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Sunderland are reportedly among the “best placed” clubs to complete the signing of an “unbelievable” player in the summer transfer window.

It has been a summer to remember for the Black Cats, with as many as 11 permanent signings coming in, bolstering Regis Le Bris’ squad significantly. Now, a new rumour has claimed that Sunderland have submitted an offer for Leicester City attacker Abdu Fatawu, who is viewed as a primary transfer target in the remaining weeks of the summer transfer window.

While the £27m bid has reportedly been rejected, there is still hope that the Black Cats could still complete a move for Fatawu in the coming weeks.

It promises to be a busy period for Sunderland, who will also hope to continue their promising start to the Premier League season, and now another key update has emerged regarding a separate transfer target.

Sunderland’s 11 permanent summer signings

Joined from

Price

Habib Diarra

Strasbourg

£27.1m

Simon Adingra

Brighton

£21m

Enzo Le Fee

Roma

£19.8m

Chemsdine Talbi

Club Brugge

£17.2m

Noah Sadiki

Union SG

£14.6m

Granit Xhaka

Bayer Leverkusen

£12.9m

Nordi Mukiele

Paris Saint-Germain

£10.3m

Omar Alderete

Getafe

£9.8m

Robin Roefs

NEC Nijmegen

£9m

Reinildo Mandava

Atletico Madrid

free transfer

Arthur Masuaku

Besiktas

free transfer

Sunderland in pole to beat Leeds to Uche signing

According to AS [via Sport Witness], Sunderland are one of the “best placed” clubs to sign Getafe midfielder Christantus Uche this summer. He is available for a cut-price amount of £17.2m, despite having a £21.5m release clause. Leeds United are also in the mix to sign the 22-year-old, while Getafe president Jose Bordalas has offered further encouragement by admitting that certain players may need to be sold.

“We’ll have to release some so we can register all or almost all of them. I wouldn’t like Uche or anyone to leave, but we have to accept the offers we have, and there are several.”

Uche has the potential to be another strong addition for Sunderland before the window closes, as scout Jacek Kulig lauded him as “unbelievable” earlier this year, and if they could pip Premier League rivals Leeds to his signature, it would feel even sweeter.

Related An Adingra repeat: Sunderland submit huge bid to sign "unplayable" star

Sunderland aren’t done just yet with their excessive summer spending.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Aug 19, 2025

The fact that Getafe could be forced to sell the two-cap Nigeria international is an extra bonus for the Black Cats, and he will hopefully like what is going on at the Stadium of Light currently, not least the amount of ambitious transfer business.

Capable of playing as a number 8, 10 or even up front, Uche would add quality and youth to Sunderland’s midfield, with his versatility increasing the depth at the manager’s disposal.

In a late transfer twist, Everton have now reportedly reached an agreement to sign one of their top targets in a big-money deal just under two weeks until the deadline.

Moyes "excited" about Hill Dickinson debut

Whilst his side’s opening day defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Leeds United left a bad taste, Everton boss David Moyes has quickly put that behind him to focus on what should be a special afternoon at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Squaring off against Brighton & Hove Albion in their first Premier League game in their new home, the Toffees will be keen to enjoy the occasion and pick up their first three points of the season.

There could also be a full debut for summer signing Jack Grealish after he came from the bench on Monday night at Elland Road. The Manchester City loanee, in a World Cup year, desperately needs to get back to his best and chose a move to Everton with that in mind.

Better move than Grealish: Everton open talks to land Premier League star

Everton are interested in a deal to sign a star who could be even better than Jack Grealish.

ByWill Miller Aug 23, 2025

Alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Thierno Barry, Adam Aznou, Carlos Alcaraz, Mark Travers and Tom King, Grealish represents a very solid summer of business from Everton. But The Friedkin Group are not done just yet and reports are now suggesting that their biggest move yet has been agreed.

Everton reach agreement to sign Dibling

As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Everton have now reached an agreement to sign Tyler Dibling in a deal worth as much as £42m. The Toffees looked destined to miss out on the Southampton winger when they failed to match the Saints’ price tag earlier this summer, before those at St Mary’s lowered their valuation and allowed Everton to swoop in.

With Dibling, Moyes’ attacking options have suddenly been transformed compared to last season. From Jack Harrison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jesper Lindstrom, the veteran manager will now have a core of Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, Dibling and Barry at his disposal.

Described as “brave” by former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, the best is still yet to come from 19-year-old Dibling, who is represented by the same agent as fellow Everton arrival Barry.

In a new era in a modern stadium, Friedkin have so far handed Moyes the tools to take Everton from relegation candidates into top-half hopefuls.

Where will Newcastle United’s striker search take them next?

The Magpies were in the race to sign Benjamin Šeško, even agreeing a £70m fee with RB Leipzig, but the Slovenian chose to move to Manchester United instead, a transfer that was officially announced on Saturday morning.

So now, has Eddie Howe identified his latest top target?

Newcastle's striker search

It’s been a busy summer in terms of Newcastle United strikers, both in terms of players at the club, as well as ones they’d like to bring to Tyneside.

Callum Wilson was released earlier this summer, while Alexander Isak is yet to feature in pre-season, as he aims to force through a move to Liverpool although, as reported by Luke Edwards of the Telegraph, the Swede has been informed he ‘will not be allowed’ to move this summer, the latest twist to this saga that is drawing no closer to a conclusion.

Meantime, on top of Šeško, the Magpies have failed in their attempts to sign fellow strikers João Pedro, Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitiké and Matheus Cunha, all of whom have joined Premier League rivals, while they’ve also seen a £25m bid for Yoane Wissa rejected by Brentford.

Sam Tabuteau of the Evening Standard believes that the Magpies are ‘preparing a fresh bid’ for the DR Congo international, but should they go for a different striker from within the Premier League?

Well, according to Ed Aarons of the Guardian, Newcastle currently lead the race to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, adding that the Senegalese striker has informed the Blues of his desire to leave, falling down the pecking order following the arrivals of the aforementioned Pedro and Delap.

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

Aarons adds that Jackson has ‘trained alone’ at Cobham, valued at around £80m by Chelsea, albeit the Blues are ready to ‘accept’ a fee closer to £65m.

So, could Jackson soon swap West London for the North East?

How Nicolas Jackson would improve Newcastle

Despite often being widely ridiculed, Jackson’s statistics since arriving at Chelsea two summers ago are largely impressive.

He scored 17 goals during his debut campaign in England, before adding a further 13 goals to his tally last time round, despite sitting out around three months of the campaign due to a hamstring injury.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him an “extraordinary” talent, while Moe Adikwu of Breaking the Lines praises his work rate and ‘ability to get into goal-scoring positions’, projecting he will become a ‘top striker’.

Liam Twomey and Mark Carey of the Athletic agree, outlining his ‘excellent’ pressing, with Ed Dove of ESPN documenting how Chelsea’s form nosedived during his injury last season, describing his ‘broader contribution… without the ball’ as invaluable.

So, would Jackson be a better signing than Newcastle’s other target, Wissa?

Let’s compare the pair to find out.

Appearances

65

69

Minutes

5,050

5,437

Goals

24

31

Assists

10

9

Shots

2.8

2.61

Shots on target %

46.2%

41.4%

Goals – xG

-7

+1.9

Shot-creating actions

164

133

Touches

30

28

% of touches in the box

17%

17%

As the table documents, Jackson and Wissa are stylistically very similar players, emphasised by the fact they accumulate a very similar number of touches per-90, registering an identical percentage of these touches in the opposition’s penalty area.

Jackson’s most eye-catching statistic is the fast he has underperformed his expected goals by seven across the last two Premier League seasons, missing a whopping 43 Opta-defined big chances, which is significantly more than anybody else.

Flipping that into a positive, it proves that the Senegal international is getting into good positions but just not taking these chances, a skillset he could improve in the future.

Still only 24 years old, while Wissa’s 29th birthday is coming up next month, Jackson would represent the more shrewd investment from Newcastle, given that the pair are pretty similar in quality at this very moment, but the current Chelsea forward has the potential to become one of the best strikers in the Premier League in the longer terms.

Jackson upgrade: Newcastle line up "proper No.9" as £60m Samu alternative

Newcastle need to sign a centre-forward in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 8, 2025

Visitors trail by 160 overnight with one day remaining of run-fest at Headingley

ECB Reporters Network31-Aug-2024Centurion Ryan Higgins became this summer’s second batter to reach 1,000 runs in the Vitality County Championship as Middlesex batted themselves to an almost certain draw against Yorkshire on day three at Headingley.Unbeaten all-rounder Higgins, who followed Glamorgan batter Colin Ingram’s lead after he achieved the feat on day two, top-scored with 117 off 210 balls in Middlesex’s 441 for five as they replied to Yorkshire’s first-innings 601 for six declared.Higgins posted his fifth hundred of the ongoing Division Two campaign, in his 10th appearance, and was joined in posting a century by opener Sam Robson with 108 off 219 balls.Higgins was slightly more aggressive against an accurate spin-led Yorkshire attack, as reaching his hundred with a six suggests, while Robson’s innings came on the ground where he scored his only Test century for England 10 years ago.Another ex-England player, Dom Bess, claimed four for 168 in 64 overs of off-spin.Robson started day three 65 not out, with Middlesex 141 for one, and he went on to record the 35th first-class century of an impressive career including seven Test appearances in 2014.Having been trapped lbw defending against Bess, before lunch, Robson then watched Higgins build on his good work and see his side to the verge of the 452 follow-on target late in the day.Robson’s England century – 127 – came in the first innings at Headingley against Sri Lanka, a Test the visitors won in June 2014. It was the now 35-year-old’s second of seven home appearances before being discarded.Jonathan Trott acted as a locum opener alongside Sir Alastair Cook for a West Indies tour in early 2015 before Adam Lyth took over for that summer’s home series against New Zealand and then Australia.Ironically, Lyth is playing in this game for Yorkshire and bowled at Robson late on day one.Lyth also played seven home summer Tests before discarded, and his only century came at Headingley.Robson was expertly watchful against the rare bursts of seam but mainly spin in the form of Bess, Lyth and Dan Moriarty, and he worked well off his legs.Having shared 61 for the first wicket with Mark Stoneman either side of tea on day two, he completed a second-wicket 121 with Max Holden this morning.Left-handed Holden made 51 before feathering behind off Bess, leaving Middlesex at 182 for two in the 64th over.Robson was trapped lbw playing forwards at Bess with the score on 207 in the 76th, a key time with the new ball around the corner.Leus du Plooy and Higgins negated that threat, utilised by the spinners, as they added a fourth-wicket 57 either side of lunch, where Middlesex reached at 248 for three.Du Plooy was ousted early in the afternoon for 33, caught at short cover off a low full toss from new ball seamer Ben Coad, who was bowling only his seventh over of the innings – 263 for four in the 93rd.While determined Middlesex will be delighted to achieve their mid-match goal of avoiding defeat, this wasn’t a day they dominated.They weren’t able to break free and achieve a sizeable haul of batting bonus points as Bess and Moriarty have bowled 116 overs between them in the innings.Upon reaching 321 for four after 110 overs, they claimed two batting points to Yorkshire’s one for bowling. In the match overall, Yorkshire have edged that battle five to three.Should this contest finish in a draw, as expected, second-placed Middlesex would be one point clear of Yorkshire in third with three matches remaining in the promotion race.Fifth wicket pair Higgins and wicketkeeper-batter Jack Davies shared 128 either side of tea, the latter adding 61 before edging a low catch to slip off Bess – 391 for five in the 133rd.Excellent Higgins, who swept and reverse swept well, reached 1,000 Championship runs for the season upon getting to 92 and brought up his latest century with a six over long-on against Moriarty’s left-arm spin.He got there off 185 balls amidst an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 50 with Luke Hollman, 21 not out.

Tottenham Hotspur have made contact over signing an “outrageous” forward as chairman Daniel Levy and the Spurs recruitment team consider a potential bargain summer deal, with his mooted price tag called “too good to be true”.

Tottenham target new forward amid Ange Postecoglou uncertainty

Ange Postecoglou’s full focus is on their looming Europa League final clash against Man United on May 21 – an encounter which could single-handedly rescue Spurs’ season from the depths of despair.

Tottenham hold talks with big-name coach who Benitez thinks is very clever

He’d be an ideal replacement for Postecoglou.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 14, 2025

Qualification for next season’s Champions League, not to mention Tottenham’s first major trophy in over 17 years, is on the line against United with both sides looking to end their dismal campaigns in the best possible fashion.

Reports claim Postecoglou is highly likely to leave Spurs regardless of whether they win the final in Bilbao (David Ornstein), but the Australian could still etch his name into history by becoming the first Lilywhites boss to win a trophy in nearly two decades.

Son Heung-min

7.05

Pedro Porro

6.98

James Maddison

6.98

Dominic Solanke

6.88

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

He could also fulfill his early-season pledge of ‘always’ winning silverware during his second season in charge, so a lot is personally riding on the line for Postecoglou, even if a departure from N17 seems more and more inevitable.

The 59-year-old’s future will have a knock-on effect when it comes to Levy’s transfer plans for the fast-approaching summer window, and it is believed that Tottenham are targeting a new forward among their recruitment priorities.

Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa is apparently attracting interest from Spurs, while Man City playmaker James McAtee is another attacker admired by Tottenham. Both players are not expected to break the bank in terms of cost, amid claims Tottenham are set for a ‘sell to buy’ summer (The Telegraph).

However, one very highly-rated forward, and one who could be one of the bargains of 2025, is Lyon star Rayan Cherki.

Tottenham make contact over signing Rayan Cherki this summer

The Frenchman has bagged 12 goals and 18 assists across his total appearances in Ligue 1 and the Europa League this term, marking himself out as a star player for Lyon, but his contract is said to include a tantalising £19 million release clause.

That is according to Le Parisien, who also report that Tottenham have made contact over a move for Cherki, alongside some Premier League rivals.

The 21-year-old falls into Spurs’ recruitment policy perfectly, given he’s young with world-class potential at a very reasonable value. Cherki will surely be a player in very high demand this summer, with journalist Dean Jones previously explaining why clubs need to consider swooping for him.

“Rayan Cherki, who is just absolutely unbelievable,” said Jones on the Ranks FC Ultras Podcast (via TBR). “You see figures around Cherki and there’s like 25 million pounds talked about, which just seems like too good to be true. He’s just different, this player.

“If you haven’t seen Cherki play, then just either stop the pod and go and watch him on YouTube for 10 minutes and then come back or just go watch him while we’re talking right now. Because his skill level is outrageous. He feels like he could become one of the best players in the world.”

Given Cherki’s mooted fee has now dropped below £25m to £19m, it makes Jones’ statement all the more relevant, and we wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him emerge as a top target for Levy.

Who will make the 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup? The deadline for selection is May 1

Sidharth Monga29-Apr-2024Don’t expect IPL form to play too much of a role when India’s selectors pick the 15-man squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, the deadline for which is May 1.The selectors are unlikely to go for players who are unproven at international level even though a few of them have made heads turn with their hitting in IPL 2024. The one bolter that might have been picked got injured. Much like consumers of the sport and pundits, the team management and selectors are believed to have been excited about Mayank Yadav’s pace and accuracy. They would have likely punted on him, but his injury-prone body might have prevented that now.The IPL, though, has served to prove the fitness of Rishabh Pant, who had been out of cricket since his horrific car accident in December 2022. Sanju Samson, however, is likely to be the first-choice wicketkeeper as India need a spin-hitter to pair with their top three who tend to get stuck against spin. Also, Jitesh Sharma’s form hasn’t been great and KL Rahul has been batting at the top of the order, which is crowded already. The top four of captain Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav was more or less decided even before the IPL began.Hardik Pandya’s bowling fitness could be a cause for concern for the selectors. When fully fit and in form, Hardik does what nobody else can in the country: bowl medium-pace and hit in the middle order. As such, he should be a certain starter, but he has been bowling only about two overs a match in the IPL and his pace has been down too. He still has a month to get into proper bowling rhythm and justify keeping Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh out of the XI.If India are to take both Dube and Rinku to the T20 World Cup, they will have to leave out either a back-up wicketkeeper or a back-up bowler. It will likely come down to a shootout between Rinku and a back-up fast bowler. It would have helped if one of the top four could bowl or keep wicket, but India are stuck with a top order that is one-dimensional.The only way to accommodate the power-hitters is to drop one or two of the top four, but Rohit had already been confirmed as the captain by BCCI secretary Jay Shah earlier this year. Rohit, in turn, is believed to have asked for Kohli because of his temperament. Not that it would be an easy call for the selectors to take one and leave out the other: as we have maintained in these pages, it’s either both or none. Jaiswal is the only left-hand option in the top order, and Suryakumar is among the best T20 batters in the world.The IPL’s Impact Player rule will add to the frustration of the selectors as prospective allrounders have not been called upon to bowl at all. For Dube to edge out Hardik, he ideally should have bowled a little, but CSK have not needed him to because of the Impact Player. The same goes for Riyan Parag at Rajasthan Royals. The IPL teams have no incentive to develop allrounders. So even if the selectors wanted to take Dube as a seam-bowling allrounder, they have nothing to assess his bowling.Hardik Pandya hasn’t been impactful as a bowler in the IPL•BCCIAs of now, Ravindra Jadeja might edge out Axar Patel as the spin allrounder in the first XI, but Axar could make the squad as the back-up spinner, leaving Kuldeep Yadav as the only wristspinner in the squad of 15.Jasprit Bumrah’s fast-bowling partners remain difficult to identify in the absence of the injured Mohammed Shami. Arshdeep Singh is likely to be the left-arm quick because of his ability to move the new ball, but his form at the death hasn’t been great in the IPL. Avesh Khan is in the fray because of his height and ability to hit the surface and Mohammed Siraj is also in the mix even though his form has not been great for RCB.The fast bowlers other than Bumrah are not yet in stone. Mohsin Khan and Harshit Rana have impressed the decision-makers, but their fitness is not believed to be at its peak, which can be a risk in a World Cup.

India’s likely T20 World Cup squad

Top order: Rohit Sharma (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar YadavMiddle and lower-middle order: Sanju Samson (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Rinku SinghSpinners: Kuldeep YadavFast bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan/Mohammed SirajOther contenders: KL Rahul, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Sandeep Sharma

“The tournament is very close to my heart because that is where I think I have revived myself and my cricket,” says KL Rahul

Saurabh Somani09-Jun-2022College and university cricket is where the stars of tomorrow take their first steps. And when you have a high-intensity, highly prestigious event that brings the best of young cricketers together, it creates a compelling product. That’s what the Red Bull Campus Cricket tournament is, which ESPNcricinfo will cover.It’s a one-of-a-kind college T20 tournament because its scope is international, the prestige riding on it is high, and therefore it provides one of the keenest early indicators of which youngsters have the ticker to go with the talent, which ones can take the pressure that a high-profile event brings, and which ones show the most promise for making the next step. It’s the only global platform for university and college cricket. Teams compete in national tournaments around the globe and the winners are given the chance to represent their country and compete in the Red Bull Campus Cricket World Final.Small wonder then, that an IPL franchise like Rajasthan Royals also keeps a close eye on it to scout talent. There is no bigger stamp of authenticity and approval than a franchise from the biggest, brightest and most competitive T20 league in the world seeing value in what you do.In its 11th year now, Red Bull Campus Cricket has had several prominent cricketers taking part in it when they were young. That includes KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Niroshan Dickwella and Chirag Suri. In the 2013 edition, Rahul was the top-scorer in Red Bull Campus Cricket.”Red Bull Campus Cricket is very close to my heart because that is where I think I have revived myself and my cricket,” Rahul said. “I remember I had just come out of an injury and was returning to cricket after three-four months. It was Red Bull Campus Cricket at that time that got me back in shape and through this tournament I have found my way up.”MMCC, Pune, the India national men’s Red Bull Campus Cricket champions in 2021, with their spoils•Red Bull Campus CricketRahul, who has already led India in Test cricket and is one of the rare batters equally effective in all formats, had his first association with Red Bull when he represented Jain University, Bengaluru, at the 2013 Red Bull Campus Cricket tournament. Later, he signed on as a Red Bull athlete and has loved the association ever since.Rahul isn’t the only prominent Indian player who has benefitted from Red Bull Campus Cricket. The likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shahrukh Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Anukul Roy, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur, Karun Nair and Manan Vohra have all been part of the tournament too, in their formative years.”Red Bull Campus Cricket gives exposure and opportunities for aspiring cricketers to enhance their skills,” Javagal Srinath, the former India fast bowler who is now technical director of Red Bull Campus Cricket, said. “Many youngsters tend to drop out of colleges in order to pursue their dreams in the world of cricket but this tournament helps to improve their game without comprising on academics. Red Bull Campus Cricket is a step in the direction of providing cricket at the college level a good lift and recognition.”And it is not just about having a tournament that gives an opportunity to university-level players, it is also about creating a pathway to a bigger and better stage. The players have opportunities to get trials at the IPL franchises based on their performance here. In fact, Red Bull’s partnership with Rajasthan Royals allows the franchise to take a look at the tournament to spot the next KL Rahul or Ruturaj Gaikwad.”Red Bull Campus Cricket has continued to grow to that end, with a women’s edition inaugurated last year, by Smriti Mandhana, one of India’s best-ever women cricketers. This year, some of the players who take part in the women’s edition will also get the priceless opportunity to interact with Mandhana.And already, Ayushi Soni, who participated in the tournament last year, has made her debut for India Women in T20Is. How a tournament like Red Bull Campus Cricket helps aid the transition of players from youth cricket to international cricket is illustrated by Soni.In essence, Red Bull Campus Cricket is a launchpad towards discovering the best cricketing talent at the grassroots level, and helping to maximise the potential of the stars of tomorrow.

Professional Cricketers’ Trust has supported Tom Smith, Benny Howell and Gareth Roderick

Matt Roller29-Sep-2020If Gloucestershire are to reach T20 Finals Day for the first time since 2007 after three quarter-final defeats in the last four seasons, it will be no exaggeration to suggest that they would not have been able to do so without the Professional Cricketers’ Trust (PCT).The PCT, which offers mental health services to cricketers past and present in the UK – and is facing a £250,000 shortfall this year due to the impact of the pandemic – has provided support to a number of players and staff in their dressing room over the past few seasons following bereavements. Among them are Ian Harvey, the assistant coach, who lost his wife; Gareth Roderick, whose father took his own life; and Tom Smith, whose wife Laura, died in 2018 following a battle with cancer.”After Laura died – in these last two years – I couldn’t have played cricket without [the PCT’s] support, both financially and the mental support I’ve received,” admitted Smith at a virtual event on Tuesday. “As a group of players, everyone is extremely emotionally intelligent. We’re one big family and to survive all of that as a group of players – generally most of us have been there the whole time throughout all of those scenarios; it’s a very loving environment.”There’s so much around bereavement that it’s normalising grief now, and I think people are a lot better at discussing it and having conversations. I know as a widower that the care and support I’ve had from team-mates and the wider cricketing world has been immense. I think that stems from the Trust.”ALSO READ: Professional Cricketers’ Trust faces £250,000 shortfallAnd that support is not limited to bereavement, either. After incorrectly being prescribed anti-depressants several years ago, Benny Howell contacted the Trust to help him see specialists for his Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). “It’s a bit of an unknown to a lot of people but it helped me figure out how my mind works and how I can figure out how to navigate through the chaotic mind that I have,” Howell explained.”It’s still an ongoing process with me, but they’ve helped me a hell of a lot. I know people who don’t have the opportunity to have the Trust on their side; they go through the NHS, and sometimes it takes three months to see someone, so I’m very grateful to have the Trust.”

“One thing I’ve really reflected on is that the Somerset game, where I got the winning runs, I certainly felt happiness there. I felt everyone else’s joy – it meant a lot to all of us to get that home quarter-final, and a lot about this is enjoying other people’s happiness as much as mine”Tom Smith

“The stigma in men’s sport about mental health is certainly a lot better than it was,” Roderick said. “In society it’s not as talked about as it should be but in men’s sport, the light has been shone on it really, really well. [Players] see other guys going through similar journeys as them and it makes it easier for them to step into the light and ask for help and start their own conversation and their own journey.””As cricketers, a lot of people still see you as a sportsman, so you should be happy and everything should be fine, but actually whether you’re a billionaire, a plumber, a sportsman, a journalist – whatever it is – everyone has their own challenges and everyone needs help at times,” Howell added.Smith’s story is perhaps the most remarkable. After his wife passed away two years ago, he was helped by the Trust and Rainbow @ Grief Encounter, a charity that provides support for bereaved children and their families. Not only has he managed to continue his career, but has also thrived with his left-arm spin: in this season’s Blast, nobody has more than his 14 wickets, which he has managed while conceding just 5.91 runs per over.Gloucestershire wore a one-off kit for their Blast game against Sussex in 2019 to mark Rainbow @ Grief Encounter’s support for Tom Smith’s family•Getty Images”With me being a single parent with two young kids at home, [lockdown] was a really tough period of time, as I’m sure many parents experienced,” he said. “The thought of not getting any cricket and being in lockdown with my girls put me into a very dark place.”Because I’ve been so excited to play cricket after lockdown, it’s maybe freed me up. I’ve felt very relaxed on the field. I’ve enjoyed every moment, probably because of what I did experience during lockdown.”I talk a lot about feeling five out of ten, and not feeling the big highs and lows. That’s something that after lockdown I really wanted to address, and wanted to make some changes in my life to feel some more emotion. That’s not going to be an overnight thing, that’s going to be a thing that happens over time.”One thing I’ve really reflected on is that the Somerset game – where I got the winning runs – I certainly felt happiness there. I felt everyone else’s joy – it meant a lot to all of us to get that home quarter-final, and a lot about this is enjoying other people’s happiness as much as mine. Throughout the tournament I’ve had far more sixes and sevens, not necessarily from my own success but being around a team, a group of people pulling in the same direction that want to win.”

All the ideas about how to stop up the Dodgers’ leaky bullpen missed one thing: Maybe the starters can just do all the work. 

A night after lefty Blake Snell threw eight one-hit innings to win Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto authored a one-run, three-hit complete game to give his team a 5–1 win in Game 2 and bring them two wins from a chance to defend their 2024 title. It was the Dodgers’ first complete game this season, Yamamoto’s first in the majors and the nation of Japan’s first in the MLB postseason. He retired the final 14 hitters he faced. 

Even he was impressed: , he mouthed and applauded into his glove after Andrew Vaughn swung through a splitter for out 27.

Snell and Yamamoto became the first pair of teammates to throw at least eight innings on consecutive postseason days since Madison Bumgarner and then Tim Lincecum did it for the 2010 Giants in Games 4 and 5 of the World Series. 

“Both those pitchers were as dominant as two pitchers have been,” said Brewers manager Pat Murphy. “We chased way more than we've chased all year. We’ve been the best in baseball at not chasing. These pitchers brought out the worst in us.”

Even kids can tell the Brewers are in a tough spot. “It seems like we haven’t been hitting singles,” lamented Murphy’s 11-year-old son, Austin, as the manager’s postgame press conference wrapped up. 

“It’s because the pitching’s so good,” his dad explained.

It will be hard to ask the rotation to replicate this sort of performance every night, but it would certainly help: In the one inning they’ve pitched so far this series, the bullpen allowed one fewer earned baserunner (four) than Snell and Yamamoto combined (five) over 17 frames. In Game 1, with the Dodgers up 2–0, erstwhile-starter-turned-closer Roki Sasaki sandwiched a pair of walks around a double and a sacrifice fly to bring the game within one with two outs. Manager Dave Roberts summoned erstwhile-closer-turned-rollercoaster-reliever Blake Treinen, who loaded the bases with a walk before inducing a strikeout and a lot of sighs of relief. And those are Los Angeles’s two best relievers! This season, the team got 3.2 WAR (ninth in baseball) from its starting pitchers, all of whom but Yamamoto spent time on the injured list. From the bullpen it got –6.4 WAR, second-worst.

Yoshinobu rebounds from NLDS loss

Tuesday’s was the sort of outing the Dodgers envisioned when they signed Yamamoto to a $325 million, 10-year deal, the richest in history for a pitcher, before last season. He had a 2.49 ERA in 173 ⅔ regular-season innings this year, and he threw 6 ⅔ innings of no-earned-run ball against the Reds in the wild card series, but the Phillies scored three runs in four innings against him in the division series last week. 

Philadelphia was especially not fooled by his typically excellent splitter: He threw only 12 of them in 67 pitches, and the Phillies never swung and missed at it or took it for a strike. On Tuesday, he debuted newly-dyed black hair, a departure from his usual frosted tips, and a much sharper signature pitch: He threw the splitter 33 times in 110 pitches, and the Brewers whiffed at it seven times and took it for a strike thrice. As for the ‘do, he said his struggles against the Phillies were not the reason for the change, “but I hope this helps to get things going in my direction.” He may never be able to bring back the boy-band look. 

“This guy’s split looks like a heater,” said Murphy. “Comes out of the same tunnel. It looks exactly the same. He’s got an impeccable delivery. He doesn’t miss a lot. And the ball shows up as a heater—bang, goes down. And his heater shows up as a heater and then rises. So it’s pretty impressive.”

Indeed, after allowing a first-pitch, leadoff home run to Brewers 22-year-old phenom Jackson Chourio, Yamamoto allowed only five balls out of the infield. Incredibly, third baseman Max Muncy said he believes Yamamoto has not reached his ceiling. 

“We said before this postseason started, our starting pitching was going to be what carried us,” said Muncy, whose sixth-inning home run gave him the Dodgers’ all-time postseason lead with 14. “And so far it’s been exactly that.”

Indeed, Tuesday’s outing marks seven quality starts in eight postseason games for the Dodgers. In their 16-game title run last year, they had two. 

“If you’re trying to build the recipe to win games,” Muncy said, “that would be where you would start.” (Pun presumably intended.)

Tyler Glasnow will start Game 3. He might have to finish it, too. 

Monday’s slate is full, and there are plenty of ways to get in on the action. Be sure to read all out best bets here at Sports Illustrated. 

Here are my favorite player props in plus-money today. All odds according to DraftKings.

Best MLB Prop Bets Today for Monday, July 22

Randy Arozarena over 1.5 total bases (+120)  

Carlos Rodon has struggled mightily of late, posting an ERA of 7.20 since June 1 for the New York Yankees. 

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena has also struggled this season, but he has been red hot since the All Star Break.  

Arozarena hit .462 with two doubles and three homers just this weekend vs. the Yankees. He’s also hit lefties better than righties all year (.247 vs. .201) and he’s been better in day games and away games this year, too.  

I’ll take a shot on the value today. 

Bryan De La Cruz over 1.5 total bases (+130)

Bryan De La Cruz has been sluggish coming out of the All Star Break with just one hit so far, but I am looking for that to change tonight vs. the New York Mets at home.

De La Cruz has hit lefties better than righties this season, and Mets lefty David Peterson is due for regression.  Despite an ERA of 3.09, Peterson’s expected batting average is in the bottom 6% of the league, and according to Statcast, his xERA is 5.09.

De La Cruz is tied for the seventh-most extra base hits vs. Southpaws this season (14), with four homers and ten doubles, while also batting .270 vs. lefties (as opposed to just .220 vs right-handed pitching). He’s better at home, too, so I’ll grab the value tonight. 

Yordan Alvarez over 1.5 total bases (+105)

Houston Astros star Yordan Alvarez hit for the cycle yesterday in Seattle, and you can expect him to remain hot tonight in Oakland.  

Lefty Hogan Harris is starting for the Oakland A’s. According to Statcast his xSLG is in the bottom 7% of the league, and his xERA is 5.79.

That means we should see another solid game from Alvarez who is hitting lefties even better than righties this year.   

Alvarez is slashing .353/.580/.990 vs. southpaws this season with 15 extra-base hits. He’s also hit .455 in the three games since the All-Star Break, and the Astros are on a mission to regain control of the AL West.   

I’ll bet on Alvarez tallying a few more bases tonight.