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Jasprit Bumrah was not appointed captain due to his workload management

ESPNcricinfo staff24-May-20251:19

Agarkar on Gill: ‘We’ve taken feedback from a lot of people’

Shubman Gill has been appointed India’s new Test captain following the retirement of Rohit Sharma. His first assignment is the five-Test series in England starting on June 20.Rishabh Pant has been appointed vice-captain of the 18-man squad ahead of Jasprit Bumrah, who was India’s vice-captain during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and led in the two Tests Rohit had missed.”Obviously you discuss every option that’s there. Over the last year or so, we have looked at Shubman at various times. Even when we played England last year. You take a lot of feedback from the dressing room as well,” Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of India’s selection panel, said after announcing Gill’s appointment at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. “Obviously he’s very young. We’ve seen the improvement – I know it’s T20 cricket for GT – but we take feedback from a lot of people, and we’re hopeful that he’s the guy who can… it’s obviously going to be, like it always is, a high-pressure job. But we’re hopeful we’ve picked the right guy. He’s a terrific player and our best wishes for him.Related

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Shubman Gill relishing 'ultimate honour' of Test captaincy

Sai Sudharsan, Arshdeep and Karun Nair in India's Test squad for England tour

Confident and assertive, Gill must now chart his own path

Kohli and Test cricket gave each other their best

“You don’t pick captains for one or two tours,” Agarkar said when asked about the future, especially keeping in mind the upcoming WTC cycle. “We want to invest in something that’s going to help us going forward. You’re always hoping that it’s the right call. We’ve seen some progress over the last year or two with him. There’s no doubt that it is going to be as tough as it gets, in a five-match series in England. Maybe he will have to learn on the job a little bit. But we’re very confident with what he has to offer and that’s the reason we have picked him.”In the case of Bumrah, he was overlooked for the top job because of “workload management” reasons.”I don’t think he’s available for all five Tests. Again, that’s what the physios and the doctors have told us. Whether it’s four or three [Tests in England], we’ll see how the series goes and how his body can take the workload,” Agarkar said. “Needless to say how important he is. Whether he is fit for three or four Tests, he is going to win us a few Test matches. We’re just glad that he is fit after the setback he had in Australia. He’s back playing. I know it’s T20 cricket at he moment, but we’ve seen what he is doing in the IPL. We’re just happy he is part of the squad.Rishabh Pant has been promoted to vice-captain•Getty Images”I think he is more important to us as a player [than as a captain]. You want him fit. It’s always when you’re leading, managing 15-16 other people. There’s a lot that it takes out of you. We’d rather have him bowl as well as he does than putting the extra burden on him. He is aware of it. We’ve had a chat with him and he’s okay with it. He knows where his body is at, at the moment. And he’d rather look after himself and be bowling.”About Pant’s promotion, Agarkar said, “Pant is one of our better batters in the last couple of years. He will help Gill out with all the experience [he has]. At the moment, these two are the guys we feel will take the team forward.”Elaborating on the challenges Gill could face in England, Agarkar said, “Everyone is going to be tested in England, like it was in Australia. We are confident he has got the goods. It’s a massive transition with Rohit and Virat [Kohli] not being around. It’s a new cycle, experience can only help. It is going to be tough. [But] as far as his batting is concerned, there’s no real issue.”Gill has not captained in Test matches or ODIs, but has led the team in five T20Is, all on a tour of Zimbabwe in mid-2024 when India were missing several first-choice players after the victory in the preceding T20 World Cup.4:11

‘Captaincy will not bear heavy on Gill’s shoulders’

He has played 32 Tests, having made his debut at the MCG on India’s tour of Australia in 2020-21. In those, he has 1893 runs at an average of 35.05, with a significant difference between his home (42.03) and away (27.53) averages. The upcoming series will be Gill’s first full tour of England; he played the two WTC finals there in 2021 and 2023, and the fifth Test of the 2021 tour that was played after a postponement because of the Covid-19 pandemic.The five Tests against England will be India’s first in the 2025-27 WTC cycle. They play the first Test at Headingley (from June 20), the second at Edgbaston (from July 2), the third at Lord’s (from July 10), the fourth at Old Trafford (from July 23), and the final at The Oval (from July 31).They begin the tour with a four-day match against India A at Beckenham on the outskirts of London between June 13 and 16.

Ex-Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez remains in no hurry to return to the dugout. Since his Barcelona exit in 2024, the Spanish legend has turned down multiple approaches, including a latest managerial offer from Spartak Moscow in Russia, as he waits for a project that truly matches his footballing philosophy. While clubs circle, Xavi’s intent is to wait for the next step must as he prioritises vision over convenience.

Xavi stays on the sidelines despite growing interest

Since parting ways with Blaugrana in the summer of 2024, Xavi has yet to take up another managerial role. His departure from Camp Nou, though respectful, left a trace of tension as it portrayed him as a club legend stepping away from a project that had lost alignment with his ideals.

Over the past few months, the 45-year-old has been linked to several clubs including Manchester United, Ajax and, most recently, Al Ittihad, yet none of these proposals have convinced him. The latest offer came from Russian Premier League team, Spartak Moscow, who reportedly wanted to build a new project under sporting director Francis Cagigao and viewed Xavi as the perfect figurehead to lead it. But the former Barcelona coach declined the approach, unimpressed by the direction of the project and unwilling to rush into another high-pressure environment, according to .

Spartak are currently going through a challenging phase in the 2025-26 season, with mixed results and pressure on coaching decisions. Their current head coach is Dejan Stankovic but the club are reportedly considering a change due to their underwhelming performances which have seen them collect just four points in the first four rounds of the Russian Premier League this season. Reports suggest Stankovic is on the verge of being sacked, with Spanish coach Luis Garcia emerging as the leading candidate to replace him after Xavi's rejection.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAl-Ittihad's offer and Xavi's philosophy

Unlike many out-of-work managers eager for a quick return, Xavi’s approach has been measured and deliberate. Those close to him insist there’s no panic but just patience. Since May 2024, he has stayed active by holding regular meetings with his technical staff, analysing game models, and studying potential teams that align with his ideals.

Financially secure and guided by principle rather than urgency, Xavi has resisted the lure of lucrative offers. According to reports, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad made an approach after parting ways with Laurent Blanc this September, but Xavi quickly ruled it out. “The priority is the right footballing project, not money,” a source close to the Spaniard told media. For Xavi, the challenge must allow him to implement a long-term philosophy built on control, positional play, and development.

Xavi unemployed after bizarre India national team incident

As offers come and go, Xavi’s stance has become increasingly clear as he seeks a project that offers autonomy, structure, and long-term growth and not just short-lived fix. His rejections, from United to Spartak, reflect both self-awareness and ambition. “He doesn’t want to walk into chaos,” one of his former Barcelona colleagues remarked.

In recent months, reports even linked him briefly to the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) search for a new national team coach, an unexpected twist that highlighted how globally sought-after his name remains. While the AIFF ultimately passed on the opportunity reportedly due to financial considerations, the episode underlined Xavi’s openness to challenges beyond Europe, provided the vision is strong. For now, however, no project has ticked all the boxes. The Barcelona legend wants a club that mirrors his footballing DNA.

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Getty Images SportEx-Barca coach still in demand worldwide

Xavi remains as ambitious as ever. His brief yet decorated managerial career, from transforming Al Sadd in Qatar to guiding Barcelona to the 2022–23 La Liga title, proved his potential to lead elite sides with both intelligence and conviction. But his next step, he insists, must be about building, not repairing. With several European benches still unstable and the managerial market likely to shift again by winter, Xavi’s name is expected to resurface in multiple shortlists. Until then, he remains with his family, recharging and refining his methods.

B Sai Sudharsan and Prasidh Krishna won the Orange and Purple Caps respectively at the end of IPL 2025

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jun-20251:49

Moody: Sudharsan an all-format player for India for ten-plus years

Orange Cap tableEven though Gujarat Titans (GT) didn’t make the final, B Sai Sudharsan finished the tournament as its highest run-getter with 759 runs, 42 runs clear of second-placed Suryakumar Yadav of Mumbai Indians (MI). But the 43 runs Virat Kohli scored in Tuesday night’s final for RCB took him up to the third place on the table.It’s a cap he has won twice before, in IPL 2016 and IPL 2024. It wasn’t to be this time, but Kohli has been a model of consistency through the tournament, reflected in his 657 runs for the season.GT captain Shubman Gill (650 runs) and Mitchell Marsh of Lucknow Super Giants (627) rounded off the top five.ESPNcricinfo LtdPurple Cap tableSai Sudharsan’s team-mate Prasidh Krishna made it a GT double by winning the Purple Cap for his haul of 25 wickets, one more than Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) Noor Ahmad, and, after the final, three more than RCB’s Josh Hazlewood.When it comes to Hazlewood, though, one wonders what might have been had he not picked up a shoulder niggle and missed a series of matches in the second half of the tournament. Where Prasidh bowled in 15 innings for his 25 wickets and Noor 14 for his 24, Hazlewood finished with 22 from just 12 bowling innings, capping off his season the wicket of Priyansh Arya, the first of the night, in the final. Like Kohli, Hazlewood’s consistency stood out all through the season.Arshdeep Singh, who picked up 3 for 40 in the final, ended in fifth place with 21 wickets, with MI’s Trent Boult above him with 22, behind Hazlewood on economy rate.Krunal Pandya, meanwhile, won the Player-of-the-Match award in the final, and that took him up to No. 2, behind Suryakumar, on ESPNcricinfo’s MVP table for IPL 2025. Most sixes Highest batting strike rates Best bowling economy rates Best bowling figures in a match

Away from narrowly scraping past Everton 1-0 on the opening day, Daniel Farke’s Leeds United have only tasted victory once more in Premier League action.

That was on the road back in September when the top-flight newcomers convincingly got the better of bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1.

Anton Stach’s glorious free-kick hitting the back of the net was the pick of the strikes from this comprehensive win, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin also broke his Whites duck when heading home the initial equaliser.

Those with connections to Elland Road would have hoped this would be the kick-starter the ex-Everton marksman needed to then find himself deep in a purple patch of form.

Yet, he was frustratingly back to drawing blanks heading into the international break…

Why Calvert-Lewin is struggling at Leeds

The 28-year-old is arguably a streaky centre-forward, with the hit-and-miss number nine scoring seven of his 16 Premier League goals for ex-employers Everton during the 2020/21 season within his first five outings.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t sparked into life as a similar goal machine just yet in West Yorkshire, with both the 2-2 draw against AFC Bournemouth and the loss to Tottenham Hotspur before the break seeing Calvert-Lewin spurn chances galore, instead of adding to his early Leeds tally.

Minutes played

89

90

Goals scored

0

0

Assists

0

0

Shots

3

2

Shots on target

3

1

Big chances missed

3

1

In all fairness, Calvert-Lewin is getting into some great positions to try and score – with nearly all of his efforts across the two league clashes being on target.

However, despite accumulating four on-target efforts, he failed to find the back of the net.

When the pressure is ramped up towards the back end of the season, Farke might not feel too comfortable relying on the Sheffield-born striker to deliver the goods, with ex-Leeds legend Nigel Martyn even once stating that Calvert-Lewin doesn’t strike him as a “natural finisher” when he was also spurning chances regularly on Merseyside.

With Joel Piroe also not Premier League-recognised in reserve, Leeds must now wish they could turn back time to a player who could easily take Calvert-Lewin’s number nine shirt from him.

Former Leeds star now worthy of the number 9 jersey

The 6-foot-2 striker’s difficulties in the injury department haven’t even been mentioned yet, with a worrying 21 games missed over his previous two seasons for Everton owing to extended periods in the treatment room.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Former Thorp Arch prodigy Max Dean has also had his fair share of injury troubles since leaving West Yorkshire behind, with a cruciate ligament tear completely derailing a positive 2024/25 season for the promising Englishman in Belgium.

Still, when he has been fit, he has left Calvert-Lewin completely in the dust with his goal-scoring prowess.

Indeed, while Calvert-Lewin could only collect a meagre three goals all of last season, Dean was a man possessed for KAA Gent, with a blistering 13 strikes amassed from just 1,497 minutes of action.

Of course, injury disaster then struck, but with the former England youth international now edging ever closer to being back available for the Jupiler Pro League outfit, some regret must still be lingering that Leeds didn’t persist more with one of their own, considering he also put away a stunning 16 goals for their U23s from 38 total appearances.

Games played

73

Goals scored

33

Assists

7

Value when leaving

£700k

Value now

£4m

With a goal-heavy stint at MK Dons also under his belt, netting 20 in 43, it’s clear that Dean was prematurely let go by Leeds in 2023, having actually never made a senior outing.

As a marker of his impressive rise, his transfer value now stands at an impressive £4m according to Football Transfers. When he first made the switch to Milton Keynes, he was worth far less at an estimated £700k.

Dubbed as “special” player by his ex-Gent manager in Wouter Vrancken, the 21-year-old will just be aiming to get amongst the goals again for Gent when he’s finally fully fit, away from any talk that he could have stolen Calvert-Lewin’s number nine shirt if still at his boyhood side.

It’s sad, though, that Leeds has had such little bearing on his fledgling career in reality, as Farke now strives to get a tune out of Calvert-Lewin in tense games to come.

Leeds outcast is quickly becoming Farke's new Bamford & it's not DCL

Leeds might see a repeat of the Bamford sitution

1 ByJoe Nuttall Oct 14, 2025

The Giants hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth to upset the Dodgers in the first of a weekend set with the first place team from Los Angeles, can the team follow it up on Saturday?

The Dodgers will send out Cy Young candidate Tyler Glasnow, but can he be trusted at a lofty price tag on the road against a stout Giants lineup that has a quality arm on the mound in left hander Erik Miller?

Here's everything you need to know, including a best bet on the Dodgers vs. Giants game on Saturday night.

Dodgers vs. Giants Odds, Run Line and Total

Run Line

Dodgers: -1.5 (-120)Giants: +1.5 (+100)

Moneyline

Dodgers: -210Giants: +175

Total: 7.5 (Over +105/Under -125)

Dodgers vs. Giants How to WatchDate: Saturday, June 29thGame Time: 7:15 PM ESTVenue: Oracle ParkHow to Watch (TV): FOXDodgers Record: 51-32Giants Record: 40-43Dodgers vs. Giants Probable PitchersDodgers: Tyler Glasnow (8-5, 2.88 ERA)Giants: Erik Miller (2-2, 3.79 ERA)Dodgers vs. Giants Key Players to WatchLos Angeles Dodgers

Teoscar Hernandez: While there are plenty of star studded hitters in the Dodgers lineup, its Hernandez who has benefited the most. He is hitting a little below his career average, .252, but his power is up with 18 home runs and a career average slugging percentage. He thrives against left handed pitching, posting a .607 slugging percentage with eight of his 18 home runs coming against that type of pitcher on a third of the at bats. 

San Francisco Giants

Erik Miller: The Giants will need a standout outing from the 26-year-old southpaw. The Dodgers typically tee off on lefty pitching, top five in OPS, but Miller has been strong through seven career starts and 39 appearances. He has a strikeout rate nearing 28%, good for 84th percentile in the big leagues and does an excellent job of limiting home runs with a high ground ball rate that is in the 93rd percentile. 

Dodgers vs. Giants Prediction and Pick

While Tyler Glasnow has been excellent in his first season with the Dodgers, this is simply too wide of a price for him on the road. 

Glasnow has a ton of strikeout prowess, he is in the 98th percentile in terms of strikeout rate, but the Giants strikeout at a league average rate and the team held up nicely against him earlier this season. San Francisco tallied three earned runs with four hits in six innings, good enough that it could extend this game into the bullpen portion of the evening. 

While the Dodgers have an elite pen, the team did use four relievers on Friday night, two of which pitched at least an inning, meaning that Dave Roberts may dig a bit more than usual on Saturday night in San Francisco. 

Meanwhile, Erik Miller is an elite groundball pitcher, 93rd percentile with a strong strikeout rate, 27%, that can limit the power of the Dodgers lineup. 

While LA has more star power, this game can go sideways quickly if the Giants lineup, that is only decimals behind the Dodgers in June batting average as the team adjusts to life without Mookie Betts, enough for me to take the big underdog price. 

Max Dowman made Arsenal history in their Carabao Cup clash with fellow Premier League side Brighton. Mikel Arteta made wholesale changes for their meeting with the Seagulls as the Gunners look to secure their place in the next round of the competition as the likes of Kepa, Ben White and Piero Hincapie come into the side. However, it's Dowman's inclusion that will go down in the record books.

Getty Images SportDowman a history-maker

Dowman already wrote his name into the club's lore back in August when he became the second-youngest player to make an appearance for both Arsenal and in the Premier League having come off the bench in a 5-0 win over Leeds. Team-mate Ethan Nwaneri is the youngest-ever player to make a Premier League appearance after he featured off the bench against Brentford at 15 years and 181 days in 2022, and in the process became the first player under the age of 16 to make a top-flight appearance.

However, at 15 years and 302 days, Dowman is the youngest-ever Arsenal player to start a game for the club having been included from the outset against Brighton. Dowman is one of a number of changes made by Arteta after Sunday's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. The Gunners suffered a fair few fitness concerns against the Eagles after William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori were all withdrawn at various points.

Advertisement'We really have to manage his load'

Arteta has previously hinted that Dowman would feature against Brighton, but also gave his views on how best to manager the teenager's workload. "I am calm over it because what we have decided for him for the first few months is happening," Arteta told .

"When we have to give him games, whether it is in the youth cup, with the under-23s or with us, he has that. He has a lot of exposure in training with us too. We really have to manage his load."

What has impressed Arteta about Dowman has been how he has performed in training, adding: "He is 15 years old and still growing. There are a lot of things we have to make sure are under control so he develops in the way he can do.

"He will play minutes with us, for sure. When he has the chance to do that he needs to take it. If we looked at his passport every day, we would never play him – simple as that. But when you look at what he does in training, you have to play him. If not, you are blind, or I'm blind.

"So it is finding a balance and an understanding – especially with the load, the things that are changing in his life, and make sure he can cope with that. So far, he has done that."

Getty Images Sport'He genuinely loves it here. He is a huge Arsenal supporter'

On Dowman's future, Arteta suggested that the history maker will sign his first professional contract when he turns 17 next year, adding: "That's what we all want and I think what he wants as well.

"But the feeling that I have is that he genuinely loves it here. He is a huge Arsenal supporter and his family are really happy with the way things are developing around him as well. Hopefully, he will be with us for many years."

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Dowman not the only Hale End academy star starting

Dowman isn't the only Hale End academy star to start for Arsenal against Brighton on Wednesday. Nwaneri features from the off for the Gunners, while Myles Lewis-Skelly also makes a what is a rare start for the north London side this season.

The 19-year-old was a regular feature at left-back for Arsenal last term but has found Premier League playing time hard to come by having lost his starting spot to Calafiori. Indeed, all six of Lewis-Skelly's league appearances have come from the bench, with the England international featuring prominently in cup competitions. Wednesday's meeting with Brighton marks Lewis-Skelly's fourth competitive start this season, and his second in the Carabao Cup.

Carlo Ancelotti’s time at Everton will always live long in the memory of Toffees fans. The legendary Italian boss was only at Goodison Park for one and a half seasons, but he got his side purring, playing some exceptional football.

In total, Ancelotti took charge of 67 games as Everton boss. He had a positive win rate, too, and was victorious in 31 of those matches, losing 22. His record in Merseyside derbies was excellent, losing once in four clashes, and securing three points at Anfield in his final derby in charge of the club.

Ancelotti also made some important signings during his time as Everton boss.

Ancelotti’s most important Everton signings

There was one signing in particular that Ancelotti made, which turned out to be a very important addition for the Toffees, that of Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Mali international played 34 games under the Italian coach, chipping in with six goals and assists.

It was his contribution after Ancelotti had left the club that was particularly vital for the Toffees. In total, he played 166 games and bagged 21 goals, but the most important strike came on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign.

His goal against Bournemouth ensured Everton avoided relegation. A crucial signing made by Ancelotti.

No doubt the biggest name Everton’s former boss signed during his stint at Goodison Park was James Rodriguez. The iconic Colombian attacking midfielder only spent a single season on Merseyside, but certainly left a huge impact.

He played 26 games under Ancelotti for the club, and started the Premier League season on fire. Rodriguez scored and assisted six goals in his first five games, ending the campaign with six goals and nine assists across all competitions. It was certainly a good deal, given he was signed on a free transfer.

Rodriguez was not the only bargain signing that Ancelotti made at Everton. Another player whom the Toffees signed for an excellent price is a key player at the club today.

The Ancelotti bargain in Everton’s first team

Years on from Ancelotti’s spell at Everton, almost all of the players he signed have now left the Toffees.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Rodriguez now plies his trade in Mexico for Leon, and Doucoure left in the summer to join Saudi side NEOM SC.

The only player that Ancelotti signed who still plies his trade at Everton is actually one of the most exciting young talents in England. Centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite joined the club in January 2020, signing from Carlisle United for just £1m.

The centre-back, who was born in Carlisle and represented them at first-team level, only played five times under Ancelotti, initially playing in the Toffees academy. Yet, they have the Italian to thank for bringing the defender to the club, given how good he’s become.

In total, the left-footed defender has played 86 games for the club now, impressing enough to make his England debut at the end of last season. He’s even chipped in with four goals, including a strike against Liverpool.

The 23-year-old is yet to make an appearance this season due to injuries.

Yet, his numbers from last term show just how much of a talent he is. For example, he won an average of 4.3 duels and made 6.8 clearances per 90 minutes.

Long balls completed

3.1

85

Forward passes

18.6

518

Duels won

4.3

118

Clearances

6.8

188

Ball recoveries

3.4

93

With all that in mind, it might not be a surprise to learn that the “colossal” defender, as Statman Dave called him, has shot up in value. According to Transfermarkt, he is now worth £43.5m, a testament to his quality and future potential.

He has seen an enormous rise in his value of 4200%, which represents excellent business from Everton under Ancelotti, all those years ago. It also means that, if the Toffees are ever to sell Branthwaite, they are surely in line for a huge windfall.

It certainly seems like, for a fee of just £1m, Branthwaite’s signing has been one of the best pieces of business done by Everton in recent years.

Moyes can ditch Barry & Beto to unleash "special" Everton star in new role

Everton may be able to solve their issues in front of goal with this player

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 10, 2025

Pakistan batter available for Championship games against Notts and Essex

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2025Abdullah Shafique, the Pakistan top-order batter, has signed a short-term deal to play for Yorkshire. Shafique will be available for two rounds of the County Championship in June, as well Yorkshire’s final four Vitality Blast group games.The 25-year-old has played 22 Tests for Pakistan, notching five hundreds and averaging 38.56 in the format, as well as 24 ODIs and six T20Is. In T20, he averages 29.36 with a strike rate of 134.43 and was recently the fourth-highest run-scorer at the PSL as part of the title-winning Lahore Qalandars team.Shafique will arrive ahead of next week’s Championship trip to face Division One leaders Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, which will be followed by Yorkshire hosting Essex at York. He could also feature in both of Yorkshire’s Blast fixtures against Lancashire.Related

Shafique: 'How well you take your opportunity matters'

Shafique powers Lahore Qalandars into Qualifier 2

Shaheen's fury, Shafique's grace – the night Qalandars fought back

“I’m immensely pleased to be afforded this opportunity with Yorkshire and I’m eager to join up with the team ahead of a big game against Nottinghamshire,” Shafique said. “Headingley is a venue I’ve always wanted to play at and I’m excited to experience a Roses fixture which I’ve already heard will have an incredible atmosphere!”There is so much history at this club, and I hope I can contribute on the pitch at what is a very important period of the season for the team.”Yorkshire had signed Australia allrounder Will Sutherland for the Blast and County Championship block in June/July. New Zealand fast bowler Will O’Rourke is also registered, having played seven out of an eight-game deal for the Blast, with Yorkshire originally hoping he would be involved in the Championship, too.The club are currently second from bottom in Division One of the Championship, and bottom of the North Group in the Blast.Anthony McGrath, Yorkshire’s head coach, said: “Abdullah is another technically gifted, all-format player that we are delighted has signed with us. He has a tremendous skillset and has scored big runs at the highest level of the game.”This is a really positive signing for us that will strengthen us greatly. We’re all looking forward to Abdullah joining up with the squad next week.”

South Africa allrounder had declared the innings when he was on 367 not out, 33 short of Lara’s world record

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2025

Zimbabwe Cricket

South Africa allrounder Wiaan Mulder has said Brian Lara told him that he should have attempted to break the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket during the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.Mulder, South Africa’s stand-in captain for the match, was batting on 367 at lunch on the second day when he declared the innings. He finished 33 short of Lara’s record of 400 not out against England in Antigua in 2004.”Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be,” Mulder had said after declaring the innings. But he later revealed that Lara had different views.Related

Gayle on Mulder's 367* declaration: He 'panicked and blundered'

Mulder: 'Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be'

“Now that things have settled a little bit, I’ve chatted a little bit to Brian Lara,” Mulder told . “He said to me I’m creating my own legacy and I should have gone for it. He said records are there to be broken and he wishes if I’m ever in that position again, I actually go and score more than what he had.”That was an interesting point of view from his side, but I still believe I did the right thing and respecting the game is the most important part for me.”Mulder’s 367 not out is the highest individual score for South Africa, and the fifth highest overall. He said that South Africa’s head coach Shukri Conrad had told him, “Listen, let the legends keep the really big scores.” South Africa went on to win the Test inside three days, by an innings and 236 runs.Earlier this week, Chris Gayle, who has two Test triples to his name, told that Mulder had “maybe panicked” and made an “error” by not chasing the “once in a lifetime opportunity”.”If I could get the chance to get 400, I would get 400,” Gayle said. “That doesn’t happen often. You don’t know when you’re going to get to a triple century again. Any time you get a chance like that, you try and make the best out of it. If you want to be a legend… how are you going to become a legend? Records come with being a legend.”

USMNT star Folarin Balogun experienced a rollercoaster of highs and lows on Saturday against Lens. The AS Monaco striker drew his side level with a 37th-minute penalty, only to be sent off before halftime – a turning point that left Monaco reeling. Lens capitalized, surging to a 3-1 lead by the break before sealing a 4-1 victory.

AFPBalogun’s penalty

Lens took an early lead in the 21st minute through Odsonne Edouard, who capitalized on a swift attack to put the hosts ahead. Monaco struggled to respond until Balogun earned a penalty and confidently converted it in the 37th minute, leveling the score at 1-1. The American striker’s composed finish from the spot was a key moment, signalling Monaco’s intent to fight back.

AdvertisementRed card disrupts Monaco’s momentum

However, Balogun’s influence was curtailed when he received a straight red card in the 45th minute for stamping on an opponent. The stamp was judged violent enough to dismiss him, reducing Monaco to 10 men at a pivotal moment. That marks the first red card of the American striker’s career, and it severely impacted their ability to maintain control as the half drew to a close.

AFPLens capitalize

Before Balogun’s red card, Wesley Said had already restored Lens’ lead in the 40th minute, and the visitors wasted no time capitalizing on Monaco’s numerical disadvantage. Mamadou Sangaré added a third deep into stoppage time (45+3), giving Lens a commanding 3-1 lead heading into the break.

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AFPWhat comes next…

In the short term, Balogun faces suspension and a spell on the sidelines that will test Monaco’s depth up front and force others to step up. He’s expected to miss the club’s next two league matches after the international break – possibly more, depending on Ligue 1’s disciplinary decision.