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And how many women have scored a hundred in one session of a Test?

Steven Lynch09-Jul-2024Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have bowed out of T20Is as the two leading scorers in the format. Which current player is on top now? asked Jason Hewitt from England
You’re right that Rohit Sharma (4231 runs) and Virat Kohli (4188) are currently the leading scorers in men’s T20Is. The only other man over 4000 as I write is Pakistan’s Babar Azam, with 4145 – so he needs only another 87 runs to take over top spot, assuming Rohit and Kohli don’t play again.There’s something of a surprise in fourth place: it’s Ireland’s Paul Stirling, with 3601 runs. There are five other men over 3000, but three of them are no longer playing internationals. Of current batters, Mohammad Rizwan has 3313 runs and Jos Buttler 3264.However, this is one area in which the women currently outrank the men: New Zealand’s Suzie Bates is still playing, and her 43 in the first match against England in Southampton at the weekend took her past Rohit Sharma’s tally.What’s the most centuries scored in a Test and an ODI without someone else making a fifty? asked Vikash Lal Dodani from Pakistan
There have been seven Test matches which featured seven individual centuries (plus two with eight). In one of the instances of seven, there were no other scores between 50 and 99 – in the match between India and South Africa in Kolkata in 2009-10.There were seven hundreds and only one fifty in England’s matches against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1938, and against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 2008-09. The match between Australia and New Zealand in Perth in 2015-16 featured six hundreds but no fifties.The record for one-day internationals is four hundreds and no individual fifties, in a match between Pakistan and Australia in Lahore in 1998-99.How many people have extended their maiden Test century to 300? asked Peter de Vries from Ireland
Three men have turned their maiden Test century into a triple. The first to do so was the great West Indian Garry Sobers, with 365 not out – the record Test score at the time – against Pakistan in Kingston in 1957-58.Australia’s Bob Simpson waited till his 30th Test before reaching three figures – but made it count when he did, by going on to 311 against England at Old Trafford in 1964. And the latest man to join this exclusive club was India’s Karun Nair, with 303 not out against England in Chennai in 2016-17.Shafali Verma is the only women’s player to score a hundred in a single session of a Test•BCCIShafali Verma scored a hundred between lunch and tea in the recent women’s Test at Eden Gardens. Has anyone else ever scored a hundred in a session in a women’s Test? asked AK Srivastava from India
The Indian opener Shafali Verma had 65 at lunch on the first day of the recent women’s Test against South Africa in Chennai, and made rapid progress to 165 not out at tea. Women’s Tests are not as well documented as most of the men’s, but after looking at the likely contenders I’m reasonably confident in saying this was the first occasion that a woman has scored a hundred or more runs in a session.Verma went on to 205, the tenth double-century in women’s Tests and the second for India, after Mithali Raj’s 214 against England in Taunton in 2002.Verma’s opening partnership of 292 with Smriti Mandhana (149) was another women’s Test record: the previous-best for the first wicket was 241, by Kiran Baluch and 16-year-old Sajjida Shah for Pakistan against West Indies in Karachi in 2003-04. The only higher stand for any wicket is 309 for the third, by Lindsay Reeler and Denise Annetts for Australia against England in Wetherby in 1987.And finally, India’s eventual total of 603 for 6 declared was also a record for a women’s Test, beating Australia’s 575 for 9 declared against South Africa in Perth earlier this year.At the other end of the scale, to answer a different question from Michael Tucker from the West Indies, the unfortunate Delmi Tucker provided the 30th instance of a woman bagging a pair in a Test. England’s Laura Marsh is the only player with two.How often have Zimbabwe beaten India in an official international, as they did the other day? asked Lamela Makonwe from Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s win in a T20 international in Harare at the weekend was their 15th victory over India in all formats, but the first for more than eight years, since another T20 win in Harare in June 2016. It should be acknowledged that this was an entirely different Indian side to the one that won the T20 World Cup final in Bridgetown a week earlier.Zimbabwe have now won three T20 matches against India, to go with ten one-day international victories, including a 50-over World Cup win in Leicester in 1999. They have also come out on top in two Test matches: by 61 runs in Harare in October 1998, and by four wickets in Harare in June 2001.For the full list of Zimbabwe’s victories over India in all three formats, click here. The two countries have not yet met in an official women’s international.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

“He said to me, ‘I think the guys are going to try to bowl fuller to you tonight, so come out and hit them straight,'”

Sidharth Monga08-May-20222:50

Vettori: Conway’s style of play will intimidate the spinners

Sunday’s partnership between Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad – their third straight fifty-plus stand, two of which have been over hundred – was a perfect example of complementing each other.If Gaikwad jumped out of the crease and smacked a huge six to the first ball Anrich Nortje bowled, Conway took care of the major spin threat by skipping down Axar Patel for two sixes in his first over and Kuldeep Yadav for two sixes and a four in his first. In all, Conway took 54 runs off 20 balls of spin, and Gaikwad struck at 200 against Nortje and Shardul Thakur.Related

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It is interesting because only last year Gaikwad was the spin hitter and Faf du Plessis the pace hitter. This year, Gaikwad has shown great affinity for high pace as seen against Umran Malik too. It is no surprise that Conway is doing well against spin: he averages 77.78 against spin and strikes at 141.61 since 2018. So he is not just a power hitter against spin but also someone who does it as a relatively low risk.What made Conway so difficult for the spinners was that he not only swept and reverse-swept but also charged at them to hit them down the ground. The commentators on air said such batters are the most difficult to bowl to for a spinner.In all, Conway stepped down to four balls from the spinners, and hit them all for sixes. Murali Kartik, a former spinner himself, told Conway at the post-match presentation how hard it is to bowl to batters who can do both. Conway revealed stepping down is not one of his bigger strengths, and that captain MS Dhoni had a role to play in that shot.”I have got to give credit to MS tonight,” Conway told Star Sports. “In the last game I swept quite a lot, and I unfortunately got out playing the sweep. And he said to me, ‘I think the guys are going to try to bowl fuller to you tonight. So maybe come out and try to hit them straight.’ So he sort of gave me the guidelines to try to execute that. That’s what I tried to do.”Till this match, Conway had stepped out only 31 times in 1049 balls of spin that he had faced in T20 cricket. The results were good in a strike rate of 222.58 but he had also got out four times. The sweep has been more of a percentage shot: he used it three times more frequently for about three times the average but at a lower strike rate of 155.55. In this game, though, he consciously used stepping out as a strategy, and his instinct to pick the length early and play spin well took over.What will Dhoni’s experience tell Conway now that spinners might start planning for the advance down the wicket too?

Important strides have been made in the game but much work remains to be done

Daniel Brettig02-Jul-2020When the Johnny Mullagh Medal is presented to the Player of the Match at the end of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India this summer, it will not only signify the contribution of Indigenous Australians to the national game, but also provide a sharp reminder of the hole that remains at cricket’s heart in this country.At a time when issues of racial inequality have been given fresh impetus by the Black Lives Matter movement, last year’s decision to create the Mullagh Medal in recognition of the captain of the all-Indigenous side to England in 1868 that was the first Australian side of any kind to tour internationally, cannot obscure the fact that the chances of any Indigenous players vying for it are slim.Australian cricket has seen an increase in the number of players on state and W/BBL lists: D’Arcy Short, Dan Christian, Josh Lalor, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland, Emma Manix-Geeves, Ashleigh Gardner, Hannah Darlington and Mikayla Hinkley were all contracted in various forms last season. And Cricket Australia, through a series of programs and reports over the past 20 years or more, have pushed towards ever greater representation for Indigenous cricketers, taking cues from the pioneering experience of Aunty Faith Thomas in particular.But the fact remains that Jason Gillespie is still the only Indigenous cricketer to enjoy the sort of Test career that might have included winning the Mullagh Medal, and a greater reckoning with Australian cricket’s past sins in areas of race and inclusion is still some way from taking place. This may well have as much to do with reconciling the history as it does with augmenting existing programs.John McGuire’s lamentIt is jarring to note that a little more than two months before CA announced the Mullagh Medal, a pioneering Indigenous cricketer and administrator, John McGuire, asked that his name be removed from the trophy awarded to Western Australia’s Under-15s premier cricket champion side.”I felt it was a token gesture and I don’t think the WACA is fair dinkum about Aboriginal inclusion, so I don’t want my name attached to this award,” McGuire had told the . “For the past 40 years of my life, I’ve been trying through the WACA to encourage and create a pathway for Aboriginal cricketers and unfortunately, nothing has been done. It’s fallen short simply by exclusion. There’s plenty of talent out there, it’s just never been tapped. It’s appalling. The game needs an icon that little Johnny in Kellerberrin or Billy down at Albany or Freddie in Meekatharra can see playing for the state so they know they can do it too.”Over a lengthy career as an opening batsman in Perth grade cricket, McGuire accumulated more than 10,000 runs without once being chosen for his state. His encouragement to retire while batting well in a state trial match in the mid-1980s has been previously documented, but in a recent BBC interview he also noted how there were other times when he felt as though there were greater barriers to his elevation than the simple metrics of performance.

Let’s be honest about it, cricket hasn’t been a game for all Australians. Aboriginals think cricket is a white fella’s sport, because we don’t see black players in the team. That is why West Indies were my team. I could identify with themJohn McGuire in The Cricket Monthly in 2015

“We don’t embrace the Aboriginal cricketers like the football codes have done, and the opportunities have been very limited and indeed my own personal story is one of disappointment in that there was this covert racial sort of undertone that excluded you,” McGuire said in an interview with Ali Mitchell. “I was getting messages like ‘oh John you’re one big score away from selection’, and that would happen and then the goalposts would change and there’d be another reason for non-selection. I can remember rolling up to state cricket training and as an opening batsman I expected I would bat fairly early in the afternoon or evening, certainly in the afternoon against the best bowlers.”But it’d be almost dark and the coach would say ‘oh John, put the pads on’ and Geoff Marsh, Mike Veletta and some of those guys would be bowling at me, and it’s like ‘hang on, how can I develop my game against non-bowlers, why am I batting this late in the afternoon/evening, when as an opening batsman I expect I should be batting fairly early in the training session against the best bowlers.”There was always the racist comments and being called black and laced with expletives and derogatory comments about the colour of my skin, but there wasn’t anything from the state selectors or from the WACA as such as the governing body of the game here in Perth. So there was nothing that was tangible or evident, but the underlying view was that ‘we’re not going to play this bloke, it doesn’t matter how many runs he makes’.”An element of McGuire’s story that is especially difficult to fathom is this: during the same period in which he vied for WA selection, Kim Hughes, Greg Shipperd, Tom Hogan and Terry Alderman were all banned from playing for the state while going on lucrative “rebel” tours of apartheid-era South Africa in 1985-86 and 1986-87. All then played for WA again once their bans elapsed, and Alderman went on to a triumphant 1989 Ashes tour. McGuire, then, was not only surplus to a weakened squad, but also behind the returned rebels; his only recognition was to be as captain of an Indigenous team to England, in 1988.WA’s state coach at the time, Daryl Foster, has denied any prejudice against McGuire, and in a response to the BBC interview, the WACA stated that it could not comment on selection decisions “made in the last century”. Nevertheless, there are those within Australian cricket who believe that McGuire is owed an apology, or a chance to make his story more widely known and understood as a way of helping current generations of selectors and talent spotters ensure they do not make similar oversights, or worse.Jason Gillespie took 402 international wickets across an 11-year career•Getty ImagesFor the Love of the GameThis is not to say that CA has lacked a desire to explore the past and make better decisions for the future. Indigenous involvement in cricket has been tracking in a positive direction for the past three to four years following on from a landmark report, For The Love of the Game, that CA published in conjunction with Canberra’s Australian National University in October 2015.To read its many raw passages five years on is to be hit by the sorts of uncomfortable truths that CA was later to experience in the Ethics Centre cultural review of the governing body in 2018; the major difference being that the report on Indigenous cricket received little to no fanfare. Nevertheless, its examples of racism both subtle and overt, would sting any reader. Examples of overt racism quoted in the report included this from a club player: “One guy said to me on the field, ‘what are you playing cricket for ‘boong boy’? Go play rugby league with ya coon mates.”Another example had a player keeping their Aboriginality a secret on the basis of what teammates said of other black players: “I’m the only Aboriginal player in the team [although my teammates didn’t know that]. I didn’t feel welcome or comfortable and was too scared to let anyone know. They [my team] were filthy with their mouths – I remember them bagging out a black guy from another team, really badly, and I was just ashamed.”

The pervasive feeling that Indigenous cricket was just an ‘add-on’ or was not something really important was conveyed to us at all levels of the gameFrom the 2015 report, For The Love of the Game

One instance, in which the “fines committee” common to so many teams was used as an instrument of discrimination, built up over time to the point that the player concerned got out of the game entirely: “One of the things that happened to me was that the boys had this system where you would get fined two bucks for every stuff up you made. You know, if you dropped a catch or something you got fined two dollars. Well, every week I got fined four dollars at the get-go for being Aboriginal. Everyone thought it was hilarious. I’d kind of laugh along, but it really started to get to me, you know. I never said anything though ’cause in a way the blokes thought it was kind of including me, but it actually really hurt me. I hated that s*** and it went on for ages.”Areas of governance and funding were also closely examined, from the states of disrepair many state Indigenous cricket advisory councils had fallen into, to the troubling issue of funding for the annual Imparja Cup carnival in the Northern Territory generally scooping up all but a comically small amount of annual budgets. The underlying message, inked clearly into the report, was as follows:”Across all levels of the game, there was consensus that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were not being included enough or were actually being excluded. The pervasive feeling that Indigenous cricket was just an ‘add-on’ or was not something really important was conveyed to us at all levels of the game, from young Indigenous players through to cricket administrators and by those in charge of administering Indigenous cricket throughout the states and territories.”As a result of this report, plenty has changed in terms of additional funding and better organisation, plus more visible manifestations of the Indigenous contribution to cricket, whether it be the bat artwork championed by Christian, Indigenous designs on Australian limited-overs uniforms, or the Mullagh Medal itself. Most critically, the onset of Covid-19 has not caused a dive in funding to CA’s efforts in the area.Tyran Liddiard of New South Wales celebrates a run out during the National Indigenous Cricket Championships•Getty ImagesInvestment maintained in the time of coronavirusWhile national Under-15s, Under-17s and Futures League or 2nd XI tournaments have been canned by way of cost-savings for next season, the National Indigenous Championships have been retained. Similarly, a host of measures from CA’s most recent national reconciliation action plan will continue to be rolled out across the country.There have, also, been notable on-field triumphs. Take this recent sequence: Short was BBL player of the year in 2018 and 2019; Gardner won the Player of the Match award in the 2018 T20 World Cup Final in the Caribbean; Christian was player of the BBL final in 2019; Boland was Sheffield Shield player of the year in 2019; and Darlington WBBL young player of the year in 2019, following it up with the Alex Blackwell Medal as the Sydney Thunder’s best.Most importantly, though, is the acknowledgement within the plan’s pages that change is as much about listening as it is about acting. To that end, the examples of McGuire and a host of others need to be keenly heeded, whether they call for fresh investment, new ideas or, perhaps more painfully, a greater willingness to examine and admit to past failures. If Indigenous experiences of cricket have involved pain or discrimination in any way, then ultimately cricket failed them and needs to right those wrongs.Those present at the 2008 edition of the Imparja Cup can recall the emotional response of many cricketers taking part when they watched, live, the apology of the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to the stolen generations – an anniversary of which more could be made. It’s a strong reminder of the fact that in bringing Indigenous Australia more closely into cricket, acts of recognition can go a long way towards building trust and ultimately making peace with the past.Otherwise McGuire’s overview of why so few Indigenous cricketers have reached the top of the game, told to Tristan Lavalette in 2015, will continue to be true: “Let’s be honest about it, cricket hasn’t been a game for all Australians. Aboriginals think cricket is a white fella’s sport, because we don’t see black players in the team. That is why West Indies were my team. I could identify with them. Programs can encourage participation, but kids need to know that if they play they can get to the top – whether for their state or country. We need a role model to inspire a generation of Indigenous kids.”

Amid all the noise that swirled around him, he produced a 32nd ODI hundred that was as clinical as it was exhilarating

Sidharth Monga09-Feb-20252:49

Manjrekar: ‘Incredible how easily Rohit does it’

Arguably the best cricket song ever written, this is a poignant look at the imminent end of one’s life as possibly one’s life innings. Roy Harper, the singer and writer of the song, apparently riffed on a line he heard from the commentator John Arlott on the radio about an old cricketer approaching retirement. The more prosaic meaning being you never know when an old cricketer has been dismissed for the last time.Related

India seal series as Rohit roars back into form with 32nd ODI ton

'I really broke it down into pieces' – Rohit reflects on comeback innings

Rohit Sharma is not “old”, but in elite sport, with the amount of batting talent breathing down your neck in a batting-rich country like India, and you volunteer to sit out an international match at the age of 37 years and eight months, you never really know.You begin to wonder whether it is the format and the conditions and the bowling, or if the eye and reactions are going. You begin to wonder if the batter is doubting himself, because which elite cricketer refuses to back themselves when they are the captain of the national side?Then Rohit gets out for 2 in his first ODI in six months, and you forget what a colossal run he has been on in this format, going on for close to three years. In the six months between his last ODI series and this one, Rohit led India to their first home Test series defeat in 12 years – which turned into their first-ever home whitewash – and looked like he couldn’t buy a Test run on a tour where India’s only win came when he hadn’t yet joined the squad. He had already retired from T20Is by then.Now there are reports that the selectors have asked him what his future plans are. It could be time for a reset when the Champions Trophy concludes next month, and time to start planning for the 2027 World Cup, which will take place when Rohit is 39. Then he gets out for 2. You never know whether he’s gone.The shot that brought about Rohit’s downfall in Nagpur brought him his first six in Cuttack•BCCISix overs into India’s chase at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, a floodlight tower goes off. It is unsafe to carry on playing, but Rohit just doesn’t feel like going off. He seems to be asking if the fielding side wants to continue even with that one tower off. The umpires can’t let that happen because they are responsible for the safety of the players.Rohit has been off to a good start, and seems to be wary of the fickleness of the cricketing gods. Batters tend to be. India didn’t train on the eve of the T20 World Cup final that they won in Barbados last year, but Rohit made sure India got the same dressing room they had occupied when they had played and won at Kensington Oval earlier in the tournament.So much can go wrong, and so much is out of your control when you bat, that batters tend to become obsessive. They try to control what they can’t in ways that seem illogical from the outside.It must be a long long time since Rohit has felt this good on a cricket field so it is natural he doesn’t want anything to go wrong. The 29 off 18 that he’s scored so far bring to mind Rohit’s colossal ODI achievements. He has already hit three sixes and gone past Chris Gayle’s 331. He is now behind only Shahid Afridi’s 351. The first of these three sixes is a repeat of the shot that got him out in Nagpur, only executed better this time. The first sign that he’s not yet gone.Rohit has now hit a whopping 94 sixes in 39 innings since his first game as full-time ODI captain in February 2022, and deciding India needed to play in a certain way. The next-highest six-hitter over this period has hit 68 in 55 innings. Rohit is one of only five batters to have scored over 1000 runs in this period at a 50-plus average and 100-plus strike rate. In the 40 matches that Rohit has played as full-time captain, openers have averaged 36.76 and struck at 99.34. Rohit has gone at 50.91 and 118.95.This run features the 2023 ODI World Cup, during which he frequently killed games off in the first powerplay. The same trend followed in the T20I World Cup, in crucial games against Australia and England. In batting in this manner, however, Rohit also went through 38 ODI innings with just two centuries.The word ‘selfless’ had become as much of a millstone around Rohit’s neck as ‘talented’ had earlier in his career•Associated PressLike “talented” early in his career, “selfless” has become a millstone around Rohit’s neck in his time as captain. It started with Rohit inverting his own game to lead a philosophy change in India’s limited-overs batting. Then the word was thrown around trivially, if he even did so much as attend a press conference. The only logical progression was for it to become a pejorative on social media.However, in setting the tone, in reconditioning India’s approach to risk-taking, Rohit has indeed been selfless. From the time that Rohit started to open regularly in 2013 to this floodlight failure, he has been scoring an ODI hundred every five innings. He has used a trusted formula: get yourself in nice and slow and then explode in the second half of the innings. With his numbers, it was tough to argue against his methods, but he felt he needed to lead from the front if there was to be a change in the way India batted.So since February 2022, Rohit has been front-loading without worrying about landmarks and hundreds. His starts have frequently set the base up for monstrous hitting when batting first, and have taken the pressure off other batters in chases.However, in the last ODI series Rohit played, in Sri Lanka back in August 2024, India failed to win a single game even though he had scored 58 off 47, 64 off 44, and 35 off 20, and left them needing 151 in 35.4 overs with eight wickets in hand, 144 in 36.3 with nine in hand, and 196 in 42.5 with eight in hand.There are two reasons, then, for Rohit to tone down his selflessness somewhat in this chase in Cuttack. He needs a big score to calm the voices around him and possibly his own too, and he needs to see the chase through when two quick wickets go down, bringing in a dynamic, young lower middle order prone to the odd collapse. He does this without letting up on the strike-rate. The hitting is pristine. Anything overpitched goes flying. Sometimes he manipulates the length by charging the quicks.This is no hail mary of a desperate batter. This is as clinical as an ODI century at a strike-rate of 132.22 gets. There is a cold deliberation to the way he picks the balls he wants to hit and the ones he wants to tap for singles. He doesn’t show what it means to him personally. He doesn’t even take off his helmet at reaching the century, his first in international cricket since March 2024. In this year he has led India to their first World Cup in 13 years, and also to an unceremonious end to their home Test run. No question is asked about his emotions at the post-match presentation.Rohit gets India close but doesn’t quite take them all the way to the win, which India get to after a brief stumble. In scoring the century, though, Rohit has served a reminder of his ODI form to anyone who needed it. Perhaps to himself too. A reminder that he is not yet gone. Not unless he himself decides to go.

Former England and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll scored a brilliant hat-trick for Dagenham & Redbridge. The 36-year-old forward, who once broke the British transfer record when moving to Anfield from Newcastle United, has made a fresh start in the sixth tier of English football after leaving French side Bordeaux in the summer. He joined the club both as a player and a shareholder.

• Carroll returned to England this summer

  Carroll, who previously enjoyed spells at Newcastle, Liverpool, and West Ham United in the Premier League, returned to England this summer after a brief stint with French fourth-division club Bordeaux. Despite interest from clubs across Europe, the veteran forward chose an unexpected path and came back to his homeland. He got off to a nightmare start in the sixth tier of English football. In a pre-season friendly against League Two side Crawley Town, Dagenham and Redbridge went down 5-1 as Carroll came on as a substitute after the hour mark. 

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  Carroll's hat-trick inspires Dagenham and Redbridge to a win

  On Saturday, the veteran forward featured in Dagenham and Redbridge's starting and completed a hat-trick within the first 31 minutes of the match as his side thrashed AFC Totton 5-1 in a National League South. He opened the scoring in the sixth minute before doubling the tally 12 minutes later. Carroll then completed his hat-trick just past the half-hour mark as he cushioned a clipped ball down before beating the opposition goalkeeper to complete a third for the evening. 

  Carroll, who now has six league goals to his name, thanked the supporters after the memorable performance, as he said: "Thanks for the support today, buzzing with my hat-trick and the three points. What a win. Let’s keep it going."

  With the win on Saturday, the club have now moved up to 12th in the Northern League South points table. 

• 'My kids thought I was signing for Chelsea'

  After moving back to England and joining a lower division club, Carroll had told reporters: "My kids thought I was signing for Chelsea — they’ll be in for a shock. It’s a fantastic location and close to my kids, they will be able to come and see me play. I really enjoyed my time in Bordeaux, but it’s time for me to get settled with my family. I’m hoping my kids will bring their friends to see me play. I didn’t want to finish playing football, and I’m really excited to get involved in the leadership side and be a player. I’ve got experience in seeing how clubs are run, of all levels. I think I can add value."

  He added: "My first job is to go in as a player, I want to get them promoted. I was offered clubs with a lot more money, but I realised Dagenham was a project that I really wanted to get into. I want to help as many players and staff from my experience and background as possible. I was getting offers from clubs in France, Italy and Spain, but I wanted to come home. I could sign for a top club, but me and the managers might not see eye to eye, so I just want to be somewhere I’m going to be happy."

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  Carroll's struggles in France

  In April this year, while Carroll was still in France, French publication claimed that the English forward earned €1,614 (£1,372) gross per month at Bordeaux, which is less than €1,400 (£1,190) after tax. The figure mentioned by was less than the French minimum wage for a 35-hour work week of €1,801.80 (£1,532).

  He himself had told L'Equipe in an interview that his apartment rent was more than his wages. "I rent a nice little house and my salary is less than my rent. If I joined Bordeaux, it's obviously not for the money," Carroll said.

Leeds United are struggling to string together a run of form, and they may now have identified a successor to replace Daniel Farke at Elland Road.

The Whites came back off the back of the international break keen to find an upturn in form. However, a Morgan Rogers double condemned them to a damaging defeat at home to Aston Villa despite taking the lead early on in West Yorkshire.

If it wasn’t already tough to make a case, pressure has now cranked up on Farke as Leeds sit inside the Premier League relegation zone before the daunting reality of a trip to face Manchester City this weekend.

However, the former Norwich City coach doubled down on frustration from supporters when opting to take off substitute Ao Tanaka against Aston Villa, claiming that despite discontent in the stands, he had to withdraw the midfielder as he was on a final warning before being red carded.

He told BBC Sport: “It is totally OK for fans to chant for subs – everyone has views on changes and game management. But I will not do a round table or poll before each match. I can’t be driven by emotions, I can’t make subs on 55, 60 minutes just because someone is singing.”

While Farke could be backed with the arrival of Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia, it is becoming more likely that he could be about to part ways with the club after a series of frustrating results.

Making changes in mid-season can have varied results, but there is definitely an appetite for change at the club, and this isn’t the first time the 49-year-old has come under scrutiny. Who could replace him at Elland Road? Fans could be about to find out.

Leeds identify Brendan Rodgers to replace Daniel Farke

According to TEAMtalk, former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is in line to replace Farke at Leeds, with the Whites’ current boss now at increasing risk of being sacked following his side’s poor form.

Intriguingly, the Irishman would be open to taking charge at Elland Road, with his ability to galvanize struggling sides making him a fit that is hard to ignore.

Stiliyan Petrov praised Rodgers’ player development skills during his time in Glasgow, something which is sure to endear him to a Leeds support who are used to seeing local and academy talents emerging from Thorp Arch.

Brendan Rodgers’ second spell at Celtic

Matches

123

Wins

83

Draws

20

Losses

20

Trophies

Scottish Premiership x2, Scottish Cup x1, Premier Sports Cup x1

Only last season, he saw off the likes of RB Leipzig and guided Celtic through to the knockout playoff round of the Champions League before a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich across two legs, albeit his side were unlucky not to progress.

Nevertheless, a public fallout with Dermot Desmond means he is a free agent, something that Leeds could now take advantage of as they look to his previous Premier League experience at Swansea City, Liverpool and Leicester City to guide them out of trouble.

Talat scored 32 in 30 balls and took two wickets in the high-stakes game against SL

Danyal Rasool24-Sep-20252:09

Chopra: Talat holding one end up was important

Pakistan allrounder Hussain Talat launched a passionate defence of his utility to his side with the bat, saying there were “only four or five” players who could play T20 cricket in the middle order. Speaking after guiding his side to victory against Sri Lanka in a game where defeat would have put them on the brink of elimination, he called T20I middle order batting “the hardest of skills”.”We keep saying that if we need a middle order player they need to know how to be both aggressive and have the ability to anchor,” Talat said at the press conference after the game. “But the chances of failure with that kind of cricket are high. Unfortunately, if you don’t perform a few games or series, the media and fans immediately go after you and you’re out of the team suddenly.”I think the middle order is the hardest place to play in T20 cricket because you’re required to play all kinds of cricket. And because it’s difficult, I think you should have more chances in that position. And players who can play in the middle order are very rare in Pakistan, perhaps four or five. And even they don’t want to play there.”Perhaps, given the difficult couple of days he – and the rest of the Pakistan middle order have had, that is understandable. On Sunday, Pakistan’s descent from superiority in their clash against India can be traced almost to the moment Talat walked out to the crease in the 11th over. Until then, Pakistan had sped along at nine an over, but when Saim Ayub was dismissed and Talat was surprisingly sent in to bat, all that changed.Talat, who hadn’t played any games in the UAE in the month Pakistan have been here until that day, looked rusty. He scratched around for 11 balls and scored just 10 as India snatched momentum away from Pakistan. Just 38 came in the seven overs that began when Talat walked out to the crease, the lowest for that period of the game all tournament. India would ultimately cruise to victory, with much of Pakistan’s ire directed at Talat and his fellow middle-order batters. It was, Talat said, why he stays away from social media, but admitted it still affected him.Related

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On Tuesday, it was a different story. With a match situation more conducive to his abilities, he found his side floundering rather than flourishing, and anchored the chase to ensure they did not let victory slip from their grasp.”We’d lost so no one was feeling good,: Talat said. “The people wanted us to win, and we did what we could against India, too. But there was no extra pressure before today’s game. There was plenty of criticism which we were trying to avoid and which isn’t good for the team. But it was crucial to win today.”In pursuit of 134, that victory looked almost assured when the opened darted to the perfect start, Pakistan helping themselves to 43 in the first five overs. But a two-wicket sixth over from Maheesh Theekshana triggered a collapse where Pakistan lost four wickets for 13 runs, and Sri Lanka were ascendant.”The pitch was a bit sticky, but improved in the second innings,” Talat said. “We lost a few wickets quickly and that put us under a lot of pressure. And then we were running out of batting pairs which required us to take the game deep.”Sri Lanka tightened the screws further when Dushmantha Chameera cleaned up Mohammad Haris as he slogged wildly, reducing Pakistan to 80 for 5, still 54 runs adrift. With the asking rate under control – at exactly six an over, Talat decided to do something not many in the Pakistan camp talk about much these days – batting circumspectly.”In the group, when we talk about batting, it’s always about playing aggressive. But when I went in, a couple of wickets fell. My gut feeling was the only way to win after that was to take the game deep. When Nawaz hit Hasaranga for two fours, he said he’d go for his shots and for me to anchor. And that worked nicely for both of us.”Pakistan saw off the dangerous Theekshana aware that Wanindu Hasaranga, too, would eventually have to bowl out. But when the allrounder came in for his final two over, he went searching desperately, and that opened up scoring options. Nawaz hit him for two fours in his third when he dropped the ball short, and with the target rushing up to meet them, Talat helped himself to two more in Hasaranga’s last to drive the final nail into Sri Lanka’s coffin. In the end, the runs came in a hurry, with Mohammad Nawaz walloping Chameera for three sixes in five balls as Pakistan cantered to the finish in the 18th over.A win can make all the difference, particularly for Talat who has spent far longer out of the side looking in than most in this group. His recent inclusion into the side has only come after more than four years out in the international wilderness, where he feels people haven’t quite appreciated how hard he’s needed to work to scrap his way back in.”We’re hopeful. We’ve been playing T20 cricket for four months or so now, since Bangladesh came to Pakistan in May. Players are being backed in this group; in the past, players used to play a couple of matches and then be omitted. Now they’re getting an extended run like we see elsewhere in international cricket.”We’re two games away from the trophy, and we believe we can win it.”

Thomas Tuchel has embraced the idea of England’s substitutes being nicknamed the "bomb squad" after powerful performances off the bench helped the Three Lions secure a 2-0 victory over Serbia at Wembley. With Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze all making an impact despite not being in the starting lineup, the England boss insisted his team is built on unity rather than star names.

England continue perfect World Cup qualifying campaign

England continued their flawless World Cup qualifying run with a controlled 2-0 win over Serbia, securing another clean sheet in what has become one of the most dominant campaigns in the nation’s history. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring with a superb volley, but it was the introduction of Bellingham, Foden and Eze that truly changed the dynamic of the match. Their added energy and invention helped England regain control in the second half before the latter sealed the victory with a brilliant late strike.

The impact off the bench reflected Tuchel’s broader approach to squad harmony, particularly in a team packed with elite club-level starters competing for limited roles. With England operating at a high tempo and against opponents determined to frustrate, Tuchel’s substitutions injected the speed, pressing intensity and technical sharpness needed to break Serbia down for the second time on the night.

The result extended England’s record to seven wins from seven, with 20 goals scored and none conceded, establishing them as the only European side in history to reach a World Cup with a 100% winning and clean-sheet qualifying record this deep into a campaign. It also demonstrated the flexibility and adaptability Tuchel has demanded since taking charge in January, with every squad member expected to remain mentally ready despite fierce positional competition.

AdvertisementAFPTuchel likes 'bomb squad' nickname for substitutes

Speaking after the win, Tuchel was asked about the South African rugby team’s "bomb squad" nickname for their substitutes and whether England might adopt something similar. He admitted he approved of the idea, saying: "I have not named it in a different way but I kind of like it. I like bomb squad a bit more than finisher."

Tuchel explained the tactical reasoning behind this mindset, emphasising that modern football requires a full squad to win at the highest level. He said: "That’s the nature of this game. The possibility that we go to Albania (on Sunday) and start with 11 and finish with the same 11 goes to zero, and even more so in a tournament. This is not about building a starting 11, it’s about building a team."

He then praised the attitude within the England camp, highlighting the need for humility and togetherness. Tuchel added: "They’re all big players in their club, they’re all used to playing, they’re all disappointed. Everyone. This is normal. But they buy into this idea of building a team and this is what we want, this is what we need. There is no other way around it.

"Only if we’re a strong group who can put the ego behind (them), who can put the disappointment behind, and then contribute and give the coach a headache what to do in the next match, that’s the only way. I like it because it’s natural for this team. The atmosphere after the matches, during the matches is the right energy and I think everyone is treating everyone with respect. The ones on the pitch know that they can rely on everyone who comes from the bench to finish the game. You could see the impact today, and it has to stay like this. We just need everybody fully involved, especially mentally to accept the decision of the match day and then to continue."

Getty ImagesBellingham and Foden impress on England return

The victory over Serbia was not only another clean sheet but also a continuation of a historic defensive run under Tuchel, with England yet to concede in any qualifier. Jordan Pickford has now recorded ten straight competitive clean sheets, supported by a defensive unit that has embraced Tuchel’s structured pressing and high-possession philosophy. Ezri Konsa, John Stones and Declan Rice were among those producing key interventions during Serbia’s most threatening moments.

The game also marked Bellingham’s first England appearance since June, and Tuchel eased him back into action with a second-half cameo rather than a start. The Real Madrid star combined sharply with Reece James and Foden, showing his usual drive from midfield while also helping England sustain pressure in the final third. His return adds another layer of complexity to England’s midfield competition.

Foden, meanwhile, was deployed as a false nine – a tactical switch Tuchel had planned months in advance – and his smart positioning created the space for Eze’s late finish. The Manchester City star operated between Serbia’s defensive lines, linking play and drifting wide to overload key areas on the right alongside Saka and James.

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England look to cap off flawless campaign against Albania

England now travel to Albania in their final World Cup qualifier, aiming to complete a perfect campaign while giving Tuchel another opportunity to experiment ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The manager may continue rotating his squad, with several players pushing for more minutes and others, including Bellingham, building match sharpness after recent fitness concerns.

Tuchel will also be evaluating how best to structure his attack as the team approaches next summer’s tournament, particularly with competition intensifying across midfield and the front line. Players such as Eze, Foden, Palmer and Bellingham are all vying for advanced positions, and Tuchel’s willingness to use them flexibly could become a decisive advantage. England’s depth remains one of the strongest in international football, and the manager has reiterated the importance of harnessing that strength.

Throughout multiple generations, Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been blessed with the opportunity to witness numerous elite-level attackers in North London.

Gareth Bale is just one example of a first-team member who has captured the hearts of the fanbase as a result of his ability to impress within the final third.

The Welshman became infamous for his right-sided role, which often saw him glide past the opposition before finding the top corner after cutting inside onto his favoured left foot.

However, current boss Thomas Frank doesn’t quite have that luxury at present, that’s despite the hierarchy backing the Dane with over £100m worth of transfers in his first window.

That could be about to change in the coming months, as returning Sporting Director Fabio Paratici looks to recruit numerous new attackers to bolster the club’s Premier League standing.

Spurs’ hunt for new attacking talent in January

Over the last couple of weeks, Spurs have been strongly linked with a move to land Bournemouth sensation Antoine Semenyo after his impressive start to the campaign.

The Ghanaian has scored six times and registered three assists to date, with the Lilywhites reported with a potential attempt to land the 25-year-old in the winter window.

However, the Cherries star isn’t the only star on their radar, with TBR Football claiming that Paratici is extremely keen on a move for Porto talisman Samu Aghehowa in the near future.

The report states that the Sporting Director is a huge admirer of the 21-year-old attacker who has scored 35 times in his 54 appearances for the Portuguese outfit.

It also claims that the Spaniard has an £87m release clause within his current deal, but he could be available at a cut-price given his current employers’ financial situation.

Why Samu could be Spurs' best forward since Kane

Just like Bale, Harry Kane is another player who has forever put himself in Spurs history as a result of his performances over a sustained period in North London.

The England international made himself the best-ever forward in the Lilywhites’ history, scoring a staggering 280 goals during his decade at the club – the most of any player in history.

However, the club’s lack of tangible success on the field saw the 32-year-old depart to join Bayern Munich in an £82m transfer back in the summer of 2023.

Kane’s departure has left a huge hole in the attack, with Frank subsequently having to rely on forwards such as Richarlison and Dominic Solanke after taking the reins.

The Brazilian has only netted three times in 2025/26, whilst the latter of the duo has been restricted to just 31 minutes of league action this season due to a recurring ankle issue.

However, Frank could be blessed by the addition of Samu, with the Spaniard having all the tools to make himself the club’s next big-name talisman – potentially taking the first-team to new heights.

When comparing the Porto star’s stats with those of Kane from the current season, he’s managed to better the former Lilywhites man in numerous key attacking departments.

Games played

7

7

Goals scored

5

12

Shot on target accuracy

60%

57%

Short pass accuracy

86%

85%

Take-on success

50%

46%

Progressive carries

2.3

1.1

Carres into 18-yard box

0.9

0.6

Aerials won

1.2

1.1

Samu, who’s been dubbed a “freak of nature” by one analyst, has posted a better shot on target accuracy rate, which has seen him take advantage of more chances that have been handed his way.

He’s also completed more short passes to date, whilst also winning more of the aerial battles he’s entered – numbers which make him the perfect hold-up striker.

However, the 21-year-old is also more than capable of driving past the opposition himself, as seen by his 50% take-on success rate – a tally that is higher than what Kane has been able to muster.

Such numbers highlight the all-round quality the Porto star possesses at present, but he’s only going to get better as he continues his development in the professional game.

Should he make the move to North London, he would have huge expectations placed upon him – mainly due to the levels achieved by Kane during his own stint at the club.

However, Samu has already showcased he’s able to create carnage for the opposition, with Paratici needing to work tirelessly to land the Spaniard’s signature in the coming months.

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ByAngus Sinclair Oct 20, 2025

أعلن يوليان ناجلسمان، المدير الفني لمنتخب ألمانيا الأول لكرة القدم قائمته استعدادًا لتصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لبطولة كأس العالم 2026 المقبل.

ومن المقرر أن تقام بطولة كأس العالم 2026 في ملف “ثلاثي مشترك” الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وكندا والمكسيك.

وتواجه ألمانيا نظيرتها لوكسمبورج خارج أرضها الجمعة الموافق 14 نوفمبر، ثم مباراة سلوفاكيا الحاسمة في تأهل المانشافت إلى مونديال 2026 تجنبًا للذهاب إلى الملحق.

اقرأ أيضًا | قائمة فرنسا لمباراتي اوكرانيا وأذربيجان في تصفيات كأس العالم.. موقف مبابي

ويغيب كل من كاي هافرتز، وجمال موسيالا، ونيكلاس فولكروج، وتيم كليندينست، مع حارس المرمى مارك أندريه تير شتيجن والمدافع أنطونيو روديجير أيضًا للإصابة. قائمة ألمانيا لمباراتي لوكسمبورج وسلوفاكيا في تصفيات كأس العالم

حراسة المرمى: نواه أتوبولو (فرايبورج)، أوليفر باومان (هوفنهايم)، فين داهمين (أوجسبورج)، ألكسندر نويبل (شتوتجارت).

في الدفاع: فالديمار أنطون (بوروسيا دورتموند)، ريدل باكو (لايبزيج)، ناثانيال براون (آينتراخت فرانكفورت)، جوشوا كيميش (بايرن ميونخ)، فيليكس نميشا (بوروسيا دورتموند)، ألكسندر بافلوفيتش (بايرن ميونخ)، ديفيد راوم (لايبزيج)، نيكو شلوتربيك (بوروسيا دورتموند)، جوناثان تاه (بايرن ميونخ)، مالك ثياو (نيوكاسل الإنجليزي)

خط الوسط والمهاجمون: كريم أديمي (بوروسيا دورتموند)، نديم أميري (ماينز)، جوناثان بوركاردت (آينتراخت فرانكفورت)، سعيد الملا (كولونيا)، سيرجي جنابري (بايرن ميونخ)، ليون، جوريتزكا (بايرن ميونخ)، جيمي ليولينج (شتوتجارت)، ليروي ساني (جالطة سراي التركي)، كيفن شادي (برينتفورد)، فلوريان فيرتز (ليفربول الإنجليزي)، نيك فولتيماد (نيوكاسل الإنجليزي).