أعلن حلمي طولان، المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر المشارك في بطولة كأس العرب، عن القائمة النهائية التي تستعد لخوض منافسات البطولة المقرر انطلاقها في ديسمبر المقبل بالعاصمة القطرية الدوحة.
ويتواجد منتخب مصر، ضمن المجموعة الثالثة في بطولة كأس العرب، والتي تضم أيضًا منتخبات الأردن، الإمارات، والفائز من مباراة الكويت وموريتانيا.
طالع.. شوبير: أزمة حلمي طولان تكمن في من حوله قائمة منتخب مصر الثاني النهائية لبطولة كأس العرب
حراسة المرمى: علي لطفي – محمد عواد – محمد بسام.
خط الدفاع: هادي رياض – محمود حمدي “الونش” – ياسين مرعي – رجب نبيل.
الظهير الأيمن: أحمد هاني – كريم العراقي.
الظهير الأيسر: يحيى زكريا – كريم فؤاد.
خط الوسط: محمد النني – عمرو السولية – أكرم توفيق – غنام محمد – محمد مجدي “أفشة” – إسلام عيسى – مصطفى شلبي – مصطفى سعد “ميسي” – ميدو جابر.
O Vasco anunciou, nesta quinta-feira (21), a renovação do zagueiro Maicon para a temporada de 2024. O jogador foi crucial na reta final do Campeonato Brasileiro e deve ser importante para a sequência do trabalho de Ramón Díaz no ano que vem.
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O experiente zagueiro tem passagem na Europa e chegou ao Cruzmaltino em junho de 2023. A liderança e qualidade técnica do camisa 4 foram peças chave para a recuperação do time.
➡️ Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Vasco
➡️ Figueiredo quer ficar no Vasco em 2024 e despista sobre sondagens
O Vasco está acertando o elenco para o ano de 2024 e agora o comissão técnica já pode contar com a presença de Maicon no planejamento. O Gigante da Colina ainda trabalha em busca de contratações e outras renovações para construir um time competitivo para os próximos torneios.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta oversaw one of the busiest and productive summer transfer windows in recent memory at the Emirates, but an unmissable January opportunity could be too good to ignore.
Berta broke the club’s total transfer window record with an unprecedented summer spending spree nearing £270 million, backing Mikel Arteta to the hilt as Arsenal attempt to end their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.
The Gunners made eight major additions to their squad, addressing key areas of weakness and adding real depth that had been lacking in previous campaigns.
The jewel in Arsenal’s summer recruitment crown was Viktor Gyokeres, who arrived from Sporting Lisbon to finally solve the club’s long-standing centre-forward problem. The Swede’s agent even waived his £6 million commission to help facilitate the deal after two seasons of Gyokeres free scoring in Portugal, and while he hasn’t exactly hit those heights just yet, it could simply be a matter of settling in as he also fights to return from injury.
Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal
Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
Martin Zubimendi was another major coup, with the ex-Real Sociedad maestro bolstering Arsenal’s engine room and allowing Declan Rice more freedom to roam forward. Arsenal beat Tottenham to the signing of Eberechi Eze as well, tempting the former Crystal Palace star from under Thomas Frank’s nose in what was one of the best transfer hijacks in recent memory.
Noni Madueke — who seriously impressed prior to being sidelined with a knee injury — Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard made up the rest of Berta’s recruitment drive, and all of them have barely set a foot wrong thus far when fit and available.
Given Arsenal aren’t usually active in January, with the exceptions of Jorginho, Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior in recent years, alongside their record-breaking summer, you could be forgiven for thinking that the winter could look fairly quiet at N5.
However, recent reports indicate that may not be the case.
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard’s deals both expire in 2027, meaning Arsenal must think about the long-term when it comes to Arteta’s left wing.
As such, some media sources believe that Arsenal could make a move for Lyon’s Malick Fofana, and they retain an interest in Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.
Arsenal given £35m Rodrygo discount as Real Madrid star vies for January move
The Brazil international was a summer target for Arsenal, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, and exploratory talks were held over a potential deal back in May.
Links continued into 2025, but the cost of a deal and difficulties surrounding the mere logistics appeared to thwart a transfer to north London.
However, according to TEAMtalk, Arsenal remain keen on Rodrygo ahead of January, and the ‘frustrated’ Real forward is increasingly tempted to leave the Bernabeu in pursuit of more game time.
What’s more, Arsenal have been handed a significant boost in their pursuit of Rodrygo, with Xabi Alonso’s side dramatically reducing their asking price by £35 million — opening the door for Berta to potentially strike a deal.
His summer price tag was around £88 million, but Real have now slashed it to around £53 million amid interest from Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool.
The 24-year-old’s situation at Real has become increasingly uncertain after falling down the pecking order and starting just two La Liga games this season, with Rodrygo struggling to cement a regular position and casting doubt over his place in the team.
With the 2026 World Cup looming, Rodrygo will be desperate to play regularly and ensure a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
Arsenal could offer him a route out, but it is also believed that title rivals City are the favourites for his signature as things stand. Despite not being fancied by Alonso, teammate Jude Belligham has previously called Rodrygo the club’s most “gifted” and “underrated” player.
Mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar part of ODI squad but has been demoted to reserves in the T20I side
ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2025
Fazalhaq Farooqi was far from his best in the Asia Cup•ICC/Getty Images
Left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi and allrounders Gulbadin Naib and Karim Janat have been left out of Afghanistan’s squads for the upcoming white-ball series against Bangladesh in the UAE.Bashir Ahmad, the tall left-arm seamer, has made both the white-ball squads as a like-for-like replacement for Farooqi. Bashir, 20, is uncapped in international cricket and has 14 T20s so far, taking 12 wickets at an economy rate of 9.06. Top-order batter Wafiullah Tarakhil is the other new face – the 18-year-old has been picked only for the T20Is.In the recent Shpageeza Cricket League, Tarakhil emerged as the third-highest scorer, with 298 runs in nine innings at an average of 37.25 and strike rate of 155.20.Seamer Abdullah Ahmadzai, meanwhile returned to the main T20I side. Both Ahmadzai and Tarakhil were among the reserves for the Asia Cup, where Afghanistan failed to make it out of the league phase.Mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar is part of the main ODI side, but has been named as a reserve player for the T20Is along with batter Rahmat Shah.”After a long six-month break from international cricket following the ICC Champions Trophy, we are now entering a packed season with many T20I games scheduled,” ACB CEO Naseeb Khan said in a statement. “This provides the team with an incredible opportunity to prepare for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next year.”The performances in the Asia Cup 2025 were not as expected, but ups and downs are part of the game. As always, we remain hopeful that AfghanAtalan will bounce back strongly and make our nation proud in the upcoming events.”Despite the absence of Ghazanfar for the T20Is, Afghanistan have plenty of spin depth in the form of captain Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi.Nangeyalia Kharote has been included in Afghanistan’s ODI squad•ICC/Getty Images
Hashmatullah Shahidi will continue to lead the ODI team, which is also similarly spin-heavy. Rashid, Nabi, Ghazanfar and Nangeyalia Kharote could prove effective in Abu Dhabi as well. Bilal Sami and Faridoon Dawoodzai were named as reserves for the ODIs.Sharjah will host the three T20Is on October 2, 3 and 5 before the teams shift to Abu Dhabi for the three-match T20I series, which will run from October 8 to October 14. This white-ball series will complete the second part of what was originally supposed to be an all-format engagement in July 2024, comprising two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. The schedule was initially revised to include only white-ball matches, but that series, due to be played in Greater Noida, was postponed with weather conditions and Bangladesh’s packed schedule in mind. The teams played the three-match ODI leg of the tour in November 2024, with Afghanistan winning 2-1.Afghanistan had lost their most recent international fixture against Bangladesh – a T20I in the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi – by eight runs.Afghanistan T20I squadRashid Khan (capt), Ibrahim Zadran (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mohamamad Ishaq (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai.Reserves: AM Ghazanfar and Rahmat ShahAfghanistan ODI squadHashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, AM Ghazanfar, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem SafiReserves: Bilal Sami and Faridoon Dawoodzai
“There will be more miracles going forward,” Abhishek Sharma says of the India T20I team
Shashank Kishore29-Sep-2025
Abhishek Sharma was named the Player of the Tournament for his 314 runs in seven innings•AFP/Getty Images
India opener Abhishek Sharma is happy he took the stairs and not the elevator to the national team like some of his 2018 Under-19 World Cup team-mates – Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw, for example – had, saying he wouldn’t have “learned some things” if that had been the case.”There have been ups and downs,” Abhishek said at the end of the Asia Cup, where he was the Player of the Tournament. “Some players get in easily. Some come in after some difficulty. But I feel this [domestic grind] was necessary. If I had made it quicker as a [national team] player, I wouldn’t have learned some things.”While Shaw was fast-tracked to the national team, making his Test debut in 2018 itself, Gill broke through in early 2019. For Abhishek, the turning point came only after the pandemic, in 2021, by which time he had refined his game. With Yuvraj Singh’s guidance, he transformed from a middle-order finisher and part-time left-arm spinner into an opener with an enhanced power-hitting game.Related
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Abhishek ended the Asia Cup as the top run-getter – 314 in seven innings, including a run of three straight half-centuries leading into the final. Pathum Nissanka was a distant second, with 261 runs.Abhishek’s robust powerplay approach, and his takedown of Shaheen Shah Afridi in successive games against Pakistan, earned him a lot of plaudits, which he attributed to the freedom given to him by the team management. This run of form more or less guarantees him a spot as India’s first-choice opener as they build towards their T20 World Cup title defence.”Since the time I have been in the [national] team, I have not felt is a pressure match. We prepared for every match in the same way,” he said. “Surya [Suryakumar Yadav] and GG [Gautam Gambhir] have given me confidence. When you want to play a high-risk game, failures do come. But the way they handled me, I am able to play like this because of that.”Abhishek stressed that the template of aggressive batting he had adopted was something the entire team had bought into, and would look to carry forward.”It is very important to get such support from the team,” he said. “We have been wanting to play this brand of cricket with intent from the start. Irrespective of the opposition, we will continue playing like this.”I’ve had more time to work on a few things. So I’ve worked a lot on those things. I feel this is the start for the team. There will be more miracles going forward.”
كشفت صحيفة موندو ديبورتيفو صباح اليوم الأحد، كواليس الطرد الذي تعرض له لاعب نادي أتلتيك بلباو أمس السبت أمام برشلونة بالدوري الإسباني.
برشلونة استطاع اكتساح نظيره أتلتيك بلباو بأربعة أهداف نظيفة على ملعب “كامب نو”، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر من عمر البطولة المحلية.
لكن المباراة شهدت طرد لاعب أتلتيك بلباو، أوهيان سانسيت، في شوط المباراة الثاني عقب تدخل عنيف على فيرمين لوبيز، نجم برشلونة.
وكان حكم المباراة خوسيه ماريا سانشيز مارتينيز، قد أعطى البطاقة الصفراء في البداية إلى سانسيت، قبل العودة إلى تقنية الفار ومنح اللاعب البطاقة الحمراء بعد ذلك.
ونقلت صحيفة موندو الحديث الذي جمع بين سانشيز وحكم تقنية الفيديو، دانيال تروخيو سواريز.
أقرأ أيضًا .. فالفيردي معلقًا على الخسارة أمام برشلونة: الطرد أثر كثيرًا على مستوانا
وأخبر سواريز سانشيز في البداية: “خوسيه ماريا، أوصى بمراجعة لتحليل خطأ خطير محتمل، عندما تكون على الشاشة من فضلك أخبرني”.
ثم سمع سانسيت حديث الحكيم سويًا، ورد: “لا بد أنك تمزح، إنه مجرد تدخل عادي”.
وبعد ذلك طلب سانشيز من تقنية الفار أن يرى إعادة اللقطة، حيث أوضح: “حسنًا، أرى نقطة التلامس، حسنًا، أريد الآن أن أشاهدها بتسديدة أوسع وبكامل قوتها”.
واستكمل سانشيز: “القوة وهذا هو المفتاح، سرعة عادية، هكذا، حسنًا، ممتاز، سأشهر البطاقة الحمراء وألغي البطاقة الصفراء”.
وبعد مشاهدة اللعبة توجه سانشيز إلى سانسيت ليسحب البطاقة الصفراء ويشهر البطاقة الحمراء مباشرًة.
وأفادت الصحيفة، أن تقرير سانشيز كتب فيه عن طرد سانسيت ضد برشلونة: “لركله الخصم بقوة مفرطة أثناء اللعب، ولكن دون أي إمكانية للعب على الكرة”.
O meia Zaracho avaliou bem a decisão da diretoria do Atlético-MG quanto as manutenções para 2024. O argentino é um dos maiks antigos em todo o elenco, e está indo para a sua quinta temporada junto ao Galo.
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O Atlético-MG apostou em poucos reforços para 2024, buscando fortalecer posições específicas. Até o momento, o único jogador anunciado foi Gustavo Scarpa. Zaracho elogiou a decisão da diretoria, e também a permanência de Felipão como técnico da equipe.
➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte
– É muito importante, porque a gente se conhece, conhece o Felipão, é fundamental começar de uma boa maneira. Temos que trabalhar – comentou o argentino.
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Um dos principais objetivo de Zaracho para a temporada é se manter constante e sem lesões. Em 2023, o meia sofreu com uma séria lesão no tornozelo ao início do ano, e três problemas no músculo posterior da coxa direita entre julho e dezembro. Nos últimos dois anos, o argentino ficou fora de 17 jogos.
– Estou feliz de voltar. Estava com vontade de retornar e de fazer uma grande pré-temporada, de cumprir objetivos novos que vamos colocar – afirmou Zaracho sobre o retorno aos campos.
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➡️ Atlético-MG tem interesse em atacante do futebol francês, diz site
Zaracho atuou pelo Galo 44 vezes, sendo 34 como titular. O argentino já balançou as redes três vezes, e deu duas assistências.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is poised to be without a big-name forward for the North London Derby against Tottenham on November 23, and he’ll be the last out of their long line of attackers to return from injury.
The Gunners’ majestic run of eight consecutive wins in all competitions without conceding a single goal came to an abrupt end at the Stadium of Light last weekend, with newly-promoted Sunderland dampening Arsenal’s air of invincibility and continuing their unbelievable start to 2025/2026.
Dan Ballard gave the hosts a surprise lead around 10 minutes before half-time, finally putting an end to David Raya’s run of clean sheets which stretched all the way back to September.
Bukayo Saka’s neat finish and Leandro Trossard’s piledriver did spark a fightback from Arsenal with Arteta’s side battling their way into the ascendency, much like they did at Sunderland’s North East rivals Newcastle nearly two months prior.
Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal
Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
However, an acrobatic, last-gasp equaliser from Brian Brobbery ensured that the Black Cats would maintain their unbeaten run at home and break Arsenal hearts in the process.
Man City, who put Liverpool to the sword at Eastlands the next day, will be given some real encouragement as Pep Guardiola’s side now close the gap to four points.
The north Londoners had a few other golden chances in the match with Martin Zubimendi striking the crossbar for good measure, but they arguably ran out of steam creatively and couldn’t kill the game off at 2-1.
This is largely owing to Arsenal’s plethora of injury absentees in the final third.
Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres were all forced to miss the clash, with some being unavailable for weeks as Arteta’s squad depth is seriously tested akin to last season.
Havertz has impressed Arsenal rehab specialists with his recovery from a knee problem, while Madueke is in line for an earlier than expected return to the fold after working hard behind-the-scenes.
In a boost for Arteta, journalist Simon Collings of Standard Sport has revealed that the aforementioned duo, Martinelli, Odegaard and Gyokeres are all racing to be fit for Arsenal’s looming clash with Tottenham right after the international break.
However, the same cannot be said for Jesus.
Gabriel Jesus poised to miss North London derby and last to return from Arsenal injury
Collings reports that, while the others could be available for Tottenham, Jesus “will be the last to return” from his Arsenal injury despite resuming full training last week.
The £265,000-per-week star ruptured his ACL in an FA Cup defeat to Man United in January and hasn’t played since then, with Jesus since stating that it is the worst injury of his career.
The Brazil international has also been heavily linked with a January exit in the last two months, but Arteta moved to quash these rumours by expressing his delight over Jesus’ imminent comeback.
The 28-year-old has missed a total of 54 games for Arsenal since that injury against United, so he’ll now be relishing the prospect of contributing towards their potential first Premier League title in 22 years.
On the TNT Sports panel for Liverpool’s Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, Steven Gerrard was hesitant to say that Arne Slot’s side are in a crisis.
But after being dispatched 4-1 by Peter Bosz’s Dutchmen, it’s difficult to argue anything even bordering the contrary. That was Liverpool’s ninth defeat in 12 matches across all competitions, and the crisis – yes, crisis – is deepening.
The most concerning thing is that there is so much talent in this side. Liverpool are chock-full of elite talent. But synergy and belief are in short supply at Anfield.
Slot is steadfast in his belief that he can craft an exit from this rut with the tools at his disposal, but sporting director Richard Hughes is gearing up for a January signing nonetheless.
Who Liverpool need to sign in January
There has been plenty of chatter relating to the need for a centre-back at Liverpool. It’s true. Despite Real Madrid ending their interest in Ibrahima Konate, the Reds are still short at the back after missing out on Marc Guehi last summer.
However, Slot has suggested that Liverpool have another area of the field on their mind, his frontline so imbalanced this season.
As per i News, Liverpool are leading the race for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, following initial enquiries, with David Ornstein previously confirming the Reds’ interest and that the Ghanaian winger has a £65m release clause in his contract that becomes active this January.
Semenyo is also courting intrigue from the likes of Manchester City, but Liverpool feel they have a good chance of bringing him over to Anfield after opting against signing a like-for-like Luis Diaz replacement this summer.
What Semenyo would offer Liverpool
It is promising to note the incremental progress Semenyo has made since joining Bournemouth from Bristol City in the Championship for about £10.5m in January 2023.
Last season, he was lauded for going to “another level” in the Premier League by teammate Lewis Cook, growing into his skin under the tutelage of Andoni Iraola, instrumental in the Cherries’ 56-point finish.
Ferocious and powerful, he has only gotten better since the summer, notching six goals and three assists across his first 11 matches in the division this term.
There is far more to the 25-year-old’s game than just goal contributions, but he has still managed to post more than all of his teammates at the Vitality Stadium.
Most G/A for Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth
Player
Goals + Assists
G/A Total
Antoine Semenyo
27 + 13
40
Justin Kluivert
23 + 11
34
Dominic Solanke
21 + 4
25
Marcus Tavernier
10 + 11
21
Evanilson
13 + 6
19
Data via Transfermarkt
His talismanic qualities and “world-class” form, as said by another teammate, Justin Kluivert, underscore Semenyo’s suitability at Liverpool, especially as his pace and power and burgeoning prolificacy has led Reds analyst Josh Williams to dub him “the closest you’ll find to peak Mane right now”.
This, and Semenyo’s big-game ability, suggests he could be one of the Anfield side’s finest signings in a long time, perhaps even since £60m was paid to RB Leipzig to bring Dominik Szoboszlai over from Germany.
Szoboszlai has had his ups and downs in a Liverpool shirt, but has bloomed into a superstar of a midfielder this season, stepping up and becoming a leader of men while applying his tireless energy and sharp technical skills at a time when ailing Liverpool desperately need them.
Liverpool’s Hungarian general is a masterful midfielder, cut and dry as the outfit’s best player this term; it is not even close.
While he is a wholly different type of player from Semenyo, they share an athletic likeness and have both established themselves as leading lights at their respective sides.
If Liverpool can both add balance to their side while infusing the squad with more in-form ability than has been on show this year, it will only be a good thing as Slot and Szoboszlai and the rest fight to steer the club out of the ditch they have slipped into.
Such a signing could be a catalyst for change, and at a comparatively shrewd £65m figure, Semenyo might just prove to be one of Liverpool’s best signings in a number of years.
Better than Isak: Liverpool join race for "one of the best RWs in the world"
Arne Slot’s Liverpool tenure is crumbling before him, and FSG are considering changes.
The allrounder overcame a blow to the forearm and spent a lengthy stint in the middle then Cooper Connolly ensured against late alarms
Tristan Lavalette31-Oct-2025
Cameron Green cuts the ball away•Getty Images
Cameron Green has been “hitting intensity” in training as he ramps up his bowling loads, but it remains unclear whether he will have an overs-restriction in his expected return to bowling in the next Sheffield Shield round.Green played as a specialist batter in Western Australia’s drawn Shield match against South Australia at the WACA. Batting in his preferred No. 4 spot, Green gave WA some hope of chasing down the 303-run target before he unluckily fell for 41 after a dubious caught behind decision.Immediately after the match ended due to bad light, Green had a 30-minute bowl in the middle of the WACA until rain fell on the ground.Related
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Webster falls cheaply as O'Neill stars in Victoria's victory
Green has bowled just four overs since returning from back surgery. He is likely to play as an allrounder in WA’s next Shield match against Queensland at the WACA starting on November 11 although he might be placed under bowling restrictions.”We’ll just make sure he can bowl first and then we’ll work that bit out,” WA coach Adam Voges said. “My hope is that he’ll be able to play as an allrounder the next game. He’s still building nicely. From what we’ve seen in the nets, he’s hitting intensity.”Green did get some quality batting time at the crease after making a duck in the first innings in his return from side soreness that ruled him out of the India ODI series. He faced 108 balls, his longest stint in the middle since the third Test against the West Indies in July.Green was in command and appeared unaffected after copping a stinging blow in the left forearm by quick Henry Thornton. He was eventually adjudged caught behind off a length delivery from Liam Scott that he tried to fend away from his body.Green threw his head back in disappointment at the decision following a half-hearted appeal from South Australia.Cameron Green inspects his arm after a blow from Henry Thornton•Getty Images
After the match appeared destined for a draw, there was a late twist when Aaron Hardie and Joel Curtis fell in quick succession to Scott. But Cooper Connolly held firm with an unbeaten half-century to ensure WA avoided a third consecutive defeat to start the season. It capped a strong allround performance for Connolly, who also claimed two wickets in South Australia’s second innings.With the pitch flattening out as the match wore on, South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney opted for caution and declared 30 minutes before lunch. Their hopes of an unlikely victory rested on spearhead Brendan Doggett, who produced a spectacular delivery to dismiss captain Sam Whiteman before being thwarted by Green and Cameron Bancroft, who top-scored with 58.Doggett finished with seven wickets for the match in his return from a hamstring injury, with his only previous game this season being in the One-Day Cup on September 20.With relentless accuracy and menacing movement, Doggett showed why he is likely to be a fast-bowling reserve for the Ashes having been on the fringes for the past 12 months.”I think he would be around the mark for the squad, it’s nice to see him come out and bowl like he did,” South Australia coach Ryan Harris said.After taking six wickets in WA’s first innings to claw South Australia back into the match, Doggett again loomed as South Australia’s talismanic figure. He stepped up in his first over to knock over Whiteman, who shouldered arms only to watch in horror as the ball swung back wickedly to hit the top of the off stump.All eyes were on Green, who entered at 37 for 2 early in the second session after Hilton Cartwright on 12 drove straight to mid-on. Green was rock solid and locked in as gleaned by his routine of stepping to the side and looking up at three of the WACA’s massive light towers after every delivery.Green had most of the strike and took his time, scoring just 8 off his first 32 balls. Bancroft appeared to be cruising towards a brisk half-century until Thornton bent his back and produced a hostile spell. But Thornton was left despondent when he had two big shouts against Bancroft turned down.Thornton then whacked Green’s forehand, with medical attention needed. But Green shrugged off any concern with several delightful strokes to give WA renewed enthusiasm heading into tea.Bancroft reached his half-century on resumption, but fell shortly after when he cut straight to Conor McInerney who juggled the catch at gully. Quick Nathan McAndrew resorted to a short-ball tactic against a patient Green, who did not bite but WA’s task proved beyond them as the match inevitably headed towards a draw.The result leaves the teams, who have won the last four Shield titles, still winless after three rounds.