What We Learned From Dodgers’ Masterful Win Over Blue Jays in Game 2 of World Series

The Blue Jays’ 11–4 blowout win over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 2025 World Series on Friday night turned into a laugher. Game 2 was anything but.

In a pitcher’s duel between Toronto veteran Kevin Gausman and Los Angeles ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers separated themselves with two big blasts by Will Smith and Max Muncy in the seventh inning. It was enough for Los Angeles to ride Yamamoto’s right arm the rest of the way for a 5–1 win to even up the World Series at one game apiece.

The World Series now shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3. But before it does, let’s take a look at what we learned from Game 2:

An October legend in the making

A star is born.

The last time Yamamoto took the hill in a playoff game, he allowed just one run in a complete game to lead the Dodgers to a 5–1 win over the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS. He did it again Saturday night on baseball’s biggest stage.

Yamamoto allowed just one run on four hits over nine innings with eight strikeouts against the Blue Jays in Game 2. He’s the first pitcher to log back-to-back complete games in the postseason since Curt Schilling did it for the Diamondbacks in 2001.

He’s also the first pitcher to log a complete game in the World Series since Royals righthander Johnny Cueto in 2015.

Yamamoto found himself in trouble early, allowing at least one baserunner in the first three innings, and the Blue Jays got one run across on a sacrifice fly in the third. But he was lights out the rest of the evening, retiring 20 straight batters from the third inning to when Daulton Varsho popped out to end the game.

In two career World Series starts, Yamamoto has surrendered just two total runs on five hits with 12 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings—adding up to a 1.17 ERA.

Gettin’ jiggy wit it

Entering Game 2, Dodgers catcher Will Smith had nine hits in this postseason run, but all nine were singles. He added another base knock in the first inning off Gausman—one that brought in the first run of the game—but Smith saved the biggest swing of the Dodgers’ postseason run for the seventh.

With one out in the inning, Smith squared up a 3–2 fastball and sent it 404 feet into the upper deck in left field for a 2–1 lead.

Smith’s timely hitting calmed concerns about the Dodgers’ offense. There’s not much to complain about Los Angeles’s 9–2 record this postseason, but it’s been on the backs of an elite pitching staff. The Dodgers are batting just .230 with runners in scoring position this postseason, and most of that damage was done in a two-game sweep over the Reds in the wild-card round.

The Dodgers’ offense woke up in Game 2. Bad news for Toronto.

Lights weren’t too bright for Gausman

Thirteen seasons and 373 career appearances in the big leagues later, 34-year-old Kevin Gausman toed the rubber in a World Series game for the first time Saturday night.

Gausman, in his fourth campaign with the Blue Jays, saw Toronto’s previous two playoff runs in 2022 and ‘23 end with a sweep in the wild-card round, and last year was a 74–88 dud—seasons he called “heartbreaking” and a “punch in the face,” according to Fox Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal. Well, on Saturday night, Gausman punched back.

The veteran surrendered one run in the first inning on Will Smith’s RBI single before locking in and dominating for much of the night. Gausman didn’t allow a single baserunner until Smith and Max Muncy went yard in the seventh, retiring 17 consecutive batters in that span. In all, Gausman allowed three earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts and no walks in 6 2/3 innings—his longest career postseason appearance.

Maqsood, MacGregor seal rare Essex victory

Surenkumar makes fighting fifty in rain-affected run-chase at Edgbaston Community Ground

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay07-Sep-2025Essex secured some belated joy from their disappointing Metro Bank Women’s One-Day Cup campaign with a 31-run (DLS) victory over Warwickshire at the Edgbaston Community Sports Ground.Put in, the visitors totalled 235 for seven from 32 overs either side of a long rainstorm which arrived in the 13th over. Jo Gardner top-scored with 47 (34 balls) while Bears captain Georgia Davis took four for 35.Facing a revised DLS target of 232 from 32 overs, Warwickshire mustered only 204 for eight in murky light despite an accomplished maiden half-century from 18-year-old Amu Surenkumar (56, 54). Her team-mates were unpicked by an attack led by Abtaha Maqsood (three for 34) and Esmae MacGregor (three for 38) as Essex recorded only their second win in 12 50-over games this season.On a gloomy morning at Portland Road, Essex got off to a flier as opening batters Ariana Dowse (36, 44) and Grace Scrivens added 67 from 61 balls before falling in successive overs just before the rain. Scrivens chipped Phoebe Brett to mid off before Dowse nicked a waft at Davis to wicketkeeper Nat Wraith.After a lengthy interruption, Essex resumed with only 32 overs now at their disposal and again lost wickets in consecutive overs. Sophia Smale lifted Hannah Baker to long off and Fiona Miller missed a sweep and was lbw to Davis.Jodi Grewcock (39, 34) and Gardner restored some momentum with a stand of 69 in 49 balls before Davis hit Grewcock’s middle stump through an attempted cut. Six balls later, Warwickshire’s captain was at long off to take a catch sent up by Gardner off Surenkumar who repaid her skipper in the next over by catching Eva Gray at long off to supply Davis’ fourth wicket.Essex needed some late impetus and Sophie Munro (36, 19) and Amara Carr (17, 12) provided it with a punchy unbroken stand of 55 from the last 29 balls.Warwickshire’s reply began briskly with a stand of 40 in six overs between Meg Austin and Bethan Ellis but they both fell, bowled and lbw respectively, to lovely, flighted deliveries by Maqsood. Munro quickly followed up with the big wicket of Davina Perrin who chopped to backward point.Surenkumar and Abbey Freeborn added 52 in 50 balls before the latter walked across her stumps to sweep MacGregor who hit the exposed timber. Much depended on Surenkumar who hit a six and five fours on her way to a run-a-ball half-century but when she swung Maqsood to deep mid-wicket, Warwickshire’s lower order needed to find 73 from 44 balls. The departure of Issy Wong, who lifted Munro to long leg, left Essex to ease home to a rare victory.

Not Eze & Gyokeres: Arsenal pair look like the best since Bergkamp & Henry

Being the massive club they are, Arsenal have been blessed with truly world-class players over the years, players who have formed sensational partnerships.

One of the best examples of this has to be Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, who, to many fans, remain the greatest ever to don the Gunners’ famous red and white.

The pair played 216 competitive matches together from the 99/00 to 05/06 season in which they combined for 20 goals, averaged 2.10 points per game and, most crucially, won two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups and two Community Shields.

The dynamic duo were the faces of Arsenal’s most successful era, and it now looks like Mikel Arteta might have created the club’s best pairing since them – and no, it’s not the summer signings of Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres.

Why Eze & Gyokeres could be a brilliant duo for Arsenal

They might not be the pairing in question, nor are they even all that in sync at the moment, but there is every chance that Gyokeres and Eze could become a formidable duo for Arsenal by the season’s end.

Chalkboard

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

One reason is the Swede’s positioning and the impact he has on opposition defenders.

For example, while he is most certainly still finding his feet in the Premier League and hasn’t quite found his shooting boots, it’s becoming increasingly clear that when he’s leading the line, he drags opposition defenders towards him.

Unlike Kai Havertz’s last season, who liked to drop deep and link play, the former Sporting CP star is playing more like a traditional nine, and thanks to his runs in behind and imposing strength, is stretching defences.

This, in turn, makes space for his teammates like Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Eze, who should become more effective at exploiting that space the more comfortable he becomes playing in the right eight for the Gunners.

Another reason the two summer signings could form a brilliant partnership is down to the Englishman’s ability to move the ball up the pitch.

After all, with Gyokeres spending more time in and around the penalty area than Havertz did last season, the Gunners need to get the ball to him, and that is something a fully up-to-speed Eze should be able to do.

Shots Total

3.31

Top 1%

SCA (Shot)

0.83

Top 1%

% of Dribblers Tackled

100.0%

Top 1%

Shots on Target

1.16

Top 4%

Pass Completion %

80.9%

Top 4%

GCA (Shot)

0.17

Top 4%

Pass Completion % (Medium)

84.7%

Top 8%

Successful Take-On %

58.8%

Top 8%

Assists

0.33

Top 12%

Through Balls

0.66

Top 12%

Touches (Mid 3rd)

21.88

Top 12%

Passes Attempted (Medium)

14.09

Top 15%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.50

Top 15%

For example, FBref ranked him in the top 8% of players in the league this season for successful take-on percentage, the top 12% for assists and through balls and the top 15% for goal-creating actions, all per 90.

In other words, the former Palace star is someone who can and will get the ball to Gyokeres in dangerous areas this season, and will only get better at it as he further beds into the team.

With all that said, while the summer signings could well become a game-changing pair this season, Arteta already has a truly world-class duo in his side today.

Arsenal's world-class duo

Some impressive partnerships are beginning to form for Arsenal this season, such as Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber and Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori, but the best of the lot is undoubtedly the one between William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.

After all, while the wide players are hugely important to the Gunners, their most significant strength is, without question, their incredible solidity at the back, which stems from the centre-backs more than anyone else.

For example, as things stand, the North Londoners have not conceded a single goal in the Champions League or League Cup, and have let in just three in the Premier League, one of which is that outrageous free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai.

If the Gunners keep up their incredible efforts at the back, they stand a brilliant chance of beating Chelsea’s astonishing record of just 15 goals conceded in the 04/05 season.

Also, while the two centre-backs haven’t played all ten league games together this season, they have made eight appearances as a duo.

With that said, what is their overall record when playing together?

Well, across all competitions, the Frenchman and Brazilian have appeared in 126 games alongside one another, in which the Gunners have conceded 115 goals, combined for one goal and averaged an impressive 2.15 points per game.

And if that is not enough, before the Palace game on Sunday, the pair had made 93 league appearances together, during which they’ve conceded 0.78 goals per game, putting them as the sixth-best centre-back pairing in Premier League history.

However, given they’ve taken another massive step forward this season, it doesn’t feel unrealistic that they could eventually replace Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić at the top of that table one day, as their average of 0.71 goals conceded a game isn’t that much better.

Ferdinand & Vidic

120

0.71

Keown & Adams

97

0.73

Campbell & Toure

59

0.73

Terry & Carvalho

85

0.76

Lescott & Kompany

58

0.76

Gabriel & Saliba

93

0.78

Van Dijk & Matip

72

0.81

Ultimately, with how well they’ve already played together, how much more impressive they’ve been this season and their ages, there is every chance that by the time they leave the club, Gabriel and Saliba could be viewed as Arsenal’s greatest ever duo.

Forget Eze: Arsenal's 8/10 star is becoming Arteta's most important player

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 27, 2025

Pollard-powered Knight Riders get past Kings after David dismissal sparks debate

It was one of those moments. Tim David, one of the best when it comes to smashing a lot of runs in not many balls, seemed to miss with a big swing against an over-pitched Mohammad Amir delivery. The Trinbago Knight Riders boys heard an edge. Nicholas Pooran reviewed. Replays showed a gap between bat and ball, but Snicko showed a spike.David had to go. That left St Lucia Kings at 113 for 4 in 14-and-a-half overs, their finisher gone in a chase of 184. Despite the best efforts from the remaining batters, they fell 18 short in their CPL 2025 game in Gros Islet.It would, however, be unfair to say Knight Riders weren’t deserving winners. Having won one and lost one that they might have won in their season so far, they came into this game determined to notch up another two points, none of them more than Kieron Pollard, who had fluffed his lines so badly in the previous game.Kieron Pollard smashed 65 off just 29 balls•CPL T20 via Getty Images

After they were sent in, Knight Riders got an excellent start courtesy their form batter, Colin Munro, despite Alex Hales’s struggles. Hales was the first to go after scoring 10 in eight balls, but Munro made sure the opening wicket was worth 47 runs in 4.1 overs, and Knight Riders ended the powerplay with 58 on the board.Munro scored 43 in 30 balls, and Pooran chipped in with 34 in 30 balls, but it was really down to Pollard’s statement innings – 65 in 29 balls – that pushed Knight Riders to what eventually proved to be a winning total.Pollard walked out at 78 for 3 in the 11th over, hammered six sixes and four fours, with David Wiese, the opposition captain, picked for special treatment – 24 runs, including three sixes in a row in the 17th over the highlight. Though Pollard fell in the 19th, in a one-run over from Oshane Thomas against the run of play, he had done enough to give Knight Riders the advantage.Johnson Charles and Tim Seifert put together 74 for the first wicket•CPL T20 via Getty Images

Kings weren’t to be outdone just yet. Tim Seifert, with 35 in 24 balls, and Johnson Charles, with 47 in 37 balls, gave the chase a rollicking start. They scored 60 in the powerplay and motored along to 74 before Seifert fell in the ninth over.They needed someone to keep the momentum going, but Roston Chase wasn’t the man for the job on the day. David might have been but couldn’t be. In the end, the onus was on the lower-middle order to do the heavy lifting.Delano Potgieter and Ackeem Auguste did play handy cameos, but Kings needed someone to bat on and finish the game. They did not come close to the finish line by the time Russell had delivered the final over.The win lifted Knight Riders to third place, with four points from three games, the same as second-placed Guyana Amazon Warriors and fourth-placed St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, while Kings were at fifth.

Crystal Palace receive massive fine after fans display offensive banner aimed at Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis

Crystal Palace have received a massive fine after being charged by the FA for an offensive banner aimed towards Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. Forest capitalised upon Palace's demotion to the UEFA Conference League due to breaches surrounding multi-club ownership. The Reds took the Eagles' place in the Europa League with Eagles fans blaming Marinakis for the demotion.

  • Getty Images Sport

    Trophy haul dampened by demotion

    Palace booked a Europa League spot having beaten Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May. Eberechi Eze's first half strike at Wembley was enough to separate the two sides as the south London side secured their first major piece of silverware in their history.

    The Eagles then won the Community Shield against Liverpool in the Premier League's curtain raiser in August but the trophy successes were overshadowed by Palace's demotion to the UEFA Conference League. The south London side appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but were left frustrated as the CAS sided with UEFA.

    "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed an appeal by Crystal Palace FC (CPFC) against UEFA, Nottingham Forest FC and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) concerning a decision by UEFA to remove CPFC from the UEFA Europa League 2025/2026 due to a breach of UEFA multi club ownership regulations. As a result, CPFC will be admitted to compete in the UEFA Conference League 2025/2026," a CAS statement read in August.

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  • Forest capitalised to take Palace's Europa League place

    Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season, were therefore handed Palace's Europa League spot. And Palace fans believe that Forest owner Marinakis is responsible for for their relegation to the Conference League.

    Forest faced Palace at Selhurst Park in August as the pair played out a 1-1 draw after Callum Hudson-Odoi cancelled out Ismaila Sarr's first half opener for the home side. The game, though, was overshadowed by a banner unfurled by the Palace 'ultras' in the Holmesdale Stand that read: "Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption."

    The banner itself also included a caricature version of Marinakis holding a gun to the head of Morgan Gibbs-White. Gibbs-White saw a move to Tottenham fall through over the summer after Spurs had triggered the midfielder's release clause. The East Midlands side complained to the Premier League about the transfer, while Gibbs-White signed a new deal with Forest following conversations with Marinakis.

  • Getty Images Sport

    FA charge Palace for banner

    Forest and owner Marinakis were furious as they felt the banner was inflammatory and xenophobic, and were angered at Palace, who they feel should have done more to ensure their fans weren't allowed to bring the banner into the stadium. The FA launched an investigation after the game and the Eagles have since been charged.

    "Crystal Palace has been charged with misconduct in relation to its Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, August 24," a statement by the FA read.

    "It’s alleged that the club failed to ensure its spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) didn’t behave in an improper, offensive, abusive, insulting and/or provocative way during the fixture."

    Palace now have until next Tuesday to respond having received a six-figure fine.

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  • Both sides in European action this week

    Both Forest and Palace are in European action on Thursday night as they look to build upon contrasting results in their most recent round of Europa League and Conference League fixtures, respectively.

    Forest face Austrian side Sturm Graz on the back of their 2-0 win over FC Porto last week in what was Sean Dyche's first game in charge following his City Ground appointment. Dyche's side then face Leeds ahead of the November international break with the 54-year-old looking to secure his first league win as Forest boss having followed up a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth with a 2-2 draw with Manchester United last weekend.

    Palace, meanwhile, host Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in a bid to quickly move on from their surprise 1-0 home loss to AEK Larnaca before their A23 showdown with rivals Brighton on Sunday.

Joe Root relishes chance to make history as latest Ashes shot looms

Former captain says circumstances for this year’s trip are ‘completely different’ from Covid tour of 2021-22

Vithushan Ehantharajah08-Oct-2025″Maybe it is,” laughs Joe Root, when asked if Matthew Hayden’s threat to walk naked across the Melbourne Cricket Ground is extra pressure on his shoulders.As Root heads into his fourth Ashes tour, Hayden has backed him to end his wait for a century on Australian shores. His previous 27 innings, dating back to 2013, have produced just nine fifties, but Hayden is so certain that that drought is about to end, he is willing to don his birthday suit for a stroll across the iconic ground if it doesn’t.Hayden’s comments on the “All Over Bar The Cricket” podcast came after co-host Greg Blewett had omitted Root from a combined Ashes XI for lacking in the hundred column. Both perspectives hint at a simple truth; the success of Test cricket’s second-highest runscorer correlates directly to England’s best chance Down Under since their famous 2010-11 success.It is a sentiment Root acknowledges to be true. But he is reluctant to ascribe his own legacy to England’s fortunes. Nor is he willing to dwell on the words of former Australians.”They are going to say what they want to say anyway, so why bother worrying about it?” Root says, matter-of-factly. “It doesn’t make a huge amount of difference. When we look back in five years’ time, no one is going to remember what Matthew Hayden said to me … Greg Blewett, Mark Waugh, whoever it is. They are going to look back on the scoreline and think that is a historic England win or not.”At the end of the day, this tour is not about me. If I am scoring runs and scoring heavily it gives us a great opportunity to win a series out in Australia. That is the main focus.”A narrower focus has paid dividends so far. Since relinquishing the captaincy in 2022 to Ben Stokes, Root has averaged 58.00 (lifting his career average to 51.29 in the process), with 14 hundreds converted from the 27 times he has passed fifty. Beyond scoring quicker – his strike-rate is 66.89 across this period – there is an evident sense of joy in his batting.Joe Root passes on some tips at an RBC skill share day•Chance to ShineThough he has been part of two successful home Ashes campaigns in 2013 and 2015, it is a joy the Australian public has not witnessed first-hand. Root’s maiden tour in 2013-14 resulted in him being dropped for the only time in his career as he averaged 27.42 amidst a 5-0 capitulation, before he captained successive 4-0 defeats, averaging 47.25 and 32.20, respectively.Root insists the burden of leadership did not contribute to his failings. But he was certainly hamstrung by situations around both tours.”I go there in a completely different capacity to last time, different circumstances, a lot more experience now and I feel like I have a really good understanding of my game and how I want to manage it in these conditions,” he says. “If I focus on that sort of stuff more than myself and my own individual stuff, I will give myself a way better chance.”The most recent tour, in 2021-22, came during the Covid-19 pandemic. Fears about touring among the England team – Root included – became a reality, as both sides felt the effects of the virus. Despite the severe restrictions of their trip, positive tests and forced isolations became a regular occurrence, with visiting head coach Chris Silverwood forced to miss the Sydney Test after a family member became England’s seventh Covid-19 case. Stuart Broad later suggested the tour should be considered “void”, feeling the burden on the players did not lend itself to “high-level performance”.Broad, having signed off his career in style at the end of the 2023 Ashes, will be out in Australia this time as a commentator for Channel Seven and SEN. “It’s not really in Stuart’s nature to wind up Australians is it?” Root jokes. “I’m sure he’ll be really well behaved.” Regardless of what extra support he may have from the commentary box, Root – now back in the ranks – urges his teammates make the most of this trip following that previous, chastening experience.”Are we going to be allowed out of our rooms? Is everyone going to make the plane? It is a completely different set of circumstances for everyone involved on that tour. There are so many different things they don’t have to deal with now.”I am really going to encourage the lads to really enjoy Australia as a country,” he adds. “Anyone that was on that previous tour didn’t get the chance to do that. It is a great place to go and play cricket and have the pleasure of visiting. We should absolutely go and explore it, and see all of the great things that come with being an international cricketer and playing in that country.”Root has struggled to produce his very best on his previous tours of Australia•Steve Bell/Getty ImagesRoot is one of five returning players this time around, along with Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Mark Wood and, of course, Stokes. The allrounder’s participation in 2021-22 was only confirmed late in the day, as he returned from a mental health break, having also struggled with a badly broken finger. Four years earlier, he had missed the 2017-18 campaign due to an ECB suspension, following his involvement in a fight outside a Bristol nightclub in September 2017.There is an argument to be made that this iteration of Stokes will be the best to touch down in Australia, even as he recovers from a right shoulder injury. Though he impressed on his first trip as a 22-year-old debutant in 2013-14, making a brilliant maiden century at Perth before taking 6 for 99 in Sydney, he has yet to show the Australian public the fruits of that early promise.It was only this summer, aged 34, that Stokes bettered that first series haul of 15 dismissals, claiming 17 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. And having seemingly rediscovered his verve with the bat – averaging 43.42 against India – Root believes form and leadership has forged a more complete Stokes.”He’s not really had many opportunities to be (himself in Australia) really, has he?” he says.”He’ll be ready. You look at him when he’s been running around at different county grounds, he’s making sure he’s absolutely ready. I’ve never seen him (like this)… making sure he’s done absolutely everything he can to be as fit as he can possibly be, as mentally ready, and as hungry as he is.Related

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“For him to be going out there as our leader of the back, off a series where he’s got the most wickets he’s ever got in a Test series, off the back of a Test hundred as well, and playing really well with the bat. In conditions which, I think, really suit the way he plays cricket; the bounce of the ball as a batter, and the way he combats pace. Clearly as a bowler, what he has to work with there, and his mentality and physicality, I think he’s got great attributes to exploit the conditions there.”So as a player alone, I think it’s going to be huge that he’s out there, he’s fit and he’s firing. But more so as a leader, and his mentality in bringing the best out of the players around him.”Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Stokes’ inspirational qualities is that, for the past two years, he has been moulding a new group of players. Only eight of the touring party played in 2023’s home Ashes, three of whom will be on their first Test tour of Australia. Yet, there are no fears that they will be overawed.Root points to big series such as 2023, and the India series – both at the start of 2024 and in the summer just gone – in which players have experienced high-pressure moments, irrespective of the fact that England have yet to win a five-Test series under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.He cites the struggles individuals have had – “a number of guys have had to weather a small storm in their career” – that will hold them in good stead for what, ultimately, is a bucket-list tour. One of the most important of their collective careers.Joe Root and Ben Stokes will be looking to right the wrongs of previous tours of Australia•Getty ImagesIndeed, Root’s biggest excitement comes from what some of those first-timers will provide – namely the pace of Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue. England may well roll out their fastest-ever combination for a Test match in Australia, when the teams line up for the opener at Perth’s Optus Stadium on November 21.”We’re going to be able to hit them with something quite different in terms of our bowling attack,” he says. “The opportunity to potentially play three or four bowlers that bowl 90mph-plus for a sustained period of time, which we haven’t had on the three previous tours there. And a batting order that is always going to look to put pressure on the opposition.”It’s not like we are going to go there with the same formula and expect different results. We are going to go there and try and do it a slightly different way which I think is really exciting. And the way we’ve been playing lines up well with how we want to go and attack all those conditions.”There are not many teams that can offer that when they go to Australia. The one team that has previously, recently anyway, is India and they’re the ones that have had the most success there. It’ll be interesting to see how that correlates with how we go about things.”This seam attack is a change from the norm, and very much by design. The onus on speed, which essentially brought an end to James Anderson’s career last year, has been driven by the desires of Stokes, McCullum and managing director Rob Key to form a battery of quicks capable of challenging all comers in all conditions – even in England, with the management ordering flatter pitches for their batters which require bowlers of sharper speeds and skills to take 20 wickets.Seamers have enjoyed more success in Australia in recent seasons, which heightens the sense that bowlers on both sides will be a determining factor this winter. “It looks like they’re slightly more bowler-friendly since Pat (Cummins) has been captain!” Root says of the pitches, tongue firmly in cheek.Of course, even with Australia’s struggles over the identity of their top three, and increasing uncertainty around Cummins’ back injury, nothing is being taken for granted. Particularly given England have not won a Test over there since 2011.”Clearly they’re a very good team. They’ve got a brilliant record at home against everyone but especially against us. I think it’s just a great oppportunity to go in, probably as big underdogs, and show them what we can do.”It’d be nice to put that right and bring the urn home. I just see it as a great opportunity for the group. There’s no other way to look at it, really. It’s exciting that we can go there with a completely different approach and just enjoy what a brilliant tour it is.”Just soak it all in, expect a little bit of ‘abuse’ or ‘banter’. It could be six weeks that live long in the memory if we get it right.”Joe Root was speaking as a brand ambassador for RBC Wealth Management, who are the Community Leadership Partner of children’s cricket charity Chance to Shine. He was speaking at an RBC skill share day, designed to develop the leadership skills and confidence of secondary school girls.

Saiba quando foi a última derrota do Grêmio como mandante para o Estudiantes

MatériaMais Notícias

Sonhando com a primeira colocação em seu grupo na Libertadores, o Grêmio encara, na noite deste sábado (8), às 19h, o Estudiantes-ARG, no Couto Pereira, em Curitiba. Se vencer, o Imortal garante a primeira posição, e tem um excelente retrospecto a seu favor. Confira as informações!

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A última derrota em casa

A última vez que o Grêmio perdeu para o Estudiantes jogando em solo brasileiro, aconteceu pela Supercopa Libertadores de 1989, no Olímpico, em outubro de 1989. Na ocasião, Mario Cariaga, aos 37 do segundo tempo, marcou o Gil solitário da partida. De lá pra cá, foram três jogos com mando do Grêmio, com três vitórias do Imortal, em 1990, 1997 e 2018.

Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto do Brasil com o México (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

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Grêmio x Estudiantes-ARG – Libertadores

🗓️Data e horário:sábado, 8 de junho de 2024, às 19h (hora de Brasília)
📍Local:Estádio Couto Pereira, em Curitiba
📺Onde assistir: Paramount+
🟨 Árbitro e assistentes: não divulgado

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

Provável escalação do Grêmio:Marchesin; João Pedro, Rodrigo Ely, Kannemann e Reinaldo; Dodi, Pepê, Cristaldo, Everton Galdino e Soteldo; Diego Costa.Técnico: Renato Portaluppi.

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Southee – New Zealand's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, and a champion six-hitter

The retiring Tim Southee’s Test career, in numbers

Sampath Bandarupalli17-Dec-2024391 – Wickets for Tim Southee in his 107-Test career. He signs off as the second-highest wicket-taker for New Zealand, next only to Richard Hadlee’s 431.15 – Southee’s five-wicket hauls in Tests, the third-highest for New Zealand, behind Hadlee (36) and Daniel Vettori (20).234 – Wickets for Southee in home Tests, the most on New Zealand soil. Hadlee (201) is the only other bowler with 200-plus Test wickets in New Zealand.ESPNcricinfo Ltd5 – Bowlers with more wickets in Test cricket than Southee’s 391 since his debut in March 2008. Only two of these are quick bowlers: James Anderson (635) and Stuart Broad (600).47 – Test wins for Southee, the most for a New Zealand player. Ross Taylor, Tom Latham and Kane Williamson follow him with 44 wins each.His 107 Test appearances place him in fourth place for New Zealand, behind Vettori (112), Taylor (112) and Stephen Fleming (111).280 – Wickets for Southee across the 63 Tests he played between August 2012 and November 2021. He averaged 25.45 and struck once every 53.3 balls in this period. Only R Ashwin (388 wickets at 23.69 and a strike rate of 51.7) picked up more wickets in that period than Southee with an average below 26 and a strike rate of under 55.ESPNcricinfo Ltd98 – Sixes hit by Southee in his Test career, which is a tie for the fourth-highest. He finished with the same number as Chris Gayle and only behind Ben Stokes (133), Brendon McCullum (107) and Adam Gilchrist (100).His 98 sixes are by far the most for any player while batting at No. 8 or lower.He hit nine sixes in his debut Test against England, which is the highest by any batter on Test debut.82.68 – Southee’s batting strike rate in Test cricket is the third-best for any batter with 2000-plus runs (where balls-faced data is available). Only Harry Brook (88.37) and Ben Duckett (85.88) have better strike rates.29 – Balls Southee needed for his half-century in his debut Test, against England in Napier in 2008. It is the fastest-recorded fifty by a batter in his debut Test, bettering Desmond Haynes’ record, off 38 balls.Two players since then have made quicker half-centuries on debut than Haynes – Luke Ronchi and Jacob Bethell, both off 37 deliveries – but no-one has come close to Southee’s mark.

Sam Robson, Joe Cracknell crack Sussex with punishing stand

Middlesex coast to chase of 256 as visitors left light at Lord’s

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay10-Aug-2025

Sam Robson top-scored in Middlesex’s chase•Getty Images

Middlesex 256 for 5 (Robson 89, Cracknell 79) beat Sussex 255 for 9 (Carson 73, Hudson-Prentice 58) by five wicketsSam Robson and Joe Cracknell shared a blistering stand of 144 in 111 balls as Middlesex sped to victory over Sussex in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at Lord’s.Robson, in his benefit year with the Seaxes struck a run a ball 89, with 14 fours and a six, while Cracknell also cleared the ropes and hit 12 boundaries in his 78 as the hosts chased down a target of 256 with 25 balls to spare, despite 3 for 48 for Henry Crocombe.Earlier, Sussex’s total of 255-9 was built around half centuries from Jack Carson (73 from 58) and Fynn Hudson-Prentice (58 in 73). Noah Cornwell returned 3-50 while 18-year-old Jamie Feldman, making his List-A debut took a wicket with his second ball on route to figures of 2-36.Middlesex seized the initiative early thanks to Toby Roland-Jones’ double strike, Tom Haines caught at mid-on before Danial Ibrahim was trapped in front.Hudson-Prentice’s innings got off to a bizarre start when a quick single saw a shy at the stumps which hit the non-striker Tom Clark, the ricochet carrying the ball to the fence.The all-rounder almost played on to a ball from Cornwell, swatting the ball away from danger, but a lovely off-drive soon had him motoring, a Roland-Jones delivery nonchalantly flicked over the short boundary for six.Feldman then made a dramatic entrance, having Clark caught by skipper Ben Geddes and he struck for a second time to cut short Sussex skipper John Simpson’s breezy 22.Hudson-Prentice passed 50 in 61 balls, sharing a stand of 52 with Oli Carter before being superbly caught by Jack Davies and when Cornwell ended Carter’s promising innings three runs later the visitors were 152-6.The fact they batted out their overs was down almost entirely to Carson’s splendid innings. The all-rounder ruthlessly exploited the short boundary, endangering occupants of the Mound Stand on four occasions as he sprinted to 50 at more than a run a ball before finally perishing caught at cover in the penultimate over.By then Feldman had unfurled another party piece, brilliantly running out Danny Lamb with a direct hit.Middlesex lost De Caires lbw to Ari Karvelas early in the chase, but Robson and Cracknell responded with a boundary blitz, the former clubbing one from Hudson-Prentice over the ropes as well as creaming several fours effortlessly through the covers.Carson relieved the quicks only to be swept twice to the ropes by Cracknell, who followed that by dispatching one from Crocombe into the stands as 93 came from the powerplay.Cracknell’s ninth four took him to 50 in 33 balls and Robson’s half-century took only three more as the pair forged on.The Durham University graduate took a liking to the spin of Archie Lennon too, cutting successive balls behind square, and it needed Lamb to end his revelry courtesy of Haines’s catch on the square leg fence.While Robson became more circumspect, Geddes picked up the baton, clearing the ropes and driving Lamb to the cover fence, reaching 30 before Crocombe pegged back his off stump.When Robson followed him to the pavilion seven balls later courtesy of a magnificent diving catch by Lamb at mid-on there were jitters in the home dressing-room.Davies cleared the ropes only to perish to the next ball and with the visitors employing three slips runs slowed to a trickle.Hollman though steadied the ship with a mature unbeaten 30 to see the hosts over the line.

Dawid Malan departs Yorkshire by mutual consent

Former England batter looking for “fresh challenge” after six seasons with White Rose

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Nov-2025Former England batter Dawid Malan says he is looking for a “fresh challenge” after being released by Yorkshire following six seasons with the club.Malan, 38, came through at Middlesex before joining Yorkshire in 2020. He captained the club in the Blast last season, but despite leading the way with 365 runs at a strike rate of 156.65, could not prevent them from finishing second-bottom in the North Group.During his time at Headingley, Malan was Yorkshire’s second-leading run-scorer in T20, with 1642. He also scored 2014 runs at 54.43 in first-class cricket.”I have enjoyed six happy and successful seasons with Yorkshire, but feel now is the right time for the club to make a fresh start,” Malan said. “I am grateful to the general manager of cricket Gavin Hamilton and head coach Anthony McGrath for allowing me to seek a new challenge elsewhere.”Malan, who last played for England at the 2023 ODI World Cup, has extensive experience of the global T20 circuit, featuring in the PSL, BPL, SA20 and, most recently, the Nepal Premier League.He has also started to explore a media career, commentating on BBC radio during the summer.Hamilton said: “Dawid has been a consistent run-scorer across all formats, and will always be welcome at Headingley. We thank him for his very significant contribution in recent seasons, and we wish him well for the future.”