Tag Futebol

With Rohit and Kohli retired, India’s selectors face a series of tricky calls ahead of the five-Test tour of England

Nagraj Gollapudi16-May-20254:11

‘Captaincy will not bear heavily on Gill’s shoulders’

The Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have not only opened vacancies for their batting slots, but also given India an opportunity to address questions of critical importance, including the captaincy. The upcoming five-match Test series against England, from June 20 to August 4, then, is hugely significant. ESPNcricinfo looks at the questions the Ajit-Agarkar-led selection panel, which is expected to meet on May 24, will discuss as Indian cricket enters a new era.

Who will be the captain?

Shubman Gill is the frontrunner, but Jasprit Bumrah is in the race as well. Some even believe that KL Rahul is a wildcard. Gill, 25, has received favourable assessments from his peers, the selectors and India’s coaching staff, who collectively believe he is growing into a composed and assured player. Even if his batting overseas is still in its development phase, everyone agrees Gill has all the attributes to grow and become a long-term leader.Bumrah, on the other hand, has proved he can lead by example and gain respect from his players. He first captained India in the fifth Test against England in 2022, and then in the first and fifth Tests of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Bumrah, though, doesn’t have his own back (pun intended), with stress-related issues in the lower back forcing him to undergo surgery two years ago, and, in January, end his Australia tour early, on day two of the Sydney Test. He returned to action in the IPL after missing the Champions Trophy, and the medical advice for Bumrah is not to play every match in a long Test series like the one in England.There is also a left-field option available to the selectors: appoint Bumrah as the captain with Gill as his deputy, with Gill taking over the captaincy each time Bumrah doesn’t play.

Who will Jaiswal’s opening partner be?

Rahul’s success in Australia, which forced Rohit to bat in the middle order, means the former is set to be the frontrunner to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. In Australia, Rahul was originally picked as an extra batter for a middle-order role. While it is likely that he remains an option for both opening and middle-order roles again, Rahul has good numbers as an opener in England.Among the batters expected to tour England, Rahul is the most experienced. He has played nine Tests there over two series – first in 2018 and then in 2021-22 – and has opened in all but one of them, scoring 597 runs, including two centuries, at an average of 37.31.Abhimanyu Easwaran and B Sai Sudharsan are likely to be the other favourites for the opening slot, or go on tour as reserve openers. Vastly experienced and successful at domestic level, with over 100 first-class matches, Easwaran, 29, plays for Bengal, and has travelled as a reserve opener on several Test tours in the past. That includes replacing Mayank Agarwal on the 2021 tour of England. He is, however, yet to make his Test debut.Sai Sudharsan, the Tamil Nadu left-hand batter, has also impressed the selectors since scoring a century on first-class debut in 2022, and continuing to develop as an opener. Sai Sudharsan has also been among the best young top-order batters in the IPL, where he plays for Gujarat Titans. He has also represented Surrey in county cricket, and scored a century for them, although he had batted in the middle order then. Overall, as an opener in first-class cricket, Sai Sudharsan has scored 1397 runs in 33 innings at an average of 42.33 with four centuries.Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan are both part of the India A squad that will tour England for two first-class matches before the Test series, with Easwaran named as captain.

Who takes over Kohli’s No. 4 spot?

As Cheteshwar Pujara told ESPNcricinfo, there is no ready replacement to take up the No. 4 slot, which Kohli took over from Sachin Tendulkar in 2013. Kohli had never batted at No. 4 in Tests before that, but made the slot his own. Kohli proved, then, that experience of batting at that position really doesn’t matter as long as you have the pedigree. Currently, Rahul and Gill could be the top contenders for that position.After Kohli pulled out of the home series against England last year, Rahul batted at No. 4 in the first Test in Hyderabad, and made 86 and 22, before missing the remainder of the series due to injury.As for Gill, while he has never batted at No. 4 in Tests, he has strong numbers there for India A: in three innings, he has scored 287 runs, including a 204*, at an average of 143.50. However, in case Rahul opens and Gill moves down from his usual No. 3 slot to No. 4, then Sai Sudharsan could be looked at as the No. 3.In his debut series, Nitish Kumar Reddy scored a hundred at the MCG last year•Associated Press

Is there room for Nitish Reddy?

Nitish Kumar Reddy was the fourth-leading run-scorer in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and scored a memorable maiden Test century in front of a nearly-full MCG. Reddy, Easwaran and Harshit Rana were the three uncapped picks on that tour.Picked as an allrounder, Reddy grabbed headlines for his belligerent batting even as he admitted he did not stand up to the task as a bowler. However, in England, if Reddy could find some purchase in seaming conditions, he becomes an attractive choice to bat in the lower order and double up as the fifth bowling option.Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur, showed his prowess with both ball and bat in a strong finish to the Ranji Trophy just before the start of the IPL. He could be another option the selectors might ponder over as a bowling allrounder or even as a travelling reserve. Thakur, 33, has played four of his 11 Tests in England, including the World Test Championship final defeat to Australia at The Oval in 2023. Thakur, though, would retain better memories of the venue during India’s win in 2021, where his half-centuries in both innings proved vital.Reddy and Thakur have both found places in the India A squad touring England.

What about the fast bowlers?

A five-match Test series calls for a bigger fast-bowling pool. That becomes even more crucial because of the fitness issues of Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, which makes it unlikely that either of them features in all five Tests. Apart from those two and Mohammed Siraj, the contenders among the fast bowlers are M Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Rana, and the left-arm trio of Khaleel Ahmed, Arshdeep Singh and Yash Dayal.Kuldeep Yadav was a key figure in India’s 4-1 home-series win over England last year•Getty Images

Is there room for Kuldeep?

The England tour will be India’s first full Test series after R Ashwin’s retirement midway through the Australia tour. With the selectors likely to include at least one spinner other than Ravindra Jadeja, in the squad, they could have an interesting choice to make. One option is Washington Sundar, who was recalled midway through the home series against New Zealand last year, and who featured in three of the five Tests in Australia, though he played more as a batting allrounder.Will the selectors, though, consider Kuldeep Yadav, who missed the tour of Australia after undergoing hernia surgery? Kuldeep achieved significant success in India’s 4-1 win against England at home in 2023-24, and was the joint-third-highest wicket-taker with 19 wickets at a strike rate of 36.05.That was only marginally better than Ashwin (36.11), but much better than Jadeja (46.26). While Kuldeep had a forgettable experience in the Lord’s Test in 2018 – only his second overseas Test – he has shown he can be a match-winner in all conditions, picking up a five-for in the Sydney Test of 2019 – and that was before he tightened his lengths, added a yard of pace, and became the rounded wristspinner of the last two years or so. Kuldeep has 56 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 22.16 and, most impressively, a strike rate of 37.3 – the best among all spinners in Test history with at least 50 wickets.

The two quicks are wired differently but can be equally lethal and, alongside Rashid Khan, give Gujarat Titans the cushion of an all-weather attack

Shashank Kishore05-Apr-20232:29

Moody: Alzarri Joseph varies pace like Andy Roberts

Three weeks ago, Mohammed Shami saw deliveries repeatedly scoot low to the wicketkeeper from the good-length areas that he hit consistently at Feroz Shah Kotla. Such a prospect in the very first over of a Test can be deflating. But Shami still bounded in to pick up four wickets to skittle Australia in the first innings.Last night, Shami was in for a surprise upon his return to Delhi. The ball was zipping around, there was lateral movement, and the carry was largely consistent. All he needed to do was to land it on good length like he does, with a bolt upright seam, and let nature take its course. After all, it’s a method that’s brought him rich rewards in the powerplay since last year.In Ahmedabad, at the IPL’s opening game, he picked up the season’s first wicket with a Test-match dismissal of Devon Conway, bowling him through the gate with a sharp in-ducker. And the early evidence in Delhi seemed to suggest he wanted to have fun, even if it meant conceding a few extra runs in search of that perfect delivery.Related

• Does Shikhar Dhawan need to free himself of the shackles of batting long?

• Time for the IPL to start keeping time better

• Sai Sudharsan sees Titans home after their quicks restrict Delhi Capitals

• Dasun Shanaka replaces Williamson in Gujarat Titans squad

Especially after seeing how the ball behaved after a pearler of a first delivery to David Warner, the ball leaving him late to kiss the stumps only for the bails to remain intact. Shami just wanted to let it rip. And the short square boundaries weren’t going to dissuade him.Prithvi Shaw was in the firing line and was roughed up by a short delivery as he spooned a catch to mid-on. Shami, the joint-highest powerplay wicket-taker for the Titans during their march to the title last year, had struck again.This Test-match length would have its second victim in Mitch Marsh in his next over when Shami had him play on. The opening spell was a spectacle, even if it wasn’t quite as thrilling as Shami flattening the stumps, like he did to Conway. But it set the tone for the Titans.It gave their attack markers on a surface where captains can often opt for the insurance of a score to defend. Hardik Pandya, though, was having none of it. Titans have been chasing well, and this surface was right up their ally. It took all of two overs for Shami to justify his decision to bowl.If Shami set the scene, Alzarri Joseph truly owned it. Five nights ago, he was in Jo’burg, delivering a telling T20I spell for West Indies on surfaces where 435 runs were smashed for fun. And he’s carried on doing the same at the IPL, where he’s got some unfinished business.Alzarri Joseph struck twice in two balls•BCCIIn 2019, he arrived as a replacement and ended up with the tournament’s best bowling figures with his 6 for 12 for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He had made 136 seem 180 and beyond that night. But an injury soon had him missing the remainder of the season. It wasn’t until he was signed by Titans last year that he started getting games regularly.There’s some fire in his bowling that can be deceptive, because he doesn’t make an outward effort to bowl fast. His bowling is just so naturally wired and in sync that he can let them rip without seemingly meaning to. In the first game, he was largely responsible for Super Kings’ slowdown after they threatened to make 220 at one stage. Here, again, he went short of a length on a deck that offered to be his ally. And he found success.When Titans assembled a squad that was ridiculed by some last year, they did so knowing they weren’t going to play at home immediately. On red-soil decks with decent bounce and carry, they knew they needed fast bowlers. It perhaps explains why they got Shami and Joseph, among others.Here, Joseph had a batter of Warner’s calibre hanging back more often than not. Warner is as much of a white-ball destroyer as anyone can be but brought with him the inherent risk of playing back to a full ball, and was snuffed out after being late on the shot to a ball angling away.Joseph then went on a sustained short-ball barrage that had Sarfaraz Khan ducking and weaving under them uncomfortably until one pinged him on the helmet. Debutant Abishek Porel also copped one on the helmet in trying to pull. But the ball he bowled to Rilee Rossouw summed up his spell. It reared up from short of a length and ballooned off the shoulder of the bat to point.Joseph had combined seam movement, up-and-down bounce and “inconsistent pace” to have the night of his life. Two for 29 to boot, alongside Shami’s top spell that felled Shaw and Marsh, gave Titans the advantage.

“This is a name that is well back in the archives, but the great West Indian fast bowler Andy Roberts was like that. Different in stature to Alzarri Joseph but … he’s got that great change of pace, and has now got control of his line. He’s a weapon.”Tom Moody on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time:Out

“He’s a gun,” former Australia allrounder Tom Moody gushed of Joseph on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time:Out. “He bowls genuinely quick, and what I like about him is he’s unpredictable with his pace. And that’s intentional. So he’s either bowling one in the high 140s or he’s bowling in high 130s. And that’s why he’s hitting people in the head, because of that inconsistency.”This is a name that is well back in the archives, but the great West Indian fast bowler Andy Roberts was like that. Different in stature to Alzarri Joseph but you talk to some of the greats like Ian Chappell, who have played a lot against Roberts, and they will say you put the pull shot or hook shot away because he’s got two bouncers and you never know which one it is. So, he’s got that great change of pace, and has now got control of his line. He’s a weapon.”This variety that Shami and Joseph bring, along with Josh Little’s left-arm angle and Hardik Pandya’s seam-ups give them the luxury of using Rashid Khan in the second half, when teams don’t have the option of playing him out. Rashid had never been introduced as late as he was here – in the 13th over – in the IPL, and it needed all of two balls for him to strike.That nipped in the bud a flourishing stand between Sarfaraz and Porel that could’ve yet given Capitals 180. Rashid would walk away with three wickets in the end, benefiting from the work done by the fast bowlers on a surface that was as fast-bowler friendly as Kotla could get.The treat of two fast bowlers, wired differently but operating on a same wavelength, and a gun legspinner bamboozling batters with a modus operandi that can’t be novelty anymore brought thrills. And it gives Titans more than just an edge. It gives them the comfort of being an all-weather IPL attack.

Bowling Krunal Panyda up front meant an unfavourable match-up was avoided and the fifth bowler’s quota was completed

Sidharth Monga28-Sep-20210:51

Should Punjab Kings have opened with Chris Gayle?

Chris Gayle’s first match in last year’s IPL was the tournament’s 31st, against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Kings XI Punjab, as they were known last year, were struggling, having won just one match till then. Gayle got off to a slow start against his former team, who showed their knowledge of Gayle’s game by denying him legspin. The offspin of Washington Sundar and high pace of Navdeep Saini kept him quiet at a time when Yuzvendra Chahal bowls his legspin.Fifteen balls into his innings, though, Gayle unloaded on Sundar. Not only did he take down the later half of the middle overs, RCB kept pushing the return of Chahal until they were left with no choice but to bowl him… in the last over. This was just Kings XI’s second win in eight matches, but their threat was real: they had two middle-overs disruptors in Gayle and Nicholas Pooran, who had the potential to force sides to bowl their best bowlers in the middle overs and become vulnerable at the death.

Watch the IPL on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the IPL live in the US. Match highlights of Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals is available here in English, and here in Hindi (US only).

Kings XI’s next match was against Mumbai Indians, who, for the first time since 2012, opened with spin against Kings XI. It was Krunal Pandya they wanted to hide from Gayle and Pooran. As soon as a wicket fell, bringing Gayle in, Krunal was taken out and brought back only when both Gayle and Pooran had been dismissed.In all three matches between these sides since then, Mumbai have opened the innings with Krunal. In the first, Krunal got away with two overs for 12, in the second Punjab Kings had a paltry total to chase and did so comfortably, and the third was tonight.By now you expect the opposition to know the plan, and expect them to disrupt it by asking their openers to go after such a bowler, but Punjab Kings were dealt a blow just before the match with Mayank Agarwal being ruled out with a stiff neck. It can be argued that Kings should been proactive and opened with Gayle, but they didn’t.KL Rahul and Mandeep Singh, the openers, were then guilty of letting Krunal bowl without any threat. According to Cricinfo logs, Krunal was attacked only once in his three overs. A free hit was hit along the ground to extra cover. On pitches that it has been difficult to accelerate in the middle overs and at the death, teams have been going hard at the top anyway. To not do so when you have a clear match-up to disrupt was doubly surprising.As a result, Krunal bowled three cheap, practically uncontested overs for just 16 runs, but in the third over, he took a wicket, which brought in Gayle.

****

Long before it became fashionable to call up an achiever on loudspeaker and record an awkward congratulatory call to be released in media later, Mumbai’s owner Neeta Ambani was on loudspeaker minutes after Kieron Pollard’s 150th match for her franchise. She joked that Pollard had celebrated it with three great overs. Pollard replied, “Yeah, DJ [CKM Dhananjai, the team analyst] finally gave Rohit and the management my bowling stats.”Everybody laughed at the time, but this was an ongoing story. Pollard doesn’t get to bowl at Mumbai as much as he would like to or as much as he used to under other captains. There have been five Mumbai captains in Pollard’s time there – including himself in six games – and only under Rohit Sharma has he bowled fewer than one over per match.Rarely he might bowl, but ever since Gayle and Pooran have come together, Pollard has bowled in all three matches against Punjab Kings. On each occasion it has been to deny Gayle an over of spin without actually going to bowlers you’d rather bowl at the death.Those before might not have been, but Gayle was proactive and tried to not let Pollard bowl. Gayle doesn’t hit this early, but he knew what was going on and that Mumbai’s plans needed to be disrupted. Pollard, though, managed to get the better of him as he holed out to long-on. The Rahul wicket later in the over was a bonus, but Mumbai were now just Pooran’s wicket away from bowling spin without bother.So they went to Jasprit Bumrah in the eight over, and he delivered the wicket of Pooran. This was the perfect start for Mumbai: not only had they taken four wickets in the first eight, they had also got four overs of the fifth bowler out of the way. Even if Bumrah hadn’t got Pooran out as early as he did, Mumbai had the luxury of bowling their main bowlers at him. And they didn’t go back to Pollard for the rest of the night. This was Mumbai at their clinical best.

****

You can plan everything down to last detail, but the plans only look good if the players go out and execute them. Bumrah nailed the dipping yorker to get rid of Pooran. Krunal didn’t bowl a single half-volley or short ball in his three overs bowled inside the Powerplay. Pollard, called upon so infrequently, was spot on with his bowling plans: slow, into the pitch, no room.After all, these tactics are based on data built and provided by their execution in the first place.

The Milwaukee Brewers, the No. 1 team in baseball, received some unfortunate news on Sunday ahead of the final week of the regular season. Star pitcher Brandon Woodruff landed on the 15-day injured list with a right lat strain.

The IL designation goes back to Sept. 18, meaning Woodruff would first become available for the Brewers in the NLDS when that starts up on Saturday, Oct. 4. That would likely be the Brewers' expected first game in the postseason anyway as they will get a bye in the wild-card series as long as they hold onto the top spot.

It's been an injury-riddled 2025 season for the two-time All-Star. After missing the entire 2024 season while recovering from right shoulder surgery, Woodruff didn't make his 2025 debut until July 6. In May, he paused his rehab minor league assignment with an ankle injury. Then, when he was in the midst of his rehabilitation minor league return in June, he was hit on the elbow by a line drive, which in turn kept him out for another month.

Through 12 starts this season, Woodruff posted a 3.20 ERA over 64.2 innings pitched. He has 83 strikeouts and had 23 earned runs against him.

India have not yet received the Asia Cup trophy after refusing to accept it from Mohsin Naqvi during the presentation ceremony following the final on September 28

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Nov-2025

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is hopeful of a resolution with PCB and Asian Cricket Concil (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi over the Asia Cup trophy dispute after the “ice has been broken” between the two boards during the recent ICC meeting in Dubai.”I was a part of both the informal and formal meeting of the ICC. PCB chairperson Mohsin Naqvi was also present. During the course of a formal meeting, it was not on agenda but ICC facilitated a meeting between myself and the PCB chief separately in the presence of a senior ICC office-bearer and another senior official,” Saikia told PTI. “It was really good to start the process of negotiation.”Both sides will work out something to solve the issue at the earliest. The ice has been broken now, so various options will be worked out. There will be options from the other side as well and we will also give options on how to settle this issue and come to an amicable solution.”Related

Rauf gets two-match ban; Suryakumar, Bumrah sanctioned after Asia Cup drama

India refuse to accept Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi

India have not yet received the Asia Cup trophy after beating Pakistan in the final on September 28. There was a standoff at the presentation ceremony with India refusing to accept the trophy from Naqvi, the ACC and PCB chair who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister, following the cross-border skirmish between the two countries in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam in April.India and Pakistan played each other three times during the Asia Cup – in the group stage, the Super Fours, and the final – with all the fixtures fraught with tension that began with India’s decision not to shake hands with the Pakistan players in their first meeting on September 14. The matches were ill-tempered with Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan all receiving penalties of varying severity from the ICC for their comments or on-field actions.After the final, the presentation ceremony was delayed by more than 90 minutes while Naqvi remained insistent that he be the person handing over the trophy to India, who did not budge from their stance. Eventually the trophy was taken away from the stage and the team has not received it to date.

When Andrea Berta arrived at Arsenal towards the beginning of 2025, the transfer plan for the summer was abundantly clear.

The fact of the matter was that during his first window in charge, the squad needed more firepower and, chiefly, a striker was a necessity.

While there were links to the likes of Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko, both of whom got big-money moves elsewhere in the Premier League, the Gunners concluded a deal for Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swede had only spent two prolific seasons in Portugal with Sporting but he was already on the move and deservedly so.

Yet, while the centre forward has done a lot to improve the overall attack, there is a sense that they could do better in future windows.

Arsenal looking to sign new striker

Gyokeres may well have signed but Arsenal still do require a little bit more in attack.

Gabriel Jesus is back in full training but it’s wild to expect him to be at a productive level for a good few months yet after recovering from an ACL injury. Even if he did recover, he’s been linked with the exit door as he approaches the final 18 months of his deal at the Emirates Stadium.

Kai Havertz has also been a long-term absentee which has left Arsenal with only one fit centre forward for much of 2025/26 to date.

So, while Arsenal’s options in several areas now are deep, another striker wouldn’t go amiss.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

That’s where Borussia Dortmund frontman Serhou Guirassy comes into the equation.

According to reports in Spain, it suggests that Arteta and Co are vying with the likes of PSG for the striker’s services.

The report notes that Arsenal are ‘seriously considering’ a move but it’s likely they’ll have to pay around £44m in order to conclude a deal.

The Guinean has a release clause in his contract of that amount, meaning that like Gyokeres, he wouldn’t cost the earth to bring to England.

It’s said that Arsenal are thought to be willing to pay the required amount to get him out of Germany.

How Guirassy compares to Viktor Gyokeres

When Gyokeres signed for Arsenal while the club were on their pre-season Asia tour, there was much fanfare.

At last, Arteta had a proper goalscoring centre forward to add to his ranks. Last term, the former Coventry City star scored 54 goals in 52 games. It was a breathtaking campaign, one that saw him take home the Gerd Muller trophy for the best striker in the world during the last Ballon d’Or gala.

Yet, in Arsenal colours, Gyokeres has not had it all his own way. He’s been wasteful in front of goal and went on a barren run of seven games without scoring at one stage.

That said, he’s not been a complete flop. The Sweden international still has six goals to show for his efforts and has particularly pleased Arteta with what he’s offered to the team.

While he did not score during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League, Arteta summed up why he’s been so delighted with what the centre forward is offering. “I think he did the rest of the things you ask for from a striker. The way he’s linking with his teammates, the way he’s opening spaces, the way he’s threatening constantly the back line.”

However, while it does seem unlikely Arsenal will sign another striker, Guirassy could be an upgrade on what they already have.

Described as “one of the best centre-forwards in the world” by one notable football analyst on X, the 29-year-old has been in the form of his life over the last year. Crucially, he’s also demonstrated that form in a top-five European league, something Gyokeres had not done before touching down in London.

In 2024/25, Guirassy found the net on 38 occasions in 50 games, bagging a remarkable 13 goals in 14 Champions League matches. That included scoring five times across two outings with Barcelona.

But what separates him from Gyokeres? Well, a scorer of seven goals this term, the numbers showcase why.

Goals

0.51

0.45

Assists

0.10

0

xG

0.59

0.52

Shots

2.76

2.13

Shot on target %

59.3%

36.8%

Pass completion

72.2%

60.7%

Key passes

0.71

0.90

Passes into final 3rd

1.02

0.45

Successful take-ons

0.20

0.45

Progressive carries

1.63

0.90

Aerial duels won

2.86

1.80

Not only has Guirassy scored more goals per 90 minutes and offered a higher xG, but he excels in bringing others into the game too.

During the 2025/26 season to date, the Dortmund sensation has completed more accurate passes and more assists per 90. It might be Gyokeres who has played more key passes but clearly it’s the former who is more decisive with his final actions right now.

If that wasn’t enough, Guirassy is a better and less chaotic carrier of the ball. Gyokeres resembles something of a raging bull when he’s gallivanting forward but there’s more of a smoothness to Arsenal’s latest transfer target. The fact he averages more progressive carries substantiates that point.

To round things off, Guirassy is also far more likely to win his aerial duels, something that Arsenal have perhaps missed since Havertz’s injury.

To put Guirassy’s numbers into further context, he won more aerial duels (3.77) per 90 than the German did (3.03) in 2024/25.

So, while the Dortmund striker may only be one goal ahead of Gyokeres this term, he offers something of a hybrid situation between Arteta’s two leading marksman. That could well offer the Spanish manager a fabulous balance as Arsenal hunt down their first Premier League title in over two decades.

New South Wales batter Kurtis Patterson started his Ashes audition with a sterling century, but the Blues slipped to a two-wicket one-day loss to Tasmania after a record ninth-wicket stand between Bradley Hope and Matt Kuhnemann.Patterson, watched by Australia’s chair of selectors George Bailey, struck 110 from 125 balls in the NSW’s 224 all out. Tasmania, with another Ashes hopeful Jake Weatherald making 28, were reeling at 124 for 8 in the opening game of the Dean Jones Trophy at Cricket Central in Sydney.Related

• Labuschagne launches with a century: 'Nothing else matters but runs'

• Greg Shipperd: Current era probably toughest environment for young players

• Australia's Ashes 'bat-off' begins: Who could open against England?

• Webster hopes his all-round skills can help push for ODI honours

But Kuhnemann (56 not out from 71 balls) and Hope (49 not out from 91) produced a stunning unbroken 101-run stand for the ninth wicket to win with four balls to spare.Patterson played two Tests for Australia in 2019 and boasts an average of 144 – he made 30 and 114 not out in his two knocks against Sri Lanka. The left hander was discarded when Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft had served their ball-tampering suspensions.But Patterson returned to Test discussions with prolific run-scoring in the Sheffield Shield last season, compiling 743 runs at 57.15, although is still an outside chance at this stage. On Tuesday, the 32-year-old dominated NSW’s innings – after his century the next-best was former captain Moises Henriques whose 41 from 51 balls featured two sixes. Patterson reached his second career one-day century from 113 deliveries. Tanveer Sangha was the only other NSW batter to reach double-figures.Kurtis Patterson started his season with a century•Getty Images

Test allrounder Beau Webster took 3 for 41 and white-ball specialist Nathan Ellis 3 for 37.Tasmania’s run chase faltered early with Mitch Owen out for 9 and Webster chopping on for a golden duck – both dismissed by debutant paceman Ryan Hadley in the second over.Sean Abbott, who was captaining NSW, then snared two quick wickets, including a wonderful delivery to take Mac Wright’s off stump, to leave the Tasmanians 42 for 4 after seven overs.Weatherald, who was recently put on the Test radar by selection chair Bailey, put on 54 with veteran Matthew Wade. But Weatherald’s 51-ball innings ended when he smacked a short ball from spinner Ollie Davies straight to Hadley on the deep midwicket boundary.Tasmania’s hopes appeared over when Wade was caught and bowled by Sangha, with Ellis was soon dismissed to leave the visitors 124 for 8 in the 26th over.But Kuhnemann and Hope produced their defining partnership, with the former edging through a vacant slips area for the winning boundary.

Unlike last month, the current international break is an unwelcome escape from Premier League football for West Ham United fans.

Nuno Espírito Santo has seemingly worked his magic, and a team that looked incapable of a win just a few weeks ago have just beaten Newcastle United and Burnley.

One of the reasons the Hammers look so much better is that Freddie Potts has finally been given his chance to start in the first team.

The Barking-born star has been immense in the middle of the park, and the good news is that the academy is producing a few players who could be the next Potts, although they also lost a youngster who’s an even bigger talent than the 22-year-old.

West Ham's next Freddie Potts

The good news for West Ham fans is that their academy system continues to produce exciting prospects, some of whom could go on to become the next Potts in a few years.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

One of those youngsters is Preston Fearon, who joined the Hammers in 2022, signed his first professional contract last year, and then signed another just last month.

Jarrod Bowen has described the 18-year-old as a “special player”, and it’s not hard to see why, as, in addition to making 43 appearances across the club’s youth sides, he was also taken on the pre-season tour of America.

Like the Hammers’ new star, the youngster can play in several positions, but thrives as a tough-tackling, yet technically accomplished, central midfielder.

Another youngster who could be fighting for first-team minutes a few years from now is Isaac Thomas.

The 16-year-old Welshman just scored four goals during his second appearance for the U18S, and what’s even more incredible is that he did so from centre-back.

However, just like Fearon and Potts, his primary position is in the middle of the park, but he’s capable of filling in where he is needed.

Finally, while a little older, Mohamadou Kanté looks every bit as exciting.

Described as having “good anticipation” and being “very calm and composed on the ball” by one analyst, the 20-year-old Frenchman is also no stranger to scoring goals and could provide a similar presence to the middle of the park as Potts.

In all, West Ham have plenty of exciting youngsters coming through the ranks, but even so, they surely rue losing someone who is an even bigger talent than Potts.

The academy gem who is a bigger talent than Potts

West Ham have done relatively well at retaining their most promising academy talents over the years, but they were unable to do so with Divine Mukasa.

The incredible prospect joined the Hammers as a five-year-old, but in September 2023, he moved to Manchester City for free.

The 18-year-old phenom made his senior debut for City in September, in a League Cup game against Huddersfield Town, and as if that wasn’t impressive enough, he also provided an assist.

He also started the following game in the competition against Swansea City and has been on the bench for three Premier League games so far this season.

However, while a player his age starting two games for a club like City is certainly impressive enough, it’s his record for their youth sides which suggests he could be a future superstar.

Appearances

41

Minutes

2807′

Goals

17

Assists

25

Goal Involvements per Match

1.02

Minutes per Goal Involvement

66.83′

For example, in 41 appearances across various youth sides last season, totalling 2807 minutes, the former Hammer chalked up an outrageous tally of 17 goals and 25 assists.

That means the incredible superstar in the making averaged 1.02 goal involvements per game, or one every 66.83 minutes all season, which goes some way in justifying journalist Nassali Sandrah’s claim that he is “the best academy player in Europe.”

To top it off, the Newham-born gem has also won five caps for England’s u19s, and scored his first goal for them against Wales last time out.

Ultimately, there are some seriously exciting prospects emerging from West Ham’s academy at the moment, but it certainly appears that they have lost the biggest talent of all in Mukasa.

Alongside Fullkrug: West Ham must sell £30m flop who was a "big voice"

The former international should have been a big success at West Ham United.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 12, 2025

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge had a strongly worded message to any pitchers that try to throw at him this season.

Amid a brewing controversy in which Red Sox manager Alex Cora appeared to admit Boston tried to intentionally hit Judge in retaliation over the weekend, the Yankees slugger clapped back with a zinger of his own. 

Cora was referring to a moment in the sixth inning of Saturday’s 7-1 win over the Yankees when Red Sox starter Brayan Bellow threw a fastball behind Judge’s knees. The pitch didn’t make contact with Judge, but Cora seemed to hint that the Red Sox were trying to plunk him after Yankees ace Gerrit Cole hit Rafael Devers in the first inning and decided to intentionally walk Devers in the fourth.

Judge, for his part, seemed unfazed by Cora’s threat of retribution.

“You play this game for a while, things like that happen,” Judge said after the Yankees wrapped up their season series against the Red Sox with a win on Sunday. “I know they’re upset. I think three of their guys got hit that day. I think they’re just protecting their players. Something’s gotta happen, and that’s the way this game gets policed and has been policed for 100 years. I think the biggest thing is, just don’t miss when you do it.”

Judge hit his major league-leading 53rd homer against the Red Sox in Sunday’s 5-2 win to extend the Yankees’ AL East lead.

Cora said Sunday he thought the Yankees hit Devers on purpose and implied that the Red Sox tried to even the score in the feud: “It was closed [Saturday] around the sixth inning. We had our chance. It didn’t happen.”

The MLB is currently investigating Cora’s comments and has yet to hand down any potential disciplinary consequences.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras venceu o Goiás na bacia das almas na última sexta-feira (15), no Allianz Parque, pelo Brasileirão, com um gol salvador de Breno Lopes nos acréscimos.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasLeila Pereira posta foto em apoio a Breno Lopes, e Palmeiras toma decisão sobre o casoPalmeiras16/09/2023Futebol LatinoBoca Juniors tem problema imenso para resolver antes do PalmeirasFutebol Latino16/09/2023PalmeirasCom Breno Lopes, Palmeiras se reapresenta na Academia de FutebolPalmeiras16/09/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

A falta de repertório ofensivo se fez presente em mais um jogo do Verdão e o goleiro Tadeu foi pouco exigido durante os 90 minutos.

+ Já pensou em ser um gestor de futebol? Participe da nossa Masterclass com Felipe Ximenes e descubra oportunidades

Precisou o Palmeiras ficar com um jogador a mais e ir pro abafa para a bola sobrar para Breno Lopes marcar o gol que garantiu a vitória e deu fim a um jejum de dois jogos sem gols.

Com Mayke improvisado na direita, e Artur jogando do lado em que não está muito acostumado, Abel quebra a cabeça para ajustar um setor que é muito importante para q sua equipe.

continua após a publicidade

Melhor ataque da Libertadores e o segundo melhor ataque do Brasileirão, o Palmeiras terá que agredir o Boca em La Bombonera para tentar construir uma vantagem no primeiro jogo da semifinal da Libertadores.

+ Leila Pereira posta foto em apoio a Breno Lopes, e Palmeiras toma decisão sobre o caso

Resta saber se Abel vai manter Mayke na direita e Artur no lado em que funcionou muito pouco até aqui, ou se pode tentar um novo esquema com Endrick, Jhon Jhon e até Breno Lopes como opções.

continua após a publicidade

Fato é que o desempenho ofensivo do time despencou nos últimos jogos e o time terá que se reinventar sem Dudu para faturar o Tetra da América

Tudo sobre

Breno LopesPalmeiras