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Tigers ace and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal left his start against the Marlins with a team athletic trainer Friday night.

He appeared to grab the left side of his upper body after a pitch in the fourth inning which caused manager A.J. Hinch and a member of the training staff to head out to the mound. After a brief discussion, Skubal exited the game. You can watch the unfortunate sequence below:

Per 's Cody Stavenhagen, the team said the Cy Young Award frontrunner left his 29th start of the season with tightness in his left side and is getting evaluated. Heading into the night, he is 13–4 with a 2.10 ERA and 222 strikeouts. He leads the AL in ERA, trailing only Paul Skenes (1.92) for the best mark in baseball. Only Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet has more punchouts with 228.

Something was off with Skubal from the start Friday as he gave up two home runs in his first two innings and ended the evening allowing four earned runs to two strikeouts. He pitched 14 innings of scoreless baseball over his two previous starts while striking out 10 batters along the way.

Javier Báez exited early for Detroit Friday also after he fouled a ball off his head earlier in the game.

As Curtis Jones admitted on Wednesday, Liverpool are "in the sh*t" right now. The humiliating 4-1 Champions League defeat at home to PSV means the ragged Reds have now lost nine of their last 12 games in all competitions and the common consensus is that Arne Slot is only still in a job because he won the Premier League last season. But how have Liverpool gone from champs to chumps in just six months?

The impact of Diogo Jota's death on the friends he left behind certainly can't be overstated, with left-back Andy Robertson publicly disclosing his ongoing torment in the midst of the joyous celebrations that greeted Scotland's qualification for the World Cup last week. It's clear, though, that there are other factors at play – not least Slot's ongoing inability to come up with any tactical solutions to Liverpool's plethora of problems in every area of the pitch.

However, it certainly isn't all the manager's fault. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is among those presently pointing the finger at the players for a perceived lack of leadership and captain Virgil van Dijk has admitted that they are letting themselves down at the moment.

Below, GOAL ranks the Reds' biggest under-performers during their rotten run of results…

Getty Images Sport10Virgil van Dijk

For the first few months of the season, Van Dijk was the only thing holding Liverpool's brittle backline together. Indeed, after the fortuitous 3-2 win over 10-man Newcastle all the way back in August, Carragher admitted that he didn't even want to imagine where the Reds would be without their inspirational skipper.

Unfortunately, we now have a little bit of an idea, because while Van Dijk is still there, at the heart of the defence, he's looking like a cheap imitation of the colossus that led Liverpool to the title last season. Indeed, judging by his ludicrous handball against PSV (the third penalty he's given away this season – more than any other Premier League player in all competitions), Van Dijk has become another victim of the general malaise on Merseyside.

Nobody can fault Van Dijk's commitment – he's been visibly hurt by the Reds' rapid fall from grace – but he actually seems to be trying too hard to turn things around, which is why we're now seeing the captain making uncharacteristically rash challenges. If Van Dijk doesn't rediscover his composure, Liverpool really are done for.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport9Florian Wirtz

Florian Wirtz has been nowhere near as poor as many critics have tried so desperately to make out. Indeed, the Germany international was integral to arguably Liverpool's best three performances of the season so far, against Atletico Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt and Real Madrid. Wirtz's creativity was also seriously missed in the three-goal losses at home to PSV and Nottingham Forest.

However, there is no denying that Liverpool supporters expected a hell of a lot more from the £100 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen than three goal involvements in 16 appearances in all competitions. Even allowing for the fact that it often takes time for overseas players to get to grips with the physicality and intensity of English football, Wirtz has often looked out of his depth.

When he returns from injury, the attacking midfielder will be under immense pressure to prove that he can cut it in the Premier League – although it might help if he were given a regular run of starts in his preferred position behind the centre-forward.

AFP8Jeremie Frimpong

Liverpool were never going to be able to find a like-for-like replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold. The former Kop idol has a unique set of skills for a right-back. Consequently, the Reds recruited Jeremie Frimpong, a diminutive Dutchman with different but no less dangerous attacking attributes.

The problem is that we've seen very little of them, for two reasons. Firstly, Frimpong has proved worryingly injury-prone and is once again out of action after damaging his hamstring for the second time this season, in the Champions League win in Frankfurt. Secondly, even when he has been available for action, Frimpong has not looked a good fit for the right-back berth at all. He has instead looked like what he was at Bayer Leverkusen: an offensively-minded wing-back.

So, whenever Frimpong returns to action, Slot really needs to show us what he intended to do with his compatriot, who has contributed one flukey goal and zero assists in nine appearances to date.

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Getty Images Sport7Alexis Mac Allister

One could easily make the argument that Alexis Mac Allister was Liverpool's most consistent performer during his first two seasons at the club following his 2023 arrival from Brighton. The World Cup winner never produced anything less than a seven-out-of-10 showing. He was Liverpool's multi-purpose midfield dynamo; no matter where he was placed, he drove the team forward with his mix of tenacity and technique.

Mac Allister, though, is currently paying a heavy price for his slower than expected recovery from the injury issues that brought a premature end to his 2024-25 and ruined his pre-season preparations. We've seen flashes of the old Mac Allister and, as a result, the old Liverpool – most notably in goal-scoring displays against Aston Villa and Real Madrid – but he's regressed again over the past week. 

It was genuinely startling to see how easily Nico Williams went through Mac Allister to set up Forest's second goal at Anfield last Saturday before he almost completely disappeared after Liverpool went 2-1 down against PSV in midweek. Mac Allister is far too good a player to struggle all season along, but one cannot help where the Reds will be by the time he gets back up to full match speed.

Australia achieved the highest successful chase in women’s ODIs

Shashank Kishore12-Oct-20253:54

Review: Healy was Australia’s bedrock

Alyssa Healy’s epic 142 powered Australia to the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history, leaving a packed Visakhapatnam stadium thinning very quickly towards the close as World Cup hosts India suffered a second successive heartbreak.Two nights after failing to defend 252 against South Africa, India’s decision to play just the five specialist bowlers will be debated long and hard after they were unable to work with a total of 330. Australia won with six balls to spare, and three wickets in hand; Ellyse Perry hoisting her WPL team-mate Sneh Rana down the ground to seal victory.Perry, who remained unbeaten on 47, had suffered a bout of cramps that forced her to retire hurt with Australia cruising at 154 for 1. Then she returned at the fall of Ash Gardner’s wicket with Australia needing 32 off 36. When Amanjot Kaur had Sophie Molineux lbw at the start of the 46th over, Australia were seven down.This is when Kim Garth joined forces with Perry to put on 28 crucial runs off 23 balls to see Australia home. Garth finished unbeaten on 14, including a superbly executed reverse-paddle off Rana in the penultimate over with Australia needing 13 off 11. The win, Australia’s third in four games, puts them on top of the table halfway through the World Cup.Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth walk off after Australia sealed the highest chase in women’s ODI history•Getty ImagesIndia were eventually left to rue the seven balls they didn’t play after a late and sensational collapse – they lost 9 for 138 in the last 30 overs to finish with 330 when they looked set to scale 350. Unlike Australia, who had Healy go on to convert her start into a maiden century as captain, and third in a World Cup, India were left waiting for their big innings, with both Smriti Mandhana (80) and Pratika Rawal (75) falling short of three-figures.Except left-arm spinner N Shree Charani, who displayed terrific control to put the brakes on Australia with figures of 3 for 41, the others wilted against Healy’s assault in trying conditions. Shree Charani bowled out in the 39th over, by which time Australia’s required rate was a-run-a-ball.It didn’t help that Kranti Gaud, full of bristling promise, had a second off day, conceding 73 in nine wicketless overs, while Sneh Rana, one of India’s form bowlers, went for 85 from her full quota. The make-up of India’s attack meant Harmanpreet Kaur had few alternatives on what was among the best batting surfaces of the tournament.Australia began cautiously, scoring just 25 off the first five overs before switching gears to ransack 57 in the next five. Healy’s fast hands were on display as she took 18 off Gaud’s fourth over, while Phoebe Lichfield cracked three consecutive boundaries off Amanjot Kaur before a missed stumping chance briefly spared her. India didn’t have to wait long, though, as Litchfield fell reverse-sweeping Shree Charani to Rana at point to end an 85-run opening stand off just 11.2 overs.Smriti Mandhana made 80 off 66•Getty ImagesFrom overs 6.6 to 10 alone, Australia hammered eight fours and two sixes, most from Healy, who dismantled India’s spinners with sweeps to every part of the leg side. Perry, scratchy early on, found rhythm alongside her, even resorting to reverse sweeps to unsettle Rana. Their fifty stand came in 55 balls, but India sensed an opening when Perry retired hurt and Beth Mooney and Annabel Sutherland, who celebrated her birthday earlier in the day with a five-for, fell in quick succession.Healy briefly reined herself in before surging to a brilliant century off 84 balls, managing the chase almost single-handedly despite struggling with cramps. Her dismissal, caught off a sliced drive to point was adjudged clean after a tight review where stand-in third umpire Kim Cotton looked in two minds. When she finally felt Rana’s hands were underneath the ball, it ended a stunning innings that comprised 21 fours and three sixes. It gave India a fleeting lift, but Perry’s return and Garth’s composure soon quashed any hopes of a late twist.India would look back on their batting performance with mixed emotions. They displayed the kind of sustained aggression they’ve long spoken about but rarely executed, yet the recurring collapses would be worrisome for the team management. From 192 for 1 at the 30-over mark, they looked set for 350-plus but fell woefully short, as they failed to capitalise on a superb 155-run opening stand between Mandhana and Rawal.India have lost two matches in a row now at the 2025 World Cup•Getty ImagesAfter three ordinary outings, Mandhana returned to her fluent self, reaching fifty off 46 balls. Her six off Molineux made her the first woman to score 1000 or more ODI runs in a calendar year, and she later became the fastest to 5000 runs in the format. While Mandhana took on Molineux, Rawal targeted Gardner, though their partnership was interspersed with spells of caution – like the passage that produced just 15 in five overs after they finished the powerplay at 58 for 0.This was largely down to Rawal’s cautiousness. That forced Mandhana to take more risks, producing audacious shots like a ramp over Healy’s head. Rawal’s 69-ball half-century helped post the second-highest World Cup partnership by any side against Australia before Mandhana fell for 80.Harleen Deol (38), Harmanpreet (22) and Jemimah Rodrigues (33) injected urgency unseen so far in this tournament but couldn’t convert their starts. The burden of providing the late surge yet again fell on Richa Ghosh, whose 94 against South Africa had bailed India out earlier. Here, though, a Sutherland slower ball undid her, triggering a collapse from 309 for 6 to 330 all out.Sutherland’s clever changes of pace and length earned her a maiden ODI five-for and throttled India’s momentum, leaving them disappointed at not making the most of the platform they had built so well.The loss now leaves India without a win against South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia at a World Cup (50 overs and T20 included) for five years now. And with England up next in a week in Indore, they’ll need to regroup quickly to keep pushing for the semi-finals.

A year on from his dream debut, he has had to again start from the bottom in what has been a frustrating summer

Vithushan Ehantharajah31-Jul-2025

Gus Atkinson appeals for a wicket on the opening day•Getty Images

Last week was a reminder to Gus Atkinson that the game of cricket does not love you.The 27-year-old had been working behind the scenes to return from a hamstring injury picked up during the first Test of the summer, against Zimbabwe. Now, ahead of the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford, England’s player of 2024, who seduced the format for 55 wickets, a century and a hat-trick, looked primed to come into the XI. A welcome addition of extra thrust and oomph. And above all else, fresh legs.England, though, decided to ignore Atkinson. Uncertainty over his robustness, having not played since Trent Bridge, meant featuring alongside the likes of Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and skipper Ben Stokes – all missing the fifth Test – was too much of a risk. Worse still for Atkinson, Surrey thought so too.Related

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Usually, a player unselected from an international squad would slot into their county side, especially if they average 22.30 with the ball. But Surrey, a day before facing Yorkshire, needed their own guarantees, that each member of their attack could put in a shift given the Kookaburra ball was in play. Jamie Overton, playing his second game of the season and first in a month, was deemed risk enough.So, Atkinson had to make do with a go in the second XI. It was his second game since injury. The first was a Saturday game during the Lord’s Test for his club, Spencer, when he was ignored the first time having been recalled. At least then he was in the ones.It was a humbling experience but one that the seamer, by all accounts, had taken in his stride after some understandable dismay. Atkinson keeps his emotions in check, comfortably the most inscrutable of England’s cricketers. Bottom of the list of players you would want to play poker against (Harry Brook top, if you were wondering).But there was proper, unmistakable joy throughout Thursday. Atkinson’s 2 for 31 from 19 overs was a threat laced with the kind of unerring accuracy that, remarkably, left him with just a single boundary against his name.Second years, like second albums, are always difficult. But it would still be quite something if Atkinson’s 2025 was even half as statistically impressive as his 2024.2:37

‘England would be a little disappointed with the score’

That debut against West Indies at Lord’s, 7 for 45 and 5 for 61 – 12 for 106, the fourth best bowling figures by a men’s player on debut – was the best intro since Mick Jagger (watching on at the Kia Oval on Thursday) and his pals knocked out . Doing so in James Anderson’s retirement Test felt particularly prescient. Grand closing, grand opening, and now involved at the sharp end of a series bearing Anderson’s name.So it proved, at least for the next six months. He returned to Lord’s against Sri Lanka to put himself on the batting honours board, and then, in Wellington, became the 15th England player to take a Test hat-trick. With 52 wickets by the end of that tour of New Zealand, he became only the second Test cricketer to register 50 dismissals in their debut year.There were signs of issues to deal with within those first 11 appearances. That schedule meant he played 16 first-class games in a calendar year, having never featured in more than five (2022 and 2023). Naturally, he struggled to maintain his high 80s pace, which made his high release point and snap gather-cum-delivery that much more potent. Nothing summed the drop-off better than the fact his average speed on debut (85.89mph) was higher than his fastest delivery in last year’s final appearance in Hamilton (84.0mph).There was a similar drop-off across Thursday, despite the hours of rain delays that broke up England’s 64 overs in the field. Atkinson’s four spells saw his average speeds reduce steadily: 85.6mph (six overs), 84.8mph (six), 84.0mph (five), 82.0mph (two).Atkinson has had a stop-start summer•Getty ImagesA nod, perhaps, to the need for more game time to build up his endurance. His nimbleness was clear for all to see when he followed-through to run out Shubman Gill. A bonus for England given the India captain’s prolific run on this tour.The lbw dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal – 85mph – was his first in more than two months after dismissing Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett. Dhruv Jurel was undone by an 84mph full-of-a-length ball that surprised him with lift, right after surviving an lbw dismissal on review that scuttled in from a scrambled seam that has been fruitful for Atkinson at this level.While happy to return, and get back on the board, Atkinson was not overly pleased. “Being hyper critical, I could have maybe bowled at the stumps a bit more,” he said, matter-of-factly.The good news is those dismissals, and 17 of his overs, came from his lesser preferred Pavilion End, where he averages 31.6 here for Surrey since the start of 2022. The bad news is his two overs from his Vauxhall End (22.6) came about because of a shoulder injury sustained by Chris Woakes. He had domain over that end, having chosen it to open proceedings.1:48

What will be a good score for India?

It is Woakes, ultimately, that Atkinson was going to replace, particularly in Australia later this year. That was initially as a new-ball bowler with more pace, before his batting came on to the point where he and, say, Carse could go some way to replacing Woakes’ batting at eight. Now, Atkinson will have to carry more of the burden with Woakes unlikely to take any further part in this match, certainly as a bowler.The worse news, however, is that on the day when England welcomed Atkinson back with the best seaming conditions of the series, they fluffed their lines.His excellence was unable to make-up for Josh Tongue, who was wayward even with his worldies. Nor Overton, whose lack of feel for the appropriate lengths was what you would expect from someone with just two first-class wickets since September 2023 (as many County Championship matches he has played for Surrey since then).Atkinson might be fresh and hungry for more. But he will now have to step up as the leader of the attack. Just over a year from his debut, he will have to grow up quick and help orchestrate a crucial win in this series decider.

MLB's offseason has already provided some major moves, from Pete Alonso landing with the Orioles to Edwin Diaz agreeing to join the back-to-back defending champion Dodgers. The trade market has also heated up, with the likes of three-time All-Star starter Sonny Gray dealt to the Red Sox and three-time All-Star infielder Marcus Semien traded to the Mets.

But the rumor mill has been swirling around several other big names, leading to the possibility of a few more needle-moving trades being made this offseason. So, let's have a little fun and predict which big-name players will be the next to be dealt.

Ketel Marte, 2B, DiamondbacksMost likely suitors: Mariners, Blue Jays, Red Sox

Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen opened up the possibility of a Marte trade at the GM Meetings in November, when he told the that teams were checking in on the 2023 National League Championship Series MVP. And while Hazen made it clear at the time that such a deal was “unlikely,” MLB Network's Jon Heyman reports that Marte's market is heating up at the winter meetings in Orlando, Fla. Trading Marte now is a possibility because he will reach 10 years of service time—five of those years in Arizona—two weeks into the 2026 season. Under the league's current CBA, teams cannot trade such players without the player's consent. Acquiring Marte, a versatile fielder with good bat-to-ball skills, power and experience in big playoff moments, could be a boon to several contenders.

MacKenzie Gore, SP, Nationals Most likely suitors: Orioles, Yankees

New president of baseball operations Paul Toboni inherited a 66-win team that hasn't had a winning season since capturing a World Seres title in 2019. Washington's farm system, ranked just 23rd in baseball after the July 31 trade deadline, possesses some top-100 talent but could use an infusion of prospects. It's not surprising, then, that there is some trade buzz surrounding two pieces of the Nationals' young core at the big-league level, shortstop CJ Abrams and starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore, each of whom authored their best seasons yet. In a pitching market that has already garnered some traction in terms of trades, Gore, an All-Star for the first time in his career while posting a career-high 185 strikeouts in 2025, would figure to net a hefty package of prospects in return.

Jarren Duran, OF, Red SoxMost likely suitors: Royals, Giants, Mets, Pirates

Boston has a good problem. They have four good outfielders in Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Roman Anthony and Wilyer Abreu. It's a problem that led to Duran, an All-Star during the 2024 season, popping up in some trade rumors at the July 31 deadline; after which the Red Sox were glad they held onto him, for Anthony missed the last month of the season due to an oblique strain. Having depth in the form of an All-Star caliber player is enough to make Boston think twice about trading Duran. But the possibility of the Red Sox, in the market for starting pitching, acquiring a No. 2 or 3 starter behind ace Garrett Crochet in return for Duran is enticing. Duran could also be a good alternative to outfield-needy teams who miss out on the likes of Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger.

Marnus Labuschagne has churned out runs, Steven Smith looks primed and Scott Boland has been in the wickets

Andrew McGlashan15-Nov-20252:17

Weatherald or Labuschagne – who will open in Perth?

Usman KhawajaSheffield Shield – Matches: 3; Runs: 202; Average: 50.50; 100s: 0A solid build-up for Khawaja, who was always scheduled to miss the game against Western Australia having played the first three. Made contributions in all the matches and looked good for his 87 against New South Wales, although the real test will come against the extra pace in England’s attack.Jake WeatheraldSheffield Shield – Matches: 4; Runs: 301; Average: 37.62; 100s: 0
One-Day Cup – Matches: 2; Runs: 28; Average: 14.00Though he hasn’t nailed a huge score, his rapid 94 against Western Australia helped seal his first Test call after starting with twin fifties on a docile Allan Border Field pitch on the back of his 900-run 2024-25 summer. Two lean rounds heading into the series isn’t ideal but Weatherald is a cricketer very comfortable with where he is at in his career. Has been picked because of his naturally positive game, so don’t expect that to change if he makes the XI.Related

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Marnus LabuschagneSheffield Shield – Matches: 4; Runs: 402; Average: 67.00; 100s: 2
One-Day Cup – Matches: 4; Runs: 338; Average: 84.50; 100s: 3Has done everything, and probably more, asked of him after being dropped in the West Indies. While the volume of runs will be pleasing for the selectors, it’s the manner in which Labuschagne has made them that has probably been the most important factor – back to the positive intent that was a hallmark of his prolific time as a Test batter a few years ago. Seems to be less worried about the little things.Steven SmithSheffield Shield – Matches: 2; Runs: 231; Average: 115.50; 100s: 1Smith said he was ready before he had hit a ball in anger this season and his returns in two New South Wales outings has backed that up. He was especially impressive on a tricky SCG pitch against Victoria. Also took a brilliant catch at slip to suggest the reflexes are still in top working order.Travis HeadODIs – Matches: 3; Runs 65; Average: 21.66
T20Is – Matches: 6; Runs: 78; Average: 15.60
Sheffield Shield – Matches: 1; Runs: 21Head is a critical figure in Australia’s batting order but enters the Ashes with question marks over his form. While T20s aren’t the best barometer, he also didn’t get going in the ODIs against India. Then, in his one Shield outing, he made two low scores in a bowler-dominated game against Tasmania. The hope will be that his big-game temperament shines through when needed. “I take confidence in the last Test series we played in West Indies,” he told . “I felt like on tough wickets I played well… I try to adapt to conditions and win games of cricket for Australia. I’m not too worried about output, I know I’m working hard, I know I’m ready to go.”Cameron Green ticked every box in his Shield outing against Queensland•Getty ImagesCameron GreenSheffield Shield – Matches: 3; Runs: 195; Average: 32.50; 100s: 0 | Overs: 20; Wickets: 2It had been a slightly disjointed start to the season for Green after a side niggle interrupted his preparations, but he ticked every box in his Shield outing against Queensland, getting through 16 overs at good pace across the two innings and making 94. Four years into his Test career, Green’s numbers are solid – can he now go to the next level?Beau WebsterSheffield Shield – Matches: 2; Runs: 38; Average: 9.50 | Overs: 47.5; Wickets: 9; Average: 19.66
One-Day Cup – Matches 3; Runs 159; Average: 53.00 | Overs: 19.4; Wickets: 5; Average: 18.40Webster’s immediate Test future hangs in the balance, largely through no fault of his own. However, it wasn’t a great time to have two lean outings with the bat for Tasmania after an ankle injury meant he missed the start of the Shield season. But with the ball he has been excellent – the injuries Australia have suffered may yet work in his favour if the selectors opt for extra bowling depth – and he would certainly be an asset in the field.Alex CareyODIs – Matches: 2; Runs: 33; Average: 16.50
T20Is – Matches: 3; Runs 8; Average: 4.00
Sheffield Shield – Matches: 2; Runs: 126; Average: 31.50; 100s: 0
One-Day Cup – Matches 1; Runs 8It hasn’t been the most prolific six weeks for Carey but there won’t be too many concerns. His half-century against Tasmania was a timely tune-up ahead of next week. The original plan was probably for him to have three Shield outings, but he was a late call-up for the T20Is in New Zealand after Josh Inglis was injured.Josh InglisT20Is – Matches: 5; Runs: 33; Average: 11.00
Sheffield Shield – Matches: 1; Runs: 32Barring an injury to Carey, it’s unlikely Inglis will be needed, at least early in the Ashes. It’s been a frustrating season so far with a calf problem leaving him short of match time. He struggled in the T20Is against India and then made 4 and 28 in Western Australia’s thrilling one-wicket win over Queensland.Mitchell Starc bowled with pace against Victoria at the SCG•Getty ImagesMitchell StarcODIs – Matches: 3; Wickets: 3; Average: 38.33
Sheffield Shield – Matches: 1; Overs: 31; Wickets: 5; Average: 27.80Starc voluntarily offered up that he had been searching for rhythm a little after a lengthy lay-off since the West Indies tour. Things hadn’t quite felt right in the ODIs against India but signs were promising in his Shield outing where he produced a rapid spell after lunch on the first day. His durability is legendary but will be tested this summer.Nathan LyonSheffield Shield – Matches: 4; Overs: 150; Wickets: 12; Average: 34.00Lyon’s pre-season plan was to play three of the four Shield games before the first Test, but with seamers dominating the first two he opted for an extra outing to build his workload. Wickets didn’t come in abundance, but he looked to be finding a nice groove against Victoria. “I feel like I’ve been building nicely,” he said during the game. “Especially over at the Gabba and here now. It’s feeling really good.”Scott BolandSheffield Shield – Matches: 3; Overs: 90.4; Wickets: 14; Average: 17.57Boland, who is now likely to see much more Ashes action than may have originally been the case, looks to have timed his run perfectly. By his own high standards, he wasn’t quite at his best against NSW in Melbourne but still claimed a match-winning eight wickets. Was a constant threat in the return fixture at the SCG.Brendan DoggettSheffield Shield – Matches: 2; Overs: 64.4; Wickets: 13; Average: 14.69
One-Day Cup – Matches: 1; Wickets 2After a hamstring injury ruled him out of the first two Shield matches, Doggett has put his name up in lights with a bagful of wickets for South Australia. Josh Hazlewood’s injury has put him on the brink of a Test debut in Perth and he looks like a bowler ready for the step up.Michael NeserSheffield Shield – Matches 3; Overs: 115.3; Wickets: 14; Average: 24.38
One-Day Cup – Matches 2: Overs 20; Wickets: 4; Average: 26.25A late call-up after the major loss of Hazlewood for the first Test. Neser has been as probing as ever, particularly in his first two Shield outings in October that brought 11 wickets. Missed the third round to manage his workload.

Winter is here, and Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank knows he is staring down the barrel of a gun as he looks to find form and consistency after a tough start to his tenure.

That may be an understatement. Spurs have lost three on the trot, and Saturday’s home defeat against Fulham in the Premier League means the 3-0 victory over Burnley in August remains an outlier in regard to three points down N17 this season.

The fans are frustrated, no doubt about that. And they have a right to be. Tottenham have lacked sparkle in their attacking play this season, though Frank will feel that injuries to Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have put him on the back foot.

Much has been made of the Londoners’ creativity (or lack thereof), but it’s also clear that the Lewis Family need to authorise the signing of a centre-forward.

Why Spurs need a striker

Harry Kane and Heung-min Son have both left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in recent years, and the superstars have not really been replaced with elite options.

Mathys Tel is young and talented, but he is also raw. Solanke is a proven Premier League star, but his entire stint in north London has been blighted by setbacks. Richarlison is in fine form, but probably not the long-term solution at number nine.

What Frank and the fanbase need is an up-and-coming superstar to spearhead this next era at the club.

That’s why Samu Agwehowa has been earmarked. According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham have joined the race for the 21-year-old Porto striker after his convincing performances in Portugal.

The Spanish international has a €100m (about £88m) release clause in his contract, though Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange would be certain to lodge an offer far south of that daunting figure.

What Samu would bring to north London

Richarlison is a curious striker. He is capable of so much, and yet he performs to his full capacity with consistent inconsistency.

25/26

13

5 + 2

24/25

14

4 + 1

23/24

28

11 + 4

22/23

27

1 + 4

Injuries have not helped the Brazil international, but it’s clear that he is not Kane. That said, Richarlison has been in moderately good form this season, essential in providing an outlet as Solanke founders in the infirmary.

But in Samu, Frank would land a goalscorer who has the potential to be “one of the best strikers in Europe”, according to journalist Zach Lowy, so powerful and potent in the final third.

Joining Porto from Atletico Madrid in 2024, Samu has chalked up 37 goals and four assists across just 62 appearances, including ten from 17 outings in all competitions this season.

He ranks among the top 8% of forwards in the Primeira Liga for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons, emphasising not only his pace but his control and force when on the ball and driving forward.

His athleticism and natural poaching instinct earn him a certain likeness to Richarlison, but given his age and the consistency of goalscoring, Samu might actually prove an upgrade on the South American.

Take, for example, his Europa League performances this year, winning 57% of his duels and averaging a tackle per game, as per Sofascore.

Combativeness forms a key part of Richarlison’s toolbox, and if Spurs are to upgrade on the 28-year-old, who has actually been linked with a move away from the club of late, they will want to sign someone who can emulate him while building up a skillset that transcends what Spurs have hosted in recent years.

Samu is all that and more, and he would be a fantastic signing for a Tottenham team in need of a new talisman.

Spurs star who was one of "the best" in the country is now as bad as Porro

Some of Tottenham’s star players have let Thomas Frank down this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 2, 2025

Former Leicester City star Jamie Vardy's Italian breakfast has been revealed as Cremonese head coach claimed that the former England striker's diet is being embraced in Italy. Having left the Foxes at the end of the 2024-25 season when his contract expired, 38-year-old Vardy signed an initial 12-month deal with the Serie A outfit to cover the 2025-26 campaign.

Vardy enjoying life in Italy

Vardy has already adjusted to life in Italy as he scored his first Serie A brace in Cremonese's dominating 3-1 victory over Bologna in the Serie A on Sunday. The defeat ended Bologna's 12-game unbeaten run in a rain-soaked encounter at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Martin Payero opened the scoring for Cremonese before Vardy doubled his team's lead in the 35th minute. Riccardo Ordolini's penalty goal at the stroke of half-time helped Bologna reduce the margin, but the ex-England star completed his brace and sealed a crucial win for the side as he scored in the 50th minute.  Vardy has scored four times in the Serie A this season. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportVardy's breakfast in Italy revealed

Cremonese boss Davide Nicola recently changed the single menu at the club, so players of different ethnicities and nationalities can have food of their choice and remain satisfied. Vardy is known to have cheese and ham omelettes with beans on the side from his time in Leicester and the veteran striker reportedly is still having the same food as the first meal of the day.

Speaking to reporters, Nicola said: "We now have individualised breakfasts and lunches. “There is no longer a single menu for everyone. Cultures are different, needs are different, and so are allergies. Each player has their own personal menu, there’s not even need to monitor these things because they’re part of the players’ lifestyle."

He added: "Jamie is a point of reference for us. As a coach, I can only say that great champions are incredibly simple people. They already know what they must do and how they must do it. They never show attitudes that aren’t constructive to the team. A champion differs from an ordinary player not only because he has immense qualities on the pitch, but also because he has the spirit and awareness of what he represents. A true champion never gets his attitude wrong. He’s very self-confident and light-hearted, someone who always trains. “He has his habits, but he came here with the mentality of making himself available."  

Vardy found similarity in Italy and UK weather

After scoring his first Cremonese brace in a rain-soaked match, Vardy told reporters: "I think we were just missing a bit of rain – this is a typical midweek in the UK. The most important thing was getting the three points and keeping that progress going. It's another step in the right direction. It's all about commitment and wanting what's best for the club. Everyone's on that same page and everyone's pushing forward to make sure that, come the end of the season, it will have been a successful year."

Nicolas later said on Vardy: "Great players are easy to handle as they know what they're supposed to do – and they know how to do it. That's how he is – he's comfortable with who he is, good humoured. He came here with the mentality of making himself available for the team."  

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Getty Images SportVardy learning Italian

Seems like Vardy is loving his life in Italy and he wants to mingle more with the local crowd to feel at home there. Accordingly, he is learning the Italian language, as he told recently: "I only know the basics, good morning, thank you, numbers, but I’ll be taking lessons as of next week, so hopefully that will start the bringing on the language a bit more. I have to learn, as my kids are learning, and I can’t have them learning it before me, otherwise they’ll be taking the mickey out of me!"    

With Cremonese now sitting 11th on 17 points after 13 games, the mood around the club is one of cautious optimism. Avoiding relegation would trigger a one-year contract extension to the summer of 2027 for Vardy, something that suddenly looks plausible. They sit seven points clear of the relegation zone, a comfortable position for a newly-promoted side. Cremonese return to the Stadio Giovanni Zini on December 7 to face Lecce.

Last of eight deals is concluded as Surrey and Reliance confirm partnership for 2026 onwards

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Dec-2025Oval Invincibles, the most successful franchise in the Hundred, will be rebranded as MI London from 2026 onwards, after Surrey and Reliance Industries Limited concluded their protracted negotiations in the wake of this year’s equity sale.The name change brings the men’s and women’s teams in line with the rest of the Ambani family’s Mumbai Indians stable which, in addition to its flagship team in the IPL, includes MI Cape Town in the SA20, MI Emirates in the ILT20, MI New York in Major League Cricket, and Mumbai Indians women’s team in the WPL.The announcement marks the last of the eight deals that emerged from the ECB’s sale of equity stakes in the Hundred earlier this year, and comes almost five months after the first six of these were tied up. Reliance secured a 49 per cent stake in Oval Invincibles, having valued the franchise at £123 million – the second most expensive behind the Lord’s-based London Spirit, at £295 million.The delay in the announcement reflects a reluctance at Surrey to relinquish a brand identity that had tied the teams to their home ground at the Kia Oval, and which had delivered five titles in as many years of the competition – with the women completing back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, before the men sealed their third win in as many years this summer, in their victory over Trent Rockets at Lord’s.However, Surrey chairman Oli Slipper acknowledged the strength of the MI brand in confirming the team’s rebranding, with its haul of 13 titles across competitions in the 17 years, including five IPL titles and at least one in every other competition in which it has competed.Akash Ambani, Mumbai Indians co-owner, chats to Jordan Cox after Oval Invincibles’ victory in the Hundred final•Philip Brown/Getty Images”We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with the Reliance team over our partnership in the Hundred franchise team,” Slipper said. “Reliance bring a significant depth of cricket and business expertise and have had great success with their franchise teams in India and around the world – there’s no doubt that they are here to win. They are passionate cricket people and together we will continue the success of our two teams.”We have worked very closely with Reliance over the name of the new team and believe that MI London will give us the best opportunity to build the fanbase at home and across the world. We also believe that the team brand will help to grow the commercial value of our franchise, in turn boosting investment into the long-term sustainable growth of Surrey and of cricket in our community.”Mrs Nita M. Ambani, co-owner of Mumbai Indians, said: “We are delighted to welcome MI London into the #OneFamily and take the MI legacy to new frontiers. London holds a special place in the heart of cricket, and we are honoured to be part of its rich heritage. Together with Surrey, we look forward to nurturing young talent, engaging diverse communities, and uniting fans through their shared love of the game.”Mr Akash Ambani added: “We are happy to welcome MI London into the #OneFamily, marking a new chapter in our journey of uniting cricket fans, nurturing talent, and growing the game across continents. The Invincibles’ winning record and spirit of excellence perfectly embody the MI ethos of passion, resilience, and teamwork. Building on our shared passion for cricket, we look forward to collaborating with our partners at Surrey CCC and building on the legacy of The Hundred’s most successful team.”The eight partnerships combined represent a valuation for the teams of over £975 million, with over £500 million is now set to be invested into English and Welsh cricket. This includes a £50 million commitment to grassroots cricket, with the remainder set to be distributed to professional counties.Vikram Banerjee, Managing Director, The Hundred, said: “It’s an exciting moment to now have all eight deals complete. The world-leading partners we now have on board will help us take The Hundred to the next level and establish it as the unmissable summer event.”We’re already working closely together as we aim to make the 2026 season of The Hundred the best yet. It’s also an important moment for the whole of the game in England and Wales, unlocking significant investment to support the game at every level.”