England coach claims team for Perth undecided after Jacob Bethell pushes case in ODIs

Matt Roller08-Sep-2025Brendon McCullum expects Jofra Archer to be a “huge player” for England in Australia this winter and described the upcoming Ashes tour as “the biggest series of all of our lives”. England’s coach also hinted that Jacob Bethell still has time to force his way into their side for the first Test in Perth after his maiden hundred on Sunday.Archer set up England’s world-record thrashing of South Africa with a new-ball spell of 4 for 10 in seven overs in Southampton. He made his Test comeback against India in July, taking nine wickets in two appearances, and McCullum said that his injury-free summer has vindicated England’s cautious approach with his return.”That was an unbelievable spell,” McCullum said. “It was box-office bowling…[It’s] not just his pace, but his skill, his ability to shift it both ways and to test batters with the steep bounce he gets. He’s a proper cricketer, hence why we’ve taken our time with him to make sure that we give him every chance to be in the biggest series of all of our lives.Related

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• Bethell admits he 'probably should have played more' this summer

“It’s always a delicate balance. Sometimes you need to keep bowling and you need to keep ticking over. I think a lot of injuries happen when you almost down the tools completely, not that I really understand how that works. But we’ve just got to make sure we work to the plan.”We’ve had a good plan with Jof over the last little while and he’s rewarded us for the type of planning that we’ve had with performances like tonight. He’s going to be a huge player when we get to Australia, as a number of others are. But I don’t think we’ll wrap him up [in cotton wool] per se. We’ll just keep working with him on how he’s going and work out what’s best for him.”Bethell is likely to travel to Australia as England’s spare batter but was in sparkling form against South Africa, following his 58 at Lord’s with 110 off 82 balls in Southampton, and could yet put pressure on incumbent No. 3 Ollie Pope ahead of November’s first Test in Perth. McCullum claimed that he does not yet have a team in his head for the series opener.”We will work that out when we get to Australia,” he said. “We’ve got a few other fish to fry before we get there. We’ve said about Jacob since we introduced him that he’s got a huge future in front of him. He’s very quickly taken to international cricket, and things have come really quickly for him as well.”He’s going to have some life: 21 years of age, and being able to play like he does… I want to celebrate the fact that his first ever professional hundred has been scored in the England jumper at the age of 21. I think [David] Gower’s the only other one [to score an ODI hundred for England at 21], and he was a pretty good player. We’ll see where Jacob ends up.”McCullum also said that Mark Wood and Ben Stokes are “progressing well” ahead of the Ashes, with England set to name their squad towards the end of September. Wood is set to play for Durham in the County Championship later this month, while Stokes is unlikely to play competitively before the first Test in Perth.”Stokesy will be training his arse off as he always does, and making sure he gets as fit as what he possibly can… The last series we saw from Stokesy is probably the best series he’s had as captain, so that’s a good sign. We know that for us to be competitive down in Australia, a fit, firing and motivated Ben Stokes is going to give us every chance.”

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.

Liam Cooper alert to transfer possibility as Sheffield Wednesday hold EFL talks

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.

Perth Scorchers quick is taking wickets in all formats after an injury-ravaged few years but believes international cricket is still ‘unrealistic’ in the short term

Tristan Lavalette16-Dec-2024As his latest comeback gains further steam, quick Jhye Richardson chuckled at a rather amusing question from a reporter before he pondered.Having last month had a scare with his troubled shoulder after animatedly celebrating a wicket against South Australia in his long-awaited Sheffield Shield return, Richardson was asked whether he could still high-five teammates.”I think I just got caught in a funny position over there in Adelaide, probably just got a little bit too excited and decided to slap a few hands a little bit too hard,” a grinning Richardson told reporters after starring with 3 for 19 in Perth Scorchers’ six-wicket victory over Melbourne Stars in the BBL season-opener at Optus Stadium.Related

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But given his horror run with injuries, including shoulder and hamstring surgeries, Richardson paused in his response and then struck a serious tone.”I mean, it does sound silly, but … maybe we’ll stick with the low fives instead of the high fives,” he said. “But that’s just another thing that we deal with. I’ve dealt enough with my shoulder over the last few years. It’s just another thing to add to the basket.”Richardson is wise to take any precautions, no matter how innocuous they might seem to be, given his cursed luck over the years. He is still unable to throw from deep in the outfield due to the shoulder issue and instead has to bowl the ball in or underarm it if he’s closer in.

“Test cricket is obviously the goal. I’d love to play Test cricket again. I think it’s difficult having had a taste of it and then having that sort of ripped away.”Jhye Richardson

Richardson’s been limited to just three Test matches since debuting against Sri Lanka in January 2019, with the last being a pink-ball game in Adelaide in 2021 when he took his maiden Test five-wicket haul against England.The succession of injuries means Richardson, 28, has spent plenty of time on the sidelines and become a somewhat forgotten player in Australian cricket.But Richardson’s been bowling without interruption since his return in this year’s IPL and his improved fitness saw him return to first-class cricket earlier than expected.Richardson had match figures of 4 for 85 from 29 overs against South Australia in the Shield following four One-Day Cup matches and a couple of second XI games for Western Australia.Jhye Richardson made a dramatic Shield return last month•Getty ImagesEntering the BBL fit and firing, Richardson issued a reminder of why he’s one of the country’s most highly-rated quicks with a spectacular performance against Stars on a bouncy Optus Stadium surface.Bowling fast and finding swing, he claimed Joe Clarke and Sam Harper in a devastating new ball spell before finishing with the wicket of Beau Webster in the backend of Stars’ innings.”It felt a little bit different coming into this game, just purely actually having some cricket behind me over the last few months,” Richardson said. “I know last season, I sort of changed my run-up and had all of that I was dealing with and hadn’t played many games before actually coming into the tournament.”I remember last year feeling probably the most nervous I’ve ever felt on a cricket field before my first ball.”Today was probably the polar opposite. It felt like I could go out there and actually do what I’m used to doing, which is bowling a cricket ball.”While Australia’s frontline attack of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, along with back-up quick Scott Boland, have been remarkably consistent and resilient, Richardson offers valuable pace depth and could figure prominently – if he stays fit – amid an expected transition in the coming years.”Test cricket is obviously the goal,” Richardson said. “I’d love to play Test cricket again. I think it’s difficult having had a taste of it and then having that sort of ripped away.”I think it’s nice to have goals, but I’m obviously not there at the moment, so it would be unrealistic for me to think about international cricket. What’s realistic is what’s in front of me right now, and that’s playing Big Bash cricket and domestic cricket for WA.”But I’m hoping to get back there.”

She felt fielding was one area India can improve on in the lead-up to the upcoming World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-20253:00

Mandhana: I always back myself to be in ‘zen mode’

On a day when Australia posted their joint-highest ODI total, of 412, Smriti Mandhana gave India a strong chance to chase it down with a 63-ball 125. Her 50-ball hundred was the second-fastest in all Women’s ODIs.Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma made half-centuries from No. 4 and 5, but the chase eventually fizzled out, with India bowled out for 369. India lost the three-match series 2-1.Related

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Mandhana, who also scored a match-winning century in the second ODI and finished the series as its highest run-getter (300 runs), did not feel she was under too much pressure to do the heavy lifting at the top of the order, and rejected the idea that India’s batting line-up is overdependent on her.”Everyone [in the Indian side] is a match-winner – not only [the] 11 but all the 15 who are part of the team are match-winners,” Mandhana said. “I never look at anyone thinking that they are adding any pressure on me or anyone, for that case.”Secondly I have a huge belief in the whole team, that from any point we can still win the match. That is never going to change with one or two results. If you see in the last 12-odd months we’ve got 300 or 300-plus even when I’ve got out so that doesn’t really say anything about the batting reliance on anyone. Pratika [Rawal], Harleen [Deol], Jemimah [Rodrigues], Harman, everyone’s got a hundred in the last 12 months.”‘Not only [the] 11 but all the 15 who are part of the team are match-winners’•Getty ImagesMandhana, India’s vice-captain, pointed to fielding as an area India will look to work on heading into the upcoming World Cup. India were sloppy on the field throughout the three ODIs, dropping as many as 15 catches.”Australia is a great opposition to test ourselves [against] in terms of where we are lacking,” Mandhana said. “[…] It was a good series in terms of understanding our strengths and where we are lacking. There’s a lot of difference [between the teams] in the fielding. Fielding part is one thing which as a team we are on a rise but we also feel there are days where we look like a [good] fielding side and there are days where we don’t.”That’s about how we find the consistency in the team in terms of fielding as a unit and not individual brilliance, but fielding together as a team. That’s one thing which we thought we have to address before the World Cup. Otherwise, for everyone, it was just about [getting] the feel of the Indian conditions and how we really want to go forward.”The biggest positive from the series for India, according to Mandhana, was the “willingness” shown by the younger players to improve themselves.”The series was not like it was going to make us believe that we’ll win the World Cup. That belief is always there,” Mandhana said. “This series is just for us in terms of understanding what is going right and what’s going wrong because Australia is the best opposition to test it out [against].”We’ve had a great 12 months at home but we did not play Australia at home in the last 12 months. [We have taken back] a lot of positives, a lot of things in terms of what we want to work on. As long as that willingness to work hard is there, I feel the battle will be won. I see that a lot in the girls – that willingness to win, the willingness to learn and the willingness to grow. It’s a young team but the will level is very high.”

Cristhian Mosquera has revealed he grew up supporting Arsenal because of the Gunners' 'aura', and has gone on to become one of Mikel Arteta’s newest breakout stars in defence. The 21-year-old, signed from Valencia in 2025, says the Gunners boss played a crucial role in convincing him to join, with his trademark intensity shining through from their very first conversation.

• Mosquera impresses at Arsenal on debut season

  Mosquera has enjoyed a rapid and impressive start to life at Arsenal after arriving in the summer of 2025. Brought in initially as a rotational option behind William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, he quickly found himself stepping into high-pressure fixtures earlier than anticipated due to injuries. Despite the Premier League’s notorious learning curve for young defenders, he has handled the challenge with remarkable composure and confidence.

  Those performances have earned him strong internal praise and growing external recognition, marking him as one of the most astute value signings of the season. Arsenal spent around £13 million to secure his services, a fee that already looks like a bargain given the quality he has displayed.

  While Arsenal’s original plan may have been to ease him into the intensity and tactical complexity of Arteta’s system, his form has forced a rethink. Instead of waiting years to develop, Mosquera has placed himself directly into the first-team conversation. His early success has not only boosted squad depth but also strengthened Arsenal’s long-term future at the heart of their defence.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Mosquera opens up on Arsenal's 'aura' and 'intense' Arteta

  Mosquera openly admits that Arsenal were already part of his football identity growing up. Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: “I always watched the Premier League. In fact, my team was Arsenal. The players, the shirt. I saw them as a bit different: they had something, an aura.”

  He revealed the decisive moment in choosing the Gunners came after talking with Mikel Arteta: “Before I had decided, someone in my camp said: ‘The moment you speak to Mikel, there’s no way he won’t convince you.’ And that’s exactly how it happened. When the call finished, my destination couldn’t have been clearer.”

  Mosquera also described Arteta’s famous personality and coaching style: “Yes, totally, totally. He really lives for football, he was raised on it, experienced everything. You see that when he talks. He loves the detail, sees things other eyes might not. I’m so happy with him. He’s an incredible person and he’s helping me a lot. The staff have made it easy. Arsenal is an incredible club.”

  He then gave insight into his swift settling-in period in London: “I’ve settled super fast, which I didn’t expect before I came but I could see it in the first few days. What I’ve most liked about London is that you get there and the myth about the English being cold isn’t true at all. You’re immediately convinced you’ll settle, not just because of the team and coaching staff but the people at the club who don’t get seen from the outside and are fundamental. I was in a hotel but with their help I’ve got a house.”

• Mosquera had been courted by multiple clubs before Arsenal move

  Mosquera’s signing marked a major coup for Arsenal in the 2025 market, as he was being closely monitored by top clubs across Europe. Having earned an Olympic gold medal with Spain and emerged as one of La Liga’s standout young defenders at Valencia, his availability sparked immediate interest. However, Arsenal’s early groundwork and Arteta’s personal pitch ensured his move to north London happened smoothly.

  The 21-year-old’s versatility has already shown its value as he has filled in on either side of central defence while maintaining a strong level of performance. Ability on the ball has always been a requirement for defenders under Arteta, and Mosquera fits that profile perfectly; able to carry possession forward or initiate attacks through progressive passing lanes. His integration has been so successful that there has been no noticeable drop-off in Arsenal’s system when he plays.

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  Mosquera could start again following Gabriel's injury

  Arsenal’s first-choice partnership remains Saliba and Gabriel, but Mosquera has put genuine pressure on that hierarchy. With a packed fixture schedule and potential rotation required in upcoming marquee matches, more opportunities are inevitable for the young Spaniard. His ability to step up without hesitation ensures he is no longer considered merely backup, but real competition.

  With Gabriel's recent injury on international duty with Brazil, Mosquera may bag another start for Arsenal when they take on Tottenham on November 23. The Spaniard could also feature against Bayern Munich in the Champions League next midweek.

Tottenham Hotspur’s squad in 2025/26 is packed with numerous midfield stars, but it’s apparent that boss Thomas Frank is yet to work out his best combination in such an area.

The Dane has utilised a three-man midfield in the vast majority of his 11 Premier League outings to date, often varying between two deep-lying options with a ten and a flat three.

Joao Palhinha arrived in the summer on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich and has started all but one, with his ball-winning presence a real component to the Lilywhites’ side.

The same can’t be said for £52m addition Xavi Simons, as the Dutchman has struggled to nail down a starting position in his attacking midfield role – subsequently being named in the starting eleven on just six occasions.

However, there’s little denying that one player would have easily walked into the current squad had he still been on the books after his previous spell in North London.

Spurs’ most underrated player in the last decade

When talking about Spurs’ most underrated players in numerous years, many players will be mentioned, but one will always rise to the top – with that man being Mousa Dembélé.

The Belgian midfielder joined the Lilywhites from Fulham for just £15m back in the summer 2012, with very few supporters anticipating the levels he would produce in the capital.

He would go on to rack up a total of 249 senior appearances during his seven-year spell at the club, often catching the eye with his physicality and dazzling feet.

Standing at 6’1, you wouldn’t expect a player to easily get past the opposition, but Dembele used to glide past his men – leading to his tally of 10 goals and 11 assists.

Many of his former teammates have sung his praises in recent years, even labelling him as one of the most underrated players they have played alongside in their careers.

Former right-back Kieran Trippier is just one player to sign his praises, with the Englishman stating: “He was a remarkable player. He was unbelievable, I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves for being such an unbelievable player.”

Since his move to Guangzhou City back in 2019, the Lilywhites have massively lacked a player of his quality, with Frank and the supporters undoubtedly wishing they had a player of Dembélé’s talents at present.

The Spurs star who was tipped to be the next Dembele

In the last six years since Dembele’s departure from Spurs, the hierarchy have spent upwards of £300m on the midfield department alone – a simply staggering amount of money.

Numerous of their additions still remain on the books in North London, with the aforementioned Simons just one of the options Frank is still able to call upon.

Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall are two other young stars who have been brought to the club in the last few seasons, with both cementing themselves within the first team ranks.

The latter of the duo joined for just £8m from Swedish side Djurgarden last summer, but has already racked up a total of 60 appearances despite being just 19.

However, Yves Bissouma is another midfield addition that remains in North London, but his time at the club has been far from successful in the last few years.

The Malian joined for a reported £25m from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2022, leading to journalist Alasdair Gold claiming he’s just “like Dembele”.

In the three years with the Lilywhites, the 29-year-old has already racked up a century of appearances – even finding the back of the net on two separate occasions.

Games played

28

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

89%

Tackles won

2.1

% of tackles won

63%

Duels won

5.2

Interceptions made

1.2

Recoveries made

5.4

However, it’s been a period that has been littered with controversy, with Bissouma being suspended by the club back in August 2024 after being pictured inhaling laughing gas.

Frank’s arrival has seen the downward spiral continue for the Malian, with the Dane leaving him out of the UEFA Super Cup clash with PSG after being consistently late for training.

In the three months since the final, he’s failed to make a single appearance for the Lilywhites, even being left out of the Premier League and Champions League squads for the first half of 2025/26.

Such an omission is a sign that the manager simply doesn’t see the 29-year-old as part of his long-term plans – with the hierarchy desperately needing to offload him in January.

Bissouma currently earns a reported £55k-per-week in North London, with the club paying him a staggering £1.4m since his last competitive outing in the first-team.

Not only has he failed to reach the levels many anticipated upon his move, but he’s also bleeding the club dry of crucial funds that will be needed in January.

His lack of action, current earnings and disciplinary record all point to an exit for the midfielder in the upcoming winter window, with the club needing to make his departure a priority.

Frank will no doubt want to clear him off the books, raising funds for the January market, which is no doubt a crucial point of the season in his quest to secure Champions League football a second successive year in North London.

Spurs have "one of Europe’s best finishers" & he could end Richarlison's stay

Tottenham Hotspur can offload Richarlison if Thomas Frank shows faith in one other squad member.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 14, 2025

In-form Middlesex batter on being in the England selectors’ thoughts and adapting his game to thrive across formats

Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Apr-2025Max Holden is not a voracious consumer of podcasts. Experience has taught the Middlesex batter to ignore outside noise, so naturally those on cricket do not tend to pass his ears.Nevertheless, they would have been burning over the last fortnight after Holden was namechecked in two successive episodes of the Sky Sports Cricket podcast. On merit, of course.An impressive 184 against Lancashire in the opening round of the County Championship – Middlesex were 7 for 3 in their second innings and plenty behind – was highlighted by Rob Key when England men’s managing director was asked who had caught his eye early doors.Related

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The following week, selector Luke Wright used Holden, a former England Under-19 captain, as an example of someone thriving having previously been in “our system”. Three days later, Holden shifted up and down the gears for an impressive 107 against Glamorgan in Middlesex’s first win of their Division Two campaign.”I was actually made aware by one of my friends,” Holden tells ESPNcricinfo of his twin shoutouts. He resisted the urge to seek out the clips.”It is flattering, but yeah…. equally, I’ve just got to concentrate on what I’m doing. I think I’d be foolish to start reading into things too much or spending time worrying about that, rather than the next thing I can influence.”You can understand Holden’s restraint. Barring a brief taste of Lions cricket in the 2018-19 winter, his last real association with international cricket ended at Under-19 level. Neither Key, Wright nor any one else that matters from England have been in touch.The ambition, however, has never been stronger, and the attachment to various iterations of England teams helped by familiar faces. Four of his cohort from the 2016 U19 World Cup – Dan Lawrence, Sam Curran, Saqib Mahmood and Mason Crane – now have Test caps to their names.”It does feel like a really exciting era, and I’ve been watching it as an England fan first and foremost. Having played with and against a lot of these guys, it’s been cool seeing them go in and do well. Having been close to some of them, you know how good they are, and it’s fun watching them transition those skills into the Test arena.

“The last couple of years, [my technique] all the same now. I’ve tried to keep it similar; my head position, bat path, my preparation in the nets. All my scoring areas are still strong, that rhythm is consistent across formats. Even in the winter, going from the ILT20 into pre-season training with Middlesex, I felt ready for the Championship season”

“In some ways, it’s been quite inspirational, to watch how they’ve gone in certain situations. That in certain moments in games, if you have the belief and confidence, you can go about putting across your different individual strengths to play your best cricket.”There’s no envy from Holden towards his peers, and that’s partly down to his own journey. Like most players of his generation, the 27-year old was reared on traditional red-ball fundamentals through the ranks at Middlesex. There were regular comparisons with Alastair Cook, which fit beyond the left-handedness and Gray-Nicolls gear.But it was not long before Holden was engaging in a familiar conflict of his craft as he looked to push on his limited-overs game. Honing watchfulness in one code and destructiveness in the other – despite the crossed streams promoted by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes at the top table – remains a quandary for all batters. Despite being one of only four men to register centuries in all three formats for his county, Holden struggled for balance.His 2023 was a microcosm of this: his best in T20 cricket (averaging 30.21 and striking at 177.16, with a 56-ball 121 not out against Kent in the Blast) came alongside one of his worst red-ball returns (19.00 across 23 innings).Things have worked out better since. From the start of the 2024 season, Holden is averaging 53.03 across 27 County Championship innings, with four centuries – more than the three he managed in his previous 141 first-class knocks – all from No. 3. In amongst that was a four-game stint at the business end of the ILT20 for Desert Vipers – head coach Tom Moody recruited him early on in the 2024 English summer – which reaped 230 runs at 76.66, including a top score of 76 in the final against eventual champions Dubai Capitals.So – what twigged?”When I first got into the Middlesex team, a lot of the narrative was around my red-ball stuff and batting for a long time and concentration. Obviously that’s really important to me, and I felt, growing up, that was my strength. But I didn’t want to pigeonhole myself as a red-ball player.”About seven years ago now, I had a long sit-down with coaches and dug into how I could be a good T20 player. I never had the power of guys who could just launch the out of the ground from ball one. So it became about manipulating the field, scoring options then, as I got more confident, which sort of bowlers to go after.Holden was a key component of Desert Vipers’ run to the ILT20 final•ILT20″But then I struggled adapting, switching between the two. I felt I had different techniques. I’d stay still against the white ball, and then move more, with my trigger, against the red ball.”The last couple of years, that’s all the same now. I’ve tried to keep my technique similar; my head position, bat path, my preparation in the nets. All my scoring areas are still strong, that rhythm is consistent across formats. Even in the winter, going from the ILT20 into pre-season training with Middlesex, I felt ready for the season without thinking ‘oh, I’ve got to go back to how I want to play in the Championship now’. It’s been a mixture of technical stuff and, I suppose, growing up and experiencing the ups and downs.Consistency, as ever, is key, especially for a top-order batter who has only just discovered it at No. 3, having occupied every slot from one to eight in his professional career. It remains a constant work in progress, but Holden has help.Middlesex assistant coach Rory Coutts remains a key confidant and eye, having worked with him since the age off 11 in his former role as head of youth cricket development. “He’s someone I’d always go back to if I had a problem or wanted advice. He’s good at spotting little bits in my game like ‘when you bat well, you do this and you’re not quite doing it at the moment’.”Former Australian Test batter Simon Katich, head coach at Manchester Originals, is another who Holden can turn to. A 10-day period with former South Africa lynchpin Neil McKenzie – batting coach at Vipers – was particularly eye-opening.None of the advice has been conflicting, largely down to Holden’s own dissemination. Close to a decade as a professional has grooved a phlegmatic disposition, one that Holden is keen to cultivate as the responsibilty he assumed grows.”I think back to when I was younger – I’d spend the week dwelling on a low score or a bad shot. But given all the experience I have now, you just realise, well, these things happen. It’s part of the game. Just learn from it for next time.Holden has blocked his ears to the noise after a strong start to the season•Getty Images”Don’t get me wrong, immediately after there’s 15 minutes of annoyance of getting out, trying to think if the bowler did me there, or my technique or concentration was off. I’ll digest it in that moment.”I guess a lot of young players are similar. They overthink things or spend evenings at home worrying about it. I don’t want do that. My girlfriend wouldn’t be very happy with me coming home every day worrying about what I’ve done wrong!”This summer, arguably the biggest test of Holden’s newly found clarity will come from within his own dressing-room. Middlesex’s acquisition of Kane Williamson – a tie-up with the MCC ahead of a London Spirit gig as captain – will see the Black Caps legend on deck for the majority of the Blast and at least five Championship matches for the second half of the season. And we all know where he bats.You can file this neatly into the “good problem to have” folder. The club’s promotion chase gets an undoubted boost, and whatever jolt for Holden comes at a time when he has never been more sure of himself as a first-class cricketer. Naturally, he sees no issue – only opportunity.”He can bat wherever he wants!” Holden laughs, when asked if he’ll budge for Williamson. “I’m well aware he’s probably one of the best number threes of all time. So if Middlesex want to slide him in there, he’s more than welcome to it.”If you’ve got someone of his calibre coming in and he wants to bat there, I’m more than happy to adapt and go wherever the guys need me. I’m going to try not to bombard him, but I’m going to learn as much as I can from him.”

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Presidente do Flamengo, Rodolfo Landim provocou o Palmeiras antes do duelo de domingo (21), pela terceira rodada do Brasileirão. Durante evento das embaixadas rubro-negras no Museu da Gávea, o digirente defendeu declarações de Tite sobre priorizar campeonatos e citou derrota do Alviverde para o Internacional em Barueri, lembrando que contra o Rubro-Negro o mando será no Allianz Parque. A declaração foi divulgada em vídeo no canal “Paparazzo Rubro-Negro”.

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➡️ Jogo pegado! Com R$100 no Lance! Betting, você ganha R$322 se Palmeiras x Flamengo terminar empatado pelo Brasileirão!

– Vamos ter que subir para 4 mil metros de altitude para jogar na Bolívia três dias depois. Então, cara, você tem que fazer escolhas e tem que ir usando o teu plantel, ir administrando o plantel. No fundo, o que eu acho que o Tite quis dizer ali, e que para mim é óbvio, é que nós vamos ter que administrar, vamos dizer assim, a escalação dos jogadores de acordo com os campeonatos. E tentando priorizar alguma coisa – comentou o presidente do Flamengo.

– Então é o seguinte: vou ter um jogo aqui, esse jogo não é tão ruim, não é tão difícil, mas o próximo já é num gramado duro. Será que compensa eu botar ele para jogar aqui ou resguardar um pouco mais para botar contra o Palmeiras, na casa do Palmeiras, num gramado sintético? Porque o Palmeiras jogou ontem (quarta) e perdeu, mas perdeu em Barueri, não perdeu no gramado sintético. Com a gente eles vão querer jogar lá no gramado sintético, né? (Risos) A gente sabe que tem uma desvantagem – completou Landim.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Flamengo

Para enfrentar o Flamengo no Allianz Parque, o Palmeiras irá abrir mão de um setor na arquibancada, que será utilizado para o show do grupo “Soweto”, na véspera da partida. Na quarta-feira (17), o Verdão foi derrotado pelo Internacional por 1 a 0, na Arena Barueri.

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Two-time All-Star Shane Bieber is set to return to the mound this week.

Bieber, who has not played in over a year since undergoing Tommy John surgery for a torn UCL last April, will make his Blue Jays debut on Friday at Miami, manager John Schneider told reporters. Bieber has recently completed seven starts as part of his rehab assignment, posting a 1.89 ERA and 37 strikeouts across 29 innings.

Bieber was traded to Toronto in July at the deadline after previously spending his entire career with Cleveland, and will begin pitching for a Blue Jays' team that is second in wins and fourth in strikeouts, but just 23rd in ERA. He joins the rotation a little over a month before the end of the regular season, as the Blue Jays lead the American League East with a 73-52 record.

The 30-year-old pitcher has been one of the best starters in the league when healthy. In the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, his best campaign, Bieber went 8-1 with a league-leading 1.63 ERA and 122 strikeouts and won the triple crown and Cy Young award. When he last saw significant playing time in 2023, he went 6-6 with a 3.80 ERA.