West Ham are in the market for a new striker ahead of January, and signing one has been made all the more important as injury-prone centre-forward, Niclas Füllkrug, continues to prove he cannot be relied upon to lead Nuno Espírito Santo’s line.

West Ham turn to the two Callums after Fullkrug injury blow

Fullkrug, as confirmed by Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, has suffered a torn muscle bundle in his thigh and reports suggest the 32-year-old will be absent for ‘several weeks’ as a result.

This latest knock, coming after Fullkrug missed 28 games for West Ham and Germany combined last season, highlights why the ex-Borussia Dortmund star isn’t the ideal man to spearhead Nuno’s side away from the relegation zone long-term.

Estimated games Niclas Füllkrug could miss for West Ham	Date
Brentford (home)	October 20
Leeds United (away)	October 24
Newcastle United (home)	November 2
Burnley (home)	November 8

With Fullkrug out, the spotlight falls on just two strikers — Callum Marshall and Callum Wilson.

Marshall, a promising young forward, offers energy and potential but lacks Premier League experience.

While he has shown glimpses of talent during his limited appearances and time on loan at Huddersfield last season, relying heavily on a developing player to lead the line in such a competitive league is a major gamble — even if supporters are keen to see the Northern Irishman get minutes.

The pressure to perform week in, week out at this level could expose Marshall’s inexperience, and West Ham’s attacking threat might suffer as a result.

Wilson, on the other hand, brings Premier League pedigree, but his injury history has been a persistent concern.

His recurring fitness issues have severely limited the centre-forward’s availability in recent seasons, making it difficult for Nuno to count on him as a dependable option. Should the 33-year-old struggle to stay fit, West Ham’s striking options become even thinner — placing further strain on the team’s goal-scoring capabilities.

Jarrod Bowen can play as a striker when required, and this will likely be considered by Nuno before West Ham take on Brentford in his first home game as manager.

Nevertheless, the need for a new number nine is crystal clear, but West Ham have already rejected the chance to sign Emmanuel Dennis on a free transfer.

West Ham make Ivan Toney decision after being offered ideal striker

In the build up to January, reports have suggested that West Ham could turn to ex-Brentford star Ivan Toney as a temporary solution.

The Hammers, amid claims they’ve considered a loan deal for the Al-Ahli striker, who earns £426,000-per-week in the Middle East, have apparently made a decision on bringing the 29-year-old back to England.

According to insider Claret & Hugh, Toney is not the right profile they’re looking for, as West Ham want someone with more pace and directness up top.

Expanding further, the source also claims that West Ham have been offered a mystery alternative to Toney who “fits the bill”.

We can only speculate as to who this striker could be, and there is a potential chance it could be Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović.

The Serbian, who’s scored at least 14 goals per season since his breakthrough campaign in 21/22, is out of contract in 2026 and reports suggest his agents are reaching out to Premier League teams in search of a new club.

That being said, Vlahovic is also on mammoth wages, so he’d have to take a seismic pay cut to join West Ham.

Former Liverpool player Jermaine Pennant has defended Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid, stating fans "don't understand" why he left after he received a hostile reception at Anfield. The ex-Liverpool star backed the defender to overcome a difficult start, where he has been hampered by injury, and show his "best" form for the Spanish giants.

Pennant defends Trent

Pennant, who played for the Anfield club between 2006 and 2008, weighed in after the 27-year-old received a hostile reception upon his first time back to Merseyside with his new club.

Alexander-Arnold joined the 15-time Champions League winners in June  as Madrid paid a €10 million fee to secure his services early, allowing him to feature in the Club World Cup, shortly before his contract came to an end.

The decision by the Liverpool native to end his 20-year association with his boyhood club angered a significant portion of the fanbase, culminating in a difficult return in this week's Champions League group stage fixture.

Any hope of a warm welcome for the former Liverpool vice-captain was quickly extinguished on Tuesday night. As Alexander-Arnold's name was read out over the Anfield tannoy, a chorus of whistles and boos rang out from the home supporters. The England international, who was named on the bench by manager Xabi Alonso for the clash, was spotted laughing and smirking with teammates during the warm-up, seemingly unfazed by the disapproval.

The night ended in further disappointment for the right-back, as he came off the bench in the 82nd minute but could not save Madrid from a 1-0 defeat to Arne Slot's side.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPennant: 'Fans feel he has abandoned the club'

Pennant, speaking to , offered an explanation for the vitriolic response from the Liverpool supporters, putting it down to their intense connection with the club.

“It’s difficult because Liverpool fans are so passionate. Obviously, they didn’t like that he left," Pennant said. “The fans don't understand. They think he should stay at Liverpool because it's more than a club, it's a family. They feel he has abandoned the club, the city, and the fans. I understand why the fans are upset. Nobody wants to see a great player leave their club, especially when he's been there so long."

Ex-Red defends 'irresistible' Real Madrid offer

Despite understanding the fans' frustration, Pennant strongly defended the player's right to seek a new challenge, highlighting his extensive service and achievements at Anfield, which include two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.

“The other side of the coin is that he was a great servant of Liverpool," Pennant argued. "He’d been at the club since he was very young and rose through the ranks to win everything with them. Would they have had the same success without him?

"He was a great player, but there comes a time in a player’s career when they want to try something different, and the opportunity to play for a club like Real Madrid isn’t something that’s available to most players and is very difficult to turn down.”

Pennant added that while he appreciates the fans' emotional reaction, he also acknowledges that some supporters will be grateful for Alexander-Arnold's contributions.

"On the other hand, I appreciate that some fans are thanking him for what he's done and wishing him all the best at Real Madrid.”

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Slow start and injury woes plague Madrid move

Alexander-Arnold's adaptation to life in the Spanish capital has been difficult. His tenure began with "less-than-stellar" performances during the Club World Cup, and his progress was significantly hampered by a hamstring injury sustained in September.

That injury has severely limited his involvement in the 2025-2026 season. The right-back, who wears the number 12 shirt for Los Blancos, has played just 151 minutes across four La Liga appearances and a mere 14 minutes over two Champions League matches.

Despite the slow start, Pennant is convinced that Alexander-Arnold will eventually prove his quality at the Santiago Bernabeu. He compared the defender's struggles to those of other major Premier League talents adapting to new environments.

“We've seen how difficult it is for great players to adapt to new clubs. It's happening right now with Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz at Liverpool," Pennant added.

“Going to a new team can be difficult, and most players need time to adapt, especially when they've moved to a foreign country and are trying to learn a new language. It's out of his comfort zone, and everything he was used to in Liverpool, where he'd spent his whole life… is different.

"It will take time for him to adjust to his new surroundings and make Madrid his home. Once he's done that, we'll see the best of Trent."

Chelsea are now looking to sign an “outstanding” experienced centre-back who’s won 11 trophies, having struggled defensively at times this season.

Blues fall to ninth after Sunderland setback

Enzo Maresca has been forced to contend with a number of injury problems already this season, with the manager particularly light on options in defence, given the absence of Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile, who are both set to be out for quite some time.

Colwill is a long-term absentee, having suffered an ACL injury in the summer, while Maresca has confirmed Badiashile won’t be back for another couple of months, saying: “Benoit will be out until December. He is injured again with a muscle problem. He was doing fantastic, showing how good he is, and we will wait for him.”

That said, the manager is still likely to be concerned by just how susceptible his team have been to conceding chances, with Nottingham Forest missing four big opportunities and hitting the woodwork last weekend.

The Blues got away with it against Forest, but Sunderland made them pay on Saturday, with the Black Cats emerging as 2-1 winners at Stamford Bridge, which means the hosts have fallen to ninth in the Premier League table.

As such, Maresca may need to bolster his backline if Chelsea are to transform into title contenders, and they are now looking to sign Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano, who is facing an uncertain future at the Allianz Arena.

That is according to a report from CF Bayern, which states the west Londoners want to sign Upamecano in 2026, at which point his contract with the German club will have expired, having been unable to agree a new deal.

Related Chelsea now join race to sign "hugely impressive" £70m Champions League forward

A new forward has emerged as a target for the Blues.

Posts ByDominic Lund Oct 26, 2025

With the Blues potentially looking to offload ‘bomb squad’ member Axel Disasi, a new centre-back could be brought in to replace him, and the Bayern defender has been identified as a target, although there could be competition from Real Madrid.

"Outstanding" Upamecano could be exactly what Maresca needs

Jamie Carragher has made it clear just how much he disagrees with BlueCo’s recruitment policy of signing young players, saying: “Chelsea should be title contenders and considered Champions League challengers this season. Instead, their hierarchy seems content to be praised for being the smartest recruiters in the business – the world’s richest development club.”

In fairness, while Chelsea did win the Club World Cup in the summer, the model is yet to translate to success in the Premier League, and more experienced players are arguably needed if they are to become title contenders.

As such, the “outstanding” France international, as lauded by Joshua Kimmich, could be exactly what they need, given that he is experienced at the top level, winning 11 major trophies throughout his career, and the 27-year-old’s passing ability indicates he could be an ideal fit in a Maresca system.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Passes attempted

89.32 (99th percentile)

Pass completion %

93.4% (96th percentile)

Progressive passes

6.39 (95th percentile)

The £168k-a-week star’s potential availability on a free transfer is an added bonus for Chelsea, who clearly need greater strength in depth at the back, given that 19-year-old Josh Acheampong has emerged as a regular starter.

West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo’s arrival is already beginning to spark a plethora of rumours, with his new squad expected to be reshaped over these coming months.

Nuno Espírito Santo given full West Ham backing with Arsenal next

Premier League title-chasing Arsenal await West Ham next after Nuno oversaw a 1-1 draw against Everton on Merseyside.

The Portuguese saw glimpses of the defensive frailties which have cost West Ham time and time again this season, with Konstantinos Mavropanos leaving Michael Keane in acres for Everton’s opening goal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Michael Keane

8.0

Max Kilman

7.3

Alphonse Areola

7.3

Jarrod Bowen

7.3

James Garner

7.1

via WhoScored

Having conceded more goals than any other side in the Premier League so far, with seven of them coming directly from corners, Nuno knows exactly what he has to fix if the Hammers stand any chance of pushing themselves away from the relegation zone.

Unfortunately for them, Arsenal’s well-documented major threat from set pieces since the beginning of last season is a real worry for Nuno’s side, and becoming more robust at dealing with dead balls will undoubtedly be key in thwarting Mikel Arteta’s side.

On a more positive note, Nuno’s pragmatic style not only solidified Nottingham Forest’s own defensive weaknesses, but also catapulted them up the table and back into Europe for the first time since the 1990s.

If it wasn’t for a public fallout with Evangelos Marinakis, Nuno would still be at the City Ground right now, so it is clear as day why Karren Brady pushed West Ham to appoint Nuno and convinced the board to hand him a long-term three-year deal, according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook.

According to recent reports, West Ham are already planning to back Nuno with signings in January, so the Hammers appear to be fully convinced that Nuno is the right man to step into Graham Potter’s shoes.

The former Tottenham and Wolves boss has already stamped his authority on the team by dropping previously key players — omitting midfielder James Ward-Prowse from the Everton matchday squad in what was a bold move.

Since the 30-year-old’s axe, it has been reported that Ward-Prowse has been told he can leave West Ham in January.

James Ward-Prowse tipped to leave West Ham and re-join Southampton

Journalist Dean Jones, speaking to TEAMtalk, has shared an update on the Englishman’s future.

The reporter claims that Ward-Prowse is indeed resigned to leaving West Ham early next year, and he could even re-join former club Southampton.

Ward-Prowse had been a starter for Potter, but under Nuno, history is repeating itself, as the 51-year-old also cut short his Forest loan spell when he briefly spent time there last season.

Signed largely for his threat from set-pieces by David Moyes, Ward-Prowse is apparently just one free-kick goal off equalling David Beckham’s Premier League record of 18, but it is unlikely he’ll get to achieve that landmark in Claret and Blue.

Pundit Alan Shearer praised the “world-class” Ward-Prowse for his form immediately after arriving at West Ham, but things can change very quickly in football.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Cruzeiro é campeão da Copa do Brasil Sub-20 2023! O Cabuloso venceu o Grêmio por 2 a 0 na manhã deste domingo (15), no Mineirão, com dois gols do atacante Fernando. A final foi disputada em partida única, com mando dos mineiros, por terem a melhor campanha na competição.

RelacionadasCruzeiroZé Ricardo considera que as condições climáticas afetaram o Cruzeiro no empate com o Cuiabá: ‘Sentimos o forte calor’Cruzeiro15/10/2023CruzeiroLuciano Castán valoriza ponto conquistado pelo Cruzeiro: ‘Difícil jogar aqui’Cruzeiro14/10/2023CruzeiroCuiabá e Cruzeiro fazem jogo sem emoção e empatam no Brasileirão; veja o resultadoCruzeiro14/10/2023

+ A sua carreira no futebol pode começar hoje. Garanta a sua vaga no curso Gestor de Futebol e capacite-se!

Com a conquista, a Raposa garantiu um título inédito no Sub-20. Foram oito partidas, com seis vitórias e dois empates na campanha. No profissional, o Cruzeiro é o maior vencedor da Copa do Brasil, com seis taças. Além do torneio nacional, o Cabuloso é o atual bicampeão estadual da categoria.

CINCO LANCES QUE MARCARAM A PARTIDA

!QUASE UM GOLAÇO! Logo no início, o Cruzeiro pressionou e, aos 5’/1T, Japa aproveitou bola levantada na área e emendou uma bicicleta que passou raspando o poste!
!NA TRAVE! Aos 44’/1T, Robert avançou pelo lado esquerdo, limpou a marcação e finalizou rasteiro. Cássio tocou de leve na bola, o suficiente para fazê-la bater na trave!
!GOL DO CABULOZO! Já na segunda etapa, aos 24’/2T, Fernando invadiu a área e chutou prensado para grande defesa de Cássio. No rebote, a bola voltou para o atacante, que de perna canhota emendou belo chute para abrir o placar! Cruzeiro 1 a 0!
!MAIS UM! Seis minutos depois, aos 30’/2T, Fernando marcou mais uma vez. João Pedro roubou a bola da defesa gremista, avançou pela direita e rolou para o atacante, da meia-lua, que dominou e acertou um chute colocado. Cruzeiro 2 a 0!
!NÃO VALEU! Aos 36’/2T, o Grêmio balançou as redes após Zé Guilherme aproveitar rebote de Otávio em cobrança de falta. No entanto, o VAR anulou o gol por impedimento.

+ Zé Ricardo considera que as condições climáticas afetaram o Cruzeiro no empate com o Cuiabá: ‘Sentimos o forte calor’

COMO FOI O PRIMEIRO TEMPO?
O Cruzeiro foi mais perigoso que o Grêmio no primeiro tempo e criou as principais chances. Logo no início, duas boas jogadas saíram dos pés de Robert e Japa. Aos poucos, a pressão diminuiu e o Grêmio tentou chegar com bolas cruzadas, mas sem efetividade. No final, Robert acertou a trave e quase abriu o placar para o Cabuloso.

E A ETAPA FINAL?
A segunda etapa começou lá e cá, com ataques rápidos das duas equipes. No entanto, surgiu Fernando, que decidiu para o Cruzeiro balançando as redes duas vezes. O Grêmio se lançou à frente e chegou a marcar com Zé Guilherme, mas o zagueiro estava impedido, após análise do VAR.

+ Confira a classificação do Brasileirão

FICHA TÉCNICA
CRUZEIRO 2 X 0 GRÊMIO – FINAL DA COPA DO BRASIL SUB-20
Local: Mineirão, em Belo Horizonte (MG)
Data e hora: sábado, 15 de outubro de 2023, às 11h (horário de Brasília)
Árbitro: Davi de Oliveira Lacerda (ES)
Assistentes: Pedro Amorim de Freitas (ES) e Adilson Gomes de Freitas (ES)

Gols: Fernando (2)
Cartões Amarelos: Robert (CRU) Nathan (GRE), Caio Araújo (GRE), Leandro (GRE) (CUI);
Cartões Vermelhos: –

CRUZEIRO (Técnico: Fernando Seabra)
Otávio; Weverton, Pedrão, Ruan Santos, Japa; Henrique Silva, Henrique R. (Rhuan Gabriel), Vitinho (Ruan Índio); Fernando (Jhosefer), Robert (João Pedro) e Arthur (Gui Meira).

GRÊMIO (Técnico: Zé Ricardo)
Cássio; Igor (Adryel), João Ramos, João Lima (Jardiel) e Viery; Caio Araújo (Cristiano), Kaick, Cheron (Alysson); Rubens (Leandro), Nathan e José Guilherme.

Laura Harvey, who has coached the Seattle Reign since 2021, revealed that she used ChatGPT to help form her tactics this season. The English manager admitted that the AI system helped her lay out a defensive system, which she then put into place for her playoff-bound Reign ahead of the campaign. They are currently fourth in the NWSL after finishing 13th last season.

• Using AI for soccer

  Harvey conceded that AI was instrumental in her team's success this season – and in a very direct way, too. In an appearance on the , Harvey admitted that she asked ChatGPT to help her form her team ahead of the season. 

  She typed in “What formation should you play to beat NWSL teams?” and it yielded suggestions for how to play against every other NWSL side. The technology recommended she play five at the back against two of them, she said, which served as the base for her tactics throughout the year. 

Advertisement

• Imagn
  

  A new formation

  Harvey pointed out that the technology was instrumental in helping her think about her tactical setup in new ways. Despite being in managerial roles for nearly 20 years, she admitted hadn't played a five-at-the-back system before, but the analysis from ChatGPT gave her a nudge towards a different way of playing – one that has proved immensely successful this year. 

  "I'd never really done a lot of research on it," she said. "I'd never really, like, invested into how it could be played in the women's game. I'd only ever really seen it from afar, you know, watching men's games really."

  She found, for example, that a five-back system could be applied throughout a game, rather than to just hold onto late leads:

  "It was always sort of talked about as a way to see games out. You know, [you go ahead] and get into a back five and stop people from scoring, was sort of how, like, a back five had been talked about for me," she said.

• IMAGN
  

  A template, not a recommendation

  Harvey was quick to emphasize, though, that she didn't derive her exact system from the technology. The recommendation sparked an idea, which she then encouraged her coaching staff to study, which yielded a new system altogether.

  "We researched it, we did a deep dive on it, we thought about how we could play it,” she continued. “And we went for it, and we liked it. It worked. We won the game."

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• Getty Images
  

  An improvement this season

  Whatever changes AI recommended have certainly worked. The Reign were among the worst teams in the league last season, and finished 13th out of 14 teams. This year, they are fourth, have won 10 out of their 25 games, and, depending on results elsewhere, could secure home field advantage for at least one round of the playoffs.

South Africa enforced the follow-on on Zimbabwe who collapsed in 43 overs

Shashank Kishore07-Jul-2025

Wiaan Mulder brought up the second fastest triple century in Test cricket•Zimbabwe Cricket

July 7, 2025 may not invoke the same grand feeling of that unforgettable summer afternoon at Lord’s last month, but it’ll still have a reverence of its own for Wiaan Mulder, who, only weeks earlier, stood on the winner’s podium as a newly crowned World Test Champion.One of cricket’s most iconic and celebrated records – Brian Lara’s majestic 400 not out, which he held like a crown jewel after reclaiming it from Matthew Hayden – was in real danger of being knocked off its perch after 21 long years. When Mulder, South Africa’s stand-in captain, went into the lunch interval unbeaten on 367, it seemed a matter of time before history books would be rewritten. Then came a quiet message from the change room, like a bolt from the blue. South Africa had declared. Mulder had declared.”Why did he do that?” is a question that lingered on for much of the day as Zimbabwe collapsed in just 43 overs, and were asked to follow-on. With so much time left in the match, the decision will be rightly debated for a while. Sure, barring Blessing Muzarabani, the quality of Zimbabwe’s attack was hardly Test class, but the opportunity to etch yourself into Test history doesn’t come knocking everyday.Related

Mulder makes 367*, the fifth-highest individual Test score of all time

Stats – Wiaan Mulder breaks records and Zimbabwe with 367*

Mulder: 'Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be'

Five highest individual scores in Test cricket history

South Africa declared on 626 for 5. Mulder’s feat became all the more special as it came in front of his father, who had made the trip to soak in the occasion after he had been informed of Mulder’s promotion to captaincy in the lead-up to the game after Keshav Maharaj had been ruled out due to an injury. Along the way, Mulder may have cemented himself as South Africa’s new No. 3, a spot once occupied by legends he may have grown up watching, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla among them.In the morning session, every run or over carried the weight of a milestone either impending or ticked off. Records came; records went. Mulder went past some heavyweights in South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Daryl Cullinan, Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers. And soon after his triple-ton, he went past 311 to eclipse Amla, and achieve the highest Test score by a South African.Mulder could’ve chosen a calmer, more serene path if he had wished. South Africa’s run-scoring on the opening day, where they surged to 465 for 4, meant time was never going to be a consideration. Mulder, though, had other ideas. Except for his first boundary very early in the day off Muzarabani, off a streaky edge that flew through vacant third slip, there was control and authority in every stoke he played and every run he ran.Mulder’s authority stemmed from his own confidence, and Zimbabwe’s hit-me lengths. Without any swing on offer, even with the second new ball that they took late on the opening day, the pacers erred on the shorter side and kept getting punished square of the wicket on both sides. When spin came on, Mulder channeled the golfer in him to club them downtown. He hit 49 fours and four sixes in all – one of them landed out of the ground – forcing them to bring out a different ball.Wiaan Mulder and Dewald Brevis added 88 off just 94 balls for the fifth wicket•Zimbabwe CricketAmid Mulder’s run-fest, that South Africa lost Dewald Brewis was lost on everyone. He survived on 24 when Craig Ervine put down a regulation chance in the fifth over off Muzarabani at slip, but couldn’t capitalise. On 35, Brevis attempted to flay a cut, only to get a thick outside edge to the wicketkeeper. Kyle Verreynne then came and enjoyed a good hit out to remain unbeaten on 42.The day’s big moment – Mulder’s triple – arrived in the 101st over when he clipped a low full toss off Tanaka Chivanga to fine leg to wild applause and cheer from his team-mates on the balcony. It had come off 297 balls, the second-fastest in Test history, behind Virender Sehwag’s that had come off 278 balls against South Africa in Chennai 17 years ago.After Mulder got past the 300, there was carnage aplenty as Muzarabani was dispatched for three boundaries in an over, the third of those helping him surpass Amla. There was more punishment in the next as Mulder cleared his front leg to wallop him out of the ground to enter the 360s. This is when everyone seemed to be readying for the moment, when the declaration came.Mulder wasn’t done yet. With the ball, he took out Wesley Madhevere and Ervine in quick succession. Madhevere was out to a nip-backer that flattened the stumps; Ervine was felled by an effort ball that lifted off the deck to have him fend one into the hand of backward point. Mulder’s fiery spell wasn’t the highlight, though. Debutant Prenelan Subrayen and Senuran Muthusamy’s flight and loop were equally noteworthy. Subrayen ended with 4 for 42.Sean Williams, who spent much of the first evening and the opening session on the sidelines due to an illness, came out swinging and raised his half-century off just 32 balls, the fastest by a Zimbabwean. But he ran out of partners, and remained stuck on 83 as last man Chivanga’s wicket meant Zimbabwe were bundled out for 170.Made to follow-on, Zimbabwe lost Dion Myers early, but Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Nick Welch batted a tricky last 30 minutes to take them to stumps on 51 for 1, with Zimbabwe still needing 146 to surpass Mulder.

Gloucestershire 380 and 12 for 0 trail Glamorgan 528 (Kellaway 139, Ingram 117) by 136 runsBen Kellaway and Colin Ingram both made centuries as Glamorgan pushed into a first-innings lead to set up the prospect of a draw against Gloucestershire.Glamorgan’s middle-order pair put on 254 for the fifth wicket (147 added from overnight) out of a total of 528, as Gloucestershire’s bowlers were subjected to a mammoth 151.1 overs on a day in which just six wickets fell.Kellaway’s 139 was the 21-year-old’s second century of an eye-catching season for his home county while South African veteran Ingram racked up his 16th first-class century for Glamorgan.Glamorgan started the day with their partnership of experience and youth already established, having recovered from 121 for 4 on day two, and the Glamorgan balcony watched on as Gloucestershire’s bowlers endured all but 11 overs of the day’s play.An early itchiness to get going from Kellaway seemed evident, proactively using his feet against the early spin to start the day despite still trailing by 152.The pair settled into their work, having come through a wicketless evening session on day two, and carried that stand through to lunch as well, demolishing the new ball in the process – they took 32 from the first five overs from Ajeet Singh Dale and Zaman Akhter.Kellaway, and shortly afterwards, Ingram didn’t have to wait long for their milestones. On 99, Kellaway cover-drove his fellow youngster Archie Bailey to the fence, then kept the momentum up, taking three boundaries in the same over, as the partnership passed 200.At 365 for 4 at lunch, and with 10 overs still available to chase bonus points, Gloucestershire opted for a negative ploy: Graeme van Buuren bowling left-arm-over outside leg stump while the pacers banged in short balls from round-the-wicket.Negative it may have been deemed but successful it was. Both the partnership contributors fell to short balls, Ingram upper-cutting to deep-third, Kellaway pulling to square-leg in the 110th over. Just 23 runs were scored in the first hour of the afternoon as the hosts missed a potentially key fourth batting point while the visitors picked up a second bowling point.Chris Cooke and Timm van der Gugten remained cautious in a turgid session despite adding useful cameos. Cooke initially struggled to settle but opened up with reverse-sweeps coming to the fore in his partnerships with the tail, before Todd Murphy wrapped up the innings for his sole wicket.Walking out with 11 overs remaining and 148 behind, Gloucestershire made it to the close unscathed despite two direct run-out attempts that flew just wide of the stumps.

Table-toppers bounce back from 0 for 2 to post formidable first-day total against Derbyshire

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay22-Jul-2025

Rehan Ahmed scored another century for Leicestershire•Getty Images

Leicestershire 357 for 3 (Hill 132*, Rehan 115, Handscomb 99*) vs Derbyshire Leicestershire displayed the quality and character of promotion contenders to stage an impressive fightback on the opening day of the Rothesay County Championship match against rivals Derbyshire at the Central Co-op County Ground.The Division Two leaders recovered from 0 for 2 to close on 357 for 3 with England all-rounder Rehan Ahmed and Lewis Hill scoring centuries.Ahmed’s 115 was his third consecutive hundred in the championship and his fourth of the season while Hill and skipper Peter Handscomb celebrated personal milestones.Hill marked his 100th first-class appearance with an unbeaten 132 and shared an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 188 with Handscomb who was not out 99 in his 200th red-ball game.Hill also added 169 with Ahmed which turned the tide after Luis Reece and Blair Tickner made such an encouraging start for the hosts before Leicestershire took control.The pitch had been used for three T20 matches which would have influenced Leicestershire’s decision to bat but that looked questionable when both openers were dismissed in the space of six balls.Cloud cover hinted at assistance for the seam bowlers and Reece found enough away movement with the third ball of the day to have Rishi Patel caught behind.When Tickner straightened his second ball to bowl Sol Budinger, the morning was threatening to go badly wrong for the leaders but Ahmed and Hill counter-attacked to dominate the rest of the session.Ahmed scored his maiden century at Derby three seasons ago and he quickly imposed himself on the bowlers to relieve the pressure.When Derbyshire turned to spin in the 15th over, he came down the pitch to dispatch Jack Morley for six before reaching his 50 from 54 balls in the next over.Hill’s role was less eyecatching but just as valuable and by lunch the pair had transformed Leicestershire’s fortunes at 118 for 2.Ahmed quickly closed in on his hundred, reverse sweeping Alex Thomson for his 13th four to move to 99 and then squeezing a single past gully to reach three figures from 118 balls.Hill completed his 50 before Ahmed whipped Zak Chappell in the air to deep mid-wicket where Caleb Jewell took a fine catch on the run.The rest of the afternoon belonged to Hill and Handscomb who accumulated steadily against bowling that lacked the consistency to put them under pressure.The pattern was repeated after tea with Handscomb reaching 50 off 84 balls three overs before Hill raised his bat to celebrate the 9th first-class hundred of his career which had come from 194 balls.Not surprisingly, Derbyshire claimed the second new ball as soon as it became available but although Reece beat the bat several times, could not make the breakthrough as Hill and Handscomb put their side in a commanding position.

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2024 MLB season as the favorites to win the World Series but the NL West leaders are limping into the All-Star break after losing two straight games to the Tigers, which included an embarrassing ending to Sunday's game.

The Dodgers, who have lost six of their last seven games, had a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramírez then gave the game away when he fielded a grounder back to the mound and made a wild throw to third that allowed Justyn-Henry Malloy to score the winning run.

This was a rough scene for the Dodgers, who blew a five-run lead in the ninth in Saturday's loss:

Fans roasted the Dodgers: