Category Uncategorized

Coach Hafeez and captain Masood believe the batters needed to have been more aggressive in the first innings

Danyal Rasool17-Dec-20234:28

‘Pakistan don’t have the belief to beat Australia here’

Pakistan coach and team director Mohammad Hafeez found himself in a critical mood at the press conference immediately following the first Test against Australia. Freshly smarting from a 360-run defeat sealed with a 30-over batting display that saw his side skittled out for 89 with a day and change to go, it was perhaps just as well, because there was plenty to be critical of.But the squarest aim he took was at Pakistan’s batting approach, particularly in the first innings, saying the batters failed to apply themselves and stick to their pre-match plans.”Well, we couldn’t execute our skills well,” Hafeez said. “We made plans for the team, but unfortunately we couldn’t execute them well. That’s not an excuse. The guys wanted to, but they never applied themselves, to be very honest. As a team there were a couple of tactical errors we made during this Test match. There were certain situations where we could have dominated, and as a team, the plans were there and we prepared ourselves for that. But the execution wasn’t great.”A cynic might wonder if Hafeez, only recently appointed to his roles, ahead of a tour to a country he has never played a Test match in, was looking to establish a buffer between the playing group and the management group. Pakistan do, after all, still have on their books Mickey Arthur, a man who coached the West Australian state side for nearly two years, in addition to overseeing a Test win in Perth and a series win in Australia as coach of South Africa. And while that might have made little difference – when Arthur was coach of Pakistan, they still lost an away series in Australia 3-0 – the PCB’s decision not to send him on this tour has thrown the rawness of the new-look coaching staff into sharper focus.Related

• For Aamer Jamal, dark alleys will always lead to high streets

• Pakistan fight the good fight as bluster gives way to pragmatism

• Lyon joins the elite in 500-wicket club: 'I'm still pinching myself'

• No cure in sight for Pakistan's chronic troubles in Australia

• Nathan Lyon joins 500 Test-wicket club as Australia crush Pakistan in Perth

Last week, when Pakistan were training at the WACA, Hafeez had gone after the surface laid out for Pakistan in Canberra for the first-class game they played against the Prime Minister’s XI, calling it the “slowest pitch a visiting team could have faced in Australia”. He also promised a brand of cricket that would see Pakistan take the attack to Australia, particularly Nathan Lyon. As it turned out, though, no Australian bowler took more wickets than Lyon’s five, which came in 32 overs at an economy rate of 2.50.Hafeez defended Pakistan’s plans and preparations, and once more rued their inability to execute them.”The Canberra pitch was totally different. But this pitch, obviously, as you expect in Perth, there was bounce and a little lateral movement. And that was obviously what we’ve seen during the last four days. But the amount of deterioration we witnessed, I wasn’t expecting that much because on the fourth day the deterioration in the pitch was really high. But still, we believe it was a good toss to the win for Australia. They managed to put runs on the board and then obviously batting in the fourth innings and on the fourth and fifth day is going to be a real challenge and we couldn’t do that, to be honest.Shan Masood and Shaheen Afridi ponder Pakistan’s tough position•Getty Images”You can say that [the plans we made weren’t followed], but not really that much. I believe that the message is very clear. And as I said to you earlier, we prepared accordingly. In the last 20 days of my role, the message was very, very clear to everyone.”It appears to be something Pakistan’s leadership group agrees upon. Captain Shan Masood at the post-match press conference also pointed to the side’s sluggish scoring rate, while mentioning they’d batted nearly as many overs as Australia in the first innings – 101.5 compared to the hosts 113.2.”When you come to these shores you look for progress,” Masood said, setting the bar somewhat lower than the bullish Hafeez had. “If you had told me that Australia would have batted 110 overs and we would play 100 overs, I would have taken that as a batting unit.”While Pakistan’s scoring rate isn’t particularly notable in its own right – no side will ever find taking the game to the Australian attack easy on their own shores – the variance between what Pakistan promised before the game and what they delivered is. With Hafeez and Masood both committing to an exciting brand of cricket, Pakistan instead found themselves bogged down right from the get-go, barely managing above two an over for the opening partnership.Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq did hold out for 36 overs in the first innings without giving away a wicket, though Masood felt more urgency might have put a different spin on the game. “We could have batted a bit quicker, even though we were facing one of the best bowling attacks in the world. We probably missed out on 60-70 runs, which could have made the lead a bit less sizeable.”Masood, for his part, did stick to that method, coming down the wicket to wallop Lyon for a boundary off his second ball. The scoring rate did tick up – thanks largely to him – during a brief partnership with Imam, though expansive drives led to his downfall in each innings. And a score of 32 across two innings of the Test – the lowest for any specialist Pakistan batter in Perth – suggests taking on this Australian attack may require more than wanton belligerence.Hafeez had struck a particularly optimistic tone ahead of the Test and continued in the same vein, the defeat seemingly doing little to subdue it. “I said to you earlier that the vibe I got from the preparation and the amount of talent these guys have, there’s no doubt the guys can beat Australia in Australia. But obviously execution-wise we couldn’t do that. The plan was there, we prepared things accordingly and I still believe as a team that Pakistan can beat Australia here in Australia. Obviously as a team we need to execute our skills whenever it requires.”There are a lot of positives in this game. The two debutants [Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad], the way they bowled, the way they showed the passion to represent Pakistan, that is very special and heartening to me. I really enjoyed personally the way they did and they were presenting themselves for every challenge and they are the most positive side we had during this test match. Unfortunately, our premier fast bowlers couldn’t do well in this game, but this can happen to anyone. But I’m sure these guys will come harder in the next game.”It might take some time. But gradually we will get up there where I feel like we know, ‘this is the way to play international cricket at the moment.'”It is time Pakistan may not have, at least not in this series. In a little over a week’s time, Pakistan play a Boxing Day Test at the MCG, their losing streak in Australia now stretching to 15 Tests. It will require little short of a miracle or a freak weather event not to see that stretch to 17 in about three weeks’ time.

They will sometimes miss an edge or two, and sometimes it will happen in clumps, but that doesn’t make a bad umpire

Sidharth Monga05-Dec-20213:16

Vettori: It was fairly obvious Kohli had nicked it

When TV commentators and fans start to psychoanalyse umpires, you know it is a declaration day. It can be tough to watch for a spectator, but any top-level sport is a competitive pursuit first and through that it becomes a spectacle. It is a spectacle because it is competitive, and not competitive because it is a spectacle.

Watch live cricket on ESPN+ in the US

India vs New Zealand is available in the US on ESPN+. You can subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to highlights of day three of the 2nd Test in English or in Hindi.

So India chose to bat on in order to deny New Zealand even the slightest of sniffs and to not lose the advantage of bowling last. They could have enforced a follow-on, and probably would have finished the Test by now, but they have nowhere to go after finishing early. They will be stuck in the bubble for the South Africa tour anyway so why not make sure you take the extra day and be absolutely ruthless?Besides, India had a couple of batters who could do with some time out in the middle. Plus, Axar Patel said at the end of the day’s play that they used their batting innings to simulate a fourth-innings chase on a turning pitch out in the centre.It doesn’t make for engaging viewing especially when the opposition doesn’t have the bowlers to compete in these conditions. Will Somerville, one of the four specialists that New Zealand played in both Tests, has gone wicketkless in the series. Only seven bowlers in the history of the game have conceded more runs in a series without taking a wicket.In such circumstances, except for those personally invested in the runs, say, Virat Kohli scores, spectators find it difficult to stay engaged. So out comes the usual punching bag, the umpires. Not that the umpires weren’t pilloried before Covid-19, but the latest fad is to criticise home umpires because the authorities deem flying in neutral umpires unnecessary during the pandemic. This is the worst slander of professionals in an era where they are professionally evaluated. It is ludicrous to imagine an umpire will carry a bias in front of all high-res, high frame-rate cameras, which can curtail his own career.The umpires have been in the spotlight in Mumbai•BCCIIf there can be a bias, it won’t even be visible to those who build such lazy narratives. The bias can be in the conducting of the game, in how much they let someone sledge, whom they pull up for bad behaviour, how much they let a team play in wet conditions etc. Even bad light doesn’t fall under such bias because it is objectively measured. Aside from the odd off-the-record murmur, there hasn’t been a big issue on this front either.Unfortunately, former cricketers, often known to be at odds with umpires when they played, are at the forefront of this vilification. During this Test, for example, Shane Warne picked out one isolated few-seconds-long clip of the Kohli lbw in the first innings and ruled it “simply not-out”. He went on to suggest that third umpires frequently misinterpret the technology without ever considering the possibility that it could have been pad-bat-pad. After all, there was a point when the bat was slightly behind the pad and UltraEdge still picked up a sound signature. In the second innings, when the bat was merely an inch or two further ahead, Kohli was ruled not out in near-identical circumstances.The same people disregard technology when it comes to low catches because technology hasn’t played Test cricket and those who have played Test cricket know that every low catch is out even though there is new evidence on display.Before you know, 20 media organisations are quoting Warne and the umpire is not allowed to defend himself. Even when he does, it never really sticks. Kumar Dharmasena, an excellent umpire, a former ICC Umpire of the Year, provided an excellent explanation for his umpiring error in the 2019 World Cup final. In public perception, it was firstly assumed that a professional of such high acclaim didn’t even remember the overthrows law.India belt out what turned out to be a successful appeal against Will Young•BCCIDespite Dharamsena explaining that it was physically impossible to know where the two running batters were in relation to each other at the exact moment when the fielder released the ball from 60 yards away, people ignored another playing condition and asked him why he could not check with the third umpire. The issue here is that playing conditions allow umpires to check only dismissals and boundary saves with the third umpire. That the MCC rewrote the law was an admission it could not be enforced in the form that it was.Just do a search on any platform for “Dharmasena final”, and you will know how much we care about the actual profession of umpiring and the process of decision-making, which is why one of the dominant discourses on a slow day was about the umpires in this series when they haven’t really been bad. They will sometimes miss an edge or two, and sometimes it will happen in clumps, but that doesn’t make a bad umpire. Moreover, we have DRS to eliminate those these days.You watch out for those who make bigger, conceptual errors, such as this. There are certain lbw calls that are of concern: basically those where it’s physically not possible for the ball to strike a batter within the stumps and also hit the stumps. If you falter on these, it might suggest you get affected by other things such as the strength of an appeal.There was only one call in this series that was remotely close to this category when R Ashwin got a decision with a big offbreak that hit Will Young on the front foot, a rarest of rare dismissals in cricket. However, the low bounce probably clouded everyone to the point that even the batter didn’t review it. There have been marginal lbws missed by the umpires in this Test that didn’t even elicit a decent appeal from the bowlers. It is because three sets of professionals out there didn’t think it was out, and high-res super slow-motion replays showed the ball to be missing the edge or kissing the boot on the way to the inside edge. To use them to beat up umpires is an unfair battle that they can never hope to win.There are many things that are wrong with the umpiring discourse, which will take way more than this space (you can do worse than to read this), but a slow day is a good time to remind yourself of how good the umpires today are and to remember to use the same empathy we use for the athlete when we come across the occasional error.

Clayton Kershaw is certainly enjoying his last go-round with the Dodgers.

L.A. clinched the NL West on Thursday with an 8-0 win over the Diamondbacks. While other champagne celebrations may be ahead for last year's World Series champions, Kershaw made sure to enjoy this one. Last week, he announced that this season would be his last after 18 years in Dodger blue.

He made his last start on Friday, which the Dodgers won although he recorded a no-decision after throwing 4 1/3 innings and striking out six batters while letting up two earned runs. L.A. has won six of their last eight games and officially clinched the division Thursday with their lead on the Padres.

A shirtless Kershaw was absolutely joyous in the locker room, relishing every moment as he gave an epic interview to AM 570 LA's David Vassegh, who asked the veteran lefthander if he wanted his shirt back.

"No, I don't want my shirt back. I don't want goggles, I don't want a shirt. I hardly want pants, Dave!" Kershaw responded via SportsNet LA.

He made sure to enjoy a victory cigar, too:

You can watch the full celebratory interview below which Vassagh somehow conducted with Kershaw's shirt draped over his head.

The Dodgers wrap up their regular-season schedule with a three-game series in Seattle against the Mariners this weekend where Kershaw is scheduled to pitch the finale Sunday. We'll see what he has in store if more champagne celebrations are in L.A.'s future.

Manchester United are keen to kick on under Ruben Amorim and could now be set to target a defender as part of a two-pronged solution to bolster their ranks.

Man Utd look to tie Harry Maguire down to contract extension

Harry Maguire was the man of the hour for the Red Devils last weekend after scoring the decisive goal in their victory over Liverpool at Anfield, though there is still a question mark over his future with the New Year now approaching.

The England international earns around £9.8 million annually at Old Trafford and has more than proved his worth. With that in mind, former chief scout Mick Brown made it clear to Football Insider that the defender appears primed to extend his stay.

He explained: “As long as he’s still got an important role to play, for Manchester United, I still feel there’s a willingness from all parties to get a new contract done.

“Maguire is very much open to staying at Man United. There’s been talk of reported interest from the Saudi pro league, but Maguire would prefer to stay at Manchester United as long as the terms are right.”

Leny Yoro appears to be a natural long-term heir once Maguire moves on. However, there is still a collective realization that further defensive reinforcements are needed to ensure the Red Devils can challenge for major silverware under Amorim.

Man Utd now eyeing "world class" Brazilian youngster who wants to be the next Casemiro

The Red Devils want to add midfield quality in 2026.

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 24, 2025

January promises to be another significant milestone during his reign, and new blood will be imperative if aspirations of qualifying for continental football is something that is on their agenda.

With that in mind, Amorim may now have turned his attention towards a star who could solve one of his key concerns at Old Trafford.

Man Utd could kickstart January transfer spree with Ousmane Diomande

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are keen to land Sporting star Ousmane Diomande, who has a release clause deemed to be in the region of just under £70 million.

Nevertheless, there is belief that he could be attainable at the £43.6 million mark, and Amorim views the Ivorian, previously labelled “assured” by Goncalo Tristao Santos, as someone who could fit perfectly into his complex tactical set-up.

Intruigingly, the youngster profiles as the next Thiago Silva from a statistical standpoint, ranking similarly to the PSG and Chelsea legend in goal threat, passing ability and aerial prowess.

Most similar players to Ousmane Diomande – (FBRef)

Thiago Silva

Fluminense

Sergio Ramos

Monterrey

Nehuen Perez

Porto

Jeison Palacios

Nashville

German Pezzella

River Plate

Athletic Club midfielder Oihan Sancet has also been budgeted for in what could be a combined spend on both players of almost £105 million. However, Diomande would be an impressive arrival due to his ability to play out from the back and willingness to take on responsibility.

Making four appearances acros all competitions this season, the 21-year-old is currently suffering from a muscle injury, though it is believed that his relationship with Amorim could see a swift transition into starting matches at Old Trafford.

The mid-season window is nearing and Manchester United appear to be preparing their strategy in plenty time, which will delight supporter as they aim to keep pace with the Premier League’s big-hitters.

Would it be hyperbole to suggest that Kobbie Mainoo provided the best, or most significant, moment at Manchester United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era?

Faced with an imperious Manchester City side in the 2024 FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag’s men defied the odds to claim a richly deserved 2-1 win, a year on from having tamely been defeated by their neighbours en route to treble glory.

Alejandro Garnacho had pounced early on to open the scoring, before fellow academy graduate Mainoo popped up at the backpost to add a second, slotting home perfectly following Bruno Fernandes’ ingenious reverse pass.

The then-teenager, like the thousands decked out in red at Wembley, roared in celebration, revelling in the crowing moment of a stunning, six-month rise from relative obscurity.

The Old Trafford faithful have been wedded to United’s golden boy since then, although there has been no such warmth from new boss Ruben Amorim.

What Amorim said about Mainoo after West Ham

From the highs of that Wembley showpiece, and his subsequent role in England’s run to the final at Euro 2024, Mainoo’s impact has plummeted since then, having hardly had a look-in following an injury-hit start to 2024/25.

Seemingly fighting a losing battle from the off following Amorim’s arrival in November 2024 – having failed to start the Portuguese’s first game in charge against Ipswich Town – the Stockport native has drifted onto the periphery, with 2025/26 proving particularly frustrating thus far.

The forgotten man, Mainoo is yet to start a single Premier League game this season, playing just 171 minutes in all, having been an unused substitute for the fourth time against West Ham United in midweek.

Speaking after that dismal 1-1 draw, Amorim went on the defensive regarding his treatment of the youngster, while laughing off suggestions that the midfielder could have been an “offensive” alteration.

Asked if he understood why Mainoo’s status as a homegrown talent made him such a talking point for fans and pundits alike, the 40-year-old replied:

Mainoo, unsurprisingly, is seeking a January exit amid his bizarre fall from grace, although he surely isn’t the midfielder INEOS should be looking to move on.

Man Utd must sell flop who's getting the Mainoo treatement

Perhaps the biggest source of frustration regarding Mainoo’s situation is that Amorim isn’t exactly blessed with regard to midfield depth, with his current squad boasting just four recognised, senior midfielders to choose from.

For much of 2025/26, the ex-Sporting CP boss has selected ever-present skipper, Fernandes, alongside the ageing Casemiro, with both Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte limited to mere late cameos off the bench.

Like the FA Cup final hero, Ugarte has also become a notable talking point amid his limited role under Amorim, despite having previously worked with the 3-4-2-1 boss in Lisbon.

Indeed, it was reported last month that the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man had been criticised by his manager in front of teammates at Carrington, following the Europa League final defeat.

Like Mainoo, who enjoyed just a mere last-gasp cameo in Bilbao, Ugarte was also something of an afterthought even as United toiled, having failed to even make it off the bench on the night.

Games

9

10

Starts

0

2

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Big chances created

0

0

Key passes*

0.6

0.1

Pass accuracy*

87%

86%

Total duels won*

36%

60%

Balls recovered*

1.1

2.0

Dribbled past*

0.1

0.4

Much like Mainoo too, the Uruguayan has been forced to settle for a watching brief for much of this season, starting just twice in the top-flight, while notably being hooked at the break following an “embarrassing” display against Grimsby Town, in the view of writer Alex Turk.

Of course, there isn’t the groundswell of support for Ugarte like there is for his midfield colleague, with the decision to fork out almost £50m on the 24-year-old standing out as one of the worst decisions of recent years at Old Trafford.

Whether the £120k-per-week talent, again like Mainoo, is being helped by his manager is another matter, however, with Amorim hardly backing his man after revealing that Ugarte is “struggling” to adjust to life in the Premier League.

Either way, if it comes down to choosing between which peripheral midfielder needs to be shown the door, it should surely be Ugarte whom INEOS cash in on, with the safe and steady asset doing little to warrant a third-season stay in Manchester.

Cunha 2.0: INEOS to fast-track Man Utd bid for 'best winger in England'

Manchester United look set to make a huge move for one player in the upcoming January window.

ByEthan Lamb Dec 5, 2025

Arsenal beat German champions Bayern Munich 3-1 on a night to remember in Europe, and one Gunners star absolutely stole the show with his performance.

Mikel Arteta’s side were handed one of their toughest tests on paper tonight against a Bayern side who are still unbeaten in the Bundesliga and one of the favourites to win the Champions League, but they were no match for the Premier League frontrunners in north London.

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich – best performers

Match Rating

Jurrien Timber

7.7

Bukayo Saka

7.4

Riccardo Calafiori

7.4

Lennart Karl

7.4

Declan Rice

7.3

via WhoScored

Bayern had also won all but one of their matches in all competitions this season heading into their trip to the Emirates, with Arsenal handing Vincent Kompany’s side their first defeat of 2025/2026.

Second-half goals from Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli ended up firing Arsenal to victory in their heavyweight clash. Madueke, back after two months out with a knee injury, scored his first Gunners goal before fellow sub Martinelli pounced on a mistake from Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer to stretch Arsenal’s perfect record in the competition to five victories from five matches.

Earlier, Jurrien Timber had headed Arsenal into the lead and, with former Tottenham striker Harry Kane unable to add to the six goals he has scored at the Emirates, it was left to Bayern’s 17-year-old star Lennart Karl to grab the first goal Arsenal have conceded in the competition this season.

This glamour tie was arguably the least important of Premier League leaders Arsenal’s three matches this week, sandwiched between the 4-1 derby demolition of Spurs and Sunday’s trip to second-placed Chelsea.

Nevertheless, it is still one to revel in, and the result perhaps hands Arsenal the status of Europe’s best team right now.

While Timber, Madueke and Martinelli were the heroes on paper, it was a complete midfield performance by club-record signing Declan Rice, who absolutely bossed proceedings in the middle of the park with one of his best ever displays in red and white.

Ally McCoist hails 'out of this world' Declan Rice in Arsenal win

Covering the game for TNT Sports, commentator Ally McCoist repeatedly waxed lyrical about the England international — branding him Man of the Match for his “first class” outing against the Bavarians.

Rice was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet as well on 60 minutes, with the former West Ham captain storming down the left only for veteran keeper Manuel Neuer to deny him just reward for his imperious showing.

McCoist called Rice “magnificent” and “out of this world” for the run, which just about summed up what was a possessed performance from one of Arsenal’s leaders.

Tonight was a massive statement from Arsenal, who not only showed they can cut it against Europe’s toughest opponents, but also sent a very clear message that they’ve got absolutely zero intention of letting up.

Next up, a fierce London derby awaits against Chelsea this weekend — a match which could send Arteta’s side nine points clear at the top of the table and cement their status as overwhelming title favourites.

Rice will be a massive part of that, and tonight shows just how vital he is in Arteta’s quest to end the club’s 22-year wait for a Premier League trophy.

This weekend is arguably the biggest in Thomas Frank’s tenure as Tottenham Hotspur manager, when he leads his side out against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

The Dane has yet to get his first taste of the North London Derby, but he will be looking to get one over Mikel Arteta and secure bragging rights for the Lilywhites faithful.

Such a fixture is huge for supporters, with the meeting between the two clubs one of the first dates they look for upon fixture release day, before a ball is kicked.

However, it’s been a game that the white side of North London have often come out on the losing side away from home – subsequently winning just one of their last 32 encounters.

If Frank’s side are to write themselves into the history books, they will desperately need to keep one player quiet throughout the clash at the Emirates.

The threat Bukayo Saka poses to Spurs this weekend

Bukayo Saka may ply his trade for Arsenal, but he’s cemented himself as one of the Premier League’s most threatening attackers over the last couple of years.

The Englishman has managed to register over 20 combined goals and assists in all competitions in each of the last three years – often providing the difference in such a fixture.

He’s often popped up with the goods in attacking areas, as seen by his record against the Lilywhites since his senior debut back in the 2020/21 campaign.

Saka has featured on ten occasions against Spurs throughout his professional career, racking up a total of five goals – subsequently finding the net in 50% of his outings in such a clash.

He’s also popped up with various assists in the North London Derby, with his corner to Gabriel securing the Gunners all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last campaign.

It’s evident that the winger possesses serious quality, often coming alive on Derby Day, with Frank and his squad desperately needing to silence him on Sunday afternoon.

However, he too could unleash his own version of the Englishman at the Emirates, with the Lilywhites star potentially able to inflict serious trouble on Arteta’s men.

The Spurs star who’s becoming their answer to Saka

Players such as Saka don’t come around very often, and when they do, they cost a pretty penny – many of which undoubtedly cost a small fortune in the modern-day.

Whilst Spurs are unlikely to pay over the odds for top-level talents, they have invested heavily into the frontline over recent years – as seen by their deal to land Brennan Johnson.

The hierarchy forked out a reported £47.5m for the Welshman’s signature back in the summer of 2023, with the attacker showcasing his talents in North London last campaign.

He registered a total of 18 goals across all competitions last season, the highest of any player in the squad, often starring off the right-hand side of the club’s attack.

However, he’s fallen down the pecking order in recent months, which has resulted in various options being considered within the forward line in the capital.

Mathys Tel joined the Lilywhites on a permanent basis during the summer window, with the Frenchman costing a total of £27m from German side Bayern Munich.

The 20-year-old is capable of operating off the left-hand side or even as a centre-forward, with Frank able to rely upon the youngster in a variety of different positions.

When operating on the left, he’s able to cut inside and onto his favoured foot – something which Saka has made a name for himself for in England’s top-flight.

His similarities to the Englishman are also reflected in his shot on target accuracy, with Tel matching the winger with his tally of placing 33% of his efforts between the posts.

The Frenchman has previously impressed in his professional career, but has transferred his skills over to the Premier League, as seen by his tally of two goals in the league this season.

Games played

8

Goals scored

2

Shot on target accuracy

33%

Pass accuracy

73%

Dribble success

50%

Long ball success

83%

Aerials won

1.2

Mins per goal

124.5

Tel’s efforts in attacking areas have led to huge praise from numerous outlets, with Bayern Chairman Herbert Hainer labelling him “one of the biggest talents in Europe”.

However, he will need consistent first-team minutes to reach the heights many have touted him to, with Frank needing to trust him in the near future to reap the rewards.

He’s shown that he’s capable of producing the goods in attacking areas, potentially able to provide the difference in the clash against the Gunners on Sunday.

Tel has proven he’s able to be the club’s answer to Saka, but it remains to be seen if the manager will show faith in him to allow the youngster to continue on his upward trajectory.

Spurs must sell "one of the worst signings in PL history" to fund Semenyo

Tottenham Hotspur must sell one player if they are to land Antoine Semenyo in January.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 20, 2025

Caleb Jewell passes 1,000 runs for the season but is only wicket to fall in Derbyshire second innings

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay10-Sep-2025

Caleb Jewell reached 1,000 County Championship runs for the season on a rain-ravaged third day of Derbyshire’s clash with hosts Middlesex at Lord’s.Only 10 overs were possible, but it proved sufficient time for the Tasmanian left-hander to reach the landmark with a glance tickled to the fine-leg fence.The 28-year-old, who reached his 1,000 in what was his 22nd innings for the county, also became the only wicket to fall, as Derbyshire closed on 33 for 1, bowled by a beauty from Ryan Higgins which flattened the off stump.The further frustration for Jewell was he hadn’t reached the pavilion steps before the second rain interruption of the morning drove the players off for an early lunch.Only three more overs were bowled, during which Luis Reece survived two huge lbw shouts from Toby Roland-Jones before rain prevented any further play.Both sides are desperate for a win to keep any pressure on second placed Glamorgan in the Division Two promotion race, but it will take creative collaboration between the respective captains to contrive a positive result on the final day.

We’ve got a full day of MLB on the slate, and there are plenty of ways to get in on the action. Today, I am zeroing in on two matchups: the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Milwaukee Brewers and the Hosuton Astros at the Tampa Bay Rays.  

All bets listed below present good value and can be found at DraftKings.

Let’s get to it! 

MLB Best Bets Today for Wednesday, Aug. 14

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers Predictions and Best Bets

Dodgers at Brewers over nine runs (-105)

Milwaukee Brewers ML (+100)

I’ll be backing the home dogs tonight in Milwaukee. 

Walker Buehler has not pitched since June 18 and is returning from the injured list after dealing with hip inflammation. 

Before landing on the IL, Walker had a rough start to the season with a 5.84 ERA. Buehler has not looked the same since returning from his second Tommy John surgery, and though he is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA vs. the Brewers in his career, I’m throwing that out the window.  Milwaukee has scored three or fewer in its past four games after a four-game stretch in which it scored 42 runs.

The Brewers are due for some positive regression at home tonight in this matchup.

Yes, the Dodgers have the best record in baseball, and they have won four of the five matchups with the Brewers this season. However, the Brewers’ +98 run differential is not far behind the Dodgers’ +105, and they have a 33-24 home record.

This could turn into a slugfest, with Frankie Montas having an 8.50 ERA in four starts since the All-Star Break.

The Brewers have scored 5.91 runs per game in August, while the Dodgers have scored 5.27.  The Brewers have the better bullpen, so we will root for the Brewers to win by a run in a high-scoring affair. 

Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays Predictions and Best Bets

Both Teams to score 2+ runs in the First Five Innings (+160)

The Astros will be looking to win their eighth consecutive game tonight at Tropicana Field.  

Ronel Blanco will start for Houston, and though he began the season as Houston’s ace, he has started to show some signs of fatigue.  

Since the All-Star Break, Blanco has had an ERA of 5.68 compared to his 2.68 ERA before the All-Star Break.  His 3.59 walks per nine innings are the fifth-most among qualified starters this season, and his 1.34 home runs per nine rank 15th.  

Last week, in his start vs. the Rays, he allowed two earned runs before getting into trouble and exiting early.   

When Blanco does get into trouble, it's usually in the first or fifth inning. Blanco has an ERA of 4.09 in the first inning and an ERA of 4.74 in the fifth. 

The Rays will start Zack Littell at home tonight. Though Littell held the Astros to one run through six innings last week, I don’t expect the same tonight.   

Littell’s home run numbers are even higher than Blanco’s. He has allowed the 11th-most home runs per nine this season, and both Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez have been hot in August.  

Bregman has hit a home run in four consecutive games and will be looking to make it five tonight. Alvarez and Bregman are the reigning co-players of the Week in the AL and have scored 22 combined runs in the first eleven games of August. 

The Astros are averaging 2.48 runs per game in the first five this season, while the Rays are averaging 2.01.  The game total is set at eight today, and both bullpens have been excellent to start August with a combined ERA of just 2.00.   I see both teams scoring a couple early if we are getting close to eight. 

That’s enough to have me taking a chance on this plus money payout. 

MatériaMais Notícias

A comissão técnica de Mano Menezes no Corinthians está completa. Neste domingo (1), o clube anunciou a chegada do preparador físico Diogo Linhares. Ele se junta aos auxiliares Cauan de Almeida e Sidnei Lobo, que comandou o Corinthians na derrota para o São Paulo pois Mano cumpria suspensão automática.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol InternacionalJornal espanhol põe Moscardo na capa e cita contato do Barcelona com CorinthiansFutebol Internacional01/10/2023CorinthiansCorinthians espera avaliar Matías Rojas em treinamento e ter o jogador contra o FortalezaCorinthians01/10/2023CorinthiansGil diz que o Corinthians precisa colocar a cabeça no lugar antes de ‘decisão’ contra o FortalezaCorinthians30/09/2023

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

Diogo estava no Kashiwa Reysol, do Japão, e soma passagens pelas categorias de base da Seleção Brasileira, pela Seleção da Arábia Saudita, além de clubes brasileiros como Flamengo e Sport.

A comissão técnica corintiana ainda conta com A comissão também conta Fernando Lázaro e Mauro da Silva, auxiliares fixos do Corinthians.

O elenco alvinegro se reapresentou no CT Joaquim Grava neste domingo (1), iniciando a preparação para o duelo contra o Fortaleza, pelo jogo de volta da semifinal da Copa Sul-Americana. Os atletas que atuaram mais 45 minutos no Majestoso fizeram um trabalho regenerativo na parte interna do CT.

continua após a publicidade

Assim, Mano Menezes chamou 11 jogadores das categorias de base para completarem as atividades em campo: os goleiros Cadu (2005) e Kauê (2004); os zagueiros João Pedro (2003); Renato (2004) e Thierry (2005); o lateral Vitor Meer (2004); o volante Thomas Rafael (2005); os meias Breno Bidon (2005) e Pedrinho (2004); e os atacantes Arthur Sousa (2003) e Kayke (2004).

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

O técnico Mano e sua comissão comandaram um trabalho de posse e marcação pressão em espaço reduzido. O treinador também orientou um treinamento tático.

continua após a publicidade