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Johnson suffered a stress fracture in the IPL but it wasn’t formally diagnosed until the lead-up to Australia’s tour of the Caribbean

Alex Malcolm10-Oct-2025While Australia have been sweating on Pat Cummins’ scan results, another of the country’s fast bowlers, Spencer Johnson, faces an equally nervous wait this week to see if a stress fracture he suffered in the IPL has heeled enough for him to play in the upcoming BBL and push for a T20 World Cup berth.There had been a little bit of mystery around Johnson’s absence from Australia’s T20I side across the last three series, especially following the retirement of Mitchell Starc from the format.He was ruled out of the Caribbean T20I tour with a back injury and also wasn’t selected for the T20I and ODI series against South Africa in August but the extent of injury was not specified until September when Australia’s chair of selectors George Bailey revealed Johnson was unlikely to play until the new year.Related

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Johnson, who has played five ODIs and eight T20Is, is hopeful he might be able to return sooner but he cut a frustrated figure at a BBL kit launch event in Melbourne on Thursday.”The back, to be honest, feels fine,” Johnson said. “Stressies are one of those things where they feel good, but it’s just just a waiting game. I’ve got a scan in over the next couple of days, and pending that result, we’ll be able to find out hopefully a return to play there. I think it should be around the Big Bash in some capacity, whether it’s at the start or manage through that. It’s frustrating, but it is what it is.”Part of Johnson’s frustration had come from not identifying the injury earlier, mainly because he had never had a stress fracture in his back previously. Johnson has been a late bloomer into professional cricket after a lot of injury other injury concerns.He initially wrote off his back pain in the IPL as a disc issue, something he had dealt with previously, and did not get in scanned because it settled quickly.”I started to get a bit of back discomfort, and sort of wasn’t too bad, because I was only really training at that stage,” Johnson said. “And when I got back to Australia, I was trying to build-up for the T20 series in the West Indies. I think just the increased load stirred it up a little bit a little bit more. And we got a scan, and unfortunately, there was a stress [fracture] there. A little bit uncommon for a 29-year-old.”It’s a bit of a strange one, because initially they thought it was an old fracture that had just sort of scarred and then I think more recently the more scans we’ve done, they’ve thought it’s probably a fresher one.”Spencer Johnson suffered a stress fracture during the IPL•PTI The injury could not have come at a worse time for the left-arm quick. Having missed the 2024 limited-overs tour of England due to injury, he bounced back with a superb T20I series at home against Pakistan including a maiden international five-wicket haul in Sydney. Injuries to Australia’s big three opened the door for Johnson to play in the Champions Trophy and he took 2 for 49 from 10 in the rained out clash with Afghanistan.But missing the last four white-ball series, including the ODIs against South Africa, and the upcoming one-dayers and T20Is against India leave him with a tough climb back to be part of the T20 World Cup, particularly with fellow left-armer Ben Dwarshuis performing so well for Australia in recent times.”It’s never a great time being injured,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately, especially this calendar year, there’s plenty of white-ball cricket. Regardless of the back I was planning on staying here in the winter and making sure this summer was a big one, hopefully for Australia. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. But there’s still plenty of cricket to play post Christmas and a T20 World Cup and something I’d love to be a part of.”For now he will continue rehabbing his back in Adelaide, diligently doing pilates and swimming to keep up his shoulder mobility and strengthen his core. He has been leaning on Australia and Brisbane Heat team-mate Xavier Bartlett for recovery advice, as Bartlett has come back from multiple stress fractures.He will also need to do a bit of remedial work on his action when he returns to bowling and will liaise with national pace bowling coach Adam Griffith, Heat bowling coach Andy Bichel and South Australia coach Ryan Harris on what is required.”The beauty of being a part of the Brisbane Heat set up, the SACA, and then even Cricket Australia that I’ll be sort of leaning on all three Rhino, Andy Bichel and Griff and everyone’s sort of on the same page,” Johnson said. “I’ve got plenty of ideas of what I want to do and keeping everyone on the same page and doing a lot of the work at the SACA is what I’ll do. It’s been nice to be at home at the minute.”

Puja Pujara talks about how she came to write a book chronicling the career of her famous husband, the former India No. 3

S Sudarshanan26-May-2025A lot happens in a cricketer’s life. The binaries of wins and losses aside, there are various other ups and downs. For a cricketer’s family, they experience these vicariously when they hear from or watch and read about their loved one.Cheteshwar Pujara’s family might have been less aware of the ins and outs of his career than other cricketers’ families. Pujara, by his own admission, is a private person. Sharing his thoughts didn’t come naturally to him, and indeed, he did not want to put second-hand pressure on his family by telling them about the trials and stresses in his life. But he worked on opening up over the years and got better at it.His wife, Puja, did not follow cricket or know who Pujara was before marrying him. Coming to the sport afresh, she wanted to know more about it and took a deep interest in his career. Over time, she learnt more about the game and its various aspects. Inspired by Andre Agassi’s book, , she began journalling her experience as the wife of an India cricketer.An MBA graduate, Puja quit her corporate job, which she loved, after her wedding. When the couple’s first daughter was three, she wanted to get back to work, but decided that as Pujara’s manager, she didn’t have the time to give to a full-time job. On the other hand, accompanying him on long cricket tours would leave her with not a lot to do. Over the years, she had made notes about conversations with the Pujara family. Her father-in-law, Arvind, would describe their struggles from years gone by, talk about the challenges the family went through so Pujara could play cricket, and describe the bond Pujara shared with his mother. Puja would listen keenly, and thanks to her sharp memory, write it all down in her diary later.In 2021, Pujara suggested she collate her notes into a book. That had been Puja’s motive for keeping a journal, which she had not spoken of before – the hope that it might turn into a book someday. That book has now been published: is an unusual memoir, Puja’s account of the bumpy ride the family of a cricketer goes through. It belongs in a sparsely populated genre, of which the best known are perhaps the tour books of Frances Edmonds, wife of former England spinner Phil Edmonds, though those were more by way of humorous travelogues and therefore different in nature and tone from Puja’s book.”I had to be very prepared before suggesting [she] write the book,” Pujara says. “I was a little uncomfortable at times about what people would think about what I was doing or what my thought process was. But I told her I don’t mind [the book] because this is the truth and you have seen my journey.”On watching Pujara fend off body blows in Australia in 2021: “I don’t know if I have it in me to relive it again”•AFPPuja agrees. “I told him I am not going to portray you as a saint. You are a good human being, but the book won’t be just glorifying everything. There will be the hard parts and vulnerabilities. You have an inspiring journey, and I want someone to take inspiration.”I think most [cricketers’] partners would relate to what I’m saying – that you are riding the same highs and the same lows. And while it is easy to say, it is a whole new thing when you are actually experiencing it.”Puja had to get used to being a public figure after their marriage, and become aware that she needed to be careful of her image too, for the effects it might have on her husband’s. Even if she didn’t end up enhancing Pujara’s image, she did not want to damage it.It is relatively easy for a sportsperson to be in the public eye when things are going well. Pujara was in good form around the time of their courtship and marriage. The challenge came when the going got tough. When he was dropped for the Sydney Test in 2015, it was heartbreak for Puja, she says. She felt it like a personal loss and like the world had turned upside down. She was in Australia for the tour and did not want to go to the SCG to watch the match.That experience taught her the value of detachment – that as a family member, she needed to offer her husband support rather than having her own emotional reaction to the incident add to his distress. “I had to gather courage, swallow that news and be there for him in whatever way he needed,” she says. “While it is very disheartening, you have to understand that only 11 players can play. That somebody else’s family is happy that the other person is getting to play. It took time for me to mature… We realised over time that [being dropped] is fine, but I wouldn’t take away any disappointment I had at that point in time.”Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was not Pujara who broke the news of his omission in Sydney to Puja. He found it tough to give his family updates of that sort. He dealt with failures in his own way; instead of opening up, he would withdraw, trying to “protect the family” from disappointment.”He wouldn’t realise that he’s going through something,” Puja says. “I had to tell him, ‘Boss, I think you need to take a step back and just pause for a second. I feel you are not on your A game mentally. Let’s talk about it.’ In a country like India, things like mental health weren’t addressed until recently. You’re so used to the hardships and the difficult times that you don’t realise sometimes [that] you may need to seek help.”Stand by me: from not being a cricket fan before marriage, Puja went on to become her husband’s manager•BCCIPujara credits his wife with helping him deal with failures better. She helped him stick to his cricket routine when he didn’t want to, during a low phase. His county stint with Yorkshire between 2015 and 2018 also enabled him to open up. The mental conditioning coach at the club helped him be less hard on himself, making Pujara realise that scoring a fifty was an achievement too, not just a hundred. “That was the first time I realised that I need to switch off from the game, divert my mind and talk about my failures also,” Pujara says. “When you succeed, you know what you have done has worked for you. But when you fail, it isn’t always about the technique; it could be a very small thing – like, you are not resting well or not sleeping well.”While Puja could help her husband out with his mental battles, the blows inflicted by bowlers on the field were his alone to deal with. During the Brisbane Test in 2021, Pujara stood like an immovable force in the middle, staving off a bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon. He repeatedly took blows to his body – elbow, thigh, neck, finger – and on the helmet grille, while scoring a crucial second-innings fifty. As a fan or a viewer, those hits added to the narrative of the Test match. Not for the wife, though.”It was just a nightmare,” Puja says. “Watching it, I had a gush of many emotions all at once. I was worried and got in touch with the physio and team manager. I messaged so many people, because some of [the blows] were closer to the head and that was very scary. I don’t know if I have it in me to relive it again,” she laughs.When Pujara picked up his phone after the match, he saw a flood of text messages from her. “I am fine,” he wrote back. They spoke briefly and he rushed back to join the team celebrations for India’s second successive Test series win in Australia. “I was in pain, but it was a sweet pain because the Indian team had won the game and the series,” he says.A year and four series after his Gabba knock, Pujara was dropped again from the Indian Test side. He was recalled six months later and played eight more matches, the World Test Championship final in June 2023 being the last.Puja suggested a while ago that he look at life beyond playing cricket, and take up coaching or broadcasting, but he wasn’t on board then. Slowly his reluctance gave way and he took up some media work. He has been an expert on ESPNcricinfo’s match-analysis shows, which, he says, has enabled him to explore another side of the game and understand his own game better in retrospect.Pujara is 37. It has been close to two years since he last played for India, but he is not thinking about retirement just yet. The fire in him still burns. He enjoys the grind of preparing for a match, and the routines that help him stay hungry.Irrespective of what happens in his journey from here on, Pujara will know he has a pillar of support alongside him. The one who told his story to the world as she watched and lived it off the field.

Game 3 of the 2025 World Series needed 18 innings to reach its conclusion, as the Dodgers managed to pull off a 6–5 win over the Blue Jays to take a 2–1 series lead. There were plenty of heroes in the marathon affair, including relief pitcher Will Klein, and of course, walk-off hero Freddie Freeman.

Freeman's solo shot in the bottom of the 18th inning sent Dodger Stadium into a frenzy and finally shut the door on what was one of the longest games in World Series history. It was an instant classic, and Freeman cemented his place in the history of the Fall Classic by becoming the first player ever to hit multiple walk-off home runs in the World Series.

So, just where does Monday night's game rank among the longest World Series games of all time?

Game 3 was one of the longest games in World Series history

Matchup

Year

Game Length

Game

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

2018

18 innings

Game 3

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

2025

18 innings

Game 3

New York Mets vs. Kansas City Royals

2015

14 innings

Game 1

Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros

2005

14 innings

Game 3

Brooklyn Robins vs. Boston Red Sox

1916

14 innings

Game 2

New York Mets vs. New York Yankees

2000

12 innings

Game 1

Only one other game in World Series history has needed 18 or more innings to conclude. Coincidentally, it also occurred during a Game 3 at Dodger Stadium and featured a walk-off home run, that time from Max Muncy. That game, which was in the 2018 World Series against the Red Sox, was won by L.A., 3–2.

Let's see how it compares to the longest games in terms of duration:

Matchup

Year

Game Length

Total Innings

Winner/Score

Red Sox vs. Dodgers

2018

7 hours, 20 minutes

18

Dodgers win 3–2

Blue Jays vs. Dodgers

2025

6 hours, 39 minutes

18

Dodgers win 6–5

White Sox vs. Astros

2005

5 hours, 41 minutes

14

White Sox win 7–5

Astros vs. Dodgers

2017

5 hours, 17 minutes

10

Astros win 13–12

Royals vs. Mets

2015

5 hours, 9 minutes

14

Royals win 5–4

Mets vs. Yankees

2000

4 hours, 51 minutes

12

Yankees win 4–3

Strangely enough, the Dodgers have been involved in three of the longest World Series games in MLB history. Monday night's game was nothing short of a gauntlet. World Series and MLB records were smashed and each team's bullpen was running on fumes.

In the end, the Dodgers broke the heart of the Blue Jays and their fans thanks to Freeman's walk-off home run in the 18th inning. After two full games worth of baseball, the Dodgers took a 2–1 lead. And less than 24 hours after the end of that marathon of a ballgame, the teams will run another race in Tuesday's Game 4, with first pitch set for 8:00 p.m. ET.

Bayern Munich were forced to come from behind to beat Sporting CP 3-1 at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday in the Champions League. A Joshua Kimmich own goal gave the visitors a shock lead in the game but the hosts hit back through Serge Gnabry. Teenage superstar Lennart Karl then sealed another impressive performance by firing Bayern ahead before Jonathan Tah wrapped up another European win for Vincent Kompany's side.

Karl the star as Bayern come from behind

Bayern thought they had broken the deadlock just minutes into the encounter. Karl controlled the ball and swept home a fine finish from just inside the penalty area, but the goal was chalked off as Gnabry had strayed fractionally offside. The hosts went on to have the better chances of the opening 45 minutes but couldn’t find a way past goalkeeper Rui Silva. Harry Kane was denied by the post, while Karl went even closer just before half-time after a jinking run but saw his effort palmed away by Silva.

Those misses proved to be costly as Sporting stunned the Allianz Arena at the start of the second half. A quick break down the left flank saw Joao Simoes beat Tah and fire a ball across goal. A lunging Kimmich tried to block the shot but succeeded only in diverting the ball past Bayern stopper Manuel Neuer to hand the visitors a shock lead.

Bayern hit back within 10 minutes courtesy of some criminal defending by the visitors. A corner in from the right by Michael Olise found Gnabry completed unmarked at the far post and left with the simple task of hooking the ball home to make it 1-1.

Four minutes later, Bayern were in front and it was no surprise to see the irrepressible Karl netting. The 17-year-old ran onto a ball in the box, cushioned it perfectly on his left foot before lashing home with his right to put Bayern in front for the first time in the game.

Sporting's resistance was broken and Bayern went on to seal the win through Tah. Kimmich went some way to making amends for his earlier own goal by pinging a ball from deep into the penalty area for Olise to head back into the danger area. His header found an unmarked Tah with all the time in the world to poke home Bayern's third to seal the win.

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Karl enhanced his growing reputation with another stellar performance and a vital goal to ensure Bayern took all three points. Even with Harry Kane on the pitch, Karl looked Bayern's most likely source of a goal against Sporting and it was no surprise to see him pop up with the goal that put Bayern 2-1 up. Karl also wrote his name in the history books with his latest strike, as he becomes the youngest player in Champions League history to score in three consecutive games at 17 years and 290 days.

The big loser

Kimmich had an evening to forget against Sporting. A poor moment saw the 30-year-old inadvertently hand the visitors the lead as he put through his own net in the first half. Kimmich's frustrations then boiled over in the second half when a brief brawl erupted between both sets of players after Bayern had equalised. The Germany star was booked for his part in the proceedings to compound a less than impressive showing from the veteran.

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A European club has now reached a “verbal agreement” to sign a Newcastle United attacker in the January transfer window.

Newcastle receive major Yoane Wissa boost

Things are starting to look up for Newcastle. On the pitch, they eased past Everton in the Premier League to make it back-to-back domestic wins and finally pick up a victory on the road.

Meanwhile, away from the action, Yoane Wissa has decided against taking part in the African Cup of Nations with Dr Congo, with his full focus on making his long-awaited debut for the Magpies.

Providing an update on the striker’s fitness in his latest press conference, Eddie Howe told reporters: “He participated in an 11v11 training game while we were at Everton. He will have another one this week and we will see how he is.”

The Newcastle boss also previewed his side’s forthcoming clash against Tottenham Hotspur in search of a third-straight Premier League win, saying: “It’s vitally important we find the consistency we’re searching for.

“It seems like we’re going between Champions League and Premier League and not quite finding that sweet spot we’ve been searching for all season. Hopefully this is the turning point for us.”

Three points could take those in Tyneside up to seventh in the Premier League and one place behind Sunderland if other results go their way. But that improvement may not be enough to keep hold of William Osula, who could reportedly be on his way out of Newcastle when the January transfer window arrives.

Osula reaches "verbal agreement" with Frankfurt

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Eintracht Frankfurt have now reached a “verbal agreement” with Osula ahead of January. The young striker is reportedly keen to join the Bundesliga club, but they are yet to reach an agreement with Newcastle despite ongoing contact.

With record signing Nick Woltemade thriving and Wissa finally on his way back from injury, a winter move would make perfect sense for Osula. Whether Newcastle are keen to let him leave for around €20m (£18m) at the end of the season is another question, however.

As good as Thiaw: Newcastle star is now "one of the best" players in the PL

Eddie Howe and Newcastle United have a superstar in the making on their hands.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 1, 2025

At 22 years old, the forward still has plenty of potential and received praise from Howe back in April when the manager dubbed his young star “excellent”. Whilst the loan move would do him good, Osula’s long-term future could still lie at St James’ Park.

More exciting than Thiaw: Newcastle have their next Isak-esque "superstar"

And what’s the ODI record for most caught-and-bowleds by one bowler?

Steven Lynch11-Nov-2025In one of South Africa’s recent ODIs, four Pakistan batters were caught and bowled, three of them by Nqaba Peter. Were either of these records? asked Mendel Bacher from South Africa
You’re talking about the second ODI in Faisalabad last week, when four men were caught and bowled during Pakistan’s innings. That equalled the ODI record: there were also four in England’s innings against Australia in Adelaide in January 1999, two each by Brendon Julian and Shane Warne.Three of last week’s quartet were held by the South African legspinner Nqaba Peter, which is a first for one-day internationals. There are 11 other instances of three caught-and-bowleds in an ODI innings, but none of them was taken by the same bowler.Jasprit Bumrah has taken 99 wickets in T20Is. How many bowlers have 100 or more in each of the three formats? asked Paritosh Gupta from Canada
You’re right that Jasprit Bumrah currently has 99 wickets in T20ls, to go with 226 in Tests and 149 in ODIs. He needs one more T20I scalp to become only the fifth man to reach three figures in all three formats, following Tim Southee (391 in Tests, 221 in ODIs and 164 in T20Is), Shakib Al Hasan (246, 317, 149), Shaheen Shah Afridi (121, 132, 122) and Lasith Malinga (101, 338, 107).Another current player, Jason Holder, is close to completing the set: going in to the final match of West Indies’ T20 series in New Zealand later this week, he has 97 wickets to go with 162 in Tests and 159 in OIDIs. Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe also has 99 wickets in T20 internationals, but he’s taken only 40 in Tests and 94 in ODIs.Who are the batters and bowlers with the best averages in their last 25 Tests? asked Rammohan Roy from India
The leading batter in his last 25 Tests will come as little surprise: Don Bradman averaged 105.09 in his last 25 matches, with 3468 runs, including 15 centuries. Next as I write is New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, who averages 66.67 in his last 25 Tests: if that should fall, second place would revert to Kumar Sangakkara (64.05). Among those who played 50 or more Tests, Andy Flower averaged 63.83 over his last 25, Shivnarine Chanderpaul 60.91, and Clive Lloyd 60.14.The leading bowler is another current player: Jasprit Bumrah has taken 120 wickets in his last 25 Tests at an average of just 17.63. Among regular bowlers, Alec Bedser (18.68) and Curtly Ambrose (18.78) also averaged under 20, while Josh Hazlewood – who is about to play in the Ashes – has taken exactly 100 wickets in his last 25 Tests at an average of 20.35.Bermuda appeared only in the 2007 ODI World Cup, and is best remembered for Dwayne Leverock’s blinder to dismiss Robin Uthappa•Getty ImagesIn the climax of the 1968 Oval Test, John Inverarity was the last Australian to get out, having opened the innings. How often has an opener been the tenth wicket to fall? asked Robert Watts from England
When John Inverarity was the last man out in that famous match at The Oval in August 1968, it was only the fifth time an opener had been the last wicket to fall in any Test innings. The first was a more famous Aussie, Victor Trumper, against England in Melbourne in January 1904, and then it didn’t happen for more than 44 years, until Len Hutton was the last to go against Australia at The Oval in August 1948 as England were all out for 52.It’s become slightly more common in recent years, but there have still been only 29 instances all told. Three of them involved West Indies’ Desmond Haynes, who uniquely was last out in both innings against New Zealand in Dunedin in February 1980. Haynes also managed it against India in Delhi in November 1987; no one else has done it more than once.In the Lord’s Test in June 2021, the debutant Devon Conway did this for New Zealand, and Rory Burns followed suit for England.Are there any teams who have appeared at just one World Cup? asked Harrison Miller from England
Three teams have appeared at a single men’s 50-over World Cup. A side representing East Africa appeared in the first one, in 1975 (when the matches were of 60 overs each); Namibia made their sole appearance in 2003, and Bermuda in 2007.Three different countries have played at just one T20 World Cup: Kenya played for the only time in the inaugural edition, in 2007, while the most recent tournament in 2024 featured Canada and Uganda for the first time. Bermuda and Uganda (and East Africa) have featured in just the one World Cup over the two formats.In the women’s game, Scotland and Thailand have appeared in one T20 World Cup (and never in the 50-over version), while Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Young England all participated for the only time in the inaugural ODI World Cup in 1973.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Pete Alonso has opted out of his contract with the Mets and is back on the free agent market a year after doing that song and dance for the first time. It was a humbling experience last offseason, which he likely entered expecting to command a nine-figure contract before returning to Queens with a far more modest deal.

After months of negotiations, the 30-year-old first baseman agreed to a two-year, $54 million deal to remain with New York, but he had the option to opt out after the first season. He did that on Monday. Most expect him to return to the Mets, but that’s not guaranteed after a bruising contract negotiation last year left hurt feelings all around.

Alonso is in a much stronger negotiating position in 2025 than he was in 2024. He’s coming off an excellent season in which he slashed .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs. His wRC+ (141) and fWAR (3.6) were both his highest since 2022, as his numbers were up across the board.

New York Mets

It’s hard to see the Mets and Alonso quitting each other. He has been with the team since it selected him with the 64th pick in the 2016 MLB draft. In his seven-year big league career, he has become the franchise’s all-time home run leader (264). It would be weird seeing him in another jersey. If the Mets want him back, both sides will have to get over their pride after a painful, drawn-out contract negotiation from last offseason. The Mets were the National League’s biggest disappointment this season, but Alonso wasn’t the reason. They’ll have to offer a long-term deal to make this reunion happen, then they can continue to build around Alonso, Juan Soto, and Francisco Lindor.

Seattle Mariners

Seattle really struggled at the corners all season, and it got so bad that they completely flipped the script at the trade deadline, acquiring Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor. Both Suarez and Naylor are hitting free agency, and while the Mariners would likely love to bring the latter back, he may be headed elsewhere. Enter Alonso, who would be a great power partner for Cal Raleigh. The Big Dumper and the Polar Bear would be downright scary hitting next to each other in the lineup. The Dump and Thump Connection, perhaps? I’m sure we can do better than that, but it’s what I’ve got so far.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers have missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since winning the World Series in 2023. It’s time for a bit of a shake-up. The Jake Burger trade hasn’t worked as intended. Burger struggled in 2025, slashing .236/.269/.419 with 16 home runs, 53 RBIs, a .687 OPS, a wRC+ of 89 and a brutal fWAR of -0.1. Texas has a lot of payroll committed for 2026. There is currently about $150 million on the books so far, and it is projected to have the oldest roster in baseball. Alonso won’t make the Rangers younger, but if they’re truly going all-in on this group, he’d be a fantastic addition for a team that finished 18th in home runs (175).

Boston Red Sox

Triston Casas has steadily gotten worse over the past three seasons and will be healing from a ruptured patellar tendon heading into 2026. It might be time for a fresh start for both parties. If that happens, it would open the door to adding Alonso, who has hit well at Fenway Park. In 10 career games in Boston, he has three home runs, two doubles and a triple for an OPS of .893 and a wRC+ of 134. He’d be a solid veteran presence for a young clubhouse and would make a habit of hitting towering shots over the Green Monster.

He’s dominated attacks in the IPL and on flat international pitches, but can he do it when there’s seam and bounce? Friday gave us an answer

Sidharth Monga31-Oct-20252:49

What explains India’s batting blowout?

Before the start of the second T20I at the MCG, cameras caught the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head talking to each other. You would pay anything to be a fly on the wall when these two mad geniuses of T20 talk, but all you will get is a laugh, and not insights into their games.”Yeah, I was trying because I knew that he’s not going to give me anything [by way of tips on how to bat in these conditions],” Abhishek said about the interaction, “because he’s the kind of batter that doesn’t think too much. And still I was asking him a bit regarding the pitches and how they are gonna play.Related

'The more the merrier' – Hazlewood calls for more allrounders in Ashes XI

Hazlewood masterclass hands Australia 1-0 lead

“He was like, just go and enjoy. And that’s the thing he’s been doing in SRH as well. So I knew that he’s gonna answer me this, but still I wanted to hear from him.”It wasn’t quite an enjoyable night for batters generally, as Josh Hazlewood put on a clinic in his analysis of 4-0-13-3 and India still managed to take six wickets in their defence of a measly 125.Abhishesk and Head were the only batters who struck at over 180 for an innings of a reasonable length, while Mitchell Marsh went at 176.92. It is fair to say that apart from the trio, all other batters struggled on the early-season MCG pitch.Abhishek’s batting, though, stood out further for it was a solo effort that kept India in the game even though he was isolated for long periods. In the first 17 overs of India’s innings, Abhishek managed to face only 28 balls, but scored 53 of their 110 runs. In the first 10 overs, four of which were bowled by Hazlewood, Abhishek hit all eight of India’s boundaries. In all, he hit 10 of their 15 boundaries.Abhishek hit 10 of India’s 15 boundaries•AFP/Getty ImagesThe lack of strike was one of those things India couldn’t have avoided easily. No one other than Abhishek was able to work the ball around with ease, and India lost five wickets early. The only partnership India put together was between Abhishek and Harshit Rana, of whom the latter can be forgiven for not being able to put Abhishek back on strike against high-quality bowling in testing conditions; during their 47-ball stand of 56, Abhishek only got to face 14 balls.However, this innings of Abhishek will remain a positive for India on a night when they lost yet another toss, but might have misread the conditions in wanting to bat first anyway, playing more spin than pace. Varun Chakravarthy might have further cemented himself as India’s No. T20I spinner with figures of 4-0-23-1 even in these conditions. Nothing will please them as much as Abhishek, though.Conditions in the IPL are geared towards maximise scoring, and before this tour Abhishek’s international cricket had mostly been played in batting-friendly conditions. Here, though, he outshone everyone else, who were made to hop around by the generous seam and bounce on offer.Abhishek didn’t dial back his intent even for one second. This was high-precision attacking batting, which comes from a lot of training just to do that. Abhishek spoke about the hard work that had gone into building this T20 game, once he saw that his conventional game was not getting him into the best combination at the highest level.”It is not usual [this seemingly high-risk game],” Abhishek said. “but with ups and downs in my batting for a fair amount of time, even I was confused. I saw even in the IPL, openers were so consistent. Obviously if you have to take that competition on, you have to do something exceptional.”I felt I could work on my ability to play my shots. I try to execute my shots using my awareness of the field. In the nets, or when I am at home, my focus is to bat with a field in mind. Also I try to play different bowlers all the time, and not similar bowlers. And then the only motive is: play my shots without getting out. That training has helped me a lot.”

It’s understood Azhar felt the appointment of Sarfaraz Ahmed in a role that aligned closely with his own responsibilities led him to feel his position had become untenable

Danyal Rasool19-Nov-2025Azhar Ali has resigned from his position at the PCB as selector and head of youth development, ending a 12-month stint in that role. The departure, which was not publicly announced by either Azhar or the board, has been confirmed by ESPNcricinfo.ESPNcricinfo has learned Azhar’s departure came after an extended period of simmering differences in outlook between the former Pakistan captain and the board. Matters eventually came to a head after Sarfaraz Ahmed was reportedly appointed – though, again, not officially confirmed by the board – as the head of Pakistan Shaheens and Under-19 sides, with his remit extending to the organising and managing of tours, as well as conducting training camps.It is understood Azhar felt the appointment of Sarfaraz in a role that aligned closely with his own set of responsibilities led him to feel his position had become untenable. He sent in his letter of resignation earlier this week, which the PCB accepted.Azhar, who captained Pakistan in Tests and ODIs, was first brought into the PCB as a member of the selection panel for Pakistan’s men’s national side in October 2024. A month later, he had the role of youth development head tacked on, one which was publicly announced by the PCB at the time.The official announcement of his appointment on the PCB’s website stated that he had been “tasked with shaping the future of Pakistan cricket by designing and implementing comprehensive youth cricket strategies, establishing robust grassroots cricket structures and talent pathways, collaborating with regional cricket associations to strengthen age-group programmes, educating emerging cricketers under the PCB’s Pathways Programme, and organising seminars and clinics to build awareness of off-field development essentials for aspiring players”.The next major assignment for a Pakistan age-group side comes at the 2026 Under-19 World Cup, which runs from January 15 to February 6, and will take place in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Co-hosts Zimbabwe, Scotland and England are in Pakistan’s group at the competition, which Pakistan have won twice – in 2004 and 2006.

As a Real Madrid stalwart who was fiercely loyal to Jose Mourinho, Xabi Alonso did not seem like an obvious signing for Pep Guardiola, and yet the pair got on famously during their two years together at Bayern Munich. Alonso’s experience helped Guardiola win two Bundesliga titles while the veteran player sought to tap into the Catalan’s knowledge as he prepared for his own career on the touchline.

Alonso’s playing career was just about the perfect apprenticeship for moving into coaching as he worked under some of the biggest names in the game, each with their own unique style. His five years at Liverpool were spent with Rafa Benitez, the arch strategist. His long spell at Madrid saw him work with three vastly different coaches in Manuel Pellegrini, Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. He ended his career working under the master of modern positional play in Guardiola for two years, before one final year reunited with Ancelotti.

Guardiola could instantly see that Alonso was cut out for a successful career in the dugout, remarking: "Every single coach who ever had the marvellous pleasure of training Xabi as a player knew without any doubt that he'd become a coach," and working alongside Guardiola was clearly an insightful time for Alonso.

“I learned a lot in three years in Bayern,” he said. “I was 32, I had made a lot of my career but in two or three years, I learned so, so much.”

Alonso’s time with Guardiola evidently helped him succeed at Bayer Leverkusen, where he ended Bayern’s 11-year stranglehold on the Bundesliga title and lifted the DFB-Pokal during an unbeaten domestic campaign. But it did not necessarily set him up well for life at Madrid, and as he prepares to meet his former mentor in the dugout for the first time when Los Blancos face Manchester City on Wednesday amid a run of just two wins in seven matches, there is a feeling that defeat could spell the end of Alonso’s time at the Bernabeu.

Getty ImagesDownward spiral

Guardiola’s coaching mentor was Johan Cruyff, and in his very first season as a coach with Barcelona’s B team he approached the legendary Dutchman about a dilemma: His best two players were undermining him. Cruyff’s message was clear: “Get rid of them.” Guardiola did as Cruyff advised and his team overcame a slippery start to storm to the title.

Alonso has been confronted with a similar dilemma in the form of Vinicius Jr. According to , Alonso’s dispute with the Brazil forward began during the Club World Cup, when Vinicius was furious with his coach for playing him on his less favoured right side in the 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint Germain in the semi-final. 

The tension between player and coach then came to a head in October after the player’s furious reaction to being substituted towards the end of the Clasico win over Barcelona. Vinicius released a grovelling apology on to “all Madridistas, my team–mates, the club and the president“. Tellingly, he did not apologise to Alonso. Nonetheless, Vinicius was in the line up for Madrid’s next outing against Valencia. 

They won that game easily 4-0, but then their problems began. They lost at Liverpool, drew three consecutive league games at Rayo Vallecano, Elche and Girona, and then scraped past Olympiacos. They did easily beat Athletic Club 3-0 in their best performance of the season, only to follow it up with Sunday’s ill-tempered defeat at home to Celta Vigo.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportUnrelenting questions

Alonso’s lenient treatment of Vinicius, which contrasted with Arne Slot dropping Mohamed Slot from the Liverpool squad following his rant about being "thrown under the bus", was twice mentioned during his press conference on Tuesday ahead of facing City. Despite the coach taking no action against Vinicius, the player is still apparently furious with his coach, and has decided to delay talks regarding a contract renewal until the summer, by which time Alonso could be gone.

Alonso looked surprised when he was asked on Tuesday if he regretted taking Vinicius off in El Clasico. “I don’t know what the question is getting at. It was a decision in the moment and now we’re in another moment.”

It was far from the only uncomfortable question he was asked, either, as queries from the assembled media ranged from, “Do you have the support of the whole squad?” to, “Do you feel alone?” and, “How do you cope with all these rumours about your future?”

AFP'Thinks he's Guardiola'

The rift with Vinicius is believed to just be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Alonso’s relationship with the players. Another report in recounted how Alonso told his squad soon after taking charge that they would have to run more and work harder. Alonso’s staff had spoken of “many bad habits” setting in under Ancelotti and the new coach established a new set of rules for the squad, emphasising the importance of punctuality and maintaining intensity in training. 

Alonso’s hands-on approach was in total contrast to that of Ancelotti, who was barely involved in training sessions, delegating them to other members of staff. And it rubbed players, many of whom had won multiple La Liga titles and Champions League crowns, up the wrong way. 

The most damning quote in the report came from a source close to a senior player, which read: “He thinks he’s Pep Guardiola, but for now he’s just Xabi.”

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AFPNot a safe haven for coaches

The truth is that even Guardiola, leaving aside his past as a Barcelona player and coach for a second, would struggle to succeed at Madrid. The club has never been a safe haven for coaches. This is a club that has repeatedly sacked managers who have won La Liga or the Champions League, sometimes the very next day.

While Barcelona venerated Cruyff and Guardiola and, for a couple of years, Frank Rijkaard, Madrid prefer their coaches to be lower key. It is why Mourinho, the ultimate rockstar of the management world, was such a divisive figure in the Spanish capital. By the end of his chaotic tenure, Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa were the only allies the Portuguese had left after he fell out with Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

While Mourinho and Guardiola were sworn enemies when they were in charge of Spain’s biggest clubs for three years and are often painted as polar opposites, Alonso thought they were not so different after all, saying in 2016: “They are both very similar in that they are hard workers and extremely ambitious. On the football side, they have different approaches and style. What you get with both is huge charisma and leadership.”