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Poor batting, uninspired leadership and lack of bowling make for forgettable return to scene of greatest win

Matt Roller26-Oct-2024Rawalpindi was the scene of Ben Stokes’ best performance as England’s captain and this week, two years on, his worst. It took his side less than 24 hours to turn a position of dominance into a nine-wicket defeat in this series decider, to which Stokes’ own contribution was 15 runs, an uncharacteristically flat performance in the field, and no overs bowled.When Stokes has made mistakes as England captain they have generally been the result of overconfidence in his convictions, as in their defeats to New Zealand in Wellington or Australia at Edgbaston. This was something different, a loss that owed primarily to England’s own limitations as Stokes seemed to run out of ideas.That was certainly true of his batting on the final day, a nine-ball cameo with another farcical ending. After seeing Noman Ali find sharp spin from the footholes in his previous over, Stokes withdrew his bat when facing a delivery that hardly turned and was struck on the inner thigh of his back leg. Not many cowboys have offered no shot at a gunfight and lived to tell the tale.Even in a desperate situation, Stokes realised that asking for a review would have been futile and simply trudged back towards the dressing room. He had found a method and stuck to it in his second innings last week, sweeping almost every ball before his bizarre bat-flinging dismissal, but this leave betrayed a total lack of conviction against Pakistan’s spinners.Stokes will be more relieved than anyone else by England’s forthcoming schedule, which does not involve a return to the subcontinent for a Test until early 2027. His career average in Asia is now 26.46, dropping to just 18.00 across 14 innings this year. Having missed England’s win in Multan, he has now lost six overseas Tests in a row: four in India, and two in Pakistan.He suggested afterwards that he could not have done anything differently: “You see how hard everyone works on all aspects of their game, and sometimes those things just don’t fall right for you.” It felt like a moment of acceptance, with Stokes effectively conceding that he is not equipped to make runs on a turning surface like this, no matter how hard he trains.Stokes was unusually flat in the field as Pakistan dominated the agenda•Getty ImagesStokes’ captaincy on England’s previous tour to Pakistan was ingenious, manufacturing 60 wickets across three Tests played on lifeless pitches – none more so than in Rawalpindi. But this week, he let the game drift away on the second afternoon: Pakistan added 167 for their final three wickets, reinforcing a familiar trend that England struggle to finish teams off.Before the lunch break, elongated for Friday prayers, Stokes had used his legspinner brilliantly, giving Rehan Ahmed an in-out field for an eight-over spell which brought the wickets of Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha and Aamer Jamal. But Rehan was not used until the ninth over of the middle session, and struggled to find his length after a change of ends.Gus Atkinson, meanwhile, did not bowl between the end of the 70th over and the start of the 96th, in which time Pakistan added 132 for 1. When he returned, he removed centurion Saud Shakeel with his sixth ball. Stokes himself did not bowl a ball in the match: “I just didn’t feel like my bowling was going to be anywhere near as threatening as the [other] options we had.”He was unusually irritable in Multan, and went as far as apologising to his team-mates after letting out his frustrations on them following a series of fielding errors on the third day. Stokes played up the role of the toss in that defeat but could not make the same excuse in Rawalpindi. “I’m very satisfied that we lost the toss and won the match,” Shan Masood, Pakistan’s captain, said.Related

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Stokes made clear that two months of rehabilitation from his hamstring tear had taken a lot out of him. “It’s felt like a very long tour,” he said. “Coming out here to try to get fit for the first Test, not fit for that, get fit for the second Test, played that, straight to the third…” It is not the Stokes way, but he might have been better served, physically and mentally, by missing the tour entirely.He finds himself at an interesting juncture. Stokes confirmed at the start of this tour that he has signed a new central contract, but has declined to say whether he will enter the upcoming IPL auction or whether he will return to Pakistan in February for the Champions Trophy. He has built his 2024 solely around Tests, but has so far averaged 24.66 with the bat and taken six wickets.Stokes seemed reluctant to introspect after the defeat, instead throwing forward to England’s upcoming tour to New Zealand. “The great thing about cricket’s schedule is the challenges that cricket throws at you,” he said. “You’ll be faced with one, you try to overcome that, but then very quickly, we’ve got another challenge in two or three weeks’ time, which is in New Zealand.”It is all very well trying to move on quickly, and England will not play in conditions like these at any stage in the next two years. But when Stokes reflects on these defeats, he will look not only at England’s familiar deficiencies when it comes to both playing and bowling spin, but his own shortcomings as captain.

Our first batch of team report cards for 2022 also includes Ireland, Afghanistan, West Indies and Zimbabwe

31-Dec-2022

England

by Andrew Miller
I’ll try to keep it brief… but good grief.This was a year like no other for the England men’s Test team, one where winning a World Cup to become the first team to hold both white-ball world titles at the same time was arguably not the greatest of their successes. It began amid existential despair at the Ashes, and ended with a triumph in Pakistan as absolute as it was unprecedented. It began with an abject record of one Test win in 17, and ended with nine incredible wins in ten. It began with Joe Root clinging on as Test captain because there were no realistic alternatives, and ended with Ben Stokes being hailed as England’s best since Brearley.And by the end of the year, England had desecrated Test cricket in the best and most literal sense – “Bazball”, as everyone bar the team themselves were describing Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s new liberated approach to the ancient format, had stripped back the pomp and unleashed that inner white-ball beast.Suddenly England were playing a version of the game in which nothing mattered bar the endgame – “Strip it back, it’s only you and the bowler there,” as Jonny Bairstow put it after his sensational century in the second Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, the moment at which it was clear that this England team had entered a collective zone quite unlike anything the game has ever before witnessed.For the women, it wasn’t quite such a cathartic year, for all that it began with a similarly shattering trouncing in the antipodes. Nat Sciver’s heroic century against Australia in the World Cup final ensured a dignified end to a gruelling winter, but it couldn’t disguise the sense that a champion team had reached the end of its road.At least in the likes of Issy Wong, Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp, the team had a knot of oven-ready starlets, honed in the Hundred and ready to step. But the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham came too soon for an exciting but raw side, and India proved too strong. With Heather Knight and Sciver missing key portions of the summer, it wasn’t until December’s tour of the Caribbean (under new head coach Jon Lewis) that they returned to regular winning ways. Unlike the men in Pakistan, however, their clean sweep raised barely a mutter of recognition.High point
Nine Test wins in ten, and every one of them a stunning display in its own right. But the Rawalpindi victory was in a different league entirely. That first-day total of 506 for 4, that last-day surge after Stokes’ impeccably judged declaration. And all achieved in spite of a debilitating sickness bug on the eve of the Test. All the recipes for instant greatness.Low point
Did the Ashes even happen this year? The midwinter misery of 2021-22 could not seem a more distant memory. But if we have to dredge into long-forgotten horrors, then the loss of ten wickets for 56 runs in 22.5 overs on the final day of the series in Hobart seems a suitably bum note to hit.ResultsMen
Tests: P15 W9 L3 D3
ODIs: P12 W5 L6 NR1
T20Is: P27 W15 L11 NR 1Women
Tests: P2 D2
ODIs: P21 W11 L10
T20Is: P18 W13 L4 NR1
India had some high-profile losses to contend with in 2022, including in the deciding Test of the England series, in Edgbaston•Associated Press

India

by Sidharth Monga
Losing a Test series in South Africa, losing the decider of the Test series, brought forward from last year, in England, an early exit in the Asia Cup, losing in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in Australia, losing an ODI series to Bangladesh in Bangladesh – this is hardly the honeymoon period either Rohit Sharma, the new captain of the men’s side, or Rahul Dravid, the new coach, would have hoped for. Especially after the heady highs of last year’s Test series win in Australia.The disappointment from both the fans and the board despite the best win-loss ratio among ICC Full Members in all international cricket should tell this team in transition that they aren’t expected to just get by but to win big Test series away and win ICC tournaments.The women finished fifth in a field of eight in the ODI World Cup. They played no Test matches. They lost a home T20I series to Australia. Musical chairs involving the coaching staff remained the stuff of intrigue. Two of their greatest players, Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj, retired during the year.Yet there were some silver linings: they made the final of the Commonwealth Games, beat England 3-0 in ODIs in England, and finally got a WIPL.High point
India Women went to the home of the ODI World Cup runners-up, England, as absolute no-hopers. However, after finishing the Commonwealth Games two shots from the title, they continued their good form in the bilateral ODIs against the hosts, providing Goswami with a perfect farewell . Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain, scored 221 runs while getting out only once, Renuka Singh emerged as a new fast-bowling hope, and they rattled a few cages by running out a batter who was backing up too far before the ball left the bowler’s hand.Low point

The men could smell a series win in South Africa. In fact, after the first Test, which they won comprehensively, and after three innings of the second, it looked like it was theirs. This team was known for winning if it won the toss, especially when it had well above 200 to defend in the last innings. However, they failed to defend 239 and 211 in that second Test and the one that followed, on spicy tracks. It was not just that they lost; they lost by seven wickets each time and conceded the runs in a hurry. India had a good attack but the pitches suited the taller South African bowlers more, costing the visitors their best chance at a series win in South Africa to date.ResultsMen
Tests: P7 W4 L3
ODIs: P24 W14 L8
T20Is: P40 W28 L10 T1 NR1Women
ODIs: P18 W10 L8
T20Is: P25 W14 L11West Indies’ first-round exit in the T20 World Cup was perhaps the nadir of an already dismal year in the format for the two-time tournament champions•David Gray/AFP/Getty Images

West Indies

by Shashank Kishore
Three wins and two draws in seven Tests, including a series victory over England at home, should count as a good year, but by the end of 2022, West Indies’ tendency to fail in Australia, where they haven’t won a series since 1992, once again elicited the age-old debates about their Test future.If the debacle in Australia to wind down the year was utterly predictable, their T20 fortunes – which plummeted to an all-time low with their failure to qualify for the Super 12s of the World Cup – is something many didn’t see coming.It all started with Kieron Pollard’s retirement in April following a testy relationship with the cricket board. No inkling of his stepping away was on the horizon even two months prior, when he led the team on their white-ball tour of India, but rumblings began after they were blanked 6-0.In ODIs as well, West Indies endured a horror home run, losing 2-1 to Ireland and New Zealand and 3-0 apiece to India and Bangladesh. They were equally poor away, losing to Pakistan, and being swept aside in India.West Indies only success this year overseas was in the Netherlands, where they won 3-0 with a young team under new captain Nicholas Pooran – though he eventually stepped down from the post after their ignominious World Cup exit. Their qualification for next year’s 50-overs World Cup a year out isn’t a done deal yet; they are tussling with three teams for one remaining spot.The women’s team perhaps exceeded expectations by reaching the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup, but off-field issues were ever present. If Covid proved challenging, their immediate future without talismanic allrounder Deandra Dottin could be tougher yet.Dottin retired in the middle of Barbados’ Commonwealth Games campaign citing a less-than-ideal “current climate and team environment” and taking potshots at the administration.Like at the start of the year, West Indies cricket at large is once again at the crossroads and in need of a thorough rejuvenation.High point
Beating hosts New Zealand and England back to back to begin the Women’s World Cup with two massive wins many didn’t anticipate.Low point
The men’s home ODI series loss to Ireland, who would also knock them out in the first round of the T20 World Cup with a nine-wicket pounding.ResultsMen
Tests: P7 W3 L2 D2
ODIs: P21 W5 L16
T20Is: P24 W8 L15 NR1
Women
ODIs: P18 W5 L11 NR2
T20Is: P10 W1 L9Bangladesh pulled off an unprecedented eight-wicket Test win against New Zealand in New Zealand for the first time in their history•Getty Images

Bangladesh

by Mohammad Isam
The numbers don’t suggest it but 2022 was one of Bangladesh’s most productive years in international cricket – they won more matches in 2021, but 2022 is comparable to 2015 in terms of the quality of the opposition they defeated.They beat New Zealand for the first time in a Test match, and in New Zealand at that. They also beat South Africa in the ODI series in March, in that team’s backyard. Bangladesh were previously winless in both countries, so these were two special performances. They rounded off the year with a second successive ODI series win at home against India, and nearly toppled them in their last Test this year, in Dhaka.Litton Das had a stellar year in all formats, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz established himself as a reliable allrounder for the team. The rise of Bangladesh’s fast bowling across formats has been noteworthy too.The sole highlight for the women’s team was the win over Pakistan in the World Cup. They struggled in the T20 Asia Cup later in the year, where, despite being defending champions, they couldn’t reach the semi-finals. Captain Nigar Sultana had a good year with the bat, topping the batting charts in ODIs and T20Is, while Salma Khatun and Nahida Akter were among the main wicket-takers.High point
The miracle at Mount Maunganui and the 2-1 wins over South Africa and India in ODIs were high-water marks in Bangladesh’s cricket history.Low point
Bangladesh lost to Zimbabwe in ODI and T20I series for the first time in nine years.ResultsMen
Tests: P10 W1 L8 D1
ODIs: P15 W10 L5
T20Is: P21 W6 L14 NR1Women
ODIs: P10 W1 L7 NR2
T20Is: P17 W10 L7Fazalhaq Farooqi took 3 for 11 in Afghanistan’s opening win over Sri Lanka in the T20 Asia Cup in August•AFP via Getty Images

Afghanistan

by Peter Della Penna
Afghanistan may not have the seismic upset results over the years that other teams have had on the pathway from Associate to Full Member status, but 2022 showed that they continue to make steady progress in gaining respect with a steady march up the global rankings.In the ODI World Cup Super League, they beat the teams they were supposed to (sweeping a pair of three-match series against Netherlands and Zimbabwe) as well as winning a few games that were not nailed-on results (winning one match each against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka). Their consistency in ODIs has helped secure an automatic berth into the 2023 World Cup with a guaranteed top-eight finish in the 13-team tournament, which is all the more remarkable considering they still have nine matches left to play.As for T20Is, they once again showed flashes of immense promise thanks to their factory line of T20 franchise stars. Afghanistan advanced to the Super Four of the Asia Cup, but stumbled once there. Their T20 World Cup experience was severely rain-affected, with two matches washed out, though they gave defending champions Australia a scare in what amounted to a consolation match to end the group stage. It showed that a victory over the Aussies, which may have seemed far-fetched a decade ago, is not so hard to envision anymore.High point
Beating eventual champions Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to top Group B in the first round of the Asia Cup.Low point
Continued inactivity for women’s cricket initiatives at domestic and national team level, which is part of the criteria to be a Full Member of the ICC.Results
Men
ODIs: P12 W8 L3 NR1
T20Is: P18 W8 L10Sikandar Raza’s three wickets in five balls helped Zimbabwe clinch a famous win over Pakistan at the T20 World Cup•Getty Images

Zimbabwe

by Firdose Moonda
A year of two halves started with Zimbabwe’s men’s team losing 11 of their first 14 international fixtures – including series defeats to Afghanistan and Namibia – before winning 13 of their next 25 matches. The difference? A change in coach.Dave Houghton, the country’s first Test captain, had an immediate impact after he replaced Lalchand Rajput – who moved sideways into the position of technical director – in June. Zimbabwe won the T20 World Cup Qualifier, held at home, a month later and earned a spot at an ICC event for the first time since 2016. They also had an impressive run through the T20 World Cup, where they got into the Super 12. They also beat Bangladesh in an ODI series for the first time since 2013 and won an ODI in Australia for the first time ever, but remain out of automatic contention for the 2023 World Cup.Zimbabwe did not play a single Test in 2022 and only have five scheduled in 2023 (two against West Indies and one against Ireland at home, and two against Afghanistan away). Their focus seems to be shifting to the shorter formats, and they will even host a T10 tournament in January 2023. They do, however, remain committed to long-format players. Gary Ballance, who was schooled in Harare and has played 23 Tests for England, opted out of his Yorkshire contract early and has signed a two-year deal with Zimbabwe Cricket.The women’s team did not play any ODIs in 2022, but came agonisingly close to qualifying for the 2023 T20 World Cup, their hopes being ended by a four-run loss to Ireland.High point
Zimbabwe stunned eventual finalists Pakistan in the T20 World Cup by defending an under-par 130 in Perth. Pakistan were on track on 88 for 3 before Zimbabwe’s man of the year, Sikandar Raza, took three wickets in five balls. Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani squeezed the Pakistan batting and Brad Evans defended ten runs off the last over to secure a massive upset.Low point
It’s tough being always eclipsed by South Africa, but imagine when even Namibia overshadow you? In May, Zimbabwe lost a T20I series to their lower-profile neighbours, but they did make up for it by qualifying for the Super 12 at the T20 World Cup when Namibia didn’t.ResultsMen
ODIs: P15 W4 L11
T20Is: P24 W12 L11 NR1
Women
T20Is: P15 W12 L3UAE qualified for the men’s T20 World Cup and prevented Namibia from making it to the Super 12s by beating them in Geelong•AFP/Getty Images

UAE

by Peter Della Penna
Having not played in a World Cup of any kind since 2015, UAE made a spectacular splash in 2022. Not only did they qualify for the men’s T20 World Cup by winning the qualifying event in Oman in February – a performance that included a pair of victories over Ireland in both the group stage and the final – they also managed to spring a surprise upset of Namibia to end the group stage of the T20 World Cup itself, a result that denied Namibia what would have been their second straight trip to the Super 12s.In ODIs, the year started off in positive fashion for UAE before tailing off significantly. The loss of form was not without consequences. After the team went winless on their ODI tour of Scotland, Ahmed Raza was sacked as captain and replaced with CP Rizwan. Initially the move was announced as a change for T20Is only, but Rizwan continued to lead UAE in ODIs in their next series, against Nepal, as well. That apart, long-time allrounder Rohan Mustafa was shockingly left out of the T20 World Cup squad despite having been one of UAE’s better-performing players in the Qualifier.The men were not the only team to make waves in the year. The Under-19 Women beat Thailand to clinch the Asia Regional Qualifying spot in the inaugural Women’s U-19 World Cup in South Africa. The senior women continued a streak that began in 2021, to ultimately win 18 T20Is in a row before the run was snapped by a loss to Thailand. Though they could not secure a spot at the T20 World Cup, the women scored a famous win over Zimbabwe at the qualifier in Abu Dhabi, winning off the last ball by four wickets.High point
Fighting off the cold in Hobart, and a talented opponent in Namibia, to win a match at the men’s T20 World Cup.Low point
Very nearly blowing a chance to reach the T20 World Cup in the first place with a two-run loss to Bahrain to end the group stage of the men’s qualifier in Oman.ResultsMen
ODIs: P21 W10 L10 T1
T20Is: P16 W8 L8Women
T20Is: P28 W16 L10 NR2Bilal Khan’s 76 wickets in the CWC League 2 were among the few highlights for Oman in an otherwise underwhelming year•Getty Images

Oman

by Peter Della Penna
After a spate of successes under the leadership of head coach Duleep Mendis, Omanwere underwhelming in 2022. Less than four months after being co-hosts of the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup with the UAE, they could not secure a berth for the next edition of the tournament, despite hosting the qualifier. A loss to Nepal in round-robin play meant they finished as runners-up in Group B, pitting them against Group A leader Ireland in a crossover semi-final that wound up being fairly one-sided.In ODIs, they became the first team to wrap up the full slate of 36 matches in Cricket World Cup League Two, ending with two wins out of four against USA and Nepal in Texas to take 44 points from 36 matches. Though they will not finish as winners of the seven-team competition, their spot in the top three is nearly assured, which will put them into the ten-team ICC World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe in 2023. It will be their first appearance in the 50-over World Cup Qualifier since 2009, bringing them full circle from the depths of World Cricket League Division Five in 2016.On the women’s side, Oman won four of five T20Is on home soil to finish runners-up to the UAE in the six-team Gulf Cooperation Council Women’s T20 Championship. However, they were less successful away from home, losing all three completed matches at the Asian Cricket Council Women’s T20 Championship in Malaysia.High point
Bilal Khan finishing as the leading wicket-taker in CWC League 2 with 76 wickets.Low point
A clumsy chase against Ireland that saw Oman go from 68 for 2 at the halfway points chasing a target of 166 to 109 all out in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup Qualifier.ResultsMen
ODIs: P16 W7 L8 T1
T20Is: P15 W6 L9Women
T20Is: P9 W4 L4 NR1Scotland’s win over West Indies in the T20 World Cup was an epic moment for them, but that was their only victory in five T20Is in 2022•ICC via Getty Images

Scotland

by Peter Della Penna
Change would a recurring theme for Scotland in 2022, both on and off the field. Allegations by former spinner Majid Haq, among others, sparked an independent review that concluded that Cricket Scotland’s governance and leadership practices were “institutionally racist”. In anticipation of the report findings being made public in July, the entire Cricket Scotland board resigned en masse.Earlier in the summer, long-time men’s captain Kyle Coetzer stepped down from the national team captaincy and retired from T20Is. New captain Richie Berrington led his charges to a famous win over West Indies to start their T20 World Cup campaign in Hobart, but they were unable to sustain that momentum and were beaten by Ireland and Zimbabwe in successive matches to fall short of the Super 12s. Scotland’s ODI form, however, was mighty impressive and they ended the year in first place in the seven-team CWC ODI League Two competition.As for the women, they could not maintain the progress made in 2021, when they defeated Ireland to be champions of the Europe Regional T20 World Cup Qualifier. Two losses in Edinburgh in early September to Ireland were followed by another in a must-win match at the T20 World Cup Qualifier in the UAE, ending Scotland’s dreams of advancing to the Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa. However, the junior women were able to defeat Netherlands to secure a berth in the inaugural Women’s U-19 World Cup.High point
Not just beating West Indies, but the manner in which they did it. A thumping 42-run win highlighted by Mark Watt’s trio of wickets off deliveries bowled from 25 yards away.Low point
Calum MacLeod abruptly announcing his retirement at age 32, following the end of the T20 World Cup after a summer in which he was in blistering form with the bat.ResultsMen
ODIs: P21 W15 L6
T20Is: P5 W1 L4Women
T20Is: P11 W4 L7More in our look back at 2022

Highlights of India’s pace spearhead from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, in which he has taken 11 wickets in three Tests

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jan-2021Joe Burns, lbw, Adelaide, 1st innings
Bumrah started the Test series bowling a little too short but made an immediate adjustment and went fuller and straight in his second spell. He got one right up, almost yorker length, to Joe Burns and trapped him in front of middle. The ball tailed in a little and was bowled at 141.3kph, enough to beat Burns’ attempted leg-side flick and leave Australia in trouble at 29 for 2.Joe Burns, c Rishabh Pant, MCG, 1st innings
After Australia won the toss and chose to bat in the second Test, it was important for India to get early wickets. Bumrah provided one with a delivery that was angled in at Burns and then held its line to take the edge. Bumrah chose to go with a line just outside off to Burns early, but the angle, delivered from wide and coming back into the right-hander, forced the batsman to play at most balls.Travis Head, c Ajinkya Rahane, MCG, 1st innings
Head had got himself in and helped take Australia past 100 with just three wickets down. His partnership with Marnus Labuschagne was looking ominous for India when Rahane brought Bumrah back for a third spell. What made this dismissal impressive was the set up. Bumrah bowled three sharp short balls to Head from around the wicket, pushing him onto the back foot. Then came one slightly fuller and outside off. Head was stuck on the back foot and pushed at it tentatively, getting a thick edge that carried to gully.Steven Smith, bowled, MCG, 2nd innings
Bumrah had attacked Smith’s stumps often through the series and at a crucial juncture at Melbourbe went back to the tactic. Smith exposes his leg stump when he walks across but is rarely actually bowled around the legs. This delivery from Bumrah, though, was quick, at 140.2kph, and on the perfect length. It beat Smith’s attempted leg glance and just clipped the bail. Australia were already under pressure after conceding a big first-innings lead and losing their best batsman just when he was looking good put them in a difficult spot.Pat Cummins, c Mayank Agarwal, MCG, 2nd innings
India had reached a dominant position in the Boxing Day Test after reducing Australia to 99 for 6 in the second innings, but Cameron Green and Pat Cummins put up some resistance with a 57-run partnership. Bumrah ended it on the fourth morning with a brute of a bouncer that hit Cummins on the glove as he looked to fend, went on to hit the helmet and looped up to second slip.Cameron Green, lbw, SCG, 1st innings
Australia were in a dominant position on the second day at the SCG before Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets to leave them 232 for 4. Then, Bumrah got his hands on the new ball and pursued the line that had been so productive for him, attacking the stumps. He got India right back into the game with two quick strikes. One seamed back off a length at Cameron Green and hit him in front of off to send him back for a duck.Tim Paine, bowled, SCG, 1st innings
Four overs later, Bumrah clean bowled Tim Paine through the gate. This one swung back a bit in the air and was pitched full. It seemed to beat Paine for pace too and went between bat and pad to hit off stump.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em entrevista coletiva nesta sexta-feira (22), Danilo comentou sobre assumir o papel de capitão da seleção brasileira.

“Não posso deixar de sorrir quando você fala “capitão da seleção brasileira”, porque existem duas interpretações pra isso né!? Ou você interpreta de uma maneira superficial – Danilo, capitão da Juventus – ou paralelo onde eu me comparo com o Danilo que é lá de Bicas (MG), filho da Zezé – cabeleireira – e do Baiano – caminhoneiro, então isso não é uma coisa natural pra mim. É uma realização de um sonho” explicou o jogador.

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The magnitude of Tottenham Hotspur’s victory over Brentford in the Premier League last weekend cannot be understated. Had the Bees taken the spoils against their old boss, Thomas Frank, the atmosphere down N17 may have become poisonous.

But Spurs rallied after a tough run of results, secured three points, restored the faith that this new system, more pragmatic, better organised, will stop spinning its wheels and start showcasing actual progress.

The magnitude of Xavi Simons’ magnificent solo goal, breaking his duck, cannot be understated, but neither can the fact that some Lilywhites are still flattering to deceive after last season’s inconsistency, and that needs to change.

Spurs' most disappointing players in 25/26

Simons has probably been the most salient disappointment at Tottenham this season, but there is hope that the Dutch playmaker has turned a corner after a standout showing last time out.

However, Randal Kolo Muani’s struggles rage on, the French loanee yet to score in a white shirt. There’s a real player in there, but given Spurs’ attacking problems, Frank will expect more.

Analyst Raj Chohan clearly feels Tottenham need to make a change in the engine room, calling Rodrigo Bentancur a “candidate for worst centre-midfielder at a big six club”.

Bentancur is directly inhibiting Spurs’ central build-up play, but he’s not alone in flattering to deceive, with Pedro Porro’s creativity unable to detract from some really poor defensive displays, lacking awareness and physicality in the challenge.

1.

Mats Wieffer

19

2.

Neco Williams

18

3.

Pedro Porro

17

4.

Hugo Bueno

16

5.

Matty Cash

16

Porro has been well below the standard this season, but he is not alone in struggling to adapt to Frank’s tactics. Indeed, there’s another defender who simply can’t bring it all together at the moment, and in this, he runs the risk of becoming the London club’s new version of Ryan Sessegnon.

Spurs' new version of Ryan Sessegnon

In 2019, Tottenham signed Sessegnon from Fulham for a whopping £25m fee. He had enjoyed a stunning start to senior life at Craven Cottage, but fell by the wayside after incessant hamstring injuries, five in five years down N17.

One half-season loan spell aside, in 2020/21 with Hoffenheim in Germany, the fact that the 25-year-old only made 57 appearances tells much of his problems, unable to reach the potential that was clear for all to see.

Sessegnon is now enjoying a measure of revival back at Fulham, but his door at Tottenham has been closed, and fans may be worried that lightning is striking twice with Destiny Udogie, who has struggled for form this season after a few injury-hit years in the capital.

Udogie, 23, also has a shoddy track record on the fitness front, with Frank confirming ahead of Tottenham’s Champions League tie against Slavia Prague this week that the Italy international is sidelined until the new year after tweaking his hamstring against Brentford.

For a player who was considered by Clinton Morrison on BBC Sport to be “the best left-back” in the country when he broke onto the scene in 2023/24, this is a real concern. Udogie appears somewhat stagnant, having yet to raise his level to the standard that he can surely reach.

There will be heightened fears that this season could become another write-off after this latest blow. Udogie needs stability and a landscape on which he can take forward strides, and having been ruled out for the remainder of the calendar year, Spurs’ left-sided balance has been knocked out of kilter and so have the defender’s chances of restoring full fluency.

Sofascore outline the player’s struggles, and it’s not pretty reading. Udogie has only won 46% of his duels in the Premier League this season, completing 27% of his dribbles and averaging only 0.6 key passes per match. One coach said that he “needs to wake up” from a defensive perspective this term.

So much has been left to be desired by a rising star who has ebbed and flowed and found himself lower on the chart than he would have envisaged a few years ago.

If injuries continue to weigh him down, we may be looking at Sessegnon 2.0 here.

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Liverpool are in the market for new signings and could now be set to target a midfielder who has been highly praised by former Reds icon Xabi Alonso.

Liverpool seek further reinforcements in January

Undoubtedly, the Reds are struggling to replicate anything like their Premier League exploits of last season and Arne Slot is under pressure as Liverpool look to get their current campaign back on track.

While Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique and others continue to be floated as potential replacements for the Dutchman, Didi Hamann told Sky Germany that he believes the former Feyenoord manager has work to do in order to get his dressing room back to their usual levels of cohesion.

He said: “I believe Arne Slot has lost control of the team. It’s falling apart, everyone is doing what they want, like Salah before PSV’s second goal.

“Liverpool will have major problems finishing in the Premier League top four. I don’t believe these problems can be solved quickly or easily. The situation is so complex that the club will certainly be discussing the manager’s position.”

Whether Hamann’s comments have an element of truth to them or not, January offers a much-needed lifeline in terms of recruiting talent and Liverpool are expected to be active on that front.

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Addressing the forward areas, Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy could be on his way to Anfield for £44m amid his release clause becoming active in 2026.

Celtic youngster Jikiemi is also on Liverpool’s radar, albeit at 15 years of age, he is someone who will be regarded as a talent for the future at the AXA Training Centre.

Still, the first-team remains a central priority for FSG, and the Reds could now be about to bring one of the world’s most talented midfielders to Merseyside.

Liverpool ready to bid for Eduardo Camavinga

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are preparing a ‘serious’ move for Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.

Liverpool’s admiration for the player is so big that they are actually expected to launch a bid to secure the player’s services. An offer in the region of £52.5m could be enough to secure the France international’s signature.

Described as a “duel-monster” by analyst Raj Chohan, Manchester United and Chelsea are also monitoring his situation, which won’t come as a surprise as his versatility for Loc Blancos has seen the 23-year-old operate as a central midfielder, defensive midfielder, or even on the left flank at times.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich are also tracking his progress. However, Real Madrid aren’t actively looking to sell the player at this moment in time, despite conversations taking place about his long-term role as Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde compete with the Frenchman for their spots in the engine room.

Labelled someone with “enormous potential” by Xabi Alonso, he has thrived under the Spaniard and could now be set for a new challenge as admiration for his talent grows.

Liverpool have found it difficult to get to grips with sides in the top flight this season, but Camavinga would likely take them on to a new level if he were to move to English shores.

Optimism is sky-high for the Boston Red Sox in 2025, but the team will have to begin its season with one of its starting pitchers out of the rotation.

Pitcher Lucas Giolito will begin '25 on the injured list, manager Alex Cora told reporters Thursday morning. Giolito, 30, has not pitched since 2023.

“We’re going to be tested right away," Cora said via Julian McWilliams of .

Giolito signed with the Red Sox on Jan. 3, 2024 before elbow surgery cost him all of last season. He exercised a player option for '25.

The pitcher remains best-known for his years with the Chicago White Sox. From 2017 to '23, he went 59-52 with a 4.20 ERA and 1,077 strikeouts, receiving Cy Young votes every year from 2019 to '21.

He spent a rough '23 season with three teams, going a combined 8-15 for the White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians. Giolito began his career with the Washington Nationals in 2016.

Former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has admitted he let standards at the club slip during his final season in charge, accepting blame for their decline after early success. The club legend reflected on his spell at the helm at Camp Nou with self-criticism, acknowledging the team’s attitude and respect dwindled after winning La Liga and explaining why he’s taking time before returning to management.

From champion to chaos: How Xavi’s Barcelona dream fell apart

When Xavi took charge of Barcelona in late 2021, optimism surged through the Camp Nou. The club icon arrived as both saviour and symbol of identity, tasked with restoring order to a side struggling under the weight of financial turmoil and on-field inconsistency. His impact was immediate. Under his stewardship, the Catalan giants reclaimed the La Liga title and lifted the Spanish Super Cup in his second season, restoring a sense of pride and competitiveness. Yet what began as a revival soon deteriorated.

The 2023-24 campaign saw Barca stumble across competitions, their confidence fading amid tactical confusion and waning intensity. Friction between players and management became increasingly visible and by the end of the season, Xavi was dismissed.

Now, months after his departure, the Spaniard has publicly reflected on his mistakes, acknowledging that his second full season exposed flaws in leadership and accountability.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportXavi admits he lost control of the dressing room

Speaking at a leadership conference at ESIC University, Xavi delivered a candid assessment of his time as Barca coach, outlining both the pride of his achievements and the regret of what came after.

“I began my coaching career at Barca with high expectations for both the players and the club,” he said. “The club was coming from a period where there weren't many demands, but my mistake was maintaining those high standards for only one year, from when I arrived until we won La Liga and the Super Cup.”

Reflecting on his downfall, the 45-year-old acknowledged that discipline and focus within the squad began to fade and that he didn’t do enough to stop it.

“Later on, I was able to be self-critical and I said to myself: ‘Damn, what happened to me?’ I had lowered those high standards and the players no longer had the same attitude, the same respect, the same effort. The standards kept dropping until, in my last season, we didn't win anything. I learned a lot from this. I had to be self-critical.”

His admission marks the first time Xavi has publicly accepted responsibility for losing control of the dressing room, a confession that resonates deeply with the club’s supporters, many of whom viewed him as the perfect embodiment of the Barca philosophy.

Measured comeback – Xavi waits for the right project

Since leaving Barcelona, Xavi has chosen patience over urgency. He’s been linked with several high-profile jobs, including Manchester United, but has made it clear that his next move will depend on the vision of the project rather than prestige alone.

The 2010 World Cup winner turned down an approach from Spartak Moscow, reportedly rejecting the offer after finding the club’s project lacking in long-term ambition. Those close to him describe his current approach as “strategic and calm,” focused on studying modern football trends rather than rushing back into management. Far from detached, Xavi has continued to meet regularly with his technical staff, dissecting game models and preparing for a future return. His track record remains impressive, from his successful stint with Al Sadd in Qatar to guiding Barcelona to a domestic double in his first full season – proof of a coach capable of building, not just inheriting, success.

Meanwhile, clubs across Europe with unstable benches are watching closely. With managerial changes expected across top leagues this winter, Xavi’s name is once again surfacing in discussions among major sporting directors.

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Getty Images SportA patient rebuild, not a rushed return

Unlike many out-of-work coaches, Xavi seems content to wait for the right challenge rather than chase immediate redemption. Sources close to him suggest he is determined that his next role “be about building a vision, not repairing damage.”

After being incharge of Barcelona, the former midfielder is spending time with family, reflecting and refining his approach to leadership, qualities that could define his second chapter in the dugout.

Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso has praised newly appointed coach Luciano Spalletti for the passion he has brought to the the club since his appointment. The defender praised Spalletti's ability to communicate his ideas clearly to the group and believe the ex-Italy manager's passion and clear communication it can propel Juventus to the Scudetto.

• Spalletti swoops in to salvage Serie A season

  Spalletti replaced Igor Tudor as Juventus coach after a difficult spell that saw the team lose form and confidence. Tudor had started the season brightly, winning his first three matches, including a thrilling 4-3 victory over Inter in the Derby d’Italia. However, a chaotic 4-4 draw with Borussia Dortmund marked the beginning of a steep decline, as Juventus went on to draw five consecutive games. Things worsened with three straight defeats to Como, Real Madrid and Lazio, during which the team failed to score in their last four matches. These results led to Tudor’s dismissal. 

  Spalletti’s arrival has already brought positive changes. Under his leadership, Juventus have registered one win and one draw, scoring three goals. Beyond results, Spalletti has revitalised the dressing room, instilling renewed energy, belief, and tactical clarity as Juventus look to rebuild confidence and return to their winning ways.

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  Cambiasso praises new manager

  In an interview with , Cambiaso praised Spalletti’s passion and clarity in communicating his ideas to players. Cambiasso said: “Pure passion: a technician is this and much more. He gets into your head, he gets to you. Sometimes he can be original in what he says, but he always gets the point.

  “In just a few days, he’s brought a lot of new things to the group. And compared to the man I knew in the national team, he’s changed a lot.”

  Cambiaso also highlighted Spalletti’s meticulous attention to detail and his hands-on approach in preparing the team, saying: “Attention to detail in every moment of the job: from the goal kick to the throw-in to the kick-off.”

  “He lives for football 24/7. I think he watches thousands of games. His method is a modern way of teaching football.”

• Are Juventus contenders for the Serie A title?

  Spalletti has urged Juventus to remain ambitious and not give up on their Scudetto hopes, insisting it is far too early to rule themselves out of the title race. The experienced coach, who took charge following Tudor’s dismissal, believes Juventus must rediscover their fighting spirit and consistency to climb back into contention. Spalletti has vowed to use his vast tactical knowledge and experience to help the team compete at the highest level once again. Earlier this week, striker Dusan Vlahovic called on his teammates to reflect deeply, noting that the club has already gone through three coaching changes in a short period. Spalletti echoed those sentiments, emphasising that true success comes from the players’ mentality and commitment on the pitch. He believes the squad possesses the quality needed to challenge for the title, provided they show greater unity, discipline, and belief in the months ahead.

  Teun Koopmeiners says he is also reaping the benefits of Spalletti's arrival, as he feels he is finally being played in the correct position after struggling under previous coaches Thiago Motta and Tudor. Spalletti has moved the Netherlands international into the three-man defence, instead of pushing him further up the field where he has struggled to make an impact.

  Cambiaso echoed Spalletti’s sentiments, emphasising how the team has fully embraced the coach’s leadership and shared ambition to chase the Scudetto. He said: “When he told us in the locker room at Continassa, we all followed his lead. Before Cremona, we were six points behind the leaders; after Cremona, we’re four. It’s a question of numbers.”

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  Juventus’ upcoming challenge

  Juventus will aim to close the gap on league leaders Napoli but face a tough challenge against city rivals Torino in this season’s first Derby della Mole. Spalletti will be hoping to extend his side’s winning run in Serie A when Juventus take on Torino tomorrow

Newcastle United are believed to have made a contract offer to one of their most important players, as they look to stave off potential interest from Saudi Pro League clubs.

Ross Wilson "delighted" with Newcastle job

The Magpies have made huge progress on the pitch in recent years, excelling under Eddie Howe, but important figures off the field have also played their part in the club’s success.

Earlier this week, Ross Wilson was confirmed as Newcastle’s new sporting director, taking on the role vacated by Paul Mitchell, and he has spoken of his delight at coming in at St James’ Park.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be here at Newcastle United. This is such a special club, and I fully understand the passion, ambition and expectations of our incredible supporters, as well as the ambition and desire of our ownership to keep developing and building an even stronger Newcastle United.

“My conversations with ownership have been extremely positive, and I’ve also been in regular contact with Eddie Howe and David Hopkinson. The trust, cohesion and alignment we’re building already feels strong, and we believe that being united as a team will be so important as we continue to move the club forward together. I’m excited to work with everyone across the different areas within our football department.”

Now, a significant piece of Newcastle contract news has emerged, as the club look to tie down one of the most influential players at the club.

Newcastle make contract offer to star player

According to UOL [via Sport Witness], Newcastle have offered Bruno Guimaraes a new deal until the summer of 2030, continuing to see him as a huge figure.

The Magpies are wary that Saudi clubs could come in with bids for the Brazilian at some point in the future, so they are looking to tie him down for the next five years.

Bruno signing a new contract at Newcastle would be huge for anyone associated with the club, with his influence and passion at the heart of the midfield huge ever since he arrived at the club.

The 27-year-old’s quality was on show in last weekend’s 2-0 win at home to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, with Howe lauding him after the game.

“I thought we had control of the second half and we needed a moment to bring us the goal. Bruno’s goal was a moment of magic from an unbelievable player. He makes a difference more often than not.”

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At 27, the £160,000-a-week Bruno is at the peak of his powers, and there is no reason why that will change in the next three or four years, so giving him a contract extension is a no-brainer, also putting them in a strong position if another club does make a move for him, in terms of being able to demand huge money.