Mike Trout is one of the best baseball players to ever play the game. He's a three-time MVP, an 11-time All-Star and a former Defensive Player of the Year award winner. But baseball can be a humbling sport, which Trout learned firsthand on one dreadful play against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.
In case you missed it, Trout seemed like he was going to make a play on a lazy fly ball down the right field line when at the last moment disaster struck and the ball landed a few feet behind him. Trout then chased down the ball but Tampa's José Caballero was able to get all the way to the third on what was ruled a triple.
This really should have been called an error, because Trout has to make this play:
Thankfully for Trout, the Angels were able to get out of the inning without giving up a run and wound up winning the game, 4-3.
But that's certainly a play the legendary player would love to have over.
Leeds United are back in action in the Premier League this weekend for the last time before the last international break of 2025 as they face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The Whites were beaten 3-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion on their travels last time out in the top-flight, in what was the latest in a string of dismal away performances.
Leeds United’s Premier League away form (25/26)
Stat
Leeds
Matches
5
Wins
1
Draws
0
Losses
4
Goals scored
3
Goals conceded
12
Points
3
League rank
17th
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Daniel Farke’s side have struggled badly on the road in the Premier League so far this season, with three points from five matches.
Their only win away from Elland Road came against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have no wins, two draws, and eight defeats in their ten matches home and away this term.
Leeds will, therefore, need to step up and improve on the majority of their performances away from home in the division if they want to pick up any points against the Tricky Trees on Sunday.
Nottingham Forest, who are currently managed by Sean Dyche, have plenty of talented players who could cause the Whites problems if they are not at their best.
The Forest players Leeds have to be wary of
The Europa League outfit have a plethora of expensive attacking players who could test Lucas Perri in the Leeds goal if they get past the likes of Joe Rodon and Jaka Bijol.
Dan Ndoye, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White, Omari Hutchinson, Taiwo Awoniyi, Elliot Anderson, the list goes on. Dyche has so many talented players at his disposal.
Hutchinson cost £37.5m, Anderson cost £35m, and Ndoye cost £34m. That is just a taste of the kind of spending power that they have been able to flex in recent seasons to build an exciting squad.
Nottingham Forest’s most productive attackers (all competitions)
Goals
Assists
Igor Jesus – 5
Morgan Gibbs-White – 3
Chris Wood – 3
Dan Ndoye – 1
Morgan Gibbs-White – 2
Ryan Yates – 1
Dan Ndoye – 2
Elliot Anderson – 1
Callum Hudson-Odoi – 1
Douglas Luiz – 1
Neco Williams – 1
Omari Hutchinson – 1
Nicolo Savona – 1
Stats via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, Leeds will need to be wary of Jesus and Gibbs-White, in particular, whilst former Whites centre-forward Chris Wood is currently out through injury.
Gibbs-White has provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Tricky Trees in all competitions this season, after a return of seven goals and eight assists in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore.
The England international did, however, miss a penalty in Forest’s 0-0 draw with Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday night, which could knock his confidence ahead of their clash with Leeds on Sunday.
Whilst the Championship champions need to be wary of the former Wolves star, Farke could unleash his own version of Gibbs-White by dropping Ao Tanaka from the starting line-up.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The Japan international started the 3-0 defeat to Brighton last time out and should be dropped to allow German central midfielder Anton Stach to return to the side, to provide a threat at the top end of the pitch.
Why Leeds should drop Ao Tanaka for Anton Stach
Per Sofascore, the Japanese midfielder did not register a single shot, key pass, or ‘big chance’ created against Brighton, which shows that he did not have any positive impact in the final third.
On top of his failure to provide quality in possession, Tanaka also failed to win a single tackle and only won one duel in 61 minutes on the pitch for the Whites, as he offered little to the side as a defensive or physical presence.
The former Fortuna Düsseldorf star has no goals, no assists, and no ‘big chances’ created in eight appearances and four starts in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, which does not suggest that he is likely to cause Forest too many problems on Sunday.
Stach, on the other hand, has shown that he can provide moments of quality at the top end of the pitch that can win points for his side, when he is at his best.
In fact, the summer signing from Hoffenheim scored in the club’s only away win in the Premier League this season, with a stunning free-kick against Wolves in the Midlands.
Stach also came off the bench against Brighton and won four of his four duels and completed both of his attempted dribbles, per Sofascore, in just 30 minutes on the pitch, which suggests that he may be ready to come back into the starting line-up after such a bright cameo.
The towering central midfielder may not be a diminutive style of playmaker like Gibbs-White, but their respective performances this season suggest that he can be Leeds United’s own version of the Forest star.
25/26 Premier League
Anton Stach
Morgan Gibbs-White
Appearances
9
10
xG
0.88
1.90
Goals
1
1
Big chances missed
1
2
Key passes per game
1.6
1.1
Big chances created
2
2
Assists
1
1
Dribbles completed per game
0.7
0.6
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Whites star has been even more creative than Gibbs-White, with 0.5 more key passes per game, whilst scoring as many goals from less xG in the Premier League.
Stach, who was once hailed as “underrated” by writer Bence Bocsák, and Gibbs-White are both midfield players who can make an impact in the final third as scorers and creators, which is why they are difference-makers for their respective teams.
Tanaka, unfortunately, has yet to prove that he can be a difference-maker at Premier League level, with no goal contributions this season, which is why he should be the man to drop out of the XI to bring the German back into the side to face Forest this weekend.
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Hopefully, if Stach returns to the team, he can shine and outperform Gibbs-White to help the Whites to their second win on the road in the division this term.
Aston Villa are keen on signing a “spectacular” Champions League striker, who is now considering working under Unai Emery.
Villa want to sign new striker amid Watkins' struggles
Ollie Watkins has fallen below his usual lofty standards so far this season, with the striker finding the back of the net just once in eight Premier League matches, and he could find it difficult to reclaim his spot in the starting XI.
Emery may choose to persist with Donyell Malen at centre-forward, given that the Dutchman has impressed in recent weeks, scoring a brace in the 2-1 victory against Burnley at the beginning of the month.
Watkins was benched for the 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur due to fitness concerns, but the Englishman did manage to impress on international duty, scoring in the Three Lions’ 3-0 victory against Wales.
Emery will be hoping that goal will be a real confidence-booster for the 29-year-old, but it has now emerged that the Villans are looking to sign a new striker, who could push for Watkins’ starting spot.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are now keen on signing Real Madrid striker Endrick, and there are signs the Brazilian could be tempted by the move, with it being revealed that he is considering working under Emery.
There is widespread interest in the Real Madrid centre-forward from within the Premier League, however, meaning there could be fierce competition for his signature, with Manchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United and West Ham United also in the race.
Not only that, but it could take a huge bid to get a deal over the line, given that the 19-year-old joined the Spanish side for around £53m, in a deal that eventually went through in 2024.
"Spectacular" Endrick could flourish at Villa Park
The 14-time Brazil international has found it very difficult to break into the Real Madrid team this season, failing to play a single minute of football in all competitions, despite emerging as a first-team player last season.
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ByDominic Lund Oct 21, 2025
During the 2024-25 campaign, the youngster was used sporadically by Carlo Ancelotti, but he achieved some important milestones, scoring his first goals in both La Liga and the Champions League.
Ancelotti is a keen admirer of the former Palmeiras man, having once lauded him as “spectacular”, but the starlet clearly needs first-team football if he is going to fulfill his potential, so a move, at least on a loan deal, would make sense.
With Watkins reportedly frustrated with Emery, the manager may also need to start thinking about long-term replacements, and Endrick has the ability to flourish at Villa Park.
Tottenham are reportedly ready to pay over £50 million for a striker who manager Thomas Frank has already called “remarkable”, with the Lilywhites currently struggling for creativity in the final third.
Tottenham linked with new centre-forward amid attacking struggles
On paper, Spurs have made a very solid start to the new season under Frank.
Only Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea boast more Premier League goals so far this season, with Frank’s side losing just two of their opening eight top flight matches and by very narrow margins.
Matches
12
Wins
6
Draws
3
Losses
3
Points
18
Points per game
1.75
However, there’s been a recurring criticism surrounding Spurs’ most recent encounters, and that is their failure to convince going forward.
Xavi Simons is at the centre of debate following his lack of goal contributions since a £52 million move from RB Leipzig in the summer. His arrival was largely tipped to fill the void left by James Maddison’s long-term injury and the continued absence of fellow creator Dejan Kulusevski, but Simons has just one assist to show for his efforts so far.
Worries also surround the north Londoners’ striker options.
Mathys Tel, despite scoring against Leeds United at Elland Road before the international break, proved largely ineffective in Tottenham’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa last weekend. This came after Tel was given the starting nod again ahead of Richarlison, who’s come under fire from certain sections of the media for a lack of consistency.
Dominic Solanke should return soon after undergoing minor surgery on an ankle problem, but the England international’s struggles with fitness have been pretty consistent since his club-record move from Bournemouth last summer.
Rank
Player
Fee
Signed from
Year
1
Dominic Solanke
£65m
Bournemouth
2024
2
Tanguy Ndombele
£62.8m
Lyon
2019
3
Richarlison
£60m
Everton
2022
4
Mohammed Kudus
£55m
West Ham
2025
5
Xavi Simons
£52m
RB Leipzig
2025
As a result, Spurs are being linked with new strikers ahead of January, and one of them is former Brentford star Ivan Toney.
The England international, who bagged 20 Premier League goals during his best season at the G-tech under Frank’s tutelage, has been scoring for fun in the Middle East since his £40 million switch to Al-Ahli last year.
The 29-year-old has bagged 39 goals in 56 appearances for Al-Ahli, but Toney’s decision to move to Saudi Arabia threatens his place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans.
Toney, apart from one nod earlier this year, has largely been excluded from the Three Lions squad, and the prospect of a Premier League return to better his chances of an England re-call may appeal to him.
Tottenham ready to bid £52m for ex-Brentford star Ivan Toney
Some reports suggest that Frank has personally contacted Toney about joining Spurs on loan in January, and now there’s been another update on the club’s interest.
As per Spanish media sources, if a mid-season loan turns out to be impossible, Tottenham are prepared to bid £52 million for Toney and bring him back to the Premier League in 2026, with the north Londoners described as more advanced than Chelsea in a potential move for him.
It is worth noting that West Ham have also been linked with a swoop for Toney as well, so it appears a host of London clubs are weighing up the prospect of his signing.
However, there could be major hurdles to navigate, the main one being his seismic £427,000-per-week pay packet.
Toney would almost certainly need to take a massive wage cut to seal a return to England, but if Spurs’ co-sporting directors Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici find a realistic way to do it, there is little denying that Frank would be thrilled to have the number nine.
Lewis Gregory clubbed a brutal half-century as Somerset defeated Hampshire Hawks by 17 runs at the Cooper Associates Ground to return to winning ways and move clear of Surrey at the top of the Vitality Blast South Group table.Will Smeed smashed 68 from 37 balls with nine fours and three sixes and dominated stands of 59 and 46 with Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell for the second and third wickets respectively after Somerset had been put in beneath the Taunton floodlights. But the home side lost their way during the middle overs and were indebted to skipper Gregory, who clubbed a much-needed 55 from 27 balls with four fours and four sixes and staged a record-breaking seventh-wicket partnership of 82 with Lewis Goldsworthy to propel the cider county to 209 for 6. Veteran allrounder Benny Howell claimed 2 for 12 and Liam Dawson 1 for 29 as the Hawks struggled to contain the South Group leaders.James Vince raised a 30-ball 54 and South Africa batter Dewald Brevis crashed 36 from 16 deliveries, but Ben Green took 3 for 40 as Somerset took wickets at key moments to restrict Hawks to 192 for 7 and secure a sixth victory in seven outings in the short format this season.Put into bat, Somerset made a subdued start by their own high standards, Tom Banton falling cheaply to a tremendous catch on the run by Joe Weatherley at deep square leg off the bowling of Eddie Jack. Kohler-Cadmore encountered no such problems, taking 14 runs off the third over, bowled by James Fuller, as the home side reasserted themselves.Smeed was equally expansive, plundering three boundaries in one Jack over, while Kohler-Cadmore emulated that feat at the expense of Fuller in the next as the second wicket pair fashioned a half-century partnership from just 23 balls in advancing the score to 68 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.Hampshire’s seamers held their nerve and Fuller provided relief, bowling Kohler-Cadmore for a 15-ball 29 in the seventh with the score 70 for 2. Kohler-Cadmore accrued a quartet of fours and a six, only to depart before he could inflict real damage. In his absence, Smeed picked up the cudgels, hoisting Fuller over midwicket for six and then straight-hitting the next ball for four to post 50 from 27 balls.Dawson’s nagging accuracy notwithstanding, Somerset initially managed to maintain momentum during the crucial middle overs, Abell adopting the role of chief support to Smeed, who continued to trade in boundaries and put bowlers and fielders alike under pressure. He eventually succumbed, hitting Jack straight down the throat of Scott Currie at long-on as Somerset slipped to 116 for 3 in the 11th.When Abell played across the line to Howell’s first delivery and was bowled via an inside edge, the home side were 116 for 4 and Hampshire fancied they were right back in the contest, an impression that was confirmed in the 13th, Sean Dickson playing back to Dawson and watching the ball clatter into his stumps.Green came and went quickly, holing out to long-on to provide the wily Howell with a second wicket as the flow of boundaries temporarily dried up and Somerset further subsided to 127 for 6 in the 14th. Gregory then took matters into his own hands, harvesting 25 off one Wood over as the seventh-wicket alliance realised 50 in just 25 balls. Unleashing a barrage of sixes, Somerset’s captain tucked into the seamers on his way to a high-octane 25-ball half-century. His partnership with Goldsworthy, who finished unbeaten on 29 from 16 balls, was a Somerset record for the seventh wicket in T20 cricket, eclipsing the 67 made by Omari Banks and Ben Phillips at Northampton in 2008.Living up to their formidable reputation, Hampshire openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Vince afforded the reply a super-charged start, posting 50 in 5.2 overs to force Somerset’s seamers onto the back foot. Pugilistic in his approach, Pretorius struck four fours and a brace of sixes as the partnership advanced to 74 inside nine overs.Somerset needed a wicket and the ever-dependable Green obliged, luring Pretorius into front-foot indiscretion and having the South African held in the deep for 37. With the asking rate rising above 12 for the first time, Vince and new batter Toby Albert looked to attack Goldsworthy. But the spinner defied their best attempts as the home side worked hard to restrict the supply of boundaries during the middle overs.Goldsworthy struck a telling blow in the 12th, inducing Albert to hit high to long-off with the score 95 for 2 as the rate continued to climb. While Vince remained at large, Hampshire were in with a chance, and the England batter hoisted Green high over midwicket for six to raise 50 from 29 balls. He was out next ball, caught on the long-on boundary as Green further reduced the visitors to 107 for 3.South African dangerman Brevis and Weatherley opened their shoulders in a bid to put the chase back on track, but Somerset’s bowlers remained disciplined in their lengths and the latter was run out by Riley Meredith for 15 with 75 still needed from five overs.Fuller attempted to match Brevis blow-for-blow, only to be undone by a Meredith yorker and fall for 11. Having struck four sixes and a four, Brevis then attempted to drive Green down the ground and skied a catch to Gregory at mid-off to signal the end of Hampshire’s prospects in the 18th..
Going into the summer transfer market, it was evident that Thomas Frank would be targeting added reinforcements within the final third of the pitch of his Tottenham Hotspur side.
Heung-min Son’s emotional departure after a decade at the club certainly fuelled the need for further additions, especially if the hierarchy wanted to avoid a repeat of last year’s 17th-placed Premier League finish.
The likes of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons were both brought into the club to try and add needed depth and quality to the attacking department.
Such moves set the club back around £107m for the pair, but a deal for the latter is certainly seen as excellent business – potentially making a huge profit on the Dutchman’s signature in the years ahead.
However, despite moves for the aforementioned duo, Frank also decided to make further moves to help bolster his side on deadline day – albeit on a temporary basis.
Spurs’ deadline day move to land Randal Kolo Muani
In an attempt to further bolster the Spurs frontline, Frank and Daniel Levy managed to strike a deal with PSG over a deal to land French striker Randal Kolo Muani on a season-long loan deal.
A €5m (£4.3m) loan fee was agreed between the two sides, with a deal not including an option to buy – which would make the Frenchman the fifth senior addition of the window.
The 26-year-old has rapidly fallen down the pecking order at the Ligue 1 outfit over recent years, subsequently joining Juventus on loan for the second half of 2024/25.
He registered eight goals in his 16 appearances for the Italian outfit, with his impressive form in Serie A undoubtedly playing a part in the Lilywhites’ move to land the talisman on deadline day.
However, despite the move for the Frenchman, Frank could’ve had the original version of the forward if one of the former managers had kept hold of the attacker.
The former Spurs star who was the original Kolo Muani
Over the last few years, Spurs have landed an array of talent to try and improve the frontline, but numerous of their efforts have fallen flat on their face.
Attackers have been landed from countries like Argentina, Portugal and the Netherlands – with the latter being in the form of Steven Bergwijn from PSV back in January 2020.
The deal to land the forward looked to be an incredible piece of business – especially after he scored a beautiful effort on his debut against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
However, he rapidly fell out of favour in North London, subsequently moving back to his homeland in 2022 after scoring just eight goals in his three years at the club.
He’s not the only player to fall below the standards expected of them after their subsequent move to North London – with French striker Clinton N’Jie ultimately unable to make an impact after his own move.
The attacker was brought to the Lilywhites by Mauricio Pochettino back in the summer of 2015, costing a fee in the region of £10m from Ligue 1 outfit Lyon.
He arrived with a lot of hype in his homeland, but ultimately fell well short of the expectations he arrived with – only making 14 appearances for the first-team – before returning to France on loan just 12 months later.
N’jie would fail to break back into the senior side in North London, subsequently joining Marseille on a permanent basis after scoring four times in Ligue 1 during his temporary spell the season prior.
Kolo Muani will be the next French forward from the top division of his homeland to move to the Lilywhites and try his luck at providing the goods within the final third.
However, the fanbase will be hoping the PSG loanee can have a bigger impact than N’Jie did at the club, with his career also fading away after departing the side eight years ago.
The 32-year-old, who featured for Romanian top-tier side Rapid București last season, was released at the end of his contract – now currently being a free agent and struggling to land himself a new side for 2025/26.
Clinton N’jie’s stats after leaving Spurs in 2017
Team
Goals
Marseille (2017/18)
9
Marseille (2018/19)
3
Dynamo Moscow (2019/20)
1
Dynamo Moscow (2020/21)
4
Dynamo Moscow (2021/22)
1
Sivasspor (2022/23)
3
Sivasspor (2023/24)
2
Rapid Bucharesti (2024/25)
2
Stats via FotMob
Given the failures of previous players before him, supporters may be reluctant to get excited about a move for Kolo Muani – but his goalscoring record from last season should give a reason to be positive.
His temporary addition could allow the hierarchy to have a free hit with the Frenchman, with the upside massively outweighing the negatives for Frank and his side.
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Jurgen Klopp’s decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season hung heavy over Anfield as the Arne Slot era looked to get up and running, and many thought the former Feyenoord coach would fall quickly by the wayside.
But Liverpool won the Premier League, and Slot is now renowned not just for his shrewd triumphs in his Dutch homeland but his success on a grander scale with Liverpool, who have fortified last year’s exploits with an utterly merciless spending spree across the summer transfer window, now the overwhelming favourites to retain their crown.
Liverpool did have to haul some surplus this summer, selling a whole host of first-team players in a major reshuffle. Up-and-coming stars such as Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah were sold despite making headway as top English talents over the past few years.
Quansah fell toward the fringes under Slot’s wing last season, and was sold to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m after being told he would continue to play a peripheral role throughout 2025/26.
Liverpool signed 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni to replace him, but Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi was the one who was viewed right up until the final moments of the transfer window as the perfect player to slot in alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool missed out on Guehi
When Guehi scored a peach against Aston Villa before the September international break, his celebration carried with it the sense that he had written an incredible, fairytale ending to his chapter at Crystal Palace.
A move to Liverpool wasn’t just on the cards, but imminent, only it fell through at the eleventh hour on deadline day after the Eagles failed to secure an adequate replacement for Oliver Glasner’s captain, who has been instrumental across 2025 for the multi-trophy-winning side.
Guehi, 25, has emerged over the past few years as one of the best defenders in the Premier League, with his combative and composed defensive style merging with a technical game that stretches beyond what is expected of a centre-half.
Indeed, he has been described as an “absolute gem” by his former coach Michael Beale, who singled out his formative years at Chelsea’s Cobham as building his technical level.
Glasner, for his part, is adamant that certain stories of his desperate – and successful – efforts to keep Guehi at the club were false.
In any case, Guehi remains a Palace player and has no intention of penning a new deal that would extend his contract beyond its expiry at the end of the season.
A move to Merseyside remains a convincing possibility, with Liverpool snapping him up for free.
In this way, Guehi could mimic another deal from the closed summer transfer window, becoming Liverpool’s version of a player who actually left Anfield for a European giant just a few months ago.
Liverpool's own version of Guehi
While the Anfield side were willing to part with such players, it was a different tale with homegrown hero Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was billed by many as Liverpool’s new version of Steven Gerrard after emerging from the academy.
But the 26-year-old instead left at the end of his contract and signed for Real Madrid.
It was a contentious decision, but one which the 26-year-old made after much consideration, leaving England and the Premier League and joining Los Blancos, Liverpool’s biggest European rivals of modern times, for a fresh challenge and a chance to take his career to the next level.
Many Reds couldn’t understand the decision, with jeers when the right-back entered the fray after confirmation of his decision was made known in May, during a draw with Arsenal, pushing the unsavoury situation toward boiling point.
Trent’s Liverpool Career
Competition
Apps
Goals (assists)
Premier League
257
18 (67)
Champions League
60
2 (13)
FA Cup
13
1 (3)
Carabao Cup
10
0 (6)
Europa League
5
0 (2)
Club World Cup
2
0 (1)
CL Qualifying
2
0 (1)
Community Shield
2
1 (0)
UEFA Super Cup
1
0 (0)
Stats via Transfermarkt
Even so, Alexander-Arnold celebrated Liverpool’s Premier League title with his peers and showed an outpouring of emotion after playing his final match in a Liverpool shirt at the end of the season. The Three Lions star was synonymous with his former outfit’s resurgence of the past decade, after all.
Hailed as a “generational” talent by content creator Asim Mahmood, Liverpool must regret losing such an incredible, irreplaceable playmaker, one of the greatest passers of the ball in English history.
There are parallels between his situation and Guehi’s at Palace, to be sure, and those similarities might become more pronounced in the coming months, when talk of a pre-contract agreement with the Eagles captain gathers steam.
Whether Liverpool win that battle remains to be seen, with sources recently suggesting Chelsea are gearing up to make a move of their own for Guehi after the new year.
But if Guehi does have his heart set on a move to Liverpool, as has been suggested, Slot might just find himself welcoming his own version of Alexander-Arnold, landing an elite player on a Bosman and one who is cherished by the fanbase of a club who cannot bear the thought of his departure.
Of course, Trent will return to his old stomping ground sooner than he might have hoped for, with Real Madrid drawn against Liverpool in the league phase of the Champions League.
Liverpool chiefs will be frustrated that they couldn’t convince the Scouser to stay put, but Slot’s side have already shown they can overcome the setback, just as there is confidence that the failed attempt to sign Guehi from Crystal Palace will not stop the club from achieving their goals.
FSG have already sold Liverpool's homegrown Zubimendi for just £15m
Former Liverpool player is now starring as a deep-lying playmaker reminiscent of Zubimendi.
“The margins are small in this competition and we’re not hitting our strides and that is a concern,” says MI head coach
S Sudarshanan08-Apr-20254:26
Bangar: MI’s top four didn’t really turn up
Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach Mahela Jayawardene acknowledges that the powerplay – both with bat and ball – is a concern for the team. MI went down by 12 runs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Monday, their fourth defeat in five outings in IPL 2025, and Jayawardene wants the five-time champions to be “ruthless” and not “lose discipline” before it’s too late.”The powerplay is a concern for us with the ball and the bat. In the last few games as well, we were leaking too many runs with the ball in the powerplay as well,” Jayawardene said after the match. “We got an early wicket today as well – first over – but then they counter-punched, played some good shots, and we just did not react well to that. These are the margins and then they had a big sixth over, which really hurt us in that powerplay.”With an economy of 10.36, MI have been the most expensive bowling unit in the first six overs this season. They have only managed to pick up six wickets in the phase. On Monday, Trent Boult struck in the first over for the 31st time in the IPL. But Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal took RCB to 73 for 1 in the powerplay, thanks mainly to a 20-run over from Deepak Chahar to end the phase. It was the second-highest powerplay score against MI at the Wankhede and the fourth-highest overall against them in the IPL.Related
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Hardik says MI bowlers 'didn't have anywhere to hide' on a 'tough track'
Kohli, Patidar and Krunal star as RCB end ten-year Wankhede jinx
Then, in their chase of 222, MI lost two wickets in four overs and ended the powerplay on 54 for 2. In this IPL, they have lost ten wickets in the first six overs, second only to the 12 for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).”With the bat as well, I thought we had a good start but just couldn’t continue,” Jayawardene said. “We lost those two wickets and then we had to consolidate a little bit and lost a bit of momentum there. We had a few big overs in between but we just weren’t in the game in that first ten overs. The margins are small in this competition and we’re not hitting our strides and that is a concern.”MI are placed eighth on the ten-team points table with just a sole win – against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at home. Despite that, Jayawardene said they were “playing some good cricket” and ruled out the need to make changes in their personnel.”I still back the senior pros and all the guys I put out there. They have the skill. It’s just that we need to be a bit more ruthless,” he said. “At times, we’re missing out on those one or two overs where we lose our discipline. So that’s with the bat as well as with the ball. That’s something that we need to rectify.”Losing is not a great thing. You start doubting yourself. And sometimes a fresh face coming into this kind of situation… might be even tougher for that player as well without the experience. The guys who have the experience know to handle tough situations and be mentally stronger going forward. So that’s something that we will bank on and make sure that we really focus on getting the group together and be positive and play the next game.”MI found themselves 99 for 4 in 12 overs in their tall chase with ESPNcricinfo’s win predictor giving them only a 2.26% chance at that stage. But captain Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma added 89 in just 34 balls to give RCB an almighty scare. Hardik instilled momentum in the chase, hitting Josh Hazlewood for two sixes and two fours. He then struck Krunal Pandya for back-to-back sixes and raced to 32 off 7.”Most of the guys are match-winners. It’s just that we are not getting that tempo going consistently,” Jayawardene said. “Once you hit that 10th-12th over mark, we knew we could give ourselves a chance. When Hardik walked into bat, that was the conversation I had with him. I said, ‘try and see if you can get three big overs in’. That’s what he delivered. Then the momentum changed. Tilak started going as well.”We were close, but not good enough. Obviously, the emotions were great for a while. But we had to be realistic that we are not playing the best cricket that we could play.”Hardik Pandya’s men have been the most expensive bowling unit in the first six overs this season•Associated Press
Jayawardene ‘wouldn’t read too much’ into Rohit’s dismissalJayawardene dismissed concerns around former captain Rohit Sharma and backed him after yet another low score. Rohit scored a nine-ball 17 hitting two fours and a six before he was clean bowled by an inswinger from Yash Dayal.”For right-handed batsmen, left-armers [dismissal] is a natural thing,” Jayawardene said. “It’s been there for many years. I can remember Vaasy [Chaminda Vaas] doing the same thing for many teams, Wasim Akram doing the same thing, so it’s just a natural angle. I’m sure Rohit’s been working on it, he’s been practising hard and he’s a very experienced player.”Rohit has now been dismissed 22 times inside the powerplay since the start of IPL 2023, the most for any batter. Among those who have faced at least 180 deliveries in the first six overs since the start of last season, no one has a worse average than Rohit’s 27.90. While he struck at 130.72 in 2023, his strike rate shot up to 151.97 in the powerplay last season, indicating that he has tried to attack more, something Jayawardene acknowledged.”He was trying to give us a good start and he played some really good shots,” he said. “[Dayal] actually bowled a good ball. It was late-swing and fuller, got through Rohit’s defence. When you have played the game for that long, you need to sometimes give credit to the bowlers as well. I wouldn’t read into that too much, but yeah, it’s something that I’m sure Rohit will work hard on.”
Australia’s stand-in captain previously had surgery on the same elbow in 2019
Andrew McGlashan21-Jan-20250:46
Smith: Missing the 10k-run mark ‘hurt a little bit’
Steven Smith was fearful he had done significant damage to his elbow when he felt pain throwing in the BBL last week in what would been a major jolt to Australia’s plans in Sri Lanka.But after advice from a specialist Smith was cleared to join the training camp in Dubai where he arrived on Tuesday and is planning on resuming batting in the next couple of days. He is Australia’s captain for the two Tests in Galle with Pat Cummins on paternity leave.Related
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Smith’s scare came to the same elbow he had ligament surgery on in 2019 – which required lengthy rehab – and it was memories of that which were at the forefront of his mind at the SCG last Friday.Outlining how the problem occurred, Smith explained he had taken a catch off David Warner, flicked it back inside the rope and was then throwing the ball in when he felt the pain.”Straight away I thought ‘oh jeez, that hurt’,” Smith said. “That was a similar sort of feeling to when I ruptured my ligament back in 2019, so I was a little bit worried for a little bit. But scans showed fortunately my ligament is still intact, the one that I got repaired. I’ve got a little bit of muscle damage, and it’s a small millimetre of the ligament on the bone that’s doing something.Smith added he believes the issue may have stemmed from a blow he took on the shoulder from Jhye Richardson earlier in the BBL which left a significant bruise on his right shoulder and led to him adjusting his throwing technique to compensate.Steven Smith will lead Australia in Sri Lanka•Getty ImagesWhile he has been cleared of major problems with the elbow, Smith may be limited in how much he can throw in the field although as he will largely be a close catcher in a series where spin is expected to dominate that shouldn’t be a huge issue.”In terms of batting I’m pretty comfortable I’ll be able to get into it and play with some tape on it,” he said.Smith will start the Sri Lanka series on 9999 Test runs having twice been dismissed within touching distance of the 10,000 landmark during the final Test against India at the SCG.The full Australia squad, minus injured left-arm spinnerMatt Kuhnemann, is now in Dubai with Beau Webster and Mitchell Starc having arrived yesterday alongside Smith. They are preparing at the ICC Academy on bespoke pitches to replicate conditions they expect to face in Sri Lanka.”I was watching a bit there and there was a lot of variation in the spin and some bounce as well,” Smith said. “That’s the reason we are here in Dubai, we are able to do what we want to do with these wickets, try and help guys develop game plans when it does get extreme. Guys are going to learn over this week and hold us in good stead for the tour.”An update on Kuhnemann’s availability is expected in the next couple of days after he underwent surgery on a compound fracture-dislocation in his right thumb suffered in the BBL last week.
The appointment is till the end of the Champions Trophy next year, after which the PCB will finalise the full-time coach
Danyal Rasool18-Nov-2024Aaqib Javed has been named interim head coach of Pakistan’s men’s national white-ball teams till the end of the 2025 Champions Trophy, of which Pakistan are the hosts.Former Pakistan quick and UAE men’s head coach Aaqib will continue to serve as a senior member of the Pakistan men’s selection committee, and “will be assigned additional responsibilities following the conclusion” of the Champions Trophy, the PCB said in a statement on Monday.The PCB added that it “will initiate the recruitment process for a permanent white-ball head coach” with the aim of completing the appointment by the end of the Champions Trophy, which is set to run from February 19 to March 9.Speaking at a press meet at Gaddafi Stadium on Monday, Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman, said, “We have temporarily asked Aaqib Javed to take over as coach until Champions Trophy. We don’t want to act too hastily in bringing in another coach who isn’t right. So this three-month gap, Aaqib will work [in that position]. He definitely wants to work on other things but we requested him to work for three months as head coach and after that we will see about the other stuff he wants to do.
Aaqib continuing to be on the selection committee puts the PCB’s coaching set-up in the unusual position of the interim white-ball coach having a say in selection across formats, while the full-time red-ball coach does not have a say in selection for the Test side
“It is only for [Aaqib to be only] white-ball [coach] and only [in an] interim [capacity]. We will begin the process of looking for a head coach in the next 10-15 days so we can search and find a good head coach.”Jason Gillespie, meanwhile, will continue to helm the Test side, and will join the touring party for the two-Test series in South Africa, which starts on December 26 after a T20I and ODI series. Last week, Gillespie was sounded out to perform white-ball duties until the Champions Trophy, without a change in his current contract – in effect, to take on two additional formats without being paid more for the increased scope of his role. Gillespie turned that offer down.Aaqib continuing to be on the selection committee puts the PCB’s coaching set-up in the unusual position, where the interim white-ball coach does have a say in selection across formats, while the full-time red-ball coach does not have a say in selection for the Test side.The decision to hand Aaqib white-ball coaching duties at such a critical phase of white-ball cricket for Pakistan underscores how swift the speed of Aaqib’s ascent has been. Until a few weeks ago, he was Lahore Qalandars’ long-term coach and director of cricket operations, where he had a mixed record; he led the side to consecutive PSL titles, but also saw several bottom-place finishes, including earlier this season.Jason Gillespie will continue to be Pakistan’s red-ball coach•Getty ImagesWhen appointed a member of the selection committee, he was viewed by the PCB’s top brass as the mastermind behind the implementation of spin-friendly pitches against England to turn that series. He quit his role at Qalandars to focus on the PCB, where he was initially viewed as the favourite to be appointed director at the National Cricket Academy. He served a stint as Sri Lanka’s bowling coach earlier this year, but now begins his highest profile challenge.Pakistan haven’t had a full-time white-ball coach since Gary Kirsten resigned in late October. Gillespie had been given additional responsibilities for the ongoing white-ball tour of Australia.The tour of Australia, where Pakistan won the ODI series but lost the T20Is, ends today, and Pakistan are next slotted to play three ODIs and three T20Is in Zimbabwe (November 24 to December 5) before travelling to South Africa. In South Africa, they will first play three T20Is (December 10 to 14) and then three ODIs (December 17 to 22) before the two Tests. Pakistan then play a two-Test series at home against West Indies (January 16 to 28) before hosting New Zealand and South Africa in a short ODI tri-series just before the Champions Trophy.