Kuldeep three-for gives India edge on flat pitch

South Africa finish the day on 247 for 6 after opting to bat in Guwahati, the newest venue in Test cricket

Sidharth Monga22-Nov-2025Guwahati, the newest venue in Test cricket, might have turned session breaks upside down, but it also brought about some normalcy to Test cricket amid the pandemonium in Kolkata and Perth. The pitch called for watchfulness in the first hour, eased out once the moisture dried out, and then offered a bit of turn here and there on a day when 247 runs were scored for the loss of six wickets.The quality and depth in India’s bowling shone through on the flat surface, making it necessary for series leaders South Africa to take risks if they wanted to score over three an over. India were good enough to get wickets when the batters did take risks.A new captain in Rishabh Pant couldn’t prevent India from losing their eighth toss in the last nine Tests, but Kuldeep Yadav is just the bowler you need if you lose the toss on a typical Indian surface. He took three wickets to go with Jasprit Bumrah’s ever-reliable control for figures of 17-6-38-1.Related

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South Africa’s batting depth made sure India had to keep working hard through the day, even after they had been reduced to 201 for 5. Tony de Zorzi and No. 7 Senuram Muthusamy, the only one in the line-up to average over 40 in Tests, added 45 for the sixth wicket, but Mohammed Siraj topped up a four-over spell with the old ball with the wicket of de Zorzi in what proved to be the dying moments of the day’s play.South Africa will be disappointed that all of their batters got starts but no one reached fifty. This is something that had happened in Kolkata as well, but that pitch broke up rapidly to make sure it didn’t hurt the visitors.This Guwahati pitch played way better for batters, but also kept the bowlers interested. Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton put on 82 for the first wicket, then the highest partnership of the series, before Bumrah removed Markram with what proved to be the last ball before the tea, the first session break of the day, taken at 11am after the early start at 9am to make up for early sunrise and sunset in the eastern-most Test venue in India.Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs added 84 together•AFP/Getty Images

Until then, Markram and Rickelton had looked solid even though they had been tested thoroughly. It took Markram 17 balls to get off the mark, and he was reprieved by KL Rahul at second slip on the 18th. Nitish Kumar Reddy, in as a specialist right-hand batter in a left-heavy batting line-up, was some relief with his four overs going for 21, but the spinners followed up with tight bowling.Bumrah’s first spell was another masterclass in length bowling, but when he was brought back for one over before lunch, he took a dip in the fuller waters. Markram, who had driven similar balls from Reddy well, was stuck on the crease to Bumrah and ended up playing on.Immediately after tea, Kuldeep got rid of Rickelton thanks to a slightly loose drive and a sharp catch by Pant off a thick deflection. India had managed to keep them around or below three an over until that point.Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs batted through the rest of the session, but it was hard work even though the pitch was at its best behaviour with the early moisture gone. And yet they could add only 74 in 26.4 overs when they went back for lunch.It could not be ascertained if there was some discussion around the scoring rate during this break, but Bavuma and Stubbs both came out looking more intent on scoring quicker. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep didn’t let up and took three quick wickets as a result.Bavuma looked to clear extra cover off Jadeja, but ended up giving a catch to mid-off off the inner half of the bat. Stubbs was caught pushing hard at Kuldeep’s first ball of a new spell. Rahul, who had missed a tough chance off Markram earlier, took an equally sharp one smoothly at first slip. Wiaan Mulder got a couple of looseners from Siraj, but his lack of experience in Indian conditions showed when Kuldeep tossed one up. He wound up to hit him big, but the ball dipped on him, resulting in an easy catch to mid-off.Siraj came back from that spell to bowl three intense overs against de Zorzi and Muthusamy, but there just wasn’t enough in the pitch for the old ball. With the sun sinking rapidly, India called out for the second new ball two balls after it became available.It turned out to be a timely move as there wasn’t much time left before the umpires would take the players off for bad light. It meant India could risk the new ball even though one of their fast bowlers was exhausted. But is Siraj ever exhausted? He took the new ball and bowled a peach first ball. The seam position and the shape in the air hinted at an inswinger for the left-hand batter, but the ball nipped away after pitching, taking the edge and leaving de Zorzi frustrated. Four balls later, play was called off.

Labuschange raises another ton but Ward's hundred the match-winner

Tasmania chased down their target with 10 balls to spare after the home side had suffered a 7 for 70 collapse following Labuschagne’s dismissal

AAP09-Oct-2025Marnus Labuschagne’s case for an Ashes call-up continues to grow after scoring his second century in the space of a week in Queensland’s five-wicket One-Day Cup loss to Tasmania.Labuschagne cracked 105 off 91 balls to lead Queensland to 311 of 45.3 overs at Allan Border Field on Thursday.Related

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In reply, Tasmania reached the victory target with 10 balls to spare courtesy of big knocks from Tim Ward, who made his first one-day century from 88 balls, Jordan Silk and Caleb Jewell.Tasmania (3-0) remain unbeaten on top of the table, while Queensland slipped to a 2-1 record.Labuschagne’s hundred came just days after he scored 160 off 206 balls in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield draw with Tasmania, following on from his 130 off 118 balls in the Bulls’ One-Day Cup opener against Victoria last month.The hot run of form comes at the perfect time for Labuschagne, who is in the midst of a huge bat-off for an Ashes spot at the top of the order.Tim Ward drives during his maiden one-day century•Getty Images

Labuschagne is competing with the likes of Sam Konstas, Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, Nathan McSweeney, Jake Weatherald and Matt Renshaw to partner Usman Khawaja as opener for the five-Test series against England.There is also the option of Labuschagne returning to his preferred No. 3 position if selectors opt not to pick allrounder Beau Webster, who is battling an ankle injury.Labuschagne cracked eight fours and two sixes in his sparkling knock on Thursday. He was dropped on 91 when spinner Nikhil Chaudhary couldn’t hold on to a sizzling return chance.Labuschagne punched Chaudhary for four behind point to bring up his ton off 89 balls, but he was out a short time later when he edged the spinner behind.The exit of Labuschagne sparked a collapse of 7 for 70 as Queensland failed to capitalise on a strong start. Renshaw, who was called up ahead of Labuschagne for the upcoming ODI series against India, scored 38 off 35 balls.Labuschagne’s most recent Test century came against England in 2023, with his lean run of form since then resulting in his axing for the 3-0 series win over the West Indies.His ODI snub this week added further salt to the wound, but Labuschagne replied in perfect style with his ton on Thursday.

Rohl can unearth bigger talent than Gassama in £3.5m Rangers flop

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl is currently enjoying his first international break since taking charge of the club, after a busy start to life at Ibrox.

The Light Blues boss was thrown straight in at the deep end with a Europa League clash with Brann days after his arrival, and he has already reached six competitive games in the dugout in all competitions.

Rohl came in after the Gers had only won one of their first eight matches in the Scottish Premiership, under Stevie Smith and Russell Martin, and has won three out of three in the division.

The Scottish giants beat Dundee 3-0 away from home in the last match before the international break, which was their second away win and clean sheet in succession.

Djeidi Gassama scored the third goal of the game for the Gers, as shown in the highlights above, with a terrific finish into the far corner from the edge of the box.

Despite a lot of signs of promise in his first couple of months at the club after a move from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer, that was his first goal in the Premiership for Rangers.

Why Rangers need more from Djeidi Gassama

The Light Blues signed the French forward from the Owls for £2.2m and he made a lightning-fast start to life at Ibrox, with four goals in six matches in the club’s Champions League qualifying campaign.

After that burst of goals in Europe, you could not blame any supporters for getting excited about what the winger could produce on a weekly basis in the Premiership under Martin at the time.

Unfortunately, the former Paris Saint-Germain youngster has been unable to carry that European form into his domestic performances, as evidenced by that strike against Kilmarnock being his first in the league this season.

The 22-year-old winger, who worked with Rohl at Sheffield Wednesday in the 2024/25 campaign, has delivered one goal and one assist in 11 appearances in the Premiership.

xG

0.16

Bottom 32%

Goals

0.10

Bottom 44%

xA

0.13

Top 45%

Assists

0.10

Top 45%

Chances created

1.02

Bottom 32%

Successful crosses

0.23

Bottom 23%

Successful dribbles

2.04

Top 26%

Touches in the opposition’s box

6.12

Top 14%

As you can see in the table above, Gassama ranks poorly among wingers in the Premiership for scoring goals, creating chances and completing crosses, whilst only ranking just above the average for assisting goals.

However, the Frenchman ranks very highly for dribbles and touches in the opposition’s box. This shows that he is able to get himself into good positions by beating defenders with the ball, but he needs to improve his end product.

This is why Rohl needs to get more out of the Rangers winger, because his return of goals and assists does not back up the good build-up play that he does on the flank.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Whilst Gassama, 22, clearly has potential and could develop into a top player for Rangers, there is another summer signing who could be unearthed as an even bigger talent, despite being labelled a flop so far.

At the start of this month, Heart and Hand podcast creator David Edgar claimed that Thelo Aasgard has “been rotten” since his move from Luton Town in the summer, but the central midfielder has the potential to be a bigger star than Gassama.

Why Thelo Aasgaard can be a bigger talent than Djeidi Gassama for Rangers

Whilst the French winger is an exciting prospect who could add more goals and assists to his name, the £3.5m Norway international has the potential to be an excellent two-way player in the middle of the park.

Gassama does work hard defensively as a winger, ranking in the top 28% of wingers for tackles made (ten) in the Premiership, per FotMob, but his impact mainly comes from his offensive work.

Aasgaard, however, is an intriguing profile of player because he has clear technical quality and excellent physical attributes, which means that he can impact games in and out of possession.

Unfortunately, as recently evidenced by his red card against Celtic, the former Luton and Wigan star has had a difficult start to life at Ibrox, and is yet to show the very best of his potential.

Whilst Edgar feels he has been “rotten”, and over 2,000 likes on the post suggest others agree, there have been some encouraging signs from his domestic performances for the Gers.

Appearances

11

9

Goals

1

1

Assists

1

1

Dribbles completed per game

1.8

1.8

Dribble success rate

47%

67%

Ground duel success rate

57%

59%

Aerial duel success rate

36%

42%

As you can see in the table above, Aasgaard has as many goal contributions as Gassama, in fewer games, and has been more efficient with his dribbles, his ground duels, and his aerial duels.

His goal, of course, was also a stunning individual goal against Dundee United in Stevie Smith’s interim game in charge, and it won the Rangers Journal Goal of the Month award.

Like Gassama, if Rohl can help him to add more consistency to his end product in the final third, the Norwegian midfielder could be an exciting talent for the Gers supporters to enjoy, particularly when you consider that he scored four goals in one game against Moldova for his country in September.

On top of his attacking potential, Aasgaard ranks within the top 5% of his positional peers in the Premiership for duel success rate (55%), the top 21% for aerial duels won (eight), and the top 17% for duels won (47), per FotMob, which shows the value that he can offer out of possession.

It is now down to the manager and Aasgaard to work together on the training pitch to unearth his full potential, because he could be a physically and technically dominant star in Scottish football if it all comes together.

Rangers now monitoring boyhood Celtic fan who's withdrawn from Scotland squad

The Gers know all about his quality.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 12, 2025

That is why Rohl could unearth a bigger talent than Gassama with the Norway international, because he can be dominant in and out of possession, rather than just on the ball.

Man Utd now leading Barcelona & Liverpool in race to sign "absolute beast"

Manchester United are now leading Barcelona and Liverpool in the race to sign Nico Schlotterbeck, with it being revealed why the Borussia Dortmund defender could be ideal for Ruben Amorim.

With Amorim making it abundantly clear he is unwilling to compromise on his principles and change the three-at-the-back system, Luke Shaw has predominantly featured as a left-sided centre-back this season, although the 30-year-old has struggled at times.

Man United suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of rivals Manchester City back in September, and it would be fair to say Roy Keane wasn’t too impressed with Shaw’s play in the build-up to Phil Foden’s goal, saying: “Shaw’s an England international player. He’s got hundreds of games under his belt, he doesn’t even get his body position right. It’s like he has thrown the towel in.”

The Englishman was also one of the worst performers in the disappointing 4-2 defeat against Brentford, receiving a SofaScore match rating of just 5.9, the second-lowest of any player.

Consequently, it would perhaps be a wise move to bring in a new defender more accustomed to playing in the left centre-back role, and there has been a development in the Red Devils’ pursuit of a Bundesliga star…

Man Utd now leading race for Nico Schlotterbeck

According to a report from Spain, Man United have now moved into pole position in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund star Schlotterbeck, having overtaken Liverpool and Barcelona, given their good relations with the German club.

The German has now been identified as a priority target for United, as there is a feeling he could be ideal for Amorim, given that the 25-year-old is left-footed, physical, and has real quality in possession of the ball.

With the centre-back’s contract due to expire in 2027, Dortmund are willing to sanction a departure, should they receive a significant offer, placing the Red Devils in a strong position to secure his signature.

Scout Jacek Kulig has been a strong admirer of the Bundesliga star for quite some time, waxing lyrical about his performances across the 2021-22 campaign on X.

Since then, the 22-time Germany international has remained a key player for Dortmund, chipping in with six goals and 17 assists in 134 appearances for the Bundesliga side, which is an impressive return for a defender.

Schlotterbeck’s all-round attributes mean he could be the perfect addition for Man United, and the fact he is left-footed is an added bonus, given that Shaw hasn’t exactly been setting the world alight.

Fabrizio Romano confirms key signing Man Utd are set to make in 2026 "For sure" – Fabrizio Romano confirms Man Utd "will" make key signing in 2026

The Red Devils will look to do business in January.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 10, 2025

Fast-forward Brook sets tempo in thrilling Ashes curtain-raiser

England batter ignites Ashes hopes with trademark counterattack in Perth

Matt Roller21-Nov-2025

Harry Brook goes through the off side•Getty Images

If there was any doubt as to how Harry Brook would approach his first Test series in Australia, it was dispelled by the second ball he faced. Mitchell Starc’s figures were 3 for 10 after his first five overs; naturally, Brook decided to charge the first ball of his sixth, staying leg side of the ball and launching him through extra cover for three.It was the first of eight times that Brook charged an Australian bowler during his 61-ball innings of 52, the highest individual score of a wild opening day in Perth. Brook’s batting is bold and brash – if rarely beautiful – and his full-throttle approach was totally vindicated by the carnage around him. Only two other players even reached 30, and nobody survived as long as he did.Brook marched out to the middle to be met by chaos: a sold-out crowd, fizzing with adrenaline from Starc’s opening spell, and England’s best-laid plans in pieces at 39 for 3. Some players would shrink in such circumstances, but Brook saw only opportunity, as if informed by the mantra that a good plan executed violently now is better than a perfect plan next week.Related

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Brook is going to the Ashes with a clear mind, but how will he fare there?

Australia on the ropes after frenetic 19-wicket opening day

He is a unicorn, maintaining an unprecedented strike rate of 87.48 while averaging close to 60, and has a thick enough skin to ignore the hysterical criticism that greets many of his dismissals. It is impossible to have the counterattacking impact that he so often does without some ugly moments, and Brook has doubled down rather than looking to change his ways.Take his approach in the final over of the morning session. All received wisdom across nearly 150 years of Test history would suggest taking low-risk options focused solely on reaching the lunch interval unscathed. Brook saw things differently: he twice gave Starc the charge, launching him for four through cover then tucking him away off his hip for a single.There was no change at the start of the afternoon. Scott Boland beat him with the first ball after lunch, with Brook non-committal on the front foot; to the second, Brook shimmied down the pitch to launch him over wide mid-off for the first – and only – six of the day. It prompted Steven Smith to push a man back to long-off, opening up a gap for a low-risk single.Or, for that matter, a rasping straight drive off Starc, struck with such timing that the man on the rope had no chance of stopping it. It was the shot of the day, and emblematic of Brook’s cricketing intelligence: rather than taking on the vast square boundaries, he hit the majority of his boundaries to the shorter ones in the ‘V’.Australia made a tactical error in failing to test Brook out against the short ball more often, but their bowlers are not the first to be thrown off their plans by the sustained pressure he exerts. His dismissal, gloving Brendan Doggett’s bouncer behind while attempting to withdraw from a pull shot, should prompt a change in tack when he next walks out to bat.”He obviously played that counterattacking role, and whether he tries to premeditate certain shots and walks at bowlers, or just tries to clear that infield and take the game on, we’ve seen it happen before – and not just against us,” Starc said. “You may see some different fields as the series progresses… We might tinker with [our plans] as the series goes on.”Brook’s innings may not prove match-defining, but it was further evidence of his ability to change the tempo of a game. Australia have long been wary of him after his impact on the 2023 series, when his four rapid half-centuries included vital contributions in their wins at Headingley and The Oval.He was asked last month what an Ashes hundred would mean to him after missing out last time, and shrugged off the question. “That’s not something I really think about. I want to be a match-winner,” Brook said. “If the team is in a little bit of trouble, I want to get us out of it, which so far in my career I’ve done fairly well.” It was a major understatement.His innings was a stark contrast to Australia’s painstakingly defensive approach with the bat, which allowed England’s five fast bowlers to settle into spells on a fast, bouncy pitch that could hardly have suited them more. Starc said the day felt as though it was on “fast-forward”, and that is Brook’s natural tempo.Brook arrived in Australia for this series braced for the biggest challenge of his career to date and with the chance to prove that he is far more than a flat-track bully. His Test record is exceptional, but built solely on performances in three countries that have lent themselves to heavy run-scoring in recent years: England, New Zealand and Pakistan.It may only have been a quick 52 in a harum-scarum England innings that lasted 32.5 overs. But this was an early statement, which showed exactly why Brook is the player that Australia will fear most over the next seven weeks.

Highest chases in the IPL – RCB's 230 in third place

Big chases bring all the drama and here is a list of five from the IPL that had almost everything

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2025Jonny Bairstow made an unbeaten 108 in a chase of 262•BCCI

Punjab Kings 262 for 2

In a season where run-scoring and six-hitting scaled new heights, this clash raised the bar for T20 cricket. The match featured a record 42 sixes and produced the highest successful chase in the format – 262. KKR’s 261 for 6 was powered by a 138-run opening stand between Sunil Narine and Phil Salt, with the middle order adding the finishing touches. In reply, Prabhsimran Singh provided the early thrust before Jonny Bairstow’s fiery hundred and Shashank Singh’s 28-ball 68 sealed the mighty chase with eight balls to spare.

Sunrisers Hyderabad 247 for 2

It was Abhishek’s night in Hyderabad. A stroke of luck came early when he was caught on 28, but it turned out to be off a no-ball. Most times, when he hit the ball in the air, it either disappeared into the stands or dropped safely in no man’s land. Occasionally, as is the case when playing such high-risk innings, the ball went in the general direction of a fielder but PBKS weren’t able to hold onto their catches. Abhishek dismantled PBKS’ bowling attack with audacious ease. He stormed to his maiden IPL century in just 40 balls and went on record the highest individual score (141 off 55 balls) by an Indian in IPL history. Head played the perfect supporting act, hammering 66 off 37 in a dominant 171-run opening stand.Jitesh Sharma and Mayank Agarwal stitched a match-winning 107 in just 45 balls•Associated Press

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 230 for 4

The night seemed to belong to Rishabh Pant. His blazing 118, off just 61 balls, meant that RCB had to gun down 228 to earn a spot in Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings. RCB began well, with Kohli and Phil Salt adding 61 inside six overs, but three quick wickets tilted the advantage LSG’s way. Kohli raised a fine half-century, but his dismissal in the 12th over left RCB with 105 runs still to get from just 52 balls. Enter Mayank and Jitesh. While Mayank’s 23-ball 41 was impressive on its own, Jitesh seemed to batting in a different dimension altogether, blasting 85 off 33 balls, with eight fours and six sixes. Will O’Rourke, in particular, came in for some heavy punishment, conceding 74 from his four overs – the third-most expensive spell in IPL history.The game wasn’t without drama from other corners. Jitesh looked to be out at the start of the 17th over, but a back-foot no ball from Digvesh Rathi handed the batter a reprieve. A few moments later, Rathi, before delivering the ball, clipped the stumps at the bowler’s end with Jitesh well sort of his crease. However, the wicket was not given because the umpire deemed that Rathi had completed his delivery stride before he removed the stumps. Pant also asked for the appeal to be withdrawn. In the end, RCB were not to be denied, as Jitesh himself sealed it with a six to send every Bengaluru fan into delirium.Rahul Tewatia was the centre of attention after his spectacular innings against Kings XI in IPL 2020•BCCI

Rajasthan Royals 226 for 6

With Rajasthan Royals (RR) needing 51 off the final three overs, Rahul Tewatia’s 17 off 23 balls was turning into a disastrous promotion to No. 4. But what followed was one of the most dramatic turnarounds in IPL history. Tewatia smashed five sixes off Sheldon Cottrell’s over. He and Jofra Archer added three more sixes, and a four, in the next nine balls. RR chased down 224 – the highest IPL chase at the time – with three balls to spare. Earlier, Sanju Samson’s 85 off 42 had kept them in the hunt against PBKS.Jos Buttler pulled off a great one-man rescue act for Rajasthan Royals last year•BCCI

Rajasthan Royals 224 for 8

The standout performer of KKR’s title-winning campaign, Sunil Narine, smashed his maiden T20 century to lift his side to 223 for 6 and then struck with the ball too. With 103 to defend off 46 balls and four wickets remaining for RR, KKR were cruising. But Jos Buttler had other plans. With a strapped-up hamstring that kept him out of the previous game, Buttler single-handedly turned the chase on its head – scoring 70 of the remaining runs, retaining strike for the final 18 balls, and completing the win with five sixes and six fours.The Pandya brothers run to congratulate Kieron Pollard on taking Mumbai home in a chase of 219•BCCI/IPL

Mumbai Indians 219 for 6

This was one of those chases that cemented Kieron Pollard’s status as Mumbai Indians (MI) saviour. Ambati Rayudu’s blazing 72 off 27 balls had powered CSK to 218 for 4. MI came out swinging in the powerplay but stumbled with three quick wickets. MI needed 125 off the last eight overs with Pollard batting on 2 off 4. Then the tide started turning – he hit three sixes off Ravindra Jadeja, followed by a barrage against the quicks. Cameos from the Pandya brothers helped bring it down to 16 off the final over. Pollard kept strike throughout and sealed the win off the last ball with a nervy, match-winning double.

'Best decision ever' – John Terry reveals why he turned down big-money move to Chelsea's Premier League title rivals

Chelsea legend and former England star John Terry revealed why he turned down a big-money move to the Blues' Premier League title rivals during his playing days. A bona fide Stamford Bridge legend, Terry was associated with the Blues for 19 years from his academy days in 1998 up until 2017. In his senior professional career, Terry has won multiple honours, including five Premier League titles.

  • Terry had the opportunity to join Chelsea's title rivals

    It was back in 2009 when Chelsea went three consecutive seasons without the Premier League title after winning it in 2004-05 and 2005-06 back-to-back campaigns. They finished among the top three teams in each of those seasons but were struggling to get over the line.

    At that point, another mid-table Premier League side, who were slowly growing in stature, were Manchester City after their high-profile takeover. City were signing big names like Robinho to strengthen and were reportedly also keen on bringing Terry to Etihad Stadium. However, the ex-England defender turned down their offer to prove his loyalty to the Blues. 

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    'Committed rest of my career to Chelsea'

    Speaking to , Terry said: "I know Man City made a 29 million pound bid for me back in 2009/10 when Ancelotti was the manager. And as soon as Chelsea spoke to me about it, I was like, 'I don’t want to leave. I do not want to leave this football club. And if you want to sell me, then we have to have a different discussion because I don’t want to be here if you don’t want me.'

    "And Roman was like, 'We want you. We want you to stay.' And I was like, ‘Well, 100% I want to stay, so let’s do a new contract.' And I signed a new contract, committed the rest of my career really to Chelsea and signed a five-year contract at the age of 29, which was the best decision ever."

  • Terry giving up on his dream to manager Chelsea

    Quoted by the , Terry recently revealed his dream is to manage Chelsea, but he accepted that he may well have to admit defeat on that fantasy. He said: "I'm not sure it ever happens, to be honest. It's my one last dream I have at the football club. I've done everything at Chelsea. And for me now, the one thing that is missing is being the manager of the football club. That's why I went into coaching when I finished playing. My idea and dream was to learn my trade a bit. As a player, you retire after 22 years… Listen, 100 per cent, you learn enough to go into management. The level I played at and the managers I played under. But it doesn't give you the right you go into management at a certain level. You still have to learn and understand what it takes. 

    "There's a lot more that goes into the coaching side of it. So I went away and learnt my trade, I had some unbelievable times at Villa, I left Villa to be a number one, I thought I was ready. I think I'd be a really good number one, I enjoyed the coaching side of it. I want people around me that are better coaches than me. Then I could lead the dressing room and the team like I did [as a player]. That's what I did for 22 years at the club. I know I'd be good at it. Will I ever get the chance? I'm not sure, without doing the other bits. But when people tell you you've not got the experience, it's difficult to fathom."

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    Terry planning to take up League One job

    Terry further claimed in the interaction that he could consider taking charge of a third-tier club in England as he added: "When I went into Villa I got great experience under Dean Smith and we got promotion, which was incredible. As an assistant coach in the Premier League and the experience I've had as a player and an individual captain in both Chelsea and England, I thought that would be enough to get me a job. I'm not saying a job in the Premier League or the Championship – but a job at League One level."

Kohli in Tests: Six double-tons in 18 months, and India's most successful captain

Kohli ends his Test career with an average under 50 but was among the very best at his peak

Shiva Jayaraman12-May-20254:15

Kumble: Everyone knew if Kohli goes past 20, it’s going to be a big one

Virat Kohli finishes as the fourth-most prolific India batter in Test cricket with 9230 runs at an average of 46.85. His 30 hundreds are also the fourth highest by an India batter in Tests. Kohli’s seven double-hundreds are also the most by an India batter and the highest by any batter in Tests since his debut. Kohli is the only batter in Tests to score over 1000 runs at an average of 75 or more in two successive calendar years.Kohli’s best years in Test cricket started with the Australia tour in 2014-15, when he scored 692 runs in the series at an average of 86.50, including four hundreds. From that series to the end of Bangladesh tour of India in 2019-20, he amassed 5347 runs in Tests at an average of 63.65 and made 21 of his 30 centuries from just 90 innings.This prolific period for Kohli though was bookended by years that belie his stature as a premier Test batter of his era. Since the beginning of 2020, Kohli scored just over 2000 runs in 39 Test matches at a poor average of 30.72. Among 32 top-order batters with 50 or more innings in Tests in this period, Kohli’s average is the fourth lowest. These numbers have fallen dramatically in his last ten Tests: Kohli managed just 382 runs in 19 innings at an average of 22.47. More than a fourth of these runs came in a single in Perth last year where he made an unbeaten 100.

Kohli’s start to his career wasn’t as bad and was acceptable, if not spectacular. In his first 24 Tests before the England tour in 2014, he made 1721 runs at an average of 46.51 and hit six hundreds with a highest of 119. However, in the series in England, his indecisive footwork against the moving ball in English conditions saw him fall cheaply time and again. Kohli could score all of 134 runs in ten innings in the series. Despite this, Martin Crowe would identify him as one of the batters to watch out for in the future – one among the ‘fab four’.And Crowe would be proven right. From the beginning of the 2014-15 season to end of calendar year 2019, Kohli’s 5347 runs in Tests were only surpassed by Steven Smith and Joe Root – two of the other three batters in the fab four. Smith was the only batter to average higher than Kohli during that period among 72 batters to score 1000 or more runs.Kohli was at his absolute peak in the 18-month period between the 2016 and the 2018-19 seasons. His first double-hundred in Tests came against West Indies in North Sound in July 2016. By the end of 2017 he would add five more to that number in his next 33 innings, making it the second-most prolific run of 34 Test innings in terms of double-hundreds after Don Bradman’s. Bradman had a run of 34 innings beginning with his 254 at the Lord’s in the 1930 Ashes, when he racked up eight double-centuries in 34 innings.Getty ImagesThis was the period when Kohli was arguably the best Test batter. No one scored more runs than him and no one with at least 250 runs averaged higher than him in this period. Kohli scored more runs and averaged higher than the other three batters in the fab four.

In fact, Kohli’s most prolific run of 50 Test innings rubs shoulders with the very best in Test cricket. From the Eden Gardens Test against New Zealand in 2016-17 to the Boxing Day Tests in Melbourne in 2018-19, Kohli made 3304 runs at an average of 71.93 in 50 innings. Only six other batters have scored more runs in a stretch of 50 innings in Tests. Not surprisingly, Bradman leads this bunch with over 5000 runs that he scored between 1930 and 1946. The others above in this list are Viv Richards, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Brian Lara and and Ricky Ponting.ESPNcricinfo LtdKohli was more successful at home than away with the bat. He scored 4336 runs at an average of 55.58 in 55 Tests in India. In away Tests (excluding the two World Test Championship finals) he scored 4774 runs at an average of 41.51. However, that middling average doesn’t mean Kohli didn’t have his highs in away Tests. In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2014-15, he made 692 runs at an average of 86.50. Among India batters, only Gavaskar has scored more runs in an away series than Kohli in that series. Kohli’s 692 runs are also the fifth highest by an visiting batter in a series in Australia.After his disastrous first tour to England in 2014, he returned to the country in 2018 to score 593 runs at an average of 59.30, including two hundred and three fifties in ten innings. These are the second-highest runs scored by an India batter in a series in England. Only Rahul Dravid’s tally of 602 from just six innings in the 2002 series is higher.In fact, these two tours make him one of the only two visiting batters to score over 500 runs at an average of 50 or more in a series in both England and Australia, Dravid being the other batter with such a distinction.ESPNcricinfo LtdKohli is among the most prolific visiting batters in Tests in South Africa too since its readmission to Test cricket. His 891 runs scored across four series at an average of 49.50 are the fourth highest by any visiting batter in that country since 1992. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Stephen Fleming scored higher than Kohli, but all of them averaged lower than him.While there are visiting batters who averaged higher than Kohli in South Africa, Kohli often had to negotiate tough pitches – like the ones in Johannesberg in 2017-18 and Centurion in 2023-24. He also often had to bat without support from the other India batters against the South Africa pacers who seemed to get more from the pitches than their India counterparts did. That reflected in the average of India batters: in innings when Kohli batted, the other India batters averaged just 18.30 per dismissal. The ratio of Kohli’s average of 2.70 to the other batters in the team is the highest for any visiting batter with at least ten innings in South Africa since 1992.

As Test captain, Kohli was one of the most prolific batters in the format, scoring 5864 runs at an average of 54.80. It helped that his captaincy stint largely coincided with his best years with the bat in Test cricket. While his runs are the fourth highest by a captain, his 20 centuries while leading India are surpassed only Graeme Smith who scored 25 hundreds as a Test captain.In matches that he led India, Kohli contributed 16.45 percent of India’s bat runs. Among 18 captains to have led in 50 or matches, Kohli’s contribution is second highest after Root’s 16.67 percent. No other captain has contributed more than 15 percent to their team’s totals among the others.

However, Kohli’s biggest contribution as a captain in Tests was arguably his eagerness to build an attack that could take 20 wickets in all conditions, by putting together a pace pack that could win matches on its own. India always had spinners who could win Tests in helpful conditions, but it was under Kohli’s captaincy that fast bowlers thrived. Under Kohli as captain, India’s fast bowlers took 591 wickets at an average of 26.00 and strike rate of 51.84. Among those who led in 50 or more Tests, the pacers’ strike rate under Kohli of 51.39 ranks second only to Viv Richards’ pace attack of the 80s.ESPNcricinfo LtdWhile there could be debate on where Kohli stands among the echelons of the best batters India has seen, with 40 wins in 68 Tests, he will indisputably sign off as the most successful India captain ever, and also among all captains in the last decade and a half.

Peter Moores set to take Rockets job after Andy Flower departure

Nottinghamshire head coach favourite to step up, with Adam Voges in talks to join as assistant

Matt Roller10-Nov-2025Peter Moores is in line to become men’s head coach at Trent Rockets in the Hundred, with Adam Voges in talks to join the franchise as his assistant.Andy Flower had coached Rockets’ men since the Hundred’s first season but left his role to take up a lucrative job offer from London Spirit. Andrew Flintoff and Stephen Fleming were both candidates to take over from him, but ESPNcricinfo has learned that Moores is now the favourite to take charge in 2026, adding to his role as Nottinghamshire’s head coach.Rockets are operating under new ownership, after private equity firms Cain and Ares bought a 49% stake earlier this year. They will run the franchise jointly with host county Notts, who will retain operational control as majority shareholders, and confirmed Chris Read’s appointment as women’s head coach on Thursday.Moores spent this season – in which Rockets were losing finalists – working as one of Flower’s assistants, and recently signed a three-year contract extension with Notts. He has previous experience in franchise cricket with Melbourne Stars and Karachi Kings, and oversaw Notts’ County Championship triumph last season.Related

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Voges has not previously worked in the Hundred but has established himself as a highly-rated coach after success with Western Australia and Perth Scorchers. He has a long-standing connection with Nottinghamshire, spending five years as one of their overseas players from 2008-12, and has also worked as an assistant coach for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL.Three men’s coaches for the Hundred’s 2026 season have been publicly confirmed: Flower (Spirit), Mike Hussey (Welsh Fire) and Shane Bond (Birmingham Phoenix), with Daniel Vettori set to join the newly-renamed Sunrisers Leeds.Justin Langer is a potential contender to take charge at Manchester Originals (soon to become Super Giants) after he left Spirit, with Tom Moody becoming the franchise’s global director of cricket. Simon Katich has coached Originals’ men since inception.Southern Brave are yet to confirm a successor to Adi Birrell, with Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani believed to be a contender for the role, while defending champions Oval Invincibles (who will become MI London shortly) are also on the hunt for a new men’s coach after Moody’s departure.Surrey’s deal with Reliance Industries Limited to become co-owners of the Invincibles franchise is the only outstanding paperwork in the Hundred’s privatisation process. It has still not been officially completed, but an announcement is anticipated shortly.

The Best 15 Centre-Backs in World Football Ranked (2025)

The role of a central defender has changed over time, with those at the very top now not just world-class in the air and in a tackle, but also brilliant in possession with the ball at their feet.

The new generation of centre-backs are crucial to their team’s build-up play and, in some cases, pass more than most midfielders, but who is the best in the world at the back at this moment in time?

Ranking factors

To help rank the centre-backs in order, we have considered the following criteria:

Current form – how well a player has been performing Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their team Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others are saying about them

Top 15 centre-backs in the world

Rank

Player

Age

Club

Nation

1

Virgil van Dijk

34

Liverpool

Netherlands

2

Gabriel Magalhaes

27

Arsenal

Brazil

3

Alessandro Bastoni

26

Inter Milan

Italy

4

William Saliba

24

Arsenal

France

5

Pau Cubarsi

18

Barcelona

Spain

6

Marc Guehi

25

Crystal Palace

England

7

Ruben Dias

28

Man City

Portugal

8

Marquinhos

31

PSG

Brazil

9

Dean Huijsen

20

Real Madrid

Spain

10

Alessandro Buongiorno

26

Napoli

Italy

11

Josko Gvardiol

23

Man City

Croatia

12

Dayot Upamecano

27

Bayern Munich

France

13

Eder Militao

27

Real Madrid

Brazil

14

Antonio Rudiger

32

Real Madrid

Germany

15

Willian Pacho

24

PSG

Ecuador

15 Willian Pacho PSG and Ecuador

Willian Pacho has gone from strength to strength after joining PSG from Frankfurt in 2024 and now appears to be a regular at the Parc des Princes.

The Ecuador international is still only 23 years of age and has been described as the ‘wall nobody saw coming’ next to Marquinhos.

The €40m fee PSG paid for Pacho is now looking like a smart piece of business, with the player’s market value already increasing to €65m.

Willian Pacho: Major titles won

Trophy

Years won

Champions League

2025

Ligue 1

2025

UEFA Super Cup

2025

French Cup

2025

French Super Cup

2025

Belgian Pro League

2023

Belgian Cup

2023

Belgian Super Cup

2023

Copa Sudamericana

2019

Ecuadorian Serie A

2021

14 Antonio Rudiger Real Madrid and Germany

Antonio Rudiger has gone from strength to strength after joining Real Madrid from Chelsea back in 2022, so much so that he was linked with a return to Stamford Bridge.

Over the last 18 months, Rudiger has been praised by Carlo Ancelotti and Mesut Ozil, who have said the German “is playing at his best” and in his “prime”.

However, he has missed the majority of the 2025/26 season so far with a hamstring injury which has dropped him down the rankings.

Antonio Rudiger: Major titles won

Trophy

Years won

La Liga

2024

Champions League

2021, 2024

Europa League

2019

FA Cup

2018

Copa del Rey

2023

FIFA Club World Cup

2022, 2023

UEFA Super Cup

2021, 2022, 2024

FIFA Intercontinental Cup

2024

Spanish Super Cup

2024

Confederations Cup

2017

13 Eder Militao Real Madrid and Brazil

Dropping down the list due to serious injuries in recent years is Real Madrid’s Eder Militao. The Brazilian was dubbed the “best in the world” at the back by Carlo Ancelotti in 2023 and has won multiple honours at the Bernabeu since 2019.

At the age of 27, Militao should still have plenty of high-level years ahead of him and will be looking to remain fit over the coming seasons.

Eder Militao: Major titles won

Trophy

Years won

Champions League

2022, 2024

La Liga

2020, 2022, 2024

Copa America

2019

Copa del Rey

2023

FIFA Club World Cup

2023

UEFA Super Cup

2022, 2024

FIFA Intercontinental Cup

2024

Spanish Super Cup

2020, 2022, 2024

12 Dayot Upamecano Bayern Munich and France

Transformed into Bayern Munich’s Mr. Reliable under Vincent Kompany has been Dayot Upamecano, who has partnered Kim Min-jae at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund has said in 2025 that the Frenchman “has become a leader” who “plays strongly and consistently at a high level.” At the age of 26, Upamecano appears to be entering his prime.

Dayot Upamecano: Major titles won

Trophy

Years won

Nations League

2021

Bundesliga

2022, 2023, 2025

Austrian Bundesliga

2016, 2017

Austrian Cup

2016, 2017

German Super Cup

2021, 2022

11 Josko Gvardiol Man City and Croatia

Josko Gvardiol stars as a centre-back and sometimes as a left-back for Man City and Croatia.

Used as a centre-back in the Nations League for his country, Gvardiol turned out centrally under Pep Guardiola in the latter stages of the 2024/25 season, with City winning five out of six Premier League games with the 23-year-old at the heart of the defence.

Josko Gvardiol: Major titles won

Trophy

Years won

Premier League

2024

HNL

2020, 2021

FIFA Club World Cup

2024

UEFA Super Cup

2023

DFB-Pokal

2021, 2022

Community Shield

2024

Croatian Cup

2021

Croatian Super Cup

2019

10 Alessandro Buongiorno Napoli and Italy

At the top of his game with a career-high €45m Transfermarkt valuation is Napoli and Italy’s Alessandro Buongiorno.

The 25-year-old is “extraordinary in one-on-one situations” and has been key for Napoli under Antonio Conte, winning the Serie A title in 24/25. Should his rapid rise continue, Buongiorno could climb up this list in years to come.

9 Dean Huijsen Real Madrid and Spain

One of the most in-demand defenders of the 2025 summer transfer window was Dean Huijsen, with Real Madrid winning the race to sign the Spaniard from AFC Bournemouth.

Wanted all across Europe, Huijsen starred in the Premier League after leaving Juventus and Tiago Pinto even said he “will be the best central defender in the world in two years”.

Dean Huijsen: Major titles won

Trophy

Years won

Coppa Italia

2024

8 Marquinhos PSG and Brazil

Paris Saint-Germain icon Marquinhos has been leading a new generation of stars at the Parc des Princes under Luis Enrique and has still remained at an extremely high level himself.

Now 31, Marquinhos continues to be a regular in a young PSG side and even became the first player in the club’s history to start 100 matches for PSG in the Champions League.

Marquinhos: Major titles won

Trophy

Years won

Ligue 1

2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Copa America

2019

Champions League

2025

Coupe de France

2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2024

Coupe de la Ligue

2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020

French Super Cup

2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025

Copa Libertadores

2012

7 Ruben Dias Man City and Portugal

Ruben Dias is coming up to five years as a Man City player and continues to be a regular under Pep Guardiola, with Transfermarkt having the Portugal starvalued at €65m.

Rated as good as Virgil van Dijk by Jamie Carragher 12 months ago, Dias’ displays have dipped slightly at the Etihad in 2024/25, however, there is no denying his quality.

Ruben Dias: Major titles won

Trophy

Years won

Premier League

2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Nations League

2019

Champions League

2023

FA Cup

2023

League Cup

2021

UEFA Super Cup

2023

Community Shield

2024

FIFA Club World Cup

2024

Liga Portugal

2019

Portuguese Super Cup

2020

6 Marc Guehi Crystal Palace and England

Marc Guehi is becoming one of the most in-demand centre-backs in world football after his move to Liverpool from Crystal Palace collapsed in the summer of 2025.

Now a regular for England and starring at Selhurst Park, Guehi is on course to become a free agent in 2026 and is being linked with the biggest clubs in Europe.

It shows just how good Guehi has been under Oliver Glasner, lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield with Palace in 2025.

Marc Guehi: Major titles won

Trophy

Years won

FA Cup

2025

Community Shield

2025

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