Fergus O’Neill completed an excellent match with the bat to help seal the chase after Jordan Buckingham had come within a whisker of a hat-trick
AAP07-Oct-2025Victoria 343 for 9 dec (Handscomb 103, O’Neill 64, Harris 61, Pope 3-87) and 231 for 6 (Peake 70*, Buckingham 3-43) beat South Australia 350 for 9 dec (Hunt 126, Lehmann 113, Perry 4-75) and 223 (Nielsen 52, Warren 5-69) by four wicketsTeenager Oliver Peake guided Victoria to an impressive four-wicket win over reigning Sheffield Shield champions South Australia.The highly regarded Peake could have been out first ball, but instead played an early career-shaping knock to steer Victoria to the tricky chase of 231 at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.Related
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After barely surviving a hat-trick ball to begin his stay, the 19-year-old showed composure beyond his years to finish unbeaten on 70 from 147 deliveries.Seamer Fergus O’Neill (33*) provided great support for Peake in an unbeaten 84-run partnership for Victoria, who lost Sam Harper at an important time when the wicketkeeper was batting well.O’Neill hit the winning runs in the dying stages of day four, upsetting SA in their first match since breaking their 29-year Shield drought in March.It was only Peake’s second Shield game for Victoria, and fifth first-class match, after playing three matches for Australia A this year. His clutch performance would have delighted Australian selectors, who have been tracking the young gun’s progress closely.It came after SA quick Jordan Buckingham (3-43) fell agonisingly short of a hat-trick, with Henry Hunt dropping a sharp chance at short leg.After dismissing former Test players Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb in consecutive balls, Buckingham had the opportunity to make history. Peake clipped the hat-trick ball off his legs, but Hunt put down the reflex chance to deny Buckingham and change the momentum of the chase.In the first innings, Handscomb posted an outstanding innings in a reminder he might not be done at international level. Handscomb, whose most recent Test was against India in March 2023, faced 180 balls and hit seven fours and two sixes.But SA captain and Test hopeful Nathan McSweeney endured a poor Shield opener, out for a duck and 6.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted after his team's north London derby win over Tottenham that he prevented Leandro Trossard from leaving the club in the summer transfer window. Trossard was linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners invested heavily in their squad, but Arteta did not want him to depart. The Belgium international has been in good form so far in the 2025-26 season and shone again in the win over Spurs.
Eze and Trossard down Spurs
Trossard opened the scoring for Arsenal against Tottenham in the 36th minute on Sunday at the Emirates before Eberechi Eze bagged a hat-trick to complete a 4-1 win. The victory moves Arsenal six points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table as Arteta's men aim to end their long wait for the title. Eze was one of a host of big-name signings at Arsenal this summer, with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke also arriving, leading to speculation Trossard could move on. Bayern Munich, Fenerbahce and Besiktas were just some of the clubs believed to be interested in Trossard, however, the 30-year-old ended up staying and has even been rewarded with a pay increase and a new contract that runs until 2027.
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Arteta refused to let Trossard go
The Arsenal manager spoke about the situation after the game at the Emirates and admitted there was "no chance" he would have sanctioned an exit for Trossard. He told reporters: "For me it was forbidden for him to leave. No chance. I know the player that he is, and surrounded with the players that we have, he's a player that is going to make a difference for us. I fully agree. It was one of the best games, so aggressive with and without the ball, so effective, he could have scored another one or two goals, and he was involved in so many positive actions. So that's what we need. As I said, I think individually the players were excellent today."
Trossard enjoys 'perfect night' against Spurs
Trossard could not hide his delight after victory over Spurs and admitted it was a perfect day for the Gunners. He told the club's media: "I enjoyed that a lot! I think it was important to get that goal. After that it gave us the edge to go on and score more goals, to create chances. I think we were dominant before, but obviously that gives you that extra bit of confidence to go and win the game. It was a perfect night for us. It was a really good game overall in every aspect, from defence to attack. We're really happy with all the goals we scored as well.
"It was just joy. Everyone was cheering, there's not much to say about it. That's what we really wanted and it's nice that we could give this back to the fans. The atmosphere was amazing, it was so good, they pushed us forward as well. So yeah, it's a really good night today.”
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Arsenal unbeaten when Trossard scores
Trossard's goal continued an incredible record for the Belgian for Arsenal. The 30-year-old has now scored 32 goals for Arsenal and has never been on the losing side when he has found the back of the net for the Gunners. Arsenal have won 24 and drawn eight of the games in which Trossard has struck since his arrival at the club from Brighton in 2023.
Life before VAR was different. When goals would fly in undissected and celebrations could go on uninterrupted. That was a life without the need for weekly referee shows and the dreaded wait for the finest offside calls, but it is ultimately the reality of modern-day Premier League football.
Alas, what if it wasn’t? What if VAR didn’t exist? And the Premier League was forced to rely on the timing of the linesman’s flag and the whistle of the referee and referee only?
Stat site quawka have played out that scenario and put together the Premier League table without VAR errors this season.
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The ‘errors’ are voted by Squawka followers in polls based on the most controversial VAR calls every week and the latest standings have now been revealed.
Note: The standings have been compiled on the basis that penalties which should have been awarded would have been converted.
20 Wolverhampton Wanderers: +/- 0 places
Unfortunately for Wolverhampton Wanderers fans, not even a life without VAR errors would be enough to stop their current rot. The Midlands side are yet to have an error go against them, but have actually had one go in their favour.
With or without VAR, Rob Edwards’ side sit rock bottom on two points and without a single win in the first 12 games of the Premier League season. Whether it comes courtesy of refereeing decisions or on their own merit, Wolves desperately need three points from somewhere.
19 Leeds United: -1 place
With one error going their way, Leeds United should be among the few sides grateful for VAR in the Premier League this season. The Whites would be two points worse off without it and one position lower than where they currently find themselves.
Defeat at the hands of Aston Villa left Daniel Farke’s men in the dropzone last time out and those at Elland Road now have the task of keeping their composure in a desperate attempt to survive at the first time of asking.
18 Burnley: +1 place
Although they’ve had one error go against them and none in their favour, Burnley’s point total wouldn’t change without VAR. The Clarets would remain on 10 points, but in 18th rather than 19th. That shows just how tight the relegation scrap is down at the bottom and the difficulty of the task on Scott Parker’s hands.
The Burnley boss will at least be hoping to have more VAR calls go in his side’s favour in the coming months.
17 West Ham United: +/- 0 places
Like Burnley, West Ham United’s point total wouldn’t change if VAR wasn’t around. The Hammers would still sit just outside the dropzone on 11 points, despite having one VAR error in their favour.
Nuno Espirito Santo has so far done an impressive job to steer those at the London Stadium in the right direction, but will be well aware that there’s still plenty to do, with or without the help of VAR.
16 Nottingham Forest: +/- 0 places
At their third attempt this season, it seems as though Nottingham Forest have got their managerial appointment right. Sean Dyche mirrored Nuno’s achievement from last season by winning at Anfield, but did so in far better style – thrashing the Reds 3-0 in shocking fashion.
It was in that game that the Tricky Trees had a VAR error go against them, when Igor Jesus’ goal was controversially disallowed for handball just before the break. It wasn’t enough to stop Forest, however, whose points and position have not been affected by the technology.
15 Brentford: -1 place
Having had two VAR errors go in their favour and two go against them, it’s been a busy season for the technology at Brentford. As it turns out, the Bees would rather have the video assistant available, given that they’d have lost a point without it and drop down to 15th.
It has been a solid start for Keith Andrews, who is proving doubters wrong every week, but he will be well aware that every point matters in the Premier League.
14 Fulham: +1 place
Fulham managerMarcoSilva
If anyone has reason to complain about VAR this season, it is Fulham. The West London side would move up one place in the Premier League and would have collected an extra two points without the technology this season.
Marco Silva’s men have had one error go their way and three go against them – the worst difference in the Premier League. As they look to push on from early relegation concerns, the Cottagers will be desperate for that to change.
13 Newcastle United: +1 place
Just like Fulham, Newcastle United would be two points better off without VAR and would be sat in 13th, rather than 14th. Of course, it still wouldn’t be enough to hide how poor Eddie Howe’s side have been at times in the current campaign, but life without the technology would have at least taken them closer to European places.
Howe is unlikely to look for excuses, however, and will be aware that the Magpies simply must kick on before they are down and out in the race for Champions League qualification. They’ve had two errors go their way and three against them.
12 Liverpool: +/- 0 places
Liverpool can’t even fall back on VAR controversy to hide just how disastrous their title defence is going. The Reds would still sit on just 18 points after 12 games without the technology.
That said, no team in the Premier League has had more VAR errors go against them than the four that Liverpool have. Whilst Arne Slot’s side simply haven’t been good enough, they could certainly do with a tad more luck when it comes to the officiating.
11 Bournemouth: -3 places
Without VAR, Bournemouth would be one point worse off and sit 11th rather than eighth — highlighting just how tight much of the Premier League table is after 12 games. The Cherries have largely impressed in the current campaign, but have had the fortune of enjoying two VAR errors in their favour and none against them.
Just one point adrift of the Champions League places, Andoni Iraola could yet Bournemouth to greater heights than ever before in the Premier League.
There was a pause in play while Pakistan sought clarification from the umpires
Andrew Fidel Fernando05-Oct-2025
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana chats with the fourth umpire after Muneeba Ali’s run-out•Associated Press
Confusion over whether opening batter Muneeba Ali was actually deemed run-out caused a brief stoppage in the fourth over of Pakistan’s chase against India in their World Cup match in Colombo, with Pakistan querying the decision on the edge of the boundary while the dismissed batter Muneeba remained on the edge of the field of play.The sequence of events that led to the confusion was unusual. First, Muneeba had not been attempting a run – she had been batting out of her crease (presumably to counter swing) as India appealed for an lbw off the bowling of Kranti Goud. As that appeal went up, Muneeba had promptly grounded her bat behind the crease before the throw from Deepti Sharma came in from the slip cordon. However, she had very briefly raised her bat off the ground again without having grounded any other part of the body behind the line, and it was in the moments her bat was slightly raised that Deepti’s throw hit the stumps and dislodged the bails.ICC Playing Condition 30.1.2 does allow for a batter to lose contact with the ground beyond the crease and not be given out, but that exception is only granted to a batter who is “running or diving towards her ground”. Muneeba was merely stepping back into the crease, and there was no momentum that would have necessitated her bat leaving the crease.The playing condition states: “However, a batter shall not be considered to be out of her ground if, in running or diving towards her ground and beyond, and having grounded some part of her person or bat beyond the popping crease, there is subsequent loss of contact between the ground and any part of her person or bat, or between the bat and person.”Related
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The confusion was partially caused by conflicting third-umpire decisions being flashed on the big screen. Muneeba was initially given “not out” on the screen and even the India players had returned to their places. But that decision was soon changed to “out”, prompting celebrations from the India players and a puzzled expression from Muneeba, who animatedly sought clarification from the on-field umpires.It is possible third umpire Kerrin Klaaste had first given Muneeba not out before having seen the footage beyond Muneeba’s initial grounding of the bat. It is likely that after seeing the full set of replays – where Muneeba raised her bat again – Klaaste changed her decision.Once the on-field umpires confirmed she was out, Muneeba began to leave the field, but a flurry of activity near the Pakistan dugout gave her pause. She seemed to be getting instructions from her team-mates to remain on the field while they queried the decision again, this time from fourth-umpire Kim Cotton, who was at her station in between the two team dugouts. Muneeba was seen to be in further discussion with her team-mates – captain Fatima Sana in particular – as next batter Sidra Amin stood on the edge of the boundary without entering the playing area.Eventually, Sana appeared to signal to Muneeba that she may leave the field, likely having received further clarification surrounding the dismissal. Amin entered the field and went on to take strike. The incident caused a stoppage that went for several minutes longer than a regular run-out would take.Muneeba would also have been given out lbw off that delivery had India reviewed the on-field umpire’s not out decision. Her dismissal left Pakistan 6 for 1 in four overs in their chase of 248.
أكد بيب جوارديولا، مدرب نادي مانشستر سيتي، أنه من المهم بالنسبة لفريقه أن يثبت على مستواه خلال الفترة المقبلة، وذلك عقب الانتصار على سندرلاند اليوم السبت بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
مانشستر سيتي استمر في نتائجه الجيدة وحقق انتصارًا عريضًا على سندرلاند بثلاثة أهداف دون رد، ضمن الجولة 14 من عمر الدوري الإنجليزي.
لكن جوارديولا وفي تصريحات نقلتها شبكة ”Cityxtra” يرى أنه من المهم أن يثبت مانشستر سيتي على مستواه، حيث إن ذلك أهم من النتائج.
وقال جوارديولا: ”من تجربتي، معذرة لا أريد أن أشعر بالغطرسة، لكن لدي خبرة واسعة في الفوز بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز والألقاب، إنه الثبات، والثبات يأتي من شيء واحد، وهو طريقة اللعب، ليس من نتيجة في يوم من الأيام أو فوز يجعلنا نتأخر بنقطتين أو نتقدم بأربع نقاط، بل الثبات في أدائنا، ومدى تطورنا خلال العام، وربما كان اليوم أحد أفضل عروض الموسم خلال 94 دقيقة”.
وأضاف: “كان لدي شعور حتى لو أضعنا نقاطًا اليوم، أن أرسنال سيضيع نقاطًا قليلة جدًا هذا الموسم، إذا أردنا أن نكون هناك، فعلينا الفوز بالمباريات، والمباريات تبنى على طريقة أدائك وليس فقط على الحظ”.
اقرأ أيضًا .. ريان شرقي: أريد اللعب مع مرموش.. وتمريرة فودين أمام سندرلاند هدفها إسعاد الجماهير
وعن ريان شرقي، نجم مانشستر سيتي، أوضح جوارديولا: “لاعب استثنائي، هو صغير في السن جدًا ويتمتع بشخصية قوية، أثبت ذلك ضد فولهام في أصعب لحظة، عندما كنا متقدمين بنتيجة 5-4 وفي كل مرة كانت الكرة بحوزته، كان يمرر تمريرات إضافية ويستمر في اللعب، إنه لا يهاب شيئًا ويتمتع بثقة بالنفس، وفي الثلث الأخير من الملعب لديه شيء مميز”.
وأردف عن تمريرة شرقي الرائعة في كرة الهدف الثالث لمانشستر سيتي والذي سجله فيل فودين: ”أكثر ما يعجبني في ريان شرقي ليس مهاراته، لم أر ليونيل ميسي يلعب ويمرر عرضيات مثله، ميسي هو أفضل لاعب في تاريخ كرة القدم ولم أر هذا النوع من العرضيات من قبل”.
وواصل: “التمريرات العرضية جيدة، لا يهم إن كانت بالقدم اليمنى أو اليسرى، جزء من القدم أو الرأس، لا يهم، إذا كانت فعالة، فلا بأس، لكنني أحب البساطة لأنني تعلمت من ميسي أنه لم يخطئ قط، ولم يخطئ قط في الأمور البسيطة”.
واستكمل: “ما أريده من اللاعبين هو أن يتقنوا الأمور البسيطة، يمتلك اللاعبون موهبة خاصة يمنحها لهم آباؤهم وأمهاتهم ويمكنهم فعل ما يشاءون، ولكن إذا لم ينجح الأمر فستكون هذه مشكلة الآن، الآن ستكون في ورطة”.
وعن طرد لاعب سندرلاند، لوك أونين، بعد تدخله العنيف على مدافع مانشستر سيتي، ماتيوس نونيز، اختتم جوارديولا: “إن نونيز بخير، لحسن الحظ لم تكن ساقه على العشب، بصراحة ظننت أنها تشبه لعبة الشوط الأول مع جوسكو جفارديول، لكنني شاهدت التلفزيون وقلت يا إلهي، كنا محظوظين لأن نونيز بحالة جيدة”.
Behind a dramatic game-tying homer in the ninth inning from Miguel Rojas and a superhuman effort from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles defeated the Blue Jays 5–4 in 11 innings on Friday night to clinch its second straight World Series title.
The Dodgers now have a chance to become the third franchise in MLB history to win at least three straight World Series championships, and the first since the Yankees from 1998 to 2000.
Looking at the Dodgers’ roster, the star core of the team will return in 2026. Tyler Glasnow, Mookie Betts, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Yamamoto are all signed well past the 2026 campaign.
The Dodgers will have six players hit arbitration this offseason, and they have a $10 million team option on slugger Max Muncy and a $3.55 million team option to potentially bring back Alex Vesia. But there are seven players whose contracts will officially expire once the offseason begins. Here they are:
Michael Conforto, OF
Conforto slides into home plate during a gam against th Mariners at T-Mobile Park. / John Froschauer-Imagn Images
The Conforto experiment did … not work out in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers signed Conforto to a one-year contract worth $17 million back in December after he hit 20 homers for the rival Giants in 2024. In 138 games this year, Conforto batted just .199/.305/.333 with 12 homers and a 79 OPS+—the first time he logged a below-average OPS+ since 2016. Conforto was left off the Dodgers’ postseason roster and had to watch as Kiké Hernández and Alex Call took his spot in left field.
Miguel Rojas, IF
Rojas celebrates with two-way player Shohei Ohtani after hitting a home run in the ninth inning of Game 7. / John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Dodgers’ trusty veteran transformed from a bench player to a World Series hero on Saturday night, hitting the game-tying home run with one out in the ninth inning of Game 7.
Rojas, who will turn 37 in February, will hit the open market this offseason. Back in October, he announced plans to retire after the 2026 season and said he’d like to return to Los Angeles for one last dance. After his Game 7 heroics, how could the Dodgers consider bringing him back for another year?
Clayton Kershaw, SP
Clayton Kershaw and Enrique Hernández celebrate after defeating the Blue Jays in the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. / John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Kershaw won’t be back in 2026 because he’s finally hanging up the cleats.
Kershaw, one of the greatest pitchers of his generation, announced in September that he will retire after this season. What a way to go out—an 11–2 record and 3.36 ERA in his final season with a World Series title as the cherry on top. Across 18 seasons, all with the Dodgers, Kershaw registered a 223–96 record with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.
Kiké Hernández, UT
Enrique Hernández appeared in 92 games for the Dodgers this season. / John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
On a roster full of superstars, Hernández has served as a utility player and culture-builder in Los Angeles for nine of his 12 seasons in the big leagues. Hernández batted .203/.255/.366 with 10 homers and 35 RBIs in 92 games last year, and he wasn’t any better in the playoffs, going 5-for-28 (.179) in the World Series.
As he hits free agency this offseason, Hernández might be the odd man out for 2026—especially if the Dodgers bring back Rojas for a utility role alongside Tommy Edman.
Andrew Heaney, RP
Dodgers relief pitcher Andrew Heaney made one appearance for Los Angeles this season. / Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Los Angeles claimed Heaney after he was designated for assignment by the Pirates in late August. Heaney made just one appearance in a Dodgers uniform, allowing three earned runs in two innings. He was not a part of the Dodgers’ postseason roster, and at 34 years old, doesn’t seem like he’ll be back with the club next year.
Michael Kopech, RP
Kopech logged a 2.45 ERA in 11 innings for the Dodgers this season. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Dodgers acquired Kopech at the 2024 trade deadline in the same move that landed them Edman. He’s been fantastic when healthy—1.54 ERA in 35 innings since the trade—but he hasn’t been healthy often. Kopech had two stints on the 60-day injured list this season alone and wasn’t healthy enough to crack the playoff roster.
Kirby Yates, RP
Yates struggled in his first year with the Dodgers, logging a 5.23 ERA in 41 1/3 innings. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Yates was one of the top arms available in free agency last offseason, and he signed a one-year deal worth $13 million with the Dodgers in January. He was supposed to be a high-leverage option out of manager Dave Roberts’s bullpen, but instead, Yates was one of Los Angeles’s biggest problems.
In 50 appearances (41 1/3 innings), Yates allowed 24 earned runs on 38 hits and 17 walks—adding up to a 5.23 ERA and 1.331 WHIP. It was his worst full season of work since his third season in the big leagues in 2016. Yates, just like Kopech and Heaney, did not pitch in the Dodgers’ playoff run.
O goleiro Cássio se despediu do Corinthians neste sábado (18), no CT Joaquim Grava, recebeu homenagens e, em meio a muitas perguntas, falou sobre o atual titular da meta do Timão: Carlos Miguel, de 25 anos. O arqueiro conquistou a vaga entre os 11 do Timão recentemente, e vem fazendo boas partidas com a camisa do clube paulista. O Timão, inclusive, corre o risco de perder o goleiro.
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➡️ Acredita que o Timão avançará em primeiro no grupo da Sul-Americana? Se liga nas odds: 1.53
– O Miguel é um cara de muita qualidade, tem jogado bem e tem muito potencial. Agora depende dele, ele é o titular absoluto, agora é sequência, uma situação nova. Temos uma amizade muito boa, nunca tivemos problema, ele tem uma história de vida de superação, é lindo de falar – disse o goleiro.
Cássio disse, inclusive, que nunca imaginou ficar por 12 anos no gol do Corinthians, portanto, é muito difícil falar sobre Carlos Miguel nesse quesito, já que é um jovem goleiro que ainda tem muito pela frente.
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– O Corinthians não precisa ir atrás de goleiro, tem muita gente boa aqui, dois excelentes treinadores de goleiros, eu com certeza construí a minha história por conta desses dois grande profissionais. Desejo muito sucesso a todos ele e o Corinthians está bem servido de goleiro – completou Cássio.
➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos do Brasileirão
+ Corinthians oficializa saída de Cássio: veja o que sabemos sobre a rescisão do goleiro
Sobre o fim de seu ciclo com a camisa do Corinthians, Cássio afirmou que já vinha se preparando para este momento, e que deixa o clube em paz e pela porta da frente.
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– Eu creio que eu vinha me preparando, lógico que o Miguel vinha bem, mas se eu ficasse aqui, eu “ia para a porrada” para disputar a posição. Mas acho que o ciclo acabou mesmo, eu olho para trás e vejo um ciclo bem feito, com respeito, com o presidente aqui, com a sala cheia, então saio pela porta da frente, vendo que tudo funciona – completou.
The Phillies exited the 2025 MLB postseason in one of the worst ways imaginable on Thursday night and made some history in doing so.
Philadelphia was locked in a tight battle with the Dodgers in Game 4 of the NLDS, with the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 11th inning. Reliever Orion Kerkering was on the mound with the bases loaded and two outs, facing L.A.'s ninth hitter, Andy Pages.
On an 0-1 pitch, the 24-year-old righty induced a grounder back to him and bobbled it. After recovering, he made the ill-fated decision to attempt to get an out at home plate, rather than the easier play at first base. He immediately regretted that decision. His throw to the plate sailed past catcher J.T. Realmuto, allowing Hyeseong Kim to score the winning run from third base, and sending the Dodgers to the NLCS.
That was just an awful sequence for Kerkering, his teammates, and Phillies fans everywhere. The error also made history.
The Phillies' loss to the Dodgers was the first postseason series in history to end in a walk-off error. That's a fact that adds insult to injury for everyone involved.
Los Angeles now moves on to its fourth NLCS in the last six seasons.
“Speed is my biggest strength, and I want to continue to maintain that strength,” Umran Malik, who is making his comeback from a hip injury, says
Rajan Raj07-Dec-2025
Umran Malik is making his comeback in the domestic circuit•PTI
Umran Malik will not compromise on his speed. It’s his “identity” and his “natural ability”, and though he is on a comeback trail after over a year out with injuries – a hip issue the last – he will keep bowling as fast as he can since it’s a point of difference between him and other quicks in the country.”Every fast bowler in the world knows that injuries are going to be a part of his career. But speed is my natural aspect. How can I compromise with that? Speed is my biggest strength, and I want to continue to maintain that strength,” Malik told ESPNcricinfo on the sidelines of Jammu and Kashmir’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Hyderabad in Kolkata on December 4.”You can’t bowl at 150(kph) straight away. You reach that speed gradually. I don’t want to show my speed to anyone, but I want to show my wickets. But it is also that after ten years [of bowling at a competitive level], I want to bowl at 140 [from 150] and not come down to a speed of 130 from 150.”Before turning out in the latest edition of the Ranji Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournaments, Malik had last played in in March 2024 in the IPL that year, for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) against Mumbai Indians (MI). He was with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025 but could not play a single match.Coming back from a serious injury takes a toll on the body as well as on the mind, and Malik’s focus has changed a bit now.”After spending time at NCA [BCCI’s Centre of Excellence] and talking to many experts, I have started to understand my body better,” he said. “I now know what things need to be managed better if I want to avoid injury.”Though KKR have let go of a number of their players, including some big-ticket stars, Malik has been retained ahead of IPL 2026.”I know that for many Indian fast bowlers, it is not that difficult to be part the IPL. It’s probably easy for me too, but I’m not just thinking of taking part in the tournament,” he said. “Money is not a concern. The first and last thing is that my fitness and form should be such that I play every match for the team and take wickets. If I can’t do this, then what will be my value as a player?”I will work as hard as I have to. I will learn where I make mistakes. I will take care of myself and want to make my comeback memorable.”Those who have watched him bowl this season have found a slightly different Malik, who has maintained his speeds while also appearing to bowl within himself a bit.At present, Malik’s eyes are focused solely on the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but it is with an eye on the future, starting with the IPL.
Mark Wood has cast doubt on his availability for the third Ashes Test and admitted concerns that, at 35, his body is no longer coping with the rigours of bowling 90mph/145kph.Wood had surgery on his left knee after hobbling out of England’s Champions Trophy campaign in February, and the series opener in Perth was his first Test match in 15 months. He bowled 11 wicketless overs across the match but was sent to a specialist after reporting more pain and has been wearing a knee brace since arriving in Brisbane.Speaking to Channel 7 at the tea break during the second Test at the Gabba, Wood suggested he was unlikely to be in contention for the Adelaide Test, which starts on December 17: “I think there’s a chance there, but more realistically, it’s probably more Melbourne and then [Sydney] after that… I need to get out of this [brace] first to get moving around.”Related
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Wood said that he has had painkilling injections in his knee since the first Test, and suggested that age is catching up with him. “Throughout my career, I’ve tried to show resilience and keep coming back and keep trying to push it where I can bowl faster and faster, but I’m getting older now.”I don’t know if my body’s not coping with it as well [as it used to] but I’ll keep trying. That’s something I pride myself on, to keep running in for the team and be a good team man. I’m hoping I can get this right and can charge in again.”I’m trying to just get through day-to-day at the minute. Later in the series is what I’m aiming for, but I can’t do that much at the minute. I’ve had a couple of injections, resting up, and slowly but surely, running [will] start soon, then back into bowling.”It’s more mentally difficult than physically. You’ve got to try and build it back up and come back again, and that’s probably the more difficult thing.”Ben Stokes, England’s captain, said on the eve of the Brisbane Test that Wood would do “everything” possible to remain in contention for selection in this series: “We’ve got a lot more time to go on this tour, and we’ll just see how things play out with that.”