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Frustration, deflation for Australia, relief for England as tourists hold out for a draw

Andrew McGlashan09-Jan-2022James Anderson was up against Steven Smith with a Test match on the line. But with a twist. Anderson had the bat in hand and Smith the ball.Smith had just taken his first Test wicket since 2016 when Jack Leach edged to slip meaning England’s last pair needed to survive 12 balls to salvage something from the tour. Stuart Broad did his part by seeing out Nathan Lyon’s last over then Smith, who was bowling because the umpires deemed it too dark for the quicks, had six balls at England’s No. 11.Anderson had been here before, albeit over a much longer period of time. There was the 2009 Ashes when he saved the game alongside Monty Panesar and against Sri Lanka at Headingley in 2014 when he came up an agonising two balls short. He couldn’t have been more surrounded with close fielders as a crowd of 11,660 sounded closer to 30,000.With the final ball blocked and hands shaken there were no wild scenes of celebration. Frustration and a little deflation for Australia, their whitewash dreams ended, and relief for England who up until now had been through a tour to forget.Related

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England cling on for thrilling final-over draw

Anderson and Broad made their way back towards the dressing room. Two giants of English and world cricket who have been through another brutal Ashes experience in Australia. This will be their final tour of the country; for Anderson there will always be 2010-11 but Broad was injured after two matches that year.However, often in England’s struggles since Broad has stood tall and it was the same here, his 35 balls of defiance following a that’ll-show-them five-wicket haul having made his displeasure clear at not playing more. How many more chapters of Ashes history this pair have left remains to be seen, but this was a better moment that had appeared likely.England were much improved in many areas of this game, although Joe Root did wish the top order had got the team to safety in the second innings rather than the tail. Each time calmer waters were approaching, Australia broke through: Zak Crawley was pinned by Cameron Green’s yorker; Root edged the outstanding Scott Boland; Ben Stokes pushed Lyon to slip (Stokes could barely watch the closing moments from the dugout) and Jonny Bairstow’s superb Test was ended with an inside edge to silly point.Before the game Root and stand-in coach Graham Thorpe had called for character and spirit. Stokes with an injured side, Bairstow with a bust thumb and Jos Buttler with a broken finger that has ended his tour typified that. Before the final efforts to block for safety, the stroke play of Bairstow, Stokes and Crawley had shown England the way of putting pressure back on Australia. It came too late for this series, but that should not mean it is disregarded. This was still a full-throttle, high-intensity Test with no quarter given.James Anderson and Stuart Broad embrace after the match•Getty ImagesIt appeared the game had finally been broken open by Pat Cummins’ brilliant 18th over when he beat Buttler with an inswinger – ending a valiant 38-ball stay – then rifled a yorker into Mark Wood’s toe. Wood was in such pain that Bairstow signalled for the review only for the umpire to tell them it had to come from Wood. It was a moot point anyway, he was plumb.It was a breathtaking over on the most challenging day of Cummins’ captaincy career so far. As Justin Langer said two days ago, it won’t always be “butterflies and sunshine.” It was the first time in a Test innings he had claimed two lbws. ESPNcricinfo data said it was only the second time he had taken a wicket with a yorker.Could Cummins and Australia have done more? It was the second time in consecutive SCG Tests that they had been unable to secure victory on the final day. Last season they were denied by India’s bruised and battered middle order and this time it wasn’t vastly different. There were little moments. Three catches went down – Bairstow spilled by Smith at second slip off Starc with 16 overs remaining felt at the end the most crucial. There will be scrutiny, too, of Cummins’s declaration on the fourth evening and whether it was too conservative. It was a little cautious.The pitch did not prove quite as spiteful on the final day as some of the evidence of batters getting whacked on the gloves earlier in the contest may have suggested. Leach, writing himself another little chapter in Ashes folklore, if not on the scale of Headingley, looked largely assured until the late edge off Smith. Mitchell Starc, who has been outstanding this series, was not quite at his best on the final day and Lyon could not quite make one bite and turn enough towards the end as he had done to remove Stokes.Given the way the last two Tests have gone, if light had permitted it would have been no surprise to see Boland had been able to seal victory. He had enjoyed another immense day with the wickets of Haseeb Hameed, Root and Bairstow. His Test bowling average stands at 8.64.After it all, though, the balance of power has not shifted. England could yet be a patched-up side in Hobart depending on how the walking wounded pull up. Australia’s big question is whether they leave out a batter who has just scored two centuries. However, this series needed a better contest. There was only ever going to be one winner on the final day, but for a few hours at least that did not matter. The desire for one side not to lose was just as compelling.

Kyle Schwarber is hitting free agency at the perfect time. The 32-year-old slugger had the best season of his career in 2025 for the Phillies, and now he’ll hit the open market with plenty of suitors.

In a brilliant campaign, Schwarber set career-highs in home runs (56), RBIs (132), hits (145), runs (111), wRC+ (152), and fWAR (4.9). The three-time All-Star DH led the NL in home runs and RBIs and, if anything, looks to be getting better with age. On top of that, he played all 162 games for the first time in his career. He was excellent in 2024 as well, producing a 134 wRC+ and 3.3 fWAR.

Very few players get their biggest contract after the age of 32, but Schwarber will be an exception. He’s got the kind of bat that should play for years moving forward, and given that he’s a DH-only at this point, there are no concerns about his defense falling off.

Here’s a look at four teams that would be a great fit for Schwarber as he looks for his next home.

Philadelphia Phillies

It’s pretty accepted around the league that the most likely scenario is Schwarber staying in Philadelphia. He’s coming off a career year and has become a centerpiece of the organization over the past four years. J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suarez are both free agents, so the Phillies have some number crunching to do to keep their core together. Then there’s the elephant in the room in the form of Bryce Harper trade rumors. If they did move Harper, bringing back Schwarber’s left-handed power would be even more imperative. During his four years in Philly, the slugger has hit 187 home runs and slugged .507. He’s not a bat they can afford to lose. There’s very little to suggest Philly is letting Schwarber walk away.

New York Mets

Mets owner Steve Cohen is willing to spend stupid money to compete for championships, and it would likely take that to land Schwarber. Mets DHs slashed .247/.314/.428, and that .742 OPS ranked 16th in baseball. On top of that, Starling Marte, the team’s primary DH, is hitting free agency. There’s an opening Schwarber could fit into. If the Mets can’t re-sign Pete Alonso, the need to add a big bat will get even more pressing. But even if Alonso is back, Schwarber’s lefty power would be a huge addition.

Detroit Tigers

The Tigers need to add some offense this winter and there’s not a better fit out there than Schwarber. Like the Mets, Detroit’s DHs left much to be desired in 2025. They ranked 20th in OPS (.726) while slashing a weak .226/.309/.417. It was a position the team shared all season, but getting one guy to step in and provide stability could be a huge benefit. Schwarber is a veteran with a World Series ring, and he did it while teammates with Detroit shortstop Javy Baez. It’s also worth noting, Schwarber grew up in neighboring Ohio, went to Indiana and came up with the Cubs. He has deep midwestern roots.

Cincinnati Reds

Speaking of midwestern roots. Schwarber grew up a Reds fan and he has teased the idea of playing for his hometown team. And, hey, let’s not write this off completely. Cincinnati almost certainly won’t spend money this offseason, so it might feel like a long shot, but the Reds shocked everyone and made the playoffs in 2025. They could have something brewing and bringing Schwarber back would show they’re serious about winning. I don’t think there’s really any chance of this happening, but he would be an incredible fit with that team and in that ballpark.

عبر محمود عبد الرازق شيكابالا لاعب الزمالك الأسبق، عن غضبه بعد خروج منتخب مصر من منافسات بطولة كأس العرب والهزيمة بثلاثية نظيفة أمام الأردن في ختام مرحلة المجموعات.

وقال شيكابالا في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة ام بي سي مصر2: “مبروك لمنتخب الأردن، فقد استحقّوا الفوز، وأودّ أن طرح سؤالاً على المسؤولين عن كرة القدم في مصر، ماذا استفدنا من هذه البطولة؟، وجميع المنتخبات استفادت من كأس العرب”.

طالع.. فيديو | بهزيمة وتعادلين.. منتخب مصر يودع كأس العرب بالخسارة بثلاثية أمام الأردن

وواصل: “نحن نسير بلا هدف، وخضنا ثلاث نسخ من كأس العالم للناشئين، وجميعها انتهت بالخروج من الدور الأول”.

وأردف: “كنا كـ جمهور أكثر حماسًا من اللاعبين والمسؤولين أنفسهم، والناس تقابلنا لتسأل أهذا هو منتخب مصر؟ لقد ظهرنا بشكل سيء للغاية”.

وأكمل: “لو كنا قد أجّلنا مباراتي بيراميدز في الدوري، ماذا كان سيحدث؟، فقد اعتدنا التأجيل لأسبوع وأسبوعين وشهر كامل”.

وأتم: “ذهبتُ إلى المغرب وشعرت بالحزن لما وصل إليه الحال، فماذا سنفعل؟ هل سنظل على هذا الوضع؟ الناس تكاد تموت من شدة ما شاهدوه”.

Bournemouth are next on the agenda for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United, with intrigue mounting over just who the Portuguese will have at his disposal on Monday night, not least in the forward areas.

Indeed, it has yet to be confirmed whether Bryan Mbeumo and Amad – alongside Noussair Mazraoui – will be in line to feature for the final time before heading off to AFCON, albeit with the trio pictured in first-team training on Thursday.

Among those not involved by all accounts, however, was £74m man, Benjamin Sesko, with it yet to be seen whether the Slovenian will make his return after sustaining a knee injury against Tottenham Hotspur last month.

The 22-year-old – who has scored just twice following his summer arrival from RB Leipzig – limped off in that 2-2 draw in north London, having squandered two potential openings following his introduction off the bench.

Regardless of his early “struggles”, as noted by Amorim, the loss of United’s number 30 remains a blow considering the lack of genuine alternatives, with Joshua Zirkzee a self-described ‘nine-and-a-half’.

That burden and reliance on Sesko could be aided in 2026, however, with a new centre-forward perhaps on the agenda.

Man Utd's search for a striker

There was talk of moving for another Premier League proven figure like Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha, in the form of Ollie Watkins over the summer, before Jason Wilcox and co ultimately settled on a long-term gamble, in the form of Sesko.

That decision, while still perhaps too soon to judge, has potentially backfired as far as INEOS are concerned, with Sesko yet to prove that he can be the man to end United’s long-standing number nine woes.

Not since the days of Robin van Persie has any Red Devil hit 20 Premier League goals in a season, with Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund notably scoring just seven top-flight goals between them in 2024/25.

Transfer Focus

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

With that in mind, Caught Offside are reporting that United could be in the mix for further reinforcement at the top end of the pitch, having joined Chelsea in the race for Strasbourg striker, Joaquin Panichelli.

As per the report, it is the west Londoners who are leading the race for the Argentine’s signature, due to their BlueCo connections, although the Old Trafford side – alongside Aston Villa – are believed to have indirectly expressed their interest via intermediaries.

Enzo Maresca’s side, clearly, hold the advantage, yet if INEOS can lodge a suitable bid, they could provide Amorim with a wildcard Sesko upgrade.

How Panichelli compares to Sesko

There’s no suggestion that Sesko should be written off already, with United’s £74m investment highlighting their plan to back the young striker to be the main man later down the line, if not necessarily this season.

As was felt by Hojlund before him, however, he can’t shoulder the goalscoring responsibility on his own, having yet to prove he is a truly clinical and consistent striker.

The one-time Red Bull Salzburg starlet’s tally of two goals makes for grim reading with the New Year approaching, with Panichelli, meanwhile, regarded as “one of the most in-form strikers in Europe right now”, in the view of scout Antonio Mango.

The 23-year-old forward has enjoyed a real breakout season under the watchful eye of Liam Rosenior, having already scored nine goals in just 15 Ligue 1 outings in 2025/26.

It must be noted that he hasn’t scored in any of his last four, although, as seen below, only five strikers across Europe’s top five leagues have bettered his tally to date, further supporting Mango’s standout claim.

Harry Kane

17

Kylian Mbappe

16

Erling Haaland

15

Ferran Torres

11

Igor Thiago

11

Joaquin Panichelli

9

Esteban Lepaul

8

Robert Lewandowski

8

Jonathan Burkardt

8

Vedat Muriqi

8

* Europe’s top 5 leagues

A true, old-fashioned centre-forward, where Panichelli also catches the eye due to his work ethic when leading the line, ranking in the top 2% of European forwards for interceptions and the top 7% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

For comparison, Sesko ranks in the just the bottom 35% and the bottom 12% for those same two metrics, respectively, albeit while unsurprisingly ranking in the top 22% for aerial duels won.

It’s not as if the Strasbourg man’s form is a flash in the pan either, having netted 20 league goals in Spain last season for CD Mirandes, while on loan from Alaves.

Having been in red-hot form in front of goal over the last 18 months, the 6 foot 3 marksman could represent a left-field solution to Amorim’s centre-forward woes, provided United can see off Chelsea in the tussle for his signature.

Sesko might require patience, but if the Red Devils are after someone to make an immediate impact, Panichelli might just be that.

Bruno 2.0: Man Utd accelerate talks to sign "best CM prospect in the world"

A successor to Bruno Fernandes could be on the cards in 2026 for Manchester United.

ByRobbie Walls 4 days ago

After spending a reported £446m on new additions during the summer transfer window, the majority of pundits across the country expected Liverpool to retain their Premier League title.

Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak’s arrivals saw the hierarchy break the Reds’ transfer record on two separate occasions, subsequently sending out a huge message to the rest of the division.

However, Arne Slot has so far been unable to find the winning formula with his big-money additions, as seen by the club’s recent form within England’s top-flight.

His side have lost six of their last seven league outings, with their slump seeing the club slide down the table and all but ending their chances of regaining the trophy come the end of May.

It hasn’t derailed their recent ambitions in the transfer market though, which has led to numerous high-profile names being linked with a winter switch to Anfield.

Liverpool’s hunt for new additions in January

Over recent weeks, Liverpool have been just one side mentioned over a possible move to land AZ Alkmaar wonderkid Kees Smit in the upcoming window.

The Dutch attacking midfielder has massively impressed in 2025/26 to date, subsequently registering six combined goals and assists in his 19 appearances across all competitions.

A £25m price tag has been reported for the 19-year-old, but other sides such as Real Madrid and Manchester United also remain keen on landing his signature in the coming months.

However, Smit isn’t the only player in the Reds’ sights, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo another player who has been strongly touted with a potential move.

According to Fabrizio Romano, numerous members of the club’s hierarchy have already discussed terms with the Cherries over a deal in the January market, having made a move to understand the conditions of the player’s release clause.

He also stated that a deal is expected to cost around £65m- a fee that would activate Semenyo’s clause – but that other Premier League clubs, such as Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, are also closely monitoring the situation.

Why Semenyo could get Isak firing at Liverpool

As previously mentioned, spirits were at an all-time high on Deadline Day for Liverpool supporters after a deal was finally announced for striker Isak from Newcastle United.

The saga dragged on for months before it reached its conclusion, with Slot’s men having to fork out an English record £125m for the services of the Swedish international.

His tally of 23 league goals last campaign made many think the Reds had finally found the number nine they have craved to complete the club’s impressive attacking department.

However, the 26-year-old’s move to Merseyside has been nothing short of a disaster, with the striker only netting one goal in his first nine appearances across all competitions.

Isak’s recent showing against Nottingham Forest further highlighted his struggles, with the talisman only notching a total of 14 touches before being replaced in the 68th minute.

He’s massively struggled to make the desired impact at Anfield to date, but that could change should the hierarchy complete a deal for Semenyo this winter.

The Ghanaian international, who’s primarily a left-winger, has massively impressed at the Vitality this campaign, as seen by his tally of six goals and three assists in his 11 outings.

However, his underlying stats further highlight the quality he possesses, with such numbers certainly aiding Isak in his own quest for success on Merseyside.

Semenyo, who’s been dubbed “the best winger in the country” by former footballer Chris Waddle, has completed 1.9 take-ons per 90 – often able to get into dangerous areas with the ball at his feet.

Games played

11

Goals & assists

9

Take-ons completed

1.9

Chances created

1.4

Progressive passes

3.6

Passes into opposition box

1.6

Shots on target

1.3

Recoveries made

5.3

He’s also been able to add the end product to his mazy runs in the Premier League, as seen by his tally of 1.4 chances created per 90 – not to mention his goal contribution tally.

The 25-year-old has registered 3.6 progressive passes and 1.6 passes into the opposition box per 90, with such numbers potentially falling perfectly into the hands of Isak to turn around his dismal start to life at the club.

£65m in the modern market is an excellent price for a player of Semenyo’s quality, but it remains to be seen how much the board are willing to spend in January after their recent spending spree.

However, if the club are to get Isak fully up to speed in the near future, he will desperately need added support, which could make the Bournemouth star the perfect man to ignite his stint in the North West.

Worse than Konate: Slot must drop 2/10 Liverpool flop who lost 100% duels

Ibrahima Konate was not the only culprit during Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest.

2 ByMatt Dawson Nov 23, 2025

MLB Network released their annual list of the league's top 100 players earlier this month, and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout came in at No. 39. This was the lowest Trout has been ranked in his career. Trout was previously left off the list prior to the 2012 season despite making his MLB debut in 2011, as he was not officially considered a rookie until the 2012 season.

Since winning the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2012, Trout ranked top-two in MLB's rankings in every season from 2013 to '22, including first on eight occasions. He ranked third in '23, and dropped to 12th in '24, but was still ranked as a top-15 player. Heading into 2025, Trout has fallen to 39th.

Though Trout tries to stay off social media, he acknowledged Wednesday that he has seen the ranking. "They're going off the last couple years and I haven't been out there," Trout told the media. "That's their ranking, I know where I stand."

When asked whether the ranking gives him more motivation, Trout said, "Oh yeah. … Stuff like that I think fires you up a little bit."

The ranking is not necessarily a shock when considering Trout's recent injury limitations. Trout tore his meniscus a month into the 2024 season, causing him to miss the rest of the year. The injury also caused Trout to miss the MLB All-Star Game for the first time in his career.

Before the injury, Trout was among the league leaders in home runs early in the season. The Angels superstar has unfortunately struggled to stay on the field for a full season, missing significant time in each of the last four seasons. The 2024 season marked the fewest games he has played in a single year.

The Angels are looking to mitigate Trout's injuries going forward, and Trout will move from center field to right field this season in an effort to stay healthier. If Trout can play the entire season and return to his usual form, it would not be surprising to see him rise back up to the top 10.

عبر ناصر ماهر، لاعب وسط الزمالك، عن إحباطه بسبب عدم اختياره ضمن قائمة منتخب مصر لمعسكر شهر نوفمبر الجاري والذي سيقام في دولة الإمارات، استعدادًا لمنافسات كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025.

وكتب ناصر ماهر عبر حسابه بموقع “إنستجرام”: “أنا آسف إني بنزل الكلام ده، لأنه مش طبعي خالص، بس بصراحة الوضع محبط جدا بالنسبة لي بسبب قائمة منتخب مصر”.

وتابع: “بكل صدق، أنا شايف إني أستحق أكون متواجد على الأقل ضمن المنتخب، خصوصا إن الموضوع واضح إنه مش فني خالص، لأن كل النقاد والمحللين والصحفيين والجماهير المصرية حتي الناس العادية بيتكلموا كويس جدا عن أدائي في الفترة الأخيرة”.

طالع أيضًا | قائمة منتخب مصر لمعسكر نوفمبر.. عودة نجم الزمالك

واختتم: “بصراحة، اللي حصل ظلم ظلم كبير جدا ، وده مالوش علاقة بالكورة، المجهود اللي بذلته كله يروح كده على الفاضي، وأحلامي تضيع بكل سهولة كأنها حاجة عادية، رغم إني عملت كل اللي المفروض أعمله.. بجد حرام اللي بيحصل ده يحبط أي جبل”.

ومن المقرر أن ينطلق المعسكر في الفترة ما بين 10 إلى 18 نوفمبر الجاري، ويأتي في إطار استعدادات المنتخب للمشاركة في بطولة كأس الأمم الإفريقية 2025.

وتنطلق بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا يوم 21 ديسمبر المُقبل وتنتهي في 18 يناير من عام 2026 في المغرب.

ويتواجد منتخب مصر على رأس المجموعة الثانية في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا، رفقة جنوب إفريقيا وأنجولا وزيمبابوي.