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Keeper-batter’s first List A century for Durham was followed by Will Rhodes’ maiden List A five-for

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay05-Aug-2025A brilliant century from Ollie Robinson and an excellent all-round effort from Will Rhodes led Durham to a 51-run victory over Sussex in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.Robinson’s counter-attacking century, which was his first List A ton for Durham, supported by a gutsy innings from Rhodes fired Durham to a total of 310 for 7 from their 50 overs, with Archie Lenham the pick of the Sussex bowlers.Sussex’s chase of 311 got off to a poor start as they found themselves 86 for 4 at one point, but middle order runs from Danny Lamb dragged his side back in the game.However, Rhodes secured Durham the opening day victory with his first ever List A five-wicket haul.Sussex won the toss at a sunny Roseworth Terrace and elected to bowl first and they got off to a great start as Alex Lees edged a Fynn Hudson-Prentice delivery behind to Charlie Tear in the opening over.Rhodes and Emilio Gay settled Durham down after the early loss and reached 50 in the powerplay as the former produced a crunching straight drive for four.Rhodes then reached his half-century from 43 balls on his List A debut for Durham, while Gay started to show some aggression as he took the aerial route to find the cover boundary.Gay then tried to launch a Jack Carson delivery down the ground for six, but he was caught well by Ari Karvelas for 34. Sussex then struck again as Lamb bowled Colin Ackermann for 14 to leave things finely poised.Robinson joined Rhodes at the crease and looked to be proactive as he pulled a Lenham ball for four and he followed that up with a cut shot on the back foot that went for four.Rhodes then hit the first maximum of the day as he gave a Carson ball the treatment with a beautiful slog sweep.Robinson then got his fifty from 47 balls, getting to the milestone with a six, but Rhodes fell four short of his century as Lenham got him caught at deep square. Wickets then came like buses for Sussex as Lamb got Ben Raine for six. Despite the wickets, Robinson kept the scoreboard ticking over and picked up another maximum as he pulled a Henry Crocombe ball over the ropes.Haydon Mustard, making his first appearance of the season, also looked to move Durham towards 300 as he picked up a couple of boundaries including a lovely cut shot.Mustard then fell for a lively 36, but Robinson reached his century off 78 balls to take his side to a big total. The centurion fell for 100 exactly, Ari Karvelas picking up the wicket, but Durham reached 310 for seven at the end of their 50 overs.Tom Haines and Danial Ibrahim started Sussex’s chase of 311, but it got off to a bad start as Ibrahim was caught behind off the bowling of Codi Yusuf for two.Durham cranked up the pressure as George Drissell got Tom Clark caught behind for 14.Haines showed a glimpse of some aggression as he reverse swept Drissell for four, however, Tear departed for nine after he pulled a Mitch Killeen delivery straight to Yusuf in the deep.Killeen then struck again as he got Haines for 23 as he chipped one straight to Ackermann at mid-on.Hudson-Prentice was frustrating Durham and he took a liking to James Minto’s bowling as he smashed one over the square boundary and out of the ground.Durham got the big wicket of Hudson-Prentice for 43 as he went for a second run, but a throw came in from Yusuf and Robinson whipped the bails off with aplomb.Oli Carter then hammered one from Drissell down the ground for six and followed that up with a four off Minto. Danny Lamb then hit Ben Raine for six to boost his team’s hopes and he backed that up with a tidy flick off his legs for four a few balls later.Lamb continued his charge, dragging his side back into the game with some powerful strokes and reached his fifty from 35 balls.However, Carter departed for 38 as Rhodes got him caught behind to halt Sussex’s momentum. Lamb continued his assault on the Durham attack as he pulled a Yusuf ball for four, but Rhodes got another wicket, getting Carson caught and bowled for four.Rhodes got his third, removing Lamb for an excellent 74 to leave Durham on the verge of victory.Rhodes then wrapped things up for Durham to bowl Sussex out for 259 and he finished with figures of 5 for 30.

Daniel Farke, manager of Leeds United, has been questioned for his side’s performance against Nottingham Forest.

Morgan Gibbs-White produced the perfect response to his England omission by helping Forest to their first Premier League win since the opening day of the season.

Gibbs-White was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for next week’s World Cup qualifiers, but reminded the German of his talent with a decisive goal in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Leeds.

The midfielder’s second-half header helped end Forest’s nine-game winless streak in the league as they secured three points for the first time under head coach Sean Dyche.

It was far from pretty as they had to come from behind, Ibrahim Sangare cancelling out Lukas Nmecha’s opener for Leeds.

Elliot Anderson’s late penalty sealed a vital triumph for Forest, who have now taken four points from their last two games and look to be heading in the right direction.

They are just two points behind Leeds, who have lost four out of their last five matches. Following their latest defeat, manager Farke has been called into question.

Farke should have made earlier changes against Forest

Since arriving at Leeds in 2023, Farke has sometimes been questioned for his decisions surrounding substitutes. Often, the German seems to bring new bodies into the game only after the majority of minutes have been played.

Against Nottingham, Leeds made no changes until the 74th minute. This is despite having lost their one-goal advantage, finding themselves 2-1 down and offering little threat to their hosts. Such a decision was noted by commentator Jon Newsome who at the time of United’s substitutions, as per BBC Sport West Yorkshire.

England midfielder Anderson killed the game from the spot in the 90th minute after the lively Hutchinson, introduced from the bench, was fouled by Jack Harrison, a natural wide midfielder who replaced left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson.

In attack, Leeds were bereft of inspiration. They had just four shots before the 70th minute and of the 10 they had across the game, as per SofaScore, only three were on target. Beren Cross of The Athletic commented on the fact that, despite Farke saying he had been in team training for a fortnight, Italian forward Willy Gnonto, who would offer a much-needed creative spark, was not in the squad against Forest.

With an international break ahead of them, Leeds will face a number of tough fixtures as they look for what will be a needed improvement in form. With four defeats within their past five Premier League games, questions may soon be asked of Farke’s future at Elland Road if such a run continues.

Leeds must unleash their "best finisher"

About three months removed from surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder, an injury he suffered after a dislocation during Game 2 of the World Series, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani said Wednesday that he's still experiencing "discomfort" but that it's "not really debilitating."

"I do feel like there’s some discomfort that I have to still overcome, [but] it’s not really debilitating," Ohtani said through an interpreter, via . "Just a limited range of motion. I’ve gone through it with the elbow before. With the shoulder, it’s a little bit more complicated. I do believe that’s the part that I have to be patient with."

Ohtani's shoulder may not be 100 percent yet, but he certainly looked to be in MVP form while taking batting practice at the Dodgers' spring training site at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.

While Ohtani continues to recover from shoulder surgery, he's also gearing up for a return to the mound, as he hasn't pitched in a regular season game since August of 2023, after he underwent surgery to repair a UCL tear that September.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Wednesday said that Ohtani won't pitch when the club begins Cactus League play, but that he will see game action as the designated hitter. The plan is for Ohtani to begin pitching in regular season action come summertime.

Roberts added that, given that Ohtani will be returning to his two-way duties in '25, that the Dodgers may see fit to encourage him to steal fewer bases than the 59 he swiped this past season. Los Angeles's skipper also said he could look to give the reigning National League MVP some extra days off as well, via the .

Ohtani, for his part, said he'd like to play as much as possible but added that he'd heed the team's wishes.

"But if the team feels like I should get a break," Ohtani added through an interpreter, "I'll follow that."

Ohtani, in his first season in Los Angeles after signing a $700 million contract in December of '23, authored a campaign for the ages as a full-time hitter, becoming the first member of the 50-home run, 50-stolen base club while posting a robust .310/.390/.646 slash line in 159 games played. He then helped the Dodgers win the World Series against the New York Yankees.

He and the Dodgers will begin Cactus League play on Feb. 20. The club opens the '25 season in Tokyo, Japan against the Chicago Cubs on March 18.

As they do every year, Chelsea made their fair share of signings in the summer.

Some of them have been hits, like Joao Pedro and Estevao – even if he was technically signed last year – but others have struggled, like Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap.

Then there are a few who sit somewhere in between, like Alejandro Garnacho, who hasn’t lit the world alight, but has popped up with goal involvements here and there.

Unfortunately for the Argentine, that might not be enough to save his place in the team, as reports are now linking Chelsea to someone who’d be a massive upgrade.

Chelsea target Garnacho upgrade

It might be around a month and a half until the transfer window officially opens, but that hasn’t stopped the reports linking Chelsea to a number of talented Premier League stars.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, despite being well stacked in the middle of the park, the Blues have been linked with both Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton in recent days.

Now, both of them would undoubtedly improve Enzo Maresca’s squad, but they certainly cannot be described as Garnacho upgrades, unlike Antoine Semenyo.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Chelsea are interested in signing the Bournemouth star.

However, they are not the only ones, as the report also claims that the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool are also all vying for the Ghanaian’s signature.

Fortunately, even though the competition is far from ideal, another story from The Athletic has revealed that the Cherries star has a £65m release clause in his new contract, which will be active for part of January.

It will be a complicated transfer to get done, but given Semenyo’s immense game-changing ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he would be an upgrade on Garnacho.

How Semenyo compares to Garnacho

As Chelsea have lofty ambitions of challenging on all fronts in the coming season, the best place to start when comparing Garnacho to Semenyo is their ability to score or assist goals.

Unfortunately for the former Manchester United ace, doing this makes it quite clear that he is second best when it comes to output.

For example, so far this season, he has scored twice and provided two assists in ten appearances, which comes out to a goal involvement every 2.5 games.

The Bournemouth star, on the other hand, has scored six goals and provided three assists in 12 appearances, which translates to a far better average of a goal or assist every 1.33 games.

Even last season, the Ghanaian international came out ahead as, in 42 games, he scored 13 goals and provided seven assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 2.1 games.

In contrast, the Blues’ new winger produced 21 goal involvements in 58 appearances, which comes out to a less impressive average of one every 2.76.

The bad news for the Madrid-born ace is that he also comes out as a clear second best when you take a look under the hood and compare their underlying numbers.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.28

0.22

Progressive Passes

3.55

1.32

Shots on Target

1.09

1.05

Passing Accuracy

69.4%

77.3%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.28

3.15

Goal-Creating Actions

0.64

0.79

Tackles

1.64

1.32

Successful Take-Ons

1.91

1.32

Ball Recoveries

5.27

2.89

Aerial Duels Won

2.36

0.26

For example, while he’s not ahead in every metric, he performs better in the majority of them, including some key ones, such as non-penalty expected goals, progressive passes, shots on target, successful take-ons, and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, with all this in mind, it is clear that the Cherries ace is a better player than the West Londoners summer signing, and that Chris Waddle might not be too far off the mark with his claim that he’s currently “the best winger in the country.”

Therefore, while it won’t be easy, Chelsea should do all they can to sign Semenyo in January, as he’s an exceptional player and a clear upgrade on Garnacho.

Their next Caicedo: BlueCo have signed a "world-beater" for Chelsea

The sensational talent could become Chelsea’s next Moises Caicedo.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 18, 2025

Eberechi Eze's brilliant hat-trick secured Arsenal bragging rights in the north London derby as Mikel Arteta's men romped to a 4-1 win over a sorry Tottenham side on Sunday. Leandro Trossard got the ball rolling for the Gunners before an Eze double either side of half-time put the hosts in control. Richarlison's wonder strike gave Spurs some hope, but another classy finish from Eze ensured Arsenal went six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal took the lead in the 36th minute when Mikel Merino's delightful through ball cut open Tottenham's defence, and Trossard was on hand to nudge the ball home via a deflection. A very defensive-minded Tottenham side were 2-0 down five minutes later when Eze's quick feet and snap shot proved too much for Guglielmo Vicario. 

The ultra-confident hosts put the game to bed a minute after the break when Eze – who looked like he would join Tottenham before Arsenal swooped in for him during the summer transfer window – lashed in a shot from the edge of the area to send the home fans wild. However, out of nowhere, Spurs scored with their first shot on goal as Richarlison caught David Raya off his line with a spectacular 40-yard strike in the 55th minute.

But hopes of a comeback were obliterated when former Crystal Palace star Eze scored a superb third 14 minutes from time after good work from Trossard. After Manchester City's shock loss to Newcastle on Saturday, this was the perfect response from Arteta's men, and results like these may go a long way to ending their 21-year wait for a Premier League title.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Emirates Stadium…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

David Raya (6/10):

The former Brentford 'keeper was beaten by a wonderful bit of improvisation from Richarlison. Some of his distribution wasn't the best but, he wasn't tested much.

Jurrien Timber (8/10):

Was commanding and powerful in defence and attack in the first half and continued that after the break with an assist for Eze's second.

William Saliba (7/10):

The France international was relatively untroubled against Tottenham's uninspiring attack. Tougher tests will lie ahead, and he won't have the injured Gabriel Magalhaes alongside him, but so far, so good.

Piero Hincapie (7/10):

Came in for Gabriel and acquitted himself well at the back, albeit he wasn't tested a great deal. Likes to get forward, too.

Riccardo Calafiori (7/10):

Continues to keep Lewis-Skelly out of the starting XI and for good reason. The Italian is just a brick wall at times.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Eberechi Eze (10/10):

Popped up with a moment of magic for his opener and Arsenal's second. Quick feet and some terrific finishing earned him a dream-like north London derby debut. This is a game he will never forget, and he could be the difference-maker this season.

Martin Zubimendi (6/10):

After a competent first half, he lost possession a bit too easily, and seconds later, Richarlison reduced Tottenham's arrears with a goal of the season contender. Still passes through the lines very well.

Declan Rice (7/10):

Bagged an assist for Eze's first goal with a neat one-touch pass, which summed up his attitude for the game. Ergo, get the ball forward quickly and in a direct manner.

Getty Images SportAttack

Bukayo Saka (8/10):

When Spurs were standing firm, he was the one who showed signs of breaking their resistance. Nearly scored with an excellent free-kick and was involved in the build-up for both first-half goals. 

Mikel Merino (8/10):

Led Arsenal's attack in place of the injured Gyokeres, but his most telling contribution was outside the box when he lofted a brilliant pass into Trossard's path for the opening goal. He's a good option for Arsenal to have.

Leandro Trossard (8/10):

Timed his run to perfection for Arsenal's first of the game and just about did enough to squirm his shot past Vicario. His movement and decision-making were top-notch and nabbed an assist, too.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Noni Madueke (7/10):

Was sharp and direct when he came on.

Ethan Nwaneri (7/10):

The teenager was lively and alert off the bench.

Cristhian Mosquera  (N/A):

Too little time to make an impact.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (N/A):

Came on at the death.

Mikel Arteta (9/10):

While Frank fielded a very conservative starting XI, Arteta played a strong hand, and it worked for him. His team repeatedly managed to break open Spurs' deep-lying defence with a mixture of skill, vision, and tenacity. Performances like these will do his team the world of good, as the Spaniard got this spot on.

England respond to shortcomings by adding seam-bowling allrounder and resting all-formats batter

Matt Roller05-Sep-2025England have recalled Sam Curran for their T20Is against South Africa and Ireland, while prescribing an extra week’s rest to Ben Duckett after his dramatic loss of form.Curran has not played for England in any format this year – or under Brendon McCullum’s coaching – but has been in excellent domestic form. Across 24 appearances in the T20 Blast and the Hundred this summer, he has scored 603 runs with a strike rate of 154.21 and taken 33 cheap wickets, and has been added to squads for all six of England’s upcoming fixtures.His call-up comes barely 24 hours after South Africa exposed England’s overreliance on the part-time spin of Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks in Thursday’s second ODI at Lord’s. Bethell and Jacks returned combined figures of 1 for 112 in 10 overs, and Curran’s addition to the squad gives England more flexibility around the balance of their team.Duckett, meanwhile, has been handed an additional week off before England’s tours to New Zealand and Australia this winter. He has become an all-format regular in the past 12 months and looked utterly out of sorts during an uncharacteristically scratchy innings of 14 off 33 balls on Thursday.He scored 462 runs in nine innings during England’s drawn Test series against India this summer but has only once passed 20 in his 10 innings since – eight in the Hundred (where his top score for Birmingham Phoenix was 49 not out) and two in this week’s ODIs. Duckett’s absence will likely see Jamie Smith and Phil Salt opening the batting together against South Africa next week, with Jacks or Tom Banton primed to replace Smith in Ireland.Related

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Brook backs butchered Baker after chastising ODI debut

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Sam Curran on England omission: 'I've got to keep banging the door down'

In one final change to their squads, England have also pulled Matthew Potts out of the Ireland T20Is in a move which will allow him to press his case for Ashes selection in the County Championship for Durham. There is a spot available in their squad for Australia after Jamie Overton’s decision to quit red-ball cricket, and Potts is a strong contender.He has slipped down the pecking order across formats and was not even involved in their squads to face India. But Overton’s effective withdrawal from the Ashes – and bolter Sonny Baker’s struggles on ODI debut – could provide a route back, and England believe he will be better served by playing for Durham in the County Championship than running drinks in Dublin.Jordan Cox, Curran’s Oval Invincibles team-mate, was added to the squad to face Ireland earlier this week but is not due to be involved in the South Africa series. Duckett will stay with the ODI squad for Sunday’s dead-rubber in Southampton.Updated England T20I squads:vs South Africa: Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood.vs Ireland: Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker and Tom Hartley replace Harry Brook, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Jamie Smith; Bethell replaces Brook as captain.

The Seattle Mariners and 28-year-old starting catcher Cal Raleigh have agreed to a six-year, $105 million contract extension, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The contract begins this season and buys out three years of free agency, per Passan. The contract also includes a full no-trade clause, according to Ken Rosenthal of

Raleigh is entering his fifth season at the major league level, and his fourth season as a full-time starter in Seattle. In 464 career games, he has hit 93 home runs to go along with 251 RBIs. He's a career .218 hitter with a reliable backstop glove defensively.

The Mariners open their season on Thursday against the Athletics.

They’ve had a few disappointing results, but this season is shaping up very nicely for Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s side are second in the Premier League, with a chance to cut Arsenal’s gap to three points on Sunday, and have just demolished Barcelona in the Champions League.

The Blues were superb on Tuesday night, and while being a man up certainly helped, they were without a doubt the better side.

One of the most impressive performers for Chelsea was Estevao, who outshone fellow wonderkid Lamine Yamal, and so fans should be excited that they have someone on loan showing shades of the Brazilian in their game.

How Estevao outshone Yamal

While it felt early to be comparing Chelsea’s new wonderkid to someone who just finished second in the Ballon d’Or, that was exactly what was happening before Tuesday night’s game.

However, that added pressure certainly didn’t seem to bother Estevao, as he was sensational throughout the encounter and put in a far better performance than Yamal.

For example, on top of scoring the all-important second goal for the hosts, the 18-year-old didn’t give the visitors’ backline a moment’s rest.

In his 83 minutes of action, he created one big chance, played three key passes, produced an expected assists figure of 0.35 and completed two dribbles, one of which led to the goal.

On the flipside, the Spaniard looked nothing like the superstar winger fans have become so accustomed to seeing.

He was practically anonymous for most of the match, and when he did try to do something, he was more often than not locked down by Marc Cucurella, who was named Man of the Match.

By the time the Barça star was taken off, he had failed to score, lost the ball 21 times, played just two key passes and come out looking second best in the battle of the teenage wonderkids.

In all, it looks like Chelsea have a truly special talent on their hands in Estevao, and in even more good news, they’ve got another stellar prospect out on loan with shades of the Brazilian in his game.

The Chelsea gem with shades of Estevao to him

The scary thing for opposition fans and teams is that Chelsea’s bet on young, up-and-coming talent is starting to pay off, and it could see them really kick on in the coming years.

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

Estevao is obviously going to be a huge part of that, but another youngster who could be right there with him, and even has shades of the Brazilian to his game, is Kendry Páez.

The Blues signed the Ecuadorian gem over two years ago, but, due to rules on players under 18, he couldn’t join the squad until the summer.

However, instead of keeping him on the bench or in the youth side, the club opted to send him out on loan to Strasbourg for the season, where he has played 531 minutes of first-team football across 14 appearances so far.

Now, it’s important to say that, given Estevao’s extraordinary talent, it’s unlikely that the Guayaquil-born prospect will be as good as him.

However, he certainly shares some traits with him and could still develop into a world-class player.

For example, despite being so young, the “pure quality talent,” as dubbed by Jacek Kulig, racked up a tally of eight goals and five assists in 41 first-team appearances for Independiente del Valle last season.

Appearances

70

Starts

43

Minutes

4062′

Goals

13

Assists

6

Points per Game

1.84

Furthermore, in the words of respected analyst Ben Mattinson, the 18-year-old is “a left-footed magician who can play as a 10 or RW and has the intelligence to control and decide games,” which certainly sounds like the former Palmeiras gem.

Likewise, while he is capable of playing a killer pass or recycling possession to help the team, Mattinson also points out that he’s more than happy to “take on a couple players and get off shots.”

Finally, like Brazil’s next great superstar, the Strasbourg ace has already established himself on the international scene, amassing 23 senior caps for Ecuador, in which he’s scored two goals and provided three assists.

Ultimately, while he might not quite reach the level of Estevao, Paez has the potential to get incredibly close, and that would still make him a world-class player for Chelsea.

Liam Delap says Chelsea have a youngster who's "so raw" but "so exciting"

The striker made the comments after the Blues’ 3-0 rout against FC Barcelona in the Champions League.

ByDominic Lund Nov 26, 2025

The left-hander will play for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield next week ahead of the first Test

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2025Travis Head will miss the final two matches of the T20I series against India as he switches to Ashes preparation with an appearance for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.Head will be available to face Tasmania in Hobart next week in what will be his first first-class match since the tour of West Indies in July. He has had a relatively lean run in white-ball cricket over the last month with a top score of 31 in eight innings across T20Is and ODIs after making 142 against South Africa in August.Related

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Head shapes as a crucial cog in Australia’s Test line-up where he will slot in at No. 5 with the ability to change games with his counterattacking approach. It’s understood that it was largely left for Head to decide whether he wanted a four-day game before facing England.His appearance for South Australia will add to a star-studded round of Sheffield Shield ahead of the first Test with most, if not all, of the squad – which will be named later this week – expected to appear.Josh Hazlewood, who departed the T20I series after the second game in Melbourne, and Mitchell Starc are set to play for New South Wales against Victoria in an attack that will feature Nathan Lyon. Sean Abbott, who will also leave the T20I squad following the Hobart game, is also available for NSW. Steven Smith will play the second of his two matches after making 118 against Queensland at the Gabba.Victoria are expected to have Scott Boland for his third Shield outing of the season after he was rested for the match against Tasmania in Melbourne.Cameron Green will feature for Western Australia against Queensland in a game that should see him return to bowling for the first time since the opening match of the season.Marnus Labuschagne will likely be keen for another outing before the Test series, where he is certain to earn a recall, while Matt Renshaw has been in the opening conversation.Beau Webster will play for Tasmania against South Australia who will have Alex Carey available alongside Head. Brendan Doggett, who could have been named among the back-up quicks by then, is also due to play for SA.Meanwhile, legspinner Tanveer Sangha has been released from the T20I squad to play for NSW in the One-Day Cup match against Queensland in Sydney on Monday. He has been providing cover for Adam Zampa who is awaiting the birth of his second child.As previously announced, left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis will come into the squad for the final two matches on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane having overcome a calf injury.The T20I series is level at 1-1 following India’s five-wicket victory in Hobart.

Real Madrid have confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold has suffered a rectus femoris injury in his left thigh, with reports indicating he will miss around two months in another major setback to his debut season in Spain. The England international lasted barely ten minutes of the second half against Athletic Club before limping off, adding to a growing injury crisis.

Alexander-Arnold set to miss two months through thigh injury

Alexander-Arnold picked up his latest injury during Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Athletic Club, pulling up early in the second half after delivering his first La Liga assist at San Mames. The right-back immediately signalled towards the bench and required treatment before being withdrawn, prompting concern given his recent absence with a hamstring issue. Real Madrid’s subsequent medical tests confirmed a muscular injury to the rectus femoris in his left quadriceps, with reports estimating an absence of roughly two months.

This setback continues a disrupted opening spell at the Santiago Bernabeu for the former Liverpool defender, who has managed only sporadic appearances due to persistent muscular problems. Earlier in the season, he missed around six weeks with a hamstring strain and Spanish media have openly questioned whether he has fully adapted to Los Blancos’ intensity. The latest injury, therefore, arrives at a time when the 27-year-old was just beginning to find rhythm after limited involvement across competitions.

His withdrawal also highlights Real Madrid’s growing vulnerability in wide defensive areas, with Dani Carvajal already sidelined until early 2026. Xabi Alonso now faces the delicate task of reorganising his defensive structure in the middle of an intense fixture list that includes domestic and European commitments.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportValverde and Asencio to play stopgap yet again for Alonso

Alexander-Arnold’s prolonged spell on the sidelines deepens Real Madrid’s ongoing defensive issues, particularly as they compete for top honours while managing a mounting injury list. The absence of both established right-backs leaves Alonso increasingly reliant on makeshift solutions, with Federico Valverde or Raul Asencio emerging as potential stopgaps. Such adjustments risk disrupting the stability Madrid have been trying to restore amid inconsistent defensive displays across recent weeks.

This is not the first time Madrid have had to navigate long absences in the right-back position, with Carvajal suffering multiple physical setbacks over recent seasons. As a result, the burden on Valverde, naturally a midfielder, may increase significantly, potentially limiting his influence in central areas where he normally provides athleticism and ball progression. With tactical balance already affected in several matches, Madrid must now redistribute responsibilities across the squad to compensate for the weakened flank.

The packed winter calendar will see the team navigate domestic fixtures while preparing for the Spanish Super Cup, meaning Alonso must maintain competitive performance levels without two senior specialists in the same role. The situation also increases pressure on senior leaders throughout the squad, who must preserve results as Madrid face growing scrutiny following a mixed run of performances.

Alexander-Arnold will need careful recuperation

The rectus femoris injury diagnosed by Madrid’s medical team is a particularly troublesome setback for players relying on acceleration, long passing and overlapping runs, all fundamental aspects of Alexander-Arnold’s game. Such injuries often require careful rehabilitation to avoid recurrence, especially for a player who has already suffered a major hamstring strain earlier in the campaign. The club are therefore expected to take a cautious approach and avoid rushing him back into action.

The 27-year-old’s debut season has already been affected by fitness concerns, reducing his ability to settle into Madrid’s tactical structure and contribute consistently in a new league. His limited minutes have also prevented him from developing the attacking rhythm and defensive chemistry typically expected of a full-back in this system.

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Getty Images SportAlexander-Arnold will likely only return in February

Real Madrid are expected to confirm a more precise return timeline closer to the end of December or the start of the new year, but early estimates point to an absence of eight to ten weeks, ruling Alexander-Arnold out until early 2026. Xabi Alonso will need to rely on Valverde, Asencio or potential tactical tweaks to ensure continuity in the right-back role during one of the busiest stretches of the season.

Once Alexander-Arnold returns, Madrid will hope he can regain fitness swiftly and contribute decisively to the second half of the campaign, though his disrupted rhythm may require a gradual reintegration into the squad.