Tournament’s leading wicket-taker says if England play their best they can beat Australia in the final on Sunday

Valkerie Baynes01-Apr-20221:20

Sarah Taylor: Ecclestone is probably the best bowler in the world

Clinching five must-win games to earn the right to defend the World Cup is one thing. Beating Australia – the undefeated, overwhelming favourites who recently thrashed you in a bilateral series – is quite another. But Sophie Ecclestone believes doing just that would be the “perfect end to the season” for England and that her team is capable of pulling off such an upset.”Beating the Aussies in the final, I can’t really put it into words after the Ashes we had,” she said. “I really believe in this group and on our day we can definitely beat the Aussies – we’ve got a great chance.”I know if we play our best cricket and our batters bat the way they can and the bowlers bowl the way they can, we’ve got such a great unit as a team, so we’ll just focus on ourselves and do the best we can.”Ecclestone, the left-arm spinner, went wicketless and conceded 77 runs off her 10 overs when England lost by 12 runs to Australia in the group stage. But she has been instrumental in a remarkable turnaround that saw England qualify for the World Cup final having lost their first three matches.Her career-best 6 for 36 against South Africa – which included her maiden international five-for – has Ecclestone sitting atop the tournament’s leading wicket-takers’ list with 20 at an average of 12.85 and economy rate of 3.40.Still just 22 years old, Ecclestone’s team-mates often say they forget how young she is, given how long she has been a mainstay of the England side. She has already played nearly 100 white-ball matches for her country and four Tests and was first named as the ICC’s No. 1 T20I bowler at the age of 20. During this World Cup she overtook Jess Jonassen, her opposite number in the Australian camp, as No. 1 ODI bowler.Sophie Ecclestone picked up her maiden ODI five-wicket haul in the semi-final against South Africa•Getty ImagesBut a global title has eluded her. A member of the England side which finished runners-up to Australia at the 2018 T20 World Cup and the side which watched India advance at the T20 World Cup when their semi-final was washed out in Sydney two years ago, this is Ecclestone’s first appearance at a 50-over World Cup.”It’s absolutely massive for me personally,” Ecclestone said of reaching Sunday’s final in Christchurch. “I haven’t won a major trophy yet since I started playing for England and I’d really love to win that sooner rather than later. It’s also massive for the group – we’ve shown how good we can be and the girls showed in the 2017 World Cup how good we are. Hopefully we can go out and play our best cricket to prove the side we are.”Ecclestone is a fierce competitor, enjoying a battle with formidable South Africa seamer Shabnim Ismail during the semi-final. It started when Ecclestone hit Ismail for three consecutive fours in the final over of England’s innings, apparently turned verbal when Ismail bowled her with the last ball and ended with a cheeky finger-to-lips “shush” gesture from Ecclestone when Ismail became one of her six wickets.”There were a few verbals when I got out, it was all fun and games on the pitch,” Ecclestone said. “I wanted to get even, so it was quite nice off the pitch afterwards, it’s all fine now. It’s great to have that battle on the pitch and to be fine off the pitch.”To get that first five-for and to bowl as well as I am at the minute, I feel great and have a lot of rhythm, it’s a great feeling for me. I didn’t have a great day out against the Aussies, I think it’s fair to say. To come back the way I did, I’m really proud of myself. The team has fought back as well, it’s been amazing to witness that.”England will likely field five members of their 2017 champion side against Australia, against whom they failed to register a win during their multi-format Ashes series immediately before travelling to New Zealand.Ecclestone put England’s turnaround after that and their poor start to the World Cup down to adopting a fearless attitude when they had nothing to lose.”When we lost three from three, there were a few tears in the changing room after the game, everyone was very disappointed with how we’d gone,” she said. “But I think the turning point was having a few meetings to just say that we had nothing to lose now, so just put what we do in training out into a game and go out with no fear. We still haven’t played our best cricket, so to get through to the final without playing our best cricket is obviously so good to see from this group.”Now, with the World Cup to lose, England will need “no fear” more than ever.

Newcastle United have now identified an “excellent” defender as their top transfer target, according to a report.

Newcastle transfer news

At the end of October, it was reported that Eddie Howe believes his side is lacking at right wing and centre-back, but the financial restrictions he is forced to work under means it may be difficult to strengthen in the January transfer window.

That said, Howe is still weighing up options in those areas of the pitch, with the same report detailing that Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo is on Newcastle’s list of targets, while other options are being considered at centre-back.

Paul Mitchell is also said to be plotting a move to sign Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez, having sent scouts to run the rule over the 20-year-old during the Belgian side’s 2-1 victory against Sporting Club in the Champions League.

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Ordonez is not the only young centre-back that Mitchell has his eye on, with GiveMeSport revealing that Mitchell is personally spearheading a move to bring Abdukodir Khusanov to St James’ Park, having been impressed by his performances.

Now, there has been a new update on the Magpies’ pursuit of Khusanov, with Saturday’s edition of La Voix du Nord revealing that he is at the top of their list of targets, having caught the eye due to his impressive performances for Lens this season. (via Sport Witness)

However, Lens will not consider selling the 20-year-old unless they receive a fee of at least €30m (£25m), and there may be competition for his signature, as both Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur also consider him a priority target. At the moment, it remains to be seen whether Newcastle formalise their interest by making an official bid.

Newcastle United’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Ipswich Town (a)

December 22nd

Aston Villa (h)

December 26th

Manchester United (a)

December 30th

Tottenham Hotspur (a)

January 4th

Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)

January 15th

It is clear to see why the Magpies are interested in the youngster, given that he has already established himself in the starting XI of a side fighting for Europe in Ligue 1, and he has put in some very impressive performances over the past year.

Perhaps the Uzbekistan international’s best attribute is his reading of the game, ranking in the 99th percentile per 90 for interceptions compared to his positional peers, while he also places in the 83rd percentile for blocks, showcasing his defensive aptitude.

Journalist Coralie Salle lauded the Tashkent-born defender as “excellent” earlier this season, while also claiming that he “has all the qualities to sign for a top European club”, given that he is fast, powerful and a good receiver of the ball.

With Newcastle operating under financial limitations, £25m is a relatively affordable asking price for a rising talent who could go on to be a top player, so they should continue to monitor his progress as the season progresses.

Chelsea moved to within two points of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 win over Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The Reds still have a game in hand over them but it does show that the Blues are right up there and are in the title race as it stands, thanks to their fantastic form this season.

Enzo Maresca, who joined from Leicester City in the summer, has only lost two of his 16 Premier League matches with the London giants to date.

Chelsea are also four points ahead of Arsenal in third place and seven points ahead of reigning champions Manchester City in fifth, which speaks to how consistent the West London side have been.

Whilst winning the Premier League title would be the ultimate dream for this season for the Blues, achieving a Champions League place would also be a success, as they are currently competing in the Conference League – two steps down from the premier European competition.

A 2-1 win against Brentford at the weekend furthered their cause, and there were a number of strong performers on the pitch for Maresca against the Bees.

Chelsea's top performers against Brentford

Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was crucial to the three points with three saves from four shots on his goal, preventing 0.73 xG despite Bryan Mbuemo’s late goal.

Malo Gusto, who continues to shine in the absence of Reece James, put in a fantastic performance at right-back. The French whiz created two chances, made three tackles and interceptions combined, and made one block – showing quality in and out of possession.

Tosin Adarabioyo stepped up in place of the injured Wesley Fofana and provided a dominant presence at the back. He won nine of his ten duels, including all seven of his aerial contests, to dominate the Brentford attackers, and was unlucky not to stop Mbuemo in the 90th minute.

There was also a fourth Premier League assist of the season for Enzo Fernandez, who provided the through ball to set Nicolas Jackson away to score the second, and ultimately winning, goal.

The Argentina international has now produced three goals and seven assists in his last seven appearances for the Blues in all competitions, which shows that he has been in fantastic, influential, form at the top end of the pitch.

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Another player who caught the eye with a strong display in the final third for Maresca’s side was right winger Noni Madueke, who thrived against the Bees.

Noni Madueke's performance against Brentford

The England international came in for the suspended Pedro Neto and grasped his opportunity with both hands, putting in an excellent performance on the flank.

In a hard-fought first-half from both sides, it was the left-footed wizard’s sumptuous cross that found the head of Marc Cucurella to open the scoring just before the break. He shifted the ball to his left foot on the right wing and whipped in a teasing delivery that was perfect for the full-back to guide into the bottom corner.

Madueke, who played the full 90 minutes, completed 94% of his attempted passes in total and created two chances for his teammates, recording one assist.

The former PSV star failed to get himself on the scoresheet but was a constant threat at the top end of the pitch, with seven shots on goal, two of which were on target.

Madueke was one of the stars of the show for Chelsea in the win over Brentford, and his form in the Premier League this season shows that he is capable of stepping up when they need him.

Appearances

15

Goals

5

Big chances created

3

Assists

3

Completed dribbles per game

1.4

As you can see in the table above, the English maestro has averaged roughly a goal or an assist every other match, which speaks to his quality in the final third.

He has not consistently provided a threat as a goalscorer, or as a creator, but has consistently chipped in with a goal or an assist to help the team out, and has plenty of time to develop further over the months and years to come.

Noni Madueke is similar to £100m Premier League star

Maresca could hit the jackpot with Madueke by helping him to fulfill his potential, as his performances have already led to comparisons with Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.

Per FBref, the Egypt international is one of the most similar players to the Chelsea whiz from a statistical perspective this season, alongside the likes of Bukayo Saka and Mohammed Kudus.

As you can see in the chart above, Madueke and Salah thrive in similar areas of the game and both excel, statistically, at generating non-penalty xG and Expected Assisted Goals per 90, which shows that they are both constant threats in the final third.

However, the Liverpool star’s return of 13 goals and nine assists shows that the 32-year-old has the ruthless efficiency in his final action that the 22-year-old Chelsea gem is still searching for.

Salah, who was reportedly valued at £100m by the Reds in the summer, is the joint-top scorer in the Premier League and only Saka (ten) has more assists, which shows that he has been one of the best forwards in the division this season.

Madueke, who was once dubbed an “elite talent” by scout Jacek Kulig, is also a left-footed right winger who looks to make things happen by cutting inside onto his stronger foot to make things happen in the final third, but needs to find consistency in his end product.

A return of five goals and three assists in 15 Premier League matches so far is a decent, but not outstanding, showing from the England international, and there could be more to come from him when you consider his underlying numbers are not a million miles away from Salah’s.

Therefore, Maresca could hit gold for the Blues if he can work with Madueke on the training pitch to add that consistency and decision-making to his game to take the forward to the next level to be a Salah-esque £100m talent.

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MatériaMais Notícias

Joel Carli desfalcará o Botafogo no primeiro jogo semifinal do Campeonato Carioca contra o Fluminense nesta segunda-feira (21), no Estádio Nilton Santos. Com dores no tendão, o defensor não está à disposição da equipe. A informação é do “GE” e do repórter Thiago Veras, da Rádio Tupi.

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A ausência do argentino dá brecha para a estreia de Philipe Sampaio pelo Glorioso. Outros dois atletas podem fazer o primeiro jogo com a camisa do Botafogo: o zagueiro Willian Klaus e o atacante Vinicius Lopes. Logo que chegou o defensor teve lesão muscular na coxa, enquanto Vinicius teve uma fratura no quinto metatarso do pé. Ambos devem começar a partida no banco já que estão voltando de lesão pela primeira vez.

Outro desfalque é o goleiro Gatito Fernández, convocado para a seleção do Paraguai para as duas últimas rodadas das Eliminatórias para a Copa do Mundo. Por outro lado, Matheus Nascimento poderá atuar, após a CBF ter adiado em um dia sua apresentação à Seleção Brasileira Sub-20.

Chay, Daniel Borges, Fabinho e Kanu, também estão entre os relacionados para o jogo. Além de Carli, deixam a lista Ewerton Porto, Felipe Ferreira, Igo Gabriel, Jefinho, Lucas Mezenga, Reydson e Romildo.

New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is looking to sell an “intelligent” player during the January transfer window, according to a new update.

Latest Man Utd news

Amorim takes charge of his first game as Red Devils boss on Sunday afternoon, with his side making the trip to struggling Ipswich Town in the Premier League. It is a great chance to build some early momentum, with supporters desperate to see huge improvements made after Erik ten Hag’s disappointing spell in charge.

There is a lack of quality in United’s squad, in terms of them challenging the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal at the top of the table, so new signings are needed, whether that be in January or next summer. Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez is one exciting rumoured target, with the Argentine seen as someone who could add another dimension in the final third.

Meanwhile, Barcelona right-back Jules Kounde has been linked with a switch to Old Trafford, with the Frenchman arguably one of the standout players in his position in Europe currently, averaging two tackles per game in La Liga this season. In fact, a new offer has reportedly even been submitted for him.

Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite was seen as a primary target back in the summer, but ended up staying put at Goodison Park, and he is still being looked at as an option moving forward, as Amorim looks for centre-back reinforcements.

Amorim looking to sell "intelligent" player in January

According to a fresh report from Caught Offside, Amorim is now looking to offload Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee in January, following a tough start to life at Old Trafford.

The update states that the 23-year-old is “attracting a lot of interest in the transfer market due to his current situation at the club”, with “big European clubs, particularly in Serie A” thought to be his “preference”.

This would be a brutal decision by Amorim, considering the £105,000-a-week Zirkzee only joined United from Bologna in the summer, but if he doesn’t feel he is right for his system and style of play, it’s pointless keeping him around.

There is no question that the Dutchman has been a flop so far, scoring the winning goal at home to Fulham but not finding the net since, but he has been hailed by Hans Kraay Jr, who has said of the striker:

“He passes it with exactly the right speed, so that Reijnders can curl it with his inside. Zirkzee is so intelligent. He not only passes it on the run, he also passes it in such a way that it is not too hard and ends up on Reijnders’ left. I think that is so beautiful.”

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Zirkzee has a short period to prove himself to Amorim, prior to the January window opening, but it could be that the latter has already made his mind up. A move away could even appeal to the player himself, with his time at Old Trafford simply not working out currently.

Harmer, Sam Cook and Steketee claim three wickets each, Alastair Cook 59* in Essex’s reply

Matt Roller14-Apr-2022

Simon Harmer helped tear through the Somerset lineup•Getty Images

An unexpected fire alarm sounded in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion at Taunton before lunch. The official explanation was that steam from an oven had set off the smoke detector, but the timing was fitting as Somerset’s batting lineup went up in flames once again.Essex’s attack spent 187.3 overs in the field last week before eventually bowling Kent out for 587 in a bore draw at Chelmsford but on a pitch barely distinguishable from the outfield, they ran through Somerset for 109. Sam Cook, Mark Steketee and Simon Harmer – playing three days after helping South Africa roll Bangladesh at Gqeberha – took three wickets each, vindicating Tom Westley’s decision to bowl first.Somerset’s batters have struggled for runs since the start of the divisional stage of last season’s Championship: this was the ninth time in the five-and-a-half games since then that they have made 181 or fewer in an innings; damningly, 109 was only their third-lowest total across them. Essex reached parity in the final over of the day, only two wickets down with Alastair Cook unbeaten overnight.Related

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It has been a dismal run for Somerset, who are staring down the prospect of a sixth consecutive loss on the back of an innings defeat away at Hampshire in the opening round. They have not won a Championship game since May 9 last year and Lachlan Stevens, who arrived in the country last week after signing a two-year contract as their new batting coach, has plenty of hard work ahead.”It’s not where we’d like to be,” Stevens said. “Scoring under 200 in the first innings is not good enough in first-class cricket to get yourself into a position to win a game, but everyone knows that.”There’s some really good techniques in our group and some really good batters but we’re just making some decision-making errors. I understand the frustration of the playing group and the supporters alike but all I can say is that we’ll go out there every day and keep working to try and find answers.”There were some abject shots among Somerset’s dismissals. After tucking a pair of early boundaries through midwicket, Ben Green decided to chase a wide half-volley to give Steketee his first Essex wicket, while Steven Davies poked at a wide one from Shane Snater with his hand away from his body and his feet rooted to the crease, edging through to Adam Wheater.Tom Lammonby was the lone source of resistance, and one of only three men to reach double figures. He had two lives, dropped at slip by Harmer and by Sam Cook off his own bowling, but played with assurance as he stood tall to thump Snater through cover and clipped Harmer wristily through midwicket. He was the ninth man out when reverse-sweeping Harmer to slip for 48; the next highest score was 15.Cook was Essex’s best bowler on the day and appears to have dislodged Jamie Porter – rotated out of the side for this game – as the leader of their seam attack, with his first-class average hovering just above 20 after his return of 3 for 17. He bowled Matt Renshaw, Somerset’s returning overseas player, with a nip-backer which he attempted to leave alone and removed Tom Abell and Lewis Goldsworthy in the same over.England have shown little interest in Cook despite his impressive record. He was belatedly added to the Lions tour this winter but did not play in their fixture against Australia A, with his lack of height or genuine pace appearing to count against him. Essex will not worry too much about his lack of recognition: he is remarkably consistent for them, offering no real width and nipping the ball both ways off the seam.His namesake, Alastair, cruised past 25,000 first-class runs in Essex’s response. The vast majority of his 59 so far in this innings came through his trademark cut shot, with occasional back-foot punches through cover and clips off the pads when Somerset’s seamers looked to set him up for an lbw.Craig Overton – relegated to first change behind Lewis Gregory and Peter Siddle, having opened the bowling for England in the Caribbean – briefly threatened to break the game open after tea with a hostile spell. “You’re f***ing kidding me,” he grumbled after Cook guided him through the cordon with an open face and his mood was not improved when Abell could only tip a tough chance at third slip over his head for four.He pleaded for an lbw decision when Cook was hit on the shin, but eventually broke through, punching the air in relief after Abell held a thick edge from Nick Browne at the second attempt, juggling the initial chance while tumbling to his right. He had a second before stumps, as Westley strangled one down the leg side.Overton was roared on throughout by the lone, distinctive voice of Tractor, a relentlessly positive Somerset supporter who has been dislodged from his usual bench due to renovations on Gimblett’s Hill. Even he may struggle for optimism if Somerset’s winless run goes on much longer.

Storm Darragh has soured Merseyside’s collective mood, but Liverpool will still sit at the top of the Premier League table by the end of the weekend.

Such is the strength of Arne Slot’s side, such is the brilliant start to the campaign that has seen Liverpool cede ground in just three of their 14 fixtures thus far.

The table-toppers will now rest and recover ahead of more gruelling action, but there’s an undeniable sense of frustration that the Reds have been prevented from righting the wrongs of midweek, enduring defensive issues in a 3-3 draw at St. James’ Park.

The Merseyside derby will have to wait and perhaps it’s for the best, in some ways. Ryan Gravenberch has been indomitable in the engine room this season but suffered from burnout against Newcastle United.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

14 (14)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

1

Touches*

28.8

73.8

Pass completion

83%

89%

Key passes*

0.6

0.6

Dribbles completed*

0.9

0.9

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.4

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.9

Total duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

5.5 (63%)

He’s started every Premier League and Champions League match this season and is widely regarded as one of the highest-performing midfielders in Europe.

It’s no wonder that Real Madrid have caught his scent.

Real Madrid's interest in Ryan Gravenberch

As reported earlier this week, Real Madrid are interested in Gravenberch after the Netherlands midfielder’s stunning start to the season, making major headway since the middling results of 2023/24.

Reports of Madrid’s interest in Gravenberch serve to heighten the concerns around Liverpool’s midfield depth, and though it’s unlikely that FSG would allow the high-flying Dutchman to leave for anything other than a staggering sum, it highlights such fears all the same.

Even so, Liverpool could do with another deep-sitting option in the centre of the park, and might have found the perfect candidate to complete a robust mix of talent.

Liverpool want a new midfielder

According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are interested in signing Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, with the intrigue arising from Los Blancos’ desire to sign Gravenberch in a mammoth deal.

This season, De Jong has been on the fringe due to an injury and consequent complications, but he has a proven record across a span of years and could certainly add a dimension to Slot’s ball-playing system.

A long-time Manchester United target, Gravenberch’s countryman would be a welcome asset to Liverpool’s first team, though whether FSG would agree to the £51m outlay is another matter.

What Frenkie De Jong would bring to Liverpool

There’s no denying that Liverpool looked a bit leggy against a roaring Newcastle side on Wednesday, and Gravenberch’s struggles really did emphasise the need for a foil.

Wataru Endo, 32, has played a bit-part role this term, and though he’s effective in late moments, combative and tough, the Japan star leaves plenty to be desired on the ball. Elsewhere, the young Tyler Morton is a part of the first-team squad but scarcely used. Gravenberch needs support.

And he could find it in compatriot De Jong, who has struggled for fitness and form this season but is known to have one of the richest passing ranges across the continent.

As per FBref, the 27-year-old ranks among the top 1% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 4% for progressive passes, the top 7% for passes attempted and progressive carries and the top 20% for tackles per 90. Quite the dynamic player.

Waxing lyrical about the star’s qualities, former Barca boss Xavi said last season that he’s “one of the best players in the world.”

When fit and firing, this is true. And, moreover, De Jong would be able to assume the role that Gravenberch is playing for Liverpool. The Liverpool sensation ranks among the top 10% of Premier League midfielders this season for passes attempted per 90 and the top 19% for pass completion.

Gravenberch, like De Jong, is an adept driver, penetrating through the centre and influencing attacking transitions with slick and purposeful passing. This is crucial for Slot’s tactical set-up, allowing for sturdy and controlled central play but also providing a switch from which forward transition can be initiated with rapidity.

He’s gone from strength to strength under Slot’s wing and it’s hard to imagine that De Jong wouldn’t at least showcase some impressive qualities within the Anfield brood.

Though he’s struggled for fitness this term, starting just one La Liga fixture, De Jong has completed 224 appearances in total for the Catalan giants, notably lifting one league title and one Copa del Rey trophy.

And last season, across 20 league matches, De Jong not only completed 94% of his passes but averaged 1.1 key passes per game and came out on top in 59% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

Patently, there’s a world-class player in there who could make a real difference to Liverpool’s exploits under Slot’s management going forward.

Of course, as alluded to earlier, there’s no reason why FSG shouldn’t engineer a deal with Barcelona for the midfield maestro even if Gravenberch stays put, as will probably, hopefully, surely, be the case.

Liverpool have a demonstrable title-winning quality about them, having raced into such a commanding lead across the opening months of the campaign.

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But Gravenberch’s perceived burnout against Newcastle calls for further talent to rotate with him and allow for greater depth. Liverpool should make their move in 2025.

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The PCB has chalked out a year-long calendar for women’s cricket, comprising extensive international and domestic cricket including home series against Sri Lanka and Ireland and Pakistan’s participation in the Commonwealth and Asian Games this year. The board has also revived its Under-19 tournament after eight-and-a-half years.The Women’s PSL is not part of this year’s calendar, though ESPNcricinfo understands the PCB is working out the feasibility of the tournament and, under chairman Ramiz Raja, has ambitions of organising the event in March 2023.Related

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The series against Sri Lanka, which was postponed last year following a change of leadership in the PCB, is now scheduled to be played from May 18 to June 7, with the series falling under the ICC Women’s Championship cycle.Following this, Pakistan are set to tour Ireland in July for a triangular series that also includes Australia as the third team. This will be immediately followed by the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July-August.In September, Pakistan are due to travel to Hangzhou, China, for the 2022 Asian Games, before returning home for a three-ODI, three-T20I series against Ireland in October-November. The year is then set to end with the Women’s T20 Asia Cup, which is due to take place in December, though further details are still awaited.The Women’s T20 World Cup is set to be played in South Africa in February 2023, and Pakistan’s preparations for the event will conclude with a tour of Australia from January 4 to Feb 1, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is.Under-19 domestic tournament to serve as talent pathway
The year-long calendar – the first one the PCB has announced for women’s cricket – includes a blueprint for the domestic circuit as well.The national youth-level tournament was disbanded in 2013 due to a policy shift and a change of leadership in the PCB. Before that, there had been a national Under-17 event that took place from 2004 to 2008, which was replaced by a regional Under-19 tournament that was a regular event from 2009 to 2013. A Pakistan A team was formed thereafter, comprising players from the Under-19 circuit and those on the fringes of the senior national side.The PCB is reviving its Under-19 women’s domestic tournament after an eight-year gap•AFP via Getty Images

The pathway to the national team, however, had always been vague, with no solid link between the grassroots and the top 30-35 women players in the country. The investment in women’s cricket had narrowed down to two major tournaments, with three teams playing the National T20 and ODI Challenge Cups.Seeking to expand the talent pool in women’s cricket, the PCB has announced a new T20 tournament featuring six provincial Under-19 teams, which will take place in August 2022. The best players from this level could go on to feature in the senior domestic season.The senior season will begin with a two-phase T20 tournament in September-October. The first phase is a four-team event featuring the best players from the six provincial associations; the top performers from this phase will play alongside the best international players in the second phase of the championship, a three-team tournament.The women’s domestic season will conclude in April-May 2023 with a 50-overs tournament featuring four teams playing each other in a double-round-robin format.Pakistan exited the ongoing ODI World Cup campaign at the league stage, but managed to break their 18-match losing streak in the tournament. However, they lost six out of seven games to finish bottom of the table, their only win an upset of West Indies in a rain-hit contest. The last team Pakistan had beaten in a World Cup was also West Indies, back in 2009.”The past few weeks have brought to light the gulf between our side and the leading international teams,” Tania Mallick, the PCB’s head of women’s cricket, said. “To develop and strengthen our national side, it is imperative to have a strong and competitive domestic structure and provide more opportunities to the national side to play in challenging conditions so we continue to gauge where we stand.”We have put in a lot of thinking before penning down our upcoming season. I am grateful to all six Cricket Associations who have jumped on board and expressed their desire and willingness to develop women’s cricket at age group and senior rungs in their jurisdictions. Their help and support will unearth talent from all parts of the country and, with a strong system in place, I am sure we will be able to produce players who are capable of performing according to the contemporary demands and needs.”

أكد مصطفى فتحي، جناح فريق بيراميدز، أن مواجهة أورلاندو بايرتس الجنوب إفريقي تمثل تحديًا صعبًا في ذهاب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، مشيرًا إلى أهمية تحقيق نتيجة إيجابية خارج الأرض قبل لقاء الإياب في القاهرة.

ويحل بيراميدز ضيفًا على أورلاندو بايرتس مساء اليوم، في لقاء يقام على استاد سوكر سيتي بمدينة جوهانسبرج، ضمن منافسات ذهاب الدور نصف النهائي من البطولة القارية.

وأوضح فتحي في تصريحات للمركز الإعلامي للنادي، أن الفريق يدرك جيدًا طبيعة المباراة وضرورة التحلي بالتركيز والهدوء، خاصة في ظل وجود مباراة حاسمة في القاهرة الأسبوع المقبل.

طالع أيضًا | يورتشيتش: فخور بتواجد بيراميدز في نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا.. وسنقدم مباراة كبيرة أمام أورلاندو

وأشار لاعب بيراميدز إلى أن الفريق يمر بمرحلة مميزة هذا الموسم، بتصدره جدول الدوري المحلي والتأهل لنهائي كأس مصر، إلى جانب التقدم في دوري أبطال إفريقيا، مؤكدًا أن اللاعبين يمتلكون الخبرة والطموح اللازم لمواصلة المسيرة نحو منصات التتويج.

وشدد نجم بيراميدز، على أن لاعبي الفريق رجال بمعنى الكلمة، سواء المصريين أو المحترفين فهم يمتلكون خبرة اللعب في الأدوار النهائية بالبطولات الكبرى، ولديهم ثقة كبيرة وطموح لمواصلة الموسم الرائع حتى التتويج بالبطولات.

U.S. Men's National Team players take a break from soccer to share their March Madness bracket picks with many picking Duke

USMNT players showcase their college basketball knowledgeStars make surprising Final Four predictionsPlayers reveal their connections to chosen teamsGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

As the NCAA March Madness fever sweeps the nation, USMNT stars Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Tim Ream, and Gio Reyna have joined the excitement by sharing their NCAA tournament predictions. The soccer players, known for their skills on the pitch, were asked who they were supporting during March Madness and a large majority of them picked Duke. Pulisic was among the few who didn't pick the Blue Devils, opting for a surprising choice instead.

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March Madness, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, is set to take place from mid-March to early April 2025, culminating with the championship game on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The tournament features 68 teams competing in a single-elimination format across multiple rounds. The event is known for its unpredictability, with potential for upsets and Cinderella stories, making it one of the most exciting and widely-followed sporting events in the United States.

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The US Men’s national team are currently preparing for their CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Panama on March 20 with an eye on the final against either Canada or Mexico. Following that, Mauricio Pochettino's group will gather again at the end of the season, where the USMNT face Turkiye and Switzerland on June 8 and 11 as preparations for the 2025 Gold Cup.