Offspinner Tom Sole and pace bowler Brad Wheal are in line to make their first appearances for Scotland since the 2018 World Cup Qualifier after being named in a 14-man squad to take on Afghanistan in a two-ODI series, beginning on Wednesday in Edinburgh.The 22-year-old Sole was part of the Northamptonshire line-up that took on the touring Pakistan side in a 50-over match on April 29, scoring 22 at No. 8 and returning figures of 0 for 28 in six overs. He was a key member of the World Cup Qualifying campaign last year, taking career-best figures of 4 for 15 against Hong Kong in just his second ODI.Wheal was similarly instrumental for Scotland in Zimbabwe, taking a career-best 3 for 34 in the controversial five-run loss, on DLS method, to West Indies that eliminated Scotland from a place in England for 2019. However, he hasn’t played for Scotland since due to commitments with Hampshire.The Durham-based pair of Michael Jones and Gavin Main have also been recalled into Scotland’s squad for the pair of matches. Like Wheal and Sole, the 21-year-old batsman Jones has not appeared for Scotland since last year’s World Cup Qualifier.Medium pacer Main has spent a bit longer out of the side, having not appeared in an official match for Scotland since the 2016 T20 World Cup in India when he was in the XI for Scotland’s win over Hong Kong. However, he did play for Scotland in an unofficial 50-over match against Sri Lanka ahead of the 2017 Champions Trophy in which Scotland lost by nine wickets.Four bowlers have been left out from the Scotland side that defeated Oman 2-1 in a three-match 50-over series as well as won the T20I Quadrangular series in February, featuring Oman, Netherlands and Ireland, in Muscat. Medium-pace bowlers Ruaidhri Smith and Adrian Neill as well as left-arm spinner Hamza Tahir and legspinner Chris Greaves have all been omitted.Smith took career-best List A figures of 4 for 7 in a historic rout of Oman in which Scotland bowled them out for 24, in Muscat. But he only bowled three overs in the following match after sustaining a pectoral-muscle strain and has not bowled thus far in 2019 for Glamorgan in the County Championship. Neill, similarly, took 4 for 7 on that occasion against Oman but suffered a lower-back injury later in the tour and is continuing his rehabilitation with the Gloucestershire second XI.Tahir played only one match on tour in Oman and is yet to play any ODIs for Scotland after making his T20I debut last summer, against Pakistan. Greaves is yet to play for Scotland in any format.The two ODIs are Afghanistan’s first visit to Edinburgh since claiming a rain-affected 1-0 series win in the summer of 2016. The fixtures are also Scotland’s first ODIs since defeating England last June at the Grange.On the management side, Wednesday’s series-opener will be the first assignment of new head coach Shane Burger. The Afghanistan series are his first ODIs in charge of Scotland since arriving from South Africa in March, having taken over from interim coach Toby Bailey following Scotland’s tour of Oman.Scotland squad: Kyle Coetzer (capt.), Richie Berrington, Matthew Cross (wk), Alasdair Evans, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Calum MacLeod, Gavin Main, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Tom Sole, Craig Wallace, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal.
After passing a fitness test, the left-arm wristspinner Zahir was one of two bowlers added to Afghanistan’s Test squad
ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2019Afghanistan have strengthened their bowling arsenal for their first ‘home’ Test – against Ireland on March 15 – by adding left-arm wristspinner Zahir Khan and left-arm seam bowler Sayed Shirzad to the squad.Zahir was initially not selected for the Test since the ACB was awaiting his fitness report. But now that Zahir has been declared fit, he will join the team in Dehradun. He has an outstanding first-class record, with 34 wickets in seven matches, at an average of 13.14. The 24-year-old Shirzad has played 15 first-class games, taking 49 wickets – including four five-wicket hauls – at an average of 25.38.”Both Zahir Khan and Sayed Shirzad have very good bowling records in first-class cricket and have played in the ICC Intercontinental Cup for Afghanistan,” Afghanistan’s chief selector Dawlat Ahmadzai said while announcing the update. “We were awaiting Zahir’s fitness report when announcing the initial 14-member Test squad and now that he is fully fit, we have decided to add him to the squad.”Sayed Shirzad is added as an additional pacer in the squad to have another bowling option if needed.”It will be Afghanistan’s second Test in India but will be designated as their first home game. For their opponents Ireland, it will be their first away Test, having made their debut against Pakistan in Dublin last year.Afghanistan squad: Asghar Afghan (capt), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Ihsanullah Janat, Javed Ahmadi, Rahmat Shah, Nasir Jamal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ikram Alikhail, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Wafadar Momand, Yamin Ahmadzai, Sharafudin Ashraf, Waqar Salamkhail, Zahir Khan, Sayed Shirzad.
South Africa still haven’t quite figured themselves out in international Twenty20 cricket. They have lost more often than they have won in the last two years, cycling through four captains and no less than 28 players. While Vision 2019 is taking shape, South Africa’s perspective in the shortest format has perhaps been less than 20/20.The placement of T20Is in the international schedule, too often an apparent afterthought tacked on to the end of a tour, hasn’t helped in the past, but that is beginning to change. South Africa have played three three-match T20I series since the World T20 in 2016 – with just two one-off games against New Zealand and Sri Lanka – and they will now add a fourth against Zimbabwe, with the opener in East London followed by matches in Potchefstroom and Benoni.While the format is different, the World Cup in England next year nevertheless looms on the horizon, and the upcoming games might well be seen as an audition for further white-ball honours. The tone of T20 cricket will certainly suit South Africa’s general push towards sustained aggression in their one-day plans, and the hosts’ batting will be bolstered by the return of Quinton de Kock and David Miller, who were both rested for the ODIs.With Faf du Plessis back at the helm and JP Duminy included, there is a much more experienced look to the batting line-up, as well as some fresh new faces looking to break into the team. There are two potential debutants in batsmen Gihahn Cloete and Rassie van der Dussen, while Junior Dala gets another opportunity with the ball and Dane Paterson and Robbie Frylinck return after missing the trip to Sri Lanka in August.For their part, Zimbabwe put in their best all-round performance of the tour in the third ODI, and they won’t mind a change of format that should bring the teams closer together. Zimbabwe don’t have much of a record to speak of in T20 cricket, but took games against formidable Pakistan and Australia sides into the last over during the tri-series in July. These upcoming matches could be their best chance to spring a surprise and secure their first T20I win in two years.
Form guide
South Africa LLWLW (last five completed matches, most recent first) Zimbabwe LLLLL
In the spotlight
There are a few new names in South Africa’s squad, and one that stands out is Rassie van der Dussen. Only Lendl Simmons scored more runs than him at the Global T20 Canada and van der Dussen capped a fantastic tournament with 44 in the final to help the Vancouver Knights lift the title. He clearly impressed Vancouver’s coach, Donovan Miller, who also coaches St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the CPL and took van der Dussen with him to that tournament. He has got three T20 hundreds and experience in multiple roles: opening the batting for Lions alongside Reeza Hendricks, and playing a middle-order finishing role for the Knights and the Patriots.Solomon Mire is the only real dasher in a Zimbabwe top order composed of players who like to take their time, and whether or not he comes off could be vital to their success in a format that demands rapid scoring from the get-go. He’s not had a good tour so far, with scores of 0, 2 and 7 in the ODIs, but T20 suits Mire’s game. Before he was sidelined by gluteal tear in July, he had enhanced his reputation with a rapid fifty against Australia and came within one shot of becoming the first Zimbabwean to score a T20I hundred with 94 against a Pakistan attack that is one of the best in this format.
Team news
Quinton de Kock’s return presents South Africa with something of a middle-order conundrum. He will replace Heinrich Klaasen as wicketkeeper, but Klaasen could retain his place purely as a batsman based on recent form. If that happens, JP Duminy could be the man to miss out. With Reeza Hendricks playing for his first-class team Lions, it is likely Gihahn Cloete will make his international debut.South Africa (possible): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Gihahn Cloete, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 Rassie van der Dussen, 5 JP Duminy/Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Robbie Frylinck, 8 Andile Phehlukwayo, 9 Junior Dala, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Imran TahirZimbabwe may well have a new opening pair for this match, with Chamu Chibhabha coming into the squad, and Tarisai Musakanda replacing Craig Ervine in the middle order. Tendai Chatara had a horrid time with the ball in the third ODI and could make way for Chris Mpofu, and Tendai Chisoro’s left-arm darts should be preferred to Wellington Masakadza’s.Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Solomon Mire, 2 Chamu Chibhabha, 3 Hamilton Masakadza (capt), 4 Brendan Taylor (wk), 5 Tarisai Musakanda, 6 Sean Williams, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Tendai Chisoro, 9 Brandon Mavuta, 10 Kyle Jarvis, 11 Chris Mpofu
Pitch and conditions
East London’s Buffalo Park hosted nine games during last month’s Africa T20 tournament, including both semi-finals and the final, won by Temba Bavuma’s Gauteng side. The scores during those matches suggest decent conditions for T20 cricket, with an average first-innings score of 153. Namibia breached 200 against against Mpumalanga, and almost throughout, the top-order batsmen enjoyed themselves. Expect another good batting pitch, and a temperate, coastal evening.
Stats and trivia
Buffalo Park has only hosted one T20I previously, in which Martin Guptill’s last-ball hundred secured the tightest of wins for New Zealand
Zimbabwe have played 40 ODIs in the last two years, but only six T20Is, with all of those coming this year.
Over the same time period, South Africa have played fewer ODIs – 35 – but more than twice as many T20Is – 13
Quotes
“There are a lot of guys in the team who are quite new. Looking at their performances at the domestic level, they’re really deserving of their caps.”
The fast bowler picked up 5 for 100 as Western Australia were bowled out for 251 in their second innings despite Josh Philippe’s maiden century
The Report by Alex Malcolm19-Oct-2018Chris Tremain goes up in appeal•Getty Images
Last season’s leading Sheffield Shield wicket-taker Chris Tremain has picked up where he left off, claiming nine wickets in Victoria’s innings demolition of Western Australia at the WACA ground.Victoria’s march to victory was halted by heavy rain on day three. But despite a sparkling maiden Shield century from Josh Philippe, the game was wrapped up before lunch on day four.Philippe and Cameron Green put on a 78-run partnership for the seventh wicket to frustrate Victoria. Philippe added 17 to his overnight score to reach his century before falling to Scott Boland for 104 from 142 balls.Green watched helplessly from the non-striker’s end as Boland then knocked over Usman Qadir and David Moody for ducks before Tremain trapped Simon Mackin in front for nought to complete his sixth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. Green finished on 35 not out.Will Pucovski was named Player of the Match for his stunning 243.
Mohammad Ashraful believes he can represent Bangladesh again, with his five-year ban set to end later this week
Mohammad Isam09-Aug-2018
Mohammad Ashraful playing in an unaffiliated cricket tournament in New York•Peter Della Penna/Peter Della Penna/ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Mohammad Ashraful still harbours hopes of playing for Bangladesh again after his five-year ban for involvement in match-fixing and spot-fixing in the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League officially ends on August 13. Henceforth, he will become eligible for international cricket and the BPL, having already been allowed to play in Bangladesh’s domestic competitions on the same day in 2016.Ashraful is delighted to be making the return, saying he had been waiting for this day for the last five years.”I have been waiting for August 13, 2018 for a long time now,” Ashraful told ESPNcricinfo. “It has been more than five years since the day I admitted my involvement. Although I have played domestic cricket in the last two seasons, there is now nothing preventing me from being eligible for national selection. Playing for Bangladesh again will be my greatest achievement.”Mohammad Ashraful’s ban: a timeline
May 31, 2013 A: BCB investigates allegations June 4, 2013: BCB indefinitely suspends Ashraful. Later that day, Ashraful admits to fixing during the 2013 BPL
January 18, 2014: BPL anti-corruption tribunal begins hearing
June 2, 2014: Ashraful plays in unofficial US tournament June 18, 2014: BCB bans Ashraful for eight years July 22, 2014: Ashraful appeals against ban September 29, 2014: BCB’s disciplinary panel reduces Ashraful’s ban to five years
October 21, 2014: BCB unsuccessfully appeal against Ashraful’s ban reduction August 13, 2016:Ashraful’s ban from domestic cricket ends August 13, 2018: Ashraful becomes eligible to play all international and BPL cricket
The highlight in these two seasons has been his five List-A centuries in the 2017-18 Dhaka Premier League. He is only the second batsman to do so in a single List-A tournament; the other being Alviro Peterson in the 2015-16 Momentum One-Day Cup on South Africa’s domestic circuit.He has averaged 47.63 in 23 List-A games since the ban was lifted, but his first-class form hasn’t been as good – a 21.85 batting average in 13 matches, with just one century. “The first season after my return wasn’t great but I did well in the 2017-18 season. I hope to do even better in the coming seasons,” he said.”Now I can be considered for selection through my performance. I have already gone through a month-long training programme and after August 15, I will go into pre-season training leading into the upcoming season’s National Cricket League.”In June 2014, the BPL’s anti-corruption tribunal had banned Ashraful for eight years and fined him BDT 10 lakh (USD 12,000 approx). In September that year, the BCB’s disciplinary panel reduced the ban to five years, with the last two of those years suspended. The BCB and ICC unsuccessfully appealed against the ban reduction. The reduction was subject to his participation in a BCB or ICC anti-corruption education and training programme. Accordingly, Ashraful took part in an anti-corruption programme and during the 2015 BPL, appeared in awareness videos shown to players and officials.
Hannah Hidalgo and No. 8 Notre Dame rolled to a 79-68 home upset victory over No. 2 UConn on Thursday night in South Bend.
Hidalgo, who is one of the best players in women's college basketball, scored 29 points while adding 10 rebounds and eight assists in the victory. Fellow running mate Olivia Miles rolled her ankle early in the contest, but returned to score 16 points for the Irish. Liatu King also added 16 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.
But the story was Hidalgo's performance, as she continues to improve upon her standout freshman season a year ago. After the statement win, Notre Dame's social media account called Hidalgo the best two-way player in the country, which is hard to argue given her defensive prowess and continued improvement offensively.
The win for Notre Dame extended a three-game win streak that started with a 10-point win over No. 4 Texas in overtime last week.
As for UConn, star Paige Bueckers scored 25 points in a losing effort, but the team as a whole was plagued by 13 turnovers and a paltry 3-of-16 mark from three.
After authoring MLB's first 50-home run, 50-stolen base season and winning the National League MVP award in 2024, Shohei Ohtani has picked up right where he left off. In Tuesday's season-opening win over the Chicago Cubs, Ohtani rapped out two hits. On Wednesday, after narrowly missing a home run in his first at-bat of the game, Ohtani belted a solo homer in the top of the fifth inning to give the Dodgers a 6-2 lead.
So, the Cubs, seeing firsthand the damage Ohtani had already done, decided to take no chances. Chicago intentionally walked Ohtani in his fourth plate appearance of the game in the top of the seventh inning—and the fans at the Tokyo Dome were not happy.
On the one hand, one can hardly get mad at the Cubs for not wanting to pitch to Ohtani, a three-time MVP and arguably the best baseball player on the planet. On the other hand, it was a perfectly understandable reaction from the fans in Japan, who have enjoyed every bit of the show that the Dodgers star has put on in his return to his native country.
В Epic Games Store появилась вторая бесплатная игра из серии новогодних раздач. До завтрашнего вечера пользователи могут забрать платформер Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty.
New ‘n’ Tasty — это ремейк классической адвенчуры Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee, вышедшей в 1997 году. Управляя Эйбом, игрокам предстоит сбежать из фабрики, владелец которой решил буквально превратить своих рабочих в мясные консервы.
Средняя оценка игры на Metacritic составляет 87 баллов — столько же сейчас у PC-версии Cyberpunk 2077.
Получить подарок можно по ссылке до 19 декабря 19:00 МСК. Судя по тизеру, завтра игроки смогут забрать The Long Dark.
🌕 Спустя 13 лет вышел космический хоррор с вылазками на Луну и саундтреком Мика Гордона — Routine
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A look at his performances against those of other players in the same matches
Kartikeya Date29-Apr-2018Twenty years ago this week, Sachin Tendulkar scored two hundreds in two run chases against the Australians in Sharjah. The first ended in defeat for his team, but ensured India qualified for the final of the tournament. The second won India the tournament.Tendulkar has played better in ODI cricket than he did that week dozens of times since that innings, and a few times before as well. The wicket in Sharjah was flat. Australia didn’t have Glenn McGrath or Jason Gillespie. Brett Lee was yet to emerge and there was no serious pace in the Australian attack that day. As a technical challenge, the Australians of 1998 were decidedly average (despite the presence of Shane Warne). For difficulty, consider, for instance, Tendulkar’s 77 in Brisbane against Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall, Patrick Patterson and Anderson Cummins in 1992. The other Indian batsmen in the top six that day made 4, 1, 1, 8 and 3, and the next best score was Kapil Dev’s 28. Or consider any one of Tendulkar’s 18 scores between 90 and 99 (Nathan Astle, Aravinda de Silva and Grant Flower have nine each, the next highest), and you will find memorable stories, difficult attacks, difficult targets or difficult conditions in many of them.In retrospect, that week 20 years ago came to symbolise an era in India’s (and Tendulkar’s) ODI history. Cricket, it is said, is an individual sport masquerading as a team sport. I think this is backwards. Cricket is a team sport masquerading as an individual sport. Each delivery involves exactly one bowler and one batsman, but its possibilities are shaped by realities beyond the control of these two individual players. When teams win consistently, they tend to have a large number of top performers. But to find the truly exceptional individual superstar, look in a team that loses more often than it wins. Think about Andy Flower, or Brian Lara in the latter half of his career, or Muttiah Muralitharan in the Sri Lankan attack. Think, indeed, about Tendulkar in India’s ODI side of that era.Previously, I’ve written about how the central difference between Virat Kohli and Tendulkar in the ODI game is the contribution at the other end. In 48 years of ODI cricket, there have been 130 instances of batsmen scoring 1000 or more runs in a calendar year. I calculated the net batting average and net strike rate for each of these 130 instances.Kartikeya DateTendulkar made 1894 runs in 1998 at an average of 65.3 and a strike rate of 102 runs per 100 balls faced. The other batsmen in those matches scored at 32.6 and averaged 80 runs per hundred balls faced. This gave Tendulkar a net batting average of +32.7 and a net scoring rate of +22. This is represented by the red dot in the chart above. The blue dots represent corresponding records for all other instances of batsmen scoring 1000 or more runs in a calendar year.The extraordinary performance in the top right corner is AB de Villiers in 2015. De Villiers made 1193 runs at 79.5 and scored at 138 runs per hundred balls faced. The other batsmen in those matches scored at 41.6 and at a strike rate of 99 per 100 balls faced. De Villiers crossed 50 ten times in 18 innings that year. In nine out of those ten innings, he scored at least a run a ball. He had innings of 149 (44 balls), 162 not out (66), 119 (61) and 104 not out (73) – an extraordinary year.Other players have averaged better than 70 in a calendar year, scoring more than 1000 runs. In 2017, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma both achieved this, and both scored at 99 runs per 100 balls faced. Hashim Amla made 1058 runs at 75.6 in 2010. He scored at 104 runs per 100 balls faced; the other batsmen in those matches managed to score at 99 runs per 100 balls faced, and averaged 42.8. MS Dhoni made 1198 runs at 70.5 in 2009, scoring at 86 runs per 100 balls faced; the other batsmen scored at 101 runs per 100 balls faced, and averaged 35.9. Ricky Ponting made 1193 runs at 79.5 in 2007, and scored at 92 runs per 100 balls. Australia won the World Cup that year and the other batsmen averaged 44.8 and scored at 103 runs per 100 balls.In an earlier era, Dean Jones made 1174 runs at 69.1 and scored at 79 runs per 100 balls faced. The other batsmen in those matches scored at 32.3 and at 79 runs per 100 balls faced. In 1987, Javed Miandad made 1084 runs at 67.8 and scored at 70 runs per 100 balls faced; the other batsmen scored at 29.8, but managed 81 runs per 100 balls faced.A batsman who scores 1000 ODI runs in a calendar year can be said to be having a great year. Tendulkar in 1998 and de Villiers in 2015 are unique in that they were not only more consistent than their team-mates, but scored significantly quicker than them as well. A comparison between Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, who scored 1000 runs or more in a calendar year six times, is illustrative. In five out of these six years, Ganguly scored slower than the other batsmen in his matches.
Ganguly and Tendulkar in years when they made over 1000 runs in ODIs year
PlayerYearAggregateAvgSRAvg at other endSR at other endGanguly1997133841.87028.482Ganguly1998132841.57035.486Ganguly1999176746.57631.184Ganguly2000157956.48326.179Ganguly2002111438.48335.594Ganguly2007124044.37336.395Tendulkar1994108947.38938.480Tendulkar1996161153.78226.578Tendulkar1997101130.68529.578Tendulkar1998189465.310232.680Tendulkar2000132839.18228.980Tendulkar2003114157.1872981Tendulkar2007142547.58632.389Tendulkar played ODI cricket for India from 1989 to 2012. In all but two of those years, he played at least ten games. Using the method of the net average and strike rate, his career can be split into three distinct phases. The chart below shows Tendulkar’s net average and strike rate per calendar year. Each point represents a calendar year (1989 and 2010 are ignored).Kartikeya DateThe first, formative, phase ran from 1989 to 1993 (green dots in the chart above). Tendulkar played in the middle order in a largely unsuccessful side. In 1994, the coach Ajit Wadekar and captain Mohammad Azharuddin decided to move Tendulkar to the top of the batting order.This began the second phase (red dots) of Tendulkar’s career. He was both the most consistent and quickest-scoring player in the side. It was in this phase that he stood out as the exceptional performer. This phase could be said to have ended with the 2003 World Cup in particular, and the year 2003 in general.In 2004 (and especially 2005), Tendulkar struggled with injuries, and the Ganguly era was drawing to a close, giving way to a significantly stronger and more successful Indian ODI side. In this third phase (blue dots), Tendulkar was more consistent than his average team-mate but scored slower.
Tendulkar’s ODI career divided into three phases
PhaseInningsRunsAverageStrike rateAverage at other endStrike at other end1989-199365167931.17427.7741994-20032561100648.58931.4812004-2012142574144.28534.092Desert Storm marked an exceptional point in that middle phase of Tendulkar’s career. I’ve always thought that the emblematic innings of that phase was not one of the Sharjah ones but his 90 in 84 balls against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in 1996 in a World Cup game. Australia batted first and reached 258, thanks to Mark Waugh’s 126. During the innings break, Geoffrey Boycott was asked whether he thought India would chase these runs. He said: “No.” After a while, he said, “They have a chance if Tendulkar scores big.”Nearly two hours later, Tendulkar was nearing his hundred, with Sanjay Manjrekar for company. He had taken McGrath to the cleaners with the new ball and seemed to be able to do as he pleased, no matter who was bowling.Boycott was asked again what he thought. “If Tendulkar goes, they’ll struggle,” he said.When Tendulkar was dismissed, India had six wickets in hand and needed 116 in about 24 overs. Boycott didn’t think India would get those, and he was right.On April 19, 1998, in Sharjah against Australia, Tendulkar made 80 in 72 balls as India chased 265 and lost by 58 runs. On April 22, he made 143 in 131 as India chased 276 and lost by 26 runs. Finally, on April 24, he made 134 in 131 as India chased 273 and won by six wickets. Over those three games against Australia, Tendulkar made 357 in 334 balls and was out three times (avg 119, SR 107). At the other end, 374 runs were scored in 497 balls for 17 dismissals (avg 22, SR 75).India lost three out of their five matches in that tournament and still won the title. They lost two of their three matches against the Australians and still won. In a sense, both India and Tendulkar played to form that week. India showed themselves to be the average side that they were then, who lost more than they won. Tendulkar showed himself to be a miraculous player approaching the peak of his powers.That magical year 20 years ago gave the Indian team a look at limited-overs mastery they could aspire to. Indeed, by the time Tendulkar left the international game in 2013, he was no longer the miraculous player from 1998, but India had come closer to being a miraculous side than at any other time in their history.At his best or otherwise, I found Tendulkar’s batting mesmerising to watch. But as good as his batting was, the advancement of the Indian side during these 20 years is perhaps Tendulkar’s greater achievement.
With the January transfer window now shut, attention is now already turning to the summer window, and some clubs are still nervously sweating on the futures of some of their stars.
That comes with a slew of Premier League stars set to see their current contracts expire at the end of the current campaign, with 19 of the 20 clubs set to lose at least one player as a free agent as things stand and some clubs losing as many as eight members of their first-team squad.
Though there is still time for that to change in the months ahead, a massive 78 players across the top flight are set to walk away for absolutely nothing in June 2025 as it stands. Below, we’ve broken down each club’s current situation.
Arsenal 3 players
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are set to lose three players at the end of the season unless they take action in the coming months.
Kieran Tierney is set to finally end his torrid spell in north London, and has even reportedly agreed a return to Celtic, while Italian midfielder Jorginho is also out of contract and has been linked with a move to Flamengo when his deal expires.
Of their strongest first XI, they could also be waving goodbye to Thomas Partey as things stand, with the Ghanaian’s deal also coming to an end, though there is still time to change that.
Player
Age at expiry
Position
At club since
Kieran Tierney
28
Defender
August 2019
Jorginho
33
Midfielder
January 2023
Thomas Partey
32
Midfielder
October 2020
8 senior Arsenal players Arteta could sell in the summer
Arsenal could have a mass clearout this summer.
2 ByRoss Kilvington Feb 7, 2025 Aston Villa 2 players
Robin Olsen warming up for Aston Villa.
Aston Villa are in a slightly healthier position than Arsenal, with only two players set to depart for nothing at the end of the current campaign.
Defender Kortney Hause and goalkeeper Robin Olsen are the two in question, with Hause having failed to make an appearance in any competition under Unai Emery this season, while Olsen has only managed two, suggesting that neither will be missed too much at Villa Park.
Bournemouth 0 players
Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth are the only side across the entire top flight without players set to be out of contract this summer, though they will lose Kepa Arrizabalaga as he returns to Chelsea from his loan spell at the Vitality Stadium.
The south-coast outfit are still likely to be busy in the summer, though, with their impressive form having caught the eye of plenty of clubs, with the likes of Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen and Antoine Semenyo all being linked with Europe’s elite in recent months, leaving the Cherries with a headache of a different nature as they juggle their own ambitions with potential significant windfalls.
Brentford 3 players
Thomas Frank set to lose two of his Brentford veterans as things stand. 35-year-old centre-back Ben Mee is out of contract at the end of the season, but has been largely phased out of the squad this term, making just six appearances in the top flight.
The same cannot be said for Christian Norgaard, who has been a key man for the Bees this season, but whose deal expires this summer. Though there is thought to be an option for a further year included, it has not yet been activated, and as it stands, the Dane will be seeking a new challenge away from the Gtech.
Also set to be a free agent is Josh Dasilva, who has not featured this season after undergoing knee surgery, and whose deal also includes the option of a further year yet to be exercised.
Brighton & Hove Albion 4 players
Andy Robertson challenges Tariq Lamptey
Tariq Lamptey leads four players set to depart Brighton this summer for nothing, with the young defender having struggled for game time under Fabian Hurzeler and his time on the south coast having been plagued by injury.
Also set to leave, and perhaps retire, is 39-year-old midfielder James Milner, who has struggled with a thigh injury all season and whose short-term deal will expire at the end of the season. Goalkeeper Tom McGill, who spent the first half of the campaign at MK Dons, is also set to become a free agent.
More concerningly for the Seagulls is that Joel Veltman’s contract is also up, with the Dutchman having been a key figure at full-back in recent seasons and making 18 appearances already this campaign. He is one that they will certainly need to renew or replace adequately.
Chelsea 1 player
Given Chelsea’s recent habit of offering extremely long contracts for most players they sign, it is probably little surprise to know that only Lucas Bergstrom is set to leave for nothing at the end of the current campaign.
The 22-year-old shot-stopper has spent this season at Stamford Bridge, but is well down the pecking order, and with both Mike Penders and Djordje Petrovic set to arrive back in west London, his future is clearly away from the Blues.
7 goalkeepers who could replace Robert Sanchez at Chelsea
Chelsea are in dire need of a new ‘keeper…
1 ByBarney Lane Jan 27, 2025 Crystal Palace 6 players
CrystalPalace's WillHughesreacts
It is going to be a busy summer at Selhurst Park. While all the focus has been on Marc Guehi, whose contract expires in 2026, Crystal Palace are set to lose six players for nothing this summer.
There remains uncertainty over Tyrick Mitchell, with some suggestions that he has already penned a new contract beyond 2025, but they are certainly on course to lose Will Hughes, who has been a key man for Oliver Glasner amid injuries to his first-choice midfielders.
Meanwhile, long-standing servants Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward are both set to leave, with the pair having seen their roles reduced significantly this season.
Elsewhere, veteran goalkeeper Remi Matthews will see his deal expire, and talented 20-year-old winger Franco Umeh-Chibueze is also set to become a free agent.
Everton 8 players
Everton's DominicCalvert-Lewincelebrates their third goal, an own goal scored by Tottenham Hotspur's Archie Gray
As if Everton didn’t have enough on their plate with financial struggles and the move to a new stadium, they are also set to lose the joint-most players out of any Premier League outfit this summer.
Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin leads a gaggle of first-team stars set to leave for nothing, a group that includes Abdoulaye Doucoure, Idrissa Gueye and Ashley Young, while squad players Michael Keane and Seamus Coleman are both also set to miss playing in the new stadium on Merseyside unless new terms can be agreed.
Fulham 6 players
Willian’s return to Fulham on a short-term contract means that he will again depart Craven Cottage at the end of the season as things stand. He leads a lengthy list for Marco Silva’s side, in which the most concerning name to fans will be Raul Jimenez, who has found the net nine times already this season.
Carlos Vinicius is set to leave, but there will also be concern over Adama Traore, Tom Cairney and Kenny Tete, all of whom are set to follow the Brazilian and who have combined for 55 Premier League appearances this season, with their exits representing a potentially massive blow to Silva’s squad depth.
Ipswich Town 3 players
There are bigger concerns in East Anglia than free agents right now, with Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town fighting for their Premier League lives.
However, in the upheaval that will accompany any potential return to the Championship, three players are set to leave for free. That includes 2023 arrival Axel Tuanzebe, though the club hold an option to extend his contract for another year.
The same can be said for defender Cameron Burgess, but Massimo Luongo has no such clause and is set to leave barring a late turnaround, with the midfielder having managed just 170 minutes of Premier League action this season.