The Nationals reportedly have hired their new face of the front office.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Wednesday, citing sources, that Washington plans to hire Paul Toboni as its new head of baseball operations.
Toboni, 35, is currently the assistant general manager of the Red Sox. He was one of the favorites to become Boston's general manager, the No. 2 position in the Red Sox' front office behind chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.
According to Passan, Toboni ran the draft for Boston when it selected highly touted prospects such as Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell.
The Nationals fired president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez in July.
Washington, despite a young core consisting of James Wood, CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews, has struggled to a 64–94 record this season. The Nationals last made the playoffs in 2019—the year they entered the postseason as a wild-card team and won the World Series over the Astros in seven games.
Shubman Gill, who suffered a neck injury during the first India vs South Africa Test in Kolkata, has been ruled out of the second Test in Guwahati, which starts on Saturday. Rishabh Pant, who led in Kolkata after Gill left the game, will be India’s captain.Gill had travelled to Guwahati on November 19 after spending time under observation in a Kolkata hospital, but has now been ruled out of participation in the game. Gill “will head to Mumbai for further assessment of his injury,” the BCCI said in a statement on Friday morning.As reported by ESPNcricinfo on Thursday, it was understood that Gill is at risk of further neck spasms if he plays so soon after recovering. He has been advised more rest. The development could also impact his selection in the ODI squad for the three matches against South Africa starting on November 30. The squad for that series is expected to be picked on November 23.Related
Rishabh Pant's battle with Simon Harmer could define his first Test as captain
Mystery pitch leaves SA guessing ahead of Guwahati Test
What type of pitch will India want in Guwahati?
With Gill out and no replacements named, India have to choose one of B Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal and Nitish Kumar Reddy as his replacement.Gill was admitted to hospital after the second day of the Kolkata Test after he retired hurt having faced only three balls in India’s first innings. On the morning of the third day, the BCCI said he would take no further part in the Test. India went on to lose the match by 30 runs after being dismissed for 93 in a chase of 124 on a pitch with uneven bounce. Gill had missed a Test against New Zealand in October 2024 due to a neck spasm too.On Thursday, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had said in a press conference that the team would not risk playing Gill if there was any chance of the spasm recurring.”He is definitely recovering really well,” Kotak said. “Now, the decision [whether to play him or not] will be taken tomorrow evening. The physios, doctors, they will have to take a call that, [even] if he is fully recovered, [during the] game, he should not get that spasm again.”[…] If we have a, guarantee that, very likely, he won’t have this issue again, then he will play. If there is a doubt, then I am sure, he will take rest [for] one more game, because it won’t be helpful to the team [if he plays].”
Chamari Athapaththu looms as a key figure as the joint-hosts look to kickstart their tournament
Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Oct-20252:46
Preview: Can Athapaththu dismantle England’s plans?
Big picture: Sri Lanka eye another World Cup upsetIn 18 completed games against England, Sri Lanka have won only once. But that one win was worth 18 at least. Sri Lanka’s victory over England in the 2013 World Cup wasn’t just the upset of that particular tournament, it was a vital staging post in the march of women’s cricket on the smaller of these two islands.Without that last-ball win at Brabourne, Sri Lankan women’s cricket would not be where it is now. Shashikala Siriwardene, Sri Lanka’s captain at the time, remembered it this way: “Our lives and our cricket changed with that match. It started with that game. We actually didn’t celebrate massively. We shouted a little bit in the dressing room, and the coach said a few words. And then we just went to our rooms. But I couldn’t sleep! I was up most of the night remembering all the little things in that match, and the big moments. I was overjoyed. It was only the next day that I got a little sleep. I think that happened to a lot of the others as well.”Since that match, England have won 10 ODIs against Sri Lanka on the bounce. There is no question who the favourites are on Saturday. England, additionally, have humbled South Africa, and eased past Bangladesh already in the tournament. Sri Lanka have one point from a washout against Australia, but lost their tournament opener to India in Guwahati.England have surmised that while Sri Lanka have more batting weapons now than they used to have, their best chance of securing victory is to dismiss Chamari Athapaththu cheaply. England opener Tammy Beaumont said as much on the eve of the match: “Chamari will certainly be the one we’ll be desperate to get out. It’ll be really well planned for.” Athapaththu is no stranger to being one of the most-analysed players by oppositions, having been such a singular star for Sri Lanka for a decade.And yet it feels accurate. If Sri Lanka are to topple England, it feels almost inescapable that Athapaththu will have to play a role. England, though, have a bowling attack brimming with confidence. They decked South Africa for 69 all out in their tournament opener, then restricted Bangladesh for 178 in their next game. England’s slow bowlers have been doing the damage. Finger-spinners Linsey Smith, Sophie Ecclestone, and Charlie Dean have 14 wickets between them, in two matches.Form guide:England: WWLWL LLLWW (last five matches, most recent first) Sri Lanka:In the spotlight: Heather Knight and Inoka RanaweeraIn 11 innings against Sri Lanka, Heather Knight has three half-centuries, and an average of 50. In Sri Lanka, her returns are even better – 208 runs, four not outs, and an average of 52.00. She hasn’t batted on the island since 2019, though. Sri Lanka will be aware that Knight comes in to this match with some runs, having top-scored against Bangladesh with 79. Her vast experience and success in Asia is daunting.Athapaththu may dominate opposition bowler’s minds ahead of a match against Sri Lanka, but left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera will have plenty of airtime in the batting discussions. In Sri Lanka’s first match, she took three wickets in one over to leave India 121 for 5, before they recovered (a theme of this World Cup so far). She finished with 4 for 46 in that match. If the Khettarama track takes turn – which it is likely to do – she will be difficult to handle again.Pitch and conditions: Spin, swing… and rain?It has been drier in the last few days in Colombo, but the forecast is again for showers, which is normal for this time of year. Expect another track on which there will be turn. But the humidity at this time of year also makes for great swing-bowling conditions.Team news: Hasini to open for SLEngland could stick with a winning XI for the third game running.England: (possible) 1 Tammy Beaumont, 2 Amy Jones (wk), 3 Heather Knight, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), 5 Sophia Dunkley, 6 Emma Lamb, 7 Alice Capsey, 8 Charlie Dean, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Linsey Smith, 11 Lauren BellSri Lanka have been trying Hasini Perera as opener rather than Vishmi Gunaratne. They will likely retain that order for this match.Sri Lanka: (possible) 1 Hasini Perera, 2 Chamari Athapaththu (capt), 3 Harshith Samarawickrama, 4 Vishmi Gunaratne, 5 Kavisha Dihari, 6 Nilakshika de Silva, 7 Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), 8 Sugandika Kumari, 9 Achini Kulasuriya, 10 Udeshika Prabodhani, 11 Inoka RanaweeraStats and trivia Although she hit an important 62 in that 2013 win against England, Athapaththu’s numbers against this opposition are modest. She hasn’t hit another half-century against them in 13 other innings. One of Knight’s two half-centuries in Sri Lanka came at Khettarama. She strikes at 80.62 in the country, up from a career strike rate of 72.45. Although Sri Lanka have never beaten England in an ODI series, they did win a T20I series 2-1 in England in 2023. Quotes”I think you can never write off Chamari at all. We’ve been on the tough end of it a couple of times over the last few years, particularly when Chamari came to England. She played a couple of amazing innings. But I think over the last few years there’s probably a few more [players] that we’ve started to talk about. There’s certainly a lot more depth to that team that can bat around someone like Chamari.”England opener Tammy Beaumont says Sri Lanka’s batting isn’t all about Athapaththu any more
West Ham are entering the market for a new striker in January as injury-prone flop Niclas Füllkrug prepares to leave the London Stadium, according to multiple reports.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are facing a critical winter transfer window as they scramble to address their striker shortage, with Fullkrug’s impending departure forcing manager them to accelerate plans for attacking reinforcements.
While free agent summer signing Callum Wilson is proving he can lead the line, having scored four goals in four starts already this season, West Ham will definitely need another number nine soon.
Fullkrug has informed the club of his intention to leave when the winter window opens, bringing a premature end to what has been a disastrous spell at the club.
The Germany international, who joined from Borussia Dortmund for £27 million in August 2024, has failed to score a single goal this season across seven appearances, with injuries severely limiting his availability and impact.
His agent, Thorsten Wirth, publicly acknowledged the transfer has been a failure, stating that it “might make sense to make a change” and admitting “the transfer didn’t work”.
West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
West Ham 3-2 Burnley
Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham
The 32-year-old striker is reportedly desperate to secure regular playing time to boost his chances of making Germany’s 2026 World Cup squad, having made just two international appearances in the past 12 months amid persistent injury problems.
However, the Hammers will only sanction his departure if they can secure a suitable replacement or receive a substantial offer, unwilling to leave themselves dangerously thin up front while battling relegation.
The club are actively pursuing multiple striker targets as they seek to avoid repeating past recruitment failures, and AC Milan’s Santiago Gimenez has emerged as a primary target.
West Ham told they can sign Santiago Gimenez for £30 million
The Mexican bagged 22 goals in all competitions across his total appearances for both previous club Feyenoord and Milan last season, including six strikes in seven Champions League outings.
AC Milan's SamuelChukwueze, AC Milan's Malick Thiaw and AC Milan's Santiago Gimenez celebrate after the match
Man City boss Pep Guardiola will remember Gimenez’s strike at the Etihad when Feyenoord sealed a shock 3-3 draw. Meanwhile, Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany won’t have fond memories of the 24-year-old’s brace against them when Feyenoord thrashed the Bundesliga giants 3-0.
Make no mistake, on his day, Gimenez is a big-game player.
However, the North American is yet to score this campaign, and reports suggest that the Rossoneri are underwhelmed by their 2025 signing as they ponder a January sale.
According to Hammers News, West Ham have been told they could strike a £30 million deal for Gimenez when the window reopens, and going by his age, potential and previous exploits, this could actually prove to be a bargain.
Milan’s interest in Fullkrug has even opened up the possibility of a swap deal, so Gimenez’s price tag could be brought down even further as West Ham look for that perfect number nine mid-season.
The former Cruz Azul sensation stands out as one of January’s best-available forward men if he can rediscover his past form, so he’ll undoubtedly be under serious consideration at Rush Green.
Manchester City are now reportedly keeping close tabs on one Arsenal star, who Pep Guardiola sees as the perfect fit for his side.
The Citizens have been at their best in recent weeks, with Erling Haaland in his usual ruthless mood. Victory over Liverpool on Sunday would truly cement their title ambitions this season, however, following a tough campaign last time out. It would also represent just how successful their summer transfer was, with the likes of Rayan Cherki now settling into life at the Etihad.
Guardiola, who is set to take charge of his 1000th game in football, told reporters that his City side have to be at their best against Liverpool even after the Reds’ disappointing form in the last month.
The City boss said: “We have to be our best. I know how quickly everything goes here. One week ago, Liverpool, six defeats, was a disaster, won two but now they come back to their best.
“I’m pretty sure all managers take a little time for more perspective and everyone has ups and downs in the competition. I have a higher opinion about Liverpool right now. Last season we were losing six games in seven games, it’s the same.”
Man City "genius" looks like the player Liverpool thought Wirtz would be
This Man City star has outshone Wirtz in less minutes this season
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By
Joe Nuttall
Nov 7, 2025
In previous years, the Premier League title was often decided by this fixture at the Etihad. This time around, though, it looks set to decide Arsenal’s closest challengers following the Gunners’ excellent start.
It’s something that City will be well aware of and they’ve even been impressed enough to take a look at one of Mikel Arteta’s defensive players who could complete a shock exit.
Man City keeping tabs on Ben White
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Man City are now keeping close tabs on Ben White, who Guardiola sees as the perfect fit at the Etihad. The right-back, who can also play centre-back, is reportedly becoming frustrated by his position at Arsenal and could leave in pursuit of more game time – allowing City to swoop in.
The right-back position is certainly one that City could do with looking at. Whilst Matheus Nunes has grown into the role, Guardiola would benefit from a natural option down that side and that’s where White could come in.
Whether Arteta will willingly let his defender leave is another question, however. The Spaniard has been full of praise for the 28-year-old since his arrival in North London, describing him as “brave” when he decided against joining up with the England squad under Gareth Southgate.
Man City ready bid for Vinicus Jr as Real Madrid feelings revealed
Warwickshire 485 (Barnard 108*, Bamber 107, Mousley 75, Davies 52, Critchley 5-171) drew with Essex 602 for 6 dec (Westley 134, Allison 133, Pepper 107*, Walter 86) and 96 for 1 Tom Westley passed fifty for the fifth time in eight Rothesay County Championship innings before rain arrived at Chelmsford to confirm the inevitable draw between Essex and Warwickshire.The rejuvenated Essex captain was 51 not out, with seven fours in his 103-ball innings, to follow his 148 first time round. He had put on 86 in 28 overs with Paul Walter for the second wicket before umbrellas went up and the players scampered for shelter. Walter had contributed 35 to a stand that took Essex’s lead to a nominal 213.The match was effectively over as a contest late on the third evening when Ed Barnard struck the boundary that took Warwickshire past their follow-on target of 453, despite having just one wicket in hand. What had become a damp squib was officially called off at 3.25pm.The 14 points Essex gained kept them just ahead of the relegation places in Division One, while Warwickshire’s dozen points mean they are safely in mid-table.Barnard, meanwhile, gained reward for his overnight effort the morning after when he was left unbeaten on 108 in Warwickshire’s first-innings 485, 117 behind Essex’s 602-6 declared. The remarkably consistent all-rounder’s 123-ball knock took his season’s tally to 815 runs with three centuries. Matt Critchley’s marathon spell of 40 overs for Essex returned figures of 5 for 171.With Dean Elgar absent from the field since day one with a calf injury, Essex promoted Noah Thain to open their second innings. But Essex’s faith in the up-and-coming all-rounder was not fulfilled as Ethan Bamber got one to lift off the pitch and take the outside edge with only two against his name.Westley drove his first ball for four, but was fortunate when he reached 19 that a diving Kai Smith could not cling on to a catch in Beau Webster’s first over.Westley reached his fifty from 103 balls, clipping Hannon-Dalby past an unusual legside field comprising six fielders in a semi-circle between short mid-on and square leg. It turned out to be the last meaningful action before rain set in a 2.24pm.Walter had been comparatively subdued at the other end, though he did strike two boundaries in the last over before lunch that brought up the fifty partnership from a leisurely 18 overs.Barnard, 90 not out overnight, had become the game’s fifth century-maker when he swept Critchley for four from the 114th ball he faced. He had already launched the leg-spinner over midwicket for six during the 23 minutes that Warwickshire’s first innings extended into the fourth morning.Oliver Hannon-Dalby had kept Barnard company the previous evening when the ninth-wicket pair ensured Warwickshire moved safely beyond the follow-on mark. He remained unfazed for 27 balls in total, 15 in the morning, before Westley introduced his occasional off-breaks and had the No11 lbw with his fourth delivery.
Match edging towards a draw after rain and bad light at Durham
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 24-Jun-2025Debutant Gurinder Sandhu starred for Sussex on day three of their Rothesay County Championship clash with Durham, but the match is edging towards a draw after a mix of rain and bad light caused play to end early at Banks Homes Riverside.Durham had a tough morning with Australian Sandhu (5 for 83) taking the role of chief tormentor, picking up a five-wicket haul on debut as Durham lost their final four wickets for 26 runs to leave them on 327, a first-innings deficit of 34.Durham bounced back through Matthew Potts after lunch to put Sussex under pressure at 27 for 3, but James Coles was once again a thorn in the home team’s side as he led a Sussex recovery with another fifty.After several disruptions because of rain and bad light across the afternoon, play finished early with Sussex on 111 for 4 at close, 145 runs ahead.Resuming on 249 for 5, it was Graham Clark and Bas de Leede’s job to get Durham quick runs and whittle down the 112 deficit as soon as possible.Durham’s top run scorer Clark continued his fine form as he reached fifty from 89 balls, but Sussex bowlers Ollie Robinson and Sandhu restricted run-making opportunities with a new ball, which was taken just prior to close on day two.Robinson got the breakthrough for Sussex removing Clark for 51 as the Durham man attempted to pull a short ball, but he got an edge through to John Simpson behind the stumps.George Drissell came to the crease as Jofra Archer began his first spell of the day, but he and de Leede managed to negate a four-over burst successfully.Durham broke the Sussex shackles as de Leede pulled back-to-back Sandhu balls to the boundary, but the Australian bounced back as Drissell pulled a short one straight to Fynn Hudson-Prentice who was running in from the boundary, which left Durham seven down.Things went from bad to worse for Durham as Sandhu got his fourth, removing Ben Raine for 10 as he chipped one straight to Tom Clark at cover. Then Potts didn’t last long as he edged a Robinson delivery behind to Simpson for 2.Sussex then wrapped up the Durham first innings as Sandhu picked up the final wicket, with Sam Conners caught behind for 7.Sussex’s second innings got off to a bad start as Potts struck without a run on the board, with the England man getting Daniel Hughes for a two-ball duck as he chopped on to his off-stump.Durham got the Kookaburra ball talking as Ben Raine got Tom Clark for 10, with the Sussex No. 3 edging behind to Ollie Robinson behind the stumps. Potts then got his second, bowling Tom Haines for 12 to leave Sussex in trouble.First innings centurion Coles and Danial Ibrahim soaked up some pressure as the task for Sussex changed from quick runs to survival.Two rain delays either side of seven deliveries from Conners and de Leede delayed Durham’s hunt for wickets, with an early tea taken.Coles, who batted so well on day one, flicked a Conners delivery off his legs for four and he followed that with a nice shot through the third region off the bowling of de Leede.He then pulled a Conners delivery to the boundary, which continued his excellent match, but there was yet another interruption as the players went off for bad light, which preceded more rain.Coles resumed after a third delay with a crunching straight drive off Drissell, and he passed fifty for the second time in the match, this time from 65 balls.The 21-year-old then lost his wicket as Raine bowled him for 53, but the players were off for bad light soon after and when the rain started again, play ended prematurely, with the game drifting towards a draw.
Manchester United outcast Joshua Zirkzee could be close to ending his nightmare spell at Old Trafford with another Premier League team touted to want the Netherlands striker in the forthcoming January transfer window. Zirkzee has barely featured for United this season and he is yet to start or score, managing just 74 minutes across three Premier League appearances and an eight-minute Carabao Cup cameo against lowly Grimsby Town – all as a substitute.
Zirkzee reduced to bit-part role at United
Zirkzee's lack of playing time follows the summer arrivals of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, which has pushed him down the pecking order. Frustrated with his peripheral role under Ruben Amorim, the Netherlands star is reportedly seeking a move in the January transfer window to secure regular playing time and boost his chances of a spot in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands World Cup squad.
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Zirkzee’s revealing post-match celebrations
After Man Utd's 2-1 recent victory over Liverpool at Anfield, Zirkzee – once again an unused substitute – joyfully joined in with his team-mates, celebrating in front of the travelling fans, and he was also seen putting Bruno Fernandes in a headlock and hugging goalkeeper Senne Lammens, which impressed the club's supporters. But it’s certainly not a clear demonstration that he wants to stay.
Ahead of the match, Amorim was asked about Kobbie Mainoo and Zirkzee’s frustration over their lack of playing time. The United boss said: "That is normal, and I also know that in our club, everything is a lot of noise, and you have to have news, and players are not playing. They want to play. Like you said, there's a World Cup. There are agents that listen to the players talking all the time. So, I understand that but they are our players, and we need everyone to have a good season."
Premier League option for Netherlands star
According to a report by , the Netherlands international is being considered by West Ham, who are crying out for additional firepower as their season lurches from bad to worse. Their recent defeat by Brentford was played out in front of a largely empty London Stadium during the final stages as supporters made for the exits as they showed their displeasure with events in east London.
The report also states that Zirkzee is “desperate” to leave Old Trafford. The Hammers have struggled significantly all season, struggles which have continued since the arrival of new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who replaced Graham Potter last month. The main forwards, Callum Wilson and Niclas Fullkrug, have contributed a combined one Premier League goal this season. Both have struggled for form and fitness, with Wilson having a history of hamstring issues and Fullkrug failing to deliver consistently.
With eight games gone the east London club are already facing the real prospect of a relegation battle this season. West Ham are over-reliant on winger Jarrod Bowen, who is the team's top scorer, but opposition teams have focused on shutting him down, limiting the Hammers' overall scoring threat. They have netted just six goals in eight league matches this season, they’re currently second bottom of the Premier League and the urgent need for a new, reliable goal-scorer to help them survive relegation is a top priority for their Portuguese boss.
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Transfer options for Hammers
West Ham face competition for Zirkzee from Italian clubs like Roma, who are considering terminating Evan Ferguson's loan from Brighton due to his poor form to make room for a new forward. However, the Hammers boss may prefer a traditional target man, similar in style to Forest’s Chris Wood or Fulham’s Raul Jimenez. The run of matches leading up to the next international break will give Zirkzee a huge indication of where he sits in Amorim’s plans, with Brighton, Forest and Tottenham ready to face the Red Devils in the coming weeks.
It was a year of so near yet so far for RR, who will finish last if they lose on Tuesday
Himanshu Agrawal19-May-20253:14
Cricinformed – CSK’s worst top-order show
Big picture: RR’s last chance to not finish lastIf not for the rearranged final leg of IPL 2025, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) would have been hosting Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Chennai on Tuesday. Instead, the teams will now meet in Delhi. Which meant that there was one question on everyone’s minds: Have we already seen the last of MS Dhoni at Chepauk?These two sides occupy the bottom two spots in the points table. While there is pride to play for, they will also have one eye on the future.Despite the forgettable campaigns, there have been some positives for both CSK and RR this season. Young and explosive batters like Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel and Vaibhav Suryavanshi have given hope and a glimpse into the future of these franchises.Related
Purple and Orange caps: Noor, Jaiswal could grab top spots on Tuesday
'No point just blaming the batsman' – Dravid on RR's struggles
Batting without brakes – PBKS make topping 200 a habit at IPL 2025
Tuesday will also be RR’s final game of the season, and looking back, their bowlers might realise they lacked execution at times, while their batters will count the number of missed opportunities in tight finishes. It was a year of so near yet so far for RR, who will finish last if CSK beat them. The only time RR finished last was in 2020, when the IPL was an eight-team competition.Form guideChennai Super Kings WLLLL (last five matches, most recent first) Rajasthan Royals LLLWLIn the spotlight: Noor Ahmad and Riyan ParagCSK have found a match-winner in left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad. His 20 wickets are the second-most so far this season. Four of those came in CSK’s previous match, against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), when Noor helped turn it around with two wickets in the middle overs and death overs each. Ten bowlers have at least 15 wickets this season, and Noor’s average of 17.25 is the best among them. At just 20, he surely is a long-term option for CSK.Riyan Parag has had a good outing with the bat this season•AFP/Getty Images
Riyan Parag, who has led RR every time Sanju Samson was out injured this season, is just 10 runs away from tallying 400. If he gets there, it will be the second successive year he passes that landmark. He is only 23 and made his T20I debut for India last year after a solid IPL. With a home T20 World Cup coming up early next year, Parag will be hoping he can wrap this season up with a notable score and help his chances for his first global tournament.Team news and probable XIIsBrevis, Noor, Devon Conway and Matheesha Pathirana, CSK’s four overseas players who played against KKR, are the only ones available for them now. CSK have used 22 players so far this season – the most by any team – with only two more games remaining.Chennai Super Kings: 1 Ayush Mhatre, 2 Urvil Patel, 3 Devon Conway, 4 Ravindra Jadeja, 5 Dewald Brevis, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 R Ashwin, 8 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 9 Anshul Kamboj, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Khaleel Ahmed, 12 Matheesha PathiranaVaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal were impressive against PBKS•BCCI
Samson pushed himself down to No. 3 against Punjab Kings on his return to fitness after an abdominal injury. That allowed the 14-year-old Suryavanshi to continue to open the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal. It remains to be seen whether teenager Lhuan-dre Pretorius, also a top-order batter who was flown in as an injury replacement, will get a chance.Rajasthan Royals: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 3 Sanju Samson (capt & wk), 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Dhruv Jurel, 7 Shubham Dubey, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Kwena Maphaka, 10 Tushar Deshpande, 11 Akash Madhwal, 12 Fazalhaq FarooqiThe big questionAmong the 37 bowlers to have taken at least 300 wickets in all T20s, Wanindu Hasaranga leads the averages with 17.21. But at 34.40, Hasaranga’s averaged has doubled, and he has bagged only ten wickets in 37 overs.The numbers are even worse for his CSK counterpart R Ashwin. He has just five wickets to show in eight games, having taken them at 48.40 each. The last time Ashwin had fewer wickets in an IPL season was in his debut year in 2009.Pitch and conditionsThe Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi has hosted five games this season, with the average score batting first being 192. Gujarat Titans hunted down 200 with all ten wickets standing against Delhi Capitals on Sunday at that ground. With short boundaries and the possibility of dew, expect another high-scoring game on what is expected to be a hot Tuesday evening.Stats and triviaCSK and RR have faced each other in 31 matches so far, with CSK leading by only 16-15. CSK have had the worst-performing top order this season. Their top three batters have a combined average of only 23.68, while striking at 140.74. Both numbers are the lowest by any team this season. RR, on the other hand, have been the worst bowling side this season. Their bowling average (44.84) and economy rate (10.02) are the worst among all sides.
Liverpool’s stuttering form has drawn sharp criticism from Daniel Sturridge, who believes the Reds are paying the price for selling Luis Diaz this summer. The former striker claimed Arne Slot’s side are missing the Colombian’s intensity and balance in attack, while suggesting the new boss made a mistake by not starting Florian Wirtz in the defeat to Chelsea.
Liverpool slipped to a third straight defeat in all competitions after conceding a 95th-minute winner against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The 2-1 loss saw Slot’s side surrender top spot in the Premier League, just a week after a similar stoppage-time heartbreak at Crystal Palace. Despite a £450m summer overhaul, the Reds’ attack has struggled to click, and Sturridge believes Diaz’s departure to Bayern Munich has caused it.
AdvertisementAFPReds told that selling Diaz was a mistake
“Luis Diaz is a massive miss for me,” Sturridge told Sky Sports. “When you look at Liverpool last year and how they used to press, I think arguably he was the one who would set the press in the front three. For me, Luis Diaz, how tenacious he is on the ball and how hungry he is to get it back for his team — he brought something to Liverpool that they are now missing. I think Ekitike and Isak and Wirtz work hard, but they’re attack-minded players. With Diaz, he would sacrifice himself defensively. That’s what they’ve got to figure out now — who in that attack is going to give themselves up a little bit. In a front three there always has to be one guy who goes, ‘I’m not stats hungry.’ Right now, I’m not sure the manager knows what he’s going to do.”
Getty ImagesSturridge questions Slot's decision to bench Wirtz
Sturridge also questioned Slot’s tactical choices in the Chelsea defeat, arguing that Wirtz should have been in the starting XI. The former England international believes the German playmaker’s creativity could have helped Liverpool regain control in key moments. “I think today’s the type of game you need a Wirtz,” he said. “Someone who can create something, get the ball in his feet, move it, advance it, maybe win a free-kick. Szoboszlai gives you that running and pressing power, but these are the games they signed Wirtz for; the quality on the ball he brings is exceptional.”
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Liverpool face bitter rivals Man Utd next
Liverpool now enter the international break on the back of three consecutive losses and mounting scrutiny over Slot’s system. The Dutchman will need to reassess his attacking setup and identify the right blend of pressing and productivity. Liverpool return to action against Manchester United at Anfield on October 19th.