All posts by h716a5.icu

Sixers overcame an all-round challenge from Will Sutherland to notch up their eighth straight win over Renegades

Tristan Lavalette08-Dec-2023Steven Smith smashed a half-century in another statement as Sydney Sixers overcame a superb allround performance from Will Sutherland to edge Melbourne Renegades out at the SCG.In what will be a rare BBL appearance this season, six days before the first Test between Australia and Pakistan, Smith again relished opening the batting to top-score in Sixers’ 175 for 6.No.3 Jake Fraser-McGurk made Sixers’ veteran attack nervous with a furious 48 off 24 balls, but his dismissal just before drinks left Renegades in peril at 78 for 4.Sixers were made to work with Sutherland, having earlier starred with the ball, providing a late twist. He bludgeoned an unbeaten 51 from 30 balls before Sixers secured their eighth straight win over Renegades.Several of the high-profile signings for Renegades, who last season made finals in a bounce back, did not play including Test spinner Nathan Lyon. But legspinner Adam Zampa performed well with 2 for 24 after crossing over from Melbourne Stars.It wasn’t enough for them to break a Sixers hoodoo with Smith once again relishing returning to the BBL.Smith has openly stated his desire to open the batting for Australia at next year’s T20 World Cup having shuffled around the order previously. He auditioned for the role late in last season’s BBL with blistering centuries in consecutive innings.Smith also made a half-century against India during the recent T20I series in his first opportunity to open at the international level.After Sixers were sent into bat, Smith starred with 61 off 42 balls in a knock mixing gorgeous traditional strokes with inventive tennis-like swats. He waited patiently for the strike with opener Josh Philippe hitting a boundary off the first ball of the innings to foreshadow what was ahead.Philippe, once a BBL standout who has endured a torrid run in this season’s Sheffield Shield, was in superb touch with five boundaries in his first 11 deliveries.Smith wasn’t to be overshadowed and made his move in the third over by whipping seamer Tom Rogers through backward square before bludgeoning a six over deep square on the next delivery.With pace having no impact, offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was thrusted into the attack in the powerplay but Smith treated him with disdain by striking three straight boundaries through the offside.Smith raced to 25 off 10 balls as Sixers stormed to 48 for 0 after four overs. Zampa hoped to stem the onslaught, but Philippe slog swept him for six into the famous Member’s Pavilion.Ben Dwarshuis picked up three crucial wickets to dent Renegades•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesSutherland provided a much-needed breakthrough with his first ball after Philippe chopped on and James Vince fell in similar fashion later in the over. Bowling a hard length, the towering Sutherland led a fightback with a brilliant four-over spell.He was difficult to score off as Smith reverted to unfurling the ramp shot to hit a rare boundary in the middle overs. Smith reached his half-century off 31 balls, but struggled to regain his earlier fluency and eventually holed out to deep midwicket off Zampa.Zampa on his next delivery clean bowled Tom Curran with a brilliant googly to continue Renegades’ stirring comeback. But late hitting from Jordan Silk and Jack Edwards lifted Sixers to a strong total.Renegades’ hopes rested on Fraser-McGurk just two months after he entered the record books for the fastest ever List A century. Wickets fell around him, but Fraser-McGurk was undaunted and whacked 18 runs in the third over off seamer Jackson Bird.He then whipped quick Sean Abbott for six to race to 24 off nine deliveries before pulverising Edwards over long-on and onto the roof.Fraser-McGurk, playing his 26th BBL game, rapidly closed in on a maiden half-century before being bamboozled by a clever slow bumper from veteran quick Ben Dwarshuis.Veteran Aaron Finch overcame a scratchy start to provide support for Sutherland, but Renegades were always pushing an uphill battle. Sutherland tried his best and a huge six off Dwarshuis meant Renegades needed 14 off the last four balls.But Dwarshuis did enough to complete a resilient performance after his father passed away this week.

GOAL takes a look at some of the major MLS storylines emerging ahead of Matchday 24

Matchday 24 is here, and is highlighted by a massive rivalry. On Saturday, Supporters' Shield-leading FC Cincinnati hosts fourth-place Eastern Conference foes Columbus Crew in another edition of the Hell is Real derby, while in Southern Florida, things heat up for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami..

The host a red-hot Nashville SC as two of the East's finest go head-to-head. A victory for B.J. Callaghan's side on the road could be pivotal in their hopes for an Eastern Conference title.

In the West, Dejan Joveljic and Sporting Kansas City host the Seattle Sounders as the red-hot Serbian forward looks to keep his goalscoring prowess going.

GOAL dives into all that and more in The Kickoff, a weekly preview of each MLS Matchday.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowUSA TodayHell is Real returns

Both teams arrive on four-match unbeaten streaks. In their first meeting this season, the Crew and FC Cincy played to a 1-1 draw at Lower.com Field. Saturday's meeting will pit the Ohio rivals head-to-head once more, as their historic rivalry takes center stage.

FCC sit first in the Eastern Conference and atop the Supporters' Shield standings heading, while the Crew narrowly trail, just four points behind. A victory for Wilfried Nancy's men would see them close the gap to one point, while a win for the hosts could push their lead in the conference up to four points – depending on other results from around the league.

The Crew comes in with loads of confidence, having secured results against the Philadelphia Union and the Seattle Sounders over the past two Matchdays, while FCC arrives off four-straight wins, highlighted by a recent 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportJoveljic has Sporting dreaming

SKC is on a three-match unbeaten streak, and in their last nine matches, have found results in six. The streak of form arrived after an abysmal start to the campaign – winless in their first six matches, with longtime manager Peter Vermes sacked during the stretch.

Spearheading their positive run right now is striker Dejan Joveljic, whom they acquired for $4M from the LA Galaxy ahead of the campaign. The Serbian international has registered a goal contribution in seven of their last nine, and leads the team in scoring with 12 goals.

When they host the Sounders, it will be their first meeting of the season – but a pivotal one for both clubs. With a victory, SKC would move up to 26 points, which – pending other results – could see them shoot up into a playoff spot in the West. Seattle, meanwhile, sit fifth in the West and with a win, could climb as high as fourth.

Getty Images SportNashville's big moment

The surprise performers of the current MLS campaign, Nashville SC, have an opportunity to prove any doubters wrong when they take the pitch at Chase Stadium Saturday. It will be their biggest test of the campaign, but with their red-hot form, anything is possible.

Current Golden Boot leader Sam Surridge, who has 16 goals on the season, will lead the line for B.J.Callaghan's men, with 2022 league MVP Hany Mukhtar looking to support him.

Messi recently made MLS history, becoming the first player to record multiple goal contributions in four-straight matches, as the South Beach club defeated the New England Revolution midweek.

The competed at the FIFA Club World Cup this summer and will now be playing their third match in seven days. With a win, Nashville could move up atop the East and the Supporters' Shield standings, while Miami could climb as high as fourth with all three points.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

ImagnWhat's trending?

+ With one goal and two assists against Miami Saturday, Nashville's Hany Mukhtar would become the fifth player in MLS history to score at least 10 goals and record 10 assists in four different seasons.

+ With a win over Real Salt Lake Saturday, Houston Dynamo manager Ben Olsen would become the seventh coach in MLS history to reach 150 career regular-season victories.

+ With a goal or an assist against the Sounders, Joveljic would tie striker Diego Rubio for the second-longest goal contribution streak in club history.

Former South Africa captain hopes to finish his Test career in Cape Town, his “favourite stadium in the world”

Firdose Moonda22-Dec-2023Dean Elgar, South Africa’s former Test captain and stalwart opening batter, will play his last international series against India this summer. Elgar, 36, announced his decision to retire from international cricket after the New Year’s match, which is scheduled to start on January 3 in Cape Town.If in the playing XI for both Tests against India, Elgar will finish on 86 Tests in a career that has spanned 12 years. “Playing the game of cricket has always been a dream of mine but having the opportunity to represent your country is the ultimate! Having had the privilege to do it for 12 years internationally is simply beyond my wildest dreams,” he said in a statement. “It has been an incredible journey that I have been fortunate enough to have.”The Cape Town Test will be my last. My favourite stadium in the world. A place I scored my first Test run against New Zealand and hopefully my last too.”With 5146 runs, Elgar is South Africa’s eighth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket – only eight have gone past 5000 runs – and 352 runs behind Mark Boucher, who is seventh on the list.ESPNcricinfo understands that Elgar was informed that he was not part of red-ball coach Shukri Conrad’s long-term plans. He has been linked with Essex as an overseas player for the 2024 season.

“Dean Elgar represents a rare brand of cricketer in an age where everything is about innovation and power-hitting. He is a real old-school cricketer that can dig in, absorb and fight. I have no doubt the game will dearly miss him”Enoch Nkwe

Elgar’s decision means he will be unavailable for South Africa’s two-Test series in New Zealand, where they will be forced to send a makeshift side because several frontline players will be involved in the SA20 league. Elgar does not have an SA20 deal and would have been the most experienced player in the squad, and potentially even asked to captain in Temba Bavuma’s absence. Instead, Titans’ batter Neil Brand is expected to lead South Africa and partner Tony de Zorzi at the top of the order. Brand and de Zorzi opened the batting together for South Africa A against West Indies A in a recent three-match series.Asked ten days ago whether Elgar was considering ending his international career, CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe told ESPNcricinfo that “nothing has come to my table”, but would be meeting with players and their agents “over the next couple of weeks”. Nkwe has held several discussions in the interim and paid tribute to Elgar’s contributions over the years.”Dean Elgar represents a rare brand of cricketer in an age where everything is about innovation and power-hitting. He is a real old-school cricketer that can dig in, absorb and fight. I have no doubt the game will dearly miss him,” Nkwe said. “He has always given everything for his country and never showed any fear, no matter the opposition. He was always there to take on the challenge, leading as captain when the country needed him most.”Dean Elgar led South Africa in 17 Tests, winning nine of them•AFP/Getty ImagesElgar made his debut in Perth on South Africa’s tour of Australia in 2012, when they were ranked No. 1 in the world, and became the 38th player to record a pair on debut – a list that stands at 45 now – but scored a century in his third match and went on to record 13 hundreds, against all Test opposition other than Pakistan and Zimbabwe. His favourite opponents were Sri Lanka, against whom he scored a match-winning hundred in Galle in 2014, followed by two more centuries in 2017 and 2021.Elgar stood in as captain for Faf du Plessis, who was on paternity leave, for the first Test of South Africa’s 2017 tour of England and again for two Tests against Pakistan in 2019, and was named permanent captain of the Test side in mid-2021. He led South Africa to series wins in the West Indies and against India at home, and drew a series against New Zealand in early 2022, which saw them top the World Test Championship (WTC) table at the time. But away losses to England and Australia in 2022-23 meant South Africa missed out on the WTC final earlier this year. Elgar was replaced as captain when there was a reshuffle of the coaching staff in February but continued to play under Bavuma.It is understood that Elgar was unhappy with the decision to be stood down but accepted a new central contract at the end of March. With South Africa only due to play two Test series in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle, Elgar felt his Test career would be limited by the schedule and sources have confirmed he wanted to finish on a high at home.

Fans have called for Erling Haaland to move to Serie A after he professed his love for Italy in a post on social media while on a summer break in Rome.

Haaland says "I love Italy!"On holiday with girlfriendFans call for Serie A transferFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

In a post uploaded to Instagram, Haaland confessed he loves Italy and praised the beauty of Rome, where he has recently spent time on holiday with girlfriend Isabel Johansen. The Norwegian pair were spotted wandering the streets of Rome and also attended a Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in recent days.

Haaland's post was met with a series of responses from fans who called for him to move to Italy full-time with a Serie A transfer from Manchester City.

AdvertisementWHAT HAALAND SAID

Haaland's post to his 37.9 million Instagram followers read: "Rome is without doubt one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever been to! And the food? Omg. Incredible. I’m enjoying the summer! Thanks D&G and the city of Rome for making the time here smooth. I love Italy!"

TELL ME MORE

Fans flooded to the comments with responses, many in Italian.

One fan said: "If you love Rome so much, come."

Another added: "What if you come to Naples?! Ask KDB…"

Journalist Piero Armenti commented: "Come to play in Italy."

Another fan said: "Come to Rome, come to Serie A in the end it’s not that bad!!!"

Someone else added: "Erling next to Dovbyk would be a great offensive partnership."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR HAALAND?

Haaland is set to return to City for the new season, with a move to Serie A unlikely to materialise at this stage in his career. But fans have certainly shown that the 300-goal striker is welcome in Italy if he ever does decide to pursue a change of scenery and a new lifestyle. It has been suggested in the past that the prolific frontman would like to experience playing across Europe before his career is done.

Rodrigo De Paul has 'verbally agreed' to swap Atletico Madrid for Inter Miami and link up with fellow Argentine Lionel Messi in a $15 million deal.

De Paul set to join Inter MiamiAtletico to pocket $15m feeMessi reunion nearsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Fabrizio Romano reports that a $15M (£13m) verbal agreement is in place between all parties, with De Paul set to join Miami on an initial loan deal that includes a purchase clause. Once that is triggered, the Argentine will be tied to a four-year contract with the MLS club.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

De Paul has cultivated a distinguished career, starring in Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph and winning multiple Copa Americas in recent years. Despite still being an important player at Atletico, the 31-year-old seems ready for a new challenge and a chance to link up with compatriot Messi in Miami. This is quite the coup for David Beckham's team.

DID YOU KNOW?

Former Valencia and Udinese star De Paul has earned the nickname of Messi's 'Bodyguard' as he has repeatedly come to the aid of team-mate of the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man during Argentina matches. Indeed, the player himself has spoken about their almost telepathic relationship.

In 2018, he said: "Sometimes we just look at each other and know what’s needed to reorganise the team. It makes the process more fluid."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

AFPWHAT NEXT?

The 78-time Argentina international could even make his Miami debut alongside ex-Barcelona ace Messi later this month as the MLS team try and climb up the Eastern Conference table for the final third of the season.

The biggest fifth-wicket stand in men’s Under-19 World Cups rescued India from 32 for 4 in pursuit of 245

Shashank Kishore06-Feb-20241:07

Sachin Dhas: ‘We can do well while chasing too’

India’s title defence at the Under-19 World Cup met its sternest challenge from hosts South Africa in a pulsating semifinal clash in Benoni. Then Uday Saharan, the captain, and Sachin Dhas put on a game-changing 171-run stand that set the tone for a come-from-behind victory. India are now into their fifth straight final, where they await the winner of Thursday’s semi-final between Pakistan and Australia.Related

Saharan: 'I knew it was a matter of one partnership'

Arshin Kulkarni, the Kallis fanboy who can hit the ball long

Kwena Maphaka is making things happen, and things are happening for him

For the first time in the tournament, India decided to chase. And at 32 for 4 in their chase of 245, they were on the rack. South Africa’s pace attack brought fire, hostility and plenty of thrills to an engaging opening burst where every ball was an event of its own. It needed Dhas’s ice-cool temperament and Saharan’s steel to bail India out with a record fifth-wicket stand at men’s Under-19 World Cups.Yet, despite the record partnership, India had late jitters when Dhas, Aravelly Avanish and Murugan Abhishek fell in quick succession. India needed 18 off 16 with three wickets in hand. Raj Limbani, the swing bowler who had landed the early punches with three massive strikes, then flicked his first ball for six over deep midwicket to take India within touching distance.Saharan nearly saw India home but was run out with India needing one run. It took him an eternity to walk off, distraught at not being able to finish the job, but he wasn’t to be denied as Limbani belted a boundary off Nquobani Mokoena to trigger joyous scenes in the Indian camp. South Africa were crestfallen, wondering how they let India escape after Kwena Maphaka and Tristan Luus had cut through their top order in near-unplayable opening spells.Maphaka removed Adarsh Singh off the first ball of India’s chase with a lifter that he gloved to the wicketkeeper. At the other end, Luus peppered Musheer Khan with a series of inswingers before having him fend a short ball into the slips. Musheer’s wicket was massive considering he had been the glue holding India’s batting together all tournament.Tristan Luus followed up a late cameo with three wickets in his opening spell•ICC/Getty ImagesArshin Kulkarni, known for his big hitting and pulsating starts, shelved all that aggression in an effort to dig in, until he threw his hands at an away-going delivery to be caught in the slips, while Priyanshu Moliya’s loose drive was pouched by keeper Lhuan-dre Pretorius. By now, the bands were playing and the home fans roared.Dhas and Saharan ducked and weaved their way away from the short balls to begin with, seemingly unperturbed by being made to look ugly by South Africa’s pace attack. And then as they slowly ate into the daunting target, they found their feet and timing. Saharan was industrious and Dhas a little more enterprising as he kept picking boundaries off every loose offering.Dhas had cut his teeth as a finisher during the run-up to the World Cup. Until Tuesday, he’d only once faced over 20 deliveries in an innings in the tournament. But this was his opportunity to deliver, and he embraced the challenge. Last week against Nepal, Dhas and Saharan had bailed India out of a similar position after they’d lost three early wickets. Here the stakes were higher, and the quality of bowling several notches higher, perhaps even the tournament’s best, which is why their fightback was all the more commendable.Before India’s batters led the way, their plethora of spin options strangled South Africa after Limbani had made the ball talk with his big inswing. From 46 for 2, Pretorius and Richard Seletswane went about repairing the innings with a 72-run third-wicket stand, but consumed 22.1 overs in the process to put immense pressure on the lower middle order for momentum.Pretorius fell searching for big runs in an effort to make up for Seletswane’s slowdown – he was on 25 not out off 75 balls at one point. This pressure slowly crept up on South Africa’s lower order, helping the spin duo of Musheer and Saumy Pandey dictate terms. In all, spin accounted for figures of 31-2-120-3.Juan James, the captain, and Luus struck some big blows towards the end to help South Africa nudge towards 250, the last five overs producing 49 runs. This gave South Africa more than a fighting chance, which their fast bowlers built on significantly, before they ran into Saharan and Dhas.

No clarity on the reasons behind delay; setback leaves Amir as the only squad member who did not travel to Dublin on Tuesday

Danyal Rasool07-May-2024Mohammad Amir did not travel to Ireland with the rest of the Pakistan side because he did not receive a visa in time. Amir, who is a permanent resident of the United Kingdom, applied for an Ireland visa along with the rest of the Pakistan side, according to a PCB official. But while the rest of the squad received visas before their travel to Dublin on Tuesday, Amir did not and remained in Pakistan.The PCB are in touch with Cricket Ireland over the issue, with a PCB official telling ESPNcricinfo it was ultimately the host board’s responsibility to ensure visas for the travelling squad were facilitated and provided in time. Given the short nature of the tour – Pakistan play three T20Is in the country from May 10 to 14 – it puts Amir’s involvement in the series in doubt.As things stand, there is no word on a timeline around when his visa is expected. One member of the Pakistan management – Mohammad Yousaf – also had his visa approval delayed, but managed to receive it just in time to travel with the rest of the squad. It is not yet clear whether Amir’s visa delay has to do with the timing of his application, though the PCB’s view is he applied at the same time as the rest of the squad.Amir has been to Ireland before. He was part of the Pakistan side that went to Malahide to play in Ireland’s inaugural Test match in 2018. He retired from internationals in 2020 before reversing that decision earlier this year and played his first international games in four years in the recently concluded home series against New Zealand.The Pakistan squad is expected to arrive in Dublin early on Wednesday morning, with all three games to be played there. Pakistan then travel to the UK, where they play four T20Is ahead of the World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.

Yoane Wissa has rejoined Brentford's pre-season training amid strong transfer interest from Newcastle United. The Magpies have been linked with a move for Wissa, but the Bees had made it clear that they won't sell the forward for less than £40 million. Brentford have already sold Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United are thus reluctant to let another first-team star leave.

Wissa back in Brentford trainingNewcastle dealt another transfer blowMagpies remain interested in SeskoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Brentford shared photographs from a pre-season session, where Wissa can be seen training hard with his team-mates. At one point, the striker had threatened to go on a strike as he was desperate to leave the club in search of Champions League football.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Newcastle, who are looking to strengthen their attack after returning to the Champions League this year, were strongly interested in signing Wissa, although Brentford made it clear that they were reluctant to part ways with another first-team star after Mbeumo's transfer to Manchester United. The Bees were eyeing a move for Celtic's Daizen Maeda as a possible replacement for Wissa. 

DID YOU KNOW?

With the 28-year-old attacker unlikely to leave Brentford, Newcastle are still pursuing a move for Benjamin Sesko, although they face stiff competition from Manchester United for the RB Leipzig striker. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT

Brentford will be next seen in action on August 8 as they host Borussia Monchengladbach in their final pre-season friendly before the new Premier League campaign.

Matthew Mott wants players to be “more vulnerable” after becoming “insular” during 50-over World Cup

Matt Roller23-May-2024Matthew Mott believes it is time his England team “get the mojo back” ahead of the T20 World Cup – and has hired Manchester City’s psychologist to help his players be more emotionally vulnerable if they come under pressure in the Caribbean.David Young, who was previously with England from 2016 to 2020, has worked with City during an unprecedented period of success, with the club recently becoming the first team to win four Premier League titles in a row. He has been brought back as a consultant on a short-term basis ahead of next month’s World Cup, with City’s approval.Jos Buttler was influential in the decision and has previously credited Young for helping him perform in the 2019 World Cup final. Young joined the England squad in Leeds ahead of their washed-out first T20I against Pakistan on Wednesday and will link up with them again in Cardiff on Monday, after helping City prepare for Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester United.”He’s previously been with the team and he’s already been a great ally in messages back to me, making sure my messages are clear,” Mott, England’s white-ball coach, said. “It’s always good to have someone who’s a little bit removed from the squad to make sure you’re landing your messages… He’s still doing other roles but we’ve got him for this series, and the start of the World Cup as well.”Related

Jofra Archer impresses on comeback as Jos Buttler makes the difference in 23-run win

Leeds rain denies England, Pakistan valuable preparation

Hasan Ali released from Pakistan squad to play for Warwickshire

After 382 days on the sidelines, Archer set to return for England

Jos Buttler backs England to learn lessons from 50-over World Cup debacle

England’s management are trying to learn from the mistakes they made at last year’s 50-over World Cup, when they were knocked out at the group stage and won three of their nine games – two of which came after their elimination. Mott described the tournament as “death by a thousand cuts” and said: “When you’ve had the kick in the pants like we’ve had, you can’t just go ‘business as usual’. You have to redefine how you go as a team.”As a group, we’ve made a commitment to be a bit more open in and around our training sessions, to help each other out a bit more. In India, all of us were guilty of being a bit insular, and trying to problem-solve ourselves. We’ve made a commitment to open up and be a bit more vulnerable as a group so that we’re helping each other.”Mott has been watching the IPL from afar and said that England could learn from Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s winning streak to qualify for the play-offs. “The way they had nothing to lose and came out and played a different brand of cricket – could we have done that earlier? Maybe, yes. On reflection, we didn’t react as we should have after the start.”Eoin Morgan, Buttler’s predecessor as captain, was sharply critical of England’s performance in India and hinted there was “something else going on” in their dressing-room beyond collective underperformance. Mott – whose first series as coach was Morgan’s last as captain – said the pair have not spoken since, but that he respects Morgan and his opinion.”Family and friends got more upset about it than I did,” he said. “Initially, of course you take it a bit personally but he’s there to have an opinion… All I’ll say is that only the people within the dressing-room can fully understand what’s going on. Once you leave the dressing-room, you might hear titbits of stuff, but you don’t really know how the team’s operating.””It’s time to get the mojo back and go out and really express ourselves”•Getty ImagesButtler suggested this week that he needs to give certain players more “clarity” than he did in India, and Mott said the squad would drive that change: “My style of coaching has always been more of a cooperative approach – keep asking questions on what does their game look like at its best, and if they’re veering away from that, to drag them back on track.”We feel like it’s time to get the mojo back and go out and really express ourselves as a team. I think T20, as opposed to ODI, is so much clearer in the way the players can approach it. We’ve seen in the IPL, you have to go out and really take the game on from the start. Most teams are going to go that way, so it’s going to be an exciting World Cup.”England will confirm their World Cup squad to the ICC before Saturday’s second T20I at Edgbaston and will name the same 15 players that formed the provisional squad, despite both Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood carrying niggles. “Probably not for the next game at this stage, but definitely later in the series, they’ll be up for selection,” Mott said.Jofra Archer’s return was delayed by the rain on Wednesday and he is likely to play at least two of the remaining three T20Is. Mott said that England are “pretty confident” that they know their best XI for the Caribbean, and said he would be comfortable taking Tom Hartley to the World Cup even if he does not win his first T20I cap in this series: “He’s played a lot of high-quality cricket in the last 12 months.”

Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is in line for a shock return to his boyhood club after emerging as a contender for the vacant U21s head coach position. The Gunners are currently seeking a successor to Mehmet Ali, who departed the club earlier this summer to take on a senior coaching role at Brentford under newly appointed head coach Keith Andrews.

Wilshere linked with Arsenal returnGunners seeking a replacement for Mehmet AliClub prioritising youth and academy growthFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Wilshere, who previously worked within Arsenal’s youth setup as U18s head coach, left the Emirates to further his coaching career with Norwich City in the Championship. In April, he was named interim head coach after the departure of Johannes Hoff Thorup. However, his time at the helm ended in June when the club appointed Liam Manning as their permanent manager, and he then left the Canaries' coaching team. The 33-year-old is now contemplating his next move, with a potential Arsenal return on the table, as revealed by the

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

While Wilshere is being strongly considered for the U21s job, no concrete decision has yet been made by Arsenal. The former Gunners midfielder did enjoy success in his previous role at the club, guiding the U18s to the 2023 FA Youth Cup final.

DID YOU KNOW?

Wilshere recently interviewed for the managerial position at Plymouth Argyle following Ian Foster’s exit. Though he was among the final candidates, the role ultimately went to former Manchester United and England midfielder Tom Cleverley.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR WILSHERE?

The Gunners have significantly ramped up their focus on youth development in recent seasons. This commitment has borne fruit, with talents such as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly breaking into the first-team setup.

Returning to the Emirates would mark a homecoming for Wilshere, who came through the club’s famed academy and went on to make over 150 appearances for the senior team.