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GOAL takes a look at the major records Ronaldo holds for both club and country.

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players ever to grace the game of football. In a career spanning more than two decades, the Portuguese superstar has broken numerous records to claim his place amongst the game's legends.

With over 800 career goals and counting, Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the most lethal marksmen in the history of football. He is the all-time record international goalscorer with 118 strikes, and also boasts of being the all-time leading scorer in the Uefa Champions League (140).

The 38-year-old has numerous other club and country records to his name including the most Champions League appearances (140).

GOAL lists them all below.

GettyMost international appearances (197)

Ronaldo became the most-capped men's player in history after being included in the starting XI for Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifier with Liechtenstein.

With this he officially registered his 197th international cap, overtaking Kuwait forward Bader Al-Mutawa.

AdvertisementGettyFirst player to score 800 career goals

Ronaldo became the first player to score 800 top-level career goals (club and country combined) during a Premier League encounter against Arsenal back in November 2022.

He later went on to score the 801st goal as well in the same match from the penalty spot, which turned out to be the match-winner.

Club/Country Matches Goals Assists

Sporting CP3156Manchester United34614564Real Madrid438450131Juventus13410122Al-Nassr1092Portugal19611843Total906828268Getty ImagesMost Champions League appearances (183)

Ronaldo can boast of having the most number of Champions League appearances, having made his debut back in 2003 with Manchester United in a 2-1 defeat by Stuttgart, aged 18 and 238 days.

He has made more than half of his all-time appearances (101) for Real Madrid, 59 for United as well as 23 for Juventus.

Club Appearances

Real Madrid101Manchester United59Juventus23ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesMost Champions League goals (140)

The Portugal international is also the all-time leading goalscorer in the Champions League with 140 strikes to his name.

Ronaldo scored a whopping 105 goals in just 101 appearances during his stint with Real Madrid which averages more than a goal per game.

For Manchester United and Juventus, he struck 21 and 14 times in the UCL respectively.

Club Goals

Manchester United21Real Madrid105Juventus14

The ECB is set to announce a range of new regulations designed to improve the quality of pitches in domestic cricket ahead of the county season

George Dobell24-Mar-2016The ECB is set to announce a range of new regulations designed to improve the quality of pitches in domestic cricket ahead of the county season.It had already been announced that visiting teams would be given the option of bowling first, rather than having a toss, in the County Championship, with the aim of improving the standard of pitches. Now the ECB have unveiled strict penalties on clubs whose surfaces are deemed so poor that matches are abandoned.A pitch deemed unfit to the extent that a match in the Championship is abandoned will now see the visiting team awarded the match. The visiting team will also gain 16 points plus whatever bonus points they have earned, or 20 points; whichever is greater. The home team will gain zero points from the match and any bonus points they have already earned in it will be deducted. It will also count as a loss to them.A pitch deemed unfit to the extent that a limited-overs match is abandoned will also result in the visiting team receiving the two points and the home team zero. Furthermore, the home team will be regarded as having been dismissed for zero when it comes to the net run-rate calculation. The visiting team’s run-rate from the match will be discounted.Other changes to the playing conditions ahead of the 2016 season will see group matches in the Royal London One-Day Cup matches start at 11am. They have previously started at 10.30am which was seen as providing too much assistance to seamers in moist conditions. Knockout matches played later in the summer may have to start at 10.30am to avoid problems caused by the earlier sunset, though it is possible floodlights could be used to avert that issue.The ECB have also decided that no-balls given for bouncers passing above the batsmen’s heads in limited-overs cricket should no longer warrant a free-hit. They were concerned that, in 2015, bowlers were reluctant to bowl short-pitched deliveries as the penalty was potentially so costly.They have also decided that, in televised games, the TV umpire can unilaterally intervene if they see that a full ball over waist height is delivered. The on-field umpires cannot refer to the TV umpire on the matter.In a move designed to bring the ECB’s playing regulations into line with the ICC playing regulations, the wording surrounding the issue of mankading has been altered to ensure that the batsman can only be run out if the bowler has “deliberately” broken the stumps. This is to prevent a situation where a bowler bumps into the stumps – a la Steven Finn – and accidently runs out a batsman despite the delivery being adjudged a no-ball.The ECB will also announce that, in 2016, half of Second XI Championship matches will be played with Tiflex balls and half with Dukes balls. It would appear the main purpose of that arrangement is to ensure they are not overly dependent upon one supplier and retain some bargaining power when it comes to agreeing costs.

Zimbabwe’s four-run loss in the first ODI suggests the hosts will continue to competitive against an Indian side missing its senior players

The Preview by Liam Brickhill11-Jul-2015Match factsSunday, 12 July
Start time 0900 local time (0700 GMT)Big pictureIt was expected that the absence of India’s senior players might reduce the gap between India and Zimbabwe in terms of competition, and the first ODI proved to be Zimbabwe’s narrowest ever home defeat. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s last-over mettle meant Elton Chigumbura never really had the chance to target the boundary, and India will be buoyed by their 1-0 series lead.They will, however, also have a few issues to iron out. Apart from Ambati Rayudu and Stuart Binny, who shored up the innings with a record 160-run stand, the batting looked docile and the performance of the middle order will be a worry. India’s bowling is in rather better order, and the spin pair of Harbhajan Singh and Axar Patel will only gain in potency as the pitches tire in the matches to come.Despite another honourable loss, the margin of defeat suggests Zimbabwe will continue to be competitive. The team balance may be affected by the absence of Tinashe Panyangara, who suffered a minor side strain in the first match and will sit out on Sunday, but Zimbabwe still have the resources to run India close, particularly if their own middle order plays to potential.The new playing conditions didn’t seem to have a huge effect on team tactics on Friday. Both sides kept close-in catchers for most of the match, and India were still able to plunder 90 runs from the last 10 overs despite the presence of five fielders on the boundary. The rules appeared to make it easier to defend a total, however, so the toss may not be as great a factor in these matches as it has been in previous winter series in Zimbabwe.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Zimbabwe: LLLLL
India: WWLLLIn the spotlightAmbati Rayudu clearly enjoys Zimbabwean conditions. He made an emotional half-century on debut here two years ago – his 63 easing India to a six-wicket win – and started this tour in even more impressive fashion. Rayudu weathered Zimbabwe’s spirited charge with the new ball before shifting gears towards the end of the innings, finishing with a career-best 124 not out. His adhesive qualities may well be needed once again as India look to seal the series.Elton Chigumbura has undergone various incarnations in his decade as an international cricketer. He’s batted as low as No. 9 in the one-day side, but when he was shorn of his pace by a back injury in 2006 his batting contributions started to gain importance. Now Zimbabwe’s No. 4, Chigumbura has taken to the move up the order with aplomb. He started with 54 in the first T20 against Pakistan in May, and has now added two centuries in the same position in ODIs.Team newsTinashe Panyangara pulled up short with a side strain in his 10th over in the first ODI and will sit out Sunday’s game. While there isn’t a clear like-for-like replacement in the squad, Prosper Utseya may be an option, especially as he will help Zimbabwe control the middle overs of the innings, where they let things slip in the first match.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Vusi Sibanda, 2 Chamu Chibhabha, 3 Hamilton Masakadza, 4 Elton Chigumbura (captain), 5 Sean Williams, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Richmond Mutumbami (wk), 8 Prosper Utseya, 9 Graeme Cremer, 10 Donald Tiripano, 11 Brian Vitori.India have little reason to change their playing XI, and the contingent of middle order hopefuls will be eager to capitalise on another chance to showcase their talent.India (probable): 1 M Vijay, 2 Ajinkya Rahane (captain), 3 Ambati Rayudu, 4 Manoj Tiwary, 5 Robin Uthappa (wk), 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Stuart Binny, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Axar Patel, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Dhawal Kulkarni.Pitch and conditionsThe first hour will remain a challenging one for batsmen against the new ball, but the opening match showed there was profit in occupying the crease. Without the merest hint of rain about, the pitch will remain dry and is expected to ease out during the day.Stats and trivia Ambati Rayudu has been dismissed only twice in four innings in Zimbabwe and has scored 225 at an average of 112.5. In nine innings at No. 4 for Zimbabwe, Elton Chigumbura has scored 427 runs at an average of 61.00 and a strike rate of 95.73. In the eight ODIs that have been played at Harare Sports Club in the month of July, the average first innings score is 245. Chasing doesn’t seem to be an advantage either, with a 4-4 split in wins batting first and second.Quotes”If we get a chance to bat up front again early in the morning it’s crucial, with the Dukes ball that does swing and seam a bit, that we’ve got to give the bowlers a lot more respect.”
.”Obviously when you play at this level the main thing is to be consistent, and I’m going to try by all means to ride on the way I’m playing at the moment.”

Chases do not come easier than the 106 Middlesex asked Surrey to knock off and the hosts did not have to break sweat in ensuring success

Will Macpherson at Kia Oval03-Jul-2015
ScorecardKumar Sangakkara saw Surrey home in a small chase•PA PhotosMany very real battles took place at the Kia Oval on Friday night. Spectators battled end-of-week queues on tubes and roads to make it into the ground, then further queues to make it to the equally congested bars. Stewards battled those spectators as they grew restless and unruly, sculpting their beer snakes and shouting their chants.The crowd – barely a spare seat was visible – can claim emphatic victories in both. That they then stuck around in their thousands at play’s end to watch and cheer some of their number sprint across the outfield – battling, as ever, those unfortunate, officious stewards – suggested that they felt somewhat shortchanged by the action in the middle.Out in the middle, either side of the “mascot derby” – adults dressed as furry animals from sports club across London and perhaps the closest the crowd came to seeing actual sport – came the cricket. Chases do not come easier than the 106 Middlesex asked Surrey to knock off and the hosts were not about to break sweat in ensuring success. Middlesex were abject, for the second time in as many days, and have a seventh consecutive defeat in the format to show for it.Insights

Zafar Ansari produced the sort of intelligent containing bowling performance that explains quite why he is so highly regarded in South London and beyond. Brought into the attack with Gubbins and Malan set and just after Batty’s first over had cost 12, Ansari dried things up and picked up three crucial wickets too. He varied his flight and pace and bowled just short of a hittable length that meant his 24 deliveries yielded 17 singles and seven dots, including those three scalps.

The similarities with their defeat to Sussex across town on Thursday were striking. Once again they batted first, lost wickets frequently, failed to clear the rope enough – seven times to Thursday’s nine – and posted a target wildly under par. They did not score a boundary in the final 80 deliveries of their 120, and no batsman outside of their top three managed it. Sussex beat them with 28 balls to spare, Surrey 32.Surrey must take some credit. They fielded like hawks and bowled parsimoniously, giving Middlesex no rope. The sight of Kumar Sangakkara, 38 this year and a wicketkeeper by trade, haring round from long-off, diving full stretch and flicking the ball up to James Burke in order to save two runs off the bowling of Sam Curran just about epitomised Surrey’s effort.Middlesex’s start did not tell of the inadequacy to come. The runs didn’t flow, but wickets didn’t tumble. Paul Stirling skied Sam Curran to Zafar Ansari at cover before Dawid Malan, who pulled with disdain, shared 40 with the organised Nick Gubbins, who pulled then cut Burke for boundaries. The pair ran sharply as Malan looked to dominate but never quite could, carting Gareth Batty for a cow-bound six in his first over nevertheless.But when Ansari joined Batty in the attack the runs dried up and the rot set in. Gubbins skied the first ball of Batty’s second when trying to follow Malan to the short cow fence, taking on a strong breeze that held it up and saw him caught. Even then, a handy enough platform had been laid at 55 for 2.Eoin Morgan scratched and couldn’t settle before being bowled by Ansari as Middlesex contrived to lose six wickets for 13 runs and end all hopes of a contest. Simpson was bowled by Batty, Malan – who had acted as the innings’ glue – sent Ansari straight to long-on and Neil Dexter attempted to turn a sharp turner to leg next ball and was bowled. Ansari was outstanding, varying his lengths trickily to make each delivery tough to hit.Young bowlers – men who should not be required to bat in a game this short – Harry Podmore and Ravi Patel saw the line and were determined to limp over it, taking Middlesex to the last over with a series of singles and the occasional two before the latter was castled by Tom Curran. It had been a sorry showing indeed.In reply, Jason Roy did as Jason Roy does, but Surrey were in no hurry. He flashed through off and attempted a switch hit, while his pinch-hitting partner Tom Curran – perhaps a permanent fixture up top in this format now – sent Gurjit Sandhu over long-off for six. He then moved to 16 with a French cut off Podmore, who gained his revenge by bowling him four balls later. Roy would follow, also bowled, attempting an audacious ramp.Wise old heads Sangakkara and Gary Wilson new they needn’t rush. Sangakkara strolled to 12 off 17 before hunting Patel. There was a sweep for four, a bunt over long-on for six and a pulled four. Stirling and Malan were given a bowl as the action wound down and the crowd ramped up, both were dispatched by Sangakkara and the game was up. Middlesex can forget this competition once more but Surrey – up to sixth now – might just be on the charge.

American coach Jesse Marsch has shared an update on where his future lies after being sacked from Leeds United last season.

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Ex-Leeds boss currently living in ItalyTaken up pundit role for CBS SoccerBelieves coaching future 'lies in Europe'WHAT HAPPENED?

Ahead of Milan's UCL tie vs Borussia Dortmund Tuesday – where Marsch was on the ground reporting for CBS Soccer – studio analyst Kate Abdo asked Marsch where his future relies. He initially replied that "I'm a TV personality now," before offering a more considered answer.

AdvertisementWHAT MARSCH SAID

"I'm focused on what I'm doing here in Europe, which is trying this (punditry work), but I really still think that my future lies here in Europe and finding good clubs to coach here. I'm a little bit more of someone who enjoys the daily grind of being part of a team, and I feel like that's the way to really impact a group. So I mean, let's see what happens. You never know you can never say never, but I'm really happy living here in Europe. I'm really happy with with the challenge of getting to know new cultures, languages, teams leagues… Champions League, right there's nothing for me bigger than Champions League."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Marsch was removed from his post as Leeds boss on February 6 last year, and after being linked with the USMNT job, has since taken up a pundit role with CBS Soccer. Living in Italy, the American has featured on the touchline on numerous occasions this season for Milan matches, analysing USMNT stars Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah. On Tuesday, he spoke more on than just the UCL, including the state of the USMNT and what Gregg Berhalter needs to do to be recognized as one of the world's elite teams.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MARSCH?

The ex-Leeds boss has stated how content he is in Europe, with the American sharing his desire to stay on the continent. Whether it's punditry work – which he shared how happy he is doing – or finding a role within a top club, he has no plans to leave.

After suffering two losses on the road, Chennai Super Kings extended their undefeated run at home this season to five games by winning a choppy contest against Royal Challengers Bangalore

The Report by George Binoy04-May-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:43

O’Brien: Dropping Gayle was strange

After suffering two losses on the road, Chennai Super Kings returned to the MA Chidambaram Stadium and extended their undefeated run at home this season to five games by winning a choppy contest against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The 24-run victory took Super Kings to 14 points, level with table-toppers Rajasthan Royals with a game in hand. Royal Challengers were left in third place on nine points, with four teams not more than a point behind them.Batsmen from both sides struggled on a sweltering day in Chennai but when Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik were at the crease, with Royal Challengers needing 52 off 37 balls with seven wickets in hand, the visitors were favourites. They had added 63 and were cruising, when Dwayne Bravo turned the match with a stunning display of reflexes and athleticism while bowling.Kohli had stepped out of his crease and dug a yorker hard into the ground. He then took a couple of steps further, partly because of momentum and partly because he thought the ball was going to bounce over the bowler. Bravo, however, jumped high during his follow through with his right hand outstretched above his head to field the ball. He let the throw rip even before his feet were grounded again. Caught by surprise, Kohli turned and dived in desperation as the ball whizzed past him and uprooted middle stump, with the bat inches short of the crease.The very next ball – the first of the 15th over – accounted for Karthik. Nehra pitched short and Karthik pulled; the shot was on but the placement was dire. The ball flew straight to Dwayne Smith at deep midwicket. Royal Challengers had lost two set batsmen in two deliveries and their position of strength unravelled so quickly that they were eventually dismissed for 124 in 19.4 overs.Royal Challengers had struggled before the partnership between Kohli and Karthik too, but that was because of soft dismissals and not exceptional play from the Super Kings. Chris Gayle’s replacement, Nic Maddinson, charged at most deliveries and missed a straight full toss to be bowled; AB de Villiers’ dangerous cameo ended when he hit another full toss to mid-off; and Mandeep Singh was run out attempting an impossible single. In pursuit of 149, Royal Challengers had slipped to 34 for 3, and their subsequent recovery did not have a happy ending.Super Kings’ bowlers and fielding made up for a sputtering batting performance after MS Dhoni had won the toss. Smith did not touch the first five balls of Mitchell Starc’s opening over and was bowled by the sixth. The innings never really recovered from that wicket maiden.Suresh Raina held the innings together with a half-century, but the batsmen around him – Brendon McCullum, Faf du Plessis and Dhoni – did not make it past 30 as they struggled for timing.Super Kings had got to only 68 for 2 at the half-way stage of their innings, and the 10th ,11th and 12th overs contained no boundaries. When they tried to accelerate, sixes were often followed by wickets.Harshal Patel severely damaged the innings by bowling du Plessis with the first ball of the 15th over and then trapping Raina lbw with the last. Super Kings were 101 for 4 at that stage. Ravindra Jadeja and Pawan Negi were both promoted ahead of Bravo, who eventually batted at No. 8 for only the second time in his IPL career. Bravo did not have any time to make an impact with the bat, but underlined his value to the team with an incredible effort in the field to turn the game decisively Super Kings’ way.

Lionel Messi and Argentina have scheduled a Copa America warmup against Guatemala at FedEx Field this June.

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Argentina schedule pre-Copa America friendlySet to take on GuatemalaGame to be played at FedEx FieldWHAT HAPPENED?

The match will take place on June 14, six days before the tournament begins. The two countries will travel to the United States capital city for the contest, with it being Argentina's final warmup ahead of Copa America. Guatemala did not qualify.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

FedEx Field is home to NFL side Washington Commanders, and as a result, the playing surface is not particularly the most appropriate for a soccer match. However, the Commanders plan to adjust not only the surface, but the stands as well to allow for a wider playing area. U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter was informed by organizers that any future USMNT game at the venue would be the same. The measurements of the pitch would be 70-yards wide – four yards short of FIFA's recommendation, but within the parameters.

During the summer of 2023, the Premier League Summer Series in the United States saw matches played at FedEx Field. The expectation is that the pitch and stadium adjustments will align with how the Premier League games were played at the stadium.

WHAT FEDEX FIELD REPRESENTATIVES SAID

“We plan to do that for these games and continue to do that so we can attract these big, competitive soccer games,” said Trista Langdon, the Commanders’ senior vice president for operations and guest experience. “So we’ll be ready.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR LIONEL MESSI AND ARGENTINA?

The Albiceleste had two friendlies lined up for this March against Nigeria and the Ivory Coast, but they have since been cancelled by Chinese authorities due to a bust-up between Messi and their government. The Argentine was supposed to play in a preseason match with Inter Miami against Hong Kong Team, but the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was rested, much to the dismay of officials, fans and their government.

With the teams going through to the semi-finals and as many sides exiting the competition, GOAL picks out the best and most underwhelming individual …

BackpagepixAfcon 2021

The quarter-finals concluded on Sunday night, with Senegal ending Equatorial Guinea’s journey in Cameroon.

With the last eight now over, which players flourished for their sides and who failed to deliver?

AdvertisementGetty ImagesToo Good: Karl Toko Ekambi

While Vincent Aboubakar had dominated headlines heading into Saturday’s clash with The Gambia, it was Toko Ekambi who flourished to win the game for the Indomitable Lions.

The Lyon attacker netted two second-half strikes to seal a 2-0 success and take the hosts into a mouth-watering semi-final meeting with seven-time winners Egypt.

His latest brace at the finals takes him to five goals, outscoring everyone but Aboubakar.

Getty ImagesToo Bad: Vincent Aboubakar

The tournament’s top scorer went into Cameroon’s last eight fixture seeking another strike to become the first player in the competition’s history to score in his team’s first five games.

However, Aboubakar’s finishing was far from perfect on the day, missing a series of opportunities to add to his six goals at Afcon 2021.

Undoubtedly, Toni Conceicao will hope his frontman returns to form when they face Egypt in the semis.

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BackpagePix.Too Good: Mohamed Salah

Despite Morocco being the fancied side owing to their performances hitherto the quarters, Egypt picked up a 2-1 comeback victory over the Atlas Lions.

Without Salah, it is hard to see how the Pharaohs will have found a way after falling behind after Sofiane Boufal’s sixth-minute penalty.

The Liverpool superstar equalised eight minutes after half-time and set up substitute Trezeguet in the first half of extra time.

Salah has now been involved in all but one of Egypt’s four goals in Cameroon and they will look to him to get the better of the Indomitable Lions on Thursday.

Shane Watson has said that he is wary of the threat posed by Pakistan, who he believes are a “dangerous” side during knockout games

Daniel Brettig17-Mar-2015Australian cricketers have always looked upon their Pakistani equivalents with a combination of admiration, fascination and the occasional bout of exasperation. How can a single cricket nation possess so much talent? How can it survive so many dramas both internal and external? And how can it look to be about to dominate one moment before falling apart the very next?The Australians fear Pakistan when they get on a roll, which is not quite the same as saying they fear Pakistan.Ahead of a World Cup quarter-final meeting for which Australia will be heavily favoured, Shane Watson offered up a fairly typical summary of this attitude. Pakistan are dangerous, he asserted, but almost as much to themselves as they are to Australia. Keep calm and carry on, seemed to be the message, awaiting the moment when the subcontinental side will be overcome by demons beyond the understanding of Watson or others.”They can play some incredible cricket, as they have in times I’ve played against them, but they also can self-destruct quite quickly as well,” Watson said. “That’s the reason why the Pakistan team are so dangerous, especially in a knockout game like this quarter-final. They’ve certainly got some match-winners.”Once this Pakistan team gets on a roll they’re certainly able to use that momentum to be able to shut down teams very quickly. We know this is a danger game for us because they can come on and just turn it on like they have throughout the times I’ve played them in the past.”We know we’re going to have to be at our absolute best to not give them a chance to be able to get that momentum. We know if they’re able to get that they can run away with it very quickly.”There are two recent examples of both instances for Australia to mull over. The Test series in the UAE last October was a triumph of Pakistani talent, spirit and experience in the prevailing conditions over an Australian team that was well drilled and well-resourced but lacking the requisite knowledge of the pitches and the humility required to play to a slow-pitch rhythm.Immediately before that, Pakistan had given Australia every reason to be confident, beaten 3-0 in the ODI series that preceded it. Most memorably, they seemed to have the dead third match in their keeping until, with only two runs required from the final over bowled by Glenn Maxwell, conspired to lose their final two wickets without getting either of the runs they needed. The exclamation of “Oh they’ve lost it!” from a commentating Dean Jones captured all Australian cricket’s wonderment at Pakistan in a single phrase.A third example of extremes was the pool match at the 2011 World Cup in Colombo, when the winner took top spot in the group and avoided a quarter-final with India. Australia won what was thought to be an important toss, but were overrun by a collective performance that bubbled up to overwhelm a succession of uneasy batsmen, caught up in the inexorable momentum of Pakistan’s fielding and bowling efforts.”I try to forget that one, because we lost it,” Watson said. “We knew that was a really important game against Pakistan because if we lost against them we were going to have to play India in the quarter-final, which we knew was going to be a big challenge on their home turf – and it worked out that way. I’ve got some good memories but also some bad memories that I try to forget as quick as I can. That was one.”The 2011 World Cup encounter between the two sides doesn’t hold pleasant memories for Watson: “I try to forget that one, because we lost it”•Getty ImagesThe Pakistan of 2015 has departed little from this sort of winding script, looking listless against India and the West Indies before shocking South Africa and then brushing Ireland aside. There is strength and depth in the bowling attack, which should mean Mohammad Irfan’s absence is not felt too keenly. Michael Hussey, who twice pulled off his own escape acts against Pakistan in the 2010 Sydney Test and the World T20 semi-final that same year, reckoned the start would be vital.”A lot of the time with a lot of subcontinental teams, if they’re on top they’re very hard to stop, they really ride that wave of emotion and pressure and play a fantastic game,” Hussey said. “From Australia’s point of view it is very important to get on top early, start early whether with the bat or the ball, try to get Pakistan under pressure and win the game from there. Certainly they’re a very good team and have some tough players that need to be shown a lot of respect.”They’ve got a fantastic bowling attack, and that’s what you need in World Cups, you need to be able to take wickets to put pressure on the batsmen, particularly the Australian batsmen because they are positive players, they like to be scoring all the time and it’s the only way you can stop them really, by trying to get them out. Pakistan have shown that in this World Cup already.”Whatever the result on Friday, the Australian fascination with Pakistan will continue. Unquestionably there is something for each nation to learn from the other.

Shahid Afridi has said that Misbah-ul-Haq was the “best choice as Pakistan captain” for the upcoming World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Oct-2014Shahid Afridi has said that Misbah-ul-Haq was the “best choice as Pakistan captain” for the upcoming World Cup. His comments in support of Misbah’s captaincy came through a PCB media release after Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chief, had expressed disappointment with Afridi’s remarks in a post-match conference after the third ODI.”Let me state at the very outset, Misbah is the best choice as Pakistan captain for the ICC World Cup 2015,” Afridi’s statement said. “I have always backed him to the optimum whenever I have played under him, just as he had when I had the honour to captain the Pakistan team.”I have already had the pride and honour to captain Pakistan several times. Trust me, it is no bed of roses, and all of us who have captained Pakistan, including Misbah, are fully aware of it. We get nothing more out of it than pride and honour; seldom do we get bouquets but more often brickbats.”I have said this before, and I reiterate, that I shall continue to serve Pakistan Cricket and fully support Misbah to the best of my ability.”This is my final statement on the issue”.Afridi, in the post-match press conference, had mentioned that he came to know about his being named the stand-in captain through the media. And when asked if he would like to continue as the one-day captain until the World Cup, Afridi had said, “I think whoever is captain – Misbah or me – we should know about it. If I am to captain in the World Cup then I should know about it.”