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Shubman Gill has been the man all through this tour and once again he was able to tick off a record – most runs by an India captain in a Test series – but his poor luck with the toss continued. And just as he was helping get his team past that disadvantage he was run out for his first score past 20 and under 100 since arriving in England, meaning he had gotten a start and, against the odds, gave it away. Ten balls later, the rain came and swept everyone back into the dressing room. It was as untimely as a wicket could ever be, leaving India at 85 for 3.B Sai Sudharsan was the batter at the other end, and although he took a step forward, there was no way he was going to make it across for a single. Of all the ways to get out on a pitch with 8mm of grass and consistent sideways movement – both swing and seam. India were negotiating all that well for the most part. Gus Atkinson, returning to the fold after just a second XIs game to judge his fitness, was the single biggest threat from England. He took down Yashasvi Jaiswal in the fourth over and had a part to play in the Gill run-out as well – quick to spot the opportunity in his follow-through and nailing a direct hit at the keeper’s end.England went into the Oval Test with a vastly changed bowling attack, Chris Woakes the unlikely survivor despite playing all five matches. Ben Stokes was out with injury. Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse were rested and the replacements didn’t seem quite up for it. Josh Tongue gave away 11 runs in wides in his first over and Jamie Overton’s first three overs cost more than five runs apiece. Atkinson was keeping them in it, his first spell a wonderful example of how to keep it simple and reap the rewards on offer. He pitched the ball up, kept a tight line around off stump and walked away with figures of 6-1-7-1.India, though, were recovering from that. Sai Sudharsan was leaving the ball well – a marked improvement from the last Test where he was out for a duck leaving the ball to second slip – and seemed better equipped to handle balls aimed at his body as well. He is 28 off 84, having played some gorgeous drives down the ground. There were only six overs bowled in the middle session due to rain interruptions but that was still enough to cause a significant dent to India, whose hopes now lie with one batter who made his debut on this tour and another on the comeback trail which might not have a lot of trail left. Karun Nair, brought back in place of Shardul Thakur, was unbeaten on 0 off 8 at tea.

Chelsea are set to learn the outcome of a hearing into the club's alleged breaches of agent regulations during the Roman Abramovich era at Stamford Bridge. An independent regulatory commission is hearing the case which is due to conclude this week. If the Blues are found guilty, they could face sanctions ranging from a fine to a possible points deduction or transfer ban.

Chelsea charged with 74 rule breaches

The Premier League side were slapped with 74 charges by the Football Association back in September relating to payments to agents and intermediaries between 2009 and 2022. The allegations also relate to transfers, particularly signings of former stars Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o and Willian. Chelsea responded to the charges at the time by confirming they had self-reported the situation to the game's governing body after becoming aware of the issues during the takeover by American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital in 2022.

AdvertisementAFPWhat sanctions could Chelsea face?

The hearing into the allegations faced by the Blues is now set to conclude, as reported by . There is no timescale yet for when a verdict will be announced, but Chelsea are said to be "hopeful" of only being handed a fine by the FA due to the fact they self-reported the potential rule breaches previously. However, it is possible the Blues could face stiffer sanctions than simply a fine. The report adds that a guilty verdict could see Chelsea handed a "transfer ban or points deduction." Any such punishment is expected to be appealed by the Premier League side.

The Hazard factor

Chelsea's signing of Hazard has long been the subject of much scrutiny. The Blues beat Manchester United to his signature, with the Belgian star going on to win Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League titles with Chelsea. It's previously been reported by that the Red Devils missed out on Hazard, despite the fact a fee and personal terms had been agreed, as they refused to pay the player's agent John Bico a "huge backhander" to seal the transfer.

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What Chelsea have said about the charges

The club issued a statement after the charges with announced that read: "Chelsea FC is pleased to confirm that its engagement with The FA concerning matters that were self-reported by the club is now reaching a conclusion.

"The Club’s ownership group completed its purchase of the club on 30 May 2022. During a thorough due diligence process prior to completion of the purchase, the ownership group became aware of potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions and other potential breaches of FA rules. Immediately upon the completion of the purchase, the Club self-reported these matters to all relevant regulators, including The FA.

"The Club has demonstrated unprecedented transparency during this process, including by giving comprehensive access to the Club’s files and historical data. We will continue working collaboratively with The FA to conclude this matter as swiftly as possible. We wish to place on record our gratitude to The FA for their engagement with the Club on this complex case, the focus of which has been on matters that took place over a decade ago."

His century, after 83 innings and 807 days, shows why Pakistan cricket refuses to move on from him

Danyal Rasool15-Nov-2025Above all, it was the authenticity. At a moment when all around him struggled to capture the moment, Babar Azam simply wanted to live it. Waqar Younis, on commentary, tried to come up with something lyrical to say. Ultimately, he only managed “here we go” as Pramod Madushan ran in, and then “there we go”, when Babar pulled him in front of square to bring up his 20th hundred. ESPNcricinfo’s own ball-by-ball strained for effect as it tried to sum up the magnitude of the event. Fans at the ground, and at home on TV, and on social media, had their phones out, looking for the shot that would surely go viral.The man himself cantered to the other end, his beaming smile shining through his helmet. When he removed it, there was no exaggerated celebration for the cameras, no feigned nonchalance. It was a relieved smile when the helmet came off. He glanced to the skies, he looked down at the floor, and then, he fell to his knees, his face out of the shot. At that moment, he was falling in love with cricket once more.Tellingly he had not, until now, raised his bat to acknowledge the crowd. The sport that has bestowed him with a level of individual fame and popularity perhaps not seen for a cricketer in this country since the days of Imran Khan has, of late, also felt like the chain that shackled him. For now, however, the moment was about him, as well as the uncomplicated joy of batting – a joy that first got him into this position of sport as a vocation, long before everything else about it became so very complicated.Related

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It was also just a reminder of how genuine Babar can be, in an age where sportspeople have even the semblance of a personality media-trained out of them. Babar had no contrived soundbites at the post-match presentations, and then the press conference, which stars tend to reserve for their comebacks. In fact, there really wasn’t anything beyond the banal at all.He was at the business end of criticism for similar banality during his stint as captain so often. On Pakistan’s bad days, he didn’t have much to say, and on the good ones, there wasn’t much to say at all. He hasn’t done much press in the years since, but as he stood in front of the mic after his century, the years appeared to melt away: he thanked God, he was happy to be back among the runs, and he was grateful to his supporters. He ignored his critics, and he wanted to win matches for his team. What more was there to say?The relief is palpable on his face after Babar Azam completes his century after a long wait•AFP/Getty ImagesPerhaps nothing to say for Babar, but his fans and detractors alike haven’t exactly kept silent. We are all now beholden to a social media algorithm, and there is no name in Pakistan cricket that whirs it into gear as much as Babar’s. Whether he is captain or not. Whether he scores runs or not. Whether he’s even playing or not. After all, this is a man who – in a surreal period around late summer 2024 – saw the positioning of the big toe on his left foot become a focus of almost comical scrutiny as a potential explanation for his loss of form.Over the best part of the last three years, when all Babar may have wanted was just a little bit of space – to go away and be forgotten about for a little while – the asphyxiating attention only squeezed tighter. Fans and media alike kept him on display like an exotic animal at a tawdry petting zoo. Those who once prematurely anointed him as “King Babar” had, by now, turned it into something of a meme.But for all the toxicity in Pakistan cricket and the ferocity of its critics, legitimate and otherwise, they never stood a chance against his tsunami of supporters. At the depths of his nadir, stadiums across Pakistan – and indeed wherever its diaspora exists – would pack themselves to watch him bat, however fleeting his innings might be. In the Cape Town Test earlier this year, after he scored 81 and came to do press, the Pakistan team bus’s departure was delayed because Babar’s supporters tried to mob him, hoping for an autograph, a selfie, or indeed just a couple of words. Similar scenes have played out in Melbourne, London, and even New York.

Perhaps disconcertingly for the rest of the team, the fall of Pakistan’s first wicket has begun to be cheered loudly, simply because it brings Babar to the crease. The streaming out of supporters from stadiums whenever he gets out is a throwback to the days of Shahid Afridi, when one man’s performance was often the spectacle within the spectacle.

Perhaps disconcertingly for the rest of the team, the fall of Pakistan’s first wicket has begun to be cheered loudly, simply because it brings Babar to the crease. The streaming out of supporters from stadiums whenever he gets out is a throwback to the days of Shahid Afridi, when one man’s performance was often the spectacle within the spectacle.It was no different on Friday, with Rawalpindi Stadium never fuller than in the chilly evening when Saim Ayub fell in the tenth over. Babar’s knock began like any other innings – with a few solid shots, a brief scare here and there. It may have ended with a whimper very early on, as plenty of his 83 century-less knocks have over the past couple of years. Like when, after scratching five runs off his first 14 balls, he mistimed the 15th one almost straight back to Madushan. Or when he played a pull off a long hop and found short midwicket, who couldn’t quite cling on.It would also be a superb feat of narrative chicanery to suggest anything was written in the stars. The last two years have been littered by “predictions” from fans who are certain the next innings is the one Babar finally breaks his drought in, when every cover drive and every time he ticks up beyond 20 is a harbinger of something special. But things began to get serious when, instead of those prophecies, a tense silence emerged. On this site’s ball-by-ball commentaries, any references what he was approaching were angrily hushed by his supporters, afraid the mere mention of it would render it a mirage.Babar Azam was with Mohammad Rizwan when he broke his drought•AFP/Getty ImagesBut as the temperatures dipped into single digits and the spectators huddled together, for comfort as much as for warmth, Babar showed no signs of the mental or technical fragilities that have tripped him up so often in the recent past.If he needed further reassurance of the good old times, of course it was his mate Mohammad Rizwan at the other end: soon, the two were guiding Pakistan in a chase together, just as they used to do. It was Rizwan who took care of the asking rate, knocking off the runs and taking the pressure off his long-time T20 opening partner.In the press conference, when asked what he thought when the critics had piled on, he simply said, “I ignored them.” The arc of the rest of his innings itself might have demanded a scare here, a chance there; in truth, Babar similarly gave it nothing. His knock was becoming a routine march to three figures, and as he began to approach it, the tension seemed to ease instead of mount. He had, after all, been here before. More often, in fact than any Pakistan batter in the history of ODI cricket.The 90s were when he looked at his most comfortable, reserving the shot of the innings to take him to 97: a glorious drive past mid-off, in all its vintage Babar splendour. Often criticised for slowing down ahead of a personal milestone, he took just nine balls to get from 90 to his hundred – a milestone he seemed to greet like an old friend, rather than one he has been a stranger to for the better part of three years.As he brought up his century, his old friend Rizwan raised his arms aloft in delight, as if he’d been the one to just get to a milestone. In the years in between, these men have been appointed captain and then dumped at different times, somewhat unceremoniously in both cases. Bonds are never more brittle than they are with Pakistan’s cricketing stars locked in a power struggle, but Babar and Rizwan are too experienced to let those trivialities get in the way of a moment like that.Once he’d picked himself up off his knees, Babar raised his bat and gloves to the shivering huddle still within the cosy little ground as midnight approached. And then, he embraced Rizwan, the man he’d have wanted by his side for such a moment when, or in the darker moments as he might have wondered, if, it arrived. A journalist later on found himself in tears when he asked Babar about his return to form, with nearly the entire press pack – his fiercest critics among them – mobbing him for a group photograph after it was all done.No matter how hard the critics, or at times even those within the PCB, might try and move on, Pindi last night proved that there is still, in Pakistan cricket, nothing quite like Babar Azam. And when, in times when there is little uncomplicated joy to be found in Pakistan, he can deliver it like he did last night, you can begin to see why his supporters – and the man himself – refuse to move on and go away.

After setting a soft deadline of December 5, former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has reportedly emerged as one of the final candidates to buy Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls have not rushed into anything since entering administration and will be well aware that they must ensure that their next owner can make the guarantees that Dejphon Chansiri could not, financially speaking.

A number of candidates have shown proof of funds worth around £50m, but it has also been reported that a consortium from the Middle East has dropped out of contention due to the cost of completing a takeover. It is expected that, whilst the reserve price could be £30m, the actual cost of buying Sheffield Wednesday could rise to £100m over the next three years when considering a number of investments around the club.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, the Owls have the smaller matter of the Steel City derby to play against Sheffield United this weekend. They square off against the Blades looking to drag their rivals down with them in the Championship’s dropzone.

Previewing the crucial clash, Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen admitted that he expects to face an “organised side” in a tough challenge for his side this weekend.

With a soft deadline of 5 December for their takeover, victory over Sheffield United would certainly be a fine way to start what is a crucial two-week period.

Mike Ashley now a serious contender to buy Sheffield Wednesday

As reported by the i Paper, Ashley is now among the serious candidates to buy Sheffield Wednesday ahead of their December 5 deadline. The Owls are expected to narrow their search down to three or four options by the time that it’s time for offers to arrive and the former Newcastle United chief could yet be among those.

Whilst some will be quick to point out Ashley’s flaws from his time at St James’ Park, he could arguably be what Sheffield Wednesday need at present. He was unambitious at Newcastle when it came to signings, which left fans frustrated, but in terms of finances he was safe.

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Amass has been a great success.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 13, 2025

The 61-year-old cleared the Magpies’ debt with an interest-free loan and may well steady the ship at Sheffield Wednesday. Whether he’d ensure that they become an established Championship side again after what seems to be inevitable relegation is another question, however.

There’s no denying that Ashley didn’t exactly jump at the chance to invest in the squad during his time at Newcastle, as they suffered relegation from the Premier League twice.

Latest Sheffield Wednesday takeover news

Unlike some of their rivals, Arsenal have not had too much trouble integrating their summer signings so far this season.

The standout addition has probably been Martin Zubimendi, but despite the criticism he received a few weeks ago, Viktor Gyokeres isn’t too far behind.

After all, before his recent injury, the Swedish international had scored six goals in 14 appearances, which makes him the club’s joint top scorer.

With that said, Arsenal still appear to be looking for someone who could one day replace him, and who better than someone compared to both Erling Haaland and Jean-Philippe Mateta?

Arsenal target Haaland & Mateta hybrid

While Gyokeres is having a decent season with Arsenal so far, he is being outscored by both Haaland and Mateta.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former, for example, has already amassed a frankly ridiculous tally of 19 goals and one assist in 15 appearances for Manchester City, while the latter has a tally of eight goals and nine assists in 19 games for Crystal Palace.

With numbers like these, it’s easy to see why Arsenal would be interested in signing a young striker who has been compared to both international superstars.

According to a recent report from Spain, the young striker in question is Etta Eyong.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners are more than just interested in the Levante gem, and have now decided to activate the youngster’s £40m release clause.

The story claims that, should everything go as planned, an announcement will be made in the coming weeks.

It’s a lot of money to spend on a young player, but Eyong could be the ideal heir to Gyokeres, especially as he’s won comparisons to both Haaland and Mateta.

How Eyong compares to Haaland & Mateta

The first thing to note is that, given he only turned 22 last month, Eyong is still a work in progress.

However, even in his short career, he has demonstrated a remarkable ability to score, and that is just one of the qualities he shares with Haaland and Mateta.

For example, in 30 appearances for Villarreal B last season, the Cameroon international scored 19 goals and provided six assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.15 games.

Then this season, upon taking the step-up to La Liga, the exciting forward has racked up a tally of five goals and one assist in nine appearances for Levante.

Moreover, one of those goals came against Real Madrid – and he nabbed one against Arsenal in pre-season – so he cannot be accused of simply being a flat-track bully.

However, while his output is hugely encouraging, the comparisons to Haaland and Mateta primarily come from elsewhere, from FBref.

They have compared the 22-year-old to every forward across Europe’s top five leagues and have determined that the Frenchman is the most similar, and the Norwegian is the eighth.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.63

0.63

Progressive Carries

0.73

0.56

Progressive Passes Received

4.04

4.39

Shot-Creating Actions

1.74

1.50

Live Passes

12.8

12.7

You can gain a better understanding of how these comparisons were made by examining the underlying numbers in which the Cameroonian has ranked closely to the two internationals.

In the Palace star’s case, these metrics included non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, shot-creating actions, live passes, and more, all per 90.

Goals per Shot

0.22

0.32

Goals per Shot on Target

0.46

0.54

Expected Assists

0.07

0.09

Shot-Creating Actions

1.74

1.72

In the case of the City monster, the underlying numbers included metrics such as shot-creating actions, expected assists, and most interestingly, goals per shot and goals per shot on target, all per 90 minutes.

These last two statistics are particularly encouraging, as they suggest that when the “incredible” Levante star, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is in a dangerous situation, he is almost as clinical as the Norwegian goal machine.

Ultimately, it is still early in Eyong’s career, but as things stand, he looks to be an excellent young striker and someone who could be the perfect Gyokeres heir for Arsenal.

Major injury update now emerges on Arsenal star Gabriel before Tottenham

The centre-back suffered an injury on international duty with Brazil.

ByDominic Lund Nov 17, 2025

The Baltimore Orioles have been one of Major League Baseball's most disappointing teams during the 2025 season, and appear prepared to sell as the trade deadline approaches. One of those pieces likely to move is veteran starting pitcher Charlie Morton.

While he has struggled at times this season, Morton has a ton of playoff experience, having won World Series titles with the Astros in 2017 and Braves in 2021. Given his age and the fact that he's a pure rental, he shouldn't be wildly expensive at the deadline, despite there not being a ton of starting pitching available.

In 21 appearances (15 starts) this season, Morton is 5-8 with a 5.58 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP and 92 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings. But he has improved lately. In his last 12 appearances he's 5-1 with a 3.47 ERA, a 3.30 FIP, a 1.26 WHIP and 64 strikeouts in 57 innings.

What follows is a look at four teams who could be interested in the 41-year-old.

New York Yankees

While the Yankees' primary need is a third baseman, they could use another arm. Max Fried and Carlos Rodon are solid atop the team's rotation, but after that things get a little murky. As a whole, the team's starters rank seventh in baseball in ERA (3.74), and Clarke Schmidt was having an excellent season before suffering an elbow injury that will require Tommy John surgery. Luis Gil is on his way back, but with Gerrit Cole also out for the year, adding a reliable starter with postseason experience would be huge.

San Diego Padres

The Padres could use upgrades at catcher and in the outfield, but they're another team that might need a low-cost arm. Yu Darvish has finally returned to the mound, but projected ace Michael King hasn't pitched since May 18 as he deals with a nerve issue in his shoulder. He might be on his way back, but no one knows how long that will take.

The current group of starters ranks 11th in ERA leaguewide (3.91). This is another team that could use an insurance arm like Morton.

Houston Astros

Like the previous two teams, the Astros have solid starters, but are missing the rotational depth they might need to win a World Series. Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez have been outstanding this year, but four potential starters have dealt with injures. Spencer Arrighetti is on his way back from a thumb injury and Cristian Javier is attempting to return from Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski have both undergone Tommy John surgery as well.

As a group, Houston's starters rank 10th in MLB with a 3.84 ERA, but there's almost no room for error. Plus, both sides of the potential deal are already well familiar with one another—a reunion with Morton makes a lot of sense.

New York Mets

The Mets' rotation actually looks solid right now, with Sean Manaea finally back on the mound and Kodai Senga and David Peterson both dealing. But there is a problem edging its way over the horizon, and that's Clay Holmes' innings total. The first-year starting pitcher has tossed 108 2/3 innings, which is 38 2/3 more than his previous career-high. The 32-year-old former closer could start to hit a wall if he continues at this rate. He's been solid this season (8-5, 3.48 ERA), but also had a 5.66 ERA in four July starts.

Adding Morton and giving Holmes and the rest of the rotation a bit of a cushion could be huge for the Mets down the stretch.

Manchester United and Bayern Munich have reportedly locked horns in a battle to sign Liga de Quito’s 16-year-old sensation Ederson Castillo. The midfielder has attracted serious interest from the European heavyweights after dazzling displays at youth level, though they face stiff competition from Atlético de Madrid and Anderlecht who are also tracking his progress.

• European giants circle Ecuadorian wonderkid

  According to reports emanating from and , the teenage midfielder has become the primary target for a host of Europe's most prestigious clubs. Castillo, who is currently plying his trade with Liga de Quito (LDU), has seen his stock rise meteorically following a breakthrough campaign with the youth sides.

  Despite being just 16 years of age, he was an instrumental figure in LDU’s recent triumph in the Ecuadorian U-19 tournament. His performances were marked by a maturity that belies his years, prompting the club’s hierarchy to invite him to train with the senior squad on multiple occasions. Reports indicate that both United and Bayern have moved to the front of the queue, registering concrete interest in the player as they look to secure his services before his valuation skyrockets. The battle for his signature is expected to be fierce, with European scouts now a regular presence at LDU's Pomasqui training complex, analysing every touch and pass the youngster makes as they prepare their final reports for club directors back in Manchester and Munich.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  United and Bayern face stiff competition

  While the financial might of United and Bayern often clears the field, this transfer battle is far from a two-horse race. Atlético de Madrid are reportedly monitoring Castillo closely. The Spanish giants, led by Diego Simeone, have a long history of success with South American players who possess the requisite grit and technical quality. 

  Furthermore, Belgian outfit Anderlecht are firmly in the mix. While they cannot compete financially with the likes of United or Bayern, they offer a compelling sporting project: a proven pathway to first-team football in a development-friendly league. Anderlecht have already successfully recruited from Liga de Quito in the recent past, signing Nilson Angulo, which could give them a unique advantage in negotiations. The Belgian route is often seen as a smarter intermediate step for South American talents before making the jump to the Premier League or Bundesliga, allowing them to adapt to the European game away from the blinding spotlight of the very top tier.

• Ecuador's golden generation spurs interest

  This developing transfer saga is emblematic of a wider shift in the transfer market. Ecuador has rapidly established itself as the new "gold mine" for elite talent in South America. The unprecedented success of players like Moises Caicedo, Piero Hincapie, and Pervis Estupinan in Europe’s top five leagues has convinced top clubs that the region is producing "best-in-class" athletes who can adapt physically and technically to the rigours of European football.

  For United, a move for Castillo would be entirely consistent with the club’s revamped recruitment strategy under their new sporting structure. The Red Devils are keen to move away from paying exorbitant fees for established stars, focusing instead on identifying high-ceiling teenagers. Bayern share this philosophy, with their "Bayern Campus" project designed to integrate top international talents into the first team at a young age. Both clubs are desperate to find the "next Caicedo" at source, rather than paying a British record fee for him years later as Chelsea did.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  FIFA regulations delay potential move

  Despite the intense speculation, any potential deal for Castillo comes with a significant logistical caveat: FIFA’s regulations on the international transfer of minors. Under current rules, Castillo cannot officially register and play for a European club until he turns 18. This means that any agreement reached in the coming months would likely mirror the structure of Chelsea’s high-profile deal for Kendry Paez, who is now on loan at Strasbourg.

  The fellow Ecuadorian wonderkid agreed to join the Blues at 15 but remained at Independiente del Valle to continue his development until he was old enough to move in June this year. For Castillo, a similar "pre-contract" arrangement is the most likely outcome. He would theoretically sign for a European giant but remain on loan at LDU for the next two years. This period would allow him to gain vital experience in the Ecuadorian Serie A and potentially the Copa Libertadores before crossing the Atlantic, ensuring he arrives in Europe ready to compete for a first-team place immediately. 

Brendon McCullum still believes in Zak Crawley despite his pair in the first Test against Australia, and has called on England bat with more conviction following their two-day defeat in Perth. The visiting head coach even cited Travis Head’s match-winning 123 as an example to follow.Head made light work of what looked a more-than-competitive target of 205, driving Australia most of the way home to an eight-wicket win in just 28.2 overs. With Usman Khawaja yet again suffering from a back injury, Head replaced Marnus Labuschagne (who opened in the first innings) and proceeded to slap 20 boundaries, including four sixes that belied the size of the Optus Stadium boundaries.As well as flaying an England attack that 24 hours earlier had put the frighteners up the home batters, Head was responsible for the first runs for an opening partnership in the Test. The first overs of the previous three innings had brought ducks. Crawley was responsible for two at the hands of Mitchell Starc. Jake Weatherald – knocked off his feet by Jofra Archer on day one – maintained his footing with 23, his first runs in Test cricket.A careless waft outside off stump six balls into the match was followed by a checked-push five balls into his second innings, brilliantly caught by Starc. With that, Crawley became the first English opener dismissed without scoring in both innings of an Ashes Test since Michael Atherton at Melbourne in 1998.Pegged as a batter to thrive on Australian pitches, England have groomed Crawley as an X-factor player ahead of this tour. He has been backed to the hilt by captain Ben Stokes since the start of his tenure.Though Crawley was the leading run-scorer in 2023’s Ashes, and England’s standout run-scorer on the following tour of India, he has averaged just 32.26 since the start of 2022. His career average – 30.96 – is close to dipping under the thirty mark.McCullum has previously insisted Crawley is not picked to be “a consistent player”. Essentially, he is a scorer of great runs rather than a great run-scorer. That point of view remains undimmed, as is his importance in an opening partnership with Ben Duckett that remains the fastest since 1998. Travis Head starred as an opener with an extraordinary 69-ball century•Getty Images

“We believe he is a quality player,” McCullum said, when asked if Crawley was undroppable. “Particularly in these conditions against this sort of opposition. How many balls did he face? 10 or 11? He got out cheaply, but we believe in Zak.”He’s been around this group for a long time, he’s done really well. The combination with Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley has allowed us to enter games as best as we think we can. And I’d expect to see a strong bounce-back from Zak in the next little while. Sometimes you get out early, right? It would have been nice if he hadn’t. But that’s life. If he can get going, he can do some damage.””If” being the operative word. Crawley is now joint-fourth on England’s duck list from 96 innings – the only member of that top five to have batted fewer than 142 times in Test cricket. And the suggestion he cracks on when he gets a start is not backed up by the statistics. The 27-year-old has 24 fifty-plus scores, but of openers with at least 20, his average of 85.80 is the third lowest.Of course, Crawley is not the sole batter to blame for the fact England are 1-0 down. It was a top-order collapse of 5 for 23 – including Ollie Pope, Harry Brook and Joe Root across six deliveries for no run – that relinquished what had been a lead of 105 with nine second-innings wickets in hand.It was Scott Boland who thrived during this passage, eventually finishing with 4 for 33, making amends for a difficult 0 for 62 in the first innings.Related

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• 'Shellshocked' Stokes hails Head for 'knocking the wind' out of England

• Stats – Perth serves up a short and spicy Test

Having bested the 36-year-old on Friday, England were unable to get a hold of him on Saturday. A mistake, in McCullum’s eyes, which he puts down to batters not wholly committed to their respective methods. Unlike Head.”Maybe just back away and slay it over point, or slog it to cow?!” McCullum said, tongue in cheek, when asked how England might have batted better. “I’m not saying they didn’t go hard enough, but there was a player [Head] who had total conviction in his method and has done it across different formats and on different stages over the last few years.”‘Have conviction’ – that’s been what we’ve said. Choose a method and have conviction in it. If it works then great. But if it doesn’t at least you’ve done it your way.”Despite the early finish, England are set to remain in Perth for the time being before heading straight to Queensland ahead of the second Test, a day-night affair in Brisbane, which begins on December 4.A decision is yet to be made on whether any of the main squad will drop into the England XI – originally the Lions – for the Prime Minister’s XI match in Canberra (November 29), which will offers them pink-ball practice. Most importantly for McCullum is shedding the pain of this whirlwind defeat as quickly as possible.”We will let the dust settle, but we are bitterly disappointed for us, but also all the fans who have turned up here to support us so well here and we know we will be throughout the series.”We can’t carry this one onto the next. We’ve been trying to insulate against things going wrong for a while. For us that connectivity and camaraderie is something we pride ourselves on. We will need it over the next few days.”

Leeds United are keen to revive their Premier League fortunes after a poor start to the season under Daniel Farke, who has now found out where he stands ahead of their trip to face Manchester City.

Leeds United and Daniel Farke caught in awkward situation

There is no point in beating around the bush. Farke has come under significant pressure recently at Elland Road, and a run of five losses in his last six matches has done little to win fans over in West Yorkshire.

On the face of it, the German is a talented coach who deploys an exciting brand of football that has won plenty of adulation, albeit the Whites have been undone too often by the fine margins of the top-flight.

Facing Manchester City is a daunting task at the best of times, not least when they managed to give a rest to key players during their Champions League exploits in midweek.

Another misstep and Farke could be in serious trouble, with former Union Berlin boss Bo Svensson and ex-Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers on Leeds’ shortlist should they decide to call time on his spell at Elland Road.

Survival is a difficult ask for any newly-promoted side, and nobody was expecting the Whites’ return to the Premier League to be straightforward. However, results are critical, and they appear to be in short supply at the moment.

Ultimately, only time will tell whether Farke gets an extended period to turn things around. As supporters hunt for clarity, a new update has now emerged regarding his future.

Daniel Farke given Leeds United sack ultimatum

According to sources from Football Insider, Leeds boss Farke has two matches to save his job at Elland Road, and the 49ers Enterprises are now ‘exploring new manager options amid growing fan discord over the performances and results under Farke’.

Carlos Corberan and Marcelo Bielsa are also mooted as options alongside Rodgers and Svensson, though whoever takes on the mantle, should the 49-year-old be relieved of his duties, will face some tough festive fixtures in the cold light of day.

For now, Farke remains in post, but the fact that his club are already on the lookout for alternatives paints a bleak picture for his future unless Leeds can string together a run of meaningful results in the near future.

Leeds have a "laughable" signing who's a bigger waste of time than Perri

Leeds United fans must now be scratching their heads as to why their beloved side ever signed this dud.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 28, 2025

Truthfully, the Whites’ boss has been uncompromising in his methods and is willing to go down on his own terms rather than be forced to deviate from his tactical style.

While that is admirable in theory, it remains to be seen if he can evade doubters over the coming weeks with his job well and truly on the line.

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has revealed how close Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk came to leaving Anfield as free agents in the summer of 2025. Two talismanic figures on Merseyside entered the final year of their respective contracts before eventually agreeing fresh terms. The Reds were prepared to walk away from discussions there if the numbers did not make sense.

Exit fear: Van Dijk & Salah entered final year of deals

Van Dijk has been an on-field leader throughout his time with Liverpool and now fills the captain’s armband. He hoisted the Premier League title aloft last season and has passed 330 appearances for the Reds having joined them from Southampton for £75 million ($98m) in January 2018. He is now tied to a deal through to 2027.

Salah’s contract has been extended to the same point, with the Egyptian superstar being talked into a prolonged stay with the Reds. After being heavily linked with teams in the Saudi Pro League, the prolific forward is looking to complete a decade of service at Anfield. He has plundered 250 goals through 417 appearances.

There was the threat at one stage of both Van Dijk and Salah moving on, leaving Liverpool with sizeable holes to fill in their squad. Protracted discussions ultimately delivered agreements that everybody is happy with.

AdvertisementGettyContract talks: How Liverpool get Salah & Van Dijk to stay

Discussing that process, Werner has told of how sporting director Richard Hughes helped to avoid any drama on the exit front for John W Henry and Fenway Sports Group: "My impatience is balanced by his patience. I'd call him frequently and say, ‘Richard, how are things going with Mo Salah and his contract?’, and he would say, ‘Tom, it will all be good in the end’. I think all the agents who deal with him would say that he conducts business in a very respectful way. He has a plan and he executes it.

"We were delighted that the new contracts for Mo and Virgil were sorted. But you know what? If Richard had called and said, ‘The chasm is too big’, I would have respected that too. John, Mike and I try to find people who are excellent at their jobs and let them do their jobs. We don't meddle, we just provide support and advice from our point of view. There's a lot of trust. I can't say enough wonderful things about Richard."

Could Salah leave? Transfer admission

While Liverpool fans were delighted to see Van Dijk and Salah stay, both have seen their performances in 2025-26 called into question. Wayne Rooney is among those to have demanded more from the Reds’ skipper when it comes to maintaining high standards.

It has been suggested that Salah may yet be moved on, while Liverpool can demand a fee, with ex-Reds goalkeeper David James telling GOAL recently: "You could envisage a situation where Mo's numbers aren't what Liverpool need. And if there were a potential suitor somewhere else, then I'm sure with conversation, because Mo does have a say in it, that Liverpool would be willing to let him go.

"Under contract, I don't think I could see a situation where Mo's going to hang around just to get paid. I think there would be a situation where, through conversation because I know the dialogue with Liverpool is always really good, that the two parties would sit down and discuss the future.

"However, if Mo starts doing what Liverpool would like him to do and Mo I'm sure would like to do and starts scoring loads of goals, then their hand could be forced by a potential suitor, because whatever club is interested, Saudi logically as they're the ones with the money, they may make an offer that Liverpool can't refuse."

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Getty Images SportLiverpool fixtures: Next up for the Reds

Defending Premier League champions Liverpool, who have slipped to eighth in the table through 11 games this season – suffering five defeats and conceding 17 goals – will be back in action after the November international break on Saturday when playing host to Nottingham Forest, who sit inside the relegation zone.