What a win for Newcastle United on Saturday evening. They beat Manchester City 2-1 at St James’ Park to pick up a huge three points, propelling them up the Premier League table.

Remarkably, it is the first time they have beaten the Citizens in the top flight since 2018/19, a game which they also won 2-1.

There were chances for both sides in the first half, with Harvey Barnes having a couple of opportunities which he squandered. The Citizens also came close through England international Phil Foden, but his shot fizzed wide.

It was Barnes who ended up giving the Magpies the lead in the second half. It was a smart finish from the winger, playing a one-two with Bruno Guimaraes before firing first time past Gianluigi Donnarumma to put his side a goal ahead.

City equalised moments after, thanks to a deflected strike by Ruben Dias. However, a 70th-minute goal from Barnes gave Newcastle the lead from close range. St James’ Park waited with bated breath as VAR checked an offside, but it was given and Eddie Howe’s men held on for all three points.

There were standout performances across the pitch for the Magpies, but Guimaraes and midfield partner Sandro Tonali were two standouts once again.

How Guimaraes and Tonali performed vs. Man City

It was another commanding performance from the Newcastle midfield pairing of Guimaraes and Tonali. The Brazilian grabbed an assist for the first goal, linking up with match-winner Barnes in a slick move, to help give his side the lead.

Indeed, the former Lyon midfielder stood out to Lee Ryder, the chief Newcastle writer for the Chronicle. He gave Guimaraes an 8/10 for his efforts in the middle of the park, describing his second-half display as “superb.”

However, it was not just the Magpies’ number 39 who shone in midfield. Tonali, described as “one of the best midfielders in world football right now” by Ryder, was completely dominant, especially out of possession.

It was a wonderful performance without the ball from Newcastle’s midfield general Tonali. The Italian worked hard all night long, winning 100% of his tackles, making seven recoveries and winning six duels, as per Sofascore. He also managed 47 touches of the ball and created one chance.

It was a typically dominant midfield showing by the pair, but they were arguably not the best Newcastle duo on the pitch against City.

Newcastle's best duo vs. Man City

As well as Guimaraes and Tonali performed, Newcastle fans might have been left more impressed with Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento.

The Magpies’ first-choice full-back pairing were back in the starting lineup together, and were “the best players on the pitch” according to journalist Andy Sixsmith.

It was certainly not an easy day for either of them. Livramento was up against the tricky Jeremy Doku, but kept him quiet, winning two tackles and making eight recoveries.

As for his compatriot Hall, he ensured Rayan Cherki had his work cut out, winning six from seven duels and making three recoveries.

Hall & Livramento vs. Man City
Stat	Hall	Livramento
Touches	45	40
Pass accuracy	85%	79%
Ball recoveries	3	8
Duels won	6/7	3/4
Clearances	3	3
Stats from Sofascore

Their performances stood out to Ryder. He gave the pair of them 9/10s for their efforts, explaining the right-back gave the Magpies “a different dimension” and the left-back “made a monumental difference” to the side.

It is easy to see how this pair could be the new version of Guimaraes and Tonali for the Magpies. The England internationals, who are both likely to stake a claim as part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad in the summer, are already fan favourites at St James’ Park.

Their quality speaks for itself, as they showed against City. The manner in which they coped with the Citizens’ tricky wide men was impressive, and their on-ball quality was obvious against Pep Guardiola’s side, too.

Livramento is just 23 years of age, and Hall is 21. They’ve already demonstrated high levels of ability, and could certainly become even more important than Guimaraes and Tonali, the longer they build up this full-back partnership.

Brendan Doggett took 6 for 48 and 1 for 38 in his first Shield game of the season for South Australia and looks set to be added to Australia’s Ashes squad for the first Test

Alex Malcolm04-Nov-2025Brendan Doggett says he’s been waiting on an Ashes call for a long time and believes he is ready to go if Australia’s selectors add him to the first Test squad which is likely to be announced on Wednesday.Doggett, 31, appears all but certain to be included in Australia’s first Ashes Test squad after a successful return to Sheffield Shield cricket following a minor hamstring injury, but even with Pat Cummins ruled out of the first Test, Doggett is unlikely to make his Test debut in Perth as he is set to be a reserve for Test incumbents Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.Speaking in Adelaide on Tuesday, Doggett said he had yet to hear from the national selectors but said he was waiting by the phone having been part of Australia’s Test squad for the WTC final and the West Indies tour in the winter before being withdrawn because of a hip injury.Related

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“Absolutely. [I’ve] been waiting for this for a long time,” Doggett said. “I feel like if I do get a call to join that squad, I’ll be ready. And then we’ll see what happens.”Doggett took 6 for 48 and 1 for 38 in his first Shield game of the season for South Australia, against Western Australia at the WACA ground in Perth last week. It was his first first-class game since May and only his second game of any form in that period. He had missed the opening two Shield rounds after suffering a minor hamstring injury while batting in South Australia’s opening One-Day Cup match of the season on September 20, and both South Australia and Cricket Australia’s medical staffs, in conjunction with the national selectors, were ultra cautious with his return given his importance to Australia’s pace-bowling depth for the upcoming Ashes series.”To get injured batting is unlike me,” Doggett said. “It was unfortunate. There’s not much I can control in that. So it was just about getting my rehab right and trying to get back as soon as I could to play for South Australia”I guess the timing is perfect to take a six-for but obviously I was just really happy to get back on the park and contribute.”Doggett has risen in the ranks to be Australia’s next fast bowler in line behind the big four, particularly on flatter Test surfaces, given his ability to swing the new ball in combination with his extra pace and height.Brendan Doggett celebrates a wicket•Getty ImagesHe starred in last year’s Shield final on a flat surface at Karen Rolton Oval and took 11 wickets for the match to help South Australia to their first title in 29 years. He played three County Championship matches for Durham immediately following that in April and early May and took nine wickets in his first two before a minor injury saw him withdrawn, with Australia’s selectors wanting him fit and on standby for the WTC final and the West Indies tour.”I really enjoyed my time in Durham,” Doggett said. Unfortunately, I got injured halfway through my stint. I had probably a bigger finish to our domestic season, obviously with the Shield final, I got through 50-odd overs [46.5] in that I think, so it was big finish for me to head straight over and play over there.”But I really enjoyed it. The conditions are so different, and it was just a really good learning curve for me. And the whole purpose of that was to sort of try being in and around that World Test Championship squad, which I was fortunate enough to be included in. I really enjoyed it, and I’d probably love to go back if I had the opportunity.”Doggett has long been regarded as a possible Test option having first been picked in an Australia Test squad back in 2018 after starring in the 2017-18 Shield final when he was playing for Queensland. But injuries and a move to South Australia had seen him drop down the pecking order as the likes of Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser and Boland all made their debuts in the years immediately after that. Australia have not had a new fast bowler debut in a Test match since Boland was picked for the third Ashes Test on Boxing Day in 2021.Doggett returned to the Test squad for the first time in six years for the second Test of last summer’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series following his 6 for 15 for Australia A against India A in Mackay. That was the first of four six-wicket hauls he has taken in his last 12 first-class matches along with two other five-wicket bags. He has 57 wickets at 20.40 in that time at a staggering strike-rate of 39.5.Doggett’s rise has coincided with former Australia Ashes hero Ryan Harris taking over as South Australia coach.”Rhino has had a big impact for me, especially, probably in the last 12 months,” Doggett said. “More than anything, he sort of just given me a lot of confidence and just passed down his knowledge and the way he goes about coaching, he’s really passionate and he just wants the best for us as his players.”It’s probably just nailing my strengths. Being able to go out and feel backed and feel confident to try and swing that new ball, or bowl aggressively and try and bowl quick and just probably do whatever the team needs.”

Big picture: Context or continuity?

The great gathering continues apace. First it was Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell and Brydon Carse – with Zak Crawley lurking on the fringes to soak up the vibes and sort the tee-off times. Then, by degrees, other key combatants have flown in, with New Zealand performing the role of an Orwellian airstrip, anchored ominously off the East Coast of Australia.Gus Atkinson has been in New Zealand for a week; Mark Wood and Josh Tongue arrived on Thursday, also in non-playing capacities. Ben Duckett, Joe Root and Jamie Smith are all in line for their first hits of the winter in this week’s ODIs, and Jofra Archer – at some stage – his first bowl. For yes, in theory, a bilateral series between England and New Zealand is about to get underway. In practice, the Ashes phoney-war-by-proxy is about to be ramped up another notch or three.The early-season conditions didn’t allow many conclusions to be drawn from 61.4 overs of T20I action, but there was purpose to the three matches just gone – coming as they do just months before the next T20 World Cup. When it comes to ODI cricket, however, it’s harder to pretend that it’s a massive priority for either team right now.Kane Williamson’s return provides the local intrigue and, as many of New Zealand’s players have been saying in recent days, the chance to play a Big Three opponent offers a degree of context in its own right. But let’s face it, if we thought Bethell’s 39 runs from 25 balls in the T20Is offered Ashes pointers, it’s nothing compared to the frenzied hot takes that Root and co. could find themselves generating this week.Of course, the spring rains may continue to dampen everyone’s enthusiasm. But England’s main focus across the past fortnight has very much been on mental preparation. There are longer-term issues that need to be addressed with the next ODI World Cup now two years away, and for the seam bowlers in particular, there’s a real opportunity to lay down a few markers. But overall, the squad’s relaxed vibe has befitted a laid-back location, and a sense that this week is a consequences-free chance to get some game-time and continue to build towards significantly more intense challenges.This was, after all, one of the rationales for McCullum taking on the white-ball coaching role back at start of the year. The unification of philosophies across squads means there are no competing agendas pulling the players one way or the other – just a collective sense of purpose at the start of a seminal winter, and a recognition that some big pictures are significantly bigger than others.

Form guide

New Zealand WWWLW (last five ODIs, most recent first)
England WLLWW

In the spotlight: Ben Duckett and Kane Williamson

It’s not so long ago that Ben Duckett was being touted as the most complete all-formats batter in the world. But then, the very fact of his ubiquity became too much of a burden. After an exhausting Test series against India, a grim run of form in the Hundred contributed to his absence from the T20Is against South Africa in which Jos Buttler and Phil Salt laid an insurmountable claim to the openers’ roles, and by the end of the ODI leg he was visibly shot to bits. Now he’s back after some much-needed R&R – newly married and hopefully rested up. Mount Maunganui and Perth are worlds apart, of course. But England will need him to rediscover that dynamism across formats as the Ashes draw nigh.Kane Williamson will turn out for New Zealand for the first time since the Champions Trophy final in March•ICC via Getty Images

Kane Williamson is not the most demonstrative of blokes at the best of times. But he knows a career inflection point when he sees one. It’s been nearly eight months since his last match for New Zealand – their loss to India in the Champions Trophy final – and, at the age of 35, he’s conscious of the march of time, as he returns to a set-up with a new coach in Rob Walter, and with the next ODI World Cup still a full two years away. With a young family to consider, and lucrative offers such as this year’s London Spirit/Middlesex tie-in very much on the table for the autumn of his career, these three games may go some way to determining his continued hunger after 15 years as a Black Cap.

Team news

Kyle Jamieson has been ruled out of the series after suffering stiffness in his side, but New Zealand welcome back a core of senior players who have not featured in the ODI set-up since the Champions Trophy – the captain Santner, Tom Latham and Williamson among them.New Zealand (possible): 1 Will Young, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Latham (wk), 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Zak Foulkes, 10 Jacob Duffy, 11 Matt Henry.Smith, Duckett and Root return to action for the first time this winter, with one eye very much on the first Test at Perth in less than a month’s time. Sam Curran will get a chance to cement his allrounder role, while Luke Wood could get a run in the side with England’s 50-overs seam attack still very much a work in progress. Jofra Archer is fit but unavailable for the first match, as England look to manage his workload ahead of the Ashes. Will Jacks is still absent with a finger injury.England (possible): 1 Jamie Smith, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Joe Root, 4 Jacob Bethell, 5 Harry Brook (capt), 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Sam Curran, 8 Jamie Overton/Sonny Baker, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Luke Wood.

Pitch and conditions

The weather warnings that wrecked the Auckland T20I have abated, although the strong winds remain a factor. The ground record is New Zealand’s hefty 371 for 7 against Sri Lanka in 2019, so if the conditions permit, runs will surely flow.

Stats and trivia

• New Zealand have played 11 ODIs at Bay Oval since 2014, winning six – including each of their last three – and losing five.
• However, England won these teams’ only previous meeting at the venue, by six wickets in 2018, despite a certain Mitchell Santner producing the day’s stand-out innings, 63 not out from 52 balls.
• Adil Rashid, who also played in that fixture, needs three more wickets to overtake Darren Gough (234) as England’s second-most prolific ODI bowler behind James Anderson (269).

Manchester United’s work in the transfer market over the last couple of seasons has certainly been brought into question, amid the big money spent and lack of impact produced by some players.

The Red Devils hierarchy have spent upwards of £800m on new additions since the summer of 2022, but the signings have been unable to catapult the club to any Premier League glory.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try his luck in the role at Old Trafford, with the 40-year-old already spending just shy of £250m in his first 12 months at the Theatre of Dreams.

Big names like Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu have all arrived under his guidance, but it’s evident that the manager still wants added reinforcements.

With January now just around the corner, he’s already started to rack up a shortlist of talents, with more transfer business expected to take place in the coming months.

United’s early work ahead of the January transfer window

Over recent weeks, United have been linked with a plethora of new options in multiple areas of the pitch to try and sustain their positive start to the season.

A new forward could well be on the cards for Amorim, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo just one player they’re said to be considering at present.

However, he will cost a pretty penny this winter, with his current employers currently demanding a fee in the region of £65m to part ways with the Ghanaian international.

Semenyo isn’t the only attacker being eyed up by Amorim, with Borussia Dortmund star Karim Adeyemi another option that’s being discussed ahead of the winter window.

According to German outlet BILD, the 23-year-old is said to be unhappy with the lack of progress in contract talks, which could open the door to a move to Old Trafford.

The report claims Amorim’s side are closely monitoring the situation at present, but like Semenyo, it could cost a small fortune, with the Bundesliga setting a £70m asking price for his signature.

Why United’s £70m target would be a Sesko repeat

During the summer transfer window, United finally ended their pursuit for a new talisman, after forking out a reported £74m on the signature of Benjamin Sesko.

The Slovenian international arrived from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, with such a move generating huge excitement within the fanbase – no doubt due to the nature of the transfer fee.

However, his start to life in Manchester has been far from ideal, with the 22-year-old only able to find the back of the net twice in his first 11 top-flight appearances.

It’s safe to say he’s presented an inconsistent figure at the top end of the pitch, often struggling to make the desired impact after his mammoth transfer to Old Trafford.

He will certainly need time to settle into life in England, but as seen with Rasmus Hojlund, the professional game is a cutthroat business and it can be unforgiving.

However, they could be about to land a similar talent in Adeyemi this winter, with the German replicating Sesko in joining the Red Devils from a Bundesliga side.

The winger is also an inconsistent figure, as seen by his tally of two goals in ten appearances, with both of his efforts coming back-to-back, just like Sesko managed in the Premier League.

Adeyemi is a rapid forward who loves to get in behind the opposition backline whenever possible, which has led to former boss Edin Terzic labelling the 23-year-old as a “roadrunner”.

His underlying stats do showcase his quality at present, even resulting in analyst Ben Mattinson dubbing the youngster “world-class” despite his inconsistent nature.

Games played

10

Goals & assists

3

Pass accuracy

75%

Successful dribbles

2.3

Touches in opposition box

6.8

Shots taken

2.8

Duels won

5.9

Aerial success rate

60%

The forward has completed 2.3 dribbles per 90 in the Bundesliga to date, whilst also notching 6.8 touches in the opposition’s box per 90 – highlighting his all-round threat in attacking areas.

Adeyemi has also registered 2.8 shots per 90 this campaign, showcasing his ability to add the end product to his mazy runs when taking on the opposition.

The prospect of the German linking up with Sesko at Old Trafford is certainly an exciting one, with the pair potentially able to aid one another and transform the club’s frontline.

£70m would be another huge investment, but it’s one that could prove to be worthwhile if he can replicate his recent numbers produced in the Bundesliga this campaign.

Their new McTominay: Man Utd in talks to sign £25m future "superstar"

Manchester United look set to make a move for a star who could emulate Scott McTominay.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 21, 2025

Three inexperienced seamers tried their best to hold the line but England’s predicament felt like a failure of management

Vithushan Ehantharajah02-Aug-2025Who else but Ben Stokes?No seriously, who else? Any ideas? Anyone? Hello, is this thing on?That’s what it felt like on Saturday. England scrabbling around, looking for something, anything to save them. It was not just day three that was getting away from them, but this fifth Test and a series win.Their regular saviour, their usual captain, their standout bowler, was on the balcony, taking as well-earned a rest as you can have when your right shoulder is hanging by a thread. Meanwhile, Ollie Pope was out there on his home ground stuck in a bad dream.Related

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There he was, sifting through bowling combinations without Chris Woakes, and fields with a cordon seemingly without the ability to catch. At times, it was like watching a man trying to eat soup with his hands, occasionally heading back up to the home dressing room to wash them and ask if anyone had found a spoon, or even a fork, only to be met with big sunnies, white trainers and blank stares.The best you could say of England’s bowlers is that they kept at it in a meaningful way. Not just toiling, but doing so with a degree of hate in their hearts. No one likes being dog-walked in Test cricket as they were for 70 overs. There was plenty of bark and bite to show as much. Reward, too. Or at least souvenirs from the grind. Cool stories for the scars.Josh Tongue bagged his second five-wicket haul in Tests – expensively (5 for 125 from 30 overs) but got them nonetheless. He finishes the series as England’s leading wicket-taker with 19 despite only playing three matches.Gus Atkinson’s 3 for 127 saw him reach into what, for now, are relatively shallow reserves after two months out with a hamstring injury. He came up with 27 overs more work and a few pearlers to add to the first innings five-for. He restated just how good he is by dismissing India skipper Shubman Gill with the first ball after lunch.Jamie Overton doubled his Test tally with two dismissals – as many County Championship wickets as he has for Surrey this season – while bowling at an average speed of 85mph on day two and three. The sprinkling of 89.5mph bolts offered vindication if it were needed (it was) that his inclusion had some merit.

“In seaming conditions, England committed the cardinal sin of being cut more than they were driven. Such a pitch looked prime for Sam Cook, even Matthew Potts. Both of whom have the hardwired game for these surfaces. And yet neither was even considered worthy of the squad”

It was tough not to feel sorry for them. The dichotomy between batting and bowling was felt keenly on a day like this: the former set 374, the latter dragged for 396. It felt like that most when Washington Sundar conducted the in the stands with his sixes in the final partnership. And across the six drops – two from Harry Brook, two from Zak Crawley, one from Ben Duckett and one from sub-fielder Liam Dawson – which cost 152 all in.”Going through from yesterday knowing we were going to bowl a few overs out there, it was obviously going to be a tough ask for us bowlers, but I thought we stuck at it really well,” Tongue said at stumps.Truthfully, though, the task of marshalling a series decider was always going to be tough on the three replacements. Particularly given the series had acquired so much feeling and narrative over the last two Tests, at Lord’s and Old Trafford, which featured none of them. You think jumping out of moving car is hard, try jumping a moving one.Atkinson and Overton were coming in cold. Tongue returning a month after being parked for Jofra Archer after two Tests. Each would have dealt with their own pressures, and here they were exacerbated as they were thrown in together.Even with Woakes available, there would have been struggle. The 36-year-old had bowled just 68 of his 161 overs across the first four Tests in the second innings. Slack would have had to been picked up.But his experience might have jolted them out of bad habits. The lack of game-time showed with their collective inconsistency, which was leapt upon by Yashasvi Jaiswal to the tune of 118.In seaming conditions, they committed the cardinal sin of being cut more than they were driven: Jaiswal sliced and diced 72 of his first 100 runs behind square on the off side. Such a pitch looked prime for Sam Cook. Even Matthew Potts. Both of whom have the hardwired game for these surfaces. And yet neither were even considered worthy of the squad.England’s careful planning fell apart ahead of the fifth Test•PA Photos/Getty ImagesBut more broadly, the gamest pitch of the series, certainly the one with the pace and bounce England have craved throughout the summer, has been used by the second string. And that, ultimately, feels like a failure of management.The plan at the very start of this five-match series was for enough changes of personnel to keep the prime quicks refreshed throughout. And even with injury to Mark Wood, Olly Stone and, initially, Atkinson, there was enough to shuffle through.Certainly, for instance, enough to not get to a stage where Brydon Carse, a superior hit-the-deck bowler to Tongue, was running on fumes in Manchester after four appearances on the bounce. Though Archer’s return was well-managed, it was hard not to wonder how much joy he would have got on this surface.Perhaps England could have kept a couple in the chamber? It is only this week that Manchester hosted its first positive result across six first-class matches this summer. Of the venues to protect your quicks, particularly having already established a 2-1 lead, maybe that was it? Understandably, the prospect of clutching an outright series win with a game to spare was too enticing.The pitches should get some of the ire. England have bowled on 19 of the 23 days of play so far, sending down at least 50 overs on 12 of them. But the batters haven’t helped. On day two, for instance, having made light work of India’s last four first innings wickets in the morning, the bowlers were back at it just 51.2 overs later.Rotating bowlers is never an exact science, though science does come into it. The ECB tracks overs bowled and bodies to manage their quicks, keeping tabs on things like “red zones” – when workloads reach a point that the likelihood of injury increases.The current era take on that information and are particularly meticulous when it comes to the real five-star pace merchants, like Archer and Wood. By and large, they have moved away from leaning heavily on those metrics in favour of a more personable approach.It gives players more agency over their fitness, which they prefer. What they can play through, what they know they should not.Though you wonder, in a series as big as this, ahead of an Ashes, if a player would wilfully pull themselves out of the firing line? Especially in a team moulded in the image of a captain who needed head coach Brendon McCullum and medical advice to sit out this one. Stepping aside would also risk losing that spot altogether. Ollie Pope almost found out when he handed the No. 3 position to Jacob Bethell for last year’s tour of New Zealand.There are different strands of the multiverse where Woakes does not damage his left shoulder. Or Brook holds onto Jaiswal for 20. Or even Dawson on 40. Or Crawley and Deep on 21 to nip a nightwatcher innings of 66 before it really ate away at the team’s souls.But the one strand of note, the one that got away well before this match begun, was a more considered plan with this attack. It is something they must get right come the Ashes this winter. Lessons should be learned from the last two months.Then again, they will also hope for some blind luck. Just look at India: they possess the one generational quick in the series, and have not won any of the three matches he has played. And they could not be happier with how things have panned out.

Which was the better Test – Sri Lanka beating South Africa in Colombo in 2006 or India thwarting Australia in Kolkata in 2001?

ESPNcricinfo staff22-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The IND-AUS 2001 Kolkata Test moves into the quarter-finals.Sri Lanka come out on top after final-day drama – Colombo (PSS), 2006The Test swung this way and that, till it came down to Farveez Maharoof, more than competent with the bat, and Lasith Malinga, not quite as adept, needing to score two runs to win the Test. They did, to earn Sri Lanka a one-wicket win and make it 2-0 for the series.South Africa chose to bat – who would want to bat last on a Sri Lankan pitch? And they got the biggest total of the match, 361. The fifth-wicket stand between Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers, worth 161, made it possible, despite Muthiah Muralidaran’s five-for.Sri Lanka didn’t stop too far away, at 321, but they had the century stand for the eighth wicket between Maharoof and Chaminda Vaas to thank for it even as Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini combined for nine wickets.When South Africa batted again, Muralidaran got seven, and South Africa got to 311, setting Sri Lanka 352 to win.Then, in a Test where all four innings crossed 300, Mahela Jayawardene scored the only century. But when he fell, Sri Lanka still had 11 runs to get, with three wickets in hand, but hope since Maharoof and Vaas were around. Vaas and Muralidaran fell, though, and then it was over to Maharoof to get the scores level, and Malinga to avoid a tie. He did. Driving Nicky Boje, who had taken four wickets in the innings, down the ground to finish the job.Australia fall at the Eden final frontier – Kolkata, 2001If someone came up with a script detailing this Test before it happened, it would have probably been rejected for being too unrealistic.A Test hat-trick against the world’s top side at the age of 20. A follow-on. A historic partnership to turn the tables. A record individual score by an Indian. And a thrilling end in front of packed stands to level the series and end Australia’s streak of 16 wins.But all of it did transpire.After Harbhajan Singh hurt Australia with a hat-trick on the first day, Steve Waugh scored his maiden Test century on Indian soil to lead his team to a strong 445. In reply, India were bundled for 171 and asked to follow-on.They were then 232 for 4 – still 42 behind – when VVS Laxman was joined by Rahul Dravid and the two of them played out the entire fourth day with strips of iced towels around their necks to beat the heat and humidity; they still needed attention from the physio from time to time.The two ended up seeing off nine bowlers with innings that were instantly stamped in the game’s history. Laxman’s 281 lasted ten-and-a half-hours, and Dravid’s 180 nearly seven-and-a-half. They set Australia a target of 384. Australia succumbed on the last day against India’s spinners as Harbhajan finished with a tally of 13 for 196.

Labuschagne’s recall looks certain but debate remains about where in the order he will bat

Andrew McGlashan21-Oct-2025

Steven Smith on Marnus Labuschagne: “I think my advice to him was stop thinking so technically, just go and play the game”•Getty Images

Steven Smith has revealed that Marnus Labuschagne told him before the season that he would be back in the Test side by the start of the Ashes.Though that decision has yet to be rubberstamped by the Australia selectors, Labuschagne is all-but certain to earn a recall having made two Sheffield Shield centuries in two matches – and four hundreds in five innings across the early domestic season – in a prolific return to form after being dropped in the West Indies earlier this year.”I sent him a message a couple of days ago saying how proud I was of him,” Smith said. “He’s just gone back and he’s got his fourth hundred in five hits. It’s a pretty big statement. He said to me at the start of the summer, he goes, ‘I’ll be in that Test team come the first [Ashes] Test’. He’s backed up his words, probably. He’s obviously not selected yet, [but] he’s done a lot of things right.”Related

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'Takes me two hits' – Smith already feels in the Ashes groove

During the first ODI against India, Labuschagne spoke about some of his struggles having come from getting “too deep” into his technique and “trying to be too perfect”, which echoes advice Smith had given him.”We’ve all been there [dropped] at some point in our careers and it’s difficult to hear it,” Smith said. “But I think he knew he probably wasn’t batting as well as he had been over probably four years ago when he was scoring a mountain of runs.”I think my advice to him was ‘stop thinking so technically, just go and play the game; watch the ball and react’. I think he’s been doing that really beautifully and he’s played so nicely.”While Labuschagne’s return looks certain, a significant question remains about where he bats in the order amid the ongoing debate around who opens alongside Usman Khawaja with Sam Konstas’ challenges continuing. Labuschagne was promoted to the top in the World Test Championship final against South Africa and there remains a realistic chance he will be asked to do it again.Steven Smith has been prolific since returning to No. 4•Associated Press

A large part of the final decision may revolve around how many overs the selectors are confident in Cameron Green getting through and whether Beau Webster’s bowling is also required.”He can open, as we saw in the Test championship final,” Smith said. “He can bat three. He’s versatile. We’ll see where it all stands when the team gets picked. I mean, it’s not too different to batting three, to be honest. He could be in first ball. So, it’s essentially the same thing.”I don’t think he needs to change anything if that’s the case. Just play the game, play how he has been, and see the ball hit it, and trust his instincts.”Smith, who had a four-Test stint as opener in early 2024 before returning to No. 4 last season where he averaged 53.27 against India and Sri Lanka, may also become part of the batting-order debate over whether he returns to No. 3.”I’m not too fussed, to be honest,” Smith said. “I’m happy kind of wherever. But, yeah, we’ll see what happens when the team’s picked where we’ll talk to the coaches and Patty [Cummins] and see where everyone fits in best, I suppose, and keep it as simple as that.”Sam Konstas is struggling to retain his Test place•Getty Images

With regards Konstas, who has made 4, 14, 0 and 53 in his four Shield innings of the season having scored a century for Australia A in India last month, Smith said there was a balance to strike for young players between overloading them with advice and allowing them to problem solve.”He’s obviously going through a bit of a period right now where he’s trying to figure out how he wants to play,” he said. “I think at times you’ve got to let these young players figure it out for themselves and find the way that they want to play. I think back to when I was young, I had to figure it out.”There were people that I could speak to, but ultimately you’re the one out in the middle playing. It’s your career and you need to figure out how you want to go about it. He’s so young, he’s got plenty of time to figure out how he wants to go.”From what I’ve seen, he’s got so much time as a batter when he’s facing fast bowling. That’s something you can’t really teach, so that’s a good starting point. Then there’s a few things that he has to obviously work on, but he’s a bright talent as we’ve seen and he’s got a bright future.”

Some of the best players in the world are in football’s engine room, possessing an array of qualities, whether that be protecting their defence, dictating the flow of the play or creating goalscoring opportunities for teammates.

With such a range of playing styles across the midfield spectrum, working out the best in this position can be an unenviable task. But we have given it a go anyway, with plenty of star power in this list of the top 15 midfielders in the world today.

Ranking factors

To help rank the players in order, we have considered the following criteria:

Current form – how well a player has performed in the past few months Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their teams’ performances Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others say about them

Rank

Player

Age

Club

Nation

Pedri

22

Barcelona

Spain

Jude Bellingham

22

Real Madrid

England

Moises Caicedo

24

Chelsea

Ecuador

Declan Rice

26

Arsenal

England

Vitinha

25

PSG

Portugal

Rodri

29

Man City

Spain

Jamal Musiala

22

Bayern Munich

Germany

Federico Valverde

27

Real Madrid

Uruguay

Dominik Szoboszlai

25

Liverpool

Hungary

Joao Neves

21

PSG

Portugal

Scott McTominay

28

Napoli

Scotland

Bruno Fernandes

31

Man Utd

Portugal

Kevin De Bruyne

34

Napoli

Belgium

Martin Odegaard

26

Arsenal

Norway

Florian Wirtz

22

Liverpool

Germany

15 Florian Wirtz Liverpool and Germany

Florian Wirtz had a magical couple of seasons with Bayer Leverkusen, which resulted in Liverpool spending an initial £100m on his services in 2025.

Despite often playing behind the main strikers, Wirtz is still a goal machine in attacking midfield. Still a youngster at 22, it is frightening to think where Wirtz could go if he can stay injury-free and adapt to the demands of English football.

However, so far, he has struggled in the Premier League, showing signs of brilliance in the Champions League.

14 Martin Odegaard Arsenal and Norway

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has had to battle back from numerous injury setbacks over the last 12 months.

In a way, his temporary unavailability to Mikel Arteta’s side only served to prove how vital he is to the Gunners, who suffered creatively during his absence in attacking midfield.

Labelled as “world class” by Paul Merson, the Arsenal star possessed the maturity and level of talent that handed him the captaincy, and could yet be the man to lead the Gunners to their next trophy under Arteta having continued to improve at the Emirates Stadium.

13 Kevin De Bruyne Napoli and Belgium

Kevin De Bruyne may well be past his peak, but he is still showing his world-class ability after leaving Man City for Serie A champions Napoli.

The 34-year-old still has what it takes to be a leading figure, whether that be at club or international level, and has already scored numerous goals and registered assists for his new employers.

12 Bruno Fernandes Man Utd and Portugal

Bruno Fernandes has been Man Utd’s shining light in recent memory, with the Portugal international arguably the only world-class player on the books at Old Trafford.

At his best in an attacking midfield role, Pep Guardiola has even called Fernandes one of the best creative players he has ever seen.

11 Scott McTominay Napoli and Scotland

Scott McTominay has shown Man Utd what they have been missing after leaving Old Trafford for Napoli in 2024.

The Scotland international starred in his first season in Italy, being named Serie A’s Most Valuable Player after helping Napoli to the title. His displays were even recognised at the 2025 Ballon d’Or, where he finished 18th and his sensational bicycle kick helped Scotland reach the World Cup.

10 Joao Neves PSG and Portugal

Joao Neves’ first full season at the Parc des Princes couldn’t have gone any better, playing regularly under Luis Enrique and lifting all there was to be won, including the Champions League.

The ball-playing midfielder was key to PSG’s success in Europe and has continued to star in the French capital, making his initial £50m move from Benfica look a real bargain.

9 Dominik Szoboszlai Liverpool and Hungary

As part of a relentless Liverpool side, Dominik Szoboszlai has become a giant in the Reds midfield. The Hungarian improved on his goal threat from his first season at Anfield, coming amid a slight change in position, showcasing his versatility in a more advanced role under Arne Slot.

Now looking right at home in England, Szoboszlai is on the path to greatness on Merseyside, with his manager labelling him as “unbelievable” amid his role in Liverpool comfortably sauntering to the Premier League title.

8 Federico Valverde Real Madrid and Uruguay

A versatile and clinical technician, Federico Valverde hardly looks out of place among the best in the game following his recent performances for Real Madrid.

An almost guaranteed starter for one of the best teams in the world, there’s little to suggest there is anything other than the highest respect from his manager, Carlo Ancelotti.

In fact, the Italian has dubbed the Uruguayan as “the most complete player in football”. As of now, it is difficult to picture a Real Madrid side succeeding without him, as displayed through his vital winner against Athletic Club as the team’s title bid looked set to fall flat.

7 Jamal Musiala Bayern Munich and Germany

Jamal Musiala’s rise to stardom in Germany has been a rapid one, while his prominence in a Bayern Munich side, of all sides, is an illustration of his current status in the game.

Being able to dominate games for the Bavarians or on the international stage for Die Mannschaft is a sign of his rightful place at the elite level.

Statistically one of the best chance creators in the league from midfield, Musiala will hope to continue to blossom under the wing of Vincent Kompany, having worked his way up to the top in a short space of time.

6 Rodri Man City and Spain

2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has unfortunately suffered some injury issues, but he is perhaps the epitome of someone who shapes how his team plays and performs, as illustrated by his long unbeaten run when starting for Manchester City, which came to an end after the 2024 FA Cup final.

Man City’s form – and season – fell apart following the Spaniard’s layoff, and there is arguably no player as good as he is in his position of defensive midfield. But having been out for so long, he perhaps relies on returning to top form to reclaim his place as the best midfielder in the game.

The World Series matchup is set.

After 2,430 total regular season games and 40 postseason games, the Dodgers and Blue Jays are the last two teams standing. The Dodgers defeated the Brewers in the championship series with a four-game sweep, while the Blue Jays outlasted the Mariners in Game 7 of the championship series. Both teams will now look to add another World Series title to their collections.

Before the World Series gets underway on Friday, here is a look at the postseason schedule.

When do the 2025 MLB playoffs start?

The 2025 MLB playoffs began on Sept. 30, just two days after the regular season ended on Sept. 28. The World Series will begin on Oct. 24, and could run to Nov. 1 if the series takes seven games.

How are the MLB playoffs structured?

A total of 12 teams make the MLB playoffs each year, with six teams each from the National League and American League. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds from both leagues get byes through the wild-card round. In the wild-card round, the No. 4 seed faces the No. 5 seed while the No. 3 seed takes on the No. 6 seed.

The wild card is a best-of-three format and the division series is best-of-five games. Both the Championship Series and World Series are best-of-seven game series. In each round, the higher seed hosts at least the first two games of the series.

Full 2025 MLB playoff schedule

Wild Card SeriesTuesday, Sep. 30

Game 1: Tigers 2, Guardians 1
Game 1: Cubs 3, Padres 1
Game 1: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1
Game 1: Dodgers 10, Reds 5

Wednesday, Oct. 1

Game 2: Guardians 6, Tigers 1
Game 2: Padres 3, Cubs 0
Game 2: Yankees 4, Red Sox 3
Game 2: Dodgers 8, Reds 4

Thursday, Oct. 2

Game 3: Tigers 6, Guardians 3
Game 3: Cubs 3, Padres 1
Game 3: Yankees 4, Red Sox 0

Division SeriesSaturday, Oct. 4

Game 1: Brewers 9, Cubs 3
Game 1: Blue Jays 10, Yankees 1
Game 1: Dodgers 5, Phillies 3
Game 1: Tigers 3, Mariners 2

Sunday, Oct. 5

Game 2: Blue Jays 13, Yankees 7
Game 2: Mariners 3, Tigers 2

Monday, Oct. 6

Game 2: Dodgers 4, Phillies 3
Game 2: Brewers 7, Cubs 3

Tuesday, Oct. 7

Game 3: Mariners 8, Tigers 4
Game 3: Yankees 9, Blue Jays 6

Wednesday, Oct. 8

Game 4: Tigers 9, Mariners 3
Game 3: Cubs 4, Brewers 3
Game 4: Yankees 5, Blue Jays 2
Game 3: Phillies 8, Dodgers 2

Thursday, Oct. 9

Game 4: Dodgers 2, Phillies 1
Game 4: Cubs 6, Brewers 0

Friday, Oct. 10

Game 5: Mariners 3, Tigers 2

Saturday, Oct. 11

Game 5: Brewers 3, Cubs 1

Championship Series

Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 were played in Toronto for the ALCS, while. Games 3, 4, and 5 were in Seattle for the ALCS. Games 1 and 2 of the NLCS were held in Milwaukee, while Los Angeles hosted the final two games of the series.

ALCS: Mariners vs. Blue Jays

Game 1: Mariners 3, Blue Jays 1
Game 2: Mariners 10, Blue Jays 3
Game 3: Blue Jays 13, Mariners 4
Game 4: Blue Jays 8, Mariners 2
Game 5: Mariners 6, Blue Jays 2
Game 6: Blue Jays 6, Mariners 2
Game 7: Blue Jays 4, Mariners 3

NLCS: Dodgers vs. Brewers

Game 1: Dodgers 2, Brewers 1
Game 2: Dodgers 5, Brewers 1
Game 3: Dodgers 3, Brewers 1
Game 4: Dodgers 5, Brewers 1

World Series: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays

Games 1, 2, 6 and 7* of the World Series will take place in Toronto, while Games 3, 4, and 5 will be held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. All games will begin at 8 p.m. ET.

Game 1: Blue Jays 11, Dodgers 4
Game 2: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 1
Game 3: Dodgers 6, Blue Jays 5
Game 4: Blue Jays 6, Dodgers 2
Game 5: Blue Jays 6, Dodgers 1
Game 6: Dodgers 3, Blue Jays 1
Game 7: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 4

MatériaMais Notícias

Segundo apurações da ‘Revista Colorada’, Oscar, jogador do Shanghai Port, da China, está cada vez mais próximo do Flamengo e equipes já avançaram negociações. O atleta tem vínculo com o bicampeão da Superliga Chinesa até novembro de 2024.

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

 O meia de 32 anos já tinha acerto verbal desde dezembro de 2023, mas não conseguiu a liberação do time chinês. Agora próximo do final do contrato, Marcos Braz, vice-presidente de futebol do Flamengo, tentará de vez a contratação do meia. Ambos têm uma excelente relação, além de possuir o aval de Tite, técnico do rubro-negro, o que impulsiona ainda mais a negociação.

➡️ A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

Além do clube carioca, Eduardo Coudet, técnico do Internacional, falou sobre o desejo de trazer o jogador, após a partida contra o São Luiz, pelo Campeonato Gaúcho, e acredita que o ex-colorado pode reforçar o clube.

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– Eu quero trazer ele. Não estou tão errado em buscar. Já falei com o empresário que quero o Oscar. É o mesmo do Thiago Maia, já não me aguenta mais. Me pedem que eu não fale, mas às vezes falo demais – afirmou Coudet.

Oscar chegou no Shanghai na temporada 2016/17 e atuou em 216 partidas, além de marcar 63 gols e dar 114 assistências.

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