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Bangladesh coasted home in just 13.1 overs, achieving their third-quickest T20I chase

Abhimanyu Bose01-Sep-2025Bangladesh surged to a 2-0 lead in their three-match series against Netherlands with another comfortable win in the second T20I in Sylhet. Netherlands’ batting failed once again, failing to punish the hosts for some sloppy fielding, and seven of their batters were dismissed for single-digit scores as they slumped to 103 all out.Nasum Ahmed, who replaced Rishad Hossain for this game, finished with three wickets, while Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman continued their wicket-taking form with two apiece.Tanzid Hasan then hit an unbeaten half-century as Bangladesh romped to victory in 13.1 overs, making it their third-quickest chase in T20Is (where overs weren’t reduced).Nasum deals early double-blowEven though Max O’Dowd flicked the first ball for a boundary, it was a cagey start for Netherlands, including a missed run-out chance when Mahedi Hasan failed to collect a throw cleanly at the non-striker’s end in the first over with Vikramjit Singh short of his crease.Nasum’s introduction in the third over brought Bangladesh their first breakthrough, and then another.It was more poor execution of shots than the quality of bowling that brought about the wickets, as O’Dowd skied a half-tracker to mid-on and Teja Nidamanuru miscued a cut off another short ball to short third to give Nasum two in two.Vikramjit kept the boundaries coming, cover-driving Mahedi and sweeping Nasum fine before punching the left-arm spinner through point.But he tried to ramp a slower ball from Taskin in the sixth over, got cramped for room, and ended up spooning a catch to short third.Bangladesh sloppy in the fieldTaskin could have had his second off the next ball when Shariz Ahmad skied the ball attempting a swipe across the line but Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who had taken a good catch off the previous delivery, slipped at deep third and spilled the chance.Bangladesh’s sloppiness in the field continued next over, when they failed to capitalise on a mix-up: Towhid Hridoy first tried to run to the stumps from extra-cover, with the ball, and then sent an underarm throw off-target.But Netherlands couldn’t capitalize as Scott Edwards failed to clear mid-on in the ninth over, with Parvez Hossain Emon taking a good catch running back to give Mustafizur his first wicket.Where Bangladesh let simpler chances go, Saif Hassan produced a moment of brilliance to leave Netherlands five down in the tenth over. He dived to his right to stop a flick from Shariz, leaving non-striker Noah Croes, who had set off for a single before turning back, short of his ground with a direct hit.Taskin Ahmed was among the wickets again•BCBDutt resists, but bowlers have final sayFive became six next ball as a Tanzim bouncer cramped Shariz, who could only glove it behind down the leg side.Sikander Zulfiqar, brought into the XI to bolster Netherlands’ batting, made just two before Mustafizur hit the top of his off stump for his second wicket of the evening.Taskin and Nasum then added to their tallies before Aryan Dutt hauled Netherlands past 100, hitting the only six of the innings off Taskin in the process. But he bottom-edged Mahedi onto his stumps as he tried to go for another big shot, ending Netherlands’ innings on 103 with 2.3 overs left unused.Dutt top-scored with 30 and was one of only three Netherlands batters to record double-digit scores.Emon navigates tricky powerplayBangladesh openers rode their luck in the first couple of overs, with Emon top-edging a reverse-sweep over the keeper and missing out on a conventional sweep.But they enjoyed pace on the ball, with both Emon and Tanzid launching medium-pacer Kyle Klein over mid-off for boundaries.Emon was given out lbw off Paul van Meekeren, but he survived upon reviewing and responded by whipping him behind square leg for four and launching him down the ground for Bangladesh’s first six.However, Klein struck in the final over of the powerplay as Emon lost shape trying to hit a length ball down the ground and ended up edging behind.Tanzid, Litton finish the jobEmon’s wicket came during a spell of 15 balls without a boundary, and Litton broke it with a reverse-sweep behind point off Daniel Doram.When O’Dowd was introduced in the ninth over, Tanzid welcomed him with a six down the ground. In the next over, Tanzid tried to go down the ground again off Doram and was given a life with O’Dowd spilling the chance at long-on.Tanzid slogged O’Dowd over midwicket for a four and a six in his next over, the 12th of the innings, and brought up his half-century off 39 balls in the 13th. The rest of the chase was a formality, and Tanzid sealed the win with a slap down the ground.

Bayern Munich are preparing a formal offer to extend Konrad Laimer’s contract following his superb form under Vincent Kompany. The Austrian, hailed by Lothar Matthaus as a “perfect team player”, has become one of Bayern’s most trusted performers impressing with his versatility, intelligence, and tireless work rate across multiple positions.

• Laimer’s rise under Kompany earns contract talks

  Bayern are set to open formal negotiations with Laimer to extend his contract after the Austrian’s outstanding performances under Kompany. Although his current deal runs until 2027, Bayern’s hierarchy are eager to reward his consistency and versatility with an early renewal. According to , talks have already taken place, and an official offer could arrive before the end of the year.

  The 28-year-old has become indispensable for Kompany, adapting seamlessly across positions – from full-back on both flanks to a deep-lying midfielder. He joined the Bundesliga champions on a free transfer from RB Leipzig in 2023, and in just over two seasons, has amassed 101 appearances, contributing five goals and 13 assists.

  Kompany, who values tactical intelligence and adaptability above all else, reportedly views Laimer as a model professional. His tireless pressing and defensive awareness have been vital to Bayern’s 16-match winning streak this season, with the club currently leading both the Bundesliga and Champions League groups.

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  'It would be wonderful if he stays' – Freund on Laimer

  Die Roten sporting director Christoph Freund confirmed the club’s intention to keep Laimer long-term, praising his professionalism and importance to the squad. “Konny is a great guy and a key player for the future,” Freund said. “It would be wonderful if he stays at FC Bayern for a very, very long time.”

  Financially, the deal is expected to be straightforward. Laimer currently earns around €9 million annually, and Bayern are prepared to make a modest adjustment to reflect his growing influence. Laimer’s versatility has been invaluable this season especially amid injuries to key defenders. He has filled in on both flanks, particularly excelling as a right-back in tandem with summer signing Michael Olise, forming one of the Bundesliga’s most effective wide partnerships.

  Even club legend Matthaus has been among those impressed by Laimer’s transformation this term. “I almost have to apologise to Konrad Laimer,” Matthaus admitted on . “I knew about his dynamism, but I had never seen this level of game intelligence on the field as pronounced as this season.”

  He added: "Laimer is the perfect team player. His attitude is always outstanding. A team can't consist solely of goalscorers like Harry Kane, artists like Michael Olise, or a world-class goalkeeper like Manuel Neuer. A team needs a worker like Konrad Laimer. He is characterised by high dynamism and high aggression: every challenge is contested with 100 percent effort."

• The perfect fit for Kompany’s philosophy

  Laimer's consistency embodies the intensity that Kompany demands from his Bayern side. Whether operating as a defensive stopper or an overlapping full-back, his tactical discipline and pressing ability have set the tone for the team’s aggressive, high-tempo style.

  The Austrian international’s flexibility has allowed Kompany to experiment tactically without losing balance. He’s capable of inverting into midfield during build-up phases, a trait the Belgian coach has leaned on heavily in key matches. The Bavarians' attacking brilliance, led by Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Diaz, has drawn headlines, but Kompany has often credited players like Laimer for maintaining structural control behind the stars.

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  Bayern move to secure Kompany’s quiet leader for the long term

  Bayern’s confidence in securing Laimer’s extension stems from his strong rapport with teammates and comfort in Munich. Sources close to the player say he feels “completely settled” and motivated by Kompany’s trust. Internally, there are no doubts as the board view Laimer as a pillar for the next phase of Kompany’s rebuild, particularly as the club transitions toward a younger, more versatile squad profile.

  His influence extends beyond tactics. Teammates reportedly regard Laimer as one of the dressing room’s quiet leaders, a professional who sets standards through work ethic rather than words. If all goes to plan, Die Roten hope to finalize the extension before the winter break, securing one of Europe’s most complete utility players for the long haul.

  As Kompany looks to guide Bayern through a packed run of fixtures, including clashes with Union Berlin and Arsenal Laimer’s consistency will remain pivotal. For a team full of stars, it’s the unsung Austrian who continues to personify Bayern’s new identity: intense, intelligent, and utterly indispensable.

After a disastrous few weeks, Liverpool have now reportedly joined the race to sign a bargain Bundesliga ace in an attempt to solve their current defensive problems.

Klopp fails to rule out Liverpool return

After four defeats in a row, the last thing that Arne Slot needed to see was a Liverpool legend’s admission that he could still one day return to the club. But that’s exactly what Jurgen Klopp handed him when speaking to Steven Bartlett on The Diary of a CEO podcast. Speaking more openly than ever before, the German failed to rule out an Anfield return.

That said, Klopp also took the time to hand Slot plenty of praise, having watched on as the Dutchman secured Premier League glory in his first season at the club.

The Liverpool legend said: “I tried to make it as easy as possible for the guy who would come after me. We have had a lot of contact after I left. He is a super good guy and got the best out of the team.”

Whether Slot will turn to Klopp for advice in the face of Liverpool’s current problems is something that only he will know, but there’s no denying that he needs a solution from somewhere.

Liverpool dud who "plods around like he's 40 years old" is on borrowed time

A number of Arne Slot’s players are underperforming at Liverpool.

ByMatt Dawson Oct 20, 2025

The Reds were once again fragile from the off on Sunday, with Manchester United the latest team to benefit, and Harry Maguire’s late goal ensured that it’s four defeats in a row for the Premier League champions.

For all their spending in the summer, breaking their transfer record twice, Liverpool’s weaknesses are clear for all to see and Michael Edwards must return to the transfer market in search of a solution in January.

Liverpool enter race to sign Diogo Leite

As reported by Milan Live, Liverpool have now joined the race to sign Diogo Leite from Union Berlin in 2026. The Portuguese defender will reportedly be available for just €5m (£4m) next year and has attracted interest from those at Anfield as well as AC Milan and Wolverhampton Wanderers as a result.

It should come as no surprise that Liverpool have found themselves in the race to sign the central defender. As things stand, Slot has just three senior centre-backs to choose from in Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez, who fans will remember cost a similar fee when he joined from Charlton back in 2015, just £3.5m.

Although Marc Guehi is officially set to leave Crystal Palace as a free agent in the summer, there’s no guarantee that Liverpool will win the race for his signature in such circumstances. Instead, they may be better off targeting someone like Leite.

Dubbed “superb” by scout Jacek Kulig during his Porto days, Leite represents the kind of bargain deal that Edwards initially became known for at Anfield. Now, he could return to what he does best to get the Reds back on track.

Lamine Yamal was the subject of Dani Carvajal's angry attention following Sunday’s Clasico encounter between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Los Blancos won the fiercely contested game at the Santiago Bernabeu to inflict Barca's second La Liga defeat of the season, after which Carvajal had the last laugh by making clear his opinion on Yamal's pre-match behaviour.

• Yamal sparks Carvajal anger

  Real Madrid stars were riled up before the eagerly-anticipated grudge match when Yamal had suggested during a YouTube appearance that Los Blancos "rob, complain and do things" to win in nefarious ways. When Jude Bellingham later posted on Instagram following his team's win, the England international's "Talk is cheap" caption was clearly aimed at Yamal.

  As soon as the game finished, Carvajal had let Yamal know exactly his thoughts. The veteran Real Madrid captain, the teenager's Spain international colleague, raced over and made an unmistakable talking gesture with his hand. Marcus Rashford was trying to shake hands with Carvajal, who was dead set on targeting Yamal, who wanted to react to the confrontation but was held back by Eduardo Camavinga and further dragged away by team-mate Marc Casado.

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• El Clasico descends into post-match brawl

  But Casado's intervention did little to end the brewing tension. Thibaut Courtois then raced over to Yamal to get in the teenager's face, prompting a Barcelona contingent led by Frenkie de Jong and Jules Kounde to jump in and protect their young comrade. Yamal managed to escape the situation as pushing and shoving ensued, and was removed by a club official, as others tried to restore peace.

  Vinicius Junior is alleged to have goaded Yamal during the game about Barcelona's struggles to get going creatively: "Nothing but back passes, huh? Just passing it back to the defenders."

  Meanwhile, De Jong said of his brawl involvement: "I didn't see what happened. I was on the bench and saw a lot of people [rush over]. Then the referee blew his whistle, Real Madrid players went after Lamine. It's a bit exaggerated. You'd have to ask them.

  "In the first half, we weren't sharp with the ball. Madrid hurt with their players up front. In the second half, we lacked the ability to create danger and clear chances. If Carvajal wanted to speak with Lamine, call him or text him. You're [Spain] team-mates, you know each other. Why do you have to make a scene on the pitch?"

  Barcelona assistant coach Marcus Sorg defended Yamal: "It wasn't easy for him today. We spoke at half-time, we told him we needed him one-on-one, but he didn't have many chances. They defended well, they tried everything to stop him, and we have to accept that. He was fine, but the injury he sustained [earlier in the season] was serious, and he needs more games to be at his best.

  "We have to give him time and help him, together, so he can get back to his best. The opponents were looking for Lamine and creating two-on-ones to stop him from going inside the box or finishing. He's young and needs to improve, and we'll help him. Maybe the atmosphere at the Bernabeu affected him; he's also learning from everything it creates. He's very motivated and played well. But it wasn't an easy game for him."

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  Barcelona need to respond

  Barcelona have been beaten twice in their last three La Liga outings, leaving Hansi Flick's reigning champions five points adrift of an in-form Real Madrid in the early stages of another title race. Next up is what ought to be a home banker against Elche on November 2, after which attention then turns to the Champions League for a trip to Belgium to face Club Brugge. This current block of fixtures before the next international break concludes on November 9 with Celta Vigo away.

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Não tem jeito: no Brasil, o amor pelo futebol é diferente. Os torcedores brasileiros não poupam esforços para apoiar o seu time do coração nos dias de jogo e uma mistura de emoções e crenças ultrapassam o gramado. Quem aí não conhece ao menos uma pessoa que tem suas superstições no futebol?

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Mas seja no futebol ou qualquer outra modalidade, atletas e torcedores são conhecidos por seguir rituais que acreditam trazer sorte aos seus times e competições. Em nossas redes sociais, perguntamos aos nossos seguidores quais superstições fazem parte da torcida e alguma respostas foram:

– “assistir em casa”;

– “assistir sozinho”;

– “oração antes da partida”;

– “volume da televisão no mesmo número de um título do Flamengo”;

– “assistir na casa da avó”, entre outras.

Essas superstições no futebol, que muitas vezes são passadas de geração em geração, vão além do simples desejo de vitória, transformando-se em vínculos emocionais entre pais e filhos. Em homenagem ao dia dos pais que se aproxima, o Lance! acompanhou pais e filhos fanáticos nos estádios para entender melhor seus rituais pré-jogo e os laços que o esporte cultiva em suas relações. Confira!

Veja as principais superstições no futebol listada por nossos leitores

#1 Vestir a mesma camisa em jogos decisivos

Entre as práticas mais comuns e marcantes está a superstição de usar a mesma camisa em dia de jogo. Clássica entre os torcedores, alguns pais ensinam aos filhos que usar sempre a mesma camisa durante a temporada traz vitórias. Muitos, em caso de jogos decisivos, ainda usam a mesma camisa por anos, mesmo estando desgastada!

No final, não importa muito se ela está rasgada, desbotada ou até mesmo suja, o sentimento que carrega é coisa séria e precisa ser respeitado.

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#2 Contar sempre com um amuleto da sorte

Dentro e fora dos estádios, é comum encontrar torcedores usando esses amuletos especiais. Nós, brasileiros, somos fãs de qualquer objeto que lembre uma boa fé, seja um terço religioso ou até mesmo notas de dólar.

Esses talismãs são tidos como verdadeiros guardiões da sorte e muitas vezes passados de geração em geração.

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E não são só os torcedores que contam com os amuletos para trazer um pouco mais de sorte para a partida. O campeão do mundo, Lionel Messi, enfrentou a França na final da Copa de 2022 com uma chuteira que carregava o nome de seus filhos – Ciro, Thiago e Mateo, e ainda de sua esposa, Antonela. Veja, abaixo:

Se até o Messi acredita em superstições no futebol e usa um amuleto de vez em quando, quem somos nós para não testar essa sorte?

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#3 Assistir ao jogo sempre no mesmo lugar

Em casa ou no bar, em caso de gol ou até mesmo vitórias frequentes, o local para assistir a partida deve ser sempre o mesmo. O que vale mesmo é acreditar que aquele lugar é o que mais dá sorte para o seu time do coração!

#4 Cruzar os dedos para zicar o adversário nos pênaltis

Clássico entre os torcedores, o ato indica sorte para quem o faz, mas a ação é eficaz também para atrapalhar o time rival.

Nos pênaltis, tem quem fique de joelhos, outros fecham os olhos e até desligam a TV. E tem quem faça tudo ao mesmo tempo para chamar o gol ou torcer pela defesa!

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#5 Gritar ‘gol’ ou cantar vitória antes da hora

Há também as superstições “azarentas”, como antecipar a torcida. Torcedor que se preza não comemora antes da bola entrar na rede e estar com o título garantido, mas no calor da emoção da partida, tudo é possível!

Afinal, quem nunca soltou um ‘gol’ antes da hora e depois viu a bola bater na trave? Sabemos que a emoção é enorme, mas timing é TUDO no futebol.

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#6 Assistir às partidas decisivas com quem você ama

No fim, a tradição mais especial nas partidas decisivas é estar ao lado de quem amamos. A paixão do futebol compartilhada de geração em geração é o que torna tudo mais emocionante!

Torcer juntos é uma experiência única e um presente que vai além do campo. Aqui, propomos um desafio: que tal assistir à próxima partida decisiva com o seu pai?

E para presentear o craque que te ensinou a amar o futebol, o Lance! preparou uma lista com as principais lojas com até 70% de desconto nas mais diversas categorias do mundo esportivo. Veja as nossas dicas!

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Bukayo Saka revealed the message he received from Arsenal icon Thierry after scoring in his 200th Premier League appearance on Saturday. Declan Rice and Saka were on target for the Gunners as they comfortably beat West Ham 2-0 at home to go a point clear at the top of the table. Saka returned from an injury just two weeks back and has now scored his second Premier League goal this season.

• Saka second Arsenal player to score on 200th Premier League appearance

  Saka created Arsenal history with his penalty goal in the 67th minute against West Ham as he became only the second Gunners star in history, after club legend Henry, to score on his 200th Premier League appearance. Earlier, Declan Rice had scored the opener in the 38th minute.

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  Saka reveals Henry's message

  Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Saka said: "Thierry messaged me this morning to remind me we lost the last two games to West Ham at home. He is always pushing me. I am really happy to have my name with his records."

• 'It showed the progress we have made'

  On Arsenal's performance against the Hammers, Saka added: "It showed the progress we have made. The last two seasons we slipped up at home against West Ham and we wanted to put that right today. We know the quality we have at the top end of the pitch and we know if we keep a clean sheet, it is more than likely we will win the game."

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  Double injury blow for Arsenal

  Captain Martin Odegaard suffered a fresh blow after being taken off in the 30th minute of the match, while Declan Rice suffered from back pain and had to be subbed off in the 79th minute. Arsenal return to action after the international break against Fulham in the Premier League.

West Ham United boss Graham Potter is walking on increasingly thin ice after a lacklustre start to the campaign, with pressure on the tactician at an all-time high after their London derby defeat to Tottenham on Saturday.

Potter’s side put in an impressive performance away to Nottingham Forest just prior to the international break, winning 3-0 at the City Ground courtesy of goals from Lucas Paqueta, Callum Wilson and Jarrod Bowen, but were on the receiving end of the same scoreline against Spurs.

Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven rounded off a routine win for Thomas Frank’s men at the London Stadium, whilst piling the misery on Potter, who has recorded the second-worst win percentage of any West Ham manager in Premier League history.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12, Graham Potter

27.3%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

Since the former Chelsea and Brighton boss was appointed on January 9, West Ham also have the worst top flight record of any Premier League side outside Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town — who were all relegated last term.

They’ve also conceded 11 goals already, the highest number of any West Ham side at this stage of a Premier League season since Avram Grant’s Hammers were relegated in 2011.

The numbers make for extremely grim reading, and reports suggest that West Ham are internally discussing replacements for the under-fire Potter.

Nuno Espirito Santo is allegedly being considered by West Ham and chairman David Sullivan is a fan of the Portuguese, according to journalist Alan Nixon, with the ex-Wolves and Tottenham boss readily available after leaving Forest.

It is also claimed that West Ham have approached Coventry City boss and ex-player Frank Lampard, who has resurrected his managerial career in the West Midlands and came close to promotion from the Championship last season.

Kretinsky could push for "natural winner" to replace Potter at West Ham

The West Ham shareholder may push for a manager with a fantastic track record to replace Graham Potter.

ByDominic Lund Sep 16, 2025

Even serial winner Jose Mourinho has been linked with a move to east London after departing Fenerbache, but this trio of intriguing names have now been joined by Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna on West Ham’s managerial target list.

Kieran McKenna emerging as frontrunner for West Ham job

That is according to journalist Wayne Veysey and Football Insider, who report speculation is mounting that McKenna is emerging in pole position for the West Ham job after a development.

Veysey writes that McKenna was a surprise guest in the West Ham boardroom during their 3-0 loss to Spurs after being invited to attend.

It is unclear right now what the 39-year-old’s stance is on leaving Portman Road for the English capital, but there is reason for West Ham to consider him as an option.

Why Kieran McKenna could be a good appointment for West Ham

Ipswich’s boss guided them to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, before they were unfortunately relegated last campaign, and reports suggest that McKenna was actually a top Chelsea target to replace Mauricio Pochettino before they hired Enzo Maresca.

The coach, who once played for Tottenham reserves and the Lilywhites youth teams before hanging up his boots due to a hip injury, is regarded as one of England’s most promising young managers.

It’s been a slow start to 25/26 for the Tractor Boys, who’ve just recorded their first win of the Championship season with a 5-0 win over Sheffield United, and McKenna may well be tempted by the prospect of an immediate switch back to the top flight.

He’s also coached Man United and Spurs at junior level, with Liverpool legend John Barnes calling him a “sensational” tactician.

Heather Knight believes that an injection of fresh faces and a return to England’s best format gives them hope of turning around the Ashes series around after they were trounced 3-0 in the ODIs.England have left themselves no option but to win every remaining match of the multiformat series – three T20Is and the day-night Test at the MCG – after falling 6-0 behind with their heavy defeat in Hobart as Australia secured an ODI whitewash. Even if it’s 6-6 heading into that game Australia would only need a draw to retain the Ashes.Related

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“The last Ashes series was 6-0 and we’re able to turn things around,” Knight said. “I think having a change of format will be really good for us. I think T20 cricket is one of our best formats. I think that little reset will do us some good.”We’ve got to keep believing, but we can’t look too far ahead. Back in the last Ashes, we kept it game by game and just got on a bit of a roll. We’re still alive, we’re still in it, and we’ve got to keep believing we can.”Bess Heath, Dani Gibson, Freya Kemp and Linsey Smith come into the squad for the T20Is have not been part of the one-day series.Both teams have points to prove in the format after England went out in the group stage of last year’s T20 World Cup in the UAE and Australia exited in the semi-finals. The home side have not played a T20I since that tournament whereas England have had a tour of South Africa but Knight did not see that as a significant advantage.”I think they’re a team that play T20 cricket very well,” she said. “And as are we. We’ve played some brilliant T20 cricket recently in the last year. So hopefully it does [help] but I don’t think it will make a huge advantage them not playing too much.”England have left themselves needing to win all the remaining matches to take the Ashes•Getty Images

Meanwhile, Kate Cross will be among a handful of England players who will now switch their attention to preparing for the pink-ball Test at the MCG.Knight confirmed that Cross, who has been recovering from a back problem picked up in South Africa, was very close to playing the final ODI and that the bowler herself felt she could have featured.”Kate felt like she was pretty close and probably fit enough to play,” Knight said. “But we felt like it was too much of a risk really because she hasn’t had a huge amount of cricket. She’s still in a place where it is a bit grumbly and can flare up at any time.”The Test match girls will have a little bit of a camp away from us, training, so Tammy [Beaumont] and Ryana MacDonald-Gay will be a part of that. They’ll get a really good preparation. So, it’s moving in the right direction [for Cross].”Switching between formats is a challenge during this series in a condensed schedule. There are just two days between the end of the ODIs before the first T20I at the SCG, then a four-day gap for players to get ready for the pink-ball four-day encounter in Melbourne.Australia are expected to name their Test squad on Monday.

Derby County have been preparing for a tough season by bringing in a number of different-style players. The Rams narrowly survived Championship relegation last season thanks to the February arrival of John Eustace.

After settling the ship at relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers and turning them into play-off contenders, Eustace made the switch to Derby to help guide them to safety. In order to build on last season’s finish, Eustace has signed a mix of experienced players and up-and-coming talents.

Three young players have come in on loan from teams that will feature in the European competitions this season. Bobby Clark from RB Salzburg, Owen Beck from Liverpool and David Ozoh from Crystal Palace have all arrived at Derby with heaps of potential and even more to prove to their parent clubs.

These loan-signings are a part of Derby’s cost-conscious transfer plans that have also seen four more experienced players, including Rhian Brewster, arrive on free transfers. This frugal business has allowed for bigger spending with the likes of Patrick Agyemang for £5.8 million and another potential new arrival who has worked with Eustace in the past.

Eustace wants Travis reunion with Derby bid submitted

Tuesday afternoon saw Derby make their next move in the transfer market as they submitted an ambitious bid of £1.5 million for Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis. Eustace previously managed Travis during his tenure as Blackburn boss and regularly relied upon him when fit.

Eustace was often full of praise for Travis, and in a game where the midfielder had gotten himself suspended, Eustace still described his performance as “sensational” and praised him as a “real leader”.

Unfortunately, this reunion may have to wait a while longer as the Lancashire Times’ Elliot Jackson has reported that the £1.5 million bid has been rejected as it falls short of Blackburn’s evaluation of Travis. The phrasing of this report does indicate that Blackburn may be open to selling their skipper if Derby are able to offer a price that they deem fair.

Travis is a seasoned player and has survived relegation battles before. He fits the model of player that Eustace seems to want to bring in this summer, but, at only 27 years old, Travis may be the best transfer of the bunch.

Eustace backs experience at Derby

The young loanees have their own merits, but they do lack the experience of regular EFL game time and the stress of a relegation battle. Due to this, Eustace has balanced the squad with a number of experienced players who can lead the team to safety.

Age

EFL Games Played

Travis*

27

248

Weimann

34

482

Batth

34

480

O’Donnell

36

383

Morris

29

290

* Not Yet Signed

If Travis arrives, these five players will have played a monumental 1,883 EFL games between them. Last season, Derby had the oldest average squad age in the Championship with 27.6 years, which has now increased to 28.1 years, just behind newly promoted Wrexham.

Eustace must view the experienced players as instrumental to the club’s survival last season, and so is doubling down on including this profile of player in the squad.

Furthermore, Danny Batth, Andi Weimann, and loanee Owen Beck have all played under Eustace before, so it’s clear that he isn’t taking risks and wants either experienced players or those he knows he can trust. Given this and his past comments about Travis, it’s no wonder that Derby are trying to sign him.

Travis may have the fewest appearances of these five players, but he is the youngest by two years. With almost 250 EFL games under his belt, and potentially another five to ten years of football left in him, Travis is the perfect blend of experience and potential longevity that, if signed, won’t only help Derby this season but in the future.

An “important” Glasgow Rangers player has been offered to another club this summer, with his Ibrox future looking in serious doubt.

The Gers know the importance of keeping hold of their most important players this summer, as they look to bridge the gap on Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race.

One player whose future is reportedly up in the air is Nicolas Raskin – the likes of Aston Villa and Wolves have been linked with signing him – but manager Russell Martin has spoken about improving his game moving forward, suggesting that he doesn’t see him leaving.

“We can get more end product out of Nico by doing a bit less. He has big character, he wants to take the ball but I think he’s had to do a lot in the previous season, whereas now we’re going to ask him to do a bit less, and when he does have to stuff, to do it with real quality, intensity and aggression. So, hopefully, we’ll be able to bring out a more impactful Nico.”

While Rangers supporters may be buoyed by Martin’s comments, a worrying new update has now emerged regarding his future at Ibrox.

Raskin's agent offers deal to Real Betis

According to a fresh update from Estadio Deportivo [via Sport Witness], Rangers midfielder Raskin’s agency, Libera Sports, “offered” him to Real Betis in the last few days, as well as Saint-Etienne striker Lucas Stassin.

The Gers ace is valued at around £8.6m, however, and the report states that it will be difficult for Betis to acquire his signature for a “modest price” this summer. Meanwhile, Radio Sevilla also claim that sporting director Manu Fajardo sees the Belgian as high up on the list of midfield options to come in.

Retaining Raskin’s services has to be seen as priority business for Rangers in the coming weeks, considering what a key part of their midfield he has been since arriving from Standard Liege back in 2023.

The 24-year-old is an influential figure in so many ways, bagging six assists and also winning an average of two aerial duels per game in the league last season, being hailed as “important” by Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia.

Martin has to do his utmost to show Raskin that he is ready to build something special at Ibrox, making the Belgium international a vital part of his plans and building the team around him.

Fernandez upgrade at Ibrox: Rangers want to sign "quality" star for UCL tie

Rangers are still pushing to sign Russell Martin’s top target.

By
Ben Gray

Jul 18, 2025

A new contract for the midfielder would arguably feel as important as new signing that comes in for the Gers this summer, but that feels like far from a guarantee currently.