Category Uncategorized

Long earmarked as an England player, Brook’s future starts to unfold under Karachi’s Friday-night lights

Matt Roller23-Sep-2022It was immediately obvious to the 30,000 fans at a sold-out National Stadium who witnessed Harry Brook’s first half-century in international cricket that there will be many, many more to come.Brook’s unbeaten 81 came off 35 balls and highlighted his power against spin and his precision against pace in an innings that even the partisan Karachi crowd stood to appreciate. His unbroken 139-run partnership with the inventive Ben Duckett took only 69 balls, enough to take the game beyond Pakistan’s reach and to reassert his status as the most promising young England batter of a generation.Brook walked out for his eighth innings as an England player at 82 for 3 in the ninth over, a situation in which many young batters making their way in international cricket would choose to consolidate. Not Brook. He launched his fifth ball straight back over Usman Qadir’s head for the first six of the night, then charged down and lofted his seventh over extra cover for six more.He had reached 23 off 12 balls by the time the spinners had bowled out at the end of the 13th, then found an extra gear against the quicks. He added 58 off 23 across the final seven overs, balancing crisp timing with superb game awareness and leaving Babar Azam walking off at the interval needing a double dose of aspirin.When analysts send scouting reports to captains after studying opposition line-ups, they invariably include two columns next to each batter with a tick or a cross under ‘Scoop?’ and ‘Reverse?’ It is Brook’s scoop that enables him to be such an effective T20 batter, not so much for the shot itself but the way in which it opens up the rest of the pitch for him.”You have to have fine leg back,” Luke Wood said this week, explaining why he rated Brook as his hardest opponent, “so you’re effectively playing with four fielders because then he won’t play it. He hits wide well, and you can’t follow him because if you get that side of him, he picks you up. You’ve got a very small margin for error to him.”Brook only played one scoop in his innings, when Babar had dared to bring fine leg up inside the ring in the final over of the innings, but the fact the ‘Scoop?’ box next to his name was ticked meant there were constantly gaps for him to exploit on both sides of the wicket.He was particularly punishing through extra cover, shimmying outside his leg stump to create room to hit the gap between cover and mid-off who were invariably up inside the ring, but also used deft touches to deflect boundaries past short third and took on the short ball against Pakistan’s three 90mph/145kph quicks.”I’m just trying to play on instinct as much as possible,” Brook said. “If they go wide, I try and hit it over point; if they go straight, I’ll try and hit it over midwicket. I just play the ball on its merit.”You get a gist of what they’re trying to bowl by looking at the field. If they’ve got four men out on the leg side, you kind of know they’ve got to bowl straight because if they go wide, it’s almost a free hit. I’m just trying to watch the field, but then play on instinct at the same time.”Brook comes across as a happy-go-lucky character, epitomised by his initial confusion and then cheeky grin when Haris Rauf’s bouncer lodged in the grille of his helmet. But underneath his straightforward veneer, there is a calculated batter with a high cricketing IQ, constantly manipulating the field to his advantage. As Moeen Ali put it: “Brooky is showing how special a player he really can be.”Harry Brook caught the ball in his grille during his unbeaten 81•Getty ImagesBrook has made it clear that he wants to play all formats for England – his red-ball pedigree is obvious from his strength playing orthodox shots – and he is the only player on this tour who was part of the Oval Test against South Africa. He spent the brief window between those commitments playing golf with his ex-Yorkshire team-mate Josh Poysden, who then drove him straight to Heathrow in time for the overnight flight to Karachi.After a couple of training days, he started the series with 42 not out off 25 balls and 31 off 19, auditioning for a middle-order berth in next month’s T20 World Cup which seems nailed on after this masterclass. He has shown his ability against both spin and pace, and will be carded at No. 5 or 6, either side of Liam Livingstone. Brook is also an exceptional fielder, both in the ring and in the deep.It was no surprise that his success earned him a warm reception, even as Pakistan’s seamers wilted. Cricket fans in Pakistan often claim ownership over players who have thrived in the PSL and Brook’s maiden T20 hundred – 102 not out for Lahore Qalandars in February – came immediately after an underwhelming Big Bash season.Of course, he has made most of his progress wearing a Yorkshire shirt, even if they are unlikely to see much of him after this winter. With Jonny Bairstow likely to miss the Test tour to Pakistan in December through injury and Ben Stokes’ ODI retirement opening up a middle-order spot in the 50-over side, Brook could start the 2023 English season as a first-choice pick across formats.As a former Under-19 captain and a consistent run-scorer in domestic cricket, Brook has long been earmarked as an England player for the future. Under Karachi’s Friday-night lights, the future started to unfold.

A comprehensive analysis that takes into account era, opposition strength, quality of wickets, big-tournament performances, and longevity

Anantha Narayanan15-Nov-2020A few months ago I wrote an article on the top ODI batsmen of all time that received many comments. I have used most of the insights gained from that earlier article to structure this article. The article is updated till the third ODI between England and Australia, played on September 16, 2020.A few points about comments I received on that earlier article.Though I had allocated only 32.5% for the three accumulation-based parameters (runs, major Cup-related achievements, Weighted Cup Runs) in the analysis of batsmen, even that was felt to be too high by many readers. They felt that the performance parameters should carry a higher allocation. This made a lot of sense.Readers recognised that winning major tournaments like World Cups is important but felt that the weight allotted to these achievements ought to be reduced.The allocation of points for Man-of-the-Match awards raised the hackles of many, who thought this overlapped hugely with the Ratings points parameter, which was an accurate and objective determination of the player’s performance in a match. The subjectivity in how MoM awards are given out irked many, and the fact that many MoM awards have been given for all-round performances (even at lower levels of each function) concerned a few.Quite a few readers felt that two parameters, own team’s batting strength and own team’s bowling strength, were not relevant while determining the best ODI batsmen of all time. They felt, rightly, that a batsman should not be penalised for having a strong bowling group or vice versa.Many readers felt that the percentage of runs scored by the batsman in a team total ought to find a place in the X-factor category.Based on all these points of feedback, I have tweaked my model to pick the top bowlers. The idea is to cover virtually all aspects involving ODI bowlers, and to be fair to bowlers across the eras – from 1975, when 19 matches were played, to 2019, when 150 matches were played, both being World Cup years. The key points of difference from the model for batting analysis are summarised below.The accumulation-based parameter total has been reduced to 20.0. Wickets carry 10 points (down from 15 for runs), major cup-related achievements carry 7.5 points (down from 12.5) and tournament wickets carry 2.5 points (down from 5.0). I hope that with this drastic reduction of longevity parameter weights, most readers will be satisfied.This means that the total for the performance parameters is increased from 52.5 to 70.0.The MoM parameter has been removed.The “own batting” and “own bowling” parameters have been removed. Instead, a few bowling-specific parameters have been introduced. Details of this are in the next section.The percentage of balls bowled and percentage of wickets taken by the bowler have also been introduced.I never get tired of comparing the fundamentally unsound batting average and the excellent bowling average. The batting average makes the patently ridiculous assumption that Viv Richards’ 189 not out and Kapil Dev’s 175 not out should not be counted as innings. Hence I have developed the concept of WBA (Weighted Batting Average). The details can be found here. On the other hand, the bowling average is exactly what it says it is – runs conceded per wicket. There are no red herrings to dilute the metric.While I could have taken the bowling average as it is for this article, I have always felt that the two components that go into creating the bowling average (RpW) – balls per wicket (BpW) and runs per ball (RpB) – should be treated separately since I think the BpW component should get a higher weight. Any knowledgeable follower of the ODI game will agree that a spell of 10-1-53-4 is almost always better for the bowler’s team than a spell of 10-3-25-1, barring special situations where the team is defending a low score. Hence the two components are handled separately. Given below are the parameters and their weights.Performance parameters (70 points)1. Adjusted Balls per Wicket (17.5 points)
2. Balls per Wicket peer comparison (specific to bowler’s career) (7.5 points)
3. Adjusted Runs per Ball (over) (12.5 points)
4. Runs per Over peer comparison (specific to bowler’s career) (5 points)
5. Top-order wickets taken (5 points)
6. Average quality of wickets taken (7.5 points)
7. Weighted quality of batsmen bowled to (5 points)
8. Ratings points (average and best bowling performance) (10 points)Accumulation parameters (20 points)9. Wickets taken (10 points)
10. Major tournament performances (7.5 points)
11. Weighted wickets taken in all tournaments (2.5 points)Miscellaneous parameters (10 points)12. Spell Wickets Index (2.5 points)
13. Spell Economy Index (2.5 points)
14. Percentage of team balls bowled and percentage of wickets taken (2.5 points)
15. Maidens bowled (number and percentage of overs) (2.5 points)These parameters are explained in detail below.Performance parameters 1. Adjusted Balls per Wicket (17.5 points): This is an absolute-value metric. The raw BpW value is adjusted by a complex process. The bowler’s career is separated into appropriate periods and each period’s BpW for the bowler adjusted by that period’s total BpI for the batsmen and the weighted average determined. Thus, a bowler will get credit if the batsmen in a particular period played longer innings, and lose credit if the batsmen in a particular period played shorter innings.Wasim Akram’s career BpW of 36.2 is adjusted downwards (favourably) to 35.2 because, across his career, batsmen played longer innings than the all-time average (across three periods). Jasprit Bumrah’s career BpW of 32.2 is adjusted upwards (unfavourably) to 33.0 because, across his career, batsmen played shorter innings than the all-time average (37.0 vs 37.9). Thus it can be seen that the two BpW figures of two bowlers who bowled 35 years apart have been rationalised and are comparable.2. BpW peer comparison (specific to bowler’s career) (7.5 points): This is a comparison metric. The bowler’s BpW figure across his exact career is compared to the BpW of all bowlers who are or were his contemporaries and the percentage value arrived at. Points are allotted based on this percentage value.3. Adjusted Runs per Ball (over) (12.5 points): This is an absolute-value metric. The raw RpO value is adjusted by a complex process. The bowler’s career is separated into appropriate periods. Each period’s RpO for the bowler is adjusted by that period’s total RpO for the batsmen and the weighted average determined. Thus, a bowler will get credit if the batsmen in a particular period scored quickly, and lose credit if the batsmen in a particular period scored slowly.Joel Garner’s career RpO of 3.10 is adjusted upwards (unfavourably) to 3.58 because, across his career, batsmen scored slower than the all-time average (3.90 vs 4.51). Rashid Khan’s career RpO of 4.16 is adjusted downwards (favourably) to 3.71 because, across his career, batsmen scored quicker than the all-time average (5.05 vs 4.51). Thus it can be seen that the two RpO figures of two bowlers who bowled 30 years apart have been rationalised and are comparable. Khan stands quite close to Garner.4. RpO peer comparison (specific to bowler’s career) (5 points): This is a comparison metric. The bowler’s RpO figure across his career is compared to the RpO of all bowlers who are or were his contemporaries and the percentage value arrived at. The points are allotted based on this value.5. Top-order wickets taken (5 points): This is a combination metric of both absolute and comparison values. The number of top-order batsmen dismissed is the absolute value used; 2.0 points are allotted for this. The percentage of top-order wickets to career wickets is a comparison value; 3.0 points are used for this. This is to reward the bowlers who dismiss Andy Flower and Babar Azam as compared to those who dismiss Pommie Mbangwa and Shaheen Afridi.6. Average value of wickets taken per spell (7.5 points): (A spell, for the purpose of this analysis, is all overs bowled in an innings.) This one is a pure performance metric. The value used is the average value of wickets captured per spell, considering the career-to-date WBA of the dismissed batsmen and the runs saved, if any (if the batsman was dismissed before his score reached his mean RpI). In summary, this is to reward bowler A who dismissed Virat Kohli for 5 as against bowler B who dismissed Kohli for 100 as against bowler C who dismissed Bumrah. A spell is taken as the base, rather than the wicket, in view of the importance of a spell to the match result.7. Weighted quality of batsmen bowled to (5 points): This metric reflects the average quality of batsman the bowler bowled to. In order to give it an adrenaline shot, I multiply the wickets captured by the quality of the batsmen (a composite of BpW and SR), sum the values and get the average value per wicket. This would ensure that a seven-wicket haul against Namibia will be put in its place and to reward bowlers who bowl successfully to the might of Australian batting machine as against those who do well against Zimbabwe.8. Performance Ratings Points (average and best bowling performance) (10 points): This is also a pure contribution metric. Average Performance Ratings points per innings are given 7.5 points and 2 the best-rated performance of the bowler is given 2.5 points.Accumulation parameters (20 points)9. Wickets taken (10 points): Self-explanatory. However, by giving this longevity parameter only 10 points, its impact has been reduced considerably. The difference in points between a player who takes 500 wickets and another who takes 100 is only around 7 points, which can easily be (and has been) made up in the performance areas.10. Major tournament performances (7.5 points): This is similar to the parameter for top batsmen, except that this receives a lower weight. In brief, the bowlers get points based on their team’s results in major tournaments and get points based on the total. The tournaments considered are:
– World Cups (12)
– ICC Champions Trophy (8)
– Tournaments in which a minimum of six teams participated (6)11. Weighted wickets taken in all tournaments (2.5 points): In this case, I consider all the wickets taken by the bowler in key knockout matches. Each spell is weighted by the match importance index, with a maximum of 150% for the World Cup final. The overall summary is below.Anantha NarayananMiscellaneous parameters (10 points)12. Spell Wickets Index (2.5 points): This is to recognise the overall value of wicket-taking spells. Only spells in which three or more wickets are taken are considered. A simple weighted valuation of spells, classified into three categories, is applied to determine this value.13. Spell Economy Index (2.5 points): This is to recognise the overall value of economical spells. Only spells in which the bowler’s economy rate is below 83.3% of the team’s economy rate are considered. A simple weighted valuation of spells, classified into three categories, is applied to determine this value.14. Percentage of team balls bowled and wickets taken (2.5 points): Simple base values of percentage of team balls bowled and percentage of team wickets taken are used to determine this value. Often, a bowler carries more than 20% of the team’s load. The two components are given equal weight (1.25 points each).15. Maidens bowled (number and percentage of overs) (2.5 points): This is a combination metric of both absolute value and comparison value. The number of maidens bowled is the absolute value used; 1.0 point is allotted for this. The percentage of maidens to career overs bowled is a comparison value; 1.5 points are used for this.Let us now move on to the main tables. All base performances refer to the adjusted values. The qualification criterion is 100 ODI wickets; 152 bowlers qualify.Anantha NarayananGlenn McGrath is the best ODI bowler of all time. He achieves this feat despite being 150 wickets behind Muttiah Muralitharan. This is mainly because McGrath’s performance figures are extraordinary: outstanding base values – a BpW figure of 34.1 and RpO of 4.01 (leading to an average of 22.80) have helped him achieve this feat. McGrath tops on only one metric – the Major Cups parameter (mainly because he played in three World Cup wins). However, he is in the top group on almost all parameters – there is no parameter on which he has a low valuation.Muralitharan is in a very well-deserved second place. There is no doubt that his 531 wickets helped him a lot. However, he would not have got to second place without being excellent in the base performance values – a BpW of 35.5 and RpO of 4.02 (leading to an average of 23.75). He has taken many important tournament wickets. Like McGrath, there is no parameter on which Muralitharan has a low valuation. One could argue he is below par in the maiden-overs value, but that is a reflection of the times he bowled in.Akram, the master swing bowler and the winner of many battles for Pakistan, stands in third place. His figures are virtually identical to Muralitharan’s. His base values are a BpW of 35.2 and RpO of 4.21 (leading to an average of 24.68). Being an attacking bowler, he suffers only in the maidens section.Brett Lee is in a surprisingly high position, just behind Akram. He has an excellent strike rate – a BpW of 30.1 and RpO of 4.68 (leading to an average of 23.48). A true match-winner, almost always bowling at top pace.I am very happy at the fifth place secured by Garner. This shows that the ratings process is sound. If a bowler with just 146 wickets can outshine many with double his tally, then I am confident that we have captured the essence of bowling dynamics very well. This despite Garner’s base figures being adjusted upwards – a BpW of 34.9 and RpO of 3.58 (leading to an average of 20.79). His career average was 18.85. Note how highly Garner is placed on the ratings points parameter. He leads in no fewer than four parameters, including three performance measures.I am equally pleased at the sixth-place finish of Mitchell Starc, despite a low haul of 183 wickets. However, the base values tell a compelling story – a BpW of 20.6 and RpO of 4.57 (leading to an average of 20.62). His adjusted average is the best of all bowlers. A very aggressive bowler, bowling to take wickets always. He has conceded runs but that, again, is a reflection of the times. He leads on three parameters, including two performance measures.The top 11 is rounded off by a quintet of excellent pace bowlers – Chaminda Vaas, Shaun Pollock, Shane Bond, Trent Boult and Waqar Younis – a magnificent pace bowler who never bothered about the runs he conceded. He also got next to nothing on the Major Cups front. Boult is grossly underrated. Khan’s 14th place, with a mere 133 wickets, is a tribute to the feisty legspinner, whose average is an astounding 16.97. Let no one talk about his bowling to weaker teams. The extensive range of parameters has taken care of that. And let us not forget that unlike Bumrah and Starc, who have powerful batting machines behind them, Khan does not have great support. His case is similar to that of Muralitharan in the first third of his career.Australia dominate the table with six entries – three in the top ten and three in the next ten. Sri Lanka and Pakistan have three entries each.The high parameter values and the associated metric values are shown below.Anantha NarayananGarner leads on three parameters and Starc on two. Despite a significant increase in Garner’s RpO figure, he leads comfortably there. Starc’s BpW figure is phenomenal. Garner’s 5 for 38 in the 1979 World Cup final was rated seventh in my all-time best bowling performances table. Muralitharan’s top-order wickets score is a tribute not just to the many wickets he took but also the percentage share of those wickets. Two modern giants, Boult and Kagiso Rabada, lead on one parameter each.Anantha NarayananMuralitharan and McGrath share the top spots on the accumulation criteria. But it must be seen that the advantage they gain because of these placements is not very high, since only 20 points are available for allocation here. McGrath’s three World Cup wins have helped him. Across many tournaments, Muralitharan has performed wonderfully well.Starc and Garner take the top places on the spell-related parameters. Correctly, Rashid Khan is on top of the percentage-of-team-bowling parameter. In terms of bowling and taking wickets, he does more than his share of work. Finally, a tribute to the accuracy of Richard Hadlee, who leads on the maidens-bowled parameter. His numbers are unbelievable, even if you concede that most batsmen of his era considered ODIs a shortened form of Test matches.Anantha NarayananThe table above summarises the three main groups. Starc leads the performance group, closely followed by Shane Bond and Khan. Muralitharan leads in the accumulation group, followed by McGrath and Akram. Garner is the standout leader in the miscellaneous group. This has helped him bridge the gap because of points lost in the accumulation group.Anantha NarayananThe bowlers who stand out on the performance values are Starc, Garner, Bond and Khan. They have secured above 52 points (out of 70). However, this does not mean that an accumulation wizard like McGrath is lagging behind. He has 51.8 points. Look at the high quantum of points for Lee and Boult.Anantha NarayananThe accumulation table goes as per the overall numbers. McGrath and Muralitharan are the only two bowlers to accumulate over 15 points (out of 20). Akram is just behind. However, look at the low accumulation of points by modern greats like Starc, Bond, Boult and Khan. It is amazing how they have still managed to get into the overall all-time top 20.Anantha NarayananThe miscellaneous table sees Garner stand out, way ahead of the others. He is followed by McGrath and Bond. Michael Holding, Shaun Pollock and Khan come in with excellent numbers.Conclusion
In conclusion, let me say that most of the problems raised by the readers in response to the article on top batsmen have been addressed here. McGrath and Muralitharan are on top, helped by their accumulation figures, but mainly because they have excellent performance figures. Akram is not far behind. This methodology has also allowed the great bowlers across the years – Garner, Starc, Khan, Bond, Boult, etc – to force their way into the top ten despite taking below 200 wickets apiece. So the system used has been strong on the side of the performance parameters, while at the same time giving reasonable credit for accumulation parameters. I can say that no bowler of repute is missing from the top 20. The next five bowlers are Bumrah, Saeed Ajmal, Makhaya Ntini, Ajantha Mendis and Damien Fleming.

Alarm bells are blaring in the Bronx after Aaron Judge was placed on the 10-day IL with a right flexor strain. While the Yankees were lucky to avoid further injury to their superstar outfielder, the injury couldn't have come at a worse time with the team currently owning MLB's second worst record since June 13.

As the team continues to flounder across virtually every facet of the game, they are also sliding down the standings and find themselves at risk of potentially missing out on the postseason altogether.

As it stands, the Yankees sit in second in the AL East and have fallen 6 1/2 games behind the division-leading Blue Jays. New York has lost seven of its last 10, enabling the third-place Red Sox to narrow the gap between them to just one game. The wild card race is tightening, too, as the Yankees are holding onto the best of the three AL wild card spots by a thread, with their lead shrinking to just one game.

Judge's injury will require some steady navigation from the front office as it reassesses its best steps at the trade deadline. Losing Judge for any period of time will likely see New York slip further down the standings, and they'll also be forced to decide whether Giancarlo Stanton is a viable option in right field given Judge's elbow injury and its impact on his ability to throw when he returns.

We'll take a look at a few courses of action for the Yankees at the trade deadline, discussing what their best moves are following the temporary absence of their leader and AL MVP candidate in Judge.

Remain Buyers, but Focus on Players With Multiple Years of Control

One option for the Yankees is to stick to their guns and remain aggressive at the trade deadline. However, there remains the reality that this team simply might not have what it takes to win a World Series, especially after Judge's injury. If that is the case, their best bet would be to still try to improve the roster this season, but pursue players that going to be pure rentals.

The Ryan McMahon trade is a prime example of that, having brought over a standout defensive third baseman and a left-handed hitter who is under contract for two more seasons. Even if this season falls flat, McMahon's steady glove will be a valuable asset at the hot corner for New York for the next two seasons.

Another name that fits this billing is Mitch Keller from the Pirates, who is under contract through 2028. He's one of the best arms available at the deadline and would command a hefty return, but he's been one of the few bright spots in Pittsburgh this season and could be a significant improvement to the Yankees' rotation both this year and for years to come.

Acquire a Defensive-Minded Outfielder

With Judge set to return as a DH whenever he's activated from IL, Giancarlo Stanton will be forced to play the outfield for the first time in two years. With Jasson Dominguez already providing shoddy performances out in left field, the Yankees would realistically boast the worst defensive outfield in MLB if forced to start both Dominguez and Stanton.

One way to alleviate this would be to acquire a defensive-minded outfielder to put into a platoon of sorts with Stanton and Dominguez. A reunion with a player like Harrison Bader from the Twins would likely be a relatively inexpensive deal that would bring a versatile outfielder back to a team he already has some familiarity with. Bader has appeared at all three outfield positions in Minnesota this year, flexibility which could prove invaluable as the Yankees look to realign their defense in Judge's absence.

Business As Usual

There's certainly still a belief within the organization that the team can compete in 2025, and despite the Judge injury, it's possible the Yankees approach the trade deadline as they otherwise would've with a healthy Judge.

That would entail swinging big in order to buff up the pitching staff, both in the starting rotation and the bullpen. The Yankees have a team ERA of 6.16 over the last four weeks as their pitching staff has faltered massively. Bringing in a quality starter like the aforementioned Keller or one of Merrill Kelly or Zac Gallen from the Diamondbacks could help turn things around. They'd also need to bring in a reliable late-innings reliever, perhaps Pirates closer David Bednar or Ryan Helsley from the Cardinals, with Luke Weaver and Devin Williams also not living up to expectations.

The Judge injury certainly will force the front office to reassess, and precisely what direction the team intends to take is not yet clear, but there are a few options they can look to if they still want to be buyers over the next few days.

Manchester United are considering selling captain Bruno Fernandes amid interest from the Saudi Pro League with two major targets picked out to replace the club captain.

Man Utd identify two priority targets

Amorim stressed the importance of securing a much-needed Old Trafford win when Manchester United host “top team” Bournemouth on Monday, looking to continue a run of form which has seen United pick up seven points from three matches since the disappointment against Everton.

Captain Fernandes has been phenomenal in that run, scoring twice and providing three assists, but INEOS are now open to the Portugal star’s departure in order to fund new signings.

According to a recent report, Saudi Pro League clubs are set to offer Fernandes a way out of Old Trafford, with both Al Hilal and Al Ittihad considering a move in the region of £70m.

INEOS view the 31-year-old as the club’s most sellable asset and as someone worth cashing in on before his value decreases, with his contract set to expire in just over 18 months.

The Red Devils do hold an option to extend his stay by another year until June 2028, but they have identified two top targets which will require funds in Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson and Brighton and Hove Albion enforcer Carlos Baleba.

Both players could cost club record fees and INEOS are determined to make United financially secure while rebuilding Amorim’s squad.

Forest are set to demand ‘£100m-plus’ for Anderson while Baleba’s price is in the region of £74m.

Mainoo could be sold instead Man Utd gem could be "the world's best", but he's becoming the new Mainoo

Manchester United have one star in their ranks who could suffer the same fate as Kobbie Mainoo.

ByEthan Lamb 3 days ago

The other option on offer to INEOS is to cash in on their homegrown talent Kobbie Mainoo. While the 20 year-old’s value has suffered after falling out of favour this season, his status as an England international guarantees a good return which would go down as pure profit.

Chelsea are reportedly interested in a move for the young midfielder while there is also interest from Napoli in Serie A, where fellow United academy product Scott McTominay has thrived since joining in 2024.

Speaking in September, Amorim defended his decision to continually leave Mainoo out of his team: “I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie… But that doesn’t mean I need to put Kobbie [in] when I feel that I shouldn’t put Kobbie [in], so it’s my decision.”

Shohei Ohtani is man.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves tied 5–5 in the bottom of the ninth, Ohtani smashed the first pitch he saw for a 399-foot walk-off home run to win the team's eighth game of the season.

It was fitting that Ohtani would win the game for the Dodgers on his own MVP bobblehead night. Fans lined up hours in advance of the game for a chance to take home one of his bobbleheads, and then the three-time MVP delivered exactly what those fans would've dreamt of seeing.

Dodger Stadium understandably went wild as Ohtani rounded the bases. His teammates drenched him when he got to home plate.

The Dodgers became the first reigning World Series champion in MLB history to start the season 8–0. And, of course, Dodgers fans can thank Ohtani for solidifying that piece of history.

Fans were already chanting "MVP" at Ohtani as he was doing his post-game interview on the field. Could he be a three-peat? There's a lot more baseball left to play this season, but doubt Ohtani at your own peril.

Mustafizur Rahman and Mahedi Hasan picked up five wickets between them in eight overs

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2025Dasun Shanaka clobbered 64 not out off 37 balls to propel Sri Lanka through the middle and death overs, after their openers had provided a rapid 44-run opening stand.In between those batters, however, Bangladesh imposed themselves, mainly through Mustafizur Rahman and Mahedi Hasan, who took five wickets between them, and were also economical. Mustafizur was especially impressive, taking 3 for 20. His last over – the 19th of the innings – cost Sri Lanka three wickets, but they could only scramble five runs off it. Mustafizur had also had Shanaka dropped off his bowling on 38 off 27, in the 17th over.Related

Tait confident Mustafizur Rahman will do better against Sri Lanka

Bereaved Dunith Wellalage rejoins SL squad in Dubai

Shanaka’s was not the only catch Bangladesh missed. Mustafizur himself had failed to attack a dying chance at fine leg (he likely could have got there), to reprieve Kusal Perera on 11. Charith Asalanka was also put down by Towhid Hridoy at deep point, on 16. Both those batters made five further runs. Asalanka was also dropped a second time by Hridoy, but was run out off that same delivery, attempting a second.Sri Lanka will feel their total competitive, on a Dubai track known to be tough for batters. Bangladesh are unlikely to be fazed by its heft either, however.

Former Zimbabwe captain and legspinner Graeme Cremer has returned to the country’s domestic cricket structure and is available for international selection. Cremer, who is 38 and led Zimbabwe between 2016 and 2018, gave up cricket for golf and then moved with his family to the UAE, where his wife Merna works as an airline pilot. He has now made his return in Zimbabwe’s National Premier League, the 45-over club competition.ESPNcricinfo has confirmed he is eligible for selection for the national side and could be in contention for September’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers, which will be played in Zimbabwe.Cremer last played international cricket in March 2018 and has been involved in coaching roles in Dubai, including with the Rajasthan Royals Academy. He is now playing for the defending champions, Takashinga Patriots 1 Cricket Club, and is the leading wicket-taker after two matches.Related

• Cremer temporarily puts cricket career on hold for family

• 'A debut-like feeling' – Taylor grateful for second chance

“It’s amazing being back,” Cremer told about his return after the match against Queens Sports Club in Kwekwe. “Kwekwe was my home ground for many years, so it was great walking out and being part of Takashinga, which is such a prestigious club. They welcomed me into the team and it was an amazing team environment. I’m really happy with the start.”Cremer took 4 for 43 as Takashinga defended 263 for 6 and won by 134 runs. That match, played on August 3, also featured Brendan Taylor, who has subsequently made his return to the Test side after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code. Taylor scored 61 in that match as he tuned up ahead of his international comeback.”We are close friends, myself and Brendan, so it was an amazing feeling being on the field with him again and nice to see him score some runs,” Cremer said. “It’s great watching him bat, and then walking out onto the field with him, just how we communicate because we have played so much cricket together. It really helps someone like that out with me.”Taylor and Cremer are two of Zimbabwe’s most experienced players, and their return to the set-up with two ICC tournaments (T20 World Cup 2026 and ODI World Cup 2027, which Zimbabwe will co-host) speaks to Zimbabwe Cricket’s seriousness to ensure they qualify. Zimbabwe missed out on the last T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean after losing to Uganda in qualifiers and have not played a 50-over World Cup since 2015 after missing out on both the 2019 and 2023 editions.Zimbabwe will host the Africa Regional Qualifier for the upcoming T20 World Cup from September 26 to October 4. The tournament consists of eight teams, and the top two will progress to the main event.

MatériaMais Notícias

A CBF divulgou na quinta-feira (12) a análise do VAR da partida na qual o Volta Redonda bateu o Paysandu por 1 a 0. A análise dos lances da partida válida pela sexta rodada do quadrangular final da Série C apontou que o meia Robinho, do Papão da Curuzu, foi expulso após ter sido substituído.

O Voltaço acenou com a possibilidade de entrar com um pedido de impugnação da partida no STJD, afirmando que o meia atleta teria recebido o cartão vermelho ainda em campo e, por isso, a equipe paraense teria de ficar com um jogador a menos. No entanto, as imagens e vídeos mostram membros do VAR revisando o lance. No momento da expulsão, Robinho tinha sido substituído e Ronaldo Marques estava no gramado do Estádio Raulino de Oliveira.

A partida estava empatada sem gols quando tudo aconteceu. O Volta Redonda marcou com Bruno Barra, mas tinha de vencer por dois gols para obter o acesso à Série B do Brasileirão.

Na súmula, Wilton Pereira Sampaio afirmou que expulsou Robinho aos 13 minutos do segundo tempo por “Retardar excessivamente sua saída de campo, causando um princípio de tumulto com atletas adversários quando já se encontrava fora de campo de jogo após a sua substituição”.

Everton made it four games without a win in frustrating fashion, as a struggling West Ham United side came from behind to rescue a draw on Nuno Espirito Santo’s debut.

Moyes "disappointed" by West Ham draw

After an impressive start, Everton have endured four games that they’ll want to forget fairly quickly. Having been defeated by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup in midweek, David Moyes would have been keen to see his side take West Ham to the sword and prove that they are far from the relegation candidates that the Hammers seem likely to be this season.

Michael Keane’s goal inside 20 minutes set the hosts on their way and it looked as though they would prove the point they were aiming to make. As for West Ham, they found themselves in an all too familiar position.

Just like against Aston Villa and Wolves in previous weeks, however, the Toffees soon became complacent and allowed Jarrod Bowen to strike back against his former manager to rescue his side a much-needed point on the road. It’s the type of game that Everton would have expected to win at the Hill Dickinson, but ultimately extended their winless run instead.

Speaking to reporters after the 1-1 draw, Moyes admitted his disappointment, saying: “We gave up too many transitions – mainly in the second half. I’m disappointed we didn’t get the second goal, but we probably didn’t create anything really clear cut.

“I take lots of positives from the game. The one thing we mustn’t forget is what a good team West Ham have got. They’ve got Brazilian internationals, they’ve got England internationals. They’ve got a really good team, so it certainly wasn’t going to be a game where we could come and roll them over. Far from it.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson also had his say and took aim at one particular Everton star, who struggled once again.

Ferguson slams "poor" Beto in Everton display

Appearing on Monday Night Football as Everton and West Ham played out a 1-1 draw, Ferguson slammed Beto for his “very poor” performance on another frustrating night for the Toffees forward.

The former striker then went on to say: “Everton struggled to create chances tonight. Grealish, Ndiaye, Beto – you need a better platform. Beto is good at running in behind, but you need a platform to get up the pitch. With his feet, technically, he’s not there.”

Moyes has just unearthed Everton's brand new Baines & it's not Mykolenko

Everton drew 1-1 with West Ham United in the Premier League as they crept up into ninth place.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 30, 2025

After just two goals in eight games in all competitions, Beto’s form is understandably the topic of frustration among both Everton fans and pundits.

With Thierno Barry vying to take his place too, the 27-year-old, on £60,000-a-week must turn things around before he’s cast aside altogether by Moyes in Merseyside.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has a point to prove in what is a crucial week for the tactician, amid reports surrounding his future.

Enzo Maresca under some pressure at Chelsea

The Blues’ 3-1 loss to Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, thanks largely to Trevoh Chalobah’s sending off just after half-time, has put more pressure on Maresca after a winless last few weeks in the top flight.

Chelsea haven’t picked up three points in the league since their 2-0 London derby win over Fulham in late August, with Maresca’s side just edging past Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup and losing convincingly to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Maresca hasn’t been helped by their lack of defensive options, and you can make a serious case that Chelsea really should’ve brought in a star centre-back in the summer as one of their top priorities.

Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill are all injured right now, with Chalobah also suspended for their crucial next league game against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Chelsea spent £285 million in the summer window, and were the division’s second-biggest spenders behind this weekend’s opponents. However, not a penny of that outlay went on a senior defender, and Maresca will undoubtedly be frustrated by that.

The Premier League’s biggest summer spenders

Team

Spent

Received

Net Spend

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

Reports suggest that Chelsea are backing Maresca for the time being, and this is echoed by the likes of Fabrizio Romano, who say that the Blues don’t plan to make any immediate changes.

However, while this is their public standing, another reliable journalist, Simon Phillips, has revealed that there is “definite tension” between Maresca and Chelsea’s board — so he is far from bulletproof.

What’s more, it is believed that two big-name Chelsea stars are not fully buying into Maresca’s philosophies.

Cole Palmer and Reece James not fully behind Enzo Maresca at Chelsea

Writing via his Substack, Phillips has named Cole Palmer and Reece James as the players who are not entirely convinced by Maresca, with the former sidelined after Chelsea’s decision to play him through a groin injury.

Phillips adds that sources close to Palmer are annoyed by the circumstances surrounding his groin problem, while the £130,000-per-week star himself is frustrated too, as he wants to be fit and firing in the build up to next year’s World Cup.

While Chelsea aren’t planning on sacking Maresca, Phillips suggests that the tactician could decide to walk of his own accord if things escalate any further, as it’s reported that he’s “not entirely happy” at Cobham about a “number of things”.

That being said, despite “many clubs lining up for him”, Maresca would seriously lose out financially if he did do that, so that scenario remains unlikely for now.

Just a few months ago, Pep Guardiola’s former pupil was celebrating back-to-back trophy wins with their triumphs in the Conference League and Club World Cup. We believe he should be given more time yet to turn things around, and Chelsea are planning to back Maresca with a much-needed centre-back signing in January.

That should go some way to alleviating the relationship between Maresca and Chelsea’s hierarchy, while a good run of games would also do wonders to change the mood.