Overseas star carries his bat in 144-ball 143 to give his side four wins from four

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay15-Aug-2025Gloucestershire 289 for 5 (Bancroft 143*) beat Glamorgan 288 for 9 (Byrom 94, Northeast 52, van Buuren 3-33) by five wicketsCameron Bancroft scored a superbly-judged unbeaten hundred to guide Gloucestershire to a convincing five-wicket victory over Glamorgan and extend their winning start to the Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign to four games at Bristol’s Seat Unique Stadium.Set 290 to win and retain top spot in Group A, Gloucestershire were indebted to their overseas star, who carried his bat in posting 143 from 144 balls, striking 17 fours and two sixes and sharing in stands of 72 and 84 with Ben Charlesworth and Graeme van Buuren for the third and fifth wickets respectively as the home side reached their target with 20 balls to spare.Recalled to the team, allrounder van Buuren had earlier claimed 3 for 33 with the ball to ensure Eddie Byrom’s outstanding innings of 94 from 108 balls was made in a losing cause. Byrom staged a stand of 127 in 22.1 overs for the second wicket with Sam Northeast, who raised a 59-ball 52 after Gloucestershire had won the toss. Dan Douthwaite weighed in with a hard-hitting 43, but seamers Matt Taylor and Josh Shaw took three wickets apiece to restrict the Welsh county to 289 for 9.Gloucestershire remain the only side to boast a 100 percent record after four matches, but 2024 competition winners Glamorgan are still seeking their first victory and will have to win all of their remaining fixtures if they are to stand any chance of making the knockout stages.Gloucestershire inserted their neighbours on a flat surface and Matt Taylor struck an early blow, luring Asa Tribe into driving low to mid-off in the second over.Initially tied down by nagging line and length, Byrom and Northeast eventually broke the shackles, both heaving Taylor over the mid-wicket boundary rope as their alliance raised 50 in 49 balls.Gloucestershire engineered an opportunity with the advent of Ollie Price’s off-breaks, Northeast hitting to deep midwicket on 19. Although Zaman Akhter took the catch, his momentum carried him over the boundary and the batter enjoyed a fortuitous escape. There were no such issues for Byrom, who moved smoothly to a 46-ball half-century with his seventh four, a fluent straight drive off Craig Miles.The hundred partnership occupied 16.4 overs as Gloucestershire’s seamers struggled to contain the second-wicket pair, who were further aided by some uncharacteristically loose fielding from the Group A leaders. Making good his earlier escape, Northeast posted 50 from 57 balls, only to give van Buuren’s slow left arm the charge and be stumped by James Bracey immediately afterwards with the score 135 for 2.This was the breakthrough Gloucestershire had been wanting and experienced allrounder van Buuren then removed the in-form Kiran Carlson for nine in his next over, Glamorgan’s captain nicking behind as the visitors slipped to 151 for 3 at the halfway stage. Welsh ambition required Byrom to bat on and register a substantial score, but the Zimbabwe-born left-hander fell to a superb catch by Tommy Boorman on the deep square leg boundary as van Buuren struck another potentially crucial blow.Byrom had provided the innings with a solid platform but with the score 194 for 4 in the 35th, Gloucestershire felt they were back in the game, an impression confirmed when Will Smale edged a catch behind off the bowling of Matt Taylor and departed for 26.Just when Glamorgan looked as though they might fall short, Douthwaite launched a counter-attack, including four sixes and dominating a stand of 52 in 7.2 over for the sixth wicket with Zain-ul-Hassan before falling to the returning Shaw.Bracey afforded Gloucestershire’s chase a super-charged start, raising 34 from 25 balls in an opening stand of 43 in 5.3 overs with Bancroft. But Ned Leonard redressed the balance in his first over, taking two wickets in three balls to reduce the home side to 43 for 2. Bracey was caught at the wicket and then Price was out slashing at a delivery outside off stump, Northeast palming the ball into the air for Tribe to complete the dismissal at first slip.Bancroft and Charlesworth responded to adversity in positive fashion, finding the gaps and running hard between the wickets to add 50 in 10 overs and rebuild the innings without taking undue risk. Having contributed 37 to a stand of 72 for the third wicket, Charlesworth then lost concentration, lofting Carlson to wide long-off where Douthwaite took a superb catch on the run to reduce the home side to 115 for 3 in the 20th.Undeterred, Bancroft went to 50 from 59 balls and he and Jack Taylor advanced the score to 145 for 3 at halfway, at which point Gloucestershire were required to score a further 145 at 5.8 an over. The home side’s task was rendered more difficult when Taylor was deemed to have feathered a catch behind off the bowling of Harris in the 26th.Guiding the pursuit thereafter, Bancroft moved to his sixth career List-A hundred off 100 balls by lifting Andy Gorvin over the long-on boundary. He found an able ally in van Buuren, who proved especially strong off the back foot, scoring at a run a ball to ensure the rate stayed below six an over.Glamorgan lost wicketkeeper Alex Horton to a hand injury and he was replaced behind the stumps by Smale, but Gloucestershire’s fifth-wicket pair were already in control, combining deft placement with quick running to keep the scoreboard moving. Harris returned to pin van Buuren lbw for 36, but Boorman contributed a brisk 27 not out to an unbroken stand of 57 for the sixth wicket with Bancroft to calm any nerves and render the outcome a formality.

The Baltimore Orioles hosted the Toronto Blue Jays for a doubleheader on Tuesday, with both games played at Camden Yards. In between the two games, the teams’ front offices got a bit of business done.

After game one, the Orioles agreed to trade relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez to the Blue Jays. As there was another game to be played, that meant Dominguez was to report directly to the visiting clubhouse to join up with his new team.

Cameras captured the awkward moment as the reliever was guided through the stadium, from one locker room to the other, by a member of the Blue Jays organization as he set off to meet his new teammates.

It wasn't a long journey for Dominguez, despite being traded to MLB's only international organization.

It's the second year in a row that he was traded mid-season, having gone from the Phillies to the Orioles at last year's trade deadline, and now from Baltimore to Toronto this season. It will certainly be interesting to see if he's in his new Blue Jays uniform and in the bullpen for the second leg of the doubleheader.

Across 43 appearances, Dominguez, 30, owns a 3.24 ERA with 54 strikeouts over 43 1/3 innings.

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Aos 32 anos, Oscar está próximo do fim de contrato com o Shanghai Port e está disposto a voltar a jogar no Brasil, segundo a “Goal”. Neste momento, Flamengo, Internacional, Corinthians e São Paulo fizeram contato com o entorno do meia para saber as condições da contratação.

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➡ Sábado de alegria! Aposte R$100 na Lance! Betting e fature mais de R$400 com Flamengo, Palmeiras, Grêmio, Bayern e City!

No meio do ano, o atleta terá a possibilidade de assinar um pré-contrato com outro clube, uma vez que seu vínculo com a equipe chinesa se encerra em dezembro de 2024. Com isso, os quatro gigantes brasileiros começam a se planejar para a temporada de 2025.

O Colorado é o que está mais interessado na contratação de Oscar e mantém conversas semanais com o estafe do atleta. Inclusiva, o técnico Eduardo Coudet já afirmou publicamente o desejo pela chegada do veterano, que já vestiu a camisa do Internacional.

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O Flamengo buscou a contratação do meia em 2022, mas não conseguiu entrar em acordo com os chineses. O Rubro-Negro é visto como uma equipe que tem condições de oferecer boa estrutura e um bom projeto esportivo.

Por outro lado, as equipes de São Paulo correm por fora na disputa. Oscar sabe que precisará passar por uma readequação salarial e está disposto a reduzir seus ganhos para voltar ao Brasil na reta final de sua carreira.

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Nicolas Jackson will return to Stamford Bridge at the end of his loan spell at Bayern Munich, as it is impossible for the Chelsea striker to reach the requisite number of appearances to trigger the obligation to buy clause in his deal. The 24-year-old joined the German champions this summer on a year-long loan, after forcing his way out of the west London club.

• AFP
  

  Jackson automatic permanent deal impossible

  The Senegalese striker joined the German champions on a year-long deal for an initial fee of £14.2m at the end of the summer transfer window. A further fee of £56.2m, initiating a permanent switch for Jackson, would be triggered as soon as the ex-Villareal man hit a minimum number of starts or appearances of at least 45 minutes for the club. Earlier this season, Bayern president Uli Hoeness revealed the threshold was 40 starts in the Bundesliga and Champions League. Jackson has made just six qualifying appearances thus far. 

  With Bayern able to play in just 33 more games in both competitions for the remainder of the season, the Rekordmesiters are under no obligation to make Jackson's transfer permanent. Furthermore, Jackson's temporary tenure with Bayern will also be broken up by the Africa Cup of Nations, with the 25-year-old an integral member of Pape Thiaw's squad. The continental tournament will take place between December 21 and January 18, potentially ruling Jackson out of five games should Senegal reach the final. 

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• Jackson's acrimonious Chelsea exit

  Jackson's departure from west London took an acrimonious turn, as the Blues attempted to block the player's move to Germany at the last moment. Recent signing Liam Delap's hamstring injury left Chelsea short in attack, prompting the Premier League outfit to cancel the deal. Jackson's agent, the former Portsmouth, West Brom and Fulham striker Diomansy Kamara, and Bayern's top brass managed to push the deal through. 

  Comments made by Kamara suggest the relationship between Jackson and his parent club are irredeemable, and a permanent deal with Bayern is still on the cards despite his lack of starts. The agent suggested his client's relationship with Enzo Maresca has hit the rocks, with the Italian manager unimpressed by Jackson's ill discipline. The Senegalese striker entered the 2025/26 season suspended in the Premier League, while he also picked up a red card during Chelsea's Club World Cup campaign in the summer. 

• Kamara's comments over Jackson's future

  When asked if he could see Jackson returning to west London, Kamara told Canal+ Sport: "Absolutely not. Absolutely not.

  "Today at Chelsea, the relationship with (Enzo) Maresca isn't necessarily the best. We're never going to bite the hand that feeds us because Chelsea allowed him to find the European level.

  "He was there for two years and scored 30 goals, so he always had a good relationship. After, it's true that the red cards complicated it at Chelsea. Today, we're looking towards Bayern having a good season. We will see what is best for him. But it's true that Bayern is a priority for him for a long time."

  On Hoeness' comments regarding the 40 appearance clause, Kamara said: "It's a war of egos between the two clubs. He even rowed back on his comments. It's true that there is a saga around the transfer.

  "It was a loan without an obligation to buy. We did a little pushing and said he did not want to return to Chelsea. The clubs reached an agreement. There was talk around how many matches Nico would have to play for an obligatory option.

  "Nico's objective isn't to play 40 matches. If he scores 15 goals by December, they're not going to say play 40 matches."

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• AFP
  

  Jackson's future up in the air

  Kamara is obviously projecting a bullish picture for the betterment of his client's future prospects, however, there is scant evidence to back up his confidence. Jackson is very much second fiddle to Harry Kane in Munich, and as long as the England captain is fit, he will fall well short of the number of appearances or goals that will make him an attractive permanent proposition for the Bavarian giants. 

Full-time mom, Cricket Scotland administrator and elite sportsperson. She doesn’t want to have any regrets later

Shashank Kishore06-Oct-2024Abbi Aitken-Drummond has a full-time role as the executive assistant to Cricket Scotland’s CEO in her day job. Away from work, she co-parents her 13-month-old daughter. Between these two demanding roles, she plays cricket, and is now, quite incredibly, part of Scotland’s maiden T20 World Cup 2024 squad.Aitken-Drummond, 33, is one of Scotland’s longest-serving players, having first come into the set-up in 2003-04 at the age of 14. She captained from 2008 to 2015 and was more recently the team manager at the 2023 Women’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa to players she now calls colleagues.”The other day, we were chatting about our journeys and Olivia Bell told me she was one year old when I made my debut,” Aitken-Drummond tells ESPNcricinfo. “I was like, ‘Wow, thanks for making me feel so old’ ().”Related

• Powerplay podcast: First impressions from the Women's T20 World Cup

• Bryce sisters to lead Scotland at Women's T20 World Cup 2024

For Aitken-Drummond, the World Cup seemed like an afterthought, especially after she had to miss the Qualifiers to be on parental leave. But she made the push when a second shot at being part of a history-making squad presented itself.”I knew it wasn’t a right that I’d be back when available,” she says. “I had to work for it. I played for Scotland A with county teams in England [during the build-up], featured for Scotland in a tri-series with Netherlands and Papua New Guinea. But in my mind, I wasn’t sure I’d done enough.”But upon her return to Edinburgh, when Aitken-Drummond received an unexpected phone call from Cricket Scotland, her heart fluttered. “It was our head of performance to tell me I’d been picked,” she remembers.”When my phone rang, I was actually eager to know which of my phones were ringing: work phone or personal phone. I was kind of hoping it wouldn’t be the work phone () because it would’ve then been some admin-related stuff.”When the phone rang, in my mind I was like ‘this is now or never. Which phone is it?’ And then I saw his name pop up on my personal phone. I kind of knew it was about selection. Had I known we’d get calls that day, I may have been beside the phone, restless all day. It’s a good thing I didn’t know when the squad was being picked.”

“I know just being part of the 15, whether I play or not, I can provide a lot of support. I’ve been team manager to four of them in the past and I’d like to think my door is always open.”Abbi Aitken-Drummond

Aitken-Drummond isn’t privy to sensitive matters, such as selection, despite being a Cricket Scotland employee. It’s a boundary she has learnt to draw having juggled a career as a player and administrator. Having studied Event Management in university, Aitken-Drummond has loved to apply some of her learnings to “this side of the rope as well as the other side.””Most players tend to go down the coaching path, but my passion lies in the administration,” she says. “Our CEO Trudy Lindblade has been in the role for eight months now. She’s my line manager back home, but over here [in the UAE] she’s like, ‘we’re not speaking work. Focus on your game and enjoy it.’ I’ve been away from my laptop, enjoying being on this side of the fence.”Aitken-Drummond had to put in long days – sometimes they stretch 18 hours – to make this journey possible. The motivation for her daughter to say, “my mum played in Scotland’s first World Cup” and for her partner [Annette Drummond, former Scotland player] to “live a dream she missed out on” pushed her.”It has needed a whole new level of organisation skills,” she says. “I’m at work for 10 hours a day, four days a week – Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm. Quite often I’m able to work from home, so that helps being around our daughter. Then I head to the nets for my training. No two days are the same. It’s so much easier when you have a routine, but that’s been challenging.”Sometimes, it’s not possible and then I’d feel that guilt of not training enough. But I also recognise if you’re not able to sleep enough, those gym sessions are unlikely to be productive either. So, I’ve learnt to be flexible about these things. So, most days after dinner, when I’ve put my daughter to sleep, I head over to the gym, try sneak in a session or two indoors. It’s tough to juggle everything, but you try and do as best as you can.”I don’t want to look back and regret these small things later on, they grow up quick. But I’m really grateful to my partner for the support. This wouldn’t be possible without her. She pushed me, saying, ‘I don’t want you to regret later, this is your chance, go get it.'”For the moment, Aitken-Drummond is happy being part of the group, irrespective of her role within the set-up. “If you’d told me 20 years ago Scotland would play in a women’s World Cup, I’d have laughed.”The big goal was to make sure I was here. I know just being part of the 15, whether I play or not, I can provide a lot of support. I’ve been team manager to four of them in the past and I’d like to think my door is always open.”I enjoy one-on-one sessions. If girls are struggling, happy or overwhelmed – just be there for them. Any game I play, I play like it’s my last. Life changes quickly, juggling so many priorities, I don’t want to regret that I could’ve potentially played my last game not having known that. So, I tried each day as it comes.”

يستعد الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد لاستكمال مبارياته في الموسم الحالي 2025/2026 بعد الفوز على أولمبياكوس ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على أولمبياكوس في اليونان، في الجولة الخامسة لمرحلة الدوري، دوري أبطال أوروبا 2025-2026، على ملعب “جورجيوس كارايسكاكيس”.

ونجح ريال مدريد في تحقيق فوز صعب على أولمبياكوس برباعية مقابل ثلاثة أهداف في المباراة التي جمعتهما اليوم، الأربعاء.

وافتتح أولمبياكوس أهداف المباراة في الدقيقة 8 عن طريق تشيكينيو بعدما سدد كرة قوية على يمين الحارس لونين.

ونجح كيليان مبابي في تسجيل أربع أهداف “سوبر هاتريك” بقميص ريال مدريد أمام أولمبياكوس ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

واستطاع مبابي تسجيل أهدافه الثلاثة “هاتريك” في 6 دقائق و42 ثانية، إذ سجل على الترتيب في الدقائق (22، 24، 29) ليصبح بذلك ثاني أسرع هاتريك يُسجل في تاريخ دوري أبطال أوروبا.

اقرأ أيضًا | ترتيب هدافي دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد سوبر هاتريك مبابي في مباراة ريال مدريد وأولمبياكوس

جاء هدف التعادل لـ مبابي بعد تمريرة بوجه القدم الخارجي من فينيسيوس جونيور جعلته ينفرد بالمرمى وسجلها بنجاح مبابي، ثم أضاف الهدف الثاني من ضربة رأس بعد عرضية رائعة من أردا جولر.

وسجل مبابي الهدف الثالث له والثالث في اللقاء بعد تمريرة ولا أروع من كامافينجا لينفرد بالحارس مرة أخرى ويسدد الكرة في شباك حارس الفريق اليوناني.

ثم في الدقيقة 52 نجح مهدي طارمي، في تقليص الفارق وتسجيل الهدف الثاني لصالح أولمبياكوس، لكن سرعان ما قضى مبابي على آمال الفريق اليوناني مستغلًا تمريرة فينيسيوس الرائعة ليضع الكرة بسهولة في المرمى.

لكن في الدقيقة 81 نجح أيوب الكعبي في تسجيل الهدف الثالث لصالح أولمبياكوس بعد عودة الحكم الإنجليزي مايكل أوليفر إلى تقنية الفيديو.

بتلك النتيجة، رفع ريال مدريد رصيده من النقاط إلى 12 نقطة بالمركز الخامس في جدول ترتيب دوري أبطال أوروبا. أهداف مباراة ريال مدريد وأولمبياكوس اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

Fluminense's president has denied rumours linking his club with Neymar. Mario Bittencourt took to his X account to release a strongly worded statement, categorically refuting reports the Tricolor had made an approach for the Santos star. Speculation over a transfer was fuelled by comments made by Fluminense's head of physiotherapy, after he called Neymar, the "last genius of Brazilian football".

Neymar's links to Fluminense

Nilton Petrone, known as File made the comments on the Setor Sul Podcast. Further fuel was added to the rumours, as reports emerged that Tiago Silva was lobbying the club to make an approach for his longtime international teammate and close friend. 

These reports come months after Neymar was close to signing for the Tricolor for the duration of the Club World Cup. Bittencourt agreed to the idea with Flumienense's coach at the time, Renato Gaucho. The ex-Barcelona and PSG star admitted that the short-term loan "almost happened", however, after consulting with his father and agent he decided to remain at Santos to focus on his recovery. 

Speaking in an interview during the tournament, the 33-year-old said: “I was having these conversations with some teams to play the World Cup. Fluminense was something that came very close to happening, but I preferred to stay and train more to come back even better.” 

AdvertisementFluminense president refutes Neymar rumours

Bittencourt's statement read: "Regarding Neymar, I clarify that there has been no recent contact between Fluminense and the player, or his staff. Fluminense has immense respect for Santos and, obviously, the club and the player are 100% dedicated to winning the remaining games in the Brazilian Championship."

Neymar struggling for form following Santos return

Neymar returned to his former club after a torrid spell with Al-Hilal. The winger played just seven games during his time in Saudi Arabia, as persistent injuries blighted his big money move. 

The switch to Santos at the start of 2025 was supposed to facilitate a push for Brazil's World Cup squad next summer, however, more injury problems and a poor run of form makes that goal look less and less likely. In 25 games for Peixe since his return, Neymar has scored six goals and provided three assists. However, he has failed to score since a brace against Juventude in August. Santos currently sit in the relegation zone of Brazil's Serie A with six games left to play. 

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Getty Images SportNeymar's contract situation makes future unclear

Neymar is under contract with the club until the end of 2025, after he signed a six month extension to his initial deal in June; there is an option for a further half-a-year deal once that agreement expires. The club's president Marcelo Teixeira has boasted about the 33-year-old's impact on the club's revenue and reach, however, if they are unable to stay in the top division, any extension would be highly unlikely.

Given the many anecdotal and genuine links between Neymar and Fluminense, it would appear a market for his services would materialise, should he decide to move on from Santos. As long as this "genius" wants to play, and to represent his country, there will likely always be a club willing to take a punt on his extraordinary talent, 

Stokes said that given the quick turnaround, he didn’t want to risk any of his frontline bowlers getting injured

Shashank Kishore27-Jul-20251:19

Harmison: ‘A little bit farcical towards the end’

India’s decision to bat on and not call off the game at the start of the mandatory final 15 overs was a decision left to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, India captain Shubman Gill said after India secured a hard-fought draw in Manchester to keep the series alive at 1-2.Jadeja was unbeaten on 89 and Washington on 80 at the start of the last hour with India on 386 for 4, when Ben Stokes offered to shake hands for a draw. India, however, decided to bat on. “It was up to the boys,” Gill said when asked whose decision it was to stay on. “I thought they both batted brilliantly, both were in their 90s. We thought they deserved a century there.”The game was called off as soon as both batters brought up their hundreds. This was Jadeja’s second in England and Washington’s first in Tests; the pair put on an unbroken 203-run stand for the fifth wicket to secure a draw.Related

Drawn out, but never dull – India's Old Trafford escape rekindles the art of Test survival

Cricket must be played by the rules, not Stokes' moral code

Gill, Washington, Jadeja tons script India's great escape

“Very pleased with the batting effort,” Gill said. “The past couple of days, we’ve been put under a lot of pressure. The way we responded after losing two early wickets, it’s never easy but it was a very brave effort.”India head coach Gautam Gambhir agreed with Gill. “If someone is batting on 90 and the other one is batting on 85, wouldn’t they deserve a hundred? Would they have walked off if someone from England side would’ve been batting on 90 or 85? If someone has the opportunity to get his first Test hundred, wouldn’t you allow him to do it? They weather the storm. It’s up to them. If they want to play that way, that’s up to them. I’ve got nothing more to say. I think both those guys deserve a hundred and fortunately they got it in the end.”Stokes, meanwhile, said that given the quick turnaround between the Tests, he did not want to risk his frontline bowlers getting injured as the reason behind offering to shake hands once the last hour began.”We were willing to take it as far as we possibly could and throw everything at them that we did, but it got to that point where there was obviously only one result left on the table and I wasn’t going to be risking any of my frontline bowlers in a situation like that, especially when we’ve got a quick turnaround,” Stokes told the . “The only other person who actually has any bowling workload in them is Harry Brook.3:12

‘Would they have walked off?’ – Gambhir on Stokes’ draw offer

“He does actually work on that kind of stuff, but I did have to say to him, ‘please don’t do anything stupid’. We’ve been out in the field for 200-and-whatever overs, we’ve got a quick turnaround, so just do what needs to be done. I said don’t do anything daft: don’t pull a side, don’t pull a hamstring. We knew what was going on there.”While appreciating Jadeja’s and Washington’s knocks, Stokes said the “10 more runs” the duo wanted to get for their respective centuries wouldn’t have changed the fact that they got their team out of a tricky situation.”The knock that those two played was very, very good,” he said at the press conference. “The situation that India found themselves in there, with us opening the game slightly, that partnership was massive. You hold your hands up – they played incredibly, incredibly well. And I don’t think there would’ve been too much more satisfaction from walking off a hundred not out, getting your team out of a tricky situation, than walking off at 80, 90 not out. That’s what you’ve done for your team. You know, the 10 more runs or whatever it was ain’t gonna change the fact that you’ve managed to get your team out of a very, very, very tricky situation and almost saved your team from a series defeat before the last game.”India resumed the final day on 174 for 2, still trailing England by 137 runs, with KL Rahul and Gill having got together in the first over on day four with the score reading 0 for 2. Gill said the plan was “about taking the wicket out of the equation.””Day five wicket, something keeps happening, every ball is an event,” he said. “We wanted to play ball by ball, take the game as deep as possible. That’s what we spoke about.”On asked about his learnings as a Test captain four games in, Gill said, he’d learned “a lot of things.””Every match going up until the last session of the last day … so many learnings,” he said. “Each Test match teaches you something different, four matches as a group has also taught a lot. Hopefully, we can draw the series if we win the next match.”

While Sunderland stole many of the plaudits in the summer for their outrageous transfer activity, with £100m+ splashed out on new recruits, Leeds United were arguably a tad more methodical in their approach when winning themselves some gems from all around Europe.

Daniel Farke and Co. are already thanking their lucky stars that they gambled on acquiring both Anton Stach and Noah Okafor from Hoffenheim and AC Milan, respectively, with a combined four goal contributions already picked up by the promising midfield duo in Premier League action.

In defence, Gabriel Gudmundsson also already looks like a steal in the left-back spot, having only cost £10m to snap up from Lille, while Lucas Perri was agonisingly close to his first clean sheet in his new location up against West Ham United last time out.

But, away from all these names mentioned, Sean Longstaff rightly sticks out as the best bit of business Leeds signed off on over a bumper summer, with the Premier League-experienced 27-year-old very much allowing the Whites to tick so far this season from the middle of the park.

Why Longstaff is one of Leeds' best signings

Already, the £12m summer purchase feels as if he has been in and around Elland Road for some time.

Longstaff has played a part in all nine of Leeds’ league matches so far this season on their return to the daunting top-flight, and while there have been some nerves on display as they navigate the choppy waters of the top division, the Newcastle-born midfielder has cut a cool and composed figure throughout.

Longstaff’s PL numbers for Leeds (25/26)

Stat – per 90 mins*

Longstaff

Games played

9

Goals scored

1

Assists

2

Touches*

46.2

Accurate passes*

27.1 (85%)

Key passes*

2.0

Big chances created

5

Tackles*

3.0

Ball recoveries*

3.0

Total duels won*

5.0

Stats by Sofascore

Having seen his career at his boyhood Magpies fizzle out, Longstaff clearly knew – from the get-go at his new employers – that he needed to prove himself, and he has certainly done that when looking at the table above.

Already, the brand-new number eight has chipped in with one goal and two assists from a central position on the pitch, but he has offered up far more than just a goal threat, with an average of five duels won per contest enabling Farke’s men to see out some tight contests.

Accumulating five big chances being created, too, has even led to some bold shouts that Longstaff is Leeds’ second coming of Pablo Hernandez, as Farke now potentially attempts to recreate the magic of this shrewd deal in January by landing another classy top-flight veteran when the transfer window swings back open.

Leeds considering another Longstaff-style signing

It has been some turnaround for Longstaff since ditching the home comforts of Tyneside, with zero goals or assists falling into his lap during his final campaign at Eddie Howe’s Toon.

Ross Barkley will hope he can similarly breathe life back into his waning playing days at Elland Road if rumours are to be believed, with a report from The Leeds Press revealing that the West Yorkshire outfit is considering a move for the reserve Aston Villa presence, who even once had a short-term loan stint at Leeds way back in 2013.

Now, he could be returning, again on loan, but this time as a far more experienced option, as Leeds reportedly weigh up a move for an attacking midfielder in the window, and while he has struggled to break into Emery’s first team picture as of late, he is certainly a classy operator on his day.

Indeed, this fiercely struck effort against Leicester City earlier in the year is just one of seven goals Barkley has put away for the Villans, meaning he definitely has a similar eye for a goal to that of Longstaff.

Barkley’s PL record

Stat

Barkley

Games played

287

Goals scored

37

Assists

34

Sourced by Transfermarkt

More importantly, too, the 31-year-old has also shone before in a team that is attempting to beat the drop in Luton Town – as seen in his weighty five goals and seven assists for the then troubled Hatters – and became a beloved fan favourite, subsequently, with one of his teammates in Andros Townsend at Kenilworth Road even hailing him as “unbelievable” to play alongside.

It could well be, much like Longstaff, that Barkley comes back into his own in West Yorkshire, with the well-travelled attacking midfielder also being dubbed as “exquisite” by his former Everton manager in Roberto Martinez, for his skilful approach on the pitch.

The £60k-per-week star is somewhat fading away at Villa Park, though, with just 30 minutes of action handed to him this season.

Yet, if he relocates to Leeds this coming January, he could end up rebuilding his career before it’s too late, just as Longstaff has already done this season.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Oct 28, 2025

Spinner takes four to restrict Northamptonshire to 189 before fifties from Sam Robson and Ben Geddes

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay24-Aug-2025Middlesex 192 for 6 (Robson 67, Geddes 51) beat Northamptonshire 189 (Vasconcelos 62, Gohar 4-39) by four wicketsSam Robson and Ben Geddes both struck half-centuries as Middlesex coasted to victory over Northamptonshire to maintain their hopes of a knockout place in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.Robson hit 67 from 70 balls, while skipper Geddes followed up his List A best of 141 not out against Kent with 51 from as many deliveries to propel the visitors across the line at Wantage Road with 17.3 overs unused.The Steelbacks were bowled out for 189 in 38.1 overs despite a third-wicket stand of 108 between Ricardo Vasconcelos and Rob Keogh, who both registered their first half-centuries of the tournament.But their last eight wickets fell for 77, with Middlesex spinner Zafar Gohar taking 4 for 39 and all-rounder Ryan Higgins 3 for 34 before weighing in with a lively 48 from 34 as his side sealed the win.Higgins, making his first appearance of the competition, had an immediate impact after his side won the toss, achieving plenty of movement as the Steelbacks were reduced to four for two.Tim Robinson departed first ball, caught at second slip off a Higgins outswinger and James Sales also failed to score, perishing in identical fashion before Vasconcelos (62 from 61) and Keogh (60 from 68) launched the repair job.Keogh drove Noah Cornwell for successive boundaries, while Vasconcelos pierced the field with regularity and capitalised on Middlesex’s decision to forgo a slip with the powerplay done.The left-hander drilled Henry Brookes to the cover fence to post his half-century, but was halted in his tracks when Keogh’s powerful straight drive thudded into his helmet at the non-striker’s end.Although Vasconcelos was cleared to resume, the blow had clearly disrupted his rhythm and when he slapped his next delivery from Luke Hollman straight to midwicket, the innings began to crumble.Ravi Bopara, featuring in his first List A game since 2019, lasted just three deliveries before he was bowled around his legs sweeping Gohar and the spinner also claimed the scalp of Keogh, neatly stumped by Joe Cracknell.Gohar picked up two more, with Aryaman Varma superbly caught by Josh de Caires at full stretch running back from midwicket and Brookes wrapped up the innings by bowling Lewis McManus.Northamptonshire’s hopes were raised when Cracknell chopped on to the first legitimate delivery of Middlesex’s reply, extending a lean run of form that has now yielded five runs in as many innings.They might also have removed Robson who, having dispatched Justin Broad twice to the rope in quick succession, edged the seamer to second slip where Vasconcelos spilled the chance.Vasconcelos made amends in Broad’s next over by snapping up De Caires, but Robson took advantage of his earlier escape with a series of leg-side clips and cover drives, advancing beyond 50 as he and Geddes built a steady alliance that realised 76.Rookie seamer Ben Whitehouse eventually made the breakthrough when Robson miscued to mid-off, but Higgins announced his arrival at the crease by thumping the bowler for two fours to keep the scoreboard ticking over.Meanwhile, Geddes unfurled a string of classy strokes off both front and back foot, driving Liam Guthrie for a straight boundary that carried him to his half-century at exactly a run a ball – only to perish straight after the drinks break, top-edging to deep square leg.It was too late to rescue Northamptonshire from a fifth defeat in seven games and, although Higgins holed out late on, Gohar swung George Bartlett over the top to confirm victory.