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England's centre-back room looks almost unrecognisable this month to how it has for the majority of Sarina Wiegman's tenure. With Millie Bright having recently retired, Leah Williamson still injured, Alex Greenwood ruled out for a few weeks and Jess Carter granted a period of rest, Wiegman is set to name a starting defence without any of that quartet for just the second, and third, time in her four years in charge of the Lionesses when her side take on China and Ghana over the course of the next week.

It's no wonder Wiegman has described this camp as "an opportunity" for other centre-back options to "step up" then, and for no one does it feel like a greater opportunity than Maya Le Tissier. Fresh off the back of making her first England start in a central position last month, having won all nine of her previous caps for her country as a full-back, the 23-year-old feels well-placed to benefit from what is certainly an unfamiliar situation for the Lionesses.

The timing feels important, too. These are England's final friendly matches before qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup begins in the New Year and, with only the group winner to automatically book a spot at the tournament, and the Lionesses having been pooled with Spain, obtaining results is going to be the priority. As such, it's one of the last windows for a while in which Wiegman is going to experiment and hand out chances. Le Tissier will be out to take hers and show that she should be considered as a valuable option at centre-back, not just right-back, moving forward.

Getty Images SportPlenty of debate

Le Tissier has been a lightning rod for debate when it comes to the Lionesses in recent months. "I was expecting that," Wiegman laughed when asked about the Manchester United captain following her start as a centre-back against Australia in the last camp, having been bombarded with questions about her since re-emphasising that she saw Le Tissier as more of a right-back than a centre-back just a couple of weeks prior.

That stance sparked a frenzy on social media, particularly after United, somewhat incredibly, got involved. "Maya Le Tissier has started 104 games for United," a post on the club's official X account read. "103 of them have been at centre-back." Ian Wright, meanwhile, took to Instagram to state that he simply didn't "understand" Wiegman's point of view, calling Le Tissier "the most consistent" English centre-back in the Women's Super League.

"I think it's hard not to see it. It's everywhere," Le Tissier said of the public questioning of her role when talking to . "Obviously I play centre-half at club level every single week and every single day in training. So for me, I love playing centre-back, and full-back is a different challenge. I enjoy that as well, but I don't feel as kind of confident.

"It's hard when you go play a different position that you don't play at all. I just try and do whatever Sarina asks of me, just to get on the pitch, no matter if it's at full-back or centre-half or anywhere else where Sarina thinks I could play!"

AdvertisementGetty ImagesSoftening stance

How Wiegman used Le Tissier during the October camp suggested something of a softening on what had, at times, previously felt like a very strong position. The defender started as a right-back in the first game of that international break, a defeat to Brazil, but ended it at centre-back. Then, three days later, she started at the heart of the defence as England bounced back with a victory over Australia.

"I think in both positions, she has done really well," Wiegman said after the latter outing. "I'll have a review on that. We'll discuss it over the next couple days, because I want to see this game back. But I think she did really well."

Those comments were the cherry on top of what felt like an incredibly positive camp for Le Tissier, in which she went about her business at full-back without any sense of complaint before showing what she could do when deployed in the position she knows best.

Getty ImagesUnfamiliar situation

This week is now a real opportunity to build on that. It's hard to overstate just how different Wiegman's centre-back options are this month when compared to what she has been used to during her four years in charge. In that time, Bright, Williamson, Greenwood and Carter have been mainstays, with at least one of them starting in the defensive line in all of her first 71 games as England manager. That run only came to an end in England's most recent outing, when Wiegman started Le Tissier alongside Esme Morgan for the visit of Australia, in her 72nd game in charge.

Indeed, that became only the 11th time in those 72 matches that the centre-back pairing or the back three – taking into account the period which saw the Lionesses regularly set-up in a 3-5-2 shape – was not exclusively made up of a combination of Bright, Williamson, Greenwood and Carter. However, none are available for this upcoming window, with Wiegman instead to have to pick from Le Tissier, Morgan, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Grace Fisk.

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Getty ImagesChanging pecking order

Previously, it would've felt like an opportunity for Wubben-Moy, who was granted a start in four of those first seven occasions when Wiegman turned to a centre-back outside of her trusted quartet. It could well be this week, too, as after finding game time extremely hard to come by for most of the year, the Arsenal defender is starting regularly again, owing to a devastating ACL injury for rising star Katie Reid that saw the teenager join Williamson on the sidelines for the Gunners.

But it is still the case that Wubben-Moy has fallen down Wiegman's pecking order in recent times. In fact, she was not actually in England's final squad before the Euro 2025 announcement, not until Bright decided to take an extended period of rest that would eventually progress into her missing the tournament and, more recently, retiring.

Instead, Morgan's status in this team has increased steadily in the last couple of years and she has got the nod for those moments of change in the defence, as evidenced by her start in the Euros semi-final clash with Italy. With Fisk uncapped, and rarely called up under Wiegman, Morgan and Le Tissier do feel like the first-choice starting centre-back partnership for this week, with variations dependent on how much Wiegman wants to rotate a spine that is already missing starting goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.

A taint on Liverpool’s season has become turmoil. One loss became two became three. Now, Arne Slot’s champions are in dire straits, having lost five of their past six games in the Premier League.

This is a crisis, of course, with the Reds such a far cry from last season’s quality that not even an echo of that thrilling form can be found in this current crop. But then the season is still young, and there is a good chance that Slot, hailed as a “genius” and a “football scientist” by journalist Marcel van der Kraan last year, will find a solution.

But that solution needs to come quickly, with the expensive new signings all flattering to deceive, bar Hugo Ekitike and perhaps goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, solid if unspectacular in recent weeks as Alisson recovers from injury.

There was always going to be a period of integration, but this has gone beyond that. And, sadly, it feels like the Anfield side are missing Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Why Liverpool miss Alexander-Arnold

Not for a long time have Liverpool seen a star depart in such bitter circumstances. Alexander-Arnold was the hometown poster boy, instrumental in so much success under Jurgen Klopp’s wing.

But the whispers of his departure had started long before he left for Real Madrid at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, his contract about to expire and Real Madrid paying an £8m premium to free him early and add him to the Club World Cup squad over the pond.

Booed by segments at Anfield after the confirmation of his switch to Spain, Alexander-Arnold is no longer considered Merseyside’s Gerrard-esque superstar, even if he leaves a glittering legacy at his boyhood club.

But away from the emotion, Liverpool have missed their one-of-a-kind defender’s creativity. Jamie Carragher once said Trent’s range of passing was like “having Kevin De Bruyne playing at right-back”, with vision and accuracy on the ball that most could only dream of.

Indeed, no defender in the Premier League has racked up more assists than the 26-year-old, and with him having played fewer matches than all just below him.

1

Trent Alexander-Arnold

64

2

Andy Robertson

60

3

Leighton Baines

53

4

Graeme Le Saux

44

5

Kieran Trippier

38

As the English top flight undergoes something of a cultural and tactical shift, with long throws and low blocks and direct play all the rage once more, Slot’s Liverpool have toiled away and fallen by the wayside.

Trent’s passing would be quite the tonic right now. As per FBref, the Three Lions man ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 5% for shot-creating actions and the top 8% for assists made per 90.

But there’s no use crying over spilt milk – or sold starboys, for that matter. Slot needs to find a solution, and he might just have one in another city-born talent.

Liverpool's new version of Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool have signed a new creative superstar in Florian Wirtz. The German hasn’t clicked yet, but his generational quality suggests there is a propitious future awaiting the attacking midfielder.

However, Wirtz isn’t the player in question here. Instead, Curtis Jones is quietly producing progressive playmaking performances under Slot’s management and must now be utilised in a more important role to help turn the tide that has swept the club’s title ambitions away over the past few months.

Jones is Liverpool’s leading academy graduate now that Alexander-Arnold has up and left. The versatile centre-midfielder has racked up 193 appearances for his boyhood club, scoring 19 goals and providing 23 assists.

He never quite nailed down a role of significance in Klopp’s team, and while he played his part for Slot last year, Jones has been somewhat on the backbench since the summer, certainly in the Premier League.

In any case, Jones spoke at the start of the Dutch coach’s tenure of his admiration and excitement, feeling his ball-playing skill lends itself to success in Slot’s system.

With Liverpool struggling for control and focused creativity, might Jones be the answer? From limited match action this term, he has proven himself an interesting solution and must be handed a string of starts, especially with Alexis Mac Allister having drifted so far from his usual level.

There’s no question that Jones has become more progressive with his passing since Slot replaced Klopp. In fact, DataMB revealed earlier this week that the England international’s 17.82 progressive passes per game this season trumps every other Premier League midfielder, and that having recorded the highest pass completion rate (91.01%) besides.

He’s only started two league matches this season, featuring nine times in total, but the 24-year-old has also won 65% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

It’s no wonder that one Premier League analyst hailed him as “one of the most underrated players in England”, not necessarily the flashiest, but an industrious and dynamic player who is now adding layers.

This has always been Jones’ skillset, but now, he is starting to evolve into a forward-thinking player, shaking off that ‘conservative’ tag. Sideways passes and a play-it-safe attitude have been, unfairly, regular criticisms of his game.

Liverpool need to see positive change over the coming weeks. Eighth in the Premier League and struggling for any semblance of fluency and confidence, Jones could provide a shrewd answer, combining with those around him, shoring up the defence and rethreading the attacking patterns that have frayed and split this year.

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The left-arm quick was part of the Australia side that won the 2021 T20 World Cup

Andrew McGlashan02-Sep-20251:57

‘Not a huge surprise’ to see Starc retire from T20Is – Alex Malcolm

Mitchell Starc has announced his retirement from T20Is in order to prioritise Australia’s heavy Test schedule from late next year and the 2027 ODI World Cup.Starc, 35, played 65 T20Is after making his debut in 2012 and was part of the Australia side that won the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. He last featured in the format at the 2024 World Cup in the Caribbean and has retired six months before the next edition in India and Sri Lanka. His 79 T20I wickets currently puts him second for Australia with his best of 4 for 20 coming against West Indies in 2022.”Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority,” Starc said. “I have loved every minute of every T20 game I have played for Australia, particularly the 2021 World Cup, not just because we won but the incredible group and the fun along the way.Related

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From mid-2026 Australia face a hectic run in Test cricket including a home series against Bangladesh, a tour of South Africa, a four-match series against New Zealand, five Tests away in India in January 2027, the one-off 150th anniversary match against England at the MCG and then an away Ashes in mid-2027.The ODI World Cup, which will be staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, will be held in October and November 2027 with Australia the defending champions.”Looking ahead to an away Indian Test tour, the Ashes and an ODI World Cup in 2027, I feel this is my best way forward to remain fresh, fit and at my best for those campaigns,” Starc said. “It also gives the bowling group time to prepare for the T20 World Cup in the matches leading into that tournament.”At his best in T20Is, Starc was able to find new-ball swing and execute his yorker at various stages of an innings. His pace may be the toughest aspect to replace as Australia build towards next year’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, although the team have won 14 out of 17 matches since Starc last featured.”I’m not sure we’re going to find someone swinging the new ball at 145kph an hour,” chair of selectors George Bailey said. “So it might not necessarily be a like-for-like replacement. Traditionally he’s taken the new ball and been able to bowl some clutch overs at the death at the right time.”So have we exposed the type of players who might be able to fill that. I think Nathan Ellis become a really integral member of that T20 side. I’m seeing some really good stuff from Ben Dwarshuis in particular. Sean Abbott and Xavier Bartlett have also had opportunities there as well. I’m not sure we’re going to replace Starcy, but it might just be some slight shifting of roles.”I think his record does speak for itself. The thing that I am probably most excited about is that he will continue to play Test cricket and one-day cricket, hopefully for a longer period of time.”Starc’s announcement came as Australia named their latest T20I squad for the three-match series against New Zealand in early October. Cameron Green will miss the trip across the Tasman so he can play the opening round of the Sheffield Shield for Western Australia which could see him return to bowling.Nathan Ellis will also be absent for the birth of his and wife Connie’s first child. Matt Short, who missed both recent series against West Indies and South Africa due to a side injury, returns as does Mitchell Owen who suffered a concussion in Darwin last month. Marcus Stoinis, who came to an agreement with the selectors over his availability, is back in the squad after not being selected for the last two series and playing in the Hundred.Australia T20I squad vs New ZealandMitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

Johnson suffered a stress fracture in the IPL but it wasn’t formally diagnosed until the lead-up to Australia’s tour of the Caribbean

Alex Malcolm10-Oct-2025While Australia have been sweating on Pat Cummins’ scan results, another of the country’s fast bowlers, Spencer Johnson, faces an equally nervous wait this week to see if a stress fracture he suffered in the IPL has heeled enough for him to play in the upcoming BBL and push for a T20 World Cup berth.There had been a little bit of mystery around Johnson’s absence from Australia’s T20I side across the last three series, especially following the retirement of Mitchell Starc from the format.He was ruled out of the Caribbean T20I tour with a back injury and also wasn’t selected for the T20I and ODI series against South Africa in August but the extent of injury was not specified until September when Australia’s chair of selectors George Bailey revealed Johnson was unlikely to play until the new year.Related

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Johnson, who has played five ODIs and eight T20Is, is hopeful he might be able to return sooner but he cut a frustrated figure at a BBL kit launch event in Melbourne on Thursday.”The back, to be honest, feels fine,” Johnson said. “Stressies are one of those things where they feel good, but it’s just just a waiting game. I’ve got a scan in over the next couple of days, and pending that result, we’ll be able to find out hopefully a return to play there. I think it should be around the Big Bash in some capacity, whether it’s at the start or manage through that. It’s frustrating, but it is what it is.”Part of Johnson’s frustration had come from not identifying the injury earlier, mainly because he had never had a stress fracture in his back previously. Johnson has been a late bloomer into professional cricket after a lot of injury other injury concerns.He initially wrote off his back pain in the IPL as a disc issue, something he had dealt with previously, and did not get in scanned because it settled quickly.”I started to get a bit of back discomfort, and sort of wasn’t too bad, because I was only really training at that stage,” Johnson said. “And when I got back to Australia, I was trying to build-up for the T20 series in the West Indies. I think just the increased load stirred it up a little bit a little bit more. And we got a scan, and unfortunately, there was a stress [fracture] there. A little bit uncommon for a 29-year-old.”It’s a bit of a strange one, because initially they thought it was an old fracture that had just sort of scarred and then I think more recently the more scans we’ve done, they’ve thought it’s probably a fresher one.”Spencer Johnson suffered a stress fracture during the IPL•PTI

The injury could not have come at a worse time for the left-arm quick. Having missed the 2024 limited-overs tour of England due to injury, he bounced back with a superb T20I series at home against Pakistan including a maiden international five-wicket haul in Sydney. Injuries to Australia’s big three opened the door for Johnson to play in the Champions Trophy and he took 2 for 49 from 10 in the rained out clash with Afghanistan.But missing the last four white-ball series, including the ODIs against South Africa, and the upcoming one-dayers and T20Is against India leave him with a tough climb back to be part of the T20 World Cup, particularly with fellow left-armer Ben Dwarshuis performing so well for Australia in recent times.”It’s never a great time being injured,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately, especially this calendar year, there’s plenty of white-ball cricket. Regardless of the back I was planning on staying here in the winter and making sure this summer was a big one, hopefully for Australia. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. But there’s still plenty of cricket to play post Christmas and a T20 World Cup and something I’d love to be a part of.”For now he will continue rehabbing his back in Adelaide, diligently doing pilates and swimming to keep up his shoulder mobility and strengthen his core. He has been leaning on Australia and Brisbane Heat team-mate Xavier Bartlett for recovery advice, as Bartlett has come back from multiple stress fractures.He will also need to do a bit of remedial work on his action when he returns to bowling and will liaise with national pace bowling coach Adam Griffith, Heat bowling coach Andy Bichel and South Australia coach Ryan Harris on what is required.”The beauty of being a part of the Brisbane Heat set up, the SACA, and then even Cricket Australia that I’ll be sort of leaning on all three Rhino, Andy Bichel and Griff and everyone’s sort of on the same page,” Johnson said. “I’ve got plenty of ideas of what I want to do and keeping everyone on the same page and doing a lot of the work at the SACA is what I’ll do. It’s been nice to be at home at the minute.”

India await in second assignment of women’s summer, but new head coach likes what she’s seen so far

Valkerie Baynes08-Jun-2025England Women can expect a tougher test of their new set-up when India arrive later this month, after West Indies’ tour ended in 3-0 sweeps of both T20I and ODI series.Such results don’t appear to be optimal preparation for the world’s No.2 ODI side to take on third-ranked rivals and World Cup hosts India. However, they provided a confidence boost after the nadir of six months ago, and allowed the hosts to experiment, gleaning some valuable insights in the process.It turns out the solution to their top-order conundrum in the 50-over format had been staring them in the face all along. England’s depth of talent has so often been boasted about as a welcome product of the professionalisation of the domestic women’s game, but by bringing that to the fore rather than leaving it in the background amid a reluctance to tinker, they have strengthened their batting and bowling options.”We are under no illusions that we are going to have tougher times ahead,” Charlotte Edwards, England’s new head coach, said on Saturday. “But equally, what we are seeing already is that appetite for people to want to keep getting better too – they can’t stand still because there’s someone probably in county cricket now scoring runs who’s winning games of cricket.”Reuniting Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont as openers after five years was hugely successful, with both scoring back-to-back centuries in twin partnerships worth more than 200 each across the first two games. So too was the introduction of Linsey Smith and Em Arlott to the ODI bowling ranks.So much so that, in the third and final ODI in Taunton on Saturday, Jones dropped back to the middle order (where she wasn’t required) and Beaumont was rested along with Smith, coincidentally just as it was announced that fellow left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone would take a wellbeing break with a view to feeling ready to take on India.Charlotte Edwards wants to be able to pick from a pool of 25 players for every England match•Getty ImagesArlott, who made her international debut during the T20I leg of the tour and was rested for the second ODI, returned with devastating effect on Saturday, taking two wickets for one run in the space of six balls as West Indies lurched to 3 for 4 inside four overs.Meanwhile, Sarah Glenn made her first appearance of the series in Taunton and took 3 for 21 after a five-hour rain delay to help contain West Indies to 106 for 8 from 21 overs. She was subsequently named player of the match as England cruised to a nine-wicket victory with Nat Sciver-Brunt scoring an unbeaten 57 opening alongside Sophia Dunkley.Emma Lamb, who like Arlott and Smith had been called up after dominating the start of the domestic 50-over competition, scored a quick-fire 55 in the second ODI before making way for Alice Capsey to move up to No. 3 and score 20 not out.Of course England had the luxury to try just about anything against an already under-strength West Indies who travelled without injured big hitters Chinelle Henry and Deandra Dottin and were further depleted when star allrounder and captain Hayley Matthews succumbed to a shoulder problem. Matthews had been player of the T20I series, despite her side failing to win a match but was ruled out of the second and third ODIs after aggravating the injury while fielding in the first in Derby.Related

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But the fact that the third ODI amounted to batting practice for England’s regular middle-order, who had up to that point been under-used, and that a re-jigged bowling line-up got their job done illustrated that their desired competition for places has arrived – something not present for the failed T20 World Cup and Ashes campaigns.”It is going to be difficult to pick teams moving forward,” Edwards added, “but that’s the place we wanted to be and we don’t want to be picking from 15 or 16 players. We want to be picking from a pool of 25 players, which I genuinely think we are now. We’ve probably got there quicker than I thought we would.”A significant factor has been Edwards’ insistence on England-contracted players playing domestic cricket in the lead-up to the West Indies series.While some will rest ahead of India’s arrival, others were set to leave the ODI squad and rejoin their domestic teams for the Vitality Blast as early as Sunday.”There’s a group of fast bowlers now really vying for a few spots,” Edwards added. “I don’t think we’ve had that, probably in the last five years, in terms of about five or six bowlers who could all open the bowling for England. And a really good group of batters who are really pushing each other to get better and better, which I think is a really healthy place to be in as a team. It makes it harder for us now to select teams, but equally more exciting for us moving forward.”England play five T20Is against India starting at Trent Bridge on June 28, followed by three ODIs. And while Edwards admitted that, with this year’s World Cup in mind, she would have preferred to have played more ODIs, England will host the T20 World Cup in a year’s time.”That’s why we played around with the team a little bit today,” she said. “But equally, we understand that the T20 format is a format that, for next summer is really important as well, so we’ll manage that.Linsey Smith took her chances after a long period out of the selectors’ thoughts•ECB via Getty Images”We absolutely know that, in a couple of weeks’ time at Trent Bridge, that’s going to be tough. They’re one of the best teams in the world, they’ve got some of the best players, so we’re going to have to be right on it when we get to the 28th of June. But we’ve taken a lot of confidence from this and that’s the most important thing. We can only play what’s in front of us and we’ll look to do that again when we play against India.”West Indies failed to qualify for the 50-over World Cup immediately before heading to England. That they couldn’t put up more of a fight in the T20Is, despite knocking England out of that World Cup last October, was unsurprising given their over-reliance on Matthews.There were some small highlights for West Indies, who will return home to host South Africa in the first of three ODIs starting on Wednesday, then three T20Is.At just 20 years of age, Realeanna Grimmond offered cause for optimism with her half-century on ODI debut in the second game in Leicester, as did 21-year-old Jannillea Glasgow with a 24-ball 44. But their development, along with that of teenage quick Jahzara Claxton is a long-term project.Shane Deitz, West Indies head coach, expected to have Henry back to face South Africa and said Matthews’ recovery would be managed through that series, but Dottin remained another month away from full fitness.”We had a chance to bring some players in and that’s what we’re looking for,” Deitz said. “Our season, so to speak, begins in February next year – 2026 is a massive year for us. We’ve got 15 ODIs that obviously go for the next World Cup qualification, a Test match [against Australia] and a World Cup.”What we do over the next eight months off the playing field is going to be the key thing for our performance next year. We’ve got a lot of things we can work on off the field, the team culture and then a lot of fitness and skill work. We’ve got a great opportunity now to play a few games against South Africa and then have a really good off-field programme for seven or eight months, and then come back in 2026 and take on the rest of the world.”

He’s now been caught behind the wicket in four out of five innings on this tour of Australia

Alagappan Muthu16-Dec-2024Steven Smith is a reasonable authority on batting. He understands the subject enough to conduct the odd experiment or two. “I’ve changed my set-up pretty much every game I’ve played for the last 15 years,” he said. On Sunday, Smith spent a little time talking about the importance of scoring a good 30 and he seemed earnest, so let’s ignore the fact that when he was dismissed for 101 he threw his helmet and flung his gloves like they were carrying disease.India lost three batters by the time they got to 30 on Monday. Theirs was a tortured 30. KL Rahul was hit flush on the wrist to start the second over. He expected that good length ball to arrive somewhere around his knee, maybe a bit higher. So when he went forward to meet it his hands were a little low. From that point though, with a throbbing left wrist to remind him, Rahul made an essential adjustment. He has been India’s best batter on this tour because he’s put a premium on playing with soft hands and close to the body. He took it to a whole other level in Brisbane. He was almost retracting his bat at the moment of impact with the ball to take all the sting out of it.Virat Kohli didn’t seem like he was worried about what the ball was doing. That’s served him well in the past. There have been low-bounce wickets back home which didn’t spook him from going on the back foot. There have been high-bounce wickets out here which seemed to add to the glow of every shot he pulled off. There have been seaming wickets which couldn’t sway him from driving on the up. There have been spinning wickets which made his flicks against the turn that little bit more chef’s kiss.All of that has contributed to Kohli having immense trust in his method. In Melbourne at the 2022 T20 World Cup, on a Test match pitch against Pakistan’s fast bowlers, he could still dictate terms from 31 for 4 without changing anything. He planted that front foot down and cricket bent to his will. When he tried that here on Monday, against Josh Hazelwood at the end of the fourth over, a fairly full ball came up to take the shoulder of his bat. Would Kohli incorporate this new information into the way he went about scoring runs?Related

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He did. In a way.He became Kohli-er than normal. Eager to get on that front foot. Looking for the slightest opportunity to drive. Hazlewood gave him one in the eighth over.This scene has played out several times – in four out of five innings this series. Like the part in the movie where someone gets separated from the group, stumbles upon a suspicious doorway and simply has to open it. Kohli’s cover drive has become a horror movie trope. You could almost hear the India fans at the ground saying, “no, don’t do it.” You did hear them saying “why did he do it?”Well for one, Kohli appreciated that when conditions were as tough as this, scoring runs is doubly important. Travis Head’s performance over the course of this series lends weight to that argument. He walked in with Australia in trouble both in Adelaide and in Brisbane and put the pressure right back on the opposition and that’s worked out fairly well. For another, according to ESPNcricinfo ball-by-ball data in the last two years, Kohli had been dismissed only once by a fast bowler tempting him wide outside off stump, while averaging 71 and striking at 145. And this ball was wide. It wasn’t in the corridor, which is as much a Kohli weakness as it is for every batter.It is tempting to install ODI Kohli into these situations. His success was built on being risk-averse, especially at the start of his innings, and he grew to supplant one of the greatest batters India has ever produced. It has been a bit jarring to see Test Kohli lunge headlong into the traps Australia have placed all through the series.In the first innings in Perth, when the danger wasn’t really seam movement as much as the pace and bounce, he worked against himself by batting a foot or so out of his crease and then pressing forward to a ball that Hazlewood aimed into the middle of the pitch. He might just have been trying to replicate the methods that he has used in the past to overcome difficult conditions and put fast bowlers on notice. But the fact that he could only play half a shot to that delivery, and was completely surprised by it, is hard to ignore. He shifted his stance back a bit during the century he made in the second innings, almost an admission the gamble hadn’t come off.The pink ball presented him with a different challenge and his first innings dismissal in Adelaide, where he was uncertain whether to play or leave was startling as well. Kohli is rarely in two minds. As much as he is hounded for the pattern of dismissal most associated with him – chasing outside his off stump – he goes at those balls heartily. He is clear they are run-scoring opportunities. Those dismissals packed in with this one in Brisbane, where he had seen evidence that hitting on the up was risky with the taller Australian bowlers getting more out of the new Kookaburra ball, and was unable to find a suitable solution to it, is troubling. He used to be able to rise above difficult conditions. Both at home and now here in Australia, he’s not quite done that.Smith modified his trigger in a way that he thought might help him combat the bounce at the Gabba. Rahul seemed so conditioned to holding his bat softly that he lost control of it while he was patting the pitch in between balls. Head loves staying beside the ball and taking every opportunity to free his arms. Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney tried to leave the ball on length as much as they could. Whether they succeeded or not, they had contingency plans for good bowling. Kohli, for once, seems to be lagging behind.

Isaac Mohammed evoked the spirit of his uncle, the England allrounder Moeen Ali, with a maiden half-century to get Worcestershire’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign off the ground with victory at Chelmsford.The 17-year-old opener, who only made his first-team debut in the Vitality Blast less than two months ago, played enterprisingly in laying the foundations for Worcestershire’s 60-run win against Essex with 28 balls to spare.Worcestershire’s 340 for 9 was built around four big-hitting half-centuries from top-order batters, who shared 11 of 12 sixes in the innings with Mohammed landing four of them. His 63 from 75 balls was the appetiser before Kashif Ali (80 from 73) and Jake Libby (70 from 63) put on 110 in 17 overs. That preceded Ethan Brookes exploding on to the scene to take the game away from the still winless hosts.Brookes was at the crease for 27 minutes while hammering four sixes and six fours in a 25-ball 56. His stand of 80 with Libby encompassed just six overs.In response, Essex opener Robin Das took his tally to 147 runs in three innings with back-to-back fifties. But while others got in, they just as quickly got out and the target was never seriously threatened. Brookes made sure of that with 3 for 52.It was not all rosy for Worcestershire, though. Rob Jones had declared himself unfit to play earlier in the morning but was named in the XI at the toss in what was later described as an ‘administrative error’. He came out at the fall of the ninth wicket, faced two balls, scored five not out and was not seen again.The visitors recovered from an underwhelming 33 without loss in the 10-over powerplay, to add 117 in 15 overs between the halfway mark and the 40th over before six wickets went down in the last half-dozen overs as they chased late runs.Worcestershire’s openers put on 60 before Nick Browne snaffled a leading-edge skier in the covers to dismiss Brett D’Oliveira.Mohammed, meanwhile, had looked in trouble early on as Shane Snater benefited from the extra grass left on the wicket to gain lift and carry that had the youngster groping outside off-stump. It did not last long as the left-hander took control and reached his maiden half-century in 67 balls. His four sixes were equally distributed between long-off and square leg.He departed when he misjudged a ball of fuller length from Tom Westley that beat his tentative forward prod and rapped him on the pad.Kashif and Libby’s second successive century stand was less thrilling than Mohammed’s innings, but with lots of nudging and nurdling they kept the scoreboard ticking along.Kashif reached his fifty by punching Luc Benkenstein through the covers. However, he had earlier been hit on his right hip, and when he reached 58, called for the aid of a runner. Re-enter Mohammed. Despite his mobility being severely restricted, Kashif still managed to launch his next ball over midwicket for six. His evident discomfort was ended, though, when he lofted Benkenstein to long leg.Brookes was a whirlwind of hyper-activity with four sixes in his 23-minute fifty, reached with a delicate leg glance for his fifth four. He departed at 297 for 4 when caught at short third. The late wickets were largely self-inflicted.Ben Allison ended his former team-mates’ opening stand of 71 when Matt Critchley stepped aside to give himself room and was bowled. Das reached fifty from 49 balls but next ball was caught just inside the midwicket boundary.Charlie Allison dug in for a 46-run stand with Westley before he was bowled off his pads by Fateh Singh and Benkenstein’s belligerent 23 from 17 balls was ended when he drove D’Oliveira to extra cover.Westley also fell stepping away from his wicket against Singh for 43; Simon Fernandes chipped to short midwicket and Noah Thain was caught-and-bowled by Brookes as Essex’s reply spluttered and died.

Atletico Madrid are planning to rival Chelsea for Strasbourg's Valentin Barco but the Spanish side will face a huge hurdle to beat the Blues to the Argentine's signature. Barco came to England for a brief period after plying his trade at Boca Juniors at the start of his career. However, the youngster was soon sent out on multiple loan spells before finally joining the Ligue 1 club in the last window permanently.

Barco's failed stint in England

Barco, who graduated from Boca Juniors' youth system, played senior football at the club for three seasons before moving to England and joining Brighton in January 2024. At the time of his signing, the Seagulls were hopeful that the talented youngster would shine in the Premier League. After securing his signature, Brighton technical director David Weir said in a statement: "We have been aware of Valentin for a long time and have been impressed with the progress he has made at the domestic and international level. We’re delighted to welcome him to the club, and we are looking forward to seeing how he progresses and develops under Roberto. 

"He has played predominantly on the left side, as a full-back, wing-back or winger, but also shown his versatility with Boca, playing across the midfield. He is an exciting prospect, but it’s also important we give him the time as he needs to settle and adapt to new surroundings and the Premier League."

However, Barco's stint with the Premier League side did not last long, as at the start of the 2024-25 campaign, he was sent out on loan to Sevilla. Barco then joined Strasbourg on a second loan spell in February 2025, where he finally got to showcase his game and he then permanently signed for the French side in the last transfer window. 

AdvertisementAFPAtletico Madrid want Barco

According to , Spanish side Atletico Madrid are keen on signing Barco, who is also wanted by Premier League giants Chelsea. Atletico, who have a tradition of signing Argentine players and already have a host of stars from the South American nation, including Juan Musso, Thiago Almada and Nico Gonzalez, alongside Julian Alvarez.

Chelsea were interested in signing him in the summer, while Bayern Munich have also been making checks, per the report. Atletico are also attempting to secure his signature but face an uphill battle, as the French club will resist most attempts to extricate him. 

Advantage Chelsea in Barco transfer race?

The Caughtoffside report adds that, while Atletico's interest in the midfielder is contract, they have to cross a major hurdle to beat the Blues in the race. Given Strasbourg's connection with the Blues as their sister club, the English side will naturally enjoy an advantage in the negotiations. The player will not come for cheap anyways, considering he is just 21 and has been impressive for Strasbourg this season.

However, Los Colchoneros could still beat Chelsea if they could convince the player with their existing Argentine contingent in the squad. Even the club's manager, Diego Simeone played for La Albiceleste with distinction. 

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AFPAnother Ligue 1 midfielder on Chelsea's radar

Alongside their pursuit of Barco, Chelsea are also exploring other options and have their eyes on another Ligue 1 youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille. As per , the Blues, along with Arsenal have emerged as leading contenders in the growing race to sign Lille midfielder Bouaddi, whose reputation has soared after breaking through as one of Ligue 1’s most exciting young talents. Lille, though, are determined to extend the teenager’s contract and protect a fee that could soar past €50 million (£43.6m/$58.2m) next summer.

Enzo Maresca's side will be back in action during the midweek as they take on Atalanta in a difficult Champions League away fixture in Italy on December 9.

Liverpool head into the Champions League tonight against PSV Eindhoven looking like a bruised animal once more.

Last time out at Anfield, Arne Slot’s Reds were convincingly beaten by Nottingham Forest in the Premier League in a 3-0 loss, with the match preceding this humbling defeat on home soil also seeing the Merseyside giants lose by the same emphatic scoreline, away at Manchester City.

Thankfully, the Champions League has been a temporary sanctuary for the reigning Premier League champions, as was evident in their 1-0 win against Real Madrid, the last time they did battle in the illustrious competition.

Therefore, Liverpool will be hoping they can lick their wounds again and beat their Eredivisie opponents later on this evening.

If form doesn’t pick up, though, the January transfer window will be a very apt time to try and find upgrades on the underperformers consistently letting the side down…

Transfer latest at Liverpool

Despite their poor form as of late, the Reds will still see themselves as a significant superpower in any transfer window to come.

After all, a colossal £415m was spent just this summer on a raft of new signings, with fresh rumours now indicating that the Slot and Co. could be prepared to drop another £123m on Bayern Munich ace Michael Olise.

Moreover, Antoine Semenyo remains in their sights as another attacking signing that could boost a side let down by the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz to date.

On top of signings to add to their attacking arsenal, Liverpool are also allegedly looking to do battle with Real Madrid over the services of midfield talent Vitinha, according to emerging reports from Spain.

Indeed, the report elaborates that the La Liga giants are preparing a €150m (£131m) bid for Luis Enrique’s prized asset.

Yet, Liverpool are keen to accelerate a deal, as well, by matching the Los Blancos’ amount, ensuring they could actually eclipse the £125m club-record capture of Alexander Isak.

A next step to the Premier League is noted as being very appealing for the Portugal international, if a statement move were to whir into motion.

Vitinha’s arrival at Anfield might not be the news Ryan Gravenberch wants to read, however, with the classy Paris Saint-Germain number 17 a clear upgrade on the Dutchman, as the 23-year-old has noticeably struggled as of late.

Why Vitinha is a clear upgrade on Gravenberch

Alongside the vast majority of his teammates, Gravenberch has suffered from a notable dip in his performance levels in recent matches.

Transfer Focus

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

Once labelled as being “vital” to the way Liverpool tick earlier in the season by ex-Reds midfielder Steve McManaman, the former Ajax prodigy turned Anfield first-teamer struggled to be an influential presence in back-to-back defeats at the hands of City and Forest, with only four ground duels won in total across 14 attempts, as per Sofascore.

To make matters worse, the underperforming number 38 would also fail to notch up a single key pass, leaving him on just the one paltry assist for the campaign.

While Gravenberch has shown visible signs of decline, Vitinha has continued to stand out on some pressurised stages for Enrique’s men, with this wonderful move – which was kickstarted by the 25-year-old’s fierce burst of pace – in last year’s Champions League final, just one reason why his national team manager in Roberto Martinez has glowingly labelled him the “best midielder in the world.”

In league action for PSG, too, this season, he blows his immediate competition out of the water, with one goal and six assists from 12 games – among other numbers – sticking out immediately to Slot, as he attempts to make Liverpool a vibrant and attractive watch in attack this campaign, again, rather than sticking by their current stifled appearance.

Games played

12

10

Goals scored

1

3

Assists

6

1

Touches*

113.8

74.8

Accurate passes*

98.2 (94%)

54.8 (89%)

Key passes*

1.5

0.7

Big chances created

6

2

Ball recoveries*

4.9

3.5

It’s not just in the attacking department where Vitinha could improve the downbeat Reds, with the 5-foot-8 playmaker also averaging 4.9 ball recoveries so far this season in Ligue 1, next to Gravenberch’s lesser 3.5.

Of course, the Premier League is a different kettle of fish altogether from the French top division, which PSG consistently dominate.

But, Vitinha has actually shown off his swagger against Liverpool at Anfield, with the “incredible” midfield general – as Enrique has also labelled him – dictating play during PSG’s slim 1-0 away win in the Champions League last campaign when amassing a ridiculous 103 accurate passes.

Worryingly, his Dutch counterpart receded into his shell, with zero accurate dribbles registered, and possession was lost a costly 12 times.

The one-time Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee won’t be moving to England on the cheap, but it could be a splurge worth signing off on, as Slot attempts to reinvigorate his options all over the pitch.

Perfect for Isak: Liverpool make £122m sensation their "dream target"

Liverpool need to make changes in the transfer market once again.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 25, 2025

Cameron Green will feature for WA after his minor side injury while Brendan Doggett returns for South Australia

Andrew McGlashan26-Oct-2025Matt Renshaw will make a short turnaround back into Sheffield Shield action for Queensland in a bid to push for Ashes selection in the round of games which will determine Australia’s squad for the first Test against England.Renshaw, who scored a maiden ODI half-century at the SCG on Saturday, flew back home the day after the game and was due to train with his state on Monday before facing a New South Wales side that will include Steven Smith as he ramps up his Ashes preparation and Sam Konstas, who has one game left to save his Test spot.Renshaw began his Shield season with a century against Tasmania before missing the second round due to his ODI call-up. While not a frontrunner, he could still force his way into the Test squad, particularly with the versatility he provides as a batter.Related

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Against NSW, he will likely open alongside Usman Khawaja, who plays his third Shield match of the season. Meanwhile, Michael Neser, who could well play a role in the Ashes, is being rested for this round leaving Queensland with a depleted attack due to injuries.”I’m ready for Tuesday… I think it’s the same cricket ball, it’s just a different colour,” Renshaw said, downplaying the Ashes chat. “My batting, if I’m showing good intent, whatever format that may be, it’s obviously the different shots that you need to play in red ball.”My feet are feeling really good against the quicks, spin is feeling good. So hopefully I can score some runs in the next Shield game and win a game for Queensland.”Currently, Renshaw’s Queensland team-mate Marnus Labuschagne, who will also face NSW, is favourite to open against England after a prolific start to the summer although much still depends on Cameron Green’s status as a bowler and the knock-on impact to Beau Webster’s role.There will be much interest in Cameron Green’s bowling loads over the next few weeks•Getty ImagesGreen is set to play for Western Australia against South Australia at the WACA having missed the India ODIs due to side soreness. Selectors were quick to downplay concerns over Green’s fitness but it remains to be seen how much he bowls against SA having sent down just four overs so far this season, 12 months after undergoing back surgery.Further interest in the Perth fixture will come with the presence of Brendan Doggett, who will play his first game of the season after a hamstring injury. He is firmly in contention as a fast-bowling reserve for the Ashes having been part of the World Test Championship squad earlier this year and originally been due to tour West Indies before injury.Another significant match takes place at Junction Oval in Melbourne where Jake Weatherald will be looking to back up his excellent 94 against WA, which kept his name in the frame for a maiden call-up. He won’t have to battle Scott Boland, who is being rested for this round, but will still face a strong Victoria attack.Webster will also feature for Tasmania after overcoming the ankle injury which kept him out of the first two Shield matches. He has been assured of his place in the Test squad by chair of selectors George Bailey and the uncertainty over Green increases the likelihood of him retaining his spot. Being omitted would be harsh for a player who has started with four half-centuries in seven matches in a variety of tricky batting conditions.Among others who will be part of the Test squad, Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood remain with Australia’s T20I side to face India. Hazlewood, who suffered a cut finger late in the third ODI at the SCG, will drop out after the first two matches in Canberra and Melbourne to prepare for the Shield match against Victoria in Sydney ahead of the first Test. Mitchell Starc, who has retired from T20Is, will also play that match in his build towards Perth.Queensland squadMarnus Labuschagne (capt), James Bazley, Jack Clayton, Benji Floros, Lachlan Hearne, Hayden Kerr, Usman Khawaja, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Sam Skelly, Tom Straker, Mitchell Swepson, Hugh WeibgenNew South Wales squadJack Edwards (capt), Ollie Davies, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Ryan Hicks, Sam Konstas, Nathan Lyon, Kurtis Patterson, Ross Pawson, Will Salzmann, Steve Smith, Charlie StoboWestern Australia squadSam Whiteman (capt), Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Joel Curtis, Albert Esterhuysen, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Liam Haskett, Matt Kelly, Corey RocchiccioliSouth Australia squadNathan McSweeney (capt), Jordan Buckingham, Brendan Doggett, Henry Hunt, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Nathan McAndrew, Conor McInerney, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Henry ThorntonVictoria squadWill Sutherland (capt), Sam Elliott, Harry Dixon, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Blake MacDonald, David Moody, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Mitch PerryTasmania squadJordan Silk (capt), Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Nikhil Chaudhary, Jake Doran, Kieran Elliott, Bradley Hope, Caleb Jewell, Ruwantha Kellapotha, Riley Meredith, Tim Ward, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster