English cricket’s ceaseless search for a solution to stress fractures suffered by fast bowlers has a new ally because of the ECB’s partnership with a global leader in athlete analytics.England teams – both men’s and women’s – have the opportunity to wear micro-sensors underneath their shirts in a three-year partnership with Catapult, a leading analytics provider.Raph Brandon, the ECB’s head of science, medicine and innovation, and Andy Flower, the former England coach, introduced the system to England Lions at the national performance centre in Loughborough this week and Brandon says the tie-up, which goes through to the 2019 World Cup in England, has already had “major benefits”.”Lower-back stress fractures will always be a challenge for us,” Brandon said. “It is particularly important for the U-19s that we monitor them very closely and do our best to protect them from injury.”Get the insight and then you can change your decisions. It is a series of learning. Thanks to the Catapult data, we have a comprehensive picture now of combined workload and training and we are establishing that joined-up picture for the best England bowlers, whether they are on contract or on the international pathway.”The challenge facing young fast bowlers as their growing bodies comes under enormous strain is the subject of a two-year research programme at Loughborough into how a young player’s spine adapts to the rigours of fast bowling.Evidence already gathered before the Catapult tie-up is that the spine of a successful England fast bowler such as James Anderson or Stuart Broad becomes as thick as any comparable spine in international sport in order to withstand the constant demands it has to bear.Brandon said: “What we know is if you get to become a Broad or an Anderson your spine on the opposite side of your bowling arm is the thickest spine in world sport. It is thicker than that of a rugby forward or any sports spine that we know. That is based on years of MRI scans with our international group.”As a young fast bowler, you will have your growth spurts where your spine grows but where it is not fully thick. You have to have a super-adapted spine to become an international fast bowler. The challenge is how to get from this thin piece of bamboo spine when you are 18 and very talented to the super-thick spine of Jimmy Anderson.”The bone adapts to loading cycles and gets stronger. You need to load it and then you need to rest and recover. The quality of data we can now capture and analyse means we now have far more facts to support the ‘feel’ we get from the expertise of our coaches in their support of the players.Catapult work with Miami University in 2015•Getty Images

“We can measure run-up speeds, the amount of acceleration going through the body, the amount of rotation going through their trunk, and so much more – in practice as well as matches. We will always have something to learn about the science behind the elite cricketer.”The decision about when to bring a player back from injury is now also likely to be built on many factors other than the old question: “Do you think you can get through okay?” being asked by a coach.”Selection is not dependent upon such data,” Brandon said, “but selectors are aware that we do have this information now. We are adding facts to the feel and the knowledge and the insights that the expert coaches and the players themselves have.”We understand the demands on individual players intimately. So when we are bringing players back from injury we know what demands they will face. If they are coming back to a Test match we have to build them up so they can cope with a certain amount of running, a certain amount of time on their feet, the total distance they are likely to travel and the likely amount of high intensity work. This very detailed work allows us to individualise our training for the players and that gives them confidence.”Although the collaboration with Catapult was motivated by the desire for fast-bowling analysis, it has also provided other insights.”Scoring a century in a one-day international will generally involve between seven and 12 miles total distance on your feet, including many sprints,” Brandon said.Such evidence has informed England’s coaches, and indeed the players, of the fitness demands involved. They will continue to give England ammunition when they chose to pull contracted England players out of county cricket – a regular bone of contention – and they are likely they played a part in Mark Robinson’s demands for better fitness levels when he took over as coach of England women earlier this year.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wants a decision to be made by the Glazers as soon as possible this summer, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

What's the takeover situation at United?

The Red Devils have enjoyed an impressive 2022/23 season, finishing third in the Premier League and securing a return to the Champions League after a year away. Not only that, but they also won the EFL Cup after a victory over Newcastle United in the final – their first trophy since 2017 – and they were beaten in the FA Cup final by Manchester City on Saturday.

Ten Hag is, therefore, doing an excellent job in the early stages of his time as United manager, although off-field matters aren't necessarily making things easy for him. Talk surrounding the Glazers' potential sale of the club continues to rumble on, with both boyhood United fans Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani vying to become the new owner.

With an important summer in the transfer market looming at Old Trafford, many supporters are desperate to see a change happen as soon as possible, and it looks as though the same applies with Ten Hag.

What does Ten Hag want from Glazers?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano said that the Dutchman is eager for a decision to be made either way, in order to make the current situation less complex:

"I think he's sending very clear messages in public about needing investments and signings. So, the message is very clear. He’s waiting for the Glazers to make a final decision."

It is only right that Ten Hag wants to see a change happen now, with the hope that new owners will come in and bolster the spending at United's disposal.

It is imperative that the manager is given the money to bring in a number of elite players between now and the start of the season, with Saturday's aforementioned cup final defeat again showing how superior City are currently, even though the scoreline was only 2-1 in the end.

The Glazers moving on and someone else coming in would be such a popular decision, bringing an end to a rather painful period in the club's ownership history, so the hope is that a decision is made as soon as possible, rather than the Americans continuing to stay on into next season, therefore potentially affecting United's transfer business in the process.

Manchester United have reportedly agreed personal terms with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount ahead of an expected move to Old Trafford.

What’s the latest on Man United and Mount?

The Red Devils appear to be making a start on their summer business despite a FA Cup final looming for Erik ten Hag’s side. An ongoing takeover saga doesn’t appear to be impacting the club’s plans for potential additions, with Mount appearing to be a firm target over the coming months.

United are thought to be “really pushing behind the scenes” for Mount, with Ten Hag personally wanting the player brought in. A deal was reportedly “advancing” and it looks as if it has taken another positive step.

According to The Telegraph, there has been a breakthrough with the Red Devils and Mount reaching an agreement on personal terms, with the England international now “expected” to make the move to Manchester.

Chelsea appear to be readying a squad overhaul under Mauricio Pochettino, with Mateo Kovacic edging towards the other side of Manchester with a move to Manchester City.

Who is Mason Mount?

Mount is now 24 years of age and is primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play in a deeper role or out on the left. Valued at €65m by Transfermarkt, he will soon be into the last 12 months of his deal and may not reach 200 appearances for the Blues.

Dubbed a "mad player" by Rio Ferdinand, Mount has turned out on 195 occasions for Chelsea after progressing through the academy, scoring 33 goals and registering 37 assists. Mount has also spent time out on loan in the Championship with Derby County and even in the Netherlands with Vitesee Arnhem.

Should he move to Manchester as expected, you’d expect that the player will provide competition to Bruno Fernandes, who is the only senior attacking midfielder available to Ten Hag.

The Portugal international has featured heavily in all competitions during the current campaign, and with United back in the Champions League next season, squad depth could be key. Mount is a Champions League winner with Chelsea and has experience at the highest level, so could prove to be a welcome addition, but the two clubs will now need to agree on a fee.

It seems as if a transfer will be one to keep an eye on, however, Ten Hag’s current focus will be on lifting a second domestic cup trophy at Wembley to cap off a fine first season in charge.

Having secured their third consecutive series win in Australia, South Africa have now set their sights on whitewashing the hosts

Firdose Moonda in Hobart15-Nov-2016There’s a generation of South Africans whose memories of watching their Test team play in Australia are the complete opposite of Faf du Plessis and his team’s. Generation now. Anyone 10 or younger has never known a South African side that has lost a Test series in Australia and to have added a layer to that legacy is this team’s greatest joy.”We know how hard it is. We watched on TV for so many years how hard it was to was for South Africa to come here and do well,” du Plessis said. “I suppose the younger guys looking from back home can see that it’s possible to come here and to an extent and dominate an Australian team. It is extremely special for us. It’s something we will remember as a team. That’s exactly what we came here to do, we want to create memories together.”Not since the West Indies between 1984 and 1992 has a team won three successive series in Australia but that is not the only thing that stands out about this South African victory. It is that they did it without the two players who have been stalwarts for a decade – AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn who are both injured – and Morne Morkel about whom there are concerns about match fitness. Also Hashim Amla, the leader of the batting line-up, contributed only 48 runs across three innings.Kyle Abbott was central to South Africa’s third consecutive series win in Australia•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesIt has taken a total team effort, something du Plessis has lauded. “This team has been very close to exceptional,” he said. “There haven’t been many things we’ve done wrong. We have been consistent in the way we perform. We are not relying on one or two players. All XI are putting our hands up at different times and that’s what you want from your team.”Australia were warned of South Africa’s ability to spread the load last month in the ODI series. Albeit in a different format, in different conditions, South Africa’s 5-0 victory did provide the springboard for this series. “We came across here with a lot of confidence,” du Plessis said.Self-belief helped South Africa bounce back from a poor first day in Perth to take 10 for 86 and set themselves up for victory there. It also propelled them to pluck Australia for 85 in the first innings in Hobart. The twin collapses showed South Africa that Australia had weaknesses they could exploit, especially if they targetted their senior players.”When you are a team that’s under the pump and under pressure and not playing as well as you like, confidence will fade away,” du Plessis said. “It’s hard to fake it. We didn’t give them the opportunity to do it [assert themselves over a long period of time]. It was important to keep the important guys in the team quiet – David Warner and Steve Smith. If you can put a lot of pressure on them, the younger guys won’t have that same punch. We made sure those guys have been relatively quiet in the series. Even guys like [Mitchell] Starc, he bowled well in that one spell but if you are on top, that’s when you get a five-for and you clean the tail up. We were just really good in making sure we stopped that.”Faf du Plessis: “This team has been very close to exceptional. There haven’t been many things we’ve done wrong.”•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesOn the other hand, once South Africa got an opening, they were unstoppable. It took just 95 minutes for them to finish Australia off on the fourth morning. Du Plessis did not expect the series win to come so quickly, although he suspected victory was inevitable after the pressure his bowlers piled on late on the third day. “I didn’t expect it to happen that quickly,” du Plessis said. “Yesterday, our bowling was exceptional. The last hour and a half, we were so good in our areas and relentless. We didn’t get the results we wanted but we knew today if we came back, it would change for us. This is one of those sessions we will always remember as a team, that won us the series and it was unbelievable.”It was unbelievable because it was more dominant than a South African side has ever been in Australia. Four years ago, South Africa battled through the first two drawn Tests and then won the third. Eight years ago, they won the first two Tests and lost the third. This time, du Plessis wants to take everything South Africa can from this trip, which means a win in their first day-night Test in Adelaide.”That is the mission for us now,” he said. “We want to do that very badly. We won’t rest on our laurels and be happy with 2-1 or even 2-0. We’ve got Australia in a position where they are under pressure and we don’t want to let that go. It’s hard enough to get them in this position so we will do everything we can to make it 3-0.”What memories that will make.

كشف إيمانويل ماكرون رئيس فرنسا عن مضمون مناقشته مع كيليان مبابي مهاجم باريس سان جيرمان، حيث اجتمعا معًا في قصر الإليزيه، لحفل عشاء والذي نظم على شرف أمير قطر، تميم بن حمد آل ثاني.

ووجه ماكرون، الدعوة لمبابي لحضور مأدبة عشاء في قصر الإليزيه، شهدت تواجد نخبة من الرياضيين الفرنسيين، ورئيس الاتحاد الفرنسي، ورئيس رابطة الدوري الفرنسي، ووزيرة الرياضة الفرنسية.

وأكد ماكرون أنه لم يناقش الرحيل المستقبلي لمهاجم باريس سان جيرمان، في ظل الحديث عن اقتراب مبابي من الانضمام إلى ريال مدريد في السوق الصيفي.

اقرأ أيضًا | تقارير فرنسية: مبابي يبلغ ماكرون حقيقة توقيعه لـ ريال مدريد

وقال ماكرون في تصريحات نشرها “RMC sport” الفرنسي: “إذا كان العشاء لمحاولة الاحتفاظ بمبابي؟ لا، لا على الإطلاق”.

وأضاف: “لم يكن هناك أي نقاش حول هذا الأمر، وأترك ​​الأمر لإدارة النادي للقيام بذلك”.

وأفاد: “كان من الطبيعي أن يكون مبابي متواجدًا، بطل عظيم ساعد في تواجد المنتخب بنهائي كأس العالم الذي أقيم في قطر”.

وأتم: “وباريس سان جيرمان نظرًا لمساهمته.. لقد مرت سبعة مواسم على تواجده في باريس سان جيرمان! أعتقد أن كل الفرنسيين معجبون بهذا اللاعب الرائع ولكن لم يكن هناك أي نقاش (حول مستقبله)”.

وينتهي عقد مبابي مع باريس سان جيرمان بنهاية الموسم الجاري، ولم يصل لاتفاق لتجديد عقده مع النادي الفرنسي.

وتؤكد تقارير الصحف أن مبابي سينضم إلى ريال مدريد الإسباني في سوق الانتقالات الصيفي القادم. 

West Ham United target James Maddison 'would be an absolute star signing' at the London Stadium if he was to move to the Hammers from Leicester City, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving James Maddison?

According to The Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur are keen on Maddison and have submitted a £50 million joint bid to try and land the England international and his teammate Harvey Barnes.

The report states that the offer is set to be rejected by Leicester City, who will want to recoup more money for two of their prize assets in the transfer window.

Sky Sports claim that Newcastle United are in the race for £110,000 per week earner Maddison and it is believed that they are currently in pole position to land the Coventry-born star.

Nevertheless, Tottenham may now formalise their attraction towards Maddison this summer now that they have a new manager in place in the form of former Celtic coach Ange Postecoglou.

Writing in his column for GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has revealed that West Ham United are interested in Maddison this window as they eye a creative midfielder.

Jones also suggested that Maddison joining the Irons could help to soften the blow of losing Declan Rice, who looks set to leave the London Stadium, stating: "Maddison would be an absolute star signing. They are definitely not front-runners for him as Newcastle and Tottenham are expected in a tug-of-war battle for this signing but West Ham, fresh off that recent European success, would love to make the £110,000-a-week man an offer. His creativity and personality would bring a new dimension to the team and his star factor would help recover from the loss of Declan Rice, when he eventually goes."

Would James Maddison be a good signing for West Ham United?

Maddison enjoyed a productive campaign on an individual level for Leicester City even though the Foxes suffered relegation to the Sky Bet Championship and showed why he is highly regarded as a playmaker in the Premier League.

All in, the 26-year-old made 32 appearances for his current employers, registering ten goals and nine assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

As per FBRef, Maddison was also a key chance provider for Leicester City during the season, successfully performing 138 shot-creating actions.

Unsurprisingly, the former Norwich City man also ended up at the top of the tree, becoming Leicester City's most consistent performer in 2022/23, earning an average match rating of 7.24/10, according to WhoScored.

Moving forward, Maddison would add another dimension to West Ham United's midfield if an ambitious bid for his services was to come off; however, they would have to beat off stiff competition from a number of appealing options to him.

Newcastle United are 'definitely interested' in bringing Leicester City pair James Maddison and Harvey Barnes to St James' Park this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving James Maddison and Harvey Barnes?

According to Football Insider, Newcastle United are keen on landing Maddison and Barnes this summer as Eddie Howe ramps up his transfer market proactivity in the North East.

The report states that £35k-a-week earner Barnes would be willing to leave Leicester City for a new challenge in the off-season; however, he is likely to cost in the region of £40 million.

Sky Sports also detail that Newcastle United are in the box seat to sign his teammate Maddison amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur in his services.

Maddison is entering the last year of his £110k-a-week contract at the King Power Stadium and it is believed that the Magpies could tempt the Coventry-born star to Tyneside with Champions League football on offer next term.

ESPN claim that Manchester United are admirers of Maddison and could also be in the frame to try and entice him to Old Trafford.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that Newcastle United are 'definitely interested' in both players; nevertheless, he doubts whether either will end up at St James' Park.

Jones said: “I don't think they're probably leaders for either Barnes or Maddison, from what I've heard.

“They’re definitely interested in both of those players. But I’ve heard a couple of reasons that make me think they might not end up with either.”

Would James Maddison and Harvey Barnes be good signings for Newcastle United?

Both players possess creative flair and would be worthwhile additions ahead of next term, with boss Howe keen to add quality ahead of a tilt at Champions League football.

In 2022/23, Maddison enjoyed a notable campaign, registering ten goals and nine assists in 32 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Maddison also recorded 138 shot-creating actions in the Premier League during the campaign, demonstrating his intuition despite an unsuccessful season for Leicester City, as per FBRef.

On the flipside, Barnes also had a productive time of things all things considered, notching 13 goals and three assists in 40 outings encompassing all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

The duo both look set for a return to the English top flight, though it will remain to be seen who wins in the battle to secure either Maddison or Barnes in the next few months.

أعلن نادي ليفربول الإنجليزي، تشكيل الفريق لمباراته أمام سبارتا براج ببطولة الدوري الأوروبي موسم 2023-2024.

ويحل ليفربول ضيفًا على سبارتا براج ضمن مباريات ذهاب دور الـ 16 للدوري الأوروبي، على ملعب “ستاديون ليتنا”.

وشهدت قائمة ليفربول عودة محمد صلاح ودومينيك سوبوسلاي بعد غياب للإصابة، لكن كلاههما على مقاعد البدلاء اليوم.

اقرأ أيضًا | أول تعليق لـ كلوب على أزمة ليفربول ومنتخب مصر بسبب محمد صلاح تشكيل ليفربول اليوم أمام سبارتا براج في الدوري الأوروبي

حراسة المرمى: كيليهير.

خط الدفاع: جوميز، كوناتي، كوانساه، روبرتسون.

خط الوسط: ماك أليستر، إندو، إليوت.

خط الهجوم: داروين نونيز، جاكبو، لويس دياز.

البدلاء: محمد صلاح، أدريان، مروزيك، تسيميكاس، فان دايك، سوبوسلاي، كلارك، جوردون، ماكونيل، كوماس، برادلي، موسيالوسكي.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is eyeing a move for Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay as he seeks clarity over the side's newfound prominence.

What's the latest on Newcastle's pursuit of Scott McTominay?

That's following a recent report from the Northern Echo, which states that the Scotland international is a 'viable' option for the Toon as they look to fortify the midfield after qualifying for the Champions League.

The long-term target is believed to be seeking an exit from Old Trafford after telling friends that he is disgruntled after falling out of favour under Erik ten Hag.

The 26-year-old is valued at around £30m by the Red Devils but Magpies technical director Dan Ashworth is cautious to part with such an exorbitant fee for a player so firmly on the periphery at the Theatre of Dreams.

Should Newcastle sign Scott McTominay?

The general consensus is that McTominay will be shipped on this summer after starting just ten times in the Premier League this term, though he did play 39 times across all competitions and missed 15 matches due to injury.

However, his recent exploits with the Scottish national team have exhibited his prowess and just how effective he can be when provided a central role, with the 38-cap international scoring four goals from two matches during the last international break, including a dominant performance against Spain that left him with a Sofascore rating of 8.0.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 19% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for touches in the attacking box, the top 21% for tackles, the top 1% for clearances and the top 2% for aerials won per 90, and has also been hailed as "superb" by former MEN writer Hesham Bilal-Hafiz.

The £60k-per-week ace could emulate former Newcastle star Yohan Cabaye at St. James' Park, with the Frenchman forging 93 displays for the Toon, scoring 18 goals and 14 assists, before signing for Paris Saint-Germain for around £20m in 2014.

Cabaye was once lauded by former Magpies manager Alan Pardew for his "true character" and for having "that X-factor", with an analysis from James Eastham stating that his teammates were 'primed to expect penetrative, precise service whenever Cabaye is in possession'.

McTominay, who was dubbed a "real threat" by Roberto Martinez, could emulate that role and combine his aforementioned defensive aptitude with a knack for effectively contributing to the offensive transitions.

And with Cabaye boasting career defensive metrics of 2.6 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per game, as per WhoScored, he too served as a rock that Mctominay could indeed emulate to contribute towards Newcastle's present endeavours, searching for success unseen at the club in a very long time.

Newland’s favourite son, Jacques Kallis, didn’t say goodbye to the ground when he retired abruptly at the end of 2013 but almost three years later, he was there to say hello as the South Africans conducted their first training session of 2017. South Africa’s coach Russell Domingo asked Kallis to come in to consult at what became an extended optional net session. He spent time with every batsman, was in the team meeting then even helped to pack up at the end and Domingo’s hopes that the greatness will rub off.”He’s probably the greatest cricketer who has ever played and he’s in Cape Town. For us not to get him down to practice is stupid. He’s keen to come and watch and see what’s happening and share his experiences with some of the younger players who have never met him before,” Domingo said. “A lot of guys think of him and go, ‘Jeez – can’t he play tomorrow? Is he available?’ He’s a great player and it’s great to have him around the team.”While Kallis is most definitely not considering a cricketing comeback, he has had dalliances with coaching through T20 leagues. Kallis has coached at Kolkata Knight Riders and Trinidad in the CPL and although he does not think he wants a full-time role just yet, he admitted it is something he has started to enjoy. “It’s very rewarding. Towards the end of my career, I found I liked passing on knowledge to the guys. That’s the nice part – seeing the guys’ game develop,” he said.One player whose game Kallis has an intricate knowledge of is Hashim Amla, who he saw debut and played alongside for almost a decade. With Amla in the midst of a slump of sorts – he has not scored a century in 11 innings and a fifty in eight – Kallis spent a significant amount of time in his net and gave him “little pointers” on how to ensure he pushes on from a start. Kallis was convinced a big score is looming for the holder of South Africa’s highest individual Test score.”He is hitting it pretty well, he just needs to push on but generally he is hitting it as well as when I was playing,” Kallis said. “He has got a few 40s in that and he just hasn’t kicked on. That happens. But he is hungry, I can tell you that. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went on and got a big hundred in the next Test match or two. It’s pretty much assured.”Similarly, Kallis was certain that South Africa are not in danger of slipping into complacency after a convincing win over Sri Lanka in the first Test. It was only a year ago that South Africa were on a downward spiral after losing 3-0 in India and then being beaten by England at home. Kallis believed it was a case of lesson learnt.”It’s nice to see us bouncing back from that,” he said. “One thing you can learn from that is that when you do go through good periods like we are going through now, don’t give it away. Throw your mind back to India where we were struggling. The guys certainly don’t seem complacent, they seem very hungry to keep going. They’ve learnt from that experience in terms of taking their form forward and not giving it away. They are in a very good space.”South Africa have admitted they feel better about themselves than they have for a long time and that is largely because they have unearthed some depth. From going through the 2015-16 season with many frontline bowlers injured, they now have Vernon Philander back and several others in reserve with Morne Morkel also turning up at the New Year’s training. What they have not really found is an allrounder in the Kallis mould and for that alone, even Domingo wishes Kallis was still around.”As good a batsman as he was we can always scrape together his runs but to scrape together the 15 or 16 overs he bowled is not that easy,” Domingo said. “Look at England, they’ve got Ben Stokes who plays as a fourth seamer. Angelo Mathews bowls 15 overs. Australia have Mitchell Marsh. It is one area where he has been missed.”But there have been signs in recent times that South Africa are finding another way to ensure their main quick bowlers have someone to play a supporting role. “It has presented an opportunity for a spinner to step up,” Domingo said. “Instead of the spinner bowling 10 overs the spinner’s now bowling 25 overs a day. Kallis’ greatness probably limited the opportunities for a spinner. Having him not there now means the spinners have to front up. That’s why it’s so good to see a guy like Keshav Maharaj come in. We’ve got the confidence to bowl him 25 overs a day and rotate the three seamers.”