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Irrespective of what happens in the FA Cup final on Saturday, it has been an incredibly disappointing season for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola.

The Cityzens are currently scrapping it out to secure a place in the top five to land Champions League football for next season, whilst they have already missed out on the Premier League title.

They were also knocked out of the Champions League in the play-off round and lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the League Cup, which illustrates how disappointing this campaign has been for the club.

Despite having Erling Haaland back in the side, City’s struggles continued against already-relegated Southampton, who had 11 points heading into the game, last weekend in a 0-0 draw.

Manchester City did not create a single ‘big chance’ in the game, and one area in which they could look to improve their creativity is in the full-back positions, because Rico Lewis did not create any chances in 76 minutes on the pitch at right-back.

Why Manchester City should replace Rico Lewis

The Cityzens academy graduate is tidy and reliable in possession, having completed 91% of his attempted passes in the Premier League this season, but he does not offer much of a threat at the top end of the pitch.

Guardiola cannot look to Lewis to create something out of nothing by bombing down the flank to put a great delivery in, or to come in at the back post to score a goal to change or win a game.

The 20-year-old defender has gone 28 matches without creating a ‘big chance’ in the Premier League this season, which shows that he is not a player who can make a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

Lewis has also scored one goal and missed two ‘big chances’ in those 28 outings in the top-flight, which shows that he does not offer much of a goalscoring threat either.

As you can see in the table above, the England international does not excel when it comes to making things happen in the final third, as he rarely scores, creates, or dribbles from a right or left-back position for the Cityzens.

That is why Manchester City should look to replace him as a regular starter in the upcoming summer transfer window, which is what they may be doing with their reported interest in a defender from Italy.

Manchester City closing in on Serie A defender

According to reports in France, Manchester City are eyeing up a deal to sign Nicolo Savona from Italian giants Juventus ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The reporter claims that the Premier League giants have verbally agreed personal terms with the 22-year-old full-back, as they look to bolster their options at the back this summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Aouna adds that contract terms have already been discussed between the club and the player, with personal terms now agreed, and that Savona is keen on a move to The Etihad.

However, the journalist does not reveal how much Juventus are set to demand for the defender, or how much City are willing to pay for him to get a deal over the line in the coming weeks or months.

He does state, though, that Flamengo defender Wesley Franca and Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento, formerly of Chelsea, are also options to come in at right-back for City in the summer transfer window.

This suggests that Savona is just one of a number of targets and that there is no guarantee that they decide to go with him over the others, despite seemingly closing in on a deal to sign the right-back after agreeing personal terms with him.

Why Manchester City should sign Nicolo Savona

The Italian dynamo could be an excellent addition to the squad if they do decide to go ahead with a swoop for his services, though, because he could be a big upgrade on Rico Lewis.

Firstly, Savona has the technical quality and reliability with the ball at his feet to suit playing in a Guardiola team, hence why they are eyeing him up as a target. This is evidenced by his pass completion rate of 91% in the Serie A for Juventus this season.

The 22-year-old star, who can play as a centre-back in a back three or as a right-back or right wing-back in a four or three-back system, rarely gives the ball away with his passes, which is why he could suit a ball-dominant Manchester City side.

However, Savona provides more quality as an attacking threat than Lewis, who is also technically proficient and reliable with the ball, currently does at right-back for Manchester City.

As you can see in the table above, the Juventus defender has been more effective as a goalscorer, a creator, and a dribbler at league level this season, despite taking 11 fewer touches per game, in comparison to the English full-back.

These statistics suggest that Savona, dubbed an “interesting” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, could improve his output even further as part of a Manchester City team that would allow him to take more touches of the ball, giving him more opportunities to move into the final third to provide quality as a scorer and a creator of goals.

Savona, who stepped into an advanced position to score against Udinese in the clip above, also provided six assists in 41 games for Juventus at U19 level and five assists in 61 matches for their Next Gen side.

Therefore, his form for the Old Lady at youth and senior level suggests that the potential is there for him to arrive at The Etihad as an upgrade on Rico Lewis, who has not offered enough quality on the ball in the Premier League this season.

Pep Guardiola now pushing for Man City to sign Dani Alves-esque 21 y/o

He could be an ideal replacement for a club legend.

By
Henry Jackson

May 12, 2025

It is now down to the club to strike a deal with Juventus to bring the Italian talent to England this summer, having already agreed personal terms with the exciting youngster.

The battle at both ends of the Championship is going down to the wire this season, but there may also be a transfer tussle involving three clubs currently fighting it out in England’s second-tier.

Championship run-in heats up as Blackburn thrash Millwall

Only three matches now remain for most teams in the Championship and there is a high level of jeapordy surrounding both the race for promotion and the battle to avoid the drop. Leeds United and Burnley look likely to enter the Premier League automatically, but there is an intriguing battle for the playoff slots.

Emerging as a surprise late contender, Millwall have put together a decent run of results under Alex Neil and still have a shot at entering the picture for top-flight football, but those hopes were damaged badly by a 4-1 defeat at Ewood Park on Friday.

Neil is a specialist in this type of environment, as exemplified at Sunderland and Norwich City in previous years, though there is an acknowledgement that the Lions will now need to be flawless to stand any real chance.

Looking ahead to the summer, Millwall could strengthen their defence by signing Charlton Athletic’s Thierry Small on a free transfer once his contract at the Valley comes to an end.

Millwall leading race to sign "excellent" winger to finally replace Esse

He’s enjoyed an impressive season…

By
Tom Cunningham

Mar 27, 2025

Preston North End are also in hot pursuit of the versatile star, signifying that a number of transfer battles could be about to take place between Championship clubs looking to beef up their pool of talent.

Continuing this theme, Millwall could now face competition from Friday’s victors Blackburn to sign a star who is actually on the books of one of their London rivals, per recent developments.

Millwall and Blackburn fight to sign Morgan Fox from QPR

According to EFL Analysis, Millwall and Blackburn both want to sign Morgan Fox from Queens Park Rangers as the veteran edges closer to leaving his current employers on a free transfer.

Out of contract this summer, the versatile 31-year-old has been offered extended terms at Loftus Road, but it remains to be seen if he signs on amid further interest from Hull City.

Primarily a central defender, Fox is also capable of playing at left-back and has registered a solitary goal in 23 appearances this season across all competitions.

He has previously been labelled a “warrior” by Gareth Ainsworth, giving an insight into his valiant skillbase. With the end of this term on the horizon, you get the impression Fox will take his time before making a decision on where to commit his future.

Millwall earning promotion could be a decisive factor in potential negotiations, and for now, the quartet of clubs involved will focus on their respective duties until the off-season arrives, which could pave the way for plenty of movement in either direction regarding key assets.

Tough love, a strong identity and an authentically Pakistani way to play – these are the things on the agenda for Pakistan’s new red-ball coach

Danyal Rasool25-Jul-2024″In Pakistan cricket,” Jason Gillespie, the side’s new Test coach, begins, weighing his words carefully even though what he’s about to say is undeniable, “I know there’s been a lot of change in all facets. Gary [Kirsten, Pakistan’s new white-ball coach] and I both get that. We’ve had some really good conversations and good discussions with the PCB about how we can put structures and systems in place so that while we’re moving in the right direction short term, in the medium and long term, Pakistan cricket is going to be healthier.”Gillespie could scarcely have described the last few years in Pakistan cricket more pithily. Since December 2022, the PCB has had five chairmen. In that period, Saqlain Mushtaq, Grant Bradburn, Mickey Arthur, Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Mahmood all served as either team director or head coach. Batting and bowling coaches came and went, and half a dozen chief selectors picked at least one squad each.The results in Test cricket have taken the sharpest nose dive; since the start of 2022, Pakistan have won just three and lost eight of 15, with all three wins coming against Sri Lanka. They have not won a home Test in more than three years.Related

• Pakistan set to play all-pace attack in a home Test for the second time in 28 years

• Masood, Gillespie want more Test cricket for Pakistan

• Waqar Younis set to sign on for key role at PCB

• Gillespie appointed Pakistan men's Test coach, Kirsten named white-ball coach

• Jason Gillespie's philosophy for Pakistan: 'Don't try to be something that you're not'

“You want to get systems in place,” Gillespie says. “To get the right players, you need the right people around the organisation, and you need the pathway. That’s when you’re moving forward. It’s very easy when you’re coming into jobs; you’ve got a two-year contract or a one-year contract. You make short-term decisions to look after your own back. But that doesn’t help anyone, because if everyone has that approach, nothing long-term gets done.”Pakistan fans might be excused for sighing wearily at this point. That is no fault of Gillespie’s, of course, but various chairmen and coaches have attempted, with varying degrees of success, to make positive changes to the national team and its infrastructure. Under Ehsan Mani, Pakistan adopted a domestic first-class structure that did away with bloated departmental teams; those sides are now back and Mani is long gone. During Mickey Arthur’s first stint as head coach, he and Steve Rixon successfully transformed Pakistan’s fielding and fitness standards, but the days of Pakistan having suddenly emerged as an elite fielding unit now almost seem illusory.

****

Gillespie is on his way to the National Stadium, in a bulletproof van flanked by an armed police escort, charging through Karachi’s bustling evening traffic. Pakistan Shaheens are to be put through their paces for four days at a training camp in preparation for their (currently ongoing) tour of Darwin, Australia, where they play a pair of practice games against a Bangladesh A side ahead of the Bangladesh senior squad’s visit to Pakistan for two Test matches in August.Gillespie sat contemplatively in the back of the vehicle. He may not have been surprised at the security; he’d been told by fellow Australians who previously worked in Pakistan cricket that he’d be extremely well looked after.His job here is rather different from the ones he quit a year early to accept: a nine-year stint with Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, and four years with the state team, South Australia. That state’s population is over ten times smaller than the city whose roads he now speeds along, the scale and nature of media attention in a single-sport country like Pakistan rendering the two roles barely comparable.6:12

‘I’d ask the players how they want to be seen in the cricket world’

“It was a pretty simple decision in the end,” Gillespie says. We meet at the Marriott, where he is staying. He only got back to Karachi from Lahore in the small hours of the morning, after an unscheduled emergency meeting with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi necessitated a last-minute hop over to Lahore. Having taken the flight over from Lahore myself the previous day, I note we could have met in Lahore after all. He appreciates making the effort to conduct the interview in person. “It’s so much better than Zoom,” he says.His family was excited when he was offered the role – his kids were “just in wonder”, he says. His 18-year-old son Jackson, a 6’6″ fast bowler for the South Australia Under-19 side and a “mad cricketer”, thought it was brilliant. There was a more measured conversation with his wife and the rest of his family, who are back in Australia. Though Gillespie won’t be in Pakistan full time, the busy upcoming schedule means he will be away from home for long stretches. But his heart was set on this assignment.”Pakistan is an exciting cricket team and has a passionate fan base,” he says. “And this is an opportunity to be involved in international cricket and work with the best players. Having not been on the international circuit for a while since I finished playing, it’s going to be a new experience and a new challenge, which I’m really excited about.”It wasn’t as straightforward a decision for Pakistan, though. Having agonised and deliberated over coaching appointments, they sounded out Shane Watson and Daren Sammy, among others, before finally agreeing terms with Gillespie and Kirsten. This is the first time Pakistan have trialled split-format coaching.Gillespie has never coached an international side full-time before. He’s from the right country, of course – Pakistan’s predilection for Australians in leadership positions is legendary by now. And he has only ever spent extended periods of time with a side – he has never served as a full-time coach of a team for fewer than two seasons; that appears to have shaped his views on how coaching success is defined.According to Gillespie, while infrastructure and coaching diktats are reversible, identity cannot so easily be dispensed with. He suggests England’s mentality shift in white-ball cricket in 2015, and eventually Test cricket with the arrival of Brendon McCullum, are not as dependent on individual talents, and therefore stand a chance of surviving long after their original architects have moved on. While he might in part have the job because Pakistan long for that fabled Australian winning mentality, he wants to find out how to play a style of cricket that is “authentic to Pakistan”.”I’m happy to admit I don’t have the answer to what that is,” he says. “I just got here. I want to engage the players and the coaches around and get as much information as I can. We see other countries around the world and it’s very clear how they want to go about their play. Whether they’re successful or not, at least you know their identity exists.”If being honest is telling a player something they might not want to hear, well, then I’m willing to do that”•AFP via Getty Images”So that’s what I want us to ask – how do you want to play and how does it fit in with our squad and our team – and go from there. Then, if you have buy-in from all the players and if players and coaches and the PCB are on the same page and moving together as one, surely that will give us more chance of having progression and success.”I want both the Pakistan public and the media to be able to watch us play and go, ‘Yes, this is the style of cricket Pakistan are playing.'”The simple example is England. No one’s left in any doubt how England will play. Everyone’s pretty clear how Australia go about their work. That’s all I’m looking for from our team. I think it’s really important that, as a coach, I don’t just come in and say, ‘This is how we are going to play.’ It’s got to come from the players. My role is to support that and how I can help us go about that in the best and most effective way.”Famously his own man in what was viewed as a fiercely tribal Australian team, Gillespie makes no secret of his wish to prioritise identity and style over context-free win-loss records as a catch-all measure for success.He cultivates a wide range of interests that extend beyond the game of cricket, and – as a practising vegan – could just as easily have a nuanced discussion on the ethics of industrial meat and dairy consumption as on the intricacies of what makes a Dukes cricket ball move sideways. It’s a outlook that has marked the course of his coaching career.Gillespie’s stint with Yorkshire remains his biggest success, when he took over a second-division side and coached them to two successive first-division titles, in 2014 and 2015. He was, at the time, a leading candidate for the England head coach job. But even in times of relative famine, like in his recent stint with South Australia – he termed it his “dream job” – where the side finished in the bottom half during each of his four seasons in charge, he feels comfortable he left the team “in a much better place” than he found it.Gillespie coached Yorkshire to two successive County Championship trophies, and was instrumental in their promotion to Division One•Sarah Ansell/Getty ImagesHe takes particular pride in having helped groom elite players for the Australian national side – Travis Head, Alex Carey and Jake Fraser-McGurk were all nurtured at South Australia and have seen their international fortunes soar over the past four years.”We played some really good cricket [at South Australia],” Gillespie says. “Last year we played ten first-class games and had nine results. More results didn’t go our way [three wins, six losses], but if you actually looked at the games, there were some very close contests. There were games within a couple of wickets or a couple of runs. The numbers could have been the exact opposite; it was just those key moments in games. The positives were that we were playing result [oriented] cricket.”While there was disappointment in one sense, there was a lot of pride because we got opportunities at the highest level for some players. I’m not sure you can judge a domestic coach on just the win-losses.”Gillespie feels confident the PCB chairman and the board share his and Kirsten’s vision for the team, and there are already signs of a shift in tone and substance. When told Shaheen Shah Afridi was slated to play the Global T20 in Canada just days before the two-Test match series in Bangladesh started, his response was suggestive: “Is he? Are you sure about that?”A few days later it was announced the PCB had decided against issuing NOCs to Naseem Shah for the Hundred, and to Shaheen, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan for the GT20. It is a process he admits needs careful navigation, but Gillespie is crystal clear on the primacy of the international side.”Players are centrally contracted and getting compensated really well. We have the right to be able to say, ‘Look, in this situation, we need you to rest or have some downtime to give your body and mind a break, be ready for the next challenge for Pakistan.’In his time with South Australia, Gillespie oversaw the development of future Australia stalwarts like Travis Head•Cricket Australia/Getty Images”We want players to go and play in these leagues and have these great experiences. But if we believe it’s going to be to the detriment of representing Pakistan in an upcoming series, then we’ll have a discussion and have a decision to make.”These are honest and difficult conversations. Ultimately, we’re tasked with doing what’s right by Pakistan cricket.”In times such as these, when the bond between the national team and its supporters appears to be fraying, the idea that the team needs a hard-nosed strongman to control the players with an iron fist often gains traction in Pakistan. And while Arthur, Pakistan’s longest-serving overseas head coach over the past decade, managed to form a particularly close bond with the core of the side, he also possessed a schoolmasterly streak he could always draw on. It played well in front of the television cameras, which appeared to take an almost prurient interest in his emotions when Pakistan were struggling.Gillespie, though, is far removed from that style of coaching, emphasising the need to build relationships that enable tough, honest conversations. “If being honest is telling a player something they might not want to hear, well, then I’m willing to do that. I want to help them be the best player and person they can be.”Gillespie recalls the days he played against Pakistan, and the sense of joy and fun he felt Pakistan took in their cricket. “I remember this training kit the Pakistan boys had. They had all the logos on, and on the back, it said ‘Proud to be Pakistani’. Do you remember those shirts? That stuck in my head. That was 20 years ago! And for me, that really resonated. I thought, ‘That’s cool.'”That pride is how I felt representing my country, putting on that cap and wearing the shirt with the Australian coat of arms. It meant the world to me. Playing for your country is the best thing in the world – it’s awesome.”It’s an honour and a privilege for me to coach Pakistan, and it’s an honour and a privilege for each and every player to represent Pakistan. That for me, is something that’s always stood out. I know when I played against Pakistan, that came through.”

Fidel Fernando walks you through the woods to showcase a hundred that stood out because of tribulations

Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Jul-20221:00

McDonald: Australia well and truly in the game

Sometimes you bat pretty much all day, and people will still say you struggled.An early trigger warning here. If you’re a Dinesh Chandimal fan, you might not like the next few paragraphs. But stay with it, we will make it worth your time.Until he got past about 70, roughly 140 balls into his innings, it did not seem like Chandimal was playing well. He was scoreless for six balls, until he decided he had had enough. Running down the track to Nathan Lyon, driving against the turn past cover – a shot he nailed, but not the shot of a batter with supreme confidence in his ability.Related

Mature Chandimal (finally) lives up to his promise

Chandimal's century, fifties from Mathews and Kamindu put Sri Lanka in front

Australia left to regret their reviews…again

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Next ball, he shuffles down again, and throws every molecule in his body into a big lofted drive, which carries all the way over the long-on boundary, and gets him six.Eight balls into his innings, he’s made 10. It looks pretty good on the scorecard. If all you watched were the boundaries, you’d think he was crushing it. But then you’d miss out on the hard bits, the struggle… (The best bits.)Next over, Chandimal is running down the track at Lyon again. But this is a world-class, top-ten-wicket-takers-of-all-time operator. The offspinner slows the ball down, drags the length back, spins it big between Chandimal’s bat and pad, and should have him stumped. Alas, wicketkeeper Alex Carey misses the ball, so Chandimal survives.Survives, not to suddenly find fluency, not to make Australia punish Australia for their mistakes like a 1950s school headmaster. The man survives just to continue struggling. Several overs later, he pads it to a close catcher, and Australia appeal, then burn a review.”Dinesh Chandimal clung to his wicket like a lifesaver in stormy seas’•Getty ImagesChandimal’s doing ok. Fine, really… A bit slow, but fine. Uhh, okay, maybe not. Mitchell Starc is really roughing him up with the short ball. On 30, Starc goes full, then bounces him. Chandimal waves his bat at it. Australia appeal voraciously. Starc is sure there was a noise. Probably because there was. But they have burned their reviews, and Chandimal scratches out a guard again.He’s not a walker, Chandimal. He’ll do anything to stick around. Anything to stay with the struggle.There are more escapes: An inside edge off Cameron Green that crashes into the pads. A potential bat-pad catch against Lyon that evades short leg by a few inches. He’s batted well over 100 balls by this stage, but doesn’t look like he’s got his eye in.At the other end, Kamindu Mendis, a debutant, is batting serenely. Just as Chandimal had done on debut at Durban, when he had made twin fifties. Beginners’ luck. It probably seems that way from Chandimal’s perspective. Unlike Mendis though, Chandimal’s already won Tests for Sri Lanka. Lest we forget, his most spectacular Test innings came at this venue.Dinesh Chandimal continues his love affair with Galle•AFP/Getty ImagesBut there he is, leaping out uncertainly, looking stiff as he goes back to the spinners, still playing and missing the quicks, seeming like he’s in the trenches against every bowler Australia throw at him, even the part-timers like Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head.But then he got past 70, and the whole thing became less fun. Perhaps he had finally got his eye in. Some timing had entered his game. He was still throwing his hands at balls, because that is what Chandimal does, but he was connecting with them now. The balls that beat him were genuinely deliveries that were starting to burst off the surface, which almost every batter on the planet would have missed. The others, though, he was middling. The every-molecule shots are starting to look like they are just a part of the way Chandimal plays cricket, rather than wild gambles.He gets to a 13th Test hundred, leads Sri Lanka to a position of strength by stumps, lives to fight another day etc etc… but this is the boring stuff. The good bits were when he struggled. When he clung to his wicket like a lifesaver in stormy seas. When he had to kick away the sharks that took chunks out of his feet… when he put his team in the rough vicinity of a winning position, even if he didn’t look particularly good doing it.

And which is the highest Test batting partnership in a losing cause?

Steven Lynch13-Oct-2020MS Dhoni took his 100th catch in the IPL the other day. Is he the first to reach this milestone? asked Chris Bloore from Ireland
MS Dhoni’s 100th wicketkeeping catch in the IPL came against the Rajasthan Royals in Sharjah recently. He’s actually the second wicketkeeper to get there, as Dinesh Karthik reached 100 catches as a keeper (to go with ten in the outfield) in April 2019.More surprisingly perhaps, Dhoni was beaten to the mark by an outfielder: his long-time team-mate Suresh Raina took his 100th IPL catch in May last year. For the list of most IPL dismissals by wicketkeepers, click here.Was the partnership of 359 between Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim the highest in a losing cause in a Test match? asked Peter Bradford from Australia
That stand between Shakib and Rahim came against New Zealand in Wellington in 2016-17, in the match mentioned in last week’s column: Bangladesh’s 595 for 8 was the highest total in a Test by a side that went on to lose the match.But Shakib and Rahim only take second place on this particular list. Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf are in first place. They put on 363 for Pakistan’s third wicket at Headingley in 2006, which was not enough to prevent England winning by 167 runs.There is only one other instance of a triple-century partnership not being enough to ensure against defeat: in Adelaide in 2006-07, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood put on 310 for England’s fourth wicket, but Australia ran out winners in the end by six wickets.Cameron Bancroft and David Warner made 173 in Australia’s ten-wicket win over England in the 2017-18 Brisbane Test•Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty ImagesI spotted that Australia scored 172 without loss to win the 1930-31 Adelaide Test. Is this the highest score to win a Test by ten wickets? asked Brian McDonald from England
That win by Australia over West Indies in Adelaide in 1930-31 was a record at the time – Don Bradman kept his feet up as Bill Ponsford made 92 and Archie Jackson 70 in an unbeaten stand of 172 – but it was surpassed in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane in 2017-18, when Cameron Bancroft (82) and David Warner (87) put on 173 without being parted to beat England. On both these occasions the actual target required was 170.Here’s the list of highest fourth-innings totals to win a Test by ten wickets . Australia occupy the top four places.Is Tim Paine the only player to captain Australia in a Test match without ever scoring a hundred? asked Steve Hardcastle from Australia
Australia’s 46th Test captain Tim Paine still does not have a century to his name, after 35 matches: his highest score remains 92, against India in Mohali in 2010-11. His highest as captain is 79, against New Zealand in Melbourne in December 2019. It’s hard to hold this against him, though, as his main job is to keep wicket.One of Paine’s predecessors as wicketkeeper-captain, Jack Blackham, played 35 Tests without ever reaching three figures, while Barry Jarman played 19, with a highest score of 78. Australia’s first Test captain, Dave Gregory, had a highest of just 43, and of Australia’s other Test captains, two other early leaders – Hugh Massie and the Golden Age spinner Hugh Trumble – and the 1950s pair of Ian Craig (highest score 53) and Ian Johnson (highest of 77 in 45 Tests, 17 as captain) never reached three figures either.Paine has now captained Australia in 19 Tests: the only two men to have led them in more without scoring a century when captain are Joe Darling (who led in 21 Tests) and Richie Benaud (28) – but both of them had scored Test hundreds before taking charge.Which team once lost a county match after scoring 562 for 3 in their first innings? asked Nigel Hooper from England
The team that lost from this seemingly impregnable position was Glamorgan, in a top-of-the-table clash against Middlesex in Cardiff in July 1993. Glamorgan declared at 562 for 3 after an unbroken partnership of 425 between Adrian Dale, who made 214 not out, and 41-year-old Viv Richards, whose 224 not out was his 114th and last first-class century. But Middlesex replied with 584 – John Emburey made 123 after going in as a nightwatchman, and Mike Gatting added 173 – and when Glamorgan went in again on the final day, they were skittled for 109 by Phil Tufnell, who took 8 for 29 in 23 overs. Middlesex knocked off the 88 runs they needed with about an hour to spare, as “Glamorgan’s spinners failed to exploit the wearing pitch which had caused such panic within their own ranks”, according to Wisden.But even that is not the highest Championship total that ended in defeat: at Chelmsford in September 2004, Essex rattled up 642 against Glamorgan – and lost by six wickets. And at Southgate in June 2005, Glamorgan amassed 584 for 3 declared against Middlesex – and also lost by six wickets.Use our feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

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

• Asalanka expects seam and batter-friendly pitch at Khettarama

• 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.

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.

He made his first ton since returning to the national side, as they breezed to the target after Burger’s four-for set them up

Firdose Moonda06-Nov-2025

Quinton de Kock scored the first hundred since his international comeback, and 22nd overall, as South Africa drew level in the ODI series against Pakistan. Tony de Zorzi and de Kock shared a 153-run second-wicket stand, which followed de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ 81-run opening partnership. They only lost two wickets, as de Kock completed the chase of 270 with 59 balls to spare, in Matthew Breetzke’s company.South Africa batted with fluency and flair, both of which were absent from the Pakistan line-up after they chose to bat first. Though half-centuries from Saim Ayub and Salman Agha set Pakistan up well, their strike rates of 80.30 and 65.09 meant the going was slow throughout their innings. Mohammad Nawaz’s career-best run-a-ball 59 eventually took them over 250 – to 269.Nawaz’s individual achievement was one of three in the first half of the match. South Africa’s left-arm seamer Nandre Burger and legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter, who both sat out the first game, bagged career-best figures of 4 for 46 and 3 for 55 respectively. They were well supported by disciplined efforts from Corbin Bosch, Donovan Ferreira and Bjorn Fortuin, who all conceded at under six runs an over.While Pakistan made batting look tough, South Africa found the flow with their left-handed opening pair of Pretorius and de Kock. Pretorius enjoyed the bulk of the strike in the first four overs and hit three fours off Naseem Shah in the second, before de Kock hit his first shot of intent. He punched a short, wide Afridi ball through the covers for four. Pretorius should have been out in the next over, but Naseen spilled a return chance and Pretorius made Pakistan pay.Tony de Zorzi ensured South Africa’s smooth passage in the chase•Getty Images

Pretorious went after Shaheen Shah Afridi, and then Mohammed Wasim, and appeared unstoppable before he flayed at a wide Wasim delivery and nicked off. De Kock was on 32 off 31 balls himself when he lost his opening partner, and rebuilt quietly with de Zorzi.The pair scored 35 runs off the next seven overs and de Kock got his fifty with a six off Ashraf, before de Zorzi was finally ready to take on Afridi. He sent a short ball through midwicket and a full one through deep backward square, but his full range on the legside was on display when he took on Mohammad Nawaz. He reverse-swept, slogged over mid-wicket and then reached for a wide one to send it over long-off. In total, de Zorzi took 27 runs off 13 balls he faced from Nawaz, and also reached fifty off him.De Kock helped himself to runs off Afridi, then entered the 80s with a six over cover off Agha. He was on 98 when Afridi reviewed an lbw shout off Wasim. However, the delivery pitched outside leg and de Kock reached his century two balls later. The ball after that, Afridi reviewed again; once more, it had pitched outside leg.Pakistan used eight bowling options as they tried to break through, and Faheem eventually did. De Zorzi was caught off a leading edge by Ayub at point. De Kock – who finished unbeaten on 123* – and stand-in captain Matthew Breetzke ensured it was too late for Pakistan to defend their score, which could have been much less after they were reduced to 22 for 3 in the fifth over.Nandre Burger’s four tied down Pakistan’s batters•AFP via Getty Images

Earlier in the day, Burger struck with this third ball when Fakhar Zaman gloved an attempted pull to de Kock. Bosch had Babar Azam given out lbw off with his second delivery, but Babar reviewed. Ball-tracking showed the ball was bouncing over the stumps. All the same, South Africa did not have to wait too long to dismiss Pakistan’s talisman. In this third over, Burger squared up Babar, and he edged to Ferreira at first slip. Four balls later, Mohammed Rizwan fetched a Burger ball from fifth stump and chopped it onto his leg stump. At the other end, Bosch’s opening spell read: 4-0-8-0.The change bowlers Fortuin and Ferreira kept things quiet and limited the boundaries. By the 20th over, Pakistan had collectively hit just six fours before Ayub scored the innings’ first six, off Fortuin. Ayub also got to his second ODI 50 off Fortuin.Breetzke then made an inspired bowling change, which ended Ayub’s innings: he brought Bosch back as the halfway stage approached halfway stage, Ayub drove the ball back at Bosch with some force, and Bosch took a good low catch in his follow-through to pick up his first.At the time, Agha was on 34 off 62 balls, and showed no signs of speeding up. So, it fell to his partners to up the ante. Hussain Talat attempted to flick Peter over the legside, but the ball only found a leading edge, giving Peter a return catch and leaving Pakistan at 131 for 5 after 30 overs.Mohammad Nawaz added plenty of runs at the death•Getty Images

Agha made his way to fifty off 83 balls, and then began showing signs of urgency. He also slog-swept Fortuin for four, but it was Mohammad Nawaz who danced down the track to hit the left-arm spinner for six, and then repeated the feat against Bosch. Agha tried to join in, but Bosch had the final say when he bowled him with an inswinging yorker.Faheem Ashraf took 12 of the 13 runs off Bosch’s penultimate over, but was caught at deep mid-wicket when he tried to slog a Burger slower-ball bouncer. Peter got another return catch when Afridi top-edged him while trying to go big.After that, it was all Nawaz. He reached his fifty with six off the first ball of the final over, hit another 10 runs, and then gave Peter his third caught and bowled. This final dismissal was the best of the lot, as he had to judge a high chance. Though Naseem finished the innings with a six, Pakistan did not have nearly enough.Saturday’s third ODI, also in Faisalabad, will decide the series and end South Africa’s all-format tour of Pakistan.

Mainz defender Dominik Kohr deserves a massive 12-match suspension following his red card for a brutal tackle on Hoffenheim's Max Moerstedt, according to World Cup winner Olaf Thon. The defender was shown a straight red card for his challenge in the late stages of the 1-1 draw in the Bundesliga, the ninth time he has been sent off in his professional career.

Kohr creates a new record

Kohr's reckless tackle on Moerstedt landed him his second red card of the season, having been sent off with two yellows in September. Since the 2016-17 campaign, he has been sent off a total of nine times, which makes him the record holder, having surpassed former Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg player Luiz Gustavo and ex-Bayer Leverkusen defender Jens Nowotny, who ended their careers with eight. Six of his suspensions have come during his time at his current club, and no other Mainz player has ever seen more than three red cards. Although the defender has apologised for his deeds, he awaits the final ruling on his ban on Monday.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThon urges for long-term suspension

As per Thon, who won the 1990 World Cup with West Germany, Kohr has been deliberate when it comes to endangering the opponents and a line needs to be drawn to set an example. He said to : "I think it's time to set an example. In this extraordinary case, I think a ban of up to 12 weeks for the Mainz defender is absolutely appropriate. I myself have often played against opponents who have overdone it with their pace, in a way this is certainly part of the contact sport of football and you sometimes have to endure a lot. But a line is crossed when you constantly endanger the health of your opponent."

Kohr's teammate, Danny da Costa, spoke in support of the defender, saying: "You keep reading articles in which he is described as the ‘bully of the league’. I’ve known and played with him long enough to say that this is not fair to him. He has an aggressive playing style, but there are many other players who occasionally go too far. The tackle on Moerstedt was not intentional."

Nadiem Amiri, who plays as an attacking midfielder for Mainz, however, delivered a flat answer. He said: "It was quite clearly a red card. It was not a smart move as he is a key player for us."

Mainz head coach Bo Henriksen, however, played safe by saying: "I didn't see it. But, everyone says it wasn't smart. I have to talk to Dominik."

Kohr issues apology on social media

The German defender was gutted by his recklessness on the pitch. He did not defend his actions and rather humbly accepted his flaw. 

He wrote: "It’s important to me to address you directly today, and especially you, Max Moerstedt. In my mind, I just wanted to prevent a pass. When I saw the TV images. I was shocked myself. It could have turned out differently. I’m relieved and glad that nothing more happened to you and that you were able to continue playing. I also apologise to the Mainz fans whom I serve and for whom I always want to give my all. I want to throw myself into every tackle for you, but I want to reassure you once again that I never want to hurt anyone on purpose."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Kohr and Mainz?

The DFB Sports Court is expected to announce its verdict on the defender's suspension on Monday, and it is to be seen whether a hefty ban is imposed on the 31-year-old. Reports in Germany claim he could receive as much as a four-game suspension, which will come as a big blow to Mainz. The ex-Leverkusen player has made over 150 appearances for his current club and remains an important member for Danish maestro Henrikson.

Harmanpreet Kaur also rose ten spots to move to 11th on the list for batters

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jul-2025England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has displaced India opener Smriti Mandhana to become the No. 1-ranked ODI batter in the world.She was the highest run-scorer with 160 runs at 53.33 average in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against India.While Mandhana slips one position to second in the latest ODI rankings, there is a notable jump for India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who is up ten spots to 11th on the batting charts after making a total of 126 runs in the series. Jemimah Rodrigues also rose two spots to 13th on the list.Harmanpreet didn’t start the ODI series well, but finished with 102 in the last match, which helped India seal the series 2-1. She also became the third India women’s batter to breach the 4000-run mark during the course of her seventh century.Rodrigues managed 101 runs in three games, with a highest score of 50 in the final game and 48 in the first.Full rankings tables

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South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt is third in the rankings, while Australia allrounder Ellyse Perry and Australia captain Alysa Healy round out the top five of the list in ODIs.There was also some movement for the Ireland players following their 2-0 ODI series win over Zimbabwe. Allrounder Orla Prendergast rose 12 spots to move to joint-22nd on the ODI batters list after an unbeaten 67 in the second ODI. She also rose ten places on the bowlers’ list and moved to tenth position on the allrounders list.England spinner Sophie Ecclestone continues to lead the ODI bowling list after finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker in the ODI series against India with five wickets. Ashleigh Gardner, Meghan Schutt, Deepti Sharma and Kim Garth round out the top five of the bowlers list.