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Leeds United have made an impressive start on their return to the Championship as they currently sit third after 16 matches, eight points behind the automatic promotions places.

The foundations of their success so far have been built from placing their faith in Daniel Farke to rebuild a fractured squad that was damaged from a gut-wrenching relegation.

He offloaded several players who wanted to immediately jump ship, either permanently or on loan, as the likes of Tyler Adams, Rodrigo, Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison all left the club.

The German then splashed the cash wisely on nine new recruits, including Ethan Ampadu, Joel Piroe and Glen Kamara.

Those three, in particular, have played pivotal roles in their positive start to the season and although the Whites largely nailed their recruitment this summer, that wasn't the case during Victor Orta's reign, who left his post as director of football in May.

Towards the end of his six-year spell at the club, Orta's reckless decision-making in the transfer window was the main reason why Leeds plummeted towards the Championship.

This was prevalent in the summer of 2022, as star players Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha were replaced with Jesse Marsch-inspired signings, Adams, Luis Sinisterra, Aaronson and Georginio Rutter.

Despite spending a whopping €151m (£132m) on talent, as per Transfermarkt, none of them were able to prevent their landslide into the second tier, despite finishing in ninth the season before.

Orta's work as director of football wasn't all bad, though, as demonstrated by the £10m sale of Jack Clarke to Tottenham Hotspur in 2019.

Although that looks like a bad deal now – given his blistering form – at the time it looked like a resounding success.

Jack Clarke's Leeds United statistics

Clarke broke onto the scene as an exciting young winger coming through the academy and made his debut at the age of 17 in a 1-1 draw against Brentford in October 2018.

Having broken into the first team under Marcelo Bielsa, the teenager contributed two goals and two assists in 22 Championship appearances during the 2018/19 campaign.

Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham's manager at the time, felt he could take a gamble on the youngster's potential and paid a whopping £10m for him in the summer of 2019, but he struggled to break into the first-team at north London, making just four senior appearances in total.

He returned to Elland Road on loan for the 2019/20 season in search of regular first-team football, but he saw his game time extremely limited in the first half of the campaign, managing just 19 minutes of Championship action, which saw him recalled and sent to QPR.

While the allure of new surroundings and the chance to impress was an attractive proposition for Clarke, he only managed six substitute appearances for the Hoops, which left Leeds delighted about receiving such a fee for a player who barely made a name for himself in the second tier.

One more disappointing loan spell would follow at Stoke City but when Sunderland came calling at the start of the 2021/22 campaign – and Clarke's expected transfer value (xTV) was at a lowly €1.7m (£1.4m) – it seemed Orta's decision to sell him was a good one.

Jack Clarke's Sunderland statistics

Despite managing just one goal and four assists in 20 appearances for the Black Cats as they were promoted back to the Championship in 2022, he was signed on a permanent deal from Spurs in that summer.

Although it was questioned at the time, taking a gamble on a player whose stock was low has proven to be an inspired piece of business, with the 22-year-old becoming one of the second tier's most sought-after prospects.

In 48 matches across all competitions last term, he began to deliver on the potential that his formative years promised, posting 11 goals and supplying 13 assists as he helped inspire Sunderland to a play-off place.

The fleet-footed winger, who was described by writer Josh Bunting as "unplayable" for his performances, has taken his goalscoring to new heights during this campaign and alerted a whole host of top-flight clubs in the process.

With a whopping nine goals in 16 matches, clubs have been left salivating over Clarke's ability to cut in from the left flank and leave opposition defences in his wake.

It's this signature move that defenders have found near impossible to stop and when they do hack him down, it normally results in a penalty, with the Englishman ranking in the top 1% against his positional peers in the Championship for penalties won this season, as per FBref.

Clarke's exceptional dribbling and effortless ball-carrying have also stood out as the best in the division, ranking top for successful dribbles completed per game (3.4), as per Sofascore, while beating the likes of dribble-happy widemen Jaden Philogene (3.3) and Kamaldeen Sulemana (3.2).

When Leeds cashed in on the Englishman for £10m four years ago, dubbed a "super talent" and a "diamond" by Mowbray, they wouldn't have anticipated him outscoring every player in the Whites squad this season, including fellow dribble demon, Daniel James.

Jack Clarke vs Dan James 23/24 statistics

James was signed from Manchester United for £25m in 2021 and although the Welshman struggled in the Premier League, scoring just four times for Leeds in 36 appearances, he's found his range in the second tier.

The 26-year-old has chalked up four goals and four assists thus far, which places him joint second for goal contributions in the Leeds squad with Rutter, but he still doesn't come close to eclipsing the devastating impact that Clarke has made in the second tier.

When comparing their statistics in the Championship, Leeds are left cursing their decision-making in the transfer market as the former Thorp Arch Academy graduate is levels ahead of James across most attacking metrics.

Although James averages more key passes and posts more non-penalty goals per 90, it is telling that Clarke beats the Leeds man in every other category, smashing him off the park for how dangerous he is at carrying the ball forward.

At the time, receiving £10m for the £17k-per-week whiz looked like an inspired piece of business, but considering Sunderland have set an asking price of more than £20m for him, amid interest from Burnley and Brentford ahead of January, seeing him reach his Premier League potential is a bitter pill for the Whites hierarchy to swallow.

Sheffield Wednesday could be set to lose one of their squad members in January, with a fresh report revealing that he is keen to start a new adventure elsewhere in 2024.

Who has left Sheffield Wednesday?

Over the summer, the Owls sanctioned the permanent sales of Dennis Adeniran, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Jack Hunt, Jaden Brown and David Stockdale, whilst also releasing Ben Heneghan, and even though the previous window has now closed, there could be another handful heading for the exit door at the start of next year.

New manager Danny Rohl has 16 players who will reach the conclusion of their deals at the end of the season, including five who are only on a season-long loan (Sheffield Wednesday contracts), and one of those in particular looks like he is keen to move onto new pastures when he's given the opportunity to do so.

In the Championship, Ciaran Brennan has made zero appearances since the start of the campaign because he wasn’t included in the club’s squad that was submitted to the EFL in September meaning that he’s not eligible to feature (Yorkshire Live).

The Republic of Ireland’s youth centre-back has previously been sent out on three loans to Gainsborough, Notts County and Swindon Town in order to increase his game time (Transfermarkt – Brennan statistics), and there’s a chance that the 23-year-old could be set to do the same once again, or even complete a departure for good.

Ciaran Brennan transfer update

According to Yorkshire Live who have offered a transfer update on Ciaran Brennan, Sheffield Wednesday are expected to allow the defender to leave in January, with the player understandably unhappy with his current situation at the Hillsborough Stadium.

"Sheffield Wednesday's forgotten man Ciaran Brennan will consider his future in the New Year and is open to a move elsewhere, Yorkshire Live understands. Brennan could potentially move out on loan in the meantime, but only to a National League side.

"Whilst such a move would give him much-needed senior game time, it is understood he would prefer to wait until the New Year when the transfer window re-opens. That would give him scope at moving elsewhere within the EFL or further afield if the opportunity arises."

How good is Ciaran Brennan?

Whilst Brennan is significantly out of favour at Sheffield Wednesday, he is still more than capable of delivering an “accomplished” performance, as hailed by the club’s former manager Darren Moore, so chiefs should have a change of heart regarding his future and actually give him a chance to prove what he’s capable of.

Standing at 6 foot 2, the colossus was averaging 2.5 clearances and 1.2 aerial wins per game in League Two whilst at Swindon last season (WhoScored – Brennan statistics), so he can be an absolute rock at the heart of a backline, but perhaps not with Wednesday going forward.

Tom Curran wasted no time in confirming Surrey as Championship favourites as he took five wickets on his first appearance of the season

ECB Reporters Network and ESPNcricinfo staff30-Aug-2018
ScorecardWhile his younger brother was leading England’s flimsy resistance at the Ageas Bowl, Tom Curran added to the impression that Surrey are champions elect as his 5 for 28 forced Nottinghamshire to follow on at the Kia Oval.Nottinghamshire were bowled out in some disarray for 101 in reply to Surrey’s 375 as Curran made a telling impact in his first Championship game of the season. Although they rallied in the final session of day two, reaching stumps on 83 for 2 in their second innings, they still trail by 191.Surrey – 32 points ahead of nearest rivals Somerset before this round of matches and seeking their eighth win of the campaign – look like taking another significant step towards their first Specsavers County Championship title since 2002.Talking T20

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Ben Slater and Kraigg Brathwaite put on 41 for Notts’ first wicket second time around, before Conor McKerr had Slater caught behind for 21, and there was more resistance until off spinner Amar Virdi, introduced just before bad light brought a premature end to the day, seven overs early, had Jake Libby leg-before for 17. Brathwaite is 39 not out.Tom Moores, with 29, was the top-scorer after Curransent back Slater (9), Brathwaite (2) and Libby (12) in quick succession, while Morne Morkel had Samit Patel leg-before for 5.Slater was caught behind, Brathwaite leg-before and Libby held at third slip, driving, and Notts were 39 for 5 when McKerr, replacing Morkel at the Vauxhall End, struck in his first over to have Billy Root caught at the wicket by Ben Foakes for 6.McKerr then saw Riki Wessels (12) slice to point to make it 70 for 6, and just before tea Luke Wood was caught behind for 8 in Morkel’s second spell to complete a miserable afternoon session for the visitors.Moores had just extra cover driven McKerr for a flamboyant boundary when, two balls later, he aimed another big drive to a ball outside his off stump and edged to Foakes, who then took his fifth catch of the innings when Luke Fletcher nicked a drive at the returning Curran. Two balls later, Harry Gurney’s stumps were shattered by Curran and Notts’ last three wickets had gone in seven balls.Earlier Mark Stoneman’s 22nd first-class hundred helped Surrey to four batting bonus points as they made good progress from their overnight 256 for 6. Opener Stoneman, who resumed on 99 not out, soon reached three figures and was eventually ninth out for 144 having batted for more than seven hours and faced 260 balls, hitting 18 fours.Last wicket pair McKerr and Virdi completed the task of getting Surrey past the 350-mark with a frisky stand of 35 after Stoneman, looking to cut a ball a little too near him for the shot, edged Wood’s left-arm swingers to keeper Moores.At the start of the day, Stoneman and Curran had taken their seventh wicket partnership to 84 in 22 overs before Curran, who hit some sparkling offside shots in a 69-ball 43 which included five fours, top-edged a hook at Matt Milnes to Root at long leg. The short ball also accounted for Morkel, who skied a flappy pull at Gurney to Milnes at long leg to go for 5.McKerr finished 19 not out and, immediately after hitting Patel’s left-arm spin for six over long on to reach 19, No 11 Virdi was bowled heaving at the next ball.

Aston Villa have become a club who rarely get things wrong in the transfer market these days, with a number of top talents consistently walking through the door at Villa Park. Unai Emery meanwhile has been the perfect manager to mould those players into a squad capable of sending shockwaves throughout the Premier League.

As the January transfer window edges closer and closer every day, too, Villa have reportedly already planned ahead, with their interest in some Liga Portugal talent coming to the fore when the winter window swings open.

Aston Villa transfer news

Proving their newfound power in the market during the summer by signing the likes of Moussa Diaby, Nicolo Zaniolo, and Pau Torres, Villa will be looking to flex their muscles once again come January, especially after their start in the Premier League this season. As things stand, Emery's side sit fifth and just four points behind Tottenham Hotspur at the top of the league.

Following the international break, the Villans square off against West Ham United, who have got off to a similarly impressive start in the current campaign. If Villa can defeat the Hammers, they could end the weekend of action sitting as high as third in the table. A finish of such prestige may not be too much of a fantasy, either, if Emery gets his targets.

Their form makes the latest Fredrik Aursnes transfer news all the more interesting. According to Record, via Sport Witness, Villa are interested in signing the Benfica midfielder in January, but have been told that he is untouchable, with the Portugal club hoping to hold out until at least next summer. The news follows the trend of interested in Liga Portugal stars for Villa, who were given the same answer when it came to their reported interest in Pedro Goncalves.

Who is Fredrik Aursnes?

Playing an important part for Benfica, Norway international Aursnes has earned the interest of Aston Villa, after helping his side get off to a near-perfect start to the Liga Portugal season. As things stand, Benfica sit second after eight games, only behind table-toppers Sporting by a single point. Meanwhile, in his debut campaign last time out, he helped his side to the league title in Portugal's top flight.

Aursnes' stats are even better than current Villa midfielder John McGinn in certain areas, as per FBref.

Player

Progressive Carries

Progressive Passes

Blocks

Tackles Won

Interceptions

Pass Completion

Fredrik Aursnes

23

51

12

7

5

81.9%

John McGinn

8

42

4

3

4

77.9%

It's no surprise, then, that Aursnes has earned such high praise during his time in Portugal, including from Zach Lowy, who posted on X: "Fredrik Aursnes has been chosen as the Champions League Player of the Week. Another excellent display for Benfica by the Norwegian — he’s been one of the best signings in Portugal this season."

Whilst Villa have reportedly been told that any offer for the Benfica midfielder will be refused, if they can do some convincing and sign Aursnes in January, then he may well be the difference between a standard season and one that will go down in history at Villa Park.

Liverpool have been rocked by what could prove to be a devastating injury blow for Jurgen Klopp during the latest instalment of the international break, according to fresh reports.

Liverpool updates: Andre, Hincapie, Kone transfer links

According to a Liverpool transfer update from Football Insider reporter Pete O'Rourke, the Reds have held contact with Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie's entourage; however, the report states that they are unlikely to make a move for the Ecuador international in the January transfer window.

Fluminense midfielder Andre is a more likely target as Klopp looks to strengthen his midfield and it is believed that Liverpool aren't expected to make moves in both positions. Liverpool are in 'pole position' to sign the Brazilian midfielder; nevertheless, they will face competition from high-profile clubs around Europe for the 22-year-old's signature.

In further Liverpool transfer news, SPORT BILD journalist Christian Falk has issued an update on social media platform X claiming that the Reds are still keen on summer target Manu Kone of Borussia Monchengladbach, as he stated: "True Bayern is interested in Manu Koné (22). Also Liverpool is still watching the midfield player of Monchengladbach."

Cited by Liverpool's official website, Egypt international Mohamed Salah has found out who his native country will take on in next January's African Cup of Nations in Group B, as the draw pitted the Pharaohs against Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique.

Liverpool are patiently waiting for the international break's conclusion before returning to action against arch-rivals Everton in the Premier League on October 21st at Anfield.

Liverpool's next five fixtures – all competitions

Competition

Opponent

Venue

Premier League

Everton (H)

Anfield

Europa League

Toulouse (H)

Anfield

Premier League

Nottingham Forest (H)

Anfield

EFL Cup

Bournemouth (A)

Vitality Stadium

Premier League

Luton Town (A)

Kenilworth Road

Liverpool injury update – Andy Robertson

The Athletic have issued a major Liverpool injury update involving Andy Robertson following news emerging that the 29-year-old has dislocated his shoulder on international duty with Scotland in a EURO 2024 qualifying clash away to Spain in Seville.

Robertson has flown back to be assessed by his club and may be out for a period of three to six weeks if he doesn't require surgery to rectify his shoulder issue.

However, if he does need to go under the knife, the former Hull City man could be sidelined for up to six months and therefore potentially out of action until next April, which would be a horrifying scenario for Liverpool boss Klopp.

Klopp has previously labelled Robertson as "absolutely exceptional" and he is one of his first names on the teamsheet at Anfield, with the Scot racking up nine goals and 63 assists in 275 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions (Robertson statistics – Transfermarkt).

Despite this, Robertson may be set for a lengthy period on the sidelines, which will likely lead Kostas Tsimikas, who has played just four minutes of Premier League football this term, to take his place in the starting line-up for the time being.

As the Ranji Trophy hits pause after five rounds, ESPNcricinfo looks at five players who have impressed so far

Shashank Kishore20-Nov-2025Auqib Nabi (J&K) – Wickets 29 | Average 13.27A swing bowler with immaculate control, Nabi, 29, has been delivering standout performances in the Ranji Trophy for two seasons now. He’s not a 140kph express quick – around 125-130 kph at best – but he’s someone who can make the new ball talk, like Bhuvneshwar Kumar did.In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, Nabi averaged 13.93 for his 44 wickets – more than any seamer in the country, and overall second only to Vidarbha spinner Harsh Dubey. At the Duleep Trophy in August, he produced a moment that grabbed national attention: four wickets in four balls for North Zone against East Zone.He began the Ranji Trophy with a five-for against Mumbai, but it’s over the last few weeks that he’s truly surged. In the fourth round, Nabi’s five-wicket haul powered J&K’s first-ever win over Delhi. A week later, he took 4 for 39 against Hyderabad, helping J&K secure a first-innings lead that turned into a match-winning one. Then came the spell of the season so far: 7 for 24 against Rajasthan that earned J&K a bonus-point win.With this level of consistency and impact, how much longer before Nabi gets a call-up to the India A squad?Ravichandran Smaran has had a tremendous start to his 2025-26 Ranji season•PTI R Smaran (Karnataka) – Runs 595 | Average 119.00Thirteen first-class games into his career, 22-year old Smaran already has three double-centuries – two of them in this Ranji season. A left-hand, top-order batter who first made his name in T20 cricket, he got his opportunity in red-ball cricket only last year when Karnataka moved on from Manish Pandey. Smaran has ensured the transition has been seamless, slotting in with a maturity well beyond his age and experience.Both his double-tons this season have come in matches that Karnataka won comfortably. His unbeaten 220 against Kerala was on a turning surface in Mangalapuram, where he anchored a commanding first-innings total that led to an innings victory.His most recent effort – an unbeaten 227 in Hubli – was in completely different conditions: a green-tinged pitch, Karnataka wobbling at 64 for 3, with Smaran rebuilding the innings alongside Karun Nair before batting through.Smaran combines elegance with power and is confident against spin. His strength off the back foot adds another layer to a well-rounded game. Having made his mark in white-ball cricket last season, he has continued to evolve in red-ball cricket too, ensuring he is nowhere close to falling prey to the second-season syndrome.Prithvi Shaw recorded the third-fastest double century in Ranji Trophy history•PTI Prithvi Shaw (Maharashtra) – Runs 470 runs | Average 67.14Prithvi Shaw is outside the top ten run-scorers this season, but the impact he’s made and the circumstances of his return is noteworthy. He’s been a typically robust presence at the top, taking pressure off Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has moved to a stable role in the middle order. Shaw, 26, has scored his runs at a strike rate of 92.33 – an indication of his dominance.Having left Mumbai, his start for Maharashtra was inauspicious, with familiar failings resurfacing when he was caught in the slips for a four-ball duck on debut against Kerala. He bounced back to make a barnstorming 75 in the second innings.Shaw’s impact was felt against Chandigarh, when he made 222 off just 156 balls to help Maharashtra race to 359 for 3 in just 52 overs, setting up a target they successfully defended after it looked like the game would end in a draw. Shaw’s innings gave Maharashtra a little over four sessions to bowl Chandigarh out and secure their first outright win.Since then, Shaw has made scores of 71 and 74 against Karnataka and Punjab; the 74 coming in a bonus-point win that put them second in Group B.Abhinav Tejrana (Goa) – Runs 651 runs |Average 93.00A stylish left-hand batter, Tejrana, 24, found opportunities hard to come by in Delhi and made the move to Goa ahead of the 2023-24 season. After two strong years in the Under-23 circuit, he finally earned his Ranji debut this season – and announced himself in stunning fashion. On debut, he struck a match-winning double-century against Chandigarh, a knock that justified Goa’s faith in him.He backed it up with a composed half-century against Karnataka, and followed up with his second hundred of the season, this time against Punjab. And in the fifth round that ended on Wednesday, Tejrana compiled a fighting 118 against a high-quality Saurashtra attack – he was one of the few Goa batters to show resistance in an innings defeat.As the season pauses for the white-ball leg, Tejrana is in line to make his List A and T20 debuts for his adopted state.Shams Mulani has been an all-round star for Mumbai•PTI Shams Mulani (Mumbai) – Wickets 28 wickets l Average 21.10Mulani, 28, topped the Ranji wicket charts in 2021-22, finished second in 2022-23, and was third last season. This year, he’s once again on course to secure a top-three finish – underlining a level of consistency few spinners in the country have matched.Yet, despite this sustained excellence, he has struggled to become a regular in India A squads, largely because there is an abundance of left-arm spin allrounders. Even so, Mulani belongs in the top bracket of left-arm spinners in the country, alongside Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar and R Sai Kishore.This season, he has been central to Mumbai’s surge to the top of Group D, influencing games with both bat and ball. In the season-opener in Srinagar, he hit a vital 41 in the second innings to stretch Mumbai’s lead to 243, before running through J&K with a match-defining 7 for 46 in a tense 35-run win.In the match against Himachal, he scored a composed half-century to help build a commanding first-innings total and set up the follow-on, after which he delivered 5 for 37 to seal Mumbai’s second successive victory.

Consecutive defeats on home soil brought a campaign to an end where they couldn’t quite cover key absences

Tristan Lavalette21-Jan-20241:29

Hardie admits Scorchers were well below their best in Strikers defeat

Perth Scorchers’ passionate fans still maintained the faith when Cooper Connolly and Nick Hobson, last season’s title-winning heroes, were at the crease as they grimly chased 156 against Adelaide Strikers in the knockout final.The confidence from the 33,000 Optus Stadium crowd was justified given Scorchers’ knack of pulling out miraculous victories over the years.But when Hobson fell to a stunning return catch from Strikers captain Matthew Short, Scorchers’ bid for a historic hat-trick of titles was effectively over. Many of the glum fans could not bear to watch any further as they headed for the exit in an unusual sight.Related

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Scorchers had won 17 of their last 18 home matches before failing to defend 197 against Sydney Sixers in a last-ball defeat that cost them second spot and a double chance in the finals.They again let slip a strong position at the innings break to suffer a shock 50-run defeat against Strikers as they now come to grips with the end of their BBL dominance.Scorchers/Western Australia had swept through the domestic titles over the past two years amid a golden era. But there have been cracks over the season for Scorchers and here are a few takeaways over why their title defence ended abruptly.

Ashton Turner’s absence

While it’s easy to rue the Sixers defeat, Scorchers’ turning-point was probably in their third match of the season when captain Ashton Turner limped off after bowling his first delivery against Hobart Hurricanes.He was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament following knee surgery having only faced 17 balls out in the middle. Scorchers were initially able to withstand his absence as stand-in captain Aaron Hardie led from the front with plenty of support from Josh Inglis and Laurie Evans in the middle-order.The turning point? Ashton Turner’s season ended with a knee injury•Getty ImagesBut Hardie and Inglis fell away as the season wore on and combined with Evans’ absence, after leaving for the UAE’s ILT20, Scorchers were exposed against Strikers.Turner’s composed and powerful batting in the backend of innings was clearly missed and so too his leadership. His tactical nous was widely lauded during Scorchers’ title-winning seasons and his players mirror his calm demeanour.Scorchers this season looked unusually ragged at times, with the ball and in the field, especially at the death against Sixers and Heat. You feel Turner would have been a steadying presence.It was always going to be tough shoes to fill for Hardie. Preferred over wicketkeeper Inglis, Hardie grew into the role and looms as a future leader – potentially at international level.Sticking with Scorchers’ well-worn manual, much like Turner, Hardie is understated and doesn’t give much away emotionally. He enjoyed an impressive performance initially against Strikers having had the courage to replace struggling frontline spinner Ashton Agar with little-used Connolly.Hardie had also started to take charge by bowling himself more and he was rewarded with the key wicket of Jake Weatherald and then James Bazley in the same over. But losing Turner, surely Scorchers’ most important player, ultimately proved too hard to overcome for a team that has shown plenty of resiliency over the years.Scorchers also lost quick Jhye Richardson to a side strain late in the season, while Mitchell Marsh did not play a match due to his Test commitments.”We’re happy to keep taking the shots and keep rebounding but I think there’s only a certain level that we’re able to do that,” Hardie said. “I still thought we had the team to win the title.”

Top-order struggles

Sam Fanning could have a part to play in the future of Scorchers’ top order•Getty ImagesScorchers were unable to find an effective opening partnership. The departure of Cameron Bancroft, who had been a stabilising presence in the top three during their back-to-back triumphs, to Sydney Thunder proved significant.Connolly was trialled as an opener at the start of the season, but it backfired. Scorchers ended up using five different opening combinations, but none could strike a half-century partnership.England opener Zak Crawley was a modest success in his six-game stint while Sam Whiteman, WA’s Sheffield Shield captain, could not fire in his return to Scorchers.Stephen Eskinazi had been a find for Scorchers last season, but he was mostly squeezed out until a hit on the knuckles against Sixers ended his season. Marcus Harris and Sam Fanning were late season signings and they ended up being Scorchers’ unexpected openers against Strikers.Fanning, in his BBL debut, unfurled aggressive strokes to provide an early launch pad that had been rarely seen this season. Scorchers’ batting blueprint had been to build a foundation before their big-hitting middle order launched in the second half of the innings.But, as Fanning showed with his enterprising knock, Scorchers might have to tinker with their philosophy.

Ashton Agar’s home woes

Ashton Agar had some good days on the road, but struggled in Perth•Getty ImagesLeft-arm spinner Agar has been a fulcrum for Scorchers for many seasons. He has continually defied the pace-friendly Optus Stadium surface by bowling accurately through the middle overs.Agar had a delayed start to the season having come back slowly from the calf injury that ended his ODI World Cup dreams. He didn’t miss a beat when he returned with 1 for 15 from 3 overs against Hurricanes, which included eight dot balls.But while he bowled well on the east coast, including an extraordinary 2 for 6 from 4 overs against Thunder on a very slow Sydney Showground surface, Agar struggled at home and became a target for batters.Against Strikers, Weatherald used his feet and effectively smashed Agar down the ground in a game-changing counterattack. Agar had become a shell of himself with Hardie eventually losing faith in him after two overs. In his last four home matches, Agar took 1 for 152 from 15 overs.”Teams are coming to Optus with plans. They’re doing their research,” Hardie said. “People are looking at targeting certain bowlers and playing different lineups to what they normally do over here. “We have to look at ways to adapt and figure out ways to get better.”

The future

Scorchers are unlikely to undergo major changes. It’s an experienced group led by level-headed coach Adam Voges and list boss Kade Harvey.They will back their talented local core and keep building within, but falling off the rails late in the season at home should be a reality check.”We had the men to do the job,” Hardie said. “We just didn’t play our best cricket, especially in the past couple of games.”

They dismantled Pakistan with pace, persistence, a hint of movement, and more than a hint of pent-up frustration

Alex Malcolm23-Mar-2022Finally. After 13 days of backbreaking toil in this series. After 13 days of waiting for the pitches to do something. After 13 days of hoping the chosen ball would reverse. After 13 days of relentless but slow run-scoring. After 13 days of watching hard-earned nicks hit the turf.Finally, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc said enough is enough and took matters into their own hands. They huffed and they puffed and they blew away Pakistan’s batting line-up with sheer pace, persistence, a hint of movement, and more than a hint of pent-up frustration to put Australia in command.Cummins became just the fourth Australian quick in history to take a five-wicket haul in Pakistan. Starc became just the third quick in the series to bag four wickets or more in an innings. Pakistan lost eight wickets for 54 runs in 30 overs to hand Australia a critical 134-run lead with two days to go.It was a Herculean effort from Australia’s two fast men.At one stage in the afternoon, it looked like an impossible task. Lahore’s surface was offering precious little. Azhar Ali and Babar Azam’s bats looked as broad as ever after Abdullah Shafique had again batted for what felt like days. There were very few signs of the prodigious reverse-swing that Naseem Shah had extracted the previous day.Australia had frivolously burnt three reviews, two in pure hope and exasperation that they might not hit another pad for days despite neither looking close to out.Steven Smith had dropped three catches, one each of Shafique, Azhar and Babar. None were easy, though, all incredibly difficult given how close to the batter he has stood at times, but all told he has missed six chances in a series where chances have been few and far between.

At one stage midway through the 13th day of the series, all five of Australia’s bowlers were striking at more than 100 for the tour and Starc’s wicket tally of three was level with direct-hit run-outs for the series

Nathan Lyon bowled 30 overs unchanged for little reward. He did claim Shafique thanks to Australia’s only successful review, scratching the outside edge of his broad bat with one that went straight on. He could have had Babar too, who drove hard out of the footmarks and edged fine of the wrong-footed Smith at slip. Mitchell Swepson too produced a chance off Azhar – which Smith was unable to grasp – but was unable to extract much else as the surface offered less spin than the one in Karachi.At one stage midway through the 13th day of the series, all five of Australia’s bowlers were striking at more than 100 for the tour and Starc’s wicket tally of three was level with direct-hit run-outs for the series.Australia needed a lion in Lahore and they found one in their captain. Out of nowhere, in a short burst at Azhar, Cummins induced a false stroke. A well-struck drive that was not kept down. Cummins fell to his left in his follow-through, reached to his right, and plucked a stunning catch. He threw it in the air as he rolled to the ground and finished on his knees roaring with delight.”That’s why he’s No. 1 in the world,” Starc would say of Cummins after the day’s play. “He started it for us.”Australia had an opening.Cummins threw Starc the ball post-tea with Fawad Alam far from settled and Starc rammed his way through with sheer will.This wasn’t the spectacular high-velocity reverse-swing that he showed in the first innings in Karachi. Instead, it was a showcase of his fitness and willpower. Starc can be maligned for his sometimes wild radar and his lean spells as he had experienced on this tour as well. But one thing he is given very little credit for is his ability to sustain 140kph speeds across a backbreaking series. His pace has never dropped during this arduous tour. And it didn’t on the 13th day. He finally got the reward when he delivered the perfect length and line to Alam with a hint of reverse-swing back to crash through a gaping gate between bat and pad and smash into off stump.Pat Cummins held a stunning return catch to remove Azhar Ali•AFPStarc smelt blood in the water. He trumped that delivery to Alam with an even better one to remove Mohammad Rizwan. From around the wicket, he again hit the perfect length, angling towards off stump and tailing away a touch to beat the outside edge and crash into the top of off.”It’s having a really calm approach,” Starc said. “Patty’s been fantastic in his captaincy. There have been times where they’ve built partnerships and played really nicely. It’s about staying calm and not letting that scoreboard get out of control and take our chances and moments when they come.”Pakistan’s tail was now exposed and Cummins sensed the moment. He brought himself back on in tandem with Starc and in 20 deliveries they took 5 for 4.Cummins and Starc ratted the stumps twice more and thundered into the front pads of Nauman Ali and Babar. Starc pinning Pakistan’s captain on 67 was proof that no one could stop Australia’s steam train from running down the track. Not even DRS could overturn this one as it was just clipping the outside of leg stump.Only one of the nine wickets the duo took required a fielder’s assistance, with Smith taking a nice low catch of Hasan Ali at first slip having moved back to a conventional position behind Alex Carey.”Once we get a sniff we want to try and ram that home,” Starc said. “So to work in a fantastic partnership for those few overs is what we’re about.”For the second Test running, Australia have done the hard yards to set up the game in their favour and they can thank Cummins and Starc for it. Now they need to finish the job.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald has suggested that Usman Khawaja could be considered as a middle-order option in Adelaide after overcoming the back spasms that ruled him out of the Gabba contest as the selectors face a key decision over the batting line-upKhawaja’s return to fitness will create an intriguing conversation ahead of the third Test. He will turn 39 during the Adelaide Test and will be the first Australian Test player in 40 years to play at that age if selected.However, the success of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald at the top as created a conundrum. The new pair have shared two 70-plus stands in Perth and Brisbane in rapid time to take both games away from England. Australia had only had three half-century stands in their previous 14 Tests since David Warner retired, with Head involved in one of them with Khawaja in Sri Lanka.Related

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“It worked at this point in time,” McDonald said. “Pink-ball Test at the Gabba, we felt like that combination was right for those conditions and the opposition. We will always ask ourselves the question that the selection table as we move in. At our strategy meetings, we’ll continue to ask questions on what the best line-up is for that point in time. And we’re taking this Test by Test.”The assumption is that Uzzie can only open as well. So I think that he does have the flexibility. And we like to think that all our batters have the flexibility to be able to perform anywhere in that order. So we’ve got a collective sort of group of batters there that as a series wears on, the opposition may create some different challenges for us. We’re open to what it will look like for us moving forward.”Usman Khawaja didn’t recover in time for the second Test•Getty Images

Khawaja’s form was under scrutiny heading into the series – he is now averaging 31.84 since the end of the 2023 Ashes with one century in 45 innings – but he had been consistent for Queensland earlier in the season.When Khawaja was recalled to the Test side in early 2022 during the previous Ashes in Australia he came in at No. 5 when Head missed the SCG Test with Covid. Twin centuries made him undroppable and he moved up to open in place of Marcus Harris when Head returned.McDonald said that since that time there had not been consideration given to returning Khawaja to the middle order. Much of the focus after Warner’s retirement in early 2024 has been finding a partner for Khawaja, which was set to be Weatherald until Khawaja suffered back spasms in Perth.”He’s been a stable piece up there, so we haven’t discussed moving him previously,” McDonald said. “But we’re open to what the batting model would look like moving forward should there be any moving parts. Whether Trav opens, whether he goes back to the middle, that will all play out. We’re taking it Test by Test.”One of the themes of this season has been talk, led by McDonald and Pat Cummins, of potentially having flexible batting line-ups with both coach and captain believing set positions are over-rated.If Khawaja was to return it would be at the expense of Josh Inglis who batted at No. 7 at the Gabba where he made an uncertain 23. However, he pulled off a brilliant direct hit run out to remove Ben Stokes on the opening day.Australia’s squad is expected to be confirmed on Wednesday with Cummins set to be added to the 14 who were on duty in Brisbane ahead of a likely return for the captain.

ONE MORE MONTH UNTIL PLAYOFF BASEBALL!

There is a ton at stake over the final four weeks of the regular season in MLB, and we’re here at SI Betting to analyze the latest playoff odds in both the American and National Leagues.

There are three division races — the AL East, AL West and NL West — where the first and second place teams are separated by three or fewer games, leaving a lot up in the air in the wild card picture to close the regular season.

In the American League, a seven-game winning streak helped propel the New York Yankees into first in the wild card and just three games back of Toronto in the AL East entering September.

Meanwhile, the National League wild card appears to be pretty settled, as the Cincinnati Reds (the first team out) have fallen four games back of the final wild card spot.

Is there any value in betting on a team to make the playoffs that isn’t currently in the postseason picture? 

Let’s take a look at the latest odds and a few teams that could have some value — whether it’s to make the playoffs or steal the division — as the final month of regular season baseball gets underway. 

American League Playoff OddsDivision LeadersToronto Blue Jays: N/ADetroit Tigers: N/AHouston Astros: -700

It’s interesting to see a division leader with worse odds to make the playoffs than multiple wild card teams, but that’s the case with Houston.

The Astros are just two games up on the Seattle Mariners in the AL West, and they have worse records than the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox this season. If Houston slips in the coming weeks, it could be fighting for its playoff life down the stretch. 

Oddsmakers don’t feel the same about the Blue Jays, even though they’ve seen their lead dwindle in the AL East.  

Wild Card RaceNew York Yankees: -10000Boston Red Sox: -1400Seattle Mariners: -575Texas Rangers: +290Kansas City Royals: +500:Cleveland Guardians: +1100Tampa Bay Rays: +2000

Texas has moved past the Kansas City Royals for the fourth spot in the wild card race, as it has won five games in a row and eight of its last 10. Not only are the Rangers just 2.5 games out of the third wild card, but they are just 4.5 games back in the AL West.

So, there are multiple paths for Texas to take to get into the postseason. At +290, the Rangers could be worth a sprinkle if you’re not sold on Houston or Seattle running away with the division in the final few weeks. 

The one thing working against the Rangers is that they have the fifth-hardest remaining schedule – per Tankathon – in MLB. 

National League Playoff OddsDivision LeadersPhiladelphia Phillies: N/ALos Angeles Dodgers: N/AMilwaukee Brewers: N/A

While the NL West is still up for grabs, oddsmakers believe the the Phillies, Dodgers, Brewers, Cubs and Padres will all make the postseason, as they’ve all seen their playoff odds come off the board.

The Reds – the closest chasing team in the wild card race – are seven games back of San Diego and nine games back of Chicago entering September. 

Wild Card RaceSan Diego Padres: N/AChicago Cubs: N/ANew York Mets: -600Cincinnati Reds: +700San Francisco Giants: +1200Arizona Diamondbacks: +2500St. Louis Cardinals: +3000

While the NL wild card may already be set, there has been a ton of odds movement for the Mets (the No. 3 wild card) and the chasing pack:

Mets: -350 to -600Reds: +310 to +700Giants: +2000 to +1200Diamondbacks: +3000 to +2500

New York has a four-game cushion on the Reds and at least a five-game cushion on every other team in the chase. Barring an epic collapse from a team, the six NL playoff teams appear to be pretty secure entering the final month of the regular season.