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Their season appeared doomed at the start, now they have a shot at making the semi-finals for the first time

Shashank Kishore in Jammu19-Feb-2020In September 2019, Irfan Pathan handed copies of a letter he had signed to his young Jammu & Kashmir team-mates. In it was a line that read: “We will qualify for the knockouts in at least one format this season.”To make sure it wasn’t just words, mentor Irfan joined hands with close friend and former Baroda player Milap Mewada, the head coach of the side. At the outset of the Ranji Trophy season, Mewada gave a name to the team’s plan: JK’s Mission. Not mission, mind you. Jammu-Kashmir, a united force.Unfortunately for the mentor and the coach, the players’ minds were “elsewhere” as their season was in danger of never even getting on the rails.The Indian government’s decision to bifurcate Jammu & Kashmir into two union territories last August resulted in restricted access to the region from other parts of the country. Internet connectivity was withdrawn, telephone lines went blank, and private television channels were taken off air for a while. Government offices were empty, petrol stations dry, and food supplies were limited.In such an environment where everyday life was a struggle, there was little hope of assembling a squad together, let alone trying to compete or win against the best in the country. At the J&K Cricket Association office in Srinagar, there was a circular on the notice board that asked players to report for a camp on August 16. Except, there was no way for that information to go out. Only two weeks earlier, the players had been sent home.”For three weeks, we didn’t have contact. The season was approaching and we had to do something. I instructed the district police office to personally go to the homes of a many players and bring them safely to Jammu,” Syed Ashiq Bukhari, a former IPS office and current CEO of JKCA, says. “One of the players, when the police went to his house, started running away, thinking he had committed an offence. The police had to explain to the boy’s father and then he came. The other thing we did was to run tickers in our local TV channel asking for players to report in Jammu.”Yet, Parvez Rasool’s team has managed to cast aside all such distractions and focus on the cricket. This is only the second time they have entered the Ranji quarter-final in their 50-year history. A first-ever semi-final appearance is a step away. Irfan’s prophecy has come true, but he and Mewada, just like the rest of the squad, are hoping for something bigger, something historic. They have come a long way. They want to go further.Jammu & Kashmir have had a fantastic run through the group stage•ESPNcricinfo Ltd’Go back, go back, don’t take another step’
Mewada remembers August 6 as if it were just yesterday.”On one side, there were stone pelters. The other side, there were cops. A curfew had been called, and I was told to return to my hotel,” Mewada recalls his attempts to return home to his anxious family in Baroda. “The cop was shouting: ‘go back, go back, don’t take another step.’ I was stunned. We were told in no uncertain terms that ‘you get past us, and we can’t guarantee you anything’. I was scared, and told my driver to turn back.”Mewada was the lone guest at his hotel in Srinagar, sitting by himself with no contact to the outside world. The next day, he somehow made a dash to the airport only because his driver happened to show up unexpectedly. He had a printed copy of his ticket – luckily, because there was no internet. “Else, god knows how I would have travelled.”All along, he was anxious about his players’ safety. It had been 72 hours and he hadn’t heard from any of them. It would be that way for the rest of the month. Six weeks of intense preparation in the summer, Mewada feared, was on the verge of going to waste.Months before the domestic season had started, the team management had got a professional trainer in VP Sudarshan, who had the experience of working with the senior Indian team in the past. Yo-yo fitness was as important as the ability to bowl or bat. Fielding sessions were scheduled in the heat of the afternoon sun to test endurance. The focus was on specifics. Irfan even brought in a throwdown specialist in Pritesh Joshi, himself a club cricketer in Baroda with aspirations of being a fast bowler. They put the players through army-style fitness sessions to get them match ready.”We noticed the players had no concept of fitness and training during the off season,” Mewada says. “So every time they turned up from a break, they were carrying niggles or took a while to get back into shape. We wanted to change that before this season. But all the work we did was disturbed by the forced six-week break, where we didn’t have any contact at all.”

We always wanted to give Irfan a free hand. We knew someone of his experience can deliver only if he’s allowed the space and freedom. It’s fair to say we have managed to build on well from the previous season to this oneSyed Ashiq Bukhari, JKCA CEO

Meanwhile, even as Bukhari tried to assemble the squad in Jammu and take them elsewhere, the team had to pull out of the invitational Vizzy Trophy in Andhra Pradesh. Irfan then requested Samarjithsinh Gaekwad, scion of the royal family that owns the Moti Bagh Stadium in Vadodara, to help.Mewada remembers Gaekwad promising “all that you want”.Now they could get the team together at training, but a key hurdle remained.”The boys were down mentally,” Irfan says. “On the field, they were playing cricket. Then they were worried about selection, which I tried to insulate them from. I gave them confidence that you will be backed. But cricket aside, every now and then, you could see the bigger worry. They had left their families behind, and had no contact. While those from Jammu were slightly better off because at least landlines were working, the Kashmir boys were upset.”Mewada adds, “They needed a lot of emotional support. Some of them were very young. So apart from just training and shaping them for the season, we had to engage a sports psychologist. Things started improving, and we even beat a full-strength Baroda side in three 50-0ver games heading into the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The mood was slightly better towards the end of September.Team Donkey, Team Monkey
As much as the challenge was to ready them for on-field action, Mewada noticed something missing off it. He sensed a disconnect between certain players. He felt there were factions.To foster better understanding and team spirit, he split the team into four groups of four each, each group with a designated leader with whom the others fixed specific dinner plans which no other group was privy to. Then there were games, where each member of the groups was to reveal an unknown facet about his life to the other, and the quietest person in the camp would then reveal it to everyone else, on stage with a mic.Such gestures slowly brought the team together.Mountains, sunshine and water trickling down towards a dam to produce electricity…•ESPNcricinfo Ltd”The situation has changed now,” Mewada says. “We had senior players who didn’t get along. They are not part of the team now. The new generation doesn’t understand divisions. We give everyone a role and they are asked to perform that role. We want to imbibe a sense of leadership and responsibility.”Waseem Raza, for example, is our senior left-arm spinner, but he hasn’t got game time because we felt Abid Mushtaq was better equipped to certain conditions. When Abid got wickets, Waseem was the first to run up with a bottle of water or a hug. Such gestures create warmth and puts everyone in a good frame of mind.”The biggest eye-opener was the painting game the team played a day before their first game of the season. Each team had to come up with a painting. The theme was: ‘What you feel about the Jammu-Kashmir cricket team.’Team Donkey, led by fast bowler Ram Dayal, drew an axe, a few trees, and four logs, one on top of each other. Mewada explains: “With one axe, one log of wood can be chopped down, but the same can’t cut four logs bound on top of the other. This exhibited team work.”Team Monkey, led by Rasool, depicted mountains, sunshine and water trickling down towards a dam to produce electricity. “In between, they also depicted a few leaks,” Mewada says. “This was to suggest that water produces electricity, but the leaks are ensuring less production. To them, leaks signify a disconnect within the team. So then they said, ‘if we fix the leaks, we will be driven to be more powerful’.”Another team, led by Shubham Khajuria, came up with a drawing of a man – who they said was their coach and mentor. And then a goat, inside which they drew a tiger’s face. “The coach sees us, goats, like tigers,” Mewada explains. “He thinks we’re stronger than what we seem. That should be the way we think as well.”Such off-field activities have helped bring the fun element, while allowing the team to reconnect with each other, amid the hectic travel. Mewada and Irfan address the group as “champions”. Mewada is a believer in the power of the subconscious mind, and wants this thought to be firmly planted in their heads. To him, all of them are champions.A Match-winner for every situation
Like these, there are so many interwoven narratives. The off-field camaraderie has come together on the field too. For starters, players haven’t felt insecure because of the confidence the group has in Mewada, Irfan and the selectors. And in every game, they have found someone raising their hand. After all, winning six out of nine games is no joke.”We always wanted to give Irfan a free hand,” Bukhari says. “We knew someone of his experience can deliver only if he’s allowed the space and freedom. The management, the JKCA, everyone took a collective decision to change things this time around and see where it takes us. It’s fair to say we have managed to build on well from the previous season to this one.”Parvez Rasool shares some smiles with team-mates after yet another Jammu & Kashmir victory•PTI One of the examples of that free hand was the decision to hand Mujtaba Yousuf, the left-arm pacer, a debut in their last league game against Haryana. Until then, he was in the system, and being monitored.”I worked with him at different stages on developing an inswinger,” Irfan says. “I took examples from my own career and told him to avoid the mistakes I made. The learnings I had from my career, I passed on to him. We worked on his wrist position, follow-through and using of his crease better. When we were confident he had worked on these significantly, we played him and he got a six-for on debut.” Yousuf’s is just one example of the work put in resulting in performance.In the game against Services, Jammu & Kashmir were tottering after their top order was taken out inside the first hour. Rasool came in and hit 182 in the team’s total of 360 to drive the game forward. Rasool is their biggest name, the most popular player, and a performance from him went a long way in inspiring a young unit.Against Assam and Jharkhand, it was 18-year-old Abdul Samad, who proved he’s one worth investing in. Both his centuries – 103* and 128 – came at more than a run a ball. Until then, Samad was just known to be a talented young bat who could strike big and make destructive 30s or 40s. Interestingly, it took Irfan just one look at him at a district trial last year to ask for his statistics.”I saw him drive on the up like I hadn’t seen from any other batsman,” he remembers. “He was effortlessly making runs on an up-and-down surface. I fished out his scores and I saw consistent starts, but none higher than fifty. I took him aside and told him, he will be put in the probables, and we worked on the value of preserving his wicket. We set small goals for him, and today, there are a few results along the way. This was possible only because we didn’t go by the convention of simply looking at his numbers and dismissing him as a short-format player.”Then there’s the example of Umar Nazir, the fast bowler. He made a vow at the start of the season that he wouldn’t let off-field worries affect his cricket, and he’s stuck to his commitment. Nazir hasn’t been to his hometown in Pulwama since July. He hadn’t heard from his family, but found peace in ripping out middle stumps with yorkers and bowling quick bouncers. On a green deck in Pune, he had Maharashtra’s batsmen hopping around. He picked up a five-for in a match-winning effort then.The common theme here is match temperament and self-belief. Mewada made it clear at the start that this wouldn’t be about nine games, but 11, possibly 12. “The idea took a while to digest, but once they were convinced they are winners, it got stuck in their head,” he says. “There was a bit of silence early on, but once they knew I was serious, they all bought in to the idea.”It has been a team effort all right: four batsmen have over 400 runs (a fifth has 386), five bowlers have more than 20 wickets. The entire team has showed indomitable spirit.Often, when an underdog goes into uncharted territory, questions of sustainability crop up. Mewada is quick to point out that irrespective of where they go from here, this team will be work-in-progress for the next two years. Whether they can go one better, into the semi-finals and beyond, and replicate it next year is a debate for another day, but the very fact that they have made everyone sit up and take note of their on-field exploits when no one gave them a chance, says enough about their character.In two days’ time this united J&K team will lock horns with favorites and multiple-title winners Karnataka. But the players and their coaches remain undeterred. Mewada is a touch philosophical when asked if this is where the magic could end.”See, we’re champions, we have nothing to lose,” he says. “They don’t know our bowlers, our players. We knew each and everyone of them. We have plans. This team has fought through adversities. In front of all that, this is just a cricket match, and if they treat it as one, anything can happen.”

Two years after pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series, pitcher Merrill Kelly is reportedly headed to the team that beat him there.

Kelly is being traded to the Texas Rangers, according to a Thursday afternoon report from ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The 36-year-old Houston native has spent his entire seven-year career with the Diamondbacks, who signed him out of the KBO League before the 2019 season. Evolving into a solid starter after leading the National League in losses his rookie year, Kelly won 62 games over seven seasons with Arizona.

This season, he's 9–6 with a 3.22 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 128 2/3 innings.

Kelly appears set to join a Texas Rangers team just barely hanging on to a tie with the Seattle Mariners for the American League's final wild-card spot. The Rangers are 57–52, and have recovered somewhat from a 78–84 dud after their 2023 World Series title.

The pitcher started Game 2 of that series, and beat Texas 9–1—striking out nine over seven innings.

Some results have been good and some not so, but young C Andre Siddarth, now a part of South Zone for the Duleep Trophy final, has his priorities and roadmap in place

Deivarayan Muthu09-Sep-2025The last domestic season was one of highs for Tamil Nadu teenager C Andre Siddarth. In his maiden Ranji Trophy season, he played a vital role in Tamil Nadu’s run to the knockouts, scoring 612 runs in 12 innings at an average of 68. At 18, he was the second-youngest player, behind Vaibhav Suryavanshi, to be picked in the IPL 2025 auction, earning a deal with Chennai Super Kings (CSK).Before that, in late 2024, he had also made his maiden appearance for India Under-19s in Dubai. His strong form in the previous Ranji season has now earned him a maiden Duleep Trophy call-up. Siddarth, who turned 19 last month, isn’t satisfied, though, and is hungry for more.”I think I had a really good [2024-25] season,” Siddarth said at the CSK High Performance Academy ground on the sidelines of the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai. “My takeaway was that at my age I had scored 600 runs. I was happy about it and [also] kind of disappointed. I knew that I had scored five fifties, but if I had scored two-three hundreds, I would have been more satisfied. Still, I’m kind of disappointed from last season.”Related

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Jagadeesan hopes to build on recent gains

While Siddarth didn’t get a game for CSK at IPL 2025, a chat with his captain MS Dhoni during a training session rekindled the hunger to score big.”While we were at the Wankhede [Stadium in Mumbai] during our team practice, he [Dhoni] just told me one thing: ‘stay calm’,” Siddarth said. “I thought everyone says that. But he explained to me that while being calm, one thing that is important is trying to keep your mind blank. Keeping your mind blank is very tough and if you’re not in form or not on song, it’s really tough.”So, it’s about mental strength and you need to be hungry enough. I can’t be satisfied. For example, I got a 111 against Maharashtra [in the Buchi Babu tournament]. I was not satisfied. I wanted to make it a double-hundred that day.”With the experienced Vijay Shankar moving from Tamil Nadu to Tripura, Siddarth might be entrusted with more responsibility in the middle order this season. He has tuned up by working with former India players Robin Singh [consultant] and T Kumaran, the state side’s new bowling coach, at the TNCA academy.”Around a month back, we had a camp at the TNCA. I trained with Robin Singh and T Kumaran sir and it has improved my game,” Siddarth said. They have told me certain stuff that I have to improve and it has been reflecting in my game. It involved all three aspects – batting, fitness and fielding.”

“It [playing in the Duleep Trophy] is not on my mind right now, but it would be a good feeling for anyone. In my mind, it is about how I can improve and rectify my flaws. Because I know that more than the Duleep Trophy, representing my state is more important for me. And winning the Ranji Trophy is more important”

Siddarth is just eight first-class games old, but has displayed the gears and temperament to tailor his batting according to the situation in red-ball cricket.”I personally believe that the mental aspect of the game is more important than any skill,” he said. “I have been putting myself in difficult situations in practice and in my fitness or fielding. I think it has been reflecting in my matches recently. [At my club game], I played and batted 30 balls with [No. 11] Sandeep Warrier at AM Jain [college ground in Chennai].”I had to defend and save the game at the time. Against Maharashtra [at the Buchi Babu tournament], I knew that I had to attack. [Against Jammu and Kashmir], I had a situation where I had to just play for the team. Now I know that I have been equipped enough to take it to the Ranji Trophy.”After his IPL stint with CSK, Siddarth moved to his new TNPL team, Lyca Kovai Kings, but endured a difficult season, managing only 131 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 107.37. He has taken that in his stride and feels he has learnt to ride the lows along with the highs.C Andre Siddarth feels he has learnt to ride the lows along with the highs•ACC”Yes, I didn’t have a good TNPL,” he said. “But it was a matter of just time and I figured it out. I am really grateful for the experience. My fitness, fielding and even my batting has improved a lot since [the training sessions at CSK]. If I think too much about downs, I can’t grow as a cricketer and grow as a person. That’s what I think personally.”Two days after turning out for Tamil Nadu in the Buchi Babu final against Hyderabad in Chennai, Siddarth will join the South Zone side for the Duleep Trophy final in Bengaluru. While playing in the Duleep final will tick another box for Siddarth, his main goal is to help Tamil Nadu win the Ranji Trophy.”It [Playing in the Duleep Trophy] would be a good feeling for anyone,” Siddarth said. “In my mind, it is about how I can improve and rectify my flaws. Because I know that more than the Duleep Trophy, representing my state is more important for me and winning the Ranji Trophy is more important.”Tamil Nadu is still a powerhouse in domestic cricket. In the past two-three years, we have been qualifying [for the knockouts]. I think that this year, we can lift the cup. Winning trophies for Tamil Nadu – that’s the main thing I want to do.”

Voting for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game officially opened on Wednesday, June 4 at 12:00 p.m. ET, and fans have the opportunity to show their support for their favorite position players until this phase of voting closes.

This year's All-Star Game will be held at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. The game is scheduled to be played on Tuesday, July 15, with the other All-Star weekend festivities preceding the game.

So, how long will fans be able to cast votes for the All-Star Game? We're going to take a look at both phases of All-Star voting and explain how the process works, and when each phase ends.

When Does Phase One of MLB All-Star Voting End?

The first phase of MLB All-Star voting runs from June 4 to 26. Throughout that period, fans are able to vote as many as five times every 24 hours, selecting eight position players and one designated hitter to represent each league's All-Star team.

On June 26, the players who received the most All-Star votes will be revealed on MLB Network. The top two vote-getters at each position will move on to the second phase of voting. That means a total of 36 players will move on to the second phase. The player who receives the most votes overall in each league will earn an automatic spot in their league's starting lineup for the All-Star Game.

When Does Phase Two of MLB All-Star Voting End?

The second phase of MLB All-Star voting is much shorter than the first phase. Phase two begins on Monday, June 30 at noon ET and will end on Wednesday, July 2 at noon ET. In that window, fans will be able to vote once every 24 hours. This time, fans will be choosing from the 36 players who reached the second phase to determine who will be in the starting lineup.

The winners at each position will be revealed on ESPN on the evening of July 2, at which point the official starting lineups for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game will be announced.

The remainder of the rosters, including pitchers and reserve players, will be selected via a "Player Ballot." Those choices will be made by MLB's commissioner's office. Once those selections have been finalized, the full 2025 MLB All-Star rosters will be announced on July 6.

“Whoever I’m playing, I want to do a miracle on the ground so that I can make my country proud,” Shivam Dube says after starring role in India’s win over UAE

Shashank Kishore11-Sep-20251:48

Dube: ‘I am always prepared to bowl four overs’

Since IPL 2023, Shivam Dube has been a casualty of the Impact Player rule that has greatly limited opportunities for allrounders to showcase their dual skills. Over the past three seasons, Dube’s bowling numbers read: 3-0-47-1.In a way, this limitation has been a factor in Dube’s hunger to contribute with the ball, and continue to upgrade his skill sets. To that end, the work he has put in at training, especially with his bowling, has been noticeable.On Wednesday, India didn’t to hand Dube the ball. Suryakumar Yadav did, and Dube picked up three wickets across two overs. There was a seam-up that nipped away to nick off Asif Khan, a nip-backer that trapped Dhruv Parashar, and a slower delivery that had Junaid Siddique slogging to mid-on.Related

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“The captain and the coach told me earlier itself that I will bowl [at the Asia Cup] and that they are confident about me,” Dube said at the press conference after India’s demolition of UAE. “My bowling coach [Morne Morkel] has told me a lot of things. I was preparing for this for a long time, that I will get an opportunity to bowl and when it comes, I’ll be ready. What happened today is because of that preparation.”Dube admitted that while his role with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL has largely been that of a power-hitter, he has used the time away to gather plenty of bowling miles. Even if it doesn’t instantly result in him bowling as many overs as he would like to.”The answer lies in your question itself,” Dube said when asked about the Impact Player rule. “The scheme of an allrounder has been reduced. Because of that, in the IPL, there wasn’t a necessity for me to bowl. But, from my side, I was always prepared. Every match, I was ready to bowl. I was working really hard before the IPL also. I spent two months working on my fitness and bowling.”That effort seems to be paying off. Dube credited Morkel for fine-tuning his action and approach. The two have been in each other’s ears constantly at training. Two days ago, Morkel had even stated the importance of having someone of Dube’s abilities prep in a manner that gives him the confidence to bowl in pressure situations.

“Our coach has said something that has always been in my heart and mind: that whenever you go on the ground, whenever you represent your country, you have a chance to do something big for the country”Shivam Dube

“At the England series [in January-February], he told me a few things,” Dube said. “He told me to bowl from outside [wider of the crease] and to bowl slower [from a certain angle]. I have been working on that for a long time. He told me a few things about my bowling run-up too. Because of those two-three things, my bowling is getting better. My pace is also improving and I am getting confidence.”Today’s start was very important. As an allrounder, I am always prepared for four overs of bowling. Whenever I get an opportunity to bowl three-four overs, I am ready for it. I will try and do what the team needs.”There aren’t just bowling tweaks that Dube has been working on. Between IPL 2025 and now, he has worked a lot on his batting too, back at home in Mumbai. One of the aspects he identified was working on improving against the short ball bowled at high pace and into his body. The Asia Cup opener was his first competitive outing since the IPL ended in May (barring three middling games at the Mumbai T20 League where he captained ARCS Andheri).1:55

Why did Suryakumar let Siddique bat despite being out?

“About my batting, I was thinking of adding some of the shots,” he said of his tailored training. “Yes, I can hit in certain areas. But certain bowlers are there who come on me with the short balls and all. I worked [on that] in the IPL. And even after IPL, I have been working on some extra shots that I can bring to the Indian team. And yes, I was working on my fitness because I knew that if I become fitter, then I can bowl four overs or whatever the team requires.”Dube’s selection in India’s XI against UAE reflected the team management’s emphasis on extending the batting depth till No. 8 – a call that, in turn, makes his ability to deliver with the ball even more crucial. Dube revealed that there had been a lot of learning from the coaches and off Hardik Pandya, who isn’t exactly like-for-like but someone whose experience he’s been more than happy to dip into.”Hardik is someone from whom I always learn,” Dube said. “He is like a brother to me. As a cricketer, he has a lot of experience in international cricket and IPL. So I feel I have a lot to learn from him with regards to both batting and bowling. I have never thought about comparison. I just thought I should get something from him with which I can improve myself.”2:21

Can UAE take away anything from this thrashing?

Asked to talk about the quality of India’s opponents in their opening game, Dube was sympathetic, especially the UAE batters’ inability to handled the quality of India’s spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.”I can’t say whether they were able to pick or not… I’m not going to say they [UAE batters] are not of the same class,” Dube said. “I will never say that to any opponent because I feel it doesn’t send out a good message. Yes, they [Kuldeep and Varun] are mystery bowlers. Even I am not able to pick them up sometimes [in the nets]. So there is nothing in that.”It was only when Dube was inevitably asked about the next game, against Pakistan, that he chose to be slightly more guarded. “Whether it’s a match with UAE or Pakistan, it’s important for me when I go on the ground and for my team that… our coach has said something that has always been in my heart and mind: that whenever you go on the ground, whenever you represent your country, you have a chance to do something big for the country.”Gautam [Gambhir] sir has always said this. So, keeping that in mind, whether it’s Pakistan or UAE, or whoever I’m playing with in the future, I want to do a miracle on the ground so that I can make my country proud.”

Despite a few early wins this season, Leeds United are already looking like they could get dragged into a relegation fight. Unlike fellow newly promoted side Sunderland, who are seventh in the Premier League, the Whites have eight points and find themselves in 16th.

Perhaps it is too early for alarm bells, but the 2024/25 Championship winners are only three points clear of the relegation zone, and have now lost their last two games.

Their next assignment is huge, with 19th-place West Ham United set to visit Elland Road on Friday night.

If this poor form continues, then the future of manager Daniel Farke could once again come into question for the 49ers regime.

Farke’s uncertain future at Leeds

The 2024/25 campaign was an unquestionable success for Leeds. They were guided back to the Premier League by Farke at the second time of asking, reaching 100 points and winning the title on goal difference.

You would automatically assume that the German boss would be safe in his job at Elland Road, but that was not the case over the summer. There were several reports which suggested the 49ers were ready to remove Farke from his post.

Pundits were also quick to claim that the former Norwich City boss would not be the right man to lead the club in the Premier League. Gabby Agbonlahor told talkSPORT that the German “hasn’t done it in the Premier League, he struggled as a manager,” suggesting they should sack him.

However, those rumours were squashed by the Whites’ chairman, Paraag Marathe. He confirmed at the end of last campaign that the 48-year-old would stay as Leeds manager, saying, “I have ended the speculation. He is my man.”

However, football is a results business, and the Whites must start putting points on the board, or Farke’s job could come under fire again. In recent days, they have been linked with a new boss.

Who Leeds could appoint to replace Farke

It would be a bold call for Leeds to sack the man who got them to the Premier League, after backing him so openly. Yet, as reported this week, they have been tipped to target Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior as his replacement.

Former Leeds fullback Aidy White described it as a “huge gamble,” although his current role in France has shown just how capable a gaffer Rosenior is. He’s handled the jump to a top-flight side well after previously managing Hull City in the second tier.

The 41-year-old, who was born in London, has a positive record in charge of the BlueCo-owned side. Rosenior has managed 48 games for Strasbourg, winning 25 times, drawing 11 and losing the other 12.

One of the things Leeds have struggled with this term is not conceding goals. They’ve let in 13 so far, three more than Strasbourg’s ten. However, six of those came in games against Paris Saint-Germain, which they drew 3-3, and table toppers Marseille, which ended in a narrow 3-2 loss.

It is certainly encouraging that the Whites would be appointing a manager who is much more defensively stable. When he was sacked by Hull, their owner said Rosenior played “a more defensive style of football,” which could work well in Leeds’ favour.

That does not mean that a Rosenior side is ineffective going forward. In fact, this season Strasbourg have scored the second most goals in Ligue 1, with 17, and have the third best expected goals tally of 15.7xG.

Strasbourg – Ligue 1 25/26
Stat	Number	Rank vs. Ligue 1 sides
Goals	17	2nd
Expected goals	15.7xG	3rd
Goals per game	2.12	2nd
Goals conceded	10	=4th
Clean sheets	4	=2nd
Stats from FBref

It is easy to see why writer Zach Lowy thinks Rosenior can become “one of the best coaches of the next 20 years.” There is plenty of upside to his game, given his tactical flexibility and the ability to coach defensively sound sides, yet also pose a great attacking threat.

If Leeds were to sack Farke in the near future, Rosenior could be a fantastic option to first guide them away from relegation and then build towards Premier League stability.

Farke can bin Harrison by playing Leeds academy star who's a "joy to watch"

Leeds United have a teenage prospect in their academy ranks who could replace Jack Harrison.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 22, 2025

Wrexham held on to a valuable point away from home as the Red Dragons extended their unbeaten Championship run, thanks to some heroic defending in a 0-0 draw at Portsmouth. Phil Parkinson's men went to the south coast on the back of a thrilling 3-2 win over league leaders Coventry, and they put in a gritty performance on Wednesday evening to snatch a point from the dominant hosts.

Wrexham lucky to get away with a point

If three words could sum up the opening 45 minutes at Fratton Park, they’d be tight, cagey, and combative. Wrexham began the brighter of the two, showing flickers of the fluid, attacking football that has become Phil Parkinson’s trademark. But for all their energy, clear-cut chances were scarce. The travelling fans urged their side forward, but Portsmouth, resilient and well-drilled, refused to buckle. 

The best early opportunity came when Lewis O’Brien let fly from the edge of the box after clever interplay between Liberato Cacace and Ben Sheaf. His strike was destined for the bottom corner until Josef Bursik, Portsmouth’s alert shot-stopper, flung himself low to tip it around the post. Moments later, Kieffer Moore rose highest from a corner, powering a header goal-ward, only to see Bursik once again deny him with strong hands.

If Wrexham had their spells of promise, Portsmouth grew stronger as the half wore on. Josh Murphy, a constant menace down the flank, began to stretch the home defence. His whipped cross almost paid dividends when Regan Poole ghosted in at the back post, but the defender’s effort fizzed narrowly wide. 

After the break, Portsmouth emerged with a fire in their bellies and immediately seized control. The momentum shifted, and the visitors found themselves pinned back under relentless pressure. Murphy was at the centre of everything as he orchestrated most attacks from the left flank. Pompey came close when Jordan Williams whipped in a teasing cross that sent the Wrexham backline into disarray. The ball pin-balled around the box, and Murphy twice came within inches of scoring, but both his efforts were blocked. 

Against the run of play, just after the hour mark, Wrexham's O'Brien found himself through on goal, following a quick free-kick, but the forward was denied by Bursik in a one-on-one with the keeper. As the match continued to wear on, Werxham dug in their heels as Portsmouth continued their onslaught. However, John Mousinho's men could not breach the Wrexham walls and were forced to share the spoils despite a spirited display in the second half.  

It was a game of two halves. By the final whistle, both teams had given everything. Wrexham had the bite, Portsmouth the flair, yet neither could find that crucial cutting edge. Parkinson’s men will take heart from their resilience, while Portsmouth will rue their missed chances, especially after dominating long stretches of the second half. Wrexham are currently 14th in the standings with 18 points and will get back to action against Charlton on Saturday. Meanwhile, Portsmouth remain winless in their last five games, which includes three losses. They came close to clinching the three points here, but some resolute defending from Wrexham denied them to get back on the winning track. They are 20th in the standings and will play Hull City next. 

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Murphy was the best player on the pitch by a mile. Max Cleworth and Issa Kabore doubled up on him, and yet the duo struggled to contain him. His deliveries from the corner kicks were menacing, but on some days, the ball just won't bulge the net. 

The big loser

Parkinson got it right in the first half, but his team surprisingly went into a shell in the second. This allowed Portsmouth to relentlessly pursue the winner, and the manager was fortunate to walk away with a point from the South Coast despite a thoroughly unimpressive display in the second half. 

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Manchester United have now entered concrete talks to sign AIK Fotboll striker Kevin Filling, and a move could be possible in the January transfer window.

Man United have a reputation of bringing through young players, having named at least one academy graduate in every first-team squad since October 1937, and they have continued to rely on youngsters in the early stages of the new Premier League season.

Senne Lammens appears to have taken Altay Bayindir’s shirt and established himself as the new starting goalkeeper, with Ruben Amorim also regularly calling upon the likes of Leny Yoro, Amad Diallo and Benjamin Sesko.

Sesko’s arrival at the club was met with scepticism, given that on paper the Slovenian looked like another Rasmus Hojliund-type signing, considering he is just 22-years-old and arguably doesn’t have the experience to lead the line for a club like United.

However, after taking a while to get going, the striker has now started to prove his worth, picking up two goals and an assist in his last four matches, most recently setting up Bryan Mbeumo’s first goal in the 4-2 win against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Man Utd enter talks to sign Kevin Filling

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, Man United are now in “concrete” negotiations to sign another young striker, entering talks to sign AIK Fotboll’s Filling, who is valued at around €3m (£2.6m).

The “talented” youngster could be on the move as early as this winter, suggesting the Red Devils could get a deal done in the January transfer window, but there may be competition for his signature, as some unnamed Bundesliga clubs also find the centre-forward “interesting”.

At just 16-years-old, the striker is very much one for the future, but he has already made a breakthrough at senior level with AIK Fotboll, chipping in with two Allsvenskan goals in seven appearances so far this season.

The young Swedish forward has also started to make an impression at international level, making three appearances for Sweden U18s, and he netted a brace in an international friendly against Wales U18s earlier this month.

Of course, at just 16-years-old, Filling is likely to be some way off first-team level at a club like Man United, so it would make sense if he was sent back on loan to his current club or perhaps a smaller English club to gain more experience.

However, at around just £2.6m, it is definitely a risk worth taking for Man United, who should definitely try to get a deal done this winter.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Oct 16, 2025

It might not have been a win, but Monday night’s draw against Everton was about as good a start to Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham United tenure as anyone really expected.

The Hammers fought back from one-nil down and looked the more likely winner for large parts of the second half, with Jarrod Bowen, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Crysencio Summerville looking seriously impressive.

However, there were also several players who flattered to deceive, and might be in for a fight to keep their place under the new boss.

In fact, there was one player in particular who should be removed from the team and ultimately moved on as soon as possible by Nuno.

West Ham's underperformers

One of the starters who could have played himself out of the starting lineup on Monday night was defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.

The former Arsenal ace looked unsure of himself for much of the encounter, did poorly for Michel Kean’s opener and maintained a passing accuracy of just 82%.

Likewise, while he wasn’t to blame for the goal, and just generally wasn’t as bad as the Greek ace, Kyle Walker-Peters didn’t exactly impress against the Toffees.

Walker-Peters’ game vs Everton
Minutes	95′
Expected Goals	0.00
Expected Assists	0.03
Clearances	3
Ground Duels (Won)	6 (3)
Aerial Duels (Won)	4 (2)
Lost Possession	11
Fouls	3
Crosses (Accurate)	1 (0)
Long Balls (Accurate)	6 (1)
Shots on Target	0
All Stats via Sofascore

The former Southampton star won just 50% of his aerial and ground duels, lost the ball 11 times, completed just 80% of his passes, didn’t deliver a single accurate cross, misplaced five of six long balls and committed three fouls.

Moreover, the Englishman’s performance was made all the more uninspiring by the fact that Diouf was a monster on the opposite flank and could have had a hat-trick of assists by the end of the game.

Finally, while there were a couple of moments in which he showed his undeniable class, it was an overall frustrating showing from summer signing Mateus Fernandes.

The Portuguese ace amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.12, failed to play a single key pass, and didn’t have a shot on target or complete a dribble, generally looking rather average at best.

However, while all three of these players underwhelmed on the night, there was one starter who was even worse, a starter who has to be removed from the team by Nuno going forward.

The West Ham star Nuno has to drop

Given the poor performers already mentioned, it will probably come as no surprise that the starter in question was Niclas Füllkrug.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The German international is a striker with a record that suggests he should be thriving in the Premier League.

After all, before he moved to the London Stadium, the “old-fashioned” striker, as dubbed by Ally McCoist, spent a season with German giants Borussia Dortmund in which he scored 15 goals and provided ten assists in 43 games.

Moreover, although he hasn’t played a game since June, the 32-year-old has won 24 senior caps for Germany, in which he has scored 14 goals and provided two assists.

Unfortunately, this eye for goal has not been apparent in England, as last season he managed only three goals and two assists in 20 games for the Irons, and this season he has yet to produce any goal involvement in six appearances.

It was another disappointing display on Monday, as the Hannover-born poacher looked miles off the pace on and off the ball, failed to make the right runs in behind and wasn’t even holding up the ball well.

On top of that, he seemed to lose the ball more regularly than you’d have expected, and while this all sounds harsh, his statistics more than justify this appraisal.

Füllkrug’s game vs Everton
Minutes	89′
Expected Goals	0.24
Expected Assists	0.05
Goals	0
Assists	0
Shots on Target	1
Touches	37
Passing Accuracy	15/23 (65%)
Ground Duels (Won)	2 (1)
Aerial Duels (Won)	14 (4)
Lost Possession	9
Fouls	1
Offsides	1
All Stats via Sofascore

In 89 minutes of inaction, the German international produced a combined expected goal and assist figure of 0.29, had just one shot on target, took 37 touches – eight fewer than Alphonse Aréola – completed just 65% of his passes, lost 11 of 16 duels, lost the ball nine times and was offside once.

Ultimately, it really was a terrible showing from Füllkrug, and while Nuno isn’t blessed with striker options at the moment, he should axe the German, look to move him on in the winter, and start Callum Wilson up top for now.

West Ham star already looks like "one of the best" in the PL under Nuno

West Ham picked up a point during Nuno Santo’s first match in charge.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 30, 2025

Big picture: DC’s home form a concern

Under first-time captain Axar Patel, Delhi Capitals (DC) got off to an flier, IPL 2025 winning their first four matches. But their fortunes took a tumble since their return to Delhi. In their three matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium so far, they have lost two and their only win came via a Super Over.Against Mumbai Indians, they collapsed in a 206 chase despite being in the driving seat until Karun Nair fell in the 12th over. Against Rajasthan Royals, they looked like they were headed for defeat until Mitchell Starc defended nine runs in the final over to take the game to a one-over shootout. Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, their bowlers couldn’t capitalise on an early collapse.Related

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A drop-off in the form of some of their key players has played a part. KL Rahul scored 185 runs in his first three games (he missed DC’s season opener), averaging 92.50 and striking at 169.72. However, since their first game in Delhi, he has only managed 179 runs in five innings, with his strike rate also dropping to 127.85.In DC’s first four games, Kuldeep Yadav took eight wickets, conceding at less than a run a ball. In the next five matches, his number of wickets have halved, his economy rate has gone up to 7.35 and his strike rate has jumped from 12 to 30. Similarly, Mitchell Starc took nine wickets from his first four outings, but he has only picked up two wickets from the next five games.KL Rahul’s top score in Delhi has been 41 so far, while he has three half-centuries in four away outings in IPL 2025•BCCI

Until now, DC have been in the top half of the points table, but now they need to regroup and rediscover consistency as the battle for the playoffs heats up.

Form guide

Delhi Capitals LWLWL(Last five completed matches, most recent first)
Kolkata Knight Riders LLWLW

Team news and likely XIIs

It’s a very short turnaround time for DC after their last game against RCB, but they are likely to continue with the same combination. They could continue with their tactic of starting with just six batters even if they bat first, as even then they have six bowling options.Delhi Capitals XII (likely): 1 Faf du Plessis, 2 Abishek Porel, 3 Karun Nair, 4 KL Rahul (wk), 5 Axar Patel (capt), 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Vipraj Nigam, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Mukesh Kumar, 12 Ashutosh Sharma/Mohit SharmaKKR made a couple of changes in their last game, bringing in Rovman Powell and Chetan Sakariya in place of Ramandeep Singh and Moeen Ali, and are unlikely to tinker with their combination after the washout against Punjab Kings.Kolkata Knight Riders XII (likely): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane, 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Rovman Powell, 8 Andre Russell, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Vaibhav Arora, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Chetan Sakariya

In the spotlight

With Jake Fraser-McGurk woefully out of form, the expectations will be high on Faf du Plessis to deliver at the top for DC. He played in three of the first four matches of the season, before missing four games with a niggle. He struggled on his return against RCB, and has failed to cross 30 in any of the four matches he played except his half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad.2:51

Bishop: Need to give Powell, Russell ‘time to tee off’

In his third season with KKR, Rahmanullah Gurbaz has a chance to get an extended run of games, having replaced Quinton de Kock at the top of the order. The opening partnership has been an area of concern for KKR and they will hope that Gurbaz can form a strong alliance with Sunil Narine. Gurbaz was out for just one run in his first game of the season and scored 1 not out in the washout against PBKS, so he will hope for a good outing in Delhi.

The big question

Pitch and conditions

DC mentor Kevin Pietersen said after the RCB game that they had gone for a slow and low surface to counter their opponents’ strength but they will hope for a better batting surface on Tuesday night. The match will be played on pitch No. 5, which is in the centre, so there won’t be a shorter side for the batters to target.

Stats and trivia

• Kuldeep Yadav has bowled three deliveries to Sunil Narine in two innings and dismissed him twice.
• Only R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and Piyush Chawla (27 each) have more wickets against DC than Sunil Narine, who has 24.
• Only Chennai Super Kings (19.77) have a lower average for the opening partnership this season than KKR (19.87) and DC (24.22)

Quotes

“He’s bowling really good, the lengths he is hitting. And he is mixing it up well. I won’t take any names, but we should keep learning watching other teams play.”