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Tottenham Hotspur are back in action in the Premier League this weekend as they prepare to welcome London rivals Fulham to North London on Saturday night.

Spurs are looking to bounce back from successive defeats to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in their last two games, losing 5-3 to the French giants in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Lilywhites have not won in the Premier League since they beat Everton 3-0 at the end of October, with one win in six in all competitions since, which is why it is so important for Thomas Frank’s team to win this weekend.

They will have to get one over Fulham in order to do so, though, and it is a club that they have many connections to through players who have played for both.

Ranking Fulham players who have played for Spurs since 2010

Counting all players who played for Spurs since 2010, there have been ten players who either played for Fulham before or after their time in North London.

Perhaps most notably, given that Dimitar Berbatov left Tottenham in 2008, is central midfielder Mousa Dembele, who played 240 matches for Spurs between 2012 and 2018, after signing directly from the Cottagers.

1

Mousa Dembele

2

Scott Parker

3

Clint Dempsey

4

Joao Palhinha

5

Carlos Vinicius

6

Lewis Holtby

7

Paulo Gazzaniga

8

Manor Solomon

9

Josh Onomah

10

Ryan Fredericks

As you can see in the table above, academy players like Ryan Fredericks and Josh Onomah rank at the bottom, with several less notable Spurs players before the top four.

It is hard to say anyone other than Dembele should be at the top, given that the Belgian star, renowned for his ability on the ball, is the only player on the list to play more than 100 games for the club, with 240, per FBref.

He was once ‘irreplaceable’ for Spurs, as shown in the post above from 2018, and Frank can unearth his own version of the midfielder by playing Lucas Bergvall on Saturday night.

Why Lucas Bergvall could be Tottenham's next Mousa Dembele

One of Dembele’s most notable attributes during his time with Spurs was his dribbling. Speaking about his former international teammate, Youri Tielemans once said: “His dribbling was amazing, you just couldn’t take the ball off him.”

Chalkboard

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

He was brilliant at carrying the ball up the pitch from the middle of the park, and Bergvall is a central midfielder who can offer similar qualities for Spurs in the present day.

Per FBref, the Sweden international ranks within the top 9% of his positional peers in the Big 5 Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for progressive carries per 90 (2.30) and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.55).

This shows that he is one of the most productive dribblers among central midfielders in Europe, which is why he could develop into being Frank’s own version of Dembele in the middle of the park.

Bergvall, like the Belgian, does not carry a huge goal threat, having scored once in the Premier League this season, but he can get the team up the pitch with his ability to drive forward with the ball at his feet.

The Swedish star, who was dubbed a “generational talent” by the club’s head of scouting Rob Mackenzie, started as part of a box midfield against PSG earlier this week, but playing further up the pitch ahead of Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur restricted how much he could drive from deep.

Therefore, unleashing him in a midfield three against Fulham on Saturday could allow him to provide supporters of both teams with a reminder of a player who once starred for them.

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Bergvall only attempted one dribble, which he completed, against PSG, and playing him further back on the pitch to use as a threat in transition could help Spurs to win their first Premier League game of the month this weekend.

England coach drops hint that white-ball captain could be in line for Test promotion

Vithushan Ehantharajah14-Sep-2025

Harry Brook could be in line to replace Ollie Pope as Ben Stokes’ deputy in Australia this winter, after Brendon McCullum revealed that the identity of England’s Test vice-captain will be part of their pre-Ashes discussions this week.McCullum is set to fly home to New Zealand on Monday evening following the conclusion of England’s home international summer, after their final T20I against South Africa ended in a wash-out at Trent Bridge on Sunday. He is due to meet managing director Rob Key in London prior to his flight to discuss selection for the Australia tour, and though he anticipates picking the squad to wrestle back the urn after 10 years will be “pretty easy”, he admits there are important details to iron out.Undoubtedly, one of the trickier matters to broach will be the issue of the vice-captaincy. McCullum confirmed there has been no conversation with Pope yet, who was originally appointed to the role in 2023, and has led the team on five occasions, most recently in the fifth Test of the India series when Stokes was ruled out with a shoulder injury. However, Brook has emerged as an impressive option since being elevated to the limited-overs role at the start of the summer.”We will work on that one as well,” McCullum said, when asked if there would be a new vice-captain for the Ashes. “We will chat about that over the coming days, as we finalise our Ashes squad.”You’re always looking at things, right? Every time you get together with a series, you discuss things. I think it’s no secret that Harry Brook is emerging as a leader within English cricket, so that’s something we need to work out. But whatever happens, a great team man understands that just because you haven’t got a title, doesn’t stop you from being a leader.”McCullum has clearly been impressed at how Brook has operated in his new role. The pair have been working closely this summer since McCullum assumed control of the white-ball teams at the start of the year, with Brook stepping up as captain in March, when Jos Buttler resigned in the wake of the team’s early Champions Trophy exit.”I’ve enjoyed working with Brooky, I think he’s taken to the role really well, really quickly. Still a work in progress but he’s got a demanding schedule himself and we have to be aware of that as we move forward.”He’s got a good head on his shoulders, he’s well connected within the group. He keeps things very simple. We’ve got a really good relationship and I think that started well.”Pope, 27, has won three and lost two of his five matches in charge, which encompasses a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka last summer. In that period, he has impressed teammates and staff with his leadership qualities, and emerged as a vital cog in the dressing room.Ollie Pope has led England in five Tests to date•Getty Images

The Surrey batter has also averaged 41.60 at No.3 during Stokes’ tenure. However, the emergence of Jacob Bethell has led to uncertainty as to whether Pope will start the Ashes in that position – and without the insulation of the vice-captaincy, that speculation is likely to grow.Bethell’s breakthrough 2024 was capped off when he averaged 52.00 away to New Zealand on his first Test assignment. And though he has had little game-time this summer, the 21-year-old was able to register his first professional hundred in the third ODI against South Africa. This week, he is set to become England men’s youngest-ever captain, leading a T20I tour of Ireland.”We’ll slow ourselves down a bit there,” McCullum said, when asked if Bethell could break into the XI for the first Ashes Test. “We’ll wait till we get down there before we start making those decisions.”McCullum suggested Pope will be considered England’s reserve wicketkeeper as cover for Jamie Smith. Similar considerations on alternates and the general make-up of the squad will be thrashed out in the coming days.A decision will also be made on back-up for England’s primary spinner Shoaib Bashir, with legspinning allrounder Rehan Ahmed, and left-arm orthodox options Liam Dawson and Jack Leach the candidates with Test experience.The touring party may also include seven fast bowlers to deal with the rigours of a five-match series, particularly given continued uncertainty over the fitness of Mark Wood. The Durham quick, who underwent left knee surgery in March, is unlikely to play any competitive cricket ahead of the first Test in Perth beginning on November 21.”I think it’s a pretty easy squad to pick really,” McCullum said.Jacob Bethell’s impact on debut in New Zealand makes him a strong candidate for the Ashes•AFP via Getty Images

“From our point of view, our very good back-up wicketkeeper is Ollie Pope, he’s done a great job for us in similar conditions in New Zealand. We know where we are at, probably the only one is the second spinner which we need to chat about to make sure we pick the person who will give us the greatest chance. It’s pretty settled.”We are also in the lucky position that, because of the schedule, we know that the Lions are going to be in Australia at the same time. A lot of the guys in that Lions set-up, if needed, will be playing cricket down there, up and running, and if needed can come across into the full squad anyway.”We don’t need too big a squad, but as we have prepared for over the last couple of years, we have a very settled group of batters, a cartel of fast bowlers, and Shoaib Bashir as our frontline spinner. He will give us the greatest opportunity with his bounce when required. We have a counter-attacking batsman at No 7 and a captain with the bit between his teeth and is super excited.”England are also set to employ their third seam bowling consultant of the year with Tim Southee unable to fulfill that duty due to a stint with Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20. James Anderson, who had previously held the role, is also unavailable.Related

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“Tim won’t be available for the Ashes,” McCullum confirmed. “There’s a couple of guys I’m talking to at the moment. Hopefully we will confirm one of those. They’re good names. It would be nice to add them.”Southee’s last engagement this year will be the white-ball series in New Zealand in October, which is also likely to feature members of the Ashes squad not involved in the ODI or T20I sides.The third ODI against the Blackcaps (November 1) in Wellington is just 12 days before the start of an England vs England Lions warm-up at Lilac Hill. Given the proximity of the tours, there is scope to use New Zealand as a pre-Australia base. The Lions are expected to be in Perth from the first week of November.”When it comes to this New Zealand tour, there is a chance we may bring one or two others in,” McCullum said, “to make sure that we we get their final bits of their preparation and the cherry ripe before Australia.”But we will also use the Lions set-up as well, to make sure we get some loading into some guys when we all meet together in Perth. We’ll finish our preparation with our warm-up game and look forward to it.”With McCullum taking Ireland off – assistant coaches Jeetan Patel and Marcus Trescothick will assume charge – he insists he will refresh before “welcoming the boys” back to New Zealand. While he promises to make them as comfortable as possible, with all the trappings his homeland has to offer, he is allowing himself to get excited about his maiden Ashes tour.”Ramp it up now, we’re ready to go,” he said. “I thought it would be exciting. We’re very keen to make sure that we treat every series in isolation and give it the respect and the focus it deserves, because the minute you get too far in front of yourself, you’re going to get your arse kicked. So we always deliberately try and do that. But now the Ashes is our next assignment in the Test team, so we can’t wait. It’s going to be awesome.”We try to do our best to insulate the environment, on good days and bad, from a lot of that noise and we know the noise is going to be extreme. But it doesn’t mean we’re not excited about that. It’s going to be a huge series and we go down there with the type of team that we want. We’ll give ourselves every chance against the very, very good Australian side in their own conditions. It’s going to be a ripper.”

ESPN ran into some rough audio issues during its television broadcast of Game 2 of the AL wild-card series between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

In the middle of the game, the normally crystal-clear audio of broadcasters Michael Kay, Tim Kurkjian and the rest of the crew sounded fuzzy for an extended amount of time—almost like it was a vintage baseball game broadcast on AM radio.

In a critical moment of the game, the audio sounded so poor that the Astros' official social media account decided to post a highlight with no sound.

Kay, serving as the play-by-play announcer on the broadcast, apologized for the technical difficulties that lasted for an extended amount of time. The audio issues appeared to be fixed by the time Detroit took a 5–2 lead in the eighth inning.

MLB fans, while enjoying the game, dropped their jokes on social media:

If the Tigers are able to close out Game 2, they will advance to the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians. If they lose, Detroit and Houston will square off in Game 3 of the wild-card series on Thursday,

Esmae MacGegor takes 3 for 19 but Essex succumb in final over

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay08-Jul-2025

Amanda-Jade Wellington played a match-winning innings under pressure as Somerset beat Essex by four wickets at Taunton’s Cooper Associates Ground to register their first win of the Vitality Blast T20 campaign in their tenth game.The Australian international raised 29 from 23 balls, struck four fours and shared in a crucial stand of 45 off 29 balls for the fourth wicket with Fran Wilson, who contributed 41, as the home side chased down a victory target of 156 with three balls to spare.Esmae MacGregor claimed 3 for 19 to keep Essex in the hunt, but Wellington and Alex Griffiths, required to score 16 runs off the final 17 balls, held their nerve to carry the cider county to their first win of the season at headquarters.Returning from England A duty, Jodi Grewcock top-scored with 45 from 34 balls and shared in a stand of 58 for the third wicket with Cordelia Griffith, who contributed 31, as Essex posted 155 for 5 after being put into bat. The pick of the Somerset bowlers, Wellington returned figures of 1 for 25 from four overs.Deputising for the injured Sophie Luff, stand-in Somerset captain Niamh Holland won the toss, inserted the opposition and watched her bowlers reduce the visitors to 30 for 2 in 4.1 overs. Lauren Winfield-Hill plundered three boundaries in moving effortlessly to 19 from 14 balls, only to be cut down in her pomp by an Olivia Barnes delivery that pinned her in the crease. Three balls later, fellow opener Grace Scrivens followed the former England batter back to the pavilion after pulling a shortish ball from Erin Vukusic to midwicket for 6.Charged with the task of repairing the damage, Griffith and Grewcock advanced the score to 40 for 2 at the end of the powerplay and 66 for 2 at the halfway stage, despite finding boundaries hard to come by. The 50 partnership occupied 45 balls and Griffith, having raised 31 from 29 balls, was beginning to accelerate when she attempted to pull Mollie Robbins to the deep midwicket boundary and succeeded only in finding Griffiths with the score 88 for 3.That was the cue for Grewcock to take centre stage, the England A batter opening her shoulders to harvest three successive fours in an over from Barnes as the fielding side came under real pressure for the first time. Grewcock had made 45 from 34 balls and was eyeing a half-century when she gave the charge to Wellington’s legspin and holed out to Vukusic at long-on.Essex were 115 for 4 in the 16th over with work still to do as Jo Gardner joined Maddie Penna in the middle. These two staged a useful stand of 40 from 27 balls, Australian Penna scoring 21 at a run a ball and the forthright Gardner 22 from 12 deliveries, to hoist Essex to a competitive total.Somerset required the reassurance of a good start and Bex Odgers and Holland provided exactly that, adding 41 in five overs before the former blotted her copybook and top-edged to short third for 20 off the bowling of Eva Gray. Holland had also scored 20 when she surrendered her wicket in similar fashion next over, skying a catch behind off MacGregor as the home side slipped to 41 for 2.Buoyed by her half-century against Hampshire last time out, Wilson hit the ground running as Somerset passed 50 in the seventh, while debutant Ruby Davis calmed any nerves by straight-hitting Gray for four as the third-wicket partnership began to profit. These two added 46 in 36 balls and were threatening to take the contest by the scruff of the neck when Davis, having raised 19 from 16 balls, attempted to reverse sweep MacGregor and was adjudged lbw with the score 87 for 3 in the 12th.Wellington drove Grewcock down the ground and pulled Sophia Smale for four to serve notice of her intentions, but Abtaha Maqsood and MacGregor kept things tight to push the asking rate above eight. Somerset’s fourth wicket pair took 15 off the 15th, bowled by Smale, at which point they required 35 off the last five.Victory looked to be a formality, only for Wilson to dance down the wicket and lose off stump to MacGregor with 24 needed off 22 balls. Wellington then hit Scrivens to long-on in the final over, but Griffiths and Chloe Skelton saw the job through.

There was a time not long ago when seeing a Newcastle United player in an England shirt felt like a rarity.

Yet on Tuesday night, as Anthony Gordon completed 90 minutes against Wales, fans on Tyneside had reason to smile.

For a club once seen as an outsider to international recognition, Newcastle’s growing representation in the England setup marks a remarkable transformation.

Now, barring injuries, almost half a dozen Newcastle players could find themselves in the national fold.

Dan Burn appears to have established himself as England’s third-choice centre-back behind Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi, while the likes of Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are widely expected to receive future call-ups once they recover from their respective injuries.

Yet for all the current excitement, there’s one player Newcastle fans are forced to admire from afar.

A midfielder who came through their academy, left reluctantly, and is now flourishing in the England squad.

Anderson’s successes with England

Elliot Anderson’s story is one that continues to sting for many Newcastle supporters.

The 22-year-old, born in the Northeast and developed through the club’s academy, was sold to Nottingham Forest last summer as part of Newcastle’s desperate effort to stay within the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.

The deal, which saw goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos move the other way, was described at the time as purely financial – neither the player nor the club wanted to part ways.

Since moving to Forest, Anderson has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s most complete young midfielders.

Last season, he made 37 league appearances, scoring two goals and registering six assists.

Minutes Played

2,728

Goals

2

Assists

6

Progressive Carries

52

Progressive Passes

143

His mix of energy and tactical awareness quickly made him one of Thomas Tuchel’s most reliable players.

His rise has continued on the international stage.

After switching allegiances from Scotland to England, Anderson has earned three senior caps, picking up two man-of-the-match awards in his first two games.

In England’s recent 1–0 win over Wales, he played 69 minutes before being replaced by Jordan Henderson, completing 77 passes (an impressive 96% accuracy) from 92 touches.

He also produced two key passes, won four of six ground duels, and made one interception.

Tuchel’s use of Anderson as Rice’s midfield partner for Declan Rice has proven to be a masterstroke.

The former Newcastle man’s ability to retain possession, play progressively, and read danger makes him an ideal modern central midfielder.

He thrives in tight spaces, dictates rhythm, and has a sharpness that’s elevated both Forest and England’s midfield balance.

For Newcastle, it’s hard not to imagine how Anderson might have looked alongside Bruno Guimarães or Sandro Tonali at St James’ Park.

But while they lost a gem in the short term, the club might just have the next one already developing in their ranks.

The England player of the future at Newcastle

At just 19 years old, Lewis Miley is being tipped as Newcastle’s next homegrown star.

Standing at 1.89m with a market value already approaching £20m, as per Transfermarkt, the central midfielder combines intelligence, technique, and maturity well beyond his years.

Last season, Miley made 14 Premier League appearances, scoring once, and has now featured 49 times across all competitions for Newcastle, including in the Champions League.

His calmness in possession and range of passing have drawn comparisons to some of England’s finest midfielders. BBC Sport’s Pat Nevin has gone as far as to describe him as “the next young English superstar.”

Despite his age, Miley already plays with the control of a seasoned professional.

He averages 48 completed passes per 90 minutes with an 88% pass accuracy, ranking among the best in his age group.

His defensive contribution is equally strong – 4.00 tackles per 90 and 1.43 blocks per 90 show a midfielder unafraid to do the dirty work.

Statistically, he even matches up well against Anderson.

While Anderson edges him in attacking metrics – 4.72 progressive passes, 1.72 progressive carries, and 2.87 shot-creating actions per 90 – Miley’s efficiency and composure are exceptional for a teenager.

His higher passing accuracy and greater defensive output underline why Eddie Howe sees him as central to Newcastle’s long-term plans.

There have been signs of growing pains this season, as he’s occasionally struggled to influence matches from deep.

Yet Howe and senior teammates like Joelinton have been quick to defend him, pointing to the experience he’s gaining as invaluable for his development.

A summer loan to Crystal Palace or Ipswich was considered but ultimately rejected.

Miley’s ability to combine tidy passing with defensive resilience makes him the archetype of the modern English midfielder.

Like Anderson, he’s comfortable playing between the lines, but he offers more control and balance in possession – something England’s midfield may need in the years to come.

For Howe, the lesson is clear: when you nurture talent properly, the next generation might already be waiting in your own backyard.

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Middlesex allrounder will lead team in four-day match against Zimbabwe at Grace Road

ESPNcricinfo staff13-May-2025

Josh De Caires, the Middlesex spin-bowling allrounder, will lead a County Select XI in Leicester this week, with coaching support from England’s recuperating quick Mark Wood, as Zimbabwe warm up for next week’s one-off Test against England at Trent Bridge with a four-day tour game.De Caires, 23 – the son of former England captain Mike Atherton – has been named as captain in a 13-man squad that also features Warwickshire all-rounder Dan Mousley, who made his England white-ball debuts in the Caribbean last year, and Yorkshire legspinner Jafer Chohan, who was picked for the same tour but has yet to earn his first cap.The squad includes two other players with recent international captaincy experience. Essex allrounder Luc Benkenstein and Somerset wicketkeeper-batter Thomas Rew – the younger brother of James, who was last week called into the Test squad – have both previously captained England Men Under-19s.Andrew Flintoff, the England Lions head coach, will oversee the team’s preparations, alongside a coaching team that includes Sarah Taylor, the former England women’s wicketkeeper, and Wood, who is on the comeback trail after a left knee operation.Speaking to Sky Sports last week, Wood flagged his involvement in both this match and the two England Lions games against India that follow, saying that he was looking into options for his post-playing career, “to see if I’m a natural, to see if I’m any good, and if I enjoy it”.Neil Kileen, whose son Mitch is also named in the squad, is another member of the coaching support team, alongside Mike Yardy and Neil McKenzie, the former South Africa batter. The match gets underway on Thursday, May 15.PCC Select XI squad: Josh De Caires (capt), Archie Bailey, Luc Benkenstein, Jafer Chohan, Ben Dawkins, Alex Green, Eddie Jack, Mitch Killeen, Ben Mayes, Seb Morgan, Dan Mousley, Thomas Rew, Jamal Richards.

“He has been in poor form in the past and made comebacks,” Najmul Hossain Shanto says of Mushfiqur Rahim, who has a highest score of 37 in his last 12 Test innings

Mohammad Isam24-Apr-2025From his horrendous shot to get out at the start of the fourth day to the increased salaries the players now get to the market value of Bangladesh cricket, the questions were varied and came to Najmul Hossain Shanto like gunfire at the press conference following the Sylhet Test defeat to Zimbabwe.He was upfront about the shot he had played and the impact it had on the game, but fumbled for answers to the trickier questions. Transitions could be brutal on captains, especially when you have lost to a lower-ranked, unfancied side.”It was my fault that we lost the match, that’s the truth,” Shanto said. “My wicket early in the morning [off the second ball of the day] ruined the whole match for us. If we [Shanto and Jaker Ali] had added 50 or 60 more runs at that time, we would be in a better position. I don’t want to blame anyone else. I am taking all the responsibilities since my dismissal came at a very bad time. I always think about taking scoring opportunities. Maybe I could have taken more time [before playing my shots]. But I will play that shot [again], maybe the timing wasn’t right [on this occasion].”Related

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Shanto fell when he attempted to pull a short delivery outside off from Blessing Muzarabani and ended up sending a leading edge to deep fine leg. But there were specialist batters left at 194 for 5. While Jaker continued his good touch in Tests, Shanto’s deputy Mehidy Hasan Miraz was troubled by Zimbabwe’s short-ball plan even as he tried to score quickly. He was one of the three wickets that Bangladesh lost in the first half-hour.Bangladesh were guilty of not showing enough application, Shanto said, especially against Muzarabani, who finished with career-best match figures of 9 for 122.”Of course, he [Muzarabani] bowled well, and there is some added advantage due to his height. But still, the batting unit should have taken a bit more responsibility,” Shanto said. “We should have planned a bit better against him. He’s their main bowler. It was necessary to handle his spells [better]. I think we did it for some time but that was not enough.”Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim dilemmaBangladesh are also grappling with Mushfiqur Rahim’s batting form. He is the veteran of the side, the last link to the previous era, but hasn’t scored much since the 191 against Pakistan in the ten-wicket win in Rawalpindi last August. There is also the matter of Mushfiqur being just five Tests away from becoming the first Bangladesh cricketer to play 100 Tests.Mehidy Hasan Miraz finished with ten wickets for the Test•AFP/Getty ImagesBut a best of 37 in his last 12 Test innings means Mushfiqur’s place in the team is far from guaranteed, milestone or not.”He is an experienced cricketer. He is not only contributing with his batting, he is a part of the planning group as well when we field,” Shanto said. “He helps the batters. He talks a lot during training. Of course, his batting is important. I am not thinking about his milestone or achievements from the past, I don’t think he is either. I hope, with one match remaining, he will make a comeback. I am not giving up hope. He has been in poor form in the past and made comebacks.”Shanto also defended their choice of pitch in Sylhet, which had more pace and carry than pitches in the country usually do. “I don’t think we should take home advantage to such a great extent just because we have lost a match. I think we should play on this type of pitch against this opposition.”The bright spot for Bangladesh, not for the first time, was their spin bowling. Mehidy picked up ten wickets in the Test – becoming the third Bangladeshi to get to 200 Test wickets in the process – and Taijul Islam took two, both in the second innings, as Bangladesh made it tough for Zimbabwe. “Miraz and Taijul tried hard and they bowled extremely well,” Shanto said. “Credit must be given. But I think there weren’t enough runs on the board.”

While KKR will be bolstered by Narine’s return, MI have a 9-2 record against them at the Wankhede

Vishal Dikshit30-Mar-20251:48

Rapid Fire Review – Serious concerns for Mumbai?

Big picture – MI seek first win on homecomingWhether you are in Mumbai city or the Mumbai Indians (MI) dressing room, it has started getting hot. While the temperatures in Mumbai have hit 35°C, MI must be feeling uneasy about their position on the points table: tenth.MI have traditionally been slow starters in the IPL, having not won their opening game since 2012, and scraping through to the playoffs at the last minute at times, including in 2023. While they could draw confidence from their 2023 campaign – they were without Jasprit Bumrah even then – they have plenty of other kinks to iron out this time as they prepare to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday.In captain Hardik Pandya’s own words, MI’s top order hasn’t come to the party yet, with totals of 155 for 9 and 160 for 6 in two games so far. Against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday, they committed numerous fielding errors and probably made a mistake with their batting order too. As they finally get home after two away games, they have had only one day’s break.Related

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KKR coach bats for home teams getting favourable conditions

In the absence of Bumrah, who would have been primarily their death bowler, MI’s new-ball specialists – Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar – have largely been ineffective, with just one wicket between them in the powerplay. Lack of runs from the senior batters – especially Rohit Sharma – is hurting them too. The sooner MI fix those issues, the better it will be as two of their next three games are again away from home.KKR, meanwhile, don’t have that many issues to worry about. They adjusted very well on the slow track of Guwahati even without Sunil Narine, who was unwell for that game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) but is now 100% fit. Different batters chipped in against RR and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and be it spin department or pace, KKR’s bowling looks a lot more potent and well-rounded than MI’s. They have not even had to bowl Andre Russell yet, who was their joint-second-highest wicket-taker in the victorious campaign last season.Will Mitchell Santner miss out if MI include Reece Topley?•Mumbai Indians

Team news and likely XIIsMI left out Will Jacks and recent-debutant Vignesh Puthur against GT to bring in Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Hardik. They might bring in the tall left-arm quick Reece Topley for the red-soil surface at home, which aids pace and bounce. Topley’s ability to bowl yorkers will give MI another option in the death overs on a ground with small boundaries. Including him could mean leaving out either Mujeeb or Mitchell Santner.Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Robin Minz, 7 Naman Dhir, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Mitchell Santner/Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Trent Boult, 11 S Raju, 12 Reece TopleyNarine will slot right back in for KKR, which means leaving Moeen Ali out despite him bagging 2 for 23 against RR.Kolkata Knight Riders (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Spencer Johnson, 10 Vaibhav Arora, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Harshit RanaBig questionShould Hardik bat ahead of Robin Minz? When Hardik returned to action in Ahmedabad, the captain sent the inexperienced Minz above himself when MI needed a stiff 100 off 51 balls on a tricky pitch. Hardik himself may want to shoulder more responsibility going forward to not leave as much work for Minz.In the spotlight – Rohit Sharma and Angkrish RaghuvanshiRohit Sharma bagged a duck against CSK, and lasted just four balls to score 8 against GT when an inducker from Mohammed Siraj castled him. While many batters may not have had an answer to that Siraj delivery, Rohit’s dismissal against CSK – a flick to midwicket – brought back memories of similar dismissals that plagued him in the Tests against New Zealand and Australia, and in the Ranji Trophy before he got back into runs in ODIs. Despite a century against England at home and a 76 in the Champions Trophy final, Rohit looks far from the batter that used to take down bowlers after having his eye in, in the IPL. Now, back to his home ground where he has played for nearly 20 years, MI will bank on Rohit to give them the start they missed in the first two matches.Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored quick runs in the middle order•AFP/Getty Images

Also returning home is Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who moved from Delhi to Mumbai at the age of 11. He has, however, played only one game at the senior level at the Wankhede – in last year’s IPL – when he scored 13 off six balls against MI. But he has had two good IPL seasons, and with his tall frame and sound technique, he will hope to get some runs in the city that has adopted him.Pitch and conditionsThis is the first game at the Wankhede this IPL, and the ground is expected to see humidity and a decent sea breeze coming in from Marine Drive. Even though the dew isn’t expected to play a big role, the teams might still play it safe and bowl first. With short boundaries awaiting the crowd that is likely to make the game a sellout, they should be ready for some catching practice.Key stats Boult and Chahar with the new ball against KKR’s top order could make for a delicious contest. Boult has dismissed Ajinkya Rahane three times in six IPL innings (strike rate 97), Narine four times in four T20s (strike rate 135), and Quinton de Kock six times in nine T20s (strike rate 114). Chahar has also removed de Kock four times (strike rate 117.50), Rahane four times in four IPL innings (strike rate 91.30), and Narine twice in four T20s but while leaking at 209.09. The Wankhede is also a home ground for KKR’s new captain Rahane, who averages 40 there in the IPL against MI, with three half-centuries from ten innings. Rahane scored his fastest IPL half-century, off 19 balls, at the Wankhede two years ago when he was with CSK. MI dominate KKR in the head-to-head rivalry at this ground, with a 9-2 record. However, KKR have won five of the last six matches against MI.Venkatesh Iyer’s lowest score against MI is 42. He averages 72.40 against them in six matches, with a century and three half-centuries, while striking at 165.29. Rohit has been dismissed by Narine ten times in all T20s. No bowler has dismissed a batter more times, which is level with Dwayne Bravo getting Kieron Pollard, who are in the KKR and MI dressing rooms, respectively. Suryakumar Yadav is only 20 away from 8000 runs in T20s.Next three fixturesAfter their first home game at Wankhede, Mumbai fly out to Lucknow to play Lucknow Super Giants, then come back to host RCB before going to Delhi to play Delhi Capitals.KKR will return home from the west coast for two home fixtures – against Sunrisers Hyderabad and LSG – before going down south to play CSK.Quotes”There should not be a concern [about the batting]… and it’s [at an] early stage. But at the same point of time, I think batters have to come to the party. And yeah, hopefully they come soon.”
“More than anything, I’m focused on how well our team played in the last game. Mumbai Indians haven’t been performing at that level, which gives us another advantage to put pressure on them.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo fez uma excelente fase de grupos da Copa Sul-Americana, com cinco vitórias e um empate, somando 16 pontos, marcando 13 gols e não sofrendo nenhum tento. Essa campanha faz com que o Tricolor seja o melhor time da competição até o momento.

Para os tricolores apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!

Mas tem um time que pode tirar essa posição do São Paulo: o Newell’s Od Boys (ARG). Os argentinos conquistaram até aqui 15 pontos e jogam a última rodada do Grupo E contra o Audax Italiano, nesta quarta-feira (28), às 19h, no Estádio Coloso Del Parque, na Argentina.

ATUAÇÕES: Crias de Cotia resolvem para o São Paulo contra o Tigre

Para ser o primeiro lugar geral, o São Paulo torce por um empate ou uma derrota do Newell’s. Os argentinos têm sete gols de saldo, contra 13 do Tricolor. Já com relação aos tentos marcados, o São Paulo soma 13, enquanto o Newell’s balançou as redes dez vezes.

Agora, caso o Newell’s vença o Audax Italiano, os argentinos conquistam a primeira colocação geral e a vantagem de jogar as partidas de volta em casa até a final. Vale destacar que a equipe chilena, com dez pontos, não briga por mais nada na competição, já que não perde o segundo lugar do grupo, que é composto por Santos (quatro pontos) e Blooming (zero).

– Não daria para poupar porque o jogo era de risco, ainda queremos a primeira posição na classificação geral. O Newell’s ainda joga, e o resultado era muito importante. Não abro mão em competição nenhuma. Vai ter mescla porque confio nos jogadores. Sempre que possível seguro um ou outro jogador. Fico feliz porque tudo o que treinamos está sendo feito, como inversão, jogadas passando de pé em pé, outras saindo do goleiro – disse Dorival após a partida.

Birmingham City were mere minutes away from sealing an impressive 1-0 opening day win over Ipswich Town on their arrival back into the Championship.

Unfortunately, controversy ensued at St. Andrew’s during the dying moments of the Friday night clash, resulting in George Hirst firing home a last-gasp penalty to rid Chris Davies’ men of a dream victory.

Still, that shouldn’t take away from the exciting attacking display that was on show, with Kyogo Furuhashi proving himself to be an instant hit, on top of Jay Stansfield already finding himself off the mark in the second tier this season by firing home the opener.

That’s before you even throw new recruit Marvin Ducksch into the equation, too, as Davies licks his lips at the attacking arsenal he has at his disposal.

Why Ducksch is a great signing for Birmingham

The reigning League One champions have routinely splashed the cash in recent years to land some thrilling talents, with the aforementioned Kyogo costing £10m just this summer to bring in to further improve Birmingham’s attacking options.

Ducksch, on the other hand, has cost far less at around the £1.7m mark. Yet, his career numbers in his native Germany – before moving on to England – would suggest he’s another stunning pick-up by the Blues.

Bundesliga

130

34

28

2. Bundesliga

138

71

34

3. Liga

54

19

14

Indeed, just one glance at the table above is enough to gain an insight into the prolific nature of the 6-foot-2 marksman, with a bumper 124 career goals coming his way when rising up the German divisions all the way up to the top with Werder Bremen.

The hope will be that Ducksch acclimatises to his new Championship environment well, with his red-hot ability to put away chances a dangerous weapon for Davies to have by his side in crucial games to follow.

The Blues might well dip their toes into the European market once more with this next potential summer buy, hopeful that he can be as intimidating to Championship defences as their new German centre-forward.

Birmingham line up move for £1.3m star

Davies and Co are already ten signings down this summer, but don’t expect that to deter them from making even more moves before September’s deadline.

French journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter has taken to X in recent days to reveal that Birmingham are showing strong interest in Montpellier winger Tanguy Coulibaly, with Coulibaly reportedly worth around the £1.3m mark, when assessing his value via Transfermarkt.

Much like Ducksch, the 24-year-old attacker has proven himself at a top level for a considerable amount of time now, having skilfully plied his trade at both Montpellier and Stuttgart for a hefty 119 games.

His spell at Stuttgart even resulted in sporting director Sven Mislintat hailing him as “very gifted”, on top of being described as possessing “plenty of tricks in his locker” by academy coach Peter Reichert.

Stuttgart

74

6

3

Montpellier

45

4

1

While his numbers for both clubs in question might not be as instantly as jaw-dropping as Ducksch’s in Germany, Coulibaly would, no doubt, be a valuable asset to Birmingham this season if he were to join, having accumulated 14 goal contributions in total out in Germany and France.

Capable of also lining up as a centre-forward and as a number ten, Coulibaly should be able to offer himself up to Birmingham as a worthwhile utility body, particularly when the Blues are suffering deep into the 46-game marathon.

Ducksch could also have to make do with being an impact option for Davies, with the task of displacing the likes of Stansfield from the main team a tricky one to pull off.

Still, both players in question will feel they can offer their all to the Birmingham mission this coming season – having been in and around elite leagues for some time now – with the Blues dreaming of another fairytale promotion story if everything slots into place.

Birmingham City could land dream signing for Ducksch in £16k-p/w star

Birmingham City would secure a dream partner for Marvin Ducksch by going back in for this exciting playmaker.

2 ByKelan Sarson Aug 10, 2025