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A quality four-pronged spin attack propelled Melbourne Renegades to a thumping eight-wicket win over Sydney Thunder at Drummoyne Oval.Chasing a miserly 65 for victory, the defending WBBL champions hit the winning runs on the first ball of the 12th over, but the win was set up earlier when their quartet of tweakers demolished a meek Thunder batting line-up.Charis Bekker, Georgia Wareham, skipper Sophie Molineux and England’s Alice Capsey bowled stump to stump and took wickets at regular intervals, assisted by some poor shot choices by Thunder’s batters.Molineux opened in the chase and finished unbeaten on 29, finishing alongside player of the match Capsey.The win sees Renegades jump into outright second on the WBBL ladder with four wins from their opening six matches, now just two points behind competition leaders, Hobart Hurricanes. With four regular season games to play, Renegades are in a great position to go deep into the finals again.In the first innings Renegades were on top right from the opening ball, restricting Thunder to 19 for 2 in the powerplay, and when in-form opener Tahlia Wilson became crafty left-arm orthodox spinner Bekker’s second wicket, the home side were struggling at 21 for 3.By the end of the 10th over they were in even more trouble at 48 for 5. Former England captain Heather Knight appeared their only hope of getting anywhere near triple figures, but when she fell lbw to Wareham topping 100 was never on the cards.Their 64-run total was the third-lowest in the competition’s 11-season history.Thunder star Georgia Voll, who struck consecutive boundaries before being dismissed by Milly Illingworth, wasn’t making excuses.”That’s obviously not what we rocked up here thinking that was going to happen,” Voll said on the player mic during the broadcast. “Obviously it’s pretty disappointing, to be honest.”[The wicket] was a little bit tacky early on, but I don’t think it was enough to be rolled for 65 probably, just some poor shots all around and not adapting to the conditions quick enough.”Thunder went into the game off the back of two wins that had followed losses in their first three matches. They now sit in sixth with the job ahead of them to turn their season around and qualify for the finals.

كشفت تقارير صحفية عن إمكانية رحيل أحد لاعبي فريق برشلونة الإسباني، خلال سوق الانتقالات الشتوي في شهر يناير المقبل، بسبب منافسات كأس العالم 2026.

وتقام بطولة كأس العالم 2026 في شهر يونيو المقبل، حيث تستضيفها الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، كندا، والمكسيك، في ملف مشترك.

ويسعى اللاعبون للمشاركة باستمرار وانتظام مع أنديتهم، لإثبات جدارتهم بالتواجد في قوائم منتخبات بلادهم، من أجل حلم المشاركة في المونديال.

وذكرت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية نقلاً عن “سبورت بيلد” الألمانية، أن حارس مرمى برشلونة، مارك تير شتيجن قد يغادر صفوف الفريق خلال انتقالات يناير.

تير شتيجن يغيب عن المشاركة مع برشلونة منذ أشهر بسبب الإصابة، وقد خضع لجراحة في الظهر ويواصل اللاعب تعافيه استعدادًا للعودة للعب بصورة طبيعية.

ويشير التقرير إلى أن تير شتيجن من المقرر أن يحصل على التصريح الطبي لمباراة برشلونة ضد أوساسونا، والمقرر خوضها يوم السبت المقبل.

ورغم عودته الوشيكة، من المرجح أن يواجه تير شتيجن صعوبة في الحصول على دقائق لعب كافية، خاصة وأن المدرب هانز فليك أكد أن خوان جارسيا هو الحارس الأساسي للفريق.

اقرأ أيضًا | كوبي: أزمة خطيرة.. لاعب برشلونة قد لا يلعب مرة أخرى مع الفريق

ومن أجل ضمان التواجد مع منتخب ألمانيا في المونديال، قد يتجه تير شتيجن للرحيل في انتقالات يناير، للحصول على فرص كافية للمشاركة مع أحد الأندية.

وتشير المصادر إلى أن أندية تركية مهتمة بالتعاقد مع حارس مرمى برشلونة، على الرغم من عدم تقديم أي عروض حتى الآن.

يذكر التقرير أيضًا أن الوضع الشخصي لتير شتيجن، والتواجد مع طفليه، يُمثل عاملاً حاسماً في تحديد مستقبله.

Karim Benzema has admitted he is unsure whether he will stay at Al-Ittihad beyond this season, confirming European offers are on the table while insisting he has no intention of retiring any time soon. As he approaches 38, the 2022 Ballon dOr winner wants clarity over the club's sporting plans before deciding where he will play next, as he remains determined to continue for at least two more years.

Benzema's future uncertain amid Al-Ittihad's struggles

Benzema is entering the final stretch of his current Al-Ittihad contract, and the uncertainty around the club's future plans has left the veteran striker weighing up his next move. Recent speculation has ranged from a contract extension to a possible exit and even retirement, but none of those scenarios has yet been agreed or ruled out officially. His situation has drawn major interest from European clubs keen to bring him back closer to the elite level he dominated for over a decade with Real Madrid.

The Frenchman remains valued highly by Al-Ittihad, who see him as both a sporting leader and a marketing icon, but their early season struggles in the Saudi Pro League have frustrated his competitive ambitions. While he remains settled off the pitch, Benzema has made it clear he does not want to see out his final years without challenging for major silverware. With his deal only running until 2026, any decision will depend on whether the club can fairly urgently present a project that convinces him to stay.

For now, he remains focused on contributing to this season and staying in peak condition as he nears his 38th birthday in December. His message is that he is far from finished physically or mentally, but he wants his final chapters to match his ambitions.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFormer Ballon d'Or winner opens up on future

Benzema opened up about the crossroads he faces in a recent interview with AS, confirming he will not be rushed into a decision. "It's true that my contract here is coming to an end. I can't say yet what I'm going to do, whether I'll stay or leave – it depends on a lot of things. In December, I'll be 38. I still see myself playing football for another two years."

He emphasised that he wants a long-term vision, not a short extension just for the sake of it. "We'll see what happens, what the club thinks. I like to talk face-to-face and then see what they think. The best thing for me would be to continue here, but not just for one or two more years. I don't want to do that."

Benzema also confirmed offers from Europe remain active, though comfort and respect matter as much as the level of competition. "It's true that I have offers from Europe. I need to consider everything, choose wisely, and see where I feel good, not forgetting that I feel comfortable here and receive everyone's affection. In any case, I'm not going to stop playing football or competing in six months."

Benzema has offers from Europe with contract ending in 2026

Benzema has repeatedly stated that he still feels in strong physical condition despite his age and the demands of the Saudi Pro League. He continues to work rigorously in training, confident that his technical ability and football intelligence allow him to remain decisive in key moments. His affection for Al-Ittihad's fans and the respect he receives in Saudi Arabia remain key parts of why staying is still an attractive option.

Yet the pull of Europe, and especially the Champions League, has never left him. He has openly admitted he continues to watch Real Madrid matches and the top European competitions, describing them as "magical" and a constant reminder of the highest stage. Fenerbahce had reportedly placed the former France international on their wishlist for January; however, are going to be unlikely to actually make a move.

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AFPCan Benzema actually return to Europe?

Talks with Al-Ittihad leadership are expected to take place soon, as both sides seek clarity before the second half of the season. If the club can present a convincing project, Benzema could renew his commitment in Saudi Arabia and aim for one last push for titles. Failure to do so, however, would open the door for a dramatic late-career return to European football.

European interest will likely intensify as the summer window approaches, especially with top-level clubs monitoring both his availability and his fitness. Retirement is not being considered in the short term, and Benzema himself has set a clear timeline by projecting his goodbye closer to 2028.

حلل أسطورة نادي ريال مدريد فوز فريقه السابق على أولمبياكوس أمس الأربعاء، حيث لعبت المباراة في منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا في مرحلة الدوري.

ريال مدريد استطاع استعادة عافيته وحقق انتصارًا بشق الأنفس على أولمبياكوس بأربعة أهداف مقابل ثلاثة، ضمن الجولة الخامسة من مرحلة الدوري في مسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويعاني ريال مدريد الأمرين خلال الفترة الأخيرة من هذا الموسم، حيث تراجعت نتائج الفريق الملكي ومستوى الفريق كذلك خلال المباريات الأخيرة.

وجاء فوز ريال مدريد على أولمبياكوس ليكسر إحصائية سلبية للميرنجي تمثلت في عدم فوز الفريق في ثلاث مباريات متتالية.

ويرى مانولو سانشيز، أسطورة ريال مدريد، أن الفريق الملكي يعاني بالفعل من مشاكل في دفاعه، موضحًا أن خط دفاع النادي الإسباني أصبح نقطة ضعف حقيقية.

أقرأ أيضًا .. تطورات هامة بشأن موقف فينيسيوس جونيور من التجديد لـ ريال مدريد وقال سانشيز في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو”: “هذه مباراة ستمنحك فيها النتيجة بعض الطمأنينة لكنها تحتاج إلى الكثير من التحليل، لأن هناك أموراً جيدة، ولكن هناك أموراً أخرى تحتاج إلى تصحيح، لو كان الخصم مختلفاً يلعب نفس المباراة، لما كانت النتيجة هي نفسها”.

وأضاف: “أعتقد أن الجهاز الفني واللاعبين بحاجة إلى معالجة نقطة ضعف أصبحت تمثل نقطة ضعف وهي الجانب الدفاعي، ليس فقط الدفاع بل النظام الدفاعي بأكمله”.

وأوضح: ”أحيانًا يخترق لاعبو خط وسط الخصم بسهولة مما يخلق مساحات كبيرة في الخلف، نستقبل الكثير من الأهداف من الكرات الرأسية والألعاب الهوائية، خاصةً وأن لدينا لاعبين طوال القامة ومتميزين أيضًا في الكرات الهوائية”.

واختتم: “أفتقد شخصًا ينظم الأمور عندما تكون هناك فوضى في منطقة الجزاء في ريال مدريد، شخصًا يصرخ ويضع اللاعبين في أماكنهم ويمنح كل واحد منهم مسؤوليته”.

The Dodgers took both games in Milwaukee to start the National League Championship Series, getting out to a 2-0 lead on the Brewers.

As Milwaukee faces an uphill battle, their manager Pat Murphy still believes his group can beat the odds and advance to the franchise's first World Series since 1982. After the franchise's 5-1 loss in Game 2 Tuesday, he said his team "has been counted out a lot this year" and thinks they still have some fight left in them.

Murphy's 10-year-old son Austin shares that sentiment, as he perfectly explained why he thinks the Brewers can claw back into the series when asked as he sat with his dad during a press conference Wednesday in a sweet moment.

"Well, the guys respond back really good," Austin said into the microphone via the 's Curt Hogg. "They started the season 0-4, those games were not good, but they responded with the best record in baseball so I believe they can do it."

The Brewers manager smiled wide with a proud head nod, then thanking the reporter for asking the question. Murphy's interviews are always fun, often sitting next to his kids and even breaking out snacks from his pocket to munch on during the discussion.

Dodger Stadium hosts Game 3 of the NLCS Thursday as the Brewers, who owned Major League Baseball's best record over the regular season at 97-65, try to get on the board in the series. Nobody expected the Brewers to put up baseball's best record this season, just like no one expects them to get back from a 2-0 hole. Those who know the team best have seen them bounce back before, though.

Coach played key role in developing Stokes as a teenager, along with other future England stars

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2025

John Windows, the long-standing director of Durham Men’s academy, is stepping down from his role for health reasons, after a 27-year stint in which he helped to develop the careers of a range of the club’s greatest players, including Ben Stokes, Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett.Windows, 49, started out as a batter in Durham’s second XI, but with the club still relatively new to the first-class scene, the focus on developing home-grown players became a means to fast-track the team’s long-term viability. He became an academy coach in 1999, under the leadership of Geoff Cook, and progressed to the role of academy Director in 2007.On his watch, the academy became one of the most prolific pathways for young talent in the country. Steve Harmison, Paul Collingwood and Graham Onions were among the first graduates to forge successful international careers, while more recent successes include Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts and Ben McKinney, the former England Under-19 captain.Windows himself was instrumental in recruiting Stokes as a raw 17-year-old, utilising the strong relationships that he had helped to build with neighbouring counties, including Cumbria, where Stokes’ family had lived after arriving from New Zealand in 2003.In a statement, however, he revealed that a recent medical diagnosis had left him needing to step away from his hands-on role at the academy. He will remain involved with the club in a mentorship capacity.”It is with great sadness and regret that I am having to stand down from my role as men’s academy director,” Windows said. “I have enjoyed every day of my coaching career at Durham, it has been a privilege to work with such a great club and contribute to its success.”Unfortunately, I no longer have the physical capacity to support our young talent. The role is multi-faceted but to do it successfully I have always felt you need to be active on the shop floor as well as working strategically behind the scenes.”Stepping back from a full-time role will give me more time to recharge my batteries and look after myself. I feel this is essential if I am going to maintain any sort of ‘normal life’.”Marcus North, Durham’s director of cricket, said: “John has decided that now is the right time to step away from his role as men’s academy director, due to his ongoing medical condition.”Over the course of nearly 30 years with the club, John has played an extraordinary role in shaping the journeys of hundreds of young cricketers, many of whom have become professional and international players.”His vision, passion, dedication, and care for developing players have left a lasting mark on our pathway and on the club as a whole.”Although he will no longer be leading the academy, we are delighted that John will continue to be part of the club and share the wisdom and experience that have inspired so many.”I would like to personally thank John for everything he has given to the club, and for the remarkable commitment and energy he has put into making our men’s academy the best in the country, a legacy that will live strong for future generations.”

Gary Stead has rejoined New Zealand Cricket (NZC) as the high-performance coach, just over three months after he had stepped down as the national men’s head coach after a seven-year stint – he ended as the team’s most successful coach. His new role will be “supporting player and coach development, as well as high performance programmes”, an NZC statement said.”New Zealand cricket’s very much been at my heart for the past 30 odd years and to be able to keep contributing to the game I love is really special,” Stead said. “I’m still passionate about coaching and trying to help people learn and improve. If I can pass on some of my skills and experiences to the wider cricket network and in turn help the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS win on the world stage – than that would be really satisfying.”I’m also appreciative of the opportunity to work outside of NZC to broaden my skills and experiences and hopefully I can bring what I learn back into our cricket environment.”Related

• Stead calls time on seven-year tenure as NZ coach

• Stead appointed as Andhra head coach for 2025-26 season

• Interview: Gary Stead did it his steady way

One such opportunity is to work with the Andhra Cricket Association in India as the head coach of the men’s team, which will continue. Stead also provided interim coaching support to Otago Cricket over the winter pre-season and has been involved in a New Zealand Under-19 camp this month.”Gary’s knowledge and experiences in cricket is immense and the fact he’s still passionate and motivated to give back to the game in this country speaks volumes about his character,” NZC chief high-performance officer Daryl Gibson said. “His role, which is a commitment of three days a week on average over the year, will see him work across much of the high-performance network, allowing our national and domestic coaches, players and staff to tap into his expertise and IP.”Gary is also able to work outside of NZC, such as his recent part-time appointment to the Indian domestic side Andhra for their upcoming four-day competition, an experience which will allow him to further grow his knowledge and experience.”Stead’s highlights as the head coach of the men’s national team included winning the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) title in 2021 and sweeping India 3-0 in India in a Test series last year.Stead first joined NZC as a coach development manager (2004-2009), before becoming an assisted coach at the NZC Academy (2005-06), New Zealand Women’s head coach (2009-12), and Canterbury head coach and director of cricket (2012-18), before he joined the men’s senior team in 2018.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is under pressure after the 3-1 defeat away to Hearts on Sunday.

Rodgers critical of Hearts' approach vs Celtic

The Scottish Premiership champions were soundly beaten over the weekend, allowing Hearts to pull eight points clear at the top of the table, with Chris Sutton ripping into Celtic after the defeat..

Rodgers was clearly a frustrated figure after the game too, admitting that he could never choose to adopt the hosts’ more direct style of play at a club like Celtic.

“The approach, I think, when you’re at a club like Celtic, people talk about plan A, plan B, but Celtic is a club whose DNA is about playing football. We’ll never lose that. When we play to that identity, it’s totally different.

“Hearts, it’s a different DNA here. The ball’s direct. The supporters love that. It’s a second ball fight. It’s set pieces, all that. Celtic hasn’t become winners in that way. Our DNA is to play a fast-attacking game of football, whatever the system is. The systems are relevant. You can play whatever system you want, but your style of football and the style of Celtic is fast-attacking football.”

Boyd lays into Rodgers' comments

Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, former Rangers striker Kris Boyd didn’t hold back in his criticism of Celtic boss Rodgers, calling his comments “disrespectful” to Hearts in a 14-word atatck on the Irishman.

Boyd also added: “To question the way Derek McInnes’ or Hearts’ teams play, because Celtic didn’t come here and dominate and win. They got bullied. Deal with it. You’re talking about fast, attacking football – that’s not their DNA. Winning is Celtic’s DNA. To have a go at Derek McInnes for the way they played, it’s so disrespectful for me.”

In truth, Rodgers’ comments do sound a little on the bitter side, with Hearts just feeling like the hungrier of the two sides at Tynecastle on Sunday lunchtime.

Celtic are not firing at all at the moment, and haven’t done all season by their high standards, and they now have a genuinely big challenge on their hands when it comes to retaining the Scottish Premiership title next May.

Granted, it is still early days and there is every chance that the Hoops find their feet, and Hearts begin to feel the pressure at some point, but their rivals have still only dropped two points in 2025/26 to date, which is worthy of respect.

“Shambles” – Sutton names the 3 ways Celtic were poor against Hearts

The Bhoys were defeated in Edinburgh today to cap another dismal day at the office.

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 26, 2025

Rodgers has cut a disgruntled figure throughout the campaign, not helped by a frustrating summer in the transfer market, and his latest comments feel like those of a manager who is feeling the heat. He has proved that he is a winner in the past, though, and he remains the right man to take Celtic forward for now.

كشف وليد الركراكي مدرب منتخب المغرب، عن موقف أشرف حكيمي من اللحاق بالمشاركة مع منتخب بلاده في كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025.

وكان أشرف حكيمي قد تعرض لالتواء خطير خلال لقاء باريس سان جيرمان وبايرن ميونخ، ويسابق الزمن منذ ذلك الوقت لتقصير مدة غيابه المتوقعة.

ويأمل مدرب منتخب المغرب وليد الركراكي في عودة أشرف حكيمي ظهير باريس سان جيرمان، في المباراة الافتتاحية ضد جزر القمر يوم 21 ديسمبر.

وقال الركراكي في تصريحات لإذاعة “مونتي كارلو” الفرنسية عن حكيمي: “إنه يسير بشكل جيد ويؤدي واجبه على أكمل وجه”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مجموعة المغرب في كأس العالم 2026

وأضاف: “إنه مجتهد ومتحمس للتواجد في المباراة الأولى، لقد عمل بقوة منذ إصابته، لا يتوقف أبدًا ويحافظ على ثقته بنفسه بروح رياضية عالية”.

واختتم مدرب منتخب المغرب عن الفائز بجائزة أفضل لاعب في أفريقيا: “إنه قائدنا وصاحب جائزة الكرة الذهبية الأفريقية ونأمل أن يكون حاضرًا في المباراة الأولى”.

Also, some numbers on India’s left-hand batting dominance and KL Rahul’s role

Sampath Bandarupalli27-Jul-20252:09

Manjrekar: ‘Warriors’ keep sprouting for India when needed

2 – Number of Tests involving England ending in draws since Brendon McCullum became their head coach. This was the 40th Test under McCullum. The other draw was against Australia in 2023, also at Old Trafford.ESPNcricinfo Ltd7 – Number of 350-plus totals for India in the four Test so far, the most for a team in a Test series. The previous best was six, by Australia, who have done it three times in the Ashes, in 1920-21, 1948, and 1989.This series is also the first instance of India crossing 300 on seven occasions in a series. Eight is the record.0 – Instances of a team winning a Test match at Old Trafford after choosing to bowl first. Teams electing to bowl first here have lost three of the 12, while nine ended in draws.The latest result continued India’s winless run at Old Trafford, where they have played ten matches, the most by them at a venue without a win.ESPNcricinfo Ltd4 – Number of hundreds for Shubman Gill in the series, the joint-highest by an India batter in a series. Sunil Gavaskar had four hundreds against West Indies in 1971 and 1978-79, while Virat Kohli also scored four on the 2014-15 tour of Australia.Gill is also only the third captain with four hundreds in a Test series, following Don Bradman against India in 1947-48 and Gavaskar against West Indies in 1978-79.Gill’s four hundreds are also the joint-highest in a series in England. Bradman (in 1930) is the only other visiting batter with four hundreds in a series in England.ESPNcricinfo Ltd722 – Runs scored by Gill in this series. Only Gavaskar has scored more runs in a Test series for India – 774 in 1970 and 732 in 1978-79; both against West Indies.188 – The partnership between Gill and KL Rahul is by far the highest third-wicket stand in Test cricket history after being two-down for zero. The previous highest was 105 by Mohinder Amarnath and GR Viswanath against Australia in Melbourne in 1977.Gill and Rahul batted 417 balls together during their partnership. It is the longest Test partnership for India in England since 1998.9 – 50-plus scores for Ravindra Jadeja in Tests in England, all while batting at No. 6 or lower, the joint-highest by a visiting player alongside Garry Sobers. Jadeja and Sobers are also the only visiting players with 1000-plus runs from No. 6 or lower in England.Jadeja also has 34 wickets in England. Only two visiting players have taken more wickets while scoring 1000-plus runs in a country: Wilfred Rhodes (1032 runs and 42 wickets in Australia) and Sobers (1820 runs and 62 wickets in England).511 – Runs aggregated by Rahul in this series so far. He is the first visiting opener to score 500-plus runs in a Test series since Graeme Smith’s 714 in 2003. Only Gavaskar among India openers (542 in 1979) has scored more than Rahul in a series in England.Four India batters have aggregated 400-plus runs in this series – Gill, Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Jadeja, the first such instance for them. The previous series in which four (or more) batters scored 400-plus runs for a team was in 1993 – six Australia batters did it in the Ashes that year.4 – Instances of India knocking off a 300-plus first-innings deficit to draw a Test match. The highest is 368 against England – also at Old Trafford in 1936 – while they overhauled 334 against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad and 314 against New Zealand in Napier, both in 2009.3 – Century-makers in the second innings for India at Old Trafford – Gill, Jadeja and Washington. It is the first instance of three batters scoring hundreds for India in the second innings of a Test match.Ravindra Jadeja celebrates his well-deserved century•Getty Images1 – Five left-hand India batters – Yashasvi Jaiswal, B Sai Sudharsan and Pant in the first innings, while Washington Sundar and Jadeja in the second innings – had 50-plus scores in the Old Trafford Test. Only once before have five left-hand batters scored at least 50 for a team in a Test.Seven left-hand batters got at least 50 runs at Old Trafford, including Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes, the most for a Test match.A total of 12 batters got past 50 across both teams. This is the joint-second-highest, behind the 13 by South Africa and England in Durban in 1939.Seven of them at Old Trafford were by India batters, the joint-most for them in a Test match. Only Pakistan (eight vs India in 2006 in Karachi) had more players with 50-plus scores.5 – Number of sessions where India batted 20-plus overs without losing a wicket at Old Trafford. Since the start of 2014, only one team has had as many wicketless sessions in a Test match – six by Pakistan against Australia in 2022 in Rawalpindi. No other team have been as strong in more than three sessions in a Test match in this period.ESPNcricinfo Ltd12 – Batters who have scored a century in this series. Australia’s tour of the West Indies in 1955 is the only other series to feature 12 century-makers.A total of 18 centuries have been scored in this series so far, the third-highest in a Test series. Eleven have come from India, the joint-highest for them in a Test series, alongside the 1978-79 home series against West Indies.