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Ruben Amorim has explained why he dropped Leny Yoro from his starting line-up against West Ham United and revealed the reason for Matthijs de Ligt's absence from the squad. The coach hauled Yoro off in the 54th minute at Crystal Palace after he had given away a penalty and the French youngster was visibly distraught as he watched the remainder of the game from the bench.

• Yoro benched for West Ham

  Yoro was replaced in the starting line-up by Noussair Mazraoui. The defender was one of three changes Amorim made to his team following the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday. Matheus Cunha starts in attack after returning from a two-game absence while Ayden Heaven makes his first start of the season in place of De Ligt, who was absent from the squad.

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  Yoro 'so disappointed' to be dropped

  "As a manager, we need to think about everything," Amorim told before kick off against West Ham. "I spoke to Leny, not about leaving him out but about the message. He is so disappointed, but it is a tactical issue. It is a clear option and a tactical option. Today we need to win, no matter what."

• Decision follows 'think too much' comment

  The day before the game against West Ham, Amorim was asked about Yoro's demeanour on the sidelines after being taken off at Selhurst Park and being comforted by Mason Mount. The United coach explained: "It's really important [the support from Mount]. Of course, I also spoke with him because he thinks too much. He makes some mistakes in the game, and then he struggles because he's too young and he wants to do everything so well. He’s growing, with games and with setbacks, it’s not easy for him as a young guy.

  "He cannot give that to the people the way he came to the bench, he understands that but he was really frustrated. On the good side it shows that he cares, he knows it wasn’t his best game but he did some things well and I showed him that also. He’s fit and ready for the next challenge."

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  De Ligt out with small injury

  Amorim had said the previous day that he had two injury doubts but would not reveal who they were. It became clear when the line-ups were announced that one of them was De Ligt. "It's a small thing. I expect to have him in the next game [against Wolves on Monday]. The rest of the guys are ready," Amorim explained.

  "It's hard because just Harry [Maguire] and Matt [de Ligt] play in that position – so it's a blow. He's doing really well. But I'm really excited for Ayden [Heaven]. He's working there. I think he has the right characteristics to play in there. So it's a big opportunity for everyone to see Ayden perform. But it's a small thing, I expect to have Matta in the next game."

  Heaven, who United signed from Arsenal last January, will be at the heart of Amorim's back three in his first start since the Carabao Cup tie at Grimsby in August. "I want to show to my players that everyone has an opportunity," Amorim said. "Ayden is working in that position. He's working in a different position. The guy that is working in all of the movements was Ayden. I have to be consistent in my decision and they need to understand what I'm doing, so that was the key point."

  Amorim also hopes that the return of Cunha will boost his team against West Ham.

  "We suffered a little bit against Everton here. Cunha is the guy that alone can solve some problems, create momentum," he said. "But he needs to be also really focussed on the runs with [Aaron Wan] Bissaka, the way he's going to recover his position. So I expect a very complete game from Cunha but of course he's the sort of player who can solve a lot of problems for us."

  United can go fifth in the Premier League table if they beat West Ham.

Alan Shearer has revealed he is happiness for Elliot Anderson after the midfielder's departure from Newcastle for Nottingham Forest sparked a rapid rise to becoming an England regular. With Manchester United now linked with a big-money move, Anderson has gone from Tyneside home-grown hope to one of the Premier League's most in-demand talents.

Anderson's meteoric rise post his Newcastle departure

Anderson left Newcastle United in the summer of 2024 as the Magpies were forced to make sales to stay within PSR limits, despite the academy graduate being admired for his potential. He joined Nottingham Forest in search of consistent minutes, stepping into a key creative role and rapidly elevating his performances in the Premier League. That form has led to him becoming a regular in Thomas Tuchel's England squad and attracting serious interest from Manchester United, who need midfield reinforcements.

Due to his home-grown status, Anderson was a more valuable sale from a PSR perspective, consideed 'pure profit' in the accounts. At Forest, he immediately became a key midfielder under Nuno Espirito Santo with the responsibility to carry the team’s attacking play. His growth has been so striking that he is now widely viewed as one of the most complete players outside the traditional title challengers.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportShearer 'delighted' for the England international…

Shearer praised Anderson, admitting that the transfer — though shaped by Newcastle’s financial restrictions — was crucial for his development. He told podcast: "It was the best thing. Although it was tough for Newcastle and it wouldn't have happened if it wasn’t for PSR."

Shearer highlighted that Anderson would never have received the same trust and responsibility at Newcastle. He continued: "But it was the best thing that happened to him, to get out and play. He wasn't going to get in Newcastle's midfield. You've got to give him credit. He wouldn't be far away now [from getting in Newcastle's midfield], I agree with that."

The Newcastle legend finished by acknowledging the scale of Anderson's growth. "He wouldn't have been able to do what he has done and is doing at Newcastle. Good for him. I'm delighted for him. He's gone from being a bit-part player at Newcastle to being one of the main guys at Forest and one of England's."

Anderson likely to be a starter at the 2026 World Cup

Anderson has long been seen as one of the brightest academy talents Newcastle had produced in years, earning the nickname the 'Whitley Bay Figo' during his youth days. His ability to operate as either a No.8 or a No.10 made him valuable, but that same versatility also left him without a fixed role in a squad packed with expensive signings. Nottingham Forest gave him the tactical clarity and first-team trust he needed to reach his full potential.

At Forest, Anderson quickly became one of the Premier League's standout transitional midfielders thanks to his ball-carrying, creativity and pressing intensity. His numbers surged, with double-digit goal contributions putting him firmly in the England conversation. By 2025, he had not only won his first caps but established himself as a regular starter under Tuchel.

Heading into the Three Lions' final World Cup qualifier, Tuchel also announced that Anderson is currently his main choice to partner Declan Rice in the midfield for the 2026 World Cup. The German said: "Elliot and Declan are at the moment ahead in midfield. They are a very good pair and complement each other very well. They are performing at the highest level for club and country. Biggest complement to both of them. We took Declan out [of the last match] after 65 minutes to have the chance to play again, Elliot played 90 minutes and it is his first season to play international games as well as for Nottingham Forest, he is a key player there too."

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Getty Images SportMan Utd linked with move for Anderson

Manchester United are tipped to pursue a move in 2026 as they plan a rebuild in midfield with Casemiro ageing and Bruno Fernandes playing in a deeper role. Forest will fight to keep their star man but are realistic that interest from the league's biggest sides will eventually force a major decision. The competition for his signature is already shaping up to be fierce.

England, meanwhile, continue to benefit from Anderson's upward curve as he cements his place heading toward the 2026 World Cup in North America. Tuchel sees him as a long-term midfield option alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, giving the Three Lions a formidable core for years to come.

Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri has demanded the recruitment of foreign referees in Serie A to elevate the officiating standard in the Italian top flight. The 66-year-old was furious about a few decisions taken by the officials during his side's clash against Inter game, but stressed the issues are prevalent in the league.

• Sarri furious after Lazio loss

  Lazio suffered a 2-0 defeat against Inter, with Lautaro Martinez and Ange-Yoan Bonny scoring in either half to hand a defeat to the visitors. Sarri, who fumed after Martinez's challenge on his pupil Mattia Zaccagni, was shown a yellow card by the match official. The Italian winger was also forced off the pitch, and Sarri was annoyed by the risk of Lazio conceding a goal as a result.

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  Sarri slams Serie A officials

  Sarri took a dig at the refereeing in Serie A, calling it below par. He said after the Inter game: "Why did I get angry? For one simple reason: Lautaro's foul on Zaccagni deserved a yellow card. If it had, Zaccagni shouldn't have left the pitch. Not only did he not issue a yellow card, he forced Zaccagni off the pitch, and we almost conceded a goal from that side. Even Padre Pio would have gotten angry."

  Instead of booking the Argentine forward, the referee showed a yellow card to Sarri for expressing his frustration at the sequence of events. "I don't see any referees up to the task, including tonight's. I hope Serie A can get the help of referees from abroad; they need to be 'rented' there," he said.

  He added: "We're paying for something inside the box. We had a few chances, but it's not easy. What positives do I take away? This is a team that's improving. After the first goal, the team recovered and stayed in the game until the end. Let's start again with this mentality."

• Sarri stops short of blaming referee for Inter loss

  Sarri admitted that Inter were the better side in the game as he held off of blaming the officials for his team's defeat, saying: "The referee didn't influence the result. Inter played better than us and would have won regardless of who officiated. When you enter San Siro and concede a goal after two minutes, it becomes tough. We wobbled but got back into the game. We had our chances. It wasn't a disastrous match. It's frustrating because the two goals came from two simple turnovers: the first near the box, the second right after we regained the ball. Perhaps these errors favour the more technical team, but it leaves a bitter taste. The performance was decent.

  "We pay for the technical gap; we'll see if we can close it as much as possible. We don't have a traditional striker. Our forwards have other characteristics. The only one could be Castellanos, who can handle himself well in the box; the others play the role differently. Right now, we're paying for that in the area, yet coming to San Siro we still had two or three scoring chances, which isn't easy."

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  Two successive Milan games await Lazio

  Lazio currently sit ninth in the Serie A standings, having accumulated four wins and three draws in 11 games so far. The defeat to Inter was also their first loss since September, when they went down to Roma. With no continental football this season, Lazio are solely focused on Serie A, trying their best to utilise this season to head back to the European competitions. They will resume action on November 23 against Lecce and then take on Milan in successive games across the domestic league and the Coppa Italia on November 29 and December 4, respectively.

  Sarri is hoping that he will be able to enhance his squad in the January transfer window, saying: "They haven't told me yet whether the transfer market is open or not. I think the market is open, but I'm waiting for the official announcement and then we'll make the various decisions as necessary."

Manchester United are now eyeing a “sensational” £52m Kobbie Mainoo replacement, having received the green light from Ruben Amorim.

Mainoo heading for the exit door amid Keane criticism

Amorim has been extremely reluctant to give Mainoo game time this season, but the Man United manager has the backing of Roy Keane, who recently suggested the midfielder hasn’t done enough in substitute appearances to force his way into contention.

Keane said: “He’s had opportunities recently and when he’s come on and got opportunities, he just looks a bit short for me. I wouldn’t be scratching my head thinking: why is he not in the team? I can see why he is not picking him at this moment in time.”

However, with an opportunity to play for England at the 2026 World Cup at stake, the 20-year-old cannot afford to sit on the bench for the entire season, and it has now been revealed that he is close to sealing a January exit.

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Napoli are now leading the race for the central midfielder, with the Italian club advancing in talks in recent days, and the academy graduate’s departure could exacerbate the need for Amorim to sign a new midfielder this winter.

As such, the United manager has now given a move for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher the green light, according to a report from Football Insider, which states the former Chelsea man is being targeted as a direct replacement for Mainoo.

The Red Devils are closely monitoring Gallagher ahead of the January transfer window, as club chiefs believe he would be a better fit in Amorim’s system than Mainoo, but there may be competition for his signature.

Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur are also credited with an interest in the 25-year-old, although a deal could be expensive, considering he was recently valued at the £52m mark.

"Sensational" Gallagher could be solid Mainoo replacement

It would be sad to see Mainoo leave, given that the youngster progressed through the youth ranks, but Amorim clearly isn’t totally convinced by the Stockport-born ace, who has featured for just 118 minutes across six Premier League appearances this season.

In an ideal world, Man United would sign one of the best midfielders in the world to replace the starlet, but the Atletico Madrid maestro could be a solid option, given his previous exploits in the Premier League and battle-tested mentality.

During his time with Crystal Palace in the 2021-22 campaign, the Epsom-born midfielder displayed his attacking prowess, chipping in with eight goals and three assists in the top flight, while he is also solid defensively.

Indeed, Gallagher places in the 96th percentile for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, proving that he is a well-rounded midfielder.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has been told by one source that a potential £70 million bid could be accepted for an unsettled PSG star, with Mikel Arteta’s side now taking a “concrete” interest.

Arsenal back Mikel Arteta with new deals and £255m summer spend

Arteta is under serious pressure to deliver the club’s first Premier League title in over 20 years, especially following Berta’s undisputed backing.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

After spending north of £250 million on eight major signings in the summer transfer window, Berta also tied down star defender William Saliba with a brand-new contract which will run until 2030 — thwarting Real Madrid in the process.

This comes after he agreed fresh terms with Gabriel earlier this year too, with reports suggesting that Arsenal are also in talks with Bukayo Saka over a new deal which could be sorted before Christmas (Football Transfers).

Defender Jurrien Timber could also be rewarded for his exceptionally consistent displays over the last 12 months, as Arsenal are in negotiations to take his Emirates Stadium stay past 2028.

Off the field, Arsenal are doing basically everything right (except maybe player sales), and Berta is still showing some intent in the transfer market even after a record-breaking transfer window for the Gunners.

Now, as per reporter Mark Brus, the Arsenal transfer chief is registering a serious fondness for PSG sensation Warren Zaire-Emery.

Arsenal told £70m bid for Warren Zaire-Emery could be accepted

Sharing what he calls “exciting information” via the journalist’s Daily Briefing, Brus says that the “elite” Ligue 1 starlet is growing unsettled under Luis Enrique and wants more clarity over his role in the team.

The 19-year-old has played as the defensive midfield anchor, a traditional centre-midfielder and even at right-back over his nine games in all competitions so far, and this is believed to be slightly frustrating Zaire-Emery.

Arsenal are described as having a “concrete” interest in signing Zaire-Emery, alongside the likes of Man City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but Pep Guardiola’s side are believed to be the biggest admirers, as City’s boss is a major fan.

As well as this, the source goes on to state that a £70 million offer from Arsenal, or any interested side, could be enough.

The teenager has already drawn comparisons to Cesc Fàbregas, and club legend Thierry Henry was effusive in his praise of Zaire-Emery’s star potential when speaking on CBS Sports in late 2023.

كشفت تقارير صحفية عن موقف ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد ظهير ريال مدريد، من اللحاق بمباراة فريقه أمام ليفربول في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

أرنولد غادر صفوف ليفربول في يونيو الماضي وانضم إلى ريال مدريد الإسباني، وأسفرت قرعة دوري أبطال أوروبا لمرحلة الدوري، عن مواجهة بين فريقه الحالي وناديه السابق.

وعانى أرنولد من إصابة في أوتار الركبة، حيث خرج بعد ثلاث دقائق من المباراة الافتتاحية لريال مدريد في دوري أبطال أوروبا ضد مارسيليا في سبتمبر الماضي.

ويواصل أرنولد منذ ذلك الحين عملية التعافي للعودة والمشاركة بصورة طبيعية مع ريال مدريد، وقد غاب عن عدة مباريات هامة لفريقه أبرزها الكلاسيكو أمام برشلونة.

وبحسب ما ورد في صحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية، سيكون أرنولد جاهزًا لمباراة ريال مدريد وليفربول في دوري أبطال أوروبا، والمقرر خوضها على ملعب “آنفيلد” في 4 نوفمبر المقبل.

ويأتي ذلك في الوقت الذي يعاني فيه ريال مدريد من إصابة ظهير الفريق داني كارفاخال، حيث أعلن النادي بالأمس أنه سيخضع لجراحة تنظير في مفصل الركبة.

ومن المتوقع أن يغيب كارفاخال عن ريال مدريد لمدة لا تتراوح بين 6 إلى 10 أسابيع، في حين أشارت صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية إلى أن إصابة كارفاخال قد تجبره على الغياب لمدة تتراوح ما بين شهرين إلى 3 أشهر.

It’s hard work vs natural talent for many, thunderous strikes vs magical moments for others and a debate that has stolen the spotlight for more than 15 years. There has not been anyone close to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in this current era of football and perhaps even history. Separating the two is, therefore, an almost impossible task.

The duo are still very much competing too, even if it’s not for the Ballon d’Or these days. In the September international break, Messi thought he grabbed the headlines with his brace in what could be his final appearance for the national team in his home country of Argentina, only for Ronaldo to swiftly respond by doing the same for Portugal a day later.

Ronaldo, himself, recently spoke about the affection that he has for Messi after years of competing against the former Barcelona star at the very top level.

He told reporters: “Of course I have affection for Leo Messi. We’ve been on stage together for 15 years. I remember translating English for him at the Galas because he didn’t speak English well. He always treated me well and respected me.”

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Messi has also shown the same respect to his rival when speaking to reporters, saying: “I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo and for the career he’s had and continues to have, because he’s still competing at the highest level.”

It’s a rivalry that is ending with the utmost respect, but also one that almost everyone has had their say on – even former boxing world champion Anthony Joshua.

Anthony Joshua weighs in on Messi vs Ronaldo

Not one for pulling his punches, Joshua admitted that he believes that Ronaldo is better than Messi, because he works harder than the World Cup-winning legend.

It’s perhaps the type of hard work that one of Britain’s greatest boxers can relate to, having gone from narrowly avoiding a prison sentence at a young age to defeating the iconic Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 in front of a packed Wembley crowd.

With five Ballon d’Ors to his name, to say that Ronaldo’s hard work paid off would be an incredible understatement. The Al-Nassr winger, even at 40 years old, has the physical conditioning of a player at the peak of their powers.

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, football’s biggest stage could see its two greatest icons collide one final time. It’s then that AJ and others could get their answer as to just who takes the crown.

Legendary manager Jose Mourinho picked his three greatest players in football history, choosing between modern-day icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese boss has worked with some world-class players during his managerial career, representing the home dugouts at Stamford Bridge, San Siro, Bernabeu and Old Trafford during his career.

As well as managing Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United, Mourinho has also won European trophies with FC Porto and AS Roma.

The ‘Special One’ has also had a lot to say during his career, producing some brilliant quotes over the last 20 years.

9 of the best Jose Mourinho quotes

The Special One has had a way with words over the years.

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Mourinho was asked back in 2016 for his top three players of all time, and as to be expected, he didn’t shy away from giving an answer.

Jose Mourinho’s 3 greatest players in history 3 Pele Brazil

One of Mourinho’s three GOAT’s is World Cup hero Pele, who broke goalscoring records during his playing days.

A forward for the big occasion with Brazil, records say Pele scored 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, with more than 600 of those coming for Santos.

Games

14

Goals

12

World Cup titles

3

Talking after Pele passed away in 2022, Mourinho paid tribute to the Brazilian, calling an interaction with him as one of his “proudest moments”.

“In 2005 I received the BBC award directly from the king’s hands, and to this day it’s one of my proudest moments. I was so so happy to have him in Manchester where we had such a nice chat and nice time. Rest in peace, King Pele, and thinking of his loved ones. I am very sad.”

2 Diego Maradona Argentina

Also on Mourinho’s list is Diego Maradona, with the pair having a close relationship before the latter’s passing in 2020.

A classic number 10 who helped transform the game, the Argentine arguably single handedly won his country the World Cup in 1986. At club level, Maradona is best known for his time with Italian side Napoli but also played for Barcelona in the 1980s.

Games

84

Goals

32

Assists

27

World Cups won

1

Mourinho said Maradona would regularly call him and has vowed to continue the attacker’s legacy.

“I made sure that my son knows a lot about him, even being born after he was a player. I know my son will make sure when he is a father he will not let his kids forget. It was a bit similar with Di Stefano; I never saw him play football, but my dad made sure I knew a lot about him.”

1 Lionel Messi Argentina

Despite never working with Lionel Messi, coming up against him on numerous occasions during his time as Real Madrid manager, Mourinho has picked the Argentine over Cristiano Ronaldo.

Between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho and Madrid faced Barcelona and Messi 27 times but only won eight of those meetings against the Catalan giants.

2009

Barcelona

2010

Barcelona

2011

Barcelona

2012

Barcelona

2015

Barcelona

2019

Barcelona

2021

Barcelona

2023

Inter Miami

Mourinho, when asked for a player he wishes he could have coached, said that Messi “never needed a coach” as “he was born with everything”. High praise indeed.

“One in particular? I don’t have a player I can tell you. Messi has never needed a coach. Who tells you ‘I coached Messi’? It’s absurd. Messi knows everything, he was born with everything. You can only say that I had the honour of having trained him.”

Mourinho’s reply when asked for his three best players was:

MatériaMais Notícias

Através das redes sociais, o atacante Diego Souza oficializou a sua saída do Grêmio, clube que defendeu nos últimos três anos e meio. A última partida do jogador pelo Tricolor ocorreu em março, quando teve uma ruptura do menisco no joelho esquerdo.

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+ Mostre sua paixão pelo Imortal com produtos a partir de R$69,90!

Outro ponto que ajudou na saída de Diego Souza foi a contratação de Luis Suárez. O uruguaio assumiu o posto de titular e deu poucas oportunidades ao ídolo da torcida.

Com o espaço restrito no elenco e longe de estar 100% do seu físico, o atleta optou por sair do elenco.

Aposentadoria?

Recentemente, Diego Souza afirmou que pretendia encerrar a carreira no Tricolor, mas segundo o “ge,” o centroavante expressou a vontade de seguir em outro time até o fim do ano.

Nesta segunda passagem, o atacante participou de 158 jogos, anotou 71 gols e deu 19 assistências.

For India, a large part of the focus will once again be on Mohammed Shami’s fitness – will he finally be good to go?

Deivarayan Muthu24-Jan-20251:17

Manjrekar: Archer’s form a positive for England

Big Picture: England vs spinEngland would have felt a sense of deja vu when they were skittled for 132 in the T20I series opener in Kolkata on Wednesday. In June 2024, in the T20 World Cup semi-final in Providence, they watched Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel return combined figures of 11-0-58-6. At Eden Gardens, they were trampled by Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel, who had combined figures of 5 for 67 in 12 overs. If the Chepauk pitch veers towards its usual spin-friendly nature – it went the other way at IPL 2024, with fast bowlers taking 74 wickets in 18 innings to the spinners’ 25 – England could be in for another trial by spin. India also have other spin options in Washington Sundar (offspinner) and Abhishek Sharma (left-arm orthodox) at their disposal. There is a small question mark over Abhishek’s fitness though; he seemed to twist his ankle during training on match eve, and was seen limping off the ground.*Under Brendon McCullum in Test cricket, England have countered heavy defeats with their ultra-aggressive style of play. England’s white-ball era under McCullum and Jos Buttler might have got off to a rickety start in Kolkata, but the message from the team management remains the same: “Be more aggressive and come back harder.”Related

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Abhishek: 'Team has always told me to keep my attacking intent'

That might be easier said than done against India, who have a new-ball banker in Arshdeep Singh and a middle-overs squeezer in Varun. The likes of Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook will have to adapt quickly and back Buttler up if England are to test the depth of India’s attack. On Wednesday, India didn’t even need their sixth bowler.They didn’t need Nitish Kumar Reddy with the bat either as the top five polished off the chase of 133 inside 13 overs. England, though, will be buoyed by the sharp bursts from Jofra Archer and Mark Wood. After having spent five months on the sidelines, Wood cranked it up to speeds north of 150kph. Besides generating similar high pace and steep bounce, Archer also dipped into his slower cutters for figures of 4-0-21-2. Gus Atkinson, who had a horror outing leaking 38 runs in two overs after struggling to 2 off 13 balls, will make way for Brydon Carse.Form guideIndia WWWLW
England LLWWWBrydon Carse is set to come in for England•PTI In the spotlight: Varun Chakravarthy and Jamie OvertonVarun Chakravarthy and Chepauk share an incredible love story. Even before playing in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), Varun had started his cricketing career as an IPL net bowler for Chennai Super Kings at the venue in 2018. Six years later, Varun won both the IPL and TNPL here, and he is now set to play his first international game at the ground, in front of his friends and family. He had rated his 3 for 23 at Eden Gardens a humble 7/10. Beware of the perfect ten, England.At 6 feet 5 inches, Jamie Overton is a presence to reckon with for any opposition. He didn’t have much to do with bat or ball in the first T20I, but his recent form in the Big Bash League (BBL) is encouraging: he finished unbeaten in seven of his nine innings, striking at 156.55, to go with 11 wickets for Adelaide Strikers. This is his chance to introduce himself to Chepauk before turning out for CSK at IPL 2025.Team news: Will Shami return to action?Mohammed Shami, who is working his way back from ankle and knee issues, had missed the opening T20I. If he is fit and available for selection, India might have to rejig their attack. He was among the first batch of India players to train on Friday evening and, though he had protection on both his knees, he bowled in the nets, with bowling coach Morne Morkel keeping a close eye on him.If Abhishek has to sit out, Dhruv Jurel could take his place.India (probable): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Ravi Bishnoi/Mohammed Shami, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Varun ChakravarthyMohammed Shami had strapping on both knees at the India nets in Chennai•AFP/Getty ImagesBethell reportedly missed training on Friday with illness and if he doesn’t recover in time, wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith could make his T20I debut for England. Smith had a stint with the gloves too on a humid afternoon. Carse, meanwhile, is set to replace Atkinson.England (probable): 1 Phil Salt (wk), 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jos Buttler (capt), 4 Harry Brook, 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jacob Bethell/Jamie Smith, 7 Jamie Overton, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark WoodPitch and conditions: Dew could be a factorThe second T20I is set to be played on a fresh, black-soil pitch, and dew could favour chasing in Chennai. Another humid evening awaits both sides on Saturday.Stats and trivia: Arshdeep on the brink of another milestone Arshdeep is three strikes away from 100 T20I wickets. If he gets there on Saturday, he will be the fastest fast bowler to the mark and third-fastest overall after Rashid Khan and Sandeep Lamichhane. Since the start of IPL 2024, Abhishek Sharma has a strike rate of 191.71 in powerplays in T20 cricket. Only Travis Head, his Sunrisers Hyderabad opening partner, has a better powerplay strike rate (195.71) in this period.England have played 12 T20Is against India in India, winning five and losing seven – three of those seven losses have come in a row.Quotes”He’s obviously very experienced in India. He’s done exceptionally well in the IPL and whenever he’s played for England here. So it’s really nice to watch him go out there and go about his business.”
“The plan will be the same [against the England batters] and will see how they’re going to approach me and it’s all instinctive. Initially you have certain plan for certain batters, but if they’re trying to do something different, it will be more instinctive.
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