شهدت الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات لدوري أبطال إفريقيا، أحد أكثر المشاهد إثارة للقلق في البطولة، بعدما قام أحد المشجعين بإلقاء سكين بشكل مباشر على اللاعب محمود تريزيجيه، خلال مباراة الأهلي والجيش الملكي المغربي.
وسلطت صحيفة “ريكورد” البرتغالية، الضوء على هذه الحادثة أثناء المباراة، وأثارت على الفور قلقاً بين اللاعبين، الذين طلبوا دعم الحكام، ما ترك الجماهير في المدرجات في حالة من التوتر.
وسقط السكين بالقرب من لاعب الأهلي المصري الذي قام بحث زملائه على الفور وتنبيههم لخطورة الموقف، وحاول لاعبو الفريق بسرعة عرض السكين على الحكام لإيقاف المباراة وتطبيق القواعد بسبب تعريض سلامتهم للخطر.
ولم يكن مجرد إلقاء السكين في الملعب هو ما أثار دهشة المتابعين، بل حاول لاعبو الجيش الملكي منع الحكم من رؤية السلاح وحجبوا طريق لاعبي الأهلي وعرقلوا احتجاجهم وقد تم تصوير هذا الموقف وانتشر على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي.
اقرا أيضًا.. مونتي كارلو: مجرفة بناء تصيب لاعبي الأهلي بـ”صدمة” وفوضى عارمة في ملعب الجيش الملكي
وقد ازداد الوضع سوءًا عندما التقط أحد لاعبي الجيش الملكي البدلاء، الذي تم التعرف عليه من خلال قميصه الرسمي، السكين من الملعب ووضعه في سرواله، لكي يحاول بشكل واضح إخفائه، وقد أثار هذا التصرف موجة من الغضب بين الجماهير والمحللين الياضيين الذين وصفوه بأنه تصرف غير رياضي وخارج عن السياق تمامًا.
وأعرب العديد من المتابعين في كرة القدم الإفريقية عن قلقهم بسبب هذا النوع من المواقف التي تعرض سلامة المشاركين في المباريات للخطر، ووصفت صورة أحد لاعبي الجيش الملكي وهو يخفي السكين، لمنع الحكم من التدخل، بأنها من أكثر الصور المخزية في تاريخ البطولة القارية الحديث.
وقد يتخذ الاتحاد الأفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف” إجراءات تأديبية في الأيام المقبلة سواء ضد المشجع المسؤول أو اللاعبين المتورطين في محاولة التستر، وأشار الخبراء إلى أنه يجب أن تكون الأولوية لضمان عدم تكرار هذا النوع من السلوكيات وتعزيز الإجراءات الأمنية في الملاعب الأفريقية.
ويشكل هذا الحادث جرس إنذار قوي للسلطات الرياضية في القارة الإفريقية، والتي سيتعين عليها تقييم أسباب الخلل الأمني في المباراة وكيفية منع تكرار هذه السلوكيات التي تهدد جوهر اللعبة.
The Angels were considering multiple former franchise stars to become their next skipper, but they reportedly ruled out two big names in their managerial search after Ron Washington and interim Ray Montgomery's departure.
According to a report from 's Bob Nightengale, Los Angeles has informed five-time All-Star Torii Hunter that he is no longer in the running to become their next manager. Earlier Monday, the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported that Albert Pujols have broken off talks on the role as he receives interest from the Orioles and Padres for their openings.
Neither former franchise star possesses experience as a manager at the MLB level, but Pujols has found quick success as a manager in his native Dominican Republic. He's slated to manage their national team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Hunter joined the Angels as a special assistant to general manager Perry Minasian last year.
Who are the other candidates for the Angels' managerial vacancy?
Los Angeles could still look to a former player with Kurt Suzuki still in the mix, according to MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. Suzuki has served as a special assistant to Minasian as well. Bollinger mentioned Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley, Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde as well as former Twins skipper Rocco Baldelli as additional candidates linked to the Angels.
The Angels finished last season 72-90 and missed out on the playoffs for the 11th season in a row.
The baseball postseason—and specifically the World Series—has a habit of creating heroes from the most unlikely sources. This time, unlikely hero Addison Barger navigated some extenuating circumstances to help power the Blue Jays to an 11–4 win over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.
Addison Barger makes World Series history
Barger went from a pull-out couch, to the Blue Jays bench to the plate, where he belted the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, blowing the game open and extending Toronto's lead to 9-2 in its eventual win.
"His family is coming in, came in tonight," Blue Jays outfielder Davis Schneider said after the game. "He needed someone. He was staying with Myles [Straw] and then stayed with me last night. My girlfriend is here so like, he’s like, ‘Can I sleep in the bed with you guys.' "
According to , it is not uncommon for Blue Jays players to stay at teammates' houses during the season, and some have looked to stay closer to Rogers Centre to beat World Series-related traffic.
So Schneider offered to have Barger sleep on his pull-out couch, though it may not have been the best night's sleep for the 25-year-old Barger.
"So I was like ‘No,’ sleep on my couch. Sleep on the pullout.' It’s a pullout, yeah. But it was squeaking all night. Yeah, it was so funny. I looked over and I just see him sleeping there in the middle of the night. He’s a headcase, but he’s fun."
Barger slept on the couch again?
Barger, as Schneider's sister Madeline pointed out on X, slept on the couch once again following the World Series victory. At this point, it's either that Barger genuinely likes sleeping on the squeaky pull-out couch, or he and the Blue Jays aren't messing with what could be good superstition.
Game 2 of the World Series begins at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday night.
Gianluigi Donnarumma has revealed how Erling Haaland convinced him to move from Paris Saint-Germain to Manchester City in the summer transfer window. The Italian goalkeeper left the European champions on deadline day to sign for the Premier League giants after falling out of favour under Luis Enrique, who had already signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille.
Donnarumma shares special bond with Haaland
Since his move to City from Paris on deadline day, Donnarumma has built a close friendship with the club's star forward Haaland. In an interaction with the , the Italy international opened up on his close bond with the Norwegian goal machine as he said: "I’d say we just got on well immediately. We have always respected each other, even before we met. We make a lot of banter about playing against each other in the national teams. I’d say they are in a better situation than us now, they have much more peace of mind. But there are still two games left to play. It will be difficult to face each other, as it will be difficult to play against him. I know how strong he is and what chances he can create. It will be hard to face him both as a player and as a friend."
He also rated Haaland as a better player than former PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe as he added: "I think Erling does [have the hardest shot]. He is left-footed, so he is different from Kylian (Mbappe). They are both hard to play against. So it’s complicated. But I would rather have Erling playing for my side."
AdvertisementGetty Images SportHow Haaland pushed Donnarumma to join City
Speaking about Haaland and his move to City, Donnarumma told : "He's a fantastic guy, so calm and he loves his family and being with them. We hit it off. There's that synergy there where there's just a natural feeling. Even when we played against each other, we were in touch and after the games we even spoke often.
"Then I had the opportunity to come here, he wrote to me. He pushed hard for me to come and I think him so much for that. He's truly a great friend – and it's a good thing I play with him because it's so difficult to be against him! He's an alien!"
Donnarumma thanked City team-mates
The Italian custodian also thanked every member of the City squad for making him feel at home and helping him to adjust to the new conditions in the Premier League. Donnarumma has featured for Pep Guardiola's side in 12 matches across all competitions this season and has kept six clean sheets.
When asked about his performances, Donnarumma said: "I'm a bit angry because I could have kept more. I didn't expect to have such a positive impact on the Premier League. But the team helped me a lot because the moment I arrived, they welcome me very well. They helped me a lot in the first games, especially the first one which was just three days in. In the first training session, it felt like I had been there for two years. The league is very different, there's a lot of running, a lot of intensity so I had to adapt immediately. But the team has been fundamental for me in these first few months."
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Getty ImagesMan City hoping to reduce gap with Arsenal
After a forgettable outing in the 2024-25 campaign, Guardiola's men are back in form in the current season. They had a minor setback at the start of the season, where they lost back-to-back league games against Tottenham and Brighton but have now bounced back in style and are just four points behind league leaders Arsenal.
City will be back in action in the league on Saturday as they take on Newcastle United away from home. They would aim to win the clash and reduce their gap with the Gunners at the top of the table.
Teenage legspinner takes second five-for in four days to clinch convincing victory
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Aug-2025
Tazeem Ali bowled to the England team on their tour to Pakistan in October•Getty Images
Warwickshire completed back-to-back Metro Bank One-Day Cup wins with an emphatic 79-run victory over Kent at Rugby School.The Bears posted 283 for 9 largely thanks to Ed Barnard (60) and Kai Smith (58). On a pitch offering some turn, they coped most capably with a spin attack led by Matt Parkinson who bowled beautifully for his 1 for 36 from 10 overs.Kent replied with 204 all out, only ever partially recovering from the early straits of 19 for 3. Jaydn Denly hit 52 and Harry Finch 50, but legspinner Tazeem Ali followed his 5 for 43 against Northamptonshire on Sunday with 5 for 54 as Kent succumbed to their third defeat in three games in the competition.In front of another excellent crowd at Rugby, Warwickshire chose to bat, seeking a stronger start than in their first two group games when they had collapsed to 38 for 7 and 32 for 4. They got it as openers Barnard and Rob Yates (46) added 97 in 14 overs before Yates drove Joey Evison to cover.Ed Barnard top-scored with 60•Getty Images
Kent’s spinners reeled the run-rate back in by taking wickets. Barnard posted a polished 52-ball half-century, passing 2,000 career List A runs in the process, but overbalanced on a sweep and was stumped off Denly. Zen Malik drove Denly to cover, Hamza Shaikh fell to a superb catch by his England U19s colleague Ekansh Singh at deep mid-wicket off Jack Leaning. Alex Davies lifted Parkinson to long-off, supplying the legspinner with a well-deserved wicket.At 179 for 5, Warwickshire needed rebooting and Smith and Vansh Jani (42) delivered with a fluent partnership of 79 from 64 balls. Again, Kent hit back well towards the end as Fred Klaassen had Smith caught behind and Grant Stewart trapped Michael Booth and Jani lbw in the same over.Kent’s reply started badly as they lost three wickets in four balls to lurch to 19 for 3. Ben Dawkins was caught at cover off Barnard who bowled Evison first ball. Chris Benjamin, facing his former team-mates, also bagged a golden duck when he edged Ethan Bamber and wicketkeeper Smith took a fine diving catch.Denly and Finch rebuilt with an assured stand of 91 in 88 balls but both perished soon after reaching their half-centuries. Denly sliced Tazeem to short third man and Finch skied an attempted big hit at Adam Sylvester.Sylvester marked his List A debut with an excellent first spell of 1 for 7 in five overs, and his accuracy throttled the pursuit in tandem with Tazeem’s potency. Tazeem hit the stumps of Leaning and Stewart and, after Booth bowled Singh 42, returned to remove Parkinson and Michael Cohen in four balls and follow his maiden five-for in the previous game with another match-shaping performance.
Had Liverpool been dispatched at the London Stadium right now, the calls for Arne Slot’s dismissal would have risen a few decibels, higher than the din that followed successive Anfield defeats against PSV Eindhoven and Nottingham Forest.
But Liverpool secured a 2-0 win over the Hammers in the Premier League, with Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo sealing three much-needed points for the struggling Redmen.
Still, the Merseyside outfit have left so much to be desired this term, lacking all of last year’s balance and belief as Slot was crowned king in his first year in charge.
So much has gone wrong, and the forthcoming league fixtures against Sunderland and Leeds United will determine whether a true crisis has been averted.
Much more is needed. The likes of Florian Wirtz and Isak are beginning to show signs of world-class quality, but FSG must feel pretty rueful over their decision to sell Luis Diaz and opt against sealing a like-for-like replacement for the Colombian winger.
How Luis Diaz has performed since leaving Liverpool
In fairness, Diaz was set to enter the penultimate year of his Liverpool contract, and there was no sign of a resolution. The Reds cashed in for a healthy £66.5m sum.
However, the 28-year-old’s blistering performances in Germany this season have underscored the dimension that Slot has lost down the left channel. Moreover, let’s not forget that Diaz played plenty of football as a makeshift number nine last year.
Bayern score a lot of goals, and they are the dominant force in the Bundesliga. However, Diaz is impartial as to who he picks apart, having played some immense stuff in the Champions League too.
His prolificness has catapulted him to a seat at the highest table, marrying his athleticism and electricity with a new sharpness in front of goal.
Most G + A from Europe’s Top 5 Leagues (25/26)
Player
G + A
Total
Harry Kane
24 + 3
27
Kylian Mbappe
23 + 3
26
Erling Haaland
19 + 1
20
Michael Olise
9 + 10
19
Luis Diaz
12 + 6
18
Data via Transfermarkt
This serves as a reminder that the grass is not always greener. Diaz will have no regrets over his summer transfer, but Liverpool desperately miss his speed and energy and potent threat.
And now, FSG are in danger of losing their next version of the versatile forward.
Liverpool star could be "the next Diaz"
Liverpool opted against directly replacing Diaz this summer, hoping to keep a road to the first team for Rio Ngumoha clear from clutter.
But Diaz is an elite player, and he is not easily replaced. Perhaps some of a Liverpool persuasion regret their frustrations directed toward him last season, with the clinical performances coming in pockets throughout the year.
History may repeat itself with Alexis Mac Allister, who has been described by prominent Liverpool fan John O’Sullivan as being “the next Diaz” in that he is being hounded out by some segments for his performances this year.
While it’s true that the Argentina “superstar”, as he has been called by pundit Joe Cole, has been off the boil this season, he is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, instrumental for the club’s success since joining from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023.
Few know the byways of the midfield game like Mac Allister, who is combative and creative and cerebral in his performance in the engine room. Not just a steely lieutenant, he is smart and savvy, and that sets him apart.
Alexis Mac Allister in the Prem for Slot
Stats (* per game)
24/25
25/26
Matches (starts)
35 (30)
12 (11)
Goals
5
0
Assists
5
2
Touches*
55.8
49.2
Accurate passes*
35.5 (87%)
33.1 (86%)
Key passes*
1.3
0.8
Dribbles*
0.5
0.3
Ball recoveries*
4.2
3.1
Tackles + interceptions*
3.3
1.6
Clearances*
0.8
0.8
Duels (won)*
4.9 (48%)
2.8 (46%)
Data via Sofascore
Form is temporary, as the old adage goes. Mac Allister will surely bounce back, but if Liverpool are set for a rocky road through the 2025/26 season, the 26-year-old may be considered for sale next summer, though reports suggest sporting director Richard Hughes and the club’s officials want him to stay put.
It’s as clear as day: Mac Allister will thrive if sold to a superpower in Germany or La Liga.
And Liverpool, as with Diaz, will be left rueing their decision as they scramble to find an adequate replacement.
Semenyo upgrade: FSG enter race to sign £88m "superstar" for Liverpool
Liverpool and FSG are getting ready to sign a new forward in 2026.
Liverpool are now expected to launch a 2026 offer to sign a key defensive reinforcement, who pocketed Cody Gakpo in the Champions League earlier this season.
Salah set to be excluded from Liverpool squad
Just days after his stunning rant, Mohamed Salah is set to be left out of Liverpool’s squad to face Inter Milan, according to reports. The Egyptian left no stone unturned, claiming that the club have thrown him under the bus and revealing that he no longer has a relationship with Arne Slot.
In many ways, he left Slot with no choice but to exclude him. However, Liverpool are still reportedly keen to keep hold of Salah and see his omission as a logical step rather than a punishment.
What happens next is the big question. The arrival of AFCON should at least take the headlines elsewhere, but when Salah returns Liverpool have a problem on their hands.
The 33-year-old is arguably the best player to ever play for Liverpool in the Premier League, but Anfield chiefs are unlikely to pick any star over their manager at this stage.
Salah replacement: Liverpool keen to sign "one of the best wingers in Europe"
The Reds could solve their Salah problem.
1 ByTom Cunningham 4 days ago
There is reported interest from the MLS and the Saudi Pro League, coupled with Liverpool’s own interest in Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, which could result in a big January shake-up.
Alas, the Reds also have other problems to solve. They’ve been far below expectations this season, it’s not just been Salah. Far from it, in fact, and have already set their sights on welcoming the likes of Wilfried Singo as a result.
Liverpool expected to launch Wilfried Singo offer
According to Fotomac, as relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool are expected to launch an offer to sign Singo worth as much as €43m (£38m) in 2026.
The Premier League champions could reportedly offer €28m (£25m), plus a maximum of €15m (£13m) in potential bonuses. It would, therefore, be a hefty offer but one they should pursue to solve their right-back problem.
Slot should be well aware of the 24-year-old’s quality too, given that he pocketed Gakpo in Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat against Galatasaray earlier this season.
The right-back made four recoveries, four clearances and won over half of his ground duels. Gakpo, meanwhile, was hooked after 62 minutes, having failed to take a single shot.
Whilst concerns surround Salah’s situation and Liverpool’s need for a centre-back, the right-back position has also become a problem. Neither Conor Bradley nor Jeremie Frimpong have truly claimed it thanks to form and injuries, with Dominik Szoboszlai often filling in, and Slot needs a permanent fix.
Liverpool join race to sign Konate replacement who's "an insane centre-back"
Gustavo Gómez foi o grande nome da vitória do Palmeiras por 2 a 1 sobre o Criciúma neste domingo (2), no Heriberto Hulse, ao marcar o primeiro gol do Verdão e dar assistência para Lázaro fazer o tento que garantiu a quarta vitória do clube neste Brasileirão.
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➡️ Siga o Lance! Palmeiras no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Verdão
Com uma queda de rendimento ao final da temporada passada e uma lesão no início desse ano, o zagueiro marcou o seu primeiro gol em 2024 somente no mês passado, diante do Liverpool-URU, e agora já marca o seu terceiro, que faz ele ultrapassar Luís Pereira e se tornar de maneira isolada, o zagueiro com mais gols na história do Verdão, com 37 gols.
Diferente de outras temporadas, pelo menos até aqui, Gómez não tem nenhum gol de cabeça e os três tentos que marcou foram de pênalti.
Ao final da partida, Gómez celebrou o resultado e exaltou o espírito da equipe de nunca desistir:
– Feliz pela vitória. Acho que nosso time tem uma identidade de nunca desistir independente do resultado. Nosso time sempre trabalhou, melhoramos no segundo tempo. O Brasileirão é muito difícil, o mais difícil do mundo. Sabíamos que hoje seria difícil, mas graças a Deus conseguimos os três pontos. – finalizou o camisa 15.
continua após a publicidade
Gómez tomou o terceiro cartão amarelo, mas já iria desfalcar o Palmeiras de qualquer jeito, uma vez que se apresenta na Seleção Paraguaia para a Data FIFA e também a disputa da Copa América.
His 7 for 69 from 24.3 overs follows Kasey Aldridge’s 180 and allows Somerset to enforce follow on
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Jack Leach claimed seven wickets in Hampshire’s first innings•Getty Images
Hampshire 172 (Leach 7-69) and 35 for 1 (Middleton 8*, Vaughan 1-18) f/o trail Somerset 454 for 8 dec. (Aldridge 180, Abell 118, Overton 50*) by 247 runs A spin bowling masterclass from Somerset’s Jack Leach plunged relegation-threatened Hampshire into deeper trouble on the third day of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.After the hosts had increased their first innings total from an overnight 381 for 7 to 454 for 8 declared, the left-arm spinner, overlooked in recent times by England, claimed 7 for 69 from 24.3 overs to help bowl out Hampshire for 172 and make them follow on.Kasey Aldridge was last man out in the Somerset innings for 180, having begun the day on 149, while Craig Overton finished unbeaten on 50.Hampshire made a better fist of things in their second innings, reaching 35 for 1 before rain and bad light ended play 15.1 overs early, but still face a backs-to-the-wall fight tomorrow to avoid what might prove a hugely damaging defeat.The first ball of the day, bowled by Keith Barker, saw Aldridge nudge the single needed to take him to a maiden 150, having faced 207 balls and hit 16 fours and five sixes. He and Overton were positive from the outset.Aldridge cut a boundary off James Fuller to take Somerset’s score past 400 and followed up with an upper cut six off the same bowler. Overton cleared the ropes off Abbott and Washington Sundar as the pair took their entertaining partnership to the century mark from 90 deliveries.The next target was to take the score to 450, which they achieved in the 103rd over to secure maximum batting points. Overton went to fifty off 42 balls and the only remaining question was the timing of the declaration.It came when Aldridge was run out by Nick Gubbins’ direct hit at the bowler’s end attempting a quick single to mid-off. The tall all-rounder, bound for Durham next season, had batted for more than four and a half hours, facing 233 balls and extending his boundary count to 20 fours and six sixes.Hampshire’s reply had reached 13 after five overs when Leach was introduced from the River End. His first over saw Ali Orr bowled between bat and pad by a delivery that turned considerably from outside the left-hander’s off stump.Soon it was 27 for 2 as Gubbins reverse swept Leach straight into the hands of Archie Vaughan at short third and three runs later Fletcha Middleton had his off stump clipped by Leach from a delivery that pitched on middle.Toby Albert launched two defiant sixes off Vaughan in moving to 29 before driving at a wide ball from the off-spinner and offering a straightforward return catch. Lunch was taken with Hampshire 61 for 4.Vaughan struck again after he and Leach had swapped ends in the afternoon session, bowling Ben Brown, on 21, as he attempted to cut.The accurate Leach was bowling some rippers and one accounted for Sundar. Having battled his way to 23, the India Test player pushed forward defensively to a ball that spun back through the gate and bowled him to make the score 102 for 6.Fuller tried to counter-attack and had made 24 off 17 balls when becoming Leach’s fifth victim, lbw sweeping. Barker was bowled for 19 attempting to reverse sweep Leach and Felix Organ top-edged a pull off a Vaughan long-hop to be caught at midwicket before Abbott lofted a catch to wide long-on to end the innings and give Leach season’s best figures.Tea was taken before Somerset enforced the follow-on. The tireless Leach, who played the last of his 39 Tests for England almost a year ago, took the new ball in tandem with Vaughan, while Tom Abell was off the field having suffered a jolting blow on the helmet when fielding at short-leg.Orr and Middleton took the score to 35 in the 22nd over when Orr fell for 27, struck on the back pad by a ball from Vaughan. Before the game could restart, the rain which had been forecast for much of the day finally arrived, much to Hampshire’s relief.
The two matches which begin in late January are shaping as a potential decider in the race for the World Test Championship final
Alex Malcolm29-Oct-2024With Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli about to audition with Australia A for a berth on the Sri Lanka Test tour in January, former Test spinner Steve O’Keefe is urging Cricket Australia to pull spin candidates out of the BBL as early as possible to prepare for the series while the window for the Test players’ involvement in the league could narrow even further if the series dates are earlier than expected.While the immediate focus is on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the associated tussle for a top-order batting slot, Australia’s selectors already have Sri Lanka in mind. The two-Test series could be vital to their World Test Championship final hopes, particularly after India’s defeat at home to New Zealand.Murphy and Rocchiccioli are getting an early chance to book a spot with the two Australia A matches against India A in Mackay and Melbourne. The pair will play one game each and when each offspinner doesn’t feature they will each spend time with Australia’s ODI squad to work one-on-one with bowling coach and former New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori.Related
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Australia had thought the first Sri Lanka Test might begin on January 29 but there is a possibility it could start as early as January 26 with the dates still being finalised between the two boards. It is understood the hierarchy wants a 10-day preparation period for overseas Test tours and could fly to the UAE or Oman for a pre-series camp. If the first Test were to start on January 26, it would mean the Australia tourists could be pulled out of the BBL by January 15.Murphy plays for Sydney Sixers and another contender, Matt Kuhnemann, is a key part of Brisbane Heat’s attack. Rocchiccioli does not currently have a BBL deal but was with Melbourne Stars last season and could yet be picked up.Regardless of exact tour dates and who is selected, O’Keefe believes early red-ball preparation is vital. He cited his own experience in India in February 2017 as an example of how important it was to have a long red-ball lead-in. O’Keefe opted not to play in the BBL at all after playing the Sydney Test. His decision to spend six straight weeks bowling with a red ball before the first Test in India paid huge dividends as he bagged 12 for 70 in Pune.”I pulled out of the last six games of the Big Bash that season because I just said, no, this is not the way that I’m going to be bowling over there,” O’Keefe told ESPNcricinfo. “And I copped a bit of criticism. I remember a couple of coaches coming out saying, well, you’re going to get slogged in India you may as well practice in the Big Bash.”I deliberately took that time off, went and played grade cricket, played a Second XI game just to get used to bowling with the red ball. I think if we’re really going to be serious about the young spinners going over there, whoever is going to accompany Nathan [Lyon], is the Big Bash the best preparation?”I’d be encouraging the selectors to let these spinners be going earlier and then I’d be encouraging those spinners to practice with a red ball in between Big Bash games.”It’s two completely different ways of bowling. In essence, sometimes in Big Bash cricket you’re bowling your six worst deliveries to a batter, and then you’re going to be seven to ten days later asked to be landing it on a tea towel for 40 overs straight.”It’s a change for batters as well. The way that you mitigate that is muscle memory, and you need to practice it.”The BBL planned for a clear window for Australia’s Test players to feature between the end of the five-Test India series, which finishes on January 7, and the start of the Sri Lanka series. However, there were already concerns within CA’s high-performance unit about the Test players involvement given their workloads coming out of what is expected to be a gruelling series. There is also concern about the physical and technical preparation for Sri Lanka, with both Tests likely to be played on sharp-turning pitches in Galle.Matthew Kuhnemann is one of the few left-arm options for Australia•Getty ImagesAustralia have recent experience of how difficult it can be for a spinner to prepare for a subcontinent tour while playing in the BBL. In 2023, Ashton Agar played the New Year’s Test against South Africa before returning to play five games for Perth Scorchers. He then had just 19 days, including a camp in Sydney and another in Bengaluru, to prepare for a Test series in India and was unable to find the consistency required to be selected before being flown home. Australia brought Kuhnemann over at short notice, but he had at least bowled 44 overs in a Sheffield Shield game after the BBL before making his Test debut.”It’s tough, because you’re coming out of Big Bash which is bowling cross-seam, cut shots and yorkers, and leg stump [line] into I need to land the ball on a similar spot consistently and allow the wicket to do the work for me,” O’Keefe said.”In Australia, we’re looking for overspin, because it’s a different game. Over there you need to be able to bowl that square spinner, which if doesn’t spin it hits a shiny side, slides on and you get an lbw. But that same ball can hit the same spot and then spin past the outside edge of a right-hand batter [for a left-arm orthodox]. Is that easy to do? I think it takes a bit of practice. But knowing what Matt bowls, and watching him bowl, I think he’s already got it in his armoury. I think Todd Murphy’s got it in his armoury.”I’ve watched Corey bowl. I think he’s got it as well. But you need to go and bowl a lot of it over there. So the preparation that these guys will have hopefully is a month, but I reckon you need a couple of weeks of going over and consistently bowling it. In Australia, you might bowl it once every two overs, over there you’ve got be bowling it 10 times out of 12 balls.”The selectors are investing in Cooper Connolly for his bowling as well as his batting•Getty ImagesThe selectors haven’t picked a specialist left-arm orthodox against India A although Cooper Connolly will play as an allrounder. The value of a left-armer in those conditions has been highlighted by the success of Mitchell Santner against India last week and Prabath Jayasuriya both against New Zealand in September, and Australia in 2022 when he took 12 wickets on Test debut to square the series 1-1.Australia did not take a left-arm orthodox spinner to Sri Lanka in 2022 with legspinner Mitchell Swepson partnering Lyon alongside two quicks, with the support of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.Chair of selectors George Bailey spoke on Monday of his panel’s desire to find players who bowl left-arm fingerspin for future subcontinent tours.”Happy to very much publicly throw it out there that it’s an incredible skill set in the subcontinent,” he said. “We’ve seen that for many years. Realistically, there’s not a huge amount of players in domestic cricket at the moment that are doing it. It’s something that we’re looking to continue to expose. It’s certainly one of the reasons why we’re excited about Cooper Connolly and his journey.”It’s still very much a work in progress with his left-arm spin. But [beyond] Matt Kuhnemann, Ash Agar, there’s just not a great many players who can do it. We know we’re going to have plenty of subcontinent tours, plenty of Tests where that skill set would be highly desirable. So [we] encourage anyone who’s got that up their sleeve to work hard at it.”