India hit Test mode with first warm-up game, look to sort combinations
Sydney: India will look to figure out their playing XI as the Test squad gets into the groove by taking on Australia 'A' in a three-day warm-up game at Drummoyne Oval from Sunday.
With India and Australia playing the second T20I on the same day, the visiting Test squad has been named India 'A' for the first of the two practice games scheduled ahead of the much-anticipated four-Test series.
The tour games will be a chance to sort out India's combinations both in the batting and bowling departments ahead of the opening Day-Night Test scheduled at Adelaide from December 17.
In batting, Mayank Agarwal is set to open the innings but there is a question mark over his partner with the choice being between Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill.
While Shaw was preferred in the New Zealand series, he struggled for consistency in the IPL. Gill, on the other hand, has scored 440 runs for Kolkata Knight Riders and also looked in good touch in the third ODI.
The other option is KL Rahul, who has been in rampaging form and also formed a formidable pair with Mayank for the Kings XI Punjab, but the last time he had played a Test was in September 2019.
In the wicketkeeper's slot, it will be Wriddhiman Saha versus Rishabh Pant.
For Saha, who had injured both his hamstrings during the IPL, it will be a test to show his fitness after getting back at the nets recently.
Pant has been India's number one choice in overseas Tests but he was dropped from the limited over series and will have to deliver the goods to seal the keeper's slot.
With skipper Virat Kohli going on paternity leave after the opening Test and the injured Rohit Sharma too uncertain, the onus will be on Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Hanuma Vihari to show the way.
Rahane, the man likely to lead India in the absence of Kohli, will look for a good outing. Pujara and Vihari too will be itching to go out in the middle having last played a competitive game in the pre-COVID-19 days.
In the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the opening T20I, is expected to play the practice match as he looks to get into Test mode.
While Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will share the new ball in the Tests, the third pacer's spot will be up for grabs and Mohammed Siraj, who looked good in the IPL, will be keen to seal it.
Umesh Yadav, with an experience of 46 Tests, is also an option but he was erratic in the two games that he had played in the IPL.
Ravindra Jadeja has been ruled out of the next two T20I matches after suffering a concussion and it remains to be seen if he is fit for the Tests.
Ravichandran Ashwin's form will be key if Jadeja is unavailable and it will also open the door for Kuldeep Yadav, who was once proclaimed as India's number one overseas spinner by coach Ravi Shastri, following his exploits in Sydney last year.
For Australia, the spotlight will be on young William Pucovski as he looks to grab the opener's slot following an injury to David Warner, who has been ruled of at least the opening Test.
Pucovski's form in Sheffield Shield triggered a debate with many preferring him over Joe Burns but with Warner's injury, coach Justin Langer has made it clear the slot will go to one who performs well in the tour games.
While the first three-day game will be a red-ball affair, the second tour match, scheduled to begin from December 11, will be played with a pink ball.
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Mbappé equals ''idol'' Ronaldo with his record 59th goal in a year for Real Madrid
Barcelona (AP): Kylian Mbappé scored his 59th goal for Real Madrid in 2025 on Saturday to equal the club record for the most in a year held by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The milestone was about to escape the France striker until he converted a penalty kick with four minutes left to complete a 2-0 win over 10-man Sevilla in Madrid's final game of the year.
On his 27th birthday, Mbappé matched Ronaldo's tally from 2013. After embracing his teammates, he marked the feat with a subdued version of Ronaldo's trademark goal celebration — whereby the Portugal forward leaps up and thrusts his arms downwards upon landing — before blowing a kiss at the television cameras.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star, who joined Madrid in the summer of 2024, has scored 29 times for Madrid this season, including a league-leading 18.
“It's incredible, in my first (full) year to do what Cristiano did. (He's) my idol, the best player in the history of Real Madrid,” Mbappé said.
“My celebration is for him. I wanted to do that because he helped me adapt here and now I can help Madrid win games with my goals. I wanted to share it with him. I have a really good relationship with him, he is my friend, and I wish him and all Madrid fans a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
Jude Bellingham scored with a header in the 38th minute and Sevilla lost defender Marcao to a second booking for rash tackles with 20 minutes left.
Sevilla coach Matías Almeyda also was expelled by the referee during the halftime break apparently for protesting.
Alonso dodges a bullet
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Alonso has been under pressure for several weeks due to a run of bad results and the overall lackluster play of his star-studded side. Spanish sports media is rife with speculation the first-year coach could be replaced.
Now Madrid club president Florentino Pérez will have two weeks to ponder the team's future before its next game against Real Betis on Jan. 4.
Alonso could have ill afforded another slip at the Santiago Bernabeu after his side lost its previous two home games. But Madrid's fans still had reason to grumble after Sevilla repeatedly created scoring chances — even after being reduced to 10 men.
Alexis Sánchez, still spry at age 37, and right back Juanlu Sánchez stood out the most for a Sevilla side that poked holes in Madrid's defense.
Madrid needed Thibaut Courtois to deny Alexis, Isaac Romero and Alfonso González on four strikes in the second half. But Sevilla could have gone ahead if it had just showed more finishing touch early on.
The result was still in doubt until Mbappé converted his spot kick after Juanlu fouled Rodrygo in the area.
“Today was a game we had to win, we were in a complicated situation,” Alonso said. “We know that we can play better, and now we have the three points and will try to start the new year by improving.”
Madrid is in second place at one point behind Barcelona before the leader visits third-placed Villarreal on Sunday.
Teams draw before hiring coaches
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Levante and Real Sociedad drew 1-1 in Valencia before both sides announced the hiring of new coaches.
Sociedad hired American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, while Luís Castro joined last-placed Levante.
Budimir brace for Osasuna
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Ante Budimir scored his first league goals in nearly two months to help Osasuna beat Alaves 3-0 and achieve its biggest win of the campaign.
The Croatia striker volleyed in a cross for the 72nd-minute breakthrough after Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera made several saves.
Budimir made it a brace from the penalty spot after a handball by Víctor Parada and Raúl García completed the scoring in stoppage time.
Pigeons on the pitch
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Real Oviedo did not improve in the debut of its third coach of the season after a scoreless draw with Celta Vigo at home.
Celta had the best chances to break the deadlock of a game that featured a small flock of pigeons that spent a long period of time on the field.
Guillermo Almada is Oviedo's third coach since returning to the top flight last season. The team from northern Spain is in second-to-last place.
