Tag Futebol

Tottenham Hotspur once had a talent hailed as “the new Diego Maradona”, who Jamie Carragher said was “like watching Pirlo”, due to the way in which he flourished in a deep-lying playmaker role.

Lack of creativity cost Tottenham against Bournemouth

Tottenham spent large parts of the summer transfer window chasing a new attacking midfielder, pursuing Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze before eventually getting a deal for Xavi Simons over the line.

However, the Dutchman, who has picked up a combined 20 assists over the last two Bundesliga seasons, wasn’t available for selection against AFC Bournemouth last time out, and Spurs created very few opportunities.

The Lilywhites were missing a player capable of taking the game by the scruff of the neck and creating something out of nothing, with Son Heung-min departing for LAFC in the summer, while Harry Kane has, of course, been a big miss ever since leaving two years ago.

During his time in north London, Kane received regular plaudits from the media, with some of the highest praise coming from David Ginola, who once said: “The new playmaker at Spurs is Harry Kane. He is like the new Diego Maradona now. Long passes, short passes, he has it all.”

Carragher was also left very impressed with the England captain’s ability to drop deep and create chances.

First refusal clause means Spurs can re-sign Kane

Tottenham are well-known to have a first refusal clause, which means they would hold an advantage in a future race for the 32-year-old, given that Bayern Munich would be forced to sell the striker to his former club if they matched another accepted offer.

£55k-a-week Tottenham star who hasn't impressed Frank "expected" to leave

There could be an imminent departure from N17…

ByDominic Lund Sep 7, 2025

Former Liverpool man Dietmar Hamann has also suggested this season could be the centre-forward’s last in Germany, saying: “I think Harry Kane has a clause that allows him to leave for a certain amount next summer. I believe the reason Bayern Munich wanted to bring Nick Woltemade in this summer was because many within the club think Kane wants to go back to England after the World Cup.”

Signing a player in their early thirties would normally be a gamble, but Kane is showing no signs of slowing down, having maintained a fantastic goal and assist record at Bayern ever since his arrival, making a flying start to the new campaign.

Kane at Bayern

Bundesliga appearances

Goal contributions

2023-24

32

44

2024-25

31

36

This summer just keeps getting better and better for Chelsea.

On the pitch, Enzo Maresca’s side have looked dangerous and off it, the board have been doing brilliant work in the transfer market.

For example, the likes of Jame Gittens, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro were all through the door before the Club World Cup final, and then the tremendously exciting Jorrel Hato was added last week.

As if that wasn’t enough, the West Londoners appear to be making progress on a deal to sign Alejandro Garnacho, are even further along in the process of signing Xavi Simons, and are now being linked with an international who’d be a brilliant teammate for the Dutchman.

Chelsea target perfect teammate for Simons

As it stands, Chelsea are supposedly in talks for Manchester United’s controversial but undeniably talented Garnacho, but with the club supposedly sure his price will come down before the end of the window, it looks like Simons might be signed first.

Transfer Focus

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

Reports from earlier this month have made it clear that the personal terms with the Dutchman have already been agreed, and that a fee of around £61m would be enough for RB Leipzig to let him go.

The 22-year-old would be an incredible addition to the Blues’ squad, and it already seems like the club are now looking at another international who’d be a perfect teammate for him.

At least that’s according to a recent report from The Express, which claims Chelsea are very interested in Morgan Rogers.

The story goes on to reveal that the West Londoners have been ‘keen admirers’ of the Aston Villa star for some time, and that should he be made available, they’ll be running for his signature.

However, it’d likely be a costly transfer to get over the line, with stories from earlier this summer claiming that the Claret and Blue value him at around £100m.

That said, if Chelsea have a chance to sign Rogers, they should take it, as he’d be an exceptional addition to the squad and a perfect teammate for Simons.

Why Rogers would be a dream teammate for Simons

Fundamentally, there are two key reasons why Rogers would be an excellent signing and teammate for Simons, and the first relates to his output.

For example, despite still only being 22 years old and playing in the Championship a couple of years ago, the Villa ace was monsterously effective for the Claret and Blue.

In his 54 appearances, totalling 4496 minutes, the Halesowen-born “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob, put the ball in the back of the net 14 times and provided 15 assists for good measure.

Rogers in 24/25
Appearances	54
Minutes	4496′
Goals	14
Assists	15
Goal Involvements per Match	0.53
Minutes per Goal Involvement	155.03′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

That means the former Middlesbrough gem was able to maintain a goal involvement every 1.86 games, or every 155.03 minutes.

Now, just imagine what those numbers could look like playing alongside the Dutchman, who racked up 19 goal involvements in 33 games last season, and vice versa.

With both players being more than capable creators and goal-scorers, they could form a seriously dangerous partnership, with opposition defenders never quite sure which one is going to create the chance or finish it.

The second reason the former Manchester City academy gem could be such a great teammate for the Amsterdam-born international is that he’s also comfortable playing in the middle of the park or on the wing.

Therefore, he’d have more opportunities to play with the Leipzig star, and more crucially, he’d be able to come in and cover for him when he needs a rest, in turn reducing the risk of injury.

Ultimately, it won’t be cheap, but Chelsea should be doing all they can to sign Rogers this summer, as he’d be a brilliant addition in his own right, but an even better one alongside Simons.

Shades of Hazard: Chelsea lead race for £40m "superstar" alongside Simons

The dynamic attacker would add another dimension to Chelsea’s squad.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 7, 2025

Duminy was appointed in March 2023 as part of Rob Walter’s support staff

Firdose Moonda06-Dec-2024Former international JP Duminy has stepped down from his role as South Africa’s white-ball batting coach for personal reasons. Duminy was appointed in March 2023 as part of Rob Walter’s support staff when Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed new coaches after the Mark Boucher era.Duminy was previously head coach of the SA20 side Paarl Royals and the domestic side Boland but it is not clear if he will continue to coach in the immediate future.He was with the white-ball team during their run to the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final last year but had to leave the camp ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean in June, also for personal reasons. The CSA will begin the process of finding a replacement soon, but it may not be in time for the series against Pakistan which starts next week. The contest starts with three T20Is, which will be played without the white-ball players who are involved in the Test series against Sri Lanka, before moving to three ODIs, which will form part of Champions Trophy preparation.Should a full-time candidate not be found, CSA could second their batting lead, Imraan Khan, the former Dolphins coach who was appointed in August and traveled with the Test squad to Bangladesh. At the time, red-ball batting coach Ashwell Prince was unavailable but he has since returned to Test duties.In September this year, Duminy was named head coach of International League T20 (ILT20) side Sharjah Warriorz.

Chelsea are poised to register yet another summer sale, which could take BlueCo’s total summer transfer income to the near £180 million mark.

Chelsea confirm signing of "sensation" from Crystal Palace after hijacking move

The Blues have officially secured an eye-catching prospect.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 2, 2025

Most recently, young defender Ishe Samuels-Smith completed a reported £6.5 million move to sister club Strasbourg, where he will link up with Chelsea loanees Mamadou Sarr, Mike Penders and Kendry Paez in Ligue 1.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Chelsea also sold Mathis Amougou to Strasbourg for around £12.5 million, with Enzo Maresca’s side using BlueCo’s multi-club ownership model to their serious advantage.

Alongside both Amougou and Samuels-Smith, Chelsea agreed permanent exit deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli, Djordje Petrovic and João Félix, which have contributed to bringing in an estimated £158 million to the Stamford Bridge coffers.

This series of sales helps to balance out Chelsea’s £230 million spend on recruitment this summer, with their £87.5m windfall from winning the Club World Cup and £80 million earnings from Champions League qualification putting them in a solid financial position.

It could even help Chelsea make more new signings, with journalist Simon Phillips reporting that they remain in the market for a new goalkeeper, centre-back and potentially a striker to replace Nicolas Jackson.

In the meantime, departures remain a crucial theme of Chelsea’s current transfer activity.

Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Tosin Adarabioyo, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Alfie Gilchrist and Jackson stand out as players who could still leave Chelsea before deadline day, with striker Armando Broja now closing in on a move to Turf Moor.

The Albanian has been one to watch for a while, and Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg reported all the way back in June that he was receiving several approaches from Bundesliga clubs.

However, it is now Burnley who appear poised to sign the out-of-favour striker, with BBC journalist Nizaar Kinsella sharing an update on the situation.

Chelsea poised for near-£180m boost as Armando Broja nears Burnley move

Fabrizio Romano has already given the ‘here we go’ to this transfer, but Kinsella reports it is not as advanced as that.

Chelsea and Burnley have reached a broad agreement over Broja, amounting to around £20 million, and they’re in advanced talks, but the player and Clarets are yet to find a compromise on personal terms with discussions ongoing.

As Burnley wait for the 23-year-old’s green-light to complete a deal, BlueCo will be praying for this move to go through.

If it does, barring a late disaster, Chelsea will take their transfer total through players sold to around £178 million – gifting Maresca’s side a near-£180 million boost with more players still expected to leave.

Chelsea’s expertise as a selling club is often underrated by critics, and for those who ask why they can consistently spend serious cash in the transfer market, their outgoing activity is a key component.

There was a point last season when Liverpool had established a commanding lead at the top of the Premier League yet still failed to earn the respect and, perhaps, fear, of their closest title rivals.

You might have traced it back further. Before a ball had been kicked, BBC Sport’s 30 experts had a go at naming their pick for the league champion. Each of the pundits failed to choose Liverpool, who won the Premier League at a canter, ten points ahead of Arsenal at the finish despite loosening standards across the final four fixtures.

In fact, Stephen Warnock and Fara Williams were the only BBC Sport pundits to declare Liverpool would finish in the top two. Make no mistake, the Reds were hardly expected to challenge for the title after losing Jurgen Klopp, but Klopp left an incredible, dynamic team behind, and FSG bagged Slot gold, having barely dipped into the transfer market.

Is it any wonder Liverpool have attacked the market with such vicious intent? The Merseysiders have spent around £200m this summer and more is yet to come, with striker Hugo Ekitike and Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi both fixed at the top of the shopping list.

In Guehi’s case, Eagles chairman Steve Parish might prove to be too tricky a negotiator, pricing his captain at £50m despite their being just one year remaining on his contract.

But should Liverpool push ahead all the same?

Why Liverpool want Marc Guehi

Liverpool could wrap up their transfer window right now and be content. Who wouldn’t after signing Florian Wirtz for a British-record £116m fee? The German talent, plucked from his heralded position in the Bundesliga, could revolutionise the Anfield side.

But Liverpool would like to pack more quality across other positions. Sporting director Richard Hughes tried and failed to convince Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen to join from Bournemouth in May, but in Guehi, Liverpool might find the perfect alternative.

His leadership and composure, technical qualities and combativeness all see him align with Slot’s vision, especially if a breakthrough cannot be found with Ibrahima Konate, who has 12 months left on his own deal as Los Blancos look to pilfer more talent from Liverpool’s chest.

Jarell Quansah has also been sold to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £35m.

Liverpool want Guehi, and they want him bad. However, they are open to a variety of options and could hit the jackpot with a certain alternative hailing from the German scene.

Liverpool in race for Bundesliga star

Liverpool have registered their interest in RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba, who, according to Foot Mercato, is being chased by the Reds, Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich.

With a €90m (£77m) release clause, Lukeba wouldn’t come cheap – although it’s unlikely that the suitors would pay such a figure.

However, with the France international open to leaving, Leipzig would be willing to cash in for a more modest sum, for they finished sixth in the Bundesliga last term and thus have no European football to look forward to in 2025/26.

Transfer Focus

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

What Castello Lukeba would bring to Liverpool

When previously discussing Lukeba’s potential transfer to Liverpool, analyst Ben Mattinson said that Anfield would represent the “perfect move” for the defender.

Indeed, Lukeba’s “freak profile”, positively spoken in regard to his athleticism and versatility, bespeaks his suitability in Slot’s system.

And have Liverpool not hit the jackpot many times when raiding the Bundesliga for exciting young prospects?

Wirtz, indeed, is a fine example of this; he might not have kicked a ball on Merseyside yet, but the 22-year-old is destined for greatness.

Lukeba is only 22 and has already demonstrated his qualities superbly across the 2024/25 campaign, ranked among the top 13% of central defenders in Europe’s top five leagues for passes attempted, the top 20% for progressive passes, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, as well as the top 15% for aerial duel success rate, as per FBref.

His energy and hunger to win duels and fend off opposing forwards blends with a sharp technicality that Slot would use to instil calm through Liverpool’s backline. The progressiveness that we can observe through his attacking metrics only emphasises his wide-ranging skill set further.

Bundesliga Stats 24/25 – Castello Lukeba
Stats (* per game)	Lukeba
Matches (starts)	23 (18)
Goals	0
Assists	0
Touches*	65.4
Pass completion	87%
Key passes*	0.2
Dribbles*	0.9
Ball recoveries*	3.2
Tackles + interceptions*	2.0
Clearances*	3.0
Duels (won)*	4.0 (65%)
Data via Sofascore

This “leader”, as he’s been described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would follow Wirtz in being a young Bundesliga talent stepping into Slot’s squad to plug a gap and potentially rise toward the uppermost level of the game.

He has the potential, to be sure. Having already completed 72 appearances for Leipzig after transferring from French side Lyon, where he played 68 times after cutting his teeth in the club’s academy, there’s a wealth of experience which Liverpool could build upon.

Moreover, Lukeba has rebounded from injury setbacks throughout his youthful career in a similar vein to Wirtz, whose ACL injury as a teenager preceded his invincible domestic campaign of 2023/24 with Bayer Leverkusen, when he was crowned the Bundesliga Player of the Year.

Lukeba might not carry quite the same stock, but he’s an immensely talented defender targeted by one of the best clubs in the world.

Following Konate, Joel Matip, Bobby Firmino and more from making his way from Germany to Anfield, this young centre-half could define the coming era on Merseyside, along with Wirtz.

He betters Isak in key areas: Liverpool make the "next Mbappe" a key target

Liverpool are interested in signing a new striker this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 1, 2025

Nottingham Forest have made an offer to sign a new Brazilian forward who is also wanted by German giants Borussia Dortmund.

Nottingham Forest sign Jair Cunha after Igor Jesus

It has been an extremely eventful few days at the City Ground in the transfer market and in regards to their European spot for the 2025/26 season.

Anthony Elanga has joined Premier League rivals Newcastle United in a deal that could reach £55m, whereas Morgan Gibbs-White has been at the middle of a transfer saga involving Tottenham Hotspur.

There has been a new signing for the Reds, though, with defender Jair Cunha sealing his move to the Midlands from Botafogo. The 6ft 6 defender has been heavily linked with a move to Forest and now joins striker Igor Jesus at the City Ground, who also moved from the Brazilian side.

Nottingham Forest summer signings

From

Fee

Igor Jesus

Botafogo

£10m

Jair Cunha

Botafogo

£10m

Talking after the deal for Cunha was announced, Forest’s chief football officer Ross Wilson said: “Jair is a young talent who has shown quality during his time in Brazil, and we are happy to have secured his signature. Jair has flourished in Brazil and now has new ambitions as he moves to the Premier League. We know he will be warmly welcomed into the group here in Nottingham.”

Nottingham Forest make bid to sign 28 y/o who Spurs want with Gibbs-White

The update comes from the reliable David Ornstein.

ByHenry Jackson Jul 11, 2025

The 20-year-old has signed a five-year deal with Forest and could be an immediate part of Nuno Espirito Santo’s starting line-up next season. The Reds aren’t stopping there though when it comes to looking at the Brazilian market for new additions.

Nottingham Forest make offer for 18 y/o Brazilian forward

According to reports from Brazil, relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest have now made an offer to sign Santos forward Mateus Xavier.

The 18-year-old’s contract is set to expire in 2026, and it is claimed that he has also had enquiries from Borussia Dortmund, PSV Eindhoven and Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Forest are the ones who have made their move with an offer, though, and Xavier’s ‘representatives are considering the best option for him’. However, it is also claimed that Santos has made a new contract offer to Xavier and are confident of a renewal.

Called “highly rated” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Xavier is being backed to make the breakthrough into first team football and is capable of playing as a left winger, right winger or attacking midfielder.

He’s already made five senior appearances for Santos and has scored 10 goals in 36 games for their U20 side, and by the looks of things, Forest are looking to make him the third Brazilian through the door this summer.

Leeds United need to have a huge summer transfer window if they are to be successful during their first season back in the Premier League after a two-year absence.

Daniel Farke has led the Whites back to the promised land after securing the Championship title, with the German deserving of the opportunity to try and keep the club in the top-flight.

He’s been subject to a potential change, but the board have come out and publicly backed the 48-year-old to be a success and lead them to survival in 2025/26.

If he is to keep the club in the division, he will need backing in the transfer market, handing him the funds to make the additions he will certainly need to inject further quality into the squad.

With the window opening earlier this week, it presents the manager with the chance to improve various key areas of the side, leading to numerous names already being mentioned over a move to Elland Road.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new additions this summer

It’s been reported that Leeds could have a sum in the region of £100m to spend on new additions this summer, with key quality and depth needed all over the pitch.

The likes of James McAtee, Igor Paixao and Callum Wilson have all been key targets this summer, but as of yet, no progress has been made to take any of the trio to Yorkshire during the off-season.

However, a new name has entered the mix over recent days, with Getafe attacking midfielder Christantus Uche firmly on their radar, according to Spanish outlet Marca.

Their report claims that the Nigerian has a €25m (£21m) release clause in his deal, but that the Whites are preparing a move in the region of £17m for his signature.

The 22-year-old, who’s registered four goals and six assists in LaLiga this season, also has interest from Wolves and Brentford ahead of the summer – with Farke’s men needing to act quickly to land his signature.

Why Leeds’ £17m target could be Farke’s own Rodrigo

Back in the summer of 2020, Leeds splashed a fee in the region of £26m on Spanish star Rodrigo, looking to add serious quality to their front line ahead of their return to the top-flight.

He joined from LaLiga outfit Valencia, scoring seven goals in his first year in Yorkshire, helping Marcelo Bielsa’s side register a top-half Premier League finish.

The attacker would end up scoring 28 times in his 99 appearances for the Whites, subsequently departing the club after dropping back into the second tier in 2022/23.

Rodrigo’s contributions within the final third saw him become a fan favourite during his time at Elland Road, something which Uche could replicate if he joins the club this summer.

The Getafe star would follow in the Spaniard’s footsteps, potentially being their marquee signing in their first season back in the Premier League – also joining from another Spanish top-division outfit.

When delving into his stats from the current campaign, the Nigerian international has massively impressed, leading to his maiden call-up with his country this month against Jamaica.

His tally of 10 combined goals and assists will certainly give Farke the added threat in attacking areas he will crave in the top-flight, adding a new dimension to the club’s front line.

Christantus Uche’s stats for Getafe in LaLiga (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	33
Goals & assists	10
Chances created	1.1
Successful dribbles	1.2
Duels won	8.1
Aerials won	3.3
Touches in opposition box	4.1
Stats via FotMob

Uche, who’s been labelled a “monster” by talent scout Antonio Mango, has also created 1.1 chances per 90, along with 1.2 successful dribbles – having the skillset to take the ball into forward areas and cause the opposition havoc.

The youngster’s talents don’t stop there, winning 8.1 duels per 90, 3.3 of which were aerially, handing a serious threat from set pieces which could hand Farke an added dimension to his squad.

Such an all-round skillset showcases the talent that Uche possesses, only improving more over the next couple of years, especially considering his tender age of just 22.

Given the interest from other sides in England’s top-flight, the hierarchy will have to act quickly to avoid missing out on his signature, with the Nigerian having the tools to play a key role in their hopes of survival throughout 2025/26.

The next Sinisterra: Leeds make enquiry to sign £34m Solomon alternative

Leeds United could be about to replicate a deal that saw Luis Sinisterra move to Elland Road.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 4, 2025

Manchester United secured a remarkable quarter-final triumph over Lyon last night, producing a comeback Sir Alex Ferguson would’ve been proud of.

Ruben Amorim’s side looked to be on the verge of defeat, trailing 4-2 on the night, until three goals in seven minutes secured a place in the semi-final, setting up a clash with Athletic Club.

Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot before substitute Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire scored in the last couple of minutes to secure a phenomenal turnaround.

Such a win has kept the Red Devils’ hopes of ending the season with a trophy alive, now being just three games away from winning yet another European title.

However, despite the victory, numerous players failed to deliver at Old Trafford, potentially putting their starting role in the side at huge risk in the process.

Man Utd’s poor performers against Lyon

Striker Rasmus Hojlund was tasked with the responsibility of leading the line after Joshua Zirkzee was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury.

However, the Dane failed to take advantage of the opportunity handed his way, losing 12 duels – the most of any player on the pitch – whilst also failing to register a single effort on goal.

He wasn’t the only player to disappoint at the Theatre of Dreams, with Andre Onana shipping four goals on his return to the starting eleven after missing the defeat against Newcastle United.

The Cameroonian was helpless with a couple of the efforts, but only managed to complete 69% of the passes he attempted – often putting the backline under needless pressure.

However, despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other United player struggled to make a positive impact, with his time at the club needing to come to an end.

The United player who must never play for the club again

Whilst the side produced one of the best comebacks Old Trafford has ever seen, Amorim will have a few question marks to contend with over the next few months.

Hojlund’s lack of form will undoubtedly come into question once again, with his own future up in the air, potentially needing to be moved on to resurrect his once-promising career.

With the summer transfer window looming, a new striker will certainly be top of the manager’s shopping list, with serious firepower needing to be added to take the side back to the summit of the Premier League.

However, he also needs to make a brutal call on the future of Luke Shaw after his failure to impress off the substitutes bench in last night’s iconic turnaround.

The 29-year-old has been extremely prone to injuries over the last couple of years, adding to the list of reasons why he should be moved on during the off-season.

He was brought on to replace Noussair Mazraoui at the break, but struggled to make an impression, giving away the penalty that gave the visitors a two-goal advantage.

Shaw also only completed one of the four crosses he attempted, whilst also giving possession away five times – leading to journalist Adam Joseph labelling his showing as “disastrous”.

Minutes played

75

Touches

32

Passes completed

22/24 (92%)

Crosses completed

1/4 (25%)

Possession lost

5x

Penalties conceded

1

Ground duels won

0/2 (0%)

His disappointing showing didn’t stop there, losing 100% of the ground duels he entered, and failing to win a single tackle – struggling to make the desired impact at the back.

As a result of his showing, the defender was handed a measly 3/10 match rating by Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst, highlighting how disappointing he was off the bench.

His inability to produce an encouraging showing, whilst also taking his injury record into account, it’s crucial that Amorim makes the brutal decision to offload him during the upcoming window. Indeed, it would be no surprise if he does not feature again before the campaign is out.

He’s been an excellent servant to the club, but unfortunately he’s no longer at the level required if the side are to return to Premier League glory, needing fresh blood to help them in their quest next campaign.

Ugarte upgrade: Man Utd in advanced talks for "out of this world" £52m ace

Man Utd are looking to strengthen in midfield

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 17, 2025

The West Indies opener looks back on the best moments of his previous 99 Tests – his maiden century, the Headingley win, and the hundreds in Australia and South Africa

Interview by Andrew McGlashan02-Jul-2025On Thursday in Grenada, Kraigg Brathwaite will become the tenth West Indian to play 100 Tests. At his best, his powers of concentration have been legendary: he has faced the most balls by a West Indian batter in a Test.Runs have been harder to come by of late, and a new-look batting order needs him to perform, but his career is littered with some outstanding performances. Among the teams he’s played more than once, it’s only against India that is he missing a century. Brathwaite also captained the Test side on 39 occasions before stepping down earlier this year. And he holds one of the game’s quirkier stats for a player of this generation, having not played a single professional T20.”I was privileged to be captain when he played his first Test and to be coach now as he’s playing his 100th Test, 14 years later, it shows his contribution to the game,” West Indies coach Daren Sammy said. “I think that’s a great achievement. And I wish him all the best. I know his team will be rallying with him. It will be a special moment for him and also for the team.”On the eve of his landmark Test, Brathwaite spoke to ESPNcricinfo.Related

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Cricket's great divide: no quick fix to level the playing field

What does 100 Tests mean to you?
It means everything. Words to describe it would be pretty tough. You always want to play for the West Indies as a youngster, but to play 100 Tests was a dream. I’ll never forget when I was teenager, I was 14 years old, I would have done an interview and they asked me what my goals were. I remember one of my goals was to play 100 Tests.I think it’s quite amazing to go through the journey of 14 years playing for West Indies and seeing that goal come to fruition. I just want to be a role model, to hopefully inspire even just one youngster in the Caribbean to set their goals from a young age. Whether it’s 100 Tests, 300 one-dayers, playing in all the franchises around the world, whichever it may be, the key is to set a goal and work extremely hard throughout, through the ups and downs, to achieve it.But despite setting that goal, when you played your first Test, against Pakistan in 2011, did you think 100 was realistic?
Obviously, I’ll say no. Playing the first Test wasn’t the easiest. To say it at that time, that I would play 100, would be pretty hard. But from scoring my first hundred [against New Zealand in 2014] – I never thought I’d score a hundred for West Indies, I never thought I was that good, even though I was inspired to want to play – that really helped me get the confidence to go on.There have been a few periods where things really clicked for you: in 2014 you averaged over 77 and in 2022 you were named in the ICC Test team of the year. Do they stand out for you?
In 2014, I remember every series we played I scored a hundred. That was a very good patch for me. Then 2022 as well, those two really stood out for me. We played Bangladesh in 2022 and I made 95 or so [94], otherwise it would have been the same [a century in each series]. As a batsman that’s what you set out to do. I was obviously hoping that 2025 would be as good as those two periods.In West Indies’ famous win at Headingley in 2017, Brathwaite scored 134 and 95•Getty ImagesThe runs haven’t flowed of late. Where do you feel your batting is? Have you got another peak in you?
I still have that belief. I still feel ready and raring. I think it’s just an example of what Test cricket is; it’s a grind, especially as an opener, it’s never easy. You always have your ups and downs, so it’s about staying strong and believing in yourself. Test cricket is all about being mentally strong. I do believe I have those periods left in me.Is opening now as tough as it’s been? It’s a topic in Australian cricket, for example. Are pitches doing more?
I won’t say they’re doing anything different to normal, to be honest. Playing in the Caribbean is obviously never an easy place because pitches, especially early on, can be a bit slow and the ball gets a bit of a nip. But I won’t say the pitches have changed. I think the challenges as an opener still remain, regarding fielding for whether it’s 90 overs or 100 overs and having to run off for five minutes to change, then face world-class bowlers. Kudos to the bowling around the world. Each team pretty much has quality fast bowlers. So it’s always a mental grind for openers.Looking back on the 99 Tests from a batting perspective, can you pick out some highlights?
I can never forget the maiden hundred. At the time I was in total disbelief that I could actually score a hundred for West Indies. But moving on from there, the hundred [against Pakistan] in Sharjah; for me as an opener, I always dream about being there at the end, especially in the second innings, for the team. And to be able to do that in both innings was quite special for me. That was Jason Holder’s first win as captain, so very special.Then Headingley [in 2017] as well. There’s a bit of back story behind that. We lost the first Test, so to come back and play two innings like that to help us to win was quite amazing. But also, and this is just an example of opening the batting, it was my first tour to England and we had three county games before the first Test. I barely got any runs. Mentally, you are really doubting yourself at times.Brathwaite’s advice to young cricketers: “Dream big first. Set your goals from a young age. And then you’ve got to work hard. It’s a a long journey playing red-ball cricket”•Nick Potts/PA Photos/Getty ImagesGoing into the first Test, I made zero in the first innings. It’s not easy place to be. But that’s just the example of having to keep having that inward belief. When that bowler runs up and bowls the ball, pacer or spinner, you’ve got to have that deep belief in yourself. In the second innings of the first Test, I got 30-odd [40], then the second game we won and I got runs. That was just a great example for me as a player and as an opener of what it really takes to do well in this career. You’ve got to be mentally tough. So those were special.But then, emotion-wise, when I got the hundreds in Australia [in Perth in 2022] and in South Africa [in Gqeberha in 2014] – they were both No. 1 [teams] at the time. For me, that was very, very special. We drew one and lost one but those two against the No. 1 team meant a lot.Have you always prided yourself on your powers of concentration?
For sure. When I was young, 10 or 11, I used to bat really fast and hit a lot of boundaries, a lot of sixes. But as I got older, I started to buckle down. I always understood my strengths and weaknesses from a young age. I still knew what I was good at aggressively and not going for other things. But as I developed, I understood playing the longer format.I remember there was an intermediate game back home. I got out playing a bad shot, looking for something that wasn’t there. The next week – because it plays on weekends – two of the guys scored a double and a 180. From there I decided I’ve really got to buckle down. The next game I made a double.That was an example of taking your time and waiting for your strengths. You know your weaknesses, you don’t go too hard at them. And that stood with me throughout my career. Playing for West Indies, it’s always my job, and I knew once I could bat at least two sessions as opener, it will only benefit the team.Brathwaite captained West Indies in 39 Tests, winning ten, including famous victories in Chattogram, Brisbane and Multan•AFP/Getty ImagesDo you think there will be an opportunity for more West Indians to reach 100 Tests?
There’s a lot of talk about it in recent years. At the end of the day, we need all the teams; we need South Africa, they’ve just won the Test Championship, we need West Indies. I think eventually we’ll get to ten-plus Tests in a year, hopefully. Right now, we’re averaging probably between six to eight a year. So, obviously, that would take a younger guy playing for a number of years to get up to 100. But I do believe that in time we will get more games. I can see it happening. I think there’s a lot of youngsters that are spurred to want to play for West Indies.Is there one opener you’ve especially enjoyed batting with?
I’ve enjoyed batting with them all, because I’ve batted with a number of openers, but John Campbell. For me, the bond is quite special because we played from Under-15, then to U-19s and senior cricket. So that one will always remain. We have good camaraderie.Having not played any T20s in this era does stand out. How has that played out? Would you still like to play?
To say I still want to play, it’s pretty foreign. But it’s something I wanted to do. I played a few 50-over games [for West Indies] but I missed a few regional tournaments in the Caribbean, so I was never really able to put my case to get back in the one-day team. Not being able to play 50-overs, it’s pretty tough to play T20s. It’s just how it went. I’d have loved to have played T20, it just didn’t work out. But you never know, there’s a lot of leagues about.If you had advice for a next-generation batter who has that dream of 100 Tests, what would it be?
Dream big first. Set your goals from a young age. Obviously that inward belief in yourself is very important. And then you’ve got to be disciplined, you’ve got to work hard. Things won’t always be easy. It’s a long process, a long journey playing red-ball cricket.But the main thing is, regardless of success or failure, do your routine. Whatever it is, in terms of running, gym, hard work at home, after a series, you don’t ever stop it. You do well, you’ve had a purple patch, a great year, you don’t sit back on your laurels and think that, okay, I’m done working, I’ve received or retained a contract and I’m happy. To be able to do it year-in, year-out through all the success and failure – because there’s way more failure than success, especially in red-ball cricket. But it’s about believing and dreaming it because you can do anything you put your mind to.

It ended with honours even, but on most counts – especially the run-scoring charts – England left Australia well behind

Sampath Bandarupalli01-Aug-20232:24

Stokes ‘proud’ of England team and ‘inspiring’ Stuart Broad

England go bang-bang, Australia do the grind1.39 – The difference in the scoring rates of the two sides. England went at 4.74, while Australia’s run rate was 3.35. This was the highest difference between two teams in a series of four or more Tests, topping the 1.32 in favour of Australia against South Africa during their home series in 1931-32.ESPNcricinfo Ltd10.06 – Percentage of balls left alone by England batters in this series. Australia batters did the same to 19.25% of the deliveries they faced, almost twice that of England.36 – Maiden overs faced by England in the series out of the 645 completed overs. Australia batted out 171 maidens out of 894 completed overs, which meant the England bowlers earned a maiden once every five overs, while it was one in every 19 for Australia.1 – England batted 90-plus overs in this series only once of the seven times they were bowled out. In contrast, Australia lasted 90-plus overs on seven occasions, including in six out of the eight innings where they were bowled out.ESPNcricinfo Ltd4.41 – Difference in the batting averages of England (34.35) and Australia (29.94) during this series. This was the first time England ended an Ashes series with a higher batting average than Australia since the 2013 edition, also in England.England redefine Test-match battingNot only did England top Australia in terms of scoring rates, they also showed that their method was not just about big hitting, but scoring at a steady – and fast – clip right through their innings.4.74 – England’s run rate in this Ashes was comfortably the highest for any team in a Test series of four-plus matches. Australia held the record at 4.26, from the 2001 Ashes in England.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2 – Instances of a team not winning the Ashes series despite winning the first two matches, including Australia in 2023. England failed to win the 1936-37 tour of Australia after going 2-0 up as Australia bounced back with three straight wins to win the series.6 – Batters with 300-plus runs for England in this series, including four who ended the series striking at 70-plus and averaging 40-plus – Zak Crawley, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow.Never before have four players scored 300-plus runs in a Test series with a 40-plus average and a 70-plus strike rate, let alone four players from the same team (where data of balls faced is available). The nearest example was of three players doing the same in the 2001 Ashes, all for Australia – Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist.5.27 – Percentage of completed maiden overs faced by England in this series, the lowest for a team in a Test series of four-plus matches. The previous lowest was for Australia against West Indies in 2003, where only 8.13% of the overs they faced were maidens (65 out of 800).