Manchester United are now preparing a £50m+ bid for an “unbelievable” star, who is keen on a move to Old Trafford, and they are frontrunners in the race for his signature.
Man Utd's midfield called into question by Scholes
After a very disappointing start to the new campaign, Man United legend Paul Scholes has questioned the decision to deploy Bruno Fernandes in an unfavoured position, saying: “There’s too much indecision in the midfield area, you think of Casemiro. He’s been a brilliant player, but we know his deficiencies, don’t we?”
“Fernandes [and Casemiro], they’re the two he’s [Amorim] going with, and Fernandes for me, he’s someone who fills in as a midfielder, he might get away with it for one, two or three games. He’s not got the discipline to be a central midfield player.”
Given that Fernandes has been one of United’s best players for quite some time, chipping in with 19 Premier League goal contributions last season, there is a feeling the 30-year-old is being shoehorned into the starting XI.
However, despite scraping a 3-2 victory against Burnley, Ruben Amorim’s play-style clearly isn’t working, meaning the 40-year-old may need to bring in a central midfielder who is better suited to his system in January.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Man United are now preparing a £50m+ bid for Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, who is eager to embark on a new challenge at an elite club, meaning he is keen on a move to Old Trafford.
United have identified Wharton as a key target for the January transfer window, having also expressed interest in the summer, but Oliver Glasner blocked an exit, given that Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi were also attracting widespread interest.
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The 21-year-old has been identified as a long-term replacement for Casemiro, but there could be competition for his signature, with Chelsea said to be frontrunners alongside the Red Devils.
"Unbelievable" Wharton could be ideal signing for Amorim
Man United need to bring in a midfielder suited to Amorim’s style of play, and the Palace star fits the bill in that regard, having flourished under Glasner’s 3-4-2-1 system.
Guehi has been left particularly impressed by his teammate’s ability in possession, claiming the Englishman is “unbelievable” on the ball last season, but that is far from his only strength, as detailed by former WhoScored contributor Ben McAleer.
The fact Wharton is strong at winning back possession means he could be a solid long-term heir to Casemiro, but the Brazilian may still have plenty left to give, given the level of some of his performances over the past year.
Glasgow Rangers supporters were hit with a surprise on Saturday when it was revealed that the club had pulled out of a deal to sign versatile defender Nobel Mendy.
RangersReview reported that the Light Blues have pulled out of a £2m deal to sign the Real Betis centre-back, who can also play at left-back, after discussions collapsed in recent days.
The 20-year-old titan had looked set for a move to Ibrox to bolster Russell Martin’s options at the back, but is now set to remain at Real Betis, or move elsewhere before the end of the summer transfer window.
Why Rangers may have dodged a blunder with Nobel Mendy
Pulling out of a move for the Senegalese defender may turn out to be a blunder dodged by the Gers, as there is little evidence to suggest that he would have been a significant signing for the club.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Whilst Mendy, who is only 20, may turn out to be a fantastic player in the future, and could have turned out to be a quality addition for Rangers, there is little in the here and now to suggest that he would have hit the ground running.
The versatile defender has only played six senior games for Real Betis. He also struggled for the B team in the 2024/25 campaign, losing 59% of his duels across 13 league games for the reserve side, per Sofascore.
Rangers could forget about Mendy by swooping for a player who is more likely to make an immediate impact at Ibrox this season – Kassoum Ouattara.
Why Rangers should sign Kassoum Ouattara
The Light Blues have been linked with loan interest in the Monaco left-back, who is valued at £13m by his club, and they should be pushing to get a deal done for the 20-year-old star.
Despite being the same age as Mendy, Ouattara has played 55 times at senior level, including 33 times for Monaco, per Transfermarkt, and is more established in first-team football.
The French whiz may not seem like an obvious alternative, given that he plays at left-back mainly instead of centre-back, but the Gers could allow Emmanuel Fernandez and John Souttar to battle it out for a place next to Nasser Djiga, and bring Ouattara in to cover the left-back role that Mendy would have offered cover in.
xA*
0.29
0.11
Chances created*
1.38
1.14
Successful crosses*
1.62
1.00
Cross accuracy
41.2%
28.3%
Assists*
0.23
0.13
Dribbles completed*
1.15
1.17
As you can see in the table above, the Monaco talent’s output in Ligue 1 last season even suggests that he could be an upgrade on the departing Jefte, who is set to sign for Palmeiras, from an offensive perspective.
Ouattara, who writer Kai Watson described as a “very offensive” full-back, could excite supporters with his front-footed performances at left-back, as he is clearly a defender who likes to get forward to put crosses and passes into the final third to create chances for his teammates.
The £13m-rated talent may make more sense for what Rangers need in their backline, with Ridvan Yilmaz out of the picture and Jefte set to depart, than Mendy would, which is why it could make more sense to pursue the Monaco starlet.
So instead of signing a centre-back who could play left-back, in Mendy, the Gers could sign a talented left-back, who may have the potential to cover at left centre-back should Martin decide he would suit that role.
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This is why Rangers could forget all about this collapsed deal for Mendy because the signing of Ouattara could make more sense for the team, and make a greater impact on the pitch.
Markram hurt his right hamstring in the field against England and spent the rest of the match on the sidelines
Firdose Moonda04-Mar-2025George Linde, the left-arm spin bowling allrounder, will join the South African squad as a traveling reserve as cover for Aiden Markram at the Champions Trophy. Markram injured his right hamstring in the field against England and spent the rest of the match on the sidelines. He will undergo a fitness test at training on Tuesday evening to determine his availability for the semi-final against New Zealand.Markram is the latest in a massive list of injured players. Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Burger, Lizaad Williams – all fast bowlers – were ruled out even before the tournament started.Linde will join the South African camp on Tuesday evening but will not officially replace Markram in the squad unless he is ruled out and the ICC’s event technical committee confirms the swap. It is likely that South Africa added him to the group in the event that they qualify for a Dubai final against India, where conditions are drier and they need an extra spinner. They currently have two specialist spinners in the squad: Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, but only Maharaj has played in Pakistan. India played four spinners in their most recent match against New Zealand in Dubai.Related
South Africa, New Zealand gear up for run-fest as even contest beckons
In the 2025 SA20, Linde played a key role in MI Cape Town winning their maiden title. In 11 games, Linde scored 161 runs at a strike rate of 153.33 and picked up 11 wickets at an economy of 6.29. More recently, playing for Western Province in the One-Day Challenge Division One, he scored 106 runs and took four wickets in five games.Left-arm fast bowler Kwena Maphaka is also with the squad as a traveling reserve. Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi have recovered from illness and will train this evening.
Following the news that Ismaila Sarr has been forced to drop out of the Senegal squad through injury, it could be eight weeks before he returns to full Crystal Palace training.
Sarr more important than ever at Crystal Palace
Whilst Jean-Philippe Mateta has been destroying corner flags all around the Premier League, Sarr has quietly become an important player for Oliver Glasner and Crystal Palace. Alongside the star striker, Sarr has proved to be an excellent addition and, after a slow start last season, found his stride and hasn’t looked back since.
Oliver Glasner no longer has Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise to call on. The former joined Arsenal this summer in a dream move and the latter has, of course, been starring at Bayern Munich since leaving last year. So, naturally, the responsibility has fallen the way of the likes of Sarr to step up alongside Mateta, especially as new signing Yeremy Pino settles in.
You wouldn’t know that there’s any extra pressure on the former Watford winger, however. He has stepped up with ease, scoring twice in three Premier League games to follow up his effort in the Community Shield victory against Liverpool.
Glasner is well aware of his quality too, having told reporters last season: “He’s different. We knew that we couldn’t replace Michael one-for-one, because he’s got his own profile and his own qualities.
Oliver Glasner lifts the FA Cup.
“Ismaila is more of a direct runner with a lot of pace. We knew if we get him into the right areas in the right moment he will get chances to score goals.”
The manager’s earlier praise will only make the news of Sarr’s injury all the more frustrating and Chat GPT has now delivered a damning verdict as to when Palace fans can expect their winger to return.
When Sarr could make Crystal Palace return
Amid reports that he has suffered a grade two hamstring tear, the AI tool revealed that Sarr is likely to make his Crystal Palace return in four to eight weeks. In the best case scenario, the severity of the grade two injury will not be disastrous enough to rule him out for two months, but Sarr’s explosive sprinting may well mean that Palace take their time with this one.
Indeed, Sarr can only return to training after such an injury when several recovery factors have been ticked off. Palace must ensure that full strength and flexibility has returned to his hamstring, there’s no altered running gait or imbalance and that he is able to participate in full training, which could take six to eight weeks.
They must also consider the re-injury risk. According to AI, this is at its highest in the first two months after recovery and can be reduced by Nordic hamstring/ exercises.
Ismaila Sarr
If Sarr misses just one month of action, then he is likely to be sidelined for games against Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Liverpool before potentially returning against Dynamo Kyiv in the Europa Conference League.
Meanwhile, a two-month absence will see him miss that Europa Conference League tie as well as games against Everton, Bournemouth, AEK Larnaca, Arsenal and Brentford.
خصص الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك بقيادة البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا، فقرة تدريبات بدنية خلال مران اليوم الأحد.
ويستعد الزمالك لمواجهة نظيره ديكاداها الصومالي في السادسة مساء يوم السبت الموافق 18 أكتوبر الجاري، على استاد القاهرة الدولي، في ذهاب دور الـ32 لبطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.
طالع.. محمد عبد الجليل: سأشد شعر لاعب الزمالك.. وحسام حسن تغير
وأدى لاعبو الزمالك، فقرة بدنية تحت قيادة الإسباني راؤول لوبيز مدرب الأحمال بالفريق، تضمنت تدريبات خاصة بالكرة.
كما أدى الثلاثي عدي الدباغ وآدم كايد وناصر منسي لاعبو الفريق، تدريبات تأهيلية على هامش مران اليوم الأحد.
ويعاني عدي الدباغ من إصابة في العضلة الضامة، ويخضع للمرحلة الثانية من البرنامج التأهيلي، في حين يعاني ناصر منسي من إصابة في العضلة الخلفية ويخضع للمرحلة الثانية من برنامجه التأهيلي، بينما يشكو الفلسطيني آدم كايد من إصابة في عضلة السمانة.
وقرر فيريرا، منح اللاعبين راحة غدًا الإثنين، من التدريبات الجماعية، على أن يستأنف الفريق تدريباته مساء يوم الثلاثاء على استاد الكلية الحربية، استعدادًا للقاء المقبل أمام بطل الصومال بالكونفدرالية.
Liverpool’s season starts now. Though the Reds were defeated at Wembley last Sunday, Crystal Palace lifting the Community Shield after winning the penalty shootout, few fans would have been left reeling by the blow.
But the curtain-raiser did give the club a taste of Arne Slot’s new squad, with expensive summer signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike combining to score a well-worked opening goal. Also making his debut, Jeremie Frimpong’s cross after 20 minutes arced fortuitously beyond the impressive Dean Henderson.
Hugo Ekitike celebrates for Liverpool
But now, the reigning Premier League champions host Bournemouth in the opening match of the top-flight campaign, with sights set on retaining the crown that was so spectacularly won last year, Slot’s first after replacing Jurgen Klopp in the dugout.
Despite the remarkable nature of Liverpool’s summer spending, options are rather thin at the moment. Particularly, the Merseysiders offer little in the way of defensive depth. That does, however, appear set to change.
Up top, greater strength. Though that said, Liverpool haven’t yet been able to pull off a record-breaking deal for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, who, as one of the finest strikers in the world, would complete the frontline.
Liverpool still chasing Alexander Isak
Since joining Newcastle from Real Sociedad for £63m in 2022, Isak has only gone from strength to strength, blooming into a world-class finisher but also a forward of impressive flair and finesse.
Isak’s relationship at Newcastle has disintegrated as he pushes to sign for Liverpool, who have already seen a formal offer worth an initial £110m rejected this summer.
Some would say the protracted pursuit of the Sweden star has become unsavoury, with Isak ostracising himself from Eddie Howe’s plans, but it’s a complex matter and Liverpool are patiently making headway.
The hopes of integrating him ahead of the now-arrived campaign have proved fruitless, though, and the Anfield side must prepare for Bournemouth without the 25-year-old and all the depth and quality he would provide.
Liverpool team news
Joe Gomez has returned to first-team training after picking up a minor Achilles injury during Liverpool’s pre-season camp in Japan, though it’s highly unlikely Slot would hand him a starting berth.
The most prominent absence will be Ryan Gravenberch, who, after missing out last week due to the birth of his first child, is suspended after being shown a red card against Crystal Palace on the final day of the 2024/25 season.
In his place, Alexis Mac Allister could hop back into the starting mix, having been benched at Wembley due to a lack of fitness. However, with Curtis Jones operating so smoothly in a deep-lying role last week, completing all 53 of his attempted passes, he may well reprise his position.
And should that take place, Slot has an interesting opportunity to field a line-up which could get the squad ready for a potential future with Isak at the spearhead.
How Slot can accommodate Isak at Liverpool
The easy assumption for Liverpool, were they to succeed in signing Isak this month, would be to drop Gakpo and shuffle Ekitike out onto the left flank.
Cody Gakpo celebrates for Liverpool
In Slot’s world, Liverpool have become more structured and patient in the build-up, with the rise of Gravenberch allowing for the transitional flow to be carried through the centre. With Trent Alexander-Arnold now playing for Real Madrid, expect that impetus to remain intact.
However, were Isak and Ekitike to play together in a sort of 4-2-2-2, the Reds could see a renewed focus on wide play, with Mohamed Salah stretching out to the right and Wirtz drifting left to accommodate the two mobile strikers.
With the newfound energy and pace of Milos Kerkez and Frimpong on the flanks, overlaps could become commonplace down Anfield Road, with the creative flair of both further supplementing Ekitike and Isak in the final third.
And though the respective forwards are considered to be similar – both athletically dynamic and hard workers off the ball; each endowed with a technical aptitude that is beyond most number nines – Isak is clearly the more refined and streamlined goalscorer.
The forwards are competent enough that this could work a treat in theory, but it would require the sacrifice of another starting member. Gravenberch, who indeed misses out against Bournemouth, is the transitional linchpin of Slot’s midfield, but it could see Dominik Szoboszlai’s starting berth taken from him.
Liverpool's DominikSzoboszlai
The £120k-per-week Szoboszlai is one of Liverpool’s most tenacious and industrious players, having enjoyed steady progress across his two terms at Anfield after joining from RB Leipzig for £60m in 2023.
But with Jones playing so confidently in Gravenberch’s stead last week, and Mac Allister presumably fit enough to make his first start of the season, there might not be room for the Hungarian from the outset.
Against the Eagles, Szoboszlai won three tackles and won four of his eight contested duels, emphasising the reasoning behind Slot dropping him deeper to shift Wirtz into the line-up.
Dominik Szoboszlai – Stats vs Crystal Palace
Stats (* per game)
#
Minutes played
90′
Goals
0
Assists
0
Touches
75
Shots (on target)
2 (2)
Accurate passes
55/63 (87%)
Key passes
3
Dribbles
0/0
Tackles
3
Interceptions
1
Duels won
4/8
Data via Sofascore
It was, make no mistake, a fine performance from the 24-year-old, and one which might see him play an important role across the term ahead.
His drive is something special, with content creator Asim Mahmood previously hailing the all-action midfielder for being a “machine” in the centre.
But to ensure the fluency of a potential structural shift with Isak at the front, Slot might be inclined to indeed drop Szoboszlai against the Cherries and field Gakpo in his typical left-sided forward role – though with a marked focus on cutting inside and promoting his goalscoring ability, thus mimicking Isak and allowing Wirtz to move out onto the flank.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
Given that Salah has enjoyed such success from a playmaking standpoint as he has entered the later stages of his prime years – no Premier League player created more big chances than the Egyptian (27) last year – and Wirtz is considered to be “a genius” by Xabi Alonso for his flair, passing and vision, Liverpool would surely have the tools to create and work effectively, even if Szoboszlai drops out and awaits an impact from the bench.
It’s a shame that Liverpool have reached a position where elite-level players are forced to sit on the bench to make room for another. There are worse problems to have for a football fan, though, it must be said.
Better move than Isak: Liverpool preparing bid to sign £51m "monster"
Liverpool have set their sights on the perfect alternative to Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
Former South Africa offspinner and current Queensland and Brisbane Heat coach Johan Botha believes Matthew Kuhnemann will always wear the stigma of having his action reported regardless of whether he is cleared or not when he undergoes testing in the coming weeks.Kuhnemann, who plays under Botha at Heat, was reported by match officials for having a suspect bowling action during Australia’s second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle last week.Related
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Botha had problems with his bowling action throughout his career and said Kuhnemann faces a difficult road ahead even if he is cleared.”It is a long process and unfortunately either way if you get cleared or not it will always be there,” Botha told SEN in Brisbane. “Guys think it’s a one-off and you get rid of it. That is not how it is. It is a bit of a process. For now he will have to bowl at a very similar speed and revolutions as he did in the Tests. Nothing gets changed now.”He needs to try and prove himself not guilty and from there on if it is a ball or so over 15 degrees he will obviously have some work to do, then a long process starts. It never goes away because there is always someone in the crowd, someone in the opposition, or a match referee who wants to have a say or wants to feel a part of it.”Unfortunately this will be part of it now. It is never the guy who gets 0 for 100. It is the guys who get wickets and affect games. They are the ones under scrutiny. Guys want to have a look at it and try and find fault.”Kuhnemann has never been reported previously in an eight-year professional career, including when he first played ODI cricket for Australia in Sri Lanka in 2022 and when he made his Test debut and played three Tests on the 2023 tour of India.Johan Botha has his action tested in 2006•Getty Images
Botha added it is possible his action came under scrutiny at the back end of the second Test because of fatigue.”He bowled quite a lot balls in the Test series. As you get tired your action gets put under pressure,” Botha said. “I know he likes to bowl. He bowled quite a lot during the Big Bash. He went to Australia training when they were at the Gabba during the Big Bash.”I’d be interested to see when the umpires thought or the match referee thought it was not as clean as they would have liked it. And I would guess it could be later in the game. When you start getting tired, the ball is older and softer and you have to try and generate a little bit more pace. Whereas with the new ball it obviously comes off the wicket a bit quicker so I don’t think you need to force it so much.”Botha said his own experience had taught him that it is hard to recognise problems in your own action. He was first reported soon after his debut Test in January 2006 and was subsequently banned from bowling by the ICC. Another examination in August that year found his action to be illegal once again and he was cleared to bowl only in November.In 2009, following an ODI against Australia in Port Elizabeth, Botha was reported once again and this time the ICC ruled that his action while bowling the doosra was illegal and he was banned from bowling it. His other deliveries, however, were found to be within permissible limits.Botha was again cited in 2013 while playing an Australian domestic 50-over match for South Australia. He was once again tested and was cleared entirely.”I’ve looked at my stuff over the years and it doesn’t feel like it looks at times,” Botha said. “There’s a whole lot of different things. It’s a big process.”Hopefully for Kuhney’s sake it’s just a little hiccup and it’s nothing serious. I really thought in the last couple of days about things I did to change it which I might pass onto him. But I think for the first bowling test you’ve got to go and bowl as close to as you did in the Test match. There’s no use trying to change things now. That could make it worse.”Kuhnemann will now have to undergo independent testing at an ICC-accredited centre with Brisbane the likely location. Bowlers are permitted 15 degrees of flex in their elbow during their bowling action but anything more than that is deemed illegal.Kuhnemann is still available to play Sheffield Shield or Dean Jones Trophy (Australia domestic 50-over games) matches while undergoing testing but he cannot play in international matches during the process. He did not play in Tasmania’s 50-over clash with Victoria on Thursday.
Lyon are reportedly considering plotting a bid to sign Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi in an attempt to bolster their forwardline. Les Gones are struggling in attack following the late departure of Georges Mikautadze to Villarreal. Martin Satriano is not exactly someone Lyon are expecting big things from, which has prompted the Ligue 1 outfit to reconsider their options in attack.
Lyon suffering from impotency in attack
Lyon's management is already looking ahead to the winter transfer window with a target that is causing a stir in England. With only the ninth-best attack in Ligue 1 (seven goals scored in five games), Lyon lack offensive efficiency, especially following Mikautadze's move to Villarreal. The recent 1-0 win against Angers is a case in point: the team dominated but struggled to convert its chances. While fans are already dreaming of a top-four finish at the end of the current season, observers point out that this offensive weakness could hamper the team's European ambitions. An additional striker therefore seems essential for January.
AdvertisementAFPEli Junior Kroupi, the lead provided by Paulo Fonseca
According to reports by , Fonseca has suggested a name to the club's management: Kroupi. Transferred to Bournemouth during the last summer transfer window for €13 million (£11m/$15m), the 19-year-old striker is discovering the Premier League but has seen very little playing time. In three league appearances, he has only accumulated 12 minutes of playing time. This situation could prompt him to seek a way out as early as this winter.
Kroupi on the radar of several French clubs
The former Lorient player is coming off an outstanding season in Ligue 2, scoring 22 goals in just 30 games. Voted the league's best player in 2024-25, he impressed with his consistency and maturity despite his young age. The French U21 international Kroupi remains highly-rated in France. Les Gones could try to secure a loan deal, which would be an attractive option financially. But competition is likely to be fierce, as other French clubs are already monitoring his situation.
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Getty Images SportA run-in against Leeds United on the cards?
Kroupi will be hoping that his head coach Andoni Iraola will give him a starting berth in Bournemouth's next game, which takes place on Saturday against Leeds United.
Autor do gol do Botafogo na vitória diante do Cuiabá por 1 a 0, Tiquinho Soares concedeu entrevista na beira do gramado da Arena Pantanal. O atacante reconheceu as dificuldades do jogo e celebrou os três pontos da equipe alvinegra no Brasileirão.
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– Eu estou muito feliz pela marca de 90 gols. É importante sempre exaltar a vitória. Jogamos contra uma grande equipe. Particularmente para mim, foi um dos jogos mais difíceis que nós pegamos. Muito feliz com esse momento no Botafogo. O campeonato é longo. É um passo de cada vez. O que importa são os três pontos – declarou Tiquinho ao “Premiere”.
+ Luís Castro no Al-Nassr? Veja nomes que já estão ou podem chegar ao futebol da Arábia Saudita
O gol do camisa 9 foi marcado de pênalti no começo do segundo tempo. Com este resultado, os alvinegros abriram cinco pontos de vantagem do segundo colocado e se mantiveram na liderança isolada do campeonato.
O Glorioso entra em campo no próximo domingo (25), diante do Palmeiras, às 16h, no Allianz Parque, pelo Brasileirão. O time de Luís Castro vai com tudo em busca de um importante resultado fora de casa.
Inglis-Carey stand breaks England before keeper’s maiden ODI hundred seals stunning chase
Danyal Rasool22-Feb-20252:04
Agar: Inglis controlled the innings, the rest could bat around him
By the time Australia’s fourth wicket fell, Josh Inglis had switched into declutter mode. There remained more than 200 runs still to get, the asking rate nearing eight, and there wasn’t too much batting to come. There was little time to regroup and consolidate, and at the same time little room for error.None of this, Inglis understood, would be helpful to worry about. “We were in and around the run rate to start off with, so that was a big help,” Inglis said after the game. “The partnership between Shorty [Matt Short] and Marnus [Labuschagne] was really important. They sort of set the platform there, got us off to a good start. And then me and [Alex] Carey, we didn’t really say too much out there. Carey is pretty quiet when he’s batting, so I think we were going pretty well. So, I just tried to not look at the scoreboard too much, [not] look at the run rate, just keep batting the way we were going.”Australia were in pursuit of what would be the highest chase in an ICC tournament, and despite his obvious talent, Inglis hasn’t had an ODI career of particular note yet. In 28 matches, he had scored 543 runs, averaging under 22, a quickfire 65 against West Indies in February 2024 his most significant ODI contribution. If Australia were to get close, he had to produce an effort little in his career so far provided reason to expect.Related
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Duckett delivers but England fall flat again to put tournament on the line
In the immediate term, Carey and Inglis minimised risks while keeping the asking rate under control. Like Australia, England had opted for the security of a deeper batting order, and would have to compensate for it with part-time bowling. In just the second over after the partnership came together, Carey struck two fours of Livingstone, before Inglis launched him for six the following over. It balanced out the respectful caution they treated Adil Rashid with without falling too far behind.”We trained here at night for the last couple of days and it got really dewy around half past seven or eight o’clock,” Inglis said. “So, we sort of knew that was in our favour during the run chase and if we could take it deep enough it would be tough for the bowlers at the back end. It made life easier for us, the wicket skidded on beautifully and it really helped our run chase.”And we knew if we could get close enough with Maxi [Glenn Maxwell] still to come – we’ve just seen what Maxi can do and everyone’s seen it for a while now. So, to get close enough for him to be able to explode like that at the back end was probably in the back of our thoughts.”Inglis and Carey worked the run chase so expertly they didn’t necessarily need any explosions. They added 146 in just 116 deliveries, and by the time Carey holed out to mid-off, Australia just needed to stick with a similar rate of scoring.Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell celebrate Australia’s win•Associated Press
That fireworks came via Maxwell’s bat wasn’t especially surprising; he took the sting out of England’s two gun seamers in Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, scorching them for 31 in 11 balls. Inglis, however, wasn’t far behind, his last 36 coming off just 14 balls. It included a huge six over midwicket off Archer to bring up his hundred, and another one in the same region off Wood to seal the win.”Maybe under the circumstances [it’s my best innings]. It’s really special. I think in an ICC event, you want to have an impact and you want to help your team win a game, so maybe – I’ll reflect on that in the future.”Inglis’ personal history with England perhaps adds a further layer of intrigue to the story. He was born in Leeds and only moved to Australia as a teenager, and said as recently as 2022 that he still supported England at cricket. Those days, he said today, were “long gone now”.”It doesn’t matter who it’s against,” he said. “It’s a really tight, quick tournament. We knew how we started the World Cup in India last year and we weren’t able to get a good start, we knew you can’t work your way into this Champions Trophy. You’ve got to be right on it from the first game. So, I think that’s probably the most pleasing thing, to get a win on the board in game one.”And if there’s little doubt about Inglis’ loyalties now, the same couldn’t necessarily be said about the crowed. With 26,232 packed into the new Gaddafi Stadium, Australian and English flags were visible in roughly equal measure, and celebrations at each six or wicket, almost irrespective of who they came from. The quality and intensity of the game, without doubt the best of this tournament so far, meant the spectators’ attention was held right through the end, with few leaving before Inglis had struck the final blow.”I thought the atmosphere was amazing all day today. It’s obviously the new stands. I think the ground and the stadium looks amazing. To play tonight in front of a packed crowd was unbelievable and the noise at times was deafening, especially with the Mexican wave. I saw that going around a few times and it was a really nice crowd and good atmosphere tonight.”