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The 264-run win placed Nigeria at No. 3 in the list for biggest victory margins in men’s T20Is

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2024Ivory Coast have entered the record books for the lowest total in a men’s T20I, rolling over for just 7 in a 264-run defeat to Nigeria in an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier Group C game on Sunday in Lagos.Batting first after winning the toss, Nigeria rode on Player-of-the-Match Selim Salau’s 53-ball 112 (retired out) and half-centuries from Sulaimon Runsewe (50 in 29) and Isaac Okpe (65* in 23) to put up 271 for 4. It was carnage after that. Left-arm spinner Isaac Danladi and left-arm quick Prosper Useni picked up three wickets each, right-arm quick Peter Aho got two, and Sylvester Okpe got one, with one batter run out, as Ivory Coast were dismissed in 7.3 overs. Opener Ouattara Mohamed was the top-scorer with 4 from six balls. The batters’ scores read: 4, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0* and 0.This was the first instance of a single-digit team total in a men’s T20I, and beat the earlier lowest total in the format, 10 all out, which has been recorded twice: Mongolia vs Singapore in September this year and Isle of Man vs Spain last year.The 264-run win also made it to No. 3 in the list for largest victory margins in men’s T20Is. The leader there is the 290 runs Zimbabwe beat Gambia by last month, followed by Nepal’s 273-run win over Mongolia at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September 2023.The win was Nigeria’s second in as many games in the group, and Ivory Coast’s second loss in as many games – they had been bowled out for 21 to lose by 168 runs to Sierra Leone in their first match. Nigeria are top of the six-team table, while Ivory Coast are bottom.

Leeds United are in the market to sign a new number to bolster their squad before the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the start of September.

Football Insider reported in May that the Championship champions were not planning for Joel Piroe to be their main number nine in the Premier League, despite the fact that he won the Golden Boot last season.

The Dutch marksman scored 19 goals in the second tier to beat the likes of Borja Sainz and Josh Sargent to the Golden Boot, but he may not be the go-to option for Daniel Farke once the window is over.

Leeds have been linked with an interest in Everton’s Beto and Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz as Premier League proven centre-forward options, whilst they have also been linked with Roma striker Artem Dovbyk.

This shows that the Whites are looking to bring in a high-calibre number nine to take Piroe’s place as a starter in the team for the upcoming top-flight season.

The West Yorkshire outfit will be hoping to find a striker who can score goals on a regular basis in the Premier League for many years to come, which means that they are looking for their best centre-forward since Chris Wood.

The strikers Leeds have had since Chris Wood left

The New Zealand international, as shown in the graphic below, scored 44 goals in 88 games for the Whites before his move to Burnley in the summer of 2017.

Since moving on from Elland Road, Wood has established himself as a reliable goalscorer in the top-flight. To date, the 33-year-old star has racked up 89 goals in 263 Premier League appearances for Burnley, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest combined.

In the time since the Forest star left the club, Leeds have had Kemar Roofe, Patrick Bamford, and Joel Piroe as their main starting number nine options, whilst Rodrigo is a debatable one as a versatile star who played in midfield, as a second striker, and as a striker at times.

24/25

Joel Piroe

Championship

19

23/24

Crysencio Summerville

Championship

20

22/23

Rodrigo

Premier League

13

21/22

Raphinha

Premier League

11

20/21

Patrick Bamford

Premier League

17

19/20

Patrick Bamford

Championship

16

18/19

Kemar Roofe

Championship

15

17/18

Kemar Roofe

Championship

11

As you can see in the table above, Bamford is the only one of those players to have cracked over 13 top-flight goals in a single season, with his 17-goal haul.

However, the former England international has failed to consistently deliver in the top-flight, with just 24 goals in 102 Premier League games overall in his career.

The Whites, though, have now been offered the chance to bring in a centre-forward who would be better than all of the strikers they have had since Wood left.

Leeds offered chance to sign prolific striker

According to The Boot Room, Leeds United are one of the teams to have been offered an opportunity to sign Al Hilal number nine Aleksandar Mitrovic before the end of the summer transfer window.

The Whites could see an offer accepted by the Saudi Pro League outfit because the striker may be on the move this summer, due to his side’s interest in bringing in another option in his position.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

This update reveals that Al Hilal are one of a number of Pro League teams in the running to sign Liverpool marksman Darwin Nunez this summer, and his potential arrival has left Mitrovic’s future up in the air.

The Boot Room states that the Serbia international’s representatives have offered him to Leeds, Sunderland, and Fulham, among others, ahead of a possible return to England, a country the player is said to love.

It has previously been reported this summer that Al Hilal would want a fee in the region of £26m for Mitrovic, which provides an insight into the kind of money Leeds will have to spend to get a deal over the line.

Why Leeds should sign Aleksandar Mitrovic

The Whites should push to bring the Serbian forward to Elland Road in the coming weeks, now that they have been offered a chance to sign him, because he could be the club’s best striker since Chris Wood.

As aforementioned, the New Zealand international is the only striker Leeds have had in the past eight years or so who has been able to establish himself as a regular goalscorer at the top level.

Mitrovic would come in as a player who has already proven himself at the top level, with three Premier League seasons with nine or more goals under his belt. The 30-year-old star has also scored a staggering 62 goals in 100 caps for Serbia at international level.

No past or present Leeds striker has scored nine or more goals in multiple seasons in the top-flight other than Wood since 2016, which speaks to the kind of quality that Mitrovic would bring to Elland Road.

Appearances

28

23

xG

26.60

17.41

Goals

28

19

xG on target

26.26

22.12

xA

2.48

1.33

Assists

5

2

His form in the Saudi Pro League, as you can see in the table above, has also been sensational. The former Fulham star has scored a mind-blowing 47 goals in 51 appearances in the league for Al Hilal.

Mitrovic, who was described as an “absolute monster” by Saudi Arabian news journalist Matt Monaghan, has proven, in Saudi Arabia and in England, that he is a reliable and consistent goalscorer at the top level.

The 30-year-old marksman, who holds the record for the most goals in a Championship season with 43, would be the club’s best number nine since Wood, as he would be the only other forward to have shown consistent quality as a goalscorer in top-flight football.

Therefore, the Whites should be doing everything that they can to win the race for Mitrovic’s signature this summer, as he may be the prolific number nine they need to fire them to safety in the Premier League next season.

The new Rutter: Leeds submit bid to sign "fascinating" £22.5m star

Leeds United have reportedly submitted a bid to sign a star who could be their new Georginio Rutter.

ByDan Emery Aug 4, 2025

أعلنت رابطة الأندية المصرية المحترفة، عن أفضل 4 أهداف سجلت في مباريات الجولة السابعة من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز، للموسم الحالي.

ونشرت الصفحة الرسمية لرابطة الأندية، الأهداف الرابعة المرشحة، على أن يتم اختيار هدف منهم الأفضل، خلال مباريات الجولة السابعة لبطولة الدوري.

وجاء الأهداف الأربعة، الأول من مهاجم الزمالك الفلسطيني عدي الدباغ في مرمى الإسماعيلي، والثاني للاعب النادي الأهلي محمود حسن تريزيجيه أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا.

والهدف الثالث كان من نصيب لاعب نادي بيراميدز، مصطفي زيكو في مرمى زد، والرابع للاعب نادي المقاولون العرب محمود يوسف أبو جودة في مرمى فاركو.

طالع | إيقاف ثنائي الزمالك وقرار قاسي ضد محمد شوقي.. رابطة الأندية تعلن عقوبات الجولة السابعة من الدوري أفضل 4 أهداف في الجولة السابعة من الدوري المصري

الجولة السابعة شهدت مواصلة نادي الزمالك انتصارته والحفاظ على صدارة الدوري المصري، بالفوز على الإسماعيلي 2-0، بينما عاد النادي الأهلي إلى طريق الانتصارات بالفوز 1-0 أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا.

بيراميدز أيضًا انتصر على زد 1-0، والمقاولون العرب وفاركو تعادلا 1-1، وبنفس النتيجة انتهت مباراة الجونة وبتروجيت، المصري انتصر على غزل المحلة 2-1، مودرن سبورت تعادل مع إنبي 2-2، الاتحاد السكندري خسر من كهرباء الإسماعيلية 1-0 وفاز وادي دجلة على طلائع الجيش بهدف نظيف، حرس الحدود خسر أمام سموحة بهدف دون رد.

Aston Villa have received a boost in their pursuit of a summer target, with it being revealed he is now planning to ignore Barcelona in favour of a move to the Premier League, according to a report.

Villa file complaint after referee blunder

With Newcastle United suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Everton, a point against Manchester United would’ve been enough for Villa to secure Champions League qualification for the second season on the spin, but they ultimately fell to a 2-0 loss.

Morgan Rogers thought he had opened the scoring for the Villans, but referee Thomas Bramall blew the whistle for an alleged foul on Altay Bayindir, with VAR unable to intervene as play was stopped before the ball hit the net.

As such, an official complaint has been made to the PGMOL, but Unai Emery’s side will ultimately have to settle for Europa League football next season, rather than the much more prestigious and lucrative Champions League.

Villa’s omission from Europe’s elite competition could also impact the business they are able to do this summer, but a new update has suggested they could still be well-positioned to sign a goalkeeper.

According to a report from Spain, Espanyol’s Joan Garcia is on Aston Villa’s radar for a summer transfer swoop, and the 24-year-old is now planning to turn down a move to Barcelona, amid concerns he would not be the first-choice option.

As such, a move to the Premier League is believed to appeal to Garcia, with Villa, Newcastle United and Arsenal all waiting in the wings, and Espanyol are aware it will be difficult to keep hold of the goalkeeper if they receive a big offer from England.

A deal could be relatively cheap, however, with the rumoured asking price of £25m believed to be appealing to all the interested parties.

Garcia could be "elite" Martinez heir

Unfortunately, it appears as though Emiliano Martinez’s time at Villa Park could be over, with the Argentine appearing to say a tearful farewell after his side’s final home game of the campaign.

As such, Emery will be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, and the Espanyol shot-stopper could be a fantastic option, having been lauded as “elite” by scout Ben Mattinson during the 2024-25 campaign.

Aston Villa could sign their new version of Grealish for £65m this summer

Aston Villa have been linked with a Premier League sensation

ByRoss Kilvington May 26, 2025

Not only that, but the 24-year-old ranks in the 86th percentile for his save percentage, and the 91st percentile for his crosses stopped percentage per 90 over the past year, so it is promising news that he could reject Barcelona in favour of a Premier League move.

Nehra was not the first member of a coaching unit to get in the match officials’ bad books

ESPNcricinfo staff08-May-2025

Ashish Nehra

GT vs MI, IPL 2025After rain at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Indians (MI) had the win in the pocket if there was no further play. It was getting close to cut-off time, and GT were understandably agitated, willing the groundstaff to dry things up quickly and get at least one more over in. Nehra, the GT coach, wasn’t only going to will them on. He was there, speaking to the groundstaff and the match officials animatedly to get the covers off quick. ESPNcricinfo understands that the demerit point and fine (25% of his match fee) he was slapped with was for his conduct at that tense juncture in the game. Happily, for Nehra, GT got a win out of it in the end.The tension of the Super Over got too much for Munaf Patel to handle•Getty Images

Munaf Patel

DC vs RR, IPL 2025Nehra wasn’t the first from the coaching staff to get pulled up for crossing a line during a match in IPL 2025, his former India team-mate Munaf beat him to it. This was during the Super Over in the game between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), when Munaf collected a demerit point and coughed up a 25% match fee fine, the same as Nehra. While the IPL didn’t specify what Munaf’s offence was, he was spotted arguing with a match official when he was not allowed to send a reserve player into the middle to pass on a message. Like with Nehra, Munaf’s team won that Super Over.MI’s batting coach Kieron Pollard added a responsibility to his job profile in IPL 2024, that of DRS coach•Mumbai Indians

Kieron Pollard

MI vs PBKS, IPL 2024Pollard, the MI batting coach, and Tim David were pulled up and fined 20% of their match fees during the match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in New Chandigarh. Sitting in the dugout, they were found suggesting batter Suryakumar Yadav to review a wide call.The review was allowed and MI got the decision in their favour. But later, the IPL sought footage from the broadcaster to check for the sequence of events leading up to the review, and found that Pollard and David had asked Suryakumar to take the review. As per the IPL playing conditions, the two batters can consult with each other before taking a review but cannot receive help from the outside.Not a scene we’re used to seeing: Pravin Amre, the DC assistant coach, out on the field speaking with the umpire•BCCI

Pravin Amre

DC vs RR, IPL 2022Three seasons ago, before Munaf had joined the DC back room, there was Pravin Amre there, as an assistant coach. And he was banned for a game for his part in the chaotic events in the final over of the game, when he was spotted walking into the playing area and speaking to on-field umpires Nitin Menon and Nikhil Patwardhan.It all blew up after the third delivery of the final over of DC’s chase of 222. RR bowler Obed McCoy bowled a high full toss, which Rovman Powell pulled for six. But DC felt it should have been called a no-ball for height. Powell and non-striker Kuldeep Yadav asked the umpires about it, and Rishabh Pant, the DC captain, and others joined in, gesticulating from the dugout. Pant then appeared to ask Amre to go and speak to the umpire, which he did. Both Pant and Amre were slapped with 100% match fee fines, but Amre had to also serve the ban. What’s worse, DC lost the game by 15 runs.

Cummins confirmed Hazlewood will be fit for the first Ashes Test, which leaves Australia with a difficult decision to make over the next few days

Andrew McGlashan11-Jun-20231:54

What makes Boland so lethal?

There is surely nothing more Scott Boland can do to become one of the first-choice names in Australia’s attack.So far throughout his stellar eight-match career, which has brought 33 wickets at 14.57, Boland’s opportunities have all come because of the absence of others. However, in the aftermath of securing the World Test Championship final at The Oval, captain Pat Cummins said that Josh Hazlewood, who was ruled out of facing India but said to be “very close” to playing, would be available to face England on Friday.While Cummins was speaking, Hazlewood was completing an eight-over workout on The Oval outfield where minutes before Nathan Lyon had secured Australia the mace.”Josh is in a really good position, so he will be available for selection next week,” Cummins said. “I think he’s had two spells out there today and feeling great, so he’s got quite a bit of work behind him and his body is feeling good.”Moments earlier, in the afterglow of victory during the presentation ceremony, Cummins had called Boland his “favourite” player although such a criteria probably does not carry much weight in selection.Related

• Cummins coy on Australia bowling attack and Bazball plans

• Win toss, bat first? Not necessarily, say Australia

• What does Australia's WTC win mean for the Ashes?

• Boland breaks India's resistance as Australia claim WTC title

• 'Boland is now my favourite player' – Cummins

Heading into the final day against India, Boland, the pick of Australia’s pace attack throughout the Test, did not really need to do any more to advance his claims to be a first-choice place in the attack, but he added to his already substantial body of outstanding work anyway.He brilliantly worked over Virat Kohli outside off stump, making him uncertain about what to play and leave, before drawing him into driving at a very wide delivery. The edge flew quickly to Steven Smith’s right at second slip where he held an excellent catch. Any overnight uncertainty (or hope) evaporated.Two balls later and the game was done and dusted when, from around the wicket, he found the outside edge of Ravindra Jadeja. It was the sixth time in his eight Tests that he had taken multiple wickets in the over, a trait which began with that magical debut spell at the MCG. Only Jadeja himself could match that, having also taken multiple wickets in an over six times in eight Tests over the same period.”I feel like we’re starting to become too used to Scotty Boland just doing that,” Cummins said. “He just keeps finding another level doesn’t he? He’s unbelievable. He is just our best bowler all game. Held it together [and] didn’t go for many runs. Always looked threatening. To get two wickets in a row was just reward for how well he bowled throughout the whole game.”1:40

Test mace in the bag, Ashes up next

While Australia have spoken regularly of likely needing to rotate their quicks throughout the Ashes – and therefore the concept of just one ‘first choice’ attack is probably outdated – it would seem extraordinary if Boland doesn’t line up at Edgbaston barring any injury concerns. So the question becomes fitting him in.The feeling before the final was that if Hazlewood had been fit, or if this had been a one-off game for Australia with no Ashes to follow, he would have played. With 222 wickets at 25.83 and 36 in England at 23.58 it’s hard to say that would have been the wrong call. Earlier this year, when he returned from injury against South Africa in Sydney, he played ahead of Boland and took five wickets in the match.So, after all this, it may not be Boland vs Hazlewood. Which brings the spotlight back onto Mitchell Starc. He was the most expensive of Australia’s quicks at The Oval although showed his value by removing Kohli in the first innings with a vicious lifter and helped clean up the lower order in the second.Interestingly, he was demoted from the new ball in the second innings: on only 12 previous occasions in 148 Test innings had he not shared the opening duties. However, Cummins played down any significance over the move.”I don’t think I’d look too much into that,” he said. “We did that last Ashes series as well. We chop and change the opening bowlers depending on gut feel. The ball moves a little bit differently to a Kookaburra. It might swing a bit more after a few overs rather than the first couple.”I thought Starcy bowled well, particularly today. He did a role for us that we know Starcy can do after 80 Test matches. Again, his runs, we were talking about Mitchell Starc the bowler, but he always contributes with the bat as well. He has got a huge tour ahead of him. The English side sets up slightly different as well, there are a few more left handers. Really happy with where Starcy is.”So, either someone who averages under 15 in Test cricket, someone with more than 300 wickets or someone with more than 200 wickets will not be in the XI on Friday. As captains, coaches and selectors like to say, it’s a good problem to have. But it still makes for one of most fascinating decisions Australia have faced in recent times.

The CPL rejig, India’s home season, impact on T20 World Cup venues and more

Nagraj Gollapudi25-May-2021
Men’s T20 World Cup
The 16-team global tournament has been scheduled to take place in India between mid-October and November 14. However with India being one of the worst-affected countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, the tournament is likely to move to the UAE. If that were to happen, player movement between the IPL and World Cup bubble would be one of BCCI’s biggest advantage.However, in the event the UAE is the venue for both tournaments, the most significant challenge for the ICC would be the fitness of the venues – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The ICC would ideally look at having a breathing space between the IPL and the World Cup to ensure pitch preparation and sprucing up of venues for the marquee tournament.While there’s little doubt about the quality of training venues, the ICC would be more mindful of the pitches (at the three big venues) slowing down due to the sheer amount of cricket being played on them. The three venues will end up hosting a total of 76 matches in case both the IPL and the World Cup were to happen in the UAE.Of these, IPL would account for 31 games while 45 would be part of the World Cup quota, including the qualifiers at the start. Comparing that to the 2020 IPL, where all the 60 matches were conducted in the UAE. It would mean a total of 16 extra matches. It is learned that the ICC might consider including Oman as a potential venue for the first round of matches subject to permission from the UAE government for teams to cross borders without quarantining.The other concern for the ICC would be the support period, where teams arrive and train. Usually this period starts a week before an ICC event begins. However, during the pandemic, the ICC will also need to factor in the quarantine norms set by the UAE government for different overseas countries, which could mean teams would need to land by end of September.Another issue to address would be questions around the FTP. As things stand, India are scheduled to host South Africa for three T20Is and as many ODIs. India are also slotted to host New Zealand before the T20 World Cup.Kieron Pollard captains the Trinbago Knight Riders•Getty ImagesClash with the CPL
On May 20, the CPL announced the upcoming season would be held in St Kitts & Nevis between August 28-September 19. Given West Indies players are in much demand at the IPL, this could potentially have a direct impact. These players include Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine (both Kolkata Knight Riders), Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran (both Punjab Kings), Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings), Shimron Hetmeyer (Delhi Capitals).The other big-ticket overseas players at the CPL include Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir (Super Kings), Chris Morris (Barbados Tridents).The big question for the CPL is how it can tweak its schedule so that the tournament to finish well in time for the IPL bunch to travel directly the UAE on a charter plane and avoid missing any games. To accomplish that, the CPL would need Cricket West Indies to potentially tweak the itinerary for the home series against Pakistan.Pakistan’s Caribbean tour, comprising five T20s and two Tests is scheduled to begin from July 28, four days after the West Indies’ home series against Australia ends. After the five T20s finish on August 3 in Guyana, West Indies and Pakistan play two Tests in Jamaica between August 12-16 and 20-24.Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer may not feature in the remainder of IPL because of international commitments•BCCIEngland player availability
Virtually the entire first-team of England’s white-ball squad also features on the first XIs of IPL teams. This includes: England captain Eoin Morgan (Knight Riders), Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer (all Rajasthan Royals), Johnny Bairstow and Jason Roy (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Sam Curran, Moeen Ali (both Super Kings), Chris Woakes, Tom Curran (both Capitals). However most of these players are likely to miss the remainder of the IPL with ECB’s director of cricket Ashley Giles recently indicating England players’ priority would be the bilateral series scheduled to played immediately after the India Test series and before the T20 World Cup.England are scheduled to play a white-ball series in Bangladesh followed by two ODIs in Pakistan, with both these series planned between late September and mid-October. Other than England, New Zealand are also scheduled to play a white-ball series in September-October in Pakistan while Afghanistan are hosting Pakistan in the UAE in September for a white-ball series.Bubble to bubble transferIn 2020, players moved between tournament bubbles from CPL and the England-Australia white-ball series. Both sets of players flew on a charter flight directly to the UAE: those that went to Abu Dhabi, where their IPL teams were staying, had to spend a week in quarantine while those joining their teams in Dubai were allowed to start training straightaway after clearing the testing.With the pandemic evolving rapidly across the world, existing rules at the time would determine the quarantine norms set by the UAE government for members of the IPL teams who would be travelling from several different countries including India. The challenge then for the BCCI would be to assemble teams in time for them to undergo the required quarantine before being eligible to play.

Every member of the Dodgers bullpen was put on notice Monday night when K-Pop star V from the blockbuster boy band BTS threw a surprisingly epic first pitch at Los Angeles's game vs. the Reds.

The left-handed pitch—which was deemed a strike—sent stan Twitter (as it is still colloquially known) into a frenzy, as surprised Dodgers fans, meanwhile, called on the front office to sign him.

MLB's initial post has an eye-watering 72,000 retweets. That's the power of the BTS Army, baby.

Take a look at that reaction below:

More than half the squad have played some competitive cricket over since the end of last season

Andrew McGlashan28-May-20252:00

Decoding Mitchell Starc’s wobble seam delivery

The Australia squad for the World Test Championship final convenes in the UK this week for a team-building camp before training ramps ahead of facing South Africa at Lord’s on June 11. Coach Andrew McDonald termed the recent period a “muddled mess” with a mixture of players at home, featuring in the IPL either side of its suspension and playing county cricket but was confident in how the side would be able to prepare once they are all together. Here’s a round-up of what those selected have been up to over the last couple of months.

Usman Khawaja

After the controversial end to the season amid the fallout with Queensland cricket boss Joe Dawes over Sheffield Shield availability it’s been a period at home for Khawaja as he enters what might be the final stretch of his international career. The end of the Ashes next season, which concludes at the SCG, could be the stepping off point. In the WTC final his experience will be vital given the uncertainty over who will partner him at the top of the order.

Sam Konstas

Konstas had been keen for a county deal to further his cricket education but an opening didn’t transpire so he, too, has prepared at home with sessions at Cricket Central in Sydney and at the Brisbane-based camps where McDonald revealed he had been working on some technical tweaks. It will be fascinating to watch how the next couple of months play out for Konstas after the high-octane start to his career against India. The reported that he had self-funded an extra session in Brisbane after being invited up by Nathan Lyon.Related

• Bat down, hunger up: Smith ready for Lord's after American reset

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

• Labuschagne faces vital outing in search for form

• WTC winners to get USD 3.6 million in prize money

• Green has 'all bases covered' amid Australia's WTC final selection debates

Marnus Labuschagne

The key figure in Australia’s selection debate. Has time run out for Labuschagne after two lean years in Test cricket? His two-match stint with Glamorgan was unconvincing with scores of 0, 4 and 23. But in his favour is the experience he has of playing in England, although should he retain his place in the XI it looks increasingly likely he would be handed a new role as opener.

Steven Smith

Smith has spent time in New York, a favourite destination of his and somewhere he owns property, where he has regularly posted on social media of various runs around the city and gym sessions ahead of joining his team-mates in the UK. With over 10,000 Test runs the management are content to allow Smith to tailor his own preparation and he will no doubt switch on to some intense net sessions when the squad begins training. As ever with Smith there is intrigue around how much longer his career will go but his recent run-scoring suggests the hunger remains.Travis Head has had another season at the IPL•Associated Press

Travis Head

Head has been among the contingent at the IPL and while he couldn’t match the highs of last season he still produced the occasional dazzling display as he made 374 runs with a strike-rate of 162.60. He signed off with 76 off 40 balls in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) massive 278 for 3, having overcome a bout of Covid, and now the transition begins to Test mode. Head played the decisive innings two years ago with a thrilling 163 off 174 balls against India at The Oval.

Cameron Green

Things could hardly have gone much better for Green on his return from the back surgery that kept him out for the whole of the last home season. Three centuries in nine innings for Gloucestershire, including tons in his last two outings, has left him primed for a return to the Test side even though he won’t be a bowling option until the Ashes later in the year. Last time he played Tests, against New Zealand in early 2024, he batted at No. 4 where he made a superb unbeaten 174 in Wellington. Where he fits in this time is intriguing.

Beau Webster

Webster, who impressed on his Test debut against India, has had a four-game spell with Warwickshire where he has chipped in without setting things alight. He made 85 in his first innings but did not pass fifty again while claiming 10 wickets at 27.80. Whether he retains his place at Lord’s appears likely to come down to conditions and how important the selectors view overs from a fifth bowler.Cameron Green will be one of Australia’s most in-form players heading into the final•Getty Images

Alex Carey

Carey finished last season in some of the best form of his life having made a century in Sri Lanka, runs at the Champions Trophy and two hundreds to end the Shield season, the second of them central to South Australia’s historic title victory. Since then he has been at home and has used the camps in Brisbane this month to tune up for the final.

Josh Inglis

Inglis has been with Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the IPL where he had to bide his time on the bench but has since played eight matches – making 197 runs at a strike-rate of 164.16 – either side of the tournament’s suspension with his latest innings being a superb 73 off 42 balls. He was a slightly late returnee but will be available for the playoffs meaning he will join the squad in the UK when PBKS’ campaign comes to an end. Despite a century on Test debut in Sri Lanka he will likely be carrying drinks at Lord’s.

Pat Cummins

Cummins completed the entire season for SRH as they failed to make the playoffs. He finished as their joint-leading wicket-taker with 16 at 28.12 having not played since the final Test against India due to paternity leave and an ankle problem he had nursed through the summer. Behind the scenes he has been working on increasing his loads with an eye on a return to red-ball cricket at Lord’s and the next couple of weeks will be vital in ensuring he can peak against South Africa.Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, along with Josh Hazlewood, have been involved in the IPL•Associated Press

Mitchell Starc

Starc did not return to the IPL with Delhi Capitals meaning his tournament ended with 14 wickets at 26.14. His economy rate was high at 10.16 but he produced a couple of starring performances including a career-best 5 for 35. Having remained in Australia, Starc joined the home-based players in Brisbane last week which meant his focused WTC preparation started a little ahead of schedule.

Nathan Lyon

Another of those based at home, Lyon has been bowling at the training camps having recovered from a hip injury he carried for most of the home summer after initially picking it up early in the India series. It was a nastier injury than was initially indicated and a build-up of fluid needed draining to ensure he could get through the Sri Lanka tour, but feedback from the last few weeks is that he is in excellent shape heading to England.

Josh Hazlewood

After spending a period back in Australia rehabbing a shoulder niggle, Hazlewood has returned for the IPL playoffs with Royal Challengers Bengaluru aiming to cap what had been an outstanding season before the interruption. Hazlewood, who had an injury-hit home season, has so far taken 18 wickets at 17.27 with an economy of 8.44 and often found success with his Test-match length. Barring any further injury setbacks he will likely keep Scott Boland out of the XI at Lord’s.Scott Boland appears likely to miss out at Lord’s, but Australia know he will deliver if needed•Getty Images

Scott Boland

Speaking of Boland, he’s the ultimate super sub for Australia should anything happen to the big three. He managed a knee niggle through the closing stages of the season and opted against finding a small window for a county stint. Two years ago he was impressive against India in the final but may have to watch from the sidelines this time.

Matt Kuhnemann

It was a rollercoaster latter part to the season for Kuhnemann who starred in Sri Lanka and then had his action reported. He was cleared by ICC testing and after a period of the off-season at home has squeezed in a one-game outing for Glamorgan which proved very productive with a career-best 6 for 53. He won’t feature at Lord’s barring injury to Lyon but could play a role in the Caribbean.

Brendan Doggett

Doggett is the traveling reserve for the WTC final so will only be called into the 15 should injury strike. He has had a three-game stint with Durham which brought nine wickets at 33.44. An impressive home season has seen him leapfrog Sean Abbott in the pecking order.

In the midst of a standout rookie campaign, Atlanta Braves righthander AJ Smith-Shawver is slated to miss the rest of the season after an MRI exam revealed a torn UCL in his pitching elbow, according to the team.

He left a start against the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday after he felt a pop in his elbow in the third inning of the opening game of Atlanta's day-night doubleheader. Moments before leaving the start, he took a line drive off the bat of Bryson Stott that struck the back of his ankle. Smith-Shawver stayed in the game, but left after he got Trea Turner to fly out in the next at bat.

"[His evaluation] showed a tear on his imaging," Braves manager Brian Snitker said Friday before Atlanta began a weekend series with the Boston Red Sox. "He'll consult with the physicians or doctors and they'll decide what the next step is."

With the torn UCL, that next step could be either Tommy John surgery or the internal brace procedure, which requires approximately six months less of rehab. No matter the path forward, Smith-Shawver's season is over prematurely and he's also slated to miss at least the first two months of the 2026 season according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman.

The 22-year-old rookie is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA through nine starts and 44.1 innings pitched this season. He has thrown 42 strikeouts and allowed 21 walks in a promising start to his full rookie season. The Braves are third in the NL East sitting at 26-29.

Shortly after starter Spencer Strider returned to the mound following a lengthy stay on the injured list, Atlanta's rotation suffered a tough blow with the loss of their standout rookie.