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India captain also confirms Jadeja’s return to fitness, which gives the team more depth and options

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jan-20245:24

Rohit: ‘When you have an inexperienced attack, you have to show faith in them’

Ravindra Jadeja is fit and available for selection, giving India more batting depth and options when it comes to bowling combinations. He is also the only left-hand batter outside opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jadeja had missed the first Test with spasms in the upper back on the morning of the match.While confirming Jadeja’s return to fitness, Rohit Sharma spoke of the importance of not judging inexperienced bowlers too harshly. “Although we’ve had a brief chat with the management, the coaching staff about what we want from this game, and what we want from the bowlers in this game, we’ve not completely finalised our playing XI. Everyone is available for selection. There’s no injury concern. All of them who are here are available to play. We’ll sit down in the evening and decide what is the right one.”Having said that, I still feel that, sometimes we’ve got a little bit of inexperience in our bowling, and sometimes when you have that, you’ve got to show some faith in them, show trust in them, and that can happen to any team. Like I said in the last post-match press-conference [in Centurion] about Prasidh [Krishna] playing his first game, we all get nervous when you are playing your first game. It’s understandable, but I thought, and I’ll still back that thought of mine, that he’s got good ability to succeed at this level and especially in this format. So it’s just about showing faith and trust in everyone and getting the job done from them.”Related

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Apart from Krishna, it was Shardul Thakur, in his 11th Test, who disappointed with the ball in the first Test. Jadeja’s return opens up the possibility of playing two spinners as R Ashwin brings with the bat more than what Thakur does.However, the conditions might not support that idea. Rohit was asked if he expected the conditions to be less hostile to India in Cape Town. “I honestly don’t know too much about that,” he said. “You know, the conditions look pretty similar to what it was. I mean, the pitch looks similar to what it was in Centurion, maybe not so much grass, but there is enough covering of grass on the pitch.”But yeah, the overhead conditions will matter. I think it’s pretty hot here compared to Centurion, which was a little cooler the first two days. Again, when we played last time here, 2018 and ’21… I wasn’t here in ’21, but the guys were telling me it was pretty similar conditions. We know exactly what is required when the conditions are like that. Based on the pitches, how the conditions are, you gotta respond to that.”India do have reinforcements in the squad. Avesh Khan, who played for India A at the same time as the first Test, has been called up to provide the team management that option of a tall bowler. He took a five-for in that game. That India are giving themselves these options tells you how much they need a hit-the-deck bowler. They already have Mukesh Kumar, who has the best body of work in domestic cricket among contenders for a fast-bowling spot, but is a skiddy, shorter bowler.With Thakur struggling with the ball in his last six Tests, India could even think of sacrificing the batting depth and play four out-and-out fast bowlers. Any two of Thakur, Krishna, Avesh and Mukesh could play at Newlands.

MatériaMais Notícias

Terminada a penúltima rodada do Brasileirão, Atlético-MG e América-MG chegam ao último jogo com chances reais de ir à Libertadores. Ambos os times, no entanto, dependem de resultados e enfrentam Corinthians e Atlético-GO, respectivamente.

A missão do Galo é mais fácil. Um empate na Neo Química Arena coloca o time comandado por Cuca na pré Libertadores. Para ir diretamente à fase de grupos, o Alvinegro precisa vencer e torcer por um tropeço do Athletico-PR diante do Botafogo.

Atualmente, o Atlético-MG tem 55 pontos ganhos, a mesma pontuação do rival paranaense, mas perde no número de vitórias, já que tem uma a menos.

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Já para o Coelho, só a vitória interessa. Se a equipe alviverde vencer o Atlético-GO, precisará torcer por um tropeço do Botafogo para se classificar à fase preliminar da Libertadores, o que já seria um feito e tanto para o time de Vagner Mancini.

Não há possibilidade do América-MG terminar em sexto, já que tem 52 pontos, contra 53 do Botafogo e 55 de Athletico-PR e Atlético-MG. Vale lembrar que cariocas e paranaenses se enfrentam, na Arena da Baixada, em Curitiba.

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، عن موقف إدارة النادي الأهلي من طلب حكام أجانب لإدارة مباراة الفريق أمام بيراميدز ضمن لقاءات الدوري المصري.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي مع بيراميدز في الجولة الخامسة من الدوري المصري، يوم السبت 30 أغسطس 2025، في تمام الساعة التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

وقال أحمد شوبير في تصريحات إذاعية عبر “أون سبورت إف إم”: “الأهلي والمرحلة المقبلة، لن أتحدث عن مباراة الأهلي وفاركو الآن، بل سأتحدث عن الأهلي وبيراميدز، قد تقولون (لسه بدري يا كابتن)، نعم ولكن”.

وأكمل: “الأهلي سيلعب غدًا مع فاركو ثم لديه فترة راحة، وبعدها مباراة بيراميدز، لكن انتبهوا، اليوم هو آخر يوم لتقديم طلب الحكام الأجانب، فهل سيطلب الأهلي حكامًا أجانب أم لا؟”.

طالع.. خاص | اتحاد الكرة يعترض على ظاهرة تحكيمية جديدة في الموسم الجديد للدوري

وأردف: “ما علمته، وهذه معلومة باجتهاد، هو أن الأهلي غالبًا سيتقدم اليوم بطلب لاستحضار طاقم تحكيم أجنبي لمباراته مع نادي بيراميدز”.

وأتم: “هذا الأمر قد يتأكد اليوم، لأنه كما قلت لكم، اليوم هو آخر يوم لتقديم طلب الحكام الأجانب وفقًا لما حدده اتحاد الكرة، المسؤول عن الحكام”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo está trabalhando para dar a Rogério Ceni as garantias para que a temporada de 2022 seja mais vitoriosa e tranquila do que a de 2021. Para isso, o clube tem tentado buscar jogadores que o próprio técnico indicou como são os casos de Ronald e Romarinho, que pertencem ao Fortaleza e interessam como reforços para o Tricolor, mas com negociações que não iniciaram. Dessa forma, o LANCE! traz alguns números acumulados pela dupla durante o ano.

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> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2022 clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

Aos 27 anos, Romarinho tem contrato com o clube cearense até julho de 2022 e pode assinar um pré-acordo com outro time em breve. Na temporada 2021, o meia-atacante fez 50 partidas, mas apenas 15 delas como titular, ou seja, o jogador não fazia parte dos 11 escolhidos de Vojvoda. No Brasileirão, por exemplo, foram somente nove jogos como titular entre os 31 em que atuou.

Em relação aos gols, foram apenas cinco marcados: dois na Copa do Brasil e três no Campeonato Cearense, passando em branco no Brasileirão. Mas na competição nacional ele acabou deixando sua marca com uma assistência. Diante disso, é difícil esperar um atleta que fará diferença nos gols, mas que poderá ser bastante útil na dinâmica que dará ao time no setor ofensivo.

Já Ronald, aos 24 anos, foi adquirido recentemente pelo Fortaleza e os valores pretendidos pelo clube assustaram um pouco o São Paulo, que deu um passo atrás na tentativa. No entanto, não houve uma desistência, uma vez que é um jogador versátil, que pode fazer mais de uma função no meio-campo e interessa demais ao estilo de jogo que Rogério Ceni quer implantar no time.

Na temporada 2021, o meio-campista fez 35 partidas, sendo 20 delas como titular, com destaque para suas atuações no Campeonato Brasileiro, em que esteve entre os 11 iniciais em 15 jogos dos 23 que participou na competição nacional. Ao todo, ele chegou a marcar dois gols durante o ano: um na Copa do Brasil e um no Campeonato Cearense (que também teve uma assistência).

Em relação aos números do Footstats, Ronald teve destaque nos desarmes certos, já que foi o segundo no quesito (47) em comparação com seus companheiros de equipe, perdendo apenas para Ederson, com 79. A estatística mostra que se trata de um jogador com capacidade de combate no meio-campo, mesmo não sendo um primeiro volante tradicional.

Ambas as negociações ainda não tiveram início e estão na fase da consulta, ou seja, não estão descartadas nem perto de um desfecho positivo, mas o certo é que ambos estão na lista de pretensões do São Paulo para a temporada 2022. As tratativas devem avançar nos próximos dias ou nas próximas semanas.

خاض فريق أتلتيكو مدريد، مساء اليوم السبت، مباراته في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم، موسم 2024/25، ضد خصمه سيلتا فيجو.

وتلاقى الفريقان في معقل أتلتيكو مدريد، في إطار لقاءات الجولة الرابعة والعشرين من الدوري الإسباني، حيث تعادلا بهدف لمثله. أهداف مباراة أتلتيكو مدريد وسيلتا فيجو في الدوري الإسباني

واضطر أتلتيكو مدريد إلى اللعب منقوصًا، بـ10 لاعبين منذ الدقيقة السابعة من عمر الشوط الأول، بعدما تحصل لاعب الفريق بابلو باريوس على بطاقة حمراء.

وتدخل باريوس بقوة على أحد لاعبي سيلتا فيجو، وتدخلت تقنية الفيديو التي جعلت الحكم يقرر طرد لاعب أتلتيكو مدريد.

وكان التعادل السلبي هو صاحب الكلمة في الشوط الأول من عمر المباراة، حيث فشل الفريقان في التسجيل طوال الدقائق الـ45 الأولى.

وتغير الوضع في الشوط الثاني، وتحديدًا في الدقيقة 68 بعدما تحصل سيلتا فيجو على ضربة جزاء، وتمكن ياجو أسباس من تنفيذها بنجاح، محولًا إياها إلى هدف لصالح الضيوف.

ونجح أتلتيكو مدريد في تسجيل هدف التعادل في الدقيقة 81، عن طريق ألكسندر سورلوث.

وفشل أتلتيكو مدريد بذلك التعادل في استغلال تعثر ريال مدريد، في مباراته التي سبقت لقاء الأتلتي، حيث اكتفى بتعادل مخيب مع أوساسونا بهدف لمثله.

بتلك النتيجة، أصبح رصيد أتلتيكو مدريد 50 نقطة في المركز الثاني، بفارق نقطة عن ريال مدريد المتصدر، ونقطتين عن برشلونة صاحب المركز الثالث الذي سيخوض مباراته في تلك الجولة مع رايو فاليكانو.

في حين ارتفع رصيد سيلتا فيجو إلى 29 نقطة، حيث يحتل حاليًا المركز الثاني عشر في جدول الدوري الإسباني.

ويستطيع برشلونة الصعود إلى صدارة الدوري الإسباني، مستغلًا تعثر ريال مدريد وأتلتيكو مدريد، حال فوزه ضد رايو فاليكانو يوم الإثنين القادم.

The left-arm quick, who recently turned 35, says he still has ‘plenty left in the tank’ as a Test cricketer

Deivarayan Muthu26-Jun-20213:02

‘In your head… Kohli, Kohli’ – Neil Wagner sings Zombie cover

As a red-ball specialist who hasn’t played any white-ball cricket for New Zealand, Neil Wagner had never dreamed of being part of a world final. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo in the lead-up to the inaugural World Test Championship final, the left-arm quick had likened the match to a World Cup final. During a virtual media interaction on Saturday afternoon, Wagner said winning the WTC was the “pinnacle of the game” for him and that the team was overwhelmed by the support and reception from their supporters.”Never [dreamed of it],” Wagner said. “No, that (playing white-ball cricket for New Zealand) was sort of a dream and a ship that had sailed to be fair – thinking about the white-ball World Cup in some sort of a way. So, when the Test Championship came around and it was sort of explained to us a couple of years ago what it’s going to be like, I got quite excited by the idea. I thought it was quite special and I thought it was something that’s going to make Test cricket the way it is right now and make it quite exciting and add a bit more perspective to it.Related

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Neil Wagner: 'I pride myself in playing a role when things are tough'

“So, finally, I guess, getting to an ICC event and with something as big as that… how hard Test cricket is and to be able to do that for a period of two years; every Test match is extremely hard to try and put a performance in and win it. There’s a lot of things that’s got to go your way and lot of hard work you got to do over five days.”To then get into a final, which was obviously rain-affected and still play our brand of cricket and be positive and to get there, personally for me, I can’t speak for everyone, this is the ultimate for me to win a Test Championship final though it’s the first one and probably hard to compare with others, it’s definitely the pinnacle of the game for me. And to win it against a quality team like India and the way we did and then to see what it has meant to everyone… The support back home and support that was around there – the text messages keep flowing in, phone keeps buzzing and to see what it has meant for Kiwi supporters and family and friends, it means a lot to us too. So, it’s definitely right up there.” Everyone wants a piece of the WTC mace that has now been nicknamed Michael Mason – including the customs officials who greeted the New Zealand players after they touched down in Auckland on Saturday morning.”I don’t think I have ever walked into customs and got greeted the way we did,” Wagner said. “Everyone was like straightaway: ‘Congratulations!’ Pretty happy, [they] grabbed our passports and all they wanted to ask was ‘Where’s the mace? Where’s the mace?’ Obviously, when they saw it, the smiles on their faces and what it brought to them, it sort of hit home pretty hard… What it meant to people back home and obviously getting across the line, winning a Test Championship final, and bringing that trophy back like that.”I remember watching as a kid a lot of other teams lifting that [mace] up after finishing a Test cycle being No.1 in the world and what it meant to them. So, to be able to win it in a one-off Test match like that is a pretty special feeling and we could see what it meant to other people once you got home.”Seeing even police officers stopping and wanting to have a photo from a distance with it. Like I said, it’s a pity that it’s Covid times and you can’t hug around these guys and pose for a photo and you know, obviously, give something back to them, too, but it was nice to see the smile on everyone’s faces and how jubilant they were to receive us and getting on the bus… There were cameras outside and people waving and yeah obviously just being very happy about what we were able to achieve. I think it definitely hit the boys hard what it has meant to everyone and around.”Neil Wagner has said he still feels ‘pretty young and the body feels really good’ and that he has ‘plenty left in the tank’ as a Test cricketer•Getty Images

Wagner recently turned 35 and is the oldest member of the New Zealand pace quartet, but he brushed aside talk of a potential retirement, stressing that he was still fit and motivated to deliver for the team. Returning from toe injuries, Wagner swung the Dukes ball in England in addition to unleashing his patented short-ball barrage over lengthy spells.’I’ve got plenty left in the tank,” Wagner said. “Age is just a number for me personally and I feel potentially I haven’t got the five-wicket bags or performances behind my name that I wanted to, but still feel I’m contributing and playing a role, doing what I’m doing and that is just my role. It’s not always going to have the glory numbers or the wickets or whatever it is, but I’ve got a role I can fulfill for the team and as long as I’m needed or called upon, or I guess asked to do a job, 100% I’ll be there to contribute.”I still feel pretty young and the body feels really good. I played those three Test matches [in England] and got through this pretty easily and felt really good that I could play even more. So that’s a good sign for me personally. As long as that motivation and desire is there to keep going to do the hard work at training and do the hard yards of going to the gym and do the tough running sessions and keep the body fresh and improving your game – as long as that’s still there, the rest is easy. Mentally, [I] still feel fresh.”If anything this [WTC title] has just urged me on to work harder and my game personally, but also on a fitness level and all those sort of things to keep playing and performing and doing my role to the best of my ability as much as I can and contribute to the team.”‘I remember when I started my career, it took about 11 Test matches before I got even a Test win. Kyle has played eight – he hasn’t lost one or drawn one yet’ – Wagner•Getty Images

Wagner also hailed Kyle Jamieson, who has emerged as a potent point of the difference in New Zealand’s attack with his ability to swing the ball both ways in addition to the bounce he generates from his 6’8” frame. After scorching the 2019-20 and 2020-21 home summers, Jamieson was front and centre of New Zealand’s victory over India in the WTC final, scooping up a match haul of seven wickets and the Player-of-the-Match award.”Just the way he has fit into the group and come in and play the way he’s done – to just do what he’s been doing in domestic cricket and do even better,” Wagner said of Jamieson. “Every game he’s getting better and better, his willingness to learn, how he’s been bowling with the team and the performances he has put in have put him a long way ahead of the cricketer he’s still yet to be and become. He’s been instrumental to us; yes it’s been amazing to do it with Tim [Southee] and Trent [Boult] as well with myself.”We keep building as a unit, we keep building in partnerships, we said from the start that we know one day might one person’s day and the other day might not be someone else’s day, but you still contribute and bowl for the guy at the other end and someone might reap the rewards for us. I remember when I started my career, it took about 11 Test matches before I got even a Test win. Kyle has played eight – he hasn’t lost one or drawn one yet [laughs]. That’s pretty amazing and he’s played a massive part in that [success] too. Good on him and hopefully he can continue and as a bowling unit, hopefully we can continue to learn and get better and obviously put more performances like this for New Zealand cricket.”

Former England international and now pundit Carlton Palmer has buzzed at a “fantastic” piece of news that has emerged regarding one Burnley player.

Burnley off to solid Championship start

Scott Parker’s side have made a promising start to the new season, sitting in fourth place in the Championship heading into the weekend action. Only one defeat has come their way in the opening five matches, with belief growing that a quickfire return to the Premier League could be on the cards.

Next up for Burnley is the visit of Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon, in a game that the Clarets will be strong favourites in, as they look to narrow the gap on current league leaders West Brom, who are three points clear of them currently.

Burnley conducted some strong business in the summer transfer window, bringing in the likes of Mike Tresor, Maxime Esteve and Hannibal Mejbri, but keeping hold of important figures was also key.

Pundit loves "fantastic news" on Burnley star Koleosho

Speaking to Football League World, Palmer spoke of his delight at Burnley youngster Luca Koleosho signing a new deal at the club in recent weeks, describing it as “fantastic”:

“It’s very important to keep your best players, especially the young ones, and he’s 20-years-old, very exciting and it was a shame he picked up an injury last season. But, he’s back now, and he’s up and running, scoring against Cardiff and Leeds. It was of paramount importance to keep the youngster. We know when you’ve got good young players that the top clubs will come looking.

“Burnley have got their sights on getting back into the Premier League, so it’s fantastic news that Koleosho is remaining at the club. Scott Parker has done a great job so far, the players are enjoying their football and hopefully they can continue carrying on as they look to win promotion.”

Koleosho has shown what a big player he is going to be for Burnley moving forward, having enjoyed such a positive start to the 2024/25 season.

The 20-year-old has scored twice in four Championship appearances, finding the net against Cardiff City and Leeds United. Former Clarets manager Vincent Kompany has also heaped praise on him in the past, saying:

“He’s just a fearless player, it doesn’t really matter who he’s up against. He was up against a top full-back against Arsenal but he’s done it in every single game, because in every game he’s managed to create and make something happen.”

Sometimes, keeping a player is just as important as any new signing that comes in and the idea of Burnley losing Koleosho at this point in his career doesn’t bear thinking about, so tying him down until the summer of 2029 feels significant.

Related Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season

Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.

Posts ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025

The hope is that the young winger matures as the years pass, remaining at Turf Moor for as long as possible and helping his side get back into the Premier League, but there is sure to be further interest in him if he continues on this current trajectory.

MatériaMais Notícias

As redes sociais do Corinthians foram à loucura com a vitória do lutadorCharles do Bronxs sobre o americanoDustin Poirier na luta principal do UFC 269, realizada na madrugada deste domingo (12), em Las Vegas, nos Estados Unidos. O nocaute no terceiro round rendeu ao brasileiro a manutenção do cinturão na categoria peso-leve.

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Corintiano,Charles é embaixador do Timão há um mês. O triunfo contraPoirier, inclusive, foi o primeiro do lutador exercendo a função.

Antes da luta, as redes sociais do Corinthians eram só expectativa, já após o resultado foram diversos posts comemorando a vitória de Chales, inclusive um deles, já na parte da manhã deste domingo (12), com o esportista na cama com o cinturão e a legenda de bom dia.

Todos os posts referentes aCharles do Bronxs carregavam a #AFavelaVenceu, mensagem que o próprio lutador levou ao mundo ao conquistar o cinturão dos médios, no UFC 262, em maio. O campeão foi criado em uma comunidade de Itapema, bairro localizado na cidade do Guarujá, Litoral Sul de São Paulo.

Entre as homenagens publicadas pelo Timão nas redes sociais, após a vitória deste fim de semana, o clube anunciou o teaser de uma possível ação que fará com o atleta.

continua após a publicidade

يقترب الدولي المصري محمد صلاح لاعب فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي ليفربول من رقم قياسي جديد، بمواجهة مانشستر سيتي التي ستجمع بينهما غدًا.

ليفربول أمام مانشستر سيتي غدًا، ستكون المباراة رقم 387 لـ محمد صلاح مع الريدز منذ انضمامه إلى الفريق قادمًا من روما في صيف 2017.

وتمكن محمد صلاح من تسجيل 13 هدفًا وصناعة 5 في جميع مواجهات مانشستر سيتي وليفربول منذ انضمامه، ويتبقى له هدف ليعادل ستيفن جيرارد، الهداف التاريخي للمواجهة، مع 10 تمريرات حاسمة.

طالع أيضًا.. سلوت يوجه رسالة تفاؤل لجماهير ليفربول بشأن ميركاتو الصيف

محمد صلاح تمكن من تسجيل 8 أهداف وصناعة 5، بواقع 13 مساهمة تهديفية في آخر 18 هدفًا سجلها ليفربول ضد مانشستر سيتي.

ربما يكون الرقم الأكبر الذي يسعى له محمد صلاح غدًا، هو أن يرتقي في ترتيب الهدافين التاريخيين لنادي ليفربول بمختلف المسابقات.

سجل محمد صلاح 240 هدفًا مع ليفربول، وأصبح على بعد هدف من معادلة جوردون هودجسون ثالث الهدافين التاريخيين، بين عامي 1926 و 1935.

تسجيل محمد صلاح هدفًا غدًا في شباك مانشستر سيتي، سيجعله الهداف التاريخي للمواجهة بين الفريقين، وثالث الهدافين التاريخيين لفريق ليفربول.

ويتصدر ترتيب هدافي ليفربول تاريخيًا إيان راش بـ 346 هدفًا في 660 مباراة، وفي المركز الثاني روجر هانت بـ 285 هدفًا في 492 مباراة.

ويأتي هودجسون في المركز الثالث برصيد 241 هدفًا في 377 مباراة، بينما محمد صلاح في 386 مباراة، سجل 240 هدفًا.

Mithali Raj says India will look to be more positive with bat and ball as preparations kick off for the next ODI World Cup

Annesha Ghosh26-Jun-20214:02

Mithali Raj – ‘The current bowling attack, especially the spinners over the years have won matches for us irrespective of the wicket we played’

Mithali Raj believes a potential ODI debut for Shafali Verma against England could help India capitalise on the field restrictions better. The three-match series begins from Sunday.”That’s how she plays. That’s her strength. That’s her style of batting,” Raj, India’s Test and ODI captain, said on match eve in Bristol. “There would be times she would give us head starts. We would love that [and for] her to be consistent. At the same time, she’s a young kid. She will learn with experience and with more matches she’ll also understand how to build an innings also.”Since she’s getting into playing the one-day series for the first time, I, as the captain, would always encourage her to play the way she enjoys playing and is comfortable playing. That’s the style of batting she should do.”Verma, 17, made 96 and 63 on Test debut last week in the tour-opening one-off Test against England, becoming the youngest batter to score twin fifties on debut in women’s Tests. Prior to that, she had played only in 22 T20Is, having debuted in September 2019.Since the 2017 ODI World Cup, India have tried out several opening partners for the left-handed Smriti Mandhana, all right-handers, including Jemimah Rodrigues, Punam Raut, Priya Punia, with varying degrees of success. However, either inconsistency – as has been the concern with Rodrigues in the recent past – or the inability to make runs at a brisk rate – a long-standing talking point around the batting styles of both Punia and Raut – has left the position still open.India depend on their top order for a lot of their success in ODIs. Since the 2017 World Cup, only 36.33% of bat runs have come from Nos. 4, 5, 6, and 7 while the top three have made 55.73%. Crucially, 21.03% of India’s team runs have come before they’ve lost the first wicket. So they can’t afford mishaps early in the innings, which could happen given Verma’s adventurous style of play.”We as experienced batters in the middle order, if we lose an early wicket, we are there to compensate and build an innings,” Raj said. “So if she gives us a great start, we’ll take it from there. Our team does have the batting depth wherein everyone has a different role to play. So we look forward to sticking to that role and give our best in playing that role.”Shafali Verma is fresh off a successful Test debut•Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

With Verma and allrounder Sneh Rana – who scripted a memorable comeback to the Indian side last week – likely to make the XI for the ODI series opener, a rejig of the top six is also on the cards.Raj, who, having kicked off her international career as an opener 22 years to the day, has largely played at No. 3 since. In the ODI series against South Africa at home in March, which India lost 1-4, she batted at Nos. 4, and 5. Raut came in at one-down in all of those matches, while Harmanpreet Kaur batted ahead of Raj, at No. 4 in the fifth match.”Healthy competition is always good in the team,” Raj said, smiling. “Having said that, we picked the team based on composition again and I would say that’s important and the girls would also understand that.”There are times when we go with an extra seamer depending on the wicket, at times we go with a spin-dominant bowling attack. So, accordingly, we try and see into our batting order and depth as well. With the equation of the allrounders coming in, we’ll definitely look into it, yes. We do have a few options, but we will select based on what composition the team is looking at getting into tomorrow’s game.”This ODI series is India’s first in the UK since their nine-run defeat to the hosts in the final of the 2017 ODI World Cup. With the next World Cup due in under nine months, Raj aims to lead the side back to winning ways after a below-par performance against South Africa.”The biggest thing we’d want the team to do is have a very strong mindset because we can’t really compare the series [to the one against South Africa in March],” Raj said. “Yes, we lost the home series but the conditions are very different at home and in England, so we can’t have the same approach.”But yes, we’d definitely look into having a more positive intent, whether it’s our batting or bowling attack, and we have been working on our fielding. Right now it’s important that whatever strategies or whatever we tried to work on in our training sessions, we carry them into the match and be consistent at that.””[…] I think our preparation has definitely started but it’s important that when we get into a series we look to win,” Raj said when asked when asked if conditions in New Zealand, where the 2022 World Cup would be played, could be similar to those in England. “Yes, we consider that also as a gameplan for the core players or the combination we would like to try or look at in the run-up to the World Cup.”Having said that, it’s important for us to win a series because the last series didn’t go well for the team and as the captain I would like the team to get back to winning ways.”