Fast bowler is back in the ranks as an injury replacement, after two emotional years off the field

Cameron Ponsonby28-Oct-2025″The tattoos are new on my arm,” says New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner. “We got married at Kōtare Estate, which is Maori for Kingfisher. So there are two of them, to represent Sarah and I.”It is possible that Tickner, a late injury-replacement for Kyle Jamieson, will feature in neither of the final ODIs against England.But that would be to miss the point of a return to the international stage for a man, and family, who have been through more in the last two-and-a-half years than most could imagine.In February 2023, days after making his Test debut, Tickner gave a tearful press conference on the outfield at Wellington after news that Cyclone Gabrielle had destroyed his father’s home in Hawke’s Bay. A year later, in the moments before a County Championship game for Derbyshire, he got a call from his wife, Sarah, that she had been diagnosed with leukaemia.After rushing to hospital, Tickner assumed he had been removed from the match, only to find out later in the day when he returned to the ground to collect his car that he was still, technically, playing. Despite a ball not having been bowled when he left the ground, and their opponents, Sussex, happy for Derbyshire to substitute Tickner out, ECB regulations dictated it wasn’t allowed as the toss had already been made. In a blur, Tickner finished the day in the middle. He made 47, the highest score of his career.”I had to play that game knowing my wife had leukaemia,” Tickner recalls. “I was going back and forth from the hospital.”That was the past, however, and his return to the Black Caps is cause for celebration on all accounts. His father’s home and the surrounding area has been rebuilt and is back to normal, and most importantly, Sarah is in remission. She’s still undergoing monthly chemotherapy, but in Tickner’s words, “we’re in the good stage now.””She’s a strong woman,” he says. “We’re just so happy to be back in New Zealand and that she’s healthy.”Tickner’s last game for New Zealand was over two years ago. At 32 years old, it was a time he had assumed had passed. Which was fine. He’d even told the selectors not to bother calling him unless it was to pick him. He didn’t need check-ins.But as is so often the case, when the sport became a distraction rather than a fixation, his performances surged. He was Central Stag’s Player of the Season in 2024-25; he was the leading wicket-taker in the Super Smash, which they won, and he was challenging at the top of the leaderboard in the Ford Trophy too.Tickner starred for Central Stags in the Super Smash final earlier this year•Getty ImagesAnd so the selectors did call. Tickner was with Sarah’s family when the moment arrived.”I didn’t actually say anything for ten minutes,” he says. “Because I didn’t really know what to say. They’d gone through everything with us. They’d been so amazing when Sarah got diagnosed and even flew over to England to help us out. It was sort of for them, really.”There will be another bonus if Tickner does take to the field. His last match for the Black Caps was April 2023, and his and Sarah’s daughter, Florence, was born in August. Only two years old, she is too young to understand any of what’s happened, but old enough for one of her hairbands to be around Tickner’s wrist.”My little one’s never seen me play for New Zealand,” Tickner says. “So it’s a real special time for our family.”His return to the Kiwi squad has been a popular one. Domestic cricketers in New Zealand, as Tickner is, are only contracted for eight months of the year. This means that, for the four months of the off-season, they have to either source overseas deals, or find alternative means of employment. Tickner does both.Related

• Blair Tickner added to New Zealand ODI squad

• 135/223 – Harry Brook rewrites record books with one-man show

• Switch Hit: Rainy, phoney, baloney

• England seek clarity for seam attack as ODI reboot gathers pace

• Brook brilliance can't mask issues for brittle England batting

Derbyshire welcomed him back for the 2025 season in what was an emotional return: “I owe a lot to them for their help through a hard time.” He also runs a cafe in Hawke’s Bay called the 13th Stag and has started to turn his hand to coaching through a NZ company called Coach Squad as well.’That’s just normal for us New Zealanders,” he explains.It is symptomatic of how, when the goalposts of life change, so too does your perception of fortune. For a man who has every reason to consider himself unlucky – “I feel like it follows our family around really” – Tickner is now in a position to appreciate everything he has.”I think cricketers probably don’t understand how lucky they are,” he says. “Last season that’s all I wanted to do. Just make sure I was playing the game that I love, and enjoy everything.”The last time I was here, it was a lot of pressure and I was playing for my place a lot, so I probably didn’t enjoy it as much as I would have liked.”This time, though, I didn’t expect it. I might get picked for this series and never again. So there’ll always be a smile on my face.”And whether he gets on the pitch or not, he’ll have the full support of his wife and child in the stands, and his father back home. And that’s all that matters.

Sri Lanka fought hard through cameos from Samarawickrama, Theekshana and then Hasaranga but had a tall ask and fell six runs short

Madushka Balasuriya11-Nov-2025

Pakistan withstood a valiant all-round display from Wanindu Hasaranga to come away with a six-run victory in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, and with it take a 1-0 lead in the three match series.Chasing 300 to win, a target that would have constituted the second-highest successful chase in Rawalpindi, Sri Lanka were set up well courtesy an 80-run opening stand, but then lost wickets in clusters through the middle overs to fall behind the required rate. A few stands through the middle overs still provided Sri Lanka the control they might have been looking for but none of their batters were able to capitalise on their starts.It meant Hasaranga was left batting with the tail during a 52-ball 59 to take the chase into the final overs, but with 21 needed from 10 he too would fall. Even then, two boundaries from Maheesh Theekshana in the final over gave Sri Lanka hope of an unlikely heist, but Hussain Talat held his nerve with the ball.This though was a hard-fought win set up by Salman Agha’s second ODI century, which helped Pakistan recover from a sluggish start to pose a competitive target. It was then brought home by what was an eventually stellar display from Pakistan’s bowlers, but not one without some significant blemishes – the innings saw 26 wides and two dropped catches.Igniting the game was fiery spell from Haris Rauf, who ended with figures of 4 for 61. Rauf’s intervention came at a point when Sri Lanka were coasting along with Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara, on ODI debut, in the midst of an 85-run opening stand off just 70 deliveries.Babar Azam and Haris Rauf celebrate a wicket•AFP/Getty Images

During that period, Sri Lanka were rollicking along – though much of that early brisk scoring was of Pakistan’s own doing. Of the 26 wides across the Sri Lankan innings, roughly 70% came inside the opening powerplay. That provided Sri Lanka’s chase the impetus it needed, shortly after which both Nissanka and Mishara also began to find their range.At that point it was hard to look past a comfortable Sri Lankan chase, but all that changed when Mishara spliced an attempted flat-batted slap straight to mid-off of Rauf. This triggered the first of two mini-collapses in the innings, as Kusal Mendis chopped on the very next delivery, before Nissanka edged behind in Haris’ next over. From 85 for 0, Sri Lanka had stumbled to 90 for 3.But even at that point, with Sri Lanka playing seven specialist batters, the chase seemed well in hand. A view reinforced by the 57-run stand between Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama that followed.Coming off 80 deliveries, it wasn’t a particularly rapid stand, but it helped Sri Lanka regain some of the control that had been lost by the sudden burst of wickets. It was also a partnership which had minimal risk-taking, and as such it took a moment of utter brilliance to bring it to an end.After Sadeera had edged one through a vacant slip region and swung and missed at another, Shaheen Shah Afridi swiftly installed Babar Azam at slip. And Babar was immediately in action as he sprung to his right and plucked an edge off Sadeera the very next delivery. It was a moment of outrageous skill that brought those in attendance at an increasingly raucous Rawalpindi stadium to their feet.That though was the appetiser for what was to follow. The arrival of Janith Liyanage instilled some urgency to Sri Lanka’s proceedings, as he and Asalanka put on a stand of 36 off 31 balls. While Asalanka, who had earlier in the day seemed to have incurred what looked to be a hamstring niggle, was struggling for fluency, Liyanage was rotating strike with ease.During this period it seemed like Sri Lanka had at last found the blueprint for victory: rotate strike, take the game deep, don’t panic. Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, that final memo seemed to have passed them by.Asalanka’s brain fade was the catalyst for the next mini collapse, as he charged out to Mohammed Nawaz, only to be left all at sea as Mohammed Rizwan whipped off the bails. Liyanage fell shortly after, as Naseem redeemed himself for his earlier profligacy by seaming one back in to knock back off stump. Kamindu Mendis then ended up chopping on an attempted pull after one had kept low from the excellent Faheem Ashraf.Just like that Sri Lanka were 210 for 7, with Hasaranga the only recognised batter at the crease. Hasaranga’s last ODI fifty had come back in November 2022, but here he batted with clear purpose. Intent on taking the came deep, he was unafraid to give strike to Dushmantha Chameera and then Maheesh Theekshana, as he mixed in the odd boundary to keep the required rate from going beyond a relatively manageable 10 an over.But with boundaries the need of the hour, heading into the penultimate over, Hasaranga could only muscle a just-below-waist-high full toss to Babar at long-on – a catch not as spectacular as his first, but arguably more important. From then on, Pakistan could breathe a little easier, while Sri Lanka were left to ponder what might have been.After Pakistan were asked to bat first, they lost early wickets but a century from Agha and a maiden ODI fifty from Talat helped revive their flagging innings to 299 for 5. The pair came together at 95 for 4 in the 24th over, but by the time their 138-run partnership came to an end, they had taken Pakistan to 233 for 5 in the 44th over.Wanindu Hasaranga sparkled with both ball and bat•AFP/Getty Images

Agha then turned on the afterburners alongside Nawaz, as Pakistan managed 104 runs off the last 10 overs to set Sri Lanka 300. Agha brought up his second ODI ton with a gentle dab behind point for a single off his 83rd delivery, but the ball prior to that highlighted the confidence with which he was batting – sweeping an attempted Chameera yorker for four.Prior to Agha and Talat’s stand, however, Sri Lanka had choked the Pakistan innings for large parts. Miserly opening spells from Asitha Fernando and Chameera ensured just 28 runs were scored inside the opening powerplay, and while just one wicket fell during that period the introduction of Hasaranga saw wickets fall at a canter. He ended up with figures of 3 for 54, with Asitha and Theekshana the only other wicket-takers for Sri Lanka.Hasaranga might have had another to close out the over after he had Talat rapped on the knee-roll only for the umpire to turn down the appeal. Ball-tracking showed it would have crashed into leg stump, but Sri Lanka had burnt both their reviews early on – both for lbw appeals where the ball pitched outside leg.That proved to be a sliding doors moment of sorts as Pakistan’s fortunes gradually began to shift, and it was also some much-needed luck for Talat, in particular, whose place in the side had come under increasing scrutiny of late – his six innings in ODIs leading up to this game had seen him manage 107 runs with a high score of 41.But with Pakistan in need of resuscitation, he and Agha set about rebuilding. The plan was clear at this point: keep wickets intact for the final overs and then launch. And in this instance, the execution was perfect. Sri Lanka, who might have regretted their decision to not go with a genuine fifth bowling option, were left requiring Janith Liyanage to bowl eight overs of his part-time seam after Charith Asalanka was taken for 18 in his two solitary overs.Liyanage, to his credit, gave away 48 runs, though with Sri Lanka in the ascendancy at the halfway point of the innings, their need to get through their fifth bowler quota allowed Talat and Agha to settle in nicely.And while Talat was unable to see the innings to its close, Agha ensured he remained unbeaten to get his side to a competitive total – one that proved just about enough in the end.

Dasun Shanaka has been named Sri Lanka’s vice-captain for the upcoming T20I tri-series that will also involve Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Fast bowler Eshan Malinga, meanwhile, is in line to make his debut in the same series while also being included in the ODI squad for the three matches against Pakistan before the tri-series begins.Uncapped middle-order batter Pavan Rathnayake, 23, is named in the ODI squad. This is reward for longer-term domestic performance rather than recent form, though he did hit a List A hundred at the end of July.Dilshan Madushanka has been ruled out of the ODI series as he hasn’t yet recovered from a knee injury, and was replaced by Malinga, whereas Matheesha Pathirana isn’t a part of the T20I squad as he is recovering from an upper respiratory tract infection. Pathirana was replaced by Asitha Fernando.Top-order batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who last played a T20I at the start of the year, was back in the squad for the shortest format, having missed two bilateral series and the Asia Cup since then. His recall is partly down to some explosive batting in the recent SLC T20 tournament, in which he struck at 163 across four innings. Sri Lanka have generally struggled for firepower in the middle order.The exclusion of Nuwanidu Fernando, meanwhile, is despite him having top-scored in that SLC T20 tournament. His runs came at a strike rate of 124, however.Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage didn’t find a spot in either of the 16-member squads, but he will lead Sri Lanka A in the Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup in Doha later this month, with Nuwanidu also named in that squad.Sri Lanka’s ODIs against Pakistan are all scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi, on November 11, 13 and 15. Those will be followed by the tri-series from November 17 in Rawalpindi and Lahore, with the final slated for November 29.

Sri Lanka squads

ODIs: Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranaga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Eshan MalingaT20I tri-series: Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka (vice-capt), Kamindu Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranaga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga

Leeds United’s work during the summer transfer window is naturally going to be called into question with the team currently sat in the relegation zone in the Premier League at the start of December.

Whilst two of their signings, Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, scored in their loss to Manchester City, the summer arrivals have not done enough to keep the side out of the bottom three.

For example, James Justin was brought in as an experienced Premier League defender and was beaten with ease inside the opening minute for Phil Foden’s first goal on Saturday.

Ranking Leeds United's summer signings

Unfortunately, too many of the club’s summer signings have made similar mistakes without providing much quality, at one end of the pitch or the other, to make up for it.

Leeds paid £13.9m to sign goalkeeper Lucas Perri from Lyon to replace Illan Meslier, but he has let in 0.92 more goals than expected and saved just 54% of the shots against him in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore.

Whilst the Brazilian shot-stopper has been one of their worst additions, Sean Longstaff has provided consistency in midfield since his move from Newcastle, leading the team in ‘big chances’ created (six) and key passes per game (1.7).

1

Sean Longstaff

2

Noah Okafor

3

Gabriel Gudmundsson

4

Anton Stach

5

Lukas Nmecha

6

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

7

Lucas Perri

8

James Justin

9

Jaka Bijol

10

Sebastiaan Bornauw

As you can see in the table above, Noah Okafor and Gabriel Gudmundsson rank just below the Englishman with the exciting connection that they have forged together on the left flank.

At the other end of the ranking, though, Jaka Bijol has to be down there because he was dropped for the last two games after his first three starts for the club in the Premier League.

It is, unfortunately, Sebastiaan Bornauw who currently ranks at the bottom of the pile, though, because he looks to be their biggest waste of a signing since Jean-Kevin Augustin.

Why Leeds need to move on from Sebastiaan Bornauw already

The Belgian defender seemed to be a signing that Daniel Farke had a big say in, because he came from Germany, Wolfsburg, and was a transfer target for the manager during his time at Norwich in the summer of 2021.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

This meant that it felt like a long time coming for Bornauw and Farke to finally work together, yet it has not played out that way in the first few months of the season, as the defender has not played a single minute in the league.

Every Leeds fan will be familiar with the story of Augustin’s time at Elland Road, as the club had to pay £24.5m for the player after opting not to go through with an obligation to sign him permanently because he only played 48 league minutes during his time on loan in the 2019/20 campaign.

Man City

Not in squad

Aston Villa

Not in squad

Nottingham Forest

Not in squad

Brighton

Not in squad

West Ham

Not in squad

Burnley

0

Spurs

0

Bournemouth

Not in squad

Wolves

Not in squad

Fulham

Not in squad

Newcastle

0

Arsenal

0

Everton

0

As you can see in the table above, 48 minutes of league football looks favourable in comparison to how Bornauw’s season in the Premier League has gone.

The former Belgium international is out with an injury at the moment, but the Whites boss has left him as an unused substitute in the five top-flight games that he has been available for, despite having wanted to sign the star since 2021.

Bornauw’s only minutes in all competitions came in a loss to Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday on penalties in the League Cup back in August, per Sofascore, with the likes of Bijol, Joe Rodon, and Pascal Struijk all ahead of him in the pecking order at centre-back in the league.

At the age of 26, the Belgian defender should be playing regular football and be a first-choice at a club. Instead, he looks set to continue watching on from the bench at Leeds unless something drastically changes in the coming weeks.

Dan James' dream replacement hasn't played for Leeds since October 2024

Leeds star James has struggled for his best form this season

1 ByJoe Nuttall Dec 1, 2025

With this in mind, it may be best for both parties to find a solution in the January transfer window, as the transfer does not seem to have worked out and it has been a bit of a waste of time for the club and the player, as was also the case with Augustin.

Yves Bissouma is facing fresh disciplinary action from Tottenham after footage emerged of the midfielder inhaling laughing gas for the second time in just over a year, reigniting concerns over his conduct and future at the club. Spurs have launched a new investigation into the 29-year-old, who was previously suspended for the same offence and has yet to feature this season under Thomas Frank.

Tottenham launch investigation after Bissouma's laughing gas incident

Tottenham have launched an internal investigation after Bissouma was filmed inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon during the early hours of November 3, with the footage reportedly recorded at a party in London and reported by . The video, which he is said to have sent to a woman invited to join him, has raised immediate disciplinary concerns, given his previous suspension for the same behaviour. Spurs confirmed that the matter is being handled internally after the footage was published, intensifying scrutiny on a player who is already out of favour this season.

The incident is particularly serious because possession of nitrous oxide for recreational use has been illegal in the UK since 2023, carrying potential criminal penalties. With Bissouma having already apologised for a similar offence last year and having served a club suspension as a result, this second episode has sparked renewed questions over his professionalism at a time when he has not played a single minute this campaign.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBissouma's turbulent period at Tottenham

This latest controversy adds to a turbulent period for Bissouma, whose Tottenham future has been uncertain since he was dropped from the squad for persistent lateness at the start of the season. Thomas Frank has left the Mali international out of both his Premier League plans and Spurs’ Champions League squad, noting at one point that there was still a way back but emphasising standards that must be met. The landscape has worsened for the midfielder following an ankle injury sustained on international duty, keeping him sidelined during a period when he needed to rebuild trust.

Off the pitch, Bissouma has endured further turmoil with revelations in November that he had been the victim of a major fraud, losing £800,000 from a Coutts bank account. Although the club maintain an option to extend his contract beyond June, his position is fragile, with Spurs considering triggering the clause primarily to protect his transfer value ahead of a possible January sale. The latest footage contributes to a pattern of off-field issues that could accelerate an exit, especially with earlier interest from Turkish clubs failing to materialise in the summer.

Bissouma suspended last year for the same offence

Bissouma was previously suspended in August 2024 after posting clips of himself appearing to inhale laughing gas, prompting Ange Postecoglou to sanction him for what the manager described as a failure to uphold professional standards. The midfielder issued an apology at the time, acknowledging a “severe lack of judgment” and stressing the importance of his responsibilities as both a footballer and a role model. After serving his punishment, he worked his way back into the side, making 44 appearances last season and playing the full 90 minutes in Tottenham’s Europa League final win over Manchester United.

Despite that recovery, his situation deteriorated sharply early in the current campaign, with Frank dropping him from matchday squads due to tardiness. The club’s decision to omit him from its Champions League squad reflected a further slide in standing, compounded by an ankle injury suffered while representing Mali in World Cup qualifying. With his contract approaching its final months and the club assessing long-term options, the recurrence of last year’s misconduct has become an additional complicating factor.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images SportTottenham launch internal investigation into Bissouma

Tottenham’s internal investigation will dictate the scale of any new disciplinary action, with another suspension possible given the seriousness of the repeat offence. Bissouma must wait to recover from injury while also attempting to repair his standing with Frank if he is to regain consideration for first-team football. Whether Spurs choose to sell him in January, activate the one-year extension or give him a final chance will depend heavily on the outcome of the probe and the midfielder’s response in the weeks ahead.

Jahanara Alam, who has not played international cricket since December 2024, claimed that the Bangladesh women’s captain “beats up” her team-mates

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Nov-2025The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has said it “strongly refutes” allegations of physical abuse made by fast bowler Jahanara Alam against the current national women’s team captain Nigar Sultana.Alam, who has not played international cricket since December 2024, claimed that Sultana “beat up” her team-mates in an interview with Bangladesh newspaper .”The BCB categorically and strongly refutes these allegations, which are baseless, fabricated and devoid of any truth,” the board said in a statement. “The Board finds it unfortunate that such derogatory and scandalous claims have been made at a time when the Bangladesh Women’s Team is showing commendable progress and unity on the international stage.”The Board believes that the timing and nature of these comments are deliberate, ill-intentioned and seemingly aimed at undermining the spirit and confidence of a team that continues to represent the country with pride. It is deeply disappointing that an individual who currently has no involvement or relevance in the plans of Bangladesh cricket has chosen to make such misleading statements in public.””The BCB wishes to make it clear that it has complete trust and confidence in the Women’s National Team’s leadership, players and management. The Board has found no evidence to support any of the claims made and stands firmly behind the team and its personnel.”Bangladesh had finished seventh out of eight teams in the recent Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Their only victory came against Pakistan but they ran England, South Africa and Sri Lanka close.

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!