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If you had told Arsenal fans that Jakub Kiwior would start in a 3-0 home win and 2-1 away win against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals earlier this season, they would likely have laughed in your face.

It’s not that the Polish international is a bad player; he has stepped up at points in the past, but it would be fair to say that for much of this season, he’s been something of an afterthought and has struggled in the few appearances he’s made, like away to Fulham.

Yet, since Gabriel Magalhães’ injury, the former Spezia star has seriously stepped up, and perhaps the biggest compliment is that he’s made the Brazilian’s absence something of an afterthought.

However, there is no room for sentimentality in football, and if recent reports are to be believed, Mikel Arteta and Co have identified a defender they want to sign in the summer, a defender who would be an upgrade on Kiwior.

Arsenal's transfer targets

Now, as they once again missed out on the title this season, Arsenal are obviously looking to strengthen all over the pitch, and one of the names most heavily linked with the club in recent weeks has been Benjamin Sesko.

Transfer Focus

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

The Slovenian striker, who’s still just 21, has enjoyed another stellar campaign with RB Leipzig this year, racking up 20 goals and six assists in just 41 appearances, making his supposed £58m release clause look fairly reasonable.

Another 20-year-old touted for a move to the Emirates this summer is Lyon’s incredible Rayan Cherki.

The Frenchman could be available for just £25m, which sounds like a total bargain considering he’s racked up a staggering haul of 12 goals and 18 assists in just 40 games this season and has been tipped as a “future Ballon d’Or winner,” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker.

However, neither of these exciting attackers will replace Kiwior, which is where Dean Huijsen comes in.

Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal have maintained their strong interest in the Bournemouth star and insist he is someone they want to sign.

The report does not mention a potential price, but stories from earlier this month reiterated the claim that the Spaniard has a £50m release clause in his current deal.

It might not be an easy deal to get over the line, but given Huijsen’s immense ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, even if it could be bad news for Kiwior.

How Huijsen compares to Kiwior

If Arsenal were to get their man in the summer and bring Huijsen to the Emirates, it seems unlikely that he’d break up the partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel – at least for a while – so his biggest competition for a place in the squad would likely be Kiwior.

So, with that said, how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, while it’s certainly less important for a centre-back, it’s the Bournemouth ace who just about comes out ahead when it comes to their respective output, producing three goal involvements in 31 games at an average of one every 10.33 games.

In contrast, the former Spezia ace has provided two assists in 23 games, coming out to an average of one every 11.5 games.

Unfortunately for the Polish international, he also comes out on the losing side when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

In fact, in practically every relevant metric for a modern centre-back, Huijsen comes out on top.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.08

0.16

Progressive Passes

2.93

4.69

Progressive Carries

0.29

1.54

Passing Accuracy

90.7%

84.0%

Key Passes

0.29

0.61

Passes into the Final 1/3

3.64

6.05

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.14

0.31

Shot-Creating Actions

0.57

1.67

Goal-Creating Actions

0.00

0.13

Tackles Won

0.67

0.90

Blocks

0.64

1.45

Interceptions

0.62

1.90

Clearances

3.21

7.19

Ball Recoveries

2.14

3.99

Aerial Duels Won

1.14

2.68

Assessing the data, it really is no surprise that data analyst Ben Mattinson called him “the most in-demand centre-back in the world” with the Cherries defender notably a clear upgrade in key metrics such as progressive passes, ball recoveries, key passes and aerial duels won per 90 minutes,

Ultimately, Kiwior has done an exemplary job in recent weeks, but there is no way around it: Huijsen is a far better player and prospect. Therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign the Spaniard this summer.

Best signing since Rice: £58m goalscoring "monster" wants to join Arsenal

The incredible international could be just what Arsenal need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 21, 2025

Head coach Simmons urges Bangladesh to “enjoy the moment” and play with “freedom”

Shashank Kishore23-Sep-20251:49

Chopra: You look at Saif Hassan and go ‘there’s some serious talent there’

Bangladesh were outmuscled in their last T20I series against India in October 2024, finding themselves chasing scores of 221 and 297 over the course of a 3-0 series defeat.A year on, they’ve picked up the pieces. Under a new coach in Phil Simmons, who took charge three days after that India tour, they’re trying to unlearn old habits, and build new ones.While there’s awareness that structural changes will take time, there’s also the matter of not losing sight of the present. On Wednesday, they’ll play India, the reigning T20 world champions once again, in a crucial Asia Cup fixture with the stakes a lot higher: the winner will take a giant step towards making Sunday’s final.Related

• India go in as strong favourites against upbeat Bangladesh

• Bangladesh solve the middle-overs riddle

“Every team has the ability to beat India,” Simmons said. “The game is played on the day, it’s what happens during that three-and-a-half hours. If we get the break in the game, then we have to hold on to it. We have an opportunity to win.”While the head-to-head reads 16-1 in India’s favour, the India-Bangladesh rivalry has transcended far beyond just the numbers. What began as a sibling rivalry in the early 2000s turned into something bigger, when Bangladesh upset India at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.It took until 2015, though, to take the world by storm, when the two sides met in a charged-up World Cup quarter-final in Melbourne. Since then, matches between the two sides have contained enough drama to satisfy any cricketing hype machine.The MS Dhoni and Mustafizur Rahman shoulder barge in 2015, the heart-stopping last-ball thriller at the 2016 T20 World Cup in Bengaluru, and perhaps the most memorable of them all, the Nidahas Trophy final in Colombo in 2018 have all lent some weight to this ‘rivalry’.

“Every game, especially games involving India, has a hype because they’re the number one T20 team in the world. There must be a hype. We’re just going to ride on the hype.”Phil Simmons, Bangladesh head coach

While things have simmered down since, at least on the field, there has been the odd bit of tension, like India deferring a routine bilateral tour, originally to take place in August this year to September next year. Simmons hasn’t paid much mind to that, or to suggestions that his team stands no chance against India on Wednesday.”Every game has a hype,” he said. “Every game, especially games involving India, has a hype because they’re the No. 1 T20 team in the world. There must be a hype. We’re just going to ride on the hype. We’re going to enjoy the moment and enjoy the game. That’s how we’re trying to go into the game, to enjoy the game and therefore give our best.”Asked if he had allowed himself a smile after beating Sri Lanka earlier in the Asia Cup, Simmons admitted he did, but quickly underlined the bigger picture. “We are not here to win a game against Sri Lanka. We are here to win the tournament. Until we get to the stage where we are out, I have to keep everybody grounded in the dressing room.”Simmons has been encouraged lately, even though Bangladesh have produced mixed results – which includes a T20I series loss to UAE. Yet, through it, there has seen a deviation from their safety-first approach of preserving wickets and setting a platform before trying to accelerate.Simmons: ‘We are here to win the tournament. Until we get to the stage where we are out, I’ve to keep everybody grounded in the dressing room’•ICC via Getty ImagesWhen Simmons took over, he wanted them to play differently. And the team has slowly bought into the philosophy, which mirrors the captain Litton Das outlook as well. “It’s been really good,” Simmons said, reflecting on his time in charge of the T20I side. “A big part of it must be the captain and how he has guided his guys and let them know how he wants them to play.”And also the coaches, because we’ve given them that freedom to express themselves when they go out there. I think that’s the biggest part in all formats of cricket, but mostly so in T20 cricket. The freedom to express and use their skills.”For his part, Simmons has given them the independence and liberty to discover their own methods, while also focusing on being flexible.Example: Two games into the Asia Cup, it seemed a given Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan would be locked-in as openers. Then Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka in the group stage and Simmons saw Saif Hassan batting superbly at training and decided to shake things up.In August, Saif made a comeback to the T20I squad after two years. On Saturday, he struck a 45-ball 61, only his second T20I fifty, as Bangladesh bouced back to beat Sri Lanka in their first Super Fours fixture.1:55

Chopra impressed with Hridoy’s cricketing smarts

Similarly, one match after hitting an unbeaten, six-ball 12 against Afghanistan, Nurul Hasan was left out for Mahedi Hasan, whose offspin made him a necessity against a left-hander heavy Sri Lankan batting line-up. Similarly, legpinner Rishad Hossain made way for an extra seam-option in Shoriful Islam.These changes, Simmons explained, were largely tactical: “Everybody has their time. Maybe you play well in one game but lose the chance in the next because of the combination. It’s hard, but we’re trying to make sure the XI is always hard and difficult to get into. The balance of the team is most important.”If flexibility has been their batting mantra, their bowling has been shaped by pragmatism. Simmons has introduced structured workload management, first with Andre Adams and now with bowling consultant Shaun Tait.Fast bowlers like Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib have been carefully rotated and preserved. Hasan Mahmud is being groomed for Tests, while young quicks such as Nahid Rana have been given elaborate feedback that they hope he will incorporate before he returns.Simmons credits assistant Mohammad Salahuddin, a respected domestic coach, for helping build player confidence and connections, which has been an extension of his management style with Afghanistan and West Indies.In the previous regime, where a board chairman held strong influence over squad selections, at times even the playing XI, such calls may not have been so easy to take. Things are different now.”As long as I have a proper reason for my decisions – we all have different opinions, but as long as I’m confident, and my staff and the captain are confident in how we’re guiding the team, then criticism is like water off a dog’s back. It doesn’t bother me,” Simmons said.

While some might say Sri Lanka were let off the hook, the fact that the team management was not averse to a track with a green tinge in itself was a win for the quicks

Mohammad Isam22-Mar-2024Glass half-full or glass half-empty? It was a day when Bangladesh pinned Sri Lanka on the ropes, but then allowed them to wriggle free and, with the ball in hand, throw some heavy punches of their own. Whichever way you saw it however, Bangladesh’s fast bowlers were in the thick of the action.On a rare green-tinged pitch in Sylhet, Khaled Ahmed gave them a blazing start before Sri Lanka counter-attacked and took control of the middle session. Then the fast bowlers struck again.Sri Lanka had never before lost half their side so cheaply against Bangladesh. In fact, barring one or two spells in Tests between the two over the last two decades, it is hard to recall Sri Lanka facing Bangladesh’s fast bowling with such discomfort.As the ball got older though, the Bangladesh fast bowlers dragged their lengths back. Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis found that counterattacking the short ball was their best option. They added 202 runs for the sixth wicket on way to individual centuries. Nahid Rana brought Bangladesh back at that point, striking three times like Khaled before him. The visitors finished on 280, their third-lowest total against Bangladesh.Related

• Dhananjaya, Kamindu centuries put SL on top on 13-wicket opening day

• Kamindu Mendis celebrates his first Test century: 'I worked tirelessly'

Still, Sri Lanka had reached a decent score, given how poorly they were placed in the first session. There might be a feeling that the Bangladesh fast bowlers couldn’t quite finish the job. However, you cannot disregard Mahmudul Hasan Joy grassing Kamindu Mendis first ball; Sri Lanka would have been 57 for 6, with only their captain de Silva left with the tail.Bowling coach Andre Adams said that Khaled and Rana bowled very well together, but he would have been happier had the fast bowlers kept that going in the middle session.”They were good in parts,” Adams said. “There was partnership bowling throughout the day. Rana bowled very well in partnership with Khaled at the start. But then they relaxed in the pressure aspect. It wasn’t until the two spinners came on that we gained control of the scorecard again.”I thought Rana was outstanding, especially on debut. [Khaled] is an accurate bowler. This is a pretty young bowling attack. Shoriful was good in parts. I thought Rana and Khaled bowled well together. We created several chances in the first session, which was exceptional. Especially when you think that there was only ten overs of real pressure with the ball. Some great fielding and good catching. Disappointing that we didn’t grab two chances, which really could have spun the Test match. You have control if you take seven wickets at lunch.”Khaled’s first spell of 8-1-23-3 included the wickets of Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne. He got the ball to nibble away from Madushka and Kusal while bringing it back sharply through the left-handed Karunaratne’s bat and pad. Angelo Mathews’ run out, coming in a Khaled over, also underlined how well he was putting Sri Lanka’s experienced top-order under pressure.Adams, who joined the Bangladesh team only recently, was especially impressed by newcomer Rana, billed as Bangladesh’s fastest bowler. “He is talented. He is fast. He bowled almost every ball at 145kph. He has a beautiful action. He is just so raw. He has a lot to learn but he is very talented.”The young attack responded to Test match special in the best way they know. They tried their hardest. I was happy with the effort. We just have to learn how to do it better. I didn’t expect Sri Lanka to play any other way. They are going to attack. We have to manage ourselves better through that.”Najmul Hossain Shanto brought spin on in the 26th over, the latest that a Bangladesh spinner has been introduced in a Test-match innings, testament to how well the pacers were going. A culmination of Bangladesh’s fast-bowling evolution over the past three years; it has been the facet of their game that has seen the most development. From a time when fast bowling was virtually non-existent in home Tests, they have now got to a stage where the team management was comfortable with a green surface in Sylhet. Some may say that Shakib Al Hasan’s absence prompted the Bangladesh think-tank to explore a different bowling strategy, but they still have match-winning spinners like Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam in the team.This change in mindset is itself a win for the fast bowlers. They came into this Test with a combined experience of just 21 matches. Taskin Ahmed is taking a break from the longest format. Ebadot Hossain is still in the middle of a long injury layoff. But Khaled and Shoriful stood up like senior bowlers, before Rana showed glimpses of his ability. They have shown consistency with the white ball. Can they take the next step and show the sustained longevity needed with the red ball?

The batter scored his fourth Ranji ton this season, once again rescuing Mumbai to keep their dream of No. 42 alive

Shashank Kishore23-Jun-2022A slap of the thigh. Fingers pointing to the sky. Hand on his heart accompanied by a fist pump and a roar towards the dressing room. Sarfaraz Khan’s celebration was every bit as colourful as his hundred, his fourth of the ongoing Ranji Trophy season.The latest, his eighth in first-class cricket, was only his second one below 150. However, it may be his most important yet, having come in a final against a strong Madhya Pradesh attack after Mumbai’s middle order had an uncharacteristic collapse.Related

• Sarfaraz Khan only behind Don Bradman in highest first-class average

• Emotional Sarfaraz Khan credits beloved abbu after scoring 'dream hundred'

• Muzumdar: Mumbai's players 'have bought into the future'

• Armaan Jaffer and Sarfaraz Khan: A tale of friendship and fire

• 'When an attacking player develops patience, he can become dangerous'

In the previous season, in 2019-20, Sarfaraz had made 928 runs in nine innings. The pandemic-induced break only reinvigorated his desire for runs. This season, he has already made 937 in eight innings at an average of 133.85, with one more innings potentially left. Overall, among batters to have made at least 2000 first-class runs, his average of 82 is second-best to Sir Donald Bradman.Ahead of the season, his impressed upon Sarfaraz the need to have another ‘Mayank-like season’. The essence of Naushad’s message was to make daddy hundreds, and break down the selection door as Mayank Agarwal did during a record-breaking 2017-18 season that eventually earned him a Test cap. This has been as Mayank-like as it can get.It’s even more incredible because, unlike Agarwal, Sarfaraz bats in the middle order. It’s not that he isn’t good enough to be in the top four. No. 5 has been his designated position only because his improved game smarts and situational awareness complement each other, especially while having to rally with the lower middle order.In a grand finale, with Mumbai slightly on the back foot at 248 for 5, which became 248 for 6 two balls into the second day, this was yet another validation of the team management’s faith in Sarfaraz’s ability to carry the lower order.When Sarfaraz broke through eight seasons ago as a boy wonder, the punch in his strokes was unmistakable, but his inability to temper down would lead to his downfall often. Inconsistency in run-making was one thing; lack of fitness and a lifestyle that paid little heed to diet and rest let him down.Sarfaraz says he took the easy way out and moved states. This, he soon realised, was a mistake because he wasn’t tackling the root cause. Ahead of the 2019 season, he decided to transform himself physically. Not just become “muscle fit” but “cricket fit”.Sarfaraz Khan’s second fifty came in 38 balls on Thursday•PTI In essence, he wanted to bat longer, wear down attacks and not just provide sparks of brilliance, concentrate better, and have the same intensity, and focus in the final session as he would with the new ball. He did all this and much more during his 134 that set up Mumbai’s strong first-innings total of 374 on a slightly dry Bengaluru deck.Sarfaraz had ended the opening day on 40, firmly intent on crease occupation. He had already batted 125 deliveries at stumps and had a clear understanding of how the surface was playing. When he lost Shams Mulani off the second ball on Thursday, the onus was even more on Sarfaraz to bail Mumbai out from a precarious 248 for 6. Would he attempt a jailbreak, or would he milk the runs?The first eight overs produced just 10 runs. Sarfaraz wasn’t allowed to get away. Madhya Pradesh’s fast bowlers tried everything. Setting him up to drive with a packed cordon, attack the stumps trying to get him lbw, frustrate him by cutting off the point boundary and at times bowling short into the body with a man right under his nose. Sarfaraz seemed to have it all under control.It wasn’t until he got to his half-century off 152 balls that Sarfaraz started to open up. By then Mumbai were seven down, yet he was in no hurry to break free. This comes with unmistakable confidence in his own abilities as it does of his mates. When the spinners came on after an excellent opening burst from Gaurav Yadav, Sarfaraz quickly jumped on to play some ferocious sweeps against Kumar Kartikeya’s left-arm spin.Against pace, especially off Yadav who was nipping it around both ways, Sarfaraz stood a foot or two outside the crease to negate the late movement. Within an hour, the packed cordon has been reduced to a lone slip, with cover and midwicket the only men inside the ring to try and get Sarfaraz off the strike. It helped massively that Sarfaraz found a stonewaller in No. 9 Dhawal Kulkarni, as he batted out 35 deliveries for 1. This gave him some time and space at the other end to plan a calculated late assault.Sarfaraz marched into the 90s with a ramp over the slips, a shot he plays so late that bowlers are often tricked into believing he’s scooping it over short fine. While the half-century had taken 152 balls, the next fifty took him all of 38 balls.He was the last man out, to an ugly hoick, on 134, but by then, the transformation from a Mumbai batter to the next-gen big-hitter was complete. He had once again rescued Mumbai and kept their dream of No. 42 well and truly alive.

The Yankees and Red Sox will face off in an elimination Game 3 on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium as the fierce AL East rivals look to compete for a spot in the ALDS.

New York's lineup was released ahead of first pitch, and there was a notable change to the lineup that took the field in Game 1, when the Yankees faced Boston's star lefty Garrett Crochet. With fellow southpaw Connelly Early toeing the rubber for the Red Sox in Game 3, it was expected that Aaron Boone would insert Paul Goldschmidt back into the lineup for a more favorable matchup. It's something he'd said he planned to do ahead of Game 1 when there was a lefty on the mound.

Instead, however, Ben Rice drew back into the Yankees' starting lineup after his impressive performance in Game 2, and Boone had a perfectly succinct explanation for the change.

"Ben Rice," Boone said, when asked what led him to change his mind on Goldschmidt being at first base against lefties (via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com)

While New York might miss Goldschmidt's defensive prowess at first base, keeping Rice's bat out of the lineup was simply not an option in a do-or-die Game 3. Rice homered on the first pitch he saw on Wednesday night, which was also the first pitch he faced in the postseason in his career. Rice went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs in his postseason debut, and he's done enough to warrant a place in the Yankees' lineup for Game 3.

Yankees Lineup for Game 3 vs. Red Sox

1. Trent Grisham – CF
2. Aaron Judge – RF
3. Cody Bellinger – LF
4. Giancarlo Stanton – DH
5. Ben Rice – 1B
6. Amed Rosario – 3B
7. Jazz Chisholm Jr. – 2B
8. Anthony Volpe – SS
9. Austin Wells – C

Rice had a .752 OPS against lefties across 106 at-bats in 2025, well lower than Goldschmidt's .981 (149 at-bats). Still, Boone opted to roll with the hot hand on Thursday night.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. was also not in the starting lineup against Crochet in Game 1, but he has also returned to the mix for Game 3 against Early. The other lineup change for Game 3 will be Ryan McMahon being replaced at third base by Amed Rosario.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET.

Returning to the SA fold for the first time since March, he says the time away has left him clearer about the next phase of his career

Firdose Moonda08-Dec-2025South Africa’s serious stuff, in the form of back-to-back Test series in the subcontinent, is over. Their experimental stuff, over the course of an ODI series that began preparations for the home World Cup in 2027, is also over. Now, it’s time for the fun stuff, with a T20 carnival that will last for the next three months.There’s five against India, a month of the SA20 over the holiday season, three against West Indies and then the big one: the T20 World Cup, where South Africa are aiming to go one better than they did in 2024. There, they went on a magnificent eight-match unbeaten run to reach the final and had one hand on the trophy before a spectacular collapse saw India claim a sensational win. David Miller, who was dismissed as the final over began with 16 runs to get, was among the most distraught as South Africa watched another trophy slip away.Post-tournament, he has only played 10 white-ball internationals out of a possible 54. His last appearance for South Africa was in the Champions Trophy semi-final in March, where he scored a hundred in a losing cause. Since then, South Africa have had a change of white-ball coach, gone on to win the World Test Championship final and have played in some entertaining series everywhere from Zimbabwe to India.Miller, who is halfway to 37, may have raised questions about his future through his absence but it’s explainable. He was given special dispensation to miss the Australia series to play in the Hundred. He then picked up a hamstring injury that sidelined him for several months. Now, he is fully fit and raring to go as South Africa begin the quest to complete unfinished business.Related

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“It’s just great to be back. It’s been great watching the guys back at home even though I always feel I want to be there, but the guys have been doing so well, and it’s been lovely to watch,” Miller said from Cuttack, where the series against India will begin on Tuesday. “It’s been an interesting couple of months for me, just being at home and reflecting on a few things was really cool. I moved into a different space by trying out different things with my body and tapping into a few different training regimes. It was actually a really good time away. I enjoyed it. You’ve got to take the positives from what’s negative so it was really good. I’m feeling strong. I’m feeling fit and I’m feeling ready to go.”Is the possibility of trying for another World Cup title what keeps Miller going? Maybe, because he seems to suggest South Africa are getting closer. “I’ve spoken to a lot of different people and teams that have been very successful over the years with league trophies and World Cups and I don’t think there’s really one recipe to win a World Cup. It takes a team effort, it takes a group effort, management and players included. And it’s about standing up when the moments matter,” he said.”Looking back on that previous World Cup where we got to the final, there were some very, very close games throughout that World Cup and we got over the line, so you build confidence as you go along. We’re going to need some of that moving forward. In terms of players, there’s a huge group and pool of players that are putting up their hands so it’s going to be tough for the selectors. We’re really in a good space.”

“I’m 36 now and I’m feeling that I do have to step up off the field. I’m being a lot more diligent and a lot more consistent in training and being as fit as I can is something that I’m going to focus on a lot. I’m also a lot more in control with my emotions and pressure.”David Miller

In personnel terms, South Africa have welcomed back two of their standout performers from the last T20 World Cup in Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje. Though Heinrich Klaasen has retired from international cricket, and Bjorn Fortuin and Gerald Coetzee were not chosen, they have Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch and George Linde while only Kagiso Rabada (who has a rib injury) is missing from a first-choice squad. They also have a different support staff to the one that oversaw the last T20 World Cup after Rob Walter’s resignation. Shukri Conrad has taken over the all-format coaching duties, with a support staff that includes batting coach Ashwell Prince, bowling coach Piet Botha and fielding coach Kruger van Wyk.It will be Miller’s first time working closely with Conrad. With the success Conrad has had with the Test, Miller is looking forward to the interaction. “I’ve dealt with Shukri very briefly in the past, in the one-off series against England a couple of years ago (January-February 2023) in South Africa where he was an interim coach and then a couple of A-side games in the past quite a few years ago. I’ve not had a lot of dealing with Shukri, but obviously over the years you always see each other and we get on really well,” Miller said. “He’s done superbly well, so it’s good to be on the train.”Along the way, Miller will also begin to have discussions with Conrad about his ODI role, as South Africa build to the home World Cup in 2027. “I haven’t had good chats yet with Shukri but now that I am back in the mix, we’ll be opening up those conversations and seeing where we’re at,” Miller said. “The ODI World Cup is just under two years away, there’s a lot of new players that have come through and a big pool of players now that are doing really well. I feel like I can add something with my experience. In terms of selection, you’re never guaranteed with certain things in life so it’s a conversation that will unfold as the months go on and see where we’re at.”Given the choice, Miller would opt in as South Africa’s stocks seem to keep rising and the fun, just beginning. “Obviously, I would love to play a part for South Africa as long as I can, but it’s just being real with certain conversations and time,” he said. “I’m 36 now and I’m feeling that I do have to step up off the field. I’m being a lot more diligent and a lot more consistent in training and being as fit as I can is something that I’m going to focus on a lot. I’m also a lot more in control with my emotions and pressure. I’m a lot clearer in my thinking, making better decisions under pressure and understanding the match situation.”

They secured the title after defending champions Sylhet could only draw their match against Barishal

Mohammad Isam09-Dec-2025Rangpur Division were crowned National Cricket League champions for the 2025-26 season after they beat Khulna Division by seven wickets in Bogra. They completed the win inside three days, but had to wait for the result of the match between defending champions Sylhet Division and Barishal Division in Rajshahi. When Sylhet pulled the plug on their fourth-innings chase, Rangpur were confirmed as the winners.Led by Akbar Ali, Rangpur had earlier won the NCL T20s for the second time in two seasons. When Akbar was off to leading the Bangladesh A side in the ACC Rising Stars tournament last month, Rangpur’s title race went off-kilter, before recovering once he returned.In their last match of this year’s NCL first-class competition, Rangpur trailed Khulna by 134 runs in the first innings. They fought back through Mukidul Islam’s five-wicket haul, which helped skittle out Khulna for just 96 runs. Iqbal Hosen’s maiden first-class century – an unbeaten 114 – helped Rangpur chase 231 in the fourth innings quite comfortably in the end.During Sylhet Division’s draw against against Barishal, Sylhet ended up with a 25-run first-innings deficit despite Zakir Hasan’s 130. He struck 19 fours in his 185-ball stay but his lone hand was not enough to get them to the lead.Akbar Ali with both NCL T20 and first-class trophies•Bangladesh Cricket BoardBarishal then made 294 for 8 in the third innings. Young opener Iftakhar Hossain hit an unbeaten 128, striking 11 fours and four sixes during his 197-ball stay. Mushfiqur Rahim was one of two half-centurions as Sylhet finished on 187 for 5 in their chase of 320.Sylhet finished second in the championship, while newcomers Mymensingh Division took a commendable third position despite going down by 146 runs against Rajshahi Division in Sylhet.Left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam took five wickets to give Rajshahi an 81-run first innings lead. Wicketkeeper Shakhir Hossain then made 94 as Rajshahi set Mymensingh a 428-run target in the fourth innings. They were bowled out for 281. Allrounder Abu Hider struck a career-best unbeaten 141, but Sunzamul completed his eighth ten-wicket match haul with another five-for.At the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka Division cruised past Chattogram Division by an innings and 192 runs.Dhaka openers Ashiqur Rahman Shibli and Anisul Islam Emon struck centuries, though the pair initially didn’t put together a big partnership. Ashiqur, who had retired hurt on 27, resumed his innings when Anisul’s 186 had taken Dhaka to a formidable 359 for 3. Anisul hit 18 fours and five sixes in his six-hours-and-15-minutes stay.Marshall Ayub also enjoyed the run-fest, hitting a 165 laden with 17 fours – it was his 29th first-class century. He had crossed 10,000 first-class career runs earlier in the season.Dhaka fast bowlers Ripon Mondol, Salahuddin Sakil and Sumon Khan took three wickets each to skittle out Chattogram for 158, before they enforced the follow-on. Chattogram improved on their score slightly, getting bowled out for 191 runs. This time, it was left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam who took three wickets for Dhaka.Soumya Sarkar ended as the NCL’s top scorer with 633 runs at an average of 45.21, ahead of Zakir (628 runs) and Marshall Ayub (625). Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam was the only bowler to take more than 30 wickets, finishing with 34 scalps at an average of 22.61.

With Rangers currently fourth in the Scottish Premiership and rock-bottom of the gigantic Europa League table, they need wins and fast.

On Saturday, Danny Röhl’s side will go in search of a fourth successive league victory when last-placed Livingston visit Ibrox.

This is followed by a European clash with Braga and, considering the Gers are currently pointless halfway through the league phase, they really could do with a victory over the Archbishops from Northern Portugal.

However, potentially dealing with something of a defensive injury crisis ahead of Saturday’s game, how could Röhl combat his new injury problems?

Rangers' defensive injury crisis

The news any club supporter and indeed manager fears during an international break is reports that their players may have suffered an injury while away with their countries, but this may be exactly the reality Rangers are facing.

First, ahead of Scotland’s historic World Cup qualifying victory over Denmark at Hampden on Tuesday, mere minutes before kick-off, centre-back John Souttar withdrew from the starting lineup after suffering an injury during the warm-up.

The extent of the injury is currently unknown, but it is always a concern when it comes to Souttar, considering he has ruptured both anterior cruciate ligaments in the past.

This season though, he has been a near-ever-present in Rangers’ back line, starting 23 of the Gers’ 24 matches, rested against Alloa, as well as ten of Scotland’s last 11 competitive fixtures prior to Tuesday night.

Later that day, in the middle of the night UK time, further bad news emerged given that Derek Cornelius was withdrawn just 33 minutes into Canada’s 2-0 friendly victory over Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale.

Since arriving on loan from Marseille, the 27-year-old has cemented himself as a key figure, especially since Röhl has switched to a back three, given the scarcity of alternative centre-back options.

Similar to Souttar, it is not yet publicly known if Cornelius will be available for the weekend, but this has to be a concern.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Nevertheless, given bottom of the table Livingston are the visitors to Ibrox, neither should be risked if not 100% fit, hence why Röhl should entrust his forgotten “colossus” with a start.

How Rangers can solve their defensive injury problems

Of Rangers’ 13 new recruits during the summer, Emmanuel Fernandez is often forgotten and overlooked by supporters.

The 6 foot 4 central defender arrived from Peterborough United in July, having bounced around the lower division in England, representing non-league clubs including Sheppey United and Spalding United.

This move north of the border was supposed to be the 24-year-old’s big breakthrough, but he’s so far been more of a lesser-spotted species than an integral figure.

Fernandez scored on debut against Alloa Athletic, starting at St Mirren the following weekend, but has seen just one minute of action since 24 August, introduced late during the last-gasp, hard-fought victory over Hibernian at Easter Road, an unused substitute on 11 occasions.

This is despite the fact that the Englishman boasted impressive statistics in EFL League One last season, as the table below documents.

Goals

5

2nd

Tackles *

1.24

63rd

Interceptions *

0.91

46th

Clearances *

6.83

19th

Passing accuracy %

85.35%

20th

Passes *

65.93

5th

Aerial duels won *

4

27th

Aerial duels won %

62.24

25th

Ground duels won *

2.87

35th

Note: rankings are defenders only.

These performances for Posh last season led to Peterborough Chairman Darragh MacAnthony describing the central defender as a “colossus”, also noting that he is a “gentle giant” as well as a “great organiser and talker”.

His most spectacular moment came when he scored an astonishing long-range goal against Exeter City.

Also worth highlighting is that, according to Global Football Rankings, EFL League One is the 41st strongest division in the world, just eight places below the Scottish Premiership, suggesting Fernandez would be more than good enough to start, particularly against Livingston at home.

With fixtures coming thick and fast, and a must-win European match against Braga right around the corner, Röhl surely cannot risk either Souttar or Cornelius exacerbating their injury issues, emphasising that he has to trust Fernandez to start as the middle man in his back three at the weekend.

Ferguson 2.0: Rangers' "best player" is now more important than Tavernier

Rangers’ “best player” who is reminiscent of Barry Ferguson has emerged under Danny Röhl and it is not captain James Tavernier.

Nov 14, 2025

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been dealt an injury doubt ahead of their crunch Premier League clash with Man United.

Saturday’s early kick-off promises fireworks as Spurs host the Red Devils in North London.

With the two sides coming in off near-identical records of five wins and three losses from their first 10 league matches, with both also scoring 17 goals, this face-off could prove pivotal in the race for European qualification.

Tottenham’s home form has been a significant concern, with the club sitting 17th in the home standings despite topping the away form table this season. Meanwhile, no other Premier League side has lost more home games than the Lilywhites in 2025.

Frank’s side suffered another N17 setback last weekend, registering a lowly expected goals figure of just 0.1 in their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea – the lowest by any Premier League team this season.

However, their midweek 4-0 thrashing of Copenhagen in the Champions League offered a glimpse of their attacking potential, with defender Micky van de Ven bagging a stunning solo goal which drew comparisons to Son Heung-min’s famous Burnley strike in 2019.

Tottenham 4-0 FC Copenhagen – Players of the Match	Match Rating
Xavi Simons	8.1
Micky van de Ven	8.1
Wilson Odobert	7.9
Pedro Porro	7.8
Randal Kolo Muani	7.6
via WhoScored

In terms of the recent head-to-heads between Spurs and United, the former reigns supreme.

Tottenham are unbeaten against tomorrow’s visitors in their last seven meetings across all competitions, winning five and drawing two, including that historic Europa League final win in Bilbao earlier this year.

What’s more, if they beat them again tomorrow, it’ll be the first time they’ve won three league games in a row against United since 1960.

However, the injury situation adds another layer of complexity for Spurs. They currently have the longest absentee list in the Premier League with 10 players sidelined, including Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.

In the aftermath of Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Copenhagen, star winger Mohammed Kudus strongly hinted he could be fit to face United after missing their European clash with a knock, and Frank has now provided an update on the Ghanaian.

Tottenham star Mohammed Kudus a doubt to face Man United this weekend

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Frank explained that Kudus is “touch and go” to face United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — meaning he might not be ready on time depending on developments.

Potentially being without Kudus would undoubtedly be a bitter blow for Frank, considering the £150,000-per-week star has stood out as their star attacker this campaign.

No other Premier League player has averaged more takes-ons per 90 than the African this season, and he’s currently among the division’s top five best-performing players overall, according to WhoScored.

United arrive in north London with genuine momentum and are unbeaten in their last four league matches with three wins and a draw, their joint-best run under Ruben Amorim.

They’ve been particularly potent in attack too, netting two or more goals in their last four outings. Bruno Fernandes has been instrumental, with the 31-year-old now looking to assist in three consecutive away appearances for the first time since November 2020.

It is perhaps the worst time to face United right now, so Frank will be hoping that Kudus can indeed take part after his electrifying start to life at the club.

England lose Zak Crawley to last ball of day after being set 374 to win with series on the line

Matt Roller02-Aug-20253:22

Bangar: ‘Jaiswal’s Sehwag-esque impact makes it easier for batters to follow’

The fate of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy will be sealed at The Oval on Sunday. England need another 324 runs to pull off the second-biggest chase in their history and win 3-1; India need eight wickets – or nine, in the improbable event that Chris Woakes walks out to bat one-handed – to square the series. The draw is no longer on the table.India are the favourites, and owe that status to four men: Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored his sixth century, and second of the series; Akash Deep, the nightwatcher whose maiden Test fifty wore England’s seamers down; Ravindra Jadeja, who passed 500 runs for the series; and Washington Sundar, whose late blitz took the target from 335 to 374 inside five overs.Related

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Oval and out: Jaiswal's series comes a full circle with statement hundred

England have been here before. They chased 371 in the first Test of this series with five wickets in hand, and cruised to 378 against India at Edgbaston three years ago without breaking a sweat. A punchy opening stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett shaved 50 runs off the target as the shadows lengthened, and England will not be overawed by scoreboard pressure.But Crawley’s dismissal in the final over of the day swung the pendulum firmly in India’s favour. It was Mohammed Siraj, the last seamer standing in this series, who delivered a moment of high skill and high drama. With two balls remaining, Siraj pushed Jaiswal back to deep square leg, a bluff to mask the searing 84mph/135kph yorker which followed, and crashed into off stump.It will be a huge test of both teams’ character, skill and resilience as the series heads into its 24th – and surely final – day. A draw would be a superb achievement for India under new leadership, not least from 2-1 down and on the ropes in Manchester; for England, a series win would be their first against a ‘Big Three’ opponent under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.3:25

‘Root’s wicket will be most important for India’

In Woakes’ absence, this was a brutally tough day for their three greenhorn seamers Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton, who bowled 79 out of 88 overs between them in India’s second innings. Ollie Pope did his best to rotate them but the workload was immense, particularly without a specialist spinner. Their cause was not helped by six dropped catches, and India profited from their profligacy.Akash Deep was the unlikely protagonist of the morning session, seizing an opportunity to chance his arm after seeing out two balls as nightwatcher on Friday evening. He popped the third ball of the day over mid-on for four and decided to keep on swinging, punching the air and thumping his chest when he reached 50 for only the second time in his professional career.England could have had him twice in two balls: they were convinced that Tongue had trapped him lbw, only for the DRS to uphold umpire Ahsan Raza’s not-out call, and Crawley dropped Tongue’s follow-up at third slip. By the time his leading edge was pouched by Atkinson at point off Overton, Akash Deep had added 107 in partnership with Jaiswal.Akash Deep’s gleeful hitting cast Jaiswal in an unfamiliar role, playing in his partner’s slipstream. But he continued to inflict death by a thousand cuts on England’s seamers, scoring heavily behind square on the off side and seizing on any width offered. He reached his hundred after lunch by pinching a single into that very same region, bookending his first tour of England with centuries.By that stage, he had lost another partner. Shubman Gill’s fine series ended with the first ball after lunch, which nipped back off the seam and thumped into his knee roll to give Atkinson his seventh of the match. His overall aggregate – 754 – was second only to Sunil Gavaskar among Indian batters in a Test series, but his highest score in four innings in London was just 21.2:58

Bangar: ‘Akash Deep could be India’s No. 8’

Karun Nair soon became Atkinson’s eighth victim of the Test, edging behind for 17. Nair was struck on the glove first ball, and dropped by Harry Brook – whose view was obscured by Crawley diving across him – on 12 before failing to account for Atkinson’s extra bounce. After a top score of 57 in eight innings, it seems Nair’s comeback series may also prove to be his farewell.Dropped twice on Friday evening, Jaiswal got a third life from Duckett at leg gully, but holed out to deep point for 118 soon after. But India’s lead continued to swell: Jadeja successfully overturned an lbw decision after being struck flush on the right boot and added exactly 50 for the seventh wicket with Dhruv Jurel, as England finally resorted to their occasional spinners.The pitch had clearly flattened out from the first two days but still offered something to work with. Overton managed to get a 76-over-old ball to swing away and trap Jurel lbw, and Tongue threatened to end the innings quickly: Brook finally held on to one when Jadeja steered to him on 53, and Siraj was distraught when given out lbw off the inside edge, with India out of reviews.But Washington went down swinging, as though Brook’s advice in Manchester to “get on with it” was ringing in his ears. He hauled four leg-side sixes in 12 balls, the last of which brought up a 39-ball fifty. By the time he miscued to Crawley at midwicket to give Tongue his fifth wicket, he and Prasidh Krishna (0 off 2) had put on 39 vital runs for the 10th wicket.Duckett and Crawley were left with 14 overs to lay a foundation for England, and Gill was clearly desperate to avoid a repeat of their freewheeling stand in the first innings, posting a deep point from the outset to stem the flow of runs. If it initially seemed curious that Siraj was held back to first change, then his crucial strike vindicated Gill’s decision to give him a single, late burst.