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Says vice-captaincy “not a massive role”, though contrast with Pope seems instructive

Vithushan Ehantharajah02-Sep-2024

Harry Brook has made one fifty in the Sri Lanka series•Getty Images

Diminishing Test returns after being promoted to a leadership role is not just an Ollie Pope problem.Since assuming the vice-captaincy for the Sri Lanka series, Harry Brook has not been his usual, ruthless self. Starts have been given away throughout and an average of 39.50 from four innings is comfortably his lowest of any series in which he has played more than one match.The struggle is relative, of course. Pope would swap his 7.50 average in a heartbeat, or barter one of his deputy’s three thirty-odd scores that followed an accomplished 56 in the first innings at Manchester. And it is fair to say they are dealing with their new roles very differently.Fresh from victory at Lord’s that gives England an insurmountable 2-0 lead ahead of the third and final Test on Friday, Pope spoke of needing to “block out the criticism”. Balancing captaincy and batting remains a challenge, if only for one more game. The subsequent judgements on his personality, particularly set against the inspirational figure of regular men’s Test captain Ben Stokes, will take longer to dispel.Related

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Brook, on the other hand, seems as he always does. In good touch even without a score of note, and typically unflustered. “It’s not a massive role really, is it?” he said of vice-captaincy.”I haven’t had to do much, to be honest. I think Popey has done an amazing job. I’ve tried to give him a few ideas here and there; he’s taken some and he’s shrugged some off so it’s been good so far.”As for the runs, he is not worried: “[It’s] frustrating to get starts obviously, but I feel like I’m batting really well. And hopefully it’s just a matter of time when a big one comes.”The contrast in dispositions is stark. Irrespective of this secondment as captain, Pope’s England career has been one of spikes even during a consistent run at No. 3 under Stokes. Brook, on the other hand, has churned consistently. Even a 14-innings wait for his fifth Test century – which came against West Indies earlier this summer – featured match-winning half-centuries in last summer’s third and fifth Ashes Tests.It is worth going back to the summer of 2022 for a moment. Upon Stokes’ appointment, Pope picked up and phone and asked for the No. 3 spot. Stokes respected the proactiveness and that Pope was willing to bite the bullet at first-drop. With the top six locked in, Brook carried drinks until he got one innings in the seventh and final Test of that season, against South Africa, after Jonny Bairstow broke his leg.Having been dropped on the 2021-22 Ashes tour, Pope regards that call to Stokes as a sliding doors moment in his career. But it also had a knock-on effect for Brook. Had he featured earlier that summer, there is every chance he would have been the man named as Stokes’ official vice-captain in May of last year, not Pope.Brook has taken a relaxed approach as Ollie Pope’s vice-captain•Getty Images

Pope’s credentials at the time were aligned with his standing in the team; comfortable in a new batting spot, popular in the dressing room through familiarity having debuted in 2018, and, at 25, the ideal age to act as a conduit between the older team-mates and newer players coming through. Had Brook (25 now) picked up more than the six caps at the time of that vice-captaincy selection, he might have been the one leading against Sri Lanka.Nevertheless, captaincy has been a feature of Brook’s 2024 after taking the reins at Northern Superchargers in the men’s Hundred. “It was different, but it was good fun,” he said of the experience, which included working with new head coach Andrew Flintoff.Superchargers narrowly missed out on making the top-three spot on Net Run Rate, losing just two matches. Brook, absent from the first defeat to Trent Rockets as it coincided with the end of the West Indies Test series, impressed tactically, with a matter-of-fact demeanour that allowed him to stay level in a volatile format. He was also Superchargers’ second-highest runscorer with 163.”Obviously I’ve played with Stokesy quite a bit now and watching the way he goes about it I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take a few learnings from him,” Brook said of his captaincy inspiration. With Jos Buttler suffering a setback in his injury recovery for the white ball fixtures against Australia, Brook may get his chance to apply those learnings on the international stage.Asked if he was keen to captain more, Brook responded with a diplomatic “we’ll see”. But it is clear leadership is on the horizon. In a Test squad that currently features seven players aged between 23 and 27, along with a 19 (Josh Hull) and 20-year-old (Shoaib Bashir), Brook is a vital part of the nucleus of England’s present and future.It remains Stokes’ show, of course, reinforced by the allrounder’s presence on the balconies at Emirates Old Trafford and Lord’s. He will be just as visible at the Kia Oval as the hosts chase a first flawless Test summer in 20 years.Should that be achieved, it will be a shared feather in the caps of Stokes and Pope. The lack of resistance from West Indies and Sri Lanka will make it hard conclude England are a force to be reckoned with as they taper towards the 2025-26 Ashes.But the main takeaway already is a clearer idea of England’s next Test captain. And it is Pope’s vice rather than Stokes’.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe isn’t rushing into anything this summer. The Englishman is desperate to enhance his squad during the transfer window, but he won’t be making signings for the sake of it.

With Champions League football gracing St James’ Park next term, bringing in some high-quality players will be crucial to their ambitions of going far in the competition.

There are several key areas in which Howe wishes to improve, notably his attack. Will he be able to sign his top targets this summer?

Newcastle's search for new signings

One area the Toon are desperate to strengthen is the attacking department. As such, a bid of around £45m was submitted to Nottingham Forest for winger Anthony Elanga.

This was swiftly rejected, but it shows the direction that Howe is looking to take. It remains unclear whether another bid will be made for the Swedish winger in the coming days.

Signing a new goalkeeper is also on Howe’s wish list and it appears as though the club are closing in on a deal to sign James Trafford.

“Newcastle are closing in on James Trafford deal, final details being sorted, said Fabrizio Romano on X.

“Agreement almost done with Burnley and then it will be here we go. Newcastle are planning to get the deal done very soon.”

Burnley value the player at £40m, and Trafford could turn out to be a better signing than Elanga.

Why James Trafford could be a better signing than Elanga

Last season, Newcastle scored 92 goals across their 48 matches in all competitions, which works out as just shy of two goals a game.

In comparison, they also conceded 58 goals in the same number of games, which is 1.2 goals conceded per match.

Given the statistics, surely the need to improve their defence is far greater than signing a winger, especially when Howe can call upon the likes of Jacob Murphy, who enjoyed his best year in Toon colours, England international Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes. Depth is no doubt important, of course, but a new forward is hardly a priority.

Comparing Trafford to Newcastle’s GKs (league stats only 2024/25)

Metric

Trafford

Pope

Dubravka

Games

45

28

10

Goals conceded

16

35

12

Goals conceded per game

0.4

1.3

1.2

Accurate passes per game

24.1

13.8

21.1

Saves per game

2

3.1

2.9

Balls recovered per game

7.6

8.6

7.9

Last season, Trafford was excellent for Burnley as they finished second in the Championship.

Remarkably, he conceded just 0.4 goals per outing in the second tier, while succeeding with 100% of his run outs per game and making two saves per match – a success rate of 85% – for Burnley.

Overall, Trafford only conceded 16 goals from 45 matches, a truly stunning record, and there is no doubt he would improve Howe’s backline considerably.

The 22-year-old hasn’t even hit his peak yet, but he certainly isn’t short of confidence, dubbing himself “world-class” a few months ago.

Widely believed to be the next England number one, Trafford could fast-track his way into this position by securing a move to Newcastle. Evidently, his potential is huge, even bigger than Elanga’s, scoring just six times last term. On that evidence, the Swede isn’t going to improve the Magpies significantly.

Trafford may have played just 28 Premier League games during his embryonic career so far, but the youngster is heading straight for the very top and would undeniably make an instant impact at St James’.

If Howe can get this deal wrapped up as soon as possible, hopefully, it will be the catalyst for more new signings.

Never mind a better signing than Elanga, Trafford might turn out to be the best signing of the summer for Howe.

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Still on the hunt for an Andre Onana upgrade, Manchester United have now reportedly submitted an opening offer worth £13m to sign a Champions League-winning shot-stopper.

Man Utd's goalkeeper search still ongoing

Having already reinforced their attacking options with the arrival of Matheus Cunha and with negotiations ongoing to sign Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United have turned their focus towards their goalkeeper department.

Onana’s position as Old Trafford’s No.1 has seemed at risk since his debut season and the former Inter Milan man could finally be forced to relinquish his role if United get their wish this summer.

To that end, a number of names have been mentioned as potential options, with the most prominent of which being Emiliano Martinez.

The World Cup winner reportedly prefers a move to Manchester United over Barcelona and could be on his way out of Aston Villa amid their PSR concerns this month.

Meanwhile, what would help speed things up in the goalkeeper department is if AS Monaco complete their move to sign Onana. The Ligue 1 side are reportedly interested in signing the Cameroon international in an unexpected move this summer.

By showing Onana the door, it would almost be a guarantee that Manchester United will welcome another goalkeeper this summer. It would just be a matter of who. As much as Aston Villa will be concerned about their PSR situation, they’ll no doubt be desperate to avoid selling one of Unai Emery’s star players to a Premier League rival this summer and that may leave INEOS scrambling for other options.

If the Villans successfully fend off any interest from United, then the Red Devils could yet reportedly welcome a two-time Champions League winner in the coming months.

Man Utd submit first Andriy Lunin bid

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United submitted a bid worth €15m (£13m) to sign Andriy Lunin from Real Madrid but have since had that offer rejected by the Spanish giants. A deal is still there to be made, however, even if the Red Devils must increase their offer.

Having rejected the £13m offer, Real Madrid are reportedly demanding around €25m (£21m) to sell Lunin this summer in what should be seen as an affordable price for those at Old Trafford to match.

Starts

7

34

Saves P90

1.86

2.59

Save Percentage

65%

68.9%

Whilst the Ukraine international deserves credit for how he stepped up for Thibaut Courtois at times last season, there remain question marks over his ability to become a permanent No.1 elsewhere.

It is Lunin’s ability on the ball that stands out rather than his shot-stopping skills according to Ben Mattinson, however. The analyst was full of praise for the Madrid man, dubbing his ball-playing ability “great” albeit whilst also describing the goalkeeper as a “top shot stopper”.

Amorim keen: Bayern Munich now open to selling Man Utd target for just £30m

Ruben Amorim wants to sign him this summer.

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Although the jury is still out on Lunin, it’s clear that United must replace Onana this summer and doing so by signing a two-time Champions League winner could be the way to do exactly that.

Manchester United’s Europa League final woes have not only exposed the task at hand for manager Ruben Amorim moving forward, but have also put the decisions of the previous regime even further under the microscope.

Indeed, on Wednesday night, goalkeeper Andre Onana couldn’t keep out Brennan Johnson’s scruffy effort, with the Cameroonian hardly inspiring much confidence in a season in which he has made five errors leading to a goal in Europe and in the Premier League combined.

In attack, meanwhile, the decision to start Mason Mount failed to work out, with the Englishman producing an ineffective performance in which he was restricted to even fewer touches than Onana, with just 25 in total.

Ahead of the ex-Chelsea man, Rasmus Hojlund was even more peripheral as he recorded just 15 touches of his own, with the Dane again firing a blank in a season in which he has scored just ten times in total.

The common thread between that trio? Well, they were all signed in what now looks like a sliding doors summer for the Red Devils in 2023. Fresh off the back of a promising first campaign under Erik ten Hag that yielded a third-placed finish and Carabao Cup success, the club needed to kick on again with marquee moves.

The likes of Harry Kane were touted, although Hojlund and co arrived instead – the Old Trafford side are still paying the price for that decision…

Analysing Hojlund's two seasons at Man Utd

For all the talk of Kane, for a fleeting moment it looked like the correct call had been made by plumping for the youthful Hojlund, with the £64m signing – rising to £72m – enjoying an impressive cameo on debut against Arsenal.

Unleashed off the bench, the promising speedster ran Gabriel and William Saliba ragged, playing his part in the eventually disallowed ‘winner’ from Alejandro Garnacho, while drawing a clumsy foul from the former that surprisingly didn’t result in a penalty.

That bright start culminated in a standout Champions League group stage run that yielded five goals, including a breakaway effort against Galatasaray that even sparked comparisons to a certain Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Frustratingly, however, it took until Boxing Day for Hojlund to notch a first top-flight goal for the club, albeit with that breakthrough sparking a run of seven goals in just six games at the turn of the year.

Despite ultimately ending 2023/24 as the top scorer for Ten Hag across all fronts, injuries and a lack of consistency saw him slip out of the starting lineup as the campaign progressed, with the Dutch coach opting for a strikerless system in the FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City.

Perhaps, on reflection, Amorim should well have attempted a similar tweak in recent weeks, with Hojlund coming to the end of a simply wretched campaign that has yielded only four league goals.

In truth, as last season showcased, the 22-year-old does appear more effective in Europe, although even then his impact has largely come in bursts, notably netting four times across successive outings against Bodo/Glimt and Viktoria Plzen.

A streaky striker, and an expensive one at that, the former Atalanta man could be set for a swift return to Serie A this summer by all accounts, having failed to live up to expectations and the burden of being United’s leading number nine.

For all the frustration over what now looks like a costly mistake, it’s fair to say that Hojlund – who has 26 goals in 94 games – isn’t the biggest transfer misfire of the last decade or so…

Man Utd's bigger mistake than Hojlund

Dishing out £64m on a player who had scored just ten goals in Italy the year prior remains a simply headscratching decision, although so too does forking out £86m to sign Antony a year earlier.

Reportedly valued at around £25m at one stage, amid prior interest during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure, the Brazilian was earmarked as a key signing for Ten Hag in the summer of 2022, amid their prior relationship at Ajax.

With that window quickly heading to a close, and United losing their opening two games under the new boss, the desperate decision was made to plump for Casemiro and then Antony at the death, with the latter man arriving on deadline day.

Despite a lively start, which yielded three goals in his first three league appearances, the 24-year-old has been simply a disaster since then, with pundit Micah Richards notably highlighting his “lazy” approach in the dismal 7-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

An at-times headless and petulant presence on the pitch, Antony was also dubbed “embarrassing” by club legend Gary Neville for kicking out at Jeremy Doku in the final knockings of the 3-0 Manchester Derby defeat last term, a moment that could well have resulted in a red card.

Antony

96

12

5

17

Anthony Elanga

55

4

4

8

Amad

63

13

11

22

Jadon Sancho

83

12

6

18

Alejandro Garnacho

144

26

22

45

Dan James

74

9

9

18

Angel Di Maria

34

4

12

16

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

63

13

11

24

Memphis Depay

53

7

6

13

Of course, there has been the odd bright moment – such as his Europa League efforts against Barcelona and Real Betis – yet those have been few and far between, with the exiled winger racking up just 17 goals and assists in 95 games for the club to date. To put that into perspective, even Jadon Sancho boasts a better return, with 18 goal involvements in 83 games.

Like Sancho, Antony is now something of a forgotten man after being shipped out on loan, with not even his mini-revival at Betis enough to spark hope of a fresh start in Manchester next season, despite scoring eight times in just 24 games in Spain.

As revealed by the MEN, even while a review of the current campaign and Wednesday’s showpiece defeat is likely to take place, the priority at present is cashing in on Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony, with funds needed to spark yet another rebuild at Old Trafford.

Hopefully, lessons will have been learned from the bumper deals for the likes of Hojlund and Antony, with INEOS now needing to ensure that they can at least claw back some sort of substantial fee for Ten Hag’s dismal duo.

Not just Hojlund: 4/10 dud must now never play for Man Utd again

Man Utd’s grim season ended with a whimper in Bilbao on Wednesday evening

1 ByRobbie Walls May 22, 2025

Chelsea now find themselves back in the top five for the time being, having beaten Everton 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, making it six points from their last two games in the Premier League.

Enzo Maresca’s men put in a very strong team performance, winning 58% of their duels, winning 41/74 ground duels, winning 12/18 aerial duels, and completing 22 tackles in the game.

This same fight will be needed in the Blues’ last four Premier League games, if they have any chance of securing Champions League football. But the form of their attackers will also be key, as many have been struggling for goals as of late.

Nicolas Jackson broke the deadlock after 27 minutes with an instinctive strike into the bottom corner from outside the box, with his goal being the decider for Maresca’s side and the difference between one point and three points for the Blues.

Nicolas Jackson's performance against Everton

Jackson has made 30 appearances for Chelsea this season, netting ten times and providing five assists in 2,205 minutes played. However, this was the 23-year-old’s first goal in 2025, with his last coming against Brentford back in December.

The Senegal international scored with his only shot of the game, completing 100% of his passes (24/24) and completing one of his three dribble attempts.

The ability to drop deep and relieve pressure, linking play with the midfielders before making runs in behind was effective against the Everton back line.

But Jackson wasn’t the only effective attacker on the pitch for Chelsea today, as Maresca unleashed another forward in an unfamiliar position, which yielded positive results.

Maresca hit gold with star in a new position

Noni Madueke has mainly played off the right this season for Maresca’s side, making 35 appearances, scoring 10 goals and providing five assists in 2,002 minutes played.

However, the 23-year-old winger was deployed on the opposite side against Everton, and to quite good effect too.

The Chelsea boss hit gold by unleashing the former PSV star in a new role on the left side of the pitch, as it yielded an impressive showing from the attacker.

Noni Madueke’s performance vs Everton

Stat

Madueke

Minutes

78

Touches

46

Accurate Passes

20/25

Shots

4

Long Balls

2/3

Successful Dribble Attempts

2/4

Ground Duels Won

4/7

Aerial Duels Won

1/1

Tackles

1

Stats taken from Sofascore

The England international managed 46 touches in the game, taking four shots, all of which were on target, and completing 50% of his dribble attempts with two successful dribbles of his four.

Madueke also won 100% aerial duels, made one tackle, and won four ground duels, doing his bit off the ball to help the side.

This shows that he was even better than Jackson because he impacted play at both ends of the pitch, with his hard work on and off the ball.

Madueke earned himself a 7/10 match rating from GOAL for his performance, praised for forcing Jordan Pickford into ‘multiple top-quality saves’, cutting inside on his weaker right foot. The winger had the same eagerness to be direct on the ball, beating players and looking to drive towards goal at every opportunity.

With Pedro Neto showing his best from the right this season, Madueke on the left could be something we see from Maresca more at the back end of this season. It’s safe to say he’s now as undroppable as Jackson.

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Once the dust settles, they will be remembered not for the lows of this World Cup, but the highs of the preceding seven years

Matt Roller10-Nov-20234:26

Harmison: Even if some England careers finish, they’ve been absolutely outstanding

It is the end of an era. England will lose their status as reigning champions in both men’s white-ball formats next Sunday, and the golden generation of players who underpinned their unprecedented limited-overs success will splinter. Saturday’s fixture against Pakistan in Kolkata will be the final match of several storied ODI careers.David Willey has already announced his international retirement, and while there is no incentive for others to follow suit – they all have central contracts which run until September 2024 or beyond – there is widespread recognition that England need to rejuvenate. After all, 11 of their 15-man squad are aged 30 or older.Rob Key, their managing director, and Luke Wright, the national selector, have returned to India, and have been speaking to captain Jos Buttler and coach Matthew Mott about selection for next month’s tour of the West Indies. England play three ODIs and five T20Is there, and are expected to refresh both squads.Related

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The T20I squad may look a little more familiar, with a World Cup defence looming in June 2024, but players accept that it is time for a fresh start. Moeen Ali has described backing a new generation as “common sense”, while Dawid Malan said on Friday, “Ultimately, when you get to a stage like this, you have to make decisions.”Malan is the second-oldest player in the England squad at 36, three months younger than Moeen, and is among those who believes Saturday could be his final international appearance. “I don’t know what my future holds,” he said. “Tomorrow could be the last game of cricket for England for me, and it could still be the start of another journey.”He laughed off the notion that he could be involved in the 2027 World Cup – “There’s no way I’m running around at 40 years old!” – and said that he would accept England’s decision if they opted to move on. “You’re quite realistic when you get to a certain stage… I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.”Malan has been a regular in England’s T20I side for the last four years and played at the last two T20 World Cups, but is not holding his breath about reaching next year’s in the West Indies and USA: “I’d love to play – I still feel I can – but it’s not my decision,” he said. “There could be a total overhaul for both [white-ball teams]. Who knows?”England’s players accept that it is time for a fresh start•Getty ImagesLong before this World Cup went up in smoke, England had earmarked the upcoming ODIs against West Indies as an opportunity to test their depth and select young players – and they will not play again in the format until September 2024 – when they host Australia. By then, the 50-over side could look very different.Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root have both expressed a desire to play on until the 2027 World Cup, but have managed 372 runs between them in this edition. Neither has scored a half-century in the last month, and their form has demonstrated the pitfalls of coming into the tournament with limited relevant practice.Chris Woakes said earlier this year that he would be “amazed” if he played another ODI after the World Cup, and looks certain to move on from the format. And while Mark Wood’s three-year contract suggests that he will continue to be considered, his focus will primarily be on Test and T20 cricket.For those players who never feature again, this will not be the ending they had pictured. England boarded their flight to India six weeks back with high hopes of defending their title, yet find themselves scrambling for a Champions Trophy 2025 spot. Their comfortable victory over Netherlands on Wednesday means that is nearly confirmed.Six England players out of the XI that lost the T20 World Cup final at Eden in 2016 are all but set to step out again on Saturday•Getty Images”We’re seventh on the log, which isn’t where we’d like to be at this stage of the tournament,” Malan said. “We’d have hoped to come here pushing for a semi-final spot and preparing for that, but we just haven’t been good enough… we’re so disappointed in the fact that we are here, playing against Pakistan at Eden Gardens, and we’re not in the race for it.”It is a tournament that England want to consign to history as soon as possible. They had reached the semi-finals of five consecutive men’s ICC events – three T20 World Cups, a 50-over World Cup and a Champions Trophy – and had won two of them, but have lost six out of their eight games during this World Cup in India.There will be extensive post-mortems over the coming days, weeks and months, identifying exactly what went wrong, and who, if anyone, is to blame. Perhaps the explanation is simple: that this has been one tournament too far for a squad that has passed its peak.But their return to Eden Gardens for a floodlit training session on Friday – the venue where they came so close to winning the 2016 T20 World Cup – was a reminder of just how much they achieved. Six players from that XI – Root, Buttler, Ben Stokes, Moeen, Willey and Adil Rashid – are all but set to step out on the field again on Saturday afternoon, further highlighting how long this squad has been around for, and the fact that age is catching up with most of them.But once the dust from this World Cup settles, this England team will be remembered not for the lows of the past six weeks, but the highs of the preceding seven years.

“He looks like he’s got energy, faster arm action and now he’s got the skill to take over,” Daniel Vettori on Kuldeep’s return to form

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What is Kuldeep Yadav doing differently this season?

The renaissance continues: he has added new dimensions to his bowling, he has been more confident, and he has been producing match-winning spells. Kuldeep Yadav had wrecked his former team Kolkata Knight Riders earlier in the season, and on Thursday he did it again, finishing with superb figures of 4 for 14 in three overs to restrict them to 146.He continues to show why he deserves to be part of India’s T20 World Cup plans, putting his success down to him becoming “mentally strong” and having “clearer plans”.”I have probably become a better bowler [than before],” Kuldeep told host broadcaster Star Sports after the match. “However, one thing is certain that I have become a lot stronger mentally. When you fail in life, you think, ‘Where can I improve?’ You learn from your mistakes when you face failure in life. I have worked on it, and now I have no fear of failure.”Related

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Kuldeep picked up his second four-wicket haul of this season, taking his tally to 17 wickets. In his first over, he had debutant Baba Indrajith caught at long-on, before trapping Sunil Narine lbw with the very next ball. He came back in the 14th over to dismiss Shreyas Iyer and then set up Andre Russell to get him out for a three-ball duck.”I liked the wicket of Russell because I set him up well,” he said. “I first went around the wicket and then returned to bowl over the wicket. Then I went back to bowl around the wicket and bowled a bit wider. That was my plan. He played out two dots, and then I knew he would step out for a shot. So I perfectly planned for that, and it [the wicket] was an important wicket for us.”This kind of planning – without overthinking – is what has led to Kuldeep having his “best IPL season yet”. He was not too worried when he went wicketless while conceding 40 in three overs in the last match against Rajasthan Royals. But that has not always hasn’t been the case, he admitted.Until IPL 2019, Kuldeep was Knight Riders’ go-to wicket-taker, averaging 19.43 with an economy rate of 7.32. In 2020, he picked one wicket in five games and was eventually dropped. Kuldeep didn’t make the Knight Riders’ starting XI in the first half of the 2021 season either, and was then sidelined with a knee injury for the second.Kuldeep Yadav: “I’ve become a lot clearer with my plans. I’ve backed my skill”•BCCIWorrying about giving away too many runs is no longer an issue this time around because he has always found ways to come back.”I’m enjoying bowling, and I’ve become a lot clearer with my plans,” Kuldeep said. “I don’t think too much about what the batter will do, I have also given away some runs. I’ve backed my skill. I’ve stuck to my lengths too, though it’s not always been perfect.”But that’s what happens in T20. But my focus has been on bowling good lengths. When I get a wicket upfront then it just gives me more confidence [for the rest of the game].”But what is it that has sparked his turnaround this season?He has been bowling a lot quicker – his average speed has gone from 81.9kph in the IPL till 2021 to 86.6kph this season – and has also managed to put more revs on the ball. Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori believes these things have also helped Kuldeep bring more energy into his action.”More revs mean your hand position and your release point [are better] and the more energy you bring to the crease,” Vettori told ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time:Out. “The great Shane Warne talked about how your energy at the crease shows how much spin you get in the ball – you need a quick arm speed, and then your subtleties and nuance come from your wrist position.””Looks like Kuldeep has got the energy, a faster arm action, and now he has got the skill to take over because of that base. It’s also the release point. It’s about bowling fast with more revolutions on it, and you see the seam position.”

“Kuldeep has recognised that to be successful in this format, ‘I too have to add a little bit of pace to the ball and be able to spin it'”Ian Bishop on Kuldeep’s success this season

“It felt like during the last opportunity he tried to buy wickets, and that maybe [was] a product of Narine being a certainty and [Varun] Chakravarthy coming into the team. ‘I have got to make the most of this opportunity because If I don’t do something, I’m going to be out of the team.'”Now he seems more settled – he is obviously the first choice for Delhi and he is forcing his case for being back in the Indian team. It’s all about what he’s done and how he’s improved as a bowler.”Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop also believes that Kuldeep bringing in that extra dimension of adding pace has brought him success this season.”Virat Kohli, the captain [of India] at that time, wanted him [Yuzvendra Chahal] to bowl with more pace as wristspinners in world cricket have done. The Rashid Khans, the Imran Tahirs were bowling quicker through the air.”Kuldeep has recognised that in order to be successful in this format ‘I too have to add a little bit of pace to the ball and be able to spin it’. So whether that’s been a deliberate effort [or not], I think that was good planning. And to see him bowl with more pace is actually working.”Chahal and Kuldeep were once a crucial part of India’s white-ball plans before falling out of favour due to inconsistent performances. They both have now made strong cases: Chahal is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with Kuldeep right behind. But there is no competition between the two, at least according to the latter.”He is like my elder brother, and he has given me encouragement,” Kuldeep said. “He used to talk to me constantly even when I was injured. I sincerely wish that he got the Purple Cap.”

Shohei Ohtani seems to always be making some sort of history, and he did it again on Sunday.

During the Los Angeles Dodgers' final game of the season, Ohtani blasted his 55th home run of the year. Not only is that a career-high for the two-way slugger, it's also a Dodgers record.

He accomplished the feat in the top of the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners when he took an 0-2 fastball from Gabe Speier and crushed it to center field. The ball came off his bat at 109.5 mph and traveled 412 feet.

The 31-year-old Ohtani had 54 home runs last season to set L.A.'s franchise record, and broke it this year. While his numbers are a bit down from his remarkable 2024 campaign, they're still incredible, and he's made 14 starts as a pitcher as well. He is a massive favorite to win his fourth MVP award and third in the last three years.

Ohtani and the Dodgers capped off the 2024 season by winning the World Series. They'll be looking to repeat this year, but it will be a much tougher road as they won't be getting a first-round bye. While they won the National League West again, they have the third-best record of the NL's division winners and will open the playoffs next week against the league's final wild-card entrant.

That won't be as easy as the path they blitzed through the 2024 postseason, but Ohtani is hitting his stride after yet another huge season.

Shohei Ohtani's Numbers in 2025

As of this article, Ohtani is slashing .282/.392/.623, with 55 home runs, 109 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.015. He also has 20 stolen bases,, 25 doubles, and nine triples.

On the mound, Ohtani made 14 starts after not pitching since late in the 2023 campaign. He was 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts against nine walks in 47 innings. He got much better as the season went along. In September, he made three starts and posted a 0.00 ERA, while allowing only eight hits and two walks against 18 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings.

He enters the postseason on a roll.

William Saliba has been forced to "modify his running" after the ankle injury as Mikel Arteta revealed a potential comeback date for the Arsenal defender. The Frenchman has missed the club’s last four matches after completing 90 minutes in the 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in late November, and what was initially described as a “minor” setback has evolved into a more serious situation.

• Arsenal still await green light on Saliba’s recovery

  Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s clash against Wolves this weekend, Arteta explained that Saliba’s latest problem stems from an ankle injury sustained earlier in the season, one that forced him off barely four minutes into the defeat at Liverpool in August.

  "It was something quite small," he said. "It came from an ankle injury that he had and then he started to modify the way he was running and he started to overload an area, which is something common. But at some point he was uncomfortable continuing to be able to train and play and we had to stop it. He looks better but we'll have to wait and see if it's enough for him to be able to train with the team."

  On being pressed whether the defender will be available this weekend, Arteta said: "We have to wait and see. Yesterday we didn’t train, so we have an extra day between this afternoon, let’s see if he can be available or not. It remains the same. If you asked me for the Everton game, I think he will be fit; for tomorrow, I don’t know."

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  A makeshift defence tested again

  Arsenal have had to shuffle their defensive pack repeatedly this season, and Saliba’s absence has forced further improvisation. Cristhian Mosquera, now sidelined, and Jurrien Timber, who is also nursing a knock, have shared duties at the heart of the backline. 

  Asked whether Timber could feature against Wolves, Arteta remained cautious: "Depends how he feels today. It was a knock that he picked, and he wasn’t feeling comfortable. So again, I think it’s a matter of days, but whether it’s tomorrow or not we’ll see."

  Despite the defensive uncertainty, Arsenal responded emphatically in midweek, brushing aside Club Brugge 3-0 in the Champions League to make it six wins from six in Europe. Now, Arteta stressed that the week-long gap after the Wolves fixture will give his squad a rare opportunity to reset.

  He said: "Well, three things. Make sure that we can give some rest to players, mentally and physically. Then start to re-activate everybody and start to work on things that you don't have time to work on. Then start to be in the best possible physical and emotional mindset to do what is required to be ready.

  "We’re in a very strong position in the three competitions that we’ve been involved in so far, and that’s what we have to continue to do at the end. The credit has to come at the end of the season, that’s when we’re going to measure what we’ve done, but in order to achieve that, you have to be achieving, every single day, the objectives that you want. So far, I think we are in a very strong position."

• Momentum builds as Gabriel Jesus returns

  One major boost for the Gunners this week has been the return of Gabriel Jesus, who played his first minutes in 11 months after recovering from a torn ACL. The Brazilian came off the bench in Bruges and, despite limited time on the pitch, he showed flashes of brilliance and even hit the woodwork.

  "We know his quality, a player who has given us so much and he comes with the energy that came the other day," he said. "He’s certainly a player who has to be pushing and aiming for that, that’s for sure."

  When asked if he would sell the Brazilian, the manager slammed shut the proposal. "I don't consider that, especially with the situation that we have right now," he said. "I think Gabriel has a lot to offer to the team and he's proven that straightaway in the first minute that he was available to play he's put so much to be in this position again and now the focus is to be with us."

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  Arteta shows respect to Wolves

  Wednesday’s comfortable win in Bruges restored confidence after the Villa defeat and extended Arsenal’s flawless European record. Now the focus returns to the Premier League, where a meeting with bottom-placed Wolves offers an opportunity to consolidate their lead at the top.

  With Wolves languishing on just two points and suffering a club-record run of eight straight defeats, anything other than an Arsenal victory would disappoint the fans. However, Arteta does not want any complacency. 

  "In any Premier League match and especially against a team that is fighting against results, I know the manager really well and how he’s going to push and get the players ready to [try to cause a shock]. From our side, we’re going to go full gas from the beginning and we know what we have to do," he said. 

  "Well, showing them [our players] the team that they are, the game they had against Villa a few weeks ago, and understand that a team in that position have to react and have to show their teeth, and that’s a very dangerous thing, especially in this league when every team has the quality that they have. So from our side, that’s not going to happen."

Travis Head is hoping for seam-friendly pitches in the Ashes and says he enjoys batting on such surfaces more so than flatter ones believing that it presents more opportunities to score.The pitches that will be presented in the Ashes is a major talking point with the Test surfaces in Australia over the past four summers trending heavily in favour of the seam bowlers compared to decades past.Head was the player of the series in the 2021-22 Ashes following stunning centuries on challenging pitches in Brisbane and Hobart. He is hoping for more of the same this summer.Related

• Will Australia's pitches be juicy for the Ashes?

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• 'Takes me two hits' – Smith already feels in the Ashes groove as captaincy looms

• Australia's top order: What are the selectors' options?

“I probably enjoy batting on those sort of wickets,” Head told ESPNcricinfo. “The flatter wickets, with the grind, that more so challenge technique, I think, over longer periods of time [trying] to eke out runs has never probably come as natural to me with being a stroke player and wanting to get on with it. And the slower, flat wickets probably don’t tend to that. But fast-paced pitches that nip, you can maybe get away with a few things.”And then obviously the way I want to play is if they present opportunities to score, you score. So when they’re greener, they pitch up a little bit more and a bit fuller, and the style that I play, if they miss a little bit, I’m able to hopefully score and get busy.”It’s a run based game. You see some of the great players, like Steve Smith, Joe Root, you blink and they’re on 30 or 40. And that’s something that I’ve always appreciated, and definitely [on] these wickets, you know that you potentially have got one with your name on it. You can still play well. You can still get runs. Sometimes you’ve got that go about it in different ways. But ultimately, it’s a game where you go try and score as many as you can.”Since the start of the 2021-22 Ashes, top seven batters have averaged just 30.22 per dismissal in Test matches in Australia and combined for 24 centuries across 20 Test matches. In the four summers before that, from the start of 2017-18 Ashes to the end of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar series, top seven batters averaged 38.14 across 20 Tests with 34 centuries scored.