Cruz Beckham has fiercely defended his father David after Cristiano Ronaldo claimed he was physically superior to the retired Manchester United legend. The Al-Nassr star is still playing at the age of 40 and boasts an impressive physique, an area he feels he has the beating of Beckham. But the ex-England captain's youngest son has hit back at the Portuguese in savage style.
Ronaldo puts down Beckham's 'normal' body
The Portugal icon spoke with journalist Piers Morgan about his career, his future, and much more during a lengthy chat earlier this month. In that conversation, ex-Man Utd and Real Madrid man Beckham, 50, was also briefly brought up. Ronaldo was asked who he thought was the better-looking of the two, with the veteran striker not mincing his words.
"His face is beautiful, yeah, handsome face," he said. "The rest is normal, like it's normal. I'm not normal. I'm perfecto. For me [good] looking is not only the face but the whole package. Imagine Cristiano and a normal guy with red speedos on the Copacabana, you think I am not going to have a chance with nobody."
When asked who would get more attention walking across the Copacabana, Ronaldo boasted: "Me, 100 per cent," before adding, "He's [Beckham] looking good. I like him, he is a guy who speaks good, I like him."
The former Juventus star also suggested he is the most famous person on the planet.
"We'll do a debate for the world: who's the most famous? Me or President Donald Trump? I think, in the world, even in small islands, they know me more than him," he said.
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Cruz sticks up for father David Beckham
In response to this, the 20-year-old Cruz referenced Ronaldo's "rest is normal" comments and put together a side-by-side shot of the Portuguese when he signed for United as a teenager in 2003; in addition to one of David in his 20s. In that image, Beckham appears to have the edge.
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Beckham still got it
A few months before he turned 50, Beckham was on the front cover of Men's Health. The Inter Miami co-owner revealed that to this day, he still does two exercises: push ups and pull-ups. But it wasn't always something he enjoyed.
He told the magazine in February: "I hated pull-ups with a passion. I could literally only do two or three – three at most. Bob decided to focus on press-ups and pull-ups. I hated both, and now we do them most days. I didn’t have pecs until I met (trainer) Bob [Rich]. You could say I’ve gone up a few cup sizes as a result. I never really had a desire to, either. I wanted to be as lean as I could. But since retiring, I’ve put a bit of meat in my pecs."
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What comes next for Ronaldo and Beckham?
Aside from physique wars, Beckham will be focusing on Inter Miami's Major League Soccer Eastern Conference final clash against New York City on Saturday, which will see Lionel Messi take centre stage once again. Ronaldo, meanwhile, will be hoping his Al-Nassr side can beat Istiklol in the AFC Champions League 2 on Wednesday.
Four-wicket hauls from Murphy and Sangha in vain for Australia A
ESPNcricinfo staff05-Oct-2025Prabhsimran Singh’s 68-ball 102 was backed up by half-centuries from captain Shreyas Iyer and Riyan Parag as India A chased down 317 to clinch the three-match unofficial ODI series against Australia A 2-1 in Kanpur.India A were placed comfortably on 262 for 3 in the 35th over during their chase, but they lost five for 39 to lose grip. Vipraj Nigam and Arshdeep Singh then took them over the line, adding an unbroken 21 for the ninth wicket and helping India A win the decider by two wickets.Prabhsimran had set the tone for the victory by adding 83 for the first wicket with Abhishek Sharma in just 11.2 overs. Abhishek and Tilak Varma fell in quick succession but Prabhsimran continued to bat aggressively. He struck eight fours and seven sixes before falling to legspinner Tanveer Sangha in the 20th over.Iyer and Parag launched from the platform Prabhsimran had set, adding 117 off 92 balls for the fourth wicket. While Iyer hit 62 off 58 balls, his second fifty-plus score in three one-dayers ahead of the Australia tour, Parag smashed 62 off 55.However, Sangha dismissed both batters in successive overs, bringing Australia A back into the game. Sangha proceeded to remove allrounder Nishant Sindhu before Todd Murphy struck twice in two balls, sending back Ayush Badoni and Harshit Rana in the 42nd over. Nigam (24*) and Arshdeep (7*), though, ensured that India A closed out the chase with 24 balls to spare.Earlier, Arshdeep and Rana had Australia A in trouble, reducing them to 44 for 4. While Arshdeep removed openers Mackenzie Harvey and Jake Fraser-McGurk, Rana dismissed Harry Dixon and Lachlan Hearne. Cooper Connolly’s 49-ball 64 then resurrected Australia A’s innings, but the hosts found themselves in trouble again at 135 for 6 in 21 overs.Captain Jack Edwards and Liam Scott then added a 152-run stand off 123 balls for the seventh wicket to take Australia A forward. Some useful runs down the order helped Australia cross 300 before they were bowled out for 316 in 49.1 overs. Arshdeep and Harshit picked up three wickets apiece for India A.
When India wrapped up West Indies’ first innings and secured a lead of 270 runs, seven-and-a-half sessions of the Delhi Test still remained.The pitch was still making bowlers work hard: West Indies, after lasting less than 50 overs in both their innings in Ahmedabad last week, had survived 81.5 overs in their first innings here. Their last two wickets had added 73 runs, suggesting that wicket-taking on this slow, low pitch was particularly difficult when the ball became older, with edges unlikely to carry to close-in catchers.Teams tend not to enforce the follow-on in such situations, given the time remaining in the match and the two major benefits of batting again – rest for the bowlers, and a chance for them to come back and bowl after the pitch has undergone more wear and tear.Related
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'Impact injury' keeps Sai Sudharsan off the field on the third day
India, however, asked West Indies to bat again, and by stumps on day three the visitors had enjoyed their best day of the series, with John Campbell and Shai Hope scoring half-centuries and putting on an unbroken 138 for the third wicket. West Indies will begin day four trailing by just 97 runs, with India back on the field with 130.5 cumulative overs in their legs.India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said India had enforced the follow-on in the belief that the pitch would deteriorate significantly by the end of the third day’s play.”There was a discussion to bat,” he said. “Those last two wickets took a little bit longer than we would have hoped for, and had probably started going towards the [space] where you do look to bat again.”But we felt [270] was a good lead. We thought the wicket’s going to keep deteriorating, we thought by close of play it would be at its worst, but it just seems to have slowed down even more.”This left India’s spin trio with a tricky time of finding the right pace to bowl at. Having shared eight wickets between them in the first innings, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar took 1 for 149 between them in 38 second-innings overs.”It’s quite challenging to get any pace out of the wicket, [and] you have to really fire the ball in,” ten Doeschate said. “And, of course, when you fire the ball in, it’s got less chance of spinning. We have found it tricky this afternoon, and Shai Hope and John Campbell batted beautifully, so back tomorrow, get our plans right, and hopefully get those last four batters out and then get into the tail.”Khary Pierre, who scored 23 from No. 8 in West Indies’ first innings, said he was surprised by India’s decision to enforce the follow-on.3:56
What made Campbell and Hope stand out?
“Actually it was a bit surprising that they went back to bowl [even though] the wicket was still a good one,” Pierre said. “For me, personally, batting on the wicket, batting a lot of time, and watching the wicket, seeing what it was doing, I think it’s still a very good wicket.”I was surprised, but it’s India, and you know they want to get the win, and probably didn’t think they needed to go back and bat, but so be it. We have to bat properly in this innings and try and make a game of it.”With eight wickets in hand and the deficit now down to double-figures, Pierre felt West Indies had a real chance of making a game of it.”I would say the Test match is still on,” he said. “Once we apply ourselves with the bat, we have two set batters at the crease right now that will start over tomorrow, and once we bat properly, the game is still on. Once we get a lead, we all know, on the fourth and fifth day of a Test match, the bowlers will come and probably get some balls to spin and stuff and make a game of it.”
West Ham are believed to be in the market for three major signings this January, and could now turn back to a familiar face in pursuit of fresh quality.
The Irons are preparing for what could be a vital transfer window in their quest to ensure Premier League survival. Looking to back new boss Nuno Espírito Santo, with West Ham currently sitting in the relegation zone after a torrid start to 2025/2026, David Sullivan and co have identified three key areas to reinforce.
Nuno’s would seriously benefit from signing a striker and a centre-back in January, while they’re also exploring options in midfield to add depth and quality in that area of the squad (Sky Sports).
In attack, West Ham are apparently targeting an athletic, mobile centre-forward who can provide a different profile to their current options. Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney is believed to be a target for Nuno’s side in that regard, while reports suggest that Santiago Gimenez of AC Milan is also on West Ham’s radar.
The same can be said of ex-Tottenham striker Troy Parrott, who’s currently enjoying the season of his life at AZ Alkmaar, having also fired the Republic of Ireland to the World Cup play-offs recently.
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
West Ham 3-2 Burnley
Parrott’s brace against Portugal, which led Ireland to a 2-0 win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s side, and a hat-trick against Hungary confirmed his country’s place in the draw, with clubs like West Ham apparently taking notice of the 23-year-old’s exceptional form.
The midfield area also requires attention, with West Ham reportedly targeting additions to bolster their options in the number eight role. The club has been linked with moves for the likes of Chelsea starlet Andrey Santos as they look to add technical quality and energy to the middle of the park.
Defensively, West Ham are pursuing reinforcements at centre-back.
They’ve reportedly made a £15.8 million bid to sign Lecce and Portugal Under-21 centre-back Tiago Gabriel already (La Gazzetta dello Sport), though the Italian club has rejected this opening offer and is holding out for around £22 million.
West Ham currently have the second-worst defence in England’s top flight, and despite their glaring need for a forward, Nuno’s backline also demands attention.
West Ham looking to 'reignite' Charlie Cresswell talks
Now, according to ExWHUemployee, they could turn back towards Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell as an option.
The former Leeds United defender was apparently ‘close to signing’ in the summer window, and West Ham are looking to ‘reignite talks’ over signing Cresswell in January as they attempt to shore up their leaky defence.
Cresswell represents the type of defensive reinforcement West Ham desperately need to address their relegation concerns.
The 23-year-old has demonstrated strong leadership capabilities and excels in aerial situations, while also contributing offensively with three goals last season.
Standing over six feet tall, he’s physically imposing and wins his defensive battles, providing the commanding presence that’s been missing from West Ham’s backline. His move to Toulouse has proven highly successful, with the defender establishing himself among France’s top young centre-backs and helping Toulouse to keep 10 clean sheets in 2024/2025.
His quality has translated to international football too, where he earned praise for his leadership during the recent Under-21 European Championships (GiveMeSport). The England youth international played a key role in his country’s successful title defence, showing he can deliver on the big stage.
Cresswell being homegrown and valued at around £18 million in the summer makes this deal all the more appealing to West Ham, especially considering their limited winter budget.
Cal Raleigh officially stands alone among catchers in MLB history.
The Seattle Mariners superstar clubbed his 49th home run of the season on Sunday. As such, he now holds the record for most home runs by a catcher in a single season in MLB history, overtaking a record previously held by Royals star Salvador Perez. No player who has been behind the plate for at least 75% of their games has hit more home runs in one campaign.
Raleigh entered play Sunday with 47 home runs. By the time the second inning ended, he'd already smacked two pitches into the seats and made MLB history. Now, he'll look to become the first catcher to ever hit 50 home runs in a season, too.
Raleigh's record-setting home run sent T-Mobile Park into a tizzy, as fans rose to their feet to celebrate their catcher's historic accomplishment. The broadcast was fired up, too, delivering a hearty call of the moment.
Raleigh hadn't hit a home run in any of his previous five games, but he delivered twice in two innings on Sunday to secure the record. An awesome moment for an incredibly deserving player.
Most Home Runs by Catcher in Single Season
Now that Raleigh stands alone with 49 home runs in a season, we'll take a look at some of the players he's passed. Perez's 48-home run season in 2021 stood as the record until Sunday. Prior to that, Johnny Bench held the record for most homers by a catcher in a season with 45, which he achieved in 1970. Javy Lopez hit 43 home runs in 2003, and the only other catchers with 40 or more homers in a season are Todd Hundley, Roy Campanella and Mike Piazza.
A CBF decidiu adiar jogos do Brasileirão que envolvem clubes gaúchos até o próximo dia 27, em razão da tragédia que assola o Rio Grande do Sul (RS), causada pelas chuvas intensas na região. A medida também vale para as equipes do estado que disputam outras divisões e modalidades do futebol nacional.
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A entidade optou por manter o andamento da competição para os demais clubes. A principal alegação para a decisão é o calendário da temporada, segundo apuração do Lance!.
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A CBF monitora os eventos climáticos no estado e planeja tomar decisões de acordo com o desenvolvimento dos acontecimentos. A instituição reforça o apoio e participação nas ações em benefício à população gaúcha.
O principal impasse alegado por pessoas da CBF é o calendário da temporada. No momento, não haveria como realocar tantas partidas adiadas, ainda com competições paralelas, como Libertadores, Sul-Americana, Copa América e Mundial de Clubes.
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As diretorias de Internacional, Grêmio e Juventude tinham a intenção de que todo o campeonato fosse paralisado. Contudo, não teria ocorrido uma união com a maioria das equipes da Série A para pressionar pela medida.
O Athletico-PR foi citado como um dos que, enfaticamente, foi contra o adiamento geral. Em contato com Flamengo, Palmeiras, São Paulo, Corinthians e Bragantino, o Lance! ouviu que os clubes não tornarão público um posicionamento favorável ou contrário ao tema. Todos promoveram ações em prol dos equipes e da população gaúcha.
Flamengo, Palmeiras e São Paulo colocaram estádios e centros de treinamento à disposição de Inter, Grêmio e Juventude. O Verdão vai reverter a arrecadação da bilheteria da partida diante do Athletico-PR, no final de semana, em doações. Corinthians e Vasco foram outros clubes que disponibilizaram suas estruturas para equipes gaúchas.
Veja a nota oficial da CBF:
“Em virtude do estado de calamidade pública no Rio Grande do Sul, decretado pelos Governos Federal e Estadual, decorrente dos eventos climáticos extremos ocorridos,a CBF manifesta sua total solidariedade à população gaúcha e reforça que o foco atual é o atendimento às suas necessidades imediatas e emergenciais.
A CBF, na condição de entidade organizadora das competições nacionais, e atenta às suas funções institucionais, bem assim ao esforço humanitário que o momento reclama, reafirma seu irrestrito apoio às autoridades para que todas as medidas e ações sejam adotadas em benefício da população gaúcha, cujo socorro é a prioridade máxima.
Diante do atual cenário, tendo recebido na noite de 06 de maio de 2024 o ofício no. 57/2024, oriundo da Federação Gaúcha de Futebol (FGF), que encaminhou e endossou o pleito dos seus clubes filiados,a CBF informa que ficam adiadas todas as partidas envolvendo equipes do Rio Grande de Sul nas competições nacionais, como mandante ou visitante, previstas até o dia 27 de maio de 2024.”
For Mets pitcher Kodai Senga, 2025 has been a tale of two halves.
From the start of the season until July 21, Senga went 10–4 with a 1.39 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings. Since then, Senga is 4–4 with a nightmarish 6.56 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings.
As a result, New York announced Friday. that it would option Senga to the Triple A Syracuse Mets. In a corresponding move, the Mets activated catcher Francisco Alvarez from the 10-day injured list.
Senga joined New York for the 2023 season after a decorated career in Japan, and immediately made a splash. Even as the Mets struggled, he went 12–7 with a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings. He finished seventh in the National League Cy Young voting and was runner-up for Rookie of the Year.
Injuries abbreviated his 2024 season, but he appeared to return to form to begin '25. That gradually changed, culminating in his allowance of a season-high five earned runs against the Marlins Sunday.
New York currently occupies the NL's final wild-card spot, and leads the Giants by four games with 22 left to play this season.
Ibrahima Konate has probably received more flak than any other Liverpool player this season, and understandably so, but he’s hardly the only member of Arne Slot’s squad who has been flattering to deceive.
Mohamed Salah is horribly out of sorts on the right flank; record signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have both yet to produce even a portion of the world-class quality FSG paid for; even the skipper, Virgil van Dijk, has lacked his usual indomitability, with his leadership being questioned too.
It’s all gone a bit wrong for Slot and his team this season, so fragile and brittle, so susceptible to the physical side of the game.
The midfield have been limp and toothless, and after two campaigns of undeniable brilliance, Alexis Mac Allister looks a shadow of his finest self, and fans are questioning why.
Why Mac Allister is struggling for Liverpool
Mac Allister is a seasoned part of this Liverpool team now. A leader and among Slot’s most trusted lieutenants, he was instrumental in last season’s title-winning success, the perfect counterpoint to Ryan Gravenberch in his deep-lying berth.
But the 26-year-old has fallen off a proverbial cliff since the summer, almost unrecognisable in the middle of the park. Mac Allister looks sapped, leggy. This dynamic, creative, though-tackling midfielder has been relegated to the realm of the mundane, with one content creator even suggesting the Argentine looks like “looks like Fabinho’s season”.
This isn’t good, of course, and Slot may need to start turning toward some left-field solutions. Repetition without results is the first sign of madness – right? – so the Dutch head coach surely needs to rewire his engine room if things do not change for the better over the coming weeks.
Matches (starts)
35 (30)
11 (10)
Goals
5
0
Assists
5
2
Touches*
55.8
47.2
Accurate passes*
35.5 (87%)
31.5 (86%)
Key passes*
1.3
0.9
Dribbles*
0.5
0.1
Ball recoveries*
4.2
2.9
Tackles + interceptions*
3.3
1.5
Clearances*
0.8
0.8
Duels (won)*
4.9 (48%)
2.5 (44%)
Liverpool wouldn’t want to part with the South American star, who has been so impressive since joining from Brighton in 2023, but Slot may find that he has a central midfielder tearing away from the academy who might actually come to take Mac Allister’s spot for him.
He’s even been likened to former Manchester United superstar Paul Pogba.
The Liverpool teen who could replace Mac Allister
Pogba, who made his long-anticipated return to competitive football with AS Monaco last weekend, was once one of the most famous faces in the Premier League, having re-joined Manchester United from Juventus for a world-record £89m fee in 2016.
Paul Pogba at Manchester United.
The Frenchman’s career has been one of ups and downs, but he undoubtedly boasts obscene amounts of natural ability, and in this, Liverpool are beginning to get excited given the likeness shared with Trey Nyoni.
Nyoni is only 18, but already he has featured eight times for Liverpool’s first team, making the bench on five separate occasions in the Premier League this season.
His long, limber frame and ability to use his physicality to tussle with stockier opponents are reminiscent of Pogba back in his earlier days, and the surpassing technical quality that has seen him ascend from academy level to the major stage is further evidence that Liverpool have got a gem on their hands.
Praised for his “simply exceptional” range of passing by journalist Lewis Bower, Nyoni is raw and unpolished but boasts such a staggering reservoir of natural gifts that he will surely reach the top of the game with care and focus on raising his physicality.
Analyst Ben Mattinson remarked last year that there is “so much resemblance” between the Les Bleus superstar and Nyoni’s own physical profile, and this could see him cement a starting berth at Liverpool in the coming years.
Given that he would be jockeying with Mac Allister for a berth, sporting director Richard Hughes may shimmy a few cogs around so that Nyoni’s rise coincides with the potential bumper sale of Liverpool’s midfield general.
Trey Nyoni in action for Liverpool
In any case, this is a youngster with the potential to succeed at Liverpool, perhaps adding a flavour of Pogba’s powerful brilliance to Slot’s team down the line.
Semenyo alternative: Liverpool preparing £177m bid to sign their new Diaz
Liverpool are gearing up to open their purse once again this winter.
New Zealand scrambled to a tense two-wicket victory in Wellington to seal a 3-0 sweep of the ODIs after England’s top-order was filleted once again. Jamie Overton slammed 68 off 62 from No. 8 to help England make a game of it but the armchair Ashes critics were given plenty more ammunition by another misfiring display before they hop across the Tasman.It had appeared New Zealand would get the job done in routine fashion, as Daryl Mitchell anchored their chase of 223. But from 188 for 5 they slid to 196 for 8, with Mitchell the eighth man out for 44, edging Sam Curran behind. With more than 10 overs still to be bowled, however, there was time enough for Blair Tickner and Zak Foulkes to tick off the runs required in an unbroken ninth-wicket stand.Related
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Tickner had earlier claimed his second consecutive four-wicket haul after new-ball pair Jacob Duffy and Foulkes had knocked over the England top five inside 10.1 overs.New Zealand’s chase was given a solid start by a 78-run opening stand between Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. The run-out of Conway backing up – one of two such dismissals in the innings – triggered a mini-collapse, with three wickets falling in as many overs, but Mitchell once again provided the steady hand in another small chase, following up scores of 78 not out in Mount Maunganui and 56 not out in Hamilton.Conway had replaced Kane Williamson, absent with a groin niggle, and endured some testing moments against Jofra Archer, who regularly touched 90mph/145kph during his opening spell. A checked drive for six over extra cover got him going, while Ravindra eased into gear with a series of boundaries off Brydon Carse. When Archer switched ends for the final powerplay over and saw it disappear for 24, New Zealand were 64 for 0 and coasting.The stand was broken by a moment of fortune for England, with Overton again the catalyst as he attempted to field a drive from Ravindra only to see the ball deflect off his wrist, through his legs and into the non-striker’s stumps with Conway stranded. Ravindra was then bowled through the gate by Curran, before Overton ended Will Young’s unproductive series by having him caught behind off a steepling top edge.Devon Conway took on Jofra Archer•Getty Images
Tom Latham, remarkably, was also run out when failing to get his bat back after Carse this time redirected a Mitchell drive into the stumps at the other end. Adil Rashid, having been held back until the 30th over, then struck with his second ball as Michael Bracewell holed out to deep midwicket with New Zealand still requiring 76.Mitchell Santner struck two fours and two sixes in a breezy knock to bring victory in sight, but England kept chipping away. Santner holed out off Carse, Overton brought one back sharply to castle Nathan Smith, before Mitchell’s push at Curran left New Zealand having to scrap for the last few runs.In a series billed in some quarters as an extension of England’s Ashes warm-ups – as many as seven of this XI could play the first Test in Perth in three weeks’ time – the batting suffered another malfunction. Having already conceded the series, there was to be no revival in fortunes, despite showing fight until the very end at Sky Stadium.Inserted for the third game running, they plunged to 44 for 5 with none of the top four reaching double-figures. Two fifty stands – between Jos Buttler and Curran, then Overton and Carse – helped save face. Overton struck 10 fours and two sixes in his highest List A score, but the target for New Zealand still looked light.England had actually been in a worse position in the first ODI when falling to 33 for 5, only for Harry Brook’s incendiary 135 to give them a similar score to bowl at. Here Brook was caught at second slip looking to defend as England were again found wanting in ideal conditions for seam and swing.Foulkes continued his impressive maiden ODI series by striking with his fourth ball, Jamie Smith feathering a cut behind the ball after almost being bowled by an in-ducker – although it required DRS to detect the edge.Blair Ticker celebrates the wicket of Jos Buttler•Getty Images
Ben Duckett heaved Duffy into the boundary boards for a six in the third over, but Foulkes was at it again in his next, pinning Joe Root with an inswinger. Duckett then toe-ended a swipe off Duffy to mid-on and when Brook nicked a Duffy outswinger, England were 31 for 4 inside the powerplay.It meant that England set a world record for the fewest runs scored by a team’s top four batters (84) in an ODI series, where they batted at least three times.Buttler was lucky to survive another peach from Duffy first ball, while Jacob Bethell almost ran himself out looking for a non-existent single. Bethell became the first England batter into double-figures, but an impetuous slash at the first ball outside the powerplay saw him off, courtesy a flying catch from Mitchell at slip.With Duffy and Foulkes bowling unchanged through the first 14 overs, England had to retrench. Buttler then shifted through the gears against the change bowlers, as he and Curran brought up the fifty stand from 62 balls.Tickner broke through, a combination of pad and inside edge taking the ball on to Curran’s stumps. He then bowled Buttler in more emphatic fashion, nipping a full delivery inside an expansive drive to topple off stump.Overton had got off the mark with a pulled four, and his third scoring shot was a flat six that punched a hole in the low wall around the boundary. Carse joined the counterattack, hitting four towering sixes in 36 off 30 balls before top-edging a swipe at Tickner high into the covers. Archer managed a couple of boundaries before holing out to mid-on.By then Overton was motoring, back-to-back thumps off Tickner helping to raise a run-a-ball half-century – his first in List A cricket, coming off the back of a career-best 46 in the first ODI. England’s last-wicket yielded 36 runs, but again the top-order deficiencies proved decisive.
“I feel that 21-24 is a good age to get a debut for the Indian team and I’m just trying to give my best,” Kumar Kushagra says
Deivarayan Muthu24-Aug-2025After recovering from a back niggle that had prevented him from training during the last month, Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra has returned to action with a fifty and a hundred in the first two rounds of the ongoing Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai. Ahead of the Duleep Trophy, which will kick off on August 28 in Bengaluru, Kushagra has declared himself fully fit for the domestic grind.”Last month, I was not practising [my batting] or keeping, but I’m totally fit and good now,” Kushagra said on the sidelines of the Buchi Babu tournament. “While going into the Duleep Trophy, this [Buchi Babu] is a good match for us Jharkhand players and for me as well. The facilities, grounds and environment are a good preparation for the Duleep Trophy.”A separate back injury had earlier forced Kushagra to miss a chunk of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy and the Emerging Asia Cup last October. In the lead-up to a new domestic season, Kushagra has prioritised fitness, having worked hard with his father Shashikant, his de facto trainer, back at home, and with the BCCI’s medical team at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.Related
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Rahane steps down as Mumbai's Ranji Trophy captain
Kishan ruled out of Duleep Trophy opener
“Before this tournament, I was at the NCA [CoE] and before that I was working with my dad,” Kushagra said. “I was going early in the morning at 4.30-5am to work on my fitness and batting and keeping. Being at the NCA also helped because there are good coaches and physios there. I gave my yo-yo test and was ready for the Buchi Babu tournament.”Missing the [Emerging] Asia Cup was a setback because it was important ahead of the IPL auction. The one who helps me is my dad. Even when I’m not with him, like when I’m in Tamil Nadu now, he gives me inputs on the phone and sends batting videos of players who are playing at the international level.”Kushagra, 20, has been part of a wider pool of targeted players shortlisted by the CoE in recent times. He made his India A debut in February 2024, scoring a run-a-ball 40 in the second innings against an England Lions attack that included Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts. That knock gave Kushagra the belief that he could succeed at the top level too.”At that moment, I was sold in the IPL for [INR] 7.2 crore [to Delhi Capitals] and I was a bit confident to play for India A as well because I had scored a [Ranji Trophy] hundred against Services in Delhi. I scored 40-odd against England, so I was confident that I could score runs here also.”Kumar Kushagra has played for India A already, suggesting he is in the wider pool of players the BCCI is looking at•PTI Kushagra, who is set to play for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, sees the tournament as a springboard for higher honours.”Yeah, it definitely helps being in the eyes of the selectors,” he said. “If you perform in these matches like Buchi Babu and Duleep Trophy, it can take you to the Indian team, but you have to be consistent at the same time.”I’m keeping things very simple at the moment and I want to go there and express myself. I feel that 21-24 is a good age to get a debut for the Indian team and I’m just trying to give my best.”With Jos Buttler being Gujarat Titans’ frontline keeper, Kushagra didn’t get a game during IPL 2025 [after moving from DC], but he used the training sessions to pick the brains of Buttler, Matthew Wade (GT’s assistant coach) and Parthiv Patel (who is also part of GT’s backroom staff).”I was not playing matches, but I thought I should keep because in domestic tournaments you bat a lot [during training] but don’t keep much. Parthiv sir, Matthew Wade and Jos Buttler helped me a lot,” he said. “Actually, I was not that comfortable when keeping to fast bowlers when the ball was wobbling too much. I [learnt] how I can tackle that [wobbling ball] in windy conditions like in England and all that.””I’m keeping things very simple at the moment and I want to go there and express myself”•PTI Jharkhand had a poor start to the 2024-25 Ranji season, having no outright win to show for in their first five games. Then they beat both Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu at home to close out the season with back-to-back victories. Kushagra said the team had drawn confidence from toppling a strong Tamil Nadu team.”We were brilliant in the last two matches at the Keenan Stadium [in Jamshedpur],” Kushagra recalled. “Our spinners were all over the batters, and we were performing above the Tamil Nadu team, which was good for us.”The last time Jharkhand’s senior men’s team won a domestic title was back in 2010-11, when their current association secretary Saurabh Tiwary had led them to glory in the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy.”I just want my team to win a particular format, and we also discuss these things about winning a tournament in my home, also because every day my mom says that you should win because Jharkhand have so many talented players,” he said. “So, in my mind, there is always one thing: I want to win a trophy for my team and do whatever the team wants from me.”