India want to give the seam-bowling allrounder game time in home Tests so that he can improve for challenges overseas

Karthik Krishnaswamy08-Oct-20252:05

Is there a role for Nitish Kumar Reddy in home Tests?

Ten years from now, it might be the image you recall most vividly from last week’s Ahmedabad Test: Nitish Kumar Reddy airborne at full stretch, having flung himself to his left at square leg to turn a well-hit pull from Tagenarine Chanderpaul into India’s first wicket in the second innings.You might, however, struggle to recall anything else Reddy did in the Test, because he didn’t get to contribute much to India’s innings victory. He bowled four overs in West Indies’ first innings, didn’t bowl in their second, and didn’t get to bat as India declared first thing in the morning on day three, on their overnight total of 448 for 5, despite there being so much time left in the game.It’s the kind of thing that can happen to a player in such a dominant victory, particularly a player whose skillset can seem surplus to requirements in certain conditions. India want to maximise Reddy’s potential as a seam-bowling allrounder and are hoping to turn him into a player whose presence gives them depth and balance with both bat and ball in overseas conditions. But to help him grow into that player, they recognise he needs game time in red-ball cricket between those tours, which means playing him whenever possible even in home Tests.Related

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“I’d say we’re unlikely to change the combination,” India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said two days out from the second Test in Delhi. “One of the sort of medium-term objectives is to develop a seam-bowling allrounder for India, because it’s very important when we go away on tours that we have that position covered.”We didn’t get a very good look at Nitish last week, so I think it’s a very good opportunity to give Nitish another go and not alter the balance of the team.”In his eight Tests so far, Reddy has shown evidence of his high ceiling in Test cricket, particularly with the bat. He top-scored in low India totals with 41, 42 and 42 in three of his first four Test innings, during the 2024-25 tour of Australia, and followed up with a maiden Test hundred at the MCG. His bowling isn’t yet at that level, but he took key top-order wickets both in Australia and during the 2025 tour of England.”We think he’s a fantastic seam-bowling allrounder, a batter who bowls seam,” ten Doeschate said. “I think the biggest limitation to what his ceiling could be is going to be his body. He is not the first allrounder we’ve seen in this country whom that applies to; to be perfectly honest, Hardik [Pandya]’s in the same sort of character of player where we don’t doubt their skills at all but for their bodies to hold up to Test cricket is a different matter.”Nitish, I think he showed everyone in Australia how good he is as a batter; I think the challenge for him is going to be to make sure that he gets game time in between away series. In a series like this, when you look at the combination, it’s more important to look ahead and see how we can fit him in to make sure that he does get game time and time to develop his bowling. We really like him, we think he’s a quality allrounder.”4:20

Ten Doeschate: India unlikely to change combination due to a medium-term objective

As true as that might be, India have three spin-bowling allrounders in their squad against West Indies, and two of them – Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar – played in Ahmedabad and batted ahead of Reddy, with Jadeja scoring an unbeaten century to extend his 2025 purple patch.”The sort of lucky thing for us is Washy and Jaddu and even Axar [Patel] are pretty much the same sort of players,” ten Doeschate said when asked whether batting behind Jadeja and Washington could potentially hold back Reddy’s development. “We feel they can bat anywhere from five all the way through to eight, and on the most recent evidence of Washy getting important runs in the UK, [and] obviously Jaddu’s form in the last six months has been immense, and unfortunately that means when Nitish does come back into the team right after his injury, he fits in right at the back of that list, and hence the reason why he batted at eight.”The only drawback, or the only sort of downer from last week in that first Test was the fact that Nitish didn’t get to compete in any of the departments, but I think it’s also a strong message to the guys who are fighting for that spot that you need to be versatile, you need to be able to bat anywhere from five all the way through to eight, and we feel that’s a good way to develop players, that they can perform in different scenarios and different positions.”If we’re all disappointed that they’re not batting six or seven that means Indian cricket’s in a good space, and long may that continue.On Sai Sudharsan: ‘We know he’s good enough’Another player who had a quiet game in Ahmedabad was B Sai Sudharsan. Unlike Reddy, he got the chance to show what he could do, batting at No. 3, but he was the only member of the top six to be dismissed for a single-digit score. On 7, he was lbw attempting an ambitious pull off the offspinner Roston Chase when the ball may not have been short enough for the shot.It continued a frustrating start to Sai Sudharsan’s Test career. In England, he showed why India rate him highly enough to have given him a debut as a No. 3 despite coming to Test cricket with a sub-40 first-class average: he played the ball late, showed excellent judgment outside off stump, and looked unhurried and in control at most times. But he also fell in unusual ways multiple times after getting a start, including more than once to balls angling down the leg side. Now, after that low score at Ahmedabad, Sai Sudharsan averages 21.00 with just one half-century in seven innings.0:49

Chopra: ‘Sai Sudharsan needs runs or the pressure will mount’

“I think he is under no illusion and he can’t hide away from the fact that you do fight for a spot in this environment, where you saw Karun Nair get four Test matches in England [before getting dropped for the West Indies series]. There are a lot of good players fighting up the hill to whoever has possession of that spot,” ten Doeschate said. “So Sai just needs to focus on believing in himself. We’ve obviously got a lot of belief in him to give him that No. 3 spot. He is playing pretty nicely, probably a tactical mistake the other day, which he’ll be aware of – playing back to a ball so early in an innings.”We know he’s good enough; and now he has to find a way of scoring runs and showing the rest of the country and the rest of the team that he’s good enough to hold that spot. But certainly no panic or no worry – particularly in a winning team you can absorb that in a series like this, where he knows he’s going to get four knocks.”The rhythms of the Test calendar, ten Doeschate felt, is another challenge for players like Sai Sudharsan who are still finding their feet in the format. “It’s probably a little bit early to be worried or panic-stricken. Doesn’t help that you have five Test matches in the UK and then you wait six weeks to play the next Test match, and the same thing will happen now after this Test next week – we don’t have another Test match for the next three and a half weeks. There’s no string of fixtures to get your rhythm and to get yourself going, but again that’s the nature of Test cricket in this era, and he has to find a way to do it.”On Jurel: ‘We were trying to squeeze him into our plans even in Australia and England’In Ahmedabad, Dhruv Jurel – playing as wicketkeeper in the absence of the injured Rishabh Pant – batted at No. 5, scored his maiden Test hundred, and left a lot of viewers theorising that he could potentially remain in the XI as a specialist batter even after Pant returns.”I’d imagine it does [put pressure on Sai Sudharsan],” ten Doeschate said. “I think Dhruv showed last week just what a good player he is. We’ve known that all along, how well [he could] fit into the middle order, and in addition to that, there are other good players who are fighting for a top-three or top-four spot – obviously Shubman [Gill]’s got four nailed down.2:02

Chopra: Jurel making a strong case for No. 6 spot

“Sai’s aware of that, and look, I don’t think you pursue a career of playing cricket in India if you don’t expect that sort of competition and people clawing at you, the media clawing at you, that’s part and parcel of it, and we know Sai is tough enough to deal with that.”Jurel had already enjoyed an impressive debut series in Test cricket, against England last year, when ten Doeschate joined the coaching staff under new head coach Gautam Gambhir. He has since played one Test in Australia, one in England after Pant suffered his injury, and then in Ahmedabad. He has also been part of the T20I squad as back-up wicketkeeper, and has now been picked in the ODI squad that will tour Australia later this month.”We’re really happy with the way he is tracking,” ten Doeschate said of Jurel. “He’s someone, even in England, even a little bit in Australia, we were trying to squeeze him into the plans because we know how good he is, and obviously, with Rishabh now being injured, it’s worked out quite nicely to get Dhruv some game time.”[In terms of] his development, what we saw at the back end of last year, leading into this year, we were really hoping he would kick on in the IPL, and he maybe didn’t have quite the IPL he would have hoped for and we would have hoped for, but to come into the team now like he has and to score a proper hundred like that, hopefully it gives him a bit of runway, and if you look at it in a positive way, it’s good that he is putting pressure on other players in the top order as well.”

West Ham have emerged as favourites to sign a highly-rated striker in January as manager Nuno Espírito Santo scours the market for more firepower.

West Ham begin striker search ahead of January

The east Londoners, according to widespread reports, are intensifying their search for attacking reinforcements ahead of the winter transfer window, with Niclas Fullkrug’s impending departure forcing Nuno to prioritize forward additions during the crucial mid-season period.

The German international has made his intentions clear, informing the club he wishes to leave when the window reopens in a bid to revive his career, not to mention boost his chances of making Germany’s 2026 World Cup squad.

Fullkrug’s disastrous spell at the London Stadium has yielded zero goals this season across seven appearances, with persistent injury problems severely limiting his availability ever since his £27 million move from Borussia Dortmund last year.

In terms of the 32-year-old’s possible replacements, a few intriguing targets have been mooted already.

AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez has emerged as a reported target for West Ham, with Nuno learning the Mexican international would cost approximately £30 million.

Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee represents another option being explored by the Hammers. The Dutchman has reportedly grown frustrated with his limited playing time under Ruben Amorim, and is seeking regular minutes to maintain his own international prospects ahead of the World Cup.

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Real Madrid youngster Endrick has also been mentioned as a possible loan target, but the Brazilian now looks set to join Lyon instead.

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Meanwhile, former Brentford striker Ivan Toney could be tempted to return to England from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli on a temporary basis, with West Ham said to be in the mix for his signature.

They’ve also been linked with Juventus’ Jonathan David, FC Midtjylland forward Franculino Dju and even former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott recently, as chairman David Sullivan casts his net far and wide in pursuit of solutions.

West Ham now in pole position to sign Promise David

Now, as per TEAMtalk, West Ham are emerging in pole position to sign Union Saint-Gilloise forward Promise David after already making contact.

USG are apparently ready to entertain offers of around £17.5 million for the Canadian international, and West Ham are fully aware of this.

The towering 24-year-old has captured attention following his impressive performances in Belgium, where he netted 24 goals in his debut campaign last season to help USG end a remarkable 90-year wait for a Jupiler Pro League title.

Standing at 6 ft 4, David offers the physical presence and aerial threat that West Ham desperately require up front, with Nuno potentially targeting his own version of Chris Wood in east London.

Nuno helped to transform the colossal Wood into a clinical marksman at Nottingham Forest, and while that is an obvious comparison to make with David, there are gaping similarities.

However, West Ham face competition from fellow relegation battlers Leeds and Wolves, who both recognize David’s potential value as well.

The striker’s Champions League experience adds further appeal, having recently scored a winner against Galatasaray to announce himself on Europe’s biggest stage — ending the Turkish champions’ 33-game unbeaten run in the process.

For just under £18m, he could be a fine candidate to strengthen West Ham’s forward line, especially considering how teammates have described him as “the monster”.

Aitana Bonmati is preparing to lead Spain into another major final but insists her historic third Ballon d’Or does not change who she is. The Barcelona Femini midfielder addressed talk of being labelled the Lionel Messi of women’s football, spoke about expectations ahead of the Nations League showdown with Germany, and reflected on how she handles success on and off the pitch.

Spain’s leader keeps perspective ahead of another final

Bonmati heads into the Nations League final as the heartbeat of both Barcelona and Spain, once again carrying her side into another major showdown. The reigning world champions face Germany over two legs, beginning in Stuttgart on Friday before returning to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, where more than 70,000 fans are expected. The 27-year-old’s consistency has been extraordinary. From Euro 2016 to the 2023 World Cup, from multiple Champions League finals to a perfect season last year, Bonmati has risen to every occasion. Her performance against Germany in the Euro semi-final remains one of the defining moments of Spain’s modern era.

Despite her meteoric rise, the Barca midfielder remains grounded. Asked how she feels returning to yet another decisive stage with Spain, she emphasised how the team cannot afford to take anything for granted. "It seems normal, but we're in another final. It can't be taken for granted. I'm so grateful for what's happening to me and what we're all experiencing. We've reached the finals in every championship we've played in. The road isn't easy, and we have to appreciate it. You win or you lose, but that's not all there is to it, because getting here is incredibly difficult."

Bonmati was also asked about Spain’s mindset heading into the first leg against Germany, and she made their intentions clear and said: "It's clear: since we're here, we have to go all out and win. We want this Nations League title. It's true that it's an unusual final, because it's played over two legs. That's why the idea is to approach each leg as if it were a single match. If you try to play it safe, it could backfire."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesBonmatí shuts down Messi comparisons and reflects on Ballon d’Or night

Although Bonmati has now won three consecutive Ballon d’Or Feminin awards, she continues to reject comparisons to Barcelona and Argentina icon. With her dominance at club and international level, the parallels are understandable but she insists she is following her own path.

When asked by about comparisons to Messi, she responded calmly: "No, no. I don't compare myself to Messi; he's on another level. I'm following my own path. The Ballon d'Or awards don't change me. I'm still the same person, with the same personality. I still enjoy the same things that make me happy and I'm surrounded by the same people who make me feel like myself. Nothing changes me, and I think that's a very positive thing."

Bonmati also lifted the curtain on what it was like attending the Chatelet Theatre ceremony in Paris, especially in such elite company. "This year, to be honest, I went in with very low expectations. I believe that the higher your expectations, the harder it can be if you don't win. It was a surprise. You look around and see the incredibly high level of competition. I understand that everyone experiences it in their own way. It's a very special day, surrounded by the best in football. I feel that the most important thing is to enjoy it. To experience it with your loved ones."

A legacy already built with more still to come

The Barca midfielder's achievements are redefining what consistency looks like at the highest level of women’s football. Her Champions League masterclasses, especially against Chelsea and Wolfsburg laid the foundation for her latest Ballon d’Or. Her landmark displays for La Roja, including the semi-final performance against Germany, only strengthened her case.

She has now won three Ballons d’Or in a row, been Player of the Match in a World Cup final, dominated the Champions League with three titles, starred in multiple European campaigns, and collected 22 domestic trophies with Barcelona. Even if she walked away tomorrow, her place among the all-time greats would be secure.

And yet, she still hasn’t reached what many consider a midfielder’s peak years. At 27, her evolution continues – playmaking, leadership, spatial intelligence, defensive discipline. With Spain and Barca still competing for every major title, her influence is only deepening.

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Getty ImagesWhat comes next for Bonmati and where Barca fit in?

Spain’s immediate focus is the two-legged Nations League final, where Bonmati will once again be central to their tactical approach. After that, the long-term question inevitably returns: will she spend her entire career at Barcelona?

The midfielder addressed that speculation with honesty, stressing both her loyalty and her openness to the future. "Right now, I have a contract with Barcelona, I've been here for 14 years, and it's a club I love, a club I feel connected to," she said. "But I'm not closing the door on anything. It all depends on how you feel personally, emotionally, and in terms of motivation. Never say never. I have a contract, and my intention isn't to leave."

خاض فريق برشلونة، بقيادة المدرب هانز فليك، مباراته في إطار منافسات بطولة بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا لكرة القدم، مساء يوم الثلاثاء ضد خصمه فريق آينتراخت فرانكفورت.

واستضاف ملعب “كامب نو” مباراة فريقي برشلونة وآينتراخت فرانكفورت، وذلك في خضم منافسات الجولة السادسة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري، موسم 2025/26.

ودخل برشلونة المباراة وهو يمتلك 7 نقاط حيث تواجد في المركز الثامن عشر في جدول دوري أبطال أوروبا، في حين أن آينتراخت فرانكفورت كان لديه 4 نقاط في المركز الثامن والعشرين.

وجاءت نتيجة مباراة فريقي برشلونة وآينتراخت فرانكفورت، حيث حققت كتيبة هانز فليك فوزًا صعبًا بهدفين مقابل هدف، بعدما كان متأخرًا، حيث سجل جول كوندي ثنائية البرسا (لمطالعة التفاصيل كاملة من هنا). فرص برشلونة في التأهل إلى دور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد الفوز على آينتراخت فرانكفورت

وقياسًا على وضع نسخة الموسم الماضي من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري، احتاجت الفرق إلى 16 نقطة على الأقل من أجل ضمان التأهل مباشرة إلى دور الـ16 من البطولة، ويمكن قياس ذلك على الموسم الحالي.

وستحتاج الفرق، ذلك الموسم، إلى العدد نفسه من النقاط أو لن يتغير الوضع كثيرًا، وذلك من أجل الحصول على بطاقة التأهل المباشر إلى المرحلة المقبلة من دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويمتلك برشلونة حاليًا 10 نقاط، وتتبقى أمامه مباراتين في مرحلة الدوري، وذلك أمام سلافيا براج وكوبنهاجن، في الجولتين السابعة والثامنة، في شهر يناير المقبل.

ويحتاج برشلونة إلى 6 نقاط من أجل ضمان الحد الأدنى من النقاط المطلوب للتأهل المباشر إلى دور الـ16، ومن ثم لا يمكنه تحمل إهدار أي نقاط في مباراتيه المقبلتين.

كما يجب الأخذ في الاعتبار مسألة فارق الأهداف، حيث يحتاج برشلونة إلى أن يكون لديه سجل مميز في هذا الصدد حال الاحتكام إلى ذلك الخيار عند تساويه مع أكثر من فريق في النقاط، لتحديد المتأهلين المباشرين.

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Ponte Preta e Santos se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira (15), pela quinta rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. A bola vai rolar a partir das 21h30 (de Brasília), no Estádio Moisés Lucarelli, em Campinas (SP), com transmissão de Band, TV Brasil e Premiere (pay-pay-view). A Macaca ocupa a 14ª colocação, enquanto o Peixe é o terceiro.

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SÉRIE B – 5ª RODADA

🗓️ Data e horário: quarta-feira, 15 de maio de 2024, às 21h30 (de Brasília);
📍 Local: Estádio Moisés Lucarelli, em Campinas (SP)
📺 Onde assistir: Band, TV Brasil e Premiere
🟨 Árbitro: Marcelo de Lima Henrique (CE)
🚩 Assistentes: Nailton Junior de Sousa Oliveira (Fifa-CE) e Luis Carlos de França Costa (RN)
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Brayan Bello's MLB postseason debut didn't go as expected.

After the 26-year-old allowed two runs on four hits—including a home run to Yankees first baseman Ben Rice in the first frame—Red Sox manager Alex Cora opted to pull Bello from the game after just 2 1/3 innings. Boston then turned to reliever Justin Wilson, who got them out of a third-inning jam.

While speaking with ESPN's Buster Olney in between innings, Cora explained what went into his decision to give Bello the quick hook:

"In the spot we were in with the lefties coming and all the lefties we have in the bullpen, we felt like we needed to be aggressive," said the skipper. "It’s not the perfect scenario, but like I told him, just get ready for the next one."

While a confident message from Cora, there's a chance—of course—that the next one may not come this season. While the Red Sox hold a 1–0 lead over the Yankees in the American League wild-card series, Game 2 is currently tied 3–3 and if New York can pull off two straight wins, Bello's next appearance wouldn't come until spring of 2026.

The interest in former MLB superstar Albert Pujols becoming a manager continues as a third team has been reported to be looking at the 11-time All-Star to fill their manager role.

It was previously reported that the Angels were first interested in Pujols as he played there from 2012-21. Los Angeles just let go of manager Ron Washington and interim manager Ray Montgomery after the season ended. After the Angels, the Orioles popped up as an option for Pujols to become their manager. Baltimore fired Brandon Hyde back in May.

As of Monday, the Padres have become the third team tied to Pujols, Kevin Acee of the reported. San Diego manager Mike Shildt retired from the role after the Padres' playoff exit to the Cubs. Acee reported that the Padres plan to speak with Pujols.

Pujols doesn't have any MLB managerial experience since retiring after the 2022 season. He remained in the baseball world, though, as he's acted as a special assistant to the Angels since '23, while also working as an analyst for MLB Network. He managed Leones de Escogido, a team based in his home country of the Dominican Republic, and led them to titles in the Dominican Winter League and Caribbean Series this year. He is also set to be the manager for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic next year.

Angels reportedly stopped discussions with Pujols amid other MLB teams showing interest

Shortly after the report came out on Monday regarding the Padres' interest in interviewing Pujols for their manager role, the reported that the Angels are now stopping talks with their former player.

The Post noted that the two sides had differing opinions on "coaches, resources and compensation" leading to the discussions ceasing. Pujols was the Angels' top option for the position, though, especially with his history being with the team and the fact that he still works as a special assistant for the organization.

Arsenal have been hit with another damaging defensive setback as summer signing Cristhian Mosquera is expected to miss at least six weeks after suffering a complicated ankle injury in the midweek win over Brentford. With Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba already sidelined, the Gunners now face a mounting crisis at centre-back during a pivotal period of their season.

Mosquera set to miss at least six weeks for Arsenal

Mosquera was forced off during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Brentford after landing awkwardly and requiring immediate treatment, prompting fears of a significant ankle injury. The BBC suggest that initial assessments indicate the Spanish defender will miss between six and eight weeks, with the club awaiting further test results to confirm the extent of the damage. His withdrawal added to a growing list of defensive absentees, intensifying concerns for Arteta as the Gunners continue to compete on multiple fronts.

The setback comes at a time when Arsenal are already without their first-choice centre-back pairing of Saliba and Gabriel, who have missed recent fixtures due to respective injuries. Saliba is reportedly only “days” away from returning after suffering a knock in training, while Gabriel may be sidelined until January with a thigh issue. Mosquera had been deputising alongside Piero Hincapie, giving Arteta some stability in defence before this latest injury blow.

Arsenal remain top of both the Premier League table and their Champions League group, but Mosquera’s absence threatens to disrupt their momentum in a crucial run of fixtures.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportArteta opens up on Mosquera's 'complicated' injury

Mosquera’s injury deepens a defensive crisis that has been quietly building for Arsenal, despite the club’s impressive start to the campaign. Prior to Wednesday’s setback, injuries to Gabriel and Saliba had already forced Arteta to lean heavily on his new summer signing, who had settled quickly into Premier League football. Losing him during a demanding fixture schedule places additional strain on a back line that has been reshuffled repeatedly since August.

Arteta acknowledged the seriousness of the situation when addressing the media, noting that Mosquera’s issue is “more complicated” and requires further medical analysis compared to Declan Rice's injury. “Well, let’s see. We have another training session in the afternoon. Every hour is going to be very important to see the availability of the players. After that, we’ll decide which ones,” Arteta said.

Arteta added: “That’s [Mosquera] the more complicated one, but again, we have another test today to see where we are with them. We need to know, because the feeling that we had after the game and yesterday, we need to corroborate with what happens with all the testing that we do today.”

Arsenal must cope without Mosquera, Saliba and Gabriel

Arsenal’s form has been strong, with just one defeat in 14 Premier League matches, but their challenge now is maintaining that performance level while dealing with significant injuries in key positions. Defensive continuity has been central to their revival under Arteta, and instability in this area could impact both their league campaign and Champions League ambitions.

Mosquera’s adaptation to English football had been one of Arsenal’s quiet success stories of the season, with the 21-year-old showing maturity, composure, and athleticism since arriving from Valencia. He had been trusted to fill in for both Saliba and Gabriel, performing consistently despite the pressure of stepping into such prominent roles. His injury not only removes a reliable option but also disrupts the promising partnership he was forming with Piero Hincapie.

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Getty Images SportMosquera will not return to action before February

The Gunners travel to third-placed Aston Villa next before facing Club Brugge in Europe, two matches in which defensive solidity will be vital. With squad depth now stretched, the timing of Mosquera and Rice's injuries could not be worse for a team hoping to maintain their early-season dominance.

Arsenal’s broader injury picture compounds the concern, as midfielders and attackers have only recently returned from layoffs while defensive problems persist. The squad has already endured periods without Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke, but the back line remains the most fragile department. As domestic and European competitions intensify heading into December, managing workload and avoiding further setbacks will be critical for Arteta’s plans.

Allrounder Deepti Sharma became the joint second-most expensive player ever sold at the WPL auction when her previous franchise UP Warriorz bid INR 3.2 crore (USD 360,000) and used a right-to-match (RTM) option to buy her back at the mega auction in Delhi on Thursday.New Zealand allrounder Amelia Kerr was the second most expensive player at the auction, going to Mumbai Indians for INR 3 crore (USD 340,000). Allrounder Shikha Pandey, who hasn’t played for India since 2023, was a surprise as the third most expensive buy, with UPW bidding INR 2.4 crore (USD 270,000) for her.The mega auction opened with a surprise – Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy going unsold at her base price of INR 50 lakh; her name did not reappear during multiple accelerated rounds later in the auction. The first player sold was New Zealand’s Sophie Devine, who was bought by Gujarat Giants (GG) for INR 2 crore (USD 220,000).Deepti, the player of the tournament at the recent Women’s ODI World Cup, was the third player on sale from the marquee set and initially attracted no bids at her base price of INR 50 lakh until Delhi Capitals (DC) raised the paddle late. There were no other bids and so UPW were given the option to use their RTM option, which they did. Thereafter, DC had the one-time option to raise their bid, which they did to INR 3.2 crore, a price that was matched by UPW to buy back Deepti. Had Deepti been retained by UPW ahead of the auction, they would have lost INR 3.5 crore from their purse.MI’s first purchase at the mega auction was Kerr, who had played for them previously in the WPL. They had to raise the bid for Kerr as far as INR 3 crore out of their auction purse of INR 5.75 crore because they had no RTM options available at the auction due to them retaining five players. She remained their only buy from the first three sets of players at the auction.Related

• Abhishek Nayar: We wanted Shikha's experience and Deepti back through RTM

• Jess Jonassen pulls out of WPL auction

“We were really excited to have the same core back,” MI coach Lisa Keightley said. “We’ve got world-class players in there who can win matches and games of cricket which is most important. Sometimes you can underestimate having the same core back. I’ve seen in a lot of franchises that being consistent with a group can give you advantages since you don’t start a tournament with so many moving parts. As for how much we’d have gone for Amelia, we were pretty much on the limit, most people would’ve known that. She’s worth the money and we’re excited to have her back.Of the other players in the marquee set, Renuka Singh went to GG for INR 60 lakh (USD 70,000), Sophie Ecclestone to UPW for INR 85 lakh (USD 100,000, via RTM), Meg Lanning (USD 210,000) to UPW for INR 1.9 crore, and Laura Wolvaardt to DC for INR 1.1 crore (USD 120,000).Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were the only team to not buy a player in the marquee set, having bid for Devine, Ecclestone and Wolvaardt. Their first buy came from the second set – the Australian batter Georgia Voll for INR 60 lakh (USD 70,000) – after which they bought allrounders Nadine de Klerk and Radha Yadav from the third set.After buying Deepti and Lanning, UPW further strengthened their batting by picking up 22-year old Australian Phoebe Litchfield for INR 1.2 crore (USD 130,000) and using an RTM option to buy back Kiran Navgire for INR 60 lakh (USD 70,000). UPW used their fourth and last RTM option to buy back fast bowler Kranti Gaud at her base price of INR 50 lakh, after DC had made the first and final bid. However, UPW lost out on promising spinner Sree Charani, who was bought by DC for INR 1.3 crore (USD 150,000).DC picked up the youngest player bought at the auction, 16-year-old Deeya Yadav, a hard-hitting top-order batter from Haryana at her base price of INR 10 lakh. Her stable base, excellent hand-eye coordination and raw hitting power have already prompted comparisons to Shafali Verma, with many touting her as Haryana’s next big batting talent.The most expensive player ever sold at the WPL auction is Smriti Mandhana (INR 3.4 crore), followed by Ashleigh Gardner and Nat-Sciver Brunt (INR 3.2 crore), whose bids in 2023 Deepti matched in 2025.”We had a new coach at the helm and we wanted to give him a clean state based on his vision and we’ll build a squad together,” Kshemal Waingankar, COO of UPW, said. “We had no doubt that we’d bring Deepti back and we’re very delighted to bring her back. To add to that, we’ve also been able to bring Sophie back and bring Meg Lanning in as well. So far it’s played out well. We will discuss that [the captaincy]. It’s too early to say. Will depend on how the squad comes through. We’ll have to have a conversation with Deepti, and understand the dynamics with the leadership. We haven’t thought that through.”DC’s purchase of Wolvaardt gave them a leadership option but they indicated they would prefer an Indian captain. “I think in Laura we’ve got a tremendous player who can fill in those (Lanning’s) shoes. Not only was she the highest run-scorer in the recent World Cup, but she’s also someone who’s got leadership ability as well,” Parth Jindal, DC co-owner, said. “No, no, not at all [whether Wolvaardt will be captain]. I think we are very clear that we would like to have an Indian as the captain. So depending on who else we land, we already have our mind made up, but let’s see what happens. But yeah, Laura will add a lot of leadership into the dressing room, but we are clear that we want to go with an Indian captain.”The 2026 WPL season will begin on January 9 and end on February 5, with the tournament played in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara.

Alarm bells sounding because of manner of New Zealand loss, but there’s time yet to heed the lessons

Cameron Ponsonby02-Nov-2025It was 1:53am in Clapham when Ollie Pope stirred in his sleep. Something, somewhere, had happened. In truth, Ollie hadn’t been sleeping well for weeks. But he was awake now, so he rolled over to check his phone and see how the lads were getting on down in New Zealand. As he opened the scorecard, the wickets column ticked over. Jacob Bethell had just edged to Daryl Mitchell for 11, finishing the tour with 70 runs from five innings. Ollie put the phone down and slept soundly. He was going to be batting three at Perth. So what was the point of this tour? Was it building up to the Ashes or not? The only storyline that was meant to be at play was Bethell. He had six Pope-free hits to make the case that it should be him whom the white smoke announced as England’s chosen one. But since his ton against South Africa in September, he has kept getting out. In his nine international innings since that innings at Southampton, he has averaged 15.It is never beyond England to make a bold selection call, but Bethell isn’t quite the unknown, untouched prodigy he was a year ago. Across formats, he has 42 international innings under his belt and an average in the mid-30s. If England wanted a ‘my hands are tied’ decision to go for Bethell rather than Pope, they haven’t got it.That should have been it, narrative-wise, for England as they left New Zealand. But such was their historic batting combustion they created a new one. Across three matches, the top four made 84 runs across a combined 12 innings – the lowest combined tally in the history of ODI cricket.Related

• McCullum: 'No excuses come Australia' after historically poor NZ campaign

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• Stats – A series of woe for England's top order in New Zealand

Batting conditions across all three matches were difficult, and the Black Caps made the most of them, bowling beautifully. But the one true test England need to overcome if they are to have any chance in Australia is to combat high-quality seam bowling, on lively pitches. And in that regard, they failed dramatically. It is also worth noting that this was a New Zealand attack without six seamers through injury. New Zealand ‘C’, wiping the floor with England ‘A’. It’s not brilliant.Brendon McCullum was bullish that those issues do not translate across formats: “I think in Test cricket we’ve found ways in various conditions to deal with seaming wickets.” But in the absence of high-intensity red-ball games in the lead-up to the Ashes, facing an international attack in a format that England say themselves they approach with the same kind of tempo that they use in Test cricket, this was arguably as good a preparation as they could have in the modern day.England will continue to get heat for not scheduling more warm-up matches for the Ashes. But short of somehow turning this trip into a red-ball series (England arranged an Test tour of New Zealand in 2023, so it could have been possible), the options in the current day and age are limited. Play too much cricket and you burn out your bowlers. Or, play, and face opponents and wickets a mile away from what you are preparing for. When England played a two-day match in Queenstown last year ahead of the New Zealand Tests, New Zealand’s PM’s XI had eight players with five or fewer first-class appearances to their name. The same was true when they last arranged external warm-up matches for an Ashes in 2017-18.”We’ll have no excuses come Australia,” McCullum summarised simply.Bethell’s bid for an Ashes berth should have been the major narrative of England’s tour•AFPThe players and staff know what is around the corner. As soon as the first loss on the tour came, those in line for Ashes appearances were no longer put up for press, with assistant coaches Marcus Trescothick and Jeetan Patel wheeled out instead. Journalists only want to ask about Australia and the risk-reward for England wasn’t in their favour. Similarly, players in general are reluctant to do any extra media that isn’t required, so as not to stoke the fires of a war of words in which there are only losers.England got an idea of what that extra spotlight will look like when they were filmed the night before the final ODI having a post-dinner drink. The leadership said from the offset that this tour was about fun and building a collegiate spirit in a white-ball group that rarely spends time together. There was no news story here, the headline would have read “Adult has beer after dinner”, but that is only true until someone sticks a camera in your face with no timestamps or context. Then, all of a sudden, it’s an Instagram caption that reads “England are on the piss”. You could, of course, make the argument that – given there were 21 nights on this tour – maybe on one of the three where you have a game at 2pm the next day you stay in and don’t let someone film you with a drink. But this group runs toward the danger.”Go harder,” Harry Brook says, shadow-batting with his pint glass.England will consider themselves better off for the slap on the wrist. A young group is going into the furnace with a ready-made example of what to expect over the next two months.Whether that is fair or not extends to the legacy of the coming series, where the facts are simple. If England win in Australia, this will be forgotten. But if they lose, it all started here. Is that fair? No. But is it the case? Yes.