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Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki was called out on an unfortunately timed pitch clock violation during the first inning of Monday's game against the Kansas City Royals.

On Suzuki's first plate appearance, he fouled a pitch off himself, hitting his upper leg region in multiple spots while facing a full count. Suzuki then briefly walked away from the plate, as he appeared to be experiencing some discomfort. He was then ruled out for a pitch clock violation, the Cubs' third out of the game to end the first inning.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell did not seem happy with this decision, and came up onto the field to plead his case to the umpire. Suzuki was seemingly hurt after hitting himself with the foul, and likely should have been given that moment to re-gather himself instead of getting called out.

Fortunately, that missed opportunity doesn't appear to have cost the Cubs too much. Through three innings, the Cubs lead the Royals 4-1 thanks to a three-run home run from Matt Shaw and a solo home run from Carson Kelly.

He has been one of cricket’s most laidback vibes for years but in leadership is revealing some of his more intense, driven, and occasionally unforgiving forms

Andrew Fidel Fernando27-Jun-2025″Most teams sort of become an image of their captain, right?” These were the thoughts of Brendon McCullum, who over a 21-year career in international cricket has perhaps shaped the tenor of Test-match cricket more than any other single figure this century.Right now, this Sri Lanka Test team is being crafted by Dhananjaya de Silva. And his cricketing DNA and his vision for where the team could go are all over the enterprise. The team, increasingly, is becoming a reflection.For starters, there is an emphasis on utility. How many skills can you bring to the table is a primary question. De Silva frequently fields at slip himself, is the kind of captain who finds reasons to bowl his offspin, has just launched himself up the order to No. 4, and cannot stand letting a game drift. If wickets are not forthcoming, there is a new field in place, a new angle of attack he encourages, a fresh problem he puts in front of the batter to solve. There is, you sense, no play that he doesn’t want to be part of.Related

Sri Lanka focusing on better scoring rate, bowling more maidens this WTC cycle

Dhananjaya de Silva: SL missed 'big chance' to make WTC final

Hit the deck, break a neck, still no cheque: the quiet sacrifice of SL's red-ball quicks

Kusal Mendis counterattack balloons Sri Lanka's lead before Bangladesh collapse

It follows that this Sri Lanka XI for the Colombo Test has two spin-bowling allrounders, an opener and a No. 3 who can potentially keep wicket (Lahiru Udara stood in for 38.4 overs as Kusal Mendis was unavailable through injury). Then there is one frontline bowler who can bowl with either arm and can bat a bit, one top-order batter who bowls a bit with either arm, a left-arm seamer, a right-arm seamer, and a spin bowler who is frequently happy to strap the pads on and produce a brave showing as nightwatcher.This is, essentially, a team of generalists. If you’re going to specialise, buddy, you better be damn good at that one thing. The three single-discipline players – Pathum Nissanka, Vishwa Fernando and Asitha Fernando – have all acquitted themselves nicely in this match. It’s worth mentioning on Asitha and Vishwa’s behalf that de Silva has insisted that more seam bowlers play home Tests for Sri Lanka, despite having been blooded in a team that found seam bowling at home essentially redundant in the late 2010s.De Silva himself has not been in especially good batting form, but he has found ways to be central to Sri Lanka’s progress in this series. He has also been visibly more of a general than he has previously been. On day three, he took two vital wickets, pinning form batter Najmul Hossain Shanto in front of the stumps soon after having Mominul Haque caught at slip. He also dismissed Mominul in the first innings.De Silva began this WTC cycle by laying out to his team how intently he wanted them to get to the final•AFP/Getty ImagesDe Silva’s bowling is not especially menacing – he doesn’t get the kind of drift or the ragging turn, or possess the subtleties that might make him a wicket-taking option on flatter tracks. But on pitches that give him a little to work with – left-armers’ footmarks, a little dryness underneath the surface, a tackiness off the deck – he can find ways to strike. He already has more Test wickets than Angelo Mathews or Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lanka players he can be most readily compared to.This is the first World Test Championship [WTC] cycle he is in charge of from the beginning, so he seems especially intent on putting his mark on what he sees as a trophy campaign. Although for captains such as Ben Stokes, “there was nothing wrong with Test cricket before” the WTC, for the likes of de Silva, it has become a cycle to build an entire team identity around. In the first two Tests of this cycle, there have been three debutants. Milan Rathnayake, another allrounder, may not have been elevated to international cricket as he has had de Silva not been a key decision-maker.De Silva himself had revealed that he told his team how close they had been to the last WTC final, and how intently he wanted them to get to that final in this cycle. Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka’s best Test batter of the last 18 months, affirmed that that was a major driver.”We were close in the last two cycles,” Kamindu said. “In the one just past, we actually had a big opportunity. Honestly, our team plan is built around the WTC. We’re trying to correct the mistakes of the last two cycles. This time, we’ve got a good start. If we keep going like this, I think we can achieve what we are aiming for.”Aesthetically, de Silva has been one of cricket’s most laidback vibes for years. He plays in a long-sleeved jersey with a popped half-collar. His drives are pure. His pulls are languid. Even the sweeps have grace. The sleeve tattoo on his arm has a floral design. In nine years of international cricket, there have never been angry de Silva moments. There have been plenty of chill ones.This is a cricketer comfortable with the softer parts of his personality, but who, in leadership, is now revealing some of his more intense, driven, and occasionally unforgiving forms. If he is fashioning this Test team like a knife-maker hones an edge, he may soon quite clearly see his own image looking back at him.

“Keen to build on the success” of the recently concluded Women’s World Cup, the ICC has agreed to expand the next edition of the tournament (2029) to ten teams. The ICC had announced the expansion of the women’s game on International Women’s Day back in 2021, and a recent release reaffirmed the board’s “commitment to the growth of women’s cricket” after the success of the 2025 edition.Since 2000, only eight teams have featured in the main tournament of the Women’s ODI World Cup. As compared to the 31 matches in the recent World Cup, the 2029 edition will have 10 teams playing 48 games.The Women’s T20 World Cup next year will also be expanded to 12 teams, up from the 10 that featured last year in the UAE.”Nearly 300,000 fans watched the event in stadia breaking the record for tournament attendance for any women’s Cricket event,” the ICC release said. “The tournament also witnessed viewership growth and new records being set for on-screen audiences across the world with nearly 500 million viewers in India.”The ICC board also ratified the appointment of a number of members of the ICC Women’s Cricket Committee, namely Ashley De Silva, Mithali Raj, Amol Muzumdar, Ben Sawyer, Charlotte Edwards, and Sala Stella Siale-Vaea.

Cricket at the LA 2028 Olympics and Brisbane 2032

The Board also revealed that the Olympics event in Los Angeles in 2028 will have 28 games in total, across both the men’s and women’s competitions. The six teams in each competition will comprise the top-ranked side from each of the five regions (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania), including the hosts USA. The sixth team will be identified through a qualifier, for which details are not currently known. The events, as reported earlier, will begin on July 12 and be played at the purpose-built Fairgrounds Stadium, around 50km outside of Los Angeles.Before then, cricket will also feature in multi-sport games at the Asian Games in 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, the African Games in Cairo, Egypt, in 2027 as well as the PanAm Games in Lima, Peru, in 2027.Talks have also begun on cricket’s inclusion for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia. Sanjog Gupta, the ICC CEO, is believed to have told members at the meeting that he held “meaningful discussions with Brisbane 2032 for cricket’s inclusion in their program.Along with the ICC chair Jay Shah, Gupta had meetings in Lausanne, Switzerland, recently with teams from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), LA28 and Brisbane 2032, where they discussed event delivery, competition formats and qualification scenarios.

ICC starts bids for mobile gaming

The ICC also confirmed that it will begin a bidding process for its mobile cricket game, which has been at the centre of tensions between the governing body and the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA). “The ICC Board confirmed its approval to issue an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for Video Gaming Rights, opening the door for leading global partners to collaborate with the ICC in delivering world-class, digital fan experiences,” the board said in the statement.The dispute between the ICC and the WCA centred over NIL (Name, Image and Likeliness) rights of the players, with the latter claiming any move by the ICC to develop a game featuring players would be in breach of a contract. The ICC decided earlier this year that member boards would deal directly with players over NIL rights, rather than with the WCA who have those rights to about 600 players and have already entered the gaming market. The ICC had launched an Expression of Interest process in June, but it has taken time for boards to negotiate those rights with their players. It isn’t clear yet exactly how many boards have secured the rights, though one estimate is that at least half of the Full Members have.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl will not have been pleased with the way that his team failed to secure all three points against Falkirk at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

The German tactician revealed after the match that the players who have not done enough on the pitch in recent games will not get as many minutes in the future.

This should ease any concerns from supporters that underperforming players will not be replaced in the starting line-up in the coming matches in the Premiership and the Europa League.

The biggest Rangers underperformers against Falkirk

As you would expect in a 0-0 draw at home to Falkirk, there were several Rangers players who underperformed and should be at risk of being dropped from the starting line-up.

Bojan Miovski, for example, played the full 90 minutes and lost 73% (8/11) of his duels without scoring a goal or even creating a chance for his teammates, per Sofascore, in the number nine position.

Thelo Aasgaard also struggled in the number ten role for the Light Blues, with no shots on target or ‘big chances’ created, before he was subbed off for Danilo with 22 minutes left to play.

1

Bojan Miovski

2

Thelo Aasgaard

3

Oliver Antman

4

Nicolas Raskin

5

James Tavernier

Oliver Antman, similarly to the Norway international, failed to make much of an impact on the right wing, with no shots on target or ‘big chances’ created, per Sofascore, which is why he also features on this list.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Unfortunately, Nicolas Raskin also features among the worst performers against Falkirk, less than a month on from pundit Chris Sutton declaring him the team’s “best player”, as he struggled in midfield.

Why Danny Rohl should drop Nicolas Raskin

Rohl should ruthlessly ditch the Belgium international from the starting line-up for the clash with Dundee United on Wednesday night after a couple of underwhelming showings in the middle of the park.

Raskin, who has been valued at up to £20m by the Scottish giants, has not been near his best in the last couple of games against Braga and Falkirk, which should see him dropped for his sloppy play in midfield.

In the game on Sunday, per Sofascore, the former Standard Liege star lost four of his seven physical duels and only created one chance for his teammates in 90 minutes on the pitch, in what was a rather ineffective display.

Minutes

90

90

Key passes

0

1

Possession lost

10x

9x

Ground duels won

4/14

3/7

Aerial duels won

2/3

0/0

Fouls

6

2

Dribbled past

2x

1x

As you can see in the table above, Raskin has lost a whopping 14 of his 21 ground duels in the last two outings, committing eight fouls and being dribbled past three times as part of that.

These statistics show that the central midfielder has been too easy to play against for opposition midfielders, which led journalist Jonny McFarlane to state that “a spell on the sidelines beckons” because he is “much better than he’s showing”.

It is hard to disagree with that assessment when you consider that Raskin won 57% of his ground duels in the Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, and he has only won 33% of his battles on the deck in the last two matches.

The 24-year-old star, who scored five goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last term, is better than he is currently showing, which is why a spell on the bench may be beneficial for him to clear his head and recharge to get back to his best.

Therefore, Rohl should drop his “best player” from the starting line-up for the clash with Dundee United on Wednesday to see if it will spark a reaction out of him for the following game against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Danny Rohl sends 13-word warning to his Rangers players ahead of the transfer window

The manager has has sent a pretty clear message to his players…

ByBen Goodwin Dec 1, 2025

Leeds United will no doubt be disappointed after losing 3-2 against Manchester City this afternoon, but the fans can take some positives out of the clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Phil Foden’s first-minute goal could have signalled an afternoon of domination for Pep Guardiola’s men, but it wasn’t to be, with the hosts only boasting a two-goal lead at the break.

Daniel Farke’s substitutions at the break saw the Whites bring the game level within a matter of minutes, that’s despite many questioning his decision to withdraw Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

However, it wasn’t to be as Foden had the last laugh with his stoppage-time effort enough to secure all three points for the Citizens – resulting in a sixth Premier League loss in their last seven.

Despite the defeat, numerous players can leave Manchester with their heads held high, with one player deserving huge plaudits for his showing this afternoon.

Ethan Ampadu’s performance against Manchester City

For the 12th time in the league this season, midfielder Ethan Ampadu started at the heart of the Leeds side, doing so with the captain’s armband too.

His performance against Manchester City was one of a leader, with the Welshman putting in a phenomenal showing and one that was highlighted by his underlying stats.

The 25-year-old featured for the entirety of the contest, completing a staggering 46 passes, with such a tally the highest of any player in Farke’s squad.

He also completed 50% of the dribbles he attempted, whilst making two passes into the final third – often trying to hit the hosts on the counter in the second half.

Ampadu’s incredible showing was also evident without the ball at his feet, subsequently making four recoveries and winning 67% of his ground duels – arguably being one unsung hero at the Etihad.

He certainly wasn’t alone in producing a performance to remember against the former Premier League champions, with Farke needing to select one other player on a consistent basis.

The Leeds player who should be undroppable after City

Many people would have anticipated a dominant victory for City this afternoon, but Leeds certainly put up a fight – which is the least you can ask for given the current situation.

Farke will likely receive some criticism for failing to see out the game for a point, but ultimately, individual errors were the contributing factors to the late goal.

The supporters should also remember it was the manager’s bold call at the break that gave the side the opportunity to get back into the game in the first place.

He switched to a somewhat unfamiliar 3-5-2 system, with the impact of Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the top end of the pitch certainly putting the hosts under huge pressure.

The Englishman replaced Gnonto at the interval, a decision that proved to be an inspirational one given the talisman’s impact during the second half at the Etihad.

His first goal since September certainly wasn’t the prettiest, but it was a reward for his determined efforts at the top end, before poking the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The 28-year-old was also hugely involved in the Whites’ second goal of the contest, with Calvert-Lewin caught in the area by Josko Gvardiol – leading to Lukas Nmecha’s rebounded penalty.

The substitutes’ underlying figures were also massively impressive, with the target man putting doubt into the opposition’s backline after his introduction.

He completed 100% of the dribbles he attempted, whilst also winning 80% of the ground duels he entered – subsequently offering a dominant option during the fightback.

Calvert-Lewin – stats against Man City
Statistics	Tally
Minutes played	45
Touches	18
Pass accuracy	80%
Dribbles completed	100%
Ground duels won	80%
Passes into final third	1
Fouls won	3
Shots on target	100%
Stats via FotMob

Calvert-Lewin also completed a pass into the final third, whilst also drawing three fouls, with the former Everton man playing a huge part in the side’s ability to get off the canvas.

As a result of his showing off the bench, the striker was handed an impressive 9/10 match rating from Leeds United journalist Graham Smyth – further showcasing his impressive cameo off the bench.

After such a showing, there’s little denying the manager simply has to start Calvert-Lewin on a consistent basis, with his assets constantly causing havoc for the opposition.

Ampadu, too, has showcased this season why he’s a solid Premier League option, which could see both play a huge role in the club’s survival bid come the end of the season.

Bielsa 2.0: Leeds prepare for Farke replacement with "elite" boss in frame

Leeds are reportedly preparing to possibly replace Daniel Farke in the dugout with a LaLiga boss in the frame.

1

By
Dan Emery

Nov 28, 2025

Napoli manager Antonio Conte has issued a damning critique of his side after their latest defeat against Bologna in Serie A, hinting at a potential departure from the club. The Italian coach expressed profound concern over the team's perceived lack of "chemistry" and "desire to fight," openly questioning his effectiveness and the players' commitment.

• Conte's candid assessment after Bologna defeat

  Conte did not mince words after his side's disappointing 2-0 defeat to Bologna on Sunday. Goals from Thijs Dallinga and Jhon Lucumi sealed the win for Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, pushing Napoli further down the Serie A table. Speaking to DAZN and in the subsequent press conference, Conte expressed deep concern over the team's lack of energy and fight.

  "We needed more energy in everything. What's disappointing is that they showed more positivity and desire than us," Conte stated, referencing Bologna's performance. "It should make us reflect. It's the fifth defeat we've suffered this start of the year. It means we need to reflect, which we've already done. They played on Thursday and looked poisoned, we did our homework until the game was even."

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• AFP
  

  Concerns over team chemistry and fighting spirit

  Conte elaborated on the fundamental issues plaguing his squad, highlighting a lack of unity and resolve. "Three or four months have passed and there's no chemistry, no desire to fight together. I don't know if we'll be able to change the situation," he admitted. "I don't want to be with a deceased person; everyone has to take responsibility. I'm the first to be held accountable. Heart transplants aren't an option. Each of us needs to rediscover our spirit and our grit."

  The former Chelsea and Inter manager did not shy away from self-criticism, indicating that the team's poor run reflects on his ability to motivate them. "We often think that change can happen overnight. What we've done shouldn't be forgotten, but we need to keep working. We need to ask ourselves if we're doing it the right way and with the same desire for revenge as last season. I'm disappointed because I'm not finding the energy in the guys again; it means I'm not doing a good job," Conte confessed. 

• Hojlund's performance a rare positive in a poor display

  Despite the overall dismal team performance against Bologna, Conte singled out Rasmus Hojlund as a player who showed some promise. Napoli failed to register a single shot on target, a stark statistic reflecting their attacking struggles. However, Hojlund's individual effort was noted by the coach.

  "I didn't mind Hojlund today, perhaps the best player on the pitch. He attacked the depth and held his own, but if the performance is judged solely on goals, it becomes relative. We had prepared a few things, we should have supported him more," Conte explained. "Honestly, I didn't mind it. Perhaps he was the best player on the pitch for me: he held his own, he attacked the depth. Lucumi struggled to control him. Then, if we end the match on whether or not he scored, then it's a different story. We had prepared a few things, we should have supported him more. Rasmus handled several balls, we were lacking. I thought his game was good."

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• AFP
  

  What next for Napoli and Conte?

  The defeat to Bologna leaves Napoli in fourth place in Serie A, with 22 points from 11 matches. Their recent form shows a worrying trend, with two losses in their last five league matches. The result against Bologna saw them outplayed by a team that sits just one place below them in the standings, with Bologna now on 21 points. Napoli's lack of shots on target (one) compared to Bologna's (four) further illustrates their struggles.

  The immediate aftermath of Conte's comments will likely involve intensive discussions with the club hierarchy. His statements indicate that his concerns are not new and have been communicated internally. The upcoming fixtures will be crucial in determining whether Conte can indeed "change the situation" or if his tenure at Napoli is nearing an end. However, Napoli will now face Atalanta in the Serie A immediately following the international break. 

He last played for India in 2017, while his previous competitive fixture was for LSG in IPL 2024

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Sep-2025India legspinner Amit Mishra has announced his retirement from cricket at the age of 42. He played all forms of international cricket from 2003 to 2017 and finishes with 22 Tests, 36 ODIs and 10 T20Is. His last competitive fixture came for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2024.”I’ve played cricket for 25 years across three decades with legends like Sachin Tendulkar, under leaders like MS Dhoni, and with current stars like Rohit Sharma,” Mishra told PTI. “Now that I’m slowly stepping away, it’s emotional, of course. Cricket gave me everything – respect, identity, and purpose.”Not everyone gets a grand farewell or big press conference, and that’s okay. What matters to me is that I gave everything I had. I played with heart. I performed whenever I got the opportunity.”