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New Zealand offspinner Jeetan Patel rocked Yorkshire with a brilliant hat-trick as Warwickshire stalled their advance to the quarter-finals of the NatWest Blast by winning with two balls to spare.

Jon Culley at Headingley18-Jul-2014
ScorecardJeetan Patel’s hat-trick proved in a victorious cause•Getty ImagesNew Zealand offspinner Jeetan Patel rocked Yorkshire with a brilliant hat-trick as Warwickshire stalled their advance to the quarter-finals of the NatWest Blast by winning with two balls to spare.Laurie Evans kept the Bears’ chance of finishing in the top four places in the North Division alive with a superb unbeaten 69 off 43 balls that included one enormous six, driven on to the roof of the Football Stand from the off-spin of Azeem Rafiq with such power that it bounced up and over the apex.Patel dismissed Kane Williamson, Andrew Gale and Adam Lyth with consecutive deliveries in his second over, becoming the fourth Warwickshire’s bowler to achieve a T20 hat-trick.James Anyon, Imran Tahir and Keith Barker did it, Barker against Yorkshire at Edgbaston in 2010. There have been 16 hat-tricks in English domestic T20 and five of them involve one or other of these sides, Yorkshire also finding themselves on the wrong end of one against Leicestershire at Grace Road in 2007, when Jeremy Snape did the honours.What was all the more impressive about Patel’s feat was that they were all what you might call authentic dismissals, with no miscued slogs. Williamson was leg before and both Gale and Lyth were bowled off stump, beaten playing back to balls that spun. Combined with the skilful removal of Alex Lees, lured down the pitch and stumped in his first over, they gave Patel career-best T20 figures of 4 for 19.The triple calamity left Yorkshire reeling at 72 for 5 in the ninth over after winning the toss but they recovered to post a competitive score after Tim Bresnan and Adil Rashid combined to add 68 runs from 44 balls in an undefeated seventh-wicket partnership.Bresnan hit 45 from 36 balls, of which nine runs came after he was dropped by John Webb at deep-backward point in the last over of the innings, bowled by the former Yorkshire seamer Oliver Hannon-Dalby, which was his only chance. Adil Rashid scored 29 from 20 deliveries.It was good stuff from a Yorkshire perspective but hardly edge-of-your-seat viewing. There were 10 fours in the Bresnan-Rashid partnership but only five in 13 and a half overs of the Yorkshire innings before they got going, and not one six.It was not the kind of cricket to excite the casual fan hoping to be spectacularly entertained and that has been the verdict after too many matches, and not only this season. The razzmatazz marketing that many counties deliver superbly is in danger of appearing to be for a product that does not exist.Perhaps the record for Yorkshire of Aaron Finch says rather a lot. The Australian big-hitter, whose arrival prompted Yorkshire’s publicity machine to suggest nearby residents should board up their windows and spectators should equip themselves with hard hats, enjoyed one big night when he hit 88 against Lancashire at Old Trafford but has otherwise shown scarcely a glimpse of the firepower that brought him his world record 156 against England last year.His other eight innings have yielded 79 runs in total and his latest effort began with two respectful leaves against Rikki Clarke, who then took the pace off a ball to have him caught at mid-off.At least on this occasion there was Evans to come up with some old-fashioned T20 gusto in what turned out to be the match-winning performance, with a moment or two of modern innovation too in the shape of a scoop for six off Ryan Sidebottom from the last ball of the 19th over after a run of five fours in eight balls against Rich Pyrah and the former England left-armer that finally swung a tight contest in Warwickshire’s favour.Patel, typically modest, played down his own contribution afterwards. “It was important to get Kane because he can do such damage and the balls that bowled Gale and Lyth were decent balls, hitting off stump, so some would say it was good bowling but sometimes you get a bit of luck,” he said.”It was my first hat-trick but I’m not sure it affected the game that much beyond meaning they got 140 instead of 150. What got us across the line really was those partnerships with Rikki Clarke and Ateeq Javid at the end and a fantastic innings from Laurie, who is a guy with a lot of skills who can hit the ball to different parts of the park, and that makes it very hard for the opposition to defend.”

David Warner has admitted he needed the “kick up the bum” of being suspended and ultimately dropped from Australia’s Test side after his punch at Joe Root in a Birmingham pub

Brydon Coverdale in Hove25-Jul-2013David Warner has admitted he needed the “kick up the bum” of being suspended and ultimately dropped from Australia’s Test side after his punch at Joe Root in a Birmingham pub. Warner’s ban over the incident cost him his place in the first two Investec Tests at Trent Bridge and Lord’s but he is firmly back in contention for a recall in the third Test at Old Trafford after his 193 during the ongoing match against South Africa A in Pretoria.Warner was sent on the Australia A tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa after being left out of the Trent Bridge Test as the Australian camp sought a way to get him some game time following his suspension. His punch at Root on a night out during the Champions Trophy ultimately led to the sacking of coach Mickey Arthur, but for Warner personally, losing his place in the national side after playing 19 consecutive Tests was a wake-up call.”Sitting on the sidelines and copping that punishment and not being selected it was a thing that I needed,” Warner said from South Africa. “I definitely needed a kick up the bum. It was my own fault the incident that happened. My job was then to support our players, support the rest of the group and do everything I could to help them prepare for the games. I did that and I know the other guys on the tour did the same thing. We’ve all been working very hard.”Warner’s partnership with Ed Cowan at the top of Australia’s Test order appears to have been permanently split, with Cowan having been dropped after the loss in Nottingham. If Warner returns at Old Trafford it will likely be at No.6, although his heavy scoring against South Africa A – 193 from 226 deliveries – came at No.4.Although his scoring rate was typically quick, Warner impressed by surviving for more than five hours at the crease in Pretoria, against a South Africa A attack boasting the extremely promising pace pairing of Kyle Abbott and Marchant de Lange. His 193 was not his highest first-class score but it was his longest stay at the crease in quite some time, after a lean few months in all formats.”I set myself a goal of wanting to bat three hours out there,” Warner said. “I batted an hour in Zimbabwe and I decided here I’d just come in and be positive from the start and when the ball was there to hit, I hit it. That’s how I played and it came off.”I hadn’t really played for about 40 days so with no cricket under my belt I was fortunate enough to be sent here and get some game time in. I know I would have had to wait until after the first two Tests to get any game time over there otherwise.”Had he stayed in England, Warner’s first opportunity for some time in the middle would have come in the tour match against Sussex, which begins in Hove on Friday. Warner’s innings means that Phillip Hughes and Steven Smith especially will be under pressure to post decent scores against Sussex in the lead-up to the Manchester Test.One man who won’t be scoring any runs in Sussex is Shane Watson, who has stayed in London along with some other members of the squad to train ahead of the third Test. Watson was the subject of a Twitter rant from David Warner’s brother Steve during the Lord’s Test, but Warner said he had nothing but support for Watson.”A hundred percent. I get along with Shane very well,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoy batting with Shane, I know what he does for the team and I know what a team player he is, not just on the field but in and around the group how he supports the guys. He’s fantastic.”

Trinidad & Tobago earned the unique honour of winning the Caribbean Twenty20 for the third successive year, and their fourth in total, after they trampled over a hapless Guyana with a nine-wicket victory

The Report by Nagraj Gollapudi21-Jan-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsTrinidad & Tobago celebrate their emphatic win over Guyana in the Caribbean T20 final•WICB MediaTrinidad & Tobago earned the unique honour of winning the Caribbean Twenty20 for the third successive year, and their fourth title overall, after they trampled over a hapless Guyana with a nine-wicket victory. Anointed the favourites from the moment this final edition of the tournament began on January 6, the defending champions lived up to their reputation with a resounding victory.Kieron Pollard, promoted up the order, swept a massive six over wide long-on for the winning runs, threw his bat aside and stripped off his red Trinidad & Tobago shirt to display a white vest on which was written: “Congratulations T&T team. We have done it. I’m proud.” His team-mate Dwayne Bravo, meanwhile, cut short the victory lap to join the DJ on the performing deck to sing and dance to the popular Soca numbers “Differentology” and “Bacchanalist”, thus adding to the carnival preparations gathering back in Port of Spain and rest of the island.Chasing a modest 117 for victory, T&T started in dominant fashion, racing to 25 after three overs as the opening pair of Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis declared their positive intent. Guyana should have had Lewis early on, however, when he miscued a pull against a short delivery from Ronsford Beaton, one of the most impressive fast bowlers to have emerged from the last two weeks. Beaton charged forward to take the catch in his follow through but wicketkeeper Derwin Christian advanced simultaneously from behind the wicket and both men collided, allowing Lewis, who had run virtually to the other end, to return safely back to his crease.Next ball, Lewis, playing his second match of the tournament, upper-cut Beaton for the first six of T&T’s innings. Lewis meted out further punishment to Steven Jacobs as 20 runs came from the fifth over to bring up the T&T 50, but Beaton got his man when he sent down a short-pitched delivery that Lewis try to duck only to present an easy catch. The Guyana players flashed nervous smiles, perhaps realising the writing was already on the wall. Simmons and Pollard ensured that it was, wrapping up the chase with almost eight overs to spare.Earlier, there had been a lot of emphasis placed on the toss, as only twice in eleven matches played on the St Lucia leg of this tournament had the team batting first won. Veerasammy Permaul, the Guyana captain, called heads, lost and was asked to bat. However, the way the evening panned out, such factors were unlikely to have made any difference to T&T, as they dominated the contest throughout.T&T were coming into the match after a four-day break but they were not slow to regain their rhythm. Guyana’s batsmen were completely at sea against the combination of aggressive fast bowling from Shannon Gabriel and Rayad Emrit, backed up by the wily spin of Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine. It was Gabriel, with his bounding run-up, who clocked consistently blistering pace to put Guyana under the cosh straightaway.After taking just a single from Gabriel’s first over, Christian powerfully drove Badree for the first boundary off the seventh ball of the match. Two balls later, trying to hit straight and over the bowler’s head, Christian mistimed to mid-off. Emrit was the catcher but in Badree’s next over he made a mess of a simple chance from Trevon Griffith, the other Guyana opener, who had attempted a straight hoick.Ramnaresh Sarwan continued his terrible form, falling prey to an familiar ploy. Prompted by Dwayne Bravo, Gabriel adjusted his lengths, pitching more back of length and short against Sarwan, who lost control of his stroke on the charge and top-edged to midwicket. In the same over, Gabriel attacked the ribs of new man Narsingh Deonarine with a lifting delivery, the batsman beaten by the pace to be caught behind.By the time the fielding restrictions were removed after the sixth over, Guyana were 23 for 3. At the halfway mark, they had limped to 49 for 3, with just two fours coming from the bat. It was not the first time Guyana had started off in such sluggish fashion. Throughout the tournament their top order had failed to perform consistently. If anything short cameos and spirited partnerships had carried them to the summit clash.In Guyana’s play-off win over Jamaica, Griffith and Christopher Barnwell had raised a match-turning 79-run run partnership for the third wicket. Less than 24 hours later the pair were once again attempting another rescue act. On 19, Griffith attempted to slog Emrit down the ground but gave another chance to the bowler, who allowed the ball to bounce out of his hands once again. “This guy doesn’t want to be here,” was Ramdin’s response to another life for Griffith and although the batsman slog-swept Narine for a six in the next over he was eventually run out by a Pollard direct hit from short midwicket while going for a tight single.After that steadying, 61-run partnership, the onus was now entirely on Barnwell. However, he was finding it hard to connect and he departed for 32 in the 17th over, top-edging Emrit to point. Two balls later, Leon Johnson was caught in the deep by Simmons: Guyana had lost two wickets for just one run. Although 11 runs came off the final over, Guyana knew it was too little and too late.Guyana, who won the tournament in 2006 and 2010, were playing their fourth match in as many days and were running low on fuel. Clearly they had not had enough time to chalk out a workable strategy, something T&T managed to do convincingly. Possessing as many as seven of West Indies’ World Twenty20-winning squad, T&T had the experience, firepower, nous and balance to win the tournament. In the end they were the deserving winners.

Eoin Morgan has told England to embrace the hype of a world final as they prepare to face West Indies in Kolkata

Andrew Miller02-Apr-2016Eoin Morgan has challenged his England team to finish the journey that they embarked on this time last year, and insists they will go into Sunday’s World T20 final against West Indies in Kolkata with their eyes wide open and their mindsets as clear as they have been throughout a revelatory campaign.The madness of the media scrum that Morgan faced at Eden Gardens was ample evidence that tomorrow is no ordinary game. However, England’s captain was adamant that the same grounded attitude that has carried the team to within a single victory of their second World T20 crown would prevent them from being overawed by the occasion.”We’re quite real about things,” said Morgan. “We know it’s not going to be a normal game. Even the semi-final we played [against New Zealand at Delhi], there was quite a lot of hype around the expectation of playing in a final, and I want all of our players to embrace it.”Tomorrow everything will feel a little bit rushed to start with, but it is important we are in the right frame of mind to slow it down when needed and more importantly execute our skills.”The expectation going into the final was that England and West Indies would be faced with a slow, low turner, similar to the Kolkata pitch on which India and Pakistan battled out a low-scoring thriller in the group stages of the competition. However, Morgan said he had been encouraged by his initial viewing of the surface, which appears to have the sort of grass covering that might not have been anticipated.That prospect will doubtless suit West Indies’ stroke-makers as much as England’s – with 146 runs in boundaries in their semi-final win over India at the Wankhede, the prospect of the ball once again coming onto the bat will do them no harm at all.Nevertheless, for England – whose five matches to date have all come on the relatively pacy wickets of Mumbai and Delhi, which have allowed their four-prong seam attack to grow in confidence as each round has progressed – the less adaptation required, the better.”I have had a look at the wicket, yesterday not today,” said Morgan. “There is a nice covering of grass and it looks a really good cricket wicket, which is really good news. I suppose coming to Kolkata you’d expect it to have no grass, but it’s nice to see a covering of grass holding it together.”The wickets we’ve played on in our group weren’t typical Indian wickets,” he added. “I suppose it has surprised me a little. I’m thankful I have reacted to what’s been in front of me and used what’s been effective in games, rather than just sticking with spin the whole time.”That said, there is still plenty of time for the groundstaff to have their say, and should he wake up tomorrow and discover that the surface has been scalped, then Morgan was adamant he would have no compunction about putting Liam Dawson, England’s third spinner, forward for selection, even though he has yet to play a single international match.”Absolutely,” Morgan said. “He’s bowled brilliantly. He wasn’t in the squad in South Africa but he travelled with the side and since he’s been out here he’s come on a hell of a lot. We’d have no issue giving him his debut if that was the right way to go about it.Jason Roy’s nerveless assault carried England into the final•AFP”If the grass isn’t there tomorrow, I’d back the ability of my players to adapt to any conditions and put in a match-winning performance.”That attitude chimes with England’s overall outlook in this tournament. And, though the contrast has been done to death in the past three weeks, that willingness to have a go and to remain buoyant even in times of adversity, is so far removed from the dour approach to the 2015 World Cup that it still boggles the mind that England could reform their attitude so swiftly.”It’s quite a stark difference from 12 months ago,” said Morgan. “It’s hard to believe in some ways. I would never have imagined the turnaround being so immediate or having such an immediate impact. But I’ve always stressed the talent we have in the changing-room and the hard work we put in.”The key component in that has been the mindset of the players and back-room staff, and it’s rubbed off on everyone. Tomorrow, the opportunity that we do have is a product of that. It’s very exciting. I’m just very proud. Very, very proud.”On a personal note, Morgan admitted that his own form has been a concern, much as it was in Australia and New Zealand last year when he mustered 90 runs in five innings. However, having been thrown the captaincy at the last minute on that occasion, this time around he has had a full year in which to cement his authority on the team. Even in the absence of a major contribution from his own bat, Morgan is confident of the value he has brought to the role in this campaign.”I think I’ve drawn on a lot of experience,” he said. “One thing I like to think I do is deal on an individual basis pretty well and keep an eye on the guys, how they’re travelling, and the guys who aren’t playing.”It’s very important that their contributions and morale around the group is high, given that we’re touring India and a lot of the guys haven’t been here before, it’s important to keep talking about conditions, make sure there’s no novelty and no pre-conceived ideas.”There will be plenty of novelty on parade on Sunday evening, as England take to the field at the most storied venue in Asia to contest a world final that no-one could have predicted they were ready to tackle.”It would mean a huge amount [to win it],” Morgan said. “The strides that we’ve made in the last 12 months in white-ball cricket, this would be a great reward for the mindset we’ve shown, the dedication and the hard work.”

Worcestershire wrapped up their third County Championship win of the season by eight wickets despite lower order resistance by Glamorgan in the Division Two clash at New Road

23-Jun-2013
ScorecardWorcestershire wrapped up their third County Championship win of the season by eight wickets despite lower order resistance by Glamorgan in the Division Two clash at New Road.Glamorgan’s last three wickets eventually added 149 as Jim Allenby made his second half-century of the match before they were dismissed for 278.Worcestershire were kept in the field for an hour-and-quarter on the last morning and a new threat emerged when rain interrupted their charge after they had made 20 towards a modest target of 51.Fortunately for them the clouds broke up while lunch was taken early and on the resumption they took no chances with the weather by completing the task in the 10th over.Captain Daryl Mitchell hit four fours in his 22 before he was caught at second slip, chasing a ball from Mike Reed, and Matt Pardoe tamely drove Marcus North’s first delivery to mid-on. The winning boundary then took Moeen Ali to 908 runs for the season, the highest total in the country.Worcestershire are unbeaten in four matches at New Road and this result, reversing a 10-wicket defeat at Cardiff in April, brings them into the promotion picture as the main rivals to the top two, Northamptonshire and Lancashire.For Glamorgan the season has been more of a struggle and this performance is one they will want to forget. Allenby was already on 52 when they resumed on 200 for 8, needing a further 28 to avoid an innings defeat, and the all-rounder continued to make Worcestershire pay for a dropped chance when he had made only one.Having top scored with 82 before Glamorgan followed on 228 behind, he was unbeaten with 74 in the second innings, although he faced only 21 of 108 balls bowled while 78 were added to the overnight total.His partnership with Will Owen yielded 82 in all before Michael Hogan thrashed 46 out of 57 for the ninth wicket. The Australian’s uncomplicated method, planting the front foot and driving through the ball, brought nine boundaries, with five of these coming in a couple of overs from young paceman Chris Russell.Alan Richardson claimed the first wicket of the day by bowling Owen for his 41st success of the season, and Hogan’s gallop was halted when he swung at and missed a straight ball from medium-pacer Joe Leach.Last man Reed made only four but he hung around for 37 balls before playing forward to Russell and edging to wicketkeeper Ben Cox as Glamorgan could only set a modest target, which Worcestershire then easily surpassed.

Batsman Neil Broom is set to end his nine-season stint with Otago and return to Canterbury, where he had made his first-class debut back in February 2003

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-2014Batsman Neil Broom is set to end his nine-season stint with Otago and return to Canterbury, where he had made his first-class debut back in February 2003.Broom joined Otago from the 2005-06 season and has been an important part of the side ever since. In nine seasons for Otago, Broom played 77 first-class matches for 4617 runs at an average of 41.59 with 12 centuries. His next first-class game, his first on return to Canterbury, will be his 100th.Broom, who has played 22 ODIs and 10 T20 internationals for New Zealand, was also a valuable member of the Otago limited-overs sides, and played 67 one-day matches and 64 T20s for them.”I have really enjoyed my time in Dunedin and would like to thank Otago Cricket for the opportunities they gave me,” Broom said. “I hold the place very close to my heart after spending nine great years in Dunedin. However the time is right for me to return to Christchurch with my family.””Neil has made a wonderful contribution to Otago Cricket since he moved down nine years ago,” said Ross Dykes, the Otago Cricket CEO. “His record speaks for itself but one can never speak of Neil’s batting without fondly recalling his remarkable century against Perth Scorchers at Jaipur in the Champions League in 2013. He leaves a big hole in all forms of cricket but we wish him and his family the very best for their future and thank him sincerely for all that he gave Otago on and off the field.”

Few teams have been able to keep the legendary attacker quiet, but his next opponent has been one of the best at doing so

Throughout his career, few teams have been able to really stop Lionel Messi. It's one of the reasons he's in this famous GOAT conversation, after all. No matter the level, no matter the competition, Messi's record speaks for itself. With the World Cup now in his back pocket, there isn't much left to hold against him.

Messi's record, however, isn't spectacular against everyone. A very small number of sides have been able to stop him, and one of them just so happens to be his next opponent in CONMEBOL's biggest game.

Fresh off a disappointing loss to one up-and-comer, Uruguay, Messi will lead Argentina against Brazil on Tuesday in a clash of South America's titans. Historically, Argentina are one of the few teams that can even compete with the famous Selecao. Brazil have more World Cups, but Argentina have more senior titles. It's a rivalry that's so good mostly because it has been so even.

It hasn't been for Messi, though. Brazil have largely been able to put a muzzle on the diminutive Argentine and, as they head into the next chapter of their historic rivalry, it may take the Messi magic that has often been missing for the world champions to escape the Maracana with a positive result.

GettyA historic rivalry

Few countries can put their resumes on the table against Brazil and Argentina, two of the premier national teams in the game since these sorts of competitions began.

On one side, you have Brazil, winners of five World Cups. They also have four Confederations Cups, two Olympic medals and nine U-20/U-17 World Cups to their name, as well as nine Copa America titles.

The one team with more Copas America? Argentina, who claimed their 15th title in 2021 with a famous victory in Brazil. That was Messi's first senior international trophy, and it paved the way for the success in Qatar one year later.

In terms of head-to-head, the two sides are relatively even. Brazil have won 43 of the 109 meetings between the two, with Argentina claiming 40. Until the Copa America final in 2021, though, Brazil reigned supreme when it mattered, winning six consecutive knockout clashes between the two dating back to 1995.

Argentina's win in the Copa America has only levelled up the rivalry, although it's one that has never really seen the best of Messi.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMessi's record vs Brazil

It doesn't need to be explained how good Messi's international record is, but we'll do it anyway: 106 goals in 125 caps, a World Cup, a Copa America, an Olympic Gold Medal, a World Youth Championship title. Messi's now done just about everything there is to do.

One of the few places he's struggled, though, is Brazil. It's not that his record is bad, because, realistically, it isn't. But, by his standards, Messi has struggled a bit when staring down the famous yellow shirts.

In 13 career games against Brazil, Messi has just five goals. An okay haul, sure, but not quite up to his usual standards. Argentina are just 6-6-1 in matches vs Brazil with Messi in the XI.

However, a look at those five goals offers a better glimpse into the real situation. Three of his five goals came in the same friendly: a June 2012 win in the U.S. Another came in a 2010 friendly in Qatar, an interesting preview of what was to come over a decade later. The last came in the 2019 Superclasico de los Americas, which was held in Saudi Arabia.

Messi has never scored against Brazil, either home or away, in South America. He's also never scored against Brazil in World Cup qualifying, and the Selecao is the only opponent he has not defeated in a World Cup qualifier.

Getty ImagesWhy Messi has struggled

There's a pretty easy answer to this question. It doesn't take much thought to figure out why Messi's goalscoring record isn't particularly great against Brazil, and that's because the Selecao are, in fact, very, very good.

There's never any sort of dropoff from Brazil, who have no rebuilding eras or generational shifts. It's a constant pipeline of talent flowing through the national team that keeps them permanently fixed to the top of the international game.

Defenders like Thiago Silva and Marquinhos would never have been too starstruck seeing Messi on the other side, nor is relative newcomer Eder Militao, a Real Madrid star. Legendary fullbacks like Dani Alves and Marcelo frequently made Argentina uncomfortable. A midfield shield like Casemiro, who has been at the top of that position for so long, is not one to be intimidated, either.

That's the easy answer: quality. From top to bottom, Brazil are always one of the most talented teams in the world. It hasn't been without controversy, though, with Messi once saying he believed there was something more foul going on.

After being eliminated at the hands of Brazil in the 2019 Copa America semifinals, Messi accused CONMBEOL of corruption in favor of Brazil. His accusation came after he was controversially sent off in Argentina's 2-1 win over Chile in the third place match, with Messi refusing to take part in the festivities after.

“We don’t have to be part of this corruption,” Messi said at the time. “They have showed us a lack of respect throughout this tournament. Sadly, the corruption, the referees, they don’t allow people to enjoy football, they ruined it a bit. I think the cup is fixed for Brazil. I hope that the VAR and the referees have nothing to do in this final and that Peru can compete because they have the team to do so although I think it’s difficult.”

Then-Brazil boss Tite hit back after Brazil's triumph.

"You have to have a little more respect and be careful," Tite said. "We played clean against Argentina. Messi was unfairly sent off against Chile. It was a yellow card. But be careful."

It only added a bit more spice to the rivalry, which remains as hot as any in South America due to the level on the field.

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GettyA mixed history at the Maracana

Prior to the World Cup in Qatar, the Maracana was the site of Messi's greatest international triumph. It was also the site of his greatest career disappointment.

The famous venue was the host of the 2014 World Cup final, Messi's first crack at winning that golden trophy. We all know how it went: Messi and Argentina had their hearts broken at the death, with Mario Gotze etching his name in history as Germany lifted the trophy.

Seven years later, it was Messi's turn, as an Angel Di Maria goal led Argentina to a stunning win over Copa America hosts Brazil. The sight of Argentina lifting Messi into the air was a defining moment of his career, even if it was soon usurped by the images of him in Qatar.

That fact wasn't lost on Messi, who believed it was divine intervention that put Argentina in the Maracana that night.

"Coincidences don't exist," he said in his prematch speech ahead of the 2021 Copa America final. "This tournament had to be played in Argentina and do you know why? Because God brought it here so we win here in the Maracana for all of us. So let's go out there with confidence, with cool heads, and let's win this trophy. Come on boys!”

The stadium remains the site of one of Messi's greatest moments and the worst of his career as he prepares for what may just be his last ever match at the Maracana.

After a month of speculation regarding Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup due to political and diplomatic tensions, the team’s focus is back on cricket

Mohammad Isam24-Feb-2014The uncertainty over Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup resulted in an anxious period from mid-December to mid-January that ended when the ACC CEO Syed Ashraful Huq confirmed the side would play. When the team arrived in Dhaka, however, on February 22, there was hardly anyone talking about those three weeks, as the focus quickly shifted to Pakistan’s tournament opener against Sri Lanka in Fatullah.The PCB had never officially said the side wouldn’t travel to Bangladesh but given the political tension, particularly the diplomatic row between the two countries, there was always a sense that something might go wrong. So far since their arrival, though, Pakistan are happy with the security arrangements given to them by the BCB and, by extension, the government.The team manager Zakir Khan has said that the extra security has been assuring and they have felt comfortable so far. “It has been sorted out and we’ve been promised VIP security,” he said. “We’ve been here for a couple of days, and they have provided whatever we have asked for. We are quite happy.”Their commute between the team hotel and Shere Bangla National Stadium has been given a high-security cordon and even when they walked into the hotel after their first practice session, police lined up to clear the way inside the Hotel Sonargaon lobby.Despite how the sentiments in Bangladesh were after the Pakistan parliament and cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan condemned the death of a war criminal, there have so far been very few questions regarding politics or the diplomatic row during the team’s two interactions with the media.When asked whether he expects support in Bangladesh like the kind the previous Pakistan teams have enjoyed here, Misbah-ul-Haq was optimistic to the point that he said it was like playing in Lahore.”We always enjoy playing in Bangladesh,” Misbah said. “When we are supporting Bangladesh, people are supporting Bangladesh. But when we are playing against any other team, it looks like we are playing at home. It is very nice to be here, and play in the Shere Bangla National Stadium. We played the World Cup quarterfinal here in 2011. It was also a game where we felt we are in Lahore. It is good to be here.”Misbah’s optimism doesn’t quite match the current mood in the country, but cricket is too popular in Bangladesh for this to be made a stand-alone issue. There has been a lot of support for Pakistan’s cricket team in Bangladesh over the years and when they did crush West Indies in Mirpur, that local fan-following was evident.The other, more pertinent, task for Misbah will be to keep his relatively young side away from any further questions about these issues. The likes of Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Bilawal Bhatti and Mohammad Talha are on their first tour to Bangladesh and have not even played club cricket here, unlike a few Pakistan cricketers.However, they all made an impression against Sri Lanka recently. Maqsood was the most impressive, batting at a 40-plus average in the five-match ODI series back in December. Sharjeel made just one half-century, but Misbah reckons that the batsman can go places.Anwar Ali and Talha were impressive with the ball, and the latter is all set to make his ODI debut in this tournament. These two bowlers would be vital in the absence of Mohammad Irfan who sustained an injury during a domestic game.Fawad Alam makes a comeback at the expense of Asad Shafiq while Ahmed Shehzad will look to continue his purple patch. Accompanying these youngsters are experienced heads such as Misbah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul and Junaid Khan. This is possibly the most balanced side in the tournament, but with a less-experienced seam attack that will be led by the in-form Junaid.However, none of the other teams have had to deal with the sort of additional responsibility thrust upon Pakistan’s players, who will have to avoid all controversies regarding political and diplomatic tensions, and keep things as normal as possible.

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Everything you need to know about the Inter Miami kits for 2023

Inter Miamilook set to be thrust even closer to the summit of sporting recognition in the football world, with the news that World Cup champion Lionel Messi will continue his career in Major League Soccer with the Floridian outfit starting in July. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s arrival at DRV PNK Stadium will not come a moment too soon for a team currently in free-fall following a dismal campaign to date.

With the capture of one of soccer’s all-time greats, however, anticipation and demand is expected to be through the roof for Miami’s 2023 season kit, developed by Messi’s long-term commercial partner adidas, with the German sportswear giant anticipating record-breaking numbers when the Argentina star makes his official debut.

So, what kits are Inter Miami wearing in 2023? GOAL takes a look at the jerseys that are already sported by the team, including star players Corentin Jean and DeAndre Yedlin, while we also give you the lowdown on how to buy them online.

Inter Miami 2023 kits

With the 2023 MLS season already well underway, Inter Miami’s home kit for the season has long been available for supporters to purchase, with adidas sticking close to the traditional club colours favoured by the David Beckham-owned team.

Having once played in white, the Herons’ home strip – dubbed The Heartbeat Kit by the club’s official channels – is now a full-bodied pink number with smart dark accents.

The candyfloss-hued shades have been a regular fixture for the past few campaigns, but it has seen a slight update for the 2023 campaign, with a marginally sharper contrast between the two colours.

Black accents over the shoulders and a hollow-back club crest complete a smart, snappy look topped off with a traditional polo-shirt collar finish from adidas.

The kit is on sale now and can be purchased from the MLS store, where it retails at $90.00, with an authentic jersey option available at $130.00.

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Much as with the home kit, Inter Miami’s 2023 away strip keeps matters relatively simple, with adidas effectively delivering one of the most simple jersey reverses seen in recent memory.

Whereas their home effort offers pink with black accents, their change option simply flips the board and delivers a jet-dark number tinged with pastel-coloured decal effects.

Like their first choice strip too, it also has an official club name, dubbed as La Noche, which translates from Spanish as The Night – an effectively cool moniker for such a slick number.

There are some minor changes; the shoulder piping is more elongated on the away option, and the Herons have also added a narrow pink band above the sleeve cap to offer further contrast. In addition, the neckline is a flat, rounded collar rather than a polo-style cut.

As with the home option, the kit is on sale now and can be purchased from the MLS store, where it retails at $89.99, while the authentic jersey option is available at $159.99.

Unlike the majority of major European teams, multiple MLS sides utilise only two specific strips across the course of a campaign, often simply stopping at home and away when it comes to their kits.

However, Inter Miami have indeed debuted a third-choice strip this season, known as the One Planet kit, an oceanographic-inspired effort that is intended to highlight the club’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

An acid-mint wash main body is decorated with a jazzy blue pattern and black accents, while a narrow V-neck cut allows for added breathability while offering a close fit around the back and shoulders.

The kit is currently available to order through the MLS store, with adult sizes retailing from $89.99.

In addition, there may be the possibility for a further kit launch to commemorate Messi’s arrival at the club. If such a celebration strip is released, GOAL will have all the details right here.

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In addition to their regular matchday strips, Inter Miami have also gone all out on their pre-game training range this term, with their effort also showing support for a worthy cause.

The club have a Pride-themed pre-match number they use for warm-ups and training, marrying a full-bodied white effort with the kaleidoscopic colour swirls of the Pride flag across the sleeves and sponsorship logos, finished with black trim and a V-neck cut.

The kit is currently available to order through the MLS store, with adult sizes retailing from $69.99.

Kings XI Punjab have not been the dominant team they’ve been over the past season, which might be helpful for Chennai Super Kings, who’ve not had the best luck against them

The Preview by Alagappan Muthu24-Apr-2015Match factsSaturday, April 25, 2015
Start time 2000 local (14:30 GMT)Big pictureKings XI have a batting line-up that’s a revolving door of big hitters. Only, it appears someone has forgotten to oil it properly. It had almost seemed too easy for them last season when Glenn Maxwell or David Miller would mistake a cricket match for a golf range. Big scores backed the opposition into a corner for the asking rate to induce claustrophobia. They’ve tried to recreate that method, but only pretty cameos have resulted.So they veered away from the new formula to an old recipe. And Shaun Marsh is spicy as ever in the IPL. His single-handed Super-Over victory against Rajasthan Royals might spark Kings XI to their dominant ways. It also means he has locked up one of the four overseas spots. If George Bailey is still unfit, the selectors will have to take a call between Miller and Thisara Perera again. Maxwell and Mitchell Johnson, although flying cold at the moment, can’t be risked on the bench.Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, haven’t had to tinker with their XI nor their strategy. However, they were overwhelmed by the Kings in the North three out of three times last season, including in the crucial qualifier. MS Dhoni’s men will fancy themselves on current form, though, especially with a bowling attack that is performing better in containing oppositions. Home conditions may not amount for much considering the MA Chidambaram Stadium discriminates equally against the bowlers. Prepare for a batting slugfest.Form guideChennai Super Kings WLWWW
Kings XI Punjab WLLWLWatch out for…Faf du Plessis is learning there is no Super Kings line-up without a floater. The top-three are fixed and the No. 4 position seems to rely on the match situation and MS Dhoni’s mood. Du Plessis displayed excellent presence of mind coming in at the 15th over against Royal Challengers last Sunday. He is also part of a core group of leaders in the side and a match-turning asset on the field.A stellar international season. First choice opener for the Indian Test side. But M Vijay, who rose to prominence in the IPL with Super Kings, has not found his footing yet with Kings XI. His innings have fizzled away before they have had a positive impact on the match. There will be an itch to set that right, and doing it against his former team might taste.Stats and trivia Glenn Maxwell has scored 65 percent of his runs in boundaries this season. The problem though is he has got only 62 of them. R Ashwin has conceded 8.16 per over and has only bowled his full quota in two out of five matchesQuotes “To be perfectly honest, I don’t think in any of the three disciplines we have done as well as we would like consistently”