Tasmania face the prospect of a huge first-innings deficit after their top order folded
AAP12-Feb-2023Sean Abbott led the way as New South Wales secured a massive advantage over Tasmania at the midway point of their must-win Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at the SCG.Tasmania slumped to 5 for 89 at stumps, trailing by 328 runs. Daniel Hughes starred for NSW with his career-best 178 and eighth first-class century easily eclipsing a previous high of 136.In contrast to NSW’s showing at the crease, Tasmania’s top-order struggled with only Ben McDermott (22 not out) remaining defiant.Related
Hughes' career-best gives New South Wales strong platform
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Abbott claimed three wickets – all bowled – for figures of 3 for 20 with NSW restricting the visitors to less than two runs an over.Australian white-ball star Adam Zampa bowled six overs and returned 0 for 14 in his first Shield match at the SCG since 2018.Earlier, NSW had little trouble earlier in the day building on their overnight 3 for 272. Hughes was finally undone by a marvellous sprawling catch from wicketkeeper Tim Paine off Nathan Ellis.Peter Siddle collected two wickets from as many balls as Matthew Gilkes and Abbott were dispatched back to the pavilion. But there was to be no shift in momentum as Chris Green joined Jason Sangha in contributing half centuries.Green’s 59 not out was his first red-ball half-century in just a third Shield outing for the BBL regular.With four rounds remaining, NSW went into the match without a win in the six games played before the mid-season break.
How quickly things can change in football. A week and a half ago, Arsenal were failing to score for a consecutive Premier League match.
It marked more dropped points for Mikel Arteta’s men who had lost 1-0 to West Ham and then drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest.
That result against Nuno Santo’s high flyers is no embarrassment. The top four contenders look well placed to secure Champions League football next season now having defeated Manchester City this weekend.
While Arsenal’s own ambitions have been flattened, they still look in good shape in the Champions League.
This is how swiftly circumstances can change. Just a week after that match against Forest, Arteta’s team travelled to Eindhoven where they dispatched PSV, winning 7-1.
So, is a striker required? Of course.
Arsenal’s attacking data in 2024/25
Speaking of quick turnarounds, the first half of 2024 was incredible for the Gunners who finished just two points behind City in the race for the title.
Between their opening league match of January and their season-ending clash against Everton, Arsenal lost just once to Aston Villa.
Their most notable run came this time last year, memorably beating West Ham 6-0, Sheffield United 6-0, Burnley 5-0 and Newcastle 4-1 over a remarkable four game period in late February and early March.
A year on, their form couldn’t be more different. They are without Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz for the season and having not signed anyone in January, they are relying on makeshift centre forward Mikel Merino to come up with the goods. To his credit, he does have three goals in four games from that role.
Goals *
1.9
2.4
Expected goals (xG) *
1.56
2.00
Shots on target *
4.8
6.0
Big chances missed *
3.1
3.0
Goal-creating actions *
3.22
4.00
Key passes *
11
13.5
But, as we can see, compared to last season’s Premier League, Arsenal are not creating as many chances, are having fewer shots on target and their expected goals per 90 is down.
So, what’s the solution?
Arsenal’s hunt for a new striker
All of the talk over recent months has centred on long-term target Alexander Isak but reportedly boasting a £150m asking price, a deal is incredibly unlikely.
Benjamin Sesko is another target but those two formidable forwards aren’t the only ones on Arteta’s radar.
They’re now said to be closing in on the appointment of Andrea Berta as the club’s new sporting director and the first signing of that era may already be close.
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There have been plenty of names linked.
1 ByCharlie Smith Feb 27, 2025
Reports in Nigeria this weekend state that ‘Arsenal have begun the signing process to bring Victor Osimhen to the Emirates.’
The striker is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli having fallen out with top officials in Naples and is likely to seek a permanent new home in the summer.
Arsenal now looked well placed to bring him to English football according to the reports with it suggested that a “£62m fee has been agreed”.
Exciting stuff. So how does he compare with Arsenal’s other big target throughout 2024/25?
How Osimhen compares to Isak this season
It’s safe to say this season that Isak has been the best striker in the Premier League, even ahead of the inevitable Erling Haaland.
In the league alone, the Swede has scored 19 times, enough to place him third in the race for the Golden Boot.
He’s also dismantled Gabriel and William Saliba too, putting in match-winning performances across the two Carabao Cup semi-final legs.
Yet, Osimhen is actually more prolific than Isak this term when we analyse the data.
Celebrated as the “the best striker on the market” by football statistian Statman Dave, the Nigeria international has bagged 22 goals in 28 games across all competitions.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhencelebrates after the match
For some context, Isak has also found the net on 22 occasions but that’s come in more matches, 31 to be precise.
So, what more can the data tell us?
Goals
0.92
0.87
Assists
0.23
0.23
Shots
5.14
3.01
Shots on target
2.08
1.42
Expected goals (xG)
15.13
15.14
Big chances missed
15
10
Big chances created
10
10
Ground duels won
2.2
2.3
Aerial duels won
2.9
0.8
Well, measuring league stats alone, Osimhen is scoring more goals per 90 minutes and impressively, is finding more positions to produce shot-creating actions, registering more efforts on target.
The former may have missed more big chances but their overall game beyond finding the net is pretty similar, something that will no doubt pique the interest of Arteta.
Indeed, Isak only has one more assist (5 vs 4) in the league and they’ve created an equal number of big chances for teammates.
If we’re being honest, the Sweden international would be the most exciting pick when you consider his credentials in English football. However, the fact that Osimhen could cost nearly £100m less means he’d be a thrilling cost-effective alternative.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The MLS legend made an appearance at his old stomping grounds, posing for photographs with Rapids keeper Steffen and their goalkeeping coach
Howard poses with Steffen after Rapids arrive in San DiegoLongtime goalkeeper coach Chris Sharpe facilitates reunion between USMNT starsMeeting highlights Colorado's tradition of elite American goalkeeping talentGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED
Former Colorado Rapids and USMNT goalkeeping icon Tim Howard visited his former club while they were training prior to a game against San Diego, where he connected with current Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen and longtime goalkeeping coach Chris Sharpe. The three posed for photographs together following a training session, creating a meaningful visual link between the club's goalkeeping past and present. Howard spent a part of his career as a player with the Rapids, making 100 appearances for them between 2016-2019.
The meeting between Howard, Steffen, and Sharpe represents more than just a photo opportunity – it symbolises the ongoing legacy of elite American goalkeeping that has been a cornerstone of U.S. soccer for decades. Howard's distinguished career, which included Premier League success with Manchester United and Everton before his Colorado stint, established a pathway that Steffen has followed in reverse, moving from Manchester City to MLS.
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Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?
A 2-0 defeat to San Diego FC in their last league game has kept the Colorado Rapids in 10th place with 16 points after 13 league games and they remain in the hunt for a playoff place. They host Real Salt Lake next on May 17 at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and before welcoming St. Louis on May 24 in the MLS.
He will cover for club captain Shan Masood, who has been called up for Pakistan’s limited-over series against New Zealand
Vithushan Ehantharajah05-Apr-2023Yorkshire have announced the signing of West Indies batter Shai Hope for the first three rounds of the County Championship.The 29-year-old, who also provides an option as wicketkeeper, will cover for Yorkshire club captain Shan Masood whose arrival has been delayed after being called up for Pakistan’s limited-over series against New Zealand. With five T20Is and five ODIs, Masood may only be available from the middle of May.They had also signed New Zealand’s Neil Wagner for their first ten County Championship fixtures but the left-arm quick was ruled out of his stint after tearing his hamstring during the Test series with Sri Lanka. An attempt to sign Pakistani batter Saud Shakeel has been delayed because of visa issues.As such, the acquisition of Hope is a welcome boost on the eve of Yorkshire’s season opener against Leicestershire at home. He has fond memories of playing at Headingley, after becoming the first player to score two hundreds in a first-class match at the ground when West Indies beat England there in August 2017. After scoring 147 in the first innings, he finished 118 not out in the second, leading his side to a successful chase of 322 for a famous five-wicket win.Hope arrives straight from the Caribbean, having only just returned home from West Indies’ ODI series against South Africa which finished 1-1. Hope’s 128 not out in the second ODI earned him the Player-of-the-series award.On the signing, Darren Gough, Yorkshire’s managing director said: “He is a great signing. He brings so much experience – one thing we are lacking is just a little bit of experience so he just gives us that and comes into the squad for this first game.””We felt we needed just the one experienced face in and we went for Shai. He has been playing well for the West Indies in one-day matches, he has got a record of playing Test cricket – he had his two hundreds at Headingley before for the West Indies.””Hope has literally just got home a few days ago so it is a straight turn around. He will have to adjust to playing red ball, from white ball but he is a fantastic player and it’s good to have someone of his quality to come in at short notice for three games.”
PlayStation took over Munich as football legends and global creators came together to celebrate the UEFA Champions League Final weekend.
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PlayStation takes over Munich for UCL Final weekendFootball legends and global creators in attendanceCelebrates games and football for PSG vs Inter MilanFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱PlayStation WHAT HAPPENED?
Ahead of the 2025 Champions League final clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena on Saturday night, PlayStation – the official console of the famous European competition – took centre stage in the city. Between Friday, May 30, and Sunday, June 1, the iconic München Hoch5 will play host to PlayStation House and the PlayStation Cup.
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On Friday and Saturday (May 30-31), more than 60 global creators and football icons Marcelo, Sami Khedira, and Wesley Sneijder took on gaming-themed skill challenges at PlayStation House – a rooftop playground of unexpected play. The venue featured immersive challenges inspired by PlayStation franchises, including The Last of Us, Ghost of Tsushima, and new PlayStation title, Marathon. The visually bold space created a multitude of shareable content, all framed by the PlayStation mantra: Play Has No Limits.
PlayStation DID YOU KNOW?
GOAL's Front Three team will be on the ground at PlayStation House and PlayStation Cup, and will be publishing videos on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok across the weekend. The event cemented PlayStation’s status as a central player in football culture.
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PlayStation WHAT NEXT?
The day after the Champions League final, the weekend concludes with the PlayStation Cup on Sunday, June 1. This four-team tournament brings together global creators and Champions League icons Kaka, Marcelo, Wesley Sneijder, and Mario Gomez as playing captains. Each 25-minute match unfolds in a knockout format, with draws settled by five-minute PlayStation 5 penalty shootouts projected pitchside. In addition to coaching warm-ups, full match play, IP-inspired football challenges, creator-led gameplay, iconic matchday experiences, and tournament drama, PlayStation's Munich activation delivers a complete cultural moment in unforgettable style.
Chelsea won’t bow to sentiment in their mission to get back among the honours in English football, and Enzo Maresca has now made a ruthless decision on one of his first-team star’s futures, per a report.
Chelsea kickstart clearout to make way for new additions
With BlueCo controlling the Blues’ purse strings, Todd Boehly has no shortage of money to spend on bringing new additions to Stamford Bridge at any given point in time.
That has already been shown in the lead-up to the summer window, with Dario Essugo and Geovany Quenda agreeing to join Chelsea well in advance of the market officially opening for business.
Having said that, the need to offload depreciating assets to fund incomings won’t lose importance when factoring in the necessity of this development to satisfy PSR.
Tapping into that mindset, Chelsea could offload Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix to raise funds to buy a new striker. They won’t be the only pair for the chop given the likes of Ben Chilwell, Armando Broja and Kepa Arrizabalaga are on loan elsewhere with little indication they are likely to come back into the first-team fold upon their returns.
Tottenham Hotspur (H)
Premier League
Brentford (A)
Premier League
Legia Warsaw (A)
Conference League
Ipswich Town (H)
Premier League
Legia Warsaw (H)
Conference League
Sparking uncertainty, Enzo Fernandez is high on Real Madrid’s radar and is a player the Blues won’t want to lose any time soon. If anything, rumours escalating over summer departures are a sign that Maresca needs to remain on his guard when shaping his talented squad.
Heeding that warning, the Italian now appears to have made a decision that could spark debate among supporters in months to come.
Chelsea set to offload Christopher Nkunku this summer
According to GIVEMESPORT, Chelsea are set to offload Cristopher Nkunku this summer and his future is now deemed ‘increasingly likely’ to be away from Stamford Bridge.
Despite opportunities opening up in the second half of the campaign due to Nicolas Jackson’s spell on the sidelines, Maresca was left unimpressed by the France international’s output and has now decided to put the former RB Leipzig man on the market.
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Scoring 14 times in 38 appearances, only three of his strikes have come in the Premier League, and it is said that a move to an environment that synchronises more acutely with his style of play is now on the agenda.
Labelled “amazing” by Joao Felix, the 27-year-old has taken on 24 shots in the English top flight this term, firing 12 on target. Chelsea have failed in their attempts to play to his strengths, making an exit this summer almost inevitable should bidders come forward.
Finding someone willing to take on his £195,000-per-week wages will be a challenge for the Blues, but it is also an opportunity for BlueCo’s strong negotiation skills to come to the fore.
Scotland captain’s first century in 13 months produced a batting recovery that sucked the air out of UAE’s challenge
Sreshth Shah23-Jun-2023A captain’s knock from Richie Berrington, followed up by a clinical bowling performance from the Scotland bowlers gave them a 111-run win over United Arab Emirates, thereby knocking the Asian side out of qualification contention on Friday afternoon in Bulawayo.Berrington walked in at 11 for 2 and was put on the back foot when Scotland were reduced to 48 for 4, but he fought through the rebuilding process alongside his middle order before blossoming in the slog overs. His 136-ball 127 was a clinic in pacing an innings through a demanding situation, hitting nine fours and three sixes. His first century in 13 months set UAE a stiff target of 283.UAE could never recover from Berrington’s batting blows. When they came to bat, they were rattled by Chris Sole’s opening spell, further jolting their challenge in a must-win match. Muhammad Waseem, Basil Hameed and the lower order provided brief resistances, but with the team’s highest individual score reading only 36, they were never in touch of the chase, and were bowled out for 171 in 35.3 overs.But UAE did start the game as the better side. After winning the toss, they dominated with the new ball. Junaid Siddique and Ali Naseer led the way in Scotland going four down inside 15 overs, and their spinners strangled the batters for most of the middle overs.But Berrington ensured he didn’t throw his wicket during the difficult period, and alongside Michael Leask (41), Chris Greaves (22) and Mark Watt (44*), kept the scoreboard moving. That ensured Scotland had mitigated the risk of being bowled out, which then gave them the freedom to go hard in the final ten overs.And, Berrington and Watt did just that, dominating from the 40th over. They upped the tempo in the last five, scoring 63 runs in the last 30 deliveries. Their 66-ball partnership of 109 for the eighth wicket took Scotland from hoping for a target of 220 to eventually finishing on 282 for 8. UAE’s bowlers did not strike once in the last ten overs, with only an unselfish attempt at a second run in the innings’ final delivery dismissing Berrington.UAE’s start to the chase was promising for the first four overs, and Waseem threatened to repeat what his opposite number did. The veteran opener lost four partners inside 16 overs, but while he was there, UAE had hope. However, that was dashed when he was the fifth man gone – lbw by Watt – for 36, leaving UAE reeling at 82 for 5.Basil Hameed (30), Aayan Afzal Khan (21) and Karthik Meiyappan (23*) briefly thwarted the Scottish challenge but the regular loss of UAE wickets meant they were entertaining but still quite far away from the 283 target. When Safyaan Sharif returned for his second spell, he cleaned up the resistance with three lower-order wickets, finishing with 4 for 20 on the back of that burst.Scotland now join Sri Lanka and Oman on four points in Group B, realistically needing just one more win in the last two games to be assured of qualification for the Super Sixes. For UAE, their hope of playing in India at the ODI World Cup ended, and now play for pride in their final fixture against Ireland.
Barcelona risk a Champions League points deduction after breaching UEFA financial rules for the second consecutive year.
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Barcelona face points deductionBroke rules for second straight yearChelsea and Aston Villa also in troubleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The La Liga giants could also be forced to name a smaller squad for the competition as a range of punishments are considered, report The Times. The club have been submerged in financial crisis for several years and are set to be punished on the European stage.
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Barca have been finding ways to get round their money issues, including selling 10% of their broadcasting rights for the next 25 years for €267 million in 2022. They later sold another 15% of the rights for €400m, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled that these profits cannot be included in FFP calculations, hence the breaches.
DID YOU KNOW?
adds that Chelsea and Aston Villa may also face sanctions, though theirs will be less severe considering it is only their first offence. Clubs in UEFA competitions are only allowed to lose £170m over three years and both English sides are set to be hit with fines for not adhering to the rules.
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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA, CHELSEA AND ASTON VILLA?
Barcelona will be among the favourites for the Champions League next season having been beaten by Inter this year in a classic semi-final, even if they have to start the league phase with a points deduction. Enzo Maresca's Chelsea, who finished fourth in the Premier League and won the Conference League in 2024-25, will also be in the competition, while Aston Villa have qualified for the Europa League.
Leeds United fans must have barely any fingernails left at this point in time as another dramatic end to the regular Championship season hurtles into view.
Indeed, the Whites could well suffer from another automatic promotion collapse now with Burnley only behind Leeds on goal difference in third spot, whilst Sheffield United sit pretty at the top of the pile with a two-point cushion in place.
If Leeds do fall into the playoffs like their fate during the 2023/24 campaign, there will be questions asked again about certain parts of Daniel Farke’s failing first-team personnel.
Most notably, Illan Meslier suffered from another bad day at the office in the disastrous 2-2 draw versus Swansea City on Saturday.
Meslier's disastrous performance against Swansea
The ex-Lorient goalkeeper has always been prone to an error or two since signing on the dotted line for the Whites back in 2019.
This season has exposed that more and more, with Meslier left notably ashen-faced when he gifted Sunderland a fortuitous equaliser back in October in a 2-2 draw, which is remarkably similar to how his afternoon played out versus the Swans.
The shaky Frenchman slipped up once more when Alan Sheehan’s visitors came to Elland Road, with the lofty 6 foot 6 ‘keeper gifting Harry Darling Swansea’s first goal of the day from a corner, before then somehow failing to stop Zan Vipotnik’s fierce 96th minute effort.
Farke has stuck by the clumsy 25-year-old, but it remains to be seen whether Meslier is the preferred choice heading into next campaign, with Premier League attackers aplenty licking their lips at the prospect of facing off against the former France U21 international if Leeds do return to the top-flight.
Annoyingly, Farke could already have a stronger option than Meslier in between the sticks if the Whites didn’t allow this alternative face to leave for good in 2022.
Leeds have already sold a Meslier replacement
Meslier does, of course, have his plus points, with the long-standing Elland Road servant up to a sizeable 72 clean sheets from 214 Leeds appearances.
But, errors creeping into the 25-year-old’s game are unavoidable now, as one ex-Leeds ‘keeper in Elia Caprile continues to excel away from West Yorkshire whilst Meslier regularly struggles.
Caprile never went on to make a senior appearance for Leeds having shone in the U23s, leaving the promotion-chasers with a big sense of what if in the here and now, especially as the 23-year-old now shines with loan employers Cagliari away from parent side Napoli.
Only leaking 16 goals this season in Serie A donning his new Cagliari colours, Caprile has undoubtedly gone on to make a name for himself away from England, with his transfer valuation now also a great deal higher than his early footballing education at Leeds.
Games played
123
Clubs played for
5
Goals conceded
128
Clean sheets
40
Value at Leeds
£167k
Value now
£7m
The “superstar” stopper – as he’s been lauded in the past by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – has seen his value increase by a mammoth 400% since initially moving to Bari, with Caprile heading to Italy in a deal worth around £1.4m.
Now, he’s worth a bumper £7m according to Transfermarkt, off the back of an impressive 40 clean sheets being picked up from 123 total clashes away from Elland Road.
With a lack of convincing backup options at Farke’s disposal, Leeds fans wouldn’t grumble if Caprile was back on the books, with his varied career since leaving perhaps making him a competent choice in the unpredictable Championship.
This is all hypothetical, however, with the German unlikely to change up his first team ‘keeper choice, leaving Leeds in a perilous position near the top of the second tier.
As bad as Meslier: Leeds star who lost possession 15x had a game to forget
Leeds United collapsed late on at Elland Road in a disappointing 2-2 draw against Swansea City.
Short-ball plans trigger Australia collapse but visitors closing in on 2-0
Andrew McGlashan01-Jul-2023Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins put Australia within touching distance of a 2-0 Ashes lead as they cut through England’s top order during the final session of a day that had earlier been marked by the home side’s unprecedented short-ball plan, which reached reaped rewards but ultimately looked to have no bearing on the outcome.For periods of the fourth day the game almost game to a standstill as Australia ducked and swayed away from bouncer after bouncer, but overall they lost 8 for 92 which, given England’s recent history of chases, including one of 378 against India last summer, offered them a glimmer with a target of 371 in four sessions.However, those hopes were blown away by the brilliance of Starc and Cummins which left them 45 for 4 and the absence of Nathan Lyon, who had astonishingly appeared to bat at No. 11, likely not proving a factor. It appeared they were five down shortly before the close when Starc superbly caught Ben Duckett’s attempted upper cut at fine leg, but the third umpire ruled the catch wasn’t clean as the ball scraped along the outfield, much to Australia’s amazement and frustration.The first wicket of England’s innings was not among the memorable ones as Zak Crawley tickled Starc down the leg side. But Starc was finding movement with the new ball and produced a wonderful delivery which came back sharply into Ollie Pope and clattered middle stump.Cummins, who is no stranger to creating viral Ashes moments, then produced what may go down as the over of the series as he roughed up Joe Root with a delivery which struck his forearm before having him fending to slip. He then produced a ball to take Harry Brook’s off stump which matched the one Root received at Old Trafford in 2019.Australia were two wickets away from England’s bowlers and there was a chance the game could hurtle to a conclusion but Duckett, with his second half-century of the match, and Ben Stokes – who had earlier put his knee on the line with a 12-over bouncer-laden spell – forged a stand of 69 to ensure that there would be room for a few further mentions of Headingley, even though the task of 257 more runs remained huge with a long tail.After briefly trying to find the outside edge when play began, England soon resorted to short-pitched bowling and basically did not shift from it until Australia were all out. The two sessions on the fourth day record the highest number of short deliveries in ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball database going back to 2015. TV graphics showed that 98% of the deliveries England bowled in the second session pitched eight metres or shorter.It was a slow burn of a tactic and created much debate, particularly after England’s previous proclamations of entertainment, but wickets did start to fall. It began when Usman Khawaja’s fine innings, which took him to 300 runs for the series, ended with a top edge to long leg.Mitchell Starc roars after dismissing Ollie Pope•Getty ImagesIn what then became a frenetic period, Travis Head was dropped at backward point before he had scored by James Anderson – his second miss of the game – then next ball Steven Smith top-edged to deep square leg. Head soon fended a catch to short leg which was superbly caught by Root as Australia lost 3 for 10 to spark some life into England.Cameron Green and Alex Carey played carefully until lunch then the afternoon session was when the game hit a virtual stalemate, although Australia held a strong advantage the whole time. By and large the pair did not have huge trouble avoiding the short deliveries, although Green was struck on the badge of the helmet by Stokes and a few moments later pulled Robinson to deep square leg after a 13-over post-lunch period which brought 17 runs.Stokes was into one of those marathon spells which have dotted through his Test career – the most famous being at Headingley in 2019 before his batting heroics. Whether this time, with the state of his knee, it was a sensible approach remains to seen and he was clearly grimacing at the crease when he later batted.But he certainly played a role for England as wickets fell at the other end. Carey was another to bunt a catch to short leg – Robinson then ending with a spell of 9-6-7-2 – and Cummins fended to gully after being given a life when Stokes had overstepped.Stokes finally earned a wicket when Josh Hazlewood turned the ball to short leg but the innings was not yet done with its bizarreness. Lyon, unable to use a runner under ICC playing conditions, limped down the steps of the pavilion and hobbled to the middle with his badly damaged calf, which will surely rule him out of the rest of the series. Barely able to stand and unable to walk he helped Starc add 15 runs and managed one pulled boundary himself.Australia may have felt they needed every run available, but the new-ball bursts from their opening pair have meant it will take another extraordinary turn of events for this match to come down to such fine margins.