Before Dan Burn: Newcastle "leader" is the first player Wilson must ditch

With the news filtering through that Ross Wilson is now joining Newcastle United as the club’s new sporting director, it could well be make or break time for a number of the reserve personnel at St James’ Park who are nearing the end of their current deals.

Indeed, Wilson will want to leave his mark on proceedings, with the likes of Matt Targett surely being let go when his deal expires next summer.

The likes of Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schar, however, will surely be keen to extend their current contracts, which also expire next year, even as they reach both 35 and 33, respectively, having shown they can still offer up plenty of quality as St. James’ Park veterans.

Dan Burn will also want to continue his celebrated Newcastle stay for as long as possible, even if question marks continue to pop up about his suitability as a left-back in Eddie Howe’s XI.

What the future holds for Dan Burn at Newcastle

Burn has become a staple at Newcastle over recent years, with the Blyth-born colossus beaming from ear to ear when he lifted the EFL Cup last year to break the Toon’s long trophy drought, having scored in the unbelievable 2-1 victory.

In total, the 6-foot-7 defender has now tallied up 158 appearances for Howe and Co since joining from Brighton and Hove Albion in 2022, with Burn missing from just one Premier League contest all season long last campaign.

Still, he hasn’t been without his critics this season, with one Toon-based content creator even dubbing Burn’s extended shifts at left-back over recent games as the “stuff of nightmares”.

In particular, the England international notably struggled to close down Bukayo Saka during Newcastle’s late 2-1 collapse against Arsenal, with the usually formidable 33-year-old giving away possession a high 26 times in the process.

With Malick Thiaw’s emergence into the side as an up-and-coming centre-back option, it’s unlikely that Burn will be shoved back into the heart of the backline soon, with the ageing number 33 just hopeful he can remain a consistent starter until his own contract runs out in the summer of 2027.

One of Burn’s Newcastle teammates doesn’t look to have the same luxury of time on his side, however.

Newcastle "leader" is now on borrowed time

When scanning the current makeup of the Magpies’ first-team step-up, there are an awful lot of figures who have been with the club since the very beginning of Howe’s reign.

Nick Pope left Burnley behind for the allure of St. James’ Park during Howe’s first proper summer transfer window, and despite some murmurs last season by journalist Adam Clery that he looks “absolutely petrified” to make an error, he remains Howe’s number one choice all those years down the line.

He does, however, have that same weight on his shoulders that the likes of Trippier and Schar are feeling, as his contract also expires this approaching June.

Jamaal Lascelles is also in this same unwanted boat, but he has been situated on Tyneside since the days of Rafa Benitez, even when his team were locked into a Championship promotion race during the 2016/17 season.

At the time, Lascelles would stand up strong as the Toon’s captain to guide the underachievers back up to the top-flight, with Newcastle royalty in Alan Shearer even going out of his way to label the 31-year-old as a “leader.”

Games played

253

Goals scored

15

Assists

4

Days out with injury

953

Games missed with injury

119

Since then, he has notched up 159 Premier League appearances and counting, but with their Champions League status now nearly a decade from Lascelles’ moment in the spotlight, and his recurring nature in and out of the St James’ treatment room currently, it might well be an apt time to pull the plug on the Derby-born centre-back’s long-winding stay, when his deal ceases to be in June.

Lascelle’s woes with injuries haven’t stopped him from still being seen as a club captain off the pitch, with Howe further reinforcing that he is an “incredible” player to have around the dressing room.

But, with Wilson through the door, and his contract soon to be up, now could be the time to wave goodbye, with Lascelles potentially going on to be a hero for another club, if he can exorcise his injury demons once and for all.

Anderson re-signs; £75m PL star joins: Ross Wilson's dream XI at Newcastle

Newcastle continue their hierarchal re-structure with the appointment of a new technical director.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 11, 2025

Steven Smith anchors Fire chase in major blow to Phoenix play-off hopes

Ben Kellaway shines with the ball and in the field on Hundred debut as Phoenix stumble

ECB Media22-Aug-2025

Steve Smith and Jonny Bairstow added 50 for the second wicket•Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images

Steven Smith steered Welsh Fire to a comfortable eight-wicket victory at Edgbaston to leave Birmingham Phoenix with a mountain to climb to qualify for the Eliminator and keep their own slim hopes alive.Set 139 for victory, Fire, who started the evening bottom of the table, reached their target with 11 balls to spare, Steve Eskinazi breaking the back of the chase with a 29-ball 42 before Smith (47 not out from 36) scripted a comprehensive win.The Australian legend has struggled for form in his first season of the Hundred, making a top score of 29 in his first five knocks, but he played sensibly while Eskinazi and Jonny Bairstow (35 from 21) provided the pyrotechnics at the other end.Bairstow dispatched Adam Milne into the Hollies Stand with an almighty six, only to be bowled by the Kiwi’s next delivery, but skipper Tom Abell took his side over the line with plenty to spare.Phoenix’s innings was a disjointed affair, with several batters making starts but no one able to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. After Aussie quick Riley Meredith cleaned up Ben Duckett for 5 via an inside edge, Will Smeed (23 from 17), Joe Clarke (24 from 12) and Liam Livingstone (16 from 9) all played eye-catching strokes but failed to kick on.Jacob Bethell hit three sixes in his stylish knock of 38 from 28 but Fire’s fingerspinners never let Phoenix cut loose, Chris Green taking 3 for 27 including the scalp of Bethell, caught at long-on in the final set, while Ben Kellaway returned figures of 2 for 10 from 15 deliveries, also taking three catches and effecting a run-out on a memorable debut in the Hundred.Phoenix’s final total of 138 for 9 felt under par and so it proved as Fire went on to claim their second win of the campaign and move up to seventh in the table, eight points behind third with two matches still to play. Phoenix remain in fifth, ahead of Fire on net run rate.

The Greatest 20 Midfielders in Football History

Being a midfielder at the top level is extremely difficult, with every attribute arguably required to be considered world-class in today’s era. Whether it be shielding the defence, controlling the game or scoring goals, we have seen some iconic midfielders over time.

A number of midfielders have won the Ballon d’Or, most recently Rodri and Luka Modric, and, right now, Barcelona’s Pedri and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham are currently seen as the best in world football. But who is the midfield GOAT?

The Best 15 Midfielders in World Football Ranked (2025)

Some of the best players in the world do their stuff in the middle of the park, but who’s number one?

5 ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025

Here is a list of 20 midfield legends football has ever seen, factoring in their longevity and consistency at the highest level, while also looking at their team and personal accolades.

20 Frank Lampard

If a goalscoring midfielder is what you need, then Frank Lampard is certainly one of the best. A Chelsea legend, the Englishman is actually the Blues’ all-time leading scorer, netting 211 times at Stamford Bridge across 13 years.

Lampard won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, a Champions League and a Europa League, deservedly being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.

19 Patrick Vieira

Continuing the trend of Premier League icons, Patrick Vieira is best known for his time as Arsenal captain under Arsene Wenger and is also a member of the Premier League Hall of Fame.

The Frenchman only cost the Gunners £3.5m back in 1996 and was worth every penny, being named in the PFA Team of the Year in six successive seasons.

Vieira, a World Cup and Euros winner, could help protect the defence by breaking up play, driving his team forward with his power and popping up with a goal from time to time.

18 Socrates

Recognisable during his playing days for his beard and headband, Socrates was an extremely elegant and intelligent midfielder in his peak, combing power with touch.

A skilful inspiration for the next generation of Brazilian stars, Socrates saw football as an art, and that truly came across during his career, with the 6ft 4 midfielder starring for Corinthians.

17 Kaka

Another Brazilian who would’ve grown up learning all about Socrates was Kaka, and he’d go on to become an icon himself after starring for AC Milan and Real Madrid.

Kaka was quick, skilful, strong and had plenty of end product and is among a small select group of players to win the World Cup, the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or.

He may not have had the longevity and consistency as some of the others on the list, but at his peak, there was no stopping Kaka.

16 Clarence Seedorf

Still the only player in football history to have won the Champions League with three different clubs, Clarence Seedorf was influential for the likes of Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan.

The Dutchman was an iconic box-to-box midfielder and could ping 60 yard passes, make last ditch tackles and score all in the same game.

Named the Dutch Footballer of the Year in 1993 and 1994, Seedorf was also named UEFA’s best midfielder in 2007, showing how goof he was over time.

15 Xavi

A product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, Xavi would go on to play more than 750 games for the Catalan giants and formed one of the most iconic midfield trios at the Nou Camp alongside Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

A passing genius, Xavi was an unbelievable leader of one of the best teams in history, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.

The Spaniard also lifted two European Championships and one World Cup, and the fact he was a regular across his career in dominant sides shows how good he was.

14 Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos has rightly gone down as a Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Germany icon after a glittering 17-year career at the highest level.

Winning six Champions Leagues, six league titles and the World Cup, Kroos was known for his unbelievable passing range and registered more than 100 assists in the Bundesliga and La Liga over his career.

13 Andrea Pirlo

Arguably the coolest midfielder in history, Andrea Pirlo ran games of football with ease and never looked like he was breaking a sweat.

A deep-lying playmaker, the Italian won six Serie A titles, two Champions Leagues and the World Cup, Pirlo starred for AC Milan and Juventus, finishing in the top 10 on three occasions at the Ballon d’Or.

12 Paul Scholes

Like Kroos and Pirlo, Paul Scholes’ passing range was off the charts during his Man Utd career which saw him win 11 Premier League titles.

Although his England career didn’t match his club honours, Scholes was called a “teacher” by Lionel Messi, the “best” teammate by Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane’s “toughest opponent”, and the praise from the iconic trio goes to show how good he was.

11 Luka Modric

Not many would have predicted Luka Modric to become one of the best midfielders in hostly when he signed for Tottenham in 2008.

However, the Croatian icon starred in the Premier League and was then a Real Madrid regular for 13 years, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2018. A six-time Champions League winner, Modric’s passing range and ability to dictate any game sees him stand out from the rest.

Bruno Spindel, diretor do Flamengo, dispara contra arbitragem do Brasileirão: 'Estarrecido e assustado'

MatériaMais Notícias

Bruno Spindel, diretor executivo de futebol do Flamengo, disparou contra a arbitragem após a entrevista coletiva do técnico Tite. Em pronunciamento, o dirigente comentou sobre a falta de critério dos árbitros no Campeonato Brasileiro e disse que o clube carioca está “estarrecido e “assustado” com a situação.

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– Eu vim aqui fazer um pronunciamento sobre a arbitragem. Primeiro deixar claro que a gente (diretoria) alinhou com o treinador que esses temas (arbitragem) a direção que irá se colocar. O clube está estarrecido e muito assustado com o que vem acontecendo ao longo do campeonato em relação a arbitragem. Mais especificamente sobre a falta de critério – exclamou o diretor.

Spindel listou lances polêmicos envolvendo a equipe carioca nas últimas rodadas da competição, como a expulsão de Bruno Henrique na derrota para o Santos, e tratou como “tenebrosa” a atuação de Rafael Klein, árbitro do duelo.

Na ocasião, o camisa 27 recebeu o cartão vermelho por reclamar de uma suposta entrada temerária em Soteldo, que não visão do diretor rubro-negro, não existiu.

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

– No lance contra o Santos, a arbitragem foi tenebrosa. Bruno Henrique levou um cartão amarelo por entrada temerária. Entrada temerária pressupõe contato físico. Seque houve contato físico do Bruno. Foi atrás da bola para competir, levou um amarelo e foi impedido de jogar. No relatório foi colocado que foi entrada temerário quando sequer houve contato físico – explicou Spindel.

Preocupado com a integridade do Brasileirão, o cartola cobrou uma melhora na qualidade da arbitragem, para que o campeonato seja decidido dentro de campo.

– Estamos muito assustados com os erros de arbitragem. Esperamos que a qualidade melhore para que o campeonato seja decidido dentro de campo e não fora – finalizou Spindel.

Dean Huijsen misses Spain's World Cup qualifier against Georgia as Real Madrid defender prepares to undergo scan on possible groin issue

Spain defender Dean Huijsen is set to undergo a scan after being left out of the matchday squad for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Georgia through groin discomfort. The European champions are now sweating on the Real Madrid centre-back’s fitness ahead of their final qualifier against Turkey next Tuesday after he experienced the issue in training.

  • European champions Spain preparing for crunch clash with Georgia

    Spain are preparing for their all-important clash with Georgia as they look to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. La Roja can book their place at next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States if they secure all three points in Tbilisi and Turkey fail to beat Bulgaria on the same day.

    Luis de la Fuente’s men are currently top of Group E on 12 points, having won all four of their qualifiers. Meanwhile, Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey are second on nine points, with both sides set to lock horns in Seville next week in what could prove to be a momentous fixture in the qualification process.

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    Huijsen left out of matchday squad after experiencing groin discomfort

    However, Spain have been dealt a blow ahead of their game against Georgia after Huijsen was not included in the squad that made the trip to Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena. The 20-year-old was left out as a precaution after experiencing groin discomfort in training on Friday, with the former Bournemouth man now preparing to undergo tests to determine if an injury has been sustained.

    Spain’s XI for Georgia: Simon (c); Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Merino, Zubimendi, Ruiz; Torres, Oyarzabal, Baena.

    Spain's substitutes: Raya, Barrios, Grimaldo, Vivian, Llorente, Iglesias, Olmo, Pino, Remiro, Fornals, Lopez, Garcia.

  • Real Madrid also sweating on Huijsen fitness ahead of La Liga return

    While Spain will be hoping Huijsen has avoided suffering an injury ahead of the Turkey clash, his club side – Real – are also praying for positive news ahead of the return of La Liga next weekend. 

    Xabi Alonso’s men are looking to remain at the summit when they travel to 11th-placed Elche on Sunday, 23 November. Los Blancos are currently top of the table on 31 points, three ahead of old foes Barcelona. 

    Huijsen has been in fine form since joining Real from Premier League side Bournemouth in the summer, making 13 appearances in all competitions and recording one assist. The ex-Roma and Juventus man also missed Spain’s World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria in October due to injury.

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    Los Blancos also praying over the fitness of star forward Mbappe

    Real also have their fingers crossed over Kylian Mbappe’s fitness after the forward withdrew from the France squad ahead of Sunday’s qualifier with Azerbaijan due to  an ankle complaint. The 26-year-old sustained the issue in Thursday’s 4-0 victory over Ukraine – a result which saw Les Bleus qualify for the World Cup.

    Confirming Mbappe’s departure from the France squad, manager Didier Deschamps said ahead of the Azerbaijan clash: "Kylian still suffering from inflammation in the ankle. We decided he should return to Real Madrid where their medical staff will determine the next steps.

    “We preferred not to take any risks just like we did with Camavinga. We won’t gamble with any player. Kylian gone back to his club. We still have 22 player available for tomorrow.”

Kelly and Carter to lead young New Zealand A squad in South Africa

Ten New Zealand internationals have been named and will hope to further their credentials under coach Daniel Flynn

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Aug-2025Nick Kelly and Joe Carter will captain a young New Zealand A squad touring South Africa this month, with the team set to play three one-dayers and two four-day matches.Kelly, who will take charge of the white-ball side, and Carter, set to lead in the red-ball fixtures, head a 15-player squad with an average age of just 25. The squad includes ten New Zealand internationals.Among the most notable names are Muhammad Abbas, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Bevon Jacobs, and Rhys Mariu – all of whom have impressed on the international stage over the past six months.Related

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'Outstanding' Foulkes savours record debut performance

Foulkes starred on Test debut in Zimbabwe, taking a record-breaking 9 for 75 – the best figures by a New Zealander on debut. Abbas set a record in March for the fastest half-century on ODI debut, smashing one in 26 balls against Pakistan.Wicketkeeper-batter Hay was a regular feature in New Zealand’s white-ball squads last summer, setting a T20I world record with six dismissals in a single innings and rescuing New Zealand with an unbeaten 99 in an ODI against Pakistan in Hamilton.Jacobs and Mariu have both impressed in limited international appearances, with Jacobs hitting an unbeaten 44 on T20I debut and Mariu scoring an ODI fifty in just his second game.Two changes have been made from the New Zealand A squad that toured Bangladesh earlier this year, with Jacobs and Test quick Matt Fisher coming in. Auckland pacer Simon Keene and Jacobs are the only players in the squad yet to appear for New Zealand A.Joe Carter will lead in the red-ball fixtures•Mallikarjuna/KSCAKeene, 22, has impressed in domestic cricket with a first-class century and three five-wicket hauls in just 21 matches for Auckland.One player missing from the squad is Northern Districts allrounder Kristian Clarke, who was unavailable for selection after suffering a side strain during a recent New Zealand A camp.The team will be coached by Northern Districts assistant coach Daniel Flynn, who takes on the head coach role for the first time. He will be supported by NZC high-performance coaches Bob Carter and Graeme Aldridge.Flynn, a former international himself, is relishing the opportunity to lead a side filled with both emerging and established talent.”It’s an exciting blend,” Flynn said. “We have guys who’ve already had a taste of international cricket, and experienced domestic cricketers who are trying to push their case for that next level. “While development is a key focus, Flynn stressed that the team is also heading to South Africa with a strong emphasis on performance. “We’re obviously going there to perform and win games of cricket,” he said. “But we’re also conscious of balancing that with the development of the guys and the opportunity the tour presents for them.”The squad departs for South Africa on August 24, with the tour set to begin on Saturday, August 30.New Zealand A squad: Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Joe Carter (red-ball captain), Josh Clarkson, Matt Fisher, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Curtis Heaphy, Bevon Jacobs, Simon Keene, Nick Kelly (white-ball captain), Jayden Lennox, Ben Lister, Rhys Mariu, Dale Phillips.

Prithvi Shaw set for Maharashtra debut in Buchi Babu Tournament

Prithvi Shaw has been picked in Maharashtra’s 17-member squad for the All India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament in Chennai from August 18 to September 9. This will be Shaw’s first tournament for Maharashtra, after his move from Mumbai in July.Shaw joined Maharashtra after requesting a no-objection certificate from Mumbai, who had dropped him dropped from their Ranji Trophy squad in 2024-25 due to poor fitness and lack of discipline.The Maharashtra squad, captained by Ankit Bawne, also includes Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is set to play his first professional game since his elbow injury during IPL 2025. Gaikwad had played for India A during an intra-squad warm-up match ahead of India’s Test series in England.Related

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  • Mumbai drop Prithvi Shaw for poor fitness and 'general conduct'

However, Gaikwad and wicketkeeper Saurabh Nawale will likely leave after Maharashtra’s first game to link up with the West Zone squad in Bengaluru for the Duleep Trophy. A direct entry into the semi-finals means West Zone’s first game will begin on September 4.

Ayush Mhatre named Mumbai captain

Ayush Mhatre, who captained India Under-19 during their recent tour of England, will lead Mumbai in the Buchi Babu Tournament. Mhatre, 18, had a memorable IPL 2025 with Chennai Super Kings after being called up as Gaikwad’s injury replacement. He was also the leading run-scorer (340 in four innings) in the U-19 Tests in England.Mumbai’s squad includes Sarfaraz Khan and his brother Musheer, who had suffered “a fracture in the neck region” in a road accident in September last year and missed the domestic season. His lone appearance since his recovery was for Punjab Kings, in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.Maharashtra Squad: Ankit Bawane (capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prithvi Shaw, Siddhesh Veer, Sachin Dhas, Arshin Kulkarni, Harshal Kate, Siddharth Mhatre, Saurabh Nawale (wk), Mandar Bhandari (wk), Ramakrishna Ghosh, Mukesh Choudhary, Pradeep Dadhe, Vicky Ostwal, Hitesh Walunj, Prashant Solanki, Rajvardhan Hangargekar.Mumbai squad: Ayush Mhatre (capt), Musheer Khan, Divyansh Saxena, Sarfaraz Khan, Suved Parkar (vc), Pragnesh Kanpillewar, Harsh Aghav, Sairaj Patil, Aakash Parkar, Aakash Anand (wk), Hardik Tamore (wk), Shreyas Gurav, Yash Dicholkar, Himanshu Singh, Royston Dias, Sylvester DâEUR(tm)Souza, Irfan Umair

Rangers' Jacob deGrom Shines in 2025 Spring Training Debut

Two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom is working toward a comeback in 2025.

The Texas Rangers ace was perfect in two innings of work during his spring training debut Saturday in an exhibition against the Kansas City Royals. He fanned Bobby Witt Jr. and Kyle Isbel in the first inning, and notched another strikeout in the second inning against Tyler Gentry.

In all, deGrom threw 31 pitches—21 for strikes—and averaged 97 mph on his four-seam fastball.

deGrom, the back-to-back NL Cy Young award winner in 2018 and '19, has logged just nine starts since signing a five-year deal worth $185 million with the Rangers in December 2022. He underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2023 and made his return to the mound in September.

deGrom is expected to pitch in the back of the Rangers' rotation that features Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray and Tyler Mahle.

Yankees' Pursuit of Max Fried Gaining Steam After Initial Meeting

The New York Yankees are expected to be some of the biggest players in MLB free agency. While the baseball world continues to eagerly await Juan Soto's marquee decision, the Yankees have begun kicking the tires on some of the other top free agents on the market.

According to a report from Michael Kay on on Wednesday, New York had a 90-minute Zoom call with left-handed pitcher Max Fried which went "very well." Kay indicates that "somebody who's on the Fried side" said the lefty "really really" liked the team and that they're already planning another meeting.

Fried, 30, spent the first eight years of his career with the Atlanta Braves. Across 168 career appearances, including 151 starts, the southpaw owns a 3.07 ERA with an 8.8 K/9 and 73 wins. He's a two-time All-Star and finished as the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award in 2022.

Last year, Fried made 29 starts and recorded a 3.25 ERA with 166 strikeouts and 57 walks across 174 1/3 innings. It marked his fifth consecutive season with an ERA below 3.50.

It's easy to see the appeal from the Yankees' perspective. Fried is widely considered one of the best arms available in free agency and would instantly improve the team's starting rotation, which currently consists of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil.

Fried would be a massive get for New York, if they're able to agree to terms, and it seems that they've gotten their conversations off on the right foot based on the report from Kay.

Hardie ruled out of Australia A tour with shoulder injury

Allrounder Aaron Hardie has been ruled out of the Australia A tour of India due to a shoulder injury to add to the list of pace-bowling options to be sidelined.Hardie will be replaced by Victoria allrounder Will Sutherland, who was already part of the one-day squad for the tour and will fly out to India in time for the second four-day game in Lucknow. A replacement for Hardie in the one-day squad will be named at a later date.It is hoped that Hardie will be able to recover in time for the early rounds of Sheffield Shield matches – Western Australia’s opening game is against New South Wales at the WACA on October 4.Related

  • Maxwell named for 50-over return for Victoria despite ODI retirement

  • Morris ruled out for up to 12 months after opting for back surgery

  • Vidler ruled out of Australia A tour of India with a partial stress fracture

  • No regrets for Konstas as he prepares to fight for Ashes berth

Hardie featured in the recent T20I and ODI series against West Indies and South Africa but he struggled against the latter and had not been selected for the short New Zealand trip for three T20Is, instead being included in the A squad. Depending on how his recovery tracks, he may come into consideration for the white-ball series against India.Though an allrounder rather than a specialist bowler, Hardie’s injury adds to a growing list of players sidelined heading into the season. Pat Cummins is the most significant with question marks over whether he will recover from his back injury in time for the Ashes.Lance Morris, a team-mate of Hardie’s at WA, has been ruled out for 12 months having undergone back surgery, while promising quick Callum Vidler has been diagnosed with a stress fracture. Morris had been due to feature in the four-day leg of the A tour and Vidler the one-dayers. Brody Couch had initially been Morris’ replacement but he suffered a side injury during the Top End T20 final with South Australia’s Henry Thornton subsequently called up.The first four-day game against India A starts on September 16 followed by the second on September 23. The three one-dayers, which will all be in Kanpur, are on September 30, October 3 and 5.

Updated Australia A four-day squad

Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, Liam Scott, Will Sutherland (second game only), Henry Thornton

Updated Australia A one-day squad

Cooper Connolly, Harry Dixon, Jack Edwards, Sam Elliott, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Todd Murphy, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachie Shaw, Tom Straker, Will Sutherland, Henry Thornton (one to be added)

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