Australia A let the game slip from them on the second day as the middle order faltered and bowlers struggled for control

Andrew McGlashan29-Aug-2023New Zealand A fought back strongly on the second day at Allan Border Field, firstly through Scott Kuggeleijn’s five-wicket haul and then with a solid display by their top order, led by Sean Solia, which enabled them to wipe off Australia A’s lead and close with an advantage of 75.It was an impressive day for the visitors after Australia A had started only six runs behind their first innings of 147. They chipped away at the middle order and Kuggelejin took out the bowlers, although the lower order provided handy runs.Related

An opportunity for Cameron Bancroft to improve chances of a Test comeback

Buckingham makes his mark before Jewell sparkles for Australia A

Facing a significant deficit of 116, New Zealand A started brightly through openers Solia and Henry Cooper. Cooper took 16 runs off Mark Steketee’s third over, including three consecutive boundaries, before edging behind off Jordan Buckingham as he added to his three opening-day wickets.Nick Kelly was very close to bagging a king pair as his first delivery zipped past the outside edge, but he and Solia, who earlier played his part with the ball claiming two wickets, then settled into a productive second-wicket stand of 77 either side of a rain delay which arrived during the tea interval.The Australia A quicks struggled for the control they showed in the first innings while Buckingham and Mitch Perry sent down 11 no-balls between them.Kelly was frustrated when he pulled to deep square-leg moments after New Zealand A moved into the lead – giving Buckingham his fifth wicket of the match – but captain Tom Bruce lifted the tempo with an aggressive display and Solia moved to a 93-ball fifty with his tenth boundary having been given a life on 43, a very tough chance to gully.Bruce was also dropped on 34, when Caleb Jewell could not quite haul in a difficult chance diving at square leg from a pull, but the New Zealand A captain did not shelve the stroke and continued to take on the short delivery.Australia A had resumed on 141 for 3 and Jewell looking to pick up from his fluent display on the first afternoon. He collected a brace of early boundaries but three figures proved elusive when Brett Randell got one through him from round the wicket.New Zealand A kept chipping away to keep the hosts within touching distance. Campbell Kellaway bottom-edged a loose drive against a very wide delivery, while both Joel Paris and Jimmy Peirson were sharply held in the slips.But the lower-order added useful runs with the last three wickets combining for 63. Perry slashed to slip off what became the final ball of the morning session before Steketee and Mitchell Swepson scored briskly after the break to take the lead over 100.A change to a short-ball attack by Kuggeleijn proved successful when Swepson miscued into the leg side and he completed his five-wicket haul when he ended Steketee’s valuable contribution.Meanwhile, Wes Agar has been withdrawn from the series due to lower back soreness. Buckingham will now travel to MacKay for the second four-day game having originally only been set to play the opening match.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em agosto, a Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF)realizou o primeiro Seminário de Combate ao Racismo e Violência no Futebol. Durante o evento, o presidente da entidade, Ednaldo Rodrigues, propôs que clubes perdessem pontos por atos racistas. Rodolfo Landim, presidente do Flamengo, explicou porque não concorda.

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Apesar de exaltar a importância do evento realizado pela CBF, Landim confirmou que prefere não misturar aspecto técnico com problemas extra-campo. Para o presidente do Flamengo, o assunto também é passível de infiltração de terceiros, que procuram prejudicar os clubes envolvidos.

+Veja em quais jogos Pedro e Everton Ribeiro devem desfalcar o Flamengo

-Em primeiro lugar, eu quero parabenizar a CBF e o presidente pela iniciativa de colocar esse tema em discussão. Esse tema é tão importante e tão profundo para nós do Flamengo, que o Flamengo tinha um jogo contra o São Paulo, e eu fiz questão de ficar lá na CBF e assistir ao seminário inteiro. E não fui ao jogo por causa disso. Eu acho que era importante a presença do Flamengo para demonstrar o quão importante eu acho que é a gente se engajar nessa luta – inicou Landim.

-Dito isto, o presidente Ednaldo lançou essa ideia. Estou falando aqui como presidente do Flamengo, não gosto de você misturar aspectos técnicos com problemas como esse, que são problemas extra-campo. Eu, particularmente, acho que perda de pontos é algo que não deveria ocorrer. Eu acho que tem várias maneiras de você punir as pessoas. Lá no seminário, com a presença do presidente do senado, Rodrigo Pacheco, acho que ele foi muito feliz na apresentação dele. Falou o seguinte: ‘Primeiro a gente precisa criar, de fato, um marco legal no país e que esse marco legal seja respeitado, para que de fato as coisas possam acontecer’ – prosseguiu, antes de finalizar:

+Perda de ponto por racismo: diretor do Observatório da Discriminação Racial no Futebol defende proposta

-Eu acho que você, vamos dizer assim, responsabilizar uma equipe por um ato de uma pessoa, de um torcedor, fazer com ela perca pontos, eu acho que é difícil. Até porque amanhã ou depois uma torcida pode pegar uma camisa de um jogador de outro time e se infiltrar na torcida adversária e fazer para que a outra equipe perca pontos, entendeu? Naturalmente, tenho um pouco de reação a esse aspecto especifico da perda de pontos, mas a discussão, vamos dizer assim, de como isso deve ser tratado, de discutir penalidades, que sejam penalidades financeiras, que sejam perdas de mando de campo, tudo isso, mas influir no resultado de dentro do campo, aí eu acho que é um pouco demais na minha percepção – concluiu, em entrevista à ESPN.

O posicionamento de Landim não é o que Ednaldo Rodrigues quer para o futebol nacional, mas segue a linha defendida pelos clubes. Tanto que, no evento, apenas Vasco e Bahia não se opuseram à proposta do presidente da CBF, que vê a questão como única solução para a extinção do racismo nos estádios.

-Acredito que somente com pena desportiva diretamente ao clube o racismo e o preconceito deixarão o futebol. Sou democrático e quero que essa pena seja discutida no tribunal. Vou propor para que o time perca ao menos um ponto na competição. Em campeonatos disputados, como o Brasileiro, isso pode decidir um título, uma vaga em competição e até um rebaixamento – frisou Ednaldo.

+Flamengo tem conta do Instagram hackeada

Flamengo e Corinthians foram alvo de casos de racismo recentemente, quando disputavam a Libertadores deste ano. Em competições nacionais, o Grêmio foi eliminado da Copa do Brasil 2014, pelo “Caso Aranha”, enquanto o Brusque escapou de perdeu três pontos após ter um dirigente acusado de injúria por Celsinho, do Londrina.

Rohit and Dravid to be part of the meeting in which the selectors are also likely to pencil in the draft squad for the World Cup

Shashank Kishore19-Aug-20232:15

Who will make the final cut in India’s Asia Cup squad?

Will KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Jasprit Bumrah be on the plane to Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup? We will know on Monday, August 21, when the senior men’s selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, convenes in New Delhi to pick the squad.It is understood that Rohit Sharma, the India captain, will attend the meeting. SS Das will too, but via video conference because he’s the selector on tour in Ireland with a second-rung squad which is currently in the middle of a three-match T20I series. According to PTI, head coach Rahul Dravid will also be present in his official capacity. The coach is generally not part of the selection meetings.Rohit’s participation is significant given the selectors are also likely to pencil in the draft squad for the World Cup. While September 5 is the ICC’s deadline to submit the draft squad, it is understood the selection panel wants to pick the same 15 for both events as far as possible. The picked squad, along with a few stand-by players, will then assemble in Bengaluru for a six-day camp prior to their departure to Colombo.Related

Bumrah and Prasidh's promising comebacks good news for India

Rahul, Iyer in match simulation training ahead of Asia Cup selection

Suryakumar, Samson and Tilak jostle to fit in India's Asia Cup jigsaw

Suryakumar: No shame in admitting 'really bad' ODI record

Rahul and Iyer’s fitness status could be a main discussion point as the BCCI awaits a final nod from the NCA. The duo is currently in Bengaluru, where they have been put through a series of match-simulation exercises and practice matches to test their readiness for 50-over cricket.Iyer is understood to have ticked most boxes in his first practice game earlier this week, where he fielded for the entire 50 overs and batted for 38 without much discomfort. The match was closely monitored by NCA chief VVS Laxman and batting coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar. Rahul, who didn’t feature in that game, is expected to line up alongside Iyer for a second practice game on Sunday.Rahul’s fitness is key to India solving their wicketkeeper conundrum, especially with Rishabh Pant still recovering from injuries sustained during a serious car crash in December.Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul were recently put through a series of match simulation exercises at NCA•Getty Images

If picked, Rahul is likely to bat at No. 5 and keep wicket. If he isn’t, Ishan Kishan is the frontrunner for the wicketkeeper’s role. Kishan’s selection could also then lead to a bit of a shuffle in the batting order. It’s something several former cricketers, including former head coach Ravi Shastri, feel strongly about.Iyer, meanwhile, solves the crucial No. 4 debate should he be fit. It’s a position that proved to be India’s bugbear at the 2019 World Cup, when the MSK Prasad-led selection committee punted on Vijay Shankar’s all-round skills over Ambati Rayudu, who was the designated No. 4 for much of India’s build-up to the tournament. Eventually, Shankar’s injury paved the way for Pant’s belated inclusion in the squad.In Iyer’s absence, India recently tried out Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson and Axar Patel at No. 4 in the Caribbean. Suryakumar, India’s T20I vice-captain, admitted having not been able to make the best use of his opportunities at that spot, and the team management is believed to be trying him as a finisher.Bumrah, meanwhile, opened India’s Ireland tour with a Player-of-the-Match winning effort in Dublin on Friday. Bumrah took 2 for 24; both his strikes came in his opening over upon a return to international cricket after 11 months. Prasidh Krishna, another key bowler in India’s World Cup plans, also made a promising return and picked up two wickets.India open their Asia Cup campaign against Pakistan on September 2, before playing Nepal on September 4. Both games will be played in Pallekele, with the top two sides of the group progressing through to the Super 4s, where they will play three more games.After the Asia Cup, India will also play three ODIs at home against Australia prior to opening their World Cup campaign, also against Australia, on October 8 in Chennai.

Chelsea have now submitted a £29m offer for a winger, which is currently being considered by the player’s club, according to a report.

Maresca planning to bolster Chelsea's attacking options

A number of top Premier League clubs are pursuing strikers ahead of the summer transfer window, and the Blues are no exception, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Millonarios’ Neyser Villarreal recently being named as targets.

Nicolas Jackson has often been subjected to criticism since making the move to Stamford Bridge, with Enzo Maresca now keen to bring in another top striker, and the manager is also eager to strengthen in wide areas.

A decision will have to be made about Jadon Sancho’s future, with the west Londoners able to opt out of a deal if they fork out £5m as compensation, and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams has now emerged as a ‘dream’ target.

Chelsea make "fresh contact" to sign £200k-per-week "dream" Maresca target

He has an affordable release clause.

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Emilio Galantini

Mar 29, 2025

However, Maresca’s side are yet to make an official bid for Williams, and a different La Liga winger is now entering the frame as a potential option, with a report from Spain revealing Chelsea have now submitted a €35m (£29m) bid for Atletico Madrid’s Giuliano Simeone.

The winger has put in some impressive performances under the management of his father, Diego Simeone, this season, and the Blues are said to have made a formal approach, which has left Atletico Madrid considering their options.

The Spanish side are taking time to assess the bid, as Simeone has emerged as an important player this season, and a decision could be made over the course of the next few days.

"Revelation" Simeone impressing in 2024/25

The Rome-born winger has emerged as a key player for Atletico this season, making 24 appearances in La Liga, during which time he has amassed one goal and five assists, and he has been dubbed a “revelation” by journalist Pascual Ruiz Arnal.

It has been a remarkable rise for the Argentine, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig praising the way in which he has fought back from injury issues, before going on to receive a call-up for his national side.

The 22-year-old wasted no time bagging his first goal for his country, netting the fourth in his side’s 4-1 dismantlement of Brazil.

The Atletico star is showing all the hallmarks of a top winger, ranking in the 99th percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, while also placing in the 98th percentile for progressive carries.

As such, Simeone could be a bargain at just £29m, so it would be a strange decision if Atletico let him leave for that price, but their loss could very much be Chelsea’s gain.

Inter are racing against the clock to seal a deal for Parma striker Ange-Yoan Bonny, with hopes of adding him to their Club World Cup squad.

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Deal with Parma nearing agreement for FrenchmanBonny fit and could debut from benchInter face Urawa next on June 22 in CWCFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Inter are closing in on €25 million (£21m/$27m) deal for Parma striker Bonny, with a chance he could join them mid-tournament at the Club World Cup. Talks between Inter and Parma are well advanced for the French striker identified as the next key addition to bolster the Nerazzurri attack. Inter are looking to finalise the agreement shortly, just in time to potentially register him for the knockout rounds of the competition in the United States.

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Following the exits of Joaquin Correa and Marko Arnautovic, Inter's attacking depth behind Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram has become a concern. Bonny, who impressed under Cristian Chivu at Parma, is seen as a smart tactical fit. With FIFA rules allowing changes and additions to the squad between June 27 and July 3, Inter could register Bonny if the deal is wrapped up in time. At just 21, he also brings long-term value, with six goals and four assists in a struggling Parma side, he earned praise for his maturity and technical development, attributes that made him a standout under Chivu last season.

Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream nowDID YOU KNOW?

Club World Cup squads can make six maximum changes between June 27 and July 3. Players, however, must not have appeared in the tournament for another club. Since Parma are not part of the competition, Bonny is eligible pending fitness and finalisation of the deal.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR INTER?With the knockout rounds starting June 28, Inter must accelerate negotiations if they want Bonny to feature. Final agreement with Parma is reportedly near, and the Frenchman, currently on holiday, is in good physical condition to contribute from the bench by the round of 16. But before that, Inter face Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds on June 22. The J-League club sit bottom of the group after losing their opening match to River Plate. Inter will aim to secure qualification early.

But Mohammad Abbas makes inroads for Hampshire as visitors close 172 behind at Ageas

ECB Reporters Network26-Sep-2023Tom Lawes took back-to-back five-wicket hauls as Surrey claimed three of the five points needed to be crowned LV= Insurance County Championship winners.Allrounder Lawes pulled out the Hampshire middle order for his third five-for of the season with Kemar Roach picking up 3 for 41.Hampshire built their below-par 219 around Ben Brown’s positive 78, before Mohammad Abbas pinned back Surrey to end the day on 47 for two – a deficit of 172.Surrey needed five points to be confirmed Champions for a second year in a row – even if they failed to do so all they’d need to do is avoid defeat to prevent Essex from overtaking them.Early morning rain saw the toss, and play, delayed by an hour before Surrey choose to bowl – with Jamie Smith and Will Jacks likely to boost the batting once they return from England duty.It took until the ninth over for Surrey to open up the Hampshire top order as Toby Albert jabbed unconvincingly at Roach to edge to second slip Jamie Overton. In the West Indian’s following over, he found Nick Gubbins chopping on a floaty ball outside off stump.Point one of five was chalked off in the 18th over when James Vince’s back-foot swish was gobbled by Overton to hand Lawes his first wicket with his fourth ball.The pitch didn’t appear to have any demons but Hampshire’s batters struggled to escape the accurate Surrey bowler’s clasp. Fletcha Middleton was a fine example of this as he battled hard for 52 balls before losing patience against Jordan Clark – who cleaned out his off stump.Lawes had been forced to wait until senior bowlers Roach, Dan Worrall, Jordan Clark and Overton had their go, but the 20-year-old out-shone them all. The pace bowler claimed 5 for 105 against Northamptonshire last week and slaughtered the Hampshire middle-order.After Vince, Tom Prest was Lawes’ next victim when last week’s century-maker followed his captain in wafting on the back foot – this time Ben Foakes grabbed the simple catch.The match-winner in Hampshire’s sensational victory over Essex last week, which put the title in Surrey’s hands, Liam Dawson failed to replicate his heroics as he drove to second slip.Ian Holland stuck around to put on 33 with Brown – who was starting to get into his work – before Roach returned to strangle him down the leg side.Brown was forced to guide the tail through things to get the score towards respectability, with stands of 55 and 45 with James Fuller and Kyle Abbott.The wicketkeeper has had a disappointing season with the bat in the Championship, with this his third fifty of the campaign. His best being the 95 he scored in the reverse fixture at the Kia Oval in April. His ten boundaries all came square or behind the wicket on his way to a 63-ball half-century.Fuller fell after a nicely crafted 25 when he was lbw to spinner Cam Steel before Brown gave a fourth wicket to Lawes and a fourth catch to second slip Overton, a third point in the bag for the Brown Caps.Abbas was the last to fall for a four-ball duck when Lawes pinned him leg before.Surrey had 20 overs to bat under the now clear skies with 300 in their sights to win the title. Abbas had other ideas as Dom Sibley faintly edged behind and Rory Burns played onto his stumps for evening figures of 2 for 20. But Ryan Patel and Sai Sudharsan carefully guided the visitors to the close.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo enfrentará o Avaí neste domingo, às 20h, no estádio do Morumbi. O confronto será válido pela 28ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.O Tricolor contou com uma semana livre de jogos e toda focada em treinamentos. O encontro com o Avaí é o último da equipe antes de viajar para Córdoba, na Argentina, para encarar um dos jogos mais esperados do ano: a final da Copa Sul-Americana, contra o Independiente De Valle.

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>Tricolor na final: Relembre os campeões da Copa Sul-Americana de 2012 pelo São Paulo e onde estão atualmente

Mesmo que embalada e com foco na decisão do continental, o duelo deste domingo também deverá contar com força máxima. Isso porque o São Paulo enfrentou uma situação complicada na tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro nas últimas partidas válidas pela competição, onde ficou a poucos pontos de times localizados na zona de rebaixamento.

Atualmente na 13ª colocação, com 34 pontos, vem de uma vitória recente contra o Ceará, por 2 a 0 na competição, em partida disputada na última semana, na Arena Castelão. Caso vença o adversário o Tricolor, se aproxima do G8.

Do outro lado, o Avaí – com 28 pontos e na 17ª colocação – busca se livrar do Z4. A equipe busca os três pontos para se livrar do Z4. Vindo de uma vitória por 1 a 0 contra o Atlético-MG, a equipe poderá contar com a volta deMatheus Galdezani, que cumpriu suspensão na última rodada da competição.

SÃO PAULO X AVAÍ
28ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro

Local: Morumbi, em São Paulo (SP)
Data e hora: 25/9/2022, às 20h (de Brasília)
Árbitro: Bruno Arleu de Araujo (RJ) [Fifa]
Assistentes: Eduardo Gonçalves da Cruz (MS) e Thiago Rosa de Oliveira (RJ)
VAR: Rodrigo Nunes de Sá (RJ) [Fifa]
Onde assistir: Premiere e em tempo real no LANCE!/Voz do Esporte

SÃO PAULO
Felipe Alves; Igor Vinícius (Rafinha), Diego Costa, Léo e Reinaldo; Pablo Maia, Nestor, Alisson e Patrick; Luciano e Calleri. Técnico: Rogério Ceni.

DESFALQUES: André Anderson (dores musculares), Walce (recuperação de cirurgia), Caio (cirurgia no ligamento cruzado do joelho direito), Arboleda (cirurgia no tornozelo esquerdo), Gabriel Neves (trauma no tornozelo esquerdo), Nikão (transição física), Luan (avulsão tendínea no músculo adutor da coxa esquerda), Ferraresi (convocado pela seleção da Venezuela), Moreira (lesão no menisco do joelho direito).

PENDURADOS:André Anderson, Igor Vinícius, Rafinha, Nikão e Luciano.

SUSPENSOS: –

AVAÍ
Gledson; Kevin, Bressan, Rafael Vaz e Bruno Cortez; Mateus Sarará, Bruno Silva e Jean Pyerre; Guerrero (Natanael) , Pottker e Bissoli. Técnico: Lisca.

DESFALQUES: Raniele (cumpre suspensão)
​
PENDURADOS:Arthur Chaves, Jean Cléber, Muriqui, Vladimir, Eduardo, Rodrigo Freitas, William Pottker, Rafael Vaz, Jean Pyerre, Bruno Silva e Gledson.
SUSPENSOS: Raniele.

تحدث ياسر إبراهيم عن مشادته مع الأسطورة الأرجنتينية ليونيل ميسي، خلال مباراة الأهلي وإنتر ميامي الأمريكي، في افتتاح بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025، بالولايات المتحدة، في لقاء انتهى 0-0.

وقال ياسر إبراهيم في تصريحات لقناة الأهلي: “النقد الموجه لخط دفاع الأهلي في بعض الأوقات يأتي بشكل صعب جدًا، أنا ليس ضد النقد ولكن بعيدًا عن إهانة الأب والأم”.

طالع| ياسر إبراهيم: لم أتردد في التجديد لـ الأهلي.. وهذه أسباب الخروج المبكر من كأس العالم للأندية

وبسؤاله هل مطالبة الأهلي بالفوز في كل مباراة يسبب ضغوطًا على خط الدفاع؟: “بالتأكيد، تأتي علينا مباريات تجد الفريق متقدمًا للأمام، ولو لم تذاكر المباراة بشكل جيد جدًا ستجد نفسك في مواقف صعبة جدًا وهذا يكون ضغط عليك كمدافع للأهلي والأمر لا يكون سهلا”.

وعن أشرف داري زميله: “من اللاعبين الرجال ودولي واسم معروف وشخصية جميلة جدًا ونتحدث دائمًا في الملعب ونوجه بعض بشكل جيد، وقبل المباراة نتفق مع بعض، كما أعرف ياسين مرعي وأتمنى له التوفيق، لاعب جيد ويدخل في الأجواء”.

لاعب كنت تتمنى اللعب بجانبه في خط الدفاع؟: “وائل جمعة، وكنت أتمنى ألعب بجوار الخطيب ومحمد أبو تريكة، الثنائي ممتعين”.

أكثر لاعب ترتاح معه في الملعب حاليًا؟: “كلهم، لعبت بجوار داري والعش، يكون هناك انسجام وتفاهم بيننا”.

هل درجة الحرارة في كأس العالم للأندية كانت لها عامل سلبي؟: “هذه ليست أجواء كرة، الرطوبة كانت عالية جدًا، مباراة بالميراس كانت الساعة 12 ظهرًا والجو كان صعبًا جدًا، وهذا كان له عامل، أن تواجه نجومًا مثل سواريز وميسي وتنهي اللقاء دون تسجيلهما أهداف هذا مشهد إيجابي جدًا”.

لقطتك مع ميسي؟: “(عمري في حياتي أكون نازل متعمد آخد لقطة ولا أفكر في هذا الموضوع نهائيًا)، كل ما حدث أن الكرة كانت مع مروان عطية ووقع وتعرض لشدة وإنتر ميامي أخذوا الكرة ولعبوا وطلبت منهم أن يكون هناك لعب نظيف ويخرجون الكرة”.

وواصل: “ميسي تحدث بأسلوب غير جيد وهذا سبب المشادة بيننا، وهو لاعب (في حته تانية) لا يوجد أحد يقدر أن يتحدث عنه، ولكن حق مشروع لي أنني أريد الفوز عليه، والمشادة بيننا ليس هدفها اللقطة”.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed the most lucrative contract in sport history by Al-Nassr. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner signed the new deal with the Saudi Pro League side for a reported signing-on fee of £24.5 million ($33.7m) and will earn wages that will see him rake in over a million pounds every two days.

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• Ronaldo handed a two-year deal at Al-Nassr
• Handed a signing-on fee of £24.5 million
• Will earn £178m-a-year in wages at Al-Nassr

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo's venture to Saudi Arabia has not worked out very well for him, as the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has failed to win a single official trophy with Al-Nassr in the two-and-a-half seasons he has been with them. Following their disappointing 2024/25 season, which saw them miss out on AFC Champions League Elite qualification, Ronaldo hinted at a potential exit.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After weeks of speculation over his future, Ronaldo revealed that he was going nowhere and on Thursday afternoon, Al-Nassr announced that their captain has signed a two-year deal with the Saudi Pro League club. It has now been revealed by The Sun that Ronaldo has taken a signing-on fee of £24.5 million from Faris Najd, which will increase to £38 million if he enters the second year of his deal.

• TELL ME MORE…

  The Sun also revealed that Ronaldo will be earning £178m-a-year in wages with Al-Nassr, which is £488,000-a-day. The Portugal star will earn £492 million, and that could go up to over half a billion pounds if he triggers his bonuses of £4 million for winning the Golden Boot and £8 million if Al-Nassr win the title

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

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He also reveals how moving around the crease has helped him, a skill he developed during the last LPL

Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Sep-2023

If Sri Lanka had aimed too high in their Super Four game against Bangladesh, they could have ended up with a sub-par score. These are the thoughts of Sadeera Samarawickrama, the star of Sri Lanka’s batting innings, who struck 93 off 72 balls.Across the match, Samarawickrama was the only batter to make more than 20 at more than a run a ball. But he lauded Pathum Nissanka, who hit 40 off 60, and Kusal Mendis, who made 50 off 73, for setting the foundation.”When Pathum and Kusal were batting, the pitch seemed a bit slow and they did really well,” Samarawickrama said. “If they had taken risks at that point and got out, maybe I would have got out cheaply too. But because they took the game a little deeper and gave us some momentum, I found it easier too.Related

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“When I saw the pitch, we talked about how this wasn’t a 320 pitch – it’s a 250 surface. Even that you just have to get in the last eight overs or so. If we had gone too hard early, we might have been out for 220. So what I tried to do after getting a start was to get the team to 250.”Samarawickrama, who made his Sri Lanka debut in Tests in 2017, has clearly worked on his white-ball batting since then. On Saturday, he frequently shuffled towards off stump to access the leg side, and backed away to leg to hit through off – often behind point.These were skills he had developed and used in last year’s Lanka Premier League, he said. In that tournament, he was second on the run-scorers chart, with 294 runs and a strike rate of 131.25. It was that performance, in fact, that had launched him back into the conversation as an international player.”Moving around the crease is something that I started in the LPL last year – playing with the bowler’s mind and figuring out how to put pressure on him,” Samarawickrama said. “However the pitch plays, I have to back my strengths, one of which is to back away and hit. It’s something I learned with a lot of hard work, so I back myself to do that.”Sri Lanka have now also won 13 ODIs consecutively, second only to Australia, who had won 21 in a row.”When you play as a team, your own performances are lifted,” Samarawickrama said. “If we had lost, my performance today wouldn’t be highlighted either. If the top order isn’t doing well, the middle order gets it done. If the middle order can’t do it, the top order has scored runs. We’re playing as a team.”