Category Uncategorized

Aston Villa have now made contact to sign a “wonderful” midfielder, who is set to leave his current club on a free transfer next summer.

Villa looking to strengthen options in midfield

Villa’s recent resurgence has seen them rise to fourth in the Premier League table, and they have their midfielders to thank for the 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, with both Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans impressing.

Tielemans received a SofaScore match rating of 8.4, the highest of any player, after winning seven duels and making four tackles, while Kamara scored what proved to be the match-winning goal, and received high praise for his display from Troy Deeney.

The former striker said: “If he can be fully fit and stay fit, Villa have a real chance of pushing for Europe again. I think he is that good. He broke up play really well, dominated in midfield and capped it off with a goal.”

Despite being well-stocked in the middle of the park, with Ross Barkley, Lamare Bogarde and Amadou Onana also at Unai Emery’s disposal, the Villans are now looking to make another addition in central midfield.

That is according to a report from The Daily Mail, which states Aston Villa have now made contact over the signing of Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice, who is set to leave the Scottish club upon the expiration of his contract next summer.

Rice has been unable to agree a new deal, which has opened the door for a departure, and Villa have now made checks, alongside Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City, with a free transfer on the cards.

In fact, the two Championship clubs are willing to make a pre-contract offer next month, such is their level of interest, but it is unclear whether the Villans will be prepared to do the same.

Aston Villa now preparing January offer for "seriously impressive" £30m maestro

The Villans are planning to hold talks over a deal for a midfielder, who has impressed scouts from across Europe.

ByDominic Lund Nov 30, 2025 "Wonderful" Rice shouldn't be priority signing for Villa

At just 19-years-old, the teenager is yet to become one of Rangers’ star players, but he does have 16 first-team appearances to his name, and has caught the eye at times, being lauded as “wonderful” by Rio Ferdinand after impressing against Manchester United.

That said, given a lack of senior experience, the Scot may still be some way off being able to displace the likes of Tielemans and Kamara in the starting XI, however, and Aston Villa’s number one priority should be to bring in a new striker, amid Ollie Watkins’ poor form.

After failing to score against Wolves last time out, the England international’s record now stands at one goal in 19 matches in all competitions this season, which should be a major concern for Emery.

If there isn’t a major improvement in the next month, Villa should look to sign a new striker in January, and a Premier League star is now among the targets…

India’s new ODI captain gears up for his first game in charge of a team that includes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Tristan Lavalette18-Oct-20252:29

Gill: ‘Extra responsibility brings the best out of me’

As Shubman Gill fronted the press pack in Perth, with the picturesque Swan River behind him, several locals passing by looked on curiously as if they could not quite pinpoint exactly who he was.Gill, clearly, does not yet quite have the global stature of Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. But that should soon change, with him holding the top leadership posts for India in Tests and ODIs. As the new poster boy of Indian cricket, Gill and his counterpart Mitchell Marsh are plastered on the marketing signs around the city to promote the ODI series opener between Australia and India at Optus Stadium.It represents a transition for India as they start building towards the 2027 World Cup, a tournament where they will hope to end a 16-year wait for the title.Gill, 26, has cut a relaxed figure so far on tour, appearing undaunted about stepping into the hot seat and following in the footsteps of Rohit and Kohli. He is perhaps encouraged by the successful start to his Test reign but, unlike in that format, there is the added intrigue of him now captaining these larger-than-life cricketers he grew up idolising.Related

The wait for 'Ro-Ko' is over and it's okay to be a bit emotional about it

Marsh laughs off Ashes question as India task awaits

“These are the kind of players I used to idolise when I was growing up. The kind of hunger that they had used to inspire me,” Gill told reporters. “It is a big honour for me to be able to lead such legends of the game. I am sure there would be so many moments in this series where I would be able to learn from them.”If I get in a difficult position, I wouldn’t shy away from taking advice from them.”With Rohit remaining in the team despite being stripped of the captaincy, there has been innuendo over how seamlessly the leadership baton will be passed on. However, Gill said he has already leaned on Rohit’s experience.”The narrative that goes on outside is different. There’s nothing like that between us – things are just as they were before, ” Gill said of his relationship with Rohit. “He is very helpful. And whatever he has learned from his experience, or if I think I need some help, I ask him what he would have done in a particular situation.”I like to know everyone’s thoughts and then decide as per my understanding of the game. In that respect, I have a great equation with both Virat and Rohit . Whenever I have a doubt, I go to them and take their suggestion, advice, and they also don’t hesitate in sharing [their knowledge].”Shubman Gill addresses the press in Perth•AFP/Getty ImagesThe three-match ODI series in Australia will be the first glimpse of what type of style and combination Gill wants for his team. What has been seemingly answered, having scored five tons from 13 innings since taking charge in the Test format, is that Gill is a cricketer who thrives with the added responsibility.His Test average has risen noticeably, though that might be difficult to replicate in ODI cricket given his average currently stands at 59 from 55 matches.”I like it when I have the additional responsibility. The pressure brings out my best,” he said. “I enjoy that responsibility, though I feel when I go out to bat, I take the best decision when I think as a batsman and do not think too much about being a captain and thinking like one.”When I do that, then I put myself under extra pressure. As a batsman, I think what the team needs the most at that moment. So I try to take decisions as Shubman Gill the batsman rather than taking that additional responsibility of scoring all the runs or finishing the match.”While the ODI series is likely to be a celebration of Kohli and Rohit, as they bid farewell to a country where they have had countless battles, Gill is set to emerge into prominence in Australia where he is unlikely to fly under the radar again.”Definitely, very exciting,” he said about his debut as ODI captain. “It’s very big shoes for me to carry the legacy that Virat and Rohit have left.”How they converse and what kind of communication or messaging they had with the players is something that helped me get the best out of myself. That’s the kind of captain I would want to be, where all my players feel very secure in the job they have to do.”

Chief selector hopes for a “longish” run for Sai Sudharsan at No. 3 and a middle-order slot for Padikkal

Shashank Kishore25-Sep-20256:07

‘Padikkal offers a little more than Karun Nair at this point’ – Agarkar

The 3-0 drubbing against New Zealand at home last year was a “lesson” that “we don’t want repeated again”. That’s the sentiment within the India team, according to chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, as they build towards their first home Test since that defeat last November.Related

Jadeja vice-captain for WI Tests; Padikkal, Jagadeesan in squad

Iyer to lead India A in one-dayers against Australia A

BCCI okays Iyer's request for six-month break from red-ball cricket

“Of course, because of the WTC [World Test Championship], every Test match becomes very important,” Agarkar said at a press conference to announce the India Test squad for the two-Test series against West Indies starting on October 2 in Ahmedabad. “Obviously, we had a terrible series against New Zealand. Maybe it was a wake-up call. It was a lesson. We don’t want that repeated. We’ve generally been, over a long time, very strong at home. It was after a while that we had a few bad results. And we want to try and put it behind.”All these four Test matches that we play at home, to West Indies and to South Africa, become very critical. We want to try and get as many points as possible, particularly at home. It’s a game, so anything is possible. But we don’t want to try and let what happened against New Zealand happen again.”Agarkar’s words don’t just underline the importance of results, but also the need for stability. And one of the key areas India have identified is the No. 3 slot, which over the better part of this century was occupied by two greats, Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara.The Indian think tank – head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Shubman Gill•Getty Images’Hope to give Sai a longish run from now on’Building forward, India are keen to find a long-term option for No. 3. And for now, the search seems to have ended with B Sai Sudharsan, who, the selection committee hopes, will be able to repay the faith. Agarkar thinks the signs are promising and there is a clear runway now for him to make that spot his own.In three Tests in England, Sudharsan scored 140 runs across six innings with a solitary half-century. Over the past two weeks, he has struck two half-centuries playing at No. 3 for India A against Australia A.”Eventually, it’s a little bit about continuity,” Agarkar explained. “I think there were a few changes at No. 3 [in England], because of the combination that we played.”So that just depends on what the captain and the coach at that point want, and what balance they want. But as far as going forward is concerned, Sai has shown a lot of promise. We know he’s a very good player. Hopefully, we can give him a longish run from now on, at a particular number. Hopefully, going forward, we can give these guys time to actually build their careers.”With Karun Nair dropped for the home series, the selectors have now turned to his state junior, Devdutt Padikkal as a potential middle-order candidate. Having begun his career as an opener, Padikkal has carved a niche in the middle order over the past two seasons across formats. And his recent run of form, just like Sai Sudharsan’s, has been encouraging.Devdutt Padikkal scored 150 against Australia A last week•Tanuj/ Ekana Cricket StadiumAfter missing the A tour to England due to an injury, Padikkal has impressed for India A recently, scoring 150 in last week’s first unofficial Test in Lucknow. With Rishabh Pant injured, it’s likely Padikkal will have an opportunity at No. 5 this time around. Agarkar has backed him to be a strong contender for No. 6 along with Nitish Kumar Reddy in the long run, when the injured Pant returns to reclaim the No. 5 spot.”Obviously, Devdutt can bat [in the middle order],” Agarkar said. “He batted at No. 4, if I’m not wrong, in Dharamsala [on Test debut against England] and No. 3 in Perth. These are things that eventually the captain and the coach look at, what the best balance is. But Nitish showed a lot of promise.”Even the way he bowled well at Lord’s. And the way he batted under pressure in the second innings. Plus, his batting in Australia has shown he’s got the potential. And he’s still a young kid. He was developing his game.”So, the more he plays, the better he’s going to get. And we obviously have an eye on him. So, if he does develop into that allrounder that you always keep looking for, it does give you a lot of flexibility with the XIs that you pick and the balance you can create in the team.”Mohammed Shami played one game for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy•PTI ‘Shami needs to play something’ to be consideredOne of the things Agarkar has often underlined in his tenure as selector is the need for players to prove form and fitness by regularly featuring in first-class cricket. It’s down to this that Mohammed Shami and Ishan Kishan aren’t in the scheme of things.Shami has featured in two red-ball games over the past three seasons due to a series of injuries. While he was part of the 2025 Champions Trophy squad earlier this year, Shami hasn’t come close to a national call-up since, primarily due to his lack of volume in domestic cricket.”He’s not played a lot of cricket,” Agarkar said. “In the last two-three years, I think he’s played one match for Bengal and one match in the Duleep Trophy. So, as a performer, we know what he can do. But, he will need to play something.”And Ishan – when we picked him for India [as Pant’s replacement in England], he was not yet fit anyway. [N] Jagadeesan was part of the last Test match that we picked when Ishan was injured. He [Ishan] is a very good player as we know. But we’d like him to play a bit more cricket and show some performances.”Shreyas Iyer has asked for a six-month break from Test cricket•BCCI’We want Shreyas playing, and playing well’As for Shreyas Iyer, Agarkar was clear that he is still a key member of the 50-overs set-up. On Thursday, the BCCI confirmed Iyer had sought a six-month break from red-ball cricket to “build endurance” before he can be considered again.For now, Iyer has been named captain of India A for three 50-over games against Australia in Kanpur, ahead of next month’s ODI series in Australia. When asked if this late change in leadership – after Rajat Patidar and Tilak Varma were originally announced as captains – hinted at a bigger role for Iyer, Agarkar was categorical that it should not be seen as a sign of him being lined up for the ODI captaincy.”I don’t think we’ve discussed the 50-over format yet,” he stated. “At the moment, we have to pick a Test squad. Shreyas is a senior player. He obviously leads his franchise in the IPL. He’s one of the senior guys. He was captain for India A [for four-day matches] as well. It’s not like because of that, we’re looking at him as a Test captain. We’re trying to find qualities of a leader in a lot of people.”In India A, he gives us an opportunity to see if somebody has that ability. I think the statement [on him taking a break] was put out already. With regards to his fitness, in terms of red-ball cricket, he won’t be available, and that gives us a chance.”He’s been a key player in one-day cricket over the last few years. He gets three games before we go to Australia. More than anything, we want him playing and playing well because he becomes a key member in the one-day squad.”

أعلن هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة، عن تشكيل فريقه الذي يستعد لمواجهة ديبورتيفو ألافيس، على ملعب الكامب نو ضمن منافسات الجولة الرابعة عشر في الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

ويدخل برشلونة هذه المباراة بمعنويات منخفضة بعد سقوطه أمام تشيلسي بثلاثية نظيفة، ويرغب في تصحيح مساره بعد تقليص فارق النقاط مع ريال مدريد في الليجا في الجولة الماضية إلى نقطة واحدة فقط.

ويحتل برشلونة المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري الاسباني بـ31 نقطة، ويحتل ديبورتيفو ألافيس المركز الرابع عشر بـ15 نقطة.

أقرأ أيضاً.. ريفالدو ينتقد فليك بعد السقوط أمام تشيلسي.. ويصرح: اللاعبون يرتكبون مسرحيات في الملعب

وتصادف مباراة برشلونة وديبورتيفو ألافيس احتفال البلوجرانا بالذكرى الـ126 على تأسيس النادي.

وأفادت إذاعة “راك 1” الإسبانية بأن فرينكي دي يونج يغيب عن قائمة مباراة اليوم لأسباب عائلية، حيث كانت الشكوك تحيط حول مشاركته ضد ألافيس بسبب عدم انضمامه لمعسكر برشلونة إلى جانب أراوخو الذي تعرض لفيروس في المعدة.، بينما حصل بيدري على التصريح الطبي. تشكيل برشلونة أمام ديبورتيفو ألافيس:

 في حراسة المرمى: خوان جارسيا

خط الدفاع:إريك جارسيا- كوبارسي – جيرارد مارتن – أليخاندرو بالدي

خط الوسط:مارك برنال- مارك كاسادو- داني أولمو

خط الهجوم:لامين يامال- روبرت ليفاندوفسكي- رافينيا

ويجلس على دكة البدلاء كل من: فيران توريس- بيدري- راشفورد- كريستنسن- كوندي- تشيزني- جوفري- درو- روني باردجي- آلير- تومي

Shane Burger also joins new coaching set-up at the Utilita Bowl

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Dec-2025

Russell Domingo, the former South Africa and Bangladesh coach, has been named Hampshire men’s head coach on a two-year contract. He will be joined in the club’s new coaching set-up by another South African, Shane Burger, who previously coached Scotland before moving on to Somerset.Domingo was in charge of South Africa between 2012 and 2017, followed by a three-year stint with Bangladesh. He has been head coach of Johannesburg-based Lions since 2023, and has also worked in the PSL. ESPNcricinfo understands Domingo will continue in his Lions role, splitting his time between the UK and South Africa.He succeeds his countryman Adrian Birrell at Hampshire, with Birrell stepping down at the end of the 2025 summer after seven seasons on the south coast.Burger joins as assistant coach (bowling), while former Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams will continue in his role as assistant coach (batting).Related

Hampshire target white-ball double as coach Birrell prepares to step down

Timeline: Domingo's stint as head coach of Bangladesh

Domingo replaces Gough as Lahore Qalandars coach

Men's county ins and outs 2025-26

“I’m thrilled to be joining Hampshire Cricket,” Domingo said. “This is a club with incredible history, outstanding facilities at Utilita Bowl, and a clear vision for success both on and off the field.”I’ve been genuinely impressed by the ambition here and the strong cultural values that underpin everything Hampshire does. The combination of developing young talent whilst competing for trophies is exactly the challenge I’m looking for, and I can’t wait to get started.”I’m looking forward to working alongside Jimmy and Shane and getting to know the players as we prepare for what promises to be an exciting season ahead.”Burger said: “I’m really excited to be joining Hampshire Cricket. The quality of young bowlers coming through here is exceptional, Sonny Baker, Eddie Jack and Scott Currie have already earned England recognition, and I’m looking forward to helping them continue that development.”I love the ambition and vision of the club and the future seems bright. I’m excited to be part of that journey alongside Russell and Jimmy and I can’t wait to get started.”Hampshire endured a turbulent finish to last season, losing in both the final of the Vitality T20 Blast and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. They appeared destined for relegation to Division Two of the County Championship, after suffering a points deduction for a substandard pitch, before being reprieved on the final day by Durham’s collapse against Yorkshire.Hampshire’s director of cricket, Giles White, added: “We’re delighted to announce our coaching team for next summer. Russell Domingo will serve as head coach, with Jimmy Adams and Shane Burger joining him as assistant coaches. Together, they form a strong and experienced unit that will continue to champion the cultural framework that has underpinned Hampshire cricket over the years.”We exist to win and to develop, and I’m confident this team will continue to drive that ethos as we move into an exciting future. It’s a fantastic place to be at this moment in time, and the season ahead promises great opportunities.”

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful has been named as batting coach for the team’s upcoming series against Ireland.Ashraful was part of one of Bangladesh’s greatest moments in history. He was only 20 years old when he led the team to a stunning upset of Australia in 2005. That century was part of a career which spanned 177 ODIs and yielded 3468 runs, the fifth highest for his country. Ashraful also played 61 Tests – becoming the youngest player to score a hundred – and 23 T20Is and was active in domestic cricket as recently as two years ago.Mohammad Salahuddin resigned as assistant coach on Wednesday and will depart at the end of the Ireland series next month. He was brought in to support head coach Phil Simmons in November 2024. Salahuddin was in charge of the batting unit having spent nearly three decades coaching at various levels in Bangladesh and developing strong relations with the current group of players.Related

• Mahmudul Hasan Joy returns to Bangladesh Test squad for Ireland series

• When Mohammad Ashraful took on McGrath and Gillespie

A difficult 2025, where the team suffered T20I series defeats to UAE, Pakistan and most recently West Indies, ODI series defeats to Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and Test match losses to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe added pressure on the team and its management. Salahuddin had pushed back against it during a press conference in July when he said “after coaching for 27-28 years, I am hearing that there are lots of complaints in the team against me. I really would like to know about those complaints. Best if it was given to me in writing.”Ashraful’s own career was not without its ups and downs. In 2013, he received a lengthy ban from all BCB related cricket activities for match-fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League. He was eventually brought back to the fold three years later and lately has branched out into coaching. Last month, Ashraful had voiced displeasure at the trend of Bangladesh top-order batters not providing enough for the team. Now he has been given the chance to do something about it.

For a long time, one of Arsenal’s most significant problems was finding a proper backup for Bukayo Saka.

The Hale End icon is undoubtedly Mikel Arteta’s best player, and his time on the sidelines last season showed just how much the team were in desperate need of someone who could cover and compete with him on the right.

Fortunately, the North Londoners signed Noni Madueke in the summer, and while his arrival wasn’t met with universal excitement, his performances over the first five Premier League games suggested he may well be the player the club have needed for so long.

Therefore, supporters should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal to an international ace who has been compared to both Saka and Madueke.

Arsenal target Saka & Madueke hybrid

It’s not even December, but Arsenal are already being linked with a host of exciting players across Europe and beyond.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, Levante’s Etta Eyong, who has already racked up nine goal involvements, has been touted for a move to the Emirates, as has Nottingham Forest’s incredible Elliot Anderson.

However, as talented as they are, neither of them could be described as being a hybrid of Saka and Madueke, unlike Karim Adeyemi.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are one of a few top sides interested in signing the Borussia Dortmund star.

More than that, the report has revealed that while the German international’s representatives have spoken to Manchester United, he would favour a move to the Gunners.

A potential price is not mentioned in the story, but other reports from Germany claim that Dortmund value their attacker at around £70m.

It could be a complicated and costly deal to get over the line, but given Adeyemi’s ability and potential, one worth pursuing, especially as he’s been compared to both Saka and Madueke.

How Adeyemi compares to Saka & Madueke

Even though it feels like it has been around for some time now, Adeyemi is still just 23 years old.

The Munich-born “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has been a key player for Dortmund for a few years, ending last season with an excellent tally of 12 goals and 11 assists in just 41 appearances.

He appears on track to match that tally this year as well, as in 14 appearances, totalling just 817 minutes, he has already racked up six goal involvements.

However, while his output is seriously impressive, the comparisons to Saka and Madueke primarily come from elsewhere, from FBref.

They have compared him to every attacking midfielder and winger across Europe’s top five leagues and have determined that the Hale Enders is the second most similar, and the former Chelsea star is the fourth.

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

In the case of the Gunners’ talisman, these metrics include expected goals plus assists, progressive passes, shot-creating actions, shots on target, and more, all per 90.

Expected Goals + Assists

0.57

0.58

Progressive Passes

2.14

2.24

Shots on Target

0.89

0.93

Passing Accuracy

71.4%

72.4%

Shot-Creating Actions

4.47

4.23

Fouls Drawn

2.68

2.50

Then, for the former Blues star, the underlying numbers include metrics such as goal-creating actions, expected assists, and most interestingly, carries, also all per 90.

In other words, the former RB Salzburg gem seems to possess some of the creativity and goal threat of the North Londoners’ number seven, as well as the carrying ability of their summer signing, which helps explain why Mattinson called him a “serious transitional threat.”

Expected Assists

0.29

0.24

Goal-Creating Actions

0.54

0.59

Carries

28.2

25.9

Successful Take-On %

43.3%

41.2%

Ball Recoveries

2.86

2.94

Ultimately, it would be a costly and challenging transfer to get over the line, but given Adeyemi’s skillset, positional versatility and output, it is one Arsenal should pursue.

Trossard upgrade: Arsenal plot £65m move for "best winger in the country"

Arsenal could sign a big-money winger in bad news for Leandro Trossard.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 18, 2025

He feels it’s “going to be a constant challenge” for a modern-day player to maintain the same levels of fitness all year

Ashish Pant07-Sep-2025Fast bowler Shardul Thakur believes players are being “taken for granted” with respect to workload, and that it is “going to be a constant challenge” for a modern-day cricketer to maintain the same levels of fitness all year long with the amount of cricket being played.”A lot of times we are taken for granted and the management is not to the highest level,” Thakur said on the final day of the Duleep Trophy semi-final in Bengaluru. “No one actually comes and asks us how our body feels after playing for so many months. But yes, I have been managing my body with physios, S&Cs [Strength & Conditioning coach], doing constant work.”And it’s about playing cricket. I’m not saying that you keep pulling yourself out from playing the games. But frequent breaks here and there are good for the body.”It’s been over 11 months of non-stop cricket for Thakur. It started with the Irani Trophy in October last year. He then played the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Initially going unsold, he joined Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025 as an injury replacement, following which he played two tour games for India A against England Lions and was part of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.Related

• Duleep semi-finals: Gaikwad the standout as India's international stars struggle for form

• After difficult Test debut, Kamboj returns with a display of quiet control

• Sindhu spins, bats and dreams on in marathon Duleep shift

• Dubey's 'positive mindset' helps Central Zone secure first-innings lead

Players’ workload management has been in focus in the last few years. Recently, Jasprit Bumrah played only in three of the five Tests in the tour of England to manage his workload. Thakur believes it should be up to the players on how they manage their fitness and workloads, but said it shouldn’t be on their minds during a game.”Once you enter the game, you can’t be talking about workload management because then the game situation also takes over,” he said. “When you go into the game, you’re expected to give your best. Whatever you have in your tank, you have to give it all.”And I believe you shouldn’t be shying away from coming in and hitting the deck hard in the game, keep doing those efforts. Yes, when you go out of the ground and when you’re resting back home or you have those breaks in between the game, that’s where you try to manage your bodies and try to manage your load.”If you’re not having too much load in the game, then of course you can push yourself in the nets also. But if you’re having a big amount of load in the game, then you can take it a little bit easy in the nets.”

Shardul Thakur ‘open’ to captain Mumbai

Thakur began the 2025-26 domestic season as West Zone captain in the Duleep Trophy semi-final, the first time he was leading a team in first-class cricket. It was a tough initiation as West Zone failed to progress to the final, with Central Zone going through after a first-innings lead.But the experience of leading the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad has given him enough confidence to be a leader, particularly with the Mumbai captaincy up for grabs after Ajinkya Rahane stepped down from the role earlier this year.”Yes, I am open for the [Mumbai] captaincy,” Thakur said. “And of course, this was one of the steps where I get that experience of captaincy. It was just my first game and there were a lot of learnings. I wouldn’t say that captaincy is difficult, but there are a lot of things which you learn only when you step into the captain’s shoes.”With the Ranji Trophy season starting from October 15, Thakur has urged curators to produce “sporting pitches” where the fast bowlers can also come into play, unlike the one in the semi-final. Thakur bowled just 11 of the 164.3 overs in the West Zone innings. Arzan Nagwaswalla bowled 14.3 and Tushar Deshpande 17. The rest of the 122 overs were shared between the spinners.”The spinners were in the play all the time. There was not much for fast bowlers [in the pitch],” Thakur said. “And it’s always going to be a sort of complaint when we play domestic cricket across the country that we don’t get enough pitches where fast bowlers could come and bowl 40 overs in a game.”Being a fast bowler, I expect that there should be more pitches where the game is even for fast bowlers, for batters and spinners.”

The Chicago Cubs crushed the St. Louis Cardinals on , jumping out to an 11-0 lead against their hated rival en route to their 54th victory of the year. This came a few hours after Matthew Boyd, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker were confirmed as National League All-Stars. On paper it seems like it would be impossible for Cubs fans enjoying the moment at Wrigley Field to be annoyed by anything. But if you go to enough baseball games you're bound to see something you've never seen before and that includes 's Alex Cooper singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch.

The immensely popular podcast host sprang forth with a bold new take on a classic song. And it was not immediately beloved.

Now, just to be clear. There have been way worse attempts at the seventh-inning tradition over the years. How anyone can be brave enough to get on the microphone and fight against completely losing their breath midway though is beyond me, so respect to all those who try. But rarely, if ever, does the Wrigley Field faithful turn on the singer like this. It takes a lot for them to break the unwritten rule of always supporting the singer.

Not very nice.