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She’s small, she’s quick, and she has the meanest short ball you ever did see

Annesha Ghosh27-Feb-2022When you watch Ismail ride the boundary, you can tell she is a natural athlete. The kind who tops sprints at school meets. The possessor of athletic gifts that make their bodies worthy of scientific research.If Ismail had stayed on track with football – she played a lot of it at school until cricket happened – she would likely have excelled at that too. As many of that sport’s luminaries have shown, being short-statured can be an asset. In cricket, though, height is often a requisite if fast bowling is your job. A diminutive, 5’4″ frame, as in Ismail’s case, hardly seems the ideal fit for the role, especially given women naturally lack some of the physiological endowments that help the fastest male bowlers do what they do.But with Ismail, “the Demon”, one of the fastest female bowlers going around in international cricket, pace is pace, . Which makes her bouncer more vicious than anyone else’s in the women’s game, more even than the much taller Ellyse Perry’s, who was voted second to Ismail in the bouncer stakes when we polled members of ESPNcricinfo’s staff for this series.Inspired by former South Africa male counterparts Andre Nel’s and Dale Steyn’s mastery of the delivery, Ismail’s bouncer is a physiology-defying, perception-shattering emblem of her craft.A typical one is fired hard into the deck at anywhere between 117 to 122kph and usually angled into the batter’s body. Its sting comes from a load-up where the sprightliness belies the effort. Add to that high arm speed, upper-body strength, and almost unwavering accuracy.”The day she’s a bit feisty, I fear for other batters’ lives, because if she wants to bowl a bouncer at your head, she’s going to do it,” says Lizelle Lee, Ismail’s South Africa team-mate and opponent in the WBBL. “As a batter, sometimes it’s a bit worse in the nets than on the field, because you’re in an enclosed place. So if she decides to bounce you, phew, it’s a tough pill to swallow. I’m just happy she’s in my side.”Among the more recent helmet-pingers, throat-rammers, and other ferocious manifestations of the Ismail bouncer to stick in the memory are those copped by Shafali Verma, Mithali Raj, and Priya Punia across South Africa’s 2019 and 2021 tours of India; the ones unleashed on the Thailand batters in the 2020 T20 World Cup; and those against Shasha Moloney of Hobart Hurricanes and Tahlia McGrath of Adelaide Strikers in the 2019 and 2020 WBBLs.The one to Verma, then only 16, playing her fourth international game, stunned the batter and the thousands-strong Surat crowd alike. The perfect change-up, served up after three deliveries on the full and a fourth on a good length, the penultimate ball rocketed in at 117kph in the opening over of India’s unsuccessful chase of 176 and smacked Verma flush on the crest of her helmet as she tried to swivel-pull.A nod of the head and a brief chat with non-striker Smriti Mandhana indicated Verma deemed herself fit to continue batting. And she did, but only for three runless balls, falling in Ismail’s next over. Since then, some of the world’s best exponents of the short ball have sought to exploit Verma’s discomfort, including Perry. But no bouncer to her so far has looked as sickening, and yet as awe-inspiring, as Ismail’s original.”We call her our little pocket power, because that’s what she is: small, very clever, and with a lot of power,” says Lee. “She’s been working extremely hard and wants to hit that 130kph mark, and hopefully she does this year.”A quicker bouncer from the quickest bowler in women’s cricket? Stand by, physios.Who Does it Best?: The cutter | The pull | The googly | The cover drive | The yorker | The cut | The bouncer | The sweep

The batting coach gained considerable respect for approaching the subject of executive pay

Daniel Brettig17-Jun-2020On April 21, Cricket Australia’s staff were still trying to make sense of the stand downs imposed on more than 200 of their number, and fear and uncertainty were rampant.It was one of many days punctuated by a video conference call from then chief executive Kevin Roberts, who was also to speak to the media for the first time to explain CA’s scorched earth approach to preparing for the possible financial toll of the coronavirus pandemic.These calls had, prior to the stand downs, been characterised by general bonhomie and vague expressions of optimism by Roberts. Even on the day that he announced that a host of staff were to be stood down, there had been a combination of shock and sympathy for the chief executive, before the arithmetic of the decision-making was more widely understood.ALSO READ: Timeline: Three months that brought down CA chief Kevin RobertsBy April 21 however, there was greater understanding and frustration, particularly with one point. How was it possible that the majority of stood down staff would be left with just 20% of their usual salaries, while executives were retained on 80% of their own, far more substantial pay packets.But it required bravery and outspokenness, particularly in an environment where every single staff member was apprehensive about their future and how it might be decided upon, to speak up and ask the obvious.Over the preceding few months, there had been mirth about the fact that in the Amazon documentary , Australia’s longtime batting coach Graeme Hick was seen and not heard throughout, despite hours of footage of meetings, training sessions and matches. Based on that glimpse into the team, many had been left to conclude that Hick was not one to speak up, and in truth, he seldom has been, preferring to be a quiet assistant to the batsmen.But in this moment of fear, uncertainty, apprehension and doubt, but also mounting frustration, anger and incomprehension, it was Hick who asked Roberts the key question about why there was such an inequitable split of financial pain. How, Hick asked, was the 80% pay figure reached for executives?In the face of such a direct and challenging question from the ranks, Roberts fell back on one of the old cliches of selectors dealing with a particularly knotty decision. This was a judgement call, made back in March.He then pivoted to suggest that by eliminating all performance bonuses for executives, the pay cut for the top tier of his management was actually more significant than the 80% figure indicated, before adding that he was happy to work around the clock, all week long, to get his staff back on deck. Roberts insisted, as he also did publicly around that time, that in the likely event that things would get worse, he would take a bigger pay cut.ALSO READ: Kevin Roberts’ exit as Cricket Australia CEO won’t heal all woundsBut he also stated that, in his mind, a 20% pay cut while working extra hours was hopefully an equal share of the load relative to an 80% pay cut while being stood down. This response went down like the proverbial lead balloon, as did the suggestion on the same day that some of the stood down staff could find themselves working at Woolworths. Hick, though, had gained a lot of respect from the rest of the staff for being willing to ask a pointed question at such a fearful time.Fifty-seven days later, about a cricket tour’s worth, the agony of stand downs while waiting for redundancies has ended for 40 CA staff, and Hick is among them. His place as Steven Smith’s chief throwdown merchant will likely be replaced by Marnus Labuschagne rather than support staff, as the players are made to be more self-sufficient by having fewer coaches around them. There is no suggestion that Hick’s question played any role in the subsequent decision to part ways.But it is to be hoped that Hick’s courage in that April 21 moment is not forgotten. He had at least challenged Roberts and CA in a way that many more did subsequently, whether other staff, state associations, or the Australian Cricketers Association, and in concert with a rapidly improving Covid-19 outlook ensured that far fewer employees lost their jobs than otherwise.Earl Eddings, the CA chairman, spoke with respect for departing staff. “When you lose really good staff like today, it’s really gut-wrenching, and through no fault of their own, there’s a crisis that’s hit everybody,” Eddings said. “To lose 40 really good people is really soul-destroying. So this has been really tough, and saying goodbye to those people is incredibly difficult.”But even as he held his own videoconference to the media, Eddings was watched by two state chairmen – Queensland’s Chris Simpson and Cricket Victoria’s Paul Barkerwere also present. The circumstances that compelled Hick to stick his head above the parapet have left CA needing to make far better explanations than Roberts had done.

Josh Tongue will be the favourite to come into the side for the pink-ball Test at the Gabba

Vithushan Ehantharajah29-Nov-2025Mark Wood is set to miss the second Test at Brisbane as England look to preserve their prized fast bowler for the remainder of the Ashes.Wood was part of an all-pace attack in the opening Test at Perth, his first competitive appearance in close to nine months after returning from knee surgery in March that addressed medial ligament damage. It was also his first Test cap since August 2024, against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford.England’s caution around Wood is understandable. At his best, he is the fastest bowler in the world. But his injury history, including recent troubles with his left knee, which requires heavy strapping, and the fact he turns 36 in January means they must constantly monitor his situation.Related

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Speaking to Fox Cricket during the opening Test in Perth, Wood conceded he would “definitely not play five”.Wood was a doubt ahead of the first Test, having reported tightness in his left hamstring the week before at Lilac Hill after sending down eight overs – two four-over bursts – during the warm-up match against England Lions. He subsequently proved his fitness in the Perth Stadium nets, and bowled with great pace on the first day, clocking Cameron Green in the grille with a brutal 93mph/150kph bouncer.England’s defeat in Perth was swift enough that the match lasted only two days, with Wood bowling just 11 overs altogether, returning 0 for 44. Three of those came in the second innings as Travis Head’s bombastic century ensured Australia achieved their target of 205 in 28.2 overs.Conspicuous by his absence from England’s first training session at Allan Border Field on Saturday ahead of Thursday’s pink-ball Test, it appears Wood is being held back as the tourists seek to bounce back from going 1-0 down. Provided there are no complications, Wood could be back in contention for the third Test in Adelaide, which begins in 18 days.1:10

Ferguson: England didn’t challenge Head’s stumps enough

Wood was England’s best bowler on show on the 2021-22 tour (17 wickets at 26.64) and he took nine wickets in final Test at Hobart – England’s last pink-ball match in Australia. Nevertheless, he will be parked this week, with Josh Tongue likeliest to take his spot.Tongue is in prime position to state his case this weekend as part of a Lions side taking on the Prime Minister’s XI in a two-day pink-ball match in Canberra. Tongue is one of three Ashes squad members, along with Matthew Potts and Jacob Bethell, who have been released to take part in the match. While Potts will also be considered to replace Wood, Tongue’s extra pace, steepling bounce and knack of bowling the odd worldie has him front of the queue.Wood admitted to being emotional after the eight-wicket defeat in Perth, even looking into camper vans to drive across the country from Western Australia to Queensland so as not to stew during the extra time off. Speaking on Saturday, Test captain Ben Stokes understood where his long-time friend was coming from.Josh Tongue will likely head the queue to be Mark Wood’s replacement•Getty Images”He’s so passionate about what he does, some people take disappointment different to others,” Stokes said. “I’ve known Woody a long time, we’re good mates, not just because we play cricket together. He’s just as disappointed as anyone else in the dressing room, we’ve reflected this week, we’ve done all that and now we’re focused on what we’ve got to do here in Brisbane.”Meanwhile, Stokes admitted he was “completely wrong” to refer to former players as “has-beens”. Prior to the first Test, Stokes used the latter term when searching for the former after England’s preparations for the Ashes had come under fire for amounting to a single, three-day warm-up match against the Lions at Lilac Hill.Sir Ian Botham, Graham Gooch and Michael Atherton were three former England captains to take issue with the light lead-in to the series, with Michael Vaughan using his column in the to take umbrage with the comments. Asked if he regretted them, Stokes said: “You know exactly what I meant by that. Everyone knows it was a slip of the tongue.”I’ve explained that off record. I got the words I said there completely wrong. I think everyone knows that, I just never got asked about it on camera for me to say I got my words wrong. ‘Has-beens’ is a horrible word. It’s the only thing that managed to come out of my mouth in that moment.”God, I’m going to be one of those one day. It’s a complete wrong wording and I think everyone does know that it’s not at all what I meant by that.”

Nat Sciver-Brunt scores her first England century since becoming a mother and celebrates it, with partner Katherine and son Theo in the stands, with a baby-rocking gesture

Valkerie Baynes12-Oct-2025″For Theo”. As Nat Sciver-Brunt celebrated her match-winning, tenth ODI century – and first as a mother – by rocking her bat like a baby, there was no doubt about the dedication.A run-a-ball 117, also her first international century as England captain, allowed Sciver-Brunt to set up a thumping 89-run win against Sri Lanka and keep her side unbeaten from three games at the World Cup.Somewhat unexpectedly, her wife, the former England seamer Katherine, and their six-month-old son Theo, were in the stands to see it all after the family were reunited in Colombo.Related

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“For Theo, that one,” Sciver-Brunt said of her century celebration. “I had sort of spoken about it a little bit with Katherine, but you never know if you’re going to get another hundred, I suppose. It was in the back of my mind a little bit. They’ve come out to Sri Lanka to watch me, so I thought I’d give back to them for supporting me.”Sciver-Brunt thought she would be saying goodbye to her family for the duration of the tournament and she spoke to ESPNcricinfo about her trepidation over being apart for so long. But, given the logistics of flying from Guwahati to Colombo to Indore to Visakhapatnam through the group stage with a baby, it made sense.They managed to spend England’s pre-tournament training camp in Abu Dhabi together before Katherine and Theo returned to England, but then a previously unplanned trip to Sri Lanka meant they were all in the right place at the right time on Saturday.”It was a really nice bonus for her to be able to come out here,” Sciver-Brunt said. “She had to take on the flight alone with Theo. It was a lot for her to commit to. I’m glad I made it worth their while.

“In terms of leading the team, I probably don’t think about that so much when I’m batting. I may pick up things here and there about the wicket and what would be best for our bowlers and thinking in that way but when I’m a batter I’m a batter and I really have worked on trying to focus on that, on one thing at a time”Nat Sciver-Brunt

“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster in terms of missing them. I obviously got a bit more sleep when they were at home but it’s really nice to have them here and to tour the world with your family, it’s really, really special.”Sciver-Brunt was the difference that allowed England to post a respectable total of 253 for 9 after the top three of Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight failed to convert starts and no one else reached 20.Dropped on 3, Sciver-Brunt made Sri Lanka pay, striking nine fours and two sixes in the face of a threatening home spin attack led by left-armer Inoka Ranaweera’s 3 for 33.Another left-arm spinner, Sophie Ecclestone, sealed the result for England with brilliant 4 for 17 from her ten overs, accounting for four of Sri Lanka’s top five – including Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama, who shared a spirited 58-run partnership while Chamari Athapaththu was off the field battling cramp – and Athapaththu herself with a gem that enticed the drive and slid between bat and pad to rattle the stumps.3:19

Sri Lanka undone by Sciver-Brunt’s masterclass

The victory sent England to the top of the table on the eve of Sunday’s heavyweight clash between India and Australia, while Ecclestone’s performance placed her on top of the wicket-takers’ chart with nine at an average of 6.66.Sciver-Brunt is the second-highest run-scorer so far with 149, between New Zealanders Sophie Devine with 260 and Brooke Halliday’s 142. She also collected 2 for 25 from five overs against Sri Lanka as she continued her comeback after a six-month layoff from bowling because of an Achilles tendon injury. Offspinner Charlie Dean, Sciver-Brunt’s newly appointed vice-captain, also picked up two wickets.”In terms of leading the team, I probably don’t think about that so much when I’m batting,” Sciver-Brunt said of her developing ability to compartmentalise her roles as captain and allrounder. “I may pick up things here and there about the wicket and what would be best for our bowlers and thinking in that way but when I’m a batter I’m a batter and I really have worked on trying to focus on that, on one thing at a time.”With the bowling, that’s a little bit different and that’s where I can lean on Charlie a little bit more as vice-captain when I’m bowling to make sure I am clear. There is a lot to think about with captaincy but it’s something I’m enjoying so far.”

Read’s coaching staff will include fellow Trent Bridge stalwart Luke Fletcher as his assistant

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Nov-2025

Trent Rockets women have appointed Chris Read as their new head coach.The former Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper and captain has been promoted from his assistant role held under previous incumbent Jon Lewis, who left the Women’s Hundred side at the end of the 2025 campaign after three years in charge.Read is a cult hero at Trent Bridge, having made over 700 appearances in all formats for Nottinghamshire across 19 years, serving as club captain for 10 seasons. He earned 15 Test caps for England, alongside 36 ODI appearances.Rockets will enter the 2026 season under new management following the acquisition of a 49% stake by Cain International – whose co-founders Todd Boehly and Jonathan Goldstein are part of the consortium that owns Chelsea FC – and private equity firm Ares Management. They will run the organisation, with Nottinghamshire retaining a 51% stake.Read’s move into coaching has recently included success as with Lancashire Women, marshalling them to two trophies this year. Last week, he signed a two-year deal to remain as their head coach through to the end of 2027.Read’s coaching staff at Rockets will include another former Nottinghamshire team-mate, Luke Fletcher, as assistant coach.”It’s a deeply proud moment to take on a head coaching role based at the ground that I have a huge number of unbelievably special memories at,” said Read in a statement. “I’ve really enjoyed developing my coaching skillset with the Rockets over the last three summers, and the opportunity to continue that journey is really exciting.”I felt the impact of a sold-out Trent Bridge crowd first-hand over many years, and I know how much their support can change the course of games.”With all the fresh energy and investment into the Hundred, I’m really looking forward to starting the preparation for 2026 and beyond as we bid to deliver success.”Rockets general manager Mick Newell, who coached Read at Nottinghamshire, added: “It’s a real full-circle moment for Chris to return to Trent Bridge to lead Trent Rockets, and we’re delighted to welcome him back.”Having established himself as a true club legend here with years of outstanding service as a player, he has now shown himself to be blossoming into an excellent coach and leader too.”His fantastic start to a coaching career at Lancashire, and his experience from previous years with the Rockets, will stand him in great stead, and we can’t wait to see him in his new role.”Despite boasting a strong group, which includes current England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, Rockets have yet to reach the final of the Women’s Hundred. Their best finish came in 2022, losing the Eliminator to Southern Brave.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been dealt another injury worry ahead of his side’s looming North London derby clash with Arsenal this weekend.

Spurs travel to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday to face their table-topping rivals in what promises to be a pivotal encounter, but Frank faces a mounting injury crisis that threatens to derail his side’s chances.

While it is still early doors, The Lilywhites appear to be pushing for a top-four place, and are currently sitting fifth with five wins, three draws, and three losses from 11 Premier League matches. Their form has been inconsistent, especially in a creative sense, with two wins, two draws, and two losses in their last six fixtures, with Frank still yet to get the best out of his squad on a consistent enough basis.

The injury situation ahead of the derby is particularly concerning. Frank confirmed that Cristian Romero should be available after being substituted late on against Man United due to fatigue, with the Dane stating he was “just done physically” after recently returning from injury.

Even more positively, Frank expressed real belief that Mohammed Kudus will be available, saying he is “very confident” despite missing recent matches against FC Copenhagen and Man United with a minor knock. Kudus even elected to stay in London and not represent Ghana in friendlies against Japan and South Korea to focus on his recovery.

However, they still face significant absences elsewhere.

James Maddison’s ACL injury may rule him out until summer 2026, while Dejan Kulusevski and Yves Bissouma continue rehabilitation from knee and ankle problems respectively. Radu Dragusin took part in a behind-closed-doors friendly over the international break as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury, so it’s very unlikely he’ll be fit enough to take part, and there are numerous other concerns.

Injury-plagued striker Dominic Solanke is also ‘unlikely’ to feature this weekend, according to reports, as he carries on battling an ankle problem after minor surgery.

Excluding their Carabao Cup win at the Emirates in 2018, Tottenham have won away to Arsenal just twice since the Premier League’s inception, with their last one in the top flight coming 14 years ago.

Tottenham’s torrid record against Arsenal on enemy turf makes for pretty grim reading as a Spurs supporter, so Frank will be hoping to have as many key players fit for the derby as possible.

Tottenham dealt another injury worry as Pape Sarr picks up 'knock'

On international duty, midfielder Pape Sarr dealt Frank another worry after he was taken off in Senegal’s 2-0 defeat to Brazil at the Emirates.

Initially, Senegal boss Pape Thiaw predicted that it wasn’t a ‘big deal’, but he’s since provided another update.

Thiaw has confirmed that Sarr did not travel with the squad to Turkey for their friendly against Kenya, instead remaining in the English capital. The manager explains that Sarr has in fact picked up a ‘knock’, which prompted them to leave him in London to undergo treatment at N17.

The midfielder’s potential absence this weekend would represent another significant blow for Frank, who already faces being without numerous key players for the derby. Sarr has already played 16 matches for Tottenham this season, bagging two goals and two assists in the top flight whilst establishing himself as a regular in Frank’s setup.

The timing of the injury is far from ideal for Spurs, and it remains unclear whether the 23-year-old will be fit in time for their clash against the Gunners.

Tottenham’s medical team will now assess the extent of the knock, with Frank hoping for positive news as he prepares his depleted squad for one of the season’s most important fixtures.

Defending champions now have a keen interest in Tuesday’s match between Superchargers and Originals

ECB Media25-Aug-2025With progress to the next stage in play at a sun-kissed Kia Oval and The Hundred Eliminator next Saturday looming on the horizon, London Spirit completed a brilliant derby demolition by eight wickets.Spirit needed to win this, their final game, and hope Manchester Originals lose to Northern Superchargers tomorrow to avoid progress coming down to net run-rate. But having romped home with so much to spare, their qualification now looks almost assured.Put in to bat, Invincibles started steadily if not spectacularly, Meg Lanning and Paige Scholfield ambling to 23 off the Powerplay before a brace of boundaries by Lanning (19 from 20) from Sarah Glenn and a huge six from Scholfield off Issy Wong got the home side moving.Charlie Dean then made the breakthough, having Lanning caught and bowled while conceding just three from her first ten. Scholfield (22 from 21) followed soon after as Spirit took all the pace off the ball. At halfway Invincibles were an underwhelming 56 for 2.After one straight six, Alice Capsey (11 from 9) holed out, and Spirit spinners kept a lid on things, Marizanne Kapp (32 from 25) the only batter to break the shackles before her innings was ended by a stunning one-handed catch from Dean, who then bowled the last five to finish with an exceptional 2 for 12 from her 20 balls, the same figures as Eva Gray, as Invincibles ended on 108 for 8.With a run rate-boosting win in mind, Kira Chathli and Georgia Redmayne came out hard, Chathli in particular taking the attack to her former team with the Powerplay bringing a season-high 47 without loss, her own contribution being 35 off 16.The two continued past Spirit’s highest opening partnership of the season – and ended up with the team’s highest for any wicket – Chathli going to a 26-ball half century with a majestic straight six. An eight-wicket win came soon after, with 38 balls left unused. Redmayne departed with just three needed, having made an excellent 42 off 30, and Chathli followed one run later for 53 off 29, but it was much too little, much too late for Invincibles.Talking about her wonder catch, Meerkat Match Hero Charlie Dean said: “I should have been on the ring! But I managed to time my jump and hung on.”That was an impressive victory. We went out wanting to bounce back and to win by a margin like that… we did not discuss too much about NRR but the way we went about that, it was fantastic. Kira has been brilliant. At the top of the order, trying to punch first”We have a rest day and hope for the best. We have done everything to put ourselves in the best position to qualify so it’s fingers crossed.”

There was little resistance from West Indies in the first T20I after Tazmin Brits led South Africa to 183 for 6

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-2025Tazmin Brits slammed a career-best 98 not out, off just 63 balls, to lead South Africa to a 50-run win in the opening T20I against West Indies in Cave Hill on Friday. There was little resistance from West Indies with either the ball or the bat, though two individual efforts stood out: Jahzara Claxton’s three top-order wickets and Jannillea Glasgow’s 53 not out from 44 balls in the second half of the chase, but it was far too little.Asked to bat, South Africa lost captain Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp to Claxton inside five overs, and finished the powerplay on 44 for 2, but Brits and Nadine de Klerk were already starting to go fast. The two brought up a 71-run stand for the third wicket in just over six overs, Brits very much the aggressor, scoring 42 of the runs in that partnership.De Klerk fell in the 11th over for 21, Claxton again the bowler with the wicket, and though there was no major contribution from the rest of the batters bar Chloe Tryon’s 16 in nine balls before she was run out, Brits batted through the innings, hitting nine fours and four sixes.Faced with a target of 184, West Indies started quickly, but lost wickets quickly too. They got 47 in the powerplay, more than South Africa had, but they lost an additional wicket, including the big one of captain Hayley Matthews. And by the end of the eighth over, they were five down and gasping.The fight came from Chinelle Henry and Glasgow in their 81-run stand for the sixth wicket, but West Indies had fallen too far behind for the partnership to have an effect on the outcome. In any case, Henry and Glasgow couldn’t quite get going, even though they batted together for 11-and-a-half overs. Henry’s 26 took 32 balls, and Glasgow went at a rate of 120.45, remaining unbeaten at the close, having hit five fours in her innings.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores Aveiro, took to social media to congratulate her grandson on receiving his first call-up to the Portugal Under-16 national team. Portugal faced Turkey on Thursday in their opening game of the Federations Cup, and Ronaldo Jr came off the bench to make his debut for the Selecao U-16 side.

• Ronaldo Jr gets big call up to Portugal youth team

  Ronaldo Jr, affectionately known as Cristianinho in Portugal, was called up to the U16s squad for the first time ahead of the Federations Cup, which started in Turkey on Thursday and runs until November 4. Ronaldo Jr, aiming to follow in his father’s footsteps having already been part of the youth setups at Juventus, Manchester United and Al-Nassr, came off the bench in the dying stages of the tournament opener as Portugal ran out 2-0 winners.

  “He’s very competitive, like me when I was young, and he doesn’t like to lose,” Cristiano Ronaldo Sr said about his son.

  However, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has also been careful not to place too much pressure on his eldest child, stressing the importance of letting him grow and learn on his own. “I don’t make big pressure; I make a little. He already has pressure being the son of Cristiano. Let him make his own mistakes, but I hope that in the future he can become a professional player.”

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• Good wishes from grandma

  Ahead of the game, Aveiro posted a photo of her grandson Ronaldo Jr with the caption: “Go PORTUGAL under-16s”.

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  Junior looking to follow in iconic father's footsteps

  Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal’s Under-15 team in 2001 at just 15 years old. After progressing through the youth ranks, his rapid rise at United in the Premier League earned him a senior call-up from then Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. Ronaldo impressed in the European Championship qualifiers and friendlies, eventually earning a place in Portugal’s Euro 2004 squad, where the team reached the final before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Greece.

  Ronaldo has gone on to become Portugal’s all-time top scorer, netting 143 goals in 225 appearances. His crowning moment came in 2016 when he captained Portugal to their first major international trophy, winning Euro 2016 after defeating France 1-0 in the final. He later added another title in 2019, leading Portugal to victory in the inaugural UEFA Nations League, where he also finished as the tournament’s top scorer. Despite Portugal’s exit in Euro 2020, Ronaldo again demonstrated his consistency by winning the tournament’s Golden Boot.

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  What comes next?

  Ronaldo Sr will hope that Ronaldo Jr can handle the pressure and expectations as he prepares to build on his debut for the national youth team. The match could mark an important step towards fulfilling both his and his father’s shared dream of seeing Ronaldo Jr become a professional footballer.