Jaiswal should have tried to bat on, says Mark Boucher, because he got out at “the tipping edge of a significant knock”

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Apr-20251:06

What should we make of Jaiswal’s 40-ball fifty?

Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 67 runs. Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat Punjab Kings (PBKS). If you hadn’t watched the IPL 2025 game on Saturday night, you would think Sanju Samson was a soothsayer for saying “when he [Jaiswal] performs, he will be winning the games”. Except that it was the slowest half-century of Jaiswal’s IPL career, off 40 balls, and “it didn’t look like he was finding his form”, as Wasim Jaffer put it.”He was still looking to hit the ball really hard. He hit five sixes and three fours, so that’s a high boundary rate, but still played a lot of dot balls,” Jaffer said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. There were 12 dot balls in Jaiswal’s 45-ball 67. Perhaps not a massive number for someone still looking to settle into IPL 2025.Mark Boucher was in agreement with Jaffer.Related

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“Getting to fifty, I think he faced close to 40 balls. Then the next five balls after that, he was at an incredible strike rate,” Boucher said, referring to the 17 he scored in the five balls he lasted after getting to the landmark – he hit a six the ball after he got to fifty, and went 1, 6, 4 off the next three before getting out.”It’s almost like he just needed to be there for another two or three overs in order for him to have that match-winning innings that we all know he is very capable of, and he has done in the past. He’ll be quite disappointed to get out when he did actually get out. It was at that point where it was the tipping edge for him [to play] a very significant knock.”Jaiswal had been a point of discussion over the past few days for two reasons. First, his poor returns with the bat – 1, 29 and 4 before this game. And second, the move from Mumbai to Goa in the Indian domestic circuit. Goa won the Ranji Trophy plate title last season and will play in the elite group in 2025-26.

“He shouldn’t be looking to play Ranji Trophy. For somebody like him, he should be playing for India in all three formats. That should be his focus”Wasim Jaffer on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s move to Goa

Jaffer, a giant of Mumbai and Indian domestic cricket, said he was “surprised and shocked” with the decision.”No matter what Goa was offering him. You don’t leave Mumbai, especially at this age [Jaiswal is 23],” Jaffer said. “It’s okay if somebody is 34-35 then you want to go out.”There have been unconfirmed murmurs about differences with the Mumbai team management, and Jaffer acknowledged that.1:55

Jaffer: Jaiswal’s move from Mumbai to Goa ‘shocking’

“That must have prompted him to take this decision, but I think leaving Mumbai is a shocking decision,” Jaffer said. “He’s a powerhouse. Somebody who has played from Under-14s to now, for Mumbai, and Goa being a plate-group team that has just come into the elite group – for him to go and play there, whatever time he will spend on first-class cricket, I am surprised he’s taken that decision so soon.”As such, India’s international cricketers rarely have – or make – time for domestic cricket. There was a directive from the BCCI recently asking India players who were not gainfully occupied elsewhere or battling fitness issues to return to domestic cricket. This was following India’s Test series loss in Australia. Some of the biggest names in the game did pay heed. Jaiswal was among them, and he played Mumbai’s Ranji game against Jammu & Kashmir in late January, scoring 4 and 26 in a defeat.”But he shouldn’t be looking to play Ranji Trophy,” Jaffer said. “For somebody like him, he should be playing for India in all three formats. That should be his focus.”I’m sure it [the move] is playing on his mind. Because that has been happening in this week or two. But yes, runs from him is very, very vital for Rajasthan Royals. He’s looking a little bit off-colour; trying too hard, trying too hard, too early.”

One thing that the current Leeds United squad seems to be lacking is the next great academy product. Centre-back Pascal Struijk is a graduate of their academy, but at 26 years of age, he is firmly established in the first team.

18-year-old Scottish attacker Sam Chambers has played for the senior team, but has not even been on the bench this season,

Of course, over the last few years, some excellent players have come through the Leeds academy system and made it to the first team. Kalvin Phillips is one name who springs to mind, becoming a key player in the midfield at Elland Road before moving to Manchester City.

The other player who fits the bill was Archie Gray.

Archie Gray’s career at Leeds

The 19-year-old is arguably one of the most successful academy graduates at Elland Road in recent years. He has deep family ties to Leeds, and came through their academy before breaking into the first team.

In total, the versatile midfielder, who was born in Durham, played 52 games for the club. All those appearances came in the 2023/24 campaign, a season in which he chipped in with two assists.

After a successful debut season in professional football for Gray, the youngster, who can also play at right-back and did so 30 times for the Whites, secured a big transfer. He joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2024 for a fee of around £30m.

Since moving down to North London, the 19-year-old has played 48 games for the Lilywhites. He’s once again shown great versatility, playing full-back on both sides, at centre-back and in his natural midfield role. Of course, Gray was also a Europa League winner last term.

Since Gray, Leeds haven’t had a top academy prospect break into the first-team squad and establish themselves. Well, perhaps the next big thing is waiting in the wings.

Leeds’ best academy talent since Gray

Certainly, if Gray is able to break through under Daniel Farke and become an established first-team player, the same door could be open for future academy talents on the books at Elland Road.

Well, perhaps sooner or later, that player will be Scotland youth attacker Lewis Pirie. The versatile forward joined Leeds back in 2023 from Scottish outfit Aberdeen. After starting out in the under-18s side, he’s broken into the under-21s this season.

In his first two full seasons as a Leeds academy player, his record shows why he is considered such an “exciting” prospect. At least, that is a word that former Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin used to describe him.

Indeed, Pirie has played 29 games for the club over the past couple of years. In that time, he’s found the back of the net on seven occasions, and assisted one goal, too.

Having played 1701 minutes, he has a minutes per goal and assist record of 213 minutes.

The 18-year-old is has already built up a strong reputation for himself. He can operate on both flanks and up front, and has even played deeper as a number 10 for the Leeds academy.

As we saw with Gray, Farke loves versatility, which could be a key difference to helping him reach the first-team.

Pirie’s record (min 45 mins played)

Position

Games

Goals & assists

Centre forward

8

2

Right wing

4

2

Right midfield

3

0

Left wing

2

2

Attacking midfield

1

0

Stats from Transfermarkt

With the versatility he offers and the clear goal threat he can bring to the table, Pirie could be the perfect option if Farke wishes to bring another academy star into the first team at Elland Road.

It will be fascinating to see if the Whites boss will look to bring through another young talent into the frame. If so, that player could very well be Pirie.

Related Their next Raphinha: Leeds star could soon steal the number 10 from Piroe

Leeds United may have their next Raphinha in the making at Elland Road.

Posts 1 ByDan Emery Sep 10, 2025

Chelsea fans will be relieved to hear their talismanic forward Cole Palmer faces weeks, not months, on the touchline as he recovers from a groin injury. But fears persist Palmer may need surgery to avoid the injury becoming chronic and hampering him for the long-term, with England manager Thomas Tuchel admitting his concern after the player missed out on another of his squads.

• Painful time for Palmer

  Palmer was ruled out of Chelsea's match against West Ham in August after aggravating the injury during the warm-up. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca stated that his key man had been experiencing a groin problem for several days and the decision was made not to risk him worsening it. This was considered a precautionary measure at the time, but further concerns were raised when he was forced off after only 20 minutes in the Blues’ defeat by Manchester United last month. Initial scans were positive, but fears are growing that it could become a chronic problem. Adding to the worry, during celebrations after Chelsea's victory against Liverpool, team-mate Jorrel Hato playfully jumped into the attacker. Palmer appeared to react with discomfort, clutching his groin. While the incident has not worsened his injury, it highlighted his ongoing pain and fuelled fan anxiety about his recovery timeline. However, it has now been reported in the that his absence will last weeks, not months.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  England manager has his say

  Ahead of the Wales friendly, England boss Thomas Tuchel said: "He was only in the June camp, that is concerning, of course. First of all, the most important thing is that he can play without pain, because the groin issue is a very dangerous one to become chronic. This is the most important thing. When he's fit and when he has rhythm and flow, he can decide matches on club level and, for sure, on international level. We know that. There is also with him no problem at all (for me). We clearly understand and see the potential and the quality, but there is also a reality that he was not available in five of the (last) seven camps, so right now there are two camps left before the World Cup." 

  Chelsea’s first game back after the international break is away at Nottingham Forest on October 18th, but Tuchel is doubtful Palmer will be fit for that one. He added: "It would surprise me this time if he was able to play."

• Palmer set for November return

  The reports that Palmer is expected to be back to full fitness in early November, when Chelsea face Tottenham on the first day of the month. That means he is set to miss the upcoming games against Nottingham Forest, Ajax, Sunderland and Wolves, but he remains in contention for the England squad for the Three Lions' final two World Cup qualifiers in mid-November. That will be welcome news to both the player and his country, after Tuchel suggested his chances of being included in his World Cup squad have been affected by his fitness issues.

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• AFP
  

  Cashing in on 'Cold Palmer'

  In the meantime, Palmer has moved to trademark to his 'Cold Palmer' nickname and celebration with the UK government's Intellectual Property Office, and that application was approved on Friday. It grants the England international the exclusive legal rights to the term 'Cold Palmer'. The registration lasts until November 25, 2034, when it can be renewed again for further 10-year periods. The 23-year-old's application includes an extensive list of products he intends to sell using the trademarked term. This includes: soaps, bath salts, snacks, razor blades, phone covers, drones, underwater vehicles, stationery, Christmas crackers and teddy bears.

Nottingham Forest have now agreed a late deal to sign an “incredible” defender, with his medical currently ongoing, it has been revealed.

Tricky Trees keen on new defender after West Ham disaster

Last time out, Nuno suffered his worst home defeat since taking over as Forest manager, with West Ham United emerging as shock 3-0 winners at The City Ground, and the manager was left extremely disappointed with his side’s performance.

Nuno said: “It’s not the best day to speak. We have to address what is happening. The job now is more about the team, I’m worried about the team because it was shocking.”

The 51-year-old has made it clear he wants to deepen his squad throughout the summer transfer window, and he was left disgruntled by the fact deals have been left to the latter stages of the transfer window.

It appears as though Nuno’s wish has now been granted, with the Tricky Trees advancing in talks to sign S.C. Braga’s Roger Fernandes, while they are also closing in on a deal for RC Strasbourg’s Dilane Bakwa.

Given the manner of the defeat against West Ham, however, Nottingham Forest now want to get another defender through the door, and they have agreed a deal to sign Atletico Madrid full-back Javi Galan.

That is according to a report from The Athletic, which states Galan is currently undergoing a medical in Madrid ahead of completing a move to The City Ground, which will be for an undisclosed fee.

Nottingham Forest now agree deal to sign gem with same agent as Chris Wood

Forest are set to complete a deadline day move for a defender.

ByDominic Lund Sep 1, 2025

The left-back is set to sign a three-year contract with the Tricky Trees, which includes the option of an extra 12 months, with the £54k-a-week defender set to arrive alongside fellow full-back Nicolo Savona, who recently arrived from Juventus.

"Incredible" Galan should be solid signing for Forest

One of the main reasons Nuno has been keen to get more players through the door is because his side are set to embark on a European campaign, which will mean an increase in the number of fixtures.

The Forest boss said: “So we have ahead of us the Premier League, Europa League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup. You know how many games this means for us. This is the respect that we have to show to our squad. Help them.”

As such, it would make sense to get more players with European experience through the door, and the Atletico defender made six appearances in the Champions League last season.

Not only that, but the 30-year-old has also impressed domestically, being lauded as “incredible” by journalist Pascual Ruiz Arnal after impressing against Real Madrid in the 2024-25 campaign.

Galan’s experience means he should be a solid signing for Nottingham Forest, and it will be music to Nuno’s ears that the deal is now edging towards completion.

أعلن الموقع الرسمي لنادي ليفربول عن اسم اللاعب الفائز بجائزة لاعب شهر سبتمبر المقدمة من الشركة الراعية “Standard Chartered”.

وحقق فيدريكو كييزا جائزة لاعب شهر سبتمبر لأول مرة في مسيرته مع ليفربول، بعد تصدره استطلاع رأي الجماهير على الموقع الرسمي.

Congrats, Fede 🙌

Federico Chiesa is our @StanChart Player of the Month for September 🏆 #Ad pic.twitter.com/9QrZNiwdAg — Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 24, 2025

وتفوق الإيطالي بنسبة أصوات تصل إلى 34% وجاء أليسون بيكر ثانياً ب18% وريان جرافنبيرخ ثالثاً ب18%.

وقال كييزا في تصريحاته بعد الفوز بالجائزة: “أنا سعيد بفوزي بها، شكراً للجماهير على دعمهم وتصويتهم لي”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. ليفربول إيكو: سلوت يواجه معضلة كبرى بسبب محمد صلاح قبل لقاء برينتفورد

وأضاف: “أفضل الفوز بمزيد من المباريات لكن أشكركم مجدداً، لطالما كان الدعم رائعاً، أسعى جاهداً لتقديم أفضل ما لدي في الملعب من أجل الجماهير وليفربول، أحب أن أرى الجماهير تقدر ما أفعله”.

وأكمل :”كنت سعيدًا بعد مباراة ساوثهامبتون لأننا فزنا ولكن لم نتمكن من الفوز ضد بالاس أو حتى التعادل ولم أكن سعيداً لأن هدفي في نهاية المباراة لم يحتسب ونأمل أن تتغير الأمور في المستقبل”.

واختتم: “مهما كانت الدقائق التي سألعبها، أحاول بذل قصارى جهدي وأبقى إيجابياً وأسعى لترك بصمة إيجابية، لهذا السبب أنا هنا وآمل أن أواصل مزيد من الجهد وأواصل رد الجميل للجماهير”.

وسجل فيدريكو كييزا هدفين وصنع 3 أهداف خلال 8 مباريات مع ليفربول موسم 2025-2026.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was a dealt a significant blow last weekend after in-form summer signing Noni Madueke injured his knee in the 1-1 draw with Man City on Sunday, meaning he could now miss up to eight weeks.

Noni Madueke set to miss at least 10 Arsenal games after injury

The 23-year-old hadn’t managed a goal or assist in Gunners colours prior to his lay-off, but it’s safe to say Madueke has been Andrea Berta’s most impressive summer coup thus far alongside young defender Cristhian Mosquera.

While Mosquera seriously impressed in William Saliba’s absence, Madueke was being a menace for full-backs in the attacking areas – with his burst of pace, trickery and inventiveness in the final third showing exactly why Arsenal splashed £52 million on his signature.

There were huge question marks aimed at Arteta and Berta’s decision to sign the England international after a mixed spell at Chelsea, including from Gary Neville, but the Sky Sports pundit is now among critics to admit they were wrong.

The ex-Eredivisie sensation could have hardly asked for a better start to life at the Emirates Stadium, putting the ‘#NotToMadueke’ movement firmly to rights, but he’s now set to miss a host of crucial games for Arsenal.

Madueke managed to avoid an ACL tear, which in itself is excellent news. However, the winger could be out for a maximum of two months and a minimum of six weeks, meaning he won’t be available for at least 10 games.

The games Noni Madueke will miss after knee injury

Date

Competition

Port Vale (away)

September 24

Carabao Cup

Newcastle (away)

September 28

Premier League

Olympiacos (home)

October 1

Champions League

West Ham (home)

October 4

Premier League

Fulham (away)

October 18

Premier League

Atletico Madrid (home)

October 21

Champions League

Crystal Palace (home)

October 26

Premier League

Burnley (away)

November 1

Premier League

Slavia Prague (away)

November 4

Champions League

Sunderland (away)

November 8

Premier League

There is a chance Madueke will be back for the North London derby against Tottenham in November, and Arteta will be optimistic that is indeed the case as he seeks to end Arsenal’s two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title.

Arsenal also without Piero Hincapie after groin injury

Madueke isn’t the only summer signing with fitness issues either, with Arteta now confirming that defender Piero Hincapie has picked up a groin injury.

The Ecuador international was a surprise absentee from Arsenal’s matchday squad against City, and their manager has shared why.

The 23-year-old was signed with Mosquera as a quality back-up for Saliba and Gabriel, not to mention a defender who can play full-back as well.

Hincapie is highly-rated after two impressive seasons with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, and was a regular in Xabi Alonso’s famous, domestically unbeaten double-winning side from 2024.

Hincapie has barely played since joining from Leverkusen on loan with a £45 million option to buy, so he’ll be looking to convince Berta he’s worthy of the purchase option at the earliest opportunity once fit and available.

Everton’s 2025/26 season has begun with a mixture of promise and frustration.

The Toffees opened the Premier League campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat at Leeds, a match played in a raucous Elland Road atmosphere.

They bounced back impressively at home, securing a 2-0 victory against Brighton to restore confidence among fans.

A thrilling 3-2 win at Molineux demonstrated their attacking potential, while a 0-0 draw at home to Aston Villa highlighted some inconsistency.

Most recently, Everton fell 2-1 to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, underscoring the challenges of competing at the top level. David Moyes’ side currently sit 10th in the league and face struggling West Ham at Goodison Park in their next fixture on Monday.

The Toffees’ attacking setup, led by Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Iliman Ndiaye, has shown flashes of creativity and menace, but the lack of a top striker has limited their output.

Everton’s recent 2-0 exit from the Carabao Cup to Wolves adds to the sense of disappointment.

Moyes may now be looking for solutions within his squad to spark a more effective attacking threat.

Beto's struggles since joining Everton

Beto, the towering 27-year-old striker, has become a focal point for debate among Everton fans.

The Portuguese forward joined the club from Udinese in 2023 for £25m, bringing with him a strong Serie A record and international experience.

Standing at 1.94m, Beto has made 60 Premier League appearances for Everton, scoring 11 goals, per Transfermarkt.

Last season, he found the net eight times in 20 appearances, showing glimpses of his potential. Despite these credentials, Beto has struggled to establish himself as the man to lead Everton’s frontline.

He has scored just once in the current campaign and has struggled to impose himself in key moments.

Statistically, his contributions show limitations compared to some of his peers. Last season, Beto averaged 0.88 progressive carries per 90, 0.94 progressive passes per 90, and 1.35 shots on target per 90, per FBref.

His progressive passing distance of 16.6 per 90 and shot-creating actions at 1.52 per 90 indicate a forward with a more limited impact on a team shifting towards a more possession-based approach.

These metrics reflect a player capable of contributing in certain areas but not providing the dynamic presence Everton require in modern attacking football.

With Moyes increasingly looking to implement a more possession-oriented, technically fluid approach, Beto may not be the ideal fit for leading the line.

Why Everton should unleash Thierno Barry

Enter Thierno Barry.

The French U21 international signed from Villareal this summer for £27.6m, and offers a contrasting profile to Beto.

The 6ft 5in striker scored 11 goals from an xG of 12.41 last season and registered four assists, per Sofascore, showcasing his ability to dominate the penalty area while contributing to team play.

Described as a “serious No.9 prospect” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Barry’s style has drawn comparisons to Dušan Vlahović and Ollie Watkins, blending physical presence with technical awareness.

Barry excels in aerial duels, ranking in the 87th percentile with 3.84 aerials won per 90, winning nearly two-thirds of the aerial contests in the penalty area, per FBref.

His ability to carry the ball forward is also notable, ranking in the 74th percentile for progressive carries per 90 (1.70), while completing 62% of his take-ons.

He can stretch defensive lines and create space for teammates, a trait Moyes will likely value in Everton’s evolving system.

Despite needing time to adapt to the Premier League, Barry has already made five appearances this season, logging 142 minutes.

Matches Played

5

Starts

1

Minutes

144

Progressive Carries

2

Progressive Passes

2

Compared to Beto, Barry’s 2024/25 stats indicate a player with greater overall influence: 20 goal involvements versus Beto’s 8, 1.71 progressive carries per 90 versus 0.88, 1.05 progressive passes per 90 versus 0.94, and higher involvement in shot-creating actions (1.78 per 90 compared to 1.52).

His progressive passing distance per 90 (21.2) also surpasses Beto’s 16.6, aligning with Moyes’ desire for a striker comfortable in possession-based play. Barry offers Everton the chance to implement a forward capable of linking play, finishing opportunities, and contributing to a more dynamic attacking structure.

As Moyes looks ahead to upcoming league fixtures, including the home clash with West Ham, deploying Barry over Beto, who should be ruthlessly dropped, could be the catalyst Everton need to maximise their offensive potential.

The Frenchman’s combination of physicality, technical skill, and aerial dominance marks him as the player to build around in attack, particularly in a team seeking to flourish in the Premier League.

SRH also brought back fit-again Harshal Patel for Jaydev Unadkat

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Apr-20252:05

How can PBKS get the best out of Chahal?

Shreyas Iyer called correctly as an unchanged Punjab Kings (PBKS) elected to bat against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad in IPL 2025.”The mindset has been to be aggressive from ball one,” he said. “We’ve seen that we don’t have a fantastic record in the powerplay, we have to see to it that we don’t have that at the back of the mind and play the ball on the merit.”We just need to stay in the present, be brave and bold with our approach and our attitude has to be top-notch. We have a fantastic few matches recently and need to repeat that.”PBKS are sitting pretty with three wins in four. SRH are seeking to overturn a string of four straight losses after opening the tournament with 286, the second-highest T20 total of all time.Fresh off a five-day break, SRH have handed a debut to Eshan Malinga in place of the ambidextrous allrounder Kamindu Mendis. A death bowler, like the OG Malinga, Eshan made his ODI debut for Sri Lanka earlier this year, and also impressed for Paarl Royals at the SA20. Harshal Patel was fit again and back in the bowling XI, having missed the last game because of an illness. Jaydev Unadkat had played on that occasion and goes out for today.”We feel like we can chase down anything,” Pat Cummins said. “It’s not been an ideal start but we’re training well and are in a good place. We try and destress, but it’s a long season. Things can turn quickly in T20s.”Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Travis Head, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 Aniket Verma, 7 Pat Cummins (capt), 8 Eshan Malinga, 9 Zeeshan Ansari, 10 Harshal Patel, 11 Mohammed Shami
Impact player options: Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Jaydev Unadkat, Rahul Chahar, Wiaan MulderPunjab Kings: 1 Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 2 Priyansh Arya, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nehal Wadhera, 5 Shashank Singh, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Yuzvendra Chahal, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Lockie Ferguson
Impact player options: Suryansh Shedge, Pravin Dubey, Yash Thakur, Harpreet Brar, Vijaykumar Vyshak