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In his capacity as a Fox Sports analyst, Alex Rodriguez had a front-row seat to the magical World Series that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays pushed to, and beyond, its limits. In the end it was the defending champions who were able to secure back-to-back titles by outlasting their Canadian hosts last Saturday night in a game that brought more eyeballs to baseball than any in the previous eight years. So he had plenty of time to take in the energy and atmosphere that only added to the drama fans at home were able to enjoy. And to compare it to all previous versions of the Fall Classic.

Asked by if we just watched the greatest World Series every played, Rodriguez explained why he believes so.

"Yes," he said. "Well, in my lifetime, I've never. You know, that's obviously very subjective, but in my lifetime, I've never seen a better one. It had all the elements of just the juiciest, most delicious, World Series."

Rodriguez is not alone in his assessment, as many have wondered if the sport just enjoyed a high-water mark that will be difficult, if not impossible to match. The way he processed the seven-game greatness, however, is unique. Seated next to David Ortiz, Derek Jeter and Kevin Burkhardt, the former player was able to witness all the ingredients that went into making things buzz.

"It had three S’s, right?" Rodriguez said. "It had, it had superstars, it had strategy and it had incredible storylines. And what's great about baseball."

Rodriguez also spoke about the episodic nature of a baseball playoff series as opposed to the immediacy and one-and-doneness of other sports.

"Super Bowl has one like Tom Cruise movie. Over 100 million people will watch. What's different and what I think more compelling about a seven-game World Series, which are very rare—we only had two prior to this one in the last eight years—is that is like a mini docuseries and there's seven episodes.

"And just like , if you watch all six now, you're invested. You're hooked. You're hooked in the characters, the storyline, the strategy. And then you must watch game seven. So it was just awesome. I'm so proud of the game."

Labuschagne released from ODI squad to play Shield cricket while Hazlewood and Abbott will miss back-end of T20I series to play a Shield game

Alex Malcolm24-Oct-2025New South Wales allrounder Jack Edwards has been called into his first international squad after being added to Australia’s ODI side for the final match in Sydney while Glenn Maxwell and Ben Dwarshuis are fit to return for the latter stages of the upcoming T20I series against India, with young WA quick Mahli Beardman also called up for the T20Is.Cricket Australia confirmed a host of changes to the two white-ball squads on Friday with Marnus Labuschagne released from the ODI squad ahead of the final game in Sydney on Saturday to prepare for Queensland’s Sheffield Shield clash with NSW that starts on Tuesday at the Gabba.Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott will both miss the back-end of the T20I series against India in order play the round four Shield match for NSW against Victoria which starts at the SCG on November 10. Hazlewood will only play the first two T20Is while Abbott, who is recovering from split webbing in his hand, will leave Australia’s squad after the third T20I in Hobart.Related

Australia aim for historic ODI sweep against India

Mahli Beardman: 'Think I can hit the magical 150 mark'

Abbott first to be subbed out under new Sheffield Shield injury rule

Maxwell hopes to be fit for back-end of T20I series against India

Matthew Kuhnemann, who played in the first ODI against India in Perth but then missed the second in Adelaide when Adam Zampa returned, was recalled to the squad for the third game in Sydney alongside Edwards. Josh Philippe, who also played the opening ODI and then was left out of the second when Alex Carey returned, was added to the T20I squad as the spare wicketkeeper with doubt remaining over Josh Inglis’ fitness as he is yet to return from a calf strain.Maxwell will return for the last three matches of the T20I series having been ruled out of the first two after fracturing his wrist while bowling in the nets in New Zealand late last month. Dwarshuis was ruled out of the ODI series and the first three T20Is with a calf injury but has been named to return for the fourth and fifth matches in Queensland.Mahli Beardman has been called up to Australia’s T20I squad•CA/Getty ImagesBeardman, 20, is a surprise call-up for the last three T20Is. The former Australia Under-19 quick was a shock inclusion as an injury replacement on Australia’s 2024 white-ball tour of England having played only one List A game for Western Australia. He is also coming off stress fractures over the winter but he has made an impressive start to his T20 and List A career for Perth Scorchers and WA. He took 3 for 17 in his second BBL game, his last T20 appearance in January, and has 12 wickets at 17.75 with an economy rate of 5.75 from his first four List A games for WA, including 3 for 48 and 2 for 55 in his only two games so far this season coming back from injury.Edwards’ call-up to the ODI squad has come on the back of some excellent performances for Australia A on the recent tour of India. He made 88 in the second four-day game in Lucknow and then took 4 for 56 and 89 off 75 in the second and third 50-over matches in Kanpur respectively while captaining Australia A.His addition to the squad does provide Australia the opportunity to extend their batting and trial an allrounder heavy line-up in the dead rubber in Sydney. Such an XI would present the selectors with the chance to rest either one or both of Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc given there is just one day of rest between the second and third ODI.Australia ODI squad for the third ODI vs IndiaMitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam ZampaAustralia T20I squad vs IndiaMitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott (first three matches only), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman (last three matches only), Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis (last two matches only), Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood (first two matches only), Glenn Maxwell (last three matches only), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

The Kingston Test was a nightmare for the batters as Starc set a new record for the fastest five-wicket haul in Test history

Sampath Bandarupalli14-Jul-202527 – West Indies’ total in the fourth innings of the third Test at Kingston against Australia. It is the second-lowest total in the history of Test cricket, only a run more than New Zealand’s 26 all-out against England in 1955 at Auckland.The 27 all-out is now the lowest total for West Indies in the format. Their previous lowest was 47 against England at the same venue in 2004.The 170 runs they aggregated across both innings are the lowest by West Indies in a Test match where they were bowled out twice. Their previous lowest was 175 against England at The Oval in 1957.14.3 – Overs batted by West Indies in their second innings. It is the third-shortest all-out innings in Test cricket, behind 12.3 overs by South Africa when they were all out for 30 against England in 1924, and 13.5 by Sri Lanka against South Africa last November.ESPNcricinfo Ltd7 – Number of ducks in the West Indies’ second innings at Kingston. It is the first ever instance of seven batters getting out for a duck in a Test innings. There have been nine instances of six ducks previously, with the latest being at Edgbaston earlier this month.15 – Number of balls that Mitchell Starc needed to complete his five-wicket haul in the second innings. It is the fastest five-for in men’s Tests, a record he bettered by four balls.Ernie Toshack against India at Brisbane in 1947, Stuart Broad against Australia at Nottingham in 2015 and Scott Boland against England at the MCG in 2021; all completed their five-wicket hauls in 19 balls.516 – Runs aggregated by West Indies and Australia in Kingston, the seventh-fewest for a men’s Test match and the lowest since 1910, where both teams were bowled out twice.Only 1045 balls were bowled across the four innings, the lowest for any Test with four all-out innings since 1910 and the fourth-fewest ever. It is also the third-shortest Test to not end in a draw in West Indies.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2 – Bowlers to take three wickets in the first over of an innings in men’s Tests since 2002. Irfan Pathan did it before Starc, when he claimed a hat-trick in the opening over of the Karachi Test in 2006.West Indies’ innings started with a scoreline of 0 for 3, courtesy of Starc’s opening over. It is only the sixth instance of a team losing their first three wickets without a run on the board in a Test innings.Starc took two wickets in the first over of the fourth innings against West Indies in 2015 at the same venue. He is the only bowler to have taken multiple wickets in the first over of a Test innings twice since 2002.6 – Runs collectively added by West Indies’ top six batters. It is comfortably the lowest by any team’s top six in a men’s Test innings and half of the previous lowest – 12 by Australia against England at Sydney in 1888.ESPNcricinfo Ltd19062 – Balls that Starc bowled in Test cricket to claim his 400th wicket. He is the second quickest to that milestone by balls bowled, behind only Dale Steyn, who needed 16634 balls.10 – Scott Boland became only the tenth bowler to take a hat-trick for Australia in men’s Tests, and the first since Peter Siddle against England at Brisbane in 2010. Australia now have 12 hat-tricks in men’s Tests, only behind England’s 15. Hugh Trumble and Thomas Matthews picked two hat-tricks each in their Test careers.6 for 9 – Starc’s bowling figures at Kingston are now the best for a player in their 100th Test match. Muthiah Muralidaran’s 6 for 54 against Bangladesh in 2006 was the previous best.48 – Steven Smith’s score in the first innings is the highest individual score of the match. The Kingston Test is only the 16th occasion in the men’s Tests where no batter scored a fifty (Matches with at least two complete innings).The previous such Test was between India and South Africa at Nagpur in 2015. Nine of the 16 Test matches without an individual fifty-plus score were played before 1900.

Simon Jordan just revealed that he put a “consortium” together in a bid to buy Sheffield Wednesday, revealing his next steps in the takeover race.

Mike Ashley submits offer to buy Sheffield Wednesday

It’s set to be a busy week for Sheffield Wednesday as they close in on their soft deadline of December 5. The Owls have not been short on interest and are now reportedly set to whittle that interest down to serious bidders.

A number of names have been mentioned along the way on that front, including John McEvoy and Ryan Howsam, but it’s Mike Ashley who’s reportedly submitted an opening bid.

The former Newcastle United owner has supposedly tabled an offer worth £20m, only to be turned down by administrators who have had bids in the region of £30m.

With so much interest, Sheffield Wednesday must ensure that they’re not simply accepting the highest bid, however. They’ve already had to tell Sheffield United where to go amid rumours that their American owners were set to propose a shock merger and must take that same stance with any other unacceptable proposals.

That said, if Ashley does return with an offer to match the £30m bid set by others, then he should be someone to consider. The 61-year-old was often criticised at Newcastle, but there’s no denying that he brought financial stability – clearing their debts – and that’s exactly what Sheffield Wednesday need.

Sheffield Wednesday respond to £20m takeover bid as Mike Ashley plots next step

The former Newcastle United owner has made his move.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 27, 2025

Alas, Ashley’s not the only ex-Premier League owner who’s had interest in the club since they’ve entered administration. Former Crystal Palace chief Jordan has now revealed where he stands in the race to buy the club.

Jordan reveals "consortium" to buy Sheffield Wednesday

Speaking to talkSPORT, Jordan revealed that he put together a “consortium” to buy Sheffield Wednesday, before deciding to drop out of the race to complete a takeover amid concerns that he’d be “rewarding” Dejphon Chansiri.

With Jordan out of the race, Sheffield Wednesday have seen their options whittled down even further ahead of the deadline, but there’s no doubt that they’ve still got enough interest.

Whether that means they’ll turn towards Ashley is the big question. He has experience in the world of football, yet he is behind in the bidding war as things stand.

Sheffield-born takeover candidate makes key contact in race to buy Sheffield Wednesday

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.

This was, however, a weekend of mixed emotions for Britain's most high-profile footballing expats. Real Madrid's English duo endured a frustrating night against one of La Liga's most out-of-form teams, though Scotland's 2025 Ballon d'Or nominee played his part in a massive Serie A win for Napoli. There were also victories for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund's prized Englishmen, but neither was able to leave a lasting mark on proceedings.

Every Monday this season, GOAL has the definitive lowdown on British stars abroad, what they're getting up to, who is reaching the greatest heights and who appears to be suffering with homesickness. Let's get stuck into this week's edition… 

Getty Images SportKane takes backseat as Bayern leave it late

Is it time to panic?! Harry Kane failed to find the back of the net for the second game in a row on Saturday as Bayern Munich ground out a dramatic 3-1 win over St Pauli in the Bundesliga. Kane played the full 90 minutes, but it was another subdued display from the England captain, who also failed to spark into life during Bayern's 3-1 Champions League defeat at Arsenal in midweek.

Kane has scored only twice in his last seven games across those two competitions, well short of the standards he set earlier in the season. But the reality is, they were never going to be maintained across the campaign. Last term, Bayern suffered whenever Kane was slightly off his game, but the pressure on his shoulders is no longer so extreme. Natural dips in form are excusable because the Bundesliga leaders have more firepower elsewhere to hurt the opposition.

Luis Diaz has been especially impressive during this quiet period for Kane. The former Liverpool winger is making a case for the title of best value signing of the summer, and notched two more goal involvements against St Pauli, taking his overall tally for the season to 18 in 19 appearances.

St Pauli grabbed a surprise lead at Allianz Arena inside six minutes, and Bayern didn't find an equaliser until moments before the half-time whistle, when Diaz somehow produced a prodded assist for Raphael Guerreiro despite losing his footing in the box. The hosts laid siege to the St Pauli penalty area thereafter, but struggled to find a way through their stubborn rear-guard.

A magical or superhuman moment was needed, and Diaz delivered in the third minute of stoppage time, busting a gut to get in behind enemy lines and head home a teasing Joshua Kimmich cross. Nicolas Jackson then added a third for good measure, but this was Diaz's night. Kane won't mind if the Colombian overshadows him as long as Bayern keep marching towards back-to-back Bundesliga successes, with Kompany's side now holding a healthy eight-point cushion over second-place RB Leipzig.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAlexander-Arnold still not convincing

Real Madrid's impressive Clasico win over Barcelona on October 26 feels like a very long time ago. Los Blancos were five points clear at the top of La Liga after that result, but fast-forward just two months, and Barca have clawed their rivals back after reeling off four consecutive victories. 

The reigning champions are now first by a point ahead of Madrid, who have drawn three in a row, with relegation-threatened Girona the latest team to inflict a damaging blow to the Xabi Alonso project. Los Blancos were made to pay for a dismal first-half showing at the Estadi Montilivi that saw them muster only one shot on target, with the hosts heading in at the break one up thanks to a lovely first-time finish from Azzedine Ounahi.

Madrid improved in the second half, and secured a share of the spoils thanks to a Kylian Mbappe penalty, but on current form, they have little hope of dethroning Barca. One of Alonso's biggest concerns will be Trent Alexander-Arnold, who again failed to impose himself in attack and defence.

The Liverpool academy graduate is enjoying an extended run in the team with Dani Carvajal out injured, but Real have looked far worse with the 27-year-old filling in at right-back. He was guilty of not tracking his man for Girona's goal, and almost gifted them another after misplacing a pass. 

"It's his first year, and this adjustment period is normal," Alonso said when quizzed on Alexander-Arnold's poor form before the game. "He's also demanding of himself, and we have to support him through this significant change." But how long can Madrid afford to wait? The England international has to start proving his worth, or else Carvajal will instantly be reinstated to the starting XI when he returns to action in the New Year.

Getty Images SportMcTominay helps Napoli edge top-of-the-table clash

November was a very mixed month for Napoli. The Serie A title holders opened with successive goalless draws against Como and Eintracht Frankfurt before losing 2-0 at Bologna, after which Antonio Conte sparked talk he may resign by declaring, "I don’t want to accompany a dead man".

But Napoli have since come out fighting for their manager. A 3-1 win over Atalanta got them back on track domestically before they put Qarabag to the sword in the Champions League, which perfectly set up a meeting with Serie A leaders Roma on Sunday.

As expected, it was a tight game at Stadio Olimpico with so much at stake. In the end, Napoli edged it courtesy of a superb goal from David Neres, who ran almost the entire length of the field to finish off a rapid counter-attack after good work from Rasmus Hojlund. 

Usually, it's Scott McTominay who inspires Napoli in the biggest games, but the Scotland international didn't get the time or space to make a decisive impact in Rome. That is partly due to the fact he is being asked to play in a more withdrawn role as Conte deals with a mini-injury crisis and a change in formation.

"Some said that McTominay is being sacrificed in this system, but in my view that is his role too, he is a box-to-box midfielder," the Italian coach said after the 1-0 win, which took Napoli back to second in the table, behind AC Milan on goal difference. "We couldn’t do anything else, as only [Eljif] Elmas is an alternative, and that’s not even his role. These lads are proving their enthusiasm, hunger and determination every day, it is what allowed us to win the Scudetto last season, something incredible."

Indeed, McTominay's hunger shone through with his work off the ball. He posted four clearances and seven ball recoveries across the 90 minutes to help ensure Napoli kept Roma at bay. The former Manchester United midfielder always finds a way to lead by example, and Napoli will be there-or-thereabouts in the final title reckoning once again as long as he stays fit.

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Getty Images SportJobe back to square one

Borussia Dortmund have won six of their last nine matches across all competitions since losing to Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker back in mid-October, and their latest triumph was undoubtedly their most important yet. It wasn't always pretty, but Niko Kovac's side leapfrogged Bayer Leverkusen into third in the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win at Bay Arena on Saturday.

Goals from Aaron Anselmino and Karim Adeyemi secured the three points as BVB gave up the lion's share of possession and hit Leverkusen on the break. The gritty, clinical performance pleased Kovac, who told reporters after the final whistle: "We played a really cool away game today. The team have shown that they can survive here as well. We made a lot of plans for this game. The team implemented them really well, and after this, hopefully the talk that we cannot win against big teams this season will stop."

Unfortunately, though, Jobe Bellingham didn't really contribute to Dortmund's "cool game". The former Birmingham City wonderkid was restricted to a 10-minute cameo and managed only four touches, all of which came in his own half. 

Bellingham seemed to have turned a corner after playing 90 minutes against Hamburg and Stuttgart, but it seems that Kovac still doesn't trust him in the most pivotal fixtures. He was also a late substitute in the 4-0 Champions League win over Villarreal last week, and it won't be a surprise if he's back on the bench when Dortmund face Leverkusen again in the last 16 of the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday.

There is growing speculation that Bellingham could seek a move away from Signal Iduna Park in January, with BVB reportedly open to a loan amid interest from Paris FC in Ligue 1. While that would be a backwards step, the 20-year-old needs regular football to rebuild his confidence; only then will he have any chance of emulating his brother Jude and break into the England senior set-up.

Arsenal might be flying in the Premier League and Champions League this season, but things have not always looked so rosy for Mikel Arteta.

In fact, in his second season, just half a year after winning the FA Cup, there was a real sense that he could be fired.

After all, the North Londoners were bottom of the table by the first international break, and from the 8th of November to Boxing Day, the team didn’t win a league game.

Aston Vila (H)

3-0 (Loss)

Leeds United (A)

0-0 (Draw)

Wolves (A)

2-1 (Loss)

Tottenham (A)

2-0 (Loss)

Burnely (H)

1-0 (Loss)

Southampton (H)

1-1 (Draw)

Everton (A)

2-1 (Loss)

Amazingly, one of the reasons things turned around for the Spaniard was his decision to unleash academy gem Emile Smith Rowe, who, alongside Bukayo Saka, helped steer the club out of trouble.

Since then, it has felt like Hale End has produced talents in pairs for the club, and it looks like they’ve done so again with a duo who could become the new Smith Rowe and Saka, and no, it’s not Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri.

Saka & Smith Rowe's partnership

Smith Rowe made his debut for Arsenal and started a few Europa League games in the 18/19 season, and made a few more appearances the following year.

However, his first Premier League start for the club came on Boxing Day 2020, and alongside Saka, he helped put the club back on track.

He provided the assist for his Hale End teammate, and that started a partnership that finally gave the fans something to be excited about when it came to their team.

Appearances

33

46

Minutes

2220′

3606′

Goals

4

7

Assists

7

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.33

0.30

Minutes per Goal Involvement

201.81′

257.57′

In fact, the pair made such an impact as a dynamic duo that the fans created and constantly sang a song about them playing together.

Unfortunately, injuries soon began to take their toll on the Croydon-born gem, and while he was on the sidelines, his Saka started to grow in importance on his own.

Moreover, the overall team began rapidly improving, both from a personnel and performance perspective, so when the dynamic midfielder was fit again in the 23/24 season, he barely featured at all.

This led to the club accepting a £34m offer from Fulham in the summer of 2024.

It might not have ended well, but for a time, Saka and Smith Rowe were an incredible partnership, making 81 appearances together and combining for six goals.

Now it looks like Hale End might be about to produce another dynamic pairing for Arsenal, and it’s not Dowman and Nwaneri.

Arsenal's new Saka and Smith Rowe

Now, there is an argument to be made that the duo of Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are the closest Arsenal have come to recreating the Saka and Smith Rowe pairing.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

However, with the latter primarily playing at left-back, that comparison doesn’t really work.

It’s a different story, however, when it comes to Hale End gems Alex Marciniak and Louis Zecevic-John.

The pair have demonstrated an ability to play in several different positions, but the former, who is just 17, is primarily an attacking midfielder, and the latter, also 17, is primarily a right winger.

In other words, they could burst into the first team and, as one content creator put it, become “the new Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.”

Now, that is certainly a lot of pressure to put on youngsters that most fans will not have heard of yet, but based on their form in the youth sides and what those in the know are saying about them, it’s a pressure they might be able to handle.

For example, the “insane” Marciniak, as dubbed by academy expert Will Balsam, has already racked up a tally of one goal and three assists in eight appearances for the U18s this season.

Zecevic-John, whom Balsam has described as “a game-changing attacker” who is “electric with the ball at his feet” and blessed with “blistering pace,” also put up incredible numbers last year.

In 22 appearances, totalling 1539 minutes, he scored seven goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.57 games, or every 109.92 minutes.

Ultimately, there is still a long way to go for both youngsters, but given their positions and undeniable ability, they could one day be Arsenal’s new Saka and Smith Rowe.

Arsenal lost 'one of the world's best', now he's outperforming Saka & Eze

The incredible international is now playing better than Arsenal’s Eze and Saka.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 14, 2025

Absence of England, South Africa and overseas players comes after lengthy gap from group stages

Matt Roller12-Sep-2025The T20 Blast’s “absolutely ludicrous” scheduling will see all four teams involved in Saturday’s Finals Day missing key players for the showpiece occasion of the county calendar.Now in its 23rd season, the Blast is the oldest professional T20 competition in the world, but also the longest. The 2025 edition started in late May and will finally come to an end more than 15 weeks later at Edgbaston on Saturday, with Lancashire playing Somerset in the first semi-final, Northamptonshire facing Hampshire in the second, and the final rounding out the day.Counties have chosen to stage the Blast’s knockout stages in September for the last two seasons, given that a long gap after the group stage – during which the Hundred takes place – allows them more time to sell tickets for the quarter-finals. But it also limits player availability for Finals Day, with overseas players leaving and England involved in white-ball series.The ECB confirmed on Friday that the Blast’s knockout stages will be shifted forwards next summer with Finals Day set for July 18, immediately before the Hundred starts. The Blast’s format will also change next year, with teams split into three groups of six rather than two groups of nine, and each team playing 12 group games instead of 14.Lancashire are particularly badly affected this year, with four players missing on England duty – Jos Buttler, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt and Luke Wood – and both of their overseas players unavailable. Chris Green is at the CPL with Barbados Royals, while Ashton Turner has been recalled by Western Australia ahead of the start of the state season next week.”It’s not ideal,” Keaton Jennings, their captain, told BBC Radio Lancashire. “I don’t want to point fingers [but] I do think the scheduling is absolutely ludicrous. You can’t have eight weeks between a last group-stage game and a final. There’s no other competition in the world that does that… It is frustrating. It feels like a massive kick in the teeth.”Steven Croft, Lancashire’s head coach, has hinted that they could even hand a player their T20 debut on Saturday, with mystery spinner Arav Shetty named in their squad after taking nine wickets in seven One-Day Cup appearances. Lancashire last won the Blast in 2015 when Croft was captain, with Liam Livingstone also involved.Related

Warwickshire retire Birmingham Bears moniker for revamped T20 Blast

Scott Currie relishing 'dirty work' as Hampshire target more Blast success

Bopara: 'When I feel a bit dead, that's when I'm at my best'

Hampshire target white-ball double as coach Birrell prepares to step down

Devastating Dickson powers Somerset to Finals Day

Somerset, their opponents, will be missing Riley Meredith (recalled by Tasmania), Matt Henry (recalled by New Zealand) and Tom Banton (England duty). They have named a single overseas player in their squad, the South African Migael Pretorius, who has made only two previous T20 appearances for them across the last two seasons.Hampshire have two available overseas players in Chris Lynn and Bjorn Fortuin, but are without Liam Dawson (England duty), Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (South Africa duty) and Hilton Cartwright (recalled by Western Australia). They are targeting a record fourth title and a domestic white-ball double in Adi Birrell’s final season as head coach.Northamptonshire are considered outsiders by the bookies after their shock win at The Oval last Wednesday but will have the same squad to choose from, with Tim Robinson and Lloyd Pope both available as overseas players. Pope’s availability owes to the fact that his state – South Australia – are not scheduled to start their domestic season until next Saturday.However, South Africa’s Matthew Breetzke will not be available as hoped. “We’ve had some bad news today about Breetzke,” Darren Lehmann, Northants’ head coach, said. “We were hoping to get him back, but he misses out due to personal and family reasons. We wish him and his family all the best. Everyone’s health and wellbeing is the most important thing.”Overseas players at T20 Blast Finals Day:
Somerset: Migael Pretorius (South Africa)
Lancashire: None
Hampshire: Chris Lynn (Australia)
Northamptonshire: Tim Robinson (New Zealand), Lloyd Pope (Australia).

Which of the two Tests thrilled you more: Sri Lanka’s one-wicket win over South Africa, or England winning by scoring at 5.98 over 50 overs?

ESPNcricinfo staff12-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The SL-SA 2006 Colombo (PSS) Test moves to the round of 16.Jayawardene stars in final-day drama – Colombo (PSS), 2006The Test swung wildly, almost every step of it as unpredictable as the one before. Till it came down to Farveez Maharoof, more than competent with the bat, and Lasith Malinga, not quite as adept, needing to score two runs to win the Test. They did, to earn Sri Lanka a one-wicket win in the Test and make it 2-0 for the series.But how did it get there?South Africa chose to bat – who would want to bat last on a Sri Lankan pitch? And they got the biggest total of the match, 361. The fifth-wicket stand between Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers, worth 161, made it possible, despite Muthiah Muralidaran’s five-for.Sri Lanka didn’t stop too far away, at 321, but they had the century stand for the eighth wicket between Maharoof and Chaminda Vaas to thank for it even as Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini combined for nine wickets.When South Africa batted again, Muralidaran got seven, and despite Herschelle Gibbs and Mark Boucher hitting half-centuries, South Africa got to 311, setting Sri Lanka 352 to win.Then, in a Test where all four innings crossed 300, Mahela Jayawardene scored the only century. But when he fell, Sri Lanka still had 11 runs to get, with three wickets in hand, but hope since Maharoof and Vaas were around. Vaas and Muralidaran fell, though, and then it was over to Maharoof to get the scores level, and Malinga to avoid a tie. He did. Driving Nicky Boje, who had taken four wickets in the innings, down the ground to finish the job.Bazballers take down New Zealand – Nottingham, 2022It had to take some Bazballing to score almost 300 in the fourth innings with just over two sessions to go. There would be a maximum of 72 overs, and if England scored at their first-innings scoring rate of 4.20, they would get there comfortably. They scored at 5.98 instead, and pulled it off in 50 overs.England won the toss and bowled. New Zealand scored 553, with Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell scoring centuries. Joe Root and Ollie Pope responded with centuries of their own to give England 539. Not much between the sides. But since England had scored so quickly, New Zealand scoring 284 in their second innings still left them with time to get the 299 they needed.The big innings came from Jonny Bairstow, who hit 136 in 92 balls. Ben Stokes scored 75 not out in 70 balls. And, not for the first time, finished the game with a cut for four off Trent Boult. England won with the sort of hitting that demoralises oppositions. They had already won the first Test at Lord’s. They finished the series 3-0, winning at Headingley while scoring at 5.37 and 5.44 in the two innings. Bazball was here to stay.

Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to visit the White House on Tuesday as part of a Saudi Arabian delegation that includes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). The visit coincides with MBS’s first trip to the United States in seven years. Ronaldo has been a prominent figure in the Saudi Pro League since joining Al Nassr in December 2022.

GettyFace of the league

Ronaldo's association with the Saudi government has long been called into question. But recent events have shown how strong the ties are between the league's biggest superstar and the crown. In an interview with Piers Morgan last week, Ronaldo dubbed MBS "our boss", while the meeting at the White House would seem to reinforce that notion. 

AdvertisementAFPTrump’s increasing involvement with FIFA and the global game

U.S. President Donald Trump has increasingly sought to build relationships with key figures in global soccer. FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended his inauguration, and Trump presented the trophy to Chelsea after their Club World Cup win last summer. Infantino and Trump have also held multiple joint press conferences at the White House.

Ronaldo embraces Trump

Ronaldo has recently interacted with the President as well. In July, Trump received a signed jersey from the Portuguese forward with the inscription, “To President Donald J. Trump, Playing for Peace.” Ronaldo said at the time that he hoped to speak with Trump about global issues, explaining:

“He is one of the guys who can help to change the world. One of the most important guys is the U.S. President. If we can help each other to make this happen… He is one of the guys I wish to meet to sit and have a nice talk. If it is here, or in the U.S., wherever he wants, I know he was here in Saudi Arabia with our boss, MBS (Mohammed bin Salman). I wish one day to meet him." 

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Getty Images SportWhat's next for Ronaldo?

Following the reported meeting, he is set to return to Saudi Arabia as his Al-Nassr side hosts Al-Khaleej. Ronaldo is currently second in the league in scoring, with nine goals. 

Costa Rica’s World Cup hopes have taken a severe hit. A 1–0 loss to Haiti has left Miguel Herrera’s side on the brink in the CONCACAF qualifiers, with their direct path now hanging by a thread. Pressure around Herrera grew louder after the match as Los Ticos have a difficult path to next year's tournament.

AFPCosta Rica drop to third in Group C

Herrera’s team entered the match with a chance to seize control of the group, especially after Nicaragua stunned Honduras earlier in the day. Instead, slipped to third place, and their fate now depends on a combination of unlikely results.

Haiti struck the decisive blow just before halftime. Josué Casimir slipped a pass into the box for Ruben Providence, whose low cross found Frantzdy Pierrot for the opener. Keylor Navas immediately expressed his frustration, shouting toward a back line that reacted far too slowly. Despite pushing forward in the second half, Costa Rica never found the equalizer.

AdvertisementAFPLos Ticos must beat Honduras

The math is now unforgiving for Herrera. Costa Rica must defeat Honduras in San José next week and hope Haiti fail to beat Nicaragua. Anything less than a victory eliminates them entirely from direct qualification and could even shut the door on the playoff route.

AFPHerrera faces growing pressure

Pressure around Herrera grew louder after the match, including a tense exchange during his arrival to the postgame press conference. Asked whether he still believed he should lead the team for the decisive match, he didn’t hesitate.
“It’s not my decision. If we don’t qualify, then we’ll have to consider what comes next. I’m committed to this project.”

Herrera took full responsibility for the team’s poor return – one win, one loss, and three draws in the final round – but emphasized that decisions about his future lie with federation president Osael Maroto.

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AFPNavas and Costa Rica now need a miracle

Costa Rica will now carry their fading World Cup hopes into a must-win showdown against Honduras – the group leader, but one that also arrives under significant pressure after a 2–0 defeat on the road to Nicaragua.