Manchester United have now reportedly sent scouts to keep close tabs on an Elliot Anderson alternative who Ruben Amorim once called a “natural leader”.
Roy Keane slams "schoolboy" Man Utd star after West Ham draw
Just when it seems like Man United are making progress, the Red Devils are hit with more frustration. This time, it was West Ham United who took full advantage to snatch a point at Old Trafford thanks to Soungoutou Magassa’s late equaliser.
It’s now one win in five for Ruben Amorim’s side and club legend Roy Keane couldn’t hold back his criticism any longer following the draw against West Ham.
It was another game in which United failed to make their attacking prowess count as Keane questioned midfielder Mount following his cameo from the bench.
It’s not the first time that Amorim’s midfield has been questioned and it certainly won’t be the last. INEOS are well aware that additions in that area should be next on their list of priorities, having reinforced the frontline in the summer.
18x ball lost: Amorim must ruthlessly bench overhyped 5/10 Man Utd man
This Man Utd ace struggled in their 1-1 draw at home to West Ham
ByJoe Nuttall Dec 5, 2025
As such, names such as Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton have emerged as 2026 targets. The former is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after midfielders in the Premier League, with United among the chasing pack to land his signature.
But the Nottingham Forest star isn’t the only name on their shortlist. Instead, they could yet form a reunion between Morten Hjulmand and Amorim.
Man Utd keeping close tabs on Hjulmand
According to Caught Offside, Man United scouts are now keeping close tabs on Hjulmand in case they miss out on both Anderson and Wharton. The Sporting CP star is valued at £50m – making him a cheaper alternative to Anderson – and is someone that Amorim knows well from his time in Lisbon.
Minutes
1,067
1,260
Progressive Passes
91
119
Tackles Won
16
20
Ball Recoveries
79
115
Although Amorim was quick to dub Hjulmand a “fantastic player” at Sporting, there’s no denying that Anderson should remain Man United’s top option.
The Nottingham Forest star has blown the Dane away, statistically speaking, so far this season and has done the same comparison to a number of Premier League stars.
He won’t come cheap and United must overcome the hurdle of competition from Manchester City and others, but INEOS simply have to go all out for the England international in 2026. If the Red Devils are to rise again, they cannot settle for second best.
"Pretty torrid" – Samuel Luckhurst slams Man Utd star vs West Ham
Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl was pictured holding up a shirt with Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell little more than a month ago, and now he is the only one of those three men remaining at Ibrox.
The Light Blues announced on Monday that they have parted ways with their sporting director and CEO after the club’s dismal start to the season, and the failure of Russell Martin’s appointment.
Despite coming in after Martin won five of his 17 matches in all competitions, Rohl has won all four of his Scottish Premiership matches in the dugout so far, which is no mean feat.
The Gers had only won one league game before the German’s arrival at Ibrox, and goals from Emmanuel Fernandez and Mohamed Diomande against Livingston claimed a fourth straight victory for Rohl on Saturday.
Despite those four wins in four games for the former Sheffield Wednesday head coach, there is still plenty of work for the tactician to do to make sure that the Light Blues are competing for silverware moving forward.
For example, summer signing Oliver Antman failed to deliver once again in the win over Livingston and should be dropped from the starting line-up.
Why Danny Rohl must drop Oliver Antman for Rangers
Thelwell swooped to sign the Finland international for a fee of up to £4m from Go Ahead Eagles in the summer in an attempt to bolster Martin’s options on the flanks.
Unfortunately, the 24-year-old flanker has failed to deliver much in the way of quality at the top end of the pitch since his move to Ibrox in the summer, with no goals and three assists in 18 matches, per Transfermarkt.
In fact, Antman has no goals and one assist in 17 games since his two assists on his debut against Viktoria Plzen, which illustrates just how much he has struggled in front of goal in recent weeks and months.
The Finnish forward, as shown in the graphic above, scored for his country during the recent international break, to go along with an assist, which means that he has been more productive for his national side than for Rangers this season.
Rohl provided the former Eredivisie star with a chance to shine from the start on the right wing against Livingston on Saturday, possibly due to his international form, but he did not reward the manager with a strong performance to justify his inclusion.
Vs Livingston
Oliver Antman
Minutes
64
Shots
0
Key passes
1
Big chances created
0
Crosses completed
0/3
Dribbles completed
3/7
Duels won
5/13
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Antman made little impact at the top end of the pitch for the Light Blues, whilst he was also dominated by the Livingston defenders in physical contests.
With games against Braga in the Europa League and Falkirk in the Premiership coming up this week, Rohl must ruthlessly ditch the Finland international from the starting line-up to provide other players with an opportunity to impress.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Antman has simply not done enough in the final third to suggest that he deserves a continued run of games in the team, as he has gone seven matches without a goal contribution in all competitions for the Gers.
With this in mind, the German head coach should finally unleash Nedim Bajrami from the start against Falkirk at the weekend, whilst he is unable to feature against Braga because Martin did not add him to the Europa League squad list.
Why Danny Rohl should finally unleash Nedim Bajrami for Rangers
Former sporting director Thelwell attempted to bolster the club’s options at the top end of the pitch with the signings of Djeidi Gassama, Thelo Aasgaard, Antman, Youssef Chermiti, Mikey Moore, and Bojan Miovski in the summer.
This shows that he attempted to replace Bajrami, who played in the attacking midfield and wide areas for Philippe Clement, as four of those players play in the Albania international’s main positions.
Per Transfermarkt, the £3.5m signing from Sassuolo has only played 196 minutes in all competitions. 24 players have played more minutes for the club, including players like Jeft and Cyriel Dessers, who left in the summer.
Bajrami was described as “anonymous” in a game last season by content creator Stevie Clifford, which now perfectly sums up his situation at Ibrox this season, as he has been so rarely used.
Now, though, Rohl should unleash the Albanian flop from the start in the Premiership because he has the potential to be an upgrade on Antman at the top end of the pitch, based on his form at times for Clement last season.
Whilst it would be disingenuous to suggest that Bajrami had an amazing debut campaign with Rangers, there were some promising signs in his performances domestically and in Europe that suggest that he has more to offer to the team.
Bajrami – 24/25
Premiership
Europa League
Starts
15
8
Goals
2
1
Big chances missed
2
0
Key passes per game
1.0
1.3
Big chances created
4
6
Assists
1
0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the versatile attacker was not fairly rewarded for his creativity in the 2024/25 campaign, as his teammates only scored one of the ten ‘big chances’ that he created.
This season, Antman has only created two ‘big chances’ and delivered one assist in 12 appearances in the Premiership and the Europa League combined, per Sofascore, which suggests that Bajrami could provide more creativity than the Finnish flop.
Thelwell attempted to replace the former Serie B playmaker in the summer with a host of new signings, but these statistics suggest that the former Rangers chief failed to do so successfully.
This is why Rohl should ditch Antman to unleash Bajrami, who could offer more quality in the final third, when the Gers face Falkirk in the Premiership on Sunday, to see if he can ignite his Ibrox career under the German boss.
Better than any Thelwell transfer: Rangers submit bid for "incredible" star
Rangers are reportedly the frontrunners to sign this star who would be a better addition than any Kevin Thelwell signing.
Searching for a much-needed centre-back, Liverpool are now reportedly prepared to take a key step towards their attempt to sign Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund.
Their chase to sign the Bundesliga defender comes as no surprise. Arne Slot was left with little choice but to play Andy Robertson centre-back in an attempt to rest both Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate against Crystal Palace. The season-ending injury to Giovanni Leoni left the Reds with just three senior centre-backs and only compiled their current misery.
Things could have been so different had they signed Marc Guehi, of course, but those at Anfield now face a battle to land his signature for free next summer. Missing out on the Crystal Palace star a year on from coming within hours of securing his arrival would be an undeniable blow.
Six defeats in seven games have exposed Liverpool’s defensive problems so soon after missing out on Guehi in the summer and they must find a solution in 2026.
What certainly doesn’t help is the contract situation of Ibrahima Konate. The Frenchman is yet to sign a new deal and is on course to leave Anfield as a free agent in the summer. Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk will be into the final year of his deal at the same time – sparking a potential crisis for the Reds.
Preparations are seemingly underway for such a scenario, with names such as Dayot Upamecano recently mentioned as reported targets, but replacing both Konate and Van Dijk would almost be an impossible task.
Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano
One player who holds similar attributes to Van Dijk, however, is Schlotterbeck. The Dortmund defender has caught Liverpool’s eye and Michael Edwards is now ready to take a key step towards his signature.
Liverpool preparing to match Schlotterbeck demand
As reported by Bild in Germany and relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool are now prepared to match Schlotterbeck’s wage demands.
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The 25-year-old has reportedly rejected Dortmund’s €8m-a-year (£7m) contract offer and wants to earn in the region of €14m-a-year (£13m) instead, which would be up from his current €5m-a-year (£4m) deal.
That’s something that the German club are yet to match, but something that Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are ready to hand the defender.
Money talks on the European stage and Liverpool will hope that proves true in the summer as Schlotterbeck continues to impress.
Minutes
450
810
Progressive Passes
7
6.22
Successful Aerial Duels
1.60
5.11
Ball Recoveries
5.60
2.33
Whilst there will be concerns over Schlotterbeck’s struggles in the air, his passing range more than makes up for that. Completing seven progressive passes per-90 so far this season, the Dortmund star would solve Liverpool’s build-up problem almost instantly.
Described as “underrated” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Liverpool should go all out for Schlotterbeck in 2025. Not only is he good enough to replace Konate, but he could even become their Van Dijk heir in the coming years.
Why Arne Slot was left stunned in Liverpool press conference before Aston Villa
The BCCI holds the hosting rights for the tournament, which is expected to be held in the UAE in September
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jul-2025
Aminul Islam greets Mohsin Naqvi upon the latter’s arrival in Dhaka•BCB
The fate of this year’s Asia Cup, which was thrown into uncertainty following the India-Pakistan military skirmish in May, could be decided at the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) annual general meeting in Dhaka on Thursday.The BCCI will attend the meeting virtually, and there is no clarity yet on whether Sri Lanka Cricket will attend virtually or an official will travel to Dhaka. For the BCCI, Rajeev Shukla will be the representative. There was even talk of Afghanistan and Oman missing the meeting, but they will now attend, while Nepal, like the BCCI, will participate virtually.The Asia Cup is one of the major points of discussion at the meeting. The BCCI holds the hosting rights for the eight-team tournament, even though the matches are expected to be played in the UAE in September.It is the first time that the BCB is hosting a high-level ACC meeting. Board president Aminul Islam said that the BCB was only providing logistical support to the ACC and didn’t comment on certain boards not sending their representatives.”We agreed with the ACC to organise this year’s AGM,” Aminul said on Tuesday. “It is an ACC programme. We are providing them with logistical support. That’s all we are doing. We are in touch with the ACC, who is informing us who is coming and who is not, as we have to make arrangements for airport pick-ups, hotel bookings and other support.”On Wednesday, Aminul and BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury received Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB and ACC boss, at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. A gala dinner is scheduled in the evening, followed by two days of the meeting at a hotel in Dhaka.
Manchester United have endured a phenomenal upturn in form over the last couple of weeks, as seen by their run of three Premier League victories in a row.
Ruben Amorim appears to be finally silencing the doubters, after being subject to countless barrages of criticism from supporters and pundits across the country.
However, his work in the transfer window is largely to thank, with his additions from the recent summer transfer window already having an immediate impact at Old Trafford.
Bryan Mbeumo arrived in a £71m deal from Brentford and has already taken the role as the Red Devils’ main talisman, as seen by his tally of five goals in his first nine league outings.
Despite the additions within the final third, Amorim and the hierarchy are still hunting for a new central midfielder to take the first-team squad to the next level in the near future.
Man Utd’s hunt for a new midfielder in January
Over the last couple of months, United have been hugely touted with a winter move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson, after his phenomenal start to the 2025/26 season.
The 22-year-old has started all nine Premier League games to date, resulting in his maiden England call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s squad – subsequently cementing his place as a regular starter.
However, any deal could prove to be a somewhat expensive one, with Sean Dyche’s side currently demanding a fee in the region of £100m for his signature.
He’s not the English midfielder currently in their sights, with Borussia Dortmund star Jobe Bellingham another target for the Red Devils, according to one Spanish outlet.
They have reported that Amorim’s side are preparing a €50m (£42m) offer for the 20-year-old despite only joining the Bundesliga outfit back in the recent summer transfer window.
It also states that the player is growing frustrated with his lack of minutes, having only started two league outings in 2025/26 and featured for a total of 208 minutes.
Why United’s £42m target would be the perfect Casemiro replacement
Many United fans expected Casemiro’s minutes at United to be extremely limited this season after struggling to impress, some Amorim took the reins back in November last year.
The Brazilian, who’s now 33, has even been called into question by numerous pundits over the last few years, many of whom have claimed he’s no longer at the level required for the Premier League.
Jamie Carragher infamously said that ‘the football has left him’ and recommended that the former Real Madrid star move to Saudi Arabia or America to end his career.
However, he’s been a key component of Amorim’s side this campaign, subsequently featuring in eight of the nine league outings – even scoring twice and notching an assist.
Casemiro’s latest goal came in the recent triumph over Brighton and Hove Albion, stepping up to the plate when the manager and team needed him most.
Despite his recent form at Old Trafford, there’s little denying he’s entering the final years of his career at the top level, with his current deal at the Red Devils set to expire in the summer of 2026.
The supporters shouldn’t worry about a potential departure, especially if the rumours around a move for Bellingham come to fruition in the winter or summer transfer window.
Whilst the Englishman has struggled for action in the current season, he’s still managed to produce numerous incredible stats that would see him be a monster hit with the fans in Manchester.
Bellingham, who’s been labelled “one of the best midfielders” by the Second Tier Podcast, has completed 88% of his attempted, whilst ranking in the 89th percentile for touches per 90.
Games played
8
Minutes played
208
Pass accuracy
88%
Touches per 90
84.8
Tackles made
2.2
Duels won
6.5
Aerials won
71%
Fouls won
1.7
Such figures highlight his incredible ability with the balm at his feet, with such a skillset adding yet another talented technician to the heart of Amorim’s first-team squad.
Out of possession, the youngster has been just as impressive, making 2.2 tackles per 90 to date, whilst also winning 6.5 duels per 90 – highlighting his workmanlike style.
Other tallies, such as a 71% aerial duel success rate and 1.7 fouls won per 90, showcase his all-round ability, which has made him a constant nuisance to countless opponents.
£42m may seem a hefty sum of money for the Dortmund star, but it certainly could prove to be a fantastic piece of business if he reaches his full potential.
At just 20, he has bags of time to develop further, whilst also offering the club a long-term replacement for the experienced Casemiro into 2026/27 and beyond.
Not Mbeumo: Man Utd's "world-class" star is now becoming Amorim's new Bruno
Manchester United have hit the jackpot on one star who could reach Bruno Fernandes’ level.
Worcestershire bowled out for 143 before Keaton Jennings, Liam Livingstone steer comfortable chase
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Jun-2025Lancashire Lightning continued their strong start to the Vitality Blast with a convincing seven-wicket victory over Worcestershire Rapids at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Rapids, having chosen to bat, were bowled out for 143 in 19.1 overs. Only Gareth Roderick (35 from 28 balls) resisted for long as the innings failed to recover from early damage inflicted by James Anderson and Luke Wood.Lightning reeled in the target with 15 balls to spare, reaching 146 for 3 thanks to a solid top-order effort headed by Keaton Jennings (42 off 37) and Liam Livingstone (41 not out off 22).Rapids won the toss but lost both openers in the first seven balls. Brett D’Oliveira edged his first ball, from Anderson, to slip and Wood struck with his first ball when he trapped Ed Pollock lbw.Jake Libby pulled Anderson for six and almost did the same to Wood only to be denied by a stunning one-handed catch by Jack Blatherwick just inside the long leg rope. Wood’s third wicket followed when Ethan Brookes pulled to midwicket and when, next ball, Adam Hose edged Tom Aspinwall to wicketkeeper Matty Hurst, the Rapids were 46 for 5, one ball out of the powerplay.Roderick and Ben Dwarhuis arrested the slide with a stand of 46 in 29 balls before the latter pulled Aspinwall to deep midwicket. Lancashire’s catching was top-drawer and when Matthew Waite sought six over fine leg off Blatherwick, Michael Jones judged the catch perfectly despite the pressure of knowing one backward step would take him over the rope.Roderick’s defiance ended when he sliced Anderson to third. That left Rapids’ last two wickets with 27 balls at their disposal. Jacob Duffy heaved Wood to the foot of the chestnut tree in a violent unbeaten 24 off 12 to at least give him something to bowl at but Rapids were well short.The home side desperately needed early wickets but took only one in the powerplay, Luke Wells, who edged Tom Taylor to wicketkeeper Roderick. Jennings and Matty Hurst added 63 in 46 balls and when Hurst was well-caught at long leg by Duffy, his belligerent cameo had, with Jennings, left Lancashire well in charge of the chase.Jennings bottom-edged a pull at Waite to the keeper but Livingstone smote D’Oliveira’s first two balls into the D’Oliveira Stand to reassert Lightning’s momentum. Despite fast-fading light, vastly experienced pair Livingstone and Ashton Turner saw their side comfortably home. They added an unbroken stand of 62 in 33 balls, Livingstone sealing the win with a pull into the aforementioned chestnut tree.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has now personally requested the board sign a “special” star, with a £105m opening offer now in the works.
Man City looking to sign successor to Rodri
After spending the majority of the 2024-25 campaign sidelined due to an ACL injury, 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is starting to show signs he is getting back to his best, most notably impressing in the 2-0 Champions League victory over Napoli.
The Spaniard received an 8.3 SofaScore match rating against the Italian side, the second-highest of any City player, after making a number of key contributions and touching the ball 109 times, more than anyone else on the pitch.
Statistic
Number completed
Duels won
6
Accurate passes
87/95 (92%)
Key passes
3
Defensive actions
6
Esteemed Kompany’s Steven McInerney also sung the central midfielder’s praises after his display against the Serie A champions, but it has since emerged that Guardiola is now running the rule over potential long-term successors.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Pep is keen on Bayern Munich’s Aleksandar Pavlovic as an heir to Rodri, and the manager has now set his sights on a different young midfielder.
That is according to a report from Spain, which states Pep has personally requested the Man City board sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Neves, with the manager said to be a keen admirer of the midfielder.
Such is City’s level of interest, they are already preparing a massive initial offer of €120m (£105m) for Neves, but it could be difficult to tempt the French club into a sale.
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The 20-year-old is regarded as an essential part of PSG’s project, given that the youngster has already established himself as one of the best players in the world in his position, so his current employers are extremely hesitant to sanction a departure.
"Special" Neves would be statement signing for Man City
It seems like it will be very difficult to get a deal done, but the Portuguese maestro could be a statement signing for the Blues, with scout Ben Mattinson suggesting he is destined for the very top.
Much like Rodri, the PSG star is an incredibly well-rounded midfielder, placing in the 96th percentile for tackles per 90, the 97th percentile for pass-completion rate, and the 92nd percentile for non-penalty goals over the past year, compared to other midfielders.
Despite his age, the starlet is already vastly experienced at the highest level, making 17 Champions League appearances en-route to PSG’s maiden triumph last season, which suggests he could be a top signing for Man City.
That said, given that Neves remains under contract until 2029, PSG should be in a strong negotiating position, and it remains to be seen whether he would even be willing to leave the reigning European champions.
Queensland were bundled out for 95 before 19-year-old Vidler responded with 4 for 33 to curb South Australia’s lead
Alex Malcolm26-Mar-2025
Brendan Doggett dismantled Queensland’s first innings•Getty Images
The fringe and the future of Australian fast bowling was on display on day one of the Sheffield Shield final with Brendan Doggett taking six wickets to roll Queensland for 95 before 19-year-old Callum Vidler took four to ensure South Australia did not run away with the game on a dramatic day at Karen Rolton Oval where 16 wickets fell.Doggett tore through Queensland’s line-up to bowl them out for the lowest first innings total in Shield final history. He took his best ever figures in Shield cricket of 6 for 31 and his second five-wicket haul in a final, having done it previously for Queensland in the 2017-18 decider. He also became the 10th bowler to take multiple five-wicket hauls in a final. Queensland’s total was also the third-lowest in Shield history in any innings.Related
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Vidler then responded with a stunning display that was reminiscent of Pat Cummins’ breakout performance in a Shield final as a 17-year-old in 2011. Vidler showcased high pace, swing and accuracy in just his third first-class game to claim 4 for 33, including Test batters Alex Carey and Nathan McSweeney.But when Vidler ran out of gas late in the day, Jake Lehmann continued his phenomenal form to finish 42 not out at stumps, sharing an unbeaten 45-run stand with Ben Manenti, who finished 36 not out to push the hosts to 158 for 6 and a priceless lead of 63 that had been earned by some hard work from opener Conor McInerney who made a vital 38 against the new ball.Doggett made the most of some excellent morning bowling conditions after McSweeney made the unusual decision to bowl first at Karen Rolton Oval given the surface looked far more seam-friendly than usual. The ball swung consistently with Queensland’s batters unable to handle it.Nathan McAndrew celebrates the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne•Getty Images
Doggett made the first breakthrough after coming on first change, removing Usman Khawaja for a tortured 2 off 28 deliveries when he pulled a short ball down fine leg’s throat. But Khawaja should not have survived that long.Nathan McAndrew had him dropped twice in the slips. He edged the third ball of the match to Manenti at second and he failed to hold onto the low chance. In the seventh over, McAndrew’s fourth, Khawaja edged a near identical delivery that angled in and swung away. It floated waist high to McSweeney at first slip and he grassed the simple chance.The weight of the 29-year Shield drought looked heavy on the entire team at that point. But the tide quickly shifted after Khawaja holed out.McAndrew endured more bad luck when Marnus Labuschagne defended a ball onto his heel and it rolled into leg stump at speed but did not knock off the leg bail. However, McAndrew’s frustration turned to elation next ball when Labuschagne glanced a catch to Lehmann at a well-placed leg gully to fall for a seven-ball duck.The next delivery Jack Clayton made a bizarre call. He defended a ball into the offside and took off for a single that was never. Opener Angus Lovell, who was a late inclusion for Queensland after Matthew Renshaw had to fly home for the birth of his second child, rightly sent Clayton back. Liam Scott swooped having been stationed very close at mid-off to prevent the single and produced a direct hit before Clayton could scramble back.How a drawn final is decided
In the event the Sheffield Shield final ends in a draw, the title will be decided on first-innings bonus points which are accrued across the first 100 overs.
Batting teams earn 0.01 of a bonus point for every run scored over 200 in the initial 100 overs; bowling sides get 0.1 of a bonus point for every wicket in the first 100 overs. For example, the batting side scores 350 all out in 90 overs they earn 1.5 points and the bowling side 1 point.
Should bonus points be tied and the match drawn, SA will win the Shield given they finished top of the ladder and earned hosting rights for the final.
Queensland quickly slumped from 16 for 3 to 22 for 5. Lovell had survived two very close lbw shouts and having hit the pad with a sharp offcutter, Doggett found Lovell’s outside edge with a perfect outswinger to have him caught behind.Three overs later Ben McDermott chipped a poorly executed drive back to Jordan Buckingham who held on with two bites. Replays were needed to examine if Buckingham had overstepped the front line but the inconclusive evidence meant McDermott was given out.Michael Neser and Jimmy Peirson dug in just as they had done a week ago when they rescued Queensland from 86 for 5 to ensure a draw that got them into the final. Neser struck six boundaries in an excellent counterattack given the ball was still swinging consistently. But after a 46-run stand that got Queensland past lunch, Doggett struck twice in two overs.Peirson shuffled across too far to a ball that thundered into his front pad and was adjudged lbw. Neser had played and missed a few times in between playing some glorious drives but finally nicked a lovely outswinger from Doggett to McSweeney at first slip who let out a sigh of relief after holding on.McAndrew claimed a richly-deserved second when he lured Jack Wildermuth into a leaden-footed drive to have him caught behind.Doggett completed his five-wicket haul by cleaning up Mitchell Swepson and closed out the innings when Mark Steketee clubbed to deep mid-onNineteen-year-old Callum Vidler was outstanding with the new ball•Getty Images
Vidler, 19, then copied the Doggett blueprint to keep Queensland in the game, showing that high-pace outswing is a method for success on this surface. Playing just his third first-class game, he was trusted to open the bowling ahead of Steketee and did not let his captain down.He bowled 11 straight deliveries at opener Henry Hunt without letting him score, although one ran off the pad for four leg byes. Off the 12th, in Vidler’s third over, Hunt’s eyes lit up at a fuller length but some late shape at pace caught the edge and Lovell held the sharp chance at third slip.He bowled 12 deliveries to McSweeney without letting him get off the mark before scratching his outside edge with an even better delivery. Vidler went slightly wider of the crease, angled in and shaped away as McSweeney tried to defend on the crease. It wasn’t going to carry to first slip and Peirson took a blinder diving full length to his right with one glove. At that point, Vidler had bowled five overs, four maidens and had 2 for 2.But the scoreboard was moving at the other end thanks to McInerney. There was some luck involved. He edged Steketee on 14 but McDermott failed to lay a hand on the sharp chance and Steketee’s poor luck continued when Jason Sangha offered a similar edge high to Lovell’s left.Ben Manenti added valuable lower-order runs•Getty Images
Sangha edged a wide half volley from Neser to leave SA vulnerable at 41 for 3, but Carey and McInerney learnt from the mistakes of their team-mates and went on the offensive.Carey struck two fours and a six to put pressure back on Queensland’s attack. McInerney gloved an attempted pull down the leg side off Wildermuth to leave SA 65 for 4.But Lehmann and Carey kept the pedal down. Lehmann created width at every opportunity carving several balls from a fourth stump line behind point. He also benefited from some strange captaincy from Labuschagne who bowled part-time medium pace and gave up 18 runs in four overs, including three boundaries and a six.Vidler returned from the other end to wreak more havoc. Carey chopped on for 24, hurried by the extra pace trying to pull. Liam Scott was also done for pace, gloving a short ball down the leg side.But Vidler understandably tired at the back end of a second six-over spell. Manenti clubbed a pull shot for six to get himself going before he and Lehmann cashed in on some slower and more wayward offerings from and under par Neser and Wildermuth to put South Australia in a strong position at stumps.
While RR could potentially bring in Hasaranga, KKR look unlikely to make changes despite a heavy defeat in their season-opener
Sreshth Shah25-Mar-20252:20
Will RR’s lack of allrounders prove costly?
Big picture – RR’s balance, KKR’s middle order in focusGuwahati has been an occasional home ground for Rajasthan Royals (RR) since 2023, but they’ve found little to cheer about here. RR have lost two of their three games here, while a fourth was a washout. But come Wednesday, there’ll be a different buzz because the city’s own Riyan Parag will captain RR – a historic occasion for the player and his state Assam.But Parag has a lot to ponder, more so after RR nearly conceded the highest IPL total ever against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The retained trio of Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer brought the batting muscle on a flat deck and rookie Shubham Dubey dazzled too, but when the bowlers leaked runs, Parag found himself out of options.He is designated as an allrounder, and would like to consider himself one too, but did not bowl, even though he tried Nitish Rana’s occasional offspin for one over. RR missed a genuine allrounder who could be their fifth or sixth bowler without sacrificing their batting.This isn’t an issue on good days, and RR have reached the playoffs in two of the last three seasons with a similar team balance, but on bad days it can leave them with nowhere to turn. A shuffle, such as finding a place for Wanindu Hasaranga or Parag trusting himself to bowl, could be the answer with their bowling looking to regain confidence.Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the defending champions, have versatile all-rounders aplenty. The defeat in their season-opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru won’t shift them from their 2024 template, but their old middle and lower-middle order – consisting of Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh – contributed very little as KKR endured a below-par finish with the bat.Like RR’s bowlers against SRH, this area won’t always be an issue for KKR, but twice in a row could put them in early trouble, with Mumbai Indians awaiting them at the Wankhede next.The contest on Wednesday will be all about two teams looking to iron out their problems and find their first points.Can Jofra Archer put behind him the nightmare of going for 76 runs in four overs?•Getty ImagesNew loyalties – Nitish RanaFrom 2018 to 2024, Nitish Rana scored 2199 runs for KKR and became one of their senior players after being elevated to vice-captaincy. He was not one of the six players retained by the franchise after last season’s title and was signed by RR for INR 4.20 crore.Team news and likely XIIs – Will Hasaranga come in?Samson, recovering following finger surgery, is set to be RR’s impact player again. They are unlikely to drop Jofra Archer despite his 0 for 76 against SRH, the worst IPL figures of all time, but could look at bringing in Akash Madhwal for his yorker-bowling capabilities. Since Maheesh Theekshana usually bowls in the powerplay and KKR have spin-basher Sunil Narine as opener, he could be swapped out for Hasaranga.Rajasthan Royals: 1 Sanju Samson, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Riyan Parag (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Shubham Dubey, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Maheesh Theekshana/Wanindu Hasaranga, 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi, 12 Tushar Deshpande/Akash Madhwal.KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane said after Saturday’s loss that he trusts his fast-bowling unit even if they are relatively inexperienced. They’ll most likely stay unchanged although Anrich Nortje is a potential replacement for Spencer Johnson if they think pace and short balls could make more of an impact than swing.Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Venkatesh Iyer, 5 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Spencer Johnson/Anrich Nortje, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Vaibhav Arora.The big questionIt wasn’t that long ago that Hasaranga was the world’s No. 1 T20I bowler on the ICC rankings and he’s still at No. 4. He isn’t carrying an injury, so he was most likely left out for tactical reasons against SRH. Should RR find a way to involve Hasaranga?In the spotlight: Dhruv Jurel and Quinton de KockDhruv Jurel struck a 35-ball 70 against SRH, showing why RR trusted him with a retention and why he’s India’s current back-up T20I wicketkeeper, despite the wealth of options for that spot. RR look a bit short this season when bridging the gap between their top-order and lower-order hitters, and his role at No. 5 is important. He has superb T20 numbers against pace, as a strike rate of 162.56 would suggest, but he’s tended not to score as quickly against spin, going at 123.76 at this stage of his career. Against SRH, he fell to Adam Zampa and scored three runs off seven balls against the legspinner; how will he deal with the twin threats of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy?Last year, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the highest run-scorer at the T20 World Cup, was named as opener in ICC’s ODI team of the year, and was a superb replacement for Phil Salt in the playoffs and final during KKR’s winning campaign. Despite this, KKR picked Quinton de Kock as their first-choice wicketkeeper-opener this season. It’s time for de Kock to come good on the opportunity, especially since he’s not had a good time since his international retirement. IPL 2024 was his second-worst of all time (average of 22.72 in 11 games), while he managed just 159 runs in 10 innings at the SA20. De Kock has a tendency to be hit-or-miss, and with another hit-or-miss opener in Narine at the other end, KKR would want some reliability from one end.Andre Russell will hope for a return to form after a low score against RCB•Associated PressKey stats Archer has come into IPL 2025 on a poor run of form. When he keeps things quiet, he doesn’t get wickets. When he gets the wickets, he’s mightily expensive. In the 2024-25 season that just went by, Archer averaged 34.75 with an economy rate of 9.26. The average first-innings score in IPL games at the Barsapara Stadium is 180, with the team batting first having won twice and lost once. At 23 years and 133 days, Parag became the IPL’s fourth-youngest captain when he led RR against SRH. Virat Kohli (22y 187d), Steven Smith (22y 344d) and Suresh Raina (23y 112d) are the three above him on the list. Narine has a strike-rate of 191.30 against Sandeep Sharma (44 runs in 23 balls, one dismissal) but has been kept quiet by both Archer (9 off 13) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (3 off 8 with one dismissal) in the past. Hasaranga’s wrong’un makes him a compelling option for RR with Russell averaging only 9.25 against googlies in the IPL (since 2022) and striking at only 115.63, according to ESPNcricinfo’s data. Against legbreaks, though, he crunches them at 153.70 and averages 41.50.Pitch and conditionsThe last time a RR vs KKR game was scheduled in Guwahati, it was a washout, but Wednesday promises to be dry. The Barsapara Stadium has been excellent for batting with three scores in the 190s in the IPL. India once scored 237 for 3 here and South Africa struck 221 for 3 in response, so we could see the first 200-plus IPL score in Guwahati on Wednesday.Next three fixturesRR stay in Guwahati to face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) next on Sunday, March 30, before travelling to Mullanpur to face Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 5 and then to Ahmedabad where Gujarat Titans (GT) await them on April 9.KKR travel to Mumbai next to play MI on March 31, after which they return home for games against SRH on April 3 and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 6.Quotes”It’s been a journey. I was here when I was 17 years old. Most importantly, me being captain is secondary, but the trust that the management have shown in me, that’s one of the biggest points. That’s one of the biggest upvotes that I take personally as a player that they’re trusting me enough to lead the team and trusting me enough to make my own decisions.” “Sport is about failing. You fail more often than you succeed. But for a champion like Russ [Russell], it must be weighing on his mind that he failed last game. He’s out to prove every single game. We are also hoping Russ would come really good on this game.”
Fair to say, the start of this season has not gone to plan for Rangers.
The Light Blues were actually impressive during the early rounds of Champions League qualifying, knocking out both Panathinaikos and then Viktoria Plzeň, winning the first leg at home both times.
However, their Champions League dreams quickly went up in flames on Tuesday night, 3-0 down after less than 20 minutes at home to Club Brugge, ultimately defeated 3-1, but still needing a miracle in Belgium next Wednesday, or once again the Europa League beckons.
Meantime, the start of the Scottish Premiership campaign has been catastrophic, held to a 1-1 draw by both Motherwell at Fir Park and then Dundee at Ibrox, thereby failing to win either of their opening two league matches for the first time since 1989 under Graeme Souness.
Thus, the pressure is really on as the Gers travel to St Mirren on Sunday, with the first Old Firm of the season to come a week later.
Defeat in both of these fixtures would be unthinkable, but could have drastic consequences for the new man at the helm.
Russell Martin is under pressure already
When he was appointed during the summer, Russell Martin became only the 20th permanent manager since Rangers’ first in 1899.
However, the way things are going, he could become the shortest-serving, not including caretakers, as the table below documents.
List of permanent Rangers managers
Manager
Tenure
Matches
William Wilton
1899-20
718
Bill Struth
20-54
1,390
Scot Symon
54-67
681
David White
67-69
113
William Waddell
69-72
130
Jock Wallace
72-78
306
John Greig
78-83
289
Jock Wallace
83-86
124
Graeme Souness
86-91
257
Walter Smith
91-98
377
Dick Advocaat
98-01
195
Alex McLeish
01-06
235
Paul Le Guen
06-07
31
Walter Smith
07-11
245
Ally McCoist
11-14
167
Mark Warburton
15-17
82
Pedro Caixinha
2017
26
Steven Gerrard
18-21
193
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
21-22
69
Michael Beale
22-23
43
Philippe Clement
23-25
86
Russell Martin
25-present
8
All information courtesy of Rangers Archives
As the table outlines, Pedro Caixinha is the shortest-serving permanent Rangers manager of all time, taking charge of only 26 matches in 2017, winning just 14, overseeing the infamous Europa League qualifying defeat at the hands of Progrès Niederkorn.
Well, with pressure increasing already, Martin could break that record, needing to remain in charge until late-November to avoid this fate which, at the moment, is in the balance.
However, could the new manager immediately win over the Ibrox faithful by landing a statement signing before the window closes?
Rangers aiming to rebalance midfield
Most would’ve forecast that midfield would be the strongest part of Rangers’ team, given the performances of Mohamed Diomandé and player of the year Nicolas Raskin last season.
However, they’re yet to find the right balance with those two alongside summer signing from Bournemouth Joe Rothwell, who is yet to impress supporters.
With that in mind, could Rangers reignite their interest in Andy Irving, after it was reported by the Scotsman earlier this month that they were among many sides interested in securing his signature?
Numerous other clubs from across Europe are also interested, Wrexham, Köln, Stuttgart, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Sturm Graz, to name but a few, but Rangers could place themselves at the front of the queue.
The 25-year-old, who is reportedly valued at £3.5m, has already had a fascinating career; born in Edinburgh, he began his career at Heart of Midlothian, loaned out to both Berwick Rangers and then Falkirk, appearing 61 times for Hearts in total.
Andy Irving
He then made the unconventional move to Türkgücü München, spending one season in Germany’s third-tier, before joining Austria Klagenfurt, playing for two seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga, scoring 16 goals and registering 14 assists.
This earned him a move to West Ham, although he’s been used infrequently by the Irons, his sole Premier League start, to date, coming at Stamford Bridge in February, serenaded by supporters throughout, despite a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea.
He was then handed his senior international debut by Steve Clark against Liechtenstein at Rheinpark Stadion in June, remaining very popular amongst West Ham supporters, earning the nickname the ‘Portobello Pirlo’ due to his ‘precocious talent’ and ability to dictate play from the base of midfield.
Writer Kai Watson outlines how Irving can “play under pressure” and “break the lines with his passes”, concluding that the Scotland international “would do well in Martin’s system”.
Andy Irving entering the pitch for West Ham United.
As he proved at Southampton last season, Martin is not going to change his principles nor his philosophy, or playing style, so the only way he is a success at Rangers is if the players are better able to carry out his instructions.
Based on what he’s produced so far, Irving appears as though he could do just that at a high level, so he could be the man to save the sinking ship, with his ability to succeed in the system being played.
Journalist reveals what he's heard about Russell Martin's Rangers future
Is the Gers boss already on his way out of Ibrox?
ByHenry Jackson Aug 22, 2025
As a Scotland international, Irving may also warm to supporters quickly as a player they may have an added investment in, which could help to get the fans back onside at Ibrox.