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Maphaka, the highest wicket-taker of the T20I series, was added to the squad on Monday

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Aug-2025South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada was ruled out of action for the entirety of the three-match ODI series against Australia on the morning of the first ODI.Rabada, 30, underwent a scan on Monday, which confirmed the extent of his ankle injury. He will remain in Australia and undergo rehabilitation under the supervision of the South Africa medical staff. Kwena Maphaka, who was the highest wicket-taker in the T20I series that preceded the ODIs, has been added to the South Africa squad.Related

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With Rabada not available and Marco Jansen still recovering from surgery to his left thumb, the fast bowlers in the squad are Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi and Maphaka. They also have seam-bowling allrounders Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder on the tour. Their spin options are Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy and Prenelan Subrayen.The first of three ODIs is being played at the Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns, after which the teams move to Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena for the next two matches. Australia won the hard-fought T20I series 2-1.

Newcastle United have purchased some real gems over the last few years when flexing their muscles across various transfer windows.

Just this summer gone, the Magpies splashed out a substantial £69m to land Nick Woltemade, and it’s already looking like it was a necessary splurge to make, with the skilful, yet towering German now up to four Premier League goals, despite the new campaign still very much being in its infancy.

Other, more shrewd purchases in recent memory have also seen Eddie Howe and Co. land both Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn, who remain as mainstays in his XI to his day, despite both being veteran figures at St James’ Park, while a deal to snap up Sandro Tonali for £55m back in 2023 continues to pay off.

The best recent bit of business of them all, however, could be obtaining Bruno Guimaraes, with the much-loved Toon captain even being hailed as “special” by his manager at the weekend, as another clutch moment from the Brazilian in black and white secured a last-ditch 2-1 win over Fulham.

Guimaraes' hero status at Newcastle

Acquired for a cheaper fee than both Woltemade and Tonali at the £40m mark back in 2022, it’s clear, now that Newcastle won themselves an almighty bargain picking up the South American from Lyon when they did.

Indeed, the Rio De Janeiro ace has become a “talisman” for the Magpies – as he was recently labelled by Match of the Day pundit Michael Carrick – with goals and assists aplenty, 52 combined to be exact, always matched by a hunger to battle away and fight for his beloved side, across his 166 appearances and counting on Tyneside.

From his mammoth 11,032 minutes in the Premier League, Guimaraes has won a very high 915 duels.

Yet, that is also coupled with his incisive play in the forward areas, with his 6510 accurate passes across the same span of matches, often resulting in him finding a teammate in the forward areas who can steer the Toon to a win.

The well-respected number 39 – who has also been dubbed a “joy to watch” this season by Toon-based blog Mouth of the Tyne – does also take matters into his own hands in the attacking positions, with a bumper eight goal contributions next to his name this campaign.

All of this overwhelming evidence points in the direction of Guimaraes being an unbelievable, earth-shuddering steal, but there is a new star emerging at St James’ Park now who might well be viewed as Newcastle’s most prized purchase since the 27-year-old’s impactful arrival.

Newcastle have another Bruno bargain

Guimaraes’ longevity in a Magpies shirt should be commended, with his midfield partner in Joelinton, beginning to show signs of decay, while he continues to stand out as a fine wine.

Malick Thiaw will hope he’s viewed as such a revered element of Howe’s team down the line, with the decision to bring in the 6-foot-4 centre-back this summer for just £34m already being viewed as another Guimaraes-style masterstroke.

Games played

6

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches*

48.7

Accurate passes*

33.5 (88%)

Ball recoveries*

4.0

Clearances*

4.0

Total duels won*

5.0

Just ten games have come the Düsseldorf-born warrior’s way on Tyneside to date, and yet, he is already being branded as “absolutely sensational” to watch by Newcastle-based writer Thomas Hammond.

The table above only backs up all the wild praise the three-time Germany international has been receiving, with the commanding number 12 not looking out of place whatsoever in the Premier League – despite struggling to hold down a first-team spot at AC Milan – as seen in him averaging an unerring 88% pass accuracy, on top of winning five duels on average across his six outings in the tough league so far.

He very much stood out against Fulham too, in much the same way Guimaraes did, with eight duels heroically won, further reinforcing how much of a bargain the Toon have managed to pull off by acquiring Thiaw for a measly £34m.

With two Champions League clean sheets also under his belt, seeing Mouth of Tyne further boldly state that Thiaw can play at the “very top”, it’s clear that one of the centre-back spots in Howe’s XI is now nailed on to be taken up by the new fan favourite.

Already a recipient of his own catchy chant by the Newcastle fans, too, it does remain to be seen what Thiaw’s long-term career looks like in England.

Right now, though, he looks to be treading down the same, success-laden path as Guimaraes in being a staple for many years to come.

Move over Woltemade: Howe has unearthed a new “game-changer” at Newcastle

Newcastle United have unearthed a new game-changer, and it’s not Nick Woltemade.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 26, 2025

Former Premier League star Troy Deeney believes Bournemouth sensation Antoine Semenyo has what it takes to reach the very top — even suggesting the Ghanaian forward could one day line up for Real Madrid. The Watford legend hailed the 25-year-old as one of the Premier League’s most underrated stars and challenged him to maintain his stunning early-season form to fulfil his world-class potential.

Semenyo starts off 2025/26 with a bang for Bournemouth

Former Watford striker Deeney has joined the growing list of admirers praising Bournemouth forward Semenyo, who has been one of the standout performers in the Premier League this season. The Ghana international’s explosive form has fired the Cherries to second place in the table, just four points behind leaders Arsenal, as he continues to shine under Andoni Iraola’s management.

Semenyo’s numbers speak for themselves: six goals and three assists in his opening nine league matches, a tally bettered only by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. The 25-year-old’s pace and precision in the final third have made him one of the league’s most dangerous attackers, helping Bournemouth maintain their strong start despite selling over £200 million worth of players in the summer.

With major departures such as Milos Kerkez to Liverpool and Dean Huijsen’s £50m move to Real Madrid, the Cherries have relied heavily on Semenyo’s individual brilliance. His relentless performances have not only inspired Bournemouth’s rise but also attracted attention from top clubs across Europe — and Deeney believes that, if he keeps it up through the season, he could very well follow Huijsen to the Santiago Bernabeu.

AdvertisementGetty Images EntertainmentDeeney set challenge for Semenyo and predicts Real Madrid move

Speaking to talkSPORT, Troy Deeney described Semenyo as one of the Premier League’s “unsung heroes” this season and predicted a bright future for the Ghanaian star. “I just don’t know if Semenyo can keep it up — do you know what I mean?” Deeney said. “If he does, then my God — he’ll probably end up playing for Real Madrid. But I think he’s very good, very powerful, very direct. I just don’t know whether he’ll keep it up.” 

When asked whether he considered Semenyo among the top performers in the league, Deeney replied: “Yeah — he’s a good shout, Semenyo.”

Deeney’s comments come amid mounting excitement around the Bournemouth attacker’s development and his growing influence on Iraola’s team.

Several Premier League heavyweights linked with Semenyo

Since joining Bournemouth from Bristol City, the Ghanaian has become an indispensable part of Iraola’s system. His technical growth, particularly in decision-making and finishing, has seen him evolve from a promising talent into one of the most consistent forwards in England’s top flight.

Semenyo’s form this season has reignited transfer speculation, with several elite clubs monitoring his progress earlier this year. Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur all reportedly explored potential deals in previous windows, while Real Madrid and Chelsea are now said to be keeping tabs on his performances. Bournemouth’s refusal to entertain offers reaching £50 million underlines just how valuable he has become to their project.

The Ghanaian signed a new deal in July 2025, extending his stay until 2030, but reports suggest the contract includes a confidential release clause. While the exact figure remains undisclosed, it had previously been revealed that it’s lower than Bournemouth’s current £100m valuation. The club remains determined to keep their talisman, but should Europe’s heavyweights come knocking, Semenyo’s future could dominate the headlines.

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Getty Images SportBidding war for Sememnyo in the summer of 2026

For now, Semenyo’s focus remains firmly on Bournemouth and their unexpected title challenge under Iraola. His performances have made him the face of the Cherries’ new era, and with confidence soaring, he’ll be aiming to sustain his remarkable run deep into the campaign. Should his output continue, a bidding war could erupt by next summer, with Liverpool and Manchester United expected to reignite their interest depending on their attacking situations.

For Bournemouth, keeping hold of Semenyo may prove increasingly difficult if the goals keep flowing. Additionally, with Ghana having secured their berth in the 2026 World Cup, a string of strong performances in North America could raise the demand for the Bournemouth forward even more.

Deeney’s words may have been light-hearted, but they carry weight. The former Premier League striker has long been known for his straight-talking assessments, and his belief that Semenyo has the potential to play for one of football’s most prestigious clubs speaks volumes.

Tournament chief Arun Dhumal says they are working with the government on how to move forward

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2025

IPL 2025 is scheduled to run until May 25•Associated Press

IPL 2025 will continue for the moment despite mounting tension between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of missile strikes carried out by the Indian army in the early hours of Wednesday on sites across the border. The Indian government said Operation was its response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed, in April.While the BCCI has not issued any public statement yet, doubts had surfaced over whether the two IPL matches scheduled this week in the north Indian town of Dharamshala, the second home venue of Punjab Kings (PBKS), will go ahead. PBKS are scheduled to play Delhi Capitals (DC) on May 8 and then Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 11.MI, who lost a last-ball thriller at home against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Tuesday, were scheduled to land in Dharamshala by Thursday, but it is understood their travel plans have been put on hold owing to the Kangra airport shutting down. Even the Chandigarh airport, which is the nearest to Dharamsala, has been closed according to which has reported that the Indian government has temporarily shut down at least 18 airports in the north and west of the country including Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Amritsar, Pathankot, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Shimla and Jamnagar.According to Arun Dhumal, the IPL chairman, the Thursday evening fixture between PBKS and DC is currently scheduled to go ahead.”We will abide by the Indian government advisory,” Dhumal told ESPNcricinfo. He confirmed that as of Wednesday morning there had been no directive issued by the government. Dhumal said the IPL operations team was coordinating with the concerned government agencies to figure out how to get teams in and out of Dharamshala. PBKS have been based in Dharamshala since last week and won their most recent home game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday.Asked whether there was a possibility of shifting the May 11 match between PBKS and MI elsewhere, Dhumal said the IPL team was “working on the logistics” and if there was any “alternate planning” needed, they would be prepared.

Celtic confirmed their place in the last four of the League Cup on Sunday afternoon with a comfortable 4-0 win over Partick Thistle away from home.

The Hoops strolled to a victory that was never in any serious doubt throughout the 90 minutes, thanks to goals from Hyun-jun Yang, Liam Scales, Sebastian Tounekti, and Luke McCowan.

After a promising debut against Kilmarnock last time out, creating four chances (per Sofascore), Tounekti caught the eye once again with his performance on the left flank.

Why Sebastian Tounekti is already a star player for Celtic

Brendan Rodgers handed the Tunisia international another start after his bow in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, and was rewarded with an impressive display.

Tounekti was a constant threat down the left side, particularly in the first half, and Premier Sports pundit Michael Stewart described him as the “danger man” for Celtic, because he “unsettles” defenders.

He was heavily involved in the opening goal for the Hoops with his excellent pass in behind for Benjamin Nygren to cross to the far post for Yang, as shown in the clip below.

The left-sided attacker then showed his quality in front of goal by scoring after a one-two with Kelechi Iheanacho, which is why the forward should be considered a star player for the team already, as he can create, he can dribble, and he can score goals.

Tounekti was far from the only impressive performer on the park for the Scottish giants, though, as Iheanacho showed that he is a player for the fans to be excited about.

Why Celtic fans should be excited about Kelechi Iheanacho

After the disappointment of deadline day, it would be hard to blame any supporter for not being too excited by the arrival of the Nigeria international on a free transfer after Sevilla were willing to terminate his contract.

The left-footed striker only scored four goals in 26 appearances in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, for Middlesbrough and Sevilla combined, which did little to help the lack of excitement around his signing.

However, Iheanacho’s first two performances have shown that he is a player who the supporters should be excited about, after scoring a 96th-minute penalty against Kilmarnock on his debut last weekend.

Minutes

20

Touches

9

Shots

3

Goals

1

Passes completed

3/5

Duels won

0/2

The former Manchester City striker was rewarded with his first start for the club for this clash with Partick Thistle and delivered an impressive centre-forward showing.

Premier Sports commentator Rory Hamilton claimed that Iheanacho and Tounekti are players “to be excited about” moving forward this season, and both players combined for the third goal in the match for Celtic.

As you can see in the clip above, the Celtic striker did brilliantly to flick the ball round the corner to tee the winger up to score, showing great awareness, creativity, and technical ability.

That was not a one-off for Iheanacho in the match. He consistently held the ball up and produced impressive flicks to find teammates making advances towards the opposition’s box.

The 28-year-old star, who was handed a 7/10 player rating by GlasgowWorld, was a fantastic facilitator for his teammates with the creativity and reliability in his hold-up play, against Partick Thistle defenders who wanted to get tight and physical with him.

Iheanacho was as good as Tounekti, as both players showed that they were too good for the opposition to deal with, and supporters must now be excited about what the forward can produce over the course of an entire season if he can stay fit.

Worth more than Tounekti: Celtic are brewing the new Reo Hatate at Parkhead

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ByDan Emery Sep 16, 2025

Hopefully, Rodgers will select both players in the starting line-up when Celtic kick off their Europa League campaign against Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday night.

Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders of his generation. The Dutchman has won it all in English football and he has often done so without even breaking a sweat. But that doesn’t mean that he’s breezed through his time at Liverpool without squaring off against some incredibly difficult opponents.

The Premier League took a breath of anticipation when Erling Haaland and Van Dijk found themselves one-on-one at Anfield not so long ago in a battle that ended with the Norwegian’s wayward shot. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has never even scored against the towering Liverpool captain and many others have ended afternoons to forget in his ruthless grasp.

Games

5

Goals

0

Assists

0

Endless players have endured their toughest games against Van Dijk and that includes Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, who is now on loan at Barcelona. The England international name-dropped his former Premier League rival when asked about the most difficult defender he’s faced.

Whilst so many have struggled to leave their mark against Van Dijk, however, the same can’t be said for Lionel Messi. When an immovable object met an unstoppable force, Van Dijk may have come away with a shock victory courtesy of Liverpool’s dramatic Champions League comeback, but Messi still had his moment at the Nou Camp – scoring twice.

The fact that one of this generation’s greatest defenders could not keep Messi quiet sums up just how other-wordly the Argentine icon is, more than it sums up Van Dijk’s own shortcomings on a difficult evening. But the Dutchman, to his credit, was not fooled twice by Messi’s magic and sent him crashing out of the Champions League in historic fashion in the second leg.

That Nou Camp thrashing courtesy of Messi will be one that Van Dijk remembers even to this day, but it wasn’t enough to make the Barcelona legend his toughest opponent. Instead, the central defender dropped an unexpected name.

Van Dijk names "annoying" Giroud as toughest opponent

Speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap, Van Dijk named Olivier Giroud as his toughest opponent despite having squared off against the likes of Messi, Ronaldo and Haaland.

The Liverpool captain looked back on the Frenchman’s knack for a goal against the Reds before labeling him an “annoying” striker to play against.

Although Messi seems the obvious choice, the fact that Giroud has scored three goals in five games against Van Dijk throughout his career makes him a worthy candidate for his toughest opponent.

Manchester City are now “leading” the chase for a “special striker”, who is keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium, according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey.

Guardiola looking to trim squad ahead of new campaign

The new Premier League campaign is a matter of days away, with Man City set to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers away from home this Saturday, and Pep Guardiola will travel to Molineux with a new-look squad.

City have not been afraid to splash the cash this summer, bringing in new options in attacking midfield and between the sticks, given that Kevin De Bruyne left upon the expiration of his contract, while Ederson is also expected to depart.

New signing	Transfer fee	Position
Tijjani Reijnders	£46.5m	CM
Rayan Ait-Nouri	£36.3m	LB
Rayan Cherki	£34m	AM
James Trafford	£31m	GK
Sverre Nypan	£12.5m	CM
Marcus Bettinelli	Undisclosed	GK

To make way for the new arrivals, there have also been plenty of departures, with Jack Grealish becoming the latest player to leave, joining Everton on a season-long loan deal.

Guardiola has also suggested he is looking to trim the squad even further, saying: “A lot of players should leave. New players, I don’t think so. We need a little bit less. I don’t like (lots) of players. One reason we sent Vitor Reis to Girona is for that.”

However, there may be room for Man City to make one last statement signing, having recently entered talks over a deal for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, which could amount to around £86m.

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Speaking to The Boot Room, Bailey has now revealed that Man City are “leading” the chase for the Madrid star, alongside Arsenal, with the reporter adding: “Both clubs really appeal to him – they are both Champions League contenders and look like a good fit.”

Bailey also suggests the Spanish side are willing to part ways with the Brazilian, adding: “Rodrygo has been told the situation – Real love him but they are ready to move on, and the player is in full agreement with them, he also believes that the situation needs resolving.”

Rodrygo could be "special" signing for City

It would be difficult for any centre-forward to compete for Erling Haaland’s starting spot, but Carlo Ancelotti has waxed lyrical about the Brazil international in the past, saying: “He is a special striker, he can play in all positions. He is fast, smart and effective one on one. The learning is over. He is a Real Madrid player for all purposes.”

However, the former Santos man has predominantly featured on the wing throughout his career to date, indicating that he could be brought in as a direct replacement for Grealish.

Given his exploits in a Madrid shirt, there is every indication the 24-year-old would be an upgrade on Grealish too, chipping in with 68 goals and 51 assists in 270 appearances for the Spanish club.

Guardiola seems hesitant to make more additions to his squad, but he should make room for Rodrygo, as the Brazilian could take his forward line to the next level.

Pressure is mounting on the ICC to act amid the announcement of fundraising efforts to support Afghanistan’s exiled women’s cricketers, who played their first match together this week.The Pitch Our Future campaign, led by former Australia cricketer turned commentator Mel Jones, launched on Friday aimed at attracting online donations to support the players’ sporting, physical and mental needs so that they can continue to compete regularly as a team.Meanwhile, the MCC and MCC Foundation have set up the Global Refugee Cricket Fund to support refugees worldwide, backed by a £100,000 donation from the ECB and with an initial focus to raise money for Pitch Our Future.Related

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• England-Afghanistan to go ahead despite ECB speaking out over 'gender apartheid'

• Exiled Afghanistan women players to men's team: 'Please be the voice of the girls'

• Powerplay: How cricket helped Afghanistan women escape

• World Cricketers Association calls out 'random and inconsistent' support for Afghanistan women

In announcing the fund and the establishment of an advisory board, the MCC “invited” the ICC’s participation, while Clare Connor, the ECB’s deputy chief executive, hoped the fund’s launch would “inspire other cricketing organisations” to lend their support.The announcements follow pleas to the ICC to ring-fence funding for the players on the basis that Afghanistan remain full ICC members despite no longer being able to fulfil the requirement to field a women’s team under its Taliban government.The players wrote to the ICC last July asking for help in establishing themselves as a refugee team. In lieu of a response, they formed an Afghanistan Women’s XI with the help of Jones and a team of dedicated volunteers, and played their first game on Thursday.As told to ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast, Jones was instrumental in helping 19 players formerly contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board and their families escape to Australia after the Taliban took over in 2021 and banned women’s sport in their country. Since then, women have been subjected to increasingly restrictive laws in Afghanistan which have effectively excluded them from public life.Jones was helped by Emma Staples, Cricket Victoria’s Head of Diversity and Community, and Dr Catherine Ordway from the University of Canberra among others, whose efforts resulted in Thursday’s T20 exhibition against a Cricket Without Borders XI.