Christian Pulisic has voiced strong support for USMNT teammate Gio Reyna, acknowledging the challenges the young midfielder has faced while expressing confidence in his future. Speaking ahead of the November international window, the AC Milan star offered insight into their relationship and Reyna’s potential impact on the national team.
Real Madrid's crisis escalated on Sunday as Endrick was sent off from the bench during the defeat to Celta Vigo, sparking a furious reaction from his father. With the Brazilian forward starving for minutes under manager Xabi Alonso, his parent turned to the bible to find encouraging words for the teenager, intensifying rumours of a January loan exit just months before the World Cup.
Bernabéu boiling point: Red card from the sidelines
The atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu was already toxic as Celta Vigo raced into a 2-0 lead, but the frustration on the Real Madrid bench spilled over in spectacular fashion. Endrick, who had been left out of the starting XI yet again by Xabi Alonso, did not even need to step onto the pitch to make headlines. In the dying moments of the match, the Brazilian teenager was shown a straight red card by the referee for dissent, reportedly launching a verbal tirade at the fourth official as tempers flared.
It was the third dismissal of the night for Los Blancos, following red cards for Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras, but the striker's expulsion is symbolic of a deeper malaise. Having played fewer than 20 minutes of La Liga football under Alonso, the 19-year-old’s discipline snapped. The suspension will likely rule him out of the upcoming clashes, further alienating a player who was supposed to be the future of the club but currently finds himself as a spectator to their implosion.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportEndrick's father vents his fury
The fallout from the match was immediate, with the player's father, Douglas Ramos, taking to social media to defend his son and fire a not-so-subtle dig at the Madrid hierarchy. He posted a picture of his son sitting on the Madrid bench and cited a bible verse as encouragement for the 19-year-old. He wrote: "Matthew Chapter 23:12. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
This "poisoned dart" appears squarely aimed at the management. It is not the first time the Brazilian's camp has hinted at dissatisfaction. Previously, he had accused Madrid of trying to "dim" the striker's spark. He wrote on social media: "I know, my son, how hard you work and how much you dedicate every minute of your day. I know everything you're capable of. You're a winner and you're showing everyone that you're a true warrior. Your star will continue to shine, even though some try to dim your light. I believe your future lies right there."
Frozen out by the manager
The relationship between the forward and his manager appears to be non-existent. Since taking over the reins, Alonso has largely ignored the Palmeiras academy graduate, preferring to utilise Kylian Mbappe centrally or even turning to academy product Gonzalo García as a backup option. The data is damning: the teenager has not started a single league game under the coach and has often been left warming the bench even when the team is chasing a game.
Tactically, the manager seems unconvinced by the youngster's discipline and positional play, favouring more versatile forwards who can drop deep. However, with the attack looking blunt against Celta, the decision to leave a prolific goalscorer unused – and then watch him get sent off for frustration – has raised serious questions about Alonso’s man-management. The "dimming of the light" quote suggests that the player believes this exclusion is personal rather than tactical, a dangerous narrative for a coach already under pressure.
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With the situation becoming untenable, a January departure now looks inevitable. The red card may have been the final straw for both parties. Reports in France and Italy indicate that Lyon, Juventus, and even Manchester United are monitoring the situation closely, ready to offer a six-month loan deal.
For the player, a move is essential. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, he cannot afford to spend a season in the shadows. Real Madrid may be reluctant to weaken their squad depth given their injury crisis, but keeping an unhappy, suspended, and vocal teenager in a fracturing dressing room might be a luxury they can no longer afford.
Bangladesh government removes Ishfaq Ahsan for his ‘political links’
Mohammad Isam07-Oct-2025The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) landed in controversy immediately after their election results were announced on Monday. Within hours, the government removed one of the newly-elected directors, Ishfaq Ahsan. He was one of two government representatives in the BCB board, but his stay was short-lived.Ahsan’s political links forced the National Sports Council, the organisation that oversees sports in the country, to take this action. “We will appoint a new director [on Tuesday]. We have removed him for his political links,” Kazi Nazrul Islam, NSC’s executive director, told reporters on Monday.ESPNcricinfo understands that the NSC is likely to appoint a female board director in his place.A day-long BCB election, with physical votes as well as e-ballots, was held at a hotel in Dhaka on Monday. Aminul Islam was re-elected president. He will lead the working committee, the grounds committee and the BPL committee. Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud, a first-time director, assumes charge of the High Performance centre.Former Bangladesh spinner Abdur Razzak, also a first-time director, was handed the post of chairman of women’s wing. Nazmul Abedeen will continue as cricket operations chairman while Ishtiaque Sadeuque will be game development chairman. Bangladesh’s age-group cricket will now be headed by renowned singer Asif Akbar.
After his public spat with Atalanta manager Ivan Juric, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly ready to accelerate their move to sign Ademola Lookman in 2026.
It comes as no surprise that those in North London have identified an attacking target. Thomas Frank’s side have lacked conviction at times this season, with their striker problem recently made worse by Randal Kolo Muani’s injury. Despite initial news indicating that his injury is not serious, reports are now claiming that the Frenchman has suffered a fractured jaw.
The injury comes at a frustrating time for the forward, who is yet to score a goal for Tottenham in a difficult run of form. Even in the middle of that form, however, Frank could do with having Kolo Muani available.
With Dominic Solanke still sidelined, the Dane has just Richarlison and academy graduate Dane Scarlett to call on against Arsenal in his first official North London derby in charge of Tottenham.
It’s an attacking problem that Spurs know they must address and club chiefs have already reportedly set their sights on Rodrygo to do exactly that. The Real Madrid star has an uncertain future in Spain after falling out of favour under Xabi Alonso and Spurs are reportedly willing to spend as much as £70m to secure his signature as a result.
There’s no doubt that the Brazilian would be a statement signing as one of the best wingers in the world, but he may not be the only one that the Lilywhites pursue in 2026.
In an attacking overhaul, those in North London have also set their sights on Lookman and are reportedly ready to step things up in the race for his arrival.
Tottenham ready to accelerate Lookman move
As reported by TuttoJuve, Tottenham are now ready to accelerate their move to sign Lookman in 2026 with the talented forward desperate to move on from the Italian club.
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The former Fulham ace was denied a move away in the summer, despite handing in a transfer request, and has since fallen out with manager Juric and removed Atalanta from his Twitter bio. Ever since he was denied a summer switch, an exit has simply looked inevitable.
As the saga continues, it’s Spurs who are attempting to take full advantage to welcome the Nigerian back to the Premier League. Although the Lilywhites won’t be the only club in the race, the fact that Lookman is represented by the same agency as Mohammed Kudus could provide them with an unexpected advantage in any negotiations.
It’s certainly a transfer race that would be worth winning, too. Before their recent disagreement, Juric went as far as to describe Lookman as “spectacular” and there’s little doubt that he’s still Atalanta’s most important player.
Forget Spence: Frank has a future superstar who can end Porro's Spurs career
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.
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.
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Shubman Gill “will head to Mumbai for further assessment of his injury,” BCCI says in a media statement
ESPNcricinfo staff21-Nov-20252:53
Saba Karim: Pant will be unpredictable as captain
Shubman Gill, who suffered a neck injury during the first India vs South Africa Test in Kolkata, has been ruled out of the second Test in Guwahati, which starts on Saturday. Rishabh Pant, who led in Kolkata after Gill left the game, will be India’s captain.Gill had travelled to Guwahati on November 19 after spending time under observation in a Kolkata hospital, but has now been ruled out of participation in the game. Gill “will head to Mumbai for further assessment of his injury,” the BCCI said in a statement on Friday morning.As reported by ESPNcricinfo on Thursday, it was understood that Gill is at risk of further neck spasms if he plays so soon after recovering. He has been advised more rest. The development could also impact his selection in the ODI squad for the three matches against South Africa starting on November 30. The squad for that series is expected to be picked on November 23.Related
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With Gill out and no replacements named, India have to choose one of B Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal and Nitish Kumar Reddy as his replacement.Gill was admitted to hospital after the second day of the Kolkata Test after he retired hurt having faced only three balls in India’s first innings. On the morning of the third day, the BCCI said he would take no further part in the Test. India went on to lose the match by 30 runs after being dismissed for 93 in a chase of 124 on a pitch with uneven bounce. Gill had missed a Test against New Zealand in October 2024 due to a neck spasm too.On Thursday, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had said in a press conference that the team would not risk playing Gill if there was any chance of the spasm recurring.”He is definitely recovering really well,” Kotak said. “Now, the decision [whether to play him or not] will be taken tomorrow evening. The physios, doctors, they will have to take a call that, [even] if he is fully recovered, [during the] game, he should not get that spasm again.”[…] If we have a, guarantee that, very likely, he won’t have this issue again, then he will play. If there is a doubt, then I am sure, he will take rest [for] one more game, because it won’t be helpful to the team [if he plays].”
Arsenal fans are jubilant right now, and they have every right to be.
Following a Saturday that saw Liverpool and Manchester City lose, the Gunners had a chance to extend their lead atop the Premier League table at home to Tottenham Hotspur, which is just what they did.
Mikel Arteta’s side were utterly sensational on Sunday evening, with summer signing and former Spurs target Eberechi Eze becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in the derby since Alan Sunderland in 1978.
What made the victory all the more impressive was that Arsenal had several key players missing, including club captain Martin Odegaard, though another of Arteta’s starmen might be becoming his new version of the Norwegian.
The latest on Martin Odegaard
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Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The former Real Madrid ace was hoping to make amends for his poor form last year, but so far has spent most of the campaign on the sidelines.
In fact, he became the first player in the competition’s history to be forced off before halftime in three successive Premier League fixtures.
The third game was the 2-0 win over West Ham United on the fourth of October, when he was forced off in the 30th minute with a knee injury that has kept him out since.
There was hope he might’ve made it back into the squad on Sunday, but that game must’ve come too soon, as he was once again watching from the sidelines.
However, the Norwegian international could finally be part of proceedings again against Bayern Munich, as Arteta said in his pre-match press conference, “We are hopeful that tomorrow he can be in the squad.”
This is undoubtedly a boost for the Gunners, as even when he’s not necessarily on song, the Drammen-born maestro can add something to the side.
Although he might find it challenging to get back into the lineup following Eze’s sensational display in the derby.
Eze’s Arsenal record
Comp
PL
UCL
EFL Cup
Apps
10
4
2
Starts
8
2
2
Goals
4
0
1
Assists
2
1
0
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Moreover, another Arsenal star has been fulfilling some of Odegaard’s responsibilities in his absence.
Arsenal's new Odegaard
Now, when thinking about an Arsenal player who could be Arteta’s new Odegaard, most people will probably go for Eze.
After all, the Englishman has been playing in the same position over the last few weeks and is the most attacking midfielder in the lineup.
However, the former Crystal Palace star is quite different from the club captain in the sense that he is more of a moments player; he is someone who can float in and out of games and tends to take fewer touches when looking for attacking opportunities.
Instead, the player who has been performing most similarly to the Norwegian has been Leandro Trossard.
Now, there are, of course, differences between the two players, but in the 26-year-old’s absence, the former Brighton & Hove Albion star has been doing some of the things he tends to do.
For example, the Waterschei-born winger is dropping further back in games and helping to link the play more, which is something his heatmap against Spurs makes quite clear.
Moreover, despite playing out wide and being on the pitch for 16 fewer minutes, the “cult hero,” as dubbed by content creator Alex Moneypenny, took just eight fewer touches than the hat-trick hero.
Against Sunderland, he took 55 touches to the Englishman’s 41.
This combination of dropping a little deeper and spending more time on the ball has also seen him take more control over the tempo of games than he used to, showing a more creative side to his passing than fans have seen before.
When you add these things together, along with his mentality and experience, it becomes clear that his influence on the team has helped mitigate the loss of the captain.
Ultimately, Trossard and Odegaard have been quite different players during their time at Arsenal, and likely will be again when they’re both in the team.
However, for now anyway, the Belgian has slowly transformed into a version of the former wonderkid for Arteta.
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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.”
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
More grass on the surfaces, and changes to the Kookaburra ball, have made Test batting in the country difficult over the past half-decade
Andrew McGlashan14-Nov-20251:45
Will Australian pitches affect England’s Ashes chances?
One of the many areas of interest leading into the Ashes is what type of pitches the series will be played on. Questions abound about whether it’s better to take on England on flatter surfaces or on more lively pitches that may narrow any gap between the two attacks but also make it harder for the Bazball batters to flourish. Steven Smith recently endorsed the latter approach.There is no doubt that batting has become tougher in Australia in recent years. Anyone with a top-order spot is usually happy to mention that, and the numbers back it up. In some cases, especially at the MCG, more grass is being left on the pitches – the 2017-18 Ashes Test, which included Alastair Cook’s double-century, finally persuaded those in charge that change was needed. The tweaks to the Kookaburra ball around 2021 have also had a significant impact.The way England’s ODI top order – consisting of at least four Test players – floundered against the moving ball in New Zealand won’t have gone unnoticed, either.Related
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“England play pretty well on the flatter wickets, the way they play,” Smith said last month. “So, if there’s a bit in it like there has been the last three or four years, with our bowling attack, it certainly makes things a lot more difficult for their batters.”
In the last five seasons, since 2020-21, when Australia faced India in the Covid summer, the collective Test batting average in the country has been 26.75. Globally for the same period – excluding the handful of Tests staged in the UAE and Ireland – that places Australia seventh between Bangladesh and India.Although conditions had already started to change, in the five summers previous, the average was 34.46, which, for countries that had hosted at least ten Tests, gave Australia the highest collective average. Last summer’s series against India had a collective average of 24.43, which was the lowest for an Australian home season since 1978-79.
Significantly, the altered Kookaburra ball was first used in Tests in Australia during the 2021-22 Ashes. The major changes were a double coating of lacquer, which helps the ball retain its hardness, and a plastic lining under the leather, which means the seam stays more prominent.Smith said during last season’s series against India that he thought batting had got more difficult since the changes to the Kookaburra. “Particularly when at the same time wickets have got greener, so it’s kind of like the perfect storm coming together.””But the ball’s definitely staying harder, so I think the last three years have probably been the hardest that I’ve experienced in my career batting-wise, in terms of the amount of movement that’s being generated.”If you look back five years ago, you’re seeing consistent 400-500s being scored in the first innings. If you put a three in front of it these days, you’re usually in a pretty strong position, so you know you’ve got to think about that as well when you’re thinking about play. Sometimes if you don’t get a hundred, it’s not the end of the world.”The downward trend of batting averages has not only been seen in Australia. Analysis by ESPNcricinfo earlier this year showed how bowlers have dominated since the World Test Championship was introduced, which brought with it the incentive to push for victories. Only four Tests in the last WTC cycle ended in draws – and all of them were affected by rain, preventing 300 overs of play – although the trend in result-oriented Tests pre-dated the WTC.MCG head curator Matt Page has changed Melbourne’s Test pitches•Getty Images
All of Australia’s major venues that continue to host Test cricket – the WACA staged its last men’s game during the 2017-18 Ashes – except for Perth Stadium, have seen a decline in their batting average over the last five years, with the MCG and SCG showing a significant shift. The MCG, where Scott Boland took 6 for 7 during the 2021-22 Ashes, is widely regarded as the spiciest Test pitch in the country now, although it mellowed somewhat for last season’s visit by India, where the game went deep into day five. That may be the balance that is sought in the future, although the T20I against India late last month did plenty with the new ball.The SCG’s figures changed substantially with last year’s ball-dominated game against India, where, in an attempt to bring some life back to the square, the ground staff veered too far in the other direction. How the pitches in Sydney shape up this season will be worth watching.
Perth Stadium, which missed two seasons due to Covid, is an interesting example as it beds down as a Test venue. Last year both first innings were over within four sessions. The pitch then flattened for a period on days two and three as India made 487 for 6 before unevenness started to come through via large cracks. The year before, against Pakistan, it was a nightmare for batting in the fourth innings thanks to those same cracks.
Adelaide Oval has been the traditional home of the day-night Test but for this year’s Ashes, the pink-ball game will be staged at the Gabba, which has hosted three previous floodlit Tests, including Australia’s only defeat in matches of this sort, against West Indies in early 2024.Damien Hough, the Adelaide curator, has pretty much got his day-night preparation spot-on and the players widely regard it as the best venue for such matches. In the most recent day-night Test at the Gabba, against West Indies in early 2024, Mitchell Starc felt the pitch was too firm for the pink ball, although it’s worth noting this season’s match will be played much earlier in the season.Mitchell Starc: a fan of Adelaide day-nighters•Getty Images”I think it now comes down to the wicket, which I think Adelaide’s got right because of the ball, and we know it goes soft at certain stages depending on the wicket,” Starc said at the time. “I think there’s a certain cushion to what they make in Adelaide and just why it’s been such a good Test match, the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.”Although there is limited data available for the Gabba, the third session has the lowest batting average, while the middle one has the highest. In day Tests at the ground, the last session has the highest average.
It remains a realistic scenario that England don’t play a frontline spinner in the first Test, in Perth, and the role may be limited for the visitors throughout. Will Jacks could play a part or the spin may be left in the hands of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root. From the numbers alone, you can understand why England would consider that.On the whole, across the last decade, Australia has been an awful place for visiting spinners. Only once in that time, during India’s victory in 2020-21, have the overseas spinners fared better than Australia’s (which largely means Nathan Lyon).
Lyon was left out for Australia’s most recent Test, against West Indies at Sabina Park, which was played with a pink Dukes under lights and finished in less than seven sessions. It’s highly unlikely that scenario will play out on home soil, although even Lyon was reduced to a bit-part player for large chunks of last season’s series against India.
The more challenging conditions for batters in Test cricket have been reflected in Australia’s domestic first-class competition, the Sheffield Shield. The 2023-24 summer was the only edition in the last 20 years that ended with a collective batting average below 26. The figure climbed a little last season, but pitches remain a gripe among some domestic coaches, who believe the preference for result-oriented surfaces has skewed too far.Nathan Lyon did not bowl a lot on the lively pitches last summer•Getty Images”It was strongly reported and happily received by batting groups across the country… that there was a desire to tone down the pitches across the country and find that better balance between bat and ball,” NSW coach Greg Shipperd told ESPNcricinfo before the season. “I think that worked for two-thirds of the season, until some places [identify] that a result is necessary, and the nature of the pitch changes quite aggressively. I think for that to be stamped out would be excellent.”It was a sentiment echoed by Victoria coach Chris Rogers. “Whether we want to produce pitches that favour bowlers who don’t have to bowl that fast or have huge skill… I’d say we just have to be mindful that we’re going down a path that’s so different to what we face in international cricket,” he told . “I think that’s what England are trying to do with Bazball – they’re trying to play a lot of their domestic cricket on really flat wickets and almost say that that’s what you’re going to face when you play international cricket.”Those who need to balance the budget at CA – and, probably, most who have bought tickets – would no doubt like the Tests to stretch deep into day four. CA chief executive Todd Greenberg recently joked he would get on the roller himself if he could.”I hope the groundsmen stick to their guns and prepare the wickets they want,” Starc said this week. “If we’re worried about five days of revenue, then there’s bigger problems at hand.”