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Manchester United are one of a number of clubs interested in signing an exciting young player with a £25.7m release clause, according to a fresh transfer update.

Who does Sir Jim Ratcliffe want at Man Utd?

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's influence at Old Trafford is growing all the time, and he will be looking for the Red Devils to make some great signings in the summer transfer window in order for them to return to the top of English football in the future.

Girona left-back Miguel Gutierrez has emerged as a rumoured transfer target for United this summer as he continues to enjoy an impressive season for a team sitting second in La Liga, which has been one of the surprise stories of the season. He has apparently been tracked for "months" as Erik ten Hag potentially looks to sign a long-term replacement for Luke Shaw.

Highly rated Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva has also been backed to join United in the near future, with their defence needing fresh blood added to it considering Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans are all in their 30s, while Victor Lindelof reaches that milestone in July.

Ratcliffe is also thought to be weighing up the idea of sacking Ten Hag at the end of the season and bringing in an upgrade, with Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi one of the rumoured targets for United.

Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has also been linked with replacing the Dutchman in the Old Trafford hot seat, having won the Premier League title with the Blues back in 2016/17.

Man Utd want Rafael Venancio

According to Globo Esporte [via Sport Witness], Manchester United are keen on signing Rafael Venancio this summer, with the teenage Corinthians defender a wanted player who has a €30m (£25.7m) release clause in his current deal.

The Red Devils are believed to have been tracking the 17-year-old for "years" and could look to "accelerate his development" by signing him soon. Chelsea are in the same boat, however, also seeing him as a great long-term option.

Venancio may be a relative unknown to many considering his age and the fact that he isn't playing in Europe, but he looks like a player who could have a massive future in the game. Granted, he is yet to actually feature for Corinthians at first-team level, but he has clearly caught the eye of United considering the length of time they have been tracking him for.

The fact that he has a release clause means that the Red Devils could simply meet the amount and get the business done seamlessly should they believe he is worth the gamble. He is contracted to Corinthians until the summer of 2026, but it looks as though United could make a bid in the coming months.

Related Man Utd track “fantastic” Real Madrid academy graduate for summer transfer

The Red Devils have tracked him for “months”.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Mar 2, 2024

Signing exciting young players is refreshing to see, assuming this is part of Ratcliffe's approach to transfers, with United far too guilty of signing big names who are past their best in recent years, whether it be Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani, Casemiro or Varane, to name just a few.

‘Hopefully we can put everything in place and bring back normalcy in Indian cricket,’ he says

Vishal Dikshit14-Oct-20193:11

BCCI was going through an emergency-like situation for the past three years – Ganguly

Speaking publicly for the first time since being picked as the unanimous choice for the post of the BCCI president, Sourav Ganguly has pointed out that the conflict-of-interest matter that has been cropping up often in recent times is a “very serious issue in Indian cricket.”Ganguly himself was pulled into the conflict-of-interest issue for his role as a commentator, for being part of the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) and for being on the coaching staff of the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals, while also being president of the Cricket Association of Bengal. Ganguly had expressed his displeasure towards the conflict rule in the new BCCI constitution which asks one person to hold only one post in Indian cricket.List of nominations filed for new BCCI administration

President: Sourav Ganguly (Bengal)

Secretary: Jay Shah (Gujarat)

Vice-president: Mahim Verma (Uttarakhand)

Treasurer: Arun Singh Dhumal (Himachal)

IPL chairman: Brijesh Patel (Karnataka)

Joint-secretary: Jayesh George (Kerala)

“Conflict [of interest] is an issue. Whether you will actually get the best cricketers in the [BCCI] system, I am not sure because they will have other options to avail,” Ganguly said outside the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Monday after filing his nomination. “Because if they come into the system and not get to do what is their livelihood, it is very difficult for them to be part of this system and make a difference.”So that’s one issue which really needs to be looked at. Look at all the appointments that have happened in various forms whether it is the NCA (National Cricket Academy) or CAC or the appointment of batting coaches, fielding coaches, there has been issue with everything…commentators, IPL. This needs to be sorted as it is another very serious issue in Indian cricket.”Another issue Ganguly said that would be on his priority list would be to relook at the revenue share the BCCI gets from the ICC, which was reworked as part of the new financial model in 2017. “That’s one area, we will have to take care of it because we have not received any money in the last three-four years from the ICC,” Ganguly said. “Money in the sense what you deserve because India generates 75-80% of the (global cricket) revenue, so that is going to be one of the big agendas. Talks and discussions need to happen and we need to find a solution because this is not leading anywhere.”Ganguly also reflected on the state of Indian cricket administration and how it was an “emergency kind of situation in the BCCI in the last three years”. He hopes the new administration can bring normalcy back in the board in the coming months.”We have a lot of things to do,” he said. “To get the administration in order because administration involves a lot of things, to get the house in order, to get the office in order, and most importantly cricket.Sourav Ganguly arrives at the BCCI headquarters to file his nomination•AFP”It’s a very important time in Indian cricket administration because of what all has happened in the last three years. To be in a position where I can make a difference along with the [administration] team would be extremely satisfying so hopefully, in the next few months, we can put everything in place and bring back normalcy in Indian cricket.”It’s very satisfying [to be picked as the new president]. It was almost an emergency kind of situation in the BCCI in the last three years. The members overcame that and the eight names that have been announced, we wish to bring BCCI back to normalcy. But there’s a lot of work to do. Indian cricket, especially administration, has to be the best in the world and that’s how it has been over the years.”As the October 23 BCCI election day approached, there were several reports about who would be elected as the new board president, led by the names of Ganguly and Brijesh Patel, the former India batsman and Karnataka State Cricket Association secretary. There were also reports of former BCCI presidents N Srinivasan and Anurag Thakur being indirectly involved in the elections by wanting their preferred candidates in the board. Ganguly, however, clarified he had not expressed his aspirations to become the new board chief nor had he been approached by any politician.”I had never expressed my aspirations for this position,” Ganguly stated. “There were senior people in the BCCI. I never spoke to anyone, I never expressed that I was keen. Ninety per cent of the representatives in the BCCI currently are new, absolutely new. The way the current constitution is framed, a lot of people are tentative to even decide on positions in the BCCI because if it’s not good enough and if it’s not a position where you can work and make a difference, you wouldn’t want to be a part of it because they lose their state associations position.”There are a lot of issues which are very complex and complicated which actually are different from what ground-level work is. Till 10.30 in the night [on Sunday] I was not aware of this, till I was told that I need to be the president and take this association forward with Jay [Shah, the new BCCI secretary] and Arun [Singh Dhumal, the new treasurer] and the vice-presidents and the apex council members and Jayesh George, the joint-secretary. I felt it was a great responsibility because even when I became captain in the year 2000, there were issues going around. It’s always great to be looked at as someone who can do things in difficult situations and hopefully I can deliver.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Principal nome do esporte da Rede Globo, Galvão Bueno está de volta às transmissões esportivas para a final a da Supercopa do Brasil entre Palmeiras e Flamengo, marcada para o próximo domingo, às 11h (horário de Brasília), no estádio Mané Garrincha, em Brasília. Aos 70 anos de idade, o narrador estava afastado dos estúdios há 14 meses e só pode retornar após ter tomado as duas doses da vacina.

Relembre todas as camisas do Palmeiras lançadas pela Puma

A informação foi confirmada pela Globo. A transmissão da partida será realizada dos estúdios Globo, no Rio de Janeiro, e apenas os repórteres estarão presentes no estádio. Galvão estará ao lado de Júnior e Caio Ribeiro, como comentaristas, na transmissão da final. Após receber as duas doses do imunizante, o retorno do narrador foi aprovado pela emissora.

>> Veja a tabela completa do Campeonato Paulista e simule os próximos jogos

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O último jogo narrado por Galvão foi justamente a edição da Supercopa na temporada passada entre Flamengo e Athletico-PR, em 16 de fevereiro de 2020. Em finais disputadas e vencidas pelo Verdão, o narrador transmitiu a conquista do título inédito da Libertadores da América diante do Desportivo Cali em 1999.

Além da Rede Globo, a final da Supercopa terá transmissão do SporTV para todo o Brasil com a narração de Luiz Carlos Júnior e com os comentários de Paulo Vinícius Coelho e Ana Thaís Matos. Roque Júnior, ex-zagueiro do Palmeiras pentacampeão do mundo pela Seleção Brasileira e atual comentarista dos canais Globo, estará presente no pré-jogo.

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João Lucas já foi avisado para desfazer as malas, pois vai permanecer no Flamengo e não será mais emprestado ao Cuiabá. E detalhe: terá o seuvínculo estendido com o clube até o fim de 2022 – o atual expira em dezembro deste ano. A informação inicial é do site “ge”.

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Enquanto o acerto com o Cuiabá por empréstimo estava encaminhado, o Flamengo já tinha nos planos renovar com João Lucas até o fim do ano que vem, sendo que o clube do Mato Grosso pagaria os salários, integralmente, e teria uma opção de compra fixada em R$ 5 milhões.

A permanência de João Lucas está diretamente atrelada a não contratação de Rafinha, em outra negociação que indicava iminência de acerto – o clube justificou a desistência baseada no orçamento, o que Rafinha discordou publicamente, aliás.

+ Veja a tabela e o regulamento do Cariocão 2021

João Lucas, de 23 anos, está no Flamengo desde 2019. Ao todo, soma 18 jogos pelo clube, sendo o último nesta quarta-feira, na vitória sobre o Botafogo, pelo Carioca. O lateral estreou na temporada ao entrar aosos 41 minutos do segundo tempo, no lugar de Matheuzinho. Ambos seguirão a disputa por vaga com Isla – o titular – na lateral direita.

A possible return for Stoinis could give Australia the balance as they look to surge closer to the semi-finals

Daniel Brettig19-Jun-20193:14

Hussey: Bangladesh will certainly not be pushovers for Australia

Big PictureThe tournament has so far run more or less to the expectation of organisers wishing to see as much of the game’s biggest financial drawcards as possible. Bangladesh’s presence as the most likely usurper of an otherwise entrenched top four teams has been underlined by their beatings of South Africa and the West Indies. To now face Australia is a tantalising prospect, for it is likely that the Tigers will need to beat one of either Aaron Finch’s team or India, alongside Afghanistan and Pakistan, to be able to progress to the semi-finals.It was 14 years ago in Cardiff that Bangladesh pulled off one of their most celebrated early victories over Australia in an ODI infamously remembered for Andrew Symonds’ ouster after too big a night out beforehand.More recently, each of the past two ODI encounters between the teams have been abandoned due to poor weather, at the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2015 World Cup. This means that both teams will circle each other a little uncertainly, although Bangladesh will have an element of something to prove against opponents who cancelled a scheduled Test series against them at home last year for reasons known best to Cricket Australia and its broadcasters.At the same time, Australia are still seeking their best balance and form, having rather struggled through so far without playing in a complete manner. They came close against Sri Lanka, save for an underwhelming final 10 overs with the bat, and with Marcus Stoinis close to returning to full fitness may also be able to find the sort of team line-up that caters more evenly in terms of batting, pace and also spin bowling. Victory for Australia would more or less seal a semi-finals berth.Form guideBangladesh WWWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia WWLWWIn the spotlightAs the tournament’s leading run-maker Shakib Al Hasan is a clear threat to the Australians, and his left-arm spin bowling will also be a source of concern, as evidenced by the call-up of Ashton Agar to bowl to Finch’s team in the nets at Nottingham ahead of the match. Though his qualities are well known and appreciated by the Australians both at international and BBL levels, it is Shakib’s ability to bring others into the game, whether tightening up his end to bring wickets at the other or forming partnerships such as that with Liton Das against West Indies that makes him a still greater danger to any opponent.So far Glenn Maxwell has arguably played a more critical role for Australia with the ball than with the bat, taking up a great deal of responsibility as the fifth bowler and only spinner after Adam Zampa was dropped following an expensive outing against India. Bangladesh may look to attack his spin as they did Chris Gayle for the West Indies, while Maxwell can also expect to face pace early in his innings, something that Pakistan waited too ling to do at Taunton and Sri Lanks did not get right at the Oval.Bangladesh fans had a great time in Taunton•Getty ImagesTeam newsLiton Das should hold onto his spot after a match-clinching turn against the West Indies.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Liton Das, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 11 Mustafizur RahmanAustralia have a few variables in their selection, including Marcus Stoinis’ imminent return to fitness and also the question of whether a spin bowler is included – Nathan Lyon has enjoyed Test match success against Bangladesh in the past. Nathan Coulter-Nile is also in line for a recall after being rested against Sri Lanka.Australia (possible) 1 Aaron Finch (capt), 2 David Warner, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Shaun Marsh/Marcus Stoinis, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Kane Richardson/Nathan LyonPitch and conditionsThe Trent Bridge surface was on the dry side for England versus Pakistan and West Indies versus Australia, but rain in the interim caused India versus New Zealand to be abandoned and may also have freshened up the square somewhat. Forecast weather is cool and cloudy with scattered showers.Strategy punt Australia will have noted how Bangladesh attacked the West Indies’ short-pitched assault with relish but also plenty of good fortune on a small ground at Taunton. Given Trent Bridge’s somewhat bigger dimensions there may be the temptation to try it once more in the expectation that Mashrafe’s men will not be quite so fortunate again. Equally, a liberal diet of bouncers would help push the Bangladesh batsmen back on the crease, where they will be still more vulnerable to Mitchell Starc’s yorkers. Bat or bowl first is another conundrum, given Bangladesh’s recent penchant for chasing with increasing confidence and brio, while the Australians have shown themselves very adept at defending even a mediocre target with their pace bowling power and alert fielding. Bat-first teams have won the majority of matches at the tournament to date, despite the impression that early orning conditions will suit fast bowlers.Stats and trivia Bangladesh are yet to win an ODI at Trent Bridge, having twice lost to England in 2005 and 2010. Tamim Iqbal (281 runs in eight matches) needs nine runs to surpass Habibul Bashar (289 in 11) as the highest run-maker for Bangladesh in ODIs against Australia. Adam Gilchrist is the leading Austrlaian run-maker with 444 from 12 games.Quotes”We said at the start of the tour that we’ve got lots of options, very adaptable and that’s our strength, not our weakness. I get the sense some people think that’s our weakness. I actually think it’s our strength that we can play according to our opposition, we can play accordingly to grounds, we can play accordingly to managing players. That’s a strength, not a weakness.”

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O Botafogo contrata, mas também busca negociar jogadores do atual elenco. O clube de General Severiano possui uma “lista de negociáveis”, composta por atletas que não estão nos planos do treinador Marcelo Chamusca para a próxima temporada, e busca novos clubes para estes jogadores.

O Alvinegro não conta com os atacantes Rhuan, Alexander Lecaros e Davi Araújo, além dos laterais-direitos Gustavo Cascardo e Federico Barraneguy. O próximo passo é encontrar clubes interessados e negociar acordos para as saídas.

A preferência do Botafogo é negociar em definitivo todos esses jogadores. Um empréstimo para outra equipe é encarado como um Plano B da diretoria, que quer diminuir a folha salarial para a segunda divisão do Campeonato Brasileirão.

Com exceção de Rhuan, criado nas categorias de base do Alvinegro, os atletas da lista foram contratados pelo antigo Comitê Executivo de Futebol, que comandou o Botafogo durante boa parte da última temporada.

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Newcastle United's owners are ready to complete the signing of an "incredible" defender with bags of "charisma", according to a new transfer update.

Newcastle January transfer links

The Magpies have had a disastrous time of things in the injury department all season long, with an almost unfathomable string of fitness issues affecting so many players. Not only has it meant that Eddie Howe has been without numerous important individuals in both the Premier League and the Champions League, but it has also led to other available figures playing too much football and looking fatigued.

For that reason, it could now be that Howe looks to make some key signings during the January transfer window, with defensive additions potentially at the forefront of the manager's thoughts, especially with Sven Botman unavailable for so much of the campaign.

Dan Burn is another player who has been out for a large chunk of action in 2023/24 to date, so while centre-back is one area to focus on, left-back reinforcements could arrive, too. Crystal Palace and England ace Marc Guehi has been seen as an option for the Newcastle, with a bid possibly arriving at some point soon, while Sporting CP's Goncalo Inacio, who can play in both positions, has also been mooted as a target.

Newcastle readying bid for Andrea Cambiaso

According to Tutto Juve [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are keen on signing Juventus left-back Andrea Cambiaso, and have even set aside a fixed sum they are willing to use to get the deal done.

Aston Villa and Fulham are also believed to be in the mix to snap up the 23-year-old, so it won't necessarily be easy for the Magpies to get their man. Newcastle and their fellow Premier League rivals are "willing to spend" €15m (£13m) on Cambiaso, although Juve are not keen on the idea of allowing him to leave at this point in his career.

The left-back could be a brilliant signing by the Magpies if they do manage to get a deal over the line in the January window, with Italy legend Mauro Tassotti once saying of him:

"I was immediately struck by Andrea’s ability to play both left and right. And above all his ability to kick with both feet. I haven’t yet understood whether he is right or left-footed. In this sense, he is similar to Paolo Maldini who however was much more powerful from a physical standpoint, had incredible charisma and was also very strong defensively, so much so that he ended his career as a centre-back."

Cambiaso could be a similarly strong option to Burn, possessing his all-round expertise that has shone throughout this season in Serie A to date, while he can also play on the right flank, offering similar versatility to that of Tino Livramento.

Appearances

14

Tackles per game

1.1

Aerial duels wins per game

0.5

Goal contributions

3

Pass completion rate

88.1%

Newcastle desperately need some fresh legs ahead of the second half of the season – failure to bring in new faces could be fatal to their top four hopes – and the Juve man is someone who ticks so many boxes.

Despite suffering through an abysmal campaign last year, there was quite a bit of optimism surrounding Chelsea going into this season.

They had appointed a well-respected, Premier League-proven manager in Mauricio Pochettino, shipped off most of their deadwood to Saudi Arabia, and spent egregious sums of money on exciting young players to replace them.

However, that optimism has yet to translate into on-pitch performances, and the Blues are once again enduring a dreadful campaign in which there seems to be no end in sight.

There are, of course, a multitude of reasons why the wheels have so spectacularly fallen off at Stamford Bridge this year. Still, one that is hard to ignore is the injury to Christopher Nkunku, who, prior to his knee issue, was looking particularly deadly.

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The Napoli forward was linked with a move to Stamford Bridge last month.

ByChloe Chadwick Dec 4, 2023

Luckily for the Pensioners, the Frenchman isn't too far off returning, and the idea of him combining with transfer target Ivan Toney should make rival fans feel a little nervous.

Chelsea transfer news – Ivan Toney

According to a prior from talkSport, Chelsea are one of several Premier League clubs interested in signing the Brentford striker in 2024, and the fact that he has yet to sign a new deal has only further increased that interest.

The "unplayable" forward, as described by Alan Shearer, will see his current deal at the Gtech Community Stadium expire in 2025, meaning that the Bees are likely to sell their star striker in 2024 to protect their investment – regardless of what they tell the press.

There have been reports in recent months that a fee in the region of £50m-£60m would be enough to tempt the west Londoners into selling, but Sky Sports has confirmed that Toney is valued at £100m by his club and when Thomas Frank said as much in the summer, he wasn't joking: "£100m plus?… What would you pay for a striker that guarantees you 20-plus goals? And this is 20 goals for a mid-table club. What can he do in a bigger club?"

While that is an undeniably mammoth investment in a player who is already 27 years old and will have not played any football for over seven months, the prospect of him pairing up with Nkunku should be enough to convince Todd Boehly and co.

And hey, when has a massive price tag ever dissuaded Chelsea before?

How Ivan Toney could get the best out of Christopher Nkunku

One of the biggest problems at Chelsea this season – and over the last few years as well – is their inability to finish chances. The Blues have actually registered the fourth-highest expected goals total so far this season at 29.39, yet when it comes to finishing those chances, they rank eighth, with 25 goals, per Understat.

Compare that to the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle United, who have all scored more than their expected goals number, and the Blues' ineffectiveness in the six-yard box becomes all the more apparent.

Team

Expected Goals

Actual Goals

League Position

Manchester City

32.61

36

3rd

Liverpool

31.83

32

2nd

Newcastle United

31.31

32

6th

Arsenal

28.19

29

1st

Tottenham Hotspur

24.26

28

5th

Chelsea

29.39

25

10th

All Stats via Understat and correct as of matchweek 14

The return of Nkunku is undoubtedly going to help alleviate this problem somewhat, as the 26-year-old "monster", as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, found the back of the net 16 times in 25 Bundesliga appearances last season and 20 times in 34 the season before.

However, were Pochettino able to play the Frenchman alongside Toney – who has the "mindset of a lion" according to Frank and managed to bag 20 goals in 33 Premier League games last season – Chelsea could finally have a genuinely lethal attack to get on the end of the mountain of chances they create.

Additionally, while Nkunku excels best down the middle, his ability to play out wide would allow Pochettino to play three up top and include Raheem Sterling on the right, who has been one of the club's few bright sparks this year – scoring five league goals so far.

While this deal will force Boehly to put his hands back in his pockets, the idea of a front three comprising Nkunku, Toney and Sterling should be enough to reinvigorate any deflated Chelsea fan out there.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers have been urged to believe that they can replicate the success of India’s attack in Australia as they hunt a first Test victory in the country.The Indian bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, were superb as a unit as they secured India’s maiden series victory – 2-1 – in Australia recently. Of particular note was their ability to find reverse swing in the 40-80-over bracket and therefore retain their wicket-taking threat throughout the life of the ball.Sri Lanka come with a far less heralded attack, led by Suranga Lakmal, but have the opportunity to take on a brittle Australia batting line-up that could feature two Test debutants in Kurtis Patterson and Will Pucovski and have other players being shuffled around.Sri Lanka bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake said they had been studying India’s tactics closely as they prepared for the two-Test series, which includes a day-night Test at the Gabba and a maiden Test in Canberra, which will offer a variety of conditions.”It’s one of the major things we looked at, the areas which they had bowled,” Ratnayake said. “It’s just making the bowlers believe that whatever their bowlers can do and the other teams can do, we also can do. That belief is something we are trying to work on at the moment.ALSO READ: Sri Lanka’s best chance to win in Australia?“In batting and bowling, and even in the fielding, the Indians showed the world every place they go to is a home-from-home. I believe we can take that from the Indians. We came here with the motto to win a Test match – we are going to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa so we would love to win a Test match in a country and Australia is one of them.”Sri Lanka have lost Nuwan Pradeep to a hamstring injury. After Lakmal with 54 Test appearances, the next most-capped seamer is Lahiru Kumara with just 14, but he is generating some excitement and interest in Australia.”He’s an exuberant young boy,” Ratnayake said of the 21-year-old quick. “He’s quick in our terms and might be quick in your terms also, because he sometimes touches 148kph, but he hits it at a pace of 140 on a more regular basis. He’s young, he needs to learn a bit more, but when he’s on fire it’s some of the best spells I’ve seen out of Sri Lanka for a long time, especially in West Indies.”In that series against West Indies, Kumara took 17 wickets at 19.88 including six in the day-nighter in Barbados, which Sri Lanka won to share the series.A shared series on this tour, especially with a victory among the results, would make for significant success for Sri Lanka. A series win would be one of their more famous achievements.”I think it is certainly one of the better chances,” Ratnayake said. “A wounded Australia is a bit of a mystery in any sport really. We understand that and we know that when they are wounded they will be at their best.”

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A frustrating rain-filled evening in Durban eventually turned joyful for Paarl Rocks as they lifted themselves off the bottom of the points table.Paarl were denied their regular complement of overs, thanks to as many as three interruptions. The third break that lasted close to an hour reduced the contest to nine-overs-a-side.Progressing serenely at 47 without loss in 5.4 overs before the third rain interval, opener Henry Davids teed off in style to hit two fours and a six off the first four deliveries upon resumption. Paarl smashed 51 off the remaining 3.2 overs to finish on 98 for 2, with the target then re-calibrated to 113. This proved 32 too many for the home team.Durban Heat lost Hashim Amla off the first delivery in their chase, Temba Bavuma off the fifth and Heinrich Klaasen off the fifteenth. That, right there, was game over.Bjorn Fortuin, the left-arm spinner, was the hero with the ball. He removed Amla with a slider that drifted in to trap him in front of middle and leg as he played all around it. Bavuma toe-ended a slap to Faf du Plessis at cover, while Klaasen mistimed a heave to midwicket off David Wiese.David Miller blasted 22, but it looked like he was just one mishit away from doom and gloom. When he fell, it soon soon became a question of reducing the margin of defeat to ensure the net-run-rate didn’t take a massive dent.Durban managed just four boundaries in the first four overs. On the night, this simply wasn’t good enough.Among the positives they’ll want to look forward with hope was the return of designated captain Albie Morkel. Initially unsure of playing because of a niggle, Morkel returned after scans on his right wrist allayed fears of an injury.In his previous outing prior to the rain-off fixture, Morkel copped a blow at the non-striker’s end when Vernon Philander smacked the ball back ferociously to hit him while taking evasive action. This forced him to retire hurt. On Wednesday, the second ball he faced was a fierce front-of-square pull that showed the injury wasn’t as serious as initially perceived to be.However, on the face of an ever-escalating run rate, Morkel managed just the one six in his nine-ball stay, eventually caught behind trying to cut Tabraiz Shamsi, who brought out the ‘telephone’ celebration by removing his right boot, dusting the sole off before bringing it to his hear as if to say ‘hello’ to the dressing room.It was that kind of night for Paarl, there was little or no pressure for the bowlers halfway into the innings. Philander briefly thrilled with his big hits, but the result seemed a foregone conclusion.