Tag Futebol

Sussex take grip on proceedings after being bundled out cheaply on seaming pitch

ECB Reporters Network30-Jun-2024Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson, overlooked for England’s Test squad, bounced back to equal his season’s best tally of four wickets for 42 as Northamptonshire were skittled for 97 on an eventful opening day of this Vitality County Championship match at Wantage Road.Robinson, who claimed identical stats against Yorkshire at Hove, took some stick in his opening overs, but found more control and a better line as he switched ends amid a Steelbacks collapse. This after the hosts had raced to 43 without loss inside six overs before Nathan McAndrew started the slump with two wickets in two balls.On a day which saw 22 wickets fall, Sussex had themselves been bowled out earlier for 143, Northamptonshire seamer Jack White striking with four wickets for 23 runs, his first scalps of the summer since returning from injury. The visitors were undone by some testing seam bowling on a green top with bare ends, the bowlers finding plenty of movement to beat the bat consistently with Sussex losing six wickets for 47 in 19 overs after lunch, despite a series of dropped catches from the hosts.The clatter of wickets meant Sussex were batting again at 5.20pm when, with the sun putting in a late appearance, conditions started to ease. Tom Haines took advantage, hitting 45 as Sussex closed on 83 for 2, 129 ahead.Earlier Haines was first to go in Sussex’s first innings, flashing outside off stump, caught at fourth slip by Matthew Breetzke to give White his first wicket.Daniel Hughes top scored with 35, stroking five boundaries before he was dropped by a diving Prithvi Shaw at second slip off Luke Procter. His reprieve was shortlived as he edged the next delivery behind. Procter soon picked up another when James Coles fell to a good low catch by Breetzke at midwicket.Tom Alsop then departed on the stroke of lunch when tried to work Justin Broad off his hip and was caught behind.After the interval, in-form Sussex captain John Simpson took Sussex into three figures, before the innings swiftly fell apart.Oli Carter was first to go. He had hit consecutive boundaries through the covers before lunch but was undone when White used his height to gain some extra bounce drawing him into pushing outside off stump, keeper Lewis McManus taking the catch.Simpson almost fell soon after, but Shaw shelled a simple chance at second slip off White. The bowler persevered, striking later in the same over when he jagged one back in to trap Fynn Hudson-Prentice lbw.Simpson offered a second chance in the slips off Ben Sanderson, but this time a diving Breetzke could not hold on. He finally fell when Broad gratefully pouched a catch at second slip to give White his fourth wicket. Next Procter had McAndrew caught behind by a diving McManus before Robinson fell first ball, top-edging a return catch to Sanderson.Jack Carson meanwhile took the aggressive route as wickets tumbled around him. He clubbed the ball through the on side and scooped for six before holing out off Sanderson.When Northamptonshire batted, Ricardo Vasconcelos pummelled 16 off the opening over from a wayward Robinson, including a six and two fours before pulling Sean Hunt out of the ground for another maximum. He had moved to 33 when he tried to steer Hunt past fourth slip, Carson taking a superb diving catch.McAndrew then picked up two wickets in two balls thanks to some stunning fielding at third slip from Haines, who first took a good low grab to dismiss Emilio Gay, before an even more spectacular diving catch away to his left as Procter went first ball. South African T20 international Breetzke, playing his first Championship match, was then adjudged lbw to give McAndrew, Northamptonshire’s fourth wicket to fall for 16 runs in three overs.Shaw looked a class apart, driving his first two deliveries from Hunt square for four. He took a liking to McAndrew too, smashing him through the covers and cracking him away off the back foot.But Robinson found a better line and control from the David Capel End and struck on the stroke of tea, Rob Keogh falling to a juggling catch by Coles at slip. He struck again soon after the interval when McManus drove loosely outside off stump and was well caught by a leaping Simpson.Hudson-Prentice made the key breakthrough, removing Shaw, caught by Carson off the leading edge for 31, before Robinson claimed a third wicket, shaping one back in to bowl Sanderson. In his next over he had Raphael Weatherall brilliantly caught by Carson at short cover before taking a catch in the deep himself as Broad holed out off Hudson-Prentice.When Sussex batted again, Northamptonshire made an early breakthrough when White trapped Hughes lbw for 13. Haines though decided attack was the best option, smashing eight boundaries as he and Alsop shared a stand of 63 before he was caught behind off Sanderson.

Looking to ensure that their wait for silverware is far less than the years before winning this season’s FA Cup, Crystal Palace are now reportedly intensifying talks to sign an 18-year-old prospect who is already making waves.

Crystal Palace set to celebrate FA Cup in style

After upsetting the odds to defeat Manchester City in the FA Cup final, Crystal Palace have confirmed that they will be enjoying an open-top bus parade through south London this Monday.

The Eagles released a message to the fans to reveal the celebrations that are planned, saying on the official club website: “It’s the day you’ve long been waiting for: Palace’s open-top bus parade will transport your FA Cup winning heroes, and the historic trophy itself, down the SE25 streets starting at the top of Whitehorse Lane from 12:45.

“The parade route will see the bus start at the top of Whitehorse Lane, turning into Park Road and then down Holmesdale Road; this is expected to last approximately 45 minutes. Be there to bring the noise, and celebrate with Oliver Glasner’s outstanding Eagles as they show off our legendary prize.”

For many, they will deem Palace’s victory a once-in-a-lifetime moment, but Steve Parish and the rest of those at Selhurst Park will be desperate to make sure that such celebrations become more than just a rarity. And Glasner will be a big part of that.

The job that the Austrian has completed in south London deserves immense praise, but he may just be getting started. Crystal Palace are now a Europa League club and have the chance to create more moments of history with Glasner at the helm.

With European football to offer too, Palace could beat Premier League rivals Fulham to the arrival of an impressive 18-year-old midfielder this summer.

Crystal Palace intensify talks to sign Bongeli

According to Africa Foot, as relayed by Sport Witness, Crystal Palace are now set to intensify talks to sign Faveurdi Bongeli from TP Mazembe this summer. The 18-year-old midfielder is reportedly already making waves and has attracted the interest of the Eagles alongside Fulham and German Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach.

With plenty of competition for his signature, it’s no surprise that Palace have seemingly stepped up their efforts to win the race for Bongeli’s signature. Though still a teenager, the Palace target has already been making his mark on senior football, starting three of Mazembe’s five CAF Champions League games and winning once.

Crystal Palace jostling to sign "complete" midfielder in deal worth £30m

The Eagles could swoop in ahead of rival clubs.

ByTom Cunningham May 24, 2025

Despite that, it must be said that he still has a long way to go before he is capable of breaking into Glasner’s Palace midfield. Whether those in south London will be willing to take a chance on an unproven young player remains to be seen, in what could be a frustrating blow for Bongeli.

A player with plenty of potential, even despite his lack of experience, it will certainly be interesting to see whether Palace decide to give rivals a free run at a young star. Bongeli, meanwhile, could have the most important decision of his career to make in the coming months.

Tottenham Hotspur are on the look-out for new managers to replace the under-fire Ange Postecoglou this summer, with widespread reports claiming the Australian is likely to walk regardless of their success in the Europa League final.

Tottenham identify managerial candidates amid Postecoglou uncertainty

Postecoglou has now led Spurs to 20 Premier League defeats in a single campaign, breaking the club’s record which was previously held by former Lilywhites boss Ossie Ardiles, who oversaw 19 top flight losses in the 1993/1994 season.

Related Tottenham: £4m-per-year manager enters pole position to replace Postecoglou

The Australian could still leave Spurs if they win the Europa League.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini May 10, 2025

While Postecoglou has an all-important Europa League final on the horizon, which could well save Tottenham’s season, the 59-year-old’s future remains uncertain.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.05

Pedro Porro

6.98

James Maddison

6.98

Dominic Solanke

6.88

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Even if Spurs win the competition and end their 17-year wait for a piece of major silverware, all while qualifying for next season’s Champions League, there is still absolutely no guarantee that Postecoglou will be in charge next term.

As per the reliable David Ornstein and other media sources, Postecoglou remains likely to be replaced by Tottenham this summer in the event they’re victorious in Bilbao against Man United come May 21.

“I think the direction of travel is for Spurs to make a change in the summer, irrespective of the outcome of this match,” said Ornstein on the Sky Sports Back Pages podcast this week (via GiveMeSport).

“I do take the point on the emotion, and we saw what happened with Manchester United [under Erik ten Hag], although that may serve as a warning why clubs shouldn’t repeat what they did.

“The view of the club seems to be that he hasn’t got what he should’ve out of the team this season, and that’s putting it politely. And therefore, whatever happens in this Europa League campaign, I think that a new coach coming in over the summer is a very high possibility.”

In terms of Tottenham’s reported managerial targets, the likes of Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford), Scott Parker (Burnley), Jürgen Klopp (Head of Global, Red Bull), Niko Kovač (Borussia Dortmund) and Edin Terzić (free agent) have all been linked in recent weeks.

Tottenham hold talks with ex-Barcelona manager Xavi

Now, as per ex-Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys, via his personal website, former Barcelona boss Xavi has also attracted interest from N17. The Camp Nou legend guided Barça to a La Liga and Spanish Super Cup title in 2023, but later parted company, telling any future manager that they’d “suffer” in the job.

He’s been out of work ever since, with Keys sharing information from a “very good source” of his that Tottenham have held talks with Xavi over becoming their new manager.

However, as things stand, it is believed the 45-year-old is not looking to make a Premier League move just yet. This comes as a dampening blow for Spurs, with Xavi arguably the most exciting free agent coach available for hire right now.

Unlike Postecoglou, Xavi has also been praised for his in-game tactical switch ups and versatility when it comes to making substitutions.

“Xavi is intelligent, and he knows it,” said ex-Liverpool and Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez. “The substitutions that Xavi makes are intelligent.”

As it has been for a number of years, Chelsea’s famous Cobham academy is a conveyor belt for elite talent. The 2010s was perhaps the best era to date for their academy.

They produced currency Premier League stars such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ola Aina and Mason Mount, whilst Tammy Abraham, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori are all plying their trade at AC Milan.

Their current crop of academy talent might end up being better. One of the most highly-rated players in the academy is defender Josh Acheampong, who was one of ten academy stars to make his senior debut in 2024.

Another Cobham graduate who is establishing himself in the Chelsea team under Enzo Maresca is Tyrique George, who has made a big impression so far.

George's Chelsea career so far

It has been a real whirlwind few months for 19-year-old George, who has become an established member of Maresca’s squad after making his debut last August in the Conference League qualifiers.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Expand Collapse

He has gone from strength to strength in recent weeks in particular. The London-born winger now has 20 games under his belt for the West London giants, scoring two goals and grabbing four assists, an impressive return so far.

His first strike for the Blues was in the Conference League quarter-final against Legia Warsaw, and he bagged his first goal in the Premier League last weekend too against Fulham. It was a superb finish, unleashing a first-time strike into the bottom left corner after Antonee Robinson’s miscued clearance fell at his feet.

Blues boss Maresca was complimentary of the attacker after his goal against the Cottagers last time out.

He described the winger as “a talent” and said he is “doing well” in the first team at Stamford Bridge.

It has been a dream start to life as a professional footballer and he could well become the next great Cobham star. However, there is a player in the Chelsea academy who might end up rivalling him for a place in the first team soon.

Chelsea's next exciting academy star

As good as George has been this season, perhaps Jimmy-Jay Morgan will leapfrog him in the first team at some stage.

A centre-forward by trade, the youngster is currently out on loan with League 2 side Gillingham, who are towards the lower end of the table but surely safe from relegation.

It has not been the easiest time of things for Morgan on loan at the Southern outfit. Adapting to senior football for the first time can be a challenge, and he has two goals in 14 appearances for the club so far.

However, despite the lack of goals during his time with the Gills so far, he has some strong underlying numbers, as per Sofascore. For example, Morgan averages 2.3 shots and completes 1.1 dribbles per game.

19-year-old Morgan is clearly a talented forward, as he has shown as a Gillingham player. However, his numbers from his time playing for Chelsea’s U21 side further showcase just how dangerous he can be.

Overall, Morgan’s record for the most senior side of the Cobham academy is impressive. In 34 appearances so far, he has found the back of the net 16 times and has also managed to grab three assists.

George record for Chelsea U21s

Competition (season)

Games

Minutes

Goals

Assists

EFL Trophy (2023/24)

3

233

1

0

Premier League 2 (2023/24)

14

849

6

1

Premier League 2 playoffs (2023/24)

3

135

1

0

EFL Trophy (2024/25)

3

124

0

0

Premier League 2 (2024/25)

11

442

8

2

Stats from Transfermarkt

Football scout Antonio Mango described Morgan as a player who is “too good for his age”, while Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth has suggested he’s “going to be a hell of a player when he’s older”. Although the weight of goals isn’t necessarily there, his experience playing senior football will have surely taught him plenty.

George has shown there is still a pathway from Cobham into the first team at Stamford Bridge, and perhaps next season, with Nicolas Jackson underperforming and Christopher Nkunku likely on his way out, Morgan can be the man to break into the squad.

Related Chelsea have signed "future Ballon d'Or winner" who's going to stunt George

Tyrique George could find his first team minutes at Chelsea are halted by the emergence of this sensational forward.

Posts 4 ByKelan Sarson Apr 22, 2025

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

RCB and KKR kick off business end of league phase

As RCB fans line up white-jersey tribute, it's business as usual for Virat Kohli

Shastri: Kohli retired from Tests without regret

Patidar resumes batting as he recovers from finger injury

Mayank Yadav ruled out of IPL 2025 after another back injury

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

• Stoinis to undergo scans after hurting finger during LSG's big win

• Stoinis, Mayers star in LSG's performance for the ages

• Lucknow Super Giants smash the second highest total in IPL history

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

Swepson emulating Shane Warne and challenging Nathan Lyon

Head, Handscomb turn thoughts to England as Shield draws to close

James Pattinson puts all his eggs into the Ashes basket

Matthew Wade and Joe Burns see Test hope fade
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.

Arsenal hold new talks with Juventus star who Alonso has recommended to Real Madrid

The Gunners are ‘captivated’ by him.

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 3, 2025

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.