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The pre-match training session was anything but quiet and routine, as hundreds of fans turned up for a glimpse of their king

Shashank Kishore15-May-20253:48

Pujara: ‘Under Kohli’s captaincy, everyone started believing we can win overseas’

By a quarter to five on Thursday afternoon, the gates of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium were throbbing. Hundreds of fans had pressed up against the barricades, their collective gaze fixated down Cubbon Road, awaiting the sound of the police siren that generally marks the arrival of the team bus that then turns left into Gate No. 10.For a fleeting moment, the energy dimmed. A bus did appear, but it wore purple and gold, not the one they’d come for. As it rolled past smoothly, the fans began counting down time. Perhaps the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bus was on its way, they convinced themselves. That wait lasted more than an hour, not enough to dim their excitement. And when a bus painted in red and gold finally emerged amid a sea of vehicles, the frenzy reached fever pitch.”Virat! King! Kohli! Koeli! Boss!”Related

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The chants rose like a wave, only to be absorbed by the honking chaos of stalled traffic along Cubbon Park. If you expected a routine pre-match nets to be a quiet affair, you were wrong. The RCB faithful, who want to turn up in whites to pay tribute to their hero Virat Kohli, turned it into an event.Every Kohli appearance at the Chinnaswamy carries a hum of energy. This one felt different. It surely felt like the after-effects of the big announcement he’d made earlier in the week. But for all the hoopla outside, when Kohli arrived – AirPods in, unhurried, and slowly climbing the stairs to the dressing room – he looked utterly at ease with his surroundings.A quick change over into training gears later, Kohli emerged on the balcony amid a number of shutter bugs eager to get the best click. And quickly after, Kohli was all business. As he walked into the arena, padded up and bounding out with three bats in tow, he caught up with Ajinkya Rahane briefly, before they went in two different directions.Kohli was the first out to bat at the main net. For over 45 minutes, he stayed put, alternating with Phil Salt as they faced up to an army of net bowlers initially, until the rest of RCB’s pack joined in after their warm-ups. Out came the drives, cuts, short-arm jabs – routine Kohli territory. And when the spinners came on, Kohli danced down the track to replicate a mini-version of that now epic Melbourne flat-bat when Suyash Sharma thought he’d beaten him with a skiddy length ball.All eyes on me: Kohli is almost always at the centre of attention at the Chinnaswamy•BCCIFor all the while he batted, it seemed business as usual for Kohli. The unwavering focus towards his strokes, the grimace when he mistimed hits, the yelp of “come on!” when he was beaten. But as he finished his net session and packed his kit to walk off, all the net bowlers who were made to toil took turns to walk up and greet him. Kohli obliged all of them and turned to walk back. Until he received a pat on the back from Venkatesh Iyer.As Kohli walked back, with security personnel having to draw a cordon behind the advertising hoardings and sightscreen, the chaotic spectacle relented to a more routine evening. The cameras found another batter to train their focus on, and there were many who hit them big, perhaps none bigger than Andre Russell and Tim David, who batted simultaneously in two different corners, seemingly trying to outdo each other.But even as the big hitters took center stage, there was a quiet hum that remained, unlike the chaotic spectacle from an hour earlier – proof that the evening had already belonged to someone else.

Throwback to the times of peak Gayle and Russell helps LSG bring the thrill to beat the mid-season lull

Shashank Kishore29-Apr-2023He’s got long locks, big biceps, tattooed forearms and a stance that tells the bowler he means business. If not for the bandana beneath the helmet and perhaps his height, Kyle Mayers is every bit Chris Gayle in disguise.But it isn’t just the looks where he matches Gayle. He’s got a similar game: where brute force marries impeccable timing. The result: 100-metre sixes for fun, flat-batted hits that have bowlers and umpires ducking for cover and those in the crowd making a beeline for helmets as much as they need clean toilets and drinking water.It’s fun and it’s exhilarating if you’re anyone but the bowler. This is exactly what a new franchise like Lucknow Super Giants, trying to win over the fan base, has been yearning for. How long can you convince the fans strike rates don’t matter when you see batters right royally Rinku Singh-ing balls in their sleep at the Chinnaswamy or Ahmedabad.Conservatism is not a part of Mayers’ game. He’s a throwback to Gayle of the 2012 vintage. Someone who can take on the best with an air of nonchalance, verbal volleys and chatter be dammed. It is a simple game based on the old funda of see ball, hit ball. Forget footwork, forget feet to the pitch, forget getting behind the line.Related

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Mayers is a baseballer in a cricketer’s disguise. He stands tall, stays besides the line, uses room and swing cleanly if full. He muscle pulls or whips if it’s into the body. Or if they bowl wide, uses his reach to carve the ball. And he does all of this with ridiculous ease, by simply reacting to the ball.It didn’t matter for once on Friday that it was Kagiso Rabada steaming in and effortlessly cranking up 145khph, or that Arshdeep Singh was swinging the ball bananas, his confidence sky high from having delivered a blockbuster a couple of nights earlier against Mumbai Indians, where he had flattened stumps for fun with his yorkers.Watching Mayers and Nicholas Pooran bludgeon the bowling in the powerplay and death overs felt like watch two tigers let out of a cage, after enduring tough surfaces back home in Lucknow, where the ball stops, turns, are two-paced to the point where teams have huffed and puffed to force the pace.Mayers set the tempo right at the outset, throwing his hands at anything wide and in his hitting arc as Arshdeep was blasted for four fours in his first over. It wasn’t just muscle, there was aesthetics too when he belted the ball down the ground ferociously to beat mid-off twice – high elbow, feet to the pitch and all that.And once the opening salvo was out of the way, Mayers decided this was his night. He was now an unstoppable force an over into the innings, and young debutant Gurnoor Brar bore the brunt of his fury.

“Conservatism is not a part of Mayers’ game. He’s a throwback to Gayle of the 2012 vintage. Someone who can take on the best with an air of nonchalance, verbal volleys and chatter be dammed”

With pace disappearing, Shikhar Dhawan quickly turned to spin, but the effect was the same. Mayers was in such a zone that he was hitting the same short ball to different parts, almost as if to suggest because he was bored hitting over long-on, he’d blast one over deep midwicket.It meant a 20-ball half-century, his second this season inside the powerplay. All other batters combined had those many inside the first six this season. It was an emphatic message to the Super Giants. If you’re keeping someone of Quinton de Kock’s calibre out, he better be special. Mayers proved he was indeed special.That assault wasn’t the only one that dented the Kings. There was another man batting with the hurt of having performed poorly and let go by the very franchise he was now playing against. His talent had never been in doubt, but the version of Pooran who rocked up for Kings misfired more often than he fired, batting with the apprehensions of someone who was neither guaranteed security nor knew his role well. And while it’s entirely possible both of these weren’t the case, Pooran gave away confusing vibes.He had a miserable final year for the Kings in 2021, making 85 runs at 7.72 across the season, and was released ahead of the mega auction. And so, this was perhaps another chance to send a quiet message that he was alive and kicking.Nicholas Pooran looked a completely different batter to the one that turned up in Punjab Kings colours two years ago•BCCIHe’d hardly had chances to bat in the top order, and so he’s never going to be able to gun for the orange cap. Pooran can’t be judged by looking at his runs tally for consistency, because it’s a high-risk game. Or so you think, until you realise the poise, balance and clean ball-striking without really meaning to belt the ball gob smacks you.He didn’t need sighters. He came in and immediately offset Liam Livingstone by slapping three boundaries. Fast hands, quick feet – this was instinct-driven batting right out of the top drawer.The third of the lot was the most special for the amount of power he managed to generate on a low full toss and the oodles of wrist he had to use to pick the ball into the gap knowing there was sweeper cover after he’d hit the ball in the same direction the previous two deliveries too. Yet, that sweeper couldn’t do much to prevent a third four.Part of his knock, even at the death, involved tactful strike rotation to bring back Marcus Stoinis on strike and enjoy some fun from the best seat in the house. But when he was on strike, this was Pooran’s day and he wasn’t going to let go of a chance to finish an innings the way Mayers had started.It was a proper throwback to the old Caribbean flavour. Of the times when Gayle set up an innings and Andre Russell, elsewhere, finished them off cooly. This was Mayers and Pooran delivering the same effect, but for the same team, with unbridled joy. This was as expressive as “express myself” can get. It certainly helped the Super Giants bring the thrill to beat the mid-season lull.

Alex Carey also remains in Australia’s Test plans, while Matthew Wade may yet play the T20 World Cup

Andrew McGlashan23-Apr-2021Earn promotion
This was the over-riding message, especially when it comes to the Test batting line-up. Standout candidates are not obvious for a couple of positions, so the race will be on ahead of the Ashes next season. That means there are vacancies yet for an opening partner for David Warner – although you could argue that despite another injury, Will Pucovski couldn’t have done much more to be first-choice opener – and the No. 5 spot while assuming Cameron Green has locked himself in at No. 6, which him being given a contract suggests.Travis Head can probably feel a little hard done by despite being dropped against India. He had been in the squad for the originally scheduled South Africa tour although he wasn’t a certainty to make the XI, and scored 893 Shield runs for South Australia. But the move to clearly say batting positions are open should give the start of next season an edge.Related

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Wade made an irresistible case for a Test recall – which came for the 2019 Ashes – but did not make an irresistible case to be retained. In the two Australia seasons prior to his return, he averaged 52.34 with part of that coming when the Test side was shorn of Warner and Steven Smith. There was a school of thought that the recall could have come earlier. And when it did, he made two centuries against England and has played every Test since, but an overall return of 31.60 – with just one other score over fifty – was not enough. The writing was on the wall when he was left out of the squad for the postponed South Africa tour, with a loss of contract confirming the slide.And although Burns is two years younger than Wade but will need a very big start to the next season to push himself back into the frame, especially if Pucovski’s recovery goes to plan. However, as he showed with his brilliant 171 against Tasmania, at his best he remains a very fine opening batter.Matthew Wade captained Australia in a T20I during the 2020-21 home season•Getty ImagesAustralia will need far more than 17 players
Despite not being on today’s list, Wade is among a number of players who we are still very likely to see in Australia squads over the coming months. Touring parties are going to need to remain large due to Covid-19 restrictions and along with Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis, Wade is an incumbent in the T20I side where he has been vice-captain – and briefly captain – in Pat Cummins’ absence.All three stand a very good chance of being in the squad for the West Indies tour in July. There could also be plenty of others: the likes of Josh Philippe, Daniel Sams and Riley Meredith, who were all in New Zealand, will be pushing for T20I spots even when the first-choice players who missed that trip are available.Rotation back on the agenda
Australia fielded the same bowling attack throughout the four Tests against India and although the loads were relatively light in the first two games, by the end of the Gabba Test, there were some tired bodies. With six Tests likely in less than two months next season – one against Afghanistan and five against England – chief selector Trevor Hohns suggested another look at workload.”That comes back to the management of our fast bowlers and we’ve seriously got to have a look at it,” he said. “Sure, they may feel okay in themselves but we’ve really got to monitor that a little bit harder I think.”Mitchell Swepson has made a strong case for a chance at Test cricket•Getty ImagesOn the fringe
Two players who featured in the recent Sheffield Shield final will wonder what next season holds. Michael Neser and Mitchell Swepson were always unlikely to gain central contracts, but they have certainly made strong cases for a chance at Test cricket. Neser has been an ever-present in Test squads over the last two years, while Swepson has just completed the season of his life. Hohns indicated that James Pattinson remains the next in line of the quicks – so Neser may need a couple of players to make way, especially if and when they are rested or rotated – but he had a strong endorsement of Swepson.”He can certainly challenge Nathan [Lyon], whether he’ll ever take his place while Nathan is fit who knows,” Hohns exclaimed. “Mitch is going very nicely and it’s quite exciting to see a legspinner emerge and someone with the talent Mitch has, I can certainly see a bright future for him. He’s still only 27, and as far as a spin bowler goes, is coming into his best years.”Alex Carey’s standing
Carey is only in possession of a place in one of the three formats for Australia – the ODI side – but retains a contract. He lost his spot in the T20I side to Wade against England last year and wasn’t able to reclaim it against India. Carey then missed out on the New Zealand tour after being included in the Test squad for South Africa.That latter position confirmed he is next-in-line behind Tim Paine, but it is an interesting year coming up for Carey if, in 12 months’ time, Paine will have brought the curtain down on his career. No doubt he will be eager to get back into the mix for the T20 World Cup, but it could work in his favour if he stays out of the set-up because it would allow him a run of Sheffield Shield cricket early next season. Watch out for Josh Inglis coming up on the inside as well.

After another legendary night in a marathon Game 3, Shohei Ohtani got the ball for the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series against the Blue Jays.

Most likely on little sleep, he tried to give L.A. a commanding lead in the Fall Classic, but Toronto had other plans. Once Ohtani saw walk after walk following a 4-for-4 start with two home runs and two doubles Monday, a big question presented itself for the rest of the series: Will Blue Jays manager John Schneider let his team pitch to the two-way superstar again?

Luckily for baseball fans, it seems that Toronto will throw some strikes to Ohtani as the electric series inches toward its conclusion. The Jays did a great job of getting past him in Game 4, squashing his incredible offensive power to even the World Series 2–2 with a 6–2 victory ahead of Wednesday's Game 5—L.A.'s last home game in the 2-3-2 series.

Here's how Ohtani fared both on the hill and at the plate Tuesday at Dodger Stadium:

Shohei Ohtani's pitching performance in World Series Game 4

The two-way superstar got his first start since his incredible performance with 10 strikeouts and three home runs to close out the Brewers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. Ohtani didn't top that performance in this Game 4, but how could he?

Unfortunately for the Dodgers, he wasn't able to keep the Blue Jays' offense at bay, allowing four earned runs in six innings on 93 pitches. He let up a two-run shot to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the third inning, which was the first home run given up over his three postseason starts. Ohtani struck out six batters and let up one walk, giving up six hits before he handed the ball to Anthony Banda in the seventh inning.

Even though he wasn't able to leave L.A. with the lead, Ohtani is still having a strong postseason on the mound with 25 strikeouts in only 18 innings.

Did the Blue Jays pitch to Shohei Ohtani in Game 4?

Despite getting walked five times, four intentionally, in the 18-inning marathon Game 3, Toronto manager John Schneider decided to throw to Ohtani although he walked in his first plate appearance. Otherwise, he went 0-for-3 at the plate Tuesday with two strikeouts and a groundout. He hadn't struck out since Game 1 as he comes off a legendary performance Monday where he reached base an incredible nine times and hit two home runs.

We can't expect Ohtani to dazzle every night, that's not how baseball works. But, the living great has proved us wrong plenty of times before. Nevertheless, he came back down to earth in Game 4, which could be scary for the Blue Jays as they tie the series at two games apiece.

Ohtani remains tied with Corey Seager with eight postseason home runs for the most in a single playoff run in Dodgers history. We'll see if he can break the franchise record with at least two more games ahead of him as the World Series now turns into a best of three.

Arsenal are well-stocked all over the pitch and boast one of the finest squad depths in England, yet they continue to be linked with high-profile transfers ahead of January.

Arsenal overcome Brentford to go five points clear

On the pitch, Mikel Arteta’s side maintained their commanding lead at the Premier League summit with a professional 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

The victory extended their unbeaten streak to an incredible 18 matches across all competitions, with Arteta seriously rotating his squad following a recent demanding triple-header against Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal
Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham
Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Brentford

Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze were all rested from the starting lineup, but the Gunners’ strength in depth showed with Ben White and Noni Madueke combining brilliantly down the right throughout.

The opener arrived early on when White delivered an inviting cross that found Mikel Merino, who powered a header past Caoimhin Kelleher for his fifth goal of the campaign.

The Spaniard, who Arteta never expected to be the proficient going forward, has now netted 21 times in 2025 for club and country, showcasing his remarkable goalscoring form.

Arsenal suffered a blow before the interval when Cristhian Mosquera limped off with an ankle injury, compounding their defensive concerns with both Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba already sidelined. Timber then replaced the injured defender as Arteta juggled his limited centre-back options.

Brentford manager Keith Andrews introduced Igor Thiago, Mikkel Damsgaard and Jordan Henderson from the bench after an hour, while Arteta countered by bringing on Saka and Eze.

Arsenal controlled proceedings but missed several opportunities to seal the contest earlier.

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To add further injury worry after Mosquera, Arsenal’s arguable player of the season, Declan Rice, departed late with a calf problem, with Arteta now sweating over his fitness ahead of a hectic Christmas schedule and the clash with Aston Villa.

Saka finally made the points safe in stoppage time, latching onto Merino’s perfectly weighted pass before finishing past Kelleher despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the effort.

Given Arsenal’s injury curse which has plagued them since last season, sporting director Andrea Berta will be attentive to any unmissable transfer market opportunities.

Enter Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, who is reportedly up for sale this winter after playing a bit-part role under Xabi Alonso.

Rodrygo expresses wish to join Arsenal as agents open talks

Arsenal have already been linked with a move for the Brazil international heading into January, following exploratory talks over a deal last summer.

The 24-year-old has managed just three La Liga starts this term, making the vast majority of his appearances off the bench, with Rodrygo believed to be in the process of finding a new club.

That is according to TEAMtalk and reporter Graeme Bailey, who also state that Rodrygo has ‘expressed a wish’ to join Arsenal among four other Premier League sides he’s also interested in.

Crucially, though, the ex-Santos star’s agents have apparently reopened talks with Arteta’s side, who also ‘pushed hardest’ to sign him in the summer window.

However, Arsenal will need a minimum £70 million to strike a deal, with a loan appearing unlikely as things stand.

Berta and co, meanwhile, are believed to be monitoring his situation closely, which isn’t hard to see why given their bad luck with injuries, not to mention the uncertainty surrounding Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

The latter wingers are both out of contract in under two years, and with no sign of an extension for either, Arsenal need to think about long-term succession planning.

Rodrygo’s £282,000-per-week salary would put him in line with Arsenal’s highest earners, so it is an expensive transfer to pull off beyond just his club fee.

That being said, Rodrygo is also a player of proven quality, having racked up 68 goals and 53 assists in under 300 appearances for Los Blancos.

The Milwaukee Brewers welcomed top pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski to the big leagues on Thursday, as he took the mound for his first MLB start.

Misiorowski wasted no time showing fans exactly why he was such a heralded prospect. Facing St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbar in the top of the first inning, Misiorowski delivered him three consecutive fastballs that were 100-plus mph.

The first pitch was a 100 mph fastball that Nootbar didn't swing at. Misiorowski then pumped it up a bit with a 102 mph fastball that Nootbar missed on. The third pitch was clocked at 101 mph, and the batter was able to foul it back. The rookie ended up getting Nootbar to ground out for what was the first out of his MLB career.

Have a look at Misiorowski lighting up the radar gun right out the gate during his debut:

The 23-year-old worked a clean first inning before notching his first career strikeout in the second frame, sitting down Willson Contreras with a filthy 95 mph slider.

By the end of the second inning, he'd topped 100 mph with 11 pitches, which already ranks fourth among MLB starters this season.

Misiorowski made 13 appearances in Triple A this season, recording a 2.13 ERA with 80 strikeouts and 31 walks in 63 1/3 innings.

Head coach Ryan Harris says South Australia have talked about still hunting ahead of the domestic season after last summer’s memorable scenes

Andrew McGlashan16-Sep-2025

Head coach Ryan Harris completed the domestic state double in his first season•Getty Images

Having waited 13 years for a one-day title and 29 for the Sheffield Shield, somewhat like London buses they came along at once for South Australia last season during an incredible few weeks for a state that, especially in four-day cricket, had for so long propped up the table.So now they head into the 2025-26 season as double defending champions; their One-Day Cup campaign starts on September 20 against New South Wales and the Sheffield Shield on October 4 against Victoria.The message from head coach Ryan Harris during pre-season has been a simple one: that was great, but we need to do it again.Related

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“We spoke about what lies ahead of us,” Harris told ESPNcricinfo. “We want to make sure that we don’t get comfortable in what we’ve done because, although we’ve had a great achievement last year, we haven’t achieved much at all yet.”We have mentioned that we don’t want to be the hunted. Obviously, when you win, people want to beat you, no doubt. Our terminology is we are still hunting. We’ve had one year of great achievements, [but] we haven’t really achieved anything yet. If we sit here in three or four years’ time and we’ve won a few more, then we’ve been a pretty good team.”[The players] like the feeling of winning. Obviously, we haven’t had a lot of it for a while. The boys really enjoyed it. They knew it was hard work. We had a little bit of luck go away last year, but we hadn’t always had a lot of luck go away in the past. You need a little bit of luck to win. They’ve trained as if they’re preparing to win again.”The scenes at Karen Rolton Oval on March 29 when the winning runs were scored went viral around the world as thousands swarmed onto the ground. South Australia had hoped to host the final at Adelaide Oval – where they will begin their Shield defence in October – but couldn’t reach an agreement with the Australian Football League (AFL).Fans mobbed Jason Sangha after he hit the winning runs last season•Getty Images

Perhaps, in the end, it was the ideal outcome: a boutique venue packed out in late summer sunshine as Jason Sangha played the innings of his life and Alex Carey produced one of the finest hours to rebuild a chase of 270 from 28 for 3.”I remember ushering the boys to the corner of the first level of Karen Rolton,” Harris recalled. “And when they came around the corner and saw the field and how many people were out there, I think it took them a little bit by surprise.”They always knew how important this was to win but, obviously with a few guys that are out-of-towners, that are not necessarily born in South Australia, I think it was that moment that they actually realised big it was. They knew it was big, but they didn’t realise it was big.”Sangha has recently spoken about how that day is still talked about around Adelaide, and Harris is happy for his players to delve back into the special memories if it helps them prepare to go again.”I’ve got no problem drawing on the feeling that they had, the success, and obviously the confidence that they have in their own games,” Harris said. “If they need to think back to a game or two or a final to realise where they are and what their gains are, then I’ve got no problem with that.”Again, it’s not about we’ve done it, we’re going to relax and just let it happen again. It’s the hard work that counts, and I can guarantee that they’ve worked hard again. If someone or all of them need to draw on that feeling and that memory of all those people and how popular it was down here, they can do it as long and as much as they want, but they know obviously going forward that that is a moment in time and now it’s time to do it all again.”A lot needs to go right to win titles in any sport, and backing up success is tough. Four-day cricket tests squad strength, injuries are inevitable, and Australia call-ups have to be factored in. Carey is keen to play as much as possible ahead of the Ashes, but it’s yet to be confirmed what South Australia will see of Travis Head.Captain Nathan McSweeney is with Australia A for the four-day leg of their India tour but will be back for the start of the Shield, however allrounder Liam Scott is in both squads. Jake Fraser-McGurk, who faces a crucial season, is in the one-day squad for that tour but was unlikely to find a place in the Shield XI to start the season.Injury-wise, the list isn’t too long for Harris. Left-arm quick Spencer Johnson is out until at least the New Year – “[he’s] not in a great way at the moment,” Harris said – while spin-bowling allrounder Ben Manenti is recovering from a foot niggle and seamer Nathan McAndrew returned from the UK with an inner infection so may miss the start of the one-day competition.”We didn’t have too many bad injuries [last season],” Harris said. “If a bowler missed out, then we had another bowler to come in and take his spot and we’re hoping that we can have that this year. We’ve been challenged in a good way in terms of Australia A selection. That’s obviously a great thing [for them], but we’ll definitely miss those guys.”Last season McSweeney vaulted into Test contention and ended up opening against India while Sangha is back on the radar of the selectors after averaging 78.22 in the title success and has since made a career-best double century for Australia A. At this stage, neither are expected to feature at the start of the Ashes, but Harris knows things can change and as a domestic coach there is the dual challenge of producing international cricketers, who will then be called away, and also wanting to win competitions.”Jason’s been told he just needs to go and do what he did last year, the same [with] Nathan, just find that form that got him in the Test set up,” he said. “That’s one of those things we’ve spoken about, but we don’t talk a lot about because we know that George [Bailey] can ring me and say, no, we’re not looking at you right now. Then [the player] goes out and makes two or three hundreds in the first two or three games, then all of a sudden someone else has failed and he’s in. I’d rather lose them to [a Test call] than injury.”

Chelsea’s scouts have now reportedly been spotted keeping close tabs on a Premier League star ahead of making a potential move in 2026.

Chelsea's January transfer plans

Enzo Maresca is gradually beginning to discover the best formula for success at Stamford Bridge. Without the injured Cole Palmer, the likes of Moises Caicedo and summer signing Joao Pedro have all stepped up – replacing one of the best players in the Premier League in the process. But, there is still something missing before the Blues can become serious title contenders.

As impressive as they are in midfield and going forward at times, Chelsea’s backline still needs work. Amid a number of suspensions and ill-timed injuries, their lack of quality at centre-back has been particularly exposed.

Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill all represent solid options, but it’s difficult to pick a leader out of any of those four players. That must change in 2026. Instead of setting their sights on yet another offensive addition, BlueCo should look to land a major defensive upgrade.

On that front, a number of players have already been linked with moves to West London. Among them is Ronald Araujo, whose Barcelona future continues to be thrown into doubt.

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If the Blues are looking for a defensive standout then signing of La Liga’s finest certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea. Araujo would offer fresh experience to Maresca’s backline whilst still performing at the peak of his powers at 26 years old.

He’s not the only name mentioned in recent reports, however. The West London club have also been linked with a Premier League option, who shares an agent as Liam Delap.

Chelsea scouts spotted watching Ezri Konsa

As reported by The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Chelsea scouts have now been spotted watching Ezri Konsa, who has attracted interest from across the Premier League thanks to his performances at Aston Villa.

The England international is one of a number of players who could yet leave to ease Villa’s PSR problems and, if that does prove to be the case, Chelsea could be lying in wait.

Minutes

3,149

2,936

Progressive Passes

131

90

Tackles Won

34

18

Successful Aerial Duels

121

97

Questions must be asked as to whether Konsa would solve Chelsea’s problems, however. When compared to Colwill last season, it is the Blues’ current star who stands out both in possession and out of it. The last thing that Maresca needs is simply a like-for-like player rather than an upgrade.

That said, the Villa defender has still earned plenty of praise over the years, including from former Manchester City star Micah Richards.

The Sky Sports pundit had nothing but positives after Konsa’s England performance against Switzerland at Euro 2024, saying: “Can you control your nerves? Can you do the basics very well?

“And he has done all of these things. I just think his overall game has been fantastic. He has been excellent, he really has.”

Marseille’s Champions League hopes have been hit hard by injuries, and Roberto De Zerbi made no effort to hide his frustration ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Atalanta. The Italian manager admitted that his squad is stretched to its limits, with several key players sidelined and little time to recover between games.

• Injury crisis deepens for struggling Marseille

  Marseille had hoped to welcome back a few players for Wednesday’s game, but De Zerbi confirmed in Tuesday’s press conference that there would be no returns. Timothy Weah, Bilal Nadir, Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina, Amine Gouiri, Hamed Junior Traore and Geoffrey Kondogbia are all ruled out of the European clash against Atalanta. To make matters worse, Nayef Aguerd’s availability remains doubtful after his late withdrawal before last weekend’s win over Auxerre. Emerson Palmieri is suspended, while Pol Lirola and Neal Maupay are not included in Marseille’s UEFA list, leaving De Zerbi with very few options.

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  De Zerbi frustrated by mounting injuries

  In the pre-match press conference, De Zerbi opened up about the club's mounting injuries and didn’t hide his disappointment with the current situation.

  "Do you think I'm happy to play a Champions League match with eight or nine injured players, plus a suspended one? No, not at all," the Italian manager said. 

  "In analysing the situation, you have to consider everything. Great things often happen in adversity. The victory in Auxerre, where we didn't play well, came at a time when we were in serious trouble. The sun will shine again when Traore, Gouiri, Balerdi, Weah, Kondogbia, and all the injured players return. It will be a little easier. It's in the midst of problems that you have to give your best."

• Marseille boss fumes over tight schedule

  The Italian manager also voiced his frustration with Marseille’s packed run of fixtures, saying the constant turnaround between games has left his squad exhausted. The 46-year-old revealed that before the Auxerre match, the team could only hold a walking session because they had played just two days earlier. 

  "We did it walking because we had only played two days earlier. It was a way of saying that we had prepared for the match without the intensity of a normal training session. You can't prepare for a match 24 hours in advance," he added.

  "I like controversy, that's part of why I came here [to Marseille]. When you ask questions, it pleases me because you're always looking for a sharp retort. It's not about controversy, it's about truth. I have many flaws, but lying isn't one of them; I'm telling you the truth. We played poorly against Angers, but we lost two points in the 95th minute. We played poorly against Auxerre, but I see that some teams are doing less than us to win. From the match against Lorient – where we brought in six key players – until now, Marseille would be top of the table. I'd like to play better, but some of the criticism is a bit disastrous and harsher than reality."

  With only a few days to recover before facing the Serie A club, De Zerbi admitted the situation remains far from ideal. "It's a difficult time, so we need to be a bit tougher and more determined. If we can get through tough times like these, things will get better."

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  Marseille hit a rough patch after a bright start

  The injury pile-up has clearly taken its toll on Marseille’s rhythm. After that explosive 6-2 win where Mason Greenwood stole the show with four goals, things have gone downhill fast. They have since lost to Sporting CP and Lens, drawn 2-2 with Angers, and managed a sluggish 1-0 win over bottom-placed Auxerre.

  Still, Marseille haven’t let PSG run away with a big lead. They sit second in Ligue 1, just two points behind Luis Enrique’s side, who are also battling their own injury crisis. But with the schedule piling up and key players missing, it’s no surprise De Zerbi’s men look a little worn down juggling both league and European nights.

  While De Zerbi has urged his players to dig deep, the coming weeks will be a real test for the squad. After facing Atalanta, Marseille host Brest before a tricky away trip to Nice, followed by another demanding Champions League clash against Newcastle at home. De Zerbi will hope his patched-up squad can rediscover their form despite a deep injury crisis.

Thomas Frank’s appointment as Tottenham Hotspur boss generated huge excitement amongst the fanbase this summer, with the Dane having the chance to build on the Europa League triumph.

He spent seven years in charge of Brentford before his arrival, often relying upon talents such as Bryan Mbeumo to provide the goods within the final third across the capital.

The Cameroonian international thrived under Frank’s guidance in the Premier League, netting 20 times in the top-flight last season, subsequently making him one of the division’s hottest properties.

After the 51-year-old took charge of the Lilywhites, a real sense of excitement built at the prospect of the Dane bringing the 26-year-old with him in an attempt to sustain the recent European triumph.

However, despite interest in his signature, Mbeumo would move to Manchester United in a £71m transfer – a huge amount of money and potentially a slight overpay.

As a result, the new boss has had to rely on another summer addition and one player already on the books to try and provide the impact he desires within attacking areas.

Kudus & Johnson’s start to the 2025/26 season at Spurs

After missing out on Mbeumo’s signature, Spurs forked out £55m for the services of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United to try and hand the manager his next version of the Cameroonian.

Such a deal may have been an expensive one, but it’s a transfer that has been worth every penny to date, with the Ghanaian already registering one goal and four assists in his first ten outings.

His first goal for the Lilywhites came in the recent triumph over Leeds United, subsequently highlighting his ability to pop up with crucial goals when the side need him most.

Kudus isn’t alone in falling into that category, with teammate Brennan Johnson also able to score key goals for the Lilywhites, as seen by his winner in the Europa League final last campaign.

Whilst he’s already scored three times across all competitions, the Welsh international has failed to start a single league game since the end of August and has rapidly fallen down the pecking order.

The 24-year-old will likely be disappointed with his lack of action, which has potentially been impacted by the arrival of Kudus during the recent transfer window.

Whilst both are hugely talented players, it remains to be seen if any can reach the levels produced by Mbeumo in recent times, but one other star already in the ranks could achieve such a feat, given the similarities in their careers.

The Spurs star who could be Frank’s next Mbeumo

Over the last couple of seasons, Spurs have splashed the cash to try and compete with teams around them, as seen by the respective deals to land Kudus and Johnson.

Around £400m has been spent in recent years to catapult the club to the needed success, with such spending undoubtedly helping them claim European glory back in May.

Various recruitment strategies have been in place over recent times, often signing a mixture of youth talent for the future, or players entering their prime and able to make an immediate impact.

However, players sometimes cross over both categories, as seen by the arrival of attacker Wilson Odobert from Burnley back in the summer of 2024.

A deal for the Frenchman certainly came out of nowhere, with the Lilywhites hierarchy paying £25m for his signature after the Clarets suffered relegation back to the Championship.

Whilst the 20-year-old has only made 30 appearances throughout the injury, he’s still managed to impress in North London and show glimpses of his potential and talents.

Odobert, who’s been dubbed “phenomenal” by one analyst, has already scored three times for the club, two of which came during their Europa League-winning campaign in 2024/25 – already highlighting his ability to produce the goods in key moments.

Whilst his goalscoring tally isn’t as impressive as Mbeumo’s, the similarities are there for everyone to see, with the Frenchman moving to England from Troyes.

The now Man Utd talent did the exact same upon his transfer to Brentford back in the summer of 2019 – subsequently needing time to make a huge impact in England.

Games played

16

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

85%

Successful dribbles

1.3

Chances created

0.9

Shots taken

1.4

Touches in opposition box

4.1

Recoveries made

3.6

He struggled to register double figures in goals for each of his first three top-flight campaigns, but the Bees’ patience was certainly rewarded, as seen by his tallies and fee generated in recent times.

Odobert could do the exact same for the Lilywhites in the years ahead, with the club and fanbase needing to support the winger in his attempts for success in North London.

At just 20, he has bags of time to live up to the potential he arrived with, but it’s crucial that Frank works his magic once again to create another world-class attacker.

Spurs have signed an incredible "freak talent" who could be their new Bale

The sensational gem could become Tottenham Hotspur’s new Gareth Bale.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 8, 2025

Should he get anywhere close to Mbeumo’s level, it would be a sensational piece of business and one that could help the Lilywhites sustain their recent success in Europe or even domestically.