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“I feel such things [about Kohli making it to the 2027 World Cup] shouldn’t even be spoken about after the way he plays and performs,” Sitanshu Kotak says

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Dec-20252:15

Kotak: We don’t need to talk about Kohli’s future

Virat Kohli has the most centuries in ODI history, and yet, each time one sees him bat in the only format he is still active in internationally, thoughts turn to the 2027 World Cup. Kohli is 37 now. Will he still be playing two years on? For Sitanshu Kotak, India’s batting coach, “there’s no point talking about all this” and fans should stay in the moment.”I don’t know why we need to look at all this – he’s really batting well, and I don’t see any reason we need to talk about his future,” Kotak said after Kohli’s 135 from 120 balls took India to victory in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday.”Just the way he’s batting, it’s just brilliant. The way he’s performing, [and] his fitness – there are no questions about anything,” Kotak said. “I feel such things [the 2027 World Cup] shouldn’t even be spoken about after the way he plays and performs. That is something which is two years away. There’s no point talking about all this. For us, once the team arrives and we start practice, we just enjoy.”Related

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Vastly experienced players like Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who is a year older at 38, add value to the dressing room even otherwise, Kotak pointed out. And it’s not like they aren’t performing. Rohit’s last three innings in ODIs have been worth 73, 121* and 57.”Obviously, they do share their experience with others,” Kotak said. “I don’t think we’re talking anything about the 2027 World Cup. They are just brilliant, and they are performing. They are contributing to the team, which is a great thing for us.”Like Kohli, Rohit is also active only in ODIs internationally. That leaves both of them with very limited game time. But, despite that, for the second successive match, Kohli and Rohit showed good form while stitching together a match-winning century stand.After adding an unbeaten 168 against Australia in Sydney last month, they had a stand of 136 in the first ODI against South Africa. While Kohli followed 74* in Sydney with 135 in Ranchi, Rohit scored 57 at better than a-run-a-ball against South Africa after hitting 121* in a win over Australia.”They are such experienced players; it’s always great to have them,” Kotak said. “The way they bat – like today also, that partnership – it makes a huge difference. Obviously, they batted really well.”

England boss Thomas Tuchel has hinted that the glitz and glamour of the 2026 World Cup ceremony was rather unnecessary. The Three Lions eventually found out that they will face Croatia, Ghana, and Panama at next year's competition in North America. However, those watching the draw had to wait a long time to find out the results, something Tuchel believes they could have "done without".

'I don't need it'

On Friday, the football world discovered who will play who in the group stages of the World Cup, with England facing 2018 finalists Croatia first up in the tournament. For those tuning in, though, it took an eternity for the nations to actually be drawn in Washington D.C. Earlier on in the ceremony, United States President Donald Trump received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino designating it for a person who has "taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace" and "united people across the world". Trump was given a large gold trophy, a medal, and a certificate, while Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand was also heavily involved in the draw. Going by Tuchel's comments, he didn't appear to be a fan of the whole affair.

He told : "I do not, not like it but we could have done it like, without all of this. I don't need it. But of course, it's a huge stage and it's big entertainment. I was very well aware that it's not about the deep insight of football today."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportEngland face 'difficult' group

While England are favourites to win their group and progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup, many Three Lions fans have not forgotten Croatia dumping them out of the tournament at the semi-final stage in 2018. And former Chelsea boss Tuchel is certainly wary of their upcoming opponents, even though they beat them in Euro 2020.

"Difficult group, difficult opener. Difficult group with Croatia and Ghana, two regulars in World Cups and two proud and strong nations. Panama, I don't know much about Panama at the moment but we will find out about it before the tournament starts, of course," he said. "For me, I'm only experienced group football in Champions League formats and the way to approach it was to always give it the biggest respect and to put all the focus into winning the group. It always seems difficult like our group now but we are confident and we will be well prepared when we arrive.

"Nobody should be underestimated. Of course, Croatia is the standout, they're the highest ranked team from pot two that we got into out group but listen, Ghana is always full of talent and can always surprise and has a big history in World Cup football, and also Panama will try to make the most in their underdog role. No one can be underestimated, everyone deserves the fullest respect and we can show that."

Tuchel's preference…

On paper, Croatia is the most difficult side England face in the group stage, with their European rivals six places below the Three Lions in the world rankings in 10th. Incidentally, Panama are down in 30th, and Ghana sit in 72nd. While some nations may want to ease into the competition with an easier match, Tuchel had no preference. 

He said: "I had no preference because why would I worry? I cannot influence. The legends took the draw and this is what we get and what we have to deal with now. We know now our opponents, we know we will start late in the tournament if players are involved in European finals, hopefully. We didn't desire anything we just handled the situation as it is. You get a little more days before and then you get a condensed schedule later in the tournament. Everything comes with in upside and downside."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for England?

England are expected to face Croatia in their World Cup opener in Toronto, Canada, or Dallas, in the United States, on June 17. Before then, the Three Lions will have to confirm some friendly fixtures earlier on in 2026 to get them ready for the showpiece event.

U.S. international Weston McKennie scored a pivotal goal to put Juventus 2-1 ahead in their fifth Champions League group-stage match against Bodo/Glimt, completing a rapid response after conceding early. McKennie met a precise Fabio Miretti cross with a well-placed header, shifting momentum firmly back in Juve’s favor.

AFPMcKennie’s header gives Juventus the lead

Juventus faced an unexpected challenge when Bodo/Glimt took the lead early in the match, putting pressure on the Serie A side. But Lois Openda equalsied for the Old Lady after the half-time break and not even ten minutes later, Weston McKennie had his say. The American rose to the occasion, timing his run perfectly to meet Fabio Miretti’s excellent cross with a powerful and accurate header that found the back of the net. This goal marked McKennie’s first in the 2025-26 Champions League campaign and was pivotal in swinging the momentum back to Juventus.

AdvertisementWatch the goalImmediate effect on the tie as Juventus fought

The header proved decisive in seizing control of a game that had already seen twists, with Juventus having to respond after conceding first. McKennie’s strike not only put Juve ahead but also altered tactical shape on the pitch, forcing Bodø/Glimt to chase the contest and opening space for Juventus to exploit.

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AFPWider significance for Juventus in the group

McKennie’s goal underlines his value as a goal threat from midfield in Europe’s premier club competition and provided a vital contribution in a campaign where Juventus sought points away from home. The Old Lady have struggled for form in the Champions League, collecting just three points from their opening four games. That run includes three draws and a 1-0 loss to Real Madrid. Juventus would win the match 3-2. 

The first ODI against Pakistan epitomised how much Dhoni’s safety-first approach has benefited him as a batsman, while shackling him as a leader

Nitin Sundar in Chennai30-Dec-2012It was the end of the 40th over of Pakistan’s chase. India had jousted their way back into the contest through a frugal Powerplay, which cost just 13 runs and accounted for Misbah-ul-Haq’s wicket. Ishant Sharma and R Ashwin had bottled up the new batsman, Shoaib Malik, who remained run-less after eight balls. The equation narrowed down to 55 off 60. For the first time in two hours, the near-full stadium was buzzing. The contest assumed a whole new complexion, even as Chepauk’s canopied stands glistened under a gorgeous sunset.India could have nosed ahead with another wicket at that stage. MS Dhoni had nine overs to come from his main bowlers, who had all bowled impressively. Yet, he turned to Virat Kohli. At the game’s most pivotal moment, with a contest waiting to be taken control of, Dhoni thought it wiser to get the one pending over from his fifth bowler out of the way.Kohli trotted in, allowing seven runs off the next five balls. Just like that, there was release – Shoaib Malik began to get the ball off the square, and Pakistan were flowing again. By the end of the next over, the fight was collectively knocked out of India when Ashwin dismissed Malik off a no-ball.As captain and as batsman, safety-first has been Dhoni’s mantra for a while now. This game epitomised how much that approach has benefited him as a batsman, while shackling him as a leader.India’s disastrous run in Test cricket, and their indifferent ODI form since the World Cup, have led to all sorts of questions being raised about Dhoni’s role in the set-up. The Test argument is for another day. As far as ODIs go, Dhoni is now the best batsman in India, and arguably the best middle-overs man in the world. Today he marched past 7000 ODI runs, while averaging 52.00 per innings. That’s seven runs clear of Sachin Tendulkar’s average when he got there, and a whole 10 runs more than Ricky Ponting’s. And despite restraining himself in the middle overs in recent years, Dhoni has got those runs at a strike-rate of 88.45. Those are the stats of a master.When Dhoni took guard today at 29 for 5, Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan were getting the ball to dance devilishly off the seam. Each of India’s top four had lost his stumps, undone by nip and zip, but Dhoni thrived by falling back on first principles. In Tests, Dhoni is prone to the odd waft outside the off stump, but he’s so much surer of himself while starting an ODI innings. Overnight rain, spicy pitch, extra bounce, crisis situation – no problem. Dhoni stayed on the crease, covering the line and playing with a straight bat, nudging and gliding singles, and running like the wind. His first boundary came only after 78 balls, which had yielded a mere 34 runs, but he changed the rhythm with seamless ease in the end overs.Unlike his younger colleagues, Dhoni likes to tuck into the short stuff, climbing over the bounce and pulling powerfully whenever the chance comes. With dehydration sapping him of his speed, Dhoni opened up emphatically in the second half of his innings. The inside-out six off Irfan that brought up his hundred captured the essence of Dhoni’s batting – it was brutality at its most beautiful.As a batsman, Dhoni always backs himself to take the game deep and turn the tables in the end game. It’s a marked difference from how he played when he first emerged at the highest level; with seniors such as Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and, now, Sachin Tendulkar, exiting the scene, Dhoni has assumed more responsibilities as a batsman.As a captain, however, the story is vastly different . Several India captains of the past – be it Mohammad Azharuddin (in Perth and Kolkata), Sourav Ganguly (in Ahmedabad) or Sachin Tendulkar (in Mohali) – have shown the imagination to attack with their best bowlers when the game is in the balance, even if that meant holding a weak over for the end. With Dhoni, especially in the last couple of years, you’d be hard-pressed to single out one such instance.It’s not just the handling of the fifth bowler. Nasir Jamshed betrayed a diffident approach to the short ball early in his innings. Dhoni responded by pressing backward square leg into service, and getting his seamers to bounce Jamshed. They had him hopping for a while, but eventually Jamshed began to settle down. By the end of the chase, he was displaying as much assurance against the short ball as Dhoni had shown earlier in the day. That, however, didn’t stop Ashok Dinda and Ishant Sharma from trying to bounce him out, seemingly at the cost of trying something else.Through turbulent times, to his credit, Dhoni hasn’t shunned his responsibility as the face of the team. As much as he receded into the background when his team was winning, he is now in the forefront taking the blame for the team’s reversals. “I feel good that I’m the punching bag because there’s less pressure on the team,” Dhoni said after this defeat. “You need to have a few punching bags in the side. Sachin has been there for quite some time now, he takes away all the tension. I don’t think everybody gets chance to be the punching bag, so I am happy that I can take a bit of tension for my team.”Tendulkar is gone, and with him India’s last link to a different time in the ODI game. Dhoni the batsman facilitated a transition by reinventing himself. Will the captain follow suit?

Celtic were in Scottish Premiership action on Sunday against Dundee, but Chris Sutton made his vehement opposition known to one Brendan Rodgers decision at Dens Park.

Celtic fall to dismal defeat against Dundee

The international break passed, and Celtic came back into things looking to close the gap on Heart of Midlothian following their victory over Kilmarnock on Saturday evening.

Truthfully, the Bhoys have been well below par this campaign and appear to be struggling in their quest to put together a convincing run of victories. This was reflected on Tayside as they turned in an abject display that left far more questions than answers.

Dundee were spirited and got themselves into a deserved two-goal lead, something that Celtic never looked like recovering from as their problems continue to show themselves at an alarming rate and the hosts earned a victory that vindicated their performance.

Daizen Maeda’s injury blow left the Bhoys short of attacking options, and they looked toothless from the outset, something that the club hierarchy has a lot to answer for in the grand scheme of things.

Remaining five points behind, they now look ahead to the toughest week of their season so far, starting off with a home clash against Sturm Graz in the Europa League before travelling to face Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle.

Patrick Roberts 2.0: Rodgers must now unleash Celtic's forgotten star

As Brendan Rodgers searches for a winning formulae, should he give a debut to Celtic’s “dominant” youngster who could be the new Patrick Roberts?

1 ByBen Gray Oct 19, 2025

Win in Edinburgh and the gap will narrow again to two points. Lose, and an eight-point gap could stare Celtic in the face heading into a key run of fixtures between now and the November international break.

Pressure has arguably never been higher on Rodgers, even if he has been left grossly short by his hierarchy, though some believe he has a lot to answer for after another terrible day for the Scottish Premiership holders.

Chris Sutton can't believe Hyunjun Yang started vs Dundee

Speaking on Sky Sports shown via X, Sutton couldn’t believe that Hyunjun Yang started for Celtic against Dundee and made a vocal plea for the manager to take him off at half-time.

He said: “I do not understand the decision to start Yang in front of James Forrest. James Forrest, he’s getting on a bit, but you know what he’s going to do, I don’t think Yang knows what he’s going to do with the ball himself. He gives players the ball when he’s finished with it. Just get him off!”

Sutton is an outspoken Celtic pundit, but he is completely right on this occasion. Yang, alongside many others, simply put in a performance that was miles off the standard needed to claim three points at Dens Park.

Fotmob show that the £6,000 per week earner achieved a 6.1/10 match rating and had 25 touches in total, doing nothing to trouble the Dundee backline before he was hooked at half-time.

The South Korean winger was far from the only culprit, it has to be said. Celtic are in a bad place and need to improve swiftly to avoid public scrutiny of their performances multiplying.

“Obviously we are down right now but it has to change at some point, and the change can start from now,” Roston Chase says

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-20253:31

Sammy: ‘Our problems are rooted deep into our system’

Away in the Caribbean, Cricket West Indies has got the best minds in the game in the region to chalk out a way out of the abyss – call it 27 all out if you will – the national team has fallen in, at a time when there is talk of the World Test Championship being split into two tiers. Roston Chase, the Test captain, is aware of all this and is hoping for ” that start and to then kick on from there” when they face India for the second and last time in the ongoing series in Delhi.”Obviously we are down right now but it has to change at some point, and the change can start from now,” Chase said a day away from the start of the second Test, where West Indies would be hoping to bounce back after an innings defeat in the first Test. “But it starts with the belief and the mindset of each and every player, and just keep motivating the guys that we can still play some positive cricket.”In Ahmedabad, in the first Test of the series, West Indies put up 162 and 146. They had two individual scores in the 30s – Justin Greaves in the first innings and Alick Athanaze in the second. Their best partnership was worth 46, in 87 balls, in the second innings between Greaves and Athanaze. Not good enough, especially when the opposition has three century-makers in their only innings and have declared on 448 for 5.Related

West Indies' Test-match batting a symptom of far deeper issues

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“I don’t think the guys are lacking confidence. But it’s just to get that one score, to get that start and to then kick on from there,” Chase said. “It just takes one… get that good innings or that hundred or that big fifty, that then gives you the confidence to actually think ‘I can do it’.”I think everyone is confident, but when we get out there, we didn’t start well as a batting unit and the pressure is on, and it’s for us to soak up that pressure as batters, and still find a way to score, put pressure back on to the Indian bowlers. That is the biggest challenge for us. We just need to get that start and kick on. And we’ll be fine.”Chase’s own Test career has been an intriguing one. He has now played 53 Tests, but has an average of 25.57. To go with a bowling average of 46.25. He scored a century in just his second Test, against India in Kingston in July 2016, and then had two more centuries by his tenth Test. In the 43 since, he has scored just two more, and none at all in his last 24, where he has crossed 50 only four times.”I can’t really speak for anyone [else], but for myself, I just think it’s a matter of confidence and continuously playing quality first-class cricket and so on. Just that knowhow and facing good attacks for longer periods, and obviously, trying to improve on faults you may have picked up early on in your career,” Chase said. “Obviously, when you first start, no one really knows you, and then, obviously, [you] play a couple of games and people see your weaknesses and try to exploit them. So it’s for the players to just improve on those weaknesses from as early as possible. That’s it.Roston Chase hasn’t scored a century in his last 24 Tests•Associated Press”It’s just digging deep for those four sessions and trying to stay in the now and not what has happened before in terms of the ball before or the over before. Just staying in the present is the biggest challenge for me right now. That’s something I have to go with.”Chase has played franchise T20 leagues in the past, in the ILT20, the Bangladesh Premier League, the Global T20 Canada, apart from the CPL, of course. While he is still a CPL player for St Lucia Kings, he wants to commit his future to West Indies, and to Test cricket.”It was always my dream to play for West Indies. I had a chance to play franchise cricket and I still have opportunities to play franchise cricket. But I have given that up,” he said. “So I cannot say that I am not hungry or not hungry, because this is what I wanted to do. I gave up my chance to play franchise cricket and I have taken up the captaincy role [in Tests], which is a big step.”So that just goes to show that I want to be here. I want to play for the Maroon. And I have always given my all for the Maroon.”

One of the most beloved events of MLB's All-Star weekend is the Home Run Derby, where some of the league's biggest power hitters compete in a showcase of slugging.

This year's Home Run Derby is slated for Monday, July 14, one day before Tuesday's All-Star Game, at Truist Park in Atlanta, home of the Braves.

Thus far, the players announced to be participating include Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., Seattle Mariners catcher and MLB's current home run leader Cal Raleigh, and Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood, though there are more names set to be revealed in the coming days.

Last year's winner, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, will not be back in 2025, so the throne will be vacant for a new winner. Usual contender Pete Alonso, who has won the event twice, will not be vying to add a third Home Run Derby crown to his résumé, leaving the door wide open for this year's participants.

We're going to take a look at the full list of Home Run Derby winners dating back to the event's debut in 1985.

Year

Player(s)

Team

Runner Up

1985

Dave Parker

Cincinnati Reds

N/A

1986

Darryl Strawberry, Wally Joyner

New York Mets, California Angels

N/A

1987

Andre Dawson

Chicago Cubs

Ozzie Virgil

1988 (Cancelled due to rain)

N/A

N/A

N/A

1989

Ruben Sierra

Texas Rangers

Eric Davis

1990

Ryne Sandberg

Chicago Cubs

Mark McGwire, Matt Williams

1991

Cal Ripken Jr.

Baltimore Orioles

Paul O’Neill

1992

Mark McGwire

Oakland A’s

Ken Griffey Jr.

1993

Juan Gonzalez

Texas Rangers

Ken Griffey Jr.

1994

Ken Griffey Jr.

Seattle Mariners

Fred McGriff

1995

Frank Thomas

Chicago White Sox

Albert Belle

1996

Barry Bonds

San Francisco Giants

Mark McGwire

1997

Tino Martinez

New York Yankees

Larry Walker

1998

Ken Griffey Jr.

Seattle Mariners

Jim Thome

1999

Ken Griffey Jr.

Seattle Mariners

Jeromy Burnitz

2000

Sammy Sosa

Chicago Cubs

Ken Griffey Jr.

2001

Luis Gonzalez

Arizona Diamondbacks

Sammy Sosa

2002

Jason Giambi

New York Yankees

Sammy Sosa

2003

Garrett Anderson

Anaheim Angels

Albert Pujols

2004

Miguel Tejada

Baltimore Orioles

Lance Berkman

2005

Bobby Abreu

Philadelphia Phillies

Ivan Rodriguez

2006

Ryan Howard

Philadelphia Phillies

David Wright

2007

Vladimir Guerrero

Anaheim Angels

Alex Rios

2008

Justin Morneau

Minnesota Twins

Josh Hamilton

2009

Prince Fielder

Milwaukee Brewers

Nelson Cruz

2010

David Ortiz

Boston Red Sox

Hanley Ramirez

2011

Robinson Cano

New York Yankees

Adrian Gonzalez

2012

Prince Fielder

Detroit Tigers

Jose Bautista

2013

Yoenis Cespedes

Oakland A’s

Bryce Harper

2014

Yoenis Cespedes

Oakland A’s

Todd Frazier

2015

Todd Frazier

Cincinnati Reds

Joc Pederson

2016

Giancarlo Stanton

Miami Marlins

Todd Frazier

2017

Aaron Judge

New York Yankees

Miguel Sano

2018

Bryce Harper

Washington Nationals

Kyle Schwarber

2019

Pete Alonso

New York Mets

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

2020 (Derby Cancelled due to COVID-19)

N/A

N/A

N/A

2021

Pete Alonso

New York Mets

Trey Mancini

2022

Juan Soto

Washington Nationals

Julio Rodriguez

2023

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Toronto Blue Jays

Randy Arozarena

2024

Teoscar Hernandez

Los Angeles Dodgers

Bobby Witt Jr.

Teams With Most Home Run Derby Winners

No team in MLB history has had more different Home Run Derby winners than the New York Yankees, who saw Tino Martinez win in 1997, Jason Giambi in 2002, Robinson Cano in 2011 and Aaron Judge in '17.

Players With Most Home Run Derby Wins

Player

Years Won

Number of Wins

Ken Griffey Jr.

1994, 1998, 1999

3

Prince Fielder

2009, 2012

2

Yoenis Cespedes

2013, 2014

2

Pete Alonso

2019, 2021

2

Only four players in MLB history have multiple Home Run Derby wins, and no one has more than Ken Griffey Jr., who has won the event three times. Alonso could potentially rival that feat, though it won't be this year considering he opted out of the event.

Most Homers in a Home Run Derby

Year

Player, Team

Total HRs Hit in Derby

2019

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays

91

2022

Julio Rodriguez, Mariners

81

2021

Pete Alonso, Mets

74

2016

Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins

61

2019

Joc Pederson, Dodgers

60

Despite holding the top two spots for most home runs hit in a single Home Run derby, neither Guerrero nor Rodriguez won the event that year. Guerrero was defeated by Pete Alonso in the final in 2019, while Rodriguez lost to Juan Soto in '22.

Most Home Runs in a Single Home Run Derby Round

Year

Player

HRs Hit

Round

2023

Julio Rodriguez

41

First Round

2019

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

40

Semifinals

2019

Joc Pederson

39

Semifinals

2023

Randy Arozarena

35

Second Round

2021

Pete Alonso

35

First Round

Ryan Stevenson’s career-best 4 for 71 keeps Hampshire in contest

ECB Reporters Network08-Aug-2020Ryan Stevenson and Martin Andersson recorded career-bests for their respective sides as Middlesex and Hampshire fought out an absorbing first day of their Bob Willis Trophy encounter at Radlett.Devon-born seamer Stevenson, recalled for only his sixth first-class game, took 4 for 71, doubling his first-class wicket tally in the process, but Andersson, a man with just eight first-class matches behind him, hit 92 to take the hosts to 252 all out.Liam Dawson, Keith Barker and James Fuller were also among the wickets, seemingly justifying Sam Northeast’s decision to bowl first, but James Harris took two wickets to leave the visitors 27 for 2 in reply after a seesaw day of action.Northeast’s decision to field raised eyebrows given their hosts opted for two spinners on a pitch expected to turn late in the match.However, in humid conditions and thanks to some early seam movement, it didn’t take the visitors’ attack long to reward their captain’s faith. In just the third over Barker bowled Sam Robson for a duck with a beauty which clipped the top of off stump.Nick Gubbins, fresh from his hundred in the win over Surrey also didn’t stay long. The left-hander got away with one top edge hook over the slips, only to play the shot again in the same over and hole out to Felix Organ at fine leg, so giving Fuller a wicket against his former county. And when the Stevenson got in on the act for the first time, trapping home skipper Stevie Eskinazi for 18, Middlesex were struggling at 41 for 3.That was Andersson’s cue to enter the fray and he played positively from the off, steadying the ship in the company of opener Max Holden either side of the lunch interval.Holden was dropped at slip by Ian Holland off the luckless Barker early in the afternoon, but the drop wasn’t costly as the same combination accounted for the left-hander for 36 shortly afterwards – a wonderful catch taken just millimetres from the turf to end a stand of 44.Andersson was given his one life on 23 when Dawson spilt a difficult chance at slip and he went on to make the most of his reprieve, reaching 50 from 71 balls with eight fours. He found a staunch ally in wicketkeeper John Simpson, who after a sticky start hit Barker for three successive fours.Dawson dropped Simpson on 26, but like Holland earlier atoned soon afterwards to give Stevenson a second wicket and end a stand of 93 for the fifth wicket. Dawson, back from England ODI duty then struck with the ball having Harris taken at slip off the last ball before tea.Six more boundaries took Anderson past his previous best of 83 against Lancashire at Old Trafford last September and to within touching distance of a maiden first-class hundred, but he came up eight short when Fuller trapped him lbw.Tom Helm and Nathan Sowter added useful runs for the eighth wicket before Stevenson returned to dismiss the latter and Thilan Walallawita off successive balls to cap his excellent day.Helm ensured a second batting point by striking Dawson for a towering straight six, but Dawson had him caught and bowled later in the same over.With 14 overs left to bat, Hampshire looked set to get to the close unscathed before Harris found the edge of Organ’s bat and Sowter took a sharp catch at second slip.Barker was sent in as nightwatchman, but that plan backfired when Harris struck a second time with one that splayed the stumps, leaving the match intriguingly poised ahead of day two.

Arsenal are enjoying another brilliant season in the Premier League under former player Mikel Arteta, with his side currently sitting just two points off leaders Liverpool with 12 games remaining.

Arteta's side have only lost four times in the league so far this campaign, with the Gunners boasting the best defensive record in the division – conceding just 23 times in the 26 league games so far this season.

The North London side have also kept ten clean sheets in the Premier League – two more than any other side, with Arteta's side adopting Sir Alex Ferguson's quote that "attacking wins you games, defending wins you titles".

One player has been crucial in the club's attempts to end their 20-year drought without a Premier League title after his summer arrival at the Emirates. However, his time could soon be coming to an end in Arsenal red.

Aaron Ramsdale's record at Arsenal

David Raya joined the Gunners on loan with an option to buy last summer, with the Spaniard being crucial in Arsenal's attempts to get one over Manchester City after their title battle last season.

Aaron Ramsdale has subsequently dropped down the pecking order, with the former Bournemouth 'keeper now becoming Arteta's second-choice behind the in-form Raya.

The "phenomenal" 25-year-old – as dubbed by David Seaman, has made 88 appearances since his debut for the club in 2021. However, only five of those have come in the Premier League this season, with Ramsdale suffering as a result of Raya's arrival.

Very few would have predicted this turn of events on the back of last season, with Ramsdale earning a spot in the PFA Team of the Year after helping Arsenal finish as runner-up behind Manchester City.

During his two and a half years in London, he's kept 28 clean sheets for the Gunners in England's top flight, form that saw him become a regular in Gareth Southgate's England squad.

It's clear from his time at the Gunners that Ramsdale is a top-quality Premier League 'keeper and is way too good to sit on the substitute bench week in and week out, with the club potentially wanting to off-load the 25-year-old due to his high weekly wage.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

How much Aaron Ramsdale has cost Arsenal

The Stoke-on-Trent-born goalkeeper joined Arsenal for a deal totaling £30m including add-ons from relegated Sheffield United during the summer of 2021.

His four-year deal saw him earn £110k a week, a figure that is £10k a week more than teammate and flavour of the month Jorginho, who has enjoyed a positive spell in the Gunners' midfield of late, notably winning the Man of the Match award last time out against Newcastle.

#1 Kai Havertz

£280k

#2 Gabriel Jesus

£265k

#3 Declan Rice

£240k

#4 Martin Odegaard

£240k

#5 Thomas Partey

£200k

#6 Bukayo Saka

£195k

#7 William Saliba

£190k

#8 Gabriel Martinelli

£180k

The 'keeper has spent over two-and-a-half years in the capital accumulating over £15m in wages – taking the total price of his deal to £45m since his move from the Blades.

With Ramsdale still having 28 months left on his deal, Sporting Director Edu may look to move him on in the summer whilst his transfer value is still at its peak, subsequently clearing some money off the Gunners' expensive wage bill.

He was linked with a move to Chelsea and Nottingham Forest during the January window, with Arsenal unable to find a replacement for Ramsdale. However, the summer will give both parties a good chance to complete a move away from the Emirates, allowing the talented 'keeper to develop his game further.

South Africa fell to their lowest T20I total as Ashton Agar ripped through them at the Wanderers

The Report by Firdose Moonda21-Feb-2020Ashton Agar claimed the 13th hat-trick in T20I cricket and the second for Australia after Brett Lee as South Africa were dismissed for their lowest score in the format to lose by their biggest margin in a thrashing at the Wanderers.Agar finished with a career-best 5 for 24 to take Australia to an eighth straight T20I win, and to the top of the ICC’s rankings. They extend a successful run that dates back to February 2019, and take the lead in the three-match series.While South Africa’s batting implosion will hog the headlines, their fielding should also come under scrutiny after a wayward performance, with too many short, wide deliveries against a rampant Australian line-up. Aaron Finch and Steve Smith galloped along at 10 runs an over in a second-wicket stand of 80 and even though South Africa pulled Australia back, 49 runs in the last five overs left them with a big total to chase.The home batting line-up, which had a makeshift opener in Rassie van der Dussen, and an emergency replacement in Jon-Jon Smuts (who stood in for Heinrich Klaasen after he injured his hip in warm-ups) never got going. South Africa were 38 for 3 after the powerplay, 44 for 7 after Agar’s hat-trick and only had three partnerships in double figures.Agar, Agar, AgarFaf du Plessis’s inside-out loft over the side found Kane Richardson on the rope to end the most competent innings by a South African frontline batsman at the Wanderers and start a magical run for Australia’s left-arm spinner. His next ball was pitched on middle and leg and beat Andile Phehlukwayo’s flick and was given out by Allahudien Palekar. Phehukwayo reviewed but ball-tracking showed the delivery was straightening and hitting leg stump. That brought Dale Steyn to the crease, in the eighth over, to face the hat-trick ball.He was greeted with a ball that was tossed up, went for the drive and outside edged to Aaron Finch, at slip. Agar took off in celebration and South Africa, on 44 for 7, had all but been defeated. Agar could have another hat-trick when he bowled debutant Pite van Biljon at the end of his third over and had Lungi Ngidi caught at long-on with the first ball of his fourth, but his second hat-trick ball of the night missed Tabraiz Shamsi’s off stump by a whisker.Steyn’s alive…but so are the lights Dale Steyn operated mostly behind the scenes in the England series but stormed his way back into the spotlight in the first few balls of this match. His opening delivery was a touch wide and David Warner creamed it through the covers to start with a boundary. That would not have impressed Steyn, who tightened up immediately and sent down a menacing second ball, a bouncer that fizzed up off a length, Warner top-edged and Shamsi collected at fine leg. Steyn celebrated in his customary fashion – the chainsaw – but in slow-motion, perhaps as a nod to his advancing age.But he won’t like the suggestion that his years had anything to do with his inability to repay the favour when fielding in the next over. Ngidi should have had Smith out for a duck when he cut a short, wide ball to third man, where Steyn was stationed. He got himself into position to take the catch but lost the ball in the floodlights at the last moment and it sailed over his right shoulder. When Steyn realised what had happened, he could only smile sheepishly in response. Steyn eventually made up for it in the penultimate over of the match when he made sure Ngidi did not finish wicketless and clung on to a high ball from Mitchell Marsh’s bat at square leg.Slowly does it for South Africa The spin of Shamsi and Smuts – in addition to Andile Phehlukwayo’s change-ups – pulled Australia back in the mid-section of their innings, when they kept big hits to a minimum. The boundary was only breached three times between the end of the sixth over and the end of the 14th, once when Matthew Wade should have been caught on the deep midwicket boundary by van Biljon. Shamsi conceded a slog sweep that went for six towards the end of his spell, where wides were his only weakness, while Smuts’ two overs cost just 15 runs and he should have been used a little more. South Africa gave away 61 runs in those eight overs, at a rate of 7.62, which kept Australia under 200. In the end, it was still more than a hundred runs too many.Starc’s crucial breakthroughWith moisture in the air, it was inevitable that would be some swing but it wasn’t until Mitchell Starc got hold of the ball that it was on display. His third delivery was directed straight at de Kock, who looked to play leg side, snuck past his attempt and pinged the top of middle stump. That meant South Africa’s most in-form batsman of the summer was out, and the rest of the line-up had a mountain to climb.Agar took the honours but it was Australia’s fast bowlers who did the early damage and reduced South Africa to 38 for 3 in the powerplay, leaving them with no way back. After Starc’s early strike, Pat Cummins was responsible for the other two wickets and had van der Dussen caught at third man and Smuts caught by Adam Zampa, running circles from short-fine leg. Australia scored 70 runs in their first six overs and South Africa’s score, of just over half that, was never going to be competitive enough.Fielding fumbles and Faf Steyn’s miss was comical, van Biljon’s may be explained away by debut nerves but Shamsi’s miss in the final over was inexcusable. Agar top-edged Rabada to short third man, de Kock looked to be going for it as Shamsi ran in which made the keeper think twice. At that point, Shamsi should have committed to the catch but he pulled out and the ball fell between him and de Kock.It wasn’t all bad, with du Plessis taking a stunner at backward point when Carey launched one into the night sky, but that was a rare bright moment in South Africa’s effort, compared to a clinical Australian display.