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Rangers’ busy summer is already in full swing at Ibrox.

Russell Martin was appointed as the new manager earlier this month, while both Lyall Cameron and Max Aarons have been unveiled as new signings, with plenty more to follow for the new Rangers boss.

So now, following on from new owners, a new sporting director and a new coach, could the Gers actually have a new captain?

Rangers changing centre-backs

Rangers’ central defensive options are set to be completely overhauled this summer, first with Leon Balogun joining Aris Limassol on a free transfer, where he’ll be reunited with Connor Goldson in Cyprus.

Meantime, Robin Pröpper is edging closer to a return to FC Twente, from whence he came just a year ago, while John Souttar is a doubt for the start of Champions League qualifying, following ‘hernia surgery’, facing a race against time to be available for the first leg against Panathinaikos on 22 July.

With all that in mind, Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider is reporting that Rangers are ‘in advanced talks’ to sign Conor Coady from Leicester City.

They claim that the Gers are ‘confident’ of finalising a deal ‘early next week’, and that the England international will ‘bring vast experience’ to Martin’s squad.

Transfer Focus

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

Meantime, as outlined by Rob Tanner of the Athletic, following the Foxes’ relegation back to the EFL Championship, they’re looking to offload a number of players, including Coady, given that he has just one year remaining on his contract, while, according to Capology, only four Leicester players earn more than his £75k-per-week salary.

Those wages would surely decrease significantly, should Coady choose to move to Glasgow, but his on-pitch experience and quality could be invaluable.

Why Conor Coady should become Rangers captain

Since signing from Wigan Athletic a decade ago, James Tavernier has been a Rangers stalwart, making 513 appearances to date, only ten men in the club’s entire history have accumulated more, scoring a staggering 130 goals from right-back, on top of his 142 assists.

He was named club captain by Steven Gerrard in 2018, and is a bona fide Rangers legend, although his form did come under intense scrutiny last season, with Clive Lindsay of BBC Sport noting that he was left on the bench for November’s Europa League tie against Olympiacos, something that would’ve been unthinkable not so long ago.

Still only 33 years old, Tavernier still has a key role to play in Martin’s side, but the table below does show his slight decline.

Appearances

46

58

55

58

53

Minutes

3,923

5,255

4,864

5,211

4,433

Goals

19

18

18

24

5

Assists

16

17

10

12

13

Chances created

71

130

112

123

96

Take-on success %

41%

59%

41%

44%

51%

Ground-duel success %

53%

56%

48%

53%

54%

Touches per 90

87

90

83

89

71

As the table shows, Tavernier played fewer minutes last season than he had in any campaign since the title-winning year of 2020/21, also failing to reach double figures in terms of goals for the first time in five seasons.

On top of this, his chances created and touches per 90 numbers were notably down too, emphasising that he is no longer the focal point of Rangers’ attacking play.

So, with Tavernier no longer undroppable, could we see Coady donning the armband next season?

Well, analyst Kai Watson describes him as a natural “leader”, while Sean Dyche, who was his manager at Everton, praised Coady’s “immaculate” professionalism, with Jamie Carragher describing his performances for Wolves as “brilliant”, adding that he is second only to Virgil van Dijk “in terms of passing from the back”.

In support of this assertion, Adrian Clarke of the Premier League documents how, in the 2019/20 season, no player accumulated more ‘accurate long passes’ than Coady across the entire division.

On top of this, Adam McNulty of Breaking the Lines praises the centre-backs ‘elite’ ability to ‘pick out a runner using a diagonal’, believing his passing range to be one of his strongest attributes.

In a Martin team, that prioritises control through possession, Coady will be an invaluable asset, suggesting he will be a favourite of the new manager, potentially usurping Tavernier in the captaincy hierarchy.

He'd be perfect for Aarons: Martin has exciting "colossus" on Rangers radar

Russell Martin is looking to sign another defender or two for Rangers

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 28, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers have money to play with this summer and could now turn their attention to an exciting winger to add flair acrosss their forward line, according to reports.

Wolverhampton Wanderers kickstart summer transfer window

Matheus Cunha’s departure to Manchester United may have left a sour taste in the mouth for supporters of the Old Gold, but there was always an element of inevitability regarding his eventual fate.

Nonetheless, the picture appears to be bright in the West Midlands under Vitor Pereira, who will be given time and financial backing to shape his squad over the coming months.

Evaluating the immediate priority at Molineux, adding one or two quality attacking options in the face of Cunha no longer being in the building will become a popular topic among fans and pundits alike.

Millwall forward Mihailo Ivanovic has been targeted by the Old Gold to help provide some added prowess in the final third, and Alex Neil’s ringing endorsement that the 20-year-old is one of Europe’s top ten talents will likely create plenty of intrigue.

Further back, Nelson Semedo is mulling over a new deal at Wolves as his contract nears expiration, illustrating the importance of bringing a right-sided defender to the club should the Portugal international move on to tackle a fresh challenge.

Wolves could sign instant Cunha replacement in "special" £25m talent

Wolves will be hoping to sign a replacement for Matheus Cunha this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 31, 2025

Sunderland’s Trai Hume may be the man the Old Gold are looking for to strike an adequate balance. Meanwhile, Rayan Ait-Nouri’s impending transfer to Manchester City leaves food for thought at left-back.

Transition may not be a bad thing for Wolves in light of big-money departures. Either way, they are now reportedly plotting a swoop for an exciting young winger.

Wolverhampton Wanderers plotting swoop for Roger Fernandes

According to Molineux News in conversation with Graeme Bailey, Wolves are keeping tabs on Braga winger Roger Fernandes and he expects the Old Gold to ‘explore’ the Primeira Liga for additions during the window.

Reports earlier this year claimed Manchester United, Manchester City, Brighton, Aston Villa and Newcastle United are also keen on Fernandes amid his rise to prominence in Portugal, which has led to a £25m price tag.

Referencing the situation, Bailey said: “I think the Portuguese league will be somewhere that they explore; it wouldn’t surprise me if they do look towards that league again. I’ve heard Roger Fernandes’ name linked to Wolves in recent weeks as well, wouldn’t surprise me if he was on the agenda.”

Roger Fernandes at Braga in 2024/25 – why are Wolves taking an interest? (FBRef)

Shot creating actions (Primeira Liga)

78

Shot creating actions (Europa League)

19

Progressive carries per 90 mins (Primeira Liga)

4.71

Progressive passes received per 90 mins (Primeira Liga)

9.94

Goal-creating actions (combining both competitions)

9

Likened to former Manchester United star Antonio Valencia by Foot The Ball, Fernandes has registered five goals and seven assists in 48 appearances for Braga this term and is capable of featuring on either flank.

Completing an average of 1.4 dribbles per league match, the Portugal youth international could go some way to filling the creative void left by Cunha, even if he is only one part of the solution.

The fans and players might have a Europa League final to look forward to next week, but the powers that be at Tottenham Hotspur will be looking past that and at the upcoming transfer window.

Daniel Levy and Co have to ensure it’s a massive window this year; otherwise, Ange Postecoglou – or whoever replaces him – could just find themselves in the same place this time next season.

Fortunately, there has been an increasing number of reports linking the North Londoners to a host of incredibly exciting players in recent weeks.

However, while the talented attackers touted for moves to N17 should excite the fans, they could also spell trouble for some of the club’s current stars, such as Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel.

Tottenham transfer news

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining some of the other exciting attackers linked with Spurs in recent weeks, like Eberechi Eze and Liam Delap.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could reportedly cost the North Londoners a cool £68m, but given his ability to play in a number of positions and the fact he’s racked up 12 goals and 11 assists in 40 games this season, it would be hard to argue with that valuation.

Likewise, while Delap is still young and relatively inexperienced, his £30m release clause seems more than fair for a striker who has scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 35 Premier League games this season.

However, if a player is going to come in and send Tel packing back to Bayern, they’re going to have to be someone seriously special, someone like Rayan Cherki.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Spurs are one of several sides incredibly interested in the Lyon gem.

The report has revealed that the player’s agent has approached a number of ‘top Premier League clubs’ over a potential transfer, and according to reports from earlier this week, the North Londoners have already inquired about the player, who could be available for just £19m.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Cherki’s immense ability, it’s one worth fighting for, even if it could be bad news for Tel.

How Cherki compares to Tel

So, the first thing to say is that Cherki is capable of playing off the right of a front three and in attacking midfield, but with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski locking down the former and Brennan Johnson scoring bags of goals from the latter, we reckon the Frenchman would play off the left at Spurs.

Therefore, his arrival in the summer could see the club thank Tel for his service and send him back to Bayern in the summer, as when we compare the two players, it’s abundantly clear that the Lyon ace is the far more dangerous and effective attacker.

For example, in terms of pure output, the “insane” 21-year-old, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has scored 12 goals and provided 19 assists in 43 games, totalling 3009 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.38 games, or every 97.06 minutes.

In contrast, since moving to North London, the Sarcelles-born gem has scored three goals and provided one assist in 18 appearances, totalling 1083 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 4.5 games, or every 270.75 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Bayern loanee, the incredibly one-sided nature of this comparison only continues when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.69

0.37

Non-Penalty G+As

0.83

0.27

Progressive Passes

9.03

2.52

Progressive Carries

4.47

2.52

Passing Accuracy

78.6%

75.0%

Key Passes

3.23

1.17

Passes into the Final Third

4.38

1.35

Passes into the Penalty Area

3.27

1.62

Live Passes

53.1

29.8

Shot-Creating Actions

6.09

2.54

Goal-Creating Actions

0.88

0.27

Successful Take-Ons

2.03

1.62

For example, in practically every relevant metric, Lyon’s “future ballon d’Or winner,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, comes out on top.

These metrics include things like expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, passing accuracy, key passes, passes into the final third and penalty area, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, it’s clear that Cherki is a far superior player to Tel, and while it would be handy for Spurs to have both next season, we wouldn’t be surprised that signing the former will force the latter to move on.

Ange can fix Maddison & Kulusevski blow by starting "incredible" Spurs star

Spurs need to find a way to remedy the injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 16, 2025

Arsenal have endured some bad luck this campaign that has derailed their title challenge, leaving supporters frustrated due to their unusually high volume of muscle injuries.

Arsenal's hard luck story this season under Mikel Arteta

At the start of the campaign, Mikel Arteta would’ve been optimistic that his side could finally claim the Premier League title under his reign after steadily building a squad capable of fighting on all fronts.

Stylistically, an aggressive focus on set-pieces alongside signings such as Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori appeared to have added extra steel to the flair present in the Gunners’ attack. However, their season hasn’t gone the way many envisaged.

Crashing out of the EFL Cup and FA Cup to Newcastle United and Manchester United put an end to dreams of domestic cup silverware, while their inconsistent run of form in the Premier League compared to Liverpool has become a bitter pill to swallow for an expectant support.

Nevertheless, Arsenal have been subject to an injury crisis that has left them with a major shortage of bodies in forward areas throughout the second half of 2024/25. Unfortunately, recognised strikers Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are still ruled out, leaving square pegs in round holes through the middle.

Bukayo Saka has been the main absentee of a long list for the Gunners, taking their tally of players who have spent time on the sidelines to 18 across this term. Returning during the week, the England international fired his side to a 2-1 victory over Fulham at the Emirates Stadium.

Other incidents such as Declan Rice’s harsh red card at home to Brighton & Hove Albion set an unwanted tone early on, culminating in a series of unfortunate events that have left the North Londoners feeling short-changed despite still being on course for a respectable second-place finish.

£84m striker really wants to join Arteta with Arsenal "top" of his list

The Gunners are now favourites.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 3, 2025

In a seemingly never-ending cycle of setbacks, Arsenal have fallen victim to yet another body blow ahead of their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

Arsenal's Grade 3 hamstring tear statistical anomaly

Arsenal have now suffered three Grade 3 hamstring tears in one season, following confirmation that Gabriel Magalhães has been ruled out until next term with an injury of that description. Saka and Havertz comprise the other two who fit the criteria.

According to a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, in a 20 year-period of Premier League football (from 2001/02 to 2021/22) only 3 per cent of hamstring injuries were Grade 3, making suffering three such problems in the space of six months a truly rare phenomenon that has barely been witnessed in football history.

Arsenal’s hamstring injuries this season

Gabriel Magalhães

Out until next season

Bukayo Saka

Finally back after long setback

Kai Havertz

Return unknown

Ultimately, many contributing factors play their part in a club falling short of their objectives. In this case, Arsenal have a right to feel that injuries have definitely altered the course of a season that was destined to deliver so much promise.

They are now in a place where they need to decide whether one-day cricket matters

Cameron Ponsonby07-Nov-2024There is a fundamental truth in life. You can’t be good at something you don’t do.Only rowers, who spend their lives facing the wrong way, are the exception to this rule. But they are six-foot-five-inch, VO2 max robots who couldn’t catch a rugby ball at 15 and were instead shoved into a boat to live a life of misery. Cricket is actually a sport.And it’s one that England currently aren’t very good at. After a 13th ODI loss in 20 and third consecutive one-day series defeat, the ECB need to make a choice: invest in List A cricket or not.When the Hundred arrived in 2021, the repercussions on the international one-day side were not immediate. Those in the team already had vast 50-over experience to draw on and were World Champions. There was not much room in the team – and if there was – you were of an age where you’d had some List A experience in the preceding years.Related

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But now it’s three years later and the next generation of English one-day cricketers are arriving in the team with next to no experience. Of the 15 players to make their ODI debut for England since the first edition of the Hundred, ODI cricket makes up 23% of all List A matches they’ve played. And that’s only due to David Payne, Sam Hain and Jamie Overton doing a lot of heavy lifting. Remove the ‘old-boys’, aka those aged 29 and above, and that percentage jumps to 41%.Dan Mousley scored his maiden international half-century in the decider•Getty ImagesWhen Dan Mousley, who made his maiden international half-century in the deciding ODI, walked out on debut to bat in Antigua at No.7, with 15 overs to go, he commented to Sam Curran that he didn’t really know what he was doing.”He almost admitted himself he hadn’t actually played loads of 50-over cricket,” Curran said earlier in the week. “Guys are learning.”More experienced players are adding their voice to that sentiment.”I don’t think there’s many players in this team that you could go through and go ‘oh they’re doing a great job right now’,” said Phil Salt ahead of the third ODI, where he made 74. “That’s the reality of it because we’ve not played a lot of 50-over cricket. I’d love something like a domestic 50-over competition. I’d love the opportunity to play in that so you can get the rhythm and it’s not always stop-start.”There is, of course, a domestic tournament in England, but the current calendar infamously means that none of the top white-ball players are available to play in it.This is not a call to scrap the Hundred, far from it. But a recognition of the reality that English cricket finds itself. If ODI cricket is something they want to excel at, a change from the status quo is required to give players the opportunity to play. They’re literally asking for it.What that looks like is unclear, and it is easy to point to some of the best ODI cricketers in the world who have not developed from a healthy back catalogue of domestic cricket. Virat Kohli has played 34 domestic one-dayers compared to 295 ODIs. Joe Root 38 compared to 171.But the thing about the best is that they are by definition anomalies. Harry Brook does not need to play a handful of games for Yorkshire to get the rhythm of the format, but Mousley might.Phil Salt had a consistent series in the West Indies•Getty ImagesIt is unusual and not desirable for an England team to lose to a team that hasn’t even qualified for the Champions Trophy and consider the entire XI almost devoid of any responsibility. It is not Jordan Cox’s fault that he underperformed at No.3. He had literally never done it before. In his four List A matches before this series, he had batted at four once, five once and six twice.”I’m not paid enough for that,” Salt laughed when asked what the answer might be.There are all number of fag-packet solutions. More England Lions matches, the return of the North-South series or letting any player in the Hundred hop home quickly to have a hit in the One-Day Cup. None of those ideas are particularly good.Ultimately, the untangling of the calendar would be the only solution. One option would be to move the One-Day Cup to April when wickets are fresh and bowlers could benefit from building their workloads rather than entering a two-month block of County Championship cricket straight off the bat.

“I know that I’ve not had the most successful time in 50-over cricket and not really been doing myself justice, but the more opportunities I get to play it, the better I will be at it. That’s the bottom line.”Phil Salt on ODI cricket

Yes, it would clash with the IPL, but if you’re playing in the IPL, you’re probably already playing for England so you’re of less concern. It’s the players who aren’t currently playing for England, but might in the future, that you need to target.”I don’t think there’s many people that can just walk in and do it after not playing for a while,” Salt said. “I know that I’ve not had the most successful time in 50-over cricket and not really been doing myself justice, but the more opportunities I get to play it, the better I will be at it. That’s the bottom line.”There is, of course, option C. Which is that it’s not worth the hassle. Test is best and play T20 the rest. In the modern world with format fatigue and an overcrowded schedule, maybe something has to go. That would be sad. But if something is of value to you, you put in time towards it. And if you’re not going to play it and you’re not going to practice it, then really, you’ve got to ask what’s the point of it.Players deserve the opportunity to be good at what they do. It’s up to England to decide whether one-day cricket matters enough to give them that chance.

They found contributors from everywhere to claim a second Ranji Trophy crown

Shashank Kishore19-Feb-2023As he stood on the winner’s podium, Jaydev Unadkat paused for a bit, and quickly announced he’d like to have Arpit Vasavada by his side while lifting the Ranji Trophy for the second time in three seasons.That Unadkat, who picked up 6 for 85 in a lion-hearted effort, remembered Vasavada during his moment of glory told you of the camaraderie and spirit within this Saurashtra team that is now beginning to dominate the domestic scene.As the cameras panned to the boundary edge, the rest of the players and support staff stood clapping. This synchronous clap was made famous by one of their very own, Avi Barot, who passed of a cardiac arrest prior to the season. In 2020, Barot was with the rest of the team on the winner’s podium. In 2023, it felt like he was there in spirit.Saurashtra began the season by clinching the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where Barot’s wife was invited to be part of the celebrations. Here, with all their families cheering them on, Saurashtra ended the season with the biggest prize in Indian domestic cricket. As Unadkat and Vasavada received the cup, the sense of satisfaction at having achieved a goal they set for themselves at the start of the season was unmistakable.Related

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“In a huddle just before the start of the season, I told the boys, ‘yes we won the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but the big one is waiting, we’ve to work really hard to win it,” Unadkat said at the post-match presentation. “I’m really proud of what the guys have been able to achieve, twice now in three seasons. There is a lot of stability in this team, which comes with performance, and everyone has done whatever was required of them.”Unadkat initially wasn’t going to be available for the final. He had been picked to play the Tests against Australia. But India wrapped things up quickly in Nagpur and Unadkat was back in his hotel room, pacing up and down, watching Saurashtra slip to 42 for 5 chasing 115 in the semi-final.”I was itching to make a phone call to someone at the ground to try and convey to the team management to promote Chetan Sakariya just to mess with the Karnataka bowlers a little, just to try and unsettle them,” he told ESPNcricinfo ahead of the final. “When we lost three wickets, I was frantically trying to see if I could reach our manager, but I knew it wasn’t possible.”I was quietly hoping they would promote Chetan. When I saw him walking out [at No. 7], it was as if my prayers had been answered. It just tells you how similar the wavelength is between us [head coach Niraj Odedra, stand-in captain Vasavada and himself].”Jaydev Unadkat played his part in keeping Saurashtra in front•Cricket Association of BengalOn February 12, Unadkat put in a request to be released from the Indian team. One week later, he was a two-time Ranji Trophy champion. “Rahul and Rohit were very encouraging of my request to make myself available for this final,” he said. “It’s a big game and I was keen to get back in and play straightaway.”In their triumphant 2019-20 season, Saurashtra were on the brink of elimination at 15 for 5 in their semi-final against Gujarat, after the first innings had ended with both sides only 52 runs apart. Sakariya, in his second season, was promoted to No. 5 to disrupt the bowlers, and he held fort for over three hours to make a defiant 45. His partnership with Vasavada, who made 139, helped turn their innings around and Saurashtra on course for a miraculous victory.”That semi-final game was on my mind, so I was quietly hoping it would be the same this time. It was like telepathy,” Unadkat said. “In this year’s semi-final, when Sakariya played that cameo of 24, where he hit those three sixes to quickly bring the target down, it felt like some kind of destiny was at play. Full marks to Arpit and our coach Niraj for that masterstroke.”Now, as Unadkat spoke of how far the team has come, he remembered the middle-order contributions. Sheldon Jackson delivered under pressure to make a game-changing 160 in the semi-final against Karnataka after a dry run until then.Parth Bhut, who only got to play the quarter-final against Punjab because Unadkat was away on national duty, made 111 not out from No. 9 to rescue Saurashtra from 134 for 6 in the first innings. In the second innings, he made a crafty half-century and combined with Vasavada and Prerak Mankad to overturn a 128-run deficit. And he still wasn’t done. Bhut ended the game with a five-for as Punjab folded to give Saurashtra a win that seemed improbable.Then there’s Chirag Jani and Mankad, their seam bowling allrounders, who along with Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, have lent flexibility to Saurashtra, allowing them to play an extra bowler or batter when the need has risen. These contributions, all at different times, were worth their weight in gold.It all seemed too surreal for Unadkat. He had been part of four finals. In the first two, he saw Saurashtra blown away by Mumbai. He saw them blown away by stage fright and intimidation. That same team is the one that’s here now, having grown so big that it is the one dominating Indian domestic cricket.”The middle order, the way they have stood up, has been incredible,” Unadkat said. “The way Chetan survived that first hour yesterday was amazing to see. In the last four-five years, we have been able set the tone, for guys to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves and the team. This is a team achievement in the truest sense. Glad to win this for everyone who has worked hard behind the scenes – the association, selectors, coaches and our families.”What about his own performances? In 2019-20, when they won, Unadkat topped the bowling charts with 67 wickets, the most by a fast bowler in a single Ranji season. That sowed the seeds of his India comeback, 12 years after he debuted as a teenager way back in 2010. Now, Unadkat is a mature 31-year-old, at the peak of his prowess.His three-for on the opening morning of the final blew Bengal away. And then, when they fought back, it was Unadkat once again who calmed things down with an outstanding exhibition of reverse swing bowling to finish with 6 for 85.”That was the need of the hour,” he said. “I was here to do a job. I love playing for Saurashtra. This team is so close to my heart. Whenever the situation arises [where he can play], I feel there’s a bit of zest from inside, an adrenaline rush. I feel I should step up and do it for the team.”

Also, why don’t Sunrisers Hyderabad pick Mohammad Nabi?

Alagappan Muthu22-Oct-2020
Why does David Warner have a hard time against Jofra Archer?
It’s the curse of the line bowler. And they are almost always notorious to face.Think of how Josh Hazlewood used to wrap Hashim Amla around his little finger. Seven Tests, seven dismissals, batting average 19. Or Sachin Tendulkar against Glenn McGrath. Nine Tests, six dismissals, batting average 22.These are all-time great batsmen. But to undo them, these bowlers only concentrated on a couple of things. One – hit the deck with the seam upright. Two – target the stumps.This made sure the batsman had to play the ball and if there is even the slightest movement, he is at a disadvantage.ESPNcricinfo LtdThat is what happened with Warner vs Archer. Except Archer was bowling at scary pace. Run that dismissal over and you’ll see the left-hander getting squared up. That’s the movement away from him. You’ll see him poking his hands at the ball. That’s him panicking and forgetting about his basics.Line bowling alone is so hard to face, but at Archer’s pace, it’s nearly impossible.Why do the Sunrisers never play Mohammad Nabi?
The Sunrisers bought Nabi in the 2017 auction. So this is his third year with the side. Guess how many games he’s played for them?It’s just 14 matches; 14 out of a possible 57 matches. The Sunrisers bought a bonafide T20 superstar and have used him for only a 25% of the matches they’ve played since he’s been on their roster.This is partly because they also brought in Jonny Bairstow in 2018 and he became an automatic pick. Warner is their captain. The face of the team. And Rashid Khan is their trump card. That’s three overseas slots done and invariably the fourth one ends up going to someone who can either hit hard (initially Mitchell Marsh this year) or bowl fast (Billy Stanlake earlier).That’s been the IPL way, even though Nabi has torched bowling attacks in the BBL, spun webs around teams in the CPL and been a driving force for the Afghanistan team in all limited-overs cricket.Why did Riyan Parag bat ahead of Rahul Tewatia?
When Jos Buttler fell with 27 balls left in the innings, it seemed like the perfect time for Tewatia to walk out and wreak havoc. But the Royals sent in 18-year-old Parag instead and it slowly became clear why. He was there for the yorkers.T Natarajan has bowled more yorkers than anyone in IPL 2020. The Sunrisers had saved two of his overs for the death.Parag was the Royals’ weapon against that. In the 18th over, after watching Natarajan bowl the perfect yorker to Steven Smith, Parag shifted outside off stump, got into a crouch and took a very low full toss – definitely intended as a yorker – and scooped it over fine leg for four.Then he had the game sense to realise the bowler would go wide of off stump – try to take the batsman’s power game away. But Parag was still able to reach it and he launched a huge six over extra cover.ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster suggested the Royals’ chances of victory increased by 6% in that over.Why didn’t Archer bowl a third over in the powerplay?He was in red hot form – 2-0-5-2 – and those two wickets were Warner and Bairstow, the backbone of the Sunrisers batting. So there was good reason for the Royals to have their speed demon to continue his spell. Another wicket could have helped them break into a middle order that has rarely shown itself to be stable this season.But Archer was taken off and Manish Pandey took control.”The third over for Jofra was on my mind,” Smith said at the presentation. “We discussed it with a couple of guys. In hindsight, yeah, maybe should have bowled a third straight over.”

Bayern Munich legends Oliver Kahn and Dietmar Hamann have delivered a damning verdict on Xabi Alonso’s tumultuous start at Real Madrid. Kahn argues the Spaniard’s tactical obsession clashes with the club’s DNA, while Hamann claims the squad are now 'untrainable' after Vinicius Jr was allowed to undermine the manager’s authority.

'Alonso's ideas do not fit Real Madrid'

The pressure is mounting on Alonso at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Real Madrid struggling to replicate the dominance of previous seasons. The Spanish champions have endured a nightmare December, suffering a shock home defeat to Celta Vigo before falling to Manchester City in the Champions League midweek.

Reports from the Spanish capital suggest the dressing room has grown weary of Alonso’s methods, with complaints emerging about "excessive" video analysis sessions and a perceived lack of creative freedom. Speaking on , former Bayern CEO Kahn suggested that these struggles were inevitable because Alonso's philosophy is fundamentally incompatible with the 'Galactico' culture.

"It is no surprise because his idea does not fit Real Madrid," Kahn explained. "The approach Xabi pursues with this system football and positional play requires very specific players. At Real Madrid, however, completely different football is played.

"It is about freedom and individuality; players do not want to be pressed into systems there, and that is the great misunderstanding. You need a coach who finds the best way to bring superstars together, but not one who starts explaining to them that they must play a very specific system."

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Vinicius feels he is bigger than the club'

While Kahn focused on tactics, fellow pundit Hamann pinpointed a breakdown in discipline as the root cause of the crisis. Hamann believes the club's decision to boycott the Ballon d'Or ceremony in 2024 due to  Vinicius Jr not winning it created a dangerous precedent, shifting the power dynamic fatally towards the players. The Brazilian escaping any serious punishment for his reaction to being substituted against Barcelona is proof, he says, that Madrid are now "unmanageable".

"The decline began with the FIFA Ballon d'Or, when Vini Jr. and the whole club boycotted the event," Hamann stated. "That gave Vini the feeling he is bigger than the club. Then came Barcelona, when he was substituted after 70 minutes, made a huge fuss, and received no punishment.

"The coach was finished after that, and now this is just a consequence of what has happened in the last few months. At the moment, they are unmanageable. It took five or six months to burn the hottest stock on the coaching market, and if an Alonso can't manage it, then God have mercy on whoever follows him."

Madrid struggling after strong start

The comments from the two German legends highlight the unique difficulties of the Real Madrid job. Unlike other elite European clubs where the manager is the primary architect of the team's identity, recent success at the Bernabeu has historically come under managers like Carlo Ancelotti or Zinedine Zidane – figures who facilitated the talents of their stars rather than imposing complex tactical grids. Alonso arrived as the most coveted young coach in Europe, but his attempt to implement the structured 'positional play' that won him the Bundesliga appears to have alienated a dressing room accustomed to on-pitch freedom. 

Alonso enjoyed a perfect start after joining from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer. His side won their first seven games across La Liga and the Champions League before finally going down 5-2 to Atletico Madrid. Another six straight wins followed – including a 2-1 Clasico victory – but a European loss to Liverpool kicked off their current woeful run, which has seen them win just two of their last eight. They now sit four points behind Barcelona in La Liga and are seventh in the Champions League table.

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Alonso now faces a critical period leading up to the winter break to save his job. He must find a way to balance his tactical principles with the individual freedom his stars clearly demand. They return to domestic action with a game against Alaves on Sunday followed by a Copa del Rey clash in midweek.

Kane Williamson accepts that “managing priorities on the calendar is a big task” but hopes all Test-playing countries give the format the attention it needs

Abhimanyu Bose08-Oct-2025

Kane Williamson isn’t done with international cricket just yet•Getty Images

Kane Williamson wants all stakeholders to give “greater importance” to Test cricket, especially in countries where the format faces the most challenges.”There’s been a lot of discussion about the Test game and how to keep breathing life into it, especially in countries where it’s facing greater challenges,” Williamson said on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai on Tuesday. “The concern with a potential two-tier system is how teams in the second tier can continue to improve and work their way up to the top division.”There are already many conversations around this, but the reality is that the impact has been felt for some time, so finding a solution sooner would be better. The Test format needs greater importance placed on it by all playing nations, along with additional resources to support its growth. As a passionate supporter of Test cricket, I would love to see it thrive.”Related

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Williamson, who has called for tweaks, like designated windows for Test cricket in the past, supported the argument against two-match Test series, but also recognised the challenges faced by certain boards to host longer series.”These circumstances aren’t ideal, but the Test game faces more challenges in some countries than others. Organising three- or four-match Test series is difficult commercially, making it hard for boards to support,” he said. “However, the Test Championship has helped provide context, leading to more results and making the competition meaningful for teams.”While some adjustments are needed, the international schedule is very busy with both international and franchise cricket, creating clashes and challenges for players. Managing priorities on the calendar is a big task.”Two-match Test series aren’t ideal – I’ve played many for New Zealand and we always want more [games in a series] – but often this is the reality. I would love to see the Test game grow with more opportunities for teams and countries to develop, but those are complex discussions.”Williamson is now 35 and has opted out of a central contract with New Zealand Cricket and is on a casual agreement, meaning his international appearances have been and will continue to be sporadic. However, he insists that there is plenty more left in his international career.”I still love playing the game, and every opportunity to represent New Zealand remains special,” he said. “I recently spent some time in England, and although the team [New Zealand] hasn’t played a lot of cricket lately, we have a busy schedule ahead.If Test cricket is split in two tiers, West Indies could be one of the teams to be relegated•Associated Press

“Looking back on my international career, I feel incredibly grateful for the journey. There have been transitions with new players coming in, and for me, it’s been about moving from captaincy to continuing as part of the group. I still feel connected to that community and want to contribute to a team that’s heading in the right direction. There’s always plenty to look forward to.”Last year, injuries had ruled Williamson out of New Zealand’s three-Test series in India where they inflicted a historic 3-0 whitewash on the hosts, the first time India had been swept in a series of three or more Tests at home and also India’s first Test series defeat at home since England beat them in 2012.Williamson, who had captained New Zealand to another famous win over India – the one that won them the World Test Championship title in 2021 – dubbed the series win he had missed as New Zealand’s greatest achievement in Test cricket.”I believe our achievement in a three-Test series in India stands as probably our finest accomplishment as a Test-playing nation,” he said. “As we have witnessed over the years, competing – and especially winning – here is a major challenge. What the New Zealand team accomplished was remarkable and is undoubtedly a standout highlight in the history of our game.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed the reason that Carlo Ancelotti never wanted to be Manchester United manager. Solskjaer was United boss between 2018 and 2021, a period in which Ancelotti was head coach of Everton. Solskjaer has admitted why the legendary Italian boss would never take on the United job, explaining what happened in a game between United and the Toffees.

• Ancelotti has managed a number of football's heavyweights

  Ancelotti has enjoyed a distinguished managerial career, and is widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time. Indeed, the Italian has won numerous pieces of silverware across stints with the likes of AC Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid (twice) PSG and Bayern Munich.

  And Ancelotti is hoping to add a World Cup winners' medal to his collection next summer having taken over the Brazil reins back in May. Brazil may have booked their spot at the 2026 World Cup but they flattered to deceive in qualification, finishing fifth in the CONMEBOL standings, a full 10 points behind defending world champions and rivals Argentina.

  Still, despite taking charge of some of the biggest teams in world football, Ancelotti told Solskjaer when United took on Everton in a Premier League fixture that he couldn't handle the "pressure" of managing the Red Devils.

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  Utd job is 'too much pressure' for Ancelotti

  Speaking to Kelly Somers for , Solskjaer was asked about the pressure that comes with managing one of the biggest clubs in world football, to which the former Norway striker replied: "I remember one game, against Everton. I'm stood there in my technical area, fourth official next to me.

  "Carlo Ancelotti comes across, so he's more or less in my technical area, and the fourth official says: 'Carlo, you need to get back into your technical area unless you want Ole's job.'

  "Carlo, as Carlo is, he's always got a comment and a smile. He said: 'No, no, no. Too much pressure. That job is too much pressure.' So he walked back to his technical area and I thought, 'pressure is a privilege'. He always said that as well."

  Ancelotti lasted just 18 months on Merseyside despite penning a four-and-a-half year contract at Everton in December 2019. Indeed, Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 as he succeeded Zinedine Zidane in the Spanish capital after the Frenchman resigned from his role at the Bernabeu.

• Solskjaer felt 'privileged' to manage United

  Despite his time as United boss ending abruptly in November 2021, Solskjaer insists he was 'privileged' to occupy the Old Trafford hotseat. "I felt privileged to be the manager of Manchester United, but of course it's not the same as playing," the Norwegian said.

  "As a player, you just do your job. Suddenly now you're the manager, you're the face of everyone. You think about all these supporters, players, everything surrounding Manchester United. But that pressure is a privilege because I was allowed to do that and I was allowed to deal with it in my way.

  "And that was having great staff around us, an environment in and around the club that was very positive. But in the end, it doesn't matter if you enjoy coming to work every day, training sessions… you need results and we unfortunately had a very bad six-week spell and that's too long at a club like Manchester United and they made a change, which is fine.

  "Reflecting back on it, it was sad. We lost to Watford of course, and I knew this was more or less the end. I drove my family to the airport, they went back to Norway, and I was going to work.

  "I got a text – 'Ole, I need to see you in my office' – and I knew what was going to happen, so I rang my wife and said: 'I'll catch you up, I'll probably be back home before you!'"

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  United dismissal wasn't 'surprising' states Solskjaer

  And when asked whether his dismissal felt sudden, Solskjaer said: "Sudden but not surprising. If you don't get results, you do make a change, that's football. But I felt we had something going."

  Following Solskjaer's exit, Ralf Rangnick took over in the interim basis from December 2021 until the end of the season. Erik ten Hag was named head coach in 2022, before his exit in October 2024, with Ruben Amorim succeeding the Dutchman at the Old Trafford helm.

  However, Amorim has also struggled since his appointment last November, ultimately guiding United to a 15th-placed finish last season, United's lowest in a Premier League campaign.

  United are next in action on Sunday when they take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.