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In our first batch of report cards for 2021: New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Ireland, and women’s cricket

29-Dec-2021

New Zealand

by Deivarayan Muthu
It was a banner year for New Zealand. After becoming the No. 1 ODI team, they won the inaugural World Test Championship final and then reached their first T20 World Cup final.They won each of the three ODIs they played in 2021 despite the injury-enforced absence of regular captain Kane Williamson. In some major changes, BJ Watling retired from Test cricket and Ross Taylor was dropped from the T20I set-up. A number players, though, emerged from the fringes and played vital roles for the side across formats, including Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Will Young, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra.Like Williamson, Lockie Ferguson, their premier fast bowler in white-ball cricket, was unavailable at various points because of injury, but New Zealand still found a way to succeed thanks to their enviable depth. Their second-string T20I side even tested a full-strength Bangladesh away.Once New Zealand returned to full strength, they adapted smartly to conditions in the UAE and progressed to the T20 World Cup final from a group that included Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. The final, however, didn’t go according to plan, nor did the India tour that followed immediately.High point
New Zealand emerged winners of the inaugural WTC, two years after losing the ODI World Cup . It was quite fitting that the old firm of Williamson and Taylor sealed victory in fiendishly difficult conditions for batting in Southampton after Kyle Jamieson, the newbie in the attack, set it up beautifully with his swing, seam, and bounce.Low point
While left-arm fingerspinner Ajaz Patel made history by becoming only the third bowler to bag all ten wickets in a Test innings, in Mumbai, the rest of the line-up fell away so badly that New Zealand’s ten-match unbeaten streak was snapped. They began the year as the top-ranked Test side and slipped to No. 2 by the end of it after losing 1-0 in India.Results
Tests: P6 W3 L1 D2
ODIs: P3 W3 L0
T20Is: P23 W13 L10Pakistan had an unbeaten run in the T20 World Cup till Australia stopped them short in the semis•Michael Steele/ICC/Getty Images

Pakistan

by Danyal Rasool
Pakistan cricket truly put its followers through the wringer of stratospheric highs and sub-zero depths in 2021. The bottom line will tell you this side, led by Babar Azam, won a lot more than they lost, and look like a team reinvigorated.T20I success headlined the narrative, with home and away wins over South Africa, a delightfully dominant T20 World Cup campaign, and a clean sweep of West Indies to finish the year. A home Test series win over South Africa was perhaps the red-ball highlight, a heartening point being Hasan Ali’s return to form in Tests. After Shaheen Afridi, Hasan has the most Test wickets for Pakistan this year. Pakistan are currently sitting pretty in the top two of the World Test Championship table.All wasn’t rosy, though. A third-string England side clean-swept Pakistan in an ODI series in July, and Zimbabwe embarrassingly skittled them for 99 in a chase of 119.In an administrative shake-up, Ehsan Mani and Wasim Khan were replaced as chairman and CEO by Ramiz Raja and Faisal Hasnain, in what still feels like a makeshift, experimental set-up. Head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis, too, departed in somewhat contentious circumstances, and are yet to be replaced full-time.Most devastatingly of all, the year showed the “;Western bloc”, as Ramiz put it, remains far from convinced Pakistan is a safe place to visit. First, New Zealand withdrew from a series minutes before the start of the first game, citing unspecified security concerns, before England plunged the knife in further by refusing to repay Pakistan’s favour of a tour in uncertain Covid times in 2020, pulling out of their men’s and women’s tours.High point
A ten-wicket thumping of India in the sides’ opening match at the T20 World Cup. Pakistan marched to the semi-finals unbeaten, where…Low point
… they ran into another of their old foes, Australia, who kept intact their hold over Pakistan in ICC knockout events, sealing a sensational heist with six balls to spare.Results
Tests: P9 W7 L2
ODIs: P6 W2 L4
T20Is: P29 W20 L6 NR3Dimuth Karunaratne’s 244 against Bangladesh was the highest individual Test score of the year•AFP/Getty Images

Sri Lanka

By Andrew Fidel Fernando
If you’re an optimist, 2021was a year of regeneration for Sri Lanka’s top men’s team. In T20Is, the year saw the full blossoming of Wanindu Hasaranga – currently the top T20I bowler in the world – the re-emergence of fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, and the arrival of top-order batter Charith Asalanka. In Tests, Pathum Nissanka made a relatively smooth transition to batting at the top level; left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama, and offspinning allrounder Ramesh Mendis began with promise; and the senior batters moved up a gear too. Dimuth Karunaratne can perhaps now be regarded one of the best openers of his era (however thin that field may be), and Lahiru Thirimanne and Dhananjaya de Silva also averaged more than 50 for the year.But here’s the pessimists’ view: many of these gains are fragile. Although the rise of fresh talent was heartening, Sri Lanka’s win-loss record in the limited-overs formats, particularly ODIs, remains woeful. This though they have increasingly become a side against whom top sides rest their front-line players. They turned heads in the T20 World Cup, sure, but didn’t make a serious semi-finals charge. And for all the experience in that Test top order, it produced some of the most tragicomic collapses of the year.Sri Lanka head into 2022 without coaching staff, with SLC’s technical advisory committee, headed by Aravinda de Silva, seemingly intent on installing new coaches. Will the new set-up be able to build on 2021’s gains?High point
The victories over Bangladesh and West Indies in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup, plus competitive outings against South Africa and England.Low point
The unfathomably meek collapses against England, in the Test series in January.Results
Tests: P9 W3 L3 D3
ODIs: P15 W4 L10 NR1
T20Is: P20 W8 L12None of West Indies’ T20 heavyweights stepped up at the T20 World Cup and the team crashed out early•ICC via Getty

West Indies

by Nagraj Gollapudi
Hope and despair. The West Indies fan knows these two contrasting emotions better than anybody.The year started full of hope, when the debutant pair of Kyle Mayers and Nkrumah Bonner stitched together a record partnership to mow down a large target set by Bangladesh and help West Indies to a 2-0 win – their first overseas series win since late 2017. By June the excitement had evaporated as West Indies were blanked out 2-0 by South Africa in a home Test series. The Test team would finish the year with another 2-0 defeat, this time in Sri Lanka.Their fortunes were similar in white-ball cricket. In April, Kieron Pollard’s team shook Australia with a 4-1 T20I series win at home. On September 9, former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum warned in a tweet that West Indies, the defending champions, had a “seriously strong squad” for the T20 World Cup in the UAE. But the team came a cropper, crashing out of the tournament in the group phase. All the big names, including Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran failed spectacularly. Pollard conceded it was the “end of a generation”.High point
In February in Chattogram, Mayers and Bonner’s fourth-wicket stand of 210 runs helped a second-string West Indies side surpass a record 395-run target against Bangladesh. It was the fifth-highest chase in Test cricket history. Their 4-1 defeat of Australia in T20Is in July was their first limited-overs series win against Australia at home since 1995.Low point
Fifty five. The third-lowest total in men’s T20 World Cups, and the score Pollard’s team was skittled for against England in the 2021 edition in Dubai.Results
Tests: P10 W3 L5 D2
ODIs: P9 W4 L5
T20Is: P25 W9 L13 NR3Oval Invincibles, led by South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk, were the inaugural champions of the Women’s Hundred•Getty Images

Women

by Annesha Ghosh
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.Women’s cricket oscillated between extremes in 2021. The inaugural Hundred was the headline act. Breaking new ground in the UK, the success of the women’s competition surpassed that of its men’s counterpart, reaching new audiences and belatedly forcing a review of the female competitors’ pay.In Australia, the WBBL got a record crowd for its final, and a record overall broadcast audience, which vindicated Cricket Australia’s decision to make every game available on television for the first time in the competition’s seven-year history. The tournament featured its largest Indian contingent, although it was the South Africans who played starring roles in the knockouts, like they did in the Hundred.Australia’s world-record unbeaten streak in ODIs was finally snapped at 26 in September by India in a record chase, two days after they went down in the thriller of the year.India’s wild swings in fortune weren’t all on the field. Runners-up at the 2020 T20 World Cup, they suffered a full year of inactivity and waited over 14 months to lay their hands on the prize money from the tournament. Then, having not played Tests for seven years, they suddenly had two scheduled for 2021, including their first pink-ball Test, which inspired hopes that more teams beyond England and Australia would embrace the multi-format structure in bilaterals.The ICC, for its part, granted Test and ODI status to women’s teams of all Full Member countries and pledged to place the women’s game at the centre of its global growth strategy.Standout individual feats included Sophia Dunkley becoming the first black woman to play Test cricket for England, West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor becoming the youngest to make 8000 international runs, India captain Mithali Raj reaching the top of the run charts in the women’s international game, Ireland’s Amy Hunter breaking the record for the youngest player to make a senior international century, and Australia allrounder Ellyse Perry becoming the first woman to the double of 5000 runs and 300 wickets.Towards the close of the year, the game lost one of its pioneers, former England allrounder Eileen Ash, who died at 110.High point
The ICC replaced the word “batsman” with the gender-neutral “batter” in all its playing conditions, during the men’s T20 World Cup in October-November. The move, described by the governing body as a “natural and overdue evolution” in the sport, followed the MCC’s amendments regarding the term in the Laws of Cricket, aimed at recognising cricket as “a game for all”.Low point
The cancellation of the ODI World Cup Qualifier in November-December. Sri Lanka had played no cricket between March 2020 and the qualifying event, and it cost them dearly after team standings came into play to determine the final three entrants to the 2022 World Cup. Thailand, meanwhile, got a raw deal despite being a frontrunner for a top-five finish in the qualifier, which would have ensured their inclusion in the next Women’s ODI Championship cycle.Ireland made an early exit from the T20 World Cup after losing two of three games, against Namibia and Sri Lanka•Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images

Ireland

by Peter Della Penna
After a mostly charmed decade in the 2010s, the start of the 2020s has not been too kind to Ireland. Though they gained Test status in 2017, they have not played a match in the format since 2019, leaving many people within the Irish set-up wondering when another will happen.They did not exactly cover themselves in glory in the limited-overs formats in 2021. The year started off with Ireland losing an ODI to the UAE, and later in January, losing 3-0 in ODIs against Afghanistan. That result was not entirely surprising considering Ireland’s historic woes against Afghanistan ever since Rashid Khan made his debut. However, losing two out of three Super League ODIs to Netherlands in Utrecht in July was a jarring result. They bounced back somewhat to claim 15 out of a possible 30 points (ten from a win and five for a no result) in each of their home ODI series later in the summer against South Africa and Zimbabwe.Ireland’s T20I form was arguably worse. In a case of near déjà vu, they lost two of three T20Is to the UAE in the weeks prior to the start of the T20 World Cup. So losing two out of three in the opening round – to Sri Lanka and Namibia – should not have been altogether shocking. Despite the gradual expansion of the second-round format from Super Eights, to Super 10s and currently Super 12s, Ireland have not advanced to the second round of the T20 World Cup since 2009. In the recriminations that followed, head coach Graham Ford resigned, bringing an end to a tenure that started in 2017.High point
Beating South Africa for the first time ever in ODIs: a century by captain Andy Balbirnie propelled Ireland to a 43-run win in Malahide on July 13.Low point
Stumbling badly against Namibia in a win-or-go home encounter on the final day of Group A play in Sharjah to bow out of the T20 World Cup before the second phase had begun.Results
ODIs: P14 W4 L8 NR2
T20Is: P14 W5 L9Stats current as of December 18, 2021More in our look back at 2021

Guardians starting pitcher Slade Cecconi was the latest to flirt with a no-hitter this season.

His no-hit bid was broken up in the eighth inning Monday on a single by Royals second baseman Michael Massey. Cecconi's gem becomes the most recent close call as MLB pitchers search for the first no-hitter of the season. Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto came just one out away from reaching the feat Saturday and L.A. then miraculously lost to the Orioles. He pitched 8 2/3 hitless innings before Jackson Holliday broke up the bid on a home run that started the chaos.

Orioles rookie Brandon Young flirted with a perfect game last month before he let up a single and committed an error to give up both the perfect game and no-hit bid with two outs in the eighth. No pitcher has thrown a no-hitter this season amid a myriad of close calls. If that stands the case, this year would become the first MLB season with no no-hitters since 2005.

Baseball saw four no-hitters last year, which came from Ronel Blanco of the Astros, Dylan Cease of the Padres, Blake Snell as a member of the Giants and a combined no-hitter from the Cubs where Shota Imanaga threw seven innings. Bookending the no-hitless season of '05, there was just one no-hitter in '04 (Randy Johnson) and one in '06 (Aníbal Sánchez).

There's just under three weeks left before the MLB's regular season concludes on Sept. 28. Opportunities are running out to keep the streak alive, but you never know.

Barcelona are keen to 'tempt' Kobbie Mainoo away from Manchester United but face stiff competition in the race for the midfielder. The England international had pushed to leave Old Trafford over the summer but was rebuffed in his efforts to leave the Manchester powerhouse. A January transfer has been mooted, though United need reinforcements before sanctioning his exit.

• Mainoo keen to leave Old Trafford

  United boss Ruben Amorim had hoped to bring in a new central midfielder over the summer, and the Premier League powerhouse were heavily linked with a move for Brighton star Carlos Baleba. However, United failed to agree a fee with the Seagulls for the Cameroonian ball winner, and a transfer failed to materialise.

  Baleba continues to be linked with a move to United, as does Crystal Palace youngster Adam Wharton and Nottingham Forest sensation Elliot Anderson, though United would face stiff competition from a number of Premier League rivals for the latter pair.

  While a January move for any of the three midfielders would be difficult to complete, Mainoo is eager to leave the club as he looks to reignite his England chances ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The 20-year-old is yet to start a Premier League match this season, and United's lack of European action means Amorim sees little need to rotate in the middle of the park.

  And according to Spanish publication , Barcelona are ready to make their move for Mainoo.

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• Competition rife for United midfielder

  The report states that Barcelona are looking to 'tempt' Mainoo away from United as the consider bolstering their midfield options. That being said, the same report also claims that competition for the United outcast is rife, with Real Madrid sniffing around the youngster.

  After a flying start to the season under Xabi Alonso, are struggling and are now seven points behind league leaders Barcelona, albeit with a game in hand, following a run of one win in their last five. Even so, the Spanish giants are prepared to sanction a move for Mainoo to not only improve the squad, but to also strike a blow to their fierce rivals.

  Real Madrid are not the only European heavyweight in for Mainoo with Serie A giants Napoli and Premier League outfit Chelsea also monitoring the United midfielder. A move to Napoli would see Mainoo tread the same path as Scott McTominay, who was rebuilt his career following his move to Italy last summer.

  The Blues, meanwhile, are renowned for hoovering up the best young talent on the continent and would jump at the chance to sign a player of Mainoo's calibre and scope for improvement. A separate report states that Chelsea are leading the race for Mainoo, though the player's preference is to move to Napoli. 

• Zirkzee also pushing for January exit

  Mainoo isn't the only United outcast pushing to leave Old Trafford in January. Joshua Zirkzee has dropped down the pecking order at Old Trafford following the summer arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.

  The Dutchman is another who is keen to garner minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup and recently scored his first goal of the season in United's 2-1 win at Crystal Palace last month.

  Amorim's side, though, are refusing to green-light Mainoo and Zirkzee's respective January exits. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently shed light on the situation at Old Trafford, with the United head coach wary about allowing the pair to depart next month.

  With Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui all expected to link up with Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Morocco, respectively, for the Africa Cup of Nations, Amorim "does not want to weaken the squad further in January".

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• 'United have not made a decision yet' on Mainoo and Zirkzee

  Speaking on his podcast, Romano said: "Two important situations to monitor: Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee. With several players leaving for AFCON, Ruben Amorim does not want to weaken the squad further in January. This is a key factor in United’s thinking. Roma have strong and genuine interest in Joshua Zirkzee. They have spoken to his representatives and consider him a priority target. However, this deal depends entirely on Manchester United, and as of now, there is no green light.

  "Kobbie Mainoo is also pushing to play more and would like a loan move. There are more than ten clubs interested, including Napoli, who have been pushing for weeks. But again, United have not made a decision yet. The message from Old Trafford is clear. Because of AFCON and squad depth concerns, no exits will be approved unless United feel fully protected. The desire of the players is there, but the final decision belongs to the club."

Paris Saint-Germain loanee Randal Kolo Muani shone against his parent club with two goals and an assist, but his heroics ultimately counted for nothing as Tottenham slumped to a comprehensive 5-3 defeat at the reigning European champions. Spurs went ahead twice in the game. but were undone by some dismal defending as PSG scored five times and took home all three Champions League points.

Tottenham took a shock lead on 35 minutes with a well-worked goal. Archie Gray did well to get down the left flank and dig out a cross for Kolo Muani, who rose well to power a head back across goal and give Richarlison the simple task of nodding into an empty net.

The goal looked to have stunned the visitors, but they were back on level terms before the break. A corner in from the left was only cleared as far as Vitinha on the edge of the box, and the Portugal midfielder was not closed down quickly enough and smashed home a ferocious strike that flew past Guglielmo Vicario and in off the underside of the bar.

The two sides traded goals again at the start of the second half. Kolo Muani volleyed home from inside the penalty area after PSG failed to clear a corner, before Vitinha grabbed his second of the match three minutes later with a curling effort that beat Vicario. 

PSG then took control of the game, although they were given a helping hand by Spurs. Cristian Romero's ball to Pape Matar Sarr saw the midfielder gift possession away in a dangerous area, allowing Fabian Ruiz to sweep home and put the visitors in front for the first time. More disastrous defending allowed Willian Pacho to make it 4-2 from a corner, before Kolo Muani grabbed his second of the night after a rare poor moment from Vitinha.

However, the Portuguese had the last laugh by walking off with the match ball. Romero conceded a penalty for handball as he tried to block a shot, allowing Vitinha the simple task of completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot. PSG were reduced to 10 men in added time when Lucas Hernandez elbowed Xavi Simons in the face, but it was too late for Spurs to capitalise on this advantage.

GOAL rates Tottenham's players from Parc des Princes…

• AFP
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Guglielmo Vicario (6/10):

  Conceded five goals but couldn't do anything about Vitinha's first two strikes and was let down by his team-mates for the other three

  Pedro Porro(6/10):

  Put some great deliveries into the box going forwards and kept Barcola fairly quiet but, like the rest of the Spurs defence, was guilty of some poor moments after the break.

  Cristian Romero (4/10):

  Sloppy second half from the captain. Put Sarr in trouble for the third goal that saw PSG finally take the lead and gave away the penalty for the fifth.

  Micky van de Ven(6/10):

  The pick of the bunch when it comes to Tottenham's defence, but that's not saying much.

  Djed Spence (5/10):

  Came up against Kvaratskhelia and did a good job in the first half, though did have a few lazy moments after the break.

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  Midfield

  Rodrigo Bentancur (6/10):

  Should have blocked Vitinha's shot for PSG's second goal but seemed to move out of the away and could only watch in dismay as it flew past Vicario. Made amends somewhat by robbing Vitinha and finding Kolo Muani for Spurs' third.

  Archie Gray (7/10):

  Put in a strong display and covered so much ground. Played a key role in two of Tottenham's goals and showed why he should be playing more.

  Lucas Bergvall (7/10):

  Back in the team and made a real difference. His flair and quality on the ball has been badly missed and he was excellent, particularly in the first half.

  Pape Matar Sarr (4/10):

  Disastrous second half from the midfielder. Caught in possession just outside the box for PSG's third goal and failed to clear the ball as the hosts made it 4-2.

• AFP
  

  Attack

  Richarlison (7/10):

  Nodded home an easy finish from two yards for his third goal in three games. Also played a big part in the second goal, heading the corner back across goal and causing panic in the PSG defence.

  Randal Kolo Muani (8/10):

  Showed up against his parent club with two goals and assist. Teed up Richarlison with a great jump and header and then reacted quickly to fire home the second. Made Vitinha pay for a poor moment with Tottenham's third of the night.

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  Subs & Manager

  Joao Palhinha  (6/10):

  Brought on to freshen the team up but the game was already gone.

  Mohammed Kudus (6/10):

  Also arrived too late to make an impact.

  Destiny Udogie (N/A):

  A late sub who contributed little.

  Xavi Simons (N/A):

  A few lively moments after arriving late in the day. Also took a painful-looking elbow to the face that saw Hernandez sent off in stoppage time.

  Wilson Odobert (N/A):

  Didn't see much of the game as a late sub.

  Thomas Frank (6/10):

  Made five changes to his team from the dismal derby defeat to Arsenal and saw his team give it a good go. Twice Spurs went in front, but they were left down by some really poor defending which will be a major source of frustration for the boss. 

With Amazon Warriors needing 11 from the last over, Naseem Shah held his nerve to concede just five

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Sep-2025In what was a must-win game for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Mohammad Rizwan and the bowlers helped them get the better of Guyana Amazon Warriors by five runs in a last-over finish in Providence.Chasing a mere 150, Amazon Warriors needed 11 from six balls with three wickets in hand. Naseem Shah held his nerve and had Keemo Paul caught at long-on with the first ball. For the rest of the over, he mixed slower balls into the pitch with yorkers to give away just five. While the result ended Patriots’ three-match losing streak, their playoff chances still look bleak. They need nothing less than a win in their last league match, against Barbados Royals on Friday, but also other results to go their way.Earlier, Patriots did not have a great start and were 26 for 3 inside five overs with Andre Fletcher, Kyle Mayers and Leniko Boucher all falling in single digits. But Rizwan’s 85 off 62 balls steered them to 149 for 6.Rizwan stabilised the innings with Rilee Rossouw and took the side to 64 for 4 at the end of ten overs. He was on 36 off 30 at that point but scored 49 off the next 32. In all, he hit eight fours and three sixes and was responsible for Patriots scoring 45 in the last four overs.Patriots’ Pakistani stars Mohammad Rizwan and Naseem Shah celebrate the big wicket of Shimron Hetmyer•CPL T20 via Getty ImagesAmazon Warriors had a much better start, reaching 41 for 1 after the powerplay. But they could not build on that, losing two wickets in the next four overs to be 67 for 3 at the halfway mark. Patriots pegged them back further by dismissing Hassan Khan and Shai Hope in successive overs. Dominic Drakes had Hassan caught and bowled and Navin Bidaisee castled Hope with a slider that kept low.After 15 overs, both sides were 100 for 5. But while Patriots had a set better in Rizwan, Amazon Warriors did not. With 50 needed from the last five overs, Dwaine Pretorius tried to take on Waqar Salamkheil but perished attempting a slog sweep. On the very next ball, Salamkheil could have had Romario Shepherd caught behind but Rizwan was not sure if there was bat involved. Replay showed a clear outside edge.Shepherd rubbed it in by pulling the last ball of the over for a six. Paul did the same against Naseem in the following over but could manage only a leg bye from the other five deliveries.With 21 needed from ten balls, Jason Holder had Shepherd caught at long-on with a short ball. Quenton Sampson hit two fours off the next three balls to bring it down to 11 needed from the final over. But Naseem denied them.

“Huge honour to represent my heritage, culture, villages, and family,” he says after being named in Samoa’s squad for the Asia-East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 qualifier

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Sep-2025

Ross Taylor, the 41-year-old former New Zealand captain, will represent Samoa in the upcoming Asia-East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 qualifier in Oman, which could help them qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Taylor was named in the 15-man squad, to be led by Caleb Jasmat, on Friday.”Excited. It’s been a few months in the pipeline, but obviously the team just got announced today, so… exciting to represent the country of my mother’s birth,” Taylor told New Zealand Cricket in a chat. “I always wanted to give back to the Polynesian community in some sort of way. I always thought it would be more in a coaching and other avenues, I never thought I would play [for Samoa]. But as the opportunity arose, looking forward to getting out there and hopefully representing and doing my best for Samoa.”It’s the first time that Samoa are being to a qualifying tournament like this, in Oman. Nice for some other players, who have Samoan heritage and are being able to play for Samoa in this tournament and hopefully go as far as we can.”He is still New Zealand’s fifth-most prolific run-scorer in T20Is despite last playing a game in the format in November 2020.

Kylian Mbappe has cheekily hinted that his France teammate Dayot Upamecano could find “better teams” than Bayern Munich in a playful invitation to join him at Real Madrid. The defender is out of contract in 2026, and talks with Bayern remain unresolved. With Los Blancos searching for a long-term defensive anchor, Mbappe’s comments have reignited talk of a blockbuster French reunion in Madrid.

• Madrid circle as Upamecano faces uncertain Bayern future

  Madrid’s pursuit of a new central defender has taken a familiar turn, straight into the heart of France’s national team setup. Last week reports emerged in Spain that Los Blancos have held preliminary talks with the representatives of Upamecano, who could be available on a free transfer in 2026 if Bayern fail to secure a renewal.

  The 27-year-old centre-back has become one of Vincent Kompany’s key players at Bayern, forming a formidable partnership in defence and featuring heavily across competitions. However, with Madrid exploring options due to long-term fitness concerns around David Alaba and Eder Militao, Upamecano’s name remains high on their shortlist. 

  Adding intrigue to the speculation, Mbappe was quizzed about his compatriot’s situation ahead of France’s World Cup qualifiers and couldn’t resist a mischievous comment about Bayern’s place in football’s pecking order.

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  ‘There are better clubs’ – Mbappe praises Upamecano but drops Madrid hint

  Mbappe, speaking at a press conference, was full of admiration for Upamecano’s recent form but couldn’t help letting a playful smile slip when asked whether his teammate should stay in Munich.

  “He’s doing very well, he’s very confident, full of self-assurance. He’s in the debate about who is the best defender in the world,” Mbappe said. “For me, he’s one of those dominant defenders. He’s capable of keeping up with the forwards, of winning duels. He’s a tactical asset.”

  With a grin, Mbappe added a line that quickly caught fire: “He’s at a big club, Bayern, there’s not much better… But there are better ones [smiles]. I’m not going to say anything, I’m not going to get into that debate, out of respect for his club and for him, because I know that if I say something he’ll be under more pressure. But when you talk about a player of this calibre, all the clubs will be on the lookout to sign him.”

• Upamecano stays calm amid Madrid links

  In response to mounting speculation, the former RB Leipzig has remained composed and avoided fueling transfer talk. Speaking to recently, Upamecano said he’s letting his representatives handle discussions while focusing on the season ahead.

  "My agent is taking care of it. We will make the right decision. I am receiving good advice," he said. "I am focused on this season and my goals with the club and the national team. I don't have the headspace for it."

  At the same time, he expressed appreciation for the growing interest in his future: “I'm completely relaxed. I'm under contract with Bayern. I have goals. But I'm very grateful when clubs are interested in me.”

  Upamecano’s agent Moussa Sissoko, who also represents Ousmane Dembele, is known for his strong negotiating stance and close connections within French football circles. His involvement adds another layer to the ongoing situation, especially with the Bavarians pushing for an extension to avoid losing the defender at his peak.

  For Madrid, the potential arrival of a French international with Champions League pedigree and a strong relationship with Mbappe fits perfectly within Florentino Perez’s recruitment model.

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  Next moves: Contract talks or free transfer showdown?

  Bayern remain confident of keeping Upamecano, but there’s a growing sense within the club that delaying negotiations could prove costly. The Bavarian giants have already seen several key players depart on free transfers in recent seasons – a scenario they are determined to avoid repeating with one of their most reliable defenders.

  Club president Herbert Hainer confirmed that discussions with the player’s representatives are already underway, expressing optimism about a positive outcome. “We are in the process of speaking with Upamecano. I believe he feels comfortable in Munich. It's obviously an important decision for him as well. In principle, he likes it very much at Bayern. We would like to keep him. I am cautiously optimistic.”

  While Madrid continue to monitor developments quietly from afar, Bayern’s leadership remain united in their stance that Upamecano is central to their long-term plans. For now, both camps are handling matters with professionalism, Mbappe’s teasing remarks aside but with Les Blues stars regularly linking up on and off the pitch, speculation around a future Madrid move is unlikely to fade anytime soon.

Surrey 143 for 1 (Wyatt-Hodge 74*, Smith 44) beat Durham 141 for 5 (Armitage 50) by nine wickets Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s blistering 26-ball half-century set Surrey on their way to a thumping nine-wicket win over Durham at the Oval.The England opener struck two sixes and 11 fours in her unbeaten 74 (36), sharing a stand of 94 for the first wicket with skipper Bryony Smith (44 from 28) as the hosts chased down a target of 142 with 43 balls to spare to return to the top of the table.The onslaught came after Durham fought back from 29 for 3 to total 141 for 5, Hollie Armitage anchoring the effort with 50 (49) while Bess Heath (27 from 18) and Mia Rogers (25 from 20) played eye-catching cameos.There were two wickets apiece for Ryana MacDonald-Gay (2 for 16) and Tash Farrant (2 for 25).Durham were soon in trouble, MacDonald-Gay uprooting Suzie Bates’ middle stump after the New Zealand international gave her the charge.MacDonald-Gay was at it again in her next over, spreadeagling Mady Villiers’s stumps and when Emma Marlow chipped one from Tash Farrant into the hands of Paige Scholfield, the visitors were 29 for 3.Durham fought back with Armitage playing the anchor role and Heath and Rogers providing the impetus. Heath twice drove powerfully over cover and then mid-off for four in racing to 27 before Smith clung on to a good catch at mid-off to cut her charge short.Rogers should have been stumped on 12 off the bowling of Dani Gregory, but celebrated the reprieve with some good straight hitting until she too didn’t get enough onto another drive, Scholfield again showing safe hands on the boundary.Armitage ran hard throughout and finally found the fence twice late on while Katherine Fraser hit the last ball of the innings for six to set the target.Smith was quick to take up the challenge clubbing Grace Thompson to the fence four times in her opening over and when spinner Katie Levick came on for the third over she was driven and pulled with equal disdain by the Surrey skipper.Wyatt-Hodge caught the mood, cutting and driving Trudy Johnson to the fence to raise the 50-partnership in 22 balls.Things got worse for Durham when Phoebe Turner dropped Smith a mid-off on 34, but brilliant fielding on the fence at backward square saved a six from the next ball, the England all-rounder parrying the ball back into play and keeping the hosts down to one.Wyatt Hodge produced the first six, hammering Levick over the mid-wicket rope, but with the hundred partnership in sight Smith pulled one from Turner into the hands of Villiers to end the stand at 94.Wyatt-Hodge though continued to brutalize the Durham bowling adding a second straight six to her boundary count as Surrey galloped home.

Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller has joked his post-playing career path back to the club is "already mapped out" after comments from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The 36-year-old, who is starring in the MLS for Vancouver Whitecaps, remains non-committal on a specific role but admits his connection to the club of his life, Bayern, remains "very, very good."

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  Muller jokes 'path is already mapped out' after Rummenigge comments

  Muller has joked that his future path back to the club as an executive is "already mapped out," following recent comments from supervisory board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Speaking to 's Blickpunkt Sport, the 36-year-old discussed his future plans and his strong connection to the Bavarian giants.

  Rummenigge recently stated that all doors remain open for Muller at Bayern and endorsed his move to North America. The former CEO told the German Press Agency: "It is the wish of the fans and the club that former players take on a leadership role at Bayern Munich." This follows a well-trodden path for club icons, including Rummenigge himself, who returned as a club executive after his playing career.

  Muller, who is Bayern's all-time record appearance holder, acknowledged this precedent. He is already scheduled to work as a television expert for MagentaTV during the 2026 World Cup, mirroring the first post-playing step Rummenigge took. "Actually, the path has already been mapped out," Muller said with a laugh, acknowledging the parallels.

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• Legend non-committal on specific coach or official role

  Despite the lighthearted comment, Muller was quick to clarify that he has not yet decided on a specific post-playing career, admitting he is unsure if a high-pressure role as a coach or official is what he wants. "That's a long shot," the 2014 World Cup winner said regarding the recruitment efforts. "I'm aware of that. I know my skillset. But even so, I still have no idea whether I could be a good coach and want to be a good coach. And whether I could be a good sports official and want to be a good sports official."

• 'Muller hype' builds in Vancouver after dream start

  Since joining the Whitecaps on a free transfer in August 2025, Muller has sparked what the source describes as a "veritable Muller hype." He has been in exceptional form, netting seven goals and providing three assists in just seven MLS appearances. His total record for the Canadian side stands at 10 goals and six assists in 13 games across all competitions.

  The forward, however, remains focused on his responsibilities on the pitch. "I didn't come here to become Vancouver's superstar," Muller told BR. "I feel a responsibility to give something back to the club. We want the stadium to be full and to draw attention to the sport in the city." He also joked about his developing English skills, assuring, "Don't worry, Radio Muller broadcasts here too."

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• Star forward admits confusion over MLS playoff format

  Muller’s immediate challenge is the MLS Cup Playoffs, where his Vancouver Whitecaps are set to face FC Dallas in the first round. The German forward, who is accustomed to a knockout format like the DFB-Pokal, admitted he is still unfamiliar with the MLS structure. "I thought playoffs were like basketball or ice hockey," Muller said. "If I could choose, I'd prefer a home and away game." The first round of the MLS playoffs is contested as a best-of-three series before reverting to single-elimination matches in later rounds.