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The fast bowler, on a comeback trail from injury, will work with Glenn McGrath at the MRF Pace Foundation and could feature in the matches against MRF Academy

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Aug-2019

Australia fast bowler Jhye Richardson has been added to the National Performance Squad that will tour India later this month, continuing his comeback after dislocating his shoulder in March. The 22-year-old fast bowler will work with former Australia quick Glenn McGrath at the MRF Pace Foundation and could feature in the squad’s matches against the MRF Academy.Richardson injured his shoulder while fielding in an ODI against Pakistan in Sharjah. He was named in the preliminary World Cup squad, but was eventually ruled out in May. He featured in a club match in Darwin last month, where he took 1 for 67 in ten overs, and also joined the Australia A squad for their training camp in Brisbane in early June.Cricket Australia physiotherapist Kevin Sims said Richardson was “ready to bowl in matches” after completing that outing in Darwin.”He is bowling off his full run and has good shoulder function,” Sims said. “The plan is for him to play matches in both formats while on tour and we expect he will be able to bowl however many overs are required in the games he plays.”However, an Ashes return is unlikely for the young bowler, who made his Test debut in January against Sri Lanka, and has taken an impressive 39 wickets in 25 international matches.In an interview with ESPNcricinfo last month, Richardson was upbeat after having clocked 130 kph in the match in Darwin.”Obviously I was very, very rusty,” he said. “It was the first game in three or four months so I couldn’t expect miracles. In terms of shoulder wise, I coped fine. The pace was okay. Probably a little bit better than I expected. From all reports here, the day’s gone well. After today, it gives me a little bit more confidence that I’m ready to go.”Practice is always good, but just being able to play in a game over bowling in the nets with no batter, just gives myself a better idea of where I’m at, and where I’m at I’m pretty happy with.”Richardson has replaced Western Australia team-mate Aaron Hardie in the 14-member squad that will be coached by former Australia opener Chris Rogers and also includes batsmen Ben McDermott and Josh Philippe, as well as legspinners Lloyd Pope and Daniel Fallins. The team will play three one-dayers and three T20s against the MRF Academy, starting later this week.Squad: Tom Andrews, Oliver Davies, Dan Fallins, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Ryan Hadley, Jhye Richardson, Lachlan Hearne, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott, Jonathon Merlo, Todd Murphy, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope

Liverpool have reportedly identified a "top target" to bring to the club in the summer transfer window, with the player compared to current superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Liverpool transfer news

Jurgen Klopp's reign is slowly nearing its conclusion, which is still hard to fathom for many Reds supporters, and their next manager will no doubt eye up new signings, with Benfica's Roger Schmidt recently name-checked as an option for the job.

While Liverpool's next boss may not be confirmed yet, the Merseysiders continue to be linked with additions at the end of the season. RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is another individual who has been backed to move to Anfield, with the Slovenian likened to Erling Haaland in the past.

The Reds could do with defensive reinforcements in the summer and Barcelona centre-back Andreas Christensen is also a player who is believed to be on their radar, as he looks for a potential return to the Premier League.

Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz has also been linked with Liverpool, with the young German seemingly a player with a massive future, as he edges closer to inspiring his side to Bundesliga title glory this season.

Luis Guilherme a "top target" for Liverpool

According to a fresh update from Football Insider, Liverpool have made Palmeiras teenager Luis Guilherme a "top target" this summer after missing out on him in January, with the attacker labelled as the "next Kylian Mbappe".

"Liverpool have made the “next Kylian Mbappe” – Palmeiras teenage sensation Luis Guilherme – a top target ahead of the summer window, sources have told Football Insider. The Reds considered a formal January move for the 18-year-old but eventually decided against firming up their interest.

"A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Liverpool are now plotting a summer swoop for Guilherme. Sources say the Merseysiders consider him a “top target” ahead of the off-season."

Admittedly, not a huge amount may be known about Guilherme as a player, given his age and the fact he isn't playing in Europe currently, but being compared to someone as iconic as Mbappe is a good place to start.

While the Brazilian may still be just 18 years of age, only celebrating his milestone birthday earlier this month, he has already picked up 32 appearances for Palmeiras. No goal contributions have come his way in that time, which is a little disappointing, but it is clear that he is already a trusted squad player.

Guilherme is also a Brazil international at youth team level, winning five and four caps for his country's Under-20s and Under-17s respectively, scoring twice for the latter. He is capable of playing in attacking midfield or out wide.

Related Jamie Carragher says he’s “heard” about 56 y/o becoming Liverpool manager

His football is “similar to Klopp’s style”.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Feb 19, 2024

There is something about signing a young Brazilian starlet that always feels exciting, given the manner in which the likes of Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar have burst onto the scene in the past, and if Liverpool feel Guilherme can explode in the future, they could do all they can to snap him up this summer.

MatériaMais Notícias

Neto, apresentador e ex-jogador, foi submetido a uma cirurgia na coluna que durou cerca de cinco horas em um hospital de São Paulo. Recuperado do procedimento, o ídolo do Corinthians mostrou ao público o pós-operatório.
+ Confira os grupos da Copa Libertadores 2021

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Sem previsão para retorno, o programa “Donos da Bola” seguirá sendo apresentado por Fernando Fernandes.Velloso e Souza seguem na atração como comentaristas. Em 2020, Neto também precisou estar fora do programa após se contaminar com Covid-19, e quem assumiu o comando da equipe foi o jornalista.

كشف جويل تيهي المدير الرياضي لنادي إستاد أبيدجان الإيفواري، عن فرص تأهل فريقه من مجموعة الأهلي ببطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وأسفرت قرعة دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، عن وقوع الأهلي مع أندية إستاد أبيدجان وشباب بلوزداد الجزائري وأورلاندو بايرتس الجنوب إفريقي.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي مع إستاد ابيدجان الايفواري في القاهرة، أحد يومي 26-28 نوفمبر المقبل بالجولة الأولى من مرحلة المجموعات في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وقال تيهي خلال تصريحات على قناة “الأهلي” لبرنامج “حارس الأهلي”: “مجموعة صعبة، لكن بها قدر من التوازن، توج فريقنا باللقب سنة 1966، وعدنا لدوري الأبطال الآن، ونحن سنكون الحصان الأسود لهذه المجموعة”.

طالع | مواعيد مباريات الأهلي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2024-2025

وأضاف: “أرى أن هذه القرعة التي منحتنا مواجهة الأهلي في أول لقاء بالقاهرة، هي فرصة جيدة وتبعث لنا السعادة أن نواجه بطل إفريقيا”.

وتابع: “الفريق في الأعوام الماضية لم يكن على الخريطة لأسباب كثيرة، لكن الوضع تغير منذ 5 سنوات، تواجد رئيس جديد للنادي أعاد الفريق لمساره الصحيح ويعود لسابق عهده، وحققنا المركز الثاني في الدوري وتأهلنا لدوري الأبطال”.

وواصل: “الأهلي أحد أكبر الأندية الإفريقية، ومتمرس في دوري الأبطال، إذا كنا قد وصلنا لدور المجموعات فلدينا فرصة حتى لو كانت قليلة، وسنحاول اقتناص التذكرة الثانية للتأهل، الفرص صعبة ولكن كرة القدم لا تعتمد على المنطق، ونتمنى أن يبتسم لنا الحظ”.

وأكمل: “قمنا باستقدام أكثر من لاعب، ليس لدوري الأبطال فقط بل للدوري المحلي، لأننا نشارك في 4 بطولات هذا الموسم، استقدمنا 4 لاعبين من أصحاب الخبرات منهم ساليه الذي سبق له اللعب في تونس، ولاعبون شاركوا الموسم الماضي في دوري الأبطال مع فرق أخرى، إضافة للاعبين شباب، على العموم لدينا سعادة كبيرة بالتحدي”.

وأتم: “لا أعرف الكثير من لاعبي الأهلي حاليًا، لكن أيًا كان من هم اللاعبين بالتأكيد من الأمور البديهية في الأهلي أنهم لاعبون مميزون لأنهم يلعبون هناك”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo venceu o Vélez na abertura da Copa Libertadores. Mesmo saindo atrás do placar, buscou a virada com atuações de gala de Arrascaeta, Diego e Gabigol. Na internet, torcedores do Flamengo enalteceram o camisa 9 após mais um gol com a camisa rubro-negra. Esse foi seu 16° pênalti convertido em 17 cobrados.
+ Confira os grupos da Copa Libertadores 2021

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Gabriel Barbosa foi autor do segundo gol do Fla na partida. Ele bateu e converteu a penalidade que sofreu do goleiro argentino. Com a marca, alcançou 94% de precisão no quesito e chegou 12 gols em Libertadores pelo clube, atrás somente de Zico, com 16. Já são 75 tentos em 108 jogos pelo clube da Gávea.

Na web, Gabigol teve relevância entre os assuntos mais comentados do Twitter.

Pênalti para o Flamengo

Gabigol: pic.twitter.com/7MTrYd6nSB

— CENTRAL DA NAÇÃO ᕦ😎ᕤ (@centraldanacao) April 21, 2021

GABIGOL É O MELHOR BATEDOR DE PÊNALTI DESSE PLANETA

— Os Flanaticos (@OsFlanaticos_) April 21, 2021

Incrível como o Gabigol se tornou especialista em pênaltis. pic.twitter.com/kCT7UscGT8

— Futmais (@futtmais) April 21, 2021

Gabigol é o melhor batedor de pênalti do mundo, sem caô.

— Carter (@essediafoilouco) April 21, 2021

DEUS PERDOA, GABIGOL NÃO!!!! pic.twitter.com/Hx0HaB8sMQ

— RAÇA, AMOR E PAIXÃO! 🔴⚫ ᶜʳᶠ (@flaamor1981) April 21, 2021

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has decided to move on from Galatasaray loanee Nicolo Zaniolo at the end of the 2023/24 season. Villa negotiated a conditional obligation to buy when they signed Zaniolo last summer, but according to transfer insider Dean Jones, Emery is already looking at potential replacements.

"I think it will probably be the case that Zaniolo does leave Villa at the end of his loan spell. I think he is a good player and still has potential to grow into this season if he can get more opportunities, but will he get opportunities? That's the big question for him right now. What will his patience level be like?

"I don't know whether it would make much sense from a club or player perspective to turn this into a permanent transfer at the end of the season. We know that Aston Villa are continuing to browse the market for potential options for the summer, and I think that means they're not convinced on signing Zaniolo at this point in time."

One player who may fit the bill is Oscar Gloukh at RB Salzburg. Back in December, it emerged that Gloukh was a target for Villa and a number of other clubs across Europe after displaying "top potential".

And then, earlier this week, we learned that the Premier League top-four chasers held a "concrete" interest in a summer move, having conducted extensive scouting and monitored Gloukh closely. Emery believes he can be a great fit for his project at Villa Park.

Villa leading the way in Gloukh race

According to a fresh update from Football Insider, Villa are now one of the "leading candidates" to sign Gloukh, alongside title contenders Arsenal. There are other Premier League sides "in the background", but these two are out in front right now.

Related Aston Villa already have Watkins’ successor in “incredible” gem

If Watkins does leave Villa in the near future, they will be prepared.

Posts ByTom Lever Feb 23, 2024

There's a possibility that Villa end up going head-to-head with Mikel Arteta's side for the deal after the Gunners compiled a "huge" dossier on the 19-year-old with a view to swooping this summer.

Gloukh has shown he's a "special" talent

Attacking midfielder Gloukh joined Salzburg from Maccabi Tel Aviv just over a year ago and has made 45 appearances for the Austrian Bundesliga club so far, including 28 this season.

RB Salzburg's biggest Premier League sales

Rank

Player

Joined

Season

Fee (€)

1

Brenden Aaronson

Leeds United

2022/23

€32.8m

2

Patson Daka

Leicester City

2021/22

€30m

3

Enock Mwepu

Brighton and Hove Albion

2021/22

€23m

4

Sadio Mane

Southampton

2014/15

€23m

5

Rasmus Kristensen

Leeds United

2022/23

€13m

He's started 14 of the 20 league games for which he's been available in his first full season, and also scored his first Champions League goals in a 2-0 away win at Benfica and a 2-1 defeat against Inter. In the Austrian cup, meanwhile, he's provided a couple of assists on Salzburg's run to the semifinals.

Gloukh is one of the five youngest players to play for Israel in the 21st century and has already amassed 12 caps, scoring three times. He's earned the tag of "special" from under-23 scout Antonio Mango, and could follow in the footsteps of Sadio Mane by jumping straight from Salzburg to the Premier League.

Pat Cummins’ pearler may go down as the moment Australia truly believed they were set to win the Ashes

Daniel Brettig in Manchester07-Sep-2019

It may well go down as the moment Australia truly believed they were set to win the Ashes on English soil for the first time in 18 years. At the very least, Pat Cummins’ top-of-off-stump pearler to defeat England’s captain Joe Root first ball has set down a definitive blueprint for what the Australians will be attempting on day five at Old Trafford, according to no less an authority on batting than their talismanic run maker Steven Smith.There was a period on day four when England looked capable of elbowing their way back into the contest, as Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer delivered two of the most compelling spells of a series dominated by the bowlers on both sides. However Smith emerged as Australia’s’ bulwark yet again, cuffing 82 with help from Matthew Wade and Tim Paine to grant the visitors a handsome lead and the chance to bowl in murky light during the final half an hour.Cummins responded by drawing an error from Rory Burns in the first over, and followed up with a ball that could not have been bettered to flick Root’s off stump. He had copped a similar delivery from Ryan Harris at Durham in 2013, but this one will be remembered not only for the quality of the ball but the importance of the moment. Smith said that it made crystal clear what the Australians needed to do on the final day.”I think it will be difficult, particularly while the ball is hard. I found when I first went out to the middle, when you bowl a good length, there was enough up and down and sideways movement. My first 20 or 30 balls, I felt pretty vulnerable when they were bowling that good length,” Smith said. “Patty hit it beautifully tonight, I think that ball to Root is a blueprint of what we need to do tomorrow, first thing in the morning, and the quicks to keep hitting that top-of-the-stump length and let the pitch do its thing.”Mixed in with a good bouncer to play with their feet, and maybe get a bit of up and down as well. It’s the length we’ve been trying to hit on Root, particularly early in the innings. It’s worked a few times. He’s got out first ball a couple of times and early on a few time with a very similar ball. That’s the sort of length we tried to hit. Fortunately Patty did it first ball. I have no idea if it moved, kept low or what but I think it’s the length that’s the most important thing. That was a good length.”Bowlers on both sides have been able to dictate terms with seam more so than swing, and Smith believed this was deliberate: a scrambled seam delivery that can move either way off the pitch being far harder to adjust for than something that moves through the air, though as Mitchell Starc demonstrated to Johnny Bairstow, it can make for a devastating variation if conditions are right. At the same time, David Warner’s struggles have been unprecedented in his career, leaving him asking Smith, among others, for answers.”I think it’s off the pitch, that’s the key to try and hit that,” Smith said. “I don’t know what it does when they scramble it, but I guess it just hits the ball in a different spot then can move sideways, there is no doubt in my mind that the seaming ball is the hardest thing to play in the game. You don’t have time to react so you have to play the line and if it goes in, you are a chance of hitting the stumps and getting lbw, and if it goes away you are a chance of nicking it.”A couple of our guys have exploited that pretty well on this wicket and if they do that again and hit the top of the stumps, that same length as the Root ball, hopefully we can see a lot of bowled, lbws and caught behind the wickets. It’s been tough on the new ball for both sides. The ball’s probably done its most when it’s new. When it gets a little bit softer it doesn’t do quite as much, it gets a little bit easier. They’ve bowled pretty well with the new ball. They’re both particularly good bowlers to left-handed batters, both Broad and Archer. It’s not been easy for Davey and Marcus but they’re trying their hardest.”We’ve talked, a few different things here and there. Just trying to form a plan to get through Broad. He’s admitted himself that Broad’s had the wood on him throughout this series and he’s been talking to myself and Justin and Hicky, I think, about ways he can play. He’s tried a couple different ways and they haven’t quite worked. but Davey’s a quality player and he hasn’t had a great deal of luck this series either, hopefully he can turn it around and get a big one for us at The Oval.”As for his own incredibly prolific series with so much chaos around him, Smith said he had wanted to be involved when the games were at their most difficult, using his singular skills to turn numerous scenarios back around to Australia’s’ favour. “I think when it is tough you want your experienced players to step up,” he said. “I’ve played quite a lot of cricket now. I like to get into those situations and try and be the one to take the team through.”I was able to form a really good partnership with Matty Wade, who I thought played really well today as well. That partnership was really handy for us at that stage. England were really up and about with us four down but a good half an hour of batting and things got a bit easier for us and we were able to form a nice partnership, and hopefully one that will set us up for this game.”I’m not in the game for personal accolades, I’m here to do my job and score as many runs for the team as I can and fortunately this series I’ve been able to score quite a few and help the team as much as I can. Hopefully I can do that again next game.”

MatériaMais Notícias

No próximo sábado, às 16h, Bahia e Ceará se enfrentam pela primeira partida da final da Copa do Nordeste. Com transmissão do Fox Sports, a decisão do maior torneio regional do Brasil contará comnarração de João Guilherme e comentários de Osvaldo Pascoal, Elton Serra e Renata Ruel. Caso o Bahia vença, torna-se o maior vencedor da competição ao lado do rival Vitória com 4 títulos. Já o Ceará de Guto Ferreira, pode igualar o tricolor em títulos do torneio.
+ Bahia ou Ceará: quem leva o título da Copa do Nordeste para casa?

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João Guilherme conversou com o LANCE! e traçou suas expectativas para o confronto. O narrador não conseguiu apontar um favorito para conquista da competição. Segundo ele, o panorama das equipes se equiparam no cenário de relevância na Copa do Nordeste e revelou ainda que espera uma partida recheada de gols.

-Eu considero que não tem favorito na final da Copa do Nordeste. Ceará e Bahia são sem dúvida as duas maiores forças do Nordeste no momento, tanto é que repetem a final da última edição. O Bahia é o time que tem mais orçamento, o Ceará é o time que vem dominando a competição nos últimos anos, é o atual campeão, vem invicto desde 2019 na Copa do Nordeste. Os dois tem bons elencos, com boas opções para primeira divisão, então acho que é um jogo bastante equilibrado, e sinceramente não consigo ver um favorito nessa disputa entre Ceará x Bahia – disse João Guilherme

-O Bahia vem aplicando várias goleadas, tanto é que tem sido chamado por aí de Bahia de Munique, uma brincadeira muito legal da torcida. O Bahia tem uma força ofensiva muito grande, embora não tenha demonstrado isso no jogo de volta contra o Fortaleza. Mas eu não considero que o empate do Ceará tenha sido ruim, eu considero um bom resultado, pois jogou na Argentina e contra uma equipe local que sempre é muito forte na disputa de competições sul-americanas. Não é fácil jogar contra argentinos na Argentina, então o resultado do Ceará pode ser considerado bom. O Ceará está jogando a Sul-Americana e pra ele essa competição é uma novidade. Então, acho que não influencia para o jogo, os dois times estão muito focados e prometem fazer um duelo muito equilibrado. Acho que teremos muitos gols – concluiu.

Sobre quem pode ser decisivo no duelo, João Guilherme analisou o momento de Vina, destaque do Ceará na temporada passada, mas que não vive um bom momento no Vozão. Para o narrador, além do meia-atacante alvinegro, Gilberto, atacante do Bahia, é a principal peça que pode desequilibrar na decisão pelo lado tricolor.

-Eu acho que o Vina tem todo crédito pelo excelente ano de 2020 que ele fez, uma temporada espetacular, inclusive entrou na seleção da “Bola de Prata” da ESPN merecidamente e é o principal jogador da equipe. Temos que considerar que ainda estamos no início da temporada e ele vai ser fundamental nessa decisão, ele é um cara que pode decidir. Ele já tem dado passes para gols, feito gols, aos poucos vai retomando o ritmo – analisou.

-Um cara que eu acho que pode fazer muita diferença é o Gilberto. O Gilberto é o artilheiro da Copa do Nordeste e se a bola chegar nele, ele pode decidir. Nós temos jogadores muito interessantes dos dois lados, o Rodriguinho e o Rossi pelo lado do Bahia, são caras experientes que podem ajudar. O Felipe Vizeu é um jogador que está em grande fase no Ceará, o Speed Mendonza é um jogador que se encaixou muito bem no Ceará, então temos várias peças que podem desequilibrar na final – ponderou o narrador.

João Guilherme ainda comentou sobre o crescimento da Copa no cenário nacional e relembrou os momentos marcantes da última finalíssima da competição, envolvendo os mesmos personagens da temporada atual. Para ele, a competitividade do torneio vem mostrando ao Brasil a capacidade dos times nordestinos exibirem um bom papel no cenário nacional e internacional, além de serem atrativos para jogadores que buscam projetos estáveis.

-O destaque é exatamente a grande decisão da última edição da Copa do Nordeste, os encontros entre Ceará e Bahia, porque foi a primeira decisão que eu narrei do torneio e o Ceará conquistou de maneira invicta. E aliás, pode ser campeão de novo invicto, o que é um feito, pode alcançar esse tri campeonato. E o Bahia pode chegar e igualar o Vitória, que é seu maior rival com 4 títulos. Mas eu destaco a final da última decisão da Copa do Nordeste entre Ceará e Bahia, foi o jogo mais marcante que eu fiz da competição – afirmou.

-Em relação ao crescimento da Copa do Nordeste no cenário nacional, isso é notório e já vem acontecendo há muitas temporadas. Agora isso vem sendo reforçado pelo crescimento das equipes nordestinas nas competições nacionais e até mesmo internacionais. Já tivemos Fortaleza participando da Copa Sul-Americana, agora o Ceará também, o Bahia vira e mexe está participando da Sul-Americana, também já participou da Libertadores da América, e esses times estão cada vez mais estruturados, organizados e estão chamando atenção de quem é do eixo Rio-São Paulo, do Sul do Brasil. Você vê que muitos jogadores hoje em dia optam por atuar em equipes do Nordeste em detrimento a times do Rio de Janeiro e até mesmo de São Paulo. São equipes muito organizadas e a Copa do Nordeste, com o sucesso que fez, acabou influenciando nessa organização do futebol local. A Copa do Nordeste é um orgulho para o futebol nordestino e isso está sendo enxergado e valorizado pelo restante do Brasil. Nas transmissões que fazemos no Fox Sports, a gente recebe muitas mensagens não só de torcedores da região do Nordeste, mas muita gente do Sul, do Sudeste, do Centro Oeste, do Norte, dá pra perceber que o país inteiro fica ligado para acompanhar esse evento que é um sucesso. Hoje em dia é um dos eventos que mais faz sucesso no calendário do nosso futebol.

*Estagiário, sob supervisão de Ricardo Guimarães.

The Australia coach insisted Steven Smith was right to resume his innings although said he may have to reconsider his use of stem guards after the sickening blow from Jofra Archer

Daniel Brettig at Lord's17-Aug-2019Australia’s coach Justin Langer has revealed how Steven Smith came to be batting again in the Lord’s Test, less than an hour after he had retired hurt with a sickening blow to the back of the neck from a scorching bouncer delivered by Jofra Archer, protesting that he needed to be given the chance to make a century at the home of cricket.On 80 when he was hit by Archer and left prostrate on the ground, Smith took time to regather himself and was initially withdrawn by the team doctor Richard Saw for precautionary concussion testing. There was widespread surprise when Smith re-emerged at the fall of Peter Siddle’s wicket, and what followed was a skittish innings ended when he shouldered arms to a straight ball from Chris Woakes. But Langer insisted that Smith had passed all the tests required and also headed off multiple reassurances from the coach and others that he was okay to bat.ALSO READ: Steven Smith blow brings cricket to a standstill”Because he was hit in the neck and not in the helmet or in the head maybe that had a bit of an impact, it was like getting a soft tissue injury,” Langer said. “He got hit on the arm as well and then hit on the neck. But as soon as he got up in the medical room, it was like ‘nah I’m going okay’, then he had the concussion testing and the doctor came through and said ‘he’s passed all that and he’s pretty good’. By the time he walked back in the dressing room he just couldn’t wait to get back out there again.”I was saying ‘mate are you sure you’re okay’, these are like my sons right, so you’re never going to put them in harm’s way, even though you’re always in harm’s way with Test cricket. But he’s going ‘mate, I’ve got to get out there, I can’t get on the honour board unless I’m out batting’. That’s what he says, that’s what he thinks. He was determined. All he was worried about was that he wasn’t going to be able to play his forward defence because it was hurting with his top hand grip.”We can look into it, but honestly he wouldn’t have gone out there unless we thought [he was okay]. We asked him over and over. I asked him privately, I asked him behind closed doors two or three times, I asked him in front of the group, he just goes ‘all good, all good coach, I’m ready to go, I’m ready to go’. What else do you do? The medicos cleared him, he wanted to get out there, we were looking after him, and he said ‘honestly I’m ready to go, my arm’s a bit sore’. That’s why he went out there.”Steven Smith is struck by a Jofra Archer bouncer•Getty Images

The Australian team was visibly shaken by the episode, with its parallels to the death of Phillip Hughes when hit in a similar part of the neck at the SCG in November 2014. “You never like seeing your players get hit like that, no doubt about that,” Langer said. “It was obviously some pretty rough memories of a blow like that, so there’s no fun in it.”With that in mind, Langer reckoned that Smith would have to rethink his reluctance to wear a stem guard on the back of his helmet, of the kind widely introduced in the wake of Hughes’ death. The blow he suffered from Archer at Lord’s may well have been softened or at least partly deflected by the extra protection, which is optional rather than mandatory under the game’s regulations.”Very good question,” Langer said when asked whether he thought the guards should be mandatory. “I didn’t realise, it might be my error but I didn’t realise they weren’t mandatory until today. I think Steve wrote in his book he just doesn’t like or feel comfortable [with a stem guard]. He’s got all these idiosyncrasies everyone’s talking about – he doesn’t like having shoelaces he can see, doesn’t like his shoes being dirty, so it’s the same, it just doesn’t feel right.”I’m sure after today it’ll get talked about again, I know they came in after the tragedy of Hughesy. So I’m sure it’ll get talked about, and he might rethink it now after seeing what happened today, but you’d have to ask him that. At the moment the players have a choice, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they become mandatory in the future.”As for how the blow and Archer’s brutish spell might influence Smith and the remainder of the series, Langer admitted that it had to have some effect on the former captain’s mentality, but was equally adamant that Smith would find a way to deliver his own riposte later in the series. Smith was cleared of any fracture for the earlier blow to the arm, and will undergo subsequent concussion testing before play on the final day.”I can only go from experience. When you get hit, it’s always in the back of your mind, no doubt. Any batsman who tells you it’s not is a liar,” Langer said. “But he is also the sort of person who will do everything from now until the next time he bats, whether mentally or visualising or practising, to be right. He loves batting, we saw that masterclass the other day – no one is going to stop him batting, so he’ll practice it, work it out, and hopefully he’ll get back into it.”

Whilst they await the verdict of an appeal over their Financial Fair Play charge and subsequent 10-point deduction, Everton have reportedly turned their attention towards a potential replacement for Jarrad Branthwaite, should the defender depart in a bid to raise cash this summer.

Everton transfer news

If Everton are hit with a second-point deduction to go hand-in-hand with their second FFP charge this season, then they may find themselves all but relegated to the Championship. And that could have dire consequences for Sean Dyche and his side, who would see several players decide to jump a sinking ship.

Among those who could leave is Branthwaite, who has enjoyed an impressive season so far at Goodison Park, emerging as a standout player. Those performances could come at a cost for Everton though, with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and even Real Madrid now reportedly interested in securing the £75m-rated defender in the coming months.

Related David Ornstein shares Everton appeal update he's heard contrary to reports

More frustration for the Toffees.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Feb 23, 2024

The Toffees already face an uphill climb when it comes to keeping hold of Branthwaite, but relegation from the Premier League could leave them with no chance of avoiding his exit. With that said, those at Goodison Park are seemingly already preparing for the defender's exit, with a replacement lined up.

According to Football Transfers, Everton are eyeing a move to sign Daniel Ballard from Sunderland if they need to replace Branthwaite this summer. The Black Cats defender graduated from Arsenal's academy before finding his feet at The Stadium of Light. Now 24-years-old, the former Gunner could be on the move once more, with Sunderland setting a reported price tag of €23m (£20m), which would allow the Blues to have plenty leftover if it was a simple one in one out.

Whilst they may not need it, Ballard has plenty of Championship experience under his belt, which could prove to be a vital effort should Everton fail to avoid the drop this season. As things stand, Dyche's side sit outside the relegation zone on goal difference, level on points with Luton Town.

"Warrior" Ballard can replicate Branthwaite success

The thought of an Everton side without Branthwaite at the heart of it seems a worrying one for Everton these days, to sum up the defender's impressive rise in the last year or so. But, if the 21-year-old does depart, then Ballard's stats prove that he'd be more than capable of stepping into Branthwaite's role with similar success.

Stats in domestic league 23/24

Daniel Ballard

Jarrad Branthwaite

Progressive Carries

20

0

Progressive Passes

85

38

Tackles Won

28

25

Interceptions

26

39

Blocks

41

27

Former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray was well aware of Ballard's quality too, praising the defender at the start of the season: "I say we're lucky to have him, but it was brilliant recruitment to bring Dan Ballard to this football club. He's a diamond of a lad.

"I'm not sure where his ceiling is but he's a wonderful footballer and an old-school centre-half who puts his body on the line. And if he plays against a really strong player, he just gets stronger himself. He reacts to what's in front of him. He needed to be good last night against a good team. He's a warrior, amazing really."