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Tottenham Hotspur’s start to life under Thomas Frank has been topsy-turvy to say the least, with the fanbase no doubt feeling mixed emotions during the opening months of his tenure.

The Dane has led the Lilywhites to incredible heights away from home in the Premier League, currently remaining as the only side yet to lose on their travels in 2025/26.

However, their form in North London has been a huge cause for concern, with their record of one win, two draws and three losses from their six games the second worst in England’s top-flight.

Frank’s men haven’t won on home soil since the 3-0 opening day triumph over Burnley, subsequently going 87 days without a home victory – a simply unacceptable statistic.

However, with January rapidly appearing on the horizon, it will no doubt present a fresh opportunity for the 52-year-old to further bolster the squad to end such a dismal record.

Spurs’ hunt for new attacking talent in the January window

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have been credited with an interest in landing numerous top-level attackers to help improve Frank’s options within the final third of the pitch.

The Lilywhites have been named as just one Premier League team in the race to sign Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo, with the Japanese winger set for a winter exit from the LaLiga outfit.

A fee in the region of £52m has been mooted for the 25-year-old’s signature this winter, which has led to the player himself speaking of his desire to move to the Premier League.

However, he’s not the only player from Spain’s top-flight currently in their sights, with Real Madrid star Rodrygo another top-level talent the hierarchy are preparing a move for.

According to one Spanish outlet, the Lilywhites are set to make an €80m (£70m) offer for the 24-year-old in January, after the Brazilian fell down Xabi Alonso’s pecking order.

The report also states that the player himself is extremely keen on a move to the Premier League, which could led to a potential club-record deal for Frank’s men.

Why Spurs’ £70m target would be an upgrade on Kudus

Only a couple of months ago, Spurs did splash the cash on a new forward, subsequently spending a fee in the region of £55m on the signature of Mohammed Kudus.

The Ghanaian completed such a deal from rivals West Ham United, but the 25-year-old has already made himself a fan-favourite with the Lilywhites faithful in North London.

He’s featured ten times in England’s top-flight to date, already racking up one goal and four assists – with such a tally the highest tally of any player in the first-team squad.

Kudus’ only goal came in the triumph over Leeds United back in October, but he will have to wait to make a further impact after missing Saturday’s draw with Manchester United through injury.

His tally of 34 dribbles is the highest of any player in the Premier League, further highlighting the immediate impact he’s had since his big-money transfer this summer.

However, his minutes could prove to be limited from January onwards, especially if the hierarchy manage to complete a deal for Madrid star Rodrygo.

The £70m would be a huge statement of intent from the board, but it would also allow them to recruit an elite-level talent – as seen by his tally of 23 combined goals and assists in 2024/25.

When comparing his stats to those of Kudus from the ongoing campaign, the Brazilian has massively outperformed the Ghanaian in key areas – showcasing how much of an excellent addition he would be in January.

Rodrygo, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by Ben Mattinson, has achieved a better shot on target accuracy rate, subsequently showcasing his increased goal threat over Kudus.

Games played

10

10

Minutes played

261

875

Progressive carries

7.6

3.3

Progressive passes

4.1

2.2

Shot on target accuracy

50%

35%

Pass accuracy

83%

72%

Key passes

1.7

1.4

Passes into final third

3.8

1.3

Carries into final third

3.8

1.5

He’s also completed more progressive passes and carries per 90, highlighting his ability to get the ball into dangerous areas for those around him in attacking areas.

Other numbers, such as more key passes and more passes into the final third completed, also demonstrate his creativity, which could help bolster Frank’s side’s impressive figures in 2025/26.

There’s no doubt £70m would be a mammoth price tag, but it would be a deal that would help the manager’s quest to transform their current dismal record on home soil.

At just 24, Rodrygo has bags of time to improve further and potentially help the Lilywhites reach the next level after their Europa League triumph at the end of last season.

Spurs may already have their new Harry Kane and he could replace Kolo Muani

Tottenham might need to come up with a left-field solution to their striker woes.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 11, 2025

Through the many storied decades of MLB postseason history, there's only been a few recorded instances of no-hitters or perfect games.

There have been just two no-hitters in MLB playoff history, while there's only been one perfect game—and it happened nearly 70 years ago. These are two very rare occasions in baseball in general, so it's even more difficult to achieve under the pressure of the playoffs.

A no-hitter is when the pitcher allows zero hits over the course of the game, while a perfect game is when the pitcher doesn't even allow a runner to reach base (no hits and no walks). It's extremely tough for pitchers to accomplish these feats because the game has so many talented batters nowadays.

The First No-Hitter in MLB Playoff History

The MLB postseason's first no-hitter actually happened to be a perfect game, too. New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen allowed no hitters and no walks against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1956 during Game 5 of the World Series. Jackie Robinson was the closest Dodger to reaching base in the game. Larsen threw 97 pitches to accomplish this difficult feat.

Perfect Games in MLB Playoff History

Larsen's perfect game in 1956 remains the only perfect game in MLB postseason history to this day. That just shows how tough it is to achieve this piece of history. There's been just 24 perfect games in all of MLB history.

No-Hitters in MLB Playoff History

Roy Halladay – NLDS, Phillies vs. Reds, 2010

There's only been two no-hitters in MLB history. The first sole no-hitter in MLB postseason history didn't happen until the 2010 season when Philadelphia Phillies starter Roy Halladay accomplished the feat in the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Phillies went on to sweep the series and advance to the NLCS, but lost to the San Francisco Giants before the World Series.

It was Roy Halladay's first postseason start at 33 years old. Halladay had thrown a perfect game during the MLB regular season in 2010, too. He won the Cy Young Award that year. Additionally, Halladay was inducted into the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame, and his No. 34 jersey was retired by the Phillies.

Astros Combined – World Series, Astros vs. Phillies 2022

The Houston Astros pitchers in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series combined for a no-hitter vs. the Phillies. Starting pitcher Cristian Javier first had six no-hit innings to begin the game. The relief pitchers Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly followed up by continuing the no-hitter.

It was the second combined no-hitter that Javier was involved in during the 2022 season. This time, it was during the World Series when the Astros were down 2–1. It helped propel them to become the eventual champions.

The two most recent playoff no-hitters were both thrown at Citizens Bank Park, the first being thrown by a Phillies pitcher, and the second being against the Phillies. Coincidentally, Dusty Baker was involved in both no-hitters in these games—first with the Reds, then with the Astros.

Near-Misses: Almost No-Hitters and Perfect Games in the MLB Playoffs

There's been 10 close calls in MLB playoff history. Here's a quick rundown of all of those games.

Braves Combined – World Series, Braves vs. Astros, 2021

During Game 3 of the 2021 World Series between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros, the combined pitchers of Ian Anderson, A.J. Minter, Luke Jackson and Tyler Matzek went seven innings with no hits. Starter Anderson had walked three batters during his five innings. When Matzek took over in the eighth, Aledmys Díaz hit a single to end the Braves' no-hitter campaign.

Aníbal Sánchez – NLCS, Nationals vs. Cardinals, 2019

Washington Nationals starter Aníbal Sánchez was on track to record a no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals until Jose Martinez hit a single in the eighth inning with two outs.

Michael Wacha – NLDS, Cardinals vs. Pirates, 2013

Michael Wacha almost recorded a no-hitter in his postseason debut during his rookie season in the 2013 NLDS vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wacha, who is currently in the playoffs with the Kansas City Royals, had no hits until Pedro Alvarez hit a solo home run in the eighth inning. The Cardinals still won Game 4.

Tigers Combined – ALCS, Tigers vs. Red Sox, 2013

The Detroit Tigers' pitching staff of Aníbal Sánchez, Al Alburquerque, Jose Veras, Drew Smyly and Joaquin Benoit attempted a combined no-hitter. Starter Sánchez walked six through six innings. The relief pitchers closed out the innings until Daniel Nava hit a single off of Benoit in the ninth inning.

Jim Lonborg – World Series, Red Sox vs. Cardinals, 1967

Jim Lonborg had bids for a perfect game and a no-hitter, until he gave up a walk in the seventh inning, and then a double in the eighth inning. The Red Sox won Game 2, but the Cardinals ended up winning the World Series.

Bill Bevens – World Series, Yankees vs. Dodgers, 1947

Bill Bevens walked 10 batters during his no-hitter campaign during Game 4 of the 1947 World Series. The ninth inning was where it all went wrong for Bevens and the Yankees—Cookie Lavagetto hit a walkoff double and brought in two of the batters Bevens had walked earlier in the inning. The Dodgers won the game, but the Yankees went on to win the World Series.

Red Ruffing – World Series, Yankees vs. Cardinals, 1942

Yankees starter Red Ruffing walked five batters, including two in the first inning, but didn't allow a hit until the eighth inning when Terry Moore hit a single.

Monte Pearson – World Series, Yankees vs. Reds, 1939

Monte Pearson fulfilled a shutout in Game 2 of the World Series, but his no-hitter bid ended when Reds' Ernie Lombardi hit a single in the eighth inning. Pearson only walked one batter during the game.

Burleigh Grimes – World Series, Cardinals vs. Athletics, 1931

Burleigh Grimes walked three batters, but his no-hitter campaign ended in the eighth inning when Bing Miller hit a single. It happened to be the first time Miller ever got a hit off of Grimes.

Herb Pennock – World Series, Yankees vs. Pirates, 1927

Herb Pennock was close to recording the first perfect game in MLB playoff history as he entered the eighth inning—that was, until Pie Traynor hit a single. The Yankees still won the game and the World Series.

Four India A batters scored half-centuries in the second dig after Lions took a 30-run first-innings lead

Nagraj Gollapudi02-Jun-2025In the end, the first unofficial Test in Canterbury was mostly an extended batting session for both teams with bowlers toiling hard on a benign pitch. After England Lions were bowled out on the cusp of the lunch break on Monday having taken a 30-run lead, four India A batters scored brisk half-centuries before the teams agreed to a draw an hour after tea.Those picking some easy runs included the India A opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran, as well as Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Jaiswal and Abhimanyu got off to aggressive starts and got to the 50-mark without breaking much sweat. While Jaiswal would be slightly disappointed about playing a loose stroke for the second time in the match, he did not berate himself on his way out like his captain did.For Abhimanyu, tour matches are a sort of litmus test. He might have played for India A for several years, might have played 100-plus first-class matches, might have been picked in the India squad many times over the last few years, but his Test debut still remains a fair distance away. On the first day, after being asked to bat, Abhimanyu was back in the dressing room about half-hour into the morning, trapped lbw for 8. On Monday, he clipped a four off his legs and looked determined to score quickly and score big.Abhimanyu Easwaran played a stroke-filled innings•Bipin PatelLunging forward, he would hit successive fours through the covers against Lions’ seamer Zaman Akhter to move close to a half-century, which he reached with a steer for a single. On 68, though, Abhimanyu attempted to reverse a delivery from legspinner Rehan Ahmed, who pitched it outside leg. It was an erroneous decision as he saw his leg stump uprooted.Jurel, who walked in at one-down, and Reddy enjoyed some batting time before the game was called off. Both players are in the fray for spots in the first Test in Leeds starting June 20. Having missed out on the century by a mere six runs on the first day, Jurel once again showed his free-flowing strokeplay, and is likely to be competing against Karun Nair for a specialist batter’s position in the middle order.Reddy, on the other hand, will look to build on his bowling in the second match against Lions that starts in Northampton from June 6. Though cleared to play in March by the BCCI medical staff after he suffered a side strain, Reddy started to bowl only in the past few weeks and has been since then gradually building his workload. He bowled 14.5 overs in Canterbury while picking up one wicket, that of tailender Eddie Jack.

Former Germany midfielder Didi Hamann criticised the match officials after Luis Diaz was wrongly deemed onside before scoring the equaliser, which proved to be the turning point in Bayern Munich’s 4-1 win over Koln. Hamann argued that the absence of VAR until the third round of the DFB-Pokal is unfair to teams that have been eliminated due to refereeing errors.

Diaz and Bayern benefit from lack of VAR in Koln win

Koln took the lead through Ragnar Ache after making a strong start to the game, testing Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig on multiple occasions. The turning point came in the 36th minute when Diaz scored the equaliser in controversial fashion. Konrad Laimer drove forward into Koln’s half and laid the ball off for Josip Stanisic, whose shot was saved by goalkeeper Ron Robert Zieler. However, Zieler could only parry the ball into the path of Diaz, who tapped it into an empty net. Replays later showed that Diaz was in an offside position before scoring, but with VAR only available to referees from the third round of the DFB Pokal, the error went uncorrected and the goal stood. Bayern went on to win the match 4-1.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHamann argues Koln could have won

Former Germany and Liverpool midfielder Hamann, in his column for , criticised the officials for failing to spot Diaz’s offside goal, which he believed was the decisive moment of the match, saying: “To beat them [Bayern], everything has to fall into place. But if the 1-1 hadn't counted, then perhaps the second goal wouldn't have been scored either and Cologne would have gone into the break with a lead.”

He added: “It's all hypothetical, but when you concede a goal like that, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to beat Bayern. That's not to detract from the winners' achievements. Bayern played a great game in Koln.”

Bayern take charge with Harry Kane double

The officials’ mistake proved costly, as just two minutes after Diaz’s equaliser, Harry Kane showcased his trademark off-the-ball persistence by dispossessing a Koln defender inside the box before turning and firing home to give Bayern a 2-1 lead. The England captain doubled his tally in the 62nd minute, rising highest to head in Joshua Kimmich’s corner and make it 3-1.

With Koln chasing the game, they pushed players forward, leaving gaps at the back. In the 72nd minute, Michael Olise sparked a swift counterattack, finding Aleksandar Pavlovic, who carried the ball the length of the pitch before switching it to Diaz on the opposite flank. Diaz then squared the ball back to Olise, who calmly slotted it past Zieler to seal a 4-1 victory for Bayern. The victory marked Bayern’s 14th win in 14 games across all competitions, surpassing a record set by AC Milan in the 1992-93 season. Koln coach Lukas Kwasniok praised Bayern’s relentless form, saying he sees a strong sense of determination within Vincent Kompany’s side to chase another treble, a feat the Bavarians last achieved in the 2020-21 season. 

However, Hamann argued that their treble hopes may have been dashed this week had VAR been in effect, instead of only being implemented from the third round of the DFB-Pokal. The ex-Liverpool player said the system’s partial use is unfair to teams like Koln, who have been eliminated in earlier rounds due to refereeing errors.

“The crazy thing is that teams have advanced in the DFB-Pokal due to the absence of VAR, but may benefit from it in the next rounds. That's hard for the eliminated clubs to accept,” Hamann said.

“How do you intend to explain to Koln, now that they have been eliminated, that VAR will be used from now on? That won't do them any good.

“It is not acceptable to only use the technology from the third round onwards. Either you play the entire competition with VAR, or you play the entire competition without it.”

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Getty Images SportBayern out to dismantle Bundesliga rivals this weekend

Bayern will aim to make it 15 wins in 15 games when they face Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, as Vincent Kompany’s men look to build on their strong momentum from recent victories.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Fluminense está classificado às quartas de final da Copa do Brasil Sub-20. O Tricolor garantiu a vaga após golear o Vasco da Gama por 4 a 0 na noite desta segunda-feira (4), no Estádio Luso-Brasileiro, e fechar o confronto com 7 a 3 no placar agregado.

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O clássico desta segunda-feira (4) seguiu o manual do confronto de ida e começou bastante movimentado, com chances para os dois lados e indícios de um novo empate. O roteiro só ganhou novos contrastes a partir dos 49 minutos da primeira etapa, quando Lucas Eduardo, do Vasco, recebeu o segundo amarelo e foi expulso.

+ Cupom LANCEFUT com 10% OFF para os fanáticos por esporte em compras acima de R$299,90

O Fluminense soube aproveitar a vantagem numérica para ser soberano por toda etapa final da partida. A goleada tricolor começou a ser construída com Kauã Elias aos 15 minutos, após um vacilo na saída de bola do goleiro Lecce. Aos 17′, Arthur aproveitou outra falha cruz-maltina para ampliar o resultado para o time das Laranjeiras. A classificação foi sacramentada com gols de Agner, aos 32′, e Isaac nos últimos instantes do clássico no Luso-Brasileiro.

Sem perder para o Vasco há quatro jogos, o Fluminense não só ampliou a vantagem no retrospecto do clássico na categoria, mas também encerrou a sequência invicta do Cruz-maltino – que não era derrotado há quatro partidas.

Lionel Messi joined Carlos Vela in an exclusive MLS club after posting a hat-trick of assists for Inter Miami. The Argentine GOAT was at his brilliant best once again as the Herons eased to a 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution. When it comes to combined goals and assists in 2025, Messi has burst beyond 40 – a mark that only one other player has passed at the highest level of North American soccer.

What is Vela's MLS goal contributions record?

It appears unlikely that Messi will go on to make more history by eclipsing the achievements of former LAFC striker Vela. The ex-Arsenal frontman posted some incredible numbers in 2019, with the Mexico international involved in 49 goals. Inter Miami have just two fixtures left on their regular season schedule this term.

Messi has helped to guide the Herons towards the playoffs once more, with disappointment having been suffered at that stage 12 months ago after claiming the Supporters’ Shield in record-breaking style. That prize has eluded Inter Miami this time around, with the Philadelphia Union being confirmed as the best-performing team in MLS.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAdvertisementAFPMessi could make history with back-to-back MVP awards

Messi, though, remains in contention to become the first player to claim back-to-back MVP awards. The Revs had no answer to him at Chase Stadium, with the evergreen 38-year-old running rings around Pablo Moreira’s side at times. He racked up three assists on the day, taking him to 17 for the season. Messi has also found the target on 24 occasions himself in MLS – with his goal tally standing at 32 across all competitions.

Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano continues to sing Messi’s praises, having played down talk of a rift between the former Argentina international team-mates, and told reporters after witnessing another masterclass: “He gave us the possibility of opening the score and then securing [the result]. Not only with the pass for Jordi [Alba], but when they [New England] made it 2-1, and in the next play with an assist that only he can give. He keeps showing the ability he has and, more than anything, the ambition and desire to go for more.”

Inter Miami surrender Supporters' Shield crown in 2025

Messi helped fellow countryman Tadeo Allende to get on the scoresheet, as he bagged a brace, with the Argentine winger saying of his illustrious compatriot: “This is routine for him. If he does not punish you all the time with goals, then he punishes you with assists.”

Inter Miami are not overly concerned at surrendering their Supporters’ Shield crown, as they remain in the hunt for ultimate MLS Cup honours, with Mascherano adding on the current state of play in South Florida: “If you look at it, Philadelphia is a deserving winner, but it also had an advantage of having played maybe 10 fewer games [across all competitions] than us. We would’ve loved to reach the final match day with chances to win, but this doesn’t change our objective at all. We want to finish as high as possible and go into the playoffs in the best position we can.”

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GettyMessi to play in Miami but for Argentina

Inter Miami are due to be back in action next Saturday when playing host to Atlanta United. Messi is likely to miss that contest after being included in the Argentina squad that is preparing to play Venezuela in a friendly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on October 10.

Mascherano said of having to shuffle his pack: “We will see who we have available. The reality is that some players are off to be with their national teams.”

Following Inter Miami's 4-0 win over NYCFC Wednesday at Citi Field, manager Javier Mascherano highlighted that the team had accomplished their first objective of the season – securing a place in the MLS playoffs. He added that while some players will get rest, the Herons will also aim to finish as high as possible in the Eastern Conference standings.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  A big boost of confidence

  Miami proved dominant in their win in New York. Lionel Messi scored twice, Baltasar Rodríguez added a goal, and Luis Suárez converted a penalty as the Herons secured another win, moving up to third in the Eastern Conference with 55 points. Mascherano’s side also notched a rare clean sheet, a feat they’ve struggled with this season. 

  “We achieved our first goal, it was very important for us. We have to keep pushing forward. We still have two games left, so we’ll try to rotate the squad a bit, but we also want to win and secure the best possible playoff position,” Mascherano said. “We want to fight for the Supporters’ Shield, but first we need to focus on Toronto, recover our players, and keep our mindset that the next match is always the most important.”

Advertisement

• Messi’s team-first spirit

  Mascherano also praised Lionel Messi’s unselfishness after the Argentine star once again gave penalty opportunities to his teammates. 

  “We need goals more than he does, and that’s exactly how he wants it. He likes to share, to involve everyone. Suárez needed to score, and that’s really good for the group,” he explained.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Valuable clean sheet on the road

  Another positive takeaway for Miami was keeping a clean sheet, something the team has only done five times this season. 

  “The next games we’ll work hard to avoid conceding. That will help us a lot in the playoffs,” Mascherano said. 

  He also acknowledged the club’s next target, which is climbing as high as possible to secure home-field advantage.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Traveling to Canada

  The Herons look to keep their strong run going in MLS as they visit Toronto FC this Saturday.

England seamer acknowledges whitewash in Australia was big setback in attempt to inspire new generation

Valkerie Baynes07-Mar-2025

Kate Cross believes cultural change must form part of England’s rise from their Women’s Ashes nadir as the team sets out to win back fans as well as cricket matches.Cross admitted there was little positive to say off the back of a 16-nil points defeat at the hands of Australia, as players and staff await the outcome of an ECB review into the tour.”There’s areas that we probably know we need to address from cricket points of view, but also from probably cultural points of view as well,” Cross said. “This review, I don’t know what’s going to come of it, but I’m hoping that these are the things that will get addressed, and pave the way for the next generation to want to play for England.”The result in Australia was particularly disappointing for England in light of the excitement and optimism that the team generated in the course of their home Ashes campaign in 2023, in which they battled back from defeat in the one-off Test to square the series 8-8 with victories in both white-ball legs.”Ultimately I feel like we might’ve lost a few fans in the last couple of months, which is really sad from our point of view,” Cross added. “I think the 2023 Ashes was how good it can be and the 2025 Ashes how bad it can be.”The review, announced by Clare Connor, managing director of England Women’s Cricket, in the immediate aftermath of the Ashes whitewash, has conducted player interviews and is expected to make public its recommendations later this month.Cross brought a unique perspective to her evaluation of the tour, having travelled with a bulging disc in her back, which ultimately kept her sidelined throughout despite repeated attempts to prove her fitness to play.She acknowledged that, as professional athletes, players must accept increased scrutiny of their performances and she hoped people would “fall back in love with English cricket” after a torrid winter for both the women’s and men’s teams, the latter dumped out of contention in the Champions Trophy after two matches.England failed to win a match in the multi-format Women’s Ashes and were comprehensively out-played by hosts Australia, with the tourists’ physical fitness and mental toughness coming under the microscope, particularly in the wake of a row involving Alex Hartley, the former World Cup-winner turned commentator.Related

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“It was unprecedented how poorly we performed over there, I don’t think anyone probably anticipated the Ashes turning out the way it did, and obviously there was a huge disappointment that came with that,” Cross said.”As a group of players now, we don’t know what’s going to come of this review that’s happening at the moment, but I think it motivates you to be a better group of players and a better, I guess, version of yourself.”For Cross, it was a particularly frustrating trip, coming more than a decade on from her breakthrough performance at Perth on the 2013-14 tour of Australia, where her starring role on Test debut helped set England up for their most recent Ashes series win.”My reflections on my trip were quite unusual. I didn’t get to play a game of cricket, but as a 33-year-old getting ruled out of an Ashes series was devastating. So I feel like it’s made me really think about how I want to manage my career now moving forwards and, with the new structure of the tiers in the counties, I’m hoping that I’ll be so well supported with that, that that wasn’t my last Ashes hopefully.England’s players look on as Australia celebrate their Women’s Ashes whitewash•Getty Images

“Ultimately as players, we still want to try and get young girls interested in the game and us losing quite drastically isn’t going to do that. So we’re going to have to have a real look at how we want to portray ourselves as a team moving forward and try and get a bit of love back from our fans because we, or certainly I, felt that we kind of lost a lot of that from our Ashes series, so hopefully we can move in the right direction now.”Her comments suggest an acceptance that the ‘inspire and entertain’ mantra the team has espoused since Jon Lewis took over as head coach in 2022 has become irrelevant amid a rash of poor performances, going back to the group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup in October.Cross was speaking at the launch of the Professional Cricketers’ Association Women’s Impact Report, highlighting advances made in the game since 2020. That progress includes equal domestic minimum salaries of £28,000 for men and women from this season, where women’s teams have been aligned with the men’s in a three-tiered county-based structure.But more work remains to be done, including addressing the salary gap between genders in the Hundred, which widened rather than closed this year. While the leading earners in the men’s competition will earn £200,000, an increase of 60%, the top earners in the women’s game will earn £65,000, up 30%. The base salary for men went up by £1,000 on last year to £31,000 compared to the women, who went from £8,000 to £10,000.”I would hope to see that it happens quite quickly, especially with how vocal the players were about the pay gap getting bigger,” Cross said. “It was obviously a disappointment, but I’m always of the bigger picture, that the Hundred has done a lot for the women’s game. It continues to do that. It puts us in a spotlight that we’ve never had before in the domestic game.”So as disappointing as those headlines are, there’s still a lot of great stuff and there’s a lot more money coming into the game now and hopefully that’ll get pushed in the right direction and the gender play gap will continue to get smaller rather than get bigger.”A PCA working group will lobby the ECB on various aspects of the Hundred, which will receive a huge injection of funds through private investment from next season.Daryl Mitchell, PCA chief executive, said: “From our side, I think particularly the announcement of the salaries took us a little bit by surprise this time around, I think the communication needs to improve, particularly in that sort of announcement. What we were shown in October actually, at the players’ summit, was very different in terms of salary bands to what was actually produced and put out publicly.”There’s been some pretty robust discussions about that process, it’s fair to say, over the last couple of months. The ECB have stated it was an interim year with the sale of the Hundred franchises with a view to increase the salaries across the board next year. There’s a lot of things to work through.”

Queensland have notched their first win of the Sheffield Shield season following match-winning bowling displays from Mitch Swepson and Mark Steketee

AAP08-Dec-2024

Legspinner Mitchell Swepson has boosted his hopes of being picked for Australia’s Test tour of Sri Lanka after weaving his magic to lead Queensland to a thrilling 23-run Sheffield Shield win over Victoria at the MCG.Chasing 273 for victory, Victoria were bowled out for 249 late on day three despite the best efforts of Peter Handscomb who made a fighting 78 off 139 balls.Swepson was the key player on Sunday, snaring 4 for 88 from 30 overs to ensure Victoria’s run chase spluttered. Mark Steketee then finished the job, claiming the final two wickets to finish with 3-46.With Australia set to take multiple spinners for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in January and February, Swepson’s performance was timely. He was spinning the ball so much on the turning pitch that one crowd member even yelled out, “Is that Shane Warne?” after one particularly impressive delivery.Queensland resumed play on day three at 195 for 8 and boasting a lead of 244. The Bulls added 28 before being bowled out for 223, with Steketee reaching 53 but only able to add five runs to his overnight score.Mark Steketee celebrates the winning wicket•Getty Images

Victoria’s chase didn’t start well. Star opener Marcus Harris was out for a two-ball duck when bowled by Tom Straker, and it was 26 for 2 when Jonathan Merlo edged Steketee behind.Campbell Kellaway (30) steadied the ship somewhat, but was clean bowled when Swepson got a delivery to turn sharply out of the foot marks. Swepson nabbed his second scalp when he bowled Tom Rogers for 14, and it was 115 for 5 when Sam Harper fell to Jack Wildermuth.Mitchell Perry became the third player to be bowled by Swepson, and Victoria’s hopes appeared over when Swepson found an edge from Handscomb to leave the home side 183 for 7.But there were more twists and turns to come, with Victoria bravely fighting to 246 for 8 as Sam Elliott (30), Xavier Crone (28) and Fergus O’Neill (13) added handy runs.Victoria needed 27 more runs for victory with two wickets in hand, but when Steketee had O’Neill caught at gully and then trapped Crone plumb in front a short time later, it sparked wild celebrations among the Bulls.Steketee was named man of the match for his scores of 44 not out and 53 to go with his bowling returns of 3 for 32 and 3 for 46.

It’s a curious thing, football’s summer transfer market. So much goes on, rumours and shocks zipping about like so many hoofed clearances in a Sunday League match.

For Liverpool fans, the window has been not so much curious as chaotic, with Arne Slot’s side undergoing an incredible transformation after marching to last year’s Premier League title.

Trent Alexander-Arnold up and left for Real Madrid toward the end of his contract, and so Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong. But it is Frimpong’s Bayer Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz who is the Scouser’s true heir, signed on for a British-record £116m fee and heralded as “the best midfielder in the world” by former Werkself striker Patrick Helmes. Wirtz, for sure, is a world-class playmaker.

Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili both arrived too. And then along came Hugo Ekitike, leaving Eintracht Frankfurt for Anfield for a £69m initial fee. The 23-year-old has the potential to become one of the best strikers in the world.

But with Darwin Nunez a priority target for Al Hilal, sporting director Richard Hughes has set his focus on Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

Why Liverpool might not sign Alexander Isak

Oh, he’s the dream, all right. However, prising Isak away from St. James’ Park this summer will be no easy feat, even though he’s desperate to wrap up his Newcastle career and join the Reds on Merseyside.

Could Liverpool pull it off? Certainly, if Isak is to join Slot’s side this summer, it would require a fee eclipsing that which Leverkusen have chequed in for Wirtz, with Newcastle valuing him somewhere in the ballpark of £150m.

The Premier League champions have already seen a formal offer worth £110m knocked back last week, though this was likely a negotiating tactic from Hughes and FSG to unsettle a player whose heart lies in Liverpool, and who refused to travel with the Toon for their pre-season tour in Asia.

The 25-year-old has now returned to Newcastle’s training facilities and is set for face-to-face talks with Howe.

Last season, pundit Jamie Carragher called Isak “the best striker in the Premier League”, and his 27-goal contribution across Newcastle’s title-winning campaign displays merely the tip of the iceberg of a wide-ranging and expansive skill set.

He’s the dream target, and understandably so. However, Liverpool might fail; Newcastle might fail to find and sign an acceptable replacement.

Thus, an alternative has been lined up.

Liverpool target favouring move to Anfield

According to ESPN, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has made it known to his entourage that he would prefer to sign for Liverpool this summer, should he have to depart from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Rodrygo is no longer considered one of Real Madrid’s untouchable superstars, but Los Blancos will only cash in if their valuation is met, with £78m the figure touted.

Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on Xabi Alonso’s Brazilian star, and with Heung-min Son set to sign for LAFC in the MLS, FSG will need to make a swift decision as to whether they forge ahead with a bid.

Why Liverpool should sign Rodrygo

Should Liverpool fail to sign Isak this summer, there’s a case to be made that Rodrygo could be the perfect alternative, and that’s despite him being more of a wide forward than a focal frontman.

Right winger

146

34

31

Centre-forward

84

22

8

Left winger

78

23

16

Attacking midfield

4

–

1

Hailed as “the most talented and the most gifted player” in Real Madrid’s squad by teammate Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo is renowned for his tenacious and industrious work-rate, his technical quality, and his ability to shift between multiple positions.

There’s no question that he could shift between wide and central positions in a manner not dissimilar to Luis Diaz, who last week completed a £65.5m transfer to Bayern Munich.

Diaz operated in a makeshift centre-forward berth under Slot’s guidance last term, notching eight goals and an assist from 15 fixtures in the role.

So then, we can see that Rodrygo, a goalscoring wide forward, could emulate the Colombian, whose crispness in possession is also a factor of note.

But then the same can be said of Real Madrid’s versatile forward, who ranked last season among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion, as per FBref.

Moreover, he missed just one big chance in La Liga last season, as per Sofascore. Albeit he only scored six times after a disappointing year. Given that Rodrygo was routinely played on the right flank, his unfavoured position, such woes are provided some important context.

This all points toward Rodrygo being the perfect, if somewhat left-field, alternative to Isak, for he could replace Diaz while providing a different dimension to Slot’s central striking area too.

Liverpool have, of course, welcomed Ekitike to the fold, and so have a new out-and-out striker to replace Nunez. The Frenchman scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists across all competitions for Frankfurt last season, and pundit Owen Hargreaves said last season that he “looks like the perfect centre-forward.”

With this in mind, losing out on Isak wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, not when FSG have succeeded in packaging Slot’s squad with such a wide array of elite-level quality.

Rodrygo is one of Real Madrid’s “world-class superstars”, so says the great Luka Modric, after all, and he’s demonstrated that he has the ability to score and to assist and to come up with big-game defining moments with regularity.

For the moment, it seems as if Liverpool will continue to push for Newcastle’s star striker, but should they fail to break the British transfer record for a second time this summer, it might be worth advancing with a deal for Rodrygo, whose qualities suggest he could become a multi-positional machine for the Anfield side as they chase down more illustrious success.