Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has branded the decision not to send off Brentford's Nathan Collins as "absolute nonsense" after his foul on Bryan Mbeumo during Manchester United's defeat on Saturday. Collins escaped with just a yellow despite hauling down Mbeumo in the box, with VAR backing the referee's call that the former Bees star wasn't in full control of the ball after a lengthy check.
Man Utd lose as Collins gets away with yellow card
Brentford’s Collins was shown only a yellow card after dragging Mbeumo to the ground inside the penalty area. VAR reviewed the incident and upheld referee Craig Pawson’s decision not to brandish a red card, ruling that Mbeumo did not have the ball fully under control. Bruno Fernandes then missed the resulting penalty, as Brentford went on to seal a 3-1 victory over Ruben Amorim’s struggling side. Former Premier League referee Halsey has now claimed that Pawson and VAR's explanation for the yellow card was 'absolute nonsense'.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportFormer PL ref says Collins should have been shown a red
"The statement from the Match Centre said that Mbeumo did not have control of the ball," former Premier League referee Halsey said to . "It doesn’t say in law about having the ball under control. It’s about the likelihood of keeping control of the ball. In my opinion, the Match Centre statement was absolute nonsense and it was a clear, clear denial of a goalscoring opportunity. Manchester United will be very disappointed with that decision. A red card should have been shown to the Brentford player."
Getty Images SportMan Utd continue to struggle under Amorim
The defeat leaves Manchester United languishing in 14th place after another frustrating display. Amorim’s side have now suffered four losses in seven games this season, including a penalty shootout loss to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup. Meanwhile, Brentford’s victory has handed Keith Andrews' side their first Premier League win in over a month.
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Amorim and Man Utd face crucial Sunderland clash
Manchester United face a crucial clash next weekend when they take on newly promoted side, Sunderland, in Premier League action. The Black Cats have been flying high this season as they sit fourth in the standings with three wins, two draws and just one loss. A win against an in-form side could bring the ball back in Amorim's court; however, a loss could end up bringing an end to his Old Trafford reign.
حقق منتخب مصر للشباب تحت 20 عامًا فوزًا قاتلًا على حساب تشيلي، بهدفين مقابل هدف، في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم السبت في كأس العالم للشباب.
والتقى المنتخب المصري، مع نظيره تشيلي في الجولة الثالثة والأخيرة من دور المجموعات من البطولة المقامة على أرض الأخيرة.
طالع.. موعد إعلان قائمة منتخب مصر لمباراتي جيبوتي وغينيا بيساو في تصفيات كأس العالم
افتتح منتخب تشيلي، الأهداف في الدقيقة 27 من عمر المباراة عن طريق خافيير كاركامو بعد تلقي تمريرة من روميرو.
وتعادل منتخب مصر في الدقيقة 48 من عمر اللقاء عن طريق أحمد عابدين برأسية متقنة بعد ضربة ركنية أرسلت داخل منطقة الجزاء.
وجاء هدف مصر القاتل في الدقيقة السادسة من الوقت بدل الضائع من الشوط الثاني عن طريق عمر خضر بعد تنفيذ لركلة حرة مباشرة بشكل أكثر من رائع.
ورفع منتخب مصر رصيده إلى 3 نقاط في المركز الثالث بحسب موقع الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، متساويًا مع تشيلي ونيوزيلندا صاحبي المركزين الثاني والرابع على الترتيب. أهداف مصر وتشيلي للشباب
أصدر نادي برشلونة الإسباني بيانًا رسميًا، مساء يوم الثلاثاء، للإعلان عن ملعب مباراة ريال سوسيداد في بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم، موسم 2025/26.
ويلتقي برشلونة مع ريال سوسيداد، يوم الأحد المقبل 28 سبتمبر، في إطار منافسات الجولة السابعة من بطولة الليجا.
وحسبما جاء في بيان برشلونة، فإن مباراة ريال سوسيداد المرتقبة الأسبوع المقبل ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني، ستكون على ملعب “مونتجويك”.
وأكد برشلونة أن النادي يواصل العمل من أجل الحصول على التصاريح الإدارية اللازمة لافتتاح ملعب سبوتيفاي كامب نو خلال الأشهر المقبلة.
وقدم برشلونة، حسب بيانه، جميع الوثائق المتعلقة بإشعار الإشغال الأول للمرحلة 1، بالإضافة إلى ردوده على الملاحظات الوثائقية التي قدّمها مجلس مدينة برشلونة حتى الآن، حيث يعمل النادي حاليًا على التعديلات الجديدة التي قدمها المجلس اليوم.
اقرأ أيضًا.. أول تعليق من لامين يامال بعد فوز ديمبلي بالكرة الذهبية 2025
من جانبها، ذكرت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية أن مجلس مدينة برشلونة أكد أن هناك تعديلات في الملعب لم تُستكمل بعد، حيث إنه على سبيل المثال لا يتم اتباع جميع اللوائح اللازمة لإخلاء الملعب في حال وقوع أي حادث.
وصرح مسؤولو مجلس المدينة: “نحن ملتزمون بالسلامة”، وفيما يتعلق بالاختلاف الكبير في موقف برشلونة ومجلس المدينة، رفضت المصادر البلدية نفسها التعليق، مؤكدة أن الجانبين يتعاونان بشكل كامل، وأصر رئيس الإطفاء سيباستيا ماساغي على أن العودة إلى الملعب غير ممكنة حاليًا لأسباب أمنية.
في حين أن رئيس برشلونة، خوان لابورتا، صرّح في تصريحات صباح اليوم بأن الملعب جاهز، وفقًا لما أكدته رابطة الدوري الإسباني ويويفا، مضيفًأ أن الكرة في ملعب مجلس المدينة، على حد قوله.
Liverpool are having quite the transfer window. Hugo Ekitike has scarcely been welcomed aboard the Reds’ pre-season tour in Asia and already sights have been set on Alexander Isak.
The Newcastle United striker has long been FSG’s dream target at number nine, and having informed the Magpies of his desire to explore a move away from St. James’ Park, Liverpool are ready to make their move.
What happens next is unclear, but there’s no question that FSG’s ambitions are to stay atop this mountain Arne Slot’s squad have scaled.
And, would you believe it, there’s more to come before September is upon us.
Liverpool lining up Isak partner
While it might seem fanciful that Liverpool could welcome a few more attacking additions having now announced the £79m signing of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ekitike, there remain a few more cards the club can play.
Namely, with Bayern Munich set to lodge their second bid for Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez still anticipated to leave Merseyside in the coming weeks, there’s little question that FSG could authorise a big-money move for another versatile forward.
So then, as per TEAMtalk, Liverpool are still tracking Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon as FSG continue their large-scale rebuild, though the Magpies would want as much as £100m if they were to sell.
Anthony Gordon looks dejected for Liverpool
Still, Gordon is of a long-standing interest to the Anfield side, having left their academy as an 11-year-old and come close to a transfer last summer.
Why Liverpool should sign Anthony Gordon
Gordon, 24, is an out-and-out winger, though he can also play in a more central berth when required. In this way, he could be the perfect replacement for Diaz, who is looking more and more likely to leave for Germany in the coming weeks.
Left winger
124
26
29
Right winger
53
8
8
Attacking midfield
21
13
2
Centre-forward
16
5
1
But more importantly, he could be Isak’s dream teammate at Liverpool, linking right back up with his Magpies dance partner on the left flank, supplying him with assists and seeing the favour returned.
A tenacious, hard-working winger, the Three Lions star is known for his versatile attacking approach and his high-speed running, capable of stretching lines and drawing defenders away for number nines like Isak and inside forwards like Mohamed Salah to find space and strike on goal.
And while he’s not renowned for his prolificness, the one-time Everton starlet has still notched 21 goals and 22 assists across all competitions over the past couple of seasons, making good on the praise that he is an “exceptional” forward, as has been said by football scout Antonio Mango.
This brand of football might also play into Wirtz’s hands (or, more precisely, his feet), for the German midfielder’s first-class playmaking could be directed down multiple avenues with two athletic talents in Isak and Gordon ahead of him.
Wirtz’s silky ball-carrying skills combine with an inborn creative flair which would elevate any talented forward, central or wide, across the globe.
Indeed, the 22-year-old ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for passes attempted, the top 7% for goal involvements, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
However, with a pairing such as Gordon and Isak, who have already crafted such seamless synergy, this could be a truly remarkable frontline, eclipsing the talented attacks of rivals across the continent.
Gordon, to whom Isak is “the best in Europe”, loves playing with such a dynamic and intelligent striker who is also a devastating marksman. Isak, after all, scored 27 goals and supplied six assists for his teammates last season, with movement and off-the-ball work making him so much more than just a goalscorer.
They couldn’t, could they? If Liverpool do manage to pull off this extraordinary double deal, the Reds would not only have one of the most talented and in-sync offensive duos in world football, but they would Wirtz lingering behind to feed them sharp balls with frightening consistency and style.
Scary hours for the rest of the Premier League.
Could be a bigger talent than Ekitike: Liverpool ready to bid for £51m ace
Liverpool aren’t done yet in the summer transfer window.
Hannon-Dalby takes four wickets to put visitors in command at Taunton
ECB Reporters Network01-Jul-2024
Tom Banton found form in adversity for Somerset•Getty Images
Tom Banton and Tom Abell rescued Somerset from potential embarrassment on the second day of the Vitality County Championship Division One match with Warwickshire at Taunton.The pair came together with the home side 57 for three in their first innings, trailing by 355 runs, and produced a patient stand of 139, Banton making 77 and Abell 61 not out before three late wickets saw Somerset stumble to stumps on 208 for six, Oliver Hannon-Dalby claiming four for 45.Earlier, Warwickshire had extended their score from an overnight 373 for eight to 412 all out, Michael Burgess falling for 147. Migael Pretorius added the wicket of Michael Booth to his four first day victims for figures of five for 104 from 27 overs.Only one over was bowled at the start of play before a heavy shower wiped out play for the session to the consternation of more than 700 schoolchildren granted free admission for the day. An early lunch was taken at 12.30pm, with play resuming at 1.10pm.Somerset’s frustrations of the previous evening continued and an edged four by Booth off Pretorius took the visitors to a fourth batting point at 402 for eight, having been 40 for four at one stage.Booth then took two to third man to bring up a half-century stand with Burgess in 74 balls before Pretorius parted them, Booth edging to Abell at first slip to depart for 31.Burgess had faced 208 balls, hitting 17 fours and three sixes when last man out, skying a catch to Jack Leach at mid-on to give Kasey Aldridge his only wicket.Needing 263 to avoid the prospect of being asked to follow on, Somerset minds might have been on cautiously negotiating the new ball. Instead, Andy Umeed smacked the second delivery of the second over back over Hannon-Dalby’s head for six and then fell to the fourth, edging a low catch to Jacob Bethell at fourth slip.Tom Kohler-Cadmore also looked to attack at every opportunity and had moved to 22 off 35 balls when caught behind pushing half forward to a good length ball from Booth. At the other end, Chris Woakes completed a seven-over opening spell costing just 15 runs.When Tom Lammonby, on 23, edged another catch to wicketkeeper Burgess, playing down the wrong line to Ed Barnard, Somerset were 57 for three and under pressure. Banton clubbed Booth over a short extra cover boundary for six as he and Abell saw them to 80 for three at tea.An extended final session of 43 overs began with Banton playing some delightful shots and bringing up the fifty partnership from 88 balls with a sweetly-timed back-foot shot through the covers for four off Hannon-Dalby.Abell was largely content to play a supporting role as the stand blossomed. Banton reached a 77-ball half-century with a single of left-arm spinner Bethell, having hit 5 fours and a six, only looking vulnerable when chasing wide deliveries.The pair settled for accumulating steadily as the ball became softer and Warwickshire’s bowlers shared the frustrations of their Somerset counterparts over a pitch offering negligible seam movement or turn.Abell survived a scare on 43 when a delivery from Barnard appeared to miss his off stump by a coat of varnish, but by then the partnership with Banton had passed the century mark and early worries in the home dressing room had eased.A late cut off Barnard for his third four took Abell to fifty off 110 balls. Bethell produced a tidy ten-over spell for 23 runs on the unhelpful surface, but neither Abell nor Banton looked seriously troubled in the early evening sunshine.That was until Hannon-Dalby found the outside edge of Banton’s bat for the only slip, Rob Yates to pouch a low chance with five overs remaining in the day. The crestfallen Somerset player dragged himself off, having faced 143 balls, knowing a great chance of a third first class century had escaped him.Hannon-Dalby then struck two more quick blows to remove nightwatchmen Josh Davey lbw and Jack Leach caught behind next ball, as Warwickshire ended the day on an unexpected high.
La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid are said to be targeting another Arsenal star, amid their strong links to William Saliba, coming as new contract talks with the former take a negative turn.
Real Madrid still eyeing William Saliba despite signing Dean Huijsen
Some Gunners supporters may have been optimistic at one stage that Real’s signing of defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth would spell the end of their interest in Saliba, but this is unfortunately far from the truth.
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The France international, who’s been a vital presence at the heart of Mikel Arteta’s defence since 2022/2023, having formed an indomitable partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, will leave the Emirates for nothing in 2027 as things stand.
William Saliba’s best Premier League games for Arsenal this season
Match Rating
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
8.07
Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal
7.87
Arsenal 2-0 Man United
7.66
Ipswich Town 0-4 Arsenal
7.28
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich Town
7.26
via WhoScored
Arsenal have opened talks with Saliba over a new contract in an effort to ward off Real, and while some outlets even claim an extension is all but agreed (Football Transfers), this appears to be wide of the mark for now.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Saliba remains a “dream” signing for Real, regardless of their Huijsen deal, and they remain watchful of developments regarding the 24-year-old’s contract situation.
“The dream target has always been William Saliba,” said Romano on his YouTube channel.
“My information is that Real Madrid understood at the beginning of May that Saliba this summer was impossible to reach as a target because, for Arsenal, he is a crucial player and they are discussing a new contract with William Saliba.
“So Real Madrid’s position on Saliba is clear – they will sign Dean Huijsen now, but Saliba remains a dream target for them. Arsenal will have the ball in their court to close the agreement, keep Saliba at the club and extend his contract. Otherwise, if this contract won’t be extended, Real Madrid will be there.”
Real Madrid eye Myles Lewis-Skelly as Arsenal contract talks go sour
In more concerning news for Arteta, it is now believed that Real are also keeping a very watchful eye on breakout star Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The Hale End academy graduate made the left-back spot his own this season, putting in some truly exceptional displays which have also resulted in Thomas Tuchel’s nod for the England squad.
The 18-year-old’s form is turning heads at the Bernabeu as a result, with journalist Jonathan Wilson telling The Guardian’s ‘Football Weekly’ that Arsenal’s talks over a contract extension for Lewis-Skelly have been going sour.
“They’ve got to sort out Myles Lewis-Skelly’s contract which expires next summer and I think talks have not been going well from what I hear,” said Wilson.
Myles Lewis-Skelly for Arsenal
“Real Madrid are sort of sniffing around there. Imagine Real Madrid wanting a highly-rated Premier League fullback for free. Almost unimaginable, isn’t it?”
Losing the teenage sensation to La Liga, especially on a free, would be a truly dire situation for Arsenal, and it is little surprise Real are considering a Trent Alexander-Arnold-esque deal to bring in one of England’s brightest young defenders at no transfer cost.
Tying down Lewis-Skelly will now be even higher up Andrea Berta’s to-do list, especially considering the newly-found interest from Xabi Alonso’s side.
Celtic ended the 2024/25 campaign without a domestic treble to show for their efforts after they were beaten on penalties by Aberdeen in the final of the SFA Cup on Saturday.
The Hoops had taken the lead through an own goal by Alfie Dorrington, only for Kasper Schmeichel to inadvertently parry the ball back into his own net in the second half.
Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston then stepped up and missed in the penalty shootout, whilst the Dons produced an outstanding set of spot-kicks that gave Schmeichel little chance of redeeming himself.
It was a disappointing afternoon for the Hoops, who would have secured the treble if they had held on at 1-0, but it was still a successful season for Brendan Rodgers and his men.
Celtic won the Scottish Premiership title for the fourth time in as many years and beat Rangers on penalties to win the League Cup in the first half of the campaign.
One player who may have been left particularly disappointed by his afternoon was centre-forward Adam Idah, who failed to justify the manager’s faith in him as a starter.
Why Adam Idah should not be a starter for Celtic
The Hoops reportedly agreed a deal worth up to £9.5m, with an initial fee of £8.5m, to sign the Ireland international from Norwich City last summer, after he had spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Parkhead.
His last game on loan at the club came in the SFA Cup final against Rangers at Hampden Park, and the attacker came off the bench to net the winner in the last minute.
He was the super sub for the Scottish giants that day and his telling contribution to that trophy may have influenced the club’s decision to splash a significant transfer fee on the Norwich loanee.
However, Idah has failed to kick on as an effective starter for the Hoops in the 2024/25 campaign, as he still seems best suited to coming off the bench to make an impact late on.
Adam Idah: The super sub
Premiership
Starts
Off the bench
Appearances
19
16
Minutes
1,352
357
Goals
6
7
Minutes per goal
225
51
Assists
0
1
Stats via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, the 6 foot 3 marksman ended the Premiership campaign with six goals and zero assists in 19 starts, which is a fairly dismal return for a £9.5m-rated centre-forward.
Of course, Saturday’s defeat to Aberdeen was another game in which Idah started and failed to score, as he was withdrawn from the action without a goal or an assist before extra time.
The statistics paint a clear picture: Idah is best-suited to playing a role off the bench as a super sub against tired defences after replacing a starting centre-forward.
That is why Celtic should be in the market to sign an upgrade on the Irishman to start on a regular basis, and they could find that upgrade by swooping for one of their January target Evan Ferguson.
Evan Ferguson tipped for Celtic move
The Hoops were linked with an interest in the Brighton & Hove Albion forward in January, but missed out on a deal as he landed at West Ham United on loan.
Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman recently suggested that the Ireland international should, now, consider dropping down to the Premiership to play for Celtic after failing to play regular minutes with the Hammers.
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CeltsAreHere quoted him as saying: “I thought in January, and this is no disrespect to the Scottish Premiership, that Evan Ferguson should aim higher. But given what’s happened, a move to Celtic wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.
“If he goes to Celtic, he would be guaranteed goals, which would only boost his confidence and help bring out the player that we saw break through at Brighton. Evan Ferguson just needs to play football. If a move to Celtic means he can do that, then I understand why he would do it.”
Rodgers should take Goodman’s advice and reignite his interest in signing the Premier League attacker in the upcoming summer transfer window, as he could come in to be the starting centre-forward next season.
Why Celtic should sign Evan Ferguson
The Scottish giants should swoop for the Brighton youngster because he is a talented young striker with the potential to be an upgrade on Idah for the club heading into the 2025/26 campaign.
Ferguson, who was described as “phenomenal” by teammate James Milner, has endured a difficult year, with just three Premier League starts for Brighton and West Ham combined, after missing pre-season last summer due to injury.
Prior to this difficult season, though, the 20-year-old attacker had shown plenty of promise at Premier League level with Brighton in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns.
The Irish number nine scored 12 goals in the top-flight in those two years combined, which shows that the potential is there for him to be an effective goalscorer at the top level.
Evan Ferguson’s Premier League career
Season
xG
Goals
Differential
22/23
5.67
6
+0.33
23/24
3.97
6
+2.03
24/25
1.36
1
-0.36
Total
10.29
13
+1.89
Stats via UnderStat
As you can see in the table above, Ferguson – who is valued at £40m by Football Transfers – outperformed his xG in both of those seasons, illustrating how clinical he can be at his best, before his struggles this term.
Whereas, Idah scored one goal from 2.76 xG across 29 appearances in the Premier League during his time with Norwich, which shows that he did not provide as much quality in front of goal as his international teammate did for Brighton.
Whilst Ferguson is coming off the back of a poor season, due to a lack of game time and injury problems last summer, it is clear to see that he has the potential to be a huge signing for Celtic, hence why Goodman claimed he would be “guaranteed goals” in Scotland.
The 20-year-old starlet has shown that he can punish Premier League defences efficiently, with his xG-to-goal ratio, which is why he could be a big upgrade on Idah, who ended the Premiership season with 13 goals from 14.77 xG.
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This is why Celtic should pursue a deal to bring Ferguson to the club when the summer transfer window opens for business, if he is an attainable target from Brighton, to improve their options in the final third.
Aston Villa have made some statement signings in the last few months, with the January transfer window a really impressive one for the West Midlands side.
Two of their notable signings were loanees, Marco Asensio from Paris Saint-Germain and Marcus Rashford from Manchester United.
The Spanish attacking midfielder has impressed for Villa. He has featured 16 times so far for the club, scoring eight goals and grabbing one assist. Rashford, meanwhile, has been electric, and has four goals and six assists in 17 appearances for the Midlands outfit.
They were both ambitious signings for Villa, and they might not be the last of them. The West Midlands side are reportedly close to signing Sverre Nypan, who is wanted by several of Europe’s biggest clubs.
The latest on Villa’s pursuit of Nypan
What a sensational coup this would be for Villa, if they do manage to get the signing of Nyapn over the line.
According to a recent report from Fabrizio Romano, the Villans are ‘are closing in on the agreement’ for the Norway star.
It would be some addition to the squad at Villa Park with Nypan highly rated across Europe. Indeed, football talent scout Jacek Kulig has suggested that he has a “huge future ahead” of him in professional football.
His stats for Rosenborg in 2024 show exactly why he is so highly rated. The 18-year-old midfielder played 28 top-flight games for his boyhood club in the last calendar year, scoring eight times and grabbing seven assists, including a hat-trick against Lillestrom.
The price Villa would have to pay for Nypan is cheap, too. As stated in a report from Birmingham Live, he may be worth around £10m, which seems an incredibly cheap deal for someone of such promise.
Aston Villa already have their own Nypan
While Nypan is evidently one of the hottest prospects in Europe, Aston Villa have already signing a player with similar traits. He’s also now worth a great deal more than the Norwegian after a scintillating campaign in the Midlands.
It has been an exceptional season for Villans attacker Morgan Rogers. The Villa number 27 became an England international this term, having been rewarded with his first caps off the back of the form he has shown at Villa Park.
Indeed, the 22-year-old, who has only been a Villa player for 18 months, has become a vital player in Unai Emery’s side. He has played 49 times in all competitions, and has 14 goals and 13 assists to his name.
One competition where Rogers really stepped up this season was in the Champions League. It was a fairytale run for Villa who reached the quarter-final before Paris Saint-Germain knocked them out. In 12 appearances, he managed seven goal involvements, including a hat-trick against Celtic in the final group game.
At the start of the season, former Liverpool defender turned Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said Rogers is an “unstoppable” force. Well, that is a claim that has certainly been proven right, given how well the Villans’ number 7 has played this term.
In fact, Rogers’ stats via Sofascore from the 2024/25 campaign are exceptional and showcase the high levels he has shown throughout. For example, he has played 66 key passes and has an expected goal involvement tally of 15.48 xGI (expected goal involvements).
Key passes
66
1.5
Big chances created
20
0.4
Dribbles completed
97
2.1
Tackles and interceptions
56
1.3
Expected goal involvement
15.48xGI
0.34xGI
With all that in mind, it might not be a surprise to hear Rogers’ estimated transfer value, which is 330% higher than the fee Villa will have to pay for Nypan. The England international is now valued at £43m by Transfermarkt.
The impact the England attacker has had in a Claret and Blue shirt so far has been sublime. As his high value shows, he has been a fantastic investment so far, and will surely only get better over the coming months.
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“I hope that it continues to inspire our country,” says South Africa’s victorious captain
Firdose Moonda14-Jun-20257:27
Bavuma: We’ve wiped all doubts with the way that we’ve played
The current world Test champion team is Temba Bavuma’s and he is owning it.For the first time in his career, possibly even in his life, Bavuma can be “recognised as more than just a black African cricketer,” as he put it in the post-match press conference. He can be seen – really seen, for the person, the leader and the cricketer that he is. All of it can be summed up in the word his batting coach used to describe him on the third evening, when Bavuma batted with a strained hamstring and deep sense of self-belief: tough.Bavuma comes from Langa, a township in Cape Town which is as far from St John’s Wood, economically and geographically, as it gets. He grew up playing street cricket on bits of road named after the famous places he and his team-mates had heard of but never actually thought they’d get to. “I never pictured myself playing here at Lord’s. I could only fantasise about it,” Bavuma said, as he recalled his childhood in the early 90s, a time when everything in South Africa was changing.Within a decade, he was being schooled at some of the country’s top institutions as part of the early waves of children of colour going to elite, formerly all-white schools, and by his late teens, he was in the domestic cricketing system. At 24, he made his Test debut in a team that was ranked No.1 and from that has carried a burden no other batter in the global game has ever had to bear. Bavuma has had to prove, over and over and over again, that black South Africans (because remember there was Richards and Sobers and Lloyd and Greenidge and Lara) can bat.Related
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His was an unusual position because there had been many black South African batters active in the Apartheid era including some from his own family, but their records were sidelined. Unification came in name only and it took six years before South Africa fielded its first black African cricketer – Mahkaya Ntini – and 22 before Bavuma was capped. Being the first carried the responsibility of being the representative. In Bavuma, South Africa saw the totality of their black African batting talent which magnified his every performance.When he succeeded, as he did with his first century in 2016, it was hailed as a turning point for black cricket. When he failed, it was the entire demographics’ failure. That is a hell of a big thing to carry around with you, often without sympathy from the outside world, who understand little of the nuances of South Africa’s racial realities. When Bavuma was put in charge of the white-ball sides in 2021, despite having only six ODI and eight T20I caps to his name, he was immediately called a quota captain and his poor form in South Africa’s horrendous 2022 T20 World Cup campaign, where they lost to Netherlands, didn’t help. But then things shifted.A new coach, Shukri Conrad, who understands the complexities of South African cricket because he has spent his whole career steeped in them was handed the Test reins. He chose Bavuma as his captain, putting him in control in the format he had performed best in. Bavuma’s opening act under Conrad was a career-best 172 against West Indies at his home ground, the Wanderers. That century was seven years in the making, Bavuma’s second in 57 Tests and the floodgates opened. He scored two more in the last summer and has led South Africa’s current WTC campaign.Because South Africa played (12) fewer Tests than almost anyone else in this cycle, Bavuma is barely spoken of when it comes to the cycle’s top performers but he should be. He was South Africa’s leading run-scorer before this Test (and has since been joined by David Bedingham) and averages 59.25 with two hundreds and five fifties. Those are numbers worth shouting about. They celebrate Bavuma the batter and the way he has led from the front but they don’t tell the story of what it took for him to do that.Temba Bavuma leads South Africa’s celebrations•ICC/Getty ImagesFor that, you had to have been at Lord’s, seen Bavuma pull up with a hamstring strain when he was on 6 and refuse to let it win. This was his third hamstring injury in two years: the first kept him out of the first Test of this cycle and he risked the second to play in the 2023 World Cup semi-final, where he was vilified for his actions. This time, even when the team management told him they did not think he should go back out after tea, he took control of his own destiny.”I didn’t want to think of another option. I didn’t want to consider myself not being there with Aiden (Markram). It was a key moment within the game,” Bavuma said. “I wasn’t at 100% fitness but I felt that I was good enough to still do the job. It was a tough decision. I can’t not think of the 2023 World Cup where it was a similar type of incident. But it was me backing my gut. I went against advice from management and I was willing to take whatever comes with it. It was very much an instinctive call, very much an egotistical call but I was happy to deal with whatever consequence that came with it.”As it turned out, the consequence was becoming the cricketing hero he has always wanted to be. Bavuma’s 66 in a stand of 147 set South Africa up for victory and himself for greatness. He can be spoken about as Bavuma, the cricketer, and the captain of the team that are now champions. He can be sung about, he can be appreciated and he can enjoy it.”It’s not easy being captain of South Africa but all the sacrifices, all the disappointment, feel worth it,” he said. “Giving up is always an option. It’s always there at the back of your mind, but something kind of holds you on. For me, it was that moment there to be recognised as more than just a black African cricketer, but to be seen as someone who’s done something that the country has wanted. That’s something that I’ll definitely walk around with my chest out. And I hope that it continues to inspire our country.”ESPNcricinfo LtdThat Bavuma can now put his name to such a massive achievement is what will come to define him, and it’s been a long time coming. Running parallel to Bavuma’s time at the helm of cricket has been Siya Kolisi’s as captain of the Springboks, South Africa’s national rugby team. Under Kolisi’s leadership, South Africa won two World Cups in the same time as South Africa’s cricket side failed in four.In another world, Bavuma and Kolisi would just be looked at as two people, at the top of their respective professions who happen to have been on opposite sides of the results coin. But because in the South African sporting world, which has a history of those professions being historically and legislatively white-dominated, that they are the first black African captains of their respective codes means comparisons are inevitable albeit unfair.While Kolisi is gregarious and front-facing, Bavuma is pensive and private. Expecting the pair to do the same thing for the country has always seemed a bridge too far but now Bavuma has stepped on it. He has a Kolisi equivalent and he can talk about his team and the Boks in the same breath.”The biggest thing I admire about them [Springboks] is with their success and how they’ve embraced what being South African actually means,” Bavuma said. “We’re unique in a lot of ways. Our present and future is shaped by our past. And the way that they’ve gone about it, to capture the hearts of everyone, has really made us love them. In cricket, that’s something that we’ve spoken about, to really do something special.”The Boks have built their brand on a campaign of doing it for South Africa and of providing hope and inspiration for a nation of dreamers, whose democracy was closely followed by hefty sporting success. In 1995, South Africa hosted and won the Rugby World Cup, with Nelson Mandela in attendance. Cricket nearly had its moment in 1999 and several near-misses in the 26 years since but now, cricket can have something similar. “For the country, it’s a chance for us to rejoice in something, to forget about our issues and really come together,” Bavuma said.In the end, that is what Bavuma has done for South African cricket for more than a decade. In that time, he pushed opinions about who can and can’t play, who can and can’t bat, who can and can’t captain, who can and can’t win apart. And over the last three-and-a-half days, he has pulled them all together for one emphatic statement.Not only can he, but he should and he will and he has. “And though it can be burdensome, it’s still somewhat of a privilege to carry those types of expectations as well as pressure,” he said. “They can’t take it (the success) away having someone who has finally gotten the team over line in a final.”They can’t and they won’t. This was Bavuma’s WTC and he can own it.
Familiar failings haunt Temba Bavuma’s side, despite claims to have exorcised past demons
Firdose Moonda17-Oct-20231:47
‘Van der Merwe’s energy was infectious’
Okay, so this is the part where you re-read that South Africa have got over the ghosts of tournaments past and have a good laugh. Got over? Oh hell no, they’ve only got more.A power-packed South African line-up have, for the second successive time at a World Cup, failed to chase a modest score against a Netherlands side filled with South African expats. A gun fielding outfit, known for their willingness to put bodies on the line, fumbled and were beaten at their own game. And most of all, a bowling unit that was starting to show glimpses of the threat they can pose, allowed an Associate team’s lower order to score 119 runs in the last 12 overs of their innings and bat them out of the match.It’s not a crucial stage of the tournament and South Africa already have two wins and six games left to play so there’s plenty of time to get their semi-final train back on track. But this is the first time they have come under pressure in the tournament and the way they responded suggests that they have not, in fact, learnt to keep their heads when all about them were losing theirs. They unraveled in the field, almost immediately after a dropped catch, and allowed Netherlands to go from 96 for 5 at the time Teja Nidamanuru was put down to 245 for 8 at the end of 43 overs.It wasn’t so much that it was Nidamanuru – on 14 when he was given a life before being dismissed on 20 – but the events immediately after. Lungi Ngidi was the bowler Nidamanuru sent straight to Marco Jansen at fine leg and as the ball hit Jansen’s chest and bobbled out, the usually smiling Ngidi glared. Actually glared. Five balls later, Scott Edwards swept Keshav Maharaj to the deep square boundary, where Gerald Coetzee made a decent effort to stop the boundary but didn’t. The usually affable Maharaj also glared. With his hands on his hips. And his shoulders shrugged up to his ears. In less than five minutes, South Africa had gone from a confident, settled fielding unit to a group of players who were openly expressing their discontent with others in full view of 11,224 spectators in attendance and millions on live television. And things weren’t even that bad at that point.Related
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South Africa’s extras were the top-scorer at that stage of the innings, which is a concern in its own right, but the Dutch top order had been dismissed, the ball was doing a bit and a chase of under 200 was still on. It was not the kind of situation that necessitated the captain, Temba Bavuma, to have to calm down one of his premier bowlers, in Ngidi, but that’s exactly what was happening. Not even the dismissals of Nidamanuru and Logan van Beek could get them back on track and with the wheels wobbling an old friend came in to rip them right off.Roelof van der Merwe has known and played with most of the South Africa squad and support staff, and on the field there’s no love lost. He tried to take on the first ball he faced, a back of a length delivery from Coetzee, and missed but just went again. He used Coetzee’s pace to guide the second ball past backward point and then thumped a slower ball over mid-on and a short one over third to take 15 runs off the over. He also injected an energy into the Dutch approach that Edwards picked up on and ran with. In that short period of play, van der Merwe provided entertainment when he fell over at the non-striker’s end when Edwards hammered a ball his way and excitement when he delicately dabbed Coetzee to short third. He was with Edwards when he got his half-century and at the crease when the 200 came up.His 29 off 19 balls may not seem especially significant but it was part of the highest partnership of the match and, in the end, was the difference. And when he bowled Bavuma in the last over of the powerplay, that was simply twisting the knife.South Africa’s frustrations in the field became evident•Associated PressSouth Africa’s batting has been their strength so far but it hasn’t been fully tested. While South Africa had won eight of their last 10 ODIs before this match, six of those victories were achieved batting first. One of the two they lost was the last time they batted second in an ODI, six matches ago, against Australia in Bloemfontein when they conceded 392 and were bowled out for 269 to lose by 123 runs. They last won a match chasing in March, when they beat Netherlands by eight wickets to earn crucial points on the World Cup Super League. South Africa’s last successful chase of a score over 200 was also in March, when they gunned down a target of 261 set by West Indies, inside 30 overs. They were also in trouble then, at 87 for 4 in the 13th, before Heinrich Klaasen scored an unbeaten 119 and shared a 103-run sixth wicket stand with Marco Jansen, which convinced South Africa he could bat as high as No. 7.One of the first questions to emerge from defeat this time is, should he? Although Jansen is a clean striker of the ball, there is an argument that he does not have the technique to act as the bridge between the top six and the tail and should be at No. 8 instead. South Africa’s problem is that they don’t have anyone who could slot in higher up. Andile Phehlukwayo is the other allrounder in the squad but, if he displaces Jansen, they take pace and the one of the meanest bouncers in the game out of their XI. It’s understood he is in the squad as a reserve. Including an extra batter – Reeza Hendricks – can only come at the expense of a frontline bowler and South Africa are unlikely to want to do that.As it is, they go into games with an attack of only five first-choice players and one part-timer, Aiden Markram, who was not used at all in Dharamsala. They cannot afford to leave one of the bowlers out to make up for shortfalls with the bat. In other words, they have put together a team template that relies on the top six doing their job and if they don’t, you end up with what they had today.It’s far too early in the tournament to be calling it anything like a crisis. But it is a cautionary tale that things can happen, even if you think they may not, and the spectre of past disappointments may not have completely disappeared.