Khary Pierre, the left-arm spinner who is yet to play in Tests, has also been called up
ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2025West Indies have dropped former captain Kraigg Brathwaite from their 15-member squad for the two-Test series in India beginning on October 2, while Alick Athanaze and Tagenarine Chanderpaul have been recalled with an emphasis on players well equipped to play spin.Brathwaite, a veteran of 100 Test caps, lost his place in the XI in the final Test against Australia earlier this year, a series which West Indies lost 0-3 and resulted in an emergency meeting which involved the likes of Clive Lloyd and Brian Lara. Also missing from the squad against Australia are Keacy Carty, Johann Layne and Mikyle Louis.Khary Pierre, the left-arm spinner who is yet to play in Tests, has been called up too. Pierre is the second specialist spinner in the squad alongside vice-captain Jomel Warrican, and has been selected after taking 41 wickets at an average of 13.56 in the West Indies championship. Gudakesh Motie, meanwhile, has been rested “given the demands of the upcoming limited-overs schedule,” according to a CWI release.”The return of Tagenarine Chanderpaul is to help transform our fortunes at the top of the order given the recent struggles, with Alick Athanaze being added for his strengths and qualities against spin bowling,” head coach Daren Sammy said in a statement. “Khary is included for the first time as our second spinner in what we expect to be helpful conditions.”ESPNcricinfo LtdAthanaze’s last Test appearance was in the subcontinent against Pakistan in January. Chanderpaul, who last played a Test in January 2024 on the tour of Australia, is likely to partner John Campbell at the top. Kevlon Anderson, who has a first-class average of 42.05, keeps his place in the squad. The other batters are the captain Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach and Brandon King.The spin contingent will be led by Warrican, Pierre, and Chase. The seamers are Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Anderson Phillip and Jayden Seales.West Indies are set to arrive in Ahmedabad on September 24. Only four players – Chase, Hope, Alzarri and Warrican – were part of the West Indies squad that last toured India in 2018-19. The first Test is set to be played in Ahmedabad and the second one in Delhi from October 10.West Indies have a busy season ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in February-March. Later this month, they play Nepal in Sharjah for three T20Is, then play two Tests in India before flying to Bangladesh for a multi-format white-ball tour in October-November. They close out the year with an all-format tour of New Zealand from November 5 to December 22 comprising five T20Is, three ODIs and three Tests.West Indies Test squad for India series Roston Chase (capt), Jomel Warrican (vice-capt), Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales.
Martin O’Neill has steadied the ship as interim Celtic manager, but for how much longer will he be at the helm?
The 73-year-old has led the Hoops into the League Cup Final, ousting Rangers 3-1 at Hampden, while also enjoying back-to-back 4-0 victories in the Premiership, most recently hammering Kilmarnock 4-0 on Sunday.
The Northern Irishman returned to Glasgow 20 years after departing, having won three Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and the League Cup during his first stint in charge, also leading the Hoops to the UEFA Cup Final in 2003, beaten by José Mourinho’s Porto in Seville.
When he was appointed in 2000, this was seen as a bit of a risk, considering O’Neill had little top-level experience at the time, achieving promotions with Wycombe Wanderers and Leicester City, before winning two EFL Cups in charge of the Foxes.
So, could the Celtic board return to the English Football League for their next appointment, a quarter of a century on from O’Neill’s arrival at Parkhead?
Latest on Celtic's manager search
From the moment the dust settled following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation as Celtic manager on 27 October, Kieran McKenna has been among the front-runners for the job.
A report last week suggested he had emerged as the No.1 target to fill the vacancy, with speculation suggesting that he does have an affiliation to Celtic.
However, it was also noted that getting McKenna out of Ipswich will be no easy take, considering he is under contract at Portman Road until 2028, and the Tractor Boys, currently seventh in the EFL Championship, will not allow their most prized asset to leave without a fight.
Manager Focus
Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.
Thus, as they search for alternatives, a report by the Daily Record claims that Celtic have held internal discussions at boardroom level about the possibility of appointing Brian Barry-Murphy – with interest in McKenna said to have ‘waned’.
The report indicates that Celtic chiefs are currently conducting interviews, with a new figure potentially in line to be in place for the Premiership clash away to St Mirren on Saturday, November 22.
As for Barry-Murphy, his father Jimmy was a Gaelic footballer and hurler, winning multiple major titles, thereby considered to be among the most legendary figures in the history of all Gaelic games.
Now, Brian is making a name for himself as a football coach across the Irish Sea, so could he soon swap South Wales for Glasgow?
What the next O'Neill would bring to Celtic
Following the Bluebirds’ relegation last season, thereby finding themselves outside England’s top two tiers for the first time since 2003, Barry-Murphy was appointed Cardiff City manager in the summer.
Well, up until very recently, Cardiff had been top of EFL League One, before back-to-back away defeats at Blackpool and Bolton have seen them sink down to fourth.
Nevertheless, they have reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, set to face Chelsea next month, and their league statistics this season are impressive.
Points
26
4th
Goals scored
22
3rd
Goals against
14
2nd
Big chances
41
1st
Big chances missed
30
1st
Possession
62.1%
1st
Accurate passes
407.5
1st
Shots per 90
14.4
2nd
Shots on target pet 90
4.9
2nd
Clean sheets
6
2nd
As the table documents, Cardiff lead the division when it comes to big chances missed, suggesting they’re playing well but have not earned as many points as they may deserve.
Meantime, the Bluebirds are in the top two for goals against and shots, while ranked first in the division for possession and accurate passes, evidence of Barry-Murphy’s style of play.
Before taking the Cardiff job, the Irishman had been in charge of Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad, overseeing plenty of success with the Sky Blues, which is very much where he honed his craft and playing philosophy.
Now, his work in South Wales is earning rave reviews, labelled a “very talented coach”, while Benedict Ferraby of EFL World has praised his ‘impressive start’ to life in the Bluebirds’ dugout as well as his ‘exciting’ style of play.
Of course, considering he has only ever managed Rochdale, Man City’s youth teams and now Cardiff for just 22 matches, appointing Barry-Murphy would be a risk, but one reminiscent of the hiring of O’Neill, a similar age at the time, back in 2000.
With no obvious candidate for the job, and Rodgers’ resignation coming out of nowhere, the Celtic board are targeting a younger ‘project’ manager.
Well, while McKenna appears perfectly suited to this role, securing his signature may not prove ascertainable, but Barry-Murphy could well be the ideal alternative.
Ange 2.0: Celtic board 'very keen' to interview 48 y/o McKenna alternative
Celtic should appoint an “immensely respected” manager not Kieran McKenna because he would be able to replicate Ange Postecoglou’s success in Glasgow
تحدث الألماني توني كروس، لاعب ريال مدريد السابق عن مستوى الفريق الحالي تحت قيادة تشابي ألونسو، الموسم الحالي 2025/2026.
وخسر ريال مدريد صدارة جدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني في المباراة الماضية بعد التعادل أمام جيرونا بهدف لكل منهما.
وقال كروس، في تصريحات عبر صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “لا يجب أن نتحدث دائمًا عن اللاعبين السابقين، فهذا لا يفيد أحدًا، لا أريد أن أسمع أن الناس يفتقدونني، يجب أن يكون التركيز على الحاضر لا على الماضي”.
وأضاف حول أمنية يتمنى حدوثها عن هذا الحديث: “أنا أول من يُفضل فوز ريال مدريد حتى يتوقف هذا الوضع”.
وأكد كروس: “مغادرتي لريال مدريد؟ لقد غادرت بابتسامة ولقب رائع لا يُنسى”.
وأوضح: “ريال مدريد قادر على شق طريقه الخاص بتشكيلته الحالية، عليهم إيجاد طريقة للفوز بتشكيلة متنوعة من اللاعبين”.
اقرأ أيضًا | برشلونة يعلن سبب غياب دي يونج عن مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد
واستطرد: “توتر داخل الفريق؟ ربما تسير بعض الأمور على ما يُرام والبعض الآخر لا، لكنني لم أرَ أحدًا متوترًا بشكل خاص، لديهم لاعبون قادرون على الفوز بكل شيء، الأمر يتعلق بإيجاد طريقة”.
وتابع كروس أيضًا عن عمله كمدرب والاختلافات بين كرة القدم للناشئين والنخبة بالنسبة له، قائلًا: “يلعب الأطفال بشكل أفضل عندما يلعبون بحرية دون خوف من ارتكاب الأخطاء”.
وأردف: “أصبح مدربًا؟ أنا سعيد بمكاني الحالي، ليس لديّ خطة لأقول إنني سأستمر في هذا المجال بعد عشر سنوات، الأمر الأكثر واقعية هو أنني ما زلت هنا”.
وعن فينيسيوس جونيور أتم: “لقد كان من الرائع مشاهدة تطوره، نعم لا يزال يمكنه تحسين بعض الأمور لكن يجب أن نأخذ في الاعتبار الضغط القادم من الخصوم والجماهير، كلاعب هو من الطراز الرفيع، كشخص فهو رائع لقد كان من دواعي سروري أن أتواجد معه داخل الملعب وخارجه”.
Mookie Betts just can't get right, even when fans try to boost him.
For months, Betts has been mired in the worst slump of his career, one in which the numbers he's posting are inexplicable. The Los Angeles Dodgers star can't find his way out of it.
On Monday night, as he stepped into the box for his first at-bat against the St. Louis Cardinals, Dodgers fans gave the eight-time All-Star a sustained ovation in an attempt to give him a boost.
It didn't work.
Betts went 0-for-4 as the Cardinals beat the Dodgers 3-2. The 32-year-old flew out twice, grounded out, and struck out looking as part of the feeble offensive showing from the Dodgers.
The hitless night dropped Betts's batting average to .231, and his on-base percentage fell to .302, he's slugging .355, and his OPS is a woeful .657. All of those numbers are career lows.
We're 103 games into the season, and Betts hasn't looked anything like himself. An ovation from fans didn't help him. We'll see if he can figure it out himself.
The Milwaukee Brewers mounted an incredible comeback over the New York Mets on Sunday afternoon, overcoming a 5-0 deficit with a walk-off 7-6 win.
It was rookie outfielder Isaac Collins who capped things off in the end, blasting a 363-foot home run to right field and clinching the Brew Crew's MLB-leading ninth straight victory.
As the 28-year-old's eighth blast of the season went soaring out of American Family Field, cameras were able to capture his teammates' reaction in the dugout—resulting in an awesome behind-the-scenes video.
Check it out here:
They were justifiably stoked.
With the win, the Brewers remain in full control of the National League's top spot in the standings, sitting five games ahead of both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers. They'll ride their win streak into Pittsburgh on Monday to take on the Pirates for a 7:40 p.m. ET first pitch.
O Internacional encara o Bahia neste sábado (13), às 18h30h (horário de Brasília), pela estreia do Brasileirão 2024. O confronto será transmitido pelo Premiere (TV Fechada).
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➡️ A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!
Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre Internacional e Bahia (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).
✅FICHA TÉCNICA INTERNACIONAL X BAHIA 1ª RODADA – BRASILEIRÃO Data e horário: sábado, 13 de abril de 2024, às 18h30 (de Brasília); Local: Beira-Rio, em Porto Alegre (RS); Onde assistir: Premiere; Árbitro: Rodrigo Jose Pereira (FIFA-PE); Assistentes: Francisco Chaves Bezerra (PE) e Luis Carlos de Franca (RN); VAR: Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira (FIFA-SP).
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⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES INTERNACIONAL (Técnico: Eduardo Coudet) Rochet; Bustos, Vitão, Mercado e Renê; Fernando (Thiago Maia), Bruno Henrique, Maurício e Gustavo Prado; Wesley (Wanderson) e Borré. Técnico: Eduardo Coudet.
BAHIA (Técnico: Rogério Ceni) Marcos Felipe; Santiago Arias, Kanu, Cuesta e Rezende; Caio Alexandre, Jean Lucas, Cauly e Everton Ribeiro; Biel (Luciano Juba) e Thaciano.
The Australia captain could be in doubt, having missed two matches with a calf strain
S Sudarshanan29-Oct-20254:35
Krishnamurthy: ‘X-factor Shafali can put India ahead’
Big picture – How will Shafali-Mandhana bat?
The stakes couldn’t be higher.Australia are here with a clean slate. They have been pushed back multiple times during this World Cup, and they’ve found a way back each time. Two of their batters, Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner, have scored two centuries each. Two of their bowlers, Annabel Sutherland and Alana King, have taken more than ten wickets each. And apart from everything else that makes them such intimidating opponents, Australia have not lost an ODI knockout game since they lost to India in the the semi-finals of the 2017 World Cup.Related
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What will Harmanpreet vs Australia bring us this time?
India are riding a wave of emotion. They recovered from a three-game losing streak to sneak into the semi-finals. In their last full game, played at the same venue, they posted their record World Cup total. No team has pushed Australia harder than India in recent times. And they are now two wins away from doing what no India women’s team has ever done.Their key player Smriti Mandhana has scored 105, 58, 117, 125 and 80 in her last five ODIs against Australia. But she’ll start from 0 again, and this time she’ll have an adjustment to make, with her usual opening partner Pratika Rawal, with whom she added a record 212 against New Zealand, ruled out of the World Cup. Mandhana is all set to open with Shafali Verma, and the new combination could have an effect on how she bats.In ODIs involving Shafali, Mandhana averages 51.83 and strikes at 85.55. When these two opened together, Shafali was usually the early aggressor. Mandhana took on that role when Shafali went out of the side, however, as her numbers in matches involving Rawal suggest: an average of 62.65, a strike rate of 108.75. How will the new (old) opening combination bat on Thursday?For Australia, there is a fair bit of intrigue around Healy’s availability. A minor calf strain sidelined her ahead of the game against England, and she missed two matches subsequently. Australia would not want to be reminded of the T20 World Cup semi-final from last year; Healy missed the clash and South Africa romped to an eight-wicket win.The second semi-final, for which the cheapest tickets were priced at INR 150 (as opposed to INR 100 for the Guwahati semi-final), is a sell-out. You can expect all of Navi Mumbai to cram itself into the DY Patil Stadium. They could get to witness an epic.Shafali Verma waits for her turn at the nets•ICC/Getty Images
Form guide
Australia WWWWW (last five completed ODIs, most recent first) India WLLLW
In the spotlight – Phoebe Litchfield and Deepti Sharma
Phoebe Litchfield loves playing India. She has one century and four fifties in just eight ODI innings against them, and averages 63.50. She has a wide range of sweeps that could potentially upset the rhythm of India’s spinners. After a pair of low scores against England and South Africa, Litchfield may feel she is due some runs too.Deepti Sharma has been India’s leading wicket-taker at this World Cup with 15 at 22.46. There will be a lot of focus on her during this game, because she has a fine record against Australia’s middle-order batters. She has dismissed Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner twice each in ODIs, while going at less than a run a ball against both, Ellyse Perry three times, and Tahlia McGrath five times in nine innings. Only Perry and Annabel Sutherland from the current side have managed to hit Deepti for a six in ODIs.
Team news – Australia sweat on Healy’s availability
While Healy batted and kept wicket during Tuesday’s training session, she opted out of optional training on Wednesday, with Georgia Voll batting in partnership with Litchfield. Head coach Shelley Nitschke said Australia would give Healy “as much time as she needs” and will take a call on her participation on Thursday. That aside, expect Sophie Molineux to come back into the spin attack for Georgia Wareham, who played against South Africa but did not get a chance to bowl.Australia (probable): 1 Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), 2 Phoebe Litchfield, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Annabel Sutherland, 5 Beth Mooney, 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Tahlia McGrath, 8 Sophie Molineux, 9 Alana King, 10 Kim Garth, 11 Megan Schutt.Shafali is likely to swap straight into India’s XI in Rawal’s place at the top of the order. Richa Ghosh, who was rested against Bangladesh after injuring her finger during the match against New Zealand, did not look in any discomfort during her keeping drills and batted a fair bit on Tuesday. Sneh Rana and Kranti Gaud, both of whom were also rested against Bangladesh, could come back into the XI.India (probable): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Jemimah Rodrigues, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Deepti Sharma, 8 Sneh Rana, 9 Kranti Gaud, 10 N Shree Charani, 11 Renuka Singh.2:15
Australia coach Nitschke: Not underdogs, but also not favourites’
Pitch and conditions
The game will be played on the pitch on which Sri Lanka played Bangladesh. That track was devoid of grass and had a bright brown look to it. It is expected to be a high-scoring game. There has been rain in Navi Mumbai in the lead-up to the match, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for Wednesday and Thursday, but the forecast for matchday has cleared up somewhat. The match will go into a reserve day should it not finish on Thursday.
Stats and trivia
Mandhana and Shafali have opened together 25 times in ODIs, adding 893 runs at an average of 37.20 and a run rate of 5.38. Mandhana and Rawal, who have opened together 23 times, are India’s most successful opening pair in ODIs, having put on 1799 runs at 78.21 and 6.06.
Alana King’s average of 34.63 and economy rate of 5.93 against India are her worst by a distance against any opposition in ODIs. Mandhana (160.00), Harleen Deol (116.66), Harmanpreet Kaur (114.58), Jemimah Rodrigues (113.23) and Deepti Sharma (105.40) have 100-plus strike rates against the legspinner.
Australia are on a 15-match winning streak in ODI World Cups. They had also won 15 in a row across the 1997 and 2000 editions.
Megan Schutt is one wicket away from becoming the leading wicket-taker for Australia in ODI World Cups. She has 39 now, on par with Lyn Fullston
Quotes
“Ash [Gardner] has been unbelievable. We all know what she’s capable of with the bat, but to take her game to the next level, and do that in a World Cup, has been fantastic. She’s someone who is very diligent in everything she does; she’s a hard worker. When she’s at her best, it’s about making sure that she’s enjoying the game and enjoying the environment and she’s getting in the contest.” “I was playing domestic cricket and was in good touch. [Semi-finals] are not something new for me because I’ve played many semi-finals before. It’s just a matter of keeping my mind clear and giving myself confidence. I’ve been in such situations earlier, so it’s nothing new. I’ll keep telling myself to stay calm and believe in myself. So absolutely, I’ll do well, 200%.”
Labuschagne released from ODI squad to play Shield cricket while Hazlewood and Abbott will miss back-end of T20I series to play a Shield game
Alex Malcolm24-Oct-2025
Jack Edwards has been added to Australia’s ODI squad•Getty Images
New South Wales allrounder Jack Edwards has been called into his first international squad after being added to Australia’s ODI side for the final match in Sydney while Glenn Maxwell and Ben Dwarshuis are fit to return for the latter stages of the upcoming T20I series against India, with young WA quick Mahli Beardman also called up for the T20Is.Cricket Australia confirmed a host of changes to the two white-ball squads on Friday with Marnus Labuschagne released from the ODI squad ahead of the final game in Sydney on Saturday to prepare for Queensland’s Sheffield Shield clash with NSW that starts on Tuesday at the Gabba.Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott will both miss the back-end of the T20I series against India in order play the round four Shield match for NSW against Victoria which starts at the SCG on November 10. Hazlewood will only play the first two T20Is while Abbott, who is recovering from split webbing in his hand, will leave Australia’s squad after the third T20I in Hobart.Related
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Mahli Beardman: 'Think I can hit the magical 150 mark'
Abbott first to be subbed out under new Sheffield Shield injury rule
Maxwell hopes to be fit for back-end of T20I series against India
Matthew Kuhnemann, who played in the first ODI against India in Perth but then missed the second in Adelaide when Adam Zampa returned, was recalled to the squad for the third game in Sydney alongside Edwards. Josh Philippe, who also played the opening ODI and then was left out of the second when Alex Carey returned, was added to the T20I squad as the spare wicketkeeper with doubt remaining over Josh Inglis’ fitness as he is yet to return from a calf strain.Maxwell will return for the last three matches of the T20I series having been ruled out of the first two after fracturing his wrist while bowling in the nets in New Zealand late last month. Dwarshuis was ruled out of the ODI series and the first three T20Is with a calf injury but has been named to return for the fourth and fifth matches in Queensland.Mahli Beardman has been called up to Australia’s T20I squad•CA/Getty Images
Beardman, 20, is a surprise call-up for the last three T20Is. The former Australia Under-19 quick was a shock inclusion as an injury replacement on Australia’s 2024 white-ball tour of England having played only one List A game for Western Australia. He is also coming off stress fractures over the winter but he has made an impressive start to his T20 and List A career for Perth Scorchers and WA. He took 3 for 17 in his second BBL game, his last T20 appearance in January, and has 12 wickets at 17.75 with an economy rate of 5.75 from his first four List A games for WA, including 3 for 48 and 2 for 55 in his only two games so far this season coming back from injury.Edwards’ call-up to the ODI squad has come on the back of some excellent performances for Australia A on the recent tour of India. He made 88 in the second four-day game in Lucknow and then took 4 for 56 and 89 off 75 in the second and third 50-over matches in Kanpur respectively while captaining Australia A.His addition to the squad does provide Australia the opportunity to extend their batting and trial an allrounder heavy line-up in the dead rubber in Sydney. Such an XI would present the selectors with the chance to rest either one or both of Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc given there is just one day of rest between the second and third ODI.Australia ODI squad for the third ODI vs IndiaMitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam ZampaAustralia T20I squad vs IndiaMitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott (first three matches only), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman (last three matches only), Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis (last two matches only), Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood (first two matches only), Glenn Maxwell (last three matches only), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
The former captain acknowledges his life priorities have shifted as he prepares to play for his country for the first time since March
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Oct-2025Kane Williamson says he remains committed to playing for New Zealand, and has half an eye on the next ODI World Cup in 2027, but acknowledges that his life priorities have shifted as he prepares to play for his country for the first time since the Champions Trophy final in March.Williamson, 35, was not considered for last week’s three-match T20I series against England, as he was recovering from an unspecified medical issue. However, he is back with the squad for the ODI leg of England’s visit, which gets underway at Mount Maunganui on Sunday.”It’s nice to be back amongst the group,” Williamson told NZC, after linking up with a squad that is now coached by Rob Walter, following Gary Stead’s departure in the off-season. “There’s been quite a bit of change since the last time I was here, so it’s nice to meet the new coach and some new players as well. And I’m looking forward to the start of the series.”Williamson spent much of New Zealand’s winter in England, on an extended contract with Hundred-franchise London Spirit that included a multi-format stint with Middlesex. As one of a group of senior players on a casual contract with NZC, he missed New Zealand’s tour of Zimbabwe in order to fulfil that deal, and also made himself unavailable for this month’s early-season T20Is against Australia.However, Williamson reiterated his commitment to international cricket, while also acknowledging that his involvement with New Zealand’s squads could not simply be a case of him doing all the picking and choosing.”It’s just an ongoing communication with New Zealand Cricket and with Rob, and I’m grateful for that,” he said. “It’s a lot about the balance, with family and time away, but also the delicate balance of being a part of this team that I’ve really loved and enjoyed for such a long period of time.Kane Williamson spent much of New Zealand’s winter in England•Getty Images”Your life situation changes, as mine has, and I’m incredibly grateful as well for that,” he added. “With three young children, the balance between where you spend your time and [who] give your attention [to] is really important to me. Still being able to play for New Zealand, and play the sport that I love at the highest level, is great, but the balance is the most important thing for me.”I still love the game. I still have a strong desire to get better and train hard, and offer whatever I can for the team. It’s been a huge part of my life for 15-plus years, we’ve been through a lot as a group, and a number of transitions. But I’ve just loved playing with a bunch of people that are really committed to each other, and to the team.”New Zealand’s run to the Champions Trophy final was a continuation of their strong showing in ICC events during Williamson’s career. When asked what ambitions he still harboured, he acknowledged the 2027 ODI World Cup – scheduled for Southern Africa in 24 months’ time – remained “at the back of my mind”.”There’s always other things,” he added. “Test cricket is pretty dear to me as well. So it’s a little bit about what I want, and little bit more about what the team wants, and where it’s going, and what we’re buying into.”We’ll keep those lines of communication open to make sure that we’re focused and clear on what it looks like,” he added. “I’m respectful of the fact that this is a team and a special place, and that they’re always trying to build towards something. For me, in this phase of my career, if I’m there and able to add to it, then brilliant.”
Can Rob Edwards save Wolverhampton Wanderers from relegation?
During the international break, the 42-year-old controversially left Middlesbrough, currently second in the EFL Championship, to take over the reins at Molineux, returning to the club for whom he made 111 appearances as a player, but he has a massive task on his hands.
Wolves currently have just two points on the board after 11 matches, no side in Premier League history has ever survived from this position, losing four on the spin ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit to the Black Country on Saturday afternoon.
The Old Gold’s eight-year stay in the top-flight is under serious threat, so if Edwards harbours any realistic hopes of leading Wolves to a great escape, he must surely unleash a new-look forward line in attack.
Jørgen Strand Larsen's downturn in form
Last season, his first after arriving from Celta Vigo, only nine players scored more Premier League goals than Jørgen Strand Larsen’s tally of 14, an impressive figure considering Wolves finished 16th.
This saw Newcastle make multiple bids to sign the 25-year-old, the highest of which was £55m, despite the fact he had cost the Old Gold only €30m (around £26m).
Wolves rejected all of these bids, with Strand Larsen instead signing a new five-year contract, but now they desperately need him to rediscover his best form.
So far this season, the striker has just three goals to his name, bagging a Carabao Cup double against West Ham in August, while his only goal in the Premier League thus far was a penalty during the infamous 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Burnley that ultimately cost Vítor Pereira his job.
Strand Larsen did find the target last Sunday as Norway crushed Italy 4-1 at San Siro, officially confirming his country’s place at next summer’s World Cup, so will be hoping to take confidence from that back into his club form.
Nevertheless, Wolves could be doing more to get the best out of their number nine, underlined by the fact that Strand Larsen’s shots and shot on target per 90 statistics have significantly decreased this season, so could partnering him alongside a “huge talent” be the solution?
Rob Edwards must unleash Wolves' next Jimenez
Wolves only made five senior summer signings, all of whom have had varying degrees of little impact, namely Fer López, Jhon Arias, David Møller Wolfe and Jackson Tchatchoua.
The last of the additions, arriving on deadline day, was striker Tolu Arokodare, joining from Genk for £24m, and he is possibly the most exciting of the quintet, even if the Wolves faithful have seen very little from him thus far.
The 24-year-old has taken an unusual route to the Premier League, beginning his senior career at Latvian club Valmiera, scoring 22 goals in just 34 appearances, hence why Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout described him as “simply too good” for the Virslīga, currently ranked the 36th best league in Europe.
After a brief and unsuccessful stint at Köln, scoring no goals for die Geißböcke, Arokodare rediscovered his mojo at Amiens, netting 21 times across two seasons for the Ligue 2 side, earning a move to Genk, scoring on 41 occasions for the Smurfs.
Of these goals, 21 came in last season’s Jupiler Pro League, which Global Football Rankings believes to be the sixth-strongest league in the world, and the Nigerian international’s statistics make for impressive reading.
Tolu Arokodare 2024/25 Belgian league statistics
Stats
Arokodare
League rank
Goals
21
1st
Goals inside the box
21
1st
Headed goals
3
3rd
Expected goals
28.53
1st
Shots
158
1st
Shots per 90
4.9
1st
Shots on target
52
2nd
Big chances missed
34
1st
Assists
5
17th
Big chances created
7
32nd
Key passes
32
52nd
Shot-creating actions
77
16th
Goal-creating actions
9
13th
Aerial duels won
156
3rd
Touches in the box
217
1st
Stats via FBref and SofaScore
The table makes for interesting reading, emphasising the fact that Arokodare is a penalty box presence, considering all 21 of his goals came inside the area, while also ranking first for shots, shots per 90 and touches in the opposition area.
Meantime, he is also excellent in the air, scoring three headers while also ending up third for aerial duels won, behind only Daan Heymans and Aurélien Scheidler; the former joined Genk to replace Arokodare, while the latter moved to Royal Charleroi to replace the former.
The statistic though that leaps off the page most is the fact that Arokodare missed 34 Opta-defined big chances.
For comparison, the leaders in this metric across other European leagues last season were Ollie Watkins in the Premier League (27), Kylian Mbappé in La Liga (29), Serhou Guirassy in the Bundesliga (21) and Roberto Piccoli in Serie A (26), so no one came close to the Nigerian’s 34, which shows he is often in the right position, albeit is regularly an erratic finisher.
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Despite this, Arokodare is still highly rated, with journalist Graeme Bailey labelling him a “huge talent”, while the aforementioned Kulig notes that “physicality, heading and link-up play” are his primary assets.
This all sounds rather reminiscent of Wolves’ best striker of their current stint in the Premier League, Raúl Jiménez, who is the club’s all-time leading scorer in the competition with 40.
After bouncing around Club América, Atlético Madrid and Benfica, the Mexican really flourished at Molineux, very much considered to be one of the best centre-forwards in the division prior to suffering a horrific fractured skull in November 2020.
Arokodare certainly possesses all the raw attributes to be as good as Jiménez, so now is the time for him to prove this.
Well, Wolves supporters have been treated to a mere amuse-bouche of what their new striker could offer so far, scoring in EFL Cup ties against Everton and Chelsea, starting only once in the Premier League thus far, not doing so in any of Wolves’ last six.
So, pairing him with Strand Larsen would certainly give opposition defences something to think about, with the duo possessing similar but also complementary skillsets.
With Palace captain Marc Guéhi a doubt due to a foot injury, surely Wolves’ best hope of claiming a first win of the season is to deploy the two strikers together.
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