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West Indies captain Roston Chase has described his side’s capitulation against Australia in Jamaica as “heartbreaking” and “embarrassing”.West Indies were bowled out for the second-lowest total in Test history at Sabina Park to lose the third Test and concede the series 3-0 in the process.Chasing 204 to win on the third day, West Indies were bowled out for 27 in 14.3 overs to set a host of new and unwanted records. The total was just one run better than New Zealand’s Test-record low of 26 in 1955 but it was 20 runs short of West Indies’ previous worst total of 47. It was the first time in Test history a team recorded seven ducks in an innings and the six runs made collectively by West Indies top-six batters was the lowest in any innings in Test history.Related

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• CWI calls for emergency meeting with legends after 'deeply hurting' loss

• Starc six-for, Boland hat-trick consign West Indies to 27 all-out and 0-3 defeat

• Stats – WI post second-lowest Test total; Starc takes five in 15 balls

Mitchell Starc also took the fastest Test five-for ever, claiming the first five wickets of the innings in just 15 balls after picking up three wickets in the first over.Speaking after – at both the post-match presentation and the press conference – Chase was despondent.”It’s disappointing,” Chase said. “We’ve been putting ourselves in positions to win games, and then we just lay down and not put up a fight in the last batting innings. It’s quite heartbreaking, because I think we did it in all three Tests, and we’re not really learning from our mistakes. So that’s something we have to really look at.”Obviously being bowled out for less than 30 is quite embarrassing.”Chase thought the target of 204 was achievable and did not offer any excuses in regards to the surface, despite no batter in the match reaching 50. It was only the seventh time since 1900 and the third time since 1981 that no player had scored a half-century in a Test with at least two completed innings.”I thought it was realistic,” Chase said. “I mean, the wicket was a good wicket, still a good batting wicket. I didn’t think there was too many devils in the wicket, like the last two games where the ball was rolling or bouncing inconsistently. So yeah, we thought 204 was quite gettable. But then, obviously, with the start and stuff being [11 for 6] or something like that, it’s very difficult to really get those runs from there.”It capped off a horror series with the bat for West Indies’ new-look line-up. They posted scores of 190, 141, 253, 143, 143 and 27 across the series. Brandon King was the only West Indies batter to score a half-century, posting the highest individual score on either side with 75 in Grenada. He was also the only West Indies batter to average more than 20 for the series with 21.50, discounting Anderson Phillip making 10 and 11 not out in his only Test in the series in Grenada. Australia had four batters average more than 30, but Travis Head was the only one to score more than 200 runs and average more than 32 thanks to his twin half-centuries in Barbados. Head, Cameron Green and Usman Khawaja were the only players in the series to face more than 300 balls across six innings.Brandon King surveys the wreckage after becoming the third dismissal in Mitchell Starc’s opening over•AFP/Getty Images

Chase did note that the pitches were tough overall for the batters but he did not want to take away too much from the performance of his bowlers.”I think the pitches were very tough,” he said. “I don’t want to say they were too in favour of the bowlers, but they were very tough because, as you can see, this is probably the first series I’ve ever played [where] no batter got a hundred for each side. So that’s something that I’ve never really seen in a Test series. So that just goes to show how dominant the bowlers were.”Chase conceded that West Indies faced a huge challenge to rebuild from here. They do not play Test cricket again until October and face entirely different conditions in India when they do.”We need to really take a deep look at ourselves as batters,” Chase said. “The next series from here is quite a while. So we have time on our side. So I think that’s what we need to really do, really have a look at our batting this series and see where we can improve and how we can put 300 run totals on the board.”Obviously India is going to be different conditions, probably more spinner-friendly. So I think if you can have some batting camps around playing spin bowling and stuff like that, I think that will be ideal for us going into those conditions.”

انتقد الإعلامي أحمد شوبير أداء لجنة الحكام في الفترة الأخيرة، مشيرًا إلى أن مستوى التحكيم في الدوري المصري شهد تراجعًا واضحًا بعد بداية مبشرة هذا الموسم.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الأربعاء: “أنا هنا كنت أول من أشاد بعمل أوسكار، لقد ذهبت إلى المران وشاهدت التدريبات مرة، ثم شاهدتها مرة أخرى، ورأيت ما يفعله هذا الرجل، إنه يقدم عملًا جيدًا جدًا، ويبذل مجهودًا كبيرًا، ويعمل بجد واجتهاد، فقلت: الحمد لله، يبدو أن هذه السنة ستكون سنة خير في التحكيم”.

وأضاف: “لكن بعد فترة حدث اهتزاز واضح وأخطاء كارثية، وهذا أمر قد يحدث، طبيعي جدًا أن تقع أخطاء أو يحدث اهتزاز في المستوى، ولكن عندما يحدث ذلك، يجب معاقبة المخطئ حتى يتعلم ولا يكرر الخطأ مرة أخرى”.

طالع أيضًا | أحمد دياب يوضح حقيقة تشفير الدوري المصري.. ويؤكد: إلغاء الهبوط أمر استثنائي

وتابع: “للأسف الشديد، الآن لم تعد هناك عقوبة للمخطئ، بل أصبحت هناك مكافأة له! نعم، أصبحت هناك مكافأة للمخطئ، أرجو ألا يغضب مني أحد، لأنني أتحدث من منطلق حبي للتحكيم وحبي للعدل، ومن فضل الله سبحانه وتعالى أنني أحب الإنصاف، لكن ما يحدث الآن خطأ كبير جدًا، وأصبحت الأمور تفلت تمامًا”.

واستطرد: “هناك حكام أصبحوا يعلمون أنه مهما فعلوا، حتى لو كانت الكرة خارج منطقة الجزاء ولمسوها باليد واحتسبوها ركلة جزاء، فسيُمنحون التقدير والثناء، وهناك آخرون، حتى لو أداروا مباريات صعبة جدًا وقدموا أداءً متميزًا، فإن ما في الأذهان لا يتغير، هذا يشكل خطرًا كبيرًا على التحكيم في الفترة القادمة، خصوصًا أنها فترة مهمة وصعبة، لأنها ستحسم بطولة الدوري والكأس، وتشهد مواجهات قوية ينتظرها الجميع”.

واختتم: “كما قلت لك، والله كنت في البداية سعيدًا جدًا ومتفائلًا، وشعرت أن لدينا فرصة جيدة لأن نقدم موسمًا تحكيميًا أكثر من رائع وممتاز، وأتمنى أن يعود الرجل إلى سابق عهده، وأن نعود إلى المبدأ الصحيح: من يجتهد ويؤدي عمله جيدًا نقول له (برافو)، ومن يخطئ نقول له تعلم من أخطائك وراجع نفسك مرة أخرى، حتى تسير الأمور بالشكل الصحيح”.

Tom Moody singles out Sai Kishore for his steady performances, says that the absence of effective bowling partnerships has left GT vulnerable

ESPNcricinfo staff26-May-20251:30

Moody: ‘A number of GT bowlers are losing form at the wrong time’

Despite a sparkling run in IPL 2025, which made them the first team to qualify for the playoffs, Gujarat Titans (GT) find themselves grappling with an untimely dip in bowling form, a concern that could prove costly at the business end of the tournament. Known for their disciplined attack, GT’s bowling unit has appeared unsettled after the mini-break. They have lost two of their three games after the IPL’s resumption – after winning eight of 11 before the interruption – and in those, their bowlers have conceded 664 runs and picked up just ten wickets.After their latest loss – by 83 runs to bottom-placed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday – Tom Moody singled out R Sai Kishore – the only one to have taken at least a wicket in each of those three matches – for his consistency, but noted that the absence of effective bowling partnerships have left GT vulnerable. While Prasidh Krishna – who has 23 wickets and is in second place on the Purple Cap table – and Mohammed Siraj have contributed, their recent performances have been a bit up and down.”It is a concern that a number of their bowlers are losing form at the wrong time,” Moody said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show. “Coming into the finals, one area of your game you want to be absolutely confident with is your bowling attack and everyone not looking over their shoulder but looking to take the responsibility themselves. And I look at their attack and really there’s only one bowler that’s bowling well and the rest are trying to find form.Related

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“And that’s probably being a little bit harsh on Sai Kishore because I think he’s been quite consistent, but it’s nearly like his bowling has been swept away along with many other bowlers purely because they haven’t been able to build the most important thing, and that’s those partnerships with the ball.”Anil Kumble echoed Moody’s thoughts, and highlighted GT’s struggles during the bowling powerplays, which have increased the pressure on the bowling unit, which has had perhaps its biggest name – Rashid Khan – in possibly the poorest T20 form of his career.”When things have not started off well for GT in those first six overs, the pressure on the bowling attack has been pretty obvious,” Kumble said. “That’s where the Rashid wicket-taking ability is sort of missing now, and that’s why they’re probably struggling.To counter this problem, Moody suggested that GT might need to think differently and even open with Sai Kishore.3:07

Moody on GT: Not the time to press the panic button

“I just wonder, just sowing a seed for moving forward, whether they need to actually rearrange their bowling attack,” Moody said. “Maybe do something out of the box, like open with Sai Kishore, you know, have an over or two of them. He’s well-equipped to be able to do that, and it just gives them that little bit of a point of difference as a bowling unit.”Moody: ‘Not the time to press that panic button’Moody and Kumble emphasised the importance of staying calm and focused as GT approach the final stages of the tournament. In Moody’s opinion, it was essential not to panic but to reflect on the strengths while working on small improvements quietly, away from the public eye.”For all the teams, at this time, it’s not the time to press that panic button,” Moody said. “It’s the time to reflect on what are we really doing well and focusing on those areas and highlighting them and celebrating those areas and just quietly going about trying to patch up a couple of gaps without it being sort of seen in a public domain, whether it be through the press or whether it be in the dressing room in front of the whole squad – ‘we must be improving here and here and these are the gaps we’re missing out on’, you know, just quietly going around on a one-to-one basis and reassuring players but also just reminding them of a couple of areas that just might need a little bit of sharpening.4:42

‘The zip has been missing in Rashid’s bowling’

“Players need to have that sort of free mind and not sort of worrying about the consequences of what’s happened in the past or what may happen if we fall down that same track as what we did in our last two games. So, again, it’s preserving confidence, preserving the culture that you’ve built within that playing group. So you’re celebrating that and you’re trying to keep everyone upbeat and positive, because at the end of the day, there’s a lot of tired bodies, there’s a lot of mental fatigue there as well. So you need to be mindful of all those things to make sure that everyone’s feeling really positive about what’s ahead of them.”Kumble said that teams needed to recognise and celebrate the good work that got them to this stage of the tournament.”I think what was important was also to look at all the good things that they’ve done to be here,” Kumble said. “There were ten teams, all of them equally good. Yes, the points table says that Chennai [CSK] is No. 10, and then you have Rajasthan [RR] at nine, and the rest of them. But generally, if you look at it on paper, all of those teams are really, really good. It’s just that one match here, there, things could have been different.”So, you need to celebrate that and then look at whether it is Qualifier or Eliminator, whatever it is, one game at a time. Focus on that and then look at how well the team did in those important moments and try and win those key moments.”

The Coventry City striker took charge when his national team needed him most, scoring once in each half to seal important win

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – For the first half hour of Tuesday's friendly against Australia, it was doom and gloom for the U.S. men's national team. They'd conceded a goal, and a poor one at that. Christian Pulisic, the team's captain on the day, was forced off with an injury.

Despite dominating the play, the U.S. were down a goal and a star at the half-hour mark. Mauricio Pochettino's side needed a spark. It came from Haji Wright, who brought his scoring boots from England right on over to Colorado. Given the start ahead of the prolific Folarin Balogun, Wright made the difference for the USMNT, making one hell of a statement in his first USMNT appearance since his Gold Cup injury.

Behind Wright's brace, the USMNT went on to win 2-1 on Tuesday night. Following Jordan Bos' scrappy opener, Wright took over, netting one on either side of halftime, and continuing his torrid scoring streak – he now has 11 goals in his last 11 games for club and country.

The first came as he ran onto a line-splitting pass from Cristian Roldan. The second came as he ran onto a long ball from the very same man, and that Roldan-Wright combination effectively decided the game.

“I believe in myself and the players around here make it easy," Wright said. "I’ve known these guys my whole life, almost my whole soccer career. So getting back on the field with these guys, it feels like home to me. And playing back in the U.S. feels great… I’m not just stuck in the nine as a typical striker. I’m allowed to move and be free-flowing and create chances and score chances."

Earlier this international break, Pochettino explained what he wants from his strikers: the ball in the back of the net. The rest is all a bonus, he said, and the key unit of measurement in this striker race will always be goals. On Tuesday, Wright got two of them at a crucial time, helping the USMNT turn a poor start into a banner night of momentum building.

“We conceded a goal that we should not concede," Pochettino told TNT. "I was happy the way finished the first half. We controlled the game after 20 minutes. After we conceded, we started to play more natural. It’s a new team, the first time they’ve played together, and they were thinking too much, then started to play more natural.”

Now unbeaten in three games after an up-and-down summer, the U.S. continues to move in the right direction. On this occasion, Wright was the man who made it so.

GOAL rates the USMNT's players from Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defense

Matt Freese (6/10):

Not much he could have done about the goal. Didn't have to do much outside of punching away a corner kick or two.

Tim Weah (7/10):

Played as an actual wingback this time around, and he did just fine in the role. Was dangerous, particularly in the first half, and tracked back in the moments where the USMNT needed him to.

Mark McKenzie (6/10):

Had one massive block on one of Australia's few chances. Nothing too crazy either way outside of that.

Chris Richards (5/10):

At least partially at blame for the goal, although that was certainly a team effort. Really helped set the tone of the game after, though, by adding some fight after several hard Australia fouls.

Miles Robinson (6/10):

Was beaten a few times, but also had one sequence where he tracked back to prevent a chance. 

Alex Freeman (6/10):

Was more free than in past appearances, as the Orlando City star was, at a few points, the player highest up the field. His teammates didn't find a few of his better runs, but it was still good to see him offer more on that attacking side.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

James Sands (5/10):

His mishit clearance helped lead to the goal but he generally settled into the game as it went on. Still, he'll be frustrated about that one mistimed swing of his foot.

Cristian Roldan (8/10):

Was also a part of that messy Australia goal, but the Seattle Sounders star then set up Wright's two finishes. Overall, a good reminder that he brings more than vibes; he's also a pretty damn good player, too.

Getty ImagesAttack

Weston McKennie (6/10):

Played a good ball for the hockey assist on Wright's first but, otherwise, wasn't quite as good as he was against Ecuador on Friday. Still, you can see the vision with him in this free role.

Christian Pulisic (6/10):

Was far and away the USMNT's driving force during his time on the field. Unfortunately, that time was cut short due to his first-half injury.

Haji Wright (9/10):

Didn't get many opportunities, but he buried the ones that came his way. His first finish showed decisiveness. His second showed calm. Both went in, which is something we've seen a lot of from him lately with club and country.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Diego Luna (7/10):

The game immediately changed once he came in and, while that wasn't all his doing, he surely played a part. Provided what he usually does: energy, creativity and nearly a goal towards the end, too.

Folarin Balogun (6/10):

A tough spot to be thrown into as he replaced a guy working toward a hat-trick. Not quite as dangerous as Wright, obviously, but his runs through Australia's defense definitely gave them some problems in the game's final 20 minutes.

Brenden Aaronson (7/10):

It looked like a big moment passed him by, but Aaronson picked out Luna for what could have been, and arguably should have been, a goal. Decent work from the Leeds midfielder.

Tanner Tessmann (6/10):

Didn't get too many touches in the midfield with the U.S. largely on the front foot.

Aidan Morris (6/10):

Didn't have much time to work, but was generally clean and involved in the heart of midfield.

Max Arfsten (N/A):

Came on late and hardly got a touch of the ball.

Mauricio Pochettino (8/10):

Got just about everything right. The Australia goal was fluky and largely down to individual mistakes but, outside of that one moment, the USMNT dominated possession and the overall flow of the game. He'll be happy, too, to see his team erase another deficit, showing some of that fight

Axar was retained by DC ahead of the mega auction for this season, and replaces Rishabh Pant – who went back into the auction – as captain

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Mar-2025

Delhi Capitals (DC) will have a new captain in Axar Patel this season, and he’s got the backing of his team-mates. Axar was retained by DC ahead of the mega auction, and has replaced Rishabh Pant – who went back into the auction – as captain.”I think just having him in the team is a huge bonus. He’s one of the best players around at the moment,” Tristan Stubbs, who was also retained by DC, said. “He captained the game last year [against RCB when Pant was suspended for slow over-rate], and he was really calm out in the middle, made the bowlers feel really calm. So hopefully he can do that this year, and we can feed off his energy.”Abishek Porel, another one of the four players DC retained (Kuldeep Yadav was the fourth), felt that Axar’s long association with DC would help him settle into the new role. Axar has been representing DC since 2019, and has played 82 games for them.Related

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“It’s great that Axar will be leading the side. He has been playing for DC for three or four years [six years] now, so he understands the environment,” Porel said. “It’ll be good for us too that he’ll be there as a big brother. He’s quite funny off the field, but at the same time, just as focused on it. So I’m really excited to play under his captaincy, and hopefully, we’ll win the trophy.”Axar being named DC captain came after he was named India’s vice-captain in T20Is ahead of the five-match series against England at home in January. He also led his domestic team Gujarat during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2024-25.”Axar has been around for a long time now, and he is going to be a great captain,” Karun Nair, one of Axar’s new team-mates at DC, said. “He is someone who knows all the facets of the game, and understands everyone’s situation and roles. He will be versatile like he is always. [I’m] looking forward to meeting him, and know a lot of things.”DC, who are yet to win the IPL, had finished sixth last season with seven wins and seven losses. This year, they start their campaign by hosting Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Visakhapatnam on March 24. That will be the first of two home games they play in Visakhapatnam before they shift to Delhi for their remaining five home matches.

Alexander Isak's first goal for Liverpool should have been the story after Tuesday night's 2-1 win over Southampton at Anfield. Instead, it was Hugo Ekitike getting himself stupidly sent off after netting the winner.

Isak opened the scoring in the Carabao Cup third-round clash on Merseyside with a characteristically cool finish just before the interval – and only 58 seconds after Leo Scienza had headed wide with the Liverpool goal at his mercy.

However, Arne Slot's side failed to killed the game and Southampton sensationally drew level with 14 minutes to go when Shea Charles punished a dreadful attempted clearance from Wataru Endo. Unfortunately for the Championship side, Liverpool weren't done and, for the sixth time this season, they scored a late winner, with Ekitike tapping home a pass from Chiesa.

The drama wasn't over, though, as Ekitike clearly forgot that he was already on a booking, meaning the French forward saw red for foolishly removing his shirt to show the crowd the name on the back of his shirt and will, thus, be suspended for Saturday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace.

Below, GOAL rates all of the Liverpool players at Anfield…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

Giorgi Mamardashvili (6/10):

A decent debut for the Georgian, who saw more action than he probably would have expected. Made a couple of decent stops and looked comfortable on crosses.

Jeremie Frimpong (5/10):

A pretty underwhelming display from the Dutchman, who was lax defensively and pretty poor with his passing. Didn't get much better after being moved onto the wing in the second half.

Giovanni Leoni (7/10):

Making his Liverpool bow but looked like he'd been lining out for the Reds for years. The giant Italian teenager was unsurprisingly dominant in the air and very accomplished on the ball. Such a shame that he was forced off through injury in the 80th minute as he really did look ready for more first-team action.

Joe Gomez (4/10):

The versatile England international was excellent during his recent cameo against Arsenal but he looked miles off the pace here. Lucky that a couple of very awkward clearances didn't end up in the back of his own net, while it was his sloppiness that presented Southampton with two gilt-edged chances in the first half – and the corner that led to their leveller.

Andy Robertson (7/10):

Given the captain's armband for the evening and performed with his usual level of tenacity in defence. Also played a beautiful ball over the top for Chiesa to lay on the winner for Ekitike.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Wataru Endo (5/10):

The Japan international was his usual dynamic self in front of the back four, winning duel after duel. Also involved in a couple of neat passing moves further upfield. However, his disastrous attempted clearance gifted Southampton their equaliser.

Curtis Jones (6/10):

A first start since returning to injury and unsurprisingly kept the ball well – even if he didn't do anything especially creative with it. Taken off just before the hour mark. All things considered, another small step forward for the fit-again Scouser.

Trey Nyoni (5/10):

Deployed in the more advanced role in Slot's midfield three but the youngster struggled to create any real openings. Still, his passing was very tidy.

AFPAttack

Federico Chiesa (8/10):

The Italian is still struggling for regular game time in the Premier League but he really does look much fitter and sharper this season. Had already tested McCarthy with a terrific drive before creating Isak's goal with his awareness and quick cutback. Bagged another assist in his best Liverpool performance to date after a killer first touch to control Robertson's pass before leaving Ekitike with a tap-in.

Alexander Isak (7/10):

His first big chance probably came a little too early for him but he made no mistake when teed up by Chiesa just before the break. Also showed how much of a threat he's going to be down the channels with one exciting show of pace on the left flank.

Rio Ngumoha (6/10):

Lacked an end product but the 17-year-old really is a tremendous dribbler. Looked capable of making something happen every time he got on the ball.

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Getty Images SportSubs & Manager

Hugo Ekitike (6/10):

Took over up front from Isak at half-time and squandered a great cross from Chiesa by heading wide when well-placed, before making amends by deciding the game in Liverpool's favour. However, all of the headlines will rightly focus on his idiotic decision to remove his shirt in celebration. Despite Ekitike's fine form, it's now advantage Isak in the battle for the striking berth in Slot's line-up.

Conor Bradley (6/10):

Replaced Jones in the 58th minute and slotted into his usual right at right-back, as Frimpong moved further forward.

Jayden Danns (N/A):

Only came on for Ngumoha for the final 13 minutes.

Milos Kerkez (N/A):

Thrown on in place of the injured Leoni late on.

Arne Slot (6/10):

Wisely decided to make 11 changes to his starting line-up and he would have been so happy with how Leoni performed before his enforced withdrawal. Starting with Isak before bringing on Ekitike also looked to have worked perfectly until the French forward spoiled everything! This weekend's game at Selhurst Park just got a whole lot harder – even if most of Slot's key men will be well-rested.

Manchester United’s senior players were forced to stage an intervention to address Alejandro Garnacho’s attitude before the winger’s exile from the first team and eventual move to Chelsea. Garnacho’s self-centred behaviour, both on and off the pitch, left Ruben Amorim and Red Devils players frustrated, ultimately leading to his Old Trafford exit just months after tensions began brewing.

Man Utd leadershp group confronted Garnacho

The Sun has reported that Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Harry Maguire were among the leaders who confronted Garnacho over his selfish attitude. Despite repeated attempts to get him to focus more on the team, the winger refused to change his ways. His clashes with Amorim, alongside temper tantrums and outspoken behaviour on social media, pushed him closer to the exit door.

AdvertisementAFPAmorim was hoping to make Garnacho central to his plans

Amorim initially hoped Garnacho would be central to his plans after arriving in November, but their relationship soured quickly. A series of flashpoints, including his conduct in Plzen, convinced the manager that the youngster was damaging the squad’s harmony. By January, it was clear that a parting of ways was unavoidable, with Amorim confident in his decision to exile Garnacho from the first-team squad.

Garnacho's negative attitude affected Man Utd dressing room

Garnacho’s mood swings and inability to handle setbacks only deepened the rift between him and the club. Senior players felt his negative energy was beginning to influence the dressing room. His eventual move to Chelsea came as little surprise to those who had witnessed the breakdown firsthand.

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Getty Images SportGarnacho returns to Old Trafford with Chelsea

Garnacho returns to Old Trafford with Chelsea this weekend, just three weeks after leaving Manchester United. The reception he receives is expected to be frosty, given the circumstances of his departure. Amorim, meanwhile, has turned his focus to improving performances with his job now on the line.

Gary Lineker has been best known for his presenter roles over the last 25 years, however, in his playing days, he was one of England’s greatest strikers.

At club level, Lineker starred for Leicester City, Everton and Tottenham, while also heading to Barcelona in 1986, the same year he won the Golden Boot at the World Cup for the Three Lions.

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The ex-forward, who almost signed for Manchester United before heading to Spurs in 1989, never received a yellow or red card during his career.

But who does Lineker see as his greatest of all time? He answered that question and, despite honourable mentions for Johan Cruyff and Zinedine Zidane, Lineker named his four-player Mount Rushmore of all-time greats, with no room for Cristiano Ronaldo.

4 Pele Brazil

An attacking icon for more than 20 years from 1956, Pele actually holds the record for most goals scored with 1,279 in 1,363 games.

He won three World Cups with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and at club level, spent 18 years with Santos. Pele was the first player on Lineker’s Mount Rushmore, and following his passing in 2022, Lineker said:

“Pele’s hugely significant in not only the development of football, but also in football itself and the enjoyment of football – which is the most important thing. It’s an entertainment business, and he was one of the great entertainers – through his pure skill, talent and ability. He was also a proven goalscorer.

“Pele was an out-and-out goalscorer, and he’s played a huge part in football. The name Pele is just synonymous with football.”

3 Diego Maradona Argentina

Next on Lineker’s Mount Rushmore is someone who broke his and England’s hearts at the 1986 World Cup, Diego Maradona.

His famous Hand of God goal against England on the biggest stage has gone down in history, but he also scored one of the best individual goals in the same game to help Argentina win 2-1.

Maradona took his country to a World Cup triumph that year, and at club level, he starred for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell’s Old Boys.

Following Maradona’s passing, Lineker said: “By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time. After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully he’ll finally find some comfort in the hands of God.”

2 Ronaldo Brazil

Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, nicknamed O Fenomeno and R9, also makes Lineker’s list, with the powerful striker winning two World Cups for Brazil.

As Lineker states, Ronaldo missed large parts of his career through injury, but when he was fully fit or close to 100%, he was unstoppable on his day.

1 Lionel Messi Argentina

Rounding off Lineker’s Mount Rushmore is Lionel Messi, who tops the charts as his “favourite player of all time”.

With his ties to Barcelona, the Englishman has been vocal in his thoughts about Messi all throughout the Argentine’s career, calling him “a gift from the footballing Gods”.

Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, finally lifted the World Cup in 2022, with Lineker calling the magician “the best player of all time”.

Years Messi has won the Ballon d’Or

Club

2009

Barcelona

2010

Barcelona

2011

Barcelona

2012

Barcelona

2015

Barcelona

2019

Barcelona

2021

Barcelona

2023

Inter Miami

Former PSV full-back Matteo Dams revealed Al-Ahli’s strong push and financial incentives convinced him to make the move to Saudi Arabia.

• Dams moved to Al-Ahli for €10 million in January
• Al-Ahli coach and exponential salary reasons for his move 
• Won the 2025 AFC Champions League in his debut season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Dams completed a €10 million (£9m/$11m) move from PSV to Al-Ahli in January, with his salary receiving a massive boost in the process. The full-back was in the final six months of his PSV contract and negotiating an extension when Al-Ahli swooped in to seal the deal.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Dams featured 15 times across all competitions for Al-Ahli last season, registering one assist and contributing to seven clean sheets. His solid displays were key in helping the club lift the prestigious 2024-25 AFC Champions League title. 

  The Belgian admitted that he initially said he would not move to Saudi Arabia if an offer came in, especially at just 20 years old, but the salary on offer was too high for him to turn down, with reports in Netherlands claiming he went from earning €2,500 per month to €250,000.

• WHAT DAMS SAID

  "It was the end of January. I was in full talks with PSV, where the plan was actually to extend my contract. One phone call changed everything," he told

  "I'm not usually much of a caller, but I was in the car and saw a message from Jorik [Benoit], my agent, come in: 'Matteo, I have to call you, this is really important.' On the phone, he told me about Al-Ahli's interest. At first, I thought it was a joke. It turned out to be serious. I initially assumed it was a summer transfer, but they wanted me right away. So I barely had a week and a half to think about it.

  Honestly? I was already convinced after the phone call with Jorik. Obviously, because I knew what I could earn in Saudi Arabia, but also because Al-Ahli really wanted me. I felt that immediately, and I thought that was very important. The coach was completely behind my arrival.
  I was just afraid of what people, especially those around me, would say. You know the prejudices: that I'd choose the money, that I'd throw my career away, that the level here is terrible. But in the end, it was me who had to come here to play football, so I had to be completely committed to my decision. So I said yes."

  Asked for his reaction after seeing the contract, he said: "I just started laughing. Because those were ridiculously high amounts for a 20-year-old. Not just for a 20-year-old. I never discuss amounts. I understand why people ask the question; I would have been curious too if one of my friends went to Saudi Arabia. But actually, the questions about that aren't that bad. It's rarely, if ever, discussed in the locker room.

  Take Riyadh Mahrez, for example. Of course, all his teammates know he earns an incredible amount of money, but it's never discussed."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DAMS AND AL-AHLI?

  Dams will be aiming for another successful season with Al-Ahli, chasing more trophies while also hoping his performances secure him a spot in Belgium’s 2026 World Cup squad.

He last played four-day domestic cricket in 2021 and is looking to ensure he balances his build-up with staying fresh

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Aug-20241:38

Cummins explains why he will miss the September tour to England

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins is eyeing a brief return to the Sheffield Shield to tune up for the series against India which starts in late November.Cummins, who recently completed an MLC stint in the USA, has been rested from Australia’s white-ball tour of Scotland and England next month. He will spend the time focusing on strength and conditioning ahead of the home summer with the five Tests against India taking a little over seven weeks which will be followed shortly after by two more games in Sri Lanka.Related

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Those seven Tests will decide whether Australia will have the chance to defend their World Test Championship title at Lord’s next June. They are currently second in the table behind India.Cummins last played Sheffield Shield for New South Wales in February 2021 and has only made nine appearances in his career. There is also an ODI series against Pakistan in early November which could be used as part of the build-up to the Test matches.”Ronnie [coach Andrew McDonald] called me the other day and said we need to talk about this,” Cummins told News Corp. “I prefer to go a little bit fresher but definitely play some cricket going in.”So I’d say it’s either two or three ODIs, plus a Shield [game] or maybe just some Shield, maybe some NSW one-day stuff. I imagine kind of late October/early November will be when I start playing building up for the Tests.”Pat Cummins faces another intense period of Test cricket from late November•AFP/Getty ImagesNew South Wales have a Shield game against Victoria from October 20 then face Queensland from November 1, although the latter overlaps with the start of the ODI series against Pakistan.Cummins previously told ESPNcricinfo that missing the England tour had been long-planned and that the next few months were about ensuring his body was right for the upcoming workload which will also include the Champions Trophy next February in Pakistan.”I’ll have a good six or eight weeks off bowling where I’ll get in the gym every day, do some running, and get some strength back into my body,” he said.Mitchell Starc, who will play the ODI series against England after resting from the T20Is, and Josh Hazlewood, who will feature in the whole tour, could also be available for New South Wales ahead of the international season. Nathan Lyon is expected to play at least two matches before facing India.Most of the batters are expected to be available for the Sheffield Shield in October which features two rounds while those who aren’t part of the ODI side against Pakistan could get another outing. There are also two Australia A four-day matches against India A in Mackay and Melbourne.