Overlooked for West Indies series, opener sets up 202-run win at Northampton

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay08-Aug-2025

Pakistan international Imam-ul-Haq struck a superb, classy 159, his highest List A score to set up a comprehensive Yorkshire victory over Northamptonshire by 202 runs in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at Wantage Road.Imam, 29, averages 47.04 across a 75-match ODI career, with nine hundreds, but has been overlooked for Pakistan’s three-match series against West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, which starts on Friday night. His 159 was a reminder of his talent to their selectors.His innings propelled Yorkshire to a mammoth 374 for 5, their highest ever team total against Northamptonshire in List A cricket – and just five short of their highest against any first-class county. It also helped inflict the highest ever home defeat on Northamptonshire by any team in List A cricket.Facing 130 balls, Imam hit 20 fours and two sixes, passing 5,000 career List A runs and beating his previous highest score of 151 against England in 2019. It follows his half-century to steer Yorkshire to victory against Warwickshire at Scarborough on Tuesday.While Imam cashed in against a frequently wayward Northamptonshire seam attack, his innings was full of delicate timing, perfect placement and silky cover drives before growing more aggressive. He was well supported in stands of 83 with Will Luxton (41), 158 with James Wharton (66) and 75 with a belligerent Matt Revis who smashed 69 from just 33 balls, his highest List A score. Liam Guthrie’s bowling figures suffered in the run-fest but he picked up 3 for 87.In reply, Northamptonshire were never in the chase, a tight spell from Yorkshire opening bowlers Matt Milnes and Ben Cliff setting the tone. While the hosts will count themselves unlucky to have lost two early wickets, they scored at just 4.4 an over throughout the innings. While George Bartlett (30) and Justin Broad (24) forged an enterprising partnership of 49 in eight overs, no-one else contributed anything of substance. Dan Moriarty was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 38.Earlier, Guthrie struck quickly when Adam Lyth slashed straight to cover, but Northamptonshire’s seamers strayed in line and length, allowing Yorkshire to rattle along at over six runs an over, Luxton driving consecutive wide deliveries from Guthrie for boundaries.Imam played a beautiful straight drive and a couple of stylish backfoot punches, but Northamptonshire missed a chance to remove Luxton when Luke Procter dropped a sharp catch at point.Bowling in tandem, spinners Rob Keogh and Yuzvendra Chahal stemmed the flow of runs but the breakthrough came via a mix-up between the batters. Imam cut square and started to run before sending Luxton back, Bartlett and Keogh affecting the runout.Imam reached 50 off 58 balls before playing two silky cover drives off Dom Leech to take Yorkshire to 142 for 2 at the halfway stage. A pull off Leech perfectly bisected the field as he moved into the nineties before reaching 100 off 95 balls.Dan Moriarty (file photo) was the pick of the Yorkshire attack•Getty Images

At the other end Wharton grew becalmed, his first boundary not arriving until the 53rd ball he faced when he hooked Guthrie for six. Shackles released, he made up for lost time, powering Guthrie down the ground, while Imam went through the gears too, slog-sweeping Chahal for six. Chahal finally broke the stand, tossing one wide, Wharton reaching for it and slicing to cover.Imam targeted Leech, taking 15 off one over including six down the ground. Revis was severe on former Yorkshire bowler Leech too, garnering two legside boundaries off short balls and swinging Procter for six.Imam’s long innings finally ended thanks to a stunning bit of boundary fielding off Guthrie when Tim Robinson held a brilliant boundary catch, throwing it up before he crossed the rope and holding on as stepped back in.Revis tucked into Guthrie, smashing two sixes over the infield before carving square for six more. His wicket was scant consolation for Guthrie when he holed out in the deep.Northamptonshire’s first powerplay was positively sedate, just six boundaries shared equally between Ricardo Vasconcelos (23) and Lewis McManus (25) as they reached 41 after 10 overs.The hosts then lost two wickets in an over as McManus was adjudged caught behind off the inside edge off Ben Cliff, although the ball looked to have hit his pads. Next Aadi Sharma’s List A debut ended in a runout at the non-strikers’ end, Cliff deflecting the ball onto the stumps in his delivery stride.Yorkshire picked up a third when Moriarty beat Vasconcelos, bowling him as he advanced down the pitch, attempting to force the pace. George Hill then nipped one back sharply to knock back Robinson’s stumps.With the required rate above 10, Bartlett and Broad looked to score against the spinners, Bartlett striking a straight six off Dom Bess. But the drinks break brought two wickets, Broad chipping Bess to Revis at mid-on after the resumption, before Bartlett skied Moriarty to long-on.Rob Keogh and Luke Procter both made starts, but after Procter was bowled by Bess, Moriarty had both Leech and Guthrie caught in the deep, while Keogh (23) was bowled by Cliff.

South Africa’s former captain Dane van Niekerk is “definitely not part,” of their plans for the upcoming World Cup despite coming out of retirement and being included in an ongoing pre-tournament training camp. National coach Mandla Mashimbyi confirmed that van Niekerk will only be considered for future series “when she ticks all the boxes.”That means van Niekerk, who is 32, may not play at another 50-over World Cup after missing out in 2022 as she recovered from a broken ankle. She has appeared in three previous editions and led South Africa in 2017, where they suffered a semi-final defeat to England. She has also played in seven T20 World Cups but did not feature in the home event in 2023 after failing to meet Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) fitness requirements. It was then that she announced her retirement from international cricket.Van Niekerk has since come back to domestic competition, u-turned on her international retirement and was called up to a 20-player squad for a week-long camp in Durban ahead of South Africa’s World Cup squad selection. But her name will not be among the final fifteen that will be announced next week. “She’s just part of the bigger or broader base of players that we’re trying to bring into our environment,” Mashimbyi said. “She’s definitely not part of this World Cup. She’s not going.”Related

• Van Niekerk in line for SA comeback after u-turn on retirement

• 'Want to play again and have fun' – Dane van Niekerk signs for Western Province

So why was van Niekerk brought into a squad specifically put together, “in preparation for the upcoming Pakistan tour and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 held in India and Sri Lanka,” according to a CSA press release? To see what she needs to do in order to get back in.”We wanted to bring her in and actually expose her to the environment so that she can understand what the expectations are,” Mashimbyi said. “Hopefully she can carry on from here onwards and really understand how she wants to go about things. And then one day when she gets a call up, you know, she can come in and have an impact immediately.”Strictly monitored running times are no longer part of the expectations, which will come as a relief to van Niekerk who was left out of the 2023 T20 World Cup squad because she could not run two kilometres in under 9:30. Now, CSA leaves selection to the coach and convener’s discretion but there is still an implicit understanding that fitness standards need to be at a high level and van Niekerk knows it. “I’ve seen the standards in the last two years. I’ve been in and around the team, commentating and even though I was really not involved I knew how the team was evolving when it comes to the physical sides of things,” she said. “There’s a massive difference from two years ago. The players have evolved, got stronger, smarter you can really see the work ethic around the group as well.”Van Niekerk, who plays for Western Province but does not have any franchise deals at the moment, conceded that she still has some work to do to catch up. “I know I’m probably not where everyone’s at at the moment. I understand where I need to be for the team. It’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I definitely wouldn’t have gone through all of this if I’m not willing to put that in,” she said. “This is almost a baseline for me to really gauge where I’m at when it comes to the physical side, when it comes to the skill side, and all those things. Hopefully, I can have a clearer view after this camp. I’d know with the conversations we’ve had where I need to be in the next few months.”While she will not be part of the action over September and October, van Niekerk may be eyeing a home comeback later this year. After the Women’s World Cup, the South Africa’s women’s team’s series against Ireland and Pakistan will headline the international summer as the men only host West Indies for five T20Is next year. The women’s team will play at all the country’s big grounds including Newlands, the Wanderers and van Niekerk’s home venue – St George’s Park – where she has never played an international. That will be followed by preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup, which both her and Mashimbyi may also have in their sights for her future.Mashimbyi acknowledged that it would be “false of us to not think that Dane is an important cog in the bigger scheme of things,” because of her experience. “She’s captained the team. She’s played for a long time, and she was successful in doing that. Bringing a player like that back into the environment for me was a no-brainer,” he said.But he also made it clear that she won’t receive any special treatment based on that history. “She’s like any other player now. You know, she needs to work her way up again. She needs to earn a place as well.”

A strategy based on spin, players plucked from domestic cricket, individuals rising to the occasion – the story of how Pakistan turned the series

Danyal Rasool26-Oct-2024Months after they’d hit the reset button, Pakistan were ready to burn it all down again. Aleem Dar, freshly announced as a member on Pakistan’s latest selection panel, glowered at the Multan surface. It had played host to a game where England racked up the fourth-highest total in Test history before dispensing swiftly with Pakistan. The curators believed it would have started taking spin sometime on day four. Pakistan’s specialist spinner Abrar Ahmed was already ill in hospital by then, with the promised turn nowhere to be found.He glanced across at the surface two strips across. It would host the second Test. Under the blazing Multan sun, which hadn’t let up all game, the surface had a veneer that made it look like a sheet of glass; Dar could have combed his beard in the reflection. He looked back at the used pitch, dry as a tinder box waiting for a spark. The seed of an idea was beginning to form in his mind.

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In April, Pakistan had appointed Jason Gillespie as head coach to much fanfare, with chairman Mohsin Naqvi organising a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium to personally announce the appointment. Weeks later, Australian Tony Hemming was roped in as the chief curator, understood to have been tasked with improving the quality of the surfaces over a long-term period.Related

• Aaqib Javed set to replace Jason Gillespie as Pakistan head coach

• Sajid Khan claims Urdu misdirection aided his batting exploits

• 'We had a clear plan' – Azhar Mahmood puts his spin on Multan pitch

• Stats – Pakistan's first Test series win at home since 2021

• Pakistan turn it around to clinch series 2-1 after Sajid, Noman special

But it wasn’t either of them that Dar called, when the idea to reuse the surface from the first Test struck. Aaqib Javed was brought up to speed, and was immediately on board, while the rest of the selection panel, comprising Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and analyst Hassan Cheema assented. Neither captain Shan Masood nor Gillespie – who, at that time, were still officially listed as members of the selection panel on the PCB’s website – were spoken to; they would soon have that power taken from them anyway.Giant industrial fans were brought in over the weekend to dry the surface out in an effort to induce spin as early as possible. The only problem? Pakistan’s only spinner was still in hospital with suspected dengue fever, and so the selection panel soon put their sweeping powers to good use.Zahid Mahmood, released from the squad before the first Test, was called back. Sajid Khan was summoned from Peshawar where he was presumably sat twirling his moustache – given the full splendour of its glory once it, and Sajid, arrived in Multan. Noman Ali, seemingly lost to the sands of time, also got the call.But the selectors weren’t done yet. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah were deemed surplus to requirements, but the bombshell lay at the other end of the order. The out-of-form Babar Azam was dropped, a call no Pakistan selector had made thus far, and one Gillespie opposed. Veteran of the domestic circuit Kamran Ghulam was called up. As Sajid said after the series, these were “the kinds of pitch I have played on in first-class cricket”. A Quaid-e-Azam Trophy squad for a QeA-style pitch, it was reasoned, wasn’t a bad idea.Industrial fans were used to dry the Multan pitch•PA Images via Getty ImagesPrivately, some of the selectors wondered if three spinners was overkill, but Aaqib was adamant; this was the way forward. Aaqib has become the public face of this selectorial coup in an astonishingly short span of time, seen as the man who effectively runs Pakistan cricket right now. To reflect that elevated status, he resigned from his role as director and head coach at Lahore Qalandars, a position he had held for eight years. On the second day in Pindi, Mohammad Rizwan, ever the astute judge of where the balance of power lies in Pakistan cricket, chirped into the stump mic as one spun sharply into Harry Brook, “This is Aaqib-ball now, we are members of Aaqib-ball.”***Ben Stokes always calls tails, and that surface in Multan did Pakistan one more favour; it made sure the coin that landed on it had heads facing upwards. Ghulam, who had seen surfaces like these in the QeA for the best part of a decade, understood how to navigate them on day one, his hundred getting Pakistan the runs they needed.Masood has made clear Pakistan’s problems were never about the runs. The overhaul had happened because Pakistan required a way of picking up 20 wickets, but by the time England sped to 211 on day two, just two had fallen. In the last home series Sajid played, he averaged just under 120 runs per wicket; figures of 1 for 70 in 13 here seemed appropriate explanation for why he’d played one Test in the following three years.Being in the wilderness comes naturally to Sajid. He says he has tended to the last-in, first-out through his career stretching back to his junior days. If he failed to deliver when Pakistan had ripped up their long-term plan and publicly declawed their coaches to create bespoke conditions for him, there might just be no way back.He found an area of rough on what was by now a day-seven pitch, and flighted it wider into the degraded dirt. Joe Root didn’t appreciate the changed length and went for the sweep anyway. It is a shot that batters have put away gradually over the past two Tests, and this was the first moment its perils became apparent. Root dragged on, Sajid and Noman ripped through the middle order, and the series turned on a dime.

“Pakistan have performed a weird interpretive dance, insisting it’s a team game in a series that has been all about individuals. Masood and Gillespie, who had their wings clipped. Aaqib, who has become cricket director, selector and coach in all but name. Sajid and Noman, of course, but also Shakeel and Salman”

Before the pair had even finished cleaning England up in the second innings, Aaqib and Dar were speeding along the M-2, making a beeline for Rawalpindi. Until last week, making a spinning track in Pindi was considered impossible; you might as well be planting palm trees in the Arctic Circle.It’s not quite wedding season in Islamabad yet, so the PCB was able to pick up a few of those giant heaters, positioning them close to the pitch five days out from the toss. Giant industrial fans and windbreakers ringfenced the surface, with garden rakes diligently working around the footmarks. People did assume the pitchforks would be out by this stage of the series, but this probably isn’t what they meant. The following day, Dar and Aaqib were among a sizeable group of people working around the pitch; if there were signs asking people not to step on it, they certainly weren’t visible from the media centre.Pakistan had barely used Zahid and Aamer Jamal in Multan, but confidence in the Sajid-Noman duo was so high Pakistan named both in the XI anyway – effectively playing with nine men. The coin landed the other way this time, something Masood had apparently told the group he wanted to happen because winning that way would prove a point. Pakistan opened with spin for the first time in Test history, but even when Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett struck up a 56-run partnership, Masood stuck with Sajid and Noman; they would bowl unbroken for 90 overs across two cities, three innings and eight days.Pakistan have performed a weird interpretive dance, insisting it’s a team game in a series that has been all about individuals. The individuals, like Masood and Gillespie, who had their wings clipped, and those, like Aaqib, who has become cricket director, selector and coach in all but name. Sajid and Noman, of course, but also Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha, who can counter these spinning conditions with the patience that comes with familiarity.Rizwan, perhaps the best keeper in the international game, barely missed a beat in these trying conditions. Jamie Smith’s wicketkeeping credentials were fully put to the test, and missed chances – crucially a drop off Salman’s bat early in his second innings in Multan – began to mount. Individually brilliant players with specific skills in specific conditions, the rest of the team sacrificed to maximise those advantages.Noman Ali and Sajid Khan turned the series on its head•Getty ImagesThe rest of the batters, as Masood pointed out, faced the same problems as England’s did. England’s top four comfortably outscored Pakistan’s over the last two Tests, 118 more runs between them during this time. But contributions through the middle order were scarce, and there was a consistent inability to shoot Pakistan’s lower order out cheaply; four of Pakistan’s seven largest partnerships this series came for the bottom four. Domestic cricket in Pakistan is a scrap, and this very domestic of Pakistani sides was doing just that.***This has been a series played in terrific spirits. England have barely peeped about the spinning surfaces, while Sajid’s boisterous send-offs have been treated as harmless pantomime villainy. No one ever quite mentioned it again, but Pakistan hadn’t forgotten what Duckett had said during the second Test with Pakistan in a position of advantage.”We know that they can crumble and so the pressure is over to them,” Duckett told broadcaster Sky Sports. “We’re 1-0 up in the series, and won the last series 3-0.”He was right, of course. Pakistan had lost each of their last six Tests by falling apart in their second innings, often surrendering a position of relative advantage. In the dying light of the second day in Pindi, though, the tables were turned, and England had to come out in the third innings negotiating a tricky deficit.Pakistan may have produced an overnight formula to come back in the series, but it was far too late for England’s batters to find one that countered Sajid and Noman. They had bowled all but 12 overs since England’s second innings in the second Multan Test, and the rust had been cast off. Before light intervened, Duckett, Crawley and Ollie Pope had their series brought to a close.Pakistan knew better than most how easy it can be to fall apart in the third innings, having made that mistake each of the last five Tests before the turnaround. Now, they were making sure England understood too as they melted away in the face of spin’s ceaseless onslaught. Stokes, for some reason, shouldered arms to an orthodox left-arm spinner from Noman in front of the stumps. Smith tried to take Sajid on as he had in the first innings, never getting to the pitch as he was cleaned up. Root nicked off to Noman, while Rehan Ahmed fell over trying to lap Sajid. An easy stumping gave Rizwan’s series the finish it merited as England fell for 112, their lowest second-innings score since Brendon McCullum and Bazball.This, indeed, as Rizwan senses, is Aaqib-ball. Meet Pakistan’s newest revolution, but keep that matchbox by you.

Mikel Arteta voiced his disappointment after his Arsenal side conceded late on at Sunderland on Saturday evening. Brian Brobbey scored a stoppage-time equaliser in the eventual 2-2 draw as the Dutchman acrobatically finished past David Raya. The result means Arsenal sit just six points clear at the top of the Premier League table following Saturday's action.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Arsenal miss chance to open up big lead

  Arsenal went behind through a Dan Ballard goal 10 minutes before the break. The former Gunners trainee rifled past Raya from close range after being played in by fellow defender Nordi Mukiele.

  Mikel Arteta's side pushed hard for an equaliser after the restart and were duly rewarded in the 54th minute as Bukayo Saka beat Robin Roefs at his near post after some good pressing by the visitors to force Enzo Le Fee into a mistake in his own half.

  Martin Zubimendi cannoned an effort off the crossbar as Arsenal looked to go in front and it was Leandro Trossard who came up clutch once more to rifle past Roefs from 20 yards.

  Arsenal looked set for a huge three points but were forced to share the spoils as Brobbey managed to work his way between Raya and Gabriel Magalhaes to bag a late equaliser. 

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• 'I'm upset and frustrated'

  And after the stalemate at the Stadium of Light, Arteta admitted his is 'upset and frustrated' as Arsenal were unable to hold out for what would have been a huge win in the Premier League title race. When asked what his emotions were in that 94th minute, Arteta replied: "Again, unsatisfied because I want to win. And the game was almost there, but you know this is the Premier League and the manner that they play, they're going to hang in there when it's just one goal difference there.

  "I'm upset and frustrated because it's an action that we can defend better, but as well you have to give credit to the opposition to do what they've done, to put the ball there, to head the ball the way they've done it, and then they strike it to do that action and to put the ball in the net and sometimes you have to do that and recognise that as well."

  And on the clean sheet record ending, Arteta said: ""I felt a pain in my tummy. I don't want to concede any goals. It was a goal and put the game in a difficult position."

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  Arteta reserves praise for Sunderland

  Arteta was also asked about Sunderland, and whether the other title challengers will have a difficult game at the Stadium of Light this season. The Black Cats have started the season brilliantly following their promotion, with Saturday's draw taking them up into the top four.

  "That's the Premier League, you don't get to any place in the Premier League where you think you're going to have a comfortable afternoon, evening, how you want to call it," Arteta added. "And again, it's not a coincidence what they are doing, and they decide to be where they are and we do as well."

  Sunderland have already claimed some notable results this season as they beat Chelsea, and drew with Crystal Palace and Aston Villa. Regis Le Bris' side are also the first team to score more than once against Arsenal since Liverpool back in May.

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• Tough games to come for the Gunners

  Arsenal will be hoping that title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool play out a draw when they duo meet at the Etihad Stadium. The Gunners' title rivals sit seven and eight points, respectively, off the north London side, and a stalemate in Manchester will see Arteta's men retain their six-point gap at the top heading into the international break.

  Arsenal then face a testing return to domestic duties later this month as they take on London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea to see out November. Sandwiched in between the successive London derbies is a Champions League tie with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

  Bayern, like Arsenal, were also held to a 2-2 draw on Saturday as a late Harry Kane header rescued a point for the Bavarian giants. Vincent Kompany's men are one of three teams, along with the Gunners and Serie A giants Inter, to boast a 100% record in the Champions League this season.

Liverpool are reportedly prepared to initiate contract talks with Dominik Szoboszlai, as the club looks to secure the future of the Hungarian. It has been revealed that Arne Slot is eager to tie down the playmaker, alongside teammate Ryan Gravenberch, with the Reds preparing for the long haul.

Liverpool ready to secure Szoboszlai’s future

According to Liverpool are preparing to open formal negotiations with Szoboszlai over a new long-term contract. Despite Liverpool’s recent inconsistencies, Szoboszlai has maintained his performance levels and been a benchmark of quality and determination. While summer signing Florian Wirtz continues to struggle, Szoboszlai has started every Premier League and Champions League game this season to cement himself as a vital cog in Slot’s evolving midfield system. 

AdvertisementGOAL Szoboszlai contract update from Romano

Romano confirmed on Friday evening that Liverpool have begun early talks over a new deal. Writing on X, he said: "Liverpool have started talks over new deal with Dominik Szoboszlai, after exclusive story 2 weeks ago. The plan was clear: Szobo and Gravenberch to discuss new contracts soon, as talks started with the Hungarian. Club super happy + top performances."

Szoboszlai and Gravenberch are currently believed to earn around £270,000 a week between them, with both contracts running until 2028. The new deal is expected to extend those terms further by a couple of years and also bring a significant pay rise for both.

Gravenberch’s rise from undesirable to undeniable

Gravenberch’s development has been equally impressive. The Dutchman arrived from Bayern Munich for £40m ($53m) and, after a slow start, he has quietly established himself as one of the team’s most reliable performers. The 22-year-old has contributed three goals and two assists in 11 appearances, and he is regarded as one of the most improved players under Slot’s guidance. 

Meanwhile, Szoboszlai’s performance in Liverpool’s recent 1-0 Champions League victory over Real Madrid was hailed by the fans. He put in a brilliant shift while operating as the engine of Slot’s side, and his teammate Virgil van Dijk reserved high praise as he brought out his best against one of Europe’s toughest opponents. 

"What you see is what you get from Dom," Van Dijk told reporters. "He is very important. The energy he brings on the pitch is incredible and the quality that he has is outstanding. Like you said, he is learning each and every game and he is developing into the player we all feel like he could be. He is already showing that for the country he is playing for and it is about keeping on doing it for the rest of the season. So far he has had a great start to the season and he has to keep going. Keep your head down and keep performing."

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Getty Images SportSeveral contract decisions lined up at Liverpool

Slot’s new-look midfield has been a work in progress, but the trio of Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister has provided a dynamic foundation. All three are expected to be tied down with fresh deals to fend away suitors, with the Argentine already linked with a move to Real Madrid. This approach is part of a wider strategic overhaul at Anfield as they are prioritising locking down key talents early rather than risking future contract stand-offs; a lesson that they learnt in a bitter way by losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid for just £10m before the Club World Cup. 

Beyond the midfield, Liverpool have other pressing contract matters to resolve. Centre-back Ibrahima Konate and vice-captain Andy Robertson are both entering the final year of their current deals. Discussions with Konate are understood to be ongoing, while Robertson’s future remains uncertain as the club weigh their long-term options.

After a brief, turbulent period under Slot, they have begun to find their rhythm again. Liverpool currently sit third in the Premier League table with 18 points from their first 10 matches. They are seven adrift of leaders Arsenal, but within striking distance as the season enters a crucial phase before the festive period. Next up is a monumental clash with Manchester City at the Etihad. Szoboszlai is certain to feature, and his tireless presence coupled with his creative force, will once again be key to Liverpool’s hopes.

Nielsen will coach a 15-man squad against India Under-19s in Australia next month but Ollie Peake is not available due to Australia A duty

Alex Malcolm08-Aug-2025Former Australia coach Tim Nielsen will take over as Australia’s Under-19s coach ahead of the upcoming series against India Under-19s with the World Cup on the horizon but Australia’s squad won’t feature star batter Oliver Peake as he will be touring with the Australia A team.Cricket Australia announced a 15-man squad for the upcoming home series against India Under-19s in Brisbane and Mackay starting next month, which will feature three 50-over matches and two four-day games. The three Youth ODIs will be played on September 21, 24 and 26 at Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane. The first Youth Test will be held at the same venue starting on September 30 while the second will played in Mackay from October 7.Nielsen, 57, coached Australia’s men’s team between 2007 and 2011, having been a long-time assistant to former Australia coach John Buchanan before that, as well as being head coach of CA’s Centre of Excellence, a position that no longer exists.Related

• Mhatre to lead India U-19 in multi-format tour of Australia

• Konstas, Peake, McSweeney named in Australia A squad for India tour

• Weatherald 'ready' for Test cricket, excitement around teen-prodigy Peake

Following his stint with Australia’s men, Nielsen was South Australia and Adelaide Striker’s long-time high performance manager before resigning in February 2024. He took up a brief post as Pakistan’s high-performance red-ball coach alongside close friend and long-time colleague Jason Gillespie when the latter was Pakistan’s Test coach in 2024.Nielsen returns to a development role at CA after Lachlan Stevens resigned as CA’s development coach earlier this year and his first duty will be to lead an Under-19s squad in their last bilateral series before the Under-19s World Cup in January in Zimbabwe and Namibia.Australia’s 15-player squad looks very different to the one CA sent to India in September and October last year, where they were beaten soundly 2-0 in the Youth Test series and 3-0 in the Youth ODI series. Only four players, Simon Budge, Steve Hogan, Hayden Schiller and Alex Lee Young, remain from that tour where India batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi announced himself with a 58-ball century in the first Youth Test.Oliver Peake made an impressive 52 on first-class debut aged 18•Getty Images

Suryavanshi has been named in India’s Under-19 squad to tour Australia. But Peake, who made a century in the second youth Test in India last year, has been selected on Australia A’s tour of India that will occur at the same time, following an impressive first-class debut for Victoria in March and scoring 92 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A last month. Peake, 18, is still eligible to play in the Under-19s World Cup next year but it remains to be seen whether he will given he is contracted to Melbourne Renegades in the BBL and a key part of Victoria’s plans for the upcoming Sheffield Shield season.”We’re excited to continue our preparation for the ongoing ICC U19 World cup cycle, with an exciting squad of emerging players,”CA’s Head of National Development Sonya Thompson said.”This series against India provides a valuable opportunity for our young players to experience international cricket in white-ball and red-ball formats, and to test themselves against a high-quality opponent.”The multi-format tour is designed to challenge players to adapt and grow, while also giving selectors and coaches meaningful insights ahead of the National U19 Championships in December.”We’re also thrilled to welcome Tim Nielsen as Head Coach of the National U19 squad. His extensive international experience and leadership will be instrumental in guiding and inspiring Australia’s next generation of cricketers.Australia Under-19 squad: Simon Budge, Alex Turner, Steve Hogan, Will Malajczuk, Yash Deshmukh, Tom Hogan, Aryan Sharma, John James, Hayden Schiller, Charles Lachmund, Ben Gordon, Will Byrom, Kasey Barton, Alex Lee Young, Jayden Draper

ذكرت تقارير صحفية أن آرني سلوت مدرب ليفربول، قد يتعرض لضربة قوية، تؤثر بالسلب على نتائج الفريق خلال منافسات الموسم الحالي 2025-2026.

ووفقاً للصحفي دراميش شيت من “سكاي سبورت” البريطانية، فإن إندونسيا تدرس حاليًا التعاقد مع جيوفاني فان برونكهورست مساعد آرني سلوت لتدريب المنتخب.

ويفاضل منتخب إندونسيا بين كل من جيوفاني فان برونكهورست مساعد مدرب ليفربول، وجون هيردمان مدرب كندا السابق، وهناك أيضًا مرشحين آخرين لتولي المنصب.

اقرأ أيضًا.. كاراجر: ليفربول سينافس على لقب البريميرليج في حالة واحدة

ويأتي فان برونكهورست على رأس الأسماء التي يهتم بها الاتحاد الإندونيسي والذي أجرى مقابلة مع هيردمان ويرغب بتعيين مدرب جديد خلال الأيام المقبلة.

ومن المتوقع أن تستمر محادثات الاتحاد الإندونيسي في الفترة القادمة مع المرشحين، ويرغب الاتحاد في تعيين مدرب يتمتع بخبرة دولية وهو ما يميز فان برونكهورست وهيردمان.

The 18-year-old batter has impressed the likes of Viv Richards, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Curtly Ambrose with his skill and maturity

Deivarayan Muthu02-Jan-2025At 17, Jewel Andrew became the youngest player to feature in the CPL and then the youngest to debut for West Indies in ODI cricket. In October 2024 in Sri Lanka, he received his maiden cap from fellow Antiguan Alzarri Joseph and played under Shai Hope, whose shots he has copied from childhood.Andrew was earmarked as a future West Indies star right from his age-group days, but not many expected him to make the step up to international cricket in his teens. Things have been happening rather quickly for him. He recently celebrated his 18th birthday in Chennai, at a two-week camp for West Indies’ brightest young talents at the Chennai Super Kings Academy.Andrew has all the shots in the book, including the reverse sweep, which disrupted the local spinners in a two-day game in Chennai.”I’ve been trying the sweeps and reverse, which is a good option against spinners,” Andrew says. “In that two-day game, I actually scored 30 [runs] off reverse sweeps, so it’s working for me. I’ve been working on this type of stuff at this camp.”Related

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Andrew had also showed off his reverse sweep on his CPL debut in August last year. He picked up a Tabraiz Shamsi stock ball from the stumps and audaciously flipped it over short third during his unbeaten 50 off 30 balls for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. In the lead-up to his debut, Andrew visualised nailing the shot off Shamsi.”My plan against Shamsi was to take him on,” Andrew says. “I actually planned it because he’s an experienced bowler. It was a crazy shot (laughs). I felt if I could get a boundary off him, it would be a highlight.”Andrew also nervelessly took on other internationals like Anrich Nortje and Dominic Drakes that day. He had started playing cricket from when he was four years old and was used to competing against the big boys.”I try to forget about nerves when I’m playing,” he says. “It’s just something that grew with me throughout my career so far. I try to let go of nerves and just play what I normally play because I just feel it’s another opportunity to showcase my talent. I keep playing and keep being me, and it’s working for me so far.”Andrew is still a teenager, but his temperament and maturity have impressed a number of West Indies greats, including Viv Richards and his Falcons coaches Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Curtly Ambrose. When the young batter brought up his fifty on CPL debut, Ian Bishop exclaimed on commentary: “Jewel really is a precious commodity. He could end up being one of the more valuable young players in the history of the game in the region!”ESPNcricinfo LtdRichards’ opinion of him, Andrew said made him feel good about himself. “He’s a legend of the game. They’re all legends. Hearing them speak about me is special for someone like me coming up. But the information I’ve gathered from them so far is [mostly] what I know already. In terms of just being patient and picking the right deliveries, because I have all the shots. It’s for me to pick the right one and try to extend my game and learn as much as I can, because I’m here to learn.”In his first stint with the West Indies team, Andrew learnt to balance his emotions. He initially felt that he wasn’t ready for international cricket, but a chat with Hope helped him ease into the set-up.”I told Shai I felt I didn’t belong here because it seems a bit rushed, I was nervous being in Sri Lanka” Andrew says. “He was talking to me about emotions and time management. Shai is big on time management and I’m just keen to learn more from him.”Andrew first met Hope in 2023, when he was a flag bearer for the start of the home ODI series between West Indies and England. His ultimate goal is to emulate Hope and have a long, decorated West Indies career, just like his hero.”Just talking to Shai makes me feel good. I watched him growing up,” he says. “Just sharing the dressing room with him is a special feeling. I don’t want to be a player who is around for just one or two tours; I want to be playing for West Indies for a long time and hopefully average 50 like Shai.”

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