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Os torcedores do Vasco que marcaram presença no Galeão, nesta sexta-feira (24), para acompanhar a chegada de Phillipe Coutinho no Rio de Janeiro se surpreenderam com a presença de Ronaldinho Gaúcho no aeroporto carioca.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVascoPhilippe Coutinho chega ao Rio de Janeiro e fala sobre retorno ao Vasco: ‘Todo mundo já sabe’Vasco24/05/2024VascoAston Villa negocia rescisão amigável com Coutinho, e Vasco pode repatriar cria sem custosVasco23/05/2024Fora de CampoMovimentação de Philippe Coutinho nas redes empolga torcedores do Vasco; vejaFora de Campo22/05/2024

➡️ Vai dar Brasil? Aposte no Lance! Betting e fature com a Copa América

Ronaldinho Gaúcho chegou ao Rio de Janeiro para a disputa do Futebol Solidário. O evento beneficente será disputado neste domingo (26), às 16h, no Maracanã, para arrecadar dinheiro e doações para as vítimas das tragédias climáticas no Rio Grande do Sul.

➡️ Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Vasco

Além de Ronaldinho Gaúcho, grandes nomes do esporte e da música, como Cafu, Adriano Imperador, Filipe Luís, Formiga,  Diego Ribas, Bebeto, Tamires, Petkovic e D’Alessandro, Ludmilla, Wesley Safadão, MC Daniel, Belo e Nattanzinho irão participar.

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A CBF será parceira na organização do evento, que será transmitido pela Globo e pelos canais Sportv. A emissora doará a receita dos patrocinadores para os projetos apoiados pela plataforma “Para Quem Doar”, e o valor arrecadado na bilheteria será convertido em doações para a Central Única de Favelas.

Já Coutinho aguarda a rescisão contratual com o Aston Villa, da Inglaterra, para assinar contrato com o Vasco. O meia-atacante atendeu os jornalistas presentes no Galeão e não escondeu o desejo em retornar ao Cruz-Maltino.

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➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos do Brasileirão

Se tudo andar como o planejado, Coutinho chega ao Gigante da Colina como principal contratação da temporada já na próxima janela, que abre em 10 de julho. A ideia é que Coutinho tenha poucos dias de férias e volte aos treinamentos o quanto antes para estar à disposição.

Tudo sobre

Philippe CoutinhoRonaldinho GaúchoVasco

It’s still early in the season, but Arsenal look almost unstoppable at the moment.

Mikel Arteta’s side continued their impressive form in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and now have the chance to extend their lead in the Premier League this afternoon.

However, to do so, the Gunners will have to beat an inform Sunderland side at the Stadium of Light, without Viktor Gyokeres, who scored last time out.

Fortunately, Arteta has a few ways of dealing with the Swede’s absence, and no, he doesn’t have to use Mikel Merino.

The Arsenal changes Arteta has to make

Before examining the players Arteta should bring into the team for this game, it’s worth taking a look at who is fit.

Chalkboard

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

Fortunately, since Gyokeres’ injury, Arsenal have not lost anyone else to the medical room, and in even better news, Gabriel Jesus has returned to first-team training.

However, the Brazilian is unlikely to feature against Sunderland, nor are the likes of Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke or Gabriel Martinelli, with the manager telling the press that “nobody new that can join the squad.”

Even so, there are more than enough players fit for changes to be made to the team that won in Prague on Tuesday night.

The first of which should come in defence, with Riccardo Calafiori coming back in for the impressive Piero Hincapie.

Likewise, while Christian Norgaard did a good job anchoring the midfield, Martin Zubimendi, or the Gunners’ “signing of the summer,” as one analyst described him, should come in for him.

The final midfield change should see Eberechi Eze replace Ethan Nwaneri, as the 27-year-old’s creativity and playmaking ability could be crucial in breaking down the Black Cats’ low block.

Finally, while Merino did brilliantly in scoring two goals against Slavia, this might be a game for Arteta to pick someone else to lead the line.

The Arsenal player who could replace Merino

While Arteta could go rogue and opt to start Nwaneri up top for this game, the more reasonable way to go would be to start Leandro Trossard.

Now, there are certainly arguments for keeping Merino as the striker, but equally, there are reasons why the Belgian should be given a go up top, such as his technical quality.

Even though Sunderland are in fine form, the Gunners are more than likely going to face a stubborn low block at the Stadium of Light.

Therefore, it would make more sense to have someone like the 30-year-old leading the line who has the ability to pick a lock, not just with a pass, but with some quality close control.

As good as Merino has been this year, he has never shown an ability to get past a defender with the ball at his feet.

The second reason for going with the “little magician,” as Arteta dubbed him, is that, unlike last season, he seems to have rediscovered his form.

For example, in 13 appearances, totalling just 742 minutes, he has scored three goals and provided four assists.

Appearances

13

Minutes

742

Goals

3

Assists

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.53

Minutes per Goal Involvement

106′

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.85 games, or more impressively, every 106 minutes.

Finally, since he arrived at the club, the Waterschei-born dynamo has been a clutch player, someone who can and often does pop up with the all-important goal.

Moreover, as the legendary Ian Wright put it, he’s also shown himself to be the squad’s “best finisher and most clinical finisher of chances.”

Therefore, while it sounds counterproductive, Arteta might be better off starting Trossard in Gyokeres’ place this weekend.

Arsenal have their next Xhaka who's one of the best in "world football"

The international gem could end up being an even better version of Xhaka for Arsenal and Arteta.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 7, 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers are placing third baseman Max Muncy on the injured list with a bone bruise in his left knee, the team announced Thursday.

Muncy heads to the IL after Chicago White Sox outfielder Michael A. Taylor attempted to steal third base and collided with Muncy's lower leg during Wednesday's 5-4 Dodgers win. Muncy tagged Taylor out, but went down clutching his knee and had to limp off the field with assistance from athletic trainer Thomas Albert.

Muncy told reporters Thursday that he is expected to miss about six weeks with the injury.

“It was tough news, but it was also great news in terms of when you look at the play and the injury that could have happened, we possibly got best case scenario,” said Muncy. “There’s no structural damage in there, which is huge. That was definitely a pleasant relief, but the timetable still kind of sucks for me personally. … It was a tough blow, but at the same time, I still get to play baseball this year instead of coming back next year around April.”

The two-time MLB All-Star, who is in his ninth season with the Dodgers organization, was in the middle of a strong campaign before going down with the injury, slashing .250/.375/.457 with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs this season.

With Muncy out for the foreseeable future, the Dodgers are calling up outfielder Esteury Ruiz in a corresponding move. Ruiz, who the Dodgers acquired from the Athletics earlier this season, has spent this season in the minor leagues, but previously led the American League in stolen bases in 2023. Ruiz is slashing .292/.394/.458 with eight home runs, 37 RBIs, and 38 stolen bases for Triple-A Oklahoma City this year,

The South Africa captain smashed records at the Women’s World Cup and showed off a new aggressive side of her game

Firdose Moonda03-Nov-20252:48

Wolvaardt: Reaching three finals shows we’re doing something right

If you didn’t know Laura Wolvaardt was special, there’s a clever South African television advert that could tell you.A person sits on a couch with their face covered by a cricket magazine. Quinton de Kock is on the cover. A voice asks, “Who is the youngest person to score an ODI century for South Africa?” The person reveals themselves as Wolvaardt, complete with a smug grin. “Sorry, Quinny, it’s me,” she says and flings the magazine to one side.At 17 years and 105 days old, in August 2016, Wolvaardt raised her bat to a hundred against Ireland. Though she broke the record set by Johmari Logtenberg in 2007, the person best-known in South African circles for holding it was a male player, especially as women’s cricket was not even been televised when Wolvaardt broke the record. That man was Quinton de Kock. He was the youngest South African man to score an ODI century and he did it in November 2013, when he was 20 years and 326 days old. Sorry Quinny, it was never you.Related

• Deepti, Shafali star as India savour World Cup glory

• Third time's not a charm for South Africa

• Deepti sings her song of redemption

• The night Shafali defied her destiny

Wolvaardt is one of several female sportspeople to feature in the campaign which serves to remind South Africans that women are pioneers in things like becoming the first South African to win The Open (Ashleigh Buhai, if you were wondering) or the first senior football side to get out of the group stage of a World Cup (the women’s team, Banyana Banyana). Though gender comparison is often futile, in a world where competitive sport is only emerging from the shadows of patriarchy, it makes a point: women are worthy. And Wolvaardt has always been seen in that light.Laura Wolvaardt kept fighting in the final even as wickets fell at the other end•ICC/Getty ImagesAs a teenage prodigy, who was also a straight-A student, a wannabe doctor and an occasional musician, she entered the scene as a high-achiever. Two hundreds in the first 15 months of her ODI career promised great things, not least because her batting was so easy on the eye. Comparisons with Aiden Markram’s cover drive were meant to flatter Markram, not the other way around.There was, at one stage, a suggestion that she batted too slowly – with a strike rate of under 60 in her first year in ODIs and around 70 until the 2022 World Cup – but she played significant amounts of T20 cricket and improved. By the time she was made captain after the 2023 T20 World Cup, the only person concerned about whether she could juggle that role with her batting was Wolvaardt herself. She soon answered her own question about her capability.Wolvaardt had scored a century in her seventh innings as captain and six in the space of two years. Before this World Cup, Wolvaardt averaged 56.40 in ODIs and 40.37 in T20Is with a strike-rate of 122.30 as captain.Still, there were things missing in her game. Wolvaardt remained predominantly an off-side player and while she could find gaps on the ground, she seldom went over the top. In fact, in 110 ODIs before the Women’s World Cup 2025, she’d only hit 11 sixes. In 2025, she felt her ODI game struggled, with one hundred in eight matches in the same time that her opening partner Tazmin Brits scored five. And then, the World Cup started slowly for her with scores of 5 and 14 against England and New Zealand before she started to get going.Laura Wolvaardt showed off her on-side play as the tournament went on•ICC/Getty ImagesA 70 against India set South Africa up for a successful chase, and scores of 60 not out and 90 against Sri Lanka and Pakistan could easily have been much more. Her innings against Sri Lanka only ended because South Africa’s target was reached but Wolvaardt got those runs in 47 balls and her most productive shot was the on-drive. Things were changing.Then came the two games of her life. Wolvaardt’s 169 against England in the semi-final was an innings that showed a whole new side to her. She hit sixes over midwicket – four in the innings in fact – and displayed an element of power-hitting that has never previously been associated with her. Then, in the final, her valiant 101 came off 98 balls, a strike-rate of over 100 and she was going quicker through most of it. With some support, the story could have been different for South Africa.Instead, it’s different only for Wolvaardt. No other player has scored more runs than her in a single edition of the ODI World Cup. She was already South Africa’s leading ODI run-scorer but reached the 5000 run mark at this tournament and is sixth on the all-time list. At the rate she is going, the smart money would be on her to finish on top, considering she is likely to play longer than Smriti Mandhana, who is three years older.Despite the disappointment of defeat, she could recognise that she has evolved. “My ODI cricket has come a long way in this tournament. To win games, you’ve got to be nice and positive and nice and aggressive and I’ve really tried to explore that a bit in this tournament,” she said afterwards. “It hasn’t been my best year in ODI cricket. It was maybe a bit too conservative or one-dimensional, so I’m really happy with the different options that I was able to bring in throughout this tournament. I scored quite a lot of leg-side runs and a few leg-side boundaries, which is something I’ve been working on: to open up different spaces, because they stack that offside and dot me up there. In T20 cricket, it’s an option that I use, but not necessarily in ODI cricket, so I’m happy I was able to bring some of that in.”Laura Wolvaardt kept the chase alive with a stunning century•ICC/Getty ImagesShe also made her presence felt in the field, where she took the most outfield catches at this tournament, including the one-handed stunner at extra cover to dismiss Lea Tahuhu – an early candidate for catch of the tournament. With numbers and actions like all the above, Wolvaardt showed she is both an ever-evolving athlete and an astute professional but also that there is real heart behind both those qualities.Her emotional range has gone from none on public display when South Africa lost the T20 World Cup final last year, to a little in the form of some tears and a few sad smiles when they lost the final in Navi Mumbai. But unlike many of her team-mates, she didn’t break.Whether that is a front from someone who wants to put on a brave face, or the genuine and mature understanding of someone who is aware the world has not ended because a match was lost, is still unknown. For South Africa, it’s just leadership and it’s of the kind that could be crucial in keeping this team together. “Laura has shown a great deal of fortitude,” Mandla Mashimbyi, South Africa’s coach said. “And in terms of her talent and in terms of how she led the team, she’s also grown in this tournament. Going forward, this team will be even better, will be even stronger, even tighter. I’ve got no doubt, in the next World Cup, we’ll give it a good go.”Mashimbyi is not the only one who believes South Africa will come back, because that is in the DNA of the nation, which excels across sporting codes. But there is also fatigue. Reaching final after final after final and finishing empty-handed is draining and there may be a sense that South African cricket is becoming the sporting code that cries wolf.One of the few people who can change that is Wolvaardt and because they already know she’s special, her perspective is something critics will keep in mind. “I’m really proud that we’re able to reach three in a row. It shows that we’re doing something right domestically and from a squad perspective, consistency-wise,” Wolvaardt said. “Hopefully we can keep reaching finals and one day we can win one.”

Southampton chiefs have made a new manager decision which involves current interim boss Tonda Eckert.

Eckert looking to make it three wins in a row for Southampton

Following the sacking of Will Still at the beginning of the month, the Saints and Sport Republic are yet to appoint a new permanent manager.

A number of candidates have been linked with the St Mary’s vacancy, with Eckert impressing on a temporary basis, winning back-to-back Championship games to steer the club clear of the bottom three.

With the international break now finished, attention once again turns back to club action, with Southampton set to travel to Charlton Athletic on Saturday lunchtime.

As we know, the Saints are no closer to appointing Still’s long-term successor, meaning Eckert looks set to be given the chance to make it three victories in a row.

1.FC Koln U17

Assistant manager

2013-2016

RB Salzburg YL

Assistant manager

2016-2017

RB Leipzig YL

Assistant manager

2017-2019

FC Bayern U17

Assistant manager

2019-2020

Barnsley

Assistant manager

2020-2022

Genoa

Assistant manager

2022-2025

Southampton U21

Manager

2025

Southampton

Interim manager

2025 – present

He has impressed Saints star Finn Azaz, who scored last time out against Sheffield Wednesday, with the summer signing calling Eckert “top level”.

“Since his first meeting, I was really impressed. It hasn’t been drastic changes. He’s been able to watch from outside and tweak a few things. He has been able to instil his message and new energy and his drive and a new voice. As I say, it hasn’t been drastic changes.

“We are playing in the same shape almost. We went out there with similar personnel, [there were] just a few tweaks. I would like to thank him. He’s been top level.”

Now, a fresh manager update has emerged from St Mary’s ahead of the trip to The Valley.

Southampton to give Eckert next three games

According to sources from Give Me Sport and reliable reporter Ben Jacobs, Sport Republic have decided that Eckert is set to take charge of Southampton’s next three Championship fixtures.

Charlton Athletic vs Southampton

22nd November

Southampton vs Leicester City

25th November

Millwall vs Southampton

29th November

It is stated that the 32-year-old is not guaranteed to be given the job on a permanent basis just yet. However, if Southampton’s games against Charlton, Leicester and Millwall go to plan, Eckert could become a genuine contender.

Radio Solent’s Sports Editor Adam Blackmore even admitted recently that Eckert was always on the radar to be promoted and replace Still as Southampton manager, although it wasn’t supposed to come this early.

“Saints have spoken to candidates, but they can afford to be patient with Eckert’s good start, and it allows them time to see the market develop.

“Eckert was always Johannes Spors’ succession policy after Will. It just wasn’t supposed to be after months! So it’s highly unlikely anything imminent occurs either way …..like I said about Will, it would be a risky appointment giving it to Eckert …but if he wins 5 out of 5? Hard not to!”

The early signs are positive, and another three points on the weekend will only strengthen Eckert’s claim to be named Southampton’s next full-time manager.

Southampton told to appoint new manager over Eckert who "ticks every box"

England spinner knows he’s not the finished article but Lions tour of Australia could be a major step in his development

Vithushan Ehantharajah14-Jan-2025The last time Shoaib Bashir was in Australia, he was turning out for Lindfield Cricket Club in the Sydney suburbs during the 2022-23 season.Two years on, he is back with the Lions as England’s first-choice spinner, embarking on a fact-finding mission ahead of next winter’s Ashes. For those familiar with Sydney’s cricket system, that alone gives an indication of Bashir’s remarkable rise.Lindfield play in the Shires Competition, which runs parallel to Sydney’s more vaunted Grade Competition. The club’s own website states that Shires First Grade “is equivalent in standard to play conducted in SCA Second Grade Cricket”. As such, there was great pride at Bashir’s ascension to Test cricket a year later. Three of his Lindfield clubmates hot-footed it to Visakhapatnam to witness his debut against India.The Lions tour culminates in Sydney with a four-day unofficial Test against Australia A, and Bashir intends to drop in to see a few old friends. “I will try and try and get down there, give the boys a bit of a surprise” he tells ESPNcricinfo from Brisbane, where the squad are based for their first two matches against a Cricket Australia XI. His fondness for the club remains strong. Even for the borrowed Saab that occasionally left him in the lurch.”There was a club car that I had and I reckon it broke down on me about five times.”One particular time, I was driving on like a dual carriageway and [the car] slowed down and down, with cars behind me and everything – it was just a nightmare. But it was good times, good memories.”It is fair to say 2024 featured no such hindrance. Bashir sat exclusively in the fast lane as he notched 15 Test caps across the year, with 49 wickets – more than any other spinner in the world – including three five-wicket hauls. He overtook Somerset team-mate Jack Leach as England’s primary spinner, despite the county plumping for the left-armer as their No.1, and clocked a staggering 524.3 overs at the top level in what was essentially his second full year as a professional. All of this emanated from a social media clip that piqued the interest of Test captain Ben Stokes.Bashir featured in four of England’s five Tests in India•BCCI”It has been pretty surreal,” says Bashir. “Obviously I’m very, very grateful for what happened.”There was not much time to dissect it all. He spent barely 10 days at home over the Christmas period between returning from New Zealand (his fifth series in 11 months) and heading back across the globe on January 3. But there was enough room for reflection.”I did go through a few memories in the old book – looking back to my cap presentation (from Leach) and that video of me getting Rohit Sharma out as my first wicket (caught around the corner at leg slip) was a massive highlight. I’ve watched that many times.”Taking my first five-for (5 for 119 in his second appearance at Ranchi). Every series, every game, every innings. Playing Test cricket for England, it doesn’t get any better than that. That’s one thing I try and remind myself is that I’m playing for England, so just enjoy every moment, you know?”Related

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Shoaib Bashir's rock-solid marathon stint shows he's here to stay

'To get Rohit as my first wicket was very, very special' – Shoaib Bashir

Shoaib Bashir 'let emotions fall out' after shock England call-up

That enjoyment has been abundantly clear in this first stanza of Bashir’s international career. So, too, the talent England are investing in and the rawness of a spinner learning on the front line.Bowling England to victory with 5 for 41 against West Indies – the first spinner in 18 years to take as many at Trent Bridge – along with four on day one of the first Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval were nods to the former. Cues to the latter, such as a lack of control and no apparent go-to stock ball have been littered throughout. They were particularly apparent in series at home to Sri Lanka (six dismissals at 49.33) and away in Pakistan (nine at 49.55 despite spin-friendly conditions for the final two matches).The culmination of the Crowe-Thrope trophy was similarly difficult, albeit in seaming conditions. After 4 for 69 from 20 overs on the opening day of the series, he was 4 for 345 from 67 overs for the remainder.Head coach Brendon McCullum made a note of lauding the 21-year-old as a “tough kid” during his post-tour media briefing, ceding “the statistical element, it doesn’t read great”. Both he and Stokes have pushed Bashir to see beyond the stats. They will be buoyed to hear his current average of 40.16 does not bother him.”To be honest, not really,” he says when asked if that number jars. “I feel like stats played a huge part when I was growing up, and that was how you are selected. But it’s seen differently within this team.” Spoken like a player who earned his first call-up despite averaging 67 from just six first-class games.Bashir has leapfrogged Jack Leach as England’s first-choice spinner•Getty Images”I’m 21 years old, right? I’m still learning. I’ve only played professional cricket for about, what, two or three years? It’s just a work in progress.”Yet the motivation to lower that number is clear. Work around game-time – even ahead of a day’s play – has been a prominent feature of his time as a Test cricketer. Over the coming weeks, the guidance of England assistant coach Jeetan Patel will be replaced by Graeme Swann, reprising a relationship struck up on a previous Lions camp in 2023 which rubber-stamped that maiden call-up for the India tour.Bashir appreciates the need to hone his skills quickly, particularly an ability to hold up an end given England do not tour Asia again until their visit to Bangladesh in February 2027. Maintaining a threat while stemming the run flow, to allow the quicks a chance to catch their breath, is now top of the agenda. It is a trait spinners groove with experience.”I think it’s something I’ve got better at and am still working on,” he says of the job.”I’m still looking to take wickets, but that might be in the form of caught, caught at midwicket or caught at mid on instead of bowled through the gate. It’s like a game of chess, just trying to figure out what the batsman wants and shut down his options.”

“I’m that sort of guy who takes things day-by-day and tries not to worry too much about what the future holds. If it’s written, it’s written.”

Though India await for the home summer after a one-off Test with Zimbabwe, it is not lost on Bashir that being in Australia puts the focus on how he might fare in the Ashes. Even if he will not experience any of the five Test venues on this trip.When McCullum approached Bashir with the idea of touring with the Lions, he saw it as a no-brainer, agreeing “straightaway”. He already has some loose notes on what spin bowling in Australia entails.Bashir watched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with interest, initially via YouTube highlights given the start of that series ran parallel with the New Zealand tour. Nathan Lyon’s subdued role was registered, along with his own experience with the Kookaburra ball this winter.”Nathan Lyon didn’t bowl that much, but it was nice to gauge what it’s like to bowl spin out there. [Now] I’m out here playing, playing cricket as well, I just think I’m going try and find a method of bowling in the first and second innings.”I feel like the ball [Kookaburra] wears away quite quickly. We bowled with it in Pakistan and New Zealand, but I do enjoy it. I feel like when it’s harder, it’s quite easy to go over the top.”I’ve already noticed that I get a lot more bounce out here than I do anywhere else, which could play a massive factor.”Ben Stokes’ faith in Bashir has been a key factor in his rise•Getty ImagesThat ability to impart over-spin from a high release point is why Bashir was plucked from relative obscurity. Coming into a new year, the resilience the England management have seen in him so far reinforces the belief they are backing the right horse.Australia has chewed up and spat out many an English fingerspinner. Leach managed just six dismissals at 53.50 here in 2021-22, Moeen Ali just five at a grim 115.00 in 2017-18. Even Swann, one of England’s greatest, averaged 52.59 across eight appearances Down Under. Bashir, however, does not even consider the prospect he might be added to that list.”I’m that sort of guy who takes things day-by-day and tries not to worry too much about what the future holds. If it’s written, it’s written.”Even the most creative mind would have found Bashir’s 2024 too far-fetched to write – an England Test team throwing the ball to a novice spinner and letting him keep it no matter what. Now the first year of his Test career has closed, the pen is in Bashir’s hand to script an even more remarkable chapter in 2025.

England opener admits scrutiny has increased after tough winter but says “I won’t not be me in interviews”

Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Mar-2025″I wasn’t sure if I wanted to talk about this, or if I was going to,” says Ben Duckett, when asked at Nottinghamshire’s pre-season media day to reflect on a week that began with an interview in the and ended with him deactivating his Twitter (X) account.For those not chronically online, a quick summary. As part of a wide-ranging chat, Duckett stated he would not be surprised by Jasprit Bumrah this summer during India’s five-Test series, having faced him at the start of last year, when England lost 4-1. Bumrah took 19 wickets at 16.89 across four Tests, though only one of those was Duckett, who finished the series with 343 runs at 34.30.That quote was repurposed elsewhere, including at Wisden.com, whose article was singled out by Duckett for carrying a headline – “Nothing from Bumrah will surprise me, England should beat India this summer” – that he felt misappropriated his original quotes. Their framing, from his perspective, suggested he was far more bolshy than he actually was.Social media went into overdrive, jumping on the back of yet another Duckett-ism. After replying to a few posts he felt were out of pocket, he decided to close his account.Related

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Duckett delivers but England fall flat again to put tournament on the line

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Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson ready to have it all – again

Duckett received an apology from Wisden.com for the presentation of their article. Though not long has passed, there has been a healthy amount of deliberation from the 30-year-old. About the space he inhabits as a top-level sportsperson, opening the batting for England across all formats, and both the responsibility and scrutiny – reasonable or otherwise – that comes with it.”I guess it’s the world that we live in,” Duckett says. “I’m a professional sportsman, and when I talk to you guys [the media] like this, whatever I say is out there and for people to judge, and that’s completely fair enough.”I struggled last week because the headline I read wasn’t something I’d said. And it wasn’t with the person I did the interview. I’ve had communication with them. That was the thing I didn’t like, because people were then having a go and judging me on something that I didn’t go and say.”If you ask me about Jasprit Bumrah, I’d say, right now, he’s probably the toughest bowler to face in the world. What I said in the interview was that I’d faced him before – it’s not like I’m going into a series not knowing what he’s going to do.”The game he got me out in India [the second innings of the first Test at Hyderabad] was with a big reverse-swinging ball which I thought wasn’t. I had a big drive and missed it. That was a massive learning point, and then I managed to get through the rest of that series without him getting me out.”I’ve always been very good at blocking media out and blocking opinions of people because they’re completely entitled to them. It felt like a good opportunity to actually reply to a couple of people and go, ‘look, this isn’t what I said’. And obviously then I had some other communication with people who were apologising. That was nice. But then, it was potentially a learning for other people to maybe not go so hard straight away from reading a snippet of something.”I’d like to think I won’t not be me in interviews. I’d find that really hard to do, and I wouldn’t want to do that. It’s been an interesting week but I think for me, right now, being off Twitter is the right thing and it’s a lot easier life being off Twitter.”

“I’ve always really enjoyed doing media and I’ve always been very honest. It just feels like, off the back of a pretty tough few months for England, people are going to judge more and they’re going to have more opinions on your comments”

Just two weeks ago, men’s managing director Rob Key conceded the team “speak a lot of rubbish a lot of the time”, and the need for them to “get better” in interviews. At this stage, the ECB has no intention of restricting media access to players, knowing they play a vital role in growing the game. In many cases, they believe the way forward is for longer-form chats to make it harder for quotes to be taken out of context.While Key’s words were not aimed solely at Duckett, the Nottinghamshire batter does have previous for misspeaking. During that 2024 India series, he suggested England should take some credit for the imperious form of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Earlier this year, he was lambasted for stating he did not care if England lost 3-0 in an ODI series to India “as long as we beat them in the final of the Champions Trophy”. England were subsequently dumped out of that tournament after losing all three of their group stage matches.”That one in India [ahead of the Champions Trophy] was a big learning for me. Especially in big series where a lot of eyes are on you, it is really important what you say.”I’ve always really enjoyed doing media and I’ve always been very honest. It just feels like, off the back of a pretty tough few months for England, people are going to judge more and they’re going to have more opinions on your comments. I don’t know now – will I be more apprehensive going to do media? I don’t know. I’m certainly trying to think more in what I say, because I don’t think there is necessarily a wrong thing to say, but I don’t want to say something that a lot of people are going to judge me on or twist in however way.”That Duckett has found himself in front of a microphone so often is largely down to the fact his bat has done its fair share of talking since he returned to Test side in Pakistan at the end of 2022. Only he and Joe Root have played all 28 Tests since, and his consistency – 2,160 runs, third behind Root and Harry Brook, with four centuries – and emergence as a senior player often has him fronting up for media duties, in good times and bad.The latter was certainly the case at the start of this year. Duckett finished a two-month stint on the subcontinent as England’s most productive run-scorer in the Champions Trophy and the preceding white-ball tour of India. With the team losing 10 of 11 matches across this period, grasping for positives, as is the wont of the set-up under Brendon McCullum, led to a few eyebrow-raising comments.Duckett’s form in India and Pakistan was a rare bright spot for England•Getty Images”I did quite a few interviews this winter after me performing well but us losing, and in my eyes that’s the hardest interview you can possibly do. You’ve just lost a game, you’re feeling pretty down, but you’ve done well personally. It’s pretty hard to judge someone.”The way that the England side want to play is that really exciting brand of cricket and I do think that has been caught up in the media. I’ve not helped it, and maybe some others haven’t helped it. But all we want to do is win.”If you were to put a camera in the dressing room after every single loss for the India and Champions Trophy, you’d see a group of lads who were distraught, who were not happy, who weren’t thinking ‘oh we were involved in a great game against Australia today, we got 350 and we lost, who cares’. We were all hurting.”I think sometimes the way we play and stuff might look like we don’t care. But there’s a lot that goes into it behind the scenes with Baz and the coaches. There’s so much more to it and we’re certainly a group, moving forward now, it might look a little bit different. I don’t think the way that we’ll play will be different but… we want to win games. For me, those two months in India and the white-ball stuff, they hurt me so much.”Duckett will initially taper into the season with a bit-part role in Nottinghamshire’s start to their Division One campaign, having spent the last few weeks back in the country focusing on his fitness, admitting his body was “hanging on” during the Champions Trophy.He intends to make his appearances in the County Championship count. Nevertheless, it will be with a view to what lies ahead, namely another shot at India and this winter’s Ashes in Australia. Legacy defining for the team?”I mean, internally that won’t be the way I’d say it,” Duckett says. “You may be right. I don’t think many Test sides have been defined by an Ashes away trip. I think it’s an extremely tough place to go and not many people go there and win.”We certainly believe we can. It’s a long way off by now, but hopefully all the bowlers are fit, everyone’s fit and firing. We’ve got an incredibly big series before that to try and win on home soil. We’ve got the best two sides in the world that we’re playing in the next six months, so it’s exciting and they’re two massive opportunities… if we can go and perform well and beat them, it’ll be an incredible achievement.”

Watching the two India greats in the latter stages of their career, pushing themselves to the 2027 World Cup, is full of feels

Alagappan Muthu29-Nov-20257:34

Rahul: ‘Senior players make dressing room feel more confident’

Virat Kohli’s eyes were speaking in tongues. He was trying to digest being run out. This was back in 2014, a time when he was converting his 10s into 100s. On that roasting hot November day in Kolkata, he wouldn’t get to.Rohit Sharma must have felt really, really bad. It was partly his fault. So he did the only thing he could. Score one hundred for himself and another for his bestie. When he went back to the dressing room, 264 not out, Kohli’s laser eyes had turned into one of the come-hither variety.He had seen how much that innings meant to Rohit when he had gone down on his knees in the middle of Eden Gardens, overcome with emotion, shirt drenched in sweat, head slanted back, eyes closed, hand clinging to the bat that helped him make history which is part of Indian cricket folklore.Related

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Kohli pulled Rohit into a big bear hug the moment they were back within touching distance.A moment in time.The PDA went the other way in 2022 when India burst out into the crisp Melbourne air. Ninety thousand people were losing their heads. They wanted to make a beeline for the man who had taken complete ownership of the MCG. But Kohli is precious cargo. Only a few have access. Rohit got to him first. And jumped on him.A moment in time.”Virat bhai!” “Virat sir!” “Rohit bhaiyya!” “Hitman!” Ranchi, this week, has delighted in welcoming them. It was a thrill to be so close. A memory to take home. A wave. A smile. A sumptuous straight drive. A glorious pull shot.A moment in time.There have been so many over the last 18 years. Bedlam in Hobart. Breakthrough in Cardiff, Blitzkrieg in Jaipur. The catalogue only ever expanded, and so did its uses.Mums and Dads gained a foolproof bargaining tool. Kohli and Rohit’s screen time for being good boys and girls. Cricket matches turned into date nights. Previously unexplored areas of pop culture were infiltrated. Shared fandom became the basis of new friendships and sometimes a strain in established ones, particularly because one succeeded the other as captain, triggering some of the most intense debates about who made the bigger impact on Indian cricket.Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have a chat•ICC/Getty ImagesAt the JSCA cricket stadium on Friday, there was a glimpse of meticulous Kohli. Scuffing up a part of the pitch, short of a length, and asking for balls to be aimed there so he could proceed to flat bat them away. And serene Rohit. Batting like he used to in ODIs, careful at first and expansive at the end. There was cheeky Kohli. Sticking his hands – still holding the bat – onto his helmet after he got beaten, playing to the jeers from his team-mates. And big brother Rohit. Standing by Yashasvi Jaiswal and talking to the young opener until long after it was dark.Eighteen years and endless memories condensed into little moments in time that have now started to feel fleeting. Rohit is 38. Kohli is 37. They only play one format of cricket and their stature is doing a lot of the work in keeping them in the conversation about the 2027 ODI World Cup. They haven’t said it out loud. They’re probably trying not to think about it. When Ravi Shastri tried to big them up after their 168-run partnership to beat Australia last month – “two old dogs still had sting in the tail” – Rohit just said “looks like it.”Sachin Tendulkar had his fairytale ending in 2011 because by that time, the team had developed other pillars to lean on. MS Dhoni. Yuvraj Singh. Zaheer Khan. This India and their two legends might enjoy that same leg up in two years, which is where these three ODIs against South Africa could help. They can arm the probables like Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy and even the wild cards like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad with the experience they’ll need under ICC tournament pressure.To create one final moment in time.

Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness says the club gained a “huge advantage” by deciding against pursuing big-money moves for Benjamin Sesko, Xavi Simons and Jamie Gittens. The Bundesliga heavyweights were strongly linked with all three players before their respective switches to Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in the summer.

Sesko, Simons and Gittens still finding their feet in English football

Sesko, Simons and Gittens were seen as three of the most eye-catching new arrivals in the Premier League ahead of the 2025-26 season. The trio had earned rave reviews for their performances in the Bundesliga – Sesko and Simons at RB Leipzig and Gittens with Borussia Dortmund – which led to United, Tottenham and Chelsea forking out huge sums of money to secure their respective signatures.

However, the youngsters are still yet to find their feet in England. On the back of moving to United for £74 million (€84m/$97m), Sesko – who is currently on the sidelines with a knee injury – has scored just two goals in 11 league appearances for Ruben Amorim’s side.

Meanwhile, Simons – who joined Spurs for £52m (€60m/$70m) – is still looking for his first league goal for the club, though the Netherlands international has recorded one top-flight assist for Thomas Frank’s men.

On the other hand, Gittens is also looking for his first league goal since joining Chelsea in a £55 million (€63m/$75m) deal. However, the 21-year-old did find the back of the net in the Blues’ 4-3 win over strugglers Wolves in the Carabao Cup on 29 October.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBayern chief Hoeness aims jibe at struggling Premier League trio

And while Sesko, Simons and Gittens try to acclimatise to English football, Bayern chief Hoeness has aimed at a dig in their direction. The 73-year-old – who was part of the iconic Bayern team that dominated the 1970s including winning three successive European Cups in 1974, 1975 and 1976 – has praised the club for not giving into supporters’ wishes to spend big in the summer, insisting they have gained an edge over their rivals as a result.

In an interview with German newspaper Hoeness said: "For months we were accused of not buying enough top-class or experienced players. That's precisely what's now a huge advantage for us, because we all decided together not to buy expensive players like Xavi [Simons] or [Jamie] Gittens, who had been discussed, or [Benjamin] Sesko, who costs €80 million. 

“Instead, we said, come on, let's do nothing, let's just loan [Nicolas] Jackson from Chelsea. And that's how we ended up with a relatively balanced transfer budget. And we also have a coach [Vincent Kompany] who agreed to giving young players a chance.

“The Thomas Muller decision [letting the forward leave upon the expiration of his contract] was also extremely tough, but important. Because one thing is clear: if Thomas Muller had stayed, he would have been on the bench – and then the whole stadium would have chanted 'Muller, Muller' every time someone was substituted. And then [Lennart] Karl and [Tom] Bischof would have been relegated to the sidelines.”

Getty Images SportGerman giants labelled Newcastle 'idiots' for Woltemade signing

It is not the first time a Bayern board member has sent a jibe towards a Premier League club this season, with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge having earlier labelled Newcastle United as “idiots” for spending £69m (€79m/$93m) on striker Nick Woltemade – another player who was linked with a summer move to the Allianz Arena.

He told German publication in September: “When the story with Woltemade and Stuttgart's demands came up, at some point I said to Uli [Hoeness], Herbert Hainer, Jan Dreesen and Max Eberl: 'Guys, we're getting into sums of money that I simply don't find acceptable anymore’."

Bayern supervisory board member Rummenigge – who also played for the club in the 1970s – then joked that one could only “congratulate Stuttgart for finding an idiot [Newcastle] who paid so much money,” adding: "Because we certainly wouldn't have done that in Munich.”

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Getty Images SportSesko, Simons and Gittens could return to PL action this week

Woltemade, 23, has been in excellent form since arriving at Newcastle on 30 August, scoring seven goals in 17 appearances in all competitions for the club. Eddie Howe’s side return to league action against Simons’ Tottenham on Tuesday, while Gittens will be hoping to feature when Chelsea travel to Leeds United on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, United head coach Amorim confirmed before his side’s 2-1 league victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday that Sesko is unlikely to feature against West Ham United on Thursday evening.

He said: "Sesko is going to take a little bit more time [than Matheus Cunha]. It will take a little bit longer and we are taking care of him."

Sri Lanka went into the game unchanged after Dunith Wellalage re-joined the team

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2025Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bowl, as the Asia Cup Super Fours stage kicked off in Dubai. Chasing sides have a 70% win record at this venue and that played a big part in Litton Das’ decision. He also added that he was a little “confused” by how the wicket would behave.Sri Lanka are a side that prefers to chase in general, and Charith Asalanka said as much though, with this being a used pitch, he’s not too bothered by batting first.Sri Lanka have gone with an unchanged XI with Dunith Wellalage rejoining the team after leaving for home following his father’s death. Bangladesh have made two changes with Mahedi Hasan and Shoriful Islam coming back into the side. Offspinner Mahedi’s return is presumably to combat Sri Lanka’s left-hander heavy batting line-up.Related

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Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar during the pitch report noted that while the potential of dew means chasing might be easier, if it doesn’t come in and the pitch continues to get drier, that equation could change. In terms of ground dimensions, one square boundary is shorter than the other.Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kamil Mishara, 4 Kusal Perera, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Dunith Wellalage, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Nuwan ThusharaBangladesh: 1 Saif Hassan, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Litton Das (capt & wk), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Jaker Ali, 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman.