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The Blue Jays suffered a tough out in Game 3 of the World Series against the Dodgers Monday. With center fielder Daulton Varsho at the plate and ahead in the count 3-1, home plate umpire Mark Wegner called a delayed strike on a high pitch that Toronto initially believed was ball four and a walk.

Dodgers catcher Will Smith threw the ball back to starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow and motioned over to first base after Wegner made his late call. Blue Jays second baseman Bo Bichette thought he was off to second, but Glasnow fired the ball over to first with Bichette stranded for a bizarre first out of the second inning.

Blue Jays skipper John Schneider was understandably upset about the strange sequence, which he explained in a mid-game interview with Fox's Ken Rosenthal. Schneider had a heated conversation with Wagner after the moment. and said he wants the umpire to change course moving forward as he hopes his squad doesn't fall victim to another phantom out.

"I think just to be a little bit quicker with his call," Schneider said to Rosenthal on the Fox broadcast about his discussion with Wegner. "Mark's a great umpire, been doing it a long time. Very delayed call, pretty deliberate. Just didn't say anything, so Varsh assumed it was a ball and Bo assumed. I just asked him in this environment, can he be a little bit quicker or give a little bit more clarity so everyone knows what's going on."

Bichette clearly thought it was a ball due to Varsho's reaction, tossing his bat and beginning to take off his elbow guard in preparation to head to first. Toronto hopes to regain the lead in the series after they took Game 1 before L.A. stole Game 2 on the road ahead of the World Series' trip to Dodger Stadium. The Jays weren't able to score after the odd play, which they possibly could have as Varsho did end up getting a walk in the at-bat and Alejandro Kirk singled as the next hitter.

It was early in the game, but every out matters, especially in the Fall Classic.

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O Corinthians foi derrotado pelo Juventude por 2 a 0 no Estádio Alfredo Jaconi, em duelo válido pela 2ª rodada do Brasileirão. Jean Carlos e Lucas Barbosa fizeram os gols do Jaconero na partida.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão

Com o resultado, o Corinthians segue com apenas um ponto e ainda não venceu no Brasileirão. Já a equipe do Rio Grande do Sul alcança os quatro pontos. O Timão volta a campo no próximo sábado (20), às 18h30, contra o Red Bull Bragantino, pela terceira rodada do Brasileirão. No dia seguinte, o Juventude visita o Botafogo.

➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta!

No vídeo abaixo, o repórter Rafael Marson conta como foi o jogo entre Juventude e Corinthians. Confira!

✅FICHA TÉCNICA
JUVENTUDE 2 X 0 CORINTHIANS
2ª RODADA – BRASILEIRÃO
Data e horário:sábado, 17 de abril de 2024, às 20h (de Brasília);
Local:Estádio Alfredo Jaconi, em Caxias do Sul (RS);
Gols: Jean Carlos e Lucas Barbosa
Árbitro: Bruno Arleu de Araujo (FIFA-RJ);
Assistentes: Bruno Boschilia (FIFA-RN) e Thiago Rosa de Oliveira;
VAR: Paulo Renato Moreira da Silva Coelho (RJ).

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➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários dos jogos do Brasileirão

⚽ ESCALAÇÕES
JUVENTUDE (Técnico: Roger Machado)
Gabriel Vasconcellos; João Lucas, Rodrigo Sam, Zé Marcos e Gabriel Inocêncio; Caíque, Jadson e Jean Carlos; Nenê, Lucas Barbosa e Erick Farias.

CORINTHIANS (Técnico: Bruno Lazaroni)
Cássio; Fágner, Félix Torres, Gustavo Henrique e Hugo; Raniele e Igor Coronado e Garro; Romero, Wesley e Yuri Alberto.

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Tudo sobre

BrasileirãoCorinthiansJuventude

Marnus Labuschagne’s quest to return to the Test side for the Ashes series gained momentum with a century for Queensland, before Glenn Maxwell responded as only he can.Queensland skipper Labuschagne struck a classy 130 from 118 deliveries in the 55-run win over Victoria in the One-Day Cup clash at Allan Border Field on Wednesday.Related

• Patterson makes early mark with ton, but record stand secures Tasmania victory

• Labuschagne eyes Test return: I thrive on proving the doubters wrong

• Australia's Ashes 'bat-off' begins: Who could open against England?

Maxwell, who retired from ODI cricket in June, then did Maxwell things in the run chase. It was not enough to win, but his 107 off 82 balls included eight huge sixes and entertained to the max.Runs are the currency for Labuschagne to get back in the Test side, and he has been prolific in the past month. Against Tasmania in practice games he scored 67 in a one-dayer and followed that up with 67 retired in a two-day match. A 57-ball century in T20 Max was another stunner.His innings against Victoria was another step in the right direction.”I just trusted my game today and it was nice to be playing at my best and trusting my instincts,” Labuschagne said. “I think it always happens at some stage in your career where you are searching … and you get a little muddled and not as clear.”The last two months I’ve played lots of games and I’m getting that feel of the game back after three months of not playing, from the [World] Test Championship until now. Nothing else matters but runs. The format doesn’t matter. I know if I am playing my best I will find my way in the team.”My goal is to be there for the first Test. The only way you can do that is with performances on the board.”While Labuschagne has made his mark as a No. 3 batter, he is also open to partnering Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.”I don’t care where I bat, if I have to open or bat three,” he said. “The fact of the matter is that when you are not in the team you don’t have the luxury of choosing where you bat.”Before Wednesday’s match Labuschagne said he was keen to find the “see ball, hit ball” form that rocketed him to the top of the ICC Test batter rankings, a modus operandi adopted to perfection by India maestro Virender Sehwag.”Obviously Sehwag’s method was taking the ball on and just playing it. That’s an element for me,” Labuschagne said. “That is where I want to get to by the start of the summer, where I am so clear and confident with my technique that there is nothing else I am thinking about apart from seeing the ball, hitting it and trusting my game and everything falling into place.”Everything did fall into place on Wednesday for Labuschangne, who drove the ball with precision. His shots down the ground were majestic, including an on-drive off Will Sutherland that brought up his half-century.Queensland accelerated at the end of their innings, with Jack Wildermuth (54 not out off 30) the most effective in a total of 310 for 5.Paceman Michael Neser reminded Australian selectors of his class with a masterful exhibition of swing and seam bowling to have the visitors 16 for 3 including Matt Short and Marcus Harris with consecutive deliveries.Peter Handscomb steadied the ship, before Maxwell took over but Victoria were eventually all out for 255.

The franchise says Dravid was offered a broader position as part of the restructuring, but he decided not to take it

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Aug-2025

Rahul Dravid’s stint as head coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR) has come to an end after just one season. In a statement on Saturday, the franchise said Dravid had been offered a broader position within the set-up, but he chose not to take it.Dravid’s exit despite having a multi-year contract follows a structural review after the team’s ninth-place finish at IPL 2025, their poorest season since 2021 with just four wins in 14 matches. Earlier this month, it came to the surface that Sanju Samson, RR’s captain since IPL 2021, has also asked to be released ahead of the next season.”Head coach Rahul Dravid will conclude his tenure with the franchise ahead of IPL 2026,” the statement said. “Rahul has been central to the Royals’ journey for many years. His leadership has influenced a generation of players, instilled strong values within the squad, and left an indelible mark on the culture of the franchise.Related

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“As part of the franchise structural review, Rahul had been offered a broader position at the franchise, but has chosen not to take this. The Rajasthan Royals, its players, and millions of fans worldwide extend heartfelt thanks to Rahul for his remarkable service to the franchise.”Dravid was central to RR’s auction strategy as well as their retentions ahead of a fresh three-year cycle. The franchise retained Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer ahead of the season, which was marred by injuries to key players as well as an inability to cross the line in a number of close finishes.Dravid had first joined RR as a player in 2011, and captained them for two seasons (2012 and 2013), before serving as team director and mentor in 2014 and 2015. His exit means at least two franchises – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) being the other – are without a head coach for IPL 2026. Last month, Chandrakant Pandit decided to leave KKR after overseeing the side to their first IPL title in ten years in 2024. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) too are in the midst of a support-staff rejig, having recently brought in B Arun as bowling consultant.RR currently have on board Kumar Sangakkara as director of cricket, Vikram Rathour as batting coach and Shane Bond as bowling coach. The team has not won the IPL title since their victory in the inaugural season in 2008. Their next-best finish came in 2022, when they finished runners-up to Gujarat Titans.

Saudi Arabia’s Fund for Development (SFD) has taken a major step into global football development through a new agreement with FIFA to provide up to $1 billion in concessional loans for sporting infrastructure projects. The partnership is designed to help close facility gaps in developing nations while supporting broader social and economic development tied to football investment.

• AFP
  

  FIFA and SFD sign Memorandum of Understanding

  Saudi Arabia’s Fund for Development (SFD) will provide up to $1 billion in concessional loans to build or upgrade football infrastructure in developing nations under a Memorandum of Understanding with FIFA announced on Monday. The initiative will support sports-facility projects identified by member associations and aligned with national development plans.

  FIFA said the agreement will prioritize associations in developing countries that outline clear strategies for using sport within broader development goals. Funding will focus on constructing or improving FIFA-certified stadiums and related infrastructure.

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• FIFA stresses infrastructure support

  FIFA President Gianni Infantino framed the agreement as a response to widespread infrastructure needs among the organization’s member federations. He said the partnership will help associations secure the venues and training centres required to host competitions and broaden access to the game.

  "FIFA's role is to develop football worldwide, and many of our FIFA Member Associations need additional support for the infrastructure necessary to host competitions," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement as per Reuters. "This agreement is a crucial step in ensuring our FIFA Member Associations have the facilities to make football truly global."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  How the concessional loan program will work

  Under the memorandum, the Saudi Fund for Development will make concessional loans available to finance the construction and upgrading of football infrastructure in eligible countries. The SFD combines below-market lending with technical assistance on project design and delivery, which FIFA says will help ensure facilities meet international and sustainability standards. Member associations will be able to apply for support for stadiums, training centers, and related infrastructure.

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  Program targets facility development in eligible countries

  Many FIFA member associations, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, have cited limited access to modern, FIFA-certified facilities as a barrier to expanding participation and hosting competitions. The initiative provides a mechanism for eligible associations to seek financing for new or upgraded infrastructure.

Manchester United are building for the future under Ruben Amorim, and he now appears to have made key decisions on two of his most high-profile Old Trafford stars.

The Red Devils have made a reasonable start to the Premier League campaign and could well make a push for the European slots if they can maintain momentum, though that is something that will be challenged over the festive period due to the African Cup of Nations.

Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are set to depart next month, leaving roles to be filled in the squad during a busy schedule that is set to be fraught with intense action.

Still, Premier League sides have known the competition is part and parcel of their squad planning, making it an issue they should be able to handle without the need for mass panic.

Signings in January will be important and there is an obvious need for midfield reinforcements, especially with Casemiro drawing closer to the end of his contract at Old Trafford.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes is the latest name on Manchester United’s list, and discussions are said to be progressing well over a potential move to work under Amorim’s stewardship in January.

Rob Edwards has signalled his desire to keep the Brazilian at Molineux. Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped the Red Devils making tracks, even if there could be a twist in the tale regarding the state of play on their engine room, courtesy of Fabrizio Romano.

Fabrizio Romano delivers contract update on Casemiro and Maguire

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano has confirmed that Amorim wants both Casemiro and Harry Maguire to stay at Manchester United, providing they reduce their wages in line with the club’s new salary structure.

He said: “My understanding is that the situation of Casemiro is a really similar situation in terms of strategy to Harry Maguire.

“Casemiro and Harry Maguire are out of contract in the summer of 2026 and for Manchester United, they are two really important players, especially now.

“We have to say congrats to Casemiro. In this video let’s focus on Casemiro, because he’s been able to change his situation at Manchester United.”

Later, he added: “So now the desire is from Man United, obviously, to continue with Casemiro, but in different conditions. So the salary he has right now is a salary that Manchester United don’t want to pay in the future, not because of Casemiro or Maguire, but because they want to change the salary structure.”

Between them, a pay packet of £540,000 per week is a major chunk of the Red Devils’ wage list, and with both edging closer to the twilight of their respective careers, it may be worth looking at younger reinforcements as their contracts look set to expire.

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Conversely, experience is vital and cannot be understated. Over the coming months, it would be a smart decision to tie down both stars if they can agree to a wage reduction.

The South Australia fast bowler had been due to tour the West Indies before injury but is on track to start the Sheffield Shield season

Andrew McGlashan11-Sep-2025Brendan Doggett is in the “prime of his career” and has been backed by his South Australia coach Ryan Harris to be able to step into Test cricket during the Ashes if needed.Doggett was part of the Australia Test squad last season, having first been called up back in 2018 for a series against Pakistan in the UAE, and was a traveling reserve for the World Test Championship final against South Africa.He had been due to tour the West Indies before being withdrawn because of a hip injury but is on track to start the season for the double defending champions although from there will have his workload managed in conjunction with the Australia set-up.Related

• 'Haven't achieved much at all' – Harris' message as South Australia defend twin titles

• Jason Sangha hopes to channel Shield joy

• Who's in the Ashes mix if Cummins and co run aground?

• Cummins may 'take a few risks' to be able to play Ashes

The depth of Australia’s pace bowling has been brought firmly into view with Pat Cummins’ back injury, and while Scott Boland will be the next in line for a spot in the startling XI, Doggett is likely only one more injury away from a debut.”He’s had a really good winter,” Harris told ESPNcricinfo. “He came back from the World Test Championship with a couple of niggles [but] he had good time to let them heal.”He had a really good programme that he was following and he was diligent. We didn’t take him to Darwin in our pre-season camp and let him just get himself right down here.”We’ve got a couple of trial games [this week] which he’ll bowl some good overs in. But what I’ve seen in training, he’s up and about. He’s ready to go. He’s bowling fast and he’s moving the ball, which is good. He’ll definitely start for us.”Doggett’s elevation to the Test squad last season came on the back of a career-best 6 for 15 against India A in Mackay. He capped his summer with a career-best match haul of 11 wickets in the Sheffield Shield final, where South Australia secured the title with victory over Queensland, to finish with 44 first-class wickets at 20.56 which followed 32 wickets at 21.90 the previous season.”He’s definitely ready [for Test cricket],” Harris said. “[With] his mind, I think, and the confidence he has now in his game. He was a bit mixed [up] probably a couple of years ago where he was trying to swing it and he wasn’t trying to swing it, but he’s worked it all out.”He knows what he needs to do. He knows when he has step it up and bowl quick and knows he can control his pace. He’s in the prime of his career now. There’s no doubt that if Brendan gets a call, I have absolute full confidence in that he can go in and do a good job in that team.”There will be a balancing act for the selectors in the lead-up to the Ashes in ensuring the fast bowlers in the mix have enough work to be ready while avoiding pushing them too far.It is expected that Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will combine the ODIs against India with potentially one Sheffield Shield game for New South Wales before the first Test, while Boland is expected to play at least two four-day games for Victoria. Lance Morris, who would have been in the frame, has been ruled out for 12 months after undergoing back surgery.Brendan Doggett will likely be around Australia’s Ashes squads•Getty Images

Cameron Green has been left out of the T20I tour of New Zealand so that he can play for Western Australia in the first round of the Sheffield Shield, which could mark his return to bowling following the surgery he had a year ago.Speaking earlier this week, Cummins said he was confident in the fast-bowling reverses Australia had heading into the summer.”We feel really well placed,” he said. “A lot of planning goes in. It’s not just a month before, it’s 12 months out. Someone like Jhye Richardson, hopefully he will be available for some of the summer. There’s [Michael] Neser. Brendan Doggett was part of squads last year. Sean Abbott. So I’m really confident in our depth.”Obviously there is a bit of Shield cricket and white-ball cricket before that to make sure everyone is up and raring to go.”Those who are involved in the one-day leg of the Australia A tour of India or the T20I tour to New Zealand will miss the opening round of Sheffield Shield matches which start on October 4. The men’s domestic season starts on September 16 with the 50-over Dean Jones Trophy.

Arsenal are now looking to get ahead in the race to sign Levante striker Karl Etta Eyong, amid widespread interest from some top Premier League clubs.

The Gunners made it nine wins on the bounce in all competitions on Saturday afternoon, courtesy of a 2-0 victory at Burnley, with their backline once again looking very strong, limiting the Clarets to an xG of just 0.41.

Goals from Declan Rice and Viktor Gyokeres secured all three points, with the latter bagging his first Premier League goal since September, displaying his striker’s instincts by nodding home from close range.

Mikel Arteta is very well-stocked in attacking areas on paper, although Gabriel Jesus has suffered persistent injury issues and Kai Havertz has featured just once in the Premier League this season due to a knee problem.

As such, it could make sense to bring in a new striker to compete for Gyokeres’ starting spot, and the north Londoners are now looking to sign a highly-rated young forward.

Arsenal looking to get ahead in Etta Eyong race

According to a report from Spain, Arsenal are now looking to get ahead in the race to sign Levante striker Etta Eyong, who is being targeted by a number of the Premier League’s top clubs, with Manchester City and Manchester United also keen.

Signing a new striker isn’t a priority for the Gunners, but the 22-year-old is of interest, and a release clause of around just €40m (£35m) means he would be an affordable option.

Ideally, however, the forward would prefer to play in La Liga, so it remains to be seen whether the interested English clubs are able to tempt him into a move.

Stan Kroenke & co clearly mean business, having set out to sign another striker, despite Arteta already having the likes of Gyokeres, Havertz and Jesus to choose from.

With Arsenal looking to compete on all fronts, however, it makes sense to have squad depth, and the Levante star could be an exciting addition, having been lauded as “powerful” by journalist Kai Watson.

The Cameroonian has certainly hit the ground running at Levante since arriving from Villarreal in the summer, scoring five goals in his opening seven games for the La Liga side, while he also has three assists to his name this season.

There are question marks over whether Etta Eyong would be a necessary signing, but he is showing very promising signs in La Liga, and £35m would be a reasonable fee.

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Australia have more questions than answers ahead of their next Test assignment in the Ashes later this year despite trouncing West Indies 3-0 in the Carribbean

Andrew McGlashan16-Jul-2025Australia completed a 3-0 sweep over West Indies in dramatic fashion at Sabina Park in a low-scoring series dominated by the quick bowlers. They don’t play Test cricket again until the Ashes, while England are in the midst of an epic tussle against India with two matches remaining.There is now a diet of white-ball cricket for Australia – a plethora of T20Is will shape plans for the World Cup early next year – before four rounds of Sheffield Shield ahead of the first Test in Perth, three of which will likely be key in nailing down the batting order. In late September, there is an Australia A tour of India that, while probably less relevant given the conditions, will be a chance for players to leave an impression both for now and the future.So how are Pat Cummins’ team placed ahead of facing England in November?Related

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Open seasonThis was a good series to miss if you are an opening batter. Australia had hoped the three Tests would provide some clarity ahead of the Ashes, but instead, the domestic season will start with another selection race – great for the hype, not so good if you are Sam Konstas. He won’t remember the cricket aspect of this tour too fondly, walking away with an average of 8.33 and a sense that he may need to do more than those outside of the XI to keep his place for the first Ashes Test in Perth.Usman Khawaja isn’t flying high either, but barring any calamities early in the season, he is secure of his spot for what could be a swansong. Since the start of 2024, he is averaging 31.28 from 16 Tests with his 232 in Sri Lanka doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Quick bowlers are almost exclusively operating around the wicket to him and England’s attack will fancy their chances. However, Khawaja was one of only three batters to face more than 300 deliveries in the West Indies.Who he opens with in Perth will likely come down to three rounds of Sheffield Shield matches. Familiar names will be in the mix: Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw. Jake Weatherald could also come into consideration as the in-form domestic opener last season, and is currently playing for Australia A. But it may also end up being Marnus Labuschagne’s route back into the side.Cameron Green played superbly in the second and third Tests•Associated PressGreen shootsThat is partly because Cameron Green has got a foothold at No. 3 after an excellent second half to the series against West Indies with scores of 52, 46, and 42 – the latter two at Sabina Park could easily have made him Player of the Match had it not been for Mitchell Starc’s stunning display.It still may not prove Green’s long-term home at Test level, but after a tough start against South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final and a lean outing in Barbados, he comes away as one of the biggest gains from this tour for Australia. England will likely see his slightly hard-handed technique early in an innings as an area to attack him.”I think, after a couple of light games, you can go and chase your previous innings and change something,” Cummins said. “He made some minor adjustments, was pretty positive, and kept trying to turn over the strike, but I just loved that he had a simple game plan and he backed that. Coming into that [WTC final], he was coming off a bulk of runs, so we felt really confident, and really happy that he stuck to that. This Test but also last Test, he made some key contributions on tough wickets.”It will be interesting how the selectors manage Green when the season starts. There is white-ball cricket against India ahead of the Ashes – he is a key part of the future in those formats – but it may be that this summer there is more value in Shield outings.Green, though, did suggest he would be facing India when he talked about his return to bowling, which has been earmarked for the start of the season. That’s the other key aspect to his role in the side and could yet have a bearing on the next player.No. 6 tied in a Beau?Beau Webster could hardly have done more much early in his Test career. Four half-centuries in his first six matches, all coming at pressure moments in games in challenging conditions on four different continents against a variety of ball types. He has also chipped in with handy wickets and caught securely in the cordon where he is among the best in Australian cricket.In contrast to the Konstas scenario, Webster has shown the value of picking experienced domestic players. It doesn’t guarantee they will perform as Webster has, but the step up potentially comes with a little less fear. There is a sense, too, that he is enjoying the ride of a Test career that he may have thought wouldn’t come.Barring a form slump for Tasmania early season, it would be very harsh on Webster if he wasn’t lining up in Perth. But there is a world where, if Green is back bowling and, for example, Labuschagne and an opener churn out early season runs, that the selectors opt to shuffle the order again.Scott Boland celebrates a Test hat-trick•AFP/Getty ImagesAnother awesome foursome?Australia saved their biggest selection call until the final match of the tour, leaving out Nathan Lyon for the first time since 2013. They said the data had persuaded them and the way the Test played out supported that view, although Australia would surely have won with Lyon in the side.Has it opened the door for it to happen again? In Australia that feels unlikely given the pink Kookaburra can go soft unlike the Dukes and Lyon has found considerable success with the bounce he can obtain at home. It will no doubt be a question posed when the Ashes reaches Brisbane (with Adelaide a day Test this time) and, for the first time in his career, Lyon may be sitting a little uneasily.But Scott Boland, who replaced Lyon and added to his storied career with a hat-trick, is expecting to return to his role as super sub for the big three. Whether they all get through the Ashes, particularly Josh Hazlewood, will be a factor. There is every chance Boland will be needed.”I’m playing with three of the best fast bowlers Australia’s ever had, so I’m happy to be in behind them,” he said. “I think it’s going to extend all of our careers if we can all stay on the park and keep bowling really well. Even from my point of view, I think having those guys, where I know I’m not going to play every game, I can sort of be really specific with my training, and then when I get to the Test match I’m going to play, I’m ready to go and my body’s feeling really good.”Unlike the opening batting situation, this fits into the good-problem-to-have category.

Gavin Larsen is empowered to brief, advise, collaborate with, and challenge the NZ head coach Rob Walter, who retains the ultimate decision-making authority

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2025Gavin Larsen has been appointed selection manager of New Zealand men, filling the gap left by the departure of Sam Wells. Larsen, in conjunction with head coach Rob Walter, will be responsible for selecting the New Zealand men’s senior team, and the New Zealand A and New Zealand XI squads.”I feel absolutely honoured to be stepping back into the BlackCaps and the national high performance environment,” Larsen said. “I’m hugely passionate about cricket in this country and to be given another opportunity to contribute at the highest level is really exciting. I can’t wait to get started this summer and hopefully help play a part in continuing the success of the BlackCaps.”Larsen, who played eight Tests and 121 ODIs for New Zealand as a medium pacer between 1990 and 1999, was the chief executive of Cricket Wellington and the cricket operations manager ahead of the 2015 ODI World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand, before being appointed New Zealand’s selection manager from 2015 to 2023. He then took on the role of performance director at Warwickshire County Cricket Club before returning to New Zealand and accepting the role of commercial manager for basketball team Nelson Giants.NZC chief high-performance officer Daryl Gibson said Larsen would be responsible for managing the selection processes as well as working with domestic scouts and the major association coaches to stay up to date on the domestic scene.”Gavin’s familiarity with the role and his understanding of the requirements played an important part in his appointment,” Gibson said. “But we were also impressed with his passion and energy, and his desire to get back into the game and help make a difference.”Gibson confirmed that the selection model would remain unchanged, with Larsen empowered to brief, advise, collaborate with, and challenge Walter, who retains the ultimate decision-making authority.”While Rob will make the final decisions as the chief selector, we want Gav preparing him with as much intel as possible, and challenging his thinking and decisions,” Gibson said. “This requires a strong relationship between the two parties and we’re confident Gav has the soft skills, and the acumen to make it work.”Larsen will begin his role officially on November 3.