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With the 49ers’ takeover complete and Russell Martin appointed, Rangers have now reportedly opened talks to sign a Premier League veteran who could become one of their first arrivals of the summer.

Rangers officially appoint Russell Martin

After much deliberation and countless links with moves for the likes of Davide Ancelotti and former manager Steven Gerrard, Rangers finally came to the decision to hire Russell Martin on Thursday. The former Southampton boss is back in the technical area for the first time since his St Mary’s stint ended with the sack and will be well aware of the extent of the task that he now has on his hands.

By the end of his tenure, the former Norwich City defender will be desperate to be up there with the most successful managers in the club’s history. Whether he is able to stop the trend of Celtic dominance in the Scottish Premiership remains to be seen, however.

Welcoming Martin, new sporting director Kevin Thelwell told Rangers’ media channels: “We went through a quite diligent and thorough process and tried to use the time we had at our disposal to the very best opportunity. Right from the very start, it was clear to me, and the other guys involved in the process, that Russell was the standout candidate. He was outstanding.

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“He has a lot of experience as a manager and head coach, and over the course of that career it’s been clear to see that he’s sharpened that approach in his methods, in terms of technical, tactical, and also from a personal perspective.”

The new sporting director has wasted no time before turning his focus towards the transfer market after appointing Martin, either. The Gers have even reportedly made their first move to sign an experienced Premier League defender this summer.

Rangers open talks to sign Coady

As reported by Daily Record, Rangers have now opened talks to sign Conor Coady from Leicester City, seeking to find out what it would take to make a deal happen this summer. The experienced defender has just one year left on his current deal at the club and will, therefore, have a decision to make sooner rather than later.

Given that Thelwell is reportedly an admirer of Coady too, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain may find himself near the top of Rangers’ wishlist in the coming months.

Whilst it’s fair to assume that Coady’s price tag could drop this summer given how little time remains on his current Leicester deal, there may be no escaping his £75,000-a-week salary for Rangers if they decide to make their move.

Whether Rangers deem the defender’s experience invaluable enough to match his current salary will be the question.

To Coady’s credit, even at 32 years old and part of a relegated squad, he still found himself at the centre of Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who told reporters last season: “He is a big part in this squad. He’s one of our leaders.

“He’s such a character that when he doesn’t play, he’s still that leader, he’s still helping the team, coaching the team, talking to players, pushing everybody to their highest levels in training sessions. “

Manchester United have now launched a blockbuster move to sign an “absolute genius” who they have been closely monitoring this season, according to a report.

Amorim keen to bolster attacking options

As we approach the summer transfer window, it is clear that Ruben Amorim wants to bolster his attacking options, with Rasmus Hojlund set to be allowed to leave, which means a new striker will be required.

The Red Devils are edging ever closer to sealing a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian “keen” on a move to Old Trafford, although he is expected to feature in a number 10 role for Amorim next season.

As such, United could bring in a different option as an out-and-out striker, and they are expecting to win the race for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, despite interest from Chelsea, while Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta is also on the shortlist.

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Not only are Man United keen on an attacking midfielder and striker, but they could also look to strengthen out wide, and a report from Spain has now revealed they are obsessed with Paris Saint-Germain winger Desire Doue.

Amorim’s side are said to have launched a blockbuster move for Doue, as their interest ‘goes beyond casual monitoring’, and they could be willing to make a substantial offer to ensure they win the race amid interest from rival Premier League clubs.

PSG aren’t keen on sanctioning the 19-year-old’s departure, which means it would take a huge bid to prise him away from the French club, and reports from elsewhere have suggested Manchester City are now lining up a stunning £102m offer.

"Absolute genius" Doue could be coup for Man Utd

PSG have already wrapped up the Ligue 1 title, and they now have one foot in the Champions League final after the 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, with the young forward playing a major role in their success.

The France international has amassed 13 goals and 12 assists in 48 matches in all competitions, having established himself as an important player for Luis Enrique.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Ligue 1

28

6

7

Champions League

14

3

3

Coupe de France

5

4

2

The teenager has also caught the eye of football scout Ben Mattinson, who believes he is one of the best attacking midfielders around at the moment.

Doue could be a real coup for Manchester United, but it seems unlikely they will be able to compete for his signature if they don’t manage to qualify for the Champions League.

The incident occurred in the 47th over when Inglis whipped off the bails when the batter ventured out of the crease before the ball was dead

Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Feb-2025

Australia captain Steven Smith withdrew an appeal against Noor Ahmad in the 47th over of Afghanistan’s innings, after wicketkeeper Josh Inglis whipped off the bails at the striker’s end to catch Noor out of his ground before the over was called.Noor had not been attempting a run – he had drifted out of his crease to meet batting partner Azmatullah Omarzai mid-pitch, mistakenly believing that the ball was dead. The ball is live until the umpire calls “over”, however, and umpire Alex Wharf had not yet called.Replays showed Noor to be well out of his ground, but Smith was quick to signal to the umpires that the appeal should not be considered, despite some enthusiasm from Inglis. Noor had just completed a single after Omarzai struck Nathan Ellis through midwicket and called Noor – the No. 10 batter – through, in order to keep strike for the next over.Although Afghanistan were not attempting to gain an advantage, the rules of cricket are clear. Run-outs are a viable dismissal until the ball is dead. If Smith had not withdrawn the appeal, Noor would have been ruled out, likely by third umpire Chris Gaffaney.

Noor had been on three off three balls at the time, and went to make six off eight. But of more consequence was the fact that Afghanistan would have been 248 for 9 after 47 overs had Smith not withdrawn the appeal. They were less likely to have hit the further 25 runs they managed if they had only had one wicket in hand. Noor was eventually dismissed off the last ball of the innings.Australia have in the past upheld appeals against batters ambling out of their crease, even if they were not looking to take a run. Most famously, this occurred in a Test at Lord’s against England in 2023, when Alex Carey underarmed the ball into the stumps after Jonny Bairstow had wandered down the pitch before the ball was deemed dead.Muthiah Muralidaran had also been dismissed in similar circumstances in a Test in Christchurch in 2006, when he had wandered out of the crease to congratulate Kumar Sangakkara on completing a century before the ball was dead (though that had not been at the end of an over). Brendon McCullum broke the stumps on that occasion, and captain Stephen Fleming upheld the appeal.In the 2011 Trent Bridge Test, India recalled Ian Bell to the crease after he had been run-out in similar circumstances at the stroke of tea on day three, when he ran a three and proceeded to walk down the pitch and towards the dressing rooms, before the fielder Praveen Kumar had had a chance to throw the ball in from the boundary. India captain MS Dhoni agreed to recall Bell after England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower approached him during the tea interval with this request.

“Young Lhu reminds me a little bit of my young self,” de Kock says of his opening partner

Firdose Moonda07-Nov-2025When Quinton de Kock, in his role as international comeback sensation, glances towards the other end of the pitch these days, it’s almost like looking in a mirror.”Young Lhu [Lhuan-dre Pretorius] reminds me a little bit of my young self,” de Kock said after South Africa’s second ODI against Pakistan in Faisalabad in which he scored his 22nd century. “He’s batting really nicely at the moment. He looks nice and free, and he’s just playing everything on merit. He’s doing really well for a 19-year-old. It looks like he didn’t have the pressure I felt at 19.”Consider the bare bones biographical details, and it’s easy to see the similarities. Both de Kock and Pretorius are left-handers and strong strikers of the ball, and both were South Africa’s leading run-scorers at Under-19 World Cups, 13 years apart. De Kock scored a hundred and two fifties in the 2012 edition in Australia; Pretorius hit three fifties in 2024 in South Africa. Both of those performances led to international debuts laced with big expectations shortly after the age-group World Cup. Did we mention that they’re both also wicketkeepers?Related

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The major difference is that while de Kock came on to the scene as an “enigma”, as described by coach Shukri Conrad, Pretorius came in having modelled himself on de Kock. The pair first met when de Kock’s career had just started, and Pretorius was about seven years old. Since then, all Pretorius has wanted to do is play alongside de Kock, even when he felt it might never happen.”I never thought I would play with him,” Pretorius had said after the first ODI against Pakistan on Tuesday. “When he retired [from ODIs after the 2023 World Cup], I was really upset because it was always a dream to play with Quinny. Then, when he came back, I didn’t think I was going to play with him. It’s truly a dream come true. I didn’t know him off the field when I started liking him as a role model. Now I got to know him, and he is really calm and composed, and that’s really what I like, and that’s how I want to play my cricket.”And it shows that Pretorius is trying to emulate his hero. On all three occasions that Pretorius and de Kock have batted together, Pretorius has taken the early lead. In the T20I in Namibia, which Pretorius says “didn’t count because Quinny got out quite early”, Pretorius outscored de Kock, who was dismissed for 1. In the first ODI against Pakistan, Pretorius scored 35 off 36 balls in the first eight overs, while de Kock was only on 8 from 12 deliveries. In the second, Pretorius was on 18 off 18 in the first four overs, and de Kock just 4 from six. While Pretorius said he “felt a bit bad” for taking so much of the strike early on, de Kock preferred it that way.”The kid is highly, highly talented” – de Kock on Lhuan-dre Pretorius•Associated Press”Lhu made it very easy because he was playing really well, and so the easy thing was just to try and get him back on strike,” de Kock said, clearly impressed by what Pretorius can do. “I’ve only seen glimpses of him through our SA20 league. And now coming out here and playing with the youngster – the kid is highly, highly talented.”What that means for South Africa’s plans for tournaments like next year’s T20 World Cup, which will be played in the subcontinent, or the 2027 ODI World Cup at home, is yet to be seen. For now, they are awash with options. In the opening berth, Ryan Rickelton, another left-hand batter, is not on this tour as part of a rotation policy that will keep him fresh for Tests against India next week. So is Aiden Markram, the second half of the regular opening pair.The question facing South Africa is whether they continue with Rickelton and Markram, or opt for more explosiveness and perhaps more risk in de Kock and Pretorius. South Africa also have several candidates putting their hands up for the No. 3 spot, including Tony de Zorzi, who has enjoyed good returns in Pakistan, and shared in a match-winning stand of 153 with de Kock in the second ODI.De Kock has previously indicated that the drawcard of a major tournament remains attractive to him, though he understands he is not “guaranteed” a spot, and will have to earn one through runs. But to ignore de Kock’s body of work when the stakes are high would seem a miss. De Kock was South Africa’s leading run-scorer at the 2023 ODI World Cup, and third overall with four hundreds, and their top batter at the T20 World Cup in 2024. And he is hungry to go again.”I want to be back, and I missed playing with the guys” – Quinton de Kock•Getty Images”I’ve come back, and I’ve found an energy that I think I lost playing so much international cricket all the time – I played for close to 12 years,” de Kock said. “I was just lucky enough that I retired early enough so I can still make a comeback. I’m very happy to be back. I want to be back, and I missed playing with the guys. But my break, I think, did me really well.”Those are words Pretorius should hear too, especially as he walks a similar path to de Kock. His international career could be long if he is managed correctly and given enough time away from the game to avoid burnout. And it will likely be a little more challenging because Pretorius’ emergence has come at the same time as the league circuit is at its peak. But like de Kock, Pretorius might find the pull of international cricket too hard to resist.”At the beginning of the year, when I was in India for the IPL, guys were asking me if I wanted to come back. At that moment, I just thought a straight no,” de Kock said. “Then I don’t know exactly, but it just started happening. That thought process started coming back. That hunger was coming back again.”De Kock is only available for white-ball cricket for South Africa, while Pretorius plays across all formats, and already has a Test hundred to his name. South Africa have yet to announce their white-ball squads to India, but both are expected to be included.

England pull off a dramatic chase with one ball to spare as the runs flow in Grenada

Sampath Bandarupalli16-Dec-202321 Runs needed for England at the start of the 20th over in the third T20I. These are the joint-most target runs successfully chased by any team in the 20th over in T20Is, matching last month’s effort by Australia of chasing 21 runs in the final over against India in Guwahati.34 Sixes hit by both West Indies and England on Saturday are the second-most in a T20I match, behind only the 35 during the Centurion T20I between South Africa and West Indies earlier this year. England hit 18 sixes, the second-most by them behind the 20 against South Africa in Bristol in 2022.71 Target runs needed for England at the start of the death overs (17-20). These are the most target runs successfully chased in the death overs of any men’s T20 match, bettering Sussex’s 69 runs against Gloucestershire in 2015 (where ball-by-ball data is available).109* Phil Salt’s score in the run chase is the second highest for an England batter in men’s T20Is, behind only the unbeaten 116 by Alex Hales against Sri Lanka in the 2014 T20 World Cup.442.85 Harry Brook’s batting strike rate during his unbeaten seven-ball 31 is the second-highest for a men’s T20I innings of 30-plus runs. The highest is 520 by Dipendra Singh Airee, who scored an unbeaten 10-ball 52 against Mongolia earlier this year.9 Sixes hit by Salt during his unbeaten 109 are the joint-most for England in a T20I innings, equaling Liam Livingstone, who also hit nine maximums against Pakistan in 2021.3 Successful target chases of 220-plus targets for England in T20Is are the most by any team, going ahead of Australia and Bulgaria, who have done it twice. Only one team other than England has successfully chased down 220-plus targets on three occasions in T20s – Middlesex in the T20 Blast.448 Runs aggregated by West Indies and England in the third T20I are the most in any T20I match hosted by the West Indies. The previous highest was 428 runs in Bridgetown in 2022, also during a T20I between West Indies and England.There have been only three higher men’s T20I totals in West Indies than England’s 226 for 3 in the chase, all during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas Region Qualifier in 2021 in Coolidge.153 Runs collectively scored by West Indies and England during the death overs are the highest for any T20 match where ball-by-ball data is available. The previous highest was 144 by Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in Dubai in 2020.The 79 out of those 153 runs scored by West Indies are the second most in death overs in men’s T20Is, behind the 89 by Nepal against Mongolia in the Asian Games earlier this year.

Visitors crash the party through dominant knocks from Joe Root and Dan Lawrence

Cameron Ponsonby16-Mar-2022As you get off the plane in Barbados and walk into arrivals, the first two posters you’re greeted with are of Garry Sobers and Rihanna. Cricket and entertainment. Sounds good.Today, with thousands of England fans in attendance, the two combined as Joe Root and Dan Lawrence’s dominant 164-run stand off 269 balls took over proceedings, much to the joy of those in attendance at the Kensington Oval in the London Borough of Barbados.”He’ll be delighted to be not out overnight following another good hundred last week,” Marcus Trescothick, England’s batting coach, said of Root’s unbeaten 119. “[For him] to do it all again he’ll be delighted. It’s a real pleasure to sit there and watch it unfold and see how he goes about it.Related

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“To see him batting in the fashion he has, the mental discipline and approach he’s putting into his batting to come back and start fresh every time… it’s an honour to stand there and throw at him and then to sit back and watch him all day.”Trescothick was also glowing in his praise of Lawrence’s performance, who scored a career-best 91 before being at caught cover off what was scheduled to be the penultimate ball of the day’s play.”Absolutely,” Trescothick replied when asked whether England would be focusing on the positives from Lawrence’s innings rather than the pain of narrowly missing out on a maiden Test match hundred. “You always take the positives. And then we try to understand what happened there? Did anything change? Those are the sort of questions we’ll sit down and talk about.”But this was a party that West Indies allowed to happen. Root was caught behind off what seemed like an inside edge on 23, only for it not to be reviewed. He was dropped down the leg side by Josh Da Silva on 34. And on 87, he should’ve been run out by John Campbell. To make matters worse, Lawrence was also dropped on 72, as Alzarri Joseph let a head-high slip catch split his hands and run away to the boundary.As a result, having shared an awkward drink or two with England in a turgid first session and shared a pleasant dinner with them in the second, in the third, West Indies allowed Root and Lawrence to invite themselves back to theirs for afters and watched on as the two raided the drinks cabinet and fridge in equal measure.”Kraigg, you got anything I could eat? Starving.”The runs flowed on the pitch as quickly as the Banks lager and rum punch flowed off it. It was loud. Lawrence’s leg-side flicks were loud. Root’s pulls and reverse sweeps were loud. The England fans. Loud.For the most part, this wasn’t the stereotypical Barmy Army showing that consists solely of the continued dirge of just repeating “Barmy Army!” *dooph dooph* “Barmy Army!” *dooph dooph* – rather 8000 people spending their day with one foot in the land of Sobers and the other in the land of Rihanna, just as they were told to on arrival. It was a party.Of course, as the day came to a close, “Sweet Caroline” got one more play than would otherwise be deemed socially acceptable and the dooph dooph chants made their return. The sun going down at the end of a day at the cricket is like the moment on most evenings out where the lights go up and reveal the mass of destruction, sweat and alcohol that the darkness had previously hidden. If anything, this way around is better.The highlight of the day from an English perspective was the noise that greeted Root’s century as the Greenidge and Haynes Stand morphed into the Kop. The open-air nature of cricket grounds means it is not often you get that visceral echo that is so synonymous with football grounds, but here you did.”It was brilliant, wasn’t it?” Trescothick said. “A real English contingent throughout the island at the moment and great support throughout. We’re lucky that we get great support wherever we go and to see it here, it was pretty much a home game for us so it’s really nice to have.”The Brits were abroad. And they were rowdy. Both off the pitch and on.

After landing in the Bronx via a trade by the Cubs last winter, Cody Bellinger could be on the move for the second offseason in a row after he turned down a $25 million option from the Yankees to pursue a better deal. He should have a number of suitors.

In 2025, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.489, with 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. He had a solid wRC+ of 125 and produced 4.9 fWAR. It was arguably his best season since he was named NL MVP in 2019 as a member of the Dodgers.

Somehow, Bellinger is only 30 years old. He’s a two-time All-Star, has a World Series ring, is a good defender at all three outfield positions, and can play first base. Few players have the defensive versatility he boasts, while also providing pop at the plate.

Bellinger should receive a decent-sized contract this winter, and the following four teams could give it to him. For this exercise, we've ranked them from the weakest fit to the strongest, but all four teams are reasonable possibilities for the veteran free agent.

New York Mets

The Mets need to add to their offense and find another reliable outfielder. Bellinger fits perfectly. As noted, he provides solid defense at all three outfield spots and can play first if needed. New York’s center fielders ranked 27th in OPS (.598) during the 2025 season while slashing .210/.284/.314. An upgrade is sorely needed.

Additionally, Pete Alonso’s knockdown, drag-out free agency saga last season could have left some bruises and might lead both parties to walk away this winter. If that happens, the Mets will need to find a power bat. Bellinger has a career 144 wRC+ at Citi Field and would have no problem fitting in.

New York Yankees

Bellinger obviously fits back with the Yankees, but only if they aren’t totally sold on going full-time with youngsters Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones. Bellinger and Trent Grisham are free agents, as is Paul Goldschmidt. That’s 73 home runs New York has to replace. Bellinger was second on the team in WAR this season (5.1), and he at Yankee Stadium. In 80 home games in 2025, Bellinger slashed .302/.365/.544 with 18 home runs, 55 RBIs, and a wRC+ of 151. The Yankees know what he can do, and he might be a safer bet than going elsewhere in free agency.

Seattle Mariners

With Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez both off to free agency, the Mariners need to solidify their corner infield spots. Bellinger could step right in at first base and give Seattle a left-handed bat with some thump. He could also move to the outfield, as Seattle’s right fielders ranked 28th in OPS (.618) this season, slashing an anemic .222/.281/.337. Bellinger would be an immediate upgrade.

In 11 career games at T-Mobile Park, he is slashing .333/400/.600, with three home runs and a wRC+ of 173. The Mariners came painfully close to reaching their first World Series. If they want to get over the hump in 2026, they’re going to need to spend.

Cleveland Guardians

If Cleveland follows through with trading Steven Kwan, the team’s need for outfield help will be even more dire. Chase DeLauter made his debut in the postseason and should help things, but adding a veteran bat like Bellinger’s would give the lineup a boost. It’s worth noting, he has an .831 career OPS at Progressive Field, with a wRC+ of 109.

Guardians center fielders ranked dead last in OPS this season (.574), and slashed .199/.256/.318, and Bellinger is more than capable of improving on that.

Queensland 390 and 187 for 8 (Clayton 54, Renshaw 51, Rocchiccioli 4-41) lead Western Australia 322 for 7 dec (Green 94, Bancroft 76, Hardie 55*) by 255 runsHe fell in the nervous 90s, but Cameron Green gave his Ashes hopes an almighty boost with a determined knock during Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland at the WACA Ground.In reply to Queensland’s 390, WA started day three at a somewhat shaky 210 for 5 but with Green unbeaten on 49 and holding the key.Green drove spinner Mitch Swepson for four on the first ball on Thursday to bring up his half-century and looked set for a ton before being trapped leg before on 94 by Michael Neser just after lunch.Related