Tea Two wickets to Washington Sundar kept India on top at tea on the fourth day of the third Test against England at Lord’s.Washington claimed the big wicket of Joe Root for 40, rattling leg stump with one that slid under the bat as Root attempted to sweep, breaking his fifth-wicket stand with Ben Stokes at 67 in the process.Four overs later, Washington bowled Jamie Smith for just 8 with an excellent quicker ball that didn’t turn but skidded past the outside edge and onto off stump.At that point England were 164 for 6 and they were subsequently becalmed as Stokes, unbeaten at the interval on 27, and Chris Woakes looked to avoid further damage.Earlier, Mohammed Siraj had been gutted to have missed out on removing Root himself when he rapped the pad with one that angled in down the slope and, after India challenged, the batter survived on umpire’s call on impact.Siraj had been pivotal in putting India in control on the fourth morning when he removed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in a tight opening spell.Nitish Kumar Reddy removed Zak Crawley for the second time in the match, a loose drive outside off stump gathered by Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully, and Akash Deep negated England’s counter-attack by flattening Harry Brook’s middle stump so that the home side were four down at lunch.
After the derby humiliation against Atletico Madrid, Xabi Alonso faces his biggest test as Real Madrid manager, which is rebuilding a fractured dressing room, restoring discipline and redefining what leadership means at the Santiago Bernabeu. With matches against Barcelona and Liverpool coming up, Madrid’s new era hangs on whether Alonso can end bad habits and ignite a winning culture once again.
Pressure mounts after the Atletico collapse
The 5-2 defeat to Atletico last month didn’t just sting because of the scoreline, it cut deep into Los Blancos' identity. For a club built on standards of excellence, the display exposed cracks in focus, fight and leadership. According to the , the dressing room atmosphere in the aftermath was said to be tense. Senior figures reportedly confronted younger players over preparation and professionalism, while Alonso held a closed-door meeting with his coaching staff to assess what went wrong, not just on the field, but behind the scenes. Madrid’s hierarchy, too, began to sense that the problem wasn’t purely tactical. It was systemic.
Madrid’s response since has been steady but unconvincing. A few wins in La Liga and the Champions League have eased the noise, but the real tests are only beginning. With Barcelona, and Liverpool lined up, the team’s mental fragility could resurface under pressure. And for Alonso, still in the early months of his reign, this run could define his authority or expose how far his rebuild still has to go.
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Leadership void and the ego era
Madrid’s dominance through the last decade was sustained by continuity with figures like Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Dani Carvajal and Nacho Fernandez setting the tone in both training and battle. Today, only Carvajal remains, carrying the armband and the burden of leadership almost alone. The departures of Modric, Kroos, Lucas Vazquez and Nacho have left a vacuum that no one has truly filled.
Former coach Carlo Ancelotti often warned of this moment. He valued the veterans for their influence more than their minutes, calling them “guardians of the atmosphere.” Now, Alonso’s Madrid feels younger, livelier, but more fragile. Federico Valverde leads quietly through example; Aurelien Tchouameni shows discipline but is still learning; Kylian Mbappe is electric in matches yet distant in the daily grind; and Jude Bellingham, still early in his Madrid story, is being pushed toward leadership, perhaps much faster than he expected.
Citing a few problems, Vinicius Junior, once the symbol of Madrid’s new energy, is now reportedly at odds with the club over a contract renewal dispute. According to reports, he has rejected multiple proposals, insisting he deserves to be the highest-paid player above Mbappe, Bellingham, and long-serving veterans. Insiders suggest that the issue is no longer financial, but symbolic as Vinicius believes his contributions and status warrant the top bracket.
Alonso’s culture war at Valdebebas
The former Bayer Leverkusen head coach didn’t just arrive to win matches, he came to change some "bad habits", the report adds. Inside Valdebebas, he has demanded punctuality, raised training intensity, and erased any sense of hierarchy between “stars” and “newcomers.” “He’s a coach who trains with the players, not one who just observes,” a staff member shared. His message is clear and simple that talent alone isn’t enough anymore.
But cultural reform is slow work in a club addicted to immediate results. Some within Madrid describe Alonso’s challenge as “turning a luxury team into a disciplined one.” His hands-on, no-compromise approach is a break from Ancelotti’s calm management style. Still, old habits like lateness, ego, complacency and so on lingers within the team. Alonso’s fight is as much psychological as tactical which is to rebuild a collective mentality before big nights test their resolve again.
Aside from Madrid, Alonso’s vision extends beyond the first team. In recent weeks, he has echoed Jurgen Klopp’s idea of creating a U21 league in Germany and suggested that Spain needs something similar. “There’s an entire generation of players who fall through the cracks between youth football and the senior level,” Alonso said. “We need structured competition that teaches responsibility early.” Players like Nico Paz, Arda Guler and Alvaro Rodriguez have immense potential but little competitive space to bridge the gap to elite football. Alonso believes that institutional reform is essential to developing maturity and reducing the “lost years” many young players face before they stabilise professionally.
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AFP
Can Alonso build a group of elites at Madrid?
A narrow win over Juventus brought brief relief, but the real proving ground begins now. El Clasico looms, followed by a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, these are matches that will reveal whether Madrid’s “new culture” has substance or slogans. Another misstep, like the one against Atletico, could revive doubts about leadership and unity in the dressing room.
Los Blancos' transformation has always happened through crisis. For Alonso, this is that moment. His project isn’t just about tactics or transfers; it’s about identity. Can he build a team that fights together, leads together, and plays with the discipline of Madrid’s great generations? The next few weeks will tell whether the Spaniard is forging a culture strong enough to carry Europe’s most demanding club into a new era.
Inglis also played a quick cameo while Mustafizur Rahman picked three wickets
ESPNcricinfo staff24-May-20252:33
Moody: Young Indian players thrive under Shreyas’ captaincy
In pursuit of a top-two finish, and thus a place in Qualifier 1, Punjab Kings (PBKS) attacked nearly all through the innings against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Jaipur. They were 60 for 2 after the powerplay, scored 80 for 3 in the next ten overs, and crashed 70 runs in the final four. Eventually, PBKS ended with 206 for 8, led by Shreyas Iyer’s 53 off 34 balls, and a finishing kick from Marcus Stoinis, who bashed an unbeaten 44 off only 16 deliveries.Mustafizur Rahman bagged three wickets for DC, finishing with 3 for 33. All three of his wickets were of batters getting caught by Tristan Stubbs, who was keeping wicket in place of Abishek Porel.Despite Mustafizur getting Priyansh Arya in the second over, Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas continued to attack. PBKS were 44 for 1 after five overs, but then targeted DC’s spinners Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav.They lost two wickets in the next four overs, but also cracked 47 runs off them. But despite wickets falling around him, Shreyas held one end up for PBKS. They were 146 for 5 at the start of the death overs, when Stoinis and Shreyas took Mukesh Kumar for 25 runs in the 17th.Shreyas reached his fifty off 33 balls when he clipped Mukesh off the last ball of he over. Kuldeep Yadav hit back in the 18th over by having the PBKS captain caught at fine leg off a 112kph short ball, and new batter Azmatullah Omarzai at wide long-on.But Stoinis helped PBKS still thump 32 runs off the last two overs, with 6, 4, 4, 6 coming off Mohit in the 19th. Harpreet Brar swung his first ball for six in the final over, and took PBKS past 200, their seventh such score this season.
It’s been an excellent summer for Chelsea so far this year.
On top of winning the Club World Cup, the Blues have made a number of exciting additions to the first team, including Joao Pedro, who was spectacular in pre-season.
However, the West Londoners looked less than impressive against Crystal Palace on Sunday, and the Brazilian centre-forward looks nothing like his usual dangerous self.
Chelsea forward Joao Pedro
It was likely just a one-off, but fortunately, Chelsea are now closing in on another brilliant signing who’d be able to help Pedro get up and running even faster this season.
Chelsea target dream signing for Pedro
In addition to Pedro, Chelsea have completed several potentially game-changing signings this summer, with Liam Delap coming in to provide real competition for the starting number nine position, and Jamie Gitten joining to liven up the left-hand side.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Conference League champions have even bolstered their defensive ranks with the seriously exciting Jorrel Hato, who at just 19 years old already has 111 appearances for Ajax and six senior caps for the Netherlands under his belt.
Yet, the West Londoners are not done there, as they now appear intent on picking up another incredibly exciting attacker, someone who could help Pedro get up and running as soon as possible.
At least that is according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has claimed that Chelsea are still very interested in Xavi Simons.
The Italian journalist has revealed that while talks between the Blues and RB Leipzig are still ongoing and there are things that need to be done, the club are “confident” of landing the Flying Dutchman, who still only wants them.
Romano does not mention how much the 22-year-old might cost, but reports from earlier this summer claim that a fee of around £61m should do the trick, which seems fair for a player of Simons’ quality, especially as he could get Pedro up and firing.
Why Simons would be perfect for Pedro
Now, the first and undoubtedly most crucial reason Simons would be able to help Pedro get up and running sooner is his output.
RB Leipzig'sXaviSimonsreacts after the match
For example, despite playing for a lacklustre Leipzig side that failed to qualify for Europe last season, the Dutch magician was able to score 11 goals and provide eight assists in just 33 appearances, totalling 2763 minutes.
In other words, the explosive “game-changer,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 minutes.
Therefore, not only would the Amsterdam-born dynamo be able to provide the Brazilian forward with an abundance of goalscoring chances, but he’s also got the finishing ability to get on the end of the chances created by the former Brighton & Hove Albion star.
Moreover, it’s not like the former PSV Eindhoven gem was lucky, or on a hot streak last season, as his underlying numbers are just as impressive.
According to FBref, he ranked in the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Bundesliga last season for passes into the penalty area, through balls, and carries into the final third. He also ranked in the top 5% for ball recoveries and the top 6% for progressive passes, all per 90.
These numbers paint the picture of a creative maestro who is as capable of passing the ball into dangerous areas as he is carrying it, meaning opposition defenders will never be quite sure what he’s planning to do.
Finally, the last reason the former Paris Saint-Germain gem would be such a great teammate for Pedro is his position versatility.
Goals – xG
+0.21
Top 2%
Non-Penalty Goals – npxG
+0.21
Top 2%
Passes into Penalty Area
2.51
Top 3%
Through Balls
0.96
Top 3%
Carries into Final Third
2.97
Top 3%
Passes Completed (Long)
3.64
Top 5%
Ball Recoveries
5.36
Top 5%
Progressive Passes
5.86
Top 6%
Goals/Shot
0.20
Top 7%
Passes Attempted (Long)
6.61
Top 8%
Touches (Mid 3rd)
32.07
Top 8%
Fouls Drawn
2.34
Top 8%
Progressive Passing Distance
167.32
Top 9%
Passes from Free Kicks
1.67
Top 9%
Dead-ball Passes
5.53
Top 10%
SCA (Fouls Drawn)
0.46
Top 10%
Touches
65.18
Top 10%
For example, while he spent much of last season playing in attacking midfield and has even been dubbed “one of the best 10s in the world” by one data analyst, he’s just as comfortable playing on both wings and has even spent time up top.
In other words, Maresca would be able to play the 22-year-old wherever he needs him, in turn giving him more opportunities to play and form a proper understanding with the Brazilian sharpshooter.
Ultimately, Pedro looks like he’s going to be a success for Chelsea regardless, but if the club want to get even more out of him and help him get up and running faster, then Simons is the answer.
Better than Enciso: Chelsea prepare bid to sign "electric" £25m star
The international star would be a far better signing for Chelsea.
KKR’s batters built steam gradually to post a challenging 200 for 6 before Arora led a new-ball effort that demolished SRH’s top three in 13 balls
Vishal Dikshit03-Apr-20252:53
Boucher: Arora’s length and swing caused trouble
While Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) regained the dazzling batting form they had lost somewhere on their trip to Mumbai, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) batting continued to be lackluster as they slumped to their third loss in a row after starting IPL 2025 with a mammoth 286. Four days after being skittled for 116 by Mumbai Indians, KKR posted a stiff 200 for 6, led by a 29-ball 60 from vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer and an unbeaten 17-ball 32 from Rinku Singh. Venkatesh and Rinku enabled KKR to finish with a bang – they scored 78 runs in their last five overs – after Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi set things up with a third-wicket stand of 81.SRH were punished for being sloppy in the field more than a few times, and managed just 120 in reply after the KKR quicks took their mighty top three down in just 13 balls. Last year’s runners-up slumped to the bottom of the table while the defending champions jumped five places from last to fifth.Related
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Travis Head fell cheaply for the second time in a row against Vaibhav Arora, as in the IPL final last year, while Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan managed just 2 each. The eight runs scored by SRH’s top three was their second-worst start in the IPL. In last year’s final, their top three – though Kishan wasn’t part of it – had managed just 11.SRH barely recovered from 9 for 3 and slipped to 66 for 5 and eventually suffered their biggest defeat by a runs margin in the IPL.Travishan flop in big chaseThere was no venom in the pitch, no unplayable bounce or movement either, but the SRH top order had no answers for the KKR pace attack, even though Mitchell Starc is no longer part of it. Head skied the second ball to mid-off, Abhishek edged a slower one from Harshit Rana in the second over to slip, and Kishan smashed one to cover where Rahane pouched a sharp catch on the tumble to delight the home fans. Nine for 3 could have become 9 for 4 had Andre Russell held on to an on-drive from Kamindu Mendis at mid-on and made it a double-wicket maiden for Arora. Russell, however, redeemed himself when he got the next wicket as soon as the powerplay ended, having Nitish Reddy caught at long-on. Arora picked up his third eventually, getting the big scalp of Henrich Klaasen for 33 when he returned for his second spell.1:10
Do SRH need to rethink their batting approach?
In between, Reddy showed glimpses of his ball-striking talent, Mendis heaved a couple of sixes on the leg side off Russell, and Klaasen tried to take the game deep even as the asking rate climbed past 15 an over. Rahane stifled SRH with five overs in a row from Sunil Narine and Varun Chakarvarthy, from the eighth to the 12th, which went for just 33 and brought two more wickets, before Arora removed Klaasen and Varun nearly scalped a hat-trick in the 16th over. SRH were eventually bowled out for 120, again raising question marks over their batting approach.Narine, de Kock fall cheaply againEven though the Eden pitch didn’t have the spice that was offered by the Wankhede’s in KKR’s last game, they lost their openers cheaply again. Narine fell to another yorker, edging one behind this time, for 7, and Quinton de Kock pulled a short ball to deep square leg for 1 off 6 as KKR crawled their way to 17 for 2 after three overs. They got a lift thanks to the Mumbai duo of Rahane and Raghuvanshi, who between them struck four sixes in 14 balls to help KKR end the powerplay on 53 for 2. Rahane smashed three of them, even before hitting his first four, peppering the leg-side boundary with two pulls and a majestic flick behind square.Venkatesh Iyer crashed 60 off 29 balls•BCCIAnsari pulls things backCummins brought on spin as soon as the field spread out and rookie legspinner Zeeshan Ansari rewarded his captain by stifling the set batters with turn, flight and different lengths to concede just 25 runs in three overs on the trot while the quicks continued to leak boundaries from the other end. Ansari conceded just one boundary off his first 14 deliveries, that too off a misfield from Reddy, before Raghuvanshi carted him for a six and four when he erred too full. Ansari, however, fought back with Rahane’s wicket for 38.Venkatesh, Rinku power KKR to 200SRH could have had two in two had Reddy not put down Raghuvanshi at the rope on 43. Raghuvanshi made them pay with a cover drive for four later in the over and brought up his second IPL fifty in the next. His luck finally ran out against the ambidextrous Sri Lanka spinner Kamindu Mendis, and when Harshal Patel held onto an excellent catch that he dived for after running in from deep point.KKR were going at just over eight an over after 13 overs, with two new batters in the middle. Harshal and Simranjeet Singh slowed them down further by taking the pace off the ball, but the trick didn’t work for too long. Rinku and Venkatesh took off once they got their eyes in and powered KKR to their first 200 total of this campaign. Rinku started the carnage with three consecutive fours off Harshal in the 17th while Venkatesh reeled off two in the next over, which Rinku finished with a towering six over long-on. Venkatesh then turned his purr into a roar in the penultimate over. Even though Cummins tried his cutter, a slower bouncer and a yorker among other things, Venkatesh went 4, 6, 4, 4 and brought up a 25-ball fifty before blasting Harshal for a six and a four at the start of the final over. He holed out next ball, and Harshal conceded just three off the last three, but the damage had already been done.
Leeds United did not add any new players to their squad to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch on deadline day before the summer transfer window officially slammed shut.
That was despite the fact that Daniel Farke claimed that it would be “difficult” for the club to avoid relegation from the Premier League if they did not add more quality to their frontline.
The German head coach was clear that he wanted more recruits to improve his options in the final third to give his side the best chances of avoiding the drop back down to the Championship.
Unfortunately, the club were unable to deliver on what the manager wanted. The Athletic’s Beren Cross has since reported that the club felt that there were not many wingers on the market who were better than Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto, who scored four goals combined in their last season in the Premier League.
Despite that claim from sources inside the club, it was well-reported that Leeds were interested in a deal to sign Harry Wilson from Fulham on deadline day.
Why missing out on Harry Wilson was a blow for Leeds
The Championship champions reportedly agreed a deal with the Cottagers to sign the Wales international by meeting their asking price on the final day of the window.
Fulham's Harry Wilson in action against Brighton.
However, Fulham then had a late change of mind and opted to keep the left-footed star at Craven Cottage, which left the Whites with little time to find an alternative before the window slammed shut.
Ultimately, Leeds should have known that they needed another option on the right wing the second they were promoted to the Premier League, given James’ aforementioned struggles in the division in the past, so there cannot be too much sympathy given to them for missing out on Wilson on deadline day.
Ipswich Town'sLeifDavisin action with Fulham's Harry Wilson
However, it was a blow to miss out on the winger at the time because it then left the club without enough time to source a replacement before the window closed, and it was a blow because Wilson is a quality player who could have been an excellent signing.
Appearances
35
25
xG
3.38
4.21
Goals
4
6
Big chances created
5
2
Key passes per game
0.7
0.8
Assists
6
1
As you can see in the table above, the Welsh wizard is a proven Premier League performer who has delivered ten goals and seven assists in the last two seasons, outperforming his xG in both campaigns.
Given that James has never scored more than four goals in a Premier League season in his career, Wilson’s tally of six in the top-flight last term suggests that he could have been an upgrade on what Farke currently has at his disposal.
Given Farke’s claim that it will be difficult for Leeds to avoid the drop without any additions to the frontline, the club must now consider looking into the free agent market, as they did around this time last year with the signing of Josuha Guilavogui to bolster their midfield.
There are some interesting names in the free agent pool, including recently released former Leeds striker Patrick Bamford, and one player who could fit the bill for the Whites is Hakim Ziyech.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Morocco international is a reported transfer target for Spanish side Elche, after leaving Al Duhail earlier this summer, and Leeds should now push to convince him to make a move back to the Premier League this season.
Why Leeds should sign Hakim Ziyech
The West Yorkshire outfit should attempt to sign Ziyech on a free transfer as an alternative to Wilson because it is clear that they need an addition to their options in that position.
James’ historical struggles in the Premier League and his poor start to the current campaign, with zero goals and zero ‘big chances’ created, suggest that he is not going to be the answer to their attacking woes any time soon.
Hakim Ziyech for Galatasaray.
Bringing in Ziyech, who is vastly experienced at the top level, on a free transfer could be a shrewd and relatively low-risk move that could pay off big time for Farke and his side.
The 32-year-old star has played over 200 Eredivisie matches, over 60 games in the Premier League, and 45 times in the Champions League, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has had a fantastic career and proven himself in big competitions.
Ziyech, as you can see in the clip above, showed signs of quality during his time with Premier League giants Chelsea, with this stunning strike against Spurs arguably the individual highlight of his spell at Stamford Bridge.
Appearances
23
23
18
Starts
15
14
6
Goals
2
4
0
Big chances created
6
9
6
Key passes per game
1.5
1.3
0.8
Assists
3
3
3
As you can see in the table above, the Moroccan wizard delivered an eye-catching return of 21 ‘big chances’ created in 35 league starts for the Blues.
James, meanwhile, has created 16 ‘big chances’ in 109 appearances in the Premier League, per Sofascore, for Manchester United, Fulham, and Leeds combined, which shows that he does not offer anywhere near as much creative quality as Ziyech.
Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech.
The former Ajax star, whose touch was hailed as “extraordinary” by Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk, also scored 79 goals in 216 Eredivisie games earlier in his career, per Transfermarkt, which means that he can also offer a goal threat when given regular game time.
At the age of 32, Ziyech may not be at the peak of his powers or a signing that would be as exciting as it would have been five years ago, but he is still at a stage where he can contribute at the top end of the pitch and provide a touch of class that Farke’s side are clearly lacking.
Farke must axe "non-existent" Leeds man who earns even more than Okafor
Daniel Farke could be tempted to ditch this Leeds United high earner if he continues to underperform.
ByKelan Sarson Sep 3, 2025
The Whites clearly wanted a left-footed right-wing option, given the interest in Wilson, and the Morocco international could be a dream alternative option now that the club are restricted to free agents.
Bumrah says bowlers have more perks as captains, while Cummins feels the captaincy experience has made his intuition stronger
Alagappan Muthu21-Nov-20243:00
Bumrah: I’ve always wanted to do the tough jobs
Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins kinda sorta sparkled in their freshly pressed Test whites on Thursday morning. Swap the green grass for a catwalk stage and Perth for Paris – the picture would’ve been complete.A photo op with the Border-Gavaskar trophy brought two of the world’s leading fast bowlers together and over the next few days they will determine the course of the cricket.Captaincy has usually been the domain of batters. Their workloads allow them the space to work on tactics and team management, and the division of labour is arguably a little bit easier. When you’re at the crease, you just have to worry about scoring runs. As a bowler, you’re planning your spell – R Ashwin says he sequences 25 balls at a time – you’re focused on millions of minutiae – line, length, pace, variation – it can become taxing to keep an eye on the big picture.Related
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Bumrah, though, argues the big picture is merely the next natural step of the whole bowling process and it comes with a pretty cool perk.”I can manage myself the best when I am the captain,” he said on the eve of the first Test in Perth, “Because I know when I am fresh, I know when I have to push myself and I know when I have to take extra responsibility. Obviously yes, there are different challenges but there are advantages as well I look at the advantages, that I understand bowling. You understand where the wicket is changing, what changes you have to make, what field sets are good at this moment. Obviously, bowlers do a lot more research and data-driven as well than batters because that is how the game is headed. So I look at the positives more than the negatives. Obviously there will be challenges and you want to be tested and you want to have challenges.”Bumrah got into cricket because he was struck by the whole experience of fast bowling. As he has grown in stature, assuming first the senior bowler’s position and then broader leadership roles, he’s been eager to do more. It might also excite him that there haven’t been a lot of people who’ve walked the path he’s on – temporary though it may be given Rohit Sharma is expected to be joining the team ahead of the day-night practice game in Canberra at the end of November.India’s only other fast bowling captain – Kapil Dev (played 34, won 4, lost 7, tied 1, drawn 22) – was more of an allrounder. There are others that come with the same asterisk – Shaun Pollock (P 26, W 14, L 5, D 7), Ben Stokes (P 29, W 17, L 11, D 1) and Jason Holder (P 37, W 11, L 21, D 5) being notable examples. Wasim Akram (P 25, W 12, L 8, D 5) and Courtney Walsh (P 22, W 6, L 7, D 9) didn’t just captain their respective countries, they actually got the chance to front up as fast-bowling captains against each other in 1997. There haven’t been too many occasions for that bit of history to repeat itself. In early 2024, Cummins faced off against Tim Southee’s New Zealand and now eight months later, he’s front and centre with Bumrah.Cummins is a little further down the road in his dual roles than his opposite number. He was thrown into captaincy without doing a lot of it at domestic level but his Australian teams have found enormous success, particularly last year when they won the World Test Championship, retained the Ashes and became ODI World Cup winners as well.It took a while for him to get into this groove. “I’d say, yeah, maybe, you know, maybe a summer or so,” Cummins said. “So maybe a year, maybe, you know, 10 Test matches or so. I think until you’re fully comfortable [with the dual role].Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins with the customary handshake on the eve of the first Test•AFP/Getty Images
“But I don’t think I’ve particularly changed too much over those 10 Test matches. Your intuition gets a little bit stronger. But, you know, even when I was really new to it, I’ve just got wonderful, you know, team-mates and staff who are helping you out. So you never really feel like you’re out there alone.”The question is always just are you bowling too much or not enough? That’s always the question, which, yeah, again, gut feel. Speak to some other people out there, kind of come up with a decision.”Bumrah will have the same kind of support – he made his Test debut under Virat Kohli in 2018 and spent a lot of time with Rohit Sharma right from his IPL debut in 2013 – but he’s also very keen to stand out on his own.”So I spoke to Rohit,” Bumrah said about the captaincy, “But when we came here, then I got a little more clarity because he was also not sure about his situation at that moment. But yes, when I came here then the coach [Gautam Gambhir] and the management gave me the clarity that I will be leading in this game.”My way is, you have to find your own way, you can’t blindly copy anyone. Obviously both of them are very successful and have gotten a lot of results. But my way, I have always never followed a copybook plan in terms of my bowling as well. If you can see that I have never followed a module, I go with my instincts. That’s how I have always played my cricket and I have a lot of faith in my instincts and gut. So that is what I go with and tactically as a bowler, you always make a lot of plans. You are well aware of what to do, what adjustments you have to make during the game of cricket. So yes, I look at it this way and I try to cover all bases as much as I can.”5:56
Cummins: ‘Smith’s hands have made their way to Perth’
Australia have played four Tests at Optus Stadium and won all four. They have a very settled side for the last three years of Cummins’ captaincy, which he found a little “weird” considering international sport tends to come with a fair bit of churn. India are facing that churn right now, starting this tour on the back of a 0-3 defeat at home to New Zealand, and having to come up with an XI with a couple of first-choice players missing.Bumrah has been doing his bit to address this discrepancy between the two teams. “The message that I would give them is that I always believe on self-belief that is there,” he said. “Because at this moment how cricket is going, everybody has played a lot of cricket. On that day, if you believe that you are good enough, you can make an impact It doesn’t matter if you have played 100 Test matches or 50 Test matches, it depends on what is going on inside you.”When I came here [in 2018] it was just my second tour. But in my head I wanted to make a difference and I was not looking at I am inexperienced I was looking at myself that how can I contribute And if I believe I can do it then I will make a difference So that is the message that I have passed on as well.”A lot of players are coming to Australia for the first time, but they have a lot of first-class cricket, IPL experience, international experience behind them. The players have now learned how to handle the good days and the bad days. On the good days, it’s not as if we go too high, and similarly, we also need to learn to deal with the bad days if we have to play international cricket. Those are the conversations which we have been having. Moving forward is most important. The focus of our preparations has been to start from zero, get used to the conditions, get used to the weather, and focus on what needs to be done to succeed over here.”
It’s a curious thing, football’s summer transfer market. So much goes on, rumours and shocks zipping about like so many hoofed clearances in a Sunday League match.
For Liverpool fans, the window has been not so much curious as chaotic, with Arne Slot’s side undergoing an incredible transformation after marching to last year’s Premier League title.
Trent Alexander-Arnold up and left for Real Madrid toward the end of his contract, and so Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong. But it is Frimpong’s Bayer Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz who is the Scouser’s true heir, signed on for a British-record £116m fee and heralded as “the best midfielder in the world” by former Werkself striker Patrick Helmes. Wirtz, for sure, is a world-class playmaker.
Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili both arrived too. And then along came Hugo Ekitike, leaving Eintracht Frankfurt for Anfield for a £69m initial fee. The 23-year-old has the potential to become one of the best strikers in the world.
But with Darwin Nunez a priority target for Al Hilal, sporting director Richard Hughes has set his focus on Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.
Why Liverpool might not sign Alexander Isak
Oh, he’s the dream, all right. However, prising Isak away from St. James’ Park this summer will be no easy feat, even though he’s desperate to wrap up his Newcastle career and join the Reds on Merseyside.
Could Liverpool pull it off? Certainly, if Isak is to join Slot’s side this summer, it would require a fee eclipsing that which Leverkusen have chequed in for Wirtz, with Newcastle valuing him somewhere in the ballpark of £150m.
The Premier League champions have already seen a formal offer worth £110m knocked back last week, though this was likely a negotiating tactic from Hughes and FSG to unsettle a player whose heart lies in Liverpool, and who refused to travel with the Toon for their pre-season tour in Asia.
The 25-year-old has now returned to Newcastle’s training facilities and is set for face-to-face talks with Howe.
Last season, pundit Jamie Carragher called Isak “the best striker in the Premier League”, and his 27-goal contribution across Newcastle’s title-winning campaign displays merely the tip of the iceberg of a wide-ranging and expansive skill set.
He’s the dream target, and understandably so. However, Liverpool might fail; Newcastle might fail to find and sign an acceptable replacement.
Thus, an alternative has been lined up.
Liverpool target favouring move to Anfield
According to ESPN, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has made it known to his entourage that he would prefer to sign for Liverpool this summer, should he have to depart from the Santiago Bernabeu.
Rodrygo is no longer considered one of Real Madrid’s untouchable superstars, but Los Blancos will only cash in if their valuation is met, with £78m the figure touted.
Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on Xabi Alonso’s Brazilian star, and with Heung-min Son set to sign for LAFC in the MLS, FSG will need to make a swift decision as to whether they forge ahead with a bid.
Why Liverpool should sign Rodrygo
Should Liverpool fail to sign Isak this summer, there’s a case to be made that Rodrygo could be the perfect alternative, and that’s despite him being more of a wide forward than a focal frontman.
Rodrygo – Career Stats by Position
Position
Apps
Goals
Assists
Right winger
146
34
31
Centre-forward
84
22
8
Left winger
78
23
16
Attacking midfield
4
–
1
Data via Transfermarkt
Hailed as “the most talented and the most gifted player” in Real Madrid’s squad by teammate Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo is renowned for his tenacious and industrious work-rate, his technical quality, and his ability to shift between multiple positions.
There’s no question that he could shift between wide and central positions in a manner not dissimilar to Luis Diaz, who last week completed a £65.5m transfer to Bayern Munich.
Diaz operated in a makeshift centre-forward berth under Slot’s guidance last term, notching eight goals and an assist from 15 fixtures in the role.
Luis Diaz
So then, we can see that Rodrygo, a goalscoring wide forward, could emulate the Colombian, whose crispness in possession is also a factor of note.
But then the same can be said of Real Madrid’s versatile forward, who ranked last season among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion, as per FBref.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo
Moreover, he missed just one big chance in La Liga last season, as per Sofascore. Albeit he only scored six times after a disappointing year. Given that Rodrygo was routinely played on the right flank, his unfavoured position, such woes are provided some important context.
This all points toward Rodrygo being the perfect, if somewhat left-field, alternative to Isak, for he could replace Diaz while providing a different dimension to Slot’s central striking area too.
Liverpool have, of course, welcomed Ekitike to the fold, and so have a new out-and-out striker to replace Nunez. The Frenchman scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists across all competitions for Frankfurt last season, and pundit Owen Hargreaves said last season that he “looks like the perfect centre-forward.”
With this in mind, losing out on Isak wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, not when FSG have succeeded in packaging Slot’s squad with such a wide array of elite-level quality.
Rodrygo is one of Real Madrid’s “world-class superstars”, so says the great Luka Modric, after all, and he’s demonstrated that he has the ability to score and to assist and to come up with big-game defining moments with regularity.
Rodrygo's Real Madrid career (timeless)
For the moment, it seems as if Liverpool will continue to push for Newcastle’s star striker, but should they fail to break the British transfer record for a second time this summer, it might be worth advancing with a deal for Rodrygo, whose qualities suggest he could become a multi-positional machine for the Anfield side as they chase down more illustrious success.
Leeds United are now “interested” in signing a £17m Igor Paixao alternative who has “wow factor”, journalist Francesco Guerrieri has revealed.
Leeds eyeing new winger with Paixao set to join Marseille
It was always going to be a tall order for Leeds to compete for Paixao’s signature, given that some of Europe’s biggest clubs were also in the race, and Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed the Brazilian is set to sign for Ligue 1 giants Marseille.
Missing out on the Feyenoord star will no doubt be viewed as a blow, but Daniel Farke must now move on to alternative options, with Tottenham Hotspur’s Manor Solomon on the list of targets, having impressed on loan at Elland Road last season.
However, Solomon is keen to remain at Tottenham and prove himself to new manager Thomas Frank, meaning it could be difficult to secure a deal for the 26-year-old, and a different winger has now entered the frame as a target.
According to Guerrieri on X, Leeds are one of the clubs “interested” in signing Marseille winger Jonathan Rowe, but there could be fierce competition for his signature, with AS Roma, Atalanta and AFC Bournemouth also in the race.
A deal for Rowe would not break the bank, with Marseille set to hold out for €20m (£17m), and there are plenty of signs the winger could be a superb alternative to Paixao…
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While it is very disappointing to have missed out on Paixao, the Marseille winger could also be successful at Elland Road, having seriously impressed in the Championship in the past, picking up 12 goals and two assists for Norwich City in the 2023-24 campaign.
The London-born winger also caught the eye at the recent U21 European Championships, picking up two goals and an assist for England, making himself a hero by scoring the winner against Germany in the final.
Academy coach Greg Crane previously revealed the England U21 international has always possessed the ability to have that sort of impact on a match, saying: “Jonny always had a bit of a wow factor.”
The only concern over the signing of Rowe will be the fact he didn’t exactly set the world alight at Marseille during the 2024-25 campaign, picking up just six goal contributions in Ligue 1, but he clearly has the talent to kick on at Elland Road.
Arsenal are now in “very advanced” talks to sign a “magnificent” player, who could be set to join alongside Viktor Gyokeres, reporter David Ornstein has revealed.
Gunners closing in on Gyokeres
The Gunners have now made major progress in their pursuit of Gyokeres, with Fabrizio Romano revealing that positive talks took place on Sunday night.
The Sweden international has been determined to seal a move to the Emirates Stadium for quite some time, with Romano revealing the striker wouldn’t entertain signing for another club, and the deal is now edging closer to completion.
It will be a major relief to finally get a new centre-forward through the door, especially considering Gyokeres’ goal-scoring statistics from the 2024-25 campaign are seriously impressive.
However, Mikel Arteta is also keen to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch, given that Gabriel’s injury issues during the 2024-25 campaign left the manager a little light on options at centre-back, although Jakub Kiwior did a stellar job in the Brazilian’s absence.
As such, according to an update from Ornstein on X, Arsenal are now “working to complete” a deal to sign Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, with reports from elsewhere revealing the deal is likely to set them back £17m.
The Gunners are in “very advanced” talks to sign Mosquera, with personal terms already done, indicating the defender is keen on making the move to the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta views the centre-back as ideal cover for Gabriel and William Saliba, and the deal now appears to be very close to completion.
"Magnificent" Mosquera could be perfect signing for Arsenal
At 21 years of age, Mosquera still has plenty of time to develop, but the youngster has already established himself as a first-team regular for Valencia, making a combined 73 La Liga appearances over the course of the past two seasons.
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As such, the Spaniard could be ready to fill in for Gabriel and Saliba when required, with Arteta likely to rotate regularly next season, should he have ambitions of competing for both the Premier League and Champions League.
With Kiwior already on the books, Arsenal are starting to look very well-stocked in the centre-back department, ahead of a season in which nothing but winning a major trophy will be deemed good enough for Arteta’s side.