New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is probably feeling pretty satisfied with his decision to start Cody Bellinger in left field during Sunday's Subway Series showdown against the New York Mets.

With Jasson Dominguez getting the day off, Bellinger took over in left field on Sunday and ended up making one of the most crucial plays of the game during the seventh inning.

With one man on and no outs in the inning, Juan Soto sent a blooper towards left field. Bellinger charged in on it and reached all the way down in order to pluck the ball out of the air just before it hit the ground. He then turned and fired it in to first base, where Paul Goldschmidt made a catch to double off Francisco Lindor.

That ball was centimeters away from dropping for a hit, and it could potentially have gotten past Bellinger and rolled all the way to the wall had he not made the extremely narrow catch.

Have a look at the web gem double play:

Failing to make that catch would've resulted in Lindor likely scoring and Soto getting on base with Pete Alonso due up. That's not a situation fans would be optimistic about given the recent struggles of the Yankees bullpen.

New York was able to get out of the inning unscathed and maintain their two-run lead heading into the eighth.

MatériaMais Notícias

O jogo-treino entre Santos e Corinthians, marcado para sexta-feira (22), na Vila Belmiro, foi cancelado. A delegação do Timão ficou presa na Via Anchieta por conta de um grave acidente que bloqueou a passagem na rodovia e inviabilizou a descida da serra. A partida seria disputada em quatro tempos de 30 minutos.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSantosAmbição financeira e proximidade com Corinthians pesam na decisão do Santos por semifinal em São PauloSantos22/03/2024Fora de CampoRobinho é preso pela Polícia Federal em Santos; veja todos os detalhesFora de Campo21/03/2024CorinthiansCom tema antirracismo, site vaza suposta primeira camisa do Corinthians para 2024; vejaCorinthians22/03/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

O ônibus com os jogadores e comissão técnica do Corinthians está voltando para o CT Joaquim Grava, e permanecerá concentrado para o treino de sábado, no período da manhã.

➡️ Aposte R$200 na Lance! Betting e ganhe R$350 se o Brasil empatar ou vencer a Inglaterra

O Santos segue a preparação para enfrentar o Red Bull Bragantino. O duelo, válido pela semifinal do Paulistão, será disputado na quarta-feira (27), às 20h30, na Neo Química Arena, casa do Timão. Caso avance, o Santos enfrenta o vencedor de Palmeiras e Novorizontino na final do estadual.

continua após a publicidade

Eliminado na fase de grupos do Paulistão, o Corinthians segue em busca de equipes para disputar amistosos durante a Data Fifa. A equipe de António Oliveira volta a campo no dia 2 de abril, contra o Racing (URU), pela primeira rodada da fase de grupos da Copa Sul-Americana.

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários da Sul-Americana

Tudo sobre

CorinthiansSantos

The current international break came at the worst time for West Ham United.

After weeks of poor performances, Nuno Espírito Santo had finally got a tune out of the East Londoners.

First, they blew away a talented Newcastle United side 3-1, and then a week later picked up another three points by beating Burnley 3-2.

These back-to-back Premier League wins have given the fanbase genuine reasons to be optimistic, as they were not lucky victories, but hard-fought and thoroughly deserved.

It finally feels like Nuno has his feet under the table at the London Stadium, and as a result, fears of a possible relegation are starting to dissipate.

However, the Premier League can be unforgiving, so West Ham must maintain their upward trajectory and the board need to back the manager in the winter window. If they do, this could be Nuno’s dream lineup at the end of January.

1 GK – Alphonse Areola

While it would have been a surprise at the start of the season, it should come as no surprise now that, keeping his place between the sticks is Alphonse Areola.

Unlike the Dane signed to replace him in the summer, the Frenchman has been pretty reliable since coming back into the team, and while he might not be the long-term answer, he’s more than good enough to spend another season in goal for the Hammers.

After all, he’s already made 108 appearances for the club, what’s another 27?

2 RB – Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Keeping his place at right-back, so long as he’s fit, is Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Now, Kyle Walker-Peters has done reasonably well since joining the club in the summer, but at his best, the former Manchester United ace is a more competent defender and has become more adept at getting forward over the last few years.

He was also the club’s Hammer of the Year just last season.

3 CB – Axel Disasi

Now, moving on to the first new face in the team, and before the pitchforks and torches come out, Axel Disasi, who has previously been touted for a £25m move to the London Stadium, could be an excellent signing for the Hammers.

Yes, he has failed to establish himself at Chelsea, but before that, he was one of Ligue 1’s best centre-backs and was even compared to Virgil van Dijk by respected talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Moreover, under a manager like Nuno, who doesn’t like to leave his defenders isolated, the Frenchman might be able to rediscover some of the form that first earned him his move to the Premier League.

4 CB – Charlie Cresswell

Alongside Disasi is the second signing: Charlie Cresswell.

He might not be a familiar name to English fans at the moment, but he certainly will be in a few years from now, as not only is he doing incredibly well for Toulouse in Ligue 1, but he was also a key part of the England u21 side that won the Euros this summer.

Described as a “proper leader at the back” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the former Leeds United gem has also been described as being a bit “like a Thiago Silva” by European football expert Andy Brassell, who highlighted the fact that he “got real smarts about him.”

Unsurprisingly, the 23-year-old is gaining plenty of attention at the moment, and while it won’t be easy to sign him, reports suggest the Hammers could get the job done for around £15m.

5 LB – El Hadji Malick Diouf

Back to a familiar face and keeping his place at left-back is, of course, El Hadji Malick Diouf.

The all-action full-back joined the Hammers from Slavia Prague in the summer, and while he can be a little frustrating defensively, he is unreal when it comes to the offensive side of the game.

For example, he has already racked up three assists in just 12 appearances, and really could have more if his teammates were able to finish better earlier in the campaign.

6 CM – Freddie Potts

Moving into the middle of the park and onto someone who has to now be one of the first names on the team sheet: Freddie Potts.

The academy graduate was finally handed his first competitive start for West Ham against Newcastle United, and to say he delivered would be a massive understatement.

He put in a man-of-the-match performance that saw him cover practically every blade of grass, snuff out Toon attacks and kickstart ones for his own side.

It was more of the same a week later against Burnley, and while it is still early on, it feels like the Hammers have themselves a future superstar in Potts.

7 CM – Mateus Fernandes

There are a few options Nuno could go with for the position alongside Potts, but based on the last two games, it really has to be Mateus Fernandes.The Portuguese midfielder had a bit of a slow start to life in East London following his £40m move from Southampton in the summer, but over the last few weeks, he has started showing the fans just what he can do.Capable of helping out with the defensive side of the game, but just as able to play defence-splitting”KDB-type passes,”in the words of Mattinson, the 21-year-old could be a real game-changer for the Hammers as the season goes on.

8 CAM – Lucas Paqueta

To nobody’s surprise, Lucas Paqueta keeps his place as the most advanced of the midfielders.

Despite talk around his future, the former Lyon ace has looked back to his best in recent games and scored his fourth goal of the campaign against Newcastle.

He might be frustrating at times, but West Ham are undeniably a weaker team without him in it.

9 RW – Jarrod Bowen

The sky is blue, the grass is green, and Jarrod Bowen starts for West Ham United.

The former Hull City star is the club’s talisman, the most beloved player to wear the shirt in a very long time, and, most importantly, a sensational goalscoring, game-changing winger.

Despite the team’s poor form last season, the Englishman was still able to rack up an incredible tally of 14 goals and ten assists in 36 appearances across all competitions, totalling 3148 minutes.

That came out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or every 131.16 minutes.

Bowen’s West Ham Record

Appearances

250

Minutes

19971′

Goals

77

Assists

53

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

Minutes per Goal Involvement

153.62′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

So far this year, the 28-year-old has already scored three goals and provided two assists in just 12 games, and now that the team seem to have turned a corner, he’ll probably become even more productive.

10 ST – Lucas Stassin

The final signing in the team is Saint-Étienne’s Belgian goal machine, Lucas Stassin.

According to one report, the Hammers might be able to sign the 20-year-old for a fee of €30m, which is about £27m, and while that is a lot, it would almost certainly be worth it.

For example, despite being so young, he racked up an impressive tally of 14 goals and eight assists in just 34 appearances last year, and has already produced seven goal involvements in 13 games this year.

That sort of return would make him an instant upgrade on the still useful but injury-prone Callum Wilson and the ideal replacement for Niclas Füllkrug, who has made it clear he wants out in January.

Germany sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a dominant 6-0 win over Slovakia, and former captain Lothar Matthaus believes the team can challenge the likes of England, France and Portugal for the title despite a shaky qualifying campaign and recent tournament struggles. The 1990 World Cup winner insists there is no reason for fear if the team maintains the intensity shown in Monday's win.

A positive finish after a bumpy qualifying campaign

Germany will make their 21st appearance at the tournament. It was a much-needed statement performance after what has been a shaky road through Group A. They opened qualifying with a disappointing 2-0 loss to Slovakia in September before recovering with wins against Northern Ireland and Luxembourg. They then rounded off the campaign with a resounding win against Slovakia this week.

The 2014 world champions have failed to advance past the group stage in the last two editions, and recent tournaments have raised doubts about whether the team is still among the elite. They lost to Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 and fell 2-1 to Portugal in the Nations League semi-final in Munich. The progress under Julian Nagelsmann has been steady rather than spectacular, and he is yet to win a major trophy since taking charge in 2023.

Earlier, national team legend Toni Kroos said the team was lucky to have been handed a relatively easy World Cup qualifying group.

Still, the dominant performance on Monday was enough to bring optimism back into the conversation. Matthaus called the win 'a satisfying end to an overall satisfactory year' and believes the team is moving in the right direction.

AdvertisementMatthaus insists Germany shouldn't fear Europe's top teams

Despite recent setbacks, the former Germany captain believes the team still belongs among the contenders. In his column for , the 64-year-old argued that qualifying form should not be overanalysed, pointing out that even successful German teams in the past had difficult campaigns.

"With all due respect to these opponents, Germany wants to compete against the best, and those are the other group winners such as England, Portugal or France," he said.

"If we can replicate what we showed in Leipzig, we're on par with these teams. We saw that in the summer. In the Nations League defeats against Portugal and France, Germany wasn't any worse than their opponents.

"If the German team shows the same attitude and passion and plays together like they did against Slovakia, they have nothing to fear.

"You shouldn't underestimate yourself. Germany isn't small. I've always said that our team belongs among the favorites for the World Cup, even if they've had a poor run of form. Our World Cup qualifying campaigns were also sometimes bumpy in the past. 

"The German team might even be under less pressure at the World Cup. The team will be even more focused next year, especially because the whole world will be watching."

Getty ImagesInjuries remain a concern despite strong squad depth

Matthaus also spoke about the squad heading into 2026. Several key players like Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Antonio Rudiger and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are still working their way back to full fitness and may not be ready right away.

"Rudiger needs to get fit first, just like Ter Stegen. Oliver Baumann will remain in goal for the time being, and then we'll see what happens next," he said.

He mentioned that no one in the squad has a guaranteed starting spot, adding: "Even in the current national team, there are hardly any irreplaceable players; no one has a guaranteed spot. This keeps the focus high until the World Cup, and everyone will give their all to impress the coach.."

The World Cup winner believes this gives the German coach more flexibility as the tournament approaches. "The great thing for Nagelsmann is that he'll have a wide selection next year. For a coach, it's the most wonderful thing when he can bring quality after quality player into the team."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWhat's next for Germany?

Germany now shift their attention to preparations for 2026, with Nagelsmann hoping to have key players return from injury soon. Ter Stegen is nearing a comeback from knee surgery after missing most of last season, and the Barcelona captain could even consider a loan move in January to get more playing time before the tournament.

Defender Rudiger has also said he is in the final phase of his recovery after being sidelined with a thigh injury. Meanwhile, Musiala has returned to Bayern Munich training after suffering a ligament dislocation during a heavy collision in the Club World Cup against PSG.

Middlesbrough head coach Rob Edwards is now seen by Wolves as the “favoured candidate” for their managerial vacancy.

Wolves have been on the search for a new boss since Vitor Pereira, who signed a contract extension in September, was sacked on the 2nd November. In the days since, Wolves have been linked with a number of options as they continue searching for a permanent Pereira replacement.

James Collins and Richard Walker, who both work within the youth set-up at Wolves, will take interim charge of the club when they face Chelsea on Saturday. Whoever replaces Pereira will have a momentous task ahead of them, as Wolves sit bottom of the Premier League table with two points from 10 games.

In recent days, Rob Edwards has been linked with the vacancy and despite initial reports that a move appeared unlikely, it would now seem as though Wolves have settled on who they think is the man to try and keep them in the Premier League.

Wolves homing in on Edwards

According to Sky Sports, Wolves view Edwards as their preferred target. Replacing Michael Carrick at Middlesbrough in the summer, Edwards has lost just two Championship games from 14 during his time at the Riverside Stadium thus far.

Prior to his current work, Edwards spent just over two years at Luton Town between 2022 and early 2025, guiding them to the Premier League in his first season at the club.

As a player, Edwards spent four years at Molineux, making over a century of appearances for the Old Gold between 2004 and 2008. To begin his managerial career, he spent time with the club’s youth academy and even had a stint as interim manager of the club back in 2016, later taking charge of their under-23s side.

Generally preferring to play a 3-4-2-1 formation, which could certainly work with Wolves’ current squad, Edwards being the main target is understandable, given both his previous links to the club and his reputation as a coach.

Having been called an “outstanding” manager in the past, it could be argued that, across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, Edwards’ Luton side were the only one of six promoted teams that had a fighting chance of avoiding immediate relegation, something Wolves, given their current position, have no doubt recognised.

Despite Wolves’ evident interest, however, Sky Sports have also reported that Middlesbrough have “rejected” their advances for Edwards. Understandably, Boro are keen to keep the 42-year-old, who has given them the hopes of making a promotion push.

Romano offers update on future Wolves appointments

Barcelona have received a major boost ahead of their blockbuster Champions League trip to Chelsea, with Marcus Rashford returning to full training after a spell on the sidelines against Athletic Club. But Pedri is set to miss the decisive clash as his hamstring recovery stalls, leaving Hansi Flick without one of his most influential midfielders for Tuesday’s showdown at Stamford Bridge.

Rashford fit for Chelsea clash — Pedri to miss out

Barcelona’s preparations for their crucial Champions League meeting with Chelsea took a dramatic turn as Rashford returned to full training on Sunday after several days away from the squad. The England international had missed Thursday and Friday’s sessions and was not present at Camp Nou on Saturday, with shifting explanations from personal problems to minor physical issues and eventually the flu, creating confusion over his condition. His reappearance at the Ciutat Esportiva, however, has eased concerns, and he now looks set to be included in the travelling squad.

Meanwhile, Pedri has been definitively ruled out of the trip to London after failing to train with the group on Sunday, ending any lingering hopes of an early return. The midfielder has been sidelined since suffering a left hamstring injury in El Clasico on October 26, and despite optimism in recent weeks, Barcelona have opted for caution. With his recovery still incomplete, the club now expects him to return at the weekend against Deportivo Alaves or, at the latest, Atletico Madrid on December 2. 

Frenkie de Jong remains available in the Champions League after missing the clash with Athletic Club, serving a suspension on Saturday, providing a timely boost for Flick as he prepares to face Chelsea’s aggressive midfield. Alejandro Balde is also expected to feature despite hobbling off in the 4-0 win over Athletic Club, while several first-team regulars underwent recovery sessions following Saturday’s match.

AdvertisementBarcelona slowly recovering from injury crisis

Rashford’s availability comes at a pivotal moment for Barcelona, who remain determined to build on an encouraging start to their European campaign under Flick. The English forward has become one of the team’s most dynamic attacking outlets this season, and his return ensures the club retains a key source of directness and creativity on the left wing. With Ferran Torres returning to form against Athletic Club and Raphinha returning, Flick now faces a healthy but challenging selection dilemma.  

Pedri’s absence, however, highlights a recurring issue for Barcelona as they prepare for the intense winter stretch. The midfielder endured multiple muscular problems between 2022 and 2024 before an injury-free last season; as such, Barcelona remain intent on protecting him from further long-term setbacks. His unavailability for such a high-profile match underlines the need to manage his workload carefully despite the temptation to accelerate his comeback.

Getty Images SportRashford's re-emergence at Barcelona

Rashford’s renaissance at Barcelona has been one of the stories of the season, with the loanee delivering 15 goal involvements in 16 matches across all competitions. He has rediscovered his confidence under Flick, thriving in a system that encourages aggressive wide play and fast breaks. His Champions League form has been particularly impressive, making his return ahead of Stamford Bridge a significant tactical advantage.

Barcelona’s broader injury landscape has improved recently, with Alejandro Balde, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski available and several players regaining fitness at the right time. Nonetheless, major fixtures like the Chelsea clash magnify the impact of any missing key player, especially one with Pedri’s influence. However, Fermin Lopez's dictation of play during Camp Nou's reinauguration will likely mean that the Spaniard will play alongside Frenkie De Jong at Stamford Bridge.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Barcelona prepare for Chelsea showdown at Stamford Bridge

Barcelona now prepare for Tuesday night’s heavyweight meeting with Chelsea, where Rashford could feature from the start depending on his condition on matchday. Flick will assess his forward options closely, balancing Rashford’s explosiveness with Torres’ form and Raphinha’s return as he aims to craft a cohesive frontline for the biggest match of the month. Whatever his decision, the Englishman’s recovery offers a major tactical boost.

The focus then shifts to Pedri’s imminent return, with the club hopeful he will be fit for Saturday’s match against Deportivo Alaves. Should he need additional time, the following fixture against Atletico Madrid is expected to mark his comeback, allowing him to reintegrate gradually before the December schedule intensifies. Barcelona’s medical team believe he has shaved around ten days off the original prognosis, but insist the priority is ensuring he avoids further setbacks. 

Paul Pogba claimed he was "touched" following his return to football more than two years after his last professional appearance. The Frenchman moved to Monaco over the summer after his worldwide ban following a failed drugs test in 2023 expired. Pogba was initially banned for four years for the offence, which was reduced to 18 months last October, meaning he has been eligible to play since March.

• AFP
  

  Pogba hadn't played competitively since September 2023

  As a result of the ban, Pogba and former side Juventus agreed to mutually terminate his contract last November and it wasn't until June this year that the 2018 World Cup winner signed for a new club, penning a two-year deal with French side Monaco. In the time since, Pogba has been building up his fitness and at long last made his Monaco debut on Saturday night in a 4-1 loss to Rennes.

  Goals form Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Kamara, Breel Embolo and Ludovic Blas saw Rennes go into the final knockings of the weekend's game at the Roazhon Park with a four-goal lead. Mika Biereth bagged a late consolation for Monaco, who were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half after Denis Zakaria received his marching orders, but the moment of the night came in the 85th minute as Pogba replaced Mamadou Coulibaly.

  The moment marked Pogba's first appearance since September 2023 in Juventus' 2-0 win over Empoli, and the midfielder admits he was "touched" by the reception he received from the home support.

Advertisement

• Midfielder sends his thanks to those who supported him

  Speaking in the mixed zone after the 4-1 loss, Pogba said: "I was disappointed to lose this match. It's Paul Pogba's return, but I play for Monaco, and I don't like losing. I was really happy on one hand, but on the other, I was disappointed with the result and what we did on the pitch. The reception? It touched me. Seeing the crowd stand up and applaud, I wasn't expecting that. A big thank you to the fans who personally supported me."

  Pogba, who was in tears when he signed his Monaco contract earlier this year, had been expected to return to action earlier in the season but suffered a setback during the October international break having pulled up with a thigh injury to delay his first outing for Sebastien Pocognoli's side.

  "There were a lot of emotions. I was happy, but there's a bit of sadness with the result. We've come a long way. Today was a step to take. I did it and I'm happy about that," Pogba added on Saturday night.

  "The rest, we're a bit gutted to have lost. I feel good, there's been a lot of work. I still need time to be fit and play 90 minutes. But it will come with time. We're training for it. We're going to try to help the team as much as possible. It felt strange at first to get back on the plane with the group. I've settled back in well. We have a very good group. We're getting back into the right routine."

• AFP
  

  Pogba's return sends 'positive vibes to French football'

  Monaco boss Pocognoli was insistent that Pogba's return to action is a good thing for French football, saying on Saturday: "I'm happy for him, even if the circumstances are a bit unfortunate. He came on at 4-0, with 10 men against 11. It was planned that he would come on today, regardless of the scenario, because he had put everything in place. It will do him good, it will do the team good. Apart from our defeat, it sends positive vibes to French football."

  "We are all happy, even the Rennes supporters who are not Monaco fans. I hope he can bring us his experience," Monaco team-mate Lamine Camara added.

  Pogba's first appearance in over two years also resonated well with the Rennes squad, as Mahdi Camara said at full time: "Everyone knows Paul Pogba, he's a legend of French football. "It's great to see him on a Ligue 1 pitch. We've already seen… seen how he plays, you can see he's already at a good level. As spectators, we can't wait to see him at his best. It's fantastic. He tried to put a sombrero on me!"

  Former Monaco man Embolo, who scored Rennes' third, added: "Paul deserves it, he's a truly great player, a truly great man." And on the reception from the fans, the Swiss striker commented: "Well done to our fans. He deserved it, I'm very happy for him, I hope he'll bring good things to his team."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Pogba's home debut could come against Ligue 1 powerhouse

  Monaco will look to build upon an indifferent start to their Champions League campaign when they face Pafos on Wednesday night. While unbeaten in three in European competition, the French side have won just the once in the Champions League this season as they claimed a 1-0 victory at Bodo/Glimt earlier this month having opened up the league phase with a 4-1 defeat to Club Brugge before back-to-back draws with Premier League pair Manchester City and Tottenham.

  And Pogba may make his first appearance at the Stade Louis II next weekend when Monaco host defending Ligue 1 and European champions PSG. Luis Enrique's side reclaimed top spot in France's top tier on Saturday night as they eased to a 3-0 win over Le Havre having briefly dropped to second as rivals Marseille tore Nice to shreds on Friday night.

Jamie Smith joins Ben Duckett in sitting out T20Is with World Cup just six months away

Matt Roller08-Sep-2025

England will go into their T20I series against South Africa without both Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith this week, prompting head coach Brendon McCullum to concede they must learn how to cope better with their busy international schedule.Duckett, Smith and Harry Brook have been ever-present for England across their 15 international fixtures to date this summer, and all spent August playing in the Hundred. All three players will miss next week’s brief tour to Ireland, and McCullum has prescribed an additional week’s rest for his ODI openers so they can “freshen up” ahead of a busy winter away.It means that Duckett and Smith will miss consecutive T20I series less than six months out from a World Cup in the format, when better planning would have seen them skip the ODIs instead. In their absence, Phil Salt – who missed England’s most recent T20Is on paternity leave – looks set to open the batting alongside either Tom Banton or Will Jacks.Related

South Africa beat England and the rain to leave Cardiff 1-0 up

ECB chair says crammed Hundred schedule is 'short-term issue'

Bethell admits he 'probably should have played more' this summer

Bethell, Root tons, Archer four-for see England hand out record thrashing

England face a tight turnaround between the Ashes and the T20 World Cup this winter, interspersed with white-ball tours to New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Rob Key, England’s managing director, claimed last year that their upcoming schedule was “easing” when expanding McCullum’s role to cover white-ball cricket but it shows few signs of doing so.A one-day gap after the Hundred final meant that England’s players did not train together as a full squad ahead of Tuesday’s first ODI in Leeds, in which they were thrashed by seven wickets. ECB chair Richard Thompson acknowledged the crammed fixture list was an issue on Sunday, but admitted that it is unlikely to change significantly within the ongoing broadcast rights cycle.”The scheduling isn’t ideal,” McCullum said after England’s consolation win in Southampton. “That’s just the way it is and it’s not going to change, so we’re going to have to find ways to deal with it… We’re just going to have to find ways to be able to hit the ground running a bit quicker than what we did in this one.”I spoke to [Duckett] and I said, ‘I think you need to freshen up. You’ve played so much cricket and you’re such an influential player for us over the next few months.’ He’ll have a decent break at home, as will Jamie Smith… It gives the other guys opportunities, and it’s exciting, too. If we just rely on 11 players, then we’re not really going to be competitive.”One of those “other guys” is Sam Curran, who will bat in the top six against South Africa after winning a recall through his performances for Surrey and Oval Invincibles. McCullum has never previously picked Curran for one of his teams, and told him in an “honest conversation” over breakfast earlier this summer that he needed to “bang the door down” as a batter.”The message to Sam was that a lot’s come to you quickly and you’ve had a lot of success and a lot of fame, and a lot of things have fallen your way,” McCullum said, “but, of late, your performance had just tailed off a bit… With us resting both Jamie and Ben, it gives us the opportunity to bring Sam in and he’ll get his chance to bat in the top six.”England are expected to stick with the spin-heavy strategy they trialled against West Indies in June for this week’s series as they prepare for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Curran will likely be their third seamer, with Jacob Bethell and Jacks supplementing Adil Rashid and either Liam Dawson or Rehan Ahmed as spin options.Bethell and Jacks acted as England’s fifth bowler in the ODIs against South Africa but their combined 10 overs in a tight defeat at Lord’s were hammered for 112 runs. McCullum said it was “really hard” to balance the side without a genuine allrounder, but has already spoken to Brook about how to give his part-time options “slightly more in their favour”.”We’ve just got to be a bit smarter with it… Utilising the big side of the ground, or also trying to set slightly more defensive fields,” McCullum said. “They don’t need to take 3 for 30 off 10 overs. They’ve just got to find a way to be able to create pressure and hold for a period so that our attacking guys can come in.”We won’t always be married to that [balance] but at the moment, we want to make sure that we’ve got that familiarity within our batting group – particularly in the middle order, as they adjust to some new roles so that they get more and more comfortable with how each of them is going to play.”McCullum said that England’s record 342-run thrashing in Southampton had provided them with “an incredible blueprint” in ODIs during an “oscillating” series. “We got hammered in the first one, we were within one blow in the second, and we dished out a pretty good performance in the third… It shows that there’s not a huge gulf between the two teams.”

The left-hand batter from Bihar heads a list of teenage debutants, some of whom have had successful careers while others faded away

Varun Shetty19-Apr-20251 Vaibhav Suryavanshi – 14 years, 23 days (vs Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025)On Saturday, the left-hand opener came into the Rajasthan Royals (RR) XI to replace the injured captain Sanju Samson. He first made national headlines at 13 with a 58-ball century against Australia Under-19. That knock made Suryavanshi the youngest player – at 13 years and 187 days – to score a century in youth cricket. Suryavanshi was picked up by RR for INR 1.1 crore after impressing at their high-performance center in Nagpur.For India Under-19, he cracked a 58-ball century in a four-day game against Australia Under-19, while his 176 runs at an average of 44 took India to the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup in 2024. He also has a triple-century to his name – an unbeaten 332 – in the Randhir Verma Tournament, an U-19 competition in Bihar.2 Prayas Ray Barman – 16 years, 157 days (vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2019)He was picked by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for INR 1.5 crore after topping Bengal’s wicket charts in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Just minutes before the toss against Sunrisers Hyderabad, head coach Gary Kirsten told him he was playing. At 16 years and 157 days, he became the youngest IPL debutant at the time. Bowling to Jonny Bairstow and David Warner on a flat pitch in the afternoon sun, he conceded 56 in four overs. It remains the only IPL game of his career, and since 2022 he has played only three domestic games.ESPNcricinfo Ltd3 Mujeeb Ur Rahman – 17 years, 11 days (vs Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2018)The Afghan mystery spinner made history when he debuted for Kings XI Punjab in 2018. He made an instant impact after being introduced in the powerplay, trapping Colin Munro lbw with his first ball . His unorthodox bowling had already earned him global attention before this game, and he repaid the faith, bowling a full four-over spell for figures of 2 for 28. This season, he was a late replacement addition to the Mumbai Indians squad.4 Riyan Parag – 17 years, 152 days (vs Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2019)The first IPL appearance for the allrounder from Assam was a thriller remembered for Mitchell Santner’s last-ball six and MS Dhoni’s infamous outburst against the umpires. In his debut season, Parag also became the youngest to hit an IPL fifty. Since then, he has become a regular for RR, retained continuously over the years, and is the squad’s current vice-captain.5 Pradeep Sangwan – 17 years, 179 days (vs Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2008)Pradeep Sangwan was considered a prize catch during the inaugural season, was an U-19 World Cup winner not long before, and held the tag of the youngest debutant for nearly a decade. He went for 40 and took no wickets on his debut against CSK and had only one real season of meaningful cricket (13 games in 2009). He last played in IPL 2022 representing Gujarat Titans and has not played any cricket since the start of 2024.6 Sarfaraz Khan – 17 years, 182 days (vs Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2015)The batter from Mumbai debuted for RCB in 2015 and seemed to be someone they were willing to invest in, long-term. He was, a few years later, one of their retentions, but was let go in 2018. Fast forward to 2025 at the peak of his red-ball form – and ten years since his IPL debut – he found no takers in the auction for a second season in a row.

Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has now decided which team he would like to join in January as he looks to leave Old Trafford ahead of the World Cup.

Zirkzee could get new opportunity at Man Utd after Sesko injury

After joining from Bologna in 2024 in a deal worth £36.5m, it is safe to say that things haven’t gone to plan for Zirkzee in Manchester.

Under both Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim, the forward has failed to find the back of the net on a regular basis, scoring just seven times in 54 appearances for the Red Devils.

So far in 2025/26, Zirkzee has played 90 minutes of football in all competitions but could be in line for more appearances following the news of Benjamin Sesko’s knee injury that could see him sidelined for a month.

Talking about Sesko and Zirkzee, Fabrizio Romano has claimed that there could be an “opportunity” for the latter, who Amorim thinks can still be “very important”.

Zirkzee has also started to become a forward in demand ahead of the January window, and there have also been suggestions that the Red Devils are happy to sell the “imposter” for £35m with up to nine different clubs circling.

Aston Villa

Brighton

Everton

Sunderland

West Ham

Inter Milan

Juventus

Roma

Sevilla

Now, the 24-year-old appears to have selected his preferred destination in 2026.

Zirkzee looking to leave Man Utd for Roma

According to reports in Italy relayed by Sport Witness, Zirkzee has made it clear that he would like to leave Man Utd and join Serie A side Roma in the New Year.

It is suggested that Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are offering him a clear starting spot in the side, something which appeals to the forward as he looks to increase his chances of making the Netherlands squad ahead of the World Cup.

Roma are looking to agree a deal with Man Utd as soon as possible and have already made initial contact over a transfer.

Should a move go through, Zirkzee, who scored 11 Serie A goals in 2023/24 before his move to Manchester, would be rivalling the likes of Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Brighton loanee Evan Ferguson for a starting spot.

Meet the ex-Man Utd star with over double Messi and Ronaldo's combined net worth

A former Premier League player has amassed an extraordinary net worth since retiring from football.

ByDominic Lund Nov 17, 2025

All three centre-forward options are currently injured, though, potentially explaining the reason why Roma want to land a new striker as soon as possible in the New Year.

How £100m Carlos Baleba now feels about leaving Brighton to join Man Utd