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Manchester United are in a perilous position with Ruben Amorim in charge, and it is no surprise that they are considering alternative bosses at Old Trafford.

Manchester United's potential alternatives to Ruben Amorim

Inconsistent results have led the Red Devils to a lowly plight in the bottom half of the Premier League, and club chiefs are now casting an eye to alternatives should Amorim be relieved of his duties.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has been earmarked by Manchester United, and Steve Parish is doing all he can to see the German coach remain in the capital.

Nevertheless, Paul Merson believes the Red Devils should go in a different direction, claiming the 51-year-old’s preferred formation wouldn’t align with the squad available at Old Trafford.

He stated via The Express: “Let’s say Ruben Amorim was manager at Palace now, he’d have half a chance of being a success. Palace have the players to play three at the back. They have the attributes in their squad to play in that system. For me, that’s why I’d be concerned about Glasner going to Man United.

“He’s a three-at-the-back man, and it is being proven that it is a system that just doesn’t fit the players at Man United. Glasner is not a good fit for Man United. Of course, I’m sure he’d be adaptable, and he’s proven with how he handles the players, but the system he uses is just all wrong for United. Amorim can tell you that.”

Michael Carrick has been mentioned in media circles, albeit he is probably one for the future, though one of his compatriots is now believed to be firmly in the running should Amorim be discarded over the coming weeks.

Gareth Southgate makes two demands to Man Utd

According to The Sun, former England manager Gareth Southgate has asked Manchester United for two key demands as he becomes a potential candidate to succeed Amorim.

First off, the 55-year-old, who was hailed for his underappreciated “ruthless” streak by John Stones, has made it clear he wants time to piece together a long-term roadmap to success, something he believes could take four years to master before the Red Devils are Champions League regulars once again.

Amorim forced into Man Utd changes v Sunderland as Wilcox and Berrada feelings shared

Amorim could make some big changes.

By
Callum Kemp

Oct 3, 2025

Reticent to commit before his guarantees are fulfilled, he also wants INEOS to back him through all phases of his plan without fail, creating a sense of unity among all parties as Manchester United look to establish themselves among the elite once again.

The ex-Three Lions coach hasn’t managed at club level since his spell at Middlesbrough between 2006 and 2009. However, his time in charge of England was largely successful, reaching back-to-back European Championship finals and finishing fourth in the World Cup in 2018.

Given his ability to build sides capable of deep runs involving some of the world’s best talent, he may be the ideal man to get more out of Manchester United’s faltering players.

Major League Baseball’s winter meetings are underway, which means rumors are flying and deals are likely to be struck.

On Monday, plenty of reports made the rounds as teams attempted to get a jump on the offseason and best position themselves for 2026. Here are all the latest rumors we’re hearing as the winter meetings heat up.

Nationals listening on CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore

The Nationals have a new head of baseball operations, and he’s looking to reshape the franchise to his liking. Paul Tobobi is MLB’s youngest president of baseball ops, and the long-time Red Sox scouting director and assistant general manager is not wasting any time. Turning Washington around likely means moving on from two young All-Stars.

Shortstop CJ Abrams and lefty starter MacKenzie Gore are being targeted by multiple teams at the winter meetings. The 25-year-old Abrams is an athletic shortstop coming off his best season, while Gore is a 26-year-old with elite stuff who had a brilliant first half but struggled down the stretch. Both came to the Nationals as part of the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Padres. Gore is under team control through 2027, while Abrams won’t hit free agency until 2029.

In 2025, Abrams slashed .257/.315/.433 with 19 home runs, 60 RBIs, 92 runs scored, 31 stolen bases, and a career-best 3.1 fWAR. He’s not a good defender at short, but could easily move to second base or the outfield. Gore made 30 starts and went 5-15, with a 4.17 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and 185 strikeouts against 64 walks in 159 2/3 innings. But in his first 19 starts of the season, he went 4-8 with a 3.02 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and 138 strikeouts against 35 walks. He faded hard down the stretch, which is something a new team would need to figure out.

Given the weak free agent market for shortstops, Abrams could fetch a significant haul. Meanwhile, Gore, a young lefty with ace stuff, could also net a hefty return. Teams will need to meet Toboni’s high price, but both players can be had.

Royals looking for multiple outfielders

The Royals are canvassing the league for help in the outfield and may need to make a trade to fill out the roster. Kansas City missed the playoffs by five games in 2025, as the team surprised the rest of MLB by staying in the race as late as it did. But the team’s outfield is a bit of a mess.

While Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, and another option like Harrison Bader would all be too expensive for the Royals, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal insists the team is pursuing all options. That could include trading starter Kris Bubic, who is set to make a projected $6 million before hitting free agency after next season. The 28-year-old lefty went 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts against 39 walks in 116 1/3 innings this season. He could fetch a solid return as a rental.

Rosenthal listed Mike Yastrzemski, Adolis Garcia, Max Kepler, and Mike Tauchman as options in Kansas City’s price range. Jac Caglianone is almost certain to have right field locked down, but the two other spots remain open.

Padres entertaining Nick Pivetta trade

Padres general manager A.J. Preller pulled off a coup last offseason, as he waited out the market before signing Nick Pivetta to a shockingly affordable four-year, $55 million deal. The 32-year-old rewarded the Padres, turning in a career-best season in which he went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and 190 strikeouts against 50 walks in 181 2/3 innings. That success, and a contract that is jumping to $19 million in 2026 has made Pivetta a trade candidate.

While The Athletic’s Dennis Lin points out that a Pivetta trade isn’t likely, the Padres need multiple starting pitchers and at least one bat. Moving the team’s ace would require a significant return that would improve San Diego at multiple spots, but no one should ever rule out Preller’s appetite for wheeling and dealing.

If Pivetta doesn’t move, San Diego could look to deal second baseman Jake Cronenworth. There aren’t a lot of middle-infield options on the market, and free agents won’t come cheap. The 31-year-old Cronenworth is a steady presence who is under contract for five more years at an affordable $60 million.

As the Padres face a salary crunch and a potential sale, cutting payroll to fill multiple spots makes a lot of sense.

Dodgers looking to get younger

Even the Dodgers have work to do this offseason. While the two-time defending World Series champions will enter 2026 as favorites to win again even if they don’t make a single move this winter, there are areas the team needs to shore up. Most pressing, is the desire to get younger.

Bill Punkett of the reports that L.A.’s president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, says there’s “not as much heavy lifting required” this offseason. But the team does have an aging core. Andy Pages, Dalton Rushing, and Hyeseong Kim were the only three position players under 30 on the Dodgers’ roster in 2025. While Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki give the team younger starters to build around, much of the roster is leaving its prime.

Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith will both be 31 next season, while Freddie Freeman is 36, and Mookie Betts is 33. The team does have a fairly loaded farm system, but outfielders Josue De Paula and Zyhir Hope are both 20 and have some growing to do. Meanwhile, MLB-ready infielder Alex Freeland doesn’t currently have an open spot to fill with Betts, Tommy Edman, and Max Muncy on the roster.

L.A. is expected to be involved in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes this winter, but they could also opt to use their farm depth to pursue an outfield upgrade. White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. or Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan would fit the bill and make the team a bit younger.

The 121 against West Indies showcased something important in his pursuit of greatness

Alagappan Muthu22-Jul-20231:17

Dasgupta: Kohli wants to prove certain things to himself

Virat Kohli blah blah. Intent blah blah blah. Control blah blah. Legend blah blah blah. Words only go so far. Actually, wait… Yeah, it’s possible if you tie all the web pages and column inches, tweets, reels and various painted messages on various human bodies together, you could make a walkway that reaches Mars. The man has been the ultimate muse for 14 years – 15 this August – and 500 games.Brash and loud in 2008. Cool and confident in 2012. Broken and unsure in 2014. Walking talking vindication, also in 2014. Then, for the longest time, perfectionSeventy-six international hundreds. The easy gag is to say it’s 2x Viv Richards or 3x VVS Laxman. But that’s basically because he has played a lot more innings. And there’s the actual rub. He became too good to ever be dropped; often he was too good to even be injured. His fitness is as crucial to his longevity as his form.Related

• West Indies steady after Kohli's first away Test ton in five years

• Virat Kohli's battle with himself

• Jadeja dismissal: right decision made despite DRS 'glitch'

All that combined with this era, where cricket’s cup has runneth over, has given Kohli plenty of chances to influence history, considerably more than all the legends from the past. Of course, by the same token, hundreds of bowlers from every corner of the world could have also reduced him to a footnote. It was a 50-50 battle.Kohli tipped the odds in his favour with his focus. The game gets his juices flowing. The desire to win pushes him further. And soon enough he is in the zone. Or to use a term that is common among gamers, the flow state. It denotes a period where you function at 100. The challenge heightens your senses. The information they send up to the brain is processed quicker and as a result every move you make is the right one and you keep making them over and over again.Hobart 2012. Mohali 2016. Perth 2018. Birmingham 2018. Melbourne 2022. Kohli’s flow state has spanned a decade, minus the Covid years. And while everything feels amazing when you’re in the middle of this high, the moment you lose it, your whole life goes for a toss and it’s all you can do to try and get it back.Kohli, for example, began “faking his intensity.” It didn’t work. So he has started paring his game back. Sacrificing the pretty cover drive that fetch him four runs for the leave that ensure he stays at the crease. Karthik Krishnaswamy wrote a brilliant piece in the aftermath of the first Test about how a lot of his big runs now are coming at a slower pace. This is perhaps because he has figured out how to do well whether he is switched all the way on or just half the way on; how to work within the limitations he is all of a sudden having to deal with.The century in Port-of-Spain wasn’t quite the same as the half-century in Dominica. He middled 94% of the balls he faced and came away with a strike rate close to 60. But this wasn’t flow state Kohli. Honestly, the coolest thing he did – until the second morning at Queen’s Park Oval when his shots alone seemed immune to the horribly slow outfield – was the running between the wickets. The stump mic even caught him saying “been stealing doubles since 2012”.And yet, these runs have offered India the platform to push for an away win. Also, unlike on the first day, when the cameraman had to prod a section of the crowd to yell and clap – that had to be the most celebrated legbye in the history of Test cricket – they brought authentic joy. The square drive that took Kohli to his century had the dressing room up on its feet and the crowd dancing in the aisles. He had been hinting at three-figures for almost the entire length of the innings even though a lot of it was hard graft, and that on its own was a triumph. This 121 – and the 76 in the previous match – probably won’t make his career highlights but they must have reinforced a truth. Even at less than 100, he is scary good. He doesn’t need the flow. He never has to chase it ever again.

Already thinking about 2026 arrivals, Celtic have now reportedly joined Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and Premier League side Chelsea in the race to sign teenage talent.

Rodgers admits "there'll always be criticism"

It’s been a frustrating week for the Hoops so far after being forced to settle for a point at Red Star Belgrade. The Bhoys once again came up short on the European stage, although manager Brendan Rodgers claimed that it was a good point and admitted that “there’ll always be criticism” on such a stage.

The big positive for Celtic to take from Belgrade is Kelechi Iheanacho’s second goal in three games for the club. The former Leicester City striker didn’t exactly receive the instant support of those at Celtic Park after arriving late on in the summer window, but has since proved several doubters wrong.

With Hibernian up next, Iheanacho will be looking to make his mark yet again to hand Rodgers the talisman that he has been seeking. That said, even after the Nigerian’s arrival, the Bhoys still have unfinished business in the transfer window.

Reports are now suggesting that they’ve joined the race to sign a teenage talent alongside Atletico Madrid and Chelsea in 2026.

Celtic join race to sign Oyirwoth

As reported by The Blazing Musket, Celtic are now racing to sign Allan Oyirwoth alongside Atletico Madrid and Chelsea. The three clubs have all set their sights on the New England Revolution midfielder, who has already made his mark on senior football in the MSL.

Already earning plenty of praise, Oyirwoth was described as “very talented” by New England teammate Matt Polster earlier this month and is certainly a player to watch.

Of course, jumping ahead of Atletico Madrid and Chelsea in the race for his signature will be no easy task, but Celtic can offer the vital game time that their rivals are unlikely to hand the midfielder.

Not Tounekti: "Outstanding" talent in line to be Celtic's next £25m player

Sebastian Tounekti has made an excellent start to life at Celtic, but a different star in Hoops could prove to be their next £25m sale.

By
Ben Gray

Sep 25, 2025

Rodgers has already proved his willingness to play young players this season – starting 19-year-old Colby Donovan in Belgrade – and Oyirwoth could be next to benefit from that in Scotland.

Carlo Ancelotti has expressed his full belief that Cristiano Ronaldo will achieve the incredible 1,000-goal milestone before hanging up his boots. The Brazil coach reflected on his time at Real Madrid and lauded the professionalism of Ronaldo, comparing him to Luka Modric. The Italian tactician even joked that he expects an invitation to celebrate with his former player when the record is broken.

• Ronaldo closing in on incredible milestone

  The legendary coach has backed CR7 to reach the historic 1,000-goal mark in his career. The Italian, who won multiple titles during two stints in charge of Real Madrid, remains in awe of the ex-Bernabeu star’s longevity and work ethic as the 40-year-old continues to score for both club and country.

  The Portuguese legend, now with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, recently scored his 950th career goal in a 2-0 win over Al-Hazm. With 953 overall career goals, the superstar's current contract runs until 2027, giving him ample time to chase the dream milestone.

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• AFP
  

  Ancelotti backs CR7 to hit 1,000

  Speaking to , Ancelotti said he was in no doubt Ronaldo would continue to shine into his 40s, just like ex-Madrid co-star Luka Modric, who is currently excelling with AC Milan.

  "He's going to achieve it, I'm sure of it. Have no doubt he'll do it," he said. "In Italy, they recently asked me about Modric and his 40 years, and I told them that of course he was going to play well at Milan. Luka and Cristiano are professionals who love football and are passionate about the sport. They will always achieve whatever they want. Cristiano will surely reach 1,000 goals, but when he does, he shouldn't forget to invite me to the celebration of that incredible record."

  Ancelotti’s admiration for Ronaldo stems from their shared years of success at Real Madrid, where they won the Champions League in 2014. The Italian has often credited Ronaldo’s professionalism and relentless hunger as key to his sustained excellence.

  The pair’s mutual respect has endured beyond Madrid. While Ancelotti has transitioned to leading Brazil toward the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo continues to inspire players across continents. Both men are chasing one final legacy, Ancelotti aiming to restore Brazil’s glory and Ronaldo striving to cement himself as football’s most prolific goalscorer.

• Portuguese icon confirms 2026 World Cup will be his last

  Ronaldo, who now has 143 international goals for Portugal, has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his final appearance on the global stage. The veteran forward, who will be 41 when the tournament begins in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, recently told : "Definitely, yes. I will be 41 years old and I think [this] will be the moment in the big competition."

  The Al-Nassr hero also opened up about retirement, saying: “Let’s be honest, when I say soon, it’s probably one or two years. I’ll still be in the game for a bit longer.” That timeline places his potential retirement around late 2026 or early 2027, perfectly aligned with when he’s predicted to reach the 1,000-goal milestone.

  Currently, CR7 remains in exceptional form, continuing to score nearly a goal per game in the Saudi Pro League, having scored 10 goals in just 11 matches so far this season.

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• AFP
  

  Records, redemption and one last chapter

  For Ronaldo, the next two years will define his footballing immortality, and with Al-Nassr chasing domestic and continental titles, and Portugal targeting glory in 2026, the stage is set for one of the most emotional finales in football history.

  Ancelotti, meanwhile, has begun his new era with Brazil, tasked with guiding the Selecao back to the top of world football. As both legends eye their respective milestones, their paths may once again intertwine in global football’s grandest arenas, the 2026 World Cup.

  If Ronaldo does reach the fabled 1,000-goal mark, as Ancelotti insists he will, one thing is certain that the celebration will not be complete without the Italian maestro by his side, as he also demands the invitation.

Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera and Lakshan Sandakan not part of 17-man squad

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Mar-2021Pathum Nissanka has earned a maiden call-up for the two Tests against West Indies for which fit-again Dimuth Karunaratne will lead Sri Lanka’s 17-man squad. Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera and Lakshan Sandakan were missing from the squad which included allrounder Dhananjaya de Silva, who had missed the two Tests against England in January with a thigh injury.Nissanka, the 22-year-old top-order batsman, has already impressed in the ongoing T20Is in the West Indies with scores of 39 off 34 and 37 off 23. He has also been a consistent performer in first-class cricket, maintaining an average of 67.54 across the 59 long-format innings he has played so far. In those innings, he has hit 13 hundreds and 13 fifties. Middle-order batsman Roshen Silva has also impressed in domestic cricket, but has not played a Test in over two years.Karunaratne missed the England Tests with a finger fracture he suffered on the tour of South Africa during his century at the Wanderers, but will now return to lead both the ODI and Test sides.On the fast-bowling front, Sri Lanka are missing Lahiru Kumara, who tested positive for Covid-19 in the last two weeks, but have the likes of Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando available. Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya will likely be Sri Lanka’s primary spinner following his good performances against England at home. Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga is also available, in addition to the offspin of de Silva. Ramesh Mendis – if he plays – offers another offspin option.Sri Lanka lost their last four Tests – two away to South Africa, and two at home to England – but were seriously hampered by injuries through those series. Several important players are missing from this Test squad as well, but the return of captain Karunaratne will be especially heartening. De Silva’s return is also significant, particularly as he adds balance to the Test XI with his offspin.Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Roshen Silva, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lasith Embuldeniya

Manchester United enjoyed a productive summer window and could now have landed a shot in the arm as they bid to force an exciting deal over the line in January.

Man Utd preparing for Man City battle

Despite a mixed start to the Premier League campaign, Manchester United sit above rivals Manchester City in the table as they prepare for Sunday’s derby clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Ruben Amorim will have found some solace in the international break after leading his side to a last-gasp victory over Burnley before his players jetted off to different corners of the world, but the hard work begins now if the Red Devils are serious about climbing the top-flight standings.

Paul Scholes has admitted that it is difficult to gauge what level of league finish would be acceptable given the transitional nature of Manchester United’s season, claiming that anywhere from eighth upwards may be deemed as an adequate return.

“This season… It’s so hard to tell. You’re even looking at the first three games: okay, they won one, drawn one, lost one. So difficult. I think top eight. I think he would take that at this point.”

After a strong showing in the transfer window, Manchester United have Nottingham Forest star Elliott Anderson on their radar heading into January, and he may not be the only name on their radar as the Red Devils build under the guise of INEOS.

Ajax defender Aaron Bouwman is also on the Red Devils’ radar, indicating that they could be set to target youthful assets with years of development potential ahead of them at Old Trafford.

Regardless, the need for ready-made experience is always paramount at Manchester United, and INEOS have now received a boost in pursuit of their top target.

Man Utd have Emiliano Martinez at top of January shopping list

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United have Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez at the top of their shopping list in January as he continues to remain out of the picture in the West Midlands.

The Argentina international, a former Arsenal player, is said to be desperate for minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which could hasten the process of an exit should he manage to land a stunning move to Old Trafford. The report also adds that Martinez could cost €25m (£22m) halfway through the season.

Man Utd decision makers head over heels for big money English midfielder

Man Utd are keen on an English star to kickstart the Ruben Amorim era.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Feb 8, 2025

Maintaining a save percentage rate of 69% in the Premier League last term, per Fotmob, Martinez, a World Cup winner in 2022, kept 16 clean sheets in 53 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, though has started just once this campaign.

AC Milan’s Mike Maignan is also being looked at on a free transfer as an alternative, something that could potentially put the cat among the pigeons regarding Senne Lammens’ place in the pecking order.

Andre Onana’s recent loan move to Trabzonspor has created a space for someone to fill between the sticks at Old Trafford, and Martinez would definitely be a popular solution among supporters to their goalkeeping debacle.

There was a momentary delay during the fourth inning of the Tigers-Guardians wild-card series showdown on Tuesday after a foul ball from Angel Martinez careened directly into one of the stadium cameras behind home plate, instantly shattering the lens.

After the pitch was fouled off, the loud and unmistakable sound of glass shattering could be heard on the broadcast. Glass could be seen flying onto the ground behind the plate, and just about everyone looked back towards the camera station in confusion.

Have a look at the bizarre moment in Tuesday's Game 1:

The noise created by the shattering of the camera lens truly sounded like a sound effect straight out of a movie.

The broadcast panned to show the damaged camera, and the shattered lens was visible in the shot. The grounds crew responded quickly and arrived on the scene in order to clean up the area behind home plate and allow for play to resume.

Hopefully, that camera can be replaced and ESPN can get its behind-the-plate angle up and running again.

The fast bowler has a joyous attitude that is really the essence of Bazball

Mark Nicholas10-Jul-2023There is this friend of mine. You know him – a former England captain, steeped in the game.England need 37 to win at Headingley with Harry Brook and Chris Woakes at the wicket and he fires off to our WhatsApp group – that’s five of us who have played and loved the game all our lives.”I’m due at a late lunch with friends down the road, don’t wanna go, wanna go, don’t wanna go, wanna go…”To which comes the old dressing-room response: “Don’t go. In fact, don’t move a muscle…””Christ,” I chime in, “I’m moving muscles (if you call them that). I’m pacing the house as if waiting for the end of the world.”And the reply bounced back, “Which it is, if we lose this game.”Silence for a few minutes and then:”I’m on my way!”He heads out for lunch.Brook and Woakes battle on – 25 needed.Related

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• Stats – Brook's 1K speedrun and Bazball's chase mastery

Brook cuts Todd Murphy for four.”I’m gonna walk the dog.””No. Stay there!””Can’t, sorry. I’m pacing the house. May as well pace the park”.Twenty-one needed.I decide against the park and turn on the upstairs TV.Brook skies his wild attempt at a pull/hook and is caught by Pat Cummins. Oh Harry of all hope, what have you done?!”FFS.””Just stupid.””No one move!”Mark Wood climbs into a Cummins bouncer and it flies into the bleachers for six as if sent by the angels who first carried forth Lord Botham on the same field in 1981.Twelve needed.Then another bouncer offered by Cummins – wider, higher, harder to hit, but admirably resisted by “Woody”: a splendid fellow and a hero of this Test story every bit as much as the chap in .Then a calm single.”Go, Woody!” What a single can do to settle the nerves. (That, again, from our man steeped in cricket.) His father played for England many times, captained England, in fact, as did he. There must be a television at the lunch.His father played a lot of cricket against West Indies, but he might not have seen a better stroke than the next one. Wood, off the back foot and deep in his crease, drives a full ball from Mitchell Starc through extra cover with such conviction and timing that the boundary rider barely breaks from his blocks. It is a shot straight out of the Caribbean. Had it been played by Conrad Hunte, Basil Butcher or Rohan Kanhai, we’d have taken it for granted. But from Woody, well….”Wow!” From the writer of “Just stupid”.

Now for England confidence will flow as easily as the rivers run. It is a hard thing to get the onlooker to buy into the carefree. Yes, we like to be entertained, but we can do winning Boycott’s way just as easily as Botham’s

Having skied an attempted hook and breathed a sigh of relief (Alex Carey, sprinting back, blocks Scott Boland, who is edging forward from third) the scores are suddenly level and Woakes crashes a full ball from Starc past point to win the match in some glory.”Never in doubt,” said the former England captain in the last message of the chain.Five grown men – ageing but forever young of cricketing heart – living it, breathing it, loving it.That’s the Ashes, right there, front and centre of all our lives.In Mark Wood we believe. He is the climate of optimism: there is something elemental to him, like the sun, the wind or the rain. He is the fastest England-born bowler we can recall and evokes a little of the Harold Larwood in us: a good man sent to do the hard yards in the theatre of our dreams.Richie Benaud thought Frank Tyson the fastest he saw through the air; Jeff Thomson the fastest off the pitch. If you watch film of Larwood during Bodyline in 1932-33, you will be surprised at how far back the wicketkeeper, Les Ames, is standing. The defining image of Bodyline is the Australian batter Bill Woodfull reeling back, having been struck over the heart by a fierce short-pitched ball. Later, Bert Oldfield, the wicketkeeper, was hit on the head. At 28, Larwood was at the peak of his performance, “investing his work”, said Wisden, “with plenty of devil”. Much the same can be said of the 33-year-old Wood, from whom a blow to the heart or head is an equally frightening thought.Larwood was 5ft 8in in his socks, with a classical side-on action. On his day, he was too good even for Don Bradman. Wood touches on six feet but is not the tall, bang-it-in type of modern-day fast bowler. There is great strength in his shoulders and back but a worrying pressure on his hips, knees and ankles when he leaps and lands upon delivering the ball. On song, he has a beautiful rhythm, bounding in like a kid in the playground, before exploding into his action with a thrilling combination of power and panache.Some balls he bowled in this match flew over Jonny Bairstow’s head and bounced once before the boundary rope. He was recorded at 95.6mph in his first over of the game and averaged well above 90 throughout it. They say Larwood was around the 95mph mark in the age of no helmets, towels for thigh pads, and gloves with rubber pimples as the only defence. Imagine…Joe Root’s dropped catches, and England’s overall fielding, have been a cause of concern for them in the Ashes so far•Getty ImagesBut what about this climate of optimism? It is, of course, what Bazball is really about. The annoying thing about the term is that it is not self-proclaimed; is disliked by the coach, after whom it is named, and suggests something of show rather than substance. Worst of the lot, it allows a target of comment for the opposition, a point made all the more irritating given it was invented by the English media.The point of the cricket encouraged by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes is that it frees the mind from the spectre of failure. Those of us who watch on condemn statistics telling us that 13 of the last 24 England wickets have fallen to the pull or hook shot. When Woakes swatted at Starc’s short ball in the denouement and was dropped by the running Carey as described above, there was loud cursing at the screen all across the land. Doubtless, the same happened when Brook fell that way too. Stokes, in contrast, would almost certainly applaud them both for taking it on.After Wood’s breathtaking 24 in eight balls on Friday, he passed Stokes on the way back to the dressing room. Needless to say, he was greeted by a smile and pats on the back. Indeed, so moved was the captain that he embarked on something of a blitz himself.Now that England have beaten Australia in this way – a truly exceptional thing, given the mistakes the team is making – confidence will flow as easily as the rivers run. It is a hard thing to get the onlooker to buy into the carefree. We are not in the dressing room for a start. We watch, we marvel; we grumble, we despair. We have not “bought in”. We simply bought a ticket. For that, we want to see the return of the Ashes. Yes, we like to be entertained but we can do winning Boycott’s way just as easily as Botham’s.Botham was Bazball, though he too would not have liked the term. David Gower was thereabouts the same but no one understood. Yet, it was these two who papered over so many cracks in English cricket. One supposes Denis Compton and Ted Dexter were of this ilk, if in the age of black and white.Obviously the current England batters could rein themselves in a little; think more of application to circumstance and wait their moment. But it’s an all-or-nothing ethos that drives the team, only everyone else that doubts it. I’d worry most about the catching, which has gone somewhat pear-shaped. We could bang on forever about Ben Foakes over Bairstow but either way, Joe Root will be at first slip and he’s shelling them aplenty. Weird, given he has taken more catches in an England shirt than anyone without gloves on.There is a nice story about Woody to share. Supporting the charity Chance to Shine, which is bringing cricket back into state schools, he won a cooking competition at the annual Chance to Dine dinner in the Long Room at Lord’s. So thrilled was he at the announcement – “And the winner is… Mark Wood!”- that he leapt into the arms of the host and joyfully asked if he could come back the following year to defend his trophy. Yes, is the answer Woody.As I say, the climate of optimism. It was easy enough to choose Wood as the Player of the Match at Headingley for seriously impressive fast bowling and considerable nous with the bat in both innings and in very different ways. He might have earned it for nothing more than his commitment. He didn’t jump into Michael Atherton’s arms at the post-match presentation; in fact, he appeared charmingly shy and unsurprisingly tired.So it is that the gospel of the Ashes has us in its grip. Three Tests in and the narrative is alive and in fine health for both young and old to play out in their dreams. And in their WhatsApp groups. Just don’t move a muscle.

The visitors have a cushion of 522 runs to pick up the eight wickets they need on the final day of the Guwahati Test

Sidharth Monga25-Nov-20252:10

Philander: ‘South Africa playing mind games with India’

South Africa ensured their first series win in India in 25 years by building on their lead for nearly five hours. While the declaration, setting India more than they have ever been set at home, seemed a touch conservative, the visitors went to stumps needing eight wickets on the final day to take away all 12 WTC points from this Test and consign India to their second whitewash at home in 12 months after 12 years of spotless series record.As it often happens in such match situations, the same pitch that South Africa batted on, looking untroubled for 70.3 overs, began to look unplayable in the 15.5 India got to play. Marco Jansen didn’t even bother with swing and seam, and began to bounce Yashasvi Jaiswal before getting him out on the cut shot. Simon Harmer, who has out-bowled the home spinners, continued his dream series with a dream offbreak to bowl KL Rahul through the gate, and came desperately close to getting B Sai Sudharsan out lbw.The day began with curiosity around how much South Africa valued the 12 full points from this match vis-a-vis ensuring they give India no chance to threaten their series lead. Turns out they were in no mood for adventure. Especially as the ball started to turn more consistently in the first session of the fourth day than it had done at any point before. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar got long spells in. Jadeja got Ryan Rickelton caught at extra cover, but then India did what they have struggled to do all Test: get wickets on defensive shots. Jadeja beat Aiden Markram’s outside edge and hit the off stump, Washington got one to bite at Temba Bavuma’s glove and settle in the hands of backward short leg.As three wickets fell for 18 runs, South Africa remained slightly cautious. Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi, though, managed to keep the threat of spin out with their sweeps and reverse sweeps. After Rishabh Pant missed a stumping off Stubbs, the No. 3 batter limited his options to just the sweeps whenever he wanted to force the pace.3:49

Can India’s youngsters grind out a draw?

Stubbs and de Zorzi added 101 for the fourth wicket, 41 of those in sweeps and reverse sweeps. Like Stubbs in the first innings, de Zorzi fell one short of a fifty, beaten on the sweep for a change. It was mid-afternoon and South Africa led by 466, but they still continued to bat at normal pace.Related

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Only after the lunch break did Stubbs get a move-on to try to complete a Test hundred, but even this charge was not frenetic. The team management gave him all the time as he scored 32 from the last 19 balls he faced, taking the lead past the 542 that Australia attained in Nagpur in 2004. He slog-swept Jadeja to go from 88 to 94, but Jadeja slowed the ball down to beat a repeat attempt. Stubbs still was the highest run-getter in the series (163), and would need a big effort from someone in the final innings to be eclipsed.That effort wasn’t coming from the openers. India have done this to many a visiting side – just when everybody thought they had been too conservative with the declaration, the pitch would magically change its nature and wickets would start falling.Something similar happened when Jansen ran in and started bowling short. In the first over itself, he had Jaiswal fending uncomfortably. One didn’t pop up, the other landed just short of second slip. While Jaiswal managed to ramp him once, he fell to his favourite cut shot again. Since Jaiswal’s debut, nobody has scored more Test runs with the cut off fast bowlers than his 291, but no one has got out as often as his seven times. Nobody has played as many false shots as he has on the cut to the fast bowler: 68. He averages 41.57 on the cut against fast bowlers, but has fallen to this shot four times in his last eight innings.3:19

Saba Karim: Spinners need long spell to set up batters

Rahul was more traditional in the route he took to fight for a draw. He scored just 6 off 30 balls, but the 30th was a bewitching dipping, drifting delivery, which had him playing well away from where he thought it would originally pitch. In panic, he turned his drive into a flick, but it wasn’t enough to plug the gap created between his body and his bat. Harmer was again level with Jansen for most wickets in the series: 12.Harmer came extremely close to taking the lead when he appealed for lbw against Sai Sudharsan. In all likelihood, the on-field call for not-out was down to an inside edge, but the replay showed the ball had hit the pad first. However, the ball tracking returned an umpire’s call on impact, saving Sudharsan to fight another day.India somehow survived the rest of the day but it looked like a wicket could fall anytime. South Africa now have six hours to take eight wickets because the light has consistently dipped by 4pm, not allowing any extra play.