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يستعد فريق ليفربول، بقيادة المدرب آرني سلوت، لخوض مباراة جديدة في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز يوم الأحد، وذلك ضد نظيره فريق وست هام.

ويستضيف ملعب “لندن الأولمبي” مباراة فريقي ليفربول ووست هام، في إطار منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي، موسم 2025/26.

وتنطلق المباراة التي ستجمع بين ليفربول ووست هام في تمام الساعة 2:05 ظهرًا بتوقيت إنجلترا، 4:05 بتوقيت القاهرة و5:05 بتوقيت السعودية.

وكشفت شبكة “thisisanfield” الإنجليزية السبب وراء الموعد الغريب لمباراة ليفربول ووست هام وعدم إنطلاقها على رأس الساعة المذكورة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. محمد صلاح يسعى للتفوق على نفسه في مباراة ليفربول ووست هام

وأوضحت أن كثيرين لاحظوا ذلك التغيير الطفيف في موعد إنطلاق المباراة، الذي بلغ 5 دقائق، ويعود ذلك أساسًا لأسباب البث، بما في ذلك بث مباريات الأحد عبر قناتي TNT Sports وSky Sports.

ويستضيف كريستال بالاس مانشستر يونايتد الساعة 12 ظهرًا بتويت إنجلترا، مباشرة على قناة TNT Sports في المملكة المتحدة، وفي أفضل الأحوال تنتهي المباراة حوالي الساعة 1:45 ظهرًا بتوقيت إنجلترا، وهو وقت كاف للجماهير لتغيير القناة إلى أخرى.

وفي حال تأخر انطلاق المباراة عن وقتها المعتاد، فإن الفاصل الزمني بخمس دقائق يهدف إلى إتاحة فترة إضافية للإعلانات أو التحضيرات قبل المباراة لمن ينتقلون إلى تغطية سكاي سبورتس.

كما تعرض سكاي مباراة أستون فيلا ضد وولفرهامبتون ونوتينجهام فورست ضد برايتون مباشرة الساعة 2:05 ظهرًا بتوقيت إنجلترا، إلى جانب تغطيتها لرحلة ليفربول إلى وست هام.

وشددت على أن هذا التعديل الطفيف على الجدول لزيادة نسبة المشاهدة في مباريات متعددة، وليس لشيء آخر.

كشف الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا”، عن طاقم التحكيم الذي سيدير مباراة مانشستر سيتي وباير ليفركوزن، والتي سوف تلعب في وقت لاحق من هذا الأسبوع.

مانشستر سيتي يستضيف باير ليفركوزن يوم الثلاثاء المقبل على ملعب الاتحاد، وذلك لحساب منافسات الجولة الخامسة من مرحلة الدوري في دوري أبظال أوروبا.

ويسعى مانشستر سيتي إلى تحقيق الانتصار على باير ليفركوزن، وذلك من أجل العودة إلى سكة الفوز عقب الهزيمة التي مني بها السيتيزن أمس السبت ضد نيوكاسل يونايتد بهدفين مقابل هدف بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وأشار يويفا عبر موقعه الرسمي، إلى أن مباراة مانشستر سيتي وباير ليفركوزن سيديرها طاقم تحكيم برتغالي بقيادة جواو بينهيرو.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ماتيوس نونيز يوضح سبب خسارة مانشستر سيتي أمام نيوكاسل

وأضاف أن كلًا من برونو خيسوس، وكذلك لوتشيانو مايا سيكونان الحكمين المساعدين لبينهيرو في لقاء مانشستر سيتي وليفركوزن.

وأوضح أن الحكم الرابع للقاء الثلاثاء سوف يكون مشرف عليه جواو جونكاليفس، في حين حكم الفار هو تياجو مارتينيز ويعاونه الحكم الفرنسي ويلي ديليجود.

مانشستر سيتي يعتبر وضعه مميزًا في مرحلة الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، إذ يحتل السيتيزن المركز الرابع في ترتيب الدوري برصيد 10 نقاط.

ويضمن أول 8 فرق من مرحلة الدوري صعودهم بشكل مباشر إلى دور الـ16 في دوري أبطال أوروبا، في حين تلعب الفرق من المركز التاسع إلى الـ24 مباراتين ذهاب وإياب بنظام القرعة لتحديد هوية بقية الفرق التي ستخوض الدور المقبل.

MatériaMais Notícias

O jornal “Sport”, da Catalunha, informou nesta quinta-feira (23) que o técnico Abel Ferreira, do Palmeiras, recebeu uma proposta irrecusável do futebol do Catar.

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➡️ Confira a tabela de classificação do Campeonato Brasileiro

O Al-Saad estaria disposto a transformar Abel Ferreira no técnico mais bem pago do mundo, superando Guardiola, Mourinho, Simeone e Klopp.

Segundo o jornal espanhol, a negociação está avançada, e Abel iria para o Catar logo após o término do Brasileirão deste ano.

De acordo com a assessoria do treinador, Abel está focado em fechar a temporada da melhor forma possível “e, neste momento, toda e qualquer especulação fica de lado”.

O staff do treinador ainda afirma que há duas semanas também foram noticiadas sondagens de Benfica e Al-Ittihad pelo trabalho do português, que tem contrato até o fim de 2024.

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+ Saiba quem são os pendurados do Palmeiras para esta reta final de Brasileirão!

Apesar de estar confiante de que Abel sigará no clube para a temporada de 2024, a diretoria alviverde teme perder o treinador em razão das recentes declarações de que estaria cansado do futebol brasileiro.

Carey made 63 and Webster 60, while Alzarri Joseph took 4 for 61 as Australia were bowled out for 286 before bad light prevented the West Indies innings from starting

Andrew McGlashan03-Jul-2025

Stumps Reckon you’ve seen this before? You wouldn’t be wrong. Australia’s top order again failed to inspire on the opening day in Grenada before Beau Webster and Alex Carey performed a familiar rescue act amid another crucial call by the third umpire and further fielding woes for West Indies.Australia were wobbling t 110 for 5 when Travis Head fell, the TV umpire ruling Shai Hope’s brilliant take clean, having earlier been 50 for 3 as a solid base vanished. Webster and Carey then added 112 in 25 overs and the game was threatening to run away from West Indies but they were able to chip away at the lower order and bowl Australia out for 286 inside 67 overs, with Alzarri Joseph claiming four wickets. To the home side’s benefit, light prevented Australia from having a brief bowl with the umpires taking the players off just as they returned to the field.Related

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Although not on the level of Barbados, there was assistance for the quicks – Roston Chase said he would have bowled had the toss gone his way – and suggestions that uneven bounce could play a part later in the game, particularly with the delivery which scuttled to remove Pat Cummins. So the true value of Australia’s first-innings total will only become clearer tomorrow, although it certainly felt competitive.Webster, who brought up an 87-ball fifty, again played superbly to follow up his vital second-innings performance in Barbados, and the runs he scored in the World Test Championship final. He was assured in defence and picked his moments to attack, including a slog-sweep for six off Chase and one of the shots of the innings when he laced Jayden Seales through the off side. But he was left frustrated when he gambled on a second run to deep point in an attempt to keep the strike and was beaten by Keacy Carty’s throw. It meant 300 proved out of reach.Carey lived something of a charmed life. He could have been run out on 10 and 51; was dropped by Shai Hope from an attempted ramp on 46; reached his half-century from 68 deliveries with an edge between the keeper and a wide slip; and edged wide of slip again on 55.Alzarri Joseph picked up four wickets in the innings•Associated Press

But he was also quick onto anything loose, showing the same counter-punching skills that have been so evident in his game over the last 18 months or so. In all, 46 of his 63 runs came in boundaries, including a swivel-pull for six off Justin Greaves only for him to cloth a long hop from the same bowler to midwicket when a significant innings appeared for the taking.Australia’s earlier batting performance had been dominated by unconverted starts. Sam Konstas put away a strong early pull shot and played with more urgency than in Barbados, but he was also beaten on multiple occasions, including three times in a row by Seales. There was also a flashing edge over gully against Shamar Joseph, which Roston Chase got a fingertip to, although it would have been a spectacular catch had it been taken. Konstas followed that with a sweetly struck cover drive.He and Usman Khawaja, who went to 6000 Test runs when he reached 2, had taken Australia to a promising 47 for 0 when the innings took on a very different look. For the second time in the series, Khawaja was lbw to Alzarri Joseph from around the wicket that proved a bail-trimmer when Khawaja went to the DRS. Four balls later, Konstas drove at the recalled Anderson Phillip, who had been preferred to left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, and edged behind for an unfulfilled 25.Beau Webster celebrates back-to-back fifties•AFP/Getty Images

Australia’s slide turned into 3 for 3 when Steven Smith, back in the side after the finger injury he sustained in the World Test Championship final, top-edged a pull against the lively Alzarri Joseph that flew high to fine leg where Phillip judged it very well. The scoreline read a familiar 50 for 3.The opening session ended with a dramatic over from Seales. Cameron Green, who had shaped up encouragingly even though he could have been run out on 16 if mid-on had collected cleanly, drove to cover where John Campbell spilled a regulation catch. But Green could still not make it through to the interval when, four balls later, he went for a big drive to the last delivery of the over and sent a thick edge to gully where Chase held it well.Head threatened to perform another rescue act but fell early in the afternoon following a brief delay for rain when the TV umpire, this time Nitin Menon, was back in focus as Hope took a brilliant catch low to his left when Head glanced a climbing delivery from Shamar Joseph. Hope was convinced of the catch but it went upstairs; unlike in Barbados, the decision went West Indies’ way and Head did not look thrilled as he walked off.Another quick wicket and Australia could have been bundled out but as they have tended to do, a couple of players found enough runs to give their high-class attack something to work with.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras empatou em 0 a 0 com o Boca Juniors, na quinta-feira (28), e completou mais um jogo sem marcar gols nesta fase de “vacas magras”. Esse fato tem incomodado o torcedor, mas Abel Ferreira prefere olhar por outro prisma que é a atuação da defesa, vazada apenas uma vez nos últimos dez jogos. Como diz o hino, é a “defesa que ninguém passa”, mas a linha atacante não marca.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Desde que Dudu sofreu sua lesão no joelho, que o afastará dos gramados por cerca de um ano, o Verdão marcou apenas dois gols. De lá para cá são seis jogos disputados. Se fizermos um recorte sem o duelo com Vasco, quando aconteceu a infelicidade com o Baixola, o retrospecto é de apenas um gol nas últimas cinco partidas.

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O único gol anotado nesse período foi de Breno Lopes, nos acréscimos da vitória sobre o Goiás, no Allianz Parque. Ou seja, o ataque parou. E olha que nos jogos diante do Deportivo Pereira, do Corinthians, do Grêmio e do Boca Juniors, o Alviverde teve chances de balançar a rede, mas erros “bizarros” na conclusão acabaram não permitindo a comemoração.

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+ ANÁLISE: Empate com o Boca e irritação de Abel escancaram erros do Palmeiras na temporada

Em entrevista coletiva após o empate na Bombonera, Abel Ferreira se incomodou com os questionamentos sobre o ataque e a falta de gols. O treinador chegou a ser ríspido com os repórteres e destacou a eficiência do setor defensivo, que mais uma vez saiu de campo sem ser vazado. Na Libertadores, são seis partidas seguidas sem tomar gol, incluindo as cinco de mata-mata.

Dos últimos dez duelos do Palmeiras na temporada, a defesa viu sua rede ser balança apenas uma vez, que foi na derrota por 1 a 0 para o Grêmio, fora de casa, com gol de João Pedro. De resto, o gol anterior sofrido foi de John Kennedy, diante do Fluminense, no início de agosto.

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+ Aperto, correria e horas de espera: o perrengue da torcida do Palmeiras na Argentina

Nas fases anteriores da Libertadores, o Alviverde venceu seus jogos fora de casa tanto contra o Atlético-MG, quanto contra o Deportivo Pereira. Por isso o 0 a 0 nas partidas de volta acabaram sendo suficientes para a classificação. Agora, contra o Boca Juniors, com o 0 a 0 como visitante e mesmo mantendo a “baliza zero”, será necessário fazer gol para se classificar no tempo normal, caso contrário a decisão será nos pênaltis.

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Palmeiras

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has publicly defended coach Hansi Flick after he was sent off in the 2-1 win over Girona on Saturday, claiming he was “pushed to the limit” by referee Gil Manzano. The German received two yellow cards in quick succession and now risks missing the touchline for the upcoming El Clasico against Real Madrid.

Laporta steps in after Flick’s controversial dismissal

Barcelona’s tense 2-1 win over Girona ended with drama, as Flick was shown a red card in stoppage time. The German coach first received a yellow for sarcastically applauding a referee’s decision, before protesting the decision to add just four minutes of injury time despite multiple stoppages. Within seconds, he was sent off.

President Joan Laporta openly backed his coach during the club’s General Assembly, stating that Flick was not acting in his usual manner and had been provoked. Laporta highlighted that the coach made a Catalan-style “butifarra” gesture out of frustration, something he later regretted.

The dismissal means Flick could be banned from the touchline for El Clasico on October 26 against Real Madrid. For now, Barca await the Competition Committee’s decision as tensions rise ahead of the season’s biggest fixture.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLaporta on referee behaviour and Flick’s reaction

Laporta argued that Flick’s behaviour was out of character and only came after persistent provocation from referee Gil Manzano.

"We're very satisfied with the work Hansi Flick is doing. He was hurt today because he said that this very Catalan gesture of the butifarra wasn't typical of him. In any case, I told him he had a lot of style doing it, all things considered. I know he's not satisfied with this secretly because he says it's not his usual behavior, we know that, but they pushed him to the limit, they pushed him to the limit with the yellow cards."

He added: "What I criticise about what happened yesterday is that: he shows him the yellow card, keeps his eyes on the coach to see how he reacted. Man, you've already shown him the yellow card, that's enough punishment, turn around and that's it."

Referee Gil Manzano’s history with Barcelona fuels frustration

Manzano’s decision wasn’t seen in isolation. He has built a reputation among the Blaugrana fans and officials for harsh treatment towards the club. Over 44 matches officiated, he has shown 12 red cards to Barcelona players, including stars like Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and Dani Alves.

His most infamous decision came against Osasuna in 2023, when he sent off Robert Lewandowski. The striker received an extended three-game suspension after a gesture towards the official.

This history added fuel to the reaction from Laporta and the club, who believe Flick was being excessively monitored and provoked. With tensions already high due to injuries and inconsistency, Manzano’s approach amplified frustrations on the touchline.

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Getty Images SportFlick’s ban risk and Barcelona’s focus

The immediate question is whether Flick will be allowed on the touchline for El Clasico. The Competition Committee will decide in the coming days. If the two yellow cards stand, Barcelona could be without their head coach during their most important domestic match of the season.

Before the showdown with Los Blancos, Barcelona face Olympiacos in the Champions League, a must-win game to regain confidence after recent turbulence. Flick will likely watch from the stands unless an appeal is successful.

Despite criticism of their performance against Girona, the Catalan giants remain focused on recovery, both physically and mentally with multiple players returning from injury and the team sitting second in La Liga, just two points behind Madrid.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane will be assessed by the team’s medical staff on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury he suffered to his right hand while fielding in his side’s 14-run win over Delhi Capitals (DC).Speaking at the post-match presentation, Rahane played down the extent of the injury. “Not bad,” he said. “I’ll be okay. I’ll be fine.” For now, as per KKR allrounder Anukul Roy, Rahane had “a couple of stitches”, which should take “only two-three days” to heal. KKR’s next game is on May 4, against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at home. RahaneRahane was fielding at short cover when he was struck on the hand by a ball drilled at him by Faf du Plessis off the bowling of Andre Russell. The ball deflected towards mid-off for a single, and Rahane immediately started to head off the field to receive medical attention.He did not return to the field for the rest of the match, and had his hand heavily strapped. With Venkatesh Iyer, Rahane’s vice-captain, substituted out of the match for Vaibhav Arora, KKR’s Impact Player, Sunil Narine was called into action and led the team for the final nine overs of their bowling innings.Related

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Rahane said that Narine’s final two overs – in which he dismissed Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs and du Plessis – were decisive. “204 on that wicket was good, but I thought we were 15 runs short, frankly. We were going really well as a batting unit. But again, you’re chasing 204, you know, as a fielding team, you are one or two wickets away, and that’s what happened.KKR sit seventh, with nine points from their first ten matches, but Rahane said that his team could take confidence from the memory of their late run to the play-offs in 2021. “That’s always been the talk when we are not doing well,” he said. “But again, it’s in the past. For us, what’s important is staying in the moment, taking confidence from this game and moving forward.”

كشف الإعلامي إسلام الشاطر، نجم النادي الأهلي السابق، عن رأيه في الجدل الدائر حول اهتمام القلعة الحمراء بالتعاقد مع لاعبي الزمالك، مؤكدًا أن ما يُقال في هذا الشأن غير دقيق، وأن الأحمر لديه من الإمكانيات ما يجعله قادرًا على ضم أي لاعب يراه مناسبًا.

وقال إسلام الشاطر في تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعيب” على قناة MBC مصر: “لماذا الأهلي دائمًا يضع عينه على لاعبي الزمالك؟ لا، هذا غير حقيقي”.

وتابع: “كل اللاعبين الذين يضمهم النادي الأهلي يكون في حاجة إليهم، والله العظيم أنا لا أتحدث بكلام عابر، وأنا على الهواء الآن، عندما تتحدث على الهواء يجب دائمًا أن تضع الله أمامك”.

وأضاف: “لأنني الآن، بصفتي منتمي للنادي الأهلي، أمتلك الإمكانيات التي تجعلني قادرًا على شراء اللاعبين، وليس ذنبي أن الأندية المحيطة بي لا تملك الإمكانيات نفسها، هذه مسألة لا علاقة لي بها، وسأتحدث عنها لاحقًا، لكنني أؤكد أن لدي الإمكانيات”.

طالع أيضًا | أحمد سليمان عن مفاوضات الأهلي مع بنتايج: “مفيش حاجة بتشغلكم غير لاعبي الزمالك؟”

وأوضح: “إذا أعجبني لاعب مثل أسامة حسني، فسأتعاقد معه طالما أريده، أنا نادٍ قوي، أنا نادٍ كبير، نادٍ يملك لجنة فنية تعرف كيف تختار اللاعبين، سواء من الزمالك أو من الاتحاد أو حتى ريال مدريد، فما شأني أنا بالزمالك؟”.

وعند سؤاله: الأهلي بهذا المنطق يأخذ اللاعبين الجاهزين؟ أجاب الشاطر: “نعم، آخد اللاعب الجاهز، فما المشكلة؟ أليست معي الأموال التي أستطيع دفعها؟ ثم إن الأمر لا يتعلق بمجرد الرغبة في لاعب بعينه، بل بحاجتي الفنية له”.

وأردف: “لا يوجد شيء اسمه (لا). هناك شيء اسمه: ما الذي يحتاجه النادي الأهلي؟ وسأضمه، ولو اللاعب في الزمالك أو حتى في ريال مدريد وأستطيع التعاقد معه، فسأفعل ذلك”.

واختتم قائلًا: “وإذا كان نادي الزمالك يمتلك القدرة على ضم لاعب من الأهلي، فليُرِنا ذلك، أهلاً وسهلاً. لا أحد سيرفض، ولا أحد سيمنع ذلك، لأننا الآن في عصر الاحتراف”.

Manchester City are now in talks to hijack Chelsea’s move for a “spectacular” midfielder, who the west Londoners were hoping to sign very soon.

Man City rivalling Chelsea for new midfielders

Despite Pep Guardiola repeatedly making it clear he wants to work with a smaller squad this season, Man City remain interested in bringing in at least one new midfielder before the deadline, and they have been credited with an interest in signing RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.

However, Simons is seemingly set on joining Chelsea, despite having to wait a long time for the west Londoners to get a deal over the line, which means City have now been forced to more on to alternative targets.

With a deal for the RB Leipzig attacking midfielder looking unlikely, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has now revealed that Guardiola’s side could hijack a move for a different Chelsea target, namely Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez.

Speaking to TBR Football, Bailey said: “Chelsea were made aware of Lopez possibly being available, and he is a player they love, indeed, most clubs in Europe love him as a talent.

“Lopez has not been agitating to this point, but the camp has been talking to other clubs, and that includes City and Spurs. Nothing advanced at this point, but merely exploring possible options.”

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It was recently revealed that Enzo Maresca’s side are hoping to sign Lopez very soon, having already submitted a £50m bid for the Barca maestro’s services, but there could now be a twist in the tale, with Man City in talks with his agents.

"Spectacular" Lopez could be exciting Simons alternative

City seemingly stand little chance of winning the race for Simons, but the Barca midfielder could be a fantastic alternative, given that he also flourishes in an attacking midfield role, regularly providing goals and assists since making a breakthrough in the 2023-24 campaign.

Season

Appearances

G/A (all comps)

2023-24

42

12

2024-25

46

18

Former Barca boss Xavi has previously praised the Spaniard’s shooting ability too, claiming he has a “terrific shot from distance”, while also adding: “Fermin has a spectacular mentality. He’s always listening, always thinking and I really like his mentality – when you tell him things, they go in and he applies them.”

Lopez clearly has all the tools required to be a success at the Etihad Stadium, and given that he is just 22-years-old, the Barca star could be a key player for City for years to come, so it is exciting news that talks have now been opened over a deal.

Australia’s allrounder has had a lean series against India with the bat and hasn’t been used significantly as a bowler

Alex Malcolm31-Dec-20243:17

Cummins: ‘One of the best Tests I’ve been part of’

Mitchell Marsh is a good chance of keeping his place for the final Test against India in Sydney despite a lean series with the bat while his lack of overs continues to be attributed to the nature of the matches rather than any fitness issues.Uncapped Tasmania allrounder Beau Webster is in the squad along with spare fast bowlers Jhye Richardson and Sean Abbott if Mitchell Starc is unable to recover after suffering a back problem at the MCG or the selectors decide on other changes.Related

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Coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins both admitted Starc was carrying an issue and bowling through pain, but believed he should be right to play in Sydney.However, Starc’s issue, and his workload across the series alongside Cummins, has highlighted the lack of contribution from Australia’s fifth bowler in Marsh. He has bowled just 33 overs across seven innings in the series (discounting the brief second innings in Brisbane), and since claiming 2 for 12 in the first innings of the series he has figures of 1 for 127 from his last 28 overs.Travis Head provided a vital match-winning breakthrough for Australia in the fourth innings at the MCG as Marsh did not bowl at all in the final two sessions despite periods where Australia’s quicks needed a rest. But McDonald insisted he has no worries about Marsh’s contributions with the ball.”No, there’s no concern,” McDonald said after the memorable victory at the MCG. “And I think people have probably been reading too much into that. We haven’t required him with the ball as often as what we would have thought. He bowled again today. His speeds are up in the high 120s [kph]. There are no injury concerns there.”I think to sort of head that down that angle is a little bit unfair. We just haven’t required him at certain times for whatever reason, so that’s more a tactical implementation, as opposed to a body. I think the amount of overs that we’ve bowling across the series is probably going to be to a benefit to us.Mitchell Marsh has had a lean series but appears likely to keep his place•Getty Images

“Across the entirety of the series, it’s been relatively light, so I’d expect both attacks to be in decent shape to be able to press [in the final Test]. So does that mean you need a fifth bowler? I think you still need a fifth bowler. But are you going to put a huge demand on the fifth bowler, potentially not.”However, Marsh’s limited contributions have further exacerbated his lean returns with the bat. The reigning Allan Border Medalist was Australia’s best Test batter last season with match-winning half-centuries in four of Australia’s six wins across series against Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand. But in this series he has scored just 73 runs at 10.42, with 47 of those coming in the second innings in Perth when the game was long gone. Nathan McSweeney scored 72 at 14.40 before he was dropped for the fourth Test.Despite the poor series and a history of self-doubt, McDonald believed Marsh was in a good frame of mind.”Would he like better performances? There’s no doubt about that,” he said. “Over four Test matches, he hasn’t been able to deliver at the level that he would like and we would like, but yeah he’s up and about. We just won a Test match. He’s in a pretty good headspace.”McDonald was confident his trio of quicks could handle the short turnaround to Sydney despite Starc’s soreness.”Anytime you get through the game, it’s always a good indicator that you’re a chance at the next game,” McDonald said. “It didn’t stop him. Clearly, there was a little bit of discomfort early on in spells, but once he got warm, it seemed as though he was pretty free. [His] ball speeds were good.”We’ll see how everyone recovers. Bowling last, it was a pretty attritional game, something that we’re not used to in the last few years. Clearly Starcy’s carrying something of some description. We’ll assess that. But other than that, it looks as though we got through pretty unscathed, but [with a] short turnaround recovery is important, and we’ll assess what the team looks like in Sydney based upon the surface, as we always do.”Australia released Richardson to play a BBL game for Perth Scorchers in Adelaide on New Year’s Eve but he will return to the squad on Wednesday and McDonald was confident, despite his injury history, that he could be called upon to play if needed.”Very confident,” he said. “He’s here for a reason. So if we weren’t confident, he wouldn’t be here. He’s had a heavy week with us in the nets. All indications are he’d be capable of bowling 40-plus overs if he was called upon.”Sean Abbott’s there as well. We feel like, [the] SCG is his home ground, so he will be serviceable if called upon as well. It’ll be about assessing our frontline quicks and then making decisions from there.”Josh Inglis, who has been a reserve batter throughout the series, was withdrawn from the squad after picking up a calf strain while substitute fielding on the second day at the MCG. It has yet to be confirmed if a replacement will be named.