Na tarde desta terça-feira (6), o sorteio realizado na sede da Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) em relação as quartas de final da Copa do Brasil colocou, frente a frente, Bahia e Grêmio.
E, para o confronto onde o Esquadrão começará a eliminatória jogando em casa, em data ainda a ser especificada, o histórico construído até então mostra uma ampla vantagem do lado gaúcho.
Até hoje, as equipes se encontraram em outras quatro oportunidades na competição sendo que a primeira delas ocorreu logo em 1989, ano da primeira edição da Copa do Brasil e que foi vencida pelo Tricolor dos Pampas. Curiosamente, tanto na época como em outras duas vezes (2012 e 2019), o embate também valeu pelas quartas de final.
Em todas as oportunidades em que esses dois clubes se enfrentaram, o Tricolor do Rio Grande do Sul avançou de fase, tendo se classificado também na primeira fase na temporada de 2005. Em relação ao saldo geral, são seis vitórias gremistas, uma baiana e um empate com 11 gols da representação de Porto Alegre e somente quatro do clube de Salvador.
>Cupom LANCEFUT com 10% OFF para os fanáticos por esporte em compras acima de R$299,90
Chama a atenção o fato de que, na última delas, Renato Portaluppi também era o treinador do Grêmio onde a eliminatória será inversa aos mandos atuais. Enquanto o resultado da ida, na Arena, foi 1 a 1 (Everton Cebolinha, hoje no Flamengo, fez para o Imortal e Gilberto, atualmente no Cruzeiro, igualou para o Esquadrão), Alisson (vestindo atualmente a camisa do São Paulo) marcou o único gol na vitória gremista por 1 a 0 em plena Fonte Nova.
Leeds United officially confirmed their latest arrival of the summer transfer window on Friday with the unveiling of Dominic Calvert-Lewin as their new centre-forward.
The former England international became a free agent last month when his contract at Everton expired, which has allowed the Whites to snap him up on a free transfer.
Calvert-Lewin has put pen to paper on a three-year contract at Elland Road, which means that he will be committed to the club even if they suffer relegation at the first time of asking.
The former Toffees marksman is set to compete with Joel Pirore and Lukas Nmecha for a place in the starting line-up, and could make his debut against his former club at Elland Road in the Premier League on Monday.
Daniel Farke has ‘lost’ two number nine options this summer, though, as he told Patrick Bamford that the veteran forward would not be a part of his plans, whilst Mateo Joseph is out on loan at Mallorca.
Despite bringing Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin in, Leeds may need to dip back into the market to sign another centre-forward before the end of the window.
Why Leeds need to sign another striker
It is no secret that the Whites will need to score plenty of goals this season to give themselves a chance of avoiding relegation from the Premier League, which makes the striker position particularly important.
However, Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha do not seem primed to arrive as prolific number nine options who are going to deliver consistent performances in front of goal in the top-flight, based on their form for their previous clubs.
Nmecha, for example, scored just seven goals in the Bundesliga in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined, per Transfermarkt, and missed 47 matches through injury in that time.
These statistics do not suggest that the former Wolfsburg man is likely to be Farke’s own Erling Haaland or Alexander Isak in the Premier League this season, as he struggled for goals and fitness in the last couple of campaigns.
24/25
8.85
3
23/24
13.63
7
22/23
6.50
2
21/22
6.22
5
20/21
18.21
16
19/20
16.11
13
18/19
6.17
6
17/18
5.44
4
16/17
1.25
1
As you can see in the table above, though, Calvert-Lewin also appears unlikely to be a prolific scorer for Leeds when you consider his output in front of goal and his disappointing finishing in recent years.
The English striker has underperformed against his xG in all nine of his seasons in the Premier League to date, and has not scored more than seven goals in a league campaign for four years.
Whilst he has scored some impressive goals, as shown in the clips above, Calvert-Lewin may not be the prolific scorer that the Whites may need to stay in the top-flight.
Leeds eyeing deal for Bundesliga striker
Supporters should, therefore, be pleased to read that the West Yorkshire outfit are reportedly eyeing up another option in that area of the pitch.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Kicker, Leeds United are lining up a potential move to sign Stuttgart centre-forward Ermedin Demirovic to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
The report claims that the Whites have a ‘desire’ to buy the 27-year-old marksman, despite the fact that they only signed Calvert-Lewin this week.
It adds that the Bosnia international is not happy with his current role at Stuttgart. Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav are said to be ahead of him in the pecking order, which could lead to him pursuing a move away before the window slams shut.
Kicker also reveals that it will take a fee in the region of £35m to persuade Stuttgart to part ways with the striker, and it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds are willing to pay that much to bring him to Elland Road.
Why Leeds should sign Demirovic
As aforementioned, Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha, whilst they may prove to be huge successes at Elland Road, have not done enough in recent seasons to suggest that they will carry a significant goal threat for Farke.
This is why Leeds should be pushing to seal a deal for their latest transfer target, because he is an experienced, yet not over-the-hill, striker who could be the talismanic goalscorer they need to avoid the drop.
The former Augsburg marksman, who was dubbed a “special” talent by Stuttgart director Fabian Wohlgemuth, has an incredibly impressive fitness record in his career, with just two matches missed through injury according to Transfermarkt.
This suggests that Farke would be able to rely on him to play week-in-week-out, thanks to his durability, and the same cannot be said for the two other centre-forward arrivals this summer, as aforementioned.
Demirovic, most importantly, has proven himself to be a fantastic goalscorer in the German top-flight, and could provide a clinical presence in front of goal for the Whites.
Appearances
33
34
Starts
33
20
xG
13.59
14.20
Goals
15
15
Minutes per goal
192
124
Conversion rate
19%
23%
Big chances created
8
5
Assists
9
1
As you can see in the table above, the Bosnian attacker has scored 30 goals and provided ten assists in the last seasons in the Bundesliga for Stuttgart and Augsburg combined.
Meanwhile, Calvert-Lewin, who has also missed 83 games through injury in this time, has only scored 15 goals in the last four Premier League seasons combined for Everton, per Transfermarkt, which suggests that Demirovic is way more prolific in front of goal, to put it lightly.
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The £35m-rated star has also shown that he can finish chances at an efficient rate, outperforming his xG in both of those Bundesliga seasons, whilst the Englishman has consistently struggled to tuck away the high-quality chances that have been created for him.
Therefore, Demirovic could come in as an instant upgrade on Calvert-Lewin because he has a better fitness record, a significantly better goal record, and is a far more clinical finisher, having proven himself in one of Europe’s major leagues.
This is why Leeds should be working to bring Demirovic over from Stuttgart before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of next month, as he can offer way more to the team than Calvert-Lewin as the starting number nine.
Everton are now reportedly leading the race to sign a Champions League-level winger who will be allowed to leave his current club this summer.
What Everton could do next after signing Travers
After confirming the arrival of Mark Travers from Bournemouth, Everton still have unfinished business in the summer transfer window. Ahead of their first season at The Hill Dickinson Stadium, the current transfer window reflects an opportunity for The Friedkin Group to make an impressive statement and set David Moyes up with a squad capable of more than just survival.
After Travers, Thierno Barry and the permanent arrival of Carlos Alcaraz, the Toffees still have plenty of work to do and that work could be done to reinforce their midfield.
Having lost Abdoulaye Doucoure following the end of his contract at the end of last season, Moyes is arguably lacking a physical presence at the heart of his midfield. But that’s where a familiar face in Tomas Soucek could arrive. The Czech Republic ace thrived under Moyes at West Ham and is now reportedly set to be the subject of an imminent £12m bid from Everton.
Appearances
207
Goals
32
Assists
11
It should come as no surprise that Soucek is now keen to reunite with Moyes after such a successful spell together the first time around. And for just £12m, Everton wouldn’t exactly be breaking the bank.
That said, Soucek isn’t their only reported target in midfield. The likes of Jacob Ramsey have also been mentioned in recent headlines, as Aston Villa continue to struggle on the PSR front. Like Soucek, the England midfielder would be an excellent addition.
Ndiaye 2.0: Everton pushing to sign 'the 2nd best dribbler in the world'
David Moyes wants to add some more attacking quality at Everton this summer.
ByAngus Sinclair Jul 15, 2025
The same can be said for a La Liga winger, as the Toffees aim to send a transfer statement.
Everton now in pole position to Samuel Lino
According to reports in Spain, Everton are now leading the race to sign Samuel Lino from Atletico Madrid this summer. The winger is reportedly free to leave the Champions League side and several sides have enquired about his availability as a result. Whether Everton are among those sides remains to be seen, however.
Starts
21
24
Goals
3
1
Assists
4
0
Successful Take-ons
27
24
Previously described as “interesting” by scout Jacek Kulig, Lino would be an instant upgrade on Jack Harrison, who has been linked with a permanent move to Everton this summer.
The Atletico Madrid man was involved in more goals in fewer games last season, whilst also enjoying more take-on success. In every key department, Lino should be preferred over the Leeds United man.
Valencia'sCristhianMosquerain action with Atletico Madrid's Samuel Lino
At 25 years old, Lino should be at the peak of his powers if he discovers his most clinical form. Reportedly in pole position, Everton should kick on and sign a player who has Champions League experience and outperformed other targets last season.
‘Who knows what cricket is going to look like in even two years’ time?’ says England Test captain
Vithushan Ehantharajah25-Jul-2024
Ben Stokes acknowledges that international cricket is sprinting into an uncertain future•Stu Forster/Getty Images
Ben Stokes has called for more player input over the international schedule, ahead of an overloaded 12-month period for England’s red- and white-ball sides.Speaking ahead of the third and final Test against West Indies, England’s Test captain reiterated his long-held criticisms of a congested fixture list, further complicated by the rise of franchise cricket. Having previously worried about its effect on the quality of cricket, Stokes is wary of the negative impact it could have on the development of England teams as a whole.While Stokes’ focus is on building towards the Ashes in the winter of 2025-26, the limited-overs set-up is looking towards a new dawn, with a decision to be made imminently on the futures of head coach Matthew Mott and captain Jos Buttler. Such are the commitments ahead for both squads, it is highly unlikely that each will progress at a similar rate.Related
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After the conclusion of this series in Edgbaston, the Test team will reconvene for a three-match series against Sri Lanka which begins at Emirates Old Trafford on August 21. The day after the third Test is due to finish in September, England begin a T20I series against Australia.That is followed by an ODI series against the same opponents that finishes just eight days before the start of a three-Test series in Pakistan. Three days after that tour concludes, England begin an ODI series in Antigua, which ends in St Lucia eight days prior to the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch.The start of 2025 offers some respite with no overseas Tests in the first half of the year, but England will play five white-ball matches in India as preparation for the Champions Trophy in February. The home season then plays host to four visiting teams, with an ODI series in Ireland running parallel to the India Test series.England are blessed with a playing pool that can be adequately split for the obligations that await. But the pull on their multi-format players such as Harry Brook, Mark Wood and even Jofra Archer, who is mooted to return to the Test side in 2025, will become a problem, particularly as they continue to seek opportunities on the T20 franchise circuit.Stokes believes his role as Test captain allows him to have a firm hand on the tiller when it comes to what is best for his team. But he acknowledged problems on the horizon and urged boards such as the ICC, who produce the Future Tours Programme (FTP), and the ECB, who rubber-stamp it, to collaborate more with players at an uncertain time for the game’s ecosystem.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
“I hope not,” answered Stokes when asked if his ambitions with the Test team will be hampered by the schedule. “It is something that does need to be addressed.”Who knows what international cricket is going to look like, with all the franchise stuff that is going on as well? It does need to get looked at. The landscape is constantly changing. I don’t think anyone can put their hand on their heart and say they know what cricket is going to look like in even two years’ time.”I think some consultation might be quite nice, obviously to Jos (Buttler) and myself. The FTP could maybe see the people playing in it consulted, and I think we could have some good input in that.”Asked whether he had been consulted on the recent FTP running from 2023-27, Stokes was tight-lipped: “Yes and no. Make of that what you will.”He was similarly guarded when asked about his own white-ball career, unwilling to entertain the question on the eve of a Test match. Having reversed his ODI retirement to play in the 2023 World Cup, he subsequently opted out of the T20 World Cup last month to focus on his Test duties. He also refused to acknowledge reports in last week that he has signed a bumper £800,000 deal with MI Cape Town in the SA20, which clashes with the India white-ball series at the start of next year.
Both teams will be looking forward to playing in North Sound after batting was a struggle in the games in America
Ashish Pant18-Jun-20241:39
Fleming on USA: ‘A generation of young players will be inspired’
Match detailsUSA vs South Africa Super Eight, North Sound, June 19, 10.30am local timeBig picture – Can USA slay another giant?It’s Super Eight time.Before the start of the T20 World Cup 2024, the ICC had allotted pre-decided seedings to the eight top teams. A2 was given to Pakistan. The match timings were set according to what would be prime time in Pakistan and the rest of the subcontinent. But then a USA-sized blow hit Pakistan in their very first match and the tournament hasn’t been the same since.So USA, in their first T20 World Cup appearance, are now A2, and will kickstart the Super Eight stage against South Africa. As both teams head over to North Sound in Antigua – USA aren’t quite at home anymore, note – they would hope for two things: better batting conditions and no rain.Related
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South Africa hold their nerve (for a change)
South Africa are entering the Super Eight stage with an all-win record. But after their win over Sri Lanka in the first game, the rest could have gone either way. They found themselves at 12 for 4 chasing 104 against Netherlands, only scored 113 for 6 and won by four runs against Bangladesh, and scraped through by a solitary run against Nepal.South Africa have lost 11 wickets and are averaging a mere 9.63 in the powerplay this World Cup – the third-lowest behind Uganda and Papua New Guinea. And none of their top-order batters have a strike rate of 100 in the first six overs.Having said that, South Africa played three of their four games in New York, where batting conditions were far from ideal. And in hopefully better conditions in North Sound, they will hope the top order can finally flex their muscles.USA, in foreign shores after playing 12 straight home games (of which two were abandoned), will hope for the fairy tale to continue. They showed their batting muscle in the opening game against Canada, and then restricted Pakistan to a middling total in the second game. Even against India, they had the opposition top order in a bit of early strife.The likes of Aaron Jones, Saurabh Netravalkar and Monank Patel have shown they belong to this level of cricket. Now for them to give it another tilt and try to take another Full Member down.Saurabh Netravalkar sent back Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in his first two overs against India•AFP/Getty Images Form guideUSA LWWLW South AfricaWWWWLIn the spotlight – Saurabh Netravalkar and Anrich NortjeLeft-arm quick Saurabh Netravalkar has been a star for USA in the powerplay, where he’s picked up three wickets and gone at an economy of 4.57. He’s found swing and shape consistently and even accounted for the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma already. Coder by day, fast bowler by night, he has had to extend his leave at his day job by a few more weeks and will want to make it count against a South Africa top order that is struggling for form.Anrich Nortje had a forgettable IPL 2024, where he picked up just seven wickets in six games and went at 13.36. But, he’s hit his straps from the get-go at the T20 World Cup. He’s bowled with pace, he’s been accurate, and, more importantly, has picked up wickets. After four games, Nortje is the joint-second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with nine wickets, and has bowled at an economy of just 4.37. His bustling pace might be useful against the USA batters who might not have faced such high speeds too often.2:53
Can South Africa find space for both Shamsi and Maharaj?
Team news – Shamsi or Maharaj, or both?USA’s last group game in Lauderhill was abandoned without a ball bowled. Before that, they played India, where Monank Patel, their regular captain, missed out because of a shoulder injury. He is likely to come back into the team replacing Shayan Jahangir at the top. Depending on the conditions, there is also a chance USA could slot in left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige in place of fast bowler Shadley van Schalkwyk.USA (probable): 1 Steven Taylor, 2 Monank Patel (capt), 3 Andries Gous (wk), 4 Nitish Kumar, 5 Aaron Jones, 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Harmeet Singh, 8 Shadley van Schalkwyk/Nosthush Kenjige, 9 Jasdeep Singh, 10 Saurabh Netravalkar, 11 Ali KhanSouth Africa brought in Tabraiz Shamsi for Keshav Maharaj in their last group game, and that could be the only selection they spend time on for this game. While Shamsi got four wickets against Nepal, Maharaj has performed consistently.South Africa (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Aiden Markram (capt), 4 Tristan Stubbs, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Tabraiz Shamsi/Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Ottneil Baartman, 11 Anrich NortjePitch and conditionsIt is expected to be an overcast morning in North Sound, but there is no rain forecast in the area on Wednesday. The teams batting second have won three out of four games here, with the surface good for batting. At the World Cup, Australia and England blew Namibia and Oman away respectively, but Oman hit up 150 against Scotland, which was chased down in 13.1 overs, and the rain-hit England vs Namibia game had 206 runs in 20 overs.Stats that matter Nortje has picked up eight wickets in the middle phase, the second-highest after Adam Zampa’s nine USA have the highest run rate against spin of all the teams in the tournament – 11.04; Jones has been striking at 263.33 against spinners in the World Cup 2024 (80 off 30 balls) South Africa have the second-best death-overs economy in this tournament – 5.27 This will be the first T20I between the two sidesQuotes”Still striving for that close to perfect game. I thought our bowlers so far throughout the comp have been really good for us and potentially bailed us out of jail once or twice. But it’s understandably so. Conditions have been quite tough for us with the bat. It’s a fresh start for us. Specifically, if you speak as a batting group, we get the chance to get to new conditions, hopefully slightly more batting friendly for us, and a good time for us to start peaking and finding some form moving forward in the competition.” “Myself, and Steven [Taylor], we have a lot of support in the Caribbean So we’ll definitely have some support tomorrow for sure as it relates to the whole team. I think a few people from USA actually flew to the Caribbean to support us. So, it’s really good but that’s no face for us. We just want to play hard cricket regardless of the situation.” Aaron Jones is expecting good support for USA in Antigua
Whenever Manchester City have lifted the Premier League title aloft during Pep Guardiola’s glittering reign to date, these major title wins have always been won on the basis of a stern defence, alongside possessing some top-notch attackers.
Indeed, City’s sizeable points haul of 98 come the end of the 2018/19 season saw just 23 goals given up. On the contrary, when fast forwarding to today’s choppy campaign, the usually stern champions have leaked a far higher 43 with three fixtures still left to play.
This could culminate in Guardiola changing up his defensive options soon to prepare for next season, with a fresh goalkeeper one target that’s surely on his mind.
Man City's pursuit of a new goalkeeper
The Spaniard has already been tinkering with his defensive set-up away from the potential of more new signings entering through the door, with faces such as Nico O’Reilly becoming a regular in the back four as an attack-focused full-back.
But, he won’t be done there when it comes to freshening up his XI, with goalkeeper targets such as Porto shot-stopper Diogo Costa reportedly on the agenda.
FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
A move for Costa hasn’t got off the ground by all accounts, leaving City looking for other stoppers who could do a job over the expected departee of Ederson, with Paris St Germain star Gianluigi Donnarumma now listed as one of their main targets in between the sticks.
Indeed, reports from Italy suggest that Guardiola and Co are keen admirers of the 6 foot 5 ‘keeper who is just fresh off helping Luis Enrique’s men reach a Champions League final at the expense of Arsenal.
He could well be locking horns with the Gunners again very soon if a move to the Etihad comes to fruition, with City hopeful that a new presence in goal can work wonders, much like Vincent Kompany managed in defence over many celebrated years after joining way back in 2008.
Why Donnarumma could be the best defensive buy since Kompany
Obviously, it goes without saying that the Belgian centre-back is royalty in the light blue contingent of Manchester, with the now-retired defender a stalwart of many a successful City side even before Guardiola’s inspired arrival.
In total, the 89-time Belgium international would notch up a colossal 360 appearances for the Citizens, with a mammoth 167 wins also coming his way in the Premier League from 265 clashes.
A classy performer that was just designed for the big occasion, as is seen in his wonder goal versus Leicester City clinching his fourth and final top-flight success – Kompany also offered some much-needed defensive solidity in spades, with a bumper 94 clean sheets tallied up in Premier League action.
Donnarumma will hope he can walk into the building and be as transformative for City’s fortunes, with Ederson only keeping a weak ten clean sheets this campaign from 34 overall contests.
PSG
152
151
50
AC Milan
251
265
88
Italy
72
63
29
Whereas, the Italy captain – away from his heroics against Mikel Arteta’s men – has managed to pick up one more clean sheet than his City counterpart lining up for PSG, adding to his ever-growing career clean sheet total of 167 subsequently.
Once heralded as “world class” when starring for his nation by commentator Matteo Bonetti, Donnarumma’s addition to the ranks could also help City reclaim their authority as serial trophy winners, with the 26-year-old currently six trophies deep into his stay in the French capital, away from terrorising England during Italy’s 2021 Euro success.
Lauded further by Enrique as “one of the best goalkeepers in the world”, City would really show they mean business if they landed the alert ‘keeper.
Just remember the trophy-winning difference Alisson made at Liverpool; Donnarumma could be their equivalent in the present day, boosting Pep’s defence just as Kompany did all those years ago.
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Abhishek Sharma failing to make the most of his opportunities was perhaps the only thing that didn’t go to plan for India against Bangladesh
Hemant Brar13-Oct-20244:28
Takeaways: Samson and Hardik fly, but Abhishek misses out
Abhishek’s missed opportunity
When Abhishek Sharma was picked as the only regular opener in the squad, it was clear he was going to play all three matches. It gave him an opportunity to strengthen his case as India’s back-up opener when Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal return. He did show great intent but failed to last more than 11 balls in any of the games – though, to be fair to him, he was run out for no fault of his in the first T20I in Gwalior. With ball, he sent down three overs and took one wicket for 18 runs.Related
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The day Samson and his truth burned bright
Samson shows his strength
After two successive ducks in Sri Lanka, it seemed like Sanju Samson was going to fall behind, again. Opening the innings against Bangladesh, he looked good in the first T20I before holing out for 29 off 19 balls. Finally, in the third T20I, he showed why he has so many backers – in a masterclass in effortless hitting, he scored the second-fastest T20I hundred for India. It may not make him India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in a full-strength squad, but he shouldn’t have to worry about his place in the squad when the team tours South Africa next month for four T20Is.
India’s fearless approach
At the start of the series, Suryakumar Yadav had said he wanted his players to be selfless. And the players followed their captain’s order to a T. Samson’s innings in the first T20I was one such case. Given India were chasing only 128, he could have taken his time after a quick start but he was dismissed attempting a six. The second T20I in Delhi gave an even bigger example of that approach. Even after being reduced to 41 for 3 in the sixth over, they kept their foot on the pedal and eventually got 221 for 9. When everything went as per the plan in the third T20I, they posted 297 for 6, the second-highest total in the format.2:39
Ten Doeschate: ‘We don’t give opportunities; the guys earn them’
India, a team of allrounders
Another significant feature of India’s playing XIs in the series was the presence of a plethora of allrounders. Till recently, India struggled to find players who could chip in with both bat and ball. But that is no longer the case. Without compromising on the batting depth, Suryakumar had at least seven bowling options in every match. Hardik Pandya showed he could still finish with bat and bowl at a lively pace. Nitish Kumar Reddy emerged as Hardik’s worthy understudy, scoring 74 off 34 balls and taking two wickets in only his second T20I. Riyan Parag and Washington Sundar also gave good accounts of themselves in the limited chances they got.
Varun’s successful comeback
With multiple allrounders in their XI now, India do not necessarily need a like-for-like replacement for Ravindra Jadeja. In this series, they went with Varun Chakravarthy as their lead spinner (who can’t really bat) and he did not disappoint. Making a comeback after three years, Varun started with a three-for in the first T20I before picking up 2 for 19 in the second. He capped it with an economical 4-0-23-0 in the last game. He will face stiff competition when Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are available but he has done no harm to his chances.1:53
‘Always good to have competition within the team’ – Varun Chakravarthy
Mayank leaves his mark
When Mayank Yadav was picked after a long injury layoff, everyone wanted to see if he was the same 155kph bowler who took the cricket world by storm at IPL 2024. Making his T20I debut in Gwalior, he started with a maiden and bowled 18 of his 24 deliveries above 140kph. Twelve of those were in excess of 145kph. Even though his top speed in the series was 150.3kph, he was largely accurate and played all three games without any fitness concerns. He has also worked on his slower ball and used it regularly.Mayank and Reddy’s debuts, though, might not be great news for Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad, their respective IPL teams. Now they cannot keep them for INR 4 crore, the retention fee for uncapped players. Kolkata Knight Riders were lucky in that sense as Harshit Rana had a viral infection before the third T20I and remains uncapped.
His powerplay strike rate of 148.31 is the highest among all batters (min 25 innings) in the CPL, and he looks good for more
Deivarayan Muthu30-Sep-20221:15
Rahkeem Cornwall: “My six-hitting is natural”
An ideal T20 opening batter is one who dashes out of the blocks, takes risks selflessly, and doesn’t mind losing his wicket in the process. Rahkeem Cornwall is the perfect fit for this role. His powerplay strike rate of 148.31 is the highest among all batters who have batted in a minimum of 25 innings in the CPL; Faf du Plessis, Sunil Narine, Brendon McCullum and Evin Lewis round off the top five in this list.That Cornwall is in such an elite company despite no exposure to the other big T20 leagues makes his record even more remarkable. Batting in T20 cricket has become increasingly specialised, but Cornwall’s approach is a simple one: “I think I just stick to my game plan and once the ball is in my area, I tend to make sure I capitalise and put it away,” Cornwall told ESPNcricinfo ahead of the CPL 2022 final.Related
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Role clarity, strong powerplay – why Royals are ruling CPL 2022
Tallawahs stand between Royals and redemption at CPL 2022 final
In the first qualifier against Guyana Amazon Warriors on a Providence pitch that wasn’t too conducive to run-scoring, Cornwall cracked 11 sixes during his 54-ball 91. Only Andre Russell has hit more sixes in a CPL innings. Cornwall is particularly strong down the ground but his stable base, still head and strong forearms allow him to even tug balls from well outside off into the leg side. He revealed that he doesn’t spend much time on range-hitting, attributing his six-hitting to his natural skills.”Not really – I haven’t done any range-hitting and I think that [six-hitting] is natural,” Cornwall said. “I think I’m strong enough down the ground or any area – [I’m] a 360[-degree] player. So, I just have to focus on shot selection and wait till the ball is in my area to put it away.”T20 is a fickle, chaotic game, but Cornwall has learnt to embrace failures and stay true to his role of maximising the powerplay.”As a player, once you back yourself, failure is going to come and there’s no doubt at it. It’s just how you bounce back from that failure,” Cornwall said. “Yes, I may hit 11 sixes one day, but on another day, I may get holed out off the first one. So you have to just back yourself as a player and trust your skills and go for what you believe in.”Cornwall had suffered an ankle injury midway through CPL 2022, but he hasn’t let that disrupt his rhythm – with bat and ball. Cornwall was actually underutilised with the ball at St Lucia Kings last season – he bowled all of two overs in CPL 2021 – but at Barbados Royals, he seized his opportunity, enjoying his most productive season with seven wickets at an economy rate of 5.53.Rahkeem Cornwall – leading the charge in the powerplay in the CPL•ESPNcricinfo LtdRoyals are quite big on pairing up a thrifty fingerspinner with a more aggressive wristspinner. At the IPL now, they have R Ashwin with Yuzvendra Chahal. At the SA20, Bjorn Fortuin will work with Tabraiz Shamsi. At this CPL, Cornwall complemented Mujeeb Ur Rahman (a mystery fingerspinner) and Hayden Walsh (a legspinner).”The communication has been very good [with the wristspinners],” Cornwall said. “Me and Hayden grew up [together] from childhood and we always share information between us on how the pitch is playing, what sort of length you need to bowl. And [I am] just getting to know Mujeeb. The conversations are going good with him too, and just trying to pick his brain to see what I can take from his game into my game.”Cornwall’s confidence is so high this season that he finally decided to flick out his carrom ball – a variation he has been working for a while – in the first qualifier against Guyana Amazon Warriors. The ball veered away from Romario Shepherd, who could only skew a catch to cover. Having done his job with both ball and bat this season, Cornwall believes that he is close to unlocking his full potential as an allrounder.”I’ve been working on it [carrom ball] for a long period of time at the nets but didn’t really have the confidence [earlier] to bowl in the match itself,” Cornwall said. “I gave it a try this time around and it worked out well for me.”Yeah, this year I’ve really shown what I can do with the ball and over the years I’ve been performing with the bat. So, I’m happy that my bowling is coming along this year and getting the opportunity to bowl. I grabbed it with both hands.””I’ve been working on it [carrom ball] for a long period of time at the nets”•CPL T20/Getty ImagesAt 6’5″ and 140kg, Cornwall is among the heaviest cricketers ever and that has often distracted people. Jason Holder was one among those people, but having now seen Cornwall from close quarters at Royals, he believes that Cornwall has the tools to succeed in international cricket.”I look at somebody like Jimbo [Cornwall] and despite his size – yes, he has got his restrictions – I think there is a role for him in international cricket,” Holder said. “I was probably one of those persons who were probably blindsided by his size and probably his mobility. But seeing year on year, what he does and seeing how dynamic this version of the game [T20 cricket] has become and how specific you got to be in terms of particular points of the game, I strongly believe that Jimbo can play international cricket at this level.”People underrate his bowling and to me he has shone leaps and bounds over lot of different legspinners and lot of other spinners in the competition. And his power at the beginning of the innings speaks volumes. So, he is one I think I would love to see at the international level.”Cornwall has never played a white-ball international, but if he keeps firing like this, West Indies – and bigger T20 leagues – should come calling for him.
A remarkable innings hasn’t completely dispelled the doubts about his suitability for Test cricket
George Dobell09-Aug-2020Just when England were ready to change that stupid lock and make him leave his key, Jos Buttler goes and produces an innings like that.By the time Chris Woakes joined Buttler on Saturday, England’s position looked hopeless. Buttler’s too. After an untidy performance with the gloves, he knew he was under pressure to perform.Somehow, it appeared to focus his mind. Gone was the tentative, diffidence that has characterised Buttler’s batting over the last 18 months or so. In its place was the Buttler familiar from limited-overs cricket: positive; inventive; destructive and focused.That positivity was crucial. Having just seen Ollie Pope dismissed by an unplayable delivery that reared and took the glove, Buttler and Woakes knew that batting against a second new ball – due in 35 overs when they came together – was likely to prove deeply problematic. So they decided to take it out of the equation.ALSO READ: Stokes to miss rest of Pakistan series with family matterThat they did so in vastly different styles did England no harm at all. For while Woakes tended to give himself room to cut and drive through the off side, where he scored 63 of his 84 runs, Buttler upset Yasir Shah’s plans with his quick footwork and ability to sweep and reverse sweep even out of quite substantial foot marks. He scored 38 on the leg side and 37 on the off.There’s risk inherent in such shots, of course. And there were a couple of top-edges which, another day, might have ended up in the hands of fielders. But these are the calculated risks that Buttler was picked to play and his fast hands and utter commitment to the plan proved equal to the challenge.Besides, what was the alternative? Trust his defence and get them in singles? That’s not Buttler’s game. And it wasn’t that pitch. By the time Pakistan did have access to the new ball, it was all too late. But it was telling that the stroke that brought victory – less a stroke and more of an edge, really – came from the 13th delivery with the new ball. It moved alarmingly and the edge would have gone to third slip had Pakistan been able to afford to have one. England’s tactics were fully vindicated.Let nobody be in any doubt as to the state of the surface. We had already seen Ben Stokes dismissed by one that reared out of the foot marks. At one stage Buttler was struck in the chest by a top-spinner that reared alarmingly; at another he top-edged a pull when the delivery seemed to stick in the pitch. It was desperately tough.Jos Buttler pulls through midwicket•Getty ImagesThat there was not a single maiden bowled in the 33 overs the pair batted together isn’t an especially flattering reflection on Pakistan’s tactics. But it’s difficult to save the singles when batsmen keep smashing boundaries. And Buttler, in particular, could give a whippet a decent race. More experienced captains than Azhar Ali would have been left scratching their head by this stand.Equally, you can forgive Pakistan’s spinners looking a bit flustered. To bowl into a foot mark and be reverse-swept for four is perplexing. To then bowl almost the same ball and be swept or driven is bound to leave a bowler confused. Shadab Khan looked intimidated and dragged a couple down. Buttler, rocking on to the back foot, pulled him for six as reward.So, where does all this leave Buttler? James Vince, for example, was dropped after making 76 in his last Test innings. Will this 75 save Buttler?Almost certainly. There was very little evidence England were prepared to move on from him anyway. It was actually his third good innings in succession, too. And while he’s still short of runs in general as a Test batsman – this was his highest score since September 2018 – it was a reminder of the potential he possesses.The problem here, though, is that Buttler is at the stage of his career where England would have hoped “potential” had been turned into “performance”. Buttler is a dangerous batsman, for sure. In the way Jermaine Blackwood and Shahid Afridi might be described as dangerous. But he’s 30 in a month and has been playing for more than a decade. That first-class average of 32.36 doesn’t lie. If he’s going to bat in the top six, or even top seven, such innings have to come much more often.So, the fundamental issues remain. He doesn’t score quite enough runs to justify a role as a specialist batsman and he doesn’t keep quite well enough to provide the assurances England require there.
Modest in victory, generous to rivals and selfless even when under personal pressure, you can see why England want Buttler around
Maybe that’s unfair. The keeping mistakes in Manchester were out of character. And it was revealed after the game that his father has been unwell recently and spent Friday night in hospital.Generally he has been sound with the gloves and, standing back to the seamers, has taken some outstanding catches. The worry is his ability to stand up to spinners. And with England currently hoping to play seven Tests in Asia this winter, that’s a weakness that could be exposed. An innings of 75, however classy, doesn’t change that.One option would be to recall Ben Foakes. Buttler himself said Foakes had provided him with a “wake-up call” as to the standards required at Test level.That would leave Buttler fighting for a place as a specialist batsman. But we’ve been here before. The reason Buttler was given the gloves back in November was that he was struggling to retain his position on his batting alone. Woakes, for example, has the same number of Test centuries, more first-class centuries and actually saw England home on Saturday; nobody is suggesting he bats in the top six.So it probably won’t happen. Instead, England will hope Buttler’s hard work with the coaching staff, and keeping consultant, Bruce French, will reap rewards. He certainly won’t lack for effort or good intentions.Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes build their momentum-changing stand•Getty ImagesAnd that’s another factor here. For Buttler’s humility after his innings on Saturday was revealing. He knew he hasn’t been contributing as much as he would have liked; he knew he owed the team a performance. But instead of unleashing a Denesh Ramdin-style rebuke to his critics, he accepted he “didn’t keep well” and that he was playing for his place. Modest in victory, generous to rivals and selfless even when under personal pressure. You can see why they want such a character around.Joe Root deserves some credit, too. Root’s captaincy seems to attract quite a lot of criticism but it may depend on how you define the role. For while there may be reasonable quibbles with some of his tactics – that spell after lunch on day two, for example, when he bowled himself for a few overs instead of one of his four seamers – that is a tiny part of the job. More important, surely, is the ability to build a sense of shared purpose and unity within a squad; to instil an environment which is both hard working but relaxed; to get players playing for one another and the team more than themselves. The evidence suggests Root is rather good at that.In recent days, it has twice emerged that a well-timed word here and there has made all the difference. In Southampton, Stokes found a note telling him to captain his own way; in Manchester, Buttler was urged to “remember who you are” as he went out to bat. Root might not always have handled Jofra Archer perfectly, but he seems to have learned from the experience to become a wiser, more empathetic captain.Yes, Root isn’t scoring the runs he would like, but England have now won six Tests in a row under his leadership. More than that, they’ve evolved from a point where they were at each other’s throats a few years ago and were none too popular with opponents, either. Root is doing a lot right as captain. If he feels he needs Buttler as one of his trusted lieutenants, well, maybe he has a point.
There's less than two weeks remaining in the 2025 MLB season, but the playoff race remains wide open as teams compete for one of each league's three wild-card spots.
Entering play Wednesday, the wild card winners would include the Yankees, Astros and Red Sox from the American League, and the Cubs, Padres and Mets in the National League.
But just because a team is currently in position to sneak into the postseason doesn't mean the job is done. There are a handful of teams still sitting within striking distance, and a strong end of the season could enable them to surpass one of the teams currently tracking to earn a wild-card berth.
Let's take a look at which teams are still in the mix yet currently on the outside looking in at the playoff race. We'll break down what each team must do to sneak into the postseason both in terms of their remaining schedule and a struggling star who needs to step up.
American League
Cleveland Guardians (80–71), 2.5 GB of final wild-card spot
Remaining schedule: @ DET (1), @ MIN (4), vs. DET (3), vs. TEX (3) FanGraphs playoff odds: 16.8%
The Guardians have caught fire at the right time. Now just 2.5 games behind the Red Sox in the wild-card race, Cleveland has won 10 of its last 11 games, including six in a row. The Guardians have eight games against division rivals remaining, including four against the AL Central-leading Tigers, whom they trail by 4.5 games, and end the season with a pivotal matchup against the Rangers, who sit behind them in the AL playoff hunt.
That matchup against Texas could directly determine whether Cleveland's season will extend into October. Of course, beating the Rangers will be vital, and sweeping them would effectively eliminate Texas from playoff contention, but even that might not be enough for the Guardians if they don't take care of business against Detroit and Minnesota.
The Guardians will be looking to Steven Kwan to heat back up offensively. The usually reliable outfielder struggled throughout the summer, but appears to be rediscovering his usual form. After logging a .514 OPS in the month of August, he’s batting .308 with a .753 OPS in 16 games in September. As his play has improved, so has that of his team, and the fan base will certainly be hoping he can stay hot through the end of the year.
Texas Rangers (79–74), 4.5 GB
Remaining schedule: vs. MIA (3), vs. MIN (3), @ CLE (3) FanGraphs playoff odds: 3.7%
The Rangers sit two games behind the Guardians in the wild-card race, but they've lost four straight and were just swept by the rival Astros. As mentioned above, the season-ending series between Texas and Cleveland could serve as an elimination round—though at this point even the winner isn’t guaranteed to qualify for the postseason.
The Rangers need to make sure they're still in position to potentially get into the playoffs by the time that series arrives on Sept. 26. Prior to that, they take on the Marlins and Twins, and not getting the most out of those series against teams in the bottom half of the standings would be a major failure on the part of the Rangers.
As a team, the Rangers rank 24th with a .664 OPS over the last 15 days. Adolis Garcia will need to do his part following his return from injury. Since re-entering the lineup Sunday, Garcia has just one hit in nine at-bats. He's had a disappointing year overall, logging a .677 OPS, but his team will need him to play up to his usual standards if they want to end the year on a high note.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks (77–76), 1.5 GB
Remaining schedule: vs. PHI (3), vs. LAD (3), @ SD (3) FanGraphs playoff odds: 7.1%
Arizona is within striking distance of the Mets, who are clinging onto the final wild-card spot in the National League. The Diamondbacks had won four in a row before losing in extra innings to the fellow playoff-chasing Giants on Wednesday—wasting nine innings of one-hit ball by Brandon Pfaadt—dropping them to just one game above .500.
The D-Backs have an off day to recover before confronting a tall task this weekend against the Phillies, who have already clinched the NL East but are still trying to overtake the Brewers for home-field advantage in the NL playoffs. And the difficult schedule doesn't subside there, with the D-Backs slated to close out the year against the Dodgers and Padres, two teams fighting to improve their playoff seeding and win the NL West. If they can get some good results against teams they're plenty familiar with, they could find themselves playing in October. It will be anything but easy, though.
One player the Diamondbacks could use a bit more from of late is Ketel Marte. The standout second baseman has a 72 WRC+ over the last month and has a .185 batting average across 13 games in September. He's one of the best hitters in baseball when he's locked in at the plate, and fans in Arizona will be hoping he can return to form down the stretch with a playoff spot still up for grabs.
Cincinnati Reds (76–76), 2 GB
Remaining schedule: vs. CHC (4), vs. PIT (3), @ MIL (3) FanGraphs playoff odds: 6.2%
If the Reds end up missing out on a playoff spot by a game or two, they’ll have no one to blame but themselves after being swept by the A’s last weekend. Cincinnati did recover to take two of three from the Cardinals this week, but the club must lock in entering the home stretch.
Luckily for the Reds, they end their season against the Cubs, Pirates and Brewers—three division rivals without as much to play for. Chicago just punched its ticket to the playoffs Wednesday and may take its foot off the gas pedal a bit, as Milwaukee might in the season’s final series since it should have the NL Central wrapped up by then. The Pirates have long stopped playing meaningful baseball.
But if the Reds are going to play in the postseason for the first time since 2020, they'll need more from their star players. Elly De La Cruz has slumped of late, and it'll be crucial for him to get back on track. The shortstop is slashing just .175/.266/.246 this month, with three extra-base hits in 57 at-bats. He hasn’t homered since July 31 and has just one home run since the All-Star break, compared to 18 in the first half.
If De La Cruz can't get right at the plate, the Reds will have a difficult time finding the run support they need to take down some of their tough opponents to close out the year, even if their division rivals aren’t faced with the same do-or-die situation.
San Francisco Giants (76–76), 2 GB
Remaining schedule: @ LAD (4), vs. STL (3), vs. COL (3) FanGraphs playoff odds: 4%
After winning their first four games in September, the Giants have faltered a bit, and are now losers of five of their last seven games. They're a half-game behind the Diamondbacks after losing a midweek series to Arizona and now find themselves on level ground with the Reds. They end the season with matchups against the Dodgers, Cardinals and Rockies, all teams they've already played against this month.
When trading for Rafael Devers earlier this year, the expectation was that the team could contend for the playoffs. Despite that, the Giants struggled after the acquisition and ended up being sellers at the trade deadline. If they're to get over this final hurdle and make it to the postseason, they'll need Devers to step up and play like the superstar they acquired him to be.
The lefty slugger has a .661 OPS this month with a .190/.299/.362 slash line. He has just five hits in his last 40 at-bats, and is without a home run during that span. The Giants need Devers to find himself at the plate over the next two weeks, or else their chances of playing in October will quickly fade.