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Arsenal enter the 2025/26 campaign with their sights set on shaking off their reputation as nearlymen and winning the Premier League trophy for the first time in two decades.

Mikel Arteta has added some instant-effect quality to his ranks, but he will also be emboldened by the emergence of prodigious talents like Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri, the latter of whom has just penned a long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal want silverware this season, but they also want to sustain their illustrious place at the top of European football for many years to come, and are prepared to sign another highly valued prospect to develop this vision.

Arsenal targeting new elite prospect

Viktor Gyokeres, signed from Sporting Lisbon for £64m, will bring goals to the front of the senior Arsenal system, while Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard add mettle and high-level quality to the middle of the park.

Transfer Focus

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

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But Arsenal love to incorporate the youth into their journey, and that could be achieved through the signing of one of European football’s most sought-after talents.

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal have entered the race for Ajax prospect Aaron Bouwman, who has been valued at €40m (£35m) despite having yet to break into the senior side.

Chelsea are thought to be in the lead, but if the Gunners canvass their proposal quickly, there’s every chance that they could win the race for the precocious centre-half.

Why Arsenal want Aaron Bouwman

Bouwman has been riding the crest of a wave in recent years, one of the standouts at Ajax’s famed youth academy, which might just be the finest in the world.

Though Arsenal already boast a fantastic backline, led by the brilliant William Saliba, Bouwman might be worth pursuing, for he could emerge as Arteta’s next version of the French defensive force.

Praised as a “wonderful talent” by journalist and youth scout Antonio Mango, Bouwman hasn’t yet made his senior debut for Ajax, but he found himself on the bench two times last season, and with the mounting excitement surrounding his signature rubber-stamped by the recent interest from some of the Premier League’s biggest outfits.

He has, however, featured 42 times for the development side, playing with enough confidence to convince some of England’s elite outfits that his is a signature worth pursuing.

Though it doesn’t seem likely that Arsenal would fork out £35m on a player who has yet to grace the professional pitch, they did pay a similar fee back in July 2019, with the centre-back, who was 18 at the time, joining the north Londoners from St. Etienne for around £27m.

Now of the belief that he is “one of the top three defenders” in the Premier League, Saliba marks a fine representation of Arsenal’s data analysts pouncing when they know that an up-and-comer if worth paying for.

After all, the teenage Saliba had only played 16 matches in Ligue 1 across the 2018/19 season, starting 13 times, but he had done enough to convince the Gunners that he had the potential to become world-class.

And now he is. The France international’s Premier League performances over the past three years certainly underscore exactly how talented a player he is, and shed some light on why technical director Andrea Berta is willing to push ahead and fork out a sizeable figure for a youngster like Bouwman.

William Saliba’s Premier League Career

Stats (* per game)

22/23

23/24

24/25

Matches (starts)

27 (27)

38 (38)

35 (35)

Goals

2

2

2

Assists

1

1

0

Clean sheets

11

18

12

Touches*

77.6

82.9

82.4

Pass completion

91%

93%

95%

Key passes*

0.2

0.2

0.2

Dribble success

90%

71%

67%

Ball recoveries*

7.7

5.61

4.6

Tackles + interceptions*

2.0

1.9

2.4

Clearances*

3.0

2.1

3.4

Duels (won)*

4.0 (61%)

3.7 (60%)

4.3 (64%)

Data via Sofascore

Some might say Saliba’s meteoric rise is a lightning-in-a-bottle sort of success, but Arsenal’s talent radar is finely tuned, and Bouwman might just be the next big thing.

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Posts 1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 9, 2025

Manchester United are now ready to make a shock move for a “world-class” World Cup winner, having held discussions over a deal at the weekend, according to a report.

Strachan believes Man Utd must replace Onana

Former Celtic boss Gordan Strachan has suggested Ruben Amorim needs to replace Andre Onana this summer, given that the goalkeeper doesn’t have the necessary qualities to succeed at Old Trafford.

Strachan said: “When I’ve been successful anywhere, I’ve had goalkeepers with personality and presence. Will it be a physical presence, a personality presence that is always needed in the team,”

“I don’t think Andre Onana got either of them. I don’t think he’s got a physical presence and I don’t think he’s got this personality presence. He looks like he’s constantly at war with himself worrying about making a mistake and that he might have to go somewhere else to get that confidence back.

Amorim appears to be in agreement with the 68-year-old, given that a number of goalkeepers have been identified as potential replacements for Onana already this summer.

Linked GK

Current club

League clean sheets in 24/25

Senne Lammens

Royal Antwerp

10

Diogo Costa

FC Porto

16

Lucas Chevalier

Lille

11

Emiliano Martinez

Aston Villa

9

There has now been a new update on Man United’s pursuit of Emiliano Martinez, with a report from The Daily Mail revealing they are now ready to launch a “shock” move for the Aston Villa goalkeeper, having held talks over a deal at the weekend.

The possibility of signing the 32-year-old on loan has been discussed, but Villa are unlikely to agree to a deal of that nature, given that they would stand to gain nothing by allowing him to join United on a temporary basis.

As such, a permanent departure could be more likely, but the Red Devils may need to shell out around £40m to get a deal done, and it is unclear whether they would be willing or able to pay a fee in that ballpark for the 2022 World Cup hero.

"World-class" Martinez could be instant upgrade on Onana

The likes of Lammens and Costa are yet to prove themselves in a major European league, meaning it could be a risky to take a punt on either goalkeeper as a replacement for Onana, while the Villa shot-stopper has already proven himself at the highest level.

Gary Neville has lauded the Villa star as “world-class”, which is underlined by the fact he has won the Best Fifa Men’s Goalkeeper award two times in the last three years, having made some very important saves during that time.

Unai Emery also praised the Argentina international for a different penalty save against Fulham last season, saying: “Emiliano Martinez is the best goalkeeper in the world. Before the penalty, I was sat down on the bench dreaming he would save it… and he did.”

United need a dependable option between the sticks if they are to reestablish themselves at the top level, and it is difficult to find a better goalkeeper than Martinez.

West Ham United have now opened talks to sign a “phenomenal” Tottenham Hotspur target, who is tempted by a move to the London Stadium this summer, according to a report.

West Ham looking to get revenge for Kudus

It will, of course, be a huge disappointment that Mohammed Kudus decided to join one of West Ham’s biggest rivals, and the forward has continued to make the headlines since sealing a move across the capital.

Upon arriving in north London, Kudus insisted he “only wanted Spurs” in his first interview, and there could be justified anger about the way in which he went about getting the move in the first place, having allegedly refused to return to pre-season training.

Losing a player of the winger’s quality to one of their bitter rivals will be a bitter pill for Hammers fans to swallow, but there has now been a suggestion that they could get instant revenge by swooping in and signing one of Tottenham’s transfer targets.

According to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), West Ham have now entered negotiations to sign Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, and they are more determined to get a deal over the line than any other club in the race for his signature.

Luiz is also on Spurs’ transfer shortlist, with reports suggesting the midfielder would be keen on a move to north London, however, it has now been revealed that he is tempted by a move to the London Stadium, with the Irons currently working to find an agreement.

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A deal will not be cheap, with Juventus setting an asking price of €40m (£35m), but the Italian club are also open to more creative ways of getting the Brazilian off the books, with an expensive loan also on the table, including an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met.

"Phenomenal" Luiz could be statement signing for West Ham

Of course, it will be difficult to compete with Tottenham, given that Champions League football is on offer in north London next season, but the Juventus maestro could be a real statement signing if the Hammers are able to get a deal over the line.

Crucially, the former Aston Villa man is already proven in the Premier League, catching pundit Lee Hendrie’s eye during his spell at Villa Park.

Hendrie said: “He continues to have an absolutely unbelievable season doesn’t he, scoring goals? But that’s his bread and butter, getting back, doing the horrible side of the game and having quality amongst that is absolutely phenomenal.”

As pointed out by Hendrie, the 27-year-old is a very well-rounded midfielder, having particularly impressed going forward in his final season with Villa, regularly chipping in with goals and assists in all competitions.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Premier League

35

9

5

FA Cup

3

0

1

Conference League

12

0

4

Consequently, Luiz could be a fantastic signing for West Ham, with the central midfielder now desperate to seal a return to the Premier League.

Sunderland supporters will be trying to hold back their excitement ahead of the new Premier League season finally kicking off.

There’s no guarantee in place that signings galore will improve your chances of staying afloat in the tricky division, with Ipswich Town picking up 14 total purchases last season and still managing to fall through the relegation trapdoor.

But, the star-studded quality of signing Sunderland is managing to attract makes being giddy quite hard to contain, with the standout £20m purchase of Enzo Le Fee getting the ball rolling this summer, whilst a £30m deal for Habib Diarra to join from Strasbourg edges ever nearer to completion.

Reinildo is also set to join the Stadium of Light ranks after allowing his Atletico Madrid contract to expire, with plenty more notable names being tipped to call Wearside their fresh home shortly.

Transfer latest at Sunderland

Most Sunderland supporters would have been initially apprehensive about all the business being conducted in this hectic transfer window, considering the window opened with both Jobe Bellingham and Tommy Watson deserting the Stadium of Light.

Now, however, the mood has flipped, with the likes of Georgian superstar Georges Mikautadze being tipped to join Le Bris’ enthused ranks alongside those already named, on top of an alleged £17m bid being lodged by the Black Cats to snap up Nantes attacker Matthis Abline.

The most intriguing purchase of them all could soon come in the form of Almeria goal-machine Luis Suarez moving to England, with reports from Spain now suggesting that Sunderland have enquired about landing the explosive attacker.

Such a deal would result in the Black Cats having to fork out £21m, with the La Liga 2 side upping their transfer valuation off the back of Suarez’s impressive 2024/25 offering.

It could even be argued that snapping up the clinical Colombian would see the newly promoted side land an even bigger talent than Diarra, despite the Senegal international costing Sunderland a club-record £30m to snap up.

Why Suarez could be a bigger talent than Diarra

After all, whilst Diarra was able to boast four goals and five assists from the midfield areas last season for Liam Rosenior’s men, Suarez’s numbers up top for Almeria in another demanding European setting are an even more majestic sight to take in.

Transfer Focus

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

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Indeed, the “crazy” South American – as he was once labelled by talent scout Jacek Kulig – would take La Liga 2 by storm with his devastating goalscoring prowess.

That was seen in him collecting 27 of his bumper 31 strikes in the second division, away from also netting four of those efforts in the challenging Copa Del Rey when facing off against opponents from La Liga.

Suarez’s league numbers for Almeria (24/25)

Stat – per 90 mins*

Suarez

Games played

41

Goals scored

27

Scoring frequency

135 mins

Assists

8

Big chances missed

27

Stats by Sofascore

Staggeringly, Suarez would also chip in with eight assists across his 41 La Liga 2 outings, which is three more assists than Diarra managed in the heart of Strasbourg’s midfield, with the hope that the dangerous Almeria marksman can offer up similarly deadly displays when leaping up to the Premier League.

He could instantly displace Wilson Isidor on his arrival, therefore, considering the Frenchman blew hot and cold last campaign with just 13 Championship goals next to his name, away from Suarez wreaking havoc in the Spanish second division.

On the contrary, it doesn’t feel as set in stone that Diarra would instantly dive into Le Bris’ XI – irrespective of his lofty price tag – with Dan Neil already at the Frenchman’s disposal centrally who collected five goal contributions himself last season in league action, alongside Le Bris also possessing the star-quality of Le Fee who could kick on even more up a division.

Whilst Diarra will no doubt go on to be a success story under the ex-Lorient manager’s wing if Le Fee’s trajectory is anything to go off of, it does appear as if Suarez could really burst into life even more as a terrifying goalscorer on Wearside, with his blistering introduction into the English game perhaps helping the Black Cats to maintain their fraught Premier League status.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Jul 1, 2025

2025 has been the year of the returning hero at Celtic Park so far.

Kieran Tierney has returned to Celtic, six years after departing, following in the footsteps of Jota, who re-joined the Hoops during the January transfer window.

So now, could Brendan Rodgers, who is no stranger to a Glasgow return himself, be re-united with a star he once labelled one of Europe’s best young players?

The reaction to Kieran Tierney's Celtic return

After completing his return to his boyhood club last week, Tierney said it “feels amazing” to be back, adding “my ambition is just for Celtic to be as successful as possible”.

Rodgers too exclaimed that he’s “delighted” to add a “talented and high-quality” player to his squad, while Tierney is unquestionably a fans’ favourite in Glasgow’s East End, having come through the academy to make 170 appearances for the club during his first spell, winning 11 major trophies.

So, while there is major excitement about seeing the left-back bedecked in green and white hoops once again, could an even bigger talent also be back later this summer?

Celtic's search for a new striker

Tierney’s return to Parkhead this summer has been met with glee, but when has a left-back ever been more exciting than a new striker? Arguably never.

The Scot has the potential to come back and be a roaring success down the left channels, carving out goalscoring opportunities at will for teammates, but who will be on the end of his teasing balls into the box? Well, another Celtic return could be on the cards and it’s more eye-catching than Tierney.

Indeed, as noted by Ryan McDonald of the Daily Record, Celtic could re-sign striker Odsonne Édouard this summer, with ex-Celtic midfielder Scott Allan believing the club shouldn’t think twice if they are able to add a “fantastic player” to their ranks.

The striker initially arrived at Parkhead on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, scoring on his debut against Hamilton Academical at New Douglas Park, before his move was made permanent the following summer, costing a then-club-record £9m.

In total, Édouard scored 87 goals in 179 appearances for the Celts, numbers that are comparable with the club’s other great centre-forwards of modern times.

Kyōgo

165

85

126

Giakoumakis

57

26

97

Édouard

179

87

140

Dembélé

94

51

120

Griffiths

262

123

118

Hooper

138

82

136

The numbers above rubberstamp why he was more exciting than Tierney in green and white, with only Leigh Griffiths having scored more goals for Celtic since Henrik Larsson’s departure in 2004, with the Scotland international doing so in 83 more appearances.

Édouard ultimately departed for Crystal Palace in August 2021, costing around £18.5m, scoring 21 times for the Eagles, including bagging a memorable double on his debut against Tottenham, but his career has gone off the rails in the last year or so.

Not in Oliver Glasner’s pre-season plans, the Frenchman joined Leicester City on a season-long loan last summer, but this has to go down as one of the most disastrous loan spells of all time, now valued at just £7m by Transfermarkt.

Appearances

6

Minutes

113

Starts

1

Matches an unused sub

3

Matched not in the squad

31

Total matches

40

Édouard was completely frozen out by both Steve Cooper and Ruud van Nistelrooy at Leicester, most recently a substitute on Boxing Day, his last appearance coming on 10 November, while his one and only start for the club came in the Carabao Cup at Walsall in September.

Odsonne-Edouard

As outlined by John Percy of the Telegraph, having featured for both Palace and Leicester in 2024/25, FIFA regulations stipulate that he was unable to represent a third club in the same season.

Thus, Édouard remained stranded in the proverbial wilderness from January onwards, despite the fact the Foxes broke all sorts of records when it came to not scoring, most notably losing eight successive Premier League home games to nil, an unprecedentedly miserable run.

Nevertheless, still 27 years old, the striker certainly still has plenty to offer.

When Édouard signed permanently for Celtic in the first place, Rodgers labelled him one of European football’s “elite young talents”. While he may not still be too young, he still has elite potential, particularly if it took him to Scotland again.

Still searching for a Kyōgo Furuhashi replacement, if the Frenchman becomes available at a cut-price, this would surely be a no-brainer.

More exciting than Tierney: Celtic expected to complete "no-brainer" deal

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1 ByDan Emery Jun 14, 2025

With Trent Alexander-Arnold already likely to join Real Madrid at the end of the season, the Spanish giants are reportedly readying a stunning £76m bid to sign a second Liverpool star.

Alexander-Arnold closing in on Real Madrid move

Yet to sign a new Liverpool deal, any scenario in which Alexander-Arnold stays put at Anfield would have to come to fruition in the coming weeks with his current contract continuing to tick down. Lying in wait when it does expire is Real Madrid, who look destined to land the bargain of the summer and add yet another sensational talent to a stacked squad.

That said, whilst he will be departing the home of the Premier League champions, Alexander-Arnold is unlikely to be joining the home of the Spanish champions following a chaotic campaign full of disappointment for Real Madrid.

With four games to go, Carlos Ancelotti’s side sit four points behind a Barcelona side they just lost the Copa del Rey final against. And given the mood that Hansi Flick’s side have been in at times this season, their grip on the title seems unlikely to loosen.

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What’s more, it may not be Ancelotti’s Madrid at all that Alexander-Arnold joins. The veteran manager has been heavily linked with a move to the Brazil national team as of late in a move that could reportedly see Xabi Alonso head to the Bernabeu as a replacement.

That could yet spell more bad news for Liverpool, however, given that Alonso is a fan of an Anfield star that Real Madrid have already reportedly set their sights on this summer.

Real Madrid readying £75m+ Mac Allister move

Not done with their shopping in Merseyside after Alexander-Arnold, the Spanish giants have reportedly turned their attention towards another key man. According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid are now readying an offer worth €90m (£76m) to sign Alexis Mac Allister, who Alonso sees as the perfect fit at the Bernabeu this summer.

The alarm bells will already be ringing around Anfield after Alexander-Anrold’s reported decision, but Mac Allister could yet do what the academy graduate seemingly failed to do and maintain his loyalty to Liverpool.

Recently speaking about his future, the midfielder told reporters when asked about the Real Madrid rumours: “I read the rumours and the news reaches me, but the important thing is the present. I’m fine at Liverpool, I have a lot of respect for the club and I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about other institutions.”

If the Argentine’s importance wasn’t clear enough, then his stunning strike against Tottenham Hotspur before Liverpool raced to a 5-1 thrashing to seal Premier League glory should be more than enough to highlight just how crucial his role is.

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk peeled away after scoring the late winner against West Ham United at the weekend and kissed the badge, effectively confirming that his story on Merseyside will continue beyond the current campaign.

The captain’s contribution put the Reds within touching distance of lifting the Premier League title: should Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur be turned over in the fixtures to come, gold will be secured.

Van Dijk, 33, has been engaged in protracted contract discussions with FSG over the past several months, with a breakthrough seemingly found in the past week.

An announcement has yet to be confirmed, but a two-year extension for the awe-inspiring centre-back is, by all accounts, sealed.

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Stephan Georgiou

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Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah’s new deal has already been confirmed. The 32-year-old forward has been Liverpool’s driving force this season, surely a shoo-in for the division’s Player of the Year award.

Sadly, Liverpool have been luckless in trying to tie Trent Alexander-Arnold down to his boyhood club for the prime years of his career. The right-back has been sold on the dream of plying his trade for Real Madrid.

This is a terrible shame, one which will sit sour with the fanbase for a long time. However, Liverpool are already proving that they can overcome the painful setback.

How Liverpool are forgetting about Trent

Liverpool are planning to defend their incoming Premier League title by means of attack, attack, attack. This summer, the Reds are planning to throw down with the best of them and strengthen across a range of positions.

Getting Van Dijk and Salah’s deals done means such things can be prioritised, with several exciting signings – alongside the title – sure to ease the anguish over Alexander-Arnold’s departure.

Of course, Liverpool will need to sign a new right-back, but Conor Bradley has proved that he has what it takes to star as Liverpool’s first-choice.

Talented, athletic and more conventionally tailored to the positional berth than his English counterpart, Bradley, 21, is making headway, with The Liverpool Echo awarding him an 8/10 match rating for his performance against West Ham, completing 91% of his passes and winning six of eight contested duels, as per Sofascore.

Liverpool can cope with Alexander-Arnold’s exit; indeed, those in the Anfield offices may have been tacitly resigned to the outcome for many months at this stage.

Real Madrid are a greedy lot, though, and might not be content with just Liverpool’s Scouse-born sensation. Florentino Perez might actually have his sights set on another of Arne Slot’s prized members.

Transfer Focus

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

Liverpool facing another Trent disaster

According to reports over in Spain, Real Madrid have their eye on Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, billing him as an option ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report notes that he is ‘considered attractive to Real Madrid due to his quality’ and few would suggest he isn’t worthy of playing in the finest midfields around.

The shops might be shuttered right now, but Los Blancos are doing groundwork and might be buoyed in their intrigue after the player’s father publicly discussed the La Liga giants’ interest.

Given the magnitude of Liverpool’s transfer task this summer, it would be a detrimental blow to lose their midfield linchpin when some more punch needs to be added to the engine room anyway.

Why Liverpool can't lose Alexis Mac Allister

When Liverpool signed Brighton’s Mac Allister, they signed him for £35m. A recently-crowned World Cup winner and the midfield fulcrum behind the Seagulls’ fast rise to prominence, this was considered a bargain from those in the know.

An all-action, intelligent and technically gifted player, the 26-year-old was instrumental in steadying Jurgen Klopp’s ship last season, in returning to the Champions League, in lifting the Carabao Cup.

Now, in Slot’s system, he’s been the centrepiece of a looming Premier League triumph.

The Argentine has kept his level just so across his two campaigns in Liverpool colours, adapting to a different role under Slot’s wing while maintaining his quality.

Alexis Mac Allister in the Premier League for Liverpool
Stats (* per game)	23/24	24/25
Matches (starts)	33 (31)	31 (28)
Goals	5	4
Assists	5	4
Touches*	74.2	57.6
Pass completion	88%	87%
Key passes*	1.4	1.2
Dribbles*	0.5	0.5
Ball recoveries*	5.9	4.3
Tackles + interceptions*	4.1	3.3
Duels won*	5.9	5.0
Stats via Sofascore

Hailed as a “superstar” who “can play anywhere” by pundit Joe Cole, losing Mac Allister this summer would be tantamount to losing the glue that keeps Slot’s system ticking over.

Reporter Bence Bocsak has very neatly drawn attention to his far-reaching influence, having won the most tackles for the Merseysiders this term while also sparking more shot-creating actions than all but, you guessed it, Salah.

Liverpool have had ample time to prepare for Alexander-Arnold’s departure and indeed have a factory-built replacement waiting in the wings. However, no one plays the £150k-per-week Mac Allister’s role to the same degree.

He plays his football with an almighty fusion of combativeness and creativity, further evidenced through FBref’s data: Mac Allister ranks among the top 15% of Premier League midfielders for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for tackles and the top 4% for interceptions per 90.

Liverpool have much to get on with this summer, and though Mac Allister is highly valued – Transfermarkt record the player’s market price at about £78m right now – Slot and co will surely consider the drawbacks to cashing in on the central linchpin.

Make no mistake, losing Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid is going to be a bitter blow that will sting for a long time, but if the Spaniards swoop in for Mac Allister, it could unravel all the good work being put in at Anfield.

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1

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Kelan Sarson

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The left hander was marked out from a young age as a player of huge talent, which brought with it pressure and expectation

Cameron Ponsonby31-Oct-2025Rachin Ravindra loves cricket.”You know CricHQ?” Ravindra asks, confirming his audience is on the same cricket tragic path that he is. “The scoring website thing. We’d get a game up from back in the day, let’s say Tendulkar, Desert Storm in Sharjah. And you’d have to get 106 or whatever, not out, to win the game.”For hours at any one time, Ravindra and friends would play out full-blown ODI run-chases or Test classics in the indoor nets at Lower Hutt in Wellington. Cones were put down to mark fielders, crash pads were lined up for men under the lid and if Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were batting at Eden Gardens, spin mats were put down as well.”That was the most fun I’ve ever had training,” Ravindra reminisces.Related

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Rachin Ravindra's decisive feet are marching towards greatness

Ravindra, and an unlikely Wellington reunion in Chennai

Ravindra grew up around cricket. At home, his dad, a handy club player, would have cricket on the telly, the radio, the PlayStation and up on YouTube. While at school, Ravindra was part of an XI that won the National Championships when he was in Year 11. Ben Sears, his now international team-mate, was his opening partner, while Otago batter Troy Johnson was his captain at No. 3.”His first 1XI game at school was as a 13-year-old,” Johnson remembers. “He told me all the bowlers were too slow and that’s why he was early on every shot.”He’s probably not the most talented player in the history of the game, but he works way, way harder than anyone I’ve ever seen.”From the age of seven, Ravindra had a training schedule synced with his calendar. He’d be up before his dad and would drag him to the indoor nets at Lower Hutt before school, as well as after.Ravindra’s game was built on imitation. Watching highlights, he’d see a shot he liked and ask his dad to clip it. Over time, Ravindra had a DVD of supercut, super highlights featuring Kumar Sangakkara cover drives, Matthew Hayden pick-ups over midwicket, Ricky Ponting pull shots and Brian Lara cut shots.”Then I’d go to the nets and practice,” Ravindra explains. “20 good ones exactly like Sangakkara did.”Two Tendulkar straight drives made the cut as well. “That little punchy thing he did,” Ravindra recalls. “I tried that heaps. But he also hit a full follow-through one as well.”Speaking to ESPNcricinfo back in 2018, his father, Ravi Krishnamurthy, concluded, “I tried to get my daughter into cricket and she didn’t. With Rachin, I didn’t try, and he did.”The 2023 ODI World Cup is where Rachin Ravindra really went global•AFP/Getty ImagesFor Ravindra, the prodigy tag has been attached to him for as long as he can remember. That school debut at 13, becoming the leading wicket taker in the school’s history by the time he was 15, the youngest member of the New Zealand Under-19 squad at 16. His first-class debut came for New Zealand A as a 19-year-old. Life for any professional athlete-to-be is unusual. Life for a prodigy is unique. And in truth, bizarre. Being told you will be the best at something before you’ve even…”Achieved that much?”, says Ravindra, cutting off the question. “I know exactly what you mean. It’s interesting. From a youngish age you sort of get labelled as whatever. But for me it comes down to why I play. Obviously, I love playing cricket because the fans get to watch me and I find that amazing.”But at the end of the day, it’s because I enjoy it. I want to get better at it. So it’s almost irrelevant about me trying to prove my ability to other people. I love playing for a team. I’m playing and I’m trying to win games for that team. So that, for me, drives me.”Ravindra’s first crack at international cricket was a failure. On the biggest stage, it was the first time he had rolled the dice and landed on a snake rather than a ladder. In six T20Is he averaged nine and in three Test matches he averaged 15 facing India and Bangladesh.

I was just thinking, this…is…ridiculous. It’s the moments you dream of as a kid. I guess I’m lucky my name’s closeRachin Ravindra on hearing his name chanted during the 2023 World Cup

“You get given an opportunity at a young age, potentially in a role you’re not necessarily ready for,” he says, “And you want to impress and think this is my journey and this is how it’s supposed to go. And then it doesn’t work out and you sit back and think, ‘wow’.”Eighteen months on the sidelines followed where he returned to Wellington and averaged a good-but-not-great 37. Despite the so-so returns, Ravindra describes the time as a “eureka moment” where he learned to ride the waves of failure.”I’d been trying so hard to be this player that I’m not,” he says. “And, the classic, I’d been putting myself under too much pressure and not realising that failure teaches us so many things. And if you don’t realise that early enough you get surrounded by it and it eats you up.”Ultimately, his concluding thoughts towards cricket were the same as the rest of ours.”It sucks,” Ravindra says. “But it’s also – like – great.”Rachin Ravindra on India test series: “I think about that India tour, and every day we were like ‘oh my god, what is going on here? We can win this thing.'”•AFP/Getty ImagesIt was chance, rather than planning, that led him to the 2023 World Cup where his star rose and his reputation was made. Initially not picked in the squad, he was a late call-up after Michael Bracewell was injured. And the day before the England match, even with Kane Williamson out injured, he was not scheduled to be in the XI. Only when Lockie Ferguson pulled out late with a hamstring issue was Ravindra given the nod. Not, as had been the case so far in his career, in the middle-order, but at No. 3.”I knew I was a better player,” Ravindra recalls of whether the nerves were greater the second time around. “I had a better mindset, I’d done more research and worked on a few things I felt like I needed. I guess I was lucky that the timing worked out to be leading up to the World Cup.”123 unbeaten runs later and Ravindra’s potential was realised. That was further confirmed with another century against Australia in Dharamsala, where the Indian crowd took to him and chants of “Rachin, Rachin” echoed around the ground.”I almost did,” Ravindra laughs when asked if a tear or two rolled down his cheek. “I was just thinking, this…is…ridiculous. It’s the moments you dream of as a kid. I guess I’m lucky my name’s close.”From imitating Tendulkar as a child to having an imitation of the legend’s chant delivered to him. Disney movies would scrap such an ending for being too on the nose.It was the start of what’s become a love affair with playing on the subcontinent. Six of his eight international centuries have come either in India or Pakistan. He scored a Test hundred in Bengaluru, the hometown of his parents, during New Zealand’s miraculous whitewash of India in 2024, before putting together a prolific Champions Trophy run in 2025 to take New Zealand to the final.Rachin Ravindra alongside Kane Williamson, one of his idols•ICC/Getty Images”I’ve had special moments around the world,” Ravindra recalls of his highlights reel. “But I think the most special have been in Test cricket. I think about that India tour, and every day we were like ‘oh my god, what is going on here? We can win this thing.'”Ravindra’s reward has been to be elevated to the next level of prodigy status. That of the generational player. Michael Atherton said it a year ago, Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler said it a few weeks ago.”It’s a pinch yourself moment when people say that,” Ravindra explains. “And knowing I’ve played with Jos at Manchester Originals and seeing the way he bats. To hear that, it’s really cool.”It’s relevant that in the story of a child prodigy who’s now earning millions of dollars a year, that Ravindra is known for being, well, really nice. “One of the all-time greats,” was one message I received ahead of the interview. Multiple people spoke of how lightly he wears his reputation and international standing in the game.In an off-the-record conversation with a player a year ago, unprompted, they announced Ravindra to be one of their favourite people they’ve met in the game. But not because he was nice. That would be weird. But because he was a kind, down-to-earth person, with the edge required to make it at the top.”I was obsessed with it,” Ravindra said of his early experiences in cricket. “Obviously Dad got me into it first, but then it was ‘I want to go do this. I want to go do that.’ I’d cry when I got out in the nets.”The relationship was led by Ravindra Jnr, and facilitated by Ravindra Snr.Rachin Ravindra will be a key part of New Zealand’s batting for years to come•ICC/Getty Images”It always can be quite tough having your dad as coach,” Ravindra says. “There were some serious times where we bickered. It’s not his fault. I cared about it so much and I wanted to do well. But because of everything we did when I was young, he’s one of my best mates. And mum was also around the whole time too. She’d wake me up, have everything ready for the day.”Ravindra is the fan who made it to the top. In a modern environment where coffee and golf leave cricket a distant third in professionals’ favourite hobbies, it is refreshing to hear a player talk so openly about their love of the game compared to how often the sport seems to drive players to distraction, and sometimes bitterness, when it becomes a job.For Ravindra though, the novelty of rubbing shoulders with his heroes is yet to wear off, even if those he once counted as idols are now his peers.”I remember Michael Hussey was our batting coach at CSK,” Ravindra recalls, “and I was talking to him about his books and he was like, ‘….mate.'”Batting with Kane Williamson remains top of the pile in his catalogue of fan-to-player experiences, with Virat Kohli giving him a bit of a spray the first time he played against him making the shortlist as well.His dad remains heavily involved in the sport, too. When Ravindra was a kid, his father created a local club known as the Hutt Hawks that played extra matches around the country and even went on annual tours to India. It is hard not to connect Ravindra’s success on the subcontinent with such early exposure to conditions in the country. The club is still going, and thriving.”They’ve got four or five teams in each age-group now,” Ravindra says with a smile. “It obviously helped me, but countless other cricketers as well. You look down the Wellington Firebirds list and even across the country, how many people have done that trip and there’s been so many.”New Zealand’s Test whitewash of India 2024. Masterminded by the Hutt Hawks – sort of. Tom Blundell was the other member of the national team who went on a tour as well.”I guess there’s no secret, right?” Ravindra concludes of his route to success. “You look at guys like Steve Smith, Kohli, Kane, Root and they hit a number of balls. It’s got to be purposeful, and you can feel like it can drag on, but that’s the thing that you pride yourself on.”Ahead of Christmas, there’s a new cricket game coming out on the PlayStation. As a child, Ravindra grew up watching his dad play Cricket ’04 in the living room. This time, he’ll be in the game himself. Sometimes the presents choose themselves.

Sutherland’s double-century also breaks a number of records

Sampath Bandarupalli16-Feb-2024210 Annabel Sutherland has the second-highest individual score for Australia in women’s Tests, behind Ellyse Perry’s unbeaten 213 against England in 2017. It is also the fourth-highest individual score in all women’s Tests.1 Sutherland became the first to score a double-century while batting at No.5 or lower in women’s Tests. The previous highest while batting at No.5 or lower was 161* by Emily Drumm against Australia in 1995, while the highest at No.6 was 150 by Marizanne Kapp against England in 2022.248 Balls Sutherland needed to complete her double-century, the fastest in women’s Tests. The previous quickest was off 305 balls by Karen Rolton against England in 2001, where she scored an unbeaten 209.Related

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22y 126d Sutherland’s age coming into the Test match. She is now the second youngest among the nine players to score a double-century in women’s Tests, behind Mithali Raj, who was 19 years and 254 days old at the start of the 2002 Test in Taunton.1 Number of players younger than Sutherland with home and away tons in women’s Tests. Drumm had centuries at home and away in the format before she turned 22. Sutherland’s maiden hundred came away from home at Trent Bridge last year.ESPNcricinfo Ltd575 for 9 Australia’s total in Perth is now the highest by any team in women’s Tests. The record for the highest women’s Test total was with Australia for their 525 all out against India in 1984 till they themselves bettered in 1998 with 569 for 6 against England, and now they’ve topped that again.499 Australia’s first-innings lead in Perth is the highest for any team in a women’s Test match. The previous highest was 459 for England, who made 503 for 5 in response to New Zealand’s 44 all out in the 1935 Christchurch Test.81 Boundaries hit by Australian batters against South Africa are the most in a women’s Test innings. Their 78 fours are the most in an innings, surpassing England’s 72 against South Africa in 2003, while their three sixes are the joint-most.99 Alyssa Healy’s score – she is only the fifth player dismissed on 99 in women’s Tests. Four of those five instances are by Australians.

Pakistan haven’t unearthed a world-class opener since Saeed Anwar, but their quest may yet have a happy ending

Danyal Rasool19-Mar-2022Like the first sentence of a Tolstoy novel, Pakistan’s opening Test batters have, for too long, only existed to lubricate the path to what follows. They offer you a glimpse of what you are about to get into, but pretty or eye-catching as they might be, they are moved past swiftly, letting you get stuck into the heft of the subject matter – be it the social state of 19th century Russia or the middle orders of 21st century Pakistan Test line-ups.So when Abdullah Shafique arrives, pretty as a Tolstoy opening sentence and as technically sound as the meat of his novels, it is all Pakistan can do not to unload their collective hopes and dreams on those 22-year old shoulders.Who is Shafique then? Another Pakistan opener? Why are we talking about Pakistan openers? Won’t he play some games, do all right, get exaggerated praise, and then mysteriously get exposed against either the moving Dukes in England or the bouncing Kookaburra in the southern hemisphere?Related

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Won’t he drop out for whoever has a good Quaid-e-Azam Trophy next season? Or, just as likely, whoever has just had a good white-ball series and happens to be trending on social media?Shafique might – please hear this out before rolling your eyes – be different. It isn’t just because – like Harry Potter to JK Rowling on a train to Manchester – he seemed to appear, out of nowhere, fully formed. He has still played just three first-class matches that aren’t Tests, and only one before he made his Test debut. And in that game, he scored a first-innings 133.When he made his T20 debut the following year, an unbeaten 58-ball 102 helped Central Punjab chase down 201 with more than an over to spare. He would become just the second cricketer ever to score hundreds on first-class and T20 debut.Shafique is from Pakistan after all, so there was the usual messing around; he was selected for the T20I leg of the New Zealand tour in December 2020 largely off the back of that hundred, even though all signs pointed to red-ball cricket being his true calling. A couple of ducks and a bit of dented confidence later, he dropped out of the side altogether, seeming set for a long stint in the domestic game.Shafique has played just three first-class matches that aren’t Tests, and only one before his Test debut•AFP/Getty ImagesMisbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s coach at the time, counted himself among Shafique’s admirers, praising his technical ability and maturity. And when he got the Test call-up to replace Imran Butt in Bangladesh this year, that precocious ability began to get the wider audience it merited. A pair of half-centuries on debut provided the foundation, but then again, considering the opposition, any excitement was invariably tempered.Over the past fortnight, though, the reputation has truly begun to burnish itself. The Australians’ bowling attack in the first Test in Rawalpindi boasted a combined 1089 Test wickets, a daunting challenge for someone of Shafique’s inexperience, however flat the surface might be. Building on an unbeaten second-innings hundred, he went on to produce a fourth-innings masterclass in the second Test in Karachi, showcasing his temperament along with his talent.It was the cauldron of hostility combined with the hopelessness of the situation that made Shafique’s resistance so unlikely. Here was an opener playing his seventh Test innings. He had just witnessed Azhar Ali – a man in his 172nd – misjudge a Cameron Green short delivery so poorly that he ducked into an lbw.At that stage, Pakistan were nearly 500 runs from their target, and if Shafique had quickly followed Azhar into the dressing room, there would have been little criticism or blame coming his way.Abdullah Shafique has enjoyed a fruitful start to his Test career•ESPNcricinfo LtdBut over 304 balls, Shafique, perhaps the biggest Pakistani batting talent since the man batting opposite him, defied Australia. While Babar Azam was brisker with the run rate, Shafique displayed the maturity that had so impressed Misbah, remaining aware that Pakistan could get little more than a draw out of this.He played Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins with soft hands behind the wicket whenever possible. Leaving wasn’t a regular option given how accurate Australia were, so his defensive game got a workout as well as a huge audience. Nathan Lyon was treated with respect, but not deference; when it appeared he had settled on a length, Shafique knocked him off it by using his feet and stonking him out of the ground.The 305th ball would produce a rare loose shot when, four shy of his hundred, he went chasing Cummins, driving on the up and edging to slip. It is the kind of shot that he is unlikely to play too often once he acquires more experience, but it couldn’t detract from his marathon effort; and it didn’t undo his hard work either.The 50.5 overs he kept Australia out for was nearly a third of the entire innings until then, and the draw Shafique was trying to salvage would be Pakistan’s by the day’s end.Shafique’s treated Nathan Lyon with respect, but not deference•AFP/Getty ImagesThere are, of course caveats, and there will be detractors. This is just his fourth Test, and he has been a beneficiary of soft opposition or featherbed surfaces. How he copes against pace, movement and high bounce – something that did for him in both those T20I ducks against New Zealand – remains to be seen.But of the eight Pakistan openers who have debuted since 2010 and played at least four Tests, no one has averaged as high as Shafique’s 73.16. Besides Abid Ali, who until that stage had an average of 71.40, no one managed an average above 50.The idea that Pakistan have found it much harder to produce world-class batters than their fast bowling counterparts falls rather flat when you consider how many batters went on to take their place among Pakistan’s all-time Test legends since Saeed Anwar walked away from the sport. Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah, Azhar, Babar and Asad Shafiq have all gone on to notable careers since then.All besides Babar have scored at least 4500 Test runs and ten Test hundreds, milestones the current Pakistan captain should canter to over the next few seasons. In that time, not a single Pakistan fast bowler has come close to taking 200 Test wickets, with Umar Gul – who has 163 – the only one managing to broach 150.But conspicuous by their absence in that list are opening batters. This isn’t a golden age for that kind of player anywhere in the world, but in Pakistan in particular, those lost post-Anwar years have now entered a third decade. It wouldn’t be uncharacteristic for Pakistan to move past Shafique at the first sign of a rough patch, or unforeseen circumstances, to extinguish the hopes he has built up.There is a chance, though, for a happy ending to that quest. It is not an opportunity Tolstoy ever took, but, while Shafique writes his own destiny, Pakistan still might.