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A rapid powerplay meant the Afghanistan batters were never troubled during their chase of 126

Alagappan Muthu31-Oct-2025

Rashid Khan took three wickets to derail Zimbabwe’s innings•Zimbabwe Cricket

Afghanistan cruised to a series victory over Zimbabwe, with Ibrahim Zadran backing up a disciplined bowling performance with a half-century of his own. Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Abdollah Ahmadzai and Rashid Khan had limited the hosts to 125 all out in Harare, setting up a straight-forward chase.Mujeeb stiflesZimbabwe tried to do the right thing. Their batters realised the importance of getting set. They attempted to regroup when wickets fell. There was no collapse this time, but there was no redemption either.Opener Dion Myers looked to be doing well against Mujeeb, only to sweep him straight to short fine. He was aiming to clear the fielder because there was no one in the deep. Good plan. Bad execution.Brendan Taylor was less adventurous, perhaps wanting to make amends for a low-percentage shot that led to a first-ball dismissal on Wednesday. But Mujeeb kept building pressure. It was the last over of the powerplay. Zimbabwe were 34 for 2, having only hit three boundaries. Trying to exploit the field restrictions before they ran out, Taylor was caught at mid-off, trying to hit the bowler over his head.Zimbabwe had the best of intentions. It didn’t stop them backfiring.Abdollah the enforcerThe pitch was slightly on the slower side – except whenever Abdollah came on to bowl. The 22-year-old fast bowler is all hustle and bustle, hitting the deck and troubling batters with bounce. Ryan Burl, who was in the middle of patching things up with his captain Sikandar Raza, fell trying to swat one of Abdollah’s well-directed short balls off his face. Zimbabwe slipped to 57 for 4. They couldn’t score more than a run a ball in seven of the first 10 overs.Sikander Raza held Zimbabwe’s innings together•Zimbabwe Cricket

Raza’s resistanceRaza tried to do his best to shepherd the innings forward. He came in during the fifth over and showed that run-scoring was still possible, hitting two fours off his first two balls – though both of them were overpitched and allowed him the freedom of his super fast hands. His best shot was an inside out, one-bounce four over extra cover, against a yorker gone wrong from Abdollah.All this happened while the Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan was tending to an injury to his right hand in the field. He had only bowled one over till then. When he picked the ball back up in the 17th, he knocked over Raza, which left the score at 104 for 6, and then ran through the tail. Zimbabwe’s highest partnership was just 24 runs.Ibrahim anchors the chaseAfghanistan ransacked nine boundaries in the powerplay, three times as many as their opposition. Some of that was good strokeplay. The rest of it was just Zimbabwe offering what every batter wants on a sluggish pitch – width and the chance to get under the ball.Ibrahim Zadran helped himself to back-to-back T20I fifties, though this one was a little more hard work. Afghanistan went 43 balls without a boundary after the powerplay but they’d done enough damage while the field was up, scoring 54 of the required 126.Questions remain over Afghanistan’s middle order. Sediqullah Atal – who had turned his right ankle while fielding and required attention – and Darwish Rasooli combined to score just 25 runs in 32 balls through the middle overs.

Mhatre’s 65 gave India A a strong start, but they slumped from 90 for no loss to 234 all out to concede a 75-run first-innings lead

Shashank Kishore31-Oct-2025Prenelan Subrayen is, in every sense, a marathon man. How else does one describe a cricketer whose spirit refuses to be dimmed, even after the repeated heartbreak of being reported for a suspect action? Each time he has been forced to rebuild, he has returned with more fire, more resolve, more love for his craft than before.At 32, Subrayen’s career is just two Tests old. Earlier this month in Pakistan, he played the first Test in Lahore, and made way when Keshav Maharaj returned from injury for the second Test in Rawalpindi. Then, last week, he learned of his non-selection for the India tour.Related

• Temba Bavuma named in South Africa A squad for India tour

• Bavuma to return as South Africa captain for India Tests

• 'He told me you'll play' – Sai Sudharsan on Gambhir's 'impeccable' support

• Kotian leads India A's fightback after Hermann brothers hit fifties

But in his first outing since that disappointment, Subrayen reminded everyone of his qualities. On Friday in Bengaluru, he wheeled away tirelessly, bowling 22 overs unchanged to rip through the heart of India A’s batting order and restore South Africa A’s advantage by stumps on Day 2 of the first unofficial Test. From 90 for no loss, India slumped to 234 all out as Subrayen picked up 5 for 61. Having pocketed a 75-run first-innings lead, South Africa A ended the day 30 for no loss.Subrayen’s five scalps included some noted names. He deceived Ayush Mhatre in flight as he advanced, forcing him to chip to midwicket for 65, the highest score of the India A innings. Devdutt Padikkal mistimed a lofted hit to mid-off as he stepped out, and Rajat Patidar was bowled through the gate attempting to drive against the turn.Subrayen employed as many as four catchers around the bat at most times. Tanush Kotian, who has bailed Mumbai out of tough situations time and again, was out jabbing to one of them, short leg, and Khaleel Ahmed mistimed a slog to long-on to give Subrayen his 13th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.While Subrayen did the bulk of the damage, others had moments to remember too. Okuhle Cele is likely replay his ball to dismiss Rishabh Pant over and over.Midway through the second session, when Pant walked out to bat for the first time since returning from his broken foot, there was a sense of anticipation around the ground among the handful present. He charged down the pitch first ball, and swung hell for leather, only to connect with thin air.Cele then bowled short at Pant, attempting to target his ribcage, not wanting to give him any room to drive or slash. And on 17, the tactic found its reward, Pant jabbing to Zubayr Hamza in the slips while attempting to fend one away.The only India A batter to make an impression with the bat was young Mhatre. He fearlessly drove on the up, played a few delightful straight drives, and took on spin from get-go. All of this brought him a 46-ball half-century. He was eventually out for 65, his knock containing 10 fours.B Sai Sudharsan, his opening partner, was edgy for much of his 94-ball stay. Early on, an attempt to pinch a single to mid-off nearly had him run out on 2; he was saved by a full-stretch dive at the non-striker’s end. Sudharsan alternated between denying himself outside off and poking at deliveries that left him. Eventually, Tshepo Moreki worked him over with an away-going delivery that he nicked behind for 32.This was when Subrayen stepped up and began his marathon spell, which has now put South Africa A firmly in the driver’s seat with two full days remaining.

West Ham chiefs are understandably making moves ahead of the looming January transfer window, and their winter recruitment could end up being crucial as Nuno Espírito Santo looks to maintain the club’s Premier League status.

The Hammers have finally found something to smile about after securing back-to-back Premier League victories, providing some much-needed optimism they stand a chance of avoiding the drop.

Nuno’s side ended their miserable nine-month wait for a home league win by beating Newcastle 3-1 before following that up with a dramatic 3-2 comeback against Burnley at the London Stadium.

The Newcastle triumph represented Nuno’s first win in charge and provided a crucial boost for a side that had been languishing dangerously close to the foot of the table.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Against Burnley, West Ham demonstrated their newfound resilience by fighting back from Zian Flemming’s early header. Callum Wilson levelled just before the break with his eighth career goal against the Clarets, before substitute Tomas Soucek once again proved decisive – bundling home from close range.

Kyle Walker-Peters then wrapped up the three points with his first goal for the club, and you can argue that this international break comes at a terrible time for the east Londoners, considering they were just starting to find good form.

However, while West Ham are currently basking in a ray of sunshine following their dismal start to 2025/2026, Nuno realises that his current options just aren’t enough.

According to reports, West Ham are actively preparing for the transfer window with several targets identified. The club have PSV Eindhoven’s attacking midfielder Ismael Saibari, who has scored 10 goals in 17 matches this season, on their radar alongside many other options.

The 24-year-old Morocco international is viewed as the ideal player to add creativity and goals to Nuno’s struggling attack (Football Transfers), with David Sullivan and co also looking to bring in a new striker and defender amid links with former Brentford star Ivan Toney.

Brazil could be an interesting market for Nuno as well, following reports that West Ham have been offered both Pedro and Kaio Jorge ahead of the winter.

West Ham make approach to sign Brazilian sensation Allan Elias

Now, according to journalist Eduardo Burgos for AS, as translated by Sport Witness, they’ve also joined the race to sign one of Brazil’s most exciting young talents.

West Ham are said to have made an approach for young Palmeiras attacking midfielder Allan Elias.

The 21-year-old has emerged as a prime target for several Premier League clubs, with the Hammers joining Fulham and Everton in making enquiries about his availability. The trio have apparently established contact over the versatile starlet, who has been turning heads across European football, and it is believed that an offer north of £17.5 million could be enough despite Elias’ £84 million release clause.

What makes Allan particularly intriguing is his potential. He is a product of Palmeiras’ famed academy system – the same development setup that produced Chelsea sensation Estevao Willian, who has taken the Premier League by storm since his summer arrival at Stamford Bridge.

The academy, renowned as one of South America’s finest talent factories, has also produced stars like Endrick, who was also a reported target for West Ham before Lyon entered the fray.

Allan joined Palmeiras’ youth ranks in 2019 from hometown club Figueirense and has worked his way through the system to become a key figure in the first team.

His great form this season, with 10 goal contributions across 50 appearances in all competitions, seems to have caught the attention of scouts, with West Ham among the sides taking notice.

Burgos describes Allan as yet another “diamond” to come through at Palmeiras, and amid his dream of playing for Brazil, a move to the Premier League would surely appeal to him ahead of next year’s 2026 World Cup.

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Os torcedores do Fluminense foram a loucura com o golaço marcado por Marquinhos, contra o Colo-Colo, pela segunda rodada da fase de grupos da Libertadores. Para alguns tricolores, o ponta direita tem que ser titular. Confira as reações abaixo.

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Stand-in skipper pleased with Michael Neser’s maiden Test five-for, says Alex Carey keeping performance “one of the best” he’s seen

Alex Malcolm07-Dec-2025Australia’s stand-in captain Steven Smith has described Michael Neser’s performance as exceptional and Alex Carey’s keeping display as one of the best he’s ever seen as the duo combined to help Australia take a 2-0 Ashes lead following an eight-wicket triumph in Brisbane.Neser took his maiden five-wicket haul on Sunday, finishing with 5 for 42 in the second innings having broken the key partnership between Ben Stokes and Will Jacks that had given England hope on day four.Stokes and Jacks batted through the entire first session and produced the longest partnership by any pair in the series to-date, grinding for 36.4 overs to add 96 against a disciplined Australia attack and raised hopes of England setting a fourth-innings target that might trouble the home side.Related

• Stats: Starc racks up the records to stretch England's winless streak in Australia

• Ben Stokes: 'We've not been able to stand up to pressure'

• Neser five-for trumps England's belated resistance as Australia take 2-0 lead

• Neser comes back from the brink to leave England on the edge

But Neser snuffed it out with an outstanding spell with a 69-over-old pink ball. He had Jacks superbly caught by Smith at slip before Carey took a less dramatic but no less difficult catch off Stokes up the stumps to dash England’s hopes within three overs.”What he [Neser] did today and in the first innings, was exceptional, I think,” Smith said at the post-match presentation.”He offers something different to the other guys. We can bring the keeper up to the stumps and change the game that way. And the way he bowled today and last night was exceptional. Really pleased for him to get his first five. He’s been on a lot of tours. He’s worked really hard.”He obviously made our batting a little bit longer as well at number eight.”Smith also heaped praise on his wicketkeeper Carey who was flawless across the match. He took three catches in the first innings, including a stunner back with the flight while being interfered with by Marnus Labuschagne. He also nearly stumped Harry Brook off Scott Boland, showcasing some sharp takes up the stumps from both Boland and Neser.Carey’s glovework was impressive across the match•Getty Images

Carey made a crucial 63 with the bat, sharing a 54-run stand with Neser that got Australia through the night session on day two and into the daytime to allow player of the match Mitchell Starc and Boland to combine for two hours in the daylight when batting was at it’s easiest.In the second innings he completed four catches, including an incredible catch up to the stumps off Neser to remove Stokes.”He’s a freak,” Smith said. “Honestly, up to the stumps, the ball just seems to end up in his hands. It hits the batter’s pad or something, and still ends up in his hands. He’s got no fear up there. He moves so well, and his gloves are just sensational. That was one of the best keeping performances, I think I’ve ever seen.”Smith wasn’t to be outdone in the field, though, and rated his slip catch off Jacks was among the best he had ever taken. Smith took three catches in the innings and four in the match to equal Rahul Dravid for the second-most Test catches by a non-wicketkeeper.”It’s got to be up there, I reckon,” he said. “They’re pretty tough when you got a pink ball, the lights are on, I’m blindsided by Alex. I’m standing quite wide because Alex covers so much room and then, yeah, just fortunately saw it late and got down to it and it’s stuck. It was obviously at a crucial time to break that partnership. So, yeah, I’ll remember that one.”

Allrounder Cameron Green suffered low grade side soreness and will miss the entire series in order to rehabilitate before WA’s next Shield match on October 28

Alex Malcolm17-Oct-2025Australia have copped another major injury blow with Cameron Green ruled out of the ODI series against India with low grade side soreness, which could have significant implications for the upcoming Ashes.The 26-year-old Green was ruled out of the series on Friday with Marnus Labuschagne called into the squad to replace him. Labuschagne will fly from Adelaide at the completion of the Sheffield Shield match on Saturday night to join Australia’s squad in Perth ahead of the first ODI on Sunday.Green had only just returned to competitive bowling following back surgery last year, and missed the T20I tour of New Zealand to play in the opening Shield round for Western Australia against New South Wales in Perth last week. He was due to bowl eight overs in the match but only bowled four, and took a wicket – he was not allowed to bowl on consecutive days by Cricket Australia’s medical staff when Western Australia were unable to bat long enough in their first innings to allow for a full day’s rest between four-over spells.Related

• Confidence growing that Cummins will play 'major part' in Ashes

• Axar: 'It's perfect that Rohit and Virat are here to help with the transition'

• The wait for 'Ro-Ko' is over and it's okay to be a bit emotional about it

• Zampa, Inglis to miss Perth ODI against India

• Labuschagne dropped from Australia ODI squad

He was unlikely to bowl in the first two ODIs against India but was continuing to build his loads with a view to bowling more overs in round three of the Shield, which starts on October 28. He was going to be rested from the third and final ODI in Sydney and was also going to miss the T20I series that follows in order to play in the third and fourth rounds of the Shield to prepare for the Ashes.Green pulled up sore after bowling at training this week and will undergo a short rehabilitation period with the hope that he can still play and bowl in Western Australia’s third Shield game against South Australia at the WACA starting in 11 days’ time.The injury is a concern for Australia, who had been banking on Green being fully fit to bowl without any restrictions in the Ashes. Australia are already sweating on the fitness of Test skipper Pat Cummins, who said earlier this week he was “less likely than likely” to play in the first Test against England starting November 21 in Perth.Australia’s other Test allrounder Beau Webster is also carrying an injury concern at the moment, having missed the opening two Shield matches for Tasmania after rolling his ankle at training two weeks ago. But it is understood that CA has been ultra cautious with him and that he will be fit for Tasmania’s next Shield game on October 28.Marnus Labuschagne has been in prolific early-season form•Getty Images

“I’m sure he’s going alright, he’s in good hands,” Travis Head said. “We’ll work through it, like anything else with guys who have some injuries. We’ve got Josh [Inglis] in the same position as well.”I don’t think it will have any impact on the Ashes. It’s more disappointing that he’s not here at the moment for the next three games, so he’ll work through that.I I don’t think it’s too serious, so probably more precautionary leading into the next five weeks.”Green’s injury has shorn Australia’s ODI team of yet another first-choice player. He made 118 not out off 55 balls in Australia’s last ODI, against South Africa in August.World Cup-winning skipper Cummins is unavailable for the entire India series, while wicketkeeper Josh Inglis will miss at least the first two ODIs as he recovers from a calf strain.Adam Zampa is missing the Perth ODI to remain at home in northern New South Wales with his pregnant wife. Alex Carey, who is normally in Australia’s first-choice ODI XI as a specialist bat and is also the back-up wicketkeeper to Inglis, is also missing the first ODI in Perth to prioritise playing the Shield match between South Australia and Queensland in Adelaide as part of his Ashes preparation.Labuschagne has been recalled to the ODI squad after peeling off 159, his fourth century in five domestic innings. Labuschagne was dropped from the ODI squad ahead of the India series after lean returns over the last 12 months. But he has been the form player in the One-Day Cup for Queensland since posting scores of 130 off 118 against Victoria and 105 off 91 against Tasmania.

And that was not all. West Indies picked up three injuries and had to manufacture an entirely new opening pair

Andrew McGlashan13-Jul-2025

Justin Greaves celebrates dismissing Alex Carey•Associated Press

A lot happened on the opening day at Sabina Park, and not just with the ball – although that certainly did .One of the greatest spinners of all time was left out. Australia lost 7 for 68 under lights. Batters went into T20 mode in the third session of a Test. Jayden Seales bowled a worldie of a delivery. A substitute fielder took a worldie of a catch. West Indies picked up three injuries and had to manufacture an entirely new opening pair.Day-night Tests can have a strange tempo to them in that, for periods, things can move at a sedate pace, as if setting up for that final session under lights before moving at a breakneck speed. Early in the last session, around the time Beau Webster was dismissed shortly after Steven Smith, Australia shelved the idea of batting normally. At one point, it was worth pondering if Pat Cummins may declare, but the lower order kept swinging until West Indies had 45 minutes to face.

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On its own, leaving out a spinner on a well-grassed pitch for a pink-ball Test shouldn’t really scream selection shock. But this spinner has 562 Test wickets. The day before, Cummins had sown the seeds for a selection call that, while having plenty of logic behind it, still came with a lot of significance.About half an hour before the toss, Nathan Lyon was kicking a football on his own. A couple of backroom staff wandered up to him. There was a tap on the shoulder from one. Then Scott Boland took the tape measure and marked out his run-up. For the first time in 12 years, Lyon wasn’t included in the XI when he’s been fit.Related

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He had bowled one over against India last season in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide and wasn’t needed under lights against England in Hobart during the 2021-22 Ashes. But overall, he has been prolific with the pink ball. Australia have got creative with selection on the subcontinent in recent years, but this was still a surprise.”It’s odd not having him out there,” Smith said. “I think most of us have played pretty much every game with him, but conditions are conditions. I think we saw today how much seam was on offer and Scott Boland’s not too bad at that, as we’ve seen on numerous occasions. Obviously, Nathan’s an exceptional bowler, it’s certainly nothing to do with his skill that’s for sure.”

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When debutant Kevlon Anderson spilled Sam Konstas at third slip, you feared if West Indies were going to have another fielding nightmare. By tea – the first interval, not the second, in the world of day-night Tests, although can anyone actually agree on what to call them? – they only had one wicket to show for their efforts but had beaten the bat regularly amid sometimes extravagant seam movement.”I think some of the numbers early on, the seam amounts were through the roof,” Smith said. “They might have bowled just a fraction short. It looks pretty sometimes when the ball misses the bat, but when it’s a little bit shorter, it’s actually going too far to catch the edge on a lot of occasions.”Steven Smith and Co went into T20 mode in the third session of a Test•Associated PressBut early in the middle session, Shai Hope pulled off a spectacular catch to remove Usman Khawaja, flying one-handed towards first slip. It was another around-the-wicket dismissal for Khawaja but it had been a gutsy stay. Hope, meanwhile, had taken a terrific catch in Grenada to remove Travis Head and his return to Test cricket as a wicketkeeper has been very solid.Still, shortly before the dinner interval, Australia were sitting nicely on 129 for 2. Then Seales produced one of the deliveries of the series to remove a well-set Cameron Green: angled into middle from wide of the crease, nipping off the seam, zipping past the edge and trimming the bails. Sometimes you really do get a good one.”The ball did a lot more today than it did throughout the entire series,” Seales said. “There were a lot of plays and misses, and not enticing the edges as we did in the previous matches. But as the movement calmed down and the pitch calmed down a bit, it was easier to get wickets.”

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After dinner, with the lights in full effect, Smith wasn’t going to hang around. He edged one wide of second slip, slashed one over the cordon then nicked a big drive to first. “Throw the kitchen sink at it,” he said when asked about his thinking. “Any width, I was just trying to climb into it. It felt pretty tricky out there and it felt like when the ball was up there and you get a good look at it, have a go at it.”Webster soon fell and it was clear Australia weren’t going to try and see out the day. “We knew that Australia wanted to bowl under the lights, so they would push and see how much they could get,” Seales said.Substitute Anderson Phillip pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss Travis Head•Associated PressWith Head and Alex Carey at the crease, Australia had a pair who could cause damage in a short period of time. Carey, especially, continued to strike the ball crisply. Then Head tried to drive Justin Greaves over extra cover. Off the bat, he appeared to have placed it well enough. But Anderson Phillip, on as one of three substitute fielders, sprinted to his right at mid-off, dived full length, held the catch horizontal to the ground and managed to cling on as he hit the turf. “Great effort, great effort, great catch,” Ian Bishop said on commentary. “It had to be a fast bowler to do it, great athleticism.”

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Left with 45 minutes to bat, neither designated opener could come out for West Indies. Mikyle Louis had jarred his knee in the outfield – his prognosis did not sound promising – and John Campbell took a blow on the chest at short leg from a hard sweep by Smith.It felt like Mitchell Starc, in his 100th Test, could take a wicket nearly every ball. Then he did: Anderson dragging on in what was one of the tougher debut scenarios to imagine. Starc went to 396 Test wickets. Those four more may not be long in coming.Campbell, who had gone to the hospital for a scan, was back at the ground and set to bat No. 3. But it’s understood that he couldn’t get his kit on in time, so it was over to captain Roston Chase. It was that sort of day.

Hazlewood has been outstanding in the IPL following injury and indications from last season are that the hierarchy remains

Andrew McGlashan01-May-20252:12

What makes Hazlewood a much-improved T20 bowler?

Plenty of Australian cricketers are currently plying their trade overseas, and Josh Hazlewood is going as well as any of them for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the IPL in what has been an encouraging return from injury and shapes as bad news for Scott Boland’s hopes of featuring in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.As of Thursday, Hazlewood was the leading wicket-taker in the IPL – with 18 wickets in ten matches – and while the role and requirements of T20 are considerably different to a Test match, his trademark back-of-a-length mode of attack has been key to a number of his dismissals.Two years ago, Boland was the beneficiary when the selectors opted to preserve Hazlewood for the Ashes that followed the WTC final against India as he returned from a side injury picked up in that season’s IPL. Boland went on to bowl brilliantly at The Oval, claiming five wickets in the match, as Australia won the mace by 209 runs. This time, barring any setbacks for Hazlewood over the next month, it looks like going the other way.Related

• Boland: 'I just want to make their decision as hard as possible'

• Webster set for Warwickshire debut ahead of WTC final

• Green's return brings into focus Australia's big selection calls

• Finch: Selectors may have to 'cherry pick' Hazlewood's Tests

• RCB have the (Hazle)wood on their opponents now

For all Boland’s success that sees him sit with a Test record of 56 wickets at 17.66 from 13 matches he has only once been a first-choice selection when the big three quicks have been fit or not rotated: that was the opening Test of the 2023 Ashes when he was selected ahead of Mitchell Starc at Edgbaston. The two matches Boland played in that series have been the only occasion when a team has consistently dominated him – he finished with two wickets at 115.50 and an economy rate of 4.91 – as England’s Bazballers used his metronomic length to their advantage.Last season against India, Boland was the ultimate super sub. He replaced an injured Hazlewood in Adelaide where he zipped the pink ball around but then immediately made way in Brisbane only for Hazlewood to then suffer a calf strain. Boland took 16 wickets in the next two matches at the MCG and SCG, but the pace-bowling hierarchy remained clear. Again, Boland will likely need someone else’s misfortune to make the XI at Lord’s.Josh Hazlewood had an interrupted series against India•Getty ImagesHazlewood cut a distraught and frustrated figure as he walked off the Gabba after a ginger one-over spell on the fourth day after he tested the extent of the calf strain. Having emerged from an injury-hit period between 2021 and 2023, where he played just four Tests, he featured in 12 out of 13 matches after the WTC final, only missing at Headingley in the Ashes when he was rested.As Hazlewood recovered from the calf injury, a hip problem emerged, which ruled him out of the Champions Trophy. Through the various setbacks – both the recent ones and during 2021-2023 period – Hazlewood has remained adamant that it’s largely been bad timing rather than an indication that his body is becoming a genuine concern although Aaron Finch has previously suggested the selectors may need to start cherry-picking the Tests he plays.”I’ve had a little history of sides and calves, they are probably the two things that have kept me out for the majority of the last four years, but I [can] sort of just keep adding another layer to the defence hopefully,” he said late last year. “I’ve ticked a lot of boxes in the last 12 months and it’s just the timing again – they are only little two or three-week injuries, it’s just the timing of it and missing big games so that’s probably the frustrating thing.”Hazlewood has the 300-wicket mark in his sights should he be able to string appearances together this year, currently sitting on 279 at 24.57. There are landmarks approaching for all the big three: Pat Cummins is on 294 Test wickets, while Starc has 382 and is four games away from reaching 100 caps.There will be a couple of training camps in Brisbane during May for the Australian players who are based at home, which includes Boland who opted not to play county cricket after finishing the domestic season with a knee niggle.Initial WTC final squads, which will be 15 players, need to be submitted to the ICC by May 11 but can be amended until the end of the month. After that, the technical committee’s approval will be required for any injury replacements. Australia are expected to have a couple of travelling reserves with them in England, from where they head straight to the West Indies for a three-Test series.

Newcastle United will be looking to win their fourth game in succession across all competitions, with the Magpies set to travel down to London to face West Ham United on Sunday afternoon.

Eddie Howe’s men go into the game in excellent form, having beaten Fulham, Benfica and, most recently, Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup.

There is not really a better time to be playing the Hammers than this week. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are in abysmal form, not winning since the 31st of August. They’ve lost six on the bounce, with little sign of their form improving.

Anthony Gordon, who was rested in midweek, could pose a huge threat to the Hammers.

How Newcastle can hurt West Ham

It seems almost guaranteed that Gordon will come straight back into the Newcastle starting lineup for their game against the East Londoners. He has been in strong form this season, dominating in the Champions League and could reall pose a big threat to the Irons.

Amongst Europe’s elite, the former Everton star has four goals and one assist in just three games. One of those strikes came against Barcelona, attacking the ball at the back post to fire home a cross from Jacob Murphy.

Incredibly, Gordon is yet to score or assist in the Premier League. He’s played six games and accumulated an expected goal involvement tally of 0.42 xGI. However, he has yet to chip in with a goal or assist.

The game against the Hammers could be the ideal opportunity for the England international to break his Premier League duck this season. His pace and direct nature could prove to be a huge threat against Nuno’s side, which has looked incohesive at the back this season, to say the least.

However, it is not only the final third threat of Gordon that could trouble West Ham. Howe has some dangerous options in midfield, too.

Howe's midfield star could terrify West Ham

Against Spurs in midweek, the Magpies rotated their midfield. Sandro Tonali was the only first-choice player who started, with Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock operating either side of the Italian.

Bruno Guimaraes was on the bench, as was a man who could be hugely important against West Ham; Joelinton.

The Brazilian has played an important role in the middle of the park alongside Tonali and Guimaraes, and he could well slot back into the side against the Hammers.

The Brazil international is not enjoying his finest campaign, with Toon blogger Thomas Hammond even suggesting it’s the “start of the end” for the 29-year-old, who has been “honking” for some time.

That said, the number of minutes he has played shows just how important he is to Howe’s side. He’s featured 12 times across all competitions, with seven of those appearances coming in the Premier League.

One of the key reasons why the former Hoffenheim star could be pivotal against West Ham is his physicality. One described as a “dominant” midfielder by Statman Dave, Joelinton is notorious for his crunching tackles and his aerial prowess.

An excellent example of this strength came against Manchester United in the top flight last season. The Brazilian got himself on the scoresheet, outjumping and physically dominating Lisandro Martinez at the back post to head home a cross from Gordon.

This is particularly important against Nuno’s side. After their 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford a couple of weeks ago, Jamie Carragher said he can’t remember a “less athletic team I’ve seen for a very, very long time in the Premier League.”

It is easy to see why someone with the physicality of Joelinton can bully the Hammers side. However, he also offers quality on the ball. This term, the midfielder averages 0.9 chances created per game, and played an average of 11.1 forward passes per 90 minutes last season.

Chances created

0.8

0.9

Opposition half passes completed

19.3

17

Forward passes

11.1

7.8

Duels won

6.3

5.9

Ball recoveries

5.6

4.6

Joelinton could quite easily slot into the Magpies’ side as a replacement for Ramsey. His physicality will be important against what is a weak Hammers side, according to Carragher. However, you don’t lose the creative influence of Ramsey, given what the Brazilian can offer in the final third.

If this is a decision Howe makes at the London Stadium weekend, it could be crucial to helping his side secure their fourth win in a row.

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