Connect with us

Sport

Shaun Wane: Facing Australia in England-based Ashes would be stuff of dreams

Published

on

Shaun Wane: Facing Australia in England-based Ashes would be stuff of dreams

SHAUN Wane is ready to live the dream he would have waited five years for – his England side to tear into the Aussies on home turf.

An apparent change of the Kangaroos’ heart is set to see an Ashes tour Down Under become a series on these shores in 2025.

Hopes the 2025 Ashes series will be played in England are growing after an apparent change of thinking by Australia

2

Hopes the 2025 Ashes series will be played in England are growing after an apparent change of thinking by AustraliaCredit: SWPIX.COM

Wigan and Leeds’ Headingley are thought to be favourites to host Tests on each side of the Pennines, with Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London Stadium and Arsenal’s Emirates considered for the third in London.

Advertisement

But just hearing he could lead his country in an Ashes series here is music to boss Wane’s ears – he was meant to do so in 2020 before Covid-19 struck.

He said: “I was brought up on Australia and New Zealand in the 1970s and 1980s.

“I remember getting the job and being told we had an Ashes series against Australia and thinking, ‘I can’t believe how lucky I am.’

“Then it got cancelled and I was absolutely devastated, so to get this on again and for them to travel here is unbelievable.

Advertisement

“Having it here, making it a high-performance few weeks and giving ourselves the best chance of beating the best team in the world, really excites me.

“Doing that at home, in front of full houses, I’d love it. The NRL and Australia is the pinnacle.

“I want to pit myself against Mal Meninga and the Australian team. I’ve never done anything as big as that and it’s why I took this job.

“So for me personally, it would be the pinnacle of my career.”

Advertisement

While Australia in 2025 is in the future, present attentions are set on making the series against World Cup finalists Samoa a 2-0 whitewash.

Boss Shaun Wane admits taking on the Kangaroos would be a dream

2

Boss Shaun Wane admits taking on the Kangaroos would be a dreamCredit: SWPIX.COM

But he admitted any match – so far he has faced France and fellow Pacific islanders Tonga – is treated like the opponents are in green and gold.

Wane, who admitted prop Luke Thompson will play on Saturday, added: “We cannot defend and make the same errors against Australia and New Zealand as we did against Samoa on Sunday.

Advertisement

“We might not get away with it this Saturday against Samoa because they’re going to be a lot better, so we need to be smarter.

“But we need to keep this momentum going with a really good calendar. If we can build on this going into the Ashes and then the World Cup, I think we’ll be on a great roll.

“A really good international calendar is great for our sport.”

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Football

Rangers agree further borrowing as Tierney nears return – Scottish gossip

Published

on

Rangers agree further borrowing as Tierney nears return - Scottish gossip


Rangers will borrow a further £4m from investors and have agreed to receive another £9m in loans. (Record), external

The amount paid by Rangers to settle a dispute with Elite was recorded as £3.8m in their annual accounts. (Herald – subscription), external

Former Hearts sporting director Joe Savage regrets not signing Nicky Devlin before the Scotland right-back joined Aberdeen from Livingston. (Record), external

Advertisement

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tried to sign Yan Dhanda, James Penrice and Blair Spittal before all three moved to Hearts during the summer. (Herald – subscription), external

Scotland defender Kieran Tierney is nearing a return to fitness at Arsenal. (Record), external

Former Celtic general manager Jock Brown has become chairman of Hamilton Academical. (Sun), external



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sport

Shannon Ruth: Brighton Under-21 boss who believes English coaches should learn abroad

Published

on

Shannon Ruth: Brighton Under-21 boss who believes English coaches should learn abroad

Midfielder Hinshelwood has benefited from Ruth’s guidance at Brighton and the 19-year-old has featured heavily under De Zerbi and Hurzeler.

Hinshelwood’s direct journey to first-team football was unlike the path of Caicedo, who had to go out on loan and play for Ruth’s under-21s before he was ready for the seniors and ultimately a £115m move to Chelsea.

“Since I took the role when Roberto first came in, not a day has passed when an academy player hasn’t trained with our first team,” Ruth said.

“Passing players back and forth is really normal here. We believe it helps their development and believe it helps in making them get closer to impacting our first team.”

Advertisement

Ruth would like to become a head coach at some point, but he explained that coaches should not be in a “hurry” to secure the senior positions.

“As a 21s head coach, it is a great education. You are almost a filtered-down version of a senior coach,” Ruth said.

“The bits and pieces and the challenges that might land on my desk are nowhere near what might land on Fabian’s.”

The outlook appears bright for both Brighton Under-21s and their coach.

Advertisement

Ruth’s team sit second in the Premier League 2 table behind Manchester City, having lost just one game.

Players are seizing the chance to impress, knowing a first-team career is achievable.

“In the last four seasons we have had more players go on to play professionally than we have released,” Ruth said.

“The stat of young players falling out of football is big, we know. We’re really proud that that’s not the case [at Brighton] and we’re trying hard to defy that stat.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sport

VIDEO | Reliving Matthew Wade’s epic innings against Pakistan in 2021 T20 World Cup semifinal

Published

on

VIDEO | Reliving Matthew Wade's epic innings against Pakistan in 2021 T20 World Cup semifinal

Australian T20 World Cup winner and wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade, on Tuesday, retired from international cricket. He last appeared in Aussie colours at the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

The 36-year-old will now join Australia’s coaching staff under Andre Borovec for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, and the ODI series starting in Melbourne from November 4.

Wade played 36 Tests, 97 ODIs and 92 T20Is over 13 years, scoring 1,613 runs, 1,867 and 1,202 respectively. He started off as a junior footballer, but switched to cricket owing to his height. A testicular cancer survivor, Wade remained in wicketkeeper-batter Tim Paine’s shadow. Despite the setbacks, Wade went back to domestic cricket and made a strong case for himself with stellar performances for Tasmania.

He was picked for the England series in 2019, and then made his way into the white-ball teams. He made his mark in T20 cricket, with Hobart Hurricanes in BBL, and soon became Australia’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in 2020-21.

Advertisement

2021 T20 World Cup, Australia vs Pakistan semifinal, Dubai

The defining moment of his career came in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where he was the vice-captain and was assigned the role of a finisher. In the semifinal against Pakistan in Dubai, he smashed a 17-ball 41 not out in an epic finish, to take Australia into the final.

Wade came out to bat at no.7 in the 13th over, after the dismissal of Glenn Maxwell (7). Australia needed 81 runs off 46 balls then, with Marcus Stoinis batting at the other end on four. The wicketkeeper-batter started off slowly, making eight runs off his first nine balls, while Stoinis was hitting the lusty blows.

Wade tees off in style

In the 18th over bowled by Hasan Ali, Wade hit a six and a four to get going. Australia needed 22 runs now in two overs. Pakistan’s star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had given only 13 runs in his three overs till then, came on to bowl the 19th over, with Stoinis on strike.

The first was a dot ball. The Aussies managed to sneak in a leg-bye off the second ball, as Pakistan reviewed an LBW decision unsuccessfully. With Wade on strike, Afridi bowled a wide. The next ball would have been Wade’s last, but his mistimed shot was floored by Ali. What was worse, the Aussies managed to scamper back for two runs. The equation was down to 18 off nine balls.

Advertisement

Wade vs Shaheen Shah Afridi: 6, 6, 6

What followed was absolute carnage by Wade. He moved across his stumps and scooped an almost yorker to short fine leg for a six. The next ball was a cutter, but Wade cleared his front leg and mowed it down midwicket for yet another six. Pakistan’s hopes of taking the match into the final over were done and dusted, as Wade finished off the match in style, with yet another audacious scooped six off the last ball of Afridi’s over.

He was adudged the player of the match for his stellar innings. Australia went on to win their maiden T20 World Cup title, beating New Zealand by eight wickets in the final.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sport

Charvarius Ward’s one-year-old daughter Amani Joy tragically dies as 49ers NFL star releases heartbreaking statement

Published

on

Charvarius Ward's one-year-old daughter Amani Joy tragically dies as 49ers NFL star releases heartbreaking statement

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS star Charvarius Ward has tragically revealed his one-year-old daughter has passed away.

Ward, 28, confirmed on social media the heartbreaking news that Amani Joy had died on Monday morning.

Charvarius Ward confirmed his daughter Amani Joy died on Monday morning

2

Charvarius Ward confirmed his daughter Amani Joy died on Monday morningCredit: Getty
Ward shared an emotional statement alongside a picture of Amani Joy

2

Advertisement
Ward shared an emotional statement alongside a picture of Amani JoyCredit: Instagram @itslilmooney

Alongside a picture of his daughter, the cornerback shared a loving message.

He said: “We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning.

“She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear.

“She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and bravery.

Advertisement

“She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile.

“Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better.

“She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl.

“We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”

Advertisement

The 49ers also released a statement which read: “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy.

“Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh.

“We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”

Ward and partner Monique welcomed Amani Joy into the world in November 2022.

Advertisement

In March, on World Down Syndrome Day, the NFL star shared a post opening up about his daughter’s condition.

He said: “I used to think Down Syndrome was a handicap but now I realise it is just a gift from God.

“Being Amani’s dad has taught me patience & how to surrender & let things be.”

Ward featured for the 49ers in Sunday’s 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Advertisement

It is not yet known whether he will feature against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his team’s next game on November 10.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Football

Yankees come ALIVE in Game 4, Anthony Volpe GRAND SLAM: Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez & David Ortiz

Published

on

Yankees come ALIVE in Game 4, Anthony Volpe GRAND SLAM: Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez & David Ortiz




The “MLB on FOX” crew react to the New York Yankees’ Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series and preview Game 5.



Source link

Continue Reading

Sport

NFL: Jayden Daniels throws Hail Mary pass in stunning last-gasp win

Published

on

NFL: Jayden Daniels throws Hail Mary pass in stunning last-gasp win

Watch as Jayden Daniels throwqs a stunning last-gasp “once in a lifetime” Hail Mary pass as the Washington Commanders defeat the Chicago Bears in week eight of the NFL.

READ MORE: Daniels’ Hail Mary heroics, Browns stun Ravens & Chiefs stay perfect

Available to UK users only.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 WordupNews.com