India captain confirms series finale will be veteran fast bowler’s international swansong

Valkerie Baynes21-Sep-2022India targeted victory over England in the second ODI so that they could give Jhulan Goswami a fitting send-off at Lord’s, captain Harmanpreet Kaur has said.Harmanpreet confirmed that Saturday’s third and final fixture of India’s tour will be Goswami’s last before she retires from international cricket after a career spanning two decades.Victory in Canterbury meant India took an unassailable 2-0 lead into the final match having clinched their first series win in the format against England in England since 1999. The margin of victory on Wednesday was emphatic – by 88 runs with 34 balls to spare – and built on Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 143 as she took her side to 333 for 5, their second-highest ODI total.Related

• 'It has hurt feelings and that is one regret' – Goswami on not winning a World Cup

• Jhulan Goswami's career is ending, but her intensity is still at max

• Harmanpreet 143*, Renuka four-for help India to unassailable 2-0 lead

“When you win the first game, the second game is always important and we always try to finish that game as a winning side and today also we were looking at that only because we don’t want to carry any extra pressure on ourselves going to Lord’s,” Harmanpreet said.”The Lord’s game is very special for us because it’s Jhulan’s retirement and we wanted to enjoy that game without any pressure and I’m really happy that we were able to win today and now we can just have fun in that game.”The next game will be the first time either side has played at Lord’s since their thrilling 2017 World Cup final showdown, which England won by nine runs, and Harmanpreet said India were keen to reverse the result for Goswami. But, more importantly, they wanted to enjoy the occasion.”It’s very important [to win] because that will be her last game,” Harmanpreet added. “It will be a very emotional moment for all of us and we definitely want to win that game.”Moreover, after winning the series now we just want to have fun because I know it’s the last game for her.”Goswami, 39, was named in India’s squad for the three ODIs in England after missing the preceding 50-over series in Sri Lanka in July. She had previously played for India during the 50-over World Cup in New Zealand in March, where she missed India’s final group game against South Africa with a side strain.All that set up a farewell tour of England on which she has so far taken one wicket from two games and where her presence, Harmanpreet said, had been invaluable as India look to build the experience of their younger seam bowlers.”She’s someone who has taught us a lot,” said Harmanpreet who made her ODI debut in the 2009 World Cup, when Goswami was captain. “When I debuted she was a leader and I learned a lot from her and now our young bowlers, like Renuka [Singh] and Meghna Singh, they are also learning from her. They are learning how she bowls and getting that rhythm from her. She’s been a great inspiration for all of us and we’ve learned a lot from her.”Goswami will leave the game as the highest wicket-taker in women’s internationals, with 353 wickets so far across formats. She began her international career as a 19-year old in January 2002, and has played 12 Tests, 68 T20Is and 203 ODIs. She holds the record for the most wickets in ODIs with a tally of 253.

As one of the biggest clubs in English football, Arsenal have been blessed with a whole host of sensationally gifted players over the years.

From the likes of Liam Brady and Charlie George in the 1970s to David Roecastle and Ian Wright in the 1980s and 1990s, but it was during the early 2000s that the Gunners saw perhaps their greatest-ever crop of superstars.

Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pirès and Sol Campbell all helped to define a generation with their incredible football and achievements, but without a doubt, the king of them all was Thierry Henry.

The magical Frenchman is still considered the greatest Premier League player of all time by many today, so when a signing under former manager Unai Emery was compared to him, there was more than a little excitement among the fanbase.

Thierry Henry's Arsenal career

Titi completed his £11m move to Arsenal, a club record fee at the time, in the summer of 1999, and while he had been a part of France’s World Cup-winning squad the summer prior, there was an element of doubt over how he would get on in North London following his underwhelming six-month spell with Juventus.

As we know now, such reservations were proven demonstrably wrong, as over the following eight seasons, the Les Ulis-born phenomenon would score an incredible 226 goals in 370 appearances while also providing 98 assists to boot.

This meant that the world-class attacker maintained an average of a goal involvement once every 1.14 games across eight years, during which he helped the Gunners lift two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two Community Shields.

Appearances

377

Goals

228

Assists

98

Goal Involvements per Match

1.15

The 123-capped international would eventually leave for Barcelona in the summer of 2007 but would briefly return to the club for a month in January 2012, during which time he scored another two goals in seven substitute appearances.

Overall, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of Thierry Henry to the story of Arsenal football club, so when comparisons were made between the legendary Frenchman and one of the club’s most exciting signings in the summer of 2019, expectations were raised.

Unfortunately, such comparisons could not have been more misplaced.

The Arsenal signing compared to Henry

So, as Emery wasn’t given the chance to make too many signings, you can probably guess which player of his was compared to the Arsenal legend.

Yes, before he would go on to be considered a costly flop for the Gunners, £72m signing Nicolas Pepe was being likened to the French legend for his incredible form in France with LOSC Lille, where he had just scored 32 goals and provided 12 assists in 41 games.

For example, journalist Robin Bairner highlighted these comparisons in July 2019, describing it as “fitting” that he’d end up at the Emirates.

Jamie Redknapp then highlighted the similarity in how the winger opened up his body to strike the ball just a month later.

Lastly, even though he was starting to struggle at this point, former Liverpool icon Graeme Souness once again made the comparison following the Ivorian international’s goal against Newcastle United in February, arguing that Henry “didn’t have a great first season” either and that the Gunners’ new number 19 was set to become “a star here.”

Unfortunately, as we know, that didn’t happen. Instead, the transfer “mistake,” as dubbed by journalist Charlie Watts, continued to struggle and, following a loan back to France, would eventually leave the club for nothing after his contract was terminated by mutual consent in September last year.

In all, the Mantes-la-Jolie-born ace made 112 appearances for the club, in which he scored 27 goals and provided 21 assists, all while making £100k-per-week.

Ultimately, while Pepe is far from being the worst player Arsenal have signed over the years, there can be no denying that he was massively disappointing, and as such, the comparisons to Henry now look absurd.

Arsenal must rue selling £34m star who now ranks alongside Palmer & Salah

The incredible talent would have helped Arsenal so much this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 15, 2024

Rangers have been linked with a move for an “unbelievable” player, but he may now decide against heading to Ibrox for two key reasons, according to a new transfer development.

Latest Rangers news

Philippe Clement badly needed some respite this weekend after seeing the pressure heaped on him further last week, following the Gers’ 2-1 defeat away to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Thankfully, the Belgian managed that, helping Rangers reach the Scottish League Cup final after winning 2-1 against Motherwell in the semi-finals at Hampden Park. Cyriel Dessers and Nedim Bajrami scored the goals for the Ibrox outfit, overturning a 1-0 deficit, as they booked a place in the showcase event against Celtic.

Despite this win, other managers continue to be linked with the Gers job, should they part company with Clement in the near future. Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen has been mentioned as a potential option for the Scottish giants.

It should be stressed that the current manager is believed to be safe in his job for the time being, however, with Rangers feeling that now isn’t the right time to relieve him of his duties, given the general situation at the club.

Away from the managerial situation, the Gers will also want to sign players in the January transfer window, but they have suffered a blow regarding one target.

"Unbelievable" ace may turn down Rangers move

According to Football Insider, Rangers “will struggle” to sign Motherwell youngster Lennon Miller, due to the current financial issues at Ibrox and their form under Clement this season.

The 18-year-old is arguably one of the biggest teenage talents in Scottish football and the Gers have been linked with signing him, but the report states that “the uncertainty surrounding the club and the potential pressure to help turn Rangers’ season around are expected to heavily influence” his decision, with the player not keen to come into Clement’s current set-up.

Miller is a massive talent who came up against Rangers on Sunday, failing to get the better of them, but there is no doubt that he would be an exciting signing. Gers legend Barry Ferguson is a huge admirer, once saying of him: “The Motherwell kid has unbelievable talent.

“I was at the game where he came off the bench at Ibrox for his league debut. He was 16 years old, Motherwell were losing and it was a massive moment for such a young player. But he was demanding the ball from his team-mates, some double his age. It was brilliant to watch. From that moment I knew there was a player there.”

This sums up what a big talent Miller is, and why it would be such a disappointment to see Rangers miss out on signing such a gem of a midfielder, but it is understandable why he may have reservations about joining currently.

Game-changer: The 8/10 Rangers star who was even better than Cerny

The Rangers midfielder enjoyed a terrific afternoon at Hampden Park on Sunday.

ByDan Emery Nov 3, 2024

The Gers don’t feel like a stable club, in terms of the managerial situation and ongoing issues in the boardroom, but hopefully, those problems can be resolved and he ends up seeing his future at Ibrox.

Tahir, Shamsi to play for Guyana Amazon Warriors; Kuggeleijn returns to St Lucia Kings

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jul-2022Barbados Royals have signed up South African heavyweights Quinton de Kock and David Miller for the upcoming season of the CPL.It will be de Kock’s maiden appearance at the CPL, while for Miller, Royals will be his third franchise in the competition after stints with Jamaica Tallawahs and St Lucia Kings [earlier St Lucia Zouks]. Royals also have in their line-up Mujeeb Ur Rahman, the Afghanistan spinner who has previously played with Jamaica Tallawahs, as well as Pakistani batter Azam Khan and South African allrounder Corbin Bosch. They still have five more spots to fill at the players’ draft tomorrow.Tallawahs, meanwhile, have roped in Mohammad Amir for the upcoming season. The Pakistan fast bowler had turned out for Royals last year, when he claimed 11 wickets at an average of 13.54. Sandeep Lamichhane, Imad Wasim, Chris Green and Migael Pretorius are the other four overseas signings by Tallawahs. All four players have represented the franchise in earlier editions.Guyana Amazon Warriors have added a rich South African flavour to their set-up. They have signed up Imran Tahir, the leading bowler for the franchise with 60 wickets from 43 outings for a fifth successive season. Additionally, they have also included wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi, batter Colin Ingram and wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen for the upcoming season alongside Paul Stirling, the Ireland opener.Related

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Hasaranga, Theekshana, Brevis set for maiden CPL stints

Daren Sammy appointed head coach of St Lucia Kings

St Lucia Kings have brought on board New Zealand’s Scott Kuggeleijn after releasing him last year. Kings are now left with just one more overseas spot left to fill, with last year’s captain Faf du Plessis, Tim David and David Wiese in their ranks as well.Kuggeleijn, who played for Kings in 2020, was the leading wicket-taker that season. He was, however, released by the franchise last season along with the Afghanistan pair of Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran.Kings’ other big acquisition is Johnson Charles, who had represented Barbados Royals in 2021, scoring 216 runs in ten games at a strike rate of 122. Charles came on board as a pre-draft signing.Among players from the islands, Roston Chase, Kesrick Williams, Alzarri Joseph, Mark Deyal and Jeavor Royal have been retained by the franchise. Kings have seven spots left to fill now, including the one for an overseas player, and those are expected to be announced soon.The notable omissions from last year’s squad are Rahkeem Cornwall, who was recently dropped from the list of CWI’s centrally contracted players, Wahab Riaz, Andre Fletcher – who has been signed by St Kitts & Nevis Patriots – and Keemo Paul, who has returned to Guyana Amazon Warriors.Kings finished runners-up, losing to Patriots in the final, last season. That made it back-to-back final appearances for them – they had lost to Trinbago Knight Riders in 2020 – after failing to make the title round in the first seven editions of the tournament.

Stats preview for the Test series between England and New Zealand

S Rajesh20-May-2015In home Test series against New Zealand, England’s dominance has been emphatic – out of 16 series, they’ve won 13, lost just two, and drawn one. They’ve won seven of their last eight home Tests against New Zealand. Despite that one-sided history, New Zealand will go into the two-Test series as slight favourites, on paper at least: they’re currently ranked No. 3 in the ICC Test rankings, two places above England, and have also had a much better recent run.Since November 2013, England have a 4-8 record in Tests – the defeats include a 5-0 whitewash in Australia, a home series loss against Sri Lanka, and a drawn series in the West Indies. In the same period, New Zealand have an 8-2 record – their win-loss ratio is the best among all teams in these 18 months: they’ve beaten West Indies home and away, won home series against India and Sri Lanka, and drawn in the UAE against Pakistan.Those recent numbers look overwhelmingly in favour of New Zealand, but a closer look reveals that most of England’s defeats have come overseas – they are 3-2 at home during this period – while New Zealand have mostly won at home – they are 3-2 in away Tests. Given that England have the advantage of home conditions – and New Zealand haven’t had the ideal preparation for a Test series – there may not be that much to choose between the two teams.

Teams in Tests since Nov 2013

Team Mat Won Lost W/L ratio Bat ave Bowl aveNew Zealand 13 8 2 4.00 40.05 33.05Australia 14 9 3 3.00 41.58 32.93South Africa 11 6 2 3.00 39.47 31.15Pakistan 12 5 4 1.25 45.64 36.29Sri Lanka 13 5 4 1.25 38.92 36.41Bangladesh 9 3 4 0.75 32.89 45.25England 15 4 8 0.50 32.64 32.73West Indies 16 4 9 0.44 29.12 38.51India 15 3 7 0.43 32.76 41.25New Zealand’s batting resurgenceThe batting and bowling averages for the two teams indicate that New Zealand’s batsmen have made the biggest difference to the team during this period. They’ve averaged more than 40 runs per wicket, and put up enough runs on the board for the bowlers to then take over. In 13 Tests, New Zealand’s batsmen have scored 20 centuries, compared to 14 hundreds in 15 Tests by England’s batsmen. Three of New Zealand’s batsmen – Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson – have contributed 14 of those 20 centuries, and they’ve all averaged more than 58 in these 18 months. Their form will be key for New Zealand again, even though others like BJ Watling and Tom Latham have also made crucial contributions.England’s batting stars have been Joe Root and Gary Ballance – between them, they’ve made eight of the team’s 14 hundreds, and average more than 60. However, the lack of big runs for Alastair Cook and Ian Bell has hurt the team badly: both have averaged less than 36. Cook, though, showed some return to form in the West Indies with a century and two fifties in six innings, which only augurs well for the summer ahead.

England batsmen in Tests since Nov 2013

Player Mat Runs Ave 100s 50sJoe Root 14 1327 69.84 4 6Gary Ballance 11 1060 62.35 4 5Jos Buttler 6 310 62.00 0 3Alastair Cook 15 890 35.60 1 8Ian Bell 15 824 32.96 2 5Moeen Ali 9 352 29.33 1 1Ben Stokes 9 455 28.43 1 1

New Zealand batsmen in Tests since Nov 2013

Player Mat Runs Ave 100 50Kane Williamson 12 1399 73.63 5 5Brendon McCullum 13 1357 61.68 5 0Ross Taylor 12 992 58.35 4 2Jimmy Neesham 8 606 43.28 2 3BJ Watling 13 748 41.55 2 3Tom Latham 9 684 40.23 2 3Mark Craig 8 318 39.75 0 2Corey Anderson 8 332 27.66 0 2Hamish Rutherford 9 348 21.75 0 1The new-ball contestThe bowling numbers for the two teams are much closer over the last 18 months and, in familiar home conditions, England could well have an edge there. James Anderson has averaged less than 25 during this period, and his average in home Tests since 2010 is 23.60: he has 146 wickets in 31 games during this period. Stuart Broad’s recent form is impressive too, but New Zealand have their own trump cards in Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who both average less than 25 in the last 18 months. The battle between these two pairs of new-ball bowlers could well be the key contest in the series

England bowlers in Tests since Nov 2013

Player Mat Wickets Average SR James Anderson 15 68 24.91 53.2Stuart Broad 15 57 27.66 57.1Moeen Ali 9 28 29.50 50.5Ben Stokes 9 25 39.20 64.4Chris Jordan 8 21 35.80 72.8

New Zealand bowlers in Tests since Nov 2013

Player Mat Wickets Average SR TA Boult 13 58 24.31 52.2TG Southee 13 53 24.77 54.7MD Craig 8 31 39.58 62.5N Wagner 7 27 32.74 55.2The head-to-head battlesAnderson and Broad also have pretty good records against New Zealand’s top three batsmen. Broad, especially, has had plenty of success against Taylor and McCullum, who’ve both handled Anderson a lot better.On the other hand, England’s three top batsmen have had mixed success against Boult and Southee. Cook has struggled against Boult, but has faced 264 balls from Southee without being dismissed. Bell has faced 154 deliveries from Boult without being dismissed, but has fallen twice to Southee, while Root has a pretty ordinary record against both.

Anderson and Broad v New Zealand’s big three

Bowler Batsman Runs Dismissals AverageStuart Broad Ross Taylor 125 6 20.83Stuart Broad Brendon McCullum 182 6 30.33Stuart Broad Kane Williamson 69 2 34.50James Anderson Ross Taylor 187 4 46.75James Anderson Kane Williamson 75 3 25.00James Anderson Brendon McCullum 136 3 45.33

Boult and Southee v England’s top three batsmen

Bowler Batsman Runs Dismissals AverageTrent Boult Alastair Cook 62 4 15.50Trent Boult Joe Root 51 3 17.00Trent Boult Ian Bell 42 0 _Tim Southee Joe Root 67 3 22.33Tim Southee Ian Bell 74 2 37.00Tim Southee Alastair Cook 138 0 _The Lord’s factorEngland have lost two of their last five Lord’s Tests – against South Africa and India – but before that they had a run of 13 Tests there without a defeat, winning six and drawing seven. Against New Zealand, they’ve only lost one out of 16 Lord’s Tests, winning seven and drawing eight. Most of the current England players have superb records here: Root averages 84, with two hundreds in four Tests, while Balance has scored a century in each of his two Tests there and averages 88. Bell has been around a lot longer – he played his first Lord’s Test ten years ago – but he has an excellent record too, averaging 53 over 16 matches. Cook is the one player with a slightly below-par record: he averages of 39.93 from 18 Tests, thanks to an average of 16 from his last ten innings. Among the bowlers, both Anderson and Broad have tremendous records at Lord’s, with Anderson averaging 25.30 (73 wickets in 16 Tests), and Broad 29.50 (55 wickets in 13 Tests).New Zealand may be ahead on recent form but, given that England are playing at home and some of New Zealand’s key players are coming in directly from the IPL, England should fancy their chances over the next couple of weeks.

For so much of the afternoon and the evening sessions, it seemed as if Pakistan were marching non-plussed towards their monumental target. Abdullah Shafique had hit as flawless a hundred as you could hope for on a fourth-day Galle surface. Babar Azam had been solid in partnership with him, and the stand was nearing a hundred.Best of all for Pakistan, Sri Lanka’s bowlers seemed to be getting very little out of a surface that should be a spin-bowling fantasy strip by now. But suddenly, around 75 overs through the innings, the pitch came to life. Shafique and Babar had only played and missed at the occasional delivery since tea, confidently padding plenty away, leaving the ones outside off alone, and getting enough bat to the rest that even half-chances were sparse.In the last 10 overs of the day though, Pakistan’s batters were suddenly under huge pressure. Though they had batted to get themselves within striking distance and put themselves ahead in the chase, the 120 to get at stumps seemed a distance off even with seven wickets in hand.They had batted exceedingly well to even give themselves a chance, however. Shafique led the effort and was unbeaten on 112 by stumps, frequently using his feet to create the single options, using the depth of the crease when the bowlers pitched slightly short, while using all the defensive manoeuvres against spin – padding away balls that pitched outside leg, letting the ones that weren’t threatening the stumps go. All up, he’d hit only 26 runs in boundaries – mostly legside fours and a six into the sightscreen. This was an innings built on patience and supreme confidence in his defence.Abdullah Shafique embraces Babar Azam after reaching his century•AFP/Getty Images

He’d set the platform with Imam-ul-Haq, as the openers took Pakistan to 87 for no loss. That partnership was not without its early jitters, however. Shafique could have been out lbw to Prabath Jayasuriya in the third over, but the review showed the ball failed to hit enough of leg stump to overturn the not-out decision. Imam then given out against Kasun Rajitha, but reviewed successfully – the ball projected to have been passing over the stumps. Not long after that, Imam sent a difficult catch over the infield as well, and a diving Dinesh Chandimal could not hold on, sprinting back from cover.That this stand was broken was more down to nifty wicketkeeping and batter error, than sustained pressure from the bowlers. Batting on 35, Imam raised his back foot after leaving a Ramesh Mendis delivery. In the fraction of a second Imam’s boot was in the air, Niroshan Dickwella whipped off a bail. The third umpire’s decision was several minutes and many replays in the making, but there was one angle, from side on, showing the boot to be clearly in the air. Azhar Ali then batted 32 balls but was caught at slip off Jayasuriya’s bowling.Where Shafique was measured through the course of his innings, Babar imposed himself on the opposition early in his knock. He announced his arrival with a whip through mid-on for four, then crashed a six and a four off over midwicket in one Jayasuriya over, to get Pakistan moving again after the loss of the second wicket. He too, though, soon settled into a pattern of accumulation, favouring the legside for his bigger shots. He had a desperate lbw review burned on him shortly before tea. He and Shafique seemed intent on doing it as risk-free as possible – 31 of Babar’s 55 came from singles, and there was a solitary two.Dimuth Karunaratne often likes to make batters face as many balls as possible at Galle, putting fielders on the boundary even early in their innings. The rationale here is that eventually, there will be a delivery that gets the batter out. Shafique and Babar defied this for 237 balls, during which they made 101 runs. Babar was eventually bowled trying to pad away Jayasuriya, who was coming over the wicket to pitch into the rough. He survived plenty that spun sharply from the dark spots, but late in the day, in the middle of that period in which the pitch suddenly started to spit, he didn’t quite get his front foot far enough to leg. Jayasuriya pitched it beyond the reach of his stride and turned it back into leg stump.Early in the day, Chandimal added eight to Sri Lanka’s overnight score, but missed out on a century when Naseem Shah burst through Prabath Jayasuriya’s defences.The match is now set for a tantalising final three hours. Pakistan are close. Sri Lanka have a new ball in hand, which tends to spit and spin more than the older ones. Shafique’s wicket seems like the vital one.

da spicy bet： 2019 is a poignant year for Tottenham. It’s the year they reached the Champions League final and rather shockingly, the same year Mauricio Pochettino was given the boot.

da winzada777： For all of the outstanding work Pochettino did in north London, turning the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane into genuine stars, he left the Lilywhites behind having not won a trophy.

So, what did Levy do? He went and hired one of the most successful managers of the 21st century; Jose Mourinho.

The self-proclaimed Special One has been there and got the t-shirt as far as English football is concerned. He’s a multiple Premier League winner, and a multiple FA Cup winner. He’s even won the Champions League.

Surely he was going to help Spurs earn the trophy they were craving? Think again. It all ended in tears.

Mourinho lasted just 86 games with a points-per-match record of 1.77, the third worst of his career. That rather said it all.

Mourinho's first transfers at Spurs

Entering in November of 2019, it wasn’t until January 2020 that the great Portuguese coach got the chance to welcome his own players to the capital.

It wasn’t the most rip-roaring start to proceedings, bringing Giovani Lo Celso and Steven Bergwijn to the club. The duo only just left Spurs in the summer but did so having not played very much football.

The summer of 2020 was a tad more promising though. Despite a world ravaged by the global pandemic, he welcomed two faces to the club from Real Madrid.

Mourinho was the one to entice Gareth Bale back to English football, welcoming the Welshman back on a loan deal. Bale was rather forced out of Madrid despite several years of wonderful service, scoring in a Champions League final and winning three LaLiga crowns.

He wasn’t the only player arriving from the Spanish capital, however. Left-back Sergio Reguilon joined and initially started very well in Spurs colours.

Indeed, analyst Raj Chohan admitted that the Spaniard was “unstoppable” at points, notably after a first-class assist for Bale’s goal against Brighton in a 2-1 win.

Remarkably, via loan spells at Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Brentford, he is still on the books at Tottenham.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Expand Collapse Why it's time for Reguilon to go

It’s now been four years, some might say arduous years since Reguilon first arrived under the tutelage of Mourinho.

In that first campaign, he proved to be an excellent acquisition, supplying five assists in all competitions from the left-hand side of defence.

Reguilon’s Spurs career by season

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2020/21

27

0

3

2021/22

31

2

3

2022/23

0

0

0

2023/24

0

0

0

2024/25

0

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt.

In 2021/22, he still impressed in the final third, scoring twice and assisting three goals but he ultimately wasn’t fancied by a ruthless and no-nonsense Antonio Conte who shipped out on loan in 2022/23. Since then, the 27-year-old has struggled to ever really catch the eye.

United only signed him on loan because of a lack of fit left-backs and that deal was cancelled in January 2024. Brentford did come calling and he featured regularly but it wasn’t enough to force himself into Ange Postecoglou’s plans.

Reguilon – who earns £53k-per-week – is still on the books at Spurs but is simply stealing a living at this point.

He’s not played a single minute all season and for the good of everyone, he surely has to leave in the January transfer window. Although he is named in the club’s 25-man Premier League squad, he was omitted from their Europa League squad list.

The Spaniard has gone from being an unstoppable asset during the days of Mourinho to someone with no chance of ever earning minutes again at Spurs. The only good thing for the Londoners is that he is actually out of contract next summer. An end, it would seem, is finally in sight.

Related Time's up: Spurs can finally axe Dragusin by signing "immense" £68m star

The exceptional star would be incredible for Spurs as a Radu Dragusin replacement.

Posts 2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 11, 2024

Injury-ravaged Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu may not play again for the Gunners until 2026, after undergoing knee surgery.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Tomiyasu facing lengthy spell out
• Recently underwent knee surgery
• May not play until 2026

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Tomiyasu has suffered repeated knee injuries in recent seasons, spending much of last campaign out of action before picking up another issue during Arsenal's pre-season tour of the United States last summer. Despite reappearing in the first team in October, the injury flared up again and the Japan international has faced an extended period on the sidelines. Now, he's not expected to return until next season.

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• (C)Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Arsenal defender joined the club in 2021 but has made just 65 Premier League appearances for due to frequent injury and fitness concerns, as well as stiff competition from fellow right-back Benjamin White. Tomiyasu only recently returned from a long injury absence but was soon forced back onto the treatment table and now faces a long rehabilitation programme. report that he might not be seen back in action until next year as the problem was worse than first feared.

• WHAT ARSENAL SAID

  An official club statement read: “Takehiro Tomiyasu has undergone a successful surgery on the right knee issue which he first sustained in pre-season. Despite an initial surgical procedure in August, followed by a return to full training, and featuring as a substitute in our home Premier League match against Southampton in October, Tomi continued to have issues with his knee, resulting in a further corrective surgical procedure. Tomi will now begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, which is expected to be completed towards the end of this year."

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR TOMIYASU?

  This latest news will be a huge blow for the 26-year-old defender. In an emotional post on Instagram, he detailed what the next few months will entail, writing: "I’ve already started my rehab to do what I love the most again. It has been the toughest period in my career for sure and it carries on a bit more but I won’t give up. Thank you for your support and see you again.”

How the squads line-up ahead of this season with will see DRS and the Power Surge for the first time in WBBL

Andrew McGlashan and Tristan Lavalette11-Oct-2022

Adelaide Strikers

Tahlia McGrath has had a stunning run for Australia•Getty Images

Captain Tahlia McGrath
Coach Luke Williams
Squad Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Megan Dixon Deandra Dottin, Katie Mack, Tahlia McGrath, Tegan McParlin, Anesu Mushangwe, Annie O’Neil, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Wolvaardt, Ella Wilson | In: Deandra Dottin, Anesu Mushangwe, Ella Wilson | Out Sarah Coyte (Renegades), Dane van NiekerkLast season recap Runners up
Having finished fourth, they reached the final with big victories in the Eliminator, when Amanda-Jade Wellington took an astonishing 5 for 8 against Brisbane Heat, and the Challenger on home soil before falling at the final hurdle against Perth Scorchers. Katie Mack had a prolific campaign, finishing as the second-highest scorer with 513 at 64.12.Key player
Tahlia McGrath has become one of the leading players in the world over the last 12 months and her T20I average stands at 93.85 with a strike-rate of 153.68. Continues to grow as a leader, too, and could be a future Australia captain.One to watch
Legspinner Anesu Mushangwe, who has taken 33 wickets at just 7.42 in 21 T20Is, will be the first Zimbabwe-born player to appear in the WBBL if she makes her debut. She is able to play as a local due to being an Australian resident. “She is a legspinner who is very well-suited to T20 cricket,” Strikers assistant coach Jude Coleman said. “A different kind of legspinner to Amanda-Jade Wellington, I think she will challenge the best batters in the competition.”Verdict
They look well-placed to challenge again with experience across all departments although the loss of Coyte leaves a significant hole in the death bowling. Dottin will need to improve on her overall WBBL record (424 runs, average 19.27, strike-rate 101.43) but in Mack, Wolvaardt and McGrath they have a strong top order.

Brisbane Heat

Laura Harris is capable of fearsome striking•Getty Images

Captain Jess Jonassen
Coach Ashley Noffke
Squad Jess Jonassen, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr (replacement), Pooja Vastrakar, Danni Wyatt, Zoe Cooke (unavailable), Lucy Hamilton (replacement) Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Ellie Johnston, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippell, Georgia Voll In: Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Danni Wyatt, Grace Parsons | Out: Georgia Prestwidge, Anneka Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, Poonam YadavLast season recap Eliminator
Finished third in the regular season then stumbled to the exit in a heavy defeat against Renegades where they were dismantled by Wellington’s magical spell. Two batters – Georgia Redmayne and Grace Harris – crossed 400 runs, but no one else scored a half-century. With the ball, captain Jonassen was outstanding with 21 wickets but Nadine de Klerk and Anneke Bosch did not have a major impact as overseas players.Key player
A tale of two sisters: Grace Harris and Laura Harris. Grace played a crucial innings in the first Commonwealth Games match against India and is dynamic with bat and ball. Meanwhile, Laura has already produced one of the stunning feats of the season with the fastest WNCL century from just 50 balls against ACT. If those two combine in an innings, anything could be possible.One to watch
She has been in this category for a while now, but it feels like we are about to see the full emergence of Georgia Voll into one of Australian cricket’s next generation. Showed promise in last season’s WBBL with 282 runs without quite converting but started the WNCL season with a superb 145 against New South Wales.Verdict
With Amelia Kerr back in the attack, Danni Wyatt to supplement the top order and Pooja Vastrakar adding depth they look a more imposing force this year (although Wyatt and Vastrakar will arrive late). If everything clicks they should have a very good chance of making the knockouts.

Hobart Hurricanes

Elyse Villani adds considerable power and experience to Hurricanes’ top order•Getty Images

Captain Elyse Villani
Coach Dan Marsh
Squad Elyse Villani, Nicola Carey, Mignon du Preez, Julia Cavanough, Maisy Gibson, Heather Graham, Hayley Jensen, Ruth Johnston, Emma Manix-Geeves, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Lizelle Lee, Amy Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman In: Elyse Villani, Heather Graham, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Emma Manix-Geeves, Lizelle Lee, Hayley Jensen, Julia Cavanough | Out: Tayla Vlaeminck (Renegades), Sasha Moloney (Stars), Angela Genford (Sixers), Rachel Priest, Richa Ghosh, Belinda Vakarewa (Thunder)Last season recap 6th
There was hope for an improved season for Hurricanes after several high profile signings but a slow start proved costly. Their batting was particularly inconsistent and reliant on South Africa star Mignon du Preez as they struggled to regularly post big totals. They showed glimpses of their potential with a strong end to the season, including a victory over eventual champions Scorchers, but finished with just five wins.Key player
It just has to be Elyse Villani, who is their prized recruit amid a Hurricanes makeover. She is the fourth highest run scorer in WBBL history and should strengthen Hurricanes’ batting line-up considerably. After moving from Stars, Villani also takes the captaincy reins and will need to lead from the front to inspire a lift up the ladder for a franchise desperate for success.One to watch
There is a lot of buzz on 17-year-old Amy Smith with the talented legspinner impressing for Tasmania during the WNCL, where she’s taken multiple three-wicket hauls. Smith has already had a taste of the WBBL, having claimed her first wicket at age 15, but this could be the season she makes a leap ahead of the Under-19 World Cup early next year.Verdict
After shuffling the deck, Hurricanes appear stronger on paper with the signing of hard-hitting South African Lizelle Lee set to add potency to the batting order. However, the loss of Tayla Vlaeminck and Belinda Vakarewa from the pace attack, plus late withdrawal of Issy Wong, may leave them without a cutting edge. They once again enter with excitement and will hope history doesn’t repeat.

Melbourne Renegades

Sophie Molineux will hope her team can build on last season•Getty Images

Captain Sophie Molineux
Coach Simon Helmot
Squad Sophie Molineux, Tayla Vlaeminck (unavailable), Georgia Wareham (unavailable), Harmanpreet Kaur, Shabnim Ismail, Hayley Matthews (WI), Sarah Coyte, Josie Dooley, Ellen Falconer, Ella Hayward, Erica Kershaw, Carly Leeson, Rhiann O’Donnell, Georgia Prestwidge, Courtney Webb In: Tayla Vlaeminck, Sarah Coyte, Georgia Prestwidge, Shabnim Ismail, Hayley Matthews, Erica Kershaw | Out: Jemimah Rodrigues (Stars), Eve Jones, Jess Duffin, Makinley Blows, Poppy GardnerLast season recap Challenger
A mid-season run of six wins in seven matches carried them towards the finals, led by the more than 700 runs scored between India duo Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues. They coped well with the loss of Georgia Wareham early in the season (and she will also miss this campaign) as Harmanpreet added 15 wickets to her runs. However, two defeats at the end of round-robin stage suggested they were running out of steam and that was proved when they could only make 83 for 8 against Strikers in the Challenger.Key player
Harmanpreet will likely be central to how Renegades go, but South Africa quick Shabnim Ismail offers something different and will help cover for the season-long absence of Tayla Vlaeminck who returned to the club over the winter but won’t be available until next season due to injury. Ismail remains among the fastest bowlers in the world.One to watch
Spinner Ella Hayward is another who is eligible for the U-19 World Cup in South Africa next year. She had limited wicket-taking impact last season with just five scalps, but maintained an economy rate of 6.68.Verdict
Even with the injuries to Vlaeminck and Wareham they have a good balance to their squad with Sarah Coyte adding significantly to the death bowling. If the three overseas players and captain Sophie Molineux have good seasons they should be firmly in finals contention.

Melbourne Stars

Annabel Sutherland will hope to bring WNCL form into the WBBL•Getty Images

Captain Nicole Faltum
Coach Jonathan Batty
Squad Alice Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Lucy Cripps, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Hasrat Gill, Olivia Henry, Meg Lanning (unavailable), Rhys McKenna, Sasha Moloney, Sophie Reid, Annabel Sutherland In: Jemimah Rodrigues, Alice Capsey, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Sasha Moloney, Sophie Reid, Olivia Henry, Hasrat Gill | Out: Elyse Villani (Hurricanes), Erin Osborne (retired), Maddy Darke (Scorchers), Maia Boucher, Linsey Smith, Georgia Gall, Anna LanningLast season recap 5th
Back-to-back wins in the middle of tournament suggested they might be able to put together a run to finals, but that never quite transpired. Defeat to Scorchers in the penultimate game ended their chances of qualifying, which meant a big chase in the final match led by Villani’s century was purely for pride. Villani led the run-scoring by a long way which was part of their problem.Key player
Annabel Sutherland has started the season in prolific form for Victoria in the WNCL and will have a big role to play in a new-look top-order. She will want to lift last-season’s strike-rate of 82.65. Having tasted international cricket as a squad player there is also the chance for her to push as a middle-order replacement for Rachael Haynes.One to watch
Left-arm spinner Sophie Day is another who has started the season strongly with 10 wickets in four WNCL matches. She struggled last season with four wickets from eight matches but looks set for a more senior role in the attack this time.Verdict
With the losses of Villani and Meg Lanning the top order looks a little thin although their three overseas signings are all batters. That, in turn, means the bowling will again lean heavily on Sutherland and Kim Garth. Jonathan Batty is in his first season as head coach and a place in the knockouts would look like a successful outcome.

Perth Scorchers

The defending champions are strong again•Getty Images

Captain Sophie Devine
Coach Shelley Nitschke
Squad Charis Bekker, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Maddy Darke, Sophie Devine, Amy Edgar, Holly Ferling, Maddy Green, Marizanne Kapp (SA), Alana King, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo, Georgia Wyllie In: Maddy Green, Holly Ferling, Maddy Darke, Georgia Wyllie | Out: Samantha Betts, Ashley Day, Heather Graham (Hurricanes), Chamari Athapaththu,Last season recap 1st
After near misses, including two losing grand finals, Scorchers finally claimed a maiden title with a 12-run win over Strikers at Optus Stadium to cap a dominant season. Led by a belligerent Beth Mooney, who topped the WBBL in scoring with 547 runs, Scorchers powered to the top of the table having only lost three of 14 games. In front of a record crowd of 15,511 for a standalone WBBL match, Scorchers held their nerve in a classic final with prized South African recruit Marizanne Kapp the hero with a brilliant all-round performance. Mooney and skipper Sophie Devine were the fulcrums of the batting ,while seamer Heather Graham led a well-balanced attack with spinners Alana King and Lilly Mills proving a dangerous tandem.Key player
It’s hard to look past Mooney and Devine, but the signing of Australia pace bowler Holly Ferling was key and her accurate seam bowling could help fill the void left by the departure of Graham, who moved to Hobart Hurricanes. An experienced campaigner, Ferling has played for Heat, Melbourne Stars and, most recently, Renegades and should relish the helpful conditions for quicks at the WACA.One to watch
There is a lot of excitement over spinning allrounder Amy Edgar who is the reigning Zoe Goss medallist as WA’s best domestic cricketer after a breakout season. The hard-hitting batter produced several eye-catching knocks in last season’s WNCL, and her offspin has markedly improved. Renowned for her composure under pressure, the 24-year-old could well be in line for a WBBL debut early in the season.Verdict
Scorchers look well stocked across the board with the addition of New Zealand’s Maddy Green set to strengthen the middle-order and ease the burden on stars Devine and Mooney. Outgoing pair Graham and veteran Sri Lanka batter Chamari Athapaththu will be missed, but a nice blend of international stars and local talent should ensure Scorchers are once again in the title mix as they seek a back-to-back triumph.

Sydney Sixers

Alyssa Healy will lead Sydney Sixers’ batting•Getty Images

Captain Ellyse Perry
Coach Charlotte EdwardsSquad Jade Allen, Suzie Bates, Nicole Bolton, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Sophie Ecclestone, Ashleigh Gardner, Angela Genford, Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Kate Petersen | In: Sophie Ecclestone, Angela Genford, Kate Petersen Out: Hayley Silver-Holmes (Hurricanes)Last season 8th
Just four wins in 14 matches, and after winning their first two games, left them bottom for the first time. Ellyse Perry led the scoring but her strike-rate (91.32) became a talking point and she made just one fifty. Alyssa Healy and Ash Gardner did not fire consistently – their importance to the side was highlighted when two occasions they did in mid-season brought back-to-back wins to lift hopes. There were some muddled tactics, too, especially with Shafali Verma who struggled to adjust and was shunted around the order. Lauren Cheatle was the only bowler to take double-digit wickets.Key player
Sixers have signed the best in the world in England’s Sophie Ecclestone as they again targeted a left-arm spinner. Last season they had India’s Radha Yadav and they will Ecclestone at least matches her economy (6.81) but also brings greater wicket-taking threat. She should also bring some hitting power to the lower order which could prove useful in finishing innings.One to watch
Lauren Cheatle has had an injury-hit career but is still only 23. There are precious few left-arm swing bowlers in the women’s game and Cheatle can move the new white ball as much as anyone. Her returns last season (10 wickets at 14.50 with an economy of 5.37) showed what an asset she can be. If she can stay on the park, could prove a real point of difference.Verdict
They certainly have a squad that looks as though it should compete and it does have a feel of a new(ish) era under Charlotte Edwards. But during their recent struggles the team has looked good at the outset. It may take more than a season for Sixers to return to the force they were, but would be a surprise if they finished bottom again.

Sydney Thunder

Can Rachael Haynes find the perfect finish to her career?•Getty Images

Captain Rachael Haynes
Coach Trevor Griffin
Squad Rachael Haynes, Sam Bates, Tammy Beaumont, Hannah Darlington, Jessica Davidson, Corinne Hall, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Amy Jones, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Olivia Porter, Lauren Smith, Chloe Tryon, Belinda Vakarewa, Tahlia Wilson In: Tammy Beaumont, Chloe Tryon, Amy Jones, Belinda Vakarewa | Out: Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Issy Wong, Kate Petersen (Sixers)Last season recap 7th
They came back down to the earth after their maiden title in the 2020-21 season. The batting was hit by the absence of Rachael Haynes for the whole campaign and other than Smriti Mandhana, who won’t return this season having opted out to manage her workload, it was a struggle. They did not get a win until their sixth match which left them too much ground to make upKey player
As an overseas top-order batter, Tammy Beaumont has big shoes to fill with effectively being the replacement for Mandhana. She has lost her England T20 place this year so will have a point to prove in the format and it will be vital she takes some of the run-scorer pressure off Haynes and Phoebe Litchfield who is still developing her T20 game.One to watch
Tahlia Wilson is a highly-rated wicketkeeper-batter, so much so that she is expected to keep the gloves ahead of England’s Amy Jones. She started the WNCL season well for New South Wales including a maiden hundred against New South Wales and she is one of the players the team will need an increased output from to make a challenge.Verdict
They look a little bit light to be title challengers this season, although the motivation to give Haynes a winning send-off to her career could be an unquantifiable factor. Hannah Darlington’s knee injury is a big blow, although she is hopeful of making the latter part of the competition, but Belinda Vakarewa’s signing will help. A lot could rest on Sammy-Jo Johnson’s shoulders and the consistent left-arm spin of Sam Bates.

Tottenham Hotspur have a “really exciting” teenager who could be about to replace long-serving defender Ben Davies, with the former Swansea City star potentially playing out his final season in north London.

Ben Davies nearing Spurs exit after 11-year stay

Next summer will mark 11 years at Spurs for Davies, following his move to N17 from Swansea in 2014.

Tottenham have "made a bid" to sign attacking gem who's "flying" right now

He’s a very wanted man.

By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 16, 2024

Since making the switch to London from Wales, the versatile defender has made an impressive 333 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham, playing in some huge games for the club and showcasing real reliability.

However, the 31-year-old is now reaching the twilight phase of his career and has barely been called upon by Ange Postecoglou so far this season. Davies captained Spurs to a dramatic 2-1 win over Coventry City in the EFL Cup, whilst also starting both of their Europa League games, but he hasn’t played a single minute of Premier League football.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League games	Date
Tottenham vs West Ham	October 19
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham	October 27
Tottenham vs Aston Villa	November 3
Tottenham vs Ipswich Town	November 10
Man City vs Tottenham	November 23

Davies didn’t even make the matchday squad for Spurs’ most recent top-flight clashes against Brentford, Man United and Brighton, with the centre-back/left-back reduced to being a bit-part cup player.

It is believed that Davies earns more than both Destiny Udogie and Micky van de Ven at Tottenham, despite the latter pair’s status as mainstays in Postecoglou’s starting eleven, so chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange may well opt to let go of him when his contract runs out in 2025.

Luckily, Postecoglou appears to have a ready-made replacement for the veteran in summer signing Archie Gray. The 18-year-old can play in a variety of positions, including at full-back, so Gray may well stand out as a very good option to take Postecoglou’s side forward in the coming seasons.

Gray is widely regarded as one of England’s most promising up-and-coming talents, with Spurs utilising his quality on a number of occasions already following his stellar campaign at Leeds United in the Championship last season.

Tottenham tipped to replace Ben Davies with Archie Gray

Speaking to Tottenham News this week, pundit John Wenham has tipped Spurs to replace Davies with Gray. The former could be about to pass the torch down to Levy’s summer signing, with Wenham also branding the teenager “really exciting”.

“Gray is doing really well,” Wenham said.

“I think, at a minimum, he is going to become the next Davies in the squad, in terms of his reliability in multiple positions. Davies is out of contract this summer and I can see Gray taking his role in the squad. Him being so young and counting as homegrown too, that is really exciting.”

Leeds were heartbroken to lose their Thorp Arch academy graduate in the summer, highlighting just how highly rated he is by those working in the beautiful game.

“Understanding the attraction of Premier League and European football, the club, with a heavy heart, agreed the transfer, but the move has strengthened the board’s resolve to ultimately return Leeds to a position where it can meet the footballing ambitions of even its brightest stars,” wrote Leeds in a candid statement (via Ben Jacobs).

“Whilst we understand that supporters will be hugely disappointed to lose such a home-grown talent, and a family name so synonymous with Leeds United, the move improves the club’s chance to compete for automatic promotion next season by increasing our ability to build a competitive squad within the league’s financial control regulations. Everyone at Leeds United is heartbroken to see one of our own depart and would like to thank Archie for all his efforts and professionalism.”