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Tottenham’s miserable form under Thomas Frank continues following a lacklustre 2-1 loss at home to Fulham on Saturday night, with the home side subjected to a chorus of boos at the full-time whistle.

Tottenham 1-2 Fulham as tepid Spurs form piles pressure on Frank

The visitors delivered a devastating early double blow to extend the North London club’s torrid run and raise fresh questions about Frank’s ability to arrest their alarming slide.

Fulham raced into a commanding two-goal advantage within the opening six minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, capitalizing ruthlessly on defensive frailties that continue plaguing Spurs despite their manager’s persistent tactical tinkering.

Kenny Tete opened the scoring after just four minutes when his speculative effort took a wicked deflection off Destiny Udogie’s leg, completely wrong-footing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and nestling into the bottom corner. The Italian stopper, helpless against the deflection, barely had time to recover before Fulham doubled their advantage.

Harry Wilson compounded Tottenham’s defensive nightmare just two minutes later, capitalizing on catastrophic goalkeeping from Vicari

The Welshman caught Vicario in no man’s land with a long-range chip from distance, and given there were no defenders there to clear it off the line, the ball floated into a completely empty net.

Tottenham dominated possession throughout the opening period but created virtually nothing of substance, managing just two shots and accounting for a paltry 0.01 expected goals during the first half.

Frank introduced attacking reinforcements during the second half, withdrawing Joao Palhinha, Richarlison and Archie Gray for Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons and Rodrigo Bentancur around the hour mark.

The changes provided brief encouragement when Mohammed Kudus lashed home a powerful half-volley in the 59th minute — his first at home in a Spurs shirt — which reduced the deficit and offered fleeting hope of a comeback.

Tottenham hold talks with Arsenal target as Frank 'craves his progressive passing'

Spurs need more creativity.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 28, 2025

However, Fulham expertly managed the remaining half-hour, introducing Sasa Lukic and Emile Smith Rowe to shore up midfield and nullify Tottenham’s increasingly desperate attacking thrusts.

Despite introducing forwards Mathys Tel and additional creative players, Spurs lacked the quality and conviction required to salvage anything from another disappointing home performance.

The defeat represents Tottenham’s fourth loss in their last six matches across all competitions, following humiliating setbacks against Arsenal (4-1) and PSG (5-3) in the last week.

The pressure is now seriously on Frank, who is attracting real scrutiny as critics question whether he is really the right man for the Spurs job.

Jamie O'Hara loses it with Xavi Simons in Tottenham defeat to Fulham

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, pundit Jamie O’Hara picked out substitute Simons for criticism alongside Frank, despite the fact he only had half an hour to make an impact.

The former Spurs midfielder was livid with Simons following repeated failed flick attempts when the north Londoners were chasing the game at 2-1, with O’Hara expressing his outrage at the wasteful attacking play.

After his disasterclass in goal, keeper Vicario was also booed by supporters nearly every time he touched the ball, with the tension among fans now reaching breaking point as Spurs continue to underperform.

Simons, who could end up costing the club £125 million over a potential seven-year contract when you factor in wages, agent’s fees and add-ons, needs to find his feet in England soon or risk being seen as a major flop.

The Dutchman has scarcely been given a chance by Frank lately, but the fact he’s only been given a few minutes here and there should send a pretty clear message.

Simons was often bullied off the ball against Fulham and failed to make the desired impact, even despite all of his efforts to get into dangerous positions.

For Spurs, the home curse continues, and no other ever-present Premier League side boasts a worse record on their own turf than Tottenham in 2025.

Sellout crowd disappointed as heavy and persistent rain prevents any action at Malahide

Matt Roller19-Sep-2025Persistent rain wiped the second of three T20Is between Ireland and England out before a ball was bowled. Heavy overnight rain in the Dublin area left patches of the outfield totally sodden at Malahide Cricket Club, and a planned 1.30pm inspection was pushed back indefinitely until umpires Aidan Seaver and Jonathan Kennedy eventually called the game off at 3.47pm.It made for an anticlimactic afternoon, not least with a “sold out” sign plastered onto the ticket booth and a crowd of more than 4,000 expected. After three washouts against West Indies, Ireland have now lost four out of their eight home men’s internationals this summer to the weather; the only consolation is that the forecast for Sunday’s match is more promising.Brian MacNeice, Cricket Ireland’s chair, said that their insurance policy mitigated the financial impact of the abandonment. “We have a policy that covers it,” MacNeice said. “There’s no financial impact to us, other than potentially a slightly more expensive insurance policy next year.”A member of the groundstaff tries to dry the outfield•Sportsfile via Getty Images

The wash-out was particularly frustrating for Ireland as this series was initially pencilled in for June, only to be shifted back to September at the ECB’s request. “Even in the middle of the summer, you can’t predict that you’re going to get perfect weather,” MacNeice said. “We didn’t have a problem having the games here at this time.”England had planned to rotate their side for the second T20I, with Sonny Baker and Jordan Cox both in line to feature before the weather intervened. They may win opportunities on Sunday, but one man who will not is the uncapped Scott Currie, who has been released from the squad to play for Hampshire in Saturday’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup final at Trent Bridge.Wednesday’s series opener saw England take a 1-0 lead over Ireland, chasing 197 with 14 balls to spare thanks to Phil Salt’s innings of 89. It meant a winning start to Jacob Bethell’s short tenure as stand-in captain, deputising for the rested Harry Brook.

No shortage of allrounders in the final XI and perhaps a controversial call or two

Andrew McGlashan26-Oct-2024Ahead of the tenth season of the WBBL we thought it would be fun to select an all-time XI. The aim was to try and pick a balanced side with players as close to their usual positions as possible, or a role that they could fill. There are a few particularly notable omissions, with the top-order and spin options especially stacked.

Beth Mooney

The leading run-scorer in the competition’s history heading into the tenth season, Mooney’s consistency has been remarkable. Only twice has she averaged under 42 for a season; one of those was the first year of WBBL in 2015-16 and the other was 2018-19 when she was still able to score a hundred and then play the defining innings in the final for Brisbane Heat. Her most prolific campaign was 2019-20 with 743 runs at 74.30 – she has followed that with four more seasons of over 500 runs following her move to Perth Scorchers.Related

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Alyssa Healy

In this XI, Healy forms her international opening combination with Mooney. It won’t always be about volume of runs for Healy – the way she plays means low scores are part of the risk – but when things click she can be unstoppable. She has the most centuries (five) in WBBL history and the second-highest strike rate of those with at least 1000 runs. In 2019, during which she added a tournament-record stand of 199 with Ellyse Perry, and then 2020, Healy had the eye-watering strike-rates of 155.69 and 161.44. The following two seasons were less productive (albeit including 107 off 64 balls against Perth Scorchers) and the dog-bite incident meant she missed all but one game last summer.

Grace Harris

One of the WBBL’s most iconic figures. Harris’ three centuries all come with great stories: she struck the first in the competition’s history, then made the fastest off 42 balls and last season surged to 136 off 59 balls with one of her sixes coming with a broken bat. “Stuff hit, I’ll hit it anyway,” was the viral quote. As with a number of players in this side, there is a high level of risk vs reward and there will be lows amid the highs. But Harris can win a match on her own.Sophie Devine has regularly made an impact with bet and ball•Getty Images

Sophie Devine

The most formidable allrounder in WBBL – and there’s good competition for that title. An ever-present across the nine seasons, split between Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers, things started a little slowly for Devine in the first year but then she found lift-off with 103 not out off 48 balls against Hobart Hurricanes. Barring a tough 2022 season, she has remained ultra consistent. The 2019 edition was a stunning one where she averaged 76.90 with the bat and claimed 19 wickets. She remains the only player in the tournament with a half-century and a five-wicket haul in the same game.

Ashleigh Gardner

It’s possible to argue that Gardner has underperformed overall with the bat in the WBBL. But her strike rate remains in the top 10 for those with at least 1000 runs, and in the middle order it’s about the impact a player can have over a shorter period. Initially it was Gardner’s batting that led the way – including the magnificent 114 off 52 balls against in 2017 – but the last two seasons has seen her offspin excel. In the 2022 edition she managed to bring both aspects together with a player of the tournament return where she averaged 28.25 with the bat, alongside a strike rate of 150.66, and claimed 23 wickets.

Marizanne Kapp

Kapp gets into the side for her bowling, which includes the stand-out economy rate of 5.59 – the second best in WBBL history with a minimum of 200 overs – while providing a middle-order safety net with the bat. Until last season, where she admitted she had a torrid time at Sydney Thunder, Kapp had been the epitome of consistency. Her peak all-round seasons came in 2019 and 2020 when she averaged 32.61 with the bat and 19.82 with the ball across the two editions for Sydney Sixers. Then, having moved to Perth Scorchers for the 2021 season, she was player of the match in the final against Adelaide Strikers.Amanda-Jade Wellington has produced some remarkable figures•Getty Images

Jess Jonassen

The leading wicket-taker in the competition, Jonassen has been an ever-present for Brisbane Heat. She has never had a poor season and peaked with a brilliant all-round double of 419 runs at 38.09 (strike rate 133.01) and 21 wickets at 19.19 in the second of their back-to-back titles in 2019. In the last two seasons she has taken a combined tally of 70 wickets across 46 games.

Sammy-Jo Johnson

The pace-bowling allrounder has been a key figure in two tournament deciders for two teams: in 2019 she broke open Heat’s run chase with 27 off 11 balls against Adelaide Strikers, then in 2020, having moved home to Sydney Thunder, took 2 for 11 off her four overs to set-up victory over Melbourne Stars to take the title. That capped a season where she was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. In the 2018-19 edition, the first of Heat’s back-to-back titles, she produced a memorable all-round display with 260 runs and 20 wickets, becoming the first player to complete a 250 run/20 wicket double for a season. Last summer she joined the century of wickets club.

Amanda-Jade Wellington

It’s a tough race to be the legspinner in this team. In another era, Wellington would have played a lot more for Australia. Few bowl a harder-spun leg-break. Instead, she has been an integral figure for Adelaide Strikers with the last few seasons seeing her game go to another level. Across Strikers’ back-to-back titles she has taken 46 wickets. For 12 months she held the best figures in the tournament’s history with 5 for 8 against Heat in the 2021 Eliminator final, a return she matched against Renegades a year later, and she was player of the match in the 2023 final. Across all nine seasons only once (2016-17) has she not taken at least 10 wickets.

Molly Strano

Like Wellington, Strano is unfortunate not to have played more international cricket. She led the way from the WBBL’s launch, initially for Melbourne Renegades, and was the first bowler to reach 100 wickets. In 2019-2020 she was the leading wicket-taker in the season with 24 and only once has taken fewer than 13 in a campaign. Her best figures of 5 for 15 came in the first season of WBBL against Melbourne Stars

Megan Schutt

As one of the leading pace bowlers in the world for a number of years, it’s little surprise that Schutt is the most successful quick in the WBBL although it is over the last two seasons where her wicket-taking numbers have really exploded including the 6 for 19 which are the best figures in the competition. While she wasn’t always a prolific wicket-taker, her economy rate has often been a standout: as low as 5.06 during the 2016-17 season never higher than 6.46 in any edition.

Sam Whiteman struck a century for Western Australia but the home side paced their chase perfectly on the final day

AAP07-Dec-2025Victoria secured a memorable Sheffield Shield victory over Western Australia, pulling off a tricky run chase of 195 late in the final session at the MCG.Unheralded opener Blake Macdonald posted his maiden first-class century to guide Victoria home by six wickets in the final minutes of day four on Sunday.Related

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The 27-year-old, who grew up in Canberra and played for New South Wales before moving to Melbourne, capped off a breakout Shield performance to finish unbeaten on 109 off only 116 balls.Macdonald also top-scored with 79 in Victoria’s first innings of 255 to comfortably claim player of the match honours.Victoria fell into early trouble in their chase at 46 fir 3 when captain Peter Handscomb was knocked over for a duck. But Macdonald combined with Australia white-ball batter Matt Short for a 137-run stand to steer Victoria to their fifth win from six Shield matches this season.With time against them going into tea at 99 for 3, Victoria scored at five runs an over to motor to the target and avoid a draw. Going into the BBL break, they are well clear on top of the ladder and in the box seat to qualify for the final.It was only Macdonald’s second Shield match for the season, since he was dropped after scoring 45 and 30 against South Australia in October. He was averaging 26.23 with a top score of 61 in seven Shield matches before this game.Earlier, an outstanding century from captain Sam Whiteman appeared to go a long way towards helping Western Australia avoid defeat.After slumping to 52 for 4, still trailing Victoria on day three, WA were on track for a heavy defeat. But with rain halting Victoria’s charge on Saturday, Whiteman stepped up to score his 17th first-class century early on the final day.Whiteman fell for 103, while valuable contributions from veteran Hilton Cartwright (43), allrounder Aaron Hardie (33) and wicketkeeper Joel Curtis (28) helped WA to 255.Victoria seamer Sam Elliott worked tirelessly as he enjoyed one of the best games of his first-class career.It was a forgettable return to Shield cricket for Mitchell Marsh, with the Australia white-ball star making only 4 and 9. Marsh had been hoping to press his case for a Test recall, with Australia considering using him for shock value at the top of the order in the Ashes.WA will remain on the bottom of the ladder until at least the Shield’s resumption in February, virtually already out of contention for the final with four matches remaining.

The home side have handed out two debuts for the first time since 2019 while there remains much interest in the Perth pitch

Matt Roller20-Nov-2025

Big picture: England’s perfect storm

The multi-purpose Perth Stadium staged a Metallica concert earlier this month and another heavy-metal tour begins there on Friday morning. No series can compete with the Ashes for anticipation, and months of speculation will finally come to an end when the first ball of the 2025-26 series is bowled in front of a sold-out crowd.The first Test arrives with an unmistakable sense of English optimism, fuelled by the injury status of both teams’ fast bowlers. For once, the absentees are Australian: Pat Cummins (back) and Josh Hazlewood (hamstring) are unavailable, while Jofra Archer and Mark Wood will play in the same team for only the second time in Tests.Related

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It represents the best-case scenario for England, who have spent the last three-and-a-half years under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s leadership building a team capable of competing in Australia. They are both aware that the next seven weeks will provide a lasting verdict on their tenures: McCullum has dubbed it “the biggest series of all of our lives”.Four years ago, England returned from Australia as a broken team, thrashed 4-0 on a tour made even more miserable by oppressive Covid restrictions. Since then, they have changed their approach to become Test cricket’s most aggressive team, with a settled batting line-up and a regenerated bowling attack since the retirements of Stuart Broad and James Anderson.But context is key: even being competitive on this tour would represent a marked improvement from England’s last three away Ashes series. The scarcity of the draw in the modern era means that they will likely need to win three Tests out of five to regain the urn; they have not managed to win even once in their last 15 in Australia, losing 13.Reports of Australia’s demise are an exaggeration: they have won 14 out of 18 Tests since the drawn 2023 Ashes in England, and are unbeaten in their last six series at home. Steven Smith, their stand-in captain, is an all-time great with a formidable record against England; in Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, they can boast two of the four Australians with over 400 Test wickets.Ready to go: Steven Smith and Ben Stokes pose ahead of the Ashes•Getty Images

But there are hints of vulnerability, not least with Australia fielding two debutants in an Ashes Test for the first time since January 2011. Jake Weatherald will become Usman Khawaja’s sixth opening partner since David Warner’s retirement, and Brendan Doggett is the first fast bowler to win an Australia cap in four years.Two years ago, Australia took a 2-0 lead in England but were clinging onto a 2-2 draw by the end of the tour, ultimately saved from a series defeat by the rain in Manchester. It left the clash of styles between England’s power and Australia’s pragmatism in an unsatisfactory stalemate, whetting the appetite for this rematch.This is the first time since 1982-83 that an Ashes series in Australia has not started at the Gabba, with Perth now locked in as the host of the first Test of the summer. Starc said on Wednesday that Australia’s players would rather be in Brisbane, while England will hope that a change of venue brings a change in their fortunes.

Form guide

Australia: WWWLW
England: LDWLWJofra Archer prepares for the opening Test•PA Photos/Getty Images

In the spotlight: Mitchell Starc and Jofra Archer

In the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc is the last man standing in Australia’s long-established pace trio, a fact which he joked made him feel “old” after training on Wednesday. He is the undisputed leader of the attack, and England’s approach against him will be instructive: Starc leaked 4.78 runs per over in the 2023, but was the leading wicket-taker on either side despite missing the first Test. If Australia bowl first, memories will immediately return to the first ball of the 2021-22 series, when he cleaned up Rory Burns at the Gabba to set the tone for a 4-0 win.He may only have played two Tests in the last four years, but Jofra Archer‘s gradual comeback to international cricket after back and elbow injuries has culminated in him being available this week. It will be his first Ashes appearance since his maiden Test series six years ago, when he took 22 Australian wickets at 20.27 and hit Steven Smith on the head with a lightning-fast bouncer at Lord’s. He is expected to open the bowling alongside Gus Atkinson, and Ben Stokes plans to use him in “short, sharp bursts” to break games open. Archer’s return to red-ball cricket in the English summer was a reminder of his potency against left-handers, and Australia are expected to field five in their top eight.

Team news: Another batting reshuffle for Australia, England set for all pace

Australia will hand debuts to two 31-year-olds: opening batter Jake Weatherald, the top run-scorer in last season’s Sheffield Shield, and seamer Brendan Doggett. There is also a recall for Marnus Labuschagne, who was the spare batter during their most recent series against West Indies, with Cameron Green shuffling down to No. 6 at Beau Webster’s expense. Steven Smith returns as captain in Cummins’ absence, leading Australia for the 41st time in Tests.Australia: 1 Jake Weatherald, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Nathan Lyon, 10 Scott Boland, 11 Brendan Doggett.England named a 12-man squad on Wednesday, but went no futher, with Shoaib Bashir expected to be the one to miss out. Mark Wood has been cleared to play what will be his first match since February’s Champions Trophy – and his first Test match since last August – after hamstring soreness last week, and is set to form part of a five-man, all-pace attack. Ollie Pope, who captained their most recent Test against India, has been replaced by Harry Brook as vice-captain but retains his spot at No. 3 after pressure from Jacob Bethell.England (probable): 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Gus Atkinson, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Jofra Archer.1:45

Will Australian pitches affect England’s Ashes chances?

Pitch and conditions

Curator Isaac McDonald predicts that his pitch will offer fast bowlers the “pace and bounce” that has long been associated with cricket in Western Australia, and that cracks could open up as the Test wears on. The weather has been relatively cool in Perth in the build-up and will continue throughout, with forecast highs of 28 degrees Celsius and the possibility of occasional showers over the weekend. Around 10,000 England fans are in Perth for the first Test, with more than 40,000 expected to attend across the series.

Stats and trivia

• Australia have won 13 and drawn two of their last 15 men’s Ashes Tests on home soil. Their last defeat to England in Australia was in January 2011.
• Perth last hosted a men’s Ashes Test in 2017/18, when Australia won by an innings and 41 runs at the WACA.
• Each of the five previous men’s Tests staged at Perth Stadium has been won by the team batting first.
• Jofra Archer and Mark Wood have only played once together previously in Tests, against West Indies in Southampton (July 2020).
• Mitchell Starc needs 13 wickets in the series to overtake Wasim Akram as the most prolific left-arm fast bowler in Test history.
• Brendan Doggett will become the third indigenous man to play for Australia in men’s Tests, after Jason Gillespie and team-mate Scott Boland.

Quotes

“The first three days are sold out, which is outstanding. There’s going to be plenty of viewers on TV, both here and back in England as well, so hopefully we can put on a good show and entertain plenty of people.”
“We’ve obviously come here with a goal, and that goal is to get on that plane in mid-January, returning to England, being Ashes winners. But we know it’s going to be very, very tough.”

It has been a very eventful last 36 hours for the West Indies left-arm spinner

Mohammad Isam21-Oct-2025Akeal Hosein reached his hotel room in Dhaka at 4:00am on Tuesday. The West Indies selectors summoned him for the second ODI, following two injuries in the squad. Hosein joined the team in the bus to the Shere Bangla National Stadium around noon. By the end of the night, he was bowling the Super Over for West Indies, defending ten runs.Hosein had an unfavourable match-up with the left-handed Soumya Sarkar taking strike. He started off with a wide and then a no-ball. Bangladesh got four runs without facing a legal ball. Hosein somehow managed to salvage the over from there, avoiding getting hit for a boundary, even though he did concede one more wide with four needed off the last ball. So he had to go again and this time he kept his lines and gave up just one run.”I don’t think I have anything left in me again, buddy,” Hosein said after bringing West Indies back from the brink to level the series 1-1. “Got to the hotel at 4:00am. But it’s part of the job, and once you commit to something and once you give your word, you better be ready to turn up and give 100%. No excuses, and I almost messed it up, but thankfully, you know, I took the team home in the end.”Hosein is a world-class limited-overs performer but this was his first ODI in two years. Granted he was playing on an absolute, raging turner in Dhaka, he was still under pressure bowling the Super Over.Related

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Hosein managed to get the ball to turn into the left-hander’s body when Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto were on strike. Against Saif Hassan, he bowled over the wicket, not allowing the right-hander to free his arms.”It’s a tricky pitch,” he said. “It’s not one that is turning at a fair pace. The ball is jumping a bit, so for me, to the left-hander, it was definitely to make him hit square. He’s [Sarkar] quite a powerful guy, so I think that if he has arms, he can hit through the line easily.”So, for me, it was just trying to spin the ball from as close as possible on a good length and force him to hit square, because that square boundary was quite big.”Hosein had faced a similar situation, in the Hundred last year. He didn’t have to bowl the Super Over back then, but did bowl the final set that pushed the game into overtime.”I have been in a situation like this,” Hosein said. “It was an Eliminator in the Hundred. And it started off quite similar. I bowled a no-ball. In the Hundred, a no-ball is two [runs]. And I had to defend nine [10] or something like that. And one ball [the no-ball] went for six, and then they needed two [three] off four [five] balls or something.”I remember Chris Jordan coming up to me, and he said, ‘don’t worry, you got this.’ and I said to myself, ‘if he can believe that I have this, with two [three] runs to go, Liam Livingstone, world-class hitter on strike, with four [five] balls to go, if Chris Jordan can believe, why can’t I believe?'”Hosein said that he was surprised not to see Rishad Hossain come out to bat in the Super Over on Tuesday. West Indies believed the lower-order batter who had confidently struck an unbeaten 39 off 14 balls earlier in the game, was the obvious choice for Bangladesh.”Yes, I was a bit surprised. I mean, the guy that seemed to do the most destruction in the match, 39 off about 14 deliveries not out, and he’s not in your Super Over, hitting to the short side where he struck two sixes.”We all were a bit surprised that he didn’t come out at all, and you know, it worked in our favor. He was one of the few guys who sort of packed that power and he had that reach because he’s quite a tall guy.”Sarkar, who was one of Bangladesh’s batters in the Super Over, said that the captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and coach Phil Simmons picked the batters for the Super Over.”The coach and captain took the decision,” Sarkar said. “We actually didn’t know Akeal Hosein would bowl. If two left-handers had gone in, and then an off-spinner came on, we would be in trouble. That’s why there was a lefty and a righty. You’ll see the same with their team; they also batted with a lefty [Sherfane Rutherford] and a righty [Shai Hope].”Hosein also shared the funny story about the unusually black coloured surface used for the first Bangladesh-West Indies ODI on Saturday.”I turned my TV on. The first thing that I did was check my TV, because I thought there was something wrong with it. I thought the color had gone or something like that. The pitch was black, and I was like, ‘surely something is wrong with my television'”, he said.

Bosch, de Klerk, Shangase and Dercksen are also first-timers for an ODI World Cup

Firdose Moonda03-Sep-2025

Karabo Meso, the 17-year-old wicket-keeper batter, will go to her first World Cup after being included in South Africa’s squad for the ODI tournament in India and Sri Lanka which starts later this month.She has just two ODI caps to her name and has played seven senior internationals in all, but has featured in two Under-19 World Cups and won the SA20 Schools title with Steyn City earlier this year. Meso is one of two players who will play at a World Cup for the first time. Offspin-bowling allrounder Nondumiso Shangase, who was recalled to South Africa’s squad in May, is the other.Top-order batter Anneke Bosch and allrounders Nadine de Klerk and Annerie Dercksen will also feature in an ODI World Cup squad for the first time; they have previously been in T20 World Cup squads.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The rest of South Africa’s 15-player group is as expected, led by Laura Wolvaardt with significant experience in different departments. Allrounders Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon and seamer Ayabonga Khaka all played important roles in South Africa reaching the last ODI World Cup semi-finals and will be present again.As reported last week, there was no room for former captain Dane van Niekerk, who was included in a training camp but her international comeback remains a while away.Others present in that camp but not making the squad are batters Lara Goodall and Faye Tunnicliffe, seamer Ayanda Hlubi, legspinner Seshnie Naidu and allrounders Eliz-Mari Marx and Luyanda Ntuza. Miane Smit, an allrounder who bowls offspin, has been included as the lone travelling reserve.”The make-up of the squad is underpinned by the consistent selection process that was adhered to during the recent ICC Women’s Championship cycle, while taking into account the subcontinent conditions and the different characteristics of the group required for a successful tournament of this nature,” Clinton du Preez, South Africa’s convenor of selectors, said.Under head coach Mandla Mashimbyi, SA have lost four ODIs in 10 outings•Cricket South Africa

This will be the first major tournament South Africa will play under head coach Mandla Mashimbyi, who succeeded Hilton Moreeng in a permanent capacity last year. In Mashimbyi’s tenure, South Africa have been inconsistent, with four wins in ten ODIs, including a series win over West Indies in June. Mashimbyi was occasionally without some senior players – such as Kapp for the tri-series in Sri Lanka – but will have one more opportunity to fine-tune his combinations before the tournament starts.South Africa tour Pakistan for three ODIs to be played between September 16 and 22 before moving on to India for their World Cup opener against England. Their recent tournament run has included two ODI World Cup semi-finals and back-to-back T20 World Cup finals, and there is expectation for them to take the next step and claim a cup. Mashimbyi is confident this group of players can deliver.”From the moment I joined this team, and even before my time when the squad went through the qualification phase, it was all about working towards this moment,” Mashimbyi said. “We can look back at the amount of preparation we have put in and know that we have done our best. We are ready to send a squad to the World Cup that will make South Africa proud.”We believe we have the squad of players that can go out there and deliver on the world stage. Now it is all about carrying that belief with us every step of the way, along with the support of the entire nation.”South Africa squad for Women’s ODI World CupLaura Wolvaardt, Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloe Tryon
Travelling reserve: Miane Smit

David Warner made his first half-century in the Hundred to see London Spirit take the spoils against Welsh Fire in Cardiff, despite a thrilling, unbeaten 86 from Jonny Bairstow in response.Like a boxer on the ropes, Bairstow sat back and absorbed the blows as his Fire team fell to 55 for 6 at the halfway point of their reply, before launching a high-octane counterattack that took them close to a famous victory.Bairstow’s 50-ball innings contained six sixes, and saw 74 runs plundered from balls 66 to 95, leaving 17 required off the last five of the innings. As the Sophia Gardens crowd belted out “Wales, Wales, Wales!” it appeared that Bairstow – ably supported by Chris Green – would pull off the comeback but Luke Wood got Spirit over the line.Warner’s innings was a different affair, but was equally effective in driving the visitors – the Australian legend using his experience and nous to work out a defendable total on a track that had something for the bowlers.David Warner made his first fifty of the Hundred•Getty Images

With the ball, before the Bairstow show, Liam Dawson and Richard Gleeson were both parsimonious and though they may briefly have feared that their hard work would be undone it was runs on the board that emerged victorious in the end, Kane Williamson and Justin Langer getting off and running and consigning Fire to a second defeat in two.Warner, the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “That got very close at the end, and credit to the way Jonny and Greeny batted. They were absolutely superb. The partnership they built was fantastic, and what it did do was what we’re trying to do here – entertain the crowd and hopefully everyone was excited by that game.”I think what the guys were saying there was that across the last 25-30 balls it wasn’t that stoppy. It skidded, but it was still slow in the wicket. We tried to execute as well as we could but Jonny was on fire there, he was hitting the ball cleanly and obviously we got over the line but it was a good effort by them.”When you’re out there batting, the five balls and then 10 balls from one end – you think you have to change ends as a batter. I’m getting used to it, but what I am loving is the crowds. It’s fantastic. It’s all about the kids, and us trying to put entertainment on the TV – credit to everyone who came out today, thank you.”This is a really important win for us. We lost our first game at home but we’ve got an away game in Manchester coming up, and hopefully we can tick that off.”

Four memorable India-Australia knockout matches from past Women’s World Cups

Srinidhi Ramanujam29-Oct-20252017 semi-final, DerbyRain, a wet outfield, and fire from Harmanpreet Kaur. She blasted an unbeaten 171 off 115 balls, transforming women’s cricket in India. She walked in with India tottering at 35 for 2 and walked out with Australia in ruins. The first fifty was measured, the next two were mayhem: off 26 balls, then 17. In all, she launched seven sixes and even a mid-pitch mix-up with Deepti Sharma and a flying helmet couldn’t deter her focus. By the time India reached 281 for 4, Harmanpreet had rewritten what Indian batting could look like. Australia fought back through Elyse Villani and Alex Blackwell, but Deepti’s final strike ended the resistance. On that rain-soaked English evening, Harmanpreet’s innings wasn’t just brilliant. It was a statement, and Derby remains India’s only win over Australia in a knockout game in the Women’s World Cup.Australia win a home World Cup in front of a record crowd•Getty Images2020 final, MelbourneIn front of 86,174 roaring fans at the MCG, India played their first T20 World Cup final, but Australia steamrolled them. Alyssa Healy slammed the fastest fifty in any ICC final, with audacious drives and towering sixes. Beth Mooney proved the perfect foil, rotating the strike and punishing the loose balls during her unbeaten 78, as Australia posted 184 for 4. In response, India, hurt by injuries and quick strikes, folded for 99 in 19.1 overs. Australia’s brilliance with bat, ball, and in the field was too much for India.Ashleigh Gardner sparkled with both ball and bat in the 2023 T20 World Cup semi-final in Cape Town•AFP/Getty Images2023 semi-final, Cape TownIndia came agonisingly close to toppling Australia, but ended up falling short by six runs in their chase of 173. Harmanpreet Kaur battled illness and shared a crucial 69-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Jemimah Rodrigues. Harmanpreet’s freak run-out, with her bat stuck in the pitch, triggered a slide, however, and Australia closed out the match. Australia’s innings had been driven by Meg Lanning, Mooney, and Ashleigh Gardner, who made an electric cameo.Mithali Raj leads India onto the field for their first World Cup final•Getty Images2005 final, CenturionA 22-year-old Mithali Raj led India into uncharted territory: their first-ever Women’s World Cup final. Karen Rolton, though, crushed their dreams, scoring an unbeaten 107 off 128 balls and taking Australia to 215 for 4. India’s chase then unravelled – they suffered four run-outs – and they were eventually bundled out for 117. Australia won their fifth ODI World Cup title, while for India just being there was historic – a young captain, a team of trailblazers, and the promise of what could be.

Barcelona sporting director Deco has moved to calm fresh speculation around Hansi Flick’s long-term future after a turbulent start to the season raised questions over whether the German would remain in charge beyond 2025–26. Deco insisted the coach is “very happy” at the club while acknowledging that Barca is a “tough” environment where emotions and pressure can overwhelm even elite managers.

Flick's future questioned after early season struggles

Barcelona’s inconsistent early-season form sparked renewed debate over Flick’s long-term position at Camp Nou despite the German signing a contract extension in May to remain at the club until the summer of 2027. Flick’s first campaign brought historic success with a domestic treble, but a series of lacklustre performances and damaging defeats in his second season quickly changed the public mood and prompted scrutiny of his ability to maintain momentum. Amid these concerns, Deco publicly downplayed the crisis narrative, stressing that the internal view of Flick remains supportive and that no discussions have taken place regarding an early departure.

The speculation intensified following footage of a tense moment between Flick and winger Raphinha after the Alaves match, which many interpreted as a sign of underlying tension inside the squad. Those suggestions were later dismissed by Flick himself, who reiterated that the incident had been misunderstood and that frustrations on the touchline reflected competitive pressure rather than deeper conflict. As Barcelona began finding form again in late November and early December, chatter around Flick’s future softened, but Deco’s comments reintroduced the issue into the wider discourse.

Deco’s remarks came during a period in which Barcelona’s results improved and several injured players returned, easing some of the anxiety around Flick’s tactical approach and his management of squad depth. The sporting director suggested that fluctuations in public opinion are simply part of the job at a club where scrutiny is constant and where even minor dips can cause headlines.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesDeco plays down questions about Flick's Barcelona future

Flick had already addressed speculation about his future earlier in the season with a passionate reaffirmation of his commitment to Barcelona, saying: “I really love this club. I love Barcelona. I love the people here, it’s amazing. I really give my best for this club and this is what I want. I live for the club.” The comments were delivered during a period of intense criticism and demonstrated his determination to remain focused despite questions over performance.

Deco echoed that sentiment by referencing Flick’s emotional investment, explaining: “He’s always said he’s very happy here. But we know Barcelona is a tough club. Everything is news here. He’s a very emotional person and sometimes he can’t control it all.”

Getty ImagesWhat raised doubts over Flick's hyper-aggressive Barcelona plans?

The uncertainty surrounding Flick stems largely from Barcelona’s uneven performances against elite opponents and their struggles in the Champions League league phase, where heavy defeats to sides like Chelsea raised concerns about tactical vulnerabilities. Domestically, however, the team sits top of La Liga, boasting the strongest attacking record in the division and securing important wins against Atletico Madrid, Real Betis and Alaves. These mixed signals have made it difficult to gauge whether Barcelona are on the brink of resurgence or merely benefitting from favourable league fixtures.

Flick’s tactical identity – a high, aggressive defensive line coupled with rapid vertical transitions – has produced thrilling attacking football but left the team exposed in high-stakes matches. Injuries to key midfielders such as Pedri and Frenkie de Jong have complicated this further, forcing the manager to rely on makeshift solutions and higher-risk structures. The gradual return of those players has stabilised performances, allowing Barcelona to look more like the side that triumphed domestically last season.

Barcelona’s leadership believes that many of the early issues were situational rather than systemic, rooted in injuries, form dips and general adaptation to Flick’s intense style. With the squad returning to health and Flick showing flexibility in improving lineup selections, optimism inside the club has risen sharply.

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Success will still be necessary to secure Flick's job for next season…

Barcelona’s immediate goal is to maintain their position at the top of La Liga while navigating the final fixtures of the Champions League league phase, where Flick will be judged on whether his side can avoid further setbacks. The club expects improved consistency as key players return, giving Flick a more complete squad to fully implement his preferred structure. Looking ahead, Barcelona’s hierarchy appears committed to supporting Flick through the remainder of the season and into 2026–27, with Deco’s message reaffirming that the German is seen as central to the club’s long-term project.