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Former Australia opener and Victoria coach Chris Rogers believes both are capable of playing for Australia in the future after promising Sheffield Shield showings

Alex Malcolm11-Mar-2025Former Australia Test opener and current Victoria coach Chris Rogers cut a frustrated figure at the Junction Oval on Sunday evening following his side’s fourth straight Sheffield Shield loss. But his exasperated tone quickly changed when talking about the performances of two of his young batters in Harry Dixon and Campbell Kellaway in the four-wicket loss to South Australia.Kellaway, 22, top-scored in both innings on a tricky surface with scores of 79 and 77 in a game where the three other openers in the match combined for scores of 0, 0, 1, 19, 1 and 66.Dixon, 20, produced a stunning counter-attacking 76 in the second innings, his highest first-class score in just his third game, after watching a collapse of 5 for 20 from the non-striker’s end to ensure Victoria had a 300-run target to defend. He had been unlucky to be dismissed lbw for 0 in the first innings to a delivery that looked to have both pitched and struck his pad outside the line of leg stump.Related

• Peake picked for Australia A after one first-class game

• Lehmann and Scott lead South Australia to home Shield final

• Dixon, Kellaway fifties, Scott four-for sets up thrilling final day chase

• Harry Dixon lands BBL deal, hopes to emulate David Warner

Victoria do not currently have a batting representative in Australia’s Test top seven and did not have a single batter selected on the recent tour of Sri Lanka. They have produced fewer Test batters in the last 30 years than any state in Australian domestic cricket.Rogers, who played 24 of his 25 Tests for Australia while representing Victoria having started his career in Western Australia, hopes both Kellaway and Dixon are prospects capable of turning that drought around.”Kellaway has been a work in progress for a number of years,” Rogers told ESPNcricinfo. “I think he’s played 29 first-class games now, and those two innings, I think, were probably his two best innings. They’re not his highest innings, but the way he went about it, the areas he scored, the tempo he went at, that looked like a player who could go on and open the batting for Australia.”And Harry Dixon, I think it’s a talent that everyone in Victorian cricket has been pretty excited about. And when you see a guy farming the strike and smacking the ball up onto the hill with all the fielders on the boundary, you get pretty excited about that.”

“He plays a style of cricket that’s not dissimilar to a lot of players that are coming through and it’s a bit more like Travis Head and Davey Warner. He can kind of hit that ball off the top of the stumps, the waist-high delivery, in front of square on both the off side and the leg side. I remember standing down the other end from Davey Warner when he would do that thinking how the hell have you managed to hit that ball there, when there’s no way I could. And Harry has that skill.”Victoria coach Chris Rogers on Harry Dixon

Dixon’s 76 off 86 balls featured six fours and five sixes and he scored 74 of them with the tail after Victoria slumped from 161 for 2 to 181 for 7. He smashed Australia Test squad member Brendan Doggett for consecutive sixes including one out of the ground with three men back on the fence on the leg side. The left-hander has been one of the least talked about talents to come from Australia’s 2024 Under-19 World Cup winning team.Chris Rogers played 25 Tests for Australia between 2008 and 2015•Getty ImagesWhile all of the recent attention has been focused on Sam Konstas after his extraordinary rise to Test cricket, it has been forgotten that Dixon comfortably outperformed Konstas at Under-19 level as his opening partner. Dixon was Australia’s leading runscorer in the World Cup posting three half-centuries and a vital 42 in the final. He dominated the 2023 Under-19 Ashes tour scoring two Youth Test centuries. He scored another Youth ODI century in early 2023 against England smashing 148 off 125 balls in Brisbane.Despite a desire to be an opener in all formats like his idol David Warner, Rogers sees him more in the Travis Head mould in red-ball cricket at least.”As a junior he’s been a top-order batter but that’s because I would have said he’s almost solely played one-day cricket, because that’s what you do playing junior cricket,” Rogers said.”Red-ball cricket is a bit different. He probably looks at the moment a bit more of someone the opposition doesn’t really want coming in that middle-order when the ball is a bit older and a bit softer and doing less because he can change the game in an hour or so. He plays a style of cricket that’s not dissimilar to a lot of players that are coming through and it’s a bit more like Travis Head and Davey Warner.”He can kind of hit that ball off the top of the stumps, the waist-high delivery, in front of square on both the off side and the leg side. I remember standing down the other end from Davey Warner when he would do that thinking how the hell have you managed to hit that ball there, when there’s no way I could. And Harry has that skill.”What I like too is he can score through the leg side when he needs to but he’s also really good through the off side. And technically I don’t think you touch him. I think he’s pretty much what he’s going to be. He’ll obviously learn the game, but the game will teach him. He’s someone to be very excited about, I think, for Victoria and for Australia.”Campbell Kellaway is having a break out season in 2024-25•Getty ImagesWhile Dixon looks ready made as a first-class middle-order player, Kellaway has been a slower burn at the top of the order. He began his first-class career in November 2022 and bounced around Victoria’s middle-order without ever nailing down a position despite being selected to play three matches for Australia A in 2023 after playing just five first-class matches and scoring only two half-centuries.He started the 2024-25 Shield season at No. 3 and made 55 on a difficult MCG pitch against a New South Wales attack that featured Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon in October and made 80 against ladder leaders South Australia at Adelaide Oval. He was moved up to open in the game against Queensland and made his maiden first-class century, scoring 122 in the second innings at the Gabba to help Victoria win after conceding a 111-run first innings deficit. He also posted his maiden List A century against NSW last month scoring 117* off 101 balls to help Victoria chase 311 inside 38 overs to qualify for the Dean Jones Trophy Final.Rogers has seen a development in his batting this season that goes beyond just technical improvement.”He hits more balls than anybody I’ve ever seen, and that’s quite something because I’ve seen the likes of [Steve] Smith and co,” Rogers said. “But he probably has worked, I think, predominantly on technical stuff, which has always been a bit of work in progress. But of late, it’s been more around how he’s been needing to play, especially opening the batting.”I know he’s batted No. 3, but open the batting it can be really tricky. And we’ve been sitting down and talking a lot more around that. I think last year he got a fifty here against Western Australia in the second innings, and he scored two twos in that 50, and one of them was an accidental inside edge and that’s probably not how you’re going to go as an opener.”You’re probably scoring quite a high percentage of ones and twos and playing within yourself to absorb the new ball, and then in this game I think there was over 10 twos in his first 50. So there’s just a bit more growth. It’s not bang four or block it. It’s more kind of in that mid range, working the ball, understanding risk management and all those kind of things. Even the positions I thought he was in when he was looking to drive were the best I’ve seen him.”Victoria are still a mathematical chance to make the Shield final despite currently sitting fifth on the table with one game remaining against Western Australia in Perth. They need to beat WA and need South Australia and Tasmania to beat Queensland and NSW respectively as two draws in those games won’t be enough.Despite still being a chance to play in the final, Victoria will consider debuting another youngster in Dixon’s Under-19 World Cup winning team-mate Oliver Peake. The 18-year-old left-hander was named in the squad against South Australia but ran the drinks. He made 99 in Victoria’s last second XI match against WA and recently went on Australia’s Test tour of Sri Lanka as a long-term development player.

Thomas Tuchel brings an “aura” which can give England a major advantage in their quest to win the World Cup next summer, according to Harry Kane. The Three Lions captain has opened up about what it is like to play under the German head coach, whom he previously worked with during their period together at Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.

• England have been perfect in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup

  England are looking to round off their World Cup qualifying campaign in style when they travel to Albania on Sunday. Tuchel’s men have been perfect in securing their place at next summer’s showpiece in Canada, Mexico and the United States, winning all seven of their games in Group K.

  The 1966 winners have also scored 20 goals and conceded none in what has been an impressive start to life under Tuchel, who replaced Sir Gareth Southgate at the helm in October 2024. Former boss Southgate stepped down after England’s 2-1 defeat against Spain in the final of Euro 2024.

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  Three Lions captain Kane believes Tuchel can be ace in the pack

  And as England prepare for an Albania game which represents their final competitive outing before the World Cup, one eye is already being cast on what Tuchel’s side need to do between now and the start of the competition to ensure they are in the best shape in their quest for glory.

  And in Kane's opinion, England already have an ace up in their sleeve with the presence of Tuchel, whom he worked with at German giants Bayern between 2023 and 2024. Widely regarded as one of the greatest managers in world football, Tuchel has won numerous honours across successful spells with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, including leading the Blues to the 2020-21 Champions League.

• Kane labels England boss as 'one of the best managers in the world'

  Lifting the lid on what life is like under Tuchel’s stewardship, Kane said ahead of the Albania game: "He's done a really good job. Coming in to being England manager is never easy, especially after Gareth who was one of our most successful managers. He's [Tuchel] tried to stamp his own feel into training, into meetings.

  "He comes with a lot of enthusiasm. Tactically we are really precise going into every game. He's been building different ideas leading up to next summer. Form now until then there will be more he would like to add. Tactically he has been fantastic.

  "He brings a personality, he brings an aura that represents an England manager. Going into a major tournament that is important as well. Other teams know he is one of the best managers in the world and that brings weight as well."

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  Bayern striker names two teams who will rival England for World Cup glory

  While England will head to the World Cup not just on the back of a fruitful qualifying campaign but having also reached back-to-back European Championship finals, Kane is well aware his side are merely one of a number of countries who will fancy their chances of success in North America.

  When asked who Kane believes could pose the biggest threat to England’s hopes of claiming just their second major honour, the Bayern striker tipped two familiar foes to impress on the biggest stage in world football.

  "France are going to play a big part in next year's World Cup, me and Michael [Olise, Bayern team-mate] get on and joke about it," said Kane.

  "Then most of the German team, they will want to go far in the tournament. There is healthy competition and healthy banter between the guys on who can get their hands on the World Cup next summer."

  England suffered a 2-1 quarter-final loss at the hands of France at the 2022 World Cup, while the Three Lions defeated West Germany in the 1966 final at Wembley – the greatest day in the national team’s history.

Cooke makes 84 in key stand as Northants are made to work for wickets at Wantage Road

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay08-Sep-2025Asa Tribe hit a career-best unbeaten 181 to keep Glamorgan’s promotion hopes firmly alive and put his side in a dominant position on day one of this Rothesay County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.Glamorgan were indebted to the 21-year-old Jersey international after losing four wickets before lunch after winning the toss, Luke Procter claiming two scalps. Opening the innings, Tribe never looked in real trouble, helping himself to 25 fours and two sixes in a fluent, confident innings and accounting for the bulk of the top-order runs.Sam Northeast (17) and Ben Kellaway (23) kept him company in half-century stands, but it was not until Chris Cooke’s arrival that Glamorgan mounted a substantial partnership, the keeper scoring 84 (12 fours, one six) while adding 162 for the sixth wicket with Tribe. Although Cooke fell before the close, Glamorgan were in a healthy position at 367 for six.Earlier Northamptonshire handed first-class debuts to left-arm pacer Ben Whitehouse and off-spinner Nirvan Ramesh, 17, who became the county’s third youngest debutant since the war.Zain ul Hassan was the first Glamorgan wicket to fall in the eighth over, driving outside off-stump to Procter and edging an easy catch behind.Tribe dealt almost exclusively in boundaries. He drove handsomely through midwicket against the seamers before a punch through cover point off Whitehouse brought up Glamorgan’s 50 at the end of the 15th over.Whitehouse meanwhile unsettled Northeast. After the Glamorgan skipper punched one to the boundary, Whitehouse struck him on the arm causing a short delay. Northeast recovered to slap a wide delivery from Justin Broad through extra cover to bring up the 50 partnership with Tribe off 58 balls, but the all-rounder found some late movement to draw the edge through to second slip.Tribe though looked imperious, reaching 50 off 63 deliveries. He pulled dismissively against Whitehouse who was guilty of bowling too short throughout both spells.Procter struck for the second time when he jagged one back sharply to Kiran Carlson who offered minimum foot movement and inside edged to the keeper. The impressive Ramesh then claimed his maiden first-class wicket when Colin Ingram (18) attempted to turn the ball to leg and was well caught off the leading edge by Procter in the covers, and while Tribe took consecutive boundaries off Calvin Harrison, Glamorgan went into lunch four down for 115.Tribe started positively after the interval, sweeping Ramesh over deep midwicket for six, while Kellaway eased into his work with a sumptuous cover drive off Liam Guthrie and a reverse sweep off Ramesh as Glamorgan moved past 150, Tribe bringing up the half-century partnership off 59 balls with a backfoot punch off Guthrie.With Ramesh bowling consecutive maidens at one end, Northamptonshire turned to Broad to try to force the breakthrough and he instantly troubled Tribe outside off-stump. But it was Harrison who bowled Kellaway round his legs as he went to sweep.New batter Cooke took the aggressive option against Broad but was almost undone by one that jagged back and kept low.Tribe reached three figures off 150 balls with his first false shot, under-edging an attempted sweep against Harrison, the ball running past the keeper for four. He endured a few nervous moments against Procter who beat him several times outside off-stump, but he duly moved past his previous highest score of 107 made against Leicestershire in June, despite suffering from flu at the time.After tea Cooke swung Harrison over the leg side for six to bring up the 100 partnership off 183 balls before reaching his own half-century. He continued to attack, clubbing spinners Harrison and Saif Zaib over midwicket, while Tribe hit Zaib straight for six, Glamorgan going on to pass 300 shortly before the new ball became due.Tribe steered Procter through midwicket to bring up the 150 stand off 246 balls while Cooke cut Guthrie powerfully for four. The bowler soon made the breakthrough when Cooke pulled and was well caught low down by Broad at deep backward square-leg.With Tribe still content to capitalise on anything loose and joined by Timm van der Gugten, Glamorgan secured a third batting bonus point shortly before the close.

It’s been an unfortunate start to the season for Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who’s been sidelined multiple times through injury already and is now racing to recover from an MCL problem.

The North London derby on November 23rd takes on added significance for Arsenal as they await Odegaard’s potential return from a frustrating spell on the sidelines.

The Norwegian playmaker has become synonymous with Arsenal’s attacking fluency, and his absence has been an unwanted headache for Mikel Arteta.

Amid their pursuit of a first Premier League title in 22 years, the Gunners have done very well to cope through a torrid period of injuries to key attacking players at the Emirates. Odegaard’s latest setback came during their 2-0 win over West Ham in early October, when a collision with winger Crysencio Summerville resulted in a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee.

The incident forced him off after just 30 minutes and made unwanted history. Odegaard actually became the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before half-time in three consecutive starts, and what makes this injury particularly cruel is the timing.

The 26-year-old had only just returned from a persistent shoulder problem that had already disrupted his campaign. That shoulder issue saw him withdrawn after 38 minutes of Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Leeds United at the very start of 25/26, before an aggravation of the same injury forced him off after just 18 minutes against Nottingham Forest.

Odegaard has completed a full 90 minutes only twice this season, and Arsenal rehab specialists have resorted to pretty unique methods to speed up his recovery.

The former Real Madrid midfielder has been using anti-gravity treadmills at Arsenal’s London Colney training centre to accelerate his comeback, a technique that reduces gravitational load while restoring muscle strength and mobility.

His return would provide a massive boost heading into one of the season’s most important fixtures against Spurs right after the international break, but Arsenal have now been dealt a pretty concerning update.

Credible reports had claimed that Odegaard is battling to be in contention for Tottenham alongside Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres, with Gabriel Jesus the only forward definitively ruled out (Simon Collings).

However, Norway boss Stale Solbakken has now made a suggestion that even the derby may be too soon for him.

Arsenal star Martin Odegaard "some distance away" from injury return

Speaking in a press conference this week, Solbakken stated that Odegaard is actually “some distance away” from his injury return — which makes for a pretty concerning admission ahead of Tottenham’s visit to the Emirates in just 10 days time.

Despite still being sidelined, Odegaard has travelled with the Norway squad to be a presence for morale ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Italy.

Arteta will be keeping a very close eye on his players during this international break, which always poses the threat of unwanted injury problems, and defender Riccardo Calafiori gave Arsenal a scare earlier this week after it was revealed the left-back is training alone with a hip issue.

Luckily for the Azzurri and Arteta, Italian medical officials believe that Calafiori will be fit to face Norway on November 16, with the individual training programme most likely a precaution and nothing too serious.

Immediately after their clash against Tottenham, the north Londoners take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Chelsea just four days later, with Arteta hoping he has most of his attacking contingent back and ready to contribute in these vital face-offs.