After the Pyramids, the Black Ball Club is one of the great wonders of the squash world
By ALAN THATCHER and ELLIE MAWSON

The main draw for the women’s 2020 CIB Black Ball Squash Open has been released, with defending champion Raneem El Welily predicted to play World No.2 Nouran Gohar in the final of the PSA World Tour Platinum event held between March 8-14.

El Welily beat reigning World Champion Nour El Sherbini at the spectacular Black Ball Sporting Club in March 2019 to capture the inaugural title and she will once again be the favourite this time around as a 48-woman draw battles for the $180,000 total prize fund.

The Egyptians are on the same side of the draw and are seeded to meet in the semi-finals, which would be their first encounter since the 2016 U.S. Open not to take place in a PSA World Tour final. They met in Chicago on Wednesday on Wednesday evening when El Sherbini shook off the effects of illness and injury to win a dramatic final of the Windy City Open 11-9 in the fifth. 

El Welily will play either South Africa’s Alexandra Fuller or compatriot Menna Nasser in round two, and could face the likes of Yathreb Adel and World No.5 Nour El Tayeb as she looks to reach a second straight Black Ball Open final.

Meanwhile, El Sherbini will go up against one of Millie Tomlinson or Rachael Chadwick in round two, with further matchups against the likes of World No.14 Alison Waters and World No.6 Joelle King predicted to follow.

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On the bottom half of the draw, No.2 seed Gohar will take on either Canada’s Hollie Naughton or Netherlands’ Tessa ter Sluis in the last 32. Her path to the final contains the likes of India’s Joshna Chinappa and World No.7 Sarah-Jane Perry, while she is seeded to play J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions winner Camille Serme in the last four.

The wildcards for the tournament are Egyptian duo Salma Youssef and Nour Aboulmakarim, who take on American Sabrina Sobhy and 2007 World Champion Rachael Grinham, respectively. Wales’ Tesni Evans and Hong Kong’s Annie Au have both withdrawn from the event since the entry list was announced.

The winner of the tournament will also qualify for the season-ending PSA World Tour Finals. The World Tour Finals brings together the world’s top eight male and female players and features the reigning World Champions as well as all PSA Platinum title winners. The other places will be allocated to the highest ranked players on the Road to Egypt Standings, with points on offer at all PSA World Tour events throughout the 2019-20 season.

The Black Ball Club has a permanent glass court with room for more than 800 spectators, making it one of the most luxurious and magnetic squash centres on the planet. 

Squash Director Ashraf Hanafai told Squash Mad: “It’s an honour to host the CIB Black Ball women’s tournament for the second time. We worked very hard to raise the prize money to $180.000 and to have it as a Platinum tournament instead of Gold status.

“We are glad that we could have 46 top players from all over the world plus our two Black Ball players as wild cards, Salma Hatem and the 17-year-old NourAboulmakarim.

“The tournament will be broadcasted live at Squash TV as usual plus our local channel ON Sport in Arabic with a Podium analyzing and explaining the technical and tactical Egyptian way of playing. I wish the whole squash society could hear it to understand more about Egyptian squash.

“I am very pleased with the progress we have made. I have worked on this project personally with Alex Gough from the PSA to get squash into the wider Egyptian TV market again after six years being shown exclusively on a different TV channel.

“Since the first Black Ball tournament two years ago, there are now millions in Egypt watching the squash stars live on TV for many hours a day, including the match analysis and player interviews.

“I am sure that we are well prepared and we are going to do our best to present a big, successful tournament worthy of the Black Ball Club and Egypt.”

Action from the glass court stages will be shown live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and the official PSA World Tour Facebook page (excluding Europe and Japan).

Tickets for the event are available via the tournament website

2020 CIB Black Ball Squash Open, Black Ball Sports Club, Cairo, Egypt, March 8-14.

First Round Draw:
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) [bye]
Menna Nasser (EGY) v [17/32] Alexandra Fuller (RSA)
[17/32] Joey Chan (HKG) v Ineta Mackevica (LAT)
[14] Yathreb Adel (EGY) [bye]
[13] Victoria Lust (ENG) [bye]
Tze Lok Ho (HKG) v [17/32] Donna Lobban (AUS)
[17/32] Tinne Gilis (BEL) v Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG)
[5] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) [bye]
[6] Joelle King (NZL) [bye]
Farida Mohamed (EGY) v [17/32] Nadine Shahin (EGY)
[17/32] Coline Aumard (FRA) v Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG)
[11] Salma Hany (EGY) [bye]
[12] Alison Waters (ENG) [bye]
Lisa Aitken (SCO) v [17/32] Mariam Metwally (EGY)
[17/32] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v Rachael Chadwick (ENG)
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) [bye]
[3] Camille Serme (FRA) [bye]
Enora Villard (FRA) v [17/32] Melissa Alves (FRA)
[17/32] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) v Mayar Hany (EGY)
[9] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) [bye]
[15] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) [Bye]
[WC] Salma Youssef (EGY) v [17/32] Sabrina Sobhy (USA)
[17/32] Zeina Mickawy (EGY) v Rachel Arnold (MAS)
[8] Amanda Sobhy (USA) [bye]
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [bye]
Jasmine Hutton (ENG) v [17/32] Emily Whitlock (ENG)
[17/32] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [WC] Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY)
[16] Nele Gilis (EGY) [bye]
[10] Joshna Chinappa (IND) [bye]
Lucy Turmel (ENG) v [17/32] Nada Abbas (EGY)
[17/32] Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Tessa ter Sluis (NED)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) [bye]

Pictures courtesy of PSA and Black Ball Open

GEORGETOWN, Del. – After closely reviewing the forecast for several days, Georgetown Speedway management has announced a schedule change for this weekend’s Melvin L. Joseph Memorial.

The Friday night program, to include Small-Block Modifieds, RUSH Late Models, Delaware Super Trucks and Delmarva Chargers, has been postponed to Sunday, March 8.

The change comes due to predicted rain and snow showers throughout the day and evening on Friday.

The remainder of the weekend calls for clear skies and sunshine to start the northeast dirt modified season.

Saturday’s event – headlined by the $10,049-to-win Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series fueled by Sunoco 49-lap modified event – will go on as scheduled with one minor change.

Pit gates on Saturday will now open at 1 p.m., an hour earlier.

Auto racing icon Ken Schrader will be on hand Saturday to serve as the grand marshal and will meet fans from 2:45-3:45 p.m. in the grandstand area.

“We have been monitoring the forecast all week,” Georgetown Speedway promoter Brett Deyo said. “There have been bright spots where Friday was looking better. Unfortunately during the last 24 hours the outlook has grown increasingly worse and all the forecasts are lining up.

“The Sunday forecast looks outstanding to make up the Friday show.”

On Sunday, gates will open at 12:30 p.m. Hot laps hit the track at 2:30 p.m., with racing following at 3:30 p.m.

This is the second consecutive year Sunday has been used for the small-block event. Last year, all racing was completed by 6:30 p.m., sending fans and racers home early.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – The Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour has announced that McCallister Precision Marketing has become the Official Motorsports Marketing Company of the series.

As part of the partnership, McCallister Precision Marketing’s logo and branding will appear on every car as part of the 2020 contingency package at each Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour event.

The CARS Tour late model stock car and super late model champions will also receive a custom firesuit courtesy of McCallister Precision Marketing.

“It is so great to see a company like MPM Marketing give back to the competitors and utilize a motorsports marketing program to do so,” said CARS Tour Series Director Chris Ragle. “MPM will be an asset to the tour this year as a vital marketing arm to help grow the series and allow us to reach more fans and competitors alike.”

In addition, McCallister Precision Marketing will also serve as the sponsor of the CARS Late Model Stock Tour Hometown Hero Award.

The Hometown Hero Award will give the top three late model stock car drivers in local weekly track points prior to that track’s CARS Tour event one, two or three free Hoosier tires, depending on order of entry.

McCallister Precision Marketing was founded in 2005 by Tonya McCallister, who grew up watching her father race dirt late models.

After a brief foray into driving race cars herself, McCallister eventually graduated from college and began a career in marketing with a job at a local hospital.

In 2005, she elected to leave the hospital and open McCallister Precision Marketing in order to pursue her passion for racing.

McCallister Precision Marketing focuses on assisting up-and-coming race car drivers with career advancement and promotion. The company also provides companies with sales, marketing and promotional planning as well.

“We are thrilled to be able to begin this relationship with the CARS Solid Rock Carriers Tour,” said McCallister. “We have several clients competing in the CARS Tour this year, so it made sense to expand our reach to include a relationship with the series itself. I’ve known Jack McNelly and Chris Ragle for years now and it’s an honor to be able to work with them this season.”

McCallister Precision Marketing represents drivers Nolan Pope and Jonathan Findley, both of whom will race full-time in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour this year as part of Lee Faulk Racing and Development.

BATAVIA, Ohio – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series officials have announced Miller Welders as a returning official partner of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.

As part of Miller Welders sponsorship this season, the brand will back the Miller Welders Chassis Builders Challenge.

The Miller Welders Chassis Builders program will award points to each chassis builder at all series events, based on their finishing positions.

The chassis builder that earns the most points throughout the year will be honored as the Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Year and receive a new Miller Welder at the series championship awards banquet.

Miller Electric Mfg. LLC is headquartered in Appleton, Wis. and is the leading welding manufacturer of products for manufacturing, fabrication, construction, aviation, motorsports, education, agriculture and marine applications.

Miller Welders wanted to align their company with the Chassis Builders Program in 2020 to honor all of the chassis builders, mechanics, and welders that assemble the race cars that race with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.

Miller Welders also supplied the industrial welder and generator for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series safety truck.

The series safety truck travels to all the series events and is outfitted with special equipment and tools to assist in removing drivers from their cars (in case of a major wreck), repairing fencing, facility repairs and any other jobs at race events.

“Miller Welders has been a supporter of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series for many years. We feel their sponsorship and alignment with the Chassis Builders Program is a great fit for their company,” said Wayne Castleberry, Corporate Motorsports Sales and Marketing for Lucas Oil Motorsports. “Honoring the chassis builders and their employees at the year-end awards banquet will be a special award for the Chassis Builder of the Year. We look forward to working with everyone at Miller Welders in 2020.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Race fans will have even more ways to follow all the action from the ARCA Menards Series this season.

Following a successful broadcast of the ARCA opener at Daytona Int’l Speedway in February, the Motor Racing Network will broadcast 10 more ARCA races in 2020, including Friday’s General Tire 150 from Phoenix Raceway.

The season kicked off with flag-to-flag coverage of the season-opening Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire, and MRN’s live radio broadcast package will include four races that are part of the Sioux Chief Showdown.

The remaining ARCA races set for broadcast on MRN include Phoenix on March 6, Talladega Superspeedway on April 24, Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 22, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on May 29, Michigan Int’l Speedway on June 5, Chicagoland Speedway on June 18, Pocono Raceway on June 25, Watkins Glen Int’l on Aug. 14, Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept. 17 and the season finale at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 16.

Fans will be able to listen on MRN.com, through the Race Center page on ARCARacing.com, and at NASCAR.com.

The MRN broadcasts will also air on SiriusXM on their play-by-play channel, 385, and online and on the SiriusXM app at 985.

HAMPTON, Ga. – The Veteran Tickets Foundation and Camping World will co-sponsor the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 14.

The Vet Tix/Camping World 200 will be the first NASCAR race sponsored by Vet Tix, a national 501 (C)(3) which has provided more than nine million event tickets to the military and first responder communities since 2008.

The mission of Vet Tix is to give back to those who have served the United States as active duty military, reserves, veterans, and first responders.

“We are forever grateful to those who put on a uniform and take on the duties that make our way of life possible,” said AMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “We’re proud to be partnering with Vet Tix and Camping World to highlight a way to give back to these extraordinary men and women.”

This year’s Vet Tix/Camping World 200 is gearing up to be one of the most highly anticipated NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series races of the season.

NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick and Camping World Chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis placed a $100,000 bounty on Gander Trucks ace Kyle Busch, payable to any NASCAR Cup Series driver who can beat him in a truck race.

With Georgia native Chase Elliott among those accepting the challenge, the March 14 race is promising to be a high-stakes, thrilling affair.

“It is an honor to partner with the Atlanta Motor Speedway and Camping World for the Vet Tix/Camping World 200” said Mike Focareto, CEO of Vet Tix. “This collaboration will provide opportunities for all our currently serving military, veterans of all eras and first responders to experience one of the most exciting truck series races of 2020.

“For many, experiences like this race create unforgettable memories and smiles for them, their family and friends. The positive impact on our VetTixers is significant by making them feel appreciated by and connected to their community.”

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tiger Woods still has until 5 p.m. ET Friday to officially commit to play next week’s Players Championship, but on Wednesday’s "Golf Central" Notah Begay painted a picture of continued uncertainty for the world No. 11.

“This is something that he’s going to battle with over the next few years. It’s just the ebbs and flows of dealing with the physical challenges in his back. I mean, how many surgeries he’s had and just try to recover the mobility,” Begay said. “More importantly trying to get enough days in a row where he’s feeling good and getting some reps in. If you’re not able to put the practice in you’re certainly not going to be able to show up at a place like TPC Sawgrass and have the requisite skills to go out and defend yourself on a golf course that exposes everybody.

“Things are starting to progress for him a little bit and hopefully we see him next week.”

Begay explained that Woods is currently dealing with the “ripple effect” of a busy finish to 2019 when he flew directly from hosting the Hero World Challenge in December to Australia to both play and captain the U.S. Presidents Cup team.

“Everything that goes into playing a PGA Tour schedule was sort of pushed back a little bit,” Begay said. “Not to make excuses, but it’s hard once you get past the age of 40 and you have a bad back; some days you just have some challenges getting into your normal routine.”

Woods isn’t currently on the commitment list for next week’s Players Championship, although he historically waits until the deadline to officially commit to events, and he hasn’t played since the Genesis Invitational in early February. He skipped the WGC-Mexico Championship, Honda Classic and this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, all events he’s played in the past.

If Wayne Rooney ends Manchester United's FA Cup hopes this week, it wouldn't be the first time an ex-player has come back to score against their old team ...

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Jump to: Ajax substitute goalkeeper scores winner in shootout, celebrates like Ronaldo | German cup minnows to celebrate upset: "We'll now drink that much that we will not know the name of tomorrow's day"

Rooney will play against the club he left as their all-time top goal-scorer for the first time in three years when his Derby County side host United at Pride Park in the FA Cup fifth round on Thursday (stream live at 2:45 p.m. ET on ESPN+ in the U.S.).

Rooney, 34, hasn't played against his old side since 2017, during his second stint with Everton.

According to Shay Given, who is on Derby's coaching staff, Rooney will indeed celebrate should he score against the club for whom he won 15 major trophies in 13 years, rather than observe the standard protocol of muted cheers, apologetic hands and bashful grimaces.

As a prelude to the inevitable, here's a selection of other returning heroes who have faced the quandary of whether to celebrate or otherwise after taking a lump out of their ex-employers.

Wayne Rooney

Rooney himself has precedent here. With Manchester United travelling to face Everton at Goodison Park on the opening day of the 2005-06 campaign, the 19-year-old returned to his old stomping ground just one season after leaving, ignored the vociferous boos and promptly scored in a 2-0 victory.

Frank Lampard

Things took a turn for the weird in 2014 when Chelsea's all-time record goal-scorer returned in a Manchester City kit (while on loan from New York City FC) to score against the club he'd previously represented with distinction for well over a decade.

Lampard came off the bench for City to score a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at the Etihad -- a goal that he couldn't bring himself to celebrate. The veteran midfielder was then visibly moved to tears after the final whistle as the travelling Blues fans gave him a standing ovation.

This goal gets extra kudos for the look of anguish on John Terry's face as he realises he's let his old mate score on his watch.

Denis Law

Denis Law's infamous backheel goal (for Man City ?) is seen by many as the goal that relegated Man Utd in 1974...

But DON'T tell that to the man himself ?#TooGoodToGoDown pic.twitter.com/jfuUaXZW2E

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 27, 2018

While Law's backheel in front of the Stretford End wasn't the goal that mathematically sealed Manchester United's embarrassing relegation to the second division at the end of the 1973-74 season, it was definitely a significant contributing factor.

It was a win for similarly relegation-threatened Birmingham City later that same day which officially consigned United to their miserable fate with one last round of league fixtures still to play.

Either way, it was hard to take for a Man City striker who had scored almost 250 goals in over 400 appearances and won the European Cup for United in the previous 11 years.

Emmanuel Adebayor

.@E_Adebayor buries it against his former club with this pin-point header! #cityvafc pic.twitter.com/bIHHe7yhfI

— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 2, 2017

Etiquette went out the window when Adebayor scored for Manchester City against former side Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in 2009.

Rather than the industry standard apologetics, the Togolese striker charged the entire length of the field to very deliberately make a show of celebrating in the faces of his onetime supporters.

Robin van Persie

After nine seasons at Arsenal, Van Persie upped sticks and made a £24 million move to rivals Manchester United in 2012.

He soon reminded the Gunners exactly what they were missing, scoring three times in his first three games against them while winning a previously elusive Premier League title with United at the first attempt.

Robin van Persie, Fenerbahçe forması ile Manchester United'ı avlıyor.

Old Trafford ise eski yıldızını alkışlıyor. ?

Robin van Persie'nin asla unutmayacağınız golü hangisi? ?pic.twitter.com/20xgonyXlr

— mackolik (@mackolik) May 13, 2019

Not content with breaking Arsenal hearts, Van Persie returned to do likewise to Manchester United shortly after leaving Old Trafford to join Fenerbahce in 2016.

However, the consequences weren't quite so dramatic this time around, with the Dutchman netting a late consolation goal in what proved to be a fairly heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of his former teammates.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Having made his world-record €100m switch, Ronaldo solemnly vowed that he wouldn't celebrate against his "family" at Manchester United if he scored for Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League in 2012-13.

Sure enough, the Portugal star netted by leaping into the air and burying a towering header past David De Gea -- holding a couple of respectfully tempered fingers aloft in celebration and nothing more.

Ronaldo then followed up by scoring again in the return leg at Old Trafford as Real sent United packing, this time almost apologising to the home fans as he was mobbed by his teammates.

Nicolas Anelka

A brooding journeyman at the best of times, Anelka scored two goals that cost former side Liverpool a place in the Champions League back in May 2003.

Returning to Anfield with Man City, the French striker waited until his side went a goal down to spring into life, scoring twice in the second half to secure a 2-1 turnaround that saw the hosts slide out of the top four.

Just to add insult to injury, it was also City's first win at Liverpool since the early 1980s.

Fernando Morientes

Notable in that Morientes was actually on loan at Monaco from Real Madrid at the time, the Spanish forward scored the vital goals that knocked his parent club out of the 2003-04 Champions League quarterfinals.

With no clause in place to prevent his selection, Morientes scored a goal in the first leg at the Bernabeu and then again in the reverse fixture to ultimately condemn Real's star-studded Galacticos to defeat on away goals, while Monaco went on to reach the final.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

With plenty of former clubs across Europe and the world to haunt, it's perhaps little surprise that Ibrahimovic is included here.

His most dramatic return undoubtedly came in 2010 when, newly of AC Milan, the Swede silenced the heckles and jeers of the Inter Milan curva with a late penalty that sent the Rossoneri to the top of the table.

Of course, he celebrated in front of the Inter fans, thus enraging his once adoring public a little further.

Ajax substitute goalkeeper scores winner in shootout, celebrates like Ronaldo

???????? ➝ Daan Reiziger saves the day! ??#UYL #ajaatl pic.twitter.com/QddyUAH7c7

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) March 3, 2020

Ajax's under-19 side are safely into the quarterfinals of the 2020 UEFA Youth League after seeing off Atletico Madrid's young guns in the round of 16.

However, it took a frankly astonishing cameo performance from substitute goalkeeper Daan Reiziger to clinch the narrow victory.

Reiziger was brought on specifically for the shootout by coach Johnny Heitinga, and the teenage stopper more than proved his mettle by saving three Atletico penalties before scoring the winning spot kick himself.

Congratulations boys and on your way to the quarter finals!! #forthefuture

— Edwin van der Sar (@vdsar1970) March 4, 2020

The super-sub performance from Reiziger was enough to earn the Ajax keeper a message of congratulations from club legend Edwin van der Sar, no doubt one of his goalkeeping idols.

We're getting flashbacks to the 2014 World Cup, when Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal subbed on Tim Krul for a shootout against Costa Rica and the latter went on to save two spot-kicks in a 4-3 win. Must be a Dutch thing ...

German cup minnows to celebrate upset: "We'll now drink that much that we will not know the name of tomorrow's day"

This is outrageous!

Saarbrucken goalkeeper Daniel Batz made FIVE penalty saves to take his fourth-division side into the German Cup semifinals ? pic.twitter.com/81qizxox0V

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 4, 2020

Saarbrucken are the first-ever fourth-division side to reach the semifinals of the DFB Pokal, and you'll be glad to know that they plan to celebrate accordingly.

The minnows overturned Bundesliga opposition in the shape of Fortuna Dusseldorf on Tuesday to make it to the final four of the German Cup, after a brilliant penalty shootout win sealed the deal.

Goalkeeper Daniel Batz was the star of the show, saving no fewer than five penalties on the night -- one in normal time, followed by four more in a thrilling 7-6 shootout win.

Daniel Batz - the first goalkeeper to save 4️⃣ penalties in a #DFBPokal shootout ⛔

1. FC Saarbrücken - the first fourth-division side to reach the #DFBPokal semi-finals ?

What a night for @ersterfcs ? pic.twitter.com/5F4JRXjJuq

— The DFB-Pokal (@DFBPokal_EN) March 3, 2020

"It's surreal. It was unbelievable. If my fingers weren't hurting that much, I'd say I am living in a dream world," Batz told Sky Germany after the game. "Five penalties? That's more than I saved in my entire career until today!"

As you might expect, the celebrations after the final whistle were boisterous but they are likely to pale once Saarbrucken get round to toasting their magnificent feat properly.

"We'll now drink that much that we will not know the name of tomorrow's day," added coach Lukas Kwasniok, who has only been at the Regionalliga Sudwest club since January.

Kwasniok might want to delay the party until after the semis, where Saarbrucken stand a chance of facing Bayern Munich, who are currently 56 places above them in the league ladder.

Heavily tipped to join Manchester United in the January transfer window, Erling Haaland -- football's hottest prospect this season -- instead chose Bundesliga heavyweights Borussia Dortmund as the best place to continue his football education. It has turned out to be a smart decision, with no let-up to his remarkable goal-scoring streak. So what's behind the 19-year-old Norwegian striker's sudden rise to fame, can he sustain his present run of performances, and can he become the new Robert Lewandowski or Falcao, the centre-forward that defines the 2020s?

Although he really came to the attention of the worldwide football audience only toward the end of 2019, Haaland, son of former Leeds United and Manchester City utility man Alf-Inge, had been a hot topic on the European scouting circuit for quite some time. He made his professional debut at 15 in spring 2016 for his local club Bryne, in the second level of Norwegian league football. He was quickly snapped up by top-league side Molde FK, scoring the winner on his competitive debut. At only 17, he became a key part of Norway's U19 team and it was after scoring four goals from three matches in a U19 European Championship qualifying tournament in early October 2017 that European top clubs started to take a special interest in this Scandinavian teenage man-mountain.

- Ogden: Meet Erling Haaland, the kid scoring for fun
- Haaland gets a gift from his idol, former Swansea striker Michu

I've worked for more than 20 years across Europe in a variety of sporting roles and, as a Norwegian national myself, in the days following that tournament, old friends and contacts started calling, all wanting the lowdown on a player they hoped they'd been the first to spot.

Within a matter of weeks, an array of European top clubs were on Haaland's trail and from this point on, it seemed as though the boy's closest adviser, his father "Alfie," had his hands full just keeping suitors at bay. Despite making several club visits across Europe, it became clear that young Haaland -- coached at the time by Ole Gunnar Solskjær at Molde -- would leave Norway only for a club that granted him status as a first-team player. Moving to an academy, as his compatriot Martin Odegaard did when he left Stromsgodset for Real Madrid Castilla a few years earlier, was flatly ruled out. The confident youngster wanted to learn while playing competitively.

Now, a mere 14 months on from Haaland leaving Molde for Red Bull Salzburg in January 2019, Erling can comfortably offer his father the odd complimentary ticket for a Dortmund home game as a thank you for an early career path managed to perfection. The year spent in Austria gave Haaland the ideal platform to adapt and learn at the stricter, but still manageable, ultra-professional Red Bull set-up. And although he surely would have liked to have been more involved during his first half-season at Salzburg -- he featured in only two league games -- the slow introduction eventually paid dividends.

Following a sensational Golden Boot performance for Norway at May's U20 World Cup that included a record-breaking nine goals in one game against Honduras, his rapid improvement of form and ability culminated in a stunning eight goals in five Champions League outings for the Austrians during the second part of the year, including a hat trick on his CL debut against Genk. It was evident from that incredible showing that the 19-year-old had already outgrown Austrian football, and he was soon being linked with just about every top club across Europe -- especially Manchester United, where his former coach Solskjær was now the manager. Yet despite being highly coveted by the Red Devils, he decided his next move would be to the Bundesliga.

Choosing Borussia Dortmund over potentially more glamorous destinations has proven to be a cunning move by the Haaland family who, possibly to cement his growing global recognition, have "internationalised" Erling's surname from Haland to Haaland, losing the tricky Norwegian character å. The Bundesliga is a haven for attacking football and this Dortmund side, with its quick and attack-minded wide players, intelligent attacking midfielders and wide forwards whose movement creates space, are the perfect conditions in which a powerful and dynamic centre-forward can prosper.

Haaland has taken full advantage, scoring a 23-minute hat trick on his Bundesliga debut and continuing his blistering form in the Champions League. While Cristiano Ronaldo won't be looking over his shoulder just yet, the Portuguese's record of 128 CL goals could well be under threat if Haaland carries on in the same vein. After all, it took Cristiano nearly 30 games before he got off the mark in the CL proper. Haaland has managed 10 goals in his first seven appearances.

Haaland possesses outstanding physical characteristics: the stunning pace (and change of it), the remarkable power, the formidable left foot. And through an ever-improving positional knack of popping up in the right place at the right time, and the intelligence to pull away from his marker at the right moment, the evidence of a sophisticated football brain is also starting to show.

His appearances at Champions League level have boasted the assertiveness of someone who genuinely believes he deserves to rub shoulders with the best players in the game. Perhaps we have to turn back time to Wayne Rooney's England performances at Euro 2004 to find a teenager imposing himself like this at the very highest level.

- Marcotti: Why Haaland chose Dortmund over Man United
- Haaland's stunning Champions League stats

Though it's beyond any doubt that his youthful enthusiasm is a huge driving force, it's equally clear Haaland has developed radically and rapidly over the past six months. From previously being somewhat negligent in his pressing game and often running out of steam toward the end of games, he now offers incisive and energy-consuming runs and movement throughout the 90 minutes. This was particularly visible in last weekend's away win at Werder Bremen, in which he came to life in the last half hour.

Given the Norwegian's absurdly productive past six months, it may seem somewhat ridiculous to point out any shortcomings in his game, but there's certainly margin for improvement in his aerial game. One could argue that the 6-foot-4 Haaland plays the game like someone who's much shorter in size; predominantly relying on his pace, balance, determination and willingness to take on opponents on the ground rather than in the air. In fact, to date he prioritized the art of directing the ball through a well-coordinated head movement, which makes you wonder what an even bigger menace he might turn out to be once he develops the appetite for converting crosses as well.

To further improve his hold-up game, there's also work to be done on his first touch. Being able to control the ball neatly and quickly upon receiving is a fundamental skill for a complete centre-forward and -- as bizarre as it may sound when it comes to someone in the process of breaking goal records -- one that has to become a stronger feature of his game if the boy wonder is to turn into the complete centre-forward. And while Haaland already looks a lot more comfortable as part of Dortmund's quick combination play in the last third, he still needs to become sharper in his layoffs and, when needed, learn when and how to hang on to the ball to win a free kick or gain time to help his teammates catch up with him.

Before writing this column I caught up with a highly recognized sporting director, who was the first to call me about Haaland in late 2017. Though he's not keen on having his name on record, he was happy to add: "I'm not surprised where Haaland is today, but I'm surprised that he got there that fast. In a way he's still the kid that blew everyone away at the FIFA U20 World Cup, and even before, only even faster and even more powerful.

"I've no doubt that Haaland has reached the top level to stay, but it will be interesting to see how he deals with adversity: he's on an incredible streak now, but it won't just go on and on. That's simply not possible. If you take the top out-and-out centre-forwards of the past 20 years, guys like Lewandowski, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Falcao, I would say Haaland is some way off their levels of close control and technical finesse. On the other hand, it took them well into their 20s to arrive at the same competitive levels as Haaland. And the physique of the Norwegian is something out of this world."

It was one of the most stressful days of Meg Lanning's career. Some of her team-mates had given it up and even refused to open the curtains in the morning as the rain pelted Sydney.

"I thought we were out," Megan Schutt admitted. "When I rocked up to the ground and saw the rain, saw the gloomy England team I thought that was it, our World Cup was over."

"I didn't even bother opening the curtains in my room today, because I just couldn't bring myself to look outside," Beth Mooney said.

Then the rain cleared for Australia to bat 20 overs only to return at the change of the innings. Would the weather still send South Africa through? The team made no secret of their eagerness to get back into the middle, huddling on the boundary edge even as the drizzle persisted.

"Did you see us all quickly run out there when it was still raining?," Delissa Kimmince said. "We were just doing all we could to get out on the field. It was still raining but we knew what the cut-off time was but we just wanted to push our case. We knew we had to get 10 overs so we were trying everything we could. Lucky enough it cleared up for just enough."

"I got off the field after the game and she had tears in her eyes. And that made me tear up because you don't really see that emotion from Pez" Megan Schutt on Ellyse Perry

It stopped to allow a 13-over chase but the radar was threatening all around Sydney. Ten overs was needed for the match, but Australia couldn't lose their focus on the rush to get there and let South Africa skip ahead on DLS.

However, their bowling and fielding had given them the breathing space to survive the late dip by Laura Wolvaardt - a player who can dominate the game for the next decade and more - and 19 off the last over was more than enough for Jess Jonassen to defend.

"We were pretty confident," Lanning said. "We knew the cut-off and the radar was pretty clear once that patch had gone through, and the grounds crew said that as well. We were confident we could get back on. It was nice it was able to clear up for a bit."

For a player, and captain, known for keeping her emotions in check, Lanning's relief and delight was clear the moment the final ball had become dead.

"It wasn't an easy day," she said. "We had a lot of waiting around and just hoping the weather was going to hold off. We got a little bit lucky, I guess. We've really built throughout this tournament. We've had a lot thrown at us. To be able to sort of come together in a really big moment is certainly very special. We'll certainly enjoy the win knowing there's something massive coming up over the next few days.

"Even the last over, the last few balls, you just never can rest and think you've got it in the bag. South Africa played extremely well. They took it right to the end. We sort of got a bit of momentum with both bat and ball, but they were able to pull it back really well. It was a tough game. I really feel for them. We certainly had to play very well to get through."

Another display of emotion came from Ellyse Perry who has been retained as part of the squad after her tournament-ending injury

"I got off the field after the game and she had tears in her eyes," Schutt said. "And that made me tear up because you don't really see that emotion from Pez. For her to show the pain the other day you knew there was a serious injury there, she doesn't really show her pain. To come off the field and see the absolute pure joy in her eyes and the tears as well, I could have cried in that moment and it shows the team character that she is."

Australia have overcome a defeat in the opening game of the tournament, being 10 for 3 in the chase against Sri Lanka, an injury to their fastest bowler, the loss of their talismanic allrounder and the threat of a washout to reach the most talked about final in the history of the women's game.

"I think it shows that we have a lot of resilience and are able to adapt to different situations," Lanning said. "It hasn't been a smooth journey to the final. You sit down at the start of the tournament and think about how things might go, and none of that has happened for us really, but that doesn't mean we can't get a result, and that's the attitude we've got. I think different players have stood up at different times, and we've had to adapt our game style, and that's fine. We've got the players to do it.

"Our attitude throughout has really been very positive and just enjoying the moment. The good thing is we've given ourselves an opportunity now, and that's all we wanted to do. So we just want to have smiles on our faces and take the game on on Sunday. It's going to be a great game."