New South Wales collapsed from 123 for 2 in the chase with Benji Floros taking four wickets and Labuschagne a pair

AAP03-Nov-2025

Marnus Labuschagne made it five centuries in eight innings for Queensland to start the summer, after helping them to a 96-run One-Day Cup win over New South Wales.Labuschagne hit 101 from 111 balls at Sydney’s Cricket Central on Monday, leading Queensland to 287 for 9 before NSW were all out for 191 in reply.All but certain to return to Australia’s Test team for the Ashes this month, Labuschagne will enter the series as the form batter in the country. Axed from Australia’s side midway through the year, Labuschagne is back playing with the same intent that made him the world’s best batter as recently as 2023.The 31-year-old is clipping the ball off his toes again with precision, driving well, and on Monday swept legspinner Tanveer Sangha for three fours. He also hit Sangha over long-off for a big six, on a day when the spinner was otherwise NSW’s best with 3 for 64 having been released for Australia’s T20I squad for the match.Labuschagne’s near-chanceless century marked his third this season in the one-day format, where he is currently outside of Australia’s first-choice XI.He has also hit two centuries in the Sheffield Shield for Queensland, with all of the hundreds coming batting at No. 3. But it is expected he will be asked to open in the first Test against England in Perth, in a move that will allow allrounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster to both fit in the team.In reply, NSW were never really in the chase on Monday, but Sam Konstas did hit a measured 47 before being caught behind when he gloved a hook shot off Benji Floros.Floros had Jack Edwards caught behind next ball in similar fashion, before finishing with 4 for 22 in his best outing for Queensland.Labuschagne also claimed two wickets with his medium pace, with Chris Green skying an attempted pull shot, before Sangha fell lbw.

كشف عبد الناصر محمد، مدير الكرة بنادي الزمالك، تفاصيل استبعاد الحارس محمد عواد من مواجهة كايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي في كأس الكونفدرالية، والتي انتهت بالتعادل الإيجابي 1-1 ضمن الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات.

وأوضح عبد الناصر، في تصريحاته للموقع الرسمي للنادي، أن المدير الفني أحمد عبد الرؤوف يُعد من المدربين الواعدين، مشيدًا بثقافته وشخصيته القوية، وقدرته على التعامل باحترام مع جميع عناصر المنظومة دون السماح لأي طرف بالتدخل في مهامه الفنية، مؤكدًا أنه يعمل بلا توقف من أجل مصلحة الفريق.

وأضاف أن أحد اللاعبين (محمد عواد) ارتكب خطأ استوجب فرض عقوبة داخلية ولن نُعلن عنها، مشيرًا إلى أن الزمالك لا يضطر للرد على كل ما يُنشر بهدف تشتيت الفريق، لكن من حق الجماهير معرفة الحقائق الأساسية، لذلك تم توضيح الموقف دون كشف تفاصيل العقوبة.

طالع أيضًا | مدرب كايزر تشيفز: هدف الزمالك غير صحيح.. محمد صبحي فاجأني ورأيت خبث كروي

وأكد عبد الناصر أن بعض الأطراف يواصلون نشر أخبار غير صحيحة عن الزمالك رغم وجود 21 ناديًا آخر في الدوري، لافتًا إلى أن ما يحدث داخل النادي أمر طبيعي وموجود في كل الفرق، خاصة مع وجود منافسة قوية بين ثلاثة من أفضل حراس المرمى في مصر، إضافة إلى حارس شاب ينتظره مستقبل كبير.

وشدد على أن التقويم والانضباط داخل المنظومة هما الأساس، وأن تكرار المخالفات يعني عدم استمرار اللاعب.

كما أشار إلى أن الكم الكبير من الأخبار السلبية المتداولة حول نادي الزمالك لا يعكس الواقع، مؤكدًا أن الهدف منها زيادة الضغط، إلا أن الفريق لا يتأثر بمثل هذه الضغوط، فكل لاعب محترف ويدرك دوره جيدًا.

وتطرق عبد الناصر للحديث عن الأزمات المالية، مؤكدًا أنها موجودة في معظم أندية الدوري، لكن التركيز دائمًا يكون على الزمالك دون غيره.

واختتم حديثه بالتأكيد على أن لاعبي الزمالك يتحملون المسؤولية ويعملون بروح واحدة، مشددًا على أن الفريق يضم عناصر مميزة وأخرى صاعدة تستمد قوتها من دعم الجماهير، وأن العمل مستمر لتحقيق النتائج التي ترضي عشّاق النادي في مختلف البطولات.

Liverpool won at the weekend, but we have seen several times already this season that wins can prove to be false dawns as Arne Slot looks to restore consistency to his side.

Goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo snipped away the shocking run of form that had led to nine defeats from 12 in all competitions, six from seven in the Premier League, three from four at Anfield.

It beggars belief, so diametrically opposed is Slot’s second-season system from the slick and stylish outfit that defied everyone to romp to the league title last season, sealing the deal less than a year after Jurgen Klopp raised the microphone and waved goodbye to the red half of Merseyside.

Liverpool must stay grounded, as Slot said in his post-match interview. There is a long way to go.

One of the most curious aspects of the Reds’ victory was the boss’s call to drop Mohamed Salah. This glimpse into a brand new world has also played into rumours that FSG are looking to sign a wide forward in 2026.

Liverpool planning to replace Salah

Salah did not make it off the bench at the London Stadium, the first time the Egyptian has been an unused substitute in the Premier League since 2019/20, with Klopp’s title-winning campaign effectively wrapped up when the Reds played out a 0-0 draw in the Merseyside derby.

Last season, he was the best player in the Premier League. But that herculean effort has depleted the veteran’s resources, and he is struggling this year.

Goals scored

0.77

0.34

Assists

0.48

0.17

Shots taken

3.23

2.43

Shot-creating actions

4.51

3.27

Touches (att pen)

9.50

6.21

Pass completion (%)

70.6

68.1

Progressive passes

3.84

4.19

Progressive carries

4.14

3.94

Successful take-ons

1.55

0.92

Ball recoveries

2.70

2.77

As you can see, there’s been an undeniable drop-off. Liverpool’s wider crew have all slipped across the decking, but time is not on the 33-year-old Salah’s side.

To try and find a like-for-like replacement would be a fruitless task. What Liverpool need instead is a sharp and athletic winger with a flair for goal. Someone like Sadio Mane, perhaps (hardly an easy endeavour in itself).

Well, as per Foot Mercato, Liverpool have opened talks with rivals Everton for one of their star forwards, Iliman Ndiaye.

The versatile Ndiaye, 25, is both athletic and potent in the final third. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested, and the Toffees would be looking to bank around £70m for their star man.

What Iliman Nidaye would offer Liverpool

Woah. From Everton to Liverpool? Blue to red? Nonsense, right?

It’s certainly unlikely, but Liverpool have held an interest in Jarrad Branthwaite for a while now, and Everton explored a move for Ben Doak in the summer before he signed for Bournemouth.

And Ndiaye would be worth the stress. Hailed for having “magic in his boots” by Everton writer Lyndon Lloyd, he ranks among the top 5% of positional peers in the Premier League for successful take-ons and tackles won, and the top 1% for ball recoveries per 90 (as per FBref).

Presenter Jamie O’Hara has even gone as far as to claim that the Senegalese is “one of the best players in the Premier League”.

Ndiaye shares a homeland with Liverpool icon Mane, but they have more in common than merely nationality. The Everton winger, who can play across the frontline, is electric on the ball, combative when against the flow of play and devastating in the box.

Though he’s spent most of his time on the right wing this season, Ndiaye is probably a left-sided forward at heart. Considering this, there’s a good chance Ndiaye would take Cody Gakpo’s starting berth from him at Anfield, with a more protean threat than the clinical Dutchman.

The African talent was Everton’s top scorer last season with 11 goals in all competitions, and that trend has not been bucked this year, Ndiaye with four goals and an assist across 13 games.

When Mane moved from Southampton to Liverpool for around £35m in 2016, he levelled up. Ndiaye could follow his countryman in this regard, having added a range of instruments to his toolbox in recent years and in an up-and-down Everton team.

Liverpool perhaps made a mistake in failing to replace Luis Diaz with a like-for-like successor this summer, and the ramifications have been felt through Gakpo’s somewhat limited attacking approach. He scored and assisted against West Ham at the weekend, but lacked the kind of dynamism that Liverpool’s previous left-sided wingers have offered.

Mane is certainly one of them, probably the cream of the crop. It would be unfair to expect Gakpo to play such a role, but if Ndiaye were signed, Slot would have a player who could match the Netherlands star’s output while bringing so much energy and enthusiasm to the role too.

Mane, now 34 and playing in Saudi Arabia, was once one of the world’s finest forwards, deadly across so many years at Anfield and blending clinical goalscoring with physicality and an unflappable mentality.

One scout even hailed Ndiaye as being “Mane all over again”, and given this is a proven formula in the English top flight, it’s surely one FSG will be enticed in completing.

With the greatest respect to West Ham, tougher tests lie ahead for the Anfield side, whose win at Eintracht Frankfurt in August preceded defeat at Brentford. The elation over that remarkable victory over Real Madrid had crumbled after the triad of recent losses.

Liverpool are nothing if not inconsistent this season, but that can change. It has to change. Liverpool need balance and security, but they also need to be bold and courageous, offering more flair than the likes of Gakpo have been providing.

And what could be more bold than signing a rival in Ndiaye, who would elevate the skill in Slot’s team and also balance the squad’s slanting spirit level.

Shades of Thiago: "Incredible" star had his best game in a Liverpool shirt

This Liverpool star could become the new Thiago at Anfield after his best Premier League showing for the club.

ByDan Emery Nov 30, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Depois de uma novela que se estendeu desde novembro, o Flamengo finalmente anunciou Léo Ortiz como novo integrante na zaga rubro-negra para 2024. O jogador é o terceiro reforço para a equipe de Tite nesta janela de transferência.

continua após a publicidade

Apesar da demora para fechar a contratação, o Flamengo correu para regularizar o zagueiro de 28 anos a tempo para jogar o Campeonato Carioca. O defensor já está inscrito no BID e no Boletim Informativo Diário da Ferj (BIRA). Com isso, Léo Ortiz já pode estreiar pelo Rubro-Negro.

O Flamengo enfrenta o Fluminense pelo primeiro jogo da semifinal do estadual neste sábado (9) no Maracanã, às 21h (Brasília), e tem a vantagem de dois resultados iguais, por ter tido uma campanha melhor na Taça Guanabara.

continua após a publicidade

➡️ Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Flamengo

O zagueiro já treinou com o elenco nesta quarta-feira (6) e pode fazer sua estreia com a camisa Rubro-Negra já no jogo de ida da semifinal por conta de uma possível ausência de Fabrício Bruno, que sofreu uma fratura no nariz.

Léo Ortiz chega no clube da Gávea após cinco anos atuando no time paulista sendo um dos principais jogadores da equipe, que fez uma boa campanha na última temporada, e chegou a ser convocado para a Seleção Brasileira em 2021 e 2022.

continua após a publicidade

Comprado por 7 milhões de euros (R$ 37,6 milhões na cotação atual), o jogador é o terceiro zagueiro mais caro da história do Flamengo, mas pode chegar a bater recordes caso cumpra metas estabelecidas no contrato. Se ele conquistar títulos com a camisa rubro-negra, o Flamengo terá que pagar mais 1 milhão de euros (R$ 5,3 milhões) de bônus ao Bragantino. 

Tudo sobre

Campeonato CariocaFlamengoFluminenseLéo Ortiz

Scott Boland could not hide the smirk on his face.Not long after he had scythed through New South Wales to take a match-winning 5 for 67 to go with his 3 for 59 in the first innings to help Victoria claim a thrilling Sheffield Shield win at the Junction Oval, Boland was asked the obvious question in his post-match conversation with a group of reporters.Boland was asked if he had seen former England captain Michael Atherton write in the that he “holds no fear” for England’s batting line-up based on how they played him in England two years ago.”I saw it. My cousin sent it to me. He [Boland’s cousin] was taking the piss,” Boland said. “I’m sure there’s going be so much banter between the former players in between now and the first Test and even the end of the summer.”Related

• Konstas wins the battle, Boland wins the match for Victoria

• Stuart Broad: 'Worst Australian team since 2010-11'

• Boland's MCG heroics more relevant than 2023 Ashes blip

• Cummins 'running out of time' as Perth D-day looms

He was asked if it motivated him at all ahead of the Ashes.”Not really,” Boland said. “I’ve got my own internal motivations for what I want to do for the summer. I’ve never gone into a game where I’m just middling along. I guess there’s always some motivation for me to try and either come into the team and try to put in a really good performance, to try and keep my spot. There’s so many good fast bowlers in Australia that you just don’t want to give anyone an inch. So that’s sort of my goal when I’m playing Test cricket.”Boland, 36, always speaks like a man on the outside looking in. But right now, he is actually an incumbent in Australia’s Test XI having played in their last Test match in Jamaica in place of Nathan Lyon as part of a four-man pace attack. In fact, he took a Test hat-trick in the last Test over he bowled.And it’s looking increasingly likely that he will retain his spot even though Lyon is set to return for the first Test against England in Perth, with skipper Pat Cummins saying it’s “less likely than likely” he will be fit to play as he continues a slow recovery from a back injury.Boland said he had not spoken to Cummins in several months. But he was not expecting the skipper to miss all five Tests.”Patty’s so resilient,” Boland said. “He can play through a little bit of pain if he has some. Those guys play so much cricket there’s bound to be games where someone misses out. But if Pat happens to not play the first game, we’ve got a pretty handy incoming in at some stage during the summer.”Boland is primed if he is called upon for the first Test. Like a prized race horse ahead of the Melbourne Cup, he seems to have timed his preparation down to the minute. He is pain free and without strapping on his knees for the first time in several years after a block of strength work in the gym following the Caribbean tour. His former Victoria team-mate and now Australia coach Andrew McDonald had challenged him to rethink the way he trained to become even more resilient as he ages.He bowled impressively in the opening Shield game of the summer against South Australia at Adelaide Oval last week and then backed it up with eight wickets at the Junction Oval. But he was frustrated with his performance this week having been far more expensive than usual. He conceded a tick over 4.1 runs per over across 30.4 overs in the match as the New South Wales batters looked to attack him, with Sam Konstas reverse ramping him for six in the second innings.With 0 for 54 to his name from 9.5 overs in the second innings, Atherton’s words felt prescient. But Boland found another gear, snaking a stunning delivery back through the gate to bowl the dangerous Oliver Davies for 64. He took 5 for 13 from his final 35 deliveries, including clattering the stumps twice more, to win the game for his state.”I knew the game was on the line,” Boland said. “I didn’t feel like I’d… not that I’d let the team down, but I hadn’t bowled as well as I wanted to for the whole week.”I just think it’s just a minor thing in my run up. I’m probably just stressing a little bit too much from what I usually do. But I know sometimes that just happens. I just want to find my rhythm as quick as I can in the game. And sometimes it happens in half a spell. Sometimes it takes a bit longer. This game just took a little bit longer, but I still felt like I was able to hang in there enough to bowl some spells when I’m getting wickets for the team.”Scott Boland took eight wickets for Victoria in their last Sheffield Shield game•Getty Images

He also showed a rare sign of raw emotion. After knocking over Davies, he charged past him and glared at him with a guttural roar. It was out of character for a man who barely celebrated a Test hat-trick and it caught the eye of veteran New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd.”Yeah, interesting, wasn’t it,” Shipperd said. “I don’t know what might have led up to that, but it’s not the Scotty Boland I know.”Victoria coach Chris Rogers said Boland and Davies had some history and that Davies “likes to give as much as he gets” but Boland played a straight bat.”I was just excited to get a wicket,” Boland said. “I hadn’t got one for a while. But I know we’ve had some good contests. I played an Aussie A game with him last year. Really enjoyed his company. So nice fellow. We had some nice words for each other after the game.”Boland is set to rest from Victoria’s next Shield game against Tasmania but will return for round four against New South Wales at the SCG in a game that is likely to feature Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Lyon.”I’ve got two really good games of work into my body now,” Boland said. “My body’s feeling really good. No issues with any my knees or anything like that that have been little niggles in the past. So I’m really happy with how it’s tracking. It’d be nice to have a few days off now and get some strength back in, because I know that when I’m doing that, my body’s feeling great, and I feel like I can get through as many games as needed for the summer.”

Paul Doyle has changed his plea to guilty for all 31 charges after ramming his car into a crowd at Liverpool's Premier League title victory parade. The 53-year-old previously said he was not guilty of dangerous driving, affray, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, causing GBH with intent, and wounding with intent in September. But more than six months on from 130 people being injured in the incident, Doyle has now pleaded guilty and a sentencing awaits.

Doyle faces jail sentence of 'some length'

According to BBC News, Doyle sobbed as he changed his pleas – for affray, dangerous driving, 17 counts of attempting to cause GBH, nine of causing GBH with intent, and three counts of wounding with intent – on the second day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The charges relate to 29 people aged between six months and 77 years, all of whom were there on May 26 when Doyle's attack on the parade happened in Liverpool city centre. His Honour Judge Andrew Menary KC, told Doyle it was "inevitable" he would be facing a custodial sentence of "some length". A sentencing date has been set for December 15 at the same court.

AdvertisementAFPCelebrations turn to nightmares

On a day that should have been remembered for Liverpool's title celebrations, it ended up being hijacked by scenes of terror on Merseyside. A total of 50 people required hospital treatment after Doyle drove his Ford Galaxy into the dense crowd on Water Street, leading to his subsequent arrest. According to The Athletic, no explanation was given in court for his actions but more details are likely to take place when the former Royal Marine is sentenced next month. 

Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald, of Merseyside Police, said it was only by "sheer luck that nobody was killed" because of Doyle's "reckless actions". And Sarah Hammond, chief crown prosecutor of the Crime Prosecution Service, described Doyle's actions as an "act of calculated violence".

"Dashcam footage from Doyle's vehicle shows that as he approached Dale Street and Water Street, he became increasingly agitated by the crowds," she said. "Rather than wait for them to pass, he deliberately drove at them, forcing his way through. Driving a vehicle into a crowd is an act of calculated violence. This was not a momentary lapse by Paul Doyle — it was a choice he made that day and it turned celebration into mayhem."

'Distressing and frightening experience'

The Judge told Doyle that he would consider "character evidence" from his defence lawyers before deciding on a verdict. 

"The purpose of the delay is to ensure that everything is prepared and the court has, in writing, all the submissions that are to be made in respect of the sentencing exercise," said Menary. "In the meantime, you must remain in custody. Plainly, its is inevitable there will be a custodial sentence of some length, and you should prepare yourself for that inevitable outcome."

Officer Fitzgerald also gave a snapshot of the horror experienced on that day.

He told the court, "It is hard to forget the shocking scenes from that day. What should have been a day of celebration for the city turned into a distressing and frightening experience which we know continues to have a physical and psychological impact on many people. We know that a lot of people are still recovering from the injuries they suffered on that day and our thoughts remain with them and those that continue to be affected. We hope that the knowledge Doyle is now facing a considerable prison sentence will be able to help those affected to move on with their lives."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Liverpool release club statement

Liverpool have issued an official statement responding to the news of Doyle's change of plea, which reads: "Our victory parade last May allowed an unprecedented number of Liverpool fans to celebrate together our Premier League title win – something we were unable to do in 2020. The day of incredible joy ended in unimaginable circumstances and we hope today's conviction brings some peace to all those affected by the horrific incident. Our thoughts are with them all. We would like to thank our emergency services and partner agencies – Merseyside Police, North West and St John Ambulance Services, Merseyside Fire & Rescue – and members of the public, who responded with such bravery and compassion on the day. Their actions undoubtedly saved lives and exemplified the spirit of our city."

One player still on the books at Manchester United has been told that his Old Trafford “career is over” by a former Red Devils midfielder.

Players who could leave Man Utd in 2026

2026 could be another busy year at Old Trafford in regards to incomings and outgoings, with Ruben Amorim and INEOS continuing to make their mark in Manchester.

The Red Devils have four players out of contract at the end of the season, one of which is midfielder Casemiro.

Players out of contract at Man Utd in 2026

Harry Maguire

Casemiro (option until 2027)

Tom Heaton

Tyrell Malacia

Man Utd have the option to extend that by a further 12 months, however, Amorim and INEOS seemingly clashing behind the scenes regarding the Brazilian. Amorim wants to keep Casemiro whereas INEOS want him to take a pay cut from his current £350,000-a-week wage.

There are also numerous loanees away from Man Utd who could seal permanent exits at the end of the season. Rasmus Hojlund is at Napoli, Marcus Rashford is at Barcelona, Jadon Sancho is at Aston Villa and Andre Onana is with Trabzonspor.

United could look to move the quartet out on a full-time basis, with options to buy inserted in Rashford’s move to the Nou Camp and Hojlund’s move to Napoli. Now, another one of the four has been told he has no future at the club by a pundit.

Man Utd now racing Arsenal to sign "complete" £45m Bundesliga attacker

He’s scored more goals than Sesko this season.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 21, 2025 Strachan tells Onana his Man Utd “career is over”

Former Man Utd midfielder Gordon Strachan, speaking to Esports News relayed by The Manchester Evening News, feels that Andre Onana “has played his last game” for Man Utd and would be “shocked” if he played for the Red Devils again.

Onana’s Man Utd contract is worth £120,000-a-week and there is no option to buy for the Turkish side at the end of the season, with the ‘keeper’s Manchester deal not expiring until 2028.

United forked out just under £50m on Onana back in 2023, but after numerous errors at Old Trafford and Amorim now having Senne Lammens, a permanent exit could make sense for all involved next year.

Forget Anderson: Man Utd in talks to sign "world's most underrated footballer"

England stars will, if they are being honest, want to avoid Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for as long as possible at the 2026 World Cup, says Nigel Winterburn. The ex-Three Lions defender has, in an exclusive interview with GOAL, been discussing the chances of bringing 60 years of pain to a close ahead of the group-stage draw taking place on December 5.

• Ready to roar: Are England's Three Lions contenders?

  England, having made light work of qualification, will be among the favourites to capture a global crown next summer. With Harry Kane leading the line as captain, Jude Bellingham looking to dominate the midfield and Jordan Pickford picking up a useful habit of keeping clean sheets, the Three Lions are seemingly ready to roar.

  That has, however, been the case on a number of occasions in the past. Too many toothless displays have been delivered, even when reaching the finals of back-to-back European Championships. Favourable draws have been enjoyed at times, but England have come unstuck when facing fellow heavyweight outfits.

Advertisement

• Getty/GOAL
  

  Beat the best? Why England will want to avoid Messi & Ronaldo

  Italy, France and Spain have dashed collective dreams at the last three major international tournaments. With that in mind, Thomas Tuchel will be hoping to steer clear of Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal et al in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

  It is often said, though, that you need to beat the best in order to become the best. With that in mind, will the Three Lions be looking forward to potential meetings with the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Argentina and Portugal?

  When that question was put to former Arsenal and England full-back Winterburn, he – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “Sometimes in a tournament you can get a nice passage. I think we have seen that with England at times. You get a nice passage through, depending on how the draw falls for you. Then you don’t potentially get the top teams until the semi-finals, final. You would expect to play the top teams at some point.

  “Being a player, yes, you want to play against the best but maybe you want to leave that until the final with the anticipation because anything can happen. As a player, if you get what is called a favourable draw to get through to the quarters, semi-final and final of a World Cup, I don’t think you are going to be hearing any England players or any of the fans moaning that the opposition is not good enough. It’s on the day. You have just got to be ready.”

• Last dance: Will Messi & Ronaldo lock horns again?

  Portuguese superstar Ronaldo has stated that the 2026 World Cup will be his last, but Argentine GOAT Messi is yet to confirm that he will form part of the Albiceleste’s title defence. He is now plying his trade in MLS with Inter Miami and will not, due to the sporting calendar in America, have as much competitive action under his belt by June 2026 as many of his rivals.

  Messi said when asked if another World Cup outing is exciting: “Yes, obviously it is. It's a special World Cup. It's special to play with the national team, especially in major official competitions, and even more so considering what a World Cup means, especially after having won it.

  “But as I was saying, I don't want to be a burden, so to speak. I want to feel physically fit, to be sure I can help and contribute to the team. Our season is different from the European one. We'll have a pre-season in between, with few matches leading up to the World Cup, and we'll see how things go day by day to see if I really feel physically fit enough to be where I'd like to be and be able to participate. But obviously I'm aware that it's a World Cup, and it's special, and that the World Cup is the biggest competition there is. So, I'm excited, but I'm taking it one day at a time.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  World Cup group stage draw: When & where that takes place

  Messi, Ronaldo, Kane and Co will discover their group-stage opponents when the 2026 World Cup draw takes place at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on Friday.

Jordan Silk made 104, Brad Hope made 76 and Jake Weatherald made 67 to build his Ashes case and help Tasmania fight back after a top-order collapse

AAP04-Oct-2025The man Jake Weatherald hopes to partner at the top of the Australian order did him a big favour on day one of the opening Sheffield Shield clash between Queensland and Tasmania.Test and Queensland opener Usman Khawaja dropped Weatherald at first slip off the bowling of Jack Wildermuth when he had made just four on Saturday at Allan Border Field.Weatherald took full advantage of his life, hitting two boundaries in the same over. The in-form Tasmania opener went on to make 67 from 99 balls to continue his relentless runscoring over the past 12 months.Related

Webster misses Sheffield Shield opener with ankle injury

He partnered with captain Jordan Silk to rescue the visitors’ innings after Silk’s decision to bat first looked to be backfiring horribly.Reeling at 33 for 3, Tasmania steadied and were 299 for 6 at stumps. Silk led the way with 104, his 13 first-class century, and Bradley Hope made 76.Weatherald is coming into Ashes selection calculations thanks to his run of form. He was Shield’s leading runscorer season and made 183 in July for Australia A against Sri Lanka. But he said after Saturday’s play that he had heard “nothing” from national selectors.”It was a good – a bit of luck. You need that when you’re opening,” Weatherald said of his early life. “I was happy with how I moved after that – it was a rough little start.”You probably get a little bit of that, ‘I get an opportunity to kick on now, have that bad shot, that rash shot, out of the kitchen’. Sometimes you just miss it or snick it straight to slips and you get out, so it was good I kicked on from there. I felt really good.”He hit eight boundaries and had a crucial 80-run stand for the fourth wicket with his captain before Michael Neser took a sharp reflex return catch with one hand.Weatherald said he and Silk tried to put the pressure back on the Queensland attack in their stand.Silk went on to make his 104 from 170 balls and was filthy with himself when he was also out caught and bowled to Mitch Swepson. The spinner’s catch was much more straightforward thanks to a leading edge.Wildermuth was eventually rewarded when he trapped Hope lbw, ending his 171-ball knock.Jake Doran and Nikhil Chaudhary were the not out batters, while Neser (2-53 from 18 overs) was the only multiple wicket-taker.Tasmania suffered a blow when Australian all-rounder Beau Webster was ruled out of the game because of an minor ankle injury.

When Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jackson Jobe threw a hard sinker inside to tie up Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, he shocked Tigers play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti. Bichette whiffed on the nasty pitch to strike out and end the second inning before Benetti even knew what happened.

The surprise of the 97-mph sinker resulted in one of the wackiest and most amazing calls you'll hear.

"Oh my goodness, a lightning bolt directly at Bichette," Benetti exclaimed into the microphone via FanDuel Spots Network Detroit. "That'll activate your nervous system. … Anybody have an exorcist?"

Jobe had a nice outing Sunday, pitching six innings and giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out five batters. Benetti had a busy Sunday himself, too, as Jobe's filthy strikeout wasn't even the first time he said "Oh my goodness!" into the microphone during the game.

In the bottom of the first inning, Tigers left fielder Akil Baddoo made back-to-back incredible catches which resulted in three outs and got Jobe out of a first-inning jam. And Benetti loved both plays:

The Tigers held on to beat the Blue Jays 3–2 Sunday, taking the three-game weekend series after the rubber match. Hopefully Benetti can get some rest after the Tigers kept him on edge over the weekend.