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Inter Miami are preparing to usher in a new era at left-back, with Jordi Alba set to retire after winning the MLS Cup on Saturday and Spanish full-back Sergio Reguilon lined up as his successor. The 28-year-old free agent has been spotted in Miami and is considered a near-confirmed signing, with the deal expected to be announced shortly after Alba’s farewell.

Alba retires – Inter Miami set to sign Reguilon

Inter Miami won Saturday’s MLS Cup final, knowing it would also mark the final appearance of Alba, who has decided to retire following the showpiece match. The former Barcelona star has been a key part of the club’s rise alongside Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, but the 34-year-old has “waved the white flag” and brought an end to a storied career after one last push for silverware. With Alba departing, the club has accelerated plans to secure his replacement, identifying Reguilon as the preferred option, as per .

The report suggests the signing is essentially a “done deal,” with Inter Miami ready to announce the move soon. Reguilon has been seen in Miami in recent days, fuelling the belief that the transfer is imminent and that the Spaniard will join early in the 2026 MLS season. The former Tottenham defender has spent the past six months without a club, making the opportunity in Miami a timely lifeline.

Reguilon last played competitive football in May 2025, featuring for 74 minutes in Tottenham’s match against Aston Villa before his release in the summer. Since leaving Spurs, he has spent extensive time training individually to maintain his fitness and prepare for a January return to professional competition. Inter Miami view his experience across Europe as an ideal fit to succeed Alba in a team built on high-profile leadership and possession-based play.

Advertisement(C) Getty ImagesReguilon part of Inter Miami's new-age rebuild

Alba’s retirement represents a major turning point for Inter Miami, who structured much of their attacking width around the veteran’s overlapping presence on the left flank. His departure leaves a significant void, not only tactically but culturally, as he formed part of the celebrated quartet reunited from Barcelona’s golden era. Replacing that influence requires a player capable of contributing immediately, which explains the club’s push to secure Reguilon before preseason begins.

Reguilon’s arrival would continue Inter Miami’s strategy of balancing superstar talent with experienced professionals capable of adapting quickly to MLS demands. The move also signals Miami's broader commitment to long-term squad evolution rather than relying solely on ageing marquee names. With Alba and Sergio Busquets retiring and Messi and Luis Suarez entering the final years of their playing careers, the club appears intent on planning ahead rather than reacting late.

Reguilon has not played professionally in seven months

Reguilon’s career has taken him across several major clubs, beginning at Real Madrid before a loan spell at Sevilla. Tottenham signed him permanently in 2020 but recurring managerial changes and shifting tactical needs saw him fall out of favour and ultimately leave the club in 2025 after loan spells with Atletico Madrid, Brentford and Manchester United. Despite his absence from competitive football in recent months, his resume and athletic profile continue to attract interest.

His six-month free agency raised concerns about match fitness, though sources state he has been “training extensively” on his own to prepare for his next move. Inter Miami are aware he may need time to regain sharpness, but believe his upside outweighs that temporary limitation. The club values his ability to operate both defensively and in transition, traits essential for a team that relies heavily on wide build-up patterns.

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Getty Images SportInter Miami set to announce Reguilon signing soon

Inter Miami gave the perfect send-off to Alba and Busquets as they won the MLS Cup on Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps. If Reguilon’s signing is confirmed, he will join the roster in early February and begin preparations to slot into the starting XI for the 2026 campaign. The club will then face broader questions about further reinforcements and how best to evolve the squad as key veterans age out of their prime.

England went from a position of strength to a calamitous eight-wicket defeat on day two

Tristan Lavalette22-Nov-2025

Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne embrace after Head’s thrilling 69-ball hundred•Getty Images

In the span of five madcap hours at Perth Stadium, England went from a position of strength to crashing to a calamitous eight-wicket defeat as the first Ashes Test remarkably finished inside two days.Somehow topping a 19-wicket opening day, Australia turned the series-opener on its head with quicks Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc, who finished with 10 wickets for the match, tearing through a ham-fisted England batting effort in the middle session.Needing 205 runs for victory, makeshift opener Travis Head plundered 123 off 83 balls as Australia chased down the total in just 28.2 overs. They scored at more than seven runs an over, with recalled No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne finishing unbeaten on 51 from 49 balls.Skipper Steven Smith hit the winning run to trigger scenes of jubilation for an Australian team that was staring down the barrel earlier in the day.Related

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Head’s cavalier batting gave England a taste of their own medicine, as he reached his ton off 69 balls – the equal third fastest by an Australian in Tests. England’s all-out pace attack, so ferocious just 24 hours earlier, appeared shell-shocked as Head continually flayed wayward bowling through the off-side much to the delight of many in the 49,983 crowd.Head opened the batting after Usman Khawaja had been continually off the ground in England’s innings due to back spasms. He had previously opened the innings for Australia eight times, but all had been in South Asia.Head clearly enjoyed his promotion and helped ease the pressure on debutant Jake Weatherald, who fell for a second-ball duck in the first innings. Weatherald was able to play himself in and unfurled several attractive strokes of his own before falling on 23 to a short ball from Brydon Carse.Head was unstoppable and fearless, taking on the short-pitched bowling from Mark Wood, while he also bludgeoned Ben Stokes for four boundaries off an over. Head’s century was met with mighty applause from the Australian fans, but his own celebration was fairly low-key although punctuated by several steely fistbumps.He finally holed out with Australia needing just 13 runs to win, but the result had long been a formality.Scott Boland picked up three wickets in the space of 11 balls•Getty ImagesIt was an astonishing turn of events after England were 65 for 1 in their second innings, with a lead of 105, before Boland triggered a collapse with the tourists losing 4-11 in 19 balls.England lost 9-99 during the second session that may ultimately haunt them in their quest to regain the Ashes. Four of England’s top six nicked off, while Joe Root completed a double failure after inside edging Starc, having attempted an extravagant drive.The pressure had been on Boland after he was collared in England’s first innings, finishing with 0-62 from 10 overs. He pulled back his length in the second innings and had Ben Duckett caught at second slip to end his 65-run stand with Ollie Pope – the biggest partnership to that point of the match.Boland then had Pope and Harry Brook edging behind the wicket in his next over as he displayed the type of inimitable rhythm that has propelled him to scythe through numerous batting line-ups over the years.Starc had been unable to consistently summon his top speed, backing up so quickly after recording his career best figures of 7-58 in England’s first innings. Sensing the shift in momentum, Smith wisely brought Starc back on and he responded by knocking over Root before continuing his domination of Stokes.Starc decked a menacing delivery away from Stokes, whose outside edge flew to second slip as he fell to his nemesis for the 11th time in Tests. Jamie Smith, who had been dropped by Khawaja at slip early in his innings, fell caught behind off a short ball from Brendan Doggett after an interminable review overturned the original not out decision.Mitchell Starc roars after claiming Ben Stokes for his 10th wicket of the match•Getty ImagesThere was little resistance from England, evoking many such collapses on Australian soil over the years, until Carse and Gus Atkinson counterattacked for a 47-run partnership. They took advantage of Australia resorting to a short-ball tactic in the only bright spot for England in a miserable session.But the short-ball strategy finally paid off as Doggett wrapped up the innings and finished with five wickets in his Test debut.In what felt like an eternity ago, England had started the second day in the ascendency. Under overcast skies, Australia resumed on 123 for 9 and were still reeling from England’s sustained pressure that blew them away on day one. But Doggett and Nathan Lyon did manage to hang around for 26 minutes, whittling the deficit by nine runs.Wood bowled too short and was unable to muster the same hostility he produced on day one marked by a ferocious delivery that battered the helmet of Cameron Green.Stokes turned to Carse who claimed his third wicket by dismissing Lyon in the gully as England claimed a 40-run advantage on the first innings even though Australia batted 12.3 overs longer.After tearing through England’s tail in the first innings, Starc entered on a hat-trick and charged into Zak Crawley who he dismissed for a duck on the sixth ball of the match.Crawley could only last five balls after spooning an attempted drive to Starc, who showcased extraordinary athleticism to stick out his left-hand and pluck a return catch.Sharfuddoula, the third umpire, had a long look but Starc’s fingers were underneath the ball as Crawley walked off having made a pair. There will be much focus on Crawley’s haste in driving on the up, a risky proposition against the new ball in Perth.Crawley’s wicket meant that for the first time in Test cricket the opening partnership did not score a run in each of the first three innings.Starc was on a roll and conjuring menacing swing with the new ball, but Duckett and Pope survived the onslaught, frustrating Australia with proactive running between the wickets. Much like England’s first innings, Starc was playing a lone hand with Boland continuing to be expensive with 15 runs off his first three overs.Boland started to get his tail up in his second spell and beat the bat of Pope on numerous occasions as England ended the session well placed. But Boland’s luck soon changed as the series-opener dramatically turned on its head.

From first-time captains to new venues, there’s plenty to look forward to

S Sudarshanan29-Sep-20252:06

Harmanpreet: ‘No pressure at all’ playing World Cup at home

There is an air of newness around the Women’s World Cup 2025.Harmanpreet Kaur and Alyssa Healy may now be synonymous as India and Australia captains, but this is their first ODI World Cup as captains – replacing the now-retired Mithali Raj and Meg Lanning, respectively. Nat Sciver-Brunt is only two series old as England’s skipper. Chamari Athapaththu will be playing her first 50-over ICC event in home conditions and Sri Lanka return to the competition after missing out in 2022.Off the field, the first cricket World Cup in Guwahati is less of a celebration. The city – and by extension the state of Assam, the gateway to north-east India – is mourning the loss of one of its own in singer Zubeen Garg, who passed away last week. Apart from his songs, he was known for his philanthropy.Durga Puja, a festival celebrated grandly in eastern India, has also been scaled down hugely. There won’t be the usual grand processions. For those living in Guwahati, the city itself feels very different. This is the unlikely backdrop for what promises to be a huge ICC event.Related

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Never mind that four of the five venues haven’t hosted a women’s game in recent years, the eight teams will vie for record prize money – a sum (USD 13.8 million) that is higher than what was at stake at the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup (USD 10 million). With the subcontinent hosting a Women’s ODI World Cup after 12 years, the level of competition is also expected to be higher. The WBBL has existed for close to a decade now, but this is the first time the effects of the various leagues such as the WPL and the Hundred will be seen.For instance, Sri Lanka beat India for only the third time in ODIs earlier this year. India, on their part, beat Australia for the first time at home and ended their 13-match winning streak.Chamari Athapaththu wants an Asian team to lift the trophy•AFP/Getty Images”We are playing in the subcontinent and that’s a good advantage for us,” Athapaththu said on the eve of the World Cup-opener against India. “But if we take too much pressure and think too much about this, we can’t play our best cricket.”From days of sparsely filled stadiums to endless demands for tickets, Harmanpreet has witnessed it all in her career. She has also suffered heartbreak in front of close to 90,000 people at the 2020 T20 World Cup final in Melbourne. With the DY Patil ground in Mumbai, that attracted close to 50,000 people during the WPL, pencilled in to host the final of this World Cup, she has a chance to be on the other side of the equation in what could be her last 50-over World Cup.”Firstly, earlier five fielders used to be outside, now there are four,” Harmanpreet joked when asked about the changes in women’s cricket over the last decade. “Besides that, we are playing in bigger stadiums – the last time we played at the CCI [Brabourne stadium in Mumbai]. The stadiums are packed every time we play. Apart from that, we also see a lot of 300-plus scores, which was not normal earlier. I could go on about it all night.”The exponential growth of the women’s game has everybody buzzing. “I want to see some Asian team lift the trophy,” Athapaththu said, “Maybe Sri Lanka, maybe India, maybe Pakistan, maybe Bangladesh. Every time Australia, England and New Zealand have been dominant. In Asia, cricket is like a second religion; it’s a privilege to play on home soil. So I want an Asian team to win.”India and Sri Lanka’s game at the ACA Stadium on Tuesday could well be the start of something new.

Manchester United’s £200m spending spree over the summer window was a huge statement by INEOS in an attempt to help lead the club back up the Premier League.

The vast majority of the funds were invested into the Red Devils’ forward line, which has handed Ruben Amorim a deadly trio within the final third of the pitch.

Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha were all added to the first-team ranks, with the former of the trio currently sitting as the club’s top goalscorer.

However, other areas of the pitch are also in need of investment in the near future to help Amorim in his quest for success during his tenure in charge at Old Trafford.

The midfield department looks set to be the next area to be improved in the coming months, with additions expected to be made during the upcoming January window.

Man United looking to sign £100m + midfielder

Over the last couple of weeks, United have been just one side tipped with an interest in securing a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes ahead of January.

It has been reported that the player himself would be open to a move to Old Trafford this winter, leading to a £44m price tag being mooted for his signature.

However, no contact has yet been made between the two Premier League clubs, but that’s not to say a move could transpire in the weeks leading up to the window.

He’s not alone in being identified as a potential option for the Red Devils, with Real Madrid star Federico Valverde another star currently in the hierarchy’s sights.

According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim’s men are planning to make a club-record £105m bid for the Uruguayan’s signature in the upcoming window amid his struggles at the Bernabeu.

The report claims that he’s been in the middle of a dispute with current boss Xabi Alonso, and could be allowed to depart the LaLiga giants despite making 23 appearances across all competitions in 2025/26.

How Fede Valverde compares to Elliot Anderson

In United’s attempts to improve the options at the heart of the side, one name has constantly been on the tongue of a huge number of supporters – Elliot Anderson.

The Nottingham Forest star has endured quite the rise over the last 18 months, after he joined the Reds in a £35m deal from boyhood club Newcastle United in the summer of 2024.

He’s since racked up a total of 57 appearances for his current side, achieving a total of 10 combined goals and assists during that time – including a superb strike against Tottenham Hotspur last season.

The 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength in recent months, featuring in every minute of Forest’s Premier League campaign to date – leading to a consistent run in the England national team.

Such a feat is a huge credit to the player, but it’s only driven his price tag up further in recent months, with Sean Dyche’s side now valuing the youngster at around the £100m mark.

However, the aforementioned fee may be a risk given his short period of success at the City Ground, which could lead to a move for Valverde instead this January.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the ongoing campaign, the Uruguayan international has managed to outperform Anderson in key areas – which could make him a better option this window.

Valverde, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted this campaign, with more of his efforts being defined as key passes.

Such tallies showcase he’s arguably better in possession than Anderson, handing Amorim that added ball-playing presence he craves at the heart of the side.

Games played

13

12

Goals & assists

4

2

Pass accuracy

89%

83%

Key passes

1.6

1.5

Tackles won

62%

51%

Clearances made

2.1

1.1

Take-on success

50%

46%

Carries into final third

1.7

1.4

Aerials won

59%

48%

However, the main responsibility of any new addition will be to regain possession, something which the Real Madrid star has demonstrated in abundance this campaign.

He’s bettered Anderson for tackles won to date, whilst also making more clearances per 90 – subsequently offering a better option out of possession than the Englishman.

Other stats, such as a higher take-on success and more aerials won, showcase his all-round dominance over the Forest star – with the board needing to pursue a move for Valverde’s signature.

£105m would be a huge investment from the board, subsequently breaking the club record, but it’s a deal that would emphatically end their hunt for a new midfielder.

There’s no disputing Anderson is a top talent, but it would be rash of the hierarchy to spend such funds on him, especially when a proven talent of Valverde’s calibre is available for just £5m more.

Not Lammens: Man Utd flop is becoming their biggest liability since Onana

Manchester United have a player who has massively failed to deliver at Old Trafford since his transfer.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 27, 2025

Australia captain says they should have scored more than they did, and that they failed to take their chances

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Oct-2025

Alyssa Healy dropped a crucial catch off Jemimah Rodrigues•ICC/Getty Images

Australia captain Alyssa Healy said “we did that to ourselves a little bit” after they failed to defend 338 in the World Cup semi-final against India in Navi Mumbai.”I mean, good contest in the end,” she said after India pulled off the highest chase in women’s ODIs to dethrone the champions and set up a summit clash with South Africa on Sunday. “Probably reflecting on that, we did that to ourselves a little bit. It’s probably the first time that I’ve felt like we’ve done that. So, we probably didn’t finish off with the bat, didn’t bowl that great and dropped all our chances in the field, and still hung in there until the second last over. So, I mean, we can take something out of that, but ultimately, outdone in the end.”At 220 for 2 in the 34th over, Australia looked like posting more than 350 but lost wickets in a hurry and were dismissed for 338 in 49.5 overs. In the field they dropped three catches, including two off Jemimah Rodrigues who scored an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls.”I think we created enough [chances]. We created pressure,” Healy said. “We created opportunities. We just weren’t able to capitalise. And, you know, I’m at fault for that as well, and I think that’s something that Australia really prides themselves on.”Related

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“We kind of let ourselves down in that regard today. So that’s probably why it’s disappointing. It felt a little bit similar this time last year, sort of going out playing, you know, not the way that we wanted to play,” she said, comparing this defeat to the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final loss to South Africa. “So we’ll learn from that. We’ll grow. And I think our one-day cricket will hopefully improve since.”Despite the disappointment on Friday, she was proud of Australia’s campaign. “I think we’ve played some unbelievable cricket,” she said. “And, you know, ultimately, like we’ve been saying the whole time, the semi-finals is a knockout game. If you don’t quite turn up on that evening, you know, anyone’s going to get you.”So there was so much to be proud of this World Cup. I’m really proud of our group and every single player’s contribution. I think somebody came in every game and got a job done for us. So I think that’s really cool. Yeah, that’s probably why it stings a little bit more having this conversation with you right now, knowing that we are playing really good cricket, but we just weren’t able to get over that hurdle.”Healy praised the next generation of Australian players, singling out Phoebe Litchfield, whose 119 in the semi-final went in vain.”When you’ve seen players my age walk away from the game, it’s kind of a weird experience to stand there and watch the next generation go about it,” she said. “I thought Phoebe was sensational today, set us off really nicely at the top and then went on to make a hundred, which I thought was really crucial. Kudos to her. It’s been fun to watch her unfold, and I think the next four years leading into the next ODI World Cup are going to be really exciting to watch.”The other change in batting, I think, is around that No.6, No.7 position. I think Ash Gardner has completely owned that role this World Cup.”The 35-year-old also confirmed that this was her final ODI World Cup. “I won’t be there now. There you go,” she said. “That’s the beauty of this next cycle – we’re going to see that unfold. Obviously, there’s a T20 World Cup in the middle of next year, which is really exciting for our group. But I think our one-day cricket is probably going to shift a little bit again.”We’ll learn from what we did wrong tonight. We’ll grow, we’ll get better. And the opportunity for some young players to get greater opportunities in this side is a really exciting thing for Australian cricket.”

Ivan Toney’s much-speculated reunion with former Brentford boss Thomas Frank is increasingly unlikely, with the striker reportedly now expected to remain at Al-Ahli beyond January, and potentially beyond next summer. The 29-year-old forward has adapted seamlessly to life in the Saudi Pro League since joining the Jeddah club in 2024 for around £40 million ($53m), and a potential return to English shores is currently not on the cards.

Toney expected to remain in Saudi Arabia

Toney's tally of 42 goals in 62 matches, including 12 this season, has made him one of the division’s most prolific imports. He also fired Al-Ahli to the Asian Champions League title and netted 30 goals across all competitions last campaign. But with the 2026 World Cup creeping into view and England manager Thomas Tuchel offering no assurances over selection, speculation has intensified over whether Toney might seek a return to the Premier League. Spurs, West Ham, and Manchester United have all held early discussions about the possibility of bringing him back to England. However, every indication from Saudi Arabia suggests he is going nowhere, as revealed by

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAl-Ahli dig in: No sale in January

Al-Ahli’s new sporting director, Rui Pedro Braz, has absolutely no intention of sanctioning a sale or loan in January. The club, backed by significant state investment, would only consider parting with Toney if an elite-level replacement were secured, something they regard as extremely unlikely mid-season. The Saudi side are also buoyed by Toney’s contentment in his current surroundings. talkSPORT reports that his camp has communicated to interested Premier League clubs that the striker is settled, well-paid and not currently pushing for a move. His contract runs until 2028, and his financial terms, worth over £400,000 per week tax-free, create a barrier to any potential return. Moreover, Toney must remain abroad until at least April 2026 to retain his non-UK tax residency status. Any premature return would incur significant tax liabilities, further complicating any approach from English clubs.

Braz said: "Ivan Toney is a top player, a top striker. The rumours around his possible exit in January are not based on reality. It’s just not true. We’re counting on him, it makes zero sense to address this subject in November."

Toney still holding out hope for England recall

Despite diminishing international minutes, Toney remains optimistic that strong form in Saudi Arabia can help him re-establish himself in the England squad before the World Cup. Between March and July 2024, he earned five caps and even contributed at Euro 2024, assisting Harry Kane’s extra-time winner against Slovakia and scoring in the shootout win over Switzerland. Yet since moving to the Middle East, he has been called up just once and played only in England’s 3-1 loss to Senegal. However, Toney insists he has not sought clarification from Thomas Tuchel regarding his standing in the squad.

He said: "I have to concentrate on myself, give myself the best chance possible, and who knows? If I am selected, I will do my best for my country, but if not I’ll be cheering the boys on. I don’t expect to have a conversation with him. I am sure he has other things to be concentrating on. My job is to do well. It is what it is. If you are good enough, you are good enough; it doesn’t matter where you are playing in the world. As long as you are doing the right things and scoring goals, then you give yourself a chance."

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AFPSaudi League detractors brushed aside

With criticism of the Saudi Pro League coming from sections of the European football community, Toney has staunchly defended the competition’s standard. 

"The standard in Saudi Arabia is high. They can play football here. The players are not as known as in the Premier League, but there are many who can play there," Toney told in September.

After a brief break, Toney will be back in action against Damac in the Saudi League on December 19. Meanwhile, Tottenham will look to bounce back to winning ways after two heavy defeats to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain when they host Fulham on Sunday. 

Baseball's rookie class of 2025 may have lacked the raw star power of its 2024 counterpart, but it gave fans no shortage of moments to remember.

Who can forget Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz's four-home run outing against the Astros on July 25? Or Braves catcher Drake Baldwin driving in six runs against the Giants? Or Brewers third baseman Caleb Durbin introducing himself to the baseball world with a walk-off home run in June?

Yes, we'll be talking about this class deep into October and beyond, as a number of postseason contenders received contributions from first-year players. On that note, it's time to anoint an All-Rookie team—a lineup of nine, three starting pitchers and a relief pitcher. Note, before we begin, that a few players are named in their secondary positions; this was in order to create the best lineups possible, and acknowledge that many players occupy quasi-utility roles in their rookie years.

Welcome to this final 2025 edition of MLB Rookie Watch.

Catcher: Drake Baldwin, Braves

The Braves—winners of nine in a row, including a sweep this weekend of the free-falling Tigers—never quit on a lost season. Similarly, Baldwin was undeterred in the face of adversity—namely a spirited, semi-ongoing battle for the catcher position with former All-Star Sean Murphy. The .462-slugging Missouri State product looks like a star in the making and should in all likelihood end 2025 holding the National League Rookie of the Year trophy aloft. Second Team: Carlos Narváez, Red Sox. Third Team: Edgar Quero, White Sox.

First Baseman: Nick Kurtz, Athletics

A .395/.480/.953 (that last number is not a typo) July propelled Kurtz from a curiosity to the owner of one of the great rookie seasons of the 21st century. His four-home run game, in which he went 6-for-6 and drove in eight runs, has a strong case as the greatest individual performance by a rookie in history. The Athletics may have left Oakland, but the team clearly carried some of ex-general manager Billy Beane's talent-discovery DNA to Sacramento. Second Team: Liam Hicks, Marlins. Third Team: Eric Wagaman, Marlins.

Second Baseman: Luke Keaschall, Twins

If there was a bright spot to be gleaned from the Twins' July firesale, it's that it opened the door for the stunning emergence of the team's 2023 second-round pick. Slamming shut a revolving door at his position (Minnesota used eight second basemen this year), Keaschall has slashed .304/.380/.448 and paced for 6.9 bWAR over 162 games. A 48-game sample size is admittedly small, but his gifts should have the Land of 10,000 Lakes dreaming of a new star. Second Team: Hyeseong Kim, Dodgers. Third Team: Javier Sanoja, Marlins.

Third Baseman: Caleb Durbin, Brewers

It wasn't always roses for Durbin in his debut season—he had to weather a .202 May—but he will end the year as a critical cog on baseball's best team. Building on a run of early clutch success, he became a two-way force at third base—he currently wields the third-lowest strikeout lead in the NL the second-most zone runs among NL third basemen. Unlike many rookies listed here, his story isn't over yet (as this charming story by Avery Meer in the student paper of his academics-minded alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis, outlines). Second Team: Jeremiah Jackson, Orioles. Third Team: Matt Shaw, Cubs.

Shortstop: Jacob Wilson, Athletics

The original star of his team's Sacramento jaunt, Wilson burst out of the gate with a .345/.387/.495 slash line through the end of May. As late as June 8, he was hitting a sizzling .372; fans responded by electing him a second-generation All-Star 21 years after his father. Yes, Kurtz ultimately eclipsed him, but Wilson's still-robust .315 average and .806 OPS give the Athletics an embarrassment of riches. Second Team: Colson Montgomery, White Sox. Third Team: Chase Meidroth, White Sox.

Left Fielder: Isaac Collins, Brewers

He may be the unlikeliest member of the team, what with his 5' 8", 188-pound frame and his ninth-round draft selection by the prospect-graveyard Rockies in 2019. Defying fans' most optimistic expectations—Milwaukee has spent the entire year doing that, hasn't it?—Collins took home NL Rookie of the Month honors in July on his way to a .262/.364/.409 campaign. He might be getting a bit lucky (his BABIP is .322), but there's enough to like to hat-tip a second Brewer after Durbin. Second Team: Heriberto Hernandez, Marlins. Third Team: Otto Kemp, Phillies.

Center Fielder: Jakob Marsee, Marlins

What the Athletics had in rookie quality this year, the Marlins had in quantity. The Dearborn, Mich., native and Central Michigan product was summoned to the big leagues Aug. 1 and immediately looked like he'd been there his entire life (he slashed .352/.430/.629 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in August). Michael Baumann of FanGraphsastutely pointed out that Marsee has feasted on a diet of bad pitching that month, but Miami fans will take any glimmer of hope at this point. Second Team: Jake Mangum, Rays. Third Team: Chandler Simpson, Rays.

Right Fielder: Roman Anthony, Red Sox

Red Sox fans are still mourning the news they received Sept. 3—that an oblique strain would end Anthony's regular season. What a regular season, it was, though: .292/.396/.463 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs in 71 games (to go with a mouth-watering 7.1-per-162 games bWAR rate). As of Aug. 6, Anthony is under contract through 2033 with a club option for 2034—so don't touch that dial. Second Team: Daylen Lile, Nationals. Third Team: Cam Smith, Astros.

Designated Hitter: Kyle Teel, White Sox

As alluded to in the introduction, this is cheating a little bit—Teel is first and foremost a catcher. However, he's DH-ed just enough that he gets a spot on the first team guilt-free after a widely overlooked offensive season. Since the start of August, the Virginia product has very quietly raised his slugging percentage from .392 to .423—helping the White Sox show signs of life here and there, such as during a six-game winning streak around Labor Day. Second Team: Jasson Domínguez, Yankees. Third Team: Agustín Ramírez, Marlins.

No. 1 Starting Pitcher: Cade Horton, Cubs

A furious finish to 2025 gives Horton a crown that almost assuredly would have belonged to Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (more on him in a minute) as recently as a month ago. Since the calendar turned to July, Horton has been absolutely filthy: 8–2 with a 1.29 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 70 innings. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in a game since before the All-Star break. Second Team: Chad Patrick, Brewers. Third Team: Shane Smith, White Sox.

No. 2 Starting Pitcher: Noah Cameron, Royals

He was the best rookie starting pitcher in baseball for the vast majority of 2025, single-handedly keeping an injury-ravaged Kansas CIty staff solvent for longer than it had any right to be. The Missouri native and Central Arkansas product pitched 6 2/3 sterling innings against the Blue Jays in front of his parents Saturday, receiving a deserved standing ovation for his efforts. A 9–7 record with a 2.90 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 133 2/3 innings is the kind of start that will keep him on the Royals' radar for years to come. Second Team: Cam Schlittler, Yankees. Third Team: Will Warren, Yankees

No. 3 Starting Pitcher: Hurston Waldrep, Braves

He barely clears this team's threshold for inclusion—you need to pitch 48 innings; he's thrown 50 1/3—but his jaw-dropping August and role in Atlanta's late-season surge demands acknowledgement. Starting six games in August, Waldrep went 4–0 with a 1.01 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings. His numbers would hew significantly closer to that if not for an eight-run adventure against the Astros on Sept. 12. Second Team: Jack Leiter, Rangers. Third Team: Joey Cantillo, Guardians.

Relief Pitcher: Matt Svanson, Cardinals

No true shutdown rookie closer emerged this year, so this spot goes to Svanson—an eminently competent middle reliever for the Cardinals who has thrived since a July trip to Triple-A Memphis. Svanson is 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 57 innings this year, by-the-book power-relief numbers that mask how effective he's been of late (a 1.16 ERA since July 28). A future closing doesn't look impossible for a man with 28 minor-league saves in 2024. Second Team: Braxton Ashcraft, Pirates. Third Team: Braydon Fisher, Blue Jays.

Just a few weeks ago, the mood around West Ham United was as dour as it had been in years, and yet now there is a genuine sense of optimism surrounding the club.

This quite dramatic change in sentiment is, of course, down to Nuno Espírito Santo’s side finally putting in performances worthy of the badge, beating Newcastle United and Burnley 3-1 and 3-2, respectively.

On top of the wins, the fans have also seen Freddie Potts given a genuine chance in the first team, and so far, he’s looking every bit the future star so many thought he’d be.

So, supporters should be seriously excited about another player in the academy who could be the next Potts.

Why West Ham fans should be excited about Potts

Now, the headline from the last couple of gameweeks is, and should be, the fact that West Ham have picked up six points from six.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, it’s impossible to ignore the side story of Potts finally getting his full first-team debut and then earning a second start in as many games.

The Englishman was utterly impeccable against the Toon. He delivered quintessential all-action central midfield performances and was more than deserving of his Man of the Match award.

He was once again bossing the midfield against the Clarets on Saturday afternoon before going off with what looked like a leg injury, although thankfully it has since been revealed to have only been a dead leg.

Despite being on the pitch for just 62 minutes, the 22-year-old played three key passes, took 56 touches, won 66% of his tackles, made six clearances, won six of nine ground duels and made four recoveries.

It was another showing that demonstrated just why fans are right to be excited about the academy gem.

The Barking-born monster, who, according to one analyst, is blessed with a “supreme confidence and ability to create time and space on the ball”, looks like he could develop into the perfect central midfielder for a Premier League side looking to climb the table.

So it’s good news that the academy may have already produced another prospect who could be Nuno’s next Potts.

West Ham's next Potts

While the first team has been largely disappointing over the last couple of years, the academy has continued to produce exciting prospects for West Ham. One of those talents, and someone who could be the next Potts, is George Earthy.

Now, while the youngster can and has played in several positions across the pitch, he is primarily an attacking midfielder. However, where he plays on the pitch has very little to do with the comparisons to and why he could be another Potts.

Instead, one of the main points of comparison is that, while he hasn’t had many first-team chances, the 21-year-old is viewed as one of the most exciting prospects at the club and has a youth record to prove it.

Appearances

60

53

Minutes

4804′

3573 ‘

Goals

25

17

Assists

18

13

Goal Involvements per Match

0.71

0.56

Minutes per Goal Involvement

111.72′

119.1′

For example, in 60 appearances for the u18s, totalling 4804 minutes, he scored 25 goals and provided 18 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.39 games, or every 111.72 minutes.

Then, in 53 appearances for the u21s, totalling 3573 minutes, he scored 17 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.76 games, or every 119.1 minutes, and was enough for him to be named Young Hammer of the Year at the end of the 2023/24 season.

With it clear that the “priceless” gem, as dubbed by coach Steve Potts, was too good for academy football, the club sent him on loan to Bristol City last season, where he once again won another young player of the year award.

Now, in addition to being very highly rated from a young age, something else the Havering-born gem shares with the Hammers’ current man of the moment is a love for the club.

Yes, on top of being one of their own, having graduated from the academy, the 21-year-old is a West Ham supporter and even travelled to Prague to watch the side lift the Conference League as a fan.

Ultimately, while they play different roles, Earthy shares a lot in common with Potts, and his impressive record in the academy and with Bristol should see him earn his first competitive start for West Ham sooner rather than later.

AC Milan join Fullkrug race as agent makes damning West Ham admission

The forward has struggled at the London Stadium.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 10, 2025

India. England. High-scoring venues. Dew. No batting record will be safe over the next fortnight

Sidharth Monga20-Jan-20253:12

Axar: Shami’s return a ‘big positive’

Cricket’s economy is weird. It is run on white-ball cricket. Most of this – outside the one ICC event every year and the non-international T20 leagues – is bilateral cricket. Considering the rights for ICC events and leagues are different entities, a vast majority of the money that cricket boards make comes from bilateral white-ball cricket. And yet, what was the last white-ball bilateral series that you remember building up to?We are always anticipating the next big Test series. So much so that bilateral white-ball series are the time big players are rested so they can be at their best for the Tests, ICC events and the major T20 leagues. And yet, white-ball bilaterals practically finance Test cricket. A three-match tour from India can bring enough money from the broadcasters to keep a small board afloat.White-ball bilaterals are watched. A lot. Much more than Test cricket is. But they are also taken for granted. No anticipation, no build-up, not often the best talent. Especially in this era of split tours. Sometimes, if played at the end of a full tour, momentum is carried into the shorter formats. Right now, they just exist. Quietly dropping in like a Netflix title, but doing better than the appointment viewing in the cinema that you built up to for months.Related

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Axar hints at flexible middle order as India gear up for England T20Is

Every once in a while, though, comes a series you can genuinely look forward to. These five upcoming T20Is between India and England are one such event. The new devil-may-care India who have thrown all caution to the wind after the T20 World Cup triumph. Against England, who are now being coached by Brendon McCullum in white-ball cricket too. No batting record will be safe over the next fortnight in high-scoring venues such as Kolkata, Mumbai and Rajkot.Those who believed conservative batting was keeping India from exploring their true hitting potential will feel vindicated at what has happened since the old guard retired with the T20 World Cup last June. India have batted first in 11 T20Is since then, and have gone past 200 seven times. They have made scores of 297 and 283. They also have registered successful chases of 132 in 11.5 overs and 156 in 15.2.Highest total in a match involving full members, most runs in the middle overs in any T20 game, most runs in boundaries. These are a few of the more impressive records India have broken in this small period.England’s ultra-aggressive top order features the likes of Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell•Getty ImagesSince the World Cup, India have hit a boundary every 4.27 balls in T20I cricket. More impressively they have tried to hit one every 2.18 balls. In the year and a half before that, they were attempting one every 2.63 balls. That’s a difference of nearly 10 boundary attempts across a completed innings. And thanks to Rohit Sharma’s renewed impetus at the top of the order, they weren’t exactly playing conservative cricket earlier.And if England have ever needed a reason to attempt boundaries, their new coach and this opposition are only going to push them to play more aggressive T20 cricket. Their boundary attempts have gone up from one every 2.51 balls in the 18 months leading up to the World Cup to one every 2.32 balls. They have batted first only once since the World Cup, scoring 218, and have overhauled three targets while scoring at better than 10 an over.Take these two batting sides. Add small Indian grounds. Throw in fresh, early-season pitches, provided India don’t go for slow turners for competitive advantage. They did, after all, beat England on one such pitch in the World Cup semi-final in Guyana. Then sprinkle some dew. This series could be a T20 purist’s dream.Slow turners, such as the one in last year’s World Cup semi-final in Guyana, are the one ingredient that could prevent a hitathon•ICC/Getty ImagesJos Buttler, Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook. Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh. Then there are allrounders. Oh, and Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav are absent. If the tracks are fresh and not made slow, this series could test the limits of T20 cricket. The tactics will have to be spot-on because that one over that goes for below 10 could win or lose the match.In March 2023, West Indies and South Africa played an incredible three-T20I series over four days. South Africa lost after scoring 131 in an 11-over game. Then they chased down a record target of 259. In the finale, West Indies managed to only just defend 220. The two teams achieved a scoring rate of 12.08, the highest for any bilateral series of three matches or more. No other series comes close. The next-best to involve Full Members is 10.69, suggesting how much of an outlier that South Africa-West Indies hitathon was.This India-England series could conceivably hope to beat that record. Or, at the very least, to go past the 11-an-over mark. If a few things go right, who knows what other records will be broken and what new shackles will be broken in the way teams approach T20s.

A broken bat, a crazy run out, and a multiple Grand Slam winner. What else makes the list?

Andrew McGlashan24-Oct-2024Meg Lanning (and Ash Barty) on opening dayIt all began at Junction Oval on December 5, 2015. Melbourne Stars faced Brisbane Heat in back-to-back games on the same day in front of a crowd of 1500. Some players watched on sat in camping chairs. A number of names that remain stars of Australian cricket were on show: Beth Mooney opened alongside Grace Harris for Heat, who had Jess Jonassen at No. 3, while Meg Lanning made 165 off 114 balls across the two matches as Stars came out winners in both. However, in the middle-order for Heat, there is another name which stood out: Ash Barty. Now a retired multiple Grand Slam winner, at the time Barty was also out of tennis, having stepped away in 2014 aged 18 to play cricket. On the opening day of WBBL, she impressed with 39 off 27 balls in the first match before falling to Nat Sciver-Brunt. “It truly was an amazing period of my life,” she said in 2019. “I met an amazing group of people who couldn’t care less whether I could hit a tennis ball or not. They accepted me, and they got to know Ash Barty.” That opening innings would prove to be the high point for Barty who made 68 runs in nine matches – her major sporting success was yet to come.The first centuryThis won’t be the only time Grace Harris is mentioned in this piece. In the eighth match of the inaugural season, a few months after her international debut, she struck the competition’s first century with 103 off 55 balls against Sydney Sixers at Aquinas College in Perth. She went from her fifty to her hundred in just 22 deliveries. “I was just after ice cream,” Harris joked after the innings. “When I hit the century, Mooney came down the wicket and it didn’t really click to begin with, and then she said that I had made it because everyone was standing up, and I just said, ‘Ice cream! Ice cream!'” To cap off her day, Harris claimed 4 for 15 from two overs. She remains the only player to have scored a century and taken four wickets in a WBBL match.Harmanpreet’s landmark signingIt is well-known that India’s premier male cricketers do not appear in T20 leagues outside of the IPL, but that’s not the case in the women’s game – the upcoming season will see a record number of India names in the WBBL. In mid-2016, Harmanpreet Kaur became the first India player to join the league when she signed for Sydney Thunder. “Being the first player from my country to sign a contract for a BBL club is one of my best moments,” she said at the time. During her first season, she made 310 runs in 13 innings which included a 26-ball 56 against Heat. In the 2021 season, she was Player of the Tournament.Harmanpreet Kaur was the first Indian player to join an overseas league•Getty ImagesPushing the boundariesHere comes Grace again. By 2018, Sophie Devine (48) and Ash Gardner (47) had both gone under the 50-ball mark with centuries. Against Stars at the Gabba, Harris raised the bar further with a blistering 42-ball display which included 13 fours and six sixes. Remarkably, this came in a chase of just 133 as she made 73% of the total herself with Mooney watching on from the other end. With one run needed, Harris was on 95 and set off for the winning run but was sent back by Mooney. Three balls later, she launched Alana King down the ground for six to become the first player with multiple WBBL tons. “I’d told her that we weren’t running again and she finally got there in the end,” Mooney said.Devine’s doubleAs mentioned above, Devine had already left a mark on the WBBL but against Stars at Adelaide Oval, she produced what remains a one-off all-round starrer in the competition’s history: the only time a player has scored a half-century and taken a five-wicket haul. She had been within touching distance of matching Harris with two WBBL hundreds when she fell for 95 with an over to go, but that was only half the job done. With ball in hand, she removed four of Stars’ top six and completed her haul by claiming Nicola Hancock. semi-final run outIt is one of the iconic moments in WBBL history. It had already been a dramatic day with the first semi-final decided by a stunning boundary catch from Haidee Birkett. But the extraordinary three-player run out to force a Super Over in the second match was at another level. With three needed off the last ball, Sophie Molineux, who had batted throughout Melbourne Renegades’ chase, sliced over point and the ball appeared destined for the rope. “She’s got a four,” screamed commentator Jason Richardson. Then came a desperate dive from Erin Burns that flicked the ball back to Sarah Aley, who in turn hurled the return to Alyssa Healy. But the run-out chance was at the bowler’s end. Healy collected and in one motion spun around with a gloveless right hand and threw down the stumps. “In terms of a team play, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more special one in the context of the match and what effect it had on the game,” Ellyse Perry said. Burns added: “It was one of those moments where everything just seemed to fit perfectly. To tap it back but then Sarah to come around and the perfect throw into Midge and then to spin around no look at the stumps and throw down the other end is pretty awesome.”Ellyse Perry celebrates Sophie Molineux’s extraordinary run-out•Getty ImagesMooney, the back-to-back finals heroMooney is the WBBL’s leading run-scorer heading into the tenth season. Before her move to Perth Scorchers, she was central in Heat’s consecutive titles in the 2018-19 and 2019-2020 seasons. In the first of those, a week after the epic semi-final mentioned above, in a season where runs had not flowed to her usual standards, she defied a sweltering Sydney day while overcome effects of the flu with 65 off 46 balls to put Heat on course against Sixers. “I plonked myself in the ice bath and was a bit nervous towards the end, I couldn’t really watch,” Mooney said. The following season she was at it again, anchoring a bigger chase against Adelaide Strikers with 56 off 45 balls.Thunder win in the bubbleSomehow, the 2020 WBBL season was completed despite Covid. Played entirely in Sydney, it was not an edition remembered too fondly by a number of players with all the squads housed in a hotel bubble at the Olympic Park amid tight restrictions. But, as with much in that Australian season, it was a remarkable show of adaptability and resilience. It also concluded with a memorable result in the final where Thunder, who had produced a stunning turnaround in the semi-final against Heat, toppled Stars – one of the standout teams of the competition – by seven wickets having restricted them to just 86. Shabnim Ismail, who claimed the key wicket of Lanning, and Sammy-Jo Johnson combined to take 4 for 23 from eight overs.Broken bat? No worries for Grace Harris•Getty ImagesGarth’s powerplay masterclassAgainst Thunder in 2021, pace bowler Kim Garth produced one of the more remarkable performances seen in T20s. In the powerplay, she produced figures of 3-3-0-3 to put Stars on course to defend a low total. Garth removed Tahlia Wilson and Phoebe Litchfield in her first over, and then produced another maiden over to Smriti Mandhana. At the start of her third, she had Corinne Hall taken at slip before closing the spell with five more dots. By the time she returned for the 20th over, Stars had breathing space with 25 to defend.Harris’ broken bat”Stuff it, I’ll still hit it.” It has gone down as an immortal phrase from Grace Harris. Preparing to face up to Piepa Clearly, Harris noticed her bat handle was broken. But instead of waiting for a new one, she just got on with it. Harris launched the ball over long-on for a 72-metre six, the handle snapping away from the blade in the process to produce an iconic image that went viral. It was part of another astonishing WBBL display from Harris, who piled up a tournament-high 136 off 59 deliveries with a record 11 sixes. “When you get in the zone, you just get in the zone,” she said modestly.