It was only the second time that Starc was playing a Test without Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon, and he got 6 for 71 after day one in Brisbane

Andrew McGlashan04-Dec-20251:12

Starc: Selection not a reflection of Lyon’s skills

Even taking into account that plans often need to change, it was hard to see a world where Australia would field an attack during this Ashes with just one of the big four.Yet, against England at the Gabba, they were without 1166 Test wickets from what would be considered their first-choice attack: the tally of Pat Cummins, who was very close to playing, and Josh Hazlewood, nearly doubled by the shock omission of Nathan Lyon. But there was one of the awesome foursome left: Mitchell Starc.The wisdom of that decision will largely be judged in hindsight. At times, it appeared a change of pace would have been handy: when Zak Crawley and Joe Root were building their stand of 117 in 25 overs, then when Root and Ben Stokes took England to 210 for 4 early in the final session, and even as Root and Jofra Archer flayed away in their merry final-wicket stand.Related

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There was a bit of sameness about Michael Neser, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett and Cameron Green. The latter three went at a combined 5.02 runs an over from 41 overs.”I was surprised, to be honest,” Crawley said of Lyon’s absence. “I can’t remember the last time, other than in the West Indies recently, where they haven’t played him. So, yeah, we were surprised.”It felt odd for Starc, too. “I think I mentioned it in the warm-ups: I don’t think I’ve ever played an attack without one of the three of them playing,” he said. “So it was a little bit different in that regard with no Josh, Pat and Nath.”Starc’s memory is nearly correct: he played without any of them the only previous occasion Lyon missed a home Test – against India at the WACA in 2012. It has left him doing some heavy lifting, but he had a pink ball in hand. Following ten wickets in the first Test against England in Perth, he knocked the top of England’s order with the new ball, broke a threatening stand under twilight, and later got to work on the lower order.An outswinger to Ben Duckett produced Starc’s 26th first-over wicket in Test cricket. That was soon followed by Ollie Pope chopping on to his stumps to leave England 5 for 2, and images of Perth zooming back into view.At the Gabba, Mitchell Starc got his 26th wicket in the first over of a Test•Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesBut that was the limit of the damage Starc could inflict in his first spell, although how different the game would have looked had Steven Smith been able to grab a one-handed stunner when Root was on 2. Starc bowled three more overs before the first interval (call it what you will), and was then held back by Smith until twilight started to take hold. By then, Australia had already gone to short-ball fields with a softening pink ball as they tried to manufacture wickets before looking for some assistance as the night closed in.By then, Root and Brook were starting to build, but the latter was skittish, and facing his first ball from Starc – it was the second ball of his comeback over – as Brook aimed a flat-footed drive which was edged high to Smith at second slip. It took Starc to 415 wickets, moving ahead of Wasim Akram as the most wickets for a left-arm quick in Test history. Akram had spoken of his admiration for Starc in the lead-up to the Test, and offered his praise again.”Super Starc! Proud of you, mate,” Wasim posted on X. “Your incredible hard work sets you apart, and it was only a matter of time before you crossed my tally of wickets. I am pleased to give this to you! Go well, and keep soaring to new heights in your stellar career.”After a day in the field, albeit one that only brought 74 overs, Starc’s response was self-depreciating. “Pretty tired,” he said when asked how he felt. “I’ll reflect on it later. Wasim’s still a far better bowler than I am.”There is a job ahead for Australia, and having seen England escape to 325 for 9 with an unbroken last-wicket stand of 61, it could be a tough one. But it is worth appreciating Starc’s recent form. His last four bowling innings in Test cricket read: 6 for 9, 7 for 58, 3 for 55, and now 6 for 71.Mitchell Starc bagged Harry Brook in his first over back in the attack•Getty Images”I mean, he’s a very, very good bowler, obviously, and with the pink ball, I think he gets it to swing slightly more on [than] the red ball, so he challenges both sides a bit more,” Crawley said. “I was just trying to keep it very simple, playing nicely straight. He does draw you in on that off side… he’s got a way of dragging you in, so it’s a challenge. But I feel like, all in all, we played him pretty well. I mean, he’s ended up at six. I feel like we had a good day.”One of Starc’s six came from a remarkable catch by Alex Carey as he sprinted back to take Gus Atkinson’s top edge, and was nearly taken out by Marnus Labuschagne, who was also tracking the ball from slip. “Marnus tried to tackle him, I reckon, and take it out of his hands,” Starc said.Another piece of fielding brilliance provided Australia with one of their three non-Starc wickets. Josh Inglis, a wicketkeeper by trade, and called into this match as Usman Khawaja’s replacement, moved swiftly from cover to produce a stunning direct hit which removed Stokes during a period after tea where Australia’s four frontline quicks had dried up the scoring rate.”It’s one of those ones that a bit of brilliance in the field can change a little bit of the momentum,” Starc said. “A bit like a couple of Ashes ago, where Nathan Lyon ran out James Vince here at the Gabba and changed the momentum that day. I think the one today was probably a better run-out, but don’t tell Nathan that.”After the day Lyon had endured, that was probably a wise thought. For all of Starc’s brilliance, Australia’s omission of their greatest offspinner may yet be a telling narrative from this match.

In the last few years, we have gone from “if” to “when” for South Africa’s women, and while Sunday might seem like India’s date with destiny, don’t be certain they won’t miss it

Firdose Moonda01-Nov-20251:36

WWC final – ‘The pressure is less on South Africa’

Remember the artistic hunter? If not, let South Africa’s director of national teams and high performance, Enoch Nkwe, remind you: “It’s an attacking brand of cricket that finds a way to win games even on the back foot,” he had told ESPNcricinfo at the 2023 World Cup two years after debuting those words.At the time, South Africa’s senior cricket teams had collectively reached just one global ICC final, at the women’s T20 World Cup earlier in the year. Now, just under two years on, they have reached four and won one. Hunters? We can understand that by the way they have gone after trophies. But artistic? On the evidence of this Women’s World Cup, hell, yes!Sandwiched between two of their lowest World Cup scores, South Africa reeled off five wins that showed off their full range. They bounced back strongly against New Zealand, handled pressure spectacularly against India and Bangladesh and showed how they could dominate against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. To top it off with a semi-final performance of utter heroism against England was Frida Kahlo-esque in that it underpinned South Africa’s “artistic hunter” cricketing identity. Laura Wolvaardt was artistic; Marizanne Kapp was the hunter. But don’t forget everyone else. There’s no masterpiece without depth and South Africa have plenty.Related

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Tazmin Brits has been more slightly miss than hit but her three hits were crucial, and the most crucial wasn’t even the biggest one. Her 45 in support of Wolvaardt in the semi-final was arguably more important than her century against New Zealand and both those knocks were left in the shade by Nadine de Klerk.This has been a coming-of-age tournament for de Klerk, who has grown into her role as a finisher and struts around with an aura of belief that is starting to encircle others too. Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba has slipped down the wicket-takers’ list but had statement performances against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. And Chloe Tryon, the veteran, made contributions of 49 and 62 in successful chases against India and Bangladesh and 33* in the semi-final and has shown an appetite for the big occasion.In Tryon and Kapp is the story of the evolution of this South Africa team. They are two of the original group of six players who were contracted by Cricket South Africa when it first issued deals for women in 2013. In the 12 years since, South Africa have played in two 50-over and one T20 World Cup semi-final and two T20 World Cup finals. If ever anyone needed proof that professionalisation brings results, this is it.That’s the win, and South Africa are in the final•AFP/Getty ImagesBut professionalisation also demands consistent evolution and South Africa have not always kept up.A similar group of players carried South Africa through tournament after tournament. They achieved some incredible things – the 2017 ODI World Cup and 2020 T20 World Cup semi-finals – but their crowning moment came when, against the odds, they got to the 2023 T20 World Cup final, at home, amidst turmoil. Destructive opening batter Lizelle Lee had retired over disagreements with the team management, and inspirational captain Dane van Niekerk was left out of the squad for failing a fitness test. Still, South Africa rode a wave and reached the final.The next 18 months were fraught. Sune Luus was removed as interim captain and Wolvaardt, by far the most talented batter in the squad, installed in her place. Long-serving head coach Hilton Moreeng was replaced by an interim, Dillon du Preez. And Shabnim Ismail, the OG of fast and fierce in the women’s game, retired. Somehow, South Africa still got to another T20 World Cup final in October 2024, and should have won after beating Australia in the semi-final. They played their best game too early and the heartbreak of losing a match they were favourites to win left many shaken. Would it ever get that good again?2:42

WWC final: Can South Africa make room for Klaas?

The Mandla of South African cricket

In the aftermath of that, and almost out of nowhere, Mandla Mashimbyi, a stalwart of the men’s domestic game, was named national women’s coach in December last year. “We liked his approach, of a people-first culture, and his understanding of our cricket system,” Nkwe said. “He aligned with our philosophy.”That is significant because what Mashimbyi found in the women’s camp was a problem he knew exactly how to solve. “When I came into the job, the one thing that I picked up was probably the division that was within the team, not necessarily in a malicious way, but I just thought maybe we could be better in making sure that we are more of a united front as a team,” he said in his pre-final press conference. “And also certain skills with certain players that I felt needed to improve for us to actually come here and become a force.”What’s important for me was just to give them love, always give them the care and the energy, and be consistent in doing that. That builds trust. It was most important to make sure that we get the environment right. The talent we’ve always had, that’s why we’ve been in finals before. It was just about making the environment stronger.”Speak to the men’s players Mashimbyi has coached and they say the best thing about playing under him was how he made them feel. “The biggest difference is that he doesn’t make the team environment tense,” Tabraiz Shamsi told ESPNcricinfo. “He laughs and jokes with players rather than having a situation where the coach is the boss and everyone must call him coach or the environment is tense and you can’t joke with him and tease him.” Lizaad Williams called him “loveable” as a coach: “Almost like a big teddy that you cuddle.”Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp – the artist and the hunter•ICC via Getty ImagesGiven the state of the women’s team and the behind-the-scenes issues of uncertainty they were dealing with, having a coach who chose the soft life and would nurture them seemed the right fit.But before you box Mashimbyi, who has the stature of a friendly giant, as just a nice guy, stop.He also came with a track record of massive success in the men’s game. Mashimbyi won nine trophies as assistant coach and two as head coach at Titans and was involved in the union’s decision to sign a 17-year-old Dewald Brevis and, more recently, Lhuan-dre Pretorius. “He backed them both from the get-go. Their talent is now for all to see now but he is the guy who identified that talent. He said about Dewald, ‘let’s sign him now, he is going to be the real deal’, and we weren’t that sure. The same with Lhuan-dre, he backed him to play a whole season when he was still at school. Mandla has got a proper track record of success,” Jacques Faul Mashimbyi’s former boss at Titans, told ESPNcricinfo.And he also knows how to handle players when things are not going according to plan. “He has got the unique ability to back players and put an arm around them when it’s not going so well,” Faul said. “He’s a bit of a philosopher in his own right and he really knows the game. He is a deep thinker of life, not just of cricket.”2:43

WWC final: Harmanpreet and Tryon will be key players

That might explain why South Africa’s tournament did not implode after they were blasted out for 69 by England, and also why they could come back to beat them so soundly in the semi-final. Not only did South Africa pay no heed to the bilateral history in which they had only beaten England once in eight meetings dating back to 2022, but also to a massive financial disparity in their capacity to develop. One insider suggests England spends more on the women’s game than South Africa spends on the entire game, which is plausible given the economic disparities of the two countries. South Africa’s main currency, though, is hope. And for the last 34 years, since readmission, while rugby and football have enjoyed continental and global success, the promise of it is what cricket has traded on.In the last two-and-half years, the “if” South African cricket could win something has turned to “when” and it now even has a date: June 14. When Temba Bavuma and his Test team lifted the mace, they also stripped off the veil that blurred their vision of the final hurdle. But the path to reaching finals was cleared by the women’s team first as they became the first senior side to reach a World Cup final, and they did it at home.If people thought it was fluke or the fortunes of fate that got them there in 2023, they could not argue with the stunning semi-final win over Australia that booked them a spot at the T20 World Cup final in 2024 and now the history-defying feat over England that has put them in their first 50-over World Cup final.In India against India, who may believe this is their date with destiny, South Africa will know they are entering not just as underdogs but with an expectation that they are only the supporting cast. But it’s not South African to turn up at someone else’s party and not enjoy yourself. So whatever happens, South Africa will give India something to remember.

South Africa are sensing a more even fight as India trade turners for true surfaces

Firdose Moonda11-Nov-20251:47

Phillander: South Africa’s young team has had ‘phenomenal preparation’ for India tour

India’s turnado years are over, or at least that’s what South Africa believe as they seek to win their first Test in the country in 15 years and maybe even a first series in 25. Unlike on their tour in 2015, when surfaces crumbled at the sight of a cricket ball, or on their tours of Bangladesh and Pakistan recently, South Africa expect the contest to be more balanced as India redefine home advantage in the wake of last year’s 3-0 home defeat to New Zealand.”I don’t think it will be as spin-friendly as we experienced in Pakistan,” Keshav Maharaj, South Africa’s first-choice left-arm spinner said from Kolkata. “I think it will be good wickets that deteriorate as the game goes on. If you watched a bit of the West Indies series, it went to day four and five. The narrative is changing in terms of getting wickets. You want to give yourself the best chance when you’re in home conditions, so maybe it’s felt that let’s play on good cricket wickets and let the game deteriorate as it goes on.”Related

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As ESPNcricinfo had reported earlier, reverse swing is anticipated at the Eden Gardens and South Africa’s seamers will be pleased to hear that. The West Indies series serves as empirical evidence after the Delhi Test went to a fifth day even though India scored over 500 in their first innings and West Indies close to 400 in their second.So, it’s South Africa’s batters who will be happiest, with the ghosts of the last two series certain to re-emerge. In 2015, South Africa, then No.1 in the world and on a nine-year unbeaten run away from home, were bowled out for under 200 all but once in four Tests and the once was a rained-out draw. The Nagpur pitch, which hosted the third Test where India sealed the series, was rated poor. In 2019, South Africa, on the cusp of a major internal meltdown, fared slightly better and topped 400 once but still lost 3-0.Now, South Africa are back at No.1, they have won (Bangladesh 2024) and shared a series (Pakistan 2025) in other parts of the subcontinent, and they feel more equipped to deal with spin-friendly conditions especially when it comes to batting. “The line-up has come a long way,” Maharaj said. “Our hundreds are shared amongst each other, which is important because at any given time, someone stands up and really takes that responsibility. Sometimes a 60 in the sub is worth 150 in other conditions. Taking that responsibility is something that they’ve really embraced and it’s starting to show from a results point of view.”2:58

Philander: Harmer, Maharaj are world-class but Muthusamy will be the real talking point

In Pakistan, only Tony de Zorzi scored a century but there were fifties from Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis and even Kagiso Rabada. In Bangladesh, de Zorzi, Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder and Kyle Verreynne all raised their bats to three figures. All those players are on this tour and though they will play Tests in India for the first time (apart from Rabada), they understand what it takes to be successful in less familiar conditions.They have also shown an ability to adapt to changing situations: from being on the ropes at home against Sri Lanka and Pakistan last year to sweeping the summer and qualifying for the WTC final and then fighting back against Australia at Lord’s to win the mace. South Africa want to build on that success in a new cycle, which includes tougher assignments than previous one and with this India series, what they see as the toughest.”There’s a real hunger and desire to beat India in India. It’s probably one of the toughest tours, if not the toughest tour on the Proteas calendar through various generations and some people were fortunate enough to cross the hurdle,” Maharaj said. “As a unit, we feel like it’s one of our biggest tests. And it will be a wonderful opportunity to grade ourselves, to see how far we’ve come. Slowly but surely, we started to conquer other parts of the subcontinent, and I feel like this is one assignment that we really, really want to take.”South Africa’s last Test win in India came in Nagpur in 2010 and their only Test series victory was in the year 2000. They have won five out of 19 Tests in India and none of their last seven matches there.

Thrilling century stand with Seren Smale reels in revised target with five balls to spare

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay10-Sep-2025Lancashire 172 for 5 (Lewis 75, Smale 47) beat Warwickshire 283 for 7 (Freeborn 60, Surenkumar 49, Kalis 43) by five wickets (DLS method)Lancashire Women won an exciting rain-affected Metro Bank One Day Cup match against Warwickshire Women at Sale by five wickets.Warwickshire had posted 283 for 7 from their 50 overs but the Lancashire innings was halted halfway through the sixth over with the score 20 for 1 due to increasingly heavy rain. Set a revised target of 172 to win in 22 overs, a thrilling partnership of 106 off 73 balls between Gaby Lewis and Seren Smale set Lancashire on their way with victory achieved with five balls to spare.That outcome leaves Lancashire, who had already clinched a top-four spot, in third place, one point behind second-placed The Blaze going into the final round of group games on Saturday when they travel to face leaders Hampshire, who they trail by four points. Warwickshire finish their campaign with a trip to Taunton to face Somerset.Emma Lamb and Lewis began the Lancashire reply just as light drizzle began to fall and the pair had made 13 when Lamb drove Phoebe Brett to Issy Wong at mid-on for 4 midway through the fourth over. The rain began to fall more heavily at that point and after twelve further deliveries had been bowled the umpires halted play with Lancashire 20 for 1.Play resumed after a two-hour delay with Lancashire now needing a further 152 off 16.3 overs, and Lewis and Smale put bat to ball in emphatic fashion, reaching their 50 partnership off 45 balls with Lewis reaching her half-century off 42 balls.The century stand arrived just 25 balls later as Warwickshire struggled to contain the pair, Lewis smashing ten fours in making 75 off 53 balls before hitting Amu Surenkumar to Sterre Kalis at point with Lancashire 119 for 2 and five runs ahead on DLS.Fi Morris added a whirlwind 14 off eight balls while Smale was bowled by Georgia Davis for 47 off 39 balls to reduce the hosts to 143 for 4 with 29 needed from 23 balls.Ailsa Lister and Ellie Threlkeld steered Lancashire to within two runs of that target when Lister was caught for 16, but Threlkeld (13 not out) hit the winning runs at the start of the last over to seal victory.Warwickshire had built a strong-looking total of 283 after being put in to bat, built on a series of good partnerships.Abbey Freeborn top-scored with 60 and marshalled the visitors innings beautifully, while Surenkumar and Kalis contributed 49 and 43 respectively before captain Davis thumped a rapid unbeaten 31 over the closing overs.After Kate Cross had Ellis caught at midwicket with her fourth delivery, Meg Austin and Surenkumar fashioned a good recovery with 61 runs in 11 overs until Austin was drawn forward by left-arm spinner Hannah Jones and smartly stumped by Threlkeld for 32.Surenkumar had driven and pulled effectively in hitting eight fours before lbw for 49 after misjudging the length to pull against Fi Morris with Warwickshire 115 for 3 midway through the 20th over.Kalis was quickly into her stride, hitting her fourth ball faced for six off Morris, to up the tempo alongside Freeborn as the pair struck the ball positively in posting their fifty partnership off 65 balls.Kalis was undone by spin and bounce from Emma Lamb’s second ball and bowled for 43 off 52 balls, but Freeborn and Nat Wraith quickly established another good partnership to take the visitors past the 200-mark in the 38th over.The pair had added 52 inside nine overs before Wraith attacked the first ball of Jones’ second spell and was stumped for 29 with Warwickshire 220-5 in the 42nd over.And the visitors lost further wickets in the quest for late runs. Issy Wong made 12 while Freeborn – Warwickshire’s leading run scorer this season in the competition – reached her half century from 74 balls before falling for 60 off 86 balls.But Davis added a final flourish by hitting an unbeaten 31 off 21 balls alongside Hannah Hardwick to set Lancashire a challenging target.

Colin Munro enjoyed a triumphant return to the Trinbago Knight Riders, scoring a record-breaking century in his first game back with the CPL team he had represented for seven years until 2022. He smashed 120 off 57 balls – no TKR batter has made more – to set up a total of 231, which paved the way to a 12-run victory over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.Munro, who has retired from international cricket but continues to be a force in T20 leagues the world over, made his first T20 century in four years, and celebrated it by tossing his bat and punching the air with both fists. He was last seen in the CPL two years ago, playing for the St Lucia Kings, and practically matched the work he did in six games for them (172 runs) with just one innings here.Munro was at his attacking best, hitting 14 fours and six sixes which constituted over 60% of TKR’s 33 boundaries. His opening partner Alex Hales gave him good support with 47 off 27 balls. The start they got – 77 runs in the powerplay, and the hundred up in 47 balls – allowed TKR to cruise to their third-highest total in the CPL.Patriots made a good go of the chase, with Kyle Mayers and Andre Fletcher hammering 80 runs in less than eight overs. But once their partnership was broken, so was the rhythm of the chase. TKR used their spinners to good effect, with Akeal Hosein picking up 1 for 25 in his four overs, and Usman Tariq landing crucial blows, in particular breaking a rampaging first-wicket stand, and finishing with 4 for 33.Patriots captain Jason Holder fought with 44 off 22 balls despite wickets falling around him. His side was left to score 43 runs off the last over, which eventually went for 30. Terrance Hinds started by giving a single to Dominic Drakes, before Naseem Shah hit a six. Five wides followed, and Hinds went off the field clutching his right side.Munro replaced Hinds, and started with a beamer. Naseem then got 4, 6, 1, and Drakes finished with another six. Patriots nearly chased 232 down.

He is understood to have hurt his hand during a first-division club game in Chennai last Sunday

Deivarayan Muthu15-Aug-2025

Tamil Nadu captain R Sai Kishore will miss the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament with injury but is hopeful of recovering in time for the Duleep Trophy, which is set to begin in Bengaluru on August 28.It’s understood that Sai Kishore had hurt his hand while intercepting a drive from M Shahrukh Khan in his follow-through during a first-division club game at the Guru Nanak college ground in Chennai last Sunday.Related

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Sai Kishore, 28, is part of the South Zone squad that will start its campaign on September 4 at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.In the absence of Sai Kishore, Pradosh Ranjan Paul will take over as captain of the TNCA President’s XI in the Buchi Babu tournament, with C Andre Siddarth as his deputy. Paul had initially been named captain of the TNCA XI, but Shahrukh will now take charge of that side after the reshuffle.Sai Kishore’s injury has depleted Tamil Nadu’s spin stocks in the build-up to their domestic season. Fellow left-arm spinner S Ajith Ram, who was the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2023-24 Ranji season, is also injured while M Siddarth has been moved from the TNCA President’s XI to the TNCA XI due to personal commitments.Sai Kishore had tuned up for the red-ball domestic season by playing county cricket for Surrey and one match for his club team upon returning to Chennai. Last month, he took 11 wickets across two matches for Surrey, including a five-wicket haul against Durham, which helped his side take a key step towards their retention of the Rothesay County Championship.Seam-bowling allrounder RS Ambrish and fast bowler D Deepesh, who had played for India Under-19s in England, have also been named in the two Tamil Nadu Buchi Babu squads.The TNCA XI will face a Mumbai side featuring Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan and his brother Musheer from August 18 at the Gojan ground in the outskirts of Chennai.SquadsTNCA President’s XI: Pradosh Ranjan Paul (capt), C Andre Siddarth (vice-capt), B Indrajith, Vijay Shankar, R Vimal Khumar, S Radhakrishnan, S Lokeshwar, G Ajitesh, J Hemchudeshan, RS Ambrish, CV Achyuth, H Trilok Nag, P Saravana Kumar, P Vidyuth and K Abhinav.TNCA XI: M Shahrukh Khan (capt), Boopathi Vaishna Kumar (vice-capt), B Sachin, M Siddharth, Tushar Raheja, Kiran Karthikeyan, S Mohamed Ali, S Rithik Easwaran, SR Athish, S Lakshay Jain, DT Chandrasekar, P Vignesh, R Sonu Yadav, D Deepesh, J Prem Kumar, A Esakkimuthu and TD Lokesh Raj

There’s one batting spot in the XI to fill for Perth, and maybe a reserve player as well

Andrew McGlashan17-Oct-202410:42

Newsroom: How are Australia shaping up for the India Tests?

There have been a couple of key developments in Australia’s selection plans for the Test summer with Cameron Green’s back injury and confirmation that Steven Smith will move back down the order. But there remains a fascinating few weeks ahead with a combination of Sheffield Shield and Australia A matches for players to push their claims for a Test call-up.The likelihood is that the vacancy will be at the top of the order but there may also be a spot for another reserve batter in the era of concussion substitutes. Here’s a look at the runners and riders.

Marcus Harris

Harris has started the season well with 143 and 52, albeit on a lifeless Junction Oval surface, and has been named in the Australia A squad. Before that comes a potentially high-octane Shield clash against New South Wales where he will face Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott and Nathan Lyon. Harris has spoken openly about his frustrations after being overlooked in recent times having been a long-term back-up around the Test squad, but he retains significant support within the set-up. He lost his Test place one game after an excellent 76 on a tough pitch against England at the MCG, but overall an average of 25.29 from 14 matches leaves plenty to prove if another chance does come his way.Related

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• Marsh ready to bowl as much as Cummins needs him against India

“It’s not like it’s going to be the first time I’ve ever played for Australia A before a Test series,” he said last week. “There’s obviously always a bit of attention around those games. Pressure wise, I’m not going to be trying to put the same pressure on myself as I had before. It will just be a great opportunity.”

Cameron Bancroft

As with Harris, we are back to where we were 12 months ago amid the debate about who would replace David Warner. As history shows, that took an unexpected twist with Smith’s promotion – a move which has proved short-term. So Bancroft’s name is firmly back in discussions. A pair in the opening game of the season hasn’t changed anything – “There’s plenty of batters that have managed to get a feather on an early Michael Neser ball,” chair of selectors George Bailey said – and over the last couple of seasons Bancroft couldn’t have done much more to push his claims. He has averaged 50.67 in the Shield over the last two summers (even including that pair) with last season’s runs being particularly hard to come by.Sam Konstas is the name on everyone’s lips•Getty Images

Sam Konstas

He is the 19-year-old new kid on the block and generating plenty of excitement. Konstas has been compared to Ricky Ponting and joined him as a teenager to make twin hundreds in the Sheffield Shield. Bailey was careful to temper expectations and it would be a very rapid rise – and against the grain for Australian men’s cricket – if he was catapulted into the Test squad in a few weeks.”He’s in the mix as are plenty of others,” Bailey said. “I certainly don’t want to single him out. Think the consistency of Cam Bancroft over a number of years, the consistency of Marcus Harris over a number of years, they’ve both had a look at Test cricket as well, so don’t think there’s a need at this stage to put any undue pressure or expectation on Sam.”But the opportunity is there for him to make the selectors think hard. He will face Scott Boland at the MCG from Sunday before what will likely be a strong India A side. Another couple hundreds against those attacks and the momentum could be unstoppable.

Matt Renshaw

Renshaw was the reserve batter against West Indies and New Zealand earlier this year but has been overlooked for the Australia A squad. He made 6 and 15 in the opening round of Sheffield Shield against Western Australia. However, Bailey said that doesn’t mean the selectors have moved on from him, while also referencing a couple of other experienced domestic players who have had a taste of Test cricket.”We still really like Matt’s ability to play,” Bailey said. “As far as Australia A selection goes, part of the process around that is trying to identify opportunities that may come around in the short term but also making sure we do keep an eye on developing opportunities for those players who may become important in different roles in the future as well. Whilst there’s an Australia A squad there, I think Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, as three examples, are guys who we’ll continue to watch really closely in Shield cricket.”The other aspect is that even after the initial Test squad is named there will be three more rounds of Shield before the BBL for players to impress should back-up be needed during the series.

Nathan McSweeney

The South Australia captain would not be a contender to open the batting so a call-up for him would reopen the debate about an incumbent moving up to the top therefore appears an unlikely route, but McSweeney is very highly regarded, both for his run-scoring and his leadership. He will captain Australia A as he did last summer and has already started the season with an impressive match-saving 127 not out off 283 balls against South Australia.”I’m definitely confident in my game at the moment and if I were to get an opportunity I think I would be ready,” he said on Thursday. “But all I can do is to continue to focus on what I can control and that’s preparing well for South Australia and hopefully winning games for my state.”Beau Webster’s returns over the last two seasons have been outstanding•Getty Images

Beau Webster

An immediate question after Green’s injury was whether his replacement would be a like-for-like, or as close as could be found. That sounds an unlikely option with Bailey and Pat Cummins pointing out how often Australia have managed without an allrounder, while there remains confidence in Mitchell Marsh being able to bowl. Still, it is interesting to ponder the next in line given Green faces a lengthy lay-off.Webster, the Tasmania allrounder, has numbers that speak for themselves over the last two seasons. With the bat he has averaged 53.12 in the Sheffield Shield – including an opening-round hundred last week – while has taken 66 wickets with a combination of brisk medium pace and offspin. Add in bucket hands at slip and he’s an ultimate allrounder. The Australia A series is a chance for him to do it a level up and success there will keep him in the frame should there be a need for another allrounder down the track. His versatility could also put him in consideration for the Sri Lanka tour early next year.

Aaron Hardie

Alongside Webster, Hardie is the other emerging allrounder and had an excellent limited-overs tour of England, especially with the ball whereas overall his batting is his primary suit. Bailey told that there had been consideration to trying to get Hardie one of the Australia A matches but with Green’s injury it was felt he would be needed through the ODI and T20I matches against Pakistan. There may be an opportunity for him to bat slightly higher in the order in the ODIs. He is due to return to Shield action at the weekend where he will be expected to slot in as part Western Australia’s top order. Hardie hasn’t scored a Shield century since his unbeaten 174 in 2021-22 final although did make one for Australia A in New Zealand a few weeks after that. In the last two seasons for WA he has averaged 31.45 so he may need a big season to push his case.

And what about the bowlers?

There is probably less mystery about who will be the back-up to the big three. It appears unlikely that Lance Morris will be in consideration amid his managed return from back problems (and a more recent thigh niggle) which leaves Boland and Michael Neser leading the way. Sean Abbott was part of the squad when India last toured in 2020-21 and, along with Neser, is someone who would bring some extra batting depth.

Ezri Konsa has been linked with a move away from Aston Villa, with Liverpool keen on him, and now a fresh update has emerged regarding his future.

The 28-year-old has matured into such an important player for the Villans, becoming a key starter and coming right into the prime years of his career.

In fact, Konsa will even be hoping of starting for England at the 2026 World Cup, with he and John Stones likely to battle to play alongside Marc Guehi in the right-sided centre-back spot for the Three Lions.

Worryingly, the Englishman has been linked with various clubs in recent weeks and months, with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City mentioned as potential options for him.

Konsa isn’t out of contract at Villa until the summer of 2028, and now a new update has dropped regarding his future at the Premier League club.

Key latest on Konsa's Aston Villa future

Speaking to Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown claimed that Aston Villa won’t even entertain the idea of allowing Konsa to leave in the near future, with the player himself happy at the club.

“Aston Villa have been an example in recent years of how to build a team. It’s a testament to Villa’s recruitment that so many of their best players are attracting interest. The players they’ve brought in, like Konsa and Rogers for example, have reached new levels since they arrived and proved to be very important players for them.

“So Konsa, for example, has impressed at Villa and got himself into the England team. That only invites more interest, because he’s playing on a bigger stage, attracting more eyes on his performances, and that leads to more speculation. So Villa then have a hell of a job behind the scenes trying to keep him at the club.

“From what I’m told, they’re not massively concerned about his future, because by all accounts he’s happy at Villa and he’s been a crucial part of their success. Emery has no plans to let him go because of how important he is to Villa, and I think Villa will be confident that they can keep him. Even with teams like Liverpool or Chelsea looking at him, that won’t chance Villa’s position.”

This will come as a relief to Villa supporters, with Konsa arguably now one of the first names on Unai Emery’s team sheet, recently being hailed as “excellent” by Troy Deeney.

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The Villans are looking to sign a centre-forward, with Unai Emery keen on greater strength in depth in attack.

By
Dominic Lund

Oct 28, 2025

As mentioned, he now feels like he is at his peak, which should remain the same for another three or four years or so, and if Villa are to continue heading in the right direction, they cannot afford to sell their best players to teams who are higher than they are in the table.

Liverpool learn true price for Ezri Konsa as PSR forces Aston Villa's hand

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.

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.