Shubman Gill has been appointed India’s new ODI captain, replacing Rohit Sharma, and will lead the side in the three-match series in Australia starting on October 19.Rohit has been picked in the ODI squad as a batter and, along with Virat Kohli, is set to represent India again for the first time since the 2025 Champions Trophy in March.The selection panel, headed by former India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar, met on Saturday in Ahmedabad, where India won the first Test of the series against West Indies by an innings and 140 runs. The reason behind the captaincy change was that the selectors wanted Gill to settle down well before the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. It is understood the decision was taken collectively by Agarkar in coordination with India head coach Gautam Gambhir and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.Related

• Tough but fair: selectors have prioritised future over sentiment

• Gill inherits the wealth of India's Rohit-Kohli era

“Obviously at some stage you got to start looking at where the next World Cup is,” Agarkar said at a press conference in Ahmedabad. “It’s [ODIs] also a format which is played the least now, so you don’t get that many games to actually give the next guy, or if there is going to be another guy, that much time to prepare himself or plan. We are two years away still, might look like a long time, but we don’t quite know how many one-day games we might play. Closer to the World Cup we might end up playing a little bit more than what we have, but the last one-day game we played was what, 8th or 9th March in Champions Trophy, and the next one we play is in October 19th, so it is a bit of a challenge with one-day cricket at the moment … It is very difficult to have three different captains for three formats, in terms of not just selectors but more importantly even for the coach, to plan with three different people is never easy.”Gill, 26, now holds formal leadership roles in all three formats as Test and ODI captain and vice-captain of the T20I team. “Hopefully not, he is still quite young,” Agarkar said when asked about the risk of Gill burning out given his workload. “We hope there is no burnout. It is true there is a lot of cricket coming thick and fast over the next few months in particular. We will try and manage it as best as we can, but you also want to, like I said, give the guy enough time to try and prepare going into that next World Cup, which is 24 months away, but may not be that many games, so we want to give him the best possible chance.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Rohit, 38, was India’s full-time ODI captain from December 2021. Overall, he led India in 56 ODIs, winning 42, losing 12, with one tie and another no-result. He led India to the 2018 Asia Cup title as stand-in captain, and then to the 2023 Asia Cup title as full-time captain. Under his leadership, India made the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup. His tenure culminated in India winning the Champions Trophy.Gill had also become India’s Test captain following Rohit’s retirement from the format in May ahead of India’s tour of England this summer. In his maiden series as Test captain, Gill led India to a 2-2 draw in England, and finished as the highest run-scorer with 754 runs at an average of 75.40.With Rohit and Kohli both retired from Tests and T20Is, the upcoming ODI series in Australia will be their first international appearance in more than seven months. After the three ODIs in Australia, their next opportunities to play for India are in the three-ODI home series against South Africa in November-December and against New Zealand in January.India play three ODIs in Australia on October 19, 23 and 25, followed by five T20Is from October 29 to November 8.

Manchester United’s midfield depth is becoming a bit of an issue under Ruben Amorim. Whilst he has found his first choice pivot in Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, the Portuguese manager does not seem to trust his squad depth in those deeper areas.

His stubbornness at not playing Kobbie Mainoo is bizarre, given how talented the young Carrington graduate is. It now seems that the England international will leave his boyhood club on loan this winter, with Napoli one potential destination.

As for Manuel Ugarte, he has only played 301 Premier League minutes and seems off the pace for the Premier League, having been described as “not good enough” by Gary Neville, following the Manchester derby defeat.

With that in mind, it might not come as a surprise that United are targeting a new midfielder.

Man Utd’s latest midfield target

Midfield is clearly an area United are looking to improve this winter. They have already been linked with Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace in the last few days, although they will face lots of competition for the Englishman.

Another player the Red Devils could target is Stuttgart star Angelo Stiller.

According to reports in Spain, United are one of the sides ‘interested in acquiring his services’, with the German international one of the top names on their midfield shopping list.

Transfer Focus

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

However, despite having seemingly made an ‘approach’, they will not be alone in the hunt for Stiller’s signature.

United’s competition comes in the form of Real Madrid, with Los Blancos looking to add to their own midfield depth after losing Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the last few seasons.

As for a price, Stiller – who is said to be keen on moving to the Spanish capital – could cost upwards of £53m to tempt Stuttgart into a sale.

How Stiller compares to Adam Wharton

Five-cap Germany international Stiller has shone in the middle of the park for Stuttgart over the last few seasons. Described as a “complete” midfielder by football analyst Ben Mattinson, he oozes class on the ball, controlling play from deeper areas.

This season has been no different for the midfielder, who was born in Munich and has played for Bayern Munich at senior level. Stiller has played 17 times so far this term, chipping in with one goal and assisting five.

Indeed, those assists from deeper areas are a key theme of Stiller’s game. He has 22 assists in 98 games for Stuttgart. This pass against FC Augsburg is an example of how creative he can be, looking to pull the strings from the edge of the final third.

Of course, the German is not the only midfielder United are looking to sign. Wharton is also a name high up on their shopping list, as he is for many clubs.

The Palace midfielder has shone for the Eagles again this season, playing 15 games across all competitions.

His former manager at Blackburn Rovers, Jon Dahl Tomasson, said, “on the ball, he’s Champions League level.”

Indeed, like Stiller, Wharton is a true controller, able to dictate games from deeper areas. Look at the influence he had in midfield against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final last season.

It might well be the case that United only end up signing one of Stiller or Wharton, given how alike their profiles are. Whilst the former Blackburn star has Premier League experience, it might be the case that Stiller is actually a better signing.

The stats go a long way in supporting this theory, too. So far this season, the German averages more progressive passes, with 7.56 to Wharton’s 5.06 per 90 minutes, and more ball recoveries, with 5.47 compared to 4.68 each game.

Progressive passes

7.56

5.06

Passes into final third

7.44

3.77

Passes into penalty area

2.33

1.04

Progressive carries

2.21

1.17

Ball recoveries

5.47

4.68

It is easy to see why bringing Stiller in over Wharton could be a better move for United. Not only does he rank ahead of him in several key metrics, but the former Bayern star is also someone who has more of an impact in the final third and racks up far more assists.

As Mattinson said in a separate post, the 24-year-old is “the perfect player for Amorim’s style of play.” He could certainly be that controller in United’s pivot, with the skills he has in possession, whilst also contributing in attack.

A fee of £53m is not too expensive in the current transfer market. Stiller could be the ideal candidate to add depth to United’s midfield that Amorim trusts.

Casemiro 2.0: Man Utd make £79m bid for "one of the best DMs on the planet"

Man Utd’s midfield could be improved grealty with this signing

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 20, 2025

Double World Cup-winning allrounder signs off from 15-year international career

Alan Gardner29-Sep-2025Chris Woakes, the England allrounder, has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing down the curtain on a 14-year career representing his country across all three formats.Woakes, 36, was omitted from England’s Ashes squad last week after a battle to regain fitness following a shoulder dislocation suffered in the fifth Test against India at the end of July. Rob Key, England Men’s managing director, said afterwards that Woakes “isn’t in our plans… at all” and he has now decided to call time, posting a statement on Instagram.It means his final act in an England shirt – after 62 Tests, 122 ODIs and 33 T20Is – was walking out to bat at No. 11 in the Oval Test against India with his arm in a sling, in a vain attempt to help secure a series-sealing victory on the fifth day.Related

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• The agony, the ecstasy: 56 minutes of Test cricket at its most glorious

“The moment has come, and I’ve decided that the time is right for me to retire from international cricket,” he said.”Playing for England was something I aspired to do since I was a kid dreaming in the back garden, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have lived out those dreams. Representing England, wearing the Three Lions and sharing the field with team-mates over the last 15 years, many of whom have become lifelong friends, are things I’ll look back on with the greatest pride.”Making my debut in 2011 in Australia seems like yesterday, but time flies when you’re having fun. Lifting two World Cups and being part of some amazing Ashes series is something I never thought was possible, and those memories and celebrations with my team-mates will stay with me forever.”To my Mum and Dad, my wife Amie and our girls Laila and Evie, thank you for your unwavering love, support and sacrifices over the years. None of this would have been possible without you.”To the fans, especially the Barmy Army, thank you for the passion, the cheers and the belief. To my coaches, team-mates and everyone behind the scenes both with England and Warwickshire, who helped me play for my country – your guidance and friendship has meant the world.”I look forward to continuing to play county cricket and exploring more franchise opportunities in the near future.”Chris Woakes was part of England’s World Cup wins in 2019 and 2022•IDI via Getty Images

A double World Cup-winner, Woakes was England’s Player of the Series during the 2023 Ashes, returning to the side midway through the series to help orchestrate a draw from 2-0 down. However, his involvement on the 2025-26 tour was put into doubt the moment he walked off clutching his shoulder on day one at The Oval.In all, he took 396 wickets across formats for England, putting him eighth on the list. His most enduring contribution was in ODIs, where he led the attack that won the 2019 World Cup, and eventually finished with 173 wickets at 30.01, the fifth-most by an Englishman.Woakes made his debut as far back as the 2010-11 tour of Australia, playing in two T20Is and three ODIs. In his second ODI appearance, at Brisbane, he picked up the Player of the Match award after taking 6 for 45 – at the time the second-best figures for England Men in the format.His Test debut came at the scene of his final appearance, at The Oval in the 2013 Ashes, but he spent much of his career waiting for opportunities in the pecking order behind James Anderson and Stuart Broad (though Woakes would end with a better average than both in English conditions).A breakthrough came in the summer of 2016, when he claimed 34 wickets at 17.20 in six Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He scored his only Test hundred two years later, against India at Lord’s, by which time he was the senior new-ball bowler in the ODI side.Woakes was often behind James Anderson and Stuart Broad in England’s pecking order•Getty Images

With 16 wickets at 27.87 – including a brilliant analysis of 3 for 20 against Australia in the semi-final – he was one of the key cogs in England’s 2019 World Cup win. Two years later, his skills with the white ball won him a return to the T20I side, and he went on to help England lift another World Cup in Australia in 2022.Latterly, following the retirements of Broad and Anderson, Woakes led the line in the Test side, with 2024 (32 wickets at 24.09) proving his second-most prolific calendar year with the ball. However, he struggled for penetration against India this summer, with 11 wickets in five Tests before slipping while attempting to field the ball on the boundary and being ruled out of the rest of the decider – at least until his dramatic reappearance, arm strapped up under his jumper, ready to bat left-handed if required.ECB chair, Richard Thompson, said: “The images of Chris walking out to bat with his arm in a sling to try and win a Test match this summer reflected how much he cared about playing for his country and being the best team-mate he could be.”He has been a gentleman off the field, with the skills and fierce determination to win on it, regularly rising to the occasion on the biggest stage with bat as well as ball. There are so many special memories, from brilliance with the new ball in the 2019 World Cup and winning the T20 World Cup in 2022 to his series-changing impact in the 2023 Men’s Ashes which earned him the player of the series honour.”We are indebted to have players like Chris represent England and I want to thank and congratulate him for everything he has done in an England shirt for the past 14 years.”Key added: “Chris Woakes is one of the finest people to have played the game. An extraordinary career carved out alongside two of England’s greatest ever bowlers. A man who helped every team he played in, even before he walked onto the field.”

Not every transfer has panned out the way they planned, but Chelsea have built themselves a brilliant squad over the last few years.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro wouldn’t look out of place in any other Premier League side.

Moreover, while it’s still early days, it looks like Enzo Maresca and Co have a genuine world-class superstar in the making with Estêvão.

The Brazilian has been incredible so far this season, so Chelsea fans should be delighted about reports linking them to someone who could end up being another Estêvão.

Chelsea target their next Estêvão

There has long been a lot of hype around Estêvão, so much so, in fact, that respected analyst Ben Mattinson labelled him a “future Ballon d’Or winner” a few months before Chelsea even signed him.

Transfer Focus

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

Now, there is still a long way to go until the teenager reaches that level, but he has already been sensational for the Blues this season.

For example, in 17 appearances, totalling 740 minutes, he has provided one assist and scored five goals, including a stunner against Barcelona on Tuesday night.

Therefore, it’s hardly a surprise that the club are now interested in another young star, Assan Ouédraogo, who could potentially emulate the Brazilian.

Yes, according to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany, Chelsea are one of a few clubs keen on signing the RB Leipzig gem.

Alongside the West Londoners, Manchester United have been credited with an interest in the 19-year-old, whose contract runs until 2029.

Unfortunately, there is no release clause in that deal, so the fee needed to sign the German could end up being rather significant, as much as £50m according to further reports out of Germany in the last few months.

Even so, given Ouédraogo’s ability and potential, this is a transfer Chelsea should pursue, especially as he could be another Estêvão.

Why Ouédraogo could be another Estêvão for Chelsea

So, the first thing to point out is that, yes, the two youngsters primarily play in different positions.

Ouédraogo has spent this season playing as a central and attacking midfielder, while Estêvão has spent most of this year on the right.

However, while the pair do not necessarily operate in the same areas of the pitch, both are highly rated youngsters who seem destined to reach the top of the game.

For example, while Chelsea fans are more than familiar with the Brazilian’s exploits so far this season, they likely don’t know that the German has been even more productive.

In 12 first-team appearances, totalling 561 minutes, the Leipzig gem has scored three goals and provided four assists, which comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 80.14 minutes.

Moreover, the Mülheim an der Ruhr-born prospect has already made quite the impression at the international level.

After blitzing his way up through the various youth levels, he was handed his first senior cap for Germany earlier this month, and instead of just coming on and focusing on not making a mistake, he scored.

Finally, on top of already producing goal involvements for fun, the £22k-per-week gem has some unreal underlying numbers to back up exactly why content creator Neal Gardner has described him as a “powerhouse.”

Goals

0.48

Top 1%

Assists

0.48

Top 1%

Goals + Assists

0.97

Top 1%

Yellow Cards

0.00

Top 1%

npxG: Non-Penalty xG

0.31

Top 1%

Shots Total

2.90

Top 1%

Shots on Target

1.45

Top 1%

Goal-Creating Actions

1.13

Top 1%

Touches (Att Pen)

4.83

Top 1%

Successful Take-Ons

1.77

Top 1%

Carries into Penalty Area

0.97

Top 1%

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for goals, assists, shots on target, goal-creating actions, successful take-ons, carries into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it’s still early in his career, it’s hard to disagree with Mattinson’s assessment that Ouédraogo is a “beast ready to be unleashed” and therefore capable of being another Estêvão for Chelsea.

Chelsea have already signed another exciting star who's "just like Estevao"

Chelsea have already signed another youngster who could become another Estevao for Enzo Maresca.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 26, 2025

Jamie Vardy’s new family home in a picturesque part of northern Italy was broken into by three burglars over the weekend, while the former Leicester City and England striker was playing for Cremonese in a home Serie A clash with Roma, with wife Rebekah in attendance at the game. Cremonese were soundly beaten 3-1, but that was the least of Vardy's problems.

• £80,000 worth of valuables stolen

  The has reported that three men gained entry to the Vardys' £2 million property by the shores of Lake Garda in the town of Salo – around an hour's drive from Cremona – via a window. The break-in happened on Sunday, when Cremonese were hosting Roma at the intimate Stadio Giovanni Zini.

  The report states that £80,000 worth of valuables, including jewellery and cash, were taken from the house. However, security cameras are believed to have picked up the thieves, who are likely to have scouted the house to learn when it would be empty, coming and going via their chosen entry point.

  Local police captain Giacomo Tessarolo told the: "We have CCTV which shows the individuals entering the house through a window that was left open. They were on the premises for several minutes before escaping with the [Patek Philippe] watch and several other high value items. There was a woman inside, not his wife but the baby sitter. The theft was discovered when some of Vardy's friends returned to the house and found items on the floor and it had evidently been broken into."

  Rebekah Vardy was at the Cremonese game when the incident took place.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Serie A raises awareness of domestic violence

  Over the weekend, Cremonese were among a handful of Serie A clubs given permission to promote the 'A Red to Violence' campaign, dedicated to fighting domestic abuse. Each player was able to change the name on the back of his shirt to that of an important woman in their life. Vardy opted to have 'Becky' printed above the number 10 on his jersey, in tribute to his wife. Players also took to the field with a streak of red face paint, again to raise awareness and put the issue of domestic violence in the spotlight.

  The Vardy family are said to have immersed themselves in their new Italian adventure, making themselves a visible presence in the town of Salo, population: 10,500, by going out for walks and eating dinner in local restaurants, as well as trying to learn the language. It makes it doubly cruel that they have now been the victims of an unsettling burglary.

• Vardy's Serie A inspiration

  Vardy was linked with other clubs after leaving Leicester in the summer, including Wrexham, but eventually settled on a new challenge in Italy and has adapted quickly to life abroad. "Once I made my decision, that was it. I was coming here," Vardy explained in a September interview. "I'm settling in really well and just can't wait to get going now. It's all about match days and wanting to pick the results up, so now it's about just knuckling down when I get given the opportunity, helping my teammates out as much as I can and hopefully chipping in with some goals."

  He also noted that his favourite Serie A player to watch growing up was Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero: "You watch him play – he was unbelievable. Watching him score most weeks was really encouraging for me. Having watched that, me coming here and trying to do exactly the same – it’s really exciting."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Vardy contract extension looks likely

  Having left Leicester at the end of last season when his contract expired, 38-year-old Vardy signed an initial 12-month deal with Cremonese to cover the 2025-26 campaign. However, the terms of that contract also include a 12-month extension to the summer of 2027 if the club avoids relegation. So far, at least, that looks a plausible eventuality, given their mid-table safety after 12 games.

  The defeat to Roma was a third on the bounce in Serie A, but Cremonese still sit 11th, with a healthy six-point cushion between them and the relegation zone. The team has lost the same number of games as European powerhouse Inter (4), but needs to be able to turn draws into wins, having taken maximum points from only three league matches. Still, for a newly-promoted provincial club navigating just a second season in the top flight in the last 30 years, it has been a strong start.

Liverpool have made some key changes to their squad in recent times and could now be about to step up their pursuit of Mohamed Salah’s eventual long-term replacement.

The Reds have been out of sorts this campaign and appear to be suffering from a serious case of second-season syndrome after claiming the Premier League title last term, with several of their big hitters falling below usual standards in a frustrating period for Arne Slot.

Notably, Salah has struggled to adapt to changes around him such as Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak’s arrivals at the club. Now, that isn’t to say he hasn’t contributed, but shifting dynamics and a need to accommodate new stars have left the Egyptian hero caught in an awkward movie.

Five goals and three assists in 17 appearances across all competitions isn’t a bad record by any means. However, his overall influence on the side hasn’t been as prominent, something that may also be underpinned by Luis Diaz’s move to Bayern Munich.

Salah and Cody Gakpo lost the ball a combined 53 times against Nottingham Forest, something that made it difficult to string together consistent attacking passages of play in the cold light of day.

While nobody could’ve argued with Liverpool’s recruitment in the summer, football is never cut and dry and their collapse over recent weeks has definitely redefined what their priorities will be for the rest of the campaign.

Ultimately, the Premier League title may be a bridge too far unless there is a dramatic change in circumstances, but there is still plenty of glory to be derived should the Reds manage to get their act together over the coming months.

Eventually, Salah will be replaced, and Liverpool may now have identified the star that could succeed him at Anfield amid recent developments.

Liverpool are brewing a homegrown Salah in "remarkable" 16-year-old star

Liverpool’s youth scene is replete with potential – and this talent’s the cream of the crop.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 21, 2025

Liverpool willing to pay big money for Mohamed Salah replacement

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are willing to bid close to £200 million for Bayern Munich star Michael Olise, who has been identified as an ideal replacement for the Egypt international.

Salah is Liverpool’s highest earner on £400,000-a-week but is said to have an uncertain future at Anfield, and Reds chiefs aren’t willing to allow one of their most influential stars to depart without an equally talented potential asset ready and waiting.

Seen as someone who could become a decisive operator in the final third if they can convince Olise to move back to England after his excellent spell at Crystal Palace, his versatility is also of great value to internal figures at Liverpool.

Enjoying another positive campaign, the London-born winger has already notched nine goals and ten assists in 19 appearances across all competitions, with Fotmob showing he has created 24 chances in the Bundesliga.

Evidently, bringing in a Salah successor won’t come easy and Liverpool would need to part with a record fee to land someone like Olise, but he is someone worth taking the chance on going by his exploits over the last few years.

One player still on the books at Manchester United has been told that his Old Trafford “career is over” by a former Red Devils midfielder.

Players who could leave Man Utd in 2026

2026 could be another busy year at Old Trafford in regards to incomings and outgoings, with Ruben Amorim and INEOS continuing to make their mark in Manchester.

The Red Devils have four players out of contract at the end of the season, one of which is midfielder Casemiro.

Players out of contract at Man Utd in 2026

Harry Maguire

Casemiro (option until 2027)

Tom Heaton

Tyrell Malacia

Man Utd have the option to extend that by a further 12 months, however, Amorim and INEOS seemingly clashing behind the scenes regarding the Brazilian. Amorim wants to keep Casemiro whereas INEOS want him to take a pay cut from his current £350,000-a-week wage.

There are also numerous loanees away from Man Utd who could seal permanent exits at the end of the season. Rasmus Hojlund is at Napoli, Marcus Rashford is at Barcelona, Jadon Sancho is at Aston Villa and Andre Onana is with Trabzonspor.

United could look to move the quartet out on a full-time basis, with options to buy inserted in Rashford’s move to the Nou Camp and Hojlund’s move to Napoli. Now, another one of the four has been told he has no future at the club by a pundit.

Related Man Utd now racing Arsenal to sign "complete" £45m Bundesliga attacker

He’s scored more goals than Sesko this season.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Nov 21, 2025 Strachan tells Onana his Man Utd “career is over”

Former Man Utd midfielder Gordon Strachan, speaking to Esports News relayed by The Manchester Evening News, feels that Andre Onana “has played his last game” for Man Utd and would be “shocked” if he played for the Red Devils again.

Onana’s Man Utd contract is worth £120,000-a-week and there is no option to buy for the Turkish side at the end of the season, with the ‘keeper’s Manchester deal not expiring until 2028.

United forked out just under £50m on Onana back in 2023, but after numerous errors at Old Trafford and Amorim now having Senne Lammens, a permanent exit could make sense for all involved next year.

Forget Anderson: Man Utd in talks to sign "world's most underrated footballer"

Cummins’ back issue combined with Hazlewood’s recent injury history, as well as the age of Starc and Boland, means Australia could need options if injuries mount

Alex Malcolm03-Sep-20251:10

Bailey: ‘Expect Cummins to be fit for first Ashes Test’

Australia’s chair of selectors George Bailey projected typical calm about the availability of Pat Cummins for the Ashes despite alarming news that the captain has a hot spot in his back just 11 weeks out from the first Test in Perth. Josh Hazlewood broke down in each of the only two Tests he played last summer while Australia’s iron-man Mitchell Starc will turn 36 in January and has 100 Tests in his legs.Scott Boland, who is already 36, is pushing to make Australia’s first-choice XI and would automatically slot in if Cummins were unavailable. But if two or more of the four were to suffer injuries simultaneously, something that has not happened at home since 2022, where Australia’s selectors next turn becomes a topic of debate.Related

• Hazlewood cleared of injury, Abbott out of first Test after hamstring scans

• Johnson's BBL and T20 World Cup hopes hinge on back scan

• Doubts over Cummins' fitness for first Ashes Test grow, return remains unknown

• Ashes tracker: Labuschagne shines as Konstas stumbles

• Fergus O'Neill averages 20 with the ball, but can he play Test cricket?

The next cabs

Brendan Doggett has elevated himself to the top of the list following outstanding performances for Australia A and South Australia last summer. The 31-year-old was called in as cover for Hazlewood during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, his first call-up to an Australia Test squad since 2018. He was also a traveling reserve for the World Test Championship final and was in Australia’s squad for the tour of the Caribbean but was sent home with a minor hip injury.He has fully recovered and Bailey confirmed he was set to start the season with South Australia in the Dean Jones Trophy (Australia’s 50-over domestic competition) before playing in the early Sheffield Shield rounds where his loads will likely be managed to some degree.Sean Abbott is yet to make his Test debut but has played 54 limited-overs internationals for Australia. He has been seen as a white-ball specialist but in 88 first-class matches has 267 wickets at 30.29. His white-ball commitments have made it difficult to play a lot of first-class cricket recently but in three Shield games last year for New South Wales he took 19 wickets at 21.94.Brendan Doggett and Scott Boland have a chat on the sidelines•Getty ImagesHe toured Sri Lanka with the Test team when Cummins and Hazlewood were injured but Australia only played one quick. He also replaced Doggett as the fifth seamer for the Caribbean. His pace and his durability make him a trusted option, particularly if Australia predict some flatter surfaces, but he is probably at least two, possibly three injuries away from a Test debut in the Ashes.Michael Neser has so often been the forgotten man of Australian cricket but he has dropped right off the radar in the last 12 months due to a serious hamstring injury he suffered while playing for Australia A against India A last November. He missed two months and although he had an excellent finish to the Shield season, including taking 6 for 37 against Tasmania and 4 for 34 against Western Australia, he was hampered again in the final but bravely bowled through the pain.He has had a rare winter off to rehabilitate and is fully fit again but at 35, coming off a summer of hamstring issues, he will need to be more conservative with his workloads. He is the last pace bowler outside of the big four to have played Test cricket for Australia having featured in two pink-ball Tests in 2021 and 2022 when Cummins and Starc were unavailable. He is a trusted option that would possibly be called in ahead of Doggett and Abbott if Australia needed another quick for the pink-ball Test at the Gabba or if seam-friendly conditions were likely at another venue later in the series.

The hopefuls

Fingers and toes are crossed within CA’s high performance team that Jhye Richardson can get back up and running at some stage this summer coming off shoulder surgery. However, he only began rolling the arm over again for the first time on August 13 and appears a long way from being Test match fit right now, let alone being fit for the start of the summer for Western Australia. He also won’t be able to throw properly if called upon.That won’t sway Australia’s selectors who called him into Australia’s squad for the final two Tests last summer despite dislocating his bowling shoulder while high-fiving a team-mate in his only Shield game of the season. He also had hamstring surgery the previous year. The 28-year-old could vault into contention late in the series but a lot would need to go right for him and a lot would have to go wrong for Australia’s big four if he were to play in the Ashes. But he did take five wickets in his last Test, which was in Adelaide against England in 2021.Jhye Richardson is coming off shoulder surgery•Getty ImagesXavier Bartlett is a fair way down the Test queue but he could rise up the ranks quickly if he bowls well in all forms and injuries mount up. The start to his ODI career has been noteworthy but his rise to Australia’s limited-overs set-up has possibly affected his red-ball development. He played six first-class games last summer, including one against England Lions for Australia A, and took 20 wickets at 25.05 including one five-wicket haul. But his selection by Punjab Kings in the IPL saw him miss the Shield final which would have been valuable experience.His ability to swing the new ball is exceptional and he takes wickets in bunches in the right conditions but his average speed is under 130kph which has made him vulnerable when the ball stops swinging. He has been selected for Australia A’s red-ball tour of India in September but will then go to New Zealand for three T20Is in four days at the start of October. Any chance he has to get a stretch of Shield games before the Ashes may be hindered by white-ball commitments against India. He should get the opportunity to play at least two Shield games or possibly some Australia A or Prime Minister’s XI matches once the Ashes starts if his white-ball loads before that don’t require a rest.

Shield stars

Fergus O’Neill can’t do anything more than he’s doing to push his Test case. The 24-year-old is the reigning Shield player of the year and has 133 first-class wickets at 20.03 from 33 matches. Those numbers belie his physique and lack of pace, which will be the question against how well his first-class skills can translate to Test pitches. He is going to India with Australia A which is a sign the selectors are keen to expose him to different conditions. Much like Neser, he would come into serious contention ahead of others in certain conditions in Australia. The 2026 tour of South Africa and the 2027 Ashes loom as places he could also be an option in the short to medium term.Fergus O’Neill has been the Shield’s best bowler in recent years•Getty ImagesNathan McAndrew is well regarded, has an excellent first-class record and was a key figure in South Australia’s drought-breaking Shield title. He played for Australia A last year alongside Boland and Neser to highlight his standing. He’s durable and reliable but a lot of injuries would need to occur before he was called upon for the Ashes.As good as O’Neill has been in domestic cricket, Joel Paris‘ record is better. It has gone largely unnoticed even among studious followers of Australian cricket, but Paris has 202 first-class wickets at 19.56 from 51 matches. Like O’Neill, his lack of pace means he would be a conditions-based option. But as a left-armer who can swing and seam the ball prodigiously, if something were to happen to Starc and certain conditions called for it, Paris would be discussed. He was quietly positioned as one of a few standby options for the 2023 Ashes in England while Starc was playing through a groin issue.

Non-starters

Lance Morris would have been right in contention as he has been in previous summers but a stress fracture has led to back surgery and he will not return to bowling until late next year.Spencer Johnson remains an alluring prospect despite his limited first-class experience but he has not played since the IPL due to back issues of his own after being withdrawn from Australia’s T20I tour of the Caribbean and Bailey confirmed he is unlikely to play again until the new year.Callum Vidler is part of the next generation of Australia quicks•Getty Images

The next gen

There’s excitement about Australia’s Under-19 World Cup winning quartet of Callum Vidler, Tom Straker, Charlie Anderson and Mahli Beardman but all four are a long way from Test calculations at this point.Vidler and Straker have been selected for the 50-over portion of the Australia A tour of India this month. There was a possibility to expose them in the four-day games, particularly after Vidler’s stunning showing in the Shield final last March, but they are not quite ready physically for four-day cricket at this stage of the year. Beardman has stress fractures at the moment while Anderson is being carefully managed after years of his own back issues.Sam Elliott, 25, has also been picked for the 50-over portion of the Australia A tour to India but has not been a regular in Victoria’s Shield team. Brody Couch, 24, has shown promise since moving to Western Australia and was called into the Australia A red-ball squad for India after Morris was injured, but he has since suffered a side strain. He has been replaced by 28-year-old Henry Thornton, who finished last Shield season well for South Australia and played for Australia A in both the red-ball and white-ball matches against Sri Lanka A in Darwin in July.

Allen, Ferguson, Milne, Phillips, O’Rourke and Sears were all unavailable due to injury

Deivarayan Muthu19-Oct-2025Kane Williamson will return to action for New Zealand in the three-match ODI series against England, which kicks off at Bay Oval, his home ground, on October 26. Williamson, 35, is missing from the ongoing T20I series as he is recovering from an unspecified, ‘minor medical issue’ in the past month.Williamson is among a group of players who have a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket (NZC). He had earlier made himself unavailable for the three-match T20I series against Australia and missed the Zimbabwe tour to play county cricket and the Hundred as part of his deal with Middlesex. More recently, Williamson was appointed Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) strategic advisor in the IPL.Allrounder Nathan Smith also returned to the New Zealand squad after undergoing rehab for an abdominal injury sustained during the first Test against Zimbabwe in August in Bulawayo. Smith, 27, has not played any competitive cricket since.Related

Williamson joins LSG as strategic advisor

New Zealand head coach Rob Walter welcomed Williamson and Smith back into the set-up. For Williamson, this will be his first appearance for New Zealand since the Champions Trophy final in Dubai in March earlier this year. Smith also played in that final, though as a last-minute replacement for Matt Henry, who was injured at the time.”Kane and Nathan have had to work hard to overcome their respective injuries and illness,” Walter said in a statement. “We all know what Kane means to the Blackcaps – to have his skill, experience and leadership back in the group is fantastic.”Nathan’s still relatively new to his international career, but he’s impressed with his all-round skills and ability in the field.”Having undergone rehab, Smith has declared himself fit and ready for the New Zealand summer.”Yeah, always exciting when you get the opportunity to play for New Zealand in any series,” Smith said. “The last period from that [Bulawayo] Test to now has looked like a bit of rest initially. And then after a couple of weeks, you can sort of start to get moving again and strengthen the ab back-ups. Since the start of September, I’ve been ripping into some rehab and building the bowling loads back up. It’s just been a really good period to get some strength in and build some training back up for a busy season.”Mitchell Santner also returned to take charge of the ODI team after leading them to the Champions Trophy final. Having recovered from an abdominal injury, he is currently in action in the T20I series against England.However, Finn Allen (foot), Lockie Ferguson (hamstring), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Ben Sears (hamstring) were all unavailable due to injury.Nathan Smith has recovered from an abdominal injury•AFP/Getty ImagesTom Latham will take the wicketkeeping gloves and will also make his first appearance for New Zealand since the Champions Trophy final. Latham had been sidelined from the two-match Test series in Zimbabwe with a shoulder injury. He hasn’t played any competitive cricket since his century for Birmingham Bears in the T20 Blast in July.Along with Smith, Canterbury seam-bowling allrounder Zak Foulkes has also been picked in the squad. Foulkes has played just two internationals so far and in September, he hit back-to-back fifties for New Zealand A in Benoni in the unofficial ODI series. Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra are the other allrounders in the side.Henry, who is the highest wicket-taker among seamers in ODIs in 2025, with 24 strikes in nine innings at an average of 15.50, will lead the attack.This will be Walter’s first stint with the New Zealand ODI side as their head coach. “The ODI side has been very successful for a long period of time, as the current ICC ranking of number two suggests,” Walter said. “We have an experienced core of players and as a team, are very clear on how we want to play. This is very much the start of our journey to the ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa in 2027 and I know the group are excited to get going in this series against a quality England side.”New Zealand’s ODI group will assemble in Tauranga on Friday ahead of Sunday’s opening game. The second ODI will be played in Hamilton on October 29, while England’s tour will conclude with the third ODI in Wellington on November 1.The ODI series will overlap with the men’s Ford Trophy, New Zealand’s premier domestic one-day tournament, which will start on October 25 across various venues. The Ford Trophy will kick off New Zealand’s domestic summer for a second year in a row. The Ford Trophy will start on October 25, followed by the women’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield (HBJ) taking off on November 15.New Zealand ODI squadMitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young

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