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A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and drug driving after multiple fans were driven into during Liverpool's trophy parade.

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11 people remain in hospitalMan arrested by police50 people were treatedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Merseyside police have confirmed that a 53-year-old man from West Derby has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, drug driving, and dangerous driving offences after a car was driven into fans at Liverpool's title parade. A total of 50 people were treated for injuries, while 11 remain in hospital.

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has reported that police are investigating whether the car involved tailgated an ambulance to find its way onto Water Street, which was closed to accommodate revellers along Liverpool's parade route. The ambulance had been waved through the cordon to treat a suspected heart attack.

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The police are not said to be treating the incident as terror-related. The man is still in custody and is being interviewed by police.

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Inquiries will continue, with an extensive investigation underway. That includes tracing the car's movements in the lead-up to the ramming.

Ten months on from career-threatening injury, bristling innings answers critics in emphatic style

Andrew Miller21-Jul-2023For some cricketers, the agony of missing out on an Ashes century would be hard to endure. For Jonny Bairstow, however, the raw emotion that went into his stunning innings of 99 not out from 81 balls on the third afternoon at Old Trafford meant that his final numbers mattered not a jot. For Bairstow has fought back from genuine, career-threatening agony in the past year, and at the close of play he let it all pour out in a heartfelt pitch-side interview.”You just don’t know how bad it’s going to be. It could have ended my career,” Bairstow told Sky Sports’ Ian Ward, as he recalled the horrific slip on a golf course last September that brought an abrupt end to the most extraordinary season of his career, and left him instead with a leg that was broken in three places, plus a dislocated ankle and associated ligament damage.A less bloodyminded cricketer than Bairstow might not have even contemplated such a hard-fought comeback, let alone succeed in returning to action in time to take part in one of the most hotly anticipated Ashes series of recent memory. The fact that he did so as wicketkeeper, after the stunning impact of his batting replacement Harry Brook, was an extra burden.At times in the series, it has visibly weighed him down, with a succession of missed chances behind the stumps leading to speculation about his place for this Test. But, after plucking an outstanding one-handed chance off Mitchell Marsh in Australia’s first innings, he rode that confidence into a formidable display of power-hitting at the back-end of England’s reply, with his ten fours and four sixes helping to extend their lead to a daunting 275.”I’ve got nine pins, and a wire that goes through my ankle, and I’ve had nine months out,” he said. “I’m still only 10 months post-operation right now. So when you speak to the surgeon and he says ‘I’m surprised you’re walking and running, never mind playing professional sport’, I’m delighted to be where I’m at.”There’s times when there’s aches and pains and people are saying you’re limping, well, yeah, I am at times, because there’s a lot going on in the ankle, and other bits that people won’t understand. It’s been a rollercoaster. There’s been a lot that’s happened in those nine months. And to come out and take the field again, with a group of boys that I care a heck of a lot about, is a special place for me to be.”Asked about his struggles behind the stumps, Bairstow acknowledged that his lack of playing time had been a massive factor.”There’s been a couple I’ve put down. I’ve not kept wicket for three years,” he said. “I played a couple of games for Yorkshire, then straight into an Ashes series. I didn’t bat against Ireland because the boys played unbelievably well. I’m delighted as to where I am. From a physical point of view, it’s taken a heck of a lot of graft.”But you know what I’m like, you know my personality. It’s not for a lack of trying. I’m very, very proud of every time that I walk out and put on an England shirt, whether it be in a Test match or an ODI or a T20. I’m a proud, proud guy and it means a lot to me, and to get back and be available for selection for the Ashes is something that makes me immensely proud.”I couldn’t have done it without my friends and family, and all the support that they’ve given me throughout the winter. I’m just pleased to be playing. That’s exactly what it’s about. The people that have got your back, the people that are there through thick and thin.”That dressing room is so solid,” he said, gesturing at the England balcony. “We’ve got a special group of players in there, and a group of players that’ll fight tooth and nail for each other, and we’ve seen over the last 12-18 months, the direction that we want to go as a group.”I don’t think that’s changed throughout the series. Our approach has been questioned at times by you guys, but we’ve stuck to our guns all the way through. That’s exactly how we played our cricket ever since Ben [Stokes] came in charge of the side, and that’s what we’re sticking by. We’ve not taken a backward step, no matter who we’ve come up against. Whether that’s right or wrong, we’ll continue to do that because, there’s a bigger picture that’s been spoken about, with the game of Test cricket.”On his tactics on the day, Bairstow acknowledged that his own experience of being a wicketkeeper had helped him to judge which deliveries he could safely steal a bye and get his partner James Anderson off strike, and added of his own hitting options with Australia’s fielders set back on the rope: “When you’re downwind, you’ve got to go up.”With the squares as they are the moment, you’ve got to try and hit it as hard as you can across the square and let the rest happen. We’re fortunate to play on good pitches and the outfield has been quick, so it’s just a case of trying to pick the biggest gap and trying to hit it as hard as you can.”Related

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Speaking afterwards on Sky Sports, Nasser Hussain remarked that Bairstow had been “ticking” throughout his innings, and credited Stokes for reading the situation perfectly after lunch. Instead of declaring with England nine-down and Bairstow unbeaten on 49 from 50 balls, he trusted his team-mate to keep attacking a tiring Australian attack and building England’s lead with the sort of statement innings that he tends to produce when he’s got a point to prove.”Everyone thinks that I play better when people go at me, it gets a bit tiresome to be honest with you,” Bairstow insisted. “I’ve played a lot of cricket now and to be keep being told that you’re rubbish. Well, if I was that was that rubbish. I wouldn’t have played 94 games …”I’ve been happy [with my form],” he added, obliquely referencing the controversy at Lord’s where his stumping on the final day of the match opened the door for Australia’s second victory. “There’s been a couple of interesting dismissals during the series … but it’s only a couple games ago that I got 70-odd, so it is what it is.”That’s part and parcel of the way that I want to play my cricket. I want to go out and enjoy it. I want to go out and entertain. People will have comments on the way that I bat, they always have done. That’ll carry on, but you can leave them to their comments, and I’ll just keep on doing what I’ll do in the middle.”On the Lord’s controversy, Bairstow stated: “I don’t have a view”. However, he acknowledged he had been extra mindful of staying in his crease throughout his innings at Old Trafford. “I’ve done that all series since that happened,” he added. “You’ve just got to be careful on those things, haven’t you.”It wasn’t the way that I wanted to be out down at Lord’s, but that’s part and parcel. We’ve seen it on other occasions, and I’ve even heard about it now in club cricket. That’s not necessarily what you want to be hearing about, when you’re looking at young kids coming up. You play it tough, you play it fair, and on a different day, it doesn’t happen but it is what it is.”

“The way this group has played for the last two years – or probably longer – is a credit to everyone,” Mitchell Starc says

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jun-20231:54

What makes Boland so lethal?

Pat Cummins, Australia captain: “We made the most of [losing the toss]. We were certainly going to have a bowl. But yeah, the way Travis [Head] and Smithy [Steven Smith] put on the partnership, we saw a little bit of comfort after a pretty nervy morning. He [Head] has been brilliant throughout this whole campaign. It started with the Ashes a couple of years ago. He just puts the pressure right back on the bowlers, and suddenly you’re thinking about how to contain runs rather than trying to take wickets. He was fantastic. We left day one feeling like we were on top of the game, mainly down to those two guys. Yeah, [our bowling attack was] fantastic. Scotty Boland is now my favourite player. He always has been, but he just continues to be my favourite. Yeah, everyone just did their role really well. Again, coming off a bit of a break for most of us, when it counted everyone kind of switched on and got a key breakthrough. We’ll savour this [win] for a few days before we turn our attention [to the Ashes]. [The interest in Test cricket is] huge. You ask anyone in our change room – it’s obviously our favourite format. We grew up watching Test cricket. We love it. It challenges you in more ways than any other format. And I think when you’re winning in this format, you get the most satisfaction. It’s here to stay. We love playing, and you saw the turnout this week. It’s been fantastic.”Related

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Travis Head, Player of the Match: “You come here and you get a week and you have to prep and it’s probably hard to imagine, but a lot of hard work [has been put in] over two years – so it’s been nice. Yeah, that [playing positively] has been the approach for those two years, I guess. I wanted to be able to be proactive and score for them, and then when they bowl in nice areas, be good enough to stay out there for long periods of time. I was tested throughout the whole innings. I knew that coming in, so had an eye for what plans are going to come. So, it’s nice to be out there for a period of time as well as [bat] with Smudge [Steven Smith]. It was, it was an amazing week. I guess I’ve always had the confidence. It’s probably been [about] going out there and expressing that, it took me some time, and everyone goes through those periods of their blueprint and first-class cricket and Test cricket and what needs to change. I’ve always been open to change; always been open for learning and always been committed to knowing I have to do things differently as you step up. That’s somewhat of a blueprint and it’s not always going to work. Will try to be as consistent as I possibly can for the team on field [and] off field. It’s nice to work out in such a big game and hopefully, that continues in the next couple of months. Last night, there were a lot of what-ifs, and we came this morning knowing exactly what you said: [in] the last two years we’ve had some moments [where] we’ve had to grind out. You look over a lot of the Test matches over the last few years we’ve come across moments where we’ve sort of bedded down and doubled down on our plans. We were able to do that again today and [we] double down on them and reap the rewards.”Pat Cummins walks off the field after winning the World Test Championship•AFP/Getty ImagesMitchell Starc: “We were patient enough and the wickets came to us. They’re a quality line-up, and we had to be patient to get those breakthroughs and the whole bowling attack today was fantastic. Yeah, you need that little run of the green [Steven Smith’s catch to dismiss Virat Kohli] and to have him in the slips is fantastic. He pulled off another stunner along with Greeny [Cameron Green] through the game. So, those little moments there can tend to be the difference and particularly to get the wicket of Kohli, that was fantastic for us and really set us on our way. Particularly, the way he [Ajinkya Rahane] played in the first innings with [Shardul] Thakur as well; they put [up] a nice partnership, and we knew we couldn’t just take the foot off the gas there. Look, we stuck with it and stayed patient enough. We knew if we stuck to our areas long enough, we could get chances and fortunately enough, we got them quickly. Yeah, this group has been fantastic for a long time and we ourselves got a few goals along the way, particularly the last series in India, which didn’t go our way, but this [WTC final] was the next in line. I mean the way this group has played for the last two years or probably longer is a credit to everyone who has taken part in this wider group – players and staff – and we will enjoy this together this afternoon and then push on for the Ashes. Obviously, just coming off that Test series [in India], not too long ago, both sides are very familiar with one another. Obviously, a number of guys [play] in the IPL as well. So, to play each other on a neutral territory…I think it has been a fantastic Test match and fantastic cricket to watch. We’re going to enjoy this moment as a group and obviously, Nathan [Lyon] is going to enjoy himself too.”1:46

Haddin: Boland’s natural length really effective in England

Scott Boland: “Yeah, it was good fun. It was nice to come over here for our bowling group and take 20 wickets. Probably hit similar areas all the time and there was sort of a little bit of bounce outside the off stump, so tried to exploit that. Yeah, it [dismissing Kohli] was nice. Pretty good to get Kohli out and get two [wickets] in an over. Smudge [Steven Smith] today and Green took some blinders throughout the game as well, so nice to get the confidence. I wouldn’t say that [taking wickets for fun]. I’ve been playing state cricket for Victoria for about 12 years, so I’ve done some hard work and it’s nice to play international cricket and get some wickets. Yeah, it [the Ashes series] should be good, next Friday we will start. I’m really looking forward to it.”Steven Smith: “Yeah, I think it’s a great achievement for this group. We’ve played some really good cricket over the last two years to firstly get to this situation to play a final against India, who have also been exceptional over the last two years. So, I think it’s fitting to be in this game and I think the way we played this week was outstanding. On the first day, we just got us into a nice position and Trav [Travis Head] obviously played exceptionally well and I watched him do his work at the other end. I sort of played second fiddle and from that first day, we sort of controlled the game, I suppose, and there were probably glimpses where we allowed them to come back in with a few unforced errors. But all throughout, we felt we were in reasonable control. We know how good Virat is. He’s an exceptional player and he’s very dangerous, particularly when chasing totals. I thought the spell this morning from Scott Boland was outstanding. He beat the bat a couple of times and he was hitting great areas. To fortunately take the edge and for the catch to sit safely in the hands was nice and we knew we needed that wicket. And then to get [Ravindra] Jadeja as well in the same over as well was a huge moment. He has also scored a lot of runs against us recently, so that set us up for the morning and then things happened pretty quickly from there.”

Graeme van Buuren was 48 not out in an unbroken 77-run stand with debutant against Derbyshire

ECB Reporters Network13-Sep-2023Ed Middleton marked his first class debut with a composed innings to ensure Gloucestershire of a draw on the final day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match with Derbyshire at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.After bowling their opponents out for 403 from an overnight 398 for 9, the hosts had slipped to 131 for 6 in their second innings, a precarious lead of 105, when 22-year-old Middleton walked out to join skipper Graeme van Buuren.Together the pair snuffed out any hope of a Derbyshire victory, Middleton making 39 and van Buuren 48 in an unbroken stand of 77 that saw their side to 208 for 6 at the close. Off-spinner Alex Thomson finished with 4 for 79.The result left both teams without a Championship win this season. They had to settle for 11 points apiece from a largely forgettable encounter.A draw looked long odds-on favourite at the start of play, with Derbyshire leading by 21 with only one first-innings wicket hand. They were able to add just five runs before last man Pat Brown fell leg before to Zafar Gohar.Skipper Leus du Plooy was left unbeaten on 108, having taken his Championship run tally for the season to 1,160 at an average of 89.23, while Gohar’s wicket gave him figures of 5 for 122.The pitch had offered little assistance to the seamers all match and there were few problems for Gloucestershire openers Chris Dent and Ben Charlesworth in taking the second-innings score to 31 in ten overs before Derbyshire turned to spin in the shape of left-armer Mark Watt.The hosts looked intent on batting out the day and the stand had been extended to 68 before Charlesworth was bowled by Watt for 27 attempting a reverse sweep. Gloucestershire suffered another setback from the last ball before lunch when James Bracey, on eight, pushed forward to Thomson and edged to Wayne Madsen at first slip.At 83 for 2, the home side were 57 ahead. The third ball after the interval saw Chris Dent, who had played well for his 38, bowled between bat and pad by Watt with a ball that turned from outside the left-hander’s off stump.Derbyshire sensed an opportunity. Miles Hammond had made only 12 when well caught low down by Harry Came at second slip off Thomson. And when first-innings centurion Ollie Price became the second Gloucestershire player to be dismissed reverse sweeping, top edging a catch to short leg via a deflection off wicketkeeper Brooke Guest, the scoreboard read 111 for 5.That became 131 for 6 when Gohar swept a comfortable catch to Pat Brown at backward square to give Thomson his fourth wicket and Gloucestershire were in danger of self-destructing. They led by only 105 with a possible 43 overs left in the day’s play.Fortunately for the hosts, 22-year-old Middleton was ready to adopt a more textbook approach to trying to save the game against a turning ball, taking few risks and producing the shot of the day with a straight driven boundary off seamer Brown.By tea, he and van Buuren had taken the total to 169 for 6 and, while not entirely out of the woods, Gloucestershire led by a more healthy 143 with 32 overs remaining. A shortened final session saw the pair able to play with more freedom in bright sunshine.By the time the players shook hands at 4.20pm, van Buuren had led from the front, facing 100 balls and hitting six fours, while Exeter-born Middleton emerged with equal credit from a 91-ball innings also featuring six boundaries.Ultimately, the only winner was a largely docile pitch that made it a tough four days for bowlers on both sides in what was often energy-sapping heat.

Suspended Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is in line for a surprise return to action next month after not featuring for over a year, according to reports.

Mykhailo Mudryk banned for positive drugs test

Mudryk’s absence from Chelsea’s first-team setup has now exceeded twelve months, with the Ukrainian international last appearing competitively on November 28 last year before his career ground to a dramatic halt.

The 24-year-old tested positive for meldonium, a performance-enhancing substance prohibited under anti-doping regulations.

Following confirmation of his B sample analysis in June, the FA formally charged Mudryk, leaving him facing a potential ban ranging between two and four years if found guilty.

Throughout the ordeal, Mudryk has maintained complete innocence, and even voluntarily undertook a lie detector test which supported his version of events.

Ukrainian sports journalists have theorised that contaminated stem cell treatment administered during international duty may explain the adverse finding, suggesting the injection originated from cattle previously exposed to meldonium.

Chelsea sanctioned the record £88.5 million transfer from Shakhtar in January 2023, initially viewing him as a transformative attacking signing after hijacking Arsenal’s deal.

However, his Stamford Bridge career proved underwhelming even before the suspension materialised, with inconsistent performances failing to justify the enormous investment.

The club reassigned his prestigious number ten shirt to Cole Palmer following Mudryk’s suspension, signalling their acceptance of a prolonged absence.

Chelsea also reinforced their attacking options by striking deals for Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens in the summer, further blocking any potential pathway back into Enzo Maresca’s plans.

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Reports have suggested that, once Mudryk is eligible to play again, Chelsea could allow the forward to join sister club Strasbourg on loan in a bid to reignite his career.

Mykhailo Mudryk in line for January return as Sevilla eye Chelsea loan deal

Now, according to journalist JM Villalba and Canal Sur Radio, that eligibility could be as early as next month.

Speaking to the Spanish broadcaster, Villalba has reported that Mudryk will be able to play again after January 17, and this has piqued interest from La Liga side Sevilla.

The club are considering a deal for Mudryk once he comes back midway through next month, which is a surprise when factoring in how very little we’ve heard about the winger’s return timeline.

If Mudryk is indeed eligible for a January renaissance, BlueCo should certainly green-light a temporary move away for him.

He quite simply needs game time and renewed confidence following the lengthy layoff, controversy and serious drop down Maresca’s pecking order, with the Spanish top flight potentially providing that needed reintroduction to competitive action.

That being said, it should be a dry loan with no option or obligation to buy, with Chelsea poised to make a key decision about Mudryk’s long-term future.

He still has six years remaining on his current contract, giving the Blues plenty of time to do so.

With their summer business officially underway courtesy of Antonio Cordero, Newcastle United and Eddie Howe are now reportedly ready to make their first approach to sign a big-money Premier League winner.

Newcastle confirm Antonio Cordero arrival

Starting as they mean to go on, Newcastle confirmed Cordero’s arrival from Malaga last week. The young Spaniard is set to officially arrive on 1 July when his current contract expires and he becomes free to complete his move to Tyneside.

After putting pen to paper, the young winger told the club website: “It’s truly an honour to be here, truly a pleasure. I am a person who likes to aspire high. Why not come to one of the best places in the world to do it. It’s a big step, and that’s one of the reasons I’m here. I’m happy to do it and have a great desire to get going already.”

Meanwhile, in what is likely to be one of his final acts as sporting director, Paul Mitchell welcomed Cordero to the club, saying: “Antonio is an exciting talent. We’re delighted to bring him to Newcastle United amidst interest in Spain and across Europe. He has lots of potential, and the next phase of his development will be for the club to select a loan move that will challenge him and build on his experiences.”

Following an impressive start to the summer, it seems as though the Magpies are only just getting started. Recent reports have indicated that they’ve already made an enquiry to sign Nottingham Forest star Anthony Elanga and Brighton’s Joao Pedro as they look to make up for missing out on Bryan Mbeumo.

Attacking reinforcements seem to be top of their wishlist too, with Howe now reportedly ready to make his first approach to sign a Premier League winner this summer.

Howe and Newcastle ready to make Grealish approach

According to The Sun, Howe is now ready to personally make an approach to sign Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City as he looks to help the England international revive his career courtesy of Newcastle.

The midfielder was dropped by Pep Guardiola on the final day of the season and reports have since revealed that he could miss out on a place in Manchester City’s Club World Cup squad as the exit door swings open.

The next move is key for Grealish with the World Cup coming up next summer and Thomas Tuchel recently making it clear that he needs to be back playing every week if he is to work his way back into the England squad.

£50m star so close to joining Newcastle his club are lining up replacement

The Magpies are reportedly closing in on a statement signing…

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By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 8, 2025

The Three Lions boss told reporters: “He is never shy of pressure. It’s the opposite. He grows in big matches but he’s a player who needs minutes and minutes and minutes and simply does not get them for a very long time. That’s basically everything. Nothing has changed.”

With that said, if any side can offer the former Aston Villa star that and cover his hefty £16m-a-year salary, it may well be Newcastle this summer.

He took over during a crisis, but has helped script a series of successful mini-chapters

Shashank Kishore02-Oct-2024Sri Lanka have been on an unprecedented high. The team hasn’t looked in a better shape than they are currently, having come off a historic first-ever series win in England followed by the Asia Cup triumph.There’s boisterous energy around the group that stems from “having walked the talk” in the words of Rumesh Ratnayake, their head coach, ahead of their women’s T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan in Sharjah.In February 2023, weeks before the previous T20 World Cup in South Africa, Ratnayake was summoned from the academy to steer a team that appeared to have been stuck in a rut of insipid results and lack of direction within the leadership. Ratnayake wasn’t sure if he’d continue for long, but a week of being with the team convinced him there was enough to work with.Related

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Sri Lanka’s upset of South Africa on the opening night in Cape Town was mere validation of his intuition. It set the ball rolling for a fruitful association that has seen several successful mini-chapters along the way. Like the Asia Cup and England triumph.The SLC mandate when he took over was “do it your way.” Ratnayake explains he was big on inclusivity. “By that, I mean involving everyone in decision making, not merely me giving instructions and them following,” he explains. “This included all staff as well as playing members. It was never like ‘this is my way of doing.'”Everyone had to show the same level of commitment and fit into the culture we wanted to create. We’ve come a long way since, but it’s an ongoing process. We made them believe first that they could grow. For that, along with skill enhancement it needed a commitment to fitness. We’ve worked towards achieving that.”Ratyanake had to hit the ground running, having little time to familiarize himself with the group. It wasn’t ideal, but he had the complete backing of Chamari Athapaththu, the captain, and SLC. The women’s setup, in a way, has been a deviation from the norm: of coaches coming and going. And recent results are merely a byproduct of that faith and continuity.”We have a good leader in Chamari. I also had the backing of the board, which was huge,” he says. “The entire group also quickly bought in to the direction we wanted to take. And it was to be fearless, and not take the safe way. Not being intimidated by the bigger teams.”A team like New Zealand for example, anyone would be overawed by their build. But we knew cricket’s not a game of physicality. It’s about skills, execution and mindset. You can win with smart options. We spoke about what those smart options were. Mind you, it was a hard road. It certainly wasn’t as easy as people picture it to be.”Taking good decisions in the middle when you have little time to decide involves training in a certain way. We’ve tried to take fear out of the minds. After almost two years now, I can say that it certainly happened in a way which now makes it seem like a picture-perfect walk.”Ratyanake’s primary goal in his time as coach is to develop players. It annoyed him that the team’s chances were always dependent on Athapaththu. “When I came into the system, when Chamari did well, Sri Lanka did well. There’s truth to it no doubt, but it sort of ignited me to make sure others elevate their standards to get to where Chamari had.”When I came into the system, when Chamari did well, Sri Lanka did well. There’s truth to it”•Sri Lanka Cricket”So, in every aspect, especially in batting, we made plans, specific scenarios we worked on at training. We worked on what we wanted to achieve and how we were going to. I’m not saying we’re fully close to it yet, but yes, we are somewhat there, where we can say, even if Chamari fails one particular day, there are others who can win games for us.”Ratyanake exudes cautious optimism around Sri Lanka’s chances. He knows they’re in the “stronger group.” And the only way to think they can progress is by thinking “every game is a final.””We want to win those moments,” he says. “We want to concentrate on building a set of small moments together. We’ve tried to instill that into our thinking. This is a very happy bunch of players. They’re united and looking after each other. That’s something you can’t instill; it has to come naturally. Aa coaches we’re fortunate to have that culture.”It’s huge for us. I believe they know their tasks to deliver at the right moment. But there’s no guarantee. And when we get the small things, we hope that we’ll do well to string them together to win the big moment.”

On the brink of a milestone only seven other bowlers in history have crossed, the Australia spinner looks ahead to his side’s next six Tests in England

Andrew McGlashan05-Jun-2023Nathan Lyon is already in rarified air as a Test cricketer. But he’s close to joining an even more exclusive club.With six Tests over the next two months there is every chance that he will claim the 18 wickets he needs to reach 500 – a milestone only achieved by seven bowlers in the history of the game.Lyon is not someone who likes focusing on personal milestones during a playing career, but he is able to acknowledge the significance of the landmark that is within his grasp during the upcoming Ashes series. His 400th wicket also came against England, during the 2021-22 series, when he had Dawid Malan taken at silly point on the fourth day at the Gabba.Related

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“Yeah, I don’t like talking about myself in that light, but it is pretty amazing when you sit back and look at the names who have been able to take 500 Test wickets,” he said before flying to the UK. “I know I’ve been very fortunate and I’m grateful for my journey so far. It has been amazing, and if I’m able to tick that little box over the Ashes, it would be very special.”If I start looking at what I’ve been able to achieve, the Tests and the series that we’ve won, I’ll feel like the end can sneak up on you quite quickly. I still feel I’ve got a lot of cricket left in me and I know personally, I want to tick off some big goals in the many years to come. I’ll definitely look back at it when I do call stumps, but that’s not for a while yet.”Lyon, who made his Test debut in 2011 and claimed a wicket with his first delivery, now embarks on a two-month tour of the UK with two major prizes up for grabs: the World Test Championship and the Ashes, which Australia have not won in England since 2001.Lyon’s key role in Australia’s WTC final Facing India at The Oval on June 7 is the first matter of business for Australia before thinking about the Ashes, even though that series begins just four days after the Oval match ends. The WTC has been much more of a singular focus for the Australians this time after they missed the inaugural final due to over-rate penalties.”This is my World Cup final,” Lyon said. “Being part of the 2019 [ODI] World Cup, where we weren’t good enough against England in the semi-final, it did feel the World Cup dream probably slipped away.”Spinners Matt Kuhnemann (left) and Mitchell Swepson (right) in a BBL game. “I do feel the depth of Australia’s spin stocks has improved out of sight,” Lyon says•Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesLyon was a central figure in Australia’s campaign to secure their spot in this year’s WTC final. In this two-year cycle he claimed 83 wickets in 19 Tests at 26.97, 15 wickets more than the second most prolific bowler in this period, James Anderson. While history suggested Australia would dominate at home, they were handed a tough overseas draw with visits to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India.Though only the tour of Pakistan produced a series win – and a very significant one at that – crucially Australia picked up three Test victories in those series, clinching their place in the final with the win in Indore where Lyon claimed 8 for 64. That followed five-wicket hauls in the other two successes: 5 for 83 in Lahore in a match that went to the final hour of the final day and 5 for 90 in Galle.”I’m pretty proud of the whole squad – players and coaches – the mentality of everyone, the way we played our brand of cricket, the different challenges of playing in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India and at home,” Lyon said. “Feel like the World Test Championship final is a reward for our efforts over the last 24 months, but there’s a lot to play for now. We really need to make sure we go on with it and finish the job that we set out to do.”To go over to each country and play my role and be able to help contribute to a few wins, it’s been amazing, but it’s also been a massive learning curve for me and all our squad. Not one [performance] stands out – they are all equal in their own right. Saying that, it means nothing now. I need to make sure I’m playing my role [in the final].”Lyon’s looming centuryThe proximity of the WTC final to the Ashes has made for a curious build-up. The match against India deserves its own billing but the prospect of the five contests that follow it is mouth-watering given the resurgence in England’s Test cricket over the last 12 months.Lyon, who has recently launched an online platform called GOATD, which will provide members exclusive behind-the-scenes access to his tour, is on his fourth Ashes trip.”Feel like every Ashes is getting bigger,” he said. “England have been talking about the Ashes for a long time but for us we are purely focused on the WTC final and feel like we’ve got to be. We know we are there for the long haul and it will be a big challenge with what England throw at us, but right now the focus is purely on India.””To hopefully crack 100 consecutive games would be an extremely proud moment, but let’s try play 98 first”•SuppliedLyon’s first Ashes trip, in 2013, can be seen as a key moment in his career. He was omitted for the first two Tests, when Ashton Agar was preferred – Agar famously left a bigger impression with the bat by making 98 at No. 11 on debut. Lyon returned at Old Trafford. He has not missed a Test match since, currently sitting on 97 in a row.”It’s something that I’m pretty proud about, having played 97 consecutive Tests. To hopefully crack 100 consecutive games would be an extremely proud moment, but let’s try to play 98 first,” he said.This will be the earliest Ashes series in the UK since 1997 and it will be wrapped up before August – a month where in recent times such series have just been getting going. Lyon had a brief spell with Worcestershire in 2017, which gave him a taste of bowling in early-season English conditions, but he does not think much will have to change.”I’ve been watching a fair amount of county cricket and talking to the likes of Sean Abbott [at Surrey] and getting some intel on the surfaces,” he said. “Stokesy has come out and said they want hard, fast, flat wickets, so that’s what we are expecting.”While India come first, what of the prospect of being taken on by England’s Bazballers and their batters trying to put him into the stands? “Won’t be the first it’s happened to me,” Lyon said. “I have the record of most Test sixes in history so a couple won’t matter to me.”The shadow of Headingley 2019Australia retained the Ashes in 2019 under Tim Paine’s captaincy, so that was certainly a success, but it was also a missed opportunity to come away series winners: England levelled the series at The Oval after, of course, the Stokes-inspired Miracle at Headingley.Enough time has elapsed that Lyon is philosophical at looking back at his impending return to that ground; this year’s series features the same venues in the same order.”I know 99% of people probably think the run-out [that Lyon failed to effect during England’s last-wicket partnership in their successful chase] cost us everything, but we should have won that game well and truly before taking it so deep,” he said. “But Ben Stokes is going to go down as one of England’s greatest. Definitely feels like we missed a trick but to go over there and retain the Ashes was extremely special.The missed run-out of Jack Leach at Headingley in 2019: “I’m expecting the crowd [at Headingley in 2023] to let me know, but it’s not the first mistake I’ve ever made and it won’t be the last”•Getty Images”I’m not scared of the ground, I’m looking forward to being back at Headingley. Was probably one of the best Test matches I’ve ever been a part of. I’m expecting the crowd to let me know, but it’s not the first mistake I’ve ever made and it won’t be the last.”Future bright, but Lyon has no plans to leave Unlike in 2019, Lyon has a fellow spinner alongside him in the Test squad. Todd Murphy has been one of the breakout stars in the Australian game over the last 12 months and claimed 14 wickets on his maiden Test tour, in India, including a seven-wicket haul on debut in Nagpur.Australia’s schedule over the next couple of years – they do not tour the subcontinent for Tests until they go to Sri Lanka in early 2025 – means that, barring injury to Lyon, and the end of his long unbeaten Test run, Murphy is likely to have to wait for his next opportunity – unless an SCG Test calls for two spinners.But his emergence has gone a long way to answering the question of who replaces Lyon when the time comes. Along with Matt Kuhnemann’s swift elevation to Test cricket in India, the presence of Mitchell Swepson, the emergence of Corey Rocchiccioli at Western Australia, and hopefully a return for legspinner Tanveer Sangha from injury next season make for a sense that the spin stocks are in a healthy place.”Think the depth is growing very fast,” Lyon said. “[Matt and Mitch] have done exceptionally well in their own right and have played a role in winning games overseas. Hopefully I’ve been able to help the guys out here and there but I do feel the depth of Australia’s spin stocks has improved out of sight and it will be a good space for the next decade or so.”Lyon has no plans on vacating his position anytime soon. “The hunger and drive to get better is still there, and I still feel like I have a lot to offer Australia. I’ve never conquered this game of cricket and never will – feel like I can keep learning and keep getting better. Until that day comes when I can’t get any better or the hunger dries. That’s when I call stumps.”No. 500 may not be the last of his landmarks.

Rangers, under new owners the 49ers Enterprises, look set for a busy summer transfer window after appointing Russell Martin as their new manager.

The Gers have already kickstarted their business on an incoming front, announcing midfielder Lyall Cameron as a new Rangers player after he signed a pre-contract agreement earlier in the year.

More new signings could be on the way, and X’s AI tool Grok has already predicted who Rangers could sign this summer, with a £6m star potentially in line to return to Glasgow.

£6m star returns to Ibrox: AI predicts who Rangers will sign this summer

It could be a busy few months for the 49ers.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 14, 2025

But who could be on the way out? Well, we’ve asked Grok to predict who Rangers and the 49ers could sell ahead of Martin’s first season at Ibrox.

AI predicts 5 players Rangers will sell this summer 1 Nicolas Raskin (£25m)

The biggest sale of the summer at Rangers according to AI could be midfielder Nicolas Raskin. It is stated that ‘his recent performances have boosted his profile, making him a valuable asset’ to those in Scotland.

The Belgium international has been linked with numerous clubs in Europe such as Marseille, Fiorentina, and FC Porto.

Grok says an exit is a ‘high likelihood’ and that this summer ‘is a prime window to cash in before his value risks depreciating’, citing a fee in the region of £25m.

2 Cyriel Dessers (£6m)

Next on the list is forward Cyriel Dessers, and an Ibrox departure wouldn’t shock many Rangers supporters given what has been said in the media in recent weeks.

There have been claims that Dessers, who won the Scottish Premiership Golden Boot award in 2024/25, has already agreed a £30,000-a-week contract with Greek side AEK Athens.

Grok says his exit is also a ‘high likelihood’ and that ‘his sale could fund a younger striker’. A £6m fee has been mooted for Dessers to leave.

3 Mohamed Diomande (£10m)

Next on the list who has a ‘potential’ chance of leaving according to Grok is midfielder Mohamed Diomande, who was only signed by Rangers last year.

They say Diomande ‘showed promise but had an inconsistent 2024/25’ and that ‘interest from other clubs exists, and a £10m bid could see him sold’.

The Ivory Coast international is still under contract at Ibrox until 2028 and was a regular in his first season in Scotland.

4 Robin Propper (£3m)

Defender Robin Propper has been linked with an Ibrox exit and a return to FC Twente just 12 months after leaving the Dutch side for Rangers.

There were reports that Propper had agreed a three-year deal to re-join FC Twente and claims that Martin didn’t want the 31-year-old.

However, a move is yet to go through and Grok say that the chances of Propper leaving Rangers are ‘moderate’ and that his exit for £3m ‘could free up wages and squad space’.

5 James Tavernier (£5m)

The last player on the list who could depart Rangers this summer is club captain James Tavernier, who has regularly been linked with an Ibrox exit over the last 12 months.

Games

513

Goals

130

Assists

142

Minutes played

45,296

Trophies won

5

The 33-year-old is into the last year of his Gers deal and Grok states the 49ers ‘may see his sale as part of a huge rebuild’.

Although AI says the chances of the right-back leaving are ‘low to moderate’, it is added that a £5m bid could tempt Rangers into a sale.

The season may have been abruptly suspended, but there were several takeaways

Gaurav Sundararaman08-May-2021Dhawan and Shaw: IPL’s best openers sitting out of India’s T20 XI
In the home T20I series against England, which preceded the IPL, India captain Virat Kohli lined up alongside KL Rahul as a contender to open with Rohit Sharma. While Rahul continued to prosper in the IPL, Kohli and Sharma, though consistent, scored at a quieter strike rate. At the halfway stage of the IPL, the trio’s first 10-ball strike rate was: Kohli (126), Rahul (100) and Sharma (89). But Sharma had played five out of seven matches on the challenging pitches in Chennai.Prithvi Shaw had by far the best first ten-ball strike rate among openers•ESPNcricinfo LtdIn contrast, the Delhi Capitals’ pair of Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan took T20 opening to a new level with their intent and built a strong case for their selection. Shaw’s 10-ball strike rate was 178.57 and he scored a boundary every three deliveries while Dhawan scored at a strike rate of 116. The right-left combination scored at a healthy 8.87 runs per over in the powerplay, dominating virtually all the IPL bowling attacks. They might not have been part of Indian T20I combination previously, but if Dhawan and Shaw end up continuing in the same dominant vein once the IPL resumes, they might end up giving a few headaches to the selectors and team management.For once, big buys turns up with performances
Earning huge salaries through the auction could result in a lot of pressure in the IPL. Not often do we see such players living up to the price tag. There have been instances in which a player has not played despite being sold for a large sum. However, early indicators this season showed that the big money players performed well. Chris Morris, who fetched the most money for any player at an IPL auction, won matches with the bat and ball for the Rajasthan Royals while serial IPL millionaire Glenn Maxwell neatly settled into a middle-order role at the Royal Challangers Bangalore. Maxwell played in tough conditions, helping his team get over the line on couple of occasions. Kyle Jamieson, relatively unknown on the T20 circuit, came into the league with a lot of questions, but displayed his potential with some tight bowling in difficult conditions and also showed he could stand his ground with the bat.CSK press the refresh button
In 2020 they surprised with their worst-ever IPL season. Barely six months later, MS Dhoni’s team surprised by making a remarkable turnaround. The Chennai Super Kings were leading the points table at the halfway stage. That turnaround happened because the team management had addressed their weaknesses promptly. In 2020, the Super Kings were the worst batting unit in the powerplay, but this time around the Super Kings were probably the only team to go hard through the 20 overs without worrying about the wickets.The Chennai Super Kings upped their attacking intent dramatically after a poor 2020 season•ESPNcricinfo LtdThat intent was brandished by Faf du Plessis at the top and the fireworks of Moeen Ali at No. 3. No team hit more sixes (62) or scored at a faster rate (9.57) than the Super Kings. Dhoni, the captain, realised that the other batters were striking the ball much better than him and he duly pushed himself down the order. In seven matches, Dhoni played just 30 deliveries, scoring 37 runs and batted only if required. That allowed Ravindra Jadeja more batting time and he proved to be a matchwinner. Flexibility and execution were the hallmarks of the Super Kings’ campaign.AB de Villiers rose to the occasion for Royal Challengers Bangalore•BCCIde Villiers gives South Africa hope
ESPNcricinfo is running the Greatest IPL Performance series currently. In the next edition, AB de Villiers’ undefeated 76 against the Knight Riders will easily be one of the nominations. It might be second to Kieron Pollard’s majestic assault against the Super Kings, but de Villiers once again proved why experience matters. And why Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher, the top brass at South Africa, want him back in the T20 set-up.de Villiers’ role at the Royal Challengers was to come in around the 12th over and close the innings. He did so on three occasions on tough pitches and conditions. Pitches do not matter for de Villiers and if he decides to make a comeback, he will be a force to reckon with for South Africa who are currently struggling to win in the shortest format.Related

The IPL 2021 team of the tournament (so far)

When and where can IPL 2021 be rescheduled to?

IPL 2021 and T20 World Cup – what happens next?

IPL 2021 orange cap: Ruturaj Gaikwad, purple cap: Harshal Patel

The uncapped Indian surprises
Not many might have expected the Royal Challengers’ fast bowler Harshal Patel to hold the purple cap and the Capitals’ quick Avesh Khan to be second among the highest wicket-takers at the halfway state of this IPL. Yet, both men made headlines by bowling the difficult overs. With an ability to bowl in the high 140s at will, Avesh was both accurate and consistent while being one of the best yorker specialists. His continued success not only allowed the Capitals to leave out their 2020 IPL hero Anrich Nortje, but also find space in the top order for Steven Smith.Patel, who was traded by the Capitals to the Royal Challengers, built his success using smart variations in pace which batters found difficult to read in Chennai. In addition, the pair of Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad carried forward their good form from the 2020 season while first-timers Harpreet Brar (Punjab Kings) and Chetan Sakariya (Rajasthan Royals) showed heart and courage to not get daunted by the occasion, making an impact more than once.Sunrisers Hyderabad made the surprise decision to axe David Warner as both captain and batter•BCCI/IPLHow the mighty have fallen
Did we ever imagine that franchises would drop players of the caliber of David Warner and Nicholas Pooran? Or Ishan Kishan after his success last IPL, which earned him an India T20I call-up? Despite being among the runs, Warner was dropped by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, both as captain and batter, for the sake of finding the right team balance. For some years now Sunil Narine has been dealt with easily by opposition batters and this season was no different as he failed to make an impact. Pooran, one of the smoothest power hitters in T20 cricket, had four ducks this season. Kishan played just two matches, but that was enough for the Mumbai Indians to change their combination and promote Krunal Pandya to No. 4 for the first time. The suspension of the IPL meant it is hard to comprehend the exact impact of such hard calls.Contrasting pitches make good viewing
Netural venues, contrasting pitches and the difference in boundary sizes made for interesting viewing. While Chennai and Ahmedabad aided spinners and kept the batters in check, Mumbai and Delhi were a nightmare for bowlers, mainly due to the dew setting in early. Batters scored at an average strike rate of 125 in Chennai and Ahmedabad, and 145 in Mumbai and Delhi. With no home advantage, teams such as the Mumbai Indians had to find new strategies to combat the slower pitches. Delhi and Mumbai saw teams scoring in excess of 200 consistently, making it difficult for the bowlers. The toss did not make as much of an impact as previous seasons.The curious case of Kuldeep
For the second season now, Kuldeep Yadav struggled to find a spot in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowling attack owing to the success of Varun Chakravarthy. In 2017, Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were meant to be the future. However, even Chahal has been struggling to make an impact over the last one year, both with India as well as the Royal Challengers. Since January 2020, Chahal’s economy rate of 9.27 is the highest among all spinners (minimum 100 balls bowled) in T20Is. The break could be a welcome opportunity for the pair to work out an approach to help them bounce back strongly.