هيثم حسن يكشف كواليس المفاوضات معه لتمثيل منتخب مصر ويختار بين الأهلي والزمالك

كشف هيثم حسن، لاعب ريال أوفيدو الإسباني، كواليس انضمامه المنتظر إلى صفوف منتخب مصر خلال الفترة المقبلة، في معسكر أكتوبر.

ويمتلك هيثم حسن، لاعب الفريق الإسباني، أصولًا مصرية وتونسية، لكنه يفضل الانضمام إلى صفوف الفراعنة.

ومن المنتظر أن يتواجد هيثم حسن في المعسكر المقبل، بعد التواصل معه من جانب مسؤولي اتحاد الكرة.

وقال هيثم حسن، في مداخلة لبرنامج “الكورة مع فايق”، على قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “تم التواصل معي عن طريق وكلائي والجهاز الفني السابق، وفي النهاية استطعنا أن نتفق سويًا، كان هناك اتصال بشكل مباشر ومتواصل لكي أنضم للمنتخب وهذا هو اختياري منذ البداية”.

وبسؤاله لماذا اخترت تمثيل منتخب مصر؟، تابع: “أنا لم أتوصل لاتفاق نهائي للانضمام للمنتخب المصري، ما زلت في مرحلة الاتفاق، فخور أنني مصري، لكن ما زال وكلائي في محادثات مع المسؤولين، كما أن ما زال أمامي الكثير وعلي تقديم أداء أفضل، لكني لم أتخذ حتى الآن القرار الرسمي لانضمامي لمنتخب مصر، وسأتخذ القرار بعد التشاور مع وكلائي”.

طالع مهاجم ريال أوفييدو يوجه نصيحة إلى هيثم حسن بعد تصريحات ضعف إنهاء الهجمات

وبسؤاله، هل هناك طلبات معينة تسعى للاتفاق عليها مع وكلائك وهل أنت وضعت شرطًا بتمثيل منتخب مصر الأول وليس المنتخب الثاني بقيادة حلمي طولان؟، كشف: “لا لم يكن لدي أي شروط بالطبع، ليس لدي شروط نهائيًا، سأكون فخورًا بتمثيل منتخب مصر، كما قلت أنا على تواصل مستمر مع المسؤولين، وأنا أحترم حسام حسن كثيرًا، وأؤكد أنه ليس هناك شروطًا، ولن أقوم بالطبع باختيار المدير الفني للمنتخب، ليس لدي أي شروط”.

ورد على سؤال متى ستحسم موقفك من الانضمام لمنتخب مصر؟: “لا أعلم، ولكن أعتقد أنه في القريب العاجل بالطبع، أنا الآن في مسيرتي علي التركيز جيدًا، كما أن كأس الأمم وكأس العالم اقتربا وعلي اتخاذ القرار سريعًا، وبالطبع سأتخذ القرار قريبًا لكن لا أعلم متى بالتحديد”.

وعن توقعاته لمباراة القمة بين الأهلي والزمالك وهل يتابع المباريات الكبيرة في الدوري المصري؟، اختتم: “لكي أكون صريحًا فأنا لا أعلم سوى الأهلي والزمالك وهما من كبار الأندية الإفريقية، والدي مُشجع قديم لـ الزمالك، وأنا سوف أتبع والدي وأقول أنني أشجع والدي، لكني أتمنى التوفيق لجميع الفرق، وأعلم أن الدوري المصري يضم عددًا كبيرًا من الأندية الكبيرة”.

Australia women ban 'Vortex' as Gardner demands more

Australia’s women’s T20 world champions want to pile on the runs in Brisbane before heading “into the unknown” to defend their title in Dubai

AAP23-Sep-2024

Ashleigh Gardner was back from a concussion scare•Getty Images

Australia have banned the pre-game activity that threatened to derail Ashleigh Gardner’s T20 World Cup as the allrounder challenged her side’s batters to fill their boots in the third T20I against New Zealand in Brisbane on Tuesday.Gardner missed the series opener against New Zealand in Mackay last Thursday after colliding with team-mate Georgia Wareham attempting to catch a soft “Vortex” ball in a warm-up drill.The reigning Belinda Clark Medallist initially laughed off the incident before leaving the ground in tears, fearing an eighth career concussion as she was ruled out of the contest.Related

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She was cleared though and returned on Sunday with a Player-of the-Match effort, her 3 for 16 the headline act of a disciplined bowling performance in a 29-run win over New Zealand.The 27-year-old saw a neuropsychologist in 2018 after suffering four concussions in the space of 20 months.”It’s been nice to get back out there after a weird occasion, a head collision in a warm-up,” she said. “It was weird to wrap my head around, but I’ve felt really good the last couple of days.”I’ve had a lot of head knocks in the past; I know when I am concussed and when I’m not.”There was no sign of the Vortex before Sunday’s game, Gardner confirming their pre-match routine had been tweaked.”That’s the end of the Vortex for the rest of the tour,” she said.Ashleigh Gardner returned three wickets after missing the opening game due to a concussion scare•Getty Images

Usually happy to chase, captain Alyssa Healy opted to bat first on Sunday and force her team to set the pace ahead of next month’s World Cup defence in Dubai.Healy (38 off 25) got off to a flyer but Australia’s innings stalled, the hosts recording their worst collapse in the format when they lost their last seven wickets for 28 runs as Amelia Kerr returned career-best figures of 4 for 20.A total of 142 proved more than enough thanks to Australia’s bowlers. But Gardner wants to see improvements in their final hit-out in Brisbane on Tuesday before flying to the UAE.”There’s still a lot left in the tank; hopefully in this last game if we do bat first we can put a massive total on the board,” she said.She said there were no excuses given the side’s incredible batting depth meant Annabel Sutherland entered at the fall of the sixth wicket.”Sutherland at eight is pretty ridiculous,” she said. “Going into conditions like Dubai, we haven’t played there before [for Australia] so we’re kind of going into the unknown a little bit.”But knowing we have a defendable total like 140, we know our bowling unit is good enough to restrict them”The skill we possess, in all facets… it was pretty clinical.”

برايثوايت: ميسي لم يستحق الرحيل عن برشلونة بهذه الطريقة

تحدث مارتن برايثوايت مهاجم برشلونة السابق، عن طريقة رحيل الأسطورة الأرجنتينية ليونيل ميسي من برشلونة، قبل أن ينضم لباريس سان جيرمان في 2021.

ويعتقد مهاجم برشلونة وإسبانيول السابق أن قائد المنتخب الأرجنتيني لم يكن يستحق الرحيل عن برشلونة بهذه الطريقة، حيث لم ينجح خوان لابورتا رئيس النادي بالوفاء بوعده وتجديد عقد اللاعب.

وقد أعرب برايثوايت عن أمله في عودة ليونيل ميسي إلى برشلونة في أقرب وقت للاعتزال في النادي، ويلعب النجم الأرجنتيني حالياً مع نادي إنتر ميامي الأمريكي وقد حقق معهم بطولتي كأس الدوريات ودرع المشجعين الأمريكي.

اقرأ أيضاً.. لامين يامال يثير أزمة بين برشلونة والاتحاد الإسباني بعد تصريحات فليك

وكان ليونيل ميسي قد غادر برشلونة عام 2021 كلاعب حر بعد أن عجز بطل الدوري الإسباني عن تجديد عقده قبل أن ينتقل لبطل دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وذكر برايتوايت في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “سبورتسكيدا”: “كان الأمر غريباً لأنه حدث فجأة، كنا جميعاً نتوقع تجديده، وكان كل شئ جاهزاً لتجديد العقد وفجأة غادر النادي”.

وختم: “ليونيل شخص محبوب جداً ويساعدنا ونشعر بالراحة معه، كان هادئاً جداً، أما بالنسبة لميسي كلاعب فلا أعتقد أنني بحاجة لقول أي شئ، لم يستحق ذلك وآمل أن يلعب مباراته الأخيرة في مسيرته هناك لأنه يستحقها حقاً”.

Michael Jordan called me the 'MJ of Soccer' not Messi – but I never won the Champions League

Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, and the Chicago Bulls legend once told a football superstar they shared the same status in their respective sports, even above Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Since bursting onto the global stage in the mid 2000s, Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the world of football. The Argentina and Portugal legends have won 13 Ballon d’Ors between them – eight of which belong to Messi – while scoring a combined 1,804 goals.

“It was spectacular and a great memory for everyone who enjoys soccer,” Messi said recently of his competition with the Real Madrid and Manchester United legend.

Ronaldo has also been full of praise for his long-time rival: “Amazing player, is magic, top. As a person, we share the stage 16 years, imagine, 16 years, we share.”

Who has won the most Ballon d'Ors in football history?

Player

Ballon d’Ors

Years won

Lionel Messi

8

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023

Cristiano Ronaldo

5

2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017

Michel Platini

3

1983, 1984, 1985

Johan Cruyff

3

1971, 1973, 1974

Marco van Basten

3

1988, 1989, 1992

Franz Beckenbauer

2

1972, 1976

Ronaldo Nazario

2

1997, 2002

Alfredo di Stefano

2

1957, 1959

Kevin Keegan

2

1978, 1979

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

2

1980, 1981

Not only have the pair dominated the individual honours, they have also led their clubs to incredible periods of superiority. Ronaldo tops the UEFA Champions League scoring charts with 141 and won the competition five times during his time in Europe, while Messi is not far behind with 129 goals and four winners medals to his name.

Success on the continental stage is often considered the benchmark for greatness in football, but NBA superstar Michael Jordan thinks differently, once telling an iconic player who never won Europe’s elite competition that he is the ‘MJ of soccer’.

Michael Jordan names the greatest football player of all time

Jordan, who won six NBA titles during his time with the Chicago Bulls, is known to be a football fan and is often spotted at Paris Saint-Germain games due to his brand’s collaboration with the club.

But despite his connection to one of the Messi’s former teams, Jordan once told Ronaldo Nazario, often referred to as ‘R9’, that they share a similar status. The Brazil striker revealed the compliment after the pair met at Nike’s headquarters in Oregon, USA.

Messi himself called Jordan the greatest athlete of all time, so his opinion certainly holds some weight, and the Inter Miami star also once revealed that Ronaldo is actually his own favourite player: “Ronaldo Nazario was a phenomenom. Of all the strikers I have seen, for me he was the best. An impressive player from any aspect.”

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While Ronaldo never won the Champions League, he was crowned the best player in the world at the Ballon d’Or ceremony on two occasions, and his performance at the 2002 World Cup is one of the greatest sporting accomplishments of all time, returning from a serious knee injury to lead his team to victory.

“Without Ronaldo, Brazil were a shambles, fortunate even to get to the tournament,” South American football writer Tim Vickery wrote, as the then 25 year-old scored eight times en route to a famous triumph, including both goals in the final.

Although injuries cut his career short, there is no doubt Ronaldo’s ability to drag his team through matches almost single-handedly makes him comparable to Jordan.

Everton want to sign another £85,000-a-week Liverpool player alongside Doak

Everton are interested in signing another Liverpool player alongside Ben Doak in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.

Doak heads list of Everton winger targets

The Blues are reportedly interested in making a shock move for Reds winger Doak before next season gets underway, in a transfer that would cause plenty of controversy.

An update from Sky Sports suggested that Everton are one of the clubs who are interested in acquiring the services of the 19-year-old this summer, with the Scot seen as an attacking player with a big future in the game, spending the 2024/25 season on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough.

Liverpool have a big decision to make with Doak, with the young Scotland international someone who could potentially be an eventual successor to Mohamed Salah on the right wing, but also not quite mature enough to fully make the grade at Anfield just yet.

From an Everton perspective, the idea of the teenager heading to Bramley Moore Dock is certainly exciting, not only because they would be signing a great young talent, but also due to them snapping up a player from their nearest and biggest rivals. Now, another Reds player is also reportedly wanted by the Blues.

Everton keeping tabs on Gomez's situation

According to a new claim from Empire of the Kop, Everton are “keeping close tabs” on Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, as they eye a summer move for him alongside Doak. The Blues are one of eight Premier League teams who are believed to be in the mix to snap him up, including Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Leeds United.

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez

The £85,000-a-week Gomez could be a really shrewd addition by Everton in the summer, although as is the case with Doak, it remains to be seen if Liverpool will be hesitant to sell to them.

The 28-year-old is now the Reds’ longest-serving current player, winning two Premier League titles and always proving to be an excellent squad player, with Jurgen Klopp a huge admirer.

“He is a lifesaver, to be honest, that he was here, that he could play. People forget how important Joey was in the best years we had. I don’t know how many games he played in the year when we became champions and how many games he played when we won the Champions League – a lot and rightly so because he’s a top-class player.”

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Gomez may like the idea of being a regular for Everton, having had to accept being behind Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in the centre-back pecking order, and he also wouldn’t have to up sticks and move away.

Premier League

2024/25

Premier League

2019/20

Champions League

2018/19

FA Cup

2021/22

EFL Cup

2023/24

EFL Cup

2021/22

Club World Cup

2019/20

UEFA Super Cup

2019/20

Community Shield

2022/23

That said, the England international may not want to risk tarnishing his Liverpool legacy by making a controversial switch, so a move elsewhere, or staying put at Anfield, feels more likely.

Free transfer: Leeds and 49ers ready to sign 29 y/o who Daniel Farke loves

Leeds United are believed to be readying a move to sign of a player who Daniel Farke has described as “brilliant”, according to a new transfer report.

Leeds one step closer to Premier League return

The Whites picked up another priceless three points in the Championship promotion tussle on Good Friday, battling their way to a 1-0 victory away to Oxford United.

Manor Solomon’s second-half goal proved to be the difference between the two sides, and with Burnley and Sheffield United also winning on the day, victory was imperative.

It means Leeds are now within touching distance of sealing a return to the Premier League from the Championship, sitting five points clear of the third-place Blades with only three matches remaining. It would need a capitulation at this point to prevent the Whites from getting back into the top flight.

If Farke’s side do earn promotion, the manager and the 49ers Enterprises will know that lots of reinforcements are required in the summer transfer window, with the gap between England’s top and second-best league never feeling greater, with the three promoted teams set to go straight back down again for the second year in a row. Now, a new Leeds transfer rumour has emerged.

Leeds pushing to sign "brilliant" goalkeeper

According to Football Insider, Leeds and 49ers Enterprises are “readying a move” for Norwich City goalkeeper Angus Gunn this summer, seeing him as a replacement on the error-prone Illan Meslier.

The Scot is “yet to be offered a contract extension” by the Canaries, meaning he could leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn.

Gunn could be an astute addition for Leeds ahead of next season, with the Norwich stopper now an experienced head who has proven himself over an extended period of time.

The 29-year-old has 164 appearances to his name in the Championship, showing that he can perform in an extremely competitive league, and he also has 15 caps for Scotland.

Meanwhile, Jackie McNamara has hailed Gunn as an “excellent” player, while even more promisingly, Farke is an admirer, having worked with him in the past, saying:

“Angus is very highly-rated and a really talented goalkeeper. He’s brilliant with his feet as well as his hands and is tall too. We’re happy to have him here for the next season and are thankful to Manchester City for helping us with this deal. I’m looking forward to working with such a great talent.”

The fact that Gunn would be available on a free transfer makes this even more of a no-brainer for Leeds, meaning that it wouldn’t even be much of a risk if it ended up not working out.

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There is nothing to suggest that that would be the case, however, and while Meslier has had good games this season, his penchant for making mistakes has been costly too often, so an upgrade such as the Norwich ace is required.

103 touches, 87% passing: 9/10 Newcastle star is now as undroppable as Isak

Newcastle United have now won their last six matches in all competitions, with last night’s home success over a shaken Crystal Palace side very much the pick of the bunch.

The rampant Magpies would show no mercy in the 5-0 demolition job that was handed out to the hapless Eagles, with four different goalscorers all getting in on the act during a glorious night on Tyneside, alongside Marc Guehi also awkwardly scoring an own goal.

Alexander Isak would, of course, add to his ever-growing Premier League tally during the comprehensive victory, with the Swede now up to a bountiful 25 league strikes and counting.

Isak's performance in numbers

However, despite Isak being on such a healthy amount, Newcastle very rarely rely on just their 25-year-old striker to get them out of sticky situations, with the big win versus Palace very much won on a team basis.

Still, it doesn’t exactly hurt stand-in manager Jason Tindall to have such an explosive marksman leading the line, with the potent number 14 gifting the Magpies their final strike of the memorable night.

Isak would have been arguably frustrated that he didn’t find the back of the net more times than this late effort, with the former Real Sociedad attacker squandering three big chances in the game away from actually managing to get the better of a ropey Dean Henderson.

But, even when the 6 foot 4 forward is having somewhat of an off-day like he did in patches versus Palace, he still manages to contribute to Newcastle’s ongoing successes in some capacity, with his position as the Magpies’ main threat up top as concrete as it can possibly be, consequently.

Newcastle United's AlexanderIsak

Away from the frightening attacking arsenal Newcastle can boast, the Tyneside high-flyers also have defenders that they can put all their faith into when it matters, with this top defensive performer managing to cement his first team spot as even more undroppable up against Oliver Glasner’s visitors.

The 9/10 ace now as undroppable as Isak

Despite the final scoreline emphatically reading 5-0 in Newcastle’s favour, Palace did have their chances in the game to try and claw back some dignity, having ended the chaotic 90 minutes with 2.00 xG accumulated.

Unfortunately for the visitors from London, no goals would find the back of Nick Pope’s net, with Newcastle having the likes of Fabian Schar to thank at both ends of the pitch for the shut-out, but also the seriously impressive attacking display.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Touches

103

Accurate passes

75/86 (87%)

Key passes

2

Shots

3

Clearances

6

Interceptions

2

Tackles

1

Total duels won

5/10

Indeed, looking at the table above, it’s clear how well-rounded Schar’s performance was against Palace, with his goal an expertly headed home effort deep into first half-stoppage time after a perfect Jacob Murphy delivery, among other standout statistics.

The 33-year-old would further amass a staggering 103 touches of the ball and record an 87% pass accuracy as a calm and composed performer at the back, but the veteran centre-back would also roll his sleeves up and battle competently when faced with the brute force of Eagles attacker Jean-Philippe Mateta, with his five duels won on the night leading to Mateta registering just 15 total touches from a forgettable 56-minute spell.

Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder would hand out a high 9/10 rating to Schar post-match off the back of his excellent evening, with Ryder even heralding the Swiss star as ‘unflappable’ and a ‘vintage wine getting better and better’

With his centre-back partner in Dan Burn also on the ageing side at 32 years old, it appears Tindall and Co have the perfect mix throughout the squad at this point in time, with the more exuberant characters of Isak coupling up well with the more seasoned heads of the group.

If the Toon can keep up this blistering run of wins, another Champions League finish is surely on the cards, with faces such as Schar and Isak notably sticking out.

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What is the highest T20 total when the team has been all out?

Also: which bowler has dismissed the most centurions?

Steven Lynch30-Apr-2024RCB were all out for 221 in a recent IPL match (and lost by a single run). Was this the highest T20 total where the team was all out? asked Pradip from India
Royal Challengers’ 221 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens last week was indeed the highest all-out total in any senior T20 game. The previous highest was Surrey’s 215 against Glamorgan in the T20 Blast at The Oval in May 2015, while the best in the IPL was KKR’s 210 against Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai in 2022.There have been two higher totals in one-run defeats in T20 matches: 248 for 4 by Central Districts against Otago (249 for 3) in New Plymouth in New Zealand’s Super Smash in December 2016, and India’s 244 for 4 against West Indies (245 for 6) in a T20I in Lauderhill in the United States four months earlier.Which visiting player has made the most Test hundreds in another country? asked Terry Sullivan from England
There’s a familiar name at the top of this list: Don Bradman made 11 Test centuries in England, in 19 matches, at an average of 102.84. Jack Hobbs made nine Test hundreds in Australia, while Wally Hammond had seven. Sunil Gavaskar made seven in the West Indies (in only 13 Tests), while Steve Smith and Steve Waugh have both made seven in England.Overall, Sachin Tendulkar made 29 Test centuries outside India, and Rahul Dravid 21; Jacques Kallis collected 20 outside South Africa. Only seven of Younis Khan’s 34 Test centuries were scored in Pakistan, but 11 of them came in “home” games staged in the UAE.Sachin Tendulkar has the most Test hundreds away from home – 29•Hamish Blair/Getty ImagesI noticed that when England bowled Bangladesh out for 220 in 2016, Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque put on 170. Is that the biggest proportion of an innings by one partnership? asked Ashraful Haque from Bangladesh
That partnership of 170 between Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque in Mirpur in October 2016 accounted for 77.27% of the total of 220. There’s only one partnership that made up a higher percentage than that in a completed Test innings: in Durban in December 2000, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene put on 168 for the third wicket but Sri Lanka were all out for 216 – so the partnership percentage was 77.78%.There have been several higher percentages in all first-class cricket. Top of the list reveals a staggering collapse: at Lord’s in 1960, Leicestershire were 196 for 0 after a splendid stand between Maurice Hallam and Willie Watson – but they were all out not long afterwards for 214 (the England fast bowler Alan Moss had a spell of 5 for 6). The opening partnership therefore accounted for 91.59% of the total.Which bowler has dismissed most centurions, in each of the three international formats? asked Ganesh Virudaghiri from India
In Tests, unsurprisingly perhaps, the top wicket-taker leads the way: Muthiah Muralidaran dismissed 34 batters after they had reached 100, not far ahead of James Anderson with 32. Next come the Indians Harbhajan Singh (28) and Anil Kumble (25), with Stuart Broad and Zaheer Khan on 24.A different Indian leads the way in one-day internationals: Mohammed Shami has dismissed 15 century-makers, Mashrafe Mortaza 12, Lasith Malinga 11 and Tim Southee 10. In T20I, Lizaad Williams of South Africa (who has so far taken only 16 wickets in all) and Bangladesh’s Abdur Razzak have both dismissed two. Overall, Murali dismissed 42 century-makers in all internationals, Anderson and Harbhajan 35, Kumble 32 and Broad 31. Anderson may yet add to his total.Brian Lara scored 221 and 130 against Sri Lanka back in 2001, but still lost – was that the highest aggregate in a losing cause? asked Vidula Wijesirinarayana from Sri Lanka
The great West Indian Brian Lara amassed 351 runs in that match in Colombo in November-December 2001, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Sri Lanka winning by ten wickets. It is the record for the most runs in a Test defeat – but not by as much as you might expect: a few weeks before Lara’s feat, Andy Flower made 341 runs (142 and 199 not out) against South Africa in Harare, but Zimbabwe lost by nine wickets.The two left-handers broke the long-standing record of 303 runs, set by England’s Herbert Sutcliffe (176 and 127) in a defeat to Australia in Melbourne in 1925.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Should Australia turn to new-ball Starc for Afghanistan match?

Fast bowler has mostly operated in the middle overs but with hosts seeking big win, change could be needed

Danyal Rasool03-Nov-2022Mitchell Starc marks his spot, runs in, gathers and gallops with the easy elegance of a gazelle, making it look like a work of nature rather than an art form honed over a career. The ball flies through to the other end in front of an expectant Gabba crowd, whacking Lorcan Tucker on the pads, shaping in as it does so. The extra swing, so often the quiver in his arrow, ends up saving the Irishman with the ball heading down leg.But there’s no such redemption for Curtis Campher next ball. This one is started just right, shaping away from off stump before bending back in and, like a Roberto Carlos free kick, ending up in the perfect spot where there’s no keeping it out. There’s no redemption for George Dockrell either, a carbon copy of the earlier one hitting timber. Ireland are reeling, their chase realistically over before it has even begun. It’s that quintessential white-ball sight – Starc’s inswinging first-over yorkers wreaking havoc.Related

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'Themselves to blame' – Ricky Ponting finds no excuse if Australia don't make semi-final

Finch: If I don't feel comfortable with my hamstring, I won't play

Except it isn’t. It is indeed Starc’s first over, but three bowlers have had a go before Australia turned to him. He still manages to find swing this time, but with so many sides this T20 World Cup finding prodigious sideways movement that swiftly dries up, it’s perhaps odd to see arguably the world’s best exponent of the inswinging yorker not given the chance to fully optimise that advantage.But this is the role Australia have assigned to a player his captain, Aaron Finch, called “as good as anyone with the new ball of all time”. There is value to delaying Starc’s usage, but it’s hard to escape the sense that a Starc at his best would bowl any T20 innings’ first ball, no matter what notional advantages other bowlers might offer. Until the end of 2019, he’d only ever not bowled either of the first two overs twice in his T20I career, and it was fairly obvious why. In the Powerplay he’d conceded just 305 runs in 330 balls with the fielding restrictions, taking 17 wickets at 17.94. Few captains could ask for more from a premier quick bowler.ESPNcricinfo LtdBut the Starc of the past three years hasn’t quite been the bowler seared so indelibly into cricketing perceptions. In T20I cricket, his economy rate and average have risen sharply in every phase, with his T20I Powerplay economy rate moving north to 7.28.”I think it’s been a really good ploy for Starc not to open the bowling. His record the last 12-18 months with the new ball is less than flattering,” said Ricky Ponting. “And we all talk about how dangerous he is with the brand new ball and bowling the first over and trying to get early wickets but the facts are he actually hasn’t been able to do that. But what they’ve done with using him outside the first couple of overs and through the middle has actually worked a treat.”

“It’s obviously something new. Yeah, I generally obviously take the first over and see if it’s swinging. I still feel like the role is to take wickets.”Mitchell Starc on bowling in the middle overs

In the only game this tournament where he took the new ball, Finn Allen laid into the first ball he bowled full, dispatching it over mid-on, forcing Starc to pull his length back. In that same over, he had length deliveries smashed for another four and six.All that in a tournament that has otherwise seen the first three overs of Powerplays negotiated with relative timidity. The first half of the Powerplay tends to see fewer runs scored anyway, but that effect has been exacerbated in Australia at this tournament, with just 6.17 runs scored per over. The second half of the Powerplay sees that go up to 7.And when Starc’s been used as first or second change this tournament, his performance during the fielding restrictions has seen an eye-catching uptick. He’s conceded runs at just 5.25 an over, an improvement even on pre-2020 Starc. According to Finch, though, it’s the option to have Starc, and his lethal yorker, in the middle overs that makes it so tempting for Australia to hold the left-armer back.”We feel as though he’s got a really important role through the middle part of the innings,” Finch said. “If you don’t get wickets through that middle phase of the game, you are incredibly vulnerable at the back end regardless of who is bowling. You could have the best two ever, and if you’ve got two set batters then it’s going to be difficult to contain them. It’s been a change in Mitch’s role to be pushing harder through those middle overs and towards the back end of the Powerplay so that we can try and get a wicket there to expose a middle order. That’s the only reason for it.”ESPNcricinfo LtdAnd it isn’t as if Starc doesn’t attack during those middle overs. His economy in this time may have worsened, but nailing that yorker is as effective at containment as wicket-taking. Since 2020, he has bowled 22 middle-over yorkers that leaked just ten runs, more than Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah in this phase of the game combined. He bowls a yorker about once every nine deliveries during the middle overs, well in excess of what Boult and Bumrah, two of the most effective exponents of this skill, manage. If Finch wants Starc to look for wickets in the middle overs, that’s precisely the game plan he follows.Finch was diplomatic about the reason for the change, even if the underlying logic holds. “The fact that his role has slightly changed isn’t a reflection on anything else apart from just restructuring the Powerplay and then probably the first 10 overs actually trying to continue to press for wickets so it just comes down to trying to navigate that 20 overs as best we can.”However, at his heart, Starc is a swing bowler, and after that Ireland game, his comments didn’t need much reading between the lines to make his preferences fairly obvious.”It’s obviously something new. Yeah, I generally obviously take the first over and see if it’s swinging. It generally doesn’t outside of the first two overs of the Powerplay if it does swing. It’s a new role. It’s obviously something that began in that game against England in Canberra, and it’s sort of a role that Finchy and Ronnie [Australia Head Coach Andrew McDonald] want me to play through the middle there with [Adam] Zampa.”The lengths probably have to change, and it’s probably not going to swing outside those couple of overs. I still feel like the role is to take wickets. Just at different times and through different partnerships with different matchups, I guess.”But with Australia needing a big win against Afghanistan in Adelaide on Friday to keep their semi-final hopes intact, Starc’s ability to blast out an opposition could yet lure his team to turn to their yorker specialist for a vintage performance. “It would be nice to know going into a game whether it was going to swing or not,” Finch smiled. “That would make things much easier with selection. We’ll discuss all options leading in.”Starc knows what option he’d take in a format where high reward almost invariably comes with high risk. Starc’s new tunes have plenty going for them, but just this once, the Adelaide Oval might rather hear the classics.

Selection radar: Who could push Australia claims in Sheffield Shield hub?

There will need to be a larger Test squad this season due to various Covid-19 restrictions with cover for all areas

Andrew McGlashan02-Oct-2020Nic Maddinson (Victoria)Last season: Matches 7; Innings 10; Runs 780; Average 86.66The left-hander, who played three Tests against South Africa and Pakistan in 2016, has been one of the most prolific Shield batsmen across the last two seasons after his move back to Victoria. In just 12 matches, he has piled up 1343 runs at 83.93 and towards the end of last season his form was enough to earn an Australia A call-up where he made a half-century against England Lions. If he can start strongly in the Adelaide hub, he could be in the frame as a middle-order reserve. He is one of a group of Victoria batsmen – including Marcus Harris, Will Pucovski, Peter Handscomb – who could press their claims.Cameron Green (Western Australia)Last season: Matches 8; Innings 15; Runs 699; Average 63.54 | Wickets 3; Average 38.66Allrounder Green is one of the most talked about talents in Australian cricket and it feels just a matter of time before he gets a call-up although coach Justin Langer has been keen to temper expectations and wants to see Green’s output over a longer time frame. Still, in these unusual times, a few eye-catching weeks for Western Australia, especially if Mitchell Marsh doesn’t recover from his ankle injury, could fast-track a promotion. With a first-class batting average of 43.84 and bowling return of 21.53, the talent is clear. The key for Green will be bowling at full tilt and remaining fit after battling stress fractures of the back.Mitchell Swepson (Queensland)Last season: Matches 6; Wickets 14; Average 31.50There will have to be at least one reserve spinner in the squad due to the inability to quickly fly players in and legspinner Swepson probably has the spot locked down already. He was called into the Test squad for the SCG match against New Zealand in January and would surely have gone on the tour to Bangladesh in June. The shift to the Adelaide hub could work in his favour with conditions on the outgrounds being used perhaps more conducive to spin that the Gabba often is early in a Shield season.A strong start to the season could put Kurtis Patterson back in the Test reckoning•Getty ImagesUsman Khawaja (Queensland)Last season: Matches 7; Innings 11; Runs 202; Average 18.36It may be a tricky summer to blood young players, so if Australia want a batsman with a wealth of experience who could fill a number of roles at short notice, Khawaja, who has not been part of the set-up since midway through last year’s Ashes, could fit the bill. He has previously opened in Test cricket with a stunning average of 96.80 and could also bat at No. 3 or 4. After being pushed out of the one-day set-up by the squeeze for top-order slots and the emergence of Marnus Labuschagne, Khawaja admitted he was angry but conversations with Langer have helped him refocus after a poor 2019-2020 season. “I still feel like there’s a lot left for me on the horizon… I feel like I’m really close there,” he told cricket.com.au last month.Kurtis Patterson (New South Wales)Last season: Matches 3; Innings 5; Runs 130; Average 32.50Patterson’s 2019-2020 was severely interrupted by a quad injured suffered in pre-season which he then exacerbated during a match against Tasmania. He would only play three matches in the campaign, although earned Australia A selection to face England Lions and made an unbeaten 94 in the second innings. Australia’s top-order looks pretty settled, but a strong start to the Shield – plus the fact he has a Test century under his belt – could put Patterson among the best of the rest and he has shown good form during New South Wales’ inter-squad pre-season matches.Riley Meredith (Tasmania)Last season: Matches 5; Wickets 20; Average 28.35Australia’s pace attack picks itself with the main three followed by James Pattinson and probably the perennial 12th-man Michael Neser. However, if more than five quicks are needed there is an opening for someone outside of the established pack to make a case. Meredith remains on the raw side, but his pace has caught the selectors’ eye in white-ball cricket and he was part of the recent England tour. Before injury curtailed his last season, he had produced encouraging numbers.

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