All posts by h716a5.icu

Visitors were wobbling at 96 for 7, still in arrears, before eighth-wicket pair come to rescue

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-Sep-2025A stoic rearguard action from Durham eighth-wicket pair of Ben Raine and Matthew Potts, coupled with an untimely heavy thunderstorm, essentially ended Essex hopes of pulling off a stunning last-day Rothesay County Championship victory.Raine and Potts came together at 96 for 7 with Durham still requiring 28 runs to make Essex bat again. When a bolt of lightning forced the players from the field 14 minutes before the scheduled tea interval, the deficit had been turned into a narrow 19-run advantage courtesy of the biggest partnership of an otherwise dismal batting performance. When the players came back for the remaining 9.5 overs in the evening, 4.1 actually being possible before the rain returned, Raine took advantage of spread-out fields to reach 42 not out.Before the rains came, it looked like the old firm of Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer were rolling back the years to pull off a win that had looked unlikely at the start of the day. The seam-and-spin double act combined to rip through Durham’s fragile batting with Porter ending on 3 for 36 and Harmer 3 for 64.Essex had thrown down the gauntlet by declaring on their overnight score of 457 for 8, which gave them a 124-run lead. Before Raine and Potts joined forces in an unbroken stand of 77 out of 173 for 7, it appeared a prescient decision.The 14 points Essex collected from the draw eased their relegation concerns while Durham’s dozen keeps them in serious danger with two games to play.In the end Essex were close to a third Championship win of an underwhelming season with an attack that was already without Sam Cook, nursing a broken thumb, and Shane Snater, who tweaked a calf while bowling during Durham’s first innings. It heaped a lot of responsibility on to the shoulders of Porter, but he responded immediately and emphatically.Porter needed just 14 balls to make the initial breakthrough, Alex Lees beaten for pace. Six balls later Emilio Gay followed, also lbw and also all at sea.Ben McKinney, who scored a well-judged century first time around, was another who struggled against Porter, taking 15 balls to get off the mark. He had only 11 to his name 49 balls later when he inexplicably left alone a ball from Harmer that went straight on and knocked back off stump.Durham tried to settle into full survival mode, but the pressure got to them. David Bedingham, for instance, faced 60 balls for 16 that included a six over long leg three balls before he top-edged a hook to deep fine leg off Noah Thain.Colin Ackermann, in turn, took 19 balls to score his first run. But three overs into the post-lunch session, and with a guard outside off stump, he went to give himself room to cut Harmer and ended up edging to Dean Elgar at slip.Durham were still 32 runs adrift of making Essex bat again when Porter snapped up his third wicket, rapping Graham Clark on his back pad. And four runs later, Ollie Robinson’s 21 from 55 balls ended when he attempted to slash Harmer past point and was caught behind.Raine and Potts then took Durham past Essex’s total 57 overs into their innings. And the pair had been together for exactly an hour when the players were taken off the pitch as the first flash of lightning lit up the darkening sky.The players came back nearly two hours later, having already lost 24 overs. Essex had seven men around the bat when Harmer wheeled in, but could only watch as Raine thrashed a couple of boundaries and a six over long-on. But it wasn’t long before handshakes were exchanged.

With Duckett and Smith rested, Buttler and Salt’s dominant stand revived a proven pairing heading into the World Cup

Vithushan Ehantharajah13-Sep-2025The initial shock of England’s score in the second T20I against South Africa is tempered by the numbers at the very top of the order. Phil Salt’s unbeaten 141 from 60 balls and Jos Buttler’s 83 from 30 went some way to explaining how one Test nation put up 304 for 2 on another.This was a batter’s dream of a fresh Emirates Old Trafford pitch, against a Proteas attack missing the vaunted pair of Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj. And while head coach Shukri Conrad was less than impressed, the protagonists of the “onslaught” that left his side “bereft of ideas” do at least have previous.Salt and Buttler’s 126 was the 12th century stand by England openers, and they are now responsible for a third of them. They also bagged England their highest powerplay score of a crisp 100 for 0.Related

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England 304 for 2; Salt 141* sets up crushing 146-run victory

And yet, neither were certain to be opening at all in this series having been absent from the top two at the start of the season, for differing reasons.Salt’s were personal: he was granted time off for the West Indies series after the birth of his first child. Buttler’s, meanwhile, was business, continuing to operate at No.3, a role he had taken on since the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to India.During the 3-0 sweep of West Indies, Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith made compelling cases for their own partnership. Signing off with 120 in Southampton felt like the start of a new direction.For Salt, that could have been terminal, not that he wanted to check, believing seeking a guarantee to be “arrogant”, and a misunderstanding of the cut-throat nature of top-level, international sport.Buttler, meanwhile, probably assumed he’d continue out of necessity. He had instigated the move to first drop when captain, to remedy a problem position. Between England’s 2022 World Cup success and 2024 exit, five different batters (Dawid Malan, Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali and, on a single occasion, Buttler) had produced just a single fifty in 20 innings between them.Having batted at three for 40 matches leading into this series, across international and domestic codes, Buttler was clearly knuckling down for the full-time gig. An average of 55.00 for Harry Brook in the role suggested welcome stability. But with Smith and Duckett rested at the end of a long summer, he and Salt found themselves back up top. And how.

“We’ve got pretty set roles. It’s my job to get us off to as good a start as soon as possible and give Jos the opportunity to take a couple of balls, because when he does, he goes on and gets a match-winning score, a lot of the time, a lot more than anyone else.”Phil Salt

This was a blitz of boundaries and records, both individual and collective. And this was no anomaly. Of the 17 times they have opened, this was the ninth fifty of more.Behind the consistency is clearly a synergy between the two. An understanding honed for England, Lancashire and Manchester Originals. Mutual benefits and admiration.”It’s the way we bounce off each other well,” Salt explained. “We’ve got pretty set roles. It’s my job to get us off to as good a start as soon as possible and give Jos the opportunity to take a couple of balls, because when he does, he goes on and gets a match-winning score, a lot of the time, a lot more than anyone else.”When one of us needs to get the other back on strike, we don’t often need to communicate out there. There’s no ego or anything like that, we just do it and I think that’s a massive part of a good opening partnership.”Buttler was similarly effusive at the innings break, lauding his partner’s sprint out of the blocks to the tune of three successive fours and a final ball six to take 18 off Marco Jansen’s opening over: “I think Salty’s one of the best players of the first ball and first over.”Buttler’s right, he is. No international batter scores faster in the first over of games; Salt’s strike rate of 144.80 almost 20 points ahead of the next contender, Malaysia’s Syed Aziz (126.53). Salt knows it, too.Phil Salt strikes at 144.80 in the first over of games•Stu Forster/Getty ImagesHe makes sure to keep across his “balls per boundary” in the first over and powerplay. Last week, former England white ball analyst Freddie Wilde sent him a “batting MOT” document after Salt requested a breakdown of his current strengths and weaknesses. Even the golden duck at the beginning of the five-over chase in Wednesday’s first T20I – caught at deep backward square – kept Salt on track for a high attacking shot percentage.”It’s something I worked [on] when I wasn’t in the England team, when Eoin Morgan was the captain,” said Salt of his immediate antics when in the middle. “I remember having a conversation with CJ (Chris Jordan) about how you need to play, and how if I did this (attacked from ball one), I could be the first person to put that stamp on it.”In order to knock a man out of possession, you need to do something they can’t do. From quite early in my career, I looked at that and thought if I can be the most dangerous in the first six, 10, 15 balls of the game, that’s quite a unique tool. It’s something I’ve always worked on from that point.”Even with Salt’s rapid start, he and Buttler were broadly level after four overs – the former 31 off ten to the latter’s 35 off 14. Buttler subsequently faced nine of the next 11 deliveries and added 30 more. Buttler looked set for century No.2. A top-edged sweep brought about Buttler’s end.

“From quite early in my career, I thought if I can be the most dangerous in the first six, 10, 15 balls of the game. That’s quite a unique tool.”Phil Salt

In swooped Salt to farm the accolades Buttler had left behind; the fastest T20I century now his, off 39 deliveries, along with England’s highest score, and extra distance in the hundred column. For all Buttler’s achievements, and the universal truth that he is the greatest limited overs batter England have produced, Salt has the titles usually reserved for GOATS.When that was put to Salt after the match, the 29-year-old humbly nodded to the inspiration for his white ball prowess: “I can’t turn into Jos Buttler overnight, but I certainly try and take the best bits.”It is easy to get giddy after nights like this, but it should be easier to see the light. England’s management may crave continuity across all three formats, but persisting with Duckett and Smith would be a failure to acknowledge something more tested and far superior.Duckett could bat three, giving England extra weapons against the ample spin they are likely to face in next year’s T20 World Cup on the subcontinent. Smith, meanwhile, can either slot further down or wait his turn. He remains green at this level, and it is worth noting his career runs are 11 shy of what Salt managed in an evening.As it happens, the only opening pair to average more than Salt and Buttler’s 60.43 is Buttler and Alex Hales, who combined for 66.00 across nine innings. That union was contained within England’s successful 2022 World Cup campaign. The product of reconciliation with Hales following Jonny Bairstow’s freak leg break.Three years on, the chain of events presenting England with a world-class opening combination ahead of another global tournament are less serendipitous. Now they just need to see sense, which has been in front of them the whole time.

The Mets struck first in their critical Thursday night matchup against the Cubs, thanks to a rather unusual play in the top of the opening frame. Mark Vientos hit a pop up into foul territory, which was pursued by Dansby Swanson.

Swanson made an incredible play on the ball, securing it in his mitt as he crashed into the stands. Unfortunately for Chicago, because Swanson ended up fully in the first row, all of New York's baserunners were awarded a free base. Thus, the runner on third, Francisco Lindor, scored.

Per MLB rules, if a player makes a catch in the stands, the play is ruled dead and all active baserunners are awarded one base. So, despite Swanson's incredible effort, his catch enabled the Mets to take an early 1–0 lead.

New York would tack on another run to end the first inning up 2–0.

The Cubs, of course, have clinched a playoff berth already, though the Mets are still fighting for the final wild-card spot in the National League. The Reds won against the Pirates earlier Thursday, so the onus is on the Mets to make sure they get the job done at Wrigley Field.

The longer this goes on, the noisier it will get for Liverpool and their new signings and their recruitment strategy when viewed through a wider lens.

Five defeats from six in the Premier League have snuffed out any hopes of Arne Slot retaining his throne at the top of the division. Arsenal are eight points ahead at the summit, but it is the stark polarity in technical implementation and fluency that is a greater threat to Liverpool’s campaign.

That and the Reds’ startling defensive fragilities. Ibrahima Konate has been at the centre of Liverpool’s problems this term, and Virgil van Dijk is hardly at his best either. A variety of full-back pairings have yet to provide sustainable results, and Alisson Becker’s absence through injury hasn’t helped matters.

But Liverpool are all wrong, and it has at times felt as if Slot it trying to put square pegs into round holes. To solve this crisis of confidence and cohesion, sporting director Richard Hughes appears to be getting ready to add a high-level midfielder to the Anfield ranks.

Liverpool looking to sign a midfielder

Liverpool have got plenty of creativity in their ranks, even if Slot is not wielding his playmakers’ abilities to the max at this moment. But Liverpool need more in the way of build-up play.

Ryan Gravenberch is one of the most talented midfielders in the Premier League, and he has excelled since Slot shifted his countryman into a deep-lying central berth.

But Liverpool are embroiled in a pressing conundrum this season, lacking the intensity and physicality and drive to recycle possession. This was painfully clear on Sunday against Manchester City, who outperformed Liverpool across almost every department.

The Merseysiders also look a bit lost, tactically. That’s a disquieting thing to say, and the dichotomy between Slot’s first and second terms at Liverpool are illustrated clearly through this point.

What Liverpool need is a genius midfielder to rival Gravenberch at number six and revive Liverpool’s energy and build-up and pressing. Gravenberch is great, but Fabinho’s presence is missed in the Liverpool midfield, that Brazilian anchor whose composure under pressure and crisp, intelligent distribution paid dividends under Jurgen Klopp.

It is perhaps for this reason that Hughes and FSG have centred their sights on Paris Saint-Germain’s Vitinha.

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on the Portugal international ahead of the turn of the year and are willing to offer a staggering €130m (about £114m) fee. Arsenal and Juventus are also understood to be keen on the 25-year-old.

This won’t be an easy one to pull off, of course. Vitinha is contracted to the Parc des Princes until 2029, and he is considered by PSG to be one of their most untouchable players.

What Vitinha would offer Liverpool

Vitinha is rather good at football. It seems obvious that he would raise the level of Liverpool’s midfield, having dominated under Luis Enrique’s wing, winning a historic quadruple last season and continuing to dazzle at the heart of the PSG super-team this term.

Described by Portugal manager Roberto Martinez as being “the best midfielder in the world”, Vitinha has been instrumental in Paris’ golden footballing age, playing 169 times across all competitions for the club since joining from Porto for £34m in 2022.

Here is a midfielder who has played in the Premier League before, featuring 19 times and starting five of those fixtures in 2020/21 while on loan with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

This was a bit-part role for a young and raw player. Vitinha is now levels above that one-time player whose passing and skill have found a maturity befitting a team at the very top of the European pyramid.

It is such a player who could turn things around for Liverpool, perhaps even establishing himself as the Redmen’s finest midfielder since those days of Fabinho in Klopp’s system.

These players do not share that many stylistic similarities, but Fabinho was considered among the finest in the world when tackling his way through the Premier League, and Vitinha, as mentioned already, is believed by some to be the very creme of the world crop, finishing third in the men’s Ballon d’Or rankings this year.

1.

PSG

Ousmane Dembele

2.

Barcelona

Lamine Yamal

3.

PSG

Vitinha

4.

Liverpool

Mohamed Salah

5.

Barcelona

Raphinha

This is a midfielder who can do it all. His passing is out of his world, and his is a scholarly footballing mind. As per data-led platform FBref, Vitinha ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe over the past 12 months for pass completion, passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 9% for shot-creating actions and the top 8% for progressive carries per 90.

Moreover, Vitinha has won 60% of his ground duels in Ligue 1 this season, emphasising the underrated combativeness to his game.

Gravenberch is mobile and crisp on the ball and progressive when the right chance presents itself, but he is not as skilled on the ball as Vitinha, and while Klopp’s heavy-metal system demanded an enforcer like Fabinho, Slot’s more centralised build-up patterns demand a profile like Vitinha, especially now Trent Alexander-Arnold has up and left.

This is why Vitinha would be such a credit to the project, very much becoming Slot’s own version of Fabinho without matching the 32-year-old, who now plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad, in regard to the deeper analytical dive of his playing style.

The ripple effect of such an acquisition would be astounding. Energy and movement and belonging would give rise to the likes of Konate and Van Dijk’s latent brilliance as a defensive partnership. Vitinha would direct play and orchestrate from the middle. Here you would find Wirtz unlocking his skills once again, and the web of passing patterns would strengthen across the central and attacking thirds.

Liverpool said their farewells to Fabinho a time ago, and success has been had in the years since his sale. But Liverpool miss him still, and while Vitinha is a wildly different profile, his technical skills and ability to navigate his way through intense pressure underscore the importance of getting this one over the line and reviving the Slot machine.

More than Wirtz: £36m Liverpool star is becoming a "serious issue" for Slot

Liverpool were condemned to a fifth defeat in six Premier League matches at the Etihad.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 10, 2025

Pitches on which batting is a lottery bring the opposition’s less-skilled spinners into the game

Sidharth Monga04-Nov-20241:25

Worst collective batting display from India in a Test series?

Indian players hate it when people talk about pitches at home. Part of it is because of the derisive clichés used to describe turning tracks: dustbowls, “rank” turners, wrestling pits. They don’t want a three-day Test on a turning pitch to be considered inferior to a three-day finish on a green seamer.However, having eaten their cake, the Indian cricketers also want to have it by suggesting they have no say in the preparation of pitches, when they almost micromanage the process often to the annoyance of the ground staff. Even during the 2023 “ICC” ODI World Cup in India, of the five venues that produced “average” pitches, three did it only for India matches and one just before India turned up. Now the semantics of what is “average” and “good” is debatable, but there were enough indications that India wanted to play specific opponents on specific types of pitches, and their wishes were granted even in an ICC tournament.Related

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You could argue there is nothing wrong with that – gaining a competitive advantage in professional sport. Groundsmen exist not to make ideal pitches but surfaces that help the home team win. Apart from in Australia, where there’s evidence that a chief groundsman can tell off an interfering captain, this happens nearly everywhere. The nature of pitches in England can go from turners to seamers depending on Australia’s strengths in that Ashes cycle. South Africa can drive their groundsmen up the wall by insisting on extreme home advantage, sometimes to their own peril. Pakistan recently had national selectors practically take over the pitch-making process.In India, you hope the team’s constant demand for spin-friendly surfaces is a cold, professional choice informed by analytics, and not an emotional reaction to the whitewashes in England and Australia after which the players started asking for extreme turners. Incidentally, the current coach Gautam Gambhir was the first one to publicly make that demand when he was a player.It can be argued the pitches on which India played New Zealand in Pune and Mumbai actually diminished their home advantage. India have lost seven home Tests in the last 12 years, and four of those defeats have come on extremely helpful surfaces for spinners. Of the other three defeats, one featured an extreme weather event that led to excessive seam on the first morning in Bengaluru, and other needed a freakishly lucky innings from Ollie Pope in Hyderabad.It was the third defeat, when Joe Root took full toll batting first in Chennai in 2021, that seems to have spooked India. Ever since then, they have doubled down on their demand for excessive turn from day one. This result seemed to vindicate MS Dhoni’s theory that the toss plays a less crucial role on pitches that turn big from day one. The pressure of maximising World Test Championship points from home Tests played a role too.A rank turner reduces the gap in skill between India’s spinners and the opposition’s spinners•AFP/Getty ImagesHowever, there is no evidence of the toss becoming less crucial on rank turners. Hawk-Eye data in this piece by Kartikeya Date shows that the Mumbai pitch took three hours before offering big turn to India’s spinners. Those three hours are worth 100 runs in relatively easy conditions. For a long time, India had batters to overcome this disadvantage if they lost the toss; now they don’t seem to do so.It is not like draws become a worry for India on “normal” pitches either. Of the seven drawn Tests in the country since 2013, three were impacted by weather, two were on uncharacteristically slow pitches even for India, one surface didn’t break up because of overnight dew in Rajkot in November, and in the last draw New Zealand hung on by one wicket.By asking for and getting pitches that turn from day one, and get progressively difficult to bat on, India bridge the gap between their superior spinners and the visiting ones who now need to sustain their skill and control for much shorter periods.Spinners averaged just under 24 collectively in India’s 3-0 defeat to New Zealand. ESPNcricinfo’s Shiva Jayaraman has used that average as the marker to differentiate between normal pitches and excessive turners in India. He found that in Tests since 2017 in which spinners collectively averaged less than 24, India’s spinners averaged 16.37 while visiting spinners averaged 22.91.However, the real difference in the quality of spinners becomes evident when they are made to work harder for their wickets. In Tests since 2017 where spinners collectively averaged above 24, Indian spinners averaged 26.22 while visiting spinners averaged a whopping 57.04 per wicket. These pitches also tend to bring in reverse swing, which India’s fast bowlers are really good at.Since 2020, six visiting spinners have taken their maiden five-fors in Test cricket in India: Joe Root, Mitchell Santner, Todd Murphy, Tom Hartley, Matt Kuhnemann and Shoaib Bashir. It seems counterintuitive to help narrow the gap between their skills and what R Ashwin does with the ball in the air or Ravindra Jadeja’s unrelenting accuracy over long periods. You can understand the ask for an extreme turner at the end of a long season, for example, but not when the bowlers are fresh.India’s batters have struggled big time on pitches that excessively help spinners•AFP/Getty ImagesThe drop in average for India’s batters against spin is also huge when batting becomes a lottery at home. For example, since 2017, Virat Kohli has averaged 90.25 against spin on pitches where spinners have averaged over 24 per wicket, but that plummets to 20.13 on pitches when spinners average less than 24 per wicket. Considering that batters – as India’s captains tend to be – make the decisions on the nature of pitches, it’s quite noble that they are going for wins without worrying about personal records. But if they zoom out a little, they will see that playing on turners is possibly hurting the team’s results as well.Under Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma, India made the conscious decision to play on what was given to them in Test cricket, and they continued to do so despite losing the first Test against England in early 2024. They won that series 4-1. However, India’s response to the Bengaluru defeat against New Zealand under Gambhir and Rohit has been extreme for some reason.Had India won the toss in Pune and Mumbai, they would likely have won the last two Tests. But they don’t have the batting quality now to overcome the disadvantage of losing the toss, which gives the opposition about three hours of decent batting conditions before the ball starts to do all sorts, which was precisely why Dravid and Rohit wanted to play on normal surfaces.As a result, since 2017, India have won 16 Tests, lost three, and drawn five on pitches where spinners average over 24 per wicket, and won ten and lost four on extreme pitches. The numbers become 6-2-3 and 6-3 when they lose the toss. At some point, the line between bravery and gambling seems to have become blurred in recent years.

Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were recently named as the world’s two highest-paid footballers by Forbes, and the two legendary forwards have amassed mind-boggling net worths across their careers.

Ronaldo recently became the first current player to achieve billionaire status, having earned £1.04bn through wages, endorsements, investments and sponsorship deals, while Messi has managed to amass a stunning €598m (£527m), given long-term deals with Adidas, Apple, and Konami.

Such numbers are perhaps to be expected, given that the former La Liga stars, who are widely regarded as the two best players of all-time, have won a combined 13 Ballon d’Ors between them, but a player who had a more modest career, at least in comparison, has managed to make over double their combined net worth.

Ex-Man Utd star Louis Saha's net worth revealed

As reported by Manchester Evening News, Louis Saha has managed to build up a whopping £4.3bn fortune since retiring from football following a brief spell with Lazio back in 2013, accumulating his wealth after founding his sports company AxisStars.

The platform, which connects athletes and entertainers with trusted companies, was founded not long after Saha called time on his career, and it has clearly been hugely successful, given the vast riches the former Manchester United star has been able to amass.

Although the Frenchman did not reach the dizzy heights of the likes of Ronaldo and Messi, he also had a career to be proud of, scoring 84 Premier League goals across spells with Fulham, Man United, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Everton and Sunderland.

The 20-time France international was also named among Everton’s greatest strikers in the Premier League era, courtesy of scoring 34 goals in 115 matches across all competitions for the Toffees.

During that time, the former striker scored what was the fastest goal in FA Cup final history at the time, until the record was broken by ex-Man City star Ilkay Gundogan, who found the back of the net after just 11 seconds in the 2023 final against United.

However, what the 47-year-old has gone on to achieve post-football is arguably even more impressive, having amassed a higher net worth than the vast majority of former players, albeit his riches still pale in comparison to that of Leicester City flop Faiq Bolkiah.

That said, rather than being born into wealth, Saha is well-known to come from a working-class background, with his mother a nurse and his father an aircraft mechanic, meaning money was tight growing up, which makes the former Everton man’s unbelievable success even more impressive.

Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler stunned by footballers' wages Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler stunned by footballers' wages

Marler was more surprised than at Jonathan Ross’ traitor reveal.

ByBen Goodwin Nov 3, 2025

He had been part of every age-group team in Karnataka, IPL trials with multiple teams but a senior-team call-up or an IPL contract remained elusive. Till 2024

Shashank Kishore06-Jan-2025At 28, Krishnan Shrijith knew time was running out. He had been part of every age-group team in Karnataka growing up, but a call-up to the senior team remained elusive. When he was finally picked for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s in 2020-21, his stay was brief.It has taken four years for the tide to turn. In November 2024, Shrijith earned a maiden Ranji Trophy call up when he least expected it. He responded with a century on a spicy Lucknow surface where Uttar Pradesh had been bowled out for 89.A week later, Shrijith earned a maiden IPL contract when he was signed by Mumbai Indians at the mega auction in Riyadh. Shrijith’s happiness from these two milestones helped momentarily tide over a personal tragedy – the loss of his father only a few weeks prior.Related

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“God takes away something to give you something else,” he tells ESPNcricinfo. “Even though I’d earned my T20 and one-day caps when he was there, there was always a sense of pride he attached to being a first-class cricketer. I missed him when I got the Ranji cap. That’s why I dedicated the hundred to him.”Early in his career, Shrijith was branded a white-ball specialist. It took him two years to change that perception – proof of which was amply on display on Ranji debut. “To be very honest, I was not expecting the Ranji call, I’d given up hopes” he says. “I was preparing for T20s one week prior to my Ranji debut. It’s only when I joined the team that I started practicing with the red ball.”When I went in to bat, I didn’t want to dwell too much on changing my game. I just wanted to restrict a few shots and stick to my strengths. It was just one of those days where I just played the ball to its merit and went with a positive intent even though we had lost two wickets. I’ve always played my cricket like that and I will continue to play that way.”It was well-known that Shrijith had the ability to be a robust left-handed middle-order batter capable of shifting gears seamlessly. Over the past few years, his range of strokes and stillness while execution had impressed those who coached him during his younger days. It’s as if they don’t recognise the batter they saw in his teens.Krishnan Shrijith scored a century on Ranji Trophy debut•KSCAIn December, Shrijith took another big step in his evolution as an all-format player when he hit an unbeaten 101-ball 150 as Karnataka chased down a mammoth 383 against Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. It was Shrijith’s maiden List-A century.In a tight group where the difference between qualifying for the knockouts and crashing out was one win, Shrijith’s clutch knock made a massive difference with Karnataka pipping Mumbai, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy champions, to the knockouts. Over the coming week, Shrijith will have an opportunity to overcome a mini-slump since that century when Karnataka play the knockouts of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.It was in the aftermath of that century that Shrijith began to get noticed from the wider cricketing circles. However, his performances had already been noticed by those that matter.Shrijith had been in the IPL reckoning even in 2024. When Devon Conway was out of the IPL with a thumb injury, Chennai Super Kings were keen on signing him as a replacement. A few weeks prior to that, Mumbai too were keen on Shrijith when they needed a replacement for the injured Vishnu Vinod. But the interest didn’t translate into a call-up.That is perhaps why when Mumbai’s scouts Vinay Kumar and Rahul Sanghvi rang up Shrijith to ask him for his match video from his first outing at this year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he didn’t have his hopes high. Past experiences had taught him to be pragmatic. Shrijith had just hit a 40-ball 72 not out at No. 3 in Karnataka’s chase of 216 against Uttarakhand; they fell six short.Krishnan Shrijith on his maiden IPL contract: ‘My first thought was dad would’ve loved for me to be in MI’•Maharaja T20″I’ve been shortlisted in the IPL auctions since 2020, but for uncapped players you don’t really know when your turn comes,” he says. “A couple of my trials had gone well, but I knew there’s a possibility I won’t be picked. It’s happened before that I’ve done well and felt I’d get picked, only to be disappointed. So I was realistic.”I was watching the auction initially, then switched off the TV because it kept going on and on, I didn’t know if I’d even come up. And then suddenly out of the blue, my name came up and Mumbai raised the paddle. For the first 10-15 seconds I was still in shock. And then my phone started ringing.”My first thought was dad would’ve loved for me to be in MI. He always joked with me that if I ever played in IPL, it should either be MI or RCB. It was also very pleasant to receive a text from Hardik Pandya [MI captain] after that. I didn’t even have his number; I didn’t need to. I thought it was a prank. Next day, we were playing Baroda and that’s when he came up to me, gave me a hug and it all started sinking in.Shrijith will tussle with Ryan Rickleton (overseas) and Robin Minz to find a place in the first XI as a wicketkeeper-batter for Mumbai in IPL 2025. During the trials, he was asked to bat in the top three and given numerous scenarios where he had to be their powerplay enforcer. He was specifically asked to face the new ball. Shrijith pinches himself while replaying some of those shots in his mind.”When batters are batting well, they talk of being in a different zone. I truly understood what this meant when I batted in the trials,” he says. “Growing up watching Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina, I only dreamt of playing those shots. To actually execute against some quality bowlers was a different feeling.”Reflecting on the happenings of the past few months, Shrijith knows he’s still got a lot of work to do and doesn’t want to be carried away with all the adulation. “It’s just half the job done to get here,” he says. “Obviously the excitement and the happiness part are a given, like just trying to think of who I’m going to spend the summer with at the IPL. It doesn’t happen often. It’s just about trying to learn and get better each day.”

AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot is set to return from injury for Sunday’s high-stakes derby against Inter. The Frenchman missed nearly a month due to a calf tear but is back in full training ahead of a crucial clash that could shape the Scudetto race. Rabiot’s return promises to restore balance in Milan’s midfield as they aim for a decisive result against city rivals.

Rabiot ready to rejoin Milan midfield

Rabiot has been sidelined for almost a month after suffering a soleus muscle tear in his left calf while on international duty with France. Milan struggled in his absence, claiming just two victories and three draws in Serie A, highlighting how pivotal the French midfielder has become since joining the club from Marseille on deadline day.

The 30-year-old has now completed a full training session with the squad and is preparing to make a return in Sunday’s Milan derby against Inter. His presence promises to bring the composure, technical skill and defensive stability that have been missed during his spell on the treatment table.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRabiot speaks on return for Milan derby

The ex-Juventus midfielder reflected on his recovery and expressed excitement about getting back on the pitch, speaking to , he said: “I'm fine, I've worked in the gym and off it these past few weeks. I just miss the pitch! I'm feeling great both physically and mentally. No athlete likes being injured, I'm sorry I couldn't help the team during this period. I took a little longer to recover, because when it comes to calves, you have to be careful. It's better not to risk being out for another three or four weeks."

Rabiot also shared his thoughts on the upcoming Milan derby and the atmosphere surrounding one of Italy’s most intense fixtures: "It's an exciting match. I've never seen it at the stadium, but I can't wait to be there because I really enjoy these kinds of games. You don't really get a sense of the atmosphere on TV, but it'll be great to be able to say I played in a derby like this. It would be great to win in the last minute with a goal from you! It'll be tough; we're both strong teams. The details will be decided. 

He added: "[Mike] Maignan told me about the importance of this match, how crucial a win is for the club's history and for the fans. All of this is pumping me up, I can't wait to play, especially because I haven't played in a month and I'm really eager to get back on the pitch."

Rabiot’s role in Milan’s Scudetto challenge

Rabiot has been a key figure in Rossoneri's midfield since his arrival, combining technical quality with tactical discipline to connect defence and attack. His box-to-box play ensures the team remains balanced while driving forward with confidence, something Milan have missed in his absence. His calmness on the ball and ability to control the tempo of matches adds a crucial edge, particularly in high-pressure games like the derby.

On the Scudetto race, Rabiot remains focused and grounded despite the early hype: "It's still a long way to go. There are a lot of games between November and December, including the Super Cup, which is one of our goals. We'll have a rough idea of how far we can go by February. With my mentality, I try to push all my teammates to give their all; we're a good group. The important thing is to stay close to first place, but it's still a long way to go. There are a lot of games between November and December, including the Super Cup, which is one of our goals. We'll have a rough idea of how far we can go by February."

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Getty Images SportRabiot set to make impact in Milan derby

All eyes now turn to Sunday’s Milan derby, where Rabiot is expected to make his return after a month out. His presence could be decisive in one of Italy’s most intense fixtures, with both teams vying for city bragging rights and crucial Serie A points.

Beyond the derby, Rabiot’s performances over the coming weeks will play a key role in determining Milan’s momentum in the Scudetto race. The French midfielder aims to restore balance, drive the team forward, and help secure victories in both domestic and European matches. His fitness and form will be crucial in shaping Milan’s season as they navigate a challenging schedule.

Manchester United are building for the future under Ruben Amorim, and he now appears to have made key decisions on two of his most high-profile Old Trafford stars.

The Red Devils have made a reasonable start to the Premier League campaign and could well make a push for the European slots if they can maintain momentum, though that is something that will be challenged over the festive period due to the African Cup of Nations.

Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are set to depart next month, leaving roles to be filled in the squad during a busy schedule that is set to be fraught with intense action.

Still, Premier League sides have known the competition is part and parcel of their squad planning, making it an issue they should be able to handle without the need for mass panic.

Signings in January will be important and there is an obvious need for midfield reinforcements, especially with Casemiro drawing closer to the end of his contract at Old Trafford.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes is the latest name on Manchester United’s list, and discussions are said to be progressing well over a potential move to work under Amorim’s stewardship in January.

Rob Edwards has signalled his desire to keep the Brazilian at Molineux. Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped the Red Devils making tracks, even if there could be a twist in the tale regarding the state of play on their engine room, courtesy of Fabrizio Romano.

Fabrizio Romano delivers contract update on Casemiro and Maguire

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano has confirmed that Amorim wants both Casemiro and Harry Maguire to stay at Manchester United, providing they reduce their wages in line with the club’s new salary structure.

He said: “My understanding is that the situation of Casemiro is a really similar situation in terms of strategy to Harry Maguire.

“Casemiro and Harry Maguire are out of contract in the summer of 2026 and for Manchester United, they are two really important players, especially now.

“We have to say congrats to Casemiro. In this video let’s focus on Casemiro, because he’s been able to change his situation at Manchester United.”

Later, he added: “So now the desire is from Man United, obviously, to continue with Casemiro, but in different conditions. So the salary he has right now is a salary that Manchester United don’t want to pay in the future, not because of Casemiro or Maguire, but because they want to change the salary structure.”

Between them, a pay packet of £540,000 per week is a major chunk of the Red Devils’ wage list, and with both edging closer to the twilight of their respective careers, it may be worth looking at younger reinforcements as their contracts look set to expire.

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Conversely, experience is vital and cannot be understated. Over the coming months, it would be a smart decision to tie down both stars if they can agree to a wage reduction.

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has adamantly denied that his team have "fallen apart" despite a recent string of disappointing results, culminating in a 2-2 draw against Elche. While admitting that they "can't be happy" with their latest setback, Alonso insisted that the connection between his coaching staff and the players is "improving" and that the team spirit remains good.

Real Madrid held to dramatic draw by Elche

Madrid endured another frustrating evening as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Elche on Sunday. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Los Blancos found themselves trailing twice in the match. Aleix Febas opened the scoring for Elche in the 53rd minute, only for Dean Huijsen to equalise for Real Madrid in the 78th minute.

However, Elche regained the lead through Alvaro Rodriguez just six minutes later, threatening to inflict a shock defeat on the Spanish league leaders. It took an 87th-minute equaliser from Jude Bellingham to rescue a point for Real Madrid, ensuring they avoided a second league defeat of the season. The result leaves Real Madrid still at the top of the La Liga table with 32 points from 13 matches, but their lead over rivals Barcelona has been cut to just one point.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAlonso insists team spirit is good despite recent setbacks

Following the match, Alonso addressed the media and faced questions about his team's recent form, which has seen them draw their last two league games. When asked if the team had crashed, Alonso was defiant in his response.

"We haven't fallen apart," Alonso insisted. "We're still competing; the context of each match is different. The result is what matters, and we're aware of that and self-critical. The spirit is good; we have to respond to adversity. This is Real Madrid. We live with criticism; we want to improve."

Despite his positive outlook on the team's spirit, Alonso acknowledged the disappointment of the result. "After a good run, we've had several results we didn't want. We know what we want; we have to keep pushing forward. We're not happy; we always want to win. We can't be. There are many games left, so we need to focus on the next one by analyzing what we did today."

Player-coach connection is 'improving'

Another key topic addressed by Alonso was the relationship between his coaching staff and the players. Amidst the recent dip in form, there have been questions about the connection within the squad. However, Alonso maintained that the relationship is strengthening over time.

"The connection is improving; we have more time and interact more, we know each other better," Alonso stated. "We're all in the same boat, we celebrate victories. We suffer if we don't win. The connection is good. We need to turn this situation around, starting with Athens."

The Madrid manager also clarified the situation regarding Vinicius Jr, who has seen reduced playing time recently and started on the bench against Elche. Alonso assured that he has open communication with the Brazilian winger and that Vinicius understands his current role.

"No, we had discussed it. We talk about it often," Alonso explained. "He understands; he knew the role he could play. We've done it before, like in Getafe. Today we're not happy, but everyone is eager to get back on track."

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AFPWhat next for Real Madrid?

Madrid will need to quickly put this disappointing result behind them as they turn their attention back to the Champions League. They face Olympiacos in Athens on Wednesday, where they will be looking to secure a victory to boost their morale and solidify their position in the group stage. Following their European commitment, they will return to La Liga action next Monday with a home fixture against Girona, who are 18th in the table. Alonso and his players will be aiming for a return to winning ways in both competitions to silence the critics and get their season back on track.