Mason Greenwood will not return to his hometown of Bradford with Marseille for their friendly against Sunderland.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Greenwood moves to Marseille from Man UtdFrench club to play Sunderland in pre-seasonGame to be played at Valley ParadeWHAT HAPPENED?

Greenwood will be absent when Marseille head to Bradford, the striker's hometown, to play Sunderland in a pre-season friendly on Saturday. The striker spent the majority of last season on loan at Getafe but completed a move to France instead of heading back to Spain but he will not be part of the squad to play the Black Cats.

AdvertisementGettyTHE EXPLANATION

The match has been switched to Valley Parade because Sunderland's stadium is undergoing redevelopment work and simply isn't ready to host a fixture, as new floodlights and a new pitch are being installed, but the club have briefed that Greenwood has sustained a muscle injury, according to , which means he will not be risked.

However, sources have told the newspaper that OM may be keen to avoid a controversial return to the UK for a player who was charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in October 2022, then aged 20. Those charges were discontinued in February 2023.

DID YOU KNOW?

Greenwood had plenty of interest before joining Marseille and Lazio's sporting director has claimed that the former England international is a "mercenary" after preferring a move to France over Serie A.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Greenwood will hope to fight his way back to fitness quickly and help Marseille in 2024-25. The club finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season and will be aiming to secure European qualification this term.

The latest pieces of news from around the Big Bash

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jan-2020Melbourne Renegades’ wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Harper, who had been substituted out of the match against Hobart Hurricanes on Tuesday night, has been released from the hospital following observation. Harper collided with Nathan Ellis while running towards the non-striker’s end and was sent tumbling on his back and neck. No timeframe has been set for his return to action.”Sam left the field to undergo an initial assessment where it was deemed he had sustained concussion,” club doctor Trefor James said. “He was then admitted to hospital for further observation and released a short time later.”Sam is recovering well and we’ll continue to monitor his health over the coming days before determining a return to play date.”In a bigger blow to the Renegades, their top run-getter Shaun Marsh – and the second-highest run-getter this season – has been sidelined from the rest of BBL after suffering a grade one hamstring injury during their chase on Tuesday night.However, Australia’s white-ball captain Aaron Finch and seamer Kane Richardson, who have returned from India, will be available for Renegades’ next match against Sydney Sixers on Saturday.High catch gives Henriques flashbacksMoises Henriques followed up his powerful innings against the Melbourne Stars with the catch that sealed victory, but admitted the swirling, high chance that came his way off Marcus Stoinis gave him flashbacks to a horrific fielding incident five years ago.In 2015, while playing for Surrey against Sussex in the T20 Blast at Arudnel, Henriques collided with Rory Burns, leaving him with a broken jaw that required three operations while Burns had facial injuries.With a loud crowd at the SCG, and Henriques focused on following the ball as it flew into the night sky when Stoinis attempted to launch Nathan Lyon for another six, he was unsure whether other fielders converging on the chance would get out of his way.”I heard a few noises which is enough to put me off after the incident a few years back, but I thought I’d just stay under it, keep waving my arms and try and take it,” he said. “I don’t know if anyone saw it but when it’s so loud and the crowd’s going there’s no point in calling your name, you’ve got to do some jumping jacks under the ball and try to let everyone know that you’ve got it covered.”With the bat, Henriques slammed eight sixes in his 31-ball 72 after the Sixers’ innings had been halted by a storm after 3.2 overs which left them with just four more deliveries of the powerplay when the match resumed.”Given we only had four balls in the powerplay, a bit of moisture, and our spinners perhaps not being that effective, [the score] might just have been par. I’m really happy with how the bowlers closed out,” he said.The victory took the Sixers back to second as they aim to secure a spot in the Qualifier against the Stars which would give them a second chance of making the final.The umpires discuss the weather situation at the Sydney Showground•Getty ImagesIs five overs enough for a T20 result?Despite being on the right side of the rain-affected result on Saturday, the Sydney Thunder captain Callum Ferguson has questioned whether five overs should be enough to constitute a match in T20.The Thunder were ahead of the DLS when rain arrived for the final time against local rivals Sydney Sixers, giving them a vital win as they push for the Big Bash finals.Earlier in the competition they were denied a victory in Canberra when smoke stopped play against the Adelaide Strikers four balls before the five-over mark had been reached.”You’d love to be able to stretch the game out longer wouldn’t you, and not have to worry about cut-off times and whatnot,” Ferguson told reporters. “But there’s got to be an end at some point, doesn’t there. It’s like Test cricket, the never-ending Tests aren’t around anymore either.”It’s frustrating. I’m not sure exactly what the answer is. You’ve just got to make sure that Duckworth-Lewis is as fair as possible and from there at least we got a result. But again, I just wonder whether five overs is enough time to really give you a genuine result. Maybe that’s something we could look at, whether it needs to be 10 [overs]. I don’t know the answer.”The Sixers captain Moises Henriques reiterated the view that the much-needed rain was more important than the result of a cricket match, but did question whether conditions at the Showground Stadium had been fair after his team were skittled for 76 with the ball zipping around on a damp surface.”Rather than trying to get the maximum amount of overs played in a game…a more even contest is trying to get both teams batting in the same conditions rather than we go out to bat straight after the covers have been sitting on the wicket for four hours,” Henriques said. “I’m not even sure if they rolled the wicket before we batted on it. Then it’s aired for an hour-and-a-half plus the 20 minutes in the changeover and they [Thunder] get to bat on a rolled wicket.”But with nights like this you can’t predict when the rain comes as well, so that’s going to make it difficult one, because at the same time they are trying to get as much cricket in for the fans and people watching.”Lyon named in Sydney Sixers squadNathan Lyon is closing in on a return from the finger injury he suffered in the final Test against New Zealand having been named in the Sydney Sixers’ squad for the local derby against the Sydney Thunder at Sydney Showgrounds on Saturday.Lyon split his thumb dropping a return catch at the SCG which delayed his entry into this season’s BBL having been overlooked for Australia’s one-day tour of India.A decision will be taken closer to the start of the match against the Thunder as to whether Lyon is able to make the final XI.The Sixers, who are currently second, are set to get a major boost to their line-up for the closing stages of qualifying and then the knockouts with Steven Smith and Josh Hazlewood due to be available following the ODI tour of India.I’m really looking forward to getting back out there for the Sixers,” Lyon said. “Whether that’s Saturday or Monday or whenever, I want to make a contribution as we head towards the finals. We get [Steve] Smith and [Josh] Hazlewood back soon too, so it’s a pretty exciting team to be around.”Stars lose Haris RaufThe Melbourne Stars will assess their options following Haris Rauf’s call-up to the Pakistan T20I squad and will see whether there is a window for him to return after three-match series.Rauf will fly out of Australia on Friday so won’t be available for Saturday’s match against the Perth Scorchers at the MCG.The final T20I against Bangladesh takes place on January 29 which means Rauf could be available for the latter stages of the knockouts. With the Stars currently well ahead at the top of the table they are all-but certain to be playing in the Qualifier on January 31. Winning that match would put them straight into the final on February 8, but they would get a second chance – on February 6 in the Challenger – if they lose.A Stars statement said: “The club is currently working through timelines around any potential return for Rauf following the series and will announce any updates to their international roster in due course.”They will also be without left-arm quick Jackson Coleman, who was Player of the Match against the Scorchers in Perth, for the return fixture at the MCG after he suffered right oblique muscle tightness.

تحدث المدير الفني لفريق ليفربول، آرني سلوت، عن فوزهم المثير في مباراة الأمس على باير ليفركوزن في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

واستضاف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة الفريقين في الجولة الرابعة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث فاز ليفربول بأربعة أهداف دون رد.

وقال سلوت، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “لا أعلم إن كان ذلك بسبب كثافة اللعب لكننا خاطرنا أكثر، كان هناك ضغطًا على خط الوسط كثيرًا وقمنا بالتعديل وخاطرنا باللعب واحدًا ضد واحد في كل مكان”.

وأضاف: “كانت لدينا فرصا أفضل في الشوط الأول ولم يشكلوا تهديدًا على المرمى”.

وواصل: “بالنظر إلى مدى جودة الخصم في أوروبا، في بعض الأحيان يكون المهاجم القوي أفضل من شخص أسرع قليلاً، قام كورتيس جونز بتمريرة رائعة ثم لديك شخص بسرعة لوتشو (دياز) لإنهاء التمريرة، كانت التمريرة جيدة مثل الهدف في رأيي”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | ماذا قدم محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وباير ليفركوزن بـ دوري أبطال أوروبا؟

وأردف: “لا تنظر كمدرب إلى المستقبل على مدى الأشهر الثلاثة القادمة، أنت دائمًا تلعب مباراة تلو الأخرى، لدينا مباراة صعبة أخرى ضد أستون فيلا يوم السبت”.

وفيما يخص فيرجيل فان دايك، قال: “يتعرض أحيانًا لانتقادات بسبب عدم دخوله خط الوسط، الآن أنصح هؤلاء الأشخاص بمشاهدة هذه المباراة اليوم لأنه كان يتقدم دائمًا”.

وعن مستقبل كيليهر، قال: “هذا الأمر في المستقبل، إنه يؤدي بشكل جيد ولدينا حارس مرمى آخر أيضًا، ما يعجبني في المباراة هو أننا كنا بحاجة إليه قبل خمس دقائق فقط من النهاية”.

واختتم: “من الصعب اختراق دفاعنا ولكن في بعض الأحيان يلعبون من خلال الضغط، أحب معدل عمل اللاعبين”.

The proposed tournament – with a fourth team participating – could become an annual affair

Daniel Brettig23-Dec-2019

India, England and Australia may overturn the delicately balanced global cricket calendar and play an annual limited-overs tournament among themselves – with one other nation – from 2021 onwards, according to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly.In a possible indicator as to how the new BCCI administration would like to see the game’s schedule shape up in the future, Ganguly is reported to have revealed that the Indian board has been in discussion with the ECB and Cricket Australia about staging a four-nation tournament, hosted by rotation, every year. The arrangement could run against the ICC’s intentions – agreed to in principle by member nations earlier this year, albeit with a host of caveats – to add an extra 50-over tournament to the ICC events cycle beginning in 2023, so there is a global event providing revenue to member nations in each year of the cycle.”Australia, England, India and another top team will feature in the Super Series, which begins in 2021, and the first edition of the tournament will be played in India,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by Kolkata-based newspapers at an event organised by a fantasy cricket app over the weekend. This was soon after he had returned from a trip the UK along with BCCI secretary Jay Shah and treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal to meet ECB officials.ALSO READ: Earl Eddings – from the frying pan into the fire?Other details for the event purportedly include potential windows for each of the three nations to host it – October/November for India, September for England and October/November or February/March for Australia.There have been plenty of discussions lately about the future shape of the global game, with CA chair Earl Eddings and chief executive Kevin Roberts recently hosting ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney for a meeting in Melbourne, in addition to Ganguly’s visit to London. Eddings and Roberts are set to sit down with Ganguly and the BCCI in January, during Australia’s ODI tour of India.Some discussion is also believed to have surrounded arrangements for warm-up matches ahead of next year’s men’s T20 World Cup in Australia. It is understood that Australia are currently set to play India and West Indies in two series of warm-up matches ahead of the tournament proper.When contacted about the BCCI’s plans, a CA spokesperson declined to comment. Eddings, however, has previously expressed to ESPNcricinfo his reluctance to see the world’s major financial powers again separate themselves from the rest of member nations, who depend largely upon revenue from ICC events for their financial health, as had taken place in 2014.”I don’t think that did cricket any favours,” Eddings said of the Big Three plan. “I think there’s a balance, you find that balance between looking after your own backyard and understanding your responsibilities as a custodian of the global game, and I think that’s always a challenge.”But certainly we walk into those conversations saying we need to look at bilateral cricket, but we also, as members of the ICC, have a responsibility and accountability to maximise it and make it work for everyone.”

A "superb" Rangers player has provided a concerning update regarding his future at Ibrox ahead of a big decision to make in the summer.

Rangers transfer news

The Gers will be focusing on some important transfer business during the summer window, with a number of players out of contract and Philippe Clement getting his first real chance to shape the squad to his image.

Fabio Silva joined on loan back in January, arriving from Wolves until the end of the season, and a permanent switch could come to fruition. The Premier League club are believed to be willing to sell him for a cut price, at which point Clement could pounce.

Meanwhile, former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has claimed that the Gers could have the edge over the Hoops for the signing of Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland, saying: "He’ll score goals in Scotland. I think it’ll be an interesting one if he goes to Ibrox – it’s a real step in the right direction and something Celtic will have to be aware of."

There is also a good chance that some Rangers players will leave at the end of the season, with the likes of John Lundstram, Borna Barisic and Kemar Roofe all out of contract at that point. Now, a new update has emerged over the future of another Gers player.

Rangers could lose "superb" gem

Speaking to Voetbal International [via Sport Witness], Sam Lammers admitted that his Rangers future is up in the air, revealing he has "no idea" what's going to happen.

"What will happen next? I have no idea, there have been no discussions about that yet. It is clear that I have the ambition to reach as high as possible. I have had good moments abroad, but also bad moments. The most important thing is that I become a better player every year and that it is now reflected in statistics, it is important to me and also for the image to the outside world."

Lammers does feel like an expendable figure this summer, considering he was loaned out to Utrecht in January, but losing him could still be considered a blow, given the quality that he possesses.

There was a reason why Rangers were willing to pay around £3m for his services last summer, and Heerenveen manager Kees van Wonderen has lauded him in the past: "What you get from him as a player is first and foremost a superb work ethic. He’s a left-footed striker and is good technically.

"He’s a player who has an eye on the tactical aspects of the game, he appreciates how the game is played, where the spaces are and how to deal with circumstances on the pitch. He knows how to play an opponent and is a very clever guy. I can see him being a big success in Scotland. Rangers have signed a quality player who can make a big impact."

Rangers' top goalscorers this season

Total

James Tavernier

18

Cyriel Dessers

15

Abdallah Sima

14

Danilo

6

Todd Cantwell

6

If Clements decides that getting Lammers off the club's wage bill and bringing in another striker is the best decision, he has done enough to earn the supporters' trust, but five goals and three assists in the league since joining Utrecht does highlight his quality.

Debutant Annabel Sutherland pulled Australia level across 20 overs after Sarah Glenn had made England favourites

The Report by Andrew McGlashan01-Feb-2020

England won the Super OverFor the third time in four days a T20I went to a Super Over and it was England who prevailed at the end of a gripping match in Canberra having restricted Australia to eight after debutant Annabel Sutherland hauled the home side level in the initial 20 overs when the game had appeared gone.Australia needed 40 off the last three overs when Sutherland struck 22 off 11 balls and Delissa Kimmince 15 off 6 to mean the tie-breaker was needed. Sophie Ecclestone did superbly to keep Alyssa Healy and Ash Gardner to single figures then captain Heather Knight, who had turned England’s innings around with another career-best, struck consecutive boundaries.After ten overs England were in significant trouble on 3 for 41, but for the second game running Knight made a new high score to rebuild in a magnificent 115-run stand with Fran Wilson.Australia made a positive start in the powerplay but legspinner Sarah Glenn turned things in England’s favour. Having removed Gardner she then claimed Ellyse Perry and Rachael Haynes in the space of three deliveries in her final over. When Nat Sciver had top-scorer Beth Mooney stumped for a free-flowing 65 the game was almost England’s but Sutherland pulled it back for Australia before they came up short.Perry goes straight throughThese tri-series matches, while important in themselves, will also give an eye on some tactics that might be used in the T20 World Cup. Perry was used straight through for her four overs with the new ball and produced a miserly spell that conceded just nine runs – the fifth time she has gone for less than 10 in her full allocation in T20Is. Amy Jones had a particularly tough time against her with 13 dots from the 17 balls she faced from Perry. Her spell was a large reason why England limped to the halfway mark on 3 for 41.Knight’s chargeKnight, who averaged 11.64 against Australia in T20Is before this match, has started this tour in fine form and followed her 67 against India with another outstanding innings as she and Wilson – who retained her spot at No. 5 – resurrected the innings with a stand of 115 in 11 overs. They put the Australia attack under pressure in the latter half of the innings and they couldn’t stem the flow of runs – not the first time it has happened to them when an opposition batter has got going. The final five overs of the innings brought 66 runs with the last, from Megan Schutt, being taken for 20 as Knight twice cleared the boundary.Contrasting powerplay approachAustralia coach Matthew Mott has instilled a no-fear approach into the team’s batting and their intentions were clear at the start of the chase when Mooney and Healy played their shots. However, after taking two boundaries off Freya Davies’ first two deliveries Healy picked out mid-off and Gardner took nine balls to get off the mark. Mooney, though, was playing superbly and at the end of the fielding restrictions had 32 off 21 balls with Australia’s required rate under eight an over.Glenn makes England favourites, but then…Gardner’s frustrations ended when she picked out mid-off against Glenn and Meg Lanning dragged into her stumps against Ecclestone as England applied pressure. However, it was Glenn’s last over that really changed the game when Perry was pinned lbw by a straighter delivery the ball after clearing the rope for her first boundary. Two balls later, Haynes popped a return catch to Glenn and suddenly Australia’s chase was falling apart when Sciver also claimed two in three balls in the 17th over. However, their batting is exceptionally deep and that was on display as Sutherland struck three consecutive boundaries off Katherine Brunt who conceded her most expensive T20I figures. Still, England looked in control with 18 needed off seven only for Kimmince to launch Sciver’s last delivery for six then in the final over scooped Ecclestone for four. Three were needed off the last ball but they could only scamper two.Ecclestone holds her nerveThe left-arm spinner was handed the pressure of the crucial six balls of the Super Over and she could not have done much better. She beat Healy first ball and after three deliveries Australia had just three runs. A brilliant piece of work off her own bowling meant the fifth ball was a dot and another yorker only yielded a final-ball single. In reply, Perry started with two singles but then Knight lapped a boundary to ease the pressure before clearing the off side to bring victory.

MatériaMais Notícias

Na manhã deste sábado, o Corinthians encerrou sua preparação para enfrentar o Bahia, neste domingo, às 16h, pela quinta rodada do Brasileirão-2021. Logo após o treinamento, o clube divulgou a lista de relacionados com novidades positivas e negativas, mas com a certeza de que haverá mudanças no ataque.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansSem Luan e Gustavo Mosquito, Corinthians encerra preparação para enfrentar o BahiaCorinthians19/06/2021CorinthiansOrganizadas do Corinthians se reúnem para protestar contra atual situação do clubeCorinthians19/06/2021CorinthiansFagner na lista! Veja o Top 20 dos jogadores que mais vestiram a camisa do CorinthiansCorinthians18/06/2021

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

GALERIA
>Relembre o desempenho do Corinthians no Brasileirão por pontos corridos

Sem poder contar com Luan (tendinite no adutor da coxa direita) e Gustavo Mosquito (liberado por luto familiar), titulares absolutos desde a chegada de Sylvinho, a comissão técnica deverá alterar a configuração do setor ofensivo e, para isso, recebe dois reforços na lista de relacionados para o jogo.

Jô se recuperou de uma lesão na panturrilha esquerda e está novamente à disposição do treinador. Ele pode retornar ao time titular e ocupar a vaga deixada por Luan, que estava atuando como “falso 9”. Outro reforço para o grupo é o do jovem Rodrigo Varanda, que não era relacionado desde o dia 26 de maio e não atua desde 25 de abril, ainda pela fase de grupos do Paulistão.

Quem está fora da relação também é Léo Natel, que sofreu uma luxação no ombro esquerdo contra o Red Bull Bragantino, na última quarta-feira, e está fora de combate por tempo indeterminado. Será mais um desfalque no ataque.

Gabriel Pereira, Ruan Oliveira e Gustavo Mantuan estão em transição física após recuperação de lesão. Caíque França e Danilo Avelar seguem com o departamento médico, enquanto Otero está com a seleção da Venezuela.

Com isso, um provável Corinthians pare enfrentar o Bahia é: Cássio; Fagner, João Victor, Gil e Fábio Santos; Cantillo, Gabriel e Roni; Rodrigo Varanda (Adson ou Ramiro), Mateus Vital (Araos) e Jô (Cauê).

Confira a lista de relacionados do Corinthians:

Goleiros: Cássio. Guilherme e Matheus Donelli
Laterais: Fábio Santos, Fagner e Lucas Piton
Zagueiros: Bruno Méndez, Gil, Jemerson, João Victor e Raul Gustavo
Meio-campistas: Adson, Araos, Cantillo, Gabriel, Mateus Vital, Ramiro, Roni, Vitinho e Xavier
Atacantes: Cauê, Jô e Rodrigo Varanda

continua após a publicidade

Chelsea have reportedly made their move to sign a new defender who will have a £77m release clause in his contract next year.

Chelsea transfer rumours

Things haven’t gone to plan on the pitch for Mauricio Pochettino during his first season at Stamford Bridge, despite Todd Boehly splashing the cash back in the summer.

Chelsea summer signings

Axel Disasi (Monaco)

£38.5m

Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal)

£30.1m

Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

£52m

Kendry Paez (Independiente del Valle)

£17.27m

Robert Sanchez (Brighton)

£25m

Moises Caicedo (Brighton)

£115m

Lesley Ugochukwu (Rennes)

£23.5m

Angelo Gabriel (Santos)

Undisclosed

Alex Matos (Norwich)

Undisclosed

Diego Moreira (Benfica)

Undisclosed

Ishe Samuels-Smith (Everton)

Undisclosed

Dujuan Richards (Phoenix All Stars Academy)

Undisclosed

Romeo Lavia (Southampton)

£58m

Deivid Washington (Santos)

£17.1m

Djordje Petrovic (New England Revolution)

£14m

Cole Palmer (Manchester City)

£42.5m

All fees courtesy of Sky Sports

Tuesday’s 5-0 defeat to rivals Arsenal was the latest blow for the Blues, who may need to raise £100 million through player sales before the end of the financial year, or risk PSR sanctions.

However, despite this, there have still been plenty of rumours about new arrivals ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, regardless of who is in charge. For example, AC Milan star Rafael Leao has been linked with a move to Chelsea, as has Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

In fact, reports in recent months have claimed that Chelsea were readying a player plus cash deal to sign the Nigeria international, with a huge seven-year deal being prepared, which could see Osimhen receive more than £90m in London between 2024 to 2031.

There may well be the need for additions at the back as well, especially with Thiago Silva out of contract in the summer and turning 40 years of age in September.

Chelsea make contact to sign RB Leipzig defender

According to reports in France, relayed by The Sun, Chelsea have made contact to sign RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba. The Blues have reached out over a transfer for the 21-year-old, however, RB Leipzig do not want to sell Lukeba at any cost this summer.

The Bundesliga side are in a strong position until 2025, when a £77m release clause kicks in, with that figure dropping to £60m in 2026. Premier League rivals Manchester United are also thought to be interested in Lukeba, who joined Leipzig from Lyon last year.

The Frenchman has made 37 appearances in all competitions this season and appears to be a star in the making, with his Transfermarkt valuation now standing at a career-high €40m.

Lukeba, once described a “generational talent” in the media, has also been praised by Max Eberl, Leipzig's managing director for sport, who said: "He is left-footed and can play as a left-sided centre-back in both a back-three and a back-four. Castello’s main strengths are his tough-tackling nature, his pace, his positioning and how good he is on the ball."

£110,000-per-week star agrees to leave Chelsea with announcement soon

His future has been decided.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 24, 2024

A move could still materialise this summer, however, a transfer may well be more likely in 2025 for £77m, but Lukeba’s development will be one to keep an eye on.

The 15-year-old broke compatriot Rohit Paudel’s record with a counterattacking fifty against USA

Peter Della Penna in Kathmandu09-Feb-2020The conveyor belt of teenage prodigies in Nepal has churned out a new sensation in the form of allrounder Kushal Malla, who on Saturday broke fellow countryman Rohit Paudel’s record to became the youngest player in men’s cricket to score a half-century in ODIs, during Nepal’s 35-run win over USA. Rohit had set the record in 2019 after making a fifty against UAE in Dubai, but Kushal bested him by making 50 off 51 balls at the age of 15 years and 340 days.Kushal entered the XI at the expense of Paudel, arriving at No. 6 with the score 47 for 4 after Nepal had been sent in. Three overs later they were 49 for 5 before Kushal commenced a thrilling counter-attack against USA’s medium-pace battery, bringing the crowd of 12,000 fans inside Tribhuvan University Stadium to their feet as chants of “Ku-SHAL! Ku-SHAL!” rang out around the ground.After a single to get off the mark, he struck four and six off USA’s fastest bowler, Cameron Stevenson, in the 22nd over. His sweetest strike of the day came three overs later when he drove captain Saurabh Netravalkar straight down the ground for his second six. He was spilled at mid-off when he offered a straightforward chance on 38 but made the most of it by clocking another six off Ian Holland’s medium-pace in the next over.A single took him to his half-century off 49 balls and he was so focused on the task at hand, rebuilding the innings during an 84-run partnership with Binod Bhandari, that he never raised his bat to acknowledge the crowd’s raucous ovation. He fell two balls later, pulling a short ball from left-arm spinner Karima Gore to deep midwicket.Kushal added to his batting exploits later in the day by contributing a superb spell of left-arm spin. He claimed the wicket of Elmore Hutchinson clean bowled to make the score 65 for 7 during USA’s failed chase of 191. He eventually ended with figures of 1 for 30 in 10 overs as USA were bowled out for 155. Despite Kushal’s all-round heroics, fast bowler Karan KC was named Man of the Match for Nepal after claiming 4 for 15, including the prized scalp of Holland for 75 as the ninth wicket when USA was threatening to rally in the final 10 overs.

Fast bowler Matt Henry has been called up to the New Zealand Test squad as cover for Neil Wagner, who is awaiting the birth of his child. New Zealand Cricket tweeted that Henry will arrive in Wellington on Wednesday evening for the Test starting on Friday, and Wagner will not be joining the squad as he and his wife await the birth of their first child. Wagner will remain in Tauranga until the birth.*Henry will join Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson among the pace options for New Zealand. The Basin Reserve pitch wore a pretty green look with 15-18mm grass two days before the Test, except for a slightly bare patch at one end, which meant the possibility of New Zealand playing four quicks could not be ruled out.Even though Lockie Ferguson had returned to the domestic Ford Trophy, coach Gary Stead had said recently that his “loads aren’t anywhere near for us to be able to consider him for four-day [Test] cricket.” Henry, too, has been playing the Ford Trophy but Stead had said picking Jamieson over Henry in the initial squad was a “tough call”.ALSO READ: Lockie Ferguson not rushing return from calf injuryWhile Jamieson will be in line for a Test debut after impressing in the recent ODIs, Henry has played 12 Tests, including the Sydney game against Australia last month in which he finished with 1 for 94 and 1 for 54 in New Zealand’s 279-run loss before being dropped.Overall, Henry has taken 30 Test wickets in his 12 games with an average exceeding 50. He has played two Tests against India – both in India in 2016 – but it was in the World Cup semi-final last year that he troubled them with his 3 for 37 to set up New Zealand’s win.The hosts will be eager to pose problems for India again, this time because the two Tests count for the World Test Championship, where New Zealand are currently placed sixth with only one win from six games. India, meanwhile, are on top with seven wins from as many games.Test squad: Kane Williamson (capt.) Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Matt Henry*0520GMT: The story was updated after NZC confirmed Wagner won’t join the squad