Australia’s batting order for the first Test is still some way from being confirmed, but Labuschagne is currently the favourite to go in at the top

AAP31-Oct-2025

Marnus Labuschagne says he would have no issue opening for Australia in the Ashes, confident he is now much clearer in his own game than in recent summers.Labuschagne was denied another chance to bat in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield match with New South Wales on Friday, with the match ending in an early draw.Related

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After rain washed out the opening day, Jack Clayton’s 113 ensured Queensland would not have to follow on.Sam Konstas was then more patient with the bat, before attacking later in the innings and being caught charging Sam Skelly on 41, before a draw was called soon after.Konstas won’t be there come the first Test in Perth next month, with the 20-year-old almost certain to be given time in the Sheffield Shield to find his game.Labuschagne is favourite to take Konstas’s spot at the top, in a move that would allow allrounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster to both stay in the team.Labuschagne has said throughout this summer his preferred position is No.3, while insisting he would be willing to open to get back into the team. He has done so just twice at Test level, out for 17 and 22 in this year’s World Test Championship final against South Africa before being dropped from the side.But on Friday he declared he would more than welcome the challenge to open in Perth in three weeks’ time.”I’d say ‘great’,” Labuschagne responded when quizzed on what he would say if asked to open. “It honestly doesn’t concern me, I just want to be playing cricket at my best.Sam Konstas whips through the on side•Getty Images

“This year I’ve been in in the first few overs a few times. You’re used to it batting No. 3, and I’ve batted there probably 95 per cent of my career in both formats.”So I’m very used to being in early. If I have to open, great. If I bat three, great. Wherever there’s a spot for me I’ll take it and we’ll go from there.”Forced to watch on from the sidelines in the Caribbean last winter, Labuschagne has since adopted a less-is-more approach to his batting. The renowned cricket nuffie no longer bats in the nets on match days, admitting he was getting in his own head and thinking too much about his technique.Small changes have been made to his grip and stance, while he has also put pressure back on the bowlers in his four centuries for Queensland to start the summer.”Mentally I’m a lot clearer on my game and not getting too much deep thought into certain dismissals or methods,” Labuschagne said. “It’s not the actual training in the nets, I absolutely love that, I can do that all day.”But at times I feel like my technique gets in a space where I go home and I’m like ‘maybe I want to do this or maybe I want to go and try that’. Now I’m trying to stay out of my own way really and go out there and trust my skills when I get to the middle.”

Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni was left stunned by AC Milan's derby victory despite them failing to create sufficient chances throughout the game. While the 26-year-old believes his team registered a good display against Massimiliano Allegri's side, he sounded critical of the opposition securing just one clear chance through Christian Pulisic, which decided the fate of the fixture.

• Inter dominate but go down

  From ball possession to the number of shots recorded by the two parties, Inter led in every aspect in the famous Milan derby last Sunday. While Cristian Chivu's side earned nine corners and successfully implemented five shots on target, compared to one corner and three shots from Milan's end, they left the pitch empty-handed as Pulisic bagged the solitary goal of the game in the 54th minute. Bastoni, who has been the defensive leader alongside Francesco Acerbi, was left gutted with the outcome. 

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  Bastoni slams Milan but praises his team

  Despite the result, Bastoni was critical of their arch-rivals and claimed he couldn't remember them registering any goal-scoring opportunities apart from the goal. He said on "It's difficult to make a lucid analysis of this match, I don't remember any clear chances for them apart from the goal. Sorry, we will have to make a lucid analysis even if sometimes finding answers to defeats like this hurts. Sometimes you prefer to lose badly to have room for improvement, this time for me beyond the episodes we played a good game. I don't know, in Naples there were important carelessness, with Juve and Milan there is little to say. I should also see it again because on the pitch the sensations are sometimes different. But it seems to me that at least we were equal. Other times we had the feeling of being vulnerable, this time we were there. We had courage, holding one-on-one with [Rafael] Leao and Pulisic. There was no feeling of being able to concede goals."

  Notably, this was Inter's fourth defeat of the Serie A campaign, which has now compelled them to sit on the fourth place on the table. A win, on the contrary, could have seen them take the pole position for the meantime. Bastoni commented: "It's a wake-up call because four defeats is a lot, but I also think that defeats need to be analysed. I would be much more worried seeing Inter out of the game with their heads or without character. I don't see that. As long as there is this mentality and this spirit, I'm sure things will go well."

• Inter boss highlights mistakes

  While Bastoni spoke of having a thorough analysis, coach Christian Chivu admitted his disappointment in the result, saying: "The frustration is not just what we created, it’s the performance, the focus, as we hardly allowed any counter-attacks, despite knowing the two strikers could cause us problems. The one time we lost the second ball in midfield, they scored. This is football. I take home the good performance, as the lads kept going to the end, despite the disappointment of conceding the goal, and the frustration after hitting the woodwork twice. They tried to score in every possible way, and that is the spirit I want to see.

  "When you suffer the fourth defeat in 12 rounds, that is too many. However, the table is still pretty tight, so we are up there and need to deal with this frustration, because losing a game like this can leave a mark." He further stated, "We are all in this and all responsible, for good and bad. We all could’ve done better, we could’ve scored earlier, or dealt with the moments of the match better. Our duty now is to get back on our feet, as on Tuesday we have an equally important match."

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  Inter have a tough week ahead

  Inter just have two days to prepare for the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, whom they face this Tuesday. Following a cooling period, they'll face Pisa in the Serie A on Sunday. However, the game against the Spanish giants is going to be the more crucial one of the two. They are seated third in the Champions League table, with four wins and share the same points as Bayern Munich and Arsenal. 

Gill’s recent form is compelling, but he hasn’t played a T20I for a year, and in his absence other contenders have emerged and succeeded as openers

Shashank Kishore13-Aug-2025

In Shubman Gill’s absence, Axar Patel was given the T20I vice-captaincy•AFP/Getty Images

There’s no question about Shubman Gill’s place in the Indian team in two out of three international formats. He broke records as a batter while leading India to a 2-2 draw in England in his debut series as Test captain, and played important roles in India’s run to the 2023 ODI World Cup final and their triumph in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Gill could even be the next ODI captain, whenever Rohit Sharma quits that format too.But India’s next assignment is the Asia Cup in September, to be played in the T20I format as preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, and the question arises: does Gill fit into India’s plans for the shortest format?His most recent T20 form is compelling – 650 runs at a strike rate of nearly 156 in IPL 2025. He’s going to be a cornerstone of Indian cricket for the next decade. Both are reasons in his favour, but the selection question is more complex.Related

Asia Cup 2025 in UAE starting September 9; India vs Pakistan on September 14

Gill shows he is ready for the grind of India's Test captaincy

It has been a while since India picked a full-strength T20I squad; the last time they did so was for the 2024 T20 World Cup, which they won in the USA and West Indies. Gill was a travelling reserve for that tournament, outside the main 15. Since then, India’s T20I selections have been influenced by scheduling and injuries.Gill was captain of a second-string team for the T20I series in Zimbabwe immediately after the World Cup last year. He was vice-captain of a near full-strength squad for the T20I series in Sri Lanka later in July that year. As Test cricket took precedence, however, Gill was not picked for India’s home T20Is against Bangladesh in October, the T20Is in South Africa in November, and the home T20Is against England in January this year, which were scheduled soon after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and shortly before the Champions Trophy. In his absence, Axar Patel was elevated to the T20I vice-captaincy.The scheduling crunch is ever-present. For example, the Asia Cup final is on September 28, and India’s home Test series against West Indies starts on October 2. This time, however, the selectors have to zero in on the best T20I combination for the Asia Cup with the larger goal of defending their World Cup title next year. They begin from a position of immense strength: since winning the World Cup, India have won 17 out of 20 bilateral T20Is.In Gill’s absence from the T20I side since August 2024, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have become the incumbent openers. Abhishek, the top-ranked batter in the format, scored 279 runs at a strike rate of nearly 220 in India’s most recent T20I series, against England in January. While Samson had low scores in those five matches, he had hit three hundreds in five preceding T20Is.Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of the frontrunners to open the batting•AFP/Getty ImagesThe selectors could weigh up whether they want to continue with two ultra-explosive openers in Abhishek and Samson, in keeping with India’s brand of T20I cricket, or go for a more consistent yet aggressive option.Like Yashasvi Jaiswal? Jaiswal, like Gill, has not played a T20I since July 2024 due to India prioritising his Test performances in a packed calendar. However, in India’s previous full-strength squad, Jaiswal was picked as the back-up opener ahead of Gill for the 2024 T20 World Cup. He ended up being a back-up only because India made the relatively late decision to open with Rohit and Virat Kohli, whose retirements since then have put Jaiswal back as one of the frontrunners to open. At the time, Gill was coming off a not-so-hot performance in IPL 2024, and there isn’t a massive difference between his and Jaiswal’s numbers in IPL 2025 either.If the team management doesn’t want to break Samson and Abhishek up at the top, it’s hard to see how Gill – or Jaiswal – can feature in India’s first-choice T20I XI. And if the selectors want to keep the Asia Cup squad size to 15 – they will have to do that for the World Cup – it’s hard to see how they can pick all four of Abhishek, Samson, Gill and Jaiswal, given the need for back-ups for other types of players in the squad. Samson, though, has the advantage of doubling up as a wicketkeeper too.It could boil down to a choice between Jaiswal or Gill in the squad – who the selectors feel will have the stronger impact during India’s T20 title defence.

Liverpool have now reportedly set their sights on hiring a Premier League manager, who Pep Guardiola called “incredible”, in a fresh concern for Arne Slot.

Carragher delivers "honest" Liverpool verdict after PSV defeat

Before the international break, Liverpool could at least fall back on the excuse that much of their bad form came on the road. Anfield, for the most part, remained a fortress. Just weeks later, however, and that fortress has been set ablaze by humiliating defeats at the hands of Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven.

Not everyone is ready to call time on Slot’s time at the club, however, and Anfield legend Jamie Carragher sent a timely reminder on punditry duty that Liverpool aren’t a sacking club, historically speaking.

He said: “Liverpool is not a sacking club, Liverpool, I think, are different from almost every club in European football where the manager is the king, you know, the managers get time.

“Liverpool have never sacked a manager who’s won the league, never in the history. They’ve all, you know, after a few years they’ve gone, they’ve resigned.

Related Slot must drop 3/10 Liverpool flop who was just as bad as Konate vs PSV

Arne Slot must now axe this Liverpool flop after he put in an extremely poor display at Anfield against PSV Eindhoven.

Posts 1 ByKelan Sarson Nov 27, 2025

“I couldn’t believe over the weekend that people were talking about the manager’s job when I spoke to Liverpool supporters after losing at home to Nottingham Forest.

“It’s only going to amplify now and I’ve always been in the camp of you stick with the manager because I’m angry with the players if I’m being totally honest, I’m really angry with the players but it does get to a stage with any manager at any club where I always use this word untenable, where it almost feels like it can’t go on any longer.”

Whether Liverpool chiefs share that view is the big question. Recent reports linking them to the likes of Andoni Iraola certainly suggests that they’re at least preparing for life without Slot.

Liverpool eyeing Andoni Iraola move

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now eyeing a move to hire Iraola from Bournemouth if they decide to sack Slot. The Cherries boss is someone that Richard Hughes knows well, given that the sporting director hired the Spaniard during his time on the South Coast, and could now turn to him for a second time.

Iraola is one of the most well-respected managers in the Premier League these days. He’s taken Bournemouth to new heights and transformed the likes of Antoine Semenyo, who’s attracting interest from Liverpool ahead of the January transfer window.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been one of the many figures around English football to hand the Bournemouth boss praise, telling reporters earlier this season: “Andoni is an incredible, well-respected manager in Spain and did an incredible job in Rayo Vallecano.”

It doesn’t get much better than praise from the Man City boss, and Iraola could yet get the chance to become one of his biggest rivals if Liverpool make their move.

Gravenberch upgrade: Liverpool ready record bid for "best CM in the world"

The allrounder will be reassessed ahead of next week’s one-day game then the second round of the Shield

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2025Australia allrounder Beau Webster has been ruled out of Tasmania’s opening Sheffield Shield match of the season against Queensland after picking up an ankle injury although it is not considered to be a major concern.Webster will be reassessed ahead of the One-Day Cup match against Queensland on Thursday. The second round of the Shield, where Tasmania will face Western Australia in Hobart, starts on October 15.Related

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Webster hopes his all-round skills can help push for ODI honours

Sheffield Shield preview: Ashes selection race adds intrigue

No Ashes restrictions: Cameron Green maps out bowling plan

Webster had earmarked playing all four of Tasmania’s Shield matches ahead of the start of the Ashes. Although he has made an excellent start to his Test career with four half-centuries in seven matches in tricky batting conditions there is talk he could be under pressure for his place when England arrive.Cameron Green is expected to be back on unrestricted bowling duty by then and, depending on which players stake a claim for top-order positions, there is a scenario where Green is moved back down the order although he has also been endorsed as a long-term candidate for No. 3.If Green is retained in that position, where he finished strongly against West Indies, there is a good chance he and Webster can continue to feature in the same XI.”It’s one thing that’s coming up a lot is obviously Greeney’s back bowling and I’ve got my chance, I suppose, through him being a batter only,” Webster told ESPNcricinfo ahead of the season. “He was an allrounder for Australia for years before that along with Mitch [Marsh] and, when I answer the question, I’d love to see both of us in the team. If you’re scoring runs in the top six batters for Australia if you can bowl it’s a bonus.”Absolutely I’d love to play in a team with Greeney. He’s a fantastic batter. I really hope he bangs it out of the park at the top of the order and I can stay at No. 6 and we can both contribute with the ball and in the field and win games for Australia.”Webster started his domestic season with five wickets in two One-Day Cup games and 81 off 95 balls in the second match against Victoria.

20-overs-a-sideSouth Africa took a big step towards a World Cup semi-final berth by chasing successfully for the fourth time in the tournament, this time in a rain-reduced encounter in Colombo. They played what was essentially a T20 against Sri Lanka, whose innings was paused for five-and-a-quarter hours, and whose semi-final hopes now hang by a thread. Sri Lanka have two points from two washouts and are winless. For any chance of a final-four spot, they must win their last two games and hope other results go their way.After choosing to bat first, Sri Lanka faced 12 overs before the rain delay and scored 46 for 2. They returned to hit 59 runs in eight overs, losing five wickets in the process. South Africa’s target was adjusted up from Sri Lanka’s final score of 105 for 7 to acknowledge the hosts did not know they would only bat 20 overs for 60% of their innings.Similarly South Africa’s bowling plans were scuppered by the revised playing conditions. Both senior seamers – Marizanne Kapp and Masabata Klaas – were bowled out in the first 12 overs as the reduction only allowed for bowlers to deliver a maximum of four overs each. They had also included two offspinners – Sune Luus, returning from a hip flexor strain, and Nondumiso Shangase – but neither ended up bowling.Instead, it was left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, dealing with a wet ball, who took 3 for 30 and limited Sri Lanka after the resumption. Unlike in their previous two matches against India and Bangladesh, South Africa were barely troubled in the chase. Laura Wolvaardt scored a second half-century at this event and Tazmin Brits supported her with a fifty of her own as South Africa cruised to a win with 5.1 overs to spare. Their net run-rate, though, remains negative after their opening defeat to England.South Africa may not have thought it would be that easy, when hours earlier, Sri Lanka – fresh from topping 250 against New Zealand – decided to go again by batting first in home conditions. But South Africa had an ace, Klaas, who threatened from the get-go when she beat Vishmi Gunaratne first with an outswinger and then an inswinger. In the next over, Gunaratne was completing a single off Kapp when a throw came into the non-striker’s end and struck her on the inside of her left knee. Going down in pain, she received treatment on-field and was stretchered off later. No serious damage was done as Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed she would bat again later in the innings.Athapaththu was on three of 12 balls at the time and only got her next runs six deliveries later when she hit Kapp inside-out over point for four. Just as she found her touch, South Africa also discovered theirs. Klaas bowled Hasini Perera, who played down the wrong line, with a beauty that shaped away. Then Kapp found Harshita Samarawickrama’s edge but the chance fell short of Chloe Tryon at slip. Klaas then snared the big fish when Athapaththu was given out lbw as she lunged forward to an inswinger. Athpaththu thought the impact was outside the line and reviewed but stayed out on umpires call. Sri Lanka were 37 for 2 after 10 overs.Only two more overs were possible before the drizzle became too heavy and the players were taken off the field. They remained off for five hours and 14 minutes, during which time it rained heavily, eased off and eventually Sri Lanka’s excellent groundstaff got conditions ready for a restart.Mlaba restarted proceedings and was dispatched for six first ball by Kavisha Dilhari, in an over that cost 10. Sri Lanka’s intent was clear when, in the next over, Samarawickrama tried to slog Nadine de Klerk but got a leading edge to mid-off, where Klaas could not hold on. De Klerk was rewarded later in the over when Dilhari handed a catch to Wolvaardt at cover.Nonkululeko Mlaba finished with three wickets•Getty Images

It became two in two for Sri Lanka as Mlaba removed Samarawickrama at the start of her next over, with Wolvaardt doing the catching again. That brought Gunaratne back to the crease and she finished the over by hitting Mlaba down the ground for four. Gunaratne was in excellent touch and hit Chloe Tryon through point, and Mlaba for back-to-back fours to keep pressure on South Africa.Nilakshika de Silva took on de Klerk but South Africa pulled things back in the last two overs. De Klerk’s fourth over cost just three runs and Mlaba picked up two wickets and conceded four to take her to second on the tournament wicket-takers’ list. De Silva, trying to get as many as possible, picked out deep midwicket and Gunaratne edged behind to give 18-year old wicketkeeper Karabo Meso her first World Cup catch.Wolvaardt and Brits, who had not had the best tournament as an opening pair thus far, then took complete control. They posted their highest opening stand of this World Cup and dealt well with the early swing Malki Madara generated. Wolvaardt kept one that was destined for the stumps out and then advanced down the track to hit her over mid-on.It took Brits, coming off back to back ducks, some time before she brought out a big shot. But when she did, it was huge. Coming down the track, she sent Inoka Ranaweera back over her head for six. South Africa’s fifty came up in the eighth over as Brits was nearly run out at the non-striker’s end with Wolvaardt pushing for two. Wolvaardt went on to give Brits the best view in the house as she creamed a cover drive off Athapaththu and asserted her authority on the game.Brits survived an lbw review on 20 when Dilhari tossed one up. Dilhari’s night got worse from there when South Africa took 18 runs off her third over including four fours. Wolvaardt reached fifty off the second one, when she hit Dilhari leg-side, then Brits scored two of her own to enter the 40s. She finished things off quickly and got to fifty when she ended the game with a six over midwicket.

Patrick Dorgu’s Manchester United career so far was summed up in one moment on Monday evening against Everton.

A rare piece of attacking quality saw Joshua Zirkzee flash a ball across the box in the first half, and with Dorgu perfectly positioned at the backpost, the chance was there for the 21-year-old to fire home his first goal for the club following his January arrival from Lecce.

Just days on from cooly converting in Denmark’s eventual 4-2 defeat to Scotland in World Cup qualification, the young wing-back could not repeat the feat, instead lashing his attempt wide in what has, unfortunately, almost become trademark fashion.

Like against Manchester City – where Dorgu had more touches in the opposition box than any other player (12) – he routinely gets himself into promising openings, although is simply unable to make the most of it, having registered just two assists in 32 games under Ruben Amorim to date.

In truth, the left-footer is drifting into Rasmus Hojlund territory as a promising, but raw Danish arrival from Serie A who has almost been made first-choice in his position too soon, with little in the way of competition.

Thankfully, Amorim might well have an in-house solution, although it will continue to irk supporters that £30m was splashed out on Dorgu, while a certain Alvaro Carreras departed for just £5m a year earlier.

How Dorgu & Carreras compare this season

One of the most head-scratching decisions of the Erik ten Hag reign remains the choice not to hand an opportunity to Carreras at senior level, with the young Spaniard never actually making a first-team appearance before his eventual departure – initially on loan – to Benfica in January 2024.

Despite notably claiming Preston North End’s Young Player of the Year award following a standout 2022/23 season in the second tier, Ten Hag repeatedly overlooked the academy asset, even amid the long-term absences of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

In 2023/24, for instance, the Dutchman tried numerous, makeshift options at left-back, ranging from Sofyan Amrabat to Victor Lindelof, making it all the more puzzling that Carreras remained out in the cold.

Still only 22 years old, the Real Madrid youth product is now flourishing back at the Bernabeu, having re-joined his former employers on a £42m deal over the summer.

Comfortable at left wing-back or left-back, Carreras has started 16 of Madrid’s 17 games in LaLiga and the Champions League this season, scoring a belting effort in the 4-0 win over Valencia.

Notably likened to new teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold for his attacking, creative quality from the flanks, the Ferrol-born starlet looks like a real upgrade on Dorgu on current evidence, with United left looking red-faced over their handling of him.

Initially signed as a 16-year-old in 2020 – the same time in which Alejandro Garnacho arrived from Atletico Madrid – Carreras will seemingly remain a case of what might have been as far as the Red Devils are concerned.

Games (starts)

13 (13)

11 (7)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

1

Big chances created

1

2

Key passes*

1.2

0.8

Pass accuracy*

90%

73%

Successful dribbles*

0.5

0.3

Tackles*

1.3

2.1

Interceptions*

1.5

0.9

Total duels won*

48%

51%

Hopefully, a similar scenario doesn’t occur under the new INEOS regime.

Man Utd's "stream train" can derail Dorgu's Man Utd stay

Question marks remain over the midfield unit and number nine berth at Old Trafford, but perhaps the biggest issue for Amorim – and INEOS – is at wing-back, not least on the left.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The fact that the Portuguese frequently opts to deploy Diogo Dalot in that role is both damning on the club’s squad building, but also on Dorgu, with the more natural option hardly pulling up any trees down that side.

Dorgu isn’t even a year into his Old Trafford stay, but questions are beginning to be asked of his suitability and quality for Premier League football, with his woes highlighted by the fact that he ranks in the bottom 8% of top-flight full-backs for pass completion, as well as in the bottom 3% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

It simply isn’t working right now on that left flank, hence why a chance could arise for 18-year-old summer arrival, Diego Leon, with the Paraguayan still waiting for his first chance at senior level in Manchester.

Like Carreras, Leon has been plucked as a promising teenager with one eye on the future, with a deal having initially been struck with his former club Cerro Porteno in January.

Signed for a fee of around £6m, the bulldozing defender has featured in matchday squads this season, albeit without getting onto the pitch, having largely operated for the U21 side to date.

There is a danger that he could follow in Carreras’ footsteps as an almost forgotten figure in the academy set-up, yet much like in Ten Hag’s tenure, there is a left-sided issue to be solved – Amorim needs to be brave.

Leon, of course, is unproven and untested in English football, but he’s no stranger to life in the first-team, having scored four times in just 33 games back in his native Paraguay.

Already capped at senior level for his country too, the teen full-back appears to have the physical capabilities to be able to thrive in the Premier League, with analyst Ben Mattinson suggesting that he runs “like a steam train”.

That pace and power was evident during Leon’s stunning, solo goal against Tottenham Hotspur’s U21 side, picking the ball inside his own half and driving into the opposition box to convert.

Also described by Mattinson as a “physical, explosive, marauding” left-back who is “similar to a Patrick Dorgu type”, Leon will hopefully showcase the best of what Dorgu has to offer, but with far greater end product.

The over-reliance and burden on Dorgu has gone on too long, with the ex-Lecce man having seemingly regressed rather than progressed under Amorim’s watch.

Time is on his side, but with an even younger, high-potential talent like Leon waiting in the wings, he might already be on borrowed time.

Mainoo 2.0: Man Utd can axe Ugarte for one of England's "best young players"

Manchester United’s midfield needs an overhaul – thankfully Carrington has the solution…

ByRobbie Walls Nov 22, 2025

Which one do you pick: the Ben Stokes epic at Headingley against Australia, or the time New Zealand overturned a follow-on to trump Bazballin’ England?

ESPNcricinfo staff20-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The ENG-AUS 2019 Leeds Test moves into the quarter-finals.

The Stokes show at Headingley, 2019

A Test that might not have otherwise stayed for too long in the memory, it was the unbroken 76-run stand for the last wicket between Ben Stokes and Jack Leach that lifted it to where the greatest Test matches in history are clubbed together.And, of course, the fact that in those 76 runs, one batter scored 74 (in 45 balls) and the other 1 (in 17 balls)! Not to forget that the winners had scored 67 in their first innings and then hit 362 for 9 in a Test where 246 was the next-best total.Australia won the first Test and the second was drawn, so England wanted to win this one at Headingley to stay in the Ashes contest. But after Australia were bowled out for 179 in the first innings, all England could put up was 67, with Joe Denly top-scoring with 12. Back to Australia, and this time they put up 246.Was the pitch getting better for batting? It didn’t seem so when England were 15 for 2 in their chase of 359, and then 159 for 4 with Joe Root gone, and then 286 for 9. Stokes, the No. 5, was on 61 at the time. Off 174 balls.But with last-man Leach for company, Stokes switched something on. He hit four fours and seven sixes from that point, keeping Leach away from the strike as much as possible, before finishing it off with a flay through the covers off Pat Cummins. Done and dusted!

New Zealand go from follow-on to victory – Wellington, 2023

New Zealand became only the fourth team in Test history to win after being asked to follow-on when they beat England by one run in Wellington.With Harry Brook and Joe Root scoring hundreds, England Bazballed their way to 435 for 8 declared. In response, New Zealand slipped to 103 for 7 before folding for 209, and were asked to follow on.The second innings was completely different. Led by Kane Williamson’s 132, Tom Blundell’s 90 and Tom Latham’s 83, they set England 258 to win.With more than a day left, England would have still fancied their chances. But they collapsed to 80 for 5 within 22 overs. Ben Stokes decided to drop the anchor, while Root did the bulk of the scoring. They took England past 200 but fell soon after.It came down to the last pair with seven to get. Jack Leach got off the mark with a single, as he had during the famous Headingley Test of the 2019 Ashes. But this time it was James Anderson, and not Stokes, at the other end. Anderson did smash a four but then edged Neil Wagner down the leg side for Blundell to complete a diving catch and the win.

AS Roma’s pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee is accelerating, with the Serie A leaders building a transfer structure designed to convince Manchester United to sanction a January move despite UEFA restrictions. After the Dutch striker reportedly said “yes” to the switch, Roma are preparing a loan with an obligation to buy, aiming to delay payment until the summer.

Roma pushing to sign Man Utd's Zirkzee

Reports in Italy have confirmed that Roma have stepped up their push to sign out-of-favour Manchester United striker Zirkzee, who is keen to leave in January due to a lack of minutes under Ruben Amorim. The forward recently made his first Premier League start of the season in the defeat to Everton, but it did little to change his situation after several months on the fringes. With Zirkzee frustrated by limited opportunities and eager to secure regular football ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Roma have emerged as the club willing to give him a prominent role and a fresh start.

As negotiations progressed, Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport reported that the 24-year-old had already given his approval to joining the Giallorossi. Initial concerns over agent commissions were later denied, and Roma began shaping their proposal around UEFA’s financial restrictions for winter purchases. Because the club cannot register a permanent signing for €25–30 million in January, their strategy shifted toward a loan deal with a delayed purchase option that can be activated after the season ends.

Manchester United, meanwhile, are open to selling Zirkzee but would prefer an immediate permanent transfer, especially since the striker cost £36.5m when he arrived from Bologna in 2024. However, with his playing time dwindling and the January window approaching, the Red Devils are increasingly likely to entertain Roma’s loan-plus-obligation structure. That model would allow the Premier League side to secure a guaranteed sale while giving Roma the flexibility to pay once their summer budget becomes clear.

AdvertisementAFPMan Utd in two minds over allowing Zirkzee departure

Zirkzee’s looming exit reflects the difficult season he has endured at Old Trafford after arriving with high expectations. Despite Rasmus Hojlund’s departure in the summer, the Dutchman was reduced to a supporting role behind Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, leaving him with only 172 Premier League minutes and four matchday omissions. His lack of involvement became so glaring that he only earned a league start due to injuries to both Sesko and Cunha, highlighting his diminished standing in Amorim’s squad.

The situation is particularly damaging for Zirkzee, given his aspirations to break into the Netherlands squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, meaning continued bench time poses a severe threat to his international prospects. From Manchester United’s perspective, the club is caught between protecting short-term squad depth, especially with AFCON absences for Amad Diallo and Mbeumo, and acknowledging the player's desire to leave. That tension leaves United in a delicate position, where prioritising the squad could risk losing value on an unsettled player whose minutes are unlikely to increase.

Roma want to delay payment to next summer

Roma’s plan centres on a loan structure with an obligation to buy, which they view as the only viable method considering UEFA’s limitations on budget allocation during the winter window. The club wants to postpone the €25–30m payment until next summer, allowing them to adjust spending based on Champions League qualification and overall season performance.

Manchester United’s hesitation stems from the fact that they would rather secure an outright sale in January, as Zirkzee no longer features in Amorim’s long-term plans. Even though the club faces forward shortages in January, especially if Sesko’s recovery slows, they recognise that keeping an unhappy striker with little opportunity to play benefits no one. The board also accepts that a loan-with-obligation protects Zirkzee’s transfer value better than continued stagnation in Manchester.

For the player himself, Roma offers the two components he wants most: guaranteed minutes and the chance to work under Gasperini. Zirkzee flourished in Serie A during his Bologna spell, making a return to Italy an appealing path toward confidence, goals and renewed standing with the Dutch national team.

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Getty Images SportRoma want to formalise deal in January

Roma must now formalise their loan-plus-obligation proposal to Manchester United, who will weigh the offer against the club’s need for attacking depth in the second half of the season. If Roma agree to an obligation triggered either by Champions League qualification or automatic terms, it increases the likelihood of United accepting. Both clubs expect talks to intensify as January approaches, with the structure, timing and guarantees being the final sticking points.

For Zirkzee, the next few weeks will determine whether he earns a fresh start in Serie A or must remain at Old Trafford until the summer. His motivation to leave is strong, and his stance will continue to play a role in pushing the deal forward. Should United approve the move, Roma are prepared to integrate him immediately.

Labuschagne’s recall looks certain but debate remains about where in the order he will bat

Andrew McGlashan21-Oct-2025Steven Smith has revealed that Marnus Labuschagne told him before the season that he would be back in the Test side by the start of the Ashes.Though that decision has yet to be rubberstamped by the Australia selectors, Labuschagne is all-but certain to earn a recall having made two Sheffield Shield centuries in two matches – and four hundreds in five innings across the early domestic season – in a prolific return to form after being dropped in the West Indies earlier this year.”I sent him a message a couple of days ago saying how proud I was of him,” Smith said. “He’s just gone back and he’s got his fourth hundred in five hits. It’s a pretty big statement. He said to me at the start of the summer, he goes, ‘I’ll be in that Test team come the first [Ashes] Test’. He’s backed up his words, probably. He’s obviously not selected yet, [but] he’s done a lot of things right.”Related

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During the first ODI against India, Labuschagne spoke about some of his struggles having come from getting “too deep” into his technique and “trying to be too perfect”, which echoes advice Smith had given him.”We’ve all been there [dropped] at some point in our careers and it’s difficult to hear it,” Smith said. “But I think he knew he probably wasn’t batting as well as he had been over probably four years ago when he was scoring a mountain of runs.”I think my advice to him was ‘stop thinking so technically, just go and play the game; watch the ball and react’. I think he’s been doing that really beautifully and he’s played so nicely.”While Labuschagne’s return looks certain, a significant question remains about where he bats in the order amid the ongoing debate around who opens alongside Usman Khawaja with Sam Konstas’ challenges continuing. Labuschagne was promoted to the top in the World Test Championship final against South Africa and there remains a realistic chance he will be asked to do it again.Steven Smith has been prolific since returning to No. 4•Associated Press

A large part of the final decision may revolve around how many overs the selectors are confident in Cameron Green getting through and whether Beau Webster’s bowling is also required.”He can open, as we saw in the Test championship final,” Smith said. “He can bat three. He’s versatile. We’ll see where it all stands when the team gets picked. I mean, it’s not too different to batting three, to be honest. He could be in first ball. So, it’s essentially the same thing.”I don’t think he needs to change anything if that’s the case. Just play the game, play how he has been, and see the ball hit it, and trust his instincts.”Smith, who had a four-Test stint as opener in early 2024 before returning to No. 4 last season where he averaged 53.27 against India and Sri Lanka, may also become part of the batting-order debate over whether he returns to No. 3.”I’m not too fussed, to be honest,” Smith said. “I’m happy kind of wherever. But, yeah, we’ll see what happens when the team’s picked where we’ll talk to the coaches and Patty [Cummins] and see where everyone fits in best, I suppose, and keep it as simple as that.”Sam Konstas is struggling to retain his Test place•Getty Images

With regards Konstas, who has made 4, 14, 0 and 53 in his four Shield innings of the season having scored a century for Australia A in India last month, Smith said there was a balance to strike for young players between overloading them with advice and allowing them to problem solve.”He’s obviously going through a bit of a period right now where he’s trying to figure out how he wants to play,” he said. “I think at times you’ve got to let these young players figure it out for themselves and find the way that they want to play. I think back to when I was young, I had to figure it out.”There were people that I could speak to, but ultimately you’re the one out in the middle playing. It’s your career and you need to figure out how you want to go about it. He’s so young, he’s got plenty of time to figure out how he wants to go.”From what I’ve seen, he’s got so much time as a batter when he’s facing fast bowling. That’s something you can’t really teach, so that’s a good starting point. Then there’s a few things that he has to obviously work on, but he’s a bright talent as we’ve seen and he’s got a bright future.”