Run outs, poor shots hamper Peshawar Zalmi as they slump to second loss in three matches

The Report by Danyal Rasool25-Feb-2018Shahid Afridi goes through his trademark celebratory routine•PCB/PSL

In a nutshellKarachi Kings completed a day of low-scoring runs and comfortable chases with a five-wicket win against Peshawar Zalmi to maintain their perfect record in PSL 2018. It was tighter than it needed to be, the chase completed with only two balls to spare. However, the defeat was no less than Peshawar deserved after a feckless first innings in which they were out to poor shots. They were even more indolent with their running: three run-outs meaning they gifted wickets to Karachi who bowled well enough to not require assistance anyway.An ephemeral cameo from Kamran Akmal at the top aside, Peshawar struggled to score at a good enough run rate, with the crease becoming a revolving door for batsmen to waltz in and out of. Dwayne Smith was the only one to chip in with an innings of any note, responsible for 71 of Peshawar’s 131. Karachi’s bowlers – particularly Mohammad Amir early on – were magnificent, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.A late surge had given Peshawar hope of eking out a scrappy win, but Karachi were clinical when they came out. They prioritised keeping wickets in hand, knowing the run rate wasn’t going to be an issue. Joe Denly and Babar Azam kept Karachi on course, before Colin Ingram injected some impetus with a 14-ball 23. A pair of late wickets and good bowling at the death meant Peshawar made it tight, but Imad Wasim’s men were never in real danger of blowing this, with the captain himself smashing the last ball for six to secure victory.Where the match was wonKarachi Kings effectively sewed up the contest with a superb effort in the field. Once Kamran was dismissed in the second over, they kept their foot on Peshawar’s throats. No bowler was a weak link as the run rate remained well below six for nearly the entirety of the first innings. Even though Darren Sammy’s men managed 48 in the last four overs, Karachi’s good work in the first 16 meant the target was still well within the Karachi’s reach.The men that won itMohammad Amir sustained an injury which meant he couldn’t bowl any more than two overs. Which was a shame, as he had been majestic in the first two. He swung the ball at pace and extracted every ounce of bounce the surface had to offer. He put an end to Kamran’s barrage at the start, which, if left unchecked, could have taken the game away from Karachi in the first Powerplay, as happened with Islamabad on Saturday. He also accounted for Tamim Iqbal with late swing, thereby setting the tone for an innings that was going to be heavily dominated by the bowlers.Dwayne’s distinctive dayIf you hadn’t watched the game, the scorecard would give you the impressions Dwayne Smith was the only Peshawar batsman who had a good day. After all, he scored an unbeaten 71 off 51 in a low-scoring game, accounting for nearly 55% of his side’s runs. But the other side of the coin is he was atrocious with his running and calling, at fault for at least two of the three run-outs that happened while he was at the crease. There is a case that the batsmen dismissed, Ibtisam Shiekh, Darren Sammy and Wahab Riaz may have been able to make useful contributions that made the difference in what ended up being a tight contest. But Smith’s consistency across the three editions of the PSL is unquestionable, and he once again demonstrated his destructiveness with the bat.Where they standKarachi are the only side with a perfect record in the PSL so far, and move to the top of the table. Zalmi now have one win from three, and are fourth.

Scottish champions Celtic took a significant stride in the defence of their title with a narrow 1-0 victory in the Old Firm derby at the weekend, with a typically clinical finish from talisman Kyogo Furuhashi ensuring it proved a welcome return to the fixture for manager, Brendan Rodgers.

That triumph was not without its controversy, however, with Rangers feeling rather aggrieved as Kemar Roofe saw his first-half effort ruled out after Cyriel Dessers was deemed to have fouled Gustaf Lagerbielke in the build-up, with the latter man likely to have been particularly relieved when the goal was overturned.

While there was seemingly clear contact from Dessers on the Swedish centre-back, it is hard to deny that the 23-year-old was somewhat fortunate to have not been punished for his sluggish play, with that hardly the type of performance that will have endeared the defender to his new supporters.

How did Lagerbielke perform vs Rangers?

As journalist Josh Bunting noted, it was arguably "dreadful defending" from the £3m addition as he simply dawdled on the ball inside his own half, with even his manager admitting post-match that he has "got to look to get his passes away quicker".

Such a worrying moment epitomised what was an all-round difficult afternoon for the former Elfsborg man as he 'looked a bag of nerves all day', according to the Daily Record's Michael Gannon, with it having been a tricky first trip to Ibrox for the summer signing.

That was also evidenced by the fact that the Stockholm native – who was brought in to ease the loss of compatriot, Carl Starfelt – notably lost possession on 13 occasions on the day, having also completed just one of his six attempted long balls as a sign of his panic.

Of course, it is far too early to completely judge the 6 foot 3 brute as he was perhaps prematurely thrust into the fray amid the injuries to the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki, although Rodgers may well have been concerned by what he saw from his recent arrival.

Such a shaky showing will also spark questions over whether the Parkhead giants acquired the right centre-back target, having also shown a strong interest in FC Volendam sensation, Xavier Mbuyamba throughout the summer window.

Why didn't Celtic sign Xavier Mbuyamba?

Reports as far back as May had indicated that the Hoops – alongside Championship side Watford – were keeping a close eye on the former Barcelona and Chelsea youngster, with Sky Sports noting that the 6 foot 5 sensation has even been likened to former club hero Virgil van Dijk such is his exciting potential.

Journalist Anthony Joseph then revealed early last month that the Scottish Premiership outfit had made an enquiry regarding the possibility of signing the 21-year-old, at the same time as having made contact over a deal for Lagerbielke.

As Joseph noted at the time, negotiations for the latter man were said to be "further down the line", with Rodgers and co ultimately ending up with the Swede to bolster their defensive ranks, rather than the towering Dutchman.

That decision not to sign the former Netherlands youth international – who is valued at €5m (£4m), according to CIES Football Observatory – could come back to bite those at Celtic Park if Lagerbielke's early woes continue, with the Bhoys having arguably passed up the chance to sign a truly exciting sensation.

How good is Xavier Mbuyamba?

As noted above, the Maastricht-born titan has regularly been the subject of comparisons to his compatriot, Van Dijk, with that seemingly boding well for the impact that he could have made in Glasgow by switching the Eredivisie for the Premiership.

In the case of the current Liverpool colossus, the 32-year-old enjoyed a particularly fruitful two-year spell in Scottish football after signing from Dutch outfit Groningen back in 2013, going on to rack up 115 appearances in all competitions in that time.

As former boss Neil Lennon noted, the immense ace – who is also 6 foot 5 – truly "had everything", such were his stellar string of attributes:

“Pace, great physicality, technique and superb in the air in both boxes".

That latter praise is evidenced by the fact that the one-time Southampton man recorded a respectable haul of 15 goals during his time at the club, with young Mbuyamba also a true threat in an attacking sense, after scoring five goals in just 33 games for his current side.

Such dominance has also been showcased in a defensive sense as Van Dijk currently ranks in the top 9% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for aerial duels won, at an average of 3.10 per 90, with Mbuyamba enjoying a similar record after averaging 3.33 in that regard.

To think that Celtic could well have spurned the chance to have Van Dijk 2.0 on their hands with the addition of the youngster will likely be of real frustration, particularly should Lagerbielke continue to prove rather uninspiring.

Is Mbuyamba better than Lagerbielke?

When looking closely at the duo's performances for their respective clubs last season, it appears an even greater head-scratcher that Mbuyamba was not the favoured option, with the Dutchman having arguably outperformed his counterpart across the board.

That is evidenced by the fact that in the Netherlands last term the towering figure notably averaged 3.5 tackles and interceptions per game from his 28 league appearances, while Lagerbielke, by contrast, averaged just 2.6 in that regard in 16 appearances in his native Sweden in 2023.

That ability to sniff out the danger is also illustrated by the fact that Mbuyamba averaged 5.4 clearances per game in contrast to just 2.8 for that same metric for the current Celtic man, while his tally of four league goals was also ahead of Lagerbielke's two goals in the Allsvenskan.

Mbuyamba's quality has also been apparent in relation to his European peers as he ranks in the top 4% for tackles, the top 7% for clearances and the top 8% for blocks made per 90, indicating just what a standout performer he truly is.

Of course, Lagerbielke could well quash any early doubts by going on to thrive over the coming months and years at Paradise, although it is hard to ignore a player who could seemingly have been the next Van Dijk for the Hoops.

Aston Villa have been in the conversation to sign Barcelona youngster Ansu Fati and it looks as though a move could still happen, following a new update.

How old is Ansu Fati?

The Spaniard is still only 20 years of age, having burst onto the scene as a hugely exciting teenager – one with a potentially massive future ahead of him at Barca. Instead, his rise has been stunted a little in recent times, with a lack of playing time coming his way due to a number of injuries.

It has become clear that Xavi doesn't see Fati as a key part of his plans moving forward, considering he only started 12 games in La Liga last season. Admittedly, he did come on as a substitute on 24 occasions in the competition, but it is difficult to see his squad status changing in the near future, with a place on the bench coming his way in the opening two league games of 2023/24, too.

For that reason, Fati could depart the Camp Nou this summer after winning the league title last season, even though his current deal doesn't expire until 2027, meaning a hefty bid would be required to prise him away.

Villa have been mentioned as potential suitors for Fati earlier in the window, with numerous clubs in the conversation to snap him up, including other Premier League sides. Tottenham are one of them, and it looks as though a late move to England isn't out of the question, ahead of deadline day next Friday.

Will Aston Villa sign Ansu Fati?

According to journalist El Chiringuito journalist Jose Alvarez Haya [via Sport Witness], both the Villans and Spurs are interested in sealing a move for Fati in the coming days. His agent Jorge Mendes is offering him to the Premier League, with his valuation currently at €50m (£42.8m).

There is no mention of a bid actually being submitted for the Barca forward, but it looks like something that could potentially develop quickly before the transfer window closes.

There is no question that Fati's stock has fallen a little of late, considering how highly he was rated when he first emerged as a huge talent, which is shown by his Transfermarkt valuation falling, but he could still be such an exciting signing for Villa.

If Unai Emery believes he can get the best out of him, the youngster could flourish at Villa Park, providing the team with an extra attacking spark out wide, not to mention an incredibly high long-term ceiling.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Granted, things are threatening to peter out for Fati, on £200,000-a-week, at Barca, but he could be reinvigorated by being a star man elsewhere, and that's exactly what he could be at Villa, raising the level of those around him. Xavi has described him as "extraordinary" in the past, showing that he rates him highly, and a fresh challenge could do him the world of good.

He has scored 29 goals and chipped in with 10 assists for Barcelona in 111 appearances, which is a respectable return for such a young player, and Villa may look to take a punt on him.

Arsenal may find themselves fifth in the Premier League, unbeaten after four games, but it has hardly been the most inspiring start from Mikel Arteta's men.

Struggling to find their rhythm and failing to blow away sides they really should have, it is a testament to their sluggish form that they would only beat Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest by slender one-goal margins and drew with Fulham, despite having won 2-0 against the Eagles away from home, 5-0 at home to the Tricky Trees and 2-1 against the Cottagers last year.

The hope will be that, following the much-needed international break, the Gunners can recapture that form of old which saw them lead the title race for so long last season and reannounce themselves as a favourite to do so again this year.

However, whilst the tactics and motivation from the manager will be key, some of their top players must also step up in order to aid this process. Martin Odegaard, as captain and a key creator, will want to inspire the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba, Declan Rice and more to find their feet for next week's clash with Everton.

Despite that, there is one man who seemingly never needs any incentive to shine, but does so on nearly every occasion.

Who is Arsenal's best player?

Hale End has grown into one of the most famous academies in England for a reason, with a rich history of producing some fine talent such as Paul Merson, Tony Adams and more.

However, their latest star graduate could usurp them all with the quality he boasts, as Bukayo Saka continues to go from strength to strength despite his youth.

Having been handed his debut by Unai Emery of all people, the 22-year-old has swiftly grown into a mainstay within the senior squad, having actually featured in every one of their league matches across the last two full campaigns.

Growing into an England international too, it seems impossible to predict just how high the tricky wideman can go.

Podcaster and radio host Boyd Hilton helped to preface his potential though, by suggesting he is already at the elite level: "Saka must be one of the best players in the world right now. Unplayable. I almost think his all-round adorable-ness makes him under-rated."

This has fed into his fine personal start to the term, with his 7.73 average match rating in the league making him Arsenal's best performer, and the 15th-highest-rated in the entire division. Such a figure is buoyed by his offensive excellence, with his two goals and one assist feeding into his 3.5 key passes and three tackles recorded per game, via Sofascore.

Bukayo Saka's Premier League seasons

Games Played

Goal Contributions

2023/24 season*

4

3

2022/23 season

38

25

2021/22 season

38

18

2020/21 season

32

9

2019/20 season

26

6

All stats via Transfermarkt

His talent is undeniable, but few comment on how tireless a work rate he maintains, with his mentality likely what has forged him into one of Europe's top players.

Already Saka is a leader of this Arsenal side despite his youth, leading the way for the rest of his teammates to follow. Arteta will be hoping that the 5 foot 10 whiz can maintain such form once domestic football restarts and that his squad can seek to match the unparalleled levels that the academy graduate continues to reach.

How much was Bukayo Saka worth four years ago?

Having made his Premier League debut as a 17-year-old, Emery clearly envisioned the bright future that the forward is currently enjoying. Back in 2019, Saka was a name merely whispered around the Emirates, with murmurs of his potential still yet to be proven.

As such, his market value at the time looks nothing like his current one.

Four years ago, just after he had broken into the first team, Transfermarkt still suggested that the unproven teenager was worth an admirable €7m (£6m) when Emery was at the helm. However, that was a figure that had only just begun to rise, with it having hit €22m (£19m) by March 2020.

Since then it has been nothing but an upward trajectory for the 28-cap superstar, who will hope to soon be reaching the heights of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe with regard to market value.

What is Bukayo Saka's market value now?

For now, Saka can be proud of the financial weight that his name already holds.

Understandably untouchable with regard to the transfer market, the recent notion outlined by Paul Merson that Liverpool could pry him from north London was one met with widespread ridicule. A boyhood Gooner, the Emirates has played witness to his growth not only as a footballer but as a human, from a wide-eyed winger with big dreams, to an often-unstoppable ace with the world now at his feet.

His current value helps to emphasise this, with CIES Football Observatory offering the greatest praise by placing a €200m (£172m) figure beside his name. That ensures the young winger's value has soared an astronomical 2766% in the last four years.

Whilst a mouth-watering fee, few could argue that Saka has not earned such a lofty valuation. After all, he is widely regarded now as one of the best in his position in the entire world, which England teammate Conor Gallagher supported: "He is right up there [among the best] and he is only getting better. He is a special player and to get a hat-trick was amazing for him.

“I have played with Bukayo since I think the Under-19s. Even then you could see that he would become a top player and to see how he has progressed until now has been amazing and I am sure he is going to get even better.”

Why is Bukayo Saka worth that much?

Whilst the Chelsea midfielder helped to emphasise why he is worth so much with his glowing testimony, his consistently outstanding and improving performances over the last few years stand as further proof.

Just last term saw Saka record 14 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League, with Mohamed Salah the only other player to hit double figures for both goals and assists.

This built on his tally of 18 goal contributions from the year prior in the league again, marking another steady improvement.

As his performances continue to grow in stature, so too will his value. With the Gunners also now poised to enter the Champions League too, marking the right winger's first foray into such a competition, performances at that level could help elevate that aforementioned figure to standalone heights at the top of world football.

Newcastle United host Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday evening, but they have suffered a potentially massive injury setback ahead of the game.

Which Newcastle players are fit vs Brentford?

The Magpies have endured a stuttering start to the season, having strutted into it as likely top-four candidates after a stellar campaign last time around, in which they finished fourth in the table.

The 5-1 win at home to Aston Villa on the opening Saturday of 2023/24 suggested that Eddie Howe's side had gone up another level as a team, but since that point, things have spiralled rather alarmingly. While there was no shame in losing 1-0 away to Premier League champions Manchester City, the 2-1 loss at home to ten man Liverpool at St James' Park was worrying, before being beaten 3-1 at Brighton.

Newcastle return to action after the international break on Saturday evening, hosting a dangerous Brentford side, and the hope is that this is a game that allows them to turn their season around.

There are injury problems going into the game, with Joe Willock still out, although the likes of Sven Botman and Elliot Anderson are expected to be fit.

Will Sandro Tonali miss Newcastle-Brentford clash?

According to The Chronicle, who relayed the information from Howe's press conference, Newcastle could now be without Sandro Tonali for Saturday's visit of the Bees, acting a possible huge blow:

Howe said: "He came back from Italy duty with a strain. He’s had a scan but we will see."

Tonali is already a vital player for Newcastle, announcing himself in style with a goal in the win over Villa, and while he is still adjusting to life in the Premier League, being without him against Brentford would hinder their chances of getting a positive result at St James' Park. The Bees actually top the expected goals table so far this season, so they certainly carry plenty of threat, especially if the spine of your side is weakened.

The Italian has already been described as "magnificent" by Howe, who clearly values him greatly as a player, and the Magpies would lose so much without him in the starting lineup, whether it be his quality on the ball or work ethic off it.

With both Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton searching for their best form at the moment, Tonali's absence could be felt even more, so the hope is that he passes a fitness test and is ultimately named in the team on Saturday.

The importance of a win cannot be stressed enough, following three defeats in succession, and if Newcastle are to secure back-to-back top four finishes, these are the sort of matches where dropped points can be so costly.

Granted, Brentford are a good side in their own right, but with the battle for Champions League football set to be far more fierce this season – the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea should all be a lot stronger than they were in 2022/23 – Howe's men need to get on a good run in between these two international breaks, or risk falling away before the campaign has properly got into full swing.

Tottenham Hotspur will be seeking to maintain their unbeaten start to the new Premier League season with a positive result at home to newly-promoted Burnley this afternoon, with Ange Postecoglou's men also likely keen to shake off their recent Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Fulham.

After a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage in normal time, a much-changed Spurs side crashed out on penalties to further limit their chances of ending what is now a 15-year wait for silverware, with that swift departure from the competition somewhat souring the mood amid a largely impressive month for the Lilywhites.

Following the opening weekend draw with Brentford, the north London outfit have since recorded 2-0 wins against both Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth to put themselves in the mix at the top of the table, with the change in the dugout seemingly paying off at present.

As the midweek loss to the Cottagers showcased, however, there is still plenty of work left to do for Postecoglou if he is to truly revive the club's fortunes, both this season and beyond, with the ex-Celtic boss likely wary of complacency against a Clarets sides who are yet to earn a point since returning to the top-flight.

Will Tottenham make changes against Burnley?

With Postecoglou having made nine alterations for the trip to west London on Tuesday night, it is likely that the Greek-Aussie will revert to a similar side to the one which saw off the Cherries just a few days earlier – with only Richarlison and Micky van de Ven having kept their place against Marco Silva's men.

That being said, however, the new boss may still be waiting to see his attacking unit, in particular, truly click into gear, with the likes of Heung-min Son and Richarlison yet to get off the mark in the league with a goal or an assist.

With that in mind, it may be time for Postecoglou to shake things up somewhat and hand a first top-flight start of the season to summer signing, Manor Solomon, with the former Shakhtar Donetsk ace having shown flashes of his quality in midweek.

How good is Manor Solomon?

The Israeli international was arguably one of the more understated arrivals of the summer window for the north Londoners after joining on a free transfer, although there have already been glimpses of the attacking threat that the 24-year-old can offer to his new club over the coming years.

Having previously scored four league goals last term during an injury-disrupted stint on loan at Fulham, the wideman has since been restricted to just a solitary substitute appearance in the top-flight this time around, having come off the bench late on against Man United.

However, up against his former employers earlier this week the 5 foot 7 speedster illustrated his 'quick feet on the ball', as per the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick, having also gone close to finding the back of the net with a delightful, curling effort.

That outing saw the £13m-rated ace notably complete three of his five attempted dribbles as a sign of his desire to make things happen in the final third, having also won six of his 12 ground duels as an indication that he is willing to put in the hard yards defensively.

While largely overlooked by Postecoglou in the league thus far, today's encounter with Vincent Kompany's side could be a chance for that situation to change, with journalist Paul Brown previously telling Football FanCast that Solomon good be a "good weapon" for his new club, as he has a "knack for goal".

Although thus far the new addition has been something of a bit-part player in the early weeks of the season, he could well represent a secret 'weapon' if given a more prominent role this afternoon.

The former allrounder has worked with the team in the past after his retirement and has also coached many of New Zealand’s elite women cricketers

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Mar-2018

New Zealand women have roped in former allrounder Jacob Oram as their bowling coach. Oram has accepted an 18-month contract, which will see him join the team for incoming and outgoing tours as well as training camps.Oram has worked with the team in the past after his retirement and has also coached many of New Zealand’s elite women cricketers.”I’m really excited to come on board with the White Ferns and join Haidee Tiffen’s coaching team,” Oram said. “There’s an immense amount of talent and potential in the team and I’m looking forward to working with the bowlers in particular, and seeing what improvements we can make.”Oram represented New Zealand from 2001 to 2012 and played in 229 international matches. He was one of the three shortlisted candidates for the interview and head coach Tiffen said he was appointed because of his experience with some of the present players.”Jake’s a great guy and builds strong relationships,” she said. “We’ve seen what he can do through his work with Hannah Rowe at the Central Hinds and we’re looking forward to having him with us on a full-time touring basis.”Matthew Bell, the side’s batting coach, has extended his contract until the middle of next year.”Matt’s been working with the White Ferns since 2014 and always brings great energy and knowledge to the group,” Tiffen said. “I know the batting group, especially, will be excited to see him stay on in his role.”The team currently holds a 1-0 lead in the home ODI series against West Indies in the latest round of the Women’s Championship. They are also expected to tour England later this year before the World T20 in November.”I’m really keen to spend some time with the players in camp and get an idea of how we can all improve,” Oram said. “To go to any world tournament is a real buzz and I think it will be just as exciting as a coach.”

Having Kagiso Rabada back is “satisfying” for two reasons: he will play at Newlands and South Africa feel vindicated that inconsistent application of the ICC code of conduct has been rectified

Firdose Moonda20-Mar-20183:24

Brettig: Can sense surprise over Rabada decision from Australia

South Africa are “extremely satisfied” with the lowering of the sanction against their premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, for two reasons. The obvious one is that Rabada is now cleared to play and will take his place in the XI at Newlands; the other is that the hosts feel vindicated that what they saw as inconsistent application of the ICC’s code of the conduct has been rectified.”The decision itself is great for the series and for Test cricket,” Mohammed Moosajee, South Africa’s team manager, said. “The team is extremely satisfied with the decision. We believe KG never deliberately charged Steven Smith with his shoulder.”Moosajee was among those who attended the six-hour hearing on Monday and though he could not go into the specifics of the arguments made by Rabada’s advocate Dali Mpofu, Moosajee indicated South Africa could have opened a door to discussions around the code. “There were key learnings for everybody. It will stimulate healthy debate,” Moosajee said. “We may have to look at things around processes, independent judicial commissions, words in the code of conduct manual.”South Africa have taken this stance before, when Faf du Plessis appealed against a ball-tampering verdict in late 2016. Then, South Africa asked for clarity over what constituted an artificial substance as it relates to shining the ball. Du Plessis was unsuccessful and continues to have three demerit points attached to his record. Earlier in this series. Quinton de Kock contested the sanction of a Level 1 charge for conduct that went against the spirit of the game during his stairwell saga with David Warner. On that occasion, South Africa were seeking to have the “line” explicitly defined in terms of what kinds of comments are considered personal. De Kock was also unsuccessful.Now, Rabada and South Africa have succeeded, and there is an undertone they will continue to call for consistency in the application of the code. “We have raised issues in the past around, not the code of conduct per se, but the inconsistent application of the code of conduct,” Moosajee said. “In this case, it wasn’t particularly raised but it has been raised prior to this case.”At the same time, South Africa also want Rabada to understand the limits within which he must celebrate. While continuing to encourage Rabada to remain aggressive, South Africa have asked him to be more mindful. “We do understand KG is quite a fiery character on the field but there are rules and regulations that govern conduct on the field,” Moosajee said. “Like every other player, this applies to KG as well and he is well aware of it. He is the first to admit he must take better responsibility and better handle his positive and aggressive celebration and not to get careless, nor be disrespectful.”Chief on Rabada’s checklist when he takes his next wicket will be to ensure he gets out of the batsmen’s space to avoid making any contact. “He is not a badly behaved kid, he’s just very excited and exuberant sometimes,” Ottis Gibson, South Africa’s coach, said. “When you’re playing against the best team in the world, sometimes that comes out of you. In all the stuff that he did, there was no aggressive intent other than celebrating a wicket. But we’ve made him aware of the batsman’s space and where his space needs to be. He must get away from the batsman and continue to celebrate.”AFPGibson hopes Rabada will not be drawn into any more controversy, especially as he is only one demerit point away from a ban and Australia previously made public their intention to prey on him. “They might do (provoke Rabada) but he is a smart kid and I’m sure he learnt his lesson from what happened last week and I don’t expect that he will make the same mistake again,” Gibson said.For their part, Australia have only expressed an eagerness to face Rabada again. “As Australian cricketers we always want to play against the best players in the world and KG is the No.1 bowler in the world,” Nathan Lyon said. “It’s going to be another great challenge for all of us. The ICC has made their decision and we respect them, that’s their job. We got no dramas with it.”And so, with the drama over for now, all Rabada needs to focus on is his performance. He trained with the team on Monday, after the marathon hearing, and again on Tuesday. Gibson provided assurance that the events of the last week have not taken a toll on Rabada’s mind. “He’s a very strong character. He came (to training) after six hours in a courtroom, as you call it, yesterday and all he wanted to do was practice. That’s what the guy loves doing,” Gibson said. “He has been made very much aware of his responsibility going forward, not just to himself but to the team as well.”Rabada’s availability has also boosted team morale, with Gibson saying it has “lifted everybody” and simplified team selection. South Africa added fast bowlers Duanne Olivier and Chris Morris to the squad as cover for Rabada but neither are likely to be needed for the next match, and may be released as early as Wednesday to play in the final round of first-class matches.All that remains is for South Africa to decide whether there is room in the XI for Morne Morkel, who is playing in his last series and is three wickets away from 300, though he may be a better fit for the fourth Test at the Wanderers. Asked if he has some sympathy for Morkel being sidelined, Gibson maintained South Africa will not select on emotion. “Morne is also in line for selection for this week,” Gibson said. “I am sure whichever way we go… he has got two more opportunities. Sympathy I am not sure, because it’s international sport and we are trying to win a series and we will try and pick the best team to do that. He is still very much part of our plans for the next two Tests.”The other consideration is whether to play the fit-again Temba Bavuma or give Theunis de Bruyn another chance. South Africa may also choose to bench a batsmen in favour of a four-pronged pace attack.All just cricketing issues, which Gibson hopes will take centre-stage for the rest of the series.

نجح منتخب الكونغو الديمقراطية في تحقيق الفوز على توجو بهدف دون رد، وذلك بالمباراة التي جمعت بينهما وانتهت منذ قليل في تصفيات إفريقيا لكأس العالم 2026.

والتقى منتخب الكونغو الديمقراطية مع توجو على أرضية ملعب الشهداء، في إطار مواجهات الجولة الرابعة من تصفيات مونديال كندا والمكسيك.

وسجل ميشاك إيليا هدف فوز منتخب الكونغو في الدقيقة 6 من عمر الشوط الأول، بعد عرضية لداخل منطقة الجزاء استقبلها بتسديدة سكنت الشباك.

طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | منتخب تونس يسقط في فخ التعادل أمام ناميبيا بتصفيات كأس العالم

ويتواجد منتخبا الكونغو الديمقراطية وتوجو في المجموعة الثانية بـ تصفيات إفريقيا المؤهلة لكأس العالم رفقة كل من السودان وجنوب السودان وموريتانيا.

بهذا الفوز، يحتل منتخب الكونغو الديمقراطية المركز الثالث في ترتيب المجموعة برصيد 7 نقاط، بينما تتواجد توجو بالمركز الرابع، ولديها 3 نقاط. هدف فوز الكونغو الديمقراطية على توجو في تصفيات كأس العالم

Big picture

Seven years ago, Australia were bowled out for 47 in Cape Town. Oh for the days of such innocent problems. The Cape Town Test will be remembered for much darker reasons than a simple batting collapse, after Cameron Bancroft was caught sandpapering the ball in an attempt to gain reverse swing. The captain Steven Smith and vice-captain David Warner have been stripped of their leadership positions and banned for a year; Bancroft for nine months. Outrage has swept the nation. And now, the remaining Australia players have to go out in the middle and try to earn back a modicum of respect. To do so, they will have to show respect themselves. Respect for the game, respect for their opponents, respect for each other. The New Zealand team, once derided by the Australians for being too nice, are now the model, according to Darren Lehmann, who has announced that the Johannesburg Test will be his last as Australia coach. Time will tell.One of the most remarkable side-effects of the scandal is that Tim Paine will become Australia’s 46th Test captain. At the start of this summer, Paine was not even in the starting line-up for Tasmania. Then, when he was called in, it was not as wicketkeeper. Now, he is not only Australia’s Test wicketkeeper but also the national captain – at least in a temporary capacity, but very possibly for the foreseeable future as well. He will lead an Australia line-up with at least three changes, forced by the suspensions. Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw, who as recently as Tuesday were opening together for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield final in Brisbane, could find themselves doing so for Australia at the Wanderers on Friday. Peter Handscomb will presumably also join the batting order, with Glenn Maxwell also in the squad but less likely to play.And for all of the carnage of the past few days, there is still a series to play for. The best Australia can do is draw the series 2-2, while South Africa have the chance to win their first home series against Australia since 1970. How both sides respond to the dramatic events will be fascinating. South Africa will also farewell one the country’s most prolific fast bowlers, Morne Morkel, who announced before the series that this would be his last. On the final day in Cape Town, he completed a nine-wicket match haul, his best in Test cricket, and described it as the highlight of his life. Rarely has any cricketing achievement earned such a description and yet been so comprehensively overshadowed.

Form guide

South Africa WWLLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Australia LLWWD

In the spotlight

Morne Morkel seems destined to forever be the forgotten man. In Cape Town, he became the fifth South African to reach 300 wickets in Tests, yet he couldn’t even make the side in the previous match. His performance at Newlands earned Morkel just the third Man-of-the-Match award in his 85-Test career, but was barely a sideshow compared to the ball-tampering crisis. Surely one of the nicest men in world cricket, and a tireless contributor for South Africa over more than a decade, Morkel deserves a send-off in which he is, for once, the centre of attention.Frankly, who in Australia’s team is not in the spotlight? Tim Paine has the task of captaining Australia and bringing respect back to the baggy green. Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw, both former Test opening partners of David Warner, now find themselves replacing Warner and Bancroft, and the positions could be theirs for a long while. And as for Australia’s fast bowlers – Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins – will they gain reverse swing?