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Three-year deal for former Surrey and England captain in first major coaching role

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2024Adam Hollioake, Surrey’s legendary former captain, has been named as Kent’s new head coach, on a three-year deal that will keep him at Canterbury at least until the end of the 2027 season.He will take over from Matt Walker, who stepped down in September after eight years in the role, with Kent having suffered relegation from Division One of the County Championship, as well as finishing bottom of the South Group of the Vitality Blast.Hollioake, 53, has had limited coaching experience since retiring from playing in 2007, but forged his reputation as an inspirational leader during his time at Surrey, whom he guided to seven trophies, including three County Championships, between 1996 and 2003.He played four Tests for England between 1997 and 1998, as well as 35 ODIs in which his temporary role as captain resulted in a famous tournament victory in Sharjah in 1997-98. His tactical acumen is widely regarded to have been ahead of its time, and he was considered to lead England into the 1999 World Cup, in which he also played.Hollioake’s career was marred by tragedy, when his brother Ben was killed in a car-crash in March 2002, and he drifted away from cricket after retirement. After moving to live in Queensland in 2004, he set up a property company but was soon forced to declare bankruptcy and subsequently forged a brief career as a cage-fighter.Having coached Hong Kong at the 2000 ACC Trophy, he returned to cricket in 2017 as head coach of Boost Defenders in Afghanistan’s Shpageeza Cricket League, a role that he chose to stay on in even after a fatal bomb blast outside the ground in Kabul where his team were playing.This will be Hollioake’s first major head coach role, but he served as an assistant coach at Surrey in 2024, having previously worked as a batting coach for Pakistan, Queensland, and England Lions. He had been lined up by his former Surrey team-mate Graham Thorpe to join the England coaching set-up during the 2021-22 Ashes, but was ruled out after a close contact tested positive for Covid.”I’m honoured to be appointed as the head coach of Kent,” Hollioake said. “It’s an amazing chance for me to work with a great squad of players and to be involved with a county with such a rich history of success.”County Cricket is something that I hold extremely close to my heart, and this is an opportunity that I could not turn down.”Kent’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, said: “Adam has shown throughout his playing and coaching career that he has outstanding leadership qualities and a winning mentality, something that was instrumental in our decision to move in a new direction following our robust and thorough search for a new men’s head coach.”We welcome Adam into the Kent Cricket family and look forward to his leadership of our men’s side going into the new season.”

A mixed start to Newcastle United’s pre-season fixtures.

First, the Magpies demolished Carlisle United 4-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly, with the now-departed Sean Longstaff breaking the deadlock, before Joelinton, Jacob Murphy and youngster Ben Parkinson were all on target.

However, on Saturday, with over 10,000 Geordies in attendance in Glasgow, Eddie Howe’s side were embarrassingly battered 4-0 by Celtic at Parkhead, with Nick Pope responsible for an absolute howler, gifting the Hoops their second.

Next up, the Toon Army will take on Arsenal at the Singapore National Stadium on Sunday, but will they have a new signing to get excited about before then?

Newcastle United's latest transfer news

So far this summer, Newcastle have signed Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest for a reported fee of £55m, making him the club’s second-most expensive signing of all-time, behind fellow-Swede Alexander Isak.

Meantime, they’ve seen a £25m bid rejected for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, although the DR Congo international has left the Bees’ pre-season training camp in Portugal, and it is widely expected this deal will be finalised in the end.

While Wissa would be an excellent addition, representing a major upgrade on the released Callum Wilson, are Newcastle also turning their attention back to their top target?

Well, as reported by Chris Waugh of the Athletic, Newcastle ‘remain interested’ in signing Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guéhi, noting that internal discussions during recruitment meetings have been held.

Transfer Focus

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

Fair to say, Newcastle hold a long-standing interest in the England international, having had four bids rejected for Guéhi last summer, the highest of which was £60m, with Palace owner Steve Parish telling BBC Sport back then that it would require “superstar money” for the Eagles to consider selling their captain.

Guéhi is purportedly valued at £70m by the South London side, so should Newcastle push the boat out to bring him to Tyneside?

How Marc Guéhi would improve Newcastle

Howe will be looking to bolster his centre-back options this summer, ahead of a very busy schedule, given that his side have qualified for the Champions League.

The table below underlines his limited options in that position last season.

Newcastle United’s centre-back options 2024/25
Statistics	Dan Burn	Fabian Schär	Sven Botman
Appearances	46	42	10
Starts	44	40	8
Minutes	3,974	3,629	581
% of total minutes played	91%	83%	13%
Statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table outlines, due to Sven Botman’s injury issues, Dan Burn and Fabin Schär started the vast majority of Newcastle’s 48 fixtures last season in league and cup, something that’ll surely not be possible again with, at a minimum, eight Champions League ties thrown into the mix.

Should Guéhi arrive, he would certainly become first-choice in that spot, given that then-England manager Gareth Southgate described his performances at last summer’s Euros as “exceptional”, while former teammate Josef Buršík, now of Club Brugge, labelled him an “absolute tank”.

Meantime, Nathan Jackson of Total Football Analysis outlines how he has the potential to become the best centre-back in the Premier League, with Elias Burke of the Athletic praising his ability to complete ‘ambitious’ forward passes, due to his top-class quality on the ball, citing Roy Hodgson, who asserted that he is a future England captain.

So, let’s see how he compares to Burn, the man he’d surely be usurping in the Newcastle pecking order.

Marc Guéhi vs Dan Burn 2024/25 Premier League comparison
Statistics (per 90)	Guéhi	Burn
Pass completion %	84.15%	88.62%
Forward passes	20.8	17
Duels contested	8.4	8.9
Aerial duel success %	53.91%	66.07%
Ground duel success %	63.46%	50%
Tackles	1.8	1.1
Interceptions	0.9	0.8
Blocks	0.7	0.7
Ball Recoveries	4.3	2.8
All statistics courtesy of Squawka

As the table outlines, Guéhi comes out on top for the vast majority of defensive metrics included; it is little surprise that Burn boasts better numbers when it comes to aerial duels!

This is exactly why Guéhi would be such a key signing for Newcastle, as he would represent a massive upgrade in a position of need.

Wissa, on the other hand, while an excellent player, not so much.

The Magpies already have Isak, who Graham Ruthven of Total Soccer Show asserts is one of the best four centre-forwards on the planet, alongside Erling Braut Håland, Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski.

Of course, an Isak back-up is necessary, but this is why they signed William Osula last summer, a player who Beth Limb of Breaking the Lines believes has a ‘bright future ahead’, praising his ‘strong physical profile’ and ‘wonderful burst of acceleration’.

So, while Wissa will be a useful squad addition, Guéhi would represent a transformational first-team starter, hence why Newcastle should go all out to secure his signature.

Better fit than Ekitike: Newcastle lead race to sign £44m Wissa alternative

Newcastle eye highly-rated French forward after losing out on Ekitike

By
Will Miller

Jul 22, 2025

Celtic’s busy summer transfer activity continues, but a fair few more signings will be required before they commence their Scottish Premiership title defence against St Mirren in just three weeks’ time.

On Friday, it was confirmed that Nicolas Kühn had joined Como for a reported fee of £16.4m, one of the biggest sales in the club’s history.

Following the departure of Kyōgo Furuhashi in January, that is an enormous number of goals that have been taken out of Brendan Rodgers’ team in 2025, hence why they are in the market for attacking reinforcements.

Celtic's search for a striker

Few players in Celtic’s modern history are as universally beloved as Shunsuke Nakamura, who played for the club between 2005 and 2009.

Transfer Focus

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

This is largely due to the fact that, as noted by content creator Jack Kenmare, the Japanese international is considered to be amongst the best free-kick takers of all-time.

During the 2006/07 season, Nakamura scored free-kicks home and away against Manchester United in the Champions League, including the only goal of a famous 1-0 win at Parkhead, before his free-kick at Rugby Park against Kilmarnock, coming in stoppage time no less, secured the title later in the campaign.

So now, could Celtic be about to land a brand-new dead-ball specialist?

Well, according to a report by Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Celtic are attempting to sign Giuseppe Ambrosino on a season-long loan from Napoli, alongside another more proven forward.

The 21-year-old has been with Napoli since the age of ten, but is yet to make a senior appearance for I Partenopei, loaned out to Como, Cittadella, Catanzaro and most recently Frosinone, scoring five goals as I Giallazzurri finished 15th in Serie B.

Thus, a move to Celtic would be a big step-up for Ambrosino, but he could prove to be a useful addition.

Why Celtic supporters should be excited about Giuseppe Ambrosino

As the table below outlines, Ambrosino – who has been dubbed a “free-kick specialist” by journalist Graeme McGarry – has not pulled up any trees at any of his various loan clubs, but has impressed while representing Italy’s youth teams at major tournaments.

Giuseppe Ambrosino career statistics
Team	Competition	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Como	Serie B	4	1	Zero
Cittadella	Serie B	15	1	2
Catanzaro	Serie B	28	3	2
Frosinone	Serie B	36	5	4
International career
Italy U20s	U20 World Cup & U20 Elite League	12	4	3
Italy U21s	U21 Euros	11	2	1
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As noted in the table, Ambrosino was a key figure in the Italy side that reached the U20 World Cup Final in Argentina last year, starting six of the seven matches, scoring against the Dominican Republic in Mendoza, as gli Azzurrini were defeated 1-0 by Uruguay in the final at Estadio Único.

Then, just last month, he represented Italy at the under-21 European Championships, featuring in all four matches, scoring a stupendous, trademark free-kick to force extra time, as his side were ultimately eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Germany in Dunajská Streda.

These performances have yielded plenty of praise, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout impressed by his “finishing, movement and work-rate”, labelling him “versatile” and “unique” forward.

So, while very little is known about Ambrosino, he is clearly a player of immense talent.

When the aforementioned Nakamura joined Celtic in 2005, arriving from Serie A side Reggina, he was very much an unknown too, but would depart a bona fide cult hero, a status that he retains to this day.

So, as the Hoops look to shop in Italy again, Ambrosino could become only the fifth Italian to represent the Celts, after Rolando Ugolini, Paolo Di Canio, Enrico Annoni and Massimo Donati.

Whether or not his career will take off in Glasgow remains to be seen, but who doesn’t love a free-kick specialist?

Idah upgrade: Celtic in the race to sign £6.8m "complete number 9"

As Brendan Rodgers seeks to add more attacking firepower to his Celtic squad, could the Hoops sign a “quality” striker even better than Adam Idah?

1

By
Ben Gray

Jul 11, 2025

It has not been the easiest summer transfer window for Newcastle United. Eddie Howe’s side have constantly seen their first-choice targets across the pitch turn them down, or they have lost out to other clubs. Bryan Mbeumo’s proposed move to Manchester United is a prime example of that.

Well, the Magpies have lined up a deal for former Man United academy star Anthony Elanga as an alternative to the Brentford winger, with the Nottingham Forest man set for a medical before a proposed £55m move.

At the other end of the pitch, Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini is a clear target for the Tynesiders. However, the Italian is not the only defender Howe’s side are lining up this summer.

Newcastle’s new defensive target

It remains to be seen just how realistic a deal to sign Scalvini is for Newcastle this season. The Magpies were reportedly engaging in discussions with Atalanta over the weekend, as per reports.

Well, another centre-back that the North East giants are pursuing is Chelsea’s French international defender Axel Disasi. According to a report from RMC Sport, Newcastle are one of a few sides who ‘have begun talks’ for the former AS Monaco star.

They are thought to be ‘interested in the international’s profile’, and could look to do a deal in the region of £25m, the fee Chelsea want from the move.

However, they are not the only club in the race, with Spanish outfit Villareal the one side ‘particularly persistent’ ahead of the deal.

Why Disasi would be a good signing

The 2024/25 campaign was by no means an easy one for 27-year-old Disasi. He fell out of favour under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea and departed the club on a six-month loan deal in January, joining Aston Villa temporarily.

The centre-back, who was a part of France’s 2022 World Cup squad, made 27 appearances across all competitions for the Blues and the Villans last term. However, with just 852 Premier League minutes under his belt for both sides, he surely did not play the number of games he may have wanted.

Yet, the Frenchman did impress at Villa Park, despite the lack of football he played last term. Villans boss Unai Emery said in March that Disasi was a player “growing in confidence” the more he played. That came after a Player of the Match performance against Brentford away from home.

As football talent scout Jacek Kulig once said, he is a “dominant” player when at his best.

The Chelsea defender could be the perfect alternative to Scalvini, who also didn’t play in 2024/25. However, that was due to injury, with the 21-year-old first recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, before picking up a shoulder injury which essentially ended his season.

So, last season, the Italy star made just eight appearances. However, in 2023/24, a season in which Atalanta won the Europa League, Scalvini played 44 games. In the final, he played 45 minutes against a Bayer Leverkusen side who had, until that clash, gone invincible. He helped keep a clean sheet and steer his side to a 3-0 win.

With little football for both players last season, it is perhaps tough for the Magpies to judge who is best to sign. However, stats on FBref from the 2023/24 season can be used to help make a better call, with Disasi’s numbers stacking up well against his Italian counterpart.

For example, the Chelsea number two, who will surely leave Stamford Bridge this summer, averaged 3.9 progressive passes and 3.55 clearances per 90 minutes. In comparison, the Atalanta star averaged 4.1 progressive passes and 2.51 progressive passes each game.

Progressive passes

3.9

4.1

Progressive carries

1.05

1.06

Tackles

1.15

1.87

Clearances

3.5

2.51

Ball recoveries

5.23

5.76

Aerial duel win rate

69.9%

66.7%

Whilst there is no doubt that Scalvini would be a good addition for the Magpies, his injury record is a worry, and Disasi could prove to be the dream alternative. The 27-year-old brings experience, progression from the back and good reading of the game, as stats like ball recoveries show.

For just £25m, this could be the dream addition for Newcastle this summer, to enhance the quality they have at the back.

He'd be a dream with Scalvini: Newcastle very close to signing £30m star

As Newcastle United increase their interest in Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini, the Magpies are also “very close” to sign a “world class” star.

ByBen Gray Jul 6, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur’s frontline has impressed throughout the 2024/25 campaign, posting some impressive figures despite their lowly Premier League standing.

The Lilywhites posted a total of 64 league goals in their 38 outings – an average of 1.68 per game, with only six teams in the division scoring more throughout the same period.

Brennan Johnson finished as the club’s top scorer with 11 goals, securing an impressive turnaround after criticism from the supporters led to the Welsh international deactivating his social media accounts.

His £47.5m switch from Nottingham Forest was seen as a huge investment, but given his goal in the Europa League final, it now looks to be money well spent by the hierarchy.

They have the opportunity to land another deal of that magnitude this summer, with new boss Thomas Frank undoubtedly needing funds to transform the squad ahead of 2025/26.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Over the last couple of weeks, new attackers have been on Spurs’ radar, as the hierarchy look to further boost the options currently available in the final third.

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has constantly been touted as a potential option for the club, with the Lilywhites in a battle with Manchester United for the Ghanaian’s signature.

However, another name has been mentioned over the last couple of days, with Brentford’s Yoane Wissa also on the club’s radar, according to The Guardian.

They report that the hierarchy have held internal talks over a move for the DR Congo international, who netted 19 league goals in 35 appearances under Frank this campaign.

It also states that they could face competition from Nottingham Forest, after Nuno Espírito Santo’s side once again entered the race after having a £22m bid rejected back in January.

Why Wissa would be a better signing than Mbeumo for Spurs

After the arrival of Frank from Brentford last week, it’s no surprise to see some of the Dane’s former players linked with a move to North London during the off-season.

Alongside Wissa, winger Bryan Mbeumo has also been mentioned as a potential target, unsurprisingly so given his 20-goal season for the Bees in 2024/25.

The Cameroonian has been one of the most dangerous attackers this season, being one of only five players in the division who have achieved such a feat.

However, Frank will face stiff competition from Manchester United for the 25-year-old’s signature this window, with the London outfit demanding a fee in the region of £70m to part ways with him this summer.

Such a fee seems a little steep, with any pending arrival taking playing time off top scorer Johnson, which could be a controversial decision given his form this campaign.

As a result, Wissa would be a better addition, with the “unbelievable” forward, as labelled by Frank, offering a central option – a position that has been a struggle since Harry Kane’s departure.

When comparing his stats to those of current talisman Dominic Solanke, he’s managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, showcasing the need to pursue a move for the Congolese star.

How Wissa compares to Solanke in the PL (2024/25)
Statistcis (per 90)	Wissa	Solanke
Games played	35	27
Goals & assists	23	12
Shot-on-target accuracy	46%	40%
Pass accuracy	77%	70%
Passes into final third	1.4	1.1
Aerials won	46%	43%
Progressive carries	1.9	1.2
Stats via FBref

He’s massively outscored the club-record signing, whilst also posting a higher shot on target rate – showcasing his clinical nature when in the final third.

The Bees star has also completed more passes and made more passes into the final third, handing the likes of Johnson to improve their own tallies in 2025/26.

His all-round quality is also reflected in his aerial success rate and progressive carries per 90, able to play as a focal point or play on the shoulder of the defender if needed.

It’s unclear how much the Bees would demand for his signature this summer, but he’s proven that he’s a top-level Premier League forward who could further improve Spurs’ fortunes.

Given his impact, the hierarchy need to look past Mbeumo and focus on Wissa, with his addition handing Frank another attacking star in his quest in North London.

Better than Semenyo: Spurs open talks to sign "one of the best wingers"

Tottenham are looking to sign a new forward this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 14, 2025

As rumours persist over Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future, Crystal Palace have now reportedly entered pole position to sign an impressive striker who could replace the Frenchman this summer.

Mateta could leave Crystal Palace

Following another excellent season at Selhurst Park, Mateta was always likely to find himself on the radar of several top clubs. The big question is whether he departs this summer. Recent reports have revealed his desire to push towards France’s 2026 World Cup squad with a move away part of that plan, and that could deal Palace a killer blow.

What makes matters worse is that Manchester United are reportedly among those jostling for the forward’s signature this summer. To lose Mateta to any club would be a major blow for the Eagles. To lose him to another Premier League side, however, would be more frustrating than anything.

Appearances

45

Goals

17

Assists

4

All it takes is one look at the numbers to realise exactly why Manchester United have set their sights on signing Mateta. The Crystal Palace star, who helped his side defeat Manchester City in the FA Cup final recently, has done something that both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have failed to do by reaching double figures for goals this season.

Palace will be desperate to keep their forward, of course, and Oliver Glasner is well aware of his quality. The Austrian told reporters earlier this season: “We don’t always talk because he knows what we demand of him. With his two goals today, he is amazing in the box.

“He has the feeling that a number nine must have in the box. He makes so many runs where he doesn’t get the ball. You need to suffer as a striker because you make so many runs where you don’t get the ball. He gets the reward and it decides the game for us.”

Whilst his future continues to hang in the balance, however, those at Selhurst Park are reportedly eyeing an instant replacement for Mateta this summer.

Crystal Palace leading Emegha race

According to TEAMtalk, Crystal Palace are now leading the race to sign Emanuel Emegha from RC Strasbourg this summer. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic campaign for the Ligue 1 side, who shocked the rest of France’s first division by finishing as high as seventh under Liam Rosenior.

Almost a month since football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed his season as “fantastic”, Emegha has taken his total to 14 goals in all competitions to leave the likes of Crystal Palace in pursuit of his signature.

Crystal Palace jostling to sign "complete" midfielder in deal worth £30m

The Eagles could swoop in ahead of rival clubs.

ByTom Cunningham May 24, 2025

At this stage, a fair few dominoes would have to fall for Emegha to become a Crystal Palace player, but if Mateta does depart, he should remain the Eagles’ top target to arrive in the coming months.

Manchester United have now agreed personal terms with a striker following talks with his entourage, but they must shell out €75m (£64m) to get a deal done, according to a report.

Man Utd's striker pursuit heating up

Following the late heroics against Lyon to progress to the Europa League semi-finals, Ruben Amorim would’ve been hoping to ride the momentum into the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, but his side came up short in a 1-0 defeat.

It was a drab affair at Old Trafford, with Rasmus Hojlund once again failing to find the back of the net in the Premier League, having scored just one goal in his last 18 games, which highlights the need for a replacement to be brought in this summer.

The Red Devils and INEOS are now stepping up their pursuit of a new striker, and they are believed to be on the verge of signing Wolves star Matheus Cunha, having held positive talks over a deal for the Brazilian.

Better than Cunha: Man Utd to step up move for 'one of PL's best players'

Man Utd appear to be closing in on a move for Matheus Cunha – but is he the best target?

ByRobbie Walls Apr 22, 2025

Cunha is not the only option, however, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap also on the list of targets ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), there has now been a promising update in Manchester United’s pursuit of Victor Osimhen, as they are believed to have reached an agreement in principle on personal terms.

United have held talks with Osimhen’s entourage, and negotiations appear to be going well, with the striker seemingly keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, and Amorim’s side are now becoming more determined to get a deal done.

A deal will not be cheap, however, as the Red Devils will have to fork out the forward’s €75m (£64m) release clause, which only applies to clubs outside of Italy.

"World-class" Osimhen could be huge upgrade on Hojlund

Lauded as “world-class” by members of the media, the Nigerian is enjoying a fantastic season on loan at Galatasaray, amassing an incredible 30 goals in 35 matches across all competitions, while also providing seven assists.

Albeit playing in a much weaker league, the 26-year-old is vastly outscoring Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, and he has proven himself in one of Europe’s top leagues in the past, scoring 26 Serie A goals en-route to Napoli’s title triumph in the 2022-23 season.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Turkish Süper Lig

25

21

4

Europa League

7

6

2

Turkish Cup

3

3

1

Osimhen could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, at which point signing a new striker should be one of their main priorities, given that Hojlund and Zirkzee cannot be relied upon as a regular source of goals.

Your one-stop destination to know all about the 13th edition of the tournament that will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka

Srinidhi Ramanujam25-Sep-2025

An ODI World Cup in India? Tell me more… when is it?

Yes, that’s right. The Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, hosted by India with a few games to be played in Sri Lanka, starts September 30. The semi-finals are on October 29 and 30 and the final on November 2.A total of 31 matches will be played over 34 days in a round-robin format, with the top four teams progressing to the knockouts. All matches will begin at 3pm IST (0930 GMT) except New Zealand vs England on October 26, which will start at 11am IST (0530 GMT).This is the fourth time India is hosting the Women’s ODI World Cup, having done so in 1978, 1997 and 2013, and the first time for Sri Lanka.Related

• Harmanpreet: 'This time we will cross the line'

• Athapaththu's goal? A maiden semi-final for SL

• The 2025 World Cup promises to take women's cricket to brand-new heights

• Suzie Bates: 'I feel like there's no milestones on my list anymore'

• Devine to retire from ODIs after the World Cup

Tell me about women’s ODI cricket since the last World Cup

It has never been more high-scoring. Before the 2022 ODI World Cup, the participating teams for the current edition had crossed the 300 mark a combined 44 times. Since then, they have had 34 totals of 300 or more between them, with Australia and India posting 400-plus once each. This surge highlights the growing skill and depth in women’s batting, setting the stage for an exciting tournament.The tournament will feature an all-female line-up of match officials. The prize pool, meanwhile, has soared to US$ 13.88 million – nearly four times of what it was in 2022.

Which teams are playing?

Eight teams are participating. India qualified by virtue of being the hosts and were joined by the top five teams – Australia, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka, South Africa – in the Women’s Championship cycle.Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan, West Indies, Thailand and Scotland competed in the World Cup Qualifier in Lahore, where Pakistan and Bangladesh secured their spots.

So no West Indies?

That’s right. This is the first time in six editions since 2000 that West Indies will not be part of a Women’s ODI World Cup. They narrowly missed out after Bangladesh pipped them by 0.013 on net run rate.Australia are the defending champions•AFP/Getty Images

Tell me about the venues

Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam and Navi Mumbai in India, and Colombo in Sri Lanka will host the games. Colombo will host ten matches – all Pakistan games, the first semi-final, and the final if Pakistan qualify. Originally, Bengaluru was one of the host cities but was removed after the M Chinnaswamy Stadium was denied police clearance following the stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations in June.

Do India have home advantage?

Not quite. While India are the co-hosts, the venues tell a different story. The Holkar Stadium in Indore has never hosted women’s internationals. The Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati is yet to stage a women’s ODI, and its last women’s T20I was back in 2019. Visakhapatnam last hosted a women’s ODI in 2014, and while Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium has seen sold-out crowds for women’s T20Is and the WPL, it has never hosted a women’s ODI. The unfamiliarity with these grounds means India may not enjoy the advantage host countries generally do.

Isn’t it going to rain in Colombo?Yes, probably. The north-east monsoon looks like it has arrived a little early this year, and the cricket is almost certain to be affected. In the week leading up to the tournament, it seems as if the monsoon hasn’t settled in properly yet however, which means while there are showers around, they don’t stay all day. As Sri Lankan grounds get fully covered, generally this means cricket can usually happen every day. Expect rain-curtailed matches, however.

Are Australia still the favourites?

On form, yes. They have lost just four of their 31 ODIs since the start of 2023 and remain the benchmark in the format. They have a settled core and an unmatched tournament pedigree, having won the title seven times.India are yet to play an ODI in three of their four World Cup venues•Getty ImagesBut India won’t be far behind. They have had a strong run in 2025, losing only four of their 14 ODIs so far. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes her side can “beat Australia on any day” and they showed glimpses of that in the recent 2-1 series loss to them. Even Australia captain Alyssa Healy acknowledged that this is the “most stable” Indian team she has seen. That said, England, New Zealand and South Africa cannot be ignored.

Where and when will the high-profile contests take place?

Defending champions Australia kick things off with a high-octane trans-Tasman showdown against T20 world champions New Zealand in Indore in the second match of the tournament, on October 1.One of the most anticipated contests is the face-off between India and Australia on October 12 in Visakhapatnam. Australia will take on their Ashes rivals England on October 22 in Indore. Then there is India vs England on October 19, Australia vs South Africa on October 25, and New Zealand vs England the following day, all of which could have a big say in the semi-finals line-up.Pakistan’s Sidra Amin is in sensational form•PCB

What about India vs Pakistan?

That will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on October 5. In women’s cricket, the India-Pakistan rivalry has been firmly one-sided. The two teams have faced off 11 times in ODIs, with India winning every single game. The gulf in experience, infrastructure and depth has been evident over the years.

Hmmm… Tell me more about the players. Who are the ones to keep an eye on?

Left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux has returned from her knee injury to boost Australia’s chances. Even though she hasn’t played an ODI since December, she remains vital in spin-friendly conditions. England’s Charlie Dean, another fingerspinner, could also be a key player.Among the batters, South Africa’s Tazmin Brits, India’s Smriti Mandhana and Sidra Amin of Pakistan are in the form of their lives. Brits and Mandhana have already scored four ODI hundreds this year.This will also be Heather Knight’s first tournament after she relinquished England captaincy.

What about those playing a World Cup for the first time?

In just ten months since her debut, India opener Pratika Rawal has scored six half-centuries and one century in 17 innings, and has an average of 50.12. Her ability to score consistently in different conditions has made her a crucial part of India’s batting line-up.Jemimah Rodrigues is yet to play in an ODI World Cup•Getty ImagesAmong bowlers, England spinner Linsey Smith announced her arrival in ODIs with a five-for on debut against West Indies in May. Having made her T20I debut at the 2018 T20 World Cup, she had to wait six-and-a-half-years for a chance in ODIs.This will also be the first ODI World Cup for Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal. Though she made her ODI debut in 2019, it’s only in the last couple of years that she has become a regular in the team, thanks to her wicket-taking ability. Incredible as it may sound, this is also India batter Jemimah Rodrigues’ first ODI World Cup.

Are there a few players for whom this could be the last ODI World Cup?

Certainly. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine has already said so, just like Megan Schutt and Alyssa Healy as well. It could be the same for Suzie Bates, Marizanne Kapp, Chamari Athapaththu, Heather Knight, and a few others. Harmanpreet will be 40 by the time the next edition rolls in, so it could be her last too.

Where to watch the games?

All matches will be live on the JioStar network and the JioHotstar app in India, Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, Amazon Prime Video in Australia, Sky TV in New Zealand, PTV and Ten Sports in Pakistan, Maharaja TV in Sri Lanka and Willow TV in the USA and Canada.

There are six Indians in the XI, reflecting their dominance in the tournament, but who else made the cut?

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Sep-2023
He started the tournament slowly, bowled by Haris Rauf for 10 in India’s opening game, but had just one poor outing after that – 19 against Sri Lanka. Outside of that, his scores read 67*, 58, 121 and 27*. That century in a losing cause against Bangladesh was his fourth in ODIs this year. Gill ended comfortably at the head of the scorers’ chart. His strokemaking was gorgeous as usual, and he often ensured he batted deep.Related

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Rohit Sharma (capt)
Not a huge tournament by Rohit’s standards, but he strung together three consecutive half-centuries: 74* vs Nepal, 56 vs Pakistan, and 53 vs Sri Lanka. Marking a departure from India’s strategy in the last World Cup, Rohit also showed more intent in the early overs, and helped get India away quickly. Having led India to the title, he’s the obvious choice for captain.Kusal Mendis displayed uncharacteristic consistency during the Asia Cup•AFP/Getty ImagesKusal Mendis
Mendis was only behind Gill in the scorers’ chart, and – importantly – showed the consistency he has often lacked. He scored three half-centuries in the Asia Cup, all from No. 3, and two of them were big ones: 92 vs Afghanistan and 91 vs Pakistan – the game they won off the last ball to get into the final. He was Sri Lanka’s designated keeper too, and finished with nine dismissals.KL Rahul (wk)
Mendis can keep too, but we’ll go with Rahul for his better dismissals-per-match record at the Asia Cup. He didn’t do badly with the bat either. Drafted into the India XI just a little while before the toss in the Super Four game against Pakistan after Shreyas Iyer had to opt out with back spasms, Rahul hit 111 not out in 106 balls and put together an unbroken 233-run stand with Virat Kohli for the third wicket.ESPNcricinfo LtdCharith Asalanka
Asalanka is Sri Lanka’s one-of-a-kind rescue package, and never was that quality more evident than when he took Sri Lanka home in a chaotic last-ball finish against Pakistan, which secured Sri Lanka’s passage to the final. He starts quickly, is an effortless rotater of the strike, and consistently contributes – all good qualities for a batter still in the early phase of his international career. Though rarely called upon to bowl, he also took four wickets on a big-turning surface, against India.Shakib Al Hasan
It wasn’t a particularly great tournament for Bangladesh, but they had their moments, such as the first-round game against Afghanistan. Shakib, captaining a side without some key players, led from the front in their other win at the Asia Cup – against India. Shakib was the star of the show, even if debutant Tanzim Hasan cornered a plenty of deserved attention. Shakib first scored 80 in 85 balls and then bowled out Suryakumar Yadav.Hardik Pandya played his part whenever he was called upon to do so•Associated PressHardik Pandya
Hardik bowling regularly is what Indian cricket fans have been waiting for, and he is putting in the overs now, in time for the ODI World Cup. At the Asia Cup, he performed the role of the third seamer superbly, and his six wickets came in just 20.2 overs of bowling, including the last three Sri Lankan wickets in the final. He played his part with the bat too, especially in the first-round game against Pakistan, when Ishan Kishan and he revived India from a precarious 66 for 4 to take them to 266. Hardik ended with 87 in 90 balls.Dunith Wellalage
Looking back, Wellalage might well have been the biggest story to emerge from the tournament. A 20-year-old (okay, almost 21) whose bowling is threatening on turning decks, whose batting is fearless, and whose fielding is excellent, shapes as an asset heading into the World Cup, even after the return of Wanindu Hasaranga to the Sri Lanka side. He linked up with Maheesh Theekshana to give Sri Lanka’s innings the finishing kick against Afghanistan, picked up wickets each time he bowled bar in the final when he just got two overs, and put in one of the best all-round performances of the tournament when he ran through India’s top order to return 5 for 40 and followed it up with a solid 46-ball 42 not out.Shaheen Afridi picked up at least a wicket in every match•AFP/Getty ImagesShaheen Shah Afridi
Another bowler who picked up at least a wicket each time he bowled, but Afridi has made a name for that, hasn’t he? His best – don’t forget he is still kind of coming back from a long injury layoff – was easily that first-round game against India, when he did exactly what he is a champion at, blasting out the top order. On that occasion, he had Rohit in the fifth over and Kohli in the seventh, and came back later to remove Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja for 4 for 35.Kuldeep Yadav
Back-to-back returns of 5 for 25 (vs Pakistan) and 4 for 43 (vs Sri Lanka) made Kuldeep irresistible for the specialist spinner role. He has a straighter run up now, with improved pace, and greater accuracy, and he picked up the Player of the Tournament trophy with these new adjustments. Along with Wellalage, Kuldeep was the standout spinner in the tournament. His economy was especially impressive.Mohammed Siraj
Matheesha Pathirana would have been in this XI for his chart-topping 11 wickets, but for perhaps the most exciting spell of fast bowling in the tournament, in the final, where Siraj blew Sri Lanka away with his 6 for 21: it included four wickets in an over and five in ten balls. He is a wicket-taker, and with conditions helping his swing, he was pretty much unplayable on Sunday afternoon. And an opening combination with Afridi does make the mouth water, doesn’t it?

Awesome foursome of Gayle, Bravo, Russell and Pollard can’t prevent title defence from flopping

Deivarayan Muthu04-Nov-20216:49

Are West Indies playing an outdated brand of T20 cricket?

October 7, 2012. Marlon Samuels devours Lasith Malinga and Sri Lanka as West Indies win their first T20 World Cup title. Their coruscating T20I reign begins there and runs until…….November 4, 2021, when it comes to a grinding halt at the hands of Sri Lanka in the UAE.It was Chris Gayle who led West Indies’ rousing celebrations nearly a decade ago in Colombo, with press-ups and jigs as Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard all cheered him on. The quartet go on to become the face, heart, and soul of T20 cricket around the world.Once the West Indies board underwent a revamp, with Ricky Skerritt taking over from Dave Cameron, their grand plan was to get the old rock band back together in 2019. Pollard was appointed West Indies’ white-ball captain under a new administration, Bravo decided to come out of T20I retirement for his last dance. Gayle pushed himself on to another World Cup, becoming the oldest player at the tournament at 42. You can probably hear Russell’s knee rattle when he runs into bowl, but he, too, is in for another tilt at the world title.

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On Thursday, West Indies, the defending champions, are up against Sri Lanka, who had to play the qualifier to make the tournament proper. Former captain Daren Sammy keeps repeating on the TV commentary that West Indies’ legacy is on the line. After losing three tosses, Pollard finally wins one and opts to bowl first in Abu Dhabi. But his bowling attack never really turns up, as has been the case throughout the tournament.Related

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West Indies’ success in 2012 and 2016 was built around a versatile attack. Samuel Badree gave nothing away in the powerplay; he was superbly backed up by Sunil Narine (in 2012) and Suleiman Benn (2016) in the powerplay. In 2016, Bravo was at the peak of his T20 powers while Carlos Brathwaite and Sammy also pitched in with the ball.In this edition of the tournament, their bowling attack has been fragile although Jason Holder’s late inclusion in the main squad did make it look slightly better. Ravi Rampaul, who was part of West Indies’ title-winning team in 2012, is now 37-years-old. Sure, he bowled some tough overs for Trinbago Knight Riders on his return to the CPL, but it was a gamble to pick him as one of the frontline seamers after just one good season.ESPNcricinfo LtdFabian Allen was originally lined up to do the role that Benn did with the ball five years ago, but an injury sidelined him from the tournament. Akeal Hosein had one of the best economy rates in the most recent CPL, however, couldn’t find similar control in the UAE. Bravo was in hot form for Chennai Super Kings in their run to the IPL title, but cooled off so much that he conceded 42 runs in his four overs against Sri Lanka. It was his third-worst analysis in what could be his second-last T20I.Watch cricket live on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the USA. Match highlights of Sri Lanka vs West Indies is available here in English, and here in Hindi (USA only).

All up, West Indies’ attack picked up only 14 wickets in four innings at an average of 37.71. Only India and Netherlands have taken fewer wickets in the tournament, having played one game fewer.Oshane Thomas, who bowled with renewed vigour for Barbados Tridents in the CPL, could have added some extra pace and fizz to the attack, but West Indies were rigid with their combination and didn’t use him at all.

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How about their batting? It was just as one-dimensional, with their high-risk six-or-nothing approach failing them in the UAE. West Indies’ dot-ball percentage of 45.70 was the third worst in the tournament, behind Namibia and Scotland. Lendl Simmons epitomised West Indies’ batting struggles when he dawdled to 16 off 35 balls in a match-losing innings against South Africa.The big four – Gayle, Pollard, Russell and Bravo – couldn’t get the big hits away either. Against Sri Lanka, Gayle chipped left-arm seamer Binura Fernando to mid-on. Russell was bounced out by Chamika Karunaratne while both Pollard and Bravo were done in by sharp wrong’uns from Wanindu Hasaranga.Success was limited for West Indies in the UAE•ICC via GettySri Lanka aced their match-ups and Pollard would later admit that West Indies lacked enough game-smarts.The old band is now breaking up and the search for a new one is already on. In a way, the fading seniors have already passed the baton to Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran, who hit 81 and 46 respectively even as West Indies crashed out. Pollard has tipped them to be the future batting leaders, but the prospects do look bleak on the bowling front. Who is the next big T20 spinner after Sunil Narine? Who is the next big T20 fast bowler from the Caribbean?Pollard, Gayle, Bravo and Russell transformed West Indies into the first great men’s T20I team and revolutionised the format, but winds of change are already beginning to blow through Caribbean cricket.