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Jordan Cox makes 132, Matt Critchley 123 as Essex reach 475 for 9 before bad light, rain steal 28 overs

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-Jul-2025

Essex 475 for 9 (Cox 132, Critchley 123) lead Sussex 204 by 271 runsHundreds by Jordan Cox and Matt Critchley strengthened Essex’s position on the second day against Sussex at Hove.Cox made 132 and Critchley 123 as Essex reached 475 for 9 before bad light and rain took 28 overs off the day’s allocation after tea.Sussex haven’t lost a home game in the Rothesay County Championship since May 2022 but will be hard pressed to maintain that record after Essex stretched their lead to 271.That was largely down to Cox and Critchley, who put on 184 in 43 overs in the first half of the day.Cox made 139 not out last week against Hampshire in the Vitality Blast and showed similar form against the red ball here, hitting 23 fours in his tenth first-class century – the second fifty of which came off 53 balls.Sussex’s seam attack struggled in the absence of the rested Ollie Robinson, and with the Kookaburra ball offering little assistance skipper John Simpson soon adopted a containment strategy by rotating his attack in short spells in search of a breakthrough.But with a temptingly short boundary on the pavilion side it was hard to contain Cox and Critchley, who offered one half-chance on 27 when Gurinder Sandhu got one hand on the ball at long on but couldn’t cling onto a very difficult opportunity.Cox reached his century by reverse-sweeping Jack Carson to the boundary as 149 runs came before lunch. Sussex desperately needed to break through with the second new ball and they did so when it was five overs old. Cox launched into a full-blooded drive at Sandhu and second slip James Coles parried the edge into the air and Tom Alsop dived full length at first slip to take the catch.Critchley also lodged his tenth first-class hundred of his career, which he reached in the 89th over when he ran a delivery from Ari Karvelas down to third. As well as 12 fours he also hit five leg-side sixes in 175 balls.He departed after a smart piece of work by Fynn Hudson-Prentice at mid-on who ran him out with a direct hit after Critchley had been called through for a quick single by Michael Pepper.When Noah Thain had his middle stump plucked out of the ground by Sandhu with the next ball there was brief respite for Sussex.Rain and thunderstorms arrived at tea and when the players returned at 5.50pm Pepper (44) got a thin edge to the fourth ball after the resumption from Hudson-Prentice, who then had Khaleel Ahmed caught on the boundary before bad light forced an early close with Essex in control.

Mic’d Up: McCarty breaks down the MLS Cup – why benching Suárez was a “career-defining” call, how Müller made Vancouver must-watch, and which side he thinks has the edge.

In the lead-up to the 2025 MLS Cup, Dax McCarty was asked to pick a combined XI from the two finalists: Inter Miami and the Vancouver Whitecaps. It’s a familiar exercise before a big game, largely because it’s an easy way to spotlight players to watch and the matchups that could ultimately decide things.

This one, though, wasn’t so easy. McCarty genuinely struggled. There was simply too much talent to choose from, he says. It stressed him out – and, oddly enough, made him even more excited for the final.

“Both of these teams are loaded,” the longtime MLS midfielder turned Apple TV analyst told GOAL. “It’s one of the hardest things I’ve had to do as an analyst. You go through both teams and it’s impossible. If everyone had to put together a combined XI for these teams, I think they’d all be different.”

Such is the nature of this final. On one side: Lionel Messi and friends, leading an Inter Miami team chasing immortality. On the other hand: Vancouver, no plucky underdog, but a group headlined by Thomas Muller and supported by Sebastian Berhalter, Andrés Cubas, Tristan Blackmon, and Emmanuel Sabbi – all playing the best soccer of their careers.

McCarty previewed the matchup in the latest edition of Mic’d Up, GOAL’s recurring feature that brings the perspective of analysts, announcers, and other voices on the state of soccer in the U.S. and beyond.

Getty Images SportON THE MLS PLAYOFFS

GOAL: Every year, there's this debate and discussion about what the MLS Cup Playoffs should look like and, every year, that doesn't really matter because they turn out to be chaotic and entertaining anyway. What has been your big takeaway from this postseason, given everything we've seen?

MCCARTY: The playoffs have been dramatic. They've been exciting. I couldn't have asked for much more, to be completely honest.  I think we've seen drama. I think we've seen great games. I think we've seen great coaching. I think that's a kind of a big out thing that sticks out for me in terms of, I think, where we're at in MLS. 

Of course, we've had great players throughout Major League Soccer's existence, and we've had superstars, and we've had really good teams, but I think one thing that's definitely been an outlier this year, but also in these playoffs, because we just saw it in the conference finals, is that the level of coaching has improved dramatically. That's not to say that we haven't had great coaching in the past. I just think that the teams now, especially the teams in the conference finals, that's a proof of concept that you don't necessarily need to have a manager who has all this knowledge of the quirky MLS rules and calendar to be successful. That was kind of a narrative that a lot of people bought into, and certainly with the likes of Bob Bradley and Bruce Arena, the Sigi Schmids, the Brian Schmetzers, that holds a lot of water: the success that domestic coaches have had in MLS. 

I think this year, specifically, especially if you look at the conference finals and all four coaches being in the conference finals in their first year, I don't think that that's necessarily the case now anymore. I think that you can look outside the box. You can be a little bit more creative. The global market is certainly true for a player pool, but I think now that's shifting to also being true for a coaching pool as well. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportON MESSI AND INTER MIAMI

GOAL: You've been around this team for a long time, but none of us have ever seen anything like Messi and Inter Miami. They're an outlier in the sense that they can just outscore you, and there's not much you can do to stop it. What do you think about them?

MCCARTY: Yeah, they certainly seem to be a juggernaut right now, the likes of which we haven't seen, especially in the playoffs. Inter Miami had an up-and-down season. If we want to take their season as a whole, yes, they had some very high highs, but they've also had some lows, and they've also not won a trophy this year. You have to obviously take their season in totality to really judge everything that's happening, but if we want to break it down in just their playoff run, it's been spectacular. 

I think Javier Mascherano made the biggest and best decision of his young coaching career to put Luis Suarez on the bench. I've been vocal that that was the right decision, and it must have been a difficult decision, but Inter Miami is certainly finding their best form at the right time, and it's because they have balance now. They've got young legs around Lionel Messi. He's always had a sort of free role, but now, with younger legs around him, it's even more free. He's free to do what he does best, which is score spectacular goals, but he's also free to create and to drop a little bit deeper in midfield and kind of be that conduit between midfield and attack.

One thing you said that really stands out is that you're not going to really be able to keep Inter Miami off the score sheet. That doesn't seem to be something that is likely to happen, so you're going to have to outscore them. You're going to have to hope that their back line, which has been significantly better recently, kind of reverts back to the mistake-prone back line that we saw a few months ago, but your focus has to be on Messi. 

GOAL: How do you stop them? If you're playing in a one-game cup final, what do you do about it?

It frustrates me to no end when I see teams just giving Messi time and space on the ball in midfield and not tracking his runs into the box. Go back to the first goal that he scored against FC Cincinnati in that Eastern Conference semifinal, and it's unacceptable for Messi to be scoring a header in that type of situation. It's a great play. It's a great ball by Silvetti, so don't take anything away from the actual attacking movement in play, but you have to make sure that when Messi gets the ball in the final third, he's going to look to pass it and then get the ball back at some point in the box so he can finish in one touch. It frustrates me when teams don't game plan for that, and when players lose track of where he is, because he's going to get his chances and he's going to beat you in certain ways, but don't let him beat you in the obvious ways. 

That's kind of where I'm at with it. Look, Vancouver, they've done it already this year, right? So if there's one team that I think matches up really well with Inter Miami, and who won't be scared to go in there and go toe to toe with them, as far as goalscoring is concerned, it's definitely this Vancouver Whitecaps team.

GettyON PRESSURE

GOAL: Whenever you get to a cup final, there's pressure, right? For Inter Miami, though, it's a different beast because the world is watching Messi, fairly or unfairly. How much pressure are they under?

MCCARTY: Inter Miami is under a different level of pressure, and anyone who thinks differently is kidding themselves.

This is a team that's been built to win trophies, been built to win every single trophy that they compete for. Full credit to David Beckham and the Mas brothers and their ownership group for swinging for the fences. You couldn't have made a better signing, obviously, with Leo Messi. If he's not still the best player in the world, he's certainly still in the top five or 10, and he's definitely the best player in Major League Soccer. So now it's about how you maximize his time here in Major League Soccer by filling that trophy cabinet up. 

Lionel Messi has been a transcendent signing for the league. I think his legacy and his career are set in stone in terms of being the greatest player that's ever lived, but with that comes an added responsibility that, if you take his MLS legacy and put it off to the side, he's going to be judged on on the trophies that he's won, an MLS Cup being one of the most important. So there is an extra amount of pressure on Inter Miami now, especially with the form they're in and them being able to host the final and play at home. Then you add in the fact that Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, two of the greatest players of this generation, are retiring after this. It would be seen as a massive, massive disappointment if they do not win MLS Cup. There's no other way to put it. You shouldn't sugarcoat it. I don't know if I'd go as far to say the season would be some sort of catastrophic failure, because I believe that Lionel Messi is going to win back-to-back MVPs, but certainly you expect them to win trophies, and if they go a whole season without winning a trophy, that has to be seen as a disappointment.

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ImagnON MULLER'S IMPACT IN VANCOUVER

GOAL: You know what it's like to play with a superstar, and I'm sure there were times with that Red Bull team that you looked around and said, 'We have Thierry Henry and they don't, so we'll be fine'. The Whitecaps brought in their superstar, Thomas Muller, and added him to a team that was already very, very good. How does bringing in someone like that make a team go from very good to great?

MCCARTY: Yeah, there's a different level of confidence that flows through that locker room when you know you have a superstar you can rely on….I've been impressed with Thomas Muller on the field. How can you not be? His goal-scoring return has been excellent. He's fit in tactically with exactly what Jesper Sorensen wants to accomplish, but it's also off the field where you're more impressed. 

The fact that he has come in and he has elevated the level of every single player around him, he has raised the expectations for what that club is. Vancouver has always been a really good club. They've been a well-run club that has had success in the past. They've won multiple Canadian championships. They've been a pretty consistent qualifier for the playoffs, but they haven't really been able to get over the hump and get over the line when it comes to really challenging and being, I think, in the spotlight within the national conversation of Major League Soccer. They're firmly in that conversation now. It's not just because they've gone on a good run this year. They have so many fun storylines to talk about all throughout that team, and Muller is absolutely one of them in the way that he's changed that team and galvanized them to be more confident. Sebastian Bearhalter, the steps that he has taken this year. Sorensen,  how impressive he has been in replacing a very good coach in Vanni Sartini, and almost taking that team to another level. 

The way that I'll end the conversation about Vancouver is the fact that they are a must-see team every time they are on the field. They are fun to watch. They have a distinct identity and style of play, and they play the same whether they're at home or on the road. That is something that is rare to find in Major League Soccer. You won't find a more well-balanced team in terms of a team that can hurt you and outscore you in attack, and then also a team that can defend and has an identity to keep clean sheets. Talk all you want about Inter Miami and the talent they have and the way that they're playing an attack. Absolutely, it's deserved, but Vancouver has been the more impressive team throughout the season in terms of their balance and in terms of the fact that they can beat you in a multitude of different ways.

Manchester United have been told that they could sign a long-term target for a much smaller fee than has been mooted ahead of the January transfer window. The Red Devils were able to sign coveted players such as Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko this summer but their hunt for a central midfielder goes on. Now, one agent has claimed that a certain target could be available for no more than €40 million (£35m/$46m).

• Man Utd eye midfield maestro

  In 2025, United have been linked with Atalanta midfielder Ederson as they try and solve their problems in the centre of the park. The 26-year-old, who can play in defensive midfield, in the centre, and further forward, has been watched by a number of top teams, including Liverpool, but for now, he remains with the Serie A side. In the past, reports have suggested he could cost up to €80m (£70m), but that is said to have put off potential suitors. Now, however, Brazilian agent Andre Cury thinks he could be available for less than half of that.

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• Getty Images
  

  'A spectacular player'

  Agent Cury, who represents Ederson and also Chelsea's Estevao, has suggested that the ex-Cruzeiro man will be available in 2026 for a cut-price fee as his contract expires the following year. He also said the Brazilian is a "spectacular" player.

  He told Cadena SER: "Atalanta were asking for a lot of money, between €60m and €75m. He’s close to the end of his contract, they could even lower his price by half, to between €30m and €40m, but he’s a spectacular player with some of the best stats in Europe for his position."

• Agent talks up Barcelona move

  Ederson's representative appears to be drumming up interest for his player as he believes the midfielder would fit in nicely at Barcelona, a team the former Corinthians player has also been linked with.

  Cury added: "A player I think could adapt very well to Barça’s system, contributing a lot of physicality and stamina, is Ederson, who plays for Atalanta. It’s an opportunity because his contract is expiring. Atalanta hasn’t wanted to sell him despite receiving very high offers. I think they’ll complete the transfer in this winter or summer window."

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• Getty
  

  What comes next for Ederson?

  Going by his agent's comments, it seems that Ederson, who has played 151 times for the Italian top-flight team and scored 14 goals, could be on the move in 2026. But whether United, Liverpool, Barcelona, or anyone else signs him, remains to be seen. The player himself will have an eye on making Brazil's World Cup squad so his future may only be settled after that tournament finishes next summer.

Manchester United’s defeat against Everton on Monday night once again highlighted the issues of Ruben Amorim’s reluctance to move away from his 3-4-2-1 system.

The Red Devils spent 77 minutes playing against just 10 men, but he refused to budge from his philosophy, which no doubt cost the side a chance of claiming all three points.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half strike was enough to secure all three points for the Toffees, with the hosts’ impressive five-game unbeaten run coming to an abrupt end.

Since the final whistle, the manager has come under fire for his stubbornness in implementing a more attacking system, especially after the visitors’ early dismissal.

During the loss to David Moyes’ men, one first-team member massively failed to take advantage of the rare starting opportunity that was handed his way in the Premier League.

Joshua Zirkzee’s stats against Everton for United

After Benjamin Sesko’s knee injury against Tottenham Hotspur, Joshua Zirkzee was handed his first Premier League start of the campaign against Everton yesterday.

The Dutchman had previously had to settle for minutes off the substitutes bench, but the clash at Old Trafford was his maiden start of the 2025/26 league season.

However, he was unable to take advantage of the opportunity that was handed his way, with the 24-year-old struggling to match the demands of the manager’s system.

He featured for the entirety of the contest, but was only able to post a measly tally of 35 touches, with only five of his total touches coming within the opposition’s penalty area.

Zirkzee also completed just 15 passes at a success rate of just 60%, which resulted in the forward gifting the ball back to the opposition on 12 separate occasions.

His lack of quality was further outlined in his tally of one big chance missed and just four duels won, with James Tarkowski often pocketing the stand in centre forward.

Not just Zirkzee: United star must not start again under Amorim

In the 12 months since Amorim’s arrival, many United players have often struggled to match the expectations placed upon them – ultimately leading to their lowly Premier League finish last season.

Their performances, as seen by Zirkzee yesterday, will have led to the £200m spending spree during the summer window, but it should only be the start of the overhaul.

The midfield department should be next on the hierarchy’s agenda, with the manager no doubt wanting added reinforcements in such an area of the pitch.

Casemiro is getting towards the end of his current deal at Old Trafford, with Kobbie Mainoo seemingly not fancied by the manager after failing to start a single league game in 2025/26.

However, the defensive unit should also be one that the board are targeting, especially given the failures in that area over the past couple of seasons at Old Trafford.

Luke Shaw is one player who remains in such an area, but like Zirkzee, he’s often failed to deliver when called upon by Amorim over the last 12 months.

The Englishman has now spent over a decade on the books of the Red Devils, but ultimately, he’s entering the latter stages of his career – something which is starting to show.

He’s started every league game to date in 2025/26, but that’s not without question, with his performance against Everton one that failed to catch the eye for the right reasons.

The 30-year-old featured for the entire contest, but was only able to win 50% of the aerial duels he entered and was even dribbled past on two separate occasions.

Luke Shaw – stats against Everton

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

90

Touches

110

Passes completed

83

Aerials lost

50%

Dribbled past

2x

Interceptions

1

Clearances

1

Crosses completed

0

Stats via FotMob

He also only made one interception and one clearance, subsequently being unable to keep the side’s second clean sheet of the Premier League campaign.

Shaw’s tally of zero completed crosses out of his attempted four showcases his inability to find a teammate in attacking areas, which led to criticism from Gary Neville.

The former United star, now turned pundit, stated that the player is becoming a “waste of time” at United and that his performances at Old Trafford aren’t fooling anyone.

His latest showing under Amorim is further evidence that he’s unable to match the levels he did during the early years of his career – with Amorim needing to exclude him from his starting eleven.

Shaw and Zirkzee are certainly nowhere near the levels the club need if they are to be successful in the Premier League, with the hierarchy needing to offload them to free up funds in January.

Related Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd man who was among the 'world's best' must be axed

Manchester United’s flaws were brutally exposed in Monday’s dismal defeat to Everton.

Posts ByRobbie Walls Nov 25, 2025

An exciting finish could be in prospect on the final day of the Rothesay County Championship between Kent and Lancashire at Canterbury, after the hosts reached 206 for 5 at stumps, a lead of 215.Although rain wiped out much of day three, with only 38.3 overs bowled, Jaydn Denly hit 74 as Kent built their lead, before Mitch Stanley helped rein them in with 2 for 56.With Ben Compton not expected to bat Kent are effectively six down and the game looks fascinatingly poised going into day four.Kent resumed with a lead of 105, on 96 for 0, with Denly on 55 and Ben Dawkins on 35.Dawkins had added just a single when he edged Will Williams to Keaton Jennings at first slip, but the players went off for rain at 10.56 am and six overs were lost.When play resumed Tom Bailey sent Denly’s off stump flying, but a further downpour resulted in an early lunch, with the score 131 for 2.After a two-and-a-half-hour delay, play resumed and George Balderson, switching to the Pavilion End, had Joey Evison caught behind for 26.Joe Denly, in as a concussion sub for Tawanda Muyeye, cracked Stanley for six over midwicket to take Kent to 170 for 3 at tea, but he rarely looked comfortable and was caught behind for 19 after flashing at the same bowler.Stanley then had Harry Finch lbw for 4 before the rain returned at 5.12 pm. With no prospect of a resumption, play was abandoned for the day, with Ekansh Singh unbeaten on 30 and Mo Rizvi, who’s on a pair, on nought not out.

Manchester United are four games unbeaten in the Premier League. Since Ruben Amorim last tasted defeat, Anfield has been conquered, and it was goals galore during that thrilling win over Brighton at Old Trafford.

Here have been the first baby steps in a long and arduous journey toward the future, and with that exciting thought dancing at the back of the fans’ minds, we are inevitably turned back to the past.

Because it’s been a long, long time since the Red Devils enjoyed consistency at the top of the table, battling year on year for the biggest titles. Sir Alex Ferguson has not celebrated a Premier League or Champions League title from the stands.

If Amorim hopes to lead United back to such elusive glory, he will need more than just a string of favourable results to his name. He will need to rethread the Fergie feeling into the club’s DNA.

Curiously, there are signs this is taking place, with a number of United stars showing elements of that bygone era in recent weeks.

The Fergie-esque Man Utd stars

Topically, Amad Diallo would fancy himself worthy of a place in one of Ferguson’s one-time squads. The Ivory Coast international has developed something of a penchant for late goals, after all.

In fact, all ten of Amad’s Premier League goals have come in the second half.

However, he’s not alone in that regard. The frontline has been a place of contention for the Theatre of Dreams in recent years, and especially so since Amorim arrived and ousted the likes of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho.

Matheus Cunha looks a cut above, and even though the Brazilian has not yet found his Midas touch in front of goal, his quality is undeniable, with writer Wayne Burton claiming he has the “potential to be an all-timer”, so talented that he might be “the best player we’ve had since Fergie retired”.

Lofty praise, but undoubtedly wearing a ring of truth. This is all to say that there are promising signs at Old Trafford. Bryan Mbeumo looks a star, and given that he has singled out Cristiano Ronaldo as one of his biggest influences, you can see him succeeding in the long run. The Cameroonian plays with the same kind of robust potency as CR7 once did when cutting his teeth under Fergie’s wing.

United still need to make more improvements though, and the current struggles of wing-back Diogo Dalot emphasise the need for new blood on the flanks to help Amorim realise his lofty ambitions.

Once, Gary Neville dominated for the elite outfit; so underrated nowadays, the retired Three Lions star is one of the finest full-backs of his generation.

Dalot, 26, doesn’t look like he’s going to make that grade after once arriving from Porto as a teenager with such promise.

He’s not the only one, though. This is a recurring problem, and one which recalls a time when Sir Alex felt he had landed the next version of Neville, only for this player to fail to kick on.

The Fergie flop who was billed as the next Neville

The Fergie era at Manchester United was defined by meteoric highs. On the transfer front, the Red Devils had the ascendancy within the English game, but a few potential stars fell by the wayside.

One of which would be Rafael Da Silva, who did spend seven seasons at Old Trafford after graduating from the Carrington ranks, but perhaps failed to ever reach the potential his manager saw in him.

Time was when Rafael was viewed as having the potential to become a superstar. He and his twin brother Fabio had been brought over from Brazilian club Fluminense in February 2007, and he would make 170 appearances across all competitions, scoring five goals and supplying 14 assists.

Rafael’s time at the club could hardly be defined as a failure, but he probably served as more of a bit-part player than an instrumental cog in the machine.

Rafael’s Premier League Career with Man Utd

Season

Apps

Minutes

14/15

10

590′

13/14

19

1,418′

12/13

28

2,317′

11/12

12

914′

10/11

16

1,201′

09/10

8

682′

08/09

16

1,055′

Data via Transfermarkt

A three-time Premier League champion he may be, but Ferguson believed he was destined for greatness. The retired manager said in 2012, “I think Rafael will eventually be compared to Gary Neville.”

This didn’t end up being the case. Rafael ended up leaving when under louis van Gaal’s management, at odds with the Dutch manager, and several contentious career events beforehand, coupled with injuries, left his former manager’s prediction untrue.

There’s no question that he is fondly remembered, even considered by some supporters to be something of a cult hero, but Rafael was abundantly talented, and there really was a chance that he could have filled the void that was left when Neville wound down.

A fearless and tenacious attitude, coupled with a burning desire to make things happen and excite the crowd, won the Manchester crowds over instantly, and maybe why we look back now with an air of ruefulness about Rafael’s fizzled-out finish at the club, leaving for French side Lyon in 2015 for a small £2.5m fee.

In any case, it’s funny that you might say his robust and dynamic profile would be well-suited to the current Amorim-led system, but this only emphasises the need for a Neville-esque figure to ensure this new chapter at the club keeps moving forward after such interminable turmoil.

Because sadly, it feels like Dalot has fallen down a similar route, with content creator Liam Canning saying recently that the Portugual international is “becoming a worry long term”, given that he “doesn’t look like he suits the wing back role”.

Neville might be modest about his ability as a Premier League footballer, but it would take to knock him off that all-timer pedestal.

Related Carrington's "best talent" is a big Sesko upgrade in the making at Man Utd

Manchester United could yet improve further in attack under Amorim’s wing.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Nov 3, 2025

While the hosts look their most settled heading into the tournament, England, South Africa and Bangladesh will be in pursuit

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-20253:00

Is this India’s best chance to win a World Cup?

IndiaThis is the most settled Indian team to head into an ODI Women’s World Cup. That was only highlighted when they ran Australia, the reigning world champions, close in the ODI series decider in Delhi on Saturday.Pratika Rawal has added stability to the opening partnership, even if her scoring rate is under the spotlight. Harleen Deol has been given a long-enough run at No. 3 with Jemimah Rodrigues settling in a now-familiar spot at No. 5.Their talisman and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is among the runs and captain Harmanpreet Kaur is in good form, too. The bowling group of Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, N Shree Charani, Arundhati Reddy and Kranti Goud have got games together under their belt.One of their concerns, apart from blowing hot and cold with their fielding and catching, would be how Amanjot Kaur returns from injury. She was sidelined during India’s successful tour to England in July and missed the three-ODI series against Australia at home. Her seam-bowling ability, combined with her batting, fit just right for India, especially in situations like the third match against Australia.Renuka Singh Thakur’s showing through the series after returning from a stress injury will help India breathe easy. She highlighted her importance to the bowling attack, especially with the new ball.Whisper it, but this could be India’s best chance of winning their first senior women’s World Cup.SquadHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh, Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, N Shree Charani, Sneh Rana, Uma ChetryKey playerSmriti Mandhana has been in fine form•Getty ImagesNumbers alone can make a case for Smriti Mandhana being one of the key players for India at the World Cup: 2100 runs with eight centuries at an average of 58.33 and a strike rate of 99.15 since the 2022 edition. No other batter has more than 1800 in this period. Statistics aside, Mandhana has effortlessly slid into the role of the aggressor in her opening pairing with Rawal, with Shafali Verma not part of the ODI setup. The clarity in her shot selection has helped in this regard and twin hundreds in the last series before the World Cup only show her hunger.Predicted finishAt least runners-up. England1:07

‘England have incredible talent in the squad’

New coach, new captain, this tournament poses the first big-stage test of England since the dire T20 World Cup and Ashes campaigns that prompted these changes. That said, there have only been a couple of tweaks to the make-up of the squad, making it incumbent on head coach Charlotte Edwards and skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt to extract the best from the enviable talent at their disposal and succeed where no one has since their 2017 triumph.Eight of the XI who finished runners-up to Australia in 2022 remain, while continued investment and growth in the women’s game in England has increased their depth since. But it’s early days yet – the new regime only began in April – and a clean sweep of both home white-ball series with West Indies, who failed to qualify for this World Cup, was tempered by series defeats to India in both formats.The success of a reprised opening partnership between Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones against West Indies was more measured against India and England have recalled the vastly experienced Danni Wyatt-Hodge to bolster the middle order. After those series, Edwards said “getting to the final would be a real success for us” and, at this stage, that rings true.Seamer Lauren Bell was the leading wicket-taker in the women’s Hundred and spearheads a seam attack without the retired Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Anya Shrubsole and the overlooked Kate Cross. England will rely on a four-pronged spin department of Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Linsey Smith and Sarah Glenn.SquadNat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones (wk), Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-HodgeKey playerNat Sciver-Brunt has been England’s spiritual leader at the World Cup, scoring two centuries in 2017 followed by a fifty in the final and twin unbeaten hundreds in losing causes against Australia, including the title decider, in 2022. Now she is their official leader too, captaining the side for the first time at a global tournament. Against India, during their recent ODI series, she was the leading run-scorer with 160, averaging 53.33. She bowled for the first time in six months during a warm-up with New Zealand just ten days out from the start of the event, putting her return as an allrounder on track, albeit on a tight schedule.Predicted finishSemi-final. Having had just 14 matches – only six of them ODIs – under the new leadership, reaching the knockouts would be a big achievement at this stage. South Africa4:28

‘South Africa have depth, but could feel Ismail’s absence’

The curse has been broken. South Africa earned a world title when their men’s team lifted the World Test Championship (WTC) mace in June and so, finally, they will enter a tournament without the pressure of ending a drought. Now, they can just play.South Africa go into the tournament after a period of inconsistent form over the last year, in which time they have also been under a new coach, but are quietly confident of what they’ve built. This will be Mandla Mashimbyi’s first major event as he hopes to make his mark at the highest level. The bulk of his squad are experienced at global competitions and were at the core of South Africa’s success in reaching the final of the last two T20 World Cups.In Laura Wolvaardt, South Africa have a captain who leads by example and holds the batting line-up together. They are stacked with allrounders in Marizanne Kapp, Annerie Dercksen, Sune Luus, Nadine de Klerk and have several spin options led by left-armer Nonkululekho Mlaba. What’s missing is a pace bowler in the mould of Shabim Ismail, who was at the last ODI World Cup. In her absence, South Africa will rely on the swing of Kapp and the accuracy of Ayabonga Khaka and Masabata Klaas. Even though Tumi Sekhukhune offers some pace, they may find themselves lacking a genuine strike bowler. Squad Laura Wolvaardt, Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloé Tryon Key player As big scores and power-hitting become commonplace in the women’s game, Tazmin Brits could take centre stage with her brand of aggressive batting. Brits is in the form of her life and has scored four of her six ODI hundreds in 2025, including a career-best 171*. She’s also done all that quickly and has maintained a strike rate of 94.14 this year. While she has always been strong on the drive, she has also developed strong sweeps and slog-sweeps and can prove difficult to stop in the powerplay. Her style perfectly complements her opening partner and captain Wolvaardt and the value she adds in the field means if she has a good World Cup, South Africa could too. Predicted finishSemi-final. BangladeshNigar Sultana’s triple role of batter, wicketkeeper and captain does seem too much at times•ICC/Getty ImagesBangladesh have plans to win at least two matches in the World Cup. But to do that, they have to rely on a number of training camps at home, rather than any international cricket for the five months leading up to the tournament. It is being recognised as a massive factor before Bangladesh embark on their second 50-over World Cup campaign.Instead, Bangladesh played several matches against Bangladesh’s Under-15s, though they didn’t have a great time, winning just one game against the boys’ side.Bangladesh could take inspiration from their qualification tournament, where they made it through by 0.003, the squeakiest of margins. Sharmin Akhter and captain Nigar Sultana were the second and third-highest run-scorers in the qualifiers, while legspinner Rabeya Khan took eight wickets. They will, however, be without Jannatul Ferdus, the offspinner who was their highest wicket-taker in qualifying.SquadNigar Sultana (capt), Nahida Akter, Fargana Hoque, Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter, Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Fariha Trisna, Sanjida Akter, Nishita Akter, Sumaiya AkterKey playerNigar Sultana’s triple role of batter, wicketkeeper and captain does seem too much at times but she has performed admirably in all three capacities. Nigar will have to put on all three caps at the World Cup too, as she looks to bring out the best in a squad that hasn’t seen top-class action in months. Articulate on and off the field, Nigar is an inspirational figure in Bangladesh and is regarded as one of the best captains in the country’s history.Predicted finishEighth.

Australia have been inconsistent in ODIs since the last World Cup and are missing some key players for this series

Tristan Lavalette18-Oct-2025Garbed in Australia’s bright new yellow ODI kit, as he leads the team on their first steps towards a title defence at the 2027 World Cup in the absence of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh could not avoid a question he has started to be increasingly asked.Given his outstanding form in white-ball cricket, and injury concerns mounting for the Australia Test team, is Marsh starting to think about the possibility of an unlikely Ashes call-up?”I’ve got tickets to day one and two. Haven’t asked the wife yet, so that’s about as much thought as I’ve given it,” a smirking Marsh said to reporters in his trademark style of completely playing down his chances of resurrecting a Test career that looked over after he was dropped last summer.Related

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While it was a humorous way to end the press conference on the eve of Australia’s three-match ODI series against India, it did underline that the Ashes is hovering over basically everything in Australian cricket right now.It has overshadowed the build-up of this series, no mean feat given India’s heft in the sport. While these ODIs and T20Is against India are widely viewed as the entrée ahead of the Ashes, they do have longer-term implications given that there are World Cups in each format over the next couple of years.We’re at the halfway mark in the ODI World Cup cycle, meaning it’s time for teams to start strategising. Australia are in transition in the 50-over format, with several unknowns over their batting order after the retirements of Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.Australia’s batting-order has been weakened further with Josh Inglis, Alex Carey and Cameron Green not playing in the first ODI in Perth. While Carey is currently on Shield duties, Inglis is on the sidelines due a nagging calf injury and Green has been pulled out of the series after suffering a side strain.The developments, of course, have Ashes implications. “He’s okay, it’s on the very, very minor end. It’s a cautious take on it but he’s all good,” Marsh said of his WA team-mate Green.This series is an important opportunity for Matt Short after a run of injuries•AFP/Getty ImagesIt does mean Australia have an opportunity to experiment with batter Matt Renshaw and batting allrounder Mitchell Owen set to make their ODI debuts, while Josh Philippe will take the gloves and play his first ODI in more than four years.After his recent hot run of form at the domestic level, Marnus Labuschagne has been recalled as Green’s replacement but won’t play in the first ODI even though he is making the long journey to Perth to link up with the group.”Across the board in our white-ball teams over the last 12 month, we’ve seen a lot of guys get opportunities, so it always brings excitement to those guys,” Marsh said. “We just have to be really clear on their role and they will enjoy playing cricket for Australia.”A golden opportunity is likely to be presented to Matt Short, who has been on the verge of Australia’s white-ball sides but inconsistencies and, of late, injuries have proven hurdles.Short has thrived at the top of the order in domestic white-ball cricket, but will likely have to settle at No. 3 with Marsh and Head having established such a dynamic opening partnership.”We know he opens for Victoria and Strikers and in T20 cricket around the world,” Marsh said of Short, who has opened the batting in 11 of his 13 ODI innings. “But we see no difference opening the batting and No.3. We’re comfortable with him batting there.”After missing the South Africa series with concussion, Mitch Owen will get a chance in ODIs•AFP/Getty ImagesAustralia’s form has been patchy since their 2023 World Cup triumph, having most recently lost to South Africa 2-1 in northern Queensland in August, a time of year where little attention is on cricket.There will be considerably more spotlight on this India series and it feels very much like Australia will now start ramping things up in cricket’s middle format.Australia will face a tough test against top-ranked India, similarly in transition under new captain Shubman Gill but still boasting Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.”Had the privilege of playing against them quite a lot over the journey,” Marsh said of Kohli and Rohit. “They’re obviously legends of the game, Virat is the greatest chaser ever in this format. I think you can see by the ticket sales that a lot of people want to come and watch them.”More than 50,000 fans are expected at Optus Stadium, a nod to the pulling power of India but also indicative of Ashes fever in the air in a city that will host the first Test in just five weeks.”To see the stadium packed out against India, it’s going to be a great experience for our group,” Marsh said. “I believe it’s going to be a high scoring affair, but getting through the first 10 overs for both teams will be a challenge and maybe where the game’s won and lost.”

At 46, the ageless wonder leggie still has what it takes in T20. He talks about his success with Guyana and what keeps him ticking

Interview by Deivarayan Muthu11-Aug-20252:53

‘I know how to respect my team members and that’s most important’

Imran Tahir turned 46 this March but continues his Benjamin Button act in T20 tournaments around the world. In 2023 he led Guyana Amazon Warriors to their maiden CPL title and two years later he captained them to their first Global Super League title. Since turning 40, he has bagged 266 wickets at an economy rate of 6.86 in T20s. Only Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Chris Jordan, Wanindu Hasaranga and Shaheen Afridi have taken more wickets than Tahir during this period. The T20 veteran spoke to us during the GSL this July about his cult status in Guyana, captaincy style, Amazon Warriors’ spin depth, and his ambitions for the upcoming CPL season.You have played for a whole lot of T20 teams around the world but you keep coming back to Guyana. You’re the only overseas player with more than 100 CPL wickets. What’s it like to be a cult hero in Guyana?
Look, it’s very special. The team gives me all the confidence and still believes in my ability. The people of Guyana really respect and give me a lot of love, and I think that’s where you want to be. With that kind of love you always want to come back and play for the same badge, and you just want to be here every year.I think I need to do a lot of extra gym work to be here every year (). But as long as I’m doing well for the team and what they require from me, if I justify it, then , I can keep coming back to Guyana.Related

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You turned 46 this year but you keep finding ways to take wickets and win games. How do you manage your body and mind in this fast-paced T20 world?
Yeah, look, it’s tough. But I’m a bit lucky now because I have more time to do training than [having to] keep playing. I think that gives me a bit more benefit – I look after myself well, eat well and try to sleep on time and just be loyal to my job. Then when I get to play, I know I can give my 100% to my team.You had a great GSL, where you led from the front. How has the build-up been, leading into CPL 2025?
Last year it was a bit of a rush. We jumped out of a flight and started playing GSL. So I felt like this year we should get together and have a camp and see how we can improve as a team. All of us, [including] guys coming from overseas, worked very hard and looked to improve on a few things and it paid off for us.Red and green spell go for Tahir: Guyana is home for him, the Pakistan-born leggie says•CPL T20/ Getty ImagesI hope we can carry this form into the CPL, where we also have a couple of youngsters who are not part of the GSL with us. But we picked them for the CPL, and they were there for the training camp, and I’m sure they’ve had a good experience with the senior players before they get to play the CPL. All in all, it was a good effort from the franchise to get everyone together and build this team for the GSL and CPL.In 2023, Warriors won their first CPL title under your leadership, and they came close to defending it successfully last season. How would you describe yourself as a captain?
Yeah, look, I’ve only been given one opportunity in my life as a captain. I just feel like I don’t have to prove anything to anyone about my captaincy or skills. I use my experience during captaincy, and I know how to respect my team-mates. I think that’s the most important thing in a team environment.When you’re happy for each other, play for each other and respect the team culture [success follows]. I’d rather be a player, but whether I play as a captain or player, I want everyone in the team to be happy and respected. That’s what I try to do in this team, and hopefully [as long as] I have this responsibility, I want to share my experience with the players and make sure the youngsters, if they want to learn something, I can try and help them through our senior players.Like we have some really good local players in our squad. Romario Shepherd, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul have been with the franchise for a long time, and to have them around, I’m sure it’s a great learning experience for the youngsters. And like I said, if there’s any spinners, even batters or bowlers with whom I can share my experience, I want to help them. I feel that’s my job as a captain.Over the years you have been mentoring spinners in leagues around the world. Is that something you enjoy?
Yeah, I think so. I don’t do it for the camera. I just like to share my knowledge. I think not many shared their knowledge with me when I was younger, and that was a bit of a sad part. But if you want to be a professional cricketer and you want to achieve your dreams, then you have to work hard and keep learning and that’s what my belief is.Tahir and Gudakesh Motie celebrate a wicket in the 2023 CPL final, which gave Guyana Amazon Warriors their first title in the tournament•Ashley Allen/CPL T20/Getty ImagesI don’t want youngsters to go through [what I did]. I want them to know what a slider, googly and flipper is. I’d rather want them to know it at the age of 15. Then they can serve their country or franchise in a better way than I did because I came to international cricket very late and showed my skills late in my career. I’m still trying to improve.So from my point of view, wherever I go, I just want to share my knowledge and pass it on to the youngsters. I do like to talk about legspin bowling and see how the other spinners think about the game and how my thinking is. So it’s always nice to talk about the game and share my knowledge. When I do that, I feel good deep in my heart.You were a pioneer as a wristspinner in T20 cricket, bowling flat and quick and getting your googlies to zip. How do you think your bowling has changed as T20 has evolved?
You always want to keep learning. It doesn’t matter how good you are; you always learn about the game every single day, and that’s what the game has taught me throughout my career. Spinners play a big role in modern T20 cricket these days and you need to keep improving your skills.Apart from legspinners, even left-arm spinners and offspinners have high skill levels these days. You have to work hard to be successful in the international arena because you know the batsmen are waiting for any [mistake]. If you see a slow ball [flighted] in the air, they want to hit, and the batsmen have got so many shots these days. So, as a spinner, I always want to keep improving.The googly and the flipper have brought you a lot of wickets. Have you explored any new variations?
Yeah, there are a few, but you’ll only get to see it on TV. I’m not the kind of guy who would talk about it in interviews and put it [the thought] in people’s head (). But yes, I’m still working on a couple of things and hopefully I can be able to bowl those balls in the future.ESPNcricinfo LtdAmazon Warriors have almost every variety of spin in their attack. What do you make of the spin depth?
It’s a blessing for Guyana that we have so many spinners when we come up against left-right hand [batter pairs]. [Gudakesh] Motie is very good, and our local core is very good. We’ve also got Moeen [Ali].Motie has become a world-class spinner. Having these spinners helps. You see different batsmen coming with different plans and you can just throw the ball to any of these spinners who can challenge any batsman. Trying to get wickets as quick as we can is our plan, so we try to keep putting pressure on the opposition and make sure we demolish their batting plans – whatever they come up with.You touched upon Moeen, another senior figure in the side. You also played with him at the SA20. What does he bring to Amazon Warriors?
Moeen is another great spinner and batter, who brings a lot of experience. His record speaks for itself. To have someone like him in the team is only going to benefit you. He also shares his experience with youngsters and other team-mates. He’s really committed and we’re lucky to have him in our squad. We’re hoping he will have a good time again in Guyana.Does having a spin-friendly home pitch empower you to be more attacking as the lead spinner?
Look, the spinners we have, they have performed all over the world. If the ball turns for us, it’s also turning for the opposition. It just means we’re using the facility better than the others. So I don’t like it when people say, “Oh, Guyana turns” and stuff like that.Yes, it turns, but for both teams, and we need to use our variations. So we try and upgrade our skills. That’s what we do here in Guyana. Myself, Motie and Moeen – all of us have picked up wickets on some of the flattest decks in the world. The most important thing for us is the combination of the team and we try to break partnerships and batting plans with that combination. So far we’ve been successful and hopefully we can carry this form into the CPL.The bane of T20 batters everywhere: Tahir trots out his Victor Gyökeres celebration•GSL/Getty ImagesThe CPL is known for its funky celebrations. Your sprint is perhaps the OG one, but what’s the story behind doing Ronaldo’s “Siuuu” and Victor Gyökeres’ celebrations recently?
I have to because my son [who is travelling with Tahir], he asked me to do it (). The celebrations are purely for him. He just loves football. I actually don’t know the guy [Gyökeres’] who does this celebration, but I know he’s a footballer. But look, it’s nice, I want to put a smile on my son’s face and hopefully a smile on the faces of other people as well, if they like it.You’ve been there and done that in international cricket and every T20 league around the world. At 46, how do you remain so passionate about the game?
I’m the kind of guy who got [success] very late. And when you have a dream to be on the stage where I’m now, I think I just don’t feel like letting it go. I want to live the dream [as long as] I keep playing. If I’m playing, I want to give whatever I have to my team, and that obviously comes through passion. If you don’t have passion for anything, you won’t be successful in life.At the SA20 and even in the GSL, you were throwing yourself around in the field and there was a spectacular grab in the eliminator at the 2024 SA20. How proud are you of such fielding efforts?
I have to do extra work on my fielding and thanks to all the practice sessions with our coaches, the energy and the focus they gave… they gave me a lot of confidence. I take a lot of pride in my fielding, and I feel like if I can take one or two catches, I can change the game. That gives me bigger joy, but I think some people might have been more shocked than appreciative of my catches (). But no, generally a lot of people still appreciate such catches.What are your ambitions heading into CPL 2025?
Yeah, the team and the combination looks really good. It’s all about how we start the competition and that’s the most important thing. Going into the competition, the first few games are important and the GSL [success] will help a lot. We’ve been playing a good brand of cricket in the GSL and I believe that will set the standard for us in the CPL.We just need to stick together and before the tournament starts, we will have a camp for a few days. Things have been looking good so far. The only thing we can do is work hard and give it back to our fans in Guyana.

Although it’s not time to breathe a sight of relief just yet, reports have suggested that one Sheffield Wednesday candidate has travelled to Hillsborough and a bid for the club is expected.

The Dejphon Chansiri era is officially over, but the Owls entered administration as a result and were handed a 12-point deduction to turn their Championship survival push into their very own mission impossible.

The good times, however, are on their way. Fans flooded to the club shop when Chansiri’s exit was confirmed, before they packed out Hillsborough in a 1-1 draw with Norwich City. This is, at long last, a club pulling in the same direction from top to bottom and co-administrator Kris Wigfield took time to thank supporters earlier this week.

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The Begbies Traynor managing partner said: “Ahead of the Norwich game, we wanted to give a brief update as best we can to keep fans informed.

“Whilst we are bound by confidentiality for much of this process, it is worth saying that the fantastic support of the fans through attending matches and buying merchandise from the club shop has been vital to running the club and the ground day-to-day – this includes paying the wages of employees and players.”

Regarding prospective buyers, there’s been plenty of interest in Sheffield Wednesday. Several parties have reportedly presented proof of funds worth £50m and the likes of John McEvoy and former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley have been mentioned.

Administrators have set an loose deadline of November 21 for when they want new owners through the door and the latest update suggests that they are on course to meet that deadline this month.

Sheffield Wednesday takeover candidates take Hillsborough tour

As confirmed by Wigfield, an unnamed Sheffield Wednesday takeover candidate has now travelled to Hillsborough for a tour of the stadium and a look at other facilities such as the training ground. Other parties are set to follow suit and opening bids are expected to commence as the Owls move closer and closer to welcoming new owners.

The 12-point hit dealt Sheffield Wednesday an undeniable blow but with Chansiri finally gone, things are beginning to look up at Hillsborough.

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