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The Madhya Pradesh offspinning allrounder has impressed in domestic cricket over the last couple of years. Another good season could catapult him onto the biggest stage of them all

Rajan Raj10-Oct-2024After a superb Ranji Trophy debut in 2014, Saransh Jain, an offspinning allrounder, had flown to Australia with a club team from Madhya Pradesh to play a five-match series. Despite it being his first overseas tour, calls back home were short, with his family claiming to be “a little occupied”. This bothered Jain but not too much, because of his focus was on the series at hand, one his team would go on to win 3-0.After he returned home from that tour, though, Jain was shocked with what he saw. His father was lying on his bed, having undergone a surgery on his face. There was despair on everyone else’s face. Jain sought answers but did not get a satisfactory one, till his father asked for a paper and a pen. “I am fine now, son,” he wrote. “If you just play better, I will get well sooner.” He had been diagnosed with cancer.

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Jain still has that note from his father, the former Madhya Pradesh Ranji player Subodh Jain. And it is essentially the secret of Jain’s success. That piece of paper pushed him in his journey to become a Ranji Trophy champion with Madhya Pradesh in 2021-22, and win the Lala Amarnath Award for the best allrounder in the Ranji Trophy in 2022-23. That season he scored 360 runs and picked up 35 wickets for MP. This earned him a call-up to the India A side to play England Lions, where he scored half-centuries in both innings of the only match he played.Related

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• All you need to know about the two-phased season

Making the most of any given opportunity is Jain’s USP. In MP’s title-winning Ranji Trophy campaign in 2021-22, he played only three matches: the quarter-final, semi-final and the final. He returned 13 wickets and also scored a half-century.Last season, he scored 432 runs and picked up 27 wickets and he wants to maintain this momentum in the upcoming season. He has started well in that quest by picking up six wickets in the Irani Cup match against Mumbai. He was also part of the Duleep Trophy and he returned 14 wickets combined from the two red-ball competitions.Knowing fully the demands of a sport that is evolving rapidly, Saransh Jain has worked a lot on his batting too•MPCA”I performed well last season, but it is important that I perform well again and try to do something good whenever I get a chance,” Jain says. “The only lesson I have learned in my career is to try to learn something new every day. Only then can something good happen in the future. I feel good with the way I have performed recently but I am not completely satisfied. I will get that satisfaction only after wearing the [India] blue jersey, for which I have to consistently work hard.”With the game always evolving, Jain, the offspinner, is aware of the importance of contributing with the bat. His recent scores show that.”According to me, a good player should try to adapt to the circumstances,” Jain says. “I am an offspinner, and my primary task to take wickets. But in our first meeting itself, [MP head coach] Chandrakant [Pandit] sir told me that I should think like a bowler when I bowl and think like a batter and try to score as many runs as possible when I bat. This is the simple strategy that I follow.”I know how much I have to work on my batting being [primarily] an offspinner. That is important, but my first task is to take wickets. I often watch R Ashwin ; I get inspired by him. I want to pursue my cricket with the same dedication as him.”Pandit – who also won the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders last season – taking over as MP coach ahead of the 2019-20 season worked wonders for Jain. “Chandrakant sir coming to our team as the coach has been one of the best events in my life,” Jain says. “Perhaps he taught me to believe in myself. His presence in the team inspires me a lot and I want to do something good with him this season. His presence in the team gives me a different kind of confidence.”Consistent performances over the past couple of years have put Jain on the national selectors’ radar. He is one of the best offspinning allrounders in the country and form is currently on his side. This season, can he show the consistency needed to complete his journey to that blue jersey?

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 IPL auction

Deivarayan Muthu22-Dec-2022When is the IPL auction 2023 taking place, and where?
It’s in Kochi on December 23 from 2.30pm IST. It’s a regular auction this time, as opposed to the mega version last held ahead of the 2022 season, when the ten franchises had to rebuild their squads virtually from scratch.Okay, who has the most money to spend this time? And who has the least?
Sunrisers Hyderabad, who released as many as ten players ahead of the auction, have the largest purse – INR 42.25 crore. Kolkata Knight Riders also made wholesale changes to their squad by letting go of ten players, but they were active during the trading window. Having traded in Shardul Thakur from Delhi Capitals, and Lockie Ferguson and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans, Knight Riders now have the smallest purse to spend – only INR 7.05 crore.Follow the 2023 IPL auction LIVE

You can watch the auction live in India on Star Sports, and follow live analysis with Tom Moody, Ian Bishop, Wasim Jaffer and Stuart Binny right here on ESPNcricinfo.

How many players are in the auction?
The longlist originally included 991 players, the final list has 405: 273 from India and 132 from overseas, including four from Associate nations. A maximum of 87 players, of which 30 can be from overseas, can be bought at the auction because of the limited slots available.IPL 2023 auction – key numbers before the action begins•ESPNcricinfo LtdTell me about player availability.
The Australian and English players will be available for the entire IPL season, despite the Ashes scheduled to begin in mid-June. West Indies and New Zealand players will also be available for the entire season. However, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka players will likely miss a chunk of the tournament because of international commitments.There is plenty of buzz around Sam Curran. What are the chances of him fetching the highest bid in IPL auction history?
In 2021, South Africa allrounder Chris Morris became the most expensive player when Rajasthan Royals snapped him up for INR 16.25 crore. The chances of Curran breaking that record are fairly high.The left-hander can bat anywhere in the XI and is capable of pulling off those super-specialist roles, like disrupting a spinner’s work in the middle overs or even finishing an innings. With the ball, Curran fronts up during the tough overs in the powerplay and at the death. After having recovered from a stress fracture, Curran has transformed himself, becoming England’s designated death bowler at the 2022 T20 World Cup. He did such a good job that he won the Player-of-the-Tournament award.Fellow England allrounder Ben Stokes and Australia’s Cameron Green are also part of the high-profile Set 2 at this auction, but expect Curran to be in greater demand because he is only 24, can perform any role, and is more likely to pay off as a long-term investment.Amit Mishra is 40, had gone unsold at the last auction, but remains the fourth-highest wicket-taker in IPL history•Delhi CapitalsAny less-known Indian names I must keep an eye out for?
Well, quite a few. Punjab allrounder Sanvir Singh could be in demand, given his ability to smash big sixes and bowl handy medium-pace. Sanvir is also a good player of spin, thanks largely to his stints in Chennai’s first division league. With many franchises on the lookout for an Indian wicketkeeper-batter, Tamil Nadu’s N Jagadeesan, who reeled off a record five successive hundreds in the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, could also cause a stir.Vidarbha fast bowler Yash Thakur, Himachal Pradesh finisher Akash Vasisht, and his team-mate Vaibhav Arora, who can swing the ball both ways, are the others you should watch out for. Then there are a bunch of young quicks from Jammu & Kashmir, including Sharukh Dar and Mujtaba Yousuf.Who are the major attractions from outside the top-tier cricket-playing countries?
Well, there’s Ireland left-arm quick Josh Little, who claimed a hat-trick against New Zealand in the recent T20 World Cup. He has already had a small taste of the IPL, having been a net bowler with Chennai Super Kings during their camp in Surat in 2022. Has he done enough for Super Kings to bring him into their main squad?UAE legspinner Karthik Meiyappan, who had also bagged a hat-trick during the T20 World Cup and was more recently picked by Sharjah Warriors for the inaugural ILT20, could pique the interest of franchises. Karthik is a modern wristspinner and has the experience of having been a net bowler for CSK and Royal Challengers Bangalore.Who are the youngest and oldest players at this auction?
Fifteen-year-old Afghanistan mystery spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar is the youngest. Ghazanfar has played three T20s so far but has impressed the franchise scouts so much that he has made it to the IPL auction shortlist. Ghazanfar was also part of Australia’s BBL draft but didn’t find any takers there.Former India legspinner Amit Mishra, who turned 40 last month, is the oldest player in this auction. He was unsold at the 2022 auction, but considering the recent dearth of Indian wristspinners, he might work his way back into the IPL.Any prominent players that aren’t part of this auction?
IPL stalwarts Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard have retired from the league to become coaches at CSK and Mumbai Indians respectively. England allrounder Chris Woakes has pulled out of the IPL for a crack at the Ashes through county cricket. The Australian trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Steven Smith have decided to skip the auction as well, as has Sam Billings who withdrew from his deal with Knight Riders. West Indies opening batter Evin Lewis, who was part of Lucknow Super Giants last season, and Tim Seifert, the New Zealand and Trinbago Knight Riders wicketkeeper-batter, are also missing from the IPL auction.Some major international players have opted out of the auction•Getty ImagesWill there be any left-field picks from the SA20 player pool?
It can’t be ruled out as franchises are looking to maximise their global presence and grow players within their set-up. Titans’ wicketkeeper-batter Donovan Ferreira, who was picked up by Johannesburg Super Kings, and Dolphins’ yorker specialist Ottniel Baartman, who was among Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s first signings, might be on the wishlist of their IPL teams as well.Tell me about the accelerated process of bidding at the auction
After the first 86 names have been presented for bidding, the “accelerated process” will enable franchises to nominate a set number of players from the remaining ones. Players from the unsold list can also enter the accelerated round, subject to the franchises’ request.Will the introduction of the Impact Player impact the auction?
In the 2023 season, the IPL will introduce a tactical sub – the Impact Player – which it says will add a new dimension to tactics. Details of how the new rule will work were made public only on December 21. It’s all very new, and it remains to be seen whether franchises factor the Impact Player into their auction strategies.Is there a stipulation on squad strength?
Each franchise can have a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 25. The number of overseas players in the squads has been capped at eight.

On the day he took his 500th Test wicket, he evoked memories of the great Curtly Ambrose

Andrew Miller28-Jul-2020″It does get a little frustrating,” Buzz Aldrin once said of a lifetime of being known as the second man on the moon. When you’ve travelled approximately 240,000 miles further than all but an infinitesimally small proportion of humanity, it is a bit harsh to be judged in perpetuity against the only man to go one step beyond.But then again, Stuart Broad isn’t the first mighty bowler whose achievements are destined to be remembered in the context of a double act. And far from diminishing Curtly Ambrose, or Waqar Younis, or Glenn McGrath – all of whom shared a stage with a partner who outstripped them in the wickets column – the stature of their sidekick in fact offers a secondary route to immortality; an opportunity to be remembered, quite literally, as more than just the sum of some very considerable parts.For when you stop to think of Broad in full flow, do you really have to doublethink and factor in Anderson’s presence at the other end? Or do you simply marvel, as we all have done this week, at the spring-heeled malevolence that he still carries with him to the crease after all these years, with an action of such biomechanical purity that – barring a few notable tweaks to his wrist position – it has barely altered since his earliest stirrings as a teenage prodigy for Leicestershire in the summer of 2005.ALSO READ: Stuart Broad at 500: Topping the finest, triggering collapses and getting better with ageFor there comes a point in the accumulation of such towering statistics that context becomes irrelevant, and the sheer scale of the achievement takes over as the defining attribute. Broad’s critics (and my word, they are legion – more of which later…) would argue he remains a bowler of great spells rather than a great bowler in his own right, but when the list of those spells – 18 five-fors now, and barely a dud among them – becomes longer than the careers of many of the men he’s outlasted, well, you start to run out of caveats.Stuart Broad roars in celebration•Getty ImagesBack in 1964, Fred Trueman declared that anyone who sought to extend his then world-record of 300 would be “bloody tired”, and 30 years later, Kapil Dev epitomised that prediction as he flapped and gasped his way past Richard Hadlee’s extended mark of 431, before retiring exhausted one match later. Even the mighty Courtney Walsh had lost a measure of his indefatigability by the spring of 2001, when he became the first seamer to 500 in his final home series against South Africa.But Broad, right here right now, is performing with the fury of the slighted, and the confidence of the blessed. All angles and attitude, the spring of a lamb and the snap of a crocodile, that evoke nothing less than Ambrose in his pomp. “Sacrilege!” some might argue, but really, who else could compare?After all, both men have thrived on a scent of blood in the water, a whiff of cordite in the nostrils. A threat to their hegemony, or an insult to be avenged. And at the given moment, almost invariably with a series on the line, both men’s knees would start pumping, their torsos bouncing to the crease like an out-of-body experience, preternaturally excited about what this next delivery might bring.”I’m always amazed at how he gets on a spell and just blows people away,” Anderson told Sky Sports before the start of play, an Ambrosian trait if ever there was one. And sure enough, in seven overs spanning the end of the West Indies’ first innings at Old Trafford and the start of their second, Broad returned the remarkable figures of 6 for 22, before capping his rampage with a full-length pad-thwacker to pin Kraigg Brathwaite lbw. The 500th breakthrough was every bit as irresistible as the fare that had gone before it.Fans surround Curtly Ambrose•Graham Chadwick/PA Photos/Getty ImagesIf there’s been a frustration in the course of Broad’s career, it’s been that those spells – the truly extraordinary spells, when he’s pitched the ball right up to the bat and kicked it off a length like a mule – have been so irresistible that you begin to wonder why he’s not done it every day of his career. Both he and even Anderson have often been guilty in years gone by of dragging their lengths back to avoid being driven, but according to Cricviz, Broad’s length since the start of 2018 has been 41cm fuller than any previous stage of his career, as if he’s realised that now’s the time in his life to hang the reticence, and chase every last scalp available.But the mechanics are one thing, it’s the moods that are quite something else. Broad’s reading of a situation and his ability to strike accordingly has been second to none throughout the course of his career, right from the moment, as a 21-year-old, he was pitched into the fray in the winter of 2007-08 and lauded by Michael Vaughan as “the most intelligent bowler I’ve ever worked with”.For Broad’s natural length on that maiden winter in Sri Lanka and New Zealand was short and shorter. Remarkably, given his stick-insect frame and baby-faced looks, his first proper role in the team was as an “enforcer”, the man to shove a series of batsmen back into the crease so that Ryan Sidebottom and Anderson himself could draw them forward again and get them to nick off to the slips.The ploy worked too. England were terrified they might wreck Broad in a solitary outing, when he replaced Anderson on a dead deck in Colombo and made an arduous debut in stifling heat, but the following March, his recall alongside Anderson in Wellington would prove to be one of the most pivotal selections in a generation. It was certainly the boldest of Peter Moores’ ill-starred time as England coach. With the team 1-0 down after a terrible loss in Hamilton, the Ashes heroes, Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison, were put out to pasture, and a nascent alliance was trusted to turn the tide back to England with a pair of back-to-back wins.Stuart Broad and James Anderson discuss bowling plans•Getty ImagesAnd in spite of England’s attempts to clean out the stables once more, and move on from another pair of established heroes in good time for the 2021-22 Ashes, Broad in particular is digging his heels in with admirable truculence, and showcasing the stubborn spirit he will need to have one last stab at his favourite foes in two winter’s time.For Broad surely ranks as England’s most consistently competitive Ashes combatant since Ian Botham – a man best remembered for his 8 for 15 at Trent Bridge, no doubt, but whose first great dent on the records came six years earlier at The Oval, where his spell of 12-1-37-5 was the first time in three consecutive home Ashes that he’d deliver the series-sealing haymaker.But that Aussie-baiting nature has revealed itself in a myriad of guises. Not least the rhino-skin thickness of his hide, for few men have been moulded who can soak up the sort of vitriol that has been sprayed his way down the years, and remain so gloriously, and supercilously, inured to such criticism.The most famous example came on the 2013-14 whitewash tour, where his refusal to walk for one of the most blatant edges imaginable during the previous summer’s victory at Trent Bridge caused one Australian newspaper to drop their bundle and start a personal vendetta against him. Not only did Broad claim a five-wicket haul on the first day of the Test, and walk into the press conference with a copy of said paper under his arm, he later found himself, on a night out with his mum in Melbourne, giving directions to the pub to a man wearing one of the summer’s must-have accessories, a “Stuart Broad is a shit bloke” T-shirt.Composite: Stuart Broad banners in Australia•Getty ImagesPerhaps there’s the fact that he’s the son of an ICC match referee – and not just any old referee at that, but the ultimate poacher-turned-gamekeeper – a stump-kicking, umpire-dissing, curse-uttering competitor, whose entire career was a byword of bad behaviour.Perhaps it’s the fact that he has the body and looks of an Aryan wet dream, or that his idiosyncratic mode of lbw appeal has led to an entirely new addition to cricket’s lexicon, which one irate feedbacker on ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary described thus during the day four rain-delay at Old Trafford:”You call it celebrappeal. I call it the worst acts of cheating cricket has seen. Charging to the off side to celebrate before the ump has even considered his decision. No wonder we in Australia hate Stuart Broad. Celebrating in front of the batsman without even looking at the ump … a*****e … pathetic … bring on 2021-22 … [message truncated].”Had Broad been born in the era of Bodyline, he wouldn’t simply have been an enthusiastic advocate of Douglas Jardine’s leg theory, banging the ball in halfway down the wicket with a cordon of vultures under the ribs. He’d have donned a cravat and harlequin cap between overs, and sauntered down to fine leg to wind up precisely those types who profess to this day to loathe him.Who’d want to take the field without such a competitor in their ranks?

Bruno Fernandes has been accused of playing out of his usual position because he wants to do "too much" as Manchester United captain. Former United defender Patrice Evra said Fernandes had carried United on his back in recent years with the numbers of goals and assists he has contributed to the Red Devils but he believes he could do with exerting more control on the team.

Fernandes having mixed season with Man Utd

Fernandes rejected a highly-lucrative offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in the summer to stay at United but has experienced mixed fortunes in a hit-and-miss season for the Red Devils. Fernandes has contributed to 10 of the team's 26 goals in the Premier League, scoring twice and getting an assist in their last game against Wolves. 

The captain, however, has been blamed for United's inconsistent results such as losing at home to 10-man Everton and failing to beat a poor West Ham side in the last three weeks, having pulled off impressive wins over the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

And former United left-back Evra said Fernandes' tendency to play all over the pitch rather than focus on his central midfield role is preventing him from controlling the team's play as he should.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportEvra: Hard to tell where Fernandes is playing

Evra told GOAL, via : "It’s always sensitive to talk about Bruno. It depends what people call a real captain. With a captain, sometimes you can have someone like Roy Keane or a different one. Bruno is giving assists and scoring goals, this has never been the issue. The issue for me is for him to control the team and the tempo when he gets the ball.

"You couldn't tell me where he's playing because he's everywhere. So sometimes maybe as a captain, you want to do extra, you want to do too much. And at the end, you're not even at your right position. But United wouldn't be where they are in the table if Bruno wasn't playing."

Evra: Maguire a better player since losing captaincy

Evra said he has no issues with Fernandes being United's skipper. But he noted how Harry Maguire had a burden lifted from him when he had the captaincy taken off him by Erik ten Hag in 2023. Maguire – who is currently out injured – has changed the narrative around him in the last two seasons with much-improved performances in defence, proving well-suited to Amorim's back three. 

He has scored six goals since the start of last season, including handing United their first victory at Anfield in 10 seasons and grabbing the famous last-gasp winner against Lyon in the Europa League. 

Evra explained: "I don't question the fact about Bruno being a captain – he deserves to be captain because Amorim has chosen him. Look at what's happening to Maguire. They got rid of the armband and he now plays like a United player. You saw how people were bullying him on social media or whatever. But he said, I'm staying here."

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(C)Getty ImagesUnited can't afford to not return to UCL

United climbed into sixth place in the Premier League after beating Wolves and the challenge is to move into the top four and return to the Champions League after a two-year absence. Evra said United should have no excuse for not qualifying for Europe's top competition, which they did in all but one of his nine seasons at Old Trafford as a player.

"Under the previous manager, we won the FA Cup and EFL Cup, but you lose a lot by not being in the Champions League," Evra said. "It’s going to be tough. You’ve got Arsenal, City, Chelsea and Aston Villa giving it a real go. If United do not finish in the top four then it’ll be a massive disappointment – a failure. 

"When I played for United, the goal was winning four trophies per season and now we’re talking about qualifying for the Champions League. Our wages went down by 30 per cent if we didn’t qualify for the Champions League, but we never had that issue."

Chelsea and Enzo Maresca face their sternest examination yet when Premier League leaders Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Maresca’s side enter the London derby riding a wave of confidence following their stunning 3-0 Champions League demolition of Barcelona on Tuesday night.

The emphatic victory showcased Chelsea’s evolution from early-season inconsistency into genuine contenders, with teenage sensation Estevao’s spectacular solo goal providing a potential glimpse of the exciting future being built in west London.

However, Arsenal represent an entirely different proposition.

Mikel Arteta’s men arrive at the Bridge unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Chelsea, not to mention 16 games unbeaten overall since losing to Liverpool in August.

The Blues currently trail Arsenal by six points in the Premier League table, meaning Sunday’s clash carries enormous significance for their title ambitions.

Victory would reduce that deficit to three points and encourage realistic title hopes, while defeat would establish a potentially irrecoverable nine-point gap to the leaders with barely a third of the season completed.

Maresca faces crucial selection decisions, particularly surrounding Cole Palmer’s fitness.

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Chelsea have done well to cope without their superstar player, but reports have suggested that Palmer could be in contention to face Arsenal after breaking his toe recently.

The England international has been out since Chelsea’s defeat to Man United at Old Trafford in September, first being kept out by a niggling groin problem before then suffering that toe injury earlier this month.

It’s been a nightmare start to 25/26 for Palmer personally, with the Englishman desperate to get back on the field.

Enzo Maresca provides Cole Palmer update ahead of Arsenal clash

Now, in some good news for the Blues, Maresca has confirmed that Palmer is ready to start against Arsenal this weekend.

In more good news, Maresca also confirmed that midfielder and summer signing Dario Essugo also took part in a training session this morning.

Palmer’s availability for Sunday’s clash provides Chelsea with their most potent weapon against the Premier League leaders, coming as a big boost for Maresca.

The 23-year-old has been instrumental in Chelsea’s transformation under Maresca, providing the sheer quality that elevates their attacking play.

The former Man City star racked up 18 goals and 14 assists last term, spearheading Chelsea to the Conference League, Club World Cup and a top four Premier League finish.

His composure in decisive moments separates him from Chelsea’s other attacking options, and against high-pressure opponents like Arsenal, Palmer’s calmness on the ball and intelligent decision-making will prove invaluable.

Suddenly, Chelsea’s chances of upsetting Arteta have just increased tenfold.

Shafali Verma scored a career-best 87 in the World Cup final before taking two wickets as well

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2025

Shafali Verma celebrates with Harmanpreet Kaur after delivering a breakthrough•ICC/Getty Images

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur had a gut feeling it was Shafali Verma’s day when she threw the ball to the opener with South Africa ticking along in their run chase of 299 in the World Cup final.Shafali, who made a career-best 87 with the bat earlier, responded by delivering two key breakthroughs to help India win their maiden World Cup title.Shafali had bowled just 14 overs for a single wicket in 30 ODIs coming into the match, but it took her just two balls to end a 52-run stand between South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus in the 21st over with a sharp return catch. And with the first ball of her second over, she got another big wicket as Marizanne Kapp was strangled down leg.Related

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“When Laura and Sune were batting, they were looking really good, and I just saw Shafali standing there. And the way she was batting today, I knew today’s her day,” Harmanpreet said at the presentation ceremony. “She was doing something special today, and I just thought I have to go with my gut feeling. If my heart is saying I should give at least one over to her, I’m going to give her.”And then I just asked her, ‘can you bowl one over?’ And she was so ready, and she’s always wanted to bowl for the team. I think that was a turning point for us.”Shafali only came into India’s squad before the semi-finals after opener Pratika Rawal suffered an injury during their final league-stage match that ruled her out of the tournament.”When she came to the team, that time we spoke to her, ‘we might need your two or three overs’. And she was like, ‘you know, if you give me the bowling, I’m going to bowl 10 overs for the team,'” Harmanpreet said. “And that showed how confident she was to bowl for the team. Credit goes to her. She was so positive. Salute her, the way she was there for the team.”Despite having pulled off a record chase of 339 at the same venue in their semi-final against Australia, Harmanpreet said their total of 298 was enough, considering it was on a different pitch, the overcast conditions and the extra pressure of a final.There were moments when the score looked to be insufficient with Wolvaardt marching to a second consecutive century, stitching fifty-plus stands with Tazmin Brits, Luus and Annerie Dercksen in the process.But, with the asking rate starting to climb, South Africa lost their last five wickets for 37 runs, with Deepti Sharma running through the lineup.Deepti Sharma followed up her half-century with a five-wicket haul•ICC/Getty Images”We should give credit to the South Africa team. They played it beautifully. In the last moment they panicked a little bit, and that’s where we caught the game,” Harmanpreet said.”And I think we, as a group, we have been talking about, you know, once they started doing a little bit, you know, something here and there, we have to catch that. And I think that right time Deepti came and took those crucial wickets.”In the league stage, India slipped to consecutive defeats against South Africa, Australia and England – the three teams that finished above them. But, India registered a memorable win to knock defending champions Australia out before sealing the title against South Africa.”Yeah, last game also we spoke that self-belief was there that, you know, even though we lost three back-to-back games, but we knew this team has something special to turn things around the table,” Harmanpreet said. “So, I think credit goes to each and every member. They stayed positive. They knew what we have to do the next three games, and I think everybody was so involved.”

Aston Villa have now joined the race for Manchester City’s James Trafford ahead of the January transfer window, amid a new update on the goalkeeper’s future at the Etihad Stadium.

It is well-known that Emiliano Martinez wanted to leave Villa during the summer, with the 33-year-old keen on a deadline day move to Manchester United, but he ultimately ended up staying put, and Unai Emery has reintroduced his first-choice goalkeeper to the starting XI.

Emery has been vindicated for his decision to start the Argentinian ahead of Marco Bizot, as he has started to show signs he could be getting back to his best, having kept three clean sheets in the Villans’ last four matches in all competitions.

Most recently, the former Arsenal man put in a top performance in the 4-0 victory against AFC Bournemouth, saving Antoine Semenyo’s penalty and receiving a 8.2 SofaScore match rating for his overall display.

However, given the World Cup-winning goalkeeper’s age, and his previous desire to leave, Emery may have one eye on a replacement, and the Europa League side have now joined the race for a Premier League shot-stopper ahead of the January transfer window.

Aston Villa join race to sign James Trafford

According to a report from Football Insider, Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Man City’s Trafford, with the Englishman’s future at the Etihad Stadium now in doubt, given Gianluigi Donnarumma’s emergence as Pep Guardiola’s first-choice goalkeeper.

It is now looking increasingly likely the 23-year-old will leave the Blues this winter, with an initial loan move potentially on the cards, and he is viewed as a ‘strong alternative’ to Martinez, possessing the ability to replace the Villa goalkeeper between the sticks.

The 6 foot 6 colossus, who is represented by the same agent as Ezri Konsa, has been unable to establish himself as City’s number one, but his performances for the Clarets last season indicate he could be a fantastic signing for the Villans, keeping 29 clean sheets in the Championship alone.

Scott Parker was clearly happy with his goalkeeper’s performances too, describing him as “world-class”, while Statman Dave has revealed the Carlisle-born shot-stopper prevented the second-highest number of goals of any under 23 goalkeeper in Europe’s top 20 leagues last term.

Trafford isn’t the finished article and has yet to prove himself over a sustained period at Premier League level, making an error leading to a goal in City’s 2-0 home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this season, but he is still very young for a goalkeeper, and has a lot of potential.

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Everton will surely feel smug about the number of top-drawer academy products they’ve managed to uncover.

The likes of Anthony Gordon and John Stones have the blue half of Merseyside to thank for kickstarting their Premier League careers, before Newcastle United and Manchester City beckoned, while Everton undoubtedly got more out of Dominic Calvert-Lewin than what was expected, after once picking him up as an 18-year-old prospect from Sheffield United.

71 goals would come Calvert-Lewin’s way across 273 games, but even he will know his rise to Toffees first-team glory pales into insignificance when weighed up next to Wayne Rooney’s remarkable ascent from teenage prodigy at Goodison Park to world-beater with Manchester United.

David Moyes was the boss who first gave Rooney a chance in the Everton senior mix at just 16 years of age, as the Scotsman now goes about assessing what promising youngsters he currently has at his disposal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium who could also go on to have an extensive career at the very top.

Everton's most promising youngsters right now

Many of the Everton U21s personnel right now will surely be dreaming of their Rooney moment in the spotlight under the Glaswegian.

Omari Benjamin could well feel he’s deserving of a first-team opportunity very soon, especially if Beto continues to fluff his lines on Merseyside, with the former Arsenal youth player turned rising star at the Toffees boasting two goals this season in Premier League 2 action.

Up to 12 goals in total now for the U21s, it only feels like a matter of time before the 19-year-old hotshot is handed some men’s minutes.

Other names catching the eye include Justin Clarke, who also boasts two goals himself this season in the Premier League 2, alongside 18-year-old Joel Catesby, who is more of a creative force than a goalscoring menace, having accumulated seven assists to date in both the U18 and U21 picture.

Moyes will have to err on the side of caution with some of these promising starlets, however, with the gap between youth football and the pressures of the Premier League a notoriously hard one to bridge.

That’s why the youth-focused boss will be over the moon with how well this other exciting youngster is doing out on loan away from Everton, as the Toffees potentially now have their best prospect since Rooney burst onto the scene.

Everton's biggest prospect since Rooney

The once wide-eyed number 18 would never look back after being slotted into the first team at just 16, with 17 goals and four assists tallied up for the Toffees during his first stint on the Merseyside, ending up being just the start of his unbelievable tale in the Premier League.

Harrison Armstrong will hope his current loan spell with Preston North End is a similarly memorable first chapter he can look back on in a few years time after he’s exploded in the Everton first-team set-up, with one Preston-based content creator already tipping him to have a “huge future” beyond Deepdale.

Armstrong has even picked up a Man of the Match accolade out on loan in Lancashire, too, with seven duels won across the course of his bruising 90 minutes, the sort of grit Preston needed to complete a 3-2 comeback win over Sheffield United on Friday night.

With three assists also next to his name in the Everton first-team picture, it’s clear that there’s a plausible pathway to the senior side for Armstrong under Moyes when this formative stint is complete, having also been previously dubbed a “first team regular in the making” at Everton by journalist Richard Buxton.

Armstrong’s career numbers so far
Club	Games	Goals + Assists
Everton U18s	22	5 + 1
Derby County	15	1 + 0
Everton U21s	15	3 + 1
Everton	8	0 + 3
Preston	8	0
Sourced by Transfermarkt

The bold claims don’t stop here, either, with another Preston-oriented voice also wildly stating that he “will play for England one day” long after his Championship journey is up.

After all, the likes of Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins must still be eternally grateful for their respective EFL educations, before they then went on to receive a Three Lions cap.

Everything is pointing in the direction of Armstrong being Everton’s brightest prospect since Rooney’s whirlwind moment, with it now being up to the 18-year-old to succeed with all this hype weighing down on him.

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While SL are set to play three seamers in Colombo, Bangladesh are likely to go the other way and pick three spinners

Andrew Fidel Fernando24-Jun-2025Bangladesh have a tough decision to make. If Mehidy Hasan Miraz comes back into the XI for the second Test – and according to coach Phil Simmons there is no guarantee he will – who makes way?The theory seems to be that the player who stood in for him at Galle goes out. But what if that player – offspinner Nayeem Hasan – took a vital 5 for 121 in the first innings, and a tidy 1 for 29 in the second. Nayeem was the equal-highest wicket-taker in that match, which ordinarily should ensure he plays the next match in the series.But he is an offspinner, and so is Mehidy, who is returning to the team. Taijul, by dint of experience as well as being a left-arm spinner, will likely keep his place.”You assume that [Mehidy] will be in the team for the second match,” said Simmons, implying that he still may not be ready. “But at the same time, everyone else has to do their job and we can’t worry about Mehidy coming in.Related

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There is a chance, though, that three spinners can play, according to Simmons. Sri Lanka appear to be going in the opposite direction – they are considering playing three seamers at the SSC. But Bangladesh have the problem of a performing offspinner, whom they are understandably reluctant to keep out.”The first thing is that we will assess what the wicket looks like and the conditions, and then we decide which way we’re going to go – if it’s the three spinners”, Simmons said. “Nayeem had a wonderful game up in Galle. To leave him now is a little difficult. But if a decision has to be made, people understand that it’s what is good for the team.”Having dominated the back end of that Galle Test – Bangladesh were the side pushing for a victory on day five – spirits in the visitors’ camp are high, Simmons said.”They players are really good. When you play good cricket, it helps to lift you. The players’ mental strength is there, and physically they are very good.”

Chelsea are now believed to be very keen on signing a player who Man City boss Pep Guardiola seriously rates behind-the-scenes, with a new report suggesting they’re pressing for a deal.

Chelsea prepare for Premier League return against Nottingham Forest

On the field, Enzo Maresca is gearing up for a crucial Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest — a match which serves a few intriguing narratives.

As Chelsea prepare to take on Ange Postecoglou’s struggling side, the Blues are sweating over the fitness of a few stars.

Injuries continue to plague Chelsea, with several key players already unavailable for selection. Dario Essugo remains sidelined with a long-term injury and won’t return until early next year, while Cole Palmer, who is Maresca’s star man, remains out with a niggling groin problem.

Adding to Chelsea’s woes upfront, number nine Liam Delap continues to nurse his hamstring, with reports suggesting the summer signing won’t be back until around November/December time.

Delap’s physical presence and goal-scoring instinct have been missed, and his absence limits Maresca’s striker depth at a time when goals are desperately needed.

Defensively, Levi Colwill, won’t be back until next year after he suffered an ACL tear in pre-season, leaving Maresca with Trevoh Chalobah, Josh Acheampong, Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo as his only centre-back options right now.

To make matters more complicated, Enzo Fernández, Chelsea’s influential attacking midfielder, could be a doubt to play Forest after withdrawing from international duty. Fernandez pulled out of Argentina’s squad citing knee inflammation, raising some concerns about his fitness ahead of the trip up north.

Reece James, Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro didn’t travel to represent their countries due to knocks, and while all three could return to face Forest, alongside Andrey Santos and Tosin, the latter pair haven’t been spotted in Cobham training this week.

Enzo Fernández

Knee

Unknown

Cole Palmer

Groin

November

Andrey Santos

Knock

Nottingham Forest

Tosin Adarabioyo

Calf

Nottingham Forest

Dario Essugo

Thigh

Early 2026

Liam Delap

Hamstring

November/December

Levi Colwill

ACL

Spring 2026

via Standard Sport

Postecoglou, meanwhile, will be looking to exploit Chelsea’s injury woes and secure vital points, with the Australian’s job reportedly on the line after a torrid start to life at the City Ground.

Chelsea’s lack of depth in certain areas has been exposed due to injury, and particularly their lack of experience.

Maresca fielded the youngest ever Premier League side on average last season (24 years, 36 days), and their starting eleven to play Benfica was Chelsea’s most youthful team in Champions League history.

Chelsea arguably need more experience in their side if they’re to become Premier League title challengers, so it makes sense that BlueCo hold an interest in the likes of AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan to solve that problem.

Now, according to reports from Italy, Chelsea could turn to another quality veteran in ex-Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

Chelsea "pushing" to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic on free transfer

As per Corriere dello Sport, the Al-Hilal midfielder, who earns a whopping £418,000-per-week in the Gulf, could return to Europe next year once his contract expires, even if the Saudi Pro League side want to extend it.

Milinkovic-Savic is attracting serious interest from England, Turkey, La Liga and Serie A, with “half of Europe” considering the 30-year-old on a free transfer.

Maresca’s side are among the pack, and it is believed that Chelsea are pushing to sign Milinkovic-Savic as the West Londoners “like him a lot”.

Interestingly, Guardiola is said to hold the Serbia international — who racked up over 340 appearances for Lazio as a general of their midfield — in “high regard”.

Milinkovic-Savic chipped in with 69 goals and 58 assists during his time in Rome, and hasn’t wavered in the Middle East with 30 goals and 26 assists under his belt for Al-Hilal.

The Serb’s proven creativity and ingenuity in the engine room could be attractive for Chelsea, and he could provide serious competition for Fernandez, who plays a very similar role.

On a free transfer, the appeal is obvious, but Milinkovic-Savic would almost certainly have to take a pay cut given Chelsea’s wage structure.