Former captain is scoring runs for fun and revelling in the moment

Vithushan Ehantharajah05-Jul-2022

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow are all smiles after their match-winning partnership•Getty Images

“It’s like being a kid again. It’s great. It’s like how it felt when I first started playing.” With the first answer of his press conference, Joe Root summed up exactly what he and the rest of this England side are experiencing at the moment.An hour before sitting down in front of the microphones and cameras, Root had walked off on 142 not out, Jonny Bairstow by his side with 114 of his own having chased down 378 like it was nothing. Certainly not the record chase by an England Test team that it is now.The final 119 runs required were polished off with ease inside 19.5 overs, as Root and Bairstow registered career centuries No. 28 and 12, with five and six already in 2022, respectively. There was no jeopardy, no anxiety beyond the very start where perhaps standard English doom-mongering could not be helped. But for those in the dressing room, there was nothing but calm. As they have been for the three previous chases before this one.Related

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“I think once you’ve done it once, you know you can do it and you prove to yourself you can,” Root said on the fact England have chased down four 250-plus targets in the last month. “It does make it that little bit easier. It makes it a little bit more believable.”I imagine there will be sides around the world looking at the way that we’ve been playing and feeling a little bit intimidated by what we’re capable of doing. You don’t want to be too into what other teams are doing and how they’re approaching things. But again, that can only breed more confidence within you and you think sides could be very wary of what you’re capable of.”The difference here was that the scale of the chase meant a little more forethought. Even after Zak Crawley and Alex Lees blitzed the fastest opening stand by a pair of Englishmen, a collapse from 107 for no loss to 109 for 3 just after tea threatened to derail the charge. But Root and Bairstow steadied the ship and ticked over without taking unnecessary risks. It was only when Root had passed his century and victory was more or less assured that he began to have some fun, charging Shardul Thakur for four down the ground then reverse-ramping him for six.Of the outrageous cricket English fans are starting to get used to, perhaps the Root ramps are the one thing many are still struggling to get theirs heads around. The idea that a player deemed not imaginative enough to play a role in England’s hell-for-leather T20 side – his last appearance came in May 2019 – and perhaps even unnecessary for the 50-over format could add such an expansive string to his bow.He admits to be still battling with two sides. One of how he has done things before Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes decided to shake things up, which got him 1708 runs and six centuries in 2021, and two more before the start of the summer. And the other of batting without a care in the world.”The Yorkshireman inside me is still saying ‘dig in, play straight and get behind it’,” he said with a smile. “Then there’s the captain on the other shoulder saying ‘be a rockstar’. So you’re fighting between the two of them, sometimes.”It is clear, though, he welcomes this new approach, not least because it is skewering old whims and unwritten rules. Players are being encouraged to play for enjoyment without losing sight of the bigger goal of victory. And the key has been to rid themselves of the emotional baggage of form and the weight of tradition that have, ultimately, felt like a burden.”It’s scripted out how you need to play in Test cricket. Sometimes being unpredictable is very difficult to bowl at. Sometimes the gaps look bigger, and you know where the ball is going to be because of generally how sides bowl for long periods of time.”For me it’s about making good decisions for long periods of time. There have been occasions this summer I might have played some unusual shots, if you look at the history of Test cricket. But they’ve felt like pretty low-risk options in the moment. I guess it’s just trying to manage the game more.”As incredible as Bairstow has been, Root may be the best example of the nourishing qualities of the current environment. Since a boy he was ordained to be an England cricketer, and through his talent bestowed the FEC (Future England Captain) tag. As well as he has carried both, it meant his career has largely been dictated by those who came before him.Now, you can say with some certainty that for the first time in his England career, certainly for the first time in five years having given up the captaincy in March, he is playing the most expressive, enjoyable cricket. It just happens to be at the very highest level.”It’s how it should be,” he reiterated. “And hopefully the way that we’re playing at the minute can inspire a lot of youngsters to take up the game and enjoy it and get excited about test cricket and love it as we do.”As for how to describe the current ethos, he wasn’t bothered about the buzz phrases that have emerged over the past few weeks. “You can call it whatever you like but it’s great fun to play and great fun to be a part of.”

The competition will be played from August 27 to September 11 in the T20 format

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jul-2022The Asia Cup 2022 will be held in UAE, as reported by ESPNcricinfo earlier this month. Sri Lanka will remain hosts for the tournament to be played between August 27 and September 11.”Every effort was made to host the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the decision to shift the venue to the UAE was taken after much deliberation,” Jay Shah, the Asian Cricket Council President, was quoted as saying in a press release on Wednesday. “The UAE will be the new venue while Sri Lanka will continue to retain hosting rights.”Sri Lanka is going through one of its worst crisis with supplies of food and fuel drying up. The country has still been able to host bilateral cricket, with Australia and Pakistan making the trip over, but with the Asia Cup being a multi-team tournament, the challenges of hosting it in the midst of economic turmoil were a touch too much.”Hosting two teams is not the same as hosting ten teams,” SLC chief executive officer Ashley de Silva told ESPNcricinfo ten days ago. “You have to provide ten buses with fuel for all of them. You have to give every team a luggage van with fuel, and transport for the managers. You also have to give the sponsors transport and ensure that they are getting the mileage that they want from their sponsorship. The fuel for the generators to run the floodlights will also have to be found.”The ACC had limited options regarding back-up venues considering June through September is monsoon season over most of the Indian subcontinent. In terms of the infrastructure and travel, the UAE has proved to be a successful venue, but late August and early September generally witness extreme temperatures of over 40°C with humidity also expected to be a factor.The Asia Cup, last held in 2018, will be played in T20 format this time and serve as preparation for the World Cup in October. It will start with a qualifying round of matches between UAE, Kuwait, Singapore and Hong Kong. The winner will go on to the main tournament and play Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

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A partida acontecerá neste estádio, e não no Allianz Parque, casa palmeirense, por conta de shows que ocorrerão nos próximos dias no local.

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Many Leeds United fans will be expecting promotion from the Championship this season after their stellar start to the campaign in recent months.

Daniel Farke has led his side to a tally of 53 points from the opening 26 matches of the 2024/25 season, sitting at the top of the table with 20 games remaining.

After the disappointment of losing in the play-off final last term, the German has done a superb job in picking the players back up and mounting another charge to end their two-year Premier League exile.

However, with the January transfer window now upon us, it’s no surprise to see a whole host of players touted with a winter move to Elland Road to aid the push for promotion.

At the halfway stage of the month, no deals are yet to be completed, but numerous names remain in the pipeline over a move to Yorkshire, including multiple who have previously featured under the Whites boss.

Leeds United’s current transfer targets in January

Winger Louie Barry is one player who is yet to feature under Farke in his professional career but could provide the added ammunition for their end-of-season push.

The winger spent the first half of the season on loan at League One outfit Stockport County, scoring 15 times in just 23 times, before being recalled by parent club Aston Villa.

He’s since been linked with a move to Yorkshire, but competition is fierce, with countless other second-division sides also in the race for the 21-year-old’s signature this month.

Plymouth Argyle star Bali Mumba has been another name thrown into the hat in recent days, which could lead to a potential reunion with Farke after his time under him at Norwich City.

The 23-year-old, who can play at either full-back or in midfield, has been scouted by the club’s hierarchy in recent matches, leading to rumours over a move to the Whites.

However, Farke could land a bigger signing than the Argyle man, should he decide to push for another reunion with a player who played his best football under the German.

The Leeds target who'd be a bigger signing than Mumba

Injuries have been unkind to Farke in recent months, losing captain Ethan Ampadu for a large chunk of the campaign after his knee injury during the opening weeks of 2024/25.

However, he’s since returned and featured in a variety of roles, such as centre-back alongside his favoured position just in front of the back four – alongside the dependable Ao Tanaka.

There’s no denying that the Welshman is a more useful asset higher up, opening the door to a potential defensive reinforcement before the closure of the window.

Such a shift could allow for Andrew Omobamidele to link back up with the German at Elland Road after previously featuring under his guidance at Carrow Road.

The Irishman, who’s free to leave Nottingham Forest on loan this month after joining for £11m last year, has been of interest to the Leeds boss in recent weeks – unsurprisingly given his previous time under the manager.

The 22-year-old secured promotion from the Championship with Farke in 2020/21, potentially looking to achieve a similar feat should he make the switch up north over the coming weeks.

Games played

11

Minutes played

782

Pass accuracy

88%

Interceptions made

1.5

Recoveries made

2.4

Duels won

2.3

Duels success rate

52%

Aerials won

44%

He’s only played 90 minutes of football under Nuno Espírito Santo this campaign, but did produce some key stats under the Portuguese boss last term which would make him a perfect fit for the backline of Farke.

Omobamidele, who’s been dubbed “unbelievable” by Gavin Bazunu, completed 88% of his passes, whilst winning 2.3 duels per 90 – making him the perfect ball-playing centre-back in the current philosophy in place at Elland Road.

The Irish international would be a phenomenal addition to the side, having bags of experience in English football despite his tender age – providing more depth in their quest for promotion.

Given his previous success from the Championship, he could be a stellar pickup, arguably making the difference in Leeds ending their exile from England’s top flight.

Leeds could sign new Stuart Dallas in swoop for "very special" £5m star

The Leeds United target is reportedly available for a transfer in the January window.

1 ByDan Emery Jan 14, 2025

Manchester City have endured a disastrous season in the Premier League to date and currently sit in sixth place in the division after 20 matches.

The Cityzens have won ten, drawn four, and lost six of their games in the top-flight so far, leaving them a staggering 12 points behind Liverpool in first.

Pep Guardiola is now looking to bolster his playing squad ahead of the second half of the season by dipping into the January transfer window to add more quality to his group.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City are expected to complete a deal to sign Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt this week to improve their options at the top end of the pitch.

The Egypt international has racked up 14 goals and seven assists in 16 appearances in the Bundesliga so far this term and will look to replicate that level of output in the final third in the Premier League in the months to come.

As you can see in the clips above, the 25-year-old is a dynamic forward who can make magical things happen by coming in off the left flank or playing through the middle.

He has also thrived across all competitions with a return of 19 goals and 12 assists in 25 matches for Frankfurt, including four goals and two assists in six outings in the Europa League.

Marmoush may not be the only high-profile addition of the window, though, as the Citizens are also reportedly interested in signing a star from Real Madrid after landing the Bundesliga marksman.

Manchester City eyeing up French star

According to Football Insider, Manchester City are interested in a potential deal to sign Real Madrid defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, with Guardiola lining up a move for the versatile titan.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The report claims that City and Premier League rivals Liverpool are both eyeing up a swoop to bring the France international to England this year to bolster their respective midfield set-ups.

It states that the Manchester City board have made funds available to Guardiola to go and pursue the signing of Tchouameni, although there is no mention of how much it would take to secure the former Monaco star’s signature this month.

Football Insider adds, however, that a January transfer for the French star is unlikely because Carlo Ancelotti would prefer to keep his squad together until the end of the season, at least.

This means that City and Liverpool may have to wait until the summer transfer window to seriously pursue a deal to sign the towering midfielder, who joined the Spanish giants from Monaco in the summer of 2022 for a fee of £85.3m.

Guardiola could swoop to sign the Real Madrid star to be an upgrade on one of his current Manchester City central midfield options – Mateo Kovacic.

How Tchouameni compares to Man City midfielder Mateo Kovacic

The Croatia international has struggled with the absence of Rodri at the base of the midfield for the Citizens, as it has exposed his weaknesses out of possession.

Kovacic has been dribbled past a whopping 1.3 times per game on average by opposition players in the top flight, which shows that it has been too easy for opponents to get the better of him in transition.

The former Chelsea star, who won the Champions League with the Blues, has also only won 54% of his duels in the Premier League, barely more than half of his physical contests, and this shows that he has not been dominant in his battles.

Without Rodri, City do not have a defensive anchor in the middle of the park to hold the team together off the ball, with Kovacic’s struggles off the ball illustrating that perfectly.

Tackles

2.58

Top 42%

Interceptions

0.66

Bottom 25%

Blocks

1.11

Bottom 38%

Clearances

0.66

Bottom 18%

Aerial duels won

0.44

Bottom 27%

As you can see in the table above, the Croatian dynamo ranks lowly in the majority of the key defensive performance indicators, which shows that he offers very little to the team out of possession.

Without a fit and firing Rodri available, City need a player with the quality to step up in that role and that is why Guardiola should push for the board to get a deal done for Tchouameni this month, or in the summer, as he could come in as an upgrade on Kovacic.

Firstly, the French star only turns 25 later this month and that means that the Cityzens would be signing a player who is heading into his prime years and would have plenty of time left to be a star for the club in the long-term.

Tchouameni is also a versatile player who can play as a centre-back, a defensive midfielder, or as a central midfielder, which means that Guardiola could utilise him in a plethora of ways.

The Real Madrid star is also a technically secure and defensively dominant star who could step up to offer far more than Kovacic in midfield for City, improving their defensive work without Rodri available.

Tchouameni has won 64% of his duels in LaLiga for Real this season and made 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game, which shows that he wins the majority of his physical contests and consistently looks to break up opposition attacks with his ability to make defensive interventions.

Appearances

16

15

Pass accuracy

92%

93%

Big chances created

2

2

Dribbled past per game

1.3x

0.7x

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.8

3.3

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old midfield machine has been incredibly more effective defensively in comparison to Kovacic this season, making more tackles and interceptions whilst also being dribbled past far less frequently.

Tchouameni, once described as “one of the best defensive midfielders on the planet” by analyst Raj Chohan, has the physical and technical attributes, having showcased them in a major European league for a gigantic club already, to thrive in English football.

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Therefore, Man City must ensure that they win the race with Liverpool to sign the impressive titan, this month or in the summer, to be a big upgrade on Kovacic in the middle of the park.

The six-team tournament begins in the UAE with Sri Lanka taking on Afghanistan on August 27

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Aug-2022

Fans in Dubai will get to watch India vs Pakistan again•AFP via Getty Images

India and Pakistan will play each other for the first time since the 2021 T20 World Cup when they face off in the Asia Cup on August 28 in Dubai, a day after the tournament begins with Sri Lanka taking on Afghanistan. Bangladesh open their campaign against Afghanistan on August 30 in Sharjah.The fixtures of the 2022 Asia Cup, which will be played in the T20 format ahead of the T20 World Cup in October, were announced on Tuesday. India, Pakistan and the team that wins the qualifying tournament comprise Group A, while Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are in Group B.All matches will start at 6pm local time, with ten games in Dubai and three in Sharjah.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The qualifying round of matches to determine the sixth team will begin on August 20 in Oman. The teams competing for a place in Group A – along with India and Pakistan – are UAE, Kuwait, Singapore and Hong Kong.In the main draw, each team will play the other two in their group once, and the top two teams from each group will enter a Super 4 round that starts on September 3. The teams in the Super 4 round will play each other once, with the top two sides qualifying for the final on September 11.India are the defending champions of the Asia Cup, which was last played in 2018 in an ODI format. India had won the title by beating Bangladesh in a last-ball thriller in Dubai.This edition of the Asia Cup was supposed to be held in Sri Lanka but it was moved to the UAE last month because of the ongoing economic crisis in the island nation. SLC will continue to be the official hosts of the tournament, although it is being played in the UAE.”Considering the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka, the ACC after extensive deliberation has unanimously concluded that it would be appropriate to relocate the tournament from Sri Lanka to the UAE,” the ACC president Jay Shah had said. “Every effort was made to host the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the decision to shift the venue to the UAE was taken after much deliberation. The UAE will be the new venue while Sri Lanka will continue to retain hosting rights.”

It already appears set to be a busy January transfer window for Manchester City.

The Sky Blues are on the brink of completing three signings, reportedly set to bring in Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Omar Marmoush.

Meantime, Kyle Walker is reportedly on his way to AC Milan, having submitted a transfer request over the weekend.

The rebuild is firmly underway for the four-in-a-row Premier League champions, who currently sit eighth in the table, with Pep Guardiola even having admitted his side are “at risk” of missing out on Champions League qualification, a spending spree this threat surely addresses.

However, could the Citizens’ sole senior summer signing be on the move again already?

Man City attacker wanted by Euro giants

According to a report by Caught Offside, both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Savinho, with los Blancos poised to “test the waters” by submitting a January offer.

They claim both the LaLiga and Ligue 1 champions “sent scouts” to watch the Brazilian winger at the King Power Stadium just after Christmas, with Savinho, belatedly, scoring his first goal for Man City that afternoon during a 2-0 victory over Leicester.

Savinho joined Manchester City for a reported £33.7m last summer from within the City Football Group; those must’ve been tough negotiations.

He technically arrived from Ligue 2 side Troyes, joining them from Atlético Mineiro for a club-record €6.5m, although he’s never played for Troyes and there’s actually no evidence he ever set foot in France at all.

That’s because Troyes are owned by the City Football Group, as are Girona, where Savinho shone on loan in LaLiga last season, so his move to Man City had been in the pipeline for a while.

Earlier this season, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson stated he believes Savinho will go on to be a “superstar”, adding that he hasn’t “seen anything like him for a long time”.

Meantime, Guardiola praised his “incredible ability and quality” following that aforementioned win at Leicester, suggesting they’re not planning to let him go easily.

Why Real Madrid are interested in Savinho

Last season, Savinho was, unquestionably, one of the best players in La Liga, staring for Girona as Blanquivermells qualified for UEFA competition for the first time ever, their third-place finish getting this tiny Catalan club into the Champions League.

So, let’s compare how good Savinho was last season in relation to this.

Appearances

41

26

Minutes

3,234

1,492

Goals

11

1

Expected goals

6.1

3.3

Goals – xG

+2.9

-2.3

Assists

10

7

Expected assists

7.9

5.8

Shot-creating actions

118

90

Take-on success %

44.1%

50.5%

Pass completion %

76.3%

79%

Touches per 90

41.5

51.6

Progressive carries

181

109

Of course, the Brazilian was significantly more effective in front of goal last term; only 19 players scored more than his nine LaLiga goals, while his non-penalty goals – xG figure of 2.9 ranked tenth in Spain’s top-flight.

In contrast, this season, the winger ranks 493rd, out of 505, for goals – xG in the Premier League, meaning only 12 players in the division have been more wasteful in front of goal so far.

Nevertheless, some of Savinho’s other key metrics have improved, namely touches per game, take-on success % and pass completion % while, halfway through this season, he’s on course to register exponentially more shot-creating actions and progressive carries.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

This, given that the Brazilian is still only 20-years-old, Man City should do everything in their power to keep hold of him.

After all, they should use the events of last summer as a warning when the Sky Blues allowed Julián Álvarez to join Atlético Madrid, albeit for a gigantic £81.5m fee.

Considering the ageing nature of Guaridola’s squad and their performances in 2024/25, they may be regretting that decision, considering the Argentine forward has scored 13 goals this season, with los Colchoneros now top of La Liga, having won 14 successive matches in all competitions for the first time in the club’s entire history.

Thus, even if cross-city rivals Real Madrid come in with a similarly extortionate offer for Savinho, one can’t see Man City making the same mistake twice.

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استقر عماد النحاس، المدير الفني لفريق الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، على ملامح تشكيل الفريق لمواجهة سيراميكا كليوباترا، في إطار الجولة السادسة من المرحلة النهائية ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز. 

ويحتضن استاد المقاولون العرب المباراة المرتقبة، التي تقام مساء غد الثلاثاء في تمام الساعة الخامسة بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وسط تطلعات جماهير القلعة الحمراء لمواصلة الانتصارات والبقاء في صدارة جدول الترتيب.

وكيل لاعبين يكشف حقيقة توقيع نجم البنك الأهلي للنادي الأهلي

ويدخل الأهلي المباراة وهو متصدر جدول الدوري برصيد 49 نقطة، بعد فوزه في الجولة الماضية على المصري بنتيجة 4-2، ما منحه دفعة قوية في مشوار التتويج باللقب.

ويأمل الأهلي في مواصلة صحوته وتوسيع الفارق مع أقرب ملاحقيه، فريق بيراميدز، الذي خسر آخر جولتين، ما يُمهّد الطريق أمام المارد الأحمر لحسم لقب الدوري المصري مبكرًا.

في المقابل، يدخل سيراميكا كليوباترا اللقاء وهو يدرك صعوبة المهمة، لكنه سيسعى لتقديم عرض قوي بعد تعادله في الجولة الماضية أمام الزمالك 2-2، مستفيدًا من التنظيم الدفاعي والهجمات المرتدة.

تشكيل الأهلي أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا في الدوري المصري  تشكيل الأهلي المتوقع أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا

حراسة المرمى: محمد الشناوي.

خط الدفاع: أكرم توفيق- ياسر إبراهيم- مصطفى العش- أحمد نبيل كوكا.

خط الوسط: مروان عطية- أحمد رضا- إمام عاشور- أشرف بن شرقي- طاهر محمد طاهر.

خط الهجوم: وسام أبو علي.

Visitors plundered their best T20I total – including 18 sixes – and crushed Scotland by 102 runs

Sam Dalling29-Jul-2022New Zealand 254 for 5 (Chapman 83, Bracewell 61*, Main 2-44) beat Scotland 152 for 9 (Greaves 37, Neesham 2-9, Rippon 2-37) by 102 runsThe world-famous Johnnie Walker highball forms the focal point of the award-winning whisky tour on Edinburgh’s Princes Street. It is described by the Scotch blender’s own website as a “balanced mix of smoke, fruit and fizz”. A mile away at The Grange, it was New Zealand’s own highball concoction on parade; and the liquid equivalent’s tagline could easily have applied.For it was a perfect balance of 18 sixes that saw New Zealand notch their highest ever T20I score of 254, and claim victory by 102 runs. Half-centuries for Mark Chapman and Michael Bracewell were the dominant ingredients, as both made their respective T20I career-bests. Chapman’s 83 came in 44 balls, while Bracewell’s unbeaten 61 was even sharper on the palate at 25.Chapman smashed seven sixes – getting off the mark with a straight one – after having started watchfully with four dots. A straight-arm jab off birthday boy Mark Watt fizzed to the boundary, while Hamza Tahir dropped short and was smoked for first four and then six.He also pulled a Chris Greaves drag down to Watt on the boundary in what was his first professional knock since mid-April but there was no apparent rustiness.At the other end, Bracewell should not, in fact, have made any. Scotland captain Richie Berrington will lament a drop in the covers long into the night. A relative newcomer to international cricket, Bracewell’s ball striking is as clean as it gets, and that was particularly apparent in Ali Evans’ 19th over, which went for 26.There was both deftness – slower balls waited on and tucked away either side of the wicket – and force as he plundered 4, 4, 4, 6, 6 off the last five legal balls of the over. The first six, which brought up Bracewell’s maiden T20I half-century, was slog swept over deep square leg.Meanwhile, Chapman and Bracewell were supported by several other flavourfully fruity knocks: Dane Cleaver made a quickfire 28, Daryl Mitchell smashed 31, and Jimmy Neesham – whose maximum from the first ball of the 20th took New Zealand past 243, their previous highest T20I total, which they hit twice in early 2018 – fell to the final ball of the innings for 28 from 12 deliveries.Neesham had wandered to the middle early in the 16th over; his partnership with Bracewell was worth 79 from 29 balls. Such was the scoring rate that at times the in-ground DJ struggled to clip up The Proclaimers quickly enough to cope with the demand for musical fillers.In the run chase, a trio of George Munsey boundaries in the first over gave Scotland hope. But they had lost four wickets by the by the end of as many overs. Debutant Michael Jones, fresh from 206 for Durham in the County Championship, holed out to Bracewell, before Munsey, Matthew Cross and Ollie Hairs perished within the space of six balls.Munsey was served neat by Neesham, who did not even glance to see the finger measure. Three balls later, Neesham doubled up, with Cross giving Bracewell catching practice. Then Hairs was run-out by Cleaver trying to steal a sneaky dram.Ten overs into the Scotland innings came another New Zealand entry into the record books. Michael Rippon, a left-arm wristspinner, became the first man to bowl, well, left-arm wristspin for his country.Two deliveries in, with the DJ again in his element, a replacement ball was fetched after Greaves had slog swept on to neighbouring Arboretum Avenue. The over cost 17, as Greaves – who last Saturday on this ground made 79 against Stoneywood Dyce in the Easter Premier League – tucked in.Greaves then fell for 37, Ish Sodhi taking a sharp return grab, while Rippon later claimed Michael Leask and Evans.For Scotland, two trouncings in a row, have, in the words of head coach Shane Burger, been “a massive learning curve”.But in a World Cup year, he wants more rather than less: “The more times you get thrown into this environment when they are better than you, and you have to make sure you’re playing at your best, the more we will get better. We need more international fixtures against really good teams.”

“We want to hold all the jewellery.”In seven short words, fast bowler Megan Schutt has delivered an insight into the mindset driving Australia towards dizzying new heights.They go into Saturday’s Commonwealth Games semi-final against New Zealand knowing they are just two wins away from setting a new benchmark for limited-overs success, as they look to add a gold medal to a glut of T20 and ODI World Cup triumphs. This is a team driven to succeed, and happy to embrace all that comes with it.”We’re coming in as favourites, but we come in expecting to win every single game we play and have been the favourites for a lot of tournaments now, so we’re kind of used to it,” Schutt said. “It’s a tag that we’re humbled by. We are the favourites but we thrive on that.”They also thrive on avenging missed opportunities. Cricket’s reintroduction to the Games is the 10th major limited-overs tournament for Australia since 2010, and they have won seven of the previous nine, a run that includes five T20 World Cup crowns.But while the wins are what define this team as one of the greatest national teams of all time, it is the losses – like the upset against the West Indies in the 2016 T20 World Cup final and the ODI World Cup semi-final loss to India in 2017 – that provide the motivation.”There are obviously two tournaments in the past that have haunted us, and something that kind of reinvigorated our team is that 2017 loss,” Schutt said. “We do talk about that a lot, that has been a new era for us.”Losses drive you forward and for us we want to win every single game that we play, we want to win every major championship. It’s about getting better and evolving as a team and each new tournament brings a new challenge.”On Saturday that challenge is New Zealand, who were well below par in their loss to England in Thursday night’s final pool game.New Zealand made just 71 off their 20 overs, a target England reeled in within 12 overs, with star duo Suzie Bates and skipper Sophie Devine both failing with the bat.”That was un-New Zealand like,” Schutt said of the heavy defeat. “They never turn up twice like that in a row and its T20 cricket where any team can win, so we certainly are not taking them lightly.”Saturday’s semi-final – which will be played on a traditional turf pitch at Edgbaston after hybrid surfaces were used during the preliminary rounds – is due to start at 1800 local time (Sunday 0300 AEST).