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Fast bowler was fined after angry to reaction to suffering injury in first Barbados T20I

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Nov-2024 • Updated on 14-Nov-2024Reece Topley, the England fast bowler, is to return home from the Caribbean after jarring his right knee in the first T20I against West Indies in Barbados*.The left-arm seamer picked up the injury in his delivery stride during the fifth over of the series opener on Saturday, and though he attempted to continue to bowl after a short rain delay, he left the field after one more delivery, and took no further part in the match.The injury was sufficient for him to miss England’s second match in Barbados, a seven-wicket win on Sunday to give them a 2-0 series lead. Topley will have a scan in London on Friday to determine the extent of the damage.It was the latest cruel setback in a career that has been littered with injury, and as he walked up the steps to the players’ pavilion, Topley was seen picking up a chair and smashing it on the staircase handrail. The reaction earned him a fine from the ICC amounting to 15 percent of his match fee.It was a similar reaction to that which Topley had produced in Mumbai during the 50-over World Cup in October 2023, when he had swiped another chair out of his path after leaving the field with what would later be revealed as a tournament-ending break to his left index finger.The 30-year-old’s damaged knee joins a list of unfortunate issues, including a career-threatening stress fracture of the back, and a rolled ankle – sustained on a boundary sponge during a practice match in Brisbane – that ruled him out of England’s successful T20 World Cup campaign in 2022.Topley escaped punishment for the 2023 incident, but this time, he was found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC’s Code of Conduct, with Article 2.2 relating to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”Topley admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Richie Richardson, the ICC’s match referee, so there was no need for a formal hearing.In addition to his fine, one demerit point has been added to Topley’s disciplinary record. When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned. However, this was Topley’s first such offence within the time period.*November 14, 8.45pm GMT – This story was updated with news of Topley returning home

It’s been a non-stop summer for those at the Stadium of Light as the reality of the Premier League begins to dawn on Sunderland.

By the time Sunderland’s opener comes around versus West Ham United, the complexion of Regis Le Bris’ starting lineup could look very different from the playoff final success against Sheffield United, with both Jobe Bellingham and Tommy Watson already nowhere to be seen.

Moreover, there will no doubt be a lot of new faces vying for game-time after joining the newly promoted club, with Marcin Bulka perhaps taking over first-team goalkeeper duties from Anthony Patterson if he does join from OGC Nice.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday that the Black Cats have opened talks regarding a potential move for the Polish stopper, as they seek to win the race ahead of a long list of other suitors.

He might not be the only defensive addition coming in this summer to bring extra competition, however, as Sunderland now find themselves locked in a race to sign a promising centre-back.

Sunderland in the race to sign £7m defender

As per a report by OnTheMinute, Sunderland remain in the race to land 21-year-old defender Saba Goglichidze.

Transfer Focus

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

The Empoli centre-back is attracting lots of interest despite his current employers’ recent relegation from the Serie A, with the report adding that the Black Cats’ fiercest rivals in Newcastle United are now keen on the Georgian as well, alongside fellow Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest.

It’s even been speculated that the Tricky Trees are now ready to place a £7m bid for the 6-foot-4 colossus, with OnTheMinute stating that a bid around this region could be enough for Empoli to part ways with their main asset.

Sunderland will hope they can gain an advantage in this race somehow, with Goglichidze’s potential arrival – on top of Bulka walking through the door – undoubtedly strengthening Le Bris and Co. at the back ahead of their uphill Premier League climb.

How Goglichidze could shine with Bulka

After all, when assessing Goglichidze’s stay at Empoli up to this point, it’s clear he isn’t fazed by the bright lights of a top division.

Indeed, the up-and-coming 21-year-old has even had suitors from AC Milan and Juventus look at him, with his sparkling form in Italy seeing him pick up a solitary assist from his 33 league encounters last season, on top of also bravely battling away for his basement side with 3.9 duels won on average.

With four clean sheets in league action next to his name, too, it’s clear that Goglichidze is destined for bigger and better things than slumping down to the Italian second division, and with Bulka behind in him the sticks, he could go on to look even more confident and assured knowing he has a top-drawer shot-stopper by his side.

Across his four seasons in between the sticks for Nice, the reliable Pole has managed to collect 30 clean sheets, with a hefty 18 of those coming just last campaign. To add context, Patterson would finish his own individual season with a lesser 14 next to his name, even from 45 games overall.

That is still a respectable tally, but there will be a real worry in the air about the intense jump-up in quality, considering Southampton – who were the reigning playoff champions before Sunderland’s big moment at Wembley – are just fresh off leaking a dire 86 strikes stuck at the bottom of the division, which is 17 more than the Black Cats gave up during their last relegation horror-show in the top-flight.

The Saints looking so porous could be sounding the alarm bells for Le Bris and Co. as we speak, with the Black Cats giving up a high 44 strikes last season themselves. Amazingly, both Leeds United and Burnley only gave up 46 goals combined.

The arrival of fresh blood in the form of Saba Goglichidze and his potential new Polish teammate might be just what the newly promoted side needs, therefore, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig even going as far as to declare the 21-year-old a “wonderful” talent.

It will be a turbulent ride ahead for Sunderland, but if Le Bris can work his magic on this fresh defensive pairing, survival might be reached.

Romano: Sunderland in talks to sign "superb" player loved by Luis Enrique

The Black Cats are in the hunt for a new stopper.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 26, 2025

Manchester City won’t be taking the Club World Cup trophy home with them after all, after a dramatic 4-3 loss to Al-Hilal in the pre-season tournament.

Pep Guardiola and Co.’s defensive frailties were clear for all to see when watching the back-and-forth knockout tie in Orlando, with the Citizens registering a bumper 30 shots in total, only to be undone in extra-time by Simone Inzaghi’s never-say-die side.

With the tournament now out of the way, City can press on with even more signings away from previously landing Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Rayan Ait-Nouri in quick succession, as the rumour mill begins to kick back into life.

Man City's transfer latest

It has been somewhat quiet on the transfer front from City’s point of view after landing all those high-profile names in quickfire fashion, with the main hot topic centring on Kevin De Bruyne finding a new club to call his home in Napoli, alongside Oscar Bobb reportedly being looked at by Serie A giants Juventus.

However, a new development seems to suggest City will be busy with another fresh incoming very soon.

Indeed, Football Insider’s Mick Brown has now revealed that City will accelerate a move for Newcastle United star Tino Livramento to join the Etihad ranks, with the Magpies defender now done with his England U21 international duties at the Euros.

Scouts had even been sent on City’s end to watch Livramento in action at the tournament as Guardiola’s men try and hunt down a long-term right-back replacement for Kyle Walker.

After lifting the Euros trophy, the in-the-spotlight 22-year-old’s summer could become even better if he seals a switch to the sky blue half of Manchester shortly, with Livramento’s attacking qualities playing out from defence in the Premier League potentially making him a perfect candidate to be Guardiola’s next João Cancelo.

Why Livramento can be Pep's next Cancelo

Cancelo was once a regular mainstay of the City XI, but in Orlando, he was having the last laugh over his ex-employers when contributing with an assist for Al-Hilal to down the Citizens 4-3.

Irrespective of this memorable contribution souring his relationship with his former side even more, the Portuguese full-back was a firm fan favourite previously, with nine goals and 22 assists coming his way from 154 appearances at the Etihad.

Three Premier League titles would even be lifted by the long-standing City servant before a move to Al-Hilal opened up, with Guardiola never fully recovering from Cancelo’s exit, arguably, having had to now force Matheus Nunes into an uncomfortable position down the right-hand side when he’s far more suited to a central midfield role.

This is where Livramento could well come to the rescue in offering the Spaniard a more reliable, attack-oriented option down the right resembling Cancelo at this peak, with their similarities not just ending there.

Livramento

RB

87

1

6

Livramento

LB

19

0

1

Cancelo

RB

247

13

44

Cancelo

LB

114

6

20

Much like the one-time Champions League winner, the promising 22-year-old can also comfortably slot into any side in the left-back spot away from just the right, as seen in his 19 career games lining up on the opposing channel.

The London-born defender is some way off hitting Cancelo’s elite level when you consider the table further, but with Ait-Nouri already making that left channel look his own at the Club World Cup – with two key passes registered from his 119 touches versus Al-Hilal – Guardiola would surely drop Livramento into any upcoming City team selections on the right.

Having also amassed 14 goal contributions further up the pitch in the right midfield position, this could really go down as a golden deal much like when Cancelo first entered the building, with Toon content creator Kendall Rowan once referring to the youngster as a “superstar.”

City clearly requires even more fresh blood after a reality check loss to Al-Hilal, with their next major buy perhaps coming in the form of snapping up Livramento for a substantial £60m.

Man City believe "excellent" £50k-p/w ace wants to join, bid being prepared

The Citizens are feeling confident.

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 28, 2025

South Group leaders Surrey crushed Glamorgan by nine wickets after a superb bowling performance, spearheaded by the pace of Gus Atkinson, Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson, restricted the Welsh county to just 107 for nine from their 20 overs.Atkinson took wickets with his first and fourth balls early on and finished with 3 for 19, Abbott followed up his 5 for 18 against Middlesex 24 hours earlier by taking 3 for 25 and his fellow Australian, left-arm quick Johnson, picked up 1 for 16 from his four overs.Marnus Labuschagne was top-scorer with 20 and tailender Chris Sole made the next highest score with 15 not out, and Glamorgan’s total was put into context as Surrey rushed to 108 for 1 in reply in only nine overs.Dan Lawrence and Dom Sibley launched Surrey’s chase with a fusillade of boundaries as the opening pair added 53 inside a 62-run powerplay. Sibley went on to 44 not out from 26 balls after Lawrence holed out to deep square leg on 27 from 16 balls, and Laurie Evans then arrived to play some wonderful shots of his own in a 13-ball unbeaten 31.It was Surrey’s sixth win from eight Vitality Blast group games while, for Glamorgan, it was a sorry fifth defeat from their first eight matches in the competition.Lawrence took three fours from the third over, bowled by Chris Sole, and Sibley smashed left-arm seamer Jamie McIroy long on for six before driving the next ball gloriously wide of mid off for four.Evans, meanwhile, hit Dan Douthwaite’s fast-medium over cover for a remarkable six, following it up later in the over with a more orthodox strike high over long on for another maximum. And there was just time for Sibley to sweep Marnus Labuschagne’s leg spin for six and thump him to extra cover for four before also hitting the winning run.Glamorgan’s innings began badly, and never really recovered. Openers Kiran Carlson and Sam Northeast both fell in the second over, with Atkinson having Carlson caught at short extra cover for 1 with his first ball and Northeast (4) beaten by pace three balls later as he flapped at a short one and spooned up to slip.Australian Test batsman Labuschagne did scoop a Jordan Clark full toss high over the keeper for six but Abbott’s introduction for the sixth over brought an immediate reward when Colin Ingram swung at his first ball and was bowled for 8.Glamorgan were only 34 for 3 at the end of the powerplay and the struggle continued against spin as Lawrence snared Labuschagne for 20 and Cameron Steel also bowled his leg breaks accurately.Ben Kellaway reached 11 before Johnson’s return accounted for him, caught at midwicket in the 11th over, and Douthwaite (7) was beaten by a sharply-rising leg-cutter from Abbott and nicked behind.Clark saw Chris Cooke miscue to cover to go for 13 and Glamorgan’s demise continued when Andy Gorvin (5) edged Abbott behind.Mason Crane made only six before nicking a pacy lifter from Atkinson to the keeper and Glamorgan only made it to three figures because, in the final over, Sole carved Abbott high and beyond the ropes at fine third man for six and last man McIlroy produced perhaps the best shot of a forgettable innings by delicately ramping a full-pitched ball to the fine leg boundary.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has suggested that he would like to extend his Everton contract, which is due to expire this summer, in comments which pertained to the excitement surrounding David Moyes’ budding project. BBC Sport report that a new deal is in the pipeline.

Injury-prone and inconsistent this season, some will feel the £100k-per-week star should depart, but keeping him on the books would lessen the urgency for a new number nine.

Thus allowing for signings across other areas, signing one new striker instead of two. It means Everton could move for their next Iliman Ndiaye, a player who has been nothing short of a revelation for the Toffees this term.

Iliman Ndiaye will be the key for Moyes

Ndiaye has proved this season that Everton do have the players to become a high-level attacking force while still being rooted in Moyes’ core defensive principles.

Joining from Marseille in a deal worth £15m last summer, the Senegal international has scored nine goals across 34 Everton appearances, a shining light for Dyche and one of the driving forces behind the Moyes-led resurgence, scoring three in a row before being unfortunately injured in February’s Merseyside derby.

He’s quite the player, this 25-year-old left winger, all electric pace and frightening directness, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp hailing him for his “dynamite” ability earlier in the campaign.

It would take some beating to secure a signing capable of topping Ndiaye this summer, but The Friedkin Group are the harbingers of a new era, and they might just have their sights set on a real force.

Everton could seal their best signing since Ndiaye

Earlier this week, Football Insider revealed that Everton will explore the possibility of signing Gustavo Hamer from Sheffield United this summer, though a deal will likely hinge on whether the Blades qualify for the Premier League through the Championship play-offs.

Hamer, who last week was named the Championship’s Player of the Season, joined United from Coventry City in a £15m deal in 2023 and has since made 81 appearances, notching 29 goal contributions, with his technical quality and tireless work rate setting him apart from his positional rivals in England’s second tier.

This season, he’s been a fearsome presence off the left flank of Chris Wilder’s system, with journalist Ryan Dilks even going as far as to call him a “creative genius.”

Shifting beteen the left lane and a more central creative berth for his outfit this season, Hamer ranks among the top 20% of positional peers in the Championship for goal involvements, the top 6% for passes attempted, the top 1% for progressive passes and the top 4% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, underscoring his value as a high-class playmaker.

Given that he demonstrated his ability to thrive in England’s highest tier last year – and in an imperilled Blades team at that – by clinching ten goal contributions, creating 11 big chances and averaging 4.4 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore, there’s every chance that the 27-year-old could rival Ndiaye for that left-sided berth and potentially even elevate his game to the next level.

His playmaking prowess seems tailor-made for the success of a player like Ndiaye, and Calvert-Lewin, for that matter. It would be a fantastic signing and the perfect way for TFG to show to Moyes and the Blues fanbase that this new chapter could be one to remember.

The next Barkley: Everton considering move for "unbelievable" £15m star

David Moyes is looking to overhaul his Everton squad this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 2, 2025

Sheffield United know their hopes of promotion to the Premier League hang in the balance, but Chris Wilder is already hard at work on the transfer front ahead of this summer.

Sheffield United's transfer activity hinges on season outcome

The Championship is famous for twists and turns, which is a statement that rang true yesterday after an eventful afternoon left the Blades second in the league standings following a 1-0 loss to Oxford United.

Burnley claimed three points away to Coventry City, while Leeds United actually gained a point on Sheffield United despite only mustering a draw against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.

Most importantly, Wilder can take solace in the fact his side are still on course for automatic promotion with five matches left to play. Millwall await at Bramall Lane on Tuesday, offering a chance to take a step closer to the promised land of the Premier League.

What does the current state of limbo mean for Sheffield United’s transfer business? Not much apparently, with the Blades seeking a deal for Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard to strengthen a backline that has been altered since Harry Souttar’s long-term injury.

Elfsborg defender Terry Yegbe is also on the radar in South Yorkshire, even if the Allsvenskan outfit want to recoup a fee of £5.9 million for his services.

Sheffield United plot new contracts for three stars on combined £90k-p/w

This would be fantastic news for the Blades.

ByHenry Jackson Apr 5, 2025

Reading between the lines, solidifying across the rearguard appears to be a central priority for Wilder regardless of what division his side end up in next campaign.

Looking ahead to the window, the 57-year-old has a goalkeeper in his sights that has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence over the last year, per recent developments.

Sheffield United eye move to sign Barnsley goalkeeper Kieren Flavell

According to The Daily Star, Sheffield United are keen to sign goalkeeper Kieren Flavell from Yorkshire rivals Barnsley. He started the campaign on loan at Farsley Celtic before returning to feature at first-team level in League One.

Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion are also interested in the Pontefract-born stopper and the former has sent scouts to watch him on several occasions.

Kieren Flavell’s combined statistics in National League North and League One – 2024/25

Appearances

17

Clean sheets

1

Goals conceded

40

Tipped for a promising future in the game, the 21-year-old has previously been labelled “brilliant” by Conor Hourihane after his performance in Barnsley’s 1-1 draw with Cambridge United last month.

Jackson Smith and loanee Joe Gauci’s injury problems could afford the youngster an extended run between the sticks at Oakwell; something that is only likely to accelerate his development amid the backdrop of high-profile clubs showing admiration towards his talent.

From a Sheffield United perspective, he would likely be billed as one for the future behind Michael Cooper and Adam Davies. Nevertheless, learning from two experienced numbers one’s is the ideal scenario for the youngster as he aims to establish himself at a high level in years to come.

The Victoria batter would have been the first choice as a Test opener but his continuing concussion issues have taken him out of the reckoning

Ian Chappell18-May-2024Australian cricket has a serious Will Pucovski issue at the precise time they are desperate to unearth skilful openers competing for a Test spot.Pucovski is comfortably the most talented potential Australian opener but he’s suffering a major health issue. He has endured an alarming number of concussions – many in the cricket arena – but his latest one raises an even more disturbing element.In a Sheffield Shield match Pucovski turned his head and ducked into a Riley Meredith short ball to collect his latest concussion. It was bad enough that the blow added to his double-digit concussion bouts but the method he employed displayed poor technique.Even though weeks have elapsed since his latest concussion he’s still suffering symptoms. Recent disturbing news says he hasn’t yet been cleared for inclusion in the Victorian contract list. His contract status now depends on a medical panel review which includes independent expertise. This follows Pucovski’s withdrawal from a county stint with Leicestershire because of the latest blow sustained in the Sheffield Shield competition.Related

• Ollie Pope is a potential weak link for England at No. 3

• Decision on Pucovski's future delayed after extended concussion symptoms

• Australia need Steven Smith at No. 4. But then where will Cameron Green bat and who will open?

• Pucovski retires hurt after being struck by bouncer

There’s no doubt his regular concussions are disturbing but even more concerning is his mental health.If Pucovski were healthy he’d be ensconced as an Australian Test opener. However he’s only represented Australia once, against India in a 2021 Test.If he plays again it would be an extremely audacious selector who chose Pucovski in the Test side. If he were prematurely included in a Test XI and then suffered another serious blow the selectors would receive some of the blame. Consequently there’s a major dilemma involved in choosing a fragile player in the Test side.Then there’s the matter of whether Pucovski would make himself available for Test selection. It’s not just the health issue he has to conquer; his technique against the short ball is sub-standard and that problem needs to be resolved. Fixing what is a mountainous shortcoming will take a lot of hard work.

Short-ball problems have dogged Pucovski but they are more relevant now Australian opener David Warner has retired from Test cricket. Raising the stakes even further, another Australian opener, Usman Khawaja, is at the tail end of his career

Not that you could blame them but if he plays again, fast bowlers will bowl short at Pucovski because they know he has an issue with that delivery. No bowler aims to deliberately hurt a player but when they are performing for their living they have to give themselves the best chance of success.Realistically, Pucovski should play a full season of Shield games without suffering concussion before he’s considered for Test selection. If he were able to achieve that feat it would be reasonable to assume he’d done the required hard work to reduce any danger he faces from bouncer issues.Short-ball problems have dogged Pucovski but they are more relevant now Australian opener David Warner has retired from Test cricket. Raising the stakes even further, another Australian opener, Usman Khawaja, is at the tail end of his career. The situation is complicated enough but there’s also a shortage of talented openers in the Shield competition and a healthy Pucovski would be the ideal candidate.Of the current potential openers Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matthew Renshaw, the latter is the only player on the right side of 30.Controversially the selectors promoted Steve Smith, a substantial figure at No. 4, to open following his request to take on the task. Despite the move, which accommodated two allrounders in Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh in the Australian Test XI, Smith is far better suited to No. 4.Pucovski’s absence also comes at a time when Australia are endowed with a strong bowling attack. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have formed a formidable pace triumvirate for a lengthy time and they are ably backed by the reliable Nathan Lyon.This talented quartet ensures that Australia rarely chases large totals but they won’t play forever, so a stable opening partnership is imperative.Pucovski’s presence at the top of the order would’ve been an important element to Australia’s future success. Now, instead of being a steady Test performer, the main consideration is ensuring Pucovski returns to good health.

Seventeen-year old who hit a match-winning, 36-ball fifty against South Africa says she’s just “kind of doing my thing”

Valkerie Baynes02-Aug-2022We all long, at some point, for our childhood days when fear was an alien concept and we dived into whatever we were doing with no inhibitions.So it’s impossible not to feel a pang of envy watching Alice Capsey bat with all the courage in the world to set the foundation for yet another England victory over South Africa which put the host nation on the cusp of the Commonwealth Games knockout stages in Birmingham.A savage-looking black eye suffered moments before England’s first-up victory over Sri Lanka? Worse than it looks, apparently. Facing the fire and pace of Shabnim Ismail? No problem, just walk down the pitch to her. A half-century in your third international innings? Child’s play.Capsey’s seamless transition to the senior ranks could not have come at a better time with Heather Knight, the England captain, yet to make an appearance at the Commonwealth Games because of a hip injury that has her in doubt for the final group game against New Zealand on Thursday.Acting captain Nat Sciver said after England’s 26-run victory over South Africa at Edgbaston that Knight had undergone further scans on the injury she suffered during the first T20I between the sides during their bilateral series on July 21.”She’s not in a good place,” Sciver said. “She’s better than she has been in the last few days, still in a bit of pain with her hip.”It’s probably going to be a bit quick to play against New Zealand. She went and saw our team doctor and had another scan. She’s waiting on the results of that.”Capsey, meanwhile, reached her maiden international half-century in 36 deliveries on Tuesday and then fell on the next ball she faced, spooning a return catch Nonkululeko Mlaba.Hers was the second of three England wickets to fall for five runs in the space of nine balls as they slumped to 94 for 5. But then an unbroken 73-run partnership off just 43 balls from the vastly experienced Katherine Brunt and Amy Jones set South Africa a target of 168 before England’s bowlers restricted them to 141 for 4. It was England’s seventh victory over South Africa in a white-ball match this summer.”It just ticks off a landmark, doesn’t it?” Capsey said of her fifty. “But in the game, it’s not really about that, it was more just setting myself a platform to try and push on for the team, which unfortunately, I didn’t.Alice Capsey gave the England innings momentum after they lost their openers early•Getty Images”But you saw the brilliance of Jonesy and Katherine coming in at the end and putting on a real show for the crowd, which was amazing to watch.”Capsey, who wasn’t required to bat in her debut match, England’s second T20I against South Africa in Worcester, got her chance in the third match of that series in Derby and smashed four consecutive fours on her way to 25 off 17.After passing a fitness test in the immediate aftermath of copping a ball to the face during the warm-up for England’s Commonwealth Games opener against Sri Lanka, she scored 44 at just over a run-a-ball to top score in a five-wicket victory.While she said her vision had been impaired somewhat during that knock as her eye swelled up while she was batting, Capsey said she didn’t feel any other ill effects and, by the time Tuesday’s match rolled round, it looked worse than it felt on account of the bruise coming out.”Everyone kind of expected some concussion symptoms to start to grow over the next couple of days, however I’ve been absolutely fine which for me, that’s perfect, it’s allowing me still to play and kind of do my thing,” Capsey said.”I’ve felt in really good touch, especially coming into the South Africa series as well, so it [reaching fifty] was a real positive for me and I’ve really enjoyed the role that they’ve given me.”I feel quite comfortable and I know what I’m doing, it’s great to come into the team and for them to trust me with that role.”In Derby, Sciver had told Capsey she would come in at No. 3 if an early wicket fell. As it happened, opener Sophia Dunkley was out for a first-ball duck and Capsey has held her place since.This time, Ismail, Capsey’s Hundred team-mate at Oval Invincibles, removed Dunkley for 1 with her first delivery, an excellent yorker on the seventh ball of the match. When Ismail returned in the sixth over, she had Dunkley’s opening partner, Danni Wyatt, caught behind by Sinalo Jafta for 27 from 20 balls.Her next delivery was back-of-a-length and steered through third by Sciver for a single before she unleashed a short ball which Capsey failed to connect with as she attempted to pull. Then, as calm as you like, Capsey advanced on the next one and dispatched it over cover to the boundary.”Me and Shabs are are good mates so it was a bit of a cat and mouse that over,” Capsey said. “It’s the adrenaline, I think, for me, also being smart with my options.”She bowled a bouncer so you kind of can guess what’s coming. But it’s just about being brave and I think that’s kind of the message that we really got from the coaching staff and Nat and Heather.”As for being part of a bigger, multi-sport event where women’s cricket is making its Commonwealth games debut, Capsey was all about soaking up he experience.”My family’s come to every game, which has been lovely,” she said. “For me, it’s just about taking everything in, really enjoying it. It’s such a rare occasion that you’ve just got to make the memories.”

Rohit Sharma reflects on the influence of coach Vasudev Paranjape on his formative years and how it continues to define him as a cricketer today

Rohit Sharma01-Oct-2020Cricket Drona: For the Love of Vasu Paranjape (Penguin eBury Press)I remember very clearly when I met Vasoo Sir [Vasudeo Paranjape] for the first time. There was an under-17 camp at Wankhede Stadium, and out of the thirty probables only fifteen were going to make it to the team. When you’re a kid trying to make your mark in Mumbai cricket, you’re more focused on what you have to do at a trial than on learning about people who are watching you. I knew they were all respected coaches, especially Vasoo Sir, but I had no clue about what cricket he had played or which players he had mentored.Soon after, Vasoo Sir was in conversation with Pravin Amre, who was the chairman of the Junior Selection Committee; he was telling him about me. When Amre Sir started to talk to me about Vasoo Sir and explained who he was and what he had done for Mumbai cricket, I was dazed. I realized that this was a massive opportunity for me. Here was a man whose knowledge of cricket was amazing, and whose mind bordered on cricket-crazy, and I had a chance to absorb what I could. I decided to make the most of this opportunity – to learn, to glean as much as I possibly could from Sir. This was my big moment!Though he mainly had to focus on the playing eleven, I kept trying to find some excuse to be near him and talk to him. Actually, I just wanted him to talk, so I could listen and learn. Remember, we come from the Bombay school of cricket. There is a standard that has been set and these are the people who have done it before us – they played with legends and won everything, every season.He watched me during one of my net sessions at Wankhede, and then something happened. He went to the captain and said, ‘We need to get this kid into the team. You figure out your combination and all that. I won’t interfere. But this boy needs to play. Work with me.’Prashant Naik, who was the captain, came to me. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I don’t know anything about you and I’ve not heard much about you either, but Vasoo Sir says you have to play. So you’re playing tomorrow.’When I scored a century in an under-17 game in Baroda, I remember Vasoo Sir talking to Kiran More about me. Vasoo Sir saw some spark in me, and he always made it a point to push my case.I got to learn from him how to approach batting in different situations. He always told us: ‘No two situations are the same. Try and read the game – where you are, what you can do for your team and the situation your team is in. Learn this as soon as you can because now is the time to learn, not when you are playing for Bombay or India.’

He protected us from everything. He got negative feedback from selectors, officials, journalists and others, but he just kept it all to himself. When he came to us, he never mentioned a word. It was all batting, bowling, fielding, solving problems.

In so many of my innings for India, there have been instances when I have thought of something that Sir had told me all those years ago and applied that to the present game.When I first met him, I had only played one season of junior cricket. I had no concept of playing for Mumbai or India. But here was this person telling me what I should do, urging me to take small steps ahead. Young players sometimes get overawed and forget that the big things happen only if you do small things perfectly. This is something he always did, as I later realised.When speaking to young players, he knew how to get them to move forward, one step at a time. There is no point telling youngsters about bigger goals at that early a stage in their careers, and he understood that. This is what you call a helping hand. This is just what young sportspersons need.When I go out to the middle, I remember the things Vasoo Sir told me back then. Things like: as a batsman or a captain, if you can’t read the situation, the team is already in trouble; if you’re the boss, you have to walk out like you mean it, otherwise the shoulders of those who follow you will droop.He treated all of us like his own children, not as cricketers. We never felt that we were training under a coach. He was more like a father figure to us. He never uttered an aggressive word, projected no negativity. We lost games, there were people who did not perform consistently, but he never spoke to them harshly. He was always polite and friendly, and that’s what you need at that age. I was lucky to have played under him.I felt no pressure despite the fact that I was playing in the Mumbai atmosphere. All our lives we had been told that if you don’t win the title, it’s not a successful season. We were always reminded of the high standards set by those who came before us. All of us had to play with that in mind. But I can confidently tell you that not for one moment did we feel any pressure from the management, coach or selectors, and that was because of Vasoo Sir. He would speak to all of them, listening carefully to what they had to say and then tell them, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.’He protected us from everything. He got negative feedback from selectors, officials, journalists and others, but he just kept it all to himself. We also heard these things. But when he came to us, he never mentioned a word. It was all batting, bowling, fielding, solving problems.Paranjape knew how to get young players to move ahead one step at a time, by setting small, achievable goalsIt’s very important to be able to demonstrate a skill, especially to younger guys, when they’re just not getting it. The worst thing is for the coach to send the wrong message. If a player does not understand, Vasoo Sir would not let him go. If he had to pick up a bat and get in the nets to show the player just how something should be done, he would do that.Our team was the Mumbai gang. But Vasoo Sir could talk to us in Hindi, English, Gujarati and obviously Marathi. Apart from those, he could also speak other languages: fielding, batting and bowling. Everyone got what they needed from him, whether it was information or technical input.Even today, I look forward to any message from Vasoo Sir. Jatin, who has always been around, is my bridge. I always ask him, ‘Anything?’ I know Vasoo Sir watches my games when he can and, trust me, any input he gives me is gold dust. After every innings I wait to hear from him, and if he can’t get through to me because I’m travelling, I wait for Jatin to get in touch.I blossomed as a cricketer in that one season with Vasoo Sir. Whether we won or lost, he would sit us around and talk about the game. After these sessions, we let it all go and went to sleep with a light mind, shedding the baggage and thinking about what we needed and wanted to do the next day. He freed my mind, allowed me to dream about playing for India and showed me the steps I had to take to get there. That’s what Vasoo Sir does to a cricketer.When I look back, I realise how shrewdly Sir had forged the path that led me to the world stage of cricket. I was not from a big club or a big school or a college team. I was an outlier. But Sir’s recommendations to Pravin Amre, Kiran More and Dilip Vengsarkar got people talking about me, and I delivered on that promise. Without Sir by my side in those early years, I would not have been able to achieve as much as I fortunately have.

The Padres-Dodgers rivalry had another heated moment Tuesday night that saw Shohei Ohtani getting hit by a pitch in what seemed like an act of revenge and led to the ejection of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

It also led to Ohtani sharing an amazing picture of the moment on Instagram after the Dodgers' 8-6 win at home.

Ohtani was drilled in the leg in the bottom of the third inning. The first pitch of his at at-bat by Randy Vasquez brushed Ohtani back off the plate and then the next pitch hit him in his left knee. This came after Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a pitch in the top of the inning.

Look at this photo Ohtani posted: