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Ireland ended the day six down, still another 333 runs from the target with one day to go

Mohammad Isam22-Nov-2025

Bangladesh are four wickets short of a series sweep against Ireland, on the day Taijul Islam overtook Shakib Al Hasan as the hosts’ highest wicket-taker. The visitors went to stumps on the fourth day on 176 for 6 in pursuit of an improbable 509, with Taijul having taken three wickets in the innings so far.Taijul took his 247th wicket to lead Bangladesh’s Test bowling charts when he trapped Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie lbw for 13 as the first wicket of the chase in the sixth over. Paul Stirling, the other opener, also fell to Taijul, caught at short leg where Mahmudul Hasan Joy took a simple catch. Hasan Murad trapped Cade Carmichael for 19 in the 20th over and Ireland were 77 for 3 just before tea.Mushfiqur’s memorable 100th Test•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Harry Tector struck three fours off Taijul after the break and brought up his fifty off 78 balls but he handed a catch to Mushfiqur Rahim, who ran in from the deep. Three overs later, Khaled Mahmud had Lorcan Tucker, who was unbeaten on 75 in the first innings, edge one behind for 7 and Ireland were in trouble at 127 for 5.Bangladesh then went on to drop Stephen Doheny three times, leaving the small crowd in Mirpur frustrated. Murad first dropped him at short midwicket on 2 before wicketkeeper Litton Das couldn’t latch on to a sharp chance when Doheny was on 13. Ebadot Hossain also put down a chance when he couldn’t hold on to a catch running in from deep square leg when Doheny was on 14. Taijul finally removed him on 15, when he missed an arm ball.Earlier, Mominul Haque’s dismissal on 87 led to Bangladesh’s declaration shortly after the lunch break on 297 for 4. Mushfiqur was unbeaten on 53, having already struck a century in the first innings.Mominul struck 10 fours in his 118-ball knock, as he continued to look for a century since Kanpur last year. The openers Shadman Islam and Mahmudul also struck fifties, as they added 119 runs and Mahmudul had fallen on the third evening for 60. Shadman’s was the first wicket to fall on the fourth morning when he was lbw to Andy McBrine for 78 and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto who handed a catch to gully for Jordan Neill’s first Test wicket. Mushfiqur joined Mominul and the duo put on a brisk century stand of 123 from 167 balls to power the lead past 500.

Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa has been left out of the DR Congo squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, which is slated to commence on December 21. Although the decision will be a shock for the forward, it should benefit the Magpies, who are still waiting to see their £55 million summer signing in action. The 29-year-old has not featured for the Premier League club since arriving from Brentford due to a knee injury suffered on international duty just days after completing his move.

AFPInjury strikes days after his Newcastle arrival

Wissa’s start to life in the North East has been shaped entirely by misfortune. After signing on deadline day, he immediately joined DR Congo for the September international break. He starred in a 4-1 win over South Sudan on September 5 and showed why Newcastle paid a premium for him as he racked up a goal and an assist. But in the following fixture, a narrow 3-2 defeat to Senegal, Wissa sustained the knee injury that has sidelined him ever since. Initial fears centred around possible ACL damage, but Newcastle quickly moved to reassure supporters that the forward had avoided a catastrophic setback. His recovery has been slower than first anticipated, with it reported that the striker suffered a minor setback during rehabilitation.

AdvertisementInternational snub helps Newcastle’s festive plans

Wissa was recruited as a Premier League-ready replacement for Alexander Isak following the Swede’s high-profile exit to Liverpool. His arrival was part of a broader attacking rebuild, and Newcastle believed his work rate and finishing ability made him a perfect fit for Howe’s system. In his absence, fellow summer arrival Nick Woltemade has stepped up impressively with seven goals in 14 starts across all competitions.

Had Wissa been selected for AFCON, Premier League regulations would have prohibited Newcastle from using him during the tournament window, even if he regained fitness earlier than expected. DR Congo’s decision to leave him out means that once he recovers, he is free to feature in every match of Newcastle’s congested festive schedule. If he continues to progress and avoids setbacks, he could finally be named in a matchday squad within the next two weeks, marking the end of a lengthy wait for his debut. 

Getty ImagesHowe doesn't want to rush Wissa into action

Speaking ahead of Newcastle’s Premier League meeting with Tottenham this week, head coach Eddie Howe struck a cautious but optimistic tone.

"He (Wissa) had an 11 vs. 11 game this week while we were at Everton. He will have another one this week, and we will see where he is," he said.

"There has been no change. He is working back, and he is doing well; everything is positive, but he will be back involved when we think he is able to contribute to the group and has a minimal chance of reinjury."

Wissa has been progressing through a tightly managed individual training programme, with Newcastle’s medical staff taking a long-term view of his recovery. Howe has been impressed with the forward’s determination and professionalism, particularly given the psychological blow of joining a new club only to be immediately sidelined.

"He has a very strong character and that comes across," Howe continued. "He’s good with the players, he’s very positive. He’s a leader. You can see that already. He’s trying to inspire and help the players, which is sometimes very difficult when you come to a new club and you’re injured straight away. That’s a real tough mental challenge for him to take on, especially with his transfer fee. There’ll be a lot of emotions going through him, but all he can focus on is trying to get fit and trying to make a difference on the pitch."

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What comes next?

With DR Congo choosing not to gamble on his fitness, Wissa’s pathway back now lies entirely within Newcastle’s hands. If his recovery continues smoothly, the forward could soon begin the Premier League chapter that was put on hold before it even started. 

DR Congo’s AFCON squad in full: 

Goalkeepers: Timothy Fayulu (FC Noah), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre), Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege)

Defenders: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United), Gedeon Kalulu (Lorient), Arthur Masuaku (Sunderland), Joris Kayembe (Genk), Rocky Bushiri, Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley), Chancel Mbemba (Lille), Steve Kapuadi (Legia Warsaw)

Midfielders: Noah Sadiki (Sunderland), Edo Kayembe (Watford), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos), Charles Pickel (Espanyol),  Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille), Mario Stroeykens (Anderlecht), Theo Bondgonda (Spartak Moscow), Michael-Ange Balikwisha (Celtic), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier), Brian Cipenga (Castellon)

Forwards: Simon Banza (Al Jazira), Ibrahim Mayele (Pyramids), Samuel Essende (Augsburg), Meschak Elia (Alanyaspor), Cedric Bakumbu (Real Betis).

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Suspenso por tentativa de fraude em exame antidoping, Gabigol, do Flamengo, se manifestou sobre a punição imposta pelo Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva Antidopagem (TJD-AD). De acordo com nota oficial publicada nas redes sociais, ele acredita que será inocentado.

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O jogador reiterou o respeito pelo Tribunal, mas afirmou estar decepcionado com o resultado final do julgamento. A decisão cabe recurso à Corte Arbitral do Esporte (CAS), na Suíça, e o atacante está confiante de que sua inocência será comprovada nas instâncias superiores.

CONFIRA ABAIXO A NOTA OFICIAL DE GABIGOL, DO FLAMENGO, SOBRE O CASO

“Gostaria de me pronunciar e esclarecer sobre o julgamento ocorrido hoje, em que fui suspenso por uma suposta tentativa de fraude a exame antidoping.

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A despeito do meu respeito pelo Tribunal, reitero que jamais tentei obstruir ou fraudar qualquer exame, e confio que serei inocentado pela instância superior.

Desde o início da minha carreira como jogador de futebol sempre segui as regras do jogo e nunca utilizei substâncias proibidas. Já fui submetido a dezenas de testes, todos sempre negativos, o que reforça meu compromisso com meu Clube e com o torcedor brasileiro.

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Estou decepcionado com o resultado do julgamento, mas seguirei cooperando com as autoridades esportivas e confiante de que minha inocência será comprovada e restabelecida pela instância superior”.

➡️ Veja o posicionamento do Flamengo

O QUE ACONTECEU?

A Justiça Desportiva Antidopagem julgou Gabigol por tentativa de fraude em exame antidoping, que acontece sem aviso prévio nos clubes, como no Flamengo. Ele foi acusado de infringir o artigo 122 do Código Brasileiro Antidopagem, que prevê suspensão de dois a quatro anos.

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The wicketkeeper-batter shows his full range during a maiden Test hundred of uninterrupted poise

Karthik Krishnaswamy03-Oct-20251:39

Jurel: The idea is to score ‘risk-free runs’

In the course of going from 36 to 60 on Friday afternoon in Ahmedabad, Dhruv Jurel hit three fours off West Indies’ seamers. He hit all three off the back foot, all three in the arc behind square on the off side, and each was subtly different from the other.The first came off a Jayden Seales delivery that was short but not necessarily wide, rising to just below shoulder height. Jurel rose with the ball, leaning slightly backwards to create room, and met it below his chin with his bat face open, using all of Seales’ pace to guide the ball wide of gully.The second and third came off Justin Greaves, and while there was a little more width to work with on these occasions, there wasn’t as much pace, so Jurel manufactured the power himself, with two distinct kinds of wristwork. First, the conventional back-cut with wrists imparting topspin; here the emphasis was on getting on top of the bounce and keeping the ball down. The next one didn’t bounce quite as much, so Jurel was able to employ the slice – with the point fielder having been pushed back, this way of playing the shot ensured he had no chance of saving the boundary, with the ball curving further and further away to his left as it scudded over the outfield.Related

• Jurel on being around the team: 'How many people get this opportunity?'

• Siraj's wobble-seam wizardry brings Ahmedabad alive

• Rahul, Jurel, Jadeja tons flatten West Indies

These weren’t particularly difficult shots for a Test batter to execute in excellent batting conditions, particularly against a bowler of Greaves’ pace limitations. They made for gorgeous watching, though, particularly for viewers invested in Indian cricket’s vast talent pool. We have watched Jurel bat and score runs before, and we’ve watched him do it in Test cricket, but we hadn’t really had the chance of seeing this facet of his game, this deft, square-of-the-wicket artistry.The innings that made everyone sit up and take notice of Jurel, the match-turning 90 against England in Ranchi last year, had come on a pitch of treacherous low bounce that all but took square-of-the-wicket runs out of the equation. That innings had been all about the full face of the bat and the opportunism of pouncing on scoring opportunities down the ground.This innings, a maiden Test hundred of uninterrupted poise in straightforward batting conditions, allowed Jurel to show off his full square-of-the-wicket range. You could admire the fleetness of his footwork when he pulled Roston Chase for six when the offspinner dropped marginally short. From watching him do it again and again, you could marvel at his ability to place his leg-side clips exactly where he wanted, square or even behind square, without needing to close the face of his bat, just by meeting the ball a little closer to his body or a little further away.2:02

Chopra: Jurel making a strong case for No. 6 spot

It all looked so calm and organised that you began to forget this was a man playing just the sixth Test match of an understudy’s career, all but one of his chances having arrived thanks to injury to one of the game’s great wicketkeeper-batters. You began to forget that he had never before batted as high as No. 5.But Jurel has always had this effect on the viewer, with that confident strut to the crease, that compact technique – with his hands never seeming to stray too far from his body, from backlift to follow-through – and those light feet that never seem to move all that much but usually seem to be in the right place. “Relax,” all of that tells you. “I know what I’m doing.”He makes this look effortless, but it could be the outcome of the rigorous mental preparation he does before matches, visualising all the scenarios he’s likely to come up against – the bowlers, the fields they are likely to set, the gaps he can target, the areas where he can score risk-free runs. And he does all this even when he knows he’s not playing.”I visualise a lot, whether I’m playing or not – I visualise what I would be doing I was playing,” he said at the end of the second day’s play in Ahmedabad. “When I do play a match, nothing feels new to me. It feels like I’ve already experienced it, and I know what the feeling is.”Everything I visualise – walking in, taking stance, taking leg [stump] guard, everything I visualise, so nothing feels different. I’m always prepared, whether I’m playing or not playing, I make that effort to keep myself ready.”So far, Jurel has had to keep himself ready for opportunities that could come without warning, but the assurance he radiates every time he keeps wicket and bat will surely lead India’s team management to consider playing him regardless of Rishabh Pant’s availability, with one of them keeping and the other playing as a specialist batter.That discussion is gaining volume, but Jurel isn’t about to get drawn into it.”I feel you control what’s in your control. It’s not my decision whether I’m played as a batter or as a keeper. Wherever I get to play a match, whether it’s [international or] domestic, my job is to score runs.”For the moment, he’s doing that as well as he possibly can.

نجح منتخب الأردن في تحقيق الفوز على الإمارات، بهدفين لهدف، في إطار مرحلة المجموعات من بطولة كأس العرب المقامة في قطر، خلال الفترة الحالية.

وأقيمت مباراة الأردن والإمارات، على ملعب استاد البيت، ضمن مواجهات الجولة الأولى من عمر منافسات المجموعة الثالثة لبطولة كأس العرب 2025.

وتضم المجموعة الثالثة من بطولة كأس العرب، منتخبات مصر والكويت والأردن والإمارات.

وسجل علي علوان أول أهداف الأردن في شباك الإمارات، من ركلة جزاء في الدقيقة 20 وضعها على يمين حارس المرمى، في لقطة تسببت في طرد مدافع الإمارات خالد إبراهيم في الدقيقة 18، ليكمل اللقاء بـ10 لاعبين.

وتحصل منتخب الأردن على ركلة جزاء ثانية، لكن علي علوان أهدرها في الدقيقة 39 من زمن اللقاء.

طالع | موعد مباراة الأردن القادمة في كأس العرب بعد الفوز على الإمارات

وتعادل برونو أوليفيرا لمنتخب الإمارت في الدقيقة 47، بعد تمريرة من لوان بيريرا إلى داخل منطقة الجزاء وصلت عند برونو ليسددها قوية داخل الشباك.

وعاد الأردن للتقدم بهدف ثان بعد بينية حاول مدافع الإمارات التصدى لها، لكن كرته اصطدمت بقدم يزن النعيمات الذي استغلها ولعبها من فوق الحارس ثم سددها قوية إلى داخل الشباك الخالية، في الدقيقة 64.

وكانت مواجهة مصر والكويت، قد انتهت بالتعادل بهدف لمثله، في ذات المجموعة.

وبذلك يحتل منتخب الأردن، المركز الأول بثلاث نقاط، ثم منتخب مصر ثان بنقطة، والكويت ثالث بنفس الرصيد، ويأتي منتخب الإمارات في المركز الرابع دون نقاط. أهداف مباراة الأردن والإمارات في كأس العرب

Shohei Ohtani took to the mound on Saturday against the Giants on the team's Bobblehead Day for MLB legend Barry Bonds.

Bonds was in attendance at the game to take part in the festivities around him and his bobblehead. Everyone wanted their hands on a bobblehead as fans lined up outside Oracle Park for a chance to take home one of the 20,000 available. But, it wasn't just fans wanted to take home the souvenir—Ohtani made sure he got to grab one, too.

Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow shared the fun story of Ohtani securing a Bonds bobblehead when appearing on KNBR's show this week. Someone with Ohtani after the game went up to a group of Giants workers who happened to be collecting the leftover bobbleheads after the game. Ohtani apparently wanted one of the bobbleheads, so the guy he was with asked a worker if he could grab one.

“He wanted the Barry Bonds bobblehead,” Krukow said. “Isn’t that a cool story?”

It's understandable why Ohtani would want a Bonds bobblehead—the guy's a legend of the sport. But, the way he went about securing one was pretty funny.

Ohtani walked away with two wins on Saturday. The Dodgers won 2-1 over the Giants, and the pitcher/designated hitter got his bobblehead.

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O Remo fez a temporada dos sonhos em 2025. Com uma boa dose de emoção, o time comandado por Guto Ferreira deu uma arrancada incrível na reta final da Série B e conquistou o objetivo que muitos torcedores sequer sonhavam: o acesso para a elite do futebol brasileiro depois de 32 anos. Uma campanha para coroar o ano mágico e recolocar a região Norte no mapa da Série A.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol NacionalAnálise: Coritiba recalcula rota, conquista título e visa se firmar na Série AFutebol Nacional09/12/2025JuventudeMontagem de elenco e fraco desempenho em casa conduzem o Juventude à Série BJuventude09/12/2025

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

O ano começou cheio de incertezas para o torcedor azulino, que viu o time subir da Série C para mais uma participação na Segunda Divisão. Logo em fevereiro, o Remo foi eliminado para o São Raimundo-RR nas oitavas da Copa Verde, mas conseguiu se recuperar em seguida com o título estadual, nos pênaltis, diante do rival Paysandu, que acabou rebaixado para a Série C.

Começou, então, Série B, e o Remo deixou boas impressões nas primeiras rodadas com nove jogos de invencibilidade, resultados que colocaram o time na parte de cima da tabela, ainda sob o comando de Daniel Paulista. Parte desses pontos foram conquistados com o brilho do atacante Pedro Rocha, artilheiro da Segundona com 15 gols.

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Depois de tropeços e resultados inesperados, o Remo chegou a ser comandado pelo português António Oliveira e pelo interino Flávio Garcia até a chegada de Guto Ferreira na 29ª rodada, que representou uma virada de chave para a equipe. Foram seis vitórias seguidas com o novo treinador e oito jogos de invencibilidade que praticamente selaram o acesso.

O último – e dramático – ato foi diante de um Mangueirão com mais de 47 mil pessoas, que presenciaram a vitória histórica por 3 a 1 em confronto direto contra o Goiás antes de explodir em êxtase com a conquista do acesso.

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Em conversa com o Lance!, o jornalista Mateus Miranda, da TV Cultura do Pará, listou três pontos que foram fundamentais para a volta do Remos à elite: gestão das dívidas, torcida e as chegadas de Marcos Braz (executivo de futebol) e Guto Ferreira.

— O primeiro ponto, eu diria, foi a política de melhor administração do pagamento de dívidas que o clube adotou a partir de uma gestão iniciada há cerca de cinco ou seis anos, com o presidente Fábio Bentes. Foi uma gestão mais austera, que priorizou justamente o pagamento dessas dívidas, permitindo que o clube se tornasse mais saudável financeiramente e colhesse os frutos disso agora, nos últimos dois anos, já com o presidente Tonhão. Foram dois anos em que o Remo conseguiu fazer muitos investimentos na Série C e também na Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro, o que culminou em dois acessos seguidos — detalhou Mateus.

— A chegada do Braz impulsiona o Remo no mercado, principalmente da metade para o fim do segundo turno. Apesar do trabalho ruim de Antônio Oliveira, houve um grande acerto do Remo ao contratar Guto Ferreira, que, para mim, é o terceiro fator que explica esse acesso. Guto Ferreira comandou o Remo em 10 jogos, conseguiu oito vitórias, um empate e apenas uma derrota — completou.

Números do Remo em 2025

Temporada: 25 vitórias, 17 empates e 11 derrotas em 53 jogos, com 81 gols marcados e 50 gols sofridos;

Paraense: 8 vitórias, 2 empates e 2 derrotas em 12 jogos, com 24 gols marcados e 8 gols sofridos;

Copa Verde: 1 empate em 1 jogo (derrota nos pênaltis), com 1 gol marcado e 1 gol sofrido;

Copa do Brasil: 1 vitória e 1 derrota em 2 jogos, com 5 gols marcados e 2 gols sofridos;

Série B: 16 vitórias, 14 empates e 8 derrotas em 38 jogos, com 51 gols marcados e 39 gols sofridos.

✅Simule aqui todos os resultados da Copa do Mundo e veja quem será o campeão

O que esperar do time em 2026

A equipe do Remo, no entanto, vai precisar correr contra o tempo para montar o elenco de olho na próxima temporada. O time paraense deu o azar de, logo no ano do seu retorno, o Campeonato Brasileiro começar no final de janeiro, encurtando a margem de planejamento e de erro.

Além de reforçar o elenco de forma significativa para uma competição que tem outro nível técnico, o Remo também se preocupa com a contratação de um treinador, já que a ideia de renovar com Guto Ferreira foi frustrada por entraves contratuais. A grande missão do novo técnico será manter o clube na Série A, principal objetivo do próximo ano.

— Tem uma geração inteira de torcedores que nunca viu o clube na Série A, que nunca acompanhou o Remo na era dos pontos corridos. Muitos que viajaram o Brasil acompanhando a campanha do acesso também vão viver essa experiência pela primeira vez. Existe, portanto, uma grande expectativa de ver o Remo competindo bem na Série A. E esse é um elemento com o qual o clube vai precisar saber lidar. Outro desafio que não pode ser ignorado, e que talvez seja o principal para clubes do Norte e do Nordeste nas competições nacionais, é o logístico. O Remo será o time que mais viajará quilômetros na Série A do Campeonato Brasileiro. É o clube que terá de fazer mais deslocamentos — concluiu Mateus.

➡️Rebaixados na Série A precisam recalcular orçamentos e mudar rota financeira em 2026

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O sistema de reconhecimento facial do Allianz Parque ajudou o Palmeiras a identificar o torcedor responsável por cuspir no técnico Tite, do Flamengo, no último domingo (21).

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasDicasIndependiente del Valle x Palmeiras: odds, estatísticas e informações para apostar na 3ª rodada da LibertadoresDicas23/04/2024PalmeirasVeiga vai descansar? Veja quem Abel Ferreira pode escalar como meia no PalmeirasPalmeiras23/04/2024Fora de CampoEx-Flamengo, Andreas Pereira responde provocação de torcedor do Palmeiras; vejaFora de Campo22/04/2024

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O nome do palmeirense não foi divulgado e ele não faz parte do programa de sócio torcedor Avanti, mas sim do ‘Passaporte’, programa que é gerido pela Real Arenas, empresa que administra o estádio.

A diretoria do Verdão fará de tudo para que a empresa que é da W Torre, tome medidas exemplares contra o torcedor que tomou tal atitude contra um profissional do futebol brasileiro.

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Nesta segunda-feira (22), a diretoria alviverde já tinha se desculpado com o Flamengo e agora o Palmeiras também apresentará as imagens para a polícia, além de torcer para que o clube não seja punido pela atitude isolada de um torcedor.

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Allianz ParqueFlamengoPalmeirasTite

Neither a new-ball spell from Jasprit Bumrah nor a confrontation with Virat Kohli could faze the young debutant

Alex Malcolm26-Dec-20241:51

Manjrekar explains how Konstas took down Bumrah

A star is born. No ordinary star either. It was a supernova that exploded onto the global stage with 65 balls of the most electric batting ever seen on Boxing Day.Sam Konstas has arrived and made his name. Nineteen-year-olds aren’t supposed to do what he did. They’re definitely not supposed to do what he did to Jasprit Bumrah.He is the fourth-youngest Australian to make his Test debut, and he scored the third-fastest half-century on debut by an Australian and the fastest by an opener.Related

• Konstas taking on Bumrah 'no surprise' to his coach Tahmid Islam

• Will Sam Konstas be the David Warner Australia are missing?

• Konstas on taking on Bumrah: 'That's the beauty of being young and a bit naive'

• Konstas' debut, Bumrah's riposte highlight Boxing Day

• Konstas looks 19, behaves 30, and is unfazed about a Test debut at the MCG

But it was what he did to Bumrah that was the most extraordinary. He toyed with the man who has tormented Australia in this series and took the most runs off him in one spell of any Test batter to have ever faced him.The man Konstas replaced, Nathan McSweeney, scored 15 off 66 balls with four dismissals against Bumrah in three Test matches. Usman Khawaja had scored 4 for 27 in 70 balls and Marnus Labuschange had 2 for 13 in 70 balls in the same games.Konstas smashed an unbeaten 34 off 33 off Bumrah, including 18 in an over. Bumrah has never conceded more in a Test over. Konstas hit him for two sixes. Only Jos Buttler has done that before and he wasn’t opening the batting on debut. And no batter had hit him for six in Test cricket since January 2021.”I’ll look to keep targeting him,” Konstas told the Fox Cricket broadcast when interviewed on the flying mic at the first drinks break. “Hopefully he might come back on.”Mohammed Siraj sledged Konstas. The kid charged against Siraj and slapped him through point for a boundary next ball and gave it right back to him, revving the crowd up with a hand gesture shortly after. Virat Kohli deliberately walked into Konstas’ line when he had his head down and bumped shoulders with him before telling the kid to “watch where he’s going”. Konstas stood his ground and gave it right back to India’s cricketing king.When asked about the exchange, Konstas said, “Whatever [happens] on the field stays on the field.”One former Australian player suggested privately that Konstas might be the most fearless of any Australian debutant in the history of Test cricket.Sam Konstas used the ramp to counter Jasprit Bumrah•Getty ImagesAll the credit in the world must go to Konstas for the show he put on to put Australia in a commanding position at lunch on the opening day. He did need a lot of luck, but it came because of some extraordinary bravery.Some credit though must also go to Australia’s selectors. They agonised over dropping McSweeney. But they concluded that while he was good enough for Test cricket, and good enough to be selected again, he was not putting any pressure on any of India’s bowlers, especially Bumrah.Chair of selectors George Bailey said they wanted to “throw a different look” at Bumrah and India, and Konstas was that different look.The decision looks like an act of genius now. But after 21 balls it did not. He looked instead like a deer in the headlights. Another poor Australian domestic batter sent to the gallows to be Bumrah’s next victim in front of 87,242 people.Bumrah beat him four times in the first over. Two balls into the next over, he got off the mark with a flick behind square from the first straight delivery. The roar of relief from the crowd showed how invested they were in the young man not being humiliated.Bumrah went back to bending outswingers away from him outside off stump. Then, in his 11th ball in Test cricket, Konstas tried to reverse scoop Bumrah and missed. The gasp from the crowd was the audio version of “WTF”. The replay on the big screen drew nervous laughter from the crowd. The same nervous laughter Khawaja had initially at the other end.He tried another forward defence next ball and was beaten again. Three balls into Bumrah’s next over he tried another reverse scoop and missed. Now the crowd was really murmuring. Phones pinged with messages flying. “WTF is this kid doing? Didn’t know Joe Root was batting for Australia.”Konstas finally got to the other end, courtesy of Khawaja. He charged against Siraj and missed with a wild swipe. He charged again and swatted across the line through the leg side for three runs and earned a death stare from Siraj.Konstas was on 5 off 21 balls and Australia were 12 for 0 after six overs. There was no evidence at this point he was going to do any better than McSweeney had against Bumrah, which would serve only to confirm the theory that there wasn’t a single Australian citizen capable of handling him.Sam Konstas got his fifty off 52 balls•Getty ImagesHow wrong that theory was. Konstas instead proved the theory that if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.Off the first ball of Bumrah’s fourth over the game changed. Konstas shuffled outside off and scooped him over a very fine leg to a mighty roar that was only dulled slightly because landed inches short of going for six.The next shot was even more amazing. He switched hands and reverse scooped Bumrah for six. The audacity was breathtaking. Three balls later he did it again for another boundary. Bumrah went for 14 from the over.To try the shot twice, fail twice, and then try again twice and pull it off twice is evidence of a player who has complete faith in his own ability.There was scant evidence of Konstas playing this shot previously in first-class although he is capable of it in the short forms. He had done it once in the Prime Minister’s XI game off Akash Deep with success. But the score was 50 for 2 in the 14th over of a 50-over game.He is understood to have tried it in his last Sheffield Shield innings of 88 against Western Australia, which made veteran coach Greg Shipperd anxious.He barely practiced it in the nets in the lead in to his Test debut. During Australia’s first optional session on Monday, he reverse scooped one throwdown from Marnus Labuschagne. On Tuesday, he was tormented by Scott Boland and Sean Abbott while trying to defend. He got out to the latter several times but never once tried to reverse scoop him.But this is what makes Konstas unique. Having been mentored by former Australian allrounder and opener Shane Watson, Konstas has a specific mental routine. One of the mental concepts Watson teaches is for players to tap into their “gut feel”. If they feel an option is the right one in the moment, based on their preparation, then instinctively they should take that option and not fear the consequences.Bumrah’s relentless accuracy made the shot an option in the moment, just like Rishabh Pant had done to Scott Boland in Adelaide, and just as England’s Bazballers do to line-and-length bowlers on a regular basis.Konstas was asked at drinks whether he had planned that shot prior to the game and the answer was no.”When the ball was coming down,” he said.It changed the whole complexion of the game. Rohit Sharma relented and moved third slip to deep third. Konstas nicked a ball shortly after that might have been caught by third slip but no one was there.In Bumrah’s sixth and final over of his first spell, Konstas delivered an astonishing assault as the impeccable lines and lengths became scattergun. The scoops were no longer needed. He moved outside leg and thumped him straight of mid-off for four. He pulled one through midwicket for two. He then launched a length ball over long-on for six before carving a low full toss behind point for four. The last ball of the over was lofted over mid-off without timing for two.Bumrah had conceded 18 in the over and 38 in his six-over spell and was pulled from the attack. Konstas was 45 off 44, having scored 40 from his last 23 balls.He raced to 50 in 52, and received an enormous ovation, before unfurling another audacious shot, running at Siraj and clubbing a short ball over midwicket.He finally ran aground trying to defend against Ravindra Jadeja. He was nearly pinned lbw in Jadeja’s second over. Umpire Michael Gough gave him not out and it was umpire’s call on hitting leg. In Jadeja’s third over Gough raised his finger as it was smashing leg stump.Konstas got a standing ovation for 60 off 65 and then wandered back out of the rooms to casually sign autographs and take selfies with the fans near the race.Aside from the Konstas-mania that will undoubtedly ensue, the flow-on effects of his audacious batting for Australia’s team were clear for the world to see. Khawaja, under virtually no pressure at the other end, cruised to his first half-century in 12 innings. The opening partnership yielded 89 in 19.2 overs, the highest opening stand Australia had produced in over 12 months and the highest against India in a Test match since 2018.What was clear too, when Bumrah returned for his second and third spells either side of lunch, was that Konstas’ innings was a complete outlier. Normal service resumed. Khawaja and Labuschagne struggled to score despite Australia’s imposing position. Bumrah bowled three maidens in five overs, conceding just five runs. But the threat of the new ball had gone. Edges fell well short of the cordon. India looked rattled and perplexed.The afterglow of Konstas’ supernova looks spectacular for Australia, in both the short and the long term.

MLB’s hot stove is about to get cranked up this week, as the 2025 winter meetings begin Monday in Orlando, Fla., where executives from all 30 teams will gather. And with executives, managers and player agents in the same room, the proverbial engines of the free agent and trade markets are being revved up. Some of the offseason’s biggest deals often go down at the winter meetings. This year could be no different. 

The best available position player on the market, Kyle Tucker, met with the reigning American League champion Blue Jays, perhaps a precursor to his market picking up speed this week. Arguably the next best free agent hitter, National League home run king Kyle Schwarber, is a candidate to be the first free agent domino to fall in Orlando. And then there’s the trade market. Will back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal be dealt by the Tigers? All these questions—and more—will be answered in the coming days, making for an exciting time for baseball fans. That said, here are the biggest questions in MLB heading into the winter meetings.

1. Where will Kyle Tucker land?