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Tim Southee to take up captaincy duties; Mark Chapman called up as replacement

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Nov-2022New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will miss the third T20I against India in Napier because of a pre-arranged medical appointment. He is expected to rejoin the team ahead of the three-ODI series that begins on Friday.Head coach Gary Stead said Tim Southee would lead New Zealand in the third T20I in Williamson’s absence, while Mark Chapman had been called into the squad as cover.Related

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“Kane’s been trying to get this booked in for a while now, but unfortunately it hasn’t been able to fit into our schedule.” Stead said. “The health and well-being of our players and staff is paramount, and we look forward to seeing him in Auckland.”Stead said Williamson’s medical appointment had nothing to do with his elbow, a pre-existing injury the New Zealand captain has been coping with over the last year. He had missed games for New Zealand and in the IPL because of it.Williamson’s form in the T20 format has come under some scrutiny in recent times. While New Zealand made the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, Williamson scored only 178 runs at a strike rate of 116.33. Last week, he was released by his IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad after he scored only 216 runs at a strike rate of 93.51 in their eighth-place finish in the 2022 season.After the first T20I in Wellington was washed out, India won the second match in Mount Maunganui by 65 runs, on the back of Suryakumar Yadav century. Though Williamson top-scored for New Zealand in the chase with 61 off 52 balls, he was unable to challenge the target of 192The third and final T20I will take place on Tuesday in Napier, before the teams head to Auckland for the first ODI on November 25. The second and third ODIs are in Hamilton and Christchurch on November 27 and 30.

Paul Pogba has, amid his search for a new club, enjoyed an “unforgettable” birthday party alongside wife Zulay and tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz.

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Doping suspension has been completedWorld Cup winner available as a free agentRelaxing with friends in search for new clubFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The former Manchester United midfielder is currently a free agent. He has completed an 18-month doping ban, with the 32-year-old now cleared to resume his professional career. Pogba was released by Serie A giants Juventus while serving a worldwide suspension.

AdvertisementDID YOU KNOW?

He has been linked with clubs around the world, from Saudi Arabia to the Premier League, but is yet to decide where his next port of call will be. Plenty of time is being spent in the United States, which is considered by some to be a nod towards landing a deal in MLS.

THE GOSSIP

Pogba has been in Florida celebrating his latest birthday, with a star-studded bash organised by his partner Zulay. Said event was attended by Spanish tennis sensation Alcaraz, who recently took part in the Miami Open.

WHAT NEXT FOR PAUL POGBA?

Pogba has said on social media: “Surprised by love. Thank you to my amazing wife and friends for this unforgettable birthday celebration. Truly blessed!” The World Cup winner is now free to focus on kick-starting a career that stalled back in September 2023.

In Jasprit Bumrah and Manish Pandey, there might be a lesson for the selectors to back winners, and perhaps punt a little less

Sidharth Monga23-Jan-20161:23

‘Manish paced his innings well’ – Dhoni

MS Dhoni likes to take the game into the last over. He did at the SCG. Dhoni likes to hit the first ball of the said last over for a six. He did at the SCG. Much as we would like to console ourselves that Dhoni helped India finish their only win of the series, he was a pale shadow of himself. That he was there to take the match to the deep end was indeed the difference between Canberra and Sydney, but the old Dhoni would have done so with much more deliberation. Here, he did play a panicked shot, and was dropped. He did play across the line, and survived a plumb lbw decision.We don’t know when Dhoni’s next ODI will be, or if there will be one (can’t bank on a farewell tour for Dhoni), but more than thinking about whether he nearly botched up a fourth chase in the last five chances he will be extremely pleased that two youngsters helped India cross the line they have been finding so difficult to chase. Manish Pandey, in his fourth ODI, and Jasprit Bumrah, on debut, finally provided the support Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli so badly needed.When playing against a superior opponent, you need to scrap until the end. In Canberra, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav conceded 29 in the last two overs, in Sydney Bumrah bowled the rare Indian yorker to help India concede just seven after the 48th over. In Canberra batsmen other than top three choked, in Sydney, Pandey remained cool. Not to mention the 10 or so runs he saved in the field.There might be a lesson in here for the selectors to back winners, and perhaps punt a little less.Talk to anyone familiar with the Indian domestic circuit about Pandey, they will tell you he might not be the best technically but he scores on big occasions. In the 2009-10 Ranji final, he scored 144 as Karnataka fell six heart-breaking runs shy of a chase of 338. He became the first Indian centurion in IPL in a must-win game for his team in 2009, and followed it up with a Man of the Match in the semi-final. He went on to add a double-century in the Duleep Trophy semi-final in the 2010-11, and a half-century in the final. He won an IPL final off his own bat, with a 94 in a chase of 200 in 2014.Bumrah, with his unorthodox action that creates an illusion of extra pace, with the ability to bowl the yorker, and with the improvement made through the addition of the ball that holds its line, was part of the Gujarat team that won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2014-15. In the next season he was the leading wicket-taker in the domestic 50-over competition, the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He bowled Dhoni with a yorker in the league stages and picked up five in the final.Pandey, though, had to sit out for no fault of his because he doesn’t bowl and because India don’t have other allrounders. Bumrah somehow didn’t make it to the original squad, and unconfirmed reports say they couldn’t get him a visa fast enough when Mohammed Shami got injured. Lucky they were playing because of more injuries, and under pressure in the dying moments, both of them delivered.

“The kind of innings Manish Pandey has played, it gives you extra 15 games to settle in and start to do what you need to do. And adapt to the demands of the game. Because a lot will also change when you play in the subcontinent. As of now he looks good at No. 5.”

An instructive moment was when Dhoni asked Ishant at the start of an over at the death what field he wanted, and you could hear: “Bumrah wali [the one that Bumrah had].” Here was a veteran trying to emulate what a debutant was doing, and he went on to find success. When it comes to finishing it off with the bat, the coolest cat with the bat could trust Pandey. The rookie might even have helped the veteran out.That Pandey knew what he was doing was evident from how he didn’t try the desperate shot, relied on his legs and his placement to get the couples, resisted the temptation of manufacturing shots to the shorter boundary, and then produced the masterful steer off a yorker in the final over to bring up his hundred and take India to within two of a win.Tangibly Dhoni’s 34 off 42 took the asking rate past 12, but intangibly he might have just imparted the invaluable wisdom you gain only by finishing games off again and again. Sample what Dhoni told Pandey: “The difference [between runs required and balls left] was 15-20 runs. Whatever happens we will get at least at least two boundaries. And also both of us are quick between the wickets, which means we will put pressure on the slower fielders or the ones that don’t have good arms. Ultimately we will get those extra runs rather than looking for the big six.”One of the biggest mistakes inexperienced batsmen make is feel they are running out of time. Dhoni might have taught him the most valuable lesson: there is more time than you think. Perhaps Pandey knew it himself?Dhoni is not one to get carried away with early success. He spoke well of the two youngsters, but remained guarded too. “Bumrah was fantastic playing in his first game,” Dhoni said. “It becomes slightly easy for you when youngsters come and perform in the first five games that they play. You see a glimpse of what they may become in the coming years if they don’t get injured. He bowled well with the semi-new ball, he bowled well in the middle overs, then he bowled well at the death. That is the kind of bowlers we are looking for. He has the variations, he has the slightly awkward action.”About Pandey he said: “Manish paced his innings really well. You have to realise it is not always about big hits. Over here the ground are big. If you mistime you can get out, but at the same time if you hit a good yorker, more often than not you get two. You rely a lot on your running. This innings will help him but what he needs to keep in is how he calculated the run chase. The kind of innings he has played, it gives you extra 15 games to settle in and start to do what you need to do. And adapt to the demands of the game. Because a lot will also change when you play in the subcontinent. As of now he looks good at No. 5.”When asked if this gave him reason to change his mind about lack of ready-made talent coming through from the system, Dhoni said it is important is to not get “high on individual performances”, and also said he can only judge by what the selectors give him, that it is their job to find the best talent and push it through to international cricket.In typical Dhoni fashion he remained noncommittal about what future held for Dhoni the ODI player, joking you might need a public-interest litigation to find out, but the wistfulness you might have felt looking at his diminished striking ability disappeared a little when you heard him talk with joy about a youngster who planned a chase as well as he wanted him to do.

He and D’Arcy Short put on an opening stand of 166 after Peter Handscomb had lifted a stuttering Victoria

AAP25-Sep-2022A massive opening partnership from Western Australian pair Josh Philippe and D’Arcy Short lifted the defending Marsh Cup holders to a commanding five-wicket win over Victoria in Melbourne.WA eased over the line with 14 balls to spare. The contest seemed settled as the WA openers put on a match-defining partnership of 166 at almost a run a ball.Philippe was dismissed for 100 the ball after reaching his ton, while Short made a more measured 90 before falling with victory in sight. Philippe, having brought up his half-century with a six, reached three figures off just 95 balls in a knock that featured three sixes.Victoria allrounder Will Sutherland, who had Philippe caught at the wicket, then produced an extraordinary one-handed catch to send Short back to the pavilion. Despite some late pressure, Hilton Cartwright helped WA home with an unbeaten 26.The visitors, in their first outing of the domestic summer and first since holding off Victoria in last season’s Sheffield Shield final, impressed with both bat and ball.Victoria won the toss but slipped to 5 for 92 in the wake of some fine pace and seam bowling.Jhye Richardson was absent from the WA line-up as a precaution with hamstring soreness. The Test quick’s absence had little impact with Andrew Tye returning 4-54 to headline a strong team bowling performance.Victoria captain Peter Handscomb held the home side’s innings together just as it threatened to crumble. He made 93 from 110 balls, while there were also fast-scoring contributions from middle-order pair Matt Short (43 from 38 balls) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (36 from 42).Victoria opened the domestic season on Friday with a contentious victory over New South Wales, with the umpires ending the weather-impacted match for bad light the ball after the lead had changed hands via the DLS method.Will Pucovski, having shone in the opener with a half-century, fell cheaply for just 5, while there was also a failure for another Test aspirant with Marcus Harris making 8.

As Wolverhampton Wanderers look to turn what has been a disastrous campaign around, those in the Midlands could reportedly swoop in ahead of both Liverpool and Arsenal to sign an MLS talent in 2025.

Wolves transfer news

A 4-1 victory at Fulham looked destined to be a turning point in Wolves’ season. It felt as though Gary O’Neil’s side would simply kick on from there and eventually leave their poor start behind. One 4-2 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth – in which they conceded three penalties – and a 4-0 loss against Everton at Goodison Park later, however, and O’Neil’s job has never been in a more fragile state.

Three points adrift of safety and sat as low as 19th on just nine points, things couldn’t be much more bleak for Wolves, who desperately need to January transfer window to arrive. Whether it’s O’Neil in charge by that point or his successor remains unknown, but there’s no doubt that his side need reinforcements if they want to survive.

With that said, according to Caught Offside, Wolves could now swoop in ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool to sign Gabriel Pec from MLS side LA Galaxy when 2025 arrives. The talented winger has attracted plenty of potential after rising to stardom in America and is seemingly on the radar of Wolves alongside their Premier League rivals as well as Atletico Madrid, Napoli and Inter Milan.

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It would be fairly ambitious to suggest that Wolves are favourites for his signature. In fact, in their current position, they should find themselves low down on the list of suitors, but what they can crucially guarantee the Brazilian over the chasing pack is consistent game time. With the chance to replace Pedro Neto once and for all, Wolves should go all out for Pec.

"Phenomenal" Pec can finally replace Neto

Whilst Carlos Forbs arrived in the summer transfer window, the Ajax loanee has yet to show the level needed to break into O’Neil’s side or go as far as replacing a player of Neto’s calibre. Without that firepower, Matheus Cunha has of course stepped up, but when it’s not him then it’s difficult to find another player who is capable of dragging Wolves to unlikely victory. Fellow Brazilian, Pec, could change that though.

The LA Galaxy star is enjoying a “phenomenal debut season” according to MLS insider Tom Bogert and has deservedly earned the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs as a result.

The 23-year-old has only continued his form since that praise too, scoring 21 goals and assisting a further 18 in all competitions for LA Galaxy in 2024. Involved in 39 goals in 40 games, Pec is clearly one to watch.

Enzo Maresca was slammed for his "boring" tactics in Arsenal defeat as William Gallas believes Chelsea should have stuck with Mauricio Pochettino.

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Chelsea went down to Arsenal in the London derbyMaresca under scrutiny after just four wins in 13 PL gamesGallas believes Chelsea were better under PochettinoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 victory, courtesy of Mikel Merino’s first-half header, at the Emirates on Sunday. The win solidified the Gunners’ second-place position, while Chelsea’s ambitions of securing a top-four finish took a major blow.

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Chelsea’s uninspired performance has become a recurring theme in recent weeks. Despite boasting a squad valued at over £1 billion, the team has been struggling for consistency since the turn of the year. Their poor run of form, which includes just four wins in their last 13 league matches, has raised serious questions about Maresca’s tactics and decision-making.

WHAT GALLAS SAID

One of the biggest criticisms of Chelsea’s approach under Maresca has been their possession-heavy style that often fails to translate into meaningful goal-scoring opportunities.

Gallas did not hold back in his assessment of Maresca’s system, describing it as a throwback to a different era. He was particularly baffled by the decision to play Reece James in midfield, likening the approach to something from decades ago.

Speaking to Gallas said: "It was man-to-man everywhere on the pitch, I was surprised that Reece James played as a midfielder and it was like being back in 1980. We are in 2025, how can you ask your players to do that? The defenders Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill looked scared on the ball and with more pressure from Arsenal they might’ve scored the second goal, the goal they did score was from a corner.

“For me, it was boring, especially for a London derby. I played so many of those games and it was more intense. Fans want to see the players fighting, running, and challenging, but nothing happened."

DID YOU KNOW?

Gallas believes that based on Chelsea’s recent performances, Mauricio Pochettino might have been the better option to lead the club. Pochettino was sacked in the summer of 2024 after he guided the Blues to a sixth-place finish.

“Looking at the performance against Arsenal, you’d say that Chelsea would be better off with Mauricio Pochettino," the former defender opined.

“What I saw of Chelsea against Arsenal, the system and how they played, I was a little bit disappointed. But right now I think Enzo Maresca is on the right path, they are still on course to qualify for the top four. Sometimes owners at big clubs are not patient.

“The new owners have made a lot of decisions until now when they don’t see results, now it’s up to Maresca to show that he is the manager Chelsea were looking for.”

Shahnawaz Dahani is out with a “suspected side strain”; India don’t have the services of Ravindra Jadeja anymore

Danyal Rasool03-Sep-20228:34

Should Rishabh Pant replace KL Rahul at the top of the order?

Big pictureIt wasn’t until Friday night that this fixture was officially confirmed, but make no mistake, the second instalment of India versus Pakistan had long been pencilled-in in the minds of supporters, organisers and players for this Sunday. Its proximity to the sides’ most recent contest, just a week ago, gives it that added layer of intrigue and context, with the sides not quite as unfamiliar with each other as they usually are. This will be the first time since the 2018 Asia Cup that the two face each other in such quick succession.That this game is the first for both teams in the Super 4 stage allows it to be stripped of context in the bigger picture. But this is another opportunity for them to work each other out ahead of their men’s T20 World Cup game in Australia in just under two months’ time. Not to forget, any insight gleaned into the opposition’s methods might be particularly handy in a week’s time, if there is to be a Part 3 of this story in the final next Sunday.Related

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There isn’t too much to separate these sides, especially in these conditions, as was evident in their tight contest a week ago, but by dint of India pulling the result out, they do go in as slight favourites. Their bowlers fared admirably in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, using the short ball to devastating effect in a way Babar Azam’s men could neither cope with nor replicate. In the middle order, India have the luxury of a two-in-one player in Hardik Pandya, whom they were able to rest against Hong Kong. Virat Kohli, meanwhile, seems to be creaking back to form, taking advantage of an early reprieve against Pakistan to score a vital 35, followed up by an unbeaten half-century against Hong Kong.Pakistan’s dominant, record-breaking win over Hong Kong allayed any fears that they might stumble at the group stage. Mohammad Rizwan played his way back into form with an unbeaten 78 off 57, while Khushdil Shah warmed up nicely with an unbeaten 15-ball 35. The bowling, Pakistan’s stronger suit by a distance, was in top form, with Shadab Khan taking career-best figures of 4 for 8, and Mohammad Nawaz taking 3 for 5. Dubai might not allow the spinners as big a role, but a well-rounded bowling attack remains Pakistan’s most reliable avenue to victory.And, of course, there are Super 4 points on offer. Even if that feels like a bit of an afterthought for now, they will become increasingly prized as these two jostle with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in a bid to reach the final.3:30

Jaffer: India won’t miss Jadeja’s batting because of Axar’s form

Form guideIndia WWWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Pakistan WLLWWIn the spotlightKohli might have begun this tournament with the vultures circling, but it is Rohit Sharma whose recent form represents something of a top-order vulnerability for India. There’s only one half-century peppered amongst a swathe of low-to-medium scores over his last dozen T20Is or so. Against Pakistan, that effect is even more exaggerated, his average dropping to 13.66 from a career average of 32. His strike rate takes a similar dive from 139.84 to 112.32. When the sides met last week in Dubai, a scratchy 12 off 18 balls was all Rohit managed. If he, too, can shake off this indifferent spell, India’s top order suddenly poses more challenging questions for Pakistan.It looked like Iftikhar Ahmed was doing the rebuilding work for Pakistan against India through the middle order when the sides met last week, even if he eventually fell at an inopportune moment. With the value of Pakistan’s middle order becoming clearer by the day, he should have a more noteworthy role to play on Sunday. As one of the few Pakistan middle-order batters who can perform the dual role of consolidation and power-hitting, he should be key to Pakistan’s hopes, particularly if they are thrust in to bat first again. Against Hong Kong on Friday, Babar Azam brought him on inside the powerplay, suggesting he might play more of an all-round role against India.Pitch and conditionsThe temperature is expected to hit 40°C in the afternoon, and though it’s supposed to drop down a few degrees by the time the game starts, oppressive heat will continue to be a factor.2:34

Mickey Arthur on what Pakistan have learnt so far at the Asia Cup

Team newsAvesh Khan is doubtful for the match because of fever. Meanwhile, Hardik should return, and Axar Patel should come in for Ravindra Jadeja, who has been ruled out of the tournament and the T20 World Cup with a knee injury. The Dinesh Karthik vs Rishabh Pant question remains there.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Rishabh Pant/Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Avesh Khan/R Ashwin, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalPakistan have been hit with an injury to another fast bowler, with Shahnawaz Dahani ruled out of Sunday’s game with a “suspected side strain”. Hasan Ali or Mohammad Hasnain will take his place.Pakistan (probable): 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Iftikhar Ahmed, 5 Khushdil Shah, 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Asif Ali, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Hasan Ali/Mohammad HasnainStats and trivia Three of Rohit’s eight T20I innings against Pakistan have seen him dismissed within the first two balls. Pakistan have lost their last four Asia Cup matches, across formats, to India. On each of those four occasions, India batted second. Of 14 completed games between the two sides in the tournament, India have won nine.Quotes”Any game against India feels like a final, but the more normal you can feel in such a match, the better it is. I don’t follow the hype around that game much, but out in the middle, the ball has to play the bat.”
Mohammad Rizwan tries to downplay the hype of another India-Pakistan match