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Mitchell Johnson led a fierce pace attack on India’s batsmen on the fourth morning, laying the platform for a small chase and a four-wicket victory

The Report by Daniel Brettig20-Dec-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:03

Is there a way back for India?

Australian resilience was writ large across a four-wicket victory over India that will look a little fortunate in the scorebook without reference to the dressing-room scenes on day one, when India seemed set fair for a mighty first innings and Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were all either lost to injury or weakened by fatigue.Hazlewood’s recovery from full-body cramps to prise out India on the second morning set-up the match, and the combined efforts of the new captain Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Chris Rogers, Starc and Nathan Lyon ultimately allowed the hosts to overwhelm India by a greater margin than the first Test in Adelaide. For Smith it was a significant triumph, emerging victorious after a first day he described among the toughest he had ever endured, as either player or captain.MS Dhoni’s men were adequately placed to fight their corner when day four began, but they crumbled in the face of concerted pace and pressure from Johnson on a pitch that had begun to deteriorate. Only Shikhar Dhawan, who did not walk out to bat at 10am because he had been struck on the wrist in the practice nets, offered any sustained resistance, and his dismissal lbw to Lyon after lunch heralded a swift end to India’s innings. They had never recovered from Johnson’s burst in the morning session.In the space of a single spell he prompted Kohli to drag onto the stumps, bounced out Ajinkya Rahane and coaxed an edge behind from Rohit Sharma. When Hazlewood chimed in to pin Dhoni lbw, India had lost 4 for 11 and any semblance of control over the game. R Ashwin endured for a time but was given out caught behind off Starc, when the ball may have brushed thigh rather than bat, and Cheteshwar Pujara’s stubborn innings was ended by a sharp lifter from Hazlewood that looped off the shoulder of the bat to gully.Left with 128 to chase down in a little more than a day and a session, Australia endured an early hiccup when David Warner was struck a sharp blow on the thumb in Umesh Yadav’s first over. Warner struggled visibly to bat thereafter until he edged Ishant Sharma behind, though closer inspection in the dressing room suggested no fracture had been sustained. Nonetheless it demonstrated how difficult batting had become, and another 50 runs may have been enough for India.Mitchell Johnson blew away India’s top order inside the first hour on the fourth day•Getty Images

Shane Watson skied an attempted hook at Ishant to be out for a duck, but an uncertain 2 for 25 at tea was added to quickly on resumption by a busy and businesslike Rogers, who knew from years of opening that such fourth-innings chases are best treated with decisive strokes to quickly tip the scoreboard in favour of the pursuers. A rattling 55 left Smith in the shade during their stand of 63, and when Rogers sliced Ishant into the cordon the target was in sight.A late flurry of wickets, including Smith’s run-out and Brad Haddin being bounced out for the second time in the match, left a few questions hanging in the air, not least the cost of Smith being dropped badly by Kohli at slip when Australia were not yet halfway there. The taking of that catch may have addled minds that have quickly become accustomed to seeing Smith play a dominant hand in proceedings for his team. But it went down, maintaining an India display that had, since that first day, been rather listless.Subdued is a word that can have been used for Johnson in this series until day three, but he had been roused to life with the bat by an uncertain match situation and some Indian goading. He followed that up with his best bowling of the series on the fourth morning, cramping and defeating Kohli before finding sharp enough bounce to confound Rahane and Rohit.Dhoni had jumped forward and across his stumps a long way when Hazlewood pitched straight and full, and Ashwin never quite suggested permanence. Pujara’s dismissal to another Hazlewood steepler completed a wretched morning for the visitors and a storming one for the hosts.Dhawan played sensibly and well despite his sore wrist, and a stand of 60 with Umesh was taking on useful proportions when Lyon straightened one from around the wicket to draw an lbw verdict from Marais Erasmus. Varun Aaron skied a slog and Umesh connected more sweetly with a pair of straight hits before Johnson found an edge to give Brad Haddin his ninth catch of the Test.Within a couple of hours they were celebrating a 2-0 series ledger, and a most heartening start to Smith’s captaincy.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após as lesões atingirem o elenco do Flamengo, o sinal de alerta está ligado no Ninho do Urubu. O departamento de futebol monitora os quadros físicos dos atletas para que novas baixas não minem ainda mais as opções de Jorge Jesus, que não contará com uma série de titulares no jogo decisivo contra o Emelec, nesta quarta, pela Libertadores. A principal preocupação, no momento, é com Gabriel Barbosa, o Gabigol, único a atuar 100% das partidas com o treinador.

São 540 minutos, além dos acréscimos, em sequência de Gabigol após a Copa América. O receio em perder o camisa 9 é grande, mas não há chances dele não ser titular contra o Emelec. São sete gols em seis partidas do atacante sob o comando de Jorge Jesus, que não vê um substituto à altura em seu elenco.

– Estamos jogando de três em três dias, não tem carga para recuperação. Há jogadores que estão no limite, que jogaram 540 minutos. O Gabigol é um desses jogadores e cada vez mais está mais difícil para trocar – avaliou o Mister.

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A lista de desfalques para a decisão com o Emelec é grande: Diego e Vitinho, recém-operados, estão fora. Os meias Arrascaeta e Everton Ribeiro “correm contra o tempo’ para recuperarem-se e estarem á disposição de Jorge Jesus.

Já na defesa, o treinador “perdeu” Léo Duarte, negociado com o Milan, da Itália, e Rodrigo Caio, que sofreu lesões na coxa direita contra o Botafogo, domingo.

Até o clássico contra o Botafogo, Rodrigo Caio vivia a mesma situação que o Gabigol, atuando 100% do tempo sob o comando de Jorge Jesus. Ao deixar o jogo ainda no primeiro tempo, foi substituído por Thuler. O jovem está inscrito na Libertadores e pode formar dupla com Pablo Marí na “final” no Maracanã.

– Acho que temos soluções (no sistema defensivo). Agora, para frente não tem. Temos uma equipe com cinco volantes, quatro laterais direito, seis centrais, mas olha para frente e não vê um centroavante. A diretoria tem me dado o que é possível. Contrataram um zagueiro que quando tiver confiança vai ser uma surpresa para todos, que é o Pablo. E isso que temos – disse Jorge Jesus.

The inquiry into James Anderson’s alleged involvement in the incident with Ravindra Jadeja will be held on July 22

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jul-2014The inquiry into England fast bowler James Anderson’s alleged involvement in the incident with India allrounder Ravindra Jadeja will begin on July 22, a day after the scheduled conclusion of the ongoing second Investec Test at Lord’s.The ICC appointed Gordon Lewis, Australia’s representative on the ICC Code of Conduct Commission, as the Judicial Commissioner to preside over the hearing. He will also hear the charge against Jadeja. Lewis was also the commissioner for David Warner’s hearing into the Joe Root incident.The preliminary hearing will take place via a conference call to address any issues that need to be resolved prior to setting the hearing date and will also explain the procedure that will be followed at the hearing.The incident is reported to have taken place as the players left the field for lunch on the second day of the Trent Bridge Test. India alleged that Anderson abused and pushed Jadeja, while England alleged that Jadeja turned and approached Anderson in a threatening manner.Anderson was charged under a Level 3 offence, and if guilty he faces a ban between two and four Tests, or four and eight ODIs, whichever games are first. Jadeja was charged with a Level two offence, and if guilty he could be fined between 50-100% of the match fee and/or get up to two suspension points. Two suspension points equates to a ban of one Test, or two ODIs.

أبدى ممدوح عيد رئيس نادي بيراميدز، ارتياحه بشأن فترة الإعداد التي يخوضها الفريق حاليًا في تركيا استعدادًا للموسم الجديد، مشددًا على الروح الإيجابية التي تعم أجواء المعسكر.

وانطلق معسكر بيراميدز في تركيا منذ يوم الجمعة الماضي ويستمر حتى 7 سبتمبر المقبل في إطار الاستعداد للموسم الجديد.

وقال ممدوح عيد في تصريحات للمركز الإعلامي: “الجميع سعيدون باختيار المكان وتجهيزاته التي تساعد على التركيز والحصول على الاستفادة القصوى، وهو ما انعكس على جميع أفراد البعثة، في ظل حالة الحب والود والترابط الواضحة داخل المعسكر والقوة التي تزيد داخل صفوف الفريق مع الإضافات الجديدة والتخطيط المثالي للموسم الجديد”.

وأوضح: “بيراميدز بات حاليًا يمتلك أكثر من فريقين جاهزين تمامًا لبداية الموسم الجديد ولا يوجد لاعب واحد احتياطي بالفريق والكل أساسي وعلى أعلى مستوى، والمجموعة متجانسة ومترابطة والفريق على قلب رجل واحد، وبيراميدز أنهى الموسم الماضي في مكان متميز ويسعى لأن تكون بداية الموسم الجديد أفضل بكثير والهدف واضح وهو الفوز بكل البطولات”.

طالع | بيراميدز يؤدي مرانًا قويًا في تركيا استعدادًا لأولى مبارياته الودية

وأكمل: “مع نهاية فترة الإعداد وما يتخللها من مباريات ودية، سيكون جاهزًا تمامًا لبداية الموسم والمشوار القاري في دوري الأبطال منتصف شهر سبتمبر المقبل”.

واستكمل: “أهم شيء حاليًا هو دخول الموسم الجديد بكل ثقة وتواضع وبنوايا مخلصة وصادقة والكل هدفه واحد وهو حصد كل البطولات التي يشارك فيها الفريق وعلى رأسها بالطبع الدوري ودوري أبطال أفريقيا، وهو ما لا يقلل بالطبع من باقي البطولات التي يشارك فيها النادي هذا الموسم وسيبذل الفريق قصارى جهده من أجل تحقيق كل الألقاب بكل ثقة وتواضع لله وتوكل عليه في طلب التوفيق والسداد، وبكل تواضع وثقة نحن جاهزون لكتابة التاريخ”.

وأضاف: “جميع أفراد النادي هدفهم واحد والمجموعة متجانسة ومخلصة لكيان بيراميدز، ومن أصغر فرد إلى أكبر مسئول بنادي بيراميدز، وسنحافظ على حقوق جميع أعضاء نادينا مهما كانت الظروف”.

وأتم: “الإدارة تقف خلف الجميع وتدعمهم بكل قوة لأجل تحقيق الهدف المنشود، وهدفنا واضح وهو تحقيق البطولات وتشريف كرة القدم المصرية وإضافة ألقاب جديدة باسم مصر في البطولات القارية”.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsBen Stokes followed up 70 with the bat by taking four wickets in England’s first win over Australia on tour•Getty Images

It has happened. It’s not an apparition. England have beaten Australia. After 91 days on a gut-wrenching tour that has brought defeat and despair, they can at least remind themselves what winning a cricket match feels like after securing a 57-run victory at the WACA.Two players with huge roles to play in the future were central to the success. Ben Stokes hit his maiden ODI fifty, a steady 70 in his new role at No. 3, then followed it with four wickets, and Jos Buttler had given England the breathing space they needed with another brilliant late-order display. Buttler hit 71 off 43 balls just when the innings was threatening to lose its way after the top three had laid the best foundation of the series.Buttler struck four sixes, including one off Mitchell Johnson, whose 10 overs cost 72, as the final six overs of the innings brought 69 runs, with Eoin Morgan playing his part in a stand of 71. Buttler’s scoop came out but it was his straight hitting that was most eye-catching and his status continues to rise, day by day. It was Buttler, too, who held the final catch to bring a rare smile to the fact of Alastair Cook and his team.After the series was decided in Sydney, Cook said he would consider his future as one-day captain when the tour was finished but at the toss today he admitted it had been the emotion speaking and, having reflected on things for a few days in Perth, he was now “desperate” to continue in his current capacity. A win here, albeit against an Australia side without four senior players, will have lifted his spirits further.Although there was a superbly composed hundred by Aaron Finch, his second of the series, to anchor Australia’s chase there were no pyrotechnics from James Faulkner to steal the game away. This time Faulkner fell for 2, getting a thin edge as he tried to cut Stokes, much to the relief of those playing in red. The moment got the better of Stokes, who gave Faulkner a send-off, and the umpires felt they needed to step in.

Smart Stats

• This was England’s first win in ten international matches, since their win against Australia in an ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff last year.

• Ben Stokes’ all-round performance in this match is only the seventh instance of an England player scoring fifty-plus and taking four or more wickets in an ODI. The previous such instance was by Paul Collingwood, against New Zealand in 2008.

• Jos Buttler’s 71 runs and five catches in this match is the eighth instance of a wicketkeeper scoring a fifty and collecting five dismissals in an ODI, and the second such instance by an England wicketkeeper. Geriant Jones hit 71 runs and took five catches in an ODI, also against Australia, at Lord’s in 2005.

• Buttler’s 71 was the second highest by an England wicketkeeper in ODIs in Australia after Alec Stewart’s 77 against South Africa at the MCG in the 1992 World Cup. Buttler’s score was also the highest by an England No. 7 in ODIs in Australia, beating Michael Yardy’s unbeaten 60 against the hosts at the WACA in 2011.

• Aaron Finch’s century in this match was the 11th by an Australia batsman at the WACA in ODIs and the seventh by an Australia opener at this venue. Adam Gilchrist was the last Australia opener to hit a century here, against Sri Lanka in 2008.

Stokes also removed George Bailey, Australia’s stand-in captain, through smart use of the DRS after he had spotted a thin edge on a leg-side glance, dispatched the power Glenn Maxwell who played a an ugly swipe to leg and bowled Johnson. The over in which he claimed Maxwell, the 40th of the innings, became a maiden and it was a show of his character after being one of Faulkner’s victims at the Gabba although his copybook was blotted a little when he shelled Nathan Coulter-Nile for what would have been the winning moment.Australia had raced out of the blocks in their chase as Chris Jordan struggled with his run up and Stuart Broad continued to search for rhythm. Both bowlers improved during the innings. Tim Bresnan provided the first breakthrough when Shaun Marsh carelessly guided to second slip and England’s cause was helped by a stuttering comeback innings from Matthew Wade who never found his timing before finding mid-off.At the other end, however, Finch was playing an outstanding hand and constantly scored above a run-a-ball. His first boundary was an airy drive over cover, but there was due respect shown to good deliveries then the decisiveness to pick off boundaries when they were needed. He forced Cook to change tack when he deposited James Tredwell for consecutive sixes and also drove Bresnan back over his head.His hundred came from 97 balls but the game started to edge England’s way when he guided Bresnan to third man where Broad held a good running catch.The way England’s batting order is constructed provokes much debate; this was almost the ideal formula for how they see it working. The opening stand of 87 in 12 overs was more than has been delivered of late; in the early stages, Australia’s quick bowlers varied between too full and too short, which is often a failure of visiting attacks.Stokes’ innings, his maiden ODI fifty was an excellent response after he’d struggled in his first innings at No. 3 in Sydney. This time he was quickly into double figures and the brisk start he arrived on the back of allowed him time to settle. He had some tricky moments against Johnson, and on 29 edged a very tough chance to Marsh at slip, but also unfurled some eye-catching drives which were a feature of his Test century on this ground last month before top-edging a sweep off Faulkner.Cook and Ian Bell, with 47-ball fifty, had led the positive start, hitting 12 boundaries in the first 10 overs, and Australia were as ragged as at any time in the season. Bell was given lives on 48 and 52 although neither miss was costly, as Bell flicked a poor delivery from Daniel Christian straight to short fine-leg.There had more than a hint of anger and frustration in the England captain’s batting, especially when he plundered three consecutive boundaries in Coulter-Nile’s first over, but for the third time in a row he fell to Maxwell. He left with an angry swish of the bat but, by the end of the day, being England cricket captain will have felt just a little bit better.

Paul Farbrace, Sri Lanka’s former assistant coach, is again in the reckoning for the position of Sri Lanka’s national coach, after he intimated a renewed interest in the job

Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Dec-2013Paul Farbrace, Sri Lanka’s former assistant coach, is again in the reckoning for the position of Sri Lanka’s national coach, after he intimated a renewed interest in the job, Sri Lanka Cricket has said. Farbrace had initially applied, but withdrawn his candidacy early in the process, and though the board did not name him among the two shortlisted men for the job, it has nevertheless asked him to come to Sri Lanka for an interview, on Monday.SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said Farbrace had made known his interest to chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya, whom Farbrace had worked with during his stint as Sri Lanka’s assistant coach from 2007 to 2009. The coach selection process has meandered since the vacancy was advertised in September, after a deadline extension and talks with several high-profile coaches failed to yield a strong field of candidates.”After we extended the deadline for the application process, probably Farbrace thought we would not consider him and withdrew,” Ranatunga said. “He has told Sanath that he is interested again, so the committee that selects the coach recommended that we ask him to be available for an interview.”Ranatunga said the board had not altered the remuneration it offers for the position, despite the low pay having been a dealbreaker for several prospective coaches, but he said SLC was open to reviewing its offer if it encounters an outstanding candidate.Current assistant coach Marvan Atapattu, and Mark Davis, were the shortlisted candidates but the board has not been convinced either man can perform the role, particularly over the next 16 months. There are doubts over whether Atapattu can establish total control over a side in which former team-mate Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene are senior players, and Davis has never coached a first-class side.Currently the coach of Yorkshire’s second XI, Farbrace had previously said he had a “strong affinity for Sri Lanka” as well as good relationships with many of the players he coached during his time with the Sri Lanka team. He joined Yorkshire in 2012 and the club said that they had “reluctantly” allowed Farbrace to discuss moving on.”We have given permission for Sri Lanka Cricket to speak to Paul,” Yorkshire’s chief executive, Mark Arthur, said. “We were approached last week and … we have reluctantly agreed for Paul to travel to Sri Lanka next week to open talks with the Sri Lanka Cricket Board.”Paul has done a tremendous job in developing the exciting talent that is starting to come to fruition at the club. Over the past couple of years, he has been an integral part of our success in developing players for first-team cricket. It would be a great shame to lose someone of Paul’s talent but we are well aware of his own personal ambitions.”Sri Lanka’s current coach Graham Ford chose not to renew his contract, and will finish his tenure after the tour to the UAE, in late January.

Amit Mishra, the India legspinner, said a significant variation in pace had brought him success on the recent tour to Zimbabwe.Mishra, who last played an ODI in 2011 before being picked for the playing XI in Zimbabwe, finished as the highest wicket-taker in the series, with 18 wickets in five matches at an average of 11.80, equalling Javagal Srinath’s record for most wickets in an ODI bilateral series. His performances in the series included a career-best 6 for 48 in the fifth ODI.”The significant change was the variation of pace,” Mishra told . “Earlier, my deliveries used to come at a slower pace, which allowed the batsman to adjust. Now I am trying to bowl at a pace and still extract spin.”Mishra revealed that the changes were a result of better fitness and tips from former India bowlers Narendra Hirwani and Anil Kumble.”I was injured for a while last year and I was in NCA for recovery,” Mishra said. “That’s the time I worked with the likes of Anil Kumble, Narendra Hirwani and the other coaches at the academy who helped me become a better bowler. He [Kumble] told me about the importance of variation in pace and also told me how to out-think a batsman. I worked on my googly with him and that’s also paying dividends.”In spite of an ODI debut in 2003, Mishra has played just 20 one-dayers and 13 Tests for India since his debut in 2008. He hopes that his performances against Zimbabwe will better his chances of playing more Tests for India against stronger teams.”I know the challenges will be greater, but that’s where I have to show that I have become a better bowler. And for that to happen, I have to be selected first in the Test team. My job is to keep performing.”

قرر الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم تغيير نظام مباراة كأس السوبر الأوروبي، هذا الموسم، حسبما أفادت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية.

ويلتقي مانشستر سيتي بصفته بطل دوري أبطال أوروبا، مع إشبيلية بصفته بطل الدوري الأوروبي، في كأس السوبر يوم 16 أغسطس المقبل.

ووفقًا للصحيفة المذكورة، فإن الاتحاد الأوروبي قرر عدم اللجوء إلى الأشواط الإضافية حال انتهاء الوقت الأصلي من مباراة السوبر الأوروبي بالتعادل.

اقرأ أيضًا | رسميًا.. يويفا يُعلن نظام تصفيات كأس العالم 2026 وموعد قرعة يورو 2024

وأوضحت أنه بدلًا من ذلك، سيحتكم الفريقان إلى الأشواط الإضافية والتي ستحدد هوية الفائز، إذا لم يُحسم ذلك خلال الـ90 دقيقة.

يُذكر أن مانشستر سيتي فاز ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا على حساب إنتر ميلان بهدف دون رد، بينما فاز إشبيلية في نهائي الدوري الأوروبي على روما بركلات الترجيح.

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has responded to criticism of his election to the ICC’s cricket committee by pointing to his 33-year association with the game, first as an international cricketer and then as a commentator

ESPNcricinfo staff06-May-2013Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has responded to criticism of his election to the ICC’s cricket committee by pointing to his 33-year association with the game, first as an international cricketer and then as a commentator. Sivaramakrishnan was elected over FICA president Tim May in a hotly contested election that saw hectic lobbying by both sides.”I am sure there are a lot of cricket-related matters that are going to be discussed,” Sivaramakrishnan told . “And I think I have been around for a long time. I’ve been associated with the game for around 33 years and I have a lot of contribution to make.”He was non-committal about the controversial Decision Review System (DRS) issue. The BCCI has been opposing ICC’s attempts to introduce DRS, which was recommended by the cricket committee in 2011.”I don’t know whether it is a part of the agenda. If it is on the agenda, then we will look into the matter. I am not the sole person who controls the committee, I just have an opinion,” he said. “I will say whatever I feel about the DRS in the meeting and it’s the final consensus of the committee whether to take the decision to implement DRS or leave it optional. So, it’s not entirely my call.”He has also responded to charges of proximity to the Chennai Super Kings franchise by saying his association with its parent company, India Cements – owned by BCCI president N Srinivasan – goes back 16 years, well before the franchise was created.”I am not an employee of Chennai Super Kings,” Sivaramakrishnan said. “I have been an employee of India Cements for the last 16 years and India Cements owns Chennai Super Kings. That has happened in the last six years. I have served India Cements as an employee and played cricket for them and I see no attachment with the Super Kings at all. In fact, I have done nothing at all for the Super Kings.”

أشاد فتحي مبروك مدرب الأهلي السابق، بأداء المارد الأحمر حاليًا تحت قيادة المدير الفني السويسري مارسيل كولر، مُشيرًا إلى أن اللاعبين حفظوا طريقته وتطور الفريق بشكل كبير.

وتأهل الأهلي لنهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا للمرة السادسة عشر في تاريخه والرابعة على التوالي، بعد أن فاز على الترجي التونسي برباعية نظيفة في مجموع لقائي الذهاب والإياب، ليضرب موعدًا مع الوداد المغربي للمنافسة على الأميرة السمراء.

وقال فتحي مبروك في تصريحات عبر برنامج “بوكس تو بوكس”، المُذاع على قناة “etc”: “الأهلي حاليًا مميز للغاية ونجح في عبور الترجي التونسي بالفوز ذهابًا وإيابًا والصعود لنهائي البطولة القارية عن جدارة واستحقاق”.

طالع أيضًا | لاعب الوداد الأسبق: الأهلي لم يتأهل للنهائي بالصدفة.. وخماسية صن داونز “مباراة الانطلاقة”

وتابع: “ثبات التشكيل والتنظيم الدفاعي والهجومي والأسلوب التكتيكي لكولر أصبح مريحًا للاعبيه، وهو ما جعل الفريق يظهر بشكل جيد”.

وأضاف: “اللاعبون فهموا خطط المدير الفني جيدًا، وحفظوا أدوارهم داخل المستطيل الأخضر، وتطور أداء الفريق بشكل ملحوظ”.

وأضاف: “الوداد كان أفضل من صن داونز، الذي كان يشعر بقدرته على حسم اللقاء، لكن الفريق المغربي لعب بروح عالية واستطاع تحقيق المفاجأة، خصوصًا أن التوقعات كلها كانت تصب في مصلحة الفريق الجنوب إفريقي، في ظل قدراتهم الفردية والمهارية والتكتيك المميز الذي يلعبون به”.

واختتم: “الأهلي منظم دفاعيًا بشكل جيد، والفرق الكبرى دائمًا تحتاج لدفاع قوي، ويعد هذا أحد العوامل المميزة في الفريق مؤخرًا”.