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Steve Magoffin had feared his first-class career was over six months before he arrived at Sussex as a stopgap overseas signing. Since then the Australian has become one of county cricket’s most stalwart performers

Will Macpherson23-Sep-2015Steve Magoffin readily admits that when he arrived at Sussex for the second game of the 2012 season, whisked in as a quick fix, he was not a “sexy” overseas signing. He was uncapped, not Sussex’s top choice and set to stay just six weeks. Few could have thought, least of all Magoffin, that the gangly seamer would still be there four seasons on – with a deal for another contract penned, an inch from British citizenship and 258* wickets under his belt.From his first game – a nine-for against Lancashire – Magoffin has been Sussex’s metronome. He is quiet, unfussy and unglamorous, with old-fashioned virtues at the heart of his method and absolutely no longing for the limelight, to the point that, at times, he has seemed something of a faceless destroyer.The only certainty has been that would appear in the wicket column. Unfashionable, perhaps, but having taken 28% of Sussex’s Championship wickets since he arrived, there is a case for him being the club’s finest player since Mushtaq Ahmed and the most important overseas signing in England. This season he has been ever-present, shouldering a huge burden (over 3,200 balls as the season reached its final week) in an injury-ravaged attack at times shorn of seven quicks.Did you know?

Steve Magoffin’s first involvement with the Sheffield Shield came not as a player, but as a writer…. for Cricinfo.

In 2001, aged 22 and still three years away from his first-class debut for Western Australia, Magoffin – then on his native Queensland’s books – reported on the Bulls’ late-season victory over WA at the Gabba, on their way to the second of three consecutive titles (in what was then known as the Pura Cup).

This has set minds racing at ESPNcricinfo – was a great Australian correspondent lost because he kept taking too many wickets? Certainly there cannot be many cricketers who can boast reporting on the Shield, then hitting the winning runs 11 years later.

The metronome, however, has an interesting story to tell. Indeed, the stopgap who became the stalwart nearly left the game altogether eight months before he arrived at Sussex. Magoffin played seven seasons for Western Australia (as well as spells at Surrey and Worcestershire, where he met his wife), the last of which – 2010-11, when he was 31 – was entirely ravaged by injury and he was released.”At that stage it was impossible not to wonder whether my professional career was over,” says Magoffin. “You get the meeting where you’re told they are moving in a different direction, which you react to in the only obvious way: anger and disappointment. I tried to secure something at another State and sides were interested but couldn’t commit.”I decided to move back to Queensland to my old club Western Suburbs to play grade cricket. I’ve no doubt that those few months are the reason I’m still going well now. Rocking up on Tuesday night, under poor lighting with average cricket balls with old mates, I fell back in love with the game.”I did a bit of coaching too. I just decided to give it one season and see. Darren Lehmann and Trevor Hohns were clear that just because I wasn’t contracted then didn’t mean I wasn’t a chance to play. I hit my straps immediately and ended up playing Queensland’s first 50-over game, and by the end of the season I’d hit the winning runs in the Sheffield Shield Final! Looking back, for that to be my last moment in Australian cricket, especially with it being for my home state, was unbelievable.”It was not his plan for that to be his final act in Australian cricket. Since his spell with Worcestershire in 2008, overseas player regulations had changed – with his lack of international experience rendering him ineligible – and then changed again – permitting him to play on a spouse visa.

‘In eight months, I went from no job in cricket at all to winning the Shield and being here. Four years later, the rest was history’

So when, a few weeks after that Shield triumph of 2012, Tim Southee was forced to pull out of a deal with Sussex, in came Magoffin on a six-week deal. It was not long before Mark Robinson, Sussex’s director of cricket, recognised his ability.”I started well and Robbo was keen for me to stay, so I blagged a couple of extra weeks, before Queensland said I had to come back for pre-season. At that stage, we decided that if I could secure cricket in England for the following season, we’d stay for good. It was a good time for us, as my thoughts of higher honours were gone and my wife was pregnant and due in December that year. That was a big motivating factor, with her family being in Worcester. Sussex signed me up, I made the call to Queensland, and that was that.”In eight months, I went from no job in cricket at all to winning the Shield and being here. Four years later, the rest is history. It’s funny to think that if I hadn’t made an impact in grade cricket by Christmas, none of this would ever have happened.”A Sheffield Shield triumph began Magoffin’s recovery•Getty Images’This’ has turned out to be wickets, by the bucketload, by finding movement in the air, and hitting the seam on a fourth stump line and good length. “I wasn’t a high-profile signing, and wasn’t the type of person people expected Sussex to sign. I wasn’t an international, had only played six first-class games in 18 months and there was no press entourage. I had no choice but to prove myself quickly, and make people sit up.”The pitches here work for me. I understand how to get the best from them. There are definite phases of the season: early doors on the green seamers it is tough work for the batters. As a bowler you are looking to set your season up by the end of June. Then you move on and work out ways to stay in the game when things don’t quite suit you. I’ve always been able to hit the seam, and the Dukes ball helps. When I was younger, I wouldn’t have been patient enough when conditions weren’t right but now, I know what I’m good at, what works when, and I don’t need great pace to succeed.”What Australia would have given for such knowledge during the Ashes. Magoffin’s style is something of a throwback, but so is what he represents: a reminder of the days of Law, Love and the like – classy, seldom-capped Australians making hay in the shires.Now, though, there is one final box for Magoffin to tick: officially turning his back on Australia. His British citizenship application is being processed by the Home Office, which opens up exciting possibilities for Sussex. During the latter half of the season, the club have been on tenterhooks waiting for approval, with rumours abound that Yasir Shah was set to join with Magoffin playing as a local.It has not come through quickly enough, but in 2016, who knows: Magoffin will be at Hove, and if Sussex avoid relegation – they need nine points from their final game, away at champions Yorkshire to be in charge of their own destiny – it will be as much down to his 66* wickets as any other individual contribution. What a happy six-week stay it has turned out to be.* Figures correct to the end of Yorkshire’s first innings against Sussex on September 23

With India’s bowling coming good in the World Twenty20, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have not been tested but they need to sort their techniques and mindsets to match their ODI successes

Abhishek Purohit27-Mar-20148:20

Manjrekar: Worried about India openers’ form

Few gave India a chance going into the Champions Trophy last year. They had chosen a young squad over a few established names, and had a fresh pair of openers. One of them was making a comeback to the one-day side, albeit after a spectacular Test debut. The other had only recently been converted into an opener following several underwhelming years in the middle order.Few would have expected Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma to start the Champions Trophy with partnerships of 127, 101, 58 and 77. It was even more of a surprise than India’s roaring bowling form has been in the World T20 so far. Dhawan and Rohit went on to establish themselves as the first-choice limited-overs opening pair for India. They average nearly fifty in ODIs and have ten fifty-plus stands in 31 innings.In the World T20, the expectations have ratcheted up significantly from the duo. They have become a hit pair in one limited-overs format, and are expected to carry that success into the shorter one as well. The bowling surprise has meant that they have not really been tested so far, and India will be hoping they will deliver when they come up against one, which will surely happen at some stage in the tournament, if not against Bangladesh on Friday.While they may have spent plenty of time together in the middle in ODIs, Rohit and Dhawan had only one opening stand in T20s coming into this world event, worth 12 runs against Australia in October last year in Rajkot. India do not play much international T20 cricket, and the dynamics of opening in ODIs and T20s are vastly different.Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan must fall back on the familiarity of their ODI partnership to tide over their lack of experience as a pair in T20s•BCCIRohit is not a natural opener, and it is well known now that he likes to take his time in ODIs, occasionally at the cost of the flow of an innings. He has opened in T20s before – in the 2009 World T20 – but most of his innings previously in the format have come in the middle order. He made 24 off 21 before falling against Pakistan but once he got in against West Indies, he ensured he remained there until the end, finishing on an unbeaten 62 off 55. He’s largely done what was required of him in those chases, especially against West Indies. As Rohit will know, his real challenge will come when he will not have the leeway of a benign asking-rate, especially if India’s bowlers have an overdue off-day and he is handed a stiff chase.Dhawan has a bigger challenge. Against Pakistan, he charged at Umar Gul and heaved a top-edge off a short ball once more but that is not his challenge. It can be argued he will have no choice but to attack the short ball in this format, and will have to make do with his tendency to get out in doing so. It is spin he has to combat. Mohammad Hafeez had a leg before appeal against Dhawan off the first ball the batsman faced in an unconvincing effort against Pakistan. Against West Indies, he was given leg-before off the third ball against Samuel Badree, although it was a poor decision with the ball appearing to miss leg. Like he did against Badree, Dhawan often gets cramped on the back foot and becomes vulnerable to the incoming or straighter delivery. It is not even a question of blocking away such balls; he is often too late bringing down his bat on them.With tougher tests lying in wait, what Rohit and Dhawan will have to fall back on is the mutual understanding they have developed since June 2013, according to Rohit.”When you have the right combination going around and you’ve batted for a while, together, you understand each other very well,” Rohit said. “These things really matter when you play the short format. All those little things like running between the wickets and taking singles really matter. We’ve had a good understanding and a good run for the last year or so.”The team expects a lot of us because we’re the ones who set the tone for the games. It’s important for us to take on that challenge. It’s very important what you do in the first six overs in this format – whether you bat or bowl. As openers, it’s important we give the team a good start. We know we’ve got a good middle order to capitalize.”That is the difference between the Champions Trophy and the World T20. The team, as well as the fans, now expect “a lot” from Rohit and Dhawan. Those expectations are about coming good on a night when India will dearly need them to.

While fans anticipated some response to 0-8, the selectors gave it all a farcical turn with strange picks for reserves

Sidharth Monga10-Aug-2012The sight of Kris Srikkanth, the outgoing chairman of selectors, rattling off incoherent sentences and either not respecting or not taking questions around the logic of selections is all too common. On Friday afternoon, he said he was doing so for the last time as his term comes to an end, and for one last time he left a bizarre selection unexplained. Before the meeting, the fans were all interested in seeing how the selectors respond to the eight straight overseas Test defeats and whether they look to late 2013 and 2014 when India tour South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia, but the Indian selectors gave it all a farcical turn with strange picks for the reserves.There were legitimate questions and anticipation in the fan’s mind. Will the selectors deem Virender Sehwag good enough to open on the four away tours come late 2013 (his average on his last four tours to those countries is 24, 28, 10 and 26 respectively) and risk a new opener in those conditions should he fail? Or will they try him in the middle order now that there are going to be vacancies? Is VVS Laxman going to make it to 2014? If not, how long will he be picked? Laxman has had only one really miserable series and merits a place in the side, especially with Rahul Dravid just retired, but will the selectors give out any pointers to the future? Does Zaheer Khan look good to go on till those away tours?And yet, the team sheets rolled out were such that you forgot all those big questions and started to try and get your head around other selections. And no, Yuvraj Singh’s comeback is not the inexplicable one. On surface it might seem like an emotional move, considering he has not proved match fitness yet, but this is also a calculated risk. Before the World Twenty20, there are two T20s against New Zealand, and before that there is the Buchi Babu tournament. So if things don’t go to plan, Yuvraj can be replaced for the big one, but if he is fit there is no need to restate the kind of matchwinner he can be on the big day.It’s the other picks that leave you flummoxed. What, for example, has Piyush Chawla done to earn both a Test and T20 recall? Is there any phantom tournament you have missed and only the selectors have watched? An average of 40 in the last Ranji Trophy, and an average of 26 and economy-rate of 7.35 in the last IPL, didn’t exactly dare the selectors to not pick him. He wasn’t even considered good enough for India A’s last tour.It’s interesting to look at the two spinners who have been pushed out because of Chawla’s return. It seems there is more than cricket to the sudden exclusion of Rahul Sharma from both the Test and T20 side. Last checked his bounce and accuracy had everybody impressed. Now he is nowhere to be seen. If this is disciplinary action for the alleged positive dope test at a party, the BCCI will be better off to say so.And what of Pragyan Ojha then? He can take the ball away from the right-hand batsmen too, he has been more impressive in IPL, he has done well in home Tests, his stats after limited opportunities in limited-overs internationals are not bad (economy rates of 4.46 and 6.28 in ODIs and T20Is), but for some reason in the game of musical chairs being played among the Indian spinners, Ojha is often the man standing up when the music stops.It is true that selection is not based on stats alone, but India have already burnt their fingers with a similar punt on Chawla in the last year’s 50-over World Cup. A much more understandable yet surprising punt is Harbhajan Singh, who brings with him experience, proven combative qualities and decent containment role during the Twenty20 leagues. And while we are at it, if Rahul is indeed being disciplined and if you were told there were only two Test spinners left in India – Chawla and Harbhajan – who’d you rather go with? A similarly understandable gamble is L Balaji, who went for 5.4 an over in the IPL, but Praveen Kumar’s absence continues to confound.The last time Chawla was picked for India, Rohit Sharma was primed for a place in the World Cup squad and had to make way. Rohit doesn’t lose out on his World Cup place this time, but he has been denied the Test bench he warmed with such frustration in Australia, coming desperately close to a debut. Granted he has failed in ODIs in Sri Lanka, but how does it earn him a T20 reward and cost him a Test place? Suresh Raina, on the other hand, has played his role in late middle order in ODIs commendably, but has he done enough since he was dropped from Tests last year to allay the concerns against Raina the Test batsman?Ishant Sharma, who bucked the trend of picking IPL over internationals and underwent ankle surgery, has yet to prove his match fitness but is back in the Test squad. Unlike Yuvraj, Ishant will hardly get any opportunity to do so before the first Test begins on August 23. This is a selection coming from a committee that had vowed to make proven fitness a non-negotiable after the debacle in England last year.And guess who is back as vice-captain of the T20 side? Gautam Gambhir, who lost that slot for unexplained reasons after Australia, has now somehow usurped Virat Kohli, who was the vice-captain until the recently concluded tour of Sri Lanka. The Test side continues to be without one.Srikkanth, though, as the chairman and the public face of the selection committee, doesn’t have the time to throw more light on these selections. “I’m in a rush,” he says. The BCCI could just as well not announce the team, and let people find out on the day of the match.

Gautam Gambhir and Mithun Manhas, with their mature, tempered approach to Delhi’s chase, added a refreshing touch to a game designed for big hits

Jamie Alter at the PCA Stadium in Mohali13-Mar-2010This is delicate business, the kind of old-school art that usually gets crushed under the boots of the trendy. While the IPL thrives on swaggering studs with jackhammer forehands that can pull and whack a cricket ball, it is easy to overlook the more subtle but no-less-significant batsmen who have the ability to score briskly while stabilising an innings. Such were the valuable contributions of Gautam Gambhir and Mithun Manhas under pressure that allowed the Delhi Daredevils to pull off what turned out to be a challenging chase of a not-too-stiff target.On a surface not suited to the feverish approach of the Yuvrajs, Sehwags and Dilshans, Gambhir was forced to take the initiative once Delhi had lost early wickets. With the ball occasionally stopping, and the odd one staying low, it was evident that steady accumulation rather than hell-for-leather was the right way to go. Ravi Bopara had succeeded in much the same manner in the first innings, when some of his team-mates perished to frenetic shots.By the time Gambhir took guard to face his third delivery, Delhi were 10 for 2 with Sehwag and Dilshan gone. Gambhir did very well to rein in his game, keeping the ball along the ground until the 19th over, and took control as Delhi began to get out of a hole. Crucially, there were plenty of scurried singles and hurried twos. There was the odd clip off the toes and the inside-out drive, but by and large Gambhir gathered his runs with straight-bat strokes that the pitch and situation demanded.There were no slogs, the running was calculated, and the majority of runs came through the arc behind point with delicate placement; the late cut, nay dab, was Gambhir’s preferred weapon of attack. In a format which fans throng to for audacious hits, and on a day in which Yusuf Pathan’s amazing 37-ball 100 sent temperatures soaring in Mumbai, Gambhir’s toned-down innings stood out like a beacon.When Gambhir and Manhas – they go back a ways playing for their state in the various domestic competitions – punched gloves upon linking up in the middle, Delhi’s chase was in some trouble at 79 for 4 in the 13th over. Delhi’s middle order had been known for its fallibility over the past two seasons of the IPL and Gambhir and Manhas were left needing to get 64 runs in 46 balls.The last time these two teams played each other at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, it was Punjab who won chasing with four wickets and three deliveries remaining. On that occasion Gambhir, with Delhi batting first, had become the visitors’ third early casualty with a needless rush of blood to the head that resulted in a tame chip to Yuvraj Singh at mid-off. Then, Gambhir walked away shaking his bowed head. Tonight he ensured no such mistake.Gambhir added 34 in 29 balls with Dinesh Karthik to keep the crowd anxious, and, combining with Manhas, then hit 61 from just 42 – including 15 runs off five balls from Ramesh Powar – to help Delhi home with one ball to spare. Karthik’s 20 contained three boundaries, two gracefully executed and one brutally slogged, but an ambitious hoick left the game teasingly poised.However, instead of letting the situation get to him, Manhas buckled down and played the sort of cool innings that low-key Indian domestic players the league over need to sit up and take notice of. His strokeplay was controlled, displaying risk-free batting until one miscue was dropped at long-on by Irfan Pathan. He replied by whacking two crucial boundaries, the second of which sealed the match off the penultimate delivery.Manhas today played the kind of innings Delhi needed from their middle order in the past. In 2008, they lost four games on the trot as the middle order fumbled, and in 2009, when the tournament moved to South Africa and Gambhir and Sehwag failed to repeat their 2008 feats, Delhi were again let down by those who followed.Delhi, after choking twice at the semi-final stage in the last two IPLs, are nearing the point where precedes their aspirations, or a is attached to the suggestion that they can win the league. With more such contributions under pressure, and in the same cool and uncomplicated manner they scored their runs tonight, the likes of Gambhir and Manhas could prove guiding forces for a side more accustomed to velocity than Velcro.

Ellyse Perry is not one to go overboard with celebrations and indulgences. She boasts of an enviable CV across sports – having played World Cups in football as well as cricket for Australia – and has seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows the sport has to offer.But after her T20 best figures of 6 for 15 against Mumbai Indians in Delhi, the Royal Challengers Bangalore allrounder let her hair down a bit.”Last night I had a chocolate brownie with the girls and some ice cream,” Perry laughed in a media interaction on Wednesday. “I then went to my room, put my red light glasses and read a few chapters of a book and fell asleep.”But she was quick to put the performance in perspective – she had bowled only six overs in WPL 2024 before Tuesday and was wicketless. She started with a two-run over before picking up two wickets each in the last three overs to become only the second Australian after Rhiannon Dick to return six wickets in women’s T20s.Related

• How Minnu Mani overcame adversity to make her mark in the WPL

• WPL final: Of hope, inspiration and the prospect of a new champion

• The rise of captain Smriti Mandhana

• Mature Mandhana rides the WPL storm in two contrasting seasons

• Grace Harris doesn't want to be the big dog, just the best player she can be

“It’s easy to get really carried away when things go well,” Perry said. “But I feel like a lot of time you don’t have that much control over things panning well or not. You certainly work hard to put yourself in pretty good positions but there’s so many other factors that go into any game, and the outcome.”Especially as I have got older, I don’t really want to react either way – whether it’s a good night or a bad night. The sun comes up the next day. Fortunately, in this competition, there is always another opportunity to play games quickly. Whether it goes well or not, we are so lucky to be in the middle with these ridiculously big crowd who are so fanatical about it.”It’s a far-cry from what it was like when I first started playing some years ago. There wasn’t really anyone coming to our games, and certainly no interest in the sport like there is no. When it does go well it doesn’t feel like you have got too much control over it, other than the hard work you have put into it. It’s easy to kind of just enjoy it for the moment when it lasts and life goes on quickly after that.”Given the plethora of allrounders at Australia’s disposal, Perry has had a reduced bowling workload in recent times. In Australia’s tour of India at the turn of the year, she did not bowl at all in the white-ball games and sent down only four overs in the one-off Test. She then sent down 16 overs in the Test and four overs each in the ODIs and T20Is in the multi-format series at home against South Africa. But that does not change the way Perry trains ahead of a game.”I have played for a long period of time now, so I have got a bit of a handle on how I need to prepare. There is always opportunity before a match to bowl overs out in the middle while warming up. I do that keeping in mind that you are available if the opportunity presents itself to bowl in a game. [I have] been playing solidly for the last 18 months now, I don’t feel like I am short on cricket or overs. Whenever there is a chance to contribute to the team, it’s being ready for that.”Soon after the WPL ends, Perry will link up with Australia for their first women’s tour of Bangladesh. They play three ODIs and as many T20Is – all in Mirpur – in conditions where the Women’s T20 World Cup will be played later this year. Has Perry made a compelling case for her national captain Alyssa Healy to utilise her more with the ball in those competitions?Perry followed up her 6 for 15 with an important cameo•BCCI

“I don’t think there is a case for anything,” she said. “I have played a lot of cricket over a number of years. We have been pretty fortunate in the Australian team that we have a lot of options. Here we have got a lot of bowling options with RCB.”From my perspective, what I love doing as a player and something that keeps me motivated is to keep working on things and try to get better. I spent a lot of time last couple of years working on that. I feel like there’s been bits and pieces that have helped me feel confident that at times I can contribute when needed. At the same time it’s not a big deal either way. I just enjoy being part of a team where we are all working towards the same goal.”RCB started WPL 2023 with five losses but have made the playoffs in 2024. They will take on Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator on Friday in Delhi. Head coach Luke Williams was the new major addition for them this season while Smriti Mandhana has looked assured as the captain. What has been the reason for RCB’s change in fortunes?”There’s a really strong sense of calmness and people are enjoying themselves. Luke Williams has brought a lot to the group from that perspective,” Perry said. “He has been clear from the start along with the other coaches, just to give us all the confidence and clarity that our best cricket will be competitive enough in this competition. The team, as a whole, has had more time together. Last year we took a time to find our feet.”Smriti has led the group exceptionally well. Her personality is quite introverted. She is big on developing relationships with each player and really making sure that she knows we are supporting her, but also she’s been able to develop that relationship with us. That takes time but there is so much upside to that. The fact that we can take the field knowing each other and supporting each other has been great.”

Enzo Maresca insists Enzo Fernandez will remain a Chelsea player next season despite persistent links with Real Madrid.

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Fernandez linked with Real MadridMaresca rules out Chelsea exitStresses his importance for BluesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 24-year-old sent fans into overdrive after admitting he "always" plays as Real Madrid on EA Sports FC, at a time when the Argentine has been credited with interest from the Spanish giants. However, Blues head coach Maresca seemed to suggest the former Benfica man is going nowhere this summer.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT MARESCA SAID

When asked if Fernandez would be staying at Chelsea, he replied: "Yes."

Maresca added: “It’s a main player for us. He’s one of the captains, he’s one of the leaders. This season he has been very good. He can be even better next season, starting from the first day. Nothing to say about speculation. His focus is on us and this is the most important thing."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

This also comes when reports suggest Fernandez has been spotted house-hunting in Madrid. However, the Argentine still has a Chelsea contract until 2032 and if they did let him leave, they would likely ask for more than the £106.8 million ($143m) they paid to Benfica back in 2023.

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT?

Aside from transfer speculation, Chelsea round off their regular season away at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday – as they aim for a Champions League spot next term – before taking on Real Betis next Wednesday in the Europa Conference League final.

Former Manchester United player Eric Bailly is returning to La Liga after rejecting a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.

• Bailly to return to La Liga
• Former Manchester United defender snubs move to Saudi Arabia
• Medicals to be completed today

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Real Oviedo are set to sign Bailly. The defender travelled to Spain yesterday and is set to undergo his medicals on Monday. In the process of signing for Oviedo, the 31-year-old has snubbed a move to Saudi Arabia.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bailly gained immense popularity after his move to Manchester United back in 2016. Under the mentorship of Jose Mourinho, he, along with his teammates, lifted the Europa League, United's only continental trophy in the last 10 years. In 2023, he joined Besiktas and the following year signed for Villarreal in La Liga. His contract expired at the end of the season, and now he is set to sign for newly promoted La Liga side Oviedo, who finished third in Segunda Division last term.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bailly played the most games in his career for United – as he clocked 113 appearances at Old Trafford.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BAILLY?

  Bailly will join training at Oviedo after his medicals and will be expected to feature for them in the upcoming La Liga games, especially the one against Real Madrid on August 24.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo iniciou a primeira semana de 2023 confirmando as contratações de Gerson e do técnico Vítor Pereira. O clube está ativo no mercado e o vice-presidente de futebol Marcos Braz, em entrevista coletiva nesta terça-feira, falou sobre a movimentação para aquisição de novos atletas. De acordo com o dirigente, não há negociação em andamento pelo goleiro Agustín Rossi, do Boca Juniors, ou pelo meia Juan Quintero, que estava emprestado ao River Plate pelo Shenzhen FC (CHN) até dezembro.

-São dois grandes jogadores. O Rossi já é um desejo antigo do Flamengo, desde o começo de 2022. Chegamos a fazer um comunicado com o Boca Jrs para saber as possibilidades, entendemos as razões de não seguirem a negociação, tinha o campeonato nacional e isso ficou um pouco em banho maria, até pelo contrato dele até o meio de 2023. Na época, não era possível, mas não tem absolutamente nada com esses jogadores – afirmou Marcos Braz, vice-presidente de futebol do Fla:

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-Depois que o Vítor foi contratado, todas análises que fizemos nós conversamos com ele. Ouvimos e dávamos a nossa opinião. Isso é feito sistematicamente. Conversamos com ele em todos os sentidos – completou o dirigente, referindo-se ao técnico Vítor Pereira, apresentado nesta terça-feira.

Confira outras respostas de Marcos Braz, vice-presidente de futebol do Flamengo, nesta terça-feira:

Chegada de Gerson ao Flamengo

“O Gerson deu certo na Europa, fez 11 gols, 10 assistências, contribuiu e muito com o Olympique. O jogador pode querer voltar ao Brasil, vai ganhar bem, em dia, com possibilidade de ser campeão. Nesse entendimento, o Olympique tinha o mesmo, por isso não facilitou em nenhum momento a venda dele. Entendiam que era um valor ainda mais do que adquiriram. Por isso, a negociação foi que teve muita paciência, muita criatividade, a estruturação da nossa proposta não foi aceita porque eles não queriam manter um percentual. Fizemos um empenho maior.”

Saída de Dorival Júnior

“Acabei de apresentar um técnico. Fico desconfortável em falar. Quando abordamos o Dorival, lá atrás, fomos sempre respeitosos, cumprimos absolutamente tudo com ele. Uma pessoa que, pelo menos, eu, não tenho nada a falar. Só que decidimos que teria que ser feito um outro caminho.”

Grande contratação para o Mundial de Clubes?

“Sabíamos que teríamos a janela para contratação. Foi isso que disse à época. Estamos buscando ajustar outras grandes contratações. O que eu falei foi isso: como a janela estava aberta, temos a possibilidade de fazer. O Gerson, para mim, é uma grande contratação. O esforço feito foi enorme, de todas partes. Um jogador que, para mim, volta ainda mais forte e qualificado.

Phil Salt has described his IPL omission as “confusing” after he went unsold at the 2024 mini auction.Salt was expected to be in high demand following a successful debut season with Delhi Capitals where he averaged 27.25 with a strike-rate of 163.91. But despite a base price of 1.5 crore, the England opener went unsold.”It was a confusing morning,” Salt said in the moments after he’d scored a second consecutive T20I hundred for England against the West Indies. “I expected to be picked up, having gone there last year and done well and after the year that I’ve had, but these things happen. It’s part of the lottery of an auction, it happens in draft processes as well. There’s a few lads in our dressing room who are going to have a very good Christmas and I’m over the moon for them.Related

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“I was a bit confused but it can happen. There’s no bad cricketers on the list at the IPL. It’s one of those things.”England opener had purposely slept in late in order to miss as much of the auction as possible, with his agent giving him texts to update on how things were going. The timing of Salt’s snub is particularly incongruous given his international form which has seen him score back-to-back centuries for England who have won two on the bounce to tie their five-match series against the West Indies at two apiece. Until four days ago, Salt hadn’t scored a professional T20 hundred, now he has made two.”It was probably a little bit of it, subconsciously,” Salt said of whether his IPL snub had motivated his innings of 119 today. “I’m very aware of how lucky I am to be here playing cricket.”I’m playing good cricket, I’m doing what I came out here to do. More importantly than that, the boys have really pulled together and shown what a good team we are. The West Indies are a very good side that we’re playing against so to win back-to-back games and force the decider in a couple of days’ time, I’m chuffed.”Salt’s innings of 119 off off 57 balls in Trinidad was the highest-ever score in T20I by an English player and backed up his effort of 109 not out off 56 on Saturday.Salt had spoken previously of his disappointment at failing to turn starts in an England shirt into big scores, a trait that he has brought to an emphatic close in the last 72 hours.Alongside captain Jos Buttler, the pair has combined for back-to-back hundred run partnerships, with their effort in Trinidad the fastest century stand in England’s history, coming off just 52 balls.”When we’re in the middle, it’s more getting me back in my box,” Salt said of Buttler’s advice whilst the pair were batting together. “It’s either ‘you’re doing really well’ or ‘drop it down a gear’. We’ve had some good conversations away from the game, we’ve enjoyed spending time around each other as a group so we’re going nicely.”England went on to score 267 for 3, their highest ever T20 score and the second highest by a Full Member nation. Salt himself reached his century off 48 balls, muscling 10 sixes along the way.”I’ve worked specifically on hitting sixes over the off-side. I’ve always been good at hitting the sight screen and going over the leg-side. When Jason Holder took the pace off wide and I hit it over the offside, something Jos said to me was ‘teams can’t bowl to you’. That’s an area I’ve been working on for a good while so it’s good to see it’s working.”

South Africa had some nervy moments beating Afghanistan and also suffered an injury scare to their captain

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-20231:45

The importance of van der Dussen

–Fixtures | Squads | Points table | Tournament IndexTop Story: van der Dussen and Phehlukwayo seal nervy chase for South AfricaA 62-ball partnership of 65 between Rassie van der Dussen and Andile Phehlukwayo shepherded South Africa to a win against Afghanistan in their last league-stage game of the 2023 ODI World Cup, ensuring they didn’t stutter in a tricky chase before their semi-final against Australia.Phehlukwayo came in as the No. 7 with South Africa needing 63 but with Afghanistan’s spinners then possessing the game’s momentum. Phehlukwayo finished the game with 6, 4, 6 to finish unbeaten on 39 while van der Dussen controlled the chase with his 95-ball 76*.Rassie van der Dussen held the chase together•AFP/Getty ImagesIn the afternoon, Gerald Coetzee (4-44) and Keshav Maharaj (2-25) had ensured Afghanistan could only make 244 in 50 overs. In fact, the target could’ve been much less had it not been for Azmatullah Omarzai’s unbeaten 97 that expertly held the crumbling Afghanistan innings together.Click here for the full reportNews headlinesSouth Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma could be a doubt for their semi-final against Australia – more than likely to be in Kolkata on Thursday – after sustaining a hamstring injury during their final league match against Afghanistan in Ahmedabad.
Allan Donald is ending his time as Bangladesh’s fast-bowling coach after their World Cup campaign. He informed ESPNcricinfo that he had initially agreed to a one-year extension to his contract, but has since realised that he wants to give more time to his family back home.Must Watch: Did Temba Bavuma take a risk too many?1:35

Should injured Bavuma have continued playing?

Match previewsAustralia vs Bangladesh, Pune (10.30 IST; 5.00 GMT; 4.00pm AEDT)3:01

Vettori: Zampa’s control of length makes him ‘almost unplayable’

Before Glenn Maxwell unleashed the most surreal batting imaginable, Australia appeared headed for a hefty defeat against Afghanistan and almost getting into must-win territory against Bangladesh. That nervy scenario was alleviated by Maxwell, who powered Australia into a semi-final against South Africa. But Australia won’t be treating this as a dead rubber and will field their strongest available line-up for the clash in Pune.Even though Australia have won six consecutive matches, after such a rocky start, their form has been patchy at times. They’ve been relying on individual brilliance – none more so than Maxwell’s tour de force – rather than a collective.Full previewTeam newsAustralia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Travis Head, 3 Mitchell Marsh, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Marcus Stoinis/Marnus Labuschagne, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh HazlewoodBangladesh 1 Litton Das, 2 Tanzid Hasan/Anamul Haque, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 7 Nasum Ahmed/Mahedi Hasan, 8 Towhid Hridoy, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Shoriful IslamEngland vs Pakistan, Kolkata (2pm IST; 8.30am GMT; 7.30pm AEDT)4:26

Harmison: Even if some England careers finish, they have been absolutely outstanding

So here we are: one last time in the group stages at Eden Gardens, and for both of these sides – almost certainly – one last time at this World Cup. As title defences go, it was an all-timer of a disaster for England, comparable not just with other cricketing fizzle-fests, but perhaps all sport: think France at the FIFA World Cup in 2002, or Lleyton Hewitt’s first-round exit at Wimbledon the year later. England went nearly a month between their only two World Cup wins, with six defeats – many of them pastings – littering their campaign, one so poor it could yet knock them out of the 2025 Champions Trophy.Against Pakistan, though, they have the chance to sign off a wretched tournament on something resembling a high. Several of this England squad may not wear an ODI shirt again – certainly not in a World Cup – and it’s perhaps fitting that the last side they play against before their likely break-up is Pakistan.Full previewTeam newsEngland 1 Jonny Bairstow, 2 Dawid Malan, 3 Joe Root, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jos Buttler (capt/wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 David Willey, 10 Gus Atkinson, 11 Adil RashidPakistan 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Iftikhar Ahmed, 7 Agha Salman, 8 Hasan Ali, 9 Mohammad Wasim Jnr, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11 Haris RaufComment: England’s golden generation faces the end of an eraIt is the end of an era. England will lose their status as reigning champions in both men’s white-ball formats next Sunday, and the golden generation of players who underpinned their unprecedented limited-overs success will splinter. Saturday’s fixture against Pakistan in Kolkata will be the final match of several storied ODI careers.David Willey has already announced his international retirement, and while there is no incentive for others to follow suit – they all have central contracts which run until September 2024 or beyond – there is widespread recognition that England need to rejuvenate. After all, 11 of their 15-man squad are aged 30 or older.Read the full piece by Matt Roller in Kolkata