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They had beaten Pakistan in the 2022 World Cup and in a Super Over in late 2020. Zimbabwe would want to repeat it in the upcoming ODIs

Danyal Rasool23-Nov-2024Perhaps even an attempt to preview this series is a bit of false advertising, because it implies a wider context in which a three-match ODI series between Zimbabwe and Pakistan is placed. It is not. It was a series earmarked to happen in the Future Tours Programme (FTP), so a window had to be found, and the last week of November sounded just about the right time for it.There is, after all, no logical planning sequence that takes anyone directly from Hobart to Bulawayo, a journey much of this Pakistan squad has made. Just last Monday, they wrapped up the final game of a six-match white-ball tour with a T20 in Hobart, with another six matches now scheduled over the next fortnight in Zimbabwe. Unlike that tour, where each game was played in a different city, Pakistan will not leave Bulawayo at all on this tour.Zimbabwe’s calendar is much more open for obvious reasons. A romp through a T20 World Cup sub-regional Africa qualifier last month is their most recent international engagement. It caused something of a murmur on the wider cricketing stage due to a record-breaking rout Zimbabwe inflicted over Gambia, totting up the highest T20I score and the biggest win in the format’s history.Related

• Aaqib: Pakistan's main focus is ODIs and Champions Trophy

• Zimbabwe pick three uncapped players for Pakistan ODIs

• Babar, Afridi, Naseem rested for Zimbabwe tour

A win over India in the opening game of a T20I series in July, though, is the more impressive result, even if a Test defeat at Ireland’s hands is more indicative of the true position Zimbabwe’s cricket is currently in. They all might have been different formats, but with a shallower player pool to draw from, it is safer to map Zimbabwe’s results cross-format than it is with most Full Members.It’s also necessary, because Zimbabwe have no recent ODIs to read into, anyway. Their most consequential 50-over games came in the summer of 2023, when, for the second consecutive qualifying campaign, they were among the two best teams of the tournament only for one damaging loss to keep them out of the World Cup proper. They followed that up with a pair of losses against Ireland and Sri Lanka either side of the turn of the year, their last ODIs.They do have a familiar-looking squad, though. The batting stalwarts include captain Craig Ervine, Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza, with fast bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava also part of the side; all five were part of the team that beat Pakistan after a Super Over in an ODI in November 2020. Flashy top-order batter Brian Bennett has been in decent List A form in Zimbabwe of late, while Tadiwanashe Marumani has shown sparks.With no Champions Trophy involvement ahead, this series will be a big deal in itself for Zimbabwe, a chance to test themselves against a vastly superior opponent, but one they have the canny ability to spring surprises upon from time to time.Pakistan come in with new head coach Aaqib Javed, who earlier this week declared ODI was the most important format for them at the moment. The Champions Trophy is a home tournament for Pakistan, who are also defending champions, so making sure the 50-over side is perfectly fine-tuned matters more to them than most. They come fresh off the back of a commanding ODI series win in Australia, their only 50-over cricket to date since the 2023 World Cup. But this series is part of that rare bounty of ODI cricket that now tends to cluster around a big 50-over tournament; they follow it up with three such games in South Africa, followed by a home triangular series that New Zealand and South Africa will also play in.While Aaqib said Pakistan wouldn’t tinker too much with the ODI side, there are a few departures from their full-strength team. Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have all been rested. With Fakhar Zaman also missing owing to a mix of disciplinary and fitness issues, it means some unfamiliarity both at the top and tail of the innings.Captain Mohammad Rizwan may have to shoulder more batting responsibility, while Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub have opportunities to make the opening slots theirs. How Pakistan balance the side is also a point of interest after they went into the Australia ODIs playing just four specialist fast bowlers, planning on simply bowling Australia out in 40 overs. It’s likely Pakistan go with a less gung-ho approach on tracks that may not offer the same zip, with spinners Abrar Ahmed and Faisal Akram getting chances to showcase their skills against perhaps less storied opposition.And that’s that, really. There’s the risk of the odd shower for much of the next week; Zimbabwe tends to get seasonal rain around this time of year. Bulawayo will offer a nice atmosphere; Zimbabwean fans always tend to make sure of that. The relationship between these sides is convivial, and for Pakistan, it’s one of very few places where they will not be thronged by local media or supporters. It’s not the highest-profile cricket tour in the world this week, but it’s a laid-back one in a country that enjoys its cricket. If that sounds like your sort of thing, that’s really all the context that matters.

His towering frame and ability to generate steep bounce could give NZ’s attack a point of difference in Pakistan and India

Deivarayan Muthu08-Jan-2023Henry Shipley often imagined himself as Shane Bond during Christmas Day clashes with his cousins when he was a kid. Having earned his maiden New Zealand call-up, Shipley, now 26, is on the verge of becoming a Black Cap himself.While Shipley can generate sharp pace, he is more of a bowler in the mould of Kyle Jamieson than Bond. His towering frame (1.96 metres) and ability to produce steep bounce often draws comparisons with Jamieson. It’s something that even selector Gavin Larsen has acknowledged.”Bounce is the key for him, given his height, but equally the reason he gets given the new ball at times for Canterbury is he has the ability to move the ball in the air,” Larsen had said after selecting Shipley in the New Zealand squads for the tours of Pakistan and India. “Anyone that can bowl à la Kyle Jamieson with that sort of a height, swinging in and getting bounce, the potential is there that he will be a handful.”In the absence of Jamieson, who is still recovering from a back injury, Shipley is expected to provide New Zealand’s attack with a potent point of difference on what could be flat tracks in Pakistan and India. Bowling to the likes of Babar Azam and Virat Kohli could unnerve a rookie, but Shipley plans to shut out the outside noise and just do his job.Related

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Uncapped Shipley in NZ squad for ODI tours of Pakistan, India

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Southee: New Zealand were 'one ball away from series victory'

“I think it will just be cool to say [post-tour that] I’ve been over there, and not be too worried about what happens I guess,” Shipley said. “We want to come away with some wins and hopefully win both series, but it’s [about] just getting over there, getting your feet on the ground and doing your job that’s at hand.”Shipley’s national call-up is reward for his remarkable consistency with the ball on the easy-paced hit-through-the-line one-day pitches and small grounds in New Zealand in domestic cricket. In November, he took career-best List A figures of 6 for 40, including a hat-trick in the Ford Trophy opener for Canterbury against Wellington. It was the first hat-trick for Canterbury and only fourth overall in 52 years of the tournament.Shipley continued his rich form in the Ford Trophy and is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 12 strikes in five games at an economy rate of 4.20. Earlier in last season’s 20-over Super Smash, he had emerged as the top wicket-taker, with 18 scalps in 11 games at an economy rate of 7.25 in Canterbury’s run to the final, where they lost to Northern Districts.Shipley’s Canterbury coach Peter Fulton has had a hand in his progress. “Fulty is a pretty straight up character,” Shipley said. “He tells you what you need to do to get better and he can be pretty black and white. When you don’t have that clarity, it can be quite hard to understand what it is that’s going to get you to the next level. He simplified it from the very beginning and kind of took my thoughts away from it and let me do my work at the domestic level.”Working with international players like Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell at Canterbury has also helped Shipley. He has now reunited with them in Pakistan.”I don’t know [on what has clicked for him recently]. I think there can be some individual success but on the back of a team performance as well,” Shipley said. “I’ve been quite lucky with Canterbury, and we’ve had a lot of success in all three formats and the guys around you pave the way for the individual side of things.”Shipley hails from a strong cricketing background. His uncle Mark Priest was a stalwart for Canterbury and even played 21 international games for New Zealand while his father James is a “cricket tragic”.”My old man is a bit of a cricket tragic, and my uncle played a bit of cricket for New Zealand and Canterbury,” Shipley said. “So that [cricket] was always around me growing up and I’ve always been involved with Canterbury Country, Greendale and Darefield [clubs]. I guess it was something not I didn’t have a choice, but it was put in front of me from an early age and I kind of just took it from there.”However, the path to the top hasn’t been smooth. Shipley has been on New Zealand’s radar for a while, but multiple injuries have derailed his career. The injuries bothered him so much that at one point he stopped enjoying his cricket. Shipley has now learnt to embrace setbacks and just wants to cherish every moment on the field.Henry Shipley has been at the forefront of Canterbury’s recent success•Getty Images”I guess I’m never really looking to play safe,” Shipley said. “I think injuries are just a part of it and I guess they’re frustrating whenever they pop up and I’m sure they’re going to pop up in the future. It’s one of those things where you try and get on the park and stay there and enjoy it as long as you can.”For a while there, I was probably so conscious of that side of the game that I never really just enjoyed playing and perhaps something in the last 24 months has changed and the attitude has been to just enjoy being out there each game.”Shipley can also give it a good whack with the bat, as his T20 strike rate of 137 indicates. Larsen backs Shipley to become a genuine allrounder.”He’s a player who has been on our radar for a few years now – probably five-six years,” Larsen said. “He has performed really well over the past couple of years. I consider him to be a genuine allrounder. He’s tall and he’s a power-hitter. So, he offers a really good all-round skillset. Genuine allrounders are like gold dust in cricket and we would like to think he will develop his skills on this tour and push hard for us.”Trent Boult, Jimmy Neesham and Martin Guptill have all turned down their New Zealand contracts to become T20 freelancers, but the domestic system is still robust enough to feed promising talents like Shipley to the national side. A strong early impression in Pakistan and India could potentially propel Shipley into New Zealand’s World Cup plans.

Too few West Indies batsmen showed the application required in their bid to salvage a draw

Nagraj Gollapudi20-Jul-2020With an hour left in the game, as the final drinks break of this Test was called, Ben Stokes walked alongside Shannon Gabriel. It was a matter of time for an England victory with Gabriel and his new-ball partner Kemar Roach doing their best to avoid the inevitable. But Stokes did not want West Indies to relax: he said a few words in the direction of Gabriel, who just kept his head down. First ball upon the resumption, England got the breakthrough.Stokes plucked out two stumps and why not – he had flattened West Indies’ bowlers with the bat first and then broken the resolve of their batsmen twice via crucial breakthroughs with the ball. One of those was that of Jermaine Blackwood, just a ball away from tea.Blackwood was in the middle of a flourishing partnership with Shamarh Brooks in the second session. Their alliance had cleaned up after the farce that was the Windies top-order, which showed no fight, resolve or technique and succumbed at the first punch from England.ALSO READ: Sky’s the limit for ‘Mr Incredible’ Stokes – RootBlackwood had picked up three early fours off Sam Curran and had dominated Dom Bess from the word go. Playing his naturally attacking game, Blackwood felt comfortable. So much so in that final over before tea, bowled by – who else? – Stokes, Blackwood felt he could afford to smile and chirp back to the England allrounder.Stokes was attempting to expose Blackwood’s weakness: facing the short-pitched delivery. Bowling from around the stumps, wide of the crease, Stokes banged in the perfect short ball, that climbed sharply into the ribs of the airborne Blackwood. Instead of ducking it, Blackwood responded awkwardly to fend it off, but lobbed a catch that Jos Buttler took running to his left. Stokes did not waste the opportunity to say a few words in the direction of Blackwood.It was the turning point and West Indies never recovered. West Indies lost this Test because of many reasons, but the most important was their batsmen never showed the relentlessness of Stokes. With the bat, Stokes had shown the grit and determination to succeed – however ugly he looked, however slow he played. What mattered to him was the big picture, building a big total, and then forcing West Indies to follow-on. Allied with the belief of Stuart Broad, Stokes nearly had West Indies facing embarrassment on Sunday.Although England ultimately had to bat again, they did so from a position of strength. Then, for the second day in succession, Broad made the new ball talk. John Campbell had already spilled an easy catch from Stokes, and then further embarrassed himself by once again becoming a walking wicket.Shai Hope, too, has been hopeless. A nip-backer from Broad reared off a length from the fourth-stump line to hit the top of his off stump. Hope meanwhile squatted in response as if it was a grubber. Hope’s Test career now hangs in balance. He has been totally out of sorts, unable to find a rhythm and settle down. Unlike Kraigg Brathwaite, who has at least proved that he can play late and play time despite his string of failures in the second innings, Hope has looked like man with a head full of questions instead.Shamarh Brooks fell to Sam Curran for 62•Getty ImagesFor once the vigilant defence of Roston Chase failed, leaving the responsibility of saving the Test match with Brooks and Blackwood. With Blackwood showing intent, Brooks played second fiddle initially, and after the Jamaican left, he showed character to withstand the renewed pressure from England. Could he do what Blackwood did in Southampton to take West Indies to the finish line and secure a draw? He only had one specialist batting partner in his captain Jason Holder, after Shane Dowrich once again showed his weakness against the short delivery.With the ball getting softer, but staying low, in the final session Curran went round the stumps, and lured Brooks with slow cutters. The ploy was to draw the batsman forward with silly mid-off and a short cover placed as a trap. Brooks was attentive initially and watched the ball, playing late with soft hands. The margin of error was zero – if he failed, it was end of story. And that is what happened when Curran burst through, despite the watchful gaze of Brooks, who did not even review having been rapped on the knee, in front of off stump.They might have eventually taken the game into the final hour, but West Indies were not close to batting out the 80-odd overs they needed to for a draw that would secure the Wisden Trophy. West Indies made a cumulative total of 485 runs in the match, which was nearly what Engalnd made in the first innnings (469). No West Indies batsman has scored a century in the series so far. Brathwaite, Blackwood and Brooks have shown some resolve, but they will admit they have lacked the hunger and belief of Stokes.Despite the slow nature of the pitches and dry conditions, the tourists have been vulnerable against balls arriving on the stumps: so far this series they have lost 22 wickets in that fashion, at 10.50 apiece.Holder admitted it was a concern. “Many of our batters got caught on the crease, on a surface like this you need to commit forward or back,” Holder told Sky Sports after the defeat. “We’ve got to understand scenarios better. We fought through decent periods in the game but maybe need a little bit more grit, determination to get through challenging spells. It’s just about getting through those tough spells.”In the afternoon session the TV cameras caught West Indies head coach Phil Simmons stealing a few winks in the dressing room. That image captures nicely the state of mind of most of his batsmen. We all have taken a nap at work but in a Test match is a different thing: West Indies were caught snoozing by a relentless England.

After last night’s disaster, West Ham United fans probably wish the international break had never come to an end.

Nuno Espírito Santo took charge of his first home Premier League match against Brentford, and to say the Hammers let him down would be a colossal understatement.

It was one of the most disappointing, lethargic and worrying performances from the East Londoners for some time, one worthy of a side heading for the drop.

There were shocking displays all over the pitch from the hosts, with Lucas Paqueta and another starter now becoming a genuine concern.

West Ham's growing Paqueta problem

So it should almost go without saying that, when he’s on song, Paqueta has the ability to be one of the best creative midfielders in the Premier League.

After all, there was a point in time when he looked set for a move to Manchester City, and then over the summer, fans were delighted when a potential move to Aston Villa didn’t happen.

However, the unfortunate reality is that the Irons faithful have not seen the mercurial Brazilian anywhere near his best for quite some time now.

For example, in 36 appearances across all competitions last season, totalling 2536 minutes, the former Lyon star scored just five goals, which is an average of one every 7.2 games, or every 507.2 minutes.

There were signs of him potentially recovering his form earlier this season when he had three goals to his name by transfer deadline day. Still, since then, he has failed to score or assist a goal, and his overall performances have taken a nosedive.

Monday night was probably his worst display so far, and while he was played out of position to replace the injured Niclas Füllkrug, he still needed to offer more than he did.

For example, in 94 minutes of inaction, he amassed a combined expected goal and assist figure of just 0.12, took a single shot, which wasn’t on target, took 61 touches but failed to complete a single dribble, lost the ball 23 times, misplaced 100% of his crosses and more.

Minutes

94′

Expected Goals

0.04

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.08

Shots on Target

0

Shots Off Target

1

Touches

61

Lost Possession

23

Dribbles (Completed)

1 (0)

Key Passes

0

Crosses (Accurate)

2 (0)

Duels (Won)

20 (7)

In short, it was a total horror show of a performance from Paqueta and yet more reason for fans to worry about his form, which could be said about another starter.

The West Ham star becoming a problem under Nuno

The unfortunate reality of the matter is that, at this point in time, you could make the case for a handful of West Ham players being a problem for Nuno.

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The likes of Kyle Walker-Peters and Oliver Scarles, for example, had to come off at half-time on Monday, and Guido Rodriguez looked lost when he came on.

However, a player who is even more of a concern than they are at this moment is Max Kilman.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers star joined the Hammers for around £40m last summer, and while there have been moments in which he has justified that price, there have not been any this season.

Moreover, in the three games since the new manager has come in, the Englishman has been a hindrance to the side, and it’s hard to see when that might stop being the case.

For example, against the Bees, he looked a mess, unsure of when to close down on players and then, for the opener, he just sort of sticks a leg out in an attempt to get the ball off Kevin Schade.

He also fails to intercept the cutback for the second one, lending credence to one content creator who described his performance as “diabolical.”

Finally, Nuno can’t even really take him out of the team for the next game, as Konstantinos Mavropanos went off with an injury late on.

Ultimately, while almost every West Ham player was poor on Monday night, Kilman’s form is starting to become a big issue.

Nuno suggests West Ham could be about to rely on "very aggressive" young star

The Hammers boss clearly loves what he can offer.

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 19, 2025

West Ham have reached out to the agents of a player who has the same representatives as Kyle Walker-Peters, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s side weighing up a January move.

West Ham's rumoured transfer plans for January

The Hammers are preparing for a crucial January window as Nuno looks to address the club’s alarming goal-scoring struggles with a significant striker signing.

Given Niclas Fullkrug is poised for the exit door next month, this could be absolutely vital to their hopes of remaining in the Premier League.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Liverpool

The German forward has been a real disappointment since his arrival in 2024, which has been marred by constant spells on the sidelines through injury, and he’s failed to score a single league goal since West Ham’s 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth in April.

Callum Wilson has filled the void brilliantly as of late, bagging three strikes in his last three games, but the Englishman’s own torrid injury history means West Ham need an alternative.

According to some reports, West Ham are in pole position to sign Union Saint-Gilloise striker Promise David in January, with the club having already made contact.

The towering 6 foot 5 forward has netted 62 goals over the past three seasons and represents exactly the type of young, powerful striker Nuno has reportedly identified as essential.

Man United’s Joshua Zirkzee has emerged as another top target, with West Ham identifying the £36.5 million forward as a potential replacement for Fullkrug.

Related West Ham and Tottenham get Ivan Toney response after holding discussions

The Al-Ahli striker is fielding enquiries ahead of January.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Nov 29, 2025

Insider ExWHUemployee has also claimed that, beyond the addition of a new striker, Nuno’s side are looking at signing a new defender and midfielder in January as well.

West Ham hold talks with Tiago Gabriel's camp ahead of January

Only bottom-side Wolves have conceded more top-flight goals than the east Londoners so far this term, so their leaky backline certainly needs to be addressed.

West Ham could reignite talks over a deal for Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell, who they came very close to signing in the summer (ExWHUemployee), but Lecce sensation Tiago Gabriel is also attracting their attention.

That is according to INews and journalist Pete Hall, who report that West Ham have made contact with Gabriel’s agents ahead of a potential January move.

The Portugal Under-21 international has impressed in Serie A, so much so that Juventus and Brentford have also held discussions with his camp about a winter transfer.

As things stand, Juve are believed to be the frontrunners for Gabriel as they look to find cover for Gleison Bremer, but West Ham may have a secret weapon.

This is because Gabriel is represented by CAA Base, the same agency that Walker-Peters employs, so the Irons seemingly enjoy a productive relationship with them already.

According to inews, the 20-year-old is currently valued at around £20 million, with Lecce looking to make a seismic profit on the £1.5 million they signed him for last January.

With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo edging closer and closer to calling time on generational careers, it can be easy to assume that football won’t ever be the same. But that crisis quickly becomes short-lived after one glance around some of the world’s best teenage sensations.

It is a generation full of absurd talent, so much so that it’s difficult to squeeze them all into a top ten. Arsenal have 15-year-old Max Dowman in their ranks, for example, who has already featured in a number of first-team games.

The most valuable teenage prospects in football ranked (2025)

Some staggering figures…

ByTom Cunningham Nov 7, 2025

The list of young talents is so stacked that Real Madrid star Endrick misses out for the time being, but there’s good reason why Los Blancos spent over £50m to secure his signature at such a young age. Ahead of his potential loan move in January, he remains one to watch alongside other honourable mentions.

Max Dowman

Arsenal

15

Endrick

Real Madrid

19

Geovany Quenda

Sporting CP

18

Assan Ouedraogo

RB Leipzig

19

Lennart Karl

Bayern Munich

17

10 Rio Ngumoha: Liverpool

There’s a reason why Chelsea were left furious by Liverpool’s move to sign Rio Ngumoha in 2024. The tricky winger is one of the best teenage talents around and became one of the youngest-ever Premier League goalscorers when he netted a dramatic winner against Newcastle United earlier on in the campaign.

It was the stuff of dreams for the 17-year-old, who is now waiting in the wings for further opportunities to shine even as Liverpool struggle under Arne Slot.

9 Rodrigo Mora: FC Porto

Portugal have a knack for producing impressive young talent and Rodrigo Mora looks set to be the next in line. The attacking midfielder, who’s still just 18 years old, has scored three goals for Porto so far this season – including in the Europa League.

Like so many before him, the teenager seems destined for greatness and may well become the latest big-money export out of Portugal sooner rather than later.

8 Ayyoub Bouaddi: LOSC Lille

Speaking of stars playing beyond their years, it’s hard to believe that Ayyoub Bouaddi is still 18 years old. The way he controls midfields is a trait that a player his age does not have very often, but he has it in abundance. The midfielder is a mainstay in Lille’s first-team and arguably one of their key men.

The big challenge for the French side will be keeping hold of their young star. It’s a rare day when defensive midfielders of his technical ability and towering 6’1 figure burst onto the scene.

7 Francesco Camarda: AC Milan

Any Football Manager players will already know exactly what Francesco Camarda has to offer. But for those that don’t know, he is one of the best emerging talents in world football. The 17-year-old became AC Milan’s youngest Serie A debutant at 15 and then did the same in the Champions League.

The forward also managed to bag his first Serie A goal in the current campaign in what is likely to be the first of many in the famous AC Milan colours.

6 Ethan Nwaneri: Arsenal

Although he’s been unable to break into the Arsenal side with the same regularity as last season in the current campaign, Ethan Nwaneri remains one of the most promising talents around. He put Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side to the sword last season and already looks destined to find a role in Mikel Arteta’s team for years to come.

The Gunners will also be well aware that they needn’t rush the 18-year-old’s development like they were forced to do with Bukayo Saka, when they desperately needed a spark.

5 Franco Mastantuono: Real Madrid

Endrick hasn’t made this list but his Real Madrid teammate, Franco Mastantuono has. The Argentine arrived in Spain over the summer and has since shown plenty of flashes of his brilliance.

Having already scored his first goal in Real Madrid colours, the 18-year-old will now have his eye on avoiding the same fate as Endrick, who has been frozen out by Xabi Alonso. Given that Mastantuono has already started a handful of La Liga games, though, it’s clear that the Spaniard rates him.

4 Warren Zaire-Emery: Paris Saint-Germain

Already a Champions League winner at 19 years old, there’s a reason why Warren Zaire-Emery is one of the most highly-rated young talents around. It takes quite the player to break into Luis Enrique’s side these days, but the teenager has done just that on the biggest stages.

In a team which already includes Joao Neves, Vitinha and others, the central midfielder looks destined to become one of PSG’s top stars over the next decade.

3 Pau Cubarsi: Barcelona

You’d be forgiven for assuming that Pau Cubarsi is the senior centre-back in Hansi Flick’s Barcelona side, especially after Ronald Araujo’s reckless red card against Chelsea. The 18-year-old plays with a maturity far beyond his years and has handed those in Spain a key defensive mainstay.

Whilst it’s often attacking stars who steal the headlines fresh from La Masia, Cubarsi is proving that the famous academy is also capable of producing top quality defenders.

2 Estevao Willian: Chelsea

The rest of European football must be scratching their heads, wondering how exactly Chelsea snuck in to win Estevao Willian’s signature. The Blues quietly landed a generational talent, who is already producing on the world stage.

He looked a star ready for the headlines against Barcelona in the Champions League, despite being just 18-years-old. The Brazilian has quickly become one of the fan favourites at Stamford Bridge, and rightly so.

1 Lamine Yamal: Barcelona

Estevao may have stolen the show at Stamford Bridge, but Lamine Yamal remains the best teenager in world football and one of the best players in the world, for that matter.

The Barcelona man is an early contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or and if it’s not next year, then it will certainly be in years to come that he sits on football’s throne. At 18 years old, Barcelona have unlocked yet another generational talent.

The best 15 wingers in world football ranked (2025)

Tector, Tucker ensure Ireland put decent total on the board, but England’s batting cruises to target

Matt Roller17-Sep-2025

Phil Salt led England’s run-chase with a fast-paced 89•Getty Images

England made light work of chasing 197 in sunny Malahide, sauntering home with 14 balls unused to take a 1-0 lead over Ireland. Fresh from his fourth T20 international hundred at Old Trafford on Friday night, Phil Salt fell just short of a record-equalling fifth but his 89 from 46 balls underpinned a chase that proved much simpler than the margin suggests.It made for a serene start to life as an international captain for Jacob Bethell who, at 21, became the youngest man to lead England, deputising for Harry Brook. His own contribution was a cameo of 24 from No. 3, which featured one of the day’s 22 sixes with a crisply-struck slog-sweep over the temporary stand at midwicket, before he chipped to extra cover.Bethell’s first act was to send Ireland into bat on a green-tinged surface, anticipating early movement after overnight rain. His bowling changes did little to limit the damage inflicted by Paul Stirling, Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker as Ireland posted 196, but Malahide’s short boundaries and Salt’s rich form ensured that they were at least 20 runs light.”I was quite disappointed at Trent Bridge not to get out there and have a chance to win a series against South Africa, but at the same time, I’m pleased that we’ve come here and chased down those runs in quite a professional way,” Salt said. “I’m really pleased to finish the job off in the way we did.”Curiously, this was England’s first win in this format over their close neighbours, after a no-result and a DLS defeat at the 2010 and 2022 T20 World Cups. In the injured pair of Mark Adair and Josh Little, Ireland were without both of their opening bowlers from the more recent meeting at the MCG three years ago; their attack looked toothless in their absence.Salt fires againSalt and Buttler put on 126 off 47 balls in England’s record-breaking blitz against South Africa on Friday night, and played with the same aggressive intent against an understrength attack. Their opening stand was worth 74 in 28 balls, and they were briefly on track to threaten the record Powerplay score of 100 for 0 they set in Manchester.Salt launched Barry McCarthy for two sixes in his first over, and Buttler treated Graham Hume’s medium pace with utter disdain. He plundered 22 runs from the third over of the innings, with four fours and a six over wide long-off, but could not resist the temptation to keep swinging against Matthew Humphreys and miscued a catch to midwicket.Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector ensured a stiff chase for England•Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images

Buttler’s dismissal left Salt as the senior player in England’s batting line-up, and he throttled back after reaching a 20-ball 50 – one ball slower than he managed last week. He continued to put loose balls away, with back-to-back boundaries off Craig Young to bring up England’s team hundred inside eight overs, but gave the strike to his partners.Rehan Ahmed was promoted to No. 4 in his first international appearance since November, but made little impact. After bowling a solitary wicketless over, he was adjudged not out by an inconclusive replay when slicing Gareth Delany’s legspin to Hume at short third, but was bowled by one that kept low when charging two balls later.Perhaps the turning point came when Salt, on 51, picked out deep midwicket off a high full toss from Tector, spearing his part-time offbreaks in from around the wicket. The umpires checked for a high full-toss, only to discover that Tector had overstepped; from that point until his dismissal, Salt did not offer another chance.Sam Curran holed out for 27 looking to hit Hume for a third consecutive six, and his dismissal sparked a minor England wobble, losing three wickets in 10 balls including Salt slicing to deep point. But Jamie Overton belted Barry McCarthy over mid-on to take them home, hardly breaking a sweat in the process.Stirling lays foundationStirling, Ireland’s captain, said his players were “underprepared” heading into this series after a sparse summer schedule, but looked ready enough when slapping the first legal ball through point. After three steady overs, he launched Liam Dawson into the hospitality tent at long-off for the first of 12 sixes in Ireland’s innings, before depositing Curran over midwicket.Ross Adair, his opening partner, slog-swept Dawson to deep midwicket to fall for 26 after tucking into Overton, but Stirling continued on his merry way. He belted his third and fourth sixes off Rashid and Dawson respectively, and it took a sharp catch from Will Jacks on the long-on boundary to prevent his fifth as he fell for 34 off 22.Tector, Tucker turn tablesAt 67 for 2 in the ninth over, Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker could have been forgiven for consolidating. They saw things differently: Tector slog-swept Rashid for six two balls after Stirling’s dismissal, reached out to drive Rehan’s first ball through cover for four, and watched Tucker whip Curran past short fine leg.Tucker was given out lbw when struck on the pad by Rashid’s legbreak, but successfully overturned the decision on review and went on the attack as Luke Wood returned. They found fifth gear at the death, bringing up half-centuries off 34 (Tector) and 35 balls (Tucker) as the final three overs went for 45, with George Dockrell hitting his only ball – the last – for six.Tector and Tucker’s partnership was worth 123 off 68 balls, Ireland’s highest stand against any opponent for the third wicket. It was their second-highest total at Malahide, but proved insufficient.

The Detroit Tigers were baseball's best feel-good story this past season, largely in part due to their All-Star left-handed ace and likely Cy Young award winner, Tarik Skubal.

Detroit relied on Skubal throughout their improbable run to the postseason and during their playoff run, which was halted by the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS. When Skubal wasn't pitching, the Tigers piecemealed nine innings together with a number of bullpen pitchers and fringe starters.

Skubal, 27, is one of baseball's best pitchers and the Tigers' franchise player. While he's under team control for two more seasons, Detroit already has sights on an extension for their lefty ace. According to a report from Evan Petzold of the , the Tigers have already tried to extend Skubal's contract in a non-competitive fashion.

He's expected to earn a long-term, lucrative contract, whether it's from the Tigers or another team once he's able to hit the open market as a free agent after the 2026 season.

Detroit has work to do this offseason to improve their roster and sustain a deeper playoff run in the near future. The Tigers need a right-handed bat and another strong starter this offseason. MLB national writer Mark Feinsand mentioned he expects Detroit to be pretty aggressive this offseason and target a number of top free agents including Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso and available starting pitchers.

But locking down Skubal for the future should still be priority one.

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O Internacional encerrou um jejum de 123 dias nesta quinta-feira (26): voltou a vencer fora de casa pelo Campeonato Brasileiro após quatro meses. Com a vitória por 2 a 1 contra o Vasco, em São Januário, o técnico Eduardo Coudet conseguiu o seu primeiro triunfo longe do Beira-Rio pelo Brasileirão. O último triunfo colorado havia sido no dia 25 de junho, diante do América-MG, no comando do então treinador Mano Menezes.

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+ Confira a classificação do Brasileirão 2023

Desde então, eram sete jogos consecutivos sem vencer fora de casa: três empates (Bragantino, Flamengo e Goiás) e quatro derrotas (Fluminense, Botafogo, Athletico e Bahia). Portanto, a equipe gaúcha oscilou bastante e caiu posições na tabela de classificação. Com a vitória contra o Cruz-Maltino, a distância para o G-6 caiu para nove pontos, e o Colorodo segue vivo na briga por uma vaga na próxima edição da Libertadores.

Além do triunfo sobre os cariocas, os outros únicos resultados positivos do Internacional longe do Beira-Rio pelo Brasileirão foram justamente contra as piores equipes do campeonato: vitória contra o América-MG por 2 a 1, de virada, no Independência, e o 1 a 0 diante do Coritiba, no Couto Pereira.

Em entrevista coletiva após a partida desta quinta (26), o técnico Eduardo Coudet pediu foco “jogo a jogo” na busca pelas primeiras colocações da tabela e, consequentemente, por uma vaga na Libertadores de 2024. Os próximos dois confrontos da equipe gaúcha serão disputados em Porto Alegre, logo, o treinador conta com o apoio da torcida colorada para que o Inter continue emplacando vitórias em sequência.

– Tomara que possamos continuar essa sequência de vitórias. Vamos continuar da mesma forma, temos que nos preparar da melhor maneira para o próximo jogo. Temos que ter a cabeça focada no jogo de domingo contra o Coritiba, na nossa casa, diante da nossa torcida. É o foco do grupo, no jogo a jogo – completou o treinador.

+ Valencia aprova atuação do Inter e projeta sequência no Brasileirão: ‘Jogo a jogo’

Atualmente na 11ª posição com 36 pontos, o Inter agora terá dois jogos consecutivos em casa. Na próxima rodada do Brasileirão, o Colorado recebe o Coxa no domingo (29), às 18h30 (de Brasília). Depois, pela 31ª rodada, encara o América-MG, no dia 1º de novembro, às 19h.

Still on the hunt for their next manager, Rangers and those at Ibrox are now reportedly targeting a manager who’s made history in English football.

Rangers shortlist growing

A number of names have been mentioned since Steven Gerrard’s unexpected decision, but the Gers remain without a replacement for Russell Martin. With Rangers back in action against Dundee United this weekend, to say that their current situation is far from ideal would be an understatement.

The 49ers still have a number of options, however. They could still turn towards the likes of Danny Rohl or perhaps even Hearts manager Derek McInnes. The 54-year-old is doing an excellent job at Hearts right now and has them top of the Scottish Premiership, two points above champions Celtic. For many at Ibrox, he would be the next Rangers manager in an ideal world.

Whether the 49ers can lure the Hearts boss away from his current role is another question entirely. Instead, they may be forced to look elsewhere and towards English football.

Whether that means turning to Rohl will be interesting to see. The former Sheffield Wednesday boss is one of the most exciting managerial prospects around and did an admirable job in a difficult position at Hillsborough. The 36-year-old wouldn’t be the safest choice given his inexperience, but he could be worth taking a gamble on.

It’s not just McInnes on the list, though. Former Young Boys manager Raphael Wicky has also emerged as a potential candidate. A title winner in Switzerland, the 48-year-old may not be a well-known name, but he is someone who has had impressive success in recent years.

The same can also be said for a Championship manager, who even has some historic moments on his side if Rangers come calling.

Rangers now targeting Kieran McKenna

According to TeamTalk, Rangers are now targeting Kieran McKenna. The Ipswich Town boss has emerged as one of the candidates for the job after impressing during his time at Portman Road, with Ashley Young calling him a “winner”.

One of just five managers to achieve back-to-back promotions from League One all the way to the Premier League, it’s hard to doubt McKenna’s ability to transform a club. And whilst Ipswich have since been relegated back to the Championship, the manager’s reputation is still more than intact, with many full of belief in his expertise.

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The biggest task for Rangers will be prying McKenna away from Ipswich. The 39-year-old has been at the club since the 2021/22 campaign and still has work to do as those at Portman Road eye an instant return to the Premier League.

If the 49ers did manage to lure the former Manchester United coach away from Suffolk in the coming weeks, then the transition could be smoother than ever. McKenna plays the same 4-2-3-1 system as Russell Martin, albeit without the clear weaknesses that the former manager had.