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The Brewers punched their ticket to the NLCS by following the same formula that earned them a league-high 97 wins this season—timely hitting, dominant pitching and elite defense. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, its offense didn’t make the trip to the league championship round.

Milwaukee was held to exactly one run yet again in Game 3, falling 3–1 to the Dodgers on Thursday night in Los Angeles. The Brewers, trailing 3–0 in the series, are now just one loss away from being swept out of the NLCS, a round they’ve reached just four times in franchise history.

It’s not difficult to pinpoint where the Brewers have gone wrong. Through three games, Milwaukee has scored a total of three runs while batting .101 as a team with just nine hits. According to TNT Sports, the Brewers have the fewest hits (nine) through three games of a playoff series since the White Sox in 1906.

No, that is not a typo. The White Sox had just nine hits in the first three games of the 1906 World Series against the Cubs.

It is worth noting the White Sox won that World Series in six games—although they were able to take two of the first three games, unlike the Brewers, who could be packing their bags for the offseason as early as Friday night in Game 4.

Who needs to step up for the Brewers?

Is “everyone”a suitable answer?

Christian Yelich led the team with 29 homers and a .795 OPS in the regular season, but he’s batting just .200/.294/.233 in the postseason and an even worse 1-for-11 (.091) in the NLCS. Young stars Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio are a combined 2-for-23 against the Dodgers, and Andrew Vaughn—a hero in the NLDS—is still looking for his first NLCS hit.

Milwaukee’s best bat this series has been Caleb Durbin, a bottom-of-the-order option in manager Pat Murphy’s lineup who has three hits in nine at-bats against Los Angeles.

“We’re in a big hole,” Yelich said Thursday after the Game 3 loss. “Our goal right now should be to get the series back to Milwaukee. And worry about the rest later. We can’t look at it as we’ve got to win four in a row. Obviously we do, But we can’t win four [games] without winning one or without winning two.”

The Brewers will try to keep their season alive Friday night with the second game of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 8:38 p.m. ET.

The Houston Astros have been without star slugger Yordan Alvarez since early May as he's been sidelined with a small fracture in his hand.

The 28-year-old has been rehabbing his ailing hand in Florida, but has suffered a setback in his recovery. According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Alvarez's rehab has been shut down and he's now set to visit a specialist in order to determine the best course of action.

Alvarez reportedly felt soreness while swinging a bat on Monday, prompting the team to shut him down.

Alvarez last played for the Astros on May 2. He'd been struggling at the plate all season, looking like a shell of his usual self throughout his first 29 games. Alvarez had a .210 batting average with a 82 OPS+ and just three home runs and 18 RBIs prior to landing on the IL.

The team expects to know more about his injury after his visit with the specialist, but this setback is certainly a cause for concern among fans, who were hoping to have Alvarez return to the lineup for the second half of the season.

Liverpool and Manchester United are two of many teams throughout Europe who are set to benefit after FIFA revealed those involved will be able to play for their clubs for an extra week before jetting off for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Mohamed Salah and Bryan Mbeumo are among the Premier League's top forwards but will leave their sides to represent Egypt and Cameroon when the tournament kicks off in Morocco later this month.

• Liverpool and Man Utd receive much-needed boost

  Clubs around Europe will have to make do without some of their key players during the hectic winter months of December and January due to the 2025 AFCON. Stars like Salah and Mbeumo are set to miss a significant number of matches for Liverpool and United when they travel across the world to represent their countries at Africa's biggest stage. Players had previously been required to show up for international duty by December 8 at the latest, leaving some English clubs particularly short during what is always a fixture-filled time of the year. However, FIFA has now amended its rules, meaning clubs around Europe will be able to call upon their African stars for another week.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What FIFA said about clubs releasing players for AFCON

  In a statement released on Wednesday, FIFA outlined its decision: "Following fruitful consultations led by FIFA with key stakeholders and, thanks to the spirit of solidarity demonstrated by CAF to reduce the impact on various parties, the Bureau of the Council has taken a decision in relation to the mandatory release of players for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, which will take place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. 

  "In line with the same principle used for the FIFA World Cup 2022™, the release period will be reduced by seven days and start on Monday, 15 December 2025. 

  "It was also determined that Member Associations participating in the CAF AFCON 2025 and clubs releasing players who would be playing in continental competitions during the release period be encouraged to hold bilateral discussions in good faith to find appropriate individual solutions. 

  "In cases where there continues to be a dispute over the release of players subsequent to such bilateral discussions, FIFA will, in mediating between both parties, apply guidelines that take into account the circumstances of each case, including factors related to the timing of matches of affected competitions, the stage of these competitions, the historical and planned involvement of the players in the matches in question, as well as any other pertinent factors."

• Some Premier League teams set to struggle

  It's not just Mbeumo who United will be missing for the better part of a month even after FIFA's ruling. Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are set to represent the Ivory Coast and Morocco, while Sunderland appear set to suffer majorly with seven of their players projected to be involved in the tournament, including Bertrand Traore, Reinildo, Simon Adingra and Habib Diarra. 

  Manchester City will lose both Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri, though neither the Egyptian nor the Algerian have been particularly prominent in Pep Guardiola's starting XI so far this season. Tottenham will be without a pair of midfielders in Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma, but will retain the services of winger Mohammed Kudus after Ghana failed to qualify. Relegation candidates Wolves are also expected to lose five players to AFCON. 

  However, there is better news for others. Premier League leaders Arsenal, their London rivals Chelsea and Leeds United will be unaffected for the period. Liverpool, meanwhile, will only lose Salah, with manager Arne Slot previously revealing the Reds would be able to keep the struggling winger until mid-December.

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  What comes next?

  There are now just under two weeks before clubs throughout Europe say goodbye to the African players who will be present at AFCON. The tournament looks set to be an exciting one with Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Senegal among the favourites to lift the trophy – which will add to an already packed winter of soccer.

  There's a disappointing lack of Premier League action on Boxing Day this year, with United's evening clash with Newcastle the only fixture of the day, but supporters will be able to see Salah's Egypt battle South Africa that afternoon.

Manchester United drew 2-2 away to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday lunchtime. It took a late Matthijs de Ligt goal to secure a point, after being 1-0 up at half-time. Not only did United let the three points slip out of their grasp, but striker Benjamin Sesko picked up an injury.

The Slovenian didn’t start the game in North London, coming on in the second half. He suffered a knee problem late in the clash after a tackle by Mickey van de Ven prevented him from getting a shot off.

Ruben Amorim said after the game that he is “concerned” about the striker’s issue.

It is currently unclear how long the 22-year-old will be out injured for, but Amorim has three different options to replace him.

1 The logical option

There is only one other number 9 in the United squad: Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutchman is a superb technical player who is brilliant at bringing his teammates into the game with holdup play and silky footwork.

He ended his debut campaign at United strongly, with ten goals and assists, including a crucial header in the Europa League away from home against Lyon. However, he’s fallen out of favour under the Portuguese manager this term.

It certainly hasn’t been easy for the Dutchman in 2025/26. He’s only made five appearances across all competitions, playing 90 minutes in total and not starting a game. He hasn’t even had a chance to prove himself this term.

However, with his ability to link play together and facilitate the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, the 24-year-old could be a game-changer for United. He’s their only other senior number striker and has shown great promise when given a chance.

2 The wildcard option

The suggested wildcard shout is, ironically, something Amorim has done more often this season than the logical option. That consists of bringing Mason Mount into the starting lineup and playing a flexible front three consisting of the Englishman, Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

Although he has been struck down with injury a lot for United, the 26-year-old clearly has an abundance of quality. When fit, he has been a trusted lieutenant under Amorim, playing 29 games for the Red Devils boss, scoring four times and assisting one.

In fact, those strikes certainly highlight the quality the number seven brings to United’s side. Look at his finish against Athletic Club in the Europa League last season, taking the ball on the half turn and curling his effort home. That is classic Mount.

This solution would offer Amorim lots of energy up front, with all three players excellent pressers. United fans would also witness fluid rotations in possession, although the lack of a natural number 9 might make them less of a threat in the box.

3 The academy option

Using players from the academy has always been a huge part of the DNA at Old Trafford. Well, in light of Sesko’s injury, Amorim could turn to 17-year-old Chido Obi to help fill the void left at centre-forward.

The former Arsenal youngster has played first-team football in the red of United since his move to Manchester last summer. He’s featured eight times under Amorim, even starting away to Brentford in the Premier League.

It is at academy level that the former Gunners star has made a real impression. Obi has scored six goals for United’s U21 side and has bagged 12 times in ten games for the U18s. It is no surprise that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta previously described him as a “massive goal threat.” Gunners podcaster Will Balsam once even described the prodigy as a “homegrown Osimhen”.

Obi has played against senior sides in the EFL Trophy this season and has made a real impression, grabbing three goal involvements in as many games. Against Barnsley, he got a goal and an assist, having two shots on target, creating one chance and winning three duels.

Obi stats vs. Barnsley

Stat

Number

Touches

20

Shots

3

Shots on target

2

Ground duels won

3

Key passes

1

Goals

1

Assists

1

Stats from Sofascore

Picking the Denmark U20 striker to replace Sesko could be seen as a risk from Amorim. Yet, the Red Devils boss clearly trusts and rates the striker, having given him regular minutes in the top flight last season.

There are a few options for the United boss, and it will be fascinating to see which route he takes if Sesko is sidelined for a long period.

Related Forget Mbeumo: "Phenomenal" Man Utd star was the real player of the month

Bryan Mbeumo has won the Premier League Player of the Month, but one other Manchester United star may feel hard done by.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Nov 7, 2025

Big picture: Who will bat where for India?

The last time India and Sri Lanka faced each other in international cricket, Sri Lanka defended their home turf like wounded lions to blank India out in an animated ODI series. Now, though, they come up against each other in an Asia Cup dead rubber with Sri Lanka already knocked out and an unbeaten India already in the final.Related

• Abrarcadabra – the four-over spell that left Sri Lanka stupefied

• Abhishek Sharma is on his way to becoming an elite six-hitter

• The relentlessness of Abhishek and the ruthlessness of Bumrah

• Suryakumar told to refrain from making political comments

However, with India seemingly playing roulette with their batting order, there is always anticipation to see what the box of chocolates throws up next. In India’s previous dead rubber, against Oman, Sanju Samson was promoted to No. 3 and Suryakumar Yadav didn’t bat at all even though India lost eight wickets. In their last match, Sanju Samson didn’t get to bat even though India lost six wickets.There must be some method to what Suryakumar and coach Gautam Gambhir are doing, but the pundits on the outside haven’t been able to figure it out. What happens next is anyone’s guess.Sri Lanka have been on the receiving end of a fickle format. There hasn’t been much separating the three teams other than India in the Super Fours. Sri Lanka have lost both their tosses, and have just not been able to post winning totals. Against India, they will need more than the toss to go their way.

Form guide

India WWWWW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LLWWWSri Lanka will hope to end a disappointing Super Fours stage with a consolation win•Asian Cricket Council

In the spotlight: Abhishek Sharma and Wanindu Hasaranga

One change India will not want to make is rest Abhishek Sharma and halt the almighty momentum he has on his side. He has 248 runs in this Asia Cup at better than two a ball. He has twice threatened to get to a century. You don’t ask a batter on such a roll to rest.Wanindu Hasaranga has gone for less than a run a ball through this tournament, and will relish bowling against a top line-up on a slow Dubai track. Especially outside the powerplay.

Team news: All eyes on India’s reserves

Like they did against Oman in the first round, there is a good chance India will experiment on Friday. Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma remain the only ones in the squad who haven’t got a game. It remains to be seen if India throw them into the mix. Playing Jitesh doesn’t necessarily mean leaving out Sanju Samson, who needs time in the middle before the final.India (probable): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Sanju Samson (wk), 5 Rinku Singh/Jitesh Sharma, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Arshdeep Singh.Sri Lanka haven’t quite found their ideal combination through the tournament, but wholesale changes won’t make sense either. They could perhaps look to get Kamil Mishara in for Chamika Karunaratne.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Charith Asalanka (capt.), 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Chamika Karunaratne/ Kamil Mishara, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Nuwan Thushara.

Pitch and conditions

As the tournament progresses, scoring quickly keeps getting harder. The powerplay, and what the set batters can do outside of it, remains critical.

Stats and trivia

• India and Sri Lanka have have faced each other in Dubai once previously. It was in the Super Fours stage of the Asia Cup back in 2022. Sri Lanka won the toss, inserted India, and won by six wickets.
• Hardik Pandya needs three wickets to become the second India bowler after Arshdeep Singh to 100 in T20Is.

Kai Rooney is being tipped to emulate the achievements of his record-breaking father Wayne by making a major impact at Manchester United. Former Red Devils striker Fraizer Campbell has told GOAL, during an exclusive interview, that it would be “fantastic for the club” to see another Rooney leading the line at some point in the not too distant future.

Yamal & Dowman prove to Rooney that anything is possible

Rooney junior is only 15 years of age, but the hottest of prospects have been making senior breakthroughs at that stage of their respective careers. Lamine Yamal earned his big break at Barcelona while in his mid-teens, while Max Dowman has done likewise at Arsenal.

There is no suggestion that Kai is knocking on Ruben Amorim’s door at Old Trafford just yet, but he continues to make positive progress down that path. He has been promoted through the age groups in United’s academy system, allowing him to prove his worth to club bosses.

Big pressure is being lumped onto his young shoulders, with Wayne Rooney still United’s all-time leading scorer with 253 efforts to his name. He won Premier League and Champions League titles with the Red Devils.

Advertisementsportsphotos.ie InstagramWill Kai Rooney follow Wayne into the Man Utd team?

Kai is eager to follow in illustrious footsteps, and has been catching the eye in a fabled academy. Many are suggesting that he is capable of matching his famous father by becoming a talismanic forward for Premier League heavyweights.

Quizzed on whether that could happen, ex-United star Campbell – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “That would be fantastic. He’s played up for the 18s and the 23s this season, I think. He’s doing really, really well. If he’s anything like his dad, it would be fantastic for the club because Rooney was unbelievable in his playing days – still now, he played in the legends game and he’s still got the technique, that drive and hunger. It would be great for Wayne, Coleen and the family to see another Rooney pulling on the Man United shirt. It would be great for the fans as well.”

Hot prospect: Kai Rooney exciting those at Old Trafford

Campbell is not the first former United player to back Kai Rooney for senior opportunities. Wes Brown has previously told GOAL of that family name earning further recognition in Manchester: “I’m pretty sure if you played for a club and your son comes through, and he’s at a stage now where he’s like YTS, going to training everyday, then at any point you could be picked by the manager and told ‘you’re training with us’ or ‘you’re in a game’. It will be a great experience.

“Kai, knowing the lad he is, he’ll just work very hard. He will have his head down. Obviously, his dad has legendary status, but it’s all about Kai. He will have to work and do everything himself, make sure he puts the graft in and keeps on learning.

“All you can hope for, even when I was a kid, is getting an opportunity. If you do, can you take it? He’s done really well to get where he is at the moment because I’m guessing at some point, it will have been difficult for him.”

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Getty ImagesWayne & Coleen helping to keep Kai grounded

Wayne has tended to stay away from Kai’s matches, in order to avoid becoming a distraction, while mother Coleen is doing her best to ensure that a future away from professional football is also being taken into account.

A source has told of that process: “All the boys are obsessed with football, so Coleen’s had no choice but to embrace it. She wasn’t sure how good they would be, but there’s no denying that Kai has his dad’s talents, and has the potential to make it big.

“Kai is very good, and Coleen and Wayne have always drummed into him that he has to train hard and dedicate himself to it if he wants to make it. But Coleen is determined that he’ll stay grounded, whatever happens. She also knows she’ll have to prepare him for the disappointment if it doesn’t work out. The Rooney name will only get him so far.”

It remains to be seen whether Kai Rooney – who has scored plenty of goals for United at youth level while helping them to trophy wins – will earn first-team opportunities. His dad will always be on hand to offer advice if it is required, with Wayne earning wonderkid status himself when making a senior breakthrough with Everton at the age of 16.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has downplayed concerns surrounding his side’s defensive weakness from set-pieces ahead of Sunday’s London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. With Spurs emerging as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous dead-ball sides, the Italian insists Chelsea are working to correct their vulnerabilities as they look to turn mixed domestic form into consistency.

Chelsea's flaky set-piece defending abilities

Maresca faced questions in his pre-match press conference about Chelsea’s worrying trend of conceding from set plays ahead of their trip to Tottenham. The Blues have shipped multiple goals from such situations in recent weeks — including a damaging long-throw equaliser against Sunderland and a chaotic concession to Wolves in the Carabao Cup. Those lapses have amplified scrutiny on a side that sits ninth in the Premier League after nine games, struggling to find defensive balance despite notable progress in attack.

Tottenham, meanwhile, present an added layer of danger. Thomas Frank’s men have thrived on creative dead-ball routines, with Micky van de Ven scoring twice from corners in their recent win over Everton and Kevin Danso’s long throws causing havoc in the opposition's box. With Spurs earning a reputation for their clever set-piece execution, Chelsea’s defensive fragility in this area has become a clear talking point heading into the London showdown.    Maresca, however, remains calm in his assessment. The Italian pointed out that set-piece situations are inherently unpredictable and believes that while the numbers are concerning, they do not paint the full picture of his team’s defensive performances this season. Still, with Chelsea having conceded more expected goals (xG) and shots from set pieces than any other Premier League team, their ability to withstand Tottenham’s aerial threat will be under close observation this weekend.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMaresca downplays the focus on set-piece frailties

“Tottenham, I think that they are doing very good,” Maresca said when asked about the upcoming derby. “They finished last season winning the Europa League. They started very good this season and also because it's a derby for sure it would be a difficult game.”

Addressing Chelsea’s defensive frailty from set-pieces, he added: “I think that set-pieces you are going to score goals and you are going to concede goals. The reason why is because if we say that when we concede, we are not strong enough.”

“I think that with set-pieces, there are teams that they score more goals, less goals, but at the end, set-pieces you are going to score and concede goals because there are actions that are so difficult to defend. We are working on [defending set-pieces]. For sure, we are working. For sure.” 

Chelsea's defensive structure collapses during set-pieces

Maresca’s comments come against the backdrop of alarming statistics that underline Chelsea’s struggles at defending dead-ball situations this season. The Blues have conceded an expected goals value of 6.10 from set-pieces, the highest in the Premier League, and 45% of their total xG against comes from such situations. Nearly 40% of all shots faced by Chelsea have arrived from corners, free-kicks, or throw-ins, leaving Maresca with a clear tactical headache to solve.   

These defensive shortcomings have come despite improvements elsewhere. Chelsea rank among the league’s best in open-play defensive shot quality (0.14 xG per shot conceded), reflecting a well-structured unit that is generally difficult to break down. However, lapses in concentration and organisation during set-piece phases have repeatedly cost them crucial points, including the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland that exposed their susceptibility to long throws and second-ball scrambles inside the box.

While some have attributed the issue to personnel changes and physical mismatches, Maresca insists it is a collective problem that requires repetition and focus on the training pitch. With Tottenham’s tall defenders and aggressive delivery style, this weekend’s clash serves as an early test of whether those sessions have begun to yield results.  

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AFPChelsea face massive test against dead-ball specialists Spurs

Chelsea head into Sunday’s London derby aiming to bounce back from the inconsistency that has defined their Premier League campaign. Maresca’s men currently sit ninth with a record of four wins, two draws, and three defeats — a mixture of high-scoring triumphs, such as the 5-1 demolition of West Ham, and frustrating slip-ups at Stamford Bridge. They remain a work in progress, but one with clear attacking potential and renewed belief under their new coach. 

Tottenham’s own home form has been patchy, with just four points collected from four matches in North London. Yet their ability to create danger from corners, free-kicks, and throw-ins has been a defining strength this term, and they’ll look to exploit Chelsea’s vulnerabilities in this area. The duel between Maresca’s possession-based control and Frank’s direct, set-piece-focused strategy could prove decisive in determining the outcome of this derby.  

GT’s fears – bowlers losing form, uncooked middle order – came true, with the addition of poor catching, in the IPL 2025 Eliminator against Mumbai

ESPNcricinfo staff31-May-20252:18

Where did GT err in their bowling plans?

It had always been a worry, even when the Gujarat Titans (GT) were on a roll: their top three – B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Jos Buttler – did almost all the scoring. The rest of the batters were undercooked, and it hurt them in their last two league games and then again, when it mattered most, in the IPL 2025 Eliminator. Tom Moody, reflecting on the loss to Mumbai Indians (MI), called it a “void”, adding that Rahul Tewatia and Sherfane Rutherford had failed to do what they’re in the team for.Basically, they didn’t do what David Miller did in 2022 when GT won the title in their debut season.”Tewatia has always been that guy who’s come in in the last two, max three, overs and played a blinder. At a very crunch time, yes, but he’s never been one of those guys… for example, David Miller was the guy, he was the Rutherford. He would come in with six-seven overs to spare, build his innings nicely, and when he was set, he wasn’t missing a slot ball. There was no chance David Miller was going to miss a slot ball,” Varun Aaron said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out on the season where Miller scored 481 runs at an average of 68.71 and a strike rate of 142.72.”He was that guy that year, and that’s why GT won that final. Because there were quite a few matches where the top order had set it up nicely for Miller; Miller would take it deep and finish it. This year, Rutherford has not been able to do that on more than two or three occasions.”Related

Calm Ashwani fills the gaps in MI's Bumrah-centric bowling plans

Sai Sudharsan: I have 'a lot of things to improve' in my T20 game

'Today was that day for me' – Rohit and MI ride their luck to Qualifier 2

Tewatia was, perhaps, a bigger disappointment. In 12 innings, he scored 99 runs from 59 balls, and remained unbeaten just four times, but in the Eliminator hit only one six and one four in his 11-ball stay. Both he (SR 167.79) and Rutherford (157.29) have scored quickly all season, but haven’t had a lot of batting time. The GT top-three often left them with not much to do, but on Friday, when Rutherford got in with 6.2 overs to go and Tewatia, later, with 4.2 overs to go, they had an opportunity. They hit five fours and a six between them as GT fell 20 short. M Shahrukh Khan, the other man in that middle order, batted just 100 balls in 11 innings, and had just one good knock to show for it.

“I suppose Washington stepped up today for that particular role, but they are missing a quality Indian top-order/middle-order player that can fill that void. If they can find that, it will certainly make a big difference to the balance of their side”Tom Moody

“I sort of bag Rutherford with Tewatia. I think they both have similar roles. Slightly different players – one is more of a six-hitter than the other. But between them they faced 26 balls today, and hit one six. That, to me, just tells it all,” Moody said. “They are batting right at the back end of the innings, where the currency is boundaries. It’s either fours or sixes, it’s not ones and twos. Currency is boundaries, and that’s what they train for. And that was their moment to at least add three to that one, and that may have been the difference.”On Friday, Washington Sundar came in for a fourth quick, which had been another problem area for GT, and while he bowled just one over, made a big impact with the bat, scoring 48 from 24 balls from No. 4.”With regards to their batting, I suppose Washington stepped up today for that particular role, but they are missing a quality Indian top-order/middle-order player that can fill that void,” Moody said. “If they can find that, it will certainly make a big difference to the balance of their side.”1:29

Two lives for Rohit ‘unlocked the freedom’

As written on ESPNcricinfo before, after GT had conceded 664 runs in three games after the IPL’s resumption – two of which they lost – the bowling unit appeared to be “losing form at the wrong time”. That trend continued. This time, MI scored 228 and to compound their woes, there were three important catches dropped. Rohit Sharma cashed in on two of those drops with a 50-ball 81. In the second over, Gerald Coetzee dropped him off Prasidh Krishna. Kusal Mendis spilled Rohit behind the stumps off Mohammed Siraj in the next. Mendis dropped another catch in the 12th over, off Suryakumar Yadav with Coetzee the bowler.”After [Rohit] got those couple of lives, it just woke the dragon in him and he [was] like, ‘you know what, I’m just going to go hell for leather,'” Aaron said.Moody explained how those early reprieves would have freed Rohit up: “It unlocks a bit of freedom in your head. Regardless of the experience that Rohit Sharma’s got, he’s still going into this contest with a little bit of doubt, uncertainty. Once you get that lifeline, it really unlocks that worry of, ‘oh, my record in finals is poor’, and suddenly, you think, ‘damn it, it’s my day today, I’m going [for it].'”GT did many things right this season but shabby bowling and catching, alongside a batting line up with a void saw it all unravel in the back-end of the competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo shared a bold new haircut as he showed off his shaved head as he returned to Al-Nassr training in Riyadh this week. The 40-year-old superstar looked every inch the warrior he is with his new look while going through the hard yards on the training pitch. Known for making regular tweaks to his hairstyle down the years, CR7 will hope this latest iteration helps him to deliver yet more success.

• Chasing World Cup glory at 40

  Ronaldo continues to smash records and defy logic at the age of 40. The Portuguese icon endured a mixed week on international duty as he missed a penalty in Portugal’s narrow 1–0 win over Ireland, before roaring back with two goals in a 2–2 draw against Hungary. With his 22nd-minute equalizer, Ronaldo broke Carlos Ruiz's record as the top World Cup qualifying scorer with 40 strikes, before adding a second to take his tally to 41 on the stroke of half-time. He now has a staggering 143 international goals and a combined total for club and country of 947 strikes. Each time he is on the pitch another record seems to fall and his appetite does not appear to be in decline. 

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• A look that screams ruthless ambition

  When Ronaldo arrived back in Saudi Arabia this week, it was his appearance that caught the eye. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner showcased his freshly shaved head on Instagram, rocking a military-style buzzcut that will have reminded many of his Juventus stint in 2020. Ronaldo's hairstyles have been as legendary as his goals over the years. From the boyish ringlets of his early Sporting CP career to the frosted tips and spiky mullet he donned during his Manchester United breakthrough, his fashion evolution has always tracked his career journey. By the mid-2000s, when he started to take over English football, his hair became shorter, spikier, and more angular – a reflection of the ruthless, no-frills forward he was turning into. In 2017, while still at Real Madrid, Ronaldo went back to the old, longer curls with blonde tips. Who will ever forget the Champions League final against Juventus in Cardiff? The noodle-haired assassin scored a brace past Gianluigi Buffon to inspire Real Madrid to a 4-1 victory.

• The richest player on the planet

  Beyond his records, Ronaldo’s financial empire remains unmatched. His current deal with Al-Nassr is reportedly worth a staggering $280 million (£209m) per season, cementing his status as the highest-paid footballer in the world. Moreover, the CR7 brand has become a global commercial behemoth as it has ventured into several sectors, including fragrances, hotels, and fitness. Every move he makes, every haircut, and every Instagram post he shares generate headlines and, more importantly, revenue for his ever-increasing business empire.

  Despite the riches of Saudi Arabia, there have been talks about a possible third stint at United, the club that turned him from a raw teenager into a footballing legend. Reports have suggested that Ronaldo remains open to the idea of returning in some capacity after retirement, potentially taking on a directorial or ambassadorial role. Speaking toGOAL, former United defender Danny Simpson even hinted that such a reunion “shouldn’t be ruled out,” saying that Ronaldo’s emotional ties to Old Trafford run too deep to ignore.

  "I wouldn’t say no," he said. "If you look at his mentality, he obviously cares about the club. I think he would say that because he would like to come back again but in another way. I don’t think he liked the way he left so he’d like to come back and make United great again, on some kind of level making decisions.

  "The business side is obviously very different, but he’s also a businessman. You can’t knock that team he’s got around him. I’d love him to because I think he’s got a lot to offer, even on that side of the game going forward. Just his mentality and everything he does, he achieves it. That’s what United need."

  His time at United delivered the first Champions League trophy and Ballon d’Or of his glittering career. Though his second stint ended in controversy after a public fallout with ex-boss Erik ten Hag and contract termination, a third stint, this time in the boardroom, might bring back the glory days at Old Trafford.

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  All eyes on Al-Nassr

  Ronaldo will lead the line once again when Al-Nassr face Al-Fateh this weekend, intending to keep their title push alive. They have got off to a perfect start in the Saudi Pro League, winning the first four league fixtures, and the Portuguese icon will look to build on that early momentum. 

Former England allrounder addresses accident and aftermath in documentary set for release this week

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Apr-20251:45

‘Flintoff’ on Disney+: An exclusive look at Freddie’s story

Andrew Flintoff, the former England allrounder, says he still “remembers everything” about the near-fatal crash he suffered while filming an episode of Top Gear, after addressing the incident and its aftermath in a new Disney+ documentary about his life and career.Flintoff, 47, was airlifted to hospital in December 2022, after the open-topped three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 that he was driving around Dunsfold Aerodrome overturned at 130mph. He was left with broken ribs and serious facial injuries, with the BBC paying him a reported £9 million in compensation after agreeing to “rest” for the foreseeable future.The documentary, directed by John Dower, is set for release on April 25, and in a Disney+ trailer that features previously unseen footage of the crash site, Flintoff is seen entering hospital for treatment on his facial wounds.”I remember everything about it,” Flintoff says. “It’s so vivid.”Flintoff retreated from public life for months in the aftermath of the accident, and in the trailer, he expresses his “frustration” with the media speculation about his crash.”This is what I’m left with … I’ve lived under the radar for seven months,” he says. “One of the real frustrations was the speculation, that’s why I’m doing this now, [talking about] what actually happened.”Everyone wants more, you’re just a commodity. I’m not saying I’m embracing them, but I’m not trying to hide my scars.”It’s almost like a reset, I’m trying to find out what I am now. I’ve always seemed to be able to flick a switch, I’ve got to find that switch again.’Flintoff’s return to the sport of cricket has been a key aspect of his rehabilitation. At the behest of his friend and former team-mate, Rob Key – now England men’s director of cricket – he made an incognito appearance at the 2023 Ashes, and went on to take up a series of roles within the game, including head coach of Northern Superchargers in the Hundred, and most recently head coach of England Lions.He has also appeared as the host of the rebooted ITV darts show, Bullseye, as well as filming a second series of his acclaimed series, Field of Dreams, in which he travelled to India with his team of new cricketers, and opened up about his struggles to recover from what happened.”‘I struggle with anxiety, I have nightmares, I have flashbacks, it’s so hard to cope,” he said during the series. “I genuinely should not be here with what happened.”It’s going to be a long road back and I’ve only just started. I’m going to need help. I really am. I’m not the best at asking for it.”The new documentary features also interviews with his wife, Rachael, former team-mates including his 2005 Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan, and close friends including Jack Whitehall and James Corden.Speaking to the podcaster Joe Rogan, Top Gear’s co-host, Chris Harris – who witnessed the aftermath of the crash – said that Flintoff was lucky to be alive.”He’s a physical specimen, Fred, he’s a big guy – six foot five, six foot six, strong. And if he wasn’t so strong, he wouldn’t have survived.”He’s a great advert for physical strength and conditioning, because if he hadn’t been that strong, he’d have just snapped his neck, he’d be dead.”In a statement released after the crash, a BBC spokesman referred to an independent health and safety review of the show, and said: “[The review] found that while BBC Studios had complied with the required BBC policies and industry best practice in making the show, there were important learnings which would need to be rigorously applied to future Top Gear UK productions.”‘Flintoff’ is available exclusively on Disney+