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“Whoever I’m playing, I want to do a miracle on the ground so that I can make my country proud,” Shivam Dube says after starring role in India’s win over UAE

Shashank Kishore11-Sep-20251:48

Dube: ‘I am always prepared to bowl four overs’

Since IPL 2023, Shivam Dube has been a casualty of the Impact Player rule that has greatly limited opportunities for allrounders to showcase their dual skills. Over the past three seasons, Dube’s bowling numbers read: 3-0-47-1.In a way, this limitation has been a factor in Dube’s hunger to contribute with the ball, and continue to upgrade his skill sets. To that end, the work he has put in at training, especially with his bowling, has been noticeable.On Wednesday, India didn’t to hand Dube the ball. Suryakumar Yadav did, and Dube picked up three wickets across two overs. There was a seam-up that nipped away to nick off Asif Khan, a nip-backer that trapped Dhruv Parashar, and a slower delivery that had Junaid Siddique slogging to mid-on.Related

• Suryakumar withdraws appeal against Siddique to spark debate

• Kuldeep makes it worth the wait

• Stats – The shortest T20I that India has ever played

• Kuldeep bags four as India demolish UAE in 17.4 overs

“The captain and the coach told me earlier itself that I will bowl [at the Asia Cup] and that they are confident about me,” Dube said at the press conference after India’s demolition of UAE. “My bowling coach [Morne Morkel] has told me a lot of things. I was preparing for this for a long time, that I will get an opportunity to bowl and when it comes, I’ll be ready. What happened today is because of that preparation.”Dube admitted that while his role with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL has largely been that of a power-hitter, he has used the time away to gather plenty of bowling miles. Even if it doesn’t instantly result in him bowling as many overs as he would like to.”The answer lies in your question itself,” Dube said when asked about the Impact Player rule. “The scheme of an allrounder has been reduced. Because of that, in the IPL, there wasn’t a necessity for me to bowl. But, from my side, I was always prepared. Every match, I was ready to bowl. I was working really hard before the IPL also. I spent two months working on my fitness and bowling.”That effort seems to be paying off. Dube credited Morkel for fine-tuning his action and approach. The two have been in each other’s ears constantly at training. Two days ago, Morkel had even stated the importance of having someone of Dube’s abilities prep in a manner that gives him the confidence to bowl in pressure situations.”At the England series [in January-February], he told me a few things,” Dube said. “He told me to bowl from outside [wider of the crease] and to bowl slower [from a certain angle]. I have been working on that for a long time. He told me a few things about my bowling run-up too. Because of those two-three things, my bowling is getting better. My pace is also improving and I am getting confidence.”Today’s start was very important. As an allrounder, I am always prepared for four overs of bowling. Whenever I get an opportunity to bowl three-four overs, I am ready for it. I will try and do what the team needs.”There aren’t just bowling tweaks that Dube has been working on. Between IPL 2025 and now, he has worked a lot on his batting too, back at home in Mumbai. One of the aspects he identified was working on improving against the short ball bowled at high pace and into his body. The Asia Cup opener was his first competitive outing since the IPL ended in May (barring three middling games at the Mumbai T20 League where he captained ARCS Andheri).1:55

Why did Suryakumar let Siddique bat despite being out?

“About my batting, I was thinking of adding some of the shots,” he said of his tailored training. “Yes, I can hit in certain areas. But certain bowlers are there who come on me with the short balls and all. I worked [on that] in the IPL. And even after IPL, I have been working on some extra shots that I can bring to the Indian team. And yes, I was working on my fitness because I knew that if I become fitter, then I can bowl four overs or whatever the team requires.”Dube’s selection in India’s XI against UAE reflected the team management’s emphasis on extending the batting depth till No. 8 – a call that, in turn, makes his ability to deliver with the ball even more crucial. Dube revealed that there had been a lot of learning from the coaches and off Hardik Pandya, who isn’t exactly like-for-like but someone whose experience he’s been more than happy to dip into.”Hardik is someone from whom I always learn,” Dube said. “He is like a brother to me. As a cricketer, he has a lot of experience in international cricket and IPL. So I feel I have a lot to learn from him with regards to both batting and bowling. I have never thought about comparison. I just thought I should get something from him with which I can improve myself.”2:21

Can UAE take away anything from this thrashing?

Asked to talk about the quality of India’s opponents in their opening game, Dube was sympathetic, especially the UAE batters’ inability to handled the quality of India’s spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.”I can’t say whether they were able to pick or not… I’m not going to say they [UAE batters] are not of the same class,” Dube said. “I will never say that to any opponent because I feel it doesn’t send out a good message. Yes, they [Kuldeep and Varun] are mystery bowlers. Even I am not able to pick them up sometimes [in the nets]. So there is nothing in that.”It was only when Dube was inevitably asked about the next game, against Pakistan, that he chose to be slightly more guarded. “Whether it’s a match with UAE or Pakistan, it’s important for me when I go on the ground and for my team that… our coach has said something that has always been in my heart and mind: that whenever you go on the ground, whenever you represent your country, you have a chance to do something big for the country.”Gautam [Gambhir] sir has always said this. So, keeping that in mind, whether it’s Pakistan or UAE, or whoever I’m playing with in the future, I want to do a miracle on the ground so that I can make my country proud.”

Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup campaign continues. Eddie Howe’s fine record against Tottenham Hotspur continues. The sense that the Magpies are gearing up for yet another glittering chapter in this incredible story grows stronger.

A pair of headers got the job done against Thomas Frank’s Spurs, courtesy of centre-back Fabian Schar and new striker Nick Woltemade, who arrived from Stuttgart for a club-record £69m fee in August, replacing Alexander Isak.

The German striker faced his detractors upon that high-profile and much-scrutinised move to the Premier League, but he’s passing each test with flying colours, and he proved his worth once again with a strong performance in the cup.

Nick Woltemade continues to impress

Woltemade, 23, has scored six goals from just 11 matches in a Newcastle shirt. That’s quite the return for a raw, up-and-coming forward trying their hand in a new country for the first time.

Premier League

6

482′

4

Champions League

3

86′

1

Carabao Cup

2

92′

1

But he’s been immense, and his confident header against Tottenham, latching onto Joe Willock’s cross, underscored the quality and potential still to come.

Woltemade has drawn all the plaudits, with onlookers singing his praises once again as he helped his team advance to the quarter-finals. Yet again, he proved he’s more than just a goalscorer, creating two chances and winning four duels (as per Sofascore).

However, he wasn’t the best player on the pitch, and that’s a testament to the outfit Howe has crafted.

Indeed, there’s one man in particular who is starting to look like one of the very best in the business.

Newcastle's "absolute joke" outplayed Woltemade

Newcastle are defined by their recruitment, and while you could pick any number of Howe signings as jackpot additions, none stand taller than Sandro Tonali, whose rise has been well-documented over the past year, and yet he still shocks onlookers with his quality.

After a tough maiden year in England, the Italy international has grown into his skin and is now one of the Premier League’s best players. He simply has so many dimensions to choose from, and was praised to no end for his Man of the Match performance.

Described as an “absolute joke” who “just keeps getting better and better” by journalist Andy Sixsmith, there’s a feeling across Tyneside that the 26-year-old could be the key to shattering expectations this term, and he took Newcastle that step closer with a controlled performance against the Lilywhites.

Schar opened the scoring in the first half, but it was Tonali’s inch-perfect delivery that found the Swiss’s head. This is a man of many talents, who won both of his tackles and made seven ball recoveries besides.

But most impressive of all is that the 92-touch Tonali lost the ball only three times on the evening. He was sitting in the centre of the park, and yet he was almost untouchable as he orchestrated and engineered.

The Shields Gazette were blown away by the tireless performance, hailing Tonali’s 9/10 display and drawing attention to his energy and quality. In a sentence: he was peerless in the middle of the park.

Tonali just continues to be so effortlessly good. His football is a work of art, but he’s tenacious and gripping too, absolutely a completely-shaped midfielder.

Woltemade might be the goal-getter, and someone like Bruno Guimaraes the stylish leader, but Tonali is the metronome, making everyone tick.

Not just Joelinton: Newcastle's "true legend" may now be on borrowed time

Newcastle may well part ways with this Howe mainstay at the end of the campaign.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 29, 2025

Former Australia captain Aaron Finch believes Travis Head remains best suited to batting at No. 5 in the day-night Test at the Gabba despite his barnstorming century opening in Perth, while both he and Michael Clarke are convinced that Nathan Lyon has to play as the home side weigh up the best balance of side to face England after their demolition job in the opening match of the Ashes.Usman Khawaja’s spot has come under scrutiny after Head’s spectacular century at the top when he was promoted after Khawaja suffered further back spasms on the second day, having also been unable to take his usual spot in the first innings with England collapsing so quickly he couldn’t make up enough time on the field.Related

• Head adds to career catalogue of mind-blowing knocks on the biggest stage

• Switch Hit: Travball 1-0 Bazball

• The world where Lyon doesn't play at the Gabba

• Hazlewood returns to training, Cummins arms himself with pink ball

However, Finch said that the pink-ball factor of the second Test adds another layer on how Australia may structure their side and argued that in this case having Head in the middle was the favoured option.”If this wasn’t a pink-ball test match coming up at the Gabba, I would tend to agree and say, you know what, maybe it is time to throw him [Head] up there and you just launch into it from day one of a Test,” Finch told ESPN’s .”But I just feel as though the fact that it is a pink-ball test, the impact that that brand new ball can have and the impact that Travis Head can have batting at No. 5 when the pink ball does go a bit soft and the game can sort of, the wicket can flatten out. I like him at five still, just to be that real explosive player through the middle order.”Khawaja batted at No. 4 on the first day in Perth and gloved a rising delivery from Brydon Carse. His form was a talking point ahead of the Ashes after making one Test century in his last 44 innings prior to the series.Brisbane would be a home Test for Khawaja – where he is the leading run-scorer in day-night first-class cricket at the Gabba with 502 runs at 50.02 – and Clarke does not see Australia shifting from the original plan for now.Usman Khawaja’s position is being debate after Travis Head’s stunning success as an opener•AFP/Getty Images

“I think he plays. I think if he’s fit, they give him another chance,” Clarke said. “I think a few days and Uzzie will be sweet. He hasn’t had this back problem that many times throughout his career, so I think he will be fit.”Meanwhile, both Clarke and Finch agreed that Lyon should be a lock for Brisbane despite only sending down two overs in Perth and having been left out of the day-night Test in Jamaica earlier this year.”He’s in for sure,” Clarke, who was Lyon’s first Test captain, said. “He’s in my XI every Test match. Unless it’s an absolute raging green seamer. Like even Perth, the wicket certainly didn’t look that bad. I’m still picking a spinner in my team.”Finch added: “The impact that Nathan Lyon has in that side is huge. We saw him not selected for the Test in Jamaica…and they were extreme conditions. So Australia decided that they probably weren’t going to use a spinner at all. I can see from that point of view why it happened in Jamaica. At the Gabba, 100%, it should not ever be talked about, Nathan Lyon not being in an Australian XI.”The other decision that will need to be made will be around the fitness of Pat Cummins who is pushing for a return in Brisbane. He bowled with the pink ball in Sydney on Tuesday and speaking during the Perth Test gave himself “half a chance” of being ready for the Gabba.”I think Australia will stick to the plan,” Finch said. “If he’s 100% fit, he plays. If he’s 95% fit, he doesn’t play. I think that’s the way that they’ll go. They’ve been really consistent with how they’ve picked squads, how they’ve picked the XI. And for me, it’s a long series. You don’t want to rush it.”

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And who is the youngest Test centurion?

Steven Lynch13-May-2025Romario Shepherd came in in the 18th over in a recent IPL match and reached 50. Was this a record? asked Dirhan Ahmed from India
Playing for the Royal Challengers against Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru last week, the Guyanese allrounder Romario Shepherd came to the crease to face the fifth ball of the 18th over – and hurtled to 53 from just 14 balls. Only one quicker half-century has been recorded in the IPL, by Yashasvi Jaiswal in 13 for Rajasthan Royals against the Knight Riders in Kolkata in May 2023.Shepherd broke the IPL record for the latest start to a half-century in an innings, previously 14.3 overs by Naman Dhir (62 not out) for Mumbai Indians against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium in May 2024. Dhir’s final partner in that innings was… Romario Shepherd. For more details of Shepherd’s onslaught, click here.Shepherd’s late-arrival fifty has been bettered in a T20 international: against Mongolia at the Asian Games in Hangzou in September 2023, Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee came in after a wicket fell to the first ball of the 19th over, but finished with 52 not out from ten balls, eight of which he hit for six.Ishan Kishan took four catches for Sunrisers the other day. Was this a record for the IPL? asked Mahesh Bhasin from India
Sunrisers’ wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan took four catches – three of them off Pat Cummins – in the no-result game against Delhi Capitals in Hyderabad last week. This was the 26th instance of a keeper making four dismissals in an IPL innings – but there’s one case of five, by Kumar Sangakkara for Deccan Chargers against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Hyderabad in April 2011.There are also 12 instances of an outfielder taking four catches in an IPL innings, and two cases of five: by Mohammad Nabi for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi in October 2021, and Daryl Mitchell for the Super Kings against Sunrisers in Chennai in April 2024.Apparently there’s a great-grandson of a former England captain playing county cricket at the moment. Is it Ben Compton? asked Derek Wilson from England
It’s not Kent’s Ben Compton, as the old England great Denis Compton never captained in a Test. (And Ben is Denis’s grandson, not great-grandson.) The player you’re asking about is actually Harry Came, a batter who made his debut for Hampshire in 2019 (unusually, as a concussion substitute), and moved to Derbyshire two years later. He scored two first-class hundreds in 2023, and has had a useful start to the current season, scoring 83 against Gloucestershire in Derbyshire’s first Championship match, and 73 against Middlesex at the end of April.Came is the great-grandson of the legspinner Walter Robins, who played for Middlesex and captained England in three of his 19 Tests before the Second World War. Robins’ daughter Penelope married Kenneth Came in 1958.Mohammad Ashraful is the youngest Test centurion, scoring his debut hundred at 17 years and 63 days•AFPMushfiqur Rahim was stumped by a substitute in a recent ODI. Has this ever happened before? asked Peter McDonald from England
Mushfiqur Rahim of Bangladesh was stumped by Afghanistan’s Ikram Alikhil – subbing for the injured Rahmanullah Gurbaz – during a one-day international in Sharjah in November 2024. There’s only one previous instance of this in ODIs, and the same Afghanistan double act was involved: Philippe Boissevain of the Netherlands was stumped by Alikhil, subbing for Gurbaz, in Doha in January 2022.There have been no instances of stumped by a substitute in T20Is, but three in Tests: South Africa’s captain Tip Snooke (by Neville Tufnell, on for Herbert Strudwick) against England in Durban in January 1910; Pervez Sajjad (by Bevan Congdon, on for Artie Dick) for Pakistan vs New Zealand in Lahore in April 1965; and Tom Latham (by Srikar Bharat, on for Wriddhiman Saha) for New Zealand vs India in Kanpur in November 2021.Who’s the youngest cricketer to score a hundred in a Test? asked Aahan Bojanui from India
The youngest man to score a Test century is Mohammad Ashraful, in the second innings of his debut for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka in Colombo in September 2001. Going by the date of birth ESPNcricinfo have for him (July 7, 1984), Ashraful would have been 17 years 63 days old at the time – but some sources give the date as September 9, 1984, which would mean he achieved the feat the day before his 17th birthday.Next on the list is Mushtaq Mohammad, who was 17 years 82 days old when he reached his hundred for Pakistan against India in Delhi in February 1961. Sachin Tendulkar of India and Zimbabwe’s Hamilton Masakadza also scored Test centuries before turning 18.For the full list of the youngest Test centurions, click here (note that the ages shown are at the start of the match in question).The youngest to score a century in a women’s Test is Sri Lanka’s Chamani Seneviratna, who was 19 years 156 days old when she scored 105 not out against Pakistan in Colombo in April 1998: this is still Sri Lanka’s one and only official women’s Test match.And there’s an update to last week’s question about Mehidy Hasan Miraz scoring 88 runs and taking five wickets on the same day in a Test:Thanks to his feat against Zimbabwe in Chattogram last month, Mehidy Hasan does hold the men’s record for most runs on a day in a Test on which he also took five wickets – but Chris Gayle ran him close, with 82 and five wickets for West Indies against England at Edgbaston in August 2004.The others to have scored at least 50 runs and taken five or more wickets on the same day are Jimmy Sinclair (6 for 26, then 59 of his eventual 106) for South Africa vs England in Cape Town in April 1899, Dilruwan Perera (five wickets spread over two innings, in between which he scored 64) for Sri Lanka vs Australia in Galle in August 2016, Shakib al Hasan (five wickets and 54) for Bangladesh vs West Indies in Kingston in July 2018, and Wes Hall (50 not out and five wickets to reduce India to 30 for 5) for West Indies in Port-of-Spain in April 1962.Two women also achieved the feat in Tests. England’s Myrtle Maclagan took 7 for 10 and then scored 72 on the first day of the inaugural women’s Test, against Australia in Brisbane in December 1934, while Enid Bakewell took 5 for 56 and then scored 66 not out on the third day of England’s Test against New Zealand in Christchurch in March 1969; she’d scored 114 on the second day.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions02.02GMT, May 7, 2025: This answer said “three” previously. The first instance, featuring John Trumble and Billy Barnes, was added on.

Real Madrid endured a miserable afternoon against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday as they offered little attacking threat on their way to settling for a frustrating 0-0 draw. The high-powered attacking corps of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham were kept quiet in a frustrating contest for manager Xabi Alonso as Los Blancos failed to bounce back from their midweek defeat to Liverpool.

Madrid offered little in the way of attacking threat in the first half., but there were a few chances. Arda Guler, who looked much improved after a dull performance at Anfield, stung the goalkeeper's palms early while Raul Asencio failed to convert from a diving header. Rayo, meanwhile, weren't afraid to hit on the break, and drew a duo of signature stops out of Thibaut Courtois as the half wore on. 

Mbappe had a good effort on the hour mark, but skewed wide, while Bellingham went close after, but saw his poke denied by a late sliding challenge. The home side, in fact, looked more likely to score after the break as they peppered the Madrid goal and created opportunities on the break. At the other end, Mbappe lost his positional disclipline and Bellingham tried to do too much through the middle.

There will, admittedly, be games like this for Madrid – especially away from home – but with the title race poised to be as tight as ever, it could be costly. 

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from Vallecas…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Thibaut Courtois (7/10):

  Made a few important saves, as per usual. Didn't put a foot wrong. 

  Federico Valverde (7/10):

  Motored up and down the right. His side was mostly quiet and he had little to do. 

  Raul Asencio (6/10):

  Had a good chance denied. Kept things tidy otherwise. 

  Dean Huijsen (6/10):

  A pretty poor first half. Got himself booked and looked a little unsteady. Hooked at the break. 

  Alvaro Carreras (7/10):

  Another mightily composed showing at left back. Tried to smash one into the top corner and put it comically wide. 

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• Getty
  

  Midfield

  Eduardo Camavinga (6/10):

  Snapped into tackles, circulated the ball effectively. 

  Jude Bellingham (7/10):

  Full of creativity in the middle, and was a couple of tidy blocks away from a goal. 

  Arda Guler (6/10):

  Much more lively in the first half after a tepid midweek showing. Put one narrowly wide in the second. Saw his influence wane as the game wore on. 

• Getty
  

  Attack

  Brahim Diaz (6/10):

  Lively on the wing, but could have released the ball more effectively. Replaced after 70 minutes. 

  Kylian Mbappe (5/10):

  Rather shut down in the middle, and started to lose his positional discipline. A rare off day. 

  Vinicius Jr (6/10):

  Relatively quiet, and saw his wing crowded by the impatient Mbappe. 

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  Subs & Manager

  Eder Militao (5/10):

  His side of the pitch looked very vulnerable in the second half.

  Dani Ceballos (5/10):

  Brought on for a little more midfield control, which he didn't really offer.

  Rodrygo (5/10):

  Chucked on late, and didn't provide much. 

  Trent Alexander-Arnold (N/A):

  No time to make an impact.

  Xabi Alonso (5/10):

  Went for an attacking setup against an opponent that figured to dig in a bit. Questionable to bring Ceballos on when needing a goal. His side didn't deserve more than a draw.

Detroit Tigers ace lefthander Tarik Skubal cemented himself as the best pitcher in the American League by capturing his second consecutive Cy Young Award earlier in November. And yet, Skubal's name is popping up in trade rumors as MLB's hot stove heats up this winter.

Why?

Tigers‘s reported lowball extension offer to Skubal with free agency looming

Skubal, 29, will be a free agent at season‘s end in 2026. The Tigers, undoubtedly aware of the caliber of pitcher they possess and looking to get ahead of things, in November of 2024 made a contract extension offer to Skubal that his representation, bank-breaking agent Scott Boras, deemed "non-competitive." This past month, with Skubal's '26 free agency still looming and his price tag soaring ever higher on the heels of back-to-back Cy Young Award-winning campaigns, the Tigers reportedly made another offer to the ace lefthander, but the two sides weren't close. The apparent negotiations gulf between Skubal and the Tigers has opened the door to a trade.

Why a Skubal trade makes sense for the Tigers

Skubal has posted back-to-back seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA and 220-plus strikeouts with fewer than 40 walks in 190-plus innings. He's one of the last truly dominant aces in baseball in a bullpen-heavy era where the type starter isn't as prevalent as in past years. MLB has never seen a free agent pitcher command a contract at—or north of—$400 million.

There's every reason to believe that Skubal could become the first.

Represented by Boras, it's very likely that Skubal will hit free agency. Boras is fresh off of an offseason in which he helped Juan Soto land the richest contract for a position player in baseball history. For several million reasons, he'd love to see Skubal surpass Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto's $325 million deal next winter, meaning that Boras clients would own the largest contracts among both position players and pitchers.

And while Boras told reporters he's "prepared to listen" to overtures from Tigers principal owner Chris Ilitch and president of baseball operations Scott Harris in terms of a pre-free agency Skubal contract, a deal seems unlikely to materialize before the star pitcher hits the open market, given the way Boras has traditionally done business. When you consider the Tigers‘ resources, it's reasonable to think that Skubal hitting the open market could spell doom for its chances of retaining the ace. Of the 12 teams that made the postseason in 2025, Detroit's payroll ranked ninth. The Tigers again project to have a payroll that ranks in the bottom half of the league's 30 teams. As great as Skubal is, would the Tigers be willing to allocate a hefty chunk of that payroll to one player?

Should Skubal walk in free agency in '26, Detroit would likely recoup a draft pick in terms of compensation.

That's where a trade potentially factors in.

Given how good he is, Skubal could command a massive haul of prospects as part of a trade return. After the 2025 trade deadline, Detroit's farm system checked in as the sixth-best in MLB.com's rankings. The Tigers boast four top-100 prospects, but none of them are pitchers. In fact, of the Tigers's top-10 prospects, just one of them is a pitcher. Perhaps the Tigers, already armed with one of baseball's youngest rosters, lean further into a youth movement, particularly on the pitching side, to capitalize on the potential loss of Skubal?

If so, there's an argument about the best time to trade Skubal would be. This winter, giving contending teams a potential alternative against the backdrop of a solid starting pitching free agent market that lacks a true ace? Or at the '26 trade deadline, giving the (hopefully) contending Tigers a chance to assess how its season is going, and, potentially convince Skubal to remain in Detroit without him testing the open market.

It's a bit of a precarious position for the Tigers front office. Such is the business of baseball.

Harry Kane hailed Bayern Munich’s fighting spirit after his side secured a last-gasp 3-1 victory over St. Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon. Vincent Kompany's league leaders bounced back from their Champions League defeat against Arsenal in midweek thanks to late goals from forwards Luis Diaz and Nicolas Jackson at the Allianz Arena.

Getty Images SportDiaz and Jackson score late on as Bayern go eight points clear

Locked level heading into stoppage time, Bayern looked set to drop points against strugglers St. Pauli. Alexander Blessin’s visitors took a surprise lead when Burnley loanee Andreas Hountondji scored after just six minutes, before Diaz recorded a stunning assist for Bayern defender Raphael Guerreiro’s equaliser before half time.

And then after three minutes of second-half stoppage time, former Liverpool forward Diaz saved Bayern’s blushes as he headed home from Joshua Kimmich’s teasing cross, before substitute Nicolas Jackson – on loan from Chelsea – made it 3-1 on 90+7. On a day when second-placed RB Leipzig were held to a 0-0 stalemate with Borussia Monchengladbach, Bayern’s victory saw them move eight points clear at the top of the table.

The win also saw Bayern bounce back from their 3-1 loss against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday. Suffering defeat for the first time in Europe’s premier club competition this season, Kompany’s side fell to goals from Jurrien Timber, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli after youngster Lennart Karl scored in the first half.

Advertisement'Proud' Kane pays tribute to Bayern team-mates after the game

And after the final whistle, England captain Kane took to social media to pay tribute to his Bayern team-mates following the all-important win. Writing on X, he said: “Important win today, proud of the boys for pushing until the very end!”

Echoing Kane’s thoughts, Bayern head coach Kompany also praised his side’s determination against St. Pauli, telling reporters: “Such hard-fought wins are part of a season. That gives us confidence in the future that we can win in such situations. Compliments to the boys that they kept going and believed in themselves. We need that over the course of the season.”

Getty Images SportGerman giants' director of sport delivers update on Kane's future

While he was unable to join Guerreiro, Diaz and Jackson on the scoresheet, Kane was a topic of discussion after the match as Bayern director of sport Max Eberl delivered a cryptic update on the striker’s future amid speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona.

Asked whether the Bavarians have entered into contract renewal discussions with Kane, whose current terms expire in 2027, Eberl told “Harry knows exactly what he wants and we have plans for him. We would like to continue. We can very, very well imagine that, but we will basically discuss everything with Harry.”

And when pressed on the future of defender Dayot Upamecano, whose contract expires next summer, Eberl added: “We definitely want it [a renewal]. I think we've communicated that clearly enough. I believe he feels very, very comfortable here.”

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England captain insists he is calm regarding his future at Bayern

While speculation continues to swirl, the former Tottenham forward insists he remains calm over his future at Bayern, saying there is “no rush” to enter into discussions regarding a new contract.

“I haven't had any contact with anyone, nobody has contacted me,” he told this week. “I feel very comfortable in the current situation, even though we haven't yet discussed my situation with Bayern.

“There's no rush. I'm really happy in Munich. You can see that in the way I'm playing. If there's contact, then we'll see. But I'm not thinking about the new season yet. First up is the World Cup in the summer. And it's very unlikely that anything will change after this season.”

Southampton are now two wins from two in the Championship without Will Still occupying the Saints’ hot seat.

Amazingly, this is the first time the South Coast titans have won back-to-back league contests since April 2024, with a miserable bottom-of-the-table finish last season not helping this dismal record, which was then being followed up by Still, unfortunately, looking out of his depth at St. Mary’s.

Now only seven points off the Championship playoff spots, it does feel as if the Saints could mount a promotion push if they can get their next managerial appointment spot on.

All signs are pointing to Gary O’Neil being Still’s successor, as the 42-year-old attempts to put his previous Portsmouth ties to one side as a player, to potentially take over Pompey’s fierce rivals…

The latest on Southampton's manager hunt

The ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers boss is the current frontrunner for the Saints vacancy, with reports in recent days noting that they were trying to conclude a deal having established contact with O’Neil.

However, the unemployed head coach is also being considered by Southampton’s Championship rivals, Norwich City, with the Canaries previously having O’Neil on their books as a midfield star before he retired.

Southampton haven’t just been linked with O’Neil. A return for Russell Martin to the St. Mary’s dugout is also being speculated, after his disastrous time at Rangers was cut short.

Moreover, the current interim manager steering the ship steadily in Tonda Eckert shouldn’t be ruled out, either.

As the German made it two wins from two in a caretaker position, it was reported by Football Insider that he is one of the ‘main’ and ‘key’ contenders under consideration to be given the job.

It would be a risky appointment, with Eckert more used to coaching U21s football than managing in the senior game.

But, to get a disgruntled fanbase back on side, it might well be a better move than going after O’Neil’s services.

Why Eckert could be a better appointment than O'Neil

Of course, in O’Neil’s favour, he has managed at the very top of the English game and succeeded in flashes.

He managed to galvanise the Old Gold during the 2023/24 season, even as the likes of Ruben Neves and Nathan Collins jumped ship, with 13 league wins helping Wolves to a comfortable 14th spot in the unforgiving division. Could he be that same stabilising force on the South Coast that pushes Southampton out of their current mess?

However, when the going got tough at Molineux after a bright 23/24 campaign, everything unravelled at a worryingly quick pace, with just two wins from 16 games in charge the following season – which saw Wolves leak 40 goals – seeing him be unsurprisingly put out of his misery.

Chairman Jeff Shi even stated that he cut ties “too late”, with the mood around St. Mary’s no doubt souring if Southampton’s form was to fall off a cliff under his guidance, owing, again, to his strong Fratton Park loyalties.

Southampton could look to continuity instead, in bumping Eckert up to first-team managerial duties, with the 32-year-old much in the same mould as Still before him in being a new and exciting breed of head coach.

Games managed

12

Wins

7

Draws

4

Losses

1

Goals scored

26

Goals conceded

18

Said to favour a 3-4-2-1 formation, Eckert has also largely been a success at the Saints to date, away from picking up two wins from two as the interim fill-in, with five wins and four draws also collected, working closely with the rising stars coming through at Southampton in the U21 ranks.

He has also been a transformative figure for the senior players to latch on to as well, with Adam Armstrong already picking up an assist against Queens Park Rangers and a goal against the Owls under his short reign to date, with statement summer signing Finn Azaz also on the scoresheet under Eckert last match to pick up his first strike in Southampton red and white since late August.

Azaz would even publicly praise the 32-year-old after that 3-1 victory for being a “very detailed” boss, with the feel-good times hopefully continuing if he can collect more wins.

Surely, if more wins are secured, Eckert will be handed the permanent gig.

After all, the promotion-winning Martin was just a year older than Eckert when he was given his first main job at Milton Keynes Dons, with a move for O’Neil just feeling a lot more stale.

Southampton now 'looking to finalise' deal with "underrated" manager after contact

The Saints are chasing a replacement for Will Still.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 8, 2025

Hasaranga missed out as he’s recovering from a hamstring injury, but SL picked plenty of other spin-bowling options

Madushka Balasuriya21-Aug-2025Uncapped batter Pavan Rathnayake is in line to make his debut for Sri Lanka after being named in their 16-member squad for the limited-overs tour of Zimbabwe.Sri Lanka also recalled Nuwanidu Fernando, who has been knocking on the national team’s door for a while. The 25-year-old made his ODI debut in January 2023, but has played only five ODIs and a solitary T20I so far.Nuwanidu’s recent performances, though, have made him hard to ignore. He struck 122 runs, including a match-winning 82, across two List A games against Australia A in Darwin last month, to go with a first-class century on the same tour. In the recent SLC T20 League, a three-team invitational tournament designed to help selectors finalise squads ahead of the Asia Cup and this Zimbabwe tour, Nuwanidu hit two half-centuries in four innings.Meanwhile, Pavan, who will turn 23 in three days, is another batter who has made waves domestically. He, too, struck a hundred in the second first-class fixture against Australia A, and continued that form back home. Playing for Colombo Cricket Club in the Major Clubs Limited Overs Tournament, Rathnayake scored 63 in the semi-final, and a career-best 158* in the final.Both Pavan and Nuwanidu are also comfortable clearing the boundary, and could inject some power into Sri Lanka’s middle order. With the ODI World Cup still two years away, both will be looking to stake a permanent claim in the side. Sadeera Samarawickrama was also brought back into the fold having last played ODIs in November 2024 and T20Is in June 2024.Sri Lanka’s tour of Zimbabwe begins with two ODIs on August 29 and 31, before the three-match T20I series starts on September 3. All matches will be played in Harare. Those who missed out on getting selected were Avishka Fernando, Eshan Malinga and the injured Wanindu Hasaranga.Hasaranga is still recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered during Sri Lanka’s last series, which was against Bangladesh last month. Jeffrey Vandersay and Maheesh Theekshana provide the frontline spin-bowling options in his absence. Allrounders Dunith Wellalage, Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka round off the spin contingent.The seam-bowling group includes Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka and allrounder Milan Rathnayake.

Sri Lanka’s ODI squad

Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Pavan Rathnayake, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake, Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera