Mandhana views England series as prep for the T20 World Cup
"(We have) a new look pace-bowling unit because unfortunately, there are a few injuries which had happened over the last four to five months, but (it is) really exciting, I mean (the) WPL has been good in terms of finding new people and of course, the domestic system as well.
"The amount of matches the girls play nowadays - all these girls have a rich experience in the domestic format, so I'm really excited to see them.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
6 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Liverpool will only sign right player at right price amid Isak row
Liverpool boss Arne Slot said on Thursday the Premier League champions will only sign the right player for the right price but refused to be drawn on the club's position regarding unsettled Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. Since Liverpool's reported £110 million ($148 million) bid for the 25-year-old Sweden international was rejected earlier this month, they have not held further talks but equally do not appear to have given up hope of bringing Isak to Anfield. Newcastle, for their part, are reported to be demanding a British record transfer fee of £150 million for Isak. The forward's decision to go public on Tuesday, accusing Newcastle of breaking promises and saying he "can't continue" and "change is in the best interests of everyone", has intensified speculation about Isak's future. Newcastle's response was to insist: "We have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired. We do not foresee those conditions being met." The back and forth exchanges have all added another layer of interest to Liverpool's match at Newcastle's St. James' Park on Monday, with Isak expected to be absent again as he continues to train away from the squad. Slot, speaking at a pre-match press conference on Thursday, said: "I am happy with the squad but if we think there is a player who can really make us better then this club has always shown they can bring them in." The Dutch manager, who has seen Liverpool's £300million-plus spending spree this summer offset by more than £200 million worth of sales, added: "But it needs to be everything we want: right transfer fee, right position and the player wants to come to us. "I don't think (it will be a busy end to the summer transfer window) because (that would mean) I would be unhappy with the squad and I am happy with the squad. "I say two players for each positions is ideal, but sometimes less is more so you are not disappointing players." Slot rejected suggestion Liverpool's trip to the northeast would be made easier by Isak's absence and the ensuing turmoil it has caused Newcastle. "I don't think they are a club with troubles," he said. "I assume Isak is not playing but they still have Anthony Gordon as a nine, they have Anthony Elanga as a right winger and Harvey Barnes from the left -- and Jacob Murphy is not even playing. "This is the Premier League, we all have a lot of options and Newcastle have them as well." But Slot's options at right-back have been reduced, with new signing Jeremie Frimpong ruled out until after next month's international break with a hamstring injury sustained in their opening victory over Bournemouth. Joe Gomez was pressed into action for 18 minutes despite having had just two training sessions after three weeks out with injury. Gomez could still be in contention at Newcastle, with Conor Bradley only returning to training on Thursday. "At the moment we only have two injuries, but unfortunately it is two in the same position," said Slot. "The good thing is we have other players that can play there. "Wataru Endo played there for a few minutes, Dominik Szoboszlai has already played there. There are other options we can explore."
Khaleej Times
6 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Premier League: Maresca adamant Fofana 'very happy' at Chelsea
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insists he has had heard nothing to suggest Wesley Fofana wants to leave Stamford Bridge after the defender removed pictures of himself playing for the club from his Instagram account. The 24-year-old France international, an unused substitute during Sunday's goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace, previously did something similar in 2022, just before completing a £70 million ($94 million) move from Leicester to Chelsea. The 19-year-old academy graduate Josh Acheampong was preferred alongside Trevoh Chalobah for the Palace draw despite a long-term injury to fellow central defender Levi Colwill. Maresca said after the match he never planned to deploy Fofana for the game, with the defender having missed a large part of last season after injuring his hamstring in December. Fofana, however, is expected to play some part when Chelsea face West Ham at the London Stadium on Friday. "I spoke with Wes every day. He's very happy, first of all because he's back from injury. He's joining all the sessions with us," Maresca told a pre-match press conference on Thursday. "He was on the bench just to be with us but from (Friday) he can get some minutes. We are happy, he is happy. About Instagram, I don't have any idea because I don't use social networks." Fofana, who has been limited to 34 appearances for the club in three seasons due to injuries, subsequently suffered online abuse on Wednesday after removing all references to Chelsea from his Instagram. "Wes is happy, we are happy, there is nothing to add on that," said Maresca. "If there is abuse on Instagram, it's never good. Not good for Wes, not for any player or human being in the world. It's something unfortunately we cannot control." Maresca appears to have become involved in a disagreement with the Chelsea hierarchy after saying before the Palace match that "the club knows" he favours signing a replacement to help cover Colwill's role given the player's importance in building attacks from the back. Tosin Adarabioyo, who missed the Palace match but is available to face West Ham, is considered the only member of the current squad capable of stepping into Colwill's position. Maresca, who has previously dismissed the possibility of using Fofana in the role after a failed experiment during last season's win over Bournemouth, has been told by the club he must make ends meet with the existing squad. "We used Josh in the last game, we are trying to find some internal solutions... we will see if something happens," said the Italian.
Khaleej Times
7 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Australia all-rounder Green eyes Shield to warm up bowling arm before Ashes
All-rounder Cameron Green says he will be ready to return to bowling during the domestic Sheffield Shield in a boost for Australia before hosting England in the Ashes. Green has been restricted to batting since returning from a long layoff following back surgery but has been gradually building up his bowling load in training. Australia play India in a white-ball series in October and November but Green may opt for a block of red-ball cricket for Western Australia to ramp up his bowling before the Ashes. "In the past, it's worked really well when I've focused on Shield cricket," Green told reporters in Mackay on Thursday. "That potentially might be the way to go, especially with working my way back to bowling, to potentially get a few more overs over a few more days." Australia will be wary of over-bowling Green, who missed the entire home Test series against India after opting for surgery on a fracture in his lumbar spine. But if fit and firing he would be a huge asset in Australia's bid to retain the urn against England. Green has 18 wickets in eight matches against England at an average of 24.44, compared to a career average of 35.31. More recently, it has been his contributions with the bat that have proved valuable for Australia. His 184 runs on difficult pitches during the West Indies Test tour helped Pat Cummins's team whitewash the hosts 3-0. Green said he was not reading too much into his batting form in the Caribbean. "I don't think we'll be playing on many wickets quite like that (this summer), so I don't think there's too many takeaways," he said. "It was such a tough wicket, especially for the batters -- to .... get out of the series unscathed was a good effort." The first Ashes Test is in Perth from Nov. 21.
