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تفاعلت جماهير فريق ليفربول مع مشاركة النجم المصري محمد صلاح في مباراة المنتخب الوطني، مساء الجمعة، ضد نظيره منتخب إثيوبيا، في فترة التوقف الدولي الحالي، لشهر سبتمبر.

وخاض منتخب مصر مباراته في الجولة السابعة من تصفيات قارة إفريقيا المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم 2026 ضد إثيوبيا، حيث فاز الفراعنة بهدفين دون رد.

وسجل النجم محمد صلاح هدف منتخب مصر الأول، من ضربة جزاء، بينما تحصل أصحاب الأرض على أخرى ومنحها لـ عمر مرموش، الذي نفذها بنجاح.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ترتيب هدافي تصفيات كأس العالم 2026 بعد هدف محمد صلاح أمام إثيوبيا

وأشار ليفربول، عبر حسابه الرسمي بموقع “إكس”، إلى أن محمد صلاح سجل هدفًا في مباراة مصر وإثيوبيا، لتتفاعل جماهير الفريق الإنجليزي على النحو التالي:

“الملك المصري”.

Egyptian King — keenn.somi (@keenn_eth) September 5, 2025

“آلة تهديفية”.

Goal Machine ❤️ — Sunil K C🇳🇵 (@FplBatuwa) September 5, 2025

“لا نشك أبدًا في ذلك الرجل”.

Never doubt this man❤️ — 🇮🇹 Leoni Giovanni (@LeoniGiovannii) September 5, 2025

“لست متفاجئًا”.

No surprised — jpremewwcoin 🔥 (@JOHNPRECIO54329) September 5, 2025

“سيعود، هل الدوري الإنجليزي مستعد؟”.

he’s coming back, @premierleague are you ready? — the.best (@thebest_LFC) September 5, 2025

“محمد صلاح لا يستطيع التوقف عن التسجيل”.

👑🇪🇬 Salah just can’t stop scoring. 🔥 — Nkunda Amahoro (@GahoraneIbyiza) September 5, 2025

“أفضل لاعب إفريقي على مر العصور، الملك مو صلاح”.

African goat of all time. King Mo Salah ❤️ — Princedoinbetter (@flenjor99) September 5, 2025

“سجل ومنح ركلته لـ عمر مرموش، أسطورة!”.

And still gave Omar his penalty legend — sleek__ay (@Symplyell) September 5, 2025

Gloucestershire top-four hopes take a hit as visitors stage recovery from 32 for 4

ECB Reporters Network11-Jul-2024Jack Davies and Martin Andersson staged a gutsy alliance of 101 as Middlesex recovered from adversity to forge a 29-run Vitality Blast victory over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.Reduced to 32 for 4 in the powerplay, the Londoners were indebted to their fifth wicket pair, Davies raising 53 in 35 balls and Andersson 52 from 39 deliveries to stage a recovery that saw Middlesex eventually post a competitive total of 181 for 8.It proved too big an ask for Gloucestershire, whose chase was undermined by Luke Hollman, the leg spinner claiming 3-37 from four overs. Jack Taylor and Beau Webster scored 45 and 31 respectively and staged a stand of 68 for the fourth wicket to keep the chase alive, but Middlesex seamers Blake Cullen, Noah Cornwell, Tom Helm and Ryan Higgins bowled a disciplined line to dismiss the home side for 152 in 19.5 overs.Gloucestershire’s fifth defeat in 11 outings in the South Group denied them an opportunity to climb into the top four for the first time and are now under pressure to win against Hampshire in Southampton on Friday if they are to keep alive their hopes of claiming a place in the quarter-finals.For bottom-of-the-table Middlesex, this was their first win since early June and only their second in 11 matches this season. It came too without two of their leading batters: Stephen Eskinazi was rested as a precaution due to a niggle, while Max Holden was unavailable due to illness.Middlesex lost the toss and suffered a series of early blows, openers Leus du Plooy and Mark Stoneman departing cheaply as David Payne and Matt Taylor made early in-roads. Former Gloucestershire man Higgins endured a Festival return to forget, pulling a length ball from Josh Shaw and falling to a brilliant one-handed catch by Miles Hammond at mid-on, while Joe Cracknell skied Payne to deep midwicket as the visitors subsided to 32 for 4 inside five overs.In no position to take undue risks, Davies and Andersson sought recourse in sensible cricket for a while as they attempted to rebuild. Lured into chancing his arm by the College Ground’s short boundaries, Davies crashed Marchant de Lange for two successive sixes over midwicket as Middlesex counter-punched, the fifth wicket partnership realising 50 from 34 balls as the score progressed to 81 for 4 at halfway.Jack Taylor permitted Davies a life on 37, fumbling a presentable chance at mid-on off the bowling of de Lange and the Middlesex man made the hosts pay, going to 50 via 32 balls. Growing in stature as he found the boundary with increasing regularity, Andersson faced just three deliveries more in attaining the same landmark and the partnership entered three figures in the 16th over.Having accrued five fours and two sixes, Davies hoisted de Lange to deep backward square to afford Gloucestershire relief, Anderson hit Matt Taylor to backward point and Luke Hollman was brilliantly run out by Jack Taylor as the visitors slipped from 133 for 4 to 138 for 7 in the space of nine balls. Payne returned to remove big-hitting Tom Helm, after which Josh De Caires smashed 31 not out off 16 balls, with three fours and a six, to haul his side to a challenging total.Sensing an opportunity to forge a rare victory, Middlesex exerted early pressure with the new ball, Cornwell bowling Hammond for a nine-ball duck and then inducing James Bracey to miscue to mid-on as the hosts battled their way to 34 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.Cameron Bancroft never appeared comfortable and had scratched just 10 off 18 balls when he was pinned lbw by Hollman’s first ball with the score on 40 in the eighth. Webster and Jack Taylor did their utmost to breathe new life into the chase, but the required rate was up to 11.2 an over by the time Gloucestershire reached halfway on 70 for 3.Taylor demonstrated aggressive intent when pulling Higgins high over the midwicket boundary, while Webster twice drove the same bowler for four through the cover region as the fourth wicket pair built momentum. Taylor hit Hollman for a straight six to raise the 50 partnership in 31 balls and then repeated the feat next delivery to bring up three figures and rouse a substantial Festival audience.But scoreboard pressure forced a mistake and Taylor, having made 45 from 24 balls in a stand of 68, hoisted Blake Cullen high to midwicket. Higgins then clean bowled Webster for a 26-ball 31, at which point Gloucestershire required a further 70 runs from five overs with two new batsmen in the middle.Hollman removed Ben Charlesworth and Ollie Price in the sixteenth over to reduce the home side to 115 for 7, while Helm and Higgins accounted for Shaw and Matt Taylor respectively to put the outcome beyond doubt.

Right from the moment Arne Slot got to work in his new job at Liverpool F.C., there was a sense that FSG had appointed a coach who knew his stuff.

But, perhaps, even FSG’s chiefs hadn’t expected such a startling ascension to the peak of the English pyramid; not 12 months into his role, Slot clinched the Premier League, he won it with dominance, Liverpool’s quest never really in doubt after Manchester City peeled away before a harsh winter dragged them down further still.

There’s no question sweeping changes are now needed: Trent Alexander-Arnold is leaving for Real Madrid on a Bosman, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is on the verge of joining as his replacement.

Plenty more, such as a striker, since Darwin Nunez is leaving, is needed. However, numerous areas could be strengthened.

Liverpool only brought Federico Chiesa into the fold, signing the injury-prone Juventus star for a cut-price £12.5m fee. Chiesa, sadly, hasn’t kicked on, only starting one top-flight fixture.

The right-sided Chiesa was always up against it, for Mohamed Salah has just produced a talismanic campaign for the ages.

Mohamed Salah's historic season

Salah scoring goals is no new thing on the English scene. The Egyptian has been one of the most destructive forwards in European football since signing for Liverpool in 2017, leaving AS Roma for a £34m fee.

The 32-year-old’s season rubber-stamped his reputation as one of the finest to do it. Journalist Uri Levy has even said, “Mohamed Salah has a very good chance to go down in history as the greatest Premier League player of all time.”

And for good reason. Football is a team sport, but Salah has dragged his side toward gold. Across all competitions this season, he’s scored 33 goals and provided 23 assists across 51 matches.

His 28-goal return in the Premier League has also seen him break into the division’s top five goalscorers in history. With a two-year extension penned last month, Salah has a golden opportunity to overtake Harry Kane as the second-highest scorer of all time, behind only Alan Shearer.

He’s a true great, and Liverpool will struggle to replace him. Indeed, it would take an incredible feat to find a bigger talent than the winger, but FSG might just have found such a player ahead of the summer transfer window.

Liverpool make staggering offer

Spanish outlet Sport have made something of a bombshell claim concerning Liverpool and Barcelona, the latter of whom wish to sign Luis Diaz this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Standing in the way of La Blaugrana’s bid is Florian Wirtz, with the Bayer Leverkusen sensation at the top of FSG’s shopping list. The report actually reveals that Liverpool have presented an ‘astronomical offer’ to Wirtz as they look to beat Bayern Munich to the 22-year-old’s signature.

Signing Wirtz won’t be easy, even though Manchester City have pulled out of the running. Firstly, Bayern consider themselves favourites to sign the player, keeping him in his homeland, while Leverkusen are also looking to fetch a sum of €150m (£126m) for their star man.

For now, a waiting game, with the ball very much in the attacking midfielder’s court.

What Florian Wirtz would bring to Liverpool

Wirtz is a young and up-and-coming talent. Oh, he’s also one of the most talented and effective in the game. Former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes has even called him “the best midfielder in the world.”

Debatable? Certainly. Unfounded? Certainly not. Wirtz might only be 22 but he’s already racked up 197 appearances for Leverkusen, scoring 57 goals and providing 65 assists.

He’s not just a goal-getting machine, either (not that that’s a bad thing). As per Sofascore, Wirtz has created 29 big chances across the past two Bundesliga campaigns, with his athleticism underlined by physical metrics: he’s averaged 2.6 dribbles and 5.2 successful duels per game in 2024/25.

Given the Germany international’s skyrocketing journey to the highest echelon of European footballers, still so young, he could prove to be the best attacking player the club has seen in a very long time, maybe even eclipsing Salah.

Though ‘The Egyptian King’ has cemented himself in immortality, he was once discarded by Chelsea after failing to make his mark at Stamford Bridge. A career revival with two clubs in Italy propelled him back to the Premier League, but it wasn’t until he was 25 that Jurgen Klopp came calling.

Moreover, Wirtz has been described by journalist Zach Lowy as a “world-class” player who “could win the Ballon d’Or one day.”

From a wider, longer lens, Wirtz’s minutes will need to be managed to ensure he doesn’t burn out toward his thirties, having featured prominently across his fledgling years and having already overcome an ACL injury.

But his startling output and indeed the staggering £126m fee that Liverpool may have to pay highlight a ceiling that might not even be there. That is to say, Wirtz’s potential is boundless; with such talent and athleticism, he truly could become one of the greatest contemporaries in the Premier League and supercharge the Slot era toward a sustained spell of dominance, both domestically and abroad.

He’s got all the tricks and plenty more flicks besides, but Wirtz is also a focused and intelligent player whose decision-making and application have led talent scout Jacek Kulig to praise his “sensational blend of flair and creativity.”

And he’s only just getting started. With Slot tinkering away at the player’s skill set, we may well see him go from strength to strength and become one of the deadliest players in Europe, if he’s not already.

It’s a high bar to reach for, but he might just prove himself an even bigger talent than Salah.

Their best LW since Mane: Liverpool prepare move for "world-class" £50m ace

Liverpool could be about to land a star who could follow in Sadio Mane’s footsteps at Anfield.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 23, 2025

Newcastle United have now submitted a significant bid for an “incredible” player, with Eddie Howe of the belief he would be a perfect fit in his midfield, according to a report.

Newcastle pushing for the Champions League

Regardless of whether Newcastle secure Champions League football, the 2024-25 season will always be remembered fondly by fans, having finally ended their 70-year wait to win a major honour, but they still remain in a strong position to seal a top-five finish.

The Magpies are sitting pretty in fourth place, two points clear of Nottingham Forest with just three Premier League games left to play, although their remaining fixtures are on the more difficult side, with matches against two direct rivals now on the horizon.

Newcastle’s remaining Premier League fixtures

Date

Chelsea (h)

May 11th

Arsenal (a)

May 18th

Everton (h)

May 25th

It could prove to be a difficult task, but should Howe’s side qualify for Europe’s elite competition, they should be able to attract some top players in the summer, with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah and Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo believed to be of interest.

According to a report from Spain, Newcastle are also interested in a new midfielder, having submitted a €25m (£21m) bid for Girona maestro Yangel Herrera, who they are now determined to win the race for.

Atletico Madrid and top-five rivals Nottingham Forest are also interested in signing Herrera this summer, but the Magpies have now taken a firm step towards securing his signature, having put a strong offer on the table.

Howe believes the Venezuelan would fit perfectly into his side, and the manager is looking to introduce some additional quality into an already impressive midfield, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali attracting interest due to their performances this season.

Newcastle identify "incredible" £65m Prem forward as ideal summer target

The Magpies have expressed an interest in signing a Premier League attacker this summer.

ByDominic Lund May 6, 2025 Herrera could be "incredible" signing for Newcastle

While Howe is not short on top-quality midfield options, there are clear signs the 27-year-old is a well-rounded midfielder, who could play an important role for the Magpies in a potential Champions League campaign next season.

The central midfielder has caught the eye in front of goal for Girona this term, registering four goals and three assists in La Liga, including a well-taken headed effort against Celta Vigo back in September.

Not only that, but the former New York City FC man impressed with his tackling ability in the early stages of his career, while also catching the eye due to his pass-success rate in the final third during the 2023-24 campaign.

Lauded as an “incredible player” by journalist Zach Lowy, there are plenty of signs that Herrera could be a success at a major European club, so it is a promising development that Newcastle have now made a concrete approach.

Chelsea are now pushing hard to sign a “superstar” forward who’s been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, with talks intensifying in recent days, according to a report.

Blues stepping up summer transfer plans

With the summer transfer window now on the horizon, the Blues are now stepping up their efforts to improve their squad, having identified the need to bring in reinforcements in a number of key areas, including between the sticks.

A £47m offer has now been submitted for Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, given that Enzo Maresca has made the decision to drop error-prone Robert Sanchez at times this season, while the manager is also keen to strengthen in more attacking areas.

Talks have been opened over a deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, while Maresca’s side also have a strong chance of winning the race for Barcelona star Raphinha, whose future at the Camp Nou remains up in the air.

Chelsea now favourites to sign £50m player after 7-year contract offer

They’ve reportedly made a tempting proposal.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 25, 2025

Having proven himself at the top level, the Brazilian could set the west Londoners back £77m, but they are also keen on signing an up-and-coming talent who could cost even more, according to a report from Caught Offside.

Chelsea are now pushing hard to sign Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz, with talks being intensified in recent days, but the Turkish forward will not come cheap, with the Italian side set to hold out for as much as €100m (£85m).

Yilldiz’s impressive performances have attracted the attention of the Blues, alongside Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City, but Juventus are unwilling to sanction a departure unless they receive a huge fee.

The Germany-born winger is now viewed as a priority target for Maresca’s side, but Liverpool or Arsenal could be more tempting destinations, particularly if Chelsea miss out on Champions League qualification.

"Superstar" Yildiz has shades of CR7

The 19-year-old has already managed to establish himself as a key player for Juventus, picking up eight goals and five assists in all competitions this season, and there have been some suggestions that he could be destined for the very top.

The starlet is ranked among the best-performing teenagers in Europe’s top five leagues this season, so it is little wonder that Juventus are set to hold out for a huge transfer fee.

It is still very early days, but it goes without saying that £85m would be a fair fee if Yildiz is truly capable of emulating Ronaldo, and it is exciting news that Chelsea are now pushing to get a deal done.

That said, it would be a huge gamble to shell out such a huge amount on a player yet to prove himself at the very highest level over a sustained period.

Starc reflects on his growth as a Test bowler, his relationships with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, his physical challenges, and his commitment to Tests over franchise cricket

Andrew McGlashan11-Jul-20251:08

Starc stars from around the wicket

“It makes me feel old,” Mitchell Starc joked as he was asked to reflect on playing his 100th Test.While last week Kraigg Brathwaite became the 82nd player to reach 100 Tests, only 12 have done so as what would be considered a frontline pace bowler. Starc will join that group against West Indies at Sabina Park, nearly 14 years after his debut, and he also stands five short of 400 wickets.”I don’t like it,” he said about the attention that comes with his looming milestones. “Just get on with the cricket.”Related

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From Galle to Lord's: Starc's ten greatest Test performances

But Starc was able to reflect on the journey to reach this point. “Growing up I was always wanting to pull on the baggy green. I didn’t think I’d play one game, but to have 99 chances to do that has been a real privilege.”Despite only taking up bowling at the age of 14, once he reached the professional level Starc knew he had the ability to bowl quickly and swing the ball but didn’t always have the “tools” to master a variety of conditions and match situations. He credits the long-standing alliance and friendships with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins in helping him develop, including adopting the wobble seam.”I didn’t have a lot through the period where the ball didn’t do anything,” he said. “I obviously had the ability to reverse swing it, but that portion through the middle [of the game]. To grow up in international cricket with two of my closest mates who are two of the world’s best, to learn from them along the way and develop a bit more to my game over the years has probably certainly helped me in the long run.”Then to be able to bowl in different facets of the game, different conditions around the world. It’s probably helped me get as far down the track as I have.”The bond between the three quicks, and overlapping nature of their careers in which they have played 37 Tests together, has also helped each of them. “It’s not lost on myself or the three of us how lucky we are that we’re all from the same place,” Starc said. “We train together, we sit in rehab rooms together over the years. The ability to push each other along the way, whether it’s a flat week or a Test week. I think that contributes to the longevity of the three of us, in particular.”

“Test cricket was probably the hardest format to either feel like I was good enough for or felt like I was capable of doing. To get that opportunity, I wasn’t going to let that pass at all. The years that I did miss franchise cricket, I don’t regret that at all. To get my body in as good a spot as I could for Australia to play 99 games, spend some time at home, spend some time with Alyssa [Healy] and family. That’s the reason why I did those things.”Mitchell Starc on why he missed so many IPL tournaments

Starc himself has not missed a Test through injury since damaging a finger against South Africa in late 2022 which forced him out of three matches, although he still bowled through it in the game itself at the MCG.”There’s a few scars and a few sore bits most days,” he said of the toll of fast bowling. “Whether it be jabs or pain killers along the way, I know what I can and can’t get through. I’m never going to go into a game that I don’t think I can get through.”Whether it’s the growing pains or your body adapting to different modes of bowling. Working out what good pain is, bad pain is, [or] just general soreness. They all contribute to the progression of a young cricketer or a young bowler. I certainly had to learn those pretty quickly, otherwise I was probably going to be at the back end of it pretty quick.”There’s a fair bit of stubbornness along the way. Maybe some stupidity at times. As long as I’m continuing to play my role, no matter how the body’s feeling, then that’s the best thing I can do for the team.”Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have played 37 Tests together•Ryan Pierse/Getty ImagesWhile in recent times Starc has been able to cash in at the IPL, for a number of years he opted not to put his name forward when he could easily have done so to prioritise Test cricket.”I wouldn’t change it,” he said. “Test cricket was probably the hardest format to either feel like I was good enough for or felt like I was capable of doing. To get that opportunity, I wasn’t going to let that pass at all.”The years that I did miss franchise cricket, I don’t regret that at all. To get my body in as good a spot as I could for Australia to play 99 games, spend some time at home, spend some time with Alyssa [Healy] and family.”That’s the reason why I did those things. Whether it’s paid off now, being a couple of days away from playing 100, or the series wins or the Test match wins, looking back at it, I wouldn’t change it.”In terms of the future, Starc didn’t want to look past the upcoming summer which includes the Ashes. As an all-format bowler he will be involved in next year’s T20 World Cup, with the 2027 ODI version a potential further carrot. In terms of Test cricket, which Starc has always said is his No. 1 format, Australia have a bumper period starting next August through to mid-2027.”Andrew [McDonald] said something the other day, [about] we’re not a young bowling group,” he said. “Whilst having a little bit of an eye on what’s to come, it’s also having a mind on making sure we’re as fit and impactful as we have been when we were younger. What that looks like going forward, I’m not sure. I’ll have a few weeks to think about things along the way this year, but obviously we’ve got a big summer coming up.”

Boland and Murphy struggle for impact, as England stay alive in yet another cliffhanger

Andrew McGlashan09-Jul-2023The margins of this series have been so tight that as Mitchell Starc, who had an outstanding Test at Headingley, ran in to bowl at England’s lower order, it was still possible to envisage him winning the game with three yorkers.Instead, Mark Wood played probably the shot of his career as he drilled a cover drive towards the Western Terrace. England suddenly needed seven to win. That shot was followed by a wide and a two out to deep point. Four to win.Then Wood got a top-edge that flew towards deep third. It looked like Scott Boland’s catch coming off the rope but Alex Carey – who has had an interesting couple of weeks but has been largely faultless with the gloves all series – ran after it, dived and couldn’t quite get there.By the standards that had preceded them, therefore, the countdown for those final three runs was almost sedate, although Woakes’ square-drive for the winning boundary – to the opposite side of the ground from Ben Stokes’ famous cut for four four years ago – sent the crowd into familiar scenes of delirium.Having come out on the right side of close finishes in the first two Tests, this time it went against Australia. As with Edgbaston and Lord’s there were so many moments, and small passages of play, that can be picked out as making the difference, but ultimately two had a huge bearing on Australia not quite having enough runs to play with.They had reduced England 142 for 7 at lunch on the second day but then leaked 95 runs in the next 10 overs. Then, batting under sunshine that evening, Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith managed to hand their wickets to Moeen Ali when Australia’s lead was approaching 100. Conditions were tricky for batters throughout, on what was a top-notch Test surface, but with Usman Khawaja also being extracted in that period, it meant Australia were four-down when play eventually resumed under leaden skies on the third evening.Mitchell Starc trapped Ben Duckett lbw early on day four•AFP/Getty Images”Mitch [Marsh] got us back in the game and Travis [Head],” Pat Cummins said. “Then we lost 6 for 20. The next day their tail put on a good partnership with Stokes. Then [we were] ahead of the game batting on in sunlight on day two and probably missed that opportunity. [We had] various opportunities, but another great Test match.”In the end 251 was something to play with and, at times, it looked like it could be enough, especially when Joe Root and Ben Stokes both fell to leg-side catches and Jonny Bairstow dragged on to a big drive. But this time England did not need their heroic captain to get them over the line.When reviewing Australia’s overall performance, one element that stands out is how much they leant on Starc and Pat Cummins in the attack. England tend not to bat for long, but they bowled 63 of the 102 overs that Australia sent down in the match, taking 14 of the 17 wickets.Mitchell Marsh was handy with the ball on his Test return after his spectacular century on the first day, but Australia’s attack did not have the depth of earlier in the series. They overcame Nathan Lyon’s absence at Lord’s but here it felt very significant on the final day. Todd Murphy was given one over before lunch then another with 30 runs needed; it’s hard to believe that Lyon would not have had a more central role, even in conditions favouring the quicks.Murphy is a fine young spin bowler who should have a long career, but when Lyon’s calf went on the second after at Lord’s it felt like a major moment in the series. It could still be.”[It was] mainly just conditions-based,” Cummins said of Murphy’s lack of overs. “Didn’t quite spin as much as we thought it would. And [we] probably didn’t bowl as many overs as we thought we would as well. We bowled under 60 both innings. I would have liked to get Toddy into the game a bit more. But I’m sure next week in Manchester will be a bit more spin-friendly.”Related

• What happens next? Recapping the crazy men's Ashes

• Starc okay with high economy to make high impact

• Wood's pace leaves Australia a new challenge

• Old Trafford Test: can Australia fit in both Marsh and Green? What about Warner?

• Ben Stokes: Headingley win is 'just the start' for England

Allied to that was Scott Boland’s wicketless match, with England’s batters once again scoring relatively freely from him, albeit not at the rate of Edgbaston where he went at nearly six-an-over. He has often bowled better than his figures suggest but being able to largely nullify Boland – except for the evening session under clouds at Edgbaston – has been one of England’s successes. His series now reads 2 for 231 from 47 overs, a far cry from his 18 wickets at 9.55 in the 2021-22 Ashes.Josh Hazlewood was rotated out for this match and he would likely have been a handful on this surface. As the runs required dipped into the 40s, Cummins gave Marsh another brief spell after he’d been effective after a ball-change earlier in the innings while Murphy’s one-over return cost seven. Once again, it was all on Cummins and Starc.The pair combined for Harry Brook’s wicket although there was almost a collision in the covers as both converged on the big top-edge. At that point 21 runs were still needed as Wood walked out to join Woakes. Two balls into the next over, Murphy pulled off a spectacular save at deep square leg, palming the back inside the field to Labuschagne while mid-air. Four runs conceded became one.Given the way this series has played out, it was the sort of moment that, even then, might have made the difference. But off the next ball Wood hooked Cummins for six. This time it was England who had enough.As in 2019, Australia came to Headingley knowing a win would retain the Ashes. This time it would also have given them a first series win in England since 2001. They have two more chances. For now history remains on their side, but they will hope they don’t look back on this as their missed opportunity.

And how many players have been marooned in the 190s in Tests at Lord’s?

Steven Lynch24-Aug-2021Sam Curran was out first ball in both innings of the recent Lord’s Test. How often has this happened in Tests? asked Zeeshan Bhayani from Pakistan

The unfortunate Sam Curran fell to his first ball in both innings of last week’s exciting Test against India at Lord’s. Curran was the 23rd man to bag what’s usually known as a “king pair” in Tests.Only four of those have come for England, the last one being collected by Jimmy Anderson, also against India, in Visakhapatnam in 2016-17. The other two were more than 100 years earlier: William “Dick” Attewell was the first to suffer this fate in a Test, against Australia in Sydney in 1891-92, and he was followed for England by Ernie Hayes, against South Africa in Cape Town in 1905-06. Probably the most notable king pair in Tests was bagged by the South African wicketkeeper Tommy Ward, against Australia at Old Trafford during the 1912 Triangular Tournament – he was the third victim of legspinner Jimmy Matthews’ hat-trick in both innings.Since Anderson’s double first-baller, there have also been king pairs for Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Pradeep (against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2017-18), and Nurul Hasan of Bangladesh (against West Indies in Kingston in 2018).Curran might not be over the moon to discover that I managed to persuade ESPNcricinfo to conjure up a table of king pairs for the Records section. So for the full list, click here.West Indies pulled off a one-wicket heist against Pakistan last week – the third time they have won by such a margin since 1998. Has any other side completed more one-wicket wins than the Windies? asked Sameer Arora from India

West Indies’ exciting victory over Pakistan in Kingston last week was indeed their third Test victory by one wicket, following similar margins against Australia in Bridgetown in 1998-99, and Pakistan in Antigua in 1999-2000. There have now been 15 one-wicket victories in all Tests, with England coming out on top in four, most recently the Ben Stokes-inspired miracle at Headingley in the 2019 Ashes series. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have had two one-wicket wins, and Australia, India, New Zealand and South Africa one each.Australia have actually been on the wrong end of six one-wicket defeats, including Test cricket’s first, a famous match at The Oval in 1902. South Africa have lost three, Pakistan and West Indies two, and Bangladesh and England one each.I noticed that Alastair Cook scored a fifty and a hundred in both his first and last Tests – has anyone else managed this? asked Ivan Monaghan via Facebook

Alastair Cook started his Test career with 60 and 104 not out against India in Nagpur in 2005-06, and signed off at The Oval in 2018 with 71 and 147, also against India. No one else has managed this particular double, unless you count the unlucky New Zealander Rodney Redmond, who hit 107 and 56 in what turned out to be his only Test match, against Pakistan in Auckland in 1972-73.Bruce Mitchell of South Africa came close: he scored 88 and 61 not out in his first Test, against England at Edgbaston in 1929, and 99 and 56 in his last, also against England, in Port Elizabeth almost 20 years later in 1948-49.Two men (Lawrence Rowe and Yasir Hameed) scored two centuries on their Test debut, and 13 others (including Cook and Redmond) made a fifty and a hundred; a further 24 reached 50 twice.Turning to final Test appearances, 15 men apart from Cook, Redmond and Mitchell reached 50 twice in their final Test; this includes two current players, Dimuth Karunaratne and Brendan Taylor, who will presumably appear again. Six of them scored centuries – Jack Russell, the Essex opener, made two – while Andy Sandham’s final Test brought him 325 and 50, for England against West Indies in Kingston in 1929-30.Joe Root was the last player to be out in the 190s at Lord’s, in his debut Test as captain, in 2017•Getty ImagesI was wondering whether more players had been marooned in the 190s in Tests at Lord’s than anywhere else? asked Rajiv Radhakrishnan from England

Lord’s is likely to feature prominently in lists like these, since (as we learned last week) it has staged more Tests than any other ground. Still, there have been eight scores between 190 and 199 at Lord’s, and no other venue has had more than four. The 199 was by England’s Ian Bell, against South Africa in 2008, while the other near-misses came from Len Hutton (196 vs West Indies in 1939), Allan Border (196 for Australia in 1985), Marcus Trescothick (194 vs Bangladesh in 2005), Warren Bardsley (193 not out for Australia in 1926), Tillakaratne Dilshan (193 for Sri Lanka in 2011), Sidath Wettimuny (190 for Sri Lanka in 1984) and Joe Root (190 vs South Africa in 2017).There are five grounds that have seen four scores in the 190s: The Oval in London, Headingley, Sydney, and Galle and Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club in Sri Lanka.I was intrigued by the two occasions where, according to the ESPNcricinfo scorecards, a batter apparently faced one ball, scored one run, and was caught by the wicketkeeper. Can you shed any light on these unusual occurrences? asked OR Light from South Africa

It’s quite a conundrum – even if the batter had faced a no-ball, it should have shown up as a delivery received – and I think the truth is more prosaic: the historical scorecards are incorrect. I checked the remarkable reconstructions of old scorebooks undertaken as a labour of love by the eminent Melbourne statistician Charles Davis, and it seems both instances featured more than one ball.The first one involves the underrated Australian left-arm seamer Bill Whitty, against South Africa in Adelaide in 1910-11. It appears that Whitty was actually dismissed by the fourth ball he received. It’s the same story for Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya, against Pakistan in Colombo in August 1994: it seems he faced three balls in total rather than one.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

أعلن الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم عن فتح باب التقديم لجماهير المنتخب الوطني للمشاركة في سحب تذاكر كأس العالم FIFA 2026 ضمن مرحلة PMA Supporters Sales Phase.

ومن المقرر أن يشارك منتخب مصر، في منافسات كأس العالم 2026، التي تقام في الصيف المقبل بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وكندا والمكسيك.

وقع منتخب مصر في المجموعة السابعة من بطولة كأس العالم، بجانب منتخبات إيران وبلجيكا ونيوزيلندا.

وأشار الاتحاد المصري عبر المركز الإعلامي، إلى أنه يمكن للجماهير التقديم عبر الرابط:

https://fifa-fwc26-us.tickets.fifa.com/

وذلك باختيار السحب المخصص لمشجعي مصر وفق نظام “My Team – RSD”.

طالع | قرار مهم من “فيفا” بشأن أزمة مباراة مصر وإيران في كأس العالم

وتستمر المرحلة حتى الساعة 6 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة يوم الثلاثاء 13 يناير 2026، ولن تُقبل الطلبات المقدمة بعد هذا الموعد، كما أن التقديم ليس بنظام الأسبقية، وجميع الطلبات تعامل بالتساوي في السحب، أي تذاكر غير مستخدمة من مخصص جماهير مصر سيتم تحويلها إلى مجموعات FIFA الأخرى.

ودعا الاتحاد الجماهير إلى الإسراع في تقديم الطلبات خلال الفترة المحددة.

وتنطلق منافسات بطولة كأس العالم، خلال الفترة من 11 يونيو وحتى 19 يوليو 2026، بمشاركة 48 منتخباً.

The New York Yankees' struggles continued Tuesday night as they dropped their second straight game to the Cincinnati Reds, 5-4, in 11 innings.

The Yankees had to play the last few innings without their starting third baseman, Jazz Chizholm Jr., who was ejected in the ninth inning after yelling at home plate umpire Mark Wegner about a called strike on a 2-0 pitch.

Chisholm couldn't get over the call and wouldn't stop yelling at Wegner, who finally had enough and sent him to the clubhouse for the rest of the game.

Yankees announcer Michael Kay had a brutally honest breakdown of Chisholm's breakdown, saying:

"Jazz Chisholm just got thrown out and really he has nobody to blame but himself. I know he didn’t like the call but he has been chirping at Wegner. Aaron Judge between innings walked him out to the field to try to calm him down and he would not stop screaming at Wegner about that 2-0 pitch. And you always tell me, Paul, heat of the moment but this is far after the heat of the moment and he got himself thrown out and Wegner gave him a lot of leash."

The Yankees, who have gone 3-7 in their last 10 games, are now 45-34 on the year and have just a one-game lead over the Rays in the AL East.