The 180-run stand between Greaves and Kemar Roach was the highest for the seventh wicket in the fourth innings of a Test

Namooh Shah06-Dec-2025202* Justin Greaves became the fourth West Indies player, and the seventh overall, to score a double-hundred in the fourth innings of a Test, which he did against New Zealand in the Christchurch Test.Greaves is also the first visiting batter to score a fourth-innings double-hundred in New Zealand.388 Balls faced by Greaves is the most by a West Indies batter in the fourth innings of a Test. George Headley held the record previously, when he faced 385 balls against England in Kingston in 1930.457 for 6 West Indies’ total while chasing against New Zealand in the Christchurch Test is the second-highest team score in the fourth innings of a Test. The highest such score is 654 for 5 by England in the timeless Test in Durban in 1939.923 Runs scored across the last two innings of the Christchurch Test is the fourth-highest runs in the last two innings of a Test, and the highest since 1969.163.3 Overs batted by West Indies in the second innings is the second-most overs they have faced in the fourth innings of a Test, just behind the 164.3 overs they faced against England in Kingston in 1930. It is also the most overs New Zealand have ever bowled in the fourth innings, going past the 146.4 overs against England in 1997.The number of overs West Indies batted in the second innings in Christchurch is also the first time that a team faced more than 150 overs in the last innings of a Test in New Zealand.385 runs added by West Indies batters after the fall of the fourth wicket is the highest ever in the last innings of a Test, going past the previous best of 310 runs by New Zealand against England in 1973.West Indies’ effort in Christchurch included a 196-run partnership between Shai Hope and Greaves, followed by a stand of 180* between Greaves and Kemar Roach. That made it only the third instance of two 150-plus partnerships in the last innings of a Test, and the first since 1979.180* runs scored and 409 balls faced in the partnership for the seventh wicket between Greaves and Roach is also the highest ever in the fourth innings of a Test for the seventh wicket or lower (where balls faced data is available).233 Balls faced by Roach for his career-best first-class score of 58*. That makes him the first batter to face 200-plus balls batting at No. 8 or lower in the last innings of a Test.138 Innings taken by Roach to score his maiden Test fifty is the most by a batter. The previous highest was 131 innings by James Anderson.72 Number of consecutive dot balls Roach played in his innings between the 128th and 200th ball, which is the third-most in a Test innings. Peter Nevill with 90 dot balls and Steve O’Keefe with 76, both in the second innings of the Pallekele Test against Sri Lanka in 2016, are ahead of Roach.

Top-quality fast bowling always helps when you’re trying to win a series in Australia, and the history of the Ashes bears that out

Greg Chappell04-Oct-2025It was Douglas Jardine who said in , “Cricket is a game of skill, but it is also a game of war. You must find a way to win or you are lost.”As the shadows lengthen over the Australian summer, the 2025-26 Ashes series looms in Perth on 21 November, a mere six weeks away. For England, under the audacious stewardship of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, the mantra is clear: speed thrills.Their squad, boasting a “cartel” of express pacemen led by the enigmatic Jofra Archer and the thunderous Mark Wood, offers echoes of history’s lessons. To understand this bold gambit, we must rewind to the summer of 1932-33, when Jardine faced a Hobson’s Choice – take the only option on offer or face certain defeat. Bodyline, that infamous tactic, was not born of malice but necessity, a desperate counter to Donald Bradman’s otherworldly batting. It reminds us that cricket, for all its genteel veneer, can ignite passions that spill beyond civil norms, turning gentlemen into gladiators and crowds into cauldrons of fury.Related

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Jardine’s predicament was the stuff of captaincy nightmares. Bradman had just dismantled England in their own backyard during the 1930 Ashes, amassing 974 runs at an average of 139.14 – a record that still beggars belief. His triple-century at Headingley was a symphony of dominance, reducing England’s attack to rubble. Jardine, a steely Oxford-educated amateur with a disdain for defeat, knew that accepting Bradman’s supremacy fatalistically was tantamount to surrender. As England’s captain, his remit was unequivocal: find a way, within the laws, to curb this prolific scoring machine. But what options did he have? Conventional bowling had proved futile; spin was neutralised on Australia’s true pitches; and seamers like Hedley Verity offered control but not terror.Herein lies the essence of Jardine’s Hobson’s Choice – the illusion of alternatives masking a singular path. He turned to “fast leg theory”, a tactic not invented by him but refined to lethal precision. Precedents abounded in the 1920s. Australian fast bowlers like Jack Gregory and Ted McDonald had employed similar short-pitched barrages with packed leg-side fields during the 1920-21 Ashes, unsettling English batters on lively surfaces. Jardine, ever the tactician, drew from this example, consulting Nottinghamshire’s Arthur Carr and Percy Fender, who had trialled it domestically. He came upon the idea observing Bradman flinch against Harold Larwood’s bouncer at The Oval in 1930. “I’ve got it! He’s vulnerable!” Jardine exclaimed. Secret sessions in London honed the plan: short balls at the body, a ring of leg-side fielders to snare deflections. It was legal, innovative, and crucially, the only sensible option against a batter averaging over 100.Critics vilified Jardine as unsportsmanlike, but as a former captain, I see his dilemma plainly. Every leader, amateur or professional, bears the responsibility of solving the game’s riddles. To let Bradman score at will would betray Jardine’s team, his nation, and the competitive spirit of cricket. Bradman averaged 56.57 in the Bodyline series – still formidable, but mortal. The series’ flashpoints, like the Adelaide riot after Bert Oldfield’s skull fracture, evoked raw emotions: Australian crowds baying for blood, diplomatic cables flying between boards, threats of trade boycotts (and this during the Great Depression). Sport, in such moments, transcends civility, tapping into tribal loyalties that can fracture empires. Jardine became the scapegoat, retiring from Tests thereafter, but his choice delivered a 4-1 victory. Without it, England would have been lambs to Bradman’s slaughter.This theme – pace as the great equaliser in Australia – threads through every English Ashes win down under since Bodyline. History is unequivocal: to win in these vast, sun-baked arenas, you need express bowlers who can intimidate, extract bounce, and shatter partnerships on pitches that reward raw speed over subtle swing.Top bowling, old boy: Chris Tremlett is mobbed by his team-mates after England make it 3-1 in Sydney early in 2011•Associated PressConsider the 1954-55 series, which England won 3-1 win under Len Hutton. Frank Tyson, called “Typhoon” for his 95mph thunderbolts, claimed 28 wickets at 20.82, terrorising batters with sheer velocity on firm tracks. Brian Statham’s accurate outswing complemented him, but it was Tyson’s pace that broke Australia’s spirit, reducing legends like Neil Harvey to caution. Emotions ran high; Tyson’s ferocity evoked Bodyline, with crowds murmuring about “intimidation”, but in the end it was the key to victory.Fast-forward to 1970-71, Ray Illingworth’s 2-0 triumph. John Snow, lanky and lethal at 90mph, snared 31 wickets, his bounce and skid exploiting Australian frailties. Bob Willis, on debut, added fire. The series boiled over in the last Test, in Sydney, where a Snow bouncer felled Terry Jenner, sparking a bottle-throwing melee and Illingworth leading his team off the field in protest. Again, pace stirred primal reactions, but it secured the urn.Mike Brearley’s 5-1 rout in 1978-79 leaned on Willis’ speed and bounce (20 wickets) and Ian Botham’s deceptive pace and all-round skill (23 wickets). Willis’ hostility on Perth’s bouncy deck set the tone, evoking crowd hostility that bordered on the uncivil – boos, jeers, even objects hurled. Again, without this pace edge, England’s win would have evaporated.England’s 2-1 upset in the 1986-87 series under Mike Gatting, saw Graham Dilley take 16 wickets with his sharp pace. Botham chipped in again with nine wickets, his medium-fast swing and bounce augmented by Gladstone Small’s (12 wickets) awkward speed. Emotions peaked in Melbourne, where Botham’s heroics fused triumph with controversy, his off-field antics amplifying the drama.Most recently, the 3-1 masterclass under Andrew Strauss in 2010-11 rested on James Anderson’s 24 wickets (late swing at 88-92mph), Chris Tremlett and Steven Finn’s towering bounce (31 wickets between them). Their cartel overwhelmed Australia, with Mitchell Johnson’s waywardness contrasting with England’s precision. The Gabba draw turned on pace pressure, and the series’ intensity – verbal sledging, crowd taunts – underscored how speed ignites passions that push boundaries.In each case England’s victories hinged on one or more express bowlers. Spin played cameos but pace was the protagonist, exploiting Australia’s pace-friendly conditions: Perth’s steepling bounce; Brisbane’s humidity, which aids swing; Melbourne’s variable decks. Without it, touring sides wilt under home dominance – think Australia’s Lillee-Thomson terror in the 1970s or McGrath-Gillespie’s relentlessness in the 2000s.England’s 1932-33 series was indubitably secured by fast bowling•JA Hampton/Getty ImagesNow to the present. McCullum and Stokes have done their homework. They have prioritised the fitness of Archer and Wood, assembling a sextet of quicks – including Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, and Josh Tongue – apart from Stokes himself, to launch an assault. “We need that cartel fit and firing,” McCullum declared, echoing Jardine’s resolve. Archer’s X-factor swing and Wood’s 95mph heat are statements of intent; the two have been managed meticulously after injuries to peak in Perth. With only Shoaib Bashir as spinner, they’ve put nearly all eggs in the speed basket, betting on rotation to sustain pressure across five Tests.Australia lack a Bradman, but curbing Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Cameron Green to mortal outputs will be pivotal. The openers will be important to Australia’s success, but it is the middle order that will need to make big runs if Australia are to win the series. If England’s attack delivers and dismantles Australia’s middle order, McCullum and Stokes will join the list of successful England leaders in Australia.Batting-wise, England appear settled, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett’s aggressiveness as openers, Ollie Pope’s flair, Joe Root’s mastery, Jamie Smith’s precociousness, and Harry Brook’s prodigious talent – the latter averages 57.55 in Tests, a comet streaking across world cricket. Australia’s line-up will look more settled before the first Test on the back of early-season form, but vulnerabilities persist in the wake of David Warner’s retirement.Yet, batters will be critical only insofar as they withstand the barrage. This series, like its forebears, will be decided by the superior bowling side. England’s pace gamble could evoke Bodyline’s emotions – imagine a bouncer from Archer felling a key bat, crowds erupting, words flying. Sport’s power lies here: it distils human drama, where triumph and controversy collide, pushing participants and spectators beyond civil norms into realms of raw passion.Jardine took the only sensible option. History affirms pace’s primacy in Australia, and in 2025-26 too, bowling will crown the victor. As the urn beckons, let the need for speed reignite cricket’s eternal fire.

The Bangladesh fast bowler had a slow start to the Asia Cup but bowled a crucial spell in their final group game

Danyal Rasool19-Sep-2025Shaun Tait stood at the top of the run-ups, flanked by Bangladesh’s quicks. His focus, though, was on the one building a head of steam as he galloped into delivery stride. Tanzim Hasan Sakib said something to him, but Tait appeared not to respond, waiting to see how Mustafizur Rahman’s delivery would turn out. From the side-on view at the ICC Academy nets in Dubai, it appeared he was too straight, and comfortably flicked to what would have been midwicket.As Mustafizur ambled back, he spoke briefly to Tait, who appeared to motion with his wrist. Next ball, Mustafizur bowled one of those offcutters that both appear to take an age to arrive and still look like rushing the batter for time. It beat the bat.That cause of effect is rarely as linear as that, and reading such patterns into bits of training is often more narrative than chronological. That the sequence worked so neatly is probably not even the point, but appeared to confirm what the Bangladesh fast bowling coach had said half an hour earlier.”I’m satisfied with the way he’s bowling,” Tait had said about Mustafizur on the eve of Bangladesh’s first Super Four match at the Asia Cup, against Sri Lanka in Dubai. “I hope [he’ll be a threat for the other teams]. He has all the experience; he doesn’t need me to talk to him too much about the way he’s bowling. If he’s in an environment where he’s happy, I think he’ll perform well. My job with him is just to make sure he’s happy and confident. The rest he takes care of himself.”Until a couple of days earlier, Tait would have had quite the job trying to keep Mustafizur happy. Bangladesh had one foot out of the tournament, and the 30-year-old quick had struggled for impact. In the game against Hong Kong, he was economical but not much more. In the clash that counted against Sri Lanka, he was thumped for 35 and only bowled three overs in Bangladesh’s heavy defeat.But in the defence of 154 against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, Mustafizur rediscovered his form. They saved three of his overs for the second half of the chase, with Afghanistan needing 80 off eight overs with six wickets in hand. In the 13th over, Mustafizur displayed his thought process as well as his wrist skills, going through his gamut of variations, conceding just two and removing Mohammad Nabi.Bangladesh’s captain Litton Das squirreled away Mustafizur’s remaining two overs, but by the 17th, he was needed again. Rashid Khan was at the crease and Afghanistan’s requirement of 45 off 24 was still within range. The over cost 14, but Mustafizur returned in the 19th to dismiss Rashid and AM Ghazanfar in succession to confirm Bangladesh’s win.”Mustafizur is a good asset,” Tait said. “He’s played here before. He’s a good leader for us who’s been around a long time.”When Tait was bowling coach of Pakistan, he told ESPNcricinfo he felt Pakistan’s fast bowlers required “a bit more mongrel”. Bangladesh’s quicks have not been associated with that kind of ferocity, but Tait finds it less of an issue here than he did in Pakistan.”[It is] a little bit [true of Bangladesh too]. We’ve talked about just being a bit more confident in what we’re doing. A couple of the Bangladesh fast bowlers naturally do that anyway as you’ve seen. It’s about being confident in what you’re doing.”Tait doesn’t obsess over analytics or fuss over technical aspects of a bowler’s action, leaving that to sports science specialists. With Bangladesh, he emphasised once more the value of the intangibles he thinks they can still add to their game. “The way I like to do things is definitely talk about having that presence and confidence especially when you’re playing against good teams like we’re playing this week. We’ve definitely got to be up for the contest.”Against Sri Lanka on Saturday, they are aware of the need to perform better than they did in the group stage. Bangladesh owe their presence in the Super Four to Sri Lanka’s victory against Afghanistan on Thursday.”It’s a new day,” Tait said. “The beauty of these tournaments is the games come thick and fast. When the games keep coming, it’s a good chance to forget about the past as much as you can and move on to the next game.”

Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was praised for his display against Fulham in the Premier League.

Everton 2-0 Fulham

Gueye and Michael Keane supplemented Everton’s misfiring attack in a 2-0 win which extended Fulham’s woes on the road to a fifth successive match.

With the Toffees’ two strikers Beto and Thierno Barry scoring just one Premier League goal between them so far this season, there is an imperative for others to chip in. But in a team boasting the attacking talents of Jack Grealish, Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, it was their defensive midfielder and centre-back who made the difference.

The two teams had scored just 22 between them in 20 combined Premier League matches so the first goal was important and Gueye’s intervention, in the fourth minute of first-half added time, was even more crucial as an offside flag denied Everton on three occasions in a match they should have won more comfortably.

Gueye stabbed home his second of the campaign after Tim Iroegbunam had completely fluffed his shot in front of goal from a James Tarkowski header which rebounded off the crossbar.

After failing to score at all last season, Gueye is well on his way to beat his best return of four in an Everton shirt from 2023-24. Keane flicked home a Dewsbury-Hall corner with 10 minutes to go to banish any late anxiety. They were contributions gratefully received by boss David Moyes, whose side ended a run of one win in eight matches in all competitions.

Unsurprisingly, Gueye’s performance against the Cottagers was highly praised in the aftermath of the game.

Gueye was "brilliant" against Fulham

After opening the scoring against Fulham, pundit Sue Smith, as per Sky Sports, said of Gueye:

Minutes Played

90

Goals

1

Assists

0

Passes Made (Accuracy)

41/48 (85%)

Recoveries

3

Clearances

3

Interceptions

1

Aerial Duels Won

1/1 (100%)

Times Dribbled Past

0

All stats are from SofaScore

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Everton Extra noted that Gueye was “very, very good” in the first half against Everton, form that continued after the half-time break. Initially alongside Iroegbunam until the 22-year-old was replaced by Merlin Rohl in the 67th minute, Gueye helped Everton limit their visitors as they maintained their impressive start to life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

In six Premier League games at their new home, Everton have lost just once, picking up 11 points from an available 18. Everton will not play now until after the November international break, which they enter with a win that Gueye contributed heavily towards.

New Iwobi could be unleashed for Everton

Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck is reportedly refusing to extend his contract with the club due to disagreements with coach Niko Kovac. The German centre-back is said to be unhappy with the overly pragmatic and unattractive style of football implemented by Kovac. This situation has alerted several top clubs, with Bayern Munich and Liverpool both showing interest in securing his signature.

Schlotterbeck's frustrations with Kovac's style of play

Dortmund defender Schlotterbeck’s contract runs until 2027, but growing tensions with coach Kovac have cast uncertainty over his future, according to . The German centre-back is reportedly unhappy with Kovac’s pragmatic and unattractive style of play, particularly following disappointing results against Bayern, Manchester City and Hamburg.

Despite the friction, Dortmund are eager to keep Schlotterbeck at the club and are preparing a contract extension until 2030. The proposed deal would see his annual salary rise by around €2.5 million to at least €8m per year, with performance-related bonuses potentially taking the total package beyond €9m.

Dortmund chief executive Lars Ricken expressed his support for Schlotterbeck’s decision to take his time before committing to a contract renewal. However, he also cautioned that the club would not wait indefinitely, saying: “We will not rush into anything. But of course, we don't want to drag it out indefinitely, everyone is aware of that.”

AdvertisementSchlotterbeck's refusal to commit his future

Schlotterbeck joined Dortmund from Freiburg in 2022 and has since become one of the most important players in the squad. The German defender has made 134 appearances, scoring six goals and providing 14 assists. Known for his versatility, speed and strong one-on-one defending, Schlotterbeck has established himself as one of the top defenders in Europe. His ability to read the game and contribute to both defensive stability and attacking build-up has been crucial for Dortmund. He played a key role in the club’s 2022-23 Bundesliga title challenge, showcasing leadership and consistency throughout the season. 

Schlotterbeck refused to commit his future to Borussia Dortmund after their 2-1 defeat to Bayern, saying: “I still have over a year and a half left on my contract. I'll sit down with Sebastian [Kehl], work out a plan, and see where it leads.” 

While the defender insisted that he is happy at the club, he acknowledged the significance of the decision regarding his contract renewal, stating: “I feel very comfortable in Dortmund and have no problem continuing on this path. But it's obviously an important decision for my career.”

Getty Images SportBayern, Madrid and Liverpool ready to go after Schlotterbeck

Bayern have shortlisted Schlotterbeck as a potential replacement if Dayot Upamecano leaves the club on a free transfer, viewing the Dortmund defender as an ideal long-term option. Germany’s World Cup-winning captain Lothar Matthaus has made his stance clear, stating that Bayern cannot afford to hesitate. He believes that Schlotterbeck should be seen as more than just an alternative, describing him instead as the logical successor should Upamecano leave the club. “If things don't work out with Upamecano, then Schlotterbeck would definitely be more than an alternative," he said. "Then bringing him to Munich would almost be a must.”

Matthaus believes Schlotterbeck’s experience in the Bundesliga would be a major advantage, saying, “Because he’s familiar with the Bundesliga, because he plays alongside [Jonathan] Tah in the national team.”

Meanwhile, Spanish giants Real Madrid are also monitoring the defender as a potential target if their pursuit of Upamecano fails. Schlotterbeck is viewed as a reliable long-term partner for Dean Huijsen, with Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba nearing the later stages of their careers and Eder Militao struggling with recurring injuries.

Premier League side Liverpool have also shown interest, identifying Schlotterbeck as a possible replacement for the injured Gabriele Leoni, with Ibrahima Konate’s contract set to expire soon.

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AFPWhere will Schlotterbeck go?

Dortmund will aim to gain clarity on Schlotterbeck’s future by the end of the season, as his continued refusal to extend would leave the club with only a year left on his contract, significantly reducing his market value. Bayern could be in pole position to sign him, although their interest may cool if Upamecano agrees to a contract extension.

For now, Dortmund and coach Kovac will use the international break to analyse their recent defeats and implement necessary tactical adjustments. Meanwhile, Schlotterbeck remains focused on finishing the season strongly before evaluating his options in the summer.

Tasmania’s perfect start to the One-Day Cup continued with stalwart Jordan Silk top-scored in a four-wicket win against Western Australia.In a Bellerive Oval fixture restricted by rain to a maximum of 44 overs each, WA posted 248 for 9 with Sam Fanning top-scoring with 66 from 91 balls.Tasmania, set 252 runs to win under the DLS system, lost six wickets and reached their target from 38 overs to win with 36 balls to spare.Silk dominated with 81 from 75 deliveries, scoring his 2000th domestic one-day run in the process of Tasmania banking a fourth win from as many outings.Silk, who struck nine fours and a six, and a batch of experienced team-mates were untroubled in the run chase. He combined with fellow veteran Matthew Wade (46 not out from 43 balls) in a defining 104-run partnership for the fifth wicket.Opener Caleb Jewell set the Tasmanian tone with an aggressive 48 from 37 balls featuring seven fours, and evergreen Ben McDermott made 42 from 49 deliveries.The quartet overpowered WA’s bowling attack with paceman Mahli Beardman the sole multiple wicket-taker.Earlier, WA opener Fanning’s composed knock and an aggressive 56 from 51 balls from one-day debutant Teague Wyllie underpinned the visitor’s total.Fanning and fellow opener Joel Curtis put on 50 runs in eight overs amid early rain interruptions. Curtis, Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman all failed to capitalise on promising starts and when Fanning fell in the 29th over, the visitors were 147 for 4.Allrounders Hilton Cartwright and Ashton Agar were both dismissed in the following 10 overs as Wylie launched at Tasmania’s bowlers.The 21-year-old struck four fours and a six before edging to wicketkeeper McDermott from the bowling of Brad Hope, who impressed with 3 for 40 from seven overs.

Her 26-ball 51 gives stellar Originals bowling attack something to defend in low-scoring game

ECB Media17-Aug-2025Manchester Originals 117 for 5 (Dottin 51) beat Northern Superchargers 112 for 7 (Litchfield 31, Kerr 2-20, Ecclestone 2-21, Bryce 2-26) by five runsAn inspired performance in the field from Manchester Originals held off the Superchargers in one of the games of the tournament.In front of a bumper crowd of 11,952 – a record for the women’s competition at Emirates Old Trafford – the home side held their nerve and took their catches to clinch a potentially season-defining victory.Defeat here to the high-flying Superchargers would have put the Originals’ campaign in jeopardy; yet they finished the day on level points with their opponents, in joint second, and with the table wide open.The catching was spectacular. The hinge point of the run-chase came from the 61st ball of the innings, when the in-form Australian southpaw Phoebe Litchfield, having just unfurled a stunning switch-hit for six, climbed into a conventional sweep against Kathryn Bryce. She got a lot of it, but Fi Morris, running full tilt not far from the boundary rope, leapt to pluck it out of the skies.Morris then took another good tumbling catch to remove Annabel Sutherland, before Deandra Dottin flung herself full stretch at cover to grab a fingertip-catch and remove Bess Heath with just seven balls remaining. That gave Sophie Ecclestone her second wicket.Left-arm spinner Ecclestone – working in tandem with the brilliant wrist-spinner Amelia Kerr, who also claimed two wickets – applied a further clamp to the Superchargers’ momentum which had began with an excellent new-ball spell from Mahika Gaur, who conceded just 10 runs from her 15 deliveries.After Ecclestone, the final set of five was coolly delivered by Lauren Filer to spark huge celebrations.Beth Mooney, Originals captain, later acknowledged that her team’s depth of bowling was crucial to the outcome.”It’s a huge result,” she said. “We’ve got to win these scrappy games and sometimes it looks a little bit ugly, as it did at times today for us, but it puts you in good stead at the back end of tournaments like this. I’ve got six international bowlers that I’m working with and they’re great at executing their skills. To have Sophie Ecclestone and Amelia Kerr, two of the best spinners in the world, in our team, certainly makes my life easy.”The Meerkat Match Hero award went to Dottin, who registered just the second fifty of the Originals’ tournament. It was her intervention, coming to the crease with just 42 balls left in the innings after the openers Mooney and Bryce had both fallen for single-figure scores, that changed the course of the match and perhaps the Originals’ season.Her unbeaten 51 was vintage Dottin, especially lethal on the pull to anything short, and clumping three sixes in her 26-ball stay. The momentum generated from Dottin’s knock carried over to the second innings, keeping the Originals very much alive in the tournament.”It was a really good game,” said Dottin. “So exciting and we’re just so pleased to get over the line. After the feedback and the info from the players who’d already been in the middle, the main thing for me was to see what it was actually doing and then taking it as deep as possible. It’s a big win but we’re not too overconfident.”

England opted not to risk Jofra Archer given the conditions once the game was shortened

Vithushan Ehantharajah10-Sep-2025Harry Brook will not read too much into “a bit of a shambles of a night” in Cardiff as England lost a truncated first T20I against South Africa.Just 12.5 overs were possible at Sophia Gardens as persistent showers delayed the start by more than two hours. Play eventually began at 8:50pm for a nine-over match. Having won the toss and elected to bowl, Brook watched on as a powerful South Africa batting card smashed 97 for 5 from 7.5 overs before rain curtailed their innings. That downpour subsequently gave England an adjusted chase of 69 in five overs, of which they fell 15 short.Related

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England opted to remove Jofra Archer from their XI announced on Tuesday on safety grounds, after ruling conditions were too risky for their prized fast bowler. Luke Wood was the late replacement, earning his eighth T20I cap, and was the pick of the home attack with 2 for 22.”It was a bit of a shambles really, wasn’t it?” said Brook, whose 0 from four deliveries was his first duck in T20Is. “You can’t take much from that. There was so much going on. They got nine overs, we got five overs. You can’t take much from it.”It was a long, long day. I don’t think we need to make any excuses up. We probably didn’t execute as well as we should have done with bat and ball. It’s bloody hard when you only bat for five overs.”Brook stopped short of saying the match should not have gone ahead: “That’s not for me to decide, that’s for the umpires or the match referee. We just try to do what we can on the field.”However, the decision to park Archer was an admission of the risk involved, particularly given the amount of time and money invested to get the 30-year-old back playing all international formats this summer ahead of the winter’s Ashes. Brook even cited Adam Hose’s horrific ankle injury sustained during The Hundred as a worse-case scenario had Archer played.”It would have been stupid to play him with the amount of cricket we’ve got coming up,” said Brook. “If he’d have gone out in the boundary and done what Adam Hose did in The Hundred and broken his leg or whatever, that would have been a shambles.”As soon as we knew that the game was shortened, we didn’t think it was quite necessary for Jof to play. Obviously, the outfield was sodden and he’s got a lot of cricket to play in the next few months with a big series coming up. So, yeah, we, we decided to not play him.”

Of American League teams in postseason contention, the Red Sox were one of the quietest at the trade deadline. Before the deadline hit, the Red Sox acquired two pitchers—lefthander Steven Matz from the Cardinals and starter Dustin May from the Dodgers—in exchange for prospects Blaze Jordan, James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard.

Those were the only additions the Red Sox made in what was an unsatisfactory deadline for Boston. They especially pale in comparison to their AL East rivals, the Yankees, who made a handful of moves before the deadline to improve their team and maintain their lead in the AL wild card standings.

Despite the team's lack of moves, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Boston felt they were "uncomfortably aggressive" at the deadline, per Chris Cotillo of .

"We pursued a number of really impact opportunities," Breslow said after the deadline on Thursday. "Obviously, not all of them work out, but it wasn't from an unwillingness to get uncomfortable."

Breslow insists that though the Red Sox were not interested in parting with any pieces from their major league roster, they were trying to put out the most "aggressive" offers they could. Among the moves that didn't work out was reportedly a trade for Twins All-Star Joe Ryan, which would have been a major boost to the team's rotation.

"I understand the frustration and disappointment," Breslow said, "because we’re all looking at the last week right now in terms of the trades that were made and weren’t made. There's not a lot of sympathy for how hard we tried to get deals across the line."

Breslow and the Red Sox might have tried, but several other contenders both tried got the deals they wanted done. It's natural that there is disappointment when not many moves occur, and it's Breslow's job to get them done, not bring up a "lack of sympathy" for when things don't fall into place.

Every West Bromwich Albion manager who has taken on the reins since Carlos Corberan’s exit in late 2024 is undoubtedly trying to achieve success with the Spaniard’s legacy weighing heavily on them.

Corberan would turn the Baggies into regular promotion contenders in the Championship, which made his departure to Valencia last year very much sting.

To make matters worse, the wheels would come off West Brom’s 2024/25 season at a worryingly quick pace after he moved on to La Liga, with his successor in Tony Mowbray only managing to collect a paltry five victories from 17 matches before being dismissed.

Now, the pressure is on Ryan Mason’s shoulders to deliver, and the strain is already beginning to show, with two recent Championship defeats on the spin for the perpetual promotion nearly-men even seeing some Baggies natives begin to grow restless with their new 34-year-old boss.

It hasn’t been completely bleak since Corberan returned to Spain, however, with a lot of star quality still on display from some new signings.

West Brom's mixed recruitment since Corberan left

In the direct aftermath of Corberan leaving, though, there were some underwhelming flops to stomach.

Namely, Adam Armstrong would relocate to the Hawthorns on loan and fail to live up to this well-known image of him being a prolific performer in the EFL’s top league, with just a forgettable three goals falling into his lap from 16 outings in the West Midlands.

Tammer Bany, who was purchased this January for a whopping £3.3m, has also failed to get up and running in England as a post-Corberan purchase.

But, there have been some success stories to hold onto.

Isaac Price is very much the first name that springs to mind in this regard, having signed for the Championship outfit a matter of days after Mowbray was unveiled.

While he was a Mowbray capture, he has very much come into his own this season under the fresh methods of Mason, with a stunning five goals and two assists next to his name in all competitions.

Other members of Mason’s first team are also in with a shout to be the best buy since Corberan moved on, with Chris Mepham one worthy candidate, as the Welsh centre-back has become an everpresent member of his new manager’s defence to soften the blow of Torbjørn Heggem exiting for Bologna.

But, it’s a different defensive monster who could be well handed the honour…

West Brom's best signing post-Corberan

While Price has dominated a lot of West Brom conversations this campaign with his goal and assist output, he has also been prone to a quiet day at the office, frustratingly.

Indeed, the Northern Ireland international would go the entirety of September without collecting a single goal or assist.

During this same month, it could be argued that Nathaniel Phillips was very much settling into his new Hawthorns environment, on the contrary, with the decision to bring in the Premier League-experienced defender for just £3m already looking to be an ingenious move.

The 28-year-old is yet to miss a Championship game this season, and for good reason, with the 6-foot-3 colossus very much living up to his billing as a “lion”, as he was lauded by his former Anfield coach in Pepijn Lijnders.

Indeed, in West Brom blue and white so far, Phillips has won a commanding 5.5 duels on average across his 12 league clashes to date.

Games played

12

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Touches*

81.9

Accurate passes*

56.6 (86%)

Ball recoveries*

4.3

Clearances*

7.4

Total duels won*

5.5

Clean sheets

3

Looking at the table above in greater detail only further reinforces how much of a sterling purchase Phillips has already been, with his brute strength when rising up for duels also gifting him one goal at his new club, already, away from also cutting an assured presence on the ball with 56.6 accurate passes averaged per tense match.

EFL pundit Sam Parkin would likely agree with Phillips being one of West Brom’s best signings in recent memory, with him labelling the former Derby County loanee as “absolutely sensational” after he collected a clean sheet versus promotion rivals Stoke City.

Mason will need both Price and Phillips performing to their maximum to try and get his side out of their current sticky patch of form.

But, while the first of those named has shone in spurts and looks a top talent for the future, Phillips has been the real deal from minute one of his West Brom journey, with 19 Premier League appearances also under his belt, standing the Baggies in good stead if they can finally break their second-tier hoodoo.

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