The most-capped player in women’s cricket and former New Zealand captain wouldn’t mind adding an ODI World Cup to her trophy cabinet, though

Interview by Vishal Dikshit19-Sep-2025At age 38, former New Zealand captain Suzie Bates is closing in on 20 years of international cricket and her 14th World Cup across formats. She spoke to us about keeping herself fit physically and mentally, her love for the game from since when she was a teenager, the growth of the women’s game, why she gave up captaincy, her aspirations of making a Test debut, and more.You were playing for Durham recently, where you scored 163 against Somerset. You were their first overseas player. What kind of space and confidence levels are you in right now heading into the ODI World Cup?
Yeah, it couldn’t have gone better, leading into a 50-over World Cup campaign. We finished against Australia in March and had no international cricket scheduled in the calendar. I was interested in playing over in England. Then Durham came calling and I committed to a big chunk of their season. I knew there were eight one-dayers in the first month, which hit the body pretty hard, but to be able to play that volume of cricket and just to a really good standard. Most of the English players were playing those one-dayers to start with. [I] loved my time up there. It was just a really refreshing experience. When you play cricket for a long time, to go into a new environment like that and fully immerse yourself in the club and with the people – it couldn’t have gone better. I think I was there 15 weeks and played about 24 games of cricket, so great preparation leading into India.Related

ESPNcricinfo's top 25 women cricketers of the 21st century: Nos. 25-16

Bates proud to fly the flag against ageism

Bates joins Durham as maiden women's overseas professional

Suzie Bates not willing to give up on Test dream just yet

You’ve been to India several times. You’ve said in the past you love touring the country. Your international debut was against India. In the 2013 World Cup here, you were the Player of the Tournament. You’ve also scored two centuries in India. How are you feeling about the conditions and the format, and the fact that you’re visiting India again?
I just have such fond memories of touring India, and as a cricketer, going to India is almost like the pinnacle and the biggest test for a female player, with conditions being so foreign, the temperature, just different culture for a New Zealand player. It’s something I really look forward to.I actually started my career with a tour in Chennai back in, I think it was 2007, for a quad series and maybe back then we were allowed to get out a little bit more. There was a bit less security and [to be] able to just explore places that you’d never been to and the different food and all those types of things I loved as a 19-year-old. We went to Ahmedabad after the [2024 T20] World Cup but that was a very short, sharp trip and we were pretty exhausted after the World Cup campaign.2:53

“Cricket in India is the pinnacle”

So to go back for a World Cup, it honestly excites me more than anything I’ve done recently. In 2013, we had a great time, and I just love playing there – the way the fans are, the conditions, it just tests every part of you mentally, physically, and when you play well, you really feel like you’ve earned your runs. It’s just really satisfying as a player to succeed over there.You’re closing in on nearly 20 years of international cricket, with nine T20 World Cups and a fifth ODI World Cup coming up. Longevity in any sport doesn’t come easily. How have you had to take care of yourself physically? How have you had to keep up with the changing times and the evolution of the game in the last ten years or so?
The fact that it’s five 50-over World Cups – when I say that out loud, pretty unbelievable. After a disappointing World Cup in 2017 when I led the side in England and we didn’t make the top four, and I sort of stepped away from captaincy, I was thinking I was near the end at that time. ()But we had a home World Cup [coming up in 2022], and I thought: I do want to be a part of that. Then I got injured and Covid hit, but I thought that home World Cup was going to be my last push at a 50-over World Cup as well.For me, I think the key is just keeping myself physically fit. I think being injury-free since I did my shoulder [in 2020], being able to play cricket, not miss games, has kept me mentally fit as well.Bates (first from left) has played four ODI World Cups and every Women’s T20 World Cup, lifting the trophy in the last one in 2024•ICC/Getty ImagesIt’s not always been easy and there’s times you wonder if you’re done or not, and how much you have left in the tank. But whenever I’ve had those thoughts, I’ve had a bit of a break. I just have never wanted to not be part of this White Ferns team. I’ve just always had the motivation to want to get up each day and get better, whether that’s with my fitness or my batting in particular, and even working on my bowling has rejuvenated me a little bit.But I think what has probably kept me going is that the game has changed so much – you were in a phase of your career where one-day cricket was the pinnacle, and then 20-over cricket took over and power came into the game, the athleticism. I guess I found it a bit of a challenge to try and keep up with the game and develop in different areas. And that excites me, always trying to get better. So yeah, it’s been a journey and it’s unrecognisable now where the game’s at to where it was even in 2013 at that 50-over World Cup.I just feel really grateful that my body, my mind, my game has allowed me to keep playing at this level for that long. I’m pretty sure this one will be my last 50-over World Cup (). But as I said, I thought the last two might have been, so never say never! But you know, every four years the 50-over World Cup comes around, and that’s what excites me, as teams for four years [you] build up to this and then the best team wins and everyone plays everyone.You’re the leading run-scorer in T20Is, third on the list in ODIs, and you’re just two ODI centuries away from joining Meg Lanning at the top for most hundreds. How has being a prolific run-scorer changed for you over the years across formats and conditions to keep up with the evolution of the game?
I feel like I’ve sort of had different phases of my career. When I started I was so young and naïve, and I was given a role at the top of the order to just go out and play my natural game and that meant a little bit of inconsistency. Sometimes it came off, but then I got to a point that I didn’t want to be inconsistent anymore. I wanted to be a consistent run-scorer at the top of the order and it was through mainly 50-over cricket [that] we got our opportunity. So I really worked on my game and being able to bat for long periods of time and still score runs, but tactically just being a bit smarter.And then 20-over cricket came on board and I probably just went out there and swung the arms a little bit initially, and then, you know, the game changed and strike rates became really important. When I first started, you could get 50 off 50 and still put your team in a winning position, whereas I think now a 140-150 strike rate is the key to a top-order batter. That’s been a challenge, to bring that power game in and be willing to get out at times, and not fear getting out to take the game on.2:00

“Women, like men, can now make a career out of cricket”

So I’ve tried to go along with the game as it’s progressed and watched other players around me and how they’ve been successful and gone about it. I’ve had to change, I’ve had to dig deep and figure out what my 20-over game looks like and what my 50-over game looks like, and there’s been runs of form and runs of not scoring and starting to doubt what you’re doing and then being able to figure it out again.Yeah, it’s just the whole roller-coaster ride of cricket and trying to stay consistent with how you prepare and how you train – that’s all I’ve tried to do. And when you do that, the runs tend to come back eventually and then you make the most of them.There’s one shot I want to ask you about specifically: when you shuffle around the crease and play the ball behind square. Is that something you started trying out on your own in the nets or did a coach or team-mate suggest it? We hardly see anyone else play it.
In my head when I’m playing it, it’s just like a lap. () But when it comes out on the field, I don’t know what you’d call it – it’s like a jump right across, get front-on. That’s not how I think it is in my head! But I guess it came a bit like [how] Brendon McCullum played a scoop.Yeah, just accessing different areas of the ground, and I think everyone set straight fields for me, so initially [that helped to] play that shot. But I don’t practise it in the nets. It’s like if the field is set and I know there’s pace on the ball, it comes out and it’s almost not how I intend to play it, but that’s how my body gets in that position. I’m just thinking about hitting the ball there and that’s what comes out.You’re also not too far away from 200 ODIs. Is that on your list?
No, I feel like there’s no milestones on my list anymore. I hear other players talk about [it], but as you get older and you know you’re near the end, you honestly do go into every game wanting to contribute to a win, and it’s as simple as that. So if I’m scoring runs at a decent clip and that’s putting our team in a winning position, it doesn’t matter what I’ve done previously or what I’m going to do in the future. That’s all I tend to focus on and those things [milestones] sort of happen.But I know when I do finally hang the spikes up and put my bat away in the cupboard, which will be a sad day, I’ll look back and be really proud of my ability to keep going at this level. Winning the World Cup was the only thing I really cared about, and we managed to do that with the 20-over World Cup. But to get a 20-over World Cup and a 50-over World Cup before I retire would just be the absolute best. I’d sleep very peacefully after that.Bates captained New Zealand for from 2011 to 2018, then stepped away to focus on her game: “You get involved in the politics of the sport, which is not really your scope”•ESPNcricinfo LtdYou played basketball in the 2008 Olympics and now cricket is going to be part of the 2028 Olympics. Are you thinking of having another shot at an Olympic medal 20 years later?
When I heard cricket was going to the Olympics, it excited me, but more for the game and more for younger players in New Zealand. My experience as a 19-year-old athlete from Dunedin growing up wanting to play sport and watching the Olympics, to go to that [2008 Olympics], I remember how inspired I was by all the athletes around me. I just wanted to be an athlete. It didn’t matter what it was. I found that environment so special. We got a little bit of a taste of it as cricketers at the Commonwealth Games. So yeah, it’s a huge step for cricket if I get that opportunity because it’s one of the greatest events you can go to as an athlete. Maybe I’ll be there in a different capacity, but whatever happens, it would just be a great thing for the White Ferns and for cricket.A day before the T20 World Cup final last year you said how proud you were of breaking down barriers in the game by playing in the mid-30s as a female cricketer. There are quite a few in that age group for this ODI World Cup – Alyssa Healy, Chamari Athapaththu, Harmanpreet Kaur, all around 35-36, and Ellyse Perry is getting there as well. What do you think this means for the game, for young girls watching?
I guess it shows where the game is at professionally. I remember growing up in the White Ferns and watching players at 27-28 probably in their prime having to retire because they couldn’t financially justify carrying on with what was almost a hobby. And if you had a mortgage or a family or other things, it just wasn’t financially stable enough to carry on. It wasn’t necessarily by choice that they stopped playing. What makes me so happy and so proud is that players now – like the men – can make a career from it for as long as they want to. And if they are physically healthy, and mentally motivated to play, they can have a 20-year career, which wasn’t a possibility ten years ago.If players want to have families and come back and play, there’s all that support around that. There’s just different options for young females growing up. It was a bit of a battle for some of us, but the ones that are still playing are fortunate enough. Now it’s their job, so they can still do it.I reckon I was just on the edge of becoming professional when I was at an age where I might have had to step away, so just so grateful and lucky that I’ve been born in this generation. It is really cool to see someone like Ellyse Perry, Chamari Athapaththu… We’ve watched the game grow globally, we’ve played against each other, we’ve played on the same team at FairBreak [Invitational T20], at Sydney Sixers [in the WBBL]. Yeah, those players have been through that whole journey, and you’ve watched how their games evolved. And as much as they are competitors, you’re proud of how they’ve gone about their game as well because they’ve been inspirational in their countries and now young girls know that they can do it for as long as they like.Do you think the way you love the game has changed over all these years – like when you were as a teenager, then the captain, now a senior player having won the T20 World Cup?
Yeah, it’s like my game that’s gone through phases as well. I think when I was 18, making my debut in Lincoln against India, I just thought I was in the greatest team in the greatest place in the world, playing international cricket. I just went out there and thought: this is the greatest sport, like the greatest level of cricket that I can play, and I just absolutely loved it.1:10

“Not getting a WPL deal was one of the most disappointing things, personally”

And then you get expectations of yourself as you get older, of wanting to contribute more and be consistent, so you’re a bit harder on yourself. Then I became captain. You get involved in all the off-field [decisions] – you probably can take it a bit serious and everything seems so important.I think that, later on in my career, I wasn’t just thinking about my enjoyment of the game, it was: how can we get better every day and how can we do things differently? You get involved in the politics of the sport and what we need to do domestically, which is not really your scope. So the enjoyment probably suffered a little bit.Then I gave up the captaincy and we had Covid and cricket was taken away and you realise how much you missed it. I was also injured and was like, “Oh, I’ve missed cricket so much.” You kind of have a taste of what it’s like without it. Then you get older and you’re near the end and you just want to enjoy it as much as you can because you know you’re going to be a long time retired and you’re going to miss it. So I feel like that joy has always been there, but I’ve probably dug deep at times.But now it’s just all about the joy of playing, because you just get a perspective of life and you realise how lucky you are to be doing what you’re doing. If you’re not having fun, I think that’s when you know to walk away.Before the T20 World Cup began last year, New Zealand lost ten T20Is in a row, and suddenly you weren’t among the favourites. How was that experience – coming into a tournament with that kind of form and then going on to lift the trophy?
It almost freed us up a little bit, because I know as a senior player, and especially with someone like Sophie Devine, we’ve gone to those World Cups with really high expectations because the potential of our side – if we played our best – is high and then we’ve disappointed at those tournaments. So by almost playing so badly in the lead-up and not being able to get a win off England [on the tour there], it was like other people’s expectations were low and they almost freed us up to make some upsets.Bates featured in the 2018 Women’s T20 Challenge exhibition match, and the 2019 edition of that tournament, but is yet to be picked for the WPL•BCCIYou know New Zealanders love being the underdog, and we went into that tournament knowing we had to play India and Australia in our pool and probably had to beat one of them. So that first game [against India] was really important and we started well and the momentum kind of went with us from there. Then the belief grew – we were still underdogs and we kind of took that tag on.And once we started that tournament, I knew we could win it, because I felt like we’d made progress even though we were failing. We were playing the game plan, we stuck with the players that we had, we didn’t make changes, and the coaches were so sure of what they were telling us to do that we didn’t lose confidence. It was just almost like once we won that [India] game, the momentum just grew, the belief grew, little things went our way. It was just an unbelievable experience to go from being in England and sitting in the changing room wondering where the next win was coming [from] to lifting the World Cup and forgetting about that tour completely. Like, it doesn’t matter when you win a World Cup what happens before. So it was really special.You’ve been playing T20 leagues around the world now – the Big Bash and the Hundred, to name a couple. But you haven’t had a chance to play in the WPL yet.
That was probably one of the most disappointing things, personally, because I just feel like I’ve been part of so much of the women’s games, and I was involved in the exhibition games [Women’s T20 Challenge] and being part of the Big Bash for the first time, and the Hundred and all those competitions.I love being around the best players in the world and playing cricket in India and the WPL was just something that all the players were so excited about. So yeah, you were gutted to not be a part of that, and obviously the first three years players were retained. But it’s something I still would absolutely love to do before I retire.It is just so amazing to see the game grow in India and it’s a little bit daunting for the future for countries like New Zealand, when you see the number of players and the resources, and just playing in those atmospheres and under that amount of pressure that it’s gonna put them in good stead for the future. But yeah, I love watching and following it. India is a special place for a cricketer, so you always want to be a part of those big tournaments.Last year Bates surpassed Mithali Raj as the most-capped player in women’s cricket, and now has nearly 350 internationals under her belt•ICC/Getty ImagesI have to ask you about Test cricket as well because ten years ago in Bengaluru, you had said that you felt a bit cheated that you had not played a Test at that time. New Zealand have not played a Test match since 2004. How do you feel about that now?
I’m envious. I’ve said this in another interview that I watch the [Women’s] Ashes and even when I watch men’s Test cricket and they talk about it being the toughest game – [that] it tests your skills, it tests you mentally, it tests you physically. As an athlete and a sportsperson, I want to be tested. So when there are women’s Test matches on, you’re like, “Oh I wonder what I’d do in this situation or how I’d go about it.” And to not have that opportunity when others are playing it – you do want to experience it.I understand the decisions and the politics of it at times, but as a player I’d love to have a taste of how I would handle that mentally and physically. If it happens and I’m still playing, I will be over the moon. I do think for the future of the game – I think Virat Kohli’s talked about it – that is still where you learn the most about the game and where you are tested. If a young New Zealand player gets to play a four- or five-day Test match in India, in those conditions, with the ball turning, the amount of learning compared to a 20-over game… you just can’t compare. So I think there’s space for it, but those decisions aren’t up to me.You’ve spoken in the past about how you don’t give much verbal advice to youngsters. You prefer to let your game do the talking on the field. But as far as longevity and staying fit and being successful and achieving excellence is concerned, what kind of advice do you have for youngsters?
Yeah, I do find that difficult [to give advice to youngsters] because everyone’s on their own journey and everyone’s motivated differently, and I think I was inspired by watching people’s actions, not what they said.I guess if I wanted to give these young girls advice, it’d be like: work as hard as you can to make the most of this opportunity. They have the world at their feet in terms of [things] like financial support. We have three full-time coaches for the first time as the White Ferns. They have everything available to them if they wanted to get better.And it’s not saying “back in my day”, but you had to go looking for it [back then] and there were barriers and there wasn’t financial support. If you want to play for 20 years, there is every opportunity to do that and if you love the game and you want to see how much you can get out of yourself, then work hard every single day to get better when you’re at training. Yes, have breaks because that’s really important too, because now it’s a job, but don’t leave any stone unturned. I could say now if I stop tomorrow, I gave everything I had to my game. Yes, I made mistakes, and yes, I would maybe have done some things differently, but I gave what I had at that time to be as good as I could be and for as long as I could, so I don’t have any regrets.

East Zone captain Riyan Parag’s focus at the season-opening 2025-26 Duleep Trophy was on easing himself back into the grind of competitive cricket and getting some game-time after he had spent most of last season managing a shoulder injury.Parag last turned out for India in a T20I against Bangladesh in October 2024. He had to undergo surgery for his shoulder injury, after which he played in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 for Assam in January. Before the Duleep Trophy, Parag had last played competitive cricket in IPL 2025 for Rajasthan Royals (RR). He was their second-highest run-scorer during the season, but was “managing a lot of stress” due to the shoulder injury.”It was good,” Parag said after the final day of the Duleep Trophy game against North Zone. “I mean, that was the main goal when I came here to play the game. Performances, I didn’t really focus on that much. I just wanted to have some fun.”I haven’t played competitive cricket in a long time. Since the IPL, I haven’t really played. [In the] IPL also, I was managing a lot of stress and stuff like that. But it was nice, was a good outing. Not in a good way with the amount of overs we fielded. But then still, rolled my arm for a few overs, batted for a while. Could have converted it for a bigger score, but then I’m happy. The shoulder feels much better now.”Related

• Shubham Sharma – a low-profile red-ball warrior in the T20 era

• Meet the spinner known as Manishi

• Danish Malewar's bright start and big ambitions

• 'My goal is to wear the India whites' – Auqib Nabi shakes up the Duleep Trophy with four wickets in four balls

• Arshdeep fine-tunes red-ball skills by learning to enjoy the 'boring times'

Leading the side in the absence of Abhimanyu Easwaran, who was ruled out due to fever on the opening day, Parag was dismissed for 39 in the only innings East Zone batted. He didn’t bowl in the first innings, but bowled 22 overs in the second as North Zone made 658 for 4, building on their first-innings lead of 175.While the game ended in a draw, North Zone qualified for the semi-finals on the basis of their first-innings lead.”They played better cricket, I got to give credit to that,” Parag said on North Zone’s performance. “I feel we could have done better in the first innings while bowling but then we should have got at least close to like 350 and then try to restrict it.”But once we did not do that, they had the lead of around 200 runs. Then, just the batters batted really well and just took the game away from us and the last day was just formality, I think, for them to get their milestones.”East Zone were without Mukesh Kumar on day three and four after the fast bowler picked up a thigh strain on the opening day. Mohammed Shami also did not take the field on the final day after he cut his toe, which meant East Zone had to rely on their part-time options.”That was one of the tough things to manage,” Parag said. “Shami didn’t bowl today, Mukesh got injured in the first innings, I’m coming back from an injury so I had to bowl 20 overs. Utkarsh [Singh], our non-bowler, he had to bowl around 30 overs so that did play a part for us in fielding a lot of overs but then nothing we can do about it. We just take it as a loss.”Parag says it’s “back to basics” now as he readies himself for the upcoming season. He has been named as one of the stand-bys for the Asia Cup, and is hopeful to get a chance when India travel to Australia for a white-ball series in October-November.”I was in the T20 set-up, then took a break for the shoulder [injury], and stuff like that happened,” he said. “Ranji [Trophy] is coming in, then the Australia tour is coming in; if I get selected there, I do that. Otherwise, I go back to domestic and do what I’ve been doing for the last two to three years. Be top-scoring every single game. Have a good IPL and play for the country again.”

Ankit Kumar: ‘Everyone did their job’

North Zone captain Ankit Kumar was delighted by his team’s performance as they racked up the runs on the last two days. Ankit fell two short of his maiden first-class double-century in the second innings, but Ayush Badoni recorded an unbeaten 204, while Yash Dhull scored 133 on the third day.Ankit Kumar made 198 in the second innings•PTI

Ankit, who replaced Shubman Gill as North Zone captain after Gill pulled out due to illness, said there was “a little pressure” captaining in a big game but was glad he found a way to score runs and lead the team efficiently.”I am captaining at this level for the first time,” Ankit said. “There weren’t a lot of changes from the Ranji Trophy; we followed the same process: bowl well, bat well. That’s worked for us.”We had a well-rounded batting and bowling attack. No one could play a big innings in the first innings, but everyone contributed and that mattered. It was a proper teamwork, so we didn’t face many challenges. Everyone did their jobs.”The basic plan was to take a first-innings lead. When that happened, we knew we could qualify. We wanted our bowlers to stay fresh. Arshdeep [Singh] and Harshit [Rana] have to go and play for India, so we wanted them to go fresh [for the Asia Cup].”

Many Rangers supporters want to see sporting director Kevin Thelwell replaced, and now a big claim has emerged regarding his position of power at Ibrox.

Thelwell feeling the heat at Rangers

The Gers’ 3-0 defeat away to Brann in the Europa League on Thursday has done little to silence the dissenting voices, with Danny Rohl experiencing a sobering life in charge at Ibrox. It is hard to blame the German, but this will only increase the magnitude of the job being asked of him.

There are high-profile characters galore at Rangers who are under huge pressure, including sporting director Thelwell, with former defender David Weir mentioned as an option to replace him by Heart & Hand.

There is no doubt that Thelwell hasn’t hit the ground running in his role, having arrived from Everton at the end of last season, and unless something drastic changes, it is hard to see him remaining in the job for too long.

The same applies to chairman Andrew Cavenegh and CEO Patrick Stewart, and now a big claim has dropped that highlights the level of power Thelwell has at Rangers at the moment.

Thelwell influencing team decisions at Ibrox

Speaking on Hotline Live [Ibrox News], journalist Keith Jackson claimed that Thelwell actually helped pick Rangers’ starting XI against Dundee United last weekend, and may have also influenced the line-up vs Brann.

“What I’ve heard, whether it’s right or wrong, but I suspect it’s correct – I think Thelwell had a hand in picking the team at the weekend when Steven Smith was in charge. Would it surprise me if there was a little bit of influence from the sporting director in that lineup (vs Brann)? Not in the slightest.”

This update perfectly illustrates the control Thelwell has at Rangers, and many will feel that him picking the team at home to Dundee United only undermined the job that Smith was doing. Not only that, but the Gers failed to win the game, falling further behind Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts in the process.

The 51-year-old Englishman has a huge amount to do if he is to win round the masses, and despite only being sporting director for a matter of months, the writing is arguably already on the wall for him, having blown a huge amount of money on the struggling

Youssef Chermiti and decimated the defensive ranks in the transfer window.

Related Rangers now told to replace Kevin Thelwell with "recruitment mastermind"

Would this be an upgrade for the Gers?

Posts 1 ByHenry Jackson Oct 24, 2025

Thelwell’s biggest hope of staying on at Rangers is enjoying a strong working relationship with Rohl, and helping oversee massive improvements on and off the pitch, but even then, his critics are unlikely to go away any time soon.

Liverpool pushed all of their recent agony to one side by comfortably getting the better of Aston Villa 2-0 on Saturday night.

Arne Slot’s Reds do still find themselves seven points shy of Arsenal at the very top of the Premier League tree, with four defeats in a row not exactly helping their cause, but a win was desperately needed all the same, and it was secured in a straightforward fashion versus Unai Emery’s challengers.

Mohamed Salah would have also been relieved, from a personal point of view, that he was back amongst the goals last night as Slot and Co. picked up their first league win since the hotly-contested Merseyside Derby back in September.

The milestone Mo Salah hit vs Aston Villa

It was a milestone night for the Egyptian after all, coming up against the visitors from the West Midlands.

Despite experiencing a shaky start to the season by his lofty standards, Salah would still manage to collect his 250th Premier League goal of his illustrious career on Saturday evening, after he capitalised on a mix-up at the back by Emiliano Martinez to slot a first-half effort home with ease.

That set the reigning champions on their way to an assured three points, with Salah looking lively throughout, away from just adding himself to the Premier League’s record books.

The 33-year-old would very much keep Lucas Digne on his toes throughout, with the Liverpool veteran managing to complete five successful dribbles to look back to his usual rampaging best.

Moreover, Salah also showed plenty of energy and vigour when launching himself into duels, with seven ground duels also impressively won.

Come the end of the contest, Salah would have been pleased with his overall application, away from just stealing the majority of the limelight with his milestone goal.

Still, there is a fresher figure in Slot’s ranks who is seemingly turning into the Dutchman’s new version of the Reds legend, in terms of being a must-have presence on the teamsheet when fit.

Slot's new Salah-type player

Salah is now 33 years of age, meaning his time as a Liverpool regular, week in, week out, could come to a halt soon.

He has, unfortunately, wobbled at points this season, too, with only four goals collected in Premier League action, but class is permanent, as was seen in his encouraging showing against Villa, which showed there’s still life in the ageing winger’s legs at the moment.

It cannot be understated how crucial Salah has been over the years for Liverpool with consistent moments of magic, but Slot could well find he has a new Salah-type figure in his ranks now in Ryan Gravenberch, who is a “vital” figure himself whenever he’s fit in the Liverpool starting XI, as ex-Reds midfielder Steve McManaman labelled him after the important 2-0 victory.

Journalist Henry Winter also stated, after the three points were secured, that the former Ajax sensation is “so important” to how Liverpool tick, with Slot cursing his talisman’s recent injury luck, before he returned to the first-team fold against Villa, with Liverpool coming worryingly unstuck 3-2 away at Brentford with Gravenberch not in the side.

With Gravenberch back in the side, though, on Saturday night, Liverpool never looked in danger of gifting Villa the three points, as the standout number 38 picked up his third Premier League goal of the season already – to show off a killer finishing ability like Salah – when this kind deflection wrongfooted Martinez early in the second half.

Gravenberch also led by example when winning six duels and two tackles, to give Liverpool some needed grit in the middle of the park, on top of also bowing out from the 2-0 win with an 88% pass accuracy intact.

Games played

8

Games started

8

Goals scored

3

Assists

1

Touches

74.4

Accurate passes

53.5 (88%)

Tackles*

2.0

Ball recoveries*

3.6

Total duels won*

5.3

The 23-year-old has been equal parts skilful and attritional throughout the season so far, as can be seen looking at the table above, with Salah’s insane 29-goal season last campaign in the Premier League even seeing him win his fair share of duels, when averaging 3.3 successful duels per clash.

The 8/10 midfield star – as was the post-match rating handed to him by journalist Ian Doyle – still has a long way to go before he’s seen in the same glowing light as Salah, who has become a top-flight great at Anfield.

But, if he continues at his current trajectory – with one analyst even branding him as “world-class” for his well-rounded showing against Villa – he will also be fondly remembered in the Liverpool hall-of-fame down the line, long after Salah’s esteemed playing days.

Best game all season: Liverpool star was even better than Salah & Gravenberch

Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield and this player stood out

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 2, 2025

Manchester United are on an improved run of form and could now be set to strike in the market to sign a highly talented midfielder, as Ruben Amorim plots further improvements.

Man Utd deliver stunning win over Brighton & Hove Albion

Consistency has eluded the Red Devils for much of Amorim’s reign at the club. However, they may now be starting to make a positive change on that front after securing a third Premier League victory in quick succession against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Slick signings in the forward areas, such as Bryan Mbeumo, coupled with a renewed feeling of solidity between the sticks courtesy of Senne Lammens, have brightened the mood at Old Trafford, and their firepower proved to be too much for the Seagulls in the end, despite the visitors’ late fightback.

Speaking after their victory on Match of the Day, Amorim urged his side to take the sting out of the game next time after they had to deal with late pressure before eventually sealing three points on home soil.

He said: “We need to be a bit more calm next time. We know the quality of Brighton, they always have hard games and of course they have the capacity to come back but I think in the end – it is part of the game and the most important thing is in the end that we win.”

While Casemiro could be in the final months of his Manchester United career, his contribution, for now, remains pivotal. However, there will come a time when the Brazil international decides to move on to make way for younger talent.

When that happens, the Red Devils will hope to have a contingency plan, and they may be about to put that into practice if recent developments are to evolve.

Man Utd set to target Jobe Bellingham deal

According to The Express, Manchester United are considering a loan move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham amid increasing tension between his father and sporting director Sebastian Kehl.

The 20-year-old has notched two assists in 12 appearances so far this term, though could be set for a surprise switch to the Premier League after a mixed start to life in Germany.

Labelled “a joy to work with” by Tony Mowbray, the England youth international joined Borussia Dortmund for £25 million in the summer and has proven his worth in the engine room, winning 15 duels so far in the German top-flight, per Fotmob.

Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher is also another target for Amorim to add fresh legs in midfield as his side look to pursue a place in the Champions League slots.

Either way, there will be a sense of intrigue among Manchester United supporters as they look to push a deal over the line for Bellingham, someone Mowbray has also showered in praise for his “excellent” all-round abilities.

Man Utd could spend near-£70m on 'new Thiago Silva' in January spending spree

The Red Devils could turn to a Ruben Amorim favourite.

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 25, 2025

Arsenal beat German champions Bayern Munich 3-1 on a night to remember in Europe, and one Gunners star absolutely stole the show with his performance.

Mikel Arteta’s side were handed one of their toughest tests on paper tonight against a Bayern side who are still unbeaten in the Bundesliga and one of the favourites to win the Champions League, but they were no match for the Premier League frontrunners in north London.

Bayern had also won all but one of their matches in all competitions this season heading into their trip to the Emirates, with Arsenal handing Vincent Kompany’s side their first defeat of 2025/2026.

Second-half goals from Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli ended up firing Arsenal to victory in their heavyweight clash. Madueke, back after two months out with a knee injury, scored his first Gunners goal before fellow sub Martinelli pounced on a mistake from Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer to stretch Arsenal’s perfect record in the competition to five victories from five matches.

Earlier, Jurrien Timber had headed Arsenal into the lead and, with former Tottenham striker Harry Kane unable to add to the six goals he has scored at the Emirates, it was left to Bayern’s 17-year-old star Lennart Karl to grab the first goal Arsenal have conceded in the competition this season.

This glamour tie was arguably the least important of Premier League leaders Arsenal’s three matches this week, sandwiched between the 4-1 derby demolition of Spurs and Sunday’s trip to second-placed Chelsea.

Nevertheless, it is still one to revel in, and the result perhaps hands Arsenal the status of Europe’s best team right now.

While Timber, Madueke and Martinelli were the heroes on paper, it was a complete midfield performance by club-record signing Declan Rice, who absolutely bossed proceedings in the middle of the park with one of his best ever displays in red and white.

Ally McCoist hails 'out of this world' Declan Rice in Arsenal win

Covering the game for TNT Sports, commentator Ally McCoist repeatedly waxed lyrical about the England international — branding him Man of the Match for his “first class” outing against the Bavarians.

Rice was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet as well on 60 minutes, with the former West Ham captain storming down the left only for veteran keeper Manuel Neuer to deny him just reward for his imperious showing.

McCoist called Rice “magnificent” and “out of this world” for the run, which just about summed up what was a possessed performance from one of Arsenal’s leaders.

Tonight was a massive statement from Arsenal, who not only showed they can cut it against Europe’s toughest opponents, but also sent a very clear message that they’ve got absolutely zero intention of letting up.

Next up, a fierce London derby awaits against Chelsea this weekend — a match which could send Arteta’s side nine points clear at the top of the table and cement their status as overwhelming title favourites.

Rice will be a massive part of that, and tonight shows just how vital he is in Arteta’s quest to end the club’s 22-year wait for a Premier League trophy.

The 4pm starts, designed to better suit a UK TV audience, were a disaster, for the team batting first and the locals who can’t watch the match

Cameron Ponsonby18-Nov-2024Well, here we go again. It’s time to learn.I hate learning. In the wider educational sense, I understand it has its benefits. The pen being mightier than the sword and all that. But in a cricket context, it is code for low-stakes cricket.This was true for the ODI series, where a sub-strength England took on a West Indies side who hadn’t qualified for the Champions Trophy and duly took their beating. But it shouldn’t have been the case for the T20 series, where the West Indies are a cohesive, exciting cricket team taking on an England side boosted by the return of a white-ball genius in Jos Buttler and sporting young talents like Jacob Bethell. This was set to be a lot of fun.But forget Phil Salt and Akeal Hosein for a second. Because the fundamental takeaway from this series is an administrative one. Don’t mess with timings. The 4pm starts, designed to better suit a UK TV audience, were a disaster, creating a double disadvantage for the team batting first, with the wickets being at their worst under the afternoon sun, before dew settles in the evening making the pitch good for batting and the ball slippery for bowling. No team won a match on this tour after losing the toss.Related

Can West Indies get their maroon stars back in the red-ball set-up?

Bolter, wildcard, specialist No. 8: Jamie Overton's rapid rise

Washout in St Lucia after five overs as England take series 3-1

After the deciding ODI, Liam Livingstone said he’d never played a match where conditions had altered so much from one innings to the next. “It’s no excuse,” he said to remain professional. “But even if we’d got 350 I don’t think it’d have been enough,” he added to say what he really meant.West Indies T20I captain Rovman Powell was consistent on the issue throughout. After losing the first match of the series, he said, “the best case is for the games to start at 7pm. When we looked at the schedule and realised it would start at 4pm, we knew that would be a problem.”And then after the coin fell his way and his team won the fourth match: “It’s one of the first times I’ve seen in the Caribbean that once you win the toss, you win the game. It’s too skewed.”We all get it. Cricket bends to the will of the broadcaster. These are shows designed for those on the sofa at home, not for those in attendance at the ground – and that is true across sports and has been the case for a long time. The ultimate example of this is US car manufacturer Chevrolet’s sponsorship of Manchester United. From 2012 to 2019, they spent $559m for their logo to be on the front of United’s shirt. Chevrolet doesn’t sell cars in the UK.The argument goes that this is where the money comes from. Cricket needs cash and so it is better to have a few thousand fewer people in the ground with an inconvenient start time, but with more money gained as a result from the broadcast rights being of a greater value.

“The best case is for the games to start at 7pm. When we looked at the schedule and realised it would start at 4pm, we knew that would be a problem.”Rovman Powell, West Indies T20 captain

As a matter of opinion, that argument is short-sighted. Because the TV product you’re selling will lose value over time if every time people turn on the TV they see empty stands. Keep selling a crappy product and those TV rights will drop in value. And then eventually you’re left with no one watching in the crowd and no one watching at home either.But as a matter of fact, shifting times cannot impact the integrity of the result. That is ludicrous and devalues the sport.In every T20I match across the series, the stands started off empty and then gradually filled as the match ebbed into the times that they should have originally been starting. By the end of Saturday’s match at Kensington Oval, there was a superb atmosphere supporting what was a genuinely excellent sporting event and then even in the seemingly sparsely attended fourth T20I in St Lucia, when the West Indies chase got going later in the atmosphere was excellent.At risk of labouring the point. There is a genuine desire and enjoyment of cricket in the Caribbean. Put it at a time when locals can watch and stop playing Sweet Caroline. We’re not at Edgbaston. If then it fails. Fine. But give it a chance. Don’t, as happened here, put it at a time where the main event took place thirty minutes before a ball was bowled.For what it’s worth, we did have one match where the toss wasn’t set to be the be-all and end-all. Ahead of the fifth T20I, Sherfane Rutherford said he reckoned on this occasion, because of how good the pitch was after it had been baked by three days of sun, that the toss shouldn’t matter. And then it rained. Good stuff.The lopsided nature of the contest also framed how much the teams could really learn themselves. West Indies are searching for greater depth in bowling, but spent three matches having to defend inadequate totals because they’d lost the toss. That doesn’t help anyone. England, blessed with playing in favourable conditions, were excellent. You can’t blame a team for making the most of their opportunity. Saqib Mahmood, in particular, was superb, Bethell is worth the hype, Buttler is back with a smile on his face, Salt is superb against the West Indies and Jamie Overton could be anything. But in the one game England had to bowl second, West Indies were 136 for one in nine overs.At the end of it all, England posed with the T20 trophy in the pavilion at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground as the rain fell outside. Bethell is in the middle, holding the cup. And if you zoom in close enough, you can see it engraved with West Indies vs England T20 Series 2024: The Caveat Cup.

Two-way star Shohei Ohtani is a baseball marvel.

Pitching and hitting both seem to come so easily to Ohtani, who has won three MVPs and has finished in the top-five of the Cy Young Award voting once in his decorated eight-year career. So much so that it's hard to believe that wasn't the case at one point in his life.

Ohtani, during an appearance on on Monday, was asked if he views himself more as a pitcher or a hitter.

"I feel like I was more talented as a hitter growing up," Ohtani said through his interpreter Will Ireton. "And it was hard for me to pitch actually. So I feel like I'm more of a hitter who learned how to pitch more than a pitcher learning how to hit."

It's incredibly difficult to believe that it was once hard for Ohtani to pitch. This is a man who just three seasons ago ranked among the top-five American League pitchers in ERA (2.33) and strikeouts (219). In 2025—his return to the mound after undergoing elbow surgery in September of 2023—he has permitted just one earned run and has struck out 10 in nine innings.

If pitching didn't initially come naturally to Ohtani, it's scary to think how much better he'd be on the mound if it did. Nevertheless, it's astounding how good he's become at a skill that once didn't come as easily to him.

All this to say: imagine the havoc a young Ohtani wreaked in Little League once he learned how to pitch.

Manchester United have been told that a sensational January swoop for Brazilian superstar Neymar could offer them a “boost”. Questions are, however, being asked of whether the Santos playmaker is cut out for life in the Premier League at Old Trafford after reaching 33 years of age and suffering a number of injury issues over the last couple of seasons.

• Neymar landing spots: England or MLS?

  Neymar, who is his country’s all-time leading goalscorer at international level, is currently playing through pain and ignoring the advice of doctors at Santos. He is doing his best to steer his boyhood club away from relegation danger.

  He headed home in January after seeing his contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal terminated – with a long road to recovery taken in on the back of knee ligament damage. Neymar has spent more time on the treatment table this term.

  Another change of scenery may be sought early in 2026, as Neymar sees his contract run down towards free agency, and various landing spots are being speculated on – from England to MLS. United have been credited with interest in the not too distant past.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Man Utd move: Should Red Devils approach Neymar?

  Quizzed on whether a deal would appeal at this stage, former Red Devils striker Louis Saha told : “If you asked me six months ago, I’d have loved Neymar at Manchester United. But right now, he seems fragile, or injured. Maybe he’s lost his spark.

  “It’s sad, because I love Neymar. I thought a couple of years ago it’d have been a perfect move because he can still be an amazing player. He could really boost United with his inventiveness and talent.

  “I think perhaps the way he has had his career guided needed to be challenged in the past. I don’t know how he can set about putting things right and rebuilding anymore. United need players who will sacrifice themselves for the team, who are in love with the club. I’m not sure Neymar is the man to offer that to United at this point in his career.”

• Alternative options: MSN to reform in MLS?

  It has been suggested that Neymar could reunite with former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami, allowing the fabled ‘MSN’ attacking unit to be reformed.

  Ex-USMNT and MLS star Brad Friedel has told GOAL of whether that switch makes sense: “If Neymar is fit, then I think it works, I really do because he’s still a huge name in certain parts of the US. The trouble is if he’s not fit and he’s injured a lot, then it becomes a negative media-driven reality. I can understand arguments on both sides for sure.

  “I would assume, and these are smart guys, it would be a tiered contract based on performances and being fit. Having spent some time in Miami, before Messi came you wouldn’t have really known that Miami had a team. From the time that he came, there are pink and black shirts everywhere. If Neymar came, it would add to that.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Best business: Top Premier League deals in 2025

  While Saha doubts that Neymar is the right option for United, he believes that the Red Devils completed one of the Premier League’s best deals during the summer of 2025 – with a proven performer being lured away from domestic rivals Brentford.

  He added when picking out the shrewdest business done in the last window: “For me, the best signing is between Hugo Ekitike and Bryan Mbeumo. I think [Nick] Woltemade has been brilliant too, I love him.

  “I think those three have been the standout players so far, but I think that Mbeumo has probably been the very best of the three. He’s playing for a side that is in transition. Ekitike is playing for the league champions, and Woltemade arrived at a team that is in the Champions League. They both have their problems, of course, but I think United were in the toughest place at the start of the season. I’ve seen United struggle, and how hard it was for Mbeumo, and he’s done brilliantly to raise standards at the club and keep his own standards up.”

  United will be piecing together plans for January, with it possible that further reinforcements will be drafted in alongside Mbeumo. Ruben Amorim’s side, who are still scratching around for consistency in 2025-26, sit seventh in the Premier League table through 13 rounds of fixtures and will be back in action on Thursday at home to West Ham.

تحدث الإيطالي كارلو أنشيلوتي، المدير الفني لمنتخب البرازيل الأول لكرة القدم عن مجموعة السيلساو في كأس العالم المقبل 2026.

وتستضيف الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، كندا والمكسيك نهائيات النسخة المقبلة من بطولة كأس العالم والتي ستنطلق في الفترة بين 11 يونيو و19 يوليو.

وتعتبر تلك هي النسخة الأولى من بطولة كأس العالم، بعد استحداث نظامها، حيث سيشارك فيها 48 منتخبًا، سيتم تقسيمهم على 12 مجموعة، ويتأهل متصدر ووصيف كل مجموعة إلى دور الـ32، بالإضافة إلى أفضل 8 منتخبات في مركز ثالث.

وتأهل منتخب البرازيل، بقيادة المدرب كارلو أنشيلوتي، إلى بطولة كأس العالم بعدما تواجد في المركز الخامس في تصفيات قارة أمريكا الجنوبية برصيد 28 نقطة.

ويقع منتخب البرازيل في المجموعة الثالثة رفقة المغرب وهايتي واسكتلندا، حيث أجرى الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا” فرعة كأس العالم أمس، الجمعة، (لمزيد من التفاصيل اضغط هنا).

وقال أنشيلوتي في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “نحترم كل المنتخبات التي سنواجها في مجموعتنا لكنني أعتقد أن مواجهة المغرب هي الأصعب”.

وعن النظام الجديد لـ كأس العالم، أتم: “لقد تغير كثيرًا عن النسخ السابقة وأعتقد هذا يساعد كرة القدم أكثر لأن العديد من البلاد ستشارك في كأس العالم وهذا سيزيد من مشاعر الجماهير واهتمامهم تجاه البطولة”.