Bob Cowper, who played 27 Tests for Australia in the 1960s, has died at the age of 84.Left-hand batter Cowper played most of his first-class cricket for Victoria, turning out in 147 games overall between 1959-60 and 1969-70, scoring 10,595 runs at an average of 53.78 with 26 centuries. In his 27 Tests, Cowper scored 2061 runs at an average of 2061 with five centuries, one of them a much celebrated 307 against England at the MCG in 1966. Also a part-time offspinner, Cowper finished with 183 first-class wickets, 36 of them in Tests.”Cowper was an enormously talented left-hand batter renowned for his elegant stroke play, his patience at the crease and his ability to amass big totals,” Cricket Australia (CA) said in a statement mourning Cowper’s death.He left the game at just 28 to pursue a career in stockbroking and merchant banking, “too intelligent and ambitious to linger long in a game offering such modest financial rewards,” Gideon Haigh noted in ESPNcricinfo. “Bob Cowper renounced Test cricket at 28, though not before he had built an impressive portfolio of achievement as a left-hand batsman and finger-spinner. His 12-hour 307 against England at Melbourne in February 1966 was the highest Test innings and the only triple-century on Australian soil until Matthew Hayden’s 380 in 2003-04.”His fertile cricket imagination and sense of injustice at the lot of the average Australian cricketer left a strong impression on Ian Chappell, in time a militant campaigner for the rights of his comrades.”Cowper later served as an ICC match referee.”We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Bob Cowper who was a hugely respected figure in Australian cricket,” Mike Baird, CA chair, said in a statement. “Bob was a wonderful batter who will always be remembered for his famous triple century at the MCG, as well as his strong influence in the Australian and Victorian teams of the 1960s.”He was also a significant contributor to cricket in other roles including as an ICC match referee and his wisdom was always keenly sought.”On behalf of Cricket Australia, our deepest condolences to Bob’s family, friends and former teammates at this very sad time.”

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca will serve a one-match touchline ban after he admitted a Football Association (FA) charge of misconduct following his dismissal in the 2-1 Premier League victory over Liverpool. The Blues manager has also been fined £8,000 by the FA after his wild celebration following Estevao’s last-gasp winner at Stamford Bridge before the international break.

Maresca celebrated with his players after Stamford Bridge erupted

Facing the possibility of going four Premier League games without a victory, teenager Estevao popped up with a crucial winner in Chelsea’s last-minute triumph over Liverpool on Saturday, 4 October. The Brazil international scored his first league goal for the club as he prodded home at the back post in the fifth minute of added time, and the strike sparked incredible scenes of jubilation in west London with Maresca getting caught up in the moment as he sprinted down the touchline to embrace his players near the corner flag.

AdvertisementAFPItalian's celebration was reminiscent of Mourinho's famous touchline sprint

The scene was reminiscent of Jose Mourinho’s famous celebration against Manchester United back in 2004, when the Portuguese – then manager of Porto – went tearing down the Old Trafford touchline following midfielder Costinha’s late strike in the last 16 of the Champions League. The match ended 1-1 and saw Porto edge past Sir Alex Ferguson’s side 3-2 on aggregate, ultimately going on to lift Europe’s premier club competition that year. Mourinho then became Chelsea boss for the first time in the summer of 2004, winning the Premier League and the League Cup in his first season in charge in 2004-05. After departing in 2007, he managed the club again between 2013 and 2015, winning another Premier League and League Cup double.

Confirmed: Maresca learns his punishment from the Football Association

But after mimicking Mourinho by sprinting down the touchline to celebrate with his players in front of the Chelsea faithful, Maresca was subsequently sent off by referee Anthony Taylor for his second bookable offence of the evening, having been cautioned for dissent earlier in the game.

The FA have now confirmed the Italian's punishment in a statement, which reads: “Enzo Maresca has been given a one-match touchline ban and £8,000 fine for misconduct during the Premier League game between Chelsea and Liverpool on Saturday, 4 October. It was alleged that the manager acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour during the fixture, which led to his dismissal around the 96th minute. Enzo Maresca subsequently admitted the charge and accepted the standard penalty.”

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Maresca refused to be self-critical in aftermath of Liverpool win

In the aftermath of the victory over Liverpool, Maresca refused to be self-critical for letting his emotions get the better of him, insisting his celebration was an “instinctive” reaction to Chelsea securing a rare, late victory under his stewardship.

In quotes carried by Maresca told Trento Sports Festival: “It was a huge emotion (against Liverpool). It's my second season at Chelsea and it was the first time we won at home in the last minute. The sending-off? (I’ve said) many times, football is passion, instinct. I probably didn't have time to think. It was an instinctive reaction, but I think it was worth it.”

Arsenal supporters were all hoping their clubs would invest heavily in the squad this summer, but even the most optimistic Gooner must surely have been pleased, and surprised, by the extent of the summer recruitment.

On deadline day, Piero Hincapié was unveiled as the eighth summer signing, joining on loan from Bayer Leverkusen with an obligation to buy of around £45m, becoming the first Ecuadorian in the club’s history.

Before this, the Gunners had spent around £267m, bolstering all areas of their squad, after Mikel Arteta’s team were so significantly hampered by injuries last season.

While certain signings have garnered all the headlines, could one of Arsenal’s under-the-radar arrivals actually prove to be the best signing any Premier League club made this summer?

Arsenal's attacking reinforcements

We’ll ultimately never know, but it’s safe to assume that Arsenal would not have invested in their squad quite as heavily as they did, had current Premier League champions Liverpool, the side they’re ultimately attempting to dethrone, spent even more.

The Reds’ signed Alexander Isak for £125m on deadline day, shattering the Premier League record transfer fee, taking their summer outlay to around £450m, with Florian Wirtz’s £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen a short-lived British record.

The German is yet to sparkle in a Liverpool shirt, albeit it’s very early days, and he did score a scrumptious free-kick against Northern Ireland at RheinEnergieStadion last Sunday, showcasing his talent.

Isak meantime is, arguably, the best striker in the world, not a bad player to add to your squad if you’re Arne Slot, but it’ll be interesting to see how he fits in, considering fellow new recruit Hugo Ekitiké has already caught the eye, and how long he takes to get up to speed.

Nevertheless, the champions now possess an array of attacking talent, with Arsenal recruiting Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres in response.

Eze is set to make his eagerly-anticipated home debut against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, while Gyökeres has earned mixed reviews so far, barely involved against Manchester United and Liverpool, but scoring a brace during the Gunners’ only home game to date, the 5-0 demolition of Leeds.

However, could a less heralded new recruit actually prove to be Arsenal’s best?

Arsenal's best summer signing

With Jorginho and Thomas Partey both departing Arsenal as free agents this summer, the base of their midfield has undergone a major revamp, and an important one at that, given that the player in this position is very much the nucleus of an Arteta team.

Martín Zubimendi is the new midfield fulcrum, arriving to little fanfare, even though he deserves much more.

There are a few reasons for this.

First, David Ornstein of the Athletic reported as far back as mid-January that his move from Real Sociedad was essentially a done deal, meaning by the time he arrived in July, most anticipation and excitement had subsided.

Also, at the time, Gyökeres was still yet to join, with Gooners fixated on the striker signing, unable to be pleased about anything else until that was done.

Nevertheless, Zubimendi is someone worth heralding, not least because the Spanish international turned down the chance to join Liverpool 12 months earlier, emphasising the attractiveness of moving to Arsenal.

The reason Zubimendi was so sort after is simply because he is an exceptional player, as the table below documents.

Zubimendi 24/25 La Liga stats
Statistics	Zubimendi	La Liga rank
Attempted passes	1,772	21st
Passes into final 3rd	172	12th
Progressive passes	195	10th
Touches	2,131	18th
Touches mid 3rd	1,332	8th
Interceptions	44	12th
Blocks	42	16th
Ball recoveries	140	24th
Statistics courtesy of FBref

Worth noting that Zubimendi’s statistics last season are all the more impressive given that his Real Sociedad side ended up 11th in La Liga, their lowest finish since 2018, losing almost half of their matches.

Upon his arrival in North London, Arteta spoke glowingly about his compatriot, praising his “football intelligence”, adding that he will bring “a huge amount of quality”, concluding that “he has all the attributes to be a key player”.

Already in Arsenal’s opening three matches, Zubimendi has been able to show what he is all about, completing 145 of his 167 passes, 11 of which have been into the final third, while 12 are categorised as progressive.

The 26-year-old may not be someone you’ve really noticed during Arsenal matches so far, more a player you need to witness in the flesh to truly appreciate, but he crucially has the capabilities to increase the Gunners’ speed of in-possession play, improving the team at both ends of the pitch.

If Arteta’s team do go on to achieve what they want to achieve this year, the £60m paid for Zubimendi’s signature will feel like a steal. Those on Anfield may well live to rue missing out on him a year ago…

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Manchester United find themselves in a transitional period under Ruben Amorim and could now turn their attention to an experienced international who could be available for free next summer.

Man Utd begin to look at Ruben Amorim alternatives

There is no secret that the last few days have been difficult for the Red Devils, who ended the Premier League weekend in 14th place after a frustrating defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Despite having their fair share of opportunities during the affair, including a missed Bruno Fernandes penalty, Manchester United failed to deliver, and Amorim is a man under growing pressure at Old Trafford.

Making contingency plans should their poor form continue, Gareth Southgate has been contacted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe over potentially succeeding the Portuguese boss, with Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola also on the Red Devils’ shortlist.

In a separate development, Graham Potter is also a candidate to take over at Manchester United after a dismal spell at West Ham United, albeit he has previously proven his Premier League credentials at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Sunderland visit Old Trafford this weekend, and put simply, Amorim is in desperate need of a victory. Anything less than three points would bring the Red Devils closer to the relegation zone, an unthinkable position following their summer spend of over £225 million.

Ultimately, the proof will be the pudding for the former Sporting boss over the next few weeks. There is an argument to say that consistent managers struggling to sustain success depict a wider problem, but his refusal to change tactically is a source of frustration for some.

Either way, Manchester United will continue to fight on all fronts, and they could now be about to step up the ante in their hunt for a midfielder come January.

Man Utd could sign Ruben Neves for free in 2026

According to Graeme Bailey in conversation with United in Focus, Manchester United could sign Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves for free in 2026 as they seek to bring in an experienced operator in the engine room. The Red Devils have been linked with Neves for nearly a decade, with controversial former chief executive Ed Woodward’s pursuit of the Portugal star dating all the way back to 2017.

The reporter stated: “Ruben Neves is a fascinating figure and a player Man United have long admired, even before he joined Wolves during his Porto days. Now 28, many feel he could be coming into his prime years, and he could be available for free in 2026. I am told from Al-Hilal sources that they are fighting hard to extend him beyond next year.”

Ruben Neves at Al-Hilal

Appearances

96

Goals

10

Assists

24

Formerly captain of Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Portugal international is an established name in the Premier League and could well offer some expertise and an ability to dictate, as reflected in the fact that he has played 13 accurate long balls and created four chances this term on league duty, per Fotmob.

Neves is now into the prime years of his career at 28 years of age, and Manchester United may well be the perfect environment for him to make a return to English soil, especially since they have wanted him from his Porto days in 2017.

Arne Slot, lauded as a tactical genius. And rightly so. The Liverpool coach’s smart-witted approach saw him lift the Premier League title in his first year last season, head and shoulders above his rivals.

But there’s no denying Liverpool look tactically imbalanced this year, and there are wrinkles to be ironed out. The Dutchman sprung a tactical surprise against Crystal Palace, but it didn’t work out and the Reds were ragdolled throughout a bleak first half at Selhurst Park.

They rallied, and Federico Chiesa’s late goal off the bench looked to have sealed a point. Maybe all three. Liverpool pushed and pushed and they huffed and puffed, but their late-hour charm ran out as Eddie Nketiah struck at the eleventh hour to hand the champions their first league loss of the term.

There’s a lot to unpick, but let’s dilute it down to just a few talking points here. Right-back has been a hot topic on Merseyside this summer, and Conor Bradley flattered to deceive on his return to the starting line-up.

Bradley's performance vs Palace

Bradley filled big boots this summer, with Trent Alexander-Arnold up and leaving for Real Madrid. The Northern Irish right-back has dazzled in the Premier League before, but suffered with injuries for much of Slot’s debut term.

Aged 22, Bradley has started Liverpool’s past two Premier League matches, and while he did a decent job against the in-form Jack Grealish in the Merseyside derby, he endured a game to forget against Oliver Glasner’s Eagles, hooked at half-time.

Lacking any semblance of clarity or creativity on the ball, Bradley failed with three of four attempted dribbles and lost possession 12 times, also losing four of his seven contested ground duels, as recorded by Sofascore.

However, with Ibrahima Konate producing another sloppy performance, laden with errors, Bradley was always going to be up against it.

And, moreover, Mohamed Salah was anonymous once again.

Slot should have axed Salah

Salah, 33, has been Liverpool’s all-inspiring superstar for so many years, and he ran roughshod over Premier League defences all through the 2024/25 campaign en route to the title.

He has posted three goals and three assists across the opening weeks of the season, but has also lacked much of his usual swagger and gusto, and that has not been more apparent than against Palace on Saturday afternoon.

The right winger missed a big chance and created two chances, but his moments of real joy were few and far between, losing all five of his ground duels, and this is not an outlier, with the metrics across the term, when collated against last year’s data, highlighting his regression.

Matches (starts)

38 (38)

6 (6)

Goals

29

2

Assists

18

2

Touches*

49.1

43.2

Shots (on target)*

3.4 (1.6)

1.7 (0.8)

Accurate passes*

22.4 (74%)

21.0 (75%)

Key passes*

2.4

1.3

Dribbles*

1.5

0.2

Ball recoveries*

2.7

3.3

Tackles*

0.6

0.0

Duels won*

3.3

1.7

We are still early in the season, but the underlying data is telling. Salah has fallen off a proverbial cliff in regard to his application and effectiveness.

Now playing a role with a greater emphasis on hugging the touchline and maintaining space for the reformed number nine squad, the veteran is toiling.

And Chiesa’s resurgence in red continues. The Italy international has now posted two goals and two assists apiece across all competitions since the summer, and he looks a different beast indeed, with observers anticipating a return to one-time elite form.

Analyst Josh Williams remarked that the 27-year-old “should’ve started today”, and that’s an accurate assessment. Liverpool risk become stagnant and predictable, reliant on late goals, and Chiesa’s form denotes his applicability for a starting berth in the Premier League going forward.

The Liverpool Echo branded him with a 4/10 match rating and wrote that Salah ‘struggled with the basics’ and provided non-existent defensive cover for Bradley, who had a poor game but was sandwiched between two of Liverpool’s biggest problems: Salah and Konate.

Salah is a Liverpool great, and he will continue to play a talismanic role for the club across the season. However, there’s no denying he has looked off the pace for much of the campaign so far.

He has played every minute in the Premier League since the opening whistle against Bournemouth in August, and his performances haven’t warranted that mark.

Chiesa convsersely, has looked very bright indeed, and yet the £150k-per-week ace continues to serve a peripheral role.

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Here’s how things stand on the IPL 2025 Orange and Purple Cap table after RCB vs SRH in Lucknow on Friday

ESPNcricinfo staff24-May-20251:01

Did RCB get their bowling tactics right?

Orange Cap tableVirat Kohli was only slightly behind the table-toppers ahead of RCB’s previous game, against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at home in Bengaluru. That was washed out, and the six days between that game and the latest one meant a number of batters went past Kohli on the chart.When he got a chance finally on Friday, Kohli looked in ominous form, outscoring Phil Salt in their opening stand of 80 before falling for 43 in 25 balls at the end of the seventh over. The runs were not enough to put him back in the top three – or even the top five – but left him just outside that club, at No. 6, with 548 runs from 12 innings. Looking at his form this season, though, he will be back there, also because the two men immediately above him, Yashasvi Jaiswal of Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Mitchell Marsh of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are not going to feature in the playoffs, with their teams knocked out.The Gujarat Titans (GT) openers B Sai Sudharsan (638 runs) and Shubman Gill (636 runs) are still one and two on the table, with Suryakumar Yadav of Mumbai Indians (MI) in third place with 583 runs.Purple Cap tableJosh Hazlewood’s continued absence has meant that RCB’s best wicket-taker hasn’t had a chance to add to his 18 wickets, but he remains at No. 4, behind GT’s Prasidh Krishna and Noor Ahmad of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the 21-wicket men, and MI’s Trent Boult, who has 18.When Punjab Kings (PBKS) go up against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday night, one of the bowlers to keep an eye on would be Arshdeep Singh. He will be in action, and don’t rule out a big-enough haul to add to his tally of 16 and lift him from No. 8.Here’s what ESPNcricinfo’s MVP table looks like.And here are some other IPL 2025 tables that show the season’s best performers in different aspects of the T20 game. Highest batting strike rates Best bowling economy rates Most sixes Best bowling figures in a match

Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards has lauded an “incredible” Manchester City star for his performance in the 3-0 victory against Manchester United on Sunday.

Man City dominate Man Utd at the Etihad

Man City silenced the doubters with a 3-0 thrashing of rivals Man United on Sunday, with Erling Haaland undoubtedly the star of the show, scoring a brace, although he could’ve easily had a hat-trick, hitting the post after missing a golden opportunity from close range.

Not only was Haaland at his best, but a number of other City players caught the eye, including January signing Abdukodir Khusanov, who completed six clearances, four interceptions and two tackles to keep Ruben Amorim’s side at bay.

Khusanov looks like he is now settling in at the Etihad Stadium, having arguably struggled to make an instant impact, with the Uzbekistan international making just six Premier League appearances in the 2024-25 season after arriving from Ligue 1 side Lens last winter.

However, a different City player has made a flying start to life at the club, according to Richards, who waxed lyrical about summer signing Gianluigi Donnarumma on The Rest Is Football podcast after the Manchester derby.

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The former Man City man said: “He’s a man mountain! I feel so sorry for Trafford, I feel sorry for Trafford but that save. £26m, £26m! He’s just won the Champions League, he’s what, 25, 26 years of his age?

“Yes people will talk about playing out from the back, he’s not an Ederson playing out, but in terms of shot-stopping, his record is incredible. What a signing that was, and he had a fantastic game today in the derby.”

Donnarumma may keep Trafford out of the starting XI

It is natural to feel sorry for James Trafford, who has seemingly now fallen behind Donnarumma in the pecking order, despite starting the opening three games of the Premier League campaign.

However, it is clear to see why Pep Guardiola brought the Italian straight into the starting XI, given that he is vastly experienced at the top level, having made 40 Champions League appearances, while also receiving high praise from Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique.

The 26-year-old also got off to a solid start on his City debut, keeping a clean sheet in the derby victory, and making one save from inside the box, alongside three clearances throughout the match.

As such, Trafford will have his work cut out trying to force his way back into Guardiola’s side, and there have now been reports suggesting the Englishman is open to a loan move in the January transfer window.

Celtic have endured a fairly disappointing start to the 2025/26 campaign across all competitions so far, in the Scottish Premiership and in Europe.

The Hoops sit second in the league table, behind Hearts, with five wins and two draws, whilst they are still looking for their first win on the European stage.

Brendan Rodgers has overseen one point from two Europa League matches after his team were beaten by Kairat in their Champions League play-off clash.

There have been several players in the squad who have not performed to the best of their ability this season, including central midfielder Reo Hatate.

Why Reo Hatate's form is a concern

The Japan international has gone eight matches without a goal or an assist to show for his contributions on the pitch, which is concerning for a player who typically provides creativity and quality on the ball in midfield.

Hatate delivered ten goals and created 14 ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 37 appearances in the Premiership last season, per Sofascore, but he has failed to provide the same kind of quality at the top end of the pitch in the current campaign.

Appearances

37

5

Goals

10

1

Minutes per goal

241

373

Key passes per game

1.2

0.6

Big chances created

14

0

Assists

4

0

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese star’s output as both a scorer and as a creator of goals has decreased for the Hoops in the Premiership.

This is concerning because it shows that Hatate is not as influential or effective as he once was for the Scottish giants, but it has also provided other players with a chance to step up and shine.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

One star who has stepped up and is now looking like a Reo Hatate-type player is summer signing Benjamin Nygren in the middle of the park for Celtic.

Why Benjamin Nygren looks like Celtic's new Reo Hatate

The left-footed star was signed from Nordsjaelland for £1.3m in the summer and may have been expected by some to play on the right wing, as that was where he played the majority of his football last season and Nicolas Kuhn left to sign for Como.

Despite that, Rodgers has played Nygren as part of his midfield three more often than not, essentially taking Arne Engels’ spot in the starting line-up from the 2024/25 campaign.

The Sweden international, who was described as “fearless” by Alexander Isak, has started five of the club’s seven matches in the Premiership, which shows that the manager already trusts him to start consistently.

Nygren has also shown that he can be a difference-maker at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position with four goals in five league starts, whilst no other Celtic player has scored more than two league goals for the club.

As well as being an impressive goalscorer, the summer signing ranks second in the squad for ‘big chances’ created (two) and first for key passes per game (2.6) in the Premiership.

These statistics show that Nygren has hit the ground running at Parkhead as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a central midfield position, taking on the role that Hatate played last season with his ten goals and 14 ‘big chances’ created.

The Japan international has not been at his best in the current campaign, as evidenced by his aforementioned form, but the Swedish star has stepped up to carry the team on his back at times.

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There is still plenty of football left to be played this season, but the left-footed star’s form for Celtic suggests that he can be the new midfield star in the final third moving forward.

South Africa see a potential vulnerability in Australia’s top order with Marnus Labuschagne asked to open for the first time in Test cricket, as part of a reshuffle that sees Cameron Green return in a new position at No. 3. But captain Pat Cummins has backed big-match temperament to shine through.Australia’s key selection debates fell the way they were expected to for the World Test Championship final, with Labuschagne retained ahead of Sam Konstas and moved up to accommodate Green, while Josh Hazlewood returned to the pace line-up after injury.It was the identity of Usman Khawaja’s opening partner that had generated most interest ahead of the match with the selectors ultimately backing Labuschagne’s experience and overall record against a strong South Africa attack despite averaging 28.33 in this WTC cycle. Konstas, who sparkled on debut against India with an audacious 60 off 65 balls, has two centuries in a 17-match first-class career so far.Related

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“Cam Green, the last few weeks he’s had, coming back in great form, we thought he deserved a spot in the batting line-up,” Cummins said ahead of the match. “We thought three probably suits him best. And then, with Marnus, we thought it’s one spot up really. It’s not too different to batting three. He’s done well here in England in the past.”I think our selectors are probably showing that they’re happy to give someone an extra little run rather than pull the pin too early. He’s played some crucial knocks in getting us here. Look back at the MCG [against India], his batting was right up there as a difference in that match. I think it’s part rewarding those guys that have got us here.”The reshaped top order will be tasked with laying the foundations against Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi, with the latter having won a tight selection race ahead of Dane Paterson.”I think there is an opportunity there,” South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said when asked about Australia’s opening situation. “I think the conditions as well, I believe, bring us into the game a lot. With the swinging ball, [it’s] very different to Australian conditions. Different to South African conditions as well. So that definitely gives us an opportunity.2:47

Five key questions ahead of the WTC final

“I think both teams have formidable bowling attacks. I think the real opportunity is within the two batting line-ups and how they are able to kind of front up and give their bowlers a score to bowl at.”Labuschagne becomes Khawaja’s fifth opening partner in the last 12 Tests. Head coach Andrew McDonald has previously said he would like a settled combination by the Ashes later this year and, while Cummins reiterated the latest decision was made with the singular focus on this Test, it looms as a vital moment in Labuschagne’s career. He has been urged to be “busy” at the crease with his strike rate having come under scrutiny in recent series.”I think the extra layer to that is, I do believe the wickets in Australia have been as hard as they’ve ever been, probably, in Test cricket for the top order,” Cummins said. “But I think it’s similar conversations to Davey Warner over here. I think it’s more about the style and how they go about it.”We love when they’re busy and they’re putting pressure back on the bowlers and that’s our message here to Marnus. Opening the batting can be tough, but it can also be sometimes the best time to bat here before the Dukes ball actually starts swinging. There’s runs to be scored there, so just keeping that positive intent I think is when he’s batting his best.”1:05

Finch: The way Labuschagne has been playing is ‘concerning’

As alluded to by Bavuma, it will be a tough assignment for South Africa’s top order as well, which includes a makeshift No. 3 in allrounder Wiaan Mulder, who has only done the job twice previously, although Cummins was aware that some of those his team had not faced before had the potential to be dangerous.”There’s a few more unknowns going into the Test match which is exciting,” Cummins said. “I think we’re going to have to problem-solve on our feet a bit more. Their bowlers we have seen a little bit of, and there’s a couple of big wicket-takers there. Rabada and [Keshav] Maharaj have been around for a fair while now and been successful. They’re an obvious threat, but some of those younger or newer guys in the team that we haven’t seen before, we’re going to have to be pretty sharp on.”With the retention of Labuschagne, it means only Beau Webster has not played in an ICC final although he proved to be far from overawed on Test debut against India with a crucial contribution in the game that assured Australia their spot in the final.”With some success you just want to experience more of it and that means when the going gets tough or the pressure is on you embrace that. You take it on,” Cummins said. “You want to be the match winner. Hopefully you don’t get overwhelmed by big moments.”That’s been most of the conversation this week. The guys just have excitement. They want to get out there. They want to play well. They want to win. There’s no fear of failure or if it doesn’t pan out.”

Glasgow Rangers centre-forward Bojan Miovski scored what will hopefully be the first of many goals at Ibrox in the quarter-finals of the League Cup on Saturday.

The Macedonia international arrived at Ibrox during the summer transfer window with a view to adding a big goal threat to Russell Martin’s side, but it had been a slow start to his career in Glasgow.

Miovski failed to find the back of the net in his first two starts in the Scottish Premiership, against Celtic and Hearts, and only managed two shots in those matches, per Sofascore.

However, the left-footed marksman was able to get his name on the scoresheet against Hibernian at the weekend, converting from close range after Mikey Moore’s ball across the box fell into his path.

Supporters will now be hoping that the 26-year-old centre-forward can kick on and prove himself to be a consistent goalscorer for the Light Blues, having scored 32 league goals in two seasons with Aberdeen in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns.

Miovski will be hoping to emulate Alfredo Morelos in a positive sense, as the former Gers number nine ended his career at Ibrox with a fantastic goalscoring record.

The duality of Alfredo Morelos' Rangers career

The current Rangers striker will want to go down the same path as Morelos at Ibrox in the sense that the Colombia international was a prolific scorer for the club for many years.

In 269 appearances for the first-team, the powerful centre-forward racked up 124 goals and 57 assists, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he offered a huge threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals throughout his time at Ibrox.

Topically, with a clash with Genk at Ibrox coming up this week, Miovski will also hope to emulate Morelos’ excellent return in front of goal in Europa League matches for Rangers.

European record for Rangers
Alfredo Morelos	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Europa League qualifiers	23	13	7
Europa League	33	15	10
Champions League qualifiers	2	1	0
Champions League	5	0	0
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the Colombian marksman scored 28 goals and provided 17 assists in 56 Europa League games for the club, including qualifiers, which shows that he was lethal on the European stage.

These statistics prove that Morelos was a reliable figure at the top end of the pitch in Europe for Rangers, which Miovski will be hoping to be, starting with the game against Genk on Thursday.

Where Miovski will not be hoping to be like Morelos is with how the striker’s career at Ibrox ended, because he left on a free transfer in 2023 after previously being linked with big-money moves.

Rangers rejected an offer of more than £16m from Lille in 2020 and a bid of £10m from Porto in 2021, which shows that there was plenty of interest from top teams in Europe during his pomp at Ibrox.

The Light Blues opted not to cash in when his value was high. The striker went on to leave for nothing before going to sign for Santos in Brazil, exiting European football, in 2023.

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It is far too early to judge which direction Miovski will go in at Ibrox, but there is another player in the squad who is in danger of following Morelos in the wrong direction.

Mohamed Diomande is in danger of losing his way in Glasgow unless he can turn his performances around and get back to his best under Martin this season.

Why Diomande is in danger of becoming the next Morelos

The Ivorian central midfielder caught the eye with some fantastic displays for the Light Blues, despite a disappointing season as a club, in the 2024/25 campaign.

Diomande, who was described as “complete” by analyst John Walker, proved his worth in the middle of the park in the Premiership with a return of four goals and seven assists in 36 appearances in the division, per Sofascore, whilst also winning 57% of his duels on the ground.

The left-footed star, who signed on a permanent deal last summer after an initial loan spell at the back end of the 2023/24 campaign, has shown that he can be a difference-maker in midfield.

Diomande’s impressive form for the Scottish giants led to interest from elsewhere this summer. Six Premier League clubs, including Everton, were said to be interested in the midfield star and Besiktas had an offer of £6.5m rejected by the Gers.

This shows that, as was the case for Morelos at his peak at Ibrox, there was significant interest in the Ivorian star because of his performances on the pitch last term.

Rangers, however, opted not to cash in. They will now be hoping that it is a decision that they do not live to regret, as the midfielder has endured a difficult start to the current campaign.

Mohamed Diomande (Premiership)	24/25	25/26
Appearances	36	5
Sofascore rating	7.19	6.38
Goals	4	0
Assists	7	0
Dribbled past per game	0.5x	0.6
Ground duel success rate	57%	49%
Aerial duel success rate	48%	17%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Diomande’s performance level in and out of possession in the middle of the park has dipped significantly in the Premiership from last season to this one.

The Everton and Besiktas target has been too weak off the ball, losing duels on the deck and in the air too regularly, and has not offered anything at the top end of the pitch to win games for his side.

That has contributed to the club’s worst start to a league season in 47 years, with no wins, four draws, and one defeat after five matches in the Premiership.

This is also why Diomande is currently in danger of becoming the next Morelos at Ibrox because he may not find himself with enough suitors to attract a big-money exit from Glasgow if his performances do not improve.

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Therefore, the central midfielder could be the next player whom the club fail to cash in on at their peak value before losing them for less money later down the line.