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Playing international cricket after two months, Hardik batted as if he had never been away and also chipped in with the ball

Deivarayan Muthu10-Dec-20251:28

Why did it feel like Hardik batted on a different pitch?

Abhishek Sharma crumpled to the floor after an inducker from Marco Jansen stopped on him and smacked him on his midriff. Tilak Varma swished and missed. Both Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav popped up catches to infielders without any timing.The dampness and slowness in the Cuttack surface made every India batter look silly except Hardik Pandya. On a difficult pitch where even South Africa’s batters struggled later in the evening, Hardik conquered the conditions and proved to be the difference-maker, clattering an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls, with four sixes. The entire South African batting line-up failed to top his tally of sixes, though the conditions seemingly turned friendlier for batting in the chase.Hardik had been away from international cricket for over two months with a quadricep injury. However, he batted as if he had never been away. He started with two no-look sixes in his first four balls and never looked back.Related

• India look to press home the advantage against South Africa after opening bash

• Hardik, Arshdeep crush South Africa to put India 1-0 up

• Stats – Bumrah joins elite club of 100 wickets in all formats

Hardik has turned six-hitting into an art where he hardly ever mis-hits, and times the ball beautifully with the stillest of heads and smoothest of bat-swings. Even on this damp pitch. Against both spin and pace. Dale Steyn, who was doing commentary, said he was “frightened for his life.”Anrich Nortje may have experienced a similar feeling when Hardik charged at him and brutally belted a 149kph delivery straight past him. Then when Nortje banged one into the deck at a similar rapid pace, Hardik coolly ramped it over deep third for six more. It was his 100th T20I six – he became the fourth Indian to the landmark in men’s T20Is after Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar and Virat Kohli.”I mean, I had to back my shots,” Hardik said after winning the Player-of-the-Match award. “At the same point of time, I realised that the wicket had a bit of spice. I had to be a little bit gutsy and it was more about timing the ball and not trying to break the ball. Yeah, I was very satisfied with the way I was batting.”Hardik Pandya celebrates his fifty•Getty ImagesWhen Hardik had walked out to bat at 78 for 4 in the 12th over, India were staring at a below-par total. He somehow made a bad situation better for India by carrying them to 175 for 6. Then, with the ball, he turned a great situation even greater by having David Miller nicking behind off the inside edge for 1. South Africa eventually folded for 74, their lowest T20I total.The presence of a fit Hardik opens up endless possibilities for India. He could slot in anywhere in the middle order and ensure batting depth all the way down to No. 8. With the ball, he allows India to have six genuine bowling options, including three attacking ones – on Tuesday, it was Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy. On drier pitches, Kuldeep could come in place of Arshdeep and Hardik could take the new ball. Since the start of 2024, India have won 26 of their 29 T20Is outright with Hardik in the side. Without him, India have nine wins, two losses and two ties.”As a cricketer, I don’t think I have ever been fussy about what roles I have in the game,” he said. “I’ve always been very motivated all the time to make sure that it does not matter what Hardik Pandya wants; it matters what India wants. And whenever I get opportunities, I come and try to do my best.

“I realised that the wicket had a bit of spice. I had to be a little bit gutsy and it was more about timing the ball and not trying to break the ball”

“Some days are good, some days are not. But at the same point of time, it’s the mindset which helps me. And I think it’s been [the same way] throughout my cricketing career. I’ve always tried to put my team first, the nation first and whichever team I have played for. I think that’s my biggest USP and that’s what has always helped me.”Hardik’s absence leaves India scrambling for balance, though there’s no dearth of white-ball talent in the country. For example, in the 2023 ODI World Cup, an ankle injury to Hardik messed with India’s combination. They had to make two changes with Suryakumar coming in as a batter and Mohammed Shami replacing Shardul Thakur. India were forced to compromise on batting depth, with Shami slotting in at No. 8. It didn’t work out for them in the end.It didn’t work out for India more recently this October when they were shot out for 125 in Hardik’s absence in the Melbourne T20I.Tuesday’s game in Cuttack reminded everyone that everything works out for India when Hardik is fit and that they are unbeatable when he is both fit and firing.

South Africa’s run-scoring success in Bangladesh didn’t just happen; it has been in the making and is getting to where it needs to

Firdose Moonda01-Nov-2024A willingness to be brave when batting in unfamiliar conditions underpinned South Africa’s run-scoring success in Bangladesh, in the opinion of Test coach Shukri Conrad.”Teams go to the sub[continent] better prepared and they are less fearful because they have found different ways of skinning the cat here, either through a power game or through an upskilling,” Conrad said after South Africa swept the Test series 2-0 in Bangladesh. “Guys don’t come here in a defensive mindset anymore. They actually look at scoring options rather than trusting their defence, as was the old adage.”For the first time since 2016, South Africa had more than two centurions on an away tour and they finished this series with four, three of them first-time centurions. They also topped 300 in both first innings and posted their third-highest total in Asia with their 575 for 6 declared in Chattogram. All that is a result of clearer plans and more confident players, who don’t carry the ghosts of tours past.Related

• Three first-time Test centurions in SA's batting feast

• South Africa's batting stars are starting to align

• 'Worth the sacrifice' – SA savour subcontinent high

Only one of the playing XI across both matches, Aiden Markram, had been involved in a Test in Asia before this tour, which meant South Africa went in with a distinct lack of experience. That they did not even play a tour match in Bangladesh only added to the newness of the occasion, but Conrad explained that they chose to prepare at home, because they felt they would have more control over conditions.Although South Africa could not exactly replicate a Mirpur or Chattogram pitch, Conrad said they “created extreme conditions in Pretoria”, which had benefitted them more than playing an opposition side on a surface that might not have resembled the Test pitches at all. And then they worked on their mindset. “We kept talking around the mentality that we want this group to have and for them to back what they’ve got and to show their character in everything they do. We want to create an environment where it is okay to make mistakes.”Read that again and there are sprinkles of Bazball in it: a willingness to be more attacking than usual, a focus on proactiveness, an acceptance that trying these may not work. Where South Africa are different to England is that they have so much more to lose. They play far fewer Tests than England, especially in this cycle where they are on a reduced schedule as they prioritised the SA20, and so every match is a must-win. That means they can’t be quite as carefree in their batting approach. But because there is pressure to get results, they also can’t be as conservative as teams of old.

“We’re almost coming into a bit of a sweet spot now. That’s probably the most important part, that Shukri [Conrad, the red-ball coach] is picking the right characters. That’s what you’re seeing – because of that character, there’s a freedom to express yourself when you play”Kagiso Rabada

Perhaps the best illustration of that is their scoring rate in Chattogram: 3.98 runs per over in their only innings. There were times, such as early on when Markram and Tony de Zorzi enjoyed batting against the new ball and, later, as Wiaan Mulder and Senuran Muthusamy rushed to the declaration, that South Africa were scoring at close to or more than five an over. But there were also times when the run rate dipped to under three, boundaries dried up, and they had to bide their time. A final analysis of a shave under four runs an over is not slow enough to cause stagnation and quick enough to keep things moving.The changes in the pace of the scoring is something that has been noticed and appreciated by their bowlers. “The guys are being more open as to scoring and you can see there’s a whole lot of scoring options,” Kagiso Rabada said. “And those scoring options are being executed well.”Rabada, who has played Test cricket for nine years and had not been part of a South Africa team to win a series in the subcontinent until now, has also seen a change in the batters’ belief, which he traces back to last summer. “There is a confidence because of the performances that the guys have put in. I was actually very impressed when India came to South Africa. That’s when it really struck me,” he said. “The wickets were spicy. But you had guys like Beddders [David Bedingham] and Tony de Zorzi, they put their hands up in that series and conditions were tough to bat.”Shukri Conrad: “We want to create an environment where it is okay to make mistakes”•Cricket South AfricaDe Zorzi also identified the India series – which was drawn 1-1 – as a turning point for the way South Africa’s line-up approached their game. He was in his second series and contributed just 28 runs in the first Test and three in the second, but spent an hour and 48 minutes in the middle at SuperSport Park fending off the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. By the time, Bedingham, on debut, came out to bat, there was something to build on. He scored a half-century. Of course, it cannot be ignored that South Africa’s win in that Test was a result of the now-retired Dean Elgar’s 185, but from what the current players are saying, they learnt something from batting around him and against a quality attack. Since that match – and the New Zealand series which South Africa went to with an under-strength side – South Africa have only been bowled out for under 200 once in seven innings. Consider that they went through a period in 2022 where they were dismissed for under 200 for seven successive innings, and it’s a good way of picking up the difference.For Rabada, the batting turnaround also completes a transition phase that has lasted throughout his career. “We went through a transition phase when all the GOATs retired,” he said, referring to the period between 2012 and 2023, when South Africa had a big-name retirement every year. It started with Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith between 2012 and 2014, and moved to AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla and Elgar in the last three years. Throw in names like Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander and you can see how much ground South Africa have had to cover in moving from some of the best the game has ever seen to a new group.Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs were among three first-time century-makers in Chattogram•AFP/Getty Images”We’re almost coming into a bit of a sweet spot now,” Rabada said. “That’s probably the most important part, that Shukri is picking the right characters. That’s what you’re seeing – because of that character, there’s a freedom to express yourself when you play.”Maybe the most important thing in reading between the lines is that South Africa are a happier and more cohesive team than they have been in several years. That could be thanks to a more stable governing body, it could be because they have dealt with a messy past through the Social Justice and Nation Building hearings. Or it could just be the way generations change.”We play for each other. And the main thing is the badge. Because you’re only here for a limited amount of time. So we respect each other. Everyone’s allowed to be who they are,” Rabada said. “But then we also draw the line on what we agree upon in terms of playing and how we want to conduct ourselves as a team. But everyone is trusted in doing what they do. And there is a real camaraderie.”I mean, it’s not like we hold each other’s hands everywhere we go but we’re together. We’re together and we’re willing to take anything on. We win as a team, we lose as a team, and everyone is buying in.”

Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat against Chelsea, their fifth in a row against the Blues, was undoubtedly the bleakest and most concerning result of Thomas Frank’s reign so far.

The one-goal affair felt wholly different to Spurs’ recent losses against their nemesis when led by Ange Postecoglou, but gone was any form of entertainment value this time, and the post-match reaction from fans and players underscored the issues that Frank contends with just a few months into his tenure.

Still, things aren’t all that bad. Tottenham are fifth in the Premier League, just two points away from second-place Manchester City. Furthermore, they are unbeaten across three Champions League fixtures.

We were always going to see a bedding-in period, and Tottenham have put last season’s lowly league form behind them, but there’s much more to be desired all the same.

And in the case of Xavi Simons, it’s probably fair to say that more would have been expected from the diminutive playmaker by this stage.

Xavi Simons' slow start at Spurs

When Tottenham signed Simons from RB Leipzig for £52m in August, they knew they had sealed a coup. After all, the Netherlands international had been courted by Chelsea all summer, with analyst Ben Mattinson claiming he is “destined for greatness”.

But it’s been a tough start to life in England, alright, and the 22-year-old has been one of the most saliently poor Spurs stars this season, with his performance against Enzo Maresca’s side drawing plenty of backlash.

It’s a collectively shared opinion within the Lilywhites fanbase that Simons has lacked composure and presence in his creative midfield berth this season. The Chelsea match was a defeat in isolation, but Sofascore record that Simons is averaging only 0.9 key passes per Premier League game this term, having featured seven times and started five of those games.

Having replaced the concussed Lucas Bergvall after only seven minutes at the weekend, Frank saw it fit to hook his summer recruit just over an hour later.

With Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison both sidelined with injuries and still not expected back for the foreseeable future, Simons has been tasked with serving as Spurs’ chief creator, but he’s fallen by the wayside in this regard.

He’s young enough and talented enough to kick on after this early blip, but there’s little question that more is needed – and quickly.

Tottenham have further players who have struggled to impress this season, though, and there’s another midfielder with a wealth more experience in the English game who may well be playing himself into a corner in Frank’s system.

Frank must axe Spurs' "lucky boy"

Frank is far more pragmatic in his tactical set-up than his predecessor at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but the general disgruntlement around the club at the moment emphasises the need for greater balance between the thirds.

The midfielders are the connective tissue, though, and while Joao Palhinha has been lauded as a shrewd summer signing, on loan from Bayern Munich, there’s not enough impetus and dynamism in midfield, and Rodrigo Bentancur is becoming a problem in that regard.

Bentancur, 28, has racked up 128 appearances since joining Tottenham from Juventus in January 2022 (initially on loan), but injuries have kept him at an ebb and flow in north London, never quite reaching the full fluency that his talent and athleticism could lead him toward.

His consistent unavailability might have been stretched this season but for a fortuitous VAR call that kept him on the field after a studs-up challenge on Chelsea’s Reece James at the weekend. Tottenham presenter Hollie Agombar called him “a lucky boy” after the game.

The £120k-per-week ace signed a new long-term contract only last month, which does stand as a marker of his standing under Frank’s wing, but his connection with Palhinha in the middle of the park has not made him undroppable by any stretch, and there are bound to be concerns relating to the stodginess of Spurs’ general play in the centre.

Of course, he’s not without his uses. The South American ranks among the top 6% of Premier League midfielders this season for ball recoveries, the top 13% for clearances and the top 11% for blocks per 90, data via FBref, but this isn’t enough to secure his long-term place in Frank’s engine room, especially since he is not progressive enough on the ball and thus part of the wider creative problem.

Whereas Simons has time on his side, Bentancur is a seasoned Tottenham star who is supposedly in the prime of his career. This was clearly the view of the powers that be down N17, having rebuffed summer interest from Atletico Madrid and indeed rewarded the midfielder with improved terms.

But he is not proving his worth at this moment in time, and Frank will expect that to improve swiftly, especially with the likes of Pape Matar Sarr and Bergvall gunning for more prominent roles.

Against Chelsea, Bentancur did himself few favours, even if he did manage to avoid a red card for that stamp on James. Writing of his performance in the derby, the Evening Standard criticised the hosts’ midfield controller for being unable to provide protection from Chelsea counters, with his caution on the ball directly hindering Spurs’ fight for quality in attack. He was hit with a lowly 4/10 match rating.

Much for Frank to chew on. However, it might be that Bentancur is beginning to demonstrate that he does not get into Tottenham’s brightest 11, and that’s a topic that will only intensify when the injured playmakers return. With that in mind, maybe he should be axed down the line.

3/10 Spurs flop is now very quickly becoming the new Tanguy Ndombele

Spurs were far from their best as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea.

By
Matt Dawson

Nov 2, 2025

Bradley Carnell was named MLS Coach of the Year after an impressive season in which he guided the Philadelphia Union to a Supporters' Shield win in his debut campaign. The South African manager set a club record with 20 wins and was named Coach of the Week four times over the season. The Union had MLS's best defense in 2025, conceding only 35 goals.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Turnaround on a thin budget

  Philadelphia entered the season with the third-lowest payroll in MLS at $13.4 million, but that didn’t stop the team from imposing its will early on. Under Carnell’s leadership, the Union thrived despite making no major offseason additions.

  The Union, who missed last season's playoffs, had the biggest turnaround on points in MLS this season. They finished with a league-best 66 points, 29 more than last year.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Spreading the wealth

  Tai Baribo was the team's top scorer with 18 goals, but Carnell stressed a holistic approach to the attack this season. Eighteen different players combined for the team's 57 goals. 

  The 48-year-old wasn't afraid to rotate, either, featuring 29 players in 25 different starting lineups over the 2025 campaign. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Defense wins trophies

  As good as the team's attack was, it was even better on defense. Philly's efforts on that front included two MLS Best XI players, Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner. Glesnes was a runner-up for defensive player of the year. Last season, Philadelphia were ninth in goals conceded with 55.

  Carnell and the Union now await their opponent for the Eastern Conference semifinals. 

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• Breaking down the vote

  Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year Voting Breakdown

  Name	Media Vote	Player Vote	Club Vote	Total Vote
  Bradley Carnell – Philadelphia Union	33.33%	32.00%	48.00%	37.78%
  Jesper Sørensen – Vancouver Whitecaps FC	35.59%	20.00%	24.00%	26.53%
  Mikey Varas – San Diego FC	21.47%	22.00%	16.00%	19.82%

The team want to get accustomed to conditions at a venue where they play two big games

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Aug-20253:47

Chopra: India would want to go a step further in the home World Cup

India Women will launch their World Cup preparation with a skill-based week-long conditioning camp in Visakhapatnam starting August 25.The venue for the camp is strategic, given only Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Sneh Rana among the squad members have the experience of having played at the ACA-VDCA Stadium previously, in 2014.India are slated to play two big matches in Visakhapatnam: against South Africa (October 9) and Australia (October 12).India’s lack of experience at certain venues, like Visakhapatnam, Guwahati and Indore, has been a big talking point in the lead-up to their campaign.Navi Mumbai’s inclusion as Bengaluru’s replacement is seen as a welcome step, given the players’ familiarity with the venue, having played there regularly over the past three-four years in front of packed houses, both in international cricket as well in the Women’s Premier League.Originally scheduled to take place entirely in Bengaluru, the training sessions had to be relocated after the Karnataka State Cricket Association failed to secure police clearance for hosting matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.All members of the World Cup squad, along with the reserves and the India A team selected for warm-up fixtures, are expected to participate.The camp will culminate with two intra-squad day-night practice matches, before the team flies out to New Chandigarh for the ODI series against Australia starting September 16.After the Australia series, the Indian team will arrive in Bengaluru to play two World Cup warm-ups, against England (September 25) and New Zealand (September 27) before flying out to Guwahati for their opening fixture against Sri Lanka on September 30.

Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly willing to launch a £70m offer to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid after the Spanish giants weakened their sale stance ahead of 2026.

The Lilywhites are looking to make a statement move next year in a new era without Daniel Levy. They already stole headlines when they won the race to sign Xavi Simons in the summer, but signing one of Real Madrid’s attacking stars would take Thomas Frank’s side to a whole new level.

Tottenham informed of Everton's Ndiaye stance as club-record price named

The Lilywhites are looking for an attacking boost.

1

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 9, 2025

Whether they’ll be in a position to convince Rodrygo to join is difficult to say, however. Whilst Tottenham sit as high as fifth and only four points off second place Manchester City, they’re also on a run of just one win in their last four games in all competitions. Life under Frank has simply shown promise but featured inconsistency.

Saturday’s frantic 2-2 draw against Manchester United summed things up. Spurs were toothless and then ruthless as they came from behind to lead 2-1 in the 91st minute only for Matthijs de Ligt to equalise for the Red Devils in the last minute.

The international break comes at a good time after such a dramatic game, but things don’t get any easier for those in North London. Up next, Spurs are set to square off against Arsenal in the North London derby. The Gunners haven’t lost since August and just conceded for the first time in over 13 hours against Sunderland.

Up against the best defence in the league, if not the world, questions will be asked about the star power in Tottenham’s frontline. They’ll already likely be without summer arrival Randal Kolo Muani through injury in a frustrating blow despite his goalscoring woes, and will be forced to turn to Richarlison to get their frontline firing on all cylinders.

It’s a problem that needs addressing in 2026 and one that Rodrygo could certainly help solve.

Tottenham now willing to launch £70m Rodrygo offer

According to reports in Spain, Tottenham are now willing to launch an offer to sign Rodrygo worth as much as €80m (£70m) in 2026. The Brazilian has struggled for game time under Xabi Alonso and could yet seek a move away ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Florentino Pérez and co. are now reviewing the winger’s future and are more likely to accept a big-money offer for a player who is becoming less motivated sat on their bench week in, week out.

Alonso’s trash would instantly become Frank’s treasure. Rodrygo would transform Tottenham’s attack as a multiple-time Champions League winner and as one of the best wingers in world football. The Brazilian is also a player who has received incredibly high praise and comparisons with Real Madrid legend Raul – that’s the level that he’s at.

At £70m, everything points towards a player that Tottenham should go all out to sign when the January transfer window swings open.

Spurs flop who's been "swallowed by PL" must be dropped for Odobert

Nottinghamshire captain wary of looking too far ahead as they aim to depose three-time defending champions Surrey

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-Sep-2025The stage is set for one of the most memorable ends to a Rothesay County Championship season with the battle for the Division One title and relegation places still very much alive heading into the final round this week.Nottinghamshire put themselves in pole position to win their first title in 15 years after snatching a 20-run win over three-time reigning champions Surrey last week. It was a contest to highlight the very best of the Rothesay County Championship and leaves Notts needing a maximum of 10 points to be crowned champions when they host Warwickshire at Trent Bridge starting Wednesday.With excitement building in the east Midlands after their success at the Kia Oval, Notts captain Haseeb Hameed has warned they will still need to produce “four more days of quality cricket”.Related

• Tongue prevails in thriller to put Nottinghamshire on cusp of title

• Moores hails 'box office' Tongue as Notts close in on title

• Somerset handed points deduction for 'below average' pitch

• Rahul Chahar joins Surrey for final Championship match of the season

“We have to go into the game with that mindset and focus because Warwickshire are a really good team,” Hameed told ecb.co.uk. “I think you can see that across the whole County Championship this season – anyone can beat anyone. It has been a really tight and tough year and that’s probably why it’s so close at the bottom as well.”There are no easy wins in this division and we go into the final round knowing we have to play four more days of quality cricket.”Surrey have been the county to catch for the past four seasons as they have set the bar high for the chasing pack. They will draw on that culture of success as they look to become the first county, since the great Surrey side of the 1950s, to win four titles in a row when they travel to Hampshire.Rory Burns’ team know that anything other than a win will probably not be enough while Hampshire, who could welcome back talisman Liam Dawson from England duty, have plenty to play for themselves as one of five counties that head into the final round looking to avoid relegation.The south-coast club are just two points above Durham, who sit inside the relegation zone on 140 points, but the northern-most county do have their fate in their own hands as make the journey down the A1 to a Yorkshire team who need 10 points to be assured of staying up.Sussex and Essex both have 150 points and know avoiding defeat in their final-round matches against already-relegated Worcestershire and third-placed Somerset respectively would be enough to retain their place in the top tier.It sets the scene for an intriguing final round at both ends of the table and Hameed admits he’d have it no other way.”At the start of the season the goal of every team would be to put themselves in the position we’re in heading into the final round,” he said. “It’s a great position to be in, but there’s work still to be done and that’s the focus. There is going to be a bit of noise around and there will be some excitement I’m sure across the four days with everything that is going on at the top of the bottom of the division.”We just have to be ready to go on Wednesday morning and focus on doing what we’ve done in the 13 matches so far.”Hameed is not letting himself think about becoming a title-winning captain, after reviving his career since moving to Notts from Lancashire ahead of the 2020 season. The 28-year-old, who has 10 Test caps, scored 1235 runs when he helped Notts win promotion from Division Two in 2022 and could surpass that mark this week as this season’s second-leading runscorer.”I just want to lead from the front and do my job. I’ve been here five or six years now and it feels like home and I’ve enjoyed my cricket,” said Hameed, who also highlighted the influence of his opening partner Ben Slater, who could pass 1000 runs for the season this week.”It’s been great establishing an opening partnership with Slats. He’s had a great season and has loads of experience which is so important. But I come back to it – the whole team knows we have to focus on our job because Warwickshire are a quality team. I’d love to see a good crowd at Trent Bridge and hopefully we can make it a week to remember.”In Division Two, Leicestershire will head into the final round knowing the title – and a return to Division One for the first time in 22 years – is already assured. The Foxes’ star allrounder Rehan Ahmed, who has struck five Championship centuries in a breakout summer with the bat, was not born when they were last in the top-flight.Leicestershire make the short trip to Northamptonshire to round out their season while Glamorgan, who under head coach Richard Dawson have secured their place in Division One for the first time since 2004, will host Lancashire at Sophia Gardens.Kent welcome Derbyshire to the Spitfire Ground in Canterbury while Middlesex host Gloucestershire at Lord’s.

Manchester City and Australia star Mary Fowler has revealed she and another team-mate were the victims of a vile racist prank after their final game for Montpellier. The incident, which occurred in 2020, came after other departing players had received flowers. Fowler, one of only a few players of colour on the squad, called the act "hard to laugh off" and questioned whether it was "just a simple error".

• Racism accusations at Montpellier

  In her recently released autobiography , Man City and Matildas star Fowler revealed she was subjected to racism and differential treatment during her time in France. In her book she recounts how she and another team-mate, Ashleigh Weerden, were handed bananas instead of the flowers that other players received at a farewell presentation. For Fowler, the incident was not a simple mistake, but one of several instances that led her to question if she was being singled out. In her book, Fowler describes how moments like being disciplined for driving home with Weerden made it difficult to believe the discriminatory treatment was unintentional. 

  The struggle was compounded by a club physiotherapist's disbelief of a serious chest pain complaint, and contributed to Fowler experiencing depression, self-harm, and considering leaving professional soccer. This public disclosure follows a period of increasing attention on racism in women's football, with other players also speaking out about their experiences.

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  Fowler: 'Hard to see it as a simple error'

  Fowler said: "When we got inside the changing room, some of our team-mates questioned why we hadn't received any flowers. A few of the girls laughed about it and then one of the other players came over and handed my friend and me some bananas, saying, 'here have these'. Was it an accident? Was it the only thing in the dressing room she could give us? Did she mean well by it? I’ve tried to justify it in many different ways … But when I add in the many other times at the club when we were left feeling a similar way, it was hard to see it as merely a simple error."

  Fowler didn’t question the actions at the time, but only because she felt unable to, adding: "Instead, we just sat there holding those bananas."

• Injury blow and contract extension

  Fowler has been hugely impressive at Manchester City since joining in 2022. Signed as one of the game's most promising talents, she has made 86 appearances for the club and posted 21 goals and 22 assists. She enjoyed her standout campaign last season, achieving double-digit goals and assists and earning a spot in the PFA WSL Team of the Year. Her season ended prematurely due to an ACL injury in April, but she has signed a contract extension until 2027 while recovering.

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• AFP
  

  Bright future for Fowler

  On signing a her new contract at City, Fowler said: "It's really exciting. City has felt like home for me for quite a while now so to continue this journey with them, I'm really proud to do that. Enjoying my football is a big part of me playing well and City has created an environment where I can flourish. I love working with the girls who are here."

  Man City Director of Football Therese Sjogran added: "Mary’s a really important figure for us on and off the pitch, so we’re delighted she’s agreed to extend her stay at the Club. She’s a tremendous talent, but the way she’s improved each year since joining City speaks volumes of her attitude and hard work off the pitch. We’re excited to see what the future holds for this team, and Mary will be a huge part of that once she’s back to her best after injury."

Head coach Rob Walter keeps tabs from New Zealand as contenders make their cases

Firdose Moonda13-Jan-2025Spectators at all six SA20 venues have had the opportunity to watch the action first-hand in this opening week, with all the teams playing at least once at their home grounds. Four of the six were sell-outs, and the other two rain-affected but well-attended anyway, so it’s fair to say anyone who has the inclination to watch a game and is close enough to be able to do so, will. But even some of those who are not anywhere near the tournament are tuning in, including South Africa’s white-ball coach Rob Walter, who lives in New Zealand.On Monday, Walter admitted to waking up in the early hours to watch “all games live”, and he would have had a particular interest in the evening fixture between MICT and Paarl Royals at Newlands. Five of the 15 players he named in his Champions Trophy squad were in action, as well as three who narrowly missed out on selection. Just about all of them gave Walter something to think about.Top of his mind would have been Lungi Ngidi, who was named in the national squad despite not playing any internationals this summer and is on the comeback from a groin injury. At 5.30am, Walter may not have been best pleased to see Ngidi bowl well below his usual pace (in the low 120s, not the high 130s) and concede 25 runs in first two overs. But his coffee may have gone down a little easier when Ngidi deceived George Linde with a very slow ball (at 114kph) and then pushed it up to 133kph. Ngidi finished with figures of 1 for 43 in four overs and has conceded 85 runs in eight overs in the two matches he has played so far. There’s some reason to be concerned.Related

• Paarl Royals in playoffs courtesy dominant spin unit, consistent home show

• Coetzee ruled out of SA20 but CSA still hopeful

• Coach Walter after home whitewash: SA will 'shine through' in Champions Trophy

• Invincible Rickelton gives his international cred a shot in the arm

• How South Africa's Test team became the sum of its exceptional parts

On Saturday at Boland Park, the absence of pace in the surface may have contributed to Ngidi’s strategy to send down slower balls. It was also his first game in three months, so any assessment of him on that day will be lenient. Two days later, on a quicker surface, Ngidi might have been expected to have some zip back, even if his speciality is the offcutter. His first two overs were laboured, and he offered too much width. Even when he changed ends and took the wicket, Ngidi never looked like a constant threat, especially not in the way Kagiso Rabada later did.After an intense summer of Test cricket and with only one match off to recover, Rabada has barely missed a beat. After taking 2 for 10 against Joburg Super Kings at the weekend (which included bowling Jonny Bairstow with a legcutter as the rain that ended the match came down), Rabada took 2 for 0 in his first two overs at Newlands.HIs first wicket was a gift as Joe Root played straight into short fine leg’s hands but the rest of the over was pace-perfect. Rabada bowled fast and full and Sam Hain could not get him away. He took pace off and Lhuan-dre Pretorius went hard but could only get it as far as deep third. Rabada closed out a second over without conceding a run and became the first bowler in the tournament to deliver back-to-back maidens in the Powerplay.Reeza Hendricks impressed with the bat, although South Africa may have moved on•SportzpicsGeorge Linde, who, as a spin-bowling allrounder, may have had an outside chance at a Champions Trophy spot, had Mitch van Buuren and David Miller caught on the boundary in successive overs. Linde’s 3 for 15 is his SA20 best and comes a month after he made his national comeback, against Pakistan. He also outshone Bjorn Fortuin, the other left-armer who could have claimed a place in the national squad, and continues to impress with the new ball. Fortuin took 1 for 24 today but, despite an ability to keep things tight, South Africa decided they did not need another spinner at the Champions Trophy.Instead, they’ve loaded the squad with batters and Walter will be watching to see where the runs come from, especially in the top order. Since Quinton de Kock’s ODI retirement at the 2023 World Cup, South Africa have not settled on an opening partner for Temba Bavuma. For the Champions Trophy, Tony de Zorzi, who does not have an SA20 deal, will likely start but Ryan Rickelton is another option. His previous innings, also at Newlands, resulted in a career-best 259 in the second Test against Pakistan. This time, in his return from a hamstring strain, he managed a run-a-ball 8.A third option would have been Reeza Hendricks but the ODI squad seem to have moved past him, even though he served up a reminder of what they might be missing. He top-scored with 59 in an innings laced with wristy flicks and powerful cuts to prove he is still a presence at the top of the order. But, at 35, it’s unlikely Hendricks will find his way back. Instead, South Africa may soon look to Lhuan-dre Pretorius. The left-hander announced himself with 97 on debut on Saturday and kept going at Newlands. He scooped Trent Boult for six, slammed Rashid Khan for back-to-back fours through deep backward square and ramped him for four more and got the Royals out of the blocks in double time. His hard-hitting was cut short by a bowler who outsmarted him, but he will learn. Oh, and did we mention he keeps wicket as well? One person who knows all that is Walter.

As Brandon Woodruff took the mound for the Brewers on Wednesday, he faced a different kind of pressure than on a typical start. Not the heat of building on the league's best record or their division lead over the Cubs, but the opportunity to win hundreds of thousands of free burgers for the people of Wisconsin from the chain George Webb.

George Webb, the founder of the beloved Wisconsin restaurant chain, would famously predict back when Milwaukee only had a minor league team that it would win 12 straight games, and was believed to have declared that if the local team won 12 consecutive games, they would give away free burgers. His son, Jim Webb, would later make the deal official in 1970.

The Brewers came to close to winning free burgers earlier this season when they had an 11-game winning streak from July 6 to July 21, but lost the 12th game 1–0 to the Mariners. They have won free burgers for fans twice, in 1987 and 2018.

With a third opportunity to win free burgers on the line, Woodruff delivered. The two-time All-Star pitched four scoreless innings as Milwaukee got off to a 6–0 lead. The Pirates made things interesting after Woodruff exited, putting up five runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Brewers offense responded with six more runs and won 12–5.

“It's awesome. I was telling my wife last night I was more nervous, I wanted to win the burgers for everybody in the stands, including myself," Woodruff told reporters after the game. "It was fun, it's a cool thing. You could tell the energy around today on a day game was a little bit more than usual. Seriously, I wanted to win those burgers bad.”

The Brewers and the fans can celebrate with their free burgers, which will be given out on a date the restaurant plans to announce on Thursday. They can also celebrate a team that not just came through on the free burgers, but holds a league-best 76–44 record as the final month of the season approaches. No team is playing better than the Brewers, who can set their sights on going after their first World Series title.