Antonio Rudiger has been told to expect a "double-digit" ban for his "crazy" outburst following Real Madrid's Copa del Rey final defeat.
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Real Madrid lost to Barcelona in finalRudiger threw ice at the refereeLothar Matthaus slams countrymanFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Rudiger was sent off after Real's defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, as he protested a decision right at the end of the game. Such was his rage, he attempted to throw ice at the referee, and had to be forcibly restrained by his team-mates.
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Now, Lothar Matthaus, Rudiger's countryman, has urged La Liga to hand the defender a lengthy ban. He believes that Rudiger should be grateful if he receives anything close to a four-week suspension, but is anticipating "double-digits".
WHAT MATTHAUS SAID
Matthaus said on Sky90: "He went crazy, he was no longer in control. He's a German international, he should be a role model. Yesterday he forgot all about that."
He added: "If he walks away with a four-week suspension, he can be satisfied. I'm more thinking of a double-digit ban. I expect a massive ban. Besides, he was on probation."
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Real play Celta Vigo on Sunday before they renew hostilities with Barcelona on May 11. Los Blancos are four points behind their eternal rivals with five games to go.
New Zealand will still be well-placed even if they lose, though they would likely need to beat Ireland to ensure progress to semi-final
Matt Roller31-Oct-20224:28
Does Stokes fit into this England XI? Are New Zealand favourites?
Big picture England and New Zealand’s last meeting in this format was an instant classic, a slow-burning epic which saw England’s World Cup hopes go up in flames.Just short of a year on, England will be staring elimination in the face once again, unless they can overcome one of the tournament’s two unbeaten sides at the Gabba. They would still be alive mathematically with a defeat on Tuesday night, but will be relying on Afghanistan beating Australia on Friday, before having to overcome Sri Lanka in their final fixture in Sydney. In short, this is a must-win.Net run rate shouldn’t be a major concern for England at this stage, thanks in no small part to Ireland’s Lorcan Tucker. Australia were heading for a convincing win on Monday evening when Ireland were 25 for 5, but Tucker’s unbeaten 71 closed the margin of defeat significantly. As a result, two wins be enough for England to reach the semi-final; and they have the advantage of playing the last game in Group 1.Related
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New Zealand have been hugely impressive in brushing Australia and Sri Lanka aside, and victory in Brisbane would seal for them a semi-final berth for the third successive T20 World Cup. Moreover, given their net run rate, they will be close to locking in the top spot. New Zealand will still be well-placed even if they lose, though they would likely need to beat Ireland in Adelaide on Friday to ensure their progress.Enough about the permutations and onto the game itself, which could be won and lost in the two powerplays. Trent Boult and Tim Southee, New Zealand’s opening bowlers across formats for most of the last decade, have been lethal with the new ball since arriving in Australia, while England’s top order is yet to fire. Jos Buttler has been very successful against Boult in T20s: but can he take his Rajasthan Royals team-mate down in Brisbane when it matters most?England’s seamers were excellent with the new ball against Afghanistan but were wayward against Ireland; they conceded 59 runs in the first six overs, with Chris Woakes coming in for particularly brutal treatment. Finn Allen is the key wicket: New Zealand blitzed 65 for 1 against Australia when he raced out of the blocks but stumbled to 25 for 3 against Sri Lanka after he fell early on.Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone could be shuffled up after limited opportunities so far this tournament•ICC via Getty ImagesRecent form England LWWWW New Zealand WWLLWIn the spotlight “The one person that you want in your team when the pressure is on is Ben Stokes,” Paul Collingwood, England’s assistant coach, said on Monday. Stokes has managed only 41 runs off 42 balls in his five T20Is since arriving in Australia, and for all his quality as a bowler, fielder and leader, now is the time for him to turn the intangibles into game-defining contributions.England’s batters have targeted Ish Sodhi whenever they have faced him in T20Is: he has nine wickets in as many appearances against them, with an eye-watering economy rate of 10.64 runs per over. Sodhi took the key wicket of Buttler in last year’s semi-final, and will need to be at his best on Tuesday night against a deep batting line-up.Team newsEngland’s selection came under scrutiny after their defeat to Ireland but they were due to play an unchanged team against Australia before the game was washed out. As a result, it seems unlikely they will make changes barring a late injury, though Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali could be shuffled up the order after limited opportunities so far in this tournament. Stokes has hardly trained, but has been declared fully fit.England (probable): 1 Jos Buttler (capt, wk), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Harry Brook, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Chris Woakes, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Adil RashidNew Zealand might consider bringing Michael Bracewell in to counter England’s left-hand batters•AFP/Getty ImagesMitchell Santner bowled a solitary over in last year’s semi-final, with Kane Williamson reluctant to use him against Dawid Malan and Moeen. England have added an extra left-hander to their middle order this year in Ben Stokes, which could block Santner’s use again; as a result, New Zealand might consider bringing Michael Bracewell, the offspinning allrounder, into their side.New Zealand (probable): 1 Finn Allen, 2 Devon Conway (wk), 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 James Neesham, 7 Michael Bracewell/Mitchell Santner, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Lockie FergusonPitch and conditions David Hussey describes the Gabba as “probably the best batting pitch in Australia for white-ball cricket”, and the numbers back that up: the average scoring rate there in men’s T20Is is 7.94 per over, the second-highest of any Australian ground. The pitch was on the slow side in Australia’s win against Ireland on Monday, and the same strip will be used on Tuesday, which could bring spinners into play.Bad weather has followed England around over the last week, and the forecast for the match is not the best either, with rain due to fall throughout Tuesday morning. However, the weather is expected to clear up later in the day, and the Gabba’s renowned underground drainage system could ensure the teams get on to the pitch.Stats and trivia Buttler will become the second player to reach 100 men’s T20Is for England after Eoin Morgan, and will overtake his predecessor as their all-time leading run-scorer in the format if he can makes at least 64. Malan has dominated Sodhi during their previous meetings in T20Is, hitting 105 runs off the 58 balls. It is one of only five head-to-head match-ups in T20I history where a batter has scored more than 100 runs off a single bowler, where ball-by-ball data is available. Allen has the highest strike rate in T20 history among batters with at least 1000 runs. New Zealand have never played a T20I at the Gabba, and have a poor historic record there across formats. They have not won a game in Brisbane in the last 20 years, their most recent victory coming in an ODI against South Africa in January 2002.Quotes “It’s frustrating when you’ve got the rain around in Melbourne: it was almost like English conditions there. It’s nice to come up to Brisbane where it’s a lot warmer, and we’re all looking forward to getting a full 40 overs in.” “Our brand of cricket might not look as aggressive as them, but we need to stick to what we have done well for a period of time, and make sure we throw our own punches in our own way.”
Nottingham Forest have now reportedly made a bold move to bolster their ranks ahead of the 2025/26 campaign with a bid already having gone in for one future star to join Nuno EspĂrito Santo’s revolution at the City Ground, it has been claimed.
Nottingham Forest on course for Europe
In what is likely to be the shock of the Premier League season, Nottingham Forest are on course to qualify for Champions League football next campaign if they are able to carry their form into the final part of the season.
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As it stands, the City Ground outfit sit third in the top flight, just three points behind Arsenal and four points clear of Chelsea, while they have a further two-point cushion to Manchester City and Newcastle United in fifth and sixth place respectively.
With Champions League football likely to be available for the top five finishers, the Garibaldi are in an excellent position to qualify but opted not to strengthen in January in a bid to try and bolster that hope despite links to Matheus Cunha and Yoane Wissa.
Earlier in the month, John Percy revealed that owner “[Evangelos] Marinakis did make it clear that funds were available” in January but that Nuno opted to continue with his smaller squad rather than risk making a mistake in the winter market.
Those funds are also likely to be there in the summer as Forest look to continue their ascent up the Football League to challenge for major honours once more under the stewardship of the Greek owner, and now an idea of their ambition may have just been provided.
Nottingham Forest make £30m+ bid for defender
That comes as a report in Spain claims that Forest have tabled a €40m (£32m) bid to sign Real Madrid sensation Raul Asencio after he shot to prominence this season.
The Garibaldi have enjoyed an excellent defensive partnership at the City Ground after adding Nikola Milenkovic to their ranks over the summer, and their 27 goals conceded is a key reason behind their success this season.
Liverpool
21
Arsenal
22
Nottingham Forest
27
Bournemouth
28
Everton
28
However, they seem keen to bolster their ranks further, with the report claiming that the 21-year-old Spaniard has caught their eye, with his performance in the Madrid derby seeing him hailed a “beast” by Rising Stars.
Indeed, it is claimed that Forest have tabled a “concrete and ambitious offer” and “are willing to pay 40 million euros” to sign the 21-year-old centre-back.
It is added that Real Madrid are yet to reply to the offer and “have not made a definitive decision on the player’s future” as they weigh up offering him a new contract in the Spanish capital.
If Forest are able to pull off a deal to sign one of Real Madrid’s most promising youngsters and a Los Blancos academy graduate, it would represent quite the coup and only serve to continue the rapid upward trajectory of the City Ground side.
Jobe Bellingham has been among the best players in the Championship this season, and Real Madrid have apparently been keeping an eye on his progress.
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Jobe Bellingham enjoying fine season at SunderlandChampionship star has caught Madrid's eyeYounger Bellingham could unite with brother JudeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Jobe Bellingham and Jude Bellingham could feature for the same club team in the near future. According to a report from the Sunderland star has impressed Real Madrid, with the Liga side now keeping an eye on the younger Bellingham. A possible link-up between the Bellingham brothers could become a reality in the Spanish capital, should Jude's employers make a move for Jobe.
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Jobe Bellingham has made 39 appearances in the Championship this season, scoring four times and assisting thrice. He has been one of the pillars of a Sunderland side who will be featuring in the playoffs for a place in the Premier League next season. His dominant displays from midfield were rewarded, as Jobe won the Championship's Young Player of the Season award.
DID YOU KNOW?
Madrid are not the only team to be keeping an eye on Jobe. Reports in recent weeks have given rise to speculation that he could follow in the footsteps of his elder brother by making a switch to the Bundesliga. Indeed, RB Leipzig have made it a 'priority' to bring in the Sunderland sensation ahead of the 2025-26 season, while Jude's former team, Borussia Dortmund, have also been credited with an interest in Jobe.
Meanwhile, Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea have reportedly also joined the race to acquire the young midfielder's signature.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR JOBE BELLINGHAM?
Sunderland are due to play their final Championship game of the season this Saturday, May 3, as they take on Queen Park Rangers. Sitting in fourth place currently, the Black Cats are yet to learn their opponents for the two-legged play-off semi-final. The first leg will take place next Friday, May 9.
Former allrounder wishes to concentrate on T20 franchise roles instead
Firdose Moonda09-Jan-2023Lance Klusener has withdrawn his application to become South Africa’s next white-ball coach. ESPNcricinfo has confirmed that Klusener was among the six candidates interviewed by Cricket South Africa three weeks ago but has chosen to pull out of the process and concentrate on T20 franchise roles instead. Klusener is currently the coach of the Durban Super Giants in the SA20 tournament, which starts on Tuesday.That leaves CSA with a choice between current interim coach Malibongwe Maketa, former national assistant coach Adrian Birrell, experienced franchise and under-19 coach Shukri Conrad, former Titans coach Rob Walter and former West Indies director of cricket Richard Pybus for the job.South Africa’s head coach role will be split in two, with one person taking over the Test team and keeping involved in the country’s first-class cricket and the other heading up the ODI and T20I sides. Klusener, who played 49 Tests and 179 ODIs, had applied for the latter post. The 51-year old former allrounder was an important member of the South Africa squad between 1996 and 2004, hitting great heights during the 1999 World Cup when he nearly took the team all the way to the final in one of the greatest games ever played. Klusener retired with a reputation for being one of the fiercest hitters of the ball, a talent that fetched him 3576 runs in ODIs at an average of 41.10 and a strike rate of 89.91.Related
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CSA is expected to make an announcement by the middle of January with the new white-ball coach set to take charge for the three ODIs against England later this month. Klusener was understood to be the frontrunner for the position, having previously worked with the Dolphins in domestic cricket and with Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in international cricket. Conrad was tipped to take over the Test side.Klusener’s withdrawal potentially opens the door for Maketa, who was temporarily put in charge of the Test side for South Africa’s tour to Australia that ended on Sunday, to continue in the national job. Maketa has put his name forward for both positions, but indicated a preference for the red-ball job. CSA is also looking to fill the position of High Performance Manager, with long-standing coach Vincent Barnes set to retire later this year.
Everton are reportedly keen on re-signing Tottenham forward Richarlison as they prepare for life without Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
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Richarlison linked with return to EvertonCalvert-Lewin set to leave this summerTottenham forward was a hit on MerseysideFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Richarlison has been linked with a return to former club Everton, with Toffees manager David Moyes keen to bring the Brazilian forward back to Merseyside. The 27-year-old has been plagued by injuries since his move to Tottenham and claim Moyes is a long-term admirer, with Everton set to prioritise the signing of a new striker this summer.
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Calvert-Lewin has been tasked with leading Everton's line in recent years and did put his injury past behind him last term by making 39 appearances in all competitions, but the 28-year-old is out of contract in a month and could leave on a free transfer. He has scored just three Premier League goals this season and Beto has largely been favoured over him in attack.
DID YOU KNOW?
Richarlison has scored 12 goals in all competitions last season but has missed over 30 matches this term, with his absence forming part of the massive injury list Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has faced over the the course of the campaign.
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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR EVERTON?
Everton's next Premier League outing is a trip to Fulham on Saturday as they look to rise beyond 14th place in the table.
Celtic lost Danish attacking midfielder Matt O’Riley, who signed for Brighton & Hove Albion, last summer and Brendan Rodgers splashed the cash to replace him.
The Hoops swooped to sign Belgian star Arne Engels from Bundesliga side Augsburg for a reported fee of ÂŁ11m, smashing the club’s transfer record, to bolster their options in the middle of the park.
Paulo Bernardo was also signed permanently from Benfica, after his loan spell at Parkhead last season, and Luke McCowan was brought in from Dundee.
So far, Engels has been value for money for the Scottish giants with his contributions at the top end of the pitch. The Belgium international has racked up ten goals and 12 assists in 41 matches in all competitions.
The 21-year-old maestro has showcased his ability to make a big impact in the final third, as a lethal penalty taker and a creator of goals, and is starting to emerge as the star man for Rodgers.
Arne Engels
His exceptional form in the middle of the park for the Scottish Premiership champions has also taken the spotlight away from Reo Hatate, who had a chance to take over from O’Riley last summer.
Reo Hatate's form this season
The Japan international suffered an injury-hit 2023/24 campaign as he ended the season with just three goals and two assists in 21 appearances in all competitions.
He did not get the chance to play week-in-week-out and showcase his quality, and the 27-year-old star may have seen O’Riley’s departure as a chance for him to step up and become the main man for the Hoops.
Unfortunately, it has not quite worked out that way because Engels’ performances have overshadowed Hatate’s work in midfield. The Japanese whiz has scored seven goals and provided five assists in 45 appearances in all competitions, which is a solid, but unspectacular, return.
Appearances
29
Goals
6
Assists
3
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.1
Duel success rate
44%
Dribbled past per game
0.6x
As you can see in the table above, Hatate has struggled out of possession in the Premiership this season, as opposition players have found it too easy to get the better of him in duels.
The experienced Celtic performer is not a tough-tackling midfielder who holds the team down defensively, but Engels’ form means that he is also not the outstanding attacking force in that area of the pitch either.
Whilst Hatate is still a good option for Rodgers to have, as he has contributed to nine goals in the league, Celtic once let go of a midfielder who is now even better than the Japan international, and got little back in return.
Celtic fumbled Jackson Irvine
Jackson Irvine joined the Scottish giants at U20 level from Australian side Frankston Pines in the January transfer window of 2010 and he rose through the ranks at the academy.
He made his first-team debut for the Hoops against Hibernian in the Premiership in 2012, playing 45 minutes, but that turned out to be his only appearance for the club.
Irvine was sent out on loan to Kilmarnock in the 2013/14 campaign, scoring once in 27 league appearances, before he joined Ross County on loan for the following season.
The Australian midfielder scored two goals and provided two assists in 28 Premiership appearances for Ross County, who then decided that they wanted to sign him permanently.
Where Are They Now
It was reported that the Staggies signed Irvine for a ‘small development fee’ amid interest from Motherwell and Hibernian, although it remains unclear as to exactly how much Celtic received for his services.
Fast-forward to the present day, after spells with Ross County, Burton Albion, Hull City, and Hibernian, Irvine is currently thriving in the Bundesliga with St. Pauli having also registered 76 caps for his country.
Why Celtic should rue selling Jackson Irvine
The 31-year-old star has started all 24 of his appearances in the German top-flight so far this season and caught the eye with seven ‘big chances’ created and five assists – more assists than Hatate has managed in the Premiership.
He has also made 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game and won 50% of his duels in the Bundesliga, which suggests that Irvine provides a strong defensive presence to go along with his attacking qualities.
Engels going from a return of three goals and two assists in 32 Bundesliga games last season to nine goals and five assists in 26 Premiership games this term suggests that the German top-flight is a step up in quality.
This illustrates how impressive Irvine’s performances, in comparison to Hatate’s, have been this season, as he has provided fantastic creativity and defensive strength at a higher level.
It may, therefore, be fairer to compare the former Celtic prospect’s form in the 2. Bundesliga in the 2023/24 campaign, as it may offer a clearer picture as to their respective performance levels at a similar standard of football.
Appearances
27
29
Goals
6
6
Big chances created
10
8
Assists
9
3
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.0
1.1
Duel success rate
53%
44%
As you can see in the table above, Jackson offers a greater threat at the top end of the pitch whilst also being more effective for his side out of possession, showing that he is a more well-rounded midfield player who can impact games on and off the ball.
This is not to say that Hatate is a bad player or someone the club should be looking to move on from any time soon, but it does suggest that the Hoops should rue their mistake when they let the Australia international leave for a ‘small’ fee back in 2015.
Irvine, who was once branded a “revelation” by former boss Nigel Clough, has impressed in the top two tiers of German football with St. Pauli and has seemingly proven himself to be an even better player than the Japan international, which suggests that Rodgers would love to have him as an option in his current squad.
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Celtic allowed the talented young defender to move on from the club at academy level.
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Unfortunately, Celtic had already allowed Irvine to join Ross County on a permanent deal a year before the Northern Irish head coach arrived at Parkhead for his first spell in charge in 2016.
Manchester United fan and presenter Mark Goldbridge has been left “devastated” at an update that has emerged from Old Trafford.
Man Utd announce new 100,000 stadium plan
It has been a busy few days for co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who sat down with the media on Monday to talk all things United.
From managers to players and finances, Ratcliffe, who has injected ÂŁ300m into the club since coming in last year, worryingly claimed that the money was due to run out at Old Trafford by the end of the year.
“If you think about Manchester United as a business, it’s gone off the rails. It’s gone off the rails a long way, really. If you look at the numbers, the numbers were fairly scary, really. Because they’d sort of lost control, I think, of where the ship was headed. And the costs had got out of control.
“If you think of it in really simple terms, you’ve got the operating costs, which are all the staff and the fixed costs of running the business. And then you’ve got all the squad costs, player salaries and player purchases.
“In super-simple terms, the club has been spending more money than it’s been earning now for the last seven years, and it ends in a very difficult place. And for Manchester United, that place ended at the end of this year, the end of 2025, with the club running out of cash.”
Since then, United have confirmed plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium, which will see the current Old Trafford knocked down. Plans were revealed on Tuesday and the new stadium is set to cost around ÂŁ2bn.
Referred to as “New Trafford Stadium”
New Stretford End will have a capacity of 23,500
Stadium will be visible from the Peak District
5-10 years to build
Second largest stadium in Europe behind Nou Camp
Will be tallest building in Manchester
Talking on Tuesday, Ratcliffe said: “Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world’s greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford.
“Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport. By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience only footsteps from our historic home.”
Goldbridge “devastated” at Old Trafford update
On Monday evening, Goldbridge took to X to react to the news he heard of Old Trafford being knocked down and replaced, an update which was confirmed by INEOS the next day.
Then, on Tuesday, Goldbridge had this to say on the images of the new stadium. “I’ve just seen the images of the new stadium… Some will like it, some won’t. Reminds me of the old Olympic stadium in Munich. Spiders web.
“I think it works well. Looks like a circus tent and we’re run like one.”
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ByStephan Georgiou Mar 11, 2025
All being well and if United get government backing, it will take around five years to build the new stadium, but it doesn’t look as if Goldbridge is best pleased.
Keightley, replacing Trevor Griffin, has signed a three-year deal
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Feb-2023Lisa Keightley has signed with WBBL side Sydney Thunder as their head coach for the next three seasons. A highly decorated coach, Keightley takes over from Trevor Griffin, who was the coach when Thunder won the WBBL title in the 2020-21 season, the second time they had won the WBBL.”I know Sydney Thunder has a good history, and it has won two titles [they also won the inaugural edition in 2015-16],” Keightley said in a statement released by Thunder. “There’s also a good group of players who have enjoyed success.”When I say it’s a challenge, it’s in the sense of the team having a couple of seasons where they’d want to be. I’ll be making sure we’re competitive and winning games of cricket. Thunder has a core of players who have played for a number of years and have enjoyed success. I’m hoping it won’t take too much.”Related
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Keightley played nine Tests, 82 ODIs and one T20I for Australia between 1995 and 2005. After retiring as a player, she has coached the Australia national team – the first woman to do so – and the England national team, and has also worked with New South Wales, Western Australia, and Perth Scorchers.The first woman to score an international century at Lord’s, in an ODI against England in 1998, and also the owner of the second-highest individual score by an Australian in an ODI – 156* vs Pakistan in 1997 – is currently in South Africa as the tactical performance coach for Paarl Royals, the domestic T20 team.Phoebe Litchfield, Hannah Darlington are with ThunderAt Thunder, she would be working with, among others, two of Australia’s brightest young cricketers, Phoebe Litchfield and Hannah Darlington.”Hannah Darlington has had success, as has Phoebe Litchfield,” Keightley said. “Tahlia Wilson has been playing in [the NSW WNCL team] consistently over the years, and she’ll be looking to improve and have an impact.Lisa Keightley played nine Tests, 82 ODIs and one T20I for Australia•Getty Images”I look at other players and see Sammy-Jo Johnson as a seasoned campaigner who is probably a little disappointed in how she played this year. However, she’s had success in the past, so I can see no reason why that can’t be turned around.”Then you have the likes of Lauren Smith, another player who has played for a number of years and had success throughout the WBBL. It’s a matter of, to me, some overseas players being in and around the quality that we’ve got, and then playing some consistent cricket.”Keightley said her focus was to create a unique brand of cricket while at Thunder.”I’m looking forward to connecting with the players, especially the Sydney-based ones to make sure when we go into that competition it doesn’t feel new,” she said. “I’m looking forward to helping them and discussing their games and where they’d like to be. I want to share my observations of how they’re playing, and maybe, the areas where they can grow, learn and stretch.”I think that would be a good transition to make during the year, rather than coming in two weeks before the WBBL. I think that’s the nice bit of the challenge; knowing when we play in the WBBL that they’re clear about the brand of cricket we want to play.”
Gary Lineker was reduced to tears as he bid an emotional goodbye to the BBC after a 25-year run as Match of the Day presenter.
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Final show taken in as MOTD presenterEmotional night for ex-England strikerFinal year of BBC contract has been terminatedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
It has been confirmed that the former England international will be severing ties with the BBC after walking away from the final year of his lucrative contract on the back of a social media misstep where he shared an antisemitic image on his Instagram story, which was later deleted. Lineker has insisted it was accidental.
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He had been due to spend another year with the BBC, taking him through FA Cup and World Cup coverage in 2025-26. The 64-year-old – who has already moved into the world of podcasts – is now readying himself for a fresh start.
It had previously been confirmed that Lineker would be leaving MOTD at the end of the 2024-25 season, with his final show in that chair seeing him joined by Alan Shearer and Micah Richards. Tribute messages were received from ex-players and former team-mates such as Ian Wright, Paul Gascoigne and Peter Shilton.
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WHAT GARY LINEKER SAID
When signing off for the final time, Lineker struggled to keep his emotions in check, with tears finally flowing as the credits rolled on an iconic Premier League highlights show. Lineker said in his last piece to camera: "Let me take this opportunity to thank all of the other pundits that I have had the pleasure of working with over the last 25 years. You have made my job so much easier.
"Also, a huge thank you to those that you don’t see at home – the work that goes into making this iconic show is a huge team effort. From the editors to the analysis team, from the commentators to the floor managers, from the producers to the camera operators, from the PAs to subs, thank you all, you are the very best. Rather like my football career, everyone else did all the hard work and I got the plaudits."