Thakare, Dubey then dismissed the Rest of India openers late in the day, leaving them with only eight wickets in hand

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2025

Darshan Nalkande, Yash Rathod, Dhruv Shorey and Aman Mokhade look on•PTI

Vidarbha put themselves in a strong position to win the Irani Cup by setting Rest of India a target of 361 and then taking two wickets in the fourth innings.Starting the day at 96 for 2, Vidarbha were troubled by Anshul Kamboj and Saransh Jain but useful contributions from the lower-middle order lifted them from 105 for 5 to 232. No. 6 and Vidarbha captain Akshay Wadkar made 36, No. 7 Harsh Dubey contributed 29 and No. 9 Darshan Nalkande scored 39.Kamboj, the pick of the Rest of India bowlers, dismissed Vidarbha’s Nos. 3 to 6. Danesh Malewar’s inside edge onto his pads was taken in the slip cordon. Dhruv Shorey was lbw by a length ball angling in. Yash Rathod was caught behind with a ball moving away. Wadkar was also dismissed to a catch by wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan with the new ball. It took Kamboj only 12 overs to return figures of 4 for 34.In their chase of 361, Rest of India lost both openers before stumps. Aditya Thakare bowled Aryan Juyal through his defences to knock his poles back. Dubey then dismissed Abhimanyu Easwaran lbw which the batter reviewed unsuccessfully.Ishan Kishan (5*) and Rajat Patidar (2*) were not out at stumps, leaving Rest of India needing a further 331 runs with eight wickets in hand. Vidarbha are chasing a third Irani Cup title in the last decade, having won in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Returning for the first time since he suffered an injury in the IPL, Gaikwad scored 184 off just 206 on the opening day of the Duleep semi-final

Ashish Pant04-Sep-2025It’s been close to five months since an elbow injury at the IPL 2025 kept Ruturaj Gaikwad away from top-flight cricket. He had a stint at the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament but playing a first-class game – a Duleep Trophy semi-final, no less – after a substantial gap, he would have liked to ease into the red-ball grind.Instead, Gaikwad found himself walking in at 10 for 2, only 19 balls into the semi-final. West Zone lost both openers under cloudy skies and the Central Zone bowlers Khaleel Ahmed and Deepak Chahar extracted plenty of movement. Gaikwad had seen Yashasvi Jaiswal trapped lbw to a Khaleel nip-backer and Harvik Desai caught at first slip, courtesy of a Chahar outswinger.Gaikwad knew counterattacking could be catastrophic, so he took the defensive route. He was beaten multiple times and had a couple of lbw shouts turned down. But he remained unmoved. As the weather cleared up and the sun started beating down, the surface at Ground B of BCCI’s Centre of Excellence played fewer tricks. By this time, Gaikwad had also started moving better. He was leaving the ball well, getting the long defensive strides in.Once Khaleel and Chahar finished their first spells, Gaikwad became proactive against the spinners and the third fast bowler, Yash Thakur. He guided offspinner Saransh Jain’s first ball past slip and then swept him to the left of deep square leg. In Jain’s next over, he struck him for two successive fours, and in no time caught up with his partner Aaryan Desai.Even when Aaryan fell, Gaikwad continued to shift gears, reaching his half-century before lunch, taking West Zone to safety.”I thought it was a good challenge to be part of,” Gaikwad said on countering the fast bowlers. “They were three really good fast bowlers with great skill set and to be able to face them, to be able to score runs against them would be a great challenge. That is what I thought and obviously, I stuck to it and [I am] really happy that it came off.”Ruturaj Gaikwad paced his innings well in his first first-class match of the season•PTI With the conditions for batting improving after lunch, Gaikwad opened up his shoulders even as West Zone lost Shreyas Iyer and Shams Mulani cheaply. A hallmark of Gaikwad’s knock was his foot movement against the spinners. On multiple occasions, he threw them off their lengths by going down the track and driving through covers and then going right back and guiding them late past slip.It didn’t take Gaikwad long to record his eighth first-class century, getting there with a push to mid-off off Harsh Dubey. And once he got to the landmark, he notched up a gear, particularly against the quicks. In the first over after tea, Gaikwad hit three fours off Thakur, which included two crisp straight drives. Soon after, he went after his Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team-mate, Khaleel. Taking advantage of Khaleel’s around-the-wicket angle, he first thrashed him for two consecutive fours, one through cover and the other through deep third. Then there was a delightful square cut followed by an upper-cut that went for six before he ended the over with an imperious cover drive.Gaikwad’s century was a masterclass on how to pace an innings. He took 72 balls to reach his fifty, 59 to go from 51 to 100, and just 47 balls to move from 101 to 150. By the time Gaikwad fell for 184 off 206 balls, beaten in flight by Jain and stumped, he had put West Zone in a position of strength.Despite playing first-class cricket after a gap, Gaikwad said that he didn’t have any pre-conceived goal in mind at the start of his innings: “It was just about following the process, whatever it is. Red ball needs a lot of patience, lot of process to be followed and it was just about getting into that rhythm. And I did it for almost a month and a half, and obviously, Buchi Babu as well and then it happened here as well.”

“It was a very fluke injury [in the IPL] and nothing anyone could do about it. I just had a good family time, enjoyed my time at home, and then obviously [now I am] trying to get into the rhythm, get into the routines, do the small things.”Ruturaj Gaikwad

Gaikwad fractured his elbow after being struck by a Tushar Deshpande delivery during IPL 2025. As a result, he missed a chunk of the IPL and India A’s tour to England in May-June. He later also pulled out of a County deal with Yorkshire due to a “personal issue at home”.The 28-year-old agreed that it wasn’t ideal sitting on the sidelines, but said there was a silver lining with him getting to spend more time with family and time to prepare for the domestic season.”There are some things which you cannot really control, and I think it was a very fluke injury and nothing anyone could do about it,” Gaikwad said. “I just had a good family time, enjoyed my time at home, and then obviously [now I am] trying to get into the rhythm, get into the routines, do the small things. I really loved the process throughout the time I was at home and then coming here as well [for rehab].”I got good time to prepare, especially after not playing the India A series. And then after coming back, I decided to work on red ball, give it some time and obviously still working on it. Still there is a long way to go.”

Eddie Howe has finally got the better of Pep Guardiola now in a Premier League environment.

At the 19th time of asking, Howe managed to get one over on the highly successful Manchester City manager, as Newcastle United romped back into top-flight action with a 2-1 win at St James’ Park.

Newcastle were good value for the win, too, as Harvey Barnes chipped in with a double to steer the Toon to another memorable victory on their own patch.

How Harvey Barnes downed Manchester City

The former Leicester City winger is now up to six goals for the season in all competitions, despite his appearance against Guardiola’s men only being his fifth Premier League start of the campaign.

With a brace under his belt, though, he’s surely a shoo-in for more starts as the congested winter fixture schedule hits. Journalist Henry Winter simply described his display as “clinical” when powering two quickfire efforts past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Barnes would manage to put away those two efforts confidently, with just four shots registered in total. But, away from stylishly getting the better of the new City number one with his opener, the 27-year-old also managed to win three duels and attempt three mazy dribbles as a constant livewire.

The only worry will be whether Barnes can stay fit to keep up this electric form, with three Premier League goals now next to his name from limited starts. Across the last three seasons on Tyneside, he has missed a concerning 38 games via injury.

Thankfully, though, Newcastle have a rising star in their ranks who could go on to be a bigger talent than the Toon winger.

Newcastle's 18-year-old Barnes replacement

Howe has shown frequently throughout his time as Newcastle boss to date that he is willing to chuck a starlet into the first team picture if they’re deemed ready for the challenge of senior action.

Indeed, Lewis Miley first made his senior debut under Howe when he was just 17 years of age, while another budding homegrown prodigy in Sean Neave, occupied a space on the bench against City, all while still being a wide-eyed 18-year-old prospect.

Could Seung Soo-Park be the next to bridge the gap between the U21s and the first team?

The future certainly looks bright for the South Korean attacker, who excelled for Suwon Bluewings back in his native Korea at just 17 years of age, becoming the youngest ever player in the history of Korean league football.

One goal and three assists came his way from 28 appearances for Suwon, with Barnes reduced to playing all the way down in League One at around the same age with Milton Keynes Dons, out on loan from then parent side Leicester City.

Park has even been described as a “similar [player] to Mbappe” by Asian football expert John Duerden for his frightening speed when bombing forward, which was seen in the summer when Park was handed opportunities in pre-season, with three dribbles successfully completed up against Espanyol.

With two duels won against Tottenham Hotspur in another pre-season test, it might not be the wildest suggestion in the world to state that Park could be gifted some senior minutes in the bread and butter of the Premier League soon, with the Korean sensation hailed for showing a “maturity beyond his years” by academy coach Steven Harper when first joining.

Newcastle’s left wing options

Player

Games in 25/26

Goals + Assists

Gordon

13

4 + 1

Elanga

18

0 + 1

Barnes

18

6 + 2

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Of course, the ex-Suwon winger does have both Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga in his way, too, down the left-hand side, but if he can manage to live up to all his early hype, he should be able to surpass those in front of him down the line.

Indeed, Elanga is yet to get up and running with zero goals for the season. Moreover, Barnes is also prone to a hit-and-miss performance in Newcastle black and white, having only managed five goals during the entire 2023/24 season.

For the time being, Howe will rely on Barnes, who is thankfully in a purple patch right now.

Yet, in the long term, don’t discount Park leapfrogging the Englishman, with a stunning Mbappe-style talent potentially on Howe’s hands.

Related 9/10 Newcastle duo look even more important than Bruno G & Tonali

These two players stood out in Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Man City

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Nov 23, 2025

Elche’s 2-2 draw against Real Madrid erupted into controversy after Vinicius Junior collided with goalkeeper Inaki Pena in the build-up to Jude Bellingham’s equaliser. Pena was left bleeding after the incident and furious that no foul was given. What began as a brave Elche performance turned into a storm of complaints, shifting focus from their impressive display to referee decisions.

• Pena left bleeding amid controversial goal decision

  Elche had Madrid on the ropes, leading twice and defending with discipline, when a late scramble inside the box changed the shape of the night. As Vinicius attacked a loose ball in the 87th minute, he crashed knee-first into goalkeeper Pena’s face, sending the keeper to the turf with a bloody nose. Play continued, Madrid recycled possession, and Bellingham buried the rebound for 2-2, sparking immediate protests from Elche players.

  At first, Pena himself downplayed the incident, still dazed as he spoke minutes after the final whistle. “He shoots, I stop it, and with the momentum, it hits me in the nose. Bad luck. It’s part of the game. It was just a blow, nothing more,” he said in his initial interview.

  Elche manager Eder Sarabia, however, made it clear he believed the referee missed a decisive moment. “Vinicius doesn’t touch the ball, it hits Pena in the face. It’s a clear foul,” he insisted.

  What looked like a moment of misfortune soon spiralled into a larger debate as Pena’s own assessment changed once he saw the replay.

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• AFP
  

  Pena reverses his verdict as he claims Vinicius foul

  Back in the dressing room, after watching video of the collision, the Elche shot-stopper realised what had actually happened and that the blow he received was not incidental.

  In his press conference he corrected his earlier remarks stating: "He shoots, tries to go for the rebound, but on the second play he doesn't let me participate because he knocks me out. For me, it is a foul, but if the referee goes to VAR and says it's not a foul, there's nothing we can do," the 26-year-old said.

  The change in tone reflected the frustration in the Elche camp. They believed they had earned more than a point and that Madrid’s equaliser should never have stood.

  The draw, however, keeps Elche steady in the standings. After 13 matches, they sit 11th in La Liga, continuing to exceed expectations despite the disappointment of dropping two points so late. Their organisation, fight and attacking efficiency once again underlined why many consider them one of the most exciting newly promoted sides in the league.

• Elche coach Sarabia’s anger boils over

  Sarabia's frustration with the officiating was immediate. He pointed to two moments that he believed “conditioned the final result” – a missed foul in the build-up to Madrid’s first equaliser, and the collision involving Vinicius.

  “No, I’m not happy, not at all,” he said. “I already told the players I was gutted, and when I saw the decisive calls, I’m even more so.”

  He further added: “The foul before the second goal (for Madrid) wasn’t a foul at all. What’s more, it was a counter-attack that could have made it 3-1. And then Vinicius doesn’t touch the ball, it hits Inaki Pena in the face. Inaki Pena didn’t see the play. Vinicius hits him in the face, that’s why his face is like that. It’s a clear foul.”

  Sarabia’s irritation extended beyond a single decision. "When you play against Real Madrid, you do so many things, you take the lead twice, and then you feel that there were factors that influenced the final result, it makes you angry.” 

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• AFP
  

  Elche's stunning return to La Liga under Sarabia

  Sarabia's newly-promoted side have delivered some impressive results: draws against Atletico Madrid, Real Betis and Sevilla, competitive performances against every top-six side, and a current mid-table position far above preseason expectations.

  As Sarabia himself puts it: “Everything starts from bravery… we have an idea, and we will die with that idea.”

  His players share the same conviction. Captain Pedro Bigas says the team finally feels “in control, even against the biggest teams,” while striker Rafa Mir highlights the “freedom within structure” that has allowed Elche to thrive, and allowed him to net four goals this season.

  With upcoming fixtures against Girona, Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano, Elche have the chance to consolidate their impressive start and push closer to the top half.

He had attended team training on Wednesday and was at Bangladesh’s seven-wicket win over Pakistan for the duration of that game

Andrew Fidel Fernando02-Oct-2025Bangladesh women’s coach Sarwar Imran attended the team’s opening World Cup match against Pakistan on Thursday, despite having suffered a stroke on Monday. The Bangladesh team have been keen to stress that the stroke was “minor”.Imran, aged 66, had been discharged from hospital on Tuesday, the day after the stroke. He had attended team training on Wednesday and was at Bangladesh’s seven-wicket win over Pakistan for the duration of that game. He was largely inside the dressing room through the course of the game, rather than in the dugout at the edge of the field.Team manager SM Golam Faiyaz told ESPNcricinfo that Imran had returned so quickly following the stroke to better support the players. “He didn’t want the players to be discouraged,” Faiyaz said. “The doctor has said to keep an eye on him, and we are doing all that. But he’s feeling better.”Having just won in Colombo – the southernmost venue of this World Cup – Bangladesh now fly to Guwahati – the northernmost venue – on a charter flight on Friday morning. Imran is expected to make that trip with the team. Their next match is against England on Tuesday.

Stuttgart are bracing for a decisive summer as interest intensifies in Angelo Stiller, with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund monitoring his situation. Stuttgart director Fabian Wohlgemuth accepts that there is growing interest in the midfielder, but insists there have been no concrete proposals from other clubs.

The growing chase for Angelo Stiller

Stuttgart find themselves at the centre of one of Europe’s most intriguing transfer stories, as Stiller’s remarkable rise continues to attract elite clubs. The 24-year-old deep-lying playmaker has been linked for months with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and a host of Premier League sides.

Sporting director Wohlgemuth, speaking on , attempted to steady the growing speculation. “He has a contract with us. It’s far too early to speculate about that,” he said when asked about potential summer departures. “Of course, one or two clubs will have had their eye on him. He's having an outstanding season. Maybe he'll even play in a World Cup, we'll see. We're happy he's with us.”

Despite the calm public tone, Stuttgart privately accept that Stiller has reached a level that naturally draws heavyweight attention, especially after a season in which his influence has been impossible to ignore.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesEurope’s elite are circling Stiller

The Spanish giants, undergoing a period of midfield transition following the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in consecutive seasons, identified Stiller as a long-term organiser capable of anchoring the Bernabeu midfield for years.

Stiller himself is reported to favour Madrid over Premier League projects, viewing Los Blancos as the ideal next step. While no formal bid has been made, Madrid’s informal approach in 2025 has kept the story simmering.

Reports from Spain note that head coach Xabi Alonso views Stiller as a natural successor to Kroos being a calm, technically immaculate deep-lying conductor who controls rhythm rather than relying on physical explosiveness. Alonso had monitored him closely during his time at Bayer Leverkusen and is said to have personally endorsed him as a 'priority target' for Madrid’s future core.

But Madrid are not alone. The Red Devils and Liverpool have monitored him closely, while Bayern, the club where he was developed, and Dortmund have both discussed internal strategies for 2026. For a midfielder who arrived from Hoffenheim for €5.5 million in 2023, Stiller’s trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric.

Breakout season and Stiller's rising value

Stiller’s appeal is grounded in a remarkable 2024-25 season, which established him as one of Europe’s most complete young midfielders. Across all competitions, he made 47 appearances, scoring four goals and providing 11 assists which are extraordinary numbers for a deep-lying playmaker.

His influence extended beyond individual brilliance. Stiller played a decisive role in Stuttgart’s DFB-Pokal triumph, anchoring midfield throughout their cup run. Further, his form earned him five caps for the German national team following his debut in 2024.

Since joining Stuttgart from Hoffenheim 2023, his market value has multiplied, and European interest reflects just how quickly he has risen from promising talent to elite-level organiser. This season the German international has scored one goal and registered five assists.

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GettyContracts, clauses and what next?

Stuttgart moved early to secure Stiller’s future, offering an improved extension in early 2025 that runs until 2028 and elevates him to one of the club’s top earners. The contract includes a release clause estimated around €40m, though it does not activate until summer 2026. Crucially, Stuttgart also hold an internal option to buy out the clause for around €2m, meaning they could remove it at any time and negotiate freely with interested clubs.

Despite this, Stuttgart’s internal valuation sits much higher. Reports in Germany suggest the club would demand at least €50m if approached before 2026, especially given the global interest. Wohlgemuth acknowledges the persistent speculation but insists the club remain calm: “That’s part of the entertainment we have to cover. But there’s nothing concrete. He can concentrate fully on Stuttgart.”

Stiller, meanwhile, remains committed to Stuttgart’s project, but has also made no secret of his ambition to take the next step when the timing is right. With major clubs preparing summer strategies, the coming transfer window may be decisive. If Madrid, United or Liverpool formalise their interest, Stuttgart will face a pivotal decision over one of Germany’s most coveted midfielders.

Nuno Espirito Santo is now reportedly ready to launch his first transfer move in charge of West Ham United to sign Bristol City’s set-piece specialist Scott Twine.

The Hammers could certainly do with a busy January transfer window. Whilst results have improved recently, their 2-2 draw against Bournemouth in a game that they led 2-0 exposed their problems once again.

After watching on as his side let go of their 2-0 lead gained through Callum Wilson’s goals, Nuno told reporters: “It’s a very tough place to come. The first half was us – we took advantage of the straight ball, of the second ball, we managed the tempo of the game, we managed to control Bournemouth, and we achieved a good lead.

“In the second half, Bournemouth did exactly the same that we did [in the first]. They managed better the circumstances of the game, we couldn’t go out, they put us against the ropes, they engaged five players in the last line.

“The boys were organised but were missing the pass to go out of pressure, to really hurt them with space, under tough circumstances. But the positive is that I think the team was resilient, was organised, was compact and was really committed.”

After the dramatic draw, West Ham have at least escaped the dropzone, albeit only on goal difference. With the visit of Liverpool up next, they’ll be hoping to compile the champions’ recent misery and escape the relegation zone in the process.

It goes without saying that the January transfer window would be a lot easier if West Ham were approaching it without the bottom three in mind. It would hand Nuno the perfect opportunity to welcome first-choice reinforcements and potentially take the Hammers onwards and upwards.

On that front, the former Nottingham Forest manager already has certain additions in mind, according to reports.

West Ham and Nuno ready to launch Scott Twine move

According to Sports Boom, Nuno is now ready to launch West Ham’s move to sign Twine from Bristol City in the January transfer window. The set-piece specialist would be an instant upgrade on James Ward-Prowse, who has been frozen out by Nuno, and would cost West Ham just £8m.

League stats 25/26	Scott Twine	Lucas Paqueta
Minutes	1,244	958
Goals	6	3
Progressive Passes	41	71
Ball Recoveries	52	53

Although it is in a league below the Premier League, Twine has shown plenty of promise compared to Lucas Paqueta this season. Based on those numbers, £8m could quickly turn into a bargain for the London club.

Whether Bristol City allow one of their key men to leave so easily remains to be seen, however. Robins manager Gerhard Struber recently praised his midfielder – telling reporters: “Scott (has) outstanding technical power with his monster leg.

Forget Guilherme: Nuno can fix Summerville blow with West Ham academy star

Nuno might already have the perfect solution to West Ham’s Summerville problem.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 25, 2025

“It helped us to score in this way but I like his energy at the moment – his work ethic on the field to invest everything. You do not see it that often that players on this level work really hard against the ball but this was the key – players with high technical level were involved in our defensive pressing moments.”

West Ham now make enquiry to sign Champions League CF with eight goals in 25/26

In terms of legacy, Root has surpassed his two recent England counterparts, and he still seems to have plenty left in the tank

Greg Chappell29-Jul-20254:14

Manjrekar: ‘Serious chance’ for Root to break Tendulkar’s record

Joe Root is arguably England’s best batter of the modern era. Since making his debut in 2012, he has compiled 13,409 runs at an average of 51.17, including 38 centuries – a record that places him ahead of both Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen in several key areas. His highest score, a commanding 262 against Pakistan in 2024, showcased his ability to not only build innings but dominate the opposition across conditions.Root’s longevity – he has now been 13 years at the highest level – sets him apart from many of his contemporaries. Having eclipsed Pietersen, and Cook’s monumental tally of 12,472 runs, a mark once considered untouchable for English batters, he now has his sights on the incredible record of Sachin Tendulkar. Perhaps most impressive is not just the quantity of Root’s runs but the consistent quality of them across eras, formats and conditions.What separates Root from many gifted players is his willingness to evolve. The Covid-enforced break in 2020 was not a pause but a pivot point. While the cricketing world was on hold, Root immersed himself in data, scrutinising his modes of dismissal and identifying patterns in his own vulnerability.This period of introspection and analysis catalysed a technical and mental reboot. He refined his game to address weaknesses – particularly against spin and short-pitched bowling – and returned with a stunning run of form that saw him average over 60 in two years, including landmark hundreds in Sri Lanka, India, and at home.Root’s ability to dissect his own technique, to probe the whys behind failures, reveals a mind as dedicated as it is curious. This is what separates the elite from the excellent. Like Tendulkar before him, Root embodies the mindset that greatness is not inherited but earned – over and over again.Final countdown: 13,409 down, 2512 more to go to GOAT status•AFP/Getty ImagesAt 33 he continues to bat with the hunger and intensity of a debutant. There is a lightness to his presence at the crease, a joy that belies the immense pressure of expectations. His commitment to improvement and passion for batting have become the lifeblood of his sustained success.And yet, a looming challenge remains. Root has never scored a Test century in Australia – a curious gap in an otherwise glowing résumé. It is a fact that fans and critics alike have noted. While that shortcoming can partly be attributed to the quality of Australia’s recent attacks – Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon – it remains a mountain left to climb. The Ashes series at the end of this year may offer Root a final opportunity to correct that omission and complete his batting CV.Among English batters of the last 30 years, the debate over the best often centres on Cook, Pietersen and Root. Each has left an indelible mark on the game, but their journeys and impacts have been distinct.Cook, the grinder and accumulator, played 161 Tests, scoring those 12,472 runs in the most demanding of positions as an opener, at 45.35, with 33 centuries. His hallmark was his durability and unwavering concentration. His legacy was built on the volume of runs and sheer time spent at the crease – an unmatched feat of mental fortitude.Pietersen, by contrast, was a maverick – flamboyant, fearless, and fiercely individualistic. In 104 Tests, he scored 8181 runs at 47.28 with 23 centuries. His batting was all about impact, match-turning brilliance, and dominant shot-making, especially at home where he averaged 52.78.Root sits between these two in style but ahead in legacy. His away average of 46.66 is marginally higher than those of both Cook and Pietersen, demonstrating his adaptability in hostile conditions. While his conversion rate is lower, his consistency – 104 scores of 50-plus in 157 Tests – and leadership during a period of flux place him firmly at the top of the modern English batting pantheon.The closest Root got to a hundred in Australia was his 89 at the Gabba in 2021•AFPRoot’s tenure as England captain (2017-2022) was a mixed bag in terms of results, and he averaged six runs fewer with the bat during his captaincy than before. But while Cook led England to the top of the world rankings, and Pietersen often dominated under pressure, Root has been the glue holding the team together through transitions.What makes Root’s ongoing excellence even more extraordinary is the relentless mental pressure. Being a top-order Test batter in a high-visibility role is mentally and emotionally draining. The phenomenon I call Elite Performance Decline Syndrome (EPDS) – a gradual erosion of the mental sharpness required to succeed at the top – looms large over players entering their mid-30s. Signs of EPDS often include slower starts, indecisiveness, and dwindling confidence. Root, however, shows few signs of decline. His footwork remains assured, his decision-making sharp, and his appetite for runs undiminished. The challenge will be sustaining all of this into a potential record-breaking chase over the next three years, culminating – perhaps heroically – on the 2028 India tour.To surpass Tendulkar’s Everest-like 15,921 Test runs, Root still needs 2512 more – a career’s work in years gone by. It is a daunting ask, particularly in an era where Test matches are fewer and physically gruelling. If Root were to reach that milestone on the 2028 tour of India, it would mark 16 years at the top level, a feat almost unparalleled in modern sport, let alone in one as mentally taxing as Test batting.Such a scenario would thrust him into the glare of history, of expectation, and of unrelenting scrutiny. How he navigates those final few thousand runs – whether with grit like Cook, flair like Pietersen, or reinvention like in his own career previously – will define the closing chapter of a storied career.Root approaches challenges with humility, resolve, and an ever-present smile. As Ian Chappell put it on this website last year, he is “a batting phenomenon, but he has two big exams coming up” – implying that performance in Australia, and eventually, surpassing Tendulkar’s record, will complete the picture.Root is not just one of England’s finest batters, he is one of the game’s most thoughtful and universally admired players. His career, still unfolding, offers lessons in resilience, humility, and the enduring power of curiosity. He is both craftsman and scientist, artist and technician. As Eoin Morgan observed, he’s England’s “most complete batsman”. Whether or not he ultimately surpasses Tendulkar, he has already carved out a legacy worthy of reverence. Add to this his brilliant catching and better than part-time spin bowling, along with his mentoring of the next generation of English batters, and he is a priceless asset to the team.Batter, spin-bowler, mentor, rock: Root has been whatever England needs him to be•Getty ImagesIn an era of fleeting fame and white-ball dominance, Root’s dedication to Test cricket is refreshing. He is, quite simply, the Peter Pan of batting – a boy who never tires of the game he loves, and a man who might just defy time itself.

****

At Old Trafford, India conjured a thrilling escape to draw the fourth Test, frustrating an English side that had sniffed victory but ran out of puff and poise. A century eluded KL Rahul but Shubman Gill brought up his fourth for the series. Their dogged resistance, alongside the calm defiance of Washington Sundar and the ever-reliable Ravindra Jadeja, ensured India walked away with honours even – and perhaps even the upper hand. England’s bowlers looked weary by the final session, but it was their loss of composure, not stamina, that will be most remembered.What should have been a celebration of Test cricket’s enduring drama ended in an ugly scene: England’s fielders aiming barbs and bouncers at India’s centurions-in-waiting. For a team that has traded on the breezy moralism of the Bazball era, the petulance was jarring. England, often quick to claim moral victories, inadvertently surrendered the high ground here. India, conversely, left Manchester buoyed not only by resilience but also by the visible cracks in the English facade.More significantly, India may have unearthed a genuine all-round gem. Washington, with a technique built on simplicity and courage, played with the assuredness of a top-order batter. He has the temperament, shot range, and maturity to be a long-term fixture.Looking ahead to The Oval, India must act boldly. It’s time the selectors back their batting depth and field a balanced attack capable of taking 20 wickets. The message is clear: go deep, deeper, and deepest – bring in Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav.

Tottenham Hotspur were hammered 4-1 by their arch-rivals in the North London derby on Sunday in the Premier League, as they were beaten 4-1 by Arsenal at The Emirates.

Thomas Frank started with a back five and two holding midfielders in an attempt to shut the Gunners out, yet it was still far too easy for the hosts to slice through their defence.

Whilst their overly-cautious approach did not prevent Arsenal from creating chances, it did prevent Spurs from creating chances. They only had three shots in 90 minutes, and one of them was Richarlison’s long-range goal from around 45 yards out.

Creating chances and playing forward-thinking football has been a problem for the Lilywhites in the Premier League since Frank came through the door from Brentford in the summer, as shown in the statistics below.

xG

11.0

17th

Non-penalty xG

11.0

16th

Progressive passes

413

12th

Shots

110

19th

Shots on target

40

15th

Average shot distance

15.6 yards

17th

The defeat to Arsenal will be even harder to take because Tottenham were chasing a deal to sign Eberechi Eze in the summer before the Gunners swooped in and hijacked the move, and he was the star of the show on Sunday.

Meanwhile, it has been a struggle for a few of the players whom the Lilywhites were able to get in the building in an attempt to bolster Frank’s squad in the summer transfer window.

Ranking Tottenham's summer signings for Thomas Frank

Looking at the positive additions first, it is hard to look past Bayern Munich loanee Joao Palhinha as the best signing of the summer, as the Portugal international has delivered four goals and three assists whilst also averaging 5.6 tackles and interceptions per game, per Sofascore.

Mohammed Kudus, who was signed from West Ham for £55m, is deserving of second-place after a return of one goal and four assists in 11 Premier League appearances so far this season.

As you can see in the table below, Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso then rank in the middle of the pack, which is because they were brought in as squad additions and have filled that role without any major issues so far this term.

1

Joao Palhinha

2

Mohammed Kudus

3

Luka Vuskovic

4

Mathys Tel

5

Kevin Danso

6

Koto Takai

7

Randal Kolo Muani

8

Xavi Simons

Koto Takai has yet to play a game for Spurs, due to injury, since his move in the summer, which makes it hard to rank him any higher or lower, whilst Kolo Muani is in seventh place with no goals and one assist in nine appearances for the club, per Sofascore.

Ranking in last place, then, is £52m summer signing Xavi Simons. He arrived at Spurs after a return of 21 goals and 21 assists in the last two seasons with RB Leipzig in Germany, yet has failed to live up to the hype that his form in the Bundesliga created.

The Dutchman was brought in as Tottenham’s alternative to Eze, after they failed to sign the England international, and has only managed two assists and no goals in 15 appearances for the club.

Meanwhile, the former Crystal Palace attacking midfielder has delivered five goals and three assists in 16 outings for Arsenal, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has been far more influential for his side than Xavi has.

In The Pipeline

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

Spurs, though, may already be brewing their own homegrown version of Eze in their academy in the form of exciting teenage attacking midfielder Luca Williams-Barnett.

Why Luca Williams-Barnett could be Tottenham's own Eberechi Eze

The 17-year-old starlet’s form for club and country suggests that he is a player to watch for the future, as the Tottenham youngster has shown incredible promise as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

He has been with England’s U17s at the U17 World Cup in recent weeks, knocked out by Austria in the quarter-finals last week, and caught the eye with his performances at the tournament.

Appearances

5

Sofascore rating

7.38

Goals

2

Big chances missed

0

Key passes per game

1.4

Big chances created

3

Assists

1

Dribbles completed per game

3.4

As you can see in the table above, Williams-Barnett provided regular quality as a goalscorer, a creator, and a dribbler across his five appearances in the competition for his country.

One of his two goals, which came against Haiti’s U17 side, was also an incredible solo goal that showcased his composure, creativity, and quality, as shown in the clip below.

On top of his impressive form for England at youth level, the 17-year-old playmaker has also proven himself to be an incredibly prolific attacker for Tottenham’s academy.

Williams-Barnett, who U23 scout Antonio Mango described as an “underrated” player, has racked up 22 goals and 13 assists in 30 games for the club’s U18 side, per Transfermarkt, to go along with seven goals and five assists in eight U21 games.

These statistics show that the attacking midfielder has delivered goals and assists on a regular basis for both club and country, which is why he could be Tottenham’s own Eberechi Eze, who has scored five goals for Arsenal and two goals for England this season.

Como scout Ben Mattinson claimed that the Spurs youngster “scores bangers” and it is hard to disagree with that assessment, particularly when you see goals such as the ones in the clip above.

Like Eze, Williams-Barnett is a number ten with incredible footwork, finishing, creativity, and dribbling skills, but it is now down to him to make the step to senior level and prove that he can deliver consistent performances in the first-team.

Fewer touches than Vicario: Frank must drop 3/10 Spurs dud after Arsenal

Thomas Frank has numerous glaring errors he needs to address at Tottenham Hotspur after the Arsenal defeat.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 24, 2025

If he can handle that step up, Frank could have his own version of Eberechi Eze and a possible upgrade on Xavi in the number ten position moving forward.

It’s “very important” for India to do well in the two-Test series against West Indies after they were blanked 3-0 in their previous home Test series by New Zealand, Shubman Gill said on the eve of the first Test in Ahmedabad.”We are looking to play some hard, grinding cricket. Over the past few years, if you see the Test matches, they haven’t got to five days. So what we are looking to do is play some good, hard cricket,” Gill said at a press conference. “All the Test matches that we played in England went pretty deep [all five Tests went into the fifth day]. And I think what you can expect from us is good, hard, grinding cricket and we won’t be looking for any easy options.”And I think we have the skills to dominate in any kind of situation and the kind of talent we have got in the team, we can turn around from any situation, so that’s what we will be looking to play.”Related

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• One of the greenest Indian pitches likely for Ahmedabad Test

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• With patience and old-school grit, Chanderpaul gets ready

In recent years, when India have hosted teams for Test cricket, spin-friendly pitches have been prepared more often than not. Seeing how well India competed in the 2-2 series in England earlier this year, what sort of pitch should we expect?”I can’t speak about the conversations before I came, but we would be looking to play on wickets that offer [something] to both the batsmen and to the bowlers,” Gill said. “But, having said that, any team that comes to India, the challenge is the spin and reverse swing. These are the two things that, if teams can play spin well and if they can challenge the reverse swing, they are going to get good success.”So keeping these challenges in mind, you’d be looking to play on wickets that offer [something] to the batsmen and the bowlers.”In England, India picked a pace-heavy bowling attack, and the only spinners in the mix were the allrounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, with Kuldeep Yadav sitting out all five Tests. Two days out from the Test, the Ahmedabad pitch appeared to be greener than anticipated.”The weather and wickets we have in India, it will be difficult to follow that template [employed in England],” Gill said. “We have such quality in our team. Someone like Kuldeep, such a wicket-taker for us in all formats, didn’t get a chance to play in England, which was very unfortunate. Here, I think, playing four spinners, and spinners of such quality, you are always tempted to look at the batting depth, you have to just weigh in your options, what can give you a bit more.”6:18

Aaron on Bumrah: India not taking any chances after NZ drubbing

Will Jasprit Bumrah play both Tests?

It was a constant talking point in England after it had been announced before the series that Jasprit Bumrah would play only three of the five Tests to manage his fitness. What happens now?”We’re going to take a call on a match-to-match basis depending on how long a Test match goes on and how many overs our fast bowlers bowl,” Gill said. “Nothing is pre-decided. We’re going to take the call once the Test match is over and how our fast bowlers feel and how their bodies feel after the match.”And what about Gill himself? Going from red-ball cricket in England to white-ball cricket in the UAE and back to red-ball cricket, on a red-soil pitch this time, just three days after winning the T20 Asia Cup?”For a batsman, I don’t think it’s physical fatigue. It’s more mental for a batsman. That’s a little different for a bowler,” he said. “As of now, I feel fresh and my body is ready. I am just looking at what I have to do this week and next week and that’s how I will be taking my decisions.”