أعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا” استضافة قطر الأدوار الختامية من بطولة كأس القارات للأندية 2025 “إنتركونتيننتال”.
ومن المقرر أن تسضتيف قطر المباريات الثلاث الأخيرة من البطولة في الفترة ما بين 10 و17 ديسمبر المقبل.
طالع.. موعد مباراة بيراميدز القادمة بعد الفوز على طلائع الجيش في الدوري
ويلتقي بيراميدز، يوم 13 ديسمبر في كأس التحدي مع الفائز من ديربي الأمريكيتين، حيث سيلتقي كروس أزول المكسيكي، المتوج بدوري أبطال الكونكاكاف، مع بطل كأس ليبرتادوريس 2025، نادي فلامنجو البرازيلي
بيراميدز كان قد حجز مكانه في الأدوار الختامية من كأس إنتركونتيننتال بعد الفوز على الأهلي السعودي في كأس أفريقيا–آسيا–المحيط الهادئ.
ومن المقرر أن يواجه الفائز ببطولة كأس التحدي، فريق باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي، بطل أوروبا، لتحديد هوية بطل كأس القارات للأندية 2025.
وستُقام المباراتان الثالثة والرابعة في استاد أحمد بن علي، فيما سيُكشف لاحقًا عن الملعب الذي سيستضيف النهائي.
يذك أن النسخة الماضية شهدت تتويج ريال مدريد باللقب بعد فوزه على باتشوكا المكسيكي في استاد لوسيل، وسط حضور جماهيري تجاوز 70 ألف متفرج.
A Rangers player who was “big” under Barry Ferguson has now reached an agreement to join another club, according to their sporting director.
Gers manager Russell Martin was left hugely unimpressed after Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to Motherwell, during which the hosts managed more shots despite seeing far less of the ball: “Some of them have to drop their ego, I’ll look at us tactically and accept my responsibility in it. But today, it’s not really tactical, it’s a mentality problem, and we got more than what we deserved actually.”
TalkSPORT presenter Jeff Stelling has since accused Martin of going over the same script he did during his time in charge at Southampton last season: “Listen to this. Russell Martin, and I quote, ‘there was no aggression, no courage, no intensity, I saw self-preservation on the pitch. If you don’t want to run and fight, we have a big problem’.
“Now that wasn’t yesterday…that was October 2024, when his Southampton side had lost against Bournemouth. “So this is almost a little speech that he’s got there when his team don’t perform.”
It feels like Martin wouldn’t be unhappy to see certain players leave Rangers this summer, and an exit update has now emerged regarding one member of the squad.
Club reach agreement to sign "big" Rangers player
According to a fresh claim Sports Digitale [via Sport Witness], Besiktas sporting director Serdal Adali claims Rangers left-back Ridvan Yilmaz has reached an agreement to re-join the club. This comes after Sabah [via Sport Witness] reported earlier in the day that they have made contact over the signing of the Turk this summer.
The Gers are thought to be demanding £4.3m for his services, although a loan move is the Turkish club’s preferred option, with the defender open to leaving Ibrox before the end of the transfer window.
Yilmaz departing this summer makes complete sense, considering he isn’t part of Martin’s plans, despite Ferguson talking highly of him earlier this year when he was manager.
“He’s played in a position which is pretty foreign to him. He’s played right back for us. His natural position is left back. But he’s one player I can rely on. He doesn’t moan. I’ve asked him to play different positions. He’s become a big player. I like his attitude. His attitude has always been first class.”
Yilmaz wasn’t part of the matchday squad against Motherwell over the weekend, and it is hard to see his situation changing as the season goes on, so he needs to leave Rangers.
Ridvan Yilmaz’s Rangers career
Total
Appearances
77
Goals
2
Assists
6
Ideally, the Gers would receive a fee for him, however, using those funds to go towards new signings between now and the end of the window. A loan exit is the next-best option.
Rangers are now believed to have held talks over the signing of a “fantastic” attacking player ahead of next season, in a significant new transfer update.
Rangers chasing exciting signings
Russell Martin will be looking to make a flying start to his spell in charge of the Gers, as they look to wrestle the Scottish Premiership title away from Celtic in 2025/26.
New signings are a must if that is to happen, however, and Rangers continue to be linked with some exciting additions, not least Leicester City icon Jamie Vardy.
The Englishman has played his final game for the Foxes after announcing his decision to leave at the end of last season, and he stands out as an eye-catching option for the Gers, having proven himself at the very highest level over so many years, both in the Premier League and on the international stage with England.
Elsewhere, Rangers are said to be pushing hard to complete the signing of another Leicester player, Conor Coady, while Maccabi Tel Aviv winger Weslley Patati is also seen as a target for Martin’s side.
Rangers hold talks over legendary addition
According to a fresh claim from Football Insider, Rangers have now “held preliminary talks” over the signing of Vardy this summer, with the Scottish giants “accelerating their pursuit” of him.
It is stated that the 38-year-old is the “subject of interest from a number of sides worldwide, including clubs in the United States”, and Martin “feels that the former England international would be a smart signing” for his new club.
At 38, Vardy’s very best days are clearly behind him, but he remains an impressive performer who still possesses plenty of pace and ruthlessness in attacking areas, being hailed as “fantastic” by Claudio Ranieri earlier this year, as well as being lauded by Gary Lineker.
The Leicester legend is one of the best strikers to have ever graced the Premier League, and his passionate style of play, not to mention his ability to wind up opposition players and supporters, could make him an instant hit at Rangers. He holds a net worth of £9m to boot, so if he moved north of the border to play it would be with the intent of winning trophies, not just a final paycheque.
More exciting than Aasgaard: Rangers chasing deal to sign £10m star
Rangers are interested in a deal for a Premier League forward who would be more exciting than Thelo Aasgaard.
ByDan Emery Jul 7, 2025
The Gers may only get a year or two out of Vardy, but if he manages to guide them back to Scottish title glory, he will have done more than enough to justify a short-term stay at Ibrox.
يثير جافي مخاوف فريقه برشلونة، منذ غيابه واستبعاده من المباراة أمام رايو فاليكانو، في الدوري الإسباني.
ولم يتواجد جافي مع منتخب بلاده إسبانيا، خلال فترة التوقف الدولي الحالية بشهر سبتمبر الجاري، حيث يخوض الفريق مواجهتين أمام تركيا وبلغاريا في إطار التصفيات المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.
وبحسب ما ورد في صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، هناك قلق بشأن حالة ركبة جافي اليمنى، وسيخضع اللاعب لفحص شامل غدًا الإثنين.
وعانى جافي من إصابة الركبة سابقًا والتي أبعدته عن الملاعب لمدة 11 شهرًا بعد خضوعه لعملية جراحية بالرباط الصليبي.
ويذكر التقرير أن جافي يعاني من ألم في منطقة الركبة ولذلك سيخضع للفحص الطبي الشامل لمعرفة سبب المشكلة.
اقرأ أيضًا | حقيقة رغبة برشلونة في إعادة راشفورد إلى مانشستر يونايتد خلال انتقالات يناير
وأحد الاحتمالات أمام برشلونة، هو تمديد العلاج التحفظي حتى يستعيد جافي كامل قواه ويخف الألم، دون أي تدخل طبي.
ويوضح التقرير أنه لا يستبعد إجراء منظار إذا لزم الأمر لتنظيف المنطقة المصابة من الركبة، والأمر لن يؤثر على الرباط الصليبي.
ويستعد برشلونة بعد فترة التوقف الدولي لمواجهة فالنسيا يوم الأحد الموافق 14 سبتمبر الجاري، ضمن مواجهات الدوري الإسباني.
Despite finishing as low as 15th in the Premier League last season and missing out on every European competition, Manchester United’s exciting summer transfer window could be set to continue amid reports that one target has made a shock U-turn.
Mbeumo set to undergo Man Utd medical
After submitting an offer in excess of £60m, Manchester United have taken a vital step closer to signing Mbeumo, who is now reportedly scheduled to undergo a medical at the club as early as next week. The Brentford forward, like Cunha, is a transformative signing for Ruben Amorim’s frontline which was often found wanting last season.
Ahead of the biggest move of his career yet, Mbeumo has already received the backing of Manchester United legend Gary Neville, who spoke about the impact that both he and Cunha could make at Old Trafford.
He told Sky Sports: “[Man United] need players who are going to come in and hit the ground running. United has become a very difficult place for new signings to operate in the last ten years.
“Cunha and Mbeumo have obviously got Premier League experience. They’ve got plenty of games under their belt. [English football] is not new to them and actually they are the right type.
INEOS exploring blockbuster £85m deal to sign Mbappe-level star for Man Utd
He’d be a bigger signing than Mbeumo.
ByTom Cunningham Jun 27, 2025
“When I watch Manchester United wide players, they have to be able to get from box-to-box quickly. They have to be able to run, to travel with and without the ball. Mbeumo and, to be fair Cunha, can do that.”
Whilst the new attacking duo is no doubt impressive, INEOS may not be done there with incomings amid reports that one of their top targets has made a shock transfer U-turn.
Gyokeres now wants Man Utd move instead of Arsenal
In what could prove to be an almighty mistake, Arsenal’s increasing interest for Benjamin Sesko has re-opened the door for INEOS to make their best move yet at Old Trafford.
The Gunners have been chasing both strikers for weeks, laying groundwork and weighing their options, but according to The Mirror, INEOS and Manchester United are in contact to sign Viktor Gyokeres and the Swede now believes that a move to the Red Devils is his best option this summer.
The Swede’s departure from Sporting has become somewhat inevitable after his public spat with the Portuguese club and United should take full advantage of the forward’s desire to reunite with former boss Amorim.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokereskisses the trophy as he celebrate after winning the Taca de Portugal
The disagreement came to the fore when Sporting president Frederico Varandas accused Gyokeres’ agent of falsely claiming that there had been a gentleman’s agreement to sell the star striker for around £59m this summer. Instead, the Portuguese club have reportedly priced the Swede at as much as £86m – a price that his camp believe is too high to ensure a move in the coming months.
In today’s market though, Sporting may argue that a player who scored 54 goals in 52 games last season is worth every penny of that £86m fee. Whether Manchester United share that sentiment and sign a player who Sporting boss Rui Borges dubbed “phenomenal” remains to be seen, however.
Nottingham Forest have exceeded expectations this season and could be about to launch an ambitious bid in the transfer window for a renowned Premier League operator, according to a report.
Nottingham Forest look forward to exciting summer
Nuno Espirito Santo has restored his reputation as one of the most underrated coaches in the Premier League after guiding Nottingham Forest to continental qualification at the City Ground.
Coming as a surprise to many in footballing circles, their culture of shrewd investments and building a side capable of going the extra mile is likely to be key once again as they enter the market in pursuit of new recruits.
Generalview ofNottinghamForestfans in the stands
Fitting the bill, Nottingham Forest have lined up an exciting move for Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Martin Baturina to help bolster their chances of encountering another fine campaign next time around.
Coming in for a potential fee of £21 million, the Croatia international’s arrival would be a major signal of intent in light of an 18-goal contribution season in his homeland.
On the same token, Lazio forward Taty Castellanos is also said to be on Nottingham Forest’s radar amid news that he could be available to depart the Stadio Olimpico should a suitable offer for his services come forward.
Nottingham Forest now evaluating summer move to sign "superb" Serie A star
He could become the heir to Chris Wood’s Forest throne.
ByTom Cunningham May 22, 2025
West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers will provide competition, but the Tricky Trees will feel confident they can prevail due to their European status. Undoubtedly, rival suitors for key targets will present a challenging market space for every ambitious manager looking for fresh blood.
Either way, Nottingham Forest have found plenty of diamonds over the past few years, so it won’t come as a surprise to hear that they are now in the mix for another talented operator.
Nottingham Forest line up surprise £35m Matheus Nunes deal
According to The Sun, Nottingham Forest are lining up a move for Manchester City star Matheus Nunes amid the Citizens’ pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White that could see the England international head in the opposite direction. It is added that City are ready to cut their losses on Nunes and value him at £35m.
Espirito Santo is a ‘big fan’ of the Portuguese central midfielder, who has also operated as a right-back this term due to a shortage of options at Pep Guardiola’s disposal.
Matheus Nunes for Manchester City in 2024/25 – all competitions
Appearances
38
Goals
4
Assists
10
Trophies
FA Community Shield winner
Despite a disappointing campaign for Manchester City as a whole, his impressive goal contribution tally lends some credence to the notion that Nunes could replace Gibbs-White if the latter were to depart this summer.
Labelled “special” by Guardiola, it is believed that the former Wolves man could be a useful ‘bargaining chip’ in any cross-negotiations, potentially feeding into the scope for a PSR-friendly agreement to be found between all parties.
Nevertheless, time will tell on that front. Nottingham Forest have emerged as one of the more ambitious forces in English football of late, and securing Nunes on a permanent basis would heighten their status in that bracket.
Liverpool are believed to be keeping tabs on a Vinicius Junior-esque starlet with a massive future in the game, according to a new transfer update.
Liverpool close in on title as transfer rumours ramp up
The Reds need just one more win to seal the Premier League title, following Sunday’s 1-0 triumph away to relegated Leicester City. They could even be crowned champions on Wednesday evening, should Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace, which feels unlikely.
Away from the on-pitch action, Liverpool continue to be linked with new signings, ahead of what promises to be a busy summer at Anfield. Nottingham Forest right-back Ola Aina has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, should he depart for Real Madrid.
Ola Aina with Chris Wood for Nottingham Forest.
Bryan Mbeumo has also been mentioned as an option for the Reds for many months now and the Brentford ace is still being discussed as a summer target. A £50m bid for the Cameroonian is reportedly likely to be accepted by the Bees at the end of the season.
Liverpool are thought to have made contact with RB Leipzig ace Xavi Simons over a switch to Anfield, too, even though he only joined permanently from Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window.
Liverpool keeping tabs on Leicester teenager Monga
According to a report from Spain, Liverpool are eyeing a summer move for Leicester City teenager Jeremy Monga, who is considered one of the brightest young prospects in English football.
Chelsea and Manchester City are also thought to be interested in signing the winger, who recently became the first-ever player born in 2009 to play in the Premier League, and the second-youngest appearance-maker in the competition’s history.
Monga is a player who is being talked about as a special prospect, with scout/writer Jacek Kulig heaping praise on him and even comparing him to Madrid superstar Vinicius.
“Very positive on the ball, unpredictable, and confident of his skills. Doesn’t hesitate to use his weaker left foot and is capable of dribbling, passing, and scoring comfortably with it. Player has the potential to become a key player in a top European club.”
Liverpool should always be looking to sign the biggest young talent around and Monga could be an exceptional signing, maturing into a sensational player over time.
To have already played in the Premier League at the age of just 15 is an incredible achievement, and he was even introduced as a late substitute against the Reds on Sunday, making his second senior appearance in the process.
He outperformed Trent: Liverpool star just made himself undroppable
This Liverpool star was even better than Trent Alexander-Arnold and should now be undroppable.
By
Dan Emery
Apr 20, 2025
Monga has already made a combined 23 appearances for Leicester at Under-21 and Under-18 level, shining way above his own age group, so Liverpool pipping rivals to his signature could look like a masterstroke over time.
Seventeen-year-old local batter Jewel Andrew also on Falcons’ books as initial squad of 12 named ahead of player draft in July
ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-2024
Mohammad Amir will spearhead the newest CPL franchise’s attack•ICC/Getty Images
The Pakistan trio of Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim and Fakhar Zaman will turn out for new franchise Antigua & Barbuda Falcons at CPL 2024. Falcons have also signed Australia offspinner Chris Green and Afghanistan allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai for their debut season.West Indies’ Brandon King and Fabian Allen were also signed, along with 17-year-old batter Jewel Andrew, who played the Under-19 World Cup for West Indies earlier this year.In all, Falcons have signed 12 players so far, which means they will need to sign five more players at the draft in July to round-out their squad.Related
CPL 2024 FAQs: New team, new players, new intrigues
CPL 2024 draft: St Lucia Kings sign USA star Aaron Jones as teams finalise squads
Antigua & Barbuda Falcons unveiled as new CPL franchise
Trinbago Knight Riders sign Tim David and Jason Roy for CPL 2024
Royals bring back Theekshana, Patriots sign Hasaranga and Stubbs for CPL 2024
Other big signings for CPL 2024 so far have included Tim David and Jason Roy (Trinbago Knight Riders), Heinrich Klaasen (St Lucia Kings), and Wanindu Hasaranga and Tristan Stubbs (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots).Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, the new franchise, replaces Jamaica Tallawahs at the CPL. Antigua had previously hosted a CPL franchise named Antigua Hawksbills in the first two CPL seasons, but that was replaced by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2015.The 2024 edition of the CPL will take place from August 28 to October 6 with games taking place in Antigua for the first time in ten years. Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago are the other venues. The National Stadium in Providence, Guyana, will host the final.Antigua & Barbuda Falcons squad listImad Wasim, Fakhar Zaman, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Amir, Chris Green, Hayden Walsh Jr, Shamar Springer, Kelvin Pitman, Jewel Andrew, Joshua James
Australia’s captain suffers “acute right foot injury” after seeing Tayla Vlaeminck go down with dislocated shoulder
Valkerie Baynes11-Oct-20243:56
Takeaways: Australia win big, but at what cost?
Alyssa Healy looked shaken and an air of concern descended on her Australia side as Tayla Vlaeminck lay in a crumpled heap on the boundary’s edge, clutching her shoulder. Surely this wasn’t happening.Right-arm quick Vlaeminck had just come into the side to add “impact” to the bowling attack for their first outing in Dubai, Australia having begun their T20 World Cup campaign with two wins on a spin-friendly Sharjah pitch that swing bowler Megan Schutt had managed to master. Now, just four balls into the game, Vlaeminck was out with a right-shoulder dislocation to add to a long list of serious injuries.They clearly felt for her. Two ACL injuries, a twice-dislocated left shoulder and stress fractures to her foot had severely curtailed Vlaeminck’s career and still she’d kept fighting back. But as she received treatment, Australia entered a huddle, Ellyse Perry gave them a pep talk and they picked themselves up – then picked Pakistan apart.Bowled out for 82, the lowest total at this tournament, Pakistan – without captain Fatima Sana, who had flown home to Karachi following the death of her father on Thursday – could mount no resistance agaisnt a side whose depth is the envy of the world and would be tested further…
****
Alyssa Healy grimaced and pulled up sharply as she came back for a second run and an air of concern descended on her Australian side. Surely this wasn’t happening.She and Perry were cruising through Australia’s pursuit of 83 after Beth Mooney fell for a run-a-ball 15 and now the captain was hobbling from the field.Healy had to hop up a set of stairs leading to the changeroom and Cricket Australia later confirmed that she had suffered “an acute right foot injury”. She was set to undergo scans on Saturday after which her availability for the rest of the tournament was expected to become clearer.What is clear is Australia’s ability to overcome such setbacks.Schutt, Australia’s standout performer with the ball so far, took 1 for 7 from three miserly overs to overtake Pakistan’s Nida Dar as the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20Is with 144.Then Ashleigh Gardner claimed 4 for 21 – including three in the penultimate over – with her offspin to record her best T20I figures since taking 5 for 12 at the previous edition of the tournament last year in Paarl.
“There were people that were obviously emotional. I think that just shows the care that we have for our team-mates. Tay has worked so hard to get back here and she’s earned it. To see her go down like that, we had to regroup really quickly”Ashleigh Gardner on Tayla Vlaeminck’s injury
Vlaeminck’s injury had hit the team particularly hard given that this was her first World Cup match since 2018 and just the second of her career.”It’s obviously horrible seeing one of your mates go down and knowing Tay’s road to get back to here,” Gardner said. “She’s someone that probably works harder than anyone else I know so to see someone like that go down with another injury, we all really felt for her.”There were people that were obviously emotional and things like that and I think that just shows the care that we have for our team-mates and especially Tay. She’s worked so hard to get back here and she’s earned it, so to see her go down like that, we had to regroup really quickly.”Pez [Perry] just brought us all in and she reverted back to the Mackay incident, where that kind of erupted pretty quickly and just to make sure that everyone was okay and to get on with it. That’s the nature of sport, unlucky things happen and then you’ve just got to get on with it and then wait until after the game to make sure that Tay was okay. She’s in good spirits which is nice to see.”The “Mackay incident” refers to when Gardner herself was withdrawn from Australia’s starting XI right before the toss in last month’s first T20I against New Zealand in Mackay when she collided with team-mate Georgia Wareham during the warm-up and suffered a knock to the jaw.Megan Schutt became the leading wicket-taker in T20Is•ICC/Getty ImagesOn Friday, Gardner conceded seven runs in the second over of the match but in the 19th, she had Tuba Hassan stumped by Healy, then took two wickets in as many deliveries when Syeda Aroob Shah spooned a catch straight to Mooney at midwicket and she pinned Nashra Sandhu lbw with one that spun back in and ripped past the outside edge.It was also Gardner who came in to bat when Healy retired hurt, scoring an unbeaten 7 off five balls while Perry remained not out 22. In mowing down their 83-run target in just 11 overs, Australia’s net run rate now sits at a healthy 2.786. But Gardner expects to face a sterner test in their final group game against India on Sunday.”I wasn’t overly happy with how I bowled that over in the powerplay,” she said. “But then to come back and change that, the bowlers that bowled before me laid a fantastic platform for me to take wickets at the back end and mop up the tail, as some would say, but it was nice to be able to get some wickets.”Certainly going to the next game I know I’m going to be challenged. I’m going to have to bowl two overs probably in the powerplay against someone like Smriti Mandana so the challenge is always there and I relish those environments. Hopefully I’m on the upper end against her.”
He often leaks runs in T20 cricket, but when conditions are even slightly in his favour – like in Napier on Tuesday – he can make things happen
Alagappan Muthu22-Nov-20221:46
Taylor: Siraj, Arshdeep and Bumrah could form a potent attack by 2024
Mohammed Siraj is a hard bowler to figure out.Go through his numbers and you’ll see a guy who leaks runs. He’s played six seasons of the IPL, and in three of them, he’s gone for at least nine an over.Check out some of his wickets though, and you’ll see a guy who keeps doing the one thing batters around the world absolutely hate. He surprises them.Related
India clinch series after rain-hit tie in Napier
In 2021, he Test-cricketed Steven Smith in a T20 match. Squared him up. Got the edge. Waved him bye-bye. In 2018, bowling in the death to Andre Russell, perhaps the most fearsome power hitter of the modern era, he bounced him out. Too quick. Too good. Birthday boy gone for a golden duck. In 2020, he became the first bowler to bowl two maidens in an IPL game. Two weeks later, he recreated Dale Steyn vs Brad Haddin with a ball that Prithvi Shaw thought he had covered only for his off stump to scream at him otherwise.Labels are a big thing in sport. And the one that seems to fit Siraj is the guy in that meme that goes noooo, I don’t want that. I want whatever’s weirder than that.Seriously, there was a game last year, against Rajasthan Royals, where Siraj’s figures read 4-0-27-3. He bowled 16 dot balls in that spell. On a pitch where Royal Challengers Bangalore did not lose a single wicket while chasing down 178.He did, however, concede four fours and a six. That’s 22 out of 27 runs in boundaries. A bowler capable of making the opposition look completely unprepared for him has no business looking so deliciously hittable.On Tuesday, against New Zealand, Siraj produced a wicket with the second ball he bowled. Then another with his 17th. A couple more with his 19th and 23rd. And a pattern began to emerge.Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner – decent haul that•AFP via Getty ImagesA lot of Siraj’s success comes from hitting the deck hard. (He’s got other tricks, but let’s focus on this for now.) In India, where there’s not always a lot of sideways movement, it means you’re setting the batter up to get under the ball and hit you over the top. That’s why even though he gets all these cool wickets, he still keeps going for runs.Out here in Napier, on a pitch that was juiced up by a fair bit of rain, every time Siraj banged the ball in, it did unexpected things. Mark Chapman was looking to launch him over the short square boundary on the leg side, but instead the ball seamed away and took the leading edge.Siraj understood that he’d been given conditions that were right up his alley. He even said so in the interview between innings. All he wanted to do was bowl hard lengths, because that was what the batters were struggling to deal with. It’s probably the reason why he was so successful in Australia a couple of years ago. He was on his first tour of the country. A horde of his team-mates were out injured. And he emerged as their highest wicket-taker in a famous series win.Remember his five-for at the Gabba? He took out players who are bred on pace and bounce with pace and bounce. Smith practically recoiled from the ball that he ended up fending to gully. There’s the other thing about Siraj. He seems to lose very little pace after the ball bounces. Again, that in India means you come on to the bat nicely. In other places, Napier for example, you become the last thing a batter sees before he ends up in the pavilion.At the Gabba in early 2021, Siraj took out players bred on pace and bounce with pace and bounce•Getty Images and Cricket AustraliaGlenn Phillips had hit three sixes and two fours off the last 13 balls. He’d also brought up his third fifty-plus score in six innings. In short, he was in the zone. About three seconds later, he was kicked clean out of it.He took strike in the 16th over expecting a full delivery, because at McLean Park, which has 60m boundaries square of the wicket, that’s the least damaging length to bowl. Phillips was actually preparing to make light of that, his front-foot trigger movement taking him across off stump and rendering him in the perfect stance to sweep/scoop/slog everything to that short side of the ground.Siraj didn’t give him the fuller length. He went bouncer. And he could go that way because he’s quick. Not in the traditional 150kph way. But more in the Andrew Flintoff heavy ball kind of way. Phillips was very, very late on the hook and, as a result, none of his power went into the shot. Bhuvneshwar Kumar barely got to the ball running in from long leg.That wicket triggered New Zealand’s collapse. At one point, they lost six in the space of 12 balls for three runs, 130 for 2 became 160 all out.Siraj made that happen. He just makes things happen.