Jack Grealish really is back, having toiled towards the end at Manchester City, with the Everton star being named Premier League Player of the Month.
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Harry Kane got top marks from German media after starring in Bayern Munich's demolition of Hamburg. The England captain contributed with a brace and an assist as the reigning German champions registered a 5-0 win and maintained their 100 percent win record to start the 2025-26 Bundesliga campaign. With the two strikes on Saturday, Kane has now taken his goals tally to eight this term.
Bayern put five past Hamburg
Serge Gnabry broke the deadlock for the Bavarian side in the third minute before Aleksandar Pavlovic doubled their lead. Kane then converted a penalty in the 26th minute and Luis Diaz took the team's tally to four goals even before the half-hour mark. Kane then scored the team's fifth goal in the 62nd minute to seal a memorable win for the champions.
AdvertisementKane gets top marks from BILD
The Bayern star, along with Gnabry, received the top score from German newspaper for the exceptional show against Hamburg. Former Liverpool forward Luis Diaz got the second-highest score, level with Pavlovic, Michael Olise and Konrad Laimer.
Striker nearing scoring milestone
With the brace against Hamburg, Kane took a step forward towards reaching the 100-goal mark for Bayern across all competitions. The English forward has scored 93 goals for the German side in 101 appearances since joining them from Tottenham in 2023.
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AFPWhen is Kane playing next?
Vincent Kompany's side will be back in action on Wednesday as they take on Premier League giants Chelsea in their Champions League opener at the Allianz Arena.
Nottingham Forest’s summer rebuild shows no signs of slowing down.
After manager Nuno EspĂrito Santo voiced concerns about the lack of movement, the club has roared into action with a series of ambitious signings and bids that underline their intent to become a consistent European competitor.
Dan Ndoye, Igor Jesus, and Jair Cunha have all already arrived at the City Ground, while bids have been accepted for James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson.
Meanwhile, a £25m approach for Manchester City’s Rico Lewis has been rejected, and negotiations continue for forward Arnaud Kalimuendo.
The flurry of activity comes at a crucial time. Forest are preparing for a season that includes European football, a reward earned after finishing seventh in the Premier League last term.
Their place in the Europa League was secured after Crystal Palace were demoted to the Conference League following an unsuccessful appeal to CAS.
Forest kick off their domestic campaign against Brentford on Sunday, and while the opening fixture might come too soon for several of their potential recruits, the scale of their ambition is clear.
Nottingham Forest agree terms with midfielde
At the heart of Forest’s latest negotiations is Douglas Luiz, the Juventus midfielder who could form a partnership with Elliott Anderson in the centre of the park.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Forest have agreed personal terms with the Brazil, with only club-to-club negotiations left to finalise, as they look to bolster their midfield with a new addition.
It is now down to the Tricky Trees to agree a deal with Juventus to bring the former Aston Villa maestro to the City Ground for the 2025/26 campaign.
Analyst Ben Mattinson described him as a “box-crashing 8, who’s press resistant with a good technical base, passing range and ball-striking ability.”
The Brazilian joined Juventus from Aston Villa in a ÂŁ45m deal but endured a difficult spell in Turin.
He failed to score or assist in 27 appearances and missed 20 games due to injury setbacks.
Used sparingly under both Igor Tudor and Thiago Motta, Luiz managed only six starts last season, while his solitary contribution at the Club World Cup amounted to just 45 minutes of football, per Sofascore.
Juventus are now open to recouping around ÂŁ30m, with the player himself reportedly eager for a Premier League return.
Why Douglas Luiz is perfect for Elliot Anderson
Despite a subdued stint in Italy, Luiz’s pedigree remains strong, particularly when judged on his final season at Aston Villa.
His statistics then underlined his all-round game.
Pass Completion Rate
85.7%
Shot Creating Actions per 90
3.92
Tackles per 90
1.74
Blocks per 90
0.96
Progressive Passes per 90
5.49
Progressive Carries per 90
2.15
Successful Take-ons per 90
1.40
When compared against Juventus teammates last season, Luiz still showed flashes of quality despite limited minutes.
His 89.5% passing accuracy ranked fifth in the squad, while his 72.2% dribble success rate also placed him among the top five. In 841 minutes of action, he created three big chances and averaged 0.69 key passes per game, per FBref.
These numbers suggest that, given consistent playing time and a role tailored to his strengths, he could rediscover the form that made him such a prized asset in England.
For Forest fans, the prospect of pairing Luiz with Elliott Anderson is particularly enticing. Anderson joined from Newcastle United amid the Magpies’ well-documented struggles with PSR compliance in a deal worth £35m.
The transfer also saw goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos move the other way, while Yankuba Minteh left for Brighton to help balance the books at St James’ Park.
Anderson wasted no time making himself indispensable in Nottingham. He featured in 37 league games last season, contributing two goals and six assists,
His energy, versatility and ability to progress play made him a key part of the side that finished seventh on 65 points. Still only 22, he has caught the eye of England selectors and sits on the periphery of Thomas Tuchel’s squad in a World Cup year.
Statistically, Anderson has placed himself among the most effective midfielders in the Premier League across a range of important metrics.
His dribbling stands out, with the 22-year-old ranking in the 90th percentile for successful take-ons, averaging 1.19 per 90 minutes.
That ability to beat a man allows Forest to break opposition lines and progress play higher up the pitch.
He is equally influential in advanced areas, registering 2.38 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, placing him in the 86th percentile league-wide. This shows how frequently he arrives in dangerous positions, complementing Forest’s forwards by adding an extra threat from midfield.
Defensively, Anderson is just as impressive. He averages 3.04 tackles per 90 minutes – enough to place him in the 88th percentile.
Alongside that, his reading of the game allows him to contribute 2.51 clearances per 90 (89th percentile), a figure that highlights his commitment to the defensive side of the game.
Perhaps most strikingly, Anderson has proven adept in the air. Despite standing at just 1.79m, he wins 1.85 aerial duels per 90, again ranking in the 89th percentile.
Pairing Luiz and Anderson could provide Forest with one of the most balanced midfields outside the Premier League’s traditional elite.
Luiz’s ability to dictate tempo, switch play and resist pressure would allow Anderson to thrive in more advanced areas, where his dribbling, pressing and box arrivals make him a constant threat.
In European fixtures, where possession and control become even more valuable, the partnership could give Forest an edge. Luiz’s Champions League and international experience adds another layer of quality and leadership.
For Anderson, lining up alongside such a seasoned professional would accelerate his development and give Forest a stable core around which to build. If Forest can finalise the deal with Juventus, it would represent a major coup.
Dream for McAtee: Nottingham Forest open talks to sign “world-class” talent
Nottingham Forest are planning for a resounding finish to their summer transfer window.
ByAngus Sinclair Aug 15, 2025
Everton are also credited with an interest in Luiz, but Forest’s project – European football, an ambitious recruitment drive, and a manager eager to impose his identity – may prove more persuasive.
For Nuno EspĂrito Santo, adding Luiz to a midfield already anchored by Anderson could be the key to competing on two fronts this season.
For Forest supporters, it would be further proof that their club is no longer content with merely surviving in the Premier League.
Nic Maddinson would have been a contender to open before his injury while Cameron Bancroft is part of Sydney Thunder’s squad
AAP11-Dec-2024
David Warner will be available for the entire BBL season•Getty Images
David Warner is leaning towards preferring Sam Konstas over Cameron Bancroft as his opening partner as the Test legend prepares for his first full BBL season with Sydney Thunder.Only weeks after both pushed ultimately unsuccessful cases for the Test opening vacancy, Bancroft and Konstas are set for more internal competition at Thunder.Related
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Nic Maddinson’s finger surgery has left the pair as the two clearest options to partner new captain Warner at the top to start the BBL, which the pair enters with varying recent records.Konstas, yet to make his BBL debut, memorably announced himself with twin centuries in New South Wales’ first Shield game of the summer before making another for the Prime Ministers’ XI in a 50-over match against the Indians last month.Bancroft has failed to pass 20 in 15 of 19 digs across red and white-ball cricket this summer, but did make an unbeaten 105 in Western Australia’s penultimate Sheffield Shield game before the break. Warner said a firm decision had not yet been made on the opening partnership.”We’ll speak about it this week, we’ll see in the warm-up game. I’m probably erring between myself and probably Sammy Konstas at the top,” he said.Warner has been impressed by Konstas, but wants to talk shop with the 19-year-old ahead of Thunder’s first game against Adelaide Strikers next Tuesday.”We know he’s talented but it’s about going out there in the Twenty20 stuff and trying to work out how to sort of play that format as well, and what he’s going to bring to the table,” Warner said. “I’ll have a chat to him about how he wants to play and what his style of cricket is as well.”We’ll have these conversations in the next couple of days about how we want to play and making sure that everyone’s on the same page.”After being signed as a foundation player for the first BBL summer, Warner has dipped in and out of Thunder for the past two summers around Australian duties.Now retired from internationals, the 38-year-old is set to play the entire tournament for the first time in a big boost for a competition that has long struggled for star power in the absence of Test players.”I’m excited,” Warner said of the BBL. “It’s another challenge for me. I’ll uphold my own standards and make sure I’m contributing to the team and getting us off to a good start and leading by example of the field with the captaincy.”With West Indies globetrotter Sherfane Rutherford and rising star Ollie Davies also on the books, Warner said he held high expectations for Thunder’s batting order after a last-placed finish last summer.”There’s questions for all us to answer the last couple of years, the way that we’ve played,” he said. “We’ve got some craft in the middle and hopefully at the top of the order we can fire as well.”
ICC says tickets will go on sale for the final only after the conclusion of the first semi-final, scheduled on March 4
Nagraj Gollapudi27-Jan-2025Tickets for the 2025 Champions Trophy final, scheduled on March 9, will be available only four days prior to the match. Announcing the sale of tickets on Monday for the eight-team tournament, which begins from February 19, the ICC said tickets for the final will be available after the first semi-final, which is scheduled on March 4.Such a late release of tickets for the final has been necessitated by the hybrid model put in place for the tournament because of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the event. As a result, it was decided India would play all their matches in Dubai, including the knockouts should they reach them. Dubai will host the first semi-final, however, regardless of whether India reach the last four or not. In case India reach the final, that too will be played in Dubai. The second semi-final will be played in Lahore, and should India not make the final, that game will also be played in Lahore.Related
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The ICC on Monday said the tickets for the Pakistan leg of the Champions Trophy, comprising 10 matches and the Lahore semi-final, will go on sale from Tuesday (2 pm Pakistan time/1.30 pm IST). Tickets for the Dubai leg are not going on sale yet, the ICC saying, “information would be made available in the coming days” without specifying any date.Tickets for matches in Pakistan are priced from 1000 Pakistan rupees [approx. 3.59 USD] for the general category, while the premium category starts from 1500 rupees [approx. 5.38 USD]. Sumair Ahmad Syed, the tournament director and PCB COO, said the tickets have been made “affordable” to ensure “fans from all walks of life can be part of this historic spectacle, making it a celebration for all generations of cricket lovers.”India and Pakistan are both in Group A, along with Bangladesh and New Zealand. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan group game is scheduled to take place in Dubai on February 23.The PCB is currently racing to have its stadiums ready for the event. All three venues in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi have been undergoing varying degrees of renovation but the Pakistan board remains confident that they will be ready ahead of time. Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and Karachi’s National Stadium are due to host a short triangular ODI series with New Zealand and South Africa before the Champions Trophy.The 2023 ODI World Cup in India was also hampered by a late release of tickets, with the first batch going on sale 41 days before the opening game.
It’s unlikely that this is the new normal for Liverpool, all this staggering summer spending.
It was always anticipated to be a statement transfer market from the Reds, with Arne Slot revealing while the 2024/25 campaign was in full swing that Liverpool, who won the Premier League with such gusto, were ready to seal a series of exciting signings after minimal first-team investment across four successive windows.
But even having welcomed some of Europe’s most talented up-and-coming players to Slot’s squad, Liverpool find themselves in need of more investment.
Indeed, with Darwin Nunez on the verge of completing a ÂŁ46m transfer to Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League and Luis Diaz already twisting ankles down the wing for Bayern Munich, it’s clear that FSG’s hope is to welcome another dynamic forward to the fold.
With Diaz having joined Bayern for ÂŁ65.5m, Cody Gakpo is left as the only senior option on the left flank. Fans have been treated to the exciting prospect that is Rio Nguomha, but the lad is only 16 and must be eased into Slot’s plans.
Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has been touted as a potential option, but The Athletic’s James Pearce sought to dispel such claims toward the end of July, saying the Brazilian is “currently not viewed as a possible replacement” for Diaz.
There is, however, a long-standing interest in Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, 22, who is valued at €100m (around £87m) and would be a like-for-like replacement on the left flank, with plenty of scope for growth.
Barcola is a talented player, but he’s not the finished article. If Liverpool have the choice of one more forward this summer, it’s clear who sporting director Richard Hughes covets.
According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool remain focused on signing Newcastle United centre-forward Alexander Isak this summer, having seen a ÂŁ110m offer rejected earlier in August.
Plettenberg understands that the rumours relating to Barcola are merely a smokescreen as the Merseysiders forge ahead with a British-record bid for Isak. Newcastle appear increasingly resigned to selling their talisman, but want in excess of ÂŁ130m.
Isak only wants to leave St. James’ Park for Liverpool, but everything hinges on the Magpies succeeding in finding a replacement, and that has been a fruitless pursuit thus far.
If Liverpool fail in their pursuit of Isak this summer, it’s unlikely that Hughes would oversee the fallback to another number nine. That is how highly regarded the Sweden star is at Anfield. It’s him, or it’s nothing.
Well, not nothing. Were Liverpool to fail in their bid, Hughes would swivel his attention to the likes of Barcola or Rodrygo, for Slot needs another forward to complete his attacking set and attack the campaign across numerous fronts.
And in Isak, who scored 27 goals and claimed six assists across 43 matches last season, en route to the Carabao Cup title, which he won against Liverpool at Wembley, Liverpool would have “the best all-around centre forward in the league”, as he has been called by pundit Ally McCoist.
Liverpool pulled off a stunning signing when adding Hugo Ekitike to Slot’s squad in an initial ÂŁ69m package, but the Frenchman is not yet at the peak of his powers, whereas Isak is. The Scandinavian goalscorer would prove the perfect signing for Liverpool, certainly surpassing Barcola, even if the PSG talent is already regarded as “one of the best left wingers in Europe” by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Barcola might have posted 21 goals and 21 assists across all competitions last season, winning the quadruple in PSG’s project, but he also produced some underlying data that left something to be desired, only winning 28% of his duels in Ligue 1, as per Sofascore.
Isak, meanwhile, is proven as one of the Premier League’s deadliest players, and Liverpool would be sure that they would receive bang for their buck when forking out a shedload.
|
Premier League – Top Scorers since Isak’s Debut |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Apps |
Goals |
Per Game |
|
Erling Haaland |
97 |
85 |
0.88 |
|
Mohamed Salah |
108 |
66 |
0.61 |
|
Alexander Isak |
86 |
54 |
0.63 |
|
Ollie Watkins |
112 |
50 |
0.45 |
|
Bryan Mbeumo |
101 |
38 |
0.38 |
|
Data via Transfermarkt |
|||
Gakpo already sits on the left wing, but Isak has played out wide before, and to an emphatic effect at that. Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope even described him as a “wizard” in the past after one incredible assist against Everton, collecting and driving up the flank.
Ekitike, too, is a man of swift mobility, and there’s no reason why the respective strikers could not operate in confluence under Slot’s wing this season.
Barcola, of course, would be a fantastic addition, but he’s not Isak, and if Hughes has only one route that he can travel down, it’s patent that Isak is his priority, and indeed that that is the right track to head down.
The Newcastle star, after all, ranks among the top 16% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, emphasising his all-encompassing quality.
Whether Liverpool manage to get a deal done remains to be seen. The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards believes the ÂŁ120k-per-week Isak has been told by PIF that he’s going nowhere, but it is hard to see the credence in such claims, given all that has gone on.
In any case, the player wants Liverpool, and if Hughes and Slot have one more signing to pull off this summer, Isak is the one.
Perfect for Van Dijk: Liverpool could see bid accepted for "England's best"
Liverpool plan to make a few more signings before the end of the summer transfer window.
By
Angus Sinclair
Aug 8, 2025
As they tend to do every year, Chelsea have made the most of the summer transfer window.
On top of shipping off those deemed no longer necessary, the Blues have added some seriously exciting talent to the side.
However, arguably the most exciting player to make their way to Stamford Bridge this summer is someone they technically signed last May: Esetvao.
The Brazilian teenager, who respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described as a “future Ballon d’Or winner”, has already impressed in pre-season, and it just feels like a matter of time until he truly announces himself in the Premier League.
Chelsea might be able to get even more out of the former Palmeiras gem should they complete the signing of another incredible talent they’ve been heavily linked with.
Chelsea target perfect teammate for Estevao
Despite already making several brilliant additions to the squad this summer, Chelsea continue to be linked with potentially game-changing stars.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
One of the most prominent links has been to Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, who has made it clear he only wants a move to Stamford Bridge.
Another name touted for a move to West London, and perhaps a more pressing transfer given Levi Colwill’s injury, has been Piero HincapiĂ© of Bayer Leverkusen.
However, there is another international who the Blues have been chasing for some time now, someone who could be the perfect teammate for Estevao: Xavi Simons.
Yes, according to a recent report from the continent, Chelsea have maintained their intense interest in the RB Leipzig star.
On top of that, the journalist has revealed that the Dutchman has “decided to join Chelsea” and has now turned “down interest from Manchester City.”
Tavolieri does not mention how much the 22-year-old might cost, but based on reports from earlier this summer, it might take a fee of around ÂŁ61m to get him out of Germany.
That is certainly a lot of money to spend on a young player, but Simons has more than proven his ability in recent seasons, and he could be perfect alongside Estevao.
Why Simons would be perfect for Estevao
One of the reasons Simons could be such a brilliant teammate for Estevao at Chelsea is that he has already followed a similar path in his short career.
Now, there is undoubtedly more expectation on the young Brazilian’s shoulders, but the former La Masia ace has been talked about as a future superstar for years now.
For example, he made his first team debut for Paris Saint-Germain at just 17 years old, earned his first senior cap for the Netherlands at 19 years old, at the World Cup mind, and has been described as having an “extremely high footballing IQ” by U23 scout Antonio Mango.
Impressively, the 22-year-old has been able to cope with and navigate these pressures brilliantly over the last few years, and because of this, he’d be well-placed to help Estevao do the same in the coming campaigns.
With that said, the other reason the former PSG gem would be an excellent teammate for the 18-year-old is the simple fact that he is an output machine.
Simons in 24/25
Appearances
33
Minutes
2763′
Goals
11
Assists
8
Goal Involvements per Match
0.57
Minutes per Goal Involvement
145.42′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For example, in just 33 appearances for Leipzig last season, totalling 2763 minutes, the dynamic “game-changer,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 11 goals and provided eight assists.
In other words, the former Amsterdam-born dynamo maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 minutes, meaning he’d be able to provide an abundance of chances for the Franca-born maestro to bolster his own goal and assist tallies.
Moreover, he’s just as comfortable playing off the left as he is in the middle of the park, meaning there would be plenty of chances for him to develop a relationship with the young Brazilian.
Ultimately, Simons would be an excellent signing regardless of who else was in the squad, but he could be even more important for Chelsea now Estevao has made his way to West London.
Fewer touches than Sanchez: 5/10 Chelsea star was even worse than Palmer
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ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 17, 2025
Nuno Espirito Santo has held talks with West Ham as head coach Graham Potter could be sacked following a series of poor results. Nuno, who parted ways with Nottingham Forest this month due to a breakdown in his working relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis, could return to the Premier League soon after he was replaced at the City Ground by Ange Postecoglou.
A famous Leeds United-connected pub has changed its name in tribute of a two-time Premier League promotion champion. The Whites are back in the English top-flight after two years away, with Daniel Farke's side aiming to beat the drop this season and reverse the trend of Championship teams not making the grade. Amid that goal, The Old Peacock has shown its class towards an ex-striker.
Leeds say goodbye to Bamford
Patrick Bamford joined Leeds from Middlesbrough in 2018 for ÂŁ7 million and went on to score 60 goals in 205 games and achieve Premier League promotions in 2020 and 2025. But manager Farke said he was not part of his plans for the 2025-26 campaign, and then the forward's contract was cancelled by mutual consent last month. Despite his release, The Old Peacock, which is right next to Leeds' Elland Road stadium, says it will be renamed 'The Lord Bamford' for a limited time.
AdvertisementBamford to keep pub name until Leeds face Tottenham
The pub will keep the Bamford pub name going until Leeds host Tottenham on October 4. So the 32-year-old, who put ÂŁ5,000 behind the bar before Leeds' win over Bristol City last season, will get at least one more home game before the establishment reverts to its original title.
The Instagram post reads: "To celebrate the unforgettable years of service from Patrick Bamford at Leeds United, The Old Peacock is proud to announce that it will be renamed The Lord Bamford for a limited time. Bamford joined Leeds United in 2018 and spent seven years donning the famous white shirt. During that time, he became a two-time Championship winner and played a key role in Leeds’ promotion back to the Premier League – helping end a 16-year absence from the top flight.
"We invite all football lovers, Leeds United fans, and the local community to come and raise a glass at The Lord Bamford in honour of his contribution. The renaming will last until the next home fixture at Elland Road against Tottenham on Saturday, 4th October, to give everyone a chance to join in celebrating Bamford's time with The Whites. Thank you, Paddy, for your passion. You will always be part of Leeds United history."
GettyBamford searching for new team after Leeds exit
Bamford was a much-derided figure towards the tail end of his Leeds stint. Injuries and struggles in front of goal punctuated his final years at the club but with time, many may reflect more positively on his contributions. He earned one England cap and scored 17 goals in the 2020-21 Premier League season. In fact, amid Leeds' current goal struggles, where they have managed one goal in four league games, some supporters have questioned why he was let go at all. Either way, this is a classy move by the Peacock pub.
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What next for Bamford and Leeds?
Former Chelsea and Crystal Palace youngster Bamford is currently looking for a new club as a free agent. For Leeds, they face a huge clash away at lowly Wolves this weekend, before hosting Bournemouth on September 27.
Australia will now have more work to do then they would have anticipated in the last two days
Tristan Lavalette31-Jan-2025
Mitchell Starc walks off in the rain as the covers come on•Ishara S Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images
Australia’s menacing attack was left frustrated after the final two sessions of day three were washed out as Sri Lanka had respite from a Galle surface starting to play tricks.The day started amid sunny conditions and 27 overs were bowled before rain cascaded on the ground out of nowhere just before lunch. There was no further play for the remainder of the day, with stumps called more than two hours ahead of schedule.In response to Australia’s massive first-innings of 654 for 6 declared, Sri Lanka were 136 for 5 at stumps with Dinesh Chandimal playing a lone hand so far with an attractive 63 not out. Kusal Mendis is unbeaten on 10.Australia are still in the box seat to claim victory in the first Test after dominating the opening seven sessions of the match. But the wet weather has added intrigue and given Sri Lanka hope of escaping with a draw. Rain is forecast for Saturday, but clear weather is expected on the fifth day.The pitch had been mostly benign over the opening two days with sharp turn negated by the slowness of the surface. But it did start showing signs of wear in the morning session with several cracks notable and the ball occasionally exploded off the surface.After such a dismal performance by the top-order, where they lost three wickets within 10 overs late on day two, Sri Lanka resumed on 44 for 3 and still 410 runs away from the follow-on.Their hopes of chiselling into that target rested on Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis, who entered with an average of 74 from 10 Tests since debuting against Australia on the ground in 2022. In that match, Chandimal scored 206 not out in a big victory for Sri Lanka.They were confronted by the old guard of left-arm quick Mitchell Starc and offspinner Nathan Lyon starting in tandem having each claimed a wicket on the previous evening. Starc, attired in long sleeves, found some swing and also helped deepen the emerging footmarks.Chandimal was pinned down initially by Lyon. But perhaps having closely studied Australia’s first-innings playbook, Chandimal decided to go on the attack against Lyon who loomed as Australia’s talisman having had little to do in the pace-dominated home series against India.A fascinating battle emerged as Lyon bowled from around the wicket aiming at the developing footmarks. Chandimal was undaunted as he unfurled the sweep to good effect and clubbed Lyon to the boundary.He enjoyed luck on the next delivery when he edged past stand-in skipper Steven Smith’s outstretched left hand at first slip in the type of tough chance he has often snaffled in his career.A stubborn Dinesh Chandimal kept Australian bowlers at bay•AFP via Getty Images
Chandimal capped the most productive over of the innings when he reverse swept Lyon to the boundary. But Sri Lanka’s solid start was rocked when Kamindu fell in tame fashion on 15 when he was strangled down the leg side by Starc as Sri Lanka fell to 67 for 4.Chandimal remained unruffled despite copping a blow in the midriff by a shorter delivery from Starc. He continued to defy Lyon by backing his attacking instincts. Much like Australia’s batters on the opening two days, Chandimal danced down the wicket to good effect to club Lyon over cover.Chandimal had a productive partnership with skipper Dhananjaya de Silva to underline there were still plenty of runs on offer on this surface. But, once again, Sri Lanka were derailed by recklessness when de Silva was stumped by a mile after he ran down at left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann and missed a short and wide delivery.Having triggered Sri Lanka’s woes by dismissing opener Oshada Fernando, Kuhnemann continued his strong return in his first Test match since the India tour in early 2023.Chandimal reached his half-century off 91 balls before Sri Lanka, not for the first time in this match, were relieved by the sight of rain.