Authoritative displays in Lilac Hill warm-up have ended the speculation leading into Perth Test

Vithushan Ehantharajah16-Nov-2025The debate as to who will bat No.3 for England in the first Ashes Test has been all but settled with Ollie Pope’s standout performance in the warm-up match against England Lions locking up his familiar spot for Friday’s opener in Perth.Scores of 100 and 90 saw Pope emerge from Lilac Hills in credit, hurdling the challenge put forward by Jacob Bethell, who scored 3 and 70. Named in the England side for the warm-up match while Bethell was carded three for the Lions, Pope was comfortably the best batter on show across both innings. He looked more composed, and authoritative, even if this match was a far cry from the intensity the tourists will experience at the Optus Stadium from November 21.It effectively ended what has been months of speculation over Pope’s place in the side for the start of this Australia tour. Initial doubts were triggered by Bethell’s form at the back end of the summer, including a maiden professional century in an ODI against South Africa. They then gained momentum when Pope was ditched as Test vice-captain for Harry Brook. “I respect the decision they’ve made,” Pope said. “If they think that’s the right thing for the team going forward, and obviously Brooky captaining the one-day stuff and the T20 stuff as well, then that’s absolutely fine by me and I respect the decision they’ve made.”Perhaps spurred on further by the loss of an official leadership role, Pope reinforced his reliability on the eve of the biggest Ashes series in generations. Along with an accomplished body of work at No.3 – averaging 41.60 from 57 innings since the promotion up the order, while scoring eight of his nine career centuries – he feels confident this week has ended speculation, in his favour.”I hope so,” Pope said, when asked if he had ended the debate. “I’ve got so used to those conversations being had (about the No.3 position). I don’t go looking for them but it’s pretty hard to avoid sometimes. I’m so used to seeing it, I’ve just learned to focus on my game.Related

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“I’m just trying to become a better player each time I step out and that’s all I can do. Fingers crossed to get the nod, but all the trust is in those guys and I respect the decision they make.”Pope revealed he had made a few technical tweaks which he was workshopping this week, though was unwilling to disclose what they were ahead of the series. However, he did acknowledge the challenge posed by Bethell had narrowed his focus.Both have been pitted against one another since Bethell impressed on his maiden tour of New Zealand in 2024. That opportunity was ultimately provided by Pope, who ceded the No.3 position so he could bat lower and keep wicket after an injury to Jordan Cox in the lead-up to the series, with Jamie Smith on paternity leave.It was a selfless act from Pope that, in hindsight, looked a grave error. But he believes dealing with the extra scrutiny and fighting for his place will serve him well. Amid the huge clamour for Bethell to start against India last summer, Pope struck 106 in his first innings of the series. “It’s been good for me that I’ve learnt that, under the most pressure, I’ve been able to deliver, especially in that Headingley Test. I know that I can learn how to deal with that and get the best out of myself at times.”Everyone wants to be the first name on the team sheet, that’s pretty clear. But at the same time we’re playing international sport. I’ve got to remind myself of that at times – there’s always going to be someone on your heel if you haven’t quite scored the volume of runs that you would have liked.”I’ll try and use the pressure I’m under to get the best out of myself. I think I’m a far better player than I was the last time I came out to Australia. I’ve got those experiences behind me and I know how I want to go about it. So fingers crossed that I can deliver with a lot of runs.”In truth, Pope only really had one way to go after that last tour. A torturous 2021-22 campaign saw him average 11.16 from six innings. He played the first two Tests before being axed, only to be brought back for the last match in Hobart, which Australia won to confirm a 4-0 hammering.Can Pope make this tour count? Time will tell, but the signs are promising. He has faith in the batting improvements he is keeping close to his chest, and, for the first time in a year, has certainty over his place. He may also enjoy the liberation of not having to wonder if he might have to captain, in the event Stokes gets injured, having done so five times in the space of 12 months. Whatever happens, he is raring to go again.”Everyone is just so excited for it,” he said. “There’s obviously a lot of chat from the media, everywhere you look it’s Ashes, and for us it is enjoy that, enjoy the experience of it. But let’s just remember what’s made us a real good side over the last few years, and hopefully if I do get the nod on Friday, then it’s going to be an amazing series to be a part of.”

Warwickshire have retired their Birmingham Bears moniker for T20 Blast matches, and will instead revert to being called Warwickshire Bears when the rebooted men’s and women’s competition gets underway in 2026.The club won their sole T20 title as Birmingham Bears in 2014, but have reverted to their county name after more than a decade, following feedback from members and in recognition of the women’s county competition that got underway this season.”Warwickshire has and always will be at the heart of who we are,” Stuart Cain, the county’s chief executive, said. “It’s our identity and has been for well over a century.”Over a decade ago, the club decided to be bold with a city-based name for our T20 team and it saw attendances grow to record levels and attract new fans to the Bears. But with our long-term future in mind, and following feedback from members through the members committee, now is the right time for change.”We represent the county and that’s what returning to Warwickshire Bears is about.”The announcement came ahead of the ECB’s unveiling of next year’s Blast fixtures – which, for the 14th consecutive year, will be hosted at Warwickshire’s home ground of Edgbaston (or EdgBLASTon, as per the club’s “bold and electrifying move” to rebrand the stadium for the duration of the tournament).The Blast schedule has been compromised in recent years, following the introduction of the Hundred in a mid-summer block in July and August. This year’s event featured a final on September 13, almost two months after the conclusion of the group stage in July, meaning that each of the four teams were missing key players – a situation described by Lancashire’s captain, Keaton Jennings, as “ludicrous”.The new-look tournament will take place in a tightened two-month window. The group stage for men and women will run from May 22 to July 12, with the men’s quarter-finals taking place three days later on July 15 and Men’s Finals Day on July 18. Women’s Finals Day will take place 24 hours earlier, on a Friday, at the Kia Oval.Related

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The men’s groups have been rejigged, with three groups of six teams replacing the long-standing North and South Groups, albeit with a retention of many of the more traditional rivalries – including Yorkshire versus Lancashire in Lancashire in Group A, Gloucestershire versus Somerset in Group B, and Surrey versus Middlesex in Group C.Each team will now play 12 group-stage matches instead of 14, which has allowed the schedulers to place 80% of these fixtures in fan-friendly slots on a Friday, Sunday or a Bank Holiday. Following feedback from the PCA, which warned of the dangers of player fatigue in a recent survey, the total number of back-to-back matches in the men’s competition has been reduced to six – which is down from more than 50 two years ago – while there is just one in the women’s competition.”The changes to the men’s and women’s Vitality Blast competitions for 2026 have been made in order to benefit fans and players alike,” Neil Snowball, ECB managing director, competitions and major events, said. “Every county will host a men’s and women’s double header, with 61 double-headers in total, while the significant reduction in back-to-back games gives players more opportunity to perform at their very best throughout the competition.Surrey’s Grace Harris poses with the Women’s T20 Blast trophy•ECB via Getty Images

“The narrative of both competitions will also be easier to follow with the knockout stages following on immediately after the group stages, culminating in a true celebration of T20 cricket with the women’s and men’s Vitality Blast Finals Days being hosted at the Kia Oval and Edgbaston on consecutive days.”PCA Chief Executive, Daryl Mitchell, said: “Throughout the past 12 months, the PCA has worked tirelessly alongside the professional game to improve standards for players across all formats. The Vitality Blast competitions for 2026 highlight considerable improvements with a real energy injected into them.”Players want to be at their optimum levels to perform at their best in county cricket’s flagship T20 competition and a significant reduction of back-to-back fixtures across the men’s and women’s Blast, alongside more men’s and women’s double headers and reduced travel in the men’s game will allow this.”The tournaments will begin with 16 men’s and women’s double-headers across the May Bank Holiday Weekend. Somerset, the men’s defending champions, will face Hampshire Hawks in a rematch of last year’s final at Taunton, while Surrey – the women’s winners – will face Lancashire.Yorkshire’s women, who will be embarking on their maiden Tier 1 season, will take part in their first Roses double-header at Old Trafford on 10 July.

Vitality Blast Men’s Competition

Group A: Derbyshire Falcons, Durham, Lancashire Lightning, Leicestershire Foxes, Notts Outlaws, Yorkshire
Group B: Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Somerset, Warwickshire Bears, Worcestershire Rapids
Group C: Essex, Kent Spitfires, Hampshire Hawks, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex Sharks

Aston Villa could make a move for an “excellent” striker in 2026, amid Ollie Watkins’ struggles to make an impact.

Villa lay down marker with victory over Arsenal

Villa secured their seventh win on the spin in all competitions on Saturday, courtesy of a 2-1 victory against Premier League leaders Arsenal, which came in dramatic fashion, with Emiliano Buendia firing home a late winner to send Villa Park into raptures.

Unai Emery was delighted with the result, despite also making it clear his side must keep their feet on the ground, saying: “Today we must be happy, the supporters, Aston Villa fans and ourselves because we did the job we needed.

“Of course, we got three points and we are, in the Premier League, the most difficult league in the world, more or less, now feeling strong and feeling comfortable.

“But this is a race for 38 matches and we are on 15.”

It is difficult not to get too carried away, with the Villans now just three points behind Arsenal, but Watkins may need to get back to his best if Emery’s side are going to make a serious push for the Premier League title.

The Englishman has scored just three goals in 15 league outings, and Aston Villa are now lining up a move for a new striker in 2026, with a report from Tuttosport (via FC Inter News) revealing they could launch an attack to sign Bologna’s Santiago Castro next summer.

Nottingham Forest are also in the race for the centre-forward, and a deal could be on the expensive side, with the Italian club potentially set to demand €40m – €50m (£35m – £44m) for his services.

Ideally, Bologna would like to keep hold of the 21-year-old, and they are planning to offer him a bumper new contract in the coming weeks, in order to ward off the interest from elsewhere.

Related Emery's a fan: Aston Villa willing to make mega-money bid for £52m "baller"

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Posts ByDominic Lund 5 days ago Castro could be "excellent" addition to Villa's attack

Donyell Malen has proven himself as a solid option at striker this season, scoring seven goals in all competitions, but Villa may still have room to bring in another centre-forward, given that the Dutchman regularly features out wide.

Castro has proven he could be a viable target with some of his displays this season too, having scored five goals in all competitions, two more than Watkins, while he also showcased his ability to create chances last term, leading to high praise from scout Jacek Kulig.

The Argentinian hasn’t been prolific since moving to Bologna, chipping in with 16 goals and 10 assists in 71 outings, but he is still very young, having only turned 21 in September, and Villa should continue to monitor his performances between now and next summer.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is expected to have retained the backing of FSG after a woeful start to the 2025/26 campaign, but the credit chequed into the bank is fast depleting as the champions flatter to deceive on the problem-solving front.

Soft, slow and stodgy, this is not the Liverpool we know. Slot’s Liverpool, last year, were a dangerous beast, so incisive and unforgiving as they secured toward the Premier League title.

But, nine losses from 14 matches in all competitions and just two wins from nine in the top flight have eradicated any hopes of challenging Arsenal for the trophy this season.

And it’s put Slot’s job on the line.

Why Liverpool could sack Arne Slot

Liverpool managed to avoid defeat at home against Sunderland on Wednesday evening, but the 1-1 draw, secured when Florian Wirtz’s fleet footwork forced an own goal from Nordi Mukiele late on, smacked of desperation.

You would be hard pressed to delineate Liverpool’s tactical identity under Slot’s wing this season. Their shape in the build-up. Their pressing patterns and attacking strategies.

It is damning that so much has been spent on strikers like Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, and that number nine is a barren patch at Anfield, with the supply line proving ineffective.

Wirtz needs to do better, but there’s no question that he’s a world-class talent with so much potential yet untapped.

However, this breadth of quality at Slot’s disposal means he simply has to work out a formula for results and impressive performances, with both in short supply.

If the Dutch tactician fails to get a tune out of this squad of elite, big-money players, he will eventually be dismissed by FSG, who might already have their sights set on a replacement.

The perfect Slot replacement at Liverpool

Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes know they and Liverpool’s wider project will lose face if they have to dismiss Slot, but if push comes to shove, they might just do so if it means they can appoint Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso.

Alonso, 44, acheived unprecedented success with Bayer Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga as undefeated champions in 2023/24, claiming the DFB-Pokal title too.

This road led to the Santiago Bernabeu, the Spaniard joining the club he played so much football for during his playing career this summer.

However, Alonso also has quite the connection with Anfield, and given the troubles that are plaguing Los Blancos at the moment, FSG may well be primed to pounce if an opportunity to appoint this exciting Slot replacement materialises.

Liverpool did explore a move for Alonso after Jurgen Klopp announced he would be stepping down at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, but he was in the thick of his Leverkusen tenure and did not feel the time for a step-up was right.

His 3-4-2-1 formation is unconventional, but Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has shown that such a set-up can work out in the Premier League, when in the right hands.

Real Madrid

26

2.35

Bayer Leverkusen

140

2.14

Real Sociedad B

98

1.46

Given that Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong worked under him in Germany, hitting such staggering heights, it could also prove the perfect appointment to get the best out of Liverpool’s immensely talented playmaker.

Wirtz, 22, has not hit the ground running at Liverpool, but the system has hardly opened its arms for such a player. In fact, most of Liverpool’s top players have foundered this season.

Even so, the German international ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League this season for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Alonso will surely get a tune out of a player he described as “a genius” during their time with Die Werkself.

Wirtz once said that “working with Alonso is a dream”. He lived that dream, and he may do so again before long, with the Spanish manager sure to be at the top of FSG’s wishlist, if Slot is indeed sacked in the coming months.

Liverpool ace who's fallen off a cliff looks like "Fabinho in his final year"

Liverpool’s draw against Sunderland illustrated a litany of problems Slot is still dealing with.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 4, 2025

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has had his say on Tottenham and their managerial situation this week amid the pressure on Thomas Frank.

Tottenham urged to replace Frank after underwhelming start

Frank’s troubled tenure at Tottenham received a dramatic lifeline on Tuesday night as captain Cristian Romero’s shinned overhead kick in added time salvaged a 2-2 draw at Newcastle, ending a run of three consecutive defeats across all competitions.

The Argentine defender twice hauled Spurs back from behind at St James’ Park, first with a lovely diving header at the near post on 78 minutes before his bicycle kick rescued a point that looked unlikely when Anthony Gordon buried a controversial penalty just four minutes from full-time.

Despite the heroics, last night’s result does little to ease the mounting pressure on Frank, with certain sections of supporters still urging the board to make a change.

Tottenham remain 11th in the Premier League table with 19 points, having failed to win any of their last five matches across all competitions, and their performance in the North East wasn’t exactly convincing.

Their creativity problems persisted, with Spurs having just two shots on target that turned out to be both of Romero’s goals.

Reports suggest that the Lewis family, who recently pumped £100 million of capital into the club via ENIC shareholdings, are prepared to back Frank with new attackers in January to solve this glaring issue.

Tottenham are believed to be eyeing a move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, amid news of his £65 million release clause which will be active in the early stages of January.

Spurs are also ‘intent’ on trying to sign FC Porto sensation Samu Aghehowa, who’s scored 37 goals since the start of last season and has been compared to former Chelsea star Diego Costa.

Tottenham could prove 'irresistible' to manager who Levy was urged to hire before Frank

He’s on the verge of leaving his current club.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 2, 2025

However, doubts around Frank’s suitability for the job are ever-present among critics, with ex-Spurs defender Ramon Vega recently claiming that the Dane doesn’t have what it takes to lead the north Londoners.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is believed to be a tactician of interest to Tottenham, but Carragher believes that another Premier League manager would fit in seamlessly.

Jamie Carragher says he's always imagined Marco Silva at Tottenham

Speaking on the latest edition of The Overlap podcast, Carragher suggests that Fulham’s Marco Silva is potentially a match made in heaven.

The Portuguese, who’s out of contract in 2026, has worked wonders on a shoe-string budget after guiding the west Londoners back to Premier League football in 2022.

Fulham even briefly contended for a Champions League place last season, with the Cottagers now six points clear of the drop zone despite spending less than any other English side bar Aston Villa in the summer.

Those who’ve worked with Silva have called him a ‘master’ tactician as well, so you can’t help but wonder if the 48-year-old would do a better job in Frank’s stead.

With little sign of a contract extension, and Silva consistently criticising Fulham’s transfer policy in recent seasons, the door could well open for Spurs here.

MatériaMais Notícias

Mais de seis mil camisas armazenadas e diversas raridades mundiais. Isso é o que Cássio Brandão, empresário e colecionador há 20 anos, acumula em seu acervo, na zona oeste de São Paulo. Ele é recordista mundial em coleção de camisas de futebol e entrou para o livro dos recordes, o Guinness World Records.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Entre as preciosidades que o empresário preserva estão agasalhos da Seleção Brasileira utilizados por Pelé, Garrincha e Zagallo, além de um uniforme de Diego Maradona avaliado em R$ 40 mil.

— É muito difícil falar de valores. Hoje temos camisas que vão de R$ 400 a R$ 40 mil, esse é um olhar. A do Maradona, usada no Napoli, é super rara, de 1991. O Maradona usou essa camisa três vezes, foi exatamente com a mesma, porque não tinha troca na época. Essa camisa é uma joia, uma obra de arte — contou Cássio Brandão, em entrevista ao Lance!.

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Além de Maradona, Cássio detém camisas utilizadas pelo Rei Pelé, como a do encontro com a Rainha Elizabeth II, em 1968. Também há outras joias, como uniformes da Seleção Brasileira bicampeã mundial de 1958 e 1962. Essas, diferentemente do caso argentino, não têm preço.

Camisa Flamengo Zico RetrôCamisa Flamengo Zico RetrôAproveite para garantir a camisa retrô do ídolo Rubro-negro por apenas R$99,90!Compre em primeira mão

— Pelé é completamente fora da curva, absurdo. Uma camisa utilizada pelo Pelé não tem valor. Camisa do Maradona já conseguimos precificar. Ainda temos mais exemplos, como a camisa de 1958, da Copa de 1962, absolutamente ricas e que não têm valor. Dependendo da necessidade do colecionador, pode ter um valor até quatro vezes maior do que em um marketplace — explicou.

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Corintiano fanático, Cássio possui todas as camisas utilizadas pelo seu xará e herói Cássio Ramos, ex-goleiro do Timão. Ele, inclusive, armazena a roupa utilizada pelo atleta no jogo em que defendeu a finalização de Diego Souza, na Libertadores de 2012, que antes era de posse do próprio atleta ex-Vasco. Além disso, o empresário guarda camisas de todos os Corinthians existentes no mundo e uma vasta coleção de uniformes do Doutor Sócrates — seu maior ídolo.

➡️ Torcedor de foto histórica faz revelação sobre gol de Paulinho em Corinthians x Vasco

Contudo, apesar da expressividade dos valores e do número acumulado de uniformes, Cássio considera que sua coleção é de histórias, não apenas camisas.

São 6.101 camisas, e o antigo detentor do recorde armazena cerca de 1.700 peças. A intenção do empresário nunca foi entrar no Guinness, mas sim preservar a cultura do esporte mais popular do planeta.

— Contei das seis mil camisas para um amigo, e ele disse que era recorde mundial. Falei: “Claro que não, não faz sentido”. Apliquei o processo, que é muito criterioso, durou quase seis meses. Planilha com 6.101 itens, tive que filmar as camisas uma por uma. Hoje é um recorde mundial, mas é menos sobre as seis mil camisas, mas sim seis mil histórias, e o Guinness traz um olhar para isso. Nunca foi sobre ser o maior, mas sobre contar e ouvir boas histórias — concluiu.

Tudo sobre

CorinthiansMaradonaOriginalPelé

The Brewers take away the ball on the ground and at the wall, so in the sixth inning, Freddie Freeman lined a four-seamer to the only place they couldn’t get to it: the stands. 

The home run gave the Dodgers a lead they would hold to win Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, 2–1. It gave them cushion as their bullpen faltered in the ninth inning. It gave the Brewers the kind of fits they are used to when it comes to that player. “Freddie Freeman has been a Brewer killer for a while,” lamented Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy. “So hopefully he’ll oversleep tomorrow or something.”

It also rendered moot one of the wildest plays in recorded memory: With the bases loaded and one out in the fourth, Max Muncy drove a would-be grand slam 404 feet to center, where center fielder Sal Frelick leapt for—and bobbled—then caught—the ball. He fired it to shortstop Joey Ortiz, who relayed home. On the base paths, the runners broke into chaos, darting forward as if for a double, then back as if for a sacrifice fly. Teoscar Hernández barreled home from third just as the throw reached the plate. Amid the chaos, catcher William Contreras raced to third. For a moment, it seemed no one was quite sure what was happening. After a three-minute replay review, the word came down from New York: It was the first 8–6–2U double play in postseason history. 

(If Frelick had caught it clean, that would have been the second out and it would have been a tag play at the plate for the third, which Hernández beat, so it would have been bases loaded, two out. But because the ball hit the wall before Frelick got hold of it, the ball was live and it was a force play at home for the second out, and then a force play at third for the third.)

The 97-win Brewers, best in the sport, have spent much of the run-up to this series casting themselves as scrappy underdogs who win games with grit and the power of friendship. They keep the competition off balance, playing tight defense and running the bases aggressively; no other team forced its opponents to make more errors this season. Their $108 million payroll this season ranked No. 24 in the sport and is less than a third of what the Dodgers spent on players: $329 million. 

“I’m sure that most Dodgers players can’t name eight guys on our roster,” Murphy said before Game 1, having already discarded his last bit: calling his players the Average Joes and then complaining that people were calling them average Joes. The Dodgers rolled their eyes at this routine—“We know the act,” said Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts—but there is something to be said for paying superstars to play like superstars. Freeman, the first baseman (who is making $162 million over six years), and shortstop Mookie Betts ($365 million, 12 years) provided the offense; lefty Blake Snell (whom the Dodgers signed this offseason for $182 million over five years) offered just about everything else. 

He threw eight sparkling, one-hit, no-walk innings, striking out 10. He did not throw a fastball in the seventh. He allowed a total of two balls to the outfield, none after the second inning. He picked off the only hitter who reached base against him. 

In his 10 years in Milwaukee, Murphy said, “I think it’s the most dominant performance against us.”

The Brewers’ collection of “misfit toys,” as Murphy insists on calling them, nearly matched him: Opener Aaron Ashby, a fourth-round draft pick chosen for this task essentially because he is left-handed and therefore has a chance to shut down two-way star Shohei Ohtani, walked Ohtani but otherwise survived the first inning. In came Quinn Priester, who did not make the Red Sox’ rotation out of spring training and whom the Brewers acquired for two minor leaguers and a draft pick; he got through the next four. Chad Patrick, who came to Milwaukee in a trade with the A’s for utilityman Abraham Toro, allowed that Freeman home run. Jared Koenig, who was released by the Padres in 2023, got five outs. Closer Trevor Megill, who was waived in ’21 and then traded for a player to be named later and cash to the Brewers in ’23, got three more. 

Only Abner Uribe, who signed as an 18-year-old out of his native Dominican Republic for $85,000 in ’18, made more than one mistake. He walked Muncy to open the ninth, then allowed a single to Kiké Hernández. After a sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third, he intentionally walked Ohtani, then very unintentionally walked Betts to bring in a crucial insurance run. 

This became relevant only minutes later, when the Dodgers’ only weakness—their bullpen—struck. Roki Sasaki, the flamethrowing starter who flamed out in the majors and spent much of the season rediscovering himself in the minors before being converted to postseason closer, struggled with his command, walking the first hitter he saw, then allowing a ground-rule double and a sacrifice fly to bring the game back within a run. After another walk, Roberts summoned erstwhile closer Blake Treinen, who walked the bases loaded before getting away with a fastball a foot above the zone for a whiff. 

“It’s not going to come easy,” said Roberts. “This is going to be a grind. It’s going to be tough.”

The Average Joes can still win this series. They just have a smaller margin for error. And unfortunately for them, the next Joe Millionaire awaits: the guy who starts Game 2 for the Dodgers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, is the highest-paid pitcher of all time. 

أوضح المدير الفني لفريق بنفيكا، جوزيه مورينيو، موقفه من إمكانية العودة إلى نادي ريال مدريد من جديد، لتولي مسؤولية تدريب الفريق الملكي، خلفًا لـ تشابي ألونسو حال الإطاحة به من منصبه الحالي.

وتحوم الشكوك بقوة حول مستقبل تشابي ألونسو رفقة ريال مدريد، حيث انتشرت تكهنات مؤخرًا حول إمكانية الإطاحة به من منصبه كمدرب للفريق، بسبب تذبذب مستوى الفريق تحت قيادته، وعلاقته المتوترة مع العديد من اللاعبين.

وظهرت تقارير صحفية تربط أكثر من اسم بإمكانية خلافة تشابي ألونسو في تدريب ريال مدريد، مثل يورجن كلوب وزين الدين زيدان، وكالعادة ظهر اسم جوزيه مورينيو في هذا السياق.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ريال مدريد يتلقى صدمة قوية قبل مباراة مانشستر سيتي في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وسُئل مدرب بنفيكا الحالي عن الشائعات التي تربطه بالعودة إلى ريال مدريد، حيث كان رده واضحًا للغاية، حيث نفى كل تلك الشائعات وأغلق باب العودة إلى البرنابيو.

وسُئل مورينيو من جانب صحفي عن ذلك الأمر، حيث أوضح البرتغالي بإيماءات، أنه لا يريد سماع أي شيء عن تلك الشائعات.

وقال مورينيو، في تصريحاته التي نشرتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “ليس الأمر أنني بحاجة إلى إغلاقه، بل إنه مُغلق بالفعل، إنه أمر مغلق، أنت من فتحه”، اختتم ضاحكًا.

🚨 ÚLTIMA HORA 🚨

❌ MOURINHO CIERRA la PUERTA a VOLVER al REAL MADRID.

👀 Sus gestos durante la pregunta lo dicen todo… pic.twitter.com/2DhXVAhsTN — El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) December 9, 2025

England beat NZ in a rain-affected T20I series, but all the talk remains about the upcoming Ashes. Andrew McGlashan joins Alan Gardner and Andrew Miller with the latest from down under

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Oct-2025England clinched their T20I series against New Zealand 1-0 after another washout in Auckland, with attention now turning to the ODIs – and the Ashes campaign beyond. On this week’s pod, Alan Gardner was joined by Andrew Miller and Andrew McGlashan to discuss the development of Harry Brook’s T20 side as well as the latest news from Australia, including an update on Pat Cummins’ fitness and Marnus Labuschagne pushing for a Test return.