Shadman hits fifty, WI drop three catches on truncated day

Kemar Roach struck early blows but West Indies’ fielders let their bowlers down

Mohammad Isam30-Nov-2024

Shadman Islam scored a fifty on the opening day•Athelstan Bellamy

Kemar Roach rocked Bangladesh early but poor catching denied West Indies a few more wickets on the truncated first day of the Kingston Test. Bangladesh finished on 69 for 2 with Shadman Islam and Shahadat Hossain unbeaten on 50 and 12 respectively.The match began at 3pm local time, five hours after the scheduled start, due to the wet outfield at Sabina Park. The delayed start prompted Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz to bat on a sunny day where only 30 overs were possible. The visitors, however, lost two wickets in the first half an hour.Mahmudul Hasan Joy was the first batter dismissed, caught behind for 2, with wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva taking a diving catch. Roach then removed Mominul Haque with a delivery that swung into the left-hander from around the wicket, before leaving and taking the edge. It was Mominul’s fourth duck in the West Indies and Roach’s 50th wicket against Bangladesh.Bangladesh’s batters looked ripe for the picking but the West Indian fielders let their quicks down. Alick Athanaze dropped Shadman on 15 when he drove in front of first slip but couldn’t hold on. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite also dropped Shadman on 35 at cover.Then came the comical drop when Jayden Seales drew Shahadat’s edge with the batter on 8. The ball burst out of Athanaze’s grip and went towards Kavem Hodge at first slip, who spilled the rebound, which then fell out of Athanaze’s reach as he tried to collect to the ball.The slow outfield after the rain hampered the run scoring as well. Shadman struck three fours and a six in his 100-ball stay. Shahadat edged one four. Many of their forceful shots pulled up short of the boundary. Bangladesh, however, will take heart from the way they bated after a poor start.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge joins Surrey for new professional era

Danni Wyatt-Hodge will play for Surrey in the new Women’s Tier 1 county competition next season, after transferring her allegiance from Hampshire-based Southern Vipers.Wyatt-Hodge, 33, is currently in action for Hobart Hurricanes in the Women’s Big Bash League, having recently featured in England’s T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE.Last summer, she represented Southern Vipers in the Charlotte Edwards Cup and Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy, as well as Southern Brave, who are also based in Southampton.However, she has chosen to make the move to Surrey for the 2025 season, where she will link up with England top-order team-mates Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey.”I am both excited and honoured to be joining Surrey,” Wyatt-Hodge said. “The club has an incredible history with a culture of success, which I want to contribute to.”I love playing at the Kia Oval and can’t wait to entertain the Surrey supporters. The South East Stars’ positive brand of cricket was an important factor in me joining the club and I’m looking forward to getting started!”Wyatt-Hodge has played 278 England matches since her debut in 2010, at the age of 19, scoring over 5,000 runs across the three formats. She’s England’s all-time leading run-scorer in women’s T20Is with 2,979 runs from 164 matches, at a strike-rate of 127.85.She made her county debut for Staffordshire at the age of 14, but has been based at the Utilita Bowl since 2020. She is also due to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in this year’s WPL, after making the move from UP Warriorz.”We are incredibly excited that Danni Wyatt-Hodge has agreed to commit to Surrey for the 2025 season,” Emma Calvert, Surrey’s Director of Women’s Cricket, said. “Danni’s career speaks for itself, and we believe she will add strength and depth on the field as well as adding to the team off the field.”After chatting to Danni it was clear to see that she will be an incredible fit for our new team. They style of cricket she plays is exactly how we want to go about our business, and I am excited to see what she achieves wearing the Three Feathers.”

Crystal Palace now planning to accelerate move for "super" £20m midfielder

The show must go on at Crystal Palace even as they await their European verdict, and that show could yet feature a fresh character as the Eagles reportedly step up their chase to sign a £20m midfielder.

CAS confirm Crystal Palace appeal

As expected, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has now confirmed the news that Crystal Palace have appealed UEFA’s decision to demote them to the Europa Conference League for violating multi-club ownership regulations.

A decision is now expected by August 11, at which point Crystal Palace will be hoping for a different outcome. Whether that is a realistic possibility remains to be seen, however. Club chairman Steve Parish, as well as many others involved at Selhurst Park, has already shared his disappointment at the situation and he’ll be desperate to see his side take the spot they earned by winning the FA Cup last season.

Alas, as ever, the world keeps on spinning and Palace must still keep one eye on the transfer window. On that front, the South London side have already welcomed left-back Borna Sosa and goalkeeper Walter Benitez, but their best signing could yet be on the horizon.

Crystal Palace confident they'll win Hackney race

As reported by Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Crystal Palace are now set to accelerate their move to sign Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough this summer. The Championship side are reportedly keen to get any business done early so they can focus on incomings of their own, and have set a £20m price tag for their impressive midfielder.

Hayden Hackney for England U21s.

Despite interest from Everton, Palace are confident that they’re in position to win the race for Hackney’s signature even as the likes of Bayer Leverkusen and Porto set their sights on the England U21 international.

The £20m star earned plenty of praise last season, including from former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, who told reporters: “We were playing against two very good central midfielders. I’ve watched Hayden Hackney from afar, seeing his career flourish.

“There’s no better teacher for him than Michael, and he’ll enjoy the way Middlesbrough play. He’s a super player, and Morris is a good player in there too.”

AC Milan now moving to sign £50k-a-week Crystal Palace star open on exit

His departure would be a major blow.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 18, 2025

A player who is Premier League-ready, Crystal Palace could at least welcome some good news and an impressive signing if they manage to secure Hackney’s signature ahead of fierce competition this summer.

فيديو | رغم إصابة أرنولد وطرد كارفاخال.. مبابي ينقذ ريال مدريد ويقوده لتخطي مارسيليا بثنائية في دوري أبطال أوروبا

بدأ فريق ريال مدريد، بقيادة المدرب تشابي ألونسو، مشواره في الموسم الجديد من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا مساء يوم الثلاثاء بمباراته ضد خصمه فريق مارسيليا.

واستضاف ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة فريقي ريال مدريد ومارسيليا، في الجولة الأولى من مرحلة الدوري، حيث حقق الملكي فوزًا بهدفين لهدف. ملخص مباراة ريال مدريد ومارسيليا في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وعانى ريال مدريد من ضربة مبكرة بعدما اضطر المدرب تشابي ألونسو إلى استبدال الظهير ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد في الدقيقة الرابعة من عمر الشوط الأول، بعدما عانى من إصابة عضلية، حيث شارك مكانه داني كارفاخال.

وشهدت الدقيقة 22 هدف أول لصالح مارسيليا عن طريق تيموثي ويا، بعد خطأ من أردا جولر لينجح ماسون جرينوود في اقتطاع الكرة وتصل إلى تيموثي الذي انطلق وسددها في الشباك.

وفي الدقيقة 26، تمكن النجم كيليان مبابي من تسجيل هدف التعادل لصالح ريال مدريد من ضربة جزاء، تحصل عليها أصحاب الأرض بعد تدخل ضد رودريجو داخل المنطقة.

واستمرت المباراة سجالًا بين الفريقين، قبل أن يضطر ريال مدريد إلى اللعب بـ10 لاعبين منذ الدقيقة 72 نتيجة طرد داني كارفاخال بسبب اعتدائه على حارس مارسيليا.

ورغم النقص العددي، تحصل ريال مدريد على ضربة جزاء جديدة في الدقيقة 81 بعد لمسة يد ضد لاعب مارسيليا عقب اصطدام كرة فينيسيوس جونيور به، ونفذها كيليان مبابي بنجاح ليحولها إلى هدف ثاني.

بتلك النتيجة، حصل فريق ريال مدريد على أول 3 نقاط في مشواره في مرحلة الدوري من دوري أبطال أوروبا لذلك الموسم.

تابعنا معكم أحداث مباراة ريال مدريد ومارسيليا لحظة بلحظة…

الشوط الأول

1′ الكرة بين أقدم لاعبي مارسيليا بعد إطلاق صافرة البداية.

1′ رمية تماس لصالح مارسيليا بعد خروج الكرة من أردا جولر.

2′ فرصة خطيرة لصالح ريل مدريد بعد تمريرة من ألفارو كاريراس، وصلت إلى منطقة الجزاء حيث حاول الدفاع تشتيها، ولكن الكرة وصلت إلى مبابي الذي حاول تنفيذ مقصية ولكن فرصته ذهبت بجوار القائم.

4′ سقوط ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد على أرضية الملعب للإصابة، دون تدخل من أحد، حيث ظهر وهو يمسك العضلة الخلفية متألمًا وتدخل الطاقم الطبي.

5′ تبديل اضطراري بخروج أرنولد ونزول كارفاخال.  إصابة ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد في مباراة ريال مدريد ومارسيليا

6′ ماستانتونو كاد أن يسجل هدف أول لصالح ريال مدريد بعد تسديدته للكرة واصطدامه بالحارس من الناحية اليمنى، والقائم يمنع الهدف.

7′ رودريجو يسدد كرة في محاولة لتهديد مرمى مارسيليا ولكن الحارس يمسكها بسهولة. 

9′ رودريجو يسدد كرة من جديد تجاه مرمى مارسيليا إلا إنها لم تكن قوية، ليمسكها الحارس.

10′ مبابي يهدر فرصة هدف أول لصلح ريال مدريد بعدما سدد كرة خطيرة، ولكن حارس مارسيليا تصدى لها لتتحول إلى ركنية.

12′ استمرار التعادل السلبي بين الفريقين حتى الآن. 

13′ ماستانتونو يصوب كرة بعيدة على مرمى مارسيليا، لتتحول إلى ضربة مرمى.

14′ فرصة خطيرة لصالح مارسيليا بعد تسديدة من تيموثي ويا جاءت أعلى من المرمى، لتمر بسلام على شباك تيبو كورتوا.

15′ تسديدة سهلة من أردا جولر في يد حارس مارسيليا. 

16′ خطأ ضد داني كارفاخال.

18′ خطأ لصالح ريال مدريد بعد تدخل ضد أردا جولر.

19′ كيليان مبابي يطالب بخطأ لصالحه داخل منطقة الجزاء، ولكن الحكم يرفض احتساب أي شئ.

20′ حارس مارسيليا يتصدى لتسديدة من مبابي.

22′ هددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددف أول لصالح مارسيليا عن طريق تيموثي ويا، بعد خطأ من أردا جولر لينجح ماسون جرينوود في اقتطاع الكرة وتصل إلى تيموثي الذي انطلق وسددها في الشباك. هدف مارسيليا الأول أمام ريال مدريد في دوري أبطال أوروبا

25′ مارسيليا كاد أن يسجل هدف ثاني في شباك ريال مدريد لولا تصدي من كورتوا. 

26′ هددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددد التعادل، ضربة جزاء لصالح ريال مدريد بعد التدخل ضد رودريجو ويحولها كيليان مبابي إلى هدف التعادل. هدف كيليان مبابي في مباراة ريال مدريد ومارسيليا

30′ رودريجو يسدد كرة لتسجيل الهدف الثاني ولكنها تمر بجوار المرمى.

31′ مطالبات من مارسيليا باحتساب ضربة جزاء بداعِ لمسة يد ولكن الحكم يرفض احتساب أي شئ. 

32′ حارس مارسيليا يتألق ويتصدى لفرصة من لاعب ريال مدريد، لتتحول إلى ركنية.

35′ محاولات متبادلة من الفريقين لتسجيل الهدف الثاني قبل نهاية الشوط. 

39′ أوباميانج يهدر فرصة هدف رائع بعدما سدد كرة تجاه مرمى كورتوا ولكنها هزت الشباك الخارجية. 

40′ 5 دقائق تفصلنا عن نهاية الشوط الأول من عمر المباراة، والنتيجة لا زالت تعادلًا إيجابيًا.

41′ كيليان مبابي يسدد كرة قوية ولكن حارس مارسيليا يتصدى. 

45′ الحكم يحتسب 3 دقائق كوقت بدلًا من الضائع. 

45+1 أردا جولر يسدد كرة من خارج المنطقة ولكنها خارج الملعب. 

45+3′ ماستانتونو يهدر فرصة هدف لا يعوض لصالح ريال مدريد بعد تمريرة من مبابي، وصلت إلى الأرجنتيني الذي سددها بقوة ولكن حارس مارسيليا تصدى ببراعة.

نهاية الشوط الأول (1/1) 

الشوط الثاني 

46′ بطاقة صفراء أولى من نصيب لاعب مارسيليا بافارد بعد تدخله ضد ألفارو كاريراس. 

48′ إيدير ميليتاو كاد أن يصنع هدفًا لصالح ريال مدريد حيث حاول تمرير كرة ناحية مبابي ولكن الدفاع شتتها وأبعدها إلى ركنية.

50′ مبابي كاد أن يسجل هدفًا ولكن الحارس يبعد الكرة ويتحول إلى ركلة ركنية، وسط إصرار من الفرنسي لتسجيل الثاني له ولكتيبة تشابي ألونسو. 

53′ ماستانتونو يسدد كرة أرضية ضعيفة تصل سهلة إلى حارس مارسيليا. 

54′ مبابي يسقط على أرض الملعب داخل المنطقة ويطالب بضربة جزاء، ولكن دون احتساب شئ من جانب الحكم.

55′ الطاقم الطبي يعالج كيليان مبابي على أرض الملعب. 

56′ هجمة خطيرة لصالح مارسيليا بعد تمريرة من تيموثي ويا إلى أوباميانج حيث سدد الأخير الكرة ولكن كورتوا تألق وتصدى ببراعة. 

62′ تبديلان لصالح ريال مدريد بخروج ماستانتونو ورودريجو، ونزول كل من فينيسيوس جونيور وإبراهيم دياز.

66′ تبديلان في صفوف مارسيليا.

67′ فينيسيوس جونيور يتحصل على ركلة ركنية بعد مشاركته كبديل بدقائق قليلة.

68′ أردا جولر ينفذ ركلة ركنية، تصل الكرة إلى منطقة الجزاء، وكاد ريال مدريد أن يسجل هدف التقدم لولا تشتيت الدفاع، لتتحول إلى ركنية جديدة.

69′ مشادة بين لاعبي الفريقين بعد تدخل من داني كارفاخال ضد حارس مارسيليا، وسقوط الأخير على أرض الملعب. 

70′ تقنية الفيديو تراجع الموقف لوجود احتمالية طرد كارفاخال على تصرفه السئ. 

72′ طرد كارفاخال وريال مدريد يلعب منقوصًا بـ10 لاعبين فقط.  طرد كارفاخال في مباراة ريال مدريد ومارسيليا

73′ دخول راؤول أسينسيو وخروج أردا جولر في تبديل جديد لصالح ريال مدريد. 

75′ بطاقة صفراء لصالح لاعب مارسيليا ميدينا بعد تدخله ضد إبراهيم دياز. 

76′ فينيسيوس جونيور يحاول اقتحام منطقة جزاء مارسيليا قبل أن تصل كرته بسهولة إلى الحارس.

77′ تبديلان جديدان في صفوف مارسيليا، خروج تيموثي ويا وإيمرسون.

79′ فينيسيوس جونيور يسدد كرة خطيرة ناحية مرمى مارسيليا ولكن حارس الخصم يتصدى ببراعة.

80′ ضربة جزاء لصالح ريال مدريد بعد لمسة يد ضد لاعب مارسيليا بعد اصطدام كرة فينيسيوس.

81′ هددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددف كيليان مبابي يسجل الثاني من ضربة جزاء.  هدف مبابي الثاني في مباراة ريال مدريد ومارسيليا

85′ إبراهيم دياز يهدد مرمى مارسيليا بكرة خطيرة ولكن الحارس يواصل تألقه. 

86′ تسديدة خطيرة من لاعب مارسيليا وتيبو كورتوا يتصدى ببراعة. 

90′ احتساب 7 دقائق كوقت بدلَا من الضائع للشوط الثاني. 

90+3′ ضغط مستمر من مارسيليا لتسجيل هدف التعادل قبل نهاية المباراة. 

نهاية الشوط الثاني والمباراة بفوز ريال مدريد على مارسيليا بهدفين لهدف. 

Talks held: Arsenal make approach to sign £84m Martinelli replacement

Arsenal have now held talks over a deal for an “unbelievable” forward, amid doubts over Gabriel Martinelli’s future, according to a report.

Gunners could now be ready to sell Martinelli

It has been revealed that Mikel Arteta may now be ready to sell Martinelli this summer, as the manager looks to reshuffle his squad, and AC Milan have emerged as potential suitors, with Rafael Leao’s future at the San Siro still very much up in the air.

Arsenal's GabrielMartinellicelebrates scoring their second goal

Should the Gunners decide to cash in on the Brazilian, they would be looking to receive a fee of at least £50m, although he is currently planning to fight for his place in the starting XI, and has no plans of pushing for a move elsewhere.

It would certainly seem harsh to sell the 23-year-old, considering he has been a regular source of goals and assists over the past four seasons, but Arteta has shown he is willing to make big decisions in the past, most notably replacing Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya.

Season

PL appearances

Goals

Assists

2021-22

29

6

6

2022-23

36

15

6

2023-24

35

6

4

2024-25

33

8

4

According to a report from Football Transfers, Arsenal have now held talks over a deal to sign West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus, who could seemingly be brought in as a replacement for Martinelli, as he is said to be capable of playing on both flanks.

However, the two London clubs may be some way apart in their valuation of Kudus, as he has a €100m (£84m) release clause in his West Ham contract, while the Gunners are hesitant to stump up more than €55m-€60m (£46m – £51m).

The Ghanaian is keen to leave the Hammers this summer, as he intends to play in Europe next season, meaning a move to the Emirates Stadium could be of great appeal, although Chelsea and Newcastle United are also in the race for his signature.

"Unbelievable" Kudus could excel at the Emirates

The 2024-25 campaign was not the 24-year-old’s best, picking up just five goals and three assists in the Premier League, but he was part of a West Ham side that underperformed as a whole, and the winger’s previous exploits indicate he could be a success at Arsenal.

Indeed, the former Ajax man enjoyed a very impressive debut campaign in England, amassing 14 goals and nine assists in all competitions, during which time he was lauded as “unbelievable” by teammate Michail Antonio.

Antonio was left particularly blown away by the winger’s dribbling ability, which was also on display regularly last season, despite not setting up or scoring as many goals as in previous campaigns.

There are certainly signs that Kudus could kick on at the Emirates Stadium, but that said, he should not be brought in as a direct replacement for Martinelli, considering the Brazil international is still young, and it would be very harsh to sanction his departure this summer.

Newcastle contact agents of teenage star with market value of just £420,000

Newcastle United have made contact with the agents of a teenage talent in France who is also wanted by Liverpool, according to a new report.

Newcastle trying to address defensive issues ahead of the new season

After a season out of European football, the Magpies can now look forward to the 2025/26 campaign knowing they are back in the Champions League. Strengthening in the forward areas seems to be a high priority for Eddie Howe and co. this summer, but addressing their defence will also be on their list of jobs.

Newcastle now eye deal for "world-class" 28 y/o who Barcelona want to sign

There have been a new development.

1 ByHenry Jackson Jun 3, 2025

Jamaal Lascelles is out of contract at the end of this month and looks set to leave, while their remaining defensive options are all in their 30s, excluding the seemingly injury-stricken Sven Botman.

Fabian Schar and Dan Burn are both 33, and given the Magpies are going to be dealing with Champions League football now, Howe is going to want more fresh legs, as the games will come thick and fast next season.

Nottingham Forest'sOlaAinain action with Newcastle United's Dan Burn

Newcastle have already been linked with one defender in the past week, as they have joined Aston Villa in the race to sign Amir Murillo from Marseille. The Magpies hope the fact they are in Europe’s biggest competition and Villa are not will help them sign Murillo, who is said to be valued at around £21 million. Meanwhile, last month it was reported that Newcastle had made contact with AC Milan over a move to sign centre-back Malick Thaw.

Newcastle contact agents of teenage defender

The options for a new centre-back don’t stop there for the Magpies, as according to Moroccan outlet Le360 Sport, via Sport Witness, Newcastle have met with Stade Rennais defender Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal over a move to St James’ Park.

The report states that the Magpies and Liverpool are both interested in signing the 19-year-old defender this summer. That despite the fact that Aït Boudlal has yet to play a senior game for Stade Rennais and played just nine times for Amiens while on loan there for the last six months of the season.

The centre-back, who can also play left-back, has already met with Newcastle, but he has an offer on the table, and it’s not from the Magpies. Liverpool are said to have made a concrete offer to sign Aït Boudlal, but it is unclear how much that offer is. The 19-year-old’s options don’t stop in England either, as OGC Nice as well as two teams from La Liga are also keeping a close eye on his situation.

Apps

9

Starts

8

Assists

1

Big chances created

1

Interceptions per game

0.7

Tackles per game

1.6

Balls recovered per game

3.6

Clearances per game

7.9

Duels won per game (success)

4.4 (58%)

It’s unclear how much Stade Rennais would want for their defender, but according to Transfermarkt, Aït Boudlal is valued at around £420,000, which is a fee that both Newcastle and Liverpool would have no problem paying. Newcastle may not see Aït Boudlal as a player who will instantly become a regular in their team, but he is someone who could learn on the fringes, with the hope of becoming a top defender in the next couple of years as Howe’s current options decline.

Key Man Utd target now open to joining if Amorim makes him the star man

Manchester United are still alive in their quest to obtain Champions League football and could now have an opportunity to land one of Europe’s most talked about playmakers, per reports.

Manchester United look to boost summer budget

Despite a fairly dismal domestic campaign, the Red Devils could still wheel away with a place in the Champions League league phase next season should they claim the Europa League crown later this month.

After a storming victory over Athletic Club last Thursday, Manchester United have one foot in the final and will look to build on their three-goal advantage next week at Old Trafford.

Should they prevail, Ruben Amorim would then be tasked with a money-spinning winner-takes-all clash against either Tottenham Hotspur or Bodo/Glimt, with the former looking the more likely to progress to the showpiece occasion.

Financially, Manchester United could make around £85.8 million from winning the Europa League, factoring in subsequent Champions League qualification. Unsurprisingly, this could give INEOS a much-needed leg-up in the market, so Viktor Gyokeres and Matheus Cunha could join the Red Devils from Sporting and Wolverhampton Wanderers, respectively, if all goes to plan.

Manchester United’s remaining fixtures in all competitions

Brentford (A)

Premier League

Athletic Club (H)

Europa League semi-final second leg

West Ham United (H)

Premier League

Chelsea (A)

Premier League

Aston Villa (H)

Premier League

*Potential Europa League final appearance on 21/05/2025

Talks have been held over Manchester United signing Jonathan Tah on a free transfer once his contract at Bayer Leverkusen expires, though there is further interest in his services from Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Fundamentally, it remains to be seen how Amorim’s squad takes shape. Plenty of individuals could be moved on, but how you supplement their departures is what counts. Now, Manchester United have found out that they can sign one of the top playmakers in all of Europe’s top-five leagues if he is made the star man at Old Trafford.

Manchester United given demands by Lyon's Rayan Cherki

Per reports in Spain, Manchester United could see Rayan Cherki arrive from Lyon this summer if he is given a ‘leading role’ in their line-up moving forward under Amorim. The France Under-21 international would be open to a new challenge at the end of this season and it is said that negotiations could intensify over the next few months that may see him end up at Old Trafford.

Perfect for Cunha: Man Utd in advanced talks to sign "world-class" talent

Manchester United have wasted no time in targeting reinforcements, with a deal edging closer for one star.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 2, 2025

Earning adulation for his entertaining displays, Cherki has registered 12 goals and 19 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions this season for Lyon. Creating 68 chances on Ligue 1 duty, the 21-year-old has shot to prominence as one of Europe’s maverick inventive forces and now looks destined to take the next step in his career at one of the elite.

Now, Manchester United need to make sure they can give him assurances on first-team action, which may be the factor that helps any deal over the line.

Spurs are brewing a dream Maddison replacement in 17-year-old "cheat-code"

It was another miserable game for Tottenham Hotspur last night.

Ange Postecoglou’s side travelled to Stamford Bridge hoping to turn things around with what would have been an unlikely win, but instead of doing that, they practically handed Chelsea all three points.

It was an entirely lifeless performance from the North Londoners and one that could well seal the manager’s fate.

James Maddison for Tottenham

One of the worst displays came from James Maddison, who continues to frustrate in the middle of the park, which is something he might not be able to do for too much longer, as Hotspur Way is currently brewing the perfect replacement.

Maddison's frustrating Spurs career

When Tottenham completed the £40m signing of Maddison in the summer of 2023, there was plenty of understandable excitement from fans as he had just produced 19 goal involvements for a relegated Leicester City.

His initial form for the North Londoners justified this excitement as well as he produced eight goal involvements in his first ten league games for the club, but then he picked up an ankle injury against Chelsea, and when he returned in late January, the problems began.

Instead of being a game-changing midfielder, capable of controlling matches and tearing opposition defences to shreds, he became far more passive, lacklustre and simply ineffective, picking up just five goal involvements across his final 17 league appearances.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

This season has been just as frustrating, as while he has managed to score 11 goals and provide seven assists in just 39 games, he continues to put in incredibly inconsistent performances.

One week, he’s like the player we saw at the start of last season, and then in the next, he’s a total passenger.

James Maddison celebrates for Tottenham

We saw the latter in the game last night, as even though it was a derby between two teams and fanbases who do not like one another, he was practically anonymous in the middle of the park, coming off in the 81st minute with no goals or assists, having lost five out of five duels and with a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.11, which is nowhere good enough for the team’s creative hub.

It’s hard to see where Maddison goes from here, as nobody doubts his talent, but he is seemingly unable to produce consistently enough for a top side, and if he’s not careful, he could see himself replaced by one of the most exciting players currently in the academy.

The Spurs academy star who could replace Maddison

While Mikey Moore, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray have all made a mark on the first team this season, we could see an even more exciting youngster do the same next year: Lucá Williams-Barnett.

The 17-year-old phenom is undoubtedly the most promising prospect in the academy at the moment and could be battling Maddison for a place as the midfield’s chief creator sooner rather than later.

Now, that might sound like hyperbole, but we really don’t think it is, as in just 17 appearances this season, totalling 1375 minutes, the young maestro has already amassed a frankly absurd haul of 18 goals and nine assists.

Appearances

17

Starts

16

Minutes

1375′

Goals

18

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

1.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

50.92′

That means he is currently averaging 1.58 goal involvements every game, or one every 50.92 minutes, which is the sort of incredible output that could and really should see him introduced into the first team next season.

Moreover, the Luton-born gem is also incredibly versatile and has made appearances in left midfield, on both wings and even up top, leading to academy expert and pundit John Wenham to describe him as a “cheat-code.”

Ultimately, Maddison might still have one more season of being the team’s recognised ten purely down to the age of Williams-Barnett, but if he doesn’t massively improve soon, then the teenage sensation could take his spot in the coming years, and, based on his output in the academy, we wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen.

Walker repeat: Spurs in real danger of losing incredible £67m "monster"

The brilliant defender would be a massive loss for Spurs.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 2, 2025

Fisher embraces stand-by status as England's Ashes winter begins

England Lions tour offers opportunity to leap back into Test reckoning, three years after solitary cap

Vithushan Ehantharajah31-Oct-2025For the last few weeks, Matthew Fisher has been working out how to bowl to his good mate, Harry Brook. The pair came through the ranks at Yorkshire’s Academy a year apart. Their first meeting took place in the Headingley indoor nets, when a 14-year-old Brook played Fisher’s bouncers with annoying ease.”He played it fine, and he started pissing me off,” remembers Fisher. “So I started properly bumping him, and he still played that all right.” Fisher, 15 at the time, had already made his List A debut for Yorkshire.They will lock horns again in Lilac Hill, Perth, on November 13 when, as part of their Ashes preparations, Brook and the England Test squad will take on Fisher and the England Lions in a three-day game. With the Lions on hand to supplement the main squad, on a tour that will run alongside the first two Tests, Fisher – as the most experienced seamer in the group – knows a strong impression in that crucial warm-up match could reap immediate rewards.”In the exact setting four years ago, I bowled lovely and we saw what happened at the end of the winter,” Fisher says, referencing the Test cap he was awarded on the West Indies tour in 2022, after showcasing his skills against England for the Lions in the build-up to the 2021-22 Ashes. “So I know first-hand what bowling in those games can do.”You do have sleepless nights when you dream about bowling at my mate Brooky at the minute. It is good stuff because you’re trying to get out people who you want to impress, so it is quite good that I’m already thinking about how to get him out.”It is over three years since that one Test. Fisher took a solitary wicket – John Campbell, with his second ball – on an unforgiving Bridgetown surface. That appearance came as England sought to move on from James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Unsuccessfully, as it would turn out.England’s then-selectors had leant towards Fisher due to his high release point, as a six-foot-two seamer, and a knack of dismissing accomplished batters. It was a pre-cursor to the preferences that Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have since put front and centre of their recruitment. Unfortunately for Fisher, he spent the first Bazball summer of 2022 nursing a stress fracture of the back.Matt Fisher claimed 11 wickets for Surrey in this season’s Championship title decider against Nottinghamshire•Getty Images for Surrey CCC”I never felt like I (had the shirt) – playing one game, being on a tour, trying to follow Broad and Anderson,” admits Fisher. “I never felt like that was mine.”On the Lions trip before that trip, I felt like I was building into a Test bowler. But unfortunately you can’t control having a stress fracture sometimes. For anyone who’s had a stressie, it doesn’t just take the time for your back to heal, it’s the time to then trust your body again and think that every time you feel your back, it doesn’t have to be your worst-case scenario.”But in those two years, anything you feel you are worried, because it is such a long injury that you don’t want it to happen again. In terms of intensity and snapping through your action, you’re not quite there, which we all know – if you’re down on that – it makes you half the bowler. It has been nice to build that back up naturally. The lads in that [Ashes] squad are incredible bowlers, but it’s about being ready when an opportunity does come.”Though it’s only a Lions call-up, Fisher, at 27, sees this selection as a reward, and vindication for the moves he has made. He bulked up heading into 2023, and the following year ended what had been a life-long association with Yorkshire to sign for Surrey.Related

  • Matthew Fisher joins Surrey from Yorkshire from 2025

  • Fisher, Atkinson give Surrey the edge in de facto season showdown

  • Rehan, Cox and Fisher in England Lions squad for Australia

  • Flintoff: Rob Key is 'best captain England never had'

  • Flintoff: 'We're all in this together' as England Lions begin Ashes shadow mission

Though Surrey were unable to make it four County Championship titles in a row, Fisher had his most productive first-class summer to date. His 31 dismissals in 11 appearances were the second-most for the club, of which 11 came against Nottinghamshire at the Kia Oval in a thrilling title decider that Surrey lost, ultimately handing their opponents the Division One crown.”I would give all those wickets for us to have won the title, but it was nice personally to click into gear. It was out of the blue.”The chats I had, it was such a difficult decision to move. But everything I’ve moved for – and the reasons – getting selected on this is kind of why I did it.”It was to have a fresh environment, fresh coaches, fresh players – different perspectives. As we know, the strength of Yorkshire is that it thinks it knows what it’s doing, which is great. But there is also a weakness to that sometimes; there is a real DNA to Yorkshire, which is brilliant, and I am proud to have played there, proud to have been capped by Yorkshire.”I still look out for all the lads. But I think sometimes when you broaden your reach, you realise that you hadn’t thought about it like that. Going into a different gym, having gone into the same gym for 12 years, it’s kind of good. It’s been great.”That Fisher excelled during this season’s Kookaburra-ball rounds – 10 wickets in his three goes with it – undoubtedly helped his cause for a spot in Australia. Previous experience using it on Lions and development tours gave him an edge.”It’s a mindset thing for me. That was one of the conversations that we had at Surrey: yes, there’s a stigma around it in English cricket, and the pitches don’t allow for it to have good games of cricket sometimes. But it is also a case of how you become more rounded as a bowler. The purpose of what the ECB brought in and why they brought it in, we are seeing why it happened.Fisher’s early promise was hindered by a back stress fracture•Getty Images”We felt like getting tighter to the stumps was better because, if you think about the science behind it, [the ball] has to do less if you’re in tight. I definitely think that my experiences in the Lions bowling with it in the last four or five years has made me better with it. It’s one of those where, if you’re open to it, commit to it, bowl more with it, you get better at it. It’s like anything in life.”Fisher’s enhanced performances have come through a lot of hard work, and a greater appreciation of his body. Lions head coach Andrew Flintoff and men’s performance director Ed Barney have been impressed with his drive at Loughborough these past few weeks, often in as early as 7am to do strength and mobility work in the gym ahead of bowling sessions later that day.Though Fisher has always been willing to put the work in, an extra motivation came when he lost his pace bowling development contract in 2023.”Keysy [Rob Key, managing director] spoke to me at the end of that contract and said they wanted me to stand on my own two feet for a year and see how I get on. It was nice to get stuck into everything at Surrey last winter after a few winters with the Lions and get to know everyone. I feel like that really helped me settle for the summer. The goal in the back of your mind is to get picked for higher honours, so it was a nice surprise.”

If I am a good county bowler for the rest of my career, I am fine with that as a baseline. Anything else above that is perfect for what I want to achieve.Fisher on his ambitions after switching from Yorkshire to Surrey

He has enjoyed working with Flintoff, who he believes can take him from a decent county bowler to the next step. “Maybe going to a place that I’ve not been before”, as Fisher himself puts it. “What Fred is really good at is trying to get the last five or 10 per cent out of people. I think that’s something he can help me with.”He may well have to access that this winter if a further promotion comes. Friends and family have encouraged him to dream of barging his way into the Ashes squad this winter. But Fisher, through his own experiences, wants to keep his feet on the ground.”From 17 (when he made his first-class debut for Yorkshire) to 23, I was probably obsessed about playing for England. Because I achieved stuff quite young and people were talking about it, you get obsessed with it.”I have got to the point of accepting that, if I am a good county bowler for the rest of my career and hopefully win a couple of Championships with Surrey, then I am fine with that as a baseline. Anything else above that is perfect for what I want to achieve.”Accepting that as a baseline is not me not pushing boundaries to make myself better. I think it’s a healthier way of looking at it.”

Nabi the hustler sends Netherlands spinning

There are sexier spin bowlers at this World Cup but few wilier than the Afghanistan stalwart

Osman Samiuddin03-Nov-20232:16

How impressive has Shahidi been as captain?

Pretend you’re an Afghanistan selector. You’re licking your lips at the fantabulous array of spinners you can call upon for a World Cup in the subcontinent.There’s the GOAT white-ball leggie who’s become so good now that teams consider it a win if they go at four an over against him and only cede the odd wicket; so good that eight years after his international debut, thousands of hours of video dissection later, we’re still only guessing which one’s the googly.There’s the right-arm all-sorts who has become possibly the world’s first specialist new-ball spinner, opening the bowling in 62 of the 72 ODIs he’s played, bowling in the powerplay in 69 of those. Who has taken more than three times as many wickets in the powerplay as the next most prolific spinner in that phase since his debut six years ago; whose 47 wickets are equal to the combined total number of wickets taken by that list’s top six.Related

  • Shahidi dedicates Afghanistan win to refugees in Pakistan

  • Nabi, Shahidi, Rahmat boost Afghanistan's semi-final chances with big win

  • Netherlands run themselves out of the World Cup

There’s an 18-year-old left-arm legspinner and that’s it. Those words the sell. And for the first time since the mid-2010s, they’ve also got a solid fast-bowling pair, one left-arm, one right-arm. All of which means they didn’t even need to pick another couple of young leggie sensations for this World Cup.All bases covered right? Yep. All good.Now pretend you’re the opposition to an Afghanistan side. Got to plan this with care. See out Rashid Khan, don’t give him so much as a sniff (say a little prayer just in case because you’ll likely need it). Mujeeb ur Rehman, be very wary because though you want to go hard in that powerplay, here’s the data dump: he’s not going to let you. He goes at four an over he takes wickets. Sure, later on you might target him but don’t be rash when you start.And Noor Ahmad is no Kuldeep Yadav or Brad Hogg but he doesn’t need to be. Remember, his kind are still rare enough so that, every now and again, they spark all kinds of malfunctioning in perfectly functioning batting orders. And Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq are both considerably better than you might think.Missing anything? Nope. All systems go.Except, hang on. Incoming.Mohammad Nabi sends his regards.Remember him? How could you forget? Part of the furniture so long he’s not the first name on the teamsheet, he is basically the letterhead. Precisely the guy oppositions might look past because, hello, right-arm zero frills. Nobody bothers doing video dissections of Mohammad Nabi because what are you trying to decipher? Whether he’s a handsome young-looking old man, or a handsome old-looking young man?

The stumping of Logan van Beek was obviously exceptional, a flighty, floaty gimme that dipped late and turned into an absolute gotcha, the kind of ball that cuts across all preferences and demographics: young, old, casual, hardcore, Bedi, Ashwin, red-ball purist, white-ball hedonist

And yet here he is at this most joyous of World Cups for Afghanistan, a better strike rate and economy than Rashid and Mujeeb and only a wicket fewer than both. Fact: other than R Ashwin, who’s only played one game, Nabi has the best economy rate for all fingerspinners at this World Cup.This latest, a Player-of-the-Match display in Afghanistan’s fourth win, was classic Nabi. Everyone was watching out for the others, the big turn, the carrom balls, the wrong ‘un, the leftie’s wrong ‘un, and in slipped Nabi behind them. Right-arm offspin? Sure, if you really want to call it that, but actual turn seems to be the least of it sometimes with Nabi.More like right-arm unsexy. Right-arm sorry-not-sorry. Right-arm scrooge. Right-arm gotcha. Right-arm hustle. Right-arm bustle. Right-arm squeeze. Right-arm tease. Right-arm raised-eyebrow. Right-arm lowbrow. Right-arm wise. Right-arm does-not-miss-a-damn-trick.Afghanistan had conceded six, nine, six, nine, six, eight and 11 in each of the seven overs before Nabi came on for the 12th. At least a boundary in each of them too, swiftly squandering the advantage Mujeeb’s first-over wicket had got them. Farooqi was not settling, Mujeeb was not settling, Netherlands were bossing it. Afghanistan got into a long on-field huddle. All eyes on Rashid, having just returned to the field, taking control of this impromptu timeout and… Nabi sent his regards.Mohammad Nabi celebrates Bas de Leede’s wicket•Associated PressTight on off, tighter on length, four dot balls in his first over, seven in his first two overs, 12 in his first three, three singles conceded, one boundary, not a single ball worth remembering, barely a single ball deserving to be hit. Nothing to see here folks, except the life being squeezed right out of the Netherlands start.By the time he got his first wicket, he’d already caused the fall of three others. Now you might think the using “caused” for run-outs here is generous and perhaps you’re right. But I prefer to think the three run-outs in his overs were his new magic trick, like a new variation. Right-arm run-outs. And if ever there was a case to be made for a run-out being the work of the bowler, then it was in Scott Edwards’ dismissal which, spiritually, was surely a stumping.In his next over, the innings’ 21st, he got Bas de Leede with what looked like an exceptionally unexceptional delivery, except that it did hang back a little longer, a little more outside off and made a point of not turning. Netherlands were 72 for 1 when Nabi came on. They were now 97 for 5.The real stumping later of Logan van Beek, by contrast, was obviously exceptional, a flighty, floaty gimme that dipped late and turned into an absolute gotcha, the kind of ball that cuts across all preferences and demographics: young, old, casual, hardcore, Bedi, Ashwin, red-ball purist, white-ball hedonist. Everybody loves The One Where The Batter Danced Out And Looked a Little Bit Silly. Un-obviously it was also exceptional, coming at the end of an over in which his speeds went up and down like an arrhythmic heartbeat, never letting either van Beek or Sybrand Engelbrecht settle.”Focusing on dot balls,” he explained later, as if it needed pointing out. “I always try to concentrate on my lines and lengths, and variations. I try to stick to my plans and use the angles. In some pitches, the variation is more, that is sometimes why I get more wickets.”Translation: look over there, at all those bright, flashy toys. That’s where the action is. Nothing to see here. Just me, quietly minding my own business and with it, Afghanistan’s too.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus