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Bryce Harper just wrapped his seventh season with the Phillies and 14th MLB season overall, hitting .261/.357/.487 with 27 home runs and 75 RBIs. It was a strong season, but his 3.2 WAR was his lowest mark for a year in which he played at least 100 games since 2018.

It is reasonable to believe that Harper is on the downswing of his career, but even so, it was surprising to hear Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski appear to indicate that he no longer believes that Harper is an "elite" player.

"In Bryce's case, of course he's still a quality player. He's still an All-Star caliber player. He didn't have an elite season like he has had in the past," said Dombrowski last Thursday. "I guess we only find out if he becomes elite [again] or he continues to be good. You look around the league, you try to think Freddie Freeman. He's a really good player, he still is a good player. Is he elite like he was before? Probably not to the same extent so that's nothing negative. Freddie's still a tremendous player. That to me is Bryce."

Dombrowski's comments made waves within the world of Philly sports, even helping give rise to some rumors that Philadelphia could look to move the two-time National League MVP. Appearing on , he sought to clarify his Harper comments, while shooting down the bourgeoning trade rumors before they break contain.

"First of all, to me, Bryce Harper's one of the best players in the game of baseball. They asked me, 'What type of year do you think he had?' And I said, 'He had a very good year, I don't think he had an elite year.' And when I say that, when I think of Bryce Harper, it's a compliment, because the reality is there are eight, 10 players in the game of baseball every year, when they're not in the MVP consideration… it's not an elite year for them.

"So the reality is, he's a great player, he's a future Hall of Famer. … Now I've been reading that, . That couldn't be farther from the truth. We love him, we think he's a great player, he's a very important part of our team. I've seen him have better years.”

Dombrowski went on to riff about comments that Phillies legend Mike Schmidt made on the podcast about another of the team's 32-year-old stars, Kyle Schwarber, and the importance for players of that age to keep up a strong training regimen through the offseason. Dombrowski says he has no doubts that Harper will be one of the players who will age gracefully because of his talent and work ethic.

"I'll take my chances with Bryce more than most, because Bryce is an elite talent… I think it's a shame where this has gone. It wasn't meant to be a criticism."

Harper just crossed the midway point of the mammoth 13-year, $330 million deal he signed with Philadelphia, and is still owed nearly $153 million through 2031. Removing the human element from it, if the Phillies believe they'll get diminishing returns from Harper as he enters his mid-30s, it makes sense for them to consider a trade. It doesn't sound as if Dombrowski is near that point yet, however, despite how it may have sounded a week ago.

Tottenham Hotspur stepped into the Thomas Frank era with excitement, but anxiety too. Last season, Ange Postecoglou led the club to the Europa League title, but Spurs also finished 17th in the Premier League.

Circumstances matter, but there was much to be desired and Daniel Levy was justified in dismissing the Australian. Tottenham still ended their long search for silverware, and they did so having lost their definitive talisman of modern years at the very start of Ange’s tenure.

Harry Kane’s sale to Bayern Munich two years ago took from Tottenham their bona fide superstar. Heung-min Son once bore such a reputation, but he had steadily declined over a couple of years before moving to LAFC during the summer.

Now, though, there’s a sense that a few within the Lilywhites fold could reach such a level with a blend of hard work and Frank’s coaching.

The new Spurs superstars

Tottenham attacked the summer transfer window and have been duly rewarded for their ambition with several exciting talents.

Front and centre has been Mohammed Kudus, whose pace and physicality have seen him settle in at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after completing a £55m move from West Ham United in July.

The Ghanaian winger scored and assisted against Leeds United last weekend, instrumental in the 2-1 win. He’s imperfect, sure, but the pros far outweigh the cons, and four assists from seven top-flight fixtures so far (placing him joint-first with Jack Grealish) is nothing to be sniffed at.

The likes of Lucas Bergvall and Mathys Tel are also stars for the future, already playing important roles in Frank’s squad.

However, whether any of these players will rival the very best of the best remains to be seen. Premier League heavyweights such as Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland and Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah.

However, the £52m signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig this summer felt significant. Indeed, Tottenham have landed themselves an attacking midfielder with the potential to rival any across Europe.

Frank has struck gold on Xavi Simons

In August, Tottenham had to swallow their pride as Arsenal stole from them the signature of Eberechi Eze, who signed in a £60m deal after a move was in place down N17 for the Crystal Palace sensation.

Tottenham missed out on a number of transfer targets, but they struck gold with Simons, who had looked for many weeks to be joining Chelsea before the Blues signed Alejandro Garnacho.

Having played and impressed over the past several years in Germany with Leipzig, Simons arrived in England with more than his share of excitement, saying he had “been dreaming of this for a long time”.

And while the bedding-in period is very much in swing right now, the Netherlands international has shown glimpses of elite quality, having previously been described as a “world-class” talent by countryman Rafael van de Vaart.

The data backs this up. Not only did Simons perform prolifically in front of goal for his German side, notching 46 goal contributions from 78 outings in all competitions, but his underlying data emphasises his ability.

Data platform FBref have crunched the numbers: across the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign, the 22-year-old ranked among the top 16% of positional peers for goal contributions, the top 15% for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for progressive passes, the top 19% for progressive carries and the top 5% for ball recoveries per 90.

The Dutchman’s robustness and consistency across all facets for Leipzig further underpins his potential, and indeed his chances of becoming the standout for a Tottenham side on the up.

While the likes of Salah and Haaland are one-of-a-kind players, Simons, too, is the full package, and has a style of play that could see him remain a cut above his Tottenham teammates, scoring and creating and orchestrating and defending.

Could Simons even leave north London, one day, with the awe and admiration of the Tottenham persuasion in a similar fashion to Kane? Certainly, we could look back at that £52m transfer fee as a shrewd figure.

As per Transfermarkt, Simons is already worth around £61m, and given his youth and inexperience within the English game, he is only going to get better as time goes on.

Harking back to FBref, the statistical site have revealed Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Martin Odegaard to be among his most tactically comparable players. Looking at the success each of these creators has forged for themselves in recent years, it’s easy to see why fans are beginning to get excited.

Called a “game-changer” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, this is exactly the type of buy to align with the grand plans of the club. Richarlison and the like have quality in the final third, but this is a different standard.

Simons was the marquee signing at Tottenham this summer, and with that comes expectation and scrutiny. He hasn’t yet provided the sustained quality that his skillset suggests is in there, but it will come, especially with one of the finest coaches in the business, Frank, pulling the strings.

When Simons hits his stride, raising Spurs’ collective level, we might just find this outfit celebrating the birth of a new superstar, one who could rival the Salah’s and the Haaland’s of the Premier League.

Cost £8.5m, now worth 440% more: Spurs struck gold on "phenomenal" star

Tottenham Hotspur have showcased their excellent talent identification with the deal to land one player now looking a bargain.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 9, 2025

Liverpool are now reportedly rivalling Newcastle United in the race to sign a young midfield star who’s been compared to Dominik Szoboszlai.

Slot: Liverpool don't have "Jacob Murphy profile" to unlock Isak

It’s been a tumultuous time for Liverpool and record signing Alexander Isak. The Reds are yet to unlock the Swede’s best form, despite splashing out £125m to break a British record and welcome their next star man from Newcastle in the summer.

Arne Slot, however, is remaining patient and recently pinpointed exactly why Isak is yet to replicate his Newcastle form at Anfield. The Dutchman told reporters: “With Jeremie Frimpong being injured and Conor Bradley being out it is not like we have so many options on the right-hand side, and it is a bit similar on the left.

UCL club now ready to launch offer to sign £21m-a-year Liverpool star

The Reds could lose one of their star men.

By
Tom Cunningham

Dec 5, 2025

“Alex could benefit maybe from a Conor or a Jeremie type of player who goes outside, instead of both wingers we have who come inside and full-backs who can come in with crosses.

“But the main difference for him is that we are facing a low block many times. It is not that it never happened at Newcastle but not as much, I think. This season the league has changed, we see so many more low blocks than last season.

“But I see this not only against us, I see this in many games. It makes it harder for him compared to his time at Newcastle but I think it is also him adjusting to his teammates and his teammates adjusting to him. But it is obvious and clear that we have not the profile of [Newcastle’s] Jacob Murphy, for example, available at this moment at this time.”

Whether Liverpool find their own version of Murphy in the January transfer window is now the big question. They’ve already been linked with Antoine Semenyo, who’d certainly offer the same quality, but he may not be the only one on his way.

Liverpool join race to sign Alex Toth

As reported by Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Liverpool have now joined the race to sign Alex Toth from Ferencvaros in 2026. The 20-year-old midfielder has been watched closely by scouts across the Premier League, including both those at Anfield and at St James’ Park and now seems destined for a big move.

Dubbed an “aggressive presser” by Hungarian journalist Bence Bocsak, it’s clear to see where the Szoboszlai comparisons have come from.

Liverpool’s press is certainly something that needs addressing in midfield too, which makes Toth a viable option when 2026 arrives. The Reds have got one over on Newcastle before and could yet do so yet again next year.

Not Isak: £45m star is now Liverpool's most frustrating player since Nunez

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl took on an unenviable task when he decided to join the club to replace Russell Martin, who had won just five of his matches in charge.

The German head coach has had to take over a side that was incredibly low on confidence and turn things around without any signings, which he did with four straight Scottish Premiership wins.

However, the Gers were unable to make it five after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Falkirk at Ibrox on Sunday, and the manager made it clear that underperforming players will face consequences.

One of the team’s underperforming flops who will not make the starting line-up for the clash with Dundee United on Wednesday is Oliver Antman, who has been ruled out for two months through injury.

Why Danny Rohl must replace Oliver Antman

Even without the injury, the Finland international should have been dropped by Danny Rohl because he failed to deliver a quality performance for his side from the start against Falkirk.

Antman ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of seven goals and 17 assists in all competitions for Go Ahead Eagles, per Sofascore, yet his time at Ibrox has been barren in comparison.

In 20 appearances for Rangers, per Transfermarkt, the Finnish forward has failed to provide a goal or an assist in 18 different games, providing three assists in the other two outings.

The 24-year-old flop played 57 minutes against Falkirk on Sunday without registering a shot on target or creating a ‘big chance’ for his teammates, per Sofascore, and his absence through injury will now provide others with an opportunity to nail down that position.

The Rangers talent who could end Antman's Ibrox career

The Light Blues head coach could end Antman’s Ibrox career by finally unleashing academy graduate Findlay Curtis as a starter on the flank, as the Scottish youngster could nail down that position and leave the ex-Eredivisie star starved of minutes.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Rohl must give the 19-year-old star his first senior start in the Premiership this season on Wednesday night because his output this year suggests that he deserves more minutes on the pitch for the Gers.

Curtis, as shown in the table above, showed that he has the physicality to compete at first-team level in his cameo off the bench on Sunday, winning four of his six duels and winning two fouls.

The teenager starlet, who was dubbed a “Boy Wonder” on Premier Sports against Panathinaikos in July, has also shown glimpses of his exciting quality at the top end of the pitch this term, with three goals in 259 minutes of action.

Curtis, who scored off the bench against St Mirren in the Premiership in August, has not started a game for the first-team since he started both of the games against Panathinaikos in July, despite scoring two goals since then.

His lack of minutes, as a starter or off the bench, has been fairly surprising, particularly given Antman and the team’s general form, which is why now is the time for Rohl to finally unleash him from the start.

If the Scotland U21 international can get a run in the side and provide goal contributions on a regular basis for the Light Blues, the underperforming Antman would surely struggle to get back into the team given his lack of form this season.

Therefore, Curtis, who delivered four goals and three assists in eight B team matches at academy level, could be the player who ends the Finland international’s career at Ibrox, as the winger, who can play either flank, could snatch his place in the squad away from him.

A "spell on the sidelines" is needed for the "best player" at Rangers

This Glasgow Rangers star who was called the team’s best player should be dropped from the starting line-up.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 2, 2025

However, it is, firstly, down to the Rangers manager to provide the academy graduate with the platform that he needs to kick on and end Antman’s career at the club, starting with the league clash with Dundee United on Wednesday night because of Antman’s injury.

Leeds United fans headed into the half-time interval against Aston Villa pleased with their team’s overall fight and desire on show.

On top of the energy and application being there, Lukas Nmecha’s bundled opener gifted the Whites a slim 1-0 lead.

But, everything went pear-shaped for Daniel Farke and Co in a worrying second half that saw Villa come out and display their obvious Premier League quality, which, in tow, saw the West Yorkshire giants crumble to a 2-1 loss.

Farke will be extremely unsure about his future in the Elland Road hot seat, with several of his key players letting him down in that disastrous second 45 minutes.

Even the memorable days of Marcelo Bielsa had their poor moments, too, with Gaetano Berardi often sticking out as a liability as the Whites attempted to return to the Premier League, before the South American would clinch the Championship title.

What went wrong for Berardi at Leeds

Despite Berardi’s reputation for being a rash individual when donning Leeds white, the central defender is fondly remembered to this day at Elland Road as a character who gave “everything” for the shirt, as Bielsa once noted.

Lining up all along the defence when needed, the one-time Switzerland international bowed out from West Yorkshire with two goals and seven assists from 157 appearances, leading to an emotional farewell come the close of the 2020/21 season in the Premier League.

However, this isn’t to say Berardi wasn’t a liability when it came to his hot-headedness, with the former number 28 picking up a ridiculous seven red cards, one of which came during Leeds’ playoff semi-final collapse at the hands of Frank Lampard’s Derby County during the 2018/19 season.

Obviously, it was a team effort that culminated in Jack Marriott stealing a late winner to send the Rams to Wembley, but Leeds did have to play the final exchanges down a man due to the recklessness of the full-blooded defender, with Leeds great Eddie Gray once even admitting that he often ‘shut’ his eyes when Berardi went full steam ahead with challenge, largely due to his notorious disciplinary record.

Gray said in full: “There was a few challenges when he was going in after being booked, and I shut my eyes. I thought, ‘No!’ but he pulled back and did the right thing. There comes a time in your career when ‘I shouldn’t be doing that’ because you’re letting yourself down, the manager down, the team down and the supporters down.”

Ultimately, that rash nature resulted in Berardi only being handed two Premier League chances for the Whites, before being let go of, with the now retired defender admitting, when looking back on his Leeds career, that he just couldn’t stem the “fire inside me.”

Fast forwarding back to the present, Leeds may now have another Berardi on their books.

Leeds' new Berardi

Farke might well be persisting with players now that just aren’t cut out for the intensity of the Premier League week in, week out.

Indeed, while Brenden Aaronson does show flashes of immense quality here and there in the top division, it’s clear from his goalless showing against Villa that he isn’t an established Premier League talent for a reason, as just one of his five dribbles came off.

On the contrary, Emery has the likes of Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen at his disposal, who can regularly punish teams at a moment’s notice.

The England international would end up being Villa’s match-winner when he delicately placed this free-kick past a stationary Lucas Perri, but he was not helped by Pascal Struijk rashly tackling Ross Barkley for this free-kick to be given in an ideal spot on the pitch.

To make matters worse for the Dutchman, he also spurned a header late on that was comfortably saved by Emiliano Martinez, as Struijk’s days now begin to look numbered as a regular in the heart of Farke’s defence.

Games played

95

Goals scored

4

Assists

1

Duels won

416

Tackles

200

Yellow cards

16

Red cards

1

Clean sheets

13

This isn’t to say, much like with the Berardi example, that Struijk hasn’t had some great moments over the year donning Leeds white, with the 26-year-old helping himself to eight goals in Championship action.

But, it could now be a case that the ex-Ajax youngster has overstayed his welcome as a Premier League starter at Elland Road, with only 13 clean sheets coming his way across four top-flight campaigns, backing up claims by journalist Phil Hay that he is not “Premier League quality.”

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Leeds Live reporter Isaac Johnson would state in his post-match debrief after Villa that Struijk was regularly “caught out of position” and looked prone to a mistake, with Berardi also generating the same feeling of unease with his unpredictable showings for the club.

This is not the first time Struijk has been guilty of an error-ridden performance, with both goals at Spurs deflecting off the unfortunate defender. Still, the Dutchman could have been closer to Mohammed Kudus when he was allowed to have a pop at goal.

The match against Burnley also highlighted the defender’s susceptibility to aerial contests. As the Clarets took the lead, Kyle Walker swung in a lovely delivery, but neither Joe Rodon nor Struijk communicated properly which allowed Lesley Ugochukwu to ghost in and head home. As the first defender, it should have been up to the latter to deal with the situation but he didn’t read the flight of the ball well at all.

With Manchester City and Chelsea to come next, Farke will have to seriously consider dropping his underperforming dud if he doesn’t want to be on the receiving end of two depressing drubbings, with the beginning of the end for Struijk at Leeds now coming into view.

Forget Aaronson: It's a sackable offence if Farke starts £14m Leeds man again

Daniel Farke must be sacked at Leeds United if he continues to start this ropey dud.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 24, 2025

Nobody at Malahide was more disappointed than Sonny Baker when rain ruined the second of England’s three matches in Ireland on Friday. Two-and-a-half weeks on from a chastening ODI debut against South Africa, Baker was in line to win his first T20I cap and was “desperate” for a second crack at international cricket. Instead, he is crossing his fingers for sunshine on Sunday.At 22, Baker has emerged as a serious prospect this year, fast-tracked onto an England development contract after impressing for the Lions in Australia. He starred in the Hundred, with sharp new-ball spells to David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, and was widely considered a potential Ashes bolter had he made a positive first impression in an England shirt.Instead, what should have been the highlight of his young career quickly turned into a day to forget. With just 131 on the board after a dramatic batting collapse – Baker was last man out, bowled first-ball – he was asked to bowl the first over, running up the hill at Headingley. Aiden Markram duly hit three of the first five balls of his England career to the boundary.His second over went no better, with Markram crunching him for six on either side of the ground. Harry Brook kept him on, hoping a wicket would change things, but had to relent after his first four overs cost 56 runs. Baker’s second spell, after an end change, went slightly better, but 0 for 76 in seven overs were still the worst figures for an England ODI debutant.Baker receives his England cap from Jos Buttler•ECB via Getty Images

“It was obviously not exactly how I’d planned my debut going,” Baker said on Saturday, with a healthy dose of perspective. “Not all good experiences are enjoyable experiences… At the time, I was thinking, ’15 an over for my first three or four overs is not what I had in mind!’ But in the long run, it’ll be a good thing… The next one will definitely be better than that – or hopefully!”Jof [Jofra Archer] came over from cover to mid-off and was like, ‘How’s your heart rate, bud?’ But from an emotional management point of view, I actually felt okay at the time, all things considered. There was so much going on that I didn’t really have time to register, ‘Oh no, this is really not going how I wanted it to.’ It was like, ‘Well, I’ve just got to get on with it and deal with it.'”Overall, I was obviously a little bit disappointed after the series, because it’s not how you want your first game to go. I had a bit of time to reflect, but bounced back fairly quickly after that because I knew I was obviously in for this [tour].”Baker has quickly developed a reputation as a meticulous note-taker, who takes analysis very seriously and plans for each game in great detail. He was not too disheartened reviewing his debut, recounting one delivery to Markram at 89mph – “a little bit over the top of leg stump” – which disappeared over square leg for six.”Brooky was chatting to me after, and said, ‘What did you write down in your notebook after that game?’ I just said, ‘Shit happens,'” he recounted. “It was not the best I’ve bowled, but there’s days where I’ve bowled a lot worse than that and got four [wickets] for not very many. It’s just one of those games: you can score quickly at that ground.”Related

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His main takeaway was how little room for error there is at international level: “It’s just the execution. I knew what I was trying to bowl [to Markram], just cramping him for room at the top of leg stump. If you miss fractionally short or you miss fractionally full, it’s tough. Basically, your margins are just smaller… Batters are allowed to play good shots.”He hopes to be involved in next month’s white-ball tour to New Zealand and will then head to Australia in some capacity, most likely with the Lions. After only seven first-class appearances – all of them this year, including an unusual debut for the Lions – Baker is still an unknown commodity as a red-ball bowler: “That’s one of the exciting things about being young, isn’t it?”Brendon McCullum singled him out for his “infectious enthusiasm” after the series, and his debut does not appear to have affected him too negatively. He was back bowling for Hampshire on Blast Finals Day last weekend, where his personal highlight was an inswinging yorker to clean up Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and is now hoping to make his T20I debut in front of his parents and his girlfriend in Ireland.Baker was “very nervous” on the morning of his debut at Headingley, but hopes that he will be able to channel his emotions in Malahide – a more low-key setting, even with tickets sold out for Sunday’s match – and prove himself in an England shirt: “I’m desperate to get out there again… Hopefully, [Sunday] will be a good opportunity to get one under my belt.”

He was invited to be part of an emergency summit on the game after WI were rolled over for 27 by Australia at Sabina Park

Andrew McGlashan16-Jul-2025Clive Lloyd has said that “all aspects” of West Indian cricket need to be examined after he was invited to be part of an emergency summit on the game following the Test team’s 27 all out against Australia at Sabina Park.West Indies came within touching distance of equaling the lowest-ever Test total of 26, made by New Zealand in 1955, with the last wicket of Jayden Seales falling the ball after a misfield had allowed them to scrape past the figure.Lloyd, who was extended invites alongside Viv Richards and Brian Lara by Cricket West Indies president Dr Kishore Shallow, added he was “always available to help” and stressed the urgency to find solutions, particularly around the Test match batting.Related

Ten days in the Caribbean: WI batters hit new lows, questions remain around Australia's top three

After 27 all out, West Indies come face to face with deepening Test crisis

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Starc six-for, Boland hat-trick consign West Indies to 27 all-out and 0-3 defeat

“We have to examine all aspects of West Indies cricket from grassroots to the international level,” Lloyd said in a statement provided to ESPNcricinfo. “Everything must be looked at closely and carefully. West Indies cricket is an institution. It has given so much to the people of this region and we must do all we can to revive it.”I’m always available to help in any way. How we can marry the ideas we have with what is necessary and have healthy discussion on the way we move forward, that’s what I’m thinking. It has been nearly 100 years since we have been playing top-class [Test] cricket and we have to get it right.”Brandon King, who made his Test debut in Barbados, was the only West Indies batter aside from Anderson Phillip to average over 20 against Australia and his 75 in Grenada was the highest individual score from either side.During the series, head coach Daren Sammy regularly addressed the side’s batting challenges, with an indication they were attempting to score quicker if they struggle to bat time. However, Lloyd was of the view that they had to find ways to be able to build innings adding that pitches around the Caribbean needed to be addressed which has also been a topic raised by Sammy.”We need a couple of Larry Gomes, more batsmen like him,” Lloyd said. “We need batsmen who put a heavy price on their wickets and when they get in look to stay in. There is nothing wrong with digging in and ‘batting ugly’. We have to find ways of fighting, occupying the crease, and staying in for long periods to wear down the bowlers. We have not been doing that.”Obviously, the mental side of our game needs to improve. We have to go back to the basics. We have to look at schools’ cricket, club cricket, first-class cricket – are we playing enough; we also have to look at the pitches – how are we preparing them and how they are playing.”West Indies have finished eighth in the three editions of the World Test Championship. Their next series two series in the current cycle are away trips to India and New Zealand.CWI has recently commemorated 50 years since West Indies’ 1975 ODI World Cup victory where Lloyd was captain and Player of the Match in the final his century against Australia.

“I personally think that if you want to keep getting the ball changed then each team gets three challenges every 80 overs and that’s it,” Joe Root suggests

Valkerie Baynes11-Jul-20253:04

Root: ‘Great to see Archer smiling, enjoying his cricket’

Joe Root has proposed that each team be given three chances to swap the ball over the course of 80 overs in a bid to ease frustration over the repeated changing of the Dukes ball during England’s home Test series with India.His suggestion, at the end of the second day’s play in the third Test at Lord’s, came after India had expressed their displeasure with the replacement for the second new ball, which came after just 10.3 overs of use.Jasprit Bumrah had taken three wickets in his first 14 deliveries with the original, but his side was unable to take another during the first session with Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse at the crease.Related

India unhappy with replacement ball as Dukes loses shape

The ball was changed again, 48 deliveries after the previous change, the incident adding to criticism of the Dukes ball during this series, and dating back five years, over its loss of shape and becoming soft too quickly.”I personally think that if you want to keep getting the ball changed then each team gets three challenges every 80 overs and that’s it, if you want to get it changed,” Root said when asked about the issue at the close of play. “But the rings have to be the right size, not too big.”That would be a nice way of compromising and saying it’s not all on the manufacturer. Sometimes these things happen but you can’t just keep asking and wasting time and slowing the game down at the same time.”But Root, who had been unbeaten on 99 overnight and brought up his 37th Test century with the first ball of the morning, also suggested teams needed to adapt to conditions regardless and get on with the game.”I don’t know the ins and outs of how they make it,” he said. “I do know that they’re handmade so you’re never going to get two balls exactly the same. I do think this summer has been a bit of an anomaly for us. We’re not used to getting this much sun and this much heat and squares as hard and outfields as firm so whether that plays a part or not [I don’t know].

“It’s one of those things where if the balls are going out of shape, you change them, and you don’t make a big deal out of it. I don’t think it’s the end of the world. I think it adds a different dynamic to the game and you’ve got to be skilful enough to adapt to the changes, whether it stops swinging or starts swinging or does a little bit more.”Over rates also came under scrutiny for a second day running. After seven overs were lost on a slow opening day, a further 15 were left unbowled when stumps were called at 6.33pm on the second evening.”I don’t want to get myself in trouble by trying to rewrite the thing but I think that’s one way of policing the ball thing,” Root said. “In terms of over rates, it can be quite difficult on a day like today. We’re not used to this, are we? Thirty [degrees] in England feels like 45 elsewhere. But I guess just try and keep on top of it as much as you can.”Bumrah said he didn’t have a clear memory of the ball being changed during his two previous tours of England in 2018 and 2021 or the two World Test Championship finals he has played.5:34

How the Dukes ball is made and why it’s going out of shape

“The ball changes, I don’t really control that,” Bumrah said. “Obviously I don’t really want to lose out on money because I worked very hard, I bowled a lot of overs, so I don’t want to say any controversial statement and get my match fees deducted. But we were bowling with the ball that we were given and that’s how it is. We can’t change it, we can’t fight it. Sometimes it goes your way [and] sometimes you get a bad ball, that’s how it is.”Meanwhile, Root was understandably delighted with the brilliant catch he took mere millimetres above the ground at first slip to dismiss Karun Nair and move to 211 Test catches, clear of Rahul Dravid to hold the record outright.”I’ll be watching it back, for sure,” Root told . “It should’ve been a long time ago. There’s been a few drops in there, but it was an important one, so nice to cling on to it and keep contributing in the field today.”That’s the whole point, you want to try and contribute; you want to add to the team and find ways of affecting the game, if you’re out there in the field. I might bowl the odd over here and there, but there’s only limited ways that you can get yourself in the game. In order to drop catches, you’ve got to put yourself in those positions in the first place. That’s one thing I’ll always keep trying to do, [think] how can I make an impact? How can I help the lads? Standing at first slip is one of them.”

As Eddie Howe aims to add depth to his side, Newcastle United and PIF are reportedly getting serious about signing a Champions League target in the January transfer window.

Eddie Howe: Newcastle missing "X-factor"

After losing Alexander Isak to Liverpool and only managing to welcome Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa late on in the summer transfer window, Newcastle were always likely to need time before finding their best form. Last weekend’s draw at Bournemouth summed that up more than previous games.

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The Magpies lacked the firepower that they once had. While Woltemade did score on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers, he still needs time to find his full sharpness. Wissa, meanwhile, has been forced to wait for his debut after suffering the most untimely injury during this month’s international break.

Howe will be hoping that both players eventually make their mark, but did admit that Newcastle have so far missed the “X-factor” that Isak gave them for a number of years.

Of course, if things don’t quite click then the January transfer window represents an ideal time for those at St James’ Park to welcome further incomings.

To that end, names such as Conor Gallagher have already been mentioned as potential candidates to arrive. The Atletico Madrid man could be on his way to English football and to St James’ Park. It’s there that he could also be joined by another Champions League talent, too.

Newcastle seriously considering Brandt move

According to reports in Spain, PIF and Newcastle are now getting serious about signing Julian Brandt and are one of many clubs considering his arrival when 2026 arrives. The German has fallen down the pecking order at Borussia Dortmund and could be available at a cut-price in January with his current deal expiring next summer.

The winger could finally get his move to the Premier League as a result. For some time, it looked as though he was destined for Anfield and Jurgen Klopp, before the Reds instead moved for Mohamed Salah many moons ago. Now, years on, he could come back to haunt the Reds in Newcastle colours.

Although he’s fallen out of favour in Germany, Brandt could provide Howe with the versatility that he needs in his current squad. The Dortmund ace can play in attacking midfield and on both flanks in what would offer Newcastle support across their attack.

Having been praised as “outstanding” by teammate Nico Schlotterbeck in 2023, the 29-year-old still has plenty to offer if he gets back to his best form. Whether Newcastle get ahead of Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for his signature remains to be seen, however.

Three wickets apiece for seamers Logan van Beek and Ben Green set up Leicestershire’s first red-ball victory at Lord’s in 45 years, flattening Middlesex to strengthen their position as Rothesay County Championship Division Two front-runners.Van Beek took 3 for 28 – including two wickets in as many balls – while Green’s 3 for 32 also played a pivotal role in ensuring the home side were dismissed for 143 in their second innings.Middlesex collapsed after Sam Robson and Max Holden’s opening stand of 51, losing six wickets for 34 despite Luke Hollman’s defiant knock of 42. That left the Foxes hunting a modest victory target of 102 and they got there with three wickets down, skipper Peter Handscomb hitting the winning runs off Hollman to secure his side’s fourth win in six games.Van Beek’s initial spell in the morning was on the costly side, with Robson picking him off three times to the short leg-side fence as he and Holden wiped out their 32-run overnight deficit without loss. But changes of bowling at both ends brought Leicestershire success, with Robson pinned in front by a Green delivery that seamed back at him, although Tom Scriven’s successful lbw shout against Holden might have been missing leg stump.Hollman began his innings brightly, crunching Green through the covers for four, but Middlesex soon became bogged down and their lack of runs eventually gave way to a clatter of wickets.Despite avoiding a pair, Leus du Plooy never looked entirely comfortable and was trapped leg before as van Beek got one to straighten before Ryan Higgins flashed hard at the next and Handscomb clung on at second slip.Middlesex struggled through to lunch at 79 for 4, but their prospects continued to deteriorate after the interval as Ian Holland drew Ben Geddes into an edge to slip and van Beek bamboozled Jack Davies with a ball that took out his off stump.Hollman’s boundary off van Beek was the first in well over an hour of play, but Zafar Gohar quickly added another, thumping Josh Hull to the rope beyond mid-off to lift his side’s total into three figures.The seventh-wicket pair ground out a dogged partnership of 40 before Green returned to dismiss both Gohar and then Hollman in identical fashion, jagging the ball back to hit the top of middle and off. A brisk undefeated 16 from Toby Roland-Jones hauled Middlesex’s slender lead just above 100 before legspinner Rehan Ahmed mopped up the tail with two wickets from successive deliveries.Sol Budinger launched Leicestershire’s pursuit with gusto, clubbing Dane Paterson for two boundaries in a quickfire 25 before dragging onto his leg stump, while Holden’s well-judged catch over his shoulder as he ran back from cover accounted for Rishi Patel.Rehan also departed, caught behind off Middlesex’s teenage debutant Naavya Sharma, but it was not enough to derail the Foxes as Handscomb and Lewis Hill steered them across the line.