been a phenomenal addition, registering 65 goals in his 178 appearances for the Reds on Merseyside – but has endured a decline in recent months.

The 28-year-old has only scored six league goals in 2024/25, starting just 13 matches, with injuries starting to hamper his progress and restricting him from playing a key role.

Such a record could see the hierarchy cash in on his services along with Nunez, further handing Slot with the added cash to make key additions in the final third.

As a result, the club could fork out a huge sum for Isak, with the current Newcastle star undoubtedly offering the Reds a huge upgrade on Jota ahead of 2025/26.

When comparing their respective figures from the Premier League this time around, it’s evident how much of a phenomenal addition he would be, adding a different dimension to the club’s star-studded attack.

Isak, who Anthony Gordon admitted is the “best striker in Europe”, has massively outscored Jota, whilst also posting a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – highlighting his clinical nature within the final third.

Games played

30

22

Goals scored

21

6

Shot-on-target accuracy

41%

30%

Shots on target per 90

1.5

1.1

Pass accuracy

75%

70%

Successful dribbles

1.6

0.9

Dribble success

50%

38%

He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst achieving a higher dribble success rate, offering Slot a more all-round presence at the top end of the pitch.

Given his form on Tyneside this campaign, it’s likely that competition will be fierce for his signature, but it’s crucial that the board back the manager to help him land one of their key targets.

Whilst a deal would likely cost upwards of £100m, it certainly would be money well spent, with the Swedish international arguably the final piece of the attacking puzzle after Mohamed Salah’s contract extension in recent weeks.

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Annerie Dercksen, from farm girl to fast bowling allrounder

The 23-year old, who grew up without a tv in her house, is now dreaming of winning a World Cup for South Africa

Firdose Moonda16-Oct-2024Annerie Dercksen watched South Africa win a World Cup semi-final for the first time from the “best seat in the house,” at Newlands: the team dugout. Just over 18 months later, she will get to play in one herself.”I’m just really excited for all of it. Whether I have to carry drinks or give foot massages or whatever the teams wants from me. I’m willing to do anything,” she tells ESPNcricinfo in Dubai. “I’m just excited to contribute in whichever way I can.”That was also her attitude at last year’s tournament. Dercksen was part of the squad but, having only made her international debut two-and-a-half weeks before the event, didn’t get a game and didn’t mind at all. “That was probably the best role to be in. There was no pressure on me, and I could just enjoy the moment,” she says. “At that stage, I was still very starstruck. I was like, ‘Oh my word, I get to give Wolfie (Laura Wolvaardt) a water. I get to give (Marizanne) Kapp a banana.’ That was really cool and I enjoyed it thoroughly.”That was also the tournament that changed the way Dercksen thought about her future. “It was the defining moment. I realised that this is what I want to do for a living and that’s when I started to think of cricket as a serious career option. Now, I think it’s the best job in the world.”Dercksen is a qualified teacher, who completed her studies at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, where she met current interim coach Dillon du Preez, who was impressed with her potential. At school, she played a lot of sport for fun and had dabbled in netball, athletics, hockey and cricket. Towards the end of her degree programme, she was picked for South Africa’s Emerging squad and soon the door to the national team was open.

I get to give Wolfie (Laura Wolvaardt) a water. I get to give (Marizanne) Kapp a banana.’ That was really cool.Dercksen ran the drinks out during the 2023 T20 World Cup at home

According to ESPNcricinfo’s database, she made her international debut before she played an officially recognised professional provincial T20 match (although she would have played in semi-professional or age-group weeks). Her current records contain four times the number of international matches as they do domestic ones, which speaks to the speed of her progression. Her numbers in domestic cricket tell the story of her potential. Last October, she hit an unbeaten 74 off 42 balls and shared in a 91-run second-wicket stand with Tazmin Brits as the Garden Route Badgers racked up 182 in 20 overs and beat the Titans by 64 runs. This February, she scored her first century in the format, a 66-ball 108, and single-handedly kept her side alive in a game against eventual champions Western Province. No-one else on the team sheet got into double figures.With that kind of ability, it was no surprise that when Cricket South Africa launched their professional women’s domestic league last season, Dercksen was among those contracted. She signed with her home team, the Garden Route Badgers, based in Oudtshoorn.Best known as the home town of SA20 sensation Ottneil Baartman, it is around 180 kilometres away from where Dercksen grew up in Beaufort-West. The town is a part of the semi-desert known as the Great Karoo and Dercksen’s family lived a rugged farm life, which included no access to the country’s state-owned electricity supply.Marizanne Kapp wears 7 on her shirt. Annerie Dercksen wears 77 in tribute to her idol•BCCI”My brother and I didn’t even realise that. We really enjoyed being outside and just playing so, I don’t even think it bothered us,” she says. “We had like a Lister (diesel-powered) engine. My parents had to go in the evening and turn the thing and then the engine started and the lights came on, but that only happened in evenings when we needed lights. Later on, my dad installed solar panels for us but if the sun didn’t shine or it was a low sunshine day, then the power would also be gone. And you couldn’t run the kettle and the TV simultaneously, so, if you wanted to boil some water, you had to turn off the TV.”For the first 10 years of her life, Dercksen did not even have access to a television at home and had to go to her grandparents for any screen time. She found out about cricket through newspapers (yes, even in the 2000s) and the first tournament she watched was as a 16-year old in 2017, when South Africa lost the ODI World Cup semi-final to England. At that event, also discovered her hero: Kapp.Dercksen, too, is a seam-bowling top-order allrounder, even though she has been carded at No.6 or lower at this event, and initially wanted to wear the number 7, just like Kapp. She has since settled on 77 and taken on a slightly different job in the national team. “In provincial cricket, I bat higher up but here. we’ve got great players up in our top order so my role sort is to be a finisher or bat at the end.”

You couldn’t run the kettle and the TV simultaneously, so, if you wanted to boil some water, you had to turn off the TVDercksen grew up in a farm in Beaufort-West, where access to electricity was tricky

Her best performance in that role came recently, with an unbeaten 44 in the second T20I against Pakistan in Multan which helped South Africa level the series. She also struck 20 not out against England at this World Cup, albeit not enough to help South Africa post a winning score. Her opportunities with the ball have been more limited as she works on her craft. “I was actually a spinner until four years ago and then I changed,” she said. “I’m trying to work on that and play bigger role with the ball as well. For the moment, I’m grateful to bowl whatever over they might give me.”So far, she has been tasked with three overs – one each in games against West Indies, Bangladesh and Scotland and taken two wickets. Dercksen’s medium-pace, or half-spin, as Megan Schutt calls what she does, could prove effective on slow, low UAE pitches and she might get more opportunity, especially as she understands the effect of pace-off at the tournament. “We joked with Nadine de Klerk in one of the games that she is literally a legspinner on a long run up because it was all just cutters and slower balls and that is really the way to go on these surfaces.”Dercksen hopes to do something special, like Siya Kolisi, South Africa’s rugby World Cup-winning captain, did•ICC via GettySouth Africa are also understood to be happier playing their knockout in Dubai, where they have won all their group games, rather than the more sluggish second venue, Sharjah. They believe they have what it takes to take out the defending champions. “We’ve got nothing to lose. We are sort of the underdogs, but I believe we have the firepower and the experience to give them a go,” Dercksen says. “We beat them in Australia earlier this year so I think we’ve got a good chance.”South Africa won their first T20I against Australia in January, by six wickets in Canberra. Dercksen was not on that tour but “woke up at 2 in the morning to watch, now that we have a TV,” she joked.She also saw how that galvanised the team after a tough year following the fuss and fanfare of reaching last year’s World Cup final. South Africa failed to win any of the six T20I series since playing that final, and only a 2-1 win in Pakistan pre-tournament suggested they were back on track. While they publicly stated – and it was widely expected – that the semi-finals were a minimum requirement for them at this World Cup, watching favourites such as India and England bow out brought home how cut-throat tournament cricket is and how much winning matters. South Africans don’t need to be told that twice.After decades of being serial semi-finalists, both the women’s and the men’s team reached their last T20 World Cup finals and there is a country collectively holding its breath and waiting for one of them to take the step further. Derksen, whose younger brother Seppie is currently playing at a rugby tournament in the USA, did not hesitate to mention which other national side has provided inspiration. “We had the Springboks who won the World Cup, and to see how united a nation was really special,” she says. “I’m not sure if we quite have the same reach as the Springboks or the same impact, but if we can just impact a small amount of people, and give them a bit of hope, then I think our job is done. That’s our goal.”The Springboks substitutes bench is called the bomb squad, for their ability to take apart opposition in the second half, and the women’s cricket team have named their pace pack after that. They’ve promised South Africa they will try to live up to that name in the semi-final and they seek to rewrite history in a place that is destined for that. The UAE, with its tall buildings and 12-lane motorways, fascinates a farm girl like Dercksen. “We don’t get a lot of this in South Africa – all the lights and new cars,” she says. “It feels like we’re living in the future, basically.”And for South African cricket, she is part of that future.

Corbin 'Thor' Bosch hopes to find his superhero moment in the SA20

The South African allrounder, who impressed with the bat in the CPL last year, is looking to unleash his inner Avenger for the Paarl Royals franchise

Deivarayan Muthu09-Jan-2023South African allrounder Corbin Bosch is such a big fan of Thor from the Marvel Universe that he often celebrates with an imaginary hammer. He has added more power to his batting in the past year and smacks bowlers away like the Marvel superhero does villains with Mjolnir. So it’s only inevitable that Bosch has earned the nickname Thor.”I love all their [Marvel] movies and I’m a big fan of their Avengers series,” Bosch said during the CPL, “and growing up, Thor has been my favourite character. So when I came to the CPL, my initial plan was to try and do a celebration [with] every single Marvel character. I started with Thor and it kind of just stuck. It’s a celebration I enjoy, and I play to enjoy my cricket and this is one of those that stuck with me.”Related

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Corbin, son of Tertius (2014)

Bosch was the Player of the Match in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup final in the UAE, when South Africa clinched the title. His senior career didn’t quite take off like it was expected to after the U-19 success, but he is finally in the spotlight now after having broken into the big leagues in 2022.Bosch was a replacement player for Rajasthan Royals last year in the IPL and he was signed up by the Barbados side in the CPL. His flexibility with the bat was among the highlights of Royals’ run to the CPL final, though they eventually lost to Jamaica Tallawahs. Bosch is now ready to do it all over again for Royals, this time at home in the SA20.”This SA20 is going to be huge,” he said. “I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for guys to put their names on the map and say: ‘Hey, maybe South Africa has a lot more talented cricketers than those that might just be seen in the IPL and [playing] for South Africa.’ It’s a recognised platform for guys, including myself, to just display their skills and show what they’re about and how they can dominate – whether with bat or ball. Players a lot of guys haven’t heard about are all of a sudden front and centre of one of the biggest stages in the world. Who knows who is going to be the next big thing from South Africa?”Bosch could potentially be that very thing. He has bulked up to improve his six-hitting and to pound the pitch with the ball – traits that are in demand in T20 cricket. He usually bats lower down the order for Titans in domestic cricket, but Royals’ management saw some spark in his batting and used him as a pinch-hitting No. 3 in the CPL.Bosch made 191 runs in the 2022 CPL, including back-to-back fifties against St Lucia Kings and Jamaica Tallawahs•CPL T20 via Getty Images”For me, my batting is a work in progress,” Bosch said. “Me batting at No. 3 in the CPL was a new role that a couple of coaches mentioned to me even before I came here [to the Caribbean]. So, I wrapped my head around it while I was training back home with the Titans to hone my skills. I still feel I’m only in the infancy of my batting and I’ve got so much to learn – trying to take in as much information as I can and learning what works for me and what doesn’t.”I’ve done a lot of range-hitting and just trying to figure out the areas where I can be dominating – if the ball is in my area, I know I can take any bowler on in any situation – and at the same time, working on the areas I’m weaker at. My goal is to become one of the best allrounders in the world, if not the best – that is how I mentally train every single day.”With the ball, Bosch can now crank it up around the 135kph range, and step in as a change bowler, thanks largely to his club cricket stint in Australia with Northern Districts Suburbs in 2016. Andy Bichel, who worked with Bosch back then, was particularly impressed with Bosch’s progress when the pair caught up during last year’s IPL; Bosch was with Rajasthan Royals and Bichel with Lucknow Super Giants as their bowling coach.”After high school, I only bowled around 130kph. I left for Australia for a year to play a season there and made a mental switch there that I really want to bowl fast. It wasn’t easy getting my body stronger. I put in a lot of hours in the gym, and still do, to keep my body fit and healthy.”Bowling fast is no joke – you need to be physically prepared for what you will put your body through. I’m still looking to bowl even faster in the next couple of years. I feel I’m only starting to touch the untapped potential of the pace I can generate.”Bosch comes from a cricketing family. His father Tertius Bosch, who played three international matches for South Africa, was ranked alongside Allan Donald as one of the fastest bowlers of his era. His younger brother Eathan is currently contracted to Dolphins and Pretoria Capitals. Corbin is looking forward to the prospect of playing against his brother in the SA20.”Growing up, I was lucky to be part of such a fantastic household,” Bosch said. “My mother has been an inspiration – she allowed me and my brother to really express ourselves and do what we always dreamt of doing. I don’t think I can tell you the amount of hours and days we spent in our backyard playing garden cricket with one another, ruining my mum’s grass. I’ll be the first one to say that we destroyed the garden, but it was us enjoying each other’s company. Throughout our childhood we just played a lot of garden cricket and we’ve always pushed one another.”Bosch is hoping to get one over his brother Eathan (in picture) who will play for Pretoria Capitals in the SA20•Cricket South AfricaEathan often cops a fair bit about not being the best cricketer in his family because Corbin has won an Under-19 World Cup, but he claimed bragging rights ahead of the SA20, having dismissed his older brother before.”I think I’ve played against Eathan twice before [in competitive cricket]. I played for Pretoria and he played for Durban and he managed to get me out in the last over [of one of those games]. He definitely is one up on me (). For the MSL, I was with Tshwane Spartans and he was with Paarl Rocks in 2019, and all of a sudden we’ve done a switch. Hopefully, that switch means I get the trophy with Paarl and he becomes a sore loser in the [SA20] final.””Our competitiveness started in our garden-cricket days,” Eathan said in a CSA release. “I’m a bit taller [at 1.90m] but he’s a little bigger. “We haven’t played against each other too much, I just know that I’ve got him out once and he hasn’t. It can be tough playing against your brother, wanting him to do well but also wanting your team to win.”Bosch is particularly enthused about teaming up once again with Tabraiz Shamsi – they have played together at Titans – and hopes to trump the left-arm wristspinner’s snazzy celebrations with his own ones.”I love playing with Shamsi and I’m fortunate enough to get to play with him at the Titans,” Bosch said. “He’s so bubbly and gives the team so much energy, which I love, and his celebrations are going to be tough to beat. But I have a few exciting things at the back of my mind that I’m going to try to make sure that his wicket celebrations aren’t going to be able to outdo mine.”Like I said, I play cricket because I enjoy it and this is just one aspect of cricket that adds fun to some stressful situations and pressure situations. The celebrations are [about] just letting go and showing the world who I actually am. The Thor is definitely coming out in Paarl.”Bosch found no takers at the recent IPL 2023 auction, but the SA20 offers him another chance to remind franchise owners – and South Africa’s selectors – of his worth.

Who is Mohammed Siraj and how did he earn a Test debut?

The key details in Mohammed Siraj’s journey from tennis-ball cricket to Boxing Day debut

Hemant Brar25-Dec-2020″Stay strong for your dad’s dream.” Those were the words of captain Virat Kohli as Mohammed Siraj chose to continue his stay in Australia after his father died in Hyderabad.Siraj was offered the option to fly back home by the BCCI, but given the quarantine rules in place, he would have had to spend 14 days in isolation if he had travelled home and then flown back to rejoin the team in Australia. At that time, India were looking at a pace attack that had Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Navdeep Saini – with Ishant Sharma also a possibility to join the team – apart from Siraj.With Sharma not joining the squad and Shami ruled out with an injury, Siraj is now set to debut in the Boxing Day Test. Here’s a look at his journey so far.Related

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The humble beginning
The son of an autorickshaw driver in Hyderabad, Siraj got hooked to the game while in class seven, after he was part of the team that won an inter-school tournament. From then on, he would frequently skip classes to play tennis-ball cricket. His pace and an ability to take wickets in clumps meant he acquired a cult status in the Banjara Hills locality.
It wasn’t until 2015 that Siraj took to playing with the cricket ball, upon a friend’s insistence. He took took a slew of five-fors in his first few club matches and soon found himself in Hyderabad’s Under-23 side, and then in the senior team.The rise
In 2016-17, his first full season for Hyderabad, Siraj picked up 41 wickets at an average of 18.92 as Hyderabad made the Ranji Trophy knockouts for the first time since 2011-12. His nine-wicket haul in the quarter-finals then nearly caused an upset against Mumbai. Subsequently, he was picked in the Irani Trophy to play for the Rest of India.Going under the IPL hammer
In 2017, Siraj was picked by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 2.6 crore from a base price of INR 20 lakh. While he picked up ten wickets in six games with a best of 4 for 32, his leaked runs at 9.21 per over. He moved to the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the next season, but didn’t have the same success: 11 wickets in 11 games at an economy of 8.95. Those numbers only worsened in the 2019 season as he managed only seven wickets in nine outings at an economy 9.55.The red-ball success
Despite the hammering in the IPL, Siraj kept plugging away in domestic cricket. In the 2018 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he picked up three five-fors in seven matches to finish as the leading wicket-taker.Still, his best performances came in red-ball cricket where he reaped rewards with his seam movement and a surprise bouncer. In 2018, he picked up 55 wickets from ten first-class games, at an average of 19.80 and a strike rate of 37.9. That included two five-wicket hauls in a match against South Africa A and an 8 for 59 to dismantle an Australia A team that had Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, and Marnus Labuschagne.Recent form
In the 2020 IPL, Siraj became the first bowler to deliver two maidens in an IPL match on his way to 3 for 8 against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi. But there was nothing of that sort during the two practice games in Australia, even though he did pick up five wickets.

Tarik Skubal Made History With Another Dominant Start

Tarik Skubal was dealing on Sunday and he joined some lofty company with his outing.

The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner was on the mound against the Cleveland Guardians and pitched seven innings and allowed no runs on three hits, with no walks and 10 strikeouts. In doing so, the Detroit Tigers lefty reached a milestone only three other southpaw pitchers have.

With that start, Skubal became the fourth lefty in MLB history to have at least three starts in a single season featuring no runs allowed, no walks allowed, and 10 or more strikeouts. The others? Sandy Koufax in 1965, Randy Johnson in 2004, and Clayton Kershaw in 2015. That's some pretty special company. Two are Hall of Famers and Kershaw will undoubtedly be headed there when he retires.

Skubal is having a remarkable season again in 2025. So far, he's 10–2 with a 2.02 ERA, a 0.81 WHIP and 148 strikeouts in 116 innings. He also leads all MLB pitchers with 4.3 fWAR.

He looks like the favorite to win the AL Cy Young again this season.

Aaron Judge Shares What He Told Juan Soto in Conversation Before Yankees-Mets Game

Before the third game of the Subway Series between the New York Yankees and New York Mets, former teammates Aaron Judge and Juan Soto shared a moment on the field before the contest, an eventual 8-2 Yankees win on Sunday. Judge and Soto, who spent one season together in the Bronx in 2024, embraced and said a few words to each other before retreating to their respective sides for the game.

Judge later pulled the curtain back for fans as to what he had said to Soto in that conversation.

"Just said hello to him, I hadn't seen him all series," Judge told reporters after the game. "Just kind of wishing him the best, kind of said, 'Hey man, you're the best in the game. Things like this are gonna happen, just keep playing your game.' It was good to see him. But happy we were able to either walk him or not let him do any damage, especially in this series."

Soto, whom the Yankees acquired from the San Diego Padres in December of '24, did plenty of damage alongside Judge in the Bronx, as the two did their best impression of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig en route to New York's first American League pennant since '09. And even though there were no promises that Soto, who was a pending free agent after the '24 season, would be remaining in pinstripes long-term, Yankees fans fell in love with the star slugger and dreamed of Soto batting behind Judge for years to come.

But it was not to be.

Soto became a free agent the moment the Los Angeles Dodgers popped champagne bottles at Yankee Stadium following their World Series win over the Yankees. And Soto cashed in, leaving the Yankees for the crosstown rival Mets on a historic, $765 million contract. And while Judge didn't speak to Soto during the free agency process, he did do his part to attempt to convince Soto to stay during the season, both with his play and the close relationship he developed with Soto.

This weekend's Subway Series represented Soto's return to the Bronx as a Met. Yankees fans rained boos and profane chants down on Soto, who went 1-for-10 with four walks and a pair of runs scored in the three games against his old team.

As for Judge and Soto, Yankees fans—and perhaps Soto himself to a certain extent—will always be left wondering what could have been in the Bronx. But if this weekend's series was any indication, New York baseball fans are in for a real treat watching the Soto-led Mets and Judge-led Yankees duke it out for years to come.

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