MatériaMais Notícias

A primeira convocação da Seleção Brasileira será realizada nesta sexta-feira (3), às 11h. Caberá ao técnico interino Ramon Menezes a missão de anunciar os jogadores que disputarão o amistoso com Marrocos, marcado para o dia 25 de março, em Tânger. A lista será anunciada em um hotel na Barra da Tijuca, na Zona Oeste do Rio de Janeiro.

> Estes técnicos comandaram a Seleção, mas talvez você não lembre

Esta será a primeira lista de convocados após a eliminação brasileira nas quartas de finais da Copa do Mundo de 2022. O grupo encarará Marrocos no dia 25, às 19h (de Brasília).

RelacionadasFora de CampoEx-Seleção diz que o Brasil perder por 7 a 1 para a Alemanha é ‘normal’Fora de Campo01/03/2023

Ramon, que comanda a Seleção Sub-20 e a levou ao título do Sul-Americano da categoria, ficará à frente da equipe brasileira enquanto não há definição em torno do futuro comandante.

O mandatário da CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, chegou a traçar o perfil do futuro técnico. O nome de Carlo Ancelotti chegou a ser ventilado. Porém, ainda não há nada concretizado.

Como o prédio da CBF passa por obras, a convocação da Seleção Brasileira acontecerá em um hotel.

A Data Fifa durará entre os dias 20 e 28 de março. Entretanto, o Brasil optou por fazer apenas uma partida neste período.

The makeshift right-back sent Arne Slot's side top of the Premier League with a sensational strike that lit up an otherwise dull game at Anfield

Who needs Trent Alexander-Arnold?! Certainly not Liverpool! Dominik Szoboszlai once again did an outstanding job filling in at right-back in Sunday's Premier League meeting with Arsenal at Anfield – before then deciding the game in the home side's favour with the kind of fantastic free-kick that Trent made his trademark.

It was a moment of outrageous quality completely at odds with the dross that preceded it, as the top two teams from last season seemed reluctant to take too many risks at this early stage of the season.

The champions won't care, though, as they once again managed to win a game in which they hadn't played particularly well to go top of the table, three points clear of their main title rivals.

GOAL rates all of the Liverpool players on show as the Reds ended a run of six Premier League games without a win against Arsenal with a hard-fought 1-0 victory…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Alisson Becker (6/10):

Made one decent stop from Madueke during the first half but, truth be told, he didn't actually have much to do.

Dominik Szoboszlai (8/10):

Once again deployed in defence due to Liverpool's issues at right-back and once again put in an excellent shift for his side before winning the game with a sensational strike from 32 yards out.

Ibrahima Konate (7/10):

After two shocking displays, against Bournemouth and Newcastle, the Frenchman looked back to something resembling his best. Such a shame, then, to see him forced off through injury.

Virgil van Dijk (7/10):

Another typically dominant display at the back and, on days like this, it's the Dutchman's anticipation that really stands out. The one gripe was that he didn't shoot after pouncing on a poor pass from Raya.

Milos Kerkez (7/10):

Much more like it from the Hungarian. He struggled in his first two Premier League appearances for Liverpool but he stood up very well indeed to the threat posed by the lively Madueke down Arsenal's right-hand side.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Ryan Gravenberch (7/10):

The Dutchman's propensity for picking up bookings remains a concern, but he's such a calming and influential presence in the middle of the park. Helped Liverpool gain control of the game after the interval.

Alexis Mac Allister (6/10):

Recalled to the starting line-up after missing the game against Newcastle, and although he created a couple of chances, the Argentine is clearly still not 100 percent match fit after a stop-start couple of months. 

Florian Wirtz (6/10):

We're still waiting to see the real Wirtz, but this was a bit better from the Germany international, who picked out Salah with a couple of nice passes (both of which were wasted), while he also had one of Liverpool's few shots on target. Ran himself into the ground, too, before hobbling off late on.

AFPAttack

Mohamed Salah (4/10):

Struggled to get any change out of Calafiori all afternoon and failed miserably to take advantage on the few times he found himself in a dangerous position. A really poor performance from a player who hasn't quite got going this season.

Hugo Ekitike (5/10):

Ekitike had scored in his first three competitive games for Liverpool but he never even went close to maintaining his 100 percent strike rate. The Frenchman was forced to feed off scraps for the entirety of his 79 minutes on the field.

Cody Gakpo (5/10):

Looked like a threat when he got on the ball, but the Netherlands international offered no real penetration. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportSubs & Manager

Curtis Jones (6/10):

Came on for Mac Allister on the hour mark and added a bit of intensity to Liverpool's pressing.

Joe Gomez (7/10):

Took over in the centre of defence for the injured Konate for the final 12 minutes and did well to putt off Eze without fouling the new signing before making a brilliant interception to deny Gyokeres.

Federico Chiesa (N/A):

Replaced Ekitike up top in the closing stages and pressed well.

Wataru Endo (N/A):

Brought on in the dying minutes to help Liverpool close out the game.

Arne Slot (6/10):

The decision to stick with Szoboszlai paid off spectacularly, but the former Feyenoord coach will probably be most satisified with the fact that his side looked solid for the first time this season. Still, victory won't mask the fact that his team still hasn't quite clicked yet.

Marseille have emerged as a suitor for Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo as the midfielder continues to push for a loan move.

• 20-year-old wants regular first-team football
• United could warm to loan deal abroad
• Mainoo yet to feature in the Premier League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United in Focus report Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi is keen on adding the 20-year-old to his squad, which also features former United youth products Greenwood and Angel Gomes. Ruben Amorim and the Old Trafford hierarchy had previously blocked any move for Mainoo but could warm towards a loan deal on the agreement it would be outside of the Premier League. RB Leipzig are also believed to be interested in the player. 

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mainoo and his camp are reportedly pushing for the move as the youngster is adamant he needs first team football to force his way into Thomas Tuchel's plans for the upcoming World Cup. The German manager omitted Mainoo from his squad for the Three Lions' upcoming qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia, with Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson given the nod in a revamped midfield. The 20-year-old and his camp do not want a permanent move away from Old Trafford. 

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mainoo hasn't appeared in either of the Red Devils' two Premier League games so far this season, remaining on the bench in both their loss to Arsenal and draw with Fulham. He featured from the start during United's embarrassing Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Grimsby Town.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR MAINOO?

  United fans will be desperate for the youngster to remain part of the club's long-term plans at the very least, but Mainoo's agitation for more playing time could well force Amorim's hand. Either he has to find a role for the midfielder or allow him to play in another club's colours ahead of next summer's World Cup.

MatériaMais Notícias

Um dos reforços que chegaram no São Paulo para esta temporada, Marcos Paulo é um dos atletas com menos minutos em campo. Dos ‘novos’, é o reforço que menos jogou. Após a eliminação do Tricolor nas quartas de final do Campeonato Paulista, contra o Água Santa, o jogador fez uma postagem polêmica após uma fala de Rogério Ceni durante a coletiva de imprensa.

RelacionadasSão PauloSem calendário, São Paulo faz tratativas para amistosos: rival Santos pode ser um dos convidadosSão Paulo15/03/2023São PauloPermanência de Ceni, reforços e futuro do Reffis: São Paulo reavalia suas rotas após eliminação no PaulistãoSão Paulo15/03/2023São PauloPela segunda vez no ano, Welington se torna desfalque do São Paulo nesta temporadaSão Paulo14/03/2023

Mesmo que relacionado para o duelo contra a equipe de Diadema, não chegou a entrar em campo. Ceni foi questionado sobre a falta de minutos do jogador e se ‘ele treinava mal’. Durante sua resposta, afirmou que não treina mal, mas apresenta uma intensidade um pouco abaixo.

Quem é quem no Água Santa, time que eliminou o São Paulo no Paulistão

Veja tabela do Campeonato Paulista e simule os próximos jogos

-Tecnicamente, ele [Marcos Paulo] treina muito bem, com uma intensidade um pouco abaixo. Mas as substituições… o Caio Paulista também não treina mal. Por isso que ele entra. O Érison também não treina mal. Ele [Marcos Paulo] também era uma opção para entrar no jogo. Diante de um jogo mais pegado e firme, eu acho que as escolhas foram feitas de maneira correta. As opções que nós tínhamos no banco foram usadas dentro do que nós podíamos mexer no time – explicou o treinador,

No dia seguinte, após a eliminação, Marcos Paulo compartilhou uma foto em seu Instagram com a letra de uma música que dizia uma frase suspeita sobre ‘hipocrisia e simpatia serem uma junção venenosa’.

Até então, parecia só mais uma postagem normal, mas o que chamou atenção foram algumas curtidas do jogador em comentários de torcedores. Estes comentários criticando justamente Rogério Ceni.

– Tu joga muito. Mas, de verdade, eu, como torcedor tricolor, sai desse time e vai para outro. Enquanto RC [Rogério Ceni] estiver aqui, tu não vai ter muitas chances, não. Resumindo, quase 0″, escreveu um dos torcedores – dizia um dos comentários curtidos.

– Mano, na boa. Você treina mal? Erra tudo nos treinos? Não é possível que você não jogue nesse time do São Paulo – disse outro torcedor, que também recebeu uma curtida do atleta.

Nesta temporada, disputou cinco jogos pelo São Paulo. Porém, nenhum deles como titular. Ao todo, soma só 76 minutos em campo. A última vez que entrou em campo foi contra a Inter de Limeira.

Sergio Ramos has launched a surprising new career as a musician, releasing his debut single ‘Cibeles’ — but not everyone is impressed. While the Real Madrid legend’s lyrics drew attention for appearing to reference his bitter Bernabeu exit, Ryanair mocked the track on social media, prompting a sharp response from the 2010 World Cup-winning defender.

• Ramos mocked by Ryanair after debut single release
• Ex-Real Madrid star responds with witty comeback
• Song ‘Cibeles’ sparks debate and social media buzz

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ramos’ first single immediately sparked debate across Spain, with supporters and media questioning his unexpected move into music. Ryanair, known for its cheeky online persona, responded to the song’s promotion. The post then invited the former Real Madrid captain to clapback at the Irish airline, who are known for their cost-cotting measures.

Advertisement

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Reposting Ramos' song announcement, Ryanair joked: "Petition to ban this song on our planes."

  Ramos was quick to hit back with a very witty reply, as he said: "You’ve put speakers in your planes now? I’ll let you use mine if you need it."

  The exchange was met with viral traction online, as both sides leaned into the banter.

• Getty Images Entertainment
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ramos has never shied away from controversy or attention, and his entry into music adds another chapter to his eventful career. The former Sevilla and Real Madrid star has previously hinted at ambitions beyond football, even joking about Grammy dreams on Spanish TV. His debut track, however, has largely been met with scepticism and amusement rather than acclaim.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR RAMOS?

  The Spaniard is expected to continue promoting ‘Cibeles’ with more appearances and interviews, regardless of the criticism. Ryanair are unlikely to stop poking fun, given their reputation for playful social media antics. For Ramos, though, the focus will be on proving he can succeed off the pitch as confidently as he once did on it.

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has admitted his side cannot match the financial power of London City Lionesses after their world-record £1.4 million signing of Grace Geyoro. The France international joined from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day, becoming London City’s 16th signing of the summer, with Skinner describing the fee and level of investment as 'crazy'.

Skinner calls London City's £1.4m Geyoro transfer fee “crazy”United boss admits club can’t match London City’s spendingLondon City face pressure to deliver after record windowFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Women's Super League newcomers, the London City Lionesses, stunned the football world by confirming Geyoro’s arrival in a record-breaking transfer. The side, who are backed by American businesswoman Michele Kang, have signed 16 players this summer and are now looking to shake up the WSL leadership group.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

By comparison, Skinner's Manchester United have only completed a total of three transfers in the form of Fridolina Rolfo, Julia Zigiotti Olme and Jess Park. However, the London City Lionesses are not the only team troubling the Red Devils' status in the WSL, as European champions Arsenal and WSL champions Chelsea have also been heavily active in the transfer market. Skinner has revealed his surprise at what was a 'crazy' transfer window, and also admitted that Manchester United cannot keep up wth their competition in the market.

Getty ImagesWHAT SKINNER SAID

Speaking to the media, Skinner opened up on the Lionesses' spending spree and said: "Who would have thought that in this window we’d have four £1m players? It’s moved so quickly. I just think we won’t be able to, right now, go to those levels of transfer fee. I’ll be honest about that. The reality is we have to try and find our own way to do it, to adapt, to evolve, and to find space in the market where we can still bring top players to Manchester United."

On Geyoro's move, he added: "We have to be active in the winter window. If we’re being really honest, the window has gone crazy, right? I’m just hearing about the Grace Geyoro move. That is crazy. The window and the market has just shifted so much that actually, I think a lot of teams will have looked at it and gone ‘we need to strategise in a slightly different way.’ Long story short, I think we have, for now, exactly the right team that we want. But I think in the winter window, we have to add to this group if we want to continue that and give an extra charge.

"I’ve got a team that I have to win with, right? And I have to not make excuses. But at Manchester United, I have the most pressure job in the country — and we have to find the right amount of investment to stay competitive."

"If Michele walked away from London City, then that would fall away. But fair play to them, hopefully it’s good for the women’s game. There’ll be pressure on London City now to deliver because they’ve spent big."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

Manchester United kick off their season against Leicester City on Sunday, September 7.

MatériaMais Notícias

Mesmo em vantagem numérica desde os cinco minutos do segundo tempo, o Botafogo não conseguiu se impor no Chile e empatou com Magallanes na estreia da Sul-Americana. O time de Luís Castro deixou de somar pontos importantes que podem fazer falta no término da fase de grupos.

Os minutos iniciais do Glorioso em campo foram positivos. Logo no começo da partida, Tiquinho Soares aproveitou um vacilo do goleiroGastón Rodriguez na saída de bola e conseguiu marcar. A equipe alvinegra, no entanto, não teve tranquilidade para trocar passes depois do gol e acabou cedendo espaços ao time chileno, que conseguiu empatar comCanales ainda no primeiro tempo.

+ATUAÇÕES: Tchê Tchê, Gabriel Pires e Di Plácido vão mal em empate do Botafogo na Sul-Americana

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasBotafogoConfira os novos benefícios dos planos de sócio do BotafogoBotafogo04/04/2023BotafogoBotafogo apresenta nova logomarca do programa de sócio-torcedor Camisa 7Botafogo04/04/2023BotafogoDirigente do Botafogo traça planos para o Nilton Santos e exalta qualidade da grama sintéticaBotafogo05/04/2023

Para sorte dos alvinegros, Carlos Villanueva foi expulso aos cinco minutos do segundo tempo. Mesmo assim, Luís Castro não construiu uma equipe dominante em campo. O Botafogo até criou oportunidades claras de gol e conseguiu marcar com Eduardo, mas cedeu chances demais ao adversário. Mesmo em vantagem numérica, os defensores alvinegros foram vazados depois da falha de Tchê Tchê na saída de bola.

+Autor de um dos gols do Botafogo, Eduardo lamenta empate sofrido: ‘Estávamos com um homem a mais’

Em um duelo de fase de grupos da Sul-Americana, cada ponto é importante e pode ser decisivo no final. O time de Luís Castro não pode deixar escapar uma vitória fora de casa da forma que foi. Depois da expulsão, era dever dos jogadores controlarem às ações do jogo ou até mesmo buscarem fazer mais gols. No entanto, as chances perdidas e as falhas cometidas acabaram sendo determinantes.

O Botafogo fez sua estreia na competição com um gostinho de que poderia ter rendido mais. O que resta agora é conquistar os pontos dentro de casa e não desperdiçar as próximas oportunidades que os jogos eventualmente lhe oferecerem. Para ir longe no mata-mata, é preciso ser letal e sólido, coisa que os jogadores alvinegros não foram no Chile.

Jaydev Unadkat was in the nets with his Saurashtra team-mates but training came to a standstill so they could all watch the “chaos”

Arun Venugopal28-Jan-20183:13

Unadkat the most expensive Indian at auction

This was by far the most chaotic day in Jaydev Unadkat’s life. Not busy but “chaos”, he pointed out with a resounding laugh. There have been big days in his life, like his Test debut in South Africa in 2010, but “chaos-wise” nothing comes close. When Rajasthan Royals picked him up for INR 11.5 crore (USD 1.8 million approx), making him the most expensive Indian player in the IPL auction, the 26-year-old experienced a joyous chaos that had eluded him for several years.Cut to a few hours later and it still remains near-impossible to get through to him on the phone. Unadkat has missed and answered several calls – he put the number at somewhere between 30 and 40 – drained his battery twice, and given a bunch of interviews. But, for most of the afternoon, he was away tending to the skills that helped him become a millionaire.Unadkat had planned to watch the auction with his family at his home in Porbandar on Saturday, but his name didn’t come up. He had to report to training in Rajkot ahead of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and his only request to his team-mates was a heads-up when his auction was underway. But they had bigger plans.”When my name came up we watched it on the phone. We stopped the nets for five minutes and watched it together,” Unadkat told ESPNcricinfo. “They were going mad and shouting every minute. They were congratulating [me] and they were congratulating each other. They were almost more happy than I was. It is great to see people genuinely happy for you. They haven’t let me go [without throwing a party], they have just postponed it. We have planned to have a blast when we are in Hyderabad for Vijay Hazare. They feel they can get the most out of me there rather than here, when we are all together staying in a good hotel,” he said with a laugh.

Rather than taking the price tag – everyone talks about the price – I have been saying to all of them that for me it is about the confidence I would get out of this

Following the auction real-time can be nerve-wracking for any player, so training in the company of his team-mates proved a welcome distraction for Unadkat. “To be honest, I was just going through the moments, I was flowing through it,” he said. “I didn’t actually know how to take it. It was actually good that I was surrounded by my team-mates and we were doing our routines. I was bowling before my auction came up and I was batting straight away in the nets soon after the auction ended.”I didn’t find any difficulty focusing, to be honest. I was very happy, I was flying, People were teasing me at the nets and laughing through it. But, it was good because I was there with all of them. I would have been more into it [the auction] if I had been doing nothing and sitting at home.”I was trying to keep myself grounded. I didn’t even pick up any calls or talk to my family till the practice ended two-three hours after the auction. I started taking calls after a couple of hours and I am doing that since then till now!” he said.Jaydev Unadkat celebrates a sensational return catch to dismiss Lendl Simmons•BCCISpeaking of home, Unadkat had to contend with two dramatically different reactions from within his family. While euphoria spiked at his sister’s home in Rajkot, their mum and dad were a bit more subdued. “When I spoke to my parents, they were a bit nervous and had thoughts about the pressures and expectations that would come with it,” he said. “They said they froze when the auction was going on. [It was] not really the case at my sister’s place where they were jumping in joy. Two kinds of families with different emotions,” he said with a laugh.While batsmen and allrounders have walked away with huge sums of money in previous auctions, this is the first time an Indian fast bowler has commanded such a price and it is something Unadkat takes a lot of pride in. He put it down to his hardwork paying off at the right time. “It is something I can only dream of and it has a lot of to do with the blessings and wishes of everyone around me,” he said.”Whoever wants to do well puts in the hard yards that I do, and at some point of time to be able to execute those things when needed and to grab my chances… I think, yes fortune does play a part, but fortune favours the brave. I have plastered this message on the wall in my gym: ‘the more I practise, the luckier I get.’ If you are honest and if you are doing everything, luck plays a part.”

When I spoke to my parents, they were a bit nervous and had thoughts about the pressures and expectations that would come with it

While Unadkat expected to be fetched for a good price – he has attracted lucrative deals in past auctions as well – he admitted he couldn’t have predicted the final, mind-boggling figure. He was ultimately picked up for nearly seven times his reserve price. “To be honest, I didn’t expect any particular amount out of this auction,” he said. “Having kept my base price at INR 1.5 crore, I was sure that I would get some good pickings and I was hopeful a couple of teams would go after me.”Now, to be getting this price, it depends on how desperate those teams are to get me. That’s something that comes as the auction plays out. It’s actually overwhelming for me to get the price I went for. It will be dumb if I said I was expecting it; no one would say that.”There were more good tidings in store for Unadkat, as he learnt of his inclusion in India’s squad for the three-match T20I series in South Africa. This wasn’t so much of a surprise though after he finished with the Man-of-the-Series award after 2-1 win over Sri Lanka last month. He had picked up four wickets at an economy rate of less than five.Unadkat has been in fine form ever since he made a mark as an effective death bowler in the last IPL, finishing with 24 wickets for Rising Pune Supergiant and he agreed that might have factored into the bid he received. “I think I did well in the IPL but that was a year ago. I did well in Sri Lanka just a month ago,” he said. “It gives them a feeling that I am doing what I have been doing in the last IPL. I am still doing it and I am still in good rhythm.”Jaydev Unadkat bends his back•BCCIWhile Unadkat was eager to cement his spot in the national side, he also looked forward to reuniting with Steven Smith and good friend Ben Stokes, who had sent him a congratulatory text. “It’s comforting [to be playing with the same group of players], for sure,” he said. “A few of them – Ben Stokes, Ajinkya [Rahane] and I – have all been together in Pune. The combination we build at Rajasthan will be around that. I think it will be easier for all of us to build the core of the team, and get the gelling going.”Even as inevitable “stay-grounded” advice starts doing the rounds, Unadkat insisted he had no reason to get carried away. The takeaways, he felt, were more than just money. “Rather than taking the price tag – everyone talks about the price – I have been saying to all of them that for me it is about the confidence I would get out of this,” he said. “The number of people looking at me to do well for them and going all out for me – there is no better place to get confidence from. If people want you to back your skills to the fullest, there is something I am doing right. I am taking it as a massive confidence-booster for me.”But having said that, it again comes down to the roots. I talked to my mom in the afternoon. All that she said, like every time, was: ‘Stay grounded and be humble and don’t get carried away.’ She keeps on reminding me about those things and they are not going out of my mind for sure.”Unadkat’s immediate priority, though, is: “I hope I get my sleep to the fullest. After all the madness, I have a practice session in the morning to attend, so I need my sleep for sure.”

Australia could have a ready-made replacement for Aaron Finch in T20 cricket, with Steven Smith declaring his desire to open more often in the shortest format.Smith was left out of Australia’s team for the majority of their home T20 World Cup disappointment last year, featuring in the middle order in only the final group game.His response on return to T20 cricket in the BBL has been emphatic, with an impressive 36 off 27 balls for Sydney Sixers on a difficult SCG wicket last Sunday before a 56-ball century against Adelaide Strikers in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday.Related

• Smith smashes first BBL ton as Sixers rout Strikers

• Bazball belief to white-ball ambitions: Crawley determined to be an entertainer

• Steven Smith signs for three Championship games with Sussex

Smith has long indicated his preference is to bat at the top of the order in T20 during the fielding restrictions.”I like it up top, who wouldn’t want to open in T20 cricket?” Smith said. “Two men out, it gives yourself a chance to just play the ball as you see it early on.”And then once the fielders go out you’ve got yourself in and have the chance to play your shots. It’s a place I enjoy batting. I did it a couple of times in the IPL and went okay.”Australia’s T20 captain Finch is yet to announce his retirement from international cricket, but is considered long odds to play in the 2024 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA.Cameron Green and Travis Head would loom as the likely frontrunners to replace Finch at the top, with other options including Alex Carey, Josh Philippe and Josh Inglis.Steven Smith struck a brilliant century against Adelaide Strikers•Getty Images

Smith said he had not considered whether his BBL output could help his cause to partner David Warner at the top when Australia next walk out for a T20 fixture, in August.”I’m not reading too much into it,” he said. “I am just going out and playing and doing my best. We will wait and see what the future holds, it’s a while until the next T20 international anyway.”Smith and Warner will face off on Saturday night in the BBL, with the game on the verge of being sold out and the potential for the biggest crowd for a Sydney BBL game since January 2017.

Smith opening in T20s

69 (47) – RR vs CSK, 2020
50 (27) – RR vs Kings XI, 2020
3 (7) – RR vs KKR, 2020
5 (5) – RR vs RCB, 2020
39 (34) – RR vs KKR, 2021
36 (27) – Sixers vs Scorchers, 2023
101 (56) – Sixers vs Strikers, 2023

Warner showed some signs of firing ahead of the blockbuster on Thursday night with 26 in the Sydney Thunder’s crucial eight-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades.Warner said afterwards he expected life to be harder for Smith against Thunder at the SCG than at Coffs Harbour on Tuesday, where the right-hander hit seven sixes.”The boundaries are going to be bigger for Smudge,” Warner quipped. “They’re not going to be a 60-metre hit for him. So we’ll see if he can come out and clear those [SCG] boundaries.”

Mitch Marsh, de Kock, Hasaranga, Stoinis and Nortje the other big-ticket overseas signings

Peter Della Penna20-Mar-2023

Aaron Finch became Major League Cricket’s first overseas signing during the T20 franchise league’s domestic player draft on Sunday night at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Finch was one of six names that were unveiled during the draft. He was followed over the next 90 minutes by fellow Australians Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh, as well as South Africans Anrich Nortje and Quinton de Kock and Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga.Finch was also the first captain to be appointed by any team as it was announced that he would take charge of San Francisco Unicorns, who earlier this month announced it had signed a strategic partnership with Cricket Victoria. He will be joined there by Stoinis.Former Australia internationals Graham Manou and Ben Rohrer, who now work with Cricket Victoria as general manager of cricket performance and Victoria/Melbourne Stars assistant coach respectively, had both been in Houston throughout the past week to scout talent.Related

MI New York unveil Rashid, Boult and Rabada in star-studded MLC squad

Russell, Narine, Roy and Ferguson join Knight Riders in Los Angeles for MLC

MLC start under threat after dispute between organisers and USA Cricket

Fleming to coach Texas Super Kings in USA's Major League Cricket

Hales hopeful of featuring in MLC amid NOC doubts

The team added further Victorian flavour in the draft using their sixth-round pick on Victoria and Stars fast bowler Brody Couch, who qualifies as a domestic player by virtue of being a dual Australian-American citizen through his mother, who is originally from New York.Unicorns used their first two picks on Corey Anderson and Liam Plunkett, who both now reside in the USA after having married Americans.Marsh and de Kock have both been signed by Seattle Orcas, whose ownership group has ties to the Delhi Capitals franchise in the IPL. Marsh is in the Capitals squad for the 2023 IPL as well.Nortje and Hasaranga have been signed to play for Washington (DC) Freedom, whose franchise has a strategic partnership with Cricket New South Wales.The six-team league will be played in a single round-robin format from July 13 to 30 with a new venue in the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie, Texas expected to serve as the main venue for the tournament in year one due to a lack of suitable turf-wicket venues at all other franchise cities.