Leeds United’s owners have held a meeting with Jesse Marsch and the first-team squad prior to the club’s crucial clash with Brighton on Sunday.
The Lowdown: Result needed
The Whites, who are owned by Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises, find themselves on the verge of relegation with just two games remaining to turn things around.
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Leeds sit in the bottom three below Burnley on goal difference, with the Clarets also having a game in hand on Marsch’s side. That makes the club’s final home game of the season against Brighton vital, with three points required ahead of a trip to Brentford on the last day.
The Latest: Meeting held
Graham Smyth of The Yorkshire Evening Post shared a story on Friday afternoon after Marsch confirmed that the owners held a meeting on Thursday with himself and the squad.
The Leeds manager stated in his pre-match press conference that everyone at the club is ‘totally unified’ ahead of the club’s final home league game of the season.
The Verdict: Make or break
A third successive home defeat could all but relegate Leeds on Sunday, should Burnley manage to beat Tottenham earlier in the day.
Therefore, you can see why Whites officials would want to try and galvanise the club days before the huge game at Elland Road by taking action into their own hands with an official meeting.
Things haven’t been made any easier with a number of key players out through injury and suspension, but hopefully, Sunday’s meeting with Brighton won’t be Leeds’ final home game in the Premier League during 2022.
In other news: Phil Hay: Orta now wants to sign ‘unbelievable’ ace even if Leeds go down; club green-light sale
Data shows the growing popularity of this line, though the nitty gritty – think angle-of-delivery, or field sets – still needs refining to make it truly influential
Sruthi Ravindranath23-May-2024May 7, Delhi. Khaleel Ahmed was bowling a crucial over for Delhi Capitals against Rajasthan Royals. Sanju Samson was on song, batting on 79 off 38 balls, with RR needing 74 off 36 balls to chase down 222. Khaleel ended up bowling four wides in that over, and none of his legal deliveries were bowled at the stumps. Despite the extras, and despite conceding a boundary, the over only went for 11 though.A user comment on ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary said at the time, “That’s cricket for you… Bowler completely loses the plot, and the over still goes for fewer runs than most in this match.”But did Khaleel actually lose the plot? In all likelihood, he was strategically bowling a wide line to keep Samson from going for the big shots. He missed his lines by fine margins and conceded extras. For someone who’s sixth on the list of bowlers to have bowled the most balls wide outside off stump since IPL 2021, he probably very well knew what he was doing. And, in the end, he went largely unscathed and ended up bowling a match-turning over.In the same game, with the equation down to 37 off 12, Rasikh Salam bowled an eight-run over to RR’s Rovman Powell. The right-arm quick came around the wicket to the right-hand Powell, trying to bowl wide yorkers, which he nailed twice in five attempts. One of the failed attempts resulted in a six, but otherwise he managed to keep the batter quiet.
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An unprecedented number of wides have been bowled in IPL 2024. In 2023, one in every 88.86 balls was a wide, while in 2024, a wide has been bowled every 50.90 balls.The data also shows bowlers have been bowling wider lines, in general, more than ever*. Given run-scoring this season has been at an all-time high, bowlers have had to bowl defensively – think wide yorkers, slow wide bouncers, around-the-wicket wide yorkers, etc – to stay away from the batters’ hitting arc. While this reduces the chances of taking a wicket, it prevents batters from scoring and sometimes even forces an error resulting in a wicket.ESPNcricinfo LtdKKR assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate described it as “anti-skill” bowling, an option to counter aggressive batting in the IPL. He cited the example of how Punjab Kings’ Sam Curran set Phil Salt up, first by bowling short and wide with an off-side field to drag the batter across only to then fire one onto the stumps.Among fast bowlers who have bowled the most wide-outside-off-stump deliveries in the middle and death overs across the last two IPLs is Arshdeep Singh. In the match against CSK in Chennai, Arshdeep stuck to wider lines against MS Dhoni – who feeds on anything straight and full – and denied him access to mid-off and the leg side. He used the wide line to great effect against the high-scoring Sunrisers Hyderabad as well, in Mullanpur, where he finished with figures of 4 for 29. Khaleel has bowled the most wide-outside-off-stump deliveries in IPL 2024 among pacers overall, while Arshdeep, who is second on this list, has the most wickets bowling this line among the tournament’s top-five wicket-takers.ESPNcricinfo LtdBut bowlers have frequently gone too far, literally. The percentage of balls bowled wide outside off has gone from 8.5% in 2023 to 9.2% in 2024. The numbers suggest pacers have bowled a lot more wider lines since the start of the 2023 season but this year, they have also bowled a wide every 40.41 balls – it was 67.03 last season. But that’s a gamble bowlers seem willing to take, which was clearly the case for Khaleel while bowling to Samson. Giving away wides in an attempt to bowl defensively is something captains and coaches aren’t too worried about now, according to former New Zealand left-arm seamer Mitchell McClenaghan, the bowler who has the most off-side wides in T20 history.”Wides are generally okay because what you are trying to achieve when you are bowling wide is you are trying to play with the batter and expect them to try and hit the ball,” McClenaghan told ESPNcricinfo. “Because that’s the game. You know if they leave one out there and it’s inside the wide line, then you win. As a bowling coach nowadays, you’re not concerned too much if they bowl wide because particularly in the last over even if you do bowl one wide outside the wide line, you will often see a batter step across the next ball, which gives you more of a margin. Not many batters are patient enough to let one ball go by without hitting it.”McClenaghan himself used these tactics as much as possible. “I would always rather err on getting outside of the line [of the stumps] because if I got too straight, it ends up in that easy arc for batters to hit,” he said.CSK allrounder-turned-bowling-coach Dwayne Bravo used the around-the-wicket tactic often at the death to deny right-hand batters the big hits. Not surprisingly, Bravo has bowled the most wide-outside-off-stump deliveries in the middle overs and at the death in the IPL. His influence on CSK’s bowlers is very evident: their bowlers have bowled the most wide-outside-off-stump deliveries this season. Tushar Deshpande, who finished as CSK’s top wicket-taker, also has the best economy rate overall when bowling this particular line.ESPNcricinfo LtdOne of the best uses of this line from Deshpande came in the match against SRH at Chepauk. Right-armer Deshpande forced SRH’s two dangerous left-handers – Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma – into slicing the ball towards the longer square boundary with wider lines from over the wicket angling away.Former CSK bowling coach L Balaji explained that having Chepauk as a home ground had to do with CSK’s bowlers employing this line more – the three teams still in IPL 2024 would be turning this around in their heads too, with Qualifier 2 and the final to be played in Chennai.”When you play at Chepauk, the side boundaries, which are bigger than the straighter ones, are a little difficult to access for a batsman,” Balaji said. “So when you have dimensions to play with as a bowler, you have to take the game ‘sideways’. One option is bowling short and making horizontal shots come into play. The other defensive option is taking the ball wider or more towards the heel. You either target the heel or either you target a wide line.”Spinners usually bowl loopy balls outside off stump or more darters towards the leg stump. Fast bowlers use the slower bouncer as an option to take the game sideways, like Bravo [used to]. These options will work at Chepauk but not at most other venues. The square dimensions are around 57-58 metres or 60 metres [at most other grounds]. In Chepauk, you have access to around nearly 72 metres. Those [extra] ten metres make a huge difference when it comes to miscuing. So you have to adjust according to the dimensions of the ground.”That said, the wide line has still been quite expensive this season. Bowlers bowling this line at the death have conceded 14.06 per over. Compared to the wide-of-off-stump line, the (just) outside-of-off-stump line has been 26.26% more economical. This is perhaps because it’s a relatively new trend and bowlers are still working out how best to use and execute it. While Arshdeep’s economy in overs outside the powerplay is 10.21, his economy bowling wide of off goes up to 13.05.ESPNcricinfo LtdSpinners too have tried out this line. Among them, Yuzvendra Chahal has bowled the most wide of off stump deliveries outside the powerplay since IPL 2023, followed by Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy. “The defensive ball is the offensive ball,” Varun had told after KKR’s match against DC, where he picked up 3 for 33.In that match, he had Rishabh Pant miscue a tossed-up wide delivery and also went on to remove Axar Patel in a similar manner. “I’ve been bowling wide lines and that has also ended up giving me wickets,” he said. “Nothing was happening when I bowl at the stumps. That’s how much the batters have pushed us.” However, Varun, too, has been taken for plenty while employing this line: 15.80 while bowling wide outside off stump, which is almost double his overall economy of 8.20.So how can bowlers make the best use of this line?”There’s probably been quite a lot of runs scored on the wide line because it’s a new concept to a lot of bowlers,” McClenaghan said. “They are used to bowling straight yorkers or at the stumps. If you haven’t bowled wide and you haven’t bowled wide in an open field, or an open net, you don’t know what angle you’re getting hit at.”Bowlers have got to take the time to bowl without the net and try to bowl wide yorkers and see when they miss what line they get hit on, because quite often guys have missed just by a little bit this IPL but they haven’t known what line their fielder needs to be [positioned at for the mis-hit].”
“When you play at Chepauk, the side boundaries, which are bigger than the straighter ones, are a little difficult to access for a batsman. So when you have dimensions to play with as a bowler, you have to take the game ‘sideways'”Former India seamer L Balaji
McClenaghan feels the wide yorker, or a slower version of it, is one skill bowlers need to master. And for that, bowlers also need captains to back them up with the right field settings.”If you know your angles properly, you can have two guys out on the off side, the backward point and extra cover, mid-off up and then you can have one on the leg side square, fine leg up, cow corner and long-on. And that means that you can bowl your wide yorker. But you can also bowl your heel yorker or your slower ball as well. We’re not seeing as many of those split fields because quite often when guys are trying to bowl wide yorkers, they’re bowling just from [over the wicket] and not coming around. That makes it a little bit easier for batters to get in line with the ball and hit them over mid-off, so it means that they have to have mid-off back as well. We’ve seen a few mistakes being made there so that’s small tactics [to get right] as guys are learning their angles.”For McClenaghan, defensive bowling is here to stay. Balaji, meanwhile, believes it should only be the last resort when there’s “nothing you can get out of the pitch”. Both agree that batters will eventually figure out how to attack this line as well.”Batters have a choice to move around the crease,” Balaji said. “They can shift to their base to off stump or they can shift to the base anywhere they want. There is no restriction for the batsman. This makes a huge difference.”Either way, there’s a new tactic in town, and it will be intriguing to see how it plays out at Chepauk in the two big games remaining in IPL 2024, and then at the T20 World Cup that kicks off a week later.*ESPNcricinfo’s logging of this data is subjective.
The offspinner returns to Galle, the scene of his Test debut, as one of the most prolific Australian bowlers
Andrew McGlashan25-Jun-20221:29
Nathan Lyon on Sri Lanka Tests: ‘We’re expecting it to spin from ball one’
“In my head I thought, ‘oh no, that’s going to be short and wide’ but lucky enough that wasn’t the case.”Nathan Lyon, 23 years old with just five first-class matches and 14 wickets, who a year before was on the Adelaide Oval groundstaff, marks out his run. “Here he is, an offspinner bowling to left handers, normally offspinners like that,” says Tony Greig on commentary.Lyon comes round the wicket to Kumar Sangakkara, the delivery lands perfectly around off stump, grips and dusts off the dry Galle surface, draws the great left-hander forward, takes the edge and Michael Clarke grabs a brilliant one-handed catch, low to his left at slip.At that moment, Lyon becomes just the third Australian to take a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket – the other occasions happened in the 1890s. There are still only 20 to have done it in the history of the game (bizarrely, Shaminda Eranga did it later in the same series and Lyon’s fellow debutant, Trent Copeland, had struck with his second delivery just an hour earlier).”All I tried to do was bowl my best ball,” Lyon recalled, speaking to ESPNcricinfo, as he prepared to return to Galle for Australia’s upcoming two-match series. “I honestly thought it was going to be hit for four in my memory, but lucky enough Kumar nicked one. When you’re able to nick the left hander off it’s a nice feeling. That’s one of our dismissals.”Michael Clarke grabs a low chance to remove Kumar Sangakkara•AFPLyon’s rapid elevation to the Test side, with just a handful of matches under his belt, came at a time when Australia were still searching to fill the void left by Shane Warne. They had cycled through a variety of options in the four years since with none really sticking.”I was pretty nervous just being around the likes of Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke and these guys,” Lyon said. “Michael Clarke and Greg Chappell were the ones who informed me [I was playing]. I was pretty pumped…to be told I was going to be the only spinner was a bit of a shock but it was pretty goddam exciting to be honest.Related
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“I’d always dreamt of having that moment, always dreamt of being at the top of my mark in a Test match and seeing what I potentially could do.”A few hours after that first scalp, Lyon walked off with a five-wicket haul to his name having run through Sri Lanka’s lower-order. The surprising nature of his debut is emphasised by his memory of that experience.”Before that I’d never really taken many five-fors in my life so didn’t really know what to expect,” he said. “I probably didn’t understand the size of the events that had just happened.”Lyon returns to Galle this week with 108 Tests and 427 Test wickets to his name, long since established as Australia’s GOAT offspinner and now only behind Warne and Glenn McGrath in their overall tally.
I was pretty nervous just being around the likes of Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke and these guys
“I was only talking to family the other day about where things started,” he said. “So it is pretty remarkable when you look back to 2011 and see where we are at this stage but obviously it was a dream come true to play just one Test, so I’ve been pretty lucky.”Lyon’s career was not entirely smooth sailing after his remarkable start, but he has only ever missed four Tests since his debut and after returning to Test side during the 2013 Ashes in England he has played 86 consecutive matches (although given Australia’s current injury challenges that is a statistic given with caution). When pressed, Lyon picked out a period around 2014-15 when he really started to feel things had clicked for him, although even now he takes nothing for granted.”It’s a good question and to be honest I hate answering it,” he said. “Because as soon as you feel comfortable that’s when things get taken away from you.”After a bit of toil as wickets briefly dried up during the 2020-21 season, then the wait extended by Australia’s absence from the Test scene due to Covid-19, Lyon crossed the 400-wicket milestone against England at the Gabba last year and in his most recent outing took 5 for 83 to secure Australia’s significant series victory in Pakistan during March.Nathan Lyon walks off after completing a five-wicket haul on debut•AFP”They’d been a lot of media talk in the last couple of years when we’d played on some very docile wickets and we weren’t able to get the win,” Lyon said of clinching the win on the last day in Lahore. “That was on my mind heading into the last Test, but was pretty proud of the way the boys went about it.”Now he’s back on the subcontinent with Australia hoping to further their push for a place in the World Test Championship final. This is Lyon’s second return to Sri Lanka after his debut series having been part of the 2016 tour where they lost the Tests 3-0. His 16 wickets at 31.93 paled on comparison to Rangana Herath’s 28 at 12.75 and he knows the focus will likely be on him.”There’s an excitement level when you head over to a place like Sri Lanka, also with my personal history there,” he said. “There’s always nerves. If you talk to Mitchell Starc he’ll say I’ve debuted about 95 times out of 108 Tests. That’s not nerves from the fear of failing, it’s more from of really caring about the team and wanting to perform well for your mates.”While conditions are likely to be more extreme than those Australia overcame in Pakistan, Lyon did not believe it would require an entirely new approach. “Don’t think it changes too much. You get in trouble where you change and try to force the game,” he said. “When talking about the subcontinent, it’s about a good squad mentality and that’s what I believe you need to perform over there. You can’t do it by yourself.”Lyon regularly cites John Davison as the key mentor of his career – “I think he is the best spin coach in the world” – but on the theme of always looking at the next challenge he is excited by the opportunity to work with Daniel Vettori who will begin his role as an assistant coach.Nathan Lyon: “There’s an excitement level when you head over to a place like Sri Lanka”•Getty Images and Cricket Australia”It will be brilliant to have Dan on board. I want to sit down and nut out some plans and talk to him about cricket in general, but specifically spin bowling.”He is hopeful, too, that the embryonic partnership with Mitchell Swepson that began in Pakistan will get another chance. “If you look at Swepo, he probably didn’t have the dream debut but it’s something he should be very proud of,” he said. “I’m excited about our partnership and ticking off some big goals as the spin twins.”He is also encouraged by the longer-term prospects of Australian spin bowling. Offspinner Todd Murphy, who has drawn comparisons with Lyon, and Tanveer Sangha have been with the A squad, while Matt Kuhnemann has already been elevated to the ODI side.”It’s really good to finally see them be able to play some A tours away from home. It will only improve them,” he said. “They may find a couple of hard days but I promise you one thing, there are a lot more hard days than good days in Test cricket.”From that heady start in Galle, Lyon has experienced plenty of both. But what would his response have been if, 11 years ago, someone had told him this is how his career would play out?”You’re an idiot. Would have found it extremely hard to believe. It is pretty remarkable to be around for that long and have played a role in Australian cricket. It’s been very enjoyable and something I’m very proud about, but it’s never anyone’s given right to have that opportunity. In my eyes the hard work is still to be done. I still want to improve.”
David Miller on taking more responsibility, the 2023 World Cup, and working with Mark Boucher
Firdose Moonda29-Apr-2020In 2010, David Miller entered international cricket as a confident 20-year-old with a reputation of being a big-hitter and a rhyme to match his style. “If it’s the v, it’s in the tree; if it’s in the arc, it’s out the park,” he said, repeating a phrase his father had taught him. For five years, he thrilled with cheeky cameos before finally getting his first international hundred. Today, Miller is the most experienced member of South Africa’s ODI side. He has played in two 50-over World Cups, two Champions Trophies and two T20 World Cups, and is a few matches away from becoming the country’s most-capped T20I player.He spoke about his new-found seniority in the side, his lesser-known love for the longest format, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.Last summer was a particularly tough one for South African cricket, with only one series win from the five at home. Lungi Ngidi recently revealed it was a pep talk by you that sparked the turnaround and ultimately led to the ODI series win against Australia. Can you tell us a little more about that?
It was during the first match of the ODI series in Paarl. Everyone knows what had gone on with Cricket South Africa and the number of retirements we’ve had, and that we have a new crop of players in the team. I always thought, even with all those things, we were in a great space because we had a lot of guys who have been around the block, even though not at international level. They are all very experienced domestically. So I just told them that now is the time we need confidence and self-belief to go forward and we need a shift in mindset.With respect, international cricket is just another game. I said to the guys that all of them have been there before and played in must-win situations at domestic level. All that’s changed is the situation has heightened. I told them that everyone is capable of performing, everyone deserves to be here, and it’s about not waiting for a Quinton de Kock or David Miller to score the runs. Or even for Dale Steyn or Faf du Plessis to come back. This is the game now and we’ve got to play it. I think when that realisation that they can do it happened, things changed.ALSO READ: 2019: South African cricket’s annus horribilisIt sounds like you have really stepped up into a position of seniority. Are you surprised your name has not come up much in captaincy discussions?
I enjoy being a leader, and off the field and during practices, I like to help the guys. When I came up, there were a lot of leaders around and I learnt a lot from them. Then there comes a time when you have to step up and you realise you can lead too. After the 2019 World Cup, I had some time to reflect and I realised that maybe because I always had senior players around me, I didn’t necessarily need to step up, but now that they are gone, it’s my responsibility to lead. So I changed my mindset.I don’t have to be the captain to take on a leadership role. Quinton de Kock is a good captain. He doesn’t overcomplicate things and he gives us a sense of calm. He is also very switched on in the field and knows what he wants from his bowlers and his field placings. He is street-smart and it helps having some senior guys from the domestic scene, like Rassie van der Dussen and Jon-Jon Smuts, around. That’s helped me too.When you look back at the fallout from the World Cup, and given you had already stopped playing first-class cricket, did you consider walking away from international cricket and becoming a T20 freelancer?
With a World Cup, we know that only one team can win, but the way we played and the number of things that didn’t go our way – it was really tough.I thought about things a lot. My priority is still South Africa. I love playing for the country and I love the challenge of playing against the best in the world, so it’s never been an option for me to give it up. I know that I play in a few leagues, but that’s always outside of my national duties. And I am only 30. I still feel like I have a huge amount to offer.David Miller made 64 in the first ODI against Australia in Paarl. South Africa went on to win the series 3-0•AFP/Getty Images Does that mean you might consider changing your decision to retire from first-class cricket? You averaged 67 and 44.37 in the last two seasons you played in, so do you think there’s a chance you could come back and push for a Test place, especially as batting is such a big focus?
I’ve never been one to rush into decisions, so when I made the decision to stop playing first-class cricket, I had thought about it for a long time. I knew I didn’t start well in my first-class career and that had pushed me to the back of the pecking order, which was fair enough. I also knew I couldn’t pick and choose between T20 and first-class, so that’s when I made the decision. But things can change and there may still be hope. I might have to have a discussion with Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher and it could be a possibility.Do you enjoy red-ball cricket?
I absolutely love it. I still love watching Test cricket and I always wanted to play Tests. That was my goal growing up. And after my start, I found that in the last few years of my first-class career, I was scoring heaps and I was really enjoying it. I think I got better as I got older. I was building my innings better.Time in the middle has been a consideration for you even in limited-overs cricket, where you sometimes get to the crease with just a few overs or balls left and are expected to make a big impact. Would you like to have time to set up your innings or the chance to bat longer?
I’ve always wanted to bat higher, but at the same time, I felt really privileged to be playing. As you move on in your career, you want more responsibility and more time to get set and then finish off. We all have dreams, but it is also about what’s best for the team.ALSO READ: Mark Boucher excited ‘to see the guys grow a bit’ in white-ball cricketHow have you dealt with the expectation that comes with being labelled a finisher?
It’s part of the position that I play, so I’ve become thick-skinned. No one has to tell me that I should have won a game because I am the first one to know that I should have. It’s taken time for me to get used to that role and to what gets said about you when things don’t go your way, but then, on the other side, when the rewards come, they are so high that it makes it worthwhile.How do you train for the role? Is it just about big hitting?
Power-hitting and clearing the rope are things I worked hard on earlier in my career. But now, mentally I am in a great space, so I am working on a few other things. It makes a big difference having Mark Boucher around. He has taught us that the game is always evolving. Guys are getting quicker and smarter, and if you don’t keep working to get better, you will fall away. He has got us working on different skills and shots and putting myself under pressure in the nets so that I am prepared for different game-day scenarios.Has your game progressed more under Boucher than other coaches?
He is so experienced and has played for so long, and him and I have had similar roles in the middle order, so I can pick his brain. He is honest and open, but he is also cut-throat, which you want as a player. There’s no beating around the bush. You know exactly where you stand.”The IPL is a cut above the rest, in terms of pressure. In every game, you are playing in front of 40,000 to 90,000 people. Then, off the field and in hotels, there are a lot of demands”•BCCI What are the big goals for the rest of your career?
The 2023 World Cup is one of my goals and I am excited for what we can do in that tournament. We have a group that is in a similar space – a lot of young guys who are all a similar age and we know they will be available. It’s not a case of a whole lot of guys retiring after two years. It’s almost like we can grow for the next four years and it’s only a matter of time before things click.So you think South Africa have a chance at the 2023 World Cup?
We are right up there talent-wise and we produce a lot of good players. Maybe what we’ve lacked is pressure in domestic cricket, because we don’t draw the crowds that other countries get and that plays a big role in helping you cope with pressure. That could be something we need to look at and it’s started with the Mzansi Super League.You’ve played in various leagues around the world. Could you describe the differences in the leagues you have played in? And do you intend to continue playing in them?
All the leagues are unique. The ones I have played in most are the IPL and the CPL. The IPL is a cut above the rest, in terms of pressure, which is what you want. In every game, you are playing in front of 40,000 to 90,000 people. Then, off the field and in hotels, there are a lot of demands, from the public and the owners, so there’s a lot going on.The CPL has a bit more flexibility. They call it the biggest party in sport and I guess it is. I do hope to keep playing, but moving into the latter part of my career, I want to play as much as I can but also listen to my body.ALSO READ: Alternative Universe: South Africa win the 2015 World CupWhat has been the highlight of your career so far?
The 2015 World Cup, which might be surprising. It was disappointing to lose and maybe we played some average cricket through the competition, but it was just a really good team vibe and a really good time in my career. I felt like I was playing well and the environment was good and the two months we spent in Australia and New Zealand were really special, even after how it ended. So hopefully we can create something similar again.Although you’re very excited to play cricket, we know live sport is unlikely to return for a while. How are you coping with the current lockdown?
It’s tough. I’ve got a back garden, so I am doing some workouts there, and I’ve got a passage, so I am hitting tennis balls, which takes me back to my days as a youngster. But that’s it. It’s frustrating because going into the nets is also a release for me. It gets me in a good space and it’s what I love, but I can’t do that at the moment. But I also know we are all in the same boat, so it’s just about dealing with it for now. And once the lockdown ends, we can see what we can do in terms of team camps and hopefully we can get going again.
The international break is often met with groans across the Premier League, and for Chelsea, who are still grinning after their last-minute win against Liverpool last weekend, they might have wished to carry that form right over to the coming weeks.
However, the injury update on the Cole Palmer front has only added to the frustration, with the Blues talisman’s injury set to rule him out for another month, carrying into November. It’s worth we are merely 28 days away from the final international sojourn of the 2025 calendar.
But Enzo Maresca is fashioning a team of many parts, and Chelsea are no longer a one-trick pony. Signings have been made, and many have shown promising signs over the past several months.
Among them, Joao Pedro, who looks like a real star in the final third for the Londoners.
Joao Pedro's start to life at Chelsea
Pedro looked set for a move to Newcastle United this summer, but then Chelsea swept in and signed the Brazilian for £60m, ending his two-year stay on the south coast with Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 24-year-old is a versatile and hard-working forward who has been praised in the past as an “insane dribbler” by analyst Ben Mattinson. Sofascore note that he’s yet to miss a big chance in the Premier League, so everything’s there to suggest BlueCo have made a fine signing with this one.
With two goals and three assists from nine matches in all competitions this season, Pedro is settling nicely into Maresca’s system; though he will be eager to return to prolific form, having blanked across his past five games in all competitions.
Still, he’s playing well, and considering some of the figures thrown about this summer, with Liverpool breaking the British transfer record to sign Alexander Isak for £125m, this is actually a shrewd piece of business.
However, the Stamford Bridge side sealed a signature this summer who might be shrewder still.
Chelsea's jackpot signing
Many signings have been made at Chelsea since Todd Boehly first took a seat in the boardroom, but the initial £29m paid for Estevao Willian might be the pick of the big bunch.
He tapped home Chelsea’s winner against Liverpool on Sunday, and he oozes confidence and style when on the ball, 18 years old but at peace with the rigours and scrutiny of the Premier League.
Already at this nascent stage of his career, Estevao has cultivated a wealth of experience on the senior stage, and there’s a prolificness to his play that tells of a successful future at the highest level.
Estevao’s Career by Position
Position
Apps
Goals (assists)
Right winger
63
23 (12)
Attacking midfield
11
2 (2)
Centre-forward
3
2 (1)
Data via Transfermarkt
After all, the aforementioned Mattinson has provided his take, saying the Brazil international might even be a “future Ballon d’Or winner”, such is his quality.
For Brazil, he is performing at a prodigious rate. Only yesterday across the globe did he bag twice as Carlo Ancelotti’s Seleção side thrashed South Korea 5-0.
Given the potential growth both financially and on the field, Chelsea chiefs must be delighted that they won the race, especially since Chelsea beat off vested competition from Barcelona and Real Madrid to seal the youth’s signature in 2024, ahead of his arrival from Palmeiras several months ago.
Is the sky the limit? It might just be. Estevao is the real deal; he has scored and assisted in the Premier League already.
In hindsight, this might prove to be the signing of the summer. Liverpool landed a world-class striker in Isak, but they paid a staggering sum. Isak, 26, has yet to get going at Anfield, one goal and one assist across six games.
Estevao matches that, and he’s playing with verve and gusto. He’s playing like the superstar in the making that Chelsea know they have landed.
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Dropped catches haunt West Indies as New Zealand take a 481-run lead on third day
Shashank Kishore04-Dec-2025
Rachin Ravindra and Tom Latham put on a 279-run stand to flatten West Indies•Getty Images
Centuries from Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra underpinned New Zealand’s domination on Day 3 in Christchurch, as the hosts transformed a modest 64-run advantage into a towering lead that now feels insurmountable.The pair’s third-wicket stand of 279 ensured a potentially gripping third day went flat halfway through. West Indies merely went through the motions, sitting back and hoping for a declaration to bring them some relief from being run ragged. This was New Zealand’s highest partnership against West Indies since 1987 – surpassing Martin Crowe and John Wright’s 241-run stand.Things could’ve been a lot different had they caught better.Ravindra’s innings began under a cloud of uncertainty. On 8, Kemar Roach grassed a sumptuous flick at midwicket as he threw himself at the ball one-handed. On 14, Kavem Hodge put down a regulation catch at slip, leaving Justin Greaves to wear the frustration of being the unlucky bowler twice in two overs. The charmed streak continued when another thick outside edge flew over the slips on 17.For the first half hour after lunch, Ravindra seemed to live on borrowed time. But once he survived that turbulent spell, the tentativeness gave way to assurance, and the elegance that has come to define his best batting was out in full glory. He raced to 176, before being knocked over late in the day by an Ojay Shields yorker.By stumps, New Zealand had added 395 to lead by 481. For the record, West Indies will have to achieve the highest successful chase to win at Hagley Oval – 285 is the highest fourth-innings score chased down at this venue.Before Ravindra arrived, Devon Conway and Latham played a solid first hour, focusing on crease occupation in a bid to lay a strong platform. Latham left well early on, while Conway exhibited his artistry – playing the cover drives and on-drives – early in the innings.Rachin Ravindra hit 27 boundaries in his 185-ball stay•Getty Images
Roach moved the ball away appreciably early on to have Conway in a hint of trouble, while Jayden Seales got the ball to lift off a length to have Latham looking scratchy early on. The first 17 overs produced just 35; Latham survived a thick edge that raced between second slip and gully on 29.Conway set himself in, and was out slashing to deep point for 39 as Hodge plucked a superb catch while moving halfway in from the ropes. Initially off balance, Hodge back-pedalled to complete the catch. One wicket became two when Roach had Kane Williamson nicking behind with a perfect out-swinger.Having got off the mark with a top-edge for six off Greaves, Williamson was troubled by his late movement before Roach had him in the last over before lunch, with New Zealand effectively 164 for 2. The spell after lunch was perhaps West Indies’ best chance to get into the game as they routinely created chances, only for them to be grassed.If the first session was about the hard grind, the second was about accumulating and pressing home the advantage. Ravindra didn’t take long to march into the 40s, and even got into a bit of a scrap with Seales. The pair brought up their century stand off just 126 deliveries, with Ravindra’s enterprise allowing Latham to also open up after getting past his half-century.Latham was particularly punishing square of the wicket on both sides, with the cuts and pulls, as he pounced on a tired attack that kept pounding the ball in even as the surface appeared to have lost a lot of the venom seen on the first two days. Latham brought up his century first, while Ravindra got there with a pull through midwicket – his second successive century.After he passed a hundred, as West Indies went defensive, Latham brought out the inventive batter in him – scooping and paddling his way to a couple of boundaries. It seemed inevitable the pair would bat through, but a lapse in concentration late in the day saw them fall in back-to-back overs. But even those two wickets were no consolation for West Indies as they face an uphill battle for survival.
There has now been a new update on Manchester United’s interest in AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, with details of his release clause emerging ahead of the January transfer window.
Semenyo has been one of the breakout stars of the Premier League this season, with Bournemouth teammate Lewis Cook praising the forward for the improvements he’s made to his game, saying: “He’s got a lot better at running back and helping out the team too. He’s a powerful lad and has all the ability in the world. Hopefully he can continue to show that.”
Naturally, given the level of his performances, the 25-year-old has started to attract interest from elsewhere, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and United being named as potential suitors.
It was previously thought that it may take around £80m to prise the former Bristol City man away from Bournemouth, but there has now been a new update on his future, which suggests a deal could be done for a more reasonable price.
Man Utd line up Semenyo move amid £65m release clause
According to a report from United In Focus, Man United are now considering a January move for Semenyo, whose £65m release clause will become active in January, with transfer expert Graeme Bailey providing a further update.
Bailey said: “Manchester United have been chasing Antoine Semenyo since the summer; they have maintained that interest since. I am told they were fully aware of the clause when he signed his new deal, after known about its validity for January and beyond.
“United like Semenyo, and whilst unlikely, he is an option that would be considered for January. Whilst Semenyo does have a clause, £65m in one hit is a big ask for any club.”
Despite being cheaper than initially expected, £65m would be a huge outlay, but it could be worth INEOS breaking the bank to sign the Ghanaian, who would become one of Man United’s top ten most expensive signings of all time.
Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie recently lauded his teammate as “scary good”, having already racked up nine goal contributions in the Premier League, although he would’ve been frustrated not to add to his tally against Aston Villa last time out, being denied from the penalty spot by Emiliano Martinez.
Still, there have been some very encouraging signs from the London-born forward, with perhaps his best performance coming in the Cherries’ 3-1 win against Fulham, picking up a brace and an assist, which resulted in a 9.5 SofaScore match rating.
Having struggled recruitment-wise in recent years, Man United may have finally found a winning formula, bringing in proven Premier League stars Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in the summer, and Semenyo would be a similar type of signing.
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“One of the most disgusting showings I have ever seen.” Those were the words used to sum up Manchester United’s 1-0 home loss to Everton by H, analyst for The Overlap.
One year on from Ruben Amorim’s first game in charge, the Red Devils put in a performance to forget at Old Trafford.
The Toffees, who started the game on the front foot, were down to 10 men early on in strange circumstances.
Idrissa Gueye was sent off for fighting with Michael Keane. However, the red card did not affect the Toffees, who soon took the lead after a stunning individual goal from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
United were lacklustre in attack for much of the game, with Amorim sticking rigidly to his infamous 3-4-2-1 system, which, on Monday night, did not work. They had 25 shots, but managed just six on target, and looked devoid of any creativity.
The closest the Red Devils came was through Joshua Zirkzee, making his first start of the season. His well-directed header looked goal-bound, but Jordan Pickford pulled off a superb diving stop to keep it out. That was as good as it got for United.
It was a night to forget for Amorim’s side, with Bruno Fernandes one man who struggled.
Fernandes' stats vs. Everton
So often, the player United look towards in the moments when they need inspiration, Fernandes struggled to have a real impact on the game.
Perhaps that is because the Red Devils boss plays him so deep, where he cannot have as much of an influence in the final third.
On Monday against Everton, a club the Portuguese star has had plenty of success against, the final killer ball, something that would normally carve open a defence, was missing.
The United captain tried his luck from range twice but failed to test Pickford and missed a golden opportunity late on from close range, after good play by Mason Mount.
His disappointing performance was noticed by Steven Railston, United writer for the Manchester Evening News. He gave their skipper a 4/10 match rating, describing Fernandes’ efforts against the Toffees as “sloppy.”
The stats certainly reflected that rating. Normally, one of the players who can muster something up out of nowhere, United’s number 8 could only create two chances, despite looking after the ball well, losing it just 13 times out of 115 touches.
It was certainly not the best night at the office for Fernandes, although there was one of his teammates who was far more disappointing.
Man United's worst player vs Everton
It was a night to forget for several United stars, but one of those who struggled most was Patrick Dorgu. The Dane had little impact on the left-hand side and was too often slack in possession or missing the final pass to create an opportunity.
Indeed, Dorgu’s stats from the game highlight his struggles against the Toffees.
He had 41 touches, completing just 76% of his passes and only creating one chance. He also blazed an effort over the bar after getting on the end of a good cross from Zirkzee in the first half.
Dorgu key stats vs. Everton
Stat
Number
Touches
41
Pass accuracy
76%
Opposition half passes completed
8/15
Possession lost
11
Duels won
2/6
Crosses completed
0/3
Key passes
1
Stats from Sofascore
Railston did not seem to think highly of the United number 13’s performance against the Toffees. He gave the 21-year-old a 3/10, the lowest of any teammate, claiming that he “looks low on confidence” and put in a “poor” showing on Monday.
The journalist also suggested Diogo Dalot will come into the side on Sunday for United’s trip to Crystal Palace. Certainly, Amorim will have a selection decision ahead of the clash at Selhurst Park, with the wing-back’s place in the side perhaps on the line.
As Utd Faithfuls said over on X, he can be “unreliable” at times. Coming up against a high-flying Eagles team on Sunday lunchtime, this might be cause for concern, and Amorim might well decide to rotate the youngster out of the side.
There are options at his disposal. Dalot is one player who could operate out there, or a centre-back could slot into the side, with Luke Shaw pushing further up the pitch to play high and wide instead.
It will be interesting to see if Amoirm decides to switch things up and take Dorgu out of the side against Palace. It is certainly a must-win game for United, as they look to get back to winning ways and push for Europe.
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Rimas Sports—an agency co-owned by musician Bad Bunny—has added another high-profile client.
San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. has signed with Rimas Sports to "expand his portfolio as an athlete, businessman and philanthropist," according to the agency via the AP.
Tatis, 26, joins Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr., New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez and Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar on Rimas Sports's self-reported client list. The move comes a year after Tatis's second All-Star appearance, and four years after he signed a 14-year, $340 million contract with the Padres.
Bad Bunny and his partners launched Rimas Sports in early 2023, but ran afoul of the MLBPA in April 2024. The union accused three of the partners of financial misconduct, and fined the agency $400,000.
The Puerto Rican rapper released his sixth album on Jan. 5 to commercial success and widespread critical acclaim.
Haliey Welch, better known as Hawk Tuah Girl, threw out the first pitch at a New York Mets game about a month ago. This, of course, resulted in a backlash online, as most things do these days.
Chris Russo screamed about it on his show. Phil Mushnick wrote that the Mets should be ashamed. Yet the world kept turning and Welch launched a podcast. Maybe most importantly, the Mets started winning.
While they lost the day that Welch threw out the first pitch, the Mets have gone 19-8 since then, including a nine-game winning streak. They have also passed the Atlanta Braves and moved into the final wild card spot with just over two weeks remaining in the regular season.
On yesterday's on , co-host Peter Rosenberg asked when Welch was going to get an apology and called out the media members who had a problem with Welch's first pitch.
"When will the yo-yos apologize?" Rosenberg asked. "The yo-yo sports talk jabronis. The ones who are like walking stereotypes of our business. What's the word? The gasbags. When will the gasbags come out and say sorry to Haliey Welch, a.k.a., formerly—'cuz she's beyond it now—formerly, 'Hawk Tuah Girl.' When will they give her her credit? Because guess what? This team's been rolling post-Hawk Tuah."
While that was a bit tongue-in-cheek, Rosenberg may have a point.
The team was losing momentum from the Grimace era when Welch showed up, having lost 10 of their last 17 games. They clearly needed to re-turn things around again. Once Welch stepped on the mound the attention shifted from baseball to decorum and the Mets were handed a welcome distraction from the dog days of summer. Then they got back to winning.
With seven games against the Philadelphia Phillies over the next 10 days, they will need that momentum to continue. It might be time to bring her back. No matter what the yo-yos and jabronis have to say.