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The team management has already taken tough decisions in this Test series, but this one might be the toughest

Alagappan Muthu02-Dec-2024Rohit Sharma. Middle-order batter. Take two.Take one had its moments too. The 2018-19 tour of Australia, where he seemed to bat like a dream, getting in behind the line against the fast bowlers, rarely ever rushed. And then Nathan Lyon would show up and Rohit just wouldn’t be able to help himself. Big shot. Miscue. Gone.That used to be Rohit’s lot in Test cricket. Getting out after getting set. He left that series after the third match, where he made an unbeaten 63, which remains his highest score in this country, to be with his wife for the birth of his first child.That was the last anyone ever saw of Rohit Sharma, middle-order batter. Until maybe now.Related

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Kohli vs Bumrah highlights India's jam-packed practice session

Gambhir flies back to rejoin India Test squad in Australia

Pujara: Rahul should bat no lower than No. 3 if Rohit opens

India arrived in Adelaide on Monday afternoon and have three days’ training to finalise the make-up of their XI for the day-night Test in Adelaide. The biggest call they have to make is whether to separate KL Rahul from Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order. Under ordinary circumstances, there would be no need to even broach the subject after those two put on a 201-run partnership that was crucial in securing the victory in Perth. But this is their captain coming back and he has been opening the batting for the past five years.Rohit’s arrival strengthens India. His first bits of game time – the practice game in Canberra – painted the picture of a man in excellent spirit. He’s become a father again. A life-changing event like that tends to eclipse things like being unable to whack a piece of leather with a stick of wood. He was full of mischief for the little while he was fielding at Manuka Oval; a far cry from the man who was obliged to face the press after leading India to a 3-0 home defeat to New Zealand but maybe not too far off from the man who chose to face the press the day they were 46 all out in the same series with the words ” [get your knives out]”.

Rohit has been opening the batting for India in Test cricket for the last five years but for this tour – and this Test – he might just concede that there are better options up there and he can do more damage just by backing them up

Rohit has been a remarkably even-tempered person given the ups and downs he’s been through. His daughter put it best. Back when he had to isolate after testing positive for Covid-19, she said, “In one month he will laugh.” Very little keeps him down, just as very little slips past him, except he’s coming off a series where things did slip past him, a series where he admitted he was off the mark, a series that gave him pause to think about his batting and his leadership. It might be fair to assume that, whatever his temperament, he wouldn’t want to go through that again. So, from that point of view, if he comes to believe that the team is better off with other people opening the batting, he will make way for them. He did in Canberra.Rahul and Jaiswal continued to open for India and given that was the only pink-ball practice game they had before the Adelaide Test, there are at least some indications that Rohit will be dropping down to a support role at No. 5, which might be good for him too. He hasn’t been in form and he hasn’t been in Australia as long as the others have. It would be risky to expose him to the new pink ball. It decks around a lot more than the red one, but that is compensated by its going soft by around the 30-40 over mark. Rohit, with his range of shots, coming in when the ball isn’t doing as much, has often been a recipe for big scores.1:25

Pujara: ‘Nothing later than No. 3, KL has to bat in the top order’

India have had occasions in the past where their captain has had to bat in somewhat unfamiliar positions for the benefit of other people and also the team as a whole. Sourav Ganguly came up from No. 5 to No. 4 in the second innings of the Melbourne Test in 2003, which didn’t really make a dent in the scoreline, but it did give Sachin Tendulkar a better entry point and he used it to make 44 off 79, which then became a launch pad for his famous Sydney double-century.Adelaide is a very real shot for Australia to gain back the ground they lost in Perth. India might have to be better than they were last week to hold on to their 1-0 lead. Rahul and Jaiswal showed that they could rise to challenges like that. The selectors and the coaching staff showed they could cope with key players going missing and still put out a team capable of rolling over a well-rested, well-prepared opposition.Although it’s only been one match in this Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India have had to make some tough decisions; the kind that could have backfired on them. Going in with two debutants. Leaving out both their superstar spinners. They felt comfortable doing so because they felt it made the team more likely to win. It was contingent on a lot of their prep work paying off and it did. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana knew what their roles were and played them well. There has been flexibility about India recently; a willingness to go out of the comfort zone. It could be their captain’s turn to epitomise that over the coming days.

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

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

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

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

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

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

England's Young Lions needed just 14 minutes to open the scoring against Egypt at the Under-17 World Cup on Monday in Qatar. Manchester City star Reigan Heskey broke the deadlock with an excellent solo goal to give his team a great start to the match. His strike continued some fine form for the forward who played a key role last time out against Haiti as England won for the first time at the tournament.

Heskey shining for England

Heskey is the son of former England and Liverpool star Emile and added another international goal to his tally against Egypt. The Manchester City man was given too much time and space by Egypt in the early exchanges, allowing him to drive across goal and unleash a powerful low shot that curled past goalkeeper Omar Abdelaziz. It's Heskey's second goal in two games for the Young Lions, as he scored and bagged four assists last time out against Hatiti as England cruised to an emphatic victory.

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Like father, like son?

Reigan plays alongside his brother Jaden at Manchester City, with both players having been handed their debuts by Pep Guardiola earlier this year. Proud dad Emile has told the about the approach he takes with his kids as they aim to follow in his famous footsteps.

He said: "They are both very athletic. The young one is very quick. The older one is a bit of a beast like I was. They've both got similar attributes. I'm someone who stands really far back and I become a dad, really. If they want to ask me something, I tell them, or if they want to come out with me and do a little bit extra, then I'll take them, but I'm not the one who’s going to force them. They enjoy it, they love it. Yes, there are some times when I think 'I want to say something’, but the reality is it's not my career.

"Another reality is, what has the manager or coach told them to do? Because if I tell them to do something different then there's a conflict there. So I take a step back and I enjoy watching it, to be honest, as it's nice to see them progressing. I've watched them from the age of four and now they're 19 and 17, they're doing fantastic."

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GettyWhat next for England

England's match against Egypt is their final group fixture and Ryan's side will be hoping to progress to the next stage of the tournament. The Young Lions won the competition previously back in 2017, with a team including the likes of Phil Foden, Marc Guehi, Morgan Gibbs-White and Conor Gallagher, and would love to repeat that feat again in 2025.

After they were placed into administration last Friday, Sheffield Wednesday have now received contact from American billionaire John Textor about buying the club.

The Owls knew the inevitable was coming for some time and it speaks volumes that many around the club will be relieved to be in administration rather than under the ownership of Dejphon Chansiri. His decade-long ownership has finally come to an end following a period in which staff and players went unpaid on a number of occasions.

Whilst there may be some light at the end of the tunnel off the pitch, however, Sheffield Wednesday have suffered on it. Henrik Pedersen’s side have been dealt an automatic 12-point deduction which has left them on -6 points and an impossible battle to stay up in the Championship.

Many have had their say on the consequences that they’ve been handed by the EFL, including Gary Lineker. The former Match of the Day host told The Rest is Football podcast: “They have gone into administration, obviously, and hopefully they can sort it all out. But they have got the 12-point penalty and are now on -6.

“I understand why clubs have to suffer repercussions, but I just think it’s like kicking a club when it’s down and at its lowest. We have had this with other clubs, and it just doesn’t sit well. It’s almost like the fans take the punishment.”

Julian Pitts, Kris Wigfield, Paul Stanley and Begbies Traynor have been appointed joint-administrators and are tasked with finding a suitable buyer for the club, with the EFL ready to relax their 21-day insolvency guideline to fast-track any potential sale.

John Textor makes contact with Sheffield Wednesday

According to reporter Alan Myers, Textor has now made contact with Sheffield Wednesday and their administrators about a potential deal to buy the club.

The American billionaire has also been linked with Wolverhampton Wanderers and it’s clear that he’s looking to invest in English football after selling his Crystal Palace shares in the summer.

That said, Sheffield Wednesday should proceed with caution. Having only just ended a toxic relationship with Chansiri, the last thing they need is another difficult ownership.

Textor stole the headlines when he resigned from his leadership position at Lyon after they were relegated to Ligue 2 amid financial problems. Although they have now been reinstated to France’s top flight and Textor remains a shareholder from afar, his day-to-day role received major protest from fans.

A repeat at Sheffield Wednesday is not guaranteed, but the Owls must ensure that Textor is right for them if they are to add themselves to his portfolio of clubs.

Sheffield Wednesday administrators reveal criteria owners must meet

Arsenal and Chelsea managers Renee Slegers and Sonia Bompastor called for the introduction of VAR in women's football after a nail-biting Women's Super League clash between the two London rivals on Saturday. The reigning champions took the lead through Alyssa Thompson's first half strike, while the Gunners staged a comeback in the second half as Alessia Russo scored a late equaliser.

London rivals play out exciting draw

Arsenal kept their fading title hopes alive as they came back from behind to hold reigning champions Chelsea to a 1-1 draw. The Blues dominated proceedings in the first half and took the lead through summer signing Thompson, who scored her maiden WSL goal. In the second half, the Gunners bounced back in style, putting the ball into the back of the net three times, but only one of those goals stood.

Gunners boss Slegers and Chelsea's Bompastor were furious with some of the refereeing calls as both head coaches called for the introduction of VAR in the WSL. With the result at Emirates Stadium, the Blues have now equalled the longest unbeaten streak in WSL history, having gone 33 league matches without a loss. In the current season, they have won six out of their first eight games and are at the top of the WSL table, two points clear of Manchester City.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSlegers and Bompastor slam refereeing decisions

Speaking to reporters after the match, Arsenal boss Slegers said: "At the moment, if you ask me I think in a game like this, we need just decisions. We need justice. That’s where I think VAR and technology can come in. There’s more and more at stake in the WSL, at the top but also in the relegation battle and everything in between. There’s more and more at stake. I think we have to look at how we grow the game in all aspects."

Bompastor, omeanwhile, said: "I think bringing the technology into the women’s game would be probably the best call we can make. This fixture is probably one of the most beautiful games in the world. Everyone wants to be involved in this game for many reasons. Two good teams. The atmosphere at the Emirates was great. So it’s really, really good publicity for the WSL. We should balance that with the refereeing."

Were the decisions wrong?

Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius saw her goal cancelled in the 53rd minute when she converted a brilliant long-range shot. The Gunners stars were ecstatic as they started celebrating the equaliser, only to realise later that referee Melissa Burgin had given a free-kick against Blackstenius for handling the ball earlier. 

Replays later showed that Blackstenius might not have handled the ball and rather moved her arm backwards while controlling with her midriff. Slegers was understandably furious as she added: "I had no idea [the goal had been disallowed]. The goal is scored, no one is calling for it, I turn around, the players are celebrating, the stadium goes crazy, it’s a fantastic moment, we celebrate shortly then connect with the tech staff on what do we do from here, what’s the plan going forward. Then all of a sudden I turn around and see somebody saying the goal is disallowed so I was very surprised."

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Getty Images SportWSL giants gear up for European action

After the high-intensity contest in north London, the two WSL giants will now prepare to face their European opponents in the Women's Champions League in midweek. The Blues face St Polten on Tuesday, while the Gunners take on Bayern Munich a day later. Next Sunday, in WSL, Chelsea are will take on Liverpool away from home and the Gunners will lock horns against arch-rivals Tottenham in the north London derby.

Three players from CSK make it. Find out who else is there on the list

Omkar Mankame28-May-20252:36

Moody: Brevis and Noor will be central to CSK’s plans next season

Ayush Mhatre (CSK)After going unsold at the auction, Brevis returned to the league as an injury replacement for Gurjapneet Singh. The 22-year-old was part of the MI set-up in 2022 and 2024 and had played a key role in MI Cape Town’s (MICT) maiden SA20 win earlier this year, scoring 38 off 18 balls in the final.At CSK, Brevis made the most of his opportunities. He scored at least 32 in five of his six innings, with the only exception being a first-ball duck against RCB, where he failed to review an lbw decision. His impact can best be illustrated by the fact that he struck 17 sixes during his stint – the second most by a CSK batter this season.Urvil Patel struck at 212.50 this season•BCCIUrvil Patel (CSK)The timing of the IPL 2025 mega auction – held before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 – meant teams missed out on some of the in-form domestic players. One of them was Gujarat’s Urvil, who topped the sixes charts, with 29 in six innings and also holds the record for the joint second-fastest T20 century.Drafted in as a replacement for Vansh Bedi, Urvil made an immediate impression, dispatching the second ball he faced in the IPL for a six. His 31 off 11 balls helped set up CSK’s first successful 180-plus chase in over six years. He featured in just three innings – one of which ended in a two-ball duck – but he showed glimpses of the aggressive style that could make him a key power-hitter in the seasons to come.2:53

Kumble: Dubey beating batters with pace, not just turn

Harsh Dubey (SRH)Despite an early exit from the IPL, SRH may have unearthed a long-term prospect in Dubey. The 22-year-old left-arm spinner impressed in his first two appearances, with figures of 1 for 44 and 1 for 20, before delivering a standout performance in SRH’s final match of the season – returning 3 for 34 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). His dismissal of Andre Russell, who walked off even before the umpire raised the finger, was the highlight of his spell.SRH had backed Zeeshan Ansari as their frontline spinner after Adam Zampa’s injury, but Dubey’s performances suggest he could push for a more prominent role next season.Corbin Bosch contributed with the bat, ball and in the field for Mumbai Indians•BCCICorbin Bosch (MI)Picked as a replacement for fellow South African Lizaad Williams, Bosch joined MI after playing a key role in MICT’s SA20 title run, where he finished as their joint-third-highest wicket-taker.Bosch featured in only three matches this IPL season but made useful contributions. With the bat, he chipped in with 20 off ten balls and 27 off 22 – both timely efforts in tight situations. With the ball, his most economical performance came against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), when he returned 1 for 26 in four overs.Shardul Thakur picked 13 wickets in ten innings for LSG•AFP/Getty ImagesShardul Thakur (LSG)After eight consecutive IPL seasons, Shardul went unsold at the 2025 auction. He was preparing for a county stint with Essex when LSG called him up as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan.Shardul made an immediate impact, taking six wickets in his first two games, including a match-winning 4 for 34 against SRH. However, he couldn’t sustain that form and was left out of the XI – or XII – in subsequent matches.Mustafizur Rahman reminded the IPL of his worth•BCCIMustafizur Rahman (DC)Delhi Capitals (DC) signed Mustafizur as a replacement for Jake Fraser-McGurk once IPL 2025 resumed post suspension. His best performance came in DC’s final league game against PBKS in Jaipur, where he dismissed Priyansh Arya, Shashank Singh, and Marco Jansen.However, since he was brought in as a temporary replacement, Mustafizur will not be eligible for retention by DC ahead of IPL 2026, in line with the revised replacement regulations.

Earlier, Pant, batting with a fractured right foot, scored a half-century and helped India cross 350

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jul-20250:52

Manjrekar: India batted in different bowling conditions from England

Tea England backed up their captain Ben Stokes taking a five-for with an unbroken opening partnership of 77. Those runs came at over five an over, taking a big bite out of India’s 358 all out on the second day in Manchester.It was a disappointing bowling performance from the visitors, particularly in helpful conditions and to follow a display of great bravery from Rishabh Pant who came out to bat on a fractured foot and scored a half-century.England weren’t particularly keen to score so quickly. Zak Crawley needed 13 balls to get off the mark and those runs came with a reminder of the danger the pitch still posed as a Jasprit Bumrah delivery rose up sharply to rap him on the bottom hand. Crawley displayed excellent judgment outside his off stump and ironically only started to look vulnerable once he had runs against his name, the confidence of seeing off the new ball coaxing him to play away from his body and could have been bowled off the inside edge.Ben Duckett didn’t need to be so careful, at any point in his innings. India fed him on his pads and he tucked in with glee. All his seven boundaries came on the leg side and he stands on the cusp of completing a half-century at almost a run a ball. Duckett welcomed Anshul Kamboj with three fours in his first over of Test cricket, the debutant chosen to open the bowling ahead of Mohammed Siraj.India must pick themselves back up again because they showed great heart in getting to an above-par total. Pant put his body on the line – literally because Stokes targeted that broken front foot of his – and had enough in him to hit a 90th six in Test cricket, putting him level with Virender Sehwag for the national record. He also went past Alec Stewart for most runs by a wicketkeeper in a Test series in England. The mere fact that he was able to walk – let alone bat – moved the fans at Old Trafford who gave him a rousing ovation.Stokes found similar approval from the crowd when his tireless and relentless display was rewarded with a first five-for in eight years. He was a threat when he bowled full because he was getting both ways movement – Shardul Thakur found that out when he was caught at gully for 41 – and he was a threat when he went short – which did Washington Sundar in. Stokes has 16 wickets in the series now, a career-best for him going past the 15 he took in the 2013-14 Ashes when he made his debut.

He took three of the remaining four India wickets that India had when they arrived on Friday morning on 204 for 6

Vithushan Ehantharajah01-Aug-2025

Gus Atkinson finished with a five-for•PA Photos/Getty Images

Gus Atkinson’s fourth five-wicket haul helped England make light work of what remained of India’s first innings of the fifth Test, dismissing them for 224.Atkinson’s 5 for 33 upon his return to the XI after two months out was all the more important after news this morning that Chris Woakes would play no further part in the match after a suspected dislocated shoulder sustained in the field last evening. And the Surrey quick, on his home ground, took three of the remaining four wickets that India had up their sleeve when they arrived on Friday morning on 204 for 6.It was Josh Tongue who made the first key incision, albeit with a choatic approach that would get any surgeon struck off. His first over, opening from the Vauxhall End, went for nine, but he was able to remove Karun Nair for 57 in his second. A sharp delivery that nipped into the stumps – Nair no doubt expected something short and wide either side of them – pinned the right-hander on the back leg. Plumb in front, Nair took one of India’s three reviews with him.Washington Sundar should have assumed the responsibility at that point as an elongated tail became exposed, but he fell five deliveries later, waltzing into a short ball trap, heaving Atkinson to deep square leg, where Jamie Overton sprinted in to take a smart catch.Atkinson would then skittle Mohammed Siraj before Prasidh Krishna felt for a delivery outside off, completing a collapse of four for six in 18 balls. This is now the lowest first innings total of the series. The previous lowest was India’s 358 at Manchester.Atkinson now boasts an average of 21, the fourth best for an England seamer with fifty or more dismissals, and the second best strike rate, ever, at 34.9, for those who have taken 60 wickets.

Manchester City are firmly in the Premier League title race and could bring a high-profile star to the Etihad Stadium in January after Pep Guardiola hatched a plan to land his signature.

Manchester City move on after seeing off Leeds United

Truthfully, Manchester City didn’t put on their best display against Leeds United. However, they will be delighted by the end result as Phil Foden’s classy winner prevented back-to-back defeats after losing out at Newcastle United.

Title races are never straightforward and always require steel in the face of uncertainty, albeit Guardiola reserved special praise for the scorer of the Citizens’ crowning strike as they kept on track in pursuit of the top-flight crown.

“It’s not the first time we saw that. A thousand, thousand, million times he’s done it. The quality, shooting, strong. Like his goal against West Ham to win the Premier League. Phil has to be around the box. Shoot or pass. His finishing is so quick. Phil is doing a really good season.”

Back-to-back blanks in front of goal for Erling Haaland may be a sign that more needs to be done in the way of recruiting someone to plug the gaps at the top end of the field. Still, Omar Marmoush is likely to be given more opportunities as the season continues to unfold.

Keeping pace at the top will require investment in January, especially given the Citizens’ rivals are likely to strengthen after a bruising festive period, which is set to stretch everyone’s squad to the limit.

Finding solutions when certain sources of goals dry up will be the challenge for all title contenders, not just Manchester City, but they could be the ones set to benefit early on in the January window if the Sky Blues can wrap up an exciting deal.

Elliot Anderson is one of their main targets but there are other irons in the fire.

Man City keen to activate Antoine Semenyo's release clause

According to The Times, Manchester City are exploring a move for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

They are considering activating the winger’s £65m release clause on New Year’s Day, potentially beating other suitors to sign the Ghana international.

Although not set in stone, there is a feeling at the club that bringing in the Cherries attacker could be the difference in their hunt for the Premier League title, an opinion that many will share after his flying start to the campaign.

Semenyo’s 2025/26 record – all competitions

Appearances

13

Goals

6

Assists

1

Dubbed “talented” by Jamie Redknapp, Semenyo has also created 15 chances and completed 21 dribbles on Premier League duty, per Fotmob, showcasing his appeal to suitors keen to tempt him away from the South Coast.

Now, it will be over to City officials as they aim to convince Semenyo that moving to Manchester is the best course of action for his career. On the face of it, playing a part in a title chase could be an appealing prospect.

Alongside Anderson: Man City open talks to sign "top-drawer" £70m star

The Citizens are in the market for attacking reinforcements and have now identified a Premier League star.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 30, 2025