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The wicketkeeper-batter shows his full range during a maiden Test hundred of uninterrupted poise

Karthik Krishnaswamy03-Oct-20251:39

Jurel: The idea is to score ‘risk-free runs’

In the course of going from 36 to 60 on Friday afternoon in Ahmedabad, Dhruv Jurel hit three fours off West Indies’ seamers. He hit all three off the back foot, all three in the arc behind square on the off side, and each was subtly different from the other.The first came off a Jayden Seales delivery that was short but not necessarily wide, rising to just below shoulder height. Jurel rose with the ball, leaning slightly backwards to create room, and met it below his chin with his bat face open, using all of Seales’ pace to guide the ball wide of gully.The second and third came off Justin Greaves, and while there was a little more width to work with on these occasions, there wasn’t as much pace, so Jurel manufactured the power himself, with two distinct kinds of wristwork. First, the conventional back-cut with wrists imparting topspin; here the emphasis was on getting on top of the bounce and keeping the ball down. The next one didn’t bounce quite as much, so Jurel was able to employ the slice – with the point fielder having been pushed back, this way of playing the shot ensured he had no chance of saving the boundary, with the ball curving further and further away to his left as it scudded over the outfield.Related

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• Rahul, Jurel, Jadeja tons flatten West Indies

These weren’t particularly difficult shots for a Test batter to execute in excellent batting conditions, particularly against a bowler of Greaves’ pace limitations. They made for gorgeous watching, though, particularly for viewers invested in Indian cricket’s vast talent pool. We have watched Jurel bat and score runs before, and we’ve watched him do it in Test cricket, but we hadn’t really had the chance of seeing this facet of his game, this deft, square-of-the-wicket artistry.The innings that made everyone sit up and take notice of Jurel, the match-turning 90 against England in Ranchi last year, had come on a pitch of treacherous low bounce that all but took square-of-the-wicket runs out of the equation. That innings had been all about the full face of the bat and the opportunism of pouncing on scoring opportunities down the ground.This innings, a maiden Test hundred of uninterrupted poise in straightforward batting conditions, allowed Jurel to show off his full square-of-the-wicket range. You could admire the fleetness of his footwork when he pulled Roston Chase for six when the offspinner dropped marginally short. From watching him do it again and again, you could marvel at his ability to place his leg-side clips exactly where he wanted, square or even behind square, without needing to close the face of his bat, just by meeting the ball a little closer to his body or a little further away.2:02

Chopra: Jurel making a strong case for No. 6 spot

It all looked so calm and organised that you began to forget this was a man playing just the sixth Test match of an understudy’s career, all but one of his chances having arrived thanks to injury to one of the game’s great wicketkeeper-batters. You began to forget that he had never before batted as high as No. 5.But Jurel has always had this effect on the viewer, with that confident strut to the crease, that compact technique – with his hands never seeming to stray too far from his body, from backlift to follow-through – and those light feet that never seem to move all that much but usually seem to be in the right place. “Relax,” all of that tells you. “I know what I’m doing.”He makes this look effortless, but it could be the outcome of the rigorous mental preparation he does before matches, visualising all the scenarios he’s likely to come up against – the bowlers, the fields they are likely to set, the gaps he can target, the areas where he can score risk-free runs. And he does all this even when he knows he’s not playing.”I visualise a lot, whether I’m playing or not – I visualise what I would be doing I was playing,” he said at the end of the second day’s play in Ahmedabad. “When I do play a match, nothing feels new to me. It feels like I’ve already experienced it, and I know what the feeling is.”Everything I visualise – walking in, taking stance, taking leg [stump] guard, everything I visualise, so nothing feels different. I’m always prepared, whether I’m playing or not playing, I make that effort to keep myself ready.”So far, Jurel has had to keep himself ready for opportunities that could come without warning, but the assurance he radiates every time he keeps wicket and bat will surely lead India’s team management to consider playing him regardless of Rishabh Pant’s availability, with one of them keeping and the other playing as a specialist batter.That discussion is gaining volume, but Jurel isn’t about to get drawn into it.”I feel you control what’s in your control. It’s not my decision whether I’m played as a batter or as a keeper. Wherever I get to play a match, whether it’s [international or] domestic, my job is to score runs.”For the moment, he’s doing that as well as he possibly can.

Manchester United are now back in talks to sign highly-rated Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba in 2026.

The Red Devils’ midfield needs to be a key area of focus next summer, due to Casemiro being out of contract at Old Trafford when the season ends.

The Brazilian has enjoyed a resurgence of late, scoring in United’s 2-2 draw away to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League last weekend, however, he still isn’t the player he was and will soon need to be replaced by a younger model.

Baleba emerged as one of the front-runners to join the Red Devils in the summer transfer window, but in the end, he stayed put for the time being, with no defensive midfielders added to Ruben Amorim’s squad.

The 21-year-old Seagulls ace is sure to have plenty of suitors moving forward, though, with a switch to United still very much on the cards, following a new update.

Man Utd willing to pay £90m for Baleba

According to reports relayed by Caught Offside, Manchester United are once again negotiating over the signing of Baleba from Brighton, and INEOS would be willing to pay as much as £90m for his signature.

An official bid is expected to be incoming for the Cameroonian, as the Red Devils look to complete a significant piece of business next year.

Baleba may not have hit top form yet this season, with his focus arguably affected by the level of interest in him from various clubs, but he has all the tools to enjoy a fantastic career.

He is a force both in and out of possession, averaging 2.3 tackles per game in the Premier League last term, as well as scoring three goals, and Alan Shearer has hailed him as “absolutely wonderful” on Match of the Day.

As mentioned, Casemiro is not the player he once was, no longer being to cover so much ground at pace, but Baleba could bring that to United’s team, suddenly making them far harder to run through.

Man Utd in pole position to beat Man City to Jeremy Monga signing

The Red Devils could land one of England’s finest youngsters in a cheap deal due to a key reason.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Nov 3, 2025

He has so much time to improve further as a player, and while his age means that some inconsistency may be a part of his game to begin with, he feels like a leading option for Amorim, as the Red Devils look to bring in the perfect addition to a vital area of the pitch.

Casemiro isn't the only Man Utd star who has saved his career under Amorim

Their carnage-filled twin tons in Johannesburg took India past 250 for a staggering third time

Sampath Bandarupalli15-Nov-20244:49

India sign off on stellar T20I year in style

283 for 1 – India’s score against South Africa in Johannesburg is the fifth-highest total in men’s T20Is. This is also India’s second-highest total in the format, behind the 297 for 6 against Bangladesh last month in Hyderabad.3 – Pairs with hundreds in the same men’s T20I innings, including that of Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma in Johannesburg. Czech Republic’s Sabawoon Davizi and Dylan Steyn, who achieved the feat against Bulgaria in 2022, were the first pair to do it, before Japan’s Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake replicated it against China earlier this year.3 – 250-plus totals by India are the most by any team in men’s T20Is. They surpassed Czech Republic, Japan and Zimbabwe, who have two 250-plus totals each.Related

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• Samson, Tilak smash records like it's nobody's business for 3-1 series win

India are now only the third team with three 250-plus totals in the men’s T20s, after Surrey and Sunrisers Hyderabad.210* – The stand between Samson and Tilak for the second wicket on Friday was the first-ever double-century partnership for India in T20Is. The previous highest was an unbeaten 190-run stand between Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh for the fifth wicket against Afghanistan at the start of the year.ESPNcricinfo LtdIt is also only the eighth partnership of 200-plus in men’s T20Is, but the first to have come for the second wicket or lower.23 – Sixes hit by Indian batters on Friday are the joint-third-highest by any team in a men’s T20I innings. Zimbabwe smashed 27 sixes against Gambia last month, while Nepal struck 26 against Mongolia in the Asian Games last year. Japan also hit 23 sixes against China earlier this year.157 – Runs scored by India in the middle overs (7-16) against South Africa. Only one team has scored more runs in the middle overs of a men’s T20 innings, where ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data is available – 163 for 1 by Nepal against Mongolia in 2023.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2 – Team totals of 250-plus in men’s T20s for the loss of one or no wickets, including India’s 283 for 1 on Friday. Japan scored 258 without losing a wicket against China in Mong Kok earlier this year.It was also only the tenth innings in men’s T20Is, where a team batted full 20 overs, losing no more than one wicket.1 – India’s total of 283 is also the highest in South Africa in the T20 format. The previous highest was 271 for 3 by Titans against Knights in Potchefstroom in 2022.ESPNcricinfo Ltd5 – Batters with hundreds in consecutive innings in men’s T20Is, including Tilak. Samson also achieved this feat at the start of this series to join the elite list of Gustav Mckeon (2022), Rilee Rossouw (2022) and Phil Salt (2023).3 – Hundreds for Samson in his previous five T20I innings. He became the first batter to register three hundreds in a calendar year in T20Is. Samson is now among nine men with three or more hundreds in T20Is.4 – Individual hundreds for India in the four-match series against South Africa – two each by Samson and Tilak. Before this series, no team had more than two individual centuries in a men’s T20I series or tournament.

This is the seventh successive time Pakistan have won a T20I series against West Indies

Danyal Rasool03-Aug-2025After the drama of the second game came something of a repeat of the first today. Pakistan edged out West Indies by 13 runs to seal a 2-1 series win, a seventh successive such outcome in bilateral T20I series between the two sides. Pakistan proved just a touch too good for their hosts with both bat and ball, inspired by a 138-run opening partnership between Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan and a flurry at the death. They held their nerve with ball in hand, a clutch few overs at the death shutting the door in West Indies’ face, leaving their pursuit of 190 just short once again.Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat again, but this time avoided losing early wickets as they had on Saturday. Ayub and Farhan saw through the first few overs with solidity, if not quite the aggression this new-look Pakistan may have desired, and before long found the innings drawing to a close without having lost a wicket, but also bereft of the explosiveness that would put the game out of West Indies’ reach.They did eventually put up a stiff target, but West Indies sparkled with intent up front, smashing 33 in the first two overs. It gave them a buffer for when Haris Rauf began to drag them back, but in a game where wickets were hard to come by, the hosts looked to be building a platform for the kind of big finish that fetched them victory in the previous game.They looked on course around the 16-over mark, ahead of Pakistan at that stage by about five runs, and needed 49 off the final four. But a fiery 17th over from Rauf and a magnificent one from Sufiyan Muqeem right after – which saw Jason Holder castled for a two-ball duck, ended West Indies realistic aspirations of a series victory. They thrashed and flailed for the final two overs, but they were in Pakistan’s grip, and had sunk too far now.

138 for 0

Can a 138-run partnership be bad for the team? It’s a question Pakistan have discussed perhaps more than any other side during the Mohammad Rizwan-Babar Azam years, and one, perhaps, they might have revisited with Ayub and Farhan but for the fine margins going their way. The pair found boundaries and sixes with reasonable regularity, but West Indies managed to sneak in large spells of dot balls or singles that kept dragging the run rate back.With four overs to go on the best batting surface of the series, both Ayub and Farhan had half-centuries, but Pakistan’s run rate stood at a modest 8.50. Having scored 23 in their final five yesterday, it would require something special to ensure Pakistan posted a winning total today.

Making amends

It had come to the stage Pakistan probably needed a wicket to fall more than West Indies with the visitors’ power hitters sitting idle. Shamar Joseph removed Farhan bringing Hasan Nawaz out to the middle, who hooked his fourth ball for six to set the death-overs tempo. Another six the following over preceded his dismissal, but the shift in gears was evident. Not a single four was struck through the death overs, but Pakistan found five sixes in the last four overs, including a 20-run final over that ultimately put them above par. Fifty-three runs came in the final four, a number that would arguably have been somewhat smaller had a 138-run partnership not been broken when it was.

Chase retired out, WI run out of time

Every game this series, it has seemed Jason Holder came out to bat a shade too late, but tonight, he could wait no more. With Roston Chase struggling for timing and the rate above 13, West Indies opted to retire him out and sent Holder into the middle with 41 to get in three overs. It was well within range of his abilities, but his fireworks have largely come against Pakistan’s quicks, and there was still a Muqeem over to negotiate.A flipper off his second ball shot through and knocked back Holder’s off peg with such precision it took the Bajan time to work out he had actually been bowled and not fallen victim to some devious sleight of hand by wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris. With Muqeem and Rauf both consistently on their mark, West Indies frankly had no one who looked like getting them close enough anymore.

Shohei Ohtani started his sixth game of the season on Monday night, striking out three batters in three innings pitched. Ohtani surrendered a season-high four hits and allowed his first earned run since his first start back in the middle of June as he allowed a lead-off home run to Byron Buxton.

While he did not earn a decision, the Los Angeles Dodgers did beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2, thanks it part to Shohei Ohtani who hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 1st.

Facing a 2-1 count with lead-off man Mookie Betts on first, Ohtani crushed a home run to centerfield to give the Dodgers a lead they would never relinquish.

Ohtani also threw in a casual, but effective bat flip to celebrate giving himself some early run support.

Ohtani has now homered in three straight games to raise his season total to 35. He's fourth in MLB in home runs and just three behind Cal Raleigh who has not hit a home run since the Derby.

Sourav Ganguly also holds posts with the Delhi Capitals teams in the T20 franchise circuit

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Sep-2025Former India captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has filed his nomination for the post of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president. With no other nominations filed, he is expected to take over from his elder brother Snehasish Ganguly when the CAB elections are held on September 22.”I would like to thank everyone for their support,” Ganguly said in a CAB statement on Sunday. “At CAB, there is no opposition. Everyone is a part of this association. We will all work together to take CAB and Bengal cricket ahead.”There are important events coming up – Eden Gardens’ India’s Test match against South Africa, [matches of the men’s] T20 World Cup, Bengal Pro T20 League. I will try and do my best.”Ganguly was in the same post between 2015 and 2019 before becoming the BCCI president, a post he held from 2019 to 2022. Since then, he has been involved with various teams in the T20 franchise circuit.In a recent update, Ganguly took over as the Pretoria Capitals head coach for the fourth season of SA20. He was present at the SA20 auction last week as well. It is his first stint as head coach of a T20 franchise team but has earlier been the mentor of Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL (in 2019).He was appointed director of cricket at JSW Sports (co-owners of the Delhi Capitals teams around the world) last year and worked closely with the DC team at the WPL too. It is unclear how the appointment at CAB will affect his coaching/mentorship roles.

49ers Enterprises’ takeover in the summer was supposed to signify the start of a glorious new era for Rangers, but it has not quite panned out that way so far.

Their first major decision was the appointment of Russell Martin as manager, but he lasted just 123 days in the job, winning only five of 17 games before being dismissed last month.

There are early signs that his successor Danny Röhl is starting to slowly turn things around, claiming a third successive league victory at Dundee on Sunday, albeit the Gers’ nightmarish start to the campaign means they are still down in fourth place, 12 points adrift leaders Hearts.

Irrespective of whom the manager is, if Rangers are going to reclaim a first Premiership title since 2021 any time soon, their recruitment has to improve.

So much money has been wasted in the transfer market, much of it this summer, splashing almost £30m on 13 new recruits, left with very little to show for it, with the team having got significantly worse.

However, there is a clear frontrunner for the club’s biggest waste of money award in recent times, but it isn’t going where you might think.

Rangers' attacking options compared to 2024/25

Last season, Rangers boasted a genuinely frightening front three, all of whom were allowed to depart over the summer.

Václav Černý did not return, following the expiration of his loan from Wolfsburg, instead moving to Beşiktaş.

Meantime, Hamza Igamane was sold to Lille for £10.4m, while Cyriel Dessers departed for Greece, joining Panathinaikos for a reported fee of around £3.5m.

The table below documents just how prolific the trio were last season.

As the table documents, this departed trio scored 55% of all 115 goals Rangers bagged across all competitions last season, as well as 14 of the 20 they scored in Europe, with the Gers making a run to the Europa League quarter-finals.

Thus, Černý, Dessers and Igamane were always going to be a tough trio to follow, with Rangers splashing around £16m on a new quartet in an attempt to do just that, but their attacking options have unquestionably been weakened.

Djeidi Gassama, in fairness, has looked pretty bright, scoring his sixth of the season at the weekend, albeit he is currently not at Černý’s level, while Oliver Antman, despite a scintillating debut, has done little since.

In terms of pure centre-forwards, Bojan Miovski, who joined from Girona for £2.6m, is yet to recapture the form he showed at Aberdeen, while the signing of Youssef Chermiti remains baffling.

After the Portuguese striker failed to score a single goal during two seasons at Everton, Kevin Thelwell, who had initially brought him to Merseyside, decided to sign him again, agreeing to pay the Toffees £8m, potentially rising to £10m with add-ons, making him the club’s second-most expensive signing in history, behind only Tore André Flo in 2000.

Chermiti did open his Rangers account against Kilmarnock during Röhl’s first Premiership match in charge, but has squandered numerous gilt-edged opportunities, with many concluding that he simply is not worth the huge investment.

Röhl must see something in the 21-year-old, however, considering he has started four of the last five matches, but the jury is not so much still out on Chermiti, they’re more on a proverbial break.

At least the striker is starting regularly and contributing that way – the same cannot be said of another expensive signing, saving him from the unwanted worst recent signing accolade, which surely only has one clear winner.

Rangers' worst value for money signing

A player who officially joined Rangers this summer is Óscar Cortés, albeit he had been on loan at the club since 1 February, making him the forgotten man.

When he initially arrived in Glasgow, he did so to plenty of excitement, having been one of the best players at the under-20 World Cup in the summer of 2023, scoring four goals and registering two assists as Colombia reached the quarter-finals, picking up the Bronze Boot, with scout António Mango thereby asserting that he was an “insane talent” who “would be ideal for Liverpool”.

He joined Rangers on loan from Ligue 1 side Lens with an obligation to buy, while the Rangers Journal calling him a “very promising young winger”, who will “provide pace, power and… goal contributions” to the Gers’ forward line.

However, this is certainly not how events have transpired.

To date, Cortés has made just 21 appearances for the Light Blues, totalling 764 minutes, not even named among the substitutes on 58 occasions, usually due to injury.

The Colombian international scored just a solitary goal for the goal, this a sweet right-footed strike during a 5-0 demolition of Hearts just a few weeks after his arrival.

Due to the obligation to buy clause, despite his lack of activity, Rangers were forced to buy Cortés for £4.5m in the summer, making him one of their most expensive signings of all-time.

He actually started August’s League Cup tie against Alloa Athletic at left-back, his only start of the campaign, before being loaned out to Segunda División side Sporting Gijón.

Well, he is yet to make much impact in Spain’s second-tier, seeing just 92 league minutes for los Rojiblancos to date, earning his first start against Mirandés last Friday night, albeit he was hooked at half time, as his team were defeated 2-1.

Seemingly unlikely to revive his career at El Molinón, Cortés has to be considered one of Rangers’ worst value for money signings ever.

Having paid £4.5m to secure his signature, Football Transfers estimate that his value has already dropped to £3m and is on a downward trajectory.

Thus, if Rangers are going to get back to dominating Scottish football, they can ill-afford many more transfer missteps such as this.

Bassey 2.0: Rohl must unleash Rangers "colossus" who can end Djiga's stay

With Nasser Djiga continuing to underwhelm in a Rangers jersey, should Danny Röhl unleash his centre-back “colossus” who can replicate Calvin Bassey?

By
Ben Gray

Nov 12, 2025

Barcelona have finally received the kind of news they have been waiting months for. Pedri’s accelerated recovery puts him on course to face Chelsea in a crucial Champions League clash, Joan Garcia is set to return after the break, Raphinha has also entered the final phase of his rehabilitation, with their injury returns coming at an ideal time for manager Hansi Flick.

• Pedri’s fast-tracked return ahead of Chelsea clash

  Pedri’s injury during the El Clasico loss to Madrid was one of the defining blows of Barcelona’s turbulent season. The midfielder tore the distal biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh, a serious hamstring injury that was expected to leave him out for six weeks. The timeline meant missing vital Champions League fixtures and the entire November international window, depriving Barca of the player who dictates tempo, links phases, and provides balance in midfield.

  In his absence, Barcelona visibly suffered. Without Pedri’s positional intelligence and control, their build-up became erratic, transitions slower, and Flick’s game model lost its anchor. Matches against Club Brugge and league opponents highlighted how heavily the side still leans on his presence.

  However, in a major and somewhat unexpected twist, Pedri has responded extremely well to treatment, allowing Barcelona’s medical staff to accelerate his reintegration. Journalist Xavi Campos confirmed that he is now expected to be available for the Champions League clash against Chelsea on November 25 in a match that could decide top spot in the table. Barcelona will not risk him against Athletic Club, but the plan is clear: Pedri will be eased in at Stamford Bridge.

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  Joan Garcia’s return restores stability between the posts

  If Pedri’s injury hurt Barcelona’s structure, Garcia’s absence damaged their foundations. Before tearing his medial meniscus in late September, the 24-year-old was in outstanding form: seven matches, three clean sheets, only five goals conceded.

  His injury, which required arthroscopic surgery on September 27, came at the worst possible moment. Barcelona had begun to settle defensively, and Garcia’s chemistry with the back line was improving every week. His replacement, Wojciech Szczesny, offered experience but struggled to replicate Garcia’s calm presence. Over nine matches, Barca conceded far more chances, lacked assurance in build-up, and visibly missed their first-choice keeper.

  The international break, however, has worked in Barcelona’s favour. With no competitive fixtures, Garcia has been able to use the fortnight to complete the final stages of his rehabilitation without pressure. Reports now confirm he is fully recovered and expected to start against Athletic Bilbao when La Liga resumes.

• Raphinha enters the decisive phase of his recovery

  The international break also offered Barcelona something they have rarely enjoyed this season: a quiet training environment with no new injuries and even better, clear signs of progress. The most encouraging update concerns Raphinha, who has officially entered the final phase of his recovery.

  The winger has been working individually at Ciutat Esportiva, focusing on strength, explosiveness and controlled workload to avoid setbacks. With only a handful of first-team players in training, all eyes shifted to him and every report from inside the club described his evolution as “very positive.” If his progress continues, he is expected to rejoin full sessions right after the international break, giving Flick another guaranteed starter during a period in which rotation will be unavoidable.

  His comeback also arrives at a moment when other attacking options, such as Lamine Yamal, remain in longer recovery programmes.

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  Rare positive window for Flick amid a season of setbacks

  For coach Flick, the first months of the season have resembled a survival test rather than a smooth managerial transition. Multiple key players dropped out with long-term injuries, medical disagreements created tension with national teams, and constant squad disruption made it nearly impossible to establish a consistent style of play.

  At various points, Flick lost Pedri, Raphinha, Gavi, Garcia, Yamal, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and several defenders. Tactical adjustments became reactive rather than strategic, and results fluctuated as Barcelona tried to adapt.

  This is why the current wave of good news feels so significant. Pedri’s accelerated return, Garcia’s full recovery, and Raphinha’s advancing rehabilitation collectively give Barcelona something they have not had all season which is continuity. Flick will finally be able to work with a more complete squad, regain tactical balance, and build consistency ahead of a demanding fixture calendar.

No team before New Zealand has won a Test by over 300 runs after losing the previous Test in the same series by over 300 runs

Sampath Bandarupalli17-Dec-2024423 – New Zealand’s victory margin of 423 runs in Hamilton is their joint-highest by runs in Test cricket. They won by the same margin runs against Sri Lanka in 2018 in Christchurch after setting a target of 660 runs.1 – New Zealand is the first team to win by a margin of over 300 runs after losing the previous Test in the series by over 300 runs – they lost the second Test of the series against England by 323 runs in Wellington.This has never happened before.England beat Australia by 322 runs in the first match of the 1936-37 Ashes before Australia returned the favour with a 365-run win in the third Test.Related

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• Santner four-for sends England tumbling to 423-run defeat

Twice before has a team won consecutive Tests in a series by over 300 runs.South Africa beat Australia by 307 and 323 runs in consecutive matches in the 1970 home series and did the same in the home series in 2018 with victories by 322 and 492 runs.10 – New Zealand have played ten Tests at Seddon Park since their previous defeat there, in 2012 against South Africa. They have won eight out of these ten, while the other two ended in draws.1 – England is the first team to lose by a margin of 400-plus runs twice in a calendar year – they suffered a 434-run defeat against India in February in Rajkot.Six of the 15 instances of wins by 400-plus runs in Tests have come against England.13 – Men to have scored 40-plus runs and taken three or more wickets in both innings of a Test match, including Mitchell Santner in Hamilton. He is the first player to achieve this feat in men’s Test cricket since Daniel Vettori against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2008.ESPNcricinfo Ltd1925 – Runs by Joe Root in Tests against New Zealand, the most by any batter, surpassing Javed Miandad’s tally of 1919. Root also has the most runs by a batter in Tests against India, with 2846.Root is only the second player to be the leading run-scorer against two different teams. Kumar Sangakkara is the top-scorer in Tests against both Pakistan (2911) and Bangladesh (1816).1006 – Root’s runs in New Zealand in Tests, making him the first visiting player to score over 1000 Test runs in the country. Root also has the most 50-plus scores in New Zealand by a visiting player – he has done it eight times.27 – Test wickets for Santner in 2024, making it the joint-most wickets by a New Zealand spinner in a calendar year since Vettori took 54 in 2008. Vettori also took 27 wickets in Tests in 2009.7 – Hauls of four or more wickets by New Zealand spinners in Tests in 2024. Santner and Ajaz Patel each took three, while Glenn Phillips contributed one. This tally is the second highest for New Zealand’s spinners in a calendar year, behind the nine they recorded in 2008, of which eight were by Vettori.

Tuesday night's clash between the Giants and Rockies got off to a fiery start, as benches cleared and punches were thrown in the first inning after Rafael Devers hit a two-run home run.

Among the players involved, three were ejected from the game: Willy Adames and Matt Chapman from the Giants and Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland.

On Wednesday, MLB issued some discipline to the players involved. Chapman was fined and suspended for one game, though he was the only receive a suspension from the league. The other players, including Freeland, Devers and Adames, were only fined.

Chapman's role in the brawl was a bit more sigificant than others, as he was seen pushing Freeland when the benches had cleared. Despite that, Chapman intends to appeal the suspension, so he'll be available to play Wednesday night.

The amount each player was fined has not yet been reported.

The incident occurred in the top of the first inning, before a single out had even been recorded in Tuesday's game. The divisional rivals play again Wednesday night, with first pitch slated for 8:40 p.m. ET.