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Southampton will aim to pick up a much-needed win playing in front of the St. Mary's masses tonight, Russell Martin's men losing their last two clashes on their own patch to the dismay of the disgruntled home supporters watching on.

Martin will hope his Saints troops are buoyed on by the nature of their dramatic win against Birmingham City last time out to pick up another result, Joe Aribo's 96th minute tap-in handing the stuttering automatic promotion hopefuls the three points in an action-packed 4-3 contest.

The 38-year-old boss will be wrestling with what side to pick for the task of overcoming Ryan Lowe's Preston North End now, with one usually reliable star potentially being sacrificed for fresh blood to instead get a chance to impress.

Flynn Downes' performance vs Birmingham in numbers

Usually one of the first names on Martin's teamsheet, West Ham United loanee Flynn Downes could find his once secure spot in his manager's first-team plans up in the air against Preston after a below-par showing last match.

Downes' performance was timid when compared to the likes of Will Smallbone dazzling in the centre of the park for Southampton, with the homegrown Saints man picking up two assists to play a key role in the exciting 4-3 win.

In contrast, the ex-Swansea City midfielder was quiet.

Downes did come away from the barnstorming victory with four key passes notched up and a 96% passing accuracy next to his name, but that didn't translate into the 25-year-old picking up an assist or goal for his troubles.

The Hammers loanee also dodged winning his fair share of duels in the 4-3 win, passively winning just one of the four duels he launched himself into.

Once labelled as being a "monstrous" talent by his Saints manager who managed him further when the pair were both at Swansea, Downes could now well drop out of Martin's lineup for him to test out a different central midfielder from the get-go against Preston.

The player that could replace Flynn Downes

The most logical switch-up would see Aribo come into the first-team fold after bagging the vital winner against the Blues, the ex-Rangers man rewarded with a start subsequently.

Southampton's £70k-per-week man has been knocking on the door for more first-team opportunities recently, impressing away from just being the hero at St Andrew's.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The Nigerian midfielder would only need 45 minutes against Hull City in mid-February to bag another goal for the Saints, winning seven duels in that 2-1 defeat too in what proved to be an impactful off-the-bench appearance for the 27-year-old.

Aribo played the role of heroic substitute perfectly again in the 4-3 victory over Tony Mowbray's hosts last time out, managing to upstage Downes with a solitary duel won alongside firing in the crucial winner at the death.

Minutes played

20

Goals scored

1

Touches

25

Accurate passes

20/22 (91%)

Duels won

1/1

Possession lost

2x

It could well be argued that axing Downes completely could be viewed as an overreaction, but Martin would be silly not to unleash Aribo from the start after offering up yet another energetic run-out for his promotion-chasing side from so little time on the pitch.

With Smallbone and Stuart Armstrong offering more than Downes did last time out – the Scotsman livelier when committing himself into duels with three won – the regular first-teamer could be given a rare day off for Aribo to shine.

كشفت صحيفة “ذا أثلتيك” البريطانية عن تطور جديد بشأن مستقبل ثلاثي ليفربول محمد صلاح، فيرجيل فان دايك وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد.

ودخل الثلاثي بعقودهم للموسم الأخير مع ليفربول، لأنها تنتهي في 30 يونيو 2025.

وهناك قلق من قبل جماهير الريدز حول مستقبل اللاعبين الثلاثة نظرًا لأهميتهم بالنسبة للفريق الذي يتصدر جدول ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي ويسير بشكل جيد مع المدرب الجديد، آرني سلوت.

كانت هناك تصريحات من محمد صلاح بعد مباراة مانشستر يونايتد وأكد على أن ليفربول لم يفاتحه أبدًا في التمديد، وبالتالي، فهو يعتبر الموسم الحالي هو الأخير.

اقرأ أيضًا | خاص.. الزمالك يختبر لاعب ليفربول السابق قبل التعاقد معه

في حين أن فان دايك وأرنولد لديهما اهتمامات خارجية من أندية بالسعودية خاصة للهولندي ورغبة من ريال مدريد للتعاقد مع الإنجليزي.

ولكن بحسب صحيفة “ذا أثلتيك” البريطانية أن ليفربول في مفاوضات مع وكلاء الثلاثي من أجل التوصل لاتفاق للتوقيع على عقد جديد.

ورغم ذلك، أثارت الصحيفة الجدل بأن الثلاثي قد ينتظرون لفترة أطول لمعرفة مستقبلهم وفقًا لما سيسير عليه الموسم الحالي من نتائج.

الأولوية داخل ليفربول هي تمديد عقد أرنولد الذي يتميز عن محمد صلاح وفان دايك بالسن الصغير وبالتالي هو مستقبل النادي.

في حين أن محمد صلاح وفان دايك، سيقوم ليفربول بمنحهما عقدا قصير الأجل لأنهما تخطيا حاجز الثلاثين عامًا.

Czechia manager Ivan Hasek heaped praise on Cristiano Ronaldo despite the veteran's underwhelming performance in Portugal's Euro 2024 opener.

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• Hasek called Ronaldo a 'genius'
• Missed two good chances in the first half
• Portugal picked up narrow win over Czechia

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 39-year-old, who appeared in the tournament for a record sixth time on Tuesday, had a mediocre outing in Portugal's Euro 2024 opener against Czechia as he squandered two good chances in the first half and was far from being an imposing figure in the team's attack, with Roberto Martinez' side eventually earning a narrow 2-1 win thanks to an own goal from Robin Hranac and a stoppage time effort from Francisco Conceicao.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Czechia manager Hasek, however, was left in awe of the Portugal legend's commitment and consistency on the pitch at the age of 39, as well as his predatory instincts, as he labelled the Al-Nassr star a "genius" and called him an all-time great.

• WHAT IVAN HASEK SAID

  Speaking to reporters, the manager said: "We played against one of the best teams in the world and I was very angry about conceding a goal so close to the end. Ronaldo is incredible that, at his age, he continues to play like this. He's a genius. The way he is able to find a way to shoot at goal in a short space of space is incredible. He's one of the best players of all time, without a doubt."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PORTUGAL?

  After edging out the Czechs, the Selecao will now aim to seal their berth in the round of 16 as they next take on Turkey on Saturday in their second match of the European Championship group stage, with Ronaldo likely to start upfront once again.

\0:50

Social media comments hurt us – Sarfaraz

Who says India-Pakistan doesn’t matter anymore? Judging by the reactions of some Pakistani fans to their team’s defeat to India last Sunday, it matters to them, and perhaps a bit too much.The last week has been a cruel one for Pakistan’s players. Becoming the subject of countless memes is now par for the course, but the kind of real-life abuse their players have received has been harrowing.The captain Sarfaraz Ahmed – with his child – was abused to his face by a fan who, having videoed it on his phone, later issued an “apology” in which it sounded as if the fan had been unintentionally caught on camera. Two other players were abused while out shopping. Families have been dragged into it. They’ve been pilloried for daring to be out and about, as if to have dinner itself is a crime. Ex-players have joined this deafening cacophony.The PCB has taken note. “We have advised players to be aware of the situation and be cautious,” a spokesperson said. “It is not correct that we have barred them from going out as is projected in some parts of the media.”Sarfaraz, captured yawning during the game against India, has borne the brunt of it. And ahead of a series of do-or-die games starting with South Africa at Lord’s on Sunday, he looked like a man on whom this last week has weighed heavily.It has been, Sarfaraz admitted wearily, a tough week. They took two days off immediately after the India game and since practice has resumed, Mohammad Hafeez and then Wahab Riaz have also asked for a certain degree of calm and respect from fans.”Social media and media are not in our control,” he said at Lord’s. “They are so big that you cannot stop them. Teams have lost before but now on social media it is unstoppable. Whoever thinks [anything, they just] write it on social media. That hurts, too much. Players are affected psychologically.”Criticise us on our game, that’s not an issue, but don’t abuse us. Their families get affected. If someone is hitting, then pushing anyone that’s not good. Our fans are emotional and these same people lift us when we win. But if they feel sad on a defeat we also feel the same way.”We feel it much more because we are playing for Pakistan.”Sarfaraz himself has tried to retain whatever semblance of balance he can through all this, insisting that he is like he was before, that cricket brings ups and downs like this. But the pressures are telling.

Imran Tahir, the South Africa legspinner, has signed for Surrey for the entirety of this year’s Vitality Blast.Tahir, who has been named in his country’s squad for the upcoming World Cup, becomes the club’s second overseas signing for the 2019 competition, alongside the Australia limited-overs captain, Aaron Finch, who is returning for a fourth year.He will join up with the Surrey squad at the completion of South Africa’s World Cup campaign, in time for their opening match at Essex on Friday July 19.”I’m always looking for new and exciting opportunities,” said Tahir. “That’s how I see the chance to play with one of the most talented playing groups in county cricket.”When I heard Alec Stewart had asked after me, it was an easy decision. Surrey are a massive club and it will be great if I can contribute to helping them win another trophy this summer at the Kia Oval.”Tahir was the most successful bowler in this year’s Indian Premier League; taking 26 wickets, the most in the competition, as his Chennai Super Kings ended runners-up.Tahir has extensive experience in T20 cricket around the world, having also played in the Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, Mzansi Super League and Bangladesh Premier League, as well as six previous campaigns in the English domestic tournament.He has represented South Africa at two World Cups and two T20 World Cups,rising to become the No.1-ranked T20 bowler in 2017, and currently has 63 wickets in 38 international T20 appearances.Surrey Director of Cricket Alec Stewart said: “Imran is a proven match winner and with his vast experience of international, county and franchise cricket will be a huge asset to us.”

UAE may have been denied an opportunity to pull off an upset courtesy bad light, but their head coach Dougie Brown feels it was the correct decision to walk off. When the match was decided by DLS method, Zimbabwe needed 25 off three overs with six wickets in hand.Brown felt the light had been deteriorating badly for some time as play continued for several minutes beyond the sunset time of 5.49pm. This extension was largely a result of a two-hour delay for rain in the first innings that resulted in the chase being truncated to 35 overs, off which Zimbabwe were set a revised 210.”It’s not an ideal way to finish a one-day international, because of bad light,” Brown told ESPNcricinfo. “If I’m honest, it was very, very dark. We probably could have come off a couple of overs earlier but we didn’t. The umpires tried to keep us on the field, which I think was the right decision, while spin was being bowled. But the game was still very much in the balance at 25 required off 18 balls.”I think going off because of the light was the correct decision, but it’s really bitterly disappointing for either team that none of us really got a chance to win the game.”Brown gave credit to Shaiman Anwar and Ghulam Shabber giving UAE a chance to win in the first place. The pair offset Kyle Jarvis’ three-for inside seven overs by putting together 131 on either side of the rain break at the 29-over mark.”We lost the toss again and it was very favourable conditions to bowl,” Brown said. “They bowled really well for the first three wickets but thereafter Shaiman and Shabber played exceptionally well and they deserve a hell of a lot of credit for the way that they went about constructing their innings. Disappointing to not finish as well as we could have done, but was wery happy to be defending 209 in 35 overs.”The pitch was still offering a little bit for us although the outfield was wet so we had to try and make sure we dipped in with the new ball. We bowled pretty well. We didn’t quite manage to get too many wickets with the new ball but we chipped away and got ourselves into a winning position at one stage. It was disappointing not to get across the line but you would expect a Full Member like Zimbabwe with experience in their ranks to fight, and fight is exactly what they did.”Even though UAE was in a decent position in the field at 92 for 4 in the 20th over in the field defending an adjusted total of 209, Brown says the Zimbabwean pair of Regis Chakabva and Peter Moor batted exceptionally well to get back in front in DLS before play was called off. Moor in particular boosted Zimbabwe in the waning overs to finish with an unbeaten 45 off 33 balls.”We need to give a bit of credit to Zimbabwe for the way that they scrapped,” Brown said. “They got themselves into a bit of a hole themselves. We dug ourselves out of one and they managed to dig themselves out of one. At 92 for 4, if they lose a fifth wicket, particularly Moor – we know he’s a dangerous player and as captain he feels that he’s got to carry the team’s outcome on his shoulders. We knew we had to get him out but he didn’t give a chance and he played really well.”Brown also underlined UAE’s poor finish to their innings as one of the factors in the loss. In the six overs left to bat after play was reduced to 35 overs, UAE lost six wickets, including 4 for 4 runs in the last 11 balls.”We messed up the last five overs,” Brown said. “We only scored 31 runs and lost six wickets. We probably pride ourselves in being able to finish an innings pretty well but I think they played well. They bowled well, made good plans and we didn’t quite manage to react to the plans that they had. It’s disappointing to come away having only scored the 31 runs off the last five overs but they deserve a bit of credit for the plans they put in place.”

Rajasthan Royals paid the price for a turgid innings, on what Kolkata Knight Riders proved was a very good batting track. Despite losing only three wickets, and having had a second-wicket partnership worth 72, Royals mustered only 139 for 3 in their 20 overs. No team in IPL history has made a poorer score for the loss of three wickets or less.Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes just could not get going in this match. They faced 34 and 14 balls respectively, but neither could strike at more than 110. Only Steven Smith managed a half-decent ouput, scoring 73 not out off 59 deliveries. Even that is not exactly a stellar innings, though.In response, Knight Riders were brutal. Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn blazed through the opening overs, hitting 65 off the Powerplay for no loss. Narine had 47 off 25 balls when he was dismissed, but with the score at 91 in the ninth over, the result was almost a foregone conclusion. Lynn hit 50 off 32, and was the other batsman to be dismissed in Knight Riders’ chase. Robin Uthappa eased the team to victory with a 26 not out off 16 balls. They had a whopping 37 balls remaining when a wide from Stokes sealed the result.Knight Riders’ misersA third of he deliveries Sunil Narine delivered were dot balls. Piyush Chawla was even better – 13 of his 24 balls were dots. It is not as if Royals did not venture big shots off them. These bowlers were just too good, beating the Royals top order in the air as well as off the pitch. Harry Gurney was outstanding in his first IPL match this season as well, conceding only three from the 16th over, and only eight from the 20th, despite giving away a four to Steven Smith.Smith’s slow startAlthough Smith would eventually muster 73 off 59, his batting in the early overs was perhaps more suited to ODIs than T20s. He was on 39 off 40 at one stage, for example, despite never appearing to be in any particular discomfort at the crease. Smith was a little more adventurous in the last six overs of the innings. But more risks earlier on from a set batsman might have set Royals on track to a competitive score.Royals’ modest finishSmith made 34 off the last 19 balls, but despite the fact that Royals had lost only two wickets going into the death, there was a woeful lack of intent at the other end. Looking back on that finish, it seems likely that Royals misread the pitch, and believed a low score to be defendable.Ben Stokes, for example, took a few deliveries to play himself in, rather than attempting boundaries from the outset. When he did later try to go big, the Knight Riders bowlers outwitted him, restricting him to a sorry 7 off 14 balls. Rahul Tripathi fared little better. His 6 came off 8 balls, before Gurney had him caught.The rocking Knight Riders’ standTripathi had one more regretful moment in the game – when he dropped Sunil Narine for 23 in the fourth over, allowing the Knight Riders opener to continue lavishly swinging his bat. Next ball, Dhawal Kulkarni grazed Chris Lynn’s leg stump, but although the bails lit up, they did not dislodge, and the batsman was free to continue.The Knight Riders openers rode those gigantic slices of luck to a match-winning opening stand. Narine was the more aggressive of the two, hitting 47 off 25 at a strike rate of 188, hitting three sixes. Lynn was hot on his heels, making 50 off 32 in the end, launching three sixes himself. When Narine was eventually caught at slip off the bowling of Shreyas Gopal in the ninth over, Knight Riders only needed 49 off 69 balls to win. In the end it was a cakewalk.

Shai Hope has said he considered qualifying to play for England while at school in the country.Hope made his Test debut for West Indies against England at Bridgetown in 2015, aged just 21. But just a couple of years before that, he acknowledged it crossed his mind to go the same route as Chris Jordan and now Jofra Archer and complete the England qualification process.Hope was at the time studying at St Bede’s – an independent school in East Sussex – having won a sixth-form scholarship on the basis of his cricket. He enjoyed his time there in 2012 and 2013, scoring heavily and captaining the school team.But while he briefly considered the practical benefits of remaining in the UK, he said his heart was always with West Indies. He has no regrets over his decision.”It was a thought,” he said. “You’ve got to look around at your competitors and see who’s vying for the same positions as you. You look at your options. At that particular stage, it crossed my mind.”I’m good friends with Chris and Jofra. They seized their opportunity so I’m sure they’re happy with where they are right now. It’s their choice. They’re human beings and they have a mind for themselves. It’s up to them.”But I never really wanted to do that. I always wanted to play for West Indies. I’m a West Indian. I grew up here and I want to play for West Indies. I wouldn’t do anything different. I’m pleased with my decision.”The highlight of Hope’s career to date probably came at Headingley in 2017. In scoring a century in both innings of the match, he became the first man to ever do so in a first-class game on the ground and led West Indies to a memorable victory just days after the team succumbed to a crushing defeat against England in Birmingham.Curtly Ambrose had labelled the Edgbaston performance “embarrassing” while Geoff Boycott suggested that West Indies side were “the worst Test match team I have seen in more than 50 years of watching, playing and commentating”.It was, Hope said, the stinging criticism that inspired the improvement and he wants the side to draw on that same source of motivation – a desire to prove people wrong – in the series against England.”It really was a big motivator,” he said. “I think I can speak for the rest of the guys in saying that as well.”Coming off that loss the week before and knowing what people were saying about us… we used it as a big motivator to put in a big performance. We knew the series was at stake.”We’ll use that as a motivator again. We’ll know that everyone is against us. We’re so called underdogs. But we know that, if we play our cricket, we’re going to beat these guys.”West Indies have also not forgotten being labelled a “mediocre” team by the ECB chairman, Colin Graves, ahead of that 2015 series in the Caribbean. The West Indies coach at the time, Phil Simmons, stuck the word up on the dressing room door to inspire his players at the start of the series and Hope feels it could be used again.”We’ll probably use that again,” he said. “I know we’re the underdogs. But that will make it even more special for us to win this first game.”

West Ham United are taking some time away from the field as their players embark on international duty; however, one of their star men has now been involved in a strange development, according to reporter Paul Brown.

West Ham's form and David Moyes future…

West Ham have struggled to get into a rhythm of consistency from game to game this season as they juggle both domestic and European footballing endeavours; nevertheless, David Moyes has managed to guide the Hammers to ninth in the Premier League table, with 17 points taken from their first 12 fixtures.

Following a run of just one win in six matches across all competitions prior to their last two encounters, West Ham have since defeated Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest to restore some stability at the London Stadium in light of recent questions over Moyes' future at the club.

Daily Mail reporter Sami Mokbel has explained that Moyes could depart West Ham at the end of the campaign, stating on the It's All Kicking Off podcast: "That question [over his position] will linger until David Moyes finally departs. I think he's going to depart."

He then went on to add: "'All the information that we have indicates that he will depart at the end of this season. I think there was a plan to do that last summer, at the end of last season, for him to move on. But obviously, then winning the European trophy, the Conference League kind of spun that direction on its head a little bit because how can you sort of open the door for your head coach to leave when he's just landed you your first trophy in decades?"

Undoubtedly, Moyes finds himself between a rock and a hard place at West Ham. Last term, he led the Irons to unprecedented success across their recent history by winning the Europa Conference League; however, speculation continues to persist surrounding his future, which will have been exacerbated by supposed tension between the Scot and technical director Tim Steidten during the summer window.

Now, reporter Brown claims that one of Moyes' arrivals during the same period is now caught up in a strange situation at the London Stadium.

Paul Brown stunned by James Ward-Prowse's England snub

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, reporter Brown has declared his surprise that James Ward-Prowse has once again been snubbed by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate for England's double-header against Malta and North Macedonia in EURO 2024 qualifying.

James Ward-Prowse's excellent form in 2023/24 – all competitions (Transfermarkt)
Appearances	17
Goals	2
Assists	10

Brown told the outlet: "I honestly find it very strange that Ward-Prowse is suddenly out of the England picture completely. He was being picked regularly ahead of some very strong candidates for a very long time when you could argue that he was in nowhere near the kind of form that he is now. I really don't think that it's a wise move by the England manager.

"I think he's in the best form I've seen him in for some time, and it doesn't strike me as terribly fair that he's no longer getting a look in. I think it's definitely one that Gareth Southgate should be questioned on."

Taking the positives, Ward-Prowse should be fresh to play a major part for West Ham upon the resumption of Premier League football after the international break.

Shane Warne has lashed out at Victoria’s likely move to bat Finch in the middle order in his one Shield game before the India Test series

Alex Malcolm25-Nov-2018Victoria captain Peter Handscomb has all but confirmed that Aaron Finch will not open the batting in this week’s Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland at the Gabba, despite Finch looking set to open for Australia in the first Test against India.Handscomb, who himself has been named in Australia’s 14-man squad for Adelaide, said a final decision had not yet been made but following Victoria coach Andrew McDonald’s comments last week, suggesting Finch was better suited to the middle order, Handscomb reiterated that Victoria were unlikely to break up their opening combination of Marcus Harris and Travis Dean, despite the fact that Harris and Finch could well be the opening combination for Australia in the first Test in Adelaide.”Obviously Harry has got the call up [to the Australia squad] and Deany has been making runs for us for years, so it’s hard to knock those two out of the opening positions for us,” Handscomb said. “Finchy averages 50 batting at No.5 and 6 for us so it’s also hard to change that as well.”Finch’s average over the last two Sheffield Shield seasons at No.5 and 6 for Victoria is 46.41, from 13 innings only, and includes two centuries and three fifties. His career average for Victoria in those two spots is 32.89 from 29 innings.He has not opened for Victoria since 2013-14 where he averaged just 18.50 at the top of the order in eight innings Shield innings, that did include 97 against South Australia at the MCG.The situation involving Finch’s revolving position has not pleased Shane Warne who came out strongly on Twitter calling it a “disgrace” and that Victoria should be doing what is right for Australia.

Just read @AaronFinch5 will not be opening in the shield game this week with Harris, but a week later they will open together for Aust against India. This is a disgrace by Vic & must be fixed before the game- can we please have common sense back into cricket in this country !

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) November 25, 2018

Have we forgotten what shield cricket is for in this country ? To produce test players. Shield cricket should also be the place to learn how to play the game the right way-so when you’re picked for Aust you’re ready. Vics have it wrong and should do what’s best for Aust – end of

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) November 25, 2018

Finch’s overall first-class average at the top of the order is actually better than his career first-class record. He averages 46 from 24 innings, that includes games for Australia A, the Cricket Australia XI and Australia, with two centuries and six half-centuries.He made 122 in a match for Australia A against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2011, sharing in a 289-run opening stand with David Warner. He also scored 288 not out for the CA XI against New Zealand in a bizarre tour game at Blacktown in Sydney in 2015. He and former New South Wales batsman Ryan Carters put on 503 for the first wicket in 121 overs before the match was abandoned due to an unsatisfactory pitch.Finch made scores of 62, 49, 39 and 31 in the Test series against Pakistan in the UAE after being picked as a makeshift opener for the tour. He had batted no higher than No.4 in his previous 44 first-class innings over nearly three years prior to that tour.He has been opening in T20 and ODI cricket for Australia since the UAE tour but has been struggling for runs. Handscomb believes batting in the middle order in the Shield game would not affect Finch’s preparation for the Test match.”I wouldn’t be worried at all,” Handscomb said. “Finchy has been opening the batting in white-ball cricket. He’s been facing a new swinging ball. And batting No.5 and 6 you also get the opportunity to face the second new ball, hopefully, if we’ve done our job right. He’ll be fine. He’ll get what he needs. If he does open the batting for Australia he’s ready to go.”Handscomb said his own call up to the Australia Test squad had come as a surprise after his omission from the Test tour in the UAE.”It’s a weird one,” Handscomb said. “I was hoping that I was going to get the call but I wasn’t entirely sure what was going to happen and what direction the selectors were going, but obviously I was very happy that they’ve gone with me.”He has not received any indication as to whether he will play in Adelaide but he has been in contact with Australia coach Justin Langer.”He just messaged once the side got announced and just said congratulations and good work on getting yourself back in,” Handscomb said. “But I’ve got another Shield game to go and he just said go out there and showcase what you’ve got.”