KL Rahul left the field after being struck on the elbow in an injury concern for India ahead of the first Test, while Virat Kohli shrugged off speculation over his fitness but was one of several batters caught behind the wicket in an intra-squad match simulation at the WACA.After three days in the WACA nets, India ramped up their preparations a week before the series-opener at Optus Stadium with an XI featuring their main stars out in the middle against a side filled with mostly their fringe and India A players.In perhaps an indication that he is earmarked to open the batting if captain Rohit Sharma misses the first Test, Rahul opened alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in overcast conditions.Related

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Rahul looked in fluent touch and appeared to be handling short bowling well until he was struck on his right elbow by a rising delivery from quick Prasidh Krishna. The blow left him grimacing and he trudged off the ground after seeking medical attention.Rahul did not come out to bat later in the day as India’s main batters had another turn at the crease.Jaiswal started aggressively with a belligerent whack through the covers, but on 15 he nicked off to second slip in what would become a common sight through a simulation that lasted two-and-a-half hours before lunch.Amid reports that he has undergone scans in recent days, Kohli looked in fine touch and hit a couple of gorgeous shots through the covers. But on 15 he nicked seamer Mukesh Kumar to second slip before he then spent around 30 minutes in the nearby nets.Short-pitched bowling had been a priority for India’s batters on Thursday, with local club quicks unleashing rapid speed while some batters took part in a drill where a tennis ball was fired from close range aimed at their heads.The WACA surface so far in this simulation has had considerably less bounce and carry than Sheffield Shield matches this season. But there has been some movement off a length and India’s batters looked wanting.Rishabh Pant, who had struggled against the short ball at times during his net sessions earlier in the week, smoked a boundary through the off-side early in his innings but he seemed shaken after copping a blow to the groin. He was cleaned bowled by a quick delivery from Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was a standout after also later claiming Dhruv Jurel in the slips.KL Rahul walks off after being hit on the arm•Getty Images

No. 3 Shubman Gill started slowly and struggled to get the strike for his two-hour stay at the crease. He started looking more comfortable before on 28 fending to gully a short of a length delivery from quick Navdeep Saini who celebrated with gusto.The rare sight at the WACA of spin from both ends occurred just before the interval with Washington Sundar and Tanush Kotian bowling in tandem as the batting side reached the break at 106 for 5 after 28 overs.Befitting the simulation, with it not being an official match, India’s main batters had another go of it. It appeared there were more specific match situations being tested as Jaiswal and Gill, who was scratchy the first time around, went all-out attack.But they soon reverted to a cautious approach as they mostly dead-batted in a sedate passage of play as India’s coaching staff walked laps around the boundary.Jaiswal has looked the most comfortable against the short ball, including during the net sessions, and he was also ultra-attacking when spin came into the attack. He finished 58 not out, while Gill, who sometimes appeared anchored to the crease, made an unbeaten 42.After the final interval, Kohli and Pant returned and they were confronted by sharp short of a length bowling from Prasidh and Reddy. Kohli was particularly troubled and played and missed on several occasions. But he found his rhythm and played a few gorgeous backfoot strokes, including a pull shot to the boundary which damaged his bat and required a change.Kohli did not look in any discomfort, quelling injury fears, as he batted for an hour before finishing up on 30.Pant tried to counter the length by skipping down the pitch and he had mixed success. He was eventually bowled on 24 by the impressive Mukesh – the second time in the day his wickets had been rattled.Jurel returned and was joined by Akash Deep in the final passages as the batting side finished on 339 for 8 in a match simulation that lasted 75 overs.The simulation is expected to continue over the weekend.

Arsenal are making serious moves behind-the-scenes as new sporting director Andrea Berta looks to make a real impression on English shores, with the 53-year-old thought to be closing in on another target.

Arsenal in advanced talks for player with 5-year deal "already agreed"

The north Londoners have made a significant transfer stride.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 3, 2025

The Gunners confirmed Kepa Arrizabalaga’s arrival in N5 earlier this week.

The now-ex-Chelsea goalkeeper comes in as Berta’s first official signing since he replaced Edu in late March, but Kepa is widely expected to be followed by Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who could even be announced as a new Arsenal player on Thursday (Team News and Ticks).

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£5m

After agreeing a deal for Brentford captain Christian Norgaard recently, which could reach up to £15 million, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano now says that all the necessary paperwork has been exchanged for his transfer to the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta and co will ideally welcome the signing of Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera as well, as talks remain ongoing with the La Liga side in an attempt to strike their fourth deal of the window. Valencia did attempt to offer the 21-year-old a new contract to ward Arsenal off, but he’s apparently determined to join Arteta’s side.

“Cristhian Mosquera’s plan remains clear: he wants to join Arsenal project despite new contract proposal from Valencia,” said Romano on X.

“Full focus on negotiations with #AFC as personal terms are agreed, and new bid will be needed after opening one for €14m, rejected.”

Berta has many plates spinning right now, with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze also firmly on their radar.

Arsenal talks with Eberechi Eze "well advanced"

Earlier this week, it was reported that Arsenal held “positive” talks with Eze’s representatives last weekend, and like Mosquera, he’s pretty keen on the idea of joining.

Now, according to French newspaper L’Equipe, Arsenal’s negotiations with Eze are “well advanced”, and all that is really left to do is trigger the England international’s release clause to strike a full agreement.

This comes after “further moves” in “recent hours”, as the outlet reported on Wednesday afternoon, so it appears Berta and co have upped the ante in their pursuit since their weekend discussions.

It is worth noting that Palace have no intention of accepting an offer lower than Eze’s £68m clause, with Arsenal told the exact price needed to make the 27-year-old their next major signing.

It is currently unclear what the ex-QPR star is demanding in terms of salary, with Eze on a reported £100,000-per-week in south London right now, but it could end up being quite a costly operation overall.

However, after his best-ever season at Palace with 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, there is little denying he’d seriously upgrade Arteta’s squad.

“His journey has been unique,” said pundit Rio Ferdinand on TNT Sports.

“He’s had disappointments in his academy life, released from clubs, found a new journey and a different pathway for himself. He’s got to this level and now he’s an England international.

“This kid, no disrespect to Palace, could go on and play for one of the top teams. He’s got that individual brilliance; he’s got the awareness when he’s dribbling to keep his head up and bring others into play. I speak to other players that play against him, and they say he’s such an elusive player, unpredictable in the way that he carries the ball, but also [his strength].”

Aston Villa are exploring a move for Barcelona prospect Hector Fort, though the Catalan giants are hesitant about letting him leave.

Villa show interest in FortBarcelona reluctant to sellPlayer shares agent with EmeryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , Villa have approached Barcelona about signing young full-back Fort. The move is driven by manager Unai Emery and sporting director Monchi, who both have a strong track record of targeting Spanish talent. Fort and Emery are also represented by the same agency, potentially making negotiations smoother.

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Villa are are looking to reinforce at full-back with Andres Garcia likely to leave after struggling for minutes. However, financial restrictions following a UEFA fine mean any Fort deal would have to be low-cost, possibly a loan. Monchi’s summer spending has been limited to €37 million (£31m/$41m), splashing €30m (£26m/$33m) on striker Evann Guessand and €7m on Turkish centre-back Yasin Ozcan, who was immediately loaned to Anderlecht. Barcelona, meanwhile, value Fort highly and see him as part of their future plans, making them unwilling to sanction a permanent sale.

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The 19-year-old has drawn interest from several clubs, including Paris FC and Mallorca, though the latter’s offer was not convincing. The Catalan giants would consider a loan or structured transfer keeping a high percentage of his rights and a buy-back clause, in line with their recent approach to youth talent. For Fort, guaranteed playing time will be key in deciding his next move.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR HECTOR FORT?

Fort is expected to make a decision on his future next week, weighing offers from across Europe. If Villa push ahead, they will need to convince Barcelona of a deal that preserves the Catalan club’s long-term stake in the player.

Since January 2021, the Test vice-captain is the only South African to hold a 50-plus batting average

Firdose Moonda22-Feb-2022It used to be one of the most talked-about issues in South African cricket: when will Temba Bavuma score a second Test century?After his breakthrough hundred in January 2016, six Tests into his career, Bavuma has scored 16 fifties, but has routinely run out of time or partners to convert. A critical analysis of his batting is that he scores too slowly and his career strike rate of under 48 for the first three-and-half-years underpinned that. Since then, South Africans have come to accept that maybe a batters’ value, especially at home, can’t be measured in centuries.In the last eight Tests in South Africa, dating back to January 2020, there have only been two hundreds scored by their batters. And in that time, Bavuma holds the highest average by a South African player – 46. Since January 2021, he is the only South African to average 50 and thus, even though the likes of Herschelle Gibbs are still not convinced, Bavuma has earned his stripes at this level.”It’s helped that I’ve played a fair number of Tests, so there’s an acceptance that there will be good days and there will be bad days,” Bavuma said, after two days off following South Africa’s innings defeat to New Zealand in the first Test. “I’m at peace with my role in the team, how I fit in. It’s not just about the batting and the currency of runs, but also my presence in the team and how I contribute towards building the culture and environment. That’s helped me be more at ease with where I fit into the team. It’s not the case of every game is my last opportunity to cement my position.”

“I understand his vision as a captain and what he would like to achieve. I back it 100%. I back him as a leader and as a player. For me, it’s about trying to help and serve him as best I can so he can execute his vision for the team”Bavuma on working as Dean Elgar’s deputy

Instead, Bavuma has concentrated on things like scoring quicker. This year, though the sample size is small at three Tests, his strike rate has improved to 57. He has been part of some of the most important partnerships in the South African cause, like the match-winning 82 and 68 with Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen respectively at the Wanderers against India, and he has often stood man-alone in collapses. He was the only South African to score more than 30 in an innings in Christchurch.But Bavuma knows better than to celebrate his form keeping in mind the inconsistency from the line-up that continues to sparkle and then stutter as it finds its feet. “It’s hard to separate the team cause from your individual cause, especially after a performance like that [in the first Test],” he said. “Where I am with my game, I think there are more positives than anything. I’m not down and out, I’m not disappointed in myself. But the team is in a space where we need someone to put up their hand. My form has been decent over the last while, but while it’s still a bit of a concern for the team, I won’t be fully happy with myself.”South Africa slumped to their second-biggest-ever defeat in the first Test against New Zealand and looked far from the team that chased successfully against India twice last month. No-one, not coach Mark Boucher or captain Dean Elgar, has been able to explain their lack of intensity and energy, and Bavuma wasn’t even going to try. “It wasn’t good enough,” he said. “That’s not the standard we pride ourselves on. We know we have to improve in all three disciplines.”Related

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SA's batting rebuild will take time

Bavuma outlines difficulties of leading SA amid off-field issues

His bluntness may be a result of his growing closeness with captain Elgar, for whom Bavuma deputises. The pair has adopted a no-nonsense approach to leadership, which they both advocate. “Our relationship has been built on honesty and not any bull***t,” Bavuma said. “Dean’s a very blunt type of person. If you stray, he’ll call you out, and if you’re good he’ll let you know as well. That resonates with me.”While Elgar does not shy away from telling his players when he thinks socks need to be pulled up – Kagiso Rabada after the Boxing Day Test, for example – Bavuma plays good cop and keeps things cool, hoping that their contrasting personas will take South Africa forward in all formats.”Being Dean’s vice-captain, I’m trying to be his calming voice. Dean can be emotional at times,” Bavuma said. “We work hand-in-hand with each other. I understand his vision as a captain and what he would like to achieve. I back it 100%. I back him as a leader and as a player. For me, it’s about trying to help and serve him as best I can so he can execute his vision for the team. We’d like to bring respect to the Proteas badge. We’d like to leave the Proteas in a much better state than they’re in, or than they were when we came in. We’re there to support each other. We’re in this fight together. His success is my success, and vice versa.”So far, South Africa have had no success in New Zealand. Of the seven sessions that made up the first Test, they won none, but Elgar and Bavuma don’t believe that makes them a team in trouble. “You don’t become a bad player because you haven’t scored runs in a certain game,” Bavuma argued.Bavuma was the only South African to cross 30 in Christchurch•AFP/Getty ImagesIf that were the case, both Elgar and Bavuma would have been labelled bad players many times, and the numbers show they are not. They are the best South Africa have got. For Bavuma, it comes down to playing with more responsibility but also knowing he occupies a senior place in the XI. “I remember as a new player coming in, the main thing you wanted was to be accepted by everybody and the best way to do that is through your performances,” he said. “I’m at a point where I truly believe I’m accepted and valued in the team. That’s probably the reason my performances have been good over the last while.”Now, it’s for the rest of the batters to feel the same way. Sarel Erwee, who debuted in the first Test, won’t because he doesn’t know if he will keep the opening berth, or if it will be given back to Aiden Markram once Petersen is back. And Markram doesn’t know if he is going to be dropped after averaging 9.7 in his last ten innings. Kyle Verreynne doesn’t know if he will keep the wicketkeeper-batter’s spot or it will go to Ryan Rickelton, who averages over 100 this season. Zubayr Hamza doesn’t know if he will play as a sixth specialist batter or lose the spot to Rickelton or be benched in favour of an allrounder or spinner.South Africa’s selection decisions remain a mystery with Boucher only explaining that they do things as they “feel they need to be”, with selection convener Victor Mpitsang providing answers that directly contradict what insiders at the organisation say. In South Africa’s top seven, only Elgar, Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen are secure and it’s no surprise that they are the most consistent run-scorers.So the questions over when next Elgar will score a hundred – he hasn’t done so in eight Tests – to if Bavuma will ever score another, to if van der Dussen will touch three figures in Tests are not nearly as important as what South Africa can do to solidify their line-up and give it long-term structure and shape. That’s what they need to start answering in the second Test, and maybe the hundreds will come.

Winter is here, and Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank knows he is staring down the barrel of a gun as he looks to find form and consistency after a tough start to his tenure.

That may be an understatement. Spurs have lost three on the trot, and Saturday’s home defeat against Fulham in the Premier League means the 3-0 victory over Burnley in August remains an outlier in regard to three points down N17 this season.

The fans are frustrated, no doubt about that. And they have a right to be. Tottenham have lacked sparkle in their attacking play this season, though Frank will feel that injuries to Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have put him on the back foot.

Much has been made of the Londoners’ creativity (or lack thereof), but it’s also clear that the Lewis Family need to authorise the signing of a centre-forward.

Why Spurs need a striker

Harry Kane and Heung-min Son have both left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in recent years, and the superstars have not really been replaced with elite options.

Mathys Tel is young and talented, but he is also raw. Solanke is a proven Premier League star, but his entire stint in north London has been blighted by setbacks. Richarlison is in fine form, but probably not the long-term solution at number nine.

What Frank and the fanbase need is an up-and-coming superstar to spearhead this next era at the club.

That’s why Samu Agwehowa has been earmarked. According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham have joined the race for the 21-year-old Porto striker after his convincing performances in Portugal.

The Spanish international has a €100m (about £88m) release clause in his contract, though Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange would be certain to lodge an offer far south of that daunting figure.

What Samu would bring to north London

Richarlison is a curious striker. He is capable of so much, and yet he performs to his full capacity with consistent inconsistency.

25/26

13

5 + 2

24/25

14

4 + 1

23/24

28

11 + 4

22/23

27

1 + 4

Injuries have not helped the Brazil international, but it’s clear that he is not Kane. That said, Richarlison has been in moderately good form this season, essential in providing an outlet as Solanke founders in the infirmary.

But in Samu, Frank would land a goalscorer who has the potential to be “one of the best strikers in Europe”, according to journalist Zach Lowy, so powerful and potent in the final third.

Joining Porto from Atletico Madrid in 2024, Samu has chalked up 37 goals and four assists across just 62 appearances, including ten from 17 outings in all competitions this season.

He ranks among the top 8% of forwards in the Primeira Liga for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons, emphasising not only his pace but his control and force when on the ball and driving forward.

His athleticism and natural poaching instinct earn him a certain likeness to Richarlison, but given his age and the consistency of goalscoring, Samu might actually prove an upgrade on the South American.

Take, for example, his Europa League performances this year, winning 57% of his duels and averaging a tackle per game, as per Sofascore.

Combativeness forms a key part of Richarlison’s toolbox, and if Spurs are to upgrade on the 28-year-old, who has actually been linked with a move away from the club of late, they will want to sign someone who can emulate him while building up a skillset that transcends what Spurs have hosted in recent years.

Samu is all that and more, and he would be a fantastic signing for a Tottenham team in need of a new talisman.

Spurs star who was one of "the best" in the country is now as bad as Porro

Some of Tottenham’s star players have let Thomas Frank down this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 2, 2025

A total of 577 players* are set to be featured in the IPL 2025 mega auction on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Out of those, 367 are Indians and 210 overseas, including three from Associate teams. Of the 331 uncapped players, 319 are Indian and 12 from overseas. A total of 204 slots are to be filled with 70 available for overseas players. This is also the first time since the 2018 auction that the marquee list has been split in two.!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();