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.

South Africa left-arm spinner’s celebration of a wicket lands her in trouble

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2025

Nonkululeko Mlaba picked up 2 for 46 in South Africa’s win over India•BCCI

South Africa left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba was handed a demerit point for breaching the ICC’s code of conduct during the match against India at the Women’s World Cup.The incident occurred in the 17th over of India’s innings, when Mlaba, after dismissing Harleen Deol, waved goodbye to the batter, which an ICC release on Saturday noted, “could have provoked an aggressive response”Mlaba was judged to have breached Article 2.5, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”Related

• Pat Cummins might miss the first Test after being abducted by aliens

• South Africa eye NRR boost against Bangladesh

• De Klerk upstages Ghosh as South Africa win thriller

On-field umpires Jacquline Williams and Kim Cotton, third umpire Candace le Borde and fourth umpire Sue Redfern levelled the charge. Mlaba admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Trudy Anderson. The sanction also included an official reprimand.Mlaba will carry this demerit point into a 24-month period. When a player reaches four or more demerit points within this period, they can be suspended for one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first.South Africa clinched a thriller against India on Thursday, chasing down 252 to post their second win in three games of the World Cup. Mlaba picked up 2 for 46 in the game.

Neymar has reportedly suffered another injury setback as his bid to be part of Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad hangs in the balance. The 33-year-old had recently returned from a hamstring injury and just when he was settling in to playing again for Santos, the former Barcelona star is now set to miss their crucial clash with Internacional because of a new issue.

• Hype over Neymar move wearing off

  There was a huge sense of excitement when news circulated that Neymar could return to his boyhood club at the start of 2025 following the cancellation of his Al-Hilal contract. Sure enough, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain star was unveiled by the Brazilian giants in late January, with the attacker eager to regain top form and get himself back into the international picture. While a return of seven goals and three assists in 25 matches in all competitions does not make for bad reading, Neymar has repeatedly been out injured. That has coincided with the veteran missing many games, with Santos currently hovering just above the relegation zone. Now, BeIN Sports are reporting that he has been dealing with knee discomfort throughout the week and therefore he will miss Monday's clash with fellow strugglers Internacional in a battle between 17th and 15th in Brasileiro Serie A, respectively. They add that there is no structural damage but Neymar's pain has been enough to sideline him and raise concern within the club. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Question marks over Neymar's Santos future

  Neymar's contract at Santos expires at the end of this year, meaning he could be a free agent in early 2026, with a World Cup half a year away. So far, there has been no contract breakthrough, although club president Marcelo Teixeira appears confident a deal can be struck. 

  He said earlier this month: "Neymar's project is the 2026 World Cup. If there's consensus, he will extend. There is great trust between him and the club, and I believe we'll find a solution at the right moment."

  However, there is no guarantee he will stay, but a move to rivals, Fluminense, has been ruled out by club president Mario Bittencourt.

  He tweeted: "Regarding Neymar, I clarify that there has been no recent contact between Fluminense and the player, or his staff. Fluminense has immense respect for Santos and, obviously, the club and the player are 100% dedicated to winning the remaining games in the Brazilian Championship."

• Ancelotti not giving up on Neymar

  Despite not picking him in recent Brazil squads, former Real Madrid manager and current Selecao boss Carlo Ancelotti has issued an ultimatum to Neymar: Stay fit and perform well, and you may go to the 2026 World Cup.

  He said just under a fortnight ago: "Neymar is on the list of players who can go to the World Cup. He has six months to make the final list. Neymar has recovered, but he needs to show performance. When the Brazilian league ends, he’ll have some vacation time, and then he must show his quality and physical condition again."

  The former AC Milan boss also offered some words of advice for the Brazilian great in his bid to play at next year's iconic tournament in North America. 

  "The truth is that soccer today asks for many things, not just talent. Also physical condition, intensity. hopefully Neymar can be at his best level," Ancelotti said. "He needs to play more centrally, not as a winger. Wingers in today’s soccer are players you need to help also defensively. When you play a little bit more inside the defensive work is much less than if you play as a winger."

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  What comes next for Neymar and Santos?

  A Neymar-less Santos travel to Internacional on Monday night, hoping to ease their relegation fears. They sit one place and three points above the drop zone ahead of their final four fixtures of the season. After this encounter, they take on Sport Recife, Juventude RS, and Cruzeiro as they attempt to maintain their top-flight status. Whether Neymar will play a part in that remains to be seen.

Ackeem Auguste and Roston Chase struck fifties to help West Indies to a five-wicket win in the third T20I against Bangladesh in Chattogram.Romario Shepherd’s hat-trick had earlier helped their cause for the 3-0 triumph, after Bangladesh were bowled out for 151 runs. The series sweep comes at the right time for West Indies, who had lost seven bilateral T20I series in a row, coming into this series.Auguste and Chase put on 91 runs for the fourth wicket, after they lost three early wickets. Auguste peppered the leg-side with five sixes against the Bangladesh spinners, while the stand-in captain Chase got his boundaries all around the wicket.Bangladesh had earlier collapsed from 107 for 2 in the 15th over, to be bowled out for 151 in 20 overs. They lost eight wickets for 44 runs in the last 5.3 overs, including Shepherd’s hat-trick spread over two overs. He was unaware of his achievement, until Jason Holder happily informed him from mid-off.

Jangoo surprises for WI

Bangladesh restricted West Indies’ openers in the first three overs of the chase. The returning Mahedi Hasan got Alick Athanaze stumped for 1 and Amir Jangoo was also struggling to get going. But he had luck on his side. A mix-up between Litton Das and Saif Hassan gave him a let-off in the second over, before substitute Towhid Hridoy dropped a skier at mid-off.Jangoo then took on Taskin Ahmed in his first over. He started with a crisp flicked six off the first ball, before driving and pulling for three more fours in the 18-run over.Bangladesh hit back with Nasum Ahmed removing Brandon King in the sixth over. Jangoo struck two more fours before Rishad Hossain had him lbw in the eighth over. Jangoo’s 23-ball 34 provided West Indies the boost their 152-run chase needed after a slow start.

Auguste packs a punch

Auguste built on Jangoo’s innings. Like Jangoo, his first six was also a beautifully flicked six off Taskin. Chase, who was dropped on 10, struck three boundaries to get going, before Auguste took on Rishad. He used the flick off the first ball of the 13th over, before hitting him for two more on the leg-side. Rishad though was unlucky, as substitute Tanzim Hasan dropped Auguste at the covers, on 27.Auguste hammered Nasum’s first ball next over, before Chase took over in the boundary-hitting. He struck three more in the next two overs, on the way to completing his fourth T20I fifty.Bangladesh had some respite when Rishad removed both Chase and Auguste in the 16th over, but West Indies were already comfortably placed to complete the win.

Tanzid shines again

Bangladesh had earlier got off to a decent start after deciding to bat first. Tanzid Hasan hit three fours in the first three overs, before Holder dropped him at mid-off on 12. Tanzid kept Bangladesh forceful in the powerplay, lofting Akeal Hosein for a six over square-leg.Parvez Hossain and Litton though fell cheaply, before Tanzid and Saif added 63 runs for the third wicket. Saif started with a six over square-leg against Chase, followed by Tanzid hitting his second off Khary Pierre. Tanzid cracked two fours off Shepherd in the 11th over, before he lofted Gudakesh Motie for his third six in the next over.Rovman Powell dropped Tanzid on 57, although it was a tough chance at long-on. This one made it West Indies’ sixth dropped catch in the last two matches.

Shepherd’s special hat-trick

West Indies’ luck though would change from the 15th over. Holder had Saif caught in the backward square-leg boundary, a ball after he struck a six over the same region.Bangladesh would then lose wickets off the last ball of the over for five successive overs. Pierre removed Rishad in the next over, lbw for three, before Nurul Hasan was caught in the deep off Shepherd.Powell Nasum in the deep at the end of the 18th over before Holder got out-of-form Jaker Ali lbw for five.Shepherd started the 20th over with Tanzid caught at mid-off, before he yorked Shoriful Islam. He wasn’t aware of the hat-trick until Holder – the only other West Indian to get a T20I hat-trick – told him. Shepherd celebrated with a smile. It was the eighth hat-trick Bangladesh’s batters had suffered.

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. 

Will impending reset undo the gains that tournament has provided for women’s cricket?

Valkerie Baynes01-Sep-2025It feels like the only constant in women’s cricket in England and Wales over the past five years has been change.A successful short-format competition was ripped up, reimagined and merged with a corresponding men’s tournament. A separate regional competition was established to stage the two traditional white-ball formats, then it was thrown out and realigned with established counties and their men’s teams.Unsettling? Certainly. Bad? Surely not.The regional domestic T20 and 50-over competitions introduced unprecedented professionalism to the women’s game in this country amid ongoing expansion which will continue into 2029 after becoming a county-based format as of this year.The Kia Super League was the T20 predecessor to the Women’s Hundred and only lasted four seasons from 2016 to 2019, but the Hundred has introduced a new audience to cricket, attracted some of the biggest names in the sport and offered salaries ranging from £10,000 to £65,000 for a month’s work (more on that later).So it’s with a mixture of excitement, trepidation and uncertainty that many women’s players are anticipating changes to the Hundred under private ownership, which will affect the men’s teams too.Sophia Dunkley bats during the Kia Super League in 2019•Getty ImagesThe new Hundred board meets today, less than 24 hours after Northern Superchargers won a maiden women’s title and Oval Invincibles lifted the men’s trophy for a third straight time.As defeated captain, Southern Brave’s Georgia Adams would like to change plenty about Sunday’s women’s final at Lord’s, played before a record crowd of 22,542, but she is wary of the changes already in motion.Renaming teams, “resetting” squads and possibly reverting to a T20 format eventually have all been mooted and it’s understandable that the women’s teams are apprehensive about tinkering with a product that has been upheld as a huge success story, for them in particular.”Everyone feels like it’s just starting to take off and then we keep changing things, that’s been what’s gone on in the women’s game in the last few years,” Adams said. “Every time we see something really start to take off and work and flourish, it then gets changed or altered again. Hopefully they don’t change too much, but we’ll just have to wait and see what’s thrown at us.”Hampshire-based Brave have qualified for four women’s finals in the five-year history of the Hundred, winning the title in 2023 before falling to the bottom of the table in 2024 and bouncing back to runners-up this year.Plans to reconfigure squads are less foreign to the women, whose squads were overhauled after the second season of the Hundred while the Invincibles men have maintained a consistent group of core players.A bid to reduce predictability in results, possibly through switching from a draft to a WPL/IPL-style player auction, also isn’t unusual.Georgia Adams made a century for Hampshire against Essex in the County One-Day Cup in May•Dave Vokes/Hampshire Cricket”We’ve got a really great group of people and we’re really comfortable and confident in the group we’ve got moving forward,” Adams said. “I think it’s highly unlikely we’ll be able to keep the majority of this group together.”There’s going to be some changes, but I think that’s to be expected now in franchise cricket… the nature of what we’re doing now in this day and age is you’ve just got to roll with what’s happening, roll with the changes, be open to change.”It’s understandable for players to be protective of competition that, in Adams’ words, “put us on the map”.Figures released by the ECB on Sunday show that of the 2.5 million people to have attended the Hundred in its first five years, 1.5 million of them went to a women’s game and 203,000 bought tickets to their first-ever cricket match. Some 349,401 people attended the women’s competition this year, a record for total attendance at a women’s cricket competition.Over the weekend, the Hundred showed off its platform for unearthing new talent through 18-year-old Davina Perrin, who scored a scintillating 42-ball century for Superchargers in the Eliminator, witnessed by 13,623 at The Oval.For players like Adams, who is 31 and has played just twice for her country, the Hundred has offered salaries, recognition and longevity that none of them dreamed of at the beginning of their careers.Davina Perrin’s century against London Spirit was the stand-out innings of the Hundred•Philip Brown/Getty Images”It’s amazing for me as a domestic cricketer, not an England player, to go to the local shop and get stopped by people saying, ‘we’re loving watching you this summer’,” she said.”It’s been so important for women’s sport and providing free-to-air games, every game on YouTube, and young female cricketers having role models that they can actively see and watch.”Clare Connor was one of my biggest role models and I don’t think I ever saw her play a game of cricket. But she was my role model because of what she’d done for the game, and I think having people in front of you, seeing that, watching that is so important.”Similarly, Nicola Carey, who is also 31 and flew into the Hundred as a late replacement for injured fellow Australian Georgia Wareham, has expanded her opportunities after a 50-game international career ended in 2022. Her unbroken 60-run partnership with Annabel Sutherland took Superchargers over the finish line on Sunday.Related

• Rebooted women's county game seeks the pros of progress

• Superchargers bank second place ahead of Eliminator with Spirit

• Brilliant Perrin century powers Superchargers into Women's Hundred final

• Clash of generations, as Devine and Perrin prepare to headline Hundred final

• Cross, Sutherland level up as Northern Superchargers clinch Women's Hundred title

“This group’s been together for a few years now and it’s such a good group,” Carey said. “It’d be a shame to pick that apart and get other people in, because they’ve got a good thing going. I’d love to see them stick together a bit longer and see what else they can do in the next few years.”Lauren Winfield-Hill expressed similar concerns when the new three-tier women’s domestic county competition launched this year, which followed the Hundred’s model of aligning women’s teams with the men’s at the existing counties.”They’ve tinkered with women’s cricket enough now,” Winfield-Hill told ESPNcricinfo earlier this year. “We’ve had that many structures, that many leagues, the Super League, then we’ve had the Hundred, then we’ve had regional, then we’ve had county.”I just hope this is the last of the tinkering and you can really build something. That’s the biggest challenge, how things have changed so frequently, you’re trying to build a core of players and get roles, and players are finding places to live and all this sort of stuff. Just leave it alone now.”Many reservations centre on the fear of the unknown. Unless the ECB and new franchise owners communicate effectively with players, it will abound.Nat Sciver-Brunt, the England captain, last month called for the Hundred to maintain its momentum and “sense of belonging” in the women’s game under new ownership. “More investment should help both the men’s side and the women’s side,” she told the BBC. “We don’t know the details of what that will look like and what’s going to happen, but I’m sure that it will be really positive.”The growth of the women’s game had been the standout good news story of the Hundred. However, the valuations that teams attracted during the sale process – ranging from £275 million for London Spirit to £79 million for Sciver-Brunt’s Trent Rockets – has overshadowed that narrative.Of the four IPL franchises who own stakes in Hundred teams, only the Ambani-family-run Mumbai Indians, now partnered with Oval Invincibles, and Delhi Capitals, who have bought into Southern Brave, have WPL sides.The revenue from the Hundred’s sale is set to be divided between counties, the MCC and recreational cricket. Salaries in the Hundred are also expected to rise, with figures yet to be confirmed. But in lieu of detail on the split between men’s and women’s set-ups, there is a fear that the sums offered to the women will be mere scraps from the men’s table.The PCA are pushing for a narrowing of the gender salary gap but the gulf remains stark as of 2025, when the top earners in the men’s competition received a 60% increase to £200,000, compared to a 30% rise in the top women’s bracket to £65,000.As long as the women who form an integral part of the competition are heard and included, there is no reason why they can’t benefit from the huge levels of investment in their teams and be rewarded for their part in growing the game. For the sake of the progress that the women’s game has made over the past five years, they simply must be.

Chamari Athapaththu looms as a key figure as the joint-hosts look to kickstart their tournament

Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Oct-20252:46

Preview: Can Athapaththu dismantle England’s plans?

Big picture: Sri Lanka eye another World Cup upsetIn 18 completed games against England, Sri Lanka have won only once. But that one win was worth 18 at least. Sri Lanka’s victory over England in the 2013 World Cup wasn’t just the upset of that particular tournament, it was a vital staging post in the march of women’s cricket on the smaller of these two islands.Without that last-ball win at Brabourne, Sri Lankan women’s cricket would not be where it is now. Shashikala Siriwardene, Sri Lanka’s captain at the time, remembered it this way: “Our lives and our cricket changed with that match. It started with that game. We actually didn’t celebrate massively. We shouted a little bit in the dressing room, and the coach said a few words. And then we just went to our rooms. But I couldn’t sleep! I was up most of the night remembering all the little things in that match, and the big moments. I was overjoyed. It was only the next day that I got a little sleep. I think that happened to a lot of the others as well.”Since that match, England have won 10 ODIs against Sri Lanka on the bounce. There is no question who the favourites are on Saturday. England, additionally, have humbled South Africa, and eased past Bangladesh already in the tournament. Sri Lanka have one point from a washout against Australia, but lost their tournament opener to India in Guwahati.England have surmised that while Sri Lanka have more batting weapons now than they used to have, their best chance of securing victory is to dismiss Chamari Athapaththu cheaply. England opener Tammy Beaumont said as much on the eve of the match: “Chamari will certainly be the one we’ll be desperate to get out. It’ll be really well planned for.” Athapaththu is no stranger to being one of the most-analysed players by oppositions, having been such a singular star for Sri Lanka for a decade.And yet it feels accurate. If Sri Lanka are to topple England, it feels almost inescapable that Athapaththu will have to play a role. England, though, have a bowling attack brimming with confidence. They decked South Africa for 69 all out in their tournament opener, then restricted Bangladesh for 178 in their next game. England’s slow bowlers have been doing the damage. Finger-spinners Linsey Smith, Sophie Ecclestone, and Charlie Dean have 14 wickets between them, in two matches.Form guide:England: WWLWL LLLWW (last five matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka:In the spotlight: Heather Knight and Inoka RanaweeraIn 11 innings against Sri Lanka, Heather Knight has three half-centuries, and an average of 50. In Sri Lanka, her returns are even better – 208 runs, four not outs, and an average of 52.00. She hasn’t batted on the island since 2019, though. Sri Lanka will be aware that Knight comes in to this match with some runs, having top-scored against Bangladesh with 79. Her vast experience and success in Asia is daunting.Athapaththu may dominate opposition bowler’s minds ahead of a match against Sri Lanka, but left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera will have plenty of airtime in the batting discussions. In Sri Lanka’s first match, she took three wickets in one over to leave India 121 for 5, before they recovered (a theme of this World Cup so far). She finished with 4 for 46 in that match. If the Khettarama track takes turn – which it is likely to do – she will be difficult to handle again.Pitch and conditions: Spin, swing… and rain?It has been drier in the last few days in Colombo, but the forecast is again for showers, which is normal for this time of year. Expect another track on which there will be turn. But the humidity at this time of year also makes for great swing-bowling conditions.Team news: Hasini to open for SLEngland could stick with a winning XI for the third game running.England: (possible) 1 Tammy Beaumont, 2 Amy Jones (wk), 3 Heather Knight, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), 5 Sophia Dunkley, 6 Emma Lamb, 7 Alice Capsey, 8 Charlie Dean, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Linsey Smith, 11 Lauren BellSri Lanka have been trying Hasini Perera as opener rather than Vishmi Gunaratne. They will likely retain that order for this match.Sri Lanka: (possible) 1 Hasini Perera, 2 Chamari Athapaththu (capt), 3 Harshith Samarawickrama, 4 Vishmi Gunaratne, 5 Kavisha Dihari, 6 Nilakshika de Silva, 7 Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), 8 Sugandika Kumari, 9 Achini Kulasuriya, 10 Udeshika Prabodhani, 11 Inoka RanaweeraStats and trivia Although she hit an important 62 in that 2013 win against England, Athapaththu’s numbers against this opposition are modest. She hasn’t hit another half-century against them in 13 other innings. One of Knight’s two half-centuries in Sri Lanka came at Khettarama. She strikes at 80.62 in the country, up from a career strike rate of 72.45. Although Sri Lanka have never beaten England in an ODI series, they did win a T20I series 2-1 in England in 2023. Quotes”I think you can never write off Chamari at all. We’ve been on the tough end of it a couple of times over the last few years, particularly when Chamari came to England. She played a couple of amazing innings. But I think over the last few years there’s probably a few more [players] that we’ve started to talk about. There’s certainly a lot more depth to that team that can bat around someone like Chamari.”England opener Tammy Beaumont says Sri Lanka’s batting isn’t all about Athapaththu any more

Chelsea made their return to Premier League football in fine fashion on Saturday afternoon, comfortably dispatching Burnley 2-0.

That victory, followed by the rest of Saturday’s results, has left the Blues as the closest competitor to Arsenal, sitting six points off them and facing them on Sunday.

However, while Enzo Maresca has a squad full of incredible players, some might argue that they are just a bit short in certain areas compared to the Gunners.

Fortunately, that looks like something Chelsea are looking to address, as reports have linked them with one of Arsenal’s transfer targets, someone who could help make them serious title contenders.

Chelsea enter race for Arsenal target

Even with the transfer window not opening for over a month, Chelsea have already been linked with a plethora of unreal, difference-making players.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, while he’s inexperienced, Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız would be an excellent signing for the Blues, having already scored three goals and registered four assists in 15 games this season.

Likewise, Antoine Semenyo, who is one of the most sought-after players in the country at the moment, would be an incredible addition to Maresca’s side.

However, if a player is going to come in and help turn the Blues into serious title contenders this season, they are likely going to be a defender, like Murillo.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are one of several sides interested in the Brazilian international.

Alongside the West Londoners, Arsenal and Barcelona have also been credited with interest in the 23-year-old centre-back, who Nottingham Forest value at up to €90m, which is about £79m.

Therefore, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Murillo’s ability and potential, Chelsea should fight for him, especially as he could help make them serious title contenders.

Why Murillo could help Chelsea win the Premier League

As things stand, Chelsea are currently second in the Premier League, six points behind Arsenal, having scored just a single goal fewer than them.

However, while their attack is certainly comparable, the Blues have conceded 11 goals to the Gunners’ six, and you are conceding almost twice as many goals as your rivals, you aren’t going to finish above them in the table.

Now, one of the key reasons for the West Londoners’ middling defensive record – in the context of a title challenge – is that their best centre-back, Levi Colwill, has been out for the whole season so far, and the likes of

Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah have not been anywhere near the same level in his absence.

Therefore, for Maresca’s side to become true contenders for the league, they need more and higher-quality defensive reinforcements, which is where Murillo comes in.

Despite having practically no stability at Forest this season, the Brazilian titan has still put up some seriously impressive underlying numbers.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 3% of centre-backs in the league for blocks, the top 5% for interceptions and successful take-ons, the top 7% for ball recoveries, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for through balls and more, all per 90.

% of Dribblers Tackled

100.0%

Top 2%

Blocks

1.83

Top 3%

Shots from Free Kicks

0.12

Top 5%

Interceptions

2.07

Top 5%

Successful Take-Ons

0.49

Top 5%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 7%

Passes Blocked

0.85

Top 7%

Ball Recoveries

4.87

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

1.46

Top 9%

Tkl+Int

3.65

Top 9%

Goals/Shot

0.25

Top 11%

Goals – xG

+0.09

Top 11%

Non-Penalty Goals – npxG

+0.09

Top 11%

Passes Attempted (Long)

9.99

Top 11%

Through Balls

0.24

Top 11%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

1.10

Top 11%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.12

Top 11%

Progressive Passes

4.87

Top 13%

SCA (Shot)

0.12

Top 13%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.24

Top 13%

Goals

0.12

Top 15%

Add to that the fact that he played a massive role in the Tricky Trees having one of the best defensive records in the country last season, and it’s easy to see why one analyst made the bold claim that he’s “one of the best defenders in the Premier League.”

On top of all of that, the “monstrous” international, as dubbed by journalist Ryan Taylor, is both young at just 23 and experienced, having made 87 appearances for Forest, 27 for Corinthians and one for Brazil.

Now, with all that said, there is still a chance the Sao Paulo-born star wouldn’t be a starter when everyone in Maresca’s side is fit, but he would be an exceptional cover, and all title-winning sides need that.

Ultimately, it wouldn’t be cheap, but Chelsea should do what they can to sign Murillo, as he could be one of the final pieces to Maresca’s puzzle.

Chelsea now ahead of Arsenal in race for "unpredictable" striker, talks opened

The Blues have taken the lead in the race for a new centre-forward

ByDominic Lund Nov 24, 2025

On Thanksgiving Thursday in the United States, Celtic supporters across the world are thankful that their side has finally won an away European match.

In the Europa League’s early kick off, despite falling behind inside 11 minutes, Martin O’Neill’s side fought back to beat Feyenoord 3-1; Yang Hyun-jun and then Reo Hatate on target in double-quick time, before substitute Benjamin Nygren lashed home a clinching third late on

Before this, the Hoops had failed to win any of their previous 16 European away matches, dating back to a 3-2 victory over Ferencváros in Budapest in November 2021; Kyōgo Furuhashi, Jota and Liel Abada the scorers for Ange Postecoglou’s side back then.

In the context of this campaign, it takes Celts’ points tally up to seven from five Europa League games, boosting their knockout phase hopes, with fixtures against Roma, Bologna and Utrecht still to come on their schedule.

By the time the current Serie A leaders visit Glasgow in a fortnight, there could well be a new face in the home dugout, so which forgotten figure staked a claim in Rotterdam to be a key figure under Wilfried Nancy?

Reo Hatate's magical night

Plenty of Celtic players deserve praise following a famous win in Rotterdam, but Hatate was the star of the show.

The Japanese midfield maestro spectacularly set up the equaliser, before cooly slotted home the vital go-ahead goal, gently passing the ball into the net having been gifted possession by goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther, after some excellent, trademark closing down by Daizen Maeda.

Since arriving in January 2022, Hatate has been one of Celtic’s best and most beloved players throughout; scoring twice in a thumping Old Firm victory mere weeks after joining helps!

However, his position in the starting lineup has come under scrutiny, given the Celts’ do have other good central midfield options, namely Nygren, Arne Engels, Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo.

However, Hatate’s mercurial talent and exquisite ability makes him a dream for any manager and, based on how his Columbus Crew team like to play, Nancy will surely make the Japanese international a central figure in his team, once he does arrive.

Meanwhile, which usually less heralded figure will also surely have impressed the incoming manager with his display at De Kuip?

Celtic's "world class" talent stars vs Feyenoord

There were many heroes bedecked in green and white hoops during Thursday’s victory over Feyenoord.

Teenaged full-back Colby Donovan was immense, Luke McCowan was excellent out of position, despite his inexplicable early miss, while Daizen Maeda worked his socks off as always.

Meantime, one of the surprise starters when the team sheets dropped was Yang, chosen over Sebastian Tounekti, Nygren and Michel-Ange Balikwisha by O’Neill, but the Korea Republic international certainly repaid the manager’s

Yang lashed home Celtic’s equaliser on the half-hour mark, connecting with Hatate’s looping cross, the ball squirming in between Wellenreuther and the post.

This was only Yang’s second goal of the season, also on target against Partick Thistle in the League Cup in September beforehand, but this one was rather more important.

Overall, he was a constant threat at De Kuip.

Goals

1

1st

Attempted dribbles

3

2nd

Completed passes

25

16th

Duels contested

6

15th

Touches

43

15th

SofaScore rating

7.3

4th

Since arriving from Gangwon FC in July 2023 under Brendan Rodgers, Yang has flattered to deceive, showing glimpses of quality but only doing so on a very irregular basis.

Upon making the move, Gangwon’s then-club president Kim Byung-ji stated that he had “world class” potential, backing him to become as good as the national team’s all-time leading scorer Son Heung-min.

Speaking during commentary for TNT Sports, Joe Hart, a former teammate of Yang, said that “there’s an excellent player in there”, but that he just has to show it on a regular basis, while manager O’Neill stated that he needs to now replicate his form in training in matches.

Thus, with Nancy seemingly poised to arrive, every member of the Celtic squad will have a clean slate, which will surely be good news for Yang, looking to become a key figure under the new manager, hoping to force his way into Hong Myung-bo’s South Korea squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup.

Celtic's number 1 target: Nancy could sign £7m "finisher" to replace Maeda

With Daizen Maeda potentially set to leave Celtic in January, could possible new manager Wilfried Nancy sign a “really good finisher” to replace him?

Nov 21, 2025

AZ Alkmaar striker and former Tottenham golden boy Troy Parrott has been linked with a return to the Premier League, but could Spurs take the plunge and re-sign the young star once tipped to emulate Harry Kane?

Parrott has emerged as one of Europe’s most in-form strikers this season, with his prolific displays for AZ and heroic performances for the Republic of Ireland catapulting him back into the Premier League spotlight after rebuilding his career in the Netherlands.

The 23-year-old Dubliner has enjoyed a sensational campaign in the Eredivisie, demonstrating the clinical finishing and all-round game that once made him Tottenham’s most exciting academy prospect.

Parrott started the season in blistering fashion, netting ten goals in his opening seven appearances across all competitions before a knee ligament injury disrupted his momentum at the end of August. Since returning to action, he’s added three more, taking his tally to 13 strikes in just 14 matches this term — one of the best records in Dutch football.

However, it is his recent international exploits which have truly captured attention across Europe.

In November’s World Cup qualifying double-header, Parrott delivered two performances that will live long in Irish football folklore. He scored both goals in a stunning 2-0 victory over Portugal, before producing an even more dramatic display against Hungary.

His hat-trick, including a 96th-minute winner, secured a miraculous 3-2 victory in Budapest and booked Ireland’s place in the World Cup play-offs.

This is a far cry from his spell at Spurs, where he ultimately failed to break into the first-team after successive loan spells in England’s lower tiers. Disappointing stints at Millwall, Ipswich Town, MK Dons and Preston North End yielded just 13 goals in 102 appearances, with Parrott making the bold decision to move permanently to the Netherlands.

Initially joining Excelsior on loan, where he rediscovered his confidence with 17 goals in 32 games, he secured a permanent transfer to AZ in the summer 2024 for nearly £7 million.

The move has proven transformative. Last season, Parrott scored 14 goals in 28 Eredivisie matches, including a stunning four-goal haul in a 9-1 demolition of Heerenveen. His performances helped propel AZ to fifth whilst establishing himself as the league’s joint third-highest scorer.

Troy Parrott’s best performances in the Eredivisie this season

Match Rating

AZ 4-1 FC Groningen

8.83

AZ 4-1 FC Utrecht

8.40

Ajax 0-2 AZ

7.76

FC Volendam 2-2 AZ

7.19

AZ 1-5 PSV Eindhoven

6.66

via WhoScored

Now, with Parrott in the form of his life, Premier League sides are considering a move.

Tottenham stance on re-signing Troy Parrott amid buy-back clause update

West Ham are among Parrott’s suitors ahead of the January transfer window, and AZ are poised to demand nearly quadruple what they paid for the forward — having slapped a £26 million price tag on his head.

This is now backed up by GiveMeSport and reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, who also share the odds of Parrott re-joining Tottenham.

Unfortunately, for those who’d be keen to see the number nine back at N17, it is bad news.

GMS report that a Tottenham return for Parrott is ‘off the cards’, and it is believed that the north Londoners did not insert a buy-back clause in the deal which saw him join AZ last year. That being said, they do have a 20 per cent sell-on clause, so Thomas Frank’s side could get a decent seven-figure windfall via the likes of West Ham or Fulham if either side manages to strike an agreement.

Spurs’ disinterest in bringing Parrott back comes despite their hunt for a striker.

Dominic Solanke has suffered with injury issues this season, playing just 49 minutes all season, and the England international is apparently set to miss their upcoming clashes against Arsenal and PSG (The Athletic).

Meanwhile, Richarlison has struggled for form, and reports in Italy suggest Roma are eyeing a move for Mathys Tel amid his desire to leave Spurs in January.

Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange — Tottenham’s co-sporting directors — are prioritising the signing of a centre-forward, with Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney believed to be a top target, among others.

However, going by this latest update, Spurs’ potential new striker won’t be Parrott despite his transformation abroad.