Daniel Bosman took three wickets in four balls as South Africa Men U19s clinched the Youth ODI series against England Men U19s with a four-wicket win in Stellenbosch.Young Lions captain Archie Vaughan top-scored with 60 but his dismissal prompted a collapse of four wickets in seven balls as the tourists were bowled out for 156.South Africa skipper Bennie Hansen then hit 56, falling just short of guiding his side home, after Tazeem Ali’s three wickets had caused a mid-innings wobble. The hosts steadied to reach the target in 35.1 overs.It was spinner Bosman who turned the game with his three wickets in the 37th over immediately after Vaughan, who had struck six boundaries, was caught off a miscue to the final ball of the previous over from Bandile Mbatha.Bosman’s key over saw Joe Moores bowled attempting a lap sweep before Harry Moore was stumped thanks to sharp hands from Hansen. Bosman then parried a return catch from Eddie Jack and saw it fall to him as he stumbled to the ground.South Africa made a solid start as Adnaan Lagadien and Chad Mason added 49 for the first wicket before Hansen took up the attack with a 46-ball half-century.The Young Lions battled back through Warwickshire spinner Ali, who returned 3 for 51, but the hosts needed only seven more when Hansen edged Alex Green to wicketkeeper Thomas Rew on 57.The two-Youth Test series begins at Coertzenburg Cricket Club in Stellenbosch on 27 January.
Stokes backed for return to form in New Zealand with short turnaround between tours
Matt Roller27-Oct-2024Brendon McCullum, England’s coach, said that Ben Stokes is “hurting” after struggling to make an impact in their 2-1 series defeat in Pakistan, but has backed his “tough bugger” captain to return to his best in New Zealand next month.Stokes returned from two months on the sidelines with a torn hamstring ahead of England’s second Test in Multan last week but failed to contribute as Pakistan staged their comeback. He apologised to his players for losing his temper following a string of fielding lapses in the second Test, bowled 10 wicketless overs in the series, and made 53 runs in four innings, with two slapstick dismissals.After England’s nine-wicket defeat in Rawalpindi, Stokes said that the last three weeks had “felt like a very long tour” due to his intense rehabilitation, which McCullum suggested had inhibited his performance both as a batter and as a captain.Related
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“That injury was quite a significant injury,” McCullum said. “He had to work incredibly hard to get back. As the driven athlete he is, he’s all in when he does something. He had to put in a lot of graft there, and subconsciously, it can… not cloud things, but maybe you’re not quite as screwed down as you can be in terms of decision-making.”That’s natural, as long as you learn from that and make sure next time you’re presented with that situation you’re able to block out the noise and stay crystal clear in the moment. He’s disappointed, but he’s our skipper and we know he’s a tough bugger. He’ll make sure he’ll come back and it’s our job to make sure we wrap our arms around him and help him along the way.”The series defeat was only England’s second since Stokes took over from Joe Root as captain two-and-a-half years ago, but both have come in the subcontinent this year. The first, a 4-1 loss in India, prompted McCullum to call for “refinement” ahead of England’s home summer, but this time there is only a short turnaround before their three-match series in New Zealand.Ben Stokes could not exert his usual influence, despite winning the toss in Rawalpindi•Getty Images
McCullum said it would be his own responsibility to ensure that England’s management are consistent in their messaging. “We all know how competitive and driven the skipper is,” he said. “He’ll be hurting right now, with how the series has unfolded. It’s my job to make sure I’m there to support him, and make sure we still remain on-task with what we are trying to do as a collective, and our messaging to the group about how we want to keep playing cricket moving forward.”Sometimes as leaders, if you do suffer a little bit of disappointment yourself, it can be very easy to allow that to permeate through in your messaging to the group. But since Stokesy came on board as captain, he’s been very clear and precise about how he wants his team to play.”What’s really important is to never flinch with that and stay true to it, even if you’re struggling yourself. You’ve still got to keep using the same messaging. He’ll be better for the run, no doubt: a couple of weeks off, freshen up and back to conditions which are a bit more similar to back in England. It’s another opportunity for us.”England have lost six of their eight Tests in Asia this year, and are not due to return to the subcontinent until a two-match series in Bangladesh in February 2027. McCullum said the team would look back with “disappointment” and this tour and that their method in spin-friendly conditions needed to be “a little bit better” than it has been”If we’re being honest with ourselves, we’ve had opportunities to put up a better record than that, so it’s disappointing,” McCullum said. “You don’t get too many opportunities to nail down big series in the subcontinent. We’ve had those chances, and we weren’t quite good enough.”I know we don’t come back to the subcontinent for a couple of years, but there’s still times even in other countries when we’re presented with spinning wickets, and we’ve got to make sure our approach is a little bit more screwed down, a little bit better than it is. That will be some of the conversations we have.”It’s a matter of trying to get that environment to a place where it’s confident, it’s clear and the messaging is very simple. With failure, sometimes it brings about a little bit of deeper thought and that’s something we’ll have to do over the next little while.”We’ve also got a very quick turnaround for the New Zealand series, but we have to make sure we’ve learned some lessons from this and be better when we get the chance. That’s the nice thing: we do get an opportunity, and it would be nice to bounce back in New Zealand.”
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been the club’s leading star over the last couple of years, with no player able to replicate the levels he’s produced in recent seasons.
The Portuguese international joined the club back in January 2020 and has certainly exceeded the expectations supporters would’ve had when he arrived at Old Trafford.
In the five years since his big-money transfer from Sporting CP, the 30-year-old has racked up 98 goals and 83 assists, a simply staggering feat for a midfielder.
During the most recent campaign, Bruno achieved a tally of 37 goal contributions, with it unthinkable as to where Ruben Amorim’s side would be without his efforts in the final third.
This summer presents an opportunity for the boss to make his own stamp on the side, needing to land players who can aid the captain in his quest for success at the club.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
A striker has been top of United’s shortlist over recent weeks, leading to numerous names being mentioned as potential targets to join the Amorim revival in 2025/26.
The likes of Ollie Watkins, Dusan Vlahovic and Nicolas Jackson have all been mentioned as names under consideration between now and the end of the window.
However, other areas of the pitch are also subject to investment, leading to Juventus star Douglas Luiz emerging as a target, according to Corriere dello Sport via Sport Witness.
They claim that the Brazilian has once again appeared on their radar after sides such as Nottingham Forest, Everton, and West Ham United failed to agree a deal with the Serie A side.
It also states that his agent has been in the UK for talks with interested parties, but it doesn’t state which clubs have been in discussions to land the former Aston Villa midfielder.
Why United’s latest target would be perfect for Bruno
As previously mentioned, Bruno was undoubtedly the shining light for United throughout 2024/25, with the fanbase hoping he can repeat such feats in the upcoming season.
However, alongside his tangible rewards for his performance, he also caught the eye with his versatility, which saw him operate in numerous positions.
There’s no denying his best position is in the number ten position, but he was also forced to operate in a slightly deeper number eight role at times, given the lack of depth in the squad.
Given the investment being placed into the squad this summer, you’d hope other midfield options are made to allow the Portuguese international to reach or even exceed the levels he produced in 2024/25.
Any potential move for Luiz would provide the captain with the opportunity to do just that, with the Brazilian having the tools to provide a quality addition for Amorim’s side.
Douglas Luiz in action for Juventus.
Luiz, who’s been labelled “world-class” by former teammate John McGinn, registered 5.9 progressive passes per 90, with 2.7 progressive carries per 90, showcasing his talents at driving forward and finding a teammate at any given opportunity.
He also won 2.1 tackles per 90, whilst winning 68% of the dispossession attempts he’s entered, capable of regaining the ball – making him an excellent ball-winning option at the heart of United’s side.
Games played
19
Progressive passes
5.9
Progressive carries
2.7
Tackles won
2.1
Tackle success rate
68%
Take-on success
79%
Aerials won
56%
His further figures further back up why he’d be perfect in Amorim’s squad, completing 79% of the take-ons he attempted, having the capability to drive forward before making the killer pass to a teammate.
It’s unclear if the player himself will entertain any interest from the Red Devils this summer, but it’s clear he possesses a lot of talent that would make him a superb addition.
Any move for the former Villa star would allow Bruno to consistently operate in his natural position throughout 2025/26, adding another diamond to the club’s already impressive front line.
He finishes like RVP: Man Utd make "phenomenal" £67m CF their main target
Manchester United have set their sights on a new talisman for Ruben Amorim.
He also broke the record for the highest percentage contribution by an individual batter to a team’s total
Sreshth Shah20-Aug-2024
Samoa batter Darius Visser broke records in just his third T20 international•Samoa International Cricket Association
Samoa batter Darius Visser has broken the men’s T20I record for most runs in an over, against Vanuatu in the T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Region Qualifier in Apia on Tuesday. Visser finished with a score of 132 off 62 balls.In just his third T20I, Visser, 28, smashed six sixes in a 39-run over from Nalin Nipiko. It was the fourth time a batter had hit six sixes in an over in men’s T20Is and the first time that a team scored more than 36 runs in an over.The record was broken in the 15th over of Samoa’s innings. Visser hit the first three deliveries from Nipiko over the deep midwicket boundary after which there was a front foot no-ball. The free-hit was hit for six over the leg side, followed by a dot ball when Visser’s straight hit struck the stumps at the non-striker’s end.Nipiko overstepped for the second time and then bowled another no-ball, for height, that Visser pulled over fine leg for six. The last ball of the over was a low full toss outside off stump that Visser flicked over deep square leg to achieve the 39-run over.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Previously, there were five instances of a team scoring 36 runs in an over in men’s T20Is. India’s Yuvraj Singh was the first batter to hit six sixes in a T20I, off England’s Stuart Broad in the 2007 T20 World Cup. West Indies’ Kieron Pollard repeated the feat against Sri Lanka’s Akila Dananjaya in 2021, and Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee did it earlier this year.The other two instances of 36-run overs that did not contain six sixes came when West Indies – aided by Nicholas Pooran – scored 36 against Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup, and when India’s Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh combined to score 36 against Afghanistan, also in 2024.Visser is the first Samoa batter to score a T20I century and his 14 sixes were the fifth highest in a men’s T20I innings. His score of 132, out of Samoa’s total of 174, was also the highest percentage of runs scored by a batter in a team’s innings. The second-highest score for Samoa against Vanuatu was 16 by their captain Caleb Jasmat. Visser scored 75.86% of his team’s runs surpassing the previous record of 75.1% by Australia’s Aaron Finch.According to a report in St George & Sutherland Leader, Visser grew up playing in Sydney and was a fast bowler before nagging injuries and stress fractures made him switch to legspin and batting. He also picked up a wicket as Samoa restricted Vanuatu to 164 for 9 to win the game by ten runs.
Chelsea are set for a busy summer of incomings and outgoings in the build up to Enzo Maresca’s second season in charge, with some business taking place amid their Club World Cup campaign in the States.
The west Londoners were dealt a significant blow in their pursuit of CWC glory and the potential £97 million on offer if they win the tournament, losing 3-1 to Brazilian top-flight heavyweights Flamengo.
Chelsea hold talks over £70m Brazilian who's spoken to friends about joining
Conversations are ongoing.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 20, 2025
Second-half goals from Bruno Henrique, Danilo and Wallace Yan cancelled out Pedro Neto’s early goal to hand Maresca his first defeat since Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League defeat to Newcastle in May, with striker Nicolas Jackson also sent off just four minutes after replacing Liam Delap.
The Senegalese’s future has been a small talking point in some circles, especially since the arrival of Delap in a £30 million deal from Ipswich.
Cole Palmer
7.33
Moises Caicedo
7.02
Enzo Fernández
6.95
Nicolas Jackson
6.88
Noni Madueke
6.82
via WhoScored
Jackson, due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations next season, could also miss crucial games midway through 2025/2026 and there are reports that the forward’s exit is entirely possible this summer.
“Chelsea do like Jackson but there has been a desire to upgrade him and bring more competition in. They believe that he doesn’t have enough to lead Chelsea in the Champions League right now so have looked to bring in others,” said journalist Simon Phillips, via his Substack, recently.
“In terms of a selling standpoint, they will very much listen to any offers that come in without actively pushing to sell him.
“And on the player side, he has been unhappy this season for various reasons, mainly due to what he feels has been unfair criticism and abuse from his own fans. However, at this moment he has not yet communicated a desire to leave, although that could soon happen.”
Chelsea are also believed to be in the market for another striker after Delap, so signs are pointing towards the 24-year-old’s potential departure from Stamford Bridge.
Nicolas Jackson could leave Chelsea as Napoli and Juventus make contact
As per Sky Sports reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, Jackson is now attracting serious interest from Serie A, with both Juventus and Scudetto winners Napoli making contact over a potential deal for the ex-Villarreal star.
He’s deemed “no longer untouchable” by Chelsea, echoing Phillips’ previous report that they could decide to offload Jackson in the event a suitable bid arrives. It wasn’t exactly the young centre-forward’s finest hour against Flamengo, but he did prove a crucial player for Chelsea at times last season, as explained by pundit Joe Cole.
“What I would say about Jackson is he’s made himself one of Chelsea’s most important players,” he told TNT Sports, via Chelsea News, in May.
“Because he does this, he doesn’t give up. He’s hard work. He’s aggressive. All the things, he might not be as measured as other players, but he gives you this.
“Nothing is better when you’re behind him as a midfielder when you’ve got a centre-forward who will chase down everything. It’s fantastic.”
Jackson netted 13 goals in all competitions last term, including 10 in the Premier League, even if he did majorly tail off towards the back-end, partly due to a hamstring injury.
However, if Chelsea do opt to sell, then BlueCo will likely want to make a profit on the £32 million they paid to sign him from La Liga two years ago.
The summer transfer window officially opens for business on Sunday and Leeds United are preparing to build a squad to compete in the Premier League.
One star who is reportedly on their radar is Argentine attacking midfielder Emiliano Buendia, as journalist Sebastien Vidal recently claimed that the club are set to bid for the Aston Villa attacking midfielder.
The 28-year-old star racked up 24 goals and 41 assists in 121 appearances under Daniel Farke at Norwich, and has 12 more assists than any other player in the manager’s career to date.
Buendia produced two goals and two ‘big chances’ created in 11 games on loan at Bayer Leverkusen in the second half of this season before returning to Villa, and now he could be on his way to Elland Road.
The former Norwich star is a playmaker, as shown by his assist record under Farke, and Leeds could pair him with a new striker if they manage to bring him over from the Villans.
Leeds eyeing deal for new striker
Earlier this month, Football Insider reported that the club were not going to build their attack around Joel Piroe because they have doubts over his ability to make the step up to the Premier League.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It would make sense, therefore, for the West Yorkshire outfit to target a striker who has already scored goals in the English top-flight, which is what they are doing.
According to the Daily Mail, Leeds are considering a swoop to sign Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that they have identified Callum Wilson, Jamie Vardy, and Ferguson as potential options to bolster their attack, as all three have the Premier League experience that they would like.
Brighton’s Ireland international spent the second half of this season on loan at West Ham United, and it remains to be seen what will happen with him this summer, but Leeds have emerged as a potential option for him.
Why Leeds should sign Evan Ferguson
If the Whites can get a deal over the line for Buendia this summer, Ferguson could be a dream signing to partner the Argentine playmaker in the final third.
As aforementioned, the ex-Norwich star is a playmaker extraordinaire and he would benefit from having a clinical striker who can make the most of his creativity.
Brighton strikerEvan Ferguson.
Supporters may see that Ferguson scored one goal in 23 Premier League games this season and doubt his goalscoring credentials, but it is worth noting that he missed all of pre-season last summer with a knee injury and never found his rhythm in the campaign.
22/23
5.67
6
+0.33
23/24
3.97
6
+2.03
24/25
1.36
1
-0.36
Total
10.29
13
+1.89
As you can see in the table above, the Irish forward had caught the eye in his previous two seasons in the top-flight, outperforming his xG by 2.36 to score 12 goals for Brighton.
Former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker likened him to Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland in the 2023/24 season, when he scored six times, saying: “I do see a hint of Haaland about him, his stature, his movement, his youth and stuff like that.”
Ferguson still has plenty of time left to develop and improve, at the age of 20, as he is, clearly, not at Haaland’s levels of goalscoring yet, but Leeds could have their own mini-Haaland at Elland Road by bringing him to the club.
Haaland scored 22 goals from 22.01 xG in the Premier League for City this season, but does share a similar build and play style with the Brighton youngster as Lineker claimed.
Manchester City's ErlingHaalandduring the warm up before the match
The 20-year-old starlet has shown that he can score goals efficiently at Premier League level, as evidenced by his form in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns, and that is why the Whites should gamble on him this summer to arrive as a dream signing alongside Buendia.
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Farke could have a potentially lethal attacking pairing by reuniting with the Argentine playmaker to consistently create chances for the efficient Ferguson to finish off.
Enzo Maresca has made it desperately obvious that he wants a new striker at Chelsea this summer, constantly targeting a new talisman after taking the reins 12 months ago.
The Italian has been working tirelessly to land a new forward, potentially having the chance to end his hunt during the upcoming transfer window – aiding their Premier League title ambitions.
Nicolas Jackson has been the Blues’ main option at the top end of the pitch in 2024/25, but has struggled with injuries as of late, massively restricting his progress in the final third.
Chelsea'sNicolasJacksonreacts after sustaining an injury
The Senegalese international has scored 10 league goals to date, but could’ve certainly had more had he not missed six games through injury between February and April.
Despite his impressive goalscoring record, it’s evident that the boss wants another option ahead of 2025/26, leading to countless attackers being touted with a switch to Stamford Bridge in the coming months.
The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for a new striker
Victor Osimhen was a player firmly on Chelsea’s radar last summer, but the club were unable to secure a deal to land him from Napoli – subsequently joining Galatasaray on loan for the current season.
However, with such a deal coming to an end, the Blues have once again been touted with a switch for the Nigerian, with Manchester United and Nottingham Forest also in the race for his signature.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhenreacts
It would be a hefty sum if they were to sign the 26-year-old, potentially leading to a move for another striker target in the form of Strasbourg forward Emanuel Emegha, according to TBR.
The report claims that the Dutchman, who plies his trade for the Blues’ sister club, has been on their radar and has impressed the staff behind the scenes at the Bridge.
It also goes on to state that he would provide an added body to Maresca in the final third, potentially nailing a regular role in the side given his record of 14 goals in 28 games this season.
Why Chelsea’s latest target would be better than Delap
Another player who’s been firmly on their radar to bolster the striker department is Ipswich Town talisman Liam Delap, who appears to be a man in demand this summer.
The 22-year-old, who’s scored 12 goals in the Premier League this year, has a £30m relegation release clause in his contract – coming into effect after the Tractor Boys dropped back into the Championship.
The Blues aren’t the only side in the race for his signature, with Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle United and Liverpool also credited with an interest in recent days.
However, despite the interest in Delap ahead of the upcoming window, they may be better off pursuing a deal for Emegha, with the sister club potentially playing a key role in their pursuit.
When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the 2024/25 campaign, the Strasbourg star has managed to dominate the Ipswich forward in numerous key areas – showing why the Blues must prioritise a deal for his services.
How Emegha compares to Delap in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)
Emegha
Delap
Games played
26
33
Goals scored
14
12
Shot-on-target accuracy
57%
43%
Pass accuracy
81%
61%
Shots on target
1.4
1
Carries into penalty area
1.3
1
Aerials won
44%
43%
Stats via FBref
Emegha, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored more goals to date, whilst also notching a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing his clinical nature in the final third.
He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst coming out on top in more of the aerial battles he’s entered – handing Maresca that focal point which he’s craved since arriving at the club.
Given the fact that he currently plays for Strasbourg, a cost-effective deal could likely be agreed, offering a cheaper alternative to Delap – but one that would be a better fit for the team, as seen by the stats produced.
If the club are to keep progressing next season, a new talisman desperately needs to be their priority on any shortlist, with Emegha the man who could take responsibility and thrive at the top end of the pitch.
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Chelsea are hoping to add another young star to their squad, following the capture of Estevao
Everton are eyeing a move for a £15m-rated player who is also wanted by Real Madrid this summer, according to a fresh transfer update regarding their upcoming transfer business.
Everton eyeing summer signings
The Blues continue to be linked with new signings ahead of next season, with Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin emerging as an option to provide competition for Vitaliy Mykolenko moving forward. He is also out of contract at Goodison Park next summer, too, so the Black Cats player could be viewed as a long-term successor.
Meanwhile, Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis has also been linked with a move to Everton, following an impressive season for the Portuguese giants that has seen him score 24 goals in all competitions. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin potentially leaving, a new centre forward is a must for David Moyes.
In terms of possible shock signings, Liverpool winger Ben Doak has been mentioned as an option for the Blues, with his future at Anfield still unsure because of the options in front of him in attacking areas.
The teenage Scot has spent this season on loan at Middlesbrough, scoring three goals and registering seven assists in the Championship, but there is no guarantee that the Reds see a future for him at the club. He could be a hugely exciting addition for Everton, but it is hard to see it happening.
Everton keen on signing "incredible" £15m ace
According to a new report from The Sunday Mirror [via Goodison News], Everton are among the clubs interested in signing Sevilla ace Juanlu Sanchez this summer.
The 21-year-old is valued at £15m by his current club, with the Blues joined by Madrid, Brighton and Newcastle United in the race to snap him up before the beginning of next season. A £15m move could be seen as cheap, as Sanchez has a reported £34.3m release clause in his contract.
Juanlu could be a strong signing for Everton, not least because of the versatility that he possesses, being able to flourish at right-back, central midfield, attacking midfield and even as a second striker if needed.
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This season, the youngster has outscored Calvert-Lewin in the league, netting four times in La Liga compared to the Blues striker’s tally of three, and he has been described as “incredible” by former Sevilla manager Garcia Pimienta, who has said of him:
“He has played as an inside midfielder [before], we were short on space in midfield due to Saul’s [Niguez] suspension and [Albert Sambi] Lokonga’s injury. I spoke to him, I knew he could do well in that position. Juanlu has an incredible present and a better future.”
Spain Under-21s
5
0
Spain Under-19s
10
1
Spain Under-18s
2
1
Spain Under-17s
1
0
Spain Under-16s
1
0
Spain Olympic Team
3
1
At 21, Juanlu could be a long-term addition for Everton, covering several positions, and he could grow into a formidable footballer over time.
Having played 13 internationals across all three forms on the potential, Connolly delivered with a clutch 61 not out to show why he has been so heavily invested in
Alex Malcolm24-Oct-20251:43
Connolly admits being ‘starstruck’ by Rohit and Kohli
Fairly or unfairly, there had been plenty of scepticism from Australian fans about Cooper Connolly.None of it is his fault. But it has bubbled because he has been picked to play for Australia in all three formats on the potential of his skillset more than his output at domestic level. So rare are left-arm spin-bowling allrounders in Australia, in the mould of Ravindra Jadeja, Australia’s selectors eagerly picked him in T20I cricket without a T20 40 and one three-wicket haul, in ODI cricket with just four List A scores of 42, 2, 13, and 11, and three one-wicket hauls, and in Test cricket without a first-class century or a first-class wicket in just four matches. Jadeja, by contrast, had multiple first-class centuries, including a double, and multiple five-wicket hauls before making his international debut for India in any format.Australia’s selectors weren’t the only ones who had gambled on his talent almost sight unseen. Perth Scorchers picked him for a BBL final after three games while Western Australia handed him his first-class debut in a Sheffield Shield final and he delivered with 90 in his maiden innings.Related
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But no such first-time luck followed Connolly into international cricket. Before Thursday, in 13 matches across all forms for Australia he had only batted six times and had reached double figures just once with a top score of 13 in a T20I. One of those innings was a nine-ball duck in the Champions Trophy semi-final where he had been inexplicably asked to open.But all that investment and belief in his talent came to the fore in Adelaide where Connolly, 22, showcased composure beyond his years to deliver a near-flawless 61 not out from 53 balls to guide Australia to a series victory.”I don’t think I’d got to double digits yet [in ODIs],” Connolly said after the match. “It’s always nice to sort of get that breakout innings just to, I guess, feel that I can play at this level.”To get the opportunity and I guess showcase what I can do is nice.”There had been evidence of his talent, and his ability under pressure at BBL level having made a match-winning 25 not out off 13 in a BBL final as a 19-year-old. He was also named joint player of the tournament in last summer’s BBL, albeit through consistent performances rather than eye-catching ones like Mitchell Owen produced.
“I think it was a superb performance. Cooper, especially. Being a youngster coming in, showing so much maturity to finish off the game, that shows a lot of character. And he’s someone I’ve seen even in the India A versus Australia A matches, he was charging on the bowlers and very selective in terms of which bowler to target, so credit where it’s due.”Shreyas Iyer on Cooper Connolly’s innings
He even cast his mind back to that BBL final winning innings on Thursday night to calm his nerves as he steered his country home.”I actually had a moment out there today where I was just thinking about how I felt when I was out there [during the BBL final in 2023],” Connolly said. “To bring myself back down to earth and control my emotions, I like to sing a song to myself.”I started singing between every ball just to relax myself, take myself off the game and try to embrace it as much as possible.”I was a little bit starstruck walking out and Virat and Rohit are there. It’s always nice to challenge yourself with the best opponent.”What he delivered in Adelaide was the fruits of the work he had done on two recent tours of the subcontinent to Sri Lanka with the Test and ODI team in February and to India with Australia A in the last two months.While his batting in Sri Lanka had been skittish, his returns in India showed rapid growth. He scored three half-centuries in five matches across two first-class games and three 50-over matches. That growth was evident when he walked out to face Axar Patel and Washington Sundar with Australia needing 133 from 138 with only six wickets in hand.Unlike Matt Renshaw and Alex Carey, who had perished premeditating on the front foot, Connolly showcased what he had learned on the subcontinent playing deep in the crease off the back foot to rotate the strike early. It forced Axar to press fuller and Connolly caressed him through cover. Axar erred leg side three balls later and Connolly swept him fine without risk for a second boundary in the over.Where Matthew Short, who played well for his 74, should have been caught at point trying to square drive Sundar on the up, Connolly went back to a similar length and line and carved a risk free cut shot to the rope.Cooper Connolly made his maiden ODI half-century•Getty Images”I think that trip in Kanpur was one of the trips that sort of helped me get my game back in some good stead,” Connolly said. “I felt like I hadn’t found the middle of the bat for awhile, and to go out there and play against a pretty good India A attack when we were over there, built some confidence in me leading into this.”He then unfurled three stunning shots off the quicks, scything Harshit Rana through cover, clubbing Mohammed Siraj over cover, and pulling Siraj forward of square before tucking him neatly behind square to bring up a maiden international half-century. None of it was wild swinging. They were calculated, classy shots at critical times. His decision-making and execution was noted post-match by India batter Shreyas Iyer.”Credit where it’s due, I think they played brilliantly,” Iyer said of Connolly’s partnership with Owen. “The way they batted, they rotated their strikes. I think it was a superb performance. Cooper, especially. Being a youngster coming in, showing so much maturity to finish off the game, that shows a lot of character. And he’s someone I’ve seen even in the India A versus Australia A matches, he was charging on the bowlers and very selective in terms of which bowler to target, so credit where it’s due.”Connolly’s bowling is developing too. He took a maiden five-wicket haul against South Africa in August and was under-bowled in Adelaide, having conceded just 11 runs in three overs with 10 dots and only one boundary while Iyer and Rohit Sharma were rolling. Mitch Marsh oddly opted for five overs of offspin from Short and Travis Head that cost 39 runs including four boundaries and only four dots between them.In the context of Australia’s build towards the 2027 World Cup it was a significant performance. Australia had lost seven of their last eight completed ODIs prior to the series starting, including their last three bilateral series and the Champions Trophy semi-final against India. In the wake of the retirements of Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell, they have been searching for new blood to stand tall. The performances of Connolly, Short, Owen and Xavier Bartlett were as much a key to Australia’s win as Adam Zampa’s four-wicket haul and Josh Hazlewood’s mesmerising new-ball spell.”I think we’ve got a lot of depth in Australian cricket, and that was showed tonight,” Connolly said. “Obviously with Smudge and Maxi retiring from one-day cricket earlier in the year. There was obviously some room for some younger guys to come through. And it was nice for myself, Shorty, Mitchy, X [Xavier Bartlett], to put our hands up and I guess almost feel like we’re welcome to this stage and being able to play some good cricket now. But there’s a lot of depth in Australian cricket. And I think there’s some positive signs to come.”
A look at the Australian batter’s 32nd Test century by the numbers
Sampath Bandarupalli29-Jun-202332 Centuries for Steven Smith in Test cricket are the joint-second most for Australia in the format. Ricky Ponting tops the list with 41 hundreds, while Steve Waugh also has 32 tons.ESPNcricinfo Ltd174 Innings Smith needed to score his 32nd Test century, the fewest among the 12 players with the feat. The previous quickest was Ponting, who scored his 32nd Test ton in the 176th innings he batted.22 Hundreds for Smith in the first innings of Test matches, the most for any batter, surpassing Ponting’s 21 tons. Seven of Smith’s 22 centuries came when the team was put into bat, the joint-most, alongside Jacques Kallis.ESPNcricinfo Ltd8 Test hundreds for Smith in England, the second-most by any visiting player in the country, behind only Sir Donald Bradman’s eleven tons. Smith has seven of those eight centuries against England, while another came against India in the WTC final earlier this month.12 Test centuries for Smith against England. Only Bradman (19 against England) and Sunil Gavaskar (13 against West Indies) have more triple-digit scores versus an opponent in Test cricket than Smith.1 Number of players to complete 9000 Test runs in fewer innings than Smith’s 174 innings. Kumar Sangakkara is the fastest to the 9000-run milestone, needing only 172 innings. Smith, however, is the fastest in terms of Tests played to complete 9000 runs, as he needed only 99 matches, while the previous fastest was Brian Lara in 103 games.ESPNcricinfo Ltd12 Smith’s hundreds in the Ashes. Only Bradman’s 19 tons rank higher in the Ashes, while Jack Hobbs also has 12 centuries. Smith is also now the fourth-highest run-getter in the Ashes with 3176 runs.2014 Test runs scored by Smith in England. Only three other visiting players have scored 2000-plus runs in England – Bradman (2674), Allan Border (2082) and Viv Richards (2014).416 Australia’s total in the first-innings is the highest for a visiting team at Lord’s since Australia’s 566 for 8 in the 2015 Ashes. Australia’s run rate of 4.13 is also the highest for any visiting team to make 400-plus in a Test innings at Lord’s.