Ben Stokes is back from ODI retirement and Joe Root’s recent form isn’t inspiring. But England remain among favourites

Matt Roller29-Sep-20232:49

Can England defend their World Cup title?

World Cup pedigree: England are in uncharted territory as defending champions, sneaking past New Zealand on boundary count to win their maiden title at Lord’s four years ago. Once the laughing stock of one-day cricket – from 1992 and before the 2019 semi-finals, they hadn’t won a single knockout game at a 50-over World Cup – they are now among the favourites at every limited-overs ICC event.Recent form: This squad’s only meaningful preparation was last month, when they came from 0-1 down to beat New Zealand 3-1. England had only played nine ODIs in the preceding 13 months, and the entire World Cup squad rested during their recent 1-0 win against Ireland. Bilateral results have been considered low priority since Matthew Mott’s appointment as white-ball coach last year; after all, in 2022, his side peaked at the right time to lift the T20 World Cup in Australia.Selection: Ben Stokes returns as a specialist batter after a brief ODI retirement, while Harry Brook was a late replacement for Jason Roy. England have picked six seamers, anticipating niggles and a variety of conditions across their nine group games in eight different cities, while Jofra Archer will travel as a reserve.Related

• England rope in Indian sidearm specialist for World Cup prep

• Jason Roy axed from World Cup squad, Harry Brook included

• Brook vs Malan vs Roy – How three into two couldn't go

• Matthew Mott keeping World Cup reserve options open after show of power from back-up batters

Squad: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (capt, wk), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Harry Brook, David Willey, Reece Topley and Gus AtkinsonKey player: He has hardly played 50-over cricket in the last four years, but Joe Root was England’s leading run-scorer at the 2019 World Cup, and his fortunes as their fulcrum at No. 3 may decide their progress. Root is England’s best player of spin, and spent two months preparing for this World Cup while running drinks for Rajasthan Royals at the IPL earlier this year. Root will hope that tailored preparation can help him overcome a lean run in ODIs, having played just 19 of them since the 2019 World Cup, with three half-centuries and no hundreds.Rising star: Although an established all-format international and already an IPL millionaire, Sam Curran is the second-youngest player in England’s squad at 25, and is more likely to play a significant role than Brook, the designated spare batter. Curran has only played 26 ODIs, and his numbers do not stand out either, but he proved in Australia last year that he revels on the big stage. Expect him to be used in a variety of roles across the tournament.World Cup farewells? Where to start? Only three players in England’s squad are younger than 29, and most members will be in their late 30s by the time the 2027 World Cup comes around. There will almost certainly be a substantial changing of the guard after this tournament, and several members of the touring party are unlikely to feature in ODIs again, including Stokes, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes.

Chase Burns is fast. Just 11 months after the Cincinnati Reds selected him with the second pick of the draft and just three months after he made his pro debut in Class A ball in front of 4,532 fans in Comstock Park, Mich., the righthander will make his major league debut Tuesday against the New York Yankees.

His rapid ascent of just 66 innings of pro ball is a testament to how he has dominated (13 walks, 89 strikeouts and just 38 hits) with his high-spin, high-velocity fastball. At 22 years and 159 days old, he is the youngest starter to debut against the Yankees since Ian Anderson of the Braves beat New York in 2020.

If you’re looking for comps for Burns, you must look beyond this year. There is no starting pitcher in MLB who throws this hard and with such a high release point as Burns does. Here is how he ranks if you consider his minor league metrics:

Highest release point, MLB starters with 95+ mph fastball

MPH

Vertical Release

1. Chase Burns (minors)

97.8

6.61

2. Hayden Birdsong, Giants

95.6

6.52

3. Ben Brown, Cubs

95.7

6.40

4. Ben Casparius, Dodgers

96.2

6.26

To find the best comp, you need to go back a decade to a prime Justin Verlander:

Four-seam comparison

MPH

Vertical release

Extension

Spin rate

Justin Verlander 2015

96

6.62

6.3

2,576

Chase Burns 2025 (minors)

97.8

6.61

6.3

2,531

That is a close match on paper. But when we look at the mechanics, we see Verlander had a smoother delivery. Burns has the same release height, but a higher arm angle. He needs to tilt his torso to move his head to allow his arm to work at that angle, a move that can tax the shoulder more—a move that caught up to Anderson and prompted Michael Wacha, after injury concerns, to lower his arm slot.

But like Anderson and Wacha, Burns has the stuff to dominate right out of the box, especially at higher velocity. Sixty-six innings don’t sound like much of a runup to the big leagues. But pitching labs and advances in college coaching (Burns pitched at Tennessee and Wake Forest) have shortened the learning curve for pitchers—as have pitcher injuries. A door opened for Burns because of injuries to Hunter Greene and Wade Miley. The game today makes it easier to push pitchers faster than hitters.

The universe of successful first-year pitchers this season is robust, including Jacob Misiorowski, Braxton Ashcraft, Braydon Fisher, Logan Henderson, Noah Cameron, Shane Smith, Jack Dreyer, Mick Abel and Chad Patrick. The same can’t be said for hitters trying to break in. Cam Smith and Kristian Campbell, who has been sent back to the minors, are the only qualified first-year hitters. Eleven of the 16 first-year players with 100 plate appearances have a below-average OPS+.

Burns also features a wipeout slider. He has the powerful combination of elite stuff and an unusual arm slot. It’s the kind of arsenal, as we have seen from Misiorowski, that can produce immediate success. For the longer haul, Cincinnati is positioned well with an impressive core of young pitchers, with Burns joining Chase Petty, 22; Rhett Lowder, 23; Greene, 25; Andrew Abbott, 26; and Nick Lodolo, 27. These are exciting times in Cincinnati, especially with those arms in the hands of manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Derek Johnson.

يبدأ منتخب مصر رحلته في بطولة كأس العرب 2025 بمواجهة قوية أمام نظيره الكويتي، في افتتاح مشوارهما بدور المجموعات، حيث يلتقي الفريقان على ملعب البيت ضمن الجولة الأولى من منافسات البطولة.

وينافس المنتخبان في المجموعة الثالثة التي تضم إلى جانبهما منتخبي الإمارات والأردن، في النسخة التي تستضيفها قطر خلال الفترة من 1 حتى 18 ديسمبر الجاري، وسط ترقب عربي كبير لمباريات الدور الأول.

طالع أيضا .. فيديو | منتخب مصر يبدأ مشواره في كأس العرب بالتعادل مع الكويت

ويدخل منتخب مصر اللقاء بطموحات عالية لتحقيق بداية مثالية تحت قيادة المدرب حلمي طولان، الذي يطمح إلى وضع فريقه على الطريق الصحيح مبكرًا والاقتراب من حصد بطاقة التأهل إلى الأدوار الإقصائية.

في المقابل، يخوض المنتخب الكويتي المواجهة بروح معنوية مرتفعة بعد تأهله من الملحق، ساعيًا لتقديم اختبار قوي أمام مصر وإثبات قدرته على المنافسة، في مباراة ينتظرها الجمهور العربي بشغف كبير.

طالع أيضًا | القنوات الناقلة لمباراة مصر والكويت اليوم في كأس العرب موعد مباراة مصر والكويت في كأس العرب 2025

تنطلق المباراة اليوم الثلاثاء 2 ديسمبر 2025، عند الساعة 4:30 عصرًا بتوقيت القاهرة، و5:30 مساءً بتوقيت مكة المكرمة والكويت.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

Sixers were well placed on 92 for 2 before a game-changing over saw three wickets fall

AAP13-Nov-2025

Hayley Silver-Holmes produced a game changing triple-wicket over•Getty Images

Hobart Hurricanes openers Lizelle Lee and Danni Wyatt-Hodge destroyed the Sydney Sixers bowling attack with a record stand in a dominant six-wicket WBBL win.Earlier, three wickets in over and career-best figures by Hurricanes fast bowler Hayley Silver-Holmes rocked her former side in a deserved player of the match display.Related

Wareham stars again as Melbourne Renegades make it two from two

Mooney masterclass sets up easy win for Scorchers

The opening stand of 95 between Lee and Wyatt-Hodge rollicked along at more than 10 runs per over and allowed Hurricanes to coast to victory at North Sydney Oval on Thursday.Sixers had made 152 for 9 but Hurricanes were never troubled in the chase and won with 19 balls remaining to stay undefeated.Lee slammed the bowlers to all parts of the ground. She showcased all her skills and combined power and touch in equal measure to score her 12th WBBL half-century to go with her five hundreds.Wyatt-Hodge, fresh from a brilliant 90 in her last match, dominated on the offside where she placed the ball to perfection.  The England star also lofted two sixes over the leg side that went through the hands of Sixers fielders.The pair’s opening stand was the highest in Hurricanes history.After being sent in, Sixers were 2 for 92 after 12 overs and appeared set for a 170-plus total before Silver-Holmes took three wickets in one over.She had the dangerous Ash Gardner out pulling a delivery that hurried on. Next ball Silver-Holmes knocked over Amelia Kerr with an off-cutter. Another off-cutter to Alyssa Healy went through the gate to cap a tremendous over.The 22-year-old didn’t play last year’s WBBL series due to an elbow injury that required surgery.”I’ve had a really bad few years with injuries but I think the big thing for me was getting as fit as I could,” Silver-Holmes said. “That makes it that much easier to do what I do.”She was humble about her decisive over that turned the match. “When things are happening, they are happening. That’s T20 cricket,” Silver-Holmes said. “It was all a bit of a blur but I’m super pumped to get the win.”Healy, playing her first WBBL match of the season after recovering from a hand injury, used the pace off the pitch to perfection in her cameo and in combination with Ellyse Perry had looked in control.Perry smoked six boundaries, with her shots through the cover region sublime, before Heather Graham cleaned up her stumps. Graham, fifth on the all-time WBBL wicket list, bowled with guile. Her seamers moved both ways and challenged the strong Sixers top order.

Manchester United are now planning a move for Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, amid the uncertainty surrounding his future at Spanish club.

Despite their struggles last season, Man United proved they still have pulling power in the summer transfer market, winning the race for the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo, even though both forwards attracted interest from a number of clubs playing in Europe.

However, it has been a long time since United have been able to make a real statement signing in the transfer window by signing one of the world’s best players, given the decline since Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012-13 season.

It was recently revealed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe actually stepped in to prevent a move for FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, despite Ruben Amorim being very keen to sign the Poland international.

The INEOS chairman has concerns about Lewandowski’s age and wage demands, which means the move wasn’t given the green light, despite the 37-year-old being regarded as one of the best strikers in the world.

Vinicius, on the other hand, is still in the prime of his career at 25-years-old, and the Red Devils have now joined the race for his signature…

Man Utd now planning move for Vinicius Junior

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Man United now intend to make a move for the Real Madrid forward if the opportunity comes up, with it emerging that his future at the Spanish club is up in the air.

The Brazilian’s contract is set to expire in 2027, meaning rumours of a possible departure are now swirling, amid widespread interest from some top clubs, with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Manchester City also named as potential suitors.

However, United may have to shell out a massive fee to tempt the La Liga giants into a sale, with it recently being revealed they are unwilling to sanction a departure for less than €250m (£220m).

Having identified one of the best wingers in the world as a target, INEOS clearly mean business, and the left-winger’s goal catalogue alone suggests he could be capable of taking Man United’s forward line to the next level.

Throughout the 2024-25 campaign, the former Flamengo man was a constant threat in front of goal, chipping in with a whopping 41 goals and assists for Real Madrid in all competitions, finding the back of the net eight times in the Champions League.

Amorim will no doubt be pleased with his summer acquisitions in attack, with Mbeumo making an instant impact, bagging a brace in the 4-2 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion last time out, and Matheus Cunha is also now off the mark.

However, Vinicius Junior, who has been lauded as “spectacular” by journalist Tom Allnutt, is a proven top-level forward, and Man United should not pass up the chance to sign him if the opportunity arises.

Vinicius Junior is currently in the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or Power Rankings Ballon d'Or 2026 Power Rankings

Who will be lifting the individual honour in 2026?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 6, 2025

da bet7： Tottenham have been a mixed bag under new manager Thomas Frank recently, but Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has been left impressed by what he’s spotted Kevin Danso doing on the pitch.

da bwin： Spurs were eliminated from the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, suffering a 2-0 defeat away to Newcastle at St James’ Park.

Fielding a weakened side that reflected the pressures of a congested fixture list, Spurs looked second best throughout the contest as Newcastle capitalized on their opportunities and advanced to the next round at Tottenham’s expense.

Frank made several changes from his regular Premier League lineup, resting key players and giving fringe squad members a chance to impress.

Tottenham struggled to assert themselves, with Newcastle dominating midfield exchanges and denying Spurs any consistent possession. The visitors’ inability to get their attacking players involved was evident, as they created few genuine chances.

Tottenham absentee list

Problem

Estimated return date

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

22/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

08/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

08/11/2025

Wilson Odobert

Abdominal

01/11/2025

Cristian Romero

Groin

01/11/2025

Destiny Udogie

Knee

08/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

08/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

06/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

Stand-in keeper Antonin Kinsky was also blasted for his error which led to Nick Woltemade’s first and Newcastle’s second goal of the game, with defender Fabian Schar previously opening the scoring in what was a routine win for the Magpies.

Guglielmo Vicario was absent for Spurs’ trip to the North East with a minor injury, it has been suggested at least, though Frank has confirmed that the keeper will be ready for their looming London derby clash against Chelsea this weekend.

It is currently unclear whether Cristian Romero will return from his groin injury in time to feature at home to Chelsea on Saturday, meaning Danso is more than likely set to partner Micky van de Ven once again.

Jamie Redknapp shares what he's spotted Kevin Danso doing at Tottenham

The pair were excellent at Everton last weekend, particularly van de Ven, who scored two goals from set plays as Tottenham became the first ever away side to win at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Vs Everton

Kevin Danso

Micky van de Ven

Minutes

90

90

Tackles won

1/1

0/0

Clearances

18

7

Blocked shots

2

0

Ball recoveries

3

2

Ground duels won

2/2

1/2

Aerial duels won

4/4

1/4

Stats via Sofascore

However, Frank was quick to note Danso’s contribution too, with the Austrian “not as highlighted” but equally deserving of praise.

Just before Tottenham’s loss to Newcastle, when on punditry duty for Sky Sports, Redknapp also had good things to say about the January signing who made his move permanent for £21 million in the summer.

Redknapp, speaking to the Sky studio, said that Danso has been “very impressive” in Romero’s absence, with the pundit claiming he’s spotted him becoming more of a “vocal” presence on the field.

As well as this, Redknapp was quick to point out that he could be emerging as a “leader” at Spurs in light of this.

The 27-year-old was believed to be on the verge of a move to Wolves last January before Tottenham hijacked the deal in last-minute fashion.

Now, with Spurs competing in the Champions League after ending their 17-year wait for silverware, and Wolves rooted to the foot of the table, Danso will be delighted as he also impresses whenever called upon.

It was an astute signing by ex-chairman Daniel Levy, and one which provides new boss Frank with vital, capable cover at centre-back.

The South Australia captain made 103 as the home side were only able to pick up four wickets on the third day

Tristan Lavalette30-Oct-2025On the opposite bank of the Swan River from where he made his Test debut nearly 12 months ago, South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney returned to form with a classy century to set up an intriguing final day at the WACA where Cameron Green and Brendan Doggett loom large.Trailing by 92 runs on the first innings, South Australia dominated day three on a flattening surface with McSweeney, batting at No. 3, making 103 off 168 balls and sharing a 153-run second-wicket partnership with Henry Hunt.Having scored just 73 runs from his previous four Shield innings, McSweeney is not deemed to be in the Ashes selection mix on the back of a tough start to his Test career last summer.After receiving a life early in his innings, McSweeney was in complete command and showed why he is so highly rated among Australia’s hierarchy.”Any cricketer wants to play for Australia and playing in that Baggy Green is an awesome feeling,” McSweeney said. “For me, it’s just about trying to play my best cricket, win games for South Australia, make hundreds and hopefully one day I get another crack.”Whether it be this series [Ashes], or whenever the time comes, I’ll be ready to go.”McSweeney and Hunt put South Australia in a position where they can dictate with a declaration likely early on day four. There will be spotlight on Doggett and Green as selectors mull over Australia’s Ashes squad.Returning from a hamstring injury, Doggett overcame a rusty start to finish with six wickets in WA’s first innings, including dismissing Green for a duck. Green is playing this match as a specialist batter with a return to bowling likely during WA’s next Shield game against Queensland starting on November 11.There is the threat of damp weather spoiling the finish of this match, with rain forecast on Friday afternoon.The third day finished in sunshine after the start was delayed by 45 minutes due to rain. Hunt and Conor McInerney dug in against a WA pace attack that had run rampant in the first innings.McInerney had started to find his rhythm with a couple of lovely boundaries down the ground. Having toughed out the first 18 overs, McInerney fell in tame fashion after being knocked over having not offered a shot to a straight delivery from offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli bowling around the wicket.While WA’s quicks struggled to penetrate, Rocchiccioli caused problems with his trademark bounce as he tried to once again be the talismanic figure of the attack.But he was thwarted by McSweeney, who started to lift the intensity with sharp footwork as the game went through a lull towards lunch. Out of nowhere, McSweeney on 19 lost concentration and hit quick Cameron Gannon to mid-on but Liam Haskett spilt the catch.The game went back in its shell after lunch until the unusual sight of a swarm of bees hovering over the field caused a five-minute delay. Having reached his 50 off 128 balls, Hunt decided to up the ante on resumption and whacked Rocchiccioli for a towering six into the part of the ground undergoing major redevelopment.McSweeney was in fluent touch and drove superbly, trusting the surface which had shown little of the sharp bounce from earlier in the match. WA captain Sam Whiteman resorted to left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly, whose only two wickets of his first-class career had come during Australia A’s recent tour of India.But Connolly has a knack of making things happen and claimed his maiden Shield wicket when he had Hunt caught behind with a lovely flighted delivery that bounced sharply off the surface.There was no stopping McSweeney, who reached his first century this season with a six over mid-on but he fell shortly after when wicketkeeper Joel Curtis claimed a superb catch diving to his left.WA players wore black armbands as a mark of respect for Ben Austin, a 17-year-old club cricketer in Melbourne who died after being struck on the neck by a ball at training on Tuesday.

Thomas Tuchel says it gives off a "bad impression" when England players don't embrace the team's collective spirit after Jude Bellingham seemed to take exception to being substituted against Albania. The Real Madrid star returned to the starting lineup for the Three Lions' 2-0 win but was replaced by Morgan Rogers in the second half as the battle for the No.10 spot intensified.

• Bellingham returns to England starting XI

  After four straight games of Rogers being in the England starting line-up, former Borussia Dortmund star Bellingham got his chance to shine, this time away in Albania. The 22-year-old impressed in the World Cup qualifying victory, even though the ball didn't always bounce his way. The midfielder was, naturally, disappointed to be taken off in the 84th minute, but he still celebrated Harry Kane's goals with the team. However, when one journalist accused Bellingham of not "embracing the collective", Tuchel said he would look into the matter, while stressing the importance of everyone being on the same page.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  'That's a bad impression'

  When asked whether Bellingham is possibly not buying into the collective of the England team, he told reporters: "That is a bad impression. It should be about the collective. What we did in camp is all about the collective. I have to then review it – I was happy about the goal. I had a quick talk with Morgan Rogers and I was sure that everyone celebrated together. I will have a look at it. That is not the image we want to transport. We feel everyone is committed and that everyone accepts tough decisions, be it before the match or in the match."

  The German added about the substitution: "He [Bellingham] has to accept it, he has to accept it. We should not make more out of it than it is. Rogers was not happy when he couldn't start today because he deserves to play, and he wants to play all the time. We gave him a bit of a rest because he came with a lot of minutes playing at club [level] and played for us against Serbia. I also don't want to make more out of it. I stick to my words – behaviour is key. Decisions are made, and you have to accept it as a player."

• Bellingham defended by Ancelotti

  In the build up to these England games, former Madrid boss and current Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti came to the aid of Bellingham when question marks were being asked of his attitude. The former Everton manager said on the Rest is Football podcast that Bellingham was a top player and even likened him to Brazilian great Kaka.

  "I think Jude is a fantastic player. If I have to compare, we were talking about Kaka. He is this kind of player, a really intelligent player, who is physically really strong, fantastic to arrive in the box at the right time," said Ancelotti. "He's doing really well, and maybe he had a problem with his shoulder. He was out for two or three months, now he's back. No question mark. But why do you have to put a question mark on Bellingham?"

  He added, "No, I never had a problem with Jude about his attitude. He is really professional, really serious, works hard in training, like all English players do. And no, no complaints."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What comes next for Bellingham?

  It remains to be seen if certain sections of the media are making a mountain out of a molehill or if Bellingham will be punished for his alleged actions. England finished their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 100 per cent winning record, and just when they appear to be on a roll, they will break for a while before returning next year. The Three Lions' fixtures ahead of next year's tournament in North America are yet to be confirmed, but it will be interesting to see what role Bellingham will play in Tuchel's plans going forward.

  Incidentally, the ex-Chelsea boss added on the Albania win, "I cannot believe that I see all of them only in March – it is a tough one for me to swallow. I have to say I love to be on the sideline. I love to compete with them. This will be a long, long period now. They did amazing – from all our players full credit to them. We are very proud. We had a lot of changes and sometimes a lot of changes is not fair to the ones that play because then you miss a core of players who are used to playing with each other, but everyone did well. You could see we had a high quality bench to turn things around and influence things, so why not?"

Ajmal Shahzad, looking to reawaken his career with Notts, admits he was “stubborn” in the stand-off that saw him leave Yorkshire, but he is burning to show them what they are missing

Jon Culley26-Jan-2013Trent Bridge shivers under a blanket of snow but in the picture in Ajmal Shahzad’s mind it is April, the grass is vibrantly green, he has a new ball in his hand and a statement to make. When that day finally comes there will be no Nottinghamshire bowler more eager to set his standards high, in Shahzad’s case to relaunch a career that he feels stalled when he left the field in Chittagong after England’s defeat to Bangladesh in the 2011 World Cup.It was not only his last appearance in international cricket – the following week he would be on a plane home after a recurrence of a hamstring injury – but the start of a turbulent year that culminated last May in an all-too-familiar Yorkshire bloodbath when it was announced that Shahzad could look for a new club, after he was accused by the chairman, Colin Graves, in an extraordinary public attack, of playing for himself rather than for the team.Eight months on, Shahzad has asked enough questions of himself to conclude that it was a divorce with faults on both sides. But while he accepts he was “stubborn” in the way he resisted Yorkshire’s attempts to curb his natural instincts as a bowler, it is an admission that does not amount to repentance.”I’ve always seen myself as an attacking, aggressive bowler,” he said. “I always wanted to take the new rock, bowling short, sharp bursts, intimidating batsmen and hopefully getting a few wickets. That had always been the way I bowled from the start of my career but it came to a point at Yorkshire when I wasn’t being given the new ball and instead was being asked to do more of a holding role, bowling line and length.”Don’t get me wrong, that job has to be done. But with my natural attributes – skiddy quick, having a good yorker, a bouncer and a few tricks up my sleeve, things that served me well when I had my best season for Yorkshire – I wanted to be given my head and it frustrated me when that didn’t happen. When the new ball was taken off me, it hurt.”It all came to a head when I was told Yorkshire did not intend to play me again in any of the teams. There was a clash of personalities but there had been problems that had been niggling underneath for about a year before I left.”The clash of personalities came with Jason Gillespie, Yorkshire’s Australian coach. Gillespie’s attitude seemed to change dramatically as he began his first season in the job. Shahzad’s axing came only a week after Gilllespie had described him as “a fantastic bowler” but it soon became clear their differences were irreconcilable.Shahzad regrets that the relationship did not flourish. “I wish I could have worked longer with Jason Gillespie, wish I could have picked his brain more because he is a legend of the game. Maybe we would have gelled a bit better, maybe he would have got to know me better and the way that I work.”But whether you are a legend or just a mediocre player, coaching is all about managing your players. I wish he would have handled me and one or two of the other lads a bit differently and got to know me a bit more. And I would have got to know him a bit better.”If he was disappointed over Gillespie, he was especially dismayed over the chairman’s comments, not only those that came with the parting of ways but the previous autumn, too, when Yorkshire were relegated and Graves said that the county’s England players had “let us down”.”What was quite upsetting is that when he sat down and spoke to me face to face he never had a bad word to say,” Shahzad said. “It was hard to read, hard to stomach.”When I had a bad season for Yorkshire in 2011, I had ankle problems. I kept having injections and had surgery at the end of the year. I was half-fit and didn’t do as well as I would have liked. So getting slated at the end of the year for not pulling my weight was out of order.”When Colin gave his press conference at Scarborough after I had been told I could go, I felt he made some rash comments. But I know the kind of character he is, passionate about his cricket. He is a typical Yorkshireman, saying what was on his mind, as we all do, saying things we probably shouldn’t.”It could have been handled better from both sides. I was a little bit stubborn, didn’t want to give in, and it was the same on the management side. I wish I could turn back time and smooth it all out and play it a different way but that’s the way it was, and now I’m at Notts, it’s a fresh start.”It seems like a good match, given Nottinghamshire’s lack of a cutting-edge strike bowlers since England claimed Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom rejoined Yorkshire. Yet neither party was the other’s first choice. Shahzad would have been happy to continue with Lancashire, where he saw out last season, while Notts’ coach Mick Newell had hoped to recruit the coveted former Glamorgan pace bowler James Harris, only to lose out to Middlesex.”I wanted to stay at Lancs,” Shahzad said. “It was quite close to home, they are a good bunch of lads, Peter Moores is a great coach. But it just came down to the length of deal really.”Mick came in quite late for me but he laid his cards on the table. He told me they were hoping to get Harris, but that if he didn’t come they wanted me and they would do it quickly, on a three-year deal. It’s not that far from home, an hour and 15 minutes up the M1. It’s a great place to play cricket for a bowler, so it has panned out well.”Resuming his England career is at the top of his priorities. “I had my Test against Bangladesh in 2010 that I thought went well, that I bowled nicely. I got into the T20 and one-day set-ups and every time I played, I think I did well. But I picked up a hamstring strain in the World Cup from trying too hard and just drifted away from it after that.”I was trying to get my form back in England but I had my ankle impingement at the time and it was always sore and that, combined with the troublesome time I was having at Yorkshire, did not really help. It put me on a downward spiral.”But that’s another good thing about being here, to play alongside top-class players who are in the England set-up and playing in international tournaments. If I can do well against these guys in the nets and stand out amongst some of the best it can get me back in the spotlight because I still have massive ambitions and I think my best is still to come.”The move has meant leaving the family home in Bradford for the first time. “It has made me grow up a bit, moving – and knowing I have the responsibility now of being a senior player at 27,” he said, although he is planning to rein himself no more than he feels is necessary when the ball is in his hand.”Mick has told me exactly where he wants me to fit into his plans and I’m very happy with that. He wants me to take the new ball in one-day cricket and four-day cricket as well, batting at No. 8 hopefully, as an allrounder – because I can bat.”I’ll still bowl aggressively, still try to make things happen and use the skills I have to do that but try to use that yorker as a shock delivery rather than feeling I have to bowl one every over. I want to set the right standard as the senior bowler taking the new ball.”Home now for Shahzad is a stylish apartment overlooking the Trent in an exclusive complex where Sven Goran Eriksson used to rest his head while Notts County were occupying his attention. Some might wish Shahzad had more in common temperamentally with the unflappable former England football manager. Then again, when has there been a fiery Yorkshire bowler with the off-field demeanour of a cool Swede? It simply wouldn’t happen.

Neymar has been spotted in Santos training despite reportedly being told by club doctors that he risks worsening his injury. The Brazil icon has a knee issue that will rule him out for the rest of the season if he has surgery. But with the Brazilian outfit in the midst of a relegation battle, the 33-year-old may try and play through the pain to secure his team top-flight safety.

Neymar suffers injury setback

The former Barcelona star has had an injury-hit season, with the veteran only recently returning to action from a hamstring problem. This week, it emerged that Neymar had been struggling with knee discomfort, ruling him out of their 1-1 draw with Internacional on Monday. They currently sit one place above the relegation zone (17th) in the Brasileiro Serie A with three matches remaining. Shortly after picking up that valuable point, Santos manager Juan Pablo Vojvoda revealed what the club have planned for their "leader". 

He told reporters: "The plan is for him to be in the match against Sport. I have to talk to him, I'm not in his physical presence and I will respect Neymar's decisions. But his commitment is to be there, he always wants to be there. Before the Mirassol game, he felt discomfort in his knee. He also felt it during the game. The following day he was experiencing significant discomfort in that knee. We know we have games every three days. With travel, we'll arrive in Santos tomorrow afternoon… He's a player we need for all three rounds and he'll help us. He's our leader on the field. He'll be there. He felt he wouldn't be able to meet the demands of today's game."

AdvertisementNeymar returns to training

Footage from Santos has shown that Neymar trained with his team-mates on Wednesday but it is clear he is not at 100 per cent. According to Globo, he has a tear in the meniscus region of his left knee and the medical recommendation is to have an arthroscopy – a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves inserting a small camera into a joint through a tiny incision. This allows the surgeon to see inside the joint on a video monitor and perform necessary repairs. This injury is said to be causing Neymar 'persistent pain' when exercising but he is considering playing 'in the sacrifice' of Santos. 

Neymar walking a fine line

The report adds that Neymar's knee 'can burst at any major impact' and the doctors are advising that he stop playing/training and undergo an arthroscopy. However, that would end his season, with the Brazilian likely to be out for a month as a result. Incidentally, when Neymar took part in team training, he avoided contact, and he played with support on his left knee. The fear is that if he doesn't rest his knee, this issue could become a lot worse, potentially ruling him out for the start of 2026 and jeopardising his chances of a Brazil national team call-up in March. Despite that, Neymar is reportedly mulling over what to do, as a potential return to the second division beckons.

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Neymar's Santos?

The former Paris Saint-Germain star, who joined Santos at the start of 2025 after having his Al-Hilal contract cancelled, has had a mixed second spell at his boyhood club so far. The ex-Barca ace has been on the sidelines for lengthy periods and a return of seven goals and three assists in 25 matches in all competitions is nothing special. Moreover, he is out of contract at the end of the year, so if he does have the procedure, Neymar may not play for the club again. While Santos are keen to keep him, that will only likely be possible if they stay in the Brazilian top-flight. Next up, they host Sport Recife on Friday, who are rock bottom of the division. This is, arguably, a must-win game for Santos, particularly as Fortaleza have won two matches in a row and are just one point behind the Brazilian giants. It's crunch time for Santos and Neymar.