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Rangers are now certain to end the Scottish Premiership campaign trophyless after bowing out of the Europa League on Thursday night, with all eyes now turning to the summer window and how Barry Ferguson’s side can rebuild.

Rangers out of Europa League after defeat to Athletic Bilbao

The Gers battled for every inch of grass against Bilbao during their blockbuster quarter-final second leg in Spain, but the hosts and star young winger Nico Williams’ quality eventually proved too much for them.

Rangers: Attacking 4-3-3 manager wanted at Ibrox is now "ready" for return

He’s been linked with a move to Glasgow.

By
Charlie Smith

Apr 17, 2025

One of Europe’s most in-demand young forwards was a nightmare to deal with, and sealed Bilbao’s place in the semi-finals with a late header at Ferguson’s expense – ending the 90 as deserved winners overall.

There are many pundits and supporters alike who are convinced Rangers should’ve been awarded two penalties, one for the glaring shirt pull on Cyriel Dessers, and another for handball inside the box. It’s hard to argue against their case, particularly for Dessers, so the game wasn’t without its controversy.

While they couldn’t quite get past Bilbao on the night, there were promising signs from Ferguson’s men, who fashioned chances of their own against very tough opposition in the La Liga heavyweights, but didn’t quite have the ruthlessness to finish them off.

“The work-rate was there, but the quality at times wasn’t, and I spoke about that to the players after the game,” said Ferguson on Rangers’ defeat to Bilbao.

“They understand that as well. It’s going to hurt, this one, but we need to go away and reflect a bit. That’s not just the players but myself too. Then we need to come on Monday morning and finish the season as strongly as possible. They’re disappointed because they know the qualities we’ve got.

“They worked hard enough and that’s never been in doubt since I’ve come through the door. It’s just that quality in the middle third, and final third that we just didn’t quite get right. I want them to hurt because I’m hurting. We’re all disappointed but we have five games not and we need 15 points.”

Rangers players tipped to leave as part of Ibrox overhaul

With the summer window looming, Rangers must now regroup and prepare for next campaign, where they will be looking to knock Old Firm rivals Celtic off their perch.

BBC journalist Tom English, speaking to Sportsround on Thursday night after the defeat to Bilbao (via Ibrox News), suggested that out-of-contract trio Tom Lawrence, Ianis Hagi and Neraysho Kasanwirjo – who all carry a market value worth of a combined £5 million according to Transfermarkt – could be in line for Ibrox exits, alongside Leon Balogun.

“Tom Lawrence is out of contract,” he said. “[Ianis] Hagi is out of contract, [Neraysho] Kasanwirjo, [Leon] Balogun, so they can maybe do something there, but they need to get rid of more, and they need to bring in more.”

However, before any new arrivals come in, the club must make a decision on whether to hand Ferguson the full-time manager role or employ another name for the hot seat. According to recent reports, Steven Gerrard is among the managerial names in contention for the Rangers job.

Football can be a cruel mistress at times, with players able to enjoy a meteoric rise, before coming crashing back down to earth with a bump – just ask Manchester United’s, Kobbie Mainoo.

It was less than a year ago that the teenage midfielder was the darling of English football amid his role in the Three Lions’ surge to the Euro 2024 final, with the United academy graduate starting every knockout stage game for Gareth Southgate’s side.

The now 19-year-old had only made his first Premier League start midway through the 2023/24 season, after putting in a Man of the Match display away at Everton in late November, yet was quickly able to establish himself as a central figure both for his club and for his county.

Indeed, the local hero memorably scored what proved to be the decisive goal in May’s FA Cup final triumph over rivals Manchester City, having rounded off a stunning, sweeping move from the rampant Red Devils.

From such highs, however, Mainoo found himself absent from the latest derby encounter at the weekend, with the playmaker edging his way back to fitness amid what has been an injury-hit campaign at Old Trafford.

Doubts emerging over his future at the club – following talk of a stall in contract talks – have been added to by question marks over Mainoo’s suitability for Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 setup, with that uncertainty only set to be heightened by the latest transfer reports.

Latest on Man Utd's search for a midfielder

The midfield ranks could be in need of something of an overhaul this summer, even with the signing of Manuel Ugarte last year, with Christian Eriksen looking set to depart amid the impending expiry of his contract, while fellow veteran, Casemiro, remains linked with an exit.

As such, there remains the need for Amorim to be handed at least one new addition to bolster that department, with GIVEMESPORT reporting that the INEOS regime are ready to sign Atalanta star, Ederson.

As per the report, United are believed to have the Brazilian ‘in their sights’ ahead of the looming summer window, should they qualify for the Champions League, with Amorim seeking a suitable partner to Ugarte in the centre 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.

The suggestion is that the 25-year-old would command a fee of around £52m if he were to leave the Serie A side, with the piece noting that the Red Devils will not ‘pay over the odds’ to get the deal done.

Having been part of the side that claimed Europa League glory against a then-unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen last season, Ederson could represent a worthwhile addition for the Old Trafford outfit ahead of next term.

Why Ederson's signing would be bad news for Mainoo

Not only would the signing of a new midfielder perhaps enhance talk regarding the potential sale of Mainoo – who has been linked with a move to Chelsea – it would also throw into doubt the Englishman’s place in the starting lineup, were he to stay put in Manchester.

The 2022 FA Youth Cup winner had made his mark last season under Erik ten Hag while operating as a deep-lying midfielder or in a number eight berth, albeit with Amorim seemingly uneasy with deploying the teenager as part of his own midfield two, after stating that Mainoo had been “struggling a lot defensively” following his arrival.

Those defensive woes had led the Portuguese coach to push Mainoo into a number ten berth, prior to his injury setback, with the youngster notably scoring and assisting in that role against FCSB in January.

Whether that can be a permanent home remains to be seen, however, particularly with United already boasting the likes of Amad, Mason Mount, Alejandro Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee and Bruno Fernandes, who are all more natural fits as one of the two number tens.

Mainoo then may have to fight his way back into contention in a deeper role, albeit with Ederson perhaps likely to represent a better fit for what Amorim wants, with The Athletic’s Carl Anka previously outling that the ‘central midfielders in Amorim’s 3-4-3 are chosen for their athleticism and tackling qualities first and foremost’.

Games (starts)

30 (27)

Goals

3

Assists

1

Big chances created

6

Key passes*

1.0

Pass accuracy*

88%

Tackles*

1.5

Interceptions*

1.1

Ball recoveries*

5.2

Total duels won*

55%

Possession lost*

10.5

Those are traits which the Atalanta man has in abundance, with former England boss Fabio Capello describing him as “out of this world” due to his “ability to combine running, physicality, technique and intelligence”.

The right-footer – who has scored three goals and registered one assist in 30 Serie A games in 2024/25 – has showcased that ball-winning prowess after averaging 5.2 recoveries per game in the league this season, while having been dribbled past just 0.3 times per game.

Mainoo, by contrast, averages just four ball recoveries from his 18 Premier League outings, having also been dribbled past 0.7 times per appearance – outlining those defensive ‘struggles’ that Amorim alluded to.

Not managing to find a home in his side for a “generational” talent like Mainoo – as hailed by teammate Rasmus Hojlund – may appear a mistake, yet for what the 40-year-old is trying to do with his 3-4-3 set-up, it is Ederson who seemingly fits the bill.

Described as a “machine” by journalist Carlo Garganese last term, the £52m man could be just what is needed to revitalise this struggling United side.

10 midfielders Man Utd could sign to replace Casemiro

The Brazilian could soon be on the way out of Old Trafford.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 7, 2025

A chance move away from his hometown in South Africa unlocked a door he never knew existed

Shashank Kishore10-Sep-2025When Martin Coetzee was let go by his provincial team in South Africa in 2019, he felt like it was curtains on his cricket career.He had hovered on the fringes of the first-class set-up for years without really breaking in. As he contemplated what next – “the thought of moving to another provincial team, or quit cricket altogether and explore another path, like coaching” – the Covid-19 pandemic struck.He was 29, and time was ticking.Then came the move to Hong Kong, far from a cricketing decision. His wife, Lindy, a teacher, had just landed a job at a private school, and the couple decided to take the plunge into the unknown.Related

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Just prior to leaving South Africa, though, Coetzee was told casually by his wife’s school principal, “Don’t forget to pack your cricket bags.” The principal happened to be a former New Zealand first-class cricketer, Ben Hart.”It seemed an odd comment at the time,” Coetzee laughs at the memory. The 36-year-old top-order batter is now in Dubai, part of Hong Kong’s squad at the Asia Cup. “I thought at best this may be a way to play recreationally, get to know a few people at the cricket club, it will help with keeping myself in shape. Nothing more.”When they landed, Hong Kong wasn’t the buzzing global hub he had imagined it to be. Covid restrictions had made the city unrecognisable. “Restaurants were shuttered, masks were compulsory, and residents had to line up for regular blood tests,” Coetzee says.But amid all that, Coetzee found comfort in the fact that he could get outdoors for a few hours. And that outdoor place happened to be the Hong Kong Cricket Club.”I turned up there with no expectations honestly, it was just to get outdoors, rather than being locked in,” he says.

“I thought at best this may be a way to play recreationally, get to know a few people at the cricket club, it will help with keeping myself in shape. Nothing more”

Over time, Coetzee discovered the city’s cricket culture was far more organised and ambitious than he had imagined. He saw talented players fiercely compete, and was explained the pathways into club cricket and possibly international cricket if he stayed the course.”That got me dreaming,” he says. “Suddenly, a three-year qualification criteria didn’t seem to matter, I thought let me start playing and put myself up there. Yes, the wait was long, at times frustrating, but in that period, I played a lot of club cricket, made a lot of friends and enjoyed competing. It got me hooked.”It’s only then I thought of all the things I take for granted back home. In South Africa, you tend to take some things for granted – outdoor nets, fields, space,” he explains. “In Hong Kong, the biggest challenge is facilities. Say, just leading up to our prep tour here, all we had were indoor nets. No grass. It makes you appreciate what you had growing up. But it also makes you work harder.”By the time Coetzee’s qualification period ended, he went on to become one of Hong Kong’s key batters and a regular fixture in the national squad. When not playing, he is a professional coach at the club he represents.”It still surprises me how much Hong Kong has given me,” he says. “You won’t believe it, but there’s a rivalry that is always packed,” he says. “Kowloon Cricket Club and Hong Kong Cricket Club – mate, it’s fiercely competitive as well. The talent is immense.Hong Kong are playing their fifth Asia Cup•Asian Cricket Council”My own team-mates – Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Challu – these guys are all so dedicated. It makes you feel good to be playing with a group that’s as enthusiastic and keen to show what they’re capable of. From day one, Hong Kong cricket felt like a family.The “family” has recently had to channel the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2026 T20 World Cup – their chances at the Asian qualifiers were scuppered by the weather.”Yeah, that still hurts,” Coetzee says. “We were having dinner last night, watching the tennis [US Open final] and one of the UAE lads just mentioned it as a joke and it actually still stung a little bit.”We are very disappointed with that, but with the new coach [Kaushal Silva] and the whole new group and vibe we have got going, we try not to think about that too much, and we are excited about everything that’s ahead. The next week or so is a good example. There’s always the next one to qualify for.”The game has also taken him places – Nepal, Oman, and the UAE – he never imagined visiting when he was lying on a South African rugby field with a broken leg, convinced his sporting life was over. That injury when he was 17 had driven him back to cricket, but the end of his Lions contract had almost pushed him out for good. Yet here he is, living a second chance, wearing new colours, and having a new perspective at 36.”We love the city so much,” Coetzee says. “We’re based just outside the hustle and bustle, in Green Pulse Bay. We can see ourselves living here for quite a while. The cricket crowd is growing, the local kids have so much talent, and the passion is unbelievable.”I never thought I’d find this in Hong Kong. But now I know exactly why Ben told me to pack that cricket bag.”

Desire to play best six batters may prompt team to push Labuschagne up to open the batting against West Indies

Alex Malcolm10-Dec-20231:30

Bailey: ‘Ultimately, Warner is in our best XI’

Australia’s selectors are unlikely to pull any surprises for the first Test of the home summer, against Pakistan on Thursday, but the conversation around who will replace David Warner once he retires continues to bubble away. Head coach Andrew McDonald once again hinted that they could lean towards picking the best six batters in a reshaped order rather than a specialist opener whenever a decision needs to be made.Despite a lot of external noise around the potential debut of express pace bowler Lance Morris, the home side looks set to make only one change from the last Test XI they fielded in the fifth Ashes Test at the Oval with Nathan Lyon returning from injury in place of Todd Murphy.Mitchell Marsh is set to remain at No. 6 while the big three quicks in Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins all looked in fine fettle at Australia’s first training session since being crowned ODI World Cup champions in Ahmedabad three weeks ago.McDonald did not name the XI that would face Pakistan at Perth Stadium but said “it will look the same as it did before” after the quicks had returned in very good shape from a long World Cup campaign. Lyon is also a welcome return after the head coach noted he was a “huge loss” for the final three Tests of the Ashes series that had “destabilised” Australia’s attack.

The hunt for Warner’s successor

In the absence of any selection debates in the lead-up to the first Test of the home summer, speculation continues to mount over how Australia’s batting line-up will shape up once Warner finishes. He has been guaranteed the first game against Pakistan and it seems very likely that he will play all three to get his desired Sydney Test send-off.Australia coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins want to field their best available XI•Getty ImagesMcDonald reaffirmed the selection panel’s stated position that they would continue to pick the best Test XI for the here and now in the World Test Championship era, with future building not part of any current discussions. Still, there is continued interest over who ends up replacing Warner, prompting McDonald to double down on his previous statement on that a desire to pick the best six Test batters in the same side, which could include both Marsh and Cameron Green, might trump the need to blood in a new specialist opener.Related

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“I think it feels as though anytime that you mention that you want to put your best six batters into the Test team, then there’s always speculation about who’s going to open and when Davey goes,” McDonald said.”We’ve got time to make that decision. Davey’s playing the first Test match and we’ll go from there. Until we have to make the decision, then it’ll continue to bubble away and the speculation will be there.”I think for us, it’s gathering information and making a decision when we need to make the decision. So that’s as simple as it gets. We’ve got no firm views on it at the moment.”It appears that part of the selectors thinking surrounding replacing Warner with Green rather than a specialist opener and then reshuffling the order to have either Marnus Labuschagne or Marsh open the batting is linked in with Australia’s fast bowling stocks. In any case, it seems unlikely that a decision will need to be made until the new year when West Indies arrive for a two-Test series in late January.The Prime Minister’s XI tour match against Pakistan did offer a lot of information to that end, but it was not the selection “bat-off” that some may have hoped it would be.”They all showed what they can do,” McDonald said. “We know that they’re all quality players. I thought Cameron Green was impressive again. Matt Renshaw clearly got a hundred, and a couple of starts to the other boys as well, a half-century and 49 to Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris. We know they can play. They’ve got good numbers in Sheffield Shield cricket and I think if we were to go down that path and choose one of them, I think they would do a really good job.”Lance Morris ramps it up in training•Getty Images

Morris closing in on Test bow

Despite a stated policy of selecting for the here and now, Morris remains an enticing prospect. He bowled a rapid spell in the centre-wicket practice at the WACA ground in Perth on Sunday, ruffling Labuschagne and Marsh at times with Marsh walking off wide-eyed at the pace he’d just faced.There is, however, an understanding that Morris has played almost all of his Sheffield Shield cricket for Western Australia as part of a five-man bowling attack with four fast bowlers and a spinner sharing the load so he could be used in short bursts as a strike weapon. His history of back stress fractures is also a factor in that thinking. In light of all that, Morris is only set to play for Australia this summer if one of the main three quicks, particularly Starc, misses a match through injury or soreness.Meanwhile, Marsh usurping Green as the team’s allrounder has created a headache for the selectors. While Marsh can bowl some very useful overs and will bowl throughout the home season, he cannot be banked upon for the same number of overs and the same bowling impact as Green given Marsh’s recent injury history. The Ashes series was the first time Marsh had played back-to-back first-class matches in four years. He experienced soreness that kept him off the field in the Old Trafford Test and meant he didn’t bowl at all during the subsequent eight-match white-ball tour of South Africa.If Morris were to play in Australia’s Test XI at some stage this summer or moving forward, it appears there would be a clear preference for Green to play in the same side, and if Marsh is entrenched on batting form, the selectors would need to find Green another place in the top six.For the moment, Green will carry the drinks in Perth as Australia remain wary of a Pakistan side that arrives down under in a state of never-ending flux. McDonald was unsure whether the positive new Test brand, the Pakistan Way, that had been unfurled in Sri Lanka in the middle of the year, would be replicated under a new captain and coach against the World Test Champions in a country where they have not won a Test match since 1995.”I think the last series they played, they played a more up-tempo brand,” McDonald said. “They’ll try and put more pressure on the bowling unit. So I think we’ll see a little bit of that. But like anything, if we execute well with the ball, it’s going to be difficult to be able to maintain that over long periods of time. So we’re not sure the way that they’ll play. They’ll signal their intent from the first ball once we get out there. We’ll see what happens.”

He had immense skill, charisma and mystique, a terrific cricket brain, and he was an icon like few cricket has seen

Brydon Coverdale05-Mar-2022It’s the 5th of January, 1992.A chubby young Victorian stands in the middle of the SCG and flicks the ball from one hand to the other, his fingers ripping as much turn as they can from the leather. A splodge of white zinc-cream covers his nose, a mullet of blond hair adorns his head. He looks like the kind of bloke who enjoys a beer, a cigarette and a pizza. That’s because he the kind of bloke who enjoys a beer, a cigarette and a pizza. He looks as much an elite athlete as John Daly. But remember, John Daly won the PGA Championship six months before.At deep cover stands another Victorian, this one fit and lean and vastly experienced. The young bowler is on Test debut; his older team-mate is playing his last Test series in Australia, though he doesn’t know it yet. It’s not going well for the Aussies: India are 397 for 4. Sachin Tendulkar is at one end, on his way to another unbeaten hundred, and en route to 15,000 Test runs. Ravi Shastri has a double-century. Tracer bullets are peppering the boundary boards.Related

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The young leggie comes in and tosses up a delivery that drifts in, drops and spins away from Shastri, who tries to loft the ball down the ground but miscues, and skies it to deep cover. The Victorian veteran runs in and takes the catch; the spin rookie is relieved to have his first Test wicket. Thirty years later, they are gone, Dean Jones and Shane Warne both having died overseas in their fifties, suddenly, unexpectedly and far, far too prematurely.But while the cricket world is consumed with an overwhelming sadness at Warne’s early death, it is intensely thankful for his contribution to the game. That moment – Shastri, c Jones b Warne 206 – was the beginning of something extraordinary. Something unique. It was the first of 708 Test wickets, a tally that has since only been surpassed by Muthiah Muralidaran, and which might never be bettered by anyone else.Warne was the first to reach 700 Test wickets, a milestone that once seemed unfathomable. But judging Warne on statistics alone is like assessing Shakespeare based on how many plays he wrote. It misses the point. Warne was one of the few people who truly changed their chosen art. When he arrived, legspin was a dying skill. He single-handedly revolutionised it, made it popular, and weaponised it.In the hands of Warne, legspin was a danger the likes of which cricket hadn’t seen before. When he stood at the top of his mark, adjusting the field, ripping the ball from one hand to another, intimidating the batter through the power of his aura, anything could happen. He could bowl the world’s best batters around their legs, or squeeze out a flipper to trap them in front, or deceive them with drift and drop.When he bowled, you . You didn’t have the cricket on in the background while doing the vacuuming or catching up on your paperwork. Warne bowled every delivery with intent, so you watched with intent. Spin bowlers are the illusionists of cricket. Their art is sleight of hand. But no matter how closely you watched Warne, you could never work out how he did what he did. You just sat back and enjoyed the ride.Just as important as his immense skill was his charisma. His apparently unwavering confidence. He believed he could take a wicket with every ball and he projected that belief so strongly that viewers and opponents believed it too. Just ask Daryll Cullinan. He was convinced he could win a game from any position, even if nobody else really thought it was possible. Exhibit A: Adelaide, 2006, when England started the fifth day one down and 97 runs in front, only for Warne to bowl Australia to an unthinkable victory.Warne bowls good mate Kevin Pietersen around the legs on the last day at Adelaide in 2006, when he took 4 for 49 to set up a grand win•Getty ImagesThat Adelaide win fits neatly in a catalogue of Warne’s finest moments, but it’s a big catalogue. Of course, everyone remembers the “ball of the century”, when, with his first delivery in a Test match in England, Warne turned a ball further than the width of Mike Gatting to clip the top of off stump. Never has a cricketer planted his flag more immediately and more vividly than Warne did with the Gatting ball.There was the hat-trick, taken against England at the MCG in 1994. There was his 700th Test wicket, also at his home ground, 12 years later. There was his dominance in the 1999 World Cup, the first of Australia’s three consecutive tournament victories. There were his heroics in a losing cause in the 2005 Ashes in England, when his 40 dismissals topped the wicket tally with daylight second and Andrew Flintoff next on 24.The sum of the parts of Warne’s career is almost infinite, and yet the whole is greater still. Every spin bowler who has come along since Warne has been, in some way, is his shadow. But Warne always fought in their corner. When he commentated, he argued passionately for the spinners to be brought on. To be used as a weapon. Even if they were a smaller calibre than Warne – and, really, everyone was – he believed in their ability to cause damage.As a thinker on the game, Warne was as sharp as they come. He led Australia in 11 ODIs but in Test cricket, he was the greatest captain Australia never had. While commentating, time and again he would predict what was about to happen and suggest a tactic, always reading the play correctly. Always one or more steps ahead. He even did it while miked up and bowling in the BBL.When it came to the health of the sport, he was a forward thinker, open to new ideas, and a champion of the T20 concept. Two years ago, he observed how important it was for cricket to come up with a plan to survive the challenges of climate change. Faced with facts, he was not one to bury his head in the sand and think of the good old days.Of course, he was far from perfect. Very, very far. Controversy seemed to follow Warne everywhere. His reputation was tarnished by the controversy that arose in 1998, when he and Mark Waugh were revealed to have given pitch and weather information to an Indian bookmaker. Then there was the year-long ban he served after failing a drug test ahead of the 2003 World Cup, which he claimed was due to a fluid tablet his mother had given him.Camera magnet: wherever he went, the photographers flocked•Getty ImagesAnd there were the sex scandals, the tabloid headlines, the constant fascination with his private life. Why? Because he wasn’t just a cricket star, he was a . We tend to think that pop culture means music and film and television, but sport is a massive part of pop culture as well. And Warne was, by any definition, a pop-culture icon. At its peak, the fascination with his life rivalled interest in the royal family.Warne had a musical written about him. He was engaged to Liz Hurley. He briefly hosted a TV chat show in Australia. He played a Shane Warne impersonator on the comedy series Kath & Kim, one of the biggest Australian TV shows of the 2000s. He had a cameo on . Mick Jagger, Elton John and Ed Sheeran have posted on social media about their devastation at his death.Meanwhile, fans have left tributes at the statue of Warne at the MCG. Someone left a can of beer, a packet of cigarettes, and a meat pie. That sums up Australia’s relationship with Warne. Yes, he was flawed. Yes, he mixed with megastars. But he was always still the chubby kid from Melbourne’s outer suburbs, born to Keith and Brigitte Warne in 1969. Australians watched him soar, but they also saw him as down to earth.Mike Hussey, in his book , recalled that as he prepared to walk out for his first Test innings in 2005, he was called over in the Gabba dressing rooms by Shane Warne. Standing in the bathroom in his underpants, relieving himself, while a cigarette hung out of his mouth, Warne gave Hussey some advice: “Be yourself.” If ever the medium was the message, that was it.Warne was the unconventional, unknighted larrikin who joined Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Jack Hobbs, Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Vivian Richards as one of ‘s five Cricketers of the Century. Note that he is the one of the five who was primarily a bowler. Cricket is, so often, a batter’s game. Not when Warne was involved. He wasn’t a once-in-a-generation cricketer. He was a once in all generations cricketer.It’s hard to imagine the cricket world without Warne in it. But then, it was hard to imagine music without John Lennon, or the royal family without Princess Diana, or basketball without Kobe Bryant. True icons leave holes of iconic proportions. But still, the world turns. Australian cricket goes on in Rawalpindi. Cricket existed before Warne and it exists after him. But few people have left such an indelible mark on the game.Warne was a cricketing genius. You can’t do him justice with mere words. It’s like using interpretive dance to sum up Albert Einstein’s contributions to science. All you can do is sit back and marvel that such a person existed. And be thankful to have witnessed a genius at work.

The Detroit Tigers are moving on to the American League Division Series.

Detroit went on the road and topped the Cleveland Guardians 2-1 in a tightly contested wild-card series. On Thursday, the Tigers secured a 6-3 win thanks to an excellent effort from five pitchers and some timely hitting that eluded them in Game 1 and Game 2.

After an epic collapse to end the season that cost them the AL Central, Detroit rebounded and will now face the top-seeded Seattle Mariners in the ALDS.

What follows are three takeaways from their big win in Game 3.

Jack Flaherty Earned His Rotation Spot

Jack Flaherty led the American League in losses this season, going 8-15 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Detroit lost eight of his last 10 starts, the last two of which came against Cleveland. On Thursday, he stepped up and largely locked down the Guardians.

The 29-year-old allowed one run on three hits over 4 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking two. He was wild, throwing only 43 of his 74 pitches for strikes, but he managed to limit the damage. A George Valera double opened the fourth inning, and Jose Ramirez singled to drive him in, tying the game at 1-1. He worked his way out of it. After getting two outs in the bottom of the fifth, he walked C.J. Kayfus and was relieved by Kyle Finnegan.

He left in a 1-1 game and didn't finish five innings, so he was ineligible for the win, but he put Detroit in position to come out ahead. He's earned his postseason rotation spot.

Detroit Can Get Timely Hits

In the first two games of the series, the Tigers were 2-23 with runners in scoring position, including going 1-15 in a 6-1 loss in Game 2. Their bats woke up in Game 3 as they went 5-12, including three straight singles with runners in scoring position in the seventh inning.

Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, and Wenceel Perez came through when they had to, giving Detroit a 6-1 lead and some breathing room. Catcher Dillon Dingler, who grew up in Ohio rooting for the Guardians, also came up big. His two-out home run in the top of the sixth put the Tigers up 2-1. They never trailed again.

The Tigers can hit in the clutch, they just needed to get some confidence back. Once they did, it was contagious.

Cleveland Didn't Have Enough Offense

Yes, the Guardians' late-season run was remarkable and even inspiring. Unfortunately, it wasn't sustainable.

On the season, Cleveland's wRC+ of 87 ranked 28th in all of baseball, ahead of only the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies. Guardians hitters generated 13.2 fWAR, which ranked 25th, and their wxOBA of .299 was dead last. Eventually, that was going to catch up with them.

In the three games of the series, Cleveland's hitters slashed .178/.253/.322 for a woeful OPS of .575. They did have three home runs and eight RBIs, but also struck out 24 times with nine walks. Something has to change.

The Guardians brought up Chas DeLauter for the postseason in a move to juice the team's lineup, while top prospect and former No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana is at Triple A. While Bazzana struggled a bit at that level, it wouldn't surprise me if Cleveland had him at second base to start the 2026 campaign.

Shane Burger also joins new coaching set-up at the Utilita Bowl

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Dec-2025Russell Domingo, the former South Africa and Bangladesh coach, has been named Hampshire men’s head coach on a two-year contract. He will be joined in the club’s new coaching set-up by another South African, Shane Burger, who previously coached Scotland before moving on to Somerset.Domingo was in charge of South Africa between 2012 and 2017, followed by a three-year stint with Bangladesh. He has been head coach of Johannesburg-based Lions since 2023, and has also worked in the PSL. ESPNcricinfo understands Domingo will continue in his Lions role, splitting his time between the UK and South Africa.He succeeds his countryman Adrian Birrell at Hampshire, with Birrell stepping down at the end of the 2025 summer after seven seasons on the south coast.Burger joins as assistant coach (bowling), while former Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams will continue in his role as assistant coach (batting).Related

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“I’m thrilled to be joining Hampshire Cricket,” Domingo said. “This is a club with incredible history, outstanding facilities at Utilita Bowl, and a clear vision for success both on and off the field.”I’ve been genuinely impressed by the ambition here and the strong cultural values that underpin everything Hampshire does. The combination of developing young talent whilst competing for trophies is exactly the challenge I’m looking for, and I can’t wait to get started.”I’m looking forward to working alongside Jimmy and Shane and getting to know the players as we prepare for what promises to be an exciting season ahead.”Burger said: “I’m really excited to be joining Hampshire Cricket. The quality of young bowlers coming through here is exceptional, Sonny Baker, Eddie Jack and Scott Currie have already earned England recognition, and I’m looking forward to helping them continue that development.”I love the ambition and vision of the club and the future seems bright. I’m excited to be part of that journey alongside Russell and Jimmy and I can’t wait to get started.”Hampshire endured a turbulent finish to last season, losing in both the final of the Vitality T20 Blast and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. They appeared destined for relegation to Division Two of the County Championship, after suffering a points deduction for a substandard pitch, before being reprieved on the final day by Durham’s collapse against Yorkshire.Hampshire’s director of cricket, Giles White, added: “We’re delighted to announce our coaching team for next summer. Russell Domingo will serve as head coach, with Jimmy Adams and Shane Burger joining him as assistant coaches. Together, they form a strong and experienced unit that will continue to champion the cultural framework that has underpinned Hampshire cricket over the years.”We exist to win and to develop, and I’m confident this team will continue to drive that ethos as we move into an exciting future. It’s a fantastic place to be at this moment in time, and the season ahead promises great opportunities.”

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O Botafogo, comandado pelo técnico Artur Jorge, perdeu para o Bahia, neste sábado (5), por 2 a 1, em casa, pela quinta rodada do Brasileirão, após 5 jogos de invencibilidade. Além da liderança do Campeonato Brasileiro, o Botafogo perdeu a chance de chegar com muita moral para o jogo contra a LDU, na próxima quarta-feira (8), às 21:30, no Nilton Santos.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoFilho de Éverton Ribeiro brinca após vitória do Bahia sobre o Botafogo: ‘Chororô’Fora de Campo05/05/2024BotafogoAssista aos melhores momentos de Botafogo 1×2 Bahia, pelo BrasileirãoBotafogo05/05/2024BotafogoCom gol polêmico anulado pelo VAR, Botafogo é derrotado pelo Bahia e perde a liderança do BrasileirãoBotafogo05/05/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Fogão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Botafogo

A situação do Botafogo na Libertadores é delicada. O clube soma apenas três pontos em três jogos e amarga a quarta colocação do Grupo D. O primeiro colocado é o Júnior de Barranquilla, com cinco pontos, e a LDU e o Universitário estão empatados na segunda colocação, com quatro pontos.

O próximo jogo é de suma importância, pois será o último em casa, na fase de Grupos da Libertadores. Sabendo disso, o técnico Artur Jorge fez questão de apoiar o time, após a derrota para o Bahia, e garantiu que o elenco Fogão chegará preparado para o confronto contra a equipe chilena:

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– Não vai ser esse resultado, que terá impacto emocional, e nem aquilo que é expectativa, esperança e a vontade de ganhar o jogo quarta-feira, (…) e Botafogo é feito disto, por saber que quando sofremos, sofremos juntos. Nós vamos preparar para poder levantar de forma capaz de competir e vencer o próximo jogo, já na quarta-feira.

➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta!

Mesmo com a derrota de hoje, o Botafogo ainda ocupa a terceira colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro e deve ir com força máxima para o jogo contra a LDU.

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Tudo sobre

Artur JorgeBotafogoBrasileirãoFutebol NacionalLibertadores

Leeds United will no doubt be disappointed after losing 3-2 against Manchester City this afternoon, but the fans can take some positives out of the clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Phil Foden’s first-minute goal could have signalled an afternoon of domination for Pep Guardiola’s men, but it wasn’t to be, with the hosts only boasting a two-goal lead at the break.

Daniel Farke’s substitutions at the break saw the Whites bring the game level within a matter of minutes, that’s despite many questioning his decision to withdraw Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

However, it wasn’t to be as Foden had the last laugh with his stoppage-time effort enough to secure all three points for the Citizens – resulting in a sixth Premier League loss in their last seven.

Despite the defeat, numerous players can leave Manchester with their heads held high, with one player deserving huge plaudits for his showing this afternoon.

Ethan Ampadu’s performance against Manchester City

For the 12th time in the league this season, midfielder Ethan Ampadu started at the heart of the Leeds side, doing so with the captain’s armband too.

His performance against Manchester City was one of a leader, with the Welshman putting in a phenomenal showing and one that was highlighted by his underlying stats.

The 25-year-old featured for the entirety of the contest, completing a staggering 46 passes, with such a tally the highest of any player in Farke’s squad.

He also completed 50% of the dribbles he attempted, whilst making two passes into the final third – often trying to hit the hosts on the counter in the second half.

Ampadu’s incredible showing was also evident without the ball at his feet, subsequently making four recoveries and winning 67% of his ground duels – arguably being one unsung hero at the Etihad.

He certainly wasn’t alone in producing a performance to remember against the former Premier League champions, with Farke needing to select one other player on a consistent basis.

The Leeds player who should be undroppable after City

Many people would have anticipated a dominant victory for City this afternoon, but Leeds certainly put up a fight – which is the least you can ask for given the current situation.

Farke will likely receive some criticism for failing to see out the game for a point, but ultimately, individual errors were the contributing factors to the late goal.

The supporters should also remember it was the manager’s bold call at the break that gave the side the opportunity to get back into the game in the first place.

He switched to a somewhat unfamiliar 3-5-2 system, with the impact of Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the top end of the pitch certainly putting the hosts under huge pressure.

The Englishman replaced Gnonto at the interval, a decision that proved to be an inspirational one given the talisman’s impact during the second half at the Etihad.

His first goal since September certainly wasn’t the prettiest, but it was a reward for his determined efforts at the top end, before poking the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The 28-year-old was also hugely involved in the Whites’ second goal of the contest, with Calvert-Lewin caught in the area by Josko Gvardiol – leading to Lukas Nmecha’s rebounded penalty.

The substitutes’ underlying figures were also massively impressive, with the target man putting doubt into the opposition’s backline after his introduction.

He completed 100% of the dribbles he attempted, whilst also winning 80% of the ground duels he entered – subsequently offering a dominant option during the fightback.

Minutes played

45

Touches

18

Pass accuracy

80%

Dribbles completed

100%

Ground duels won

80%

Passes into final third

1

Fouls won

3

Shots on target

100%

Calvert-Lewin also completed a pass into the final third, whilst also drawing three fouls, with the former Everton man playing a huge part in the side’s ability to get off the canvas.

As a result of his showing off the bench, the striker was handed an impressive 9/10 match rating from Leeds United journalist Graham Smyth – further showcasing his impressive cameo off the bench.

After such a showing, there’s little denying the manager simply has to start Calvert-Lewin on a consistent basis, with his assets constantly causing havoc for the opposition.

Ampadu, too, has showcased this season why he’s a solid Premier League option, which could see both play a huge role in the club’s survival bid come the end of the season.

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Leeds are reportedly preparing to possibly replace Daniel Farke in the dugout with a LaLiga boss in the frame.

1 ByDan Emery Nov 28, 2025

Cooke makes 84 in key stand as Northants are made to work for wickets at Wantage Road

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay08-Sep-2025Asa Tribe hit a career-best unbeaten 181 to keep Glamorgan’s promotion hopes firmly alive and put his side in a dominant position on day one of this Rothesay County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.Glamorgan were indebted to the 21-year-old Jersey international after losing four wickets before lunch after winning the toss, Luke Procter claiming two scalps. Opening the innings, Tribe never looked in real trouble, helping himself to 25 fours and two sixes in a fluent, confident innings and accounting for the bulk of the top-order runs.Sam Northeast (17) and Ben Kellaway (23) kept him company in half-century stands, but it was not until Chris Cooke’s arrival that Glamorgan mounted a substantial partnership, the keeper scoring 84 (12 fours, one six) while adding 162 for the sixth wicket with Tribe. Although Cooke fell before the close, Glamorgan were in a healthy position at 367 for six.Earlier Northamptonshire handed first-class debuts to left-arm pacer Ben Whitehouse and off-spinner Nirvan Ramesh, 17, who became the county’s third youngest debutant since the war.Zain ul Hassan was the first Glamorgan wicket to fall in the eighth over, driving outside off-stump to Procter and edging an easy catch behind.Tribe dealt almost exclusively in boundaries. He drove handsomely through midwicket against the seamers before a punch through cover point off Whitehouse brought up Glamorgan’s 50 at the end of the 15th over.Whitehouse meanwhile unsettled Northeast. After the Glamorgan skipper punched one to the boundary, Whitehouse struck him on the arm causing a short delay. Northeast recovered to slap a wide delivery from Justin Broad through extra cover to bring up the 50 partnership with Tribe off 58 balls, but the all-rounder found some late movement to draw the edge through to second slip.Tribe though looked imperious, reaching 50 off 63 deliveries. He pulled dismissively against Whitehouse who was guilty of bowling too short throughout both spells.Procter struck for the second time when he jagged one back sharply to Kiran Carlson who offered minimum foot movement and inside edged to the keeper. The impressive Ramesh then claimed his maiden first-class wicket when Colin Ingram (18) attempted to turn the ball to leg and was well caught off the leading edge by Procter in the covers, and while Tribe took consecutive boundaries off Calvin Harrison, Glamorgan went into lunch four down for 115.Tribe started positively after the interval, sweeping Ramesh over deep midwicket for six, while Kellaway eased into his work with a sumptuous cover drive off Liam Guthrie and a reverse sweep off Ramesh as Glamorgan moved past 150, Tribe bringing up the half-century partnership off 59 balls with a backfoot punch off Guthrie.With Ramesh bowling consecutive maidens at one end, Northamptonshire turned to Broad to try to force the breakthrough and he instantly troubled Tribe outside off-stump. But it was Harrison who bowled Kellaway round his legs as he went to sweep.New batter Cooke took the aggressive option against Broad but was almost undone by one that jagged back and kept low.Tribe reached three figures off 150 balls with his first false shot, under-edging an attempted sweep against Harrison, the ball running past the keeper for four. He endured a few nervous moments against Procter who beat him several times outside off-stump, but he duly moved past his previous highest score of 107 made against Leicestershire in June, despite suffering from flu at the time.After tea Cooke swung Harrison over the leg side for six to bring up the 100 partnership off 183 balls before reaching his own half-century. He continued to attack, clubbing spinners Harrison and Saif Zaib over midwicket, while Tribe hit Zaib straight for six, Glamorgan going on to pass 300 shortly before the new ball became due.Tribe steered Procter through midwicket to bring up the 150 stand off 246 balls while Cooke cut Guthrie powerfully for four. The bowler soon made the breakthrough when Cooke pulled and was well caught low down by Broad at deep backward square-leg.With Tribe still content to capitalise on anything loose and joined by Timm van der Gugten, Glamorgan secured a third batting bonus point shortly before the close.