Newcastle United are now seriously considering a January bid for a new midfielder, who is being targeted by some of Europe’s top clubs.

Newcastle keen on midfielder likened to Sandro Tonali

Sandro Tonali has earned rave reviews this season, with Paul Scholes causing a stir when he chose the Italian ahead of Declan Rice as the best midfielder in the Premier League back in October, saying: “I love Sandro Tonali as well. He’s been brilliant. Very good. I would probably choose Tonali at this point.”

“I think he’s better than Rice. I really like Rice, don’t get me wrong, I think he’s got everything. Sometimes he takes a few too many touches of the ball and tries to look a bit more stylish than necessary. He can do everything but I just don’t think he does it enough. I prefer Tonali but they’re both good players.”

The central midfielder has remained a key player for Eddie Howe, making 19 appearances in all competitions, although there are some doubts over the future of midfield partner Joelinton, who received criticism for his performance in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.

With the Brazilian struggling, Howe may want to enter the market for a new midfielder during the January transfer window, and Newcastle are now seriously considering a bid for Ferencvaros midfielder Alex Toth, who is valued at around £13.5m.

A whole host of Europe’s biggest clubs have been eyeing the Hungarian, who has been compared to Dominik Szoboszlai, including Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, but the PIF are now plotting a January move.

The 20-year-old excels as a box-to-box midfielder, and some of his performances for Ferencvaros suggest he may now be ready to test himself in one of Europe’s top leagues…

Outscoring Woltemade: Newcastle preparing move for one of the PL's best strikers

He’s been in excellent form.

By
Tom Cunningham

Dec 3, 2025

Toth could be fantastic long-term addition to Howe's squad

Given his age, the young Hungarian still has plenty of time to develop, but he has already started to put in some very promising displays for Ferencvaros, chipping in with four goals and 15 assists in 56 outings for the Hungarian club.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described the maestro as a “roaming playmaker”, while also comparing him to Newcastle star Tonali, which is a huge compliment, considering just how highly Scholes rates the Italy international.

Not only has the starlet impressed domestically, but he also earned huge praise for his performance against Genk in the Europa League earlier this season.

With Toth potentially available for a very affordable fee, Newcastle should undoubtedly make a bid this winter, and they should move quickly, given the rival interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Said the day one pitch, on which 19 wickets fell on the opening day of the Ashes, was “s***”

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Nov-2025Usman Khawaja is confident of being fit for the second Test in Brisbane but could have landed himself in hot water after describing the Perth pitch on day one of the first Ashes encounter as “s***”.Khawaja was unable to open in either innings of the opening Test having initially been caught out by England’s rapid collapse on the first afternoon and then suffering a recurrence after jumping for an attempted catch in the slips on the second day.With his time off the field having not elapsed when Australia began their first innings, Marnus Labuschagne went in alongside debutant Jake Weatherald with Steven Smith then forced to move to No. 3.Related

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Khawaja then came out at No. 4 but could only make two runs before edging a rising delivery from Brydon Carse. He was one of 19 wickets to fall on the opening day, which followed 17 on the first day of the corresponding Test against India last year, but the ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle rated the surface “very good”.”Nineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit, that’s a great wicket – that seems real fair,” Khawaja said at an event for his Usman Khawaja Foundation, a charity which helps support children from diverse, rural and low socio-economic backgrounds.”The same thing happened last year in the Indian Test, it’s just that day one wicket, the ball just does not react. Steve Smith’s by far the best cricketer I’ve ever played with and he’s missing the middle of his bat by a long way – he does not miss the middle of his bat. He’s getting hit in the elbow, he’s getting hit.””You can’t really predict up and down. Up and down is the hardest – sideways is a little bit easier but up and down your hands can’t catch up. So day one wicket at [Perth] is a piece of s***, I’m happy to say that. It has been last year, it was this year.”They do get better. Day two, day three, and then day four, they start to crack up.”Usman Khawaja ahead of what could be his final Test series•Getty Images

Quite what conditions will be served up for the day-night Test at the Gabba remain to be seen, but Khawaja was confident he would be able to take his place in the XI although Travis Head’s spectacular 123 in his absence has sparked a debate about which way Australia should go.”I feel good,” he said. “I’d never experienced it before, but the last few days have been good. I’ve never had back spasms before, so it’s been quite new for me. I’ve been quite lucky. I’m 39 years old [on December 18] and have always had a pretty solid back. Rachel, my wife, has been taking care of me – she’s been letting me sleep in a fair bit actually, I’ve really been taking advantage of it. I should be right.”Recounting the events of the opening day in Perth, which at one stage saw Smith frantically waving to the dug out, Khawaja said he was trying all he could to be available to open.”I went off knowing I still wanted to open; I don’t want to bat anywhere else,” Khawaja said. “I went off, and I think they [England] were six down, and we just went bang, bang, wicket.”I rushed back on, and then we take the next two wickets. That was the frustrating part for me, but I had no other option. I had anti-inflammatories, really strong ones. I had real strong painkillers all through that time – even in the morning – and got myself to a place where I could actually field again.”Khawaja revealed the lengths he was ready to go to in case he was needed to bat during the chase, but Head’s onslaught made it a moot point. “I’m really glad that we got [the match] done that night, because the next day, I already had the radiology booked,” he said. “I was going to get an epidural in my back, so I can actually move somewhat. I had it booked in, ready to go, so if the team needed me, I was there again.”

Beth Mead's early strike secured a vital Champions League victory for Arsenal on Tuesday, as the reigning European champions saw off Twente in a narrow but comfortable 1-0 win. It's a scoreline that doesn't reflect the dominance the Gunners enjoyed as they crept up the league-phase standings, moving to within one point of automatic qualification for the knockout rounds with one game left to play, while securing at least a play-off berth.

When Mead found the back of the net after 10 minutes, it felt like Arsenal could score quite a few. Two minutes before that, only some heroic Twente defending had prevented Mariona Caldentey, who fired not far off target even earlier on, and then Mead from scoring, with the Gunners' high and aggressive press working a treat and forcing the visitors into turning the ball over plenty in dangerous areas.

As it transpired, though, that would be the only goal of the game. It wasn't for a lack of trying; Alessia Russo would go close with three headers, including one which hit the bar late on, and the outstretched leg of Diede Lemey prevented her from scoring when she did get one on target. The goalkeeper's best save, however, might have been to prevent her own team-mate from netting an own goal, when she reacted brilliantly at her near post after Victoria Pelova's flick was inadvertently directed towards goal by Lieske Carleer.

Chances at the other end were few and far between, with Sophie Proost's header well over the bar, meaning the biggest scare Anneke Borbe, Arsenal's third-choice goalkeeper, had in the home goal was when she was caught by the onrushing Eva Oude Elberink, almost forcing the Gunners to hand a senior debut to 17-year-old Amy Liddiard. Fortunately, with Daphne van Domselaar and Manuela Zinsberger already sidelined, Borbe was able to continue and preserve the clean sheet that ensured her team's victory, their second in a row after three games without one.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Meadow Park…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

Anneke Borbe (6/10):

Essentially a spectator for this one. Made just 13 touches all game and her only call to action saw her bravely dive at the feet of Oude Elberink when she was put through one-on-one.

Taylor Hinds (6/10):

Another solid, if unspectacular, performance from one of England's most recent debutantes.

Lotte Wubben-Moy (7/10):

Calm and composed in possession and assured in her defending, helping the Gunners to restrict Twente to little in attack.

Steph Catley (7/10):

A little looser in possession than her centre-back partner, but only just. Always switched on and helped organise the defence well.

Katie McCabe (7/10):

Provided some quality service with that left foot of hers and nearly got on the scoresheet, too, through a clever free-kick.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Kyra Cooney-Cross (7/10):

Started a little sloppily but got better as the game went on, showing plenty on both sides of the ball and delivering some good set pieces.

Mariona Caldentey (6/10):

Moved the ball well enough in deeper areas and looked a real goal threat early on, but her accuracy on the ball dropped off in the final third. 

Victoria Pelova (7/10):

Set up essentially as a second striker out of possession and was crucial to Arsenal's high press working so well.

AFPAttack

Beth Mead (8/10):

Made the decisive contribution just 10 minutes in and could've added to her tally were it not for some heroic Twente defending. A classy display.

Alessia Russo (6/10):

Had several chances but couldn't find the back of the net, hitting the bar and forcing a good save out of the goalkeeper with her best efforts. She was able to get involved still with some nice moments in Arsenal's build-up play, though.

Olivia Smith (7/10):

Caused Twente all sorts of problems with her quick feet and direct approach, getting kicked plenty for her troubles. Unlucky to be booked for a good tackle.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Caitlin Foord (6/10):

Full of running down the left, delivering a couple of great balls in her 30 minutes or so on the pitch.

Frida Maanum (7/10):

Provided a real goal threat after coming on before the hour and created for others, too, in an impactful performance.

Kim Little (6/10):

Added plenty of energy to the middle of the park, aiding defence and attack.

Emily Fox (N/A):

Helped Arsenal see the win out as a late sub.

Stina Blackstenius (N/A):

Only came on in stoppage time.

Renee Slegers (7/10):

Set up her team to press Twente aggressively and it worked a treat, leading to the only goal of the game. Subs were proactive to ensure the levels didn't drop and her team could see the win out.

While he has made some mistakes, Mikel Arteta has got an awful lot right during his time in the Arsenal dugout.

The Spaniard has overseen a complete overhaul of the squad, instilled a new philosophy, and turned them from a fallen giant into serial challengers for both the Premier League and the Champions League.

However, there were plenty of moments early on in his managerial career when it felt like he was hanging onto the job by his fingertips, including a period in which Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe practically saved him.

Since then, the former has established himself as the club’s talisman, while the latter has fallen away and been sold to Fulham. Interestingly, there is a player in Arteta’s current squad who once felt like the next Saka but could now be closer to becoming the next Smith Rowe.

How Smith Rowe and Saka save Arteta

Even though the club were coming off their 14th FA Cup triumph, the start of the 20/21 season was nothing short of disastrous for Arsenal.

The North Londoners actually won their two opening games, against Fulham and West Ham United and even picked up a third win of the campaign in their fourth match.

However, the losses started coming thick and fast, and from the 8th of November to Boxing Day, the team didn’t win a single league game.

So, when Chelsea rocked up at the Emirates on Boxing Day, Arteta decided to roll the dice and start Smith Rowe in the ten, a decision that instantly paid off as the Gunners came out 3-1 winners and the youngster provided the assist for Saka’s goal.

From that point, results started to improve, and the two Hale Enders were crucial to that, with the midfielder racking up a tally of four goals and seven assists and the winger doing even better with seven goals and seven assists.

The duo continued to impress the following season, with Smith Rowe producing 13 goal involvements and the mercurial number seven producing 19.

However, a combination of injuries and the squad being strengthened around him saw the Croydon-born gem slowly lose his place in the side over the next two seasons.

Finally, after making just 14 appearances in the 22/23 season and then 19 the year after that, the Hale Ender was sold to Fulham for around £34m, while Saka went on to become arguably the team’s best player.

Interestingly, or perhaps unfortunately, there is currently a potential star in the making in Arteta’s squad today who at one point looked destined to follow in Saka’s footsteps, but might now be more likely to become the next Smith Rowe.

The Arsenal gem who could become the next Smith Rowe

It would be fair to say that, as seasons go, last year wasn’t a particularly enjoyable one for Arsenal fans.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The club looked miles off in the title race and were beset with injuries to key players, only this time they didn’t have the squad depth they do today.

However, there were at least a few bright spots from the campaign, notably the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri.

The youngster had long been a prospect fans were excited about; he became the youngest player in the Premier League, after all.

Yet, it was the injuries to Martin Odegaard and specifically Saka that meant he ended up getting far more first-team minutes than supporters were expecting, and to say he made the most of the opportunity would be an understatement.

Appearances

37

Minutes

1378′

Goals

9

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

Minutes per Goal Involvement

125.27′

For example, the often “unplayable” dynamo, as dubbed by Jack Wilshere, scored nine goals and provided two assists in 37 appearances, totalling 1378 minutes.

In other words, the Hale End phenom averaged a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or more crucially, one every 125.27 minutes, which helps to justify Joe Cole’s claim that “he’s the most exciting footballer in England and maybe Europe.”

It was these numbers, plus the moments of brilliance on the ball and his time out wide, that led many to see him as someone who could and probably would follow in the steps of Saka and become a key part of the squad in the coming years.

However, fast-forward to today, and it would be fair to describe his situation as more akin to Smith Rowe’s in his final seasons at the club.

For example, as things stand, the teenager has made just ten appearances for the first team, totalling 427 minutes.

Moreover, he’s started just three games all season, two of which came in the League Cup and another in the club’s Champions League clash with Slavia Prague.

Worryingly, the Enfield-born gem has also only scored one goal and, like the Croydon-born star before him, has seen fresh competition arrive in the shape of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.

Appearances

10

Minutes

427′

Goals

1

Assists

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.1

Minutes per Goal Involvement

427′

However, it is still early in the season, and while it’s clear that the manager isn’t as keen to pick the Hale Ender as he was last year, there is still plenty of time for things to change.

Therefore, so long as Nwaneri does get more game time across the rest of the campaign, he could still follow in Saka’s footsteps, but if he doesn’t, he could be another Smith Rowe.

Their new Ozil: Arsenal ramp up move to sign £88m "generational talent"

The incredible talent could be a real game-changer for Arsenal and become Arteta’s own Mesut Ozil.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes 3 days ago

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy was left to rue missed chances after his team lost 2-1 to Hearts at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership in his first game in the dugout.

Speaking after the match, in the clip below, the French boss blamed a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and a lack of combination play in the final third after a bright first-half showing.

With the January transfer window just around the corner, the former MLS boss may already be thinking about the areas of his squad that he wants to improve ahead of the second half of the season.

Celtic plotting move to sign Premier League player

In fact, the Scottish Premiership champions are already looking at a possible move for a player who could be a dream first signing for Nancy at Parkhead.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Football Insider, Celtic are plotting a move to sign Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to be their long-term replacement for Kasper Schmeichel.

The report claims that the Hoops are looking at the £90k-per-week shot-stopper because he could be available with his contract expiring at the end of the season, which could make him an option in January for a cut-price fee or on a free next summer.

It adds that the Scottish giants are in the process of identifying a replacement for Schmeichel because the 38-year-old veteran’s deal is also due to expire next year.

Football Insider states that there are also immediate concerns about the Dane’s current performance levels, which is why Ortega could be a dream first signing for Nancy.

Why Celtic should sign Stefan Ortega in January

Instead of waiting to sign him on a free transfer in the summer, Celtic should push to land the Manchester City outcast on a cut-price deal in January, as he is currently behind both Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford in the pecking order at The Etihad.

As Football Insider outlined, Schmeichel’s performance level has not been particularly high for the Hoops this season. Per FotMob, the experienced stopper has conceded 1.34 more goals than expected in the Premiership and 0.50 more than expected in the Europa League.

This suggests that the Denmark international has not been up to scratch as a shot-stopper in domestic or European action for Celtic, which is why signing the City goalkeeper immediately could be a shrewd move.

Ortega, who once left Guardiola on the floor with a save against Tottenham Hotspur, may only be a third-choice option in England, but he is playing for serial Premier League winners and has proven his quality in the English top-flight in seasons gone by.

Whilst Schmeichel has struggled as a shot-stopper for Celtic this season, the German star has largely been an excellent shot-stopper in the Premier League and the Bundesliga in the past five years.

25/26 (Premier League)

0

N/A

24/25 (Premier League)

13

-0.7

23/24 (Premier League)

7

+2.0

22/23 (Premier League)

3

+3.1

21/22 (Bundesliga)

33

+4.8

20/21 (Bundesliga)

34

+3.1

As you can see in the table above, the 33-year-old has conceded 12.3 fewer goals than expected across his top-flight career to date, which is an exceptional statistic that highlights how impressive his shot-stopping is.

Ortega, who was hailed as an “exceptional goalkeeper”, has shown that he can be a reliable shot-stopper at the top level, whilst journalist Pete O’Rourke noted that he is “very effective” with the ball and would “fit” the style that Nancy wants to implement at Parkhead.

His ability on the ball, which is a prerequisite to playing in goal in a Guardiola side, means that he will suit a team like Celtic, who are expected to dominate possession and play out from the back, making him a good stylistic fit for the club.

Ortega, though, also has, as evidenced by his statistics in Germany and England, the shot-stopping quality on top of that to ensure that the Hoops do not concede cheap goals with the few shots that they do give away.

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Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy must drop this flop who was even worse than Daizen Maeda against Hearts.

ByDan Emery 4 days ago

Therefore, the board must back Nancy by making a move for Ortega in January, instead of the summer, because a player of his quality could immediately improve the team and improve their chances of enjoying a successful end to the 2025/26 campaign, making him a dream first signing.

Manchester United got back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory away from home against Crystal Palace. The Red Devils struggled in the first half and went into the break a goal down, but an energetic performance in the second 45 minutes, combined with two smart goals, ensured they got all three points.

Indeed, it was a penalty from Jean-Philippe Mateta which gave the Eagles a lead. Leny Yoro made a clumsy tackle in the penalty area, with the Palace striker eventually slotting home from 12 yards. He was asked to retake his initial kick after striking the ball against his standing foot.

United came out with far more energy in the second half, and it only took them nine minutes before they managed to equalise. Joshua Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal in almost a year to pull things level.

United’s winner came from Mason Mount, who bagged his second goal of the season. It was a good effort, with Bruno Fernandes laying a free kick into his path and Mount slotting home through a disjointed Palace wall.

The Englishman’s strike was enough to win United the game. There were some standout performances, with Zirkzee someone who played particularly well.

How Zirkzee downed Crystal Palace

It has not been the easiest season for Netherlands international Zirkzee. Saturday lunchtime at Selhurst Park felt like a big moment, and, after a first half where he struggled to get into the game, he certainly took his chance.

The goal from the attacker was simply sensational. He also got on the end of a Fernandes freekick, bringing the ball down on his chest before smashing a volley across goal into the far corner. It was a sublime strike from a man who needed a goal.

However, it was not just the goal from Zirkzee which stood out. His second-half showing was described as “amazing” by Alice Talks Footy over on X, with the United number 11 constantly linking up play, showing off his exceptional technical ability with clever touches.

Indeed, his numbers at full-time show just how well he played. Zirkzee had 50 touches of the ball, completing 14 passes in the opposition half and creating one chance. He also won eight duels and made three ball recoveries.

It was a brilliant second-half showing from the United striker, who will now be hoping to kick on. As well as he played, one of his Red Devils teammates was arguably better.

Man Utd star outshines Zirkzee vs Palace

One of the real standouts for United against the Eagles was Luke Shaw. Making his 300th appearance for the Red Devils, Shaw continued his good form this season on the left of Amorim’s back three.

The United number 23 made some key defensive contributions, including a crunching tackle to stop Eddie Nketiah from getting a shot off in the first half. He also made three interceptions, ball recoveries and clearances in a strong performance.

Touches

78

Pass accuracy

87%

Duels won

3/6

Clearances

3

Interceptions

3

Ball recoveries

3

Blocks

1

Indeed, one person who rated Shaw’s efforts in South London was Goal journalist Calum Preston Kelly. He gave the Englishman a 7/10 for his afternoon’s work and praised him for the fact that he “defended strongly” against Oliver Glasner’s men.

Just last game, Gary Neville said Shaw is a “waste of time” in a United squad. Yet, after a statement showing at Selhurst Park, it is easy to see that the defender could be considered an undroppable member of the squad.

There is plenty of competition for places in that left centre-back role, too. Shaw was replaced with minutes remaining in the game by Lisandro Martinez, and his return could perhaps have signalled the end of the Englishman’s run in the starting lineup.

Yet, after a performance like that, it is hard to see Amorim dropping one of his most experienced players. Shaw was crucial in United keeping Palace at bay from open play, and looks undroppable ahead of a busy festive period.

Shades of Pogba: INEOS have signed star who can end Mainoo’s Man Utd stay

Manchester United have landed a star who could reach the next level under Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 29, 2025

Having played 13 internationals across all three forms on the potential, Connolly delivered with a clutch 61 not out to show why he has been so heavily invested in

Alex Malcolm24-Oct-20251:43

Connolly admits being ‘starstruck’ by Rohit and Kohli

Fairly or unfairly, there had been plenty of scepticism from Australian fans about Cooper Connolly.None of it is his fault. But it has bubbled because he has been picked to play for Australia in all three formats on the potential of his skillset more than his output at domestic level. So rare are left-arm spin-bowling allrounders in Australia, in the mould of Ravindra Jadeja, Australia’s selectors eagerly picked him in T20I cricket without a T20 40 and one three-wicket haul, in ODI cricket with just four List A scores of 42, 2, 13, and 11, and three one-wicket hauls, and in Test cricket without a first-class century or a first-class wicket in just four matches. Jadeja, by contrast, had multiple first-class centuries, including a double, and multiple five-wicket hauls before making his international debut for India in any format.Australia’s selectors weren’t the only ones who had gambled on his talent almost sight unseen. Perth Scorchers picked him for a BBL final after three games while Western Australia handed him his first-class debut in a Sheffield Shield final and he delivered with 90 in his maiden innings.Related

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But no such first-time luck followed Connolly into international cricket. Before Thursday, in 13 matches across all forms for Australia he had only batted six times and had reached double figures just once with a top score of 13 in a T20I. One of those innings was a nine-ball duck in the Champions Trophy semi-final where he had been inexplicably asked to open.But all that investment and belief in his talent came to the fore in Adelaide where Connolly, 22, showcased composure beyond his years to deliver a near-flawless 61 not out from 53 balls to guide Australia to a series victory.”I don’t think I’d got to double digits yet [in ODIs],” Connolly said after the match. “It’s always nice to sort of get that breakout innings just to, I guess, feel that I can play at this level.”To get the opportunity and I guess showcase what I can do is nice.”There had been evidence of his talent, and his ability under pressure at BBL level having made a match-winning 25 not out off 13 in a BBL final as a 19-year-old. He was also named joint player of the tournament in last summer’s BBL, albeit through consistent performances rather than eye-catching ones like Mitchell Owen produced.

“I think it was a superb performance. Cooper, especially. Being a youngster coming in, showing so much maturity to finish off the game, that shows a lot of character. And he’s someone I’ve seen even in the India A versus Australia A matches, he was charging on the bowlers and very selective in terms of which bowler to target, so credit where it’s due.”Shreyas Iyer on Cooper Connolly’s innings

He even cast his mind back to that BBL final winning innings on Thursday night to calm his nerves as he steered his country home.”I actually had a moment out there today where I was just thinking about how I felt when I was out there [during the BBL final in 2023],” Connolly said. “To bring myself back down to earth and control my emotions, I like to sing a song to myself.”I started singing between every ball just to relax myself, take myself off the game and try to embrace it as much as possible.”I was a little bit starstruck walking out and Virat and Rohit are there. It’s always nice to challenge yourself with the best opponent.”What he delivered in Adelaide was the fruits of the work he had done on two recent tours of the subcontinent to Sri Lanka with the Test and ODI team in February and to India with Australia A in the last two months.While his batting in Sri Lanka had been skittish, his returns in India showed rapid growth. He scored three half-centuries in five matches across two first-class games and three 50-over matches. That growth was evident when he walked out to face Axar Patel and Washington Sundar with Australia needing 133 from 138 with only six wickets in hand.Unlike Matt Renshaw and Alex Carey, who had perished premeditating on the front foot, Connolly showcased what he had learned on the subcontinent playing deep in the crease off the back foot to rotate the strike early. It forced Axar to press fuller and Connolly caressed him through cover. Axar erred leg side three balls later and Connolly swept him fine without risk for a second boundary in the over.Where Matthew Short, who played well for his 74, should have been caught at point trying to square drive Sundar on the up, Connolly went back to a similar length and line and carved a risk free cut shot to the rope.Cooper Connolly made his maiden ODI half-century•Getty Images”I think that trip in Kanpur was one of the trips that sort of helped me get my game back in some good stead,” Connolly said. “I felt like I hadn’t found the middle of the bat for awhile, and to go out there and play against a pretty good India A attack when we were over there, built some confidence in me leading into this.”He then unfurled three stunning shots off the quicks, scything Harshit Rana through cover, clubbing Mohammed Siraj over cover, and pulling Siraj forward of square before tucking him neatly behind square to bring up a maiden international half-century. None of it was wild swinging. They were calculated, classy shots at critical times. His decision-making and execution was noted post-match by India batter Shreyas Iyer.”Credit where it’s due, I think they played brilliantly,” Iyer said of Connolly’s partnership with Owen. “The way they batted, they rotated their strikes. I think it was a superb performance. Cooper, especially. Being a youngster coming in, showing so much maturity to finish off the game, that shows a lot of character. And he’s someone I’ve seen even in the India A versus Australia A matches, he was charging on the bowlers and very selective in terms of which bowler to target, so credit where it’s due.”Connolly’s bowling is developing too. He took a maiden five-wicket haul against South Africa in August and was under-bowled in Adelaide, having conceded just 11 runs in three overs with 10 dots and only one boundary while Iyer and Rohit Sharma were rolling. Mitch Marsh oddly opted for five overs of offspin from Short and Travis Head that cost 39 runs including four boundaries and only four dots between them.In the context of Australia’s build towards the 2027 World Cup it was a significant performance. Australia had lost seven of their last eight completed ODIs prior to the series starting, including their last three bilateral series and the Champions Trophy semi-final against India. In the wake of the retirements of Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell, they have been searching for new blood to stand tall. The performances of Connolly, Short, Owen and Xavier Bartlett were as much a key to Australia’s win as Adam Zampa’s four-wicket haul and Josh Hazlewood’s mesmerising new-ball spell.”I think we’ve got a lot of depth in Australian cricket, and that was showed tonight,” Connolly said. “Obviously with Smudge and Maxi retiring from one-day cricket earlier in the year. There was obviously some room for some younger guys to come through. And it was nice for myself, Shorty, Mitchy, X [Xavier Bartlett], to put our hands up and I guess almost feel like we’re welcome to this stage and being able to play some good cricket now. But there’s a lot of depth in Australian cricket. And I think there’s some positive signs to come.”

Former Australia allrounder signs three-year contract to succeed Trevor Griffin

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2025Somerset have appointed Erin Osborne, the former Australia allrounder, as women’s head coach. Osborne, 36, has signed a three-year contract and replaces Trevor Griffin, who stepped down after Somerset’s first season in the newly professional Tier 1 county structure.Osborne played 121 times for Australia between 2009 and 2016. She retired from domestic cricket in 2022, going on to hold a number of coaching roles with Canberra-based ACT Meteors.”I’m thrilled to be joining Somerset as women’s head coach,” Osborne said. “This is an incredible opportunity to work with a club that has a proud history and a passionate supporter base.”I look forward to building on the strong foundations already in place and working closely with the players, coaches, and support staff as we strive for continued growth and success.”Somerset finished bottom of the Vitality Blast group last season, although fared better in the One-Day Cup, winning six games out of 14 and just missing out on the knockouts.On Osborne’s appointment, Somerset director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said: “Erin was the standout candidate for the position, and her knowledge and experience, aligned with her drive to succeed, really resonated with the panel, and will stand the club in good stead moving forward.”Her coaching path to date has seen Erin gain a thorough understanding of how to construct effective programmes, inspire players, and improve performance across female and male pathways. These traits will prove invaluable as we look to build on the inaugural year of professional women’s cricket at the Cooper Associates County Ground.”Erin has established an excellent reputation as a coach in Australia, and we are excited to see her lead Somerset Women into the next stage of our journey.”

There are set to be at least five seasons and it will be the first professional women’s cricket event in Saudi Arabia

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Nov-2025FairBreak and Saudi Cricket have announced a five-year partnership to host the Women’s World T20 Challenge in Saudi Arabia from 2026. It is set to be the first professional women’s cricket event in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Cricket and FairBreak said in a release that the competition will feature players from more than 35 countries.FairBreak is a private company founded in 2013 that aims to improve gender equality in sport and previously hosted the FairBreak Global Invitational T20 in 2022 and 2023 in Dubai and Hong Kong respectively. A third edition was planned in 2023 in the USA but it was initially postponed to 2024 and eventually didn’t come to fruition.The FairBreak Invitational was fully sanctioned by the ICC and had six teams. It featured international stars like Chamari Athapaththu, Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp among others. However, the BCCI did not give No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to the Indian players. It is also unclear as of now if any Indian players will feature in the new T20 tournament.The announcement said new T20 league is “in alignment with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030” and among its objectives are to develop women’s cricket talent through structured training programmes and pathways, to raise public awareness and inspire the next generation of players, to enhance international collaboration, and to bring in players from more than 35 countries.The Women’s World T20 Challenge will see Saudi Arabia increase its presence on the cricket map. The IPL auction was held in Jeddah in 2024 and the country was also poised to back a new Grand-Slam-style circuit of T20 tournaments. Saudi Arabia is also set to host some games in the future seasons of the ILT20.

The opener enjoyed a glorious run from early 2022, but in recent times the runs have become much harder to come by

Alex Malcolm13-Nov-2025Usman Khawaja is intent on running his own race as far as talk about the end of his Test career goes.There are plenty who think that race has already been run and his career should have ended before this summer. But right now, that decision appears to be in his hands and he’s not giving any hints as to when he may finish.That can change quickly. Australia’s selectors have recently been accused, rightly or wrongly, of shirking the tough calls. They may face one of their toughest as a panel midway through the Ashes if Khawaja struggles early and Australia struggle more broadly.Related

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Khawaja finds himself at a full-circle moment. He is already the oldest opener to play for Australia in over 70 years, at 38. He will be the oldest player to represent Australia in 40 years if he gets to the third Test in Adelaide, when he will turn 39 on day two.He might not have been given the opportunity to play Test cricket so deep into his 30s if not for an extraordinary sliding-doors scenario.In August of 2019 he had been dropped for the sixth, and what he thought was, the final time from the Test team, having played the previous 20 Tests as a permanent member of Australia’s top three.The summers of 2019-20, 2020-21, and early 2021-22 were spent batting at No. 4 for Queensland and dominating the Sheffield Shield. Then Travis Head tested positive for Covid on the eve of the 2022 New Year’s Test against England at the SCG. Khawaja was recalled at age 35 and scored twin hundreds in the match batting at No. 5.Usman Khawaja soaks in the SCG’s ovation during his stunning 2022 comeback•Getty Images”Looking back on it, it seems like a fairy tale,” Khawaja said. “It literally does. I wasn’t supposed to play.”The circumstances for me actually just to play were bizarre enough. But then to actually go out there and score a hundred in the first innings and then somehow to back it up in the next innings too. It’s such a rare feat to do, particularly in an Ashes.”It was the best individual cricketing moment of my life. So it’s very special, something I’ll never forget. I’m very grateful it happened.”Since that moment, Khawaja has not missed a Test match and has been statistically Australia’s best batter over the four-year period, scoring more runs at a higher average than any other.He was Player of the Series in Pakistan in 2022, made his highest Test score against South Africa in Sydney, made a century in India and was the leading run-scorer on either side in the 2023 Ashes. He was ICC Test player of the year in 2023 and a pivotal part of the 2023 World Test Championship title.