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Manchester United have finalised the signing of 13-year-old defender Socrates, a rising prospect who rebounded from failed trials at Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace before earning a place at Old Trafford. The Elite London Academy product has impressed scouts with his maturity and intelligence, completing a move that highlights United’s renewed focus on youth recruitment under INEOS.

• Man Utd sign 13-year-old defender Socrates

  United have secured the signature of 13-year-old centre-back Socrates following an impressive trial period that convinced academy staff he was ready for the step up. The London-born prospect will relocate to Manchester, combining his football development with a place at a high-performing school in the area as part of his long-term pathway at the club. Having spent five years at the Elite London Academy, he evolved from a promising winger into a composed and technically refined defender, catching the attention of Premier League sides across the country.

  Before joining United, Socrates underwent trials at Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, experiences that did not lead to formal registration but proved instrumental in sharpening his mindset and improving his game, which eventually helped him sign with United.

  His signing aligns with the Red Devils' current recruitment strategy, which emphasises identifying emerging talent early and providing an environment designed to accelerate long-term growth. United have become increasingly proactive in targeting elite prospects across Europe and South America, making Socrates part of a broader youth-focused rebuild.

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  Elite London Academy open up on Socrates' move

  Posting on Instagram, the Elite London Academy celebrated the move and praised both the player and his journey: “From ELA ➝ Signing for one of the biggest club in the world. Today we congratulate Socrates on officially signing for Manchester United. Socrates has been with us for five years — five years of development, hard work and belief.”

  The academy highlighted his standout qualities and early promise: “From the moment he joined Elite London Academy, you could see he had something special: technically gifted, intelligent on the ball, brave in duels, and always hungry to learn. Along his journey, we organised trials for him at Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace. He completed full trials at these clubs but these did not result in registration. Arguably, missed opportunities for the clubs.”

  ELA then praised his response to adversity, calling him a model professional even at 13: “But what makes Socrates different is how he responded. He didn’t sulk. He didn’t lose confidence. He showed resilience, maturity and a mindset far beyond his age. Instead, he pushed harder. Soon exciting opportunities have followed. Socrates was offered registration at a top Cat 1 club in the North in August after a successful trial.”

  Finally, they explained why he chose United and praised his character: “However, he declined the offer as the school opportunity did not feel it would stretch him fully. His reading of the game, distribution, physical presence and calmness under pressure have grown to elite standards.

  "Off the pitch, he’s exactly the type of boy every academy wants: Humble, well-mannered, intelligent, respectful and driven. And behind him is a family who supports him in all the right ways — patient, positive, and trusting the process.”

• AFP
  

  INEOS pushing for massive youth signings at Man Utd

  Socrates' arrival at United comes during a renewed emphasis on the academy system, where INEOS are pushing for a stronger link between youth development and future first-team integration. The club has widened its scouting network considerably, aiming to identify high-potential youngsters before they are priced out of reach or locked into long-term contracts elsewhere. As part of this shift, United have targeted players not only on technical ability but also on psychological attributes, making resilience and maturity key indicators of long-term potential.

  The move also comes at a time when United’s youth system is seeing a wave of new talent. Charlie Hardy and Cristian Orozco represent the club’s desire to fortify key positions early, with Hardy viewed as a long-term goalkeeper option and Orozco projected as a future midfield anchor. Socrates’ addition adds defensive depth to the younger age groups and ensures United continue to build a balanced academy pipeline.

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• Socrates set to join Man Utd's U14 squad

  Socrates will now join Manchester United’s U14 squad, where his immediate focus will be adapting to the club’s training methods, increasing his physical robustness and settling into his new academic environment. The expectation is not for rapid acceleration but for steady, long-term development, with coaches planning a personalised programme to nurture his natural attributes. United’s hope is that he will progress through the age groups and eventually earn a scholarship deal at 16.

  For Manchester United, this signing is another step toward re-establishing their academy as one of Europe’s strongest talent factories. With more young players being integrated into development squads and the club widening its global recruitment footprint, United are clearly planning for a future where homegrown talent plays a major role.

Western Province opening batter Joshua van Heerden has become the first like-for-like injury replacement under a new trial for substitutes in cricket. Van Heerden replaced Edward Moore in a provincial four-day game against Lions at Newlands in the second round of the CSA’s first-class competition. Moore suffered a tear to his left adductor (inner thigh muscle) while fielding on the second day.The trial, which is also being conducted in Australia’s Sheffield Shield and India’s Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy, is part of an ICC initiative seeking a solution for teams that lose players to serious injury during a match.Like Australia, South Africa will consider both internal and external injuries (India are only looking at external injuries for now) and have a strict protocol for determining when a player can be replaced. If the injury is internal, such as a muscle tear, which was the case with Moore, the player is required to go for an Ultrasound and/or an MRI scan. The report is then sent to CSA’s chief medical officer Dr Hashendra Ramjee and CSA’s cricket operations manager Obakeng Sepeng who study the results and determine if the injury is serious enough to allow for replacement. They then contact the match referee to confirm the decision. If the injury is external, such as a visible dislocation or broken bone, the match referee can make the decision on a substitute in consultation with Dr Ramjee and Sepeng.Related

• BCCI introduces 'serious injury replacement substitute' rule

• CA to trial injury subs with tactical twist in Sheffield Shield

The injured player can only be replaced provided he has been ruled out of the match in its entirety. He will then be required to satisfy a “stand-down period of seven days”, as stated in CSA’s updated playing conditions before returning to play. In Australia’s case, substitutions are only allowed until stumps on the second day and the injured player is mandated a 12-day non-playing period. Like Australia and India, South Africa are only trialling the system in multi-day cricket for now.The differences in protocol stem from the ways in which different countries want to trial the system. They will all report back to the ICC, which could then come up with regulations for like-for-like substitutions in the international game. Currently, substitutions in international cricket are only allowed for concussion.

Leeds United had a standout away record to thank for Championship promotion last season, with only three losses picked up all campaign long on the road.

Worryingly, this season, the Whites have already lost four games on their travels in the unnerving environment of the Premier League, despite only being away from Elland Road a slim total of five times.

The well-oiled machine Daniel Farke had at his disposal in the second tier is now nowhere to be found, with Leeds fortunate to only lose 3-0 at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion last time out.

Some of Leeds’ summer pick-ups have still impressed, though, as Farke hopes the blistering exploits of Noah Okafor down the wings can be one overwhelming positive that steers the West Yorkshire outfit to safety.

Okafor's impressive Leeds start

There would have been a lot of pressure on Okafor’s shoulders to instantly impress, too, having come in as Leeds’ most expensive capture this summer at the £18m mark.

Thankfully, even if the collective hasn’t always clicked, the Swiss has managed to stand out as a bright, forward-thinking spark on the left wing.

Two goals have already come the forward’s way, with his front-foot approach – which saw him complete a tricky five dribbles versus Brighton – also earning him various plaudits, while other Leeds attackers have receded into their shells, trying to valiantly compete in the daunting division.

Indeed, ex-Leeds defender Aidy White has singled out Okafor for praise for being “so direct” in his style, which – in tow – has gifted the Elland Road side a “massive threat” going forward, according to the Irishman.

Of course, the £18m winger can’t do everything on his own, with his risky style of play sometimes backfiring.

But, he could be crucial in the long run, especially if Leeds need a moment of split-second magic to unlock a tiring defence in a basement battle clash.

Chalkboard

The U21 ranks in West Yorkshire could even be brewing another Okafor-like ace in an exciting 18-year-old sensation.

Leeds' next Noah Okafor

Leeds has a rich recent history when it comes to unearthing some exceptionally talented young gems, with Farke directly responsible for Archie Gray’s crazy ascent to first-team greatness.

While Archie’s brother, Harry, looks like the most exciting prospect in the Thorp Arch academy right now, another teenager by the name of Harvey Vincent will hope he’s the next off the homegrown conveyor belt to make an instant impression in the senior ranks when he’s handed an eventual chance.

He has already been described as an “unpredictable” attacker to keep tabs on – much like Okafor – by Pure Football writer Trent Gaffney and looks like a genuinely exciting young talent.

Lining up in the same set-up as the highly-rated Gray regularly this season, Vincent has still managed to stick out as a talent noted for being able to “tear you apart in seconds” as Gaffney further elaborates, with his late effort (video above) last time out against Brighton U21s securing a 2-2 draw.

In total, now, lining up for both the U18s and U21s, Vincent has 14 goals and eight assists next to his name, with his tricks and flicks thankfully backed up by some impressive output, much like Okafor has managed in the senior Leeds ranks, since moving to England.

Vincent could also be useful to Farke in the near future when studying his adaptability for the cause, with the two-time England U16 international even lining up as a defensive midfielder and a striker on occasion.

Okafor can also be equally as malleable, having lined up across all of the forward positions for former employers AC Milan, from slotting in as a second striker or coming into the side down the alternate right wing.

The electric Leeds number 19 even stated, while still at the San Siro, that he is at “the coach’s disposal” as to where he can line up.

Having recently penned a professional deal to keep him at Leeds until 2027, too, the future certainly looks bright for Vincent in West Yorkshire.

It will now rest on Vincent being able to live up to his potential, with Leeds potentially gaining another Okafor-like menace in the process.

Leeds star was "indispensable" to Farke, now he's as droppable as Aaronson

This Leeds United star who was once dubbed as a necessary cog is now struggling in the Premier League.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 5, 2025

His unbeaten 140, plus 97 not out from Matt Critchley counter Durham’s efforts of the opening day

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay09-Sep-2025

Dean Elgar, batting for more than five-and-a-half hours for a well-paced first century of the season, and Matt Critchley, smashing the ball to all corners of Chelmsford, took Essex within touching distance of a first-innings lead against fellow relegation candidates Durham with an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 154.The left-handed opener Elgar had not strapped on batting pads for five weeks, having spent August back in his native South Africa, but after a scratchy start that echoed his season’s form, he quickly rediscovered the fluency of old with 140 not out from 264 balls. Critchley, meanwhile, has been in decent nick for most of the summer and finished on 97 not out with Essex 312 for 3 at the close, a deficit of just 21.Under heavy cloud cover, the rate of Essex’s steady acceleration through the gears was illustrated by Elgar’s partnerships for the second wicket with Tom Westley (76 in 24 overs), with Charlie Allison for the third (75 in 17) and for the fourth with the freewheeling Critchley.Durham had been dismissed at the start of the day for 333 with Jamie Porter extending his season’s wickets tally to 39 with figures of 4 for 77. A punchy ninth-wicket stand of 41 between Graham Clark and Sam Conners took the visitors past 300 and what might prove a valuable second batting point in their fight to avoid dropping into Division Two of the Rothesay County Championship.When Essex batted, their determination to grind it out initially and establish a stable platform, trundling along at little more than two an over, highlighted by Elgar and Westley taking 17 overs to post their fifty partnership, it looked like becoming a battle of attrition and willpower.Indeed, the start was so cautious that Essex had just seven on the board by the seventh over when Paul Walter was the first to depart, hanging his bat out against Ben Raine and being snaffled by first slip falling backwards.Things perked up significantly straight after lunch with a flurry of boundaries to take the run-rate above two-and-a-half. But the pair were parted when Callum Parkinson found some hitherto unsuspected turn and rapped Westley on his back pad to win an lbw decision.Elgar reached only his third half-century of the season from 107 balls with a single off his legs and then drove Parkinson through the covers for his ninth four. Allison was even more aggressive against the spinner, taking 14 off one over, including a six over the bowler’s head.Elgar slowly but surely found his rhythm and lofted Parkinson over long leg for six as the third-wicket pair passed fifty inside 10 overs. By that point the run-rate had risen above three an over.The introduction of Colin Ackermann broke the blossoming partnership, though. The part-time off-spinner pushed one through lower and faster and bowled Allison for 33 from 51 balls. Matt Critchley dented the South African’s figures a couple of overs later with a lofted four and a straight six.Three balls before tea, Elgar drove Parkinson to the far reaches of extra cover for the three runs that took him to his 53rd first-class century from 169 balls. Compared to the earlier obduracy, Critchley raced to fifty from just 56 balls with his eighth four, driven straight past Raine, and had scored 65 when the stand passed one hundred in just 25 overs. It continued in much the same vein to stumps.Doug Bracewell and Porter both added a wicket each to their respective overnight hauls in the 19 minutes it took Essex to wrap up Durham’s first innings in the morning. Conners got a leading edge to give Bracewell a return catch and figures of 3 for 70 before Porter sent Parkinson’s off-stump cartwheeling out of the ground for a fourth wicket.

Chelsea are looking at more firepower and could now scour an intriguing market to land a new striker to help bolster Enzo Maresca’s forward options.

Chelsea swat Nottingham Forest aside

After the international break came to an end, Chelsea travelled to the City Ground knowing nothing short of a victory would do as they aim to climb the Premier League table after a mixed start.

Despite coming under pressure in the first-half, the Blues prevailed in the end and earned a comfortable 3-0 victory, resulting in Ange Postecoglou being dismissed from his position at Nottingham Forest.

Speaking post-match, Maresca admitted that his side got better as the game went on, albeit he made it clear that player rotation will continue as Chelsea look to combat injury concerns.

He stated: “It’s not good (not being on the touchline), I don’t like, I prefer to be in the dugout. It was a good game, first half we struggled a bit, second half was much better and we controlled the game better.

“We made some mistakes where we gave them a boost in the first half, it’s better if we avoid that. Some of my changes (at half-time) were already planned. We know Romeo Lavia can’t play a full 90 minutes.”

“This season suddenly we have many injuries. One of the main things is to rotate players and manage them.”

Finding themselves in and around the Champions League places, Chelsea have now strung together three consecutive victories and appear to be in a much better place since pressure was applied on Maresca’s position.

Truthfully, it always felt harsh that his integrity was questioned at Stamford Bridge, and he could now be set to be backed with a striker that could help bolster their ranks in 2026.

Chelsea could launch pursuit of Joaquín Panichelli

According to reports in Spain, Chelsea could turn to Strasbourg striker Joaquín Panichelli to address their hunt for a striker, once again turning to their partner club in the transfer market.

Enjoying a prolific start to the campaign, the Argentinian forward has netted seven goals in his first ten appearances of the season as his side look to hunt down Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Panichelli actually scored a brace against PSG on Friday as the Blues’ sister club battled to a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Parc des Princes, and Liam Rosenior’s side could now be surprise title contenders.

Chelsea now pushing to sign £418k-a-week star who Guardiola holds in "high regard"

Man City’s boss is a big fan.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 16, 2025

Emanuel Emegha is already on his way to Chelsea from Strasbourg and the impending transfer has caused a stir in France, so one can only imagine how the Blues moving for Panichelli would be perceived if BlueCo chiefs decide to pull the trigger.

In any case, their obvious link to Strasbourg means Chelsea have a real bargaining weapon.

Liam Delap’s injury led Marc Guiu’s return from a loan spell at Sunderland, while Tyrique George is another option for Maresca to utilise alongside Joao Pedro.

Clearly, another striker is needed to ensure Chelsea have enough to work with moving forward, albeit it remains to be seen if a deal can be done.

Unbeaten 74 combined with Lyndon James fifty ends run of three defeats

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay14-Jun-2025Notts Outlaws ended a run of three successive Vitality Blast defeats with a scintillating six-wicket victory at Edgbaston.The Bears piled up 206 for 7, with Tom Latham striking 69 off 39 balls and Dan Mousley 53 off 40 before a spectacular late barrage from Moeen Ali and Ed Barnard brought 57 in 20 balls. Liam Patterson-White took 3 for 37.But the Outlaws, who chased down 226 to beat the Bears at Trent Bridge a month ago, powered to 212 for 7, clinching victory when Tom Moores hit the last ball of the match for six. Moores finished on 74 not out off just 33 balls after Lyndon James struck a vital 50 off 40 and Daniel Sams 16 not out from six balls, including two sixes in a final over from which they needed 16.The Outlaws chose to field and started solidly. They removed Alex Davies, bowled by Farhan Ahmed through an attempted cut in the second over, and restricted the home side to 37 for 1 in the powerplay.Latham and Mousley then sped through the gears, however, in a partnership of 116 in 70 balls. Mousley reverse-lapped, swept and straight-drove Ahmed for sixes while Latham reached his half-century, from 29 balls, by pulling a short ball from Calvin Harrison into the crowd.Latham’s demise, when he skied Patterson-White to square leg in pursuit of his fifth six, sparked a wobble of four wickets for 22 runs in nine balls. Patterson-White removed Sam Hain, lbw, and George Garton, caught at long on, and Mousley, his tenth T20 half-century banked, slapped Dillon Pennington to extra cover.It was a spirited fightback from The Outlaws but they then ran into a late storm of sixes and fours from Moeen (34, 12) and Barnard (23 not out, 8) which lifted the total over 200.Joe Clarke dominated the start of The Outlaws’ reply, hitting 30 of the first 34 but then missed a Mousley full toss and was lbw. The spinner struck again with his seventh ball which Jack Haynes was lbw to, one that pitched on his boot. A third lbw decision terminated Freddie McCann’s counter attack of 32 off 17 when he missed a reverse-sweep at Moeen.James, starved of the strike early on, and Moores hit freely to keep the Outlaws in contention, with 60 needed from the last five overs, but the first of those overs, from the excellent Barnard, cost just five runs.Moores lifted Hasan Ali mightily over extra cover for six and followed up with four to reach a 24-ball half-century. James followed to his half-century in 39 balls but was run out by quick-thinking Hasan Ali to leave the Outlaws needing 16 off the last over, from Barnard.Sams lifted the first and fifth balls for six leaving the scores level with one ball left – and Moores thumped that one over long off for another six to complete a remarkable Outlaws double over the Bears.

The highly-anticipated derby clash between arch-rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv had to be suspended after violent riots broke out among supporters that led to “endangerment of human lives”. Several members of local police forces suffered injuries after becoming caught up in chaotic scenes prior to the game in question getting underway, with a number of arrests being made.

• What happened in Tel Aviv?

  reports that five supporters were arrested on suspicion of disturbing the peace, rioting, throwing bottles and assaulting police officers, with a further 13 being detained for forming part of an illegal gathering.

  Smoke grenades and fireworks were thrown by those in the crowd at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, leading to the game having to be cancelled. That decision was made as a result of “serious disorder” playing out. Israeli police announced that three officers and five fans had been hurt by pyrotechnics. Another five supporters were left nursing injuries, with the Tel Aviv district commander, Haim Sargof, stating that postponement was the only course of action due to increased safety fears.

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• Why was the derby match postponed?

  Video footage captured inside the stadium shows the pitch being engulfed by red and white smoke generated by the pyrotechnics. Supporters from both clubs were involved in the throwing of flares and smoke bombs onto the field, with 51 said to have been tossed in that direction. Stones were also thrown onto the playing surface by those in the stands.

  Maccabi and Hapoel players were sent back to the dressing rooms before an official postponement announcement was made. That came at around 8:50pm local time – 20 minutes after the match in question was due to get underway.

• What a police spokersperson said

  A police spokesperson said: “Disorderly conduct, riots, object throwing, smoke grenades, fireworks, injured police officers, and damage to stadium infrastructure — this is not a football match, this is a serious public disturbance and violence.

  “In light of the disturbances and the endangerment of human lives ahead of the scheduled football match at Bloomfield stadium, the Israel police has informed the teams, team management, and referees that it has been decided not to allow the match to take place. We call on the fans to remain in place until a calm and orderly dispersal takes place.”

  The Israel Professional Football League Association later confirmed the fixture had been delayed indefinitely, with no date for the rearranged contest being agreed as yet. Months of planning had taken place behind the scenes ahead of an eagerly-anticipated derby encounter, with the Jerusalem Post reporting on how 25,000 spectators created “an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation for a derby that hadn’t been played in over a year”.

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  Will Maccabi fans attend game at Villa Park?

  The incident in Tel Aviv comes in the wake of an announcement that Maccabi fans are currently banned from travelling to England for a Europa League clash with Aston Villa on November 6. The UK government is exploring ways to overturn that decision, with talks being held regarding extra support for police in Birmingham.

  The city’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) made that decision, but they are facing mounting pressure to find a solution that allows supporters to visit Villa Park. A meeting of the SAG is expected to be held in the coming days.

  The Home Office spokesperson has said: “No one should be stopped from watching a football game simply because of who they are.” They added that efforts are being made to ensure that the European fixture can “safely go ahead with all fans present”.

  Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, has told Sky News that the government cannot promise “come what may” that Maccabi supporters will be granted permission to attend the match. Ministers are, however, “working towards” ensuring the ban on travelling fans will be lifted. Discussions with police, council workers and other authorities will continue until a definitive decision is reached.

Hampshire collapsed to a three-day defeat after centuries from Jack Haynes and Liam Patterson-White had batted them out of the game as Division One leaders Nottinghamshire romped to a third victory in their opening five matches of the Rothesay County Championship season, winning by a massive 366-run margin.All-rounder Patterson-White struck a magnificent career-best 135 containing 21 fours and two sixes, with Haynes making 120, the pair sharing a seventh-wicket stand of 238 as the Trent Bridge side made 345 in their second innings.Chasing down 483 to win looked wholly unrealistic on a pitch that has made the new ball a potent weapon but Hampshire supporters would have hoped at least to see the match taken to a fourth day.Instead they witnessed their team bowled out for a miserable 116 by half past five with former favourite Mohammad Abbas not even among the wickets as the bowling honours were shared between Lyndon James with 5 for 22 and Brett Hutton with 4 for 56.The winning margin is Nottinghamshire’s second largest by runs in their Championship history.The mayhem of the final session was in complete contrast with the first, when it felt like a different match as Nottinghamshire’s seventh-wicket pair, whose partnership was worth 87 at Saturday’s close, added another 144 runs before lunch.Haynes, 60 overnight, had given his team-mate a 21-run start but in the event, as Hampshire’s bowlers toiled in vain to conjure life from an aging ball on a pitch that looked benign for the first time in the match, Patterson-White was first to three figures.He reached the milestone from 139 balls with a mighty pull for six off Sonny Baker. It was his second six of the innings, having hit 76 runs of his hundred runs in boundaries.Given that he had not made even a half-century in 32 innings over three seasons before this one and had struggled to keep his place in the side, it was little wonder he allowed himself a lengthy celebration.Moments later, he overtook his previous career-best – 101 against Somerset at Taunton in 2021 – before a single off Baker completed Haynes’s hundred, from 137 balls, also with 16 fours, his second in five innings.Haynes, dropped at deep square leg on 80, departed three overs after lunch. Kyle Abbott now had the new ball in hand but it was coming back for a second run to deep mid-wicket that cost Haynes, Baker’s throw to the wicketkeeper beating him comfortably.Nonetheless, the completed first run was enough to take the partnership to 238, Nottinghamshire’s second biggest for the seventh wicket against any opponent.Abbott followed up with a more conventional new-ball wicket in his next over – taking his tally for the season to 23 as the country’s leading wicket-taker so far – as Hutton was caught behind without scoring, after which Farhan Ahmed was yorked by James Fuller and Patterson-White bowled off a bottom edge.It gave Hampshire a theoretical target of 483 to win the match or else bat long enough to salvage some pride. Yet the chances of achieving even that quickly diminished as they slipped to 33 for 3 at tea.Abbas bowled six wicketless overs but from the other end Hutton had a leaden-footed Fletcha Middleton leg before and Mark Stoneman caught behind off a thin outside edge. First change James then dismissed Prest, who top-edged a cut as Kyle Verreynne held a second catch.And there was little sign of Hampshire trying to bed in for a fight after tea as wickets tumbled with unseemly frequency.Ben Brown’s loose pull off Hutton came down in the hands of square leg, Nick Gubbins fell tamely to a catch at extra cover off, Liam Dawson was caught on the boundary hooking, Fuller flicked straight to midwicket, Toby Albert, dropped at first slip, edged to third – albeit superbly caught by Haynes – and Brad Wheal was caught at mid-off, leaving the visitors 82 for nine.Abbott and Baker kept the home side’s celebrations on hold for 10 overs before the latter sliced to backward point for 27 as Hampshire’s top scorer, Patterson-White aptly taking the final wicket.

Washington Sundar returned for Gujarat Titans in place of left-arm quick Kulwant Khejroliya

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Apr-2025Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bowl, on a black-soil pitch, at the Ekana Stadium. Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill said that he would have preferred to bowl first as well.LSG will be without Mitchell Marsh, their second-highest run-getter in IPL 2025 and third highest overall behind Nicholas Pooran and B Sai Sudharsan, who will be in action on Saturday. Marsh missed out because his daughter is unwell, according to Pant. LSG brought in Delhi batter Himmat Singh in place of Marsh, but he was listed at No. 4 in their team sheet. Pooran was carded to open along with Aiden Markram.Himmat was among the leading scorers in the inaugural Delhi Premier League. Among LSG’s options to bring off the bench as Impact Player are Ayush Badoni, who’s been a regular fixture in their middle order this season, or South African top-order batter Matthew Breetzke, for who it will be a debut if he does get to play.GT also made one change, with offspin-bowling allrounder Washington Sundar returning in place of left-arm quick Kulwant Khejroliya. Washington shores up a spin attack that includes his Tamil Nadu team-mate R Sai Kishore and Afghanistan’s ace spinner Rashid Khan.LSG bowl-first XI: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Nicholas Pooran, 3 Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), 4 Himmat Singh 5, David Miller, 6 Abdul Samad, 7 Shardul Thakur, 8 Akash Deep, 9 Digvesh Rathi, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Ravi BishnoiImpact subs: Ayush Badoni, Prince Yadav, Shahbaz Ahmed, Matthew Breetzke, Shamar JosephGT bat-first XI: 1 B Sai Sudharsan, 2 Shubman Gill (capt), 3 Jos Buttler (wk), 4 Washington Sundar, 5 Sherfane Rutherford, 6 M Shahrukh Khan, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Arshad Khan, 9 Rashid Khan, 10 R Sai Kishore, 11 Mohammed SirajImpact subs: Prasidh Krishna, Mahipal Lomror, Nishant Sindhu, Anuj Rawat, Jayant Yadav

Markram hurt his right hamstring in the field against England and spent the rest of the match on the sidelines

Firdose Moonda04-Mar-2025

George Linde, the left-arm spin bowling allrounder, will join the South African squad as a traveling reserve as cover for Aiden Markram at the Champions Trophy. Markram injured his right hamstring in the field against England and spent the rest of the match on the sidelines. He will undergo a fitness test at training on Tuesday evening to determine his availability for the semi-final against New Zealand.Markram is the latest in a massive list of injured players. Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Burger, Lizaad Williams – all fast bowlers – were ruled out even before the tournament started.Linde will join the South African camp on Tuesday evening but will not officially replace Markram in the squad unless he is ruled out and the ICC’s event technical committee confirms the swap. It is likely that South Africa added him to the group in the event that they qualify for a Dubai final against India, where conditions are drier and they need an extra spinner. They currently have two specialist spinners in the squad: Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, but only Maharaj has played in Pakistan. India played four spinners in their most recent match against New Zealand in Dubai.Related

South Africa, New Zealand gear up for run-fest as even contest beckons

In the 2025 SA20, Linde played a key role in MI Cape Town winning their maiden title. In 11 games, Linde scored 161 runs at a strike rate of 153.33 and picked up 11 wickets at an economy of 6.29. More recently, playing for Western Province in the One-Day Challenge Division One, he scored 106 runs and took four wickets in five games.Left-arm fast bowler Kwena Maphaka is also with the squad as a traveling reserve. Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi have recovered from illness and will train this evening.