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A team that loves playing at home is to play three Tests against a team that has performed well overseas in recent years – except that India are hardly a visiting side when in neighbouring Sri Lanka

Jamie Alter in Colombo22-Jul-2008

A team that loves playing at home is to play three Tests against a team that has performed well overseas in recent years – except that India are hardly a visiting side when in neighbouring Sri Lanka. From the first day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC, India have an anomaly to set straight: they have only won one Test series in Sri Lanka in four attempts, and their record in the Emerald Isle reads – played 12, won 2, lost 3, drawn 7.The dynamics of Indian cricket may have changed – no longer are they a side expected to do well on slow and low Asian pitches – but in fact, they have struggled in such conditions in Sri Lanka as well, winning only two Test – at Kandy in 2001 and in 1993 – out of 12.India’s batsmen, especially Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, like the ball to come on to the bat. India’s most famous victories in recent years have come overseas – in Johannesburg and Perth. Unlike India, Sri Lanka’s batting revolves around two men, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, but the conditions suit their style of play. The SSC is their fortress; few sides have been able to break in. Whenever Jayawardene walks to the crease at the SSC [where he has scored a record 2062 runs], a century seems there for the taking.While other countries in the subcontinent have found it hard to win series at home, Sri Lanka have a formidable record at home. Apart from losses to Australia, almost expected at the time, and two to Pakistan, their record in this decade reads 25 wins from 45 Tests. Sri Lanka’s greatest strength is that they play their home conditions very, very well.Against their formidable home advantage, Sri Lanka are trying to find a settled Test XI. Sanath Jayasuriya’s retirement has left a void. What he brought to the top order was immense – when India toured Sri Lanka in 1996-97, Jayasuriya scored 570 runs at 190.33, with 340 coming in one epic innings; his overall average against India was 67, while his left-arm spin was a huge bonus. Sri Lanka’s likely openers, Michael Vandort and Malinda Warnapura, have played 20 Tests between them. This puts immense pressure on Sangakkara and Jayawardene, but in recent times they have thrived in that adversity.India have a more balanced bowling attack, with better new-ball operators in Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, but with Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan boasting more than 1000 Test wickets between them, Sri Lanka can be quietly confident of having the more potent attack.
On paper India hold the advantage in batting and bowling. If Rahul Dravid or Sachin Tendulkar – who needs another 172 runs to overhaul Brian Lara’s Test record of 11,953 runs – fail, India have VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly to follow. Sri Lanka have Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan, both of whom haven’t completely cemented their places in the Test team.Local experts reckon the SSC pitch will assist the fast bowlers for about 90 minutes, before becoming a perfect batting track. Vaas aside, Sri Lanka don’t have a new-ball bowler to trouble the very best, with Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Maharoof currently stuck on the treatment table. Murali doesn’t always like to come on to bowl early, and Ajantha Mendis is yet to play Test cricket. If Sehwag gets stuck in and starts pillaging the new-ball attack, Sri Lanka might be short on options.Also, Sangakkara not keeping wicket creates a problem in terms of fitting an allrounder who can bowl. Unlike India, Sri Lanka do not have a Ganguly who can bowl 10-12 overs of accurate medium-pace a day, as well as Sehwag’s tidy, partnership-breaking offspin. Dilshan has filled this role well occasionally in one-day cricket, but not in Tests.India’s spin attack consists of two proven match-winners in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. There is no doubting Murali’s record, but as Kumble pointed out, all the pressure is on Mendis. He stunned India in the Asia Cup final this month but should he make his Test debut here, he will be up against a very different batting line-up. There are no Rohit Sharmas, Yuvraj Singhs, Suresh Rainas or Robin Uthappas here.This series will also be a trial of sorts for Harbhajan. He did little with the ball in Australia, and though he was Man of the Series against South Africa not too long ago, he took wickets on a minefield in Kanpur. With the likes of Pragyan Ojha and Piyush Chawla also in contention for the second spinner’s spot, and RP Singh or Munaf Patel able to fill the role of third seamer, Harbhajan is under pressure to get his act together. If he does, India would have taken a few important steps towards correcting their poor record in Sri Lanka.

Stumps Playing his first Test since 2019, Dane Piedt recorded his best figures in the format to put South Africa ahead on the second day in Hamilton. Offspinner Piedt picked up 5 for 89 as New Zealand collapsed to 211 in response to South Africa’s 242. At one stage, New Zealand were 143 for 3 but lost their last seven wickets within 68 runs to concede a lead of 31.It started with quick bowler Tshepo Moreki dismissing Rachin Ravindra at the end of a seven-over spell bowled either side of tea. He slanted one across the left-handed Ravindra, who went for the cut and got an inside edge on to his leg stump.A few moments later, Tom Blundell became the fourth batter on the day to play on. He was late to withdraw his defensive push against Dane Paterson; the ball hit the back of the bat and deflected on to the stumps.Piedt, who had dismissed Tom Latham and Kane Williamson earlier, then sent back Glenn Phillips with a big offbreak. The batter got an inside edge on to his pad and wicketkeeper Clyde Fortuin grabbed the chance.Dane Piedt celebrates his first five-for in nine years•Hannah Peters / Getty

Will Young, batting at No. 5 for the first time in Test cricket, was fighting it out. But with wickets tumbling at the other end, he ran out of patience. He skipped down the ground to Piedt and holed out to long-on.Piedt could have had his fifth when Tim Southee edged one to first slip, but Shaun von Berg could not hold on to a low chance. Southee eventually fell to Paterson for 5.A miscommunication resulted in Matt Henry being run out, leaving New Zealand 183 for 9, still 59 in arrears. But Neil Wagner smashed 33 off 27 to eat into the deficit, before Piedt had him stumped to complete his second five-for in Test cricket.In the morning, South Africa could add only 22 to their overnight total of 220 for 6, losing their remaining wickets in just 8.2 overs. Debutant Will O’Rourke broke the stubborn seventh-wicket stand between Ruan de Swardt and von Berg when the latter edged one on to his off stump. The pair had accumulated 70 on Tuesday evening but could add only seven more to it.At the other end, Piedt gloved a Southee bouncer down the leg side, with Blundell running in and diving forward to take a low catch.Tom Latham started well for New Zealand, and had a good stand with Kane Williamson•Getty Images

Three overs later, O’Rourke had de Swardt playing on. The batter tried to defend a short-of-length delivery only to dab it on to his back heel. The ball went on to tickle the stumps and dislodge the bails. On the next ball, Paterson miscued a hoick giving O’Rourke figures of 4 for 59. He will be on a hat-trick when he bowls his first ball tomorrow.New Zealand did not have a great start with the bat either – Paterson had Devon Conway caught behind for a duck in the first over of the innings. Latham and Williamson chose the defensive route against tidy bowling. At one point, Williamson was on 1 off 21, and the partnership 17 in 12.2 overs. The first boundary of the innings came in the 14th over when Williamson swept a short ball from Piedt over square leg for four.At lunch, New Zealand were 27 for 1 in 16 overs. After the break, Latham and Williamson came out of their shells. Latham skipped down the ground to Piedt and launched him over long-on for a six, and Williamson pulled Paterson over midwicket before collecting another four off Piedt.The characteristic of Williamson’s innings was his leg-side play; off his 43 runs, only two came on the off side. Overall, both he and Latham looked unhurried and did not mind a string of dot balls. Their 74-run stand was broken when Piedt got one to turn past Latham’s outside edge to hit the off stump.Williamson hit two back-to-back fours off debutant von Berg but fell soon after, caught at short leg off Piedt. Ravindra and Young took the side to a strong position after that, but the collapse undid all the good work.

One of Africa's best teams in recent years, Wydad will look to carry that form to the U.S. for the Club World Cup

There are minimal expectations for Wydad Casablanca at the Club World Cup this summer – by most accounts, they're a team that will just be happy to be there. However, there's always a competitive edge to these tournaments, where a minnow looks to make a statement against the whales – and one of them often does. Could that be the Moroccan side this summer?

The pride of a nation which has broken out in recent major tournaments, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Wydad will look to take Moroccan football to new heights with a statement performance.

"They gave us an example that you can win against big countries, and we can do the same," said Dutch winger Mohamed Rayhi, who plays for Wydad AC. "If we win or get a good draw, then we will put Wydad in a very good position, and we can show the world that Morocco is a very, very good footballing country."

Club president Ait Menna believes Wydad’s supporters will separate them from the field, too.

"They’re going to discover one of the best crowds in the world – and many of the titles Wydad have won have been thanks to their fans," Ait Menna said. "Wydad have always been a pioneer, and it is a continuation of that history to see Wydad become the country’s first representatives in this competition. It's a tremendous honor for us, and it's still a big challenge to represent the country, especially after the national team's achievements."

With African and Moroccan football watching, can Wydad put on a show?

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums in 11 U.S. cities, from the opener on June 14 until the final on July 13. In the U.S., fans can stream or watch matches on DAZN or TNT. Leading up to kickoff, GOAL will provide scouting reports on each of the 32 participating teams in the expanded field.

Next up is Wydad Casablanca, with a look at key players to watch, and expectations for the Moroccan side at the tournament.

• The Basics

  DOMESTIC LEAGUE: Botola Pro

  CLUB WORLD CUP HISTORY: One appearance (2017)

  GROUP: G (Al Ain, Juventus, Man City, Wydad Casablanca)

  OPENING MATCH: Man City – June 18, noon, Philadelphia

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  How they got here

  Wydad qualified for the 2025 FIFA World Cup by winning the CAF Champions League title in 2022 – the third in their storied history.

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  The player to watch

  Mohamed Rayhi is a star attacker who has led Wydad in scoring in the 2024-25 season. The Dutch winger, a product of the PSV academy, joined in July 2024 and has had a breakout campaign since arriving from Al Jabalain on a free transfer. He has 10 goals in 16 starts this campaign.

  Another player to keep an eye on is 23-year-old South African striker Cassius Mailula, on loan from Toronto FC, who leads the team in assists with seven across 1,626 minutes played this season. He also has three goals.

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  Realistic expectations

  Wydad will be thrilled to get just even a point in the tournament this summer, but of course, each team wants to advance into the knockouts – regardless of circumstances.

  Both Juventus and Manchester City will challenging, but tournament football always presents opportunity. Just ask Saudi Arabia, who were the only team to defeat Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

  Wydad's best chance will be against Al Ain. The Arab side are inexperienced, and Wydad's recent triumphs at the CAF level should have them prepared for a match of that caliber. If they can manage three points, and potentially secure a draw against either City or the it could set them up for the knockout round.

The centre-back has seen it all for the Red Devils, becoming so valuable that the club told him this summer that he simply could not leave

"Maguire! Maguire! It's Maguire!" The excitement on the faces of the children is palpable as Harry Maguire casually strolls into their summer camp. The defender is a secret guest at the Manchester United Foundation’s multi-sport camp at Stretford Sport Village in the club’s heartlands, a 10-minute walk from Old Trafford.

He is serenaded with chants of "Oh Harry Maguire" before taking questions from the group of eight to 14-year-olds, many of whom come from low income backgrounds or live in areas of social deprivation. Maguire is quizzed on his toughest opponent (Harry Kane), his favourite game for United (his debut against Chelsea) and even if he prefers Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo (it’s Ronaldo). After fielding the questions, Maguire then joins in with the children for a match.

This is one of three camps taking place this summer in Manchester, as well as in Moss Side and Partington, offering children free meals and sporting activity as well as respite for their parents during the summer holidays. And best of all, they will be able to tell their friends and family about the time they played with a United hero, a former captain with 247 appearances and counting plus 15 goals, among them the barely-believable last-gasp winner against Lyon back in April.

"It's amazing to be here with the kids," Maguire tells GOAL. "When you turn up and you see them chanting your name and just putting a big smile on their face, the energy is infectious and I take some of this energy and take it back to the training ground."

Maguire and his team-mates could certainly do with that childlike enthusiasm as they look to get off the mark for the season at Fulham on Sunday after their equally encouraging, equally frustrating defeat to Arsenal in their opening match.

"I think obviously the feeling is disappointment in the end because this club demands winning football matches and when you play for this club you should never get the feeling of being happy after the game if you don't win," he says. "So the first feeling is disappointing because we’re sat in the table with zero points and we know it should be more. However, you can look at pluses. The performance was a lot better, [we had] a lot more intensity, and we actually deserved to get something from the game."

Getty New blood

The arrival of more than £200 million ($269m) worth of attacking talent in the form of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko made United a much more dangerous prospect against Arsenal, and it has lifted the mood among Ruben Amorim’s squad after a rotten season in which they had their lowest league finish, points total and goal count in 51 year, as well as the added pain of losing the Europa League final to Tottenham.

"Last year, we just weren't as big a threat going forward as we should have been for this club," Maguire says of his new team-mates. "This club demands players who create chances, score goals, and that's what it's done throughout its history. So I think Bryan and Matheus coming in, Sesko coming off the bench, these are players who have proven that they're going to score goals and create chances.

"First and foremost they're going to be a threat. I think when you play against them as an opposition defender, you're not going to have an easy afternoon and you're always going to be aware because you know that in one moment Matheus can score from anywhere, or he can produce that little bit of magic. Bryan can score in the back post or he can curl one in.

"And Benjamin's got great physical attributes. He's quick and strong and he's tall. He's very good in the air, attacking crosses, and his movement in the box is really good. So I think they're just gonna create and score goals, and that's what this club demands."

AdvertisementSimon Davies/Manchester UnitedOptimism after 'tough situation'

Maguire has been named in United’s six-man leadership group for this season, along with Tom Heaton, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui and captain Bruno Fernandes. As skipper himself between 2020 and 2023, Maguire’s leadership qualities are well known.

"It's just a group where we can feed things through to the staff and the management and look after the club in general, and give Bruno a little bit of weight off his shoulders," he explains. The atmosphere among the squad is far better, according to Maguire, than during last season, particularly when United’s league form rapidly declined as they lost 14 league matches between December and May. 

"It was nice, if I'm being honest, to feel like it was a bit of a fresh start after last season. In February, March time, [there was] nothing to play for. It was really tough.. apart from the Europa League and obviously focusing on that. But then when you get beat in the Premier League, it still piles down on you. 

"It was a tough situation for the manager to come into, and all his staff, because he was really preparing for the Europa League, and we never had a settled team in the Premier League. So I think this season, you're going to see us being a lot more competitive in the Premier League."

Getty Images SportSlaughtered on social media

Maguire was one of United’s best performers last season and was thus spared much of the criticism that was levelled at his team-mates. The defender has, however, been at the sharp end of insults and mockery, particularly during the 2021-22 season when he admits his performances declined during Ralf Rangnick’s short-lived and difficult spell as interim manager. 

Things hit a nadir when he was jeered by Scotland fans during a friendly against England, prompting his mother to call the reaction towards Maguire "disgraceful and totally unacceptable". He therefore hopes his team-mates did not spend too long poring over the vitriolic reactions towards them on social media over the past few months.

"I'm sure that they've been getting slaughtered, left, right and centre, if I'm being honest. I hope they don't go on and read the comments when they've made a mistake or made a bad game, or read their direct messages or whatever they are on Instagram. I hope the players stay away and they learn that they don't need to be told by other people whether they're doing right or wrong.

"As a footballer, you know if you're playing well, and you know if you're doing things right and you know if you made a mistake. So you don't need to go on and get clarification from other people. We know where social media is. It's a tough place sometimes."

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Getty Images SportIn a good place

"I've been mentally strong throughout it all, but I’m only speaking on advice now I’m 32 years old," Maguire adds. "So I'm giving these younger lads experience that they are going to go through sticky times at this club, no matter how good it is. You're going to get it. It's one of the best clubs in the world, and you get a lot of spotlight on you, and you've got to learn to deal with it.”

Things have gone far better for Maguire since then, as he reclaimed his place in the team under Erik ten Hag having previously been stripped him of the captaincy because he was playing so little, before becoming a saviour for Amorim by scoring crucial goals against Ipswich Town, Leicester City and, of course, Lyon.

"I'm feeling in a good place, a really good place," he says. "It's been a couple of years now where I feel like I've played really well for this club again. I only had six months, really, where I had a bad dip of form. The previous two years were excellent. I've been a lot better in the last two-and-a-half years. I'm in a good place with the club and the fans. I've got a really good bond with them. It's a real special place to play, and it's a huge privilege and honour to play for this club, and it's something that I'll always be forever grateful for."

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians sabe da dificuldade de contratar o meio-campista Philippe Coutinho, mas está longe de desistir do atleta. O grande trunfo corintiano segue sendo o bom relacionamento que a direção possui com Kia Joorabchian, representante do jogador.

Porém, o Timão não tem visto uma grande disposição do Aston Villa em liberar o atleta. Os corintianos só desejam contar com Coutinho caso ele se desvincule do clube inglês, mas isso não parece ser algo fácil de acontecer.

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+Corinthians fez proposta por Cristiano Ronaldo, Patrick muito próximo de gigante brasileiro… o Dia do Mercado!

+ Confira as movimentações do mercado da bola em uma plataforma especial do L!

Philippe gostaria de voltar ao Brasil, mas não vai pedir a sua liberação ao Aston Villa. Para o atleta, ser repatriado seria uma chance de respirar novos ares e voltar a ganhar destaque entre os atletas brasileiros. Ter ficado fora da Copa do Mundo do Qatar, em 2022, frustrou o jogador. Ainda que ele tivesse sofrido uma lesão muscular às vésperas do Mundial, o estafe do atleta já estava ciente que ele dificilmente jogaria a competição, mesmo se estivesse em condições. Apesar desses fatores, o meio-campista não quer pedir para deixar o Aston Villa.

+ Confira a tabela do Paulistão e simule os placares dos jogos das competições estaduais

O Corinthians observa a situação com cautela. A direção sabe que é muito interessante ter Coutinho neste momento, mas também vê com bons olhos uma chegada daqui a alguns meses, já que os principais momentos do clube na temporada terão início em meados de abril. A ideia seria ter Philippe para disputar a Libertadores, por exemplo.

Enquanto isso, há confiança por parte dos corintianos de que Kia esteja atuando nos bastidores para convencer o Aston Villa em liberar o meia antes de fechar o período de inscrições para times brasileiros, em abril.

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يستأنف فريق برشلونة الإسباني مبارياته الودية في جولته التحضيرية الآسيوية، استعدادًا لموسم 2025-2026، بقيادة مديره الفني، الألماني هانز فليك.

ويلتقي برشلونة اليوم الإثنين في مباراة ودية مع نظيره دايجو الكوري الجنوبي، في مواجهة تقام على ملعب الأخير ضمن الاستعدادات للموسم الجديد.

وشهدت تدريبات برشلونة يوم الأحد غياب الثنائي إينيجو مارتينيز وفيرمين لوبيز، بسبب إرهاق عضلي للأول، وإصابة طفيفة على مستوى الركبة للثاني، لكن الأمر ليس خطيرًا.

كما لن يشارك مارك بيرنال، وهو ما أكده المدرب الألماني فليك، في المؤتمر الصحفي الذي سبق مباراة سيول.

وأبرم برشلونة بعض التعاقدات هذا الصيف، بضم حارس المرمى خوان جارسيا وماركوس راشفورد وروني باردجي، وقد ظهروا خلال الجولة التحضيرية للفريق.

وخلال جولته التحضيرية في آسيا، فاز فريق فليك بنتيجة 3-1 على فيسيل كوبي، ثم سحق سيول بنتيجة 7-3. تشكيل برشلونة المتوقع أمام دايجو اليوم 

حراسة المرمى: خوان جارسيا.

خط الدفاع: جول كوندي، إريك جارسيا، باو كوبارسي، جيرارد مارتن.

خط الوسط: فرينكي دي يونج، جافي، داني أولمو.

خط الهجوم: روني باردجي، فيران توريس، ماركوس راشفورد.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

Warren Zaire-Emery has revealed that Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe still has friends at Paris Saint-Germain despite his fiery exit last year.

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Zaire-Emery opens up on attitude towards MbappeConfesses speaking to him on France dutyReal Madrid star faces his old team in Club World CupFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ahead of PSG’s Club World Cup semi-final against Real Madrid, midfielder Zaire-Emery said he has not spoken to Mbappe ahead of their semi-final clash in the United States. However, he says the former PSG star still has good relations with some of the members of the current squad under Luis Enrique.

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Mbappe left PSG under some acrimony as he refused to trigger an option to extend his contract in his final year, allowing him to leave in a free transfer to Madrid. The World Cup winner faced a rough final months at the club, with Luis Enrique dropping him from the squad on occasion. He can expect a hostile reception from PSG supporters when he faces them for the first time since his departure, but Zaire-Emery says there is still some love for the 26-year-old within the squad.

Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream nowWHAT ZAIRE-EMERY SAID

Zaire-Emery said at a press conference: “Talks with him? No, not necessarily. But when I was in the French team with him, we talked. He has some very good friends here. I spent my first two seasons with him, and tomorrow I think everyone will be defending their own colours."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR ZAIRE-EMERY?

Although Zaire-Emery started against Botafogo, he is not expected to start against Madrid on Wednesday. However, the head coach might use him from the bench, just as he has done for most of the tournament.

Manchester United's long-running director of academy Nick Cox is departing the club to become technical director at Everton.

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• Cox oversaw rise of 35 players into first team
• He helped sign Garnacho from Atletico
• He will become technical director at Everton

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Cox had been head of the club's youth system since 2019, spearheading its revival and overseeing the development of countless future stars. He will remain with United to oversee a smooth transition before stepping into his next role at Everton, where he will be overseeing the senior team as well as taking an interest in youth development.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Thirty five players from the academy made their debuts for the first team under Cox's watch, most notably Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Anthony Elanga and Chido Obi.

• WHAT WILCOX SAID

  United's director of football Jason Wilcox said: "Nick has made a huge contribution to Manchester United over the past nine years. I was already well aware of his qualities before I arrived at the club and have really enjoyed working together. Identifying and developing the best youth talent remains one of this club’s top priorities, and we are grateful for the work Nick has done to provide such a strong foundation for us to continue to build on. We wish him well for the next stage of his career."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Cox played a crucial role in convincing Garnacho to join United from Atletico in 2020. His children were having a loud argument in the next room while he was talking to the winger and he was grateful that their squabble was quickly resolved as it threatened to interrupt the negotiations.

Australia coach wants all Test series to have a minimum of three games to “show the importance of Test cricket to every nation”

Andrew McGlashan02-Aug-2023

Australia coach Andrew McDonald has called for all Test series to be a minimum of three matches in order to show a commitment to the format.His comments came in the aftermath of the gripping 2-2 Ashes draw, which saw Australia retain the urn but England bounce back from defeats in the opening two matches.McDonald is not a fan of the two-match series, which is the minimum requirement for those played under the World Test Championship, and is usually the maximum length for a series outside of those involving at least one of Australia, England and India.Related

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Ball change had 'a significant bearing' on Oval result, says McDonald

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Australia take home the mace and the urn, but no gold star

Ashes series remain over five matches while the Border-Gavaskar contest will expand to that number when India tour Australia in 2024-25, and McDonald would like to see an additional game added to other series too.”I’d encourage that the minimum number of Tests against a nation should be three,” he said. “I think two-Test-match series should be put on the back burner and that would show the importance of Test cricket to every nation if it was a minimum of three Test matches.”Australia’s next home season will feature a three-match series against Pakistan and two matches against West Indies before a tour of New Zealand that also features two Tests.McDonald was also asked about the potential for Ashes series to be played over six Tests, as they have been at previous times in history, given that Australia and England had both played that number of games over the last two months, with respective matches against India and Ireland.He quipped at whether England had been asked their views, referencing their stances on various issues about how the game might be played, but acknowledged scheduling would be a challenge.”Did you ask that question to England, because they’re usually the ones that are I suppose forecasting what the rules should be going forward in the laws of the game,” he said. “I think a six-Test-match series, now that we’ve had a drawn series, it’s like the two-Test series against certain nations when it ends up one-all you walk away from that thinking ‘geez, what about another one’.”I don’t know where it fits, though. I think that’s probably a question for [ICC’s] Geoff Allardice and Wasim Khan.”1:43

McGlashan: Bazball puts oppositions under such pressure

When pushed to reflect on the drawn Ashes and the gripping nature of the series, McDonald acknowledged it had been fantastic viewing even though Australia had been unable to turn their 2-0 lead into a first series win in England since 2001.”There was two contrasting styles coming in and it just shows you that you don’t have to play one way in Test-match cricket. And I think that was captivating for most people on the outside,” he said. “Even if it was 3-1 and we’d won that, or it was 3-1 to England, the whole way that both teams went about it – Pat [Cummins] leading our side, Ben [Stokes] leading England, the way the teams prepared and went about their work – [they] had some key decision to make in selection, it all meshed into this weird and wonderful series. It was fascinating.”The series was played to full houses throughout and though those crowds were, as would be expected, massively in favour of England, McDonald understood that the support for Test cricket could only be a good thing.”You love seeing people line up the gates, and you get to the ground in the morning and there’s just a murmur, there’s a buzz,” he said. “And they’re keen to go and watch a Test match. To me, that’s really important for the landscape of Test-match cricket.”It was exciting, and there were a lot of English supporters who said well done and congratulations, so I think it captivated a nation. I think it captivated our nation as well, and I think that’s a real positive thing for Test cricket.”

Ladies and gentlemen, Bukayo Saka is back. Wow, what a sight that was. Three months Arsenal fans have had to stand by to watch him kick a ball again and boy was it worth the wait.

The club’s heralded number 7 hasn’t been seen since sustaining a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace on 21st December and since then, the Gunners’ title challenge has been extinguished swiftly.

Yet, there is still hope for Arsenal’s season. Despite their 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday evening, a game Saka scored in, they are unlikely to win the Premier League title.

However, the winger’s return is timely with Real Madrid to look forward to in just under a week’s time in the Champions League.

For once, Mikel Arteta has a bunch of positives to swoon over. That hasn’t been said too often about the club’s season now has it?

The biggest positives from Arsenal's win over Fulham

Oh Saka, you little beauty. It’s been a hellish 12 week period for Arsenal since the Englishman took to the field but he is back and back with a bang.

He had only been on the field for seven minutes before he found the net. It wasn’t in classic Saka fashion but it raised the roof off the Emirates Stadium nonetheless.

Mikel Merino moved into the left channel and swung in a ball that was guided towards Saka with remarkable skill and audacity by Gabriel Martinelli.

The returning hero was just inches out from goal and couldn’t miss, heading the ball past former Gunner Bernd Leno.

Saka wasn’t the only positive either, far from it. The aforementioned Merino and Martinelli were both in top form, the former scoring the game’s opening goal and the latter unfortunate not to leave proceedings with a goal to his name as well.

Minutes played

24

Touches

13

Accurate passes

7/8 (88%)

Key passes

0

Shots on target

1

Accurate crosses

1/1

Duels won

1/3

Was fouled

x1

The Brazilian was a constant livewire, not just providing the assist for Saka’s goal, a game-winning strike, but he also found the back of the net himself, albeit it was ruled out for offside.

Nonetheless, it was phenomenal to see the winger back at top speed. He was a constant nuisance throughout, terrorising Fulham’s Timothy Castagne with a performance that was remeniscent of 2022/23 Martinelli.

He left the field having had three shots, completed two dribbles and produced five key passes.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Beyond Saka’s incredible return, the biggest positive that aside was perhaps the performance of the club’s makeshift centre-forward.

Arsenal have found their modern-day Olivier Giroud

When Gabriel Jesus went down with an injury during Arsenal’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United, there was a collective panic. But…it was alright…they were going to strengthen in the January transfer window. Famous last words and all that.

Arsenal did not strengthen. Their reward? A season-ending injury for Kai Havertz too.

Since then, Arteta has preferred to field the aforementioned Merino as his out and out centre-forward and it’s had mixed success.

Truth be told, the £28m summer arrival has done an admiral job. He’s scored five goals in eight games as a striker. Had he started the campaign as the club’s number 9, he’d on for a 23-goal season. Not bad indeed.

Unlike many others during the club’s injury-hit season, he’s stepped up big time and in the words of Arsenal writer Oli Price Bates, is “not getting enough credit for his performances.”

Another game came and went against Fulham where the Spaniard made quite the impression. His goal was a scruffy finish, finding the net via a deflection but it was a crucial goal all the same.

It’s not the first time the former Real Sociedad man has come up trumps, notably scoring that brace off the bench in the 2-0 win over Leicester City.

Since then, he’s been much-maligned, rather in the same way as a certain Olivier Giroud. Now, there are clear differences between the two. Giroud was a direct centre-forward first and foremost.

However, there are specific similarities in the way the two play the game. The Frenchman scored some beautiful goals but he always had quite an awkward play style, a technique that looked rather awkward. At the same time, his left peg was certainly pretty special.

Those traits can certainly be applied to Merino too. He’s not the most technically elegant – he’s a bit scruffy and awkward like Giroud. He’s also pretty underappreciated and underrated. That’s not to mention their ability to act as target men and link play too.

Minutes played

90

Touches

28

Accurate passes

14/16 (88%)

Key passes

1

Shots

2

Shots on target

1

Accurate crosses

1/1

Duels won

3/9

Tackles

2

Interceptions

1

Against Fulham, the Spain international certainly showcased that. He scored the opening goal and went on to complete 88% of his passes and make a key pass too. The 28-year-old was subsequently handed an 8/10 player rating by GOAL.

Merino’s future is certainly not in the final third but credit where credit is due, he’s been a huge servant to Arteta in the back end of this unforgiving season for Arsenal.

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