Joan Garcia’s Barcelona switch has stirred debate, with Espanyol coach Manolo Gonzalez calling him “world-class” despite questioning his decision.
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Thomas Tuchel has surprisingly axed Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly from the England squad that will face Serbia on Tuesday. Lewis-Skelly played the full 90 minutes of England's World Cup qualifying clash with Andorra on Saturday as Tuchel's side ground out an unconvincing 2-0 victory.
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Fresh from bringing up 200 ODI wickets at Headingley on Saturday, Adil Rashid says he has the hunger to continue playing international cricket, dismissing talk that retirement may be on the horizon.Rashid broke new ground as the first English spinner to reach the milestone, albeit one brought up in a second consecutive defeat to Australia. It was England’s 10th loss in their last 14 ODIs. Another at Chester-le-Street would consign the hosts to a series defeat with two matches still to play. Poor weather, which forced training indoors on Monday, may end up saving their blushes, even if it does remove a series win from the equation.That this is a transitional squad, shorn of a handful of senior players, including captain Jos Buttler, has already been offered as mitigation for the missteps so far. Nevertheless, a new era – initially under interim coach Marcus Trescothick before Brendon McCullum assumes the limited-overs job in the new year alongside his Test commitments – has had an ignominious start.Yet, even with the onus on refreshing tactics and personnel, Rashid remains an integral part of the future of England’s limited-overs teams. February’s Champions Trophy, the 2026 T20 World Cup and 2027’s 50-over World Cup signpost the next three years, and the 36-year-old, currently in possession of an ECB central contract that takes him through to the end of the 2025 summer, has designs on being around for all of them.”I have not thought about it [retirement] yet,” said Rashid, speaking before Tuesday’s third ODI at Chester-le-Street. “Keep playing, enjoy it, stay fit, bowl well, contribute to wins, hopefully World Cups and Champions Trophies – that is my ultimate aim.”I’m playing each game and each series as it comes and if I’m still enjoying it and performing well, I’ll keep carrying on.”To play for this long and take the wickets I have, I’d never, ever dreamt of that, so hopefully I can carry it on. It’s been an enjoyable ride with ups and downs, and hopefully I can stay on the up for the remainder of my career.”I’ve got no eye yet on retiring or anything like that – that’s not even crossed my mind. It’s about enjoying the game and still giving it everything I’ve got.”Related
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It is a vital statement from Rashid given the lay of the land. Though the likes of Joe Root (rested) and Ben Stokes (undecided) are expected to return to the limited-overs set-up in some capacity – the Champions Trophy works for both given England’s first Test in 2025 comes at the end of May against Zimbabwe at Lord’s – the set-up has lost a lot of experience and knowledge in the last six months.Of those moved on, Moeen Ali is the one Rashid will feel the most. The former vice-captain announced his retirement earlier this month after missing out on both T20 and 50-over assignments against Australia. And as a long-time friend, inseparable at home and aboard, the fear was that Rashid may soon follow suit. Those fears, for now, have been allayed. On Tuesday, the Yorkshireman will earn his 138th ODI cap – the figure Moeen finished on.Of course, the team environment is a little different for Rashid. Not only will he not have his usual confidant for company, but he also now has more responsibility to assume as the go-to wise head in the dressing room, particularly for young spinners as England prepare for life after Rashid. The former will take getting used to, but the latter role is something he is keen to embrace.”He’s a big miss for the team and a big miss for me because we’re really good friends on and off the pitch,” Rashid said. “He’s made that decision and got another chapter of his life with the remainder of his career and I’m sure he’ll do wonders.”With Mo not being there my input will obviously be a little bit more, speaking to the youngsters and them coming to me,” he added.”That’s the ultimate aim. Whatever I’ve got in terms of experience, form, ups and downs, the knowledge I have, I can pass that on. It could be in terms of mindset or technical things. I’m trying to do that now as well, with the youngsters I’m working with.”I’ve worked with Rehan Ahmed, I’ve worked with Jafer (Chohan) at Yorkshire. There’s a few around the circuit, they’re in competition, which is healthy, and they can compete to become that No. 1 spinner.”Easier said than done, of course. Rashid’s evolution into a world-class operator was aligned with a consistency of selection and schedule. Between the 2015 and 2019 50-over World Cups, he played 76 out of a possible 81 ODIs under Eoin Morgan. In turn, England emerged during that period as a ground-breaking white-ball outfit. The demands and opportunities of the modern game mean the next generation does not have the benefit of that level of continuity.As such, England’s route back to the top of the pile after botched defences of the ODI and T20I titles in 2023 and 2024 will require a different path on less certain terrain. But in Rashid, they can still call upon someone who knows, and – crucially – still has, what it takes to push them on.
It’s fair to say that Tottenham Hotspur have had an eventful end to the season. Spurs finally ended their 17-year wait for a trophy by winning the Europa League, however, Daniel Levy then decided to sack Ange Postecoglou following a 17th place finish in the Premier League.
The search for a new manager in north London led Spurs to Thomas Frank, with the Danish coach arriving as Postecoglou’s permanent successor at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
With Champions League football on offer following the Europa League triumph, Spurs will have plenty of funds available to them as they look to back Frank in the summer transfer market.
One deal that has already gone through is Kevin Danso’s loan move becoming permanent for more than £20m, but who could join the Austrian through the door over the coming months?
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Well, Grok, the AI tool on X, has already predicted four summer signings Tottenham and Levy could make to bolster Frank’s squad, totalling £250m.
1 Marc Guehi Crystal Palace (£80m)
Starting at the back, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi could be a wanted man again this summer following rumours of a move to Newcastle United last summer.
The Magpies are still being linked with Guehi, but so are Tottenham, with claims suggesting Guehi was keen to hold talks with Spurs following their Europa League win.
Spurs had a £70m offer rejected for Guehi in January, but Grok estimate a cost in the region of £80m would get a deal done. They also add Guehi ‘would provide defensive stability and leadership in defence, allowing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven to rotate or play in a back three’.
2 Morten Hjulmand Sporting CP (£50m)
Another midfielder could be on Frank’s wishlist ahead of the 25/26 season, and Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand is another predicted signing.
A fellow Dane, there were claims earlier in 2025 that Spurs were set to make a bid for Hjulmand this summer, amid interest from rivals Arsenal and Manchester United.
Games
52
Goals
4
Assists
2
Average passes per 90
53.7
Pass completion
90%
Tackles per 90
2
Protected by a €80m (£69m) release clause in his contract, Grok thinks a deal could work at £50m due to Sporting’s willingness to negotiate, adding Hjulmand ‘would complement Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur’.
3 Eberechi Eze Crystal Palace (£70m)
Alongside Guehi, Spurs are also showing an active interest in another Crystal Palace star – Eberechi Eze.
The scorer of the Eagles’ FA Cup final winner against Manchester City, Eze is a player of interest to Frank, who has reportedly been urging Levy to sign for Tottenham when in talks to take over in north London.
Grok feels a deal could be worth £70m and say ‘Eze’s flair and goalscoring ability would add star quality, reducing reliance on James Maddison and supporting Dominic Solanke’.
4 Antoine Semenyo Bournemouth (£50m)
The final predicted Spurs signing by Grok is Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, who has been heavily linked with Tottenham in the early stages of the summer window.
There have been claims that Levy and co have personally held talks with Semenyo’s representatives over a Tottenham transfer, with Grok believing a fee could be worth up to £50m.
AI also adds that Semenyo ‘could provide depth and competition for Heung-min Son and Wilson Odobert’ and that his ‘ability to play across the front three offers tactical flexibility’.
Manchester United’s season ended in disappointing fashion when they were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the Europa League in Bilbao last month.
That result means that the Red Devils will not be playing European football in the 2025/26 campaign, as they missed out on the chance to qualify for the Champions League.
This has already had an impact on their summer transfer business, as Chelsea agreed a deal to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town ahead of them. Fabrizio Romano claimed that Champions League football was key to the Blues winning the race for the England U21 international.
The 22-year-old marksman plundered 12 goals in 37 appearances in the Premier League for the Tractor Boys in the 2024/25 campaign, and will now link up with Enzo Maresca and his squad.
However, despite failing to qualify for any European competition and missing out on the signing of Delap, Manchester United have already confirmed that Matheus Cunha has joined the club from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a permanent deal.
What Matheus Cunha could bring to Manchester United
The Brazil international appears to be an ideal fit for Ruben Amorim’s system on paper, because he played as one of two attacking midfielders behind a striker in a similar formation at Wolves.
This means that he could slot straight in as one of the number tens in the Portuguese head coach’s 3-4-2-1 system, with the hope that he can deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.
The 26-year-old’s form for Wolves in the last two Premier League seasons suggests that the potential is there for him to make an instant impact at Old Trafford with his ability to score and create goals.
Appearances
32
33
xG
9.49
8.63
Goals
12
15
Big chances created
7
13
Key passes per game
0.9
1.8
Assists
7
6
As you can see in the table above, Cunha delivered 27 goals and 13 assists in 65 appearances across those two campaigns, whilst no Manchester United player scored more than eight goals in the Premier League this term.
This suggests that he could immediately be Amorim’s biggest goal threat at the top end of the pitch, due to the current lack of quality in the final third for United.
Cunha, however, only scored six goals and provided six assists in 40 LaLiga outings for Atletico Madrid earlier in his career, so there may still be a question mark over his suitability for a side that is looking to challenge at the top end of the table.
Whilst there is still some doubt over whether or not he can become a star for United in the same way he was for Wolves, the Red Devils could land an even bigger signing than Cunha amid interest in a Champions League winner.
Man Utd eyeing deal for PSG star
According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The report claims that Inter, Juventus, Manchester United, and Manchester City are all eyeing up a move for the shot-stopper, who kept a clean sheet in the Champions League final on Saturday.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states that the Italy international’s current contract in Paris is due to expire in the summer of 2026, with contract talks at a standstill, and this has left the door open to a potential move away from the club ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
CaughtOffside adds that Juventus and Inter are the two most serious contenders to land the 26-year-old goalkeeper this summer, as they hope that a move back to Italy would be tempting for him.
The report claims, however, that Manchester United are also monitoring his situation with PSG because Amorim is unconvinced by Andre Onana could swoop for the PSG star as a replacement for the Cameroon international.
If the Red Devils can get a deal over the line for Donnarumma ahead of the likes of Inter and Juventus, the Italian colossus could be an even bigger signing than Cunha.
Why Donnarumma would be a bigger signing than Cunha for Man Utd
Unlike Cunha, the PSG superstar has proven himself at the very top level as a regular for both PSG and Italy, winning four Ligue 1 titles, one Champions League, and the European Championship with his country.
The former Milan star has been there and done it in the biggest competitions and leagues, whereas Cunha – as aforementioned – is yet to prove himself at that level.
GOAL recently posted an updated power ranking for the 2025 Ballon d’Or and placed Donnarumma in 12th place, as one of the contenders for the prestigious award, thanks to his impressive performances for PSG.
Cunha, as he has not showcased his quality on the same stages, did not rank in their top 20, which speaks to the gulf in quality between the two players.
Donnarumma would also come in as a significant upgrade on Onana between the sticks and provide United with a solid goalkeeper who could be relied upon week-in-week-out.
Appearances
15
13
Save percentage
72%
63%
Goals prevented
1.69
-1.54
Clean sheets
6
2
Error led to shot
0
0
Error led to goal
1
2
As you can see in the table above, the Italian international was significantly better as a shot-stopper in Europe this season, whilst also making fewer errors that led to goals.
The PSG star also went through the Ligue 1 campaign, playing 24 matches, without making a single error that led to a shot or a goal, whilst Onana made four errors leading to shots or goals in 34 Premier League games.
These statistics suggest that Donnarumma would be a huge upgrade on the current United number one, both as a shot-stopper and as a reliable presence in goal, which is another reason why he would be an even more important signing than Cunha.
Instead of worrying about whether or not their goalkeeper is going to make a mistake, the Red Devils defenders could be assured by the Italy international behind them, leading to greater defensive displays and fewer errors at the back.
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It is now down to the club to win the race to sign the Champions League winner and Ballon d’Or contender this summer, as he could be a transformational signing due to the quality and pedigree that the goalkeeper would bring to the team.
Liverpool are reportedly “confident” of striking a big-money deal for a “world-class” attacking player this summer, with a plan to bring him in alongside Florian Wirtz.
Liverpool closing in on stunning Wirtz signing
The Reds are expected to embark upon one of their busiest summer transfer windows in years, and there has now been a huge development regarding their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen star Wirtz.
While Bayern Munich have been the favourites to sign the German for a while, various reports on Friday claimed that the 22-year-old has now decided to join Liverpool instead, leading to plenty of joy among the fanbase.
It is reported that Wirtz’s father flew to England and was given a presentation by Michael Edwards and those within the recruitment team, persuading him that his son would be better off joining the Reds than Bayern this summer – or staying at his current club, for that matter.
If Liverpool could get a deal over the line, it could genuinely prove to be one of their most significant pieces of business in many years, with the Leverkusen ace among the world’s leading attacking players – and one with most of his career ahead of him.
Liverpool "confident" of another incredible addition
According to a promising update from GiveMeSport, Liverpool and Edwards are now “confident” of also completing the signing of Newcastle United superstar Alexander Isak this summer by convincing him to move to Anfield.
The Reds believe they can turn the 25-year-old’s head, and also have the “financial clout” to strike a deal ahead of next season amid a mooted £120m price tag, as Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes look to work their magic and sign him alongside Wirtz.
In many ways, Isak is the perfect option to come in and be Liverpool’s new No.9, replacing the misfiring Darwin Nunez and making the Reds a more potent attacking force.
The Swede has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season, scoring 23 goals in the competition, and he has also been described as “world-class” by none other than Magpies legend Alan Shearer:
“I think there’s three world-class forwards in the Premier League now. Haaland being one, Salah being another. I think Isak has played himself into that company now.”
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It remains to be seen just how possible it is for Liverpool to afford both Isak and Wirtz, but if they did manage to sign the pair, it would be remarkable, taking Arne Slot’s side up plenty of gears and surely making them favourites to retain their league crown when next season gets underway.
Glasgow Rangers restored some pride when they avoided defeat to their city rivals in their last match in the Scottish Premiership last weekend.
The Light Blues had already had their second-placed finish confirmed, as Celtic won the league title at the end of last month, but they avoided their misery being compounded with a defeat.
Cyriel Dessers opened the scoring for the Gers in front of their home supporters with a composed finish before the break, but Adam Idah secured a point for the away side with a clever turn and finish inside the box in the second 45.
Whilst it was a decent point for the Light Blues, that result did extend Barry Ferguson’s winless run to six matches in all competitions, and he has won just four of his 12 games in charge so far.
There were some more positives to extract from the 1-1 draw with Celtic, though, including the performance of central midfielder Mohamed Diomande.
The Ivorian star assisted the goal from Dessers and won nine of his 12 duels throughout the game, as he showed that fans can be excited about what he could produce next season.
Why Rangers fans should be excited about Mohamed Diomande
The 2024/25 campaign has been the left-footed star’s first full season at Ibrox, having joined on a permanent deal last summer after his initial five-month loan, and he now has plenty of experience under his belt.
Diomande has played 70 matches in all competitions for the Light Blues to date, including 51 in the current campaign, and is now primed to kick on as a star for the club next term, having had 18 months of experience in Glasgow.
It did not take too long for the central midfielder to announce himself in Scottish football after his initial loan move from FC Nordsjælland, as he scored against St. Johnstone in February 2024.
His performances in that loan spell led to the club deciding to sign him on a permanent deal in the summer of 2024, with Philippe Clement in charge, and he has kicked on to become a key player in the current campaign.
Diomande showed potential as a goalscorer, as shown by his stunning strike against St. Johnstone, and as an all-action defender in his time on loan, but his creative quality has shone through this term.
Appearances
13
33
Goals
2
4
Big chances created
1
10
Assists
0
7
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.3
1.8
Ball recoveries per game
4.8
4.3
Duel success rate
52%
55%
As you can see in the table above, the left-footed star has created nine more ‘big chances’ and delivered seven more assists than he did in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign for the Light Blues.
Rangers fans should, therefore, be excited about what the £12k-per-week star could do next season, after 18 months of adjusting to Scottish football, as he has already shown plenty of signs of promise in the Premiership with his work in and out of possession.
Diomande provides great value for money, given that he is the 12th-highest earner at Ibrox, but that is not the case for every player in the squad. In fact, one of the players who should be sold by the 49ers this summer, Kieran Dowell, earns even more than the Ivorian.
Why Rangers should sell Kieran Dowell
The English attacking midfielder reportedly earns £16k-per-week, which is more than the likes of Diomande, Hamza Igamane, Jefte, and John Souttar, among others.
He has, however, not provided value for money for those wages because the former Norwich City man was deemed not good enough for the squad in January and was loaned out to English League One side Birmingham City.
Dowell enjoyed a successful second half of the season with the Blues, who won the League One title with a staggering 111 points, as he caught the eye with goals and assists.
The left-footed star ended the campaign with five goals, nine ‘big chances’ created, and four assists in 19 appearances in the third tier of English football, and is now set to return to Ibrox this summer.
Birmingham do not have an option to make the deal permanent but manager Chris Davies revealed that they will explore the possibility of a move to bring him back to England ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The 49ers, once the takeover is finalised, and sporting director Kevin Thelwell must take advantage of this interest from the Blues in order to ensure that Dowell never plays at Ibrox again.
He has one year left on his contract in Glasgow and this means that the upcoming summer transfer window would be the best time to cash in on the attacking midfielder if they are not planning to extend his contract beyond next year.
Dowell’s performances for Rangers since his move to Scotland on a free transfer from Norwich City in the summer of 2023 do not suggest that the 49ers should be aiming to extend his deal.
Appearances
12
12
Starts
5
2
Goals
2
0
Big chances created
1
4
Assists
2
0
Duel success rate
49%
46%
As you can see in the table above, the 27-year-old flop failed to nail down a place in the starting XI on a regular basis under Michael Beale or Clement, and only contributed two goals and two assists in 24 appearances in the Premiership.
His underperformance on the pitch for the Light Blues in his first 18 months at Ibrox led to him being loaned out in the January transfer window, which shows that he was deemed surplus to requirements at the start of the year.
Therefore, Dowell has not done enough to justify his £16k-per-week wages, particularly when the impressive Diomande earns even less than him in Glasgow, and that is one of the reasons why the 49ers must ruthlessly cash in on him this summer.
The Gers should attempt to extract a fee from Birmingham for the English dud and ensure that he does not play for Rangers at Ibrox ever again, because the midfielder has not done enough in a Light Blues shirt to suggest that he would be a key player for the next manager coming in.
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A bowler of Sinhalese origin playing for a Tamil Nadu franchise to raucous applause at the Chepauk: things are changing, for the better
Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Apr-2024At the cricketing heart of it, Matheesha Pathirana is Chennai Super Kings’ sweet revenge.No bowler had wrecked CSK batting orders on the scale Lasith Malinga managed. With 37 wickets against CSK in 23 games, he is by a distance their biggest destroyer.But, oh, what’s that? There’s a young slinger that CSK have had eyes on first? Someone who has an even lower arm action than Malinga and more explosive pace? Okay, less control, less swing, not nearly as much general mastery… but still, CSK’s own ? It sounds almost too good to be true, right?Snap him up. Get him in as a net bowler. Have your legendary captain slap eyes on him. Promote him to the main team. Follow him as he becomes one of the best death bowlers in the league. Then on 14 April 2024, watch him rip Mumbai Indians to shreds, taking 4 for 28, while Malinga, in Mumbai Indians colours, watches on.Related
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In a more perfect world, Pathirana’s cricketing rise, and the CSK vs Mumbai Indians vengeance arc, would be the only stories. But this is a world in which a 27-year-long civil war was fought in Sri Lanka, where for most of Sri Lanka’s and India’s post-Independence decades, the governments of Tamil Nadu and the Sinhalese-led government of Sri Lanka have been vehemently opposed. A world in which, only 11 years ago, the IPL’s governing council ruled no Sri Lankan players could play in Chennai for any IPL team over security concerns, such was the ferocity of political opposition.Against that history, Pathirana’s rise at CSK, and to a lesser extent that of Maheesh Theekshana, has been almost startlingly smooth. Pathirana showed promise at the end of the 2022 season, when Theekshana was more useful to the franchise. But then, with the onset of the Impact Player rule in 2023, Pathirana has become a go-to death bowler on account of his ultra-specialised skill set, MS Dhoni prodding him forward like a bird its fledgling chick. Pathirana has not merely been accepted, he has been embraced by CSK’s yellow army, and wildly cheered for at Chepauk.It is not certain exactly what political shifts have enabled this, but deductions may be made. Sri Lanka’s colossal protests of 2022, which culminated in the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, are significant in the timeline. The Rajapaksas were understood regionally to be champions of Sinhalese-Buddhist nationalism, and had also overseen the vicious conclusion to the war, which substantially deepened an already profound divide with Tamil Nadu. But that family having been so chastened by a movement produced largely by the southern (mostly Sinhalese) population likely cast Sri Lankan southerners in a mellower light in Tamil Nadu.Around this time, Sinhalese animosity towards Tamil Nadu began to abate too. Through the worst of those crisis months of 2022, when the island was cripplingly short of fuel, power, medicines and food, the government of Tamil Nadu came through with humanitarian aid worth around 3.4 billion Sri Lankan rupees.
It is no surprise that the Chepauk fans who first bellowed for Pathirana are people roughly his age – Gen Z and young millennials, who tend to pack out the C, D and E stands. If you can make it there, Chepauk veterans say, you’re the rubber-stamped next big thing
Where previous decades had been characterised by a vortex of escalating tensions, here was a mutual softening, and in Sri Lanka at least, long-overdue introspection. It was in that year that Theekshana, then Pathirana, made their debuts for CSK, though there were no home games for the side in 2022.Additionally, there is the passage of time. Theekshana was ten when the war ended. Pathirana was seven. While injustices persist in Sri Lanka, and the kind of accountability Tamil Nadu has called for remains barely even a promise, there is also the simmering sense that these many years on, people need to move on.It is no surprise that the Chepauk fans who first bellowed for Pathirana are people roughly his age – Gen Z and young millennials, who tend to pack out the C, D and E stands. If you can make it there, Chepauk veterans say, you’re the rubber-stamped next big thing. Enmity, it turns out, does not have to be passed down through the generations.It’s worth clocking too that part of Pathirana’s rise among the CSK faithful is down to Dhoni’s vocal support of the bowler. When Dhoni struck that 91 not out and sealed one of Sri Lanka’s most painful cricketing memories with a six at the Wankhede, who could have guessed what he’d be capable of in the future? Since then, he has graduated from to in the Tamil imagination. And now he is – however unwittingily – playing a role in a Tamil-Sinhalese connect.Hurtbringer: for years, as Mumbai Indians’ bowling spearhead, Lasith Malinga was a thorn in Chennai Super Kings’ side•BCCIThere is also beautiful history here. Pathirana is far from the first Sri Lankan to feel the love at Chepauk, and in fact, Muthiah Muralidaran, in CSK’s early years, wasn’t either. In the pre-civil war decades, the Tamil Nadu state side was Ceylon’s (as Sri Lanka was then known) biggest regular opponent. In 1947, M Sathasivam – a Ceylonese Tamil, if you’re keeping track – hit a 215 against them that glittered by all accounts with delectable late cuts, fine glances, and spectacular drives. Right into the 21st century, old-timers who watched that innings would swear it was the greatest ever witnessed at Chepauk.There is no more legendary Sri Lankan cricketer of the pre-Test era than Sathasivam, and Chepauk was likely the scene of his crowning triumph. Whether or not Pathirana and Theekshana are aware, this too is a story to which they belong. Where their boots now tread, Sathasivam’s went first.These are victories worth celebrating, because despite what nationalists of any stripe would have you believe, hatred is not intractable. Neither, then, is cohesion. If there are many in the world intent on fanning flames, it is vital that when green shoots emerge from the earth, they are seen as worth protecting too.Right now, one of the brightest fast-bowling prospects Sri Lanka has produced, quite possibly the island’s fastest ever bowler, a man of Sinhalese origin, is being invested in and developed by a franchise side in Tamil Nadu. Across Sri Lanka, families turn their televisions on in the evenings and hear entire stands in a Chennai stadium scream “PA-THI-RA-NA”.You’d be foolish to think a few stump-splaying yorkers and stadium chants can heal grievances collected over decades. But you’d be naïve to think they mean nothing.
Latest moment of misfortune epitomised tour in which NZ have struggled to get a break
Matt Roller23-Jun-20225:44
#PoliteEnquiries: How does Daryl Mitchell middle EVERYTHING?!
“It’s out! It’s out!” Ben Stokes shouted at a dumbfounded Jack Leach, giddy with bemused excitement. Henry Nicholls was left to drag himself off after a bizarre, surreal dismissal, one which seemed to sum New Zealand’s tour of England up. It is meant to be black cats, not Black Caps, that bring bad luck.Nicholls’ innings had been a grind, one in which he had made only 19 runs in over two hours as tea approached. He had put on 40 at less than two an over with Daryl Mitchell, leaving and defending with caution and surviving several plays-and-misses outside his off stump. It had not been pretty, but after winning the toss and stumbling to 83 for 4, New Zealand did not care about aesthetics.With five balls left before tea, Leach overpitched and Nicholls shimmied to turn the ball into a half-volley, driving slightly uppishly down the ground. Mitchell, at the non-striker’s end, flinched and tried to pull his bat away from the line of the ball, but somehow managed to deflect it straight to Alex Lees at mid-off.
What on earth!?
Scorecard/clips: https://t.co/AIVHwaRwQv
#ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/yb41LrnDr9
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 23, 2022
Leach was mystified, looking around at his celebrating team-mates with his arms out in confusion. Nicholls stood dumbfounded before slinking off, consoling himself only with the knowledge that he will soon feature on YouTube in a video titled: “O M G ….. How can this happen in cricket??? MOST UNLUCKY DISMISSAL OF ALL TIME”.”It’s just one of those unfortunate things,” Luke Ronchi, New Zealand’s batting coach, said. “Daryl just happened to middle it again like he’s been doing the whole time.” As Ronchi left the room, his old Somerset team-mate Leach repeated another of his lines back to him: “I like those little quirks,” he said with a grin.”I didn’t even know if that was allowed,” Leach added. “I don’t actually like the dismissal but I felt like I bowled pretty well to Nicholls leading up to that… you just have to take it. It’s a silly game, isn’t it? That’s what it made me think: it’s a stupid game that we play.”Henry Nicholls drives and is caught by Alex Lees via the bat of Daryl Mitchell•Getty ImagesNew Zealand are due a slice of luck when it comes to deflections off stray bats working against them; at least Trent Boult could see the funny side at Lord’s when Stokes nearly managed, completely involuntarily, to recreate moment from the 2019 World Cup final.”Tragedy is when I stub my toe. Comedy is when you fall into an open manhole and die,” the comedian and film-maker Mel Brooks once said, and England couldn’t help but laugh. This was a moment of black comedy for New Zealand – Black Cap comedy, if you will – and one which felt grimly familiar on a tour that has lurched from one misfortune to another.A year ago to the day, New Zealand were celebrating at the Ageas Bowl after Ross Taylor clipped the winning runs off his pads to seal victory in the inaugural World Test Championship. They had been dominant since the first session of the first Test at Lord’s, beating England 1-0 and then overcame India to put the finishing touches on their journey from no-hopers to world-beaters.This tour has been a stark contrast: from the moment the touring party touched down in the UK, just about everything that could have gone wrong seems to have done so. On the fifth day of the trip, Nicholls tested positive for Covid-19, as did Blair Tickner and bowling coach Shane Jurgensen, and the virus has been a constant nuisance in the camp ever since.Injuries have ripped the heart out of the team that beat India last year: the retired Taylor and BJ Watling have been ably replaced by Mitchell and Tom Blundell, but the losses of Colin de Grandhomme and Kyle Jamieson turned the first and second Tests respectively. Nicholls’ dismissal even put de Grandhomme’s horror day at Lord’s – comically run out, denied Stokes’ wicket by a front-foot no-ball and limping off with a foot injury – in perspective.Mitchell, meanwhile, is having the worst best series of his – or just about any – career: he is averaging an eye-watering 150.33, yet somehow seems to have spent much of the past three weeks dropping catches at slip and running out his partners. At least he had one moment of fortune today. He was given not out on 8 when Matthew Potts’ inswinger crashed into his pad and England decided not to review the on-field decision, only for ball-tracking to confirm it would have crashed into middle-and-leg.By the close, his partnership with Blundell was worth 102, their third century stand of the series, and Stokes’ non-review had cost 70 runs. New Zealand are clearly not where they would have liked to be after choosing to bat first but at least they had a wicketless evening session to cling to: without it, they would be staring down the prospect of a whitewash on the anniversary of their crowning moment.
DETROIT — One game. One pitcher. One legacy. As if using a geodetic coordinate system, the American League division series between the Tigers and Mariners has arrived at a pinpoint of a place. Game 5 Friday in Seattle is about Tarik Skubal.
The Tigers ace has made his case over the past two and a half years that he is the best pitcher on the planet. Great. But it’s not enough.
Now, for the second time in 363 days, he will have the ball in his hands in a winner-take-all game. The last time was a bust.
Given a 1–0 lead in the fifth inning against Cleveland in Game 5 of the 2024 ALDS, Skubal coughed up the game in a horrific six-batter sequence: single, strikeout, single, single, hit by pitch, grand slam. Five runs. Lead and game gone in 18 pitches. Drive home safely.
His teammates rustled up a mulligan for him with a syzygy of a rally in ALDS Game 4 against the Mariners Wednesday. Just when the Tigers appeared dead, looking at a 3–0 deficit and staring at the last 15 outs of their season, they came together as weirdly and powerfully as an alignment of celestial bodies. Out of nowhere, they ran off nine unanswered runs to win, 9–3.
Skubal could join sudden death legends
Game 5 is a career-defining game for Skubal, given his loss last season and that his team is 0–3 this year when he faces Seattle. It’s no longer about “pitching well” or “keeping my team in the game.” It’s about going all Jack Morris on Seattle. On the night Morris’s Twins won Game 6 of the 1991 World Series, Morris, the Game 7 starter, walked into the interview room and announced, “In the immortal words of the late, great Marvin Gaye, let’s get it on!” The following night, Morris put the team on his back, throwing 10 shutout innings while refusing to come out of the game.
It was an all-time double elimination pitching performance by a future Hall of Famer. In more recent years, pitching greats who have risen to greater heights in sudden death games include Justin Verlander (2012 and '13 ALDS), Madison Bumgarner ('14 NLWC and World Series, '16 NLWC) and Gerrit Cole ('19 ALDS). This is Skubal’s moment.
Skubal played the preamble to his statement game much differently than did Morris. He walked into the interview room after Game 4 and swatted away a question about personal redemption as if it were an annoying fly.
“I'll let you guys create the narrative,” Skubal said. “I'm just going to do what I do best, and that's play baseball and create pitches. The game is still the game. I'll let you guys write the stories and do your jobs, but you're not going to get anything from me.”
Every game, he said, presents him with an opportunity to compete at his best, no more in Game 5 than it did in the Mariners’ 3–2 win against him in Game 2.
“But the game stays the game, and that’s kind of what you’re going to hear me reiterate,” he said, “[that] is I just need to be focused on pitch by pitch and execute the game plan that we will create. So that’s all I’ve got for you.”
Skubal’s Seattle ties deepen stakes
Another delicious layer to this start is that in happens in Seattle, where a kid from Kingman, Ariz.—a small town in the northwest corner of the state better known for its turquoise lode and its kitschy status as the heart of Route 66 than as a baseball factory—took his 80-something mile per hour fastball to Seattle University, the only school to offer him a scholarship.
“Dad, I'm not going to school there,” he said to his father.
“No, you need to call them, son,” his father replied.
Said Skubal, “And I was like, ‘All right.’ I called them. I committed two weeks later. And the rest is history.”
When he pitched in Seattle in ALDS Game 2, he bought tickets for all 34 players of the Seattle University baseball team and talked to them about following their dreams.
“It’s not a fantasy,” he said. “You can actually accomplish what you put your mind to.”
No, this is not another game, not with what’s at stake and where it is. Skubal may treat it as such from his uber-competitive mind. How, he reasons, can I possibly care or try more than my very best? But the stakes are higher. The venue is more meaningful. The reputation on the line more epic.
“I think it means the world to him,” said pitching coach Chris Fetter. “Especially going back to a place where he went to school and that environment. Yeah, I think it's going to be pretty special. And you're going to see a competitive, fiery guy out there and that’s what we need. And he's going to compete his ass off.”
Said Detroit first baseman Spencer Torkelson, “I don’t have the words. My vocabulary doesn’t have the words to tell you how much this opportunity means to him. If you have one game to win, there’s nobody I’d rather have than Tarik. And if you asked most guys around baseball, not just in this clubhouse, you’d probably get the same answer.”
Skubal made two mistakes in Game 2: two center-cut pitches to Jorge Polanco, who blasted both for home runs. It seems unfathomable that the Tigers could lose four games in one year to the same team with Skubal on the mound. But that is what is at stake.
“I think at the end of the day, he's going to be himself,” Fetter said. “You know, most of the time we're going to go to his strengths as opposed to trying to dissect it too much or overthinking too much. Yeah. Go out and be himself.
”And that’s where we talk about not trying to overthink. If you go execute, be yourself, at the end of the day we’re good.”
Skubal wound up at Seattle University only after other schools dropped interest in him after a poor showcase performance on a Saturday morning. They didn’t know that Skubal had played center in a football game Friday night and drove three hours to the Phoenix area the next morning to get on the mound and throw in front of coaches. His velocity dipped to an unappealing 84 mph.
Now Skubal throws a hundred. He has hit 100 mph 43 times this year. Every other lefthanded starter combined has done so eight times. His changeup is the single best pitch in baseball as determined by run value. There is nobody like him. That is not in dispute.
What is in the balance now is whether Skubal can deliver a season-saving, career-defining game. It should require Skubal pushing himself like never before.
Skubal has pitched in 142 major league games, including five in the postseason. Incredibly, he has never thrown more than 108 pitches in a game. His postseason high is 107, in wild-card Game 1 this year. In Game 2 of this series, Skubal threw 97 pitches over seven innings before indicating he was just about done. So, manager A.J. Hinch handed the ball to Kyle Finnegan for the eighth. The Mariners scored three batters later to win, 3–2.
In 1995, in Seattle, a lefthanded, soon-to-be Cy Young Award winner took the ball with his team facing elimination in his first postseason game. Randy Johnson of the Mariners threw 117 pitches over seven innings to beat the Yankees in ALDS Game 3. After one day of rest, he came out of the bullpen in Game 5 to throw three innings and another 44 pitches to win that game, too. It was legendary stuff. They still talk about it today.
Now, 30 years later in the same city, the best lefthander in the game has the ball in his hands for a winner-take-all game. To save the Tigers’ season and to lessen the pain of the last time he found himself at these coordinates, Skubal may have to give more than he’s ever given.