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Manchester City are now believed to be closing in on an agreement with one of Europe's bright young gems as Pep Guardiola's side build for the future at the Etihad Stadium, according to reports.

Manchester City profit from rivals dropping points…

Despite not being in Premier League action over the course of the weekend, Manchester City find themselves in a handy position after their rivals for the title all dropped points.

Aston Villa recorded a draw at home to Chris Wilder's improved Sheffield United; meanwhile, Liverpool and Arsenal had to settle for a point apiece at Anfield on Saturday evening, which has left the Citizens in a handy position as they look to win their fourth successive league crown.

As it stands, Guardiola's men are six points off top spot with 34 points from 17 matches played; however, they retain a crucial game in hand that will take them to only three points off the summit despite a recent run of form that has yielded just one win in their last six domestic fixtures.

Man City make contact to sign "top talent" with a £21m release clause

The Sky Blues are looking to secure the services of a new prospect next month.

ByChloe Chadwick Dec 19, 2023

Of course, their good week was rounded off by the fact the Club World Cup has also headed back to the North West after a successful trip to Saudi Arabia following a 3-0 triumph over Urawa Red Diamonds in the last four alongside a 4-0 thrashing of Diniz's expansive Fluminense side in the final.

Tougher tests are yet to come for Manchester City, though claiming another piece of silverware could be the perfect tonic to re-ignite their title challenge as Guardiola looks for his men to enter their usual cruise control from the mid-season period until the end of the campaign, where they typically start to pick up in consistency and rhythm in their league performances.

On the transfer front, the Sky Blues also look to be closing in on the capture of a talented young gem who has been offered financially advantageous terms to move to Manchester.

Manchester City closing in on Matija Popovic

According to Football Insider, Manchester City are closing in on an agreement with Partizan Belgrade youngster Matija Popovic after offering the 17-year-old a "big-money" five-year contract to sign on the dotted line at the Etihad.

Matija Popovic statistics for Partizan Belgrade Under-17's – Kadetska liga (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

25

Goals

21

Assists

5

Matija Popovic facts

Height

6ft 4in

Positions operated in

Attacking midfield, right wing, central striker

AC Milan are also said to be keen on the Serbia Under-17 international; however, the Citizens are now in pole position to wrap up a deal to sign the attacker, who could soon arrive for a development fee as he is approaching the end of his contract at his current employers. The report adds that scouts and recruitment chiefs from the Etihad have been massively impressed with the player.

Talent scout Jacek Julig also gave a flavour of what Manchester City fans could be led to expect with Popovic earlier this year, labelling the German-born youth as someone with a "very unique" profile.

Building for the future seems to be a key part of Guardiola's vision and Popovic appears to be someone with an exciting collection of traits that could potentially be a star of the future in the blue half of Manchester.

Everton might well have to offload a fair few players this January to finance any possible incomings through the door, a hefty ten-point deduction handed to the Toffees off the back of alleged FFP breaches has left them languishing in the Premier League drop-zone.

Once aiming for a top-half finish, Sean Dyche's downtrodden side are now just aiming to keep their heads above water with a frantic relegation dog-fight looming.

The Merseysiders will just hope that clubs are equally as desperate in January as the Toffees will be when it comes to bringing in new talents, the Blues keen to gut elements of the squad in order to free up room for fresh blood to come in and help mount a recovery from their current lowly predicament.

Here are three dream potential sales Dyche could sanction to fund a January transfer spree…

1 Andre Gomes

Joining Everton from Barcelona back in 2018 initially on a loan before a permanent deal was secured, Gomes has failed to live up to the early promise he showed in a Toffees shirt over his lengthy current five-year stay.

Riddled with unfortunate injuries throughout his time at Goodison Park – the Portuguese midfielder memorably on the receiving end of a Heung-Min Son tackle which left him with a serious ankle injury in 2019 – Gomes hasn't made a single start for Everton this season even when injury-free.

Everton's number 21 has consistently underwhelmed at full sharpness for his side, Gomes going down as a notable recent Blues flop. Registering one goal and one assist in his first full season with the Toffees, the 30-year-old midfielder has only ever mustered up one more goal and a sub-par six assists since.

Gomes' time at Everton feels as if it should be put out of its misery now, and with the Blues dud earning £112k-per-week, according to Capology, Dyche will want to see the back of the ex-Barcelona midfielder in January to free up space in his squad and to put that money to better use – with Football Insider reporting that a winter exit could be on the cards.

2 Dele Alli

Another player earning a hefty wage at Goodison Park is Dele Alli, the former Tottenham man paid £100k-per-week currently, according to Capology.

This means he's Everton's fourth-highest earner at this point in time, despite not playing a Premier League game since August last year for the club – having spoken candidly and openly about his mental health struggles in recent years.

Alli hasn't contributed to a single goal when on the pitch for Everton during his turbulent stay with the Toffees, 13 forgettable matches for the ex-England international.

It would prove to be a hard sale to move on Alli from Merseyside, but there could be a possible club out there that wants to gamble on the 27-year-old purely for his past exploits at Spurs.

At the peak of his powers, Alli was a top talent in the Premier League from attacking midfield – breathtaking to witness, managing 18 goals during the 2016-17 season at White Hart Lane under Mauricio Pochettino.

Perhaps he can rediscover that undoubted talent with a fresh start elsewhere.

3 Ben Godfrey

Ben Godfrey's time at Everton also looks as if it'll come to an end soon, the ex-Norwich City centre-back falling down the pecking order at Goodison Park with the emergence of Jarrad Branthwaite in the first-team and the experienced James Tarkowski joining the club.

The 25-year-old – who was dubbed "disastrous" last season by talkSPORT's Stuart Pearce for his performance at Old Trafford – has only been afforded eight minutes of game time all season in the Premier League, substituted on in early September away at Sheffield United for a run-out.

He was given a full 90-minute test against Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup however, but failed to make an impression on the night – not been seen at all since in action, rooted to the bench in Everton's last ten games.

The Toffees will hope an EFL club comes in for Godfrey in this upcoming January transfer window – although there has also been shock interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United – with the £20m signing potentially sacrificed for a January spree.

The allrounder has picked up a side strain and will be replaced in the squad

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Oct-2018Allrounder Liam Dawson has been ruled out* of the rest of England’s tour of Sri Lanka after suffering a side strain. Joe Denly, who is in the Test squad, has been called up as his replacement.Dawson, who has been in the XI for the opening two matches, sat out training on Monday, ahead of the third one-day international against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. After the injury was assessed by medical staff, the decision was taken to send him home, with PCA Players’ Player of the Year Denly coming out to Sri Lanka early.Denly has been preparing for his return to the England set-up after more than eight years, having been selected for the Test party following two impressive seasons with Kent in which his batting has been rejuvenated and his legspin a surprise success across the formats. He will arrive in Pallekele on Wednesday, hours before the third ODI, and could at some stage win his first one-day cap since the 2009 Champions Trophy.England have fielded three frontline spinners at the start of the series – Dawson joining Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid in the side – so unless Denly steps off the plane and straight into the side, it will likely mean a different balance and the chance for one of the other seamers to come into the team. Joe Root’s offspin could help cover for Dawson’s absence if required.Mark Wood, Tom Curran and Sam Curran have been carrying the drinks so far after England opted for a spin-heavy attack and also preferred Olly Stone to share the new ball with Chris Woakes.Dawson claimed one wicket in England’s victory in Dambulla, hustling through the overs alongside Moeen to ensure the 20-over mark was reached before rain arrived, meaning the result would stand without needing the reserve day. Early wickets for Woakes and Stone, during an impressive first spell at international level, had left Sri Lanka well behind the DLS target.

A surprise visitor to training this morning… pic.twitter.com/ETdHFMuQ2x

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 15, 2018

There was an extra visitor to England’s training session on Tuesday when a cobra was spotted by groundstaff behind the pavilion. It was removed with the help of a drain pipe and a sack. England’s players had spent some of their downtime in Dambulla getting up close with local wildlife around their hotel and on safari – some posted on Instagram holding a python – but it’s unlikely many would be volunteering to get too close on this occasion.It isn’t the first time, however, that England’s cricketers have encountered snakes in Sri Lanka. On the 2007 tour, two were spotted on the boundary’s edge during a warm-up match in Colombo. Matthew Hoggard was among the players keen for a closer look that day.*6PM BST – This story was updated with news of Denly replacing Dawson

Harry Kane may have been handed another welcome boost at Bayern Munich, with Joshua Kimmich delivering an update on his future.

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• Midfielder under contract until 2025
• Linked with a move elsewhere
• Bundesliga giants eager for him to stay

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Germany international midfielder has seen a move away from the Allianz Arena speculated on. If the 29-year-old were to depart, then his versatility and experience would be a big miss for Bayern. Change is expected in the summer, with Thomas Tuchel definitely moving on, and Bayern will look to freshen up their squad if they endure a first campaign without major honours since 2012.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bayern will be hoping that Kimmich stays put in a bid to get the club back on the trophy trail – with Kane very much of that mindset as he seeks to bring a barren run on the silverware front to a close – and the proven performer is offering no indication that he is considering a change of scenery.

• WHAT KIMMICH SAID

  Kimmich has said when asked about his future: “Generally, my situation is clear, I still have a contract. For me it’s about showing my performances, that’s the most important thing. And then we’ll see what happens. I still have over a year left on my contract and no one has spoken to me yet. I'm relaxed. It’s not so bad here!”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?

  Kimmich has been with Bayern since 2015, taking in 377 appearances for the Bavarian giants. He has eight Bundesliga titles and a Champions League crown to his name, and will be eager to help Kane land a first trophy of his career in 2024.

England and South Africa will kick off the tournament at The Oval on May 30, and Lord’s will host its fifth World Cup final on July 14

Nagraj Gollapudi25-Apr-2018June 16, 2019. Mark the date. Two years after clashing in the Champions Trophy final, India and Pakistan will meet at Old Trafford in the marquee contest of the 2019 World Cup. The tournament returns to the format used in 1992: all 10 teams play each other in the league stage with four of them progressing to the knockouts.The schedule for the 2019 World Cup•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

England will meet South Africa to unveil the most prestigious event in cricket at The Oval on May 30. The tournament will be played at 11 venues across England and Wales with Lord’s hosting its fifth World Cup final on July 14.Even though the World Cup will be played during the first half of the English summer, the ICC has insured the knockout matches – both semi-finals and the final – by having reserve days for the three games. Old Trafford will host the first semi-final (No. 1 v No. 4) on July 9 with the action shifting to Edgbaston two days later for the other semi between the second and third-placed teams on the league table.The eleven venues that will host the tournament are Lord’s, the Oval, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge, Headingley, Old Trafford, Taunton, Bristol, Chester-le-Street, Southampton and Cardiff.Defending champions Australia will play qualifiers Afghanistan in Bristol on June 2 under lights. That match is one of seven day-night contests scheduled for the tournament, including the June 29 clash between 2015 finalists Australia and New Zealand at Lord’s. In all, the tournament comprises 48 matches to be played across 46 days.The India-Pakistan contest, at the same venue that hosted their Super Six clash in the 1999 edition of the tournament, is expected to once again attract record eyeballs, as was the case during both their meetings during last year’s Champions Trophy.PA Photos

By the time India play their first match of the tournament – against South Africa on June 5, in Southampton – some of the other teams will already have played two matches. This is the result of a request from the BCCI, who wanted India’s first match pushed back to comply with the Lodha Committee’s recommendation that there needed to be a 15-day window between the IPL and India’s participation in any international series or tournament. Next year’s IPL is scheduled to take place between March 29 and May 19. According to the first draft of the schedule, India were supposed to play in the first few days of the tournament, but the ICC accepted the BCCI’s request and pushed back the date of their first match.The return to the 1992 format, and the schedule, were approved by the ICC’ chief executives committee (CEC) during the ICC’s quarterly meetings on Monday and Tuesday. The ICC Board, which meets on Thursday, is yet to ratify the CEC’s decisions.Along with hosts England, seven other countries – Australia, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka – secured a direct entry to the World Cup last September. In March, Afghanistan and West Indies booked the final two slots after finishing as the top two teams in the World Cup Qualifier.Key fixturesEngland v South Africa (opening match) – May 30, The Oval; India v Pakistan – June 16, Old Trafford; England v Australia – June 19, Lord’s; Australia v New Zealand – June 29, Lord’s; Semi-final 1 – July 9, Old Trafford; Semi-final 2 – July 11, Edgbaston; Final – July 14, Lord’s

There were no airy slashes, few high-risk shots, and yet Virender Sehwag’s innings had the same effect as so many of his cavalier knocks

George Binoy in Mirpur10-Jun-2008

	Virender Sehwag’s running between the wickets along with Gautam Gambhir was exceptional © AFP

A fleeting glance at the scorecard will tell you that Virender Sehwag scored 89 off 76 balls with 13 fours and a six. While the strike-rate – 117.10 – will suggest a typical Sehwag sizzler, this was a different sort of innings. There were no airy slashes, few high-risk shots, and yet this innings had the same effect as so many of his cavalier knocks.If the change in Sehwag’s approach was a conscious decision, there would have been reasons for it. Inconsistent form in ODIs – his last 50-plus score for India was against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup – cost him a place in the XI. He was picked for the CB Series earlier this year, but after five failures, India preferred Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa to partner Sachin Tendulkar. Sehwag’s form in the Indian Premier League might have given him the edge over Uthappa for today’s match, but it was Tendulkar’s injury that really opened the door for him.The problems that led to most of Sehwag’s ODI failures – the inability to find the right pace of scoring, or attempting to hit the ball with might – were missing today. His approach was measured and though he cut down on risk, the damage caused was as severe.He began cautiously against testing deliveries from Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir. His initial forceful shots, off his pads through midwicket and square drives through point, were all played along the ground. When Wahab Riaz pitched short on leg stump on two occasions, Sehwag merely moved inside the line and lapped the ball deftly to the long-leg boundary. Only when the ball was really loose, such as the wide one Gul offered him, did Sehwag go over the top. A significant absence among the shots Sehwag played was his trademark slash over third man – a stroke that has fetched him sixes and dismissals.”That [shot selection] is why he [Sehwag] scored 80 [89] runs,” Mahendra Singh Dhoni, his captain, said later. “You have to pick and choose. A batsman like him can score easily at one run per ball. He just has to pick and choose.”

	A batsman like him [Virender Sehwag] can score easily at one run per ball. He just has to pick and chooseMahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s captain

It wasn’t just about the boundaries, though, as Dhoni put it. Sehwag’s running between the wickets along with Gambhir was “exceptional”. There was an instance in the 17th over, when Gambhir pushed the ball to cover off Iftikhar Anjum. He didn’t go for the single immediately but Sehwag had sprinted towards the danger end, putting pressure on the fielder. The throw was off target – Sehwag may have been home – and the batsmen were able to run an overthrow. His urgency and application today presented a stark contrast to his lackadaisical attitude in a match against Sri Lanka in February 2007, which resulted in one of the most ridiculous run-outs.His innings, however, wasn’t flawless. On 43, he edged one to Kamran Akmal but was dropped; and when on 58, he closed the face of the bat too early but the leading edge lobbed over Shahid Afridi’s head at point. By and large, his shots were orthodox, his timing terrific and placement precise. The outcome was that India began their first ODI after the IPL in Twenty20 mode. They were 43 after five overs, 76 after ten and 143 at the end of the 20th with Sehwag’s contribution being 71 off 63. His first attempt at clearing the boundary, off Riaz, paid off soon after.It took a freak delivery to get him out – a slower one out of the back of Riaz’s hand that bounced awkwardly and took the edge. By that time India were 174 for 2 in just the 24th over. “It’s really important in conditions like this to score off the new ball,” Dhoni said. “Wait for the bad deliveries but still look to score off the new ball. As the game progresses it gets really slow and it’s very difficult to rotate.”The contenders for India’s opening slots are many but if Sehwag continues to blend his aggression with judicious shot selection, he’s a shoo-in for the role. A sentiment Dhoni expressed when he said, “Hopefully, if he’s at his best he will continue to open.”

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers could have a difficult situation to manage at the start of next year as a number of players look set to be unavailable due to international duty.

The 2024 Asian Cup takes place between the 12th of January and the 10th of February and this means that the Hoops could be without a number of their top players during that period, depending on selections and how far their respective countries go in the tournament.

Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Hyeon-gyu Oh, and Hyun-jun Yang are just a few of the Bhoys talents who could be on their way to the competition and miss games for the Scottish giants.

This could leave Celtic particularly light at the top end of the pitch as both of their recognised centre-forward options could be competing in the Asian Cup and, therefore, be unavailable for selection for Rodgers.

With this in mind, it could be beneficial for the Parkhead side to bring in another number nine during the January transfer window to lead the line in their absence.

They already appear to be on the case as the Hoops have been touted with an interest in striker Sydney van Hooijdonk, who is the son of former Bhoys star Pierre.

Celtic transfer news – Sydney van Hooijdonk

According to Italian outlet Corriere di Bologna (20/11/2023 printed edition, Sport page 3), via 67HailHail, Bologna are prepared to sanction a loan deal for the young ace in January.

The report has claimed that the Serie A outfit are willing to send him out on a temporary basis for the second half of the season in order to free up space for them to bring in their own additions in that area of the pitch.

It is stated that Celtic have already made opening enquiries about a possible swoop to secure his services, although it remains to be seen whether or not they would want a permanent or loan deal.

A temporary arrangement could be the perfect solution for Scottish giants as van Hooijdonk could come in to provide relief whilst Oh and Kyogo are possibly away with their respective countries and then the club are not tied down to three senior strikers beyond the end of the season.

Rodgers only lines up with one centre-forward in his favoured formation and it could be difficult to keep three first-team options happy, particularly when Celtic are bottom of their Champions League group and on course to be kicked out of Europe this season.

Van Hooijdonk is not a new target for the Hoops as Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph named him as a player who had been on the club's radar throughout the summer transfer window. Although, they either opted against a move at that point or were unable to strike a dela with Bologna.

Celtic could now find a lethal partner for Luis Palma during the second half of the season by signing the Serie A prospect to bolster their attacking options, as they could thrive alongside each other.

Luis Palma's season in numbers

The Honduras international has enjoyed a terrific 2023/24 campaign since his move from Aris FC over the summer and is proving himself to be a superb signing by Rodgers.

He has hit the ground running in Scottish football and has showcased his ability to provide consistent quality as a scorer and a creator of goals from out wide.

Palma arrived at Parkhead off the back of a return of 13 goals and eight assists in 36 appearances in all competitions for his previous club last season. The exciting ace then started the current campaign with two goals and three assists in five outings for the Greek side before his move to Scotland was completed.

Since his switch to Paradise, the 23-year-old whiz has racked up five goals and five assists in 12 matches for Rodgers – with nine of those goal contributions coming in the Scottish Premiership.

Minutes played

90

Sofascore rating

10

Goals

One

Assists

Three

Big chances created

Two

Key passes

Seven

Dribbles completed

Four

Palma's most recent Celtic performance (via Sofascore)

As you can see by his latest Hoops showing, Palma is capable of the spectacular and has plundered an outstanding four goals and five assists in five league starts for the club so far.

He has created four 'big chances' and produced 2.6 key passes per game for his teammates in the top-flight, which shows that the former Aris star is able to consistently open up the opposition's defence to create opportunities for his fellow attackers.

Sydney van Hooijdonk's goal record

Palma could, therefore, be a fantastic partner for van Hooijdonk in the final third as the Bologna youngster has the potential to be a reliable scoring option for Rodgers.

The 23-year-old marksman has only scored one goal in 11 first-team matches for his current club but proved himself to be a lethal scorer in Dutch football.

He started his career with NAC Breda and racked up 42 goals and two assists in 57 U17 and U19 appearances combined before a step up to the senior squad, where the young finisher produced 23 goals and four assists in 70 outings.

This form earned him a move to Bologna and the Italian side opted to send him out on loan to Heerenveen for 18 months to continue his development.

Van Hooijdonk, who was once hailed as "prolific" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored six goals and created two 'big chances' in 13 Eredivisie matches during the first five months of his loan spell.

He followed that up with a sublime return of 16 goals and one assist in 30 league starts for Heerenveen as the right-footed dynamo showcased his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

His record of 22 goals in 43 league starts for the Dutch side on loan meant that van Hooijdonk averaged more than a goal every other match during that period.

Now, imagine how lethal the £9k-per-week gem could be in front of goal with the supreme talent that is Palma out wide providing him with a regular stream of chances, and 'big chances', to score from for Celtic.

They could thrive next to each other in attack whilst Oh and Kyogo are potentially unavailable, which is why this could be a fantastic piece of business by Rodgers.

Since securing promotion back to the Championship last season, to say that Sheffield Wednesday have failed to hit the ground running would be an incredible understatement. The Owls sit on just two points in 10 games, resulting in the dismissal of manager Xisco Munoz, who failed to win a single league game in charge in the club's worst ever start.

After doing so well to earn promotion through the play-offs last season, the last thing that Sheffield Wednesday will want is to plummet straight back down to League One, where instant promotion is hardly a guarantee. With that said, they must get their next appointment right, which could come in the form of a certain manager who has recently been linked.

What's the latest on Sheffield Wednesday's manager search?

Following the sacking of Munoz, Sheffield Wednesday's managerial search is on. Given that we're in the middle of a busy stage of the season, it may not be a long search, either, with those at Hillsborough likely keen to fill their vacancy over the coming weeks, and watch on in the hope that their new appointment can turn what is currently a sinking ship around. And that's where Steve Evans could come in.

According to TeamTalk, the Owls are eyeing a move for the Stevenage boss, who is now in the frame for the job due to his previous experience in relegation fights. Evans currently has Stevenage in fifth in League One, and firmly in the early race to achieve a play-off place come the end of the campaign. It remains to be seen whether Wednesday push on and entice Evans away from his post at Stevenage, but what is certain is that it would be a major blow for those at the League One club if they lost their manager.

Should Sheffield Wednesday hire Steve Evans?

If it's experience that Sheffield Wednesday want, then turning to Evans wouldn't exactly be a bad thing. The 60-year-old, who often uses a 5-3-2 formation, has seen it all in the EFL, having managed the likes of Leeds United and Gillingham, whilst also enjoying spells at Boston United in the early stages of his career, which you can see in full below, via TransferMarkt.

Steve Evans' Clubs

Points Per Game

Boston United

1.15

Crawley Town

1.99

Rotherham United

1.51

Leeds United

1.42

Mansfield Town

1.66

Peterborough

1.50

Gillingham

1.28

Stevenage

1.80

With that said, it's fair to say that Evans has remained consistent throughout his career, and has got even better with age, given just how successful his Stevenage stint has been so far, making Sheffield Wednesday's reported interest little surprise. He has earned plenty of praise during a lengthy career, too, including from West Ham United manager David Moyes, who previously said:

"Steve Evans and I were players at Celtic Boys’ Club – he was in a slightly older group to me, so we go back to that time. We played against each other at different times. He’s had a great record at the level he manages at, he’s done a brilliant job wherever he’s been, and he’s got Gillingham playing well in League One."

England’s women completed a successful international summer last week, adding a comfortable series win against New Zealand to their earlier victories over South Africa in the ODIs and both teams in the inaugural T20 triangular series.And now attention turns to the domestic front, with the return of an expanded Kia Super League – a competition whose future may be in some doubt as the ECB debates the sport’s post-2020 landscape, but whose importance in the immediate future could hardly be more relevant.After all, England, World Cup winners in the 50-over format last year, have a World T20 to prepare for in November, and for several fringe members of the squad – not to mention the star names who will want to hit the Caribbean with form and confidence brimming over – the events of the coming weeks will be critical to their preparation.The KSL, now in its third season, kicks off on Sunday with a televised opening match between the champions Western Storm and Yorkshire Diamonds at Taunton. On the same day, there is an early meeting of the other two finalists from 2017 when Surrey Stars take on Southern Vipers at Guildford, while at Southport, Lancashire Thunder host Loughborough Lightning.”What an opportunity it is for those on the fringes,” England head coach, Mark Robinson, said. “Every squad is full of world-class players – people you can learn from, look up to in a way and soak up their knowledge. It’s not for me to make a prediction on who’s going to win but I’m really looking forward to the tournament.”In a bid to improve the competitiveness of the six teams, Robinson instigated a rejig ahead of this edition, most notably with Tammy Beaumont switching from Surrey to the Vipers, and Sarah Taylor heading from the Thunder to take her place.”The teams have changed a bit this year and all look as if they’ve got a good chance. We have moved some of our better players around to give them the best opportunity to express themselves. It can be hard for a young batter coming in at seven or eight in a T20 in a team where the top order is full of world-class players to make much of an impression. The same applies to our young bowlers, they need as many opportunities as possible to bowl in pressure situations and more games hopefully allows them that.”One batter in particular who has plenty to prove in the coming contests is the Yorkshire Diamonds captain, Lauren Winfield, a World Cup winner last year, but who has been pushed to the margins in the past few months, with Amy Jones being given the opportunity to partner Beaumont at the top of the order.After a brief innings at No. 7 in the first ODI against New Zealand, Winfield was given a chance to make a mark when she came in at No. 3 in the dead-rubber third game, but made just 5 from nine balls before holing out to deep midwicket. However, the KSL – with its expansion to ten group games instead of five – will give her ample opportunity to find form against quality opposition.”I’ve had a bit of a dry time with runs and opportunity for England,” Winfield said. “This summer I’ve felt I’ve been playing really well, but there’s just no gap to get into that line-up. T20 isn’t something I’ve played a lot of internationally, so 10 games is a fantastic opportunity to expose myself in this format looking ahead to the World Cup in the Caribbean.””I think expanding the competition is such a good idea,” Robinson said. “Western Storm won last year because they played the better cricket at Finals Day but it can be difficult to judge a team over five games, because you might lose a game or two to the weather.”It helps all our England-qualified players, even the experienced ones because if a team doesn’t get going in the first couple of games they still have enough opportunities for their quality to come through. They don’t have to go chasing form if you know what I mean.”Another player who hopes to benefit from the expanded exposure is Kate Cross, the Lancashire Thunder seamer who feared she might never play for England again when she took time away from the game in 2016, a move that affecting her chances of featuring in last year’s World Cup.However, Cross returned to England colours during the New Zealand series – a call-up that she said “felt like I made my debut all over again”.”I’m going into this Super League in a good place,” Cross said. “We’ve also got a World Cup around the corner, and I think I’m going to go back to Australia this winter to play domestic cricket.”There’s a lot for me to look forward to.”With input from ECB Reporters Network

The incident could end up attracting the attention of match officials, already alert to such moments in a series that is not short of them

Firdose Moonda in Port Elizabeth09-Mar-20184:02

Holding: Rabada needs to control himself a little bit

Kagiso Rabada’s shoulder brush with and send-off of Steven Smith could end up attracting the attention of match officials, already alert to such moments in a series that is – even at just over one-Test old – not short of them. Nathan Lyon, David Warner and Quinton de Kock have all been sanctioned after the first Test, though potential consequences for Rabada could be graver. The match referee, Jeff Crowe, is expected to make a ruling on the incident on Saturday morning.Rabada found reverse swing shortly before tea and angled a length ball in at middle stump towards a shuffling Smith, who was struck on the back pad, in front of middle stump. Smith was given out on-field by Kumar Dharmasena and, in celebration, Rabada continued in his follow-through, shouting “Yes, yes,” in Smith’s direction. With Smith directly in his line of movement, Rabada’s shoulder made contact with that of the Australian captain.Smith reviewed but began walking as soon as replays showed where he had been hit. Rabada went on to take four more wickets, claiming five in the space of 18 balls, either side of the tea interval, to scythe through Australia’s middle order, and made considerable use of the reverse-swinging ball. He also had a small word with Mitchell Starc, the last of the five wickets to fall.Rabada came into this fixture already on notice – he currently has five demerit points to his name and another three will see him sit out two Tests; a tally of eight demerit points within a 24-month period attracts such a penalty as per ICC rules.Rabada’s rap sheet dates back to February last year when he picked up three demerit points and a 50% match fee fine after a shoulder shove to Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella in an ODI. He then earned a another demerit point in July, when he swore at Ben Stokes after dismissing him at Lord’s during the first Test between South Africa and England. Rabada missed the second Test at Trent Bridge as a result; four demerit points lead to a ban of one Test or two limited-overs games, whichever comes first, while eight demerit points result in double the penalty. Each demerit point stays on a player’s record for a period of 24 months, staying active even after the four-point threshold is broken.This year, Rabada added a fifth point to his name when he gave Shikhar Dhawan a send-off during an ODI at St George’s Park last month. Replays showed Rabada waving goodbye to Dhawan and then telling him to “f*** off”.While the punishment for both his verbal transgressions amounted to only one demerit point, physical contact, which is deemed inappropriate and deliberate, falls under a Level 2 offence. If found guilty of such a charge, a minimum of three demerit points are applied. That would take Rabada to eight, which would mean he misses the rest of the Australia series.This series has already been marred by three instances of players committing code of conduct offences. Lyon was fined 15% of his match fee and received one demerit point for dropping a ball close to AB de Villiers when he was run out in Durban, Warner was fined 75% of his match fee and earned three demerit points for his role in the stairwell saga that has dominated headlines between Tests, and de Kock was fined 25% of his match fee and earned one demerit point for his part in the same.