Essex condemned Kent Spitfires to a fifth consecutive Vitality Blast defeat on Friday night as they cruised to a five-wicket win at Canterbury.Simon Harmer, Ben Allison and Matt Critchley all claimed two wickets as Kent were limited to 156 for 7, Sam Billings the highest scorer with 38. It never looked like being enough on a typically batter-friendly St Lawrence wicket and Michael Pepper blasted 76 from 42 balls as the visitors coasted home with five overs to spare, finishing on 157 for 5.Essex chose to bowl and got Daniel Bell-Drummond for 10, Allison duping him into a false shot that looped to Pepper at deep backward point. Zak Crawley had made 20 when he hit Critchley to Allison on the deep midwicket boundary and the umpires ruled his foot wasn’t in contact with the rope as he took a juggling catch.Tawanda Muyeye hit Simon Harmer back over his head for six but was bowled off the next ball for 18, giving Harmer his first Blast wicket of the season.Joey Evison went for 7, swatting Paul Walter to Allison at mid-off, but the real prize was Billings, who hit Critchley almost vertically before Luc Benkenstein took a steepling catch.Marcus O’Riordan made 20 from 11 before playing on to Harmer, Allison bowled Beyers Swanepoel for 2 and it was left to Harry Finch to milk what he could from the tail, finishing on 24 not out.The Essex innings was just an over old when the umpires took the players off because the sun was apparently “too bright” prompting the DJ to play “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves.They were almost at the rope when a cloud appeared and they were called back. Adam Rossington lasted just three more balls before he chipped Xavier Bartlett to Nathan Gilchrist.A second light delay followed before Gilchrist had Dean Elgar caught by O’Riordan for 7, leading to an eventful Jordan Cox cameo against his former county. He walked out to a mixture of booing and applause and responded with three successive fours off Bartlett. He then dumped Gilchrist for consecutive sixes, only to sky his next ball to Billings, falling for an eight-ball 26 and walking off to cries of “Judas” and worse from an unforgiving handful of home fans.After nine overs it was 99 for 3 and the win predictor suggested Essex were 99% likely to win. That was absurd as Walter immediately holed out to Matt Parkinson and was caught by an inrushing Bartlett for 15, but Pepper was playing with such ease that any realistic home hopes had faded long before swished at Evison and Parkinson couldn’t cling on at short third man.With fans streaming for the exits Gilchrist had Pepper caught on the boundary by Finch, leaving Critchley to score the winning runs with an inside edge that went for four.
Manchester United have come to such a pass that the first few post-Fergie years could be recalled as if the halcyon days.
Last season, Erik ten Hag was dismissed at the end of October following a wretched start to the season, winning only three of their opening nine Premier League fixtures; however, the worst was yet to come.
Ruben Amorim has been put through the wringer since packing his bags at Sporting Lisbon, where he had mined such riches, established the Leões as Portugal’s defining current side, but has since struggled to get a tune from his Red Devils side, who languished to a 15th-place finish in the league and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham.
It’s no surprise the manager, seeking to employ an aggressive high-pressing system, wanted to stay in his homeland until the end of the 2024/25 season, but was informed by INEOS it was “now or never”.
All very doom and gloom, yada yada yada. However, Man United are massive and will be looking to turn a corner over the coming months as they prepare for a clean slate.
Old Trafford Manchester United
Indeed, that famous Old Trafford pull remains intact and, moreover, a new strategy has been fashioned to better the chances of a revival.
Man Utd's new transfer strategy
It’s telling that Matheus Cunha, one of the most dangerous forwards in the Premier League last season, barricaded himself away from the interest of Arsenal and of Aston Villa. He shielded himself from the temptation of a bumper paycheck in the Saudi Pro League. And why?
Man United came calling, of course, activating Cunha’s £62.5m release clause. Amorim has a new star man to tinker with next term, one hailed for his “absolutely sensational” football IQ by Micah Richards on Match of the Day last season, the pundit continuing to call him the “best at everything” at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Wolverhampton Wanderers'MatheusCunhacelebrates
And that’s not all. Bryan Mbeumo may well be joining the new United project, having informed Champions League-qualified sides like Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham of his preference to move from Brentford to the Theatre of Dreams this summer.
The 25-year-old scored 20 goals across 38 league games last year and has already been the subject of a failed bid from United, though they will continue to push for the forward, who is rated in excess of £60m.
However, Spurs will too, and having appointed Thomas Frank to replace Ange Postecoglou, the narrative has changed somewhat: he’s giving the Londoners his consideration.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his band of suits will remain calm and confident, but a back-up plan wouldn’t go amiss.
Man United line up Mbeumo alternative
As per ESPN, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has been shortlisted by Jason Wilcox as a dreamy alternative to Mbeumo, having been on the club’s radar for a few months at this stage.
Antoine Semenyo for Bournemouth.
United’s Chief Executive Officer, Omar Berrada, is determined not to pay beyond a reasonable price point for Brentford’s talisman, thus suggesting Semenyo, 25, could be an interesting fallback, given he’s available for slightly less at £50m. Tottenham have also been credited as admirers.
Man United might be prioritising the signing of Mbeumo, but in Semenyo, they might actually find an even better fit for Amorim’s system.
Why Antoine Semenyo could be perfect for Amorim
Bournemouth signed Semenyo from Championship side Bristol City for £10.5m in January 2023, and they haven’t looked back.
AFC Bournemouth's AntoineSemenyolooks on
The appointment of Andoni Iraola has been the making of him, having notched 19 goals and nine assists across the past two Premier League seasons, including 17 direct contributions from 34 matches across the recent campaign.
Not just a potent threat, Semenyo could rival Mbeumo in underlying qualities, perhaps with fleeter feet and a steelier ball-carrying game, which may well lead to him being the better pick for Amorim’s project, playing on the right side of a centre-forward who has yet to be welcomed to the fold.
That is to say, Semenyo is not just a driven striker at goal but also a committed defensive force, ranking among the top 3% of positional peers in the Premier League last year for blocks, the top 23% for clearances and the top 8% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref.
He also averaged 6.1 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore, whereas Mbeumo, another combative forward, won 4.7 per match. It is for this reason, then, that Semenyo has been declared a “duel monster” and a “workhorse off the ball” by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Make no mistake, at times across the past year, Mbeumo has simply been “unplayable” in the final third, as was marvelled by Frank following a 4-2 win over Newcastle.
But Semenyo is faster, more physical and, perhaps, a more dynamic attacking threat given his propensity to succeed across a range of attacking positions.
Right winger
46
13
3
Left winger
29
7
5
Centre-forward
6
1
0
Ultimately, either signing would illustrate nicely Man United’s refined transfer strategy, securing the signatures of Premier League-proven players.
Goals were in short supply last year, Amorim’s frontline at times a picture of an arid desert: dry, isolated and showing only a mirage of newfound attacking inspiration, before lapsing back into old ways.
But Semenyo would change that, partnering Cunha in the manager’s three-forked offensive line. His robust athleticism, eagerness to fire consistent shots off, and indeed his defensive work rate align with Amorim’s tactical principles, with that latter element sure to be instrumental in getting the notorious three-man backline up and running.
“Elegant, graceful and powerful,” as Jamie Redknapp says, this forward’s got the lot, and is only going to get better over the coming years.
Better than Ekitike: Man Utd open talks to sign "the best ST on the market"
Manchester United could be edging closer to ending their hunt for a new striker this summer.
Incoming Rangers owners, the 49ers, are now plotting the statement summer signing of a “very talented” Brazilian, according to a report.
Gers stepping up summer transfer plans
There is still a lot of uncertainty at Ibrox, with the 49ers still yet to identify a permanent replacement for interim boss Barry Ferguson, although there have been some recent developments in the pursuit of a new manager, with an offer being submitted for Davide Ancelotti.
Davide Ancelotti
Should Ancelotti be appointed, the Real Madrid assistant is likely to have a big say in the Gers’ summer transfer business, but potential targets are already being identified, with recruitment chiefs looking to bring in players capable of bridging the gap to Celtic next season.
Scouts have been sent to watch Evagoras Charalambous in action for Anorthosis Famagusta, with the Light Blues keen on a new striker, while they are also expected to make a bid for Estoril defender Kevin Boma at the opposite end of the pitch.
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Rangers will be keen on selling a few players this summer
By
Ross Kilvington
May 12, 2025
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Rangers are also keen to bolster their options in the engine room this summer, with the 49ers now plotting the statement signing of Troyes midfielder Metinho to mark the start of a new era at Ibrox.
The central midfielder has spent part of the 2024-25 campaign on loan at FC Basel, where he has caught the eye, and there is a feeling a summer deal could be possible for the relatively low fee of £4m, or potentially even less, as his contract is due to expire next summer.
The 49ers are looking to bring in young players with high potential, who can kick on at Ibrox and be sold for a profit at some point down the line, and they believe the 22-year-old fits the bill.
"Very talented" Metinho likened to Pogba
Such is the Brazilian’s potential, he was once likened to ex-Manchester United man Paul Pogba by former Fluminense academy director Marcelo Veiga, who said: “People joke and sometimes call him Pogba due to his style, his appearance and because he plays with his head up.”
The Congo-born maestro has also impressed football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who once described him as “very talented”, and he has particularly caught the eye with his dribbling ability over the past year, while also ranking highly on some defensive metrics.
Statistic
Average per 90
Progressive carries
3.49 (99th percentile)
Successful take-ons
1.83 (98th percentile)
Interceptions
1.33 (76th percentile)
Clearances
3.16 (97th percentile)
As such, the South American is clearly a well-rounded player, who just needs to add more goals to his game to be a complete midfielder, having failed to find the back of the net this season.
Regardless, Metinho is clearly a promising midfielder, who could make an instant impact at Ibrox, so it is exciting news that Rangers could look to snap him up for a relatively low fee in the summer transfer window.
Liverpool are making some shrewd moves in the market as they look to build on winning the Premier League title and could now strike for a world-renowned star with talks having already taken place, per a report.
Jeremie Frimpong set for Liverpool medical
Arne Slot and his squad are still basking in the glory of becoming top-flight champions, but there has already been significant movement on the transfer front at Anfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is joining Real Madrid on a free transfer, which has pivoted focus to who could potentially replace the academy graduate’s phenomenal attacking output at right-back.
Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies in action with Bayer Leverkusen'sJeremieFrimpong
Reports suggest Jeremie Frimpong is the answer and is set to undergo a Liverpool medical on Monday before he completes his £29.5 million move from Bayer Leverkusen.
Commenting on the Reds’ transfer plans this summer, Slot stated: “So, there’s always an ongoing process and we have to make sure that we are prepared if we can strengthen the squad.
“But it’s difficult to strengthen this squad. There’s a reason why we won the league – because we have so many great players.”
Liverpool now completing detailed work to sign "elite" Huijsen alternative
The Reds have officially missed out on Huijsen.
1 ByTom Cunningham May 18, 2025
The Dutchman may have a point. However, it would be naive not to expect Liverpool not to try and capitalise on their status as Premier League champions.
Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez has become a known target at Anfield, giving an inkling towards the type of smart recruitment that is expected to occur at Anfield this summer.
Typically, Liverpool have a distinctive style of adding to their squad that is more in line with squad synchronisation as opposed to star appeal.
However, there can be room for both if the Reds’ latest pursuit under is anything to go by.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot and Florian Wirtz hold discussions
According to The Mirror, Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz has held talks with Liverpool boss Slot to discuss his summer transfer plans as interest begins to mount in the Germany international.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has also touched base to find out more about where he envisages landing and the Citizens are said to be plotting a double swoop for the 22-year-old and Tijjani Reijnders before the Club World Cup.
Labelled “world-class” by Gerhard Struber, Wirtz has registered 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions this season, which may go some way to explaining why his valuation sits at a figure in excess of £100 million.
Becoming one of the most talked about stars in Europe, he has excelled as the foil for the main attacker and could now emerge as a source of creative inspiration for the likes of Mohamed Salah should he move to Anfield.
Having said that, Manchester City’s hunt to replace Kevin De Bruyne could be a roadblock as he deliberates before deciding on his next desitination.
India’s stand-in captain wants to keep it simple during a Test they must win to avoid losing the series to South Africa
Karthik Krishnaswamy21-Nov-20252:06
What will Rishabh Pant’s Test captaincy style be like?
Standing in as captain is never straightforward, and Rishabh Pant may have it trickier than most when he becomes India’s 38th Test captain on Saturday. He won’t just be leading a side without its regular captain and superstar No. 4. He’ll be leading an India team that’s 1-0 down in a two-Test series, which means they either win this Test match or lose the series.Roughly a year ago, India hadn’t lost or even drawn a home series in 12 years. Since then, they’ve lost one to New Zealand, 3-0, and could now lose this one to South Africa.Pant will be leading India at a home venue they may not feel entirely at home in. This is Guwahati’s first Test match, and conditions are a bit of an unknown, with the added twist of geographical considerations that will mean unusually early starts that may not fully mitigate the effect of early sunsets. So much could hinge on decisions made while still getting to grips with these conditions.Related
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There’s a lot, in short, for Pant to think about – or to avoid thinking about.”See, we feel at this top level, playing international cricket, you are going to be put under pressure like this, that you might be 1-0 down in the series,” Pant said in his pre-match press conference on Friday. “But at the same time, as a team, we don’t want to dwell too much on the result every time we play cricket because we need to have a clear mindset that, regardless [of whether] we are one up or they are one up, we still have to give our 200% when we [get] on the field.”Taking that undue pressure is not required to play cricket, I feel. You’ve got to keep it simple. Just go out there and try to do your best, and eventually, the team who is going to play better cricket will win the match.”This was the broad, recurring theme of Pant’s first press conference as captain. Don’t put undue pressure on yourself. Focus on the controllables.Pant knows that even the controllables are only so controllable. He was asked, for instance, about his decision to start day three of the Kolkata Test with Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel in tandem rather than one of the two left-arm spinners and Jasprit Bumrah, and whether he might have chosen differently in hindsight.
“I feel, especially in red-ball cricket, because it goes [on for a] longer period of time, small tactical changes you can overcome because it gives you time in the game”Rishabh Pant ahead of leading India in the Guwahati Test
On that morning, India endured a frustrating wait for a wicket, with Temba Bavuma and Corbin Bosch putting on a match-turning partnership for the eighth wicket.”A lot of discussion happened as a team, and we felt going with a spinner was that thought process for us,” Pant said. “Yes, there is always a chance [you could have brought] a fast bowler in, that’s for sure; [that thought comes in] when someone gives you a wicket afterwards.”But that’s the challenge as a captain [which] you want to face each and every day. You are going to be questioned, but eventually you are going to do what you believe is right in that given frame of mind. And trust that that person who has the ball will do the job for the team.”As the Bavuma-Bosch stand stretched on, India’s fans may have harboured conflicting thoughts, because it was equally possible to think that Pant was keeping Axar on for too long, and that he was changing bowlers too frequently and not allowing them to settle. It’s one of the classic conundrums of Test-match captaincy: there’s a lot of time in the game, but it can get away from you in no time.”I feel, especially in red-ball cricket, because it goes [on for a] longer period of time, small tactical changes you can overcome because it gives you time in the game,” Pant said. “But at the same time, you have to keep your emotions in check and [not] let the game drift away from you for too long. You try to be as close as possible to the game during the pressure situation.”In Kolkata, Rishabh Pant looked uncertain when he faced Simon Harmer•AFP/Getty ImagesBy this, Pant probably meant stay in the game for as long as possible, and take decisions that give you the best chance of doing so. He often does this brilliantly when he bats. He takes calculated risks when the bowlers are dictating terms, putting pressure back on the bowling team by upsetting their plans and field placements. In good batting conditions, when he knows runs will come if he stays in, he often makes some of his most measured, risk-free starts.Either way, when Pant bats for any length of time against any bowler, you usually know he has a plan, whether it’s a conventional one or something only he could have conceived and backed himself to execute.In Kolkata, however, Pant, for once, looked uncertain when he faced the offspinner Simon Harmer, seemingly unsure of his ability either to attack or defend in those conditions. Across the two innings, in which he made 27 and 2, Pant faced 23 balls from Harmer, and played nine false shots.Before this match, Pant had played nine or more false shots against a spinner in six other Test matches. The false shots came over far longer periods in those six games; he scored at least one half-century in each of them.When Rishabh Pant bats for any length of time against any bowler, you usually know he has a plan•Getty ImagesYou can, of course, only read so much into numbers like this from a one-off Test on a pitch of extreme variability. Guwahati’s conditions, from all pre-match indications, should be far more reasonable to bat in. No bowler, if this is so, should look nearly as unplayable as Harmer did at Eden Gardens against India’s left-hand batters, and in particular Pant.But Harmer’s threat in Kolkata wasn’t all to do with the pitch. He bowled with exacting control of length while varying his speeds and trajectories effortlessly. He will continue to pose problems even in decent batting conditions. Pant probably knows this, and is probably already formulating his response.And this could well turn out to be a key contest in Guwahati. South Africa know all about Pant’s ability to change games quickly, having seen it even in Kolkata when he took Keshav Maharaj for 22 runs in just ten balls in the first innings. They will bowl as much of Harmer to Pant as they possibly can when he’s at the crease.How Pant handles those spells, and how well his batting partners help him in this task, could have far-reaching knock-on effects on the Guwahati Test. Effects that could go a far greater distance towards winning India the Test match than any captaincy call he makes.
He has been prolific lower in the order over the last four years. Can he help take South Africa to their first title?
Danyal Rasool02-Oct-2023Few would look at an innings of 82 not out off 45 balls and think it played second fiddle to another knock in a game, but when David Miller walked off unbeaten at the end of South Africa’s 50 overs in Centurion earlier this month, all the applause was focused on Heinrich Klaasen’s freakish 174 off 83 balls, which took his side to 416 against Australia.Two days later, Miller scored another half-century, 63 off 65, as South Africa posted 315 and sealed the series 3-2. Once more, his innings was overshadowed – by Aiden Markram’s 93 and Marco Jansen’s all-round heroics.As the most experienced player in South Africa’s ODI World Cup squad, Miller really shouldn’t be flying under the radar ahead of what will likely be his last tilt at the title. His ice-cool exterior on the field is in evidence during our interview earlier this year. Sitting in a deck chair by the pool of a luxury hotel, Miller looks relaxed, but when he starts talking about this current South Africa side, he leans forward, the excitement almost palpable in his voice.Related
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No, he doesn’t mind if he isn’t the centre of attention. “We’ve actually got a world-class top six,” he says. “Quinton de Kock has that power up top, Aiden Markram strikes easy boundaries, Rassie [van der Dussen] can literally destroy the opposition, Klaasen… we’ve got a lot of power-hitters in the top six. I’m sure the coach would be open to moving me up one or two games, seeing how a game goes, but for now, I think we’ve pretty much got our structure and it seems to be working.”We’re talking at a time when Miller is in form, though, in fairness, that doesn’t really narrow it down much. His impressive run has extended across formats and seasons for so long now it’s less a purple patch than a sparkling late chapter in a career that feels like it has still got some ways to run. His vastly improved numbers in T20 cricket since 2021 have made him an even more coveted asset in the franchise league circuit, but his ODI rise in that time has bordered on the meteoric.Since July 2019, the start of this World Cup cycle, he averages just under 61 with a strike rate of 114.15; in the nine years before that period, his average was around 39 and strike rate a fraction over a run a ball. Miller has batted at No. 5 or lower in every one of his post-World Cup innings and yet he has been scoring his runs faster than ever, and scoring more of them.He accepts, somewhat reluctantly, what anyone who has watched him of late has believed for some time: this is a cricketer in his prime. But he’s keen to stress the value of his experience, which has enabled him to understand his game, as well as his abilities.”I’ve been around for a long time,” he says. “I do love what I do – I think that’s very important. When you go through tough times, it gets you through. But I feel like I am in my prime; I have been for the last four years, and I’m playing really good cricket. And as long as I can keep my body fit and healthy, I can play.
“I wouldn’t say it’s harder [to pace your innings lower down the order]. I have understood my game a lot better as I’ve gone on – about when to pull the trigger. Nowadays guys are taking on bowlers a lot earlier. The game has evolved so quickly. I still feel like there’s space for taking your time, summing up the situation. You might need six an over on a tricky wicket and have to finish the job. It’s just about understanding what’s in front of you, as opposed to a completely different situation. Where you need 12 an over and have to kind of go straightaway. I feel when I’m really comfortable, I’m not going to stop. It’s just about getting myself into that mindset.”Miller finds himself in that mindset more and more often, and stays in it longer. Since the last World Cup, no one who bats at No. 5 or lower comes anywhere close to his batting average, and only Klassen surpasses his strike rate. Eleven of Miller’s 27 innings have been half-centuries; no other batter in his situation comes close to matching that consistency. Pair that with his fearsome power and there’s perhaps no batter in ODI cricket who offers such middle-order potency.”It’s difficult to explain why [I have success with power-hitting], but I always believe when I’m batting that the bowler panics before the batter. I just have to stay nice and calm and wait for the ball to be in my area, making sure I’m putting it away. If I do so, I do feel the bowler changes their plans quite quickly. Even to our bowlers, [my advice] often is to just keep it simple and stick to their plan a little bit longer as opposed to changing it quite quickly.”Just like Miller, though, South Africa have rarely had ODI problems between World Cup cycles, but rather at the tournaments themselves. In the last four years Miller’s numbers may have soared, but at the 2019 World Cup, clad in a pale imitation of the resplendent green South Africa generally sports, he and the team were pale imitations of the quality they serve up in bilateral series. Miller managed only 136 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 86, and South Africa were eliminated after winning only one of their first seven games.”I believe we’ve got a great team. It’s just about making sure that we’re switched on as a team. You do need luck in certain games along a journey. But I’d never say it’s a chokers kind of situation”•Steve Bardens/AFP/Getty ImagesThe word that must not be spoken hangs heavy in the air. Even the light breeze that stirs the surface of the swimming pool seems to have subsided. We sit staring across from one another, each knowing what the other is about to say. Then, with a resigned sigh, Miller rips the band-aid off.”I genuinely believe that we’re not chokers,” he says. “How that tag affects people is an individual thing, but it’s never, ever bothered me. I’m honestly not just saying that.”Obviously there’s been history and there’s been games that we’ve not played well in that have let us down. But I would never say the ‘chokers’ tag applies to us, although that’s what everyone says. I’ve never really believed that at all.”I believe we’ve got a great team. At the end of the day, cricket is cricket and you can lose games from nowhere outside of the World Cup. Upsets are part of the game. It’s just about making sure that we’re switched on as a team. You do need luck in certain games along a journey. But I’d never say it’s a chokers kind of situation.”In 11 World Cup innings, across 2015 and 2019, Miller has 460 runs at a strike rate of 118•Getty ImagesStill, it’s undeniable that South Africa have an ageing batting line-up. Markram is the only specialist batter in the side under 30, while Quinton de Kock, who is 30, announced he was retiring from ODIs after the World Cup to “top up” his T20 franchise earnings.Miller himself, 34, doesn’t look like he’ll be walking away from South Africa soon, though, even as the T20 offers have continued to pile in.”It is a demanding sport, but I really do love playing cricket. I love playing for my country; that’s my priority. That has never wavered, not at all. Doing well for my country opens up opportunities outside around the world. As long as I’m staying relevant and doing my trade really well for South Africa, it keeps me in demand outside of South Africa. Whatever the case, my priority is South Africa. I suppose it can be demanding, but as long as I’m mentally in tune as to where my movements are and what I need to do, then I’ll stick to it.”With South Africa co-hosting the 2027 ODI World Cup, it’s hard to rule out Miller, at 38, taking another stab at it. For now, the man who missed out on South Africa’s final squad for the 2011 World Cup has unfinished business in India.
Find out if your favourite performer made it to our final XI for the T20 World Cup
Deivarayan Muthu and Matt Roller15-Nov-20211. Jos Buttler (England, wicketkeeper)
England’s most important player in their run to the semi-finals. Buttler played two of the tournament’s best innings in the space of three nights and the contrast between them showed his versatility: he took Australia’s attack for 71 not out off 32 balls in Dubai, nailing five sixes into the stands, then dug deep on a low Sharjah pitch to make a comparatively slow-burning 101 not out off 67 balls – his maiden T20I hundred.2. David Warner (Australia)
Came into the tournament with a point to prove after the fiasco that was his IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad – and proved it emphatically. Capitalised on an early reprieve to make 65 against Sri Lanka then hammered 89 not out in a comfortable chase against West Indies to ensure Australia’s progress. Seized the initiative in the semi-final, setting up a successful chase with 49 off 30 against Pakistan and then helped secure the title with a punchy 53 against New Zealand in the final.3. Babar Azam (Pakistan, captain)
Nobody scored more runs than Babar in this T20 World Cup and although his safety-first approach came into sharp focus during Pakistan’s semi-final defeat to Australia, there is still room for an anchor in this XI on UAE tracks. He peeled off half-centuries against India, Afghanistan, Namibia and Scotland. His unbeaten 68 in Pakistan’s tournament opener helped them beat India for the first time in World Cups in their 13th attempt, and set the scene for the team’s unbeaten run in the Super 12s.ESPNcricinfo Ltd4. Mitchell Marsh (Australia)
Among the most maligned players in modern cricket, Marsh made his haters fall in love with him by delivering Australia their maiden T20 World Cup title. After being benched for Australia’s first two games of the competition, he stepped up admirably in their last two games. In the semi-final against Pakistan, he made a cameo of 28 off 22 balls and then in the final against New Zealand, he played a starring role. The way he took down spin, which has been his nemesis in the past, was a sign of his evolution as a batter.5. Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka)
The 24-year-old had played just three T20Is before the T20 World Cup, where he emerged as the breakout star. He is fearless and can give the ball a good ol’ whack, as Bangladesh found out in Sharjah and then West Indies in Abu Dhabi. He was particularly strong against spin in the competition, hitting 104 runs off 66 balls at a strike rate of 157.57.Moeen was one of the main men in this competition for England•Francois Nel/Getty Images6. Moeen Ali (England)
After playing only a peripheral role in England’s T20I sides in the past, Moeen became one of the main men in this competition. He fronted up to bowl tough overs in the powerplay, a phase in which he picked up five of his seven wickets at an economy rate of 5.72. Moeen also played his part with the bat. After sliding up the order to No. 3, he scored 37 off 27 balls against South Africa and followed it with an unbeaten 51 off 37 in the semi-final. England’s spin-hitter took on Ish Sodhi and his presence kept Mitchell Santner away from the attack, but Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham eventually combined to best him.7. Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
The World Cup’s leading wicket-taker and Sri Lanka’s new superstar, with fluorescent boots, gold chains and a rockstar persona. Hasaranga took at least one wicket in seven of his eight games and his googly – which he bowled significantly more than his legbreak – was near-impossible to pick, accounting for 15 of his 16 wickets. Took one of the tournament’s three hat-tricks against South Africa in Sharjah and chipped in with the bat: he made 71 as a pinch-hitting No. 5 against Ireland, then gave England a scare from No. 7.8. Josh Hazlewood (Australia)
Hazlewood played all of two T20Is between March 2016 and July 2021 but reinvented himself in white-ball cricket so much that he won the IPL and T20 World Cup titles in a space of four weeks, in the Emirates. He married his Test-match strengths – length-and-length bowling – with cutters into the pitch and knuckle balls to pin down batters in the powerplay. He got rid of three of New Zealand’s top four, including Kane Williamson, to set up Australia’s dominant victory in the final.Zampa conceded over six runs an over only on two occasions•AFP/Getty Images9. Adam Zampa (Australia)
Zampa picked up at least one wicket in each of the seven matches and conceded over six runs an over only twice. He hit unhittable lengths in the middle overs and when batters tried to upset him, he brought out his variations – wrong’un, slider and topspinner. His hauls in this tournament are made all the more remarkable by his training period immediately before when Covid-19 restrictions rendered him unable to use Cricket Australia or even New South Wales’ training facilities, leaving him to bowl at teenagers in the nets near his home in Byron Bay.10. Trent Boult (New Zealand)
After not playing a single game in the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, Boult headlined New Zealand’s progress to their first-ever final five years later in the UAE. He was not only New Zealand’s highest wicket-taker, but also their most economical operator – all of this while bowling upfront and at the death. When the ball did swing, Boult was potent and when it didn’t, he smartly took pace off and bowled cross-seamers to still pose questions to the batters.11. Anrich Nortje (South Africa)
He hurried the batters with his rapid pace and bounce, skills that have served him well in the past in the IPL in the UAE. His improved control over the legcutter has now transformed him into a more versatile bowler in T20 cricket. Picked up at least one wicket in each of his six matches, adapting well to all the three venues. His economy rate of 5.37 is the only second to Jasprit Bumrah among fast bowlers who have bowled at least 15 overs in the tournament.
Doubt has flooded the environment as the Stokes-McCullum cult credo reaches its fiery endgame
Andrew Miller08-Dec-20256:09
‘Australia have sat back, waited for England and pushed them over’
The Ashes are not yet over, but Bazball most emphatically is. It died, to all intents and purposes, with Ben Stokes’ shockingly frank admission after another crushing defeat, that his team of mindset-driven genre-benders have been found wanting in the heat of a battle that their entire ethos had been geared towards.Specifically, it received its terminal diagnosis under the floodlights on the third evening at the Gabba. England’s display up to that point had been deeply flawed, not unlike so many other Tests of the Bazball era, but this abject passage of play – six wickets in a session, when the daylight resumption promised a flat deck and rich rewards for any batter who could apply themselves – was its point of no return.Theologists have spent thousands of years examining belief systems, watching their rise and fall, and who rightly knows what gives some concepts more stickability than others. England don’t even acknowledge that their curious but compelling cult is actually a thing, let alone that it has a universally recognised name.Related
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But fundamentally, if you believe that there is belief within a system, then there is belief. Cogito Bazball sum, as it were. Right now, there is no sense that England believe in their methods any more. Ergo, the entire philosophy crumbles, or worse. A fiery demise always seemed a plausible endgame.And with it goes every remaining defence of the preparations that went into England’s tour. The cosiness, the togetherness, the lackadaisical attitude to warm-up matches … all of it could be justified by the knowledge that this team, with full-bore mental focus, could be capable of truly extraordinary deeds: specifically of going where their timid, samey forebears could not, and pulling off a series win in Australia for the first time in four dismal visits.That’s not to say, however, that the series has yet been surrendered. Not after a contest in which Stokes and Joe Root were England’s two stand-out performers, it hasn’t.But the circumstances for this team could not be more different from their last 2-0 deficit in an Ashes campaign, at the very height of Bazball in the summer of 2023. Back then, their surety of purpose was intoxicating – nauseating, even, to Australians who still grumble about the pursuit of moral victories – but there was simply nothing that could penetrate their firewall of self-affirmation, not even (at that heady stage of the cycle, at least…) defeat itself.Now, however, if England are to win from here, it can only be through a reversion to type: through a reliance on the sort of miracle-working that Bazball was designed to do away with, with the greats in England’s midst driving every step of the agenda, and with the rank and file falling into lock-step to meet their needs, as Will Jacks did so gamely in the opening session of Brisbane’s final day.Downed under: Ben Stokes conceded his side have not stood up to pressure in Australia•CA/Getty ImagesWhile that seventh-wicket stand was stretching into its fourth hour, we could have been thrust back into the guts of any given show of English resistance from yesteryear: Graeme Hick and Graham Thorpe batting through to the close at the Gabba in 1994-95, for instance, or Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen compiling a similar stand on the same stage 12 years later. Resistance was futile then, as it is likely to be now, as England find themselves hauled back to the standard rules of Ashes engagement, after a three-and-a-half year experiment that is already being derided down under as an absurd flight of fancy.Despite all the I-told-you-sos around England’s under-taxing preparations, there’s not a lot of point in being wise after the event. This was their plan, and they were entitled to stick to it, but only on the assumption that the players were still responding to such a permissive environment. To cut Brendon McCullum some slack, that was more or less the point he was trying to make in his post-match comments: that, in the wake of the Perth defeat, England’s sudden switch from calm visualisation to hyper-intensive net sessions was a factor in their subsequent mental fraughtness. Unfortunately, in the circumstances that have just played out, such a takeaway sounds delusional.Far more revealing was Stokes’s own declaration, that “Australia is not for weak men, and a dressing-room that I am captain of is not a place for weak men either”. He might as well have been priming any number of his team-mates (and Ollie Pope in particular) for their collective launching beneath the bus. But moreover, he was reframing the debate so far as the rest of this campaign must pan out. The kid gloves are off now. Crisis has engulfed this tour, just as it did each the three previous Ashes trips that span Root’s and Stokes’ careers. They’ve never yet found so much as an emergency exit, but those players at the very least already recognise that this is not a drill.There’ll be time enough for affectionate remembrance of Bazball when its ashes have been cremated (through hours of toil in the field) over the coming three Tests. But for now, it’s worth recalling Stokes’ sentiments, in the calm before the storm at the start of 2023, when the team was riding high on nine wins out of ten, and long before its subsequent stack of missed opportunities (P33 W16 L15 since) had begun to chip away at its foundations.
“The sadness for Stokes in particular is that he has been conditioning his team to walk this tightrope for three-and-a-half years. They’ve run towards the danger, they’ve explored their line and taken it “too far”, all with half an eye on a challenge that he was willing to risk losing in order to win”
“I’m at a stage now where I would much prefer to leave a mark on other people’s careers than look to make mine more established,” Stokes told reporters on the eve of England’s last pink-ball Test, against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui. “That’s one of my goals as England captain: to hopefully let some of these guys in the dressing room here just have an amazing career and if I can influence that in any way shape or form then I’ll be happy.”It sounds positively Kumbaya, compared to his latest growl from the trenches. By ceding some of his main character energy – with Root, in spite of some acknowledged struggles, doing likewise – Stokes knew he had the means to make the collective stronger, and guard himself against the burnout that almost ended his career four years ago. There is absolutely no doubt that he achieved his aim, for as long as the vibe endured.And yet, England really hadn’t bargained for the collateral that they’ve picked up along the journey. Their failure to win any five-Test series since 2018 is deeply galling, but if Old Trafford 2023 stands out as the great what-if of Bazball’s first iteration, then their loss to India at The Oval last summer will probably come to be regarded as the moment that crushed the concept once and for all.England’s failure to close out the Oval Test against India now looks like a critical moment in the team’s development•Getty ImagesAt the time, and in keeping with so many of this regime’s ickier elements, the shattering nature of England’s six-run defeat was initially lost in the “isn’t-Test-cricket-great?” narrative. And while images of Chris Woakes’ shoulder-in-a-sling heroism abounded, rather less was made of, say, Jamie Smith’s terrible slog off his third ball of that final day, or Gus Atkinson’s inability to grind his team over the line.Even Harry Brook’s bat-flinging departure attracted less eyebrow-raising than it might have done, thanks to the magnificent century that preceded it. You can’t have the one without the other, was the takeaway he brought down under with him, en route to a truly rank dismissal in England’s first innings at Brisbane for which Australia’s tail went out of their way to shame him two days later.And as for Pope, the vulnerability that has stalked him all year long – from Jacob Bethell’s competing claims to the loss of the vice-captaincy – confirms a fact about the Bazball mindset that hasn’t been fully acknowledged since England’s first attempts to “reset” the approach after their 4-1 loss in India. Bubbles pop when you poke holes in them. The doubts had flooded into the environment months ago – including, in all likelihood, from the white-ball set-up that McCullum took over (to deeply unspectacular effect) before the Champions Trophy in January.The sadness for Stokes in particular is that he has been conditioning his team to walk this tightrope throughout these three-and-a-half years. They’ve run towards the danger, they’ve explored their line and taken it “too far”, all with half an eye on a challenge that he, as captain, was willing to risk losing in order to win.Stokes will not get another shot at repairing his legacy in the country that has so defined his career. After two ill-balanced steps, his team’s challenge is already plunging towards the abyss. England need miracles from hereon in. But when you’re all out of faith, that’s easier said than done.
Titular do Santos no início de temporada, João Paulo mantém moral dentro do clube. Isso acontece apesar de algumas críticas da torcida, sofridas especialmente após o pênalti em Endrick, na final do Paulistão diante do Palmeiras. Porém, é provável que ele ganhe concorrência mais forte em breve.
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Segundo apuração do Lance!, por enquanto, o Peixe não está em uma busca profunda pela contratação de outro goleiro. O clube enxerga que tem dois bons atletas para a posição: o próprio João Paulo e Gabriel Brazão.
Escalado em todos os jogos do Santos, João Paulo foi eleito o melhor goleiro do Paulistão e figurou na seleção do campeonato da Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF). Brazão chegou nesta temporada e, em razão de um transfer ban, ficou impedido de ser relacionado para algumas partidas.
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O técnico Fábio Carille conta com cerca de duas semanas para definir o time que disputará a Série B, após ter diversas amostras no Estadual. O Alvinegro estreia no torneio entre os dias 19 e 21 de abril, contra o Paysandu, na Vila Belmiro.
JP “TRANQUILÃO”
Apesar de críticas de parte da torcida do Santos, pessoas próximas a João Paulo garantem que ele segue focado no clube. No início do ano, o principal desejo do goleiro foi de permanecer no Peixe, mesmo com a queda à Série B e interesse de clubes brasileiros em contratá-lo.
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Além disso, uma suposta procura do Alvinegro por outro jogador da posição não abala o atleta. Ainda em 2024, com João Paulo já garantido no elenco, o Santos tentou contratar Marcelo Grohe e Tadeu, antes de acertar com Gabriel Brazão.
Cristiano Ronaldo versus Lionel Messi in the 2026 World Cup final would likely become a “retirement match” for two all-time greats, admits Pedro Mendes. A couple of GOATs are preparing for another shot at global glory, with Messi having already added that prize to his collection with Argentina. The end is approaching for both, and it could be that they enjoy the “perfect finish” next summer.
GOATs at 2026 World Cup: Will Ronaldo face Messi?
Messi is yet to confirm that he will be gracing next summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but the expectation is that the Inter Miami superstar will captain his country in their title defence.
Ronaldo has suggested that the 2026 finals will be his last, but the evergreen 40-year-old is being tipped to play on for some time yet. Fans in every corner of the planet would love to see CR7 lock horns with eternal rival Messi on the grandest of stages.
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Last dance: Could Ronaldo meet Messi in World Cup final?
Ex-Portugal international Mendes – speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football betting – has said of that potentially happening: “It's always a big occasion. Every time there's a Ronaldo vs Messi match, it's always a big occasion. We were fortunate enough to see those amazing players, but I think they were unlucky to be in the same generation. If they played at different times, they would both be considered the best of all time in their respective generations without question. But again, there's always that debate, who was the best? Messi or Ronaldo?
“So every time there's a game between them, it's a big occasion. And it'll be great every time you see it. I hope Messi plays, because Messi on the pitch is always a joy to watch as a football fan, not just as a Portuguese fan, but as a football fan. I hope he goes. Portugal and Argentina in the final would be good. It could be the retirement match for one of them.”
Evergreen Ronaldo: How long with CR7 play for?
Mendes is among those that believe Ronaldo can play for as long as he wants, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner still a talismanic presence for club and country. Mendes added: “As long as Cristiano is fit and ready to play, he should play. It just brings something, even if he's not involved a lot of the time, he's always a worry for the other team. He has that killer instinct, that killer touch inside the box. When the ball bounces to him, he can score at any time, at any minute. So I think if he's fit, he should start. Every single day.
“I think in Portugal, maybe 90% of the Portuguese people want Cristiano Ronaldo to start. But there's always that 10%, you know, there's always that 10%. But I think, again, as I said, if he drops him for some reason, it must be a physical reason. If he's fit, I think he should play. And I think Roberto Martinez will play him all the time.”
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Ronaldo targets: Individual targets being chased down
Ronaldo, who is now plying his club trade in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr, appears to still have individual targets to chase down. Mendes sees those keeping a personal fire burning, but a World Cup triumph could convince the evergreen frontman to bow out.
Mendes said: “I don't know what's happening in his head and if he wants to play on. But if in his head the word retirement is there, I think winning the World Cup will be the perfect finish for him.
“The 1,000 goals? That's the thing. He may go on for one or two more years. In Saudi, he may score them. But again, if we don't win it, maybe he'll stay a couple more years to chase that record, that 1,000 goal. But if we win it, I think it'll be a massive doubt in his head if it's enough or if he'll go for the 1,000 goal. So let's see.”
It has been suggested that Ronaldo, who is now tied to terms in the Middle East through to 2027, will prolong his record-shattering career long enough that he gets to line up alongside eldest son Cristiano Jr – who is part of Al-Nassr’s academy system and has already made his international bow with Portugal at youth level.