Newcastle United are now firmly out the other side of a whirlwind summer transfer window.

The main obvious talking point towards the end of the hectic window that clouded over every Toon conversation was Alexander Isak’s future, with the superstar Swede eventually moving on to Premier League rivals Liverpool in a staggering £125m deal on deadline day, after a well-known refusal to line up for the Magpies again.

Eddie Howe’s men thankfully bounced back from this expected departure by adding two new strikers to their camp late on, with the hope that both Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade can immediately hit the ground running, having cost a pretty penny to bring them both in.

What Wissa & Woltemade can offer Newcastle

Replacing a striker of Isak’s unbelievable quality was always going to be a tricky task.

However, Howe and Co. will pray that throwing both Wissa and Woltemade into the mix will make their former star-man’s absence feel less obvious, with Wissa especially well-versed in what it takes to succeed in the demanding Premier League.

Indeed, the 29-year-old – who cost an excessive £55m to bring in – already has 45 Premier League strikes next to his name when lining up for Brentford, with the Congolese attacker no doubt chomping at the bit to score goals by the bucket load at his new employers, after missing Newcastle’s weekend clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers owing to injury.

New £69m recruit Woltemade might well have to lead from the front, therefore, if Wissa is stricken with injury, with more pressure on the former Stuttgart man’s shoulders, arguably, considering he has never stepped foot onto English soil in his career to date.

He certainly knows where the goal is, though, when assessing his red-hot Bundesliga numbers from last season, with 13 strikes coming his way from just 28 starts.

It will just be whether Woltemade can immediately leap into the Premier League in style, with his bumper price tag upping the pressure levels on his shoulders. He has, of course, lessened that strain immediately when heading home a debut effort against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out.

The worry will still be that Howe’s side might well have overpaid for both these attackers in their desperation to fill their Isak-shaped hole, with this consistent first-team star at St James’ Park coming in with a heftier valuation, despite all the fanfare surrounding Newcastle’s two new major purchases.

The "monster" worth more than Wissa & Woltemade

Newcastle have spent big all summer long away from the additions of Wissa and Woltemade, with Anthony Elanga costing an inflated £55m to further bolster the Magpies’ new-look attack.

According to Football Transfers, however, Isak’s fellow compatriot is already worth a slightly lesser £51m, with both Wissa and Woltemade also falling victim to reduced values when using the same site.

Staggeringly, the ex-Bees forward’s value has already dropped all the way down to a meagre £22m when weighed up next to Elanga’s value, with that amount more in line with Newcastle’s original valuation of the 29-year-old, which stood at £30m, before Brentford drove a harder bargain.

Moreover, Newcastle could well have splashed more cash than they needed to with Woltemade as well, with the lethal ex-Stuttgart man worth just £32m, a far cry away from his high £69m valuation.

Amazingly, when judging all these new values, Newcastle fan favourite Joelinton even has a bigger transfer worth next to his name, which is arguably a testament to how vital the Brazilian has been to Howe’s cause over the past few seasons, even when many fresh faces have arrived through the door.

When first joining the Magpies ranks, many might have worried that the former Hoffenheim man was going to be known as an extortionate waste of cash, having struggled to initially settle after a whopping £40m was forked out to win his services.

Now, however, the South American “monster” – as he was once labelled by journalist Liam Kennedy – is a guaranteed starter when fit, with his value not wavering too far away from the millions originally spent on his services back in 2019.

Joelinton’s valuation now comes in at a slightly lesser £35m, which isn’t as dramatic a dip as Wissa and Woltemade have immediately experienced, with the 29-year-old keen to add even more goals and assists to his Toon back catalogue to help Howe and Co. surge up the early Premier League standings.

Joelinton’s Newcastle record

Stat

Joelinton

Games played

224

Goals scored

29

Assists

21

Trophies

1x

Original value

£40m

Value now

£35m

Sourced by Transfermarkt/Football Transfers

Having missed some games already this season through his own injury difficulties, the St. James’ Park faithful will be keen to see Joelinton back in the starting XI moving forward, knowing his added presence could see Newcastle kick on, as much as both Wissa and Woltemade can also be difference-makers.

Related Newcastle can get Woltemade hitting Isak levels by unleashing "unsung hero"

Newcastle United take on Wolves at St. James’ Park as they look to get their season up and running.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Sep 13, 2025

Glasgow Rangers head into the first international break of the season after drawing all four of their first four matches in the Scottish Premiership.

It has not been an ideal start for the Ibrox giants or Russell Martin, who will have to wait until the middle of September, at least, before grabbing his first win in charge of the club.

There were some positives for the Gers in their 0-0 draw with Celtic, including the debut of Bojan Miovski as discussed in the clip above and a clean sheet, but there were also some worrying performances.

Thelo Aasgaard was selected to play in the number ten role for the Gers behind the Macedonia international, and failed to impress in an attacking sense.

Thelo Aasgaard's performance in numbers

The Norway international, who signed from Luton Town on a permanent deal this summer, was unable to offer a threat at the top end of the pitch, as he ended the game with zero shots on target and zero key passes, per Sofascore.

Aasgaard was also unreliable in possession, completing just 57% of his attempted passes, and Martin may not have been happy with how sloppy he was on the ball.

The former Wigan Athletic star was, however, a physical outlet for Rangers. He won nine duels, including eight of his 12 on the ground, and won two tackles without being dribbled past a single time.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Aasgaard put himself about and was up for the scrap defensively, which helped Rangers to avoid losing too many 50/50s, and was far from the worst performer for the Gers.

Martin's possible tactical mistake for Rangers against Celtic

One player who was even worse than Aasgaard against Celtic was left-sided attacker Mikey Moore, who was unable to cause Anthony Ralston many problems.

Ahead of the match, Ralston appeared to be the weak link in the Hoops defence due to the injury to first-choice Alistair Johnston. Despite that, Martin opted to move Djeidi Gassama over to the right flank to accommodate Moore on the left.

Gassama has scored four goals and provided one assist in nine appearances as a left winger for Rangers this season, which is why it seemed like he would be the most obvious option to take the game to Ralston and expose him on that side.

As you can see in the table above, Moore did not take the game to the Scotland international and put in a disappointing all-round performance on the left flank, failing with 66.6% of his dribbles and completing just 44% of his passes.

That tactical decision also put Gassama out on the right, on his right foot, and meant that he struggled to take Kieran Tierney on down the outside in tight spaces, leaving Rangers too one-dimensional going forward.

In the end, the poor decisions in the wide areas heavily contributed to the team’s failure to create a single ‘big chance’ in the game, which left Miovski starved of service.

This is why Martin’s call to put Moore, who had an underwhelming afternoon, in on the left ahead of the usually electric Gassama was one that cost Rangers the win, as they were unable to take advantage of Johnston’s injury at right-back.

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2

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Emilio Galantini

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Whilst it is not a guarantee that Gassama would have won the game for Rangers, his statistics as a left-winger suggest that there was a good chance that he would have made a big impact and could have sealed all three points with a moment of magic.

Pep Guardiola was not impressed by suggestions that his Manchester City side were pegged back late on at Monaco in the Champions League due to the replacement of Rodri with Nico Gonzalez in midfield. The City boss defended the contribution Gonzalez made off the bench after coming on in the 61st minute, while he conceded that Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is not yet fit enough to play 90 minutes multiple times a week and "needs protecting" from recurring injury issues.

• Rodri replaced as Man City drop points at Monaco

  City led twice away at the Ligue 1 giants but were forced to settle for a point after Eric Dier equalised from the spot in the 90th minute. Gonzalez conceded the penalty for a high boot which caught the former Tottenham Hotspur man in the face, in what was certainly a moment of poor judgement by the midfielder.

  Guardiola was quick to justify his decision to substitute Rodri, though, stating that the 29-year-old was not fit enough to see out the game and must be eased back into the demanding schedule required across multiple competitions for the Cityzens.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Guardiola defends Gonzalez but makes concerning Rodri claim

  Guardiola said: “Are you suggesting that they scored because Nico Gonzalez was on the pitch and not Rodri? How can you prove that?”

  When asked if City can replace Rodri with just one man, Guardiola added: “We cannot play with 12. No, we cannot play with 12. I know Rodri is irreplaceable in many things. But Rodri could not play three days before because his knee was in a bad, bad condition. So, that’s why.

  “So, in that moment, Nico Gonzalez, in the 30 minutes he played, was the player who recovered most balls in the transition of attack to defence. We conceded less transitions than with Rodri, who conceded more in the first half when he was playing.

  “That is the reason why. I would love to tell you that ‘yes, because Rodri is not on the pitch, we concede the goal’. But I cannot prove that. Because if I had felt it, Rodri would have been on the pitch. But Rodri cannot play in certain moments, cannot play 90 minutes in many, many games. And Nico played really well against Burnley. Really, really good. He’s learning, he’s improving, and we need him.

  “Because Kova [Mateo Kovacic] is not ready, and Rodri cannot sustain yet the rhythm for games, 90 minutes. He made an incredible effort in the week against United, Napoli and especially Arsenal in that way.

  “I try to protect my players. Because look at what happened to Carvajal at [Real] Madrid, look what happens to players with many injuries, he’s injured again and again. So, sometimes I want the best players there, being fit, but they are still not. That’s why I have to protect the players.”

• Rodri eased back in by Guardiola after extended injury lay-off

  Rodri suffered an ACL injury against Arsenal over a year ago now, not making his return to first-team action until May. He has only made five starts in all competitions for his club since returning from the injury and has seen multiple minor setbacks since, including a knock picked up during the Club World Cup. His performances have yet to return to his imperious best, which is more than understandable.

  Getting Rodri back to full fitness will be a priority for City in the coming months. But, as stressed by Guardiola, the midfielder must be protected, or else further injury problems may occur. In the meantime, the likes of Gonzalez must step up – as that is precisely what he is in the squad to do.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  The pressure is on as Man City look to return to their best

  The games will continue to come thick and fast for Man City, who face five matches in October across three different competitions. Their next Champions League trip to Villarreal is looking all the more important following their draw in Monaco.

  Guardiola has never gone two consecutive seasons in his managerial career without winning a league title, never mind without winning a major trophy. The Sky Blues may still be recovering from their limited pre-season following their Club World Cup exploits, a problem which is currently being felt to the extreme by its winners, Chelsea.

After falling short of the playoff positions in the Championship last season, West Bromwich Albion made a daring call in appointing rookie boss Ryan Mason as their next manager this summer.

The bold appointment looks to be paying off already, when assessing the Baggies’ fast start out of the blocks, with the West Midlands outfit already occupying second spot in the challenging division after picking up three wins and a draw from their opening four clashes.

Mason has one breakout figure in his Baggies camp to particularly thank for the second-tier side’s unbeaten start, with Isaac Price sticking out as a top performer in Championship action, away from also being a goalscoring hero for his nation.

Price's blistering form this season

The former Tottenham Hotspur coach turned West Brom manager must be further commended for his new side’s electric start when you consider regular first-team faces such as Tom Fellows deserted the Hawthorns so late into the hectic window.

Thankfully, the 34-year-old has Isaac Price at his disposal to soften the blow of Fellows’ departure, with the former Everton youngster proving to be a real hit with the West Brom faithful so early into his stay back in England.

Indeed, the 21-year-old midfielder already has three strikes and two assists next to his name for the promotion hopefuls this season from just five clashes, with the West Brom number 21 also ripping it up for Northern Ireland recently to keep up his whirlwind run of form, having scored against Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany during the break.

This will all rest now on Price being able to keep up this blistering form when the games continue to come thick and fast, with four of the Baggies’ six Championship strikes to date relying on the magic of their £2.5m ace.

Mason will want to unearth more lively performers, such as Price, to make his team an even harder prospect to beat, with this raw Baggies starlet perhaps in line for more starting opportunities subsequently.

The West Brom youngster who could be the next Price

After all, Mason’s expertise when still situated at Spurs centred on his ability to work with youngsters closely and advance their game.

This could well have been a pulling factor as to why Toby Collyer decided to move to the Hawthorns on loan from Manchester United this summer, having already made considerable waves in the first team picture at Old Trafford.

Collyer has very much shown Ruben Amorim back in Manchester that age is just a number when unleashed into senior action, with this vital off-the-line clearance just one standout moment from his 13 first-team starts and counting for the Red Devils.

Price, who is the same age as the United midfielder, has also shown Mason why having youthful energy on his side can be impactful, with the England U20 international now searching for regular first-team minutes in the Championship to further his game even more.

Games played

6

Games started

0

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches*

22.7

Accurate passes*

12.3 (83%)

Tackles*

2.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

Total duels won*

3.3

Despite having nothing concrete to really show for his limited United first team chances, with zero goals or assists picked up, Collyer has still impressed with his fight and vigour from his minimal minutes in the senior picture, with 2.8 ball recoveries averaged and 3.3 duels won on average last season in the Premier League leading to analyst H hailing him as possessing “energy in abundance”.

He could well liven up the midfield ranks even more at the Hawthorns, therefore, away from just the emerging star of Price, with Collyer ensuring a 1-0 away win at Stoke City was secured last time out by winning a solitary ground duel, despite only being on the pitch for 11 minutes.

It might well be deemed unrealistic to expect him to break into the first-team picture ahead of the likes of West Brom midfield stalwarts Jayson Molumby and Alex Mowatt, but Mason could well catch Derby County off-guard up next by throwing in his new number 13 from the start, knowing the Rams are more of a well-drilled unit who rely on seasoned heads, over rising talents.

As a result, Collyer’s youthful exuberance might well catch John Eustace’s Rams cold.

The Red Devils youth product will have to be patient, however, with Mason knowing all too well that he will need his full squad – from Price to Collyer – to seal a dramatic return to the top-flight.

West Brom make loan bid to sign £14m star with optimism deal can be sealed

The Baggies are planning on doing some late business.

1 BySean Markus Clifford Aug 31, 2025

كشف مصدر داخل النادي الأهلي، عن موافقة الدنماركي ييس توروب، المدير الفني للمارد الأحمر، على التجديد للاعب الفريق والاستمرار ضمن كتيبة القلعة الحمراء خلال الفترة المُقبلة.

وعلم بطولات، أن ييس توروب أبدى موافقته على تجديد الأهلي لـ أحمد عبد القادر، وأن هناك جلسة بين اللاعب ووليد صلاح الدين مدير الكرة ستعقد خلال أيام من أجل حسم الاتفاق.

وتجدر الإشارة إلى أن أحمد عبد القادر منذ عودته من الإعارة في نادي قطر القطري، لم يشارك مع الأهلي تحت قيادة مدربه السابق مارسيل كولر، وترددت أنباء عديدة عن غضب اللاعب وقراره بالرحيل عن القلعة الحمراء نهائيًا.

طالع أيضًا | صدمة بشأن موعد عودة إمام عاشور للمشاركة مع الأهلي

وفجر الإعلامي أحمد شوبير مفاجأة في وقت سابق، عندما أكد أن نية اللاعب هي الانتقال لنادي الزمالك، وأنه بالفعل جلس مع بعض المسؤولين في القلعة البيضاء من أجل الاتفاق وارتداء القميص الأبيض فور رحيله عن النادي الأهلي.

ولكن بعد أن رحل مارسيل كولر، ثم خوسيه ريبيرو، عاد اللاعب للمشاركة من جديد تحت قيادة عماد النحاس، المدرب المؤقت السابق، وظهر بمستوى مميز أقنع به ييس توروب، ولذلك وافق الأخير على أن يستمر اللاعب ضمن صفوف الأهلي خلال الفترة القادمة.

MatériaMais Notícias

O zagueiro Arboleda é um dos líderes do elenco do São Paulo. No clube desde 2017, ele completou seis anos defendendo as cores do Tricolor nno final do mês de junho. Desde a sua chegada, é titular absoluto da equipe e um dos mais queridos pelos torcedores.

Livres no mercado! 20 jogadores sem clube que mudariam o seu time de patamar

O Lance! conversou com o zagueiro após a vitória contra o Palmeiras, na última quarta-feira (5). Na entrevista, Arboleda fala sobre o momento no São Paulo, os momentos de recuperação de graves lesões, parceria com Beraldo, joia da base, entre outros assuntos.

L!: Você é um dos destaques na zaga tricolor. Como você enxerga essa responsabilidade e esse espaço que você ocupa na equipe?

Claro que me sinto honrado por isso, já falei algumas vezes que o São Paulo é a minha casa. Ajudar o clube e os jogadores mais jovens é algo que eu me comprometo todos os dias, não só nos jogos, mas nos treinos também. Estou feliz com o momento, feliz com a vitória e vamos manter este ritmo para alcançar nossos objetivos.

L!: Você recentemente começou a trabalhar muito com Beraldo, um dos mais jovens do elenco. Como é sua relação com ele e com as outras Crias de Cotia?

Beraldo é gente fina, menino do bem. Ele é um zagueiro muito técnico e isso é algo importante. Tem boa saída de jogo, boa marcação, é um ótimo jogador. O clima com os garotos é sempre bom porque a gente acolhe, faz com que eles se sintam bem dentro do São Paulo. Isso é importante para eles, para o clube e até para nós que temos mais experiência. Ajuda todo mundo.

+ Para os tricolores paulistas apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!

L!: Ano passado, você passou por um momento complicado após a lesão que você sofreu. Foram meses sem jogar, em tratamento. Como foi esse período e como você lidou?

Eu comentei recentemente com amigos que foi um momento em que aprendi muito. As lesões não são fáceis, você precisa mudar sua rotina, sua vida, deixar de fazer o que você ama. É preciso manter a cabeça firme e eu acredito que consegui. Faz parte do jogo.

L!: O São Paulo conseguiu uma importante vitória contra o Palmeiras com você sendo um dos destaques. Como foi a expectativa para o jogo? Ficou satisfeito com a sua atuação?

Sabemos que foi um resultado importante, mas longe de achar que já acabou. São dois jogos, o resultado da ida conta como um fator positivo, mas não quer dizer muita coisa. Temos que entrar em campo ainda mais focados e ligados, do outro lado tem uma equipe muito forte.

L!: Falando em metas. Qual seu maior sonho com a camisa do São Paulo?

Vencer, vencer e vencer. Quero marcar história dentro do clube que abriu as portas para mim desde o primeiro dia. Vencer o próximo jogo, o próximo campeonato. Quero vencer e sempre retribuir o carinho de todos.

L!: Fora de campo, muitas pessoas que trabalham contigo no São Paulo comentam que você é muito bem-humorado e está sempre feliz. Como é Arboleda fora dos gramados?

Sou simples (risos). Gosto de fazer o bem e espero ajudar que sempre esteve ao meu lado. Tenho os mesmos sonhos de qualquer outra pessoa. Quero manter isso, pois me sinto bem e é importante estar bem fora dos campos também. O seu lado pessoal sempre reflete no seu lado profissional.

Bayern Munich’s blistering start of the season under Vincent Kompany has stunned the Bundesliga, with club legend Philipp Lahm crediting the Belgian coach for restoring “calm” and balance to the club. The Bavarians’ dominant run has left rivals like Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig far behind, as Lahm insists Harry Kane and Co. are simply too strong to be challenged for the title this season.

Kompany’s Bayern dominate Bundesliga with record-breaking start

Bayern are flying under boss Kompany, who has guided the German giants to 10 consecutive wins across all competitions, including a 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. With a stunning 25 goals scored and only three conceded in six league matches, Bayern sit comfortably atop the Bundesliga table, four points clear of Dortmund. Kompany’s men have dispatched Leipzig 6-0, Hamburg 5-0 and Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0, asserting themselves as virtually untouchable this season.

The Belgian tactician, now in his second year at Bayern, has set new records, including the best goal tally after six matchdays in Bundesliga history, surpassing club legends Udo Lattek and Jupp Heynckes. His side’s cohesion, pressing structure, and flexibility have silenced early doubts about his appointment, proving that Bayern’s project is once again in steady hands.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLahm praises Kompany for restoring ‘calm’ at Bayern

At the Hall of Fame Awards in Dortmund, Bayern legend Lahm hailed Kompany’s management for stabilising a club often embroiled in coaching chaos. “He has brought calm to the club. That wasn’t the case before,” Lahm said. “There have been many coaching changes, and it’s difficult to bring calm to a club like FC Bayern. We’ve managed that now.”
The 2014 World Cup winner emphasised that Kompany’s leadership has transformed the dressing room dynamic and restored unity. Yet, Lahm was cautious about long-term success, adding: “We’ll have to wait and see how far the team really is when they advance in the Champions League and the knockout matches come up.” His comments capture the mood in Munich which is confident, but aware that the true tests are still to come."

‘Bayern are always the favourites’ – Lahm

Lahm didn’t mince words when asked about Bayern’s title chances. “It’s been a while since it was a two-horse race for the championship,” he told . “I always see FC Bayern at the top. Leverkusen was there the year before last, but otherwise Bayern are always the favourites. You can see that again now, they have more quality than Dortmund, Leipzig, Leverkusen, and Frankfurt.”

His remarks underline how dominant Bayern remain in domestic competition, powered by world-class talents like Kane, Luis Diaz, and Joshua Kimmich. Lahm’s confidence reflects the reality that no other Bundesliga club appear close to matching Bayern’s depth, consistency, or mentality this season.

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Kane, Diaz & Gnabry leading the way for Bayern

English striker Kane's sensational form this season has been crucial to Bayern's bright start. His goal against Eintracht Frankfurt took his tally to 11 in six league matches this term while Luis Diaz netted twice and set the former Tottenham star up for his. Meanwhile, Serge Gnabry has excelled since moving into a different role this season and has three goals and as many assists in the German top-flight, putting him in contention for a new contract.

Brendan Doggett finished with the best figures in a final but Queensland have a shot at an astonishing turnaround

Andrew McGlashan28-Mar-2025

The Sheffield Shield final could be set for a grandstand finish after centuries from Jack Clayton and Jack Wildermuth gave Queensland hope of producing a record-breaking turnaround after South Australia had appeared on the brink of the title with Brendan Doggett claiming the best ever figures in a decider.When Michael Neser fell to the last ball before lunch on the third day, Queensland led by just 45 with four wickets in hand. But Clayton, who ran himself out first ball on the opening day, and Wildermuth added 103 for the seventh wicket then Wildermuth found support from Mark Steketee in a further 112-run stand for the eighth leaving South Australia needing what would be a record chase in a final of 270.Related

Sangha and Carey tons hand South Australia first Shield title in 29 years

Doggett's six trumps Vidler's four on dramatic opening day to Shield final

Lehmann century puts SA in charge but Labuchagne keeps Queensland alive

If Queensland are able to secure a remarkable victory having been dismantled for 95 in their first innings, they will have overturned a record final deficit in doing so with the previous being the 104 Victoria trailed by against New South Wales in 1990-91.South Australia will, though, take solace from the fact batting has become easier and, with Nathan McAndrew claiming the final wicket five minutes before stumps, they can start their chase afresh on Saturday morning although reverse swing could become a factor on an abrasive surface.Clayton’s century, the fifth of his first-class career, came with a push into the off side from his 247th delivery in what had been a superbly composed display after his first innings aberration.Jack Clayton made a superb century•Getty Images

He was lbw to Ben Manenti without adding to his total, at which point Queensland were still a precarious 148 ahead. But Wildermuth, who survived some close lbw shouts, continued to defy the home side to bring up his second century in consecutive matches, this one off a brisk 118 balls despite being kept quiet in the 90s, having also scored one against South Australia in the last round where his innings helped Queensland squeeze into the final.Wildermuth’s hundred, reached with a firm clip through midwicket off Liam Scott, was met with a more outgoing celebration than Clayton as he let out a roar of delight. He fell late in the day when McAndrew dug deep, finding some late movement to beat the inside edge with relief as much as joy the emotion for the home side.South Australia’s quicks visibly tired during the day. As the eighth-wicket stand extended, their shoulders started to slump for the first time in the game. Offspinner Manenti bowled just 15 of the 136 in the second innings, while captain Nathan McSweeney did not try any part-time options in an attempt to break the concentration of the Queensland batters but Doggett, with match figures of 11 for 140, and McAndrew were herculean in their efforts as they shared eight wickets.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Queensland had resumed with a lead of just one run and the game appeared to be slipping away when Doggett struck twice with a brace of lbws to remove Ben McDermott and Jimmy Peirson to complete a 10-wicket match haul.Targeting full and straight with a hint of late reverse swing, Doggett trapped both batters on the crease with deliveries that tailed in to continue his outstanding performance. He went on to become just the second bowler to claim 11 wickets in a Shield final after Tasmania’s Shane Jurgenson 2001-02.Clayton, who gave a very tough chance to Manenti at slip on 43, and Neser responded in a largely defensive mode, adding 29 in 21 overs as they nursed Queensland towards the second new ball while only edging the lead upwards. Then, having done the hard work to reach that moment, Neser edged a big drive against McAndrew against what became the final ball of the morning session.Clayton had only added 25 during the first session but he rarely appeared flustered and his off-side play stood out although he did have a nervous moment when he top-edged a Doggett short ball towards fine leg. At numerous times during the day, South Australia’s quicks went to a short-ball plan on an increasingly docile surface but, largely, the batters had time to adjust.Brendan Doggett continued his outstanding match•Getty Images

It was Wildermuth who signaled a change of tempo as he scored briskly from early in his innings. In a two-over period either side of afternoon drinks he took four boundaries in seven balls off McAndrew and Scott then reached his fifty from just 49 deliveries.When Clayton departed, getting a tap on the shoulder from Alex Carey in acknowledgment of his efforts, Wildermuth needed further support to give Queensland’s bowlers more to work with. Steketee did an ideal job and was also able to keep the scoreboard ticking against an increasingly weary attack.Steketee brought up just the fourth half-century of his 94-match first-class career, but his second of this season, when he took Jordan Buckingham for his seventh boundary followed by a two from his 101st delivery. He fell to a well-judged parried boundary catch at long leg by McAndrew who palmed the ball up as he went over the rope then gathered it back inside the playing area. It gave Doggett his 11th wicket; whether it becomes one of the great title-winning performances is yet to be determined.

Suzie Bates, New Zealand’s veteran allrounder, has become Durham Women’s first overseas signing, ahead of their maiden season in the new Tier One county competition.Bates, 37, was New Zealand’s joint-top scorer in their T20 World Cup victory last year, and joins the club on a season-long contract that will cover both the Metro Bank One Day Cup and Vitality Blast.She has scored over 25,000 runs in her career, including 34 centuries, and is closing in on 350 international caps since her debut in 2006. In internationals alone, she has over 10,000 runs across formats – the only New Zealand women’s cricketer to achieve the feat.Having captaining her country for seven years, Bates stepped into the role once more for their recent series against Sri Lanka. In 2022, she led Oval Invincibles to their second Hundred title, and has also represented Perth Scorchers, Birmingham Phoenix and Adelaide Strikers, as well as Hampshire and Kent.”I am so excited to join Durham for the inaugural season in the One-Day Cup and Vitality Blast,” Bates said. “I can’t wait to get over to Durham and join a talented squad and add my experience to the group and get stuck into the season.”Durham director of cricket, Marcus North, said: “It is great to welcome Suzie to Durham as our first ever women’s overseas professional player. This is an historic moment for Durham, and we are thrilled to welcome a player of Suzie’s calibre to the club.”Her record internationally and domestically is second to none and with a wide range of experience across the globe she will be the perfect fit for our group going into the 2025 season.”I can’t wait for her to join us in the next few weeks in what is a hugely exciting chapter for Durham Cricket.”

The CWI stated that the issues raised during Reifer’s hearing informed their decision to withdraw the charges against Campbell

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Apr-2025The four-match suspension previously imposed on Jamaica Scorpions captain John Campbell has been officially withdrawn following a recent meeting of the disciplinary committee on Friday, the Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced on Saturday. Campbell was handed a ban in December last year for not turning up for the toss against Barbados Pride, resulting in the Super50 final being forfeited for 2024-25.The rain-hit Super50 final was forfeited under extraordinary circumstances. The umpires had deemed conditions to be fit for a 20-overs-a-side match. But with neither captain making an appearance, no trophy was awarded for the 2024-25 edition. The fate of Barbados captain Raymon Reifer, who also faced the same charges, was not decided by the disciplinary committee in December.The CWI release stated that the committee took the view that “the procedure of bringing the charge was flawed and the matter therefore could not be heard” adding that the issues raised during Reifer’s hearing informed the body’s decision to withdraw the charges against Campbell. “It is important to note, the view is not pertaining to the merit of the charge but rather the process of the charge being laid.”Related

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Miles Bascombe, CWI director of cricket, stated in a release: “We acknowledge the Tribunal’s observations and respect their role in ensuring procedural fairness. While Mr. Campbell’s expression of remorse and admission has been accepted, we recognize the concerns raised during Reifer’s hearing regarding the overall process and have decided to withdraw the suspension.”That said, this does not absolve individuals of responsibility where there have been serious breaches. No ruling has been made to declare a winner or overturn any match outcome–this is purely a matter of addressing procedural fairness. Neither has anyone been found guilty or innocent of charges. Our commitment to discipline, professionalism, and the integrity of the game remains unwavering.”Earlier, the board had confirmed that no match fees would be distributed for the final and neither would prize money meant for the tournament’s winners and runners-up be awarded. The committee also did not issue any ruling on the matter of prize money or match fees arising from the final.