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Seamer shines as late replacement for Jofra Archer and could still force his way into World Cup contention

Vithushan Ehantharajah11-Sep-2025Not all England caps are equal, and Luke Wood would have been under no illusions that his 10th across formats on Wednesday evening was, essentially, as a fall guy. And yet, with 2 for 22 from his two overs, he left the first T20I against South Africa with something worthwhile.After enough Cardiff deluges for three rainbows and a start delayed by two hours and 20 minutes, England called an audible on the XI they had announced on Tuesday. The outfield was deemed too saturated for Jofra Archer; a four-year journey back to all formats has been physically, emotionally and financially taxing enough to not be worth what became a forgettable defeat across 12.5 overs at a slip-and-slide Sophia Gardens.”I wouldn’t run my horse around here in this type of weather, let alone my premium fast bowlers,” former England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan joked. The current one, Harry Brook agreed: “It would have been stupid to play him.” And thus, as uncouth as it may sound, wiser to risk Wood.Related

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Brook, aligned with head coach Brendon McCullum, made the decision to park Archer as soon as the match was set to be reduced. It meant Wood had under two hours to prepare. Such was the regularity of showers throughout the day, it would have only been when the left-arm seamer had the ball in his hand at 8.50pm, ready to kick things off from the River Taff End, that he would have known there was actual work to be done.He removed Ryan Rickleton with his second ball, a late away-swinger drawing an edge through to Jos Buttler. Lhuan-dre Pretorius was pocketed with his penultimate one, rushing the batter into an ungainly hack that required an acrobatic effort from Brook at mid-off. He should have had Aiden Markram on 24, when Phil Salt spilled a far simpler catch at cow corner; Wood then held on to dismiss Markram off Adil Rashid an over later.Brook, clearly exhausted at the end of a long night of an already long summer, lauded Wood’s efforts: “He didn’t have much time to prepare, but he went out and did a good job with the new ball, as he always does.”It was a sincere appraisal from Brook, more so than his intimation at the toss that Wood’s inclusion was on tactical grounds for what initially began as a nine-over affair. The 30-year-old may have been collateral, but he was the only England player to inflict any real damage on their opponents.This is a fascinating period in Wood’s career, one which the man himself had assumed would be without any international requirements. His participation in the West Indies T20Is at the start of this season could hardly be termed a recall given his previous seven appearances in 2022 and 2023 came, much like Wednesday, as a seat filler for the A-listers. Even his inclusion for May and June’s ODIs against West Indies was the result of Archer-related caution.There is a lot to like about Wood; quick enough, always finding movement through the air, and doing so immediately. Rickleton was the 11th batter he has removed in the first over of a T20 in 2025 alone – only fellow English leftie David Willey has more (14).Wood is also not shy of a bit of confrontation. These traits were brought to the fore in Brook’s second match as T20I captain in June, with a player-of-the-match display of 2 for 25. It was reminiscent of Wood’s T20I debut in Pakistan back in 2022, another award-winning turn of 3 for 24.Such was the impression Wood made that there were unofficial, idle thoughts that he could come into contention for the India Test series had England encountered a handful more injuries to their already depleted fast bowling stocks. His last first-class match came in September 2023, one of two County Championship appearances for Lancashire that season. But as was the case with Jamie Overton this summer, a lack of red-ball experience might not have precluded Wood from selection.Overton has since made himself unavailable for Test cricket ahead of the Ashes to prolong his career in the shorter formats. Though Wood need not make any official statements, having never earned a Test call-up, his winter has already been hitched to the franchise circuit with Dubai Capitals in the ILT20, which runs from December 2 to January 4. It is worth noting that since the 2023 home summer, Wood’s 72 matches since have been exclusively in the T20 formatNevertheless, the remaining two matches against South Africa, next week’s jaunt to Ireland and October’s tour of New Zealand will present Wood further opportunities to press his case for 2026’s T20 World Cup squad. Having been on the periphery for England’s success in 2022, as a late replacement on the reserve shortlist, he may finally be considered first-string.On an otherwise treacherous night that Brook regarded as “a bit of a shambles”, Wood was able to emerge unscathed and better for it.

Head coach imbued his players with belief, becoming first man to lead three different counties to Championship title

Vithushan Ehantharajah26-Sep-2025Fergus O’Neill took 21 wickets in the first four matches of the 2025 summer. But arguably the Victorian quick’s most enduring contribution to Nottinghamshire’s first County Championship title in 15 years was a tan corduroy blazer he picked up in a charity shop.After dry cleaning it, the garment was sent off to get embroidered with the club crest and “MOM” on the breasts. It has subsequently been presented to either the “man” or person responsible for the “moment” of the match.The honour of handing it over is given to the previous round’s “MOM”. Having donned it for his three-wicket blitz to seal a thriller at the Kia Oval, which meant Nottinghamshire led the four-peat seeking Surrey into this final round, it was Josh Tongue’s duty on Friday afternoon. And so, for the last corduroy presentation of the season, Tongue handed it over to Peter Moores.Related

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• Nottinghamshire romp to three-day win as title celebrations begin

“Oh, it was lovely,” said Moores, green Nottinghamshire hood over the off-mustard lapels, nailing the yuppie-chic, winners’ medal around his neck adding an extra flash of bling. “I’m not one for big emotions in the dressing room, but I was properly made up with it.”Let he who has watered, be watered. If there is one overriding emotion from this season, it is that a group of players have bound together and fought for a head coach who has done the same for them. Players that, to a man, had never previously tasted Championship success but, under his care, have grown as cricketers and developed the kind of resolve you only realise you have once you’ve won it.You could apply that to Moores, too. None of this has been plain sailing. After being chewed up and spat out twice by England (2007-2009 and 2014-2015) he admits to a bitterness that just wasn’t . It was while stewing after that second stint, halfway through a bottle of Rioja, that he realised the game does not owe him anything.Since starting out in professional cricket at the age of 18, at no point had he really felt short-changed. In fact, he surmised, each year offered fulfilment and, occasionally, reward. Now, at 62, he is the first coach to win the Championship with three different teams (Sussex in 2003 and 2006, Lancashire in 2011).That the requisite title-sealing points were secured on Thursday, when Kyle Verreynne’s six over midwicket took Nottinghamshire to 300 in their first innings against Warwickshire, allowed Moores a first, tension-free drive into Trent Bridge since coming on full-time in 2017. Naturally, he found it “weird”. But as his players lined up for their medals, he watched on with pride, even indulging his paternal instincts and getting out his phone to capture a few special moments in front of a Hound Stand teeming with home fans doing exactly the same.The final throes of the match were, well, perfect. Friday was always going to be a day of celebration given the mountain Warwickshire had to climb to give Nottinghamshire a meaningful target. Spectators were walking in as early as 9am and out to the bars as early as 5pm.

“Moores’ mantra has always been twofold: that winning is a byproduct of getting your players to believe in what they’re doing, and that you creep to excellence”

You do not often get perfect days in this game, even over a long, 14-game season, when luck – whether the elements or injuries – can decide your destiny. Nottinghamshire have certainly had the weather on their side. Of their six draws, four were in the Kookaburra rounds. And availability of key resources can be pinned squarely on Tongue, who was a huge boost even for only six matches. His 31 wickets have come at 22.03, of which 15 were picked up in his first three appearances of the season.It was his final match of that initial chunk – a home victory over Sussex, which was also O’Neil’s last appearance – that gave Nottinghamshire some daylight to work with at the top of Division One. In the dressing room afterwards, when the players saw the table, they figured they might be onto something.Winning the whole thing was not quite on the agenda up until then. Having just about survived relegation in 2024, there were many Nottinghamshire fans calling for change, not unreasonably. Even as recently as the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, a fan was spotted wearing a “MOORES OUT” Outlaws jersey.Moores almost was, before signing a new three-year deal in August to ward off reported overtures from Hampshire and Lancashire. By then the squad was in an entirely different space, owning a lofty Division One position that they had spoken about previously without ever truly believing would be theirs.It was on a pre-season trip to Abu Dhabi that Moores told his group that, despite their previous struggles, they were no longer in transition. “I thought we were ready to play.” Sights were set on becoming a top-four team. From there, who knows. Anything can happen.Haseeb Hameed holds the Championship trophy aloft•PA Photos/Getty ImagesAnd it did – because they played. All of them.After a first taste of full-time captaincy last season, Haseeb Hameed has emerged an incredibly wily captain, having developed an extra personal touch to his own ruthlessness with the bat, finishing with career-best 1258-run first-class summer, equalling his previous hauls of four centuries in 2016 and 2022.Hameed was one of eight century-makers – one short of the nine Nottinghamshire relied upon for their 2010 success. It was not only idyllic for him to strike the winning boundary elegantly through cover, but also that he did so after being given the strike by Ben Slater. The left-hander’s single saw him join Hameed as the only other Notts batter to reach four-figures. That Jack Haynes didn’t reach that milestone despite matching his skipper’s hundred count merely speaks to the fact that when runs were needed, someone stood up.Brett Hutton, as ever, led the attack with 38 dismissals. Remarkably, he was one of seven with 20 or more. Dillon Pennington offered real value with 28 from his eight games, while two home-reared allrounders in left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White (averaging 33.75 with the bat, 36.07 with ball) and seamer Lyndon James (46.41 and 35.61) were almost luxuries given how well they performed in their 11 and 13 appearances, respectively.It will be harder to keep this group together next year. Tongue, for instance, will continue to get the cotton-wool treatment from the ECB, who are paying his wages for the foreseeable future. The club will also have to stump up the cash for Mohammad Abbas, who is subject to a lucrative offer from Derbyshire. They hope to be able to welcome back Verreynne and O’Neil pending international commitments.None of that is for now, of course, even if it was about this time last year that Moores began plotting for how this one could go. His mantra has always been twofold: that winning is a byproduct of getting your players to believe in what they’re doing, and that you creep to excellence rather than sprint to it.That, however, is not quite how 2025 has panned out. Nottinghamshire grew to believe and did not creep. They have marched, proudly, to a seventh County Championship title, a third for Moores, and first for each other, in style.

Major League Baseball’s winter meetings are underway, which means rumors are flying and deals are likely to be struck.

On Monday, plenty of reports made the rounds as teams attempted to get a jump on the offseason and best position themselves for 2026. Here are all the latest rumors we’re hearing as the winter meetings heat up.

Nationals listening on CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore

The Nationals have a new head of baseball operations, and he’s looking to reshape the franchise to his liking. Paul Tobobi is MLB’s youngest president of baseball ops, and the long-time Red Sox scouting director and assistant general manager is not wasting any time. Turning Washington around likely means moving on from two young All-Stars.

Shortstop CJ Abrams and lefty starter MacKenzie Gore are being targeted by multiple teams at the winter meetings. The 25-year-old Abrams is an athletic shortstop coming off his best season, while Gore is a 26-year-old with elite stuff who had a brilliant first half but struggled down the stretch. Both came to the Nationals as part of the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Padres. Gore is under team control through 2027, while Abrams won’t hit free agency until 2029.

In 2025, Abrams slashed .257/.315/.433 with 19 home runs, 60 RBIs, 92 runs scored, 31 stolen bases, and a career-best 3.1 fWAR. He’s not a good defender at short, but could easily move to second base or the outfield. Gore made 30 starts and went 5-15, with a 4.17 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and 185 strikeouts against 64 walks in 159 2/3 innings. But in his first 19 starts of the season, he went 4-8 with a 3.02 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and 138 strikeouts against 35 walks. He faded hard down the stretch, which is something a new team would need to figure out.

Given the weak free agent market for shortstops, Abrams could fetch a significant haul. Meanwhile, Gore, a young lefty with ace stuff, could also net a hefty return. Teams will need to meet Toboni’s high price, but both players can be had.

Royals looking for multiple outfielders

The Royals are canvassing the league for help in the outfield and may need to make a trade to fill out the roster. Kansas City missed the playoffs by five games in 2025, as the team surprised the rest of MLB by staying in the race as late as it did. But the team’s outfield is a bit of a mess.

While Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, and another option like Harrison Bader would all be too expensive for the Royals, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal insists the team is pursuing all options. That could include trading starter Kris Bubic, who is set to make a projected $6 million before hitting free agency after next season. The 28-year-old lefty went 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts against 39 walks in 116 1/3 innings this season. He could fetch a solid return as a rental.

Rosenthal listed Mike Yastrzemski, Adolis Garcia, Max Kepler, and Mike Tauchman as options in Kansas City’s price range. Jac Caglianone is almost certain to have right field locked down, but the two other spots remain open.

Padres entertaining Nick Pivetta trade

Padres general manager A.J. Preller pulled off a coup last offseason, as he waited out the market before signing Nick Pivetta to a shockingly affordable four-year, $55 million deal. The 32-year-old rewarded the Padres, turning in a career-best season in which he went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and 190 strikeouts against 50 walks in 181 2/3 innings. That success, and a contract that is jumping to $19 million in 2026 has made Pivetta a trade candidate.

While The Athletic’s Dennis Lin points out that a Pivetta trade isn’t likely, the Padres need multiple starting pitchers and at least one bat. Moving the team’s ace would require a significant return that would improve San Diego at multiple spots, but no one should ever rule out Preller’s appetite for wheeling and dealing.

If Pivetta doesn’t move, San Diego could look to deal second baseman Jake Cronenworth. There aren’t a lot of middle-infield options on the market, and free agents won’t come cheap. The 31-year-old Cronenworth is a steady presence who is under contract for five more years at an affordable $60 million.

As the Padres face a salary crunch and a potential sale, cutting payroll to fill multiple spots makes a lot of sense.

Dodgers looking to get younger

Even the Dodgers have work to do this offseason. While the two-time defending World Series champions will enter 2026 as favorites to win again even if they don’t make a single move this winter, there are areas the team needs to shore up. Most pressing, is the desire to get younger.

Bill Punkett of the reports that L.A.’s president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, says there’s “not as much heavy lifting required” this offseason. But the team does have an aging core. Andy Pages, Dalton Rushing, and Hyeseong Kim were the only three position players under 30 on the Dodgers’ roster in 2025. While Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki give the team younger starters to build around, much of the roster is leaving its prime.

Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith will both be 31 next season, while Freddie Freeman is 36, and Mookie Betts is 33. The team does have a fairly loaded farm system, but outfielders Josue De Paula and Zyhir Hope are both 20 and have some growing to do. Meanwhile, MLB-ready infielder Alex Freeland doesn’t currently have an open spot to fill with Betts, Tommy Edman, and Max Muncy on the roster.

L.A. is expected to be involved in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes this winter, but they could also opt to use their farm depth to pursue an outfield upgrade. White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. or Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan would fit the bill and make the team a bit younger.

In less than an hour’s play on an epic 25th morning, England and India’s series touched rare heights

Vithushan Ehantharajah04-Aug-20255:16

Harmison: Siraj never looked like running out of steam

56 minutes of hell. 56 minutes of heaven.56 minutes of the wildest ride of your goddamn life. 56 minutes that will change you forever.It is enough time to move from the northern-most part of the Victoria Line to its lower reaches, brush shoulders as you walk up the escalator of Vauxhall Station and turn into the Harleyford Road to see the Kia Oval on the horizon. Enough time to find yourself a whole new world.Enough time to believe in new heroes. Enough time to laud old ones. Enough time to have your heart broken. Enough time to count yourself lucky that Test cricket, handed down by older generations more than it is ever picked up by newer ones, was handed to you.Related

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Siraj goes on and on and on, tired but undeterred

Enough time, on this rare occasion, to pick it up as a new convert. Because there would have been some in this pocket of south London who will have experienced Test cricket for the first time on Monday. Firstly, welcome. Usually, it lasts longer than this. And no, you will never see anything like this again.The very existence of List A and T20 cricket – and yes, the Hundred, which begins on Tuesday – comes from the idea that the longest format is too long, too convoluted, too inconvenient to really grab you. Who knew all it takes was a small taste of the hard stuff to grab you by the throat and stir your soul.This was 100% proof, undiluted, unhinged Test cricket. All you needed was a shot of 56 minutes. No human body, not even those reared on it, including those out there providing the action, could have dealt with much more.Day five at the Kia Oval was sold out well before this match threatened to spill over from Sunday’s longer-form chaos. The gripping finale of the third Test, on the other side of the river at Lord’s, had resulted in Surrey selling over 5000 day five tickets in 24 hours. Eventually, 17,545 punters had what, unbeknownst to them, would prove to be the most golden of tickets.At only £25 a pop for adults (20 for members) and £1 for kids, it was a sound investment given that refunds would be given if the day saw no play. Rarely has just 8.5 overs felt like a steal.The Indian team celebrates their Oval win•Associated PressSuch pricing usually brings a different kind of crowd to the first four days – especially at Lord’s – but, down at The Oval, the mix of English and Indian fans was as it had been throughout the match already. The state of the game, however, created a more feverish atmosphere, making this bowl ground feel taller and deeper, and even more self-contained. For 56 minutes, there was no outside world, for the outside world was every bit as transfixed with what was going on in here. Even the construction on the new apartment blocks in the old Gasholders ground to a halt.The clamour as the players entered the field was louder than it had been all match. The English roars when Jamie Overton pulled the first ball for four were more guttural. The Indian jubilation when victory was sealed in Mohammed Siraj’s 186th over of the series came crashing back and forth like Atlantic-sized waves in a goldfish bowl.The overnight break helped add to the tumult, even amid the fury of Sunday’s hastily called stumps, though an extra night’s sleep brought anything but. A new day’s new opportunity was now riddled with even more jeopardy.How on earth did 35 more runs turn into the impossible job when 301 of the 374 had been cleared with such ease? Since when has getting through a tail that includes a man with only one functioning arm come replete with truly eternal legacy-making rewards and, thus, incomprehensible pressure?There were simpler questions, too. Who wanted it? And the one we were all asking ourselves – who could bear it?Gus Atkinson loses his off stump as India seal their narrowest Test win•Getty ImagesA familiar trope of Test cricket is that, at its best, it is a universal force. Happening to people, beyond their control and comprehension.But that does a disservice to the protagonists. To Joe Root and Harry Brook, who dragged this fourth innings into legendary territory. And, finally, Siraj, who had bowled on 18 of the 25 days of these five Tests, sending down 50 or more balls on 12 of them. And his 1122nd delivery (including extra balls), sent down with as much vigour as the previous 1121, was his fifth-fastest of them all at 89mph/143kph. And the one that will live forever.Moments like these always give you heroes. But they also give you kindred spirits. Those you are drawn to as much for their heroics as their fallibility.Akash Deep, face down in the green beyond the boundary at midwicket, palms still stinging from Gus Atkinson’s heave to cow, wondering if he’d be to blame for an impending loss. Dhruv Jurel wanting that same turf to swallow him as Siraj and Shubman Gill berated him for missing the stumps with an underarm that would have sealed the match. His shot at immortality scuttled a yard past the striker’s stumps.1:15

Monga: India’s series was all about Mohammed Siraj

Atkinson crestfallen, one hit away from a tie that would have given England the series win, doubled over, smelling the earth where his off stump used to be. A lionhearted Chris Woakes, dislocated left shoulder strapped to his torso, secured by a sleeveless jumper, arm guard on his “wrong” side with a view to batting southpaw.Even umpire Ahsan Raza, assuming the role of good Samaritan, helping the infirm Woakes readjust himself after sprinting the bye Jurel failed to prevent, a moment that left his left arm loose despite all the binding.And hey, let’s hear it for the Dukes ball. Pilloried for the last seven weeks but thriving in its final 85.1 overs of the English Test summer.Was 2-2 a fair result? On balance, yes. But England’s failure to punch their card for a hat-trick of 370-plus chases against India should be regarded as a misstep from 301 for 3 and 332 for 4.That only enhances India’s feat in squaring the series, even if they will depart a long tour with issues of their own. Selection decisions remain inconsistent, and their batting needs to take cues from their bowling when it comes to getting a grip of sessions that are turning against them.1:50

Miller: Bazball’s legacy in danger without wins

With the best will in the world, who cares about any of that right now? As both sets of players reflected on how such a hard-fought series could reach such a climax, they would do well to appreciate how lucky they were, too.Test cricket has been going on for almost 150 years, and we were still treated to a one-of-a-kind finish. And perhaps more importantly, at a time when other Test-playing nations are unwelcome and unable to participate in series that allow such fairytales, both sides should count themselves lucky. Lucky to play regularly in a format that can lift you to higher plains. Lucky to afford to do it.As it happens, Monday was the 20-year anniversary of the start of the 2005 Edgbaston Test between England and Australia. A Test that, ultimately, defines an Ashes series regarded as the greatest ever.That two-run victory was England’s slimmest margin. Here in 2025, India bagged theirs, by six. Maybe the universe is up to something.Many have wondered throughout these five Tests if the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy could rival 2005’s offerings. In these 56 minutes, it did.

“You’ve got to have a bit of trust in what you’re trying to do,” Smith says after scoring his 34th Test century on a heady day for Australia

Alex Malcolm27-Dec-2024Just before Steven Smith raised his arms to celebrate his 34th Test century, there was a little knowing nod to the dressing room.It wasn’t the release of emotion that erupted from him after his drought-breaking century at the Gabba. The running joke within the Australia team at the start of each summer is that Smith has found his hands again. This nod suggested he had found something else, his old self.His 140 against India at the MCG was the closest Smith has resembled to the run-making machine he once was. The movement patterns, the scoring shots, the defensive strokes, the calmness and the ease of his accumulation all looked familiar. There was an air of inevitability about his century. It was a matter of when, not if, as it had been so often in the past.Related

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The nod was telling when juxtaposed with Smith shaking his head as he walked off Adelaide Oval three weeks ago, having been strangled down the leg side for 2.Then, he wore the look of a man bereft of answers, exasperated to the point of exhaustion that he could not find his old self. He was averaging 23.20 for the calendar year at that point and 10 in his last seven Test innings. The move back to No. 4 had yielded scores of 0, 17 and 2. Ten-thousand Test match runs was only 296 away but it was starting to feel like a matter of if rather than when.Three hits later, there was a moment at the MCG where he looked like he might get there before tea, until he was bizarrely bowled 51 runs short of the milestone after scoring a second century in as many Tests.”You’ve got to have faith,” Smith said after play. “You’ve got to have a bit of trust in what you’re trying to do. I’ve played the game for long enough now to know that you can have your ups and downs. Sometimes you can be hitting the ball really nicely, which, I think I said when I wasn’t scoring the runs, I actually felt like I was batting pretty well. And there’s a difference, I think, between being out of form and out of runs.”I think you need a lot of luck on these wickets to get big runs as well.”Australia will be grateful Smith has found his old self again. It may be a fleeting plateau amid a gradual decline. It could also be a regression, as he would hope, in the opposite direction back towards his extraordinary mean.As always with Steven Smith, it didn’t always look orthodox, but that’s kind of the point, isn’t it?•Getty ImagesBut it comes as Australia have found a functioning batting order. That too may be fleeting. It also could be because the MCG pitch has finally given the batters some grace.”This one’s probably offering a little bit less perhaps, than some of the others,” Smith said. “That’s probably more the ball getting a little bit softer quicker than the other wickets, but yeah, there’s certainly still something on offer”Coincidentally, the order has functioned as a collective for the first time in a long time. Sam Konstas’ extraordinary and chaotic innings dragged Australia’s struggling top-order in its slipstream. Each of the top four passed 50 for the first time in 28 Test matches. Smith walked out to bat in the 45th over, the first time he had faced his first ball as deep into an innings in 32 walks to the crease, during which time he had averaged 36.32.Australia piled up 474 without the need for an exceptional rearguard from Travis Head or Mitchell Marsh, who contributed just four runs between them.And apart from finding his old self, Smith found a rare ally at No. 8. Pat Cummins made an excellent 49 in a stand of 112 with Smith. It was the highest score by an Australia bowler at No. 8 in six years. Only Alex Carey has reached 50 batting in that position in that time due to a nightwatcher dropping him down one spot.

“I thought Patty played really nicely, really good, positive intent,. We were able to get a nice partnership together and sort of take a bit of a momentum of the game from that point”Steven Smith on the partnership with Pat Cummins

Cummins has been a clutch contributor for Australia with the bat in the last 18 months. But his heroics at Edgbaston, Brisbane and Christchurch had all come at No. 9. For all the talent that he and Mitchell Starc possess with the bat, they both average 14 at No. 8 in Test cricket. It is the reason they have switched positions as often as they have. Cummins has repeatedly spoken about how little batting positions matter when talking about his top order, yet it seems to matter a great deal to him and Starc as both have declared a preference to bat at No. 9.Of the 18 players to have batted at No. 8 more than 25 times since Cummins’ Test debut in 2011, only New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell has a worse average than Cummins and Starc.Starc averaged 25.40 in his first 18 innings in the position but has averaged 9.33 in his last 34 since 2017, hence Cummins has taken the role this summer.Getting such poor contributions from No. 8 has meant Australia’s batters have not been able to form lower-order partnerships. In the last ten years, Australia had only four century stands for the seventh wicket or lower. Only Ireland and Afghanistan have had fewer.Steven Smith and Pat Cummins put together a century partnership for the seventh wicket•Cricket Australia via Getty ImagesBut Cummins, like Smith, looked as comfortable as he had all series. Like the top-order batters, he has been tormented by Jasprit Bumrah. In his career, Cummins had been dismissed by Bumrah eight times for just 45 runs at an average of 15.75 deliveries per dismissal. Having entered against the second new ball on the first evening at 299 for 6, and then faced Bumrah again on the second morning, he was able to survive 20 balls against him without being dismissed.Smith and Cummins then attacked at the other end. They rattled along at five-an-over to grind India down. Smith got inside the line and hooked two balls for six, including one of Bumrah. Cummins stayed leg side and carved balls either side of point.”I thought Patty played really nicely, really good, positive intent,” Smith said. “We were able to get a nice partnership together and sort of take a bit of a momentum of the game from that point.”They needed the stand. Without it, a score under 350 would have looked vulnerable on a surface that became splendid to bat on in the afternoon. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli were made Australia’s attack look toothless for significant period in the afternoon. But the scoreboard pressure they had created with that first innings total played a part as India imploded late via a calamitous run-out and another special MCG spell from Scott Boland.”We’ve posted a nice score and we’re in good spot,” Smith said with another knowing nod. “That last hour, that was a big last hour in the game.”

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O Verdão chegou ao 26º título estadual e está atrás somente do Corinthians em número de taças da competição. O Peixe mantém o jejum de oito anos sem levantar um troféu.

➡️ Tudo sobre o Verdão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Palmeiras

➡️ Tudo sobre o Peixe agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Santos

⚽ COMO FOI A PARTIDA?

O Santos começou melhor do que o Palmeiras, aproveitando contra-ataques e anulando a tentativa de pressão do rival. Ambos tiveram boas oportunidades para abrir o placar, até que Weverton achou Endrick em belo lançamento, e João Paulo cometeu pênalti. Veiga cobrou e converteu. Depois, o Verdão cresceu e “asfixiou” o Peixe no campo de defesa, ficando próximo de ampliar o marcador.

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O clássico seguiu “lá e cá”, com os rivais empilhando chances. O Palmeiras era ligeiramente melhor e ampliou: Endrick tomou a bola no campo de ataque, Piquerez fez jogadaça pela esquerda e cruzou. Flaco López ajeitou de cabeça, e Aníbal completou para o fundo das redes. Verdão e Peixe ainda assustaram muito os respectivos goleiros, mas o placar se manteve em 2 a 0.

➡️O QUE VEM POR AÍ?

O Palmeiras joga na quinta-feira (11), contra o Liverpool, do Uruguai, pela segunda rodada da Libertadores. Enquanto isso, o Santos estreia na Série B na sexta-feira (19).

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✅FICHA TÉCNICA
Palmeiras 2 x 0 Santos
Campeonato Paulista – Final (volta)

🗓️ Data e horário: domingo, 7 de abril de 2024, às 18h (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Allianz Parque, em São Paulo (SP)
🟨 Arbitragem: Raphael Claus (Árbitro); Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis e Neuza Ines Back (Assistentes); Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral (VAR)
🟨 Cartões amarelos: Zé Rafael, Mayke e Endrick (Palmeiras); Morelos, Gil e Aderlan (Santos)
🟥 Cartões vermelhos: –

⚽ Gols: Raphael Veiga e Aníbal Moreno (Palmeiras)

⚽ESCALAÇÕES

PALMEIRAS
Weverton; Mayke, Gustavo Gómez (Luan), Murilo e Piquerez; Aníbal Moreno, Zé Rafael (Richard Ríos) e Raphael Veiga; Lázaro (Luis Guilherme), Endrick (Marcos Rocha) e Flaco López (Rony). Técnico: Abel Ferreira.

SANTOS
João Paulo; Aderlan (JP Chermont), Joaquim, Gil e Felipe Jonatan (Hayner); João Schmidt, Diego Pituca (Patati), Giuliano, Otero (Pedrinho) e Guilherme; Morelos (Furch). Técnico: Fábio Carille.

Tudo sobre

Campeonato PaulistaPalmeirasSantos

Chelsea got back to winning ways against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the League Cup on Wednesday night.

It wasn’t the perfect performance from the Blues, far from it, but they were certainly the better team and scored some wonderful goals.

Moreover, had Liam Delap not got himself sent off, Enzo Maresca’s side would likely have had a far easier time of things.

The former Ipswich Town star hasn’t had an easy start to life at Chelsea, and now it looks like he could soon have more competition coming from Cobham.

Liam Delap's Premier League record

Chelsea paid Ipswich Town around £30m for Delap in the summer, and while his stock isn’t exactly high at the moment, that was still a brilliant deal.

In The Pipeline

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

After all, during his time at Manchester City, he was regarded as one of the next big things, scoring 35 goals and providing nine assists in 36 appearances for their Under-23 side.

Moreover, once he got his first move to the Tractor Boys last summer, he quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young forwards in the Premier League.

For example, despite playing for a team destined for relegation, the Winchester-born poacher was still able to rack up an impressive tally of 12 goals and two assists in 37 appearances, totalling 2616 minutes.

In other words, the Englishman was able to average a goal involvement every 2.64 games, or every 186.85 minutes for the Suffolk side, which is not bad going considering he’d made just ten appearances in the competition for City in the years before.

Appearances

10

37

3

Minutes

47′

2616′

93′

Goals

0

12

0

Assists

0

2

0

However, he has not been so lucky this season.

Prior to his hamstring injury, the summer signing made just three appearances in the competition for the Blues, two of which came off the bench, in which he failed to score or assist a goal.

He won’t even have the chance to open his account this weekend either, as his second yellow against Wolves means he’s suspended for the game against Tottenham Hotspur.

In all, Delap is a player with plenty of promise, but at a club like Chelsea, forwards aren’t always allowed a great deal of time, especially when there is a particularly exciting forward making his way through the academy at the moment.

The Cobham star who could replace Delap

As is the case every season, Chelsea have an abundance of incredibly exciting players at Cobham this season, with Chizaram Ezenwata being one of the most notable.

The 17-year-old phenom, whom U23 scout Antonio Mango claims fans should “get excited for”, joined the Blues from Charlton Athletic and has already become one of the star players for the club’s U18 side.

For example, in 20 appearances last season, totalling just 1279 minutes, the dynamic gem managed to score 12 goals and provide three assists, which works out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.33 games, or every 91.93 minutes.

Impressively, the youngster has become even more of an attacking threat this season.

In just six appearances for the U18s, totalling 534 minutes, he has scored seven goals and provided one assist, which comes out to an average of 1.33 goal involvements per game, or one every 66.75 minutes.

Appearances

26

Minutes

1913′

Goals

19

Assists

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.88

Minutes per Goal Involvement

83.17′

In fact, the teenage goal machine has done such an incredible job in the U18s, that he has now made six appearances for the U21s.

It’s not just the output that should excite fans, though, as he looks to be a complete package.

According to one analyst, he “has a strong physique that allows him to shield and hold up the ball effectively”, and his “off-ball movement is outstanding.”

Ultimately, it is still very early in his career, but Ezenwata appears to be a seriously impressive prospect and someone who could rival Delap for gametime in the coming years.

Enzo Maresca responds to Juventus approach as Chelsea demand mammoth compensation fee

The Old Lady are searching for a new boss after sacking Igor Tudor.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 30, 2025

The former Sri Lanka opener chats about the challenges of coaching an Associate team and what he’s learning from the experience

Shashank Kishore08-Sep-2025Searing Dubai heat, a fresh squad of players of whom he knew no one, and no time to breathe. That’s how Kaushal Silva’s tenure as Hong Kong’s head coach began two weeks ago.The former Sri Lanka opener had barely been able to shake off jetlag before he was thrown into the thick of preparations for the Asia Cup. Within hours of arrival, he went straight into planning sessions, centre-wicket practice, and match simulations.”It’s been a baptism by fire,” Silva, 39, tells ESPNcricinfo. “I haven’t even been to Hong Kong yet. I flew straight from Melbourne [where he lives] to Dubai for our preparatory tour before the tournament.Related

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Kaushal Silva appointed Hong Kong head coach ahead of Asia Cup

“The players had already been training back home, and my assistant Andrew [Lloyd] and I were coordinating over the phone to finalise combinations and training plans. Once we got here, it was about getting straight to work.”The work, as Silva describes it, has been less about endless batting and bowling drills, and more about mastering the smaller yet crucial details. His first priority was to get the players outdoors, playing on big grounds and on turf pitches – which they hadn’t been able to do for over two months at home due to non-availability of grounds and rains.”The shift from indoor to outdoor cricket is massive,” Silva says. “We were lucky to have excellent facilities here and to spend time on centre-wicket pitches. It’s those little things that help players polish their game.”After retiring from international cricket in 2019, Silva emigrated to Australia and stumbled into coaching almost by chance. Former Hong Kong coach Trent Johnston encouraged him to combine playing with coaching at club level at Victoria, and Silva jumped at the opportunity.That same year, he completed his Level 3 course at the ICC Academy in Dubai. He calls that moment a “turning point” in how he viewed the game.In Australia, Silva designed grassroots programmes and even ran his own academy while working his way into Victoria’s district and state set-ups with both boys’ and girls’ pathway players. Most recently, he headed the cricket program at a leading private school while continuing to coach a premier-division team.Kaushal Silva emigrated to Australia after retiring from international cricket•Francois Nel/Getty ImagesWhen the Hong Kong job came along just over a month ago, he saw it as a new challenge, and the perfect opportunity to blend his experiences as a player and coach to build something meaningful for an emerging cricket nation. Coming from Sri Lanka and Australia, where international and first-class cricketers have year-round access to high-performance centres, masseurs, physios and coaches, Silva has now begun to experience firsthand the challenges of working with an Associate team.”You don’t have the same resources,” he says. “Sometimes you only get training at certain times of day, and often only indoors. But that’s the reality. We can’t let it become an excuse.”Instead, he has challenged his players to – as the cliche goes – control the controllables.”If we want to go on a journey to regain ODI status [Hong Kong lost it in 2018, soon after that year’s Asia Cup], we have to change our mindset,” he explains. “No one is going to hand us anything. We prepare with what we have, and we prepare as best as we can. That’s the message I want these players to believe.”That belief has started to translate into performances. Hong Kong have played four practice games on this tour, winning two of them. Silva’s message has been about playing what he calls fearless but smart cricket.”I don’t want recklessness,” he says. “I want them to think ‘how do we use the bigger boundaries’, ‘how do we hit into pockets’, ‘how do we convert ones into twos?’ These are small adjustments, but they can make a big difference.”These aren’t things they’re used to being challenged [on], because in Hong Kong, a simple chip over the infield is a boundary. There’s no concept of running twos. It’s either singles or fours. These may seem like small things, but it’s massive.”Given how little time there has been between his appointment and this Asia Cup, Silva has prioritised building relationships. He has already had one-on-one chats with every player in the 20-man prep squad – it was pruned to 17 on Sunday – to understand their backgrounds, their motivations, and their training habits.”This tournament is my chance to observe them in pressure situations,” Silva says. “How they react to others’ success, how they respond when the heat is on. All that helps me figure out how to support them better.”‘As a player, I used to think [coaches] weren’t telling us much. But now I understand. Sometimes, too much information can be a problem.’•AFPSome of Silva’s philosophy on coaching has been absorbed from Sri Lanka’s coaches during his playing career – Trevor Bayliss, Paul Farbrace and Stuart Law.”As a player, I used to think they weren’t telling us much,” he says. “But now I understand. Sometimes, too much information can be a problem. First, you have to understand the person. Only then can you guide them.”That people-first approach, he believes, will be key to Hong Kong’s progress.”Managing personalities is everything,” he says. “How I get the best out of one player might be completely different to how I get the best out of another. That’s my strength and that’s what I’m still figuring out with this group.”At the Asia Cup, Hong Kong play their first two games within three days, against Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Then there’s the inevitable storyline: Silva coaching against the country he represented at the highest level, on September 15.”Of course it’s exciting,” he says. “But for us, it’s just another game. From day one, I told the boys: we are here to compete, not just to make up the numbers.”That belief, Silva says, will define Hong Kong’s campaign. “Whoever makes fewer errors wins the game. It’s as simple as that. And that can be anyone, including us.”

Chase DeLauter is making some history on Wednesday.

The Guardians have decided to call up their No. 2 prospect to make his first MLB start in Game 2 of their wild-card round matchup with the Detroit Tigers. Trailing 1-0 in the series, Cleveland has added DeLauter to the lineup for a do-or-die game.

DeLauter will start in center field and bat seventh in the lineup. The 23-year-old will become the sixth player in MLB history to make his debut in the postseason. It's a huge move in a big spot for the franchise, but after losing Tuesday's series opener 2-1, the team is looking for a spark. Maybe the rookie can provide it.

Everything you should know about Chase DeLauter

The Guardians selected the 6'3" 235-pound DeLauter with the 16th pick in the first round of the 2022 MLB draft. He was not a highly recruited prep player, but he crushed pitching at James Madison for three years, including posting a 1.404 OPS as a junior. In that season, he slashed .437/.576/.828 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs.

While his college numbers were huge, DeLauter made a name for himself during the 2021 Cape Cod League, where he led the circuit with nine home runs and a .589 slugging percentage. That boosted his stock entering his draft year and led to his selection. He broke his foot midway through the 2022 season, but it didn't hurt his stock. Cleveland inked him to a $3.75 million signing bonus, but he reinjured his foot, stunting his rise.

After making his minor league debut in 2023, DeLauter absolutely raked, which helped him jump three levels in one season. He slashed .355/.417/.528 with five home runs, 22 doubles, and 39 RBIs, reaching Double-A by the end of the campaign. He re-broke his foot in April 2024, and his hitting fell off, but he did reach Triple-A by the end of the season.

In 2025, he opened the season in Triple-A, but underwent surgery for a right hamate fracture and hasn't played since July 11. So far in 2025, he's hitting .264 with a .379 on-base percentage and a .473 slugging percentage, with seven home runs and 24 RBIs in 42 games.

During his three-year career, DeLauter has played only 138 minor league games due to his multiple injuries. Over that time, he's slashing .302/.384/.504 with 20 home runs and 87 RBIs.

MLB Pipeline currently has him ranked as the 54th-best prospect in all of baseball.

It will be quite a jump for DeLauter to go from the injured list to starting an MLB playoff game. The Guardians clearly have faith in him.

Manchester United have now reportedly set their sights on signing an impressive Ligue 1 defender, who has left their scouts blown away.

INEOS draw up 2026 transfer plan

To their credit, Man United got their summer transfer window fairly spot on. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Senne Lammens all look like solid signings, whilst Benjamin has shown flashes of his true quality. And results proved before the international break that a turnaround under Ruben Amorim is still possible.

Even if Monday’s 1-0 loss against the 10 men of Everton brought them back down to reality, one defeat in their last five games represents much-needed improvement.

INEOS have never stopped backing their manager and recent reports have claimed that they’re ready to return to the transfer market to improve his squad even further in 2026.

The plan, according to the Express, is to sign two wing-backs and a midfielder next summer, with the likes of Elliot Anderson among their top targets.

The Nottingham Forest star has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season even as his side sacked Nuno Espirito Santo and then Ange Postecoglou before hiring Sean Dyche.

Thomas Tuchel has been impressed enough to grant Anderson a starting place next to Declan Rice in his England side, which is now his to lose ahead of the World Cup.

The unfortunate news for Man United is that his price will only increase if he enjoys a successful tournament, even though reports have already claimed he’ll cost them over £100m.

The midfielder is also not the only name on United’s shopping list. INEOS have also reportedly set their sights on signing Ligue 1 defender Jeremy Jacquet.

Man Utd plotting "bargain" Jeremy Jacquet move

According to Caught Offside, Man United are now plotting a move to sign Jacquet from Stade Rennais after the young defender impressed their scouts in France.

The Red Devils have reportedly joined Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace in the race to sign the 20-year-old and it’s easy to see why.

Dubbed “imposing” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, Jacquet is reportedly available for as little as €30m (£26m), which Caught Offside’s Mark Brus described as a “bargain” deal.

Having already signed Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven in recent years, adding Jacquet to their ranks would complete Amorim’s back three for years to come.

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With Harry Maguire still yet to sign a new contract ahead too, the young centre-back may have the chance to come straight into Man United’s starting side next summer in an attempt to make an instant impact.

Worse than Bruno & Casemiro: Amorim can't start Man Utd duo together again