It is fair to say that it has been an exciting summer for Sunderland since they beat Sheffield United at Wembley to earn promotion to the Premier League.

The Black Cats have not messed about in the summer transfer window, as they have splashed the cash to improve the options at Regis Le Bris’ disposal.

Possibly the most notable addition of the window so far has been the signing of experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £13m.

The Switzerland international has played over 200 games in the Premier League, over 100 matches in the Bundesliga, and over 30 times in the Champions League, per Transfermarkt, and the Black Cats are now on the verge of landing a similarly high-profile signing.

Sunderland set to sign Paris Saint-Germain defender

According to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Sunderland have reached an agreement to bring Paris Saint-Germain defender Nordi Mukiele to the Stadium of Light.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The journalist claims that the 27-year-old is now closing in on a move to Wearside with ‘immediate effect’, and notes that he could be reunited with Xhaka after playing alongside him last season.

Fabrizio Romano adds that Mukiele has already said ‘yes’ to a move to Sunderland, which suggests that there may not be many problems with personal terms.

If the Black Cats can get this deal over the line in the coming hours, the club could have an exciting repeat of their Xhaka masterclass on their hands.

Why Mukiele is a Xhaka repeat for Sunderland

The new Sunderland captain arrived to much fanfare as a vastly experienced and well-known name in European football, particularly in England, and Mukiele would be a similar signing.

Although he does not have the same reputation in England, the France international is a well-known name to anyone who has kept up with European football in the past five years or so, as he has starred for RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayer Leverkusen.

Bundesliga

115

19

Ligue 1

85

4

Champions League

35

5

Ligue 2

34

4

Europa League

7

0

As you can see in the table above, Mukiele has plenty of experience at the top level, with 200 appearances in two of the top five leagues in Europe in his career to date.

Sky Sports contributor Dougie Critchley describes the versatile star, who can play at right-back or centre-back, as a “dominant” defender and a “Champions League level player”, like Xhaka.

These comments and his statistics throughout his career show that Sunderland are on the verge of signing a vastly experienced player who has proven himself on some of the biggest stages in Europe, as was the case when they signed Xhaka from Leverkusen.

Mukiele played 15 times in the Bundesliga for Leverkusen in the 2024/25 campaign and showcased his dominant defensive work by winning 67% of his ground duels and making 2.3 tackles and interceptions per game, as per Sofascore.

This suggests that he will be an aggressive, strong, and experienced option for Le Bris to call upon at right-back or centre-back in the Premier League, given his performances in the German top-flight last term.

His experience at the top level and recent displays in the Bundesliga suggest that he will not be phased by what the Premier League will throw at him week-in-week-out, in the same way that the incredibly experienced Xhaka will be a dependable figure in midfield.

Sunderland could land their own Wirtz with move for "electric" £26m star

Regis Le Bris could soon be handed his very own Florian Wirtz at Sunderland.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 13, 2025

Therefore, this could be another exciting and impressive piece of recruitment work done by the Black Cats in their attempt to build a team that will not look out of their depth in the top-flight.

One Premier League game down, 37 to go. Liverpool made it a winning start, as they so often do on the opening matchweek of a top-flight campaign, but the victory over Bournemouth wasn’t exactly smooth sailing.

Indeed, the Cherries exposed structural flaws in the Arne Slot machine, though it’s not worth panicking, with Liverpool’s defensive fragilities solved, at least in part, by the signing of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.

Ryan Gravenberch’s return from suspension will add a further layer of balance and coherence to the Reds squad, but it’s the frontline that is being considered an area of importance as we drag into the final stages of the transfer window, with depth lacking.

And with that in mind, it would appear, and be of little surprise, that Liverpool are not yet done at the front end of the field.

Liverpool targeting forward signings

Hugo Ekitike is off to a flyer in a Liverpool shirt, scoring excellent goals against Palace in the Community Shield and then Bournemouth during the league opener.

But with Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez sold, and with the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, Liverpool are left without options across the frontline, and it’s clear that Slot could hit the jackpot if FSG manage to secure the most coveted signature on the market.

You would be on the money to have guessed that the signature belongs to Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, and according to a recent update from TEAMtalk, Liverpool intend to bid again for the Sweden striker after seeing an opening £110m offer rejected at the start of August.

Isak, 25, is on strike at St. James’ Park, and Fabrizio Romano has chipped in to reveal that the Magpies have tried everything to convince him to stay, offering a new contract with a release clause active from 2026.

However, this still isn’t deterring the Reds with further reports indicating that Michael Edwards has just returned from a trip to Boston, where he discussed the club’s efforts to sign the centre forward with FSG.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Isak only wants Liverpool and is fighting hard to get his move, releasing his first statement since talks over his future commenced on Tuesday evening.

How Alexander Isak compares to Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool have potentially broken the British transfer record already this summer, with the £100m fee paid to Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz potentially growing into a record £116m package through add-ons.

Isak would cost north of that, with sources close to Newcastle maintaining that the £120k-per-week talent is valued in the ballpark of £150m.

While Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes would hope to shave something off that mountain of money, there’s no chance FSG would catch their quarry for anything less than a record-breaking fee. Even so, Isak would be the cream of the crop, a better deal, even, than Ekitike.

Eintracht Frankfurt received £79m from Liverpool for the 23-year-old Frenchman in July, and his start to life in England suggests that Slot has hit the jackpot.

However, Ekitike remains unrefined and untested across the span of a campaign at a club like Liverpool, whereas Isak proved himself to be “the best striker in the world” last season, as commented by BBC Sport analyst Raj Chohan.

A more prolific marksman and with a similarly athletic and energetic style of play, you might say that Isak is the hallmark, the player whom Ekitike is seeking to emulate and rank alongside through positive progress at Liverpool.

Isak is also creative and inventive in his play, with Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope remarking that he can be “like a wizard” when on the ball.

What’s more, Isak has proven himself a deadly and consistent finisher across multiple Premier League seasons, bespeaking his quality as one of the best of the best.

Isak’s Last Two PL Seasons

Stats (* per game)

23/24

24/25

Matches (starts)

30 (27)

34 (34)

Goals

21

23

Assists

2

6

Touches*

26.8

33.3

Shots (on target)*

2.4 (1.4)

2.9 (1.4)

Big chances missed

21

18

Pass completion

80%

77%

Big chances created

5

11

Key passes*

0.9

1.2

Dribbles*

1.4

1.2

Ball recoveries*

1.3

1.6

Tackles + interceptions*

0.4

0.5

Duels (won)*

2.4

2.8

Data via Sofascore

Ekitike is currently Liverpool’s sole out-and-out first-team striker, and so signing Isak makes a whole lot of sense. Moreover, the two players have the athletic range to compete alongside each other.

But make no mistake, Isak would be the kingpin of Liverpool’s frontline, and even for more money, a better and more impactful signing than this rising version of Ekitike, which simply makes a thrilling comment on the calibre of attacking talent Slot is packaging the team with.

Related Wirtz will love him: Liverpool chasing "world-class" £86m Isak alternative

Liverpool have earmarked this European superstar as a potential signing before the end of the window.

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Crystal Palace now hold strong interest in signing a “gifted” defender, with a bid currently being planned, according to a report.

Palace looking to bolster defensive options ahead of European campaign

It is still unclear which European competition Palace will be taking part in next season, but they are planning to make one last-ditch attempt to secure a place in the Europa League, and former Everton chief Keith Wyness believes they have a fighting chance.

Wyness said: “The chances are less than 50%, but they’ve got a chance, and I really hope they win. I think they have a case and the Woody Johnson thing can’t have hurt. It does have a bearing on the case because they can say, look, we’ve cleaned up the whole mess with Textor, so please let us go now.”

Johnson, of course, recently bought John Textor’s shares in the club, which Steve Parish will be hoping is enough to win UEFA around, but the situation is complicated, given that the March 1st deadline to change the ownership structure was missed.

"Excellent" £20m forward now open to joining Crystal Palace with talks held

There has been a development in Palace’s pursuit of an attacker…

ByDominic Lund Aug 7, 2025

Regardless of which European competition the Eagles take part in next season, they may need to deepen their squad this summer to cope with the increase in matches, and they have now set their sights on a new target.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Crystal Palace now hold strong interest in signing Sevilla right-back Juanlu Sanchez, but there could be competition for his signature, with a number of other Premier League clubs also in the picture.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have already agreed a deal with Sevilla, while Everton are also named as potential suitors for Juanlu, who is thought to be valued at a fee close to €20m (£17m).

The full-back is expected to make the move to England very soon, and Palace will be hoping he is tempted by a move to Selhurst Park, with an opening bid currently being prepared.

"Gifted" Juanlu could be excellent signing for Palace

Oliver Glasner already has one talented right-back at his disposal in the form of Daniel Munoz, with the 29-year-old putting in some very impressive performances in the Premier League last season, collecting ten goal contributions in 37 outings.

However, there are signs the Sevilla defender could be able to push for a starting spot at Palace, given that he is also a real threat on the front foot, amassing four goals and four assists in La Liga in the 2024-25 campaign.

The 21-year-old, who has been described as “gifted” by reporter Jose Manuel Rodriguez, has also impressed across a number of key metrics over the past year, when compared to other full-backs.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.21 (98th percentile)

Assists

0.21 (85th percentile)

Tackles

2.61 (84th percentile)

Blocks

1.41 (80th percentile)

While it is unclear which competition Palace will be playing in next season, they will be hoping that European football of some description being on offer will give them the edge over the likes of Everton and Wolves in the race for Juanlu’s signature.

Aston Villa have now reached a “verbal agreement” to sign a new player for Unai Emery after having a big-money “bid accepted”, as per Fabrizio Romano.

Aston Villa’s quiet summer so far

The Villans, Monchi and NSWE have been unusually quiet so far in the transfer window, bringing in four new players. Yasin Ozcan, Zepiqueno Redmond, Marco Bizot Brest and Modou Keba Cisse have been brought in from Kasimpasa, Feyenoord, Brest and LASK respectively.

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Ozcan has since been sent on loan to Anderlecht, and transfer activity looks set to increase between now and the September 1 deadline.

However, Emery has recently admitted that Villa “don’t have the same power economically” as some of their rivals at the top of the Premier League.

“We need to join some players in the level we want to achieve, but we don’t have the same power economically like seven other teams in the Premier League.

“We must be more intelligent and anticipate something. It is very exciting, the work for me and the club. We are really improving and meeting our objectives, but there is still work to do. We have to be demanding and intelligent.”

Despite Villa’s constant PSR concerns, they now look set to splash the cash on one particular target in their most expensive deal of the window.

Aston Villa have £30m+ "bid accepted" for Evann Guessand

Transfer expert Romano took to X on Monday to share a big transfer breakthrough out of Villa Park. He revealed that Aston Villa have reached a “verbal agreement” after having a “bid accepted” to sign Evann Guessand from OGC Nice.

Guessand now has permission to travel to the Midlands, with a medical and contract signing the next steps ahead of a €35m (£30.4m) transfer.

An Ivory Coast international, Guessand is primarily a centre-forward but can also play on either wing if required, so he’ll provide Emery with a versatile attacking option.

The 24-year-old is valued at a career-high €25m by Transfermarkt, so although Villa are paying over that figure, they are getting a forward who has just enjoyed his best season in front of goal.

He netted 12 Ligue 1 goals and registered nine assists in 33 appearances, while also playing in the Europa League, scoring once.

The Athletic’s Alex Barker has called Guessand an “unpredictable” attacker who is a “real physical handful”, while adding that he is “capable of knocking the ball past opponents and overtaking them through pace”.

It looks as if Villa will soon have an exciting new forward on the Villa Park books, providing real competition to Ollie Watkins in the process.

Vinicius Junior’s frustrations at Real Madrid have surfaced after he was benched again, this time in the Champions League win over Marseille. Xabi Alonso admitted the Brazilian was not ready to talk immediately after the match, but revealed the forward was in better spirits during training. Madrid now face Espanyol in La Liga, with selection questions looming.

• Vinicius unsettled by bench role

  The Vinicius case is disrupting Real Madrid’s early-season rhythm, as the Brazilian, who only last year was considered a potential Ballon d’Or winner, has now started on the bench in two of the club’s opening five matches. Against Marseille, he left the Bernabeu pitch visibly frustrated and was the first player to walk off, while Kylian Mbappe once again dominated the headlines with penalties that sealed the deal for Madrid.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Xabi explains his approach

  Madrid boss Alonso admitted he held back from a discussion the day after the Marseille match, choosing instead to wait until training the following day. 

  "Yesterday wasn’t the time to talk to Vinicius," the coach explained on Friday. "But today he had a better smile and was more positive. I spoke to him and ended up doing some individualised things with him during training. We’ll see tomorrow."

• Mbappe leads, Vinicius rotates in Champions league

  Vini’s shift from being Madrid’s franchise player to a rotational option has been star, and with Mbappe scoring six goals in five matches, making him the focal point of Alonso’s system, while Rodrygo has been favoured on the left wing. For Vinicius, this represents an uncomfortable adjustment, with his face and body language at Marseille reflecting his unease. Alonso, however, insisted that “there are many important players in this squad. Vinicius is one of them, Jude [Bellingham], Fede [Valverde], Aurelien [Tchouameni], Dean [Huijsen], Arda [Guler]… I want the whole team to feel important. Everyone is in this boat, and we need everyone to pull in the same direction.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Espanyol challenge looms in La Liga

  Madrid’s focus now shifts to Espanyol, who arrive at the Bernabeu in strong form. The Catalans sit third in La Liga with 10 points from their opening four matches, including wins over Atletico Madrid, Osasuna and Mallorca. They stunned Los Blancos 1-0 in February and, though without a Bernabeu victory since 1996, have confidence under new ownership and signings such as Tyrhys Dolan and goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic. For Alonso, the question remains whether Vinicius is trusted to start or left to battle his way back.

  Madrid enter the weekend two points clear at the top of La Liga after five consecutive wins in all competitions, but squad management is already a pressing issue. With Trent Alexander-Arnold sidelined through injury and Mbappe carrying the scoring load, Alonso must decide whether to restore Vinicius against Espanyol or continue easing him into a secondary role. The Brazilian’s reaction in the coming weeks could define both his season and the balance of Madrid’s attacking trio.

In a late flurry of arrivals, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly “exploring” a deal to sign another Premier League rival before the end of the transfer window.

James McAtee "ready" for Forest challenge

One of three names to arrive in the last week, James McAtee joined Omari Hutchinson and Arnaud Kalimuendo on Nottingham Forest’s list of recent signings after sealing his move from Manchester City. The young midfielder is full of potential and, in his own words, “ready” for the challenge that awaits at the City Ground.

Of course, the last gem to leave the Etihad went on to become one of the best players in the Premier League and if McAtee reaches anywhere near the levels that Cole Palmer has at Chelsea then Nottingham Forest will have themselves a game-changer.

Evangelos Marinakis’ transfer business isn’t done there, however. Nottingham Forest are now reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Douglas Luiz from Juventus to add a midfield reinforcement to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

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In a frustrating blow for their Midlands rivals, Aston Villa, Forest look destined to welcome their former star and help bring an end to the Brazilian’s nightmare spell at Juventus.

It may not be the last time they get one over on their rivals, either. Alongside Luiz, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly “exploring” a deal to sign a player that the City Ground should already be very familiar with.

Nottingham Forest "exploring" Matty Cash deal

According to The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, Nottingham Forest are now “exploring” a deal to sign Matty Cash from Aston Villa this summer. The move would see the right-back complete a return to the City Ground five years on from swapping Forest for the chance to join Villa.

Having graduated from the Forest academy, Cash should be a welcomed return at the City Ground if he completes a move this month. There’s no denying that he would add plenty of experience, depth and quality to Espirito Santo’s backline too.

Minutes

2,070

2,995

Assists

1

1

Ball Recoveries

81

190

Tackles Won

32

42

When compared with Ola Aina, who enjoyed an excellent campaign last time out, it’s clear that Cash would push the Nigerian all the way for a starting place by returning to Nottingham Forest.

What’s more, with European football to contend with on top of domestic duties this season, Espirito Santo should welcome the idea of competition for places in every position. And adding a player who was described as “versatile” by Unai Emery to the Portuguese manager’s squad would certainly do exactly that this month.

يلتقي نادي تشيلسي مع نظيره ليفربول، ضمن منافسات الجولة السابعة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز على ملعب ستامفورد بريدج.

وانطلقت المباراة بالفعل وقد مر أكثر من 20 دقيقة على بدايتها، حيث يلعب تشيلسي بشكل أفضل من ليفربول وأظهر البلوز رغبة واضحة في الانتصار.

واستطاع تشيلسي بالفعل التقدم في النتيجة عن طريق مويسيس كايسيدو، في الدقيقة 14 من عمر المباراة.

اقرأ أيضًا .. قائمة برشلونة لمباراة إشبيلية في الدوري الاسباني.. استبعاد يامال ورافينها

وجاء هدف كايسيدو بشكل أكثر من رائع، حيث استلم الدولي الإكوادوري تمريرة من مالو جوستو، ليسددها لاعب خط الوسط المميز صاروخية سكنت شباك ليفربول.

ويواصل تشيلسي سعيه في الوقت الحالي بحثًا عن تسجيل الهدف الثاني، وسط غياب تام من ليفربول الذي يكتفي بالدفاع داخل منطقة الجزاء فقط.

ليفربول لم يتمكن في الانتصار في آخر مباراتين لعبهما في كافة المسابقات، حيث خسر الريدز أمام كريستال بالاس في الدوري الإنجليزي 2-1، ثم خسر مرة أخرى بهدف دون ضد جالطة سراي في دوري أبطال أوروبا. هدف تشيلسي الأول أمام ليفربول في الدوري الإنجليزي

MatériaMais Notícias

A quarta-feira será quente na Arena do Grêmio. O Tricolor volta a campo pela Copa do Brasil e mede forças diante do Cruzeiro, às 19h30 (de Brasília), pelo jogo de ida das oitavas de final. Consciente que o time terá uma ‘decisão’, Renato Gaúcho compareceu à sala de imprensa e pediu a presença da torcida. 

RelacionadasCruzeiroGrêmio x Cruzeiro: onde assistir, prováveis times e desfalquesCruzeiro16/05/2023CruzeiroCopa do Brasil: Ronaldo destaca Cruzeiro para o confronto contra o GrêmioCruzeiro16/05/2023GrêmioGrêmio tenta acabar com série negativa diante do CruzeiroGrêmio16/05/2023

Vale citar, que nos últimos dois jogos em casa, o Grêmio tropeçou diante do Red Bull Bragantino e Fortaleza, nos quais só empatou. 

– Torcedor tem que ir amanhã, lotar a Arena. É uma competição que o grupo gosta, estamos acostumados a disputar. Tem que ir para a Arena, incentivar. Mais do que nunca precisamos da ajuda do torcedor. Por isso estou pedindo para comparecerem na Arena. Temos trabalhado para melhorar a cada jogo e voltar a agradar o torcedor – afirmou.

O duelo da volta entre Grêmio e Cruzeiro está marcado para o dia 31 de maio, em Belo Horizonte.

Last year’s losing finalists have been knocked out of the SA20 after just one win in nine games

Firdose Moonda28-Jan-2025

Durban’s Super Giants have been knocked out of the SA20 with only one win in seven completed matches•SA20

Durban’s Super Giants (DSG), last season’s SA20 losing finalists, have been eliminated from playoff contention after a sixth loss and all-round disappointing campaign. They sit at the bottom of the points table, with one game left to play, and have only won one of nine matches so far (two were no results). Captain Keshav Maharaj put their woes down to “losing every powerplay whether batting or bowling,” and their lack of early run-scoring was glaring.In the seven matches in which they batted, DSG only scored more than 50 runs in the powerplay once (and that was the game they won, three weeks ago) and went wicketless twice. They rotated through four opening batters – Bryce Parsons, Matthew Breetzke, Brandon King and Quinton de Kock – in different combinations to collect the least number of runs among the six teams. In their nine matches, DSG’s top two individually scored 230 runs at an average of 16.42. For comparison, their opposition on Monday, table-topping Paarl Royals have used the same two openers – Joe Root and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, and top the run charts with a combined tally of 580 at 44.61 including five half-centuries.The most obvious error DSG made was starting with de Kock at No. 4, despite his success as opener at international level, because they hoped to preserve a left-right combination. “At the start of the competition, there was a sort of method to the madness with regards to Quinny batting at four and after five games we realised that it wasn’t really working out and we needed starts and then pushed Quinny up,” Maharaj said at the post-match press conference. “He showed glimpses of what he can do, but probably didn’t have the support around him to get those totals that we would have liked in the powerplay and to bat through.”De Kock made one fifty in four innings at No. 4, and then a 30-ball 43 against Royals last week but had no other scores of note through the SA20. The same is true for another of DSG’s marquee players, middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen, who has struggled all tournament. Klaasen scored 122 runs in seven innings and 66 of these runs came in one knock.Quinton de Kock was trialled as a No. 4 batter and it didn’t work for DSG•SA20

Overall, DSG topped 200 in their first match but have not gone past 150 in any of their games and had two scores below 120 which ultimately was not good enough to get them more wins in this tournament. And while most of their issues are in the batting line-up, the bowlers do not escape scrutiny. “We didn’t take enough wickets in the powerplay and in doing so we didn’t stem the flow of runs,” Maharaj said. “We were quite expensive in most of the powerplays and once you lose the powerplay it’s very difficult in the game of T20 cricket regardless of how well you bowl in that middle [period].”In total, DSG bowled eight powerplays (one in a match that was a no-result) and never took more than two wickets or conceded less than 41 runs, which is a shade under seven an over. Their difficulties may have stemmed from what seemed to be the absence of a leader for the pace attack in particular. Their two leading wicket-takers were wristspinner Noor Ahmad, who is fourth on the wicket-takers’ list with 10, followed by left-arm spinner Maharaj, with seven. Their leading seamer was Chris Woakes, who has taken five wickets in as many games. Naveen-ul-Haq and Junior Dala both have four wickets but while Naveen has played seven matches, Dala has only played five and Dwaine Pretorius, the allrounder who, on paper, could have been a key part of the squad only played twice.Ultimately, the unsettled nature of DSG’s XI may have contributed to their string of poor results and leaves their team management with plenty to ponder. Lance Klusener has been head coach throughout the SA20 and Maharaj has captained them for the last two seasons. Last season, he masterminded a turnaround that saw them go from second last on the table to the final and though they have now u-turned on that, Maharaj seems to still want to be the man in charge.”I love captaincy. It helps me think clearly at times, especially on the field and keeps me a little bit calmer than I normally am,” he said. “The one thing that I really try and get is the camaraderie amongst my team-mates. It is a short competition and that’s something that I feel I do really well: understanding my players and trying to get the best out of them. Sometimes it’s hard, it doesn’t transfer onto the field and I feel like it’s one of those seasons. Having said that, I’ve enjoyed it very much. I’m very proud of my team so far. We’ve still got a game to go. There’s a lot of pride to play for, a lot of meaning for this badge and for the owners that have invested in us, so we’re not just giving up.”DSG play their last game at the Wanderers, against Joburg Super Kings, on Saturday.

Corbin Bosch is set to make his Test debut on what promises to be a seamer-friendly Centurion pitch

Firdose Moonda25-Dec-2024Big picture – Can Pakistan bring ODI momentum into Test series?There’s one other Boxing Day Test, but this one is big too. If South Africa win at SuperSport Park, they will guarantee a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. If Pakistan win, they will keep outside hopes (so outside that they also require an over-rate penalty for South Africa) of getting to Lord’s alive, but more pressingly they will keep a nation on edge for another week.In reality, South Africa have some breathing room because they only need to win one of the next two Tests to get to the WTC final. Even with rain hanging around the Highveld, they’ll fancy their chances against a team that has not recorded a Test win in this country in nearly 18 years and not won a Test outside Asia since beating West Indies in August 2021. But pressure does strange things to players, especially South African players, and Pakistan, despite all the drama surrounding them, are a team who could exploit that.Related

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Injured Maharaj and Mulder included in SA squad Pakistan Tests

WTC final race – How can India, Australia, SA, SL qualify?

They went through a rotating door of coaches, selectors and administrators before coming to South Africa and were already in the country when their Test coach resigned, two weeks before the start of the series. Still, the build-up to this Boxing Day Test has had none of the shenanigans of Melbourne, mostly because the two sides were preoccupied with an ODI contest that serves as build-up to the Champions Trophy. Ten South Africa and seven Pakistan players from their respective Test squads were involved in that contest, which Pakistan won 3-0. If momentum is a factor, it is surely with them.South Africa’s batting, in particular, was undone, and worryingly for them three of their top four (Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs) all fell to the offspin of Salman Agha in the first ODI. Conditions are unlikely to suit him at SuperSport Park but the mental scars might be there and Temba Bavuma hopes it will be simple to get over them. “Whether it’s easy, whether it’s hard, we’ve got to find a way to do it,” he said. “Whatever, I don’t know, trauma that was there, you know, guys will have to deal with it.”Bavuma was also quick to remind that the Test space is different as it is where South Africa have more stability and focus with an immediate goal of the WTC final. The opposite might be said of Pakistan, who have won three ODI series in succession and are building towards a home Champions Trophy where they are defending the title.That may mean the teams head into this match with slightly different priorities in terms of their current form but that won’t minimise the sense of the occasion. A Boxing Day Test with plenty at stake, taking place at the same time as another Boxing Day Test, with even more on the line. It doesn’t get bigger than this.Form guideSouth Africa: WWWWW (last five Tests, most recent first)
Pakistan: WWLLLMohammad Abbas last played a Test match in August 2021•AFPIn the spotlight – Aiden Markram and Mohammad AbbasIt feels like Aiden Markram has had a difficult time of it across formats this year but his main difficulties have come in the format he captains in. He only has one score over 30 from 18 T20Is in 2024, and one fifty from six ODIs hasn’t helped his cause either, but his Test form has shown signs of improving. After a century in the New Year’s Test, Markram made fifties in Providence and Gqeberha and is also someone Bavuma says he “leans a lot on” when it comes to tactics and inspiring younger players. Most of all, Markram enjoys the continued support of his team-mates and Bavuma, in particular, who says he “empathises” with what Markram is going through but “that’s what makes elite sport tough. You’ve got to find a way to go through those challenges. And generally, when you get over to the other side, that’s where the satisfaction is.”It’s now or never for Mohammad Abbas who, at 34, is set to make his comeback after three years out of the national side seemingly without explanation. Abbas played 25 Tests between April 2017 and August 2021 and took 90 wickets at 23.02, but was discarded in favour of younger quicks despite excellent numbers on the county circuit. He has enjoyed four fruitful seasons at Hampshire where he has taken 180 wickets at 19.26 and finished among the top 10 wicket-takers in 2022 and 2023, and just outside in 2024. This season, he is the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and has deservedly earned a recall and will hope to make it count. Abbas is 10 wickets away from 100 in Test cricket and if he gets there, will be the 20th bowler from Pakistan to reach the landmark.Team newsBoth Keshav Maharaj (groin strain) and Wiaan Mulder (broken finger) passed fitness tests ahead of the match but are not deemed match-fit yet. South Africa have chosen to go in without a frontline spinner – and without spin-bowling allrounder Senuran Muthusamy – and opted for a 7-4 split. Corbin Bosch, who bowls above 140kph regularly, will debut at his home ground and share bowling duties with Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson and Marco Jansen. Ryan Rickelton has been retained at No.3 with Tristan Stubbs moving to No.4.South Africa (probable): 1 Tony de Zorzi, 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Ryan Rickelton, 4 Tristan Stubbs, 5 Temba Bavuma (capt), 6 David Bedingham, 7 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Dane Paterson, 11 Corbin Bosch.Pakistan could follow South Africa’s lead and go all-pace, which would mean no space for Noman Ali, though they would still have Salman Agha at their disposal. In the seam department, then, Abbas, Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad are likely to partner the 21-year old attack leader, Naseem Shah.Pakistan (probable): 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Shan Masood (capt), 4 Babar Azam, 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Salman Ali Agha, 8 Aamer Jamal, 9 Khurram Shahzad, 10 Naseem Shah, 11 Mohammad AbbasIt has been nearly 18 years since Pakistan won a Test match in South Africa•Getty ImagesPitch and conditionsThere has been significant rainfall on the Highveld in the lead-up to this Test match, which has made pitch preparation at SuperSport Park “difficult” in the words of one source. Two days out, the surface was fairly green which is in keeping with its reputation. Centurion is the most seamer-friendly wicket in the country, which also makes it the most difficult for batters. While Bavuma said he has “never played on a flat Centurion wicket”, days two and three are usually good for run-scoring, but with overhead cloud batters will “know that your work is going to be cut out for you and you’re going to have to work hard for your runs.” The match may also be interrupted with thunderstorms forecast for the first morning and afternoon and the second and third afternoon.Stats and Trivia Eight batters have scored Test centuries for South Africa in 2024. It’s their joint-most in a calendar year, and their most in 12 years. They have previously had eight centurions in 2004, 2008 and 2012. Pakistan have won two of the 15 Tests they’ve played in South Africa, none since 2007, and none of their three at SuperSport Park. Their two wins have come at St George’s Park and Kingsmead, the grounds that hosted the recent Sri Lanka series. Kagiso Rabada is three wickets away from going past Dale Steyn and becoming the leading wicket-taker at SuperSport Park. Rabada has played just eight Tests at the venue and has only taken fewer than five wickets here on one occasion, against India in 2018. He averages just over seven wickets per Test in Centurion. Since January 2018, there have been seven Tests at SuperSport Park and a clear advantage for seam bowlers. They have taken 227 wickets at 23.22, compared with 16 wickets at 60.62 by spinners. Quotes”We accept and acknowledge the fact that many expectations would have risen on the team. There’ll be pressure that comes with that. But to be honest with you, we’re coming into the series to win the series 2-0. We understand that for us to do that, there’s certain things that we need to do as a team: keep things simple, keep doing the small things right, and allow the results to take care of itself. Obviously, one of those results is qualifying for the WTC final and obviously would like to see ourselves there. But, we’re here now.”
“When I went to Australia, I didn’t get the time to prepare properly. It was my first overseas tour there, and I made mistakes, but also learned what I could change. Here, in similar conditions, I have had the time to prepare and get into a positive frame of mind.”