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The same qualities that brought Jayasuriya criticism when he was a selector have contributed to his success when he was interim coach

Madushka Balasuriya07-Oct-2024Confidence, data-driven insight, and a little bit of luck. These are the core tenets of Sanath Jayasuriya’s coaching philosophy, which have worked well enough for him to be handed the reins of Sri Lanka’s men’s national team, following roughly three months in the role in an interim capacity.Those three months, while not being a runaway success, included a home ODI series win against India, a home Test series win against New Zealand and an impressive Test win in England – yes, they lost the series 2-1, but it was a crucial victory from the WTC point of view. The only real blip was Jayasuriya’s first assignment, a T20I series defeat to reigning world champions India.”What I have always said is that it’s all about confidence and trust. I created that around the team and that’s very important,” Jayasuriya said on Monday, as he faced the media following the announcement of his full-time appointment. “And I think there was a little bit of luck also. You may do a lot of work, but you need that luck sometimes.Related

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“At the same time, the players are determined to do well. They know what they went through over the last couple of years. They were really down and I asked the people to support the Sri Lanka cricketers. They are a good bunch of cricketers and they are talented. Only thing I gave was confidence, and I am there with them. They can talk to me and discuss anything.”That, in a nutshell, is Jayasuriya the coach. Arm around the shoulder, almost parent-like in the handling of his players. While during his time as chief selector, this was one of the criticisms directed at him – that he was at times too comfortable with his players, seen giving them advice and instructions in the lead up to, or even during, matches – now it’s seen as a strength.Jayasuriya has always been all action, with emotions firmly worn on his sleeves. Even during his short stint as interim coach, it was not uncommon to see him standing on the boundary line at the edge of the dugout, no attempt whatsoever at hiding his many emotions.”Yeah, he himself gets nervous sometimes, but he doesn’t let that happen to us,” Angelo Mathews had said recently during Sri Lanka’s second Test against New Zealand.And most times at the highest levels of team sport, it’s not so much about the actual coaching as it is your ability to get the message across effectively to the players. Sri Lanka have had 14 head coaches across their history (not including interim appointments) including some on multiple occasions, but Jayasuriya is only the fourth from Sri Lanka.

“In practice, we try and find different ways to do them [training sessions]. I want to make them interesting. Even before we start training, we’ve done little changes to create a nice atmosphere. So there are little things I do but it goes a long way”Sanath Jayasuriya

While foreign coaches bring a mountain of experience, their communication often relies on a translator, with several anecdotes abound about players over the years having tuned out during team briefings as a result of this language barrier. This, allied with Jayasuriya’s standing as a player , has provided him with a unique authority over the dressing room.”It’s easy for me to communicate first and foremost,” he said. “Any issues they have they can speak with me freely, and it’s easy to sort out. They have the confidence to do that. They also know what sort of cricket I played, so they know the value I bring.”But I have a responsibility as a local coach, I don’t have favourites. I will always play the team that is best for Sri Lanka cricket. I know that after me, it’s unlikely that a local coach will get this role. So there’s a responsibility I have on that end as well.”As for insights into Jayasuriya’s coaching acumen, there is yet to be any real information forthcoming, aside from the results. This is largely down to his role as a man-manager first and foremost, with tactical insights derived from the data gathered by SLC’s centralised hub for advanced cricket analytics – their “brain centre”.”The players also know what sort of cricket I played, so they know the value I bring”•Getty Images”In practice, we try and find different ways to do them [training sessions],” he said. “I want to make them interesting. Even before we start training, we’ve done little changes to create a nice atmosphere. So there are little things I do but it goes a long way.”The basics are very important. And that they enjoy, and that they are focusing [on]. But like I always say, focus maximum and when you finish, switch off. I don’t need to put them under pressure when they are not playing and the game is finished.”A very key area at the moment is the analysing department. That’s why Sri Lanka Cricket has invested a lot of money to the ‘brain centre’. We got some support from India too recently to educate our analysis department. It was very successful. And every tour we get data on the opposition, we go through it and discuss every detail. We then discuss our plans 48 hours before the match, so it’s easy for us to go out and execute our plan.”But while it’s been a satisfying honeymoon period, there are much sterner tests to come. For Jayasuriya, though, as a player, administrator, and now coach, a challenge is something to take head-on.”I think this is [something I] never expected, but I am very happy to achieve this and get this opportunity,” he said. “It’s a challenging job, I know that, it’s not a very easy job. But I want to take on that challenge and move forward with the team.”

Brandon King’s unbeaten 98 went in vain as Chris Green put down four catches in the chase

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Sep-2025Antigua and Barbuda Falcons 188 for 6 (Gous 85* Wickham 26, Sams 3-29) beat Barbados Royals 187 for 4 (King 98*, Rutherford 29, Irshad 2-13) by four wicketsAntigua and Barbuda Falcons nearly lost grip of the last-ball thriller in Bridgetown with their over-reliance on singles and doubles in a tense chase of 188, but Shamar Springer hit the winning runs for them to strengthen their third spot on the points table. It meant Barbados Royals continued to scrape the bottom without a single victory to their name so far this season, as they failed to defend 187 after Brandon King’s 98 not out.Royals captain Rovman Powell thought they had enough runs at the halfway mark but two Royals fielders went on to drop six catches – Chris Green four and Daniel Sams two – which hampered their chances of getting their first victory. Royals have just one point from six games season, their qualification chances narrowing with every loss.Andries Gous was the leading man for Falcons, starring with an unbeaten 85 off 53 with five fours and four sixes, but he barely got strike in the last over, off which they needed 12. Powell rolled the dice by giving the ball to Sherfane Rutherford, who had last bowled 26 T20s ago, against England in June. Rutherford started with three wides in his first four balls before bowling hard lengths on a straight line. Three off two became two off one when Imad Wasim attempted a second after hacking the ball to long-on but a quick collection of the throw, turning around and hitting the stumps from Quinton de Kock found Imad short. Local boy Springer calmly collected two next ball and sealed Falcons’ first win away from home this season.Chris Green put down four chances•Getty Images

Openers Gous and Amir Jangoo had given Falcons a quick-fire start in the chase by pummeling 38 in the first four before Jangoo was cleaned up by a slower delivery from Sams, and Ramon Simmonds sent back Karima Gore. Green put down two chances off Kevin Wickham in consecutive overs after the powerplay and once again in the 11th one before Wickham was eventually taken by substitute fielder Kofi James at mid-off for 26. Needing 78 from 47 from there at over 9.75 an over, Gous, who had brought up his fifty off 32 balls, anchored the chase while Shakib Al Hasan and Fabian Allen holed out after hitting a few boundaries. Gous belted his fourth six in the 18th over before being dropped next ball by Green to bring it down to 19 from 12 before they sealed victory on the last ball.When Royals were put in to bat, they crawled their way to 31 for 0 in the powerplay before King took off with boundaries in every over till the halfway mark. De Kock tried to replicate it – and succeeded to an extent – but was run-out for a scratchy 27 off 28. King then took on Shakib and Imad before smashing Jayden Seales for three sixes in an over to reach 94 off 58 after 16. He faced only seven off the last 24 balls and scored only four of those as Salman Irshad sent down skiddy deliveries to rattle the stumps of Powell and Rassie van der Dussen and Falcons managed just 38 off the last four.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is being made to sweat over the fitness of one Spurs star ahead of their vital North London derby clash with Arsenal.

Frank’s side are desperately seeking to end their dismal run against Arsenal and salvage pride in one of English football’s most intense rivalries.

Tottenham have lost seven of the last nine North London derbies, and it’s been 14 years since the Lilywhites last won away to Arsenal in the Premier League. These shocking statistics hang heavy over Frank, who’s faced criticism for Spurs’ lack of creativity in open play this season.

Spurs are also faced with the mountainous task of breaking down a water-tight Arsenal backline which boasts the most superior defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues.

Mikel Arteta’s title chasers went on an historic eight-game run without conceding a single goal before their 2-2 draw with Sunderland, so you could hardly ask for a worse time to come up against Arsenal, who also splashed nearly £270 million on a plethora of new stars in the summer transfer window.

In 65 league visits to Arsenal, Spurs have won only twice, with their rivals triumphing 26 times. Even more concerning, Tottenham have failed to keep a clean sheet in a staggering 25 consecutive Premier League games away to the Gunners, a record that stretches back over a decade, and Arsenal have won 84 matches in the all-time head-to-head compared to Spurs’ 61.

Make no mistake, Arsenal dominate the derby, but there’s real encouragement to be found in Spurs’ overall away record this season.

An excellent run of four wins, one draw and zero defeats outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has catapulted them to top of the away form table with an average of 2.60 points per game, though Frank will be hoping as many players as possible will be back in contention after a mini-injury crisis.

No other top-flight has more men out of action right now, with as many as 11 sidelined.

Star winger Mohammed Kudus missed Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Man United and their 4-0 win over Copenhagen with a knock, with the Ghanaian also not called up for his national team’s friendlies against Japan and South Korea. Meanwhile, striker Dominic Solanke is “unlikely” to feature against Arsenal amid his slow recovery from what was once deemed a ‘minor’ ankle problem.

It remains to be seen how long Randal Kolo Muani will be out for too, after he fractured his jaw against United.

Frank sweating over Lucas Bergvall ahead of North London derby after injury setback

There is also the matter of young midfielder Lucas Bergvall, who’s been missing since their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea due to a concussion.

The 19-year-old was sent home from international duty earlier this week after initially being included in Graham Potter’s first ever Sweden squad, with national team official Stefan Pettersson now revealing he was withdrawn due to a ‘setback during training’.

Pettersson, speaking to the media, says they didn’t hesitate sending Bergvall back to N17 after a “reaction” to testing.

The teenager has been a revelation ever since arriving at Tottenham in an £8.5 million deal from Djurgardens.

Bergvall’s managed 60 total appearances for the club already, enjoying a fantastic September with successive Player of the Match awards and his first Premier League goal for the club against West Ham.

Frank’s preferred midfield partnership of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha has largely kept Bergvall out of the starting eleven recently, but the tactician will be hoping that he can upon his fellow Scandinavian from the bench for their all-important clash on enemy turf.

And has anyone scored more runs than Harry Brook against one country while striking above 100?

Steven Lynch17-Dec-2024I heard that Steve Smith scored his 15th century against India in Brisbane. Was this a record? asked Vijay Bedade from India

Steve Smith’s 101 in the third Test in Brisbane at the weekend was his 15th century against India in all three international formats (his tenth in Tests, to go with five in ODIs). That’s the most by anyone against India: Ricky Ponting made 14, and Joe Root currently has 13.The overall record is held by Sachin Tendulkar, who made no fewer than 20 international centuries against Australia – 11 in Tests and nine in ODIs – while Don Bradman made 19 against England, all in Tests (and in 37 matches, compared to Tendulkar’s 110).Virat Kohli currently has 17 centuries against Australia, while Tendulkar made 17 against Sri Lanka. Kohli also has 15 international hundreds against Sri Lanka.Harry Brook went past 2000 runs during his century in the first Test in New Zealand. It was his 36th innings – was this a record, for anyone or maybe just for England? asked Dominic Sampson from England

Harry Brook surged past 2000 runs during his 171 in the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch last month. It was his 36th innings, putting him level with three other batters: the West Indians Everton Weekes and Frank Worrell, and Australia’s Arthur Morris.But there are seven men who reached 2000 Test runs in fewer innings. Brian Lara (West Indies) and Doug Walters (Australia) got there in 35, Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) in 34, Michael Hussey (Australia) and Herbert Sutcliffe (the only England player quicker than Brook) in 33, and George Headley (West Indies) in 32. But way clear at the top is that man again – Don Bradman needed just 22 innings to reach 2000 Test runs for Australia.Amir Jangoo scored a century in his first ODI the other day. How many people have done this for West Indies? asked Conrad Patterson from Barbados

The Trinidad & Tobago wicketkeeper-batter Amir Jangoo, who’s 27, hit an unbeaten 104 in his first one-day international, against Bangladesh in St Kitts last week. He’s in rarefied company for West Indies: the only other man to score a century on debut in ODIs for them was Desmond Haynes, with 148 against Australia in Antigua in February 1978.Haynes was the second man overall to score a debut hundred in ODIs, after Dennis Amiss for England against Australia at Old Trafford in August 1972. In all, 18 men have now achieved the feat. Jangoo was the second to do it in 2024, after Michael English for Scotland against Namibia in Dundee in July.Harry Brook is the only batter to have scored more than 400 runs against a single opposition while striking at above 100•Getty ImagesAfter Harry Brook’s century in the first Test against New Zealand, I noticed he had scored 500 runs against the Kiwis off only 495 balls, thus giving him a strike rate of over 100. Does anyone else have more runs against a single opponent at over 100? asked Alan Green from Northern Ireland

The short answer is no – among batters for whom we have full ball-by-ball information, no one has scored more than 400 runs against a single country at a strike rate above 100. Before the start of the third Test, Harry Brook led the way with 678 runs against New Zealand from 671 balls, a strike rate of 101.04 runs per 100. He’s also in fifth place on this particular list, with 841 runs from 907 balls against Pakistan, a strike rate of 92.72.Currently second behind Brook is India’s Virender Sehwag, whose 1239 runs against Sri Lanka came from 1241 balls, a strike rate of 99.83. Before the third Test in New Zealand, Tim Southee had biffed 619 runs against England from 623 balls (99.35), while Shahid Afridi’s 709 runs for Pakistan against India came from 729 balls, at a rate of 97.25 per 100. For the list, click here. Note that an asterisk in the strike-rate column means we don’t have full details for all the player’s innings, so these should be discounted as they are likely to be inaccurate. It’s also possible (but slightly unlikely) that we are unaware of someone else with better figures.What are the highest tenth-wicket partnerships involving an opener and a No. 11 in Tests and first-class cricket? asked Nirmal Mendis from Sri Lanka

The highest tenth-wicket partnership in first-class cricket between an opener and the No. 11 in the innings in question is 214, by Nick Knight (255 not out) and Alan Richardson (91) for Warwickshire against Hampshire at Edgbaston in May 2002. Wisden called the partnership “astonishing” and “prodigious”, mainly because Richardson had scored only 82 runs in his previous 31 first-class innings, and reached double figures just twice. They took the score from 258 for 9 to 472 all out.By coincidence, the record they broke was also set at Edgbaston, 20 years previously in May 1982, when Geoff Boycott (79) and Graham Stevenson (115 not out) put on 149 for Yorkshire’s last wicket against Warwickshire. The record in Tests is 94, by Sunil Gavaskar (166 not out) and Shivlal Yadav (41) for India against Australia in Adelaide in December 1985.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

Sergio Ramos has left fans bemused and delighted in equal measure after posting a light-hearted Instagram video of himself dancing to Taylor Swift’s global hit Shake It Off. The 39-year-old, now playing for Monterrey in Mexico, showed a surprisingly playful side – a huge contrast to the uncompromising persona that defined his peak years at Real Madrid.

• Ramos goes viral with unexpected dance cameo

  In the short clip, which racked up more than 270,000 likes, Ramos appears in a cream shirt, swaying his hips and tapping the backsides of his wife, Pilar Rubio, and a female friend before skipping towards the camera. The fun-filled moment was a far cry from the intimidating presence that once terrified strikers across Europe.

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• Watch the clip

• Who is Sergio Ramos married to?

  Ramos married Spanish TV presenter Pilar Rubio in 2019 after seven years together, and the couple share four sons. The Instagram clip offered a glimpse into the defender’s family-first lifestyle in Mexico, where he moved earlier this year. Now with Monterrey, Ramos continues to play at an astonishing level for his age. In the summer of 2025, he made his debut at the Club World Cup and promptly rewrote the record books. His goal in a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan made him the oldest scorer in the tournament’s history at 39 years and 80 days, breaking Javier Zanetti’s previous record set in 2010. Over 16 trophy-laden seasons at Real Madrid, he played 671 matches, scored 101 goals, outrageously high for a centre-back, and lifted the Champions League four times. 

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• Getty Images Entertainment
  

  Swift’s surprise nod to Real Madrid

  Ramos’ viral dance comes as Swift once again found herself indirectly linked with Real Madrid. The American superstar released her new album, , featuring the track Wi$h Li$t, a song in which she casually name-checks the Spanish giants alongside life goals such as winning an Oscar or claiming the Palme d’Or. "They want a contract with Real Madrid," Swift sings, weaving the football reference into a narrative about lofty, almost fantasy-like aspirations. 

  It is not the first time Swift and the Spanish champions have crossed paths. During her record-breaking Eras Tour, she performed two sold-out nights at the Santiago Bernabéu in May 2024, drawing 130,000 fans across the weekend. In 2018, Canadian rapper Drake referenced the club in his song : " live like Ronaldo but I never been in Madrid." Meanwhile, Latin stars Bad Bunny and Anuel AA have also cited the club in their lyrics.

They might have blown a two-goal lead on Saturday, but things are looking up for West Ham United.

Following a dire start to the season and a poor start to his tenure, Nuno Espírito Santo has now picked up seven points from the last three Premier League games.

This has seen the East Londoners pull themselves out of the relegation zone, and one of the club’s best performers during this uptick in form has been Callum Wilson.

However, even though the Englishman is in fine form, reports have started to link West Ham with someone who could be a dream replacement.

West Ham target Wilson upgrade

The transfer window is still over a month away, but that hasn’t stopped West Ham from being linked with a number of interesting players from across the country and beyond.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Fulham’s Adama Traoré, for example, has been heavily touted for a move to the London Stadium in January, as has Norwich City’s Josh Sargent.

However, the Hammers are now interested in another, arguably more exciting goalscorer.

At least that is according to a recent report from Claret & Hugh, which claims that West Ham are keen on signing Promise David.

In fact, the report goes further, revealing that the Hammers have already made enquiries about the Union SG gem, who is valued at up to £17m.

The Canadian international might not be a known name in England, but his form in recent seasons and potential make this a deal West Ham can’t ignore, especially as he could be a perfect Wilson upgrade.

How David compares to Wilson

While it sounds simplistic, probably because it really is, the first place to start when comparing two centre-forwards is their raw output.

After all, the most important thing a striker is generally going to do is score or assist a goal, especially when it comes to a side like West Ham, who need to do all they can to build a buffer between them and the relegation zone.

Unfortunately for Wilson, even with his recent flurry of goals, this is an area in which he comes out second best.

For example, in ten appearances this season, he has scored four goals and failed to provide any assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.5 games.

In contrast, the “outstanding” Canadian, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored eight goals and provided no assists in 19 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.37 games.

The comparison is even more one-sided when last season is taken into account, as the former Newcastle United forward scored just a single goal in 22 appearances for the Toon.

The Union SG ace, on the other hand, racked up a stellar haul of 24 goals and five assists in 41 appearances, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.41 games.

With numbers like these, it’s easy to understand why Canadian reporter Ben Steiner claimed the 24-year-old “just can’t stop scoring.”

However, it’s not just output that would make the eight-capped international a wise signing, but the fact that he’s still just 24 years old.

In other words, he’s someone who could come in as an upgrade and then become the long-term striker option the Hammers have needed for some time.

Ultimately, given his consistently impressive output, age and relatively low price, West Ham should do what they can to sign David in January.

Forget Guilherme: Nuno can fix Summerville blow with West Ham academy star

Nuno might already have the perfect solution to West Ham’s Summerville problem.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 25, 2025

Having endured two difficult IPL seasons after rushing back into action following back surgery, the legspinner took two months off and has returned rejuvenated

Nagraj Gollapudi09-Aug-20254:23

Rashid: ‘Made a mistake’ by rushing back after back surgery

Afghanistan’s bowling allrounder Rashid Khan says he committed a “mistake” by rushing back to play cricket just a few months after a back surgery that immediately followed the 2023 World Cup. The long-term impact, Rashid said, told on him during his last two IPL seasons for Gujarat Titans (GT), especially in 2025, his worst IPL ever.Rashid conceded 33 sixes, the most by a bowler in a single IPL season, as batters both capped and uncapped dominated him. Post-surgery, Rashid’s speed, the backbone of his bowling, depleted considerably, in addition to a loss of accuracy. However, after a two-month post-IPL break, Rashid has returned rejuvenated, and showed that on Tuesday in the opening contest of the Hundred 2025, with a match-wining 3 for 11 in defending champions Oval Invincibles’ victory over London Spirit at Lord’s.In a chat with ESPNcricinfo organised by Red Bull, which unveiled the Afghanistan great as an ambassador on Saturday, Rashid said he had failed to grasp the advice the doctors had given him after his surgery.Related

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“After IPL, I needed the kind of break where my body gets back to normal,” Rashid said. “I worked a little bit on my strength. And especially coming back from back surgery, I hadn’t had much time to rehab properly. That’s where I did a bit of mistake to restart my cricket so quickly at that time. And I feel like I didn’t let myself properly recover, and I pushed it a little bit at that time, and I can see the disadvantage of that now. But after IPL [2025], I felt like I needed that kind of two months off where I can just focus on my fitness.”And when I came yesterday [on Tuesday], I felt so good, in a good rhythm, and the ball was coming nicely out of my hand, and [my] body was allowing me to go through. So these things matter a lot – sometimes you don’t think about that a lot; you just try your best to push yourself. But I feel to be out of the game for some time and focus on my fitness – and also [focus] mentally and physically – that really played a huge role.”On a sluggish Lord’s surface, Rashid bowled between 94 and 98kph, speeds he feels more comfortable with, and in control. The absence of zip in his deliveries, Rashid felt, was a key reason behind his failing to dictate terms in the last two IPL seasons.”On Tuesday, I was bowling at 94-98 kph – that’s my pace, [and the] speeds I am known to bowl at. I feel I was missing that before because my body was not allowing me to go through [my action] with that full energy. Last night, [against Spirit], when I came to bowl, I was getting that good feeling, and I was touching that speed with which I could put the batsman in trouble, and also not allow him much time to read from the surface.”Rashid conceded 33 sixes in IPL 2025•BCCIBarely a few months after the back surgery, despite medical experts warning him to pay careful attention to his rehab, Rashid resumed playing, though mostly T20 cricket. He started with the series against Ireland in March 2024, followed by the IPL and the T20 World Cup, where he led Afghanistan into the semi-finals. Soon after, back and hamstring niggles surfaced, forcing Rashid to skip the BBL and PSL. In early January 2025, Rashid played the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, and finished as the Player of the Match, bowling 55 overs (27.3 in each innings) and picking up 11 wickets to enter the record books. But the toll exacted by those marathon spells was evident during the Champions Trophy, and then IPL 2025.”When I came back to cricket after surgery, I was told not to rush back in the longer formats [Tests and ODIs] that quickly as that was not going to help me,” Rashid said. “About eight to nine months after I had started to play post surgery, I bowled 65 [55] overs in the Bulawayo Test. That really pushed my back a little bit, and I felt it at that time. I shouldn’t have been in whites [to play Tests].”In T20s, it’s fine – you can manage yourself – but for the longer formats, I was advised that you should be away from that format for some time. That is the kind of mistake I have made. But the team needed that. At that time, we had lost a few games in Test cricket, but that’s something where I rushed myself a little bit, and I didn’t give myself time and I felt it later on. Yes, I think I have done a mistake where my body was not allowing me that and I’m facing a problem. The thing is the stiffness in your back doesn’t allow you to go with full rhythm.”From the time he entered the IPL in 2017, Rashid maintained an economy rate of just over six runs an over until 2022. But since 2023, batters, especially right-handers, have played him with a lot more freedom. In 2022, Rashid’s economy rate against right-hand batters was 5.95. Over the next three seasons, it increased to 8.57 (2023), 8.84 (2024) and 9.69 (2025). If a few seasons ago his balls-per-six ratio in the IPL was 43, by 2025, it had plunged to 10. Rashid is aware of the numbers, but not overly concerned.”Before, when I was bowling 24 balls [over an innings], I was missing pitching [them] on length [for] like four or five balls. But then the number went [up] to eight or nine balls. And in those eight to nine [balls], they are scoring those extra couple of sixes and couple of big boundaries. I just needed to decrease that. Nothing else. It’s not like of the 24 balls, I was bowling every ball badly, [or] I was bowling wides and full tosses. [I knew] it’s going to be fine.”The realisation that his body was not allowing him to go with what he calls “the full flow” forced Rashid to have a chat with his coaches, who felt that he needed to take time off. Rashid duly pulled out of the MLC, where he plays for MI New York. During the break, he did a lot of strength training, especially in his lower back, and spot bowling two or three times a week, along with a bit of batting. But the focus was more on gym work. Outside of that, Rashid, who got married last October, spent a relaxed time with his family, which he says has now left him refreshed.”After IPL finished, for three weeks, I didn’t touch the ball. I spent most of my time with my family, [and] my nephews – going around with them, [and] had fun – just to take all those memories and stuff and bad days out of my mind, and then restart with the cricket. That’s what I did just to be refreshed, and then got back on track and got back bowling in the right spot.”At the SA20 this year, Rashid overtook Dwayne Bravo to become the highest wicket-taker in all T20s•SA20The break seems to have had a positive impact on Rashid. Before coming to the Hundred, he played four matches in the Shpageeza Cricket League, Afghanistan’s domestic T20 tournament, where he led Speen Ghar Tigers, and picked up 4 for 19, including three wickets in his final over, in their last match. Having made a strong start to the Hundred, Rashid will now hope to carry forward the momentum as Invincibles look for a three-peat, having won the title in the last two seasons.This February, while playing in the SA20, Rashid, who plays for MI Cape Town, overtook Dwayne Bravo to become the highest wicket-taker in all T20s. He recently became the first bowler to cross the 650-wicket mark, and is three wickets behind the retired Tim Southee on the all-time leading-wicket-takers chart in T20Is. Rashid was also ranked No. 1 among ESPNcricinfo’s 25 Greatest T20 players. He chuckled when asked whether he had read that story, and said he had, and that it made him just as proud as being chosen as the ICC’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade (2011-20) despite playing just four years of international cricket in that period.”People don’t just give it to you. It means like you have done something special, [and] you have done something unbelievable – and at different stages, in different countries. And that’s how you get that kind of appreciation. So it gives me so much energy, [and] it gives me so much positivity, and that for me is more important. And it does allow you to work harder, and to be number one again.”Rashid is the latest player to join Red Bull which also has on its roster Ben Stokes, KL Rahul, Kagiso Rabada and Riyan Parag. Rashid said it was a “huge and proud moment” to be the first Afghanistan player on the list and is “excited” to visit the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre in Salzburg later this year.

Would it be hyperbole to suggest that Kobbie Mainoo provided the best, or most significant, moment at Manchester United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era?

Faced with an imperious Manchester City side in the 2024 FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag’s men defied the odds to claim a richly deserved 2-1 win, a year on from having tamely been defeated by their neighbours en route to treble glory.

Alejandro Garnacho had pounced early on to open the scoring, before fellow academy graduate Mainoo popped up at the backpost to add a second, slotting home perfectly following Bruno Fernandes’ ingenious reverse pass.

The then-teenager, like the thousands decked out in red at Wembley, roared in celebration, revelling in the crowing moment of a stunning, six-month rise from relative obscurity.

The Old Trafford faithful have been wedded to United’s golden boy since then, although there has been no such warmth from new boss Ruben Amorim.

What Amorim said about Mainoo after West Ham

From the highs of that Wembley showpiece, and his subsequent role in England’s run to the final at Euro 2024, Mainoo’s impact has plummeted since then, having hardly had a look-in following an injury-hit start to 2024/25.

Seemingly fighting a losing battle from the off following Amorim’s arrival in November 2024 – having failed to start the Portuguese’s first game in charge against Ipswich Town – the Stockport native has drifted onto the periphery, with 2025/26 proving particularly frustrating thus far.

The forgotten man, Mainoo is yet to start a single Premier League game this season, playing just 171 minutes in all, having been an unused substitute for the fourth time against West Ham United in midweek.

Speaking after that dismal 1-1 draw, Amorim went on the defensive regarding his treatment of the youngster, while laughing off suggestions that the midfielder could have been an “offensive” alteration.

Asked if he understood why Mainoo’s status as a homegrown talent made him such a talking point for fans and pundits alike, the 40-year-old replied:

Mainoo, unsurprisingly, is seeking a January exit amid his bizarre fall from grace, although he surely isn’t the midfielder INEOS should be looking to move on.

Man Utd must sell flop who's getting the Mainoo treatement

Perhaps the biggest source of frustration regarding Mainoo’s situation is that Amorim isn’t exactly blessed with regard to midfield depth, with his current squad boasting just four recognised, senior midfielders to choose from.

For much of 2025/26, the ex-Sporting CP boss has selected ever-present skipper, Fernandes, alongside the ageing Casemiro, with both Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte limited to mere late cameos off the bench.

Like the FA Cup final hero, Ugarte has also become a notable talking point amid his limited role under Amorim, despite having previously worked with the 3-4-2-1 boss in Lisbon.

Indeed, it was reported last month that the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man had been criticised by his manager in front of teammates at Carrington, following the Europa League final defeat.

Like Mainoo, who enjoyed just a mere last-gasp cameo in Bilbao, Ugarte was also something of an afterthought even as United toiled, having failed to even make it off the bench on the night.

Much like Mainoo too, the Uruguayan has been forced to settle for a watching brief for much of this season, starting just twice in the top-flight, while notably being hooked at the break following an “embarrassing” display against Grimsby Town, in the view of writer Alex Turk.

Of course, there isn’t the groundswell of support for Ugarte like there is for his midfield colleague, with the decision to fork out almost £50m on the 24-year-old standing out as one of the worst decisions of recent years at Old Trafford.

Whether the £120k-per-week talent, again like Mainoo, is being helped by his manager is another matter, however, with Amorim hardly backing his man after revealing that Ugarte is “struggling” to adjust to life in the Premier League.

Either way, if it comes down to choosing between which peripheral midfielder needs to be shown the door, it should surely be Ugarte whom INEOS cash in on, with the safe and steady asset doing little to warrant a third-season stay in Manchester.

Cunha 2.0: INEOS to fast-track Man Utd bid for 'best winger in England'

Manchester United look set to make a huge move for one player in the upcoming January window.

By
Ethan Lamb

6 days ago

Questions will be asked about when SA will take the next step, but for now the answer is: not this time

Firdose Moonda02-Nov-20252:48

Wolvaardt: Reaching three finals shows we’re doing something right

The first time South Africa reached a World Cup final, at the home T20 World Cup in 2023, they were just happy to be there. The second time, a year later, they were spent from playing the game of their lives in the semi-final and beating perennial champions Australia. But the third – this time and also their first in the ODI World Cup – seemed set to be the charm, until South Africa fell short again.It’s worth remembering that’s all it was: they fell short. They neither disgraced themselves, nor choked. They lost a game of cricket against a team who were better, indeed who saw this as their date with destiny and sometimes, in sport, these things happen.Still, in the immediate aftermath, that did not soften the blow. Marizanne Kapp, probably playing in her last ODI World Cup, sat in the dugout, her eyes brimming with tears, and ignored the hand of comfort on her shoulder. Laura Wolvaardt and Nadine de Klerk sat together, the shock still writ across their faces, even as they feigned a few smiles. Tazmin Brits sat alone, staring at nothing in particular, what-ifs running through her mind.Spare a thought specifically for Wolvaardt, who is now the leading run-scorer in a single edition of any ODI World Cup and the second-highest World Cup run-scorer overall.With centuries in the semi-final and the final, eight catches in the tournament and increasingly more astute captaincy, she may feel she deserved more than a runners up medal, but sport can be cruel and Wolvaardt has been dealt a particularly tough hand.Related

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Ask her and she’ll probably say she’d trade in all those accolades for the trophy but she took defeat on the chin. “We were outplayed tonight,” Wolvaardt said at the post-match presentation before telling the press conference that she could already see the silver lining. “We’ll still look back at this tournament as having a lot of positives.”We’ve played some really good cricket throughout this tournament. At one stage we won five games in a row, which is pretty big for our group. We’re just searching for that consistency, which is something that we don’t necessarily have in bilaterals. So, I’m really proud that we’re able to perform in big tournaments.”South Africa came into this World Cup having won six out of 13 ODIs in the year preceding the tournament, which included a series loss to England and failing to make the final of a triangular series which included India and Sri Lanka.That they beat both India and Sri Lanka in the group stage and rallied from 69 all out against England before the knockouts to beat them by 125 runs in the semi-final speaks both to how bilateral form can rarely be a gauge for major tournament success and that South Africa can pick themselves up quickly when things go wrong.Those are both signs of a maturing team but still, just 12 years since professionalisation, they remain a work in progress.”We’re learning on the job and we showed that we were able to grow and actually get to the final like we did now,” Mandla Mashimbyi, South Africa’s coach, who has only been in charge for 10 months said. “To see how the team has progressed from the time that I took over, is a humbling experience for me. But at the same time, I’m excited because when nobody gave us a chance, we gave ourselves a chance.”Laura Wolvaardt kept the chase alive with a stunning century•ICC/Getty ImagesWolvaardt pointed to “different people” who “put up their hands at different stages” including how South Africa played against spin (the England and Australia blow outs which included an Alana King seven-for excluded) and how their spinners bowled.”That’s always been a big talking point with our group, is how we play spin so to make it to the final of the World Cup in subcontinent conditions (was rewarding),” she said. “Our seamers bowled pretty well in subcontinent conditions as well. They often bowled better than our spinners did, economy-wise. Kappie was great for us. And Nadine was excellent. It was really nice to see.”De Klerk’s finishing with the bat against India and Bangladesh and Kapp’s five-for in the semi-final will be talked about for years to come, but so will Nonkululekho Mlaba’s 13 wickets, which puts her as the joint fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.For all the celebration of individual contributions, there also needs to be an acknowledgement of which players did not perform, coupled with the empathy that comes with such an assessment.Everyone goes into a tournament wanting to give their absolute best but for some, that just doesn’t happen. Anneke Bosch scored just 35 runs in six innings at the tournament, including three ducks, and dropped Shafali Verma on 56 in the final, a chance that cost South Africa 31 runs. There were arguments to be made for leaving her out of the final XI in place of an extra seamer like Masabata Klaas but South Africa always felt they needed a batting cushion for a big chase.That may also be because they stuck rigidly to the pre-tournament plan of using Sinalo Jafta at No.6 and though she looks better than she has than at any other stage of her career, she still uses up too many dot balls. Jafta twice made her career-best at this World Cup, but her tournament strike rate was under 70 and at this level, South Africa needed more.Naturally, South Africa will wonder about the plans they didn’t make and chances they didn’t take but some perspective will remind them that they still defied expectations getting to the final. They also continued a line of excellence that stretches back to 2023 when this same team broke new ground by becoming the first senior side to reach a World Cup final. But they can’t ride on that forever even though they are doing what they can to see the bigger picture.”Cricket in South Africa is thriving. Sometimes things have to go wrong to go right and I think that was the case,” Mashimbyi, who worked extensively in men’s domestic cricket before moving to the women’s team, said. “In terms of the talent that’s coming through in South African cricket in both men and women, it’s actually quite scary. The future of South African cricket looks bright.”But now that they can reach finals (six across all formats, genders and age-groups since that T20 final in 2023) questions will be asked about when South Africa will take the next step and win trophies. For now, the answer is: not this time.

India fast bowler also spoke about how the new rule of ball change in ODIs has been “very helpful”

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-2025Harshit Rana has played 16 matches for India. In nine of them, he has shared the dressing room with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The 23-year-old fast bowler, still making his way towards being a first-choice pick, praised the influence of the two senior players and highlighted India’s team environment as “very happy.””It is a big thing for me, and for the entire team too,” Rana said on the eve of the second ODI against South Africa, on Tuesday. “If such experienced players are with you in the dressing room and on the field, the environment stays great. At this time, off the field – even dressing room – it is a happy environment for the entire team. Everyone wants to be better. In their minds, they always want youngsters to get better. When I am bowling, for example, they always tell me how to bowl better. When a player gets such a great team environment, things automatically go well.”They are always motivated – whether it is good times or bad times. They back you and tell you what next steps you should take. As a youngster, this really helps you, because when you are on the field – in a pressure situation – they help you out a lot.”Related

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Harshit broke into the Indian white-ball team as a hustle-and-bustle seam bowler with excellent slower balls. Those skills mark him out as a middle-overs specialist, but he took on a different role in the first ODI on Sunday when he opened the bowling and picked up two wickets in his first over.”With the new ball, I’ve practiced a lot with Morne [Morkel, the bowling coach], and also talk a lot with Arshdeep [Singh],” Rana said. “He has a lot of experience, and he helps me in practices by telling how I should bowl better.”Fast bowlers have also been able to pose more of a threat this year with the ICC changing the rules of ODI cricket. Though all 50-over matches start with two new balls, at the start of the 35th over, the bowling team gets to decide which one they’ll keep for the rest of the innings.”You know that the bowlers don’t get as much help in today’s cricket,” Rana said. “This rule has been very helpful for us, because that one older ball, we always keep in the back of our minds. Whichever ball is older after the 34th [over], we try and focus on that. And about choosing the ball, that all of us do. Whoever feels which ball is older.”In India, bowling is different because the variations are what you have to depend on. In each phase, you have to bowl differently in different roles: sometimes attacking, sometimes defensive.”India may be considering a change in their middle order for Wednesday with Rishabh Pant and Tilak Varma getting a long hit against net bowlers with assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate watching on.