England batter ignites Ashes hopes with trademark counterattack in Perth

Matt Roller21-Nov-2025

Harry Brook goes through the off side•Getty Images

If there was any doubt as to how Harry Brook would approach his first Test series in Australia, it was dispelled by the second ball he faced. Mitchell Starc’s figures were 3 for 10 after his first five overs; naturally, Brook decided to charge the first ball of his sixth, staying leg side of the ball and launching him through extra cover for three.It was the first of eight times that Brook charged an Australian bowler during his 61-ball innings of 52, the highest individual score of a wild opening day in Perth. Brook’s batting is bold and brash – if rarely beautiful – and his full-throttle approach was totally vindicated by the carnage around him. Only two other players even reached 30, and nobody survived as long as he did.Brook marched out to the middle to be met by chaos: a sold-out crowd, fizzing with adrenaline from Starc’s opening spell, and England’s best-laid plans in pieces at 39 for 3. Some players would shrink in such circumstances, but Brook saw only opportunity, as if informed by the mantra that a good plan executed violently now is better than a perfect plan next week.Related

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He is a unicorn, maintaining an unprecedented strike rate of 87.48 while averaging close to 60, and has a thick enough skin to ignore the hysterical criticism that greets many of his dismissals. It is impossible to have the counterattacking impact that he so often does without some ugly moments, and Brook has doubled down rather than looking to change his ways.Take his approach in the final over of the morning session. All received wisdom across nearly 150 years of Test history would suggest taking low-risk options focused solely on reaching the lunch interval unscathed. Brook saw things differently: he twice gave Starc the charge, launching him for four through cover then tucking him away off his hip for a single.There was no change at the start of the afternoon. Scott Boland beat him with the first ball after lunch, with Brook non-committal on the front foot; to the second, Brook shimmied down the pitch to launch him over wide mid-off for the first – and only – six of the day. It prompted Steven Smith to push a man back to long-off, opening up a gap for a low-risk single.Or, for that matter, a rasping straight drive off Starc, struck with such timing that the man on the rope had no chance of stopping it. It was the shot of the day, and emblematic of Brook’s cricketing intelligence: rather than taking on the vast square boundaries, he hit the majority of his boundaries to the shorter ones in the ‘V’.Australia made a tactical error in failing to test Brook out against the short ball more often, but their bowlers are not the first to be thrown off their plans by the sustained pressure he exerts. His dismissal, gloving Brendan Doggett’s bouncer behind while attempting to withdraw from a pull shot, should prompt a change in tack when he next walks out to bat.”He obviously played that counterattacking role, and whether he tries to premeditate certain shots and walks at bowlers, or just tries to clear that infield and take the game on, we’ve seen it happen before – and not just against us,” Starc said. “You may see some different fields as the series progresses… We might tinker with [our plans] as the series goes on.”Brook’s innings may not prove match-defining, but it was further evidence of his ability to change the tempo of a game. Australia have long been wary of him after his impact on the 2023 series, when his four rapid half-centuries included vital contributions in their wins at Headingley and The Oval.He was asked last month what an Ashes hundred would mean to him after missing out last time, and shrugged off the question. “That’s not something I really think about. I want to be a match-winner,” Brook said. “If the team is in a little bit of trouble, I want to get us out of it, which so far in my career I’ve done fairly well.” It was a major understatement.His innings was a stark contrast to Australia’s painstakingly defensive approach with the bat, which allowed England’s five fast bowlers to settle into spells on a fast, bouncy pitch that could hardly have suited them more. Starc said the day felt as though it was on “fast-forward”, and that is Brook’s natural tempo.Brook arrived in Australia for this series braced for the biggest challenge of his career to date and with the chance to prove that he is far more than a flat-track bully. His Test record is exceptional, but built solely on performances in three countries that have lent themselves to heavy run-scoring in recent years: England, New Zealand and Pakistan.It may only have been a quick 52 in a harum-scarum England innings that lasted 32.5 overs. But this was an early statement, which showed exactly why Brook is the player that Australia will fear most over the next seven weeks.

Wolves fans orchestrated a powerful demonstration against controversial owners Fosun International during Monday’s 4-1 defeat to Man United, with an update coming to light on the future of the club.

Wolves linked with potential takeover amid torrid campaign

Supporters boycotted the opening 15 minutes of their heavy loss to highlight growing discontent with the Chinese conglomerate’s stewardship, and tensions have now reached boiling point.

The Old Gold Pack supporter group coordinated the protest, urging fellow fans to remain outside Molineux whilst displaying banners demanding change.

Multiple fan organisations, including Wolves 1877 Trust, Talking Wolves and Punjabi Wolves provided backing, describing the demonstration as “peaceful but unmistakable.”

Fosun acquired Wolves for £45 million in 2016, initially delivering impressive progress that even saw the club reach the Europa League quarter-finals under Nuno Espírito Santo.

However, supporters now view recent years as representing ‘managed decline’, with the systematic sale of key players, including Matheus Cunha’s £62.5m departure to United most recently, failing to result in adequate replacements.

The club currently sit rock bottom of the Premier League with two points from 15 games, not to mention zero wins, and are now 13 points adrift from safety.

Rob Edwards has struggled to generate momentum since arriving from Middlesbrough last month, with relegation appearing increasingly inevitable.

Fosun currently value Wolves at north of £350 million, with maligned American businessman, John Textor, previously submitting a ‘surprise’ estimanted £400 million offer (talkSPORT).

This proposal was made up of £150 million cash upfront plus £262.million in shares, though Fosun rejected the approach whilst maintaining the club’s ‘not for sale’ stance.

The ownership group instead seeks minority investment rather than an outright sale, though this stance contradicts supporters’ demands for wholesale change.

Executive chairman Jeff Shi faces particular criticism, with protesters displaying “Shi out” banners throughout Monday’s fixture.

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Financial implications weigh heavily, with relegation potentially costing over £60 million in revenue based on 2023-24 accounts showing a £177.7 million turnover. Historical precedent suggests the club’s value could plummet by £200 million should they drop into the Championship.

Bearing this in mind, a report this week by Football Insider makes sense.

Wolves will be 'forced to accept' cut-price takeover bid

According to their information, Wolves’ owners ‘will be forced to accept a cut-price offer’ if they decide to sell.

Given the club’s woes right now, Fosun’s negotiating position to demand their £350m valuation weakens by each passing day, with the club marooned bottom of the table and staring a drop to the Championship in the face.

However, the noise remains that, for the time being, they’re not interested in selling and only seek minority investment, according to Football Insider.

Wolves are also looking to be active in the January transfer window, even if it could be too little, too late.

Textor is now reportedly ready to make an official approach to buy Derby County instead, but according to former Botafogo president Carlos Augusto Montenegro, Wolves may have dodged a bullet.

India captain also said they wanted to get another 20-25 runs to give the bowlers cushion when bowling with the wet ball

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Dec-2025Not long after India were unable to defend a massive score of 358 against South Africa in the second ODI, captain KL Rahul said the toss “plays a huge part” and makes a “huge difference” in matches where dew heavily skews the match in the favour of chasing sides. India lost their 20th toss in a row in ODIs, and South Africa opted to bowl and sealed a four-wicket victory with four balls to spare to level the series 1-1.”Not really, considering everything – how much dew there is and how difficult it is to bowl in the second innings,” Rahul said at the presentation when asked if the defeat was a tough pill to swallow. “The last game, we did really well, considering everything. All the difficulties for bowlers bowling with a wet ball, and the umpires have been nice enough to change the ball a few times, but still I think toss plays a huge part. So I’m kicking myself about losing two tosses in a row. It’s obviously making a huge difference.”India were asked to bat for a second game in a row under Rahul’s captaincy this series. While India managed a narrow 17-run win in the opening match in Ranchi after posting 349, this time a bigger target didn’t prove to be enough.Related

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“To reflect back there’s always things that we could have done better,” Rahul said. “With the bat, I know that 350 looks good, but that’s also been the chat in the dressing room even after the last game [about] how can we get that extra 20-25 runs, so that the bowlers find some cushion when they bowl with the wet ball.”Bowlers obviously are trying their heart out, but there are areas to improve. There are a few soft boundaries that we gave away, even in the field. If we can tighten up all three aspects of the game and get a bit more sharper, then maybe those 20-25 runs will go our way and we’ll be on the other side.”India’s tall total was built on the back of centuries from Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad. This was the 11th time Kohli hit hundreds in back-to-back ODIs, while it was Gaikwad’s maiden century in the format – the pair adding 195 runs in just 156 balls together for the third wicket.”It was beautiful to watch – Virat, the way he batted. Obviously, we have seen him do this for 53 times now,” Rahul said. “He goes on about doing his job, we’re used to seeing it. Just to see the way Rutu batted was beautiful. [He] took on the spinners, hit his gaps. Once he got past that 50, the tempo that he batted with is I think what gave us that extra 20 runs.”Despite the strong base, India could not finish strong: they added only 103 runs in the last 15 overs with eight wickets in hand; just 74 in the last ten overs. Rahul scored an enterprising 66 not out off 43 at No. 5 after being carded at No.6 in the team sheet at the toss. Washington Sundar made 1 off eight balls while Ravindra Jadeja batted 27 balls and scored an unbeaten 24 with just two fours.”Obviously batting at 5-6-7 [could be looked at],” Rahul said. “If the lower order could contribute a little bit more and hit a couple of more boundaries, then maybe that’s the 20 runs that we would have been happy with.”Today is the first time I’ve been slotted at No. 6 and I’ve walked in at 5. Otherwise, it’s always a decision before the game. The way Rutu and Virat’s partnership was going on, they set a good tempo. So GG [Gautam Gambhir, head coach] and me felt like it would be the right time for me to walk in and keep that tempo going. Obviously [I] got a fifty last game, so, there’s a bit of confidence. Someone who’s batted in the middle, someone who’s high on confidence is probably the right person to go in and take on the bowling and keep that tempo going. That was the plan.

Three wickets apiece from Henry Thornton and Ben Manenti gave South Australia the advantage against Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield match.After the opening day of the pink-ball fixture was washed out, SA’s Thornton and Manenti both claimed three wickets as WA struggled to 188 all out on Sunday.South Australia reached 100 for 1 at stumps at Adelaide Oval, with Henry Hunt not out 42 and captain Nathan McSweeney on 33.In WA’s innings, Jayden Goodwin top-scored with a fighting 53 from 106 balls and Cooper Connolly (33) and Aaron Hardie (31) chipped in.But the trio were the only three batters to pass 17 amid a miserly display from SA quick Thornton, who returned superb figures of 3 for 25 from 14 overs.Thornton took the initial two wickets, removing Sam Whiteman and Cameron Bancroft. And when Jordan Buckingham dismissed Hilton Cartwright for 5 which a terrific delivery which took off stump, the visitors were wobbling at 51 for 3 in the 25th over.Spinner Manenti captured three of the next four wickets, including ending an innings-high 68-run partnership between Goodwin and Connolly. The WA duo fell within a three-over span and the visitors lost their last seven wickets for 69 runs.SA openers Hunt and Connor McInerney navigated a dozen overs before WA quick Liam Haskett broke their stand when McInerney edged an outswinger.Skipper McSweeney immediately showed intent by hitting a four from his first ball and was in fine touch, striking three more boundaries in his 56-ball knock and combining with Hunt for an unbroken 67-run partnership.

It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster season for Chelsea already this year.

One week, they’ll demolish Barcelona in the Champions League and hold Premier League leaders Arsenal to a 1-1 draw despite being down a man, but just a few days later, they’ll go and lose 3-1 away at newly promoted Leeds United.

The West Londoners do have a lot of talent in the team, but they’ve also got areas that are underperforming, like their summer striker signings, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

It looks like the club aren’t overly pleased with the pair’s output either, as reports are now linking them with a goalscoring striker who could send them both packing.

Chelsea target Delap & Pedro upgrade

As is the case every year, Chelsea have started to be linked with a whole host of brilliant players ahead of the winter transfer window opening next month.

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

For example, Club Brugge’s highly rated young centre-back, Joel Ordonez, has been touted for a move to Stamford Bridge, where he would join up with former Independiente del Valle teammate and compatriot Moises Caicedo.

However, while the Ecuadorian international could be the answer to the Blues’ defensive issues, he’s certainly not an upgrade on Delap or Pedro, unlike Serhou Guirassy.

Yes, according to a recent report from German publication BILD, Chelsea are one of several sides interested in signing the prolific centre-forward.

In fact, the report has revealed that the West Londoners have already been in contact with the player’s camp over a potential move.

However, any move would have to take place in the summer as the 29-year-old has made it clear he wishes to end the season with Borussia Dortmund, who have placed a €50m release clause in his deal, which is about £44m.

Even so, this is a transfer Chelsea should be pushing for, as Guirassy is a goal machine and would be a clear upgrade on Pedro and Delap.

How Guirassy compares to Delap and Pedro

Now, there are two things that both Pedro and Delap have over Guirassy.

These are their ages, as the Guinea international is now 29, and they have Premier League experience.

However, the Dortmund star has them not just beaten, but comfortably so, when it comes to the most important metric of all for forwards: output.

For example, so far this season, the 26-capped international has scored nine goals and provided four assists in 19 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.46 games, or every 115.46 minutes.

In contrast, the Brazilian has produced seven goal involvements in 17 appearances, totalling 1345 minutes, which comes out to an average of one every 2.42 games, or every 192.14 minutes.

For his efforts, the Englishman has produced a single goal involvement in ten appearances, totalling 421 minutes.

Okay then, what about last season? Surely it wasn’t as one-sided?

Unfortunately for the two Chelsea stars, it very much was, with the Dortmund monster racking up a truly world-class tally of 38 goals and nine assists in 50 appearances, totalling 4244 minutes.

That comes out to an outrageous average of a goal involvement every 1.06 games, or every 90.29 minutes, which more than justifies Lothar Matthaus’ claim that he is “one of the best strikers in Europe.”

Games

50

33

46

Minutes

4244′

2299′

2976′

Goals

38

13

13

Assists

9

7

3

Games

19

17

10

Minutes

1501′

1345′

421′

Goals

9

4

1

Assists

4

3

0

For comparison’s sake, Pedro produced 20 goal involvements in 33 appearances, totalling 2299 minutes, which is an average of one every 1.65 games, or every 114.95 minutes.

Delap did even worse than that, producing 16 goal involvements in 46 appearances, totalling 2976 minutes, which comes out to an average of one every 2.87 games, or every 186 minutes.

Ultimately, while it might not be a simple transfer to complete, Chelsea should be going all out to sign Guirassy, even if that spells the end for their two summer signings.

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Rangers are now reportedly prioritising a deal to sign a 6’4 midfield star for Danny Rohl in January after sending scouts to watch their target in action.

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It’s been a solid start from Rohl, even when considering the last two frustrating draws against Falkirk and Dundee United. The former Sheffield Wednesday boss has at least steadied the ship and should have the chance to stamp his mark on his Rangers side in January.

Without the influence of failed sporting director Kevin Thelwell, the young manager is likely to have a larger say on potential incomings and he’s already made his first request as a result.

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According to recent reports, Rohl has personally commenced a scouting mission to sign a clinical striker after asking the 49ers to sign him a reliable goalscorer, dynamic midfielder and versatile full-back.

Speaking to reporters about the winter window earlier this month, the Rangers boss said: “In general, I’m in a conversation with Andrew (Cavenagh) nearly every two or three days.

“I think this is crucial. He will be also in, in the next couple of days, so we will have the next meetings. I give my feedback every day or every matchday back to him. What I see is not just about positions, also what is important for us as a group – which profiles we need.

“From the skills, from the tools, from a specialist in some areas, I think this is crucial. It’s not just about the physical speed, it’s also the mindset, how quick is the mind at the moment, how quick you can receive the ball, how quick you can accelerate our game.”

Now, with that in mind, Rangers have reportedly identified their first potential signing for Rohl in Norwegian midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl this winter.

Rangers prioritising Hjerto-Dahl deal

According to TeamTalk, Rangers are now prioritising a deal to sign Hjerto-Dahl in the January transfer window after sending their scouts. Rohl reportedly wants the 6’4 box-crashing star to match his request for a new dynamic midfielder at Ibrox.

The Gers aren’t the only club interested, however. Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth and Sunderland have all reportedly maintained contact in the race to secure Hjerto-Dahl’s signature.

A former Liverpool target who was dubbed “strong” by scout Kai Watson earlier this week, Hjerto-Dahl is certainly someone to watch.

Given the amount of interest in his signature, it would undoubtedly be a major coup if Rangers managed to land the 6’4 Norwegian midfielder in January. As first signings go, Rohl would be landing an excellent addition ahead of Premier League clubs.

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The fast bowler hit his stride in the Perth nets three days from the start of the Ashes

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Mark Wood’s chances of playing the first Test against Australia took a positive step forward on Tuesday with a 40-minute spell in the nets at Perth’s Optus Stadium, where the Ashes begins on Friday.Returning from a hamstring scare during the warm-up match against England Lions last week, Wood, left leg heavily strapped, watched on initially as England returned to training after a couple of days off. However, he was soon into meaningful work with the ball, with Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum taking a closer look at their prized asset from the standing umpire’s point-of-view.Related

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“He was absolutely rapid today, I can tell you that firsthand,” said Jamie Smith, who was one of the batters facing Wood. “He’s definitely one to avoid on the list. He’s near enough full tilt so it’s good signs for us.”England are expected to opt for an all-pace attack on a pitch regarded as one of the fastest in the world. They had their first look at the surface, which was watered yesterday, ahead of training.Wood is a key component of their plan, not just as the quickest in the touring party – and, perhaps, the circuit – but also as the only specialist bowler with previous Ashes tour experience. Wood was the standout quick during the 2021-22 series, taking 17 wickets at 26.64, with a number of batters he troubled still part of the current Australia side.Mark Wood steams in at training•Getty Images

Much will depend on how Wood pulls up on Wednesday, and whether he can get through another session later in the day. He has not played competitive cricket since February, spending the last nine months recovering from left knee surgery, having suffered a stress fracture of the right elbow in September 2024.Selecting Wood remains a risk, albeit one that will be cushioned among four other quicks, including Stokes, and with Jofra Archer able to provide further support on the express pace front. It is also a risk England are more than willing to take.The management were not overly worried when Wood left the field against the Lions with a tight hamstring after two four-over spells. The soft outfield at Lilac Hills contributed to that discomfort in what was Wood’s first bowl since England’s penultimate Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, on February 26. And given the investment in Wood, which includes a three-year central contract with this Ashes in mind, there is a sense now is the time to cash in.Josh Tongue, the likely beneficiary if Wood is deemed unfit for selection, reiterated that sentiment: “It feels like if he’s good to go and the management feels he’s good to go, I don’t see why not.”

Crystal Palace are now “determined” to end the “speculation” and tie down one of their key players to a new contract.

Palace stars attracting interest from top clubs

With Palace punching above their weight so far this season, currently sitting in the Champions League places, it shouldn’t be surprising that some top clubs are lining up to sign their key players, and Real Madrid are now preparing a £35m January bid for Marc Guehi.

Oliver Glasner has already confirmed Guehi is set to leave in 2026, with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, saying: “The club wanted [Guehi to stay]. They offered Marc a new contract. But he said, ‘No, I want to make something different.’ And that’s normal.

“And for us, it’s how we can deal with this situation? [What] is the best way to get this next step done? And that’s all about how we are talking together.”

The Eagles will still be holding out hope of retaining some of their other key players, however, and they are in a strong negotiating position when it comes to Adam Wharton, with the former Blackburn Rovers man under contract until 2029.

Daichi Kamada has also been a vital player this season, featuring in 21 matches in all competitions, and former scout Mick Brown has now revealed that Glasner is a big fan of the midfielder, with Palace very keen to tie him down to a new deal.

In an interview with Football Insider, Brown said: “From what I’m told, the management and coaching staff rate him very highly, and that’s always a positive when they have that sort of relationship.

“Palace are determined to recognise what he’s brought to the team, and to keep hold of him because of how impressive he has been.

“They’ll want to have him tied down before the end of the season to put an end to any speculation, so now it’s up to them to see if they can reach an agreement.”

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Posts ByDominic Lund 3 days ago Palace must tie Kamada down to new contract

The Japan international is on big money at Selhurst Park, reported to rake in £150k-a-week, but with his current deal set to expire in the summer, it is very important Palace agree a new contract.

The 29-year-old has started every game he’s been available for in the Premier League, since overcoming a knee injury, winning the Player of the Month Award in both September and October.

Glasner has also singled the former Lazio man out for praise in the past, describing him as “excellent” after putting in an impressive performance against Brighton last season.

With Guehi set to leave and Wharton attracting major interest, it is important there is not a mass exodus at Selhurst Park in the summer and Palace keep hold of their important players, so they should look to secure Kamada’s future very soon.

They are down at No. 5 in the World Test Championship table and have plenty to do the the second half of their cycle

S Rajesh26-Nov-2025India’s 2-0 series defeat against South Africa has seriously dented their chances of making the World Test Championship final. Halfway into their 2025-27 cycle – India have played nine out of 18 Tests – they are languishing in fifth place on the table, at 48.15%.It’s still early days for many of the other teams – New Zealand haven’t played a single series yet, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have played one, and England have just started their second – but with Australia (100%) and South Africa (75%) having begun so strongly, India will have to do much more in the second half of their campaign to stand a chance of finishing in the top two.Going by the numbers from the last two WTC cycles, teams will need to be in the 60-65% range to stand a chance of making the cut. In the 2021-23 cycle, India qualified as the second team for the final with a percentage of 58.8, while Australia’s 67.54% won them second place in the previous edition.Related

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For India to get to 60%, they need to finish on 130 points, since they’re playing 18 Tests in this cycle (18 x 12 points = 216). Teams earn 12 points for a win, and four points for a draw. So India need 78 more points from their remaining nine Tests – two each in Sri Lanka and New Zealand, and five at home against Australia. They can get there in at least two ways, assuming they aren’t docked any points:- six wins and a couple of draws: 6 x 12 + 2 x 4 = 80
– seven wins: 7 x 12 = 84Before they take on Australia early in 2027 in their next home Test series, India have two-match series lined up in Sri Lanka (in August 2026) and New Zealand (October-November 2026). India have an excellent recent record in Sri Lanka, winning five of their last six Tests there (though the last tour was in 2017), but New Zealand has been a much tougher to crack: they lost 2-0 in 2020 and 1-0 in 2014. Even if India win all four of those Tests, they will probably still go into the series against Australia needing plenty of points to finish among the top two.Australia have made a terrific start to their WTC campaign with four wins out of four. With six home Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand lined up in this cycle, they have an excellent chance of making another final, and accumulating most of the points they need for it before the tour of India begins.South Africa are well-placed too, with three wins from four Tests in two away series. Their only remaining overseas series in this cycle is against Sri Lanka in February 2027. Their home games won’t be easy, though, with six Tests against Australia and England, apart from two against Bangladesh. If they win both home Tests against Bangladesh, they will only need 41 points from their eight remaining Tests to finish at 60%.Some of the other teams could come into contention too as the cycle progresses – only 17 out of 71 matches have been played so far in this edition – but regardless of how the other teams perform, India’s home defeats could seriously hurt their prospects in this cycle, just as they did in the previous one.