All posts by h716a5.icu

Stats preview of the fourth Test in Centurion, where South Africa and England both have impressive records to protect

Bharath Seervi19-Jan-20160-1 South Africa’s win-loss record against England at SuperSport Park. The teams have played four Tests at this venue, of which three were drawn. South Africa lost the 1999-00 Test by two wickets after forfeiting their second innings. The first three Tests were interrupted by rain – no play was possible on three days in the first two matches and in the third Test there was no play on the first day. Only in the last Test between the teams at this venue, in 2009-10, was uninterrupted play possible on all five days, with England hanging on to a draw on the final day.15-2 South Africa’s win-loss record at this venue in 20 Tests; their win-loss ratio of 7.5 at this venue is the best, by far, among the 11 venues where they have played ten or more Tests. Their two losses here have come against England and against Australia, in 2013-14. Among all teams who have played 20 or more Tests at a venue, only Pakistan have a better ratio – 10.50 at the National Stadium in Karachi.8 Number of Tests at this venue that South Africa have won by an innings margin. Each of the last six wins for the hosts in Centurion have been by an innings. The 53.33% innings-win ratio (8/15) for the hosts at this venue is the highest for any team that has won at least ten Tests at a venue. The next highest is India’s four innings victories out of ten (40%) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.1-6 Win-loss record of overseas teams fielding first at this venue in eight Tests. The only time a visiting team won while fielding first at this venue was in 1999-00 when England won after the match was reduced effectively to a one-innings affair. South Africa, though, have a good record while fielding first in Centurion, having won nine out of 11 Tests. The only time they lost while fielding first here came recently, against Australia. While the hosts have managed to post first-innings totals in excess of 400 runs six times in ten innings after fielding first, the highest score visiting teams have managed while batting second in the first innings is 359.48 Spinners’ average at this venue – second-worst for any venue where spinners have delivered at least 2500 balls. There have been four five-wicket hauls here by spinners, two of those in the same Test between England and the hosts in 2009-10. Fast bowlers have done much better at this venue in comparison, having averaged a fraction over 19 runs less per wicket. They have taken 23 five-wicket hauls and four ten-wicket hauls for the match in 20 Tests here.21.25 Average opening stand per dismissal by visiting teams at this venue – the worst at any venue where there have been a minimum of 15 partnerships. In the 39 opening stands against the hosts in Centurion, there has been only one century partnership and two others stands of fifty-plus. England’s average opening stand has been just 27.00 in the six innings of this series, with two stands of 50 or more; one of those was the 64-run stand in the fourth innings of the last Test, chasing 74 to win.85.27 Hashim Amla’s average at SuperSport Park – the highest by a South Africa batsman at any venue from ten or more innings. He has made 50 or more runs in eight of the 12 innings he has batted at this venue, including a double-hundred in his last Test here, against West Indies in December 2014. His 208 is also the highest individual score here. His aggregate of 938 runs is the third-highest behind Jacques Kallis (1267 runs) and AB de Villiers (1157). De Villiers himself has amassed 640 runs at 106.66 in his last six innings at this venue. His scores in these innings read: 129, 99, 121, 91, 48 and 152.1 Centuries by England batsmen in Centurion – 141 by Graeme Hick in 1995-96. There have been 11 other scores of 50 or more, though, four of those in their last match here in 2009-10. None of the players from this England squad have a 50-plus at this venue; Alastair Cook, James Anderson and Stuart Broad are the only ones to have previously played a Test here.5-20 Morne Morkel’s best figures in Tests at home, which came against India at this venue in 2010-11. This is one of the two five-fors he has taken in South Africa; the other being 5 for 75 against England in Cape Town in 2009-10. The 5 for 20 he took in Centurion is currently his second-best overall in Tests. He averages 26.39 runs and 48.8 balls per wicket at the venue – both his second-best at a home venue after Port Elizabeth.121 Runs required by Jonny Bairstow to go past England’s record for the most runs by a wicketkeeper in a Test series. Alec Stewart’s tally of 465 against South Africa in 1998 is the highest. The highest any keeper has made in a series against South Africa is the 473 by Adam Gilchrist in 2001-02. Bairstow needs 129 runs to go past that.713 Runs by England batsmen at No. 6 and No. 7 in this series so far – 368 by Ben Stokes and 345 by Bairstow. This aggregate is just 131 runs short of the highest for England from those batting positions in any Test series. The highest for England is 843 in the 1934 Ashes. The highest for any team is 949 by West Indies in the 1966 Wisden Trophy, when Garry Sobers alone scored 722 runs.

Australia declared with Adam Voges unbeaten on 269. Here are five times teams declared with undefeated batsmen even nearer to a triple

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Dec-2015Javed Miandad 280*
Pakistan v India, Hyderabad, Sind, 1983
Declared on: third day after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. He was involved in a 451-run stand with Mudassar Nazar, tying the then Test record for any wicket•PA PhotosAB de Villiers 278*
Pakistan v South Africa, Abu Dhabi, 2010
Declared on: second day, soon after tea once de Villiers broke the record for the highest individual score by a South African•AFPDaryll Cullinan 275*
New Zealand v South Africa, Auckland, 1999
Declared on: third morning, soon after Cullinan broke the record for the highest individual score by a South African•Getty ImagesStephen Fleming 274*
Sri Lanka v New Zealand, Colombo, 2003
Declared on: second day, just before stumps. Fleming was the captain, and he denied himself the chance to go past Martin Crowe’s 299, then the record for the highest Test score by a New Zealander•Getty Images

A round-up of the Group D matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy held on March 6, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Mar-2017A batting meltdown at Eden Gardens cost Hyderabad dear as they were pipped for a knockout berth by Jharkhand on net run rate.Services’ pace trio of Suraj Yadav (3 for 36), Diwesh Pathania (4 for 21) and Sachidanand Pandey (3 for 22) skittled Hyderabad for 88, before the batsman wobbled and eventually got home by five wickets. Hyderabad ended their campaign with four wins in six matches.A stand of 39 runs for the sixth wicket between Tanmay Agarwal (16) and Chama Milind (32) saved some of Hyderabad’s blushes after they lost their first five wickets inside 11 overs. They were struggling at 25 for 5 when the duo added the only significant stand. Hyderabad’s bowlers, led by spinner Mohammed Siraj (2 for 31), made the Services chase difficult, but useful knocks from Gaurav Kochar (24) and G Rahul Singh (22) were enough to complete a consolation win.Karnataka completed their sixth-straight win to finish as Group D toppers after beating Chhattisgarh by three wickets . Captain Vinay Kumar snared three wickets while opener Mayank Agarwal slammed a half-century (66 off 76 balls) to help complete the chase of 200 at Kolkata’s Jadavpur University Ground.Vinay struck early after Chhatisgarh chose to bat; they slumped to 60 for 4 before Abhimanyu Chauhan (58 off 102 balls) and Mohammad Kaif (43* off 52 balls) put on a 75 for the fifth-wicket. Chauhan was the fifth man to go with the team on 135. They would lose their last four wickets for 12 to finish with 199.Karnataka’s started strongly after a 52-run opening partnership between Agarwal and Robin Uthappa (23). That was followed up by useful contributions from captain Manish Pandey (34 of 40 balls) and Stuart Binny (25 off 34 balls). Shubham Thakur’s three wickets kept Chhattisgarh in the hunt, but a batting collapse would eventually mean they didn’t have enough to defend in the end.Jharkhand qualified to the next round after Shahbaz Nadeem’s second List A fifth-wicket haul set up their five-wicket win over Jammu & Kashmir.A patient 78 from Kumar Deobrat led Jharkhand’s 185 chase. They got past the line with 90 balls to spare. MS Dhoni, who hit two fours and a six, was unbeaten on 19 when the winning run were scored. J&K got off to a strong start courtesy a 66-run third wicket partnership between Owais Shah (59) and Parvez Rasool (45 off 40 balls) but Nadeem’s introduction to the attack turned the game. He took four wickets off his last three overs to set up a comfortable second-innings chase.

South Africa’s AB de Villiers has displaced Australia’s David Warner at the top of the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Mar-2017South Africa’s AB de Villiers has displaced Australia’s David Warner at the top of the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen. This the tenth time de Villiers has climbed to the top since 2010 – when he first went to No. 1 – and this latest stint comes after he top scored in the recently concluded series in New Zealand.De Villiers had scored 262 runs in the five-match series at 87.33, including two fifties. As per an ICC release, he has never been ranked outside the top-five ODI batsmen since September 2009.India’s Virat Kohli remains at No. 3 behind de Villiers and Warner, while England’s Joe Root has jumped four places to No. 4. following scores of 4, 90 not out and 101 in the Caribbean.De Villiers’ team-mate, fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, broke into the top five of the ODI bowling rankings for the first time, slotting in behind Imran Tahir, Sunil Narine, Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult. Following his haul of 10 at 11.50 with an economy rate of 3.57 in the five-match series in Zimbabwe, Afghanistan offspinner Mohammad Nabi has climbed three spots to reach a career-best No. 7. England pacer Chris Woakes has jumped nine placed to No. 9 – the first time he is in the top 10 – courtesy his successes against West Indies.

After the launch of NXGN 2025, GOAL picks out 10 success stories from previous editions, from USWNT star Jaedyn Shaw to Lionesses winger Lauren James

It is five years since GOAL's women's NXGN list launched, taking stock of the best wonderkids in the women's game. In the time since, there have been a lot of success stories, players who have broken records, won the biggest titles and established themselves among the best club and international teams in the sport.

It's never easy for top prospects to live up to the expectations around them. Injuries can interfere, transfers can fail to work out and plenty of other factors have the potential to come into play as these talented young players bid to become stars of the game. Fortunately, though, many of them do live up to the billing and plenty of those names on the six NXGN lists to date, after this week's launch of the 2025 edition, have been lighting up the women's game in recent times.

So, who are the biggest success stories from NXGN lists of years gone by? Here are 10 women's wonderkids who have gone on to become superstars…

Getty ImagesEsmee Brugts

Included on the NXGN 2022 list, Esmee Brugts established herself as a regular in the Eredivisie with PSV as a 16-year-old and showed enough quality in her first two senior seasons to be included in the Netherlands' squad for the 2022 European Championship. Capable of playing across the front line, as a No.10, a wing-back or a full-back, her performances for club and country put her on the radar of Europe's top clubs and, after starring in all five of her country's games at the 2023 Women's World Cup, she would sign for Barcelona.

Despite being just 20 years old at that point, Brugts quickly established herself in Catalunya and helped Barca win an historic first quadruple on the women's side in her debut season. Now in her second year there, the young forward continues to be a marvel.

AdvertisementGettyLinda Caicedo

When Linda Caicedo was first named to the women's NXGN list back in 2020, she had only just celebrated her 15th birthday and, as such, was the youngest player included. As a 14-year-old, she had won the Golden Boot in the Colombian top-flight and led America de Cali to a first league title, before signing for bitter rivals Deportivo Cali in a transfer that was supposed to lead to a Barcelona move further down the line.

As it transpired, after starring for Colombia at a flurry of Under-17, U20 and senior national-team tournaments, the flying winger would actually join Barca's historic rivals, Real Madrid, after celebrating her 18th birthday. Caicedo is a star player for Las Blancas and has done some remarkable things for her country, stealing the show as they reached the Copa America final in 2022 and enjoyed a best-ever Women's World Cup run in 2023.

Getty ImagesMelchie Dumornay

The NXGN 2022 winner, Melchie Dumornay was first included on a women's NXGN list back in 2020, having caught the eye in a number of CONCACAF youth tournaments. The versatile midfielder, who can also play in the front line, made her senior debut for Haiti in January 2020, aged 16, and would be on her way to Europe shortly after her 18th birthday.

Despite impressing Lyon, the eight-time Champions League winners, on a trial previously, and having dozens of suitors, it was Reims with whom Dumornay chose to take this next step of her career. A club with a fantastic reputation for developing young talent, the teenager would thrive under head coach Amandine Miquel and inevitably signed for Lyon, the team of her dreams, ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Now 21 years old, Dumornay is a key player for one of Europe's biggest clubs and has played in a Champions League final. More significant, though, have been her contributions for Haiti; the talented youngster helped her country qualify for a first Women's World Cup in 2023 and showcased her talents there to impress a whole new audience.

Getty ImagesMary Fowler

Named to the first women's NXGN list in 2020, Mary Fowler had already made her debut for Australia at that time, aged 15, and was included in the Matildas' squad for the 2019 Women's World Cup a year later. Following that tournament, she graced the domestic league for the first time, with Adelaide United, and impressed so quickly that she was on her way to Europe within just three months, signing for French club Montpellier.

Two years later, a switch to Manchester City beckoned, with her breaking through to become a first-team regular during the 2023-24 season. She remains key for the Cityzens today and holds perhaps an even greater status with her national team, whom she helped reach an Olympic semi-final in 2021 and, crucially, the last four of their home World Cup in 2023.

Liverpool have been a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League again over the last decade or so.

Skipper Virgil van Dijk has been a huge part of their revival as the main man leading the defence for the Merseyside team since his transfer from Southampton back in 2018.

Van Dijk’s intimidating presence, resolute defending, and high footballing IQ make him one of the best defenders not just in the Premier League, but in the world.

The club has never failed to recognize the Dutchman’s importance to the team, rewarding him with a high salary, making him the among the highest-earning defenders in the English top flight.

Just how much does the Dutchman earn at Liverpool, though?

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!

*

Virgil Van Dijk’s wages at Liverpool in numbers

Van Dijk currently makes £220,000 ($277,890) on a weekly basis from the current wage bill, putting him on a yearly salary of well over £11 million ($14m).

Player

Nationality

Weekly wages in GBP

Weekly wages in USD

Annual wages in GBP

Annual wages in USD

Virgil van Dijk

Dutch

 £220,000

$277,890

£11,440,000

$14,450,264

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTop earners at Liverpool

Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk are the highest earners at the club.

Following these two is the full-back duo of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, taking the third and fourth spots, respectively.

Meanwhile, at fifth comes the Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who joined the club from Brighton in 2023.

Player

Nationality

Weekly wages in GBP

Weekly wages in USD

Annual wages in GBP

Annual wages in USD

Mohamed Salah

Egyptian

£350,000

$442,097

£18,200,000

$22,989,057

Virgil Van Dijk

Dutch

£220,000

$277,890

£11,440,000

$14,450,264

Trent Alexander-Arnold

English

£180,000

$227,364

£9,360,000

$11,822,944

Andrew Robertson

Scottish

£160,000

$202,102

£8,320,000

$10,509,283

Alexis Mac Allister

Argentine

£264,244

$189,470

£7,800,000 

$9,852,453

Top 5 earners in the Premier League

Despite Van Dijk being the second-top earner at Liverpool, he fails to make the top 10 cut when it comes to the top earners across the Premier League.

Manchester City stars Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne acquire the top spots, while Salah comes in at third.

Player

Nationality

Weekly wages in GBP

Weekly wages in USD

Annual wages in GBP

Annual wages in USD

Erling Haaland

Norwegian

£525,000

$663,164

£27,300,000

$34,483,586

Kevin De Bruyne

Belgian

£400,000

$505,254

£20,800,000

$26,273,206

Mohamed Salah

Egyptian

£350,000

$442,097

£18,200,000

$22,989,057

Casemiro

Brazilian

£350,000

$442,097

£18,200,000

$22,989,057

Jack Grealish

English

£300,000

$378,941

£17,169,698

$19,704,906

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportHighest paid players in the world

Although the Liverpool defender is one of the highest-paid players at Liverpool and in the Premier League, he doesn't come close when it comes to the highest-paid players in the world.

The list is massively dominated by players from the Saudi Pro League.

One of the greatest forwards to ever grace the sport, Cristiano Ronaldo sits at the top of the list as the top-earner in the sport across the world, playing for SPL side Al Nassr.

Following him on the list is his former Real Madrid team-mate in Karim Benzema who plays for Al Ittihad.

Meanwhile, Riyad Mahrez comes in at third, followed by Senegal internationals Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly at fourth and fifth spot.

Player

Club

Weekly wages GBP

Weekly wages USD

Annual wages GBP

Annual wages USD

Cristiano Ronaldo

Al Nassr

£3,846,154

$4,027,872

£200,000,000

$209,449,340

Karim Benzema

Al Ittihad

£1,923,077

$2,013,936

£100,000,000

$104,724,670

Riyad Mahrez

Al Ahli

£1,003,846

$1,051,275

£52,200,000

$54,666,278

Sadio Mane

Al Nassr

£769,231

$805,574

£40,000,000

$41,889,868

Kalidou Koulibaly

Al Hilal

£667,308

$698,836

£34,000,000

$36,339,460

Litton Das and Yasir Ali also contributed significantly to a comfortable victory

Mohammad Isam18-Mar-2022Bangladesh have now won ODIs in every country they have played in. They ticked South Africa off the list on Friday, registering their first win in 20 years of touring here. They beat the home side by 38 runs, following a team effort that included three fifties that set up a total of 314 for 7, and two bowlers taking three wickets or more.David Miller was Bangladesh’s last stumbling block but when the left-hander fell in the 46th over, it was all but over for the home side. Miller was stopped at 79 off 57 balls, at a time when he was striking a boundary almost every over. Rassie van der Dussen top-scored with 86, which helped South Africa get out of an early jam, but it wasn’t enough in a big chase.Shakib Al Hasan’s rapid 77 was the centerpiece of Bangladesh total, their highest in South Africa. He added 115 for the fourth wicket with Yasir Ali, who made his maiden ODI fifty. Bangladesh hit 11 sixes in their innings, equaling their record for an overseas ODI.Rassie van der Dussen top-scored for South Africa with 86•Getty ImagesMehidy Hasan Miraz, who gave Tamim Iqbal a bit of a headache after an expensive first spell, ended up taking four wickets including the one of Miller. But Taskin Ahmed was Bangladesh’s best bowler, with figures of 3 for 36.He struck twice in the first nine overs as Bangladesh struck three early blows. Shoriful Islam had Janneman Malan caught behind, before Taskin jammed one into Kyle Verreynne’s pads, plumb in front, and then had Aiden Markram caught at point for a three-ball duck.Temba Bavuma and van der Dussen took stock of the dire situation, and slowly rebuilt the chase with an 85-run stand. Bavuma found it difficult to pierce the gaps, but van der Dussen stroked the ball better, hitting three beautiful cover drives apart from two reverse-swept fours, two hits through midwicket and a top-edged six.Shoriful removed Bavuma in the 27th over but it brought more trouble to the crease for Bangladesh: Miller.He provided the thrust in a 70-run fifth wicket stand with van der Dussen, giving South Africa a sniff despite the steep required rate. Bangladesh could have broken the partnership in the 35th over when substitute Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a direct hit from mid-off. But third umpire Adrian Holdstock viewed just one replay even though TV commentator Pommie Mbagwa kept making the point that van der Dussen’s bat was in the air. It was, as replays showed a few balls later.Thankfully for Bangladesh, van der Dussen fell three overs later when Yasir took a superb diving catch at the deep square-leg boundary. Andile Phehlukwayo struggled through 12 balls, playing and missing frequently, before holing out to Litton Das at long-off.Miller struck a few more blows but Bangladesh were well on top now. Mehidy had Marco Jansen caught brilliantly by Tamim at deep midwicket, had Rabada caught and bowled, and then Miller stumped. This left South Africa 242 for 9 and well and truly beaten.Shakib Al Hasan scored a brisk fifty•AFP/Getty ImagesWhen Bangladesh were sent in, Tamim and Litton played out the toughest period, with the SuperSport Park pitch offering uneven pace and bounce at the start.They added 95 for the first wicket. Litton made his fourth 50-plus score in his last five international innings, striking the ball cleanly against the seamers, and attacking Keshav Maharaj early with three fours and a six over cover. Tamim was circumspect, understandably, having come off a lean ODI series against Afghanistan. But he struck the ball sweetly too, once he was set.It was not just Bangladesh’s first 50-plus opening stand in any format in South Africa, but the first time a Bangladesh opening pair had lasted for more than 11.1 overs in an ODI here. This was the perfect platform for Shakib and Yasir.The pair got together in the 29th over, at a time when Bangladesh had briefly lost their way. But Shakib counter-attacked, hitting Maharaj down the ground as soon as he had removed removed Mushfiqur Rahim. Yasir was getting set at the other end. By the time Shakib struck Andile Phehlukwayo and Marco Jansen for three sixes in a short span, Yasir too got into his groove, striking Ngidi over square leg and flicking Rabada beautifully over midwicket.Bangladesh didn’t lose their shape even though Shakib and Yasir got out in the space of three balls. Mahmudullah and Afif Hossain struck a six each, while Mehidy hit two sixes as the visitors added 91 runs in the last 10 overs.South Africa’s bowlers let themselves down on a wicket that had variable pace and bounce. Ngidi went for 75 in his ten overs, the most by a South Africa bowler at home against Bangladesh. Maharaj and Jansen took two wickets each while Ngidi, Rabada and Phehlukwayo took one each.

Sarfaraz smashed 275 off just 401 balls to guide Mumbai to a massive 544 for 7

Saurabh Somani18-Feb-2022Sakibul Gani, the 22-year-old right-hand batter from Bihar, made history by becoming the first man to hit a triple century on first-class debut, on the second day of the Ranji Trophy 2021-22. Bihar piled up 686 for 5 declared in 159.4 overs against Mizoram in a Plate Group match at the Jadavpur University Campus 2nd Ground in Kolkata. Gani hit 341 in just 405 balls with two sixes and 56 fours and shared in a gargantuan partnership of 538 runs for the fourth wicket alongside double-centurion Babul Kumar, who made 229 not out.Gani broke Ajay Rohera’s record for the highest score on first-class debut, set in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season. Rohera had made 267 not out for Madhya Pradesh against Hyderabad in Indore. Rohera himself had also broken the record of a fellow Indian, with Amol Muzumdar’s record of 260 on debut for Bombay (as it was called then) against Haryana standing since 1993-94.

Scoring a triple ton is always special. It becomes an extraordinary innings when someone gets it on debut.Sakibul Gani has created a world record. Became the first batter to score a Triple Ton on First Class debut. Further pleased that he comes from my home state Bihar. pic.twitter.com/1M1Ny3ogOG

— Syed Saba Karim (@SyedSabaKarim5) February 18, 2022