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“There’s an opportunity for innovation and it makes the game fairer,” Ashwin argues

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Aug-2024

R Ashwin: “Games are tighter, an extra player is getting to play”•Getty Images

R Ashwin believes the Impact Player rule has brought in a strategic element into the IPL that will go away if the rule is scrapped.There has been a lot of criticism of the rule from several quarters, including from Rohit Sharma, who isn’t a “big fan”. The big criticism is that it prevents allrounders from developing. And also that teams have started scoring bigger because of the cushion of an additional batter (if that’s the team’s choice).”Why I think the Impact Player rule is not so bad is because it gives a little more value for strategy,” Ashwin said on Kris Srikkanth’s YouTube show Cheeky Cheeka. “The other side of that argument is it doesn’t encourage allrounders. But no one is stopping them.Related

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“In this generation, they don’t do it [batters bowling and vice-versa]. It’s not like they’re discouraged because of the Impact Player rule. Look at Venkatesh Iyer, he’s currently rocking for Lancashire. There’s an opportunity for innovation and it makes the game fairer.”Ashwin cited an example from Qualifier 2 of IPL 2024 to underline his stance. “Sunrisers [Hyderabad] brought in Shahbaz Ahmed as an Impact Player [vs Rajasthan Royals, after hitting 175 for 9 batting first]; he went on to become a match-winner [with 3 for 23].”When dew has the potential to make games one-sided, teams bowling second get an extra option as a counter. If you’re batting second, you can tactically make a substitution by offloading the extra bowler for a batter.”Games are tighter, an extra player is getting to play. Barring Kolkata or Mumbai, where scores skyrocketed, they haven’t been a drastic change elsewhere. Like at Punjab Kings’ home venue [Mullanpur], they were all 160-170 games.”Ashwin argued that a number of players had moved up the ranks, even into the national team, as a result of the rule. “Shahbaz Ahmed, Shivam Dube most importantly, Dhruv Jurel… If not for the Impact Player rule, he may have never gotten the chance. So the emergence of a lot of players has happened. I’m not saying that’s the only way for players to emerge, but it’s not so bad.”Elsewhere, there’s a mega auction coming up. The Right to Match (RTM) hasn’t been used at IPL auctions since 2018, but the IPL is still deliberating on the retention rules for the auction and the reintroducing RTMs is one of the things on the table.Ashwin doesn’t want it, not in its current form.”If a franchise has released a player because they don’t see him in their top four or five, then what gives them the right to jump in during an auction,” Ashwin argued. “You give the option to the player asking if he wants to be right to matched. There should be a contract binding the two parties, which says he can be RTMed only if the price is X amount and leave that pre-determined amount to be decided by the player.” Zaheer ‘all for’ Impact Player Former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan, too, threw his weight behind the Impact Player rule, stating that it could “improve Indian cricket as a whole”.”There has been a debate around the impact sub rule. I’m going on record to say that I’m all for it,” Zaheer said at a media interaction shortly after being unveiled as Lucknow Super Giants’ mentor.”It has definitely given opportunities to a lot of uncapped Indian talents. It is something you will see this in the mega auction when teams will be looking at them.”That opportunity goes a long way with improving Indian cricket on the whole. The time spent in match time, it’s something you cannot beat. That’s the biggest plus. As far as allrounders are concerned, right now there is no space for a half an allrounder because of the Impact (rule). But if you are a genuine allrounder, (then) no one can stop you. There is always going to be a value addition with the ability with bat and ball.”

There are no prizes for guessing what Celtic’s priority in the transfer window is likely to be in the coming days or weeks, as they look to add more quality to Brendan Rodgers’ squad.

The Hoops have already snapped up Ross Doohan, Kieran Tierney, Callum Osmand, Hayato Inamura, and Benjamin Nygren to bolster their options across the pitch.

However, Celtic are not done there and they are set to be in the market to add another winger to their squad, as they are about to lose one of their star forwards.

Nicolas Kuhn is reportedly set to undergo a medical with Como either today or on Tuesday ahead of a £17m switch from the Scottish giants this week.

The German forward’s exit will come as a blow for Rodgers, given what he produced in the 2024/25 campaign, but it also represents a masterclass by the club.

Celtic have played a masterclass with Nicolas Kuhn

The Scottish Premiership champions hit the jackpot when they swooped to sign the left-footed attacker from Rapid Vienna for a reported fee of £3m at the start of 2024.

Kuhn had a relatively slow start to life in Glasgow, with a return of two goals and two assists in 14 league games in the second half of that season, but his first six months in Scotland helped him to adjust to the country and the league.

That experience helped him to then hit the ground running in the 2024/25 campaign, as the 25-year-old star went on to become a key player for Rodgers.

The German attacker, who came through the youth set-ups at Leipzig and Bayern Munich, ended the season with a haul of 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 matches for the Hoops, which shows that he made a big impact in the final third for Celtic.

24/25 Premiership

Nicolas Kuhn per 90

Percentile rank vs wingers

xG

0.46

Top 10%

Goals

0.62

Top 8%

Shots on target

1.30

Top 14%

xA

0.34

Top 10%

Assists

0.43

Top 10%

Chances created

2.49

Top 12%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn ranked very highly among his positional peers in a host of key attacking metrics, which further illustrates the impact that he had on the team, particularly in the Premiership.

Celtic hit the jackpot with Kuhn because they turned a £3m signing into a Premiership superstar and are now set to make a £14m profit on him within 18 months.

Celtic eyeing deal for new winger

The Scottish giants could be on course to repeat the masterclass that they played with Nicolas Kuhn, as they are eyeing up a player from his former club.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic have identified Rapid Vienna winger Isak Jansson as a potential replacement for Kuhn, as a player who can play on either side of the pitch.

The report claims that the Swedish forward is one of a number of attackers on the club’s radar as they look to add more quality to their frontline, amid the German’s proposed move to Como.

It adds that the 23-year-old dynamo, who was signed by Rapid Vienna to replace Kuhn, is valued at a fee of around £3m by the Austrian Bundesliga outfit.

However, it currently remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops are prepared to accelerate their pursuit of the right-footed star by offering that kind of fee for his services.

Why Jansson could be Kuhn 2.0

Despite being a right-footed winger who predominantly plays on the left flank, there are a lot of similarities between a potential deal for Jansson and the deal they completed for Kuhn in 2024.

For starters, a fee of £3m would be the exact same figure that they paid Rapid Vienna for the German sensation, which would leave plenty of room to make a healthy profit on him in the future if he follows in the left-footed ace’s footsteps at Parkhead.

The Swedish star, who was once hailed for his “beautiful” goal by ex-head coach Robert Klauß, could also be a Kuhn repeat for Celtic because, of course, he would arrive from the same club.

Jansson has caught the eye with some impressive performances in the Austrian top-flight for Rapid Vienna, just as the £17m-rated winger did before his move to Parkhead, which suggests that he could be an exciting addition to Rodgers’ squad this summer.

Austrian Bundesliga

Isak Jansson (24/25)

Nicolas Kuhn (23/24)

Appearances

22

16

Goals

7

2

Goals per game

0.3

0.1

Crosses per game

0.5

0.5

Big chances missed

2

8

Assists

2

5

Big chances created

5

11

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the right-footed attacker delivered nine goal contributions in 22 matches in the Bundesliga last season, two more than Kuhn managed in 16 games for Rapid Vienna before his switch to Scotland.

When you see the way that the German winger had adapted to life in the Premiership, as a scorer and a creator of goals, after thriving in Austria, Jansson’s performances for Rapid Vienna are incredibly exciting.

The Swedish star could aim to follow in Kuhn’s footsteps as another £3m winger to make the switch from Austria to Scotland to thrive in the final third as a forward who makes a big impact on a regular basis.

At the age of 23, the Celtic target would also arrive at Parkhead with plenty of time left on his side to develop and improve over the years to increase his output in front of goal, and his market value.

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Therefore, this is a signing that could make a lot of sense for the Hoops, despite not being a like-for-like replacement for Kuhn from a stylistic perspective, because of his quality and potential for the reported fee that would be needed.

Bedingham, Clark set hosts on course for victory despite thrilling late fightback

ECB Reporters Network16-Jun-2024

David Bedingham smashed 78 from 42 balls•MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Graham Clark and David Bedingham served up a Father’s Day feast at the Seat Unique Riverside as Durham beat North Group leaders Lancashire Lightning by two runs in a Vitality Blast thriller.Clark (87 from 57, eight fours and four sixes) and Bedingham (78 from 42, seven fours and four sixes) combined for a 109-run partnership to help Durham to a mammoth total of 218 for three, their highest total against Lancashire in T20s.With a massive total to chase, Lancashire needed to start their pursuit of runs quickly but the hosts continued to take wickets at regular intervals, with an unbelievable caught-and-bowled from Paul Coughlin and a three-wicket spell from Callum Parkinson guiding Durham to a first home win of this year’s Blast, which boosts their hopes of qualification.However it didn’t go without a hitch for Durham as lower-order hitting from George Balderson, Jack Blatherwick and Chris Green almost took Lancashire to a famous win, but they fell short of the huge target.Having won the toss, Durham skipper Alex Lees elected to bat first at Chester-le-Street. Clark, who has now scored 171 runs in his last three Blast innings, looked good early on and pulled a Luke Wood ball for six to give the hosts a good start.Lees then joined the party and pummeled a Saqib Mahmood delivery down the ground for four to take the hosts past the 50 mark within the powerplay.Balderson then broke the hosts’ 81-run opening stand with the wicket of Lees for 30, after the Durham skipper holed out to long-off.The in-form Bedingham then continued Durham’s impressive start, with the South African picking up two consecutive fours from a Luke Wells over.Clark then reached his half-century from 29 balls to take the hosts past 100 at the halfway mark and the opener then ruthlessly dispatched a free hit from Blatherwick over the legside boundary for six.Lancashire managed to rein in Durham for a brief period, but Bedingham hit back-to-back boundaries off Wells to relieve some pressure. The number three then reached his half-century from 29 balls, with the milestone coming after he heaved one for six over cow corner.Mahmood then got the impressive Clark when he was caught at deep backward point, before Bedingham then smashed one over his head for six to take the hosts past 200, but the South African star hit a Blatherwick ball straight to long-on in the last over and the hosts finished on 218 for three.Lancashire’s reply got off to a terrible start as Parkinson bowled Josh Bohannon for four in the first over. Wells struck the first blow of the Lightning innings as he smashed Matthew Potts for six over the legside boundary.With the clouds gathering around Chester-le-Street, it was vital for the hosts to grab some more wickets and Ashton Turner did just that as he removed Wells for nine after the opener holed out to Coughlin on the boundary.With the DLS par score going up with every ball amid constant drizzle in the North East, skipper Keaton Jennings and Matthew Hurst got Lightning past 50 within the powerplay.Hurst was then dropped by Ben Raine off his own bowling and he made them pay as he hit back-to-back fours from a Coughlin over.Then Coughlin produced a stunning piece of fielding that will be replayed for years to come when he caught the impressive Hurst from his own bowling for 32.Falling behind the DLS score, Tom Bruce produced an inventive shot for four to get Lightning within reach.However, Nathan Sowter then got the big wicket of Jennings for 26 when he smashed one to the hands of Ben McKinney, and then Parkinson got his second of the day when he bowled Bruce to leave Lightning in a spot of bother.Steven Croft was Parkinson’s third victim, but Green and Balderson fought back for the visitors, which gave the home side something to think about.Green then smashed Potts for back-to-back sixes to give the visitors a sniff of an unlikely victory.Green’s cameo of 38 came to an end at the hands of Raine, but Blatherwick came in and hit back-to-back sixes from Coughlin’s final over but he was then bowled for 17.The visitors just fell short and lost by just two runs in a back-and-forth thriller.

Glasgow Rangers face one of the most important summer transfer windows in their recent history.

After yet another trophyless season combined with Celtic’s domestic dominance, patience is wearing thin among the Ibrox faithful.

The saving grace is that 49ers Enterprises appear to be closing in on their takeover of the Light Blues, which could bring plenty of positive changes at the club heading into next season.

Members of the US consortium were given a tour of Ibrox during the week, and everyone associated with the club will be hoping a deal is signed, sealed and delivered sooner rather than later.

While a permanent manager is top of the to-do list, the first-team squad needs a major overhaul when the transfer window finally opens. No longer can the Gers splurge millions on players who won’t live up to expectations, nor waste wages on those who miss far too many games due to injury.

This could be seen as a change of approach in the summer. Lyall Cameron has already signed a pre-contract with the Gers, while they are also keen on bringing Josh Mulligan to Glasgow.

Signing young talents with a high ceiling appears to be the next strategy, much in a similar mould to the prior capture of Ryan Kent.

Ryan Kent’s Rangers statistics

Kent signed for Rangers on an initial season-long loan deal at the start of the 2018/19 campaign. By the end of that season, he had registered 15 goal contributions – six goals and nine assists – while even punching Scott Brown during an Old Firm clash.

Not a bad way to endear yourself to the supporters, and this led to calls for Steven Gerrard to splash the cash on him permanently in the summer of 2019.

Ryan Kent’s Rangers statistics
Season	Games	Goals	Assists
2022/23	44	3	10
2021/22	46	3	19
2020/21	52	13	14
2019/20	33	8	4
2018/19	43	6	9
Via Transfermarkt

The next two seasons saw Kent at his very best. A tally of 14 goals were scored, and the winger recorded an impressive 18 assists, underlining how good he had become for the club.

The 2020/21 campaign was particularly impressive. Rangers went the entire league season undefeated, securing their first title in a decade, and Kent was unplayable at times.

Kent recorded 2.3 shots per game in the top flight that term, along with creating nine big chances, averaging 1.9 key passes and succeeding with 1.9 dribbles per match for the Ibrox side.

He gave opposition defenders no chance when driving towards them at full throttle, and this is what made him arguably the best winger in the country at the time.

His final two seasons saw him score only six goals before he left the club in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract.

Those first three years saw Kent at his very best. Could a certain Bobby Clark offer the same sort of qualities from the heart of the midfield?

Rangers transfer news

During the January transfer window, the Light Blues wanted to bring Clark to the club on a short-term loan deal until the end of the campaign. He made the move to RB Salzburg in the summer of 2024 for a fee believed to be around the £6m mark, but he failed to truly settle in Austria.

Transfer Focus

No move ever materialised for the youngster, but could he be back on the market this summer?

The £3.5k-per-week starlet could be ready to leave on loan as Salzburg are keen on letting him leave temporarily for the 2025/26 season. This could put the Ibrox side on high alert following their early attempts to secure his signature.

A former Liverpool academy graduate, much like Kent, the youngster could well look to emulate his compatriot at Ibrox…

Why Rangers should sign Bobby Clark

Starting his youth career at Newcastle United – aiming to follow in the footsteps of his father, Lee, who played for the Magpies – Clark ended up at Liverpool in the summer of 2021.

The youngster made his mark on the youth teams at Anfield before finally making his senior debut during the 2022/23 campaign under Jürgen Klopp.

He made 12 appearances for the Reds the following season, scoring once and grabbing two assists. His future looked bright indeed.

Journalist Lee Ryder discussed his potential in the past and compared him to a former Newcastle legend, saying Clark “reminds me a little bit of Gazza at the same age.” Which is high praise indeed.

Clark moved to Salzburg last summer, linking up with former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders, although he was sacked just a few months into the role, and Clark failed to settle under new manager Thomas Letsch.

Despite his lack of game time in the Austrian Bundesliga, Clark still managed to record 0.4 shots per game, while also averaging 0.7 key passes and succeeding with 0.4 dribbles per match in the league.

Considering he averages only 41 minutes for the club domestically, these statistics aren’t the worst. If he can move to a club where playing consistently becomes a regular theme, Clark can continue his development.

A loan move to Ibrox would be an excellent chance for him to prove the doubters wrong, especially as he could feature in European competition.

Across six Champions League matches for the Austrian side this season, Clark showcased his abilities, averaging 1.7 tackles, winning 2.8 total duels and succeeding with 89% of his passes.

Playing against teams such as PSG, Atlético Madrid, and Bayer Leverkusen gave Clark the chance to perform at the highest level against some of the finest clubs on the continent.

It may not have gone well for the Englishman since the start of 2025, but all he needs is a fresh start and a chance to impress.

In that regard, Rangers is the perfect place for him – as it was for Kent.

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Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold looks almost certain to depart Liverpool this summer, with his contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

The 26-year-old has largely been touted with a free transfer to join Real Madrid, with numerous publications already claiming that a deal is complete for him to join the LaLiga giants.

Such news has angered supporters, with his potential move leaving Arne Slot’s side shortchanged and unable to receive a fee for a talent who’s been a leading player in their success.

He’s made over 300 appearances for his boyhood side, playing a vital role in various levels of success, claiming one Premier League title, with another set to follow in the coming weeks.

The defender isn’t the only player to depart Anfield on a free in recent years, albeit in different circumstances to another player who captured the hearts of the fanbase during his spell on Merseyside.

Daniel Sturridge’s time as a player at Liverpool

Striker Daniel Sturridge formed a deadly partnership with Luis Suárez during his stint at Liverpool, with the pair firing the Reds to title contention under Brendan Rodgers over a decade ago.

The Englishman scored 67 times in his 160 appearances during his six-and-a-half years on Merseyside, producing countless moments of magic including his effort against former side Chelsea.

However, despite his goalscoring exploits, he was unable to prove his talent on a regular basis, with injuries massively plaguing his time and subsequently spending long periods on the sidelines.

During his stint on Merseyside, the now-retired striker suffered 15 separate injuries, missing a total of 121 matches – missing an average of 18.5 matches per season he was on the club’s books.

Such a record left the hierarchy with no choice but to offload him in the summer of 2019, but six years on, Slot has found a new version of the Englishman, desperately needing to offload him to avoid losing another talent for nothing.

Why Slot needs to sell Liverpool’s new Sturridge this summer

Despite Slot’s impressive first season in England, which has seen him take the top-flight by storm, he may have a job on his hands to sustain such a success next season.

Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah could all depart the club on a free transfer this summer, giving the Dutchman a huge task in replacing the trio given their importance to the side.

However, he may want to offload numerous other first-team members this summer, including Diogo Jota, who’s fallen well beyond the high standards he set for himself during his early days on Merseyside.

The Portuguese international joined the Reds in a £45m deal from Wolves in the summer of 2020, notching 34 goals during his first two years after his big-money transfer.

However, he’s struggled to achieve such levels in 2024/25, scoring just nine times across all competitions, with injuries starting to prevent his progress at Anfield.

Diogo Jota’s injuries since joining Liverpool in 2020
Season	Injury	Days missed	Games missed
2020/21	Knee	85	19
2020/21	Foot	12	4
2021/22	Ankle	15	4
2022/23	Hamstring	32	5
2022/23	Calf	117	24
2023/24	Calf	29	8
2023/24	Knee	52	13
2023/24	Hip	23	4
2024/25	Hamstring	54	14
2024/25	Fatigue	17	4
Total:	10	436	99
Stats via Transfermarkt

Jota has only been able to start 12 league outings so far during Slot’s reign, leading to reports that the club were willing to cash in on him this summer to fund a move for a new talisman.

The 28-year-old has two years left on his contract, but with the former Atlético Madrid ace now entering the latter stages of his professional career, the upcoming window could present the last opportunity to recoup the majority of the fee paid for his signature.

Given his injury issues and lack of form when fit, Slot must look to offload him this window, joining Trent in not featuring in his plans as he looks to continue his impressive start as the club’s manager next season.

It may seem a brutal call, but the football industry is an unforgiving one, with decisions needing to be made for the better of the club, subsequently leading to fresh blood arriving to fill the void.

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Also: What is the highest individual score in the fourth innings of a Test in a win?

Steven Lynch23-Apr-2024We’ve seen all sorts of tall scoring in this IPL, including the highest total and the highest match aggregate – but what are the equivalent records for the lowest? asked Sumit Shah from India
You’re right that the current IPL has seen the competition’s highest total so far (Sunrisers’ 287 for 3 against Royal Challengers in Bengaluru last week), and the highest two-innings aggregate (549 runs in the same match, after RCB replied with 262 for 7).The lowest all-out total in an IPL game remains Royal Challengers’ 49 against Kolkata Knight Riders (who made 131) at Eden Gardens in 2017.The fewest runs in an IPL match with a positive result is 135, also in 2017, set in Mohali, where Kings XI Punjab skittled Delhi Capitals for 67 then knocked off the runs without loss. The smallest aggregate in an IPL match that lasted the full 40 overs is 208, in the game between Chennai Super Kings (116 for 9) and Kings XI Punjab (92 for 8) in Durban in 2009.There were only two balls bowled in a T20 match in Rawalpindi last week. Was this the shortest international game ever played? asked Hamza Ali Shah from Pakistan
The match in question was the first T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand in Rawalpindi last Thursday, which was rained off after just two balls. Before the heavens opened there was time for the New Zealand debutant Tim Robinson to collect two leg-byes off the first delivery and be bowled for a duck by the second.That game was actually the third official men’s international that amounted to two balls. The first was the World Cup match between India and Sri Lanka in Mackay in February 1992, when Kris Srikkanth scored the match’s solitary run before it was abandoned due to rain. This was the only senior men’s international staged at Harrup Park in this Queensland coastal city, although there have been several women’s matches there.The other blink-and-miss-it match was a T20I between England and New Zealand at The Oval in June 2013. Michael Lumb took two off Mitchell McClenaghan’s first delivery but was then caught at slip off the second. Then it rained… and rained, which meant the international captaincy career of England’s James Tredwell lasted just two balls.There have also been 17 men’s internationals (and two women’s) that had no play at all, but count in the records as appearances for the players concerned as the toss was made, which officially starts the match.What is the highest individual score by a batter to win a Test match? asked Vidula Wijesirinarayana from Sri Lanka
Assuming you mean the highest individual score in a fourth-innings chase, there have been two scores of over 200, both by West Indians. Against England at Lord’s in 1984, opener Gordon Greenidge cracked 214 not out as his side made light of a target of 342, strolling home by nine wickets with about an hour to spare after David Gower’s last-day declaration.And in Chattogram in February 2021, Kyle Mayers – who was making his debut – helped haul in an even bigger target (395) with 210 not out as Bangladesh were beaten by three wickets.The next two were actually in the same match: in the Ashes Test at Headingley in 1948, Australia made 404 for 3 in the final innings – a record chase at the time – with Arthur Morris scoring 182 and Don Bradman 173 not out.If you just mean the highest score in any Test win, it’s the 380 by Australia’s Matthew Hayden in an innings victory over Zimbabwe in Perth in 2003. Brian Lara’s 400 not out, the only higher individual score in a Test, came in a drawn game.Laura Wolvaardt’s 184 in Potchefstroom overtook Chamari Athapaththu’s 178 as the highest individual score in a loss in women’s ODIs•Gallo ImagesLaura Wolvaardt made 184 in a one-day international the other day – but ended up losing! Was this the highest score in a losing cause in a women’s ODI ? asked WHO
South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt scored 184 not out – her eighth and biggest international century – in the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Potchefstroom last week (she’d also scored 110 not out in the previous match). But it wasn’t enough for victory, mainly because Chamari Athapaththu collected 195 not out (the third highest in women’s ODIs) as Sri Lanka chased down their target of 302 with something to spare.Wolvaardt’s score was indeed the highest score in a losing cause in a women’s ODI, beating 178 not out by… Chamari Athapaththu, against Australia in Bristol during the 2017 World Cup.The record in a men’s ODI is 194 not out, by Zimbabwe’s Charles Coventry against Bangladesh in Bulawayo in August 2009.Raman Subba Row, who died last week, made his highest Test score in his final innings. How many people have done this (given a score of over 100)? asked Vipul Shah from the UAE
Left-hander Raman Subba Row, who was England’s oldest Test player before his recent death aged 92, made his highest Test score of 137 in his final innings, against Australia at The Oval in 1961. He then retired, at the early age of 29, although he remained a considerable presence in the game as an administrator.The record for a player making his highest score in his final Test innings belongs to the West Indian Seymour Nurse, who hit 258 against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1968-69: he retired after the match and couldn’t be persuaded to make a comeback. There’s an unlikely name high on the list: after going in as nightwatcher in Chattogram in April 2006, Jason Gillespie lasted long enough to reach 201 not out – but this proved to be the last of his 71 Tests.The others with a higher score than Subba Row in their final Test innings are England’s Maurice Leyland (187 against Australia at The Oval in 1938), Afghanistan’s Asghar Afghan (164 vs Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi in 2020-21), Vijay Merchant of India (154 vs England in Delhi in 1951-52), Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams (151 not out vs Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi in 2020-21), Mahmudullah of Bangladesh (150 not out vs Zimbabwe in Harare in 2021), Australia’s Reggie Duff (146 vs England at The Oval in 1905), and Colin Milburn of England (139 vs Pakistan in Karachi in 1969-69). The West Indian Kenneth “Bam Bam” Weekes also scored 137 in his last Test innings, against England at The Oval in 1939. Williams may yet play again.Others have made higher scores in their final Test, but not their last innings (England’s Andy Sandham holds this record, with 325 – Test cricket’s first triple-century – against West Indies in Kingston in 1929-30).Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

And No. 3 works well for him – “it’s a fun position to bat at and I really enjoy it”

Shashank Kishore25-Jul-20222:17

Takeaways: Has Shreyas Iyer done enough to keep his spot?

It’s almost as if “short ball” has been written against Shreyas Iyer’s name on the strategy board of every opposition.On Sunday, the first glimpse of it was a burst from Alzarri Joseph. Except, it began after Iyer was set. Still, thrice, he was beaten for pace, once he was late on a shot as the ball brushed his forearm on the way to the wicketkeeper.Related

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Hope does his job for West Indies, the way he knows best

Axar Patel leaves jaws on the floor as India win cliffhanger

Joseph wasn’t being subtle about showing his intentions. And Iyer wasn’t going to hop and jump. If he were to fall, he would go down fighting. But the understanding Iyer has of his game – and his primary weakness – would suggest that the issue is work in progress, behind the scenes.Prior to the ODI series, Iyer said that he had worked extra hard at training with Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour, who had to pull him out of the nets. It was Iyer being Iyer – someone who loves to bat and wants to put in the work to refine his game, because opportunities are proving to be scarce.In England, he got all of one game. When the big guns were back, he was back on the bench. He’s back again now, because the seniors have been rested, and so far, his two innings in the Caribbean have brought him two half-centuries in two winning causes.If his dismissal in the first brought a sense that he had missed a century that was there for the taking, his dismissal on Sunday was slightly unfortunate – out lbw on umpire’s call to a delivery that would have only hit the outside of the leg stump. His 99-run stand with Sanju Samson had brought India back into their chase of 311, even though they weren’t fully out of choppy waters at 178 for 4 in the 33rd over. It needed an Axar Patel special to complete the job in the final over.”I was really happy to get what score I got today, but really unhappy with the way I was dismissed,” Iyer said later. “I thought I could have taken the team through easily. I was setting up the total, but was very unfortunate with the wicket. Hopefully, I get to score a century in the next game.”

“Making half-centuries, I’m fortunate to have got those, but I have to convert it to a hundred. You don’t often get these chances in international cricket. Today was a great chance, I felt”Shreyas Iyer

Iyer’s ODI numbers are excellent for someone who isn’t a certainty yet – 1064 runs in 26 innings at an average of 42.56 and strike rate of 95.51. A shoulder injury last year kept him out for six months, a time during which he slipped down the pecking order after having established himself at No. 4. Now, he’s back on the upward curve, even though, since this year’s IPL, the short-ball weakness has led to him being found out time and again. Brendon McCullum, from the balcony, gesturing to England’s bowlers to bowl at Iyer’s throat in the Edgbaston Test was as open a signal as it could get. He had been with Iyer in the Kolkata Knight Riders dressing room, trying to address the same issue, only six weeks prior.Iyer has worked with a number of coaches over time, but at the senior level, it’s his working relationship with Dravid that has possibly been the longest. He first worked with Dravid in 2015, the year he broke into the IPL at Delhi Daredevils [now Delhi Capitals]. The partnership extended to India A and the several tours he was a part of over the years.”Obviously, whatever hard work you do has to be off the field,” Iyer said, of his work against the short ball. “What you see here is only the reward. I love working hard. I’ve been working very hard lately. The wickets and conditions change, matches keep coming back to back. You have to be fit, you have to motivate yourself. My mindset is that I will control the controllable, only then I can execute.”I was really happy to get what score I got today, but really unhappy with the way I was dismissed”•AFP/Getty Images”I have been working with them [Dravid and Rathour] for many years. We talk technique and temperament on a match-to-match basis. Situations change. When we have team meetings, everyone talks. We don’t come to a conclusion but learn from each other’s views. It’s a good conversation between us. Rahul sir has been supportive throughout, he doesn’t put much pressure on the mind.”Iyer loves batting at No. 3. The “I will bat wherever the team asks me to” cliche is not his. He just wants to make the most of every opportunity he gets at the moment, instead of worrying about his batting position or why he isn’t getting picked. And he wants to convert his scores into big ones instead of being happy with half-centuries.”No. 3 is one of the best positions in ODIs,” he said. “You go in at a tough situation if the openers have fallen. Then you have to see off the new ball and build an innings. But if the openers have started well, you get to carry forward the momentum and ensure the run rate is maintained. It’s a fun position to bat at and I really enjoy it.”Making half-centuries, I’m fortunate to have got those, but I have to convert it to a hundred. You don’t often get these chances in international cricket. Today was a great chance, I felt. In the previous match, I was out to a good catch. I won’t say I threw my wicket away there. But as long as the team wins and you contribute, you feel good.”Playing in the team is not in my hands. What I can do is train hard off the field. When I leave the field, I have no regrets.”

The Blue Jays host the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night, with a shot at taking down the reigning champions and winning their first title since 1993.

While this year’s Blue Jays have had their fair share of “team of destiny” moments already in the postseason, the challenge of the Dodgers is simply on a different level. Los Angeles sports a lineup that can go bat-for-bat with Toronto, and a pitching staff the likes of which the Jays have not yet faced in the postseason.

Taking the mound for the Dodgers in Game 1 is two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who so far this postseason has pitched 21 innings and given up just six hits and two runs while striking out 28. Will the Blue Jays be able to break through against Snell? Or will the lefty continue his dominant run with another great start on the road?

Below we take a look at how some of Toronto’s best bats match up against Snell.

All stats come with the help of StatHead.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in the midst of one of the greatest postseason runs we have ever seen from a hitter, and looking worth every dollar of the $500 million contract extension he signed back in April. Vladdy is slashing an absolutely absurd .442/.510/.930 so far this postseason, with six home runs, 11 runs scored and 12 RBIs. He has struck out just three times.

The Blue Jays will need Guerrero to keep up his hot streak if they are going to take the title, but the slugger will have his work cut out for him against Snell on Friday night. Guerrero is just 2-for-9 in his career against Snell, with three walks and no strikeouts. He has not produced a hit against Snell since the 2020 season.

Obviously we are working with small sample sizes here, and it’s possible that Guerrero’s current hot streak is more indicative than any stats on previous plate appearances vs. Snell could be, but it’s worth noting that Toronto’s best hitter will be facing his toughest competition yet on the mound.

George Springer

Heading into the World Series, no player on the Blue Jays has had more looks against Snell than George Springer, and he’s certainly held his own against the two-time Cy Young winner, slashing .267/.353/.467 in 17 plate appearances. But similar to Guerrero, Springer’s success against Snell came quite some time ago—his last hit against Snell was a home run in 2019, and he’s 0-for-6 against him since.

That said, Springer should fare pretty well in the series overall—when we look at his record at the plate against the entirety of the Dodgers’ current staff rather than just Snell, his slash line jumps to .358/.415/.506. Notably, Springer is batting .467 and has two home runs in his career against Shohei Ohtani, which could come up huge later in the series.

Daulton Varsho

Daulton Varsho has been another key contributor at the plate for the Blue Jays this postseason, especially in the ALDS against the Yankees where he was 7-for-12 with seven runs scored.

Against Snell, Varsho is 2-for-8 with a walk and two strikeouts in his career. Against the Dodgers this past season, Varsho was a solid .375/.583.375 across 12 plate appearances as Los Angeles took two of three games against Toronto.

Alejandro Kirk

While it’s a comically small sample size, the numbers show that no Blue Jays hitter has had more success on a per at-bat basis against Snell than catcher Alejandro Kirk.

In four trips to the plate, Kirk has two singles, a walk and a strikeout against Snell. The bad news? Kirk has struggled in his career against the rest of the Dodgers’ current staff, batting just .148 against the rest of the pitchers Los Angels might bring to the mound.

Given Kirk’s place in the lineup, he could be seeing some extremely key at-bats both tonight and this series as a whole. If the Dodgers decide to walk Guerrero in a key spot, it will likely be Kirk charged with making the most of the free man on base.

Nathan Lukes

As the No. 2 batter in the Blue Jays’ lineup, Lukes has been rock solid this postseason, batting .333 while handing the inning over to Vladdy in the No. 3 spot.

Notably, Friday night will be Lukes’s first time facing off against Snell. While this likely gives the edge to the pitcher, Lukes could be a wild card for Toronto in the right spot.

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

The Yankees backed up the Brinks truck to land Max Fried this offseason, and so far it's paid dividends. Through his first 15 starts, Fried has recorded nine wins and boasts a 1.89 ERA. He's recorded 90 strikeouts in 95 innings while walking just 20 batters.

With Gerrit Cole out for the season, the Yankees have needed Fried to step up as the team's ace, and he's done precisely that in his first season in the Bronx. Fried's 11 quality starts are tied for the league lead, and he's second in MLB with five successful pickoffs, making him a nightmare for base runners to steal against.

2. Hunter Brown, Houston Astros

Hunter Brown has been one of baseball's biggest breakout stars of 2025. He impressed last year, logging a 3.49 ERA, but the 26-year-old has reached a different level. Houston’s best starter has an AL-best 1.88 ERA through 14 starts with 105 strikeouts and 26 walks in 86 innings.

Brown has seven games with nine or more strikeouts, the most in MLB, and he ranks third in the American League in strikeouts. The .182 batting average he limits opposing hitters to also ranks third in MLB. After losing his first two starts, Brown has been a man on fire for an Astros squad that once again finds itself at the top of the AL West.

1. Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

Tarik Skubal is the clear-cut favorite to win the Cy Young for the second consecutive season. The Tigers ace has been nothing short of dominant through his first 14 starts. The lefty’s 3.6 bWAR is best among AL pitchers and fifth-best among all players.

Skubal boasts a 1.99 ERA with 111 strikeouts and just nine walks in 90 1/3 innings. He’s surrendered one or zero runs in nine of his 14 starts. No qualified starter has fewer walks this season than Skubal, who also ranks first in MLB with a 0.81 WHIP, third in strikeouts and fifth in K/9 at 11.06. After running away with the award last season, the 28-year-old has somehow managed to improve upon his 2024 campaign with an even stronger showing.

MORE: Inside the Numbers: Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal’s Battle for Pitching Supremacy

Honorable Mentions

Boston Red Sox LHP Garrett Crochet, Texas Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom, Kansas City Royals LHP Kris Bubic

National League Cy Young Candidates3. MacKenzie Gore, Washington Nationals

MacKenzie Gore may have a 3–6 record through his first 15 starts, but that's more of a reflection of his Nationals teammates giving him poor run support. He's had some of MLB's nastiest stuff. Across 87 1/3 innings, Gore boasts an MLB-high 119 strikeouts and 12.26 K/9. He has a 2.89 ERA and has racked up 10 quality starts.

Occasionally prone to surrendering the long ball, Gore has allowed 10 home runs, but he more than makes up for it with his ability to work strikeouts. The 26-year-old hasn’t had a single outing with fewer than five strikeouts and has tallied 13 strikeouts in two separate games.

2. Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies

Zack Wheeler is enjoying another sensational season for the Phillies, and he'll be in consideration for his overdue first Cy Young award if he keeps it up. He boasts a 2.76 ERA in 14 starts and has 110 strikeouts, which ranks second in the National League. Wheeler has only issued 19 walks and boasts a 0.89 WHIP, which is also the second best mark in the NL.

Wheeler remains as reliable as they come on the bump, having finished as Cy Young runner-up twice in the last four seasons, and hitters have still not figured him out. Opposing batters are hitting just .187 against Wheeler, and the 35-year-old is tied for the NL league lead with 11 quality starts.

1. Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates

Paul Skenes had some lofty expectations following his prolific rookie season, and he's lived up to them. The 23-year-old has a 1.78 ERA, which ranks second in the NL, and leads the league with a 0.85 WHIP. The Pittsburgh Pirates star has quickly turned into a workhorse, leading the NL with 96 innings while ranking fifth with 97 strikeouts. Despite striking out batters at a smaller rate this year, he’s also giving up fewer walks, hits and runs.

Skenes has been terrific, and his 4–6 record is, like Gore with the Nationals, more a testament to the lack of run support he receives as opposed to his inability to put his team into winning positions. After placing third in the NL Cy Young race as a rookie, Skenes looks destined to win it in year two.

Honorable Mentions

New York Mets RHP Kodai Senga, Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez, Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Paul Skenes's day on the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates was frustratingly familiar on Sunday.

Skenes was dominant, striking out 10 Seattle Mariners while scattering five hits across five innings before getting a surprising early hook, and watched the Pirates' bats once again fail to get across a single run. Pittsburgh fell 1–0 for the second consecutive game and were swept by the Mariners without scoring a run. Skenes was unable to improve on his 4–7 record, but the rest of his numbers continue to dazzle: He has a 1.94 ERA with 125 strikeouts and just 30 walks in 116 innings, for an impressive WHIP of 0.92.

Luckily for Skenes, the rest of baseball recognizes his dominance, even if the Pirates are more often than not unable to convert it into wins. Ahead of Sunday's game, manager Don Kelly announced to Skene and the rest of the Pirates that the young pitcher has been named to his second All-Star Game in as many years in the Big Leagues.

Pittsburgh captured a pretty special clubhouse moment for Skenes, who has a chance to start the game for the National League once again after doing so as a rookie in '24.

Skenes is the sole Pirates representative on this year's National League All-Star team, which also features arms like Chris Sale, Zack Wheeler, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and "Legend Pick" Clayton Kershaw.

Pittsburgh is 38–53 after the sweep at the hands of the Mariners, and find themselves in the basement of the NL Central, but Skenes remains a must-watch star every time he hits the mound.