Does Pat Cummins have the best Test bowling figures of any captain?

And how many visiting players have played their one and only Test at Lord’s?

Steven Lynch17-Jun-2025Both No. 1 openers in the WTC final were out for ducks. How often has this happened? asked Kirsty Grosvenor from Australia

You’re right that Usman Khawaja, No. 1 on the Australian scorecard, was out for 0 (from 20 balls) on the first day of the World Test Championship final at Lord’s last week, and he was followed later in the day by South Africa’s Aiden Markram (six balls; he did rather better in the second innings).This was only the tenth time in all Tests that the batters at the top of the order for both teams were out for 0 in the first innings of the same match (only considering the man who faced the first ball). There was no such double in the first 100 years of Test cricket: the first instance was in the match between Australia and India in Melbourne in 1977, when the rival No. 1s, Sunil Gavaskar and John Dyson, both fell for 0 in the first innings.The most recent occurrence before last week was in Hobart in the final Ashes Test in 2022, when David Warner and Rory Burns both collected ducks at the top of the order. Here’s the full list, of No. 1s being out for 0 in the first innings of a match.Does Pat Cummins now have the best bowling figures by an Australian captain (or any captain!) in a Test? asked Dane Kristoffer from Australia

Pat Cummins took 6 for 28 in South Africa’s first innings in the World Test Championship final. They were the best figures by a captain in the 147 Tests at Lord’s, beating Bob Willis’ 6 for 101 for England against India in June 1982.Cummins’ figures are the fourth-best by an Australia captain in a Test, behind the 7 for 44 of Ian Johnson against West Indies in Georgetown in 1955, Allan Border’s unlikely 7 for 46 vs West Indies in Sydney in 1989, and Monty Noble’s 7 for 100 against England in Sydney in 1904.The best bowling figures by any captain in a Test match are 9 for 83, by Kapil Dev for India against West Indies in Ahmedabad in 1983. Here’s the full list of best bowling performances by Test captains.Apparently Australia had played South Africa at Lord’s in a Test before – when was this? asked Stephen Bashenga from South Africa

Last week’s World Test Championship final was indeed the second time Australia and South Africa had met in an official Test at Lord’s. The first one was in 1912, during an ambitious Triangular Test tournament that was rather spoiled by the weather. In the match between Australia and South Africa at Lord’s – the fifth of the tournament’s nine games – Charlie Kelleway and Warren Bardsley made centuries and the Australians won by ten wickets.Fionn Hand’s only Test to date came at Lord’s two years ago•AFP/Getty ImagesAustralia also played a Test against Pakistan at Lord’s in 2010, as security concerns at the time precluded playing in Pakistan. Steven Smith made his debut in that one, which means he’s played Tests at Lord’s against three different opponents, a record for an overseas player. He’s also the leading Test run-scorer among visitors to Lord’s.How many people have played their one and only Test at Lord’s? I mean visiting players – I imagine there have been lots of Englishmen… asked Matthew Rowell from South Africa

If you’re only going to play one Test match, it would be special to do it at Lord’s… and, rather to my surprise, there are currently only three overseas players who fit the bill. The first two did it for India: Lall Singh, the Malaysia-born batter (and superb fielder) who played in their inaugural Test, in 1932, and opening batter Ghulam Parkar, who made two single-figure scores in a defeat in 1982. The third man might yet play again: Fionn Hand won his only Test cap for Ireland so far at Lord’s in 2023.A total of 14 England players have won their only Test cap at Lord’s, the most recent being legspinner Matt Parkinson, who stepped in as a concussion substitute against New Zealand in 2022. For the record, the others are Stanley Christopherson (1884), Walter Mead (1899), John King (1909), Alf Dipper, Jack Durston and John Evans (all in 1921), Harry Smith (1928), Johnny Arnold (1931), Jim Parks senior (1937), Frank Smailes (1946), George Pope (1947), Alec Coxon (1948) and Simon Brown (1996).In last week’s question about players who had appeared in every edition of the IPL, did you miss out Ravi Jadeja? asked Brij Mohan Mahagaonkar from India

You worried me there – I knew that Ravindra Jadeja featured in the inaugural IPL, in 2008 – but actually he missed the third one, in 2010, after running into contractual problems. He therefore just failed to emulate MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey and Rohit Sharma in playing in them all so far.Jadeja is one of five players who have appeared in 17 of the 18 editions of the IPL. Three of the others featured in every season until the most recent one: Shikhar Dhawan, wicketkeeper-turned-commentator Dinesh Karthik, and another keeper, Wriddhiman Saha. The other man is Ajinkya Rahane, who did not play in 2010. R Ashwin, Piyush Chawla, Amit Mishra and Jaydev Unadkat have all appeared in 16 IPLs.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Usama Mir owns this glorious night in Manchester

It was a performance of ups and downs that further endears you to a cricketer

Vithushan Ehantharajah07-Aug-2023The sun shone throughout the evening in Manchester, and it’s important to put that on the record given the last few weeks here.An entire men’s Ashes was ruined by two days of rain at the end of the fourth Test, followed by a Manchester Originals home opener against London Spirit scuppered in both competitions. The blokes managed to get on for 80 balls, of which Jos Buttler thrilled for 32 of them. Ultimately, it was for nothing.Proximity to such an engaging seven weeks of England and Australia duels means the Hundred needs to thrive more than ever. Even before the parallel men’s and women’s Ashes, there was an understanding at HQ this third season had to harness the power of what was always likely to be a public-enrapturing block of international cricket. And while pockets of the country remain untouched by the harsh, bright hues of the Hundred’s colour palette, the cities exposed to this flash jamboree needed to make it count.Part of that requires attachment. And for the longest time, before the Hundred even got off the ground, you wondered how those in the stands could truly vibe with nebulous concepts. Yet as Emirates Old Trafford welcomed an eventual 11,692 for the men’s portion of this doubleheader, the parochialism from the stands hit you like grapes on Ricky Ponting.The cheers for Buttler’s boundaries were loud. The palpable disdain when replays of the direct hit run out from Moeen Ali showed Buttler might have grounded his bat over the line even louder. They chuntered when Phoenix opener Ben Duckett inadvertently got in the way of a shy at the stumps after popping one into the leg side during the third set of the chase. Moeen, cheered to the rafters here three weeks ago when gliding to a half-century in whites for his country, was jeered off after being trapped by a vicious yorker from local boy Richard Gleeson. They even booed Kane Richardson simply for being Australian.Related

Moeen Ali, England's silent warrior, gloriously walks into sunset once more

Rain frustrates Originals and Spirit after Buttler's fireworks

Ferguson, Henry to replace Shaheen and Rauf at Welsh Fire

Usama Mir overshadows England stars with bat and ball to lead Originals win

But it was Usama Mir, one of Originals own as of, well, a few weeks ago, that was the most evocative presence this Monday night. Most of it good, some of it bad, all of it endearing. A performance of ups and downs that further endears you to a cricketer, if it is even possible to have greater admiration for one who fizzes leg spin and smokes boundaries.Uncapped in T20s for Pakistan, and with just six appearances in ODIs, Mir essentially undertook an overseas Vitality Blast gig with Worcestershire with a view to breaking into the Hundred. A route in looked tricky given only domestic players can be Wildcard picks, but 19 wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of 7.29 impressed Buttler enough to ratify his inclusion after Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga pulled out for the second year in succession.”We had Hasaranga down to come, and Usama Mir was playing for Worcester and doing brilliantly, so bring him in,” said Buttler at stumps, after a 49-run win had been banked thanks to the 27-year-old’s 32 off 14 and 2 for 27.It felt like Originals – and the competition more broadly – fell on their feet when Usama came out at 105 for 6 with 24 balls to go. A tournament that relies on highlight reels has another walking one, it seems.Usama Mir interacts with fans after the game•ECB/Getty ImagesThe wily Benny Howell dipped into his box of tricks and pulled out a slower, length ball he had to go fetch after it was carted over cover. Richardson was then swung over mid off before being short-arm flayed over midwicket for six two deliveries later. Even Adam Milne, who can usually get by on fear of his pace when bowling to the lower half of a batting order, was reverse-ramped twice. At times it looked like Mir had extra joints in his arms, such were the angles created and areas accessed.That feel for the game did not quite carry onto the field, at least not straight away. Will Smeed was shelled on six, after skying a pull around the corner off Josh Little, leading to Mir running back and failing to take over his shoulder. The fall to the ground, as he attempted to clasp it a second time, was comical.The second drop – Jamie Smith on 15 – was even worse, looping to him off a regulation edge after a smart cutter from Paul Walter. An error compounded by the fact Smith had carted Usama’s second and third deliveries for six. But Walter got his man with the very next delivery – caught long on. And when Mir trapped Dan Mousley lbw followed by Shadab Khan, his rival for Pakistan’s leggie allrounder spot, we knew whose day it was. Particularly given Mousley did not review his decision despite impact outside the line after the umpires had made an error in chalking off Phoenix’s review when Moeen’s unsuccessful one came back with an umpire’s call.That review was only reinstated with 25 balls to go, by which point this game was long gone with 75 runs still to get. The deficit would eventually be whittled down to 49 runs, with subdued glee from the Originals “faithful” as Phoenix were dismissed for 111. In a season primarily of rain and tight finishes, we have our second blowout.Ironically, it was one of Lancashire’s own, Liam Livingstone, who was likeliest to make this tighter than it was. It was at this corresponding fixture in the 2021 season – the first Hundred match at Emirates Old Trafford – that Livingstone was booed. This time around, the man who carried the inaugural season on his back managed just 27 off 25, before county team-mate Tom Hartley dismissed him caught-and-bowled. Those cheers carried a genuine sense of a dangerman snared, rather than a pantomime villain vanquished.Through surprise packages and familiar faces, something is brewing among the Originals. It might be that local fans are feeling this new competition. It might be that Manchester just likes its cricket. It might be that it wasn’t raining.The next fixture here is in 13 days (the derby with Northern Supercharges), immediately followed by another three days after versus Southern Brave – the last two fixtures of the group stage. By then, we will know whether Originals are in it to win. And maybe also if this local support is something real.

Stats – The many rescue acts of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah

The pair has aggregated 771 runs in 13 ODIs whenever Bangladesh lost four or more wickets with the score yet to touch three figures

Sampath Bandarupalli29-May-202199 and 74 – Bangladesh’s scores at the fall of the fourth wicket in the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka when Mahmudullah joined Mushfiqur Rahim at the crease. Partnerships of 109 and 87 between them put the hosts in a dominant position on an ever-slowing Dhaka track. The middle-order batters could not deliver for the third time in a row, on Friday, chasing 287.Only three times has the target of 240-plus been chased down at this venue across 20 attempts in the last seven years. However, Rahim and Mahmudullah finished among the top three contributors in the unsuccessful chase, continuing their pattern of holding the fort, and pushing Bangladesh to their maiden series win over Sri Lanka in any format.Rahim-Mahmudullah to the rescueESPNcricinfo LtdThe recent series was an example of what Rahim and Mahmudullah have got used to, as they paired up 13 times in ODI cricket whenever Bangladesh lost four or more wickets with the score yet to touch three figures. They have aggregated 771 runs in such situations, only behind the 915 runs by the Indian pair of MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina. But the Bangladesh pair has a superior average and the same number of fifty-plus stands despite having made five fewer appearances.The Dhoni-Raina pair is ahead of Rahim-Mahmudullah in the list of most partnership runs for the fifth and lower wicket in ODI history. Across 51 innings, the Bangladesh duo together added 1891 runs at 41.10 per dismissal. All four century stands between them in ODIs have been for the fifth wicket, the joint-second most by any pair in the format. The pressure they often deal with might not be evident from the partnership numbers as the average score at the entry point is only 149.4 and no more than one specialist batter to follow them.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe partnership in the series opener was the third time Rahim and Mahmudullah shared a century stand when Bangladesh were four down under 100. Only two other pairs have had as many century stands in these situations – Angelo Mathews with Lahiru Thirimanne of Sri Lanka and Rahim with Shakib Al Hasan.Rahim’s big impactIn all, Rahim has been part of eight 100-run stands in ODIs whenever his team lost four or more wickets inside 100 runs on the board, behind only Dhoni, who was part of 14 such partnerships. Batting at No. 4 post the 2015 World Cup, the Bangladesh wicketkeeper has aggregated 589 runs in 16 instances whenever Bangladesh lost two wickets inside 25 runs on the board. Rahim has the clear edge ahead in terms of runs in this list but has been a consistent feature at No. 4 only from 2017.ESPNcricinfo LtdDuring this period, he scored 2275 runs in ODIs at No.4, standing only behind New Zealand’s Ross Taylor (2755). Though the average in the mentioned situations reads only 36.8, Rahim got two of his eight ODI centuries, including his career-best 144 against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2018, after Bangladesh lost two wickets in the very first over. No player batting at No.4 scored more in an ODI innings, coming in when the team score is 1 for 2 or worse.The silent warriorMahmudullah often stays under the radar in a line-up comprising Iqbal, Shakib, Rahim and Mashrafe Mortaza. The first-ever centurion of Bangladesh in the World Cup has got used to rescuing the team from early collapses, ever since he settled to lower middle-order (in 2017). Since the start of 2017, Mahmudullah has walked out to bat with the team’s total has been 132.8 runs at an average, which drops down to 122.8 runs whenever he turns up at No. 6.Coming to bat with four or more wickets down inside 100, Mahmudullah has scored 553 runs across 14 outings in the past four years, averaging 50.3. He played a cricial role in Bangladesh’s road to the knockouts in the Champions Trophy 2017, when he put up a 224-run stand for the fifth wicket with Shakib. In pursuit of a 266-run target against New Zealand, the chasing team lost four wickets for 33 runs, only to be rescued by the twin tons.ESPNcricinfo LtdOnly one player has scored a century during a successful ODI chase batting at No. 6 or lower, coming in with the team total lower than 33 – Jos Buttler, 110* against Australia in 2018 at Manchester when England were 27 for four. The luxury of Rahim and Mahmudullah in the middle order has made Bangladesh a team to beat in their backyard, as they have the best win record in bilateral ODIs at home since World Cup 2015.

تشكيل ريال مدريد أمام سيلتا فيجو في الدوري الإسباني.. موقف فينيسيوس

أعلن نادي ريال مدريد تشكيل الفريق لمباراته أمام سيلتا فيجو، في بطولة الدوري الإسباني موسم 2025-2026، حيث يلتقي الفريقان مساء اليوم الأحد.

ويستقبل ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة الفريقين، حيث يحل سيلتا فيجو ضيفًا على ريال مدريد، في مباراة بالجولة السادسة عشر للدوري الإسباني “الليجا”.

ويدخل ريال مدريد المباراة وهو في المركز الثاني بجدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني، ويملك في رصيده 36 نقطة، ويتواجد سيلتا فيجو بالمركز الثالث عشر، ولديه 16 نقطة.

طالع موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة ريال مدريد وسيلتا فيجو اليوم في الدوري الإسباني.. والمعلق

وحقق برشلونة فوزًا أمام ريال بيتيس بالجولة ذاتها وتغلب على خصمه بنتيجة 5-3، ليرفع رصيده في صدارة ترتيب الليجا للنقطة 40. تشكيل ريال مدريد أمام سيلتا فيجو اليوم

حراسة المرمى: تيبو كورتوا.

خط الدفاع: فران جارسيا، ألفارو كاريراس، إيدير ميليتاو، راؤول أسينسيو.

خط الوسط: أردا جولر، تشواميني، فالفيردي.

خط وسط مهاجم: جود بيلينجهام.

خط الهجوم: كيليان مبابي، فينيسيوس جونيور.

البدلاء: لونين، سيرجيو ميستري، كامافينجا، إندريك، رودريجو، جونزالو، داني سيبايوس، إبراهيم دياز، أنطونيو روديجر، ماستانتونو، خوان مارتينيز.

Astros Receive Disappointing Yordan Alvarez Injury Update Ahead of Planned Return

While the Houston Astros hoped their slugger Yordan Alvarez was nearing a return after missing nearly the entire month of May, the team will unfortunately need to wait a bit longer.

According to a new report from ESPN and the , new imaging on Alvarez's right hand revealed a small fracture that was previously believed to be a muscle strain. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez felt some discomfort while hitting Friday, which led to the additional imaging and new diagnosis. Brown mentioned that the "very small fracture" is 60% healed.

The Astros' designated hitter isn't sure himself when he'll be able to return, needing additional rest now that the fracture was revealed.

"I wish I had a magic ball to tell you," Alvarez said through an interpreter when asked about his new return timing via Space Home City Network. "But the good news is that it's healing well. I need rest because the fact that I was keeping on doing swings, it was taking it further to heal."

Brown said he believes the fracture wasn't discovered initially because there was too much inflammation and fluid, which has since reduced, revealing the fracture. Brown said the muscle strain was real, but fighting through it in recent weeks may have caused a bit more damage.

Alvarez hasn't played since May 2 and is currently on the 10-day injured list. In 29 games this season, the three-time All-Star and 2019 AL Rookie of the Year is slashing .210/.306/.340 with three home runs and 18 RBIs.

Knee surgery rules R Ashwin out of BBL 2025-26

Sydney Thunder say they would be “working closely with R Ashwin on a revised schedule of activity”

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Nov-2025

R Ashwin expects to be able to spend time with the Sydney Thunder group during the BBL season•PTI

R Ashwin has been ruled out of his BBL debut season with Sydney Thunder after undergoing knee surgery.Ashwin said he was “gutted” to miss the opportunity, which would have made him the first capped India player to play in the BBL, while Thunder said they were “working closely with him on a revised schedule of activity” that could include appearances at games in a non-playing capacity.The offspinner released a letter on Instagram to Thunder fans explaining that he had hurt his knee while training in Chennai and had undergone a procedure, which meant he would be unavailable to play for them this BBL season, which runs from December 14 until January 25.Ashwin’s retirement from the IPL earlier this year made it possible for him to play in overseas leagues, but the deal with Thunder, who he had committed the entire BBL season to once he went unsold in the ILT20 auction, was the only one that had been confirmed.”I’m gutted to miss BBL|15,” Ashwin was quoted as saying in a Thunder statement. “My focus now is recovery and coming back stronger. I’m grateful to the Thunder family and the fans for the warmth they’ve already shown me. Trent [Copeland, Thunder general manager] and the entire management made me feel part of the club from our very first conversation.”If rehab and travel plans allow, I’d love to be around the group later in the season and meet the fans. Wishing both Thunder teams a big year.”

It is a huge blow to Thunder and Copeland, who had gone above and beyond to lure Ashwin to Sydney.”Everyone at Sydney Thunder was devastated to learn of Ash’s knee injury that has ruled him out of BBL|15, and we wish him well in his recovery,” Copeland said. “From the moment we first spoke with Ash, his commitment to Thunder was clear. We are hopeful of welcoming him into our dugout for part of BBL|15, introducing him to our fans at events and building a long-term relationship. While disappointing for the club, we have built two championship-contending squads and expect to continue the progress of recent seasons in WBBL|11 and BBL|15.”Ashwin’s absence is also a major blow to the BBL. Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg and head of the BBL Alistair Dobson had been in contact with Ashwin about playing in the BBL prior to him signing with Thunder.The anticipation of having a capped Indian player of Ashwin’s stature was enormous and there was particular excitement about him playing alongside David Warner at Thunder and bowling to a host of Australia’s stars including Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell, as well as a highly anticipated match-up with Pakistan’s Babar Azam who is set to play for Sydney Sixers after Pakistan’s national players were cleared to take part in the BBL.Thunder now have the opportunity to sign an injury replacement player but they are already well stocked in the spin department with Chris Green, Tanveer Sangha, Pakistan’s Shadab Khan and Tom Andrews already on the list.

الدوري الإنجليزي يعلن المرشحين لجائزة لاعب الجولة 12

أعلنت رابطة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز عن قائمة اللاعبين المرشحين لجائزة أفضل لاعب في إطار منافسات الجولة الثانية عشر من البطولة، لذلك الموسم 2025/26.

وشهدت الجولة الثانية عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي خسارة ليفربول أمام نوتينجهام فورست بثلاثة أهداف دون رد، بينما سقط مانشستر سيتي أمام نيوكاسل يونايتد بهدفين لهدف.

في حين فاز آرسنال على توتنهام بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف، وتعرض مانشستر يونايتد للهزيمة أمام إيفرتون بهدف دون رد.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي بعد فوز آرسنال على توتنهام

وحسبما نُشر، فإن 8 لاعبين يتنافسون على جائزة لاعب الجولة الثانية عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، حيث ضمت القائمة كل من: ألفونس أريولا لاعب بورنموث، إيبيريتشي إيزي لاعب آرسنال، جوردان بيكفورد حارس إيفرتون ومورجان روجرز لاعب أستون فيلا.

إلى جانب كل من: هارفي بارنز لاعب نيوكاسل يونايتد، موريلو لاعب نوتينجهام فورست، يريمي بينو لاعب كريستال بالاس وأندري سانتوس لاعب تشيلسي.

SL domestic player Saliya Saman banned for five years

He has been found guilty of breaching the Emirates Cricket Board anti-corruption code during the 2021 season of the Abu Dhabi T10

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2025Saliya Saman, the former Sri Lankan domestic cricketer, has been banned from all cricket for five years. An ICC anti-corruption tribunal found him guilty of breaching the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) anti-corruption code.Related

Nasir Hossain banned for two years

Bangladesh allrounder Nasir Hossain faces corruption charges

The ban is backdated to September 13, 2023, when Saman was provisionally suspended, as one of eight people – all associated with the Pune Devils franchise in the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 tournament – charged with breaching the code. Those eight included the Bangladesh allrounder Nasir Hossain, who in January 2024 was banned for two years after being found guilty of the three charges against him.The charges against Saman relate to three articles of the ECB’s anti-corruption code. 2.1.1 – Being party to an attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly matches or aspects of matches in the Abu Dhabi T10 2021. 2.1.3 – Offering a Reward to another Participant in exchange for that player engaging in Corrupt Conduct under the Code. 2.1.4 – Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.In its final order, the three-member tribunal – comprising Nigel Peters KC, Justice Zak Yacoob and chairman Harish Salve KC – held that Saman had sought to recruit a player for the Abu Dhabi T10, offering that the player “would play all the fixtures, in two of those he would agree to do something that is commonly understood as match fixing.”The 39-year-old Saman, an allrounder who has played 101 first-class matches, 77 List A games and 47 T20s, last played a recognised fixture during the SLC Twenty20 Tournament in March 2021.

"First class" manager who brings "fun factor" to training speaks about links to Man Utd

Eddie Howe has insisted he is “100 per cent” committed to Newcastle amid speculation over Ruben Amorim’s future at Manchester United.

The 47-year-old’s name has been mentioned as part of an ongoing debate surrounding Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford, as he was when the England job became available after Gareth Southgate’s exit.

Howe "100 per cent" devoted to Newcastle

However, asked about his commitment to the Magpies, Howe said: “My commitment here is I’m all in. I’m 100 per cent here, I always have been. My family are still here, we’re fighting every day to try to make a success of what we’re doing.

“The season ahead could be a wonderful thing and that’s really what I want to focus on, trying to make a success of the games we have coming up.”

Howe was appointed as Steve Bruce’s replacement in November 2021 a matter of weeks after Amanda Staveley’s consortium completed its buy-out at St James’ Park.

The former Bournemouth boss took over a team fighting a relegation battle, but kept them up in some comfort and, aided by significant investment from its Saudi-backed owners, have kicked on.

Magpies defender Fabian Schar spoke early on in Howe’s reign about what the former Bournemouth boss had brought to Tyneside.

Newcastle are playing in the Champions League for the second time in three seasons and, in March, ended their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy when Howe guided them to Carabao Cup final glory.

Max Dowman makes more Arsenal history as 15-year-old wonderkid starts Carabao Cup clash with Brighton

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.

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