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.

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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

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Abatimento. Este foi o clima de Thiago Carpini e o vestiário do São Paulo após a derrota contra o Flamengo, pela segunda rodada do Brasileirão.

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Com a pressão cada vez maior e diversos nomes de treinadores sendo especulados, Carpini concedeu a entrevista coletiva no Maracanã e ressaltou que enquanto nao receber nenhum comunicado, se sente respaldado.

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Assim como foi na derrota contra o Fortaleza, a diretoria do São Paulo optou pelo silêncio e não se pronunciou sobre o futuro de Carpini. A única interação no vestiário foi cumprimentar os atletas e comissão técnica.

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Vestiario de derrota, chateação. Conversa nenhuma, nao conversei com o presidente, executivo. Eles estiverem no vestiario, cumprimentando a mim e aos atletas, como sempre fazem. Nenhuma conversa fora disso. Se algo acontecer, nao era o momento para essa conversa. O ambiente foi de chateação por mais uma derrota do São Paulo – disse Carpini.

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários dos jogos do Brasileirão

Com a derrota no Maracanã, o São Paulo perdeu as duas primeiras rodadas no Brasileirão, algo que não acontecia desde 1990. Caso nenhuma movimentação seja anunciada, Carpini segue como treinador para o duelo do Tricolor contra o Atlético-GO, pelo Brasileirão.

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São PauloThiago Carpini

Shohei Ohtani has had another incredible season at the plate as he hit more than 50 home runs for the second straight year with the Dodgers. He is also leading the National League in on-base percentage and slugging for the third straight season.

Ohtani has worked incredibly hard to hone his craft and it shows. Los Angeles found out just how hard Ohtani works very quickly. When their prize free agent showed up two years ago he told them there was one thing in their clubhouse that was not sufficient.

The batting cage.

According Dodgers executive vice president Lon Rosen, Ohtani pointed out that one batting cage was not enough. So they built a whole new clubhouse with two.

"We also built a new clubhouse last year because when we were signing Shohei, one of the things he noticed was we only had one batting cage," said Rosen. "So we rebuilt."

After adding the second cage Ohtani had the best season of his career with Los Angeles. And apparently that's when he explained why the second cage was so important.

"In the offseason Shohei came into the office and you know he went 50 for 50 and won the MVP and Stan [Kasten] says to him And he answers ."

No wonder Ohtani has plans to construct a "small hitting and pitching facility" at his new home in Hawaii. More importantly for the Dodgers, it's no wonder he's having another MVP-caliber season.

Plenty has changed since we last discussed the American League and National League Most Valuable Player races.

While Shohei Ohtani maintains his reign over the National League, still a clear-cut favorite to lock down his fourth MVP award in five years, the American League is much less set in stone. That's due to an injury sustained by Aaron Judge and the Yankees star's subsequent struggles in his return to the lineup. Additionally, Mariners star Cal Raleigh has found his power stroke again lately after a prolonged cold spell, tightening what should be a memorable AL MVP battle.

There's still over a month to go, so plenty can still change as teams begin to make their final push for the postseason.

Let's take a look at how the MVP races are currently shaking up:

National League MVP Race1. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter/pitcher

Ohtani has continued to dominate for the Dodgers, and he's been excellent on the mound since being given the green light to pitch again. While he's not pitching deep into games, that's all part of the plan as he continues to stretch out after not toeing the rubber since 2023.

Serving as L.A.'s leadoff hitter, Ohtani is slashing .284/.389/.624 with 42 home runs, 78 RBIs, 17 steals and an MLB-leading 112 runs, which is 20 more than the league's next highest run scorer. On the mound, he's pitched 19 innings across eight appearances and boasts a 2.37 ERA with 25 strikeouts.

Ohtani was nearly a lock to win NL MVP before he got back onto the mound. Now that he's pitching, and doing so at a high level, there's not much that can be done to catch him.

2. Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter

Kyle Schwarber has been enjoying his best season yet at age 32, and he's taken his game to a new level in the second half of the season. Schwarber has 12 home runs in his last 22 games, and owns a 1.109 OPS in that same span. On the year, he's launched 42 home runs, and he's well within reach of surpassing his previous career high of 47. The slugger has now hit 40 or more homers in three of the last four years.

Schwarber remains a long shot to truly challenge Ohtani for the MVP, but he's been putting on a show for the Phillies faithful. He's already registered a 4.0 bWAR in 118 games, the best mark of his career, and can build on that during the remaining weeks of the season.

3. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs outfielder

Pete Crow-Armstrong has been outstanding for the Cubs, and he ranks second in all of MLB with a 6.0 bWAR, trailing only Aaron Judge. At the plate, Crow-Armstrong has a .822 OPS with 27 home runs and 78 RBIs. He's leading the National League with 31 doubles, too. On the base paths, he's been elite. The 23-year-old has 30 steals on 35 attempts, making him one of just three players in MLB to steal 30 or more bases and get thrown out five or less times.

Defensively, he's been equally remarkable in center field. He ranks third in MLB with 18 outs above average, per Statcast, and is the only outfielder in baseball with more than 15 OAA. He's prevented 17 runs on the year, often covering tremendous distances in the outfield in order to chase down a fly ball. He's emerged as a true star on both sides in 2025 and while an MVP doesn't seem likely, there's no denying how impressive he's been.

Honorable mentions: Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, Padres third baseman Manny Machado, Cubs outfielder Kyle TuckerAmerican League MVP Race1. Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners

Has Raleigh finally overtaken Aaron Judge in the AL MVP race? Raleigh went cold for a brief spell after the All-Star break, but has since bounced back and continued his historic season. The league-leader in home runs is now up to 45 on the year after going yard in three consecutive games over the weekend, and he's on the verge of setting the record for most home runs by a catcher in a single season.

Raleigh is slashing .247/.354/.593 with 45 home runs, 98 RBIs and and incredible 168 OPS+. He's also been a contributor on the base paths, with 13 steals on 16 attempts. Defensively, he's been sound as ever. After winning the Platinum Glove in 2024, Raleigh has been an elite backstop for the Mariners' top-tier pitching staff, while also throwing out 16 runners on the base paths, second most in MLB.

2. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Judge's elbow injury cost him some time on the field, and he hasn't looked like his usual self since being reinserted back into the lineup. Judge has 37 home runs and a 1.131 OPS on the year, truly remarkable numbers, but he's struggled over the last month. In his last 13 games, the star outfielder has a .620 OPS with just two home runs and six RBIs. He's also struck out 17 times in that span.

With Judge still not looking quite right after his IL stint, he may be falling behind Raleigh in the MVP race. It's tight, however, and he could just as easily regain his place atop the ladder if both he and the Yankees are able to return to form.

3. Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

It's a rare feat for a pitcher to win the MVP. That doesn't seem a likely outcome in 2025, but Tarik Skubal is certainly making a case for himself to win the award. Skubal seems like a lock to win the American League Cy Young award, and his dominance on the mound deserves at least some consideration in the MVP discussion, even if it is as an outside contender.

Skubal ranks third in MLB with 187 strikeouts in 145 1/3 innings. He boasts an ERA of 2.35, second only to Paul Skenes among qualified starters. Skubal's ability to mow down hitters and avoid giving out free passes has been crucial to his success. He's walked just 21 batters, the fewest among qualified starters, and has a pristine 0.86 WHIP on the year.

Honorable mentions: Guardians third baseman José Ramírez, Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz

Tottenham are looking to sell a Spurs regular who Thomas Frank no longer wants with the January transfer window looming, according to a new report today.

Tottenham's rumoured plans for the January transfer window

If there’s one thing the last month has taught us, it is that the Lilywhites are still far from the finished article.

Tepid London derby defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea in the last few weeks, where Spurs barely managed to threaten in either encounter, significantly highlight the need for more firepower in particular.

Striker Dominic Solanke remains out with an ankle injury that required minor surgery, while star playmakers James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are still working to come back from their respective long-term problems.

This has left Spurs starved of attacking quality at times, with summer signing Xavi Simons largely failing to impress bar a player of the match display at home to FC Copenhagen in the Champions League.

xG

11.0

17th

Non-penalty xG

11.0

16th

Progressive passes

413

12th

Shots

110

19th

Shots on target

40

15th

Average shot distance

15.6 yards

17th

A silver lining for the north Londoners was Randal Kolo Muani’s exceptional outing against parent club PSG in Europe on Wednesday, where the Frenchman bagged a brace and an assist during the thrilling eight-goal thriller in Paris.

However, amid Solanke’s injury problems and the uncertainty surrounding Kolo Muani’s long-term future, considering he is only on a dry loan, reports suggest that Tottenham could look to sign a striker in January.

Co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange are also targeting a winger, with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo on their radar.

Semenyo, who has stood out as one of the Premier League’s finest attacking players this season, could leave for just £65 million during the early stages of January due to a release clause in his contract.

Ex-club chief now tips Tottenham to sign Man City star for £50m in January

A deal is apparently there to be done.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 28, 2025

Some media sources claim that Tottenham are prepared to shatter their winter transfer record by signing both Semenyo and FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa, with the latter in excellent goalscoring form right now.

To fund such a big investment, player sales may be needed, and one man believed to be on the chopping block is striker Richarlison.

Tottenham looking to offload Richarlison in January

According to recent reports, despite selecting him 20 times this season, whether that be in the starting eleven or from the bench, Frank views Richarlison as ‘expendable’ heading into 2026.

Now, journalist Pete O’Rourke has told Football Insider that Tottenham are looking to sell Richarlison in January.

Amid concerns surrounding inconsistent form and the fact his contract expires in 2027, it is clear to see why.

The Brazil international has actually scored six goals and bagged a further two assists this term, including two stunning goal of the season contenders against Burnley and Arsenal respectively.

However, Richarlison has still come under criticism this season, and January represents an opportunity to offload for a significant fee before it is too late.

The 28-year-old cost £60 million to sign from Everton, and reports suggest that Richarlison could return to Goodison Park as one mooted destination.

Glasgow Rangers officially confirmed that both CEO Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell left their roles at Ibrox on Monday after the club’s underwhelming start under the new ownership.

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh revealed that the ownership believes that they need different people in those roles in order to bring success back to Ibrox in the months and years to come.

Thelwell was let go by the Gers after he played a key role, as sporting director, in the appointment and firing of Russell Martin, as well as the signings throughout the summer transfer window.

The former Everton chief was given the funds to retool the squad for the head coach in the summer, but after that appointment and the signings he made, Rangers won one of their first eight Scottish Premiership matches.

However, Thelwell would be far from the first sporting director to make some mistakes in the transfer market. Former Gers technical director Nils Koppen, for example, made his fair share.

One signing that officially went through in the summer but was sanctioned before Thelwell’s arrival was the permanent addition of Oscar Cortes.

Why Oscar Cortes has been a waste of money for Rangers so far

The 21-year-old forward initially joined on loan from Lens for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, and produced one goal and one assist in six games in the Premiership, per Sofascore.

That convinced the Scottish giants to sign him on a season-long loan with an obligation to make it permanent at the end of the season in the summer of 2024, which led to him signing for £4.5m earlier this year.

He is currently the ninth-most expensive signing in the history of the club, with that £4.5m move from Lens, and the Gers have simply not got enough back from him on the pitch to justify that expense.

In the 2024/25 season, the Colombian winger made ten appearances in the Premiership without delivering a single goal or assist for the team, whilst he also missed out on 22 matchday squads and was an unused substitute on six occasions, per Transfermarkt.

Despite his dismal form last term, Rangers had to sign him permanently for a hefty fee of £4.5m because it was an obligation that was put in place in the previous summer. That led to him leaving on loan to Sporting Gijon this season.

LaLiga 2

Oscar Cortes

Appearances

5

Starts

1

Unused sub

6

Goals

0

Key passes per game

0.0

Big chances created

0

Assists

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Cortes has struggled badly in Spain since his temporary switch to the second division outfit, with more games left sat on the bench than appearances in LaLiga 2.

His lack of goal contributions for the Spanish side means that he still has not provided a goal or an assist since registering one of each in a 5-0 win over Hearts in February 2024.

With over three years left on his contract at Ibrox, it remains to be seen whether or not the 21-year-old whiz will make a success of his Rangers career or not, but it is not looking good on current evidence.

With his form for the Gers and out on loan, Cortes currently looks like a big waste of money for the significant fee that the club agreed to pay Lens for him, unfortunately.

Whilst Thelwell did not have any say in that move, it was going through irrespective of anything he did after becoming sporting director in April, one of his own summer signings looks to be an even bigger waste of money than Cortes.

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The former Light Blues chief opted to splash the cash on Portugal U21 international Youssef Chermiti, and the early signs from his Ibrox career are far from promising.

Why Rangers should not have signed Youssef Chermiti

Thelwell agreed a deal with his former club Everton to sign the striker for a fee of £8m. That made him the most expensive signing made by the Gers since they signed Tore Andre Flo for £12m in 2000.

When signing a player for that kind of outlay at Ibrox, it is fair to expect that they should be able to make a relatively immediate impact for Rangers, even if they are not the finished product, because Chermiti is their most expensive signing in 25 years.

Unfortunately, though, the Portuguese marksman has failed to prove his worth to the Light Blues on the pitch with his performances so far in the 2025/26 campaign, with just one goal to his name so far.

The former Premier League flop has produced one goal and one assist in 13 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, per Sofascore, which shows that he has not offered a regular threat at the top end of the pitch.

Chermiti’s form in the Premiership, in particular, has left quite a bit to be desired for a player who is the club’s most expensive signing in 25 years.

25/26 Premiership

Youssef Chermiti

Rangers rank

FotMob rating

6.48

16th

Goals

1

Joint-3rd

xG

0.3

14th

xA

0.2

15th

Dribbles per 90

0.4

14th

Dribble success rate

16.7%

14th

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the Portugal U21 international ranks poorly in the Gers squad in a host of key metrics, and the only reason that he ranks highly for goals is that only two players in the squad have scored more than one league goal.

Chermiti, who was described as a “nothing player” by Portuguese journalist Kevin Fernandes, has simply not done enough with the game time that he has been given, domestically or on the European stage.

The ex-Everton striker was signed for almost twice as much as Cortes and appears to be heading in the same direction as the winger, as another expensive flop who is unable to make a significant impact on the pitch for Rangers.

Therefore, Chermiti looks on course to be an even bigger waste of money than the Colombian forward because he cost £3.5m more and has been just as underwhelming at the start of his Ibrox career.

Related "Rotten" Thelwell signing is Rangers' biggest waste of time since Dowell

This summer signing by Kevin Thelwell has been as bad as the deal to bring Kieran Dowell to Rangers.

Posts ByDan Emery Nov 26, 2025

Directors from USAC called for “immediate and decisive intervention not to punish, but to rebuild what has been broken”

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Oct-2025Directors from an embattled USA Cricket (USAC) board have called for the ICC’s immediate intervention to remove a rival group of directors, including the chair Venu Pisike, as the fallout and divide from the board’s suspension continues to deepen. They have also asked the ICC to conduct an investigation into the organisation’s “collapse.”In a statement issued on Tuesday by two current directors, Arjun Rao Gona and Kuljit Singh Nijjar, and Patricia Whittaker, who was removed by USAC last year as an independent director (she is legally contesting the termination), have also asked the ICC to conduct a forensic audit of USAC dealings and make the findings public. Gona and Nijjar are elected directors.”We call for immediate and decisive intervention not to punish, but to rebuild what has been broken,” the trio said in the statement. “This is no longer a crisis of management; it is a test of integrity and courage.” The directors’ statement follows USAC’s media release last week, where the board complained it could not “comprehend” the ICC’s decision on September 23 to suspend it.Related

• USA Cricket calls ICC suspension 'one of the most difficult moments' in its history

• USA cricket crisis worsens as USAC files for bankruptcy

• ICC suspends USA Cricket board

Pisike chaired a USAC Board meeting on October 1, after which USAC said it was filing for bankruptcy as part of a financial restructure. That decision was taken by five directors, including Pisike, Srini Salver, David Haubert, Pintoo Shah and Anj Balusu (USAC currently has nine directors after Whittaker’s exit). Four directors at that meeting – Gona, Nijjar, Nadia Gruny and Atul Rai – exited in protest.In a statement of his own issued on Tuesday, Rai said USAC’s public statement to its members on Friday was “not authorised by the Board” while alleging it was “clearly an abuse of power and authority.”The ICC Board decided to suspend USAC, citing “repeated and continued breaches of its obligation” as a member. The ICC’s major concern will be if the cycle of events since then could affect USAC securing NGB (National Governing Body) status from the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), necessary for all sports that are part of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.The ICC’s Normalisation Committee drew up a six-step roadmap for that, starting with an organisational revamp of USAC where three new independent directors replace the existing Board, which would step down and pave the way for fresh elections. The ICC would simultaneously carry out a comprehensive review of the USAC constitution to bring governance and structural reforms to a body enmeshed in controversies since 2019 when it was awarded Associate status.Gona, Nijjar and Whittaker want the Normalisation Committee to take control of USAC immediately and “go beyond administrative control and conduct a full, independent investigation into the root causes of USA Cricket’s collapse, identifying every act of constitutional breach, misuse of authority, and conflict of interest.”The three have also suggested appointing five new independent directors once the USAC constitution has been amended.”Conduct a full forensic audit of all financial transactions, contracts, appointments, and legal decisions taken under the current regime, and publish the findings to the public to restore trust, confidence and transparency.”Safeguard players, competitions, and development programs during this transition, ensuring that athletes and fans do not suffer for failures of leadership.”

The final international break of the year has finally come to an end, and Chelsea are back in Premier League action.

Enzo Maresca’s side resume their campaign with a trip to newly promoted Burnley, in what could be something of a banana skin fixture.

What will make things even more difficult for the West Londoners is their ever-growing injury list, which has decimated their backline.

However, arguably more concerning than that, Cole Palmer has picked up another knock, although there is someone in the squad who could stand in for him, and no, it’s not Estevao.

The latest on Cole Palmer

After an impressive Club World Cup campaign and strong pre-season performances, it felt like Palmer was set for another exceptional year in West London.

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

However, after playing the first game against Crystal Palace, he missed the next two due to a groin problem, and while he returned for the following couple of matches, he was again forced off against Manchester United with another groin problem.

The Englishman hasn’t featured for the side since then, although it did look like he would be back in the squad after the international break.

However, it would appear Maresca and Co can’t catch a break this season, as reports yesterday morning revealed that the former Manchester City prospect had broken his toe in an accident at home.

In his press conference a few hours later, the manager confirmed the injury and said his star player “is not available for this week and next week.”

That means that, on top of today’s game, the 23-year-old is definitely going to miss the Champions League clash with Barcelona and the London derby with Arsenal.

It’s undoubtedly a massive blow for Chelsea, but the silver lining is that, alongside Estevao, they have another young talent who could step in for Palmer.

Chelsea's Palmer replacement

While Estevao should start on the right for the upcoming games, Maresca could get some of what Palmer would provide in the ten by starting Facundo Buonanotte there.

Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, nobody is arguing that the Argentine is as good a player as the Englishman; that would be absurd.

However, he is a highly talented young player who, based on his performances last season and what those in the know say about him, could replicate the 23-year-old’s capabilities.

For example, despite playing for a truly poor Leicester City side last season and being just 19 at the start of it, he was able to put in some impressive performances.

In 35 appearances, totalling 1701 minutes, the attacking midfielder, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed “one of the most exciting South American talents to have moved to Europe in recent years,” scored six goals and provided three assists.

Appearances

31

2

2

Goals

5

1

0

Assists

2

1

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.22

1.00

0.00

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.88 games, or every 189 minutes, which is not a bad rate of return considering the circumstances.

Moreover, the promising ace with a “left foot made of gold,” per Jacek Kulig, has also earned comparisons to some Argentine football legends.

For example, Premier League great Carlos Tevez told the press that the youngster “reminds me of Messi” a few years ago.

Finally, away from the numbers and appraisals, when the twice-capped international was in full flow last season, he looked like the sort of mercurial talent who, with the proper coaching and chance, could create game-winning moments for his side.

Ultimately, while he isn’t on the level of Palmer at the moment, Buonanotte is an undeniably talented youngster, and for the next few games, could provide cover for the Englishman.

Forget Delap: 18-year-old star is destined to be Chelsea's future number 9

The incredible youngster will be a superstar for England and Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 21, 2025

Matt Kelly was superb in leading the WA attack with five wickets after the home side lost left-armer Joel Paris to enjoy early in the second innings

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff06-Oct-2025

Will Salzmann played impressively on his first-class debut•Getty Images

Stand-in New South Wales captain Nathan Lyon provided stubborn late-order resistance that might prove crucial as the bowlers continued to dominate the Sheffield Shield match in Perth after debutant Will Salzmann shone againAfter 13 wickets fell on day three at the WACA Ground, openers Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman survived four overs late on Monday. That left the home side nine without loss, needing 222 to win this Sheffield Shield opener.Related

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Salzmann, making his first-class debut, compiled an excellent 72 to top score for the second time in the game, adding 76 with Charlie Stobo to lift the visitors from 79 for 6.NSW and Australia opener Sam Konstas failed again as he tries to shore up his berth for the first Ashes Test, but he had plenty of top-order mates.So far, the highest total at the fall of the third wicket in the match has been a paltry 23, while Sunday’s play featured 14 dismissals.Konstas fell for 14 on Monday after making four in the first innings, while No .3 Kurtis Patterson also did not advance his national cause with scores of 8 and 4.Bancroft is another Test hopeful needing a major knock after being fired out for 10 in WA’s first innings.Typical of how the match has gone, the first delivery of the morning from NSW paceman Ryan Hadley was a perfect yorker that bowled Matthew Kelly for 20.That left WA 116 for 8, with rearguard knocks from Ashton Agar, Cameron Gannon and Corey Rocchiccioli helping the final score to 161. Hadley claimed 5 for 38, his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.WA suffered a blow when opening bowler Joel Paris only managed one over before departing with a left hamstring injury. Had the injury occurred before the end of the second day, WA could have brought in substitute under the new trial being run by Cricket Australia.Test allrounder Cameron Green also did not bowl on Monday as he continues to return from back surgery.But Kelly stood tall with 5 for 43. When he bowled Liam Hatcher for a duck, NSW were 189 for 9. Lyon then dug in, with the Test offspinner scoring 40 from 57 balls, featuring six fours and a six.While the pitch appeared to be playing better late on day three, Lyon’s knock added some crucial meat to the bare-looking NSW bones.Another notable feature of the day was an incident involving Chris Green who was initially given caught behind when he duck a bouncer but was eventually recalled to the crease. Umpire Gerard Abood even gave Green out a second time having chatted with the square-leg official before reverse the decision

This is the birthplace of “45 minutes of bad cricket” that cost India the 2019 World Cup semi-final and once again they are down in a series they have done well

Sidharth Monga22-Jul-20253:49

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There is likely a lot of confirmation bias involved in the following statements. Cricket fans tend to not forget dates and places. Among cricket fans, Indian cricket fans particularly tend to cling on much more. You can’t bring up November 19 without sending them spiralling into darkness. A drizzly Old Trafford can trigger – not to make light of real world mental health issues – PTSD in many India fans.A drizzly Old Trafford is, after all, the birthplace of the phrase “45 minutes of bad cricket”. To be clear it was not bad cricket in those 45 minutes in the ODI World Cup semi-final in 2019. India were caught in the perfect storm of seam-friendly conditions and some awesome bowling from New Zealand.The larger sentiment – be it the image of Richard Kettleborough’s look of astonishment at Martin Guptill’s direct hit from deep square leg in Manchester or the stunning catch from Travis Head in Ahmedabad – is that India dominated those tournaments, which is why those losses hurt more.A day before India’s second Test at Old Trafford in 35 years, a venue where they have never won, it drizzled the same way it did on the second half of day one of their 2019 World Cup semi-final. Not hard enough to take players off but just enough to prevent resumption of an already stopped contest.Related

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It is hard not to see some similarities between those “45 minutes of bad cricket” ruining the memories of entire tournaments and this ongoing Test series. India are averaging 42.96 with the bat as against England’s 38.09, but they find themselves trailing in the series 2-1. India have batted at 85% control as against England’s 78%. India have got a wicket every 12 false shots when England have needed to induce fewer than ten, and this is with India batting more carefully than England.These are not dominating numbers, although at one point at Lord’s they were. But in most series of decent lengths that can even out extreme results, they should ensure you are not in deficit. India’s batters have made fewer mistakes, their bowlers have held lengths for longer, and if they can keep on doing it, they should still back themselves to come out ahead by the end of five Tests.What about the frequent “45 minutes of bad cricket”, though? India have frequently made errors – either unforced or through lack of experience – that have cost them dearly to put them in this place: be it the collapses through casual shots at Headingley, the nightmare mix of milestone anxiety and quick single resulting in a run out just before lunch at Lord’s, or a ball-change request that could perhaps have been avoided.The Indian think tank – head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Shubman Gill•Getty ImagesIt is these teams’ privilege that they get a five-Test series to correct those errors. Other teams often get just two-Test series, and have no room for these errors: you do that in one Test, and boom, it is an unassailable deficit. With the privilege, however, also comes scrutiny and schadenfreude. People can see the mention of lack of experience or luck as an excuse.It is to India’s credit that they were able to repeat their skills at both Edgbaston and Lord’s after they lost the unloseable Test at Headingley. That is the difficult bit. That is what you train for. In Tests, more than other formats, that is actually enough to win matches: you bowl more good balls, you keep out more good balls, and you win Tests. Sometimes, as at Headingley, you have catastrophic half hours, you tell yourself you won’t repeat casual shots, and then find a new way of letting the opposition back in, like at Lord’s.In an ideal world, the ideal response is to not think about these moments and focus more on training yourself on your basic skills and fitness. A human mind, though, doesn’t work in a vacuum. There is now a series on the line, and now it is the same scenario as it is for other teams who don’t have the privilege of playing long series.In 2018, when the general sentiment was that India didn’t deserve to lose 4-1 – some actually thought they could have won with a toss or two going their way – India averaged 25.23 and England 30.74. This series is actually closer to that sentiment. India are yet to win a toss, they have created more chances and pressure with the ball, and yet they are down 2-1.Of course, there is still time for India to be able to go ahead and put on numbers that actually deserve a deficit. There is also time to come back and repeat what has gone right with them. About now will be a good time to win a toss and/or be more ruthless and avoid actually living up to the 2018 assessments.