India are shedding their over-dependency on Mandhana and Harmanpreet

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

With the ODI World Cup around the corner, a formidable batting line-up is taking shape

Srinidhi Ramanujam11-May-2025With the conclusion of the women’s tri-nation series in Colombo, it seems like India have reached a moment of clarity. It’s something that the captain Harmanpreet Kaur and the head coach, Amol Muzumdar, have been working towards for a while. A year ago, India weren’t entirely sure of the make-up of their batting line-up. Now, just as a home ODI World Cup is around the corner, their top seven is locked.Colombo has arguably been the most challenging venue for India in the last six months, where batters’ temperament and endurance were tested in the extreme heat. But they responded remarkably in this tri-series against Sri Lanka and South Africa. India posted at least 275 runs four out of five times, and that includes the 342 for 7 in the final. They are showing signs that they are no longer dependent on Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet for the bulk of their runs.”Definitely proud of the entire team, the way we played today,” Harmanpreet said. “Especially our batters, they played good cricket and that’s what we discussed in the beginning that if we won the toss, we will bat and we will look for a really good total on the board and really happy the way we batted today.””A lot of positives, especially the other batters the way they have batted, in the last game Jemimah [Rodrigues] had a knock of hundred, and Harleen [Deol] kept batting for the team and Pratika [Rawal] too and Deepti [Sharma]’s all-round performance and Sneh Rana’s bowling efforts.”Over the past two weeks, India have shown the ability to ride out tough periods with the bat and make their moments of supremacy matter.
The 3-0 loss to Australia in Mumbai last December might have been the wake-up call. Since then, India have played 11 ODIs and lost only one. This run has been built on a batting line-up that is pushing itself to new heights. In six out of the eight matches that they’ve had to set a total, they’ve made over 300.Pratika Rawal averages 63.80 after her first 11 ODIs•SLCIn the series opener against Sri Lanka, when India were asked to chase a target of 148, they did so with nine wickets and nearly 10 overs to spare. Rawal scored an unbeaten fifty, and would go on to score another, continuing her extraordinary run of form since making her debut last December. She is averaging 63.80 after 11 ODIs.Is this the way forward for India, without Shafali Verma? Maybe. Despite a strong showing at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) earlier this year, Shafali was left out of the tri-series. She has also churned out runs with remarkable consistency in domestic cricket since being dropped from the India squad last November. But, for now, India are happy to let Rawal have her run.There was a bond of trust when Rodrigues was handed a role in the middle order. It’s the sort of trust that has survived setbacks.She started her ODI career as a top-order batter, but two years ago, India needed something different from her. They knew Rodrigues, a player of talent and maturity, was capable of batting at any position. But she struggled to find her feet in this new position and had a forgettable 2024: she could muster only 329 runs in 12 innings, only one fifty-plus score.Jemimah Rodrigues on her success in 2025: It’s just the confidence I have and more than that, just me understanding my game•SLCThe new year brought a new Rodrigues. She notched up her maiden ODI hundred against Ireland in January and followed it up with 245 runs in this tri-series – India’s second-most productive batter behind Mandhana. Overall in 2025, she has 360 runs in seven innings. It is evident that she has worked on her strike rate (up to 115 this year from 91 last year) and fitness in the process.”I just want to keep going. The main target is the World Cup,” Rodrigues would say after her second ODI century, against South Africa, a few days ago. She went on to explain that “it’s just the confidence I have and more than that, just me understanding my game. Usually, I used to play 4-5 dot balls, get panicked and throw my wicket. But now, I think that sense of calmness is there and you know, I can make [it] up. And at the same time, a lot of T20 cricket has helped me play in different leagues, in different conditions. It has helped me and given me a belief and a trust in myself. I know that in any condition and any situation, I am well able to deliver what the team requires.”Rodrigues is becoming India’s rock in the middle order.As far as the finishers are concerned, the team has been banking on Richa Ghosh, but they will be more than pleased with Deepti’s 93 against South Africa earlier in this series. It was her first fifty-plus score in ODIs since her unbeaten 68 against England at Lord’s in 2022, and India would be hoping that the senior allrounder carries this form forward.Harleen Deol has helped India find stability•BCCIThe next big box that was ticked is India’s No.3. After trying out Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Priya Punia, and D Hemalatha, Deol was slotted in at one-down during the home series against Australia last December. Since her comeback, she has played 14 innings and has done fairly well – 511 runs at an average of 39.30 including a match-winning century against West Indies. In this tri-series, Deol’s top score of 47 came in Sunday’s final against Sri Lanka.Through all this, Mandhana kept doing Mandhana things, which doesn’t come as a surprise anymore. Perhaps it’s even underappreciated because of her mind-boggling consistency. Her 11th ODI century on Sunday propelled India to 342 for 7 in the title clash, which was too much for Sri Lanka as they eventually lost by a margin of 97 runs. She has accumulated 1260 ODI runs in 21 innings since the start of 2024, the most for a batter in this period. This includes six centuries and five fifties. The second best on this list is Hayley Matthews, with 851 runs.Five different India batters made a score of fifty or more over the course of the tri-series. It is a welcome development for a team facing some more big tests.India’s next assignment will be a long tour of England in June-July where they are scheduled to play five T20Is and three ODIs in vastly different conditions compared to Colombo. But for now, they will be content having ticked a lot of boxes in the batting.

Ollie Pope's century buys him the summer at No. 3

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

There was no question of the significance this innings had for his England career

Matt Roller21-Jun-2025

Ollie Pope’s ton led England’s strong response•Getty Images

Ollie Pope has celebrated eight previous Test hundreds but never with such fervour. Pope scampered through for a single after inside-edging Jasprit Bumrah to the leg side, roaring “come on!” with fists clenched, and then punched the air with the jab of a welterweight boxer. There was no question of the significance this innings had for his England career.Marquee Test series demand substance over style, and Pope showed his mettle; this was not a chanceless hundred, with two significant let-offs, but it was a timely one under huge pressure. He looked drained – mentally, physically, emotionally – as he walked off unbeaten at the close, after spending a single over off the field across the first two days’ play.Athletes try to ignore the “outside noise” created by the media but only deafness could have blocked out the scrutiny on Pope. Jacob Bethell’s emergence as a potential superstar left his place at No. 3 under genuine pressure, and an unusually sparse schedule – with no Tests for five months at the start of this year – left him powerless to respond to speculation.Related

  • Pope determined to deliver 'runs after runs after runs' following Headingley ton

  • Duckett had 'goosebumps' watching Pope celebrate crucial ton

  • Stokes blames media 'agenda' for pressure on Pope

  • India's gaffes overshadow Bumrah's jaffas, Pope ton makes it England's day

Even his 171 against Zimbabwe last month was easily discounted, not least after Ben Stokes created an inadvertent media storm. England are at the start of a defining ten-Test run against India and Australia; Pope had reached 50 only twice in his previous 35 innings against those opponents, his 196 in Hyderabad resembling a freak outlier.But this was vital supporting evidence. “He probably couldn’t walk out in tougher conditions, with Jasprit running down the hill with the lights on,” Ben Duckett said. Pope flicked his first ball, from Mohammed Siraj, off his pads for four; so often a nervous starter, he had a calm poise when punishing width off India’s seamers.Pope scored heavily – 48 of his round 100 – behind square on the off side, thanks to the steep bounce that Headingley offers and occasional fortunate moments: a Bumrah misfield at deep point, and two chancy steers through gaps in the slip cordon. His best shot – a perfectly placed pull off Prasidh Krishna over leg gully which beat long leg to his right – took him to 90.Ollie Pope played some delectable drives•Getty ImagesHe also had an umpiring decision and a drop to thank. When Pope had 34, Chris Gaffaney turned down an lbw appeal from Siraj; if he had given it out, it would not have been overturned; when he had 60, Yashasvi Jaiswal put him down at third slip off the relentless Bumrah, whose first few spells of the series were irresistible.Yet, those reprieves are merely details in Pope’s bigger picture. Stokes has consistently reassured him of his place over the past month and Duckett insisted there was never any doubt in the dressing room that Pope would bat at No. 3, but his response to reaching three figures confirmed the extent to which he had felt Bethell breathing down his neck.”The way Popey’s dealt with it has been superb and just sums up and proves why he’s England’s No. 3,” Duckett said. “Scoring a hundred against that attack, coming out in the first over at 4 for 1, you could just see it in the way that he celebrated. It didn’t just mean a lot to him; it meant a huge amount in the dressing room as well.”It is almost inevitable that Bethell will win another chance in England’s batting line-up before long. Cricket obsesses over selection debates more than any other sport, but injuries and other absences have invariably deprived England of at least one member of their first-choice top seven for at least one Test in seven of their last eight Test series.2:22

Duckett: Bumrah the best in the world

But Pope ensured on Saturday that he will not be left out any time soon; it is the sign of a strong batting line-up that a player of Bethell’s evident quality cannot get into the side. Pope has bought himself the rest of the summer at No. 3 and must now prove he is a far better, hungrier player than a Test average in the mid-30s might suggest; aged 27, he should be approaching his prime.It was Pope’s tempo that was most impressive: his early boundaries in partnership with Duckett prompted Shubman Gill to set defensive fields to stem the flow of runs, at one stage five boundary-riders to Ravindra Jadeja. With the field spread, Pope slipped down a gear: his second fifty (61 balls) was quicker than his first (65) but contained only five fours compared to eight.That manipulation of oppositions’ plans has been a central tenet of England’s aggression with the bat over the last three years: Duckett has embodied their strategy, going hard against the new ball and then milking singles when captains feel forced to react, and Pope’s release shot – a dab past gully – built on the same premise.Pope’s challenge now is to back his century up, and to dispel the notion that he is a feast-or-famine player; he spoke before the series about his desire to emulate Joe Root by scoring “hundred, hundred, hundred” and proving his consistency. But such thoughts can wait for next week, as he basks in the satisfaction of his most determined innings yet.

For England's batters, the heart seems unwilling and the mind unconvinced

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

England’s batting line-up no longer resembles a side playing with a single-minded purpose and utter conviction in their approach

Matt Roller08-Dec-20250:53

Finch: ‘England’s shot selection has been horrible’

It was like being offered a mouthful of the meal you wish you had ordered.Ben Stokes and Will Jacks’ tenacious – if ultimately futile – resistance on the fourth day at the Gabba served only to underline just how wrong England had already got it, a bite of someone else’s steak that left them wondering how they had ended up with nothing more than a bowl of soggy chips.Stokes and Jacks’ partnership for the seventh wicket was worth 96 in 221 balls, the longest stand of the series on either side, and felt like England’s captain directly rebuking his batters for their shot selection during a collapse of 5 for 38 on the third evening. They hit six boundaries between them, one every half-hour: “I just wanted us to fight,” Stokes said.Throughout his captaincy, Stokes has seen batting as an opportunity to make a point to his team-mates. In his first summer in the job, he would start in fifth gear and rarely change back down, scoring at a strike rate of 73.45; in 2025, he has slammed the brakes on, highlighting the need for some middle-order ballast with his strike rate dipping to 47.67.Related

  • England have the talent to match Australia but not the mindset

  • McCullum in firing line as England batten down hatches

  • England at breaking point as Ashes dreams dismantled

  • McCullum: England 'over-prepared' in second Test build-up

  • Pope runs out of rope as Bazball's poster-boy turns fall-guy

“I said last night, ‘we are where we are’. We talked about taking the scoreboard out of the equation,” Stokes said. “Nothing’s guaranteed in life, and nothing’s guaranteed in sport, but as long as you walk out there and think in your head, ‘I’m going to fight all the way to the end here’, that’s all you can focus on.”What you saw from me and Will Jacks was me saying, ‘anyone who’s got responsibility left in this game, just show fight’. Sometimes, that doesn’t show in the output of what you’re trying to do. It’s all in the mind.”For all that conditions were easier – the ball had gone soft, and there were no visibility issues in the daytime – it provided a stark contrast to England’s approach the night before. The return catch that Zak Crawley chipped back to Michael Neser had summed up the ineptitude, a carbon copy of Ollie Pope’s dismissal, which showed a total failure to learn from others’ mistakes.0:50

Stokes: ‘If we lose hope, we might as well not turn up’

Jacks had a few sketchy moments during his innings of 41, most notably when Australia attacked him with the short ball. He may well have faced more bumpers on Sunday afternoon than in his 54 first-class appearances for Surrey but, after a handful of plays-and-misses, developed a method as he gradually grew in confidence. Put simply, he learned on the job.Yet, far too many of his more experienced team-mates seem incapable of doing so: Crawley and Pope most obviously, who are both still making the same mistakes after more than 60 Tests each, but so too Harry Brook, whose decision to play a booming drive at the first pink ball he had ever faced from Mitchell Starc under lights was indefensible.But the most galling aspect of England’s struggles is that their batting line-up no longer resembles a side playing with a single-minded purpose and utter conviction in their approach. Brook aside, most of their dismissals in Brisbane came from half-hearted shots ill-suited to the Gabba’s pace and bounce.

“We are a much better team at applying it than we are at absorbing it at the moment”Ben Stokes

Australia have outperformed England across every main batting metric in the first two Tests: they have lost a wicket every 50.3 balls to England’s 32.9; they have averaged 38.20 runs per wicket to England’s 22.77; and they have even outscored England, going at 4.55 per over to England’s 4.15. Really, this is barely even Bazball Lite.Pope inadvertently summed up the confusion that has crept into the England dressing room two days out from the Test, providing a barely comprehensible answer when asked about their approach. The thrust was that “complete clarity” as to whether to attack or defend was vital, but he batted as though totally unclear – particularly in his skittish second innings.Stokes and Brendon McCullum have attempted to “refine” their set-up – in terms of both method and personnel – over the past 18 months, an admission that beating the best Test teams demands nuance and nous. But the most notable effect appears to have been to dull England’s attacking strength without improving at all on their shortcomings.6:09

‘Australia have sat back, waited for England and pushed them over’

It was a theme that Stokes himself acknowledged after England’s defeat, looking physically and emotionally drained after four gruelling days. Stokes said that he was “definitely not doubting” England’s approach but made an unusually candid admission that his team has lacked the resilience and character to withstand pressure in this series.”I remember my first team chat with Baz. It was, ‘our blueprint is about applying pressure to the opposition, but also understanding that we do need to absorb that at moments’. I will agree, and say that we are a much better team at applying it than we are at absorbing it at the moment.”You’ll always see us chase the ball hard to the boundary, and you’ll always see people leave everything out there on the field. That is the blueprint of this team. And we can definitely look to improve on the moments where we need to absorb [pressure], and just understanding a lot better what that looks like.”The fear is that it is too little, too late. England are already 2-0 down in the series, a deficit that has only once been overturned to win the urn in Ashes history. Stokes has a four-night stay in a Noosa resort and three training sessions in Adelaide to ensure that the message he tried to send has got across to his batters, but is it the right one?With every passing week, England’s early success under Stokes and McCullum – the heady run of 13 wins in their first 18 Tests, including the intoxicating comeback from 2-0 down in the 2023 Ashes – looks increasingly like a cricketing equivalent of football’s new-manager bounce. Since then, they have been a coin-flip team who have lost as many Tests as they have won.

Dre Russ: KKR's six-hitting legend and prolific wicket-taker

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Russell was among only two allrounders in IPL history to achieve the double of 2000 runs and 100 wickets

Shubh Agarwal30-Nov-2025Andre Russell has retired from the IPL as a player, culminating one of the most influential careers in the league, especially for an overseas player. Making his debut in 2012, Russell featured in 140 IPL games – seven for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and 133 for Kolkata Knight Riders – scoring 2,651 runs at a strike rate of 174.17 and picking 123 wickets. Here are some of the statistical highlights from his IPL career.2 – Russell is among only two allrounders in IPL history to achieve the double of 2000 runs and 100 wickets. Only Ravindra Jadeja (3260 runs and 170 wickets) has matched this feat.174.71 – Russell’s strike rate in the IPL is the highest for any batter with over 1500 runs. The next on the list is Nicholas Pooran, who has a strike rate of 168.97 for his 2293 runs in this league.Related

Andre Russell to join KKR as 'power coach'

204.81 – Russell’s strike rate in the 2019 IPL season. It is the only occasion of a batter amassing over 500 runs in an IPL season with a strike rate in excess of 200. Russell scored 510 runs in IPL 2019 at an average of 56.66 in what was his most productive year with the bat. Only two other batters have achieved the double of averaging above 50 at a strike rate of more than 200 in an IPL season – Brendon McCullum in 2008 and MS Dhoni in 2024.100 – Sixes Russell hit in the death overs (overs 17 to 20), making him one among only four batters with 100 or more sixes in that phase in the IPL.

Overall, Russell struck 223 sixes in the IPL, the joint seventh-most in the IPL, alongside Kieron Pollard.88* – Russell’s highest score in the IPL which came against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2018 while batting at No. 7. It is the highest individual score by a batter at No. 7 or below in the IPL.369.23 – Russell’s strike rate during his knock of 48* off 13 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2019. It is the highest strike rate in a successful chase of 200 or more in the IPL (minimum 30 runs in the innings).4 – Russell is among only four players to feature in more than 100 IPL games for KKR with his tally of 133 matches, second only to Sunil Narine’s 189. Overall, only six overseas players have played more than 100 matches for a franchise. Russell is fourth on that list, highlighting his significance in KKR’s camp for over a decade.

16 – Times Russell won the Player-of-the-Match award in the IPL, all for KKR. Only Narine won more such awards in KKR colors (17). Russell also won the Most Valuable Player of the season award in 2019.2 – Players to have picked over 100 wickets for KKR. Russell’s total of 122 wickets for KKR is only second to Narine’s 192. Among fast bowlers, Russell tops the list; Umesh Yadav was the second-best seamer for KKR, with 65 wickets.5 for 15 – Russell’s bowling figures against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021. These are the best bowling figures for a KKR bowler in IPL history.

England's Ashes squad have pace in abundance, but do they have the miles?

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

England are banking on their young fast bowlers, but can they pit raw speed against Australia’s experienced attack?

Matt Roller15-Nov-2025First it was Stuart Broad. Then it was James Anderson. And now it is Chris Woakes. Between those three international retirements, England have lost exactly 1500 wickets worth of Test match experience since the 2023 Ashes; the septet of fast bowlers that they have taken to Australia for the 2025-26 series have barely a third of that figure (566) between them.It is England’s first Ashes tour without Anderson in their ranks since the 2002-03 series – before Jacob Bethell was even born – and their first without Broad since 2006-07. Ben Stokes accounts for more than half of the 205 Test caps shared between the seven seamers on this tour; Jofra Archer, who has played 15 Tests in six years, is their third most-capped quick.It is a clear contrast to Australia, who will rely on a trio who can boast over 1000 Test wickets between them – but whose bodies are finally showing signs of age. They will both hope to play roles later in the series but Pat Cummins (309 wickets) and Josh Hazlewood (295) are both out of Friday’s first Test, leaving Mitchell Starc (402) as the spearhead.Related

  • Ashes FAQ: Do England really have a chance?

  • Will Australia's pitches be juicy for the Ashes?

  • Pace is the ace: why you need quick bowlers to win in Australia

  • Mark Wood puts 'boring' rehab behind him as he gears up for bowling return

  • Smith: England's all-out pace may not be ideal Ashes attack

But England’s hope is that the quality and depth of their attack will trump experience. It was only four years ago that they sent seven seamers to Australia with 1547 Test wickets between them and were thrashed 4-0; since then, both Aamer Jamal (18 wickets at 20.44) and Shamar Joseph (13 wickets at 17.30) have led touring attacks in Australia in their maiden Test series.The last time England won in Australia, in 2010-11, only Anderson and Broad among their six seamers had even ten previous Test caps before the start of the series. Yet their rookies thrived: Chris Tremlett took 17 wickets in three Tests after Broad went home injured, while Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn shared 25 between them across five.

The key ingredient in the 2025-26 attack – which has so often been absent in previous England squads to tour Australia – is pace. Six of their seven seamers have been clocked above 90mph/145kph in Test cricket – Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Stokes, Josh Tongue and Mark Wood. Matthew Potts, the lone exception, is no slouch himself.”It is probably one of the quickest attacks we’ve sent out there, if not the quickest,” says Neil Killeen, who has played a key role in their development as the ECB’s elite pace-bowling coach.
The make-up of the attack is the result of a deliberate attempt by Rob Key, England’s managing director, to reprogram attitudes towards fast bowling across the English system. “It’s not like we are going to go there with the same formula and expect different results,” said Joe Root, who captained England to 4-0 defeats in their last two Ashes tours.Key has made the regeneration of England’s pace attack his priority in the past 18 months. “I don’t care how many wickets you take,” he told the in a deliberately provocative interview, shortly before moving Anderson on. “I want to know how hard you are running in, how hard you are hitting the pitch, and are you able to sustain pace at 85-88mph?”He has unashamedly taken inspiration from Australia, and described their ability to keep Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood fresh and fit across formats for so long as “the holy grail” earlier this year. Mark Wood, England’s fastest bowler ever, sees things similarly: “We’ve tried to change from the norm of England… to Australia’s vision of fast bowling,” he told the .There go our heroes: that’s 1500 Test wickets walking off into the sunset together•ECB via Getty ImagesBut the start of the transition can be traced back to February 2022, immediately after England’s 4-0 defeat in the 2021-22 Ashes. Andrew Strauss, as interim director of cricket, left both Broad and Anderson out in order to give Woakes and Wood opportunities to lead the attack, while Matt Fisher and Saqib Mahmood both made their Test debuts.It was a brave, controversial call with significant unintended consequences. England toiled hard in high-scoring draws in the first two Tests against West Indies and were then bundled out by Kyle Mayers in the third. A 1-0 series defeat – leaving England with one win in their last 17 Tests – made Root’s position as captain untenable, prompting a complete overhaul in leadership.Key, Stokes and Brendon McCullum were appointed to the three most influential roles in English cricket, and have since overseen the development of a fast-bowling attack that looks decidedly un-English. Broad and Anderson both returned in the short term, but England made a point of growing their fast-bowling depth right from the start of the new regime.Potts debuted in the first “Bazball” series, against New Zealand in June 2022, and three further fast bowlers in the Ashes squad have emerged since – Tongue, Atkinson and Carse. All four share similar attributes: they are tall, quick right-arm bowlers who rely on seam movement more than swing, and have formed strong relationships off the field.They reflected on their rise last month while training at England’s performance centre in Loughborough. “We said to each other: it’s quite nice that we’re all in a similar mould,” Carse said. “It’s quite nice to have good people and good mates away from the game who you are representing your country with, and to go to an away Ashes all together is pretty exciting.”Rookie monster: Tongue is England’s top wicket-taker so far this year, but all of his 19 wickets have come at home•Getty ImagesIt has vindicated the decision to usher Anderson into retirement, which was made explicitly with this series in mind: “Giving people game time now will hopefully put us in a strong position to go to Australia and win the urn back,” Stokes explained last July. It was an unpopular call, but the right one: for all Anderson’s brilliance, it was unthinkable that he could lead the attack at 43.He stayed around the team for the next six months as a bowling coach, passing on a lifetime of knowledge to the next generation, but has since made way. Not that Anderson is fully sold on the group that has replaced him: “I don’t see a leader of the attack,” he said on his podcast after England named their squad. “There’s not that experience there.”Key has also launched the ECB’s “pace project”, working with performance director Ed Barney, player identification lead David Court, and Killeen. Internal research suggests a clear correlation between pace and success at Test level, and England have attempted to fast-track their best prospects via the Lions programme.Sonny Baker has been handed a central contract for 2025-26 after 43 senior appearances, while Eddie Jack, Tom Lawes, Josh Hull and Mitchell Stanley have all won development deals. “It’s not about trying to make everybody 90mph bowlers,” Killeen says. “[But] we want quick bowlers who can produce lateral movement, who can create bounce, and who have accuracy.”Pace is not the only weapon that England have available to them. Archer’s potency against left-handers is well established, and Australia are likely to field five in their top eight. Atkinson’s lateral movement makes him difficult to leave alone, while Carse is a rare English bowler who feels more comfortable using the Kookaburra ball than the Dukes.Stokes has rarely bowled better than he did against India, after using an injury layoff to work on his alignment at the crease. Tongue’s beyond-perpendicular action makes him awkward to face, and he has taken a wicket every 44.1 balls in his first six Tests. Wood is a skilled exponent of reverse swing, and Potts is England’s most accurate seamer.Matthew Potts is the closest England have to a traditional English seamer in the Ashes squad•PA Images/GettyYet there is a nagging suspicion that England might be late to the party. Australian conditions have changed in recent seasons, with “curators” leaving more grass on pitches and the pace of play accelerating dramatically: on average, seamers have taken a wicket every 47 balls across the last four Test summers, compared to one every 61 balls in the previous four.Where England will turn if confronted with a green top is unclear. Despite Woakes’ record in Australia (16 wickets at 51.68), he might well have come into the picture had a shoulder injury not hastened his retirement, while Sam Cook’s unconvincing performance against Zimbabwe on debut leaves Potts as the closest thing to a traditional English seamer in the squad.It is a hole that really ought to have been filled by Ollie Robinson, a man with 76 Test wickets at 22.92, but he has slipped so far down the pecking order that he was not even in the conversation for selection after England lost patience with his attitude and fitness. His presence in Australia, playing grade cricket in Sydney, is a timely reminder of what might have been.But the question on which the series will hinge is how often England will have Archer, Stokes and Wood available to them. All three have struggled badly with injuries: Archer has played two Tests since February 2021; Wood has not bowled competitively since the Champions Trophy; and Stokes has only completed one full series as an allrounder in the last three years.Wood and Archer are lethal when fit, but given their return from long injury layoffs, are unlikely to feature in all of the Ashes Tests•Getty ImagesThe optimistic reading of their limited involvement is that the ECB have managed their workloads to ensure that all three are ready to hit the ground running in what McCullum has labelled “the biggest series of all of our lives”. In reality, there is next to no chance that all three will feature in five Tests out of five. England will need to tap into their squad depth.The tour will be a significant physical challenge. No matter the recent changes in conditions, Australia’s oppressive heat makes it a gruelling place to bowl, particularly once the Kookaburra ball has gone soft. For all their seamers’ efforts against India this summer, England ultimately ran out of steam at The Oval, in marked contrast to the irrepressible Mohammed Siraj.And unlike their opponents, England do not have a world-class spinner they can rely on. Australia have lingering injury doubts heading into the first Test but know that Nathan Lyon can settle in for long spells. Shoaib Bashir has often fulfilled a similar role, but his economy rate (3.78) reflects the frequency with which he bowls hit-me balls.It remains abundantly clear that for all of England’s improvement under Stokes and McCullum, everything will have to fall into place if they are to regain the urn. “Australia are obviously the favourites,” Wood said recently. “They’re very hard to beat in their own conditions. They’ve shown that for a number of years: we haven’t managed to win many games here at all.”It is that unavoidable truth that has prompted England to put this attack together: after 13 defeats in their last 15 Tests in Australia, there was no point opting for more of the same. Their fast-bowling “pack” features pace and potential in abundance; now, it is time for precision and performance.

Kohli finds rhythm, Rohit shakes off the rust in India's first training session

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Fans in attendance were greeted by a notably jovial Kohli and Rohit, both happy to sign autographs and take selfies

Tristan Lavalette16-Oct-20252:16

What to expect from Rohit, Kohli in this phase of their careers?

With Optus Stadium – a favourite site of his – providing a magnificent backdrop, Virat Kohli looked sharp in the Perth nets in his return to the India team after a lengthy break since the Champions Trophy.There was intrigue over who would take part in India’s optional training session on the first day of their limited-overs tour of Australia. Much to the delight of the sprinkling of fans outside the ground, Kohli and Rohit Sharma – the latter set to play without the captain’s armband and under Shubman Gill’s leadership – decided to dust off the cobwebs to mark their return to the national setup ahead of the first ODI against Australia on Sunday.Quicks Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh also took part, while KL Rahul was the only member of India’s Test team against West Indies to train. While most of the squad arrived in Perth in the early hours of Thursday, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj and the coaching staff were on a later flight.Related

Axar: 'It's perfect that Rohit and Virat are here to help with the transition'

The wait for 'Ro-Ko' is over and it's okay to be a bit emotional about it

Gill inherits the wealth of India's Rohit-Kohli era

Tough but fair: selectors have prioritised future over sentiment

Will Rohit and Kohli play 2027 World Cup? 'Stay in the present,' says Gambhir

As always, all eyes were on Kohli who has not played since the IPL and is almost surely starting his final Australian tour. Kohli looked locked in as he went through catching drills with great intensity during India’s 20-minute session on the turf where just under a year ago he scored his final Test century.Kohli then spent 40 minutes in the nets and mostly faced back of a length bowling from Rana, Arshdeep and several local bowlers. There were a few uncomfortable moments, but Kohli looked generally at ease as he prepared for a likely lively surface in an ODI game set to be played amid damp conditions – a notable change from the sunshine that has greeted India in Perth.Kohli’s fluency impressed as he aimed to get himself inside the ball’s line with Rana, in particular, bowling with zip. Next to Kohli in the nets was his long-time teammate Rohit, who also has not played since the IPL and looked rusty to begin with. While the lovely sound of ball hitting the middle of Kohli’s bat reverberated, Rohit struggled with his timing and his footwork was sluggish. Like Kohli, he has not represented India since the Champions Trophy and is also only playing ODI cricket internationally.Virat Kohli’s final Test ton also came in Perth•Getty ImagesStaying in the nets a little longer than Kohli, Rohit started to grow in confidence as he thumped several blows into the netting. While Kohli and Rohit were getting in work, Rahul’s time in the nets was brief before trudging off alongside a few support staff.In a far cry from India’s Test preparation in Perth last November, where the WACA ground’s nets were completely covered by black shade cloth, there was a much more relaxed vibe to this training session.While fans were unable to watch their heroes last year – apart from a hardy few who climbed trees – those who attended this time around were greeted by a notably jovial Kohli and Rohit, who were both happy to sign autographs and take selfies.Kohli’s presence has notably heightened the build-up for this three-match ODI series, no doubt helping lift ticket sales with more than 50,000 fans expected at Optus Stadium.It kick-starts a massive Australian summer, with the Ashes starting in Perth on November 21. Apart from the peak summer period of December and January, it’s usually hard for cricket in Perth to compete with the obsessively followed Australian Football League (AFL) which continually eats into cricket season.But at least for this summer, there is a real sense of anticipation with India and, especially, England touring. However, there wasn’t much fanfare earlier in the day during Australia’s optional training session at Optus Stadium.Most of the squad took part, with quick Mitchell Starc a standout in the nets with his speed as he hustled the batters. It was generally a laid back atmosphere before the intensity of the big summer really kicks-in, with plenty of banter over golf evident between the Australian players.Former Test quick Jhye Richardson was an encouraging sight in the nets as he makes his way back following shoulder surgery earlier in the year. A return to the field is still a little way off for Richardson, who has endured a wretched injury run, but he looked in good physical condition although did not appear to bowl at top speed.India and Australia will have their main training sessions on Friday.

Aston Villa prepared to make Ansu Fati offer but face complicated roadblock

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Aston Villa are now prepared to make an offer for FC Barcelona forward Ansu Fati following a request from manager Unai Emery, but a clause in his loan deal at Monaco may complicate matters.

Villa’s interest in a new forward comes amid Ollie Watkins & co flattering to deceive, with the striker scoring just one Premier League goal in ten matches so far this season, having fallen way short of his usual lofty standards.

Despite Liverpool struggling from a defensive point of view this season, having already conceded 14 goals, Emery’s forward line barely caused the Reds any issues at the weekend, failing to create a single big chance in the 2-0 defeat.

Some of the manager’s summer signings are yet to hit the ground running too, with Jeff Stelling ripping into the Spaniard for his decision to substitute Jadon Sancho against Manchester City, having only been brought on himself in the first half.

With Harvey Elliott being omitted from the squad entirely for the victory against City, Emery clearly has doubts over some of his summer signings, and he has now made a plea to the board…

Aston Villa prepared to make offer for Ansu Fati in 2026

According to a report from Spain, Aston Villa are now prepared to make an offer for Barcelona forward Fati, who is currently on loan at AS Monaco, in light of the fantastic start to the season he has made in Ligue 1, but there could be competition for his signature.

Sunderland are also willing to make a move for the Monaco loanee, while the French club retain a clause to make his stay permanent for a fee of just €11m (£10m), which is viewed as an affordable fee, given the form he’s in.

Emery has personally requested the signing of a top-level forward, in order to compete for the European places, and Villa are now poised to make a move for the 23-year-old, should he not join Monaco permanently.

Once hailed as “extraordinary” by former Barcelona manager Xavi, the Spaniard was ultimately unable to make the grade at the Camp Nou, but he is still young, and the start the left-winger has made to the season has been very impressive.

Fati at Monaco

Appearances

Goals

Ligue 1

7

5

Champions League

3

1

Indeed, the Guinea-Bissau-born attacker has put in a number of eye-catching performances already this season, showcasing that he could still be capable of reaching the very top, if he steers clear of injuries, having spent too much on the treatment table at Barcelona.

There may be some concern over the fact the 10-time Spain international didn’t set the world alight during his previous stint in the Premier League, registering just two goals and zero assists in 19 top-flight outings for Brighton & Hove Albion.

However, Fati’s recent performances have been much-improved, and if he continues to perform at this level, Aston Villa should undoubtedly make a move.

Aston Villa now join race for "insane" former Bayern Munich striker Aston Villa now join race to sign "insane" £35m former Bayern Munich striker

The Villans are looking to sign a centre-forward, with Unai Emery keen on greater strength in depth in attack.

ByDominic Lund Oct 28, 2025

Chances of Martin O'Neill becoming permanent Celtic manager with win vs Rangers

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Martin O’Neill marked his Celtic homecoming with a comprehensive win at Parkhead, and there has been a claim on the chances of him landing the Hoops job on a permanent basis.

O’Neill Celtic return begins with 4-0 win over Falkirk

The 73-year-old former Hoops manager was installed along with ex-Celtic player Shaun Maloney as the interim management team following the stunning resignation of Brendan Rodgers on Monday night.

Irish striker Johnny Kenny scored twice in the first half before goals after the break from midfielder Benjamin Nygren and wide-man Sebastian Tounekti took the Hoops to within six points of William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts, who drew 2-2 at St Mirren. O’Neill, who was Hoops boss between 2000 and 2005, said:

O’Neill joked about being nervous before the game. He added: “Well, first of all, I jokingly said – maybe true – I have not been as nervous since I sat my 11-plus but, again, I think I passed that when I was 48.

“But honestly, really concerned about the game, naturally. Concerned about the usual thing about letting myself down, which is I’ve done so many times it’s untrue, and letting other people down here at the football club.

“Just coming in a bit of a whirlwind and to play in the manner which we did when I thought was great and obviously most important thing was winning the game. Naturally, I couldn’t be more pleased. I thought the players did really brilliantly.”

Games

266

Wins

200

Draws

26

Losses

40

Trophies

7

Players used

56

Next up for O’Neill and Maloney is Sunday’s League Cup semi-final against rivals Rangers, who are also showing early promising signs under new manager Danny Rohl.

Chances of Celtic making Martin O’Neill permanent manager

Talking to Sky Sports, Tino Callaghan from the Celtic Exchange said that conversations could be had over O’Neill staying on as permanent Celtic manager if the Hoops defeat Rangers on Sunday.

However, Callaghan also added his personal opinion, believing those at Parkhead need to ‘go in a different direction’.

A number of managers have been linked with the permanent job, such as Club Brugge’s Nicky Hayen, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and Wales’ Craig Bellamy.

How Nicky Haven feels about taking Celtic manager job

O’Neill looks set to be in the dugout at Hampden Park, and if Callaghan’s claim is correct, another positive result may see Celtic chiefs take note and explore the idea of keeping the Irishman on.

£150,000-a-week La Liga star who Amorim wants is now open to Man Utd move

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim have been handed a transfer boost, with a La Liga star now open to an Old Trafford move.

Man Utd midfield options heading into 2026

It feels as if Amorim’s midfield is the one area that may need the most work in 2026. The Man Utd boss has gone with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes more often than not this season, with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte falling out of favour.

Mainoo has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, whereas Amorim criticised Ugarte in front of his Man Utd teammates following the Europa League final against Tottenham.

Casemiro is also out of contract in 2026, and it has been suggested that there is a real possibility he will leave for free at the end of the season.

This comes despite the fact Amorim wants to keep the Brazilian, however, INEOS are looking to cut the wage bill and could do just that with the £350,000-a-week top earner.

A number of midfielders have been linked with arriving in Manchester, and one name that won’t go away is Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher.

There was speculation over a deadline day move in the summer, but the English “machine” remained at the Wanda Metropolitano, where he has made just two La Liga starts in 2025/26 under Diego Simeone.

Forget Sesko: Man Utd's "terrible" dud is now becoming INEOS' worst signing

Manchester United made a huge mistake in spending big money on one first-team member.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 13, 2025

It has been suggested that Amorim has already given the green light for Man Utd to bring Gallagher back to the Premier League in 2026, and another promising update has now emerged.

Gallagher open to Man Utd move

According to United in Focus and transfer expert Graeme Bailey, Gallagher “has become increasingly frustrated at Atletico” and appears to be open to the idea of moving to Man Utd to improve his chances of making the England squad.

On around £150,000-a-week in Spain, Gallagher has been compared to some impressive midfielders across Europe in 2025, including former Red Devils man Scott McTominay.

Midfielders similar to Conor Gallagher

Club

Gavi

Barcelona

Sandro Tonali

Newcastle

Scott McTominay

Napoli

Bruno Guimaraes

Newcastle

Boubacar Kamara

Aston Villa

Now, United and INEOS need to decide whether or not to firm up their interest in the Englishman, amid rumours of a £44m January offer being lined up.

Man Utd now leading Barcelona & Liverpool in race to sign "absolute beast"

Nancy must unleash Celtic's most frustrating player since Engels

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Celtic are reportedly closing in on the appointment of Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy as their next permanent manager to replace Brendan Rodgers.

The French tactician is in ‘advanced talks’ to join the Scottish giants, but it remains to be seen exactly when he will be in post to start the job, with Martin O’Neill currently in interim charge.

Once Nancy is in the job and looking at what his priorities need to be, the new Celtic boss must find a way to get more out of central midfielder Arne Engels in the coming weeks and months.

Why Wilfried Nancy must revive Arne Engels for Celtic

The Scottish Premiership champions smashed their club record transfer fee to sign the Belgium international from Augsburg for a fee of £11m in the summer of 2024, and he showed plenty of promising signs in his first year at the club.

Engels delivered a return of ten goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he offered a decent threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Unfortunately, the 22-year-old star has been frustrating to watch this season because he has only produced one goal and four assists in 20 outings in the 2025/26 campaign.

This is why Nancy must make getting the best out of Engels one of his top priorities, because he is evidently capable of contributing far more than he currently is.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Along with the Belgian starlet, the French boss must also unleash summer signing Benjamin Nygren, who has become Celtic’s most frustrating player since Engels.

Why Benjamin Nygren is a frustrating player for Celtic

Like the £11m club-record signing, the Sweden international is an incredibly frustrating player for the Hoops because you can see that the talent is there, but it does not always work out for him.

The left-footed central midfielder has scored six goals and provided three assists in 18 appearances for the club this season, per Sofascore, yet he has found himself on the bench for the last two league games under O’Neill.

Nygren is such a frustrating player because he can do the hard bits, scoring and creating goals, but he lets himself down at times with some of the simpler parts of the game in the middle of the park.

xG

4.76

Top 1%

Goals

5

Top 1%

xA

2.77

Top 5%

Assists

2

Top 14%

Dribble success rate

29.4%

Bottom 17%

Duel success rate

49.5%

Bottom 44%

Dribbled past

6x

Bottom 35%

As you can see in the table above, he is exceptional at making an impact in the final third, yet is among the worst of his positional peers when it comes to competing in physical duels on and off the ball.

This explains why O’Neill has dropped him from the starting line-up in recent matches, because the midfield star has not proven that he can be reliable enough out of possession to go along with his attacking qualities.

The 24-year-old gem’s attacking output, though, suggests that he is a player who has a lot to offer to Nancy once he is in the building, as is also the case for Engels, which is why he must unleash the Swedish whiz from the start.

It will then be down to Nygren and Nancy to work together on the training pitch to either minimise the effects of his physical struggles, or to improve his work off the ball, to make him as effective as possible.

£1.5m Celtic flop has been an even bigger waste of time than Balikwisha

This Celtic flop has been an even worse signing than Michel-Ange Balikwisha for the Scottish giants.

1 ByDan Emery Nov 25, 2025

Game
Register
Service
Bonus