Sussex edge closer to Division One safety while visitors must avoid defeat in final round
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Sep-2025Yorkshire 194 (Lyth 47, Hudson-Prentice 3-33, Unadkat 3-36) and 109 for 3 (Bairstow 64*) drew with Sussex 250 (Simpson 66, Hill 4-43, Milnes 3-80)Skipper Jonny Bairstow and James Wharton led Yorkshire to safety as their rain-ruined Championship match with Sussex ended in a draw.Sussex sensed an unlikely triumph when left-arm spinner James Coles picked up three wickets in nine balls after taking the new ball as Yorkshire lurched to 6 for 3. But in their contrasting styles Bairstow and Wharton averted the crisis, adding 103 in 34 overs. When bad light stopped play at 4pm Bairstow was unbeaten on 64 and Wharton 23 and with no improvement in conditions the players shook hands 20 minutes later.Sussex take 12 points and Yorkshire 11. Sussex will go into their final game against Worcestershire needing five points to guarantee their first division status but Yorkshire, who are at home to Durham – one of the teams below them – will have to avoid defeat to make sure they stay up.With 199 overs across the four days lost to rain and bad light – the equivalent to more than two days’ play – there was virtually no prospect of a positive result, even more so when morning drizzle delayed the restart until 1pm.But Sussex picked up a batting point when Ollie Robinson hit two boundaries off offspinner Dom Bess before the hosts, 232 for 8 overnight, were dismissed for 250. The impressive George Hill finished with 4 for 43 from 19.2 overs after taking the final two wickets. Sean Hunt edged a beauty which pitched and left him to wicketkeeper Bairstow, and last man Jaydev Unadkat was taken high to his right at second slip by Bess.Skipper John Simpson threw the new ball to Coles with immediate results. Adam Lyth chipped his third ball to midwicket and Mayank Agarwal was drawn forward by the sixth which turned enough to take the edge. In his next over, Coles had Fin Bean well held by the diving Oli Carter at short leg, as the ball ballooned up off a combination of pad and bat handle.It was hard work at first for Wharton and Bairstow. Wharton, in particular, found left-armer Unadkat a handful bowling wide from the crease and moving the ball both ways. But he survived and there was respite when Simpson was forced to employ his other slow bowler Jack Carson with Coles as the light deteriorated. Bairstow played with increasing confidence and scoring on both sides of the wicket as he passed 50 for the seventh time this season, an innings which contained 11 fours.Bairstow needed treatment to his left leg before the players came off for the last time but he had done an important job for his side.
While some fortresses have held up, many have crumbled. Here’s a look at how the ten teams have fared at home venues this season
Omkar Mankame21-Apr-2025 • Updated on 23-Apr-20259:28
Chopra: Teams should dictate the nature of pitches at home
Chennai Super Kings Won: 1, Lost: 3 (Beat MI; Lost to DC, RCB, KKR)A team renowned for making the most of home conditions, CSK got off to an ideal start at Chepauk, brushing aside MI with Noor Ahmad weaving his magic. However, things went south with the franchise slipping to three successive home defeats. The loss to RCB stung the most. Head coach Stephen Fleming didn’t hold back in criticising the pitch, which seemed to aid seamers more than spinners. Against KKR, they registered their lowest-ever IPL score at home. Away from Chepauk, they have won one and lost three.Delhi Capitals Won: 3, Lost: 1 (Beat SRH, LSG, RR; Lost to MI)DC played their first two home games in Visakhapatnam, where Ashutosh Sharma’s late-innings heroics helped pull off a stunning heist against LSG, before Mitchell Starc powered them to a commanding win over SRH. After arriving in Delhi, DC had their first defeat of the season, falling to MI in a match which ended with a hat-trick of run-outs. The thrills at home continued, as DC edged past RR in the season’s first Super Over, with Tristan Stubbs smacking the match-winning six. In away conditions, they had picked up two wins before losing to GT in Ahmedabad.2:12
Fleming: We haven’t been able to read the Chepauk pitches
Gujarat Titans Won: 3, Lost: 1(Beat MI, RR, DC; Lost to PBKS)GT’s home ground in Ahmedabad offers two types of pitches – red soil and black soil – and they have used this smartly to outplay their opponents. Against MI, who are accustomed to red-soil pitches in Mumbai, GT opted for a black-soil surface. They switched back to a red-soil track against RR, where their seamers came into their own. Their only home defeat came in their opening match, when PBKS scored 243 for 5 and GT fell short by 11 runs. Outside Ahmedabad, they have logged two wins and a defeat.Kolkata Knight Riders Won: 1, Lost: 3 (Beat SRH, Lost to RCB, LSG, GT)The surface at Eden Gardens was in the spotlight in the opening week. The pitch for the season opener against RCB backfired, prompting captain Ajinkya Rahane to call for a slower surface that would suit their spinners better. They steamrolled a struggling SRH in their next home fixture, but the track laid out for the game against LSG once again drew post-match remarks from Rahane, who hinted it wasn’t what the team had asked for. In a high-scoring shootout – 238 playing 234 – KKR’s spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine went wicketless. Against GT, they could muster only 159 for 8 in a chase of 199. Their away record has been mixed, with two wins from four matches.Lucknow Super Giants Won: 2, Lost: 3 (Beat MI, GT, Lost to PBKS, CSK)LSG were left frustrated with the surface served up in their defeat at home to PBKS. Mentor Zaheer Khan even quipped that it felt like the opposition had brought their own curator to prepare the pitch. But LSG eventually got their wish for slower tracks, and a combination of sharp bowling and top-order brilliance helped them notch up two successive home wins. However, CSK turned the tables on them, with their spinners restricting LSG to an under-par total. And then DC kept them to 159, which was again not a winning total, on a red-soil surface and LSG lost their second home game in a row.Zaheer Khan inspects the Lucknow pitch•PTI Mumbai Indians Won: 3, Lost: 1 (Beat KKR, SRH, CSK; Lost to RCB)At Wankhede Stadium, Hardik Pandya won all four tosses and chose to chase, banking on the venue’s historical bias towards teams batting second. Against KKR, SRH and CSK, MI eased home by first restricting their opponents to under-par totals and then hunting them down with comfort. For the game against RCB, they rolled out a rock-hard surface, and in a high-scoring shootout that produced 430 runs across 40 overs, MI came off second best. Away from Mumbai, MI have struggled, managing just one win in four games.Punjab Kings Won: 2, Lost: 2 (Beat CSK, KKR; Lost to RR, RCB)After two away wins on the bounce, PBKS were blown away by RR in their first home game. Then, in a bizarre contest against CSK, where five of PBKS’ top six failed to reach double-figures, Priyansh Arya’s maiden century set up their victory. PBKS made history in their next home fixture, defending just 111 against KKR – the lowest successful defence in IPL history. In their last game in New Chandigarh, RCB’s spinners stifled the hosts. PBKS will now shift base to Dharamsala for the remainder of their home games. On the road, they have fared well, winning three of their four matches so far.Related
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Rajasthan Royals Won: 1, Lost: 3 (Beat CSK; Lost to KKR, RCB, LSG)RR have struggled to build momentum this season, scoring just two wins in eight matches – one at home and one away. Their lone home win came in Guwahati against CSK, driven by Nitish Rana’s blistering knock, after they had opened their campaign with a heavy defeat against KKR. In Jaipur, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli chased down 174 with ease, while Avesh Khan’s brilliant end-overs spell consigned RR to a defeat in a game they seemed poised to win. Their away record has been equally patchy, with three losses, including a Super Over loss to DC.Royal Challengers Bengaluru Won: 0, Lost: 3 (Lost to PBKS, DC, GT)RCB remain the only team yet to register a home win this season. They have lost all three tosses at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and were asked to bat first each time – a tricky proposition at a venue with short boundaries. In their opener, they were undone by former team man Mohammed Siraj, while Karnataka’s own KL Rahul lit up his “home” ground to hand them a second defeat. Their third loss came in a rain-shortened, low-scoring affair against PBKS. While their home form has been a concern, RCB have been flawless on the road, winning all their away games so far.Sunrisers Hyderabad Won: 2, Lost: 2 (Beat RR, PBKS; Lost to LSG, GT)SRH were sparkling in their season opener at home, racking up 286 for 6 amid talk of the IPL’s first-ever 300 being within reach. But the 2024 runners-up were soon caught out by their own conditions, suffering heavy defeats to LSG and GT on slower Hyderabad tracks. They bounced back in style against PBKS, with Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 141 off 55 balls powering a successful chase of 246.*0700 GMT, April 22, 2025 Updated after the KKR-GT game
You could feel the elation rippling from the pitch. It was palpable. It was a reminder of what this squad are capable of doing to the best teams in the world. Liverpool had beaten Real Madrid in the Champions League for the second year running.
Following the professional win over Aston Villa to stop the rot of a four-match skid in the Premier League, head coach Arne Slot must have felt his side had turned a corner, but last weekend’s sobering loss at Manchester City showed the Reds have merely gone in circles.
Liverpool were outfought across every inch of the Etihad Stadium, and Slot will be chagrined after being outplayed by Pep Guardiola on the tactical chessboard. Granted, he’s not the first coach to lose such a battle against the Spaniard.
But the Reds are struggling to do the basics, and are such a far cry from the level of last season, when they dispatched so many opponents and won the league title with relative ease.
Tactical imbalances have been clear all season, and it’s obvious that Liverpool are missing Luis Diaz, who is doing so well with Bayern Munich this season.
If the problems continue for Slot, FSG may be forced to sign a new version of the Colombian.
Liverpool looking to replace Diaz
Florian Wirtz’s struggles since leaving Bayer Leverkusen and joining Liverpool for £116m this summer have been well documented.
The German playmaker, 22, is one of the most talented footballers out there, but he’s yet to find the physicality and fluency to succeed in the Premier League, and he might want to take a leaf from Diaz’s book in that regard.
Aside from Diaz’s potency in the final third, he is relentless in his work rate and rapid besides, adding width and dynamism down the flank. Liverpool need some of that, and appear to have found a candidate.
Indeed, according to Spanish sources, sporting director Richard Hughes has registered Liverpool’s interest in Real Madrid star Rodrygo, who has fallen well down the pecking order under Xabi Alonso.
Arsenal and Chelsea are also keen on the Brazil international, while Manchester City’s intrigue was confirmed by Fabrizio Romano this summer.
Florentino Perez wants €90m (£79m) for the versatile forward, but given his reduced role at Real Madrid over the past year or so, FSG would likely push to whittle down that hefty price tag.
What Rodrygo would offer Liverpool
Rodrygo finished the 2024/25 campaign at a low ebb. A few terms ago, the 24-year-old was regarded as one of the best wingers in the world, but a limited role at Real has precluded that tag from staying put.
This season, Alonso has handed Rodrygo only three starts across La Liga and the Champions League. He hasn’t yet scored, racking up two assists on the continent. This all points toward a divorce from the Santiago Bernabeu, for this is one of the most exciting and talented wide forwards in Europe, and he should have a role at a side that reflects that.
Liverpool could offer him this. Slot wanted to provide Rio Ngumoha with a pathway to the first team during the summer, and that is ostensibly why Diaz was not directly replaced.
This has proved a mistake, with the 17-year-old as yet untrusted to start games and feature prominently.
Rodrygo has the maturity and the world experience to not just challenge Wirtz and Cody Gakpo for a starting berth but stake his claim for a starring role deep into the Anfield pitch.
Sometimes, statistics must be viewed through a wider context. Take Rodrygo’s woes in the Spanish top flight last year, only scoring six goals and supplying six assists across 30 matches.
Poor, right? Well, Rodrygo was only afforded 12 starts by Carlo Ancelotti, and Sofascore data suggests he missed just one big chance, underscoring his clinical nature.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo
Furthermore, the South American maverick posted six goals and assists apiece from left wing last year, despite only being handed a berth on that side 12 times across all competitions. At Liverpool, it is the left which beckons, and there he could refashion that world-renowned status that has been seen on the biggest stages before.
And even after this testing period, Rodrygo’s underlying quality does not lie, evidenced through many tactical similarities with Diaz across the past 12 months.
Goals
0.31
0.47
Assists
0.23
0.20
Shots taken
2.78
2.92
Shot-creating actions
4.71
4.21
Pass completion %
85.4
83.0
Touches (att pen)
6.49
6.27
Progressive passes
4.40
4.21
Progressive carries
5.91
3.73
Successful take-ons
2.47
1.98
Ball recoveries
3.75
4.40
Tackles + interceptions
2.09
1.36
It’s curious to note that the tactical differences between the two are not that great. And this in spite of Rodrygo having fallen to the Los Blancos fringes well before the managerial shift this summer.
With Alonso at the helm, it’s patent that Rodrygo will not enjoy the regular minutes that his talent deserves. After all, Luka Modric once described him as being among the club’s “world-class superstars”.
Diaz has found remarkable prolificness since switching Liverpool for Bavaria in August, and while such levels were rarely sustained at Liverpool, with the Premier League notoriously difficult, there’s no denying Liverpool miss Diaz and his athletic profile.
Rodrygo could be the perfect tonic to turn the ship around. After all, Alonso doesn’t seem to want him, and Liverpool require just the profile.
Whether the Reds manage to pull off an audacious winter swoop is anyone’s guess, but Premier League rivals are also on the hunt, and Hughes needs to pull something off if this season is to be viewed as a success.
Liverpool star is quickly becoming their biggest "disaster" since Keita
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Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has questioned whether Xavi Simons has the capabilities to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League after a slow start at Tottenham. Spurs edged out Chelsea to sign the playmaker for £52 million this summer but so far, the former RB Leipzig star has struggled to make an impact. While Henry has his doubts about the Dutchman, he did admit to having an anti-Bundesliga bias.
Simons not living up to the hype
Simons came to Tottenham with a big reputation and a sizeable fee of £52m ($70m) in late August after impressing at Leipzig, with the 22-year-old scoring 22 goals and notching 24 assists in 78 appearances.
Upon his arrival, head coach Thomas Frank said: "He’s a player who has proved his ability over the years to provide goals and assists from both the 10 position and the left wing, Xavi can play in both positions. He’s a very good finisher inside and outside the box. His dribbling ability, and his acceleration in bursts, give him that opportunity to go past players in one-on-ones, also to drive past players in more open spaces. His eye for his team-mates is key, in terms of unlocking defences, and I’m convinced he will come in and help the team and be part of a team that is working very hard together. Xavi is young, 22, he has plenty of room to develop and get better, but even though he’s young, he’s played a lot of matches over the last four, five years, which means I’m fully convinced with his qualities he can step straight in and help us. Of course, like any player coming into the Premier League, and a new team, there will always be a bit of adaptation time. He has great experience from the Holland national team, playing in the Champions League last two seasons… great experience he can bring to the team."
However, he is yet to score in 14 appearances, despite contributing two assists. That, and more, has led Henry to raise concerns about the former Paris Saint-Germain man.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'You're in trouble'
The former Arsenal forward did stress that it is not easy to hit the ground running when swapping the Bundesliga for the Premier League, while using former Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz as an example following his big-money move to Liverpool. However, he also suggested the German league is not a reliable indicator of success for the English top-flight when asked about Simons.
He said on : "It's not easy to arrive in a team and perform straight away. We can see Florian Wirtz at Liverpool, but I always have a question mark on people that perform in Germany. That's only me. I'm not saying that they won't perform in another league. I'm just saying, because of the way the league is, they're really stretched. So if you can run well, you're going to have a lot of opportunity, goals, assists. People can run with you in this league. So it's very difficult. Do you think the managers right now are letting their players dribble or do they want to control everything to make sure they're not going to get countered? Playing a low block all the time is not always easy to create. Look at Arsenal. We don't create a lot of opportunities. We score a lot on set pieces. I'm not going to go back to the old story and everything, but you need to find a way to score goals. So you're going to create way less than what we used to be able to do in our time because teams are playing low. They don't try to bite or come out. So the spaces are tight. And if you don't allow people to dribble and make mistakes, like I always say, the reward is in the risk. Where are you going? You're not going to have the stats of creating. And if you don't take your chances when you have one, well, you're in trouble."
Frank not worried about Simons
While Simons has chalked up a good number of minutes, he has not completed a full 90 in the Premier League this season. Boos echoed around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when the attacking midfielder was taken off against Manchester United earlier this month but the Dane is not worried about his confidence levels dropping off.
He said: "No, I think it’s part of it. There’s a reason why we didn’t start him, of course. I think he’s played two starts, short turnaround. Also, that energy and freshness I talked about played 90 minutes on Wednesday night.
"I think when players make mistakes on the pitch, if they lose a ball or they miss a pass, of course, I can get irritated. In general, I’m not talking about a specific situation. That’s part of football. How many times have you seen a player miss a pass or do something? That happens. And that can be flow, that can be confidence, that can be everything, whatever it is. Mistakes are part of football."
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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Simons?
Simons will hope to kickstart his Tottenham career when his team travel to local neighbours and bitter rivals Arsenal on Sunday afternoon for the first north London derby of the season. Even if he doesn't, there are plenty of games for him to find his feet.
Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski has landed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday just hours before he was scheduled to start vs. the Nationals. Misiorowski is dealing with a left tibia contusion, something he suffered when facing the Cubs last Monday in his most recent start.
Chicago's Seiya Suzuki hit a liner that hit Misiorowski's left shin. Although the rookie pitcher was able to stay in the rest of the game and log 80 pitches, his knee buckled during the game.
Misiorowski landing on the IL is retroactive to Thursday, meaning he will first be available on Friday, Aug. 15. It's expected for him to only miss two starts.
The rookie is having an incredible first season, especially after earning an All-Star bid last month. Through just seven starts, Misiorowoski has posted a 2.70 ERA and a 4-1 record. He has pitched 33.1 innings and has 47 strikeouts. He has only allowed 18 hits and 10 earned runs. Not too shabby for the beginning of his MLB career.
The Brewers called up Logan Henderson from Triple-A to start in Misiorowski's place on Sunday.
This might be the first international break in some time that West Ham United fans can’t wait for it to end.
The East Londoners are still in the Premier League relegation zone, but following back-to-back wins, there is a sense of optimism that they can avoid a protracted fight for survival this year.
After all, Nuno Espirtio Santo took Nottingham Forest from near the bottom of the table to Europa League football in a season and a half; why can’t he achieve something similar at the London Stadium?
However, before fans get carried away, there are still a number of players who need to be moved on from the squad, including one flop previously compared to Andrea Pirlo.
West Ham's biggest losers since Nuno arrived
After a slightly rocky start, Nuno does look to have finally stabilised and improved things at West Ham.
First Impressions
What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.
However, while the team appears to be somewhat on the up, and the fans are starting to feel justifiably optimistic about what the rest of the campaign could bring, some players have lost out due to the appointment of the Portuguese coach.
For example, while James Ward-Prowse was a constant feature in Graham Potter’s midfield, he hasn’t played a minute under the new regime.
In fact, the former Southampton captain hasn’t even been named in a single squad, which shouldn’t be too much of a surprise considering Nuno also froze him out when he was on loan at the City Ground last year.
Another Potter signing who has had no luck under the Sao-Tome-born boss is Igor Julio.
The Brazilian centre-back joined the Hammers on a season-long loan from Brighton & Hove Albion on deadline day, and so far has played 13 minutes of football under his new boss, which came in three short appearances off the bench.
What makes this worse is the fact that Konstantinos Mavropanos has been out injured for almost a month, and even so, he has still been limited to a bit-part role at best.
Finally, although this may be a bit harsh, the manager appears to have lost faith in Soungoutou Magassa.
The Frenchman started his first two games in charge, but has since played just 30 minutes of action across the last four league games, thanks to two substitutions.
With that said, he’s still young and clearly talented, so there is every chance Nuno will eventually use him more often, which cannot be said for a West Ham flop who was once compared to Pirlo, but now needs to be sold as soon as possible.
The West Ham flop compared to Pirlo
The midfield pairing of Freddie Potts and Mateus Fernandes, which has worked so well in recent games, has made it evident that West Ham need to get rid of their other midfield options, who have looked way off it this season: Andrew Irving.
The Hammers signed the Scotsman in the summer of 2023 from Austrian outfit Klagenfurt, and while it wasn’t really a big deal at the time, there was a hope he’d prove to be a bargain buy, especially as he’d been compared to the legendary Pirlo in the past.
Yes, while it was certainly tongue-in-cheek, he was given the nickname ‘Portobello Pirlo’ by the fans during his time with Scottish outfit Hearts, where he made 61 appearances, scoring five goals and providing 13 assists.
Unfortunately, while he was probably deserving of the comparison north of the border, he hasn’t shown any Pirlo-esque quality in the capital.
In fact, in the words of journalist Jordan Rushworth, he has looked more like a “National League standard” midfielder, adding that he “gets walked past every time an opposition midfielder has the ball.”
While harsh and probably a little over the top, the 25-year-old has looked miles off it in Claret and Blue, and was starting in the middle of the park during Nuno’s struggles against Brentford and Leeds United.
In fact, it was in the aftermath of the former that Jamie Carragher described the Hammers as “one of the slowest teams I’ve seen in Premier League history!”
This lack of dynamism in the middle of the park was largely down to the once-capped Scotsman, and his statistics from that game did not make for pleasant reading.
In his 61 minutes of inaction, he played a single key pass, misplaced four of five crosses, lost 100% of his tackles, didn’t make a single interception, clearance or block, and lost 100% of his aerial duels.
Minutes
61′
Expected Assists
0.02
Key Passes
1
Shots
0
Crosses (Accurate)
5 (1)
Ground Duels (Won)
4 (2)
Aerial Duels (Won)
2 (0)
Tackles (Won)
2 (0)
Clearances
0
Interceptions
0
Blocks
0
Ultimately, Irving has been really quite poor for West Ham this season, and with far better options currently doing the business for Nuno, he should be sold in January.
£67m spent & no Wilson or Fullkrug: Nuno's dream West Ham XI after January
This is the dream West Ham starting line-up that Nuno could build in the January window.
Aqib and Masood have made it clear that the spin strategy is not short-term, but is it really a fix?
Danyal Rasool27-Jan-2025There has been lots of glorious myth-making of Pakistani fast-bowling. Of Sarfraz Nawaz, wily inventor of a new art no one new anything about. Of Imran Khan running in open chested, grace and effectiveness in equal measure, all culminating in a gazelle like gallop, creating the cricketer that led Pakistan’s greatest ever side. Of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, whose swing and accuracy were as addictively watchable as they were devastating, of Shoaib Akhtar, a high-speed train in a world of freight locomotives. The legends are passed on from one generation to another, and, for much of the region’s cricketing history, marked Pakistan out as the exception to the rule that the sub-continent was a land of spin-bowling specialists.The stories we tell of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali will be different, and nowhere near as enduring. After years of repeated failures to develop a home template in line with the self-image Pakistan wish to live up to, the current setup – led in part by Aqib Javed, member of Pakistan’s selection panel and all-format interim coach – dispensed with the idealism and injected realpolitik into their philosophy. The fast bowlers weren’t taking 20 wickets, and all attempts to prepare seam-friendly wickets had failed, as, seemingly, had the ability and willingness of many of their fast bowlers to actually play Test matches.Related
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Their new idea was as brilliant as it was simple, hiding in plain sight. Pakistan had wizened old fingerspinners who always seemed to do well in spin-conducive conditions in domestic cricket. So, by way of fans and heaters, windbreakers and greenhouses, they prepared surfaces that ragged from day one, where fast bowlers were rendered as superfluous as horse-drawn carriages; seamers have bowled 17 overs for Pakistan in their last four Tests, and taken one wicket. Bat first, get the ball ragging, rinse, repeat.Pakistan finished the World Test Championship cycle at the bottom•AFP/Getty ImagesAnd supporters, despite disgruntlement from some quarters, were happy to sacrifice playing style at the altar of effectiveness. Drawbacks, such as what it meant for Pakistan’s fast bowling future, or the toll it would take on batters’ confidence and techniques could be ignored. Their captain Shan Masood went far enough to call it a “sacrifice” that the batters and fast bowlers were making. However, they had to win. That was the social contract.But if your only selling point is that the trains run on time, you do at the very least have to ensure the trains do, in fact, run on time. Over the past two days, West Indies demonstrated to Pakistan the precarity of that assumption. Any denunciation of Pakistan’s playing style over the past three Tests largely circled around whether these were sporting wickets of if they were doing Pakistan’s long-term prospects hard; that victory would be achieved was almost assumed. Before this Test, Aqib was already referencing the next World Test Championship cycle and how Pakistan would replicate these wickets because they needed to win “all their Test matches” at home to qualify for the final.Yet, results – on these surfaces more than perhaps any other – can tilt substantially on the flip of a coin. Pakistan were on the right side of it in two of the first three Test matches they won this way, but no pitch can guarantee you won’t have to bat fourth. And while three out of four wins is a vastly improved Test run than any Pakistan have managed at home in years, West Indies hoisting Pakistan by their own petard in Multan was a reminder of how few data points we have to extrapolate meaningfully into the future. Brendon McCullum’s “Bazball” approach to the England Test side began with a similar uptick in results to equally wild optimism over the first season, but longer sample sizes can provide surprisingly sobering reality checks.Pakistan were willing to ignore drawbacks of playing on a turner – like the toll it would take on batters’ confidence•AFP/Getty ImagesBut Pakistan have, to their credit, provided consistent clarity on their future intentions. An on-paper soft draw over the next cycle has encouraged Pakistan to dream of a possible slot at the WTC final in 2027, with the path invariably running through home wins. Masood backed his coach up, promising domestic cricket on similar pitches to help batters cope with opposition spin better.But Pakistan have to guard against chasing their own tails here; they may find they’re preparing for the season just passed than the one that follows. This was billed as the “bumper home Test season” with seven home games across three series, but it has come and gone, with their spin strategy “a new one for our batters, too” as Masood said. It may not be quite as new for them when the next season does roll around.Pakistan are scheduled to host South Africa later this year and then welcome Sri Lanka – a side that, in any case, they are unlikely to want to curate uber-spin tracks for – for two Tests in 2026. A year of honing batters’ spin techniques on pitches that have nothing for red-ball quicks is unlikely to be of much assistance when they travel away between March and August next year, five of which come in West Indies and England. Not to mention, of course, that in Pakistan, where the domestic red-ball season is jostled around at the mercy of different priorities, two years might as well be an epoch.The most flippant criticism of Aqibball, as it has come to be known, is that it was a short-term fix. But Aqib and Masood have made clear they don’t view it as short term, and Jomel Warrican’s West Indies showed them it may not necessarily even be a fix.
Manchester United have reportedly learned the current price tag for a long-term midfield target who has been billed as a replacement for Casemiro. Ruben Amorim wants to invest in a new central midfielder after identifying the position as a weak spot in his lineup. United have prepared a six-man shortlist for the January transfer window.
'Problem part of the pitch'
United spent heavily in the last transfer window following a nightmare 2024-25 campaign, which saw them go trophyless and finish 15th in the Premier League. Amorim wanted to bolster his attack after the likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund failed miserably last year.
Accordingly, they signed star attackers such as Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, Matheus Cunha from Wolves, and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. They also bolstered the goalkeeping position by replacing Andre Onana with Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp.
One more position Amorim wanted to strengthen was the midfield, and he even eyed a move for Brighton's Carlos Baleba, but his £115 million ($153m) price tag proved too steep. So far in the new season, Amorim has used captain Bruno Fernandes in a holding role alongside Casemiro, with Cunha, Mbeumo or Mason Mount filling the two No.10 slots behind lone striker Sesko. But the Portuguese coach is still eager to sign a midfield specialist to protect the defence.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesMan Utd learn price tag of long-term target
While the Red Devils remain interested in Baleba and Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, they also have their eyes on long-term midfield target Joao Gomes, who currently plays for Wolves. The Premier League giants first identified Gomes as Casemiro's long-term replacement n 2024 when he was valued at £40 million ($51m). However, talks never progressed and then-manager Erik ten Hag later signed Manuel Ugarte instead.
According to , Gomes is willing to make a move in the January transfer window amid Wolves' on-field struggles and could be snapped up for around £44m ($58m/€50m). The Red Devils consider Gomes as a cheaper alternative to Anderson or Baleba and could place a formal bid once the window reopens.
United told to sign Baleba despite massive price tag
Earlier this month, former United striker Louis Saha urged the club to sign Baleba as he believes that the young Seagulls star could add similar value to the Red Devils that Rodri brings to the Manchester City squad.
Speaking to , Saha said: "Fabinho was very powerful for Liverpool and Rodri happened to be the same for Man City. When you have this very strong midfielder that provides in the transition, the power and the stability at the same time, that's a top player and there are not so many who are able to actually dictate midfield as much. We’ve heard that there were talks with Brighton for Carlos Baleba, who was very close to joining and I really like his style. Everyone can see that there is a gap and a need for power and the ability to change the tempo of the game. Sometimes United play to stay secure and slow the pace and that is not helpful for United’s strikers so we need something better."
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Getty Images SportWho are the other midfielders on Man Utd's shortlist?
United recruiters have also been tracking additional midfielders for January. Former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher is seen as a potential short-term option if he becomes available for loan in January. The Atletico Madrid midfielder is pushing to secure a place in England’s World Cup squad, and regular game time in the Premier League could be key.
Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has also been monitored, though he recently signed a fresh contract at Selhurst Park. Another name being discussed is Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller, who is a deep-lying playmaker with a strong Bundesliga pedigree. United did not bid for him in the summer, but Stiller is reportedly open to a Premier League switch. His £35m ($46m) release clause makes him an affordable option.
Jason Gallian to take charge for final weeks of difficult first season for Tier 1 team
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Sep-2025Andy Tennant has stepped down as Essex Women’s head coach after less than a season in the role. Tennant was appointed last year to take charge of the club’s first fully professional women’s team after Essex were awarded Tier 1 status, but departs with a record of five wins across all competitions.Despite securing a maiden trophy for Sunrisers in the final season of the regional women’s structure, he was unable to produce the same success with a group at Essex featuring many of the same players. They are out of contention in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, with one win and eight defeats, and finished second from bottom in the Vitality Blast group table. Essex were also knocked out by Tier 2 Yorkshire in their only game in the T20 County Cup.”With the break in the fixtures for the Hundred, it has been an opportunity for both the club and myself to reflect and look ahead to next season,” Tennant said. “Following those conversations, it feels like now is the right time to step aside and seek my next opportunity.Related
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“I am proud of what we have achieved together as a group and I would like to thank Essex for giving me the opportunity to continue the job we started with the Sunrisers three years ago. I wish the club well and I am confident this outstanding group of young female athletes will continue to develop and go from strength to strength.”Danni Warren, Essex Women’s performance director who worked alongside Tennant at Sunrisers, will continue to oversee the team, with Jason Gallian, chair of Essex’s cricket committee, leading the coaching staff for the final month of the season. Essex’s hunt for a new women’s head coach will begin during the off season.”I have built a strong working relationship with Andy since he joined the Sunrisers in 2022, which culminated in the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy triumph during our final season in 2024,” Warren said. “The transition of the group to Essex has been an exciting challenge, and Andy’s hard work in ensuring this process was as seamless as possible has been hugely important to the progress we have made on and off the field.”He should be proud of what he has achieved during his time at the club, which has also included many individuals starring in this year’s Hundred competition and representing their country at international level. We all wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavours within the game.”
A number of injury-related updates came out of the MLB world on Friday afternoon. Here's everything you need to know.
Kyle Finnegan Lands on 15-Day Injured List
The Detroit Tigers will be without relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan for more than a week as they hope to close down prime positioning in the MLB playoff race. Finnegan is 12th in MLB in saves with 24, and has yet to give up an earned run (14.1 innings, 12 games) since joining the Tigers midseason via trade.
The injury is an adductor strain, retroactive to September 1 according to Tigers public relations, so hopefully the stint will allow him to rest up before the postseason.
At the moment, the Tigers have the second-best record in the American League, and hold a commanding 9.5-game lead over the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central.
Aaron Judge Returning to OF
Aaron Judge last took the outfield for the Yankees on July 26. An elbow injury put him on the injured list for a stint, and since returning he's only been capable of serving as the team's designated hitter. Tonight, the word is he'll be back in right field, with his elbow ready enough to handle throwing.
At one point, manager Aaron Boone hinted there could be a world where Judge might not be able to play outfield the rest of the year. He quickly clarified those comments, walking them back, but it's great news for New York to see him actually playing the field for real now.
MLB reporter Brian Hoch was among the first to relay the news to fans.
It's important timing, with the Yankees and Blue Jays booting up a three-game series Friday, with New York three games behind Toronto in the AL East.
In the interim, Aaron Boone has been forced to use Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield, who the team would prefer to have occupy the designated hitter slot, given Judge is unquestionably the better defender between the two. If nothing else, it gives manager Aaron Boone more lineup and positional flexibility right when he needs it.
Tyler Glasnow Scratched, Shohei Ohtani a Surprise Friday Start
After Shohei Ohtani was scratched last minute earlier this week ahead of a scheduled pitching start, he'll now step in for the last-minute scratch of Tyler Glasnow. David Vassegh was on the report first, with no immediate reason given by the Dodgers for Glasnow missing the start.
Ohtani's absence earlier in the week was due to an illness that hindered his pitching preparation. He did not miss a game on the offensive side of the ball.
Great for L.A. to see Ohtani back, but disconcerting to see another pitcher miss his start in the same week.