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West Ham United have now made three senior signings this summer, but many more are required.

On Saturday, the Hammers announced the signing of veteran England international striker Callum Wilson, arriving on a free transfer after departing Newcastle.

He joins full-backs El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters as the Hammers’ new recruits so far this summer.

However, given that Mohammed Kudus has been sold and Łukasz Fabiański, Kurt Zouma, Vladimír Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Danny Ings, and Michail Antonio have all been released, Graham Potter will need many more signings if he is to avoid a repeat of last year’s miserable campaign.

So, are the Irons about to spend big to bring in an attacking midfielder who makes for “majestic viewing”?

West Ham targeting reinforcements

Fair to say, West Ham supporters were not very pleased with the sale of Kudus, joining fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £55m.

Not many have made this controversial move across London in recent decades, as the table documents.

Players moving from West Ham to Tottenham (21st century)
Players	Year
Mohammed Kudus	2025
Scott Parker	2011
Jimmy Walker	2009
Jermain Defoe	2004
Michael Carrick	2004
Frédéric Kanouté	2003
Information courtesy of FBref.com

As the Irons search for a Kudus replacement, according to the printed edition of The Sun (03/08/2025), as relayed by West Ham Zone, West Ham United have been told by Shakhtar Donetsk to pay £40m if they want to sign target Georgiy Sudakov.

Sébastien Vidal of Weekend Sports reported a few weeks ago that West Ham “have opened initial talks”, stating the club wanted to finalise the move as soon as possible, but this has not come to fruition so far.

Nevertheless, he could still become the third Ukrainian to call East London home, after Serhii Rebrov and Andriy Yarmolenko.

What Heorhiy Sudakov would bring to West Ham

Sudakov, who is 22 years old, has made 142 senior appearances for Shakhtar Donetsk since his senior debut five years ago, accumulating 35 goals and 24 assists.

This includes scoring Champions League goals against Barcelona, BSC Young Boys and Stade Brestois while, already this season, he has featured in all four of the Miners’ Europa League qualifiers, dumping out Ilves and Beşiktaş, now set to face Panathinaikos in the third qualifying round, with the first leg taking place in Athens on Thursday.

Andy Jones of the Athletic describes him as a ‘technically gifted…versatile midfielder’, adding that he is one of the ‘most exciting prospects’ and ‘brightest young talents’ that Eastern Europe has to offer.

Meantime, Shakhtar Donetsk sporting director Serhiy Palkin stated in April that his star man “will definitely move to a top European club this summer”, with António Mango labelling him “well-rounded” and “creative”, making him “majestic viewing”.

But the question still remains; how does he compare to the outgoing Kudus?

Let’s find out.

Georgiy Sudakov vs Mohammed Kudus 2024/25 comparison
Statistics	Sudakov	Kudus
Appearances	37	35
Minutes	3,081	2,721
Goals	15	5
Assists	6	4
Shots on target %	31.8%	27.6%
Take-on success %	58.8%	44.2%
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and FBref.com

First and foremost, worth stating up front that Sudakov was playing at a lower level last season, with Global Football Rankings believing that the Ukrainian Premier League to be the 51st strongest league in the world, albeit he did also impress at Champions League level.

Nevertheless, that caveat aside, Sudakov did score more goals and provide more assists than Kudus last season, posting more impressive underlying statistics too.

The Ghanian, for all his talent, was not very productive throughout the 2024/25 campaign, albeit he may point to West Ham’s general lack of attacking quality and cutting edge, which did not make his life easy.

Even so, should Sudakov swap Ukraine for the London Stadium, he could turn out to be even better than Kudus.

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By
Henry Jackson

Aug 1, 2025

He was suspended on Tuesday for assaulting a Bangladesh cricketer and taking more leaves than mentioned in his contract

Mohammad Isam17-Oct-2024Two days after suspending Chandika Hathurusinghe, the BCB has terminated him as Bangladesh’s head coach. The sacking came on the grounds of misconduct and breach of employment terms.BCB president Faruque Ahmed said on Tuesday that Hathurusinghe assaulted a Bangladesh cricketer and took more leaves than mentioned in his contract. The board had served him a show-cause notice, seeking an explanation on the two counts of misconduct. Hathurusinghe responded on the following day, which prompted an emergency board meeting to review the situation on Thursday.”After considering all factors, the board deemed Hathurusinghe’s explanation unsatisfactory and unacceptable and found his action consistent with misconduct and dereliction of duty,” a BCB release said. “His termination comes into immediate effect.”This ends Hathurusinghe’s second stint as Bangladesh coach, even though his contract was till January 2023. This stint included the milestone Test series win in Pakistan recently. However, the two World Cup campaigns, the ODI one in 2023 and the T20 one in 2024 were underwhelming.Phil Simmons has already been appointed the next head coach till the Champions Trophy in February 2025.

يستهل منتخب مصر للشباب تحت 20 عامًا مبارياته في بطولة كأس العالم، المقرر إقامتها في تشيلي، غدًا السبت، بمواجهة اليابان.

ويشارك منتخب مصر في البطولة، التي تقام خلال الفترة من 27 سبتمبر حتى 20 أكتوبر المقبل.

ويتواجد منتخب مصر في المجموعة الأولى من بطولة كأس العالم للشباب بجانب منتخبات تشيلي واليابان ونيوزيلندا.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخب مصر في أولى مبارياته مساء غد السبت مع اليابان، في الجولة الأولى من منافسات المجموعة الأولى في كأس العالم.

طالع | حكم مباراة مصر واليابان في كأس العالم للشباب تحت 20 عامًا مواعيد مباريات منتخب مصر للشباب في كأس العالم تحت 20 عامًا

الجولة الأولي: مصر ضد اليابان، السبت 27 سبتمبر، في تمام الساعة 11 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

الجولة الثانية: مصر ضد نيوزيلندا، يوم الثلاثاء 30 سبتمبر، في تمام الساعة 11 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

الجولة الثالثة: مصر ضد تشيلي، يوم السبت 4 أكتوبر، في تمام الساعة 2 صباحًا بتوقيت مصر والسعودية. مجموعات كأس العالم للشباب بمشاركة منتخب مصر تحت 20 عامًا

المجموعة الأولى: تشيلي، مصر، اليابان، نيوزيلندا

المجموعة الثانية: جمهورية كوريا، بنما، باراغواي، أوكرانيا

المجموعة الثالثة: البرازيل، المكسيك، المغرب، إسبانيا

المجموعة الرابعة: الأرجنتين، أستراليا، كوبا، إيطاليا

المجموعة الخامسة: فرنسا، كاليدونيا الجديدة، جنوب أفريقيا، الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية

المجموعة السادسة: كولومبيا، نيجيريا، النرويج، المملكة العربية السعودية

Leeds United have officially confirmed that central midfielder Joe Rothwell and left winger Manor Solomon have moved on from the club at the end of their respective loan deals.

They both spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Elland Road and contributed to the team winning the Championship title, earning promotion to the Premier League in the process.

Rothwell will not be returning to West Yorkshire on a permanent deal, though, as Rangers have reportedly agreed a deal with Bournemouth to sign the midfielder on a permanent basis.

The central midfielder played 36 times in the Championship for Leeds last term, and the club are reportedly eyeing up a midfield replacement who would come in as an upgrade for Daniel Farke.

Leeds eyeing Serie A midfielder

The Whites have set their sights on a former Premier League star who could come in and be an upgrade on Rothwell in the middle of the park next season.

According to Tutto Mercato Web, Leeds United are one of the teams pursuing in a deal to sign Juventus central midfielder Douglas Luiz this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that there are several Premier League sides keen on a swoop for the former Aston Villa man, but the Whites are the only team to have made an official enquiry at this moment in time.

Juventus are said to be exploring their options as they look to shed some wages during the summer transfer window, and a loan with an obligation to buy appears to be on the cards for Luiz.

The Brazil international is reportedly valued at £30m by the Italian giants, though, and it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds are willing to pay that price, even in an initial loan with an obligation for next summer.

Why Luiz would be a Rothwell upgrade for Leeds

Described as “one of the best [midfielders] in the world” by Sky Italia, if the Championship champions can get a deal over the line for the Brazilian midfielder, then they could land a big upgrade on what they had with Rothwell, who has yet to prove himself at Premier League level.

Both players played in the English top-flight, for Bournemouth and Aston Villa respectively, in the 2023/24 campaign and it was night and day between their performances.

Luiz, who was hailed as “phenomenal” by pundit Lee Hendrie, showcased his quality at the very top level for the Villans that term, and that earned him a move to Juventus in the summer of 2024.

The 27-year-old talent only started three of his 19 appearances in the Serie A last season, though, and that appears to have opened the door for Leeds to improve their squad.

Appearances

11

35

Sofascore rating

6.55

7.27

Goals

0

9

Assists

0

5

Tackles + interceptions per game

0.9

2.4

Duels won per game

1.5

4.1

As you can see in the table above, there is no debate over who the better Premier League central midfielder is between Rothwell and Luiz, as the Brazilian offers far more to the team in possession and defensively.

That is why Rothwell was loaned out to Southampton in the Championship for the second half of the season, before joining Leeds on loan in the summer, and why Luiz ended up at Juventus.

He is a proven Premier League performer who has the ability to hit the ground running at Elland Road as a star who has been there and done it at that level.

Therefore, Leeds could significantly improve their squad and provide the likes of Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka with real competition for their places in the XI by signing the Old Lady midfielder on loan for next season.

He'd be the next Chris Wood: Leeds pushing to sign £21m star after Bornauw

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Thanks to this result, Sri Lanka are out of contention to qualify from Group D

Ashish Pant13-Jun-20241:52

Rapid Fire Review: Rishad changed the course of the game

Bangladesh made a big stride towards securing a Super Eights berth at the T20 World Cup 2024 with a confident 25-run win over Netherlands in the first international fixture in Kingstown in close to a decade.It was a welcome return to form for Shakib Al Hasan, who scored his first fifty in 20 T20I innings to shepherd Bangladesh to 159 for 5. Netherlands made a good fist of the chase, moving to 111 for 3 in the 15th over. But legspinner Rishad Hossain struck three times in four balls spread across two overs to change the course of the game.Related

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With Shakib and Mustafizur Rahman tightening the screws alongside Rishad, Netherlands fell in a heap, losing 4 for 6 in the space of 16 balls. They still had an outside chance with 36 needed off the last two overs, but Mustafizur Rahman’s cutters proved too much to handle in the 19th over. He kept slanting the ball across, and the batters kept swishing and missing. He conceded just three runs in that over, having given away just one in the 17th, and Netherlands were eventually restricted to 134 for 8.Bangladesh fly away despite Dutt’s strikes With the Bangladesh top order studded with left-handers, Netherlands brought Aryan Dutt in for his first game of the tournament and he immediately repaid their faith. Introduced in the second over, he removed the Bangladesh captain with his second ball. It was an innocuous length ball outside off, which Najmul Hossain Shanto reverse-swept straight to first slip.Dutt struck again in his next over, with a lot of help from Sybrand Engelbrecht. Litton Das eyed a slog-sweep only to get a top-edge well in front of square. But Engelbrecht, stationed behind square, sprinted to his left , put out a full-length dive and picked up a screamer inches off the turf.Despite the early losses, Bangladesh continued to score at a fair clip. Tanzid Hasan struck Vivian Kingma for two fours and a six in the third over before Shakib picked another four off Paul van Meekeren in the fifth. Shakib then laid into Logan van Beek in the sixth over, smashing him for four fours to take Bangladesh to 54 for 2, comfortably their highest powerplay score of the tournament.1:42

Maharoof: Shakib was prepared for Netherlands’ short-ball tactics

The middle-overs squeezeNetherlands weren’t backing down, though. Captain Scott Edwards rung in the changes and the bowlers made sure to stick to their lengths. According to ESPNcricinfo’s logs, Netherlands only veered into the full lengths four times in 10 overs from the seventh to the 16th, and Bangladesh’s scoring rate dropped. The pressure told on Tanzid, who mistimed a pull to deep backward square leg in the ninth over, while Towhid Hridoy had his leg stump flattened by Tim Pringle in the 13th. Bangladesh managed only 58 runs in the middle ten overs with five fours and a six, and lost two wickets.Shakib the glue as Bangladesh end stronglyThe last time Shakib scored a fifty in T20Is was in October 2022 against Pakistan. At the T20 World Cup, he hadn’t breached the half-century mark since 2016. But on this crucial day, Bangladesh’s stalwart stood tall.He scored his first seven runs at a run-a-ball, and picked up his once he got the hang of the surface. And even when the runs dried up in the middle phase, he kept rotating strike without panicking. He reached his fifty off 38 balls and hit de Leede for back-to-back fours in the final over to finish unbeaten on 64 off 46 balls, his innings studded with nine fours.There were important contributions from Mahmudullah (25 off 21) and Jaker Ali (14* off seven) as Bangladesh collected 47 runs off the last four overs.Bas de Leede is stumped off Rishad Hossain•ICC/Getty Images

Bangladesh keep chipping awayWith 349 runs in nine innings, Michael Levitt came into this tournament as Netherlands’ highest run-scorer in T20Is since the start of 2024. However, he’s had a dismal start to his T20 World Cup with scores of 1 and 0 against Nepal and South Africa. He seemed to change the tide against Bangladesh when he drove Mustafizur through the covers in the first over. Then, when he smashed Taskin Ahmed over the roof at deep midwicket, it seemed his campaign was back on track.But Levitt’s joy was short-lived. In the fifth over, he top-edged a cut off Taskin to Hridoy at point. In the next over, Max O’Dowd smashed a length ball straight back to Tanzim Hasan, and Netherlands ended the powerplay at 36 for 2.Vikramjit Singh hit Shakib for back-to-back sixes in the seventh over and slog-swept Rishad over deep midwicket in the ninth. His sprightly 16-ball knock was cut short when he was stumped, walking past a tossed-up delivery from Mahmudullah. But at 69 for 3 in the tenth over, Netherlands were still in with a chance.Rishad triple-strike gives Bangladesh the WNetherlands seemed to be giving Bangladesh a proper fight when Engelbrecht and Edwards were at the crease. The duo ran superbly and got the boundaries at regular intervals during a 31-ball stand of 42 for the fourth wicket.When Rishad was brought on to bowl the 15th over, Netherlands required 56 off 36. The legspinner’s first two overs had gone for 19 and he knew this over could decide the match. It did, in Bangladesh’s favour.With his fourth ball, he got Engelbrecht to top-edge a legbreak straight up, with Tanzim taking the catch at point. Two balls later, he had de Leede stumped with a ball that spun sharply past his outside edge. Mustafizur then got into the act by taking out Edwards, and when Rishad sent back Logan van Beek at the start of the 18th over, the game was as good as done.Dutt struck a six off Rishad later in that over, but he and Pringle had no answers to Mustafizur’s cutters in the 19th. Eventually, Netherlands fell well short of their target. The result does not knock them out of contention, nor does it give Bangladesh a sure-shot place in the Super Eight. It has, however, knocked Sri Lanka out, and given Bangladesh an excellent chance of advancing from Group D.

After securing Champions League football on the final day, Newcastle United have now reportedly made signing one Real Madrid star one of their main targets in a £150m+ spending spree this summer.

Newcastle secure Champions League qualification

They didn’t do it the easy way, but after Aston Villa suffered defeat against Manchester United, Newcastle had their Champions League qualification secured despite failing to beat Everton. Ending the campaign with a Carabao Cup to their name alongside a place among Europe’s elite, it’s fair to say that Eddie Howe enjoyed his best season yet at St James’ Park.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Howe shared his delight at his side’s Champions League qualification, saying: “It feels great, the achievement is huge.

“Naturally, when you lose the game there’s a feeling of disappointment, but I think we have to override that with [the fact that] over the 38 games, we deserved to qualify for the competition. It’s a huge moment for the club.

“I think the experience we had there the first time will help us no end, I think. We felt we grew through the competition, so I think we are stronger. I think we are better prepared both physically and mentally for the competition ahead. We suffered a bad injury crisis [last] season as well, so lessons need to be learned from that and hopefully, if they can be, we can be successful.”

Newcastle can find the next Ben Arfa by signing "astonishing" £14m magician

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May 25, 2025

With their place in Europe’s top competition crucially comes the opportunity to unleash the riches of their ownership, and Newcastle look set to take full advantage this summer. Reports have already mentioned the likes of Jamie Gittens and now fresh rumours have emerged regarding a Real Madrid star in what would be some statement by the Magpies and PIF.

Newcastle shortlist Rodrygo among main targets

According to reports in Spain, Newcastle and PIF have now shortlisted Rodrygo as one of their main summer targets. The Real Madrid winger will reportedly be allowed to leave the Spanish club for around €80m (£75m) and those at St James’ Park want to make him a big part of a €200m (£167m) summer spending spree.

The rumours have been circling about the Brazilian’s Madrid future for some time following a frustrating season at the Bernabeu. Whether he finds his best form again under new manager Xabi Alonso and whether he’s even given the chance to do so are the big questions, but the former Bayer Leverkusen boss has already had his say.

Speaking at his unveiling, Alonso told reporters when asked about Rodrygo: “Rodrygo is a Real Madrid player, and I will speak with everyone who is part of Real Madrid. Rodrygo is a spectacular player—and we will need him. He deserves it, and so do we.”

Newcastle’s spending power could see them push on despite Alonso’s words, however, in a major summer statement. As impressive as Jacob Murphy has been for Howe’s side on the right-hand side in the last year, Rodrygo would instantly add that extra star power.

Chelsea chiefs have opened club-to-club talks with officials over signing a “fantastic” player, following a transfer decision from Arsenal which will have an impact on the race for his signature.

Chelsea transfer plans amid tight Champions League race

The race for a place in the top five is set to go down to the Premier League final day, making Chelsea’s crunch clash with rivals Nottingham Forest their most important game of the season.

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Five teams – namely Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Man City and Forest – are involved in the airtight battle to confirm a place in next season’s Champions League draw, with the result of this intense race also set to have a crucial impact on BlueCo’s transfer plans for next season.

Enzo Maresca recently admitted in a press conference that qualification for Europe’s most prestigious competition will have a knock-on effect when it comes to their recruitment plans, and Chelsea wish to be ambitious in the market yet again.

As per journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea have some “big plans” they’re already working on and wish to bring in a number of new players. The plan within Stamford Bridge is to ideally seal a couple of their most desired signings before the Club World Cup begins, and they’ll have a short window to do so.

A special edition window will be open from June 1 to June 10, allowing Chelsea to register new arrivals before the CWC takes place, leaving little wonder we’re seeing reports of the Blues getting busy early doors.

Chelsea reportedly made Dean Huijsen an offer to join them from Bournemouth, but with the 20-year-old now off to Real Madrid, attention now turns to alternative defensive targets. One of them, according to multiple sources, is Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato.

Chelsea open talks with Ajax over signing Jorrel Hato

The Netherlands international has featured at left-back throughout the 2024/2025 campaign for Ajax. However, before Francesco Farioli utilised him in a different position, the highly-rated teenager was predominantly a centre-back.

Todd Boehly is allegedly keen on Chelsea signing versatile players who can cover multiple areas (Simon Phillips), so Hato would fit the bill in that respect, and come in as a significant central defensive upgrade as well as an alternative to Marc Cucurella.

A deal for him would apparently cost somewhere in the region of £46 million, so in terms of cost, the defender could be an astute option.

That is according to CaughtOffside, who also boldly state that Chelsea have opened talks with Ajax officials over signing Hato.

While Hato is on Liverpool’s list of targets as well, they’re currently prioritising a deal for Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, and Arsenal have decided to cool their interest in the player after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s excellent breakthrough campaign.

This call from the Gunners, not to mention Liverpool’s chase for Kerkez, could free up a Chelsea run at signing Hato, with CaughtOffside describing Maresca’s side as the favourites to strike a deal.

Hato is held in very high esteem by those within the beautiful game, with Jordan Henderson lavishing praise on the Dutchman as a tireless worker.

“It’s crazy how young he is, but obviously how mature he looks when he’s on the pitch and also off the pitch,” Henderson said.

“He’s a very mature person, works hard, fantastic player, and yeah, he has a bright future ahead of him, I’m sure. I think he just needs to continue to do what he’s he’s been doing.”

After last night’s huge Champions League triumph, Arsenal have demonstrated that they are capable of beating Europe’s elite, a signal as to how far they’ve developed in recent years.

Mikel Arteta deserves a tremendous amount of credit for the work he’s done in rebuilding the side over the last five years, with all his work leading up to the win over Real Madrid.

After such a display at the Santiago Bernabéu, supporters will undoubtedly be hugely confident that the side can go all the way and claim their first European title come the end of the campaign.

However, with the summer transfer window approaching, decisions will need to be made on the futures of numerous players currently plying their trade at the Emirates.

Signings will need to be made to continue the rebuild, potentially allowing the Gunners to compete with Europe’s elite on a consistent basis for many years to come.

The latest update on Arsenal’s hunt for summer signings

Over the last couple of days, links to Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres have rapidly developed, with Arsenal just one of the sides in the race to land his signature this summer.

Reports earlier this week claimed that Gunners sporting director Andra Berta has already held talks with his representatives over a move to North London ahead of the window opening.

It’s also been reported that the Swedish international is keen on a move to join Arteta’s side, with a £60m fee mooted to land the talisman, who’s netted 87 times in the last two seasons.

Any deal for the 26-year-old would see the side finally land the focal point they’ve desperately lacked, but he could be joined in the final third by Spanish winger Nico Williams.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have pulled out of the race, leaving Arsenal as the favourites to trigger his £50m release clause in the coming months.

Why Gyokeres would star at Arsenal along with £50m star

Given his goalscoring record in the Liga Portugal over the last couple of seasons, it’s no secret that Arsenal would be getting themselves a proven goalscorer who would take the side to the next level.

However, there’s only so much a striker can do on his own, often relying on the creativity of players around him to produce the goods to allow them to thrive.

Injuries have massively plagued Arteta’s side in the final third throughout 2024/25, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all missing large chunks of the campaign.

Depth is desperately needed this summer, with a potential partnership of Gyokeres and Williams alongside Saka one to be feared by sides across the Premier League.

The Spaniard has all the tools to provide the Swede within the final third, with his stats from LaLiga demonstrating the quality he possesses with the ball at his feet.

The 22-year-old, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Ben Mattinson, has registered five assists this season, but his underlying stats showcase how much of a threat he is in the final third.

Williams has notched a total of three successful take-ons and 5.3 progressive carries per 90, undoubtedly at his best when marauding forward with the ball at his feet.

Nico Williams’ stats for Athletic Club in LaLiga (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

27

Goals & assists

10

Progressive carries

5.3

Carries into final third

2.7

Progressive passes

3.2

Successful take-ons

3

Key passes completed

1.9

Crosses completed

5.1

Shot-creating actions

5.2

Stats via FBref

He’s also registered 1.9 key passes and 5.1 crosses completed per 90, with both of his respective tallies providing Gyokeres with ammunition to score within the final third.

The Spaniard’s talent doesn’t stop there, achieving 5.2 shot-creating actions and 3.2 progressive passes per 90, once again highlighting the talent he boasts to provide opportunities for those around him.

Whilst the pair would likely set the Gunners hierarchy back around £110m this summer, it’s a bargain price given the elite-level talents they would be signing.

The prospect of the pair linking up at the Emirates is a hugely exciting one, with the pair having the skillset to push the club closer to ending their two-decade wait for a league title.

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The five T20Is in England offer India an early glimpse of the World Cup venues and a chance to narrow down personnel that could do the job for them

Sruthi Ravindranath26-Jun-2025

T20Is back in focus for India

This series will be India’s first T20I assignment of the year. Their last series was against West Indies at home in December, which they won, but 2024 was all about heartbreaks: a loss in the Asia Cup final followed by a group-stage exit in the T20 World Cup. Most of the players were, however, in action at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in February.They do have several T20Is lined up after this series before the T20 World Cup next year – they will be playing three home T20Is against Bangladesh, three in Australia in February 2026 followed by a tri-series in New Zealand which will also feature England in May – but this will be their chance to try out new faces. India will also be playing across five venues, all of which will be hosting T20 World Cup matches next year.

New (and old) faces in the T20I squad

The returning Shafali Verma is likely to slot straight in as opener, given her superb form in the last few months in domestic cricket and the WPL. In her absence during the West Indies T20Is, Uma Chetry opened with Smriti Mandhana but failed to make an impact.Related

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A few new faces have been added to the bowling department. Left-arm spinner N Shree Charani and seam-bowling allrounders Kranti Goud and Sayali Satghare have received their maiden T20I call-ups, while batting allrounder Amanjot Kaur has been recalled into the T20I squad.Sneh Rana has returned to the T20I squad for the first time since February 2023 on the back of her impressive performances with the ball – and on one occasion with the bat – in WPL 2025. She also picked up two wickets in the three overs she bowled in the tour game against ECB XI in Beckenham.There’s a bit of inexperience in the fast-bowling unit with the likes of Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar out of this series. They had not played India’s last assignment – the ODI tri-series with Sri Lanka and South Africa in April and May – due to injuries. India might field a completely new bowling line-up from the West Indies T20Is in December, barring Radha Yadav. With Renuka and Vastrakar expected to be back at some point, India will be looking to build their fast-bowling reserves in this series.Amanjot could be the new-age finisher India are looking for•BCCI

The gaps India will look to fill

India have persisted with Harmanpreet Kaur as captain in the format despite the criticism she faced after the T20 World Cup exit. Between then and now, she’s proved her capabilities as a T20 leader by taking Mumbai Indians to their second WPL trophy this season. She is also one of India’s best batters in the format, having been their go-to during pressure situations, as she showed during India’s T20 World Cup group-stage game against Australia where she top-scored as the rest of the line-up collapsed around her. Last year, she had spoken about the need for India to develop the “mindset” to deal with nerves. With two global tournaments to be played in the next year, captain Harmanpreet’s focus will be on assembling a squad specifically with players who can handle pressure situations better.The batting department looks solid with Mandhana, Shafali, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh making the top five. However, India have been hurt by a lack of contribution from the lower middle order, which also troubled them during the T20 World Cup last year. Their batters from No. 6 and further down strike at just 104.05 and have just hit just four sixes in total in 42 matches since 2023.Spin-bowling allrounder Deepti Sharma, who’s played in the middle order, has a strike rate of just 99.10 since 2023. India will also want to nail down the rest of the line-up, which has seen several changes in the last few years. Amanjot, who showed off her skills as a finisher in the WPL, will be one of India’s options to fill that gap in the middle order, though she played at No. 3 in the tour game in Beckenham, with Rodrigues dropping to five.India have also not been able to nail down their go-to spin option in the format. Deepti aside, they have tried as many as ten spinners since 2023. While Rajeshwari Gayakwad has been out of favour recently, the likes of Saika Ishaque, Shreyanka Patil and S Asha – who were part of the last few series – have not found a place in this squad. One of the three spinners in the squad – Radha, Rana and youngster Charani will want to make the most of their chance to make sure India’s search for a reliable spinner ends.

Where India have improved

India will also want to define the brand of T20 cricket they want to play, with their batting approach having come under scrutiny over the last few years. While Ghosh has the highest strike rate of 148.80 among all players since 2023 (minimum 200 balls faced), India’s next best is Mandhana’s strike rate of 122.66, which exposes this gap. Ghosh also has the best balls per six ratio of 18.75 since 2023, while Mandhana, who’s hit the most sixes for India in this period, has hit one every 40 balls.India’s overall scoring rate, however, has seen an improvement: they were at their best-ever in 2024, scoring at 7.99 per over compared to 6.93 in 2023. They also posted their highest-ever T20I total of 217 (in the third T20I against West Indies) in 2024. But their run rate at the death since 2023 is 8.86 compared to Australia’s 10.16, the best on this list.

Simple message brings devastating results as quick rips through Australia with 5 for 34

Vithushan Ehantharajah06-Jul-20230:32

Does Mark Wood think he can reach 100mph?

Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum are about simple, clear messaging. Cricket is a complicated enough sport, and English cricket a pressurised enough environment without introducing anything that may elicit doubt. Especially at a time when England need as few distractions as possible to overturn a 2-0 deficit.Ahead of this third Test at Headingley Chris Woakes, for instance, was told “you do you” before his first Test in 16 months and did exactly that. With his usual accuracy and nip off the pitch, the 34-year-old picked up three vital wickets in Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and centurion Mitch Marsh in Australia’s first innings.Mark Wood’s instructions were even clearer. Long before he had the ball in hand for the seventh over from the Pavilion End, even before he went to bed on Wednesday evening ahead of his first match of the English summer, and first Test since December 2022 in Pakistan, Stokes relayed a straightforward brief. Bowl rockets, don’t fret about the runs. A simple message brought devastating results as Wood ripped through Australia with 5 for 34.This was not just about wickets, even if they were pretty spectacular. Usman Khawaja lost his leg stump at the end of a four-over opening spell where no delivery dropped below 91mph. Then an entire tail was lopped off inside 16 balls to snuff Australia out for 263. Yet the real power and truest glory of Wood’s exploits today was the emotion he evoked.Related

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Undoubtedly, everyone here witnessed the best day of the series so far. So much of it was in keeping with the last 11 days’ play: just as either team looked like they were getting in front, the other pulled them right back. On balance, Australia have the ascendancy, leading by 195 after removing three of the host’s top order.Just as in England’s attack, the point of difference was a bloke charging in and slinging down such fire it made the heat emanating from the Western Terrace feel like a cool breeze. Wood was seen as the ideal weapon to unleash against Australia after the last few days of English discontent following the final exchanges at Lord’s. In the end, he was edge-of-your-seat distraction.Stokes used him in bursts: four overs then two before lunch, before three in the middle session and 2.4 at the end. For a player who has subsisted on those workloads this year, with a last competitive outing coming in the IPL on April 15 for Lucknow Super Giants against Punjab Kings, it was the only way he could be used. And Wood responded by bringing his best, averaging 90.7mph across his 11.4 overs and, moreover, covering for four dropped catches that allowed Australia to regroup from 85 for 4.It wasn’t all his own way, particularly in the middle session when Marsh swung him away in front of square for six. Though even that period had a whiff of showdown about it. As the Western Australian put it, an upbringing on fast Perth decks made him all too aware this was a moment where he had to sink or swim. Wood was the only bowler to drive him to such limits.Mark Wood blasted out Pat Cummins for a duck•Getty ImagesTo watch Wood anyway is to sense a bloke charging to the crease like this may be his last delivery. The ankle and elbow surgeries, and the other parts of the body fast bowlers break and rebreak for our entertainment will eventually overpower his spirit. But based on today’s efforts and outcome, we are not as close to that point as previously feared.The ferocity of his deliveries was such they did not simply rap glove (both of the batters and Jonny Bairstow) or crack timber (bats and stumps) but stripped the context of the moments in play with the brutality of flesh blasted off bone.A routine developed among those in the stands for every delivery from the 33-year-old’s first four overs. A look to the person to your left or right to make sure they saw it too and you weren’t dreaming, then a glance at the big screen to check the speed. The “whoops” and “ooohs” for each reading finally turned to meaningful roars when Khawaja’s leg stump was taken out emphatically with the final act of that spell.People often talk about how pace bowling was better in “their” day, as if the current generation are too weighed down by oat milk and the crippling weight of a world around them falling to bits to either purvey or appreciate this lost craft. The truth is, few cherish it more than those watching this generation of cricket. Partly because the game is slowly tearing itself apart. But mostly because, well, bowlers have never been quicker.A case in point: those initial four overs from Wood came at an average pace of 92.90, which slots it into No. 2 of the fastest spells in an English Test since 2006 (when accurate ball-tracking data was available). He has four of the top six in that category – Brett Lee has the third and fourth – all from a single Lord’s Test against India in 2021 in which Wood returned previous best home figures of 3 for 51. No. 1 was 93.41mph which Wood was on course to bettering before the last two deliveries in that sequence.Throw in the fact he also sent down the fastest four-over spell in T20 World Cup history in a group game against Afghanistan in 2022 and it is clear while the gap between appearances are frustrating, the upside is unrivalled. For a man from Ashington who grew up in a world of swing, seam and elbow grease, lusting for Ferrero Rocher and possessing what his closest friends describe as “noodle arms”, it is a remarkable feat of endurance above all else. When considering the greatest speedsters over the last 20 years, he must feature.Ultimately, being part of those conversations are what it is to be at this level of sport. But the man himself acknowledges his case is not as strong as others. When told his opening burst had set an Ashes record, bettering Brett Lee’s 92.4mph offering at Old Trafford in 2005, Wood cherished the feat and the company but understood where the true measure of worth lies: “I’d rather have his wickets.”The Australian’s 310 are unreachable, given Wood is still five away from triple figures. But Thursday represented an important step towards rectifying a peculiar quirk of being far more effective away from home.Considering the Dukes is an English bowler’s best friend, it has never quite taken to Wood’s charm. The previous 14 appearances at home left him with an average of 39.63, while his 49 overseas dismissals have come at 24.18, six lower than the career average of 30.57.Even with the love of Test cricket in this country, it still suffers from the usual issues of distance and timezones dictating relevance. Wood might have impressed on the previous Ashes tour with 17 wickets and an impressive 6 for 37 in the final Test at Hobart, but performing through the winter nights ring-fenced his brilliance from the broader conscience. It also did not help that it was a chastening and utterly forgettable campaign from an English perspective. Stuart Broad even tried to void it.As Wood strode off with the match ball for the first time in England, raising it for a fourth time in his career but first towards his mother, Angela, and father, Derek, it felt like we were witnessing a personal moment for an individual and public relief for the team.Mark Wood holds up the ball after claiming a magnificent five-wicket haul•Getty ImagesHaving taken the winning wicket at Trent Bridge in the 2015 Ashes – a photo of the Nathan Lyon dismissal takes pride of place in his home – he missed the entirety of 2019 after tearing his side in the World Cup final. An injury picked up during the last of his 10 overs before making it worse when he put in one of the worst dives in humankind as he attempted to cross the line at the nonstriker’s end for the winning run.He was desperate to play the first Test of this series at Edgbaston only for Stokes to decide to save him for the second. Then, in the lead-up to Lord’s, the right elbow operated on twice last year began swelling. With the extra week’s grace, he has put in what could prove to be his most impactful display for his country.England has always come first for Wood. So much so that when Lucknow were preparing for an IPL fixture against Chennai Super Kings, he was reluctant to reveal too much about how to combat two of their upcoming opponents, Stokes and Moeen Ali.Here at Leeds, he has done them a huge favour by, for now, covering up some shortcomings. Drops of Smith, Head (off Wood in his pre-lunch dart), Marsh and Carey are, at this juncture, not as terminal as England’s previous 13 missed chances across the first two defeats. And they managed to largely contain Australia – Marsh notwithstanding – despite being a bowler light after Ollie Robinson left the field midway through his 12th over with a back spasm.That’s the key thing about breathtaking pace. It strips context, enriches the game, lifts your team-mates, scares your opponents and, well, always gives you a fighting chance. Exactly what England need from here until this Ashes is over.