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“It was so good the first time we had to do it twice,” cried Chloe Kelly at full-time. Sarina Wiegman’s England Lionesses are Euro 2025 winners. For a successive continental competition, they are European champions.

It’s safe to say the women have put the nation through maximum levels of stress this summer, defeating Sweden on penalties, needing extra time against Italy, scoring in last-gasp fashion and then needing another shoot-out against Spain in the final.

Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey had given the World Cup winners the lead, though another Gunner in Alessia Russo hit back. Nothing could separate the two teams until two women who have already had plenty of clutch moments in this competition stood up to it.

Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly were the heroes in the shootout, with Kelly firing home the winning spot kick.

Cue mass celebrations, handshakes with Prince William and dancing on the podium. After victory in 2022, England had done it again.

Here are the best moments from the final…

3 Russo equalises for England

After Lauren James hobbled off in the first half with injury, it meant that woman of the hour Kelly was introduced on the left wing.

As usual, she made a phenomenal impact, not just scoring the winning penalty but supplying an inch-perfect cross for Russo to head home.

Speaking at full-time, Wiegman was utterly euphoric: “I can’t believe it. The word ‘team’ really describes who we are – a team. We said we can win by any means and that’s what we have shown again today. I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible. I just can’t believe it, but I have a medal around my neck and we have a trophy.

“It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch – all the challenges we had on the pitch against our opponents. From the first game it was chaos. Losing your first game and becoming European Champions is incredible. Football is chaos.”

2 Spot-kick drama for England as Kelly wins it from the spot

It was Kelly who was entrusted with the late penalty against Italy in the semi-finals and although it was saved, she latched onto the rebound and found the net.

Up she stepped again for the winning moment in Basel on Sunday and she was never going to miss. Indeed, she didn’t, slamming the ball home.

Speaking after that moment, the Arsenal forward was on cloud nine. Kelly told the BBC: “I’m so proud of this team, so grateful to wear this badge and so proud to be English. I was cool, I was composed, I knew I was going to hit the back of the net. I don’t miss penalties twice.

“It’s unbelievable, it’s not just this team it’s the staff behind us. Twenty-three players and all the staff behind us. Sarina Wiegman has done it again. It’s unbelievable. It’s going to be crazy. I hope the whole of England comes out to support us and show the love to all these girls because they deserve it.”

1 England players party hard into the night

Prince William, snow angels in the confetti, tears of joy, a dancing Kelly, it was all happening in the aftermath of England’s victory.

Hampton commented that “this team is just unbelievable” while captain Leah Williamson barely had the words, summing things up well; “it’s just total disbelief,” she said.

Quite. Two European Championship wins in four years is some going. Long live this Wiegman rein.

Kagiso Rabada has leapfrogged Jasprit Bumrah, R Ashwin and Josh Hazlewood to go top of the ICC men’s Test bowling rankings after his nine-wicket haul in South Africa’s first Test against Bangladesh.Rabada took three wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings, becoming the fastest to 300 Test wickets in the process, and then returned figures of 6 for 46 as South Africa won their first Test in Asia since 2014.Bumrah and Ashwin both had indifferent showings in India’s defeat to New Zealand in Pune, and the two also dropped below Hazlewood to sit third and fourth respectively in the latest rankings.Related

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Pakistan left-arm spinner Noman Ali also saw a big jump, moving up nine places to go eighth after his nine wickets in Rawalpindi. This is the first time he has entered the top ten of the Test bowlers’ rankings.Meanwhile, Rachin Ravindra and Saud Shakeel entered the top ten of the Test batting charts for the first time. Ravindra, who followed up his century in Bengaluru with a half-century in Pune, moved up eight spots to go tenth, while Shakeel shot up 20 places to reach seventh, following his 134 against England.

Full rankings tables

• Click here for the full team rankings

• Click here for the full player rankings

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who dropped behind Harry Brook temporarily, has moved back up to third place, after making 30 and 77 in Pune.Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who made a battling 97 in Bangladesh’s second innings in Mirpur, and claimed two wickets, moved up two slots to go third in the allrounder charts.

Newcastle United are at a bit of a crossroads this summer. The Magpies’ latest transfer target was clear: sign a right winger.

Yet, their reported number one target, Bryan Mbeumo, rejected Eddie Howe’s side, as well as North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, in favour of a move to Manchester United, as per David Ornstein.

The North East giants were forced to move on to their next target, Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga. However, their bid for the Sweden international, worth a reported £45m according to Ornstein, was rejected by the City Ground side, although they could return with a new offer.

So, that leaves Newcastle somewhat in limbo, although they have been linked wth a few more players who could become their new right-winger.

The latest on Newcastle's pursuit for a winger

Finding a new right-sided attacker has certainly been a frustration for the Magpies. They have missed out on two primary targets and must now go back to the drawing board to figure out their next move.

Transfer Focus

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

Well, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has recently broken the news that they are ‘exploring other options’ with regards to wide options. Two of those include PSV Eindhoven starlet Johan Bakayoko and West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus.

If the Magpies are to move for Bakayoko this summer, it seems like it could be a bargain move. According to reports, the Eredivisie side could accept as little as £17m for their winger this summer.

He has just one year left on his contract, and a move seems inevitable, which could give Newcastle a perfect opportunity.

How Bakayoko compares to Kudus

At just 22 years of age, Bakayoko has already made a great impression across Europe. He is clearly deemed Premier League quality by some sides, after a move to Brentford fell through a couple of years ago.

Now, two years on from that potential move, he is still making waves in the top flight of the Netherlands. Last season for PSV, the Belgium international played 47 times across all competitions, scoring 12 goals and grabbing three assists.

However, that is not Bakayoko’s best season for PV, whose academy he is a graduate of. His quality was really on show in the 2023/24 campaign. The winger featured in 33 Eredivisie games that season, and scored 12 goals, whilst grabbing nine assists.

Of course, the Magpies might pursue a move for Kudus, but there is no guarantee that they will secure the services of the Ghanaian international. He has been offered to other clubs, including Chelsea, as recently as the 6th of June, according to Sky Sports.

He certainly has a good record in the Premier League for West Ham. The 24-year-old has made 65 appearances in the English top flight, scoring 13 goals and grabbing 12 assists in that time. His best season came in 2023/24, when he contributed eight goals and nine assists.

However, he hasn’t hit the heights for the Hammers that Bakayoko did for PSV a couple of years ago. This certainly suggests that the Belgian could be an excellent alternative to Kudus if the Magpies decide to move for him instead.

The underlying stats on FBref also suggest that it is the case, too. When looking at their numbers from 2023/24, Bakayoko averaged 0.76 goals and assists and 7.11 progressive carries per 90 minutes.

In comparison, Kudus averaged 0.54 goals and assists and 4.32 progressive carries each game.

Goals and assists

0.76

0.54

Key passes

2.45

1.08

Progressive passes

3.50

2.87

Shot-creating actions

5.20

3.75

Progressive carries

7.11

4.32

The stats are there to suggest that, if they bring Bakayoko in this summer, he would be an excellent alternative to Kudus. Not only is he a “clinical” goalscoring winger, as Antonio Mango described him, but he is a fantastic ball carrier too, as the stats show.

For just £17m, this could be one of the bargains of the summer for Newcastle. It hasn’t been an easy summer so far, with the rejections they have faced, but this could be a huge turning point and key addition.

Dream Pedro alternative: Newcastle advancing move for £40m "goal machine"

Newcastle plan to make a series of attacking signings this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 25, 2025

Liverpool kicked off their pre-season with a 3-1 win over Preston North End. The result didn’t matter. This was an occasion for Diogo Jota, with the two clubs coming together to celebrate and commemorate a wonderful man who will forever be woven into Liverpool’s history, forever a part of Anfield.

The football was secondary, but it was a chance for fans to see the fruits of sporting director Richard Hughes’ labours in the transfer market, with wide duo Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong catching the eye.

Kerkez, signed from Bournemouth for £40m, looks an absolute menace, so lively and sharp. Replacing Andy Robertson, 31, should have been a daunting thing, but the Reds have hit the jackpot here.

Frimpong, too, shone, using his blistering speed and underrated intelligence to great effect, winning three of four duels and completing his one attempted dribble, as per Sofascore.

Giorgi Mamardashvili also exuded control between the sticks, but it wasn’t just the new boys who caught the eye, with Cody Gakpo looking good to continue his rise under Arne Slot’s wing.

Cody Gakpo's performance vs Preston

Last season, pundit Peter Crouch noted that Gakpo had “gone up a level” with Slot at the helm, going from strength to strength as he performed in a fixed attacking role off the left flank, as opposed to the shuffle-about role he had for Jurgen Klopp.

Against Preston, Gakpo continued that impressive role, seeing plenty of the ball and converting a well-taken goal that led to an emotional celebration.

The 25-year-old will be desperate to prove to his manager that he deserves another season in a prominent position at Anfield, having scored 18 goals and provided seven assists across 49 matches last year.

However, with Luis Diaz potentially being sold this summer, Bayern Munich reported to have agreed personal terms with the versatile Colombian forward, Slot is within his rights to want more depth out on the wing.

And the man the Dutch coach has in mind might just have the quality to supersede Gakpo.

Liverpool lining up new forward

According to reports from Spain, Liverpool are planning to make an offer for Real Madrid star Rodrygo this summer, potentially using the non-committal Ibrahima Konate as leverage in a potential one-in, one-out deal.

Rodrygo has been considered among the world’s leading forwards for several years, but he’s struggled of late with Real, having been pushed to the backbenches since Xabi Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti.

Another Spanish outlet, AS, have also chimed in, revealing that Rodrygo has a price tag of €100m (£86m). Los Blancos might be willing to sell their long-serving winger, but only on their terms.

Time will tell whether Hughes and Michael Edwards can engineer a deal that checks out for Liverpool. Arsenal are also keen, though, so swiftness is important here.

Why Liverpool want Rodrygo

Rodrygo would be the first to admit that he endured a frustrating 2024/25 campaign, but having chalked up 14 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, it’s clear he’s got a high bar, which leaves even poor seasons above that of many other forwards across Europe.

His former teammate, Luka Modric, actually called him a “world-class superstar” once, and with a longing for a permanent place on the left wing, Rodrygo could find that Liverpool would be the perfect new home for him, should Diaz be sold in the coming weeks.

Given that the Brazil international was fielded out on the right for the majority of the 2024/25 campaign in spite of his preference to play on the opposite flank, maximising his potency, he did well.

Moreover, he’s a big-game star, something Liverpool will need as they challenge for the biggest prizes once more.

Rodrygo’s arrival wouldn’t prove detrimental for Gakpo; Diaz and the Dutchman cohabited in the Reds first team last year.

But there’s a sense that Liverpool would be signing an upgrade on the former PSV Eindhoven talent, one who could dynamise and expand Slot’s vision as the Reds chase down more success.

Matches (starts)

35 (23)

30 (22)

Goals

10

6

Assists

4

5

Touches*

27.7

48.1

Shots (on target)*

1.6 (0.7)

1.8 (0.7)

Big chances missed

6

1

Pass completion

84%

91%

Big chances created

11

5

Key passes*

1.1

1.6

Dribbles*

0.9

1.6

Tackles + interceptions*

1.1

1.1

Duels (won)*

3.1 (51%)

3.8 (53%)

Looking at how Gakpo in the Premier League and Rodrygo in La Liga compared last season, you’d have to say that the wide range of qualities leans toward the Brazilian’s favour, even though he flattered to deceive by his standards.

Moreover, he might have only scored six times, but the 24-year-old also missed only one big chance, underscoring his value as a prolific outlet.

Journalist Sam Tighe once backed this up when calling Rodrygo “terrifyingly good” in front of goal, so deadly when fit and on form.

The fact that Rodrygo managed to score six goals and supply six assists from the left side of Real Madrid’s frontline probably tells you all you need to know, for Ancelotti actually gave him just 12 appearances from that flank.

A duo of Gakpo and Rodrygo contesting for the ascendancy in Slot’s system would only be a good thing. But if Rodrygo is given the grounds to grow his confidence, he might just find himself eclipsing Gakpo, bringing athletic completeness to marry into a natural-born bent for goalscoring which has perhaps yet to even be fully realised on the professional stage.

Slot's next Wirtz: Liverpool in contact to sign "the new Haaland" for £78m

Liverpool are planning to sign a new striker in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 14, 2025

Amazingly, despite not being instantly used to the ins and outs of English football, Regis Le Bris would heroically secure promotion to the Premier League for Sunderland during his debut campaign in the Stadium of Light dug-out.

This wild achievement alone will ensure the Frenchman is in the Black Cats’ history books down the line. Still, all the joy and ecstasy of promotion will be unfortunately short-lived if the Wearside underdogs then struggle to acclimatise to the huge step-up in quality.

This will likely be the case too, considering the last six teams promoted up to the big time have all immediately fallen back down to the comforts of the EFL, having found the Premier League to be a sobering beast.

Yet, with Enzo Le Fee already signing on permanently, the Black Cats will hope they can buck this trend as Le Bris and Co. begin to eye up even more notable signings to aid their difficult survival mission.

This is what Sunderland’s dream XI could potentially look like ahead of their Premier League adventure nervously getting underway, with a whole host of fresh signings entering through the door, away from just the boost of Le Fee…

1 GK – Anthony Patterson

Anthony Patterson had been linked with Liverpool in the past, but his first top-flight chance will now come about with boyhood employers Sunderland.

The 25-year-old has been a mainstay in between the sticks for many a season now, so he is deserving of his opportunity in the Premier League, with Patterson now up to 51 clean sheets for the Black Cats from a total of 188 contests.

2 RB – Trai Hume

Whilst Sunderland will hope no more interest comes their way for their number one shot-stopper this summer, they will know already it will be a hard battle to keep Trai Hume around, considering the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers have already shown interest in the attack-minded right-back.

Still, Sunderland will have to remain firm when it comes to Hume, considering he could well take the Premier League by storm after collecting nine goal contributions across Sunderland’s promotion journey, on top of also valiantly picking up 17 clean sheets.

3 CB – Joe Gomez

The first new signing through the door could well be Liverpool titan Joe Gomez, with a report from the Empire of the Kop revealing that Gomez could be allowed to leave Anfield this summer, amid interest from the Black Cats, among other suitors.

Whilst Luke O’Nien was a brave battler all season long for Sunderland, he might not be cut out for the step-up, having been an EFL regular across the course of his playing days.

On the contrary, whilst he does have recurring injury problems, the 28-year-old transfer target can boast 149 appearances at the level, with only 109 goals conceded.

4 CB – Daniel Ballard

Whilst Daniel Ballard could well be joined by a fresh centre-back partner, the ex-Arsenal defender will be hopeful his spot in the side is set in stone for the Premier League.

After all, without Ballard, Sunderland might have fallen at the semi-final stages in the playoffs, with this last-gasp header sealing their dramatic spot at Wembley.

Moreover, if he can wrestle free of his own injury issues, he should be cut out for the physical demands of the top-flight, with the playoff final itself seeing Ballard win an imposing ten aerial duels.

5 LB – Kyle Walker-Peters

The second new addition in the back-line could well come in the form of Southampton star Kyle Walker-Peters joining, with the Saints man an in-demand body as his contract at St. Mary’s begins to wind down.

If he were to join, Walker-Peters might end up usurping Dennis Cirkin as Sunderland’s starting left-back, having collected 12 assists in the Premier League to date from either the right-back or left-back spot.

6 CM – Dan Neil

Much like Hume, Le Bris’ men will be hoping that Dan Neil stays put, regardless of outside noise linking him with a spectacular £15m switch to AS Roma.

Neil is deserving of such attention, with the in-demand Black Cats captain a perfect mix of skill and grit, as seen in his two goals and three assists in league action last season, alongside his average duels won count being a high 4.8 from 47 second-tier clashes.

7 CM – Jordan Henderson

Much like Gomez, the added experience of Jordan Henderson in the midfield ranks could help the Black Cats adjust to the step-up.

After all, the former Sunderland prodigy has a mammoth 431 top-flight appearances next to his name, with the top-flight veteran no doubt eager to add more to his collection if his hometown club swoop in for him imminently.

8 RM – Amad Diallo

The boldest of Sunderland’s new pick-ups would certainly come in the form of Amad Diallo amazingly returning to the Stadium of Light.

The “sensational” attacker – as he’s been previously lauded by football journalist Daniel Hussey – has been tentatively linked with an ambitious return to the Black Cats, after a magical loan spell back during the 2022/23 season saw him tally up 14 goals and four assists.

24/25

Man Utd

43

11

9

23/24

Man Utd

12

2

1

22/23

Sunderland

42

14

4

Amad is now valued at around the £40m mark off the back of finally proving himself in the top-flight with Manchester United – as can be seen looking at the table above – meaning this summer buy would be an almighty statement purchase.

9 CAM – Chris Rigg

Whilst Sunderland found themselves ultimately powerless regarding Tommy Watson’s exit and Jobe Bellingham’s likely departure, the Wearside underdogs will feel at least a sliver of positivity if Chris Rigg remains in the building for their top-flight ride.

It will be intriguing to see how the 17-year-old hotshot takes to the daunting division, but much like he managed to soar up to the senior ranks at his hometown side with ease by bagging four league strikes last season, this could be another hurdle he fearlessly manages to overcome.

10 LM – Enzo Le Fee

Alongside Rigg and the potential new face of Amad, Enzo Le Fee will likely take up the left wing spot for the Black Cats next season.

Le Bris does have Romaine Mundle up his sleeve down the left flank, but Le Fee might well just get the nod over the ex-Standard Liege attacker based on his wealth of top-flight experience in France, having made 132 Ligue 1 appearances primarily on the books of his manager’s former employers Lorient.

He also showed off his class for the newly promoted side by helping himself to one goal and three assists from 18 clashes, meaning he should take to the Premier League swimmingly.

Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson has shared his verdict as Spurs reportedly close in on the appointment of a 52-year-old, with the ex-England international expressing his delight for chairman Daniel Levy.

Tottenham ponder new manager after 20 Premier League defeats

The Lilywhites set a dismal record over the weekend, surpassing their previous number of total Premier League defeats in a single season.

Tottenham: £4m-per-year manager enters pole position to replace Postecoglou

The Australian could still leave Spurs if they win the Europa League.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 10, 2025

Ange Postecoglou’s side have now lost 20 league games this term, following a 2-0 home defeat to FA Cup finalists Crystal Palace, and this torrid number is quite simply inexcusable for a ‘big six’ club.

Aston Villa (away)

May 16th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

Spurs also find themselves 17th in the table with no wins from their last five. The terrible form of relegated trio Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton has seemingly rescued them from flirting with a drop to the Championship, which makes for seriously grim reading from Postecoglou’s perspective.

Some reports suggest Postecoglou is set to leave Tottenham this summer, even if the Australian ends their 17-year wait for a trophy and qualifies for the Champions League by winning the Europa League final.

A host of tacticians have been tipped to potentially replace Postecoglou, with Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford), Scott Parker (Burnley), Jürgen Klopp (Head of Global, Red Bull), Niko Kovač (Borussia Dortmund) and Edin Terzić (free agent) all on Tottenham’s rumoured managerial shortlist, according to reports in the last month.

In the meantime, while none of these possible appointments appear close, one hire which is becoming more anticipated by the week is the return of ex-managing director Fabio Paratici.

The Italian’s worldwide ban by FIFA is due to end on June 30th, and this has prompted many reports linking him with a return to N17.

Corriere della Sera recently stated that Paratici will re-join Tottenham after talks with AC Milan broke down, and some media outlets closer to home claim that Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has been recommended to Spurs by the 52-year-old already.

Robinson thrilled by potential Paratici return to Tottenham

Speaking to Tottenham News, ex-Spurs keeper Robinson has shared exactly why he believes Paratici’s potentially imminent comeback is a welcome boost for the north Londoners.

“His recruitment has been excellent,” said the pundit, who regularly features on Sky Sports.

“Listen, he’s had an official ban, but I think his fingerprints have been all over a lot of Tottenham signings. You can’t work in an official capacity, but there’s nobody saying you can’t ring your mate up and make a phone call and recommend him a player.

“Anyone can do that. You look at the signings that he’s had, you look at Kulusevski, Bentancur, Romero, Vicario. The signings that he’s brought to the club have been a success.

“I think from the outside looking in, it’s somebody that Daniel Levy trusts. So if he comes back in an official capacity, I think that’ll be a good thing for the club if he can work with whatever manager’s in charge next season and get the recruitment right for the style of play that the manager wants to achieve.

“It’s vitally important, as we’ve seen this season with Ange, you have to have a set of players that fit the system that the manager wants to play, or else it’s not going to work.”

And India bring their win-loss record in Test cricket to 178-all

Sampath Bandarupalli09-Mar-2024178-178 – India’s win-loss record in Test cricket after the Dharamsala Test. This is the first instance in India’s Test history of their wins not being fewer than their losses. Currently, four other teams have a positive win-loss record in Test cricket: Australia (1.780), England (1.209), South Africa (1.105) and Pakistan (1.042).36 – Five-wicket Test hauls for R Ashwin – the most by an India bowler, surpassing Anil Kumble’s 35. Ashwin is now ranked joint-third for the most five-fors in Tests, alongside Richard Hadlee (36), with only Muthiah Muralidaran (67) and Shane Warne (37) ahead.9 for 128 – Ashwin’s bowling figures in Dharamsala, the best for any player in their 100th Test. Muralidaran’s match figures of 9 for 141 against Bangladesh in 2006 were the previous best in a 100th Test. Ashwin also became the first player to take two hauls of four-plus in their 100th Test match.700 – Wickets for James Anderson in Test cricket. He is the first pacer to register 700 Test wickets, and only the third player overall to achieve this milestone, after Muralidaran (800) and Shane Warne (708).ESPNcricinfo Ltd100 – Test wickets for Ashwin at home against England. He is only the third bowler to bag 100-plus wickets against an opponent at home. Stuart Broad took 106 wickets against Australia at home, while Anderson has 105 against India in England.Ashwin now has eight five-fors against England at home, the joint-most for a bowler against an opponent at home. Muralidaran also took eight five-fors at home against Bangladesh and South Africa.14 – Number of five-fors for Ashwin in 39 Test innings at home where he opened the bowling. Only two bowlers have taken more five-fors when opening the bowling at home – 24 by Anderson and 16 by Dale Steyn.24.6 – Bowling strike rate of India’s spinners in Dharamsala. Only once before have India’s spinners take 18 or more wickets in a Test match at a better strike rate: 21.5 against England in Ahmedabad in 2021.118 – Test wins for India in India. These are the third-most home Test wins for any team, moving ahead of South Africa’s 117. Only Australia (259) and England (233) are ahead of India on the list.3 – Instances of India winning as many as four matches in a Test series, including this latest series win against England. Previously, they whitewashed Australia in a four-match series at home in 2013, and defeated England by 4-0 in a five-match home series in 2016.

Scheduling intransigence causes series of outstanding performances to be overshadowed

Valkerie Baynes30-Jun-2022England were desperate for a result. South Africa hoped to hold out for a draw. In the end, the latter got their way as the weather had the final say when their Test in Taunton finished in a stalemate.What cricket there was – and there was plenty over the first two days in particular – was hard-fought and full of highlights.There was Marizanne Kapp’s heroic 150 to keep her side in the contest after England’s debutant seamers Issy Wong and Lauren Bell combined with new seam-bowling leader Kate Cross and Nat Sciver to reduce them to 45 for 4 on the first morning.Then there was Player of the Match Sciver’s unbeaten 169 and Alice Davidson-Richards’ century on debut before England’s sporting declaration, 133 runs ahead.When Wong took two wickets at the end of a frustrating third day full of rain delays to leave South Africa 45 for 3, the hosts’ prospects of pushing for victory looked very good. But then came the stunning resistance of Tumi Sekhukhune who came in as nightwatcher and proved to be immovable, as did Kapp, so that by the time the rain came back one last time there was no chance of a result.Poignantly, nearly every player who spoke about this match, in the lead-up and during, talked of feeling a responsibility to “put on a good show” in the context of questions over the future of women’s Tests.Kate Cross is pumped up after getting rid of Sane Luus for 10•Getty ImagesA great contest ruined by the weather has been the fate of countless Tests down the years, regardless of which gender is playing, and yet there is one key difference. This match boosted the argument for women’s Tests to be played over five days rather than four.Cross, who stepped up in the absence of the retired Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt and took six wickets for the match, posted on the subject on Twitter while Heather Knight, England’s captain who has long been a supporter of five-day Tests for women, was hopeful that things might change for the Ashes in England in 2023.”I can give my opinion, I’ve given that before and that hasn’t changed,” Knight said. “And also with the rain, it’s kind of reinforced that opinion a little bit and hopefully it happens. We’ve got an Ashes Test match in in the summer next year, and hopefully the ICC gives the option for the boards to choose four or five days, and hopefully that’ll be the case.”When we play Tests so rarely… I think it’s important that it has the chance to come to a crescendo and to finish and the stats in terms of the amount of draws speak for themselves a little bit. It’s hard to keep trying to fight the corner for women’s Test cricket when a lot of the games finish in a draw.”

Is it time for five-day women's Tests? #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/Es64ngTHKa

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 30, 2022