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The Guardians, despite their perennially small payroll, are a team that deals in outsized superlatives—the longest World Series drought, the longest no-hitter drought, and the largest in-season comeback in baseball history.

Despite accomplishing the last of those feats this season, Cleveland's 6–3 loss in Game 3 of its wild-card series against the Tigers Thursday ensured the first will continue. The Guardians had a runner on third in the ninth inning of Game 1 trailing by one run and won Game 2—only for the wheels to come off in a Game 3 that laid out the team's litany of flaws.

When the dust settles, Cleveland—rudderless and sub-.500 in early July—can reminisce fondly on essentially stealing a quality year as it phases in a new generation of talent. Here's a look at the problems that cost the Guardians against Detroit and the lessons the losing team can draw from them.

1. An already threadbare offense disappeared

The number ".226" followed Cleveland around like a specter during its short playoff stint—that was the team's batting average this year, the worst in the franchise's long history. The Guardians' .296 on-base percentage was a 53-year low; their .373 slugging percentage was a low for any full season this century. Even in September and October, the team hit just .242.

Lazy an observation as it may be, it is almost impossible to hit as poorly as Cleveland did all year and do protracted damage in the playoffs—even with a pitching staff as effective as the Guardians'. Thus, a one-run lead for the Tigers in Game 1 became insurmountable, and only a big eighth inning could save Cleveland in Game 2.

The Guardians, zealous platoon advocates, gave a glut of at-bats early on to some of their worst hitters: right fielder Johnathan Rodriguez (.197), first baseman Jhonkensy Noel (.162), and catcher Austin Hedges (.161) took seven at-bats combined (Hedges drew two walks in Game 1). When they rolled the dice on young talents such as right fielder George Valera and center fielder Chase DeLauter from Game 2 onward, the offense seemed to receive a modest jolt—perhaps a preview of coming attractions for 2026.

2. Small mistakes proved costly

Cleveland's defense-and-fundamentals-first approach—while undeniably entertaining to watch—had the adverse effect of shrinking the Guardians' margin of error to near zero. The trouble began for Cleveland in the first inning of Game 1, when Rodriguez misplayed a fly ball that opened the door for Detroit to score the first run of the series. Noel, too, made a costly error while playing out of his natural position (though manager Stephen Vogt correctly gave him credit for ensuring the play didn't go even more haywire).

Even third baseman José Ramírez—the Guardians' nerve center for over a decade now and a future first-ballot Hall of Famer—wasn't immune to the blunders Cleveland so carefully avoided late in the season. He ran into a crucial out in the ninth inning of Game 1, and in Game 3 appeared to slow up running to second base after a Tigers error—only for pitcher Will Vest to throw him out and extinguish the Guardians' last significant threat.

3. The Tigers beat them at their own game

On Sept. 23, Cleveland beat Detroit during its furious push for the division title with the help of a classic display of small ball. The Guardians stitched together two bunts, an infield hit, a wild pitch, a balk and a groundout to scrounge out three of their five runs in a 5–2 victory. It was part of a streak where every break in the American League seemed to be vacuumed into a black hole on the shores of Lake Erie.

As it turns out, the Tigers—a team, as ESPN announcers Sean McDonough and Todd Frazier pointed out, had five sacrifice hits —are quick learners. Detroit turned that formula back on Cleveland on multiple occasions this series, taking the lead in Game 1 on a well-placed bunt by third baseman Zach McKinstry (dubbed the "Zachrifice" by the Tigers' X account). Center fielder Parker Meadows, too, chipped in with a critical bunt in Game 3. The moral of this story for the Guardians may be the sheer fungibility of their luck-centric approach over the long term—but Cleveland fans can take heart in the knowledge that their front office's eagerness to control every variable has kept the Guardians one of baseball's most vital organizations for a decade and counting.

Cummins is the fifth-fastest to 300 Test wickets in terms of balls bowled, reaching the milestone in 13,725 balls

Shubh Agarwal12-Jun-20251:53

‘Once the ball gets older, Cummins puts his hand up’

Pat Cummins has reached the milestone of 300 Test wickets, claiming his 14th five-wicket haul during the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s. Picking five of the six South African wickets to fall on day two, Cummins finished with figures of 6 for 28 in 18.1 overs.Six wickets short at the start of the Test, he has now become the 40th bowler to reach the landmark and the eighth for Australia. Among pacers, he is the 30th to enter this club and the sixth for Australia.Cummins is the fifth-fastest to reach there in terms of balls bowled, completing 300 wickets in 13,725 balls, beating Malcolm Marshall by three deliveries. His bowling strike rate of 45.75 is the best for an Australian seamer.He also levelled with Imran Khan to become the joint-tenth-fastest to complete 300 wickets, reaching there in 68 Test matches.Cummins has picked up 136 wickets as the captain of his side. Among pace-bowling captains, only Imran has picked up more wickets (187). Among Australian captains, only Richie Benaud is ahead by a slender margin of two wickets. Overall, only ten bowlers have picked up over 100 Test wickets while being the captain of their side.Cummins has been among Australia’s greatest match-winners with the ball in this format. Overall, 184 of his Test wickets before this WTC final came in wins. The likes of Jason Gillespie, Mitchell Johnson, Dennis Lillee, Brett Lee, Mitchell Starc and Glenn McGrath are ahead but no one has a better average than Cummins’ 18.09, which is bound to improve further if Australia win the WTC final to claim their second successive title.Also, he is only the second Australian to claim over 200 wickets in the WTC, and the only quick bowler in the list with 206 wickets at 22.11 runs apiece.Cummins has mostly been a first-change bowler for Australia, coming in after the new ball bowlers in 48 of the 126 innings in which he has bowled in Test cricket. He is the only Australia quick with more than 100 wickets as a first-change bowler, with Peter Siddle behind him with 87 wickets on this metric. Among those who have over 50 wickets as the first-change bowler, only Scott Boland (52 wickets) has a better average than that of Cummins (Boland 15.75, Cummins 24.50).Overall, only four quick bowler have more than 100 Test wickets as first-change bowler – Courtney Walsh (106), Cummins (107), Morne Morkel (129) and Ian Botham (129).Cummins made his Test debut in 2011. However, after one Test – where he was the Player of the Match against South Africa – he was sidelined for six years owing to recurring injuries, and made a return in 2017 when he played his second Test. England’s Joe Root has been the highest run-scorer during Cummins’ career since November 2011, scoring 13,006 runs in this period.Cummins has dismissed Root 11 times, the most time he has dismissed a single batter in Test cricket, followed by Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma (eight times each).He also holds the record for the best bowling average for an Australia fast bowler in a calendar year with more than 50 wickets. He averaged 20.13 for his 59 wickets in 2019, bettering Lillee’s feat in 1981 – 85 wickets at 20.95.

A shocking stat has suggested that Chelsea have no chance of beating Arsenal in the Premier League title showdown. The Blues arrive at the Emirates on Sunday with an opportunity to cut Arsenal’s lead at the Premier League summit, but history and numbers paint a grim picture for Enzo Maresca’s resurgent side, who have only beaten their rivals once in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge in the last seven years.

• A high-stakes London derby framed by bleak statistics

  The Blues have climbed into second place after stitching together three consecutive league wins, yet they remain six points behind a near-faultless Arsenal team who have dropped points only twice all season. Mikel Arteta’s side have recorded 14 victories and two draws in their last 16 matches, a run of form that would intimidate anyone, let alone a Chelsea team seeking only their second win over Arsenal in seven years at Stamford Bridge. However, one headline stat is damning as Chelsea have won just one of their last 11 Premier League meetings with Arsenal. For a fixture that once swung like a pendulum, the balance has tipped dramatically in one direction and refuses to budge back.

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  The derby dominance that should terrify Chelsea

  Arsenal’s record in London derbies under Arteta has reached staggering levels. Since the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign, they have lost only three derbies in the league, and just one away from home, at Fulham nearly two years ago. They have swept all four derby fixtures this season, including last weekend’s dismantling of Tottenham. This will be the fifth time Arsenal have faced Chelsea while sitting top of the table. The Gunners won the previous four in 2003, 2004, 2007 and most recently in the 5-0 demolition at Stamford Bridge in April 2024. Hence, the trend is unmistakable. Chelsea once made the Bridge a nightmare for Arsenal, beating them six times in seven visits between 2013 and 2018. But Marcos Alonso’s winner in 2018 marks the last time the Blues claimed three points at home against their London rivals. Since then, Arsenal have built a remarkable unbeaten run of six league games at Stamford Bridge, three wins and three draws. For a side looking to mount a title challenge, Chelsea must shatter a curse that has hardened over nearly a decade.

• Arteta praises Chelsea, but refuses to declare them contenders

  Arteta suffered his first defeat as Arsenal manager against Chelsea in December 2019, just days into the job. Since then, he has turned the London rivalry on its head. He has won seven of the last 11 meetings, boasting a 58.3 per cent win rate that stands behind only Pep Guardiola and Kenny Dalglish among managers who have faced Chelsea at least ten times.

  Asked whether Chelsea deserve to be considered genuine title rivals, Arteta chose diplomacy over provocation.

  The Spanish manager said: "I think we are all there, and they are there because they fully deserve what they have done in the last few years. I think the squad that they assembled, the numbers that they have, the quality that they have, the number of coaches they have it makes sense that what is happening there is very, very positive and they deserve to be there."

  When asked if he still views Chelsea as the league's best attacking force, he replied: "They were [the best last season], the sample now this season is early, so it's difficult to say. But it is one of the teams that I enjoy the most watching and they have a lot of fluidity, they have a lot of threat, they have a lot of individual talent, they are very clear what they want to do and that's why they are very tough."

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  Arsenal’s star men carry a psychological edge

  Chelsea supporters may cling to hope that Martin Odegaard, the man who has tormented them more than any other, misses out through injury on Sunday. The Norwegian has seven goal contributions in eight league matches against Chelsea and, remarkably, has never lost a Premier League game to them. Gabriel Magalhães shares that unbeaten streak, and only Patrick Vieira, who faced Chelsea ten times without defeat, boasts a longer run in the division. Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard remains another Arsenal weapon sharpened specifically for this fixture. The Belgian has scored four Premier League goals against Chelsea, and another on Sunday would make him only the fifth Belgian to reach 50 goals in the competition. 

The teams are better prepared and the gap between them has shrunk considerably

S Sudarshanan29-Sep-20253:00

Is this India’s best chance to win a World Cup?

Big picture: More ODIs, better clarity

On the eve of the tournament opener, the contrasts were subtle but telling in Guwahati. India’s training session was light, confident and precise. Avishkar Salvi, India’s bowling coach, tried Rana’s offspin grip before she showed him how it’s done. Kranti Goud charged in with rhythm and responded to match-specific challenges. It was a sight of a team that looked settled.Earlier in the afternoon, Sri Lanka had gone through a more muted, methodical session. They started with catching drills before quickly shifting to the nets. It was not all work and no play, though. Left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera teased the young seamer Malki Madara about getting Hasini Perera lbw, and Sugandika Kumari joked with fellow offspinner Dewmi Vihanga about why her grip was better.Two teams, two different rhythms. But the bigger picture was clear: this World Cup doesn’t begin with undercooked sides trying to find cohesion. This begins with teams well-prepared and clear on goals.Related

• World Cup offers an air of freshness to sombre Guwahati

• Athapaththu alone at the top as she carries Sri Lanka above her

• World Cup to World Cup, 2013 to 2025: The story of a revolution

• Harmanpreet: 'This time we will cross the line'

• This World Cup promises to take women's cricket to brand-new heights

Since the 2022 edition – which saw pandemic-hit schedules and limited preparation in the lead-up – the change has been striking. Sri Lanka, who didn’t qualify then and hadn’t played an ODI in three years, arrive with 31 games under their belt. India have been the busiest, having played 38 since the last edition, including 14 this year.”We’ve played more ODI cricket after the last T20 World Cup,” India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said. “We have won most of the games. That has definitely given us a lot of confidence to do well in ODI cricket. We now have a lot of experience. This group has played together for so many years. There is a lot more clarity.”And that clarity is evident – not just in numbers, but in body language, in banter, in how batters walk into the nets, and bowlers finish their spells. This World Cup picks up where the teams left off, with momentum already building.

Form guide

India LWLWL
Sri Lanka LLWWL3:45

Athapaththu: ‘Would like to see an Asian team lift the trophy’

In the spotlight: Jemimah Rodrigues and Udeshika Prabodhani

She has already played 51 ODIs, but the match against Sri Lanka will be Jemimah Rodrigues’ maiden appearance in a 50-over World Cup. A natural top-order batter, she has slotted seamlessly into India’s middle order. Rodrigues scored her first ODI hundred earlier this year and showcased her finishing ability during India’s last two series – the tri-series in Sri Lanka involving South Africa, and the tour of England. With the pitch at the ACA Stadium expected to be flat, Rodrigues will aim to make her World Cup debut a memorable one.Veteran left-arm seamer Udeshika Prabodhani will be key for Sri Lanka with the new ball. Her ability to swing the ball and maintain control during the field restrictions has been invaluable. She could pose a challenge to India’s right-hand opener Pratika Rawal with her inswingers. However, match rustiness could be a factor – Prabodhani last played international cricket at the 2024 T20 World Cup, and hasn’t featured in an ODI since August 2024. But if her performance in the last warm-up game is any indication – 2 for 26 from six overs, including two maidens – Sri Lanka have little to worry about.

Team news: Amanjot could return

Harmanpreet confirmed that the entire squad is fit, which could pave the way for Amanjot Kaur’s return to the XI after recovering from a back injury. That would likely mean only one of Sneh Rana or Radha Yadav makes the final cut. While Amanjot did not bowl in either of the warm-up games, on the eve of the match, she bowled a short spell and then spent some time batting in the nets.India (probable): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Pratika Rawal, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Jemimah Rodrigues, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Deepti Sharma, 8 Amanjot Kaur/Radha Yadav, 9 Sneh Rana, 10 Kranti Goud, 11 Renuka SinghBased on the two warm-up matches, Sri Lanka are expected to have Hasini Perera opening with Chamari Athapaththu. Vishmi Gunaratne, usually an opener, is likely to bat at No. 4. With Prabodhani back, only one of Achini Kulasuriya and Madara will play.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Hasini Perera, 2 Chamari Athapaththu (capt), 3 Harshitha Samarawickrama, 4 Vishmi Gunaratne, 5 Kavisha Dilhari, 6 Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), 7 Nilakshika Silva, 8 Sugandika Kumari, 9 Inoka Ranaweera, 10 Malki Madara/Achini Kulasuriya, 11 Udeshika Prabodhani2:06

Harmanpreet: ‘No pressure at all’ playing World Cup at home

Pitch and conditions

On Monday, after a spell of slightly cooler weather, the evening in Guwahati turned noticeably muggier. Around the start of play, temperatures are expected to hover in the low 30°C, though it may feel hotter under the afternoon sun. The centre pitch will be used, which has minimal grass.

Stats and trivia

• The ACA Stadium will become the 55th venue in India to stage a women’s ODI.
• Kavisha Dilhari’s 26 wickets are the most for Sri Lanka in ODIs since the 2022 World Cup. Three Indians have surpassed that mark in the same period – Deepti Sharma (59), Renuka Singh (35) and Sneh Rana (27).
• For the first time since 2016, Athapaththu is not Sri Lanka’s leading ODI run-getter in a calendar year. Harshitha Samarawickrama leads the pack with 336 runs, with Athapaththu fifth on the list.
• Smriti Mandhana’s 2100 runs are the most by any batter since the last ODI World Cup. The next best is Laura Wolvaardt with 1736.
• One of India’s three ODI defeats to Sri Lanka came earlier this year.

Quote

“No doubt it’s a quite new venue for us. But in India, many stadiums have a very similar feel, similar pitches, and we have played a lot of cricket in India. So we are taking it as an opportunity.”
“Udeshika is our strike bowler, she is the most senior player in my team. If I have to take a decision, sometimes I go to her for an opinion, and she helps me out. That is the [equation] we have. It’s a big privilege for me to play with her.”

Fran Jonas is a notable omission from the squad which will lean heavily on the experience of Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Sep-2025Allrounder Flora Devonshire, who is uncapped at ODI level, has been included in New Zealand’s squad for the upcoming women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.Polly Inglis, Bella James and Bree Illing, who have just eight ODIs between them, have also been included for their first World Cup campaigns.Devonshire, a 22-year-old left-arm spinner, made her T20I debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year and was part of the New Zealand A tour of England in June and July. Her inclusion in the 15-player squad meant that fellow left-arm spinner Fran Jonas, who has 26 ODIs to her name, was a notable omission.Related

• Sri Lanka select Prabodhani, Dulani for Women's World Cup

• Devine to retire from ODIs after the World Cup

• Bree Illing and Bella James earn maiden New Zealand contracts

• New Zealand Women begin World Cup prep with Chennai camp

“It’s never easy when you have multiple players pushing for the same spot and that of course made for some tough selection calls,” head coach Ben Sawyer said. “Having to leave out the likes of Fran in favour of Flora was a tough decision. We know Fran is a quality player and at 21 we believe she still has her best years in front of her.”Left-arm seamer Illing took four wickets in her first ODI series against Sri Lanka, while James made her ODI debut against Australia late last year. Inglis, who hit an unbeaten 34 off 21 balls in her second outing against Sri Lanka in March, will also provide wicketkeeping back-up to first-choice Izzy Gaze.”I’d like to especially acknowledge the four players set for their first World Cup – they’ve all earned this opportunity and I’m excited to see what impact they can have on the tournament,” Sawyer said. “I’m really pleased with the balance of the squad. I think we’ve got the right mix to tackle what we’ll come up against in terms of conditions and opposition.””Bree puts batters under pressure early with her swing and has great ability with the new ball. Her and Flora have both shown they can consistently bring the stumps into play, which will be effective in the conditions we’re going to face.”Flora’s got an attacking mind and skillset with the bat, which is valuable down the order. Bella’s a versatile batter who can hit 360 degrees around the ground and can bat in most places in the line up.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“Polly gives us another option with the gloves within the squad, and she possesses great grit and determination, which are qualities that will be important in trying conditions.”The experienced core of the squad includes captain Sophie Devine, who will retire from ODI cricket after the World Cup, Suzie Bates, Lea Tahuhu, Maddy Green and Amelia Kerr.”I can honestly say that in the four world events I’ve been part of with this group, we are the best prepared we’ve ever been,” Sawyer said. “Having no international cricket in our calendar since April has given us the ability to work really hard on our physical skills in particular, which is something that could be the difference in India.”The squad leaves for the UAE on September 13 for a pre-tournament camp, which includes two warm-up matches against England, before heading to India. Their opening World Cup match is against Australia on October 1 in Indore.

New Zealand for Women’s ODI World Cup

Sophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu

Yorkshire captain on fitness and longevity in the professional women’s game

Valkerie Baynes05-May-2025Fitness never fails to land as a touchy topic in sport.Charlotte Edwards doesn’t even like saying it anymore, instead referring to “the F-word” as new head coach of an England Women’s squad who found this side of their game called into question after repeated failures on the big stage.Lauren Winfield-Hill – a veteran of 104 England caps, most recently in 2022, and the picture of a professional athlete still going strong on the domestic circuit at the age of 34 – believes “sometimes you’ve got to be careful with your language of what is fitness in cricket”.”I think the biggest thing is the physicality and the athleticism,” she tells ESPNcricinfo. “Can you hold long spells as a bowler? Can you get up and down for twos as a batter? And how good’s your fielding; are you cutting twos, are you taking catches?”If that falls under the banner of fitness, Winfield-Hill says “yeah, there’s some big improvements to be made” in the England Women’s squad.”I sort of prefer the athleticism and the physicality piece,” she adds. “Sometimes we can get skewed with fitness: ‘Can you run for a long time? Do you look athletic?’ and all this sort of stuff and that’s irrelevant.”At the T20 World Cup in Dubai in October, two straightforward catches went down amid a rash of fielding errors as West Indies raced to a powerplay of 67 without loss in pursuit of 142. A further three catches went down and England found themselves scrambling in the field as their opponents romped to a six-wicket win with two overs to spare, knocking them out of the tournament at the group stage.”The fielding was poor at times, very, very poor, and the movement and the cutting twos and things like that,” Winfield-Hill says. “And that’s not a blanket thing for every single player. There’s some players that can certainly make strides in that area, there’s some players that are great athletes.Winfield-Hill hasn’t given up on her England ambitions but accepts her opportunities may be elsewhere•Getty Images”Across the board, I feel like the physical stuff, it’s almost like your commitment to everyone else. Batting and scoring runs, that piece is quite selfish, you can just look after yourself. Bowling is quite similar. But the fielding is the bit that you do for everyone else. If you are fielding a square leg for Lauren Bell, it’s not really for you, it’s for Lauren Bell. It’s captivating this bit where we’re all in and we’re willing to work really damn hard for each other and go through it a bit, get in there and get some tough sessions in, get down and dirty and show how much you’re willing to commit to each other.”Winfield-Hill points out that a relentless schedule, including ever-expanding franchise leagues which disperse players for extended periods of time, adds to the challenge, but says a willingness to work harder and commit to one another as team-mates is crucial.She is well-qualified to comment, based on her experience, longevity and performance.

The physical stuff, it’s almost like your commitment to everyone else. Batting and scoring runs, that piece is quite selfish. But the fielding is the bit that you do for everyone elseWinfield-Hill on the need for basic standards in the field

For two years running, in 2022 and 2023, she was the leading run-scorer in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy with 470 runs at 78.33 and 663 at 51.00. She is a gun fielder and handy wicketkeeper, having assumed the latter role throughout her four seasons in The Hundred to date.Plus, she looks like one of the fittest players in the country. But is it okay to say that?If so, why is it that when professional athletes are paid to engage in physical activity, there is a squeamishness about the word, fitness?Boiled down, a lack of fitness is often seen as a euphemism for being fat because no one calls anyone fat in the media any more, for good reason. It wasn’t so long ago that they did, with devastating consequences.At the premier of his Disney+ documentary last month, Andrew Flintoff spoke of how the media still hadn’t apologised for brutally fat-shaming him 25 years ago. In 2020, he revealed that the criticism had driven him to bulimia.That episode involved a cruel takedown of Flintoff’s physical appearance amid leaked information over his off-field behaviour when what he really needed was help.Winfield-Hill has a four-year deal with Yorkshire but sees no reason to retire when it expires•Royal LondonSo by the time Ollie Robinson was told privately and via the media that he needed to get fitter by Jon Lewis, the then England men’s bowling coach who would go on to become England Women’s head coach, during a dire Ashes campaign in 2021-22, was that a comment on his appearance, conduct or the fact he had broken down a number of times during the tour?When Alex Hartley, the former England spinner turned commentator first criticised the women’s team following their T20 World Cup exit she said: “I’m not going to name names, but if you look at them, you know. You know who’s blowing a gasket and who isn’t. About 80% of the England team are fit and athletic enough, but there are girls in that side who are letting the team down when it comes to fitness.”She then drew comparisons with the 15 or 16 “genuine athletes” in the Australia squad so the issue inevitably blew up again when England lost the Ashes 16-0.What it all comes down to is performance – players being able to execute the skills required to win games.Dane van Niekerk and Lizelle Lee would argue they didn’t get the chance to prove themselves in that respect at the end of their international careers. Van Niekerk never played for South Africa again after failing to run 2km in the prescribed time for selected for the T20 World Cup in 2023 and Lee retired from international cricket amid a dispute over a weigh-in the previous year.Cricket South Africa subsequently relaxed fitness requirements for men and women, allowing for more discretionary selection.For England, an increased focus on performance as a selection tool has begun with Edwards calling on all centrally contracted players to be available for the first seven rounds of the domestic 50-over competition.”I love that domestic cricket has been really valued,” Winfield-Hill says. “For a few years it’s sort of been like, ‘oh, don’t play if you don’t want to’, and volume of runs or wickets within the domestic structure is not really necessarily being considered.”Asking the players to play and to dominate and to perform because it’s an open forum and it’s a bit of a trial for everyone, it’s a great thing. You need players who are currently in possession to be kept on their toes and you’ll see who the best players in the country are. It is the performance world and it should be about who performs. It’s a stats driven game. You’re there to score runs and take wickets, and whoever’s doing that should have a good opportunity of wearing an English shirt… it is the fairest way to do it, and then there’s no questions about selections.”Again, the Australians are held up as an example.England’s players look on as Australia celebrate their Women’s Ashes whitewash•Getty Images”I hate banging on about the Aussies, I think our domestic structure is better,” says Winfield-Hill. “I feel like I’m a good judge because I’ve played in both countries for the last two years. Domestically we play a much larger volume of cricket and the only way you get good at cricket is by playing a lot of cricket.”But one thing they do do is they’re very rigid on their selections and if you absolutely don’t tear up domestic cricket and you’re not a good athlete and you’re not a good team person, you won’t be playing for Australia. It’s not just like, ‘oh, you’ve performed in domestic levels, so we’ll give you a go.’ It’s like, ‘no, you need to knock these people off their perch.’ I’d love to see that in England.”England hopefuls have no shortage of opportunities to show what they can do under the new county-based domestic structure.Edwards has frequented the grounds throughout the opening rounds of the Metro Bank One Day Cup, where Winfield-Hill captains Yorkshire in Tier 2.The Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup also gets underway on Monday, featuring teams from all three tiers of domestic cricket in a knockout competition over the next three weeks.Related

• 'I can't change my body structure. Everybody is not going to be slim'

• Charlotte Edwards banishes 'F-word' in bid to turn England's image around

• Lauren Winfield-Hill joins Essex on loan from Yorkshire for Blast

• Andrew Flintoff: Cricket 'saved me' after Top Gear crash

Winfield-Hill hasn’t retired from international cricket. But while she has agreed a loan deal to play for Tier 1 team Essex in the T20 blast starting later this month, she says that while her best playing years lay ahead, “I just don’t necessarily realistically think that’s in an England shirt”.The move to Essex seems more about testing herself by playing at the highest level possible which, with her 35th birthday approaching in August, should stand as an inspiration for players younger and older.”I’ve obviously got a four-year contract at Yorkshire and I’m like, I don’t have to retire in four years,” she says. “Touch wood, I feel like I’m somebody that physically looks after myself, but I am looking around at Faf du Plessis, Wayne Madsen, they’re in their forties and they’re still great athletes going really well. Why do you have to stop? We put limitations on things just because it’s not been done before and it’s like, well, it can be done and you can play till you’re 40 if you want to play till you’re 40.”The way the game is now, the way women’s sport is now, people can play for a lot longer. The sports medicine is way better in terms of the support that you get, how you can look after yourself and the actual money means that you can keep playing without having to get ‘a real job’.”I’ve always said I am going to play until either my body’s buggered or it’s not fun anymore, whichever comes first. If it’s fun, then you’re obviously performing. If you’re not performing, it’s not fun.”Performances that make cricket fun? Now there’s an F-word the England team might be happy to say in full.

Everton are set to step up their interest in Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee, with the Toffees’ interest in Arsenal front man Gabriel Jesus hitting a dead end.

The Toffees have shown plenty of signs of promise so far this season, albeit whilst remaining inconsistent. Their 2-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday represented their first Premier League win in three games and first clean sheet in eight games, but David Moyes reiterated that he wants everyone to “keep believing” at Everton.

The experienced manager told reporters: “Look, we’ve wanted to try to become a much better footballing team and the players we’ve brought in have helped us to do that.

“We don’t want to lose what we’ve had – desire, heart, commitment – but I think we had to try to find a way of getting a little bit better at certain things and I think we have to build. Look, I trust the owners will help us in all the windows as we go forward and we’ll try to make things better as we go along.

“We need to get people believing in Everton like we do, like the supporters here do, and what we want us to be in the future. To do that we need to keep picking up the wins and attracting top players like Kiernan and Jack Grealish and players of that ilk. We need to keep attracting that level of players to come to the Club.”

What was apparent against Fulham, however, was just how much Everton’s forwards are still struggling. Whether it’s been Beto or one of their most expensive signings, Thierno Barry, the Toffees just haven’t been able to get their strikers firing and something needs to change.

Friekdin are already reportedly looking at potential solutions and have now reportedly made their position on signing Zirkzee clear.

Everton make Joshua Zirkzee position clear ahead of January

As reported by Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett, Zirkzee is now “high up” on Everton’s shortlist and those in Merseyside could make their move if the Man United striker becomes available in January. Ivan Toney is the second name in contention, with Arsenal set to refuse offers for Jesus.

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The Dutchman has made just five appearances all season and is yet to start a single Premier League game. This follows the arrivals of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha as well as his own disappointing debut campaign last time out.

But is Zirkzee the answer to Everton’s problem? They’ve already revived the best version of Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City and now there’s a chance they could get the same opportunity with Zirkzee.

Praised as “amazing with his back to goal” by Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski last season, the Man United man is still just 24 years old and has plenty of time to find his feet elsewhere in the Premier League.

Everton hatch striker plan as Moyes moves for star with 18 goals this season

“My cricket is in my hands, and if I just keep doing my job, as and when the opportunity comes, I will do well for India.”

Srinidhi Ramanujam15-Jan-2025Arundhati Reddy wasn’t expecting to be left out of India’s white-ball squads for the home series against West Indies and Ireland, especially after taking a career-best four-wicket haul in her most recent ODI. But the fast bowler isn’t brooding over the snub; instead, she says she’s making sure she’s only focusing on what she can control: fine-tuning her skills to become the best cricketer she can be. Along the way, she says she has learned to let go of the fear of failure, and express herself whenever she’s on the field.Reddy and Shafali Verma were the high-profile absentees from India’s limited-overs squads for the West Indies and Ireland series. Reddy, who made her ODI debut against South Africa in June last year, has played five matches, the last of which was against Australia in Perth, where she picked up 4 for 26.Related

• Kashvee gets maiden call-up, regulars return for ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka

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“I am not really sure what exactly happened [after the Australia tour],” Reddy said on the sidelines of the Senior Women’s One Day Challenger Trophy final in Chennai, where her side, Team A, lost to Team C. “But then again these things are not in my hands. At the end of the day, my cricket is in my hands, and if I just keep doing my job, as and when the opportunity comes, I will do well for India.”For me, all that matters is which team I am playing for and if I am doing well for them. And every time I take the field I want to win games for whichever team I play. And that has always been the way I play my cricket.”While Shafali, who was Reddy’s captain in the Challenger Trophy, finished the tournament as the highest run-getter with 414 runs in five matches at an average of 82.80, Reddy took seven wickets in five games at 24.14.”This [Challenger Trophy] was a good challenge personally for me,” she said. “Didn’t start off that well but again I think I like pressure. Every time I am put under pressure I seem to do well. So again probably a win would have been great. But it was a great final for us.”Arundhati Reddy picked up career-best figures of 4 for 26 in her most recent ODI, against Australia in Perth•Getty ImagesThat Reddy was also overlooked for the West Indies series T20Is in December also raised eyebrows. She made her T20I debut in 2018 and was dropped in 2021 before she returned to the side in 2024 on the back of an impressive WPL performance. Last year, she featured in seven T20Is and scalped ten wickets and returned an economy rate of 6.50. This included the T20 World Cup in UAE, where she finished as India’s joint-highest wicket-taker with seven wickets in four matches.How does Reddy deal with uncertainty? She revealed that a discussion with her coach Arjun Dev at the NICE Academy in Bengaluru helped her stay focused on what’s ahead and not dwell on what could have been.”The only thing that he told me was that whether the [India] tag comes or not, or whichever team that you play for, all we wanted to focus on was being the best allrounder in the world, wherever you play,” Reddy said. “Be it a club game or an India game, the focus is to become the best allrounder. Again, it’s very hard to say whether you’ll play [for India] or won’t. It’s still difficult for you as a player because there is a lot of uncertainty that comes with it.”But what motivates me is just waking up every day and trying to be the best cricketer I can be. And that’s what I want to chase. That’s what keeps me going. And also, just having the clarity that whichever team you play for, you have to win games for that team. Doesn’t matter where it is.”But I think now I’ve become responsible enough to understand. And whichever team I play for, I’m also one of the senior players. Again, it helps me a lot. Seeing things that way. Helping the other girls. I think that also gets the best out of me. That’s what I just focus on. And genuinely, I just want to focus on helping people around me. Because that gets the best out of me. So, just the focus has been on that. Rather than thinking too much about where I should be, where I could be.”That Reddy was willing to take risks for better opportunities was evident when she quit Railways (after playing there from 2017-18 to 2022-23) to move to Kerala in the 2023-24 season. She has also worked on becoming stronger and calmer over the last few years, and she feels she now approaches every tournament with clarity.’You’ll be put under pressure. You’ll have batters that will challenge you. But there’s no fear’•BCCI”I’ve been playing domestic from the time I was 12 years old,” she said. “But it’s just the past one or two years, I have felt the best that I have ever played. Again a lot of things have changed in the past two years.”I had to take some tough decisions leading up to the season last year. I think that helped me. I just have clarity and I go into the tournament with a lot of freedom. Because I had a lot to gain, nothing to lose. That helped me a lot.”Also from the last year, I have focused more on just expressing myself. Obviously, there was a lot of fear of failure when I was young. But now it’s like I don’t care if I fail.”Reddy will next be in action for Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2025 in February. With a home ODI World Cup scheduled later this year, she has been working on becoming a more potent wicket-taker as she sets sights on another comeback.”One thing I really worked on last season was attacking the stumps all the time,” she said. “Because, obviously, only if you attack the stumps, you’re going to get wickets. So, that was the main plan. The length differs depending on the batter. But be it death [overs], initial stages or the middle overs, stumps is the way to go for me. That’s my strength. And I try to do that as much as I can. So, that’s what has been, like, because I used to not do that earlier.”It was more like fourth-stump, fifth-stump bowling and just looking good economically. But my main focus from the past two years was attacking the stumps and trying to pick a lot of wickets and not be scared of getting hit. That is one key thing which I’ve been taught, that you’ll be put under pressure. You’ll have batters that will challenge you. But there’s no fear.”You’re still going to think about the positive option. And if that means you have to take a risk, you take a risk. And, again, not having the fear of failure has really helped me a lot.”

Morgan Gibbs-White has lifted the lid on what manager Sean Dyche wanted from Nottingham Forest following their thumping 3-0 win at Liverpool. Murillo fired the visitors in front from a corner after 33 minutes before Nicolas Savona scored shortly after the break. Gibbs-White put some extra gloss on the scoreline in a performance that was full of spirit and endeavour.

• Dyche masterminds Liverpool victory

  Dyche replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou at Forest in late October and he has already fired them out of the relegation zone and up the Premier League table. After their 3-1 win over Leeds United earlier this month, they backed up that victory with a superb triumph against Liverpool on Saturday. The scoreline could have been even more one-sided had Igor Jesus not had a goal controversially ruled out for handball but Gibbs-White did not seem to care too much as he praised his team-mates and manager. 

  He told Premier League Productions: "I didn't expect it but it's happened. I'm out there trying to help the team as much as possible. I thought the boys were brilliant today. Delighted we got the three points but I hope we're out of the relegation zone. We felt comfortable even though we didn't have the ball. We were defensively secure and that's credit to the boys and the manager. Delighted to get another goal but we got a clean sheet and three points at Anfield, which is an incredible thing. They're still a great team with incredible individuals. When you're in a tough patch, we know it's hard to get out of it. We knew we'd have a chance and it was about us being solid and taking our chance when we got it. When Sean Dyche came in, he made it clear the season starts now. He's been putting us to work, but we needed it to compete at the highest level. We've been running, running, running. Any game in the Premier League is difficult. We have to take it game by game." 

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  Dyche proud of Forest players

  Despite having just over 25 per cent possession at Anfield, Forest were deserved winners and, coupled with a strong defensive effort, earned them a hard-fought clean sheet. After the match, former Everton boss Dyche was delighted with how his team acquitted themselves on Merseyside and the timing of their second goal.   

  He told PLP, "I thought they started really fast after a tough result at Man City. The defensive unit was great. I'm really pleased with that early stage. It's really tough to dominate the ball on a ground like this. I was super pleased with that [second goal]. Half-time when you're 1-0 up at Anfield is a strange thing. I wanted them to do the basics, but we went and scored. We did a very good job of seeing the game through. We want to build that competitive mentality. I always have a team that is competitive. That is a big marker for me. I do remind them that this is another step. The fans can have that one. Timing in football can be everything. Whether it's a player, a manager or a coach. I want to look after this football club, it's important for me to do everything we can."

• Liverpool's woes continue

  The defending Premier League champions dropped to 11th in the table with this demoralising loss on home turf. This result marked their sixth defeat in their last seven games, something Reds manager Arne Slot could not hide his dismay over.  

  He told BBC Match of the Day: "Another big disappointment. We started off quite well for the first half an hour. We conceded the 1-0, and we weren't able to play the way we did in the first half hour. I don't know. I heard it wasn't offside, so if it's not offside, there's nothing to debate. We created and were waiting for us to score a goal. The set piece changed everything, and they scored two. If things go well or things go bad, it's my responsibility. We weren't able to create enough. I tried to adjust a few things, but it didn't work out. We were unable to score a goal. You never know in this stadium, if you score a goal, then things can work out."     

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  Liverpool face busy period

  Liverpool don't have long to dwell on this defeat as they host PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday, before travelling to West Ham next Sunday. They then play a further four games in 10 days as the fixtures keep coming.     

  Slot added: "In a few days, we have to play in the Champions League again and then play three Premier League games in a short space. Keep your head up and work incredibly hard. We are trying every single day. It's always helpful to have experienced and quality players. It's not working out at this moment." 

For the first time since February, Rangers have won three successive Scottish Premiership games.

On Sunday, the Gers demolished Dundee 3-0 at Dens, sporting their eye-catching luminous all orange fourth kit; that’s too many kits!

Nicolas Raskin broke the deadlock, heading home James Tavernier’s corner, Mikey Moore slotted home a second soon after before, after an uneventful hour or so, Djeidi Gassama rubber-stamped the points in stoppage time, curling into the top corner.

Danny Röhl’s side go into the international break in fourth, level on points with Hibs, five points below fierce rivals Celtic and 12 adrift of leaders Hearts, who dropped points elsewhere on Sunday.

When Rangers return to action against Livingston in a fortnight, which star can Röhl rely on following his outstanding display in the city of discover?

Mikey Moore's massive moment

Dens Park will always hold a special place in Moore’s heart, given that it is the venue at which he scored his first goal for Rangers.

When Moore joined on a season-long loan from Tottenham, he did so with sky-high expectations, with then-manager Russell Martin labelling him an “outstanding young player” upon his arrival.

However, he really struggled to make an impact under Martin, but in fairness, so did everyone, although he has become more of a regular under Röhl.

Well, he rewarded the new manager with a sparkling display against Dundee, attempting six dribbles, mustering two shots, registering two key passes and putting in a generally impressive display, as per Sofascore.

Speaking during Sky Sports’ Coverage, James McFadden believes that Moore is enjoying a lot more freedom under Röhl, expecting that he’ll get even better in the coming weeks, while Chris Sutton added that he has “flourished” more than any other player since the change of manager.

Thus, the teenager appears set to remain a key figure for Rangers, but which other key member of their squad shone during Sunday’s win?

Rangers star was as impressive as Moore

Martin made many mistakes during his ill-fated and historically short Rangers reign, but falling out with Raskin was arguably his most egregious misstep.

Raskin’s exclusion for home games against Celtic and Hearts, failing to win or score in either, was when supporters began to turn against Martin, a baffling decision considering he was the club’s player of the year last time round, as voted for both by fellow players and fans alike.

Röhl on the other hand has made him a central figure, and Raskin underlined why with a dominant display at Dens, not just scoring but proving dogged, winning 100% of his tackles and winning plenty of duels.

As the table documents, Raskin put in a dominant display on Sunday.

He ranked in the top two for a whole host of statistics, including accurate passes, key passes, interceptions and duels contested, heading home his second goal of the season and he very easily could have scored another, denied by Jon McCracken who made seven saves all told.

During Sky Sports’ coverage, Kris Boyd asserted that Raskin is at his best when allowed to be “on the front foot”, believing he can rediscover his “outstanding” form from last season, with Sutton agreeing that he remains “Rangers’ best player”.

John Walker meantime labelled his performances “utterly sensational” earlier this year, expecting that when he does depart, is could well be for a club-record fee.

So, if Rangers harbour any hopes of salvaging this season, both domestically and in the Europa League, Raskin will certainly be a key figure.

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