All posts by h716a5.icu

Liverpool are basking in the glory of becoming Premier League champions and have now lined up a World Cup winner who could help their cause heading into next season.

Liverpool ready to strike in the summer window

Arne Slot and his group have reveled in the opportunity to celebrate their top-flight title triumph and finally got their hands on the trophy on Sunday afternoon after playing out a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Anfield.

Despite the joyous scenes among supporters in the stadium on Sunday and at their parade on Monday, attention at the club will already have turned to what will happen next at Anfield as Liverpool look to become England’s dominant force for years to come.

The Dutchman shares that sentiment and is in for the long haul on Merseyside, as he said last week: “I could see myself working here for a long time because it’s a great club to work for and I’m really happy over here.”

Backing from FSG will likely play a huge part in his positive morale, which will be helped enormously by news that Bayer Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong are likely to sign for Liverpool this summer.

Developments of late indicate the finer details are what remain to be signed off on regarding both deals, and they won’t be the only arrivals at Anfield over the next few months to freshen up a squad that could be altered significantly.

Forget Gravenberch: Slot's 6/10 Liverpool star showed why he must be axed

Liverpool drew against Crystal Palace before lifting the Premier League trophy at Anfield.

ByAngus Sinclair May 25, 2025

Carrying a ruthless streak is paramount to guarantee a consistent flow of success. Tough decisions need to be taken, though you get the impression that Slot isn’t one for letting sentiment get the better of him, with Milos Kerkez expected to come in to replace Andy Robertson at left-back.

Stocking up in defence, the former Feyenoord boss is now keen on bringing another steely operator to Anfield in light of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure.

Liverpool in the mix to sign Atletico Madrid's Nahuel Molina

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are willing to sign Atletico Madrid right-back Nahuel Molina, who could be available for between £25.1 million to £29.3 million this summer if Diego Simeone decides to cash in on the Argentina international.

Newcastle United, Inter Milan, Roma and Juventus are also in the race for the 27-year-old, who also thrived in Serie A at Udinese.

Nahuel Molina’s season for Atletico Madrid in numbers – La Liga

Total minutes played

1581

Big chances created

3

Duels won per match

2.6

Balls recovered per match

2.2

Praised by Lionel Messi for his role in Argentina’s win over the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup, Molina has registered a goal and three assists in 44 appearances across all competitions this season.

With Conor Bradley already on the books at Anfield and Frimpong set to join him, it would be a surprise if Liverpool were to bring in a third right-back once the window opens.

However, depth is needed to juggle multiple competitions, so it may be a case of covering all bases for Slot in his pursuit of further silverware, and perhaps Frimpong’s ability to play further up makes room for another natural full-back.

This season has felt like one long nightmare for Tottenham Hotspur.

On top of losing a staggering 20 games in the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou will now be without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski for the club’s Europa League final next week.

Moreover, on top of losing player after player through injury during the campaign this year, they now look like they’re going to lose one of their most important in the transfer window: Cristian Romero.

However, it is not all doom and gloom, as recent reports have linked them with a Premier League star who could be the ideal replacement.

Tottenham transfer news

Unfortunately, in the last few months, a number of reports have emerged touting Romero for a move to La Liga this summer, with Atlético Madrid being his supposed destination last month.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It was even said that the Argentine defender had personally spoken to Diego Simeone about the purported move.

However, in the last few days, the World Cup winner’s supposed destination has changed to Real Madrid, with reports claiming that Xabi Alonso is a big fan of the player, who could be sold for around £60m.

While this situation is far from ideal, the good news is that the North Londoners have been linked with someone who could be an ideal replacement: Marc Guéhi.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Spurs have maintained their strong interest in the full England international following their failed £70m bid for him in early February.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that Chelsea and Newcastle United are keen to sign the Crystal Palace star, who could be available for a pretty reasonable fee of around €55m, which is about £46m.

It might be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Guéhi’s ability and the potential departure of Romero, Spurs should do all they can to get it done.

Why Guéhi would be a great replacemnet

So, if Spurs cannot keep hold of Romero this summer and are forced to shop for a replacement, why would Guéhi be such a great option?

Well, first of all, not only is he vastly experienced for someone who is still just 24 years old, but he’s also thoroughly Premier League-proven at this point and someone clearly quite sought-after.

For example, across his career to date, the “exceptional” centre-back, as dubbed by The Athletic’s Stuart James, has made 132 top-flight appearances, 52 in the Championship, 15 in the FA Cup and a handful more in several other competitions.

Appearances

154

59

2

Goals

8

0

0

Assists

4

0

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.07

0.00

0.00

On top of that, the 6 foot “tank,” as dubbed by former England U21 teammate Joe Bursik, is now a full member of the national team, making 23 appearances since his debut in March 2022, and most crucially, was an ever-present in the country’s backline when they made it all the way to the final of the European Championships last year.

Furthermore, while the Lilywhites’ Argentine warrior has missed a staggering 75 games for club and country across his career, the former Chelsea prospect has missed just 16, and you know what they say: availability is the best ability.

Finally, if that’s still not enough to convince you, then perhaps his rather impressive underlying numbers will.

According to FBref, the Palace ace sits in the top 3% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for through ball, the top 4% for passes blocked, the top 5% for goal-creating actions through a defensive action, the top 9% for goals plus assists, key passes and shot-creating actions, the top 11% for expected assists and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, replacing a player as talented Romero is always going to be difficult, but Guéhi looks like he could get pretty close, and therefore, Spurs must do what they can to sign him this summer.

Ange can solve Kulusevski blow by unleashing £45m Spurs star in new role

The gifted ace could provide some more attacking spark to Spurs.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 15, 2025

Chelsea have now held internal talks over a move for a “world-class” star after a surprise recent development, according to a report.

Blues' Champions League pursuit back on track

The Blues’ form has been shaky since the turn of the year, but they are now back on track in their pursuit of qualification for next season’s Champions League after defeating Liverpool 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Cole Palmer was back among the goals, netting a stoppage-time penalty to seal his side’s victory, which solidifies them in fifth place with just three games left to play.

As such, the west Londoners should be in a strong position to attract some top players this summer, and they are once again looking at bolstering their forward options, with signing a new winger on the agenda.

Chelsea hold talks with Ajax chief as BlueCo step up move to sign £42m star

It could be another busy summer for the Blues.

ByTom Cunningham May 3, 2025

Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman and Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens are among the main targets in wide areas, and there is also a feeling that Enzo Maresca could look at strengthening through the middle, despite having Palmer at his disposal.

That is according to a report from The Boot Room, which states Chelsea are now holding internal talks over a move for Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, who is set to exit the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer this summer.

De Bruyne is very much the one that got away for the Blues, but he could now be in line for a return to Stamford Bridge. There is some surprise in Manchester that the Belgian is now open to remaining in the Premier League or Europe, as City had expected him to depart for Saudi Arabia or the USA.

The likes of Arsenal and Aston Villa could provide competition for his signature, while there also remains a possibility he makes the move to the MLS, with Chicago Fire now said to be in advanced talks.

Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Newcastle United (a)

May 11th

Manchester United (h)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (a)

May 25th

"World-class" De Bruyne still impressing at City

In many ways, it is a surprise that Man City are willing to let the 33-year-old leave on a free transfer this summer, given that he is still impressing, despite his age, most recently bagging a crucial goal in his side’s 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

During his time with Chelsea, the £400k-per-week maestro never really managed to stand out, but he has been a revelation at the Etihad Stadium, amassing a stunning 72 goals and 121 assists in 285 Premier League appearances for the Blues.

Former footballer Paul McVeigh has also lavished the Belgium international with praise recently, describing him as “world-class” and “one of the greatest midfielders ever to play the game.”

As such, while there will be some concern about De Bruyne’s age, there are plenty of signs he could still have a lot left to give at Premier League level, and City’s loss could be Chelsea’s gain.

Birmingham City are now “pushing hard” for the signing of a League One forward this summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett.

Blues summer transfer plans taking shape

While the Blues were always expected to secure promotion this season, having spent big on the likes of Jay Stansfield and Christoph Klarer last summer, they managed to do so in spectacular fashion, amassing a whopping 111 points to win the title.

Promotion to the second tier was the first task for Tom Brady and co, but the long-term goal is to seal promotion to the Premier League, as underlined by the fact the American owners are set to target similar players to Ipswich Town, Southampton and Leicester City this summer.

Although the season only recently came to a close, work has already started on signing new players, with a move for AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers being plotted, while Torino striker Che Adams is also of interest.

Birmingham are also looking to strengthen their wide options this summer, according to Dorsett, with the reporter recently taking to X to reveal they are now “pushing hard” to sign Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku.

Poku’s contract is set to expire this summer, but given that he is just 23-years-old, compensation will be required, should the two clubs be unable to agree a fee, and arbitration is a situation everyone involved is looking to avoid.

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has also endorsed the winger making the move to St. Andrews, saying: “If he went there it’s probably the best move of his life and he could go to the Premier League in a year.”

He'd be amazing with Adams: Birmingham make move for "unplayable" EFL star

Birmingham City would scare Championship defences stiff if they picked up this top EFL talent alongside Che Adams.

ByKelan Sarson May 8, 2025 Poku could be "outstanding" signing for Birmingham

With Birmingham looking to kick on in the Championship next season, it could be a solid strategy to recruit some of the third tier’s top players, and the Peterborough star could well be in that category, given his impressive attacking record this season.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

League One

27

12

8

EFL Trophy

2

0

1

FA Cup

2

0

2

Having amassed a combined 23 goals and assists in all competitions, there are clear signs the Ghana international could be capable of making the step-up to Championship next season, and potentially the top flight if he continues his current trajectory.

Not only that, but the Peterborough star was named as the Posh’s player of the year, which led to high praise from members of the Ghanaian media.

Poku could be a fantastic signing for Birmingham this summer, with Davies looking to build a squad capable of winning another promotion.

It’s unfortunate but undeniable: the wheels are coming off for Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Australian’s time in North London started so positively as a ten-game unbeaten streak actually had them at the top of the Premier League for a time.

However, this season has been a total disaster, and while there is still a chance they win the Europa League, it feels like his time is up in N17.

With that said, even though so much has gone wrong, Postecoglou has overseen some brilliant signings, including one now worth millions more than Micky van de Ven.

Postecoglou's best Spurs signings

So, before getting to the player in question, it’s worth reviewing some of the best additions made under Ange’s tenure, starting with perhaps one of the best bargains in recent years: Lucas Bergvall.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

The midfield maestro only cost the club around £8.5m last winter, and since officially joining up with the squad at the start of this summer, he’s seen his valuation explode with Football Transfers now valuing him at €31.3m, which comes out to about £27m.

It’s not hard to understand why this has happened as, despite being just 19 years old, the “generational” talent, as dubbed by journalist Mitch Fretton, has made 44 appearances across all competitions this season, scoring one goal, providing four assists and making some of the team’s senior midfielder look bad.

Drop back into defence, and we come across another of the manager’s best signings, Van de Ven.

The Flying Dutchman joined the North Londoners for around £43m in the summer of 2023, and while he has undoubtedly had more than his fair share of injury problems since then, he’s been incredible when he’s played.

While the 24-year-old is a “complete & dominant” centre-back, as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, it’s no secret that one of his greatest strengths is his sensational speed, which is what allows the team to play such a high line at times.

For example, in a game against Brentford last season, the Wormer-born titan set a new Premier League record for fastest sprint, coming in at an incredible 37.38km/h.

Since joining the club, Van de Ven has seen his valuation increase to €62m per Football Transfers, which is about £53m, and yet even with that increase, there is another Postecoglou signing who is worth millions more.

The Ange signing worth millions more than Van de Ven

So, while some of you may be thinking of players like Dominic Solanke or maybe even Brennan Johnson for the goals he’s scored this season, you’d be wrong.

Instead, the man in question is none other than teenage sensation Archie Gray, who only joined the club for around £30m from Leeds United last summer.

However, in the almost ten months since that deal was agreed, the youngster’s valuation has exploded, with Football Transfers now pricing him at an astounding €72.5m, which comes out to around £62m, or £32m more than his transfer fee and £9m more than Van de Ven’s current valuation.

Now, that might sound rather absurd to some of you out there, but we reckon it’s not far off the mark, as while he’s seen his game time reduced somewhat in recent weeks, the Englishman has undoubtedly been one of the Lilywhites’ most impressive performers this term.

For example, due to the injury crisis earlier this season, the “ridiculous” talent, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, had to step into the defence, and despite being a central midfielder by trade, he did a commendable job.

Centre-Back

19

Right-Back

8

Left-Back

5

Defensive Midfield

3

Other

5

Across all competitions, the Durham-born gem has made 19 appearances at centre-back, eight at right-back, five at left-back and just three in defensive midfield, lending credence to Kulig’s description of him as a “Swiss army knife.”

Ultimately, this season has been a trial by fire for the Lilywhites’ exciting crop of youngsters, and like the rest of them, Gray has come through it with flying colours and is looking better than ever.

Their answer to Yamal: Spurs are brewing "one of England’s best talents"

The incredible youngster looks destined for greatness with Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 24, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur were beaten for the 17th time in the Premier League this season when they lost 4-2 to relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

Despite Wolves having battled against the drop throughout the 2024/25 campaign, Vitor Pereira’s side are now just two points behind Spurs, who are sat in 15th place in the division.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

There is no escape from the fact that it has been a failure of a season for Ange Postecoglou in the Premier League, as his team are 17 points adrift of the top seven and European qualification, whilst they are only 16 points ahead of Ipswich Town in the last relegation spot.

Spurs are still in the Europa League, and face Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday, but there will be no domestic success for Tottenham before the end of the campaign.

Tottenham do have a clutch of very young players who are learning on the job, and Postecoglou may point to that as one of the factors behind their underperformance, but there is no guarantee that they will fulfill their potential.

There have been talented young prospects in North London in the past who have not gone on to live up to the hype, including electric winger Jack Clarke.

Why Jack Clarke failed at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2019, Tottenham swooped to sign the 18-year-old forward from Championship side Leeds United for a reported fee of £10m.

He had just made 25 appearances in the first-team for Marcelo Bielsa as the Whites reached the play-off semi-finals, only to lose to Derby County, and Spurs clearly saw him as a high-potential talent who could be a future star for the club, hence why they were willing to spend £10m on his services.

Clarke, as you can see in the graphic above, went on to make a further three appearances for Leeds on loan in the 2019/20 campaign, before playing six times in the Championship for QPR in the second half of that season.

At the start of the 2020/21 season, the English whiz was given a few opportunities to showcase his quality in the first-team for Spurs, with two appearances in the Europa League and one in the FA Cup, but did not muster up any goals or assists.

Appearances

2

Shots

1

Shots on target

0

Goals

0

Key passes

2

Assists

0

Big chances created

0

Dribbles completed

0

Duel success rate

25%

The £10m signing showed promise at youth level with a return of four goals and four assists in 18 academy matches in the first half of the 2021/22 campaign, before being sent out on loan to League One side Sunderland in January 2022.

After one goal in 20 League One outings – including the play-offs – Tottenham decided to cash in on Clarke, who had yet to prove himself on a consistent basis at senior level three years on from his £10m move, by selling him to the Black Cats.

Ultimately, Clarke, who now plays for Ipswich in the Premier League, failed to realise his potential at White Hart Lane, and Archie Gray is in danger of following in his footsteps after a dismal showing last time out.

Archie Gray's performance against Wolves

The 19-year-old defender started at right-back, the position he made his breakthrough in at Leeds last season, against Wolves on Sunday and put in a dismal showing.

Gray was far from the only poor performer on the pitch, as Vicario flapped the ball back out for two of the goals, Djed Spence scored an own goal, Cristian Romero lost the ball for the third goal, and Ben Davies completely mistimed his challenge on Matheus Cunha for the fourth.

However, it was still a disappointing 90 minutes of football from the England U21 international, whose play in and out of possession left far too much to be desired.

Minutes

90

90

Pass accuracy

85%

87%

Key passes

0

0

Successful crosses

0/4

1/4

Possession lost

19x

17x

Interceptions

2

1

Tackles

0

3

Duels won

0/3

8/11

As you can see in the table above, Spence delivered an even better performance than him – despite playing as a right-footer at left-back – even with an unfortunate own goal to go with it.

Gray offered no threat at the top end of the pitch, with no key passes or successful crosses, and was a lightweight off the ball, losing 100% of his duels.

Why Archie Gray is in danger of being the next Jack Clarke

The versatile youngster is now in danger of following in the footsteps of another Leeds academy graduate, as it remains to be seen if he can realise his potential at Spurs.

Tottenham reportedly splashed out a fee of £30m to sign the defender from the Whites last summer, and he has yet to prove his worth on a consistent basis in the Premier League.

Gray has made 40 appearances in all competitions for Spurs, far more than the three outings that Clarke had at the start of his Tottenham career, but there has not been too much quality in those outings.

The England youth international has started nine of his ten appearances in the Europa League, resulting in zero goals, zero assists, and a duel success rate of 47%.

Appearances

23

Goals + assists

0

Key passes per game

0.1

Tackles + interceptions per game

0.9

Error led to shot

1

Error led to goal

1

Duel success rate

47%

As you can see in the table above, Gray has also failed to deliver much in the way of quality in the Premier League, with one chance created every ten games and less than one tackle and interception combined per game on average.

The 19-year-old, who has the lowest Sofascore rating (6.58) in the squad, does not offer a threat in possession or quality off the ball as a defender, rarely making interventions and losing the majority of his duels.

You could argue that he is being played out of position at right-back, as central midfield was the role he came up through the academy in, but 30 of his 49 starts for Leeds came in that area of the pitch.

At this moment in time, Gray is on his way to following in Clarke’s footsteps by failing to live up to his potential at Spurs after joining the club for big money.

Of course, there is plenty of time for the teenage talent to improve and develop if Postecoglou is willing to trust him in the long term, but he will need to show far more than what he is doing right now to become a success and avoid being Clarke 2.0.

As bad as Vicario: 3/10 Spurs star just reduced his price tag by £50m

Spurs’ miserable run of form continued with a 4-2 defeat to Wolves on Sunday.

ByMatt Dawson Apr 13, 2025

Manchester United are now ready to sign a “machine” midfielder this summer, with Ruben Amorim eager to bolster his options in the middle of the park, but a move may only be possible on one condition, according to a report.

Man Utd searching for a midfielder

Given that Casemiro’s days as a Man United player could be numbered, Amorim may be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, and a number of potential replacements have been identified.

The likes of Adam Wharton, Hugo Larsson and Joao Gomes are on the shortlist ahead of what is Amorim’s first summer transfer window as United boss, and the manager could have a major rebuilding job on his hands.

A 0-0 draw against rivals Manchester City at the weekend is not the worst result on paper, but it leaves the Red Devils 13th in the Premier League table, having fallen way below expectations, with a Europa League triumph their last chance of having a successful season.

Man Utd make Liam Delap top transfer target as Chelsea ready summer bid

United and INEOS are looking to beat Chelsea to a rising star.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 7, 2025

Winning the Europa League would, of course, grant qualification to the Champions League next season, which could be crucial for Man United’s summer transfer business.

That is according to a report from GiveMeSport, which states Man United are now ready to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson, should they manage to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with Amorim eager to bring in a midfield partner for Manuel Ugarte.

Man Utd’s upcoming fixtures

Date

Lyon (a)

April 10th

Newcastle United (a)

April 13th

Lyon (h)

April 17th

Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)

April 20th

AFC Bournemouth (a)

April 27th

The Atalanta star has a price tag of around £52m, so he will not come cheap, and the Italian club are determined to keep hold of him, given the level of his performances this season.

A deal would be easier to facilitate if Amorim’s side secure qualification for Europe’s elite competition next season, given the financial benefits provided.

"Machine" Ederson impressing in the Serie A and Europe

Atalanta are in a very strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and the Brazilian has been one of the first names on the team sheet, making 30 Serie A appearances, during which time he has provided three goals and two assists.

While the 25-year-old is capable of being a threat on the front foot, he is also solid defensively, winning 100% of his tackles and aerial duels against Arsenal earlier this season, in what Statman Dave branded a “top display”.

It is not the first time the maestro has impressed in Europe in recent memory, with football writer Carlo Garganese branding him a “machine” after his performance against Bayer Leverkusen in Atalanta’s Europa League final triumph last season.

As such, Ederson could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, at which point it is vital Amorim brings in a midfielder, despite a recent improvement in Casemiro’s performances, with the 33-year-old midfielder making 11 tackles against Man City.

And is 87 really Australia’s unlucky number?

Steven Lynch25-Mar-2025Pakistan overhauled New Zealand’s total in just 16 overs the other day. Was this the fastest chase of a target of 200-plus in a T20 international? asked Raza Shah from Pakistan
Pakistan scooted to 207 for 1 in just 16 overs to beat New Zealand (204) in Auckland last week. That’s a rate of 12.93 per over: only two targets in excess of 200 have been chased down faster in T20Is.In Centurion in 2023 , South Africa (259 for 4) went at 13.75 an over in beating West Indies. And in Auckland in 2018, Australia scored at 13 an over in overhauling New Zealand’s total of 243.I was joking with my dad about Australia’s “devil’s number” being 87, and he said actually it’s 111 as they have often been bowled out for that in Tests! Is he right? asked Jamie Campbell from Australia
Your dad has a point: Australia have been bowled out for 111 on seven occasions in Tests, and (not surprisingly perhaps) have lost each time. That includes one of the most famous of all Tests, at Headingley in July 1981 when England won after following on, and successive matches in the 1954-55 Ashes, when England prevailed in the third Test in Melbourne and the fourth in Adelaide.The most recent occasion was in Sydney in 1994, when – chasing 118 to defeat South Africa – Australia were bowled out for 111 to lose by runs, with Fanie de Villiers taking 6 for 43.It works individually too (just): Australian batters have been dismissed for 87 on 15 occasions in men’s Tests (it happened twice to Clem Hill), while there have been 16 instances of Aussies being out for 111.What first-class record was set by Agni Chopra in 2023? asked Vivek Mohandas from India
I have to admit that I missed this at the time, but late in 2023 Agni Chopra of Mizoram became the first man to score centuries in each of his first four first-class matches. Chopra, who was born in the United States in 1998, hit 166 (and 92) on his debut against Sikkim in Nadiad, and then added 164 against Nagaland, 114 vs Arunachal Pradesh, and 105 and 101 against Meghalaya in Anand, all in the Plate section of the Ranji Trophy. Chopra has continued his good form in 2024-25: successive innings of 110 and 238 not out against Arunachal Pradesh in Ahmedabad and 218 vs Manipur in Nadiad mean he currently has a first-class batting average of 94.94, scored at an impressive strike rate of 95.Three men had previously made centuries in their first three first-class matches: Owen Rock of New South Wales in the mid-1920s, the future West Indies Test batter Joe Solomon in the 1950s, and Afghanistan’s Darwish Rasooli in 2017-18.Molly Hide, who captained England women in 11 Tests, was born in Shanghai in 1911•Bert Hardy/Getty ImagesWho’s the only Test player who was born in China? asked Marion Johnson from England
My first thought was that it was Nat Sciver-Brunt, but actually she was born in Japan, while her mother was working in an embassy there. But the answer is another woman player, of an earlier vintage: Molly Hide, was born in Shanghai in China in 1911. She played 15 times for England in all, including the inaugural women’s Test against Australia in Brisbane in December 1934. The higher of her two centuries was an undefeated 124 – after 63 in the first innings – against Australia in Sydney in February 1949, by which time Hide was England’s captain. No male Test cricketers have been born in China (or Japan).I live in Queensland, and Australia are going to play South Africa near me in Mackay in August. Will these be the first proper internationals played there? asked Klynton Marshall from Australia
I’m not sure the venues have been officially announced yet, but it seems likely that South Africa’s white-ball games in Australia in August will be shared between Darwin in the Northern Territory and Cairns – and Mackay, a little further down the Queensland coast, which will host two one-day internationals. The Great Barrier Reef Arena in the town (formerly known as Harrup Park, and Ray Mitchell Oval), has had a very brief taste of men’s international cricket before: it staged one match during the 1992 World Cup, between India and Sri Lanka, which was rained off after just two balls (Kris Srikkanth scored the only run).The Mackay ground has also hosted three women’s ODIs, against India in September 2021 (Beth Mooney hit 125 not out in the second match>) and two T20Is, against New Zealand’s women in September 2024.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Shades of Gilchrist’s indomitability, as England’s No.7 fulfils role that Buttler was once picked to produce

Matt Roller04-Jul-2025

Jamie Smith brought up a century inside a session•Getty Images

Jamie Smith is the Test wicketkeeper that England always hoped Jos Buttler would become but never did. As Smith muscled a slog-sweep away for four to reach an 80-ball century on Friday at Edgbaston, he equalled Buttler’s tally of two Test hundreds in 81 fewer innings; when Smith knocked Washington Sundar down to long-off, he went past Buttler’s highest score of 152.Smith has successfully harnessed the “f*** it” mindset that Buttler could never quite coax himself into during his 57-Test career, despite the prompt scrawled on his bat handle. Where Buttler seemed paralysed by indecision when faced with Test cricket’s blank canvas, Smith appears only to see the upside: he walked in on Friday to face a fired-up Mohammed Siraj, and crunched a hat-trick ball through mid-off for four.Buttler is England’s greatest-ever hitter of a white ball but his Test average of 31.94 – and, more pertinently, his strike rate of 54.18 – reflects an unfulfilled talent against the red one. But a week before his 25th birthday, Smith is the future of England’s batting across formats: a destructive white-ball opener and counter-attacking Test No. 7, while keeping wicket to boot.Related

The session when the cult of Bazball came alive

Smith hails belief to 'do what you feel is right in the moment'

His innings at Edgbaston was devastating, and seemed to scramble Shubman Gill’s mind in spite of India’s huge run cushion. England often talk about identifying moments to absorb pressure, or to put it back on to their opponents. Smith seized his chance to do the latter, ransacking cheap runs against India’s change bowlers.At Headingley last week, Smith’s first-innings dismissal seemed like anathema to traditional cricketing logic, pulling Prasidh Krishna to deep square-leg three balls before a new ball was due. But he insisted that it was a “calculated” play with designs on “taking all the momentum into the new ball”, and a failure of execution rather than planning.Jos Buttler had his moments as a Test batter but never looked at home in the format•PA Images via Getty ImagesHe responded by doubling down on his attacking instincts, crunching Ravindra Jadeja for 18 runs in an over to get them across the line in their fifth-day run case, including the winning hit over mid-on for six. At Edgbaston, he assessed a hopeless situation – England 503 behind with five wickets in hand – and determined that there was little point in hanging around.Gill laid the bait for Smith with another short-ball ploy, setting a six-three leg-side field with three men out on the hook. Smith responded by showing off his repertoire of pull shots: a hard, flat slap behind square; a full-blooded hoist into the stands; a wrist-roll through midwicket; and a flat-bat through mid-on as he jumped leg side. Prasidh’s over cost him 23 runs.Smith was empowered to keep on attacking, threading the gap between short cover and mid-off to hit Washington Sundar’s first two balls for four. When Gill fell into the familiar trap of spreading his field – with five boundary-riders for Washington – Smith reverted to simply milking singles, rotating strike at will in his mammoth stand with Harry Brook.Jamie Smith and Harry Brook put on a huge stand to lift England•ECB via Getty ImagesBy the time he reached his hundred – England’s equal third-fastest in Tests, after a slight slowdown left Gilbert Jessop’s record safe – Smith had only faced 26 balls from India’s two most threatening bowlers: 12 from Siraj and 14 from Akash Deep. Gill ought to have brought them back sooner, but Smith showed his game awareness by targeting the weaker links in a struggling attack.His partnership with Brook, worth 303, was a glimpse at the future of England’s batting line-up – not only in Tests, but across formats. Perhaps the most impressive aspect was their ability to change gears: after racing along in sixth before lunch, they slipped down into fourth in the middle session when India’s plans changed, as though cruising along in the middle lane.Since bulking up significantly 18 months ago, Smith has become an imposing presence at the crease. When he reached 174, he surpassed his Surrey mentor Alec Stewart to register the highest score by an England Test wicketkeeper: it could be some time before anyone else has the opportunity to beat Smith’s record.1:42

Aaron: Smith a serious batter across formats

A lower-order collapse – England’s Nos. 8-11 contributed five runs between them – denied Smith the chance to accelerate towards a double-hundred. He reached 184, his final score, with two straight blows off Akash Deep: the first, a crunched straight six, suggested a lucrative IPL contract is waiting for him; the second, a rasping four through mid-off, nearly took the bowler’s head off.Smith’s missed stumping off Rishabh Pant last week was a reminder that his keeping is not yet perfect, and in time England may well be tempted to pick him as a specialist batter. But there should be no immediate urge to change his role: Smith was fit enough to bat for five hours after 151 overs behind the stumps at Edgbaston, and showed the value of having a genuine game-changer down at No. 7.England spent the decade after Matt Prior’s retirement shuffling between wicketkeepers: Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes all had their advocates, but none ever quite managed to make the role their own. The same charge cannot be levelled at Smith, who has made himself an automatic selection within a dozen Tests.Smith’s favourite player was Kevin Pietersen growing up, and there were shades of his idol in Birmingham: dominance against the short ball, disdain against spinners, and the innate self-assurance required to bat with such fearlessness. Whisper it, but England believe that Smith can be even better than his predecessors: this was an innings from the Adam Gilchrist playbook.

Jamie Vardy made headlines as he stepped onto the pitch for Cremonese wearing “Becky” on the back of his No.10 shirt, a heartfelt tribute to his wife as part of the ‘A Red to Violence’ campaign. The gesture formed part of a league-wide initiative marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and instantly captured attention across Italy and beyond.

Vardy wears Becky's name on his back

Vardy wore his wife Rebekah’s name on the back of his Cremonese shirt during the club’s Serie A match against Roma, taking part in the league-wide ‘A Red to Violence’ initiative. Instead of featuring their own names, players were encouraged to display the names of women close to them, aligning with efforts to raise awareness around domestic abuse. Vardy chose to honour his wife of nine years, joining teammates and several other Serie A sides in the touching campaign.

The initiative saw Cremonese join clubs including Lazio, Parma, Udinese and Lecce in marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Players opted for the names of partners, daughters, mothers, grandmothers or friends as symbols of support and solidarity. Vardy’s shirt stood out, with “Becky” sitting above his trademark No.10 as he lined up at the Stadio Giovanni Zini.

The 38-year-old striker has made a decent start to life in Italy after leaving Leicester, and the gesture highlighted his commitment to participating fully in club and league initiatives. His involvement also underscored the personal significance of the moment, given his long-standing relationship with Rebekah and the family they have built together.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe 'A Red to Violence' intiative

The ‘A Red to Violence’ initiative represents a growing movement within Italian football to use matchdays as a platform for social awareness campaigns. Serie A’s decision to coordinate club participation magnified the message, encouraging both players and fans to reflect on violence against women and the importance of support networks. Vardy's involvement, as one of the league’s most high-profile foreign stars, helped broaden international visibility for the campaign.

For Vardy personally, the decision to honour Rebekah resonated because of the couple’s long-standing relationship and their blended family. The moment underscored his grounded character and the strong family values that have followed him throughout his career from non-league football to Premier League triumphs. His choice added an emotional dimension to a symbolic gesture already rich in meaning.

Jamie and Rebekah Vardy's relationship

Vardy and Rebekah have been together since 2014 and married two years later in Cheshire, building a family that includes six children across their previous and shared relationships. The couple recently relocated to Italy after Vardy ended his historic Leicester spell in May, marking a new chapter in both their lives. Their move to Cremonese has brought fresh challenges, but also a continuation of the tight-knit family life they have cultivated for over a decade.

The striker’s arrival in Italy came after an extraordinary Leicester career, where he won the Premier League, FA Cup and Golden Ball award, breaking multiple goalscoring records along the way. His time at the King Power also included memorable Champions League nights, a Premier League Player of the Season title and selection for England at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.

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Getty Images SportVardy helping Cremonese navigate through Serie A

Cremonese will hope Vardy can continue blending emotional leadership with on-field impact as they navigate the challenges of Serie A survival. His early influence, both as a goalscorer and a figure of seniority, positions him as a key part of the squad’s development in the coming months. Maintaining his form and fitness will be central to the club’s ambitions as they look to build stability in Italy’s top tier.

For Vardy personally, his start in Italy suggests he still has plenty to contribute despite nearing the twilight of his career. A strong first season at Cremonese could extend his stay, particularly as he continues adapting to Italian football and life off the pitch.