Phillies Broadcast Pays Tribute to Fallen ‘P-0-0-P’ Scorebug for Games vs. Pirates

Friday night’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates represented the end of an era.

For years, the in-state rivalry game was lovingly known to some fans as the “P00P game,” because of the message the Phillies broadcast’s scorebug spelled out when the first pitch was thrown and the score was still 0-0.

While eventually a run would be scored and the scorebug would shift from its childishly comedic beginnings, there was always at least one pitch that was thrown while P-0-0-P shown proudly on the screen.

But this year, there is no P00P game, as the Phillies broadcast changed their scorebug heading into the new season. As soon as the change was announced in February, fans knew the end of an era was imminent.

On Friday, the Phillies broadcast put together a touching homage to the fallen scorebug, bringing tears to the eyes of baseball fans around the world.

“Before we continue with this telecast, we have to address what is on everybody’s minds and hearts,” said a somber Tom McCarthy as an orchestra swelled behind him. “July 29, 2022, our beloved scorebug first lit up the screens here with Phillies television. It was more than just a scoreboard—it was a legend, an unforgettable icon. Its name, once met with chuckles, quickly became synonymous with good times and fierce rivalries.”

Thank you for your service, P00P game. You will be missed.

Tottenham star could now leave in 2026 after failing to impress Frank’s staff

Tottenham are facing a difficult decision over the long-term future of a Spurs player who shone last season under Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs look to extend mini winning run against Nottingham Forest

The Lilywhites travel to the City Ground on Sunday afternoon aiming to extend their recent resurgence against Nottingham Forest in a crucial Premier League encounter.

Thomas Frank’s side have finally discovered momentum after enduring a torrid November without a single league victory.

Consecutive triumphs over Brentford and Slavia Prague have injected fresh confidence into the squad, with Tuesday’s emphatic 3-0 Champions League win particularly impressive, even if it was against weaker opposition.

The comprehensive victory over Prague featured goals from Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons, who both delivered from the spot to extend the club’s remarkable 23-match unbeaten home European run.

Tottenham handed pitiful Solanke injury update with new timeline shared

The Englishman hasn’t featured since Man City in August.

By
Emilio Galantini

4 days ago

Last Saturday’s 2-0 home win against Brentford represented arguably Tottenham’s finest all-round display of the campaign, barring their win at Man City in August, with Frank describing the performance as “very complete.”

Simons has emerged as a catalyst during this revival, chipping in with three goal involvements across his last two appearances.

The £51m summer signing from RB Leipzig finally appears to be justifying his substantial transfer fee, which could actually cost Spurs a whopping £125 million over a seven-year contract when factoring in wages, agent’s fees and add-ons.

Tottenham’s away form provides genuine encouragement heading into their clash with Forest.

Only Arsenal have defeated them on the road this season, and they’ve averaged the joint-most points per match on average away from home too, level with Crystal Palace.

Tottenham could also climb into the top six with a victory against Sean Dyche’s side, provided other results go their way.

Frank will likely select Kudus on the right and either Randal Kolo Muani or Wilson Odobert on the left, with Richarlison up top again.

Kudus is set to play another key role after being Tottenham’s standout attacker this season, making his £55 million price tag seem like a bargain whilst keeping Brennan Johnson glued to the bench recently.

Speaking of the Wales international, there’s actually been an intriguing update on his future this week.

Brennan Johnson could now leave Tottenham in 2026

According to TEAMtalk and journalist Dean Jones, Johnson’s long-term future at Tottenham is now uncertain after failing to fully convince Frank and his coaching staff.

The 24-year-old arrived from Forest in the summer of 2023 for £47.5 million, amassing over a century of appearances with 27 goals and 18 assists across all competitions.

Despite these numbers, and finishing last season as the club’s top scorer, Johnson isn’t an automatic starter in Frank’s plans.

With his contract running until 2028, next summer represents a crucial juncture for Tottenham. The club will need to decide whether to offer Johnson an extension or cash in while his value remains high, particularly as they plan to strengthen across the next two transfer windows.

As a result, Jones reports that Johnson could leave Spurs in 2026.

The forward actually began this current campaign brightly, scoring in his opening two Premier League games, but his form has stalled dramatically since, failing to register any additional goals or assists in the league.

This inconsistency has raised questions about his suitability for Frank’s system moving forward, despite playing a starring role under Postecoglou and scoring that Europa League final winner against Man United.

If Spurs do sign another winger, like RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, who they’ve reportedly held ‘very advanced talks’ with, Johnson’s place would be under even more threat.

Glenn Hoddle tips 'world-class' Tottenham star to snub new contract offer

He’s their ‘only’ elite player.

By
Emilio Galantini

5 days ago

Never rule Wrexham out! Ryan Reynolds left hugely relieved as Ollie Rathbone earns 2-2 draw against Watford with dramatic injury-time equaliser in thriller

Oliver Rathbone stole the limelight after coming on as a late substitute as Wrexham held Watford to an exciting 2-2 draw at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday. The Red Dragons scored but they soon gave up on the lead as Watford went ahead just before the break. Phil Parkinson's decision to put Rathbone on the pitch late in the game, however, proved to be a masterclass as his team walked away with a point.

  • Wrexham show grit in Watford draw

    Wrexham started the match on a positive note and looked motivated to get back to winning ways after their seven-match unbeaten streak ended against Hull City earlier this week. The hosts also drew motivation from the presence of their Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, as the actor duo were present at the Racecourse Stadium to cheer for their team.

    The Welsh outfit broke the deadlock in the 21st minute as Josh Windass followed a long ball down the middle from Matty James. The forward fired past goalkeeper Egil Selvik with a clinical finish to hand his side the all-important opening goal. 

    The Red Dragons looked positive in their intent following the opener but suffered a setback around the half-hour mark when, against the run of play, Mamadou Doumbia equalised for Watford. The 19-year-old Mali international's shot from the edge of the box got deflected off Max Cleworth before lobbing over Arthur Okonkwo.

    Three minutes before half-time, Watford went ahead and took the lead as Othmane Maamma stepped up and converted his effort. Phil Parkinson's side had the opportunity to restore parity towards the end of the first half, but one of their chances came off the post, while Lewis O'Brien's strike from close range went wide.

    The Red Dragons looked underwhelming in their approach to equalise throughout the second half as Parkinson made a few changes after the break to inject fresh legs. Making the substitutions, however, proved to be a masterstroke, particularly Oliver Rathbone's introduction. The English midfielder was brought on the pitch in injury time, and within a minute, Rathbone scored the equaliser from outside the box to seal a point for his side. 

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    The MVP

    Rathbone was the star of the show for the hosts as his cameo appearance earned Wrexham a crucial point against Watford. The Englishman was introduced in the 90th minute but he made the most of the opportunity he got by scoring a brilliant late equaliser. 

  • The big loser

    Watford defenders did well throughout the second half to keep a firm check on the Wrexham attack and hardly allowed the opponent to threaten them inside their box. However, the backline failed to keep up the level of concentration as Rathbone scored the late equaliser and robbed them of an opportunity to pick up all three points.

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    Match rating (out of five): ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fact or Fiction: The Mets Have Reason to Worry

The NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final are in the books and summer is officially here, which means baseball takes center stage for a few months until the start of the NFL season in the fall. 

Over the last couple of weeks alone, we’ve seen a stunning blockbuster trade, a switch-hitting catcher make history and several divisional races heat up as the temperatures have done the same. 

After sweeping the New York Mets and winning a series against the MLB-best 49–30 Detroit Tigers, are the Tampa Bay Rays a legitimate contender? Did the Boston Red Sox make a mistake by trading away Rafael Devers? We’ll answer those questions and more below.

The Mets have reason to worry

Verdict: Fact

Cue the theme. The Mets were riding high on that fateful day entering play against the Rays on June 13, boasting the best record in the National League and a 4 ½ game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. Since that point, the Mets have played nightmarish baseball and won just one of their last 10 games. Making matters worse, the Phillies overtook them for the NL East lead after taking two of three from the not-so-Amazins’ during a June 20–22 series at Citizens Bank Park. 

Let’s be clear here. It’s a long season, and the Mets are still 13 games above .500 and firmly in the mix for the division title; at worst a wild-card spot. There’s no need to panic. But worry? There are several reasons to worry. 

During the Mets’ losing skid, only one team, the Texas Rangers, has scored fewer runs than New York. The Mets lineup, which features $765 million man Juan Soto, slugger Pete Alonso and star shortstop Francisco Lindor, has been shut out twice and has scored two runs or fewer four times in those 10 games. 

The most concerning part for the Mets? The trio of Lindor-Soto-Alonso has mostly been highly productive in June. The rest of the batting order? Not so much. Catcher Francisco Alvarez, once the top prospect in the majors, has scuffled to a career-worst .652 OPS and on Sunday was optioned to Triple A to work through his struggles. Alvarez is far from the only underachiever, with others like Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña and Tyrone Taylor also bringing down the offense. Simply put, if Lindor, Soto, Alonso or Brandon Nimmo aren’t hitting, the Mets are probably in trouble. 

And it’s not just the lineup. The previously stout pitching staff has yielded the second-most runs in MLB since June 13 while Mets starters have pitched the seventh-fewest innings during that span, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to lean more and more on an increasingly taxed bullpen. As you can see, it’s been a perfect storm for the Mets during this less-than-stellar stretch.

Plus, the injury bug has landed in Queens. Ace Kodai Senga, outfielder Jesse Winker and starting pitchers Tylor Megill and Sean Manaea are all either sidelined or working their way back from injuries. 

In their division, the Mets have to contend with the playoff-tested Phillies and the resurgent Braves. New York is too talented to continue playing like this. But it would be a lie to say that this wasn’t a worrying stretch. 

Rebuild, resurrect, recalibrate – Mehidy has an unenviable task as ODI captain

With Bangladesh languishing near the bottom of the ODI rankings, Mehidy Hasan Miraz has his task cut out as they eye direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup

Mohammad Isam01-Jul-2025

Keep the team united

Mehidy has the unenviable task of uniting the Bangladesh team at a time of great upheaval – not something that’s new to Bangladesh captains.Related

  • Khettarama bites back as Bangladesh unravel in magnificent fashion

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  • Settled SL meet a Bangladesh in transition for ODI series opener

  • Mehidy appointed Bangladesh's ODI captain

  • Shanto steps down as Bangladesh Test captain

Najmul Hossain Shanto was sacked as ODI captain in Mehidy’s favour, and has also resigned as the Test captain. He said the decision to step down as Test captain wasn’t “personal”, but also said he wasn’t sure “three captains in three formats” would be ideal. Shanto might be hurting, even if he hasn’t said it. He had ambitions with both the Test and ODI teams but now will be expected to adjust under a different captain in ODIs.Mehidy might have to remove all the eggshells strewn around the dressing room before figuring out a way to take the ODI team in his desired direction.

Decide his own batting position

Where Mehidy chooses to bat in the ODI series against Sri Lanka will give an early glimpse into his mindset as captain. While a permanent fixture in the ODI side, he has been a floater in the batting line-up, even though he has learnt to pace his innings better whatever the position. He must now choose his batting position, or at least a role, to give the rest of the team a sense of stability.Tanzid Hasan and who? Eyes will be on the opening pair•AFP/Getty Images

Who will open with Tanzid?

Tanzid Hasan is one of Bangladesh’s incumbent openers. But with Litton Das and Mohammad Naim back, there are questions around the second opener’s spot.Soumya Sarkar has been left out to work on his fitness, while Parvez Hossain Emon, part of the ODI squad, is still work in progress in this format.Litton had been going through a lean patch before he was dropped for the Champions Trophy – he only has six runs in his last five innings. But his experience and seniority may give him the edge over Naim and Emon. Litton’s keeping will also allow for a bit more balance in the line-up.Shanto, meanwhile, is likely to return to his No. 3 role, despite opening in Bangladesh’s last ODI and scoring 77.

Rebuild the engine room

Bangladesh’s biggest challenge would be to rebuild their middle order. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah are retired, Shakib Al Hasan had planned Champions Trophy 2025 to be his international swansong, but his political connections have meant that his future remains uncertain. Bangladesh have a void in their middle order, one that is worth about 760 ODIs in experience. But there is promise.Towhid Hridoy has played 35 ODIs, while Mehidy has made improvements to his white-ball batting. Jaker Ali has impressed in all three formats, but has played only seven ODIs. Shamim Hossain, a T20 basher, is the middle-order back-up. This is where Bangladesh perhaps could have looked towards Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan or Mosaddek Hossain.Previous head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe lost patience with Afif but the left-hand batter remains a young and viable option. Nurul and Mosaddek have international experience plus List A numbers to back that up. Even the uncapped Irfan Sukkur has racked up impressive runs in the middle-order in the Dhaka Premier League in the last three years.

Get the spin attack to fire

Bangladesh have had a massive dip in their spin attack since Shakib’s last ODI in November 2023. They have averaged 65.69 in 15 matches and have taken just 23 wickets. Mehidy has taken nine wickets at 71.44, while Rishad Hossain and Nasum Ahmed haven’t stepped up from time to time. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam is still uncapped in ODIs. He had a difficult time in the T20Is against UAE in May, picking up just two wickets in two appearances at an economy of 8.37.Bangladesh spinners’ form in ODIs has mirrored that of Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s in recent time•BCBThe bad news for Bangladesh is that they are playing Sri Lanka, who have had the most successful spin attack at home since November 2023.

Recognise ODI specialists among fast bowlers

With spin being work in progress, Mehidy will have to rely more on his pace attack. The return of Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman is a boost, while Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana and Tanzim Hasan have impressed in red- and white-ball cricket.Mehidy has to quickly recognise his ODI specialists, especially with a World Cup in two years. Taskin and Mustafizur are big names but how Mehidy uses Rana and Tanzim will be crucial.

Move up the ODI rankings

Bangladesh could gain a spot in the ODI rankings if they beat Sri Lanka. Mehidy has his task cut out with Bangladesh eyeing direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup. They are in danger of not making the cut-off.Mehidy also has to live up to Bangladesh’s expectations from their ODI captain. This is Bangladesh’s best format. The last captain to have a healthy win-rate was Tamim Iqbal. Shakib and Shanto couldn’t quite carry that forward. Mehidy comes in as captain at a very critical time. He is fighting time, while keeping a close eye on the rankings table.

Yankees Player’s Dad Seen Angrily Cursing at Mets Fan at Citi Field

The New York Yankees were able to end their six-game skid with a 6-4 win over the New York Mets on Sunday and while the team should be feeling some good vibes after finally winning a game, the dad of one of their players might still be angry over a heated moment he had in the stands at Citi Field.

Anthony Volpe's father seemed to get into it with a Mets fan during the game, as a video caught him yelling a bunch of bad words at him while being held back from possibly escalating it even further.

While "God Bless America" started playing in the seventh inning, Volpe's dad could be heard yelling: "Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go! F— you. F— you. F— you. You scumbag."

The Mets fan tried to come things down by saying: "Your son is the best. Your son’s the best. The best," before joining in the singing of "God Bless America."

Here's that moment:

Volpe went 0-for-4 in the win but he did score a run and had an RBI.

Man Utd now eyeing record-breaking Lammens upgrade who's "good with his feet"

Manchester United are now targeting a record-breaking goalkeeper who’s “good with his feet”, and there are signs he could rival Senne Lammens for a starting spot.

Man Utd looking to sign new goalkeeper to rival Lammens

After arriving from Club Brugge at the end of the summer transfer window, Lammens’ introduction to the Man United starting XI has been gradual, with the Belgian making his first start in the 2-0 victory over Sunderland prior to the international break.

Having kept a clean sheet in his opening game, the 23-year-old is off to a solid start, making two saves from inside the box to keep Sunderland at bay, which resulted in a 7.8 SofaScore match rating, the highest of any player.

The Stretford End were clearly left impressed by their new goalkeeper’s performance, chating ‘Are you Schmeichel in disguise’, but it is still very early days, with a difficult trip to Anfield to come on Sunday.

Having struggled to find a suitable no.1 since the departure of David de Gea, Ruben Amorim will be hoping Lammens is the long-term solution between the sticks, but The Red Devils have now joined the race for another goalkeeper.

That is according to a report from The Boot Room, which reveals SC Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu has emerged as a genuine target for Man United, having watched him in action multiple times already this season.

Graeme Bailey adds that United want to bring in a new goalkeeper regardless of how Lammens performs, with the journalist also hinting that a deal for Atubolu could be possible.

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The Red Devils are very keen on bringing in a new midfielder.

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Bailey said: “United are doing their due diligence on goalkeepers, even if [Senne] Lammens comes in and does well, they still want and need another, as [Andre] Onana and [Altay] Bayindir won’t be hanging around in the long-term.

“They are well-versed on options, but I am told that Atubolu is one who has impressed United’s scouts this season. He is emerging as one of the very best in the Bundesliga, and Freiburg are expecting to sell in 2026.”

Record-breaking Atubolo could be instant Lammens upgrade

Lammens is off to a fantastic start at Old Trafford, but there are signs the Freiburg shot-stopper could be an instant upgrade, having already proven himself at a higher level than the former Club Brugge man.

In the 2024-25 season, the 23-year-old broke a Freiburg club record by going 576 minutes without conceding a goal, and he has since gone on to break a Bundesliga record by saving five penalties on the spin.

Not only has the German goalkeeper established himself as a top Bundesliga goalkeeper, but he is also better with his feet than Lammens, placing in the top 1% for touches per 90 over the past year.

Statistic

Noah Atubolu

Senne Lammens

Save % (penalty kicks)

100%

75%

Clean sheet %

34.5%

12.5%

Touches per game

47.99

42.58

Freiburg manager Julian Schuster has praised Atubolu in the past too, saying: “He has good reflexes. He makes good saves and is also good with his feet. We’re very happy to have him.”

It is always difficult to keep two goalkeepers happy, so it would be a risk to sign the Freiburg star, but there are clear signs he could challenge Lammens for a starting spot.

Cubs Reliever Accomplished Extremely Rare MLB Feat in Win vs. Reds

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge accomplished a feat rarely seen in baseball history. In Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds, he struck out three straight batters in just nine pitches for an incredibly rare immaculate inning.

It was Kittredge's only inning of the game, and he was sure to make quick work of it. He got each punch out on nasty sliders that ended up getting the Reds' bats to chase and sent his squad back to the dugout in short order.

Miami Marlins starter Cal Quantrill tossed an immaculate inning earlier this season, which is mathematically even more rare than throwing a perfect game. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto came close this season too, but was robbed of the feat on a very iffy call.

Cubs catcher Carson Kelly admitted he didn't even realize the immaculate inning was in play until the last pitch.

"I was like wow, he went sinker, sinker, slider, sinker, sinker, slider, sinker, sinker, slider," Kelly said postgame with a smirk, via Marquee Sports Network. "It was pretty cool to be a part of that and I think we kept the ball so, I don't know what he's going to do with it but all-in-all, pretty special."

Kittredge was acquired by the Cubs at last week's trade deadline and was booed Tuesday after he let up four runs in less than an inning against the Reds. He took that personally, and gave the fans at Wrigley Field something immaculate to cheer for the next day.

Mariano Rivera Hit a Base Knock Off Andy Pettitte at Yankees Old-Timers' Day

Mariano Rivera made the most of an opportunity to pick up the lumber Saturday at Yankees Old-Timers' Day.

New York's traditional alumni game commemorated the 25th anniversary of their 2000 World Series team which included Yankee legends like Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada. The game, which normally spans two or three innings, gave the Hall of Fame closer a chance to step up to the plate as Pettitte was on the hill.

Rivera was locked in and laced a ground ball through the infield and into left for a single. The base hit moved Posada to second and put a big smile on Rivera's face as he rounded first base and laughed with Pettitte while getting some praise from Johnny Damon.

Not too shabby from Major League Baseball's all-time leader in saves:

Rivera didn't record a hit over his illustrious 19-year career that included 13 All-Star appearances and five World Series titles. He only had four plate appearances and three at-bats, though. There's no reason for a closer—especially one in the American League while Rivera played—to take at-bats. Maybe he should've gotten a chance here and there at the dish, though.

His hard-hit ball on Pettitte is a base hit in any league.

Has Chris Gayle scored the most runs in T20 World Cups?

Also: has anyone taken more wickets than Clarie Grimmet’s 44 in their last Test series?

Steven Lynch16-Jun-2020 Is the New Zealand Test player Richard Jones unique in that he took a wicket with the only ball he ever bowled in first-class cricket? And is his fellow Kiwi Andrew Ellis also unique in that he scored a hundred with the bat and conceded a hundred with the ball in the same one-day game?

I think that’s two questions, but the first one is – thanks to TMS‘ Andrew Samson, a nice quick one: apart from the New Zealand one-Test wonder Richard Jones, who did it for Wellington against Northern Districts in Wellington in 2000-01, there are two others who have taken a wicket with their only delivery in first-class cricket. Jones was preceded by Basheshar Khanna, for the Punjab Governor’s XII against Northern India in Lahore in 1927-28, and Manohar Agasti, for Vidarbha against Railways in Yavatmal in 1985-86. Adam Gilchrist took the wicket of Harbhajan Singh with the only ball he ever bowled in T20 cricket, to round off his final IPL game, for Kings XI Punjab against Mumbai Indians in Dharamsala in May 2013.As for part two, I don’t actually think anyone has ever completed this particular double. But Andrew Ellis, who played 20 white-ball internationals for New Zealand, probably came closest, as he followed 2 for 97 with 101 for Canterbury against Central Districts in the Ford Trophy final in New Plymouth in 2015-16. In the previous season’s competition, Ellis took 5 for 97 (but only scored 18), also against CD at Pukekura Park.Who has scored the most runs in the T20 World Cup? Is it Chris Gayle? asked Hayden Wainwright from Jamaica

Chris Gayle is actually second on this particular list: he has scored 920 runs in T20 World Cups, including two of its eight centuries (no one else has more than one). But there’s one player with more runs than him, the only man in four figures: Mahela Jayawardene made 1016 runs at the T20 showpiece. His fellow Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan lies third, with 897, but lurking in fourth place is the man likely to top the lot of them: Virat Kohli currently has 777 runs.It should be noted that there are also some high scorers in the women’s T20 World Cup, most of them still playing: New Zealand’s Suzie Bates currently leads the way with 929 runs.Kepler Wessels played for Australia and South Africa – did anyone dismiss him while he was playing for both countries? asked Amer Rashid from England

Kepler Wessels played 24 Tests for Australia between 1982-83 and 1985-86, then 16 more for his native South Africa between 1992-93 and 1994. The only bowler to dismiss him for both countries in Tests was Courtney Walsh, who had Wessels caught by Larry Gomes for 61 in Brisbane in 1984-85, then had him caught by Brian Lara for 74 in Bridgetown in 1991-92, a dismissal that set off South Africa’s collapse when in sight of victory in their comeback Test.Wessels also played 54 ODIs for Australia and 55 for South Africa (and was not out for a duck in any of them). Ian Botham, Malcolm Marshall and Wasim Akram all dismissed him for both countries.Sydney Barnes took 54 wickets in his last five Tests, 88 in his last ten•PA PhotosI noticed that Clarrie Grimmett took 44 wickets in what turned out to be his last Test series. Has anyone else done better than that? asked Calvin Browne from Australia

The Australian legspinner Clarrie Grimmett did indeed take 44 wickets at an average of 14.59 in what turned out to be his final Test series, in South Africa in 1935-36. Although he was 44 years old when he took those wickets, his omission from the 1936-37 and 1938 Ashes series was a cause of controversy for many Australians, especially his long-time spinning partner and friend Bill O’Reilly.But there is one man who ended his career on an even higher note: the great English bowler Sydney Barnes took 54 wickets in his last five Tests, including 49 at 10.93 in four games in South Africa in 1913-14. In his last ten Test matches, Barnes scythed down 88 wickets at 10.68; Grimmett took 69, one behind the England slow left-armer Colin BlytheRegarding the recent question about the biggest differences between batting averages home and away, who leads the way in reverse – with a Test batting average that’s better away than at home? asked George Roberts from Scotland

The leader here, given a minimum of 20 innings both home and away, is England’s Chris Broad: helped by a superb Ashes series in Australia in 1986-87, he averaged 57.44 away from home, but only 26.13 in England, a difference of 31.31. In second place – or on top if you insist on 1000 runs home and away – is the West Indian Darren Bravo, with 50.40 away and 26.78 in the Caribbean, a difference of 23.62; seven of his eight Test centuries have come away from home. Others with a difference of more than 20 in favour of away Tests are Sidath Wettimuny of Sri Lanka (21.76), England’s Jim Parks (21.51), and the Indian pair of Mohinder Amarnath (21.42; only two of his 11 Test centuries came in India) and Sandeep Patil (20.43).Use our
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