أعلن نادي ميلان الإيطالي في بيان رسمي، إقالة مدربه البرتغالي، باولو فونسيكا، بعد التعادل مع روما في المباراة التي جمعت بين الفريقين بملعب سان سيرو أمس الأحد.
ميلان تعادل مع روما وتراجع للمركز الثامن برصيد 27 نقطة مع مباراة مؤجلة، قبل أن يواجه يوفنتوس في كأس السوبر بالسعودية يناير المقبل.
طالع أيضًا.. ميلان في محادثات مع تشافي لتدريب الفريق
النادي أعلن في بيان رسمي إقالة باولو فونسيكا، وقدم له الشكر متمنيًا له كل التوفيق في مساعيه المستقبلية.
فونسيكا تولى قيادة ميلان في الصيف خلفًا لـ ستيفانو بيولي، خاض مع الفريق 24 مباراة، فاز في 12 وتعادل 6 وخسر 6 بمختلف المسابقات.
ويبدو أن ميلان استقر على خليفة فونسيكا، من خلال التعاقد مع سيرجيو كونسيساو مدرب بورتو السابق، ولاعب إنتر ميلان الأسبق، ولكن حتى الآن لم يتم الإعلان الرسمي.
As Newcastle United look to put last season's disappointing seventh-placed Premier League finish behind them, they are linked with a player who could fix a major problem at St James' Park.
Toon look to improve on disappointing campaign
The latest transfer news out of St James' Park suggests that Newcastle are looking to put last season's failure to capture European football behind them and build a squad ready to once again disrupt the Premier League's traditional big six.
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Defensive reinforcements appear to be a high priority for the Magpies with the latest news linking the Toon with a move for AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori. The English centre back could be made available for £42million this summer, making him an attractive target for Newcastle. Another Englishman abroad linked with a move to Tyneside is Tammy Abraham. The ex-Chelsea man is currently at Roma, with the Italian outfit reportedly offering the player to clubs for just £28 million.
The main area of concern for Newcastle is between the sticks however. With Nick Pope's season-ending injury back in December placing his Toon future in doubt, a fresh face in goal is now their top priority. Additionally, it appears that current backup choice Martin Dubravka could follow Loris Karius out of the exit door.
Burnley's James Trafford is the name most frequently linked with a move to Tyneside with Newcastle reportedly close to completing a £20million move to secure the services of the England keeper. Despite conceding 62 goals as Burnley suffered immediate relegation back to the Championship, Trafford is still viewed as a goalkeeper with a bright future ahead of him.
With a goalkeeper at the top of the PIF's shopping list, Newcastle are also apparrently set to launch a bid for a goalkeeper who was crowned a European Champion last season.
Magpies ready bid for Atalanta's Musso
As first reported by Sport Witness, the Italian press are stating that Newcastle have made contact to sign Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso. The outlet reports that Magpies are joined by Villarreal and Genoa in pursuit of the Argentine shot-stopper.
If the Toon are serious about signing Musso, they will have to fork out more than £8.5 million to tempt the 30-year-old away from Bergamo. The Italian press go on to report that Newcastle see the South American as an "ideal reinforcement" and claim that they could "soon make a concrete offer" to secure his services.
Musso made just 11 appearances in the league last season, however excelled in Atalanta's Europa League campaign. The 30-year-old featured in all but one of his side's games in the competition and kept a clean sheet in the final as Atalanta ran away 3-0 winners against Bayer Leverkusen.
It is clear that Musso would be a perfect fit for Newcastle's situation – the 2-cap Argentina international is a goalkeeper that is comfortable playing back up but can step up when necessary. If Pope is to face an uncertain future at St James' Park, bringing in Musso would be an ideal option for the Magpies' higher ups.
Unai Emery can surely be very happy with Aston Villa’s 2023/24 season, as the campaign slowly draws to a halt, with just the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund left to play.
The Spaniard’s side came fourth in the Premier League, although it was a narrow gap between the Villans and fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur. Ange Postecoglou’s side came just two points behind Villa, and had they won their game in hand against Manchester City, would have finished fifth.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
In cup competitions, Villa did not quite manage to get their hands on any silverware, although they did come close. Domestically, they struggled, losing in the Carabao Cup third round against Everton, and the fourth round against Chelsea, in a replay.
In Europe, however, they reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League but disappointingly crashed out. A 4-2 home defeat and 2-0 away defeat in the return leg against Greek side Olympiacos sent Emery’s side home in devastating fashion.
Diego Carlos for Aston Villa
However, it was an overall impressive campaign for the Villans, who now have Champions League football to look forward to next season. The 2024 summer transfer window will be an important time for them to bolster their squad, and they have already been linked with one incoming.
Villa looking to sign La Liga winger
The player in question here is the former Leeds United winger Raphinha, who now plays for Barcelona. He has been linked with a move away from the Spanish giants for some time, and Villa could offer a destination for him this summer.
According to a report in Spain, Villa are one of two Premier League clubs chasing the 27-year-old Brazil international, alongside Londoners Chelsea and Manchester United.
Barcelona winger Raphinha.
Gonzalez explains that last January, Barca rejected an offer for Raphinha from an unnamed Premier League side, potentially Villa, worth £51m, with additional clauses potentially seeing a raise in the fee.
The journalist goes on to explain that new Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, winner of an incredible sextuple with Bayern Munich in 2020, wants to keep Raphinha at the club. However, this is only “until he knows which players can be signed”.
Barca are still in deep financial strife, and are set to have restrictions on their summer transfer window once again, thus meaning they cannot sign all of their targets, and must settle for keeping large portions of their squad.
With that being said, if a bid for Raphinha is “a figure that would help the Catalans to be able to go to the summer transfer window with certain guarantees” then they could sell him to purchase their main targets.
Why Raphinha would be a good signing
Should Villa sign Raphinha this summer, he would bolster an already impressive attack which includes the likes of Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers and Leon Bailey. Watkins was one of the players of the season in the 2023/24 Premier League, scoring 19 and assisting 13 in 37 games.
In fact, Raphinha himself had a productive season in a Barca side that finished second, ten points behind champions Real Madrid.
He scored six goals and registered nine assists in 28 La Liga games, as well as having an impressive seven goal involvements in seven Champions League games. He is a very creative winger, who enjoys operating in the half-spaces and looking to create for the likes of Robert Lewandowski ahead of him.
Raphinha
28
6
9
Watkins
37
19
13
Rogers
11
3
1
Bailey
35
10
9
Diaby
38
6
8
Interestingly, according to Fbref, there are some similarities creatively between Raphinha and Premier League and England stars Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka. Per 90 minutes, Raphinha averages 0.59 assists, compared to Saka’s 0.28 and Palmer’s 0.38.
Raphinha also averages more key passes per 90 minutes than Palmer, with 2.70 compared to the Chelsea winger’s 2.47. Saka, however, averages more than both, although only slightly, with 2.81 key passes. Evidently they're all particularly creative right wingers, notably possessing that amazing ability to cut inside onto their devastating left foot.
There is also nothing much to split the trio when it comes to passes into the penalty box per 90 minutes. Palmer leads the way, with 2.37, but Saka averages 2.25 and Raphinha closely follows, with 2.11.
The minimal difference between the three players shows the sheer quality that Villa would be adding to their squad if they bring Raphinha in this summer. Although the £51m fee is expensive, it certainly represents good business for Emery’s side.
Barcelona star Raphinha.
It remains to be seen at this stage if a deal will get done, yet Villa fans may well be excited about the potential arrival of “one of the best players in the world”, as Raphinha’s former manager Xavi described him.
Aston Villa targeting Watkins' dream transfer in £30m star
He has 14 goals and assists in Serie A this season.
A pundit has been left thrilled by an "interesting Richarlison replacement" who Tottenham Hotspur are targeting for manager Ange Postecoglou this summer.
Postecoglou says Spurs need to sign new attackers
Timo Werner is expected to stay at Tottenham for another year on loan from RB Leipzig, but Spurs are reportedly open to selling the likes of Bryan Gil, Manor Solomon and Richarlison when the transfer window reopens on June 14.
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The aforementioned trio are not the only players who chairman Daniel Levy could opt to let go either, as reliable insider Paul O'Keefe stated earlier this month that Spurs are open to offers for over a dozen members of Postecoglou's squad.
Fabrizio Romano has also predicted a very active summer transfer window for the north Londoners, even claiming they could make as many as five major signings this summer, as they look to back Postecoglou following a positive debut campaign for the Australian as head coach.
“They’re looking at different options as a centre striker or as a winger," said Romano last week.
Son Heung-min
7.30
James Maddison
7.17
Pedro Porro
7.04
Cristian Romero
7.03
Dejan Kulusevski
6.96
"I expect Tottenham to be really busy. I don’t want to throw out like six or seven names, but they are considering several players and several positions. I see Tottenham being really busy, I think it could be four or five signings this summer for Spurs.”
Postecoglou has been forthright in his desire to upgrade the squad, and recently stated that Tottenham need to sign new attackers this summer given the plethora of injuries they suffered in that area last term.
"Yeah, absolutely. It's no secret. You saw the way we finished the season. We obviously lost Richy and Timo as well with injuries but we're fairly light in that area," said Postecoglou on the need for new attackers.
"We started last season with Manor [Solomon] and [Ivan] Perisic and we were quite healthy in that front third in terms of numbers, but as the year went on it became pretty evident that we need to bulk up. We're in Europe as well next year so we'll have more games and it's definitely an area of the park we'll need to strengthen."
Tottenham are thought to be looking at signing a number of strikers, and one of them is RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda.
Pundit thrilled as Tottenham eye Openda to replace Richarlison
The £85 million Belgian, who scored 24 goals and bagged seven assists in the Bundesliga alone last season, is on Spurs' transfer shortlist as they decide which striker to move for (Paul O'Keefe).
Lois Openda in action.
Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham has praised Openda as Spurs target his potential signing – explaining why he'd be an excellent addition.
“I watched Openda in the Champions League a couple of times this year and I was impressed,” Wenham said.
“He has a real mix of pace and excellent finishing ability. He looks like someone who could also play out wide, so he would be an interesting replacement for Richarlison."
The interim boss made quite the impression in the build-up to his first game in charge against Ireland
Lee Carsley dialled up the humility following his first game in interim charge of England on Saturday. Any notion that the Three Lions' swaggering victory over Ireland represented the dawning of a bold new era of 'Cars-ball' was emphatically rebuffed by the man himself. Instead, the 50-year-old swiftly awarded the players all of the responsibility for the team's perfect start to their Nations League campaign.
“Definitely not,” Carsley said. “It’s definitely not my style. It’s the players that are capable of receiving the ball in tight areas and playing through. I’m just lucky I’m coaching them. I don’t see this as my style. They should take all the credit for the way they’ve been.”
It was good management. All the best modern coaches use press conferences to make their players feel twice as tall. However, Carsley deserves a sizeable helping of the praise afforded to England following the victory in Dublin.
At the Aviva Stadium, the Three Lions did things they simply hadn't towards the tail end of Gareth Southgate's reign. The team created seven 'big chances', more than any game in the Euros, and every player was fielded in their strongest role.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's playmaking abilities from right-back breathed new life into midfield; Declan Rice made the most of his license to burst forward by scoring and assisting; while Anthony Gordon's addition to the front line decongested that much-maligned left-hand side. The entire occasion was a strong response to anyone predicting that Carsley's ascension to the top job would be business as usual for England.
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Not an FA 'yes man'
Indeed, when Carsley was confirmed as interim boss in August, the most extreme dissenting voices suggested he was simply a Southgate clone. Another FA 'yes man', not worthy of directing one of the nation's most talented generation of players.
This was, in truth, a minority view. But more widely, Carsley was seen as the safest choice imaginable. Probably fairly too. Graduating from the Under-21 side to the seniors is a path that Southgate trod to great success in recent memory. The short-term nature of his contract, which offers both parties the chance to move on quickly if it doesn't work out, added to the sense that his appointment was made with stability in mind.
There's nothing intrinsically wrong with attempting to keep things on an even keel – England did just reach a European Championship final after all – though it did mean that fireworks were hardly expected ahead of Nations League competition getting back underway.
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Rocking the boat
Despite these conceptions, Carsley's first proper week in charge has suggested that his reign will be anything but boring – regardless of how long it turns out to be. His very first squad selection was full of fresh ideas.
Angel Gomes, long overlooked despite impressing for Lille, was handed his first-ever call up, while Morgan Gibbs-White was also recognised for his Nottingham Forest displays over the past 12 months or so. Tino Livramento, Rico Lewis and Noni Madueke were among those selected too, with Levi Colwill similarly given a chance after missing out on the Euros squad. And then there was Jack Grealish, welcomed back in from the cold after what he described as the "worst summer" of his life.
The reasons for Carsley making these calls varied. But a common theme throughout was a willingness to take bold decisions, even if the absences of several historically key players, such as Jude Bellingham and Luke Shaw, made it easier to justify some of the choices he made.
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Leaving out key names
Carsley's willingness to rock the boat was also reflected in the players he opted to leave out. The timing of Kieran Trippier's international retirement seemed to suggest that the Newcastle star would not have been selected for these Nations League games anyway. Previously one of Southgate's most trusted lieutenants, this was a bolder call than it might seem at first glance.
And after all of the clamour for him to start over the summer, Carsley also sent Adam Wharton down to the U21s, while fellow Euros squad members Ivan Toney, Aaron Ramsdale and Joe Gomez all paid the price for their lack of minutes at club level.
By far and away the most noteworthy snub was Kyle Walker. A near ever-present for England in the Southgate era, even after a slow start to the Premier League campaign, the prospect of him being overlooked seemed extremely remote before Carsley made the call. Walker wasn't happy about the snub either, voicing his frustrations on his podcast, but did accept that the decision might have been the correct one.
"I’m disappointed," Walker acknowledged. "You have to accept it and just try to prove them wrong. With a new manager, you are always expecting a few changes. I'm disappointed because to represent your country is always the highest thing. But I haven't played any minutes this season so you have to take it on the chin. I've not performed at any level since coming back from the (Euro), so I think it's the right call from him."
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Handling the Greenwood situation
Carsley has handled the media in similarly forthright fashion. As well as explaining his selection decisions in straightforward terms, he has also navigated more thorny issues with refreshing candour.
Ahead of the Ireland game, he was asked about Mason Greenwood's international future. Greenwood has not played for England since 2020 and was charged with rape, assault and coercive and controlling behaviour in 2022. Those charges were dropped last year, but the social media posts that led to him being arrested – and turned the stomach of anyone who saw them – resulted in Manchester United letting the forward leave, first on loan to Getafe and then permanently this summer to Marseille.
He has scored five goals in his first three Ligue 1 games this season, but Carsley made it abundantly clear that there was no Three Lions future for the attacker. "Mason wasn't a player that we can consider to be honest, no. I'm aware of how he's doing but he wasn't under consideration," he said.
In these comments, there was no attempt to muddy the issues linked with Greenwood's potential return. The topic was instead decisively put to bed, with the 22-year-old expected to switch allegiances to Jamaica in the near future. It could not contrast more starkly with the clumsy way United, Getafe and Marseille have dealt with the Greenwood problem over the past few years.
Carlo Ancelotti has warned Endrick that the tough competition at Real Madrid will affect the Brazilian teenager's playing time this season.
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Endrick waiting for Real Madrid debutTeenager considering making a loan moveAncelotti is happy with the BrazilianWHAT HAPPENED?
Endrick finally joined Madrid this summer after initially agreeing to sign for the club in December 2022. However, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Arda Guler all competing for a place in the starting XI, the 18-year-old will have a tough time establishing himself as a regular starter.
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The striker is yet to make his debut for the European and Spanish champions, having been left on the bench for the UEFA Super Cup win against Atalanta and the 1-1 draw against Mallorca in the first La Liga game of the season. Due to fears he may be locked out of the team this season, Endrick is reportedly considering leaving the club on loan for a year to gain experience elsewhere.
WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID
While Ancelotti is happy with the way Endrick is settling in, he said the new signing must consider the competition for a place in the team.
"He's doing very well, like the others," Ancelotti said at a press conference. "He's adapting very well. He has impressive qualities and he'll get the minutes he deserves, taking into account the competition there is in this team."
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ENDRICK?
The Brazil international will hope to finally make his Madrid debut when they meet Real Valladolid in La Liga on Sunday. Otherwise, he may look for a late loan deal either before the close of the window or in January.
Arsenal have joined the race to sign one of the best midfielders in world football, according to a report this week.
Gunners set for summer revamp
Though they are currently deep in a title race, it is expected to be another busy summer for Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar in north London. A striker is undoubtedly their priority after seeing Gabriel Jesus miss a large part of the season through injury, but they also require cover for William Saliba and Gabriel, both of whom have been a key part of this season's Premier League success to date, playing almost every minute available as a partnership.
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Ben Browning
Apr 2, 2024
An alternative to Bukayo Saka on the right wing would be smart too; the Englishman has been nursing an injury for some time and was forced to withdraw from international duty as a result last month.
But midfield could see the biggest revamp. Mohamed Elneny is set to leave the club when his contract expires, while Jorginho's contract also runs out, though there is talk of the Italian being offered an extension.
Meanwhile, Thomas Partey has been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in the past and, a free agent in 2025, could be cashed in on this summer instead.
Arsenal's options in defensive midfield
Player
Contract expiry
Thomas Partey
2025
Declan Rice
2028
Mohamed Elneny
2024
Jorginho
2024
With that in mind, central midfield may be a priority for the Gunners, and reports suggest they may have found their man.
"Mentality monster" on the way?
That player in question is none other than 29-year-old German star Joshua Kimmich, who is out of contract in 12 months time and could be cashed in on by German giants Bayern Munich for the same reason Arsenal may sell Partey.
The diminutive midfielder has long been linked with a move away from Bavaria, and reports earlier in the season named Arsenal as one of five clubs that he'd be willing to join were he to depart. Now, it appears the feeling is mutual. As per Football Transfers, Arsenal have 'approached' Bayern for Kimmich, though they have been warned Bayern 'will refuse' to discuss a move for their midfielder until the end of the season.
Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich.
The Gunners are keen to find cover for both right back and central midfield, and deployed Partey in that role earlier in the season. With vast experience in both positions, Kimmich could be the perfect option for the hybrid position Mikel Arteta is seeking, though his massive £320,000 per week wages at the Allianz Arena could prove a major obstacle.
Kimmich has been singled out for high praise by Bayern coaches, and former boss Hansi Flick was particularly keen on the German.
“Joshua Kimmich is an absolute professional, a mentality monster,” he revealed in 2021. “He’s always in the game, he never gives up. He’s one who always pushes but of course has enormous quality on the ball.”
Arsenal will of course get the chance to watch Kimmich up close in the coming weeks as they face Bayern in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Should they get their way, he may become a mainstay at the Emirates Stadium, rather than just a visitor.
Irish defender Jake O'Brien is all set to complete his transfer from Lyon to Everton.
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O'Brien passed his Everton medical
Set to join on a five-year deal
Toffees to pay €20m transfer fee
WHAT HAPPENED?
Per Fabrizio Romano, the Irish defender has passed his medical at Everton and will now formally put pen to paper on a five-year deal. The Toffees will pay a transfer fee of €20 million (£17m/$22m) to Lyon to complete the deal.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
O'Brien joins Sean Dyche's side amid speculation over the club's star defender Jarrad Branthwaite's future in Merseyside. The young English defender has been linked with a move to Manchester United, but his club are expected to demand a hefty in the region of £70m-£80m ($90m-$103m).
DID YOU KNOW?
The Republic of Ireland international had earlier signed for Crystal Palace in 2021 but did not appear in a single game for the Seagulls. He moved out on two different loan spells to Swindon Town and RWD Molenbeek before securing a permanent move to Lyon last year.
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WHAT NEXT FOR EVERTON?
Dyche's men have already begun their pre-season preparations and will next seen in action on Tuesday as they take on Championship side Coventry City.
Australia may also host India for a day-night Test next summer
Daniel Brettig22-Nov-2019
Floodlights take effect at the Gabba•Getty Images
Brisbane’s inferior facilities may yet see it hosting Afghanistan under lights in the first Test match of next summer, before the better-equipped venues in Adelaide and Perth claim the first two of four matches against India who are expected to be open to a day-night fixture for the very first time.Cricket Australia’s negotiations with the BCCI for next season’s Test fixtures will be aided by the fact that India will have finally played day-night matches by then, starting with a Test against Bangladesh in Kolkata on Friday.However as the Indian board’s administration makes numerous moves back towards more traditionally bullish postures – under the new presidency of Sourav Ganguly – there will be the question of how many concessions the BCCI will make to CA’s tour schedule preferences, which will include at least one day-night Test.The Test team will be eager for the advantage of hosting India at the Gabba, where they have been unbeaten against all comers since 1988, but this must be balanced with India’s desires and also the fact that Adelaide Oval and Perth Stadium are a long way ahead of Brisbane in terms of amenities, likely crowds and capacity. Kevin Roberts, Cricket Australia’s chief executive, admitted to the possibility of the Gabba hosting Afghanistan for the first Test of summer before the India matches are played elsewhere.”If the Test summer proper did start that way, it’s a possibility, but there’s a lot to work through,” Roberts told SEN Radio. “We don’t have any preconceived ideas on that, we’re in the middle of executing the season, making sure we can deliver a really good experience to fans at the ground and through our broadcasters, and then we’ll get on to planning next season. We’re really keen on making sure we can learn from each season before we approach the next one.”From a playing perspective there’s no doubt there’s a very strong case for the Gabba to host the opening Test from a playing perspective, and that’s consistent with the comments from Shane Warne and Michael Vaughan and others. There’s a number of other perspectives though, we’ve seen governments around the country invest significantly in venues – a new stadium in Perth, the government’s invested upwards of a billion dollars in that, and that adds another dimension.”So you’ve got to consider the fan perspective, the players’ perspective, government perspectives, and that’s the beauty and complexity of sport, everyone has a piece of it, and it’s never simple to balance things across all of those different groups.”The Gabba has long drawn complaints about both its issues of accessibility – being surrounded on two sides by two of Brisbane’s major arterial roads – and also the lack of ambience within a concrete bowl suited far better to football than cricket.An investment of some A$35 million has been pledged by the Queensland state government to improve these areas in concert with the construction of a cross-river rail service linking the Gabba to the Brisbane CBD, though this is not expected to be completed before 2024. In a five-Test Ashes series, the Gabba is guaranteed the first match, but India’s preference for four matches makes things somewhat more complex for CA.”That $35 million will go basically into better amenities for the fans and it all leads towards the cross-river rail opening in about 2024, so a very different experience for fans not only getting to the match but a better experience of the facilities,” Roberts said. “So more contemporary spaces for fans to mingle rather than just coming along and sitting in a seat as you might’ve done 10 years ago.”Either way, the prospect of a day-night Test against India is growing by the day. “There’s no question day-night Test cricket needs to play a stronger role in the Test landscape going forward,” Roberts said. “We’re having productive conversations with India about the prospect of us playing day-night tests against each other in the future. Let’s hope this week’s experience in Kolkata is a really powerful one for them and a good experience that gives them more confidence about more day-night Test cricket to keep going forward.”
Opener’s maiden T20I ton hands Australia their biggest win and Sri Lanka their heaviest defeat
The Report by Daniel Brettig at Adelaide Oval27-Oct-2019 A yawning victory for Australia, a pugilistic century for David Warner, Steven Smith not even required to bat? Do not adjust your browsers.Aaron Finch’s team set down a brutal marker for the start of their 12-month run to next year’s Twenty20 World Cup by swatting Sri Lanka aside with their highest-ever total on home soil and fourth highest overall, as the captain and a promoted Glenn Maxwell provided the perfect complement to Warner’s triumphant return home after a nightmarish tour of England.Smith, the single biggest reason for Australia’s Ashes retention, was listed to bat at No. 3 but found himself demoted below Maxwell and Ashton Turner in recognition of their relative hitting power. But on a day where the bowlers followed up by holding the decidedly underwhelming visitors for a mere 9 for 99, in the process securing the home side’s biggest ever T20I winning margin and Sri Lanka’s biggest ever T20I defeat, the lack of reliance upon Smith augured well for the rest of Australia’s summer.Warner’s century was surprisingly his first in T20Is, remarkable given his very first innings for Australia had been 89 against South Africa at the MCG more than a decade ago. In control of proceedings from the very start, he reached or cleared the boundary to all parts of Adelaide Oval, delighting a crowd of 16,268 who responded by giving Warner a consistently warm reception following his running battle with persistent booing and abuse in England.Little less significant were the scene-setting innings of Finch – who had not passed 28 in a T20I since July 2018 – and the murderous finishing of Maxwell, leaving Sri Lanka’s captain Lasith Malinga with virtually nowhere to turn to for economy. The most punishment was reserved for Kasun Rajitha. Sri Lanka’s most parsimonious bowler in their recent, unexpected triumph in Pakistan, Rajitha was left wincing at the most expensive T20I figures, an eye-watering 4-0-75-0.He will wonder, in years to come, how Sri Lanka came to be bowling first on what quickly flattened out into a perfect batting track – Malinga electing to send the Australians in on the basis that the tourists did not know what to expect from Adelaide’s drop-in pitch. Its even covering of straw-coloured grass should perhaps have been a giveaway, and after a handful of early plays and misses, Finch and Warner were able to punch their way to the off and leg side boundaries with something approaching impunity.Glenn Maxwell brought out all the shots•AFP
They were aided by some loose Sri Lankan bowling, summed up by how Rajitha offered Warner a wide no-ball that was sent scurrying to the backward point boundary and then a free-hit of obliging line and length that was smote well and truly into the western stands. None for 57 from the powerplay, strong as it looked for Australia, proved to be only a foretaste of the carnage to follow in a temperate afternoon.Finch and then Warner took turns to dominate in an opening stand worth 122 from 65 balls, including 112 from the first 10 overs of the innings. Finch may have been a tad frustrated to see his innings ended at 64 by a top edge to Lakshan Sandakan, but there was soon the reward of seeing Maxwell mix power with invention in the manner that has always made him one of the world’s most compulsively watchable cricketers.All up, no fewer than eight of the innings’ 20 overs went for more than 12 runs, a ledger that thrust Australia inevitably to the tallest tally of all their T20I matches at home, surpassing the 221 fetched against England at the SCG as far back as January 2007.Warner, having lost Maxwell after a union worth 107 from a mere 52 balls, scrounged a single from the final ball of the innings to reach three figures and celebrate in his customary, leaping manner. Amid all the scoring, some credit was due to Nuwan Pradeep’s figures of 0 for 28 from four solid overs.So overpowering was the Australian batting display that Sri Lanka always looked unlikely to get close to their target. Nevertheless, the procession of visiting batsmen was rapid, as Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa all enjoyed their work. Of particular interest to Australia’s planners was Cummins’ comfort bowling first-change, whereupon he claimed two victims in as many balls, and the considerable economy of Agar, who mixed his pace and lengths handily against batsmen determined to dance down to him.Otherwise, though, this was a day for Warner, Finch and Maxwell, and the rare chance for Smith to experience a quiet, uneventful afternoon at the cricket.