The New York Mets beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3, in 10 innings on Monday night despite the best efforts of Shohei Ohtani. The Mets scored a run in the fifth inning when Brandon Nimmo hit a ground-rule double that scored Jeff McNeil.

McNeil had almost gotten doubled off second when Michael Conforto made a tough catch at the wall on a long fly ball from Francisco LIndor. Conforto quickly threw the ball back in an attempt to get McNeil at second, but second baseman Tommy Edman couldn't make the catch and it bounced away.

The ball then hit umpire Jansen Visconti in the head and ricocheted straight up into the air and miraculously landed back in Edman's glove. You couldn't recreate this bounce in a lifetime.

Luckily, Visconti was alright. In fact, he was so alright that he and Edman shared a laugh and then the cameras caught him pointing back out to the outfield with a big smile on his face to let Conforto know that he was alright. And in the process, he looked like the coolest umpire in baseball.

Ahead of the Boston Red Sox's series finale against the New York Yankees on Sunday, Red Sox rookie pitcher Hunter Dobbins made a bold claim by stating he'd rather retire before playing for the Yankees.

"This is one that I’ve had circled for a long time," Dobbins told Gabrielle Starr of . "My dad was a diehard Red Sox fan. And I've said it before, that if the Yankees were the last team to give me a contract, I’d retire." 

Fortunately for Dobbins, he was drafted by the Red Sox, making it easy for him to continue his "disdain" for the Yankees. On Sunday, he makes his first career start against the Yankees.

Ahead of the start, Yankees manager Aaron Boone couldn't help but chuckle as he weighed in on Dobbins's comments.

"He's young," Boone said. "I don't know, I don't think it's a dig at our players. It's an interesting comment as a player to make that. I think it's just a comment of his love of his team is all. A little funny."

Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. posted a positive reaction to Dobbins's claim, writing on X: "I think there should be more trash talk in baseball!!! Anyone agrees!?"

Boone did not agree with Chisholm's take either. "Not really … I'm not craving more trash talk," Boone said. "I've gotten my fill from these college regionals and some of the nonsense that I see going on, like, what are we doing? No, I'm not craving that, but it doesn't bother me, either."

In Dobbins's first inning pitching against the Yankees after his "trash talk," he gave up a two-run home run to Aaron Judge, who launched a 436-foot homer to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Through the first nine starts of his career, Dobbins is 2-1 with a 4.06 ERA and 37 strikeouts.

This is getting serious now. Liverpool’s abject run of form under Arne Slot’s management this season has been a massive concern, but one which all of a Reds persuasion have been steadfast in their belief that the blip will be overcome.

Mohamed Salah’s flaming comments at the weekend have threatened to split the Slot machine wide open, with terms such as civil war and crisis being bandied about like never before.

What sparked this latest drama in a season weighed further and further down by setbacks? Well, Liverpool blew a two-goal lead at Elland Road in the Premier League, and Salah did not get even a flash of the action.

Liverpool's implosion at Elland Road

Liverpool just can’t pull all the strings together at the moment, having blown their two-goal advantage over Leeds United to draw 3-3. Dominik Szoboszlai thought he’d salvaged a draw late, but the hosts struck deep into stoppage time to condemn the Reds to their latest in a long litany of disappointments.

The frustrating part is Liverpool were comfortable and well worth their lead until spineless, error-riddled habits crept in after the break.

It was Konate’s lunging challenge, clumsy, needless, which started the Leeds fightback, and this underlines the point that Liverpool keep putting themselves through the wringer, incapable of playing to their strengths and retaining balance and composure throughout 90 minutes.

Konate is only months away from the end of his Liverpool contract, and while FSG continue to keep a door open regarding the France star’s renewal, Spanish sources suggest they could be open to cashing in for £15m this summer.

It would possibly be unwise to sell Konate right now, given the dearth of depth across Slot’s backline. Salah, too, is a player FSG wish to keep, but there is another struggler who flattered to deceive at Leeds and should be sold first.

FSG must get rid of Liverpool's "major issue"

Two things can be true: Salah has been well out of sorts this season, and he cannot convincingly tout the undroppable status he has carried through his glittering Liverpool career on his current form; Salah has every right to feel aggrieved, with players like Cody Gakpo reprising their starting berths in spite of dire performances.

It is Gakpo who is becoming a “major issue” for the Anfield side, and in more ways than one, as has been observed by analyst Raj Chohan.

Though the Dutchman has been a moderately efficient force on the left flank this season, scoring four goals and providing three assists in the Premier League, it’s clear that he is limited in his approach, and that the Reds could do with a more dynamic left winger to replace Luis Diaz, sold to Bayern Munich in August.

Gakpo, 26, has been at Liverpool for three years, scoring 46 goals and providing 21 assists across 149 appearances. He is versatile and has played his role throughout his time on Merseyside, but the Netherlands man has been exposed as lacking dimensions as Liverpool’s main man on the left wing.

There’s no doubt that Gakpo is a naturally prolific player, but if anything, this underscores the significance of the concerns surrounding his name: thee is a lack of expansiveness about his skillset, and he is averaging just 0.4 shots on target per Premier League match this season, ranking among the bottom 4% of league forwards for percentage of shots on target per 90, as per FBref.

Most G+A under Arne Slot (Liverpool)

Player

G + A

Total

Mohamed Salah

39 + 26

65

Cody Gakpo

23 + 11

34

Dominik Szoboszlai

12 + 14

26

Luis Diaz

17 + 8

25

Alexis Mac Allister

8 + 8

16

Data via Transfermarkt

Someone like Antoine Semenyo, perhaps, who is ostensibly gearing up for an exit from Bournemouth in January, with Liverpool right at the top of the shopping list.

Liverpool may need a central defender, but there is a reason Slot suggested during a presser last month that he and sporting director Richard Hughes are looking further up the pitch as a priority position to smooth out the many wrinkles in the tactical fabric.

Though it would be foolish to start thinking about selling Gakpo in January, and an upgrade on the left is desperately needed, and bringing someone like Semenyo in would solve a ‘major issue’ and help launch Slot’s squad back into the ascendancy.

Salah and Konate’s respective futures are in doubt, but it might be that getting rid of Gakpo is the move Hughes needs to make first.

Related Salah upgrade: Liverpool prepare British record bid to sign £131m magician

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Dec 8, 2025

Newcastle United have Bayer Leverkusen to overcome this week in the Champions League, but there’s a far more tantalising fixture sticking out across the busy December period.

The Premier League’s first Tyne-Wear showdown since 2016 arrives on the calendar next weekend, with Sunderland’s electric start out of the blocks in the top-flight this season no doubt ramping up the nerves on the end of the Magpies.

Eddie Howe will also be fearful of a loss when you consider Newcastle have lost their last four meetings in this tense rivalry, with Leverkusen in midweek the perfect opportunity to collect a confidence-boosting victory, before facing off against Regis Le Bris’ tricky Black Cats.

In particular, Howe will hope he sees a lot more from the likes of Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga at the BayArena, with both high-profile summer recruits failing to settle so far on Tyneside.

The numbers behind Wissa & Elanga at Newcastle

£250m in total was forked out on summer signings at St James’ Park, with £110m of that excessive spending landing both Wissa and Elanga.

There was a method behind Newcastle’s madness here, with the former Brentford man and the Swedish winger amassing a stunning 41 goal contributions between them last season in the Premier League.

Unfortunately for the £55m striker, though, he has only lined up for a paltry 16 minutes in Toon black and white so far, with his first appearance for the club coming last time out against Burnley, 96 days on from him signing on the dotted line.

He is far from a lost cause, however, with a hope he can add to his 45 Premier League goals shortly with sustained time in the first team, as he potentially prepares to start versus Leverkusen. If he doesn’t get up and running soon, with his hefty £140k-per-week salary also added to the equation, he will definitely be dismissed as a rash waste of money.

Elanga doesn’t have a troubling injury record to fall back on when it comes to his critics, with just two assists and no goals next to his name from 22 appearances on Tyneside, making his £55m price tag already feel extremely extortionate.

Still, there will also be a hope in the air that the £100k-per-week forward is simply a work in progress, having previously shone with Nottingham Forest, away from negative labels coming his way that he is a “massive overpay” in the words of Raj Chohan.

Staggeringly, despite £110m being dropped on the underwhelming duo in question, they’re not deemed as big a waste of money as this other high earner, who Howe must now swiftly axe ahead of key games to come in December.

Howe must now drop £120k-per-week Newcastle man

At least with Wissa and Elanga, Howe and Co would have known they were paying a premium price for talents who were consistent top performers in the Premier League.

In the case of Jacob Ramsey, though, £43m was forked out on a star who had a rollercoaster stay at Aston Villa, having only collected a mediocre eight goal contributions across his final two top-flight seasons in the West Midlands, leading to him falling out of Unai Emery’s first team plans.

Ramsey’s flashes of brilliance at his hometown club did see journalist Charles Watts once herald him as a “special” talent for the future, but eyebrows would have been rightly raised when the £43m move was finalised, with his £120k-per-week wage also making him an immediate higher earner than St James Park stalwarts such as Dan Burn, who pockets £70k-per-week, on the contrary.

In the here and now, too, it feels like an awfully long time ago since the 24-year-old was generating lots of hype at Villa Park, with a rare first-team start against Burnley last time out seeing Ramsey look rather timid.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

73

Shots

1

Accurate passes

56/60 (93%)

Accurate crosses

0/1

Key passes

1

Successful dribbles

1/2

Penalties given away

1

Indeed, it doesn’t make for pretty reading on Ramsey’s end, with the 24-year-old’s general game going down as largely uneventful, until he gave away an unnecessary penalty via a handball, with only one shot, one key pass, and one accurate dribble registered.

With no goals or assists next to his name from 11 clashes, it isn’t the wildest shout to suggest he’s a bigger waste of money than both Wissa and Elanga, with Wissa needing more time to acclimatise, while Elanga at least has two assists to cling onto and showed what a dangerous talent he can be last season..

Moreover, with both Joe Willock and Lewis Miley also at Howe’s disposal in midfield in the reserve ranks, there doesn’t seem to be a long-standing space for the ex-Villa man in his starting XI, as the forgettable number 41 likely just turns into an expensive background figure that can’t be redeemed.

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ByKelan Sarson Dec 7, 2025

If you were to ask Mikel Arteta what a perfect game looked like ahead of kick-off on Wednesday night, he would have described something close to the one Arsenal delivered.

Sure, there were a few moments in the first half where Club Brugge looked threatening, but that is to be expected when a team is so heavily rotated.

Moreover, the Gunners were comfortably the better side for much of the game and came away with their 100% record in the Champions League still intact.

There were impressive performances across the pitch from Arteta’s men, including from one international who, like Noni Madueke, had his best game in an Arsenal shirt so far.

Noni Madueke's performance vs Club Brugge

Wednesday night’s game against Club Brugge could have been a banana-skin fixture for Arsenal.

Chalkboard

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

After all, the North Londoners were coming off a devastating defeat in the Premier League, were beset by injuries, and had to rotate a significant portion of the side.

However, the Gunners showed why so many consider them to be one of Europe’s best teams and swept the Belgian outfit aside.

The likes of Martin Zubimendi, Gabriel Martinelli, Ben White and Piero Hincapie all looked excellent, but the star of the show was undoubtedly Madueke.

The former Chelsea man was the busiest of the attackers in the first half and opened the scoring with a truly sensational solo goal.

The Englishman had the ball by the halfway line, beat one player, rode the challenge of another and then rifled the ball into the top corner from well outside the area.

The dynamic game-changer then continued to be a serious threat throughout the rest of the half, before scoring his second early in the second half, thanks to a smart run and a pinpoint accurate cross from Zubimendi.

All in all, it was a performance that more than justified the man of the match award, and has to go down as his best in an Arsenal shirt thus far.

Fortunately, the same could be said about another starter.

Arsenal's other standout star

Now, there are other players who deserve praise for their performances against Brugge, but the only other starter who comfortably had his best game in an Arsenal shirt was Christian Nørgaard.

The Danish midfielder has been something of a forgotten man since his arrival in the summer, playing just 302 minutes of football before last night.

However, while he did finally get another start on Wednesday night, just his fourth all year, it wasn’t in the middle of the park; it was at centre-back.

Understandably, such a move left some in the fan base feeling a little nervous ahead of kick-off, but there was no need to be, as the 31-year-old was practically faultless for the entire match.

Yes, he did pick up a yellow card, but he also made a crucial interception in the penalty area in the first half, and as football.london’s Tom Canton put it, looked totally ‘unfazed by the unfamiliar position.’

That might sound a little hyperbolic, but the former Brentford captain’s statistics prove otherwise.

For example, in his 93 minutes of action, the £65k-per-week monster won 100% of his tackles, took 72 touches, won three of four ground duels, made clearances and two interceptions, recovered the ball twice, blocked a shot, completed 50 passes and even played two long balls.

Minutes

93′

Tackles (Won)

3 (3)

Touches

72

Accurate Passes

50/54

Long Balls

2/3

Blocked Shots

1

Recoveries

2

Ground Duels (Won)

4 (3)

Interceptions

2

Clearances

4

In fact, the København-born veteran looked so good at the back, both with and without the ball, that there might even need to be a conversation about him playing there against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

Ultimately, it was a great night at the office for Arsenal on Wednesday, and like Madueke, Nørgaard undoubtedly put in his best performance since his move in the summer.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes 5 days ago

تحددت أسماء الوفد المصري المقرر حضوه لمراسم قرعة بطولة كأس العالم 2026، التي تقام في العاصمة الأمريكية واشنطن.

ومن المقرر أن تجرى قرعة كأس العالم 2026، يوم الجمعة الموافق 5 من شهر ديسمبر الحالي، لتحديد مجموعات المونديال.

وستقام بطولة كأس العالم 2026، بمشاركة 48 منتخباً، وستستضيفها كل من كندا والمكسيك والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، خلال الفترة من 11 يونيو وحتى 19 يوليو 2026.

وأعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، عن تصنيف المنتخبات المشاركة في بطولة كأس العالم 2026، وجاء منتخب مصر بالتصنيف الثالث، بين 48 منتخبًا مشاركًا.

طالع | يتجنب مواجهة 16 منتخبًا.. مجموعة مصر المحتملة في كأس العالم 2026 بعد إعلان التصنيف

وعلم بطولات أن الوفد المصري المقرر حضوه قرعة كأس العالم 2026، يضم خالد الدرندلي نائب رئيس الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، والتوأم حسام وإبراهيم حسن مدرب ومدرب منتخب مصر.

ويستعد منتخب مصر في الوقت الحالي، لبدء معسكره الختامي، استعدادًا للمشاركة في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025، بالمغرب والذي سينطلق 21 ديسمبر الجاري.

Manchester City are now obsessed with signing a “generational” forward, joining the race for his signature alongside a number of the Premier League’s top clubs.

Man City kicking into gear ahead of Real Madrid clash

Man City were a little shaky at the start of the season, losing against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton, but Bernardo Silva believes they are starting to kick into gear, ahead of the tough Champions League clash against 15-time champions Real Madrid tonight.

Silva said: “The team has been growing a lot since [the start of the season]. We’re improving day by day. It’s true that our teams have always been much better in the second part of the season than the first and hopefully it happens again this season.”

Pep Guardiola’s side have looked very potent on the front foot, having already scored 35 Premier League goals, seven more than any other side, with Phil Foden starting to get back to his best, regularly providing goals and assists.

However, Man City remain keen on making more additions to their forward line, according to a report from Spain, which states they now have an ‘obsession’ with signing RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande, who has emerged as one of the most exciting youngsters in Europe.

A plethora of top Premier League clubs are keen on Diomande, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, but City are the ‘most persistent’, having conducted a number of scouting missions since October.

Leipzig have no desire to sanction a move, with the German club eager to tie him down to a new contract, and interested clubs will need to make offers in the region of €80m – €100m (£70m – £87m) to tempt them into a sale.

"Generational" Diomande likened to Haaland

Journalist Bence Bocsak is a huge admirer of the left-winger, recently saying: “Just catching up on RB Leipzig’s game tonight and oh my Yan Diomande is a special player. I actually think he’s one of those players you break all your recruitment models for.

Yes, the same size is small. But he’s a generational talent.”

Bocsak also likens the Ivorian to a current Man City star, saying: “Haaland was another level even to Diomande but the RB Leipzig winger is not far off.”

It is clear to see why the 19-year-old has received rave reviews, most recently making a real statement by scoring a hat-trick in RB Leipzig’s 6-0 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The four-time Ivory Coast international has now amassed seven goals and four assists in 15 matches in all competitions, which is a very impressive tally, given that it is his first season in the Bundesliga.

Pep's a big fan: Man City leading race for "superstar" and ready to bid £65m+

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Dominic Lund

6 days ago

City certainly aren’t struggling from an attacking point of view, but the opportunity to sign Diomande may be too good to pass up…

Tottenham are ready to offload a member of Thomas Frank’s squad in January following a behind-the-scenes incident, according to a new report.

Players who could leave Spurs in January

Spurs are poised for an intriguing January transfer window, and not just in terms of incomings.

Among the few players who could leave next month, Mathys Tel has emerged as a credible candidate for the exit door with Roma named as an interested suitor.

The 20-year-old, signed permanently from Bayern Munich for £30 million last summer, has reportedly expressed unhappiness with his limited opportunities at Spurs — managing just 409 minutes across 14 total appearances this season.

His exclusion from the Champions League squad earlier this term signaled his peripheral status under Frank, and a temporary switch to Serie A is probable even if Tel has since been recalled to the European fold to replace Dominic Solanke.

Richarlison’s long-term future also remains uncertain despite scoring seven goals so far this term, including two goal of the season contenders against Burnley and Arsenal respectively.

Tottenham handed pitiful Solanke injury update with new timeline shared

The Englishman hasn’t featured since Man City in August.

ByEmilio Galantini 4 days ago

Tottenham are preparing to receive offers from Brazil, Saudi Arabia and potentially Everton — his former club where he enjoyed considerably greater success.

However, media sources indicate Spurs will reject loan proposals and only entertain a permanent sale.

The Brazilian’s inconsistency throughout his Tottenham career, just 39 goal contributions since joining in 2022 for £60 million, has frustrated sections of supporters.

With his contract expiring in 2027, January represents Tottenham’s optimal window to recoup a reasonable fee before his value diminishes.

Frank apparently views Richarlison as an ‘expendable’ member of his squad, even if he selects the 28-year-old regularly, with Solanke and Kolo Muani likely to be his first choices once the former at last returns to full fitness.

There is also the matter of Yves Bissouma, who’s already fallen foul with Frank after disciplinary issues and is yet to make a single competitive appearance under the Dane’s tutelage.

The Mali international has suffered injuries this campaign which have limited his availability, but according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, Spurs have seen enough.

Tottenham decide to sell Yves Bissouma in January

Recent footage emerged showing the 29-year-old midfielder allegedly inhaling nitrous oxide in early November, despite being sidelined through injury at the time.

This marks the second such incident involving Bissouma, who was previously suspended by the club in August after similar footage surfaced.

The midfielder issued a public apology then, acknowledging a “severe lack of judgment” and recognizing the health risks involved, but his latest alleged breach has now exhausted the club’s patience.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s visit of Slavia Prague in the Champions League, Frank said: “It’s an internal matter that we are dealing with at the moment and when we have dealt with that, then I will comment on it.”

Now, Crook reports that Tottenham are ready to sell Bissouma in January following this incident, which has effectively sealed his fate in north London.

Bissouma earns over £55,000-per-week, but has now become completely surplus to requirements under Frank.

The former Brighton star, who played a key role in Spurs’ Europa League final win last term, was excluded from Tottenham’s 22-man Champions League squad and subsequently underwent ankle surgery in October.

Bissouma’s contract expires at the end of the season, but Tottenham do hold an option to extend it by another year, according to The Mail.

As per talkSPORT again, Galatasaray remain interested in securing his signature after a proposed summer transfer collapsed. The Turkish champions nearly signed Bissouma before the deal fell through, and they are prepared to revive their pursuit next year.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras empatou por 0 a 0 diante do San Lorenzo nesta quinta-feira (30), no Allianz Parque, no jogo que marcou a despedida de Endrick com a camisa alviverde.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasAbel não pensou no time ao escalar Endrick, Estêvão e Luis Guilherme juntos no PalmeirasPalmeiras31/05/2024Fora de CampoNarrador compara torcida do Palmeiras à ‘plateia de teatro’, e assunto viraliza na webFora de Campo31/05/2024PalmeirasTorcedores detonam Abel Ferreira em empate do Palmeiras contra o San LorenzoPalmeiras30/05/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! Palmeiras no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Verdão

Por um lado vai ser bom o Verdão enfim se despedir do seu camisa 9 e começar a se preocupar de como ficará a sua vida agora sem a joia da Seleção Brasileira e do Real Madrid.

Com mais um jogo zerado no placar, Abel Ferreira não consegue admitir o mal momento da equipe e joga toda responsabilidade do resultado no goleiro adversário, que foi muito pouco exigido.

continua após a publicidade

Parte da torcida se divide entre os que não aceitam enxergar a bolinha que o time vem jogando, com os mais realistas que sonham em ver o Palmeiras do Abel voltar a ser o temido Palmeiras do Abel.

Ídolo incontestável da torcida, o trabalho do português não deve e nem pode ser interrompido antes do final de 2025, mas a cobrança por um melhor desempenho faz parte do futebol.

continua após a publicidade

Ao palmeirense resta rezar para que Dudu e Felipe Anderson encaixem no time e que a diretoria se mova para buscar mais alguns reforços para o segundo semestre.

O presente do Palmeiras é no mínimo preocupante e se não acontecer uma rápida melhora, vai ficar difícil acreditar em mais um troféu neste por enquanto apático, mas campeão 2024.

E se não ganhar mais nada, seguiremos aqui, com muito orgulho de quem ostentou sua fibra e levantou tantas taças nos últimos anos, mas não dá pra confundir gratidão com inércia.

A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

A cobrança por mais entrega e desempenho sempre vai existir no Palmeiras, isso não vai mudar jamais, até porque já vimos muitas vezes esse filme em que o resultado é o mocinho e a falta de desempenho é o vilão.

Só esperamos que o mocinho não morra no final.

Free-flowing approach from England’s batters came unstuck in first innings, but senior batter backs talent to fight back

Andrew Miller05-Dec-2025

Despite a gruelling day in the field, studded with five dropped catches, Joe Root remains adamant that England are still in touch with Australia in the second Test at the Gabba, but says that any prospect of a fightback will require their batters to “express themselves in the right way” for the remainder of a must-win match.Root himself did just that in England’s first innings, finishing unbeaten on 138 to record his maiden Test hundred in Australia, and his 40th overall. Too many of his team-mates failed to provide the requisite support, however, with Harry Brook’s carefree knock of 31 leading his former team-mate, Stuart Broad, to question his game awareness during a stint on Australian radio. In addition to four ducks, Zak Crawley’s 76 was England’s only other score of note, until Jofra Archer joined Root in a free-wheeling last-wicket stand of 70 in 9.4 overs.That shortcoming had been set in stark relief by the close of the second day, with Australia strongly placed on 378 for 6, a lead of 44, thanks to double-figure contributions from each of the eight batters so far used. No-one could go past Jake Weatherald’s 72, but after a brace of 60s from Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, and 45 from Cameron Green, Alex Carey remained unbeaten at the close on 46.England’s standards were challenged throughout a tough day, with Australia rattling along at more than five runs an over, while Will Jacks’ anonymity with the ball has already placed a huge burden on their four-man seam attack. They did manage to claim three wickets in the floodlit final session, including two in an over from a hard-toiling Brydon Carse. However, they also let slip four of those chances – including a particularly culpable drop from Carse at short cover off Michael Neser.Related

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Root lifts weight of the world with an ironic shrug

“It’s clear we weren’t our best at that phase of the game,” Root told TNT Sports at the close. “But the way that we dragged things back, by managing to take those wickets in a cluster, it shows what the nature of this game can be like, especially with the pink ball.”In the wake of their first-Test defeat, England’s decision not to play in a three-day floodlit match in Canberra came in for some criticism. While the nature of the contest arguably vindicated that move from a batting and bowling point of view, the chance to replicate a fielding session under the floodlights was perhaps an opportunity lost for the visitors.Root, however, insisted England had worked hard on their fielding drills in their practice sessions at the Gabba.”It is different to a white ball,” he said. “We get a lot of exposure to [floodlit cricket] in ODI cricket and T20 cricket, but it is slightly different. But you still back yourself. We practice really hard for the five days leading into it. We made sure we got our work done. Unfortunately, it’s just one of those days where a few didn’t quite stick to hand. We’ve got to make sure we stay confident, we stay up and, when we get those chances later on in the fixture, we’re ready to take them.Marnus Labuschagne raised his second fifty of the series•Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“We’ve obviously got some more work to do tomorrow, but we’re certainly well and truly in this game. More than anything we’ve got to come out with a huge amount of energy and positivity. We know our best cricket can turn a game very quickly, so we’ll turn up tomorrow with that right attitude. We know that, if we’re anywhere near our best, then very quickly this game can turn in our favour.”First things first, Root acknowledged, England must claim Australia’s final four wickets in the daylight hours.”If we get things right in the morning, and go about things as a team in the correct fashion, then we can put ourselves in a really strong position on a wicket which looks like it’s plating,” Root said. “It looks like there might be a few cracks to work with later on in the game. But clearly, we’ve got to look at tomorrow morning first and foremost, and get things right there.”However, the focus is already turning to England’s crucial second innings – which will begin not only with memories of Root’s resilience on the first day, but of how Australia themselves have gone about hunting down England’s score with aggression allied to sensible shot selection. The contrast with England’s approach, particularly against Mitchell Starc who struck in the first over of a new spell on three occasions in his first-innings 6 for 75, was telling.”When we get out there with the bat, the quality that we have and the talent that’s in that dressing room can go out there and express themselves in the right way on that surface to go and get a big score, which could be very tricky batting last on that surface.””I’ve got quite a clear plan how I score my runs,” he added. “I’ve just got to back myself and understand that, if I do that for long periods of time and make good decisions, I’ll be successful.”Labuschagne, whose partnerships with Weatherald and Smith were key to Australia’s strong position, acknowledged that his dismissal for 65 – just as the floodlights were kicking in – was ill-timed, but his proactive 78-ball innings had still been an ideal template for the conditions.”I would like to be a bit more resilient … getting out on the stroke of the changeover between day and night was not ideal,” he said. “But you’ve just got to keep telling yourself as the batter, it’s just one ball at a time. If you’re thinking too far ahead, you start reading into a ball that might have bounced more off a crack or hit you. You’ve got to stay in the moment as much as you can.”If you’re bowling good balls in the channel at the Gabba, it’s tough to score with the extra bounce. But it was a nice wicket. Obviously, it’s a little bit cracky here and there, but the majority of the times the balls hit the wicket, it was really nice.”The two guys at the top just grabbed that momentum of the game early, and we were almost able to piggyback their momentum, and continue to put pressure on.”