Martin O’Neill has confirmed that Celtic’s clash with Dundee at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night will be his final game as the interim manager.

The experienced Northern Irish coach has revealed that Wilfried Nancy will take charge for the clash with Hearts at the weekend, ending his time in the dugout.

Speaking after the 2-1 win over Hibernian, O’Neill said: “He (Nancy) is the man that will be coming in. I thought it was over on Sunday, but there’s some paperwork still to be dealt with. Wednesday will definitely be my final game.

The interim boss has won six of his seven matches in his second spell with the Hoops, winning all four of his league games, and there have been several players who have been big winners from the change in manager.

The biggest winners from Martin O'Neill's time as interim Celtic manager

Callum Osmand, who is currently out with a hamstring injury, was one of the early winners from Brendan Rodgers’ departure, after he scored one goal in three games for O’Neill, having not played a single minute under the previous boss.

On the topic of strikers, Johnny Kenny was another winner of O’Neill’s tenure because the Ireland international scored four goals in the manager’s first four matches in charge, per Sofascore, which has shown that he can deliver quality at first-team level for the Hoops.

Reo Hatate has also improved under the interim boss. He has provided two goals and three assists in seven games for the Northern Irishman, per Sofascore, after a return of one goal and no assists in 13 games for Rodgers.

The biggest winner of O’Neill’s tenure, however, has been centre-back Auston Trusty, who has played every single minute of the seven games, having only made two appearances as a substitute in the league for the last manager this season.

Why Wilfried Nancy may drop Auston Trusty

Despite playing every single minute of the last seven Celtic games, the USA international is one of the players who could be on the chopping block when Nancy finally comes through the door.

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Trusty has been playing as a right-sided centre-back because of the injury to Cameron Carter-Vickers, and the French tactician may want a naturally right-footed option in that position.

If Nancy wants that natural balance at the back, whether that is by signing a centre-back in January or giving a chance to another player in the squad, then Trusty could have to compete with Liam Scales for a starting berth as the left-sided centre-back.

24/25 + 25/26 Premiership

Trusty

Scales

Appearances

28

39

Clean sheets

13

22

Dribbled past

11x

8x

Error led to shot

5

2

Error led to goal

1

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Ireland international has been the more reliable performer for the Scottish giants at the heart of the defence in the Premiership since the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

Trusty, who was hailed as a “powerful” player by Rodgers, made an error leading to a shot with a loose pass on Sunday, and that was his fifth in just 28 league games for the club.

He has also been dribbled past three more times than Scales, despite the Irishman playing 11 more games, which shows that opposition players find it easier to play against him than his fellow left-footed defender.

Trusty, to his credit, has been solid in his duels in the Premiership this season, winning 62% of his physical battles, per Sofascore, but his errors over the past 18 months or so and the fact that he is currently a left-footer playing on the right may come into consideration ahead of the January transfer window.

Nancy may want to bring in a naturally right-footed player to start games in that role, leaving Trusty and Scales to compete for one place. That is why he may end up dropping the American, who has been the biggest winner from O’Neill’s tenure, once he has a right-footed defender available to select.

His performances at Premiership level since his £6m move from Sheffield United suggest that Scales would be the better option for the new boss at left-centre-back, but we will have to wait and see how it plays out in reality.

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West Bromwich Albion are currently competing to climb back up the Championship table in an attempt to join the race to gain promotion to the Premier League this season.

A 3-2 win over Swansea last time out has the Baggies in 12th place in the table, four points off the play-offs, and there is plenty of football left to be played.

Aune Heggebo, who joined the club in the summer, scored twice to take his tally to six goals in the Championship this season, per Sofascore, and he is currently one of the most valuable players in the squad.

West Brom's most valuable players

Per Transfermarkt’s valuation system, West Brom’s current first-team squad has a combined value of roughly £71m, and Heggebo contributes to around £5m of that total.

The most valuable player in the squad, unsurprisingly, is central midfielder Isaac Price, who has scored five goals and provided two assists for the Baggies in the league, per Sofascore.

Transfermarkt value the Northern Ireland international at around £10.5m and there have been no recent reports to suggest how much the club value him at internally, amid reported interest from Leeds and Crystal Palace.

Isaac Price

£10.5m

Samuel Iling-Junior

£8.8m

Josh Maja

£7.9m

Aune Heggebo

£5m

Toby Collyer

£4.4m

As you can see in the table above, loanees Samuel Iling-Junior and Toby Collyer both rank within the top five most valuable players in the squad, whilst Josh Maja, who has only started four league games this season, ranks in third place.

Whilst the Baggies appear to be lacking in highly valuable players who could be sold for big money in the future, there is a former player who could be sold for more than the combined worth of the current squad in January.

The former West Brom player who is now worth more than the entire squad

In the summer of 2019, 16-year-old forward Morgan Rogers opted to move on from The Hawthorns at the end of his contract to sign for Manchester City.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

The Cityzens reportedly paid a compensation fee of near £4m to sign the England youth international, who had made one first-team appearance for the Baggies in the FA Cup against Brighton.

That outing in the FA Cup made Rogers the fourth-youngest player in the club’s history, and the youngest ever in the FA Cup, per Transfermarkt, and Manchester City clearly took note of that.

Izzy Brown

2013

16 years, 3 months, 27 days

Jonathan Leko

2015

16 years, 4 months, 30 days

Kane Wilson

2016

16 years, 5 months, 12 days

Morgan Rogers

2019

16 years, 6 months, 11 days

Bobby Hope

1960

16 years, 7 months, 5 days

Things did not work out for the attacking midfielder at The Etihad, unfortunately, but he has since made his way to Aston Villa, via Middlesbrough, and is now a fully-fledged England international.

Rogers has scored 20 goals and provided 21 assists in 89 appearances for Villa, per Transfermarkt, and has scored one goal in 12 caps for the Three Lions.

Because of his impressive form for club and country, the former Baggies youngster is attracting interest from elsewhere and has been given a mammoth valuation.

TEAMtalk reported in November that Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, PSG, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Tottenham have all registered interest in the attacker and claimed that Villa offered Rogers a new deal with a £100m release clause, shortly before it became official that he had put pen to paper on an improved contract.

Towards the end of November, The Mirror reported that the Villans are said to value the England international at a whopping £100m, although they did not mention it as part of a release clause.

Whether you take it to be a release clause or how much Villa will demand from any interested clubs, Rogers appears to be valued at nine figures by the Premier League club, whilst West Brom’s squad is only worth around £71m between every first-team player.

There is no guarantee that he would have gone on to fulfill his potential at The Hawthorns, but it must be bittersweet for the club to see that one of their former players, who they lost for £4m, is now being valued at a staggering £100m, whilst their most valuable player is valued at just over a tenth of that.

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The Baggies can only hope that they are able to persuade the next Rogers, should such a talent come through the academy again, to stay at the club, rather than pursue a move elsewhere.

If Chelsea’s draw against Arsenal showed them at their best, the last week of results has shown them at their worst.

Enzo Maresca’s side were just six points off the Premier League leaders after their match against them, but a defeat away to Leeds United and a draw away to Bournemouth now sees them eight points adrift and in fifth place.

It’s been a frustrating week for the Blues and one that has shown that, for all their talent, they are still vulnerable and have more than a few week links.

In fact, one of those weak links could be Chelsea’s biggest liability since Tiémoué Bakayoko.

Tiémoué Bakayoko's Chelsea career

In the 16/17 season, AS Moncao shocked the world by mounting a surprising and successful title charge, their first to end in glory for well over a decade.

Chalkboard

That side was full of incredible players who’d go on to have glittering careers, like Kylian Mbappé, Bernardo Silva and Fabinho.

However, instead of signing any of them, Chelsea opted to splash north of £40m on Bakayoko, who, to be fair to the club, did look like a star in the making at the time.

Unfortunately, once he arrived in England, it was clear that he was anything but.

The Frenchman made 43 appearances across the 17/18 season, but very rarely, if ever, looked convincing, be that in possession or out of it.

The midfielder’s most notable performance in Blue just so happened to also be his worst, when, against Watford in February 2018, he was sent off just 30 minutes into the game.

In all, while he was once a hugely promising midfielder, Bakayoko is now known as a flop in England.

Following a slew of loans, he joined Lorient in 2023 before moving to PAOK last summer, and is now without a club at just 31 years old.

Unfortunately for Maresca, he might now have Chelsea’s biggest liability since the Frenchman in his current squad.

Chelsea's biggest liability since Bakayoko

Now, there are a few players Chelsea need to sell as soon as possible, but if you were to ask fans who in the first team needs to go first, most would likely land on Tosin Adarabioyo.

The Blues signed the Englishman for free after his contract with Fulham expired last summer, and while he has been a useful stand-in at times, it has become increasingly clear this season that he’s a problem.

For example, in the last five games he has started, the West Londoners have conceded 11 goals and won just two, drawing one and losing the other two.

Moreover, while the entire backline should be held to account for some of those goals, the 28-year-old has made some high-profile and almost comical mistakes.

Against Leeds United, for example, Dominic Calvert-Lewin only scored his goal because the Englishman lost control of the ball within the Blues’ penalty area.

It was a mistake Chelsea fan and content creator Tom Overend branded “utterly embarrassing”, and while that might sound harsh, it’s hard to dispute.

Minutes

96′

Tackles

1

Ground Duels (Won)

4 (1)

Fouls

2

Errors Leading to a Goal

1

Touches

121

Shots

1

Key Passes

0

Expected G+As

0.07

It’s not just the eye-test where the defender fails, either: according to FBref, he ranks in the top 43% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles won and in the bottom 4% of dribblers tackled, all per 90.

In other words, he’s not proactive enough at the back, and even when he is, he isn’t very effective.

Ultimately, it’s clear that Tosin is not good enough to play for Chelsea, and therefore, the club should look to move him on as soon as possible, for everyone’s sake.

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The India captain walked off the field, massaging the back of his neck immediately after sweeping Simon Harmer for four

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Nov-2025

Shubman Gill was just three balls into his innings in the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata when he hurt his neck and had to go off the field. He did not come out to bat as India finished their first innings on 189, taking a lead of 30 runs.”Shubman Gill has a neck spasm and is being monitored by the BCCI medical team,” the BCCI said after the first session.India were 75 for 2 when Gill, facing his third delivery, slog-swept Simon Harmer for four over square leg. As he completed the shot and got up, he looked in discomfort, took off his helmet and rubbed the back of his neck. The physio came out and Gill had to retire hurt.Related

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At the end of the day, Gill, wearing a neck brace, was stretchered out of the dressing room and into the players’ ambulance for scans to Woodlands hospital with the team doctor. Since it’s not an external injury, he may not be allowed to bat at his usual No. 4 if he does not spend the required time in the field during South Africa’s innings.”Gill is a very fit guy, he looks after himself very well, so it’s just unfortunate this morning that he woke up with a stiff neck and that carried him into the day, which was crucial for us,” India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel said after the day’s play. “Another sort of partnership with him batting around was going to be needed for us at the time and… just bad timing.”Rishabh Pant replaced Gill at the crease, and India went into lunch at 138 for 4. But the wickets fell in a flurry after the break, with Harmer picking up 4 for 30 and Marco Jansen 3 for 35.Last October, too, Gill had to sit out the Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru because of a stiff neck.

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is set to be without one star for a month through injury, with their stance on a January transfer solution also revealed.

Chelsea lose Champions League ground amid suspension and injury woes

Chelsea’s automatic Champions League qualification prospects suffered a significant setback in Bergamo on Tuesday evening as Maresca’s side surrendered a half-time advantage to lose 2-1 against Atalanta.

The Blues controlled proceedings during the opening period, with Joao Pedro sliding home his inaugural Champions League goal after Reece James’s precise delivery in the 25th minute.

However, a second-half capitulation, triggered by Gianluca Scamacca’s 55th-minute header and Charles De Ketelaere’s deflected 83rd-minute winner, leaves Chelsea precariously positioned in 11th place with two league phase games remaining.

Maresca confronts mounting selection dilemmas as Chelsea’s injury list continues to pose a real problem, as it has done all season.

The Italian has made more squad rotations than any other manager in the Premier League this term, with Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto, Enzo Fernández, Roméo Lavia, Pedro Neto, Dario Essugo, Liam Delap, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, Andrey Santos, Moises Caicedo and Josh Acheampong all sidelined at various points this term through injury or suspension.

Mykhailo Mudryk also remains banned for alleged doping violations, though some surprise reports suggest he could actually return to action next month.

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Palmer, the Blues’ talisman, is still working his way back to full fitness as Maresca manages his workload meticulously.

The England international’s persistent fitness struggles have restricted him to just six appearances across all competitions this season, and Chelsea quite simply need him firing.

Maresca confirmed that Palmer cannot feature in consecutive matches within three-day periods right now, prioritising long-term availability over immediate selection.

Roméo Lavia’s latest in a long line of injury problems has depleted Chelsea’s midfield alongside Caicedo’s suspension, with it being unclear as to when the 21-year-old Belgian will return.

Colwill’s ruptured ACL sustained during pre-season means the promising defender is in line to miss the vast majority of 2025/2026, with Essugo sidelined after suffering a setback.

The most pressing of all these concerns, though, is Delap’s return to the treatment table.

Chelsea handed Liam Delap injury update

According to BBC journalist Nizaar Kinsella, Delap’s shoulder injury, sustained during Chelsea’s goalless draw with Bournemouth, appears significantly less serious than first feared.

The striker is now expected to return within four weeks rather than the two months originally mooted, which comes as good news for Chelsea, even if Maresca is poised to be minus Delap for a month.

The 22-year-old departed the Vitality Stadium in considerable distress, landing awkwardly after a first-half aerial challenge with Marcos Senesi and immediately sparking concerns about a prolonged absence.

Initial reports suggested Delap faced between six and eight weeks sidelined, potentially ruling him out until February and forcing Chelsea to accelerate Emmanuel Emegha’s pre-arranged summer transfer from Strasbourg.

However, subsequent scans delivered encouraging news by confirming no fracture, drastically reducing the recovery timeline.

Maresca had expressed genuine concern post-match, admitting the shoulder issue “looked quite bad” and lamenting Chelsea’s serious bad luck.

The revised timeline means Delap could potentially return before the January transfer window closes, alleviating immediate pressure to bolster Chelsea’s attacking options.

The England Under-21 international has endured a frustrating debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, having already missed two months earlier this season with a hamstring injury sustained in August.

Delap has managed just six starts across all competitions since his £30 million summer arrival from Ipswich, scoring once against Barcelona in the Champions League.

As the former Man City striker continues his recovery, it appears Marc Guiu and Pedro will continue shouldering striker responsibilities.

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، عن معاناة أحد لاعبي فريق برشلونة من الإسباني من ضغط نفسي، ولا يشعر بحالة جيدة للتدرب مع زملائه بالفريق الكتالوني.

ويخوض برشلونة مباراة غدًا الثلاثاء أمام أتلتيكو مدريد، على ملعب “سبوتيفاي كامب نو”، وهي مقدمة من الجولة التاسعة عشر للدوري الإسباني.

ويتصدر برشلونة ترتيب الدوري الإسباني برصيد 34 نقطة، ويأتي أتلتيكو مدريد في المركز الرابع بـ 31 نقطة.

ولم يتدرب رونالد أراوخو مع لاعبي برشلونة منذ مواجهة الفريق أمام تشيلسي، الأربعاء الماضي في ستامفورد بريدج، والتي تلقى فيها بطاقة حمراء وشهدت هزيمة البارسا.

وتم الإشارة في البداية إلى إصابة أراوخو بفيروس في المعدة أبعده عن المباراة أمام ألافيس، وأفاد المدرب هانز فليك في مؤتمر صحفي اليوم، أن اللاعب غير جاهز لمواجهة أتلتيكو مدريد، ووضعه “مسألة شخصية”.

وذكرت تقارير أن وكلاء أراوخو كانوا في برشلونة اليوم والتقوا مع المدير الرياضي ديكو (طالع التفاصيل من هنا).

وبحسب ما ورد في صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، أوضح أراوخو خلال الاجتماع أنه بخير بدنيًا، لكنه نفسيًا ليس في وضع جيد للتدرب بشكل طبيعي وللمنافسة.

وطلب أراوخو من برشلونة بعض الوقت للتعافي جيدًا وليكون في حالة نفسية جيدة تسمح له بالتدرب والمنافسة بصورة طبيعية مع زملائه.

*Squads subject to change

Adelaide Strikers

Captain Matt Short
Coach Tim Paine
Fixtures Click hereSquad Hasan Ali (PAK), Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Mackenzie Harvey, Travis Head, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton (ENG), Lloyd Pope, Alex Ross, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Tom Straker, Henry Thornton, Luke Wood (ENG)How they stack upAfter winning a final in BBL13, Strikers sunk to the bottom of the ladder in a disappointing first season under new head coach Tim Paine who took over from Jason Gillespie. Strikers’ top-order was inconsistent and could not quite fire in the batting-friendly surrounds of Adelaide Oval. They have shaken up the batting-order after the departure of Jake Weatherald to Hobart Hurricanes while veteran D’Arcy Short has not been retained. Recruits Jason Sangha and Mackenzie Harvey add class and vigour as Strikers look to shore up a batting-order perennially dependent on skipper Matt Short. An even bigger issue for Strikers last season was their death bowling as they continually leaked big totals. International quicks Hasan Ali and Luke Wood will be relied upon to alleviate those issues, with Test seamer Brendan Doggett having moved to Renegades.Player to watchAs per usual, Matt Short will carry a lot of burden on his back. He is Strikers’ talisman and the team’s barometer. After back-to-back BBL MVP awards, Short had an injury impacted season and made just 236 runs at 33.71 with 109 of those being in Strikers’ franchise record of 251 for 5 against Heat. Short will also be keen to produce a big season to ensure selection in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad. He’s been on the fringes of Australia’s white-ball teams for some time and had modest success against India recently.Availability issuesHasan is on the outer of Pakistan’s national teams so will be available for the whole season if he fails to be selected for January’s T20I series against Sri Lanka. Having played white-ball cricket recently for England, left-arm seamer Wood is a chance of being called up for the T20I and ODI tour of Sri Lanka which starts on January 22. Jamie Overton, who was Strikers’ standout with an outstanding allround season in BBL14, is also in the selection mix for the Sri Lanka tour. Test players Travis Head and Alex Carey should be available after the Ashes series wraps up on January 8.Shaheen Afridi’s arrival will create plenty of interest•AFP/Getty Images

Brisbane Heat

Captain Usman Khawaja
Coach Johan Botha
Fixtures Click hereSquad Shaheen Shah Afridi (PAK), Tom Alsop (ENG), Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Lachlan Hearne, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro (NZ), Michael Neser, Oli Patterson, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Jack WildermuthHow they stack upIt was a disappointing title defence for Heat, who finished second last on the ladder. They made an off-season statement in their bid to lift back into contention when they selected Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi in the draft. His signing was made even more important after left-arm speedster Spencer Johnson was ruled out of the season with a back injury. Heat still boast enviable pace depth with Michael Neser and Xavier Bartlett also in the line-up, but their spin stocks took a hit when legspinner Mitchell Swepson signed with Stars.Player to watchAfter a stellar season, where he topped the team’s run-scoring, Matt Renshaw resisted the temptation of a move and re-signed with Heat. Renshaw has started the domestic season strongly across formats and performed reasonably well in his first taste of ODI cricket in the recent series against India. His batting flexibility and sheer power makes him the key of Heat’s batting-order.Availability IssuesPakistan’s recently announced three-game T20I series against Sri Lanka in January could impact the availability of Afridi, who had originally been slated to play a full season. Test players Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja should be available after the Ashes although Khawaja’s current place in Australia’s team appears shaky.Mitchell Owen was last season’s hero for Hobart Hurricanes•Getty Images

Hobart Hurricanes

Captain Nathan Ellis
Coach Jeff Vaughan
Fixtures Click hereSquad: Rehan Ahmed (ENG), Marcus Bean, Jackson Bird, Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Rishad Hossain (BAN), Chris Jordan (ENG), Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Mac WrightHow they stack upAfter underachieving for so long, Hurricanes broke their hoodoo with a season for the ages capped off by a stunning triumph in a home decider against Sydney Thunder. Hurricanes have retained a large core of the title-winning team and importantly secured the signature of Tim David who was heavily courted by several rivals during the free agency period. But the ‘Canes have not stood idle after recruiting Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster and veteran quick Jackson Bird. Weatherald is effectively a like-for-like replacement for opener Caleb Jewell who was traded to Renegades.Player to watchTwelve months ago, Mitchell Owen was a relatively unknown allrounder whose only foray on the overseas franchise circuit was playing in a T10 tournament in the Cayman Islands. But Owen’s move up the order for Hurricanes proved a masterstroke with his brute force reinventing batting in the powerplay. He capped off an incredible season with a blistering century in the final at a febrile Ninja Stadium, leading to him being in major demand worldwide as the IPL, PSL and MLC beckoned. He also made his T20I and ODI debuts in a whirlwind year. Now a household name, there will be much expectation on Owen this season and BBL rivals will undoubtedly be better prepared. It will be interesting to see how he handles it all.Availability IssuesWeatherald, and possibly Webster, won’t be available until after the Ashes. There were concerns over England spinning allrounder Rehan Ahmed after he was ruled out of the Lions tour of Australia due to a right lower leg strain suffered in England’s first Test warm-up at Lilac Hill. But he is expected to be fit in time for the BBL although he could be part of England’s white-ball Sri Lanka tour in January. Bangladesh legspinner Rishad Hossain will be available after the BCB did not grant him a NOC last season and he looms as a key cog after spinners Peter Hatzoglou and Paddy Dooley were not retained.Jason Behrendorff is one of Renegades’ new recruits•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Melbourne Renegades

Captain Will Sutherland
Coach Cameron White
Fixtures Click hereSquad Jason Behrendorff, Josh Brown, Harry Dixon, Brendan Doggett, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Caleb Jewell, Hassan Khan (PAK), Nathan Lyon, Fergus O’Neill, Ollie Peake, Mohammad Rizwan (PAK), Tom Rogers, Will Salzmann, Gurdinder Sandhu, Tim Seifert (NZ), Callum Stow, Will Sutherland, Adam ZampaHow they shape upRenegades overhauled their roster ahead of last season and transitioned into a new era under the leadership of Will Sutherland and Cameron White. But it did not do the trick with Renegades missing the finals for the fifth time in six seasons. With the pressure on, the ‘Gades have continued to make roster changes and went about bolstering their inconsistent batting line-up by drafting Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. They also traded for Hurricanes opener Caleb Jewell who sought more opportunities. Renegades will boast a potent pace attack and the two highest wicket-takers from last season – with Tom Rogers now joined by long-time Scorchers spearhead Jason Behrendorff. Test quick Brendan Doggett is also a new addition after leaving Strikers.Player to watchNot long ago Jake Fraser-McGurk was the hottest batting prospect in the country but he has somewhat dropped off the radar. Fraser-McGurk made just 188 runs from 10 innings last season but did show off his extraordinary talent in Renegades’ final game of the season when he whacked 95 off 46 balls to help haul down a target of 197 against Heat. Fraser-McGurk, 23, has already played 15 white-ball matches for Australia and was part of the CA XI side in their recent red-ball match against England Lions at Lilac Hill. He remains a player of significant interest for the national hierarchy, but needs to show far more consistency this BBL season.Availability Issues Rizwan may miss part of the season due to Pakistan’s T20I series against Sri Lanka in January, while wicketkeeper Tim Seifert may be selected in New Zealand’s white-ball squads to face India in January. Nathan Lyon, and potentially Doggett, will not be available until after the Ashes. Will Salzmann will miss the season due to injury.Glenn Maxwell was joint player of the tournament last season•Getty Images

Melbourne Stars

Captain Marcus Stoinis
Coach Peter Moores
Fixtures Click hereSquad Austin Anlezark, Scott Boland, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke (ENG), Tom Curran (ENG), Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Jon Merlo, Haris Rauf (PAK), Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Tom WhitneyHow they shape upAfter Hurricanes’ broke their hoodoo, glamour franchise Stars are now the only club to have never won a BBL title. Stars did complete an incredible turnaround last season after overcoming a 0-5 start to qualify for finals. They are hoping the momentum carries over with Stars retaining a core that includes veteran batters Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright. While they made minimal changes, Stars did recruit legspinner Mitchell Swepson and quick Liam Hatcher who is hoped to help offset the losses of Joel Paris and Brody Couch. But their pace stocks have taken a hit after Mark Steketee, who was superb in BBL14, was ruled out of the season with a hamstring injury. Ultimately Stars are banking on continuity to help them finally lift a title.Player to watchIt is no surprise that Stars’ fortunes last season largely hinged on Glenn Maxwell, their long-time talisman. They struggled badly when he was sidelined with a hamstring injury before he inspired the remarkable turnaround with typical heroics. He produced one of the greatest BBL innings in history after he farmed the strike and whacked 10 sixes to single-handedly beat Renegades. Even at the twilight of his career, Maxwell remains a freakish player, capable of bending a game to his will. Maxwell has had an injury-interrupted start to the season having made just 2 in his only innings in the T20I series against India after missing the first three games due to a wrist injury.Availability IssuesFast bowler Haris Rauf is another with some uncertainty given the T20I series against Sri Lanka which has been added to the calendar, while Scott Boland will only be available after the Ashes.Mitchell Marsh should be available for the full regular season•Getty Images

Perth Scorchers

Captain Ashton Turner
Coach Adam Voges
Fixtures Click hereSquad Ashton Agar, Finn Allen (NZ), Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Laurie Evans (ENG), Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Mitchell Marsh, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, David Payne (ENG), Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner.How they stack upThe five-time champions are coming off a season where they missed finals for just the third time in their proud history. Scorchers hierarchy have not panicked and have backed their blueprint of continuity and sticking with a local core. They have brought back a couple of trusted former title-winning players in middle-order batter Laurie Evans and left-arm quick David Payne. Joel Paris has also returned after stints with Hurricanes and Stars. He is an ideal replacement for veteran left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff, who departed alongside fellow fan favourite Andrew Tye. Ex-Stars quick Brody Couch also adds to the pace stocks as he completes his transition to Perth after moving over last year to play for Western Australia in the Shield.Player to watchMitchell Marsh is second on Scorchers’ all-time run-scoring list, but has played just one BBL game in the past three seasons due to international commitments and injuries. Barring an unlikely inclusion in the Ashes, Marsh is set to be available for the full campaign and should solve Scorchers’ patchy top-order returns in recent seasons. Marsh and Finn Allen loom as a dynamic one-two punch at the top with the New Zealander having a point to prove after a lean debut season for Scorchers. After recommitting to Scorchers on a three-year deal, Marsh will be keen to make up for lost time in a BBL campaign that also looms as a perfect tune up for the T20 World Cup.Availability IssuesJhye Richardson is closing in on a return from shoulder surgery. He is set to miss the first match while he trains with the Test squad but is expected to be available for the second game against Heat. Scorchers will be without the services of quick Lance Morris who has been ruled out for the summer after undergoing back surgery. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is likely to only be available after the Ashes. Payne will arrive after the ILT20 and Allen may leave for the white-ball series against India in January.Steven Smith will bolster Sixers after the Ashes•Getty Images

Sydney Sixers

Captain Moises Henriques
Coach Greg Shipperd
Fixtures Click hereSquad Sean Abbott, Babar Azam (PAK), Jafer Chohan (ENG), Sam Curran (ENG), Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Lachlan Shaw, Jordan Silk, Steven Smith, Mitchell StarcHow they stack upSixers pulled off a major signing by going for Babar Azam in the draft while Sam Curran could also prove a very effective acquisition. Elsewhere it’s a host of familiar names in one of the more consistent T20 squads going around. Kane Richardson has joined the pace attack, and further bolsters the death-bowling options, while Jackson Bird has gone to Hurricanes. They will hope for more from Josh Philippe this season after he has re-emerged as an Australia white-ball option.Player to watchFor sheer drawcard power, it’s hard to look past Babar Azam, making his first appearance in the BBL. How he approaches things at the top of the order will be fascinating to watch. There is the potential in the latter part of the season that he could form an opening partnership with Steven Smith although now that he’s back in Pakistan’s T20I side the series against Sri Lanka could spoil the best-laid plans.Availability issuesSean Abbott will miss the start of the competition with the hamstring injury he suffered last month ahead of the Ashes. Smith is expected to come into the side after the Ashes finishes while Mitchell Starc, fitness permitting, will feature for the first time in 11 years. Josh Hazlewood could use the tournament for a return from injury ahead of the T20 World Cup should his rehab go to plan.Tanveer Sangha is part of a strong Thunder spin unit•Getty Images

Sydney Thunder

Captain David Warner
Coach Trevor Bayliss
Fixtures Click hereSquad Wes Agar, Tom Andrews, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings (ENG) Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson (NZ), Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Shadab Khan (PAK), Sam Konstas, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Aidan O’Connor, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, Reece Topley (ENG), David WarnerHow they stack upThunder had lined up one of the biggest signings of BBL history in R Ashwin, but he had to withdraw through injury in a blow to the club and competition at large. It is a stable domestic list with the only addition being Tasmania allrounder Aidan O’Connor. Even without Ashwin, they are well stocked with spin: Tanveer Sangha, Tom Andrews and Chris Green could all feature in the same side. David Warner led the batting last season and others chipped in around him after Cameron Bancroft was lost to injury following an awful collision with Daniel Sams. Batting conditions at home can be tricky.Player to watchHaving fallen out of Test contention, Sam Konstas should get a full season and it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the rhythms of T20 having just found some form in the Sheffield Shield ahead of the competition taking its break. He has shown glimpses in the format so far with two half-centuries last season. Signed a four-year extension with the club earlier this year.Availability issuesThere will be a bit of a revolving door among overseas players. Reece Topley will start the season before heading off to the SA20, at which time Lockie Ferguson will arrive from the ILT20. Shadab Khan’s availability may be impacted by Pakistan’s T20I series against Sri Lanka. Thunder don’t have anyone on their main list involved in the Ashes.

Phil Parkinson was hugely disappointed with Wrexham’s performance in a 2-0 defeat at Hull City, with an “honest chat” taking place behind the scenes. The Red Dragons saw a nine-match unbeaten run in Championship competition come to a shuddering halt when paying a visit to East Yorkshire. Parkinson is now demanding an immediate response from his players.

Spent big: Reynolds and Mac chasing the dream

Wrexham spent big in the summer transfer window as Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac helped to make the funds available for more marquee additions. A slow start was made to the 2025-26 campaign, but the Welsh outfit have found their feet in the second tier of English football.

They had moved to within touching distance of the play-offs spots, but have now slipped to 14th place in the tightest of divisions. They remain only four points adrift of the top six, but saw collective standards slip at MKM Stadium.

AdvertisementGettyPull no punches: Parkinson assesses defeat at Hull

Parkinson told reporters afterwards, with Wrexham paying the price for a particularly poor first-half display: “We just weren't at the levels tonight and I've got to look at that – my part in it, all the staff will, and the players themselves. But we'll do that together. The lads have given us a lot but tonight we were below the level, and we'll come out ready for action at the weekend.”

Parkinson added on dressing room chat that saw the Red Dragons’ coaching staff pull no punches: “We've just had an honest chat with the lads. We just weren't where we needed to be tonight and we've got to be honest about that.

“It's very rare in my whole time at Wrexham to have a 45 minutes that was so unlike us. Tonight the first 45 minutes was certainly one of those performances, but against a good side as well. Give them credit, they were excellent.

“We will look to respond, of course. That's what football's all about. We'll be a bit flat tomorrow because we don't like losing. Nobody does in football, but we'll work together as a group, and we'll look to put up a good performance on the weekend.”

Confident camp: Hyam expects immediate improvement

Wrexham defender Dom Hyam is confident that Wrexham’s efforts so far this season mean a much-improved performance will be delivered when Watford pay a visit to SToK Racecourse on Saturday.

He said: “We've been on a really good run, we've got to add some perspective as well, we've come up from the division below and we've done well up until this point. Don't get me wrong, we're still bitterly disappointed with that tonight but it's a good opportunity to get it right on Saturday. That's the beauty of the league, we've got a game in three days' time. We know there's a big opportunity on Saturday in front of our home supporters to put things right.

“It's not doom and gloom by any means. It's very raw, that performance wasn't great on a lot of levels, but there's a lot to be positive about still. We'll take our medicine and make sure we're right again.”

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GettyUltimate goal: Wrexham aiming for the Premier League

While Wrexham were nine Championship games unbeaten heading into their meeting with Hull, they had been held in five of those fixtures. Inability to turn draws into wins has prevented them from clambering into the play-off places and daring to dream of securing a record-extending fourth successive promotion.

That remains the ultimate goal for all concerned, with Reynolds and Mac having never shied away from the fact that they want to bring top-flight football to North Wales. Greater consistency is, however, going to be required when it comes to picking up maximum points.

It could be that the Red Dragons dip back into the transfer market for more new recruits during the January window. They have four games to take in through to the end of the calendar year – with three of those being played out on home soil, while a trip to Swansea for a derby date with Welsh rivals will be taken in on December 19.

India have not yet received the Asia Cup trophy after refusing to accept it from Mohsin Naqvi during the presentation ceremony following the final on September 28

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Nov-2025BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is hopeful of a resolution with PCB and Asian Cricket Concil (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi over the Asia Cup trophy dispute after the “ice has been broken” between the two boards during the recent ICC meeting in Dubai.”I was a part of both the informal and formal meeting of the ICC. PCB chairperson Mohsin Naqvi was also present. During the course of a formal meeting, it was not on agenda but ICC facilitated a meeting between myself and the PCB chief separately in the presence of a senior ICC office-bearer and another senior official,” Saikia told PTI. “It was really good to start the process of negotiation.”Both sides will work out something to solve the issue at the earliest. The ice has been broken now, so various options will be worked out. There will be options from the other side as well and we will also give options on how to settle this issue and come to an amicable solution.”Related

Rauf gets two-match ban; Suryakumar, Bumrah sanctioned after Asia Cup drama

India refuse to accept Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi

India have not yet received the Asia Cup trophy after beating Pakistan in the final on September 28. There was a standoff at the presentation ceremony with India refusing to accept the trophy from Naqvi, the ACC and PCB chair who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister, following the cross-border skirmish between the two countries in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam in April.India and Pakistan played each other three times during the Asia Cup – in the group stage, the Super Fours, and the final – with all the fixtures fraught with tension that began with India’s decision not to shake hands with the Pakistan players in their first meeting on September 14. The matches were ill-tempered with Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan all receiving penalties of varying severity from the ICC for their comments or on-field actions.After the final, the presentation ceremony was delayed by more than 90 minutes while Naqvi remained insistent that he be the person handing over the trophy to India, who did not budge from their stance. Eventually the trophy was taken away from the stage and the team has not received it to date.