West Ham United could have an issue in trying to keep one of their star men as David Moyes looks to continue his good work at the London Stadium, according to reports.

West Ham transfer priorities…

The Hammers have made positive inroads within the Premier League campaign across 2023/24 and will understandably be looking to add some star quality in the January window after recruiting the likes of Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mohammed Kudus in the summer.

Of course, moves for Manchester United pair Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire also fell by the wayside, signalling that Moyes does have designs on adding some extra bodies to his squad midway through the campaign.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on where West Ham United could look to add in January, stating in his Daily Briefing (via CaughtOffside) that a striker arrival could be in the offing at the London Stadium: "No clarity on names yet, but West Ham are exploring the market for sure and a new striker could join in 2024. It’s not something advanced as of today, it’s too early. The Hammers are happy with new signings like Kudus and so they’re not in a rush."

Journalist Rudy Galetti has confirmed that Maguire is still a target for West Ham United, while his teammate, Anthony Martial, is also someone who could be courted in the next window or two by Moyes as he searches for some extra reinforcements in attack.

Midfield is another area where West Ham may look to add some fresh energy, and reports suggest that Sassuolo ace Daniel Boloca is in the Hammers' sights as they look to add more options to their engine room.

Nevertheless, one of West Ham's star men could now depart in the near future, which would give Moyes a serious headache to consider if recent developments are anything to go by.

West Ham summer signings
Player	Previous club	Fee
Mohammed Kudus	Ajax	£38m
Andy Irving	SK Austria Klagenfurt	Undisclosed
Edson Alvarez	Ajax	£35.4m
Konstantinos Mavropanos	Stuttgart	£19m
James Ward-Prowse	Southampton	£30m
All fees courtesy of Sky Sports News

Inter monitoring Tomas Soucek

According to a transfer update from Italy (via Sport Witness), Inter are monitoring West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek, who could leave the London Stadium in 2024 when his contract at the club is set to expire.

Despite West Ham having the option to extend his deal by a further 12 months, it is said that the Serie A giants believe that they can strike an agreement with the 28-year-old either way. Inter also scouted the enforcer when Czechia took on Albania during the last international break.

Becoming something of an icon at West Ham, Soucek, who has previously been dubbed "great" by Irons boss Moyes, had registered 26 goals and nine assists in 169 appearances in all competitions for his current employers prior to their Premier League clash against Brentford this weekend (Soucek statistics – Transfermarkt).

Nevertheless, one of Europe's giants could now try to steal him away from West Ham in the near future; however, we will need to wait and see on that front.

Owing to the seriousness of the charges, the incumbent bowling coach of the Sri Lanka A team has been suspended with immediate effect

Madushka Balasuriya31-Oct-2018

Nuwan Zoysa at a training session•Aamir Qureshi/AFP

Nuwan Zoysa has been charged with three counts of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code. Owing to the seriousness of the charges, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has sent Zoysa on “compulsory leave”, with immediate effect.Although he has never directly worked with the national team, Zoysa is the incumbent bowling coach of the Sri Lanka A team, and was part of tours of West Indies and Bangladesh this year. He has been a fast-bowling coach in the Sri Lankan set up since September 2015, and had coached the Indian domestic team Goa prior to that.Zoysa stands accused of being involved in attempting to fix or otherwise influence improperly the result or other aspects of an international match, of soliciting fellow professionals to do the same, and for failing to disclose any approach by potential fixers to the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit.Zoysa becomes the second former Sri Lankan cricketer in less than a month to be charged by the ICC on grounds of corruption, as part of the ICC’s ongoing probe into serious allegations of corruption in Sri Lanka.Earlier this month Zoysa’s former captain and teammate, Sanath Jayasuriya, was charged by the ACU over his failure to cooperate in their investigation. In the wake of this development, ACU general manager Alex Marshall had told ESPNcricinfo that Sri Lanka was “the country where we have conducted the most investigations in the last 12 months”.Zoysa, who retired from international cricket in 2007 having played 30 Tests and 95 ODIs for Sri Lanka, has 14 days from November 1 to respond to the charges.In the media release confirming Zoysa being sent on indefinite leave, SLC also said it has begun work on setting up a “fully-fledged anti-corruption unit” and has spoken to the ICC to seek its help in doing so.”As another forward step, The Competent Authority of the SLC Mr. Kamal Pathmasiri; SLC CEO, Mr. Ashley De Silva and Deputy Solicitor General of the AG’s Department Sumathi Dharmawardena will travel to UK; in the near future; to meet the UK’s Chief Prosecutor; to discuss the modality of setting up such a mechanism in Sri Lanka,” the SLC release stated.”In the meantime, Minister of Sports Honorable Faiszer Musthapa has assured SLC that he will work towards introducing tough anti-corruption laws in Sri Lanka.”Honorable Minister is constantly engaged with the SLC on this matter and is of the view that setting up a prudent anti-corruption mechanism in Sri Lanka is vital for the future of the game.”GMT 1640 The story was updated to include SLC’s response

Thomas Tuchel is a “strange” character, says Lothar Matthaus, and Bayern Munich may have a new manager in place by the time they face Arsenal.

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• German giants struggling for a spark
• Domestic title slipped from their grasp
• Coach may depart earlier than planned

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The German giants, who are poised to surrender their Bundesliga crown to Bayer Leverkusen this season, are due at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday for the first leg of a heavyweight quarter-final clash with Premier League opposition.

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  They head into that tie on the back a humbling 3-2 defeat to Heidenheim that saw them squander a two-goal first-half lead. Harry Kane was on target again in that contest, as the England international reached 38 goals for the season, but the former Tottenham striker may have a new boss calling the shots when returning to the familiar surrounds of north London.

• WHAT MATTHAUS SAID ABOUT BAYERN

  Bayern legend Matthaus believes change could be on the cards in Bavaria, telling : “Last week's embarrassing performance against Dortmund and today's result says a lot. Thomas Tuchel can no longer reach the team, he gives strange press conferences and makes strange statements. I could imagine that Bayern will react in the next 24 to 48 hours, Because it can't continue like this. The team needs a new impulse somehow and Thomas Tuchel can no longer give it.”

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  Bayern have suffered six defeats in the league this season, while also crashing out of domestic cup competition and – with Tuchel already announcing that he will be stepping down at the end of the season – the Champions League now presents the only route to major silverware for Kane and Co at the Allianz Arena.

England star Leah Williamson has opened on her World Cup final regret ahead of her long-awaited return to action with the Lionesses this week.

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Williamson missed England's World Cup final defeatWas sidelined for nine months with ACL injuryReveals 'worst decision' ahead of Lionesses returnWHAT HAPPENED?

Williamson missed last summer's tournament in Australia and New Zealand due to an ACL injury. It robbed her of the opportunity to captain England at a World Cup for the first time, and in a campaign which saw the Lionesses reach the final.

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That injury also sidelined the defender for a long period, meaning she has not played for England since last April. She was set to make her return in February, until a hamstring problem delayed the comeback.

WHAT WILLIAMSON SAID

Speaking ahead of England's clash with Ireland, a game in which she will make her first appearance for her country in 12 months, Williamson talked about her experiences watching the Lionesses while recovering from her knee injury.

Asked if she was as calm in those moments as she often is when on the pitch, she joked: "Being at the World Cup final and sitting next to Jill Scott was one of the worst decisions I've ever made in my whole entire life. Not being at the World Cup final, just sitting next to Jill! I just live and breathe it. I love playing for England but I also love watching England. I was not a calming presence, as I'm probably known for on the pitch. Not on the sidelines."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Williamson's last appearance for England came in April of last year, in a 2-0 defeat to Australia. When she returns to the pitch on Tuesday for the UEFA Women's Euro qualifier against Ireland, it will be two days short of exactly a year since that game.

Of all the traditional 'big six' sides in the Premier League this year, Chelsea have perhaps had the most confusing season.

The Blues started the season in a vein of form no better than last year before going on to thrash Tottenham Hotspur away – while they were top of the league – and holding treble-winning Manchester City to a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge.

It looked like Mauricio Pochettino's men had turned a corner, only for them to fall to an embarrassing 4-1 defeat away to Newcastle United, which was then followed by a win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

In short, the Blues have been consistently inconsistent this year. Still, they could find the game against Manchester United later today even more challenging without their stand-in captain, Conor Gallagher.

The 23-year-old was shown two yellow cards against the Seagulls and will, therefore, be absent for the trip to Old Trafford; while this is undoubtedly a problem for the Pensioners, they have one surprise option: play Noni Madueke.

Noni Madueke's stats this season

Gallagher's sending off on the weekend firmly put the breaks on what has been a relatively impressive season for the Epsom-born midfielder so far this year.

He has gone from a bit part player who looked destined to leave the club over the summer to one that has been given the captain's armband in Reece James' absence – another red card mind – and has generally looked like one of the best players whenever he steps out onto the pitch, registering four assists already this season.

Unfortunately, though, his mindlessness on Sunday has left his manager in the lurch as, despite spending an exorbitant amount of money on new players in the summer, there isn't really a natural replacement for Gallagher in the squad, or is there?

Madueke has been slowly growing into a more prominent role at Chelsea following his £30m move in January, and while he is still firmly a bench player, he has shown glimpses of brilliance along the way.

A goal in the EFL Cup, some impactful substitute appearances, and an impressive record with England's U21s suggest a player ready to make a name for himself at Stanford Bridge. His numbers for this season, while from a much smaller sample size, aren't that much worse than Gallagher's.

Stat

Noni Madueke

Conor Gallagher

Minutes

207

1343

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

4

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.26

0.22

Progressive Carries per 90

6.43

1.65

Progressive Passes per 90

2.86

5.35

Shots on Target per 90

1.30

0.54

Attempted Passes per 90

60.7

56.1

Passing Accuracy

83.5%

88.2%

All Stats via FBref for All Competitions in the 2023/24 Season

The "unreal" 21-year-old, as described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, certainly looks more of a goal threat, and while his passing numbers don't match up, that is fairly understandable given the role he is expected to fulfil in the team.

Now, were he to be played in the central midfield position that has been occupied by Gallagher this evening, we might just see those improve, and while he has played on the wing for the Blues, he was frequently deployed in central midfield as a youth player.

Noni Madueke's stats in central midfield

Now, it has been quite some time since the former PSV man played in the centre of the park – just shy of three years, to be exact – but he was deployed there fairly frequently as a youth player, both for PSV's junior sides and England's U16/17 sides.

He has made 14 competitive appearances as a central midfielder, racking up three goals one assist and coming out on the winning side on eight occasions, only losing three games.

Stat

Noni Madueke

Appearances

14

Goals

3

Assists

1

Minutes

1038

Minutes per Goal Involvement

259

All Stats from Transfermarkt

The other benefit to playing the "brilliant" – as described by former Chelsea player Pat Nevin – youngster in midfield is that it will allow Pochettino to field a front three of Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer, which could be the perfect attack to run amok against a fragile and totally demoralised Man United side.

Ultimately, it will be risky to play Madueke in this role, but given his youth-level experience, the lack of proper alternatives in the side, and the prospect of fielding that front three, it might be the best option for Pochettino.

You always expect celebrities to follow the big clubs, clubs that match their lavish lifestyles, but some just love football. Brighton may well be one of the Premier League’s best sides, but for a long time they struggled.

From Musicians to newsreaders, Football Fancast has taken a look at Brighton & Hove Albion’s most famous fans.

Fatboy Slim

Job: Musician

Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, shares a deep relationship with Brighton & Hove Albion. Cook is not just a passive fan; he's a passionate supporter who has actively contributed to the club's culture, such as unveiling their shirt.

Born on July 31, 1963, in Bromley, England, he's the maestro behind iconic tracks like "Praise You" and "The Rockafeller Skank."

Cook's love for the club is evident through his attendance at games and even DJing at the Amex Stadium. In 2015, he held an exclusive concert at the Amex Stadium, drawing thousands of fans from all over the world to the little seaside town.

Jon Snow

Job: Retired newsreader

No, we're not talking about the Jon Snow from "Game of Thrones," who stands around looking miserable but the original Jon Snow, the now retired newsreader. While he may not be a die-hard Brighton fan, he has demonstrated a genuine affection for the club throughout his career.

Through his career as a newsreader, Jon Snow has had a ringside seat to the club's ups and downs, celebrating their triumphs and empathizing with their struggles. His fondness for Brighton is well known.

With Brighton now in the Premier League under the guidance of Roberto de Zerbi, Jon Snow undoubtedly finds joy in watching the Seagulls take on the big boys.

Simon Cowell

Job: TV Personality

Simon Cowell, the famous music mogul and television personality, has made it onto the list of notable Brighton & Hove Albion supporters, although his connection to the club is more of a passing interest. Cowell is renowned for his work on popular shows like Pop Idol and The X Factor. But, he has confessed that he doesn't have the same level of die-hard fandom that some supporters possess.

Although it's unlikely you'll spot Simon Cowell in the stands, scarf-wrapped and downing pints with the fans, we live in hope that when he's channel-surfing and stumbles upon a Brighton match, he might just stick around to watch.

Cowell's fame in the music industry is undeniable, having played a significant role in bringing popular music and numerous boy/girl bands to the masses. His commitment to securing Christmas number ones is maybe a little over the top.

It may take some silverware to persuade Cowell to turn up to the AMEX, but you never know. Perhaps Tony Bloom can persuade him with the tale of how he fleeced Chelsea for Graham Potter.

Jamie Theakston

Job: TV Personality

“Who’s Jamie Theakston?” we hear you ask, well, we’re glad you did. He’s a very successful ex-cricketer, TV and radio host, most famous for his Heart Breakfast show with Amanda Holden. He also seems like a very good bloke.

While Jamie Theakston's fame spans various forms of entertainment, his beautiful heart belongs to football. His passion for the sport extends beyond Brighton & Hove Albion. He has an impressive history of charity work, and he's notably taken part in Soccer Aid, representing England in the charity football event.

Given his busy schedule, Theakston may not make it to as many Brighton matches as he'd like, but there's no doubt he'll be in around should the Seagulls get their hands on a trophy. His presence at such a time would be a testament to his unwavering support for the club and his genuine love for the beautiful game.

Des Lynam

Job: Retired TV presenter and commentator

Des Lynam, the legendary ex-TV presenter and commentator, possesses a distinctive charm, and one of his signature features is a finely groomed moustache. His enduring presence in the British media landscape spans decades, starting in 1968 and continuing until his retirement in 2013.

Lynam's connection with Brighton & Hove Albion is deeply rooted in his love for the club and the city. He lives in Sussex, keeping himself as close to the Seagulls as he comfortably can without losing his entire life to the AMEX Arena. The club holds a special place in his heart, so much so that he has received offers to join the board, though he's chosen to resist those offers for now.

Just like fellow Brighton fan Jon Snow, Des Lynam has experienced the highs and lows of supporting the Seagulls. He's undoubtedly witnessed the club's trials and tribulations, so let’s hope he gets to see them lift a trophy.

Ralph Brown

Job: Actor

Ralph Brown, the versatile British actor, has an extensive filmography that spans iconic roles, including Danny in "Withnail & I," Leo in "Killing Bono," and Bob in "The Boat that Rocked." While his acting career has taken him to diverse settings, Ralph's true passion lies with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Despite his impressive cinematic achievements, Ralph's heart is firmly rooted in football. He's a dedicated supporter of Brighton, often found cheering them on whenever he gets the chance. His love for the Seagulls is genuine and unwavering, although he occasionally jokes that he'd prefer to be at the stadium instead of on a film set, even if that set is a water tank with Halle Berry in "Dark Tide."

Unable to attend matches while residing in New York, he fondly reminisces about his first Brighton match in 1971, an experience that left a lasting impression. Although he's now living stateside, Ralph continues to find ways to balance his acting career with his love for the club.

Rag ‘n’ Boneman

Job: Musician

Rag 'n' Bone Man, whose real name is Rory Charles Graham, shares a strong and genuine connection with Brighton & Hove Albion that goes beyond just casual fandom. Born in Uckfield, a town near Brighton, he has long been associated with the vibrant music and arts scene of the city.

Rag 'n' Bone Man is not only a well-known musician with hits like "Human" but also an avid supporter of the Seagulls. The fact that he's a local talent has made him popular with members of the community he calls home.

As a prominent figure in the music industry and a devoted Brighton fan, Rag 'n' Bone Man's relationship with the Seagulls is a heart-warming testament to the fact that wherever you ed up, you’ll always support your club.

Robert Bathurst

Job: Actor

Robert Bathurst, the accomplished, classically trained British actor best known for his roles in popular TV series like "Cold Feet" and "Downton Abbey," has a notable connection to Brighton & Hove Albion, a club that has a special place in his heart.

Bathurst's association with the Seagulls goes beyond typical celebrity fandom. Unfortunately, like most celebrity fans, it’s unlikely you’ll see him rocking up at the AMEX too much.

While he may be recognized for his diverse acting roles, including theatre performances and films, Bathurst's passion for Brighton & Hove Albion is unwavering. He trots the globe, but it very vocal about his love for the club.

Robert Bathurst's connection with the club is not just a celebrity endorsement; it's a genuine expression of his affinity for the city and its footballing traditions.

Mark Williams

Job: Actor

Supremely talented British Actor, Mark Williams, has lit up both stage and screen with his remarkable performances. He’s also apparently a Brighton fan. Born on August 22, 1959, in Bromsgrove, England, he's known for his versatile roles in TV shows like "The Fast Show," where his humor and quick wit shone.

However, Williams skyrocketed to global recognition as Arthur Weasley in the "Harry Potter" film series, winning the hearts of millions with his endearing portrayal of the lovable wizard. He's also made a mark in detective dramas, playing Father Brown in the popular TV series.

Williams is said to be a very kind man considering Brighton are such a wholesome club, it feels right that he supports them.

Robert Kazinsky

Job: Actor

Robert Kazinsky, the ruggedly handsome up-and-coming British actor is another Brighton fan. He's best known for his roles in popular TV series and movies, but also has a love for football.

Kazinsky gained recognition for his role as Sean Slater in the long-running British soap opera "EastEnders." Much like the club he loves, he made it from obscurity to the big leagues.

He has since ventured into Hollywood, starring in blockbusters like "Pacific Rim" and "Warcraft,". He’s the Lewis Dunk of action movies, does a great job and is criminally underrated.

Just like Brighton, the only way is up for Kazinsky. Maybe one day he’ll be at the AMEX, showing off an Oscar, or perhaps more likely, a Golden Globe.

From the music maestro Fatboy Slim to the distinguished newsreader Jon Snow (again, not the "Game of Thrones" character), these famous faces have shown genuine affection for Brighton & Hove Albion.

These famous faces may have achieved stardom in various fields, but their love for little ol’ Brighton & Hove Albion is a reminder that the beautiful game knows no boundaries.

Alisha Lehmann has revealed a brand new look ahead of Aston Villa's Women's Super League clash with West Ham.

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• Lehmann reveals shock new look
• Has completely changed her hairstyle
• Villa in action on Sunday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lehmann has taken to Instagram to show off a brand new look ahead of Villa's clash with West Ham in the WSL this weekend. The Switzerland international so regularly wears her hair in a ponytail when playing but she revealed new curly locks in her latest upload.

  Instagram @alishalehmann7

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  THE GOSSIP

  Lehmann has enjoyed a busy week, attending a Brazilian Football Foundation event with her boyfriend Douglas Luiz in midweek. The pair had briefly split up, but reconciled earlier this year, and have repeatedly posted loved-up selfies.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Lehmann has made 12 appearances for Villa this season but has yet to score a goal or register an assist. She has continued to play for Switzerland, however, despite her dismal league form.

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  Lehmann will hope to register her first goal involvement of the season against West Ham next weekend. Villa are currently seventh in the WSL.

Australia’s first day of Test cricket on the new broadcasters, Seven and Fox Sports, was unable to break a wider trend of falling television audience numbers, recording a combined average of fewer than 1 million viewers nationally at peak time in the final session.In April, the two networks shelled out a combined A$1.18 billion to Cricket Australia for the broadcast rights over five years, based in part on the concept that live sport remains one of the few broad-based audience drivers for television. At the same time, the deal contained a sizeable digital component, for streaming rights to Foxtel through their new Kayo app and other existing platforms, but it remains unclear exactly how large that audience is.A move to two parallel broadcasts for Test cricket has been an enormously complicated exercise for CA, Fox Sports and Seven, based largely around the hope that a rising tide of coverage would lift all boats, whether free-to-air or on pay TV. The early signs from day one were that the combined audience would be no larger than that enjoyed exclusively by the Nine Network – typically around the 1 million mark in recent times – for the previous 40 years, with the creep away from traditional television broadcasts to streaming and other forms of entertainment continuing.Seven’s coverage was watched by an average 454,000 viewers nationally in the morning session, rising to 588,000 in the afternoon and peaking at 773,000 in the evening session leading into the national news. Fox Sports, meanwhile, returned an average of 137,000 before lunch, 162,000 in the afternoon and 214,000 in the evening. The combined average figure for the final session was thus 987,000.While comparisons with past broadcasts are affected by the aforementioned move away from television to digital entertainment, these figures ran reasonably close to the equivalent match last summer, the first Test of the Ashes in Brisbane in late November, and the corresponding Test four years ago when Australia played India in Adelaide after the match was rescheduled due to the death of Phillip Hughes. The 2017 third session average for the Gabba Test was 1.361 million.There is a far more significant drop-off, however, if the figures are measured in terms of the five city metropolitan audiences so often quoted by television networks and advertisers alike. According to OzTam figures, the comparison for evening session audiences in 2014, 2017 and 2018 show a major decline, from 874,000 four years ago, to 823,000 last year and a mere 544,000 on Thursday. Changes in metropolitan viewing habits have meant that regional audiences are now propping up overall numbers more significantly than in the past.Seven and Fox Sports were eager to push the “reach” figures tabulated from day one, which are based on the number of people tuning in for at least five minutes across the day, and their enthusiasm was echoed by the CA chief executive Kevin Roberts. “It was moving from the talk off the field to the action on the field and it just saw how cricket is just a positive and uniting force,” he told SEN Radio.”We reached 3.4 million Australians yesterday. The numbers are still being put together, but we do know we reached 3.4 million Australians through the day. The third session went particularly well. I’m sure there were many, many Indians tuning in in different parts of the world as well. I’m just really happy for the players. They deserved the success they had yesterday. It was a brilliant day of Test cricket. Walking that tight rope in recent times, how hard do they go? Our goal is always to win, but our expectation is that we compete with respect. The way they played made me feel proud.”What is not in doubt is that a day Test in Adelaide draws fewer spectators and eyeballs than the day-night fixtures played over each of the past three seasons. Roberts indicated that he was keen to ensure that, in future, the match returned to a floodlit form.”It was actually the second highest crowd we’ve had for a day one Test against India at the Adelaide Oval,” Roberts said of a day one attendance of 23,802. “What we saw was many of those 24,000 yesterday sitting in the shade which meant the stands on the eastern side were quite empty. No doubt we’ll see a far bigger crowd on the weekend. We think we would’ve had 15,000 or so interstate visitors if it was a day-night Test so there’s no doubting we’ve lost that group of fans.”You look at the way fans have embraced it. It matters what the fans think and they’ve voted with their feet. Those numbers are incredible so we’re really excited about getting back to that in the future. Part of that fabric of cricket both nationally and internationally is so rich so we embrace the fact that they’ve had a different view about this Test match. We hope that the sentiment from fans is something India can see.”Adelaide’s crowd on Friday grew to 25,693 in somewhat less hostile weather conditions. CA and broadcasters alike will hope that the television audience follows a similar upward trend.

Handscomb has had his technique picked apart by India, but Australia may want a fifth-bowling option for Melbourne anyway

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Dec-2018

Peter Handscomb had his technique exposed again•Getty Images

The immediate Test future of Peter Handscomb remains the main selection debate for Australia after they named an unchanged 13-man squad for the final two Tests against India at Melbourne and Sydney.Chris Tremain, who was part of the squad leading into the series, was released before the Perth Test and the selectors have not felt the need to make any changes following Australia’s 146-run victory which levelled the series.Peter Siddle is retained as the back-up pace option to the main three quick men with the big decision heading into Melbourne whether allrounder Mitchell Marsh is recalled in place of the struggling Handscomb who has made 34, 14, 7 and 13 in the series.It is less about the low scores for Handscomb more the manner of dismissals, with his technique being given a working over by India’s quicks as it was by England’s in last year’s Ashes. In the second innings at Perth he was trapped lbw by a full delivery from Ishant Sharma having previously twice edged behind, albeit he fell to a wonderful Virat Kohli catch on the opening day of the second Test.Coach Justin Langer said the challenge for Handscomb was to escape the “noise” which comes with a high-profile Test series but added he had started conversations with him about his method.”There’s areas he can improve and every one of our players can improve,” Langer told . “Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, they’re all working so hard on their game. What’s hard is you come into an environment like this and then there’s so much spotlight on your game. So it’s just another distraction for him.”The only thing I’ve spoken to him about so far is I wonder if he’s watching the ball because there’s times where he was playing back to balls he could’ve played forward to, forward to one he could’ve played back to. That’s the toughest thing about Test cricket, concentrating on the next ball, and when there’s all this noise and distraction, that’s the courage and skill of Test cricket.”Looking ahead to the third Test and the consideration of including Marsh as a fifth bowling option, regardless of the form debate around Handscomb, Langer said that the MCG pitch would be the greatest consideration in varying the balance of the team, but he did not have any concerns about the workload of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.”We’ll look at the wicket, as there’s been a lot of talk about this wicket, there’s been a lot of talk about the MCG wicket after last year. In terms of the quicks, I think they’re all going beautifully at the moment, they’ve bowled a lot of overs but we’ve got a decent rest and all three of those guys super professional so they will be raring to go.”Conditions are going to be different at the MCG than they were here and then in Sydney. We will have to pick what we think is the best combination to win both of those Tests. If it’s this XI then great. But if we have to make some changes I am sure will talk about that at some stage.”Squad Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc

اضطر الاتحاد الإنجليزي لكرة القدم إلى تغيير حكم مباراة درع الاتحاد بين مانشستر سيتي ومانشستر يونايتد.

ويلتقي مانشستر يونايتد مع مانشستر سيتي في نهائي درع الاتحاد الخيرية يوم السبت المقبل، حيث تقام المواجهة بين بطل الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز وبطل كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي.

واضطر الاتحاد الإنجليزي لكرة القدم لاستبدال الحكم قبل ثلاثة أيام من مواجهة مانشستر سيتي ومانشستر يونايتد.

وأعلن الاتحاد الإنجليزي لكرة القدم عن تعيين جاريد جيليت كحكم لمباراة مانشستر سيتي ويونايتد.

وكان من المقرر أن يتولى جون بروكس إدارة المباراة في ويمبلي، لكنه تعرض لإصابة أبعدته عن المواجهة.

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جيليت كان الحكم الرابع للمباراة، ولكن تمت ترقيته الآن بسبب إصابة بروكس، وقد حل محله سام باروت كحكم رابع، وسيكون أدريان هولمز ونيك جرينهالج مساعدين لجيليت.

سيكون بيتر بانكس مسؤولاً عن حكم الفيديو المساعد “الفار” ويساعده سيان ماسي إليس وتيم روبنسون.