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Never mind the skyscraping run rates, England under Stokes-McCullum are intent on taking 20 wickets

Alan Gardner15-Jun-2023The ankle injury that befell James McCollum at Lord’s a fortnight ago was unfortunate for a number of reasons – depriving the Ireland opener of valuable Test experience, as well as leaving No. 8 Andy McBrine stranded in sight of a maiden hundred and a place on the honours board. Less significantly, because England still went on to complete a comfortable win, it meant that for the first time under Ben Stokes the bowlers had failed to take all ten wickets in an innings.Ireland were all out, of course, which is the statistic that matters. But McCollum retiring hurt ended a run of 24 innings across 13 Tests in which England had rounded up ten wickets; the only time they hadn’t taken 20 in a match coincidentally also came at Lord’s in an innings defeat to South Africa last August. This century, only South Africa had managed a longer streak (25 consecutive innings between 2017 and 2018).If skyscraping run rates have been the most arresting feature of England’s approach under Stokes and Brendon McCullum, no less important has been a hitherto-lacking cutting edge with the ball – a commitment to wicket-taking that has seen them find a way everywhere from Mount Maunganui to Multan.Related

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In batting, the old adage says, “It’s not about how, but how many.” England have subverted that with their bowling plans. The “how many” is non-negotiable – 20 wickets to win a Test – but the “how” is the crux of the matter. Whether it is through stacking the slips, introducing spin inside the first hour or switching to a short-ball bombardment, Stokes has refused to let games drift in a manner that England captains past have been guilty of.Old guard, new approach
Under Stokes, England’s three most successful bowlers have been James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach. Given they have close to 1300 Test wickets between them, those first two names are not hugely surprising – but it should be remembered neither was involved in the series prior to Stokes taking over as captain, a 1-0 defeat in the Caribbean.Stokes has himself taken 20 wickets – but only two since the end of last summer, amid questions about whether he is still a viable all-round option. And although Mark Wood has only played twice, his extra pace contributed to victories in Multan and Karachi as England maintained their threat in some of the most inhospitable bowling conditions imaginable.Problems still to solve
England’s new Test blueprint, of fast-forward batting and front-foot bowling on true surfaces, arguably moves them away from what has been a position of strength at home – where touring sides, including Australia over the last two decades, have struggled to cope in seaming conditions. Stokes has been public in his request for “fast, flat pitches” but, as Josh Hazlewood pointed out this week, Australia will be confident of tilting that to their advantage.There is also the small matter of Australia being able to deploy the top three Test batters in the world, according to the updated ICC rankings. Travis Head has limited experience in England at the highest level, but comes into the series on the back of a scintillating – and Bazball-esque – innings of 163 in the World Test Championship final, while Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are old foes. Ollie Pope has hinted that England might have some “quirky” plans for Smith, in particular, but they have attempted to funk with his head before, with little success (in 2019, they had him caught in the leg trap at The Oval, in his final innings – having seemingly been trying for the dismissal all series).Over the course of the next six-and-a-half weeks, Stokes and his bowlers will be looking to maintain their immaculate record and bowl Australia out ten times. Such is the strength of Australia’s attack, even that might not be enough to guarantee reclaiming the Ashes – but it’s not a bad place to start.With stats inputs from Shiva Jayaraman

Whatever combination of quick bowlers and spinners they pick, their tail is longer and much less good at batting than England’s

Karthik Krishnaswamy27-Jul-2021Southampton 2018. Perth 2018. Christchurch 2020. Adelaide 2020. Southampton 2021.That’s five of India’s last seven defeats in Test cricket away from home. In each of those five Tests, India’s first-innings score at six wickets down was better than (or, in the case of Perth, equal to) that of their opponents at the same point. But while the lower orders of England, Australia and New Zealand added 160, 75, 82, 80 and 87 to their scores in those innings, India’s last four wickets added 84, 32, 45, 38 and 35.India, quite clearly, have a lower-order problem.How bad is it? Well, since the start of 2018, the average of India’s lower-order batters (Nos. 8 and below) is 13.39, better only than those of South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in Test cricket. If you limit this to just the tail (Nos. 9 to 11), India have been the very worst in the world.Getty ImagesThis lower-order issue doesn’t affect India unduly at home, where, as they showed during their home series against England earlier this year, they can call upon a seemingly endless array of spin-bowling allrounders. Away from Asia, they can’t pack their side with spinners. Their first-choice fast bowlers are world-class at their primary skill, but they are severely limited with the bat.India’s Test-match team management in England may, therefore, have watched with a wry smile as Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar completed a stirring lower-order fightback to steer an entirely different India side to victory in the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo.Chahar has a first-class bowling average of 35.10, and isn’t anywhere near getting a Test-match call-up. A fully fit Kumar would be a vital member of an India Test side in England, but his injury record and his lack of long-format match practice – he last played a first-class game in January 2018 – have made him something of a white-ball specialist of late.The ODI side in Sri Lanka also includes Hardik Pandya, who would ordinarily be a useful option in a Test squad, capable of slotting in at No. 7 in conditions where India want a fourth seamer. But he’s only just starting to bowl regularly in white-ball cricket after recovering from a back stress fracture, and would seem to be some distance away from being able to take on a red-ball bowling workload.All this leaves only one fast bowler in India’s Test squad with any real batting ability, Shardul Thakur. He only averages 16.58 in first-class cricket, but that’s probably because he’s a late bloomer with the bat. For India, he has been out for single-digit scores only four times in 16 innings across formats, and the 67 he made against Australia at the Gabba suggested he has the eye and basic technique to hold his own as a Test-match No. 8.But Thakur only played that Test match because all of India’s first-choice bowling options, pace and spin, were injured and unavailable. As well as he bowled in that game, particularly in the second innings, he remains, purely in bowling terms, sixth in line among the six pace options in India’s squad in England. It’s hard to see India picking him in a three-man seam attack; if he plays, it’s probably only as one of four fast bowlers.India, therefore, have a familiar headache going into the first Test, in Nottingham. They have picked five bowlers in each of their last four away Tests, and that, when their first-choice options have been available, has usually meant three fast bowlers plus R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, which gives them batting depth up to No. 8. But that 3-2 combination, as the World Test Championship final in Southampton showed, may not always be ideal in English conditions.In that WTC final, which was played on a green pitch and almost entirely under overcast skies, New Zealand had four genuine fast-bowling options plus the accurate medium pace of Colin de Grandhomme. They could pick such an attack because de Grandhomme and Kyle Jamieson are allrounders to varying degrees, and their other three fast bowlers can all contribute usefully with the bat, even Trent Boult, who has the highest average of all No. 11s to have batted at least 30 times in Test cricket.India were unable to match that seam-bowling depth, and while Ashwin bowled magnificently to pick up four wickets and concede only 45 runs in his 25 overs across the two innings, Jadeja ended up somewhat marginalised, and the three quicks overbowled – out of necessity, given the conditions.This, with or without a second spinner in the attack, has been a recurring issue for India. Overworked fast bowlers – at least relative to those in the opposition – may have played just as much of a role in their lower-order mismatches as fast bowlers who can’t bat. Have a look, for instance, at how the two teams distributed their bowling workloads during India’s last Test series in England back in 2018.Getty ImagesA couple of things leap out of this chart. One, England’s “others” sent down a significantly greater share of overs than India’s did. And two, India’s fifth-most-used bowler in the series, Jadeja, played just one of the five Tests. England’s fifth-most-used bowler, Sam Curran, played four Tests.That’s a clear illustration of England’s bowling depth through the series, made possible by the all-round skills of the likes of Curran, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes. You can play more bowlers if more of them can bat, and those bowlers can ease each other’s workloads. Over a series of five Tests, this can make a massive difference.Having deeper bowling attacks also allows teams to reserve specific bowlers for specific phases of a game, or to match them up against specific opposition batters, as New Zealand did so well in their home series against India in early 2020. In an attack without that depth, each bowler will have to perform multiple roles out of necessity.On the current England tour, India can’t call upon that kind of bowling depth unless they sacrifice their batting depth. Or vice-versa. So how can they cope?Playing four fast bowlers is one option, allowing them to spread the wicket-taking burden more evenly on seaming pitches. But it won’t be easy for India to assemble such an attack. Picking their best four – Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj – would leave them with the equivalent of four No. 11s, so Thakur would almost out of necessity have to be one of the four.What of the spinners, then? It would be exceedingly difficult for India to drop Jadeja and play a 4-1 seam-spin attack, because that would leave either Ashwin or the untested Thakur batting at No. 7. Jadeja averages 44.47 with the bat over the last five years, and Ashwin 23.58.A 4-1 attack might require India, therefore, to leave Ashwin out – a move that would be both extremely brave and extremely defensive, given he’s in the bowling form of his life, having picked up 48 wickets at 17.95 since the start of the Australia tour, with four of his eight Tests having come away from home. That three of England’s potential top seven – Rory Burns, Stokes and Curran – bat left-handed would make it even harder for India to leave Ashwin out.The most radical option, which might only come into play in extreme seam-bowling conditions like in the Johannesburg Test of 2018, would be to pick four quick bowlers, no spinners, and a specialist batter at No. 6.But whether they go 3-2, 3-1, 4-1 or 4-0, India’s line-up will end with three old-school tailenders, unless their batting coach works some sort of miracle with the likes of Shami and Bumrah.Compare India’s options with those in England’s squad for the first two Tests: three seam-bowling allrounders in Stokes, Curran and Ollie Robinson, a spin-bowling allrounder in Dom Bess, and a handy lower-order hitter in Mark Wood. No matter what combination England pick, they will have at least four seam options, and batting depth until at least No. 9. Over five Tests, that depth of resources could prove just as invaluable as it did in 2018, when India’s players picked Curran as England’s player of the series.India don’t have a Curran or a Stokes. They will once again have to compromise on their batting or bowling depth, or both, out of necessity. It’s a fact they will have to live with, as they have done for the last three years, while occasionally casting a longing eye at the opposition camp.

Whether buying them or producing them in the academy, West Ham United have a proud history of developing some of the best talent around.

The best example of this in recent years is undoubtedly Declan Rice, as while joining a fellow London club is never ideal, he did so after captaining the side to European glory.

However, not every promising prospect goes on to fulfil their potential, as before the Englishman, the most talked about youngster at the club was probably Reece Oxford.

So, Nuno Espírito Santo will be hoping that West Ham’s latest exciting talent follows in the footsteps of Rice and not Oxford.

Where is Reece Oxford today?

Ironically, Oxford’s most memorable game as a West Ham player was his full Premier League debut, away to Arsenal in the club’s opening game of the 2015/16 season.

Chalkboard

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

The young Englishman, who was just 16 years old at the time, started in the middle of the park and was given what seemed to be the impossible task of stopping a Gunners’ team that included the likes of Mesut Özil, Santi Cazorla and an in-form Aaron Ramsey.

Yet, instead of being made to look foolish, he helped the Hammers to a famous 2-0 victory, and was described as having “everything” by then manager Slaven Bilic at full-time.

However, even after putting in such an incredible showing and being looked at as the club’s “main talent” at the time, per an interview with former West Ham trainee Lewis Page, the teenager would only go on to make another 11 first-team appearances that season, and then go on loan to Reading midway through the following campaign.

Unfortunately, injuries kept him to just five appearances for the Royals, and after two more underwhelming loan spells in Germany, he was finally sold to Bundesliga side Augsburg in the summer of 2019.

Augsburg

80

3

2

West Ham

17

0

0

Mönchengladbach

8

0

0

Reading

5

0

0

Initially, things started to look up for the youngster: while he wasn’t playing every week, he was getting more action than before. But it wouldn’t last, as injuries reared their ugly heads once again.

Then a severe case of long COVID kept him out of first-team action from November 2022 until he left the club this summer.

Unfortunately, Oxford remains without a club today, but at 26, there is still a chance he can find his way back into the game. So, with all that said, West Ham will be hoping their latest talent can follow more in Rice’s footsteps.

West Ham's biggest talent since Rice and Oxford

The good news for West Ham fans is that there are several exciting U21 players in the current squad, like Callum Marshall and Oliver Scarles, but the most promising has to be Luis Guilherme.

The 19-year-old joined the Hammers from Brazilian outfit Palmeiras last summer for a fee of around £25.5m, and while that is a lot for such a young player, it might prove to be a bargain in the future.

For example, one of his best traits is that while he is primarily looked at as a right-winger, he’s more than capable of playing all over the pitch, from attacking midfield to left-wing and even up top or as a second-striker.

Moreover, even though the goal involvements have not exactly flowed freely so far, those in the know are incredibly excited about his attacking potential.

According to respected analyst Ben Mattinson, while the Brazilian gem doesn’t take enough shots, when he does, they are of a “high calibre.”

Furthermore, the more Nuno uses him and the more comfortable he becomes in the English game, the more exciting the Hammers could become.

This is because, according to Mattinson, the “electric” winger is a player who “thrives on transitions” and can “turn past players with ease” thanks to his “elite ball manipulation,” which sounds like a player fans would want to watch.

Finally, while he might not hit the levels of a Dimitri Payet, he could bring some of the trickery and mazy runs the Frenchman was famous for back to the London Stadium.

At least that is what it sounds like when Mattinson describes him as an “entertainer” who is capable of producing “match-winning moments,” be that through a “30-yard screamer” or by “taking on players.”

Ultimately, fans have not quite been able to see it over the last year, but there is a very good chance that Guilherme is West Ham’s most exciting prospect since Rice and Oxford, but only time will tell which player he emulates.

Nuno can banish Soucek from West Ham by unleashing "powerful" Irons star

The West Ham gem could help Nuno Espirito Santo pick up his first win in the Premier League.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 23, 2025

Splashing the cash in the transfer market hasn’t been alien to Manchester United over the last couple of years, with INEOS massively backing various managers at Old Trafford.

Since the summer of 2022 alone, the hierarchy have spent upwards of £800m on new additions, but it’s safe to say they’ve failed to have the desired effect in the Premier League.

Ruben Amorim could only direct the side to 15th place last time around, with the 40-year-old’s men now sat in eighth in 2025/26, but it could be about to get tricky for the manager.

Many of his key starters are set to go away with their respective nations for AFCON at the end of December, which could leave the squad bare in numerous areas.

As a result, the board have drawn up a plan, which could see numerous big-money talents make their own move to Old Trafford during the January transfer window.

United’s hunt for new signings in January

Over the last couple of days, Real Madrid star Rodrygo has once again appeared on United’s radar, but it seems a deal for the forward’s signature could prove to be a tricky one.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are all said to be monitoring the progress of the Brazilian international, which could lead to a bidding war in the winter window.

He’s fallen down the pecking order of Xabi Alonso over the last couple of months, which could see him depart the Bernabeu in a deal worth around the £70m mark.

However, he’s not the only player mentioned with a potential switch to Old Trafford, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo another player seemingly on their radar.

According to Football Insider, INEOS have identified the 25-year-old as the perfect player to come into the club in January to bolster the frontline during AFCON.

The report also states that the player has a £65m release clause that becomes active in the new year, with such a fee one the board are looking to activate and fast-track a deal for.

Why United’s £65m target would be Cunha 2.0

Investing big on Premier League players who have caught the eye in recent times is another thing United have done, as seen by the deal to land Matheus Cunha from Wolves during the summer.

The Brazilian scored 15 times in England’s top-flight last season, which massively attracted the interest of the Red Devils and Amorim during the recent summer window.

As a result, the board forked out a reported £62.5m for the attacker’s signature, with Cunha just one of three forwards signed to make a difference in the final third.

During the opening months of his career in Manchester, the 26-year-old has struggled to replicate his best form, as seen by his tally of one goal in his first 11 outings.

However, there’s still bags of time for the big-money addition to resurrect his career at Old Trafford, especially if Semenyo makes the move in the coming months.

They could star together, or the Ghanaian international could overtake him in the pecking order – something which could come to fruition when comparing their figures.

In 2025/26, Semenyo has massively outperformed Cunha in numerous key areas, with the Cherries star the perfect man to improve the frontline in 2026 and beyond.

The 25-year-old, who’s been dubbed the “best winger in the country” by Chris Waddle, has already posted more combined goals and assists this season – showcasing his incredible ability in front of goal.

Semenyo has also completed more carries into the final third, whilst achieving a higher take-on success rate, with such numbers making him a much better ball-carrier than the Brazilian.

Games played

13

11

Goals & assists

9

1

Shot on target accuracy

52%

40%

Progressive carries

3.5

2.8

Progressive passes

3.7

3.6

Take-ons completed

1.9

1.7

Take-on success

53%

52%

Crosses completed

1.7

1.6

Aerials won

2.3

0.8

His dominance over the United star is further reflected in his higher tally of crosses completed per 90, with such a tally showcasing his ability to add an end product to his mazy runs.

Other numbers, such as a higher shot on target accuracy rate and a better pass accuracy rate, highlight his all-round dominance in attacking areas.

£65m for a player of Semenyo’s quality would be an excellent piece of business, with such a move softening the blow of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo’s absence at AFCON.

However, given the money spent during the summer, it would be another huge investment, with the backing certainly there – but it’s down to Amorim to get a tune out of the current crop of players at his disposal.

Fewer touches than Lammens & 100% duels lost: Man Utd flop must be dropped

Ruben Amorim has multiple changes to make after his side’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United.

ByEthan Lamb Dec 5, 2025

Manchester United got back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory away from home against Crystal Palace. The Red Devils struggled in the first half and went into the break a goal down, but an energetic performance in the second 45 minutes, combined with two smart goals, ensured they got all three points.

Indeed, it was a penalty from Jean-Philippe Mateta which gave the Eagles a lead. Leny Yoro made a clumsy tackle in the penalty area, with the Palace striker eventually slotting home from 12 yards. He was asked to retake his initial kick after striking the ball against his standing foot.

United came out with far more energy in the second half, and it only took them nine minutes before they managed to equalise. Joshua Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal in almost a year to pull things level.

United’s winner came from Mason Mount, who bagged his second goal of the season. It was a good effort, with Bruno Fernandes laying a free kick into his path and Mount slotting home through a disjointed Palace wall.

The Englishman’s strike was enough to win United the game. There were some standout performances, with Zirkzee someone who played particularly well.

How Zirkzee downed Crystal Palace

It has not been the easiest season for Netherlands international Zirkzee. Saturday lunchtime at Selhurst Park felt like a big moment, and, after a first half where he struggled to get into the game, he certainly took his chance.

The goal from the attacker was simply sensational. He also got on the end of a Fernandes freekick, bringing the ball down on his chest before smashing a volley across goal into the far corner. It was a sublime strike from a man who needed a goal.

However, it was not just the goal from Zirkzee which stood out. His second-half showing was described as “amazing” by Alice Talks Footy over on X, with the United number 11 constantly linking up play, showing off his exceptional technical ability with clever touches.

Indeed, his numbers at full-time show just how well he played. Zirkzee had 50 touches of the ball, completing 14 passes in the opposition half and creating one chance. He also won eight duels and made three ball recoveries.

It was a brilliant second-half showing from the United striker, who will now be hoping to kick on. As well as he played, one of his Red Devils teammates was arguably better.

Man Utd star outshines Zirkzee vs Palace

One of the real standouts for United against the Eagles was Luke Shaw. Making his 300th appearance for the Red Devils, Shaw continued his good form this season on the left of Amorim’s back three.

The United number 23 made some key defensive contributions, including a crunching tackle to stop Eddie Nketiah from getting a shot off in the first half. He also made three interceptions, ball recoveries and clearances in a strong performance.

Indeed, one person who rated Shaw’s efforts in South London was Goal journalist Calum Preston Kelly. He gave the Englishman a 7/10 for his afternoon’s work and praised him for the fact that he “defended strongly” against Oliver Glasner’s men.

Just last game, Gary Neville said Shaw is a “waste of time” in a United squad. Yet, after a statement showing at Selhurst Park, it is easy to see that the defender could be considered an undroppable member of the squad.

There is plenty of competition for places in that left centre-back role, too. Shaw was replaced with minutes remaining in the game by Lisandro Martinez, and his return could perhaps have signalled the end of the Englishman’s run in the starting lineup.

Yet, after a performance like that, it is hard to see Amorim dropping one of his most experienced players. Shaw was crucial in United keeping Palace at bay from open play, and looks undroppable ahead of a busy festive period.

Shades of Pogba: INEOS have signed star who can end Mainoo’s Man Utd stay

Manchester United have landed a star who could reach the next level under Ruben Amorim.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 29, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates got themselves into some hot water after fans noticed the club replaced a logo honoring Roberto Clemente with an advertisement at PNC Park during the team's 9-4 loss to the New York Yankees on Friday night.

The new advertisement was promoting Surfside, a canned cocktail line, and immediately elicited angry reactions from Pirates fans who were confused as to why the organization scrubbed the old logo honoring the Hall of Famer.

Roberto Clemente Jr. was among those surprised by the move and later issued a lengthy statement on X responding to the Pirates' decision to replace his father's logo:

"Yesterday, I was shocked to learn that the Clemente 21 sign—a tribute to my father on the right field wall at PNC Park in Pittsburgh—had been removed and replaced by an advertisement. This change was made without any communication or consultation with our family," Clemente Jr. wrote. "While we appreciate that the Pirates acknowledged their failure to inform us, it reveals a broader issue: a lack of meanginful collaboration between the organization and on matters that are deeply personal and historically significant to us and the fans.

"We have always been open to building a sincere and lasting partnership with the Pirates, one grounded in respect and shared values. Our hope is that this moment serves as an opportunity for reflection, paving the way for a more thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative relationship moving forward.

"I intend to reach out to the Pirates directly to explore this further."

The Pirates noted in their statement that the Clemente logo that was installed in 2022 was "never meant to be a permanent tribute."

The team additionally stated its plans to ensure that Clemente's legacy lives on in the league, which included having the MLB recognize Roberto Clemente Day and allowing all Pirates players to wear No. 21 in the franchise legend's honor.

Sussex pay price for a lack of acceleration, though local seagull steals the show, and banana

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 24-Aug-2025

Yorkshire, the outstanding team in Group B of the Metro Bank One Day Cup, made sure of qualification for the climax of the competition with their sixth win in seven games. The Sussex Sharks, meanwhile, with one game remaining, cannot progress.A second wicket stand of 196 in 33 overs between Imam-ul-Haq and James Wharton provided the foundation of Yorkshire’s ultimately comfortable win, with 14 balls to spare. Imam continued his outstanding form with 106 from 105 deliveries, with ten fours and three sixes, while Wharton struck a List A best 85 from 103 balls.But the pair’s failure to accelerate put Yorkshire under some pressure when they lost both batsmen in successive overs, followed by the quick dismissal of Finlay Bean. That meant they needed 58 off seven overs, and 51 off six, before some late hitting by Matt Revis and George Hill saw them over the line.The Sussex innings was one of two halves, in which they scored 97 in the first 25 overs and 187 in the second as Matt Milnes took seven wickets for 38 runs, Yorkshire’s third-best bowling figures in List A cricket and their best since 1997. Milnes also took a hat-trick and almost managed a second.Sussex have had a number of batting collapses in this year’s competition and here they managed two, losing three wickets for six runs in 12 balls early in their innings and then three in three balls to Milnes towards the end.Between these low points, however, they staged a remarkable recovery, led by Oli Carter, whose 94 from 79 deliveries was , and it required some late hitting by his best score in List A. The first building blocks of the Sussex fightback were put down by Charlie Tear (35) and John Simpson (65) who came together at 24 for three and put on a patient 60 from 15 overs.But it was the partnership between Simpson and Carter, who added 79 for the fifth wicket in 12 overs, which transformed the match before a depth charge from Danny Lamb, who thumped 53 from 45 deliveries, gave his side a challenging total.Carter reached his fifty from 55 balls when he pulled Hill for the second of his five sixes (there were also seven fours) and it was then that he accelerated, judging length very well and scampering his runs when he failed to find the boundary.He was out in the 45th over, caught as he attempted to ramp Milnes. Jack Carson lifted his first ball to long-on and then Archie Lenham was lbw to give Milnes his hat-trick. But the bowler almost had three in three when he dismissed Tom Haines and Tom Clark with successive deliveries and then saw Hudson-Prentice scoop his first delivery just short of midwicket.Shortly after this, a Sussex-supporting seagull descended on Milnes, who was fielding at long leg, and robbed him of his banana.

Bracewell will return to the UK to link up with Southern Brave after the conclusion of the first Test

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jul-2025Michael Bracewell has been named replacement for the injured Glenn Phillips for New Zealand’s first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.Bracewell, initially unavailable for the series due to his commitments with The Hundred, was already in Zimbabwe as part of New Zealand’s T20I squad for the tri-series. With his schedule allowing him to feature in the opening Test, head coach Rob Walter said the decision to include him was a straightforward one.Phillips had been ruled out of the Tests due to a groin injury. He had suffered the injury while playing for Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket (MLC) final on July 13.”Glenn’s injury provided a gap in the Test squad and Michael is the closest like-for-like replacement,” Walter said. “His experience and skillset will be a great asset and allows us to keep the same balance of the team.”Bracewell will return to the UK to link up with Southern Brave after the first Test. A decision on a replacement for the second Test will be made in due course, according to an NZC release.The two-match series begins in Bulawayo later this week, marking New Zealand’s first Test tour of Zimbabwe since 2016.

An “exemplary” Manchester United player is expected to leave the club at the end of this season alongside full-back Tyrell Malacia, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Malacia on course to depart Man Utd

The international break is getting in the way of Premier League action currently, but soon, all eyes will be on United’s trip to Liverpool next Sunday afternoon.

In terms of the futures of certain players, Malacia looks set to depart Old Trafford next summer, with journalist Fabrizio Romano saying as much in recent days.

“Tyrell Malacia, despite returning to training with the first team of Manchester United after a crazy window where he had several opportunities, Tyrell Malacia is not going to sign any new contract at Man United, and in any case, will leave the club for sure, 100% in 2026.”

It feels like the right time for Malacia to move on, considering the Dutchman is well down the left-back pecking order, and now another United exit rumour has emerged.

"Exemplary" Man Utd ace also expected to leave

Taking to X, Galetti claimed that Casemiro will leave Manchester United when the current season reaches its conclusion, with his £18m-a-year contract expiring at that point.

This comes after previous reports which went as far as to claim the midfielder actually has regrets over joining Man Utd from Real Madrid in 2022.

Like Malacia, it makes sense for Casemiro to leave the Red Devils in 2026, considering he will be 34 years of age then, and clearly not quite the world-class force he used to be.

That’s despite the midfielder being made Brazil captain by current manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has heaped praise on him in recent times.

“Casemiro is an exemplary player, respected by all. He has the experience and the character to guide this team. For me, he can be the captain, but I don’t know if he agrees with that. He knows the demands of the top level, he knows how to manage difficult moments and motivate his teammates. Being captain is not just about wearing an armband. It’s about setting an example every day, on and off the pitch. Casemiro does it naturally.”

Casemiro is on huge wages, but arguably doesn’t justify them, given his age, and his exit will help pave the way for a younger defensive midfielder to come in, whether it be Carlos Baleba or someone else.

Related Romano: "Tremendous" £75k-p/w Man Utd ace to "leave" Old Trafford in 2026

Is it the right time for him to depart?

Posts ByHenry Jackson Oct 12, 2025

He has always given his all for United, but it makes sense for all parties for him to enjoy a fresh challenge, with a new deal surely unthinkable for the Red Devils at this point in his career.

When it comes to producing exciting up-and-coming talents, few Premier League clubs have been as successful as Arsenal in recent years.

For example, even after adding plenty of international superstars to the team, Mikel Arteta’s most important player remains Bukayo Saka.

Moreover, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are already established first-teamers, and Max Dowman looks like he could be the club’s next world-class superstar.

However, for all those youngsters who’ve made their way into the team, Arsenal have lost several incredible gems to other sides, including one who could have potentially one day been a homegrown version of William Saliba.

Saliba's Arsenal career

While it has been on the cards for some time now, David Ornstein finally reported yesterday afternoon that Saliba has agreed to sign a new five-year contract with Arsenal.

According to the respected journalist, the Frenchman will put pen to paper in the “coming days”, and it is difficult to overstate how big a deal this is for the club.

After all, it’s been widely reported for several years now that Real Madrid are desperate to add the incredible centre-back to their squad, and it’s easy to see why.

The Bondy-born “monster,” as dubbed by content creator Connor Humm, has made 139 appearances for the North Londoners, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in that time.

He has also won 28 senior caps for the French national team and put up some seriously impressive underlying numbers last season.

npxG/Shot

0.38

Top %

Pass Completion %

94.3%

Top %

Pass Completion % (Long)

79.9%

Top %

Touches (Mid 3rd)

46.53

Top %

Live-ball Passes

74.27

Top %

Goals/Shot

0.33

Top %

Passes Completed

71.46

Top %

Passes Received

63.29

Top %

Passes Attempted

75.78

Top %

Total Passing Distance

1227.78

Top %

Passes Blocked

0.12

Top %

Touches

83.63

Top %

Touches (Live-Ball)

83.63

Top %

Carries

52.00

Top %

According to FBref, he ranked in the top 1% of centre-backs in the Premier League for pass completion, the top 4% for live passes, the top 6% for goals per shot, the top 7% for passes attempted and more, all per 90.

In short, Saliba is one of the best defenders in the world’s toughest league, so securing his services for another five years is a massive deal.

Unfortunately, Arsenal sold a former academy gem who could have potentially been a homegrown version of the Frenchman.

Arsenal's former homegrown Saliba

So, with Saliba signing a new deal, the incredible performances of Cristhian Mosquera and the other unreal options Arsenal have at centre-back, they are unlikely to be overly concerned about losing a young prospect.

Where Are They Now

However, it can also be true that they would’ve been better off keeping and loaning out Ayden Hevaen anyway.

Yes, the youngster in question is the 19-year-old Englishman, who, after making a name for himself in Hale End and earning a few cameos here and there, joined Manchester United for £1m in the winter window.

Described as a defensive “beast” by podcaster and Hale End expert Will Balsam, the teenage phenom made 47 appearances across the Gunners’ various youth sides and one senior competitive appearance against Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup.

However, since moving to the Red Devils, his game time has dramatically increased, with Ruben Amorim already playing him eight times, including twice this season.

There is still a long way to go before the youngster gets anywhere near his full potential, but it’s easy to see why so many were excited about his development in North London.

On top of his “remarkable” defensive qualities, as Arteta put it, the Englishman is, like Saliba, no slouch with the ball.

In fact, when explaining his qualities, Balsam was keen to point out that his “passing range is frankly insane”, and talent scout Jacek Kulig named Levi Colwill as another player he’s similar to, again because of his “passing” ability.

Ultimately, Arsenal probably have the best set of defenders in world football, but had they kept hold of Heaven, that set would be just that little bit stronger.

Agents tell Arsenal they can sign £36m France star who loves Saliba like a "brother"

He’s very close to the Gunners’ star centre-back who’s set to sign a new deal.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 26, 2025