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He had given signs of ability with the bat in the past, but the back-to-back knocks against India and UAE at the Asia Cup signals a transformation of sorts for Shaheen Afridi

Shashank Kishore18-Sep-2025Shaheen Shah Afridi always had the batting chops. Until recently, they appeared only in flashes, like at the PSL 2023 final.That night in Lahore, Afridi wasn’t even padded up when Sikandar Raza was dismissed in the 15th over. Yet, he somehow stopped David Wiese from crossing over the boundary rope and beat him to the crease at No. 7 to unleash one of the most electrifying death-over onslaughts in recent memory.Every one of his 44 runs, off just 15 balls, proved crucial as Lahore Qalandars pulled off a one-run thriller in what was one of the all-time great T20 finals.Related

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On Wednesday at the Asia Cup, the stakes were just as high. Pakistan were in knockout territory after Sunday’s seven-wicket drubbing at the hands of India. Afridi himself contributed a T20I best – an unbeaten 16-ball 33 – to revive a faltering innings, and give the bowlers something to defend. The knock barely got its due, though, amid India’s clinical chase and the handshakes-that-weren’t chaos that followed.But it’s unlikely to have escaped coach Mike Hesson. Because, all through that brief innings, there were enough signs that Afridi’s hitting was a weapon Pakistan could increasingly rely on.Sure, there was an element of pre-meditation to his game, but his clean swing, tact in targeting the shorter boundary, and holding his shape to deliveries dug in, especially in the death overs by Hardik Pandya, were all attributes of someone who has spent considerable time working on his craft.If Sunday’s knock was a glimpse of his ability, Wednesday’s against UAE was a reinforcement of Afridi’s batting chops under pressure. With so much happening around the team, there’s no telling what a loss to a lower-ranked, unfancied opponent could have done to the team. And at 110 for 7, with 19 balls still left in the innings, that threat was real.ESPNcricinfo LtdAfridi had seen first-hand the effects a below-par target to defend in the face of dew can have for bowlers, when Abhishek Sharma took all of two deliveries against him to announce himself. UAE openers Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu may not be Abhishek, but in a knockout game, all it takes is one innings to trigger a wave of confidence.It’s likely Afridi wasn’t thinking of a score in mind as much as he was just reacting to what was thrown at him. He ended up biffing 29 off 14 balls, much of it constructed during the course of a telling 20th over, where he turned into the other Afridi, Shahid. The result was two sixes and a four in an 18-run over that lifted Pakistan to 146, when they looked like finishing with 125.If the first six was all about backing away and swinging cleanly to a yorker that went wrong, the second was pure wrist-work mastery as he flicked the ball up and over deep-backward square-leg.The awareness of the bowler wanting to shorten his length as a consequence of being picked away with two full deliveries helped Afridi pocket a boundary as he got inside the line to help it along behind square. As Afridi walked off, he knew, and Pakistan knew, they may have just given themselves enough to defend.2:18

Wasim Jaffer: ‘Pakistan’s batting not convincing at all’

Before the Asia Cup, Afridi had batted 30 times in T20Is for a modest return of 188 runs. Two games into the tournament, he has taken that tally to 250 in 32 innings.The foundations of his new-found batting verve was established at the PSL. From PSL 2018 until the end of PSL 2022, Afridi had hit just two sixes, with a highest of 12. In the last three editions, he has hit 24 sixes – further proof of his improved hitting abilities.Ironically, it may have been a knee injury in 2022 – one that caused much uproar because of the way his rehab was managed – that may have been the turning point. The lengthy rehab phase, where he couldn’t bowl much, allowed him to bat more than he had ever done. And the gains are increasingly evident.It feels strange to talk of Afridi and not talk of his bowling impact or the late banana inswing of the kind that takes Wasim Akram back to his heyday. But it’s actually his batting, despite that wicket of Waseem with some of that late tail, albeit off an inside edge, that has single-handedly kept Pakistan alive in the Asia Cup.While the new-found dimension lends much depth to a brittle batting line-up, Pakistan will do well to ensure Afridi doesn’t end up carrying more than he can manage amid soaring expectation that will now invariably accompany him to the crease every single time.

Home-grown great gives tournament a night to remember at a packed Kia Oval

Vithushan Ehantharajah26-Aug-2023The thing to know about those who have attended matches through the men’s Hundred is that, while some root for their city, most simply root for the batters. After all, they are the ones who control your evening’s entertainment.In a format like this, T20 with the ends chopped off, bowlers restrict, fielders stop, but batters do. They must. Otherwise, what else is there but dots, saves and unused pyrotechnics?By the end of the Eliminator at the Kia Oval, after 49 boundaries among 397 runs, there was just enough fuel in the pyrotechnic tanks dotted around the boundary for the final few blasts to mark Manchester Originals’ achievement, as Jamie Overton slammed the night’s 23rd and final six over long on.The biggest chase in the Hundred’s history had been achieved, at a ground that had only seen one such success in the previous four matches this season. And at the most important time, to send the Originals into Sunday’s Lord’s final to play Oval Invincibles, at the expense of Southern Brave. They will look to make amends after falling short of the 2022 title against Trent Rockets.It’s not for nothing that the Originals polished off this total with an all-English top five. And that Brave’s score was bolstered by an outstanding 56 off 25 by skipper James Vince. As much as the batters carry the burden, any country’s short-format jewel in their home season – no matter how derided – relies on homegrown talent to thrive. So it was apt that, on Saturday evening, all 19,216 in the stands and those tuning in from home were left more than satisfied by an English talent regarded as one of his generation’s greatest white-ball batters, and, heck, he’s in the conversation for “all-time”, too.To be fair to Jos Buttler, he has held up his end of the entertainment bargain across several evenings this last month. As the tournament’s leading run-scorer – with 380, now the highest-scoring individual in a Hundred season and 140 clear of his nearest challenger, Finn Allen – his consistency has been up there with your favourite restaurant. In a fledgling tournament, constantly having to deal with talk of being wiped out, Buttler’s presence throughout and brilliance from the get-go has been an act of invaluable conservation, as far as the tournament organisers are concerned.The ECB will release figures outlining the unequivocal success of this third edition on Sunday morning, and the late boost from this viral innings by England’s limited-overs captain may well add another thick layer of icing before the double-header final provides the cherry.This 82, Buttler’s highest Hundred score, took just 46 deliveries – his 50 came up from 26 – and featured familiar swipes over wide long-on and down the ground. The only thing missing was a scoop. Barring a flay behind third for four, the other nine of his boundaries – four of them sixes – came in the arc from extra cover to midwicket.Related

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Yet, for all the thrill emanating from Buttler’s bat, including his dismissal – skied so high it disappeared into the night sky before reappearing and burrowing deep into Rehan Ahmed’s hands, who almost got buried into the earth with it – there were moments when others came to the fore. Though Buttler was the main character, the supporting actors played their part and, at the start, even outshone him.It’s funny to think Buttler was 12 off 9 heading into the final two balls of the powerplay; two balls he would end up flicking over square leg and punching through cover for a brace of fours that took Originals to 61 for no loss – the equal-highest 25-ball score of the season. After 30, Originals had 82, double what Brave had managed at that stage, and it was not because of Buttler.Phil Salt was the man who lit the touchpaper on this mighty heist. The first three deliveries of the second innings were all taken for four. The first six of the innings was his, slamming George Garton over midwicket. He then finished Overton’s third set – balls 29 and 30 – with back-to-back sixes.”He certainly comes out with some impetus, that’s for sure!” Buttler said of Salt, who would end up with 47 from just 17 balls, out of the opening stand of 83. “He’s a fearless player, he’s got loads of talent. In that kind of chase, to get off to start like he gave us, it’s fantastic.”Buttler, by no means sluggish with 30 off 15 when Salt was dismissed, admitted his partner’s innings had allowed him to get into his flow.”He certainly takes pressure off you, the way he plays. If he gets going, you can turn over the strike and give it to him. I always want to play fast and score as quick as I can. But sometimes you get away to a flyer, sometimes you don’t.”Similar could be said of Max Holden, whose 31 off 17 in a stand of 63 ensured Buttler was not the sole bearer of the load. When Buttler was finally dismissed by Chris Jordan, Laurie Evans struck the 90th ball of the innings for four to leave 12 needed off the last 10, before waiting on a Tymal Mills slower ball to strike the 92nd high over extra cover for arguably the shot of the match. Overton then finished it with four deliveries to spare, holding his shape to obliterate Jordan down the ground.Overton and Evans embraced, before turning to a dug-out already into their own celebrations, all while Buttler looked a picture of calm. For all the frustration at having conceded so many at the halfway stage, Buttler admitted he had always felt they were in with a shot. He’d computed the short boundary, the slickness of the field affecting the ball, and the bowlers’ ability to keep his team quiet.Perhaps the most satisfying thing for Buttler as captain of this group is, even with his own reliability with the bat, those around him have clearly channelled his approach: the positivity, the ruthlessness, the desire to perform under the harshest lights on the biggest stage.Just as he believed they had a chance to knock off 197, he sees no reason why a first Hundred title will not be in their grasp by Sunday night. As do the rest of the Originals. Then again, it is hard not to believe when you’ve got Jos Buttler in your ranks.

The first female chief of the Professional Cricketers’ Association in England talks about her new role, and what’s worrying her about the global women’s game

Matt Roller08-Mar-2021English women’s cricket is in a transitional phase. Forty-one players signed professional terms last year as part of a revamped domestic structure, joining the centrally contracted England players in becoming full-time athletes. With a full schedule of regional fixtures due to be staged this summer, the women’s game has never been on a stronger footing nationwide.Charlotte Edwards’ appointment as the new president of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) is well-timed. Edwards realised when she was approached to take on the role – first by Isa Guha, a PCA board member and her former team-mate, then by chief executive Rob Lynch – that she was better placed than anyone else to help the players union’s new members transition from amateur to professional status.Edwards’ playing career spanned a period in which women’s cricket changed markedly. When she made her England debut in 1996, she paid for her own blazer and wore a skirt; in her final international appearance, some 20 years later, she was playing in a team of full-time professionals under the gaze of the world’s media in Delhi. And she is aware of the scrutiny that professionalism brings, after the dramatic circumstances of her own international retirement five years ago.”We’ve been PCA members for ten years,” Edwards told ESPNcricinfo. “I joined as a player in 2011, three years before we became full-time professionals. I really do feel there’s been a shift: they want to be really inclusive now, and they really want to support the women’s game. There were challenges when I became a professional and hopefully I can share some of those experiences with this group of players and with the PCA, for them to understand what support we can give them.”Edwards highlights three main areas in which she wants to “be really active” in her role as president: helping the professional game navigate the choppy waters of the Covid-19 pandemic and its financial implications; involvement in the Professional Cricketers’ Trust and its fundraising activities; and assisting the women’s game in its shift towards fully professional status, helped by the formation of a new PCA women’s player committee, which was ratified at the same time as her presidency. The third of those, she said, “is probably where my specialism lies”.Related

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On top of her own first-hand experiences as a player, Edwards has been involved with the Southern Vipers since their inception in 2016, initially as a captain and later as director of cricket and head coach, and she has seen the strides made by their five new professionals over the winter. In particular, she acknowledged that in a regional set-up that remains semi-professional, players will respond differently to the challenges involved.”There’s pressure with the contracts,” she said. “Suddenly, it’s these players’ livelihood, and that affects people in different ways, as I’ve seen with my own eyes. With only five contracts [per regional hub], we’ve got an enormous talent pool in this country and there is going to be huge competition for places.”There are 17 centrally contracted England women’s players, who train full-time, like their male counterparts. The ECB awarded domestic contracts to 41 players in December 2020: five at each regional hub, plus a sixth contracted player at the Western Storm. Some players on domestic contracts have continued to work part-time elsewhere as they are contracted for 15 hours a week at their regional hubs.”Players have a platform to perform now. If Georgia Adams, for example, has another brilliant start to the summer, it would be hard [for England] to ignore her sheer weight of runs. I’ve seen the Vipers players kick on enormously over the last six months that we’ve been working with them. If that happens around the country, we’ll have a pool of 40 or 50 players that can firstly make our domestic competition very strong, but equally mean there’s a bigger pool to pick from for England.”There will be players from the England team dropping down onto regional contracts at some stage too. Without doubt, this regional structure is going to create competition now, which is a good thing for English cricket, but we’ve got to make sure that we support the players as much as we possibly can.”But outside of England, Edwards is concerned about the state of the women’s game. This time last year, she was working as a broadcaster at the T20 World Cup and watched a record crowd of 86,174 attend the final at the MCG on International Women’s Day; 12 months down the line, she feels that too few boards have stumped up the required investment to convert that landmark moment into something more tangible.”We’ll have a pool of 40 or 50 players that can firstly make our domestic competition very strong, but equally mean there’s a bigger pool to pick from for England”•Nathan Stirk/Getty Images”It’s hard to think that was 12 months ago,” she said. “This is a perfect opportunity for some of these boards to show how serious they are about women’s cricket. The standard of international cricket is a massive concern: there are two or three teams that are really going away from the pack at the moment, and that gap will only be closed if these countries invest in women’s cricket and put the resources around the teams in place.”I think the ECB have really set the standard, and Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket are clearly alongside them. The worrying thing for me is the likes of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – they just haven’t played any international cricket in 12 months, which can’t be good. A team like India – their male counterparts have played in so many series in that time, so there needs to be some balance there, really.”With a World Cup 12 months away and a Commonwealth Games 18 months away, that really needs to be a priority for them. They need to invest money in their women’s programmes or nothing will change.”In particular, Edwards highlighted the example of West Indies, whose sloppiness in the field and with tactics during their 5-0 defeat in their T20I series against England last September spoke of their recent stagnation.”They won the World Cup in 2016, and in many ways they’ve gone backwards since then. It’s really sad to see. They lit up that World Cup and then it was wonderful to see the public get behind them in their home tournament in 2018. But they just don’t seem to have invested: it’s still the same crop of players who are getting a lot older now.”That comes down to investment in grassroots and in pathways. It’s similar with New Zealand: they don’t seem to have those young players coming through that are competing. England have dominated them in many ways and that is a concern. We want international cricket to be really competitive, and I’m not seeing enough competitive cricket at that level at the moment.”Perhaps the true test will come next year. In the space of 12 months, from March 2022 to February 2023, World Cups will be staged in both ODI and T20I cricket, with a Commonwealth Games in between for good measure. It is not simply because she is a former England captain that Edwards hopes Australia do not blow everyone else away.”You just hope the boards get behind it, really invest, and that we see the best of the women’s game with lots of different countries competing to a high standard. We know that when it’s at its best, it’s a great product and it’s fantastic to watch.”

Lawrence Butler of the Athletics went to extreme lengths to not hustle during a game against the Tigers on Tuesday. Butler came to the plate with one on and no out in the bottom of the eighth in a tie game and hit a towering pop fly.

Butler, who came into the game hitting .208 on the season, swung at the first pitch he saw and popped it up so high the announcer to commented it would have been a "home run in a silo."

A dejected Butler wandered around home plate waiting for the ball to be caught. Except it wasn't. None of the Tigers were able to settle under it and it dropped halfway between home plate and the pitcher's mound.

The ball had been in the air for approximately seven seconds by the time it dropped and all Butler had done was haphazardly walk towards the dugout. Pitcher Troy Melton picked the ball up and fired it to second to get the lead runner and then it was thrown to first for a double play as Butler had basically shut it down as soon as he hit the ball.

Butler recently told an interviewer that he was "fed up" with umpires because they "don't give a f—."

Compare this to what happened in the Red Sox-Orioles game on Tuesday. David Hamilton hit a pop fly with two outs and everyone ran hard. When the ball dropped Hamilton ended up on second with a two-run double.

Amazingly, neither play affected the outcome of either game. The Red Sox were already winning and never gave up a run and the Athletics ended up winning in the 10th inning.

Butler even worked a walk in a six pitch at-bat to set up the walk-off walk and got to celebrate with his teammates.

Jack Leiter took a no-hitter into the 7th inning on Sunday against the Houston Astros. There was even a graphic attached to the scorebug pointing out that he had not given up a hit through 6 2/3 innings, which is exactly when he gave up a home run to Yainer Diaz.

The graphic was quickly removed after the ball landed on the wrong side of the wall.

The game was actually kind of a pitchers' duel, as neither Leiter nor Houston's Framber Valdez gave up a hit through three innings. While Valdez gave up three runs and four hits in the 4th, he came back out and had two more 1-2-3 innings in the 5th and 6th.

Leiter came so close to escaping the 7th without allowing a hit, but Diaz homered on a 3-2 pitch with two outs. Leiter then struck out Zach Dezeno to end the inning and still had a 3-1 lead heading to the 8th. And that's where things fell apart for Texas. Leiter gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning and was charged when both crossed the plate after his exit.

The Rangers eventually lost 4-3.

It's a shame we didn't get to see how far Leiter could have gone. He left after 89 pitches and has never thrown more than 92 in a game. His father, Al, only needed 102 pitches when he no-hit the Colorado Rockies 19 years ago.

It just wasn't meant to be.

Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl hopes to convince Dayot Upamecano to spend the peak of his career at the Bundesliga side by signing a new contract this season. The centre-back can leave for free next summer with Real Madrid, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain said to be after him, but the German giants are aiming to tie him to a long-term deal.

Upamecano under spotlight for a potential transfer

From January, the France international will be free to enter negotiations with other teams over a free summer transfer as his contract at the Allianz Arena nears its end. His impressive displays for the Bundesliga champions and the delicate situation around his future has attracted interest from top clubs like Real Madrid and Liverpool. While Madrid are in search of an experienced figure to lead their defence, Liverpool are eager to secure a top-notch replacement for Virgil Van Dijk, who is reaching the twilight of his career. Bayern transfer chief Eberl is currently in negotiations to ensure Upamecano's extension at the club, but the defender was warned that his decision must not be motivated by financial figures.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportEberl confident of retaining Upamecano

Speaking to , the 52-year-old said: "Upa is now 27 years old, in the golden age for a central defender. He wants to make his decision very consciously, which he should do. Upa should not and will not stay because of the money, even if he got a good offer from us, but because of our general way and the overall package. He is one of the world's best defenders. Vincent, Christoph and I have supported him very much and want to continue on the path we have taken with him and would like to keep him in the prime of his career. He would be the internal king transfer for us. We're still talking to each other. I'm basically a very positive person, and I think I can feel that Upa feels very comfortable with us with the path we've chosen."

Eberl's comments come days after Upamecano was asked about his future. The defender refused to commit either way, though, telling reporters: "It has nothing to do with money. I talk a lot with Max Eberl and [sporting director] Christoph Freund. I’m happy here, I’m having a good season, I’m doing my job, and I’m giving everything for this club. Let’s see what happens."

Negotiations with Upamecano still taking place

Talks between Bayern and Upamecano reportedly stalled recently over disagreements regarding his salary. His representatives are pushing for a salary package close to €15 million (£13m/$17m) per year and a significant signing bonus. The Bavarian giants are desperate to avoid a repeat of David Alaba's free exit to the Spanish capital by convincing Upamecano to stay, with Freund recently insisting it is the club's "main goal" as he addressed the competition from Madrid and Liverpool.

The negotiations are far from over, as Eberl made clear when asked if a final offer had been tabled to Upamecano.

"No, not yet, we are still talking," he said. "I am generally a very positive person, and I believe I can sense that Upa feels very comfortable with the path we have chosen."

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AFPBayern await Arsenal in top-of-the-table affair

Bayern are looking to maintain their unbeaten record this season when they face fellow Champions League table-toppers Arsenal on Wednesday. Both teams have won all four games so far, and have the same goal difference. While Bayern have been more prolific with 14 goals, Arsenal have yet to concede one, keeping the tightest defence in the competition. 

A key component of the game could be set-pieces. Arsenal have garnered a reputation for being deadly from dead ball situations, while Bayern have struggled to defend them of late – a weakness that was exposed in their 6-2 comeback win against Freiburg at the weekend.

"We just have to stay calm and work to get out of this phase and show that we're also good in this department. I have confidence that we'll solve it," Kompany said of their defensive vulnerability. 

Over the years, Tottenham Hotspur supporters have had numerous opportunities to witness numerous elite-level forwards in their first-team squad in North London.

Harry Kane will undoubtedly be the first that springs to mind, after the Englishman netted a total of 280 goals during his decade-long spell as a regular starter.

His tally is the highest in the Lilywhites’ history, but he will no doubt have to hand a huge amount of credit to the direction of former teammate Heung-min Son.

The South Korean often featured alongside Kane in the final third, which saw the duo register 47 goals in the Premier League for one another – a tally making them the best pair in the division’s history.

However, Thomas Frank has been unable to call upon either of the aforementioned talents, with the Dane currently facing a struggle with the options at the top end of the pitch.

Spurs number nine struggles under Thomas Frank

Before a single ball was kicked in 2025/26, many of the Spurs supporters would have anticipated Dominic Solanke to be the club’s starting centre-forward under Frank.

However, it’s been a season to forget for the Englishman to date, with the 28-year-old massively struggling with an ankle issue – even going under the knife to fix the issue.

As a result, he’s been restricted to a total of just 31 league minutes to date, with his last senior appearances for the Lilywhites coming back in August.

Due to the injury issues of Solanke, Richarlison has been handed the responsibility of leading the line in recent months, with the Brazilian making a phenomenal start to the season.

He netted a double in the opening day victory over Burnley in North London, but he’s since only found the net twice in the following ten outings in England’s top-flight.

Prior to netting against Manchester United, the 28-year-old was on a run of ten games without a goal in all competitions, with his previous effort coming way back in the 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion in September.

His lack of form has allowed Randal Kolo Muani to have the opportunity to stake his claim at the top end of the pitch, with the PSG loanee starting in all of the last three outings, including in the meeting with United.

However, he’s also struggled to make the desired impact, with the Frenchman yet to find the back of the net in any of the eight games he’s played in under Frank.

Frank clearly needs to address the issue in such an area of the pitch, but elite-level talismen certainly don’t come cheap in the current climate – with the boss potentially wishing he had his own version of one other Premier League forward.

The Spurs star who is becoming their very own Haaland

Erling Haaland is a player who has constantly tormented countless backlines in the Premier League, often leaving supporters wishing they had a player of his calibre in their side.

The Norwegian international has registered a staggering record of 142 goals in his 160 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s men – cementing himself as one of Europe’s deadliest talismen.

He’s scored four goals in his seven appearances against the Lilywhites, often coming up with the goods and getting one over Spurs since his move to England.

This season alone, the 25-year-old has taken his goalscoring prowess to the next level, already finding the net on 21 occasions in just 18 appearances for the Citizens.

Should Spurs want to land their own version of Haaland, it would cost a small fortune in today’s market, with very few players able to replicate such levels.

However, Frank may already have a similar player in his ranks in the form of centre-back Micky van de Ven – a claim that may come as a surprise given the difference in position.

The Dutch international has been a key member of the Dane’s squad in 2025/26, featuring in every single Premier League and Champions League outing to date.

However, despite his defensive role, he’s thrived in attacking areas, as seen by his tally of six goals in 15 appearances – a tally which has made him the club’s top-goalscorer.

His latest strike came against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday night, with the 24-year-old running the entire length of the pitch before firing home expertly – just as Haaland would do at the Etihad.

Van de Ven’s performance led to one analyst dubbing him the “Haaland of centre-backs”, something which is surprisingly accurate given the Dutchman’s freakish pace and power.

The defender, who’s been labelled “world-class” by another analyst, clocked the fastest speed of any player in the division – which is similar to the Norwegian, with the forward having bags of pace despite his huge frame.

Games played

16

Goals scored

6

Pass accuracy

92%

Chances created

0.6

Tackles won

1.1

Aerials won

1.3

Dribble success

50%

Recoveries made

3.6

His aerial ability has also made him a force to be reckoned with at both ends of the pitch, with his tally of 1.3 aerials won per 90 helping him score a double against Everton earlier this season.

Players like Van de Ven don’t come around very often, with the Lilywhites hierarchy conducting phenomenal business, landing the centre-back for just £40m.

His comparisons to Haaland in 2025/26 are there for all to see, with the Spurs star the closest thing Frank currently has to the Premier League’s leading goalscorer.

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Ahead of the Ashes, Australia offspinner says Shoaib Bashir, England’s current No. 1 spinner, “has been okay”

Alex Malcolm31-Jul-2025Australia’s greatest ever offspinner Nathan Lyon believes that left-arm spinner Jack Leach is still England’s best spinner, and says offspinner Shoaib Bashir, England’s currently injured No.1 spinner and likely Ashes tourist for 2025-26, “has been okay”.Speaking at a Cricket Australia sponsorship announcement in Sydney on Thursday, Lyon said former England seamer James Anderson had revealed to him that Bashir had been selected to try and replicate what Lyon does in Australia. But Lyon believes Leach is still the best spinner England has.”I obviously played with Jimmy Anderson last year at Lancashire, and they basically said that they’re picking Bashir to do what I do,” Lyon said. “So I took a little bit of pride out of Jimmy respecting a little bit of what I’ve been able to do in my career. But Bashir has been okay.Related

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“Jacob Bethell is playing this Test match [at The Oval against India], and he looks like he’ll take up the spin bowling from Liam Dawson. But in my eyes, Jack Leach is still their best spinner.”Leach, 34, has not played for England since last year’s tour of Pakistan, where he had a modest series compared Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who spun Pakistan to victory in the final two Tests. Leach’s return of 16 wickets at an average of 31.43 and a strike rate of 50.75 in three Tests in that series were still well ahead of Bashir’s nine wickets at 49.55 and 79.44, respectively.England have since committed to Bashir as the No.1 spinner across their last three series – against New Zealand, Zimbabwe and India. When he suffered a series-ending finger injury in the Lord’s Test of the ongoing series against India, Liam Dawson returned as England’s sole spinner for the fourth Test in Manchester after eight years in the Test wilderness. Dawson has since been left out for the fifth and final Test at The Oval, with England picking four fast bowlers as well as Jacob Bethell as a part-time left-arm spin option in place of Dawson.Leach took 6 for 63 in his most recent outing, for Somerset against Durham at Taunton, in what turned out to be a two-day game on a pitch that was described as “appalling” by Ian Botham. Leach is currently the fourth-leading wicket-taker, and the leading spinner, in division one of the County Championship this season, with 39 wickets at 24.76, including two six-wicket hauls.Jack Leach played three Tests on the last Australia tour in 2021-22•Getty ImagesLeach played three Tests in Australia on the 2021-22 Ashes tour, taking just six wickets at 53.50, and was left out of the final Test in Hobart. Instead, England picked four seamers in a pink-ball game where Lyon did not bowl a single delivery as Australia won inside three days.Bashir, meanwhile, was sent on the England Lions tour of Australia earlier this year to play three four-day games against Cricket Australia (CA) XI and Australia A, although none of them was played at Test venues.He returned match figures of 2 for 91 and 1 for 109 in the two fixtures against the CA XI in Brisbane. Against Australia A in the unofficial Test at Cricket Central in Sydney, which the Lions lost by an innings, Bashir got 1 for 74 in the only innings he bowled.

“It is a massive role, and it can be a massive challenge for people who haven’t done it in the past in these conditions. But I’m not going to let my secrets out so they come out and perform well out here”Nathan Lyon believes spinners will have their share of role to play in the Ashes this summer

Lyon himself was left out of Australia’s most recent Test match, against West Indies in Jamaica, as the selectors opted for four quicks in a pink-ball game that ended inside two-and-a-half days. But he believes spinners will have their share of role to play in the Ashes in Australia despite the pitches being very seam-friendly in recent years.”It is a massive role, and it can be a massive challenge for people who haven’t done it in the past in these conditions,” Lyon said. “But I’m not going to let my secrets out so they come out and perform well out here. Our guys know how to play spin really well in this country. That’s probably what helped me produce my skill to where it is at the moment. I know I’ll keep trying getting better, and we’ll see how their spinners go.”

At long last, Rangers have got their next manager after officially announcing the appointment of Danny Rohl. The former Sheffield Wednesday manager was not their first choice, that’s no secret, but one former Ibrox star has already pointed out one similarity with club legend Walter Smith.

Danny Rohl: "No time to waste" at Rangers

It’s not Steven Gerrard, it’s not Kevin Muscat, but it is Rohl. Rangers have finally filled their managerial vacancy and must now put full faith in their 36-year-old coach to turn things around after a disastrous start.

For all his inexperience, it’s worth noting that the former Sheffield Wednesday boss has worked with the likes of Hansi Flick and was Ralph Hasenhuttl’s assistant when his Southampton side were at their very best. He is one of the best young managers around and has been handed the biggest job of his career to date.

In an ideal world, Rohl would have all the patience needed to make his mark in Scotland. However, the reality is that he must get off to a solid start following the disaster of Russell Martin’s tenure.

The German is well aware of how urgent things are at Ibrox, though, having told the club’s official website: “We have no time to waste, we start straight away.

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“I respect that trust is earned and understand we have to give the supporters confidence in what we are doing by showing it on the pitch from the start. The expectations are huge and I love this challenge because I set high standards for myself and the team too.”

Some have already hit out at his inexperience, but one former Rangers star has highlighted a key similarity with Walter Smith which may just buy Rohl some time.

Andy Halliday reveals similarity between Rohl and Walter Smith

Speaking on Clyde1 Superscoreboard, former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday revealed a similarity between Rohl and the legendary Smith.

Indeed, Rohl has no experience as the main man in the pressure environment of a top level club with huge support, but cut his teeth behind the scenes at Bayern Munich as Hansi Flick’s assistant. Similarly, Smith arrived at Ibrox with no senior managerial experience, but had coached Scotland’s youth sides.

Of course, Smith is a once in a generation manager, but Halliday’s point stands. The jury should not deliver their verdict until Rohl has had a chance to impress at Rangers.

There will be many who have been left scared by Martin’s time in charge, but Rohl’s reputation suggests that he is a different calibre to the former Southampton boss.

Thursday’s game against Brann in the Europa League hands the young manager the perfect opportunity to prove Halliday right and get his era off to the best possible start.

Rangers are on the brink of bringing a new manager to Ibrox, and have already agreed to four demands from the incoming boss.

Rangers manager latest

As reported by Ben Jacobs, Rangers are close to a total agreement to seal Steven Gerrard’s return to Ibrox. The Gers have identified their replacement for Russell Martin and look destined to welcome the last manager who won them the Scottish Premiership back to Glasgow.

It’s a swift decision from the 49ers, who know that they cannot afford to get another appointment so wrong after Russell Martin’s tenure to forget. The former Southampton boss won just once in seven games in the Scottish Premiership and lasted just 123 days in charge.

The first task for Gerrard will be turning things around after Rangers’ disastrous start. The Gers are already as many as nine points behind champions Celtic and 11 behind unexpected leaders Hearts. Simply put, the Liverpool legend has a monumental task on his hands.

The new manager also has the task of keeping players happy in the club’s current state. Rumours are already emerging that Nicolas Raskin has attracted interest from Turkish side Besiktas, who could make the midfielder one of Rangers’ biggest ever sales.

Losing Raskin would be a disastrous early blow for Gerrard, who could look to throw the Belgian into his strongest side to make up for Martin’s wrongoings.

It’s a tenure that the 49ers will be desperate to see go right after they agreed to one of Gerrard’s main demands.

Gers agree to backroom demands

As reported by TeamTalk, Ibrox chiefs have already agreed to Gerrard’s demands for his backroom staff. The incoming manager reportedly requested Jermain Defoe, Gary McAllister and Steven Davis return to the club with him alongside one other unnamed staff member, all four of which have been agreed to.

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Having been handed that assurance, Gerrard handed Rangers the enthusiastic “yes” that they had been searching for and should now be on his way to take charge for a second time.

The 45-year-old wasn’t afraid to admit the importance of his backroom staff in a recent interview with Rio Ferdinand and has now followed that up with his Rangers demands.

The Gers have handed Gerrard what he requested and now, he must play his part in turning things around at Rangers following such a poor start to the season.