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Worcestershire 188 for 7 (Brookes 57, Currie 5-34) beat Hampshire 237 for 7 (Orr 110, Waite 3-60) by three wickets (DLS) Worcestershire ended a week that saw them relegated in the Rothesay County Championship by winning the Metro Bank One-Day Cup by three wickets in a sensational finish to a rain-affected final at Trent Bridge, despite a brilliant century from Ali Orr for Hampshire.Chasing a twice-revised target of 188 from 27 overs after Hampshire had made 237 for seven in 45, the Rapids clinched victory with two balls to spare after ninth man Henry Cullen, with four required to win, was caught on the boundary at long leg only for the fielder, Kyle Abbott, to touch the rope while the ball was still in his hand.The heartbreak for Hampshire came only a week after their defeat by Somerset in the Vitality Blast final.Hampshire’s Scott Currie, who had earned an England call-up earlier in the week but was not required for the T20s against Ireland, looked to have bowled his side to victory here as three wickets in his final over gave him figures of five for 31.But after Ethan Brookes hit four sixes in a superb 34-ball 57 to haul Worcestershire back into contention after falling behind the rate required, Matthew Waite’s two sixes in a five-ball 16 set up what had seemed an unlikely victory with 13 needed off Brad Wheal’s final over.Until then, Orr’s 110 – his third century in this season’s competition – including two sixes in addition to 10 fours and came off 130 balls, looked to have been the match-winning performance.It took a superb one-handed catch off his own bowling by Waite to dismiss him.Orr and fellow left-hander Nick Gubbins (38) put on 82 in 16.2 overs for the first wicket, but the opening pair apart, all-rounder James Fuller’s 23 from 20 balls was the highest Hampshire score in the face of a disciplined response from Worcestershire’s seam attack.Ali Orr’s century gave Hampshire the upper hand in the early part of the final•Getty Images

Bowling nine overs each, Waite took three for 60, Ben Allison impressed with two for 41 and a miserly Tom Taylor took one for 24.Play had begun at the scheduled 11am start time, with Worcestershire opting to bowl first, perhaps with a nod to overcast conditions.Orr and Gubbins, mainstays of the Hampshire batting along their path to a fourth final in the last seven editions of the 50-over competition, had the upper hand against Taylor and Khurram Shahzad, hitting nine boundaries to be 55 without loss in the opening 10-over powerplay.Allison and Waite slowed their progress – and forced a breakthrough when Waite squared up Gubbins, who was caught at backward point off a leading edge. The skipper’s 38 had taken him to 707 as the leading runscorer in this season’s competition.Fletcha Middleton departed between showers, mistiming Taylor to be caught at extra cover. The second break for rain came at 141 for two from just under 31 overs, after which Hampshire pushed the accelerator.Orr walloped Brookes over deep midwicket before completing the fifth List A century of his career in a costly over for Waite that included a six and three fours, reaching the milestone off 118 balls with 14 fours in addition to his two maximums.But Worcestershire removed Toby Albert via a top-edge to deep square and Ben Mayes, bowled by Brookes before Waite ended Orr’s impressive innings via a brilliant one-handed caught-and-bowled.Worcestershire’s bowlers maintained their grip, conceding only one boundary in the last five overs, delivering 15 dot balls and picking up two more wickets as Fuller and Andrew Neal both picked out Brookes on the fence at wide long-on.Their chase did not begin until 5.15pm after a long stoppage between innings but it got off to a flyer despite – 28 without loss from four overs after 19-year-old Daniel Lategan had lofted Wheal high over wide long-on for the first six of the innings.But two setbacks checked their progress as Roderick sliced Fuller to third man and Currie’s first ball had Lategan caught behind.Kashif Ali and Jake Libby added 62 for the third wicket but their rate of progress was well behind what was needed as Gubbins rotated his quintet of bowlers, none of whom gave away easy runs and when Kashif was caught on the reverse at backward point, the Rapids still needed 94 at 93 for three in the 17th.Libby was caught behind swinging at Currie, at which point Hampshire were clear favourites with Worcestershire still 81 short and less than seven overs remaining.But Brookes kept them in contention and though Currie ended his charge via a steepling catch to ‘keeper Ben Brown and dismissed Rob Jones and Taylor in his last over, Cullen had the final word.

It was a series that nearly went the full distance, and India and England almost matched each other blow for blow (except when they didn’t)

Shubh Agarwal05-Aug-20253:49

Bangar: Series result proves India is growing in stature

Series-defining scoring patternsIt was another series that confirmed the shift in nature of Test pitches in England: from being bowling friendly to helping batters score big. A total of 6736 runs were scored by the batters, the second highest in any series, only 20 runs short of the 1993 Ashes.There were a total of 19 century partnerships too, the joint-most for a series. The 21 hundreds hit were the joint-most alongside Australia’s tour of West Indies in 1955. Had Harry Brook not got out on 99 in Leeds, it would have been a record.The 12 hundreds scored by India were the most for them in a series while England struck nine tons. Interestingly, they had different templates for their success.England looked most in charge until losing their first wicket. Their opening wicket averaged 65.44 versus India’s 34.10. India lost their first wicket within the first 10 overs eight out of the 10 times they batted. England lost it only five times in their nine innings.Moreover, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley scored 4.34 runs per over while India scored a run slower in this phase going at 3.36. Even though India’s opening pair of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal scored four hundreds between them, Duckett and Crawley were more assertive as an opening duo.Jadeja scored 516 runs in the series batting at Nos. 6 or 7. He had the most 50-plus scores (six) and became only the sixth batter to score over 500 runs in a series batting at Nos. 6 or 7. He was out in the second innings only once in these five Tests.Toil for the bowlersA record series for the batters means a hard toil for the bowlers. The series had 1860.4 overs, the highest for a series in England in the 21st century. There were 14 350-plus team totals and 14 times an innings lasted over 80 overs – both a record for any Test series.England were in the park for 1052 overs, the most they have bowled in a series since 2000. It was only the second time they bowled over 1000 overs in a series with their Ashes tour of 2017/18 being the other occasion. Their captain Ben Stokes embraced this challenge, sending down 140 overs, the most he has bowled in a series despite missing the fifth Test due to an injury.Mohammed Siraj had a big hand to play here. Playing all five Tests, Siraj bowled 1113 deliveries in the series, becoming only the second bowler in the series alongside Chris Woakes to bowl over 1000 balls. With 23 wickets, he was the highest wicket-taker too, coming at 48.3 balls per dismissal. This is the best bowling strike-rate for an India pacer in an away series (min. 1000 balls bowled).Butter fingers at big momentsThe series also topped the charts for most dropped catches. A total of 41 catching opportunities went down, the most in a series since ball-by-ball data is available for fielding (since 2018). Both sides have also developed a reputation of spilling catches. Three of the top four series for most dropped chances are between India and England, the other two being when India toured England in 2021/22 (37) and in 2018 (32).On this tour, India spilled 23 chances, the most for them in a series – seven more than the time they toured Australia in 2018/19.When it came to reviewing lbw decisions while bowling, both teams could overturn the on-field call only twice each across these five Test matches.

Who will replace Brendan Rodgers as Celtic manager?

Well, most supporters would like to see Ange Postecoglou return, having won five trophies during his two seasons in Glasgow, very much still, almost inarguably, the most popular Celtic boss of modern times.

However, according to widespread reports, the Aussie is highly unlikely to return to the club at this time, seeking time away from football following his ill-fated 39 days in charge of Nottingham Forest, failing to win any of his eight matches in the East Midlands.

Other names, including Kieran McKenna, Craig Bellamy, Kjetil Knutsen and Nicky Hayen, appear to be high up on the board’s wish list, but getting them out of their current positions will not be easy, so should Celtic target a “box office” title-winning coach currently out of work, who could repeat Postecoglou’s success?

What made Ange Postecoglou a success at Celtic

Given that Celtic had been a total mess the season before, when Postecoglou was appointed manager in the summer of 2021, most, including all Rangers supporters, were laughing.

Well, they weren’t laughing for long because, after losing his first three Premiership away games, the Australian then oversaw a 38-match unbeaten streak in the league, winning 32 of these matches, departing having picked up two league titles, two League Cups and a Scottish Cup.

His charisma and personality completely won over a then-divided fan base, very much playing the role of a cult leader, while his now infamous Ange-ball high intensity, high-possession, relentless style of play was like nothing seen in Scottish football before or since.

Also, Postecoglou’s knowledge of lesser-known markers, specifically the Japanese league, helped him sign Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Kyōgo Furuhashi, while, in a cosmopolitan squad, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota, Matt O’Riley, Aaron Mooy, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Alistair Johnston and others from all across the globe thrived.

All of this culminated in creating, arguably, the most thrilling and unstoppable Celtic side anyone has enjoyed watching for a very long time, ending the 2022/23 season with 99 points, having scored 114 goals, the most the club have managed in a single league campaign since 1916.

However, it was Postecoglou’s cult of personality that instantaneously enamoured him with supporters from day one, which was crucial considering his lack of prior name recognition, so should Celtic now seek to appoint a coach who possesses similar characteristics?

Celtic's next Ange Postecoglou

According to a report by Sky Sports, seven names are under consideration for the vacant Celtic job, including the aforementioned Bellamy, Knutsen, McKenna and Hayen.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

They also state that Damien Duff is ‘being assessed’, noting that he has ‘strong ties with principal shareholder Dermot Desmond’.

The Irishman began his coaching career as youth manager at Shamrock Rovers before joining Celtic, briefly working with the B team before serving as Neil Lennon’s assistant when he replaced Rodgers in February 2019.

After Lennon was sacked, he had a short stint on the Republic of Ireland’s coaching staff, before joining Shelbourne, where he truly made a name for himself.

In just over three seasons in charge of Shels, overseeing 151 games, Duff enjoyed unparalleled success, as the table below documents.

Matches

151

Wins

60

Draws

50

Loses

41

Goals for

189

Goals against

157

LOI points-per-game

1.49

2022 LOI finish

7th

2023 LOI finish

4th

2024 LOI finish

Champions

FAI Cup best

Runners-up

When Duff was appointed Shelbourne manager, they were a newly-promoted club, leading them to a first ​​​​​​​FAI Cup Final for 11 years at the end of his first season, ultimately beaten 4-0 by Derry City at the Aviva.

Nevertheless, this would prove to be the start of something special because, last year, the Reds were crowned League of Ireland champions for the first time in 18 years, pipping serial champions Shamrock Rovers on the final day by two points.

As a player, Duff won two Premier League titles with Chelsea and was part of the Fulham side that reached the Europa League Final, as well as accumulating 100 international caps, only six Irishmen have more.

Nevertheless, considering the Reds were 25/1 rank-outsiders before the season began, Duff described this as both the greatest achievement and the “pinnacle” of his career, adding that it was like something out of a Hollywood script.

Despite being a beloved figure among the Tolka Park faithful, Duff resigned as manager in June, following a sequence of five wins from 20 league matches, stepping away just days before the start of their Champions League qualifying campaign.

Still very popular in Drumcondra, Shelbourne technical director Luke Byrn described Duff as “box office”, while Miguel Delaney of the Independent asserted that his personality is ‘intensely captivating’ and ‘compelling’ to listen to, comparing him to José Mourinho, who was of course his manager at Stamford Bridge.

Meantime, Samuel Hutchinson of Total Football Analysis documents how Duff favours a style revolving around high possession and high intensity, very similar to that of Postecoglou.

Thus, Duff has both the personality and playing style to replicate Postecoglou’s success in Glasgow.

Of course, his lack of elite-level coaching experience is a concern, but he has worked at Celtic before and, possibly most crucially of all, is available.

Postecoglou himself was not first-choice, the Celtic board spending months attempting to woo Eddie Howe before that fell through, so Duff could ultimately prove to be the right man at the right time.

O'Neill 2.0: Celtic chasing "one of the best coaches" as Ange alternative

Rather than Ange Postecoglou, should Celtic appoint “one of the best coaches” in the EFL who would repeat Martin O’Neill’s success from 2 decades ago?

Oct 31, 2025

Virat Kohli has the most centuries in ODI history, and yet, each time one sees him bat in the only format he is still active in internationally, thoughts turn to the 2027 World Cup. Kohli is 37 now. Will he still be playing two years on? For Sitanshu Kotak, India’s batting coach, “there’s no point talking about all this” and fans should stay in the moment.”I don’t know why we need to look at all this – he’s really batting well, and I don’t see any reason we need to talk about his future,” Kotak said after Kohli’s 135 from 120 balls took India to victory in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday.”Just the way he’s batting, it’s just brilliant. The way he’s performing, [and] his fitness – there are no questions about anything,” Kotak said. “I feel such things [the 2027 World Cup] shouldn’t even be spoken about after the way he plays and performs. That is something which is two years away. There’s no point talking about all this. For us, once the team arrives and we start practice, we just enjoy.”Related

• Harshit takes the first step in fast bowlers' race for 2027 World Cup

• Kohli, Harshit, Kuldeep star to give India 1-0 lead

• Stats – Kohli and Rohit smash records in Ranchi run-fest

• Kohli dictates South Africa's reality from within his bubble

Vastly experienced players like Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who is a year older at 38, add value to the dressing room even otherwise, Kotak pointed out. And it’s not like they aren’t performing. Rohit’s last three innings in ODIs have been worth 73, 121* and 57.”Obviously, they do share their experience with others,” Kotak said. “I don’t think we’re talking anything about the 2027 World Cup. They are just brilliant, and they are performing. They are contributing to the team, which is a great thing for us.”Like Kohli, Rohit is also active only in ODIs internationally. That leaves both of them with very limited game time. But, despite that, for the second successive match, Kohli and Rohit showed good form while stitching together a match-winning century stand.After adding an unbeaten 168 against Australia in Sydney last month, they had a stand of 136 in the first ODI against South Africa. While Kohli followed 74* in Sydney with 135 in Ranchi, Rohit scored 57 at better than a-run-a-ball against South Africa after hitting 121* in a win over Australia.”They are such experienced players; it’s always great to have them,” Kotak said. “The way they bat – like today also, that partnership – it makes a huge difference. Obviously, they batted really well.”

Martin O’Neill’s time in charge of Celtic couldn’t have gone much better really.

The legendary manager saw his beat their Old Firm rivals, reach a cup final and draw level with Hearts at the top of the SPFL table.

It took the Hoops a while to find their new manager but they finally have their man in the form of Wilfried Nancy who arrives following a stint in MLS.

That said, for those at Parkhead, chiefly Liam Scales, he’s not had much time to think about what could be in store under the new boss.

Scales preparing for new era at Celtic

Republic of Ireland international Scales was asked after the 1-0 victory over Dundee on Wednesday evening whether he had been doing his research on the 48-year-old Nancy.

“No, I haven’t had time,” the defender said. “It’s been so busy. Obviously we know bits and pieces but we can’t get ahead of ourselves. We need to focus on the games that we have and now is the time where we’re going to have to really focus on the tactical changes and whatever he wants us to do.

“It’s hard to do homework on someone you’ve never met because you don’t want to create a false idea of them. It’s better just to wait and really learn from them in person.”

Nancy arrives ahead of a crucial run of games. Celtic will go top of the Premiership if they beat Hearts on Sunday before facing St Mirren in the League Cup final a week later.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than the week he has come in. It’s probably ideal. You want to come in and be part of massive games and he has a chance to win a trophy early on.

“If you come in and do well over the next three games, it’s the best way you can start a job. We’ll be doing our best to make that happen for him because we want to be successful as a team.”

Scales could be set for new role under Nancy

Scales was in excellent form under O’Neill, notably hailed as Celtic’s “player of the year” by some. Evidently, he thoroughly enjoyed his time with the interim manager in the dugout.

The defender said of O’Neill: “He’s been really good. It’s been a positive four weeks or five weeks. We’ve won a lot of games. We’ve obviously won a cup semi-final and won an away game in Europe as well. They were big wins. It’s just been really enjoyable and positive.

“In the game now, the defenders are on the ball a lot and you need to link play. But to go back to basics and just be told that you need to win your headers, you need to win your duels, I’ll keep that with me.”

Whether the centre-back continues his form remains to be seen. After all, Scales could be set for a modified role given Nancy’s preference for a back three. “I’ve played in back threes, I’ve played in back fives, I’ve played in back fours. I just want to be in the team. That’s all I care about.”

Better than Maeda: Celtic star is going to be undroppable under Nancy

This Celtic star who was even better than Daizen Maeda against Dundee should be Wilfried Nancy’s first undroppable star.

1 ByDan Emery Dec 4, 2025

Rangpur’s Naeem Islam became the second Bangladesh batter to cross 11,000 first-class runs

Mohammad Isam28-Oct-2025Defending champions Sylhet Division drew their NCL opening round match against debutant side Mymensingh Division. Although it was a drawn game, there were plenty of personal milestones, including Rakibul Hasan taking a nine-wicket haul in the first innings.At the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Mymensingh got off to a rousing start batting first. Maiden centuries from Ariful Islam and No. 8 Abu Hider, who remained unbeaten on 107, powered them to 401. Ariful’s 101 rescued Mymensingh from a bad start, after they slipped to 21 for 3 in the first half hour. Ariful added 127 runs with the veteran Abdul Mazid, who made 65.Later, Hider added 76 runs for the eighth wicket with Shohidul Islam, and another 51 runs with Rakibul, before reaching his century. Hider struck ten fours and six sixes in his 105-ball stay.Sylhet replied in style, with opener Shykat Ali slamming a career-best 175. He struck 19 fours and eight sixes, although he found little support from the Sylhet top and middle-order. This was also the game in which Mushfiqur Rahim returned to the Sylhet side after 17 years.Shykat eventually found help from No 10 Ebadot Hossain, who made his maiden first-class half-century. The pair added 148 runs, a ninth-wicket partnership record for Sylhet.While Sylhet was piling up the runs, left-arm spinner Rakibul became only the fourth bowler in Bangladesh’s first-class history to take nine wickets in an innings. He had figures of 9 for 168 from his 55.3 overs.Mymensingh replied with 272 for 9 with half-centuries from Mohammad Naim and Ariful, while the veteran Nabil Samad took four wickets for Sylhet.Khulna Division beat Barishal Division by seven wickets at the Khulna Stadium in a match marred by the death of Hasan Ahmed, the Barishal physio. Hasan suffered a heart attack at the stadium and died on the way to the hospital.Rangpur’s Naeem Islam became the second Bangladesh batter to cross 11,000 first-class runs•Associated PressKhulna made 313 all out with fifties from captain Ziaur Rahman, who captained the side in place of the injured Mohammad Mithun, and Sheikh Parvez Jibon.Barishal were bowled out for 126 with Afif Hossain taking a six-wicket haul, that included a hat-trick when he removed the last three Barishal wickets. Barishal were not much better following on, this time bowled out for 224.Khulna struck the required 38 runs on the third day, losing just three wickets.Dhaka Division opened their NCL campaign with a drawn game against Rangpur Division. Batting first, Dhaka banked on Marshall Ayub’s 27th first-class ton to reach 221. Marshall struck 13 fours in his 161-ball stay as the rest crumbled around him.Rangpur replied well, scoring 358. Veteran batter Naeem Islam struck an unbeaten 137, his 34th first-class century. Naeem became the second Bangladeshi batter to cross the 11,000-run mark during this innings. Tushar Imran was the first to cross the milestone.Dhaka replied with 333 all out, with Jishan Alam scoring 97. Ashiqur Rahman Shibli also made a half-century. Rangpur ended the game on 115 for 6 on the final day, chasing 197.Yasir Ali and Mahmudul Hasan scored centuries for Chattogram•BCBChattogram Division got off to a solid start when they beat home side Rajshahi Division by 112 runs.Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Yasir Ali struck centuries to help Chattogram reach 401 runs in the first innings. Rajshahi were bowled out for 196 in reply, with left-arm spinner Hasan Murad taking 6 for 39.Chattogram replied with 277 for 9 declared, with Yasir missing out on twin tons by eight runs.Despite three half-centuries from Pritom Kumar, SM Meherob and Shakhir Hossain, Rajshahi fell way short of the fourth-innings chase, getting bowled out for 370. Murad added three wickets to take his match tally to nine wickets.

Tottenham winger Mohammed Kudus was forced to sit out their last match in the Champions League after picking up a knock, with supporters understandably hoping that he doesn’t also miss their crunch clash with Man United this weekend.

It is perhaps the worst time to face Ruben Amorim’s side right now, with the Red Devils winning three out of their last four Premier League games and starting to look fairly solid after months of topsy-turvy form.

Spurs’ face-off against United will be the first time both sides have met since the Lilywhites’ historic Europa League final triumph in May – a match which gifted Tottenham their first piece of major silverware since 2008 and granted them a pathway into Europe.

The stats heavily favour Thomas Frank, with the north Londoners standing out as United’s major bogey team of the last 24 months.

Tottenham have won five and drew two of their last seven meetings in all competitions, and if they beat them again on Saturday, it’ll be the first time any Spurs side has won three consecutive league games against United since the 1959/1960 season.

That being said, Tottenham’s home form is a real cause for concern right now. No side has lost more Premier League home games than Spurs in 2025 (9), and Frank’s team is currently ravaged by injuries.

Kudus, who’s dazzled as their key attacking star since joining from West Ham for £55 million in the summer, even drawing comparisons to Mousa Dembele, joined their extensive absentee list earlier this week after missing training prior to Tottenham’s 4-0 rout of FC Copenhagen.

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

22/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Lucas Bergvall

Concussion

23/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

23/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

23/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

Not having the winger available for their looming clash with United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would be a bitter blow for Frank, but they’ve now been handed a positive update.

Tottenham given Mohammed Kudus update after four-word Man United statement

The African was left out of Spurs’ squad to face Copenhagen but was in attendance to watch his side triumph, and he was questioned about his condition in the mixed zone after full-time.

When asked if he would be fit to face United, via Standard Sport, Kudus replied:

This comes as a very encouraging update as Kudus strongly suggests that he could be ready for selection, but Frank will provide an even more definitive update in his pre-match press conference.

The Ghanaian has been a revelation under Frank, averaging more successful takes-ons per 90 than any other player in the top flight according to WhoScored, with Kudus chalking up five goal contributions to boot.

The 25-year-old is poised to play a key role for Tottenham as they chase more major silverware and Champions League qualification this season, and having him return could be vital as Frank looks to put last weekend’s dismal home performance against Chelsea behind him.

Kudus’ creativity, dribbling, close control and one-v-one ability have been a nightmare for opposing full-backs so far this term, with the former Ajax star and Joao Palhinha standing out as the club’s best buys of the summer.

Kudus already boasts one goal and an assist in three total outings against Man United, so Amorim knows all about the threat he poses.

Lionesses star Hannah Hampton has been named BBC Women's Footballer of the Year following her exceptional exploits for England and Chelsea. After helping the Blues to win an unbeaten domestic treble, the goalkeeper inspired the Lionesses to an incredible Euro 2025 triumph and the individual accolades have now followed, with this just the latest award to come the 25-year-old's way.

Official: Hampton beats Russo, Bonmati and more to prestigious BBC award

Hampton was unveiled as the 2025 recipient of the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year trophy on Tuesday, beating out competition from fellow Lioness Alessia Russo after the striker also played her part at Euro 2025 and helped Arsenal to win the Champions League. Mariona Caldentey, another member of the Gunners' squad, was also nominated, alongside fellow Spain internationals Patri Guijarro and Aitana Bonmati, the latter of whom just claimed her third successive Ballon d'Or. However, it was Hampton who prevailed here, announced as the winner on the BBC's programme on Tuesday morning.

She is the ninth different recipient of the accolade, which was first awarded to Asisat Oshoala back in 2015, and the fourth England player to win it, after Earps, Beth Mead and Lucy Bronze, the latter of whom has won it twice. Ada Hegerberg, the Lyon striker, is the only other player to have multiple wins.

AdvertisementBBCHow Hampton starred to be named BBC Women's Footballer of the Year

After winning the first-ever Women's Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or ceremony back in September, this accolade is yet another well-deserved one for Hampton after a truly terrific year for club and country. The 25-year-old was superb for Chelsea in the 2024-25 season as the Blues won the Women's Super League, FA Cup and League Cup without losing a single game across the three domestic competitions, setting record after record along the way.

Then, she went to Euro 2025 with England and, under an intense spotlight following Mary Earps' shock retirement, produced big moment after big moment. Her penalty-saving heroics helped the Lionesses defeat Sweden in a shootout in the quarter-finals, a fantastic late stop ensured England stayed in the semi-final clash with Italy before beating the Azzurre in extra time and she was again the shootout hero in the final, breaking Spain's hearts as the Lionesses retained their European title.

Hampton's first words after recognition she didn't 'expect'

Speaking after being surprised with the award by Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor, Hampton told : "I definitely didn't expect it. With all the other players nominated, I think they've all had unbelievable years. I don't think I did until the final moment when Sonia revealed the trophy."

Asked about her stand-out moments from an outstanding past year, Hampton said: "Winning the Euros is special. Being able to put on an England badge is a special and proud moment. You never take it for granted. Even if it's just around the hotel and you're wearing the kit, it's always a lovely moment when you've got any sort of England badge on your chest. At club level, the season we had last year, the treble winning season, it's an unbelievable achievement from the club and nothing less than what they deserve."

She also reflected on the criticism that women's goalkeepers have endured in the past and how that is changing, because of shot-stoppers past and present. "Obviously goalkeeping is a position that needs a lot of resilience," she noted. "It's a lonely position, but it's also very rewarding. You could be the hero at moments and you could also be the villain at moments. I want to achieve a lot more in the game and I can't dwell on people's thoughts – that's going to hinder me, not help me. The 'keepers before me from Carly [Telford], from Karen [Bardsley], from Mary [Earps], even before that, they've changed the perception of women's goalkeeping. It’s definitely taking off and we're trying to change the perception slowly but surely and make sure it's being seen in the right light."

After breaking the news to Hampton, Bompastor added: "Hannah’s been incredible on and off the pitch since I joined Chelsea. She has been one of our leaders, performing really well. She has been the best goalkeeper in the world and it’s a pleasure to present her with the trophy."

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Getty Images SportExplained: Why Hampton may not play again in 2025

This award will be a nice boost for Hampton at a difficult time, as she is currently sidelined with a quad injury that could rule her out until the New Year. It means she is set to miss England's final camp of 2025, which will see the Lionesses take on China and Ghana in friendlies over the course of the next week, and potentially some big games for Chelsea too, especially in the Champions League.

The Blues, who sit two places off automatic qualification in the UWCL league phase, take on Roma on December 10 and Wolfsburg, who just beat Manchester United 5-2, on December 17, but could have to do so with young Switzerland international Livia Peng in between the sticks, rather than the more established Hampton.

The India captain has been in the spotlight off the field, but his returns on it are dwindling

Shashank Kishore27-Sep-20252:05

Is captaincy affecting SKY’s form?

Suryakumar Yadav’s last act on the field against Sri Lanka on Friday was a punch through the covers to seal India’s victory in the Super Over. But before that moment of assurance at the finish, he had seemed like a man just beginning to be affected by his poor form.During India’s first innings, Suryakumar had chosen to review an lbw decision against him despite knowing that it was almost certainly out. One of T20 cricket’s most feared batters had scores of only 0, 5 and 12 in his last three innings at the Asia Cup.His performance in this tournament is in keeping with a pool of scores that is hard-hitting. In ten innings this year, India’s T20I captain has managed just 99 runs with three ducks, while striking at 110. Go back further, from just after India’s T20 World Cup win in June 2024 to now, his numbers get only marginally better: 329 runs in 19 innings with two half-centuries.Related

Suryakumar found guilty of breaching code of conduct

Suryakumar: India vs Pakistan isn't a rivalry anymore

Arshdeep's masterclass helps India pull off heist

There doesn’t seem to be an apparent weakness or loophole in his game, though his propensity to premeditate – like that pick-up flick he plays nonchalantly – has caused his downfall a few times in this Asia Cup alone. Away from the glare of the game, there seems to be no issue with Suryakumar’s batting. He’s striking the ball sweetly at training, but that fluency has been missing on match days. This lean run has come at a time when the spotlight is on him for different reasons – for his gestures, expressions, comments, press conference quips, and the biggest of them all, handshake-gate. There have been disciplinary hearings off the field and drastic batting-order shuffles on it.On Friday, Suryakumar had an opportunity to find his rhythm in a dead rubber, but he flickered before fizzling out for 12 off 13 balls. An on-the-up cover drive for four off Maheesh Theekshana was as good as it got. He kept getting beaten while playing down the wrong line. A nip backer from Dushmantha Chameera beat his inside edge, and he got a leading edge over point off a slower one.Suryakumar Yadav fell for another low score against Sri Lanka•AFP/Getty ImagesSuryakumar’s first attempt at a sweep also resulted in a leading edge on to the grille of his helmet as he misread the length. He was lbw in the same over, premeditating a sweep against Wanindu Hasaraga, getting caught in a tangle and hit flush on the pad by a full delivery. He walked off tossing his bat, with a rueful look up to the sky.His only significant innings in this tournament was in the group game against Pakistan, when he struck an unbeaten 47, finishing the chase with a six and walking off with his usual gum-chewing swagger. That knock barely registered because the discourse was dominated by handshake-gate.Through all this, his commitment to his team’s needs has not wavered. He’s been the loudest advocate for flexibility in batting roles, that everyone below the openers must be ready to move up or down. Against Oman, Suryakumar chose to push himself down to No. 11, giving the likes of Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav time in the middle instead.Thirteen T20I innings without a fifty is uncharted territory. Suryakumar endured barren series in South Africa and at home against England, but had a blazing IPL before this Asia Cup. He amassed 717 runs at a strike rate of 167.91 for Mumbai Indians, scoring 25-plus in 16 consecutive innings, which is why the continued downturn in international cricket is a surprise.After the Super Four game against Pakistan, Suryakumar made headlines for his proclamation that India vs Pakistan is no longer a rivalry. For all his chatter and quips, nothing will speak louder than runs in Sunday’s Asia Cup final against Pakistan.

Premier League leaders Arsenal are ready to rival Real Madrid in the transfer race for Kenan Yildiz in the January window amid his contract hold-up at Juventus. The Bianconeri's contract talks with their star attacker have hit a standstill as Yildiz is demanding a significant pay rise in his new deal, which is far beyond the Italian club’s current offer.

Yildiz's dip in form as contract talks stall

After an exciting 2024-25 campaign in Turin, where he scored 12 goals across all competitions, Yildiz was being tipped to become a major figure in the club's attack in the years to come. He started the new season by providing three assists and scoring a goal in his first three Serie A matches, but then experienced a sudden dip in form. In the 2025-26 campaign, Yildiz has produced five goals and as many assists in 18 matches across all competitions as the Bianconeri struggle in the seventh position in the Serie A table. Yildiz's drop in form comes at a time when he is negotiating a new contract with the Serie A giants, although the talks have come to a standstill. 

The Turkey international signed a long-term deal in August 2024, which runs until 2029, following a breakthrough but the need to renew it again was felt by the club after other European giants showed interest in the player. Yildiz’s current contract earns him around €1.5 million a year, a figure dwarfed by Dusan Vlahovic’s €12 million and far below the salaries of Europe’s elite young talents. 

According to , Yildiz's camp is now demanding a raise into the €5-6 million range, which reflects his growing profile and market value. Juventus, however, deem the request too steep. Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus' director of football strategy, recently summed up the mood at the club as he said: "Yildiz renewal? Calm down. Calm down. Everyone has the will: with balance and calm, everything can be done." 

AdvertisementGetty ImagesArsenal show concrete interest in Yildiz

Amid the contract stand-off, Premier League giants Arsenal have a concrete interest in the 20-year-old and are ready to contact Juventus over a possible transfer in the transfer window, which opens next month. 

Speaking to , Italian journalist Gianni Balzarini said: "There’s been real contact with Arsenal, that is, Arsenal have asked for information, it’s part of the game, there’s no negotiation, let’s be clear, but they have asked for information about this player who, in my opinion, could also do very well in the Premier League. Given his physical and technical characteristics, and so it’s clear that after all this atmosphere here, a sort of halo is forming around the boy, the player who, for his part, I also understand, may claim the need to play in a better team."  

Arsenal to face competition from Chelsea and Real Madrid

Other than the Gunners, their Premier League rivals Chelsea, are among the top contenders to target the youngster. The Blues reportedly made a €67 million (£59m/$77.5m) bid for Yildiz last July, which was turned down, but they remain interested and are expected to return next summer. Real Madrid are also monitoring the situation closely. Reports in Spain suggest Yildiz’s price tag could exceed €100m (£88m/$116m) if a bidding war breaks out between the three clubs next summer.

In October, Los Blancos coach Xabi Alonso had publicly expressed his admiration for Yildiz, as the Spaniard said: "[Juventus] have very good players, and Yildiz is one of them. He's had a fantastic development. I know him. He was at Bayern Munich when I was there. Seeing his progress makes me very happy." 

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Getty ImagesYildiz told to move to the Premier League

Yildiz’s former Juventus colleague Nicolo Savona, who is now at Nottingham Forest, recently advised the attacker to consider joining him in England as he weighed up his next move. "I would recommend the Premier League to all the kids who love football; it would be difficult to say otherwise. So also to Kenan and any of his teammates," Savona told Gazzetta.

Juventus will be back in action in the Serie A on Sunday as they take on reigning champions Napoli in an exciting encounter away from home.