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Opener produces vital half-century to help revive England from another wobbly start

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2025After their combined tally of eight runs in four innings at Perth, it proved to be a day of revived fortunes at the Gabba for two of the most scrutinised batters in England’s ranks. While Joe Root secured the plaudits for his magnificent maiden century on Australian soil, Zak Crawley’s bounce-back from a first-Test pair proved a similarly cathartic display.Though he fell when well set, gloving a pull off Michael Neser shortly after the first interval, his 76 from 93 balls was nonetheless a crucial contribution, coming as it did after his first-Test nemesis Mitchell Starc had again struck hard with the new ball, dismissing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks in his first two overs.Crawley, by then, had already driven Starc through the covers for four, to bring up his first runs of the series, and he carried on in a similar vein, picking off a total of 11 boundaries, the majority coming when Australia’s bowlers strayed into his arc.”I did feel good, to be honest,” Crawley told TNT Sports at the close of the first day’s play. “I felt much better than Perth. I was just trying to keep it simple, just trying to score straight on the leg side, and then if it was really full, maybe on the off side. Yeah, I was happy with my knock.”Crawley’s relative watchfulness outside off was the key feature of his innings, and a tribute to the hours in the nets that England have put in (in between some notable moments of downtime) since their two-day defeat in the series opener.”I think it’d have felt a long break if I’d have got two hundreds, to be honest,” he said. “It was big old gap after a two-day game. But yeah, it’s a good chance to get some practice in. And I felt comfortable. I felt calm today, and managed to settle the nerves. So I was pleased with how I played.”I had a clear plan and I stuck to it. There were still a couple of loose shots in there, as I tend to do, but got away with them, and I played nicely down the ground as well. By trying to score on the leg side, that made me leave a bit better outside off with the extra bounce today, and then when I got in, the ball started doing a bit less.”England’s close-of-play score of 325 for 9 looked significantly more healthy thanks to an unbeaten tenth-wicket stand of 61 between Root, who finished unbeaten on 135, and Jofra Archer, whose 32 not out was his highest Test score, in just his second innings at No.11.Until Australia have batted, it will be hard to tell how good that score actually is, but after the groundstaff had given the pitch a final trim to 3mm of grass before the match, Crawley knew it had been a good toss for England to win, notwithstanding their early collapse to 5 for 2.Related

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“The last few days, it’s been really green here. So we all thought it’s going to be a green nipper again. And they obviously shaved it this morning, so it looked like a great wicket to bat on, with the overheads as well.”I was gutted to get out when I did, the pitch was just getting a bit flatter there,” he added. “But obviously we finished the day well with Rooty and Jof at the end there. So it’s good day.”At 264 for 9 with approximately half an hour of the day remaining, there had been some speculation that England might declare to insert Australia under the lights, much as they had done in their previous pink-ball Test against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui two years ago. But with Root going strong, and with memories of England’s infamous declaration at Edgbaston in 2023, Crawley said a repeat scenario had not been on the cards.”No talk of declaring,” he said. “We were talking about boys going really hard, and if they got out, then it was kind of a win-win situation. So they went hard, and they came off, and there’s a valuable 50 runs there for us.”Root will be on strike when day two gets underway, and will have the chance to extend England’s innings into the morning session, with six overs to come until the new ball is due. For now, though, he will have a chance to savour a significant landmark in his career, and one that may just confirm his credentials as England’s greatest Test batter.”I’m chuffed for him,” Crawley said, after Root’s 40th Test hundred and his first in Australia. “He hasn’t been speaking about it at all to us, that’s just the outside noise. He’s just very focused on just getting whatever score is needed on the day, and proved to be a hundred today.”But he’s the best player I’ve ever played with, or probably against as well. And he’s a champion bloke. I’m chuffed to bits for him.”

Tottenham Hotspur now hold serious interest in signing a “relentless” Premier League star, who has been outscoring Richarlison.

Spurs keen on new striker despite Richarlison's resurgence

Richarlison has received plenty of criticism during his time at Tottenham, but the Brazilian has been impressive in front of goal so far this season, scoring seven goals in 25 matches across all competitions.

Thomas Frank has been left impressed by the striker, saying after the 3-0 victory against Burnley: “He deserves a lot of praise. He was very good against PSG and today he was exceptional, with his work-rate, driving the team, link-up play, hold-up play, just dominating and then the two finishes.”

That said, the 28-year-old hasn’t exactly been prolific during his time in north London, scoring 27 goals in 114 outings for Spurs, while Dominic Solanke has struggled injury-wise, being limited to just two Premier League appearances this season.

With that in mind, it could make sense to bring in a new striker in January, and Tottenham now hold serious interest in signing Brentford star Igor Thiago, but there could be competition for his signature, with Aston Villa and Newcastle United also keen.

Thiago has a price tag of around £70m, so Spurs may have to shell out a club-record fee to get a deal over the line, and Brentford are reluctant to sanction a January move, which could be an obstacle.

As such, a winter departure is unlikely to be on the cards for the Brazilian, but strong offers are expected next summer, and a move to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium could be tempting.

Frank is an admirer of "relentless" Thiago

Frank spent time working with the centre-forward during his time with the Bees, and the Dane made it clear he is a big admirer, saying: “Thiago is a very exciting striker who fits the role in our team. He is hard working and a very good pressing player. He is also a physical presence, very good in the box and can link the play.”

Since then, the 24-year-old has really kicked on, scoring 12 goals in 16 matches across all competitions this season, vastly outscoring Richarlison, and he received high praise from Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, who described the Brentford star as “relentless in his work rate.”

That work rate has been on display regularly over the past year, with the Gama-born striker exhibiting a real willingness to pitch in defensively.

Igor Thiago’s defensive statistics

Average per 90 (past year)

Tackles

1.35 (93rd percentile)

Blocks

1.0 (94th percentile)

Clearances

2.21 (98th percentile)

Thiago has been fantastic so far this season, and Tottenham should monitor his performances between now and the end of the season, given Brentford’s reluctance to sanction a January move.

Toluca stirred controversy after booking their place in the Apertura 2025 Final and knocking out Monterrey, aiming their celebration directly at Sergio Ramos. The Spaniard had earlier silenced the Nemesio Diez crowd after scoring Rayados’ lone goal in a 3-1 defeat. After the elimination, the Diablos turned his gesture against him – and Ramos didn’t hold back.

Getty Images SportToluca mocked Ramos on social media

Ramos could not avoid the spotlight after Monterrey’s elimination, and his reaction quickly ignited social media. The veteran defender scored Rayados’ only goal in Toluca, and as soon as the ball hit the net, he brought a finger to his lips, signaling the Nemesio Díez crowd to be quiet -despite the fact Monterrey was still trailing 3-1 and already on its way out of the Apertura 2025.

Toluca wasted no time firing back. Once the final whistle confirmed their place in the Liga MX Final, the club’s social media account mocked Ramos with the message: “Silence, the ‘Pandilla’ is already resting.” 

The post immediately went viral and triggered a wave of reactions – including one from Ramos himself.

Advertisement@SERGIORAMOSRamos' response

The Spaniard first replied by posting a screenshot comparing follower counts: Toluca’s roughly 600,000 against his more than 60 million. Minutes later, he doubled down by sharing another story, this time highlighting his extensive trophy collection alongside the jab: 

“Lions don’t lose sleep over the opinions of sheep," he wrote.

Getty Images SportThe semifinal marked Ramos’ final match in Liga MX

While Ramos’ exchange with Toluca became one of the talking points of the weekend, it also marked the end of his short-lived chapter in Liga MX. The semifinal was his final match in a Rayados shirt – something that had been reported a week earlier and that the defender finally confirmed after the game. The Spaniard leaves Monterrey after 32 matches and seven goals, a notable haul for a central defender.

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AFPWhat comes next for Ramos?

Ramos has not revealed his next destination, though reports suggest a possible return to European football.

A fan came to the rescue Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field when Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick needed some assistance.

In the top of the sixth inning, Frelick swung hard at 1-0 offering from Chicago Cubs righthander Chris Flexen, and his bat soared into the netting behind home plate. A fan, sitting in the front row wearing khaki pants and a polo shirt, didn't waste a moment. He climbed onto the netting and quickly grabbed the bat.

The security team at Wrigley Field didn't like it. After the fan came down with the bat, Wrigley Field security spoke with him and appeared to plan to eject him from the game. But after a few minutes, the fan was allowed back into his seat, receiving a stirring applause from the other 41,077 fans in Chicago.

The fan didn't get to keep the bat, but according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Curt Hogg, Frelick gave him a game-used bat signed with the message, "Nice climb."

The Cubs, who trailed 8-3 at the time of the fan's heroics in the netting, stormed back to make it a one-run game in the eight inning, but fell 8-7. The Cubs and Brewers are now separated by 5.5 games in the NL Central standings.

Neither team has had a great year in the format and will look to make amends

Mohammad Isam15-Dec-2024West Indies will look to take the high from the 3-0 ODI series win in St Kitts into St Vincent where they now play three T20Is against Bangladesh. It is the fag end of the tour for the visitors, who would look to end their time in the West Indies with a win under their belt.Tour mood brings context to contestWest Indies crushed Bangladesh 3-0 in the ODIs after the visitors fought back to draw the Test series 1-1 in Jamaica earlier in the tour. The relationship between the two teams seems to have improved after some heated sledging in the Test series, but that wouldn’t stop them from thrashing out another highly-competitive three-match series.Both teams come into the matches with poor performances in T20Is recently. There will be mini-contests in the shortest format too, particularly between Jaker Ali and the West Indies fast bowlers.Related

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Bangladesh’s quicks will also be expected to rise for one last time this year, to make 2024 worth remembering for the group.West Indies bring in more big gunsRovman Powell now takes over the West Indies side as their T20I captain from ODI skipper Shai Hope. The hosts have called up Keacy Carty for the first time in T20Is, while the likes of Brandon King, Johnson Charles and Evin Lewis will make up the top order. Then come Powell, Nicholas Pooran, Roston Chase and Justin Greaves completing the middle order.Akeal Hosein is available only for the first two games, before Jayden Seales, Bangladesh’s scourge all tour, returns to the side for the third T20I. Gudakesh Motie could be key, having also bashed an important knock in the third ODI, to give him confidence with the bat.Bangladesh look to improve ordinary T20 yearBangladesh will be smarting from the series defeat in St Kitts because they fancy themselves in ODIs. The shift to T20Is won’t inspire much confidence for them because they have had a sub-par year in the format, having suffered series defeats against Sri Lanka, USA and India. They have lost their last six matches in the format.Jaker Ali was Bangladesh’s best batter across the Tests and ODIs•Randy BrooksTherefore, appointing Litton Das as captain is a desperate move to freshen up the T20I side. Litton is going through a tough time in ODIs so it is important for him to revive his form.They will, however, hope that Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan and their find of the series – Jaker – continue their ODI form into the T20Is. Shamim Hossain comes with renewed reputation while Mahedi Hasan will battle for a place with Mehidy Hasan Miraz.The spinners, including Nasum Ahmed and Rishad Hossain, have a lot of work to do, especially after failing to take wickets in the middle overs in the one-dayers.They shored up their pace department on the eve of the series, adding fast bowler Nahid Rana to the squad.*What to expect from the St Vincent pitch and conditionsBangladesh have bittersweet memories of the Arnos Vale ground from earlier this year. They beat Netherlands and Nepal but crashed out of the T20 World Cup after the loss against Afghanistan. The pitches produced moderate first-innings totals during the World Cup and the spinners could become a vital cog if used smartly by the two captains. St Vincent may experience some rain, which is particularly in the forecast for the third T20I on December 19.*

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has not been one to shy away from his media duties this season, notably embracing his war of words with Wayne Rooney after that famous win over Real Madrid a few weeks ago.

That, however, has been the only thing they’ve really had to cheer about in the last few months. The pressure is intensifying on Arne Slot’s shoulders and just how long he remains in the Anfield dugout remains to be seen.

The Dutchman, who steered Liverpool to a remarkable Premier League title win during his debut campaign in England has made some bold calls of late, notably the decision to omit Mohamed Salah from the last two starting lineups.

The Egypt international was an unused substitute for Sunday’s win at West Ham and was on the bench again for the 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland, the first time in his Anfield career he had not started in back-to-back league matches.

It’s a shocking turn of events for the league’s player of the season back in 2024/25. Skipper van Dijk was asked for his thoughts after the draw with Sunderland.

Van Dijk speaks out on the Salah situation

“It’s not like you have unlimited credit, everyone has to perform,” said Van Dijk when asked whether Salah’s omission had sent a message to the dressing room.

“Mo has been doing that but the manager made that decision in the last two games. We all want the best for the club. I am pretty sure Mo will still be a big part of what we are trying to achieve because he is an amazing player and he has shown it consistently.

“But we are all trying to find consistency and he needs us to be in our best shape and we need him and that’s what we are all trying to find. He is still a fantastic player and we still have to remember there is a reason why he has been so successful at the club and we have to respect that.”

“I need him around as one of the leaders. I’m not worried. He’s disappointed but that’s absolutely normal as if you’re not disappointed when you’re not playing two games in a row then there is an issue as well.”

Van Dijk praises Florian Wirtz

Signed for a colossal £116m fee from Bayer Leverkusen over the summer, this has been an abject campaign to say the least for the German.

In the words of Gary Neville a few weeks ago, he’s been “really bad” and that hasn’t looked like improving. That said, he did make a big impact this week.

It looked like Wirtz had scored his first Premier League goal only to see it go down as an own goal after his effort took a huge deflection off Black Cats defender Nordi Mukiele.

Despite that, Van Dijk was full of praise for the attacking midfielder.

“There’s a very good reason why a club like us bought him – he’s an outstanding, world-class player in my eyes who can only become even better but it will take a bit of time,” said Van Dijk.

“For him he has to stay level-headed. Don’t get dragged into the outside world of when it’s very good or very bad and don’t get dragged into the numbers game. Nowadays there are a lot of eyes on if you score goals or have an assist or keep clean sheets but it is also about what you see and the contribution you have for the team, that’s not just shown in the numbers but in what you see and that should sometimes be the focus.”

Fewer touches than Alisson & only 2 passes: Liverpool flop must be dropped

Arne Slot has a huge call to make about one player after his showing for Liverpool last night.

2 ByEthan Lamb Dec 4, 2025

Readiness for floodlit challenge comes in for scrutiny after dropped catches dent tourists’ chances

Vithushan Ehantharajah05-Dec-20251:18

Root jokes England’s ‘wheels would’ve come off’ if he was captain

Joe Root has defended England’s preparations ahead of the second Test after the tourists missed five chances on day two at the Gabba, four of which came in a final session under lights that allowed Australia to establish a crucial 44-run lead with four first-innings wickets remaining.Root’s first century on an Ashes tour had given England a workable total of 334. But they were unable to make it count through wayward bowling and an array of spurned chances. All but one came after sunset, when the pink ball becomes harder to see under the floodlights, allowing the hosts to close on 378 for 6.Travis Head, shifted up to open the batting, was missed badly by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith on 3, and went on to make 33. During the final session, Ben Duckett missed a pop-up at gully that would have removed Alex Carey for a golden duck, and could only palm Josh Inglis away at third slip on 19 – although Ben Stokes bowled Inglis three deliveries later for 21.Related

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Michael Neser was given a life on 6 after slapping Jofra Archer straight to Brydon Carse, who put down a simple effort at cover that split the webbing on his right thumb. Finally, Carey, on 25, slashed between Root (first slip) and Smith, who should have got to it. Carey and Neser eventually walked off together at the close, their unbeaten stand – 49 from 55 deliveries – putting Australia ahead in the match.England chose not to send any of their starters to Canberra for a two-day game against a Prime Minister’s XI that would have given them exposure to day-night conditions. Instead, they underwent a five-day training programme going into the Test, which included two sessions (Monday and Wednesday) under lights, both in the nets and on the outfield of the Gabba to practice fielding in the various scenarios they would come across in this match. Root believes this, unequivocally, was the right thing to do.”We worked as hard as we could in the lead up to this,” Root said. “We had five days of prep and we did a huge amount of catching and making sure we utilised those two sessions under lights well.”You could look at it like that [England could have played in Canberra] but you can’t replicate that surface [at the Gabba], the bounce, the way the nicks come. It’s never going to be exactly the same, it’s never going to be perfect. All you can do is give yourself the best possible chance and I think we’ve done that.”In the lead up to this game we’ve got used to conditions, we’ve got used to the heat, we got used to the surfaces. The nets were at 3mm [grass length], the same as the wicket. We faced our own bowlers, we’ve caught under lights, we’ve caught in daylight and tried to catch in twilight as well. Sometimes they don’t stick and you’re always looking for answers.”Sometimes they just don’t stick and you’ve got to keep applying yourself and wanting the ball so you’re ready when that next opportunity comes.”England did at least have sympathy from across the divide. Jake Weatherald, who struck 72 for a maiden half-century in his second Test, admitted to his own struggles in the field on the evening of day one.”It was definitely difficult,” he said. “We were probably lucky we didn’t get as many catches square of the wicket as them. It is really difficult.”It has been a hard thing to do and it was hard last week for me with the red ball, obviously against the crowds. This week has been another level hard, especially square of the wicket.”I feel for them, I understand how hard it is out there, especially when the ball is being hit hard and there is a bit of dew on the wicket as well. It comes flying at you and it’s not great visuals. It’s a different challenge.”

Cardiff City have released a passionate and powerful statement in relation to the passing of Emiliano Sala. The 28-year-old lost his life when travelling to Wales to complete a transfer in January 2019. A seven-year legal battle is now drawing to a close, with the Bluebirds taking aim at Nantes and Sala’s representatives for the role that they played in “a tragedy that could and should have been avoided”.

Sala tragedy: Plan crashed when travelling to Wales

Argentine striker Sala died when the private plane carrying him from France to Cardiff crashed into the Channel. He was in the process of completing a £15 million switch from Ligue 1 side Nantes. He lost his life alongside pilot David Ibbotson, with the flight having been organised by agent Willie McKay and his son Mark. The journey was unlicensed and a legal dispute has dragged on for several years.

AdvertisementHow much are Cardiff seeking in damages?

Cardiff are seeking £105m ($140m) in damages. They were a Premier League side when agreeing a deal for Sala, but suffered relegation out of the top flight at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

David Anderson, who helped to organise the flight in question, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in the tragedy. On December 8, 2025, proceedings will begin at the Nantes Commercial Court as Cardiff state their case.

The presiding French judge will consider whether Nantes are liable for the financial losses being claimed by Cardiff. If the Bluebirds are successful, then a decision will be made on how much they are owed.

Cardiff City condemn Nantes & McKay in statement

The Welsh outfit have said in a strongly-worded statement: “Nantes' commercial court will finally hear the substance of Cardiff City Football Club's case against FC Nantes. We want FC Nantes to be held accountable for the faults committed by Willie McKay, FC Nantes' true agent. This tragedy, which began nearly seven years ago, cost Emiliano Sala his life.

“It is a tragedy that could and should have been avoided, had the people involved in the transfer on FC Nantes' side not relied on the services of a banned agent, who went on to organise illegal flights to get the deal done. On the eve of the hearing, however, there is hope.

“The hearing marks another step towards uncovering the truth and establishing more accountability in football. This case isn't about harming football: it's about protecting its integrity. This is about ensuring higher standards across our sport, especially surrounding transfers. Because Emiliano Sala deserved better. Because football deserves better.”

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Getty Images SportSala case: When is a verdict expected?

At the hearing in France, the judge will open proceedings – which get underway at 4pm UK time – by delivering an initial summary of the case. All documents submitted by both clubs have been reviewed. Legal teams from each party will then present their respective arguments.

While the matter is now in court, after almost seven years, a final verdict is not expected until the spring of 2026. That means full closure remains some way off, but an end to the lengthy saga is now in sight.

Sala’s body was found in the wreckage of the plane transporting him to the United Kingdom on January 21, 2019. The aircraft in question went down near the Channel Island of Guernsey. Ibbotson’s body was never recovered.

While they were a Premier League outfit at the time of the transfer for Sala being agreed, Cardiff now find themselves in the third tier of English football. They are top of the League One table through 17 fixtures in 2025-26.

We're approaching the midway point of the 2025 MLB season, and this year's Cy Young races have begun to take shape with less than a month to go until the All-Star break. Some of the league's top starters have already taken the mound as many as 15 times, and plenty of contenders for the award honoring the league's most outstanding pitcher have emerged.

Tarik Skubal claimed the American League Cy Young for the first time in 2024, and he’s on track to repeat the feat after a magnificent start to his '25 campaign. Chris Sale won the award for the National League last year, and despite having a strong follow-up season so far with a 2.79 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 80 2/3 innings, he's not currently among the top contenders to repeat. That speaks to how stacked the competition is.

Let’s take a look at the top three candidates in both leagues, as well as some honorable mentions. All stats are updated entering Tuesday.

American League Cy Young Candidates3. Max Fried, New York Yankees

Josh Inglis scores 77-ball hundred as Australia nail highest successful pursuit in ICC ODI events

ESPNcricinfo stats team22-Feb-2025356 for 5 – Australia’s total against England is now the highest by any team at the Champions Trophy, surpassing England’s 351 for 8 in the first innings. The previous highest total in the competition history was New Zealand’s 347 for 4 against USA in 2004.77 – Josh Inglis smashed his maiden ODI ton off 77 balls to revive Australia’s run chase and take them home. He also leveled with Virender Sehwag for the fastest Champions Trophy hundred. Sehwag’s 77-ball ton (126 off 104 balls) also came against England – in Colombo in 2002.ESPNcricinfo Ltd352 – Target that Australia chased down against England is the highest successful chase in the history of ICC ODI tournaments, bettering Pakistan’s 345 against Sri Lanka in the 2023 World Cup. It is also only the second time Australia have successfully chased down a 350-plus total in ODIs. In 2019, they scaled a target of 359 against India in Mohali which remains their highest chase in ODI cricket.8.52 – Economy rate of England’s pace bowlers, who conceded 226 runs in 26.3 overs, their worst in a men’s ODI, where they bowled 25-plus overs.The Australia quicks, on the other hand, who came into the match with only 14 ODI caps between them, fared much better on a placid track, having conceded 171 in 27 overs, at an economy rate of 6.33.158.90 – Australia’s batting strike rate against the short and short-good lengths by England pacers. They scored 116 runs off 73 deliveries, hitting 16 fours and five sixes off them. Inglis scored 39 runs off 20 balls facing those lengths, with seven boundaries including three sixes.ESPNcricinfo Ltd165 – Ben Duckett’s sublime knock for England the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history. He went past Nathan Astle’s unbeaten 145 against USA in 2004, while Andy Flower also scored 145 against India in 2002.ESPNcricinfo Ltd50 – Duckett scored 50 runs off 36 balls against Adam Zampa during his record-breaking knock. These are the joint-most runs any batter has scored off Zampa in an ODI, levelling with Heinrich Klaasen’s effort of smashing 50 off 17 balls against the legspinner.With his flawless batting against Zampa, Duckett played a big part in taming the threat of Zampa, who conceded 64 in his ten overs. All other England batters combined scored only 12 off 25 balls, at a strike rate of 48.43.88 – Percentage of England’s total scored in boundaries on Saturday – 154 out of 351. England batters hit only 28 fours and seven sixes, but 174 runs came through running between the wickets – 137 singles, 17 twos and a three.