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GOAL looks inside the numbers, tactics and trends for key U.S. internationals in Europe early in the season

We've arrived at the first international break of the season and, as always, it comes just as the European campaign is picking up steam. Two or three weeks get played and then comes the pause. Those first games, then, are a taste of the domestic seasons, a glimpse into what might be.

It's true that there hasn't been much club soccer played so far, but we are starting to see storylines and trends emerge involving some of the U.S. men's national team's top stars. Many of those top have returned to the U.S. for the upcoming friendlies against South Korea and Japan, but there are plenty left to watch along in Europe with a point to prove.

Some are already proving that point, seemingly with one eye on the October squad.

GOAL examines some noteworthy tactics and trends for USMNT players in Europe heading into the international break.

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  Balogun with a new partner

  For his performance in Monaco's 3-2 win over Strasbourg, Folarin Balogun was named to L'Equipe's Team of the Week. His goal was a great encapsulation of what the striker offers. He broke through the defense, drove hard and chipped the keeper with a fantastic finish. That's his skillset and that's his game. It's what makes him so dangerous.

  There were always questions about fit in this Monaco team, though. This weekend's performance may have answered some, showing that Balogun can coexist tactically with a player many thought could replace him.

  In January, with Balogun out, Monaco brought in Mika Biereth as another attacking option. The English-born Swedish international went on to score 13 in 16 appearances. On Sunday, Biereth and Balogun started together and it worked fantastically in just their second start together. The first had come back in May, and it ended after 14 minutes and a Biereth injury.

  Shortly after this win, Breel Embolo, another contender at striker, was gone, on his way to Rennes. For Balogun, that opened a pathway towards being the go-to starter. It also revealed that a starting role will depend greatly on his ability to coexist.  Early returns are good, particularly with the goal, but there's clearly work to do.

  The two only connected on one pass, while neither got on the ball too much. In the end, though, they got something out of it, and reports out of France say the partnership looks set to continue.

  "Mika is a top player, I know his game, it's easy for me to play with him," Balogun said. "The coach likes this system with two connected attackers. I think we showed connections, good things together."

  The evolution of that partnership will help define Monaco's season and, for the purpose of American fans, Balogun's place in the USMNT. Could it also provide a new way to use the striker under Mauricio Pochettino? Perhaps, but, before that happens, Balogun is one to keep an eye on as he looks to make his long-awaited big breakthrough in Monaco.

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  Pulisic's Serie A dominance continues

  In truth, there isn't much to break down from Christian Pulisic's performance. He was given just 13 minutes off the bench in the 2-0 win. He certainly made his presence felt in those 13 minutes, though, and that's the larger trend worth looking at.

  It did require a defensive calamity, yes, but Pulisic found the back of the net just a few minutes after coming on. It was his first Serie A goal of the season in Milan's second game, and it further proved just how vital he is to the team's attack.

  Now, across 104 matches for Milan, he's up to 35 goals and 20 assists – and 41 of those goals and assists have come in 72 Serie A games. It all makes it very clear that, particularly in domestic games, there's no stopping Pulisic. It's why there's no reason to panic when Pulisic is omitted from Milan's starting XI, as he was this weekend. It's maintenance, not judgment.

  “I’m fine. I had some problems, but I’m fine now," he said postgame. "Today I think I touched the ball three times, but I scored. It was a beautiful night.”

  Pulisic has had plenty of beautiful Serie A nights. Now, the question is if they can stay that way as Milan try to reclaim their place among Italy's elite.

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  The only Sargent stat that matters

  Sometimes, you don't have to get too deep into it. There are an infinite about of underlying numbers to look at to explain a soccer game, but sometimes you really only need one. That one, for strikers in particular, is goals. That number means everything.

  Therefore, it means something that Josh Sargent has a lot of them with Norwich. He's netted six goals in five games to start this season, showcasing his talents as a top striker at the Championship level. It means something, too, then, that he has none of them for the USMNT since 2019. Over his last 16 appearances, he hasn't hit the back of the net with a shot that counted and, for many, that stat speaks volumes.

  “Of course, I know it’s been a while,” he said Tuesday. “I’m doing so well at the club level at the moment – I just keep reminding myself how well I’m doing there. I know I can score goals and I know it’s a matter of time before I’m going to score for the national team. So just going to put my head down and keep working hard and I know the goals will come.”

  Sargent does a lot of things well. He links play, creates danger, and presses hard. Those stats look good on paper, but they only matter if there's a number next to it in the goal column, particularly during this international break.

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  Morris making his case

  While Sargent has been spectacular, it would actually be easy to argue that the best American in the Championship isn't in the USMNT squad. That player? Aidan Morris, who looks like he might just be September's biggest USMNT omission when you look at current form.

  Four games into the Championship season, Morris has won Middlesbrough's Man of the Match award for three of them, with the latest coming last weekend against Sheffield United. He won eight of his 11 ground duels, drew three fouls, completed 54 of his 60 passes and fired two shots on target.

  All of that adds up to an incredibly well-rounded game, one in which Morris was able to impact play with and without the ball. In the fall, it seemed as if Morris would become a mainstay under Pochettino. He impressed in his initial appearances to start the new coach's tenure, but hasn't featured since October and wasn't called in to this September camp.

  It's up to him, then, to show why he deserves to be involved with his play at Boro. He's certainly doing just that.

West Ham star Lucas Paqueta is reportedly considering suing the FA after "surprising and concerning flaws” were found in his spot-fixing trial.

• Brazilian cleared of any wrongdoing
• Stood accused of deliberately being booked
• Legal case cost him transfer to Man City

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Brazil international was cleared in July 2025 of four counts of deliberately picking up yellow cards in order to influence betting markets. Said ruling was reached after a two-year investigation that led to questions of Paqueta’s integrity and cost him a big-money transfer.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A 314-page document has been published that details how an independent commission reached its decision, with serious holes being picked in the FA’s failed case. According to the , Paqueta is mulling over legal options of his own.

• WHAT PAQUETA'S LEGAL TEAM SAID

  Alistair Campbell, the head of Paqueta's legal team, has told the Mail: “It's certainly something that is at the forefront of our minds and those discussions are ongoing. I can't say we're about to run off to court but it's something that's under consideration.

  “It's a judgement that's quite critical of the FA at some points but there are other points where it says you can see why suspicion was raised.

  “The driving factor behind this will be what it's cost Lucas in terms of his career and potential earnings. That is significant. He was on the verge of a move to Man City when this first happened and they went on to win the Premier League that year. There's an empty space in his trophy cabinet that can't be filled by an exoneration and by some recompense.

  “He definitely feels aggrieved. The judgement comprehensively exonerates him so the ultimate decision will rest with Lucas but we will certainly be exploring all possibilities.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  The FA has been accused of failing to call “independent” experts in important parts of the trial, with their own betting integrity officer, Tom Astley, being used as a chief witness despite his professional ties to the association.

  The case review stated: “From the commission's perspective the evidence presented by the FA on the betting data had an obvious flaw, namely the lack of an independent expert assessment of that data. That the FA chose to advance the most important element of its case without any such independent expert assessment of it was, in the commission's view, surprising.”

GOAL US and INDIVISA writers look at the Brilliant and Heartbeat kits, and debate where they rank against all-time greats

U.S. soccer dropped two kits this week. They're interesting. One plays it safe, a slight tweak on the generic red, white and blue that has defined the more recent generation of shirts. The other, though, is a bit bolder. Vertical stripes aren't really a thing in soccer these days, but Nike has brought them back on top of a dark shirt. It's different, admittedly fresh – and has brought about quite a bit of discourse in social media as a result.

The U.S. has an interesting history when it comes to kits. There are some classics: the 2014 away kit, the 2012 "Where's Waldo shirt" and the 1994 "denim" jerseys live long in the memory (for better or worse.) But equally, there have been a few duds, the design too often sticking to templates rather than going for something a little more bold and, well, American.

How do the new ones stack up? Are they future classics that will live long in the collective memory? Or is it a question of playing it safe, something ultimately inoffensive?

GOAL US and INDIVISA writers debate the new U.S. kits, and where they rank in the long line of national team shirts.

• U.S. Soccer
  

  Where do the Heartbeat and Brilliant kits rate?

  Jacob Schneider: The Brilliant kit is a beautiful shirt for the USWNT. It's an upgrade, and simple – which is also what makes it great. Lots of minor great features. The Heartbeat kit? Interesting. Fantastic streetwear, but it's not something you would typically picture on the pitch. It's a VERY welcome change from the current away shirt for the U.S., but would you wear it at a World Cup? It's cool, but with a short shelf life.

  Celia Balf: Really like the sentiment behind both kits, especially the stripe look – and with vertical lines. The detail is simple, and emphasizes the crest and accent colors on the collar and arm lines. It also pays homage to 1994 and also the original U.S. Soccer crest that had lots of red vertical stripes. The Brilliant kit is crisp and feels similar to what we’ve seen before. The denim accent detail throughout the jersey is cool, don't love the pop of color on the collar and on the arms. It would be even cleaner with the same pattern throughout, without any outlined detail.

  Alex Labidou: The Heartbeat kit seems bold and sleek, especially with its unique color scheme. It would be fresh on or off the pitch. Add it to the must-buy category. The Brilliant kits seems like it's been done before, and it's a slight riff off the 1994 kit. Not horrible, but not memorable either.

  Ryan Tolmich: The Brilliant kit is fine, and the pattern on the kit does give it life. The splashes of blue and red on the neckline and sleeves make it pop, too. As for the Heartbeat? Big fan. It's unique, which is what you should generally say about any team's secondary jersey. It's a step in the right direction and, hopefully, a sign of things to come for the kits in 2026.

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  What's your wishlist for the USMNT's World Cup kit?

  JS: Just give us the 2012 home kit again – that's literally all you need. Red, white, blue and stop with the tie-dye and splatter paint. Horizontal stripes of some sort and a color scheme that actually looks good on and off the pitch, with a crest on the chest off to the side – none of this front-and-center BS.

  CB: We need to see some more stripes! Bring back the 2012 "Where’s Waldo" look, or the 1994 home kit, but without the moving stripes. Over the past few years we’ve seenpatterns that are funky, but not as simple or profound as classic stripes. Didn’t love the paint splatter kit in 2023 and then 2024 was classic, but a bit of a snooze-fest.

  AL: Either do something with the 1994 kit style that nods to the classic while being new and fresh, or go SUPER American – basically be the flag across the whole kit. The U.S. is the primary host of the 2026 World Cup, so the team's kit should be indicative of it. Canada and Mexico, of course, should do the same.

  RT: Do something fun with it! This kit, for any fan of American soccer, will be iconic given the circumstances – and the 1994 kit has proven that "iconic" doesn't always have to coincide with "eternally fashionable." Do something that separates this kit from any other, something celebrating this moment in time. No plain white shirts, no boring single-color away kits and no safe decisions. Take a swing and, even if it misses, we'll all look back on this in 30 years and remember the moment and how it made us feel.

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  What is the best US Soccer kit of all time?

  JS: Call it nostalgia, but the 2014 World Cup away kit is what pops into my head as the greatest. Clint Dempsey was iconic in it, Michael Bradley recorded a memorable celebration in it, and it was the last GREAT tournament for the USMNT. It has a brilliant color scheme, and was a shirt that could be worn on and off the pitch. Just pure excellence.

  CB: Easy, 1994 away.

  AL: The 1994 kit gets all of the love and rightfully so; it's an all-time banger – not just in the U.S. but in global football. Since we're all well aware of its brilliance, let's go with two kits that don't get as much love as they should – the 2010 World Cup sash, and the 2013 Gold Cup Waldo kits. Both would be standouts of the modern kits for the U.S. team. And the Waldo kit is likely the best women's kit of all time, as well.

  RT: It's the Waldos, and it's not particularly close. There was something so iconic about the whole combination, from the red-and-white striped shirt to the blue shorts mimicking an American flag. For a program whose kits often lack a real sense of identity, the Waldos seemed uniquely connected with the country – which should be the goal of all national team kits. All of the world's top countries have a signature kit, and it wouldn't be such a bad thing if red-and-white stripes became the calling card of the U.S. Worth noting: the red-and-blue stripe kit from 2017 was also good, too.

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  What is the worst U.S. kit of all time?

  JS: The 2022 World Cup away kit was just an abomination. Design failure. Can we not bring this up again?

  CB: The 2004 home kit.

  AL: The 1990 World Cup kit is T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E. It was reminiscent of an Eastern European jersey, and the Americanness of it is very understated – almost as if the designer was trying to hide any sort of U.S. connection. Awful, awful kit. A distant runner-up: the 2022 kit, with its weird neckline pattern, is hideous. Skipped it then and would be glad if it's never seen again.

  RT: The 2022 World Cup kit still feels wrong. Designed to look like an American football shirt, it just wasn't one that screamed "U.S. national team." There have been plenty of other boring white kits throughout the years, but that one, in particular, felt like a step backwards as it lacked the creativity and identity that should be staples of a World Cup kit.

Real Madrid can still reportedly hijack Arsenal's seemingly nailed-on transfer for Martin Zubimendi.

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• Arsenal are firm favourites to sign Zubimendi
• Real Madrid also hold an interest in the player
• The midfielder is yet to make a final decision

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Arsenal’s ambitious move for Zubimendi is suddenly in doubt, with Madrid now emerging as a potential last-minute suitor. The Gunners reportedly secured a verbal agreement with the 26-year-old and are ready to activate his €60 million (£51m/$68m) release clause. A formal announcement was believed to be the only thing left pending. But recent developments suggest the situation might not be as secure as once thought.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Although most signs point toward a move to North London, Cope’s sources from the Basque region suggest the midfielder has yet to make a definitive call. However, with Luka Modric set to depart, Los Blancos are looking to bolster their midfield, and Zubimendi’s profile fits the bill. Cope adds that if Madrid were to fully commit to signing him, the Spanish international would likely favour a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Concerns at the Emirates are understandable, especially in light of a similar episode last summer. Liverpool, confident they had tied up a deal for Zubimendi and prepared to meet his buyout clause, were blindsided when the player ultimately opted to remain at Real Sociedad. That unexpected twist serves as a cautionary tale for Arsenal, who are now facing renewed competition at the eleventh hour.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Madrid's new manager, Xabi Alonso’s be pivotal in this developing story could be pivotal. The former Spanish international is believed to have recommended Zubimendi as one of his ideal midfield signings for Madrid. If the club decides to act on Alonso’s suggestion, they have the financial and sporting weight to unsettle Arsenal’s plans.

Leah Williamson insists that England did practice penalties before facing Sweden, but admits their shootout was "awful to watch".

• Dramatic clash finished 2-2 after extra-time
• Nine penalties missed in eventful shootout
• Reigning champions to face Italy in last four

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  An absorbing quarter-final contest at Euro 2025 went all the way to spot-kicks after 120 minutes of action failed to separate the two sides. Sweden led 2-0 at half-time, only to see the Lionesses come roaring back late on courtesy of Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A draining encounter took its toll as several players picked up knocks in extra-time – including Williamson and penalty-saving hero Hannah Hampton – and tired legs resulted in nine missed penalties before England eventually prevailed 3-2.

• WHAT WILLIAMSON SAID

  Williamson, who was forced to watch on from the bench after damaging her ankle, told of a shootout that saw Lauren James, Beth Mead, Alex Greenwood and Grace Clinton fluff their lines as Hampton saved two efforts and Sweden missed the target with three more: "I just feel really, really proud. That was awful to watch at the end, but the girls, I just love that we don’t ever give up. We’ve said it before, we’re never done. We don’t believe that we’re ever done. The fightback, the quality to turn the game around and then stay in it mentally – just incredible."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Asked if the Lionesses had practised penalties, with some tame strikes being delivered by both teams: "Loads! I know there were a few more misses than normal but everybody does. It’s something you have to box off before a tournament. There’s so much science behind it nowadays. We know it. It’s the easiest and hardest thing in the world."

He flew in from his brother’s wedding north of Sydney to play the local derby against Sixers

Andrew McGlashan11-Jan-2024David Warner touched down at the SCG in a helicopter ahead of Sydney Thunder’s BBL clash against Sydney Sixers on Friday.Warner flew in from his brother’s wedding in the Hunter Valley and arrived at the ground just before 5pm. He landed on the outfield close to where the “Thanks Dave” logo was painted during his farewell Test.The fixture, which will feature Steven Smith for Sydney Sixers, is a sellout.Related

• Warner signs off from Test cricket with a medley of his greatest hits

• Warner expected to play West Indies T20Is for Australia over ILT20

• 'I've had a lot of fun' – Steve O'Keefe set to close out BBL career

“I’ve done my utmost best to get down here and hopefully put some runs on the board,” Warner told . “I might look like a bit of a goose if I don’t get any runs but it’s my contribution to not just the BBL but Australian cricket. I want to be out here. I want to entertain. I want to try and help our team win the next three games.””He’s going to a lot of effort to come and play for us,” Thunder quick Gurinder Sandhu said. “We love having him here. Last year he was awesome for us, maybe didn’t score as many runs as he would have liked but around the group and passing on knowledge was awesome to have him around. He’s one of the better team men. All the fans get to enjoy him playing cricket.”Sean Abbott of Sixers joked the day before: “He is a bit Hollywood, isn’t he, that’s very Davey. I got the Lime bike in today and I’ll be doing the same tomorrow night and riding out the gate as Davey lands. “I’m glad they are making it happen because think everyone in the country who is a fan of cricket wants to see David Warner in the BBL and I’m really looking forward to coming up against him. One of the best players in the world and has been for a long time.”Ahead of last season, Warner signed a big-money two-year deal with Thunder as Cricket Australia made a huge push to get international stars back into the tournament. He has indicated his desire to return next season although will fit appearances around his commentary work on the India Test series.The game against Sixers is set to be one of three appearances Warner will make for Thunder this season following his Test retirement. The club only have a slim chance of reaching the knockouts but Warner would have been unavailable for those as he will head to the ILT20 in the UAE.However, he is now expected to return from that tournament to be part of the T20I series against West Indies having remained available in that format ahead of a final international retirement after the T20 World Cup in June.

For those English fans of a nervous disposition, there’s something eerily unpalatable about Australia’s current situation

Andrew Miller10-Sep-2005

For those English fans of a nervous disposition, there’s something eerily unpalatable about Australia’s current situation. At lunch, their score was 157 for 0, and the two Australian openers, Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden, were growing in confidence with every stroke. Sound familiar? It should do – this situation is a near replica of the Oval Test of 2001, and in that match, England ended up being stuffed by an innings and 25 runs.The similarities are more than just skin-deep as well. If, as has been widely speculated, this will be Hayden and Langer’s last Test as an opening pairing, then they are determined to make it as memorable as their first outing, four years ago to the match. Back in 2001, they added 158 for the first wicket – one more than their current tally – with Hayden again playing the second fiddle.Though the fall-guy of the Australian summer had been his old opening partner, Michael Slater, who was axed to make way for Langer’s return, Hayden had been in sketchy form throughout. Then as now, his innings of 68 was his first half-century of a summer in which he passed 30 on four previous occasions but was never able to go on, and then as now, his place had been spared largely because of his scoring feats in previous series – six months earlier, he had flogged 549 runs in three Tests against India.Langer, 91 not out at the break this time, made 102 in the corresponding fixture – his first century for 18 months – before being forced to retire hurt after being sconed by Andrew Caddick. Given Langer’s propensity to take eyewatering blows from Steve Harmison this summer, there remains the prospect of history repeating itself in more ways than one.On that occasion, Australia’s efforts came while batting first. Steve Waugh – torn calf muscle and all – famously limped his way to an unbeaten 157 as Australia converted their platform into a mighty 641 for 4 declared, and by the close of the second day, England were 80 for 1 in reply. Worryingly for their 2005 prospects, England mustered significantly more than their first-innings 373 as well. Thanks to Mark Ramprakash’s maiden home century, they were bowled out for 432 on the fourth morning.That left England five sessions to survive, and predictably enough they didn’t, folding for 184 in 69 overs, as – guess who? – Glenn McGrath (5 for 43) and Shane Warne (4 for 64) ripped out the resistance.There are two big differences between this match and that, however. Firstly, there was not a hint of rain to stymie Australia’s onslaught. Secondly, England were 3-1 down in the series and had done their pride-salvaging in the previous game at Headingley. This time, the Ashes are at stake, and the stage is set for a rearguard that could define an era.

Peter English reviews Andrew Symonds’s new book, Roy: Going for Broke

Peter English17-Dec-2006Roy: Going for Broke Andrew Symonds with Stephen Gray, Hardie Grant Books

The sterilised age preventing sportspeople from sprouting not much more than corporate spin should be forcing the end of dreary ghosted autobiographies. Instead books with little worth to subject or reader are popping up like springtime flowers and hundreds of pages are devoted to great team-mates, superb wins and important challenges.Often it is possible to come away with no more than a basic knowledge of the player, which usually comes from the standard growing up chapters, and an opportunity to memorise their scoring sequences as they progress from talented junior to international.
Not for Andrew Symonds. A spectator’s dream when in hulking form, he has contributed to a book that is so revealing for a high-profile figure it should almost carry “unauthorised” in the title.It’s no surprise Symonds’ range is not broad, but he offers honesty and it stands out like his zinc-smeared lips. He makes fun of himself, analyses his nights of shame in almost drink-by-drink detail and reports full conversations with senior administrators about being on his final behaviour warnings. There is no skipping over the serious matters and an entire chapter is spent on his Cardiff bender the night before Australia’s loss to Bangladesh in 2005, breaking an unofficial record for transparency.The transgression sections are broken up by large doses of fun and Symonds is almost always the target. It is improbable to think of any other modern player allowing the series of recollections from team-mates that appear at the end of each chapter and outline his various faux pas.When wanting to buy a property he tells Jimmy Maher, his Queensland team-mate, he’ll offer $10,000 more than the price to show the seller how much he wants it. He’s asked Michael Kasprowicz what is the RSPCA date for his wedding and said to a raffle-ticket seller he’d look forward to her call on the 32nd of the month.In primary school he won a prize for speaking French but spent more time learning cricket, fishing and hunting, which led to a life of being teased with impromptu spelling bees from team-mates. Conquering “cat” and “dog” were easy, “knife” took a bit of thinking and at least “pterodactyl” stumped the whole squad. Unlike his team-mates on the regular publishing cycle, Symonds is happy to tell his story with warts and warthogs.Stephen Gray has done an exceptional job capturing Symonds’ voice and expanding on his snippets. What is more remarkable for such an open book is that Gray is Queensland Cricket’s media manager. In other organisations the role is for blocking or controlling information, but in this collaboration Symonds’ adoption, marriage break-up and hiding of some hunting adventures from Cricket Australia are covered with up-front detail.Only the faltering of Symonds’ cricket memory prevents more information about the triumphs of his major innings. He could recall only a couple of moments from his World Cup century and had to watch a DVD for extra talking points, but he does not conceal his approach.Symonds also produces a batch of funny lines including the description of John Buchanan as Professor Von Slickstein. “Buck was like a cartoon mad scientist in those early days and I half expected him to say: ‘Now pay attention because this really is rocket science.'”Buchanan, who often pops up with advice, spilt tears during Symonds’ hundred against Pakistan and offered a crucial line again this week when telling him to play freely at his next Test opportunity. “Give me a simple, clearly-defined task and let me get the job done,” Symonds says. It has worked with his one-day batting in the same way it has succeeded in the book.

The second day of the Boxing day Test at Melbourne was all about Andrew Symonds’s maiden Test hundred and his stand with Matthew Hayden. Cricinfo looks at the stat highlights of the day

George Binoy27-Dec-2006

279 – The partnership between Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds was the second highest for the sixth wicket in Australia. The highest is 346 between Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton against England at the MCG in 1937. This stand between Hayden and Symonds is the sixth highest sixth-wicket partnership overall.
75.08 – Hayden’s average at the MCG after 15 innings. His 153 today was his fifth century at Melbourne – the most he’s scored at any venue. His last seven scores at the MCG have been 136, 53*, 9, 56*, 65, 137, 153.3 – the number of times Michael Hussey has been dismissed for less than 20 in 25 Test innings. His 6 today broke a sequence of six consecutive fifty-plus scores (including two hundreds). The first time he was dismissed for below 20 was on debut, when he made 1 against West Indies at Brisbane.9 – the number of hundreds scored by Australian batsmen this series. Seven different Australians have scored hundreds while England’s batsmen have scored just three so far.103.70 -Symonds’s strike-rate against Matthew Hoggard. Hoggard bowled 27 balls to Symonds and conceded 28 runs with five boundaries.18.47 – Symonds’s Test average before the Boxing Day Test. After his unbeaten 154 on the second day – his maiden Test hundred – his average has risen to 27.52.

Greater depth in batting and bowling, coupled with plenty of experience, make South Africa the favourites for the series against New Zealand

S Rajesh07-Nov-2007

Just one rank, and six rating points, separates fifth-placed South Africa from New Zealand in the ICC Test rankings, and yet Graeme Smith’s side will start as firm favourites in the two-Test series which gets underway in Johannesburg on Thursday. The South Africans are coming off a Test series win in Pakistan, while New Zealand suffered a demoralising defeat against South Africa A, with their batsmen, especially, struggling for runs.Traditionally too, South Africa have dominated the exchanges between the two teams, winning 18 out of 33 Tests. Their domination has been equally emphatic since returning to the international fold, with nine wins and two losses in 16 Tests, while their home record is as impressive, with 12 wins from 19 matches.Apart from their lack of form, New Zealand will also have to battle their lack of experience. Among the frontline batsmen, only three have played against South Africa – Stephen Fleming, Scott Styris and Michael Papps. Fleming and Styris have a solid record against them, but Papps has struggled, averaging less than 16 in five Tests.

The South Africans, on the other hand, have a settled and experienced batting line-up, and apart from AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher, they’ve all enjoyed playing against New Zealand.

The pitch in Johannesburg is expected to assist fast bowlers, which could give Chris Martin an opportunity to add to his already impressive tally of 38 wickets from eight games against South Africa. The more famed member of the New Zealand fast-bowling line-up, Shane Bond, hasn’t yet played a Test against South Africa, while their captain, Daniel Vettori, will hardly have pleasant memories of his battles against them: his 15 wickets from nine games against them have cost him 70 apiece, at a staggeringly poor strike rate of 147 deliveries per wicket.

Among the South African bowlers, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn all have excellent records against New Zealand, but Andre Nel, who has been picked over Pollock for the first Test, will want to drastically improve his stats.

If recent numbers are any indication, the fast bowlers should enjoy the conditions at the Wanderers. Since 2000, they have taken the bulk of the wickets here, at a healthy average of 28. Spinners, on the other hand, have struggled for wickets.

What should give New Zealand some hope is South Africa’s recent form at this ground. Since 2000, they have only won three and lost four out of eight matches. New Zealand’s only success in five tries at this venue was in 1994-95. That was the first Test of the series, but they promptly lost the next two to lose the series 2-1.