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Manchester United find themselves 14th in the Premier League table after their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.

The Red Devils needed a stoppage-time equaliser from Rasmus Hojlund to avoid a 16th defeat in the top-flight this season, in what has been a significantly below-par campaign for the club.

INEOS and Ruben Amorim must work together to ensure that the recruitment work this summer is spot on, as there have been too many missteps in recent years, including the signing of Mason Mount in the summer of 2023.

Why Mason Mount has been a flop for Manchester United

The England international signed for the Red Devils from Chelsea for a reported fee of £55m ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and has had a rough time in Manchester so far.

Since the start of last season, Mount has missed a whopping 50 matches through calf and hamstring injuries, which have heavily disrupted his time at Old Trafford.

When available, however, the English attacking midfielder has not done enough to justify the money spent on his services, with a return of one goal and one assist in 39 appearances in all competitions.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

This has led to his market value, as per Transfermarkt, plummeting to just £24m, which shows that he has been a flop for Manchester United so far because the midfielder has not delivered goals or assists, or consistent availability, and is now worth significantly less than the fee they paid for him.

Mount is not the only player from that batch of recruitment in 2023 who has not been good enough, though, as Andre Onana should be ruthlessly ditched by INEOS this summer.

Why Man Utd should sell Andre Onana

Manchester United reportedly paid £47.2m to sign the Cameroon international from Ajax in the summer of 2023, and his value has plummeted in the two years since then.

It was recently reported that the club would consider offers of at least £20m for Onana, which means that he could be sold for even less than Mount is currently worth (£24m).

As you can see in the highlights above, Onana most recently had a night to forget against Lyon with two mistakes in the Europa League, which led to him being dropped against Newcastle United in the Premier League.

That came directly after former United midfielder Nemanja Matic dubbed him “one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history” after being asked about Onana’s claim that his team were better than Lyon.

Whilst the Red Devils eventually won the tie over two legs, the Cameroon international’s personal performances did not do much to dismiss Matic’s harsh claim.

Appearances

44

43

Goals conceded

73

59

Errors leading to shots

3

1

Errors leading to goals

3

5

Penalties committed

1

0

As you can see in the table above, making errors is not a new issue for Onana because the shot-stopper has been error-prone throughout his two seasons in Manchester to date.

He has not been a reliable, safe, pair of hands between the sticks, due to these errors in the Premier League, the Champions League, and the Europa League, and that is why INEOS must ruthlessly cash in on him this summer.

United should look to move Onana on, whether that is for a fee of £20m or another figure, and then attempt to recruit a replacement who can be relied upon week-in-week-out at the top level, without Amorim having to be concerned about his goalkeeper making calamitous errors consistently.

Better signing than Huijsen: Man Utd preparing bid to sign £51m "monster"

Manchester United are plotting a bid to sign a star who’d be an even better addition than Dean Huijsen.

ByDan Emery Apr 28, 2025

We’re less than one month away from the end of the 2024/25 campaign, a year of shifting emotions for those of an Everton persuasion.

The Toffees started off dismally, losing their opening four fixtures of the season under Sean Dyche’s wing and lacking any semblance of spirit or invention. When The Friedkin Group took over and ended the interminable pursuit of new ownership, they (re)appointed David Moyes in January.

Now, hope has been restored. Everton are 13th in the Premier League with just a few matches to go, relegation fears long in the past.

However, with as many as 15 senior players departing this summer, there’s plenty of work to be done, and who can argue that strengthening the frontline ahead of the move to Bramley Moore isn’t the priority?

Everton ready to sign new forward

The Toffees are rightly in the market for a new forward this summer, particularly given Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s struggles and the fact that his contract expires in a few months time.

So, who could head to the new stadium and join Moyes’ revolution?

Transfer Focus

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

Well, according to GIVEMESPORT, Moyes has decided to earmark Tottenham Hotspur’s Richarlison, with the Brazilian identified as the ‘dream’ target.

Richarlison, of course, spent four seasons at Goodison Park before transferring to Spurs in a £60m deal back in 2022, but it hasn’t worked out and both parties appear ready to cut their losses.

The 28-year-old wouldn’t come cheap, however, priced at no less than £40m, given Tottenham face a sell-to-buy scenario this summer.

Amid those claims, it’s stated that Everton are seriously weighing up a summer offer.

Why Everton should re-sign Richarlison

Richarlison is a versatile forward with a fiery personality that he uses to his advantage more often than not. It’s all come down like a house of cards at Tottenham, but that’s not to say he’s been poor, rebounding from a tough first season to provide a comparative clinical edge.

If Moyes can get him firing, it would be sure to dynamise Everton’s frontline. Currently, Iliman Ndiaye carries quite a weight on his shoulders, recognised as a “relentless forward” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, who “could be at least a squad player in every Prem team.”

Having scored nine times across all competitions since signing for Everton from Marseille in a £15m deal, Ndiaye has been one of the brightest sparks, with his silky movements and sharpness in the danger area making him a dangerous presence against any opponent.

However, Richarlison at his best could be the new cream of the crop, having already proved himself a £60m player as a Blue in the past.

Although his debut campaign in the capital didn’t go to plan, Richarlison has returned to prolific form in the two terms spent under Ange Postecoglou. If Moyes can solve the forward’s injury problems, there’s no question that he could usurp Ndiaye and take the tag of Everton’s best player next season.

24/25

Tottenham

12 (3)

4

1

23/24

Tottenham

28 (18)

11

4

22/23

Tottenham

27 (12)

1

4

21/22

Everton

30 (28)

10

5

20/21

Everton

34 (33)

7

3

19/20

Everton

36 (36)

13

3

18/19

Everton

35 (32)

13

1

17/18

Watford

38 (32)

5

4

The stats are on his side. As per FBref, Richarlison ranks among the top 8% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 11% for assists, the top 19% for progressive carries, the top 14% for tackles and the top 2% for clearances per 90.

With a firmly embedded goalscoring quality, a raw athleticism and a tried-and-tested past on Merseyside, Richarlison could be a “constant nuisance for defenders” under Moyes’ wing, as he has been described before by Postecoglou.

Of course, there’s nothing to say that the two mavericks couldn’t work in conjunction at Everton next year, Ndiaye charging down the left flank while Richarlison looks to add to his 53 goals for the Merseyside outfit.

If the Tottenham man can reach his highest level, there’s no question he could be Moyes’ standout star.

He won't start again: TFG must finally axe Everton's new Phil Neville

Recent results have shown Everton need a sweep of fresh faces in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 28, 2025

“It’s going to take them [the team] a long time to get over this because it just takes so much out of you,” say former players who’ve been through the emotional wringer before

Firdose Moonda30-Jun-20240:53

Markram: ‘For the time being it just hurts a lot’

It didn’t even take half an hour after South Africa lost the T20 World Cup final for the first genuinely funny inside joke to be made.”Now we don’t have a trophy or a cabinet,” Mandy Wiener, one of the country’s best-known news journalists, posted on X.June 29 was exactly a month since South Africans went to the polls for the country’s seventh democratic elections, and the first one in which the African National Congress did not win an outright majority. The make-up of the new government has captured national attention and continued to do so this weekend.Related

• SA unsure on Quinton de Kock's T20I future: 'We have a glimmer of hope that sits in the background'

• Markram: Defeat 'gut-wrenching' and 'good for it to sting'

• Monga: Sometimes sports can be messy and without any explanation

• Magic moments – Bumrah, Klaasen and SKY go flash, bam, alakazam

“It’s a done deal,” was the front-page headline on the and that wasn’t someone prematurely going to press with the cricket result. It was about what the future parliament will look like.Just underneath was a photograph from the Wanderers fan park, of a supporter on his knees, his national flag dragging behind him like a discarded cape, his head resting in his interlaced hands and a look of disbelief in his eyes. Around him, some of the 5,000 people that made their way to the country’s premier cricket ground, were standing in beanies, down jackets and even sleeping bags. They braved the Highveld cold in the hope that they would witness history being made in Bridgetown. They did, just not the kind they will want to remember.South Africa have not won a cricket World Cup, despite an unbeaten run through the tournament and an almighty fight for most of the match that mattered most. Of course, there will be what-ifs that can be what-iffed over forever. Should Quinton de Kock have played the shot he did when a fielder was put at fine leg for exactly that? Should Heinrich Klaasen have used his feet when he reached for the wide delivery that he ended up nicking? Was the boundary rope where it should have been when Suryakumar Yadav took the wonder catch that ended David Miller’s innings and South Africa’s dream? And none of those things matter. It’s over. No one can go back. Nothing can be undone or redone.The South Africa players wait for the presentation ceremony after the final•CREIMASOnce the whirlwind of emotions passes, the real question is how, not if, South Africa will move forward because they have no choice but to find a way. And in the immediate aftermath, minutes after the game, an emotionally exhausted but excellently articulated analysis by former coach Russell Domingo, former captain Hashim Amla and former allrounder Chris Morris signposted the way in three clear paths: sit with the sadness, deal with the dips and look for the light.”It’s going to take them a long time to get over this because it just takes so much out of you,” Domingo, who was South Africa’s coach during the 2015 World Cup semi-final (another nerve-wracking affair) and now coaches the Lions domestic team, said on SuperSport. “You’ve given everything for two or three years leading to this event and one or two things just don’t fall into place, so to get back up and step into the arena again is going to be a challenge and there might be a little bit of a drop-off in terms of intensity. They’ll get there eventually, but it might take a little bit of time.”Domingo knows what he is talking about because he lived it. South Africa did not play any cricket for 103 days between the semi-final in March 2015 and a July tour of Bangladesh. There, they won a T20I series 2-nil but lost the ODIs 2-1 before a washed-out Test series. The real downer came later that year when they toured India and lost a four-Test series 3-nil – their first away series defeat in nine years. It began a slump that saw them drop as low as seventh on the Test rankings and become the first team to bow out of the 2019 World Cup, which was their worst tournament showing in their history.

“You’ve given everything for two or three years leading to this event and one or two things just don’t fall into place, so to get back up and step into the arena again is going to be a challenge and there might be a little bit of a drop-off in terms of intensity. They’ll get there eventually.”Former SA coach Russell Domingo

This time, they have less time but more resources. There are 39 days between the T20 World Cup final and the Test series in the West Indies, where they are under a different coach and have a significant proportion of different personnel. With the continued separation of red and white ball set-ups, they can treat that series as completely unrelated to this tournament, even though it’s the same place. Their next limited-overs assignment is three T20Is in the West Indies followed by a white-ball series in Ireland, which starts in late September, and the focus will be on 50-over cricket, with the 2025 Champions Trophy in mind. While no substitute for a World Cup, the Champions Trophy can, at the least, be used as preparation for the home World Cup, in 2027, which is already being built up as “the one”.Although South Africans should probably have a conversation with themselves about creating cricketing expectations, Amla believes there’s reasons to be hopeful for 2027 and beyond. “I feel quietly optimistic of what’s to come, [with this team] having gone past the hurdle of a semi-final,” he said. “Guys like [Tristan] Stubbs, [Aiden] Markram and the exposure they’ve had with IPLs, with our SA20, with our domestic system – we’re seeing these youngsters come in and they’re straight into the game, whereas maybe before it took a little bit longer to get into international cricket.They’re getting into it very quickly and we’re seeing the performances coming.”Amla assessed South Africa’s pipeline as strong and producing players of quality who can stand up in high-pressure situations. This team has already proven him right, with wins in six out of seven close matches and a dominant showing in the semi-final, where they have historically stumbled. While there is space for the argument that South Africa should have won the final when they needed 26 runs from 24 balls with six wickets in hand and that not doing so was a choke, there should be equal room to recognise how outstandingly well Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh bowled at the end, and how spectacular Suryakumar’s catch was. That’s just sport.While Rohit Sharma spoke of destiny, Amla has always taken the pragmatic approach to something as variable as luck. “Nobody deserves anything in this game. That’s one of Hash’s famous throwaway quotes,” Domingo said. “And he’s spot on. You’ve got to earn it. And you’ve got to make sure you do the right things.”But now, to the one player who may feel differently: David Miller.David Miller was inconsolable as the South Africans saw another dream go bust•Getty ImagesFourteen years ago, Miller made his debut in the West Indies and already had a reputation for big-hitting and natural flare. Until the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, where he scored a hundred in a losing cause, he was regarded as a player who had not quite lived up to his potential at international level. After that innings he said he felt “a bit hollow”, and since then has taken it on himself to shoulder more responsibility. As South Africa’s most-capped player at this World Cup, that makes sense. It was Miller who was caught on the boundary on the final over, aiming for the six that could have turned the tide. The expression on his face afterwards told a story of someone who felt they had let their team and themselves down, and who may not get another chance to put that right. Miller is 35 now and, though he has not indicated his career is over, another World Cup may be a bridge too far and he could join generations of others who were never able to win a World Cup.”For a guy like Dave, that’ll hurt,” Morris said. “Dave’s such a good dude. He’s a team man. He’s been a flipping stalwart for South African cricket. And as Russ [Domingo] said, you think someone from the top would look down and go, ‘It’s your turn to win something.'”But none of Domingo, Amla, Morris and perhaps none of South Africa held on to that though for too long. This is a country with too many real problems to dwell on the disappointment of a World Cup defeat for too long. Instead, the television trio acknowledged the fitting end to Virat Kohli and Rohit’s T20I careers, the immense comeback of Rishabh Pant from a near-death experience and the redemption of Hardik Pandya. “Everybody’s got a backstory. All the heroes have got a backstory,” Amla said. “We know what adversity they had to get over to achieve the success they have. And South Africa have a very big backstory. This is another blockbuster in the backstory. We’ve had to wait for the final and now we have to wait for a trophy. The final has come now; the trophy’s coming next.”But the best news for South Africans, is that cabinet is expected to be finalised this week. And life goes on.

The spitting image of the former South Africa wristspinner in how she bowls, Sonawane comes from humble roots in small-town Maharashtra

Annesha Ghosh26-May-2022″I know what they’ll say. ‘Her action is so unusual, just like Paul Adams.'”Uncapped Indian bowler Maya Sonawane was speculating about what the cricketing world at large would think about her when they saw her play in the Women’s T20 Challenge. Sure enough, when she came on to bowl for Velocity in the 11th over on her debut in the three-team tournament on Tuesday, the reactions that emerged on social media were almost exactly as she predicted.The impossible-looking contortions of her body when she delivers are invariably the first thing that catches the eye about the 23-year-old. Like it did former Australia player and commentator Lisa Sthalekar’s during Sonawane’s debut game. “My body is in so much pain watching her bowl,” Sthalekar tweeted during the match, in which Sonawane went for 19 runs in two wicketless overs. “Whilst it is unique and unique can sometimes be gold, can it be sustained at a top level for years?””Many people have told me there isn’t anyone with a similar action in women’s cricket, but I don’t see it as something extraordinary or detrimental,” says Sonawane, who considers Rashid Khan and Shane Warne her idols.”I didn’t know who Paul Adams was, what he looked like, whom he played for, until I made it to the Maharashtra senior team,” she says. It was then, at 15, fresh off a chart-topping wicket haul at the national Under-19 competition, that she first heard she was different from most wristspinners, but that there was a precedent in international cricket for the way she bowled.”One of our senior bowlers, Snehal Pradhan, walked up to me and said, ‘Maya, do you know who you bowl like?’ I said, ‘No, .’ She then showed me a picture or video of Paul Adams, and I said. ‘ same ‘ [We are identical. How can this be?] she remembers saying.Shivil Kaushik, a male left-arm wristpinner who bowls with an action like Adams’, evoked a similar social-media reception, including from Adams himself, when he first arrived on the scene, at the IPL in 2016. Unlike both those men, Sonawane is a right-armer, which makes her something of a first of her kind.”[The action] has always felt natural to me. That’s how I have bowled ever since I first decided to try bowling from the popping crease and not run in from a distance to deliver the ball,” she says. Back then, barely ten, Sonawane didn’t know what a spinner was, or a pace bowler. “I didn’t know what legspin or offspin was,” she says. “All I knew was, some people bowl from a distance, some from closer to the crease. One day, I felt like bowling from closer and my action turned out to be what it is now.”

“If I continue working hard and doing well, who knows, I might get to play for India. And then if some other bowler comes along with a similar action, people might start saying, ‘She bowls like Maya'”

The captain of the senior Maharashtra side Sonawane made it to was India opener Smriti Mandhana, who also led them in the recently concluded Senior Women’s T20 League, where Sonawane made a mark with two four-fors in eight innings and placed fourth on the wicket-takers’ table in Maharashtra’s run to a runners-up finish.Ahead of the Women’s T20 Challenge, in which Mandhana is leading defending champions Trailblazers, she spoke about the strides Sonawane has made. “She has a good wrong’un and a legbreak. And the best thing is now she knows which will go which way. I think two years back that [knowledge] was missing.”Deepti Sharma, Velocity’s captain, believes a bowler like Sonawane can add an edge to an attack. “She has a lot of variations. Her control over her lines and lengths are very good, which makes her somebody who’s ready to take on challenges and bowl the kind of deliveries a captain may require her to in a situation.”Sonawane rubbed shoulders with both Mandhana and Deepti at a preparatory camp in Bengaluru in August last year, where she made it to the ranks of the probables for the multi-format tour of Australia after winning the 2021 One-Day Challenger Trophy with India A. She counts being selected for that camp as one of the highlights of her career.”Jhulan [Goswami] and Mitthu [Mithali Raj] , and Ramesh [Powar] sir spoke affectionately in that camp and motivated me to do well,” says Sonawane. “I couldn’t make it to the squad for the Australia series but gained a lot of confidence by interacting with the India players and all the support staff. And Mitthu even gave me a pair of gloves and said, ‘Do well.'”A similar gesture from Mandhana a few years earlier also left a strong imprint. “We were playing a domestic tournament in Baroda and Smriti di was our captain for Maharashtra. She said if I took three or more wickets, she’d give me shoes. I ended up taking four or five in that game and she gifted me a pair and encouraged me to do even better.”Sonawane comes from a family of humble means in the town of Sinnar, some 30km from Nashik in Maharashtra, where she currently trains. “My father and older brother do low-paying jobs that require a lot of hard work,” she says. “So it’s not like it has been easy for me to carry on with my cricket, but I am grateful to be continuing.”Like her Velocity and former Maharashtra team-mate Kiran Navgire, Sonawane says she has benefited from the goodwill of several well-meaning people. One of them was the local corporator in Sinnar, whose backyard was the first place where she played cricket.Sonawane with the Senior Women’s One-Day Challenger trophy in December last year, after her side, India A, won the title•Maya Sonawane”I was eight or nine when I came upon a house when I was out playing in the evening after school,” Sonawane remembers. “There, he [the corporator] was playing cricket with his daughter on a pitch he had built for her. I was so enchanted by the sight of the girl playing cricket that I stayed there for two hours straight, collecting any balls that came my way and throwing them back.”As Sonawane became a familiar face, the corporator asked her to join them properly. “That was where it all started for me,” she says. “My older brother found out that I used to go there and had started playing. He told my parents about all that I had been doing and asked them to encourage me to play cricket.”Sonawane first trialled for the Nashik District Cricket Association (NDCA) team at 11. She started training under Shivaji Jadhav, her first coach, who was part of the NDCA set-up. Her brother regularly helped with her training too. In the inter-district competition in 2013-14, she turned in an impressive performance, which paved the way for a call-up to the Under-19 Maharashtra side. She didn’t get a game that season but was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament the following year, with 23 dismissals in nine matches, which helped her break into the senior squad.”Everything I have been able to do in cricket, becoming the highest wicket-taker in the U-23 domestics or being on a hat-trick in three consecutive overs for West Zone U-19s in 2018-19 – they have all happened because of the way I bowl, how I bowl,” she says.”I am grateful to my coaches, Pradeep Ingle and the late Avinash Agarkar sir, for their guidance. Pradeep sir is one of those who has always backed me against changing my action.”Velocity coach Devika Palshikar too is among those who think the action, tortuous though it may look, is not something Sonawane needs to alter. “I saw her eight years back, when I took my first West Zone ZCA (Zonal Cricket Academy) camp. That time, when she was 14, she was just the same,” said Palshikar. “Many coaches tried to change her action, but that’s her natural thing. She’s still doing that and there is no injury, so we don’t need to change that.”She’s very much comfortable with that and doing well for her state. There will be stress on her back and shoulder, but I would say she’s lucky that till today she hasn’t got any injuries as such.”Asked how she would like to be best described as an unorthodox wristspinner, Sonawane smiles and says, “Maybe for now you can say, ‘Maya bowls like Maya.’ If I continue working hard and doing well, who knows, I might get to play for India with this action. And then if some other bowler comes along with a similar action, people might start saying, ‘She bowls like Maya.'”

Chappell, Benaud and Botham were among those who reacted strongly to the controversial no-ball call

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Apr-2020 #RetroLive This was the third time – all instances in Australia – that Muttiah Muralitharan was called during a live match for throwing. Things came to a head with Arjuna Ranatunga walking off with his team only to resume playing after a 15-minute interval during which many a discussion happened with the officials. A phone call was made back home to cricket board officials too. This is what the experts and the participants said about the incident at the time.

The observers

This was the first time Umpires Ross Emerson and Tony McQuillan stood in a game involving Murali since they last called him back in 1996. So there was anticipation even before the actual no-ball call was made.”Quite amazing. The two umpires out there know more than the International Cricket Council. I think it’s all rather pathetic. It is a decision that has been made by some very respected people who have played a lot of cricket at international level and first-class level. And yet two people who might make that decision have played no more than a bit of club cricket.””The English batsmen will be sick in the stomach. I feel a little bit upset myself. Regardless of whether his action is legal or not, that should be decided at the end of the series. This is a team standing behind its bowler who has been cleared by 40 umpires across the world, but here he is called in the middle of the series…”I am a bit lost and saddened by the decisions this afternoon. Murali will be feeling sick in the stomach. He will be very confused. He has got 200 Test wickets. He has bowled a lot of overs in this series so far. Then all of a sudden he has been called for having an illegal action at the Adelaide Oval.””I have been through three of these. The first one was Ian Meckiff in Brisbane in 1963, then the second time was Muralitharan when he was called at the MCG [by Umpire Darrell Hair, whom Sri Lanka got barred from standing in their games]. Today the third time has produced the exact same feeling, which is very empty at the pit of the stomach. The ICC, I think now, will be dragged kicking and screaming into the region of solving the mess.”Getty Images”How come he can’t make a decision on that one with the naked eye and yet he can call the flick of an elbow with the naked eye? Miles out of the ground, but he relies on the replay, which is what he should have been doing with respect to the no-ball.””The fact that this has been allowed to interrupt the day’s play the way it did is quite sad. The thing that you have got to ask of the officials is how come it is allowed to happen in the middle of the arena? This is the third time in Murali’s case that it is happening in the middle of the international arena. All three times in Australia. And you would think that if somebody’s got a doubtful action, they would stop before they get to international cricket.”

The official

Doug Insole was member of the ICC committee that cleared Murali, but he explained to Channel 9 the technicalities behind it, and that the on-field umpire had the right to call even a bowler cleared by them. That he said as someone who was called once for throwing, which shocked him too.”Of those that have been seen worldwide as it were, there are one or two who have got perfectly ordinary basic actions, but who stick a bit extra when they try to do a something bit extra. Then there are one or two who have a basic fault in their action. There is no way that ICC can say that that bloke is never going to throw again. You can’t say to an umpire that this bloke is cleared, and he must never be no-balled. What you can say is that as far as the panel is concerned, his basic action, as we have seen it, is okay.”It is a desperate thing to happen to a bowler. I feel sorry for the man himself. You’d be right in saying – and one has to be a bit cagey about this – on the basis of the videotape that we saw, and I can’t remember whether everyone was on the conference call or whether one two were missing or what, but certainly the general opinion at that time was that his action, as seen on that video, was legitimate.”PA Images via Getty Images

The participants

“The question of Umpire Hair standing had to do with him making some comments prior to the tour in a book that he was publishing. It wasn’t in anyway connected with him no-balling Muralitharan before. As for the other two umpires, there was no question that the Sri Lankan cricket board nor any of the players felt his action was unfair. He had been cleared by 40 umpires all over the world, and a committee that had been set up of eminent bowlers. And one might say, umpires in this tournament as well. So there was never a doubt as far as it was concerned.”Arjuna walked off with his team merely to get a clarification as to how they must proceed. It would have seemed they were leaving the ground, but the basic intention was to find how they should proceed. The point was that the Sri Lankan board would have at no stage wanted the match to be abandoned because after all cricket has to continue and the lofty ideals of the game has to continue. Also we didn’t in anyway want to embarrass the Australian cricket board.”That he is different is one of the problems that has created this illusion: the permanently bent arm of his and that rotation of the shoulder and also the profuse use of the wrists, which I think creates this illusion, which umpires and people find something different in it.””I never thought it will happen because he has bowled all over the world and we have never had a problem. Then suddenly one guy comes and calls, I think it is really unfortunate. I think it is really bad on Australian cricket’s part.”Murali has a really bad arm, everyone knows about it. The person who calls, he must be having a really really good eye. I think any batsman would love to have that eye… the batsman will get thousand runs in two months if that eye comes to a batsman. The way Murali bowls, if you can pick that, he must be really amazing [to be calling him with the naked eye].”We knew we had to win the game for Murali, and that’s what happened today. We have the same umpires in a game towards the end of the tour so we have to take a firm decision what to do. We have to consult with the board and then it is up to the board or the government. It is very important. Murali has been a key person for the country and for Sri Lankan cricket.”I think we never had a problem anywhere except Australia. I think most of the cricketers will try to avoid Australia the way it goes now. And the public has been really bad on Murai, and the media has been really bad. I think it is pathetic that a person who has got 200 Test wickets is only called in Australia. I don’t think he should suffer like this. Everyone likes to come to Australia and do well in Australia but it is totally different the image we have now.””I am not allowed to comment unfortunately due to ICC regulations but what I will say is we have been brought up, if an umpire makes a decision, that’s it, you accept it and get on with the game. Today that didn’t happen.””There you are but again it comes down to the umpire, how he sees things. It is the same with lbw decisions or run-outs or whatever.” RetroLive

MLB All-Star voting races are heating up and the All-Star break is around the corner, which means that it will soon be time to see baseball's biggest stars take center stage in the Midsummer Classic at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga. But prior to the 2025 All-Star game, baseball fans will get an appetizer in the form of the Home Run Derby, in which some of the game's best sluggers will aim to test the limits of Truist Park on July 14.

The Derby certainly hasn't been short on stars in past years, and this year is no different. The Home Run Derby field is officially set with eight sluggers.

During a June 25 appearance on , Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first player to announce he'd be participating in the Derby. But Acuna, who had missed a July 8 game against the Oakland Athletics due to back tightness, withdrew from the Home Run Derby on July 11, saying he was doing so as a "precaution." Acuna's Braves teammate Matt Olson replaced him in the Derby, ensuring there will be a representative of the Braves at Truist Park.

MLB's home run leader and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh announced his intention to take part in the first Home Run Derby of his career on June 27. It will be a family affair for Raleigh, as his father Todd will throw to him and his younger brother, Todd Jr., may catch at the event.

On July 3, Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood announced via Instagram that he would be taking part in the Home Run Derby for the first time in his career. Then, the Derby got its fourth contestant on July 7 when Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton on Instagram announced his intention to participate, later revealing his son Brixton's adorable plan to help his father during the competition.

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz was added to the list of participants Tuesday, making him the fifth player to commit to the Home Run Derby. On Wednesday, Tampa Bay Rays rising stra Junior Caminero entered the Derby via an Instagram post. On Thursday, Oakland Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker took to Instagram to announce that he'll be participating in the Derby, making him the seventh player.

Finally, New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. became the eighth and final participant added to the Derby on Thursday, July 10. Chisholm confirmed his interest in the event after a two home run night for the Yankees against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. Since his return from a stint on the injured list, Chisholm has been on an absolute tear, with seven home runs in his last 12 games.

Full List of Every Player in the 2025 Home Run Derby

Player	Participated in HRD Before?	Home Runs	Average exit Velocity (mph)	Max exit Velocity (mph)	Average launch angle (degrees)
Matt Olson	Yes	17	93.7	113.8	14.4
Cal Raleigh	No	33	92.0	113.2	23.7
James Wood	No	22	94.0	117.9	6.2
Byron Buxton	No	20	91.5	112.5	18.1
Oneil Cruz	No	15	96.1	122.9	8.4
Junior Caminero	No	21	91.2	116.5	10.1
Brent Rooker	No	19	91.5	112.4	14.5
Jazz Chisholm Jr.	No	17	90.0	112.1	11.9

Who's out? Players who have declined to participate in Home Run Derby

Unfortunately for MLB, some of baseball's brightest stars have already declined to participate in the Derby. Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Elly De La Cruz, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., just to name a few. Perhaps most notably, four-time Derby participant and two-time champion Pete Alonso also won't be taking part in the festivities this year, citing a desire to enjoy the time off during the All-Star break. As mentioned earlier, Acuna, the first player to enter the Derby, withdrew on July 11.

Home Run Derby participants by the numbers

With the field of eight sluggers presumably set, let's take a deeper statistical dive into the participants for the 2025 Home Run Derby. We'll rank the sluggers in a series of Statcast metrics, first with average bat speed.

Player	Avg. Bat Speed (mph)
Oneil Cruz	78.6
Junior Caminero	78.0
James Wood	76.1
Cal Raleigh	75.1
Byron Buxton	74.9
Brent Rooker	73.8
Matt Olson	73.7
Jazz Chisholm Jr.	73.4

Next, we'll rank the sluggers by barrel rate.

Player	Barrel Rate (%)
Oneil Cruz	22.5
Cal Raleigh	20.0
Jazz Chisholm Jr.	19.0
James Wood	18.6
Matt Olson	16.3
Byron Buxton	15.0
Brent Rooker	14.4
Junior Caminero	11.0

Finally, we'll take a look at the Home Run Derby participants ranked by their hard-hit percentages, another key metric when evaluating home run hitters.

Player	Hard-Hit %
Oneil Cruz	58.1
James Wood	55.8
Matt Olson	54.1
Byron Buxton	53.9
Cal Raleigh	49.2
Junior Caminero	47.7
Brent Rooker	47.5
Jazz Chisholm Jr.	45.6

Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has publicly backed Nico Schlotterbeck after the defender launched a scathing attack on his teammates following their disappointing Champions League draw against Bodo/Glimt. The manager admitted the collapse was "completely unnecessary" and insisted the centre-back had every right to voice his frustration.

• Kovac backs 'leader' Schlotterbeck

  Dortmund are currently licking their wounds after a chaotic night in the Champions League saw them surrender a commanding position to draw 2-2 with Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt. The fallout from the result was immediate, with defender Schlotterbeck giving a furious post-match interview in which he tore into the team's collective mentality. However, rather than reprimanding his player for airing the club's dirty laundry in public, manager Kovac has moved quickly to endorse the 26-year-old’s assessment.

  Speaking at his press conference on Thursday ahead of Dortmund's return to Bundesliga action, Kovac addressed the controversy with a sense of calm authority. He confirmed he had read Schlotterbeck's comments and found no fault in them, praising the defender for showing the leadership qualities required at the highest level.

  "I understand Schlotti's frustration," Kovac told reporters with a wry smile. "As a leading player, he certainly has the right to address certain things. That he, as a leader, is annoyed about the behaviour on the pitch is completely normal."

  Kovac went on to echo Schlotterbeck’s tactical analysis, agreeing that the team have only themselves to blame for dropping points against an opponent they were expected to beat comfortably at home. "Now I have read [the comments] myself," the coach added. "We have left a huge opportunity behind. That was completely unnecessary. We had the game under control and then we gave it away."

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  'Extremely sloppy' and 'arrogant'

  The backing from the manager comes after Schlotterbeck offered a brutally honest appraisal of Dortmund's performance immediately after the final whistle on Wednesday. The German international, who had put in a solid shift defensively, was visibly agitated by the manner in which the team allowed Bodo/Glimt back into the contest in the dying stages.

  In quotes that quickly circulated across German media, Schlotterbeck accused the side of "arrogance" and criticised the impact of the substitutes who entered the fray.

  "After the 1-0, we started playing extremely sloppy and having incredibly bad first touches," Schlotterbeck said. "Everyone plays their own game a little bit. It is not bitter, it is actually really bad."

  He added: "The players who come on lose every ball. If you come on in the 60th minute, I expect 30 minutes of full steam. We combined a bit right and left, chipping in front of the goalkeeper and wanting to make it look nice, but you have to kill the game and we didn't do that."

• Inconsistency plagues Dortmund's season

  The incident highlights a recurring theme for Dortmund this season: inconsistency. Under Kovac, the team have shown flashes of brilliance, looking capable of challenging the likes of Bayern Munich, only to follow up dominant displays with baffling lapses in concentration like the one witnessed against the Norwegians.

  The draw leaves Dortmund in a precarious position in the Champions League table. While they remain on course to reach the knockout rounds, they are lingering outside the top eight, which would secure a place in the round of 16. Otherwise, they will be forced to navigate a two-legged play-off in February.

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  Back to the Bundesliga for Dortmund

  Dortmund must now regroup quickly as they turn their attention back to the Bundesliga. The team have no time to dwell on the "unnecessary" midweek error, with a Bundesliga fixture against Freiburg on the horizon this weekend. They currently sit third in the table and nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich, while RB Leipzig sit a point ahead of Kovac's side in second place.

  In the Champions League, they are 10th and will return to action in the European competition in January when they face Tottenham and Inter.

Vitinha produced the performance of his life as Paris Saint-Germain beat Tottenham 5-3 in a wild Champions League encounter at the Parc des Princes. The midfielder scored his first-ever career hat-trick, inspiring a comeback after PSG trailed twice on the night. With the French champions closing in on a top-eight league-phase finish, the win underlined Vitinha’s growing influence in Luis Enrique’s project.

Vitinha leads PSG’s comeback with landmark hat-trick

PSG were forced to dig deep after Tottenham twice took the lead in a chaotic Champions League night in Paris. Richarlison opened the scoring before Vitinha struck an equaliser just before half-time, the moment that set the tone for a career-defining display. Spurs went ahead again early in the second half, but Les Parisiens responded instantly, with the Portuguese midfielder producing a composed finish to drag his team level.

His joy was evident when speaking to about scoring multiple goals for the first time in his professional career, he said: “It’s the first time. Even two, it’s the first time [laughs]. I had never scored two in the same game.”

The European champions soon flipped the match on its head, with Fabian Ruiz and Willian Pacho striking before Vitinha completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot to seal the victory and take the match ball home on a night that showcased his growing attacking instincts. The win reinforces PSG’s strong Champions League campaign, marking their fourth victory in five matches and pushing them closer to securing a top-eight finish.

AdvertisementAFPVitinha reveals the mindset shift behind his hat-trick

After the match, Vitinha opened up about the mental shift that helped unlock the best goalscoring night of his career. He explained the belief behind his sudden scoring touch: "It was incredible, I think it's partly in your head. If you don't think about scoring a lot of goals, you probably won't. You have to believe, you have to… push too. Of course, always for the good of the team and never against the team, but you have to believe, show up, feel that the ball will come to you… And the truth is that I had luck combined with the goals and I'm overjoyed. I never… never thought I'd score three goals in a game. Very happy to have scored, but mainly for the victory. It was important to be behind twice and have the personality to come back. It's extremely important and I'm very happy for myself and for the team." 

Speaking to PSG media, he acknowledged that Joao Neves’ recent hat-trick against Armenia may have planted the seed: “Actually, I had never thought about scoring a hat trick. Maybe Joao [Neves] inspired me! But it's true that when it happens, you think: 'maybe I can too'. It's a bit psychological. I'm very happy with this hat trick, but above all with the team and its personality, because it managed to overcome difficulties once again, with the help of this environment and these incredible fans. I think we formed a great team here, all together, at the Parc. They never stopped believing in us, even when we were behind twice.”

Frank hails Vitinha as 'the next Ballon d'Or winner'

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank was left impressed despite the defeat, calling the midfielder one of the standout players in world football right now. 

Speaking to reports, Frank said: "Of course, I think it was performance that was up there where we could get something out of the game, a draw or a win. So that's a little frustrating thing that we conceded some goals. Of course, one with a little bit of margin from Vitinha, not top corner but top, top corner. And then, of course, goal three and four. Those are the ones we definitely need to avoid if we want to get something out of here, but something to build on. Strikers scoring two goals. The whole team, I think, all performed well. Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, positive. When we played against a decent team where they have one Ballon d'Or winner and I think the next one is playing in midfield. Vitinha. Wow, what a player."

He doubled down in his post-match interview with : “Vitinha is the best midfielder in the world. He will be the next Ballon d'Or winner.”

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AFPPSG eye top-eight finish as momentum grows

The victory puts the Ligue 1 giants in a commanding position in the league phase. They now have 12 points, level with Bayern Munich but ahead on goal difference, and stand as one of the most consistent performers against Premier League opposition this year. It also marked PSG’s sixth win in 10 matches against English clubs in 2025, including their Super Cup triumph over Spurs in August.

Up next, PSG return to Ligue 1 action where they face Monaco this weekend, a match that offers another platform for Vitinha to showcase his soaring form. With confidence high and Champions League progression in sight, PSG appear well-placed to maintain their momentum heading into a decisive stretch of the season.

West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta has made an admission about his future at the club amid repeated suggestions he could leave in January.

Paqueta’s time at West Ham has been intriguing to say the least, and fresh speculation has emerged recently about a potential winter exit from the London Stadium.

West Ham paid £51 million to secure his services in a club-record deal from Lyon three years ago, with the Brazilian quickly establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most technically gifted playmakers in his debut season under David Moyes.

Paqueta helped the Hammers to a glorious Conference League triumph that year, their first major trophy since 1980 and first European trophy since 1965, but a spot-fixing scandal then began to overshadow his time at the London Stadium.

The 28-year-old was charged with four alleged breaches of FA rule E5.1 in May 2024, relating to matches involving West Ham, with allegations that he directly sought to influence matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for influence of the betting market.

The investigation, which began in August 2023, cast a dark cloud over his future, with the FA once seeking a lifetime ban for him. Throughout the ordeal, West Ham stood firmly by their star man, and in July this year, he was finally cleared.

With that uncertain point of his career finally over, Paqueta got back to focusing on the pitch, and clubs also started taking an interest in the £150,000-per-week star.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Aston Villa tried to sign Paqueta in the summer, but he ultimately chose to stay put and show loyalty to a side who backed him off the field.

However, credible reports are indicating that his long-term future could be away from Rush Green. The Times recently reported that Paqueta is keen to leave West Ham as early as next month, with Fabrizio Romano also backing up that the ex-Ligue 1 star’s exit is a realistic possibility.

Lucas Paqueta makes West Ham transfer admission and expects move to happen

Now, the player himself has come out to make a revelation of his own.

Speaking to Brazilian outlet Globo, as translated by Standard Sport, Paqueta says that he had a desire to return to Flamengo in the most recent summer window, and he expects that transfer to happen eventually due to his close ties with the club.

Paqueta’s current deal expires in 2027, and while Nuno Espirito Santo won’t want to lose him in January, a summer transfer certainly appears on the cards next year.

Unfortunately for chairman David Sullivan, by that point, the Irons wouldn’t be in a position to demand big money for the player with just one year remaining on his contract.

Flamengo’s best opportunity to strike a reunion could be next year, if a more illustrious European or Premier League big-hitter don’t move to entice him first.

Legendary former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson heaped praise on new Manchester United signing Senne Lammens as he also shared valuable advice for manager Ruben Amorim, amid the club's unbeaten run in the Premier League. After a difficult start to the 2025-26 campaign, the Red Devils have endured a brilliant unbeaten run, including a three-game winning streak, since October.

• Man Utd chose to sign Lammens over Emi Martinez

  After a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, doubts were raised over Andre Onana's future at Old Trafford. In the summer, United were tipped to replace the underperforming Cameroonian goalkeeper with a new signing, as they were strongly linked with a move for World Cup-winning Argentine custodian and Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez.

  Following Altay Bayındır's poor start in the new season and Onana leaving for Trabzonspor in Turkey on loan, a new goalkeeper's arrival was imminent. The club eventually signed young Belgian custodian Lammens from Royal Antwerp on deadline day as they snubbed Emi Martinez. 

  Since moving to England, Lammens has appeared in five Premier League games thus far, during which he has conceded seven times. He played an important role in Amorim's side winning three back-to-back matches in October against Sunderland, Liverpool, Brighton and has also been compared to legendary Red Devils goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, although the youngster dismissed any such comparisons. 

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  Ferguson hailed Lammens

  Ex-Red Devils boss Ferguson spoke highly of the Belgian goalkeeper as he told : "There are signs, the manager has had some good signs. Particularly the goalkeeper has been outstanding, he’s only played three or four games and he’s looking really good. Of course, Mbeumo and Cunha, the new players from Wolves and Brentford, they’ve added to it. I hope the manager gets a bit of success because at United you need to have success – the signs are getting better. I think back-to-back wins is something teams like United should always expect. But having gone through a cycle where the improvement has to come by waiting and being patient, they’ll enjoy it now."

• Lammens isn't worried despite Onana's misfortune

  Goalkeepers have had to face severe criticism at Old Trafford in recent years, including David De Gea, towards the end of his journey with the club. Then came Onana from Inter but he failed miserably. However, Lammens is not worried about the pressure as he told reporters: "There's been a lot of commotion about the goalkeepers in recent years. They've received a lot of negative comments. I wasn't worried about that. I want to be someone people look up to. My dream is to play here for the next ten years, be important to the club, and build a legacy. That's a long-term goal. 

  "It hasn’t taken long for the Stretford End to fall in love with him. Many fans are hailing him as the next Schmeichel, but the keeper has his feet firmly rooted to the ground. "It was wonderful to hear the supporters sing that to me. A huge compliment, especially after my first match. But I'm not getting too carried away with their enthusiasm. I still have a lot to prove to be mentioned in the same breath as Peter Schmeichel, you know."

  Lammens added: "I ran into him (Schmeichel) on the sidelines after a match. He was very friendly. Schmeichel knows it's not easy to be compared to him. He told me to be there for the team, but above all, to be myself. It was nice to hear that from someone you look up to. It also reassured me in a way."

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  Man Utd aim to get back to winning ways

  After three consecutive wins in the Premier League in October, Amorim's side were held to back-to-back 2-2 draws by Nottingham Forest and Tottenham. They will now aim to get back to winning ways after the international break as they take on Everton on November 24.