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South Africa are “obviously chuffed” to have qualified directly for the men’s ODI World Cup, to be played in India later this year, after spending the bulk of the World Cup Super League outside of the top eight. And they have the weather in Chelmsford to thank for it.With the no-result in the first of three ODIs between Ireland and Bangladesh on Tuesday, even if Ireland go on to claim the series, they cannot surpass South Africa in eighth place on the Super League points table. Ireland are guaranteed a ninth-place finish, though, and will compete in the ten-team qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe, which runs from June 18 to July 9, and also includes former world champions West Indies and Sri Lanka.”We’re obviously chuffed to qualify directly because it makes life a lot simpler not having to go through the qualifying tournament,” Rob Walter, South Africa’s white-ball coach, told ESPNcricinfo. “But there would have been an upside to competing in the qualifier given the very quiet winter we have.”The men’s team last played ODI cricket against Netherlands on April 2 and have no matches scheduled until August 30, which amounts to almost five months of inaction after a redemptive summer, which ended with good results over England, West Indies and Netherlands, after chastening visits to Australia for the T20 World Cup and a Test series.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

South Africa returned empty-handed from both, but neither format mattered as much as ODIs. They started the year in 11th place on the Super League standings – well outside the automatic qualification zone – after series losses to Pakistan (2021 – home), Sri Lanka (2021 – away) and Bangladesh (2022 – home) and forfeiting a series in Australia (scheduled for January 2023) to allow their top cricketers to be available for the inaugural SA20 league.South Africa gave themselves the best chance of progressing to the World Cup with series wins over England and Netherlands, which lifted them into No. 8, but the final outcome was not in their hands, as they waited for the Ireland vs Bangladesh matches to take place.

Planning for World Cup already on, Rob Walter confirms

Walter confirmed that Cricket South Africa had put in place “two plans based on either eventuality” to execute: one if a trip to Zimbabwe was necessary, and another if South Africa held on to eighth place. The first of those would have necessitated Walter’s return from his home in New Zealand earlier than planned and seen a return to action for top players shortly after the end of the IPL on May 28. Now, they will only be called on later in the winter. The second plan has already begun, with a camp at the high-performance centre in Pretoria from Tuesday.Related

• Bangladesh find a home away from home to breathe life into Ireland's series in exile

• De Zorzi, Petersen among eight Test players in SA A squad

• IPL teams and international stars in informal discussions

• South Africa and Australia to contest five-match ODI series

“What we have now is the chance to spend some quality time outside of competition getting ourselves ready for a marquee event,” Walter said. “We have a number of camps planned throughout the winter in the lead up to the Australia series which obviously forms our final preparation for the World Cup. There is also the ‘A’ side tour to Sri Lanka, so we have tried to ensure significant skill development opportunities and time in the middle from a competitive point of view.”South Africa A, captained by Tony de Zorzi and with eight Test caps, will play three one-day matches and two four-day games against Sri Lanka A next month. The white-ball fixtures were pencilled in on Sri Lanka’s request, to ready themselves for the qualifying tournament in June. Gerald Coetzee and Tristan Stubbs, who earned ODI caps this year, are both in the touring party, and could put themselves into consideration for the World Cup squad.The bulk of players who will be involved in the ODI plans are involved at the IPL. Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Heinrich Klaasen, Wayne Parnell and Sisanda Magala have all played, while Lungi Ngidi is also at the tournament, though he has not got a game. South Africa also have players at the Hundred and CPL over the winter and CSA will monitor their performances throughout this time.”All players have an individual analysis highlighting strengths and specific areas of focus in the period,” Walter said. “This is all planned alongside our players’ involvement in the different leagues that continue on through the winter.”

Australia’s stand-in captain wants batters to take their time to avoid falling into the Indian spinners’ trap

Andrew McGlashan28-Feb-2023

Steven Smith has admitted he had rarely felt the anger that he did at being dismissed sweeping against R Ashwin in Delhi during Australia’s match-losing collapse. The emotion was exacerbated by the fact that he believed India were “on the ropes” after the visitors had made a rapid start to their second innings and he addressed the challenge of not allowing India’s spinners to dictate terms.The sweep is a shot that Smith rarely plays but he was one of six Australians to fall that way in the dramatic collapse and the personal recriminations started as soon as he was walking off the Kotla and then watched as the rest of his team-mates fell in a heap to leave India with an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series.”I’ve played 95 [94] Test matches…and I don’t think there’s been too many times I’ve walked off the field and I’ve gone, ‘what the hell am I doing?’ I was pretty angry,” Smith said ahead of taking over the captaincy in Indore for the absent Pat Cummins. “There hasn’t been too many times in my career where I’ve actually come off and just been bedazzled by what I’ve done. It wasn’t my finest moment.Related

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Why you can't counter good spin bowling by just sweeping

“It wasn’t the way I wanted to play, particularly when I had the field set, for all of us actually, they had the field out. We probably just rushed things a little bit and it’s something we’ll talk about when we meet [on Wednesday]. When we’ve got them on the ropes, we can slow things down. We don’t have to play at such a high tempo and risky tempo. Because we had them where we wanted them, we had men out and the ability to get off strike. We just rushed it.”Australia have had time to take stock in the longer gap until the third Test and are determined to learn from their mistakes of Nagpur and Delhi, particularly the way their batting was engulfed in both second innings when they were unable to find a way to stem the collapse.That is not a problem only for Australia with many sides having been dismantled as Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja sense the opposition’s panic and hurtle through their overs before batters have time to realise what is happening. One of the themes of the last few days has been now to take the sting out of the situation to avoid one or two wickets becoming a defining collapse, such as the 8 for 28 on the third morning in Delhi.”It’s not easy,” Smith said. “That’s the way they go. They know when they are on top of you, they’ll try and rush you and play on their terms. For us, when we’re under pressure it’s about slowing it down as much as we can; maybe making them wait a little bit, walk away and regain your thoughts rather than just coming back and back. Certain things like that. And it will be different for everyone, the way they handle those moments. Think it’s [about] finding that in our game and hopefully that applies a bit more pressure on them.”One of the problems is that batters are so vulnerable in their first 10 or 20 balls, particularly when Ashwin and Jadeja have their tails up, while Australia’s lower order has been blown away in comparison to India’s which has performed exceptionally in both Tests.”I think starting your innings is as tough as anywhere in the world here in India,” Smith said. “We know if you get in, you’ve got to make it count. There’ll be odd times when you get a very good ball and get dismissed. I don’t like the term, ‘have one with your name on it’ so much, you’ve got to try and take that out of your mind.Steven Smith will lead Australia in Indore in Pat Cummins’ absence•Getty Images

“I got 30 in the first Test, Marnus [Labuschagne] has got a few starts, guys haven’t been able to go on and make a big total and two guys together getting that one partnership can make a difference. I think Pete [Handscomb] has been outstanding in both first innings and he’s been left stranded. If he had someone to bat with, and we make the most of those first innings a little bit more as well, things could certainly be different.”For the third time since Cummins became captain, Smith is slipping into the role and there is every chance he will be doing so again in Ahmedabad next week. He is battling a flare up of a back problem caused by a degenerative disc he has had since 2010 but is confident of being able to manage the situation. The only thing it prevents him from doing is bowling and he did not believe it played a part in his dropped catches at slip during the series.Smith’s batting record does not need any qualifiers, but he averages 67.73 as captain compared to 55.33 without the leadership. That is comfortably the highest figure of anyone who has led their side at least 30 times.”It normally brings the best out of me,” he said. “I’m excited about leading this week in Pat’s absence. I know these conditions well. It’s kind of like my second home playing over here, I’ve played a lot in India, I understand the intricacies of the game and what the wickets are likely to do. I’m looking forward to it.”But as has been evident in the last few weeks, knowing what is coming and playing it are proving to be two very different things.

Fiorentina have made an offer for Victor Lindelof, a move that could see him reunite with former Manchester United team-mate David de Gea.

Fiorentina have made an offer to LindelofTwo other English clubs are also interestedAvoid repetition of the same words & topicsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Fabrizio Romano, Lindelof has offers from two Premier League clubs, but Fiorentina are also in talks with the Swede as they continue their hunt for a new defender.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lindelof joined United from Benfica in 2017 and endured a mixed spell, lifting only the FA Cup in 2024. After eight years, he departed on a free at the end of his contract this summer. The 31-year-old has attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, with Erik ten Hag keen on a reunion.

DID YOU KNOW?

After a year without a club following the expiry of his United contract, De Gea joined Fiorentina and enjoyed a brilliant 2024-25 season, fuelling talk of a United return. Instead, he committed to an extension with the Italian side.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR LINDELOF?

Lindelof will have to decide between staying in England, where he has resided since 2017, or joining his former co-star for an Italian adventure.

تحدد موعد انضمام الثنائي محمد صلاح لاعب ليفربول الإنجليزي، وعمر مرموش لاعب مانشستر سيتي، إلى معسكر منتخب مصر المقبل.

ومن المقرر أن يبدأ منتخب مصر معسكره المغلق يوم 1 سبتمبر باستاد القاهرة، استعدادًا لملاقاة إثيوبيا وبوركينا فاسو في تصفيات كأس العالم.

طالع.. خاص | موعد إعلان حسام حسن قائمة منتخب مصر لمعسكر سبتمبر وعلم بطولات من مصادر خاصة، أن محمد صلاح ومرموش سينضمان إلى معسكر الفراعنة يوم 1 سبتمبر وسيشاركان في التدريبات 2 من نفس الشهر.

ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع إثيوبيا يوم 5 سبتمبر، قبل التوجه إلى بوركينا فاسو، لخوض اللقاء المقرر يوم 9 سبتمبر في الجولة الثامنة من التصفيات.

ويتصدر منتخب مصر المجموعة الأولى برصيد 16 نقطة، بعد 6 مباريات من التصفيات الأفريقية المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026 في أمريكا وكندا والمكسيك.

England’s record Test wicket-taker could play his final summer as management looks to future

ESPNcricinfo staff10-May-20241:51

Why it’s time for Anderson to bid farewell to his Test career

James Anderson looks set to retire from international cricket at the end of England’s home summer.The reported on Friday that Brendon McCullum, England’s Test coach, travelled to the UK from New Zealand earlier this week and told Anderson in person over a round of golf that he intends to look to the future this summer, building towards the 2025-26 Ashes.Anderson became the third man to reach 700 Test wickets earlier this year in the final match of England’s tour to India but had a relatively light workload in India, bowling 110 overs across seven innings. He also struggled to make an impact against Australia last summer, taking five wickets at 85.40 across four Tests.Related

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He will turn 42 at the end of England’s three-match series against West Indies in July, and could bow out during their subsequent three-match series against Sri Lanka – which starts at his home ground, Emirates Old Trafford, in late August.Anderson is expected to address his future on Saturday, when he appears on the BBC’s coverage of England women’s T20I against Pakistan at Edgbaston. The ECB declined to comment when contacted by ESPNcricinfo on Friday evening.He is yet to feature for Lancashire this summer and said last month that he was unlikely to do so before the end of May at the earliest, managing his workload ahead of the series against West Indies.Rob Key, England men’s managing director, said in a newspaper interview earlier this year that he would look to a new generation of seamers to “take us forward” in the coming years following Stuart Broad’s retirement at the end of last summer, citing Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Matt Potts, Gus Atkinson, Matt Fisher, Saqib Mahmood and John Turner.

أعلن نادي الزمالك عن انطلاق راديو من قلب ميت عقبة، معقل القلعة البيضاء، خلال الفترة المقبلة، كمنبر إعلامي يعبر عن أحد أكبر الأندية المصرية.

ويأتي انطلاق راديو صوت الزمالك في خطوة تعكس رغبة مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك ،برئاسة حسين لبيب، في تطوير العمل الإعلامي بالنادي.

طالع| الزمالك يعلن رحيل لاعب جديد في انتقالات الصيف

وتقرر إطلاق راديو صوت الزمالك “أونلاين”، من أجل تقديم خدمة إعلامية جديدة لجماهير الزمالك العاشقة للكيان في جميع أنحاء العالم.

ونشر الحساب الرسمي للزمالك على “فيسبوك”، بيانا بعنوان: ” من قلب ميت عقبة إلى كل مشجع أبيض في العالم، استعدوا لـ انطلاق راديو صوت الزمالك”. بيان بشأن انطلاق راديو صوت الزمالك

في خطوة تعكس رغبة مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك برئاسة حسين لبيب في تطوير العمل الإعلامي بالنادي، تقرر إطلاق راديو صوت الزمالك) أونلاين من أجل تقديم خدمة إعلامية جديدة لجماهير الزمالك العاشقة للكيان في جميع أنحاء العالم حيث يمكنهم متابعة أخبار النادي وكل ما يتعلق به بشكل مباشر من خلال منصات راديو الزمالك على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي عبر المنصات الآتية.. فيسبوك، تيك توك انستجرام ويوتيوب صوت الزمالك – SOUT EL ZAMALEK.

وسيكون راديو صوت الزمالك نافذة أساسية للتواصل مع جماهير القلعة البيضاء في كل مكان بالعالم، إلى جانب الاستفادة من هذه الخطوة الرائدة على مستوى الأندية في مصر والشرق الأوسط لتأكيد الدور الإعلامي الذي يقوم به النادي في توعية الجماهير وترسيخ الانتماء للنادي وفق القواعد الإعلامية المتعارف عليها.

Chelsea's new £30 million ($40m) man Liam Delap will miss the Club World Cup semi-final against Fluminense, while Reece James is a doubt with injury.

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• Delap to miss CWC semi-final
• James injury situation explained
• Absences adding up for the Blues

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Delap is set to miss the final-four clash through suspension, while boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed he will not take any risks over captain James, who missed the quarter-final against Palmeiras.

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  THE EXPLANATION

  James hobbled out of the warm-up ahead of Friday's clash, with Maresca explaining that "he felt something". Delap, meanwhile, who cost £30m from Ipswich this summer, has fallen foul of the strict disciplinary rules, with a harsh second yellow card of the tournament for barging a Palmeiras defender meaning he will miss Tuesday's clash.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The absences do not stop there, with Maresca also set to be without defender Levi Colwill. The centre-back also collected his second booking of the tournament against Palmeiras and will have to miss out against Fluminense. Romeo Lavia was not risked against the Brazilian side after having an issue in the previous round.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Maresca still has plenty of options at centre-back, with Tosin Adarabioyo and Josh Acheampong unused substitutes in the quarter-final. Nicolas Jackson – who is back from his own suspension – or new signing Joao Pedro could start in place of Delap.

وجّه الإعلامي أحمد شوبير انتقادات واضحة لتصرف أحمد فتوح، لاعب الزمالك، بعد خروجه من معسكر الفريق بحجة ظرف عائلي، ثم ظهوره لاحقًا في حفل غنائي، وهو ما أثار موجة جدل واسعة داخل القلعة البيضاء.

وقال شوبير، خلال تصريحاته عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الأحد: “عندنا مثل يقول: (إللي اتلسع من الشوربة ينفخ في الزبادي)، أما أحمد فتوح فقد شرب الشوربة كلها وهي ساخنة حتى تحرق لسانه، ما فعله الزمالك مع اللاعب في أزمته الأخيرة خلال الصيف الماضي كان موقف يُحسب للنادي، أن يعود اللاعب ويتم تجهيزه بعد أزمته أمر يُحسب للنادي، صحيح إن الحادث كان قضاء وقدر، لكن كانت هناك ملابسات، وأنا مُستحيل أن أتحدث عن أحد بشكل سيء بشأن سلوكه”.

وتابع: “هذا ما فعله الزمالك، النادي فعل معك كل هذا ولم يُقصر في حقك على الإطلاق، فبدلًا من أن تشكر النادي تفتعل مشكلة أخرى وتخرج من المعسكر بحجة إن عمك مريض، وبعد ذلك الناس تُفاجأ بتواجدك في حفل غنائي! أنا لا أمانع من حضور أي لاعب لأي مناسبة، لكنك لاعب محترف وملك للنادي، إذا أردت أن تحضر الحفلة كان لا بد أن تخطرهم بذلك وإذا لم يوافقوا فعليك أن تبقى في المعسكر”.

طالع أيضًا | أحمد حسن لـ فتوح: ورطت إدارة الزمالك.. ولن تأخذ كل شيء

وأضاف شوبير موجهًا حديثه للاعب: “لكن ما فعلته لا يصح يا أحمد فتوح، أنت لاعب مهم وأساسي ولك دورًا في المنتخب.. ماذا تريد؟ هل تريد أن تكون لاعب كرة قدم؟ عليك أن تحترم إدارة وجماهير ولاعبي الزمالك، لو أردت أن تسهر وتنظر لنفسك فافعل ذلك، لكنك لن تستطيع أن تجمع بين هذا وذاك”.

واختتم قائلاً: “الكابتن حسن حمدي كان دائمًا يقول لنا عليكم الاستفادة من كونكم لاعبين كرة الآن، وبعد الاعتزال افعلوا ما تريدون، ما حدث من رد فعل الزمالك من تغريم اللاعب ومعاقبته ووقف مستحقاته لم يكن يحدث من قبل، كان يحدث على الورق فقط، لكنه حدث الآن، والمثل يقول: (اضرب المربوط يخاف السايب)”.

Bayern Munich are considering a move to gazump Chelsea in the hunt for Jamie Gittens' signature.

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• Bayern chasing Gittens
• Dortmund winger had been expected to move to Chelsea
• Bayern chasing new left-winger

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The German club's sporting director Max Eberl left the Club World Cup surprisingly early to reportedly work on transfers, and it could be at Chelsea's expense. The Bundesliga champions have identified Jamie Gittens as a potential new signing and reports that the club are in talks with the player. It would be a blow for the Blues who had seen an initial offer knocked back by Dortmund as they look to bolster their front line.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Should Bayern prove too strong competition for Chelsea in the hunt for Gittens, then the west London club will have to explore other options. Lyon's Malick Fofana and Brighton's Joao Pedro have emerged as possible alternative options in attack, but little progress has been made on a move for either player so far. Chelsea have already added Liam Delap to their forward options, but a wide player to replace the outgoing Jadon Sancho is still wanted.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bayern are having their own problems with recruitment. Needing to replace the outgoing Leroy Sane, the Bavarian giants had been after Athletic Club's Nico Williams, but the young Spanish winger looks set to move to Barcelona. A move for AC Milan's Rafael Leao is also only at early stages and nothing substantial has materialised as of yet.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GITTENS?

  Gittens is currently in the United States with the Dortmund squad taking part in the Club World Cup. He made an appearance off of the bench against Fluminense in the opening group stage game, a 0-0 draw, but was an unused substitute in the 4-3 thriller against Mamelodi Sundowns. Their final game of the group stage is against Korean side Ulsan.

India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan and a few other contracted players will check into the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru next week for strength and conditioning related work ahead of the full tour against West Indies. India will play two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is against West Indies starting July 12, for which Rohit Sharma’s team is slated to depart on July 3.Normally, when there is a gap between two international series, the centrally-contracted and targeted players, who are not a part of any domestic tournaments, are called at the NCA to have an update on their fitness status.With the Duleep Trophy scheduled to be held entirely in Bengaluru from June 28 and the final to be played from July 12-16, Kishan had opted out of the season-opening domestic red-ball tournament.Related

• Shastri wants two left-handers in India's top six for the ODI World Cup

• Rishabh Pant's recovery progressing faster than expected

• India to begin next WTC cycle with two-match series in Caribbean

• Duleep Trophy: Tilak, Rinku, Mukesh among players to watch out for

With East Zone taking on Central Zone in the first quarter-final at Alur in Bengaluru, the 24-year-old had the opportunity to play one game with the red ball before the Indian team’s departure for the Caribbean. The one-off game would have given Kishan a chance to push his case for selection in the Test team, especially when the incumbent KS Bharat is struggling to make a mark with the bat. But Kishan had opted out of the Duleep Trophy a couple of days ago.Kishan’s last competitive match was in the IPL for Mumbai Indians on May 26, and if he is not selected in the playing XI for Tests, his next game will be the ODI series opener against West Indies on July 27 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.