The current international break came at the worst time for West Ham United.

After weeks of poor performances, Nuno Espírito Santo had finally got a tune out of the East Londoners.

First, they blew away a talented Newcastle United side 3-1, and then a week later picked up another three points by beating Burnley 3-2.

These back-to-back Premier League wins have given the fanbase genuine reasons to be optimistic, as they were not lucky victories, but hard-fought and thoroughly deserved.

It finally feels like Nuno has his feet under the table at the London Stadium, and as a result, fears of a possible relegation are starting to dissipate.

However, the Premier League can be unforgiving, so West Ham must maintain their upward trajectory and the board need to back the manager in the winter window. If they do, this could be Nuno’s dream lineup at the end of January.

1 GK – Alphonse Areola

While it would have been a surprise at the start of the season, it should come as no surprise now that, keeping his place between the sticks is Alphonse Areola.

Unlike the Dane signed to replace him in the summer, the Frenchman has been pretty reliable since coming back into the team, and while he might not be the long-term answer, he’s more than good enough to spend another season in goal for the Hammers.

After all, he’s already made 108 appearances for the club, what’s another 27?

2 RB – Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Keeping his place at right-back, so long as he’s fit, is Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Now, Kyle Walker-Peters has done reasonably well since joining the club in the summer, but at his best, the former Manchester United ace is a more competent defender and has become more adept at getting forward over the last few years.

He was also the club’s Hammer of the Year just last season.

3 CB – Axel Disasi

Now, moving on to the first new face in the team, and before the pitchforks and torches come out, Axel Disasi, who has previously been touted for a £25m move to the London Stadium, could be an excellent signing for the Hammers.

Yes, he has failed to establish himself at Chelsea, but before that, he was one of Ligue 1’s best centre-backs and was even compared to Virgil van Dijk by respected talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Moreover, under a manager like Nuno, who doesn’t like to leave his defenders isolated, the Frenchman might be able to rediscover some of the form that first earned him his move to the Premier League.

4 CB – Charlie Cresswell

Alongside Disasi is the second signing: Charlie Cresswell.

He might not be a familiar name to English fans at the moment, but he certainly will be in a few years from now, as not only is he doing incredibly well for Toulouse in Ligue 1, but he was also a key part of the England u21 side that won the Euros this summer.

Described as a “proper leader at the back” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the former Leeds United gem has also been described as being a bit “like a Thiago Silva” by European football expert Andy Brassell, who highlighted the fact that he “got real smarts about him.”

Unsurprisingly, the 23-year-old is gaining plenty of attention at the moment, and while it won’t be easy to sign him, reports suggest the Hammers could get the job done for around £15m.

5 LB – El Hadji Malick Diouf

Back to a familiar face and keeping his place at left-back is, of course, El Hadji Malick Diouf.

The all-action full-back joined the Hammers from Slavia Prague in the summer, and while he can be a little frustrating defensively, he is unreal when it comes to the offensive side of the game.

For example, he has already racked up three assists in just 12 appearances, and really could have more if his teammates were able to finish better earlier in the campaign.

6 CM – Freddie Potts

Moving into the middle of the park and onto someone who has to now be one of the first names on the team sheet: Freddie Potts.

The academy graduate was finally handed his first competitive start for West Ham against Newcastle United, and to say he delivered would be a massive understatement.

He put in a man-of-the-match performance that saw him cover practically every blade of grass, snuff out Toon attacks and kickstart ones for his own side.

It was more of the same a week later against Burnley, and while it is still early on, it feels like the Hammers have themselves a future superstar in Potts.

7 CM – Mateus Fernandes

There are a few options Nuno could go with for the position alongside Potts, but based on the last two games, it really has to be Mateus Fernandes.The Portuguese midfielder had a bit of a slow start to life in East London following his £40m move from Southampton in the summer, but over the last few weeks, he has started showing the fans just what he can do.Capable of helping out with the defensive side of the game, but just as able to play defence-splitting”KDB-type passes,”in the words of Mattinson, the 21-year-old could be a real game-changer for the Hammers as the season goes on.

8 CAM – Lucas Paqueta

To nobody’s surprise, Lucas Paqueta keeps his place as the most advanced of the midfielders.

Despite talk around his future, the former Lyon ace has looked back to his best in recent games and scored his fourth goal of the campaign against Newcastle.

He might be frustrating at times, but West Ham are undeniably a weaker team without him in it.

9 RW – Jarrod Bowen

The sky is blue, the grass is green, and Jarrod Bowen starts for West Ham United.

The former Hull City star is the club’s talisman, the most beloved player to wear the shirt in a very long time, and, most importantly, a sensational goalscoring, game-changing winger.

Despite the team’s poor form last season, the Englishman was still able to rack up an incredible tally of 14 goals and ten assists in 36 appearances across all competitions, totalling 3148 minutes.

That came out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or every 131.16 minutes.

Appearances

250

Minutes

19971′

Goals

77

Assists

53

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

Minutes per Goal Involvement

153.62′

So far this year, the 28-year-old has already scored three goals and provided two assists in just 12 games, and now that the team seem to have turned a corner, he’ll probably become even more productive.

10 ST – Lucas Stassin

The final signing in the team is Saint-Étienne’s Belgian goal machine, Lucas Stassin.

According to one report, the Hammers might be able to sign the 20-year-old for a fee of €30m, which is about £27m, and while that is a lot, it would almost certainly be worth it.

For example, despite being so young, he racked up an impressive tally of 14 goals and eight assists in just 34 appearances last year, and has already produced seven goal involvements in 13 games this year.

That sort of return would make him an instant upgrade on the still useful but injury-prone Callum Wilson and the ideal replacement for Niclas Füllkrug, who has made it clear he wants out in January.

The former England bowler talks about what spinners need to do in T20s, the problem with focusing too much on match-ups, and commentating on the league

Matt Roller08-May-2025It is Sunday night in Delhi, and Graeme Swann is about to commentate on his second IPL match in the space of 24 hours. “There are periods where it’s bonkers,” Swann says. “Finish at midnight, pack your bags, leave at 6am, fly to the next city – so long as there’s no delays – and do another game. But as far as commentary gigs go, this is still the one to do.”Swann has been covering the IPL for the best part of a decade. “I still love cricket,” he explains. “A lot of ex-players do it as a grind, but I love it: it’s the best game in the world. I genuinely do get excited when I see people ramping sixes, or Moeen [Ali] bowling someone through the gate. I’m still a fan, so I always try to get that across… I’m not a serious character, for the most part.”Danny Morrison, the ubiquitous voice of T20, has described Swann as the rare co-commentator who can match his energy behind the microphone. “That’s a massive compliment,” Swann says. “Danny makes me smile. He says things that make no sense whatsoever sometimes, but he’s been doing it 30-odd years and the enthusiasm he’s still got for it is infectious.”And yet, as a player, by his own admission, Swann didn’t much care about playing in the IPL: he entered three auctions – 2010, 2011 and 2012 – but never attracted a bid. “I would’ve loved it,” he reflects. “I’d have been bloody good at it as well… But I was a Test cricketer first and foremost, so I was never that bothered. I look back now and think it’s a real shame.Related

• IPL 2025 vs IPL 2024: Spinners rule as six appeal dips

• Graeme Swann moulds young England spinners dreaming of another series win in India

• Kevin Pietersen is helping make Delhi Capitals' players better cricketers and loving it

• Swann: 'In T20, I was looking to get a batsman out' (2018)

“The ECB didn’t want us to [play in it]. They allowed people to come for half of it, and you gave 30% to your county, 10% to your agent… You ended up taking home about 400 quid from a $250,000 contract. I remember putting my name down in the top bracket possible, knowing that if someone was going to give me that, they’re bonkers, and I’d come blatantly for the money.”There were one or two English players that came over here and did well – people like Kev [Kevin Pietersen], who this was made for – but the rest of us, at the time, were so invested in the Test team. And, to be fair, we were getting good money for that with our central contracts. Back then, it wasn’t really financially worth it to miss the start of your season.”Swann’s T20 career was limited to the early days of the format, but there is enough evidence to suggest he could have been a success in the IPL. He was part of the England side that won the 2010 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, took 51 wickets in T20 internationals while maintaining an economy rate of 6.36, and even used to open the batting as a pinch-hitter for Nottinghamshire.”You’re right: I was a trailblazer,” Swann says with a grin. “I was ahead of my time. One of my greatest regrets – and I always have a go at Andy Flower for this, because he missed out massively – is that he didn’t let me open the batting at least once in one-day cricket. But when I played, we were still in the dark ages compared to other teams.”Swann with Alex Davies, captain of England Lions, on the team’s tour of Australia earlier this year•Mark Evans/ECB/Getty ImagesBut Swann’s art, right-arm offspin, is struggling in this year’s IPL. R Ashwin was dropped by Chennai Super Kings after an ineffective season, while Sunil Narine and Maheesh Theekshana are bowling mystery spin. Allrounders like Will Jacks, Moeen Ali and Aiden Markram have been used predominantly as match-up options against left-handers.”The reason there’s not that many offspinners playing is that there’s just not that many around at the minute in world cricket,” Swann says. “It’s not because offspinners haven’t got a job to do. Part of the problem for a lot of offspinners is this match-up thing that all teams buy into now – the idea that you can’t turn it into the batsman.”Actually, because people now only face the ball turning away from them, people have got used to it. I swear, if a good offspinner came in now… If they’d played Mo [Moeen Ali] all season at KKR, I reckon he’d kill it, because people have lost the ability to manoeuvre the ball as well. After a few years, it’ll revert, it’ll come back. But everyone is obsessed with wristspin.”Riyan Parag’s five consecutive sixes off Moeen on Sunday did not help, but Swann’s theory does have some credence: left-hand batters are scoring at a slower strike rate (145.89, down from 154.20) against left-arm orthodox spinners in this IPL than the last one, and are getting out to them once every 17.2 balls, down from once every 28.5 balls.Swann (back row, first from left) was part of England’s T20 World Cup-winning side in 2010•Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty ImagesOne franchise’s spin-bowling coach believes that the tide is already turning, and that the best captains are relying less on paint-by-numbers fingerspin match-ups – bowling offspin to left-handers and left-arm orthodox to right-handers – than they used to. Even so, there is a real dearth of frontline right-arm offspinners in the league.Swann believes this is, in part, because the modern offspinner is unwilling to attack. “People aren’t prepared to rip the ball. The way you deceive people is not through darting it in. You have to be brave and be willing to get hit for a six, but you’ve got to dip the ball. And the only way you get dip is by putting a lot of revolutions on the ball.”If you’re spinning it hard and getting it to dip, you’ll get wickets. You might get hit for the odd boundary, but you will get wickets – especially against new batsmen. And let’s face it, everyone gets hit for six now in T20. Expectations have changed. When I played, if you got 2 for 30, it was an abject failure, because you wanted to keep teams down at 140-150. Now, it’s great.”Swann’s influence has extended beyond the commentary box in the last three years. He is now regularly involved with England Lions in a coaching capacity, looking after young spinners and passing on his knowledge. “I’d sit there and see things spinners were doing wrong, or hear people talking about what they were doing, and think, ‘That’s wrong! I don’t agree with that.'”I’d always try to seek out the English spinners, talk to them about it and try to give them some advice. Robert Key and Mo Bobat at the ECB approached me. Keysy said, ‘We think you’re wasted: you’ve been our best spinner for a generation, and you’re up in the commentary box.’ That’s why I got back into it – and I have loved it.”

The Guardians did it. Somehow, they actually did it.

With a 5–2 win over the Tigers on Tuesday night, Cleveland completed an improbable comeback and tied Detroit atop the American League Central. A team that was eight games under .500 and 15.5 games out of the division race in early July now has a 56.3% chance of winning it.

Conversely, the Tigers, who held baseball's best record on July 8, have fumbled it. An epic collapse has seen them fall into a deep slump that’s snowballed into a complete September collapse.

How did this happen? Let's go inside the numbers to get a better look.

40 — Wins for Cleveland on July 6, 88 games into the season. They fell eight games below .500 on that date after being swept at home by the Tigers.

45 — Wins for Cleveland since July 7, a 45–24 record (.652), second best in baseball behind the Milwaukee Brewers.

15.5 — Games the Guardians trailed the Tigers by on July 8.

10.5 — Games the Guardians trailed the Tigers by on Sept. 1.

9.5 — Games behind the Tigers on Sept. 10.

3.96 — Team ERA for the Guardians on July 6, 18th in baseball.

3.30 — Team ERA for the Guardians since July 6, best in baseball.

2.9 — fWAR for Jose Ramirez since July 6, tied with Cal Raleigh for fifth in the American League. Ramirez is slashing .264/.358/.528 over that span with 16 home runs, 43 RBIs, 57 runs scored and 18 stolen bases, with a wRC+ of 136.

1.3 — fWAR for rookie starting pitcher Parker Messick since his debut on Aug. 20. That ranks fifth in baseball during that time. He's 3–0 with a 2.08 ERA and 31 strikeouts against five walks in 34 2/3 innings.

2.39 — ERA for starter Gavin Williams since July 6. He's 7–1 since then.

1.25 — ERA for starter Tanner Bibee in three September starts. He's 2–0, with a 0.65 WHIP and 21 strikeouts against three walks in 21 2/3 innings. That includes a complete game shutout two-hitter against the White Sox on Sept. 12.

تفاعلت جماهير فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي، مع قرار المدرب آرني سلوت، بإبقاء محمد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء مرة أخرى للمباراة الثانية على التوالي.

وأعلن ليفربول تشكيل الفريق لمباراته أمام سندرلاند، بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، المقرر خوضها مساء اليوم الأربعاء.

ويتواجد محمد صلاح بديلاً للمرة الثانية على التوالي، بعدما جلس على مقاعد البدلاء في مباراة ليفربول ووست هام بالجولة الماضية بالبريميرليج.

عدد من الجماهير انتقد قرار سلوت بشدة ووصفه بـ”المجنون”، وعدد آخر يرى أن قرار المدرب صائب، خاصة مع استعداد محمد صلاح للتواجد مع منتخب مصر خلال كأس الأمم الإفريقية.

اقرأ أيضًا | ألارديس ينتقد كاراجر بسبب محمد صلاح: مثير للشفقة.. ويريد البقاء في دائرة الضوء وجاءت تعليقات جماهير ليفربول على النحو التالي: 

“هذه فرصة مثالية لرؤية كيف سيتعامل الفريق مع غياب صلاح”.

This is a perfect chance to see how the team copes without Salah. — Reese (@Madepiecee) December 3, 2025

“قرار كبير بإبقاء صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء مرة أخرى، لكن في الحقيقة، لقد تقاعس لفترة طويلة في الجانب الدفاعي دون تقديم مساهمة هجومية كافية، هذا هو القرار الصائب، خاصة إذا لعب سندرلاند بكثافة كبيرة”.

Big call to put Salah on the bench again but really, he has been slacking on defense for too long while not providing forward. It’s the right thing to do, especially if Sunderland play with big intensity — PeakRed (@ThePeakRed) December 3, 2025

“صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء مرة أخرى ما هذا؟”.

Salah benched again what is this — Alex (@AlexF1BCL) December 3, 2025

“يبدو الأمر كما لو كان ترينت على مقاعد البدلاء في نهاية الموسم الماضي لصالح برادلي حتى يتمكن من اختبار ما إذا كنا سنكون قادرين على التأقلم بدونه قبل انتقاله (أو في حالة صلاح، قبل ذهابه إلى كأس الأمم الإفريقية)”.

Feels like when Trent was benched at the back end of last season for Bradley so slot could test out whether we’d be able to cope without him before he moved (or in salah’s case, before he goes to AFCON) — Thomas Collins (@_t_col_7) December 3, 2025

“صلاح أسطورة، ولا زلنا مدينين له بالامتنان، لكن هذا الموسم يبدو أنه ركز على نفسه أكثر من الفريق، أليس كذلك؟، الشيء الوحيد الذي يثير التساؤل في تشكيلة اليوم هو ذلك اللاعب الأناني الذي يظل يلعب بسبب الضرائب الهولندية”.

Salah is a legend we still should be grateful to him but this season he just done it about himself so far, innit?

the only thing thats really questionable about todays lineup is that egoistic guy who keeps playing because of dutch tax — Pipe (@pipedauber) December 3, 2025

“في هذه المرحلة، ما الفائدة من إبقاء صلاح على الدكة بينما كودي جاكبو يلعب 90 دقيقة ويقطع للداخل ويفوت المرمى… لماذا لا يستطيع سلوت أن يجلس كودي جاكبو أيضًا؟؟”.

At this point whats the point of dropping him while cody Gakpo is playing 90 mins cutting inside and miss the post …Why can’t slot deop Cody Gakpo as well ????? — TheLiverpoolLad (@thaLiverpoolLad) December 3, 2025

“نحن نواجه صعوبة كبيرة، لذلك تم تغيير تشكيلة الفريق الأسبوع الماضي وقد نجح الأمر، لا جدوى من تغييره مرة أخرى، وأي شخص لديه عقل سليم سيدرك أنه سيلعب كامل الـ90 دقيقة هذه المباراة”.

“صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء مرة أخرى، أتمنى أن يُشعل ذلك حماسه”.

We’re struggling big time , so the team was changed at the weekend and it worked.
No point changing it again , also anyone with a brian cell would realise he will play a whole 90 at the weekend. — D_06🇮🇪 (@Lfc937) December 3, 2025

Salah on the bench again.

Hopefully that lights a fire up his arse. pic.twitter.com/dA4Uwf6jaz — Jonny Dee (@0xJonnyDee) December 3, 2025

“قرار آخر كبير من آرني سلوت بترك محمد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء للمباراة الثانية على التوالي في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز”.

Another big call by Arne Slot to leave Mohamed Salah on the bench for the second Premier League games in a row. pic.twitter.com/cFg9UR3jAp — HF World (@hfworld_) December 3, 2025

“هل أبقى صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء مرة أخرى؟ سلوت، أنت لا تدرك ما فعلته”.

He benched salah again ? 😂😂. Slot you don’t know what you’ve done. — PAUL_LFC (@paulsatvik) December 3, 2025

“قوموا بإقالته”.

Sack him — CF Comps (@CF_Compss) December 3, 2025

“هل سلوت مجنون؟، صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء مرتين متتاليتين؟”.

Is Slot mad ? Salah on the bench back to back ? — Sensei (@posko__) December 3, 2025

“هل صلاح الغاضب يسجل هاتريك وهو على مقاعد البدلاء؟”.

Angry Salah hat trick off the bench? — LFC LOYAL (@_LFCLOYAL_) December 3, 2025

“نحن نستعد للحياة بدون صلاح، لا أعتقد أنني سأكون مستعدًا عندما يرحل”.

We’re already preparing life without Salah. I don’t think I’ll be ready when he leaves. 🥲 — Ákshay 🍉 (@Akmathurx) December 3, 2025

“صلاح بديلاً مرة أخرى؟ أعتقد أنه القرار الصحيح للأسف”.

Salah dropped again!
I think it’s the right decision sadly — Baller Talk (@BallerTalk0) December 3, 2025

“أفهم سبب تواجد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء، إذا لعب وقدم أداءً غير مُقنع، فسيغيب لستة أسابيع تقريبًا، عليهم بناء الفريق واكتساب الثقة اللازمة للعب بدونه، بدلًا من الاعتماد عليه”.

I see why he’s benching Salah, if he plays and does unreal he’s going off for 6weeks or so they need to build and find the confidence to do it without him. Rather than rely on him. — Ty (@TylerThrilling1) December 3, 2025

“إبقاء صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء أمام فرق قاع الجدول (فرانكفورت ووست هام) لا يثبت شيئًا؛ هذا غير مستدام… لن أسمح بأن يصبح صلاح هو الشرير في هذه القصة… على سلوت أن يتوقف عن تغيير النظام ليناسب اللاعبين، وأن يدمج اللاعبين في النظام نفسه”.

Benching Salah against table-bottom teams (Frankfurt and West Ham) proves nothing; This is not sustainable… I will not allow him to make Salah the villain in this story… Slot needs to stop changing the system to favor the players and integrate the players into the damn system🤨 — Renee Betton O’Connor (@betton_renee) December 3, 2025

“سعيدٌ بجلوس صلاح على دكة البدلاء، هذا ليس تقليلًا من شأن الأسطورة، ولكنه يُتيح للاعبين فرصةً لإيجاد طرق هجومية أخرى وتحقيق النتيجة المرجوة، صلاح ليس لديه ما يُثبته، لقد فعل كل شيء وفاز بكل شيء”.

Glad that Salah is benched, its not a disrespect to the legend but it creates room for the players to find other ways to attack and get the desired result.

Salah doesn’t have anything to prove, he has done it all and won it all — Femi George (@thefemigeorge) December 3, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Torcedores do Palmeiras relembraram os “velhos tempos” com Breno Lopes, hoje jogador do Fortaleza, perdendo gol diante do Corinthians.

➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão

➡️ Pra seguir a batida! Com R$100 no Lance! Betting, você leva R$203 se o Corinthians vencer o Fortaleza!

O atacante saiu cara a cara com o goleiro Carlos Miguel e chutou para fora, em partida disputada na Neo Química Arena, neste sábado (4).

Antes de vestir a camisa do Fortaleza, Breno Lopes atuava pelo Palmeiras e, em um clássico contra o Corinthians, também desperdiçou uma oportunidade clara na casa do rival. Na ocasião, ele recebeu passe de Jhon Jhon e, sem goleiro, finalizou fraco. Cássio se recuperou e defendeu, evitando a derrota do Timão.

continua após a publicidade

Nas redes sociais, torcedores do Palmeiras “agradeceram” pela saída de Breno Lopes, e o lance ocorrido em Corinthians x Fortaleza viralizou.

VEJA AS REAÇÕES AO GOL PERDIDO POR BRENO LOPES, EX-PALMEIRAS, EM CORINTHIANS X FORTALEZA

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
CORINTHIANS X FORTALEZA
BRASILEIRÃO SÉRIE A – QUINTA RODADA

🗓️ Data e horário: sábado, 4 de maio de 2024, às 21h (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Neo Química Arena, em São Paulo (SP)
📺 Onde assistir: Premiere
🟨 Árbitro: Felipe Fernandes de Lima (MG)
🚩 Assistentes: Bruno Raphael Pires (FIFA-GO) e Felipe Alan Costa de Oliveira (MG)
🖥️ VAR: Gilberto Rodrigues Castro Junior (PE)

⚽ ESCALAÇÕES

CORINTHIANS (Técnico: António Oliveira)
Carlos Miguel; Fagner, Félix Torres, Cacá e Hugo; Raniele, Breno Bidon e Garro; Gustavo Mosquito, Wesley e Romero.

continua após a publicidade

FORTALEZA (Técnico: Juan Pablo Vojvoda)
João Ricardo; Tinga, Britez, Titi e Bruno Pacheco; Tomás Pochettino, Zé Welison e Yago Pikachu; Hércules, Marinho e Lucero

Tudo sobre

Breno LopesCorinthiansFortalezaPalmeiras

Welcome to 'Ask Jimmy,' where SI Media writer Jimmy Traina will answer one question about a burning topic from the sports media world.

A balls and strikes challenge system is finally coming to Major League Baseball. After being used for several years in the minor leagues, the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System will be featured in the big leagues beginning next season. Each team will get two challenges per game when it comes to balls and strikes, which will be retained if successful.

This is nothing but a positive for the sport. You can’t have games decided on missed calls by the home plate umpire and this is a way to fix that.

The only downside is that I wish teams were allotted more than two challenges per game from the start. I’d give teams four or five challenges per game. Even if you think home plate umpires do a great job, they’re still going to miss a handful of calls in each game. Why not implement a system in order to rectify that?

If your argument against the ABS challenge system is that it will slow down the game, think again. 

Baseball has done a great job of speeding up the game by instituting the pitch clock. The challenge system won’t have a significant effect on the length of games.

Via MLB: In 288 games with the ABS Challenge System during Spring Training 2025, there were an average of 4.1 challenges per game. Those challenges took an average of 13.8 seconds. 

Adding on a minute to each game to get important calls correct is a no-brainer. 

Baseball already has instant replay, so adding another layer to have balls and strikes challenged seems like a natural progression. 

Think about how history would have changed if ABS was around in 1998 when the Yankees got this gift from the home plate umpire.

You just can’t miss a call like that in a World Series game.

The only downside in my view is that this will limit the number of player explosions when a home plate umpire gets a call wrong. Now, instead of throwing their helmet or slamming their bats, a batter will simply tap his head to call for replay. 

New Zealand legend on novelty of coaching England’s men and trying to dismiss them in same summer

Matt Roller18-Aug-2025Tim Southee grinned as his team-mates engulfed him. After two-and-a-half months in England training gear in his role as bowling coach – or, officially, “specialist skills consultant” – he was back in playing kit for Birmingham Phoenix. More pertinently, he had just cleaned up Trent Rockets’ Joe Root with the first ball he had bowled to him, which crashed into his leg stump.It was a wicket that epitomised cricket’s gig economy. Southee, 36, retired from Test cricket after New Zealand’s home series against England last year and is still working out his next steps. He spent the start of the year at the ILT20 in the UAE, and is now juggling franchise contracts with his first steps into coaching in an arrangement he describes as “the best of both worlds”.It led to the unusual sight of Southee bowling long spells in the nets to England’s batters during their recent series against India to prepare himself physically. “A few opportunities presented themselves in the nets, especially the day before a game where bowlers don’t bowl a lot,” he explains. “I had to get through some overs at some stage, having not played since January.”Related

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The Hundred has been a challenge for him, with three expensive wickets in five appearances compared to 14 cheap ones in nine games last season. But he has enjoyed the “Kiwi flavour” at Phoenix, with head coach Daniel Vettori recruiting Southee’s long-term new-ball partner Trent Boult for the 2025 season, joining Adam Milne in an all-New Zealand fast-bowling attack.As the Hundred started, New Zealand’s next generation of fast bowlers were spearheading a dominant 2-0 Test series win in Zimbabwe, and Southee has helped to oversee a similar transition with England’s seamers in the world after James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Their depth and resilience was tested in the 2-2 draw with India, but Southee was impressed.”There’s a lot to be excited about,” he says. “You’ve got to also realise that the guys like Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, they’re very new to Test cricket still. Someone like Brydon Carse feels like he’s played a lot of cricket – he has, across three formats in the last 12 months – but he’s still very, very new, very raw in his Test career.”Gus Atkinson has achieved so much in his first 10 [13] Test matches: a 10-for, a hundred, a hat-trick… Josh Tongue as well, you see how exciting he is when he gets it right: he’s got pace, bounce, skills. Combine that with the way that Ben Stokes is bowling… and throw in the likes of Mark Wood, Jofra Archer. It’s pretty hard not to get excited about that group of bowlers.”He was particularly impressed by Carse’s gruntwork, believing he bowled much better than a series haul of nine wickets at 60.88 might suggest. “He didn’t have a lot of success on some pretty tough surfaces… But [I loved] the way that he kept coming, his attitude towards it, his ability to reach 90mph at his peak but also operate in a pretty skilful way.”Southee believes that the dramatic final day of the series at The Oval will make England “a little bit hungrier” when they return to Test cricket in three months’ time: “It was a disappointing way to finish, but there’s still plenty of good things to take out of the series.” Does he believe they have the resources to take 20 wickets regularly in the Ashes this winter? “Yeah, I certainly do.”Southee and Brendon McCullum played together in 170 internationals for New Zealand•Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty ImagesClearly, Stokes’ recovery from his latest injury – a torn shoulder muscle – will be a key determinant. “He put a lot of hard work in to get himself back for such a big series… The more he does it, the more he believes in his body and knows that he can do extraordinary things… For him to have an impact with the ball is massive for the side. Hopefully, that can continue.”Incredibly, after a Test career spanning 17 years, this was the longest series that Southee had been involved in. “We looked forward to three-match series,” he recalls. “A lot of them were two-match series… It was awesome to experience. This is the first time I’ve been part of a five-match series, and I loved every second of it.”Southee’s role was primarily the result of a long-standing relationship with Brendon McCullum, his long-term New Zealand captain and now England’s coach. His short-term contract expired after the fifth Test at The Oval but he is “working through” the prospect of renewing down the line: “There’s a couple of leagues I’m still playing in, but this is an opportunity that I’ve loved.”He has been a long way from his home in Hamilton. His family visited for four weeks during the India series – “to escape the winter back home and enjoy what’s been a lovely summer over here” – but he has spent much of the summer racking up hotel loyalty points. “I’m used to living out of a suitcase. That’s nothing too new to me.”Southee is unlikely to be involved in England’s Ashes staff – he is due to return to the ILT20, which clashes – but has caught the coaching bug. “It’s probably come a little bit quicker than I would’ve expected… It’s a game I love and a game that has given me so much. If I’m able to give back and help other people enjoy the game as much as I did, then hopefully there’s that opportunity there.”But more immediately, he has another head-to-head with Root to worry about next week. “Sharing a dressing room with the English guys, and getting to know them, makes playing against them slightly different… He’s such a great player: any time you get him out, it’s always a nice feeling. Nothing’s been said backwards and forwards. We’ll wait for the rematch.”

Manchester City are expected to be active in the market over the near future and could now beat rivals Manchester United to sign a teenage sensation who has excelled at the Under-17 World Cup.

Pep Guardiola will hope his side can strike up a bid to claim the Premier League title this season. However, they suffered a setback on the road to potential glory after falling to a defeat against Newcastle United on Saturday evening.

Harvey Barnes’ double cancelled out Ruben Dias’ equaliser at St James’ Park, albeit the Citizens were off colour in front of goal and were made to rue their missed chances, something Guardiola pointed out when speaking after the match.

He said: “Newcastle is a top side, top players, top manager, so unfortunately tonight we could not make the momentum that we had. It was an entertaining game, we both had chances, and then there was a momentum shift, and ultimately we couldn’t win.”

Ultimately, there is plenty of football still to be played and twists will occur before the Premier League title race starts to take a clear course. Still, Manchester City are now sitting adrift of Arsenal and Chelsea, which is something that needs to give over the next few weeks.

Man City’s upcoming fixtures – all competitions

Bayer Leverkusen (H)

Champions League

Leeds United (H)

Premier League

Fulham (A)

Premier League

Sunderland (H)

Premier League

Real Madrid (A)

Champions League

Nico O’Reilly’s emergence into the Citizens’ first-team and Matheus Nunes slotting in at right-back show that solutions are there to be stumbled upon for Guardiola, though you get the feeling January will be an important month to conclude meaningful business.

While bringing in senior players will be the priority, there may also be a focus on acquiring stars of the future at the Etihad Stadium amid recent developments.

Man City keen to sign Under-17 World Cup star Mohamed Zongo

According to Africa Foot, Man City are keen to sign Tenakourou Academy star Mohamed Zongo, who is also on the radar of Manchester United, Villarreal and Anderlecht after giving an excellent account of himself at the Under-17 World Cup.

On the biggest stage within his age group, the 15-year-old registered two goals and three assists from an attacking midfield role, and the Citizens have now initiated talks alongside the trio mentioned.

Labelled “magic” by Under-23 football scout Antonio Mango, he may become the next exciting gem in a long line at Manchester City, though no club has reached an agreement after his exploits at the youth World Cup.

Either way, beating Manchester United to his signature would be a signal of intent by Manchester City as they build for the future at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City & Pep now keen on Real Madrid star with Erling Haaland swap possible

From Scott McTominay overhead kicks to Troy Parrott mania and the stuff of dreams for Curaçao and Haiti, the November international break has been one full of drama.

It has also provided a far clearer picture of what the 2026 World Cup may look like. All but six countries have now booked their places in North America, with the remaining spots to be determined by playoffs taking place in March 2026, which will see four additional European teams qualify.

Along with Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Italy are the biggest name in the European playoffs, with Poland, Denmark, Ukraine, Turkey and the Czech Republic among others being forced to take that route.

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The remaining two places will come from the inter-confederation playoffs featuring Iraq, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, Suriname, Bolivia and New Caledonia.

The draw for the finals will take place in Washington on Friday, December 5 at midday local time (5pm UK time), but AI has jumped the gun and predicted every group including those teams yet to be officially decided.

Group A – USA, Denmark, Norway, Japan

According to the supercomputer, hosts USA will meet Denmark, Norway and Japan in the group stage. Having qualified automatically due to their host status, America will hope to advance into the knockouts in what would be an interesting group. A lot, of course, relies on whether Denmark can qualify through the playoffs.

The Danes lost late on against Scotland and were forced to settle for a place in the playoffs rather than automatic qualification. Japan, meanwhile, could be ones to watch after they lost just once in World Cup qualifying, and Norway could yet cause a few upsets thanks to Erling Haaland. In a well-balanced group, though, both USA and Denmark would be favourites to advance.

Group B – Mexico, Ecuador, South Africa, Iraq

Like USA, Mexico have had their 2026 place sealed ever since it was announced that they would host the World Cup and the supercomputer predicts that they’ll be handed a fairly routine group to match. Joined by Ecuador, South Africa and Iraq – who just kept their qualification hopes alive with a late victory over UAE – Mexico would be expected to advance in such a group.

Group C – Canada, Iran, Uzbekistan, Republic of Ireland

Canada, the final hosts of the tournament, will be joined in Group C by Iran, Uzbekistan and Ireland – who will need to qualify through the playoffs – according to the supercomputer.

Canada should feel confident if the AI prediction is right. They could top the group in front of their home crowd.

Group D – Argentina, Switzerland, Ivory Coast, Haiti

Can Argentina retain their crown on Lionel Messi’s likely last appearance on the big stage? That’s the question. They turned on the style at times in qualifying and will be expected to advance in a group with Switzerland, Ivory Coast and Haiti if the supercomputer’s prediction comes true.

That’s not to say it’s the most routine group, though. Ivory Coast have a strong team in their own right, boasting the likes of Amad Diallo, Simon Adingra and Evann Guessand. The same, meanwhile, can be said for Switzerland, who have the likes of Granit Xhaka to call on. Argentina should top the group, but then the fight for second place would be on, especially if Haiti cause any upsets.

Group E – Brazil, Croatia, Tunisia, New Zealand

Out of all the groups that the supercomputer has predicted, Group E stands out as the most routine so far. Both Brazil and Croatia would likely compete for top spot, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side favourites to come out on top, whilst Tunisia and New Zealand battle it out for third place.

There would still be room for some shocks, but the dominance of Brazil and Croatia would likely prove too strong. Ancelotti’s side will especially be one to watch, as they weigh-up whether to bring Neymar to the World Cup and others in pursuit of glory at long last.

Group F – Uruguay, Netherlands, Egypt, Jordan

If anyone was ever keen to see Darwin Nunez up against Virgil van Dijk then Group F will be the one for you, according to the AI prediction. It has predicted that Uruguay will square off against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Jordan and the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.

On paper, it looks like a routine draw for the two favourites of the group to go through, but seven-time AFCON winners Egypt are not to be taken lightly as long as Salah is fit and firing.

Group G – Belgium, Italy, Senegal, Saudi Arabia

Despite the fact that they’ll need to go through the playoffs, the supercomputer has predicted that Italy will take part in their first World Cup in over 10 years. It would signal a huge sigh of relief around the country if that proved to be the case, but their recent form suggests that it could yet be a playoff to forget once again.

Meanwhile, if they do reach the World Cup, they may still face their demise. The computer has predicted that Italy will meet a brutal group including Belgium and Senegal, one of Africa’s strongest sides, while don’t ignore Saudi Arabia, who beat eventual champions Argentina at Qatar 2022.

Group H – England, Austria, Algeria, Curacao

The supercomputer has predicted that England will be drawn into a group with Austria, Algeria and the smallest-ever country by population to feature at a World Cup, Curacao.

It wouldn’t get much more routine for the Three Lions, who are looking to finally bring football home in the men’s game to follow in the footsteps of the successful Lionesses.

They couldn’t have asked for a better qualification process under Thomas Tuchel, either. England were untouchable going forward and going the other way. They’ve got the players and they’ve got a winning manager. Will this finally be the year?

Group I – France, Scotland, Ghana, Australia

It could be good news for Scotland. The computer believes they’ll be drawn with France, Australia and Ghana. It would be an ideal draw for Steve Clarke’s men, who just defeated Denmark in dramatic fashion to qualify.

The fact they’ve reached the World Cup is an achievement in itself, but they won’t just be there to take part. In a group with France, who are likely to top the group, Australia and Ghana, they should expect to compete for a place in the knockouts.

Group J – Spain, Morocco, Paraguay, Jamaica

Drawn in a group with Morocco, Paraguay and Jamaica, Spain will be expected to dominate and send an early statement at the World Cup. They already have the Euros under their belt and will now be gunning for World Cup glory.

They’re a country full of great footballing history and many are backing them, led by the talent of Lamine Yamal, to create even more.

Group K – Portugal, Colombia, Qatar, Cape Verde

Group K, according to the supercomputer, will be centred around Cristiano Ronaldo and what is likely to be his final chance to win the World Cup. He’s watched as Messi has lifted it in dramatic style and will now be desperate to get his own glory to truly cement his Portugal legacy.

In a group with Luis Diaz’s Colombia and underdogs Qatar and Cape Verde, Ronaldo will be expected to shine.

Group L – Germany, South Korea, Panama, Wales

Whilst Germany likely ease to top spot, South Korea could grab second place in Group L. Up against Panama and playoff contenders Wales, they could have a routine run at second, assuming Germany take control.

The 2014 World Cup winners should be desperate to improve on their recent record and reclaim their throne, although they may have to stifle a Welsh side boosted by scoring seven times in their final qualifying game.

Henil Patel, Naman Pushpak and Udhav Mohan finish Australia off for 116 in their second innings to set up 81-run chase, which is knocked off in 12.2 overs

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-2025Bowlers, faster ones and spinners alike, held sway right through the second four-day match between Australia Under-19s and India Under-19s in Mackay, which ended inside two days with the visiting side running out convincing victors.The Australian batting unit didn’t give a particularly strong account of its abilities in familiar conditions in Brisbane in the first game, scoring 243 and 127 to go down by an innings and 58 runs, but there were pockets of resistance. In Mackay, that was never really in evidence. It was only Alex Lee Young, the wicketkeeper, who showed his batting chops, but there was little to nothing around him.He scored the only half-century of the match, 66 in the first innings where Australia put up 135, while the second dig was even more abject, Australia folding for 116. That left India, who had taken a 36-run first-innings lead – handy in a low-scoring contest – with just 81 to knock off, which they did for the loss of three wickets.The second – and as it turned out, last – day began with India at 144 for 7 in their first innings after having bowled Australia out in 43.3 overs. Henil Patel and Deepesh Devendran, the overnight batters, were separated quickly in the morning when Henil fell, becoming Kasey Barton’s fourth wicket of the innings. But Devendran added 22 to his overnight 6 to take India to 171. For Australia, Charles Lachmund, Will Byrom and Julian Osbourne picked up two wickets apiece to go with Barton’s four.Alex Lee Young was the best batter across the two teams•Getty Images

Australia batted again, and were 9 for 3 inside seven overs, Henil picking up two of the wickets to fall and Udhav Mohan one. It never really got better for Australia, the 32-run stand for the sixth wicket between Jayden Draper (15) and Young (again the top-scorer with 38) their best as they lasted just 40.1 overs. Henil and Naman Pushpak picked up three wickets each, while Mohan got two as only four Australians got into double-digits.The chase to the finish wasn’t a big one, but with conditions giving the bowlers confidence, there was still a job to do. Vaibhav Suryavanshi couldn’t, falling for a first-ball duck to Lachmund in the first over. Ayush Mhatre, the captain, also didn’t last long, bowled by Barton for 13 off just six balls, including three boundaries. But Vihaan Malhotra and Vedant Trivedi, who have both had such a good series across formats on the tour, stitched together a 39-run stand in just over six overs, scoring quickly and not allowing the bowlers to get any kind of grip on the game.Malhotra fell to Barton with India still 29 away from victory, having scored a-run-a-ball 21 with five fours, but Trivedi (33 not out in 35 balls) and Rahul Kumar (13 not out in 14) took India home in just 12.2 overs, and to a 2-0 series sweep after India had swept the preceding one-day series 3-0 too.While Barton was the most impressive of the Australian bowlers, picking up six wickets with his right-arm medium, for India, quick bowlers Henil (six wickets) and Mohan (four) were on target, as were spinners Khilan Patel, the left-arm orthodox, and Pushpak, the legspinner, who picked up seven wickets between them and had a three-for apiece.