Semedo departure 'typical' - fans split on captain's exit
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Leader Live
2 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Pope's form, Stokes' fitness and pace options – the questions facing England
There are just over three months until England arrive in Perth and the planning can now begin in earnest. Here, the PA news agency looks at five key questions England need to answer. Will Ben Stokes be fully fit? England are a completely different team when their inspirational captain is firing on all cylinders. He was in brilliant form this summer, rolling back the years with ball in hand, but missed the Kia Oval decider with a shoulder problem. A six-to-10-week lay-off will follow but any further setbacks would raise serious alarms. Having been struck down by knee, hip, hamstring and shoulder injuries in the past two years, is it too optimistic to expect him to be in peak condition throughout a gruelling tour? What is the pace bowling pecking order? England have talked up the importance of building deep reserves of fast bowlers but when the first Test kicks off in Perth they must be clear on their best combination. Jofra Archer looks certain to be in it after his long-awaited comeback, Mark Wood hopes to be back after missing the entire Test season, while Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Jamie Overton, Chris Woakes and Sam Cook all played this summer. Woakes looks like missing out with a dislocated shoulder, but how do the others stack up? How do they get the best out of Ollie Pope? A big hundred against Zimbabwe and another century in his first knock against India removed some of the questions that had been circling about Pope's spot at number three. But he finished the series averaging 34 and was 10th on the run-scoring charts. Jacob Bethell's disappointing effort in the fifth Test against India has weakened his case as a replacement but England need more from a senior player in a key position. Could taking the vice-captaincy off him and promoting white-ball skipper Harry Brook be part of the answer? Is the spin situation settled? A lot of faith has been placed in Shoaib Bashir, with England backing their hunch that he can do well in Australia. It has been a mixed bag so far, with 68 wickets in 19 Tests but a stubbornly high average of 39. His broken finger opened the door for them to have an overdue second look at Liam Dawson, but the county scene's standard-bearer was dropped after taking one for 140 at Old Trafford. Will he travel as competition for Bashir, could there be a return to Jack Leach or might England look at using all-pace attacks for some Ashes contests? How will they prepare for the war of words? Australian players, fans and media cheerleaders have been paying close attention to the India series and it is has not been hard to realise the long-range sledging has already started. From David Warner's recent jibe at Joe Root to the social media barrage about the merits, or otherwise, of 'Bazball', the heat is already rising. Expect that to continue all the way until Glenn McGrath shockingly predicts a 5-0 win for Australia. England have refused to entertain much Ashes talk in recent months but the temptation will rise as the weeks tick by. Will they fire some broadsides of their own or keep things on the field?
South Wales Guardian
2 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Pope's form, Stokes' fitness and pace options – the questions facing England
There are just over three months until England arrive in Perth and the planning can now begin in earnest. Here, the PA news agency looks at five key questions England need to answer. Will Ben Stokes be fully fit? England are a completely different team when their inspirational captain is firing on all cylinders. He was in brilliant form this summer, rolling back the years with ball in hand, but missed the Kia Oval decider with a shoulder problem. A six-to-10-week lay-off will follow but any further setbacks would raise serious alarms. Having been struck down by knee, hip, hamstring and shoulder injuries in the past two years, is it too optimistic to expect him to be in peak condition throughout a gruelling tour? What is the pace bowling pecking order? England have talked up the importance of building deep reserves of fast bowlers but when the first Test kicks off in Perth they must be clear on their best combination. Jofra Archer looks certain to be in it after his long-awaited comeback, Mark Wood hopes to be back after missing the entire Test season, while Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Jamie Overton, Chris Woakes and Sam Cook all played this summer. Woakes looks like missing out with a dislocated shoulder, but how do the others stack up? How do they get the best out of Ollie Pope? A big hundred against Zimbabwe and another century in his first knock against India removed some of the questions that had been circling about Pope's spot at number three. But he finished the series averaging 34 and was 10th on the run-scoring charts. Jacob Bethell's disappointing effort in the fifth Test against India has weakened his case as a replacement but England need more from a senior player in a key position. Could taking the vice-captaincy off him and promoting white-ball skipper Harry Brook be part of the answer? Is the spin situation settled? A lot of faith has been placed in Shoaib Bashir, with England backing their hunch that he can do well in Australia. It has been a mixed bag so far, with 68 wickets in 19 Tests but a stubbornly high average of 39. His broken finger opened the door for them to have an overdue second look at Liam Dawson, but the county scene's standard-bearer was dropped after taking one for 140 at Old Trafford. Will he travel as competition for Bashir, could there be a return to Jack Leach or might England look at using all-pace attacks for some Ashes contests? How will they prepare for the war of words? Australian players, fans and media cheerleaders have been paying close attention to the India series and it is has not been hard to realise the long-range sledging has already started. From David Warner's recent jibe at Joe Root to the social media barrage about the merits, or otherwise, of 'Bazball', the heat is already rising. Expect that to continue all the way until Glenn McGrath shockingly predicts a 5-0 win for Australia. England have refused to entertain much Ashes talk in recent months but the temptation will rise as the weeks tick by. Will they fire some broadsides of their own or keep things on the field?
Scottish Sun
2 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Former Man Utd star Brandon Williams, 24, ‘lined up by clubs and impresses on Championship trial' after avoiding jail
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRANDON WILLIAMS is attracting transfer interest from both the Championship and abroad, according to reports. The former Manchester United full-back, 24, is on the lookout for a new club after avoiding jail earlier this year. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Brandon Williams has recently been on trial at Hull City Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 4 Williams, 24, made 51 first team appearances for Man Utd Credit: Getty Williams has not had a club since being released by the Red Devils at the end of the 2023-24 season. The ex-England youth international has recently been on trial with Championship club Hull, appearing from the bench in friendlies against Getafe and Sunderland. Williams has impressed during his short spell on Humberside and is expected to be offered a contract. According to the Mail, the Tigers face competition for Williams' signature. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL ALL SYSTEMS KO Man Utd match Newcastle's £74million Benjamin Sesko transfer bid They claim that the defender's attitude in particular has attracted interest from other Championship clubs and from teams overseas. In May, Williams was handed a suspended 14-month jail sentence for dangerous driving, having been going at up to 99mph. The ex-United starlet was also ordered to carry out 180 hours of community service after being found to be driving without insurance. Williams broke into the Red Devils' first team as a teenager and went on to play 51 times for his boyhood club. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 4 Williams received a suspended 14-month jail sentence earlier this year Credit: Andrew Price / View Finder Pictures During his time at United he also went on loan to Norwich and Ipswich. Earlier this year, Williams opened up on his struggles while appearing on Ben Foster's Fozcast show. Unemployed ex-Man Utd star Brandon Williams opens up on 'dark' times after axing He said: "My friends were worried about me, Angel Gomes, Jimmy [James] Garner, and D'Mani Mellor. Because I wasn't training, I was staying in my apartment, I wasn't moving, wasn't coming out." Williams then added: 'At that point I did [fall out of love with football], at that point it was just getting too much for me. It was problems with friends, friends going behind my back - stabbing me in my back. "I was ignoring my family, I wasn't really speaking to them. "They were really worried about me, my friends were as well to be fair. They could see it. It wasn't right." Williams has not played competitively since the first half of the 2023-24 season. But it now appears that he is nearing a comeback to the game. 4 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
