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Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and Janith Liyanage’s fifties gave Sri Lanka 290, and the bowlers then stopped New Zealand 140 runs short

Andrew Fidel Fernando11-Jan-2025Rapid half-centuries from Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and Janith Liyanage put Sri Lanka on course to a substantial total, before an electric new-ball spell from Asitha Fernando wrecked New Zealand’s chase.Asitha swung the ball prodigiously in his five-over opening spell, taking 3 for 17 in that period. By the end of over seven, and chasing 291 for victory, New Zealand were 22 for 5, their chances all but dashed. Mark Chapman battled bravely for a run-a-ball 81, but had no team-mates to go with him.New Zealand soon slipped to 48 for 6, then 77 for 7, and though the last rites took some time, Sri Lanka dismissed the opposition for 150, inside 30 overs. This was the third one-sided game in the series. New Zealand had won the other two.Asitha’s 3 for 26 wasn’t quite a swing-bowling masterclass, as he occasionally struggled with his lines. But it did feature some spectacular deliveries, as he gleaned substantially more swing than any other bowler in the game. The ball to take out Rachin Ravindra’s leg stump was magnificent; Asitha angled it across the left-hander, and got it to tail in very late to slip between bat and pad. All through that new-ball spell, he had that shape to his deliveries. He struck twice in the seventh over, removing Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips, both for ducks.Pathum Nissanka scored a half-century up top in a two-part innings•AFP/Getty ImagesAt the other end, Maheesh Theekshana and Eshan Malinga also contributed wickets, dismissing Will Young and Daryl Mitchell respectively. All three of these bowlers ended up taking three wickets apiece. Asitha’s was the best among their final figures.Malinga also swung the ball, though not as much as Asitha, and bowled probing lines. Theekshana got turn out of a pitch that the New Zealand spinners had also enjoyed earlier in the match, particularly when they picked their way through Sri Lanka’s middle order. Though it was still Matt Henry who was most penetrative, taking 4 for 55 from his ten overs. Three of those wickets came at the death, but Henry had been instrumental in building pressure through the middle overs too.The first ingredients of Sri Lanka’s 140-run victory, however, were the fifties to Nissanka and Kusal. Nissanka’s 66 off 42 was unusual. He got to 50 off the 31st delivery he played, but as he was completing that run, appeared to pull a hamstring, and left the field at the end of the tenth over. Kusal then replaced him at the crease and reeled off 54 off 48 to salvage what has otherwise been a modest tour for him.Nissanka, especially, reveled in taking on the short ball. He crashed five sixes and six fours in his innings, coming back to the middle in the 34th over to swing at a few though he was unable to run or reach particularly far outside off. Kusal hit two sixes and five fours, having made all his runs after the initial fielding restrictions had ended.Matt Henry took all of his four wickets in the back-half of Sri Lanka’s innings•AFP/Getty ImagesBoth batters were dismissed by wide, turning Mitchell Santner deliveries, that they were trying to drag over the deep-midwicket boundary.Santner had been among the primary architects of Sri Lanka’s middle-overs slowdown. They had been 155 for 1 (Nissanka was retired hurt also) after 27 overs, but in the following seven overs lost three wickets and made only 28. They recovered through a half-century to Liyanage, who constructed a clever innings that shepherded the lower-middle order and the tail. Liyanage made 53 off 52 balls before falling in the final over. He had hit five boundaries – two of them sixes – but largely sought to push the game deep and ensure Sri Lanka batted out their 50 overs.But New Zealand had no answers to Asitha bowling one of the white-ball spells of his career. Chapman saw out that new-ball spell, and then gained confidence once the powerplay was over, finding the boundary with the kind of ease that Nissanka and Kusal earlier had. He was especially strong through the off side, hitting all but two of his ten fours on that side of the ground.But thanks to that early collapse, they never looked like threatening the target.

England will make a late decision on Kate Cross’s fitness for the one-off Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein, but have opted to play an extra seamer either way, as thoughts begin to turn to their upcoming Ashes challenge in January.Cross, England’s senior seamer, bowled just five balls in Wednesday’s third ODI at Potchefstroom before leaving the field with a back spasm. She will attempt to bowl in the nets on Saturday, but if she’s not deemed fit enough to take part, Ryana MacDonald-Gay – who was drafted into the Test squad as cover – will make her Test debut, with Sophia Dunkley set to miss out among the batters.Speaking on the eve of the contest, captain Heather Knight admitted her team had to balance their desire to cap a successful tour of South Africa against the challenge that awaits in Australia. And Cross, who was instrumental in England’s Ashes Test win in Perth in 2013-14, remains a key part of that consideration.”We’ll have to wait and see,” Knight said. “Obviously, she went down in that first ODI, and it’s pretty rare to see Kate in that much pain. So we’ll have to see how that reacts. She’ll try and have a little bowl today, try and get a couple of spells in, and then we’ll make a call based on what we think is best for the team.”Obviously we’ve got a huge amount of cricket coming up as well, so that’s going be at the forefront [of our thoughts]. Kate’s such a key player for us in one-day cricket and Test cricket. We want to give her the biggest chance, because she’s so desperate to play Test cricket, but we feel like our seam bowlers are going to be so important over the next month, so we want to really look after them.”So, “I don’t know” is the honest answer, but if she doesn’t play, we’ll obviously miss her.”The upcoming Test will be South Africa’s first on home soil in 22 years, and Knight – who still considers the format to be her favourite despite the scarcity of opportunity – said her players were all excited at the prospect of “pulling the whites back on”. The challenge of switching mindsets from white-ball to red-ball cricket, however, would be the biggest factor for the coming four days.Related

• Red-ball fever catches on in South Africa

• Seren Smale, Ryana MacDonald-Gay called up to South Africa tour

• Heather Knight: Freya Kemp still in Ashes frame despite withdrawal from SA tour

• South Africa women pick Tumi Sekhukhune and retain strong core for England Test

• ICC rankings: Wolvaardt replaces Sciver-Brunt as No. 1 batter

“From my own experiences, I absolutely love playing red-ball cricket,” Knight said. “It’s such a test, such a challenge, and something that I love doing … the mental challenge, the repetition of skills, adapting to so many different situations that you might face. I absolutely love it.”But honestly, in the build-up to the Test, everyone was like, ‘right, what do I do, how do I learn? How to develop?’ Picking a team is pretty hard, just because you’re going on minimal information, from white-ball cricket or from a Test match that was maybe a year ago.”So it’s quite hard thing to prepare for. Mentally, it’s about getting clarity around how you’re going to play. I don’t think that should differ hugely from your one-day mindset, it’s just doing things for a little bit longer and managing situations that change in a game a little bit better.”You have to be okay sometimes with not scoring, and having to soak up pressure for a little bit longer. But also I want the girls have that mindset that, when we get a chance to really put the pressure back on the opposition, can we move the game forward at a rate of knots?”The two teams last faced each other in a Test match at Taunton in 2022, where Marizanne Kapp made a brilliant 150 to set her team up for a hard-fought draw.”She’s certainly high-class, she’s a key player for them,” Knight said. “We have our plans to try and get her out. Laura [Wolvaardt]’s got potential to bat long and score some big runs as well, so she’s another key player. We want real clarity about how we want to go about it, then it’s about adapting to how they’re playing the game in the moment as well.”Despite the proximity of the Ashes, where the Test will be held for the first time at the vast MCG, Knight insisted England’s focus was all in the “here-and-now”.”We’re totally focused on this Test match. It’s been in the calendar, and it’s something that the girls have highlighted that they really want to play in and really want to do well. Any chance to play a Test match is really cool.”We’ve had one eye on the Ashes throughout this series and trying to prep for that, whilst also not looking too far ahead and doing what we need to do to have some success. And obviously we’ve had huge success on this tour. It’s been a brilliant trip for us, a really successful tour. We’ve had loads of learnings as well, and things we can fine tune before we go into the Ashes.”

Leeds United have moved to add Sebastiaan Bornauw, Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha, and Gabriel Gudmundsson to their squad ahead of the Premier League season so far.

Since winning the Championship title in the 2024/25 campaign, the Whites have placed a clear emphasis on improving their options across the backline, as three of their four signings are defenders.

Daniel Farke now has plenty of quality to pick from when it comes to selecting his starting back four for the opening clash with Everton in the top-flight next month.

However, the West Yorkshire outfit have not made many moves to bolster their attacking arsenal, beyond extending Dan James’ contract and signing Nmecha.

Leeds swooped to sign the former Germany international on a free transfer from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, after his contract with his former club expired at the end of June.

However, the former Manchester City academy talent, whose brother Felix currently plays for Borussia Dortmund, may not have arrived at Elland Road as a frontline option to lead the attack for Farke in the Premier League next season.

Why Lukas Nmecha may not start for Leeds

Leeds, it should go without saying, will need to find plenty of goals from within their team next term to ensure that they are not relegated back down to the Championship at the first time of asking.

The Whites may not find a regular source of goals in the number nine position from Nmecha, though, if they were to select him as a starter week-in-week-out.

Last season, the 26-year-old attacker only scored three goals in 20 games in all competitions for Wolfsburg, which does not suggest that he is set to arrive in West Yorkshire as the Premier League number nine that they need.

Nmecha has also failed to score more than four goals in a season in all competitions since the 2021/22 campaign, and has only scored more than eight league goals in a season in the Pro League in Belgium.

24/25 (Wolfsburg)

8

20

3

23/24 (Wolfsburg)

39

4

2

22/23 (Wolfsburg)

17

18

4

21/22 (Wolfsburg)

9

31

10

20/21 (Anderlecht)

0

37

18

19/20 (Wolfsburg + Middlesbrough)

4

25

0

18/19 (Preston North End)

0

41

4

As you can see in the table above, the former Cityzens youngster has struggled for goals and fitness throughout his career in England and Germany, with the 2020/21 campaign standing out as an anomaly.

Nmecha was a highly rated talent at the time, as shown by Jacek Kulig’s post, but he has failed to kick on, which is why he is unlikely to be a starter for Leeds next season.

Leeds have held talks with English forward

The Whites are said to be interested in a proven Premier League performer who could come in as a big upgrade on Nmecha for Farke, though, this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, the Championship champions have held talks with free agent centre-forward Callum Wilson over a possible move to Elland Road.

Speaking to The Boot Room, the reporter said: “Leeds aren’t panicking, they’re letting the market come to them. They’re one of the teams that’s held talks with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and they’ve talked to Callum Wilson at various points this summer too.”

These comments from Bailey show that the former Newcastle United attacker, who left the Magpies at the start of this month, is one of a number of options on their striker shortlist.

If they do decide to go ahead with a swoop for the experienced marksman, though, then Farke could have a huge upgrade on Nmecha on his hands.

Why Callum Wilson is an upgrade on Lukas Nmecha

Wilson is a proven Premier League player who would come in with almost a guarantee of goals if given enough opportunities to showcase his quality in the final third.

A mixture of injuries and the generational talent that is Alexander Isak prevented him from getting those opportunities last season, as he ended the 2024/25 campaign with two starts and zero goals in the top-flight.

24/25

2

0

23/24

9

9

22/23

21

18

21/22

16

8

20/21

23

12

19/20

32

8

18/19

29

14

17/18

23

8

16/17

16

6

15/16

9

5

However, as you can see in the table above, Wilson has scored goals at an impressive rate when given starts on a regular basis throughout his Premier League career with Bournemouth and Newcastle.

These statistics show that the striker has scored more than four league goals in nine separate top-flight seasons, whilst Nmecha has only managed that feat twice, including one season in the Pro League in Belgium.

Wilson, who was once dubbed “clinical” by The Athletic’s Chris Waugh, has been there and done it and proven that he can score goals on a regular basis in the Premier League, which is a huge plus in his column when Leeds decide to make a final call on who they want to pursue as their starting number nine.

He would arrive as a huge upgrade on Nmecha, given the vast gulf between their respective goal returns at the top level throughout their careers, on top of the fact that he has done it in England and the German gem has not.

However, the elephant in the room is that the English striker has a worrying injury history that may make the Whites think twice about bringing him to Elland Road, even on a free transfer.

He has missed 57 matches through injury since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, which means that Leeds would not be able to confidently expect him to be available week-in-week-out to be a regular starter.

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If Wilson can overcome his injury woes to be a regular in the team, there is no doubt that he would be a huge upgrade on Nmecha. However, the injuries are a real concern and may cause the club to look elsewhere in their pursuit of a new number nine.

Looking to continue their summer spending, PIF and Newcastle United are now reportedly readying a £61m raid to sign a Real Madrid attacker in a shock move.

Newcastle pushing to sign Hugo Ekitike

For the first time in over a year, PIF are in a position to spend at Newcastle and they’re wasting no time as a result. With Anthony Elanga already signed and delivered, those at St James’ Park have instantly turned their focus towards Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike. Fabrizio Romano has even gone as far as to report that Newcastle have launched a bid worth over £60m as they push to sign the forward in another headline deal.

Jumping ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea in the race to sign the Frenchman, Newcastle could be about to make quite the statement this summer. Contrary to some belief too, Ekitike would be arriving to partner Alexander Isak rather than replace the Swede in what could see Eddie Howe form one of the deadliest duos in the Premier League.

After securing their Champions League return last season, Newcastle are now pushing on in pursuit of keeping hold of their European status. They have already found out the hard way what a lack of squad depth can do to a side when competing on all fronts in the past, and it’s not a mistake that they’re about to make twice.

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Even if it’s not Ekitike who eventually arrives, the plan seems to be to welcome another attacking addition no matter what, amid reports that the Magpies already have their sights set on a potential alternative.

Newcastle readying shock Endrick move

According to reports in Spain, PIF are now readying a fresh raid to sign Endrick for Newcastle in a move worth as much as €70m (£61m) this summer. The young Brazilian remains one of Europe’s top prospects, but may struggle to break into Xabi Alonso’s side next season to leave the door ajar for the Magpies to make their move.

At 18 years old, Endrick would be less ready for a starting role than Ekitike, but his potential may eventually make up for that. The young winger was showered with praise by former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti last season, who told reporters he is “spectacular”.

“He has these amazing characteristics he has shown whenever he has a chance. His accuracy is off the charts, he’s quick and he still has a lot to improve with the ball.

“But, wow, his dribbling, his runs… the shot he has… he could even score a second goal easily with that great strike off the post… He is just spectacular. Very young, but a very fast learner.”

At £61m, Endrick’s arrival would be another statement by Newcastle and their biggest yet this summer. Although, as things stand, Ekitike remains their top target.

Liverpool are planning to strengthen after Arne Slot’s side won the Premier League, especially since Trent Alexander-Arnold is leaving to join Real Madrid and several fringe players have struggled to prove themselves reliable options in the coach’s eyes.

The transfer window hasn’t yet opened but the Reds have already moved to advance bids for a number of top targets, with sporting director Richard Hughes focusing on the full-backs to get the summer spending up and running.

It’s been reported Jeremie Frimpong has completed his medical as he closes in on a transfer as Trent’s direct replacement, set to challenge Conor Bradley for the top right-back berth. On the other flank, discussions with Bournemouth are ongoing for the signing of Milos Kerkez, who is valued at £45m.

However, though Liverpool are enjoying a flurry of action right now, there’s bound to be more to come when the transfer window is in full swing.

The gates will be busy, both for arrivals and departures.

Liverpool's summer plans moving forward

Expect sales. Darwin Nunez celebrated winning the Premier League with the squad but has flattered to deceive as Slot’s number nine, and the plan is for him to leave this summer, with clubs from Saudi Arabia and Spain allegedly interested.

Though he’s well-liked by the fanbase, Federico Chiesa may also be on the move, his first top-flight start coming just over a week ago at Brighton & Hove Albion. The Italian has been linked with a return to Serie A.

However, with Everton reportedly lining up a brazen bid for Ben Doak, who has finished a promising loan spell with Middlesbrough in the Championship, this might leave Mohamed Salah’s right side somewhat exposed, thinning out the ranks, especially as Harvey Elliott’s future is up in the air too.

Of course, Frimpong adds a dimension, and Liverpool may yet move for another forward, though this is more likely to arrive at centre-forward, with Hugo Ekitike and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres among the names touted to replace the departing Nunez.

The Anfield side may yet move for a centre-half too, having missed out on Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid. Lots to think about, but all this will wait until sporting director Richard Hughes finalises a deal for Florian Wirtz, for bagging his signature would mark an unstoppable marquee signing.

Liverpool closing on marquee signing

On Monday morning, Liverpool presented their first official proposal worth more than €100m (£85m) to Bayer Leverkusen as they look to get Wirtz over to Anfield.

Now, reports on the continent have confirmed the ensuing talks have been positive. Details pertaining to the structure of the package still need ironing, but all parties are unanimous in pushing the short-lived saga toward completion.

Wirtz was won over by Liverpool’s determination and conduct in fighting to beat Bayern Munich and Manchester City to his signing; make no mistake, this will be a stunning capture for Slot’s side.

Why Florian Wirtz is perfect for Liverpool

Wirtz is still in the early stage of his professional career but he’s already drawn plaudits for his staggering quality and tenacious pursuit of superstardom.

He leaves Bayer Leverkusen having played an instrumental role in their success over the past few years, hitting 122 goal contributions from 197 senior appearances after breaking from the academy, winning the Bundesliga Player of the Season for 2023/24 after helping Xabi Alonso toward an invincible title triumph, bagging the DFB-Pokal too.

The elite playmaker could even prove to be Slot’s own version of Philippe Coutinho, endowed with a flair and show-stopping quality that has been pursued by FSG to add a dimension to Liverpool’s title-winning squad.

Florian Wirtz – Past Five League Seasons
Season	Apps	Goals	Assists
24/25	31 (25)	10	13
23/24	32 (26)	11	12
22/23	17 (11)	1	6
21/22	24 (22)	7	10
20/21	29 (25)	5	6
Data via Transfermarkt

Cast your mind back to those sparkling early days of Jurgen Klopp’s reign, when Coutinho sat in behind the iconic front three: Salah, Sadio Mane, Bobby Firmino.

It was a staggering stint for the club, lasting all of five months before Coutinho packed his bags and left for Barcelona in a deal worth £142m, leading to the transformative arrivals of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.

But Coutinho was in fine fettle indeed in the build-up, posting 12 goals and nine assists across just 19 matches in the Premier League and Champions League before taking his leave.

He supercharged Salah and co with so much battery that the Egyptian, 33 next month, is still performing at a world-renowned level to this day, and now could now retain his current standards across Slot’s second season, with the new Coutinho pulling strings.

Wirtz, hailed as a “generational talent” by sports media professional Cristian Nyari, has the blend of athleticism and potency to replicate that erstwhile iteration of Coutinho, perhaps the finest form the Brazilian has ever been in.

He’s maintained a similar level for the Werkself in Germany this term, and with Slot’s coaching and his inevitable growth as he continues his rise, only turning 22 three weeks ago, projecting his growth makes for an exciting thought.

Phil Coutinho (PL 17/18) vs Florian Wirtz (DFL 24/25)
Stats (* per game)	Coutinho	Wirtz
Matches (starts)	14 (13)	31 (25)
Goals	7	10
Assists	6	12
Touches*	71.1	73.4
Shots (on target)*	3.9 (1.2)	2.5 (1.3)
Pass completion	79%	82%
Big chances created	7	17
Key passes*	2.9	1.8
Dribbles*	2.8	2.6
Tackles + interceptions*	1.9	1.3
Duels won*	5.6	5.2
Stats via Sofascore

Liverpool might be set to break their transfer record, but it’s going to prove a shrewd deal indeed. Wirtz is the real deal and he will provide this incredible football club with many memorable moments, just like Coutinho.

Not just Trent: World-class Liverpool star must not play for the club again

Liverpool are ready to make a series of sales in the transfer market this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 26, 2025

Enzo Maresca is already eyeing signings for Chelsea ahead of the summer transfer window, despite a couple of matches to go before the end of the season.

Ajax defender Jorrel Hato is the latest centre-back to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge. The Blues missed out on Dean Huijsen, therefore, they are moving on to other targets.

While, defensively, the club can improve next term, their need for another centre-forward has seen them linked with a few names. Hugo Ekitiké has been someone on the club’s radar of late amid excellent form at Eintract Frankfurt.

Benjamin Sesko is another striker Maresca is keeping an eye on. Could this be the striker the Blues need?

The latest on Chelsea's pursuit of Benjamin Sesko

The Blues are reportedly showing plenty of interest in signing Sesko this summer, especially with his vast potential and wonderful goalscoring record.

A fee of £84m might be required if the Premier League side are serious about bringing him to England, however. Much of this will depend on whether the Blues can secure Champions League qualification or not.

The 21-year-old is one of the most exciting young forwards in the game and his form in Germany demonstrates why.

Indeed, the Slovenia international has scored 21 goals in 45 appearances for RB Leipzig throughout 2024/25 and judging by that, Sesko could be the answer to Maresca’s problems.

Benjamin Sesko’s Bundesliga stats (2024/25)
Goals	13
Assists	5
Shots per game	2.1
Goal conversion percentage	19%
Scoring frequency (minutes)	185
Successful dribbles per game	1.2
Via Sofascore

It’s safe to say that the offence is one of the big reasons Chelsea still have a battle on their hands to secure a top five place with Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, Manchester City and Brentford all scoring more than their 63-goal haul this term.

Nicolas Jackson, sent off against Eddie Howe’s side a few weeks ago, certainly hasn’t helped their cause in recent weeks.

What Sesko's arrival would mean for Jackson

Following an impressive season at Villarreal in 2022/23, one which saw the player net 13 goals and grab five assists in all competitions, Chelsea signed Jackson for more than £30m.

Jacek Kulig described Jackson as “extraordinary” for his exploits during that campaign, but his spell at Chelsea, however, hasn’t quite been as good.

17 goals during his first season was more than respectable, but this tally has dropped to 12 during the 2024/25 campaign with pundit Tim Sherwood famously remarking that “at times he looks like someone playing in Soccer Aid who’s not a footballer.”

Should Chelsea qualify for the Champions League next season, it is evident they will need someone more influential in front of goal, as Jackson simply isn’t the answer.

He currently earns £100k-per-week, more than Sesko’s £91k-per-week, and it’s safe to say that money would be better spent on the Slovenian instead.

When compared to his peers in the Premier League this season, Jackson fails to rank in the top 40% for no-penalty goals (0.41) per 90, while also failing to break through the top 40% with regard to successful take-ons (0.73) and touches in the attacking third (14.64) per 90.

Those are hardly the statistics of a player who can fire Chelsea to glory, that’s for sure. If Maresca is serious about improving this summer, bringing in Sesko for Jackson would certainly please a vast portion of the support.

The transfer window this summer could turn out to be interesting indeed.

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By
Ross Kilvington

May 19, 2025

Just when Arsenal thought their injury problems this season were about to ease, the Gunners were dealt a huge potential blow ahead of their crunch clash with Real Madrid next week.

Defender Gabriel pulled up early during their Premier League win over Fulham, which incidentally saw the welcome return off the bench of Bukayo Saka, who ended up scoring Arsenal’s winner.

With injuries and suspensions biting all season for the north Londoners, many have pointed to this as a primary factor in Arsenal’s faltering title bid this term.

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But how bad has it really been for Mikel Arteta’s side, and how do their injury numbers compare to their top-flight rivals? We have crunched the numbers to find out.

For this list, with the help of data from Transfermarkt, we have covered three main areas:

Players injured – The number of different first-team players unavailable during the 2024/25 Premier League season Number of injuries – The number of separate periods missed through injury throughout the senior squad Matches missed – The cumulative number of matches first-team players have been unavailable for in the current campaign

Note: All stats are correct following the end of play on 1st April 2025.

Team

Players injured

Injuries

Matches missed

18

32

139

14

34

114

15

22

128

18

27

194

21

34

173

20

29

126

10

14

109

12

20

130

12

14

71

17

25

105

13

14

104

15

21

78

14

29

124

18

29

134

19

22

126

8

10

60

17

28

95

21

35

159

10

13

64

15

16

140

1 Arsenal 32 injuries, 139 matches missed

There’s no getting away from the fact that Arsenal have had a horrendous season in terms of keeping key players fit – and the stats suggest they have had it worse than many of their Premier League rivals.

Mikel Arteta has had to deal with long-term absentees like Ben White and Bukayo Saka this season, with both players only just returning to full fitness. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all out for the foreseeable future.

Only three clubs can claim to have suffered more injuries than Arsenal’s 32 throughout the campaign, while the Gunners rank in the top five for each of the key injury metrics we have looked at, pointing to a high volume of not only the number of injuries, but also the lengths of the layoffs.

At the time of writing, Arsenal first-team players have missed a combined 139 Premier League matches, with that surely set to rise in the wake of Gabriel’s worrying injury in midweek.

Metric

Total

PL rank

Players injured

18

=5th

Injuries

32

4th

Matches missed

139

5th

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ByBarney Lane Nov 15, 2024 2 Aston Villa 34 injuries, 114 matches missed

Aston Villa have suffered more injury setbacks than Arsenal, which may go some way to explaining why they have not been as impressive this year in the league, albeit amid a dazzling Champions League campaign.

However, the big picture is slightly brighter for Villa in the sense that some of the players involved, such as Diego Carlos and Jaden Philogene, are no longer at the club.

Most Premier League clubs this season have also seen more different players enter the treatment room, so it could be argued that Villa have got off lightly in the injury department this year.

3 Bournemouth 22 injuries, 128 matches missed

Bournemouth’s injury record this term isn’t too bleak, but for a handful of long-term injury layoffs.

The Cherries only just welcomed back Marcos Senesi from a hamstring problem, while the likes of Adam Smith, Luis Sinisterra and Enes Unal have been out for the majority of the season.

But compared to their top-flight rivals, they’ve been blessed more than most this year, which is just as well with Andoni Iraola’s impressive side looking to qualify for Europe this term.

4 Brentford 27 injuries, 194 matches missed

Brentford players have missed the most Premier League games this season through injury, though this is largely owing to several players being left unavailable throughout the campaign.

Aaron Hickey, Josh Dasilva and Gustavo Nunes have not been able to make a single league appearance, while summer signing Igor Thiago only managed a brief comeback from injury before ending up crocked once more.

The Bees’ defence has borne the brunt of their medical problems, with Rico Henry also among the major absentees, while Kristoffer Ajer and Ethan Pinnock have both spent long periods out of action.

5 Brighton & Hove Albion 34 injuries, 173 matches missed

Brighton have suffered injuries to the most players this season (21), along with Spurs.

The Seagulls have fared rather better than Ange Postecoglou’s side in the league, and will still harbour hopes of a European finish despite their issues.

The bulk of those stem from the likes of James Milner, Tariq Lamptey and summer signing Ferdi Kadioglu, while Solly March has yet to manage a run of games under Fabian Hurzeler.

Their current total of 173 league matches missed through injury is the second-worst in the Premier League behind Brentford, so all things considered, it could be argued they’ve been performing above their expected level this year.

6 Chelsea 29 matches, 126 matches missed

Given the size of Chelsea’s squad, it is inevitable that injuries will be a recurring problem. Indeed, with 29 separate injuries to deal with, only four top-flight clubs can say they’ve had it worse.

The Blues have seen 20 first-teamers enter the treatment room so far this term. Reece James has been among the frequent visitors, along with Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson.

While there are a fair amount of players without first-team experience also struggling to stay fit (such as Aaron Anselmino and Omari Kellyman), the severity of injuries to players Enzo Maresca would often start could point to why the west Londoners’ title challenge faded rather quickly.

Reece James injury history: Every game missed by Chelsea star since 2021/22

The defender has endured a torrid few seasons at Stamford Bridge.

ByBen Browning Nov 22, 2024 7 Crystal Palace 14 injuries, 109 matches missed

Crystal Palace have fared rather well on the injury front this season, which will surely have had Oliver Glasner counting his blessings given the Eagles’ slow start to the campaign.

Cheick Doucoure and Matheus Franca have been among their chief absentees this term, but on the whole, Palace have only suffered injuries to 10 players since August – two of whom are currently off the books at Selhurst Park.

In fact, bar the long layoffs in the squad, Palace have one of the fittest squads in the league.

8 Everton 20 injuries, 130 matches missed

Given their struggles in recent years, it will have been imperative that Everton keep players fit to give themselves the best chance of survival this season.

And while they’ve had their fair share (eight players have missed a period of seven straight games or more), the Toffees compare pretty well to their Premier League rivals, with injuries not exactly widespread throughout the squad.

With Premier League clubs experiencing an average of 23.4 injuries this year so far, Everton’s tally of 20 has proved more than manageable, particularly following David Moyes’ return to Merseyside.

9 Fulham 14 injuries, 71 matches missed

Fulham could claim to be one of the most consistent sides in the Premier League this term – and having the majority of their squad to choose from almost certainly plays a key role.

The Cottagers have been blessed by the injury gods this year, losing just 71 matches throughout the squad this term after 30 matches played.

When you also consider they currently have three long-term injuries creating the bulk of this, Marco Silva’s fitness team must be doing something right.

10 Ipswich Town 25 injuries, 105 matches missed

Ipswich Town were always going to be up against it as far as staying up was concerned this year, and while the Tractor Boys are not down yet, they could have done with a bit more luck on the injury front until now.

The number of injuries they have had so far has been pretty average compared to their rivals, though Ipswich currently have several first-teamers who may not make a return before the end of the campaign.

With the majority of those players attackers, you could argue that injuries have played a part in their lack of potency this year, despite the stats suggesting they have got off relatively lightly.

The word was infamously uttered by England captain Tony Greig in 1976, and it’s made a reappearance nearly 50 years later

Martin Williamson25-Nov-2025Barely a sporting contest passes without someone making a cocky boast in the build-up. People are used to it – almost expect it – but in 1976 England captain Tony Greig overstepped the line on the eve of England’s series against West Indies. He made a comment that galivanised not only the opposition but also the tens of thousands of their supporters who flocked to grounds to see his words rammed back down his throat.West Indies arrived in May 1976 after a humiliating 5-1 drubbing in Australia the previous winter. They had beaten India in between, but that had been a struggle, and Clive Lloyd, their captain, hatched a plan based on all-out pace. He possessed a crop of outstanding – and fast – bowlers, and in the early tour matches they destroyed everything put in front of themAs the first Test loomed, Greig was interviewed for the BBC’s Sportsnight programme. Irked by a stream of newspaper articles highlighting the strength of West Indies, Greig let rip. “I’m not really sure they’re as good as everyone thinks,” he said. “These guys, if they get on top they are magnificent cricketers. But if they’re down, they grovel, and I intend, with the help of Closey [Brian Close] and a few others, to make them grovel.”The remark was highly inflammatory for a number of reasons, the main one being that Greig’s words, coming from a white South African, were seized on for racist overtones. “The word ‘grovel’ is one guaranteed to raise the blood pressure of any black man,” Lloyd said. “The fact they were used by a white South African made it even worse. We were angry and West Indians everywhere were angry. We resolved to show him and everyone else that the days for grovelling were over.”Most of the West Indies team felt Greig’s words were deliberate and not an off-the-cuff quip. “Everyone was stunned,” recalled Viv Richards, on his first tour of England. “This was the greatest motivating speech the England captain could have given to any West Indian team.”Behind the scenes, the England players were equally livid. Pat Pocock, the Surrey spinner who played twice in the series, said his immediate reaction was: “You prat …what have you done? You don’t do that sort of thing, winding them up for no reason.” Mike Brearley, who made his debut in the first Test, said that the words “carried an especially tasteless and derogatory overtone”.While the British media initially treated the comments as pre-series bravado, it was soon clear that they had not gone down at all well with the Caribbean population. Greig apologised, even appearing on a black London radio station to try to diffuse the situation. “I’m a press-man’s dream,” he admitted, “if you talk to me long enough I will say something controversial. I am bound to offend someone and get myself into deep water. ‘Grovel’ was simply an instance of that.”Close – aged 45 but recalled for the series – said that what irked some of the England side was not the remark, but that having made it Greig didn’t back his words with actions. “Everyone knew what he meant,” Close reflected. “If you get on top of West Indies the odds are that you stay on top. But the astonishing thing was that Tony, having made his point, made no attempt to drive it home once he got on the field.”After draws at Trent Bridge and Lord’s, West Indies took control of the series as England wilted in the heat – 1976 was one of the hottest and driest summers of the century – and were blown away by West Indies’ battery of fast bowlers. At Old Trafford and Headingley, England lost heavily, and Greig was subjected to increasing barracking, mostly good-humoured, from the large Caribbean contingents in the crowds.At that time The Oval, the scene of the final Test, was more Kensington than Kennington for West Indies matches, with the large Caribbean population of south London making the game a virtual home-from-home for the tourists. To the accompaniment of bugles, horns, cans and calypso singing, the crowd partied as West Indies flayed England for two days.By the time Greig came out to bat on Saturday evening England had mounted a recovery, but after cracking two stinging cover-drives off Michael Holding, he was bowled off his pads. As he left the field several hundred spectators, mainly young and West Indian, ran onto to the pitch and headed for the departing Greig, jostling and mocking him, and play was suspended in what Wisden described as a “disgraceful scene”.On the Monday, West Indies, who led on the first innings by 252 runs, did not enforce the follow-on, preferring to let Roy Fredericks and Gordon Greenidge cut loose in an unbeaten first-wicket stand of 182 in 32 overs. As the noise from the spectators increased in the afternoon heat, Greig slowly walked towards the open stands on the Harleyford Road side of the ground and sunk to his knees, grovelling to the crowd. They roared their delight. Greig, always the showman, had made his peace. “I realise that I made a mistake in using that word at the start of the series and they haven’t let me forget it,” he told the press that night.But it was too late for England, who were blown away by Holding the following morning, his 6 for 57 in the second innings giving him 14 wickets in the match.Within nine months Greig had thrown in his lot with Kerry Packer and had been stripped of the England captaincy – his international career ended at the end of the following summer. He went on to become a leading commentator, although he continued to court controversy. In 1990-91, while covering the England tour of the Caribbean, he was criticised for blurting out “Goodnight Charlie” when West Indian batsmen were dismissed.”Anyone who wants to suggest it was my South African background that was behind my comment and put any racist tone to this thing just doesn’t know me,” Greig said three decades later. “None of the West Indies players ever confronted me about my comments at the start of the series – they were just faster and nastier whenever I came to the crease.”Bibliography
David Tossell (Know The Score, 2007)
I Don’t Bruise Easily Brian Close (MacDonald & Jane’s, 1978)
My Story Tony Greig and Alan Lee (Stanley Paul, 1980)

A look at the staggering records and statistics that show how Rohit Sharma has excelled in ODIs

Sampath Bandarupalli12-Sep-2023

Struggling start to an elite club

Rohit Sharma, against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, joined the elite club of batters to complete 10,000 ODI runs when he reached 23 with a six straight over Kasun Rajitha. Rohit is now the second-fastest to the milestone among the 15 batters, needing 241 innings, well behind Virat Kohli (205) but 18 innings quicker than Sachin Tendulkar (259).ESPNcricinfo LtdThis feat looked like a far-fetched dream for Rohit about a decade ago, when he was yet to reach 2000 ODI runs even after playing more than 80 matches. But his promotion to open at the start of 2013 did wonders for his career. In his first four years as an ODI opening batter, Rohit scored 3153 runs in 66 innings with eight centuries, all being big hundreds.Two of the eight were double-hundreds, including a world record 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014. The next four years saw Rohit’s ultimate batting success, where he scored 19 hundreds in only 70 innings and nearly amassed 4000 runs while averaging more than 65. A different Rohit has been turning up since 2021, with his average dropping but his strike rate going higher than ever.Across 24 innings he played in this period, he scored 916 runs at 45.80 with only one century but has been striking at 106.38, about 16 runs more than his career strike rate. Rohit, who used to be a slow starter, is striking at 91.27 in his first 20 balls since taking up the job of India captain towards the end of 2021. Till that point, Rohit’s first 20 balls’ strike rate was only 64.22, and 65.42 since 2013.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The late bloomer

Rohit’s success as an opener in ODIs is unmatched, with 8001 runs in 160 innings, averaging 55.95, comfortably the highest for a minimum of 50 innings, with only Imam-ul-Haq (50.44) averaging 50-plus. The India batter has 28 hundreds while opening, only behind Tendulkar’s 45. Rohit is known for big hundreds – eight of those 28 hundreds have been 150-plus scores – including three double-hundreds, while no one else has even two.But the point where Rohit took his ODI batting to the next level was only after turning 30. Returning from a long injury layoff in mid-2017, Rohit began a streak of scoring hundreds in ten consecutive series. He followed up with a dream World Cup in 2019, where he became the first player to smash five hundreds in a single edition.