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The Milwaukee Brewers established two franchise records during Sunday's game vs. the Athletics, both of which having to do with stolen bases.

Brewers players stole six bases in the first inning alone, which is now the most bases stolen in a single inning in team history. It started with Bryce Turang stealing second base after the first out of the inning. After Christian Yelich was walked, him and Turang successfully pulled off a double steal to reach second and third.

That wasn't the only double steal of the inning, either. A couple batters later, William Contreras and Rhys Hoskins completed another one. After they both made it home, Sal Frelick stole another base to make the inning total six. The Brewers scored four runs thanks to some of those stolen bases.

The Brewers didn't stop stealing bases after the first inning. Turang stole another base in the second inning, followed by Frelick in the third. Caleb Durbin stole his first base of the game in the fourth inning, pushing the Brewers' grand total to nine stolen bases, which is now the most Milwaukee's ever had in a single game in franchise history.

The A's finally stopped the Brewers from stealing a base in the fifth inning when catcher Shea Langeliers threw Frelick out at second. We'll see how many stolen bases the Brewers end up with on Sunday.

Second round of the Ranji Trophy starts on October 25

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2025Ravindra Jadeja is set to play for Saurashtra in the second round of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy starting October 25.Jadeja’s inclusion will strengthen their attack against Madhya Pradesh at home in Rajkot, on the same pitch where spinners took for 31 of the 35 wickets to fall in last week’s fixture between Saurashtra and Karnataka.Jadeja, the top-ranked Test allrounder, is currently on a break, having most recently played in the two home Tests against West Indies earlier this month. He scored his sixth Test hundred – an unbeaten 104 – in the first Test in Ahmedabad and took eight wickets in the series as India won 2-0.He wasn’t selected in India’s ODI squad that is currently in Australia, which Jadeja said was “not a surprise” after the team management spoke to him about their decision.”It is a good thing that they communicated the reason behind my omission,” Jadeja had said during the Delhi Test against West Indies. “I am happy about that. But whenever I get a chance next, I will try and do what I have done all these years.”If I get a chance in the World Cup and there are many ODIs before and if I do well there, it will be a good thing for Indian cricket. Winning a World Cup is everyone’s dream. We narrowly missed out last time, so next time we will try and make up for it.”When he plays against Madhya Pradesh, Jadeja will reunite with his Saurashtra spin twin Dharmendrasinh Jadeja. Dharmendrasinh picked up a match haul of 10 for 203 as Saurashtra earned points for taking the first-innings lead against Karnataka.Jadeja had most recently featured for Saurashtra in the previous Ranji season. He took 12 wickets in two matches – both all against Delhi – including a best of 7 for 38.

Pep Guardiola once described Tottenham as 'the Harry Kane team', but amid Manchester City's ridiculous reliance on their own superstar striker this season, it has been suggested that his side could be renamed 'the Erling Haaland team'. But after Phil Foden pulled off a miraculous escape act against Leeds United on Saturday, a fairer description might be 'the Haaland AND Foden team'.

That does not reflect well on the rest of a City squad who seem to no longer have the air of invincibility that used to define them. One reading of Foden’s balletic, 91st-minute winner against Leeds that snatched victory after City threw away a two-goal lead in a mostly abject second-half display, was that Guardiola's side showed impressive mental resilience. Another, though, was that they almost threw away two points – if not three – with a complacent performance and had to rely on individual brilliance after a team capitulation.  

City’s recent games suggest they are indeed vulnerable and that they are going to struggle to chase down Arsenal in the title race unless they kick a worrying recent habit of surrendering leads.

Getty Images Sport'Really struggling'

Guardiola didn’t want to read too much into the result nearly 48 hours later when he spoke before Tuesday’s trip to Fulham, but he certainly wasn’t hailing it as a positive shift in their mentality. 

"It depends on Phil putting the ball in the net," he said in a dreary manner suggesting he was still not happy with how his team managed the second half. "I don't know that one win can define the mentality of the team. I don't believe in these kind of things."

Foden gave a more lengthy assessment of what happened, outlining what City did right and wrong: "We were in full control. They changed it around in the second half, changed the system and we couldn't seem to get going. We really struggled, to be honest. It was a frustrating half but when we had a short break, the manager got us together to adapt to their formation and we started playing again."

The England midfielder, who has six goals and three assists in all competitions this season, also warned his City team-mates that they cannot afford to play like they did in the second half on many more occasions.

"We have to work on things and get things better because when the opponents get better in the later stages of the season, we can't afford to come out like this because we're going to lose the league," Foden added. "We have to put things right and get better and just work hard on the training pitch.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportConsistenly losing leads

Saturday marked the sixth time this season where City have surrendered a lead. They conceded twice in the final half-hour at Brighton to turn a 1-0 lead into a 2-1 defeat before letting in a 90th-minute equaliser from Gabriel Martinelli against Arsenal to draw 1-1. They were subsequently dominant in their Champions League outing against Monaco but twice lost their advantage, letting in their second equaliser in the 90th minute, while they conceded an equaliser against Bournemouth, when Gianluigi Donnarumma vented his fury for contact in the area, before eventually securing victory.

They also had poor second halves against both Villarreal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe, even though the scorelines – 2-0 and 4-1, respectively – suggested that they won both games comfortably.

AFPNo longer invincible

City's struggles to build on the momentum of a good start is becoming more pressing when they are no longer dominating every opponent, as evidenced by their defeats against Tottenham, Aston Villa and Newcastle in which they conceded the first goal.

City went into the game against Leeds on the back of consecutive defeats to Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen, and Foden admitted that harmed their confidence: "Obviously, from our own performance, it wasn't good enough from start to finish. But sometimes it's like that when you come off the back of two defeats. For whatever reason, it's so much more difficult to get the three points when you come off the back of defeats."

"But today wasn't about the way we played or how we performed," he continued. "It was just for us about getting the win because we just wanted to feel how we used to feel with the three points."

That felt like an admission that something in City’s mentality has changed in the last year or so.

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Getty Images SportReplacing relentless winners

Guardiola's side no longer go into every game believing that they are going to win, nor do they seem capable of ensuring they are going to win even when they get off to a good start. Perhaps that should not be surprising given the turnover in the squad, with seven key members of the squad that won the treble in 2023 and secured a record-breaking fourth Premier League title a year later have since left. 

This is not say that City were wrong to move on from those players, several of whom were no longer at their physical peak as they approached their mid-30s, such as Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker and Ederson. Julian Alvarez, meanwhile, asked to leave so as to play more, while Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji were struggling with their fitness and form before being loaned out. 

The insatiable winning mentality of the departed players, above all De Bruyne and Gundogan, has, however, proven very difficult to replace.

Arsenal have now reached out to the representatives of a former Man United star who’s come into his own since leaving Old Trafford, according to a new report this week.

On the field, Mikel Arteta’s side are preparing for a crucial North London derby against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

While the Premier League title frontrunners boast an imperious record against their rivals on home turf, Arsenal will be without star defender Gabriel Magalhaes, among others, after the Brazilian limped off against Senegal with a thigh injury on international duty.

Nothing but a win will do for Arsenal, who are both looking to claim the local derby bragging rights and steer clear of second-placed Man City.

Off the field, sporting director Andrea Berta continues making plans to strengthen the squad in future windows, despite spending nearly £270 million last summer on eight major signings to bolster Arteta’s title charge.

Arsenal hold talks with Scott McTominay's camp after Napoli resurgence

According to TEAMtalk, Scott McTominay’s remarkable renaissance in Serie A has triggered a transfer scramble among Premier League heavyweights, with Arsenal one of the latest clubs to hold discussions with the midfielder’s representatives ahead of a potential summer move.

The 28-year-old has been sensational since joining Napoli from Manchester United in a £26 million deal last year, notching four goals and an assist already this season, and his transformation from a United squad player to Serie A superstar has been nothing short of extraordinary.

McTominay won the Serie A MVP award for the 2024/25 season and earned a Ballon d’Or nomination, helping Napoli to secure their fourth Scudetto, establishing himself as a club icon in just one remarkable campaign.

More recently, his stunning overhead kick against Denmark, arguably one of the best Scotland goals ever scored, sent Steve Clarke’s side on their way to an historic 4-2 win over the Danes which confirmed their place at next year’s World Cup.

Last season, he made 34 Serie A appearances, scoring 12 goals and providing four assists, obliterating expectations for a player who was considered surplus to requirements in Manchester. José Mourinho has even called McTominay “one of the best midfielders” in Europe.

Antonio Conte views the Scotsman as his midfield ‘linchpin’, and TT report that Arsenal have sounded out McTominay’s camp alongside the likes of Tottenham, Everton and even his former club. However, any potential suitors face a significant hurdle.

Napoli have set a gargantuan price tag, with any bid below £71 million set to be dismissed out of hand.

While McTominay will require a hefty investment on Berta’s part, it is clear to see why Arsenal have taken an interest, with the in-form star’s future poised to be at the centre of debate over this next year.

Defending champions Liverpool moved up to eighth in the Premier League table after a 2-0 win over West Ham United at the London Stadium on Sunday.

Goals from Alexander Isak, who netted his first league goal for the club, and Cody Gakpo secured all three points for the Reds for the first time since the 1st November against Aston Villa.

Arne Slot will surely be pleased with the win and the clean sheet to end a run of three successive losses in all competitions, whilst the Dutch boss will also be buzzing with the performances of several of his players.

Ranking Liverpool's top performers against West Ham

When ranking the team’s top performers against the Hammers, it is hard to look past Gakpo as the standout star because he was directly involved in both of the goals, with a goal and an assist.

Ibrahima Konate also deserves credit for his colossal display at the heart of the defence, winning 100% (5/5) of his aerial duels and making a team-high ten clearances, per Sofascore.

Both the France international and captain Virgil van Dijk kept Alisson quiet with their dominant performances, but Konate was the standout centre-back with four more clearances and three more aerial duels won than his skipper.

1

Cody Gakpo

2

Florian Wirtz

3

Ibrahima Konate

4

Virgil van Dijk

5

Alexander Isak

As you can see in the table above, Isak also has to be in the top five performers on the pitch for the Premier League champions, as he netted his first league goal for the club with a brilliant first-time finish into the bottom corner.

You will also notice that £115m signing Florian Wirtz ranks in second place, just behind Gakpo, after he caught the eye whilst playing in a central position for the Reds.

The Liverpool star who could be their new Thiago Alcantara

Recruitment analyst Jan Riha stated that the “incredible” Wirtz made him “feel about football the same way Thiago Alcantara” did at Liverpool, after his performance against the Hammers.

It is hard to argue with that assessment because his metronomic display at the London Stadium was incredibly impressive, even if it lacked the punch of a goal or an assist to add some extra flavour to his season.

Thiago ended his playing days with a 90% pass accuracy, per WhoScored, and Reds supporters got to enjoy his midfield majesty for three seasons, with plenty of exceptional raking passes and cultured through balls, as shown in the clips below against Man United in 2022.

Wirtz may not play in a deep-lying midfield role like Thiago did, but his technical ability is comparable to the Spaniard’s, and he showed it off plenty of times in the win over West Ham.

The Germany international has failed to deliver a goal or an assist in the Premier League this season since his big-money move from Bayer Leverkusen, but his display on Sunday was a step in the right direction because it was his best of the campaign.

Sofascore rating

6.51

6.9

Passes completed

25

42

Pass accuracy

82%

93%

Passes completed in oppo half

18

32

Passes accuracy in oppo half

76%

91%

Passes accuracy in own half

86%

100%

As you can see in the statistics above, Wirtz’s use of the ball on Sunday was on another level to what he has previously shown in the top-flight for Liverpool.

Playing centrally, rather than being out wide on the left or the right, allowed him to float around and knit play together with his technical brilliance, much like Thiago used to do further back on the pitch during his time at Anfield.

Slot must continue to play the German star in the middle of the park, rather than out wide, because he could flourish as a metronomic number ten who is able to buzz around the pitch and control the tempo of the match.

The hope, then, would be that the goals and assists naturally follow as he becomes more comfortable and confident on the pitch in the Premier League.

Big Konate upgrade: Liverpool have "one of the best young CBs in the world"

Liverpool have a blooming centre-back who could surpass Marc Guehi and Ibrahima Konate.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 30, 2025

Whilst there will be understandable disappointment that a £115m attacking midfielder is yet to provide a direct goal contribution in the top-flight, Wirtz’s performance against the Hammers was his best of the season and he appears to be on the right track to become a success at Anfield.

He put on a dominant performance in his first innings of the season while Kurtis Patterson also made an excellent century

AAP29-Oct-2025Steven Smith issued an ominous warning to England ahead of the Ashes, slamming 118 for New South Wales in his first game of cricket in more than two months.Fresh off a six-week stint in New York where he didn’t pick up a bat, Smith looked in imperious touch as he helped NSW to 349 for 5 in the Sheffield Shield against Queensland.Related

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After the opening day’s play at the Gabba was washed out through rain, Kurtis Patterson also hit 122 while youngster Will Salzmann impressed with 65 while opening.The only sour point for NSW was Sam Konstas being bowled middle stump for 10, leaving a ball from left-armer Hayden Kerr that angled straight into his wickets.Konstas is now essentially no chance of retaining his spot as Australia’s opener, and could benefit from a summer out of the spotlight in the Shield.But there is no question mark over Smith’s form heading into the first Test in Perth on November 21, where he will captain Australia in place of the injured Pat Cummins.Smith played out 21 dot balls to start his innings on Wednesday, but from the moment he on-drove Sam Skelly to the boundary to get off the mark, the right-hander looked on.A flurry of drives and pull shots followed, with the 36-year-old treating the Gabba as his playground and looking every bit at his best three weeks out from the first Test.Sam Konstas was bowled by Hayden Kerr•Getty ImagesSome 86 of his runs came in boundaries, including a big six down the ground of Mitchell Swepson when he charged the legspinner and took him on.Three boundaries came in three balls at one stage off quick James Bazley, with the first two crunches through the covers and the last a classic straight drive.Once renowned for being a cricket nuffy who perhaps trained too much, Smith insisted last week he now needed only two hits in the nets to prepare for a summer.And by the time he drove Tom Straker to bring up his century off 158 balls on Wednesday, the proof of that was clear and England had been put on notice.Smith was eventually well caught by Matt Renshaw at gully, but by then he looked well placed to set himself up for a big Ashes summer.Arguably Australia’s best-performing batter in Ashes history aside from Don Bradman, Smith has hit 12 career centuries against England and averages 56.01.His runs on Wednesday came as England’s ODI side collapsed on Wednesday across the Tasman, all out for 175 in a five-wicket defeat to New Zealand.Smith’s century also overshadowed the superb innings of Patterson. The former Test batter found form following a lean start to the Shield season, after his late-career revival last summer was one of the best stories of Australian cricket.Patterson cover-drove superbly and hit 14 boundaries in total, before being caught behind trying to drive Marnus Labuschagne late in the day.For NSW to win this match they will likely need to score big and only bat once, while Queensland’s hopes are effectively gone through Smith and Patterson’s 202-run third-wicket stand.

A leading surgeon who treated Harry Kane following his hamstring injury in 2020 has been awarded £37,000 (€42,386/$49,458) in damages from the UK’s oldest Bentley dealership after his new car was stolen. Professor Fares Haddad tended to the England captain after he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured tendon during the 2019-20 Premier League season.

Prof Haddad sues Jack Barclay Ltd. following 2023 car theft

A world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon specialising in sports medicine, Prof. Haddad successfully sued Jack Barclay Ltd. – based in Mayfair, London – following the theft of his Bentley Continental GTW12.

According to the luxury car was stolen from Prof. Haddad’s driveway in January 2023. But when he attempted to claim on his insurance, the payout was refused because the car’s tracker system was not properly activated. While cutting-edge tracker software had been installed by Jack Barclay’s staff, an important subscription service remained inactive.

Prof. Haddad had assumed Jack Barclay’s staff would establish a continuous tracker subscription via Vodafone. The 58-year-old came to that understanding following conversations and email exchanges between himself and a showroom executive in 2019, when he was considering buying the Bentley.

AdvertisementAFPMr Haddad had claimed a total of £82,643 from Bentley dealership

Following a trial at Central London County Court, Judge Andrew Holmes ruled in favour of Prof. Haddad, finding Jack Barclay Ltd. at fault for failing to send an email to Vodafone, which would have started the tracker. However, Judge Holmes also decided Mr. Haddad bore some responsibility for failing to notice there was no subscription in place until after the Bentley was stolen.

Judge Holmes slashed the award of £82,643 by 60 per cent to £33,057 to reflect Prof. Haddad’s “contributory negligence”, although with accumulated interest his total award will come to just over £37,000.

Mr. Haddad had claimed a total of £78,643 from Jack Barclay Ltd., suing for the return of money paid out under his Hire Purchase (HP) agreement – which his insurers refused to cover after the theft – plus £4,000 for the cost of a replacement hire car.

Judge finds Mr Haddad bore 'contributory negligence' during trial

Speaking during the trial, Judge Holmes told the court: “But for the failure to send the form to Vodafone, Prof. Haddad’s losses would not have occurred. Had the tracker subscription been incepted, Prof. Haddad would have taken the steps necessary to continue it.”

He added: “I see considerable force in the suggestion that Prof. Haddad had a responsibility thereafter to ensure that the tracker was activated.

“With each year that went by, the failure to notice or to check his records becomes more difficult to understand.

“The ordinary person taking an ordinary level of care of his or her own affairs would be expected over time to realise that he was not making payment, or receiving correspondence, about an important point in relation to the insurance of a valuable vehicle.”

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Getty Images SportProf Haddad played key role in Kane's surgery in January 2020

Prof. Haddad – the clinical director of the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health – played a key role in helping Bayern Munich striker Kane return towards the end of the 2019-20 season which was heavily disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The forward – then playing for Tottenham Hotspur – went under the knife to repair a ruptured tendon in his left hamstring in January 2020. He sustained the injury in Spurs’ 1-0 Premier League defeat against Southampton on 1 January 2020 before returning to training in May of that year and competing in the latter part of the specially-extended campaign.

Kane went on to finish as Tottenham’s top goalscorer in 2019-20, netting 18 league goals as the north Londoners came sixth under then-manager Jose Mourinho, who succeeded Mauricio Pochettino on 20 November 2019.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have limped to the fourth-worst record in MLB (16-33) this season despite the best efforts of their generational ace and 2024 National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes. The jarring juxtaposition of Skenes's immense success against the Pirates' lack thereof has both angered and upset fans. And out of those emotions has risen conjecture and speculation about a potential Skenes trade.

As it turns out, the subject is one that has apparently been broached among rival front offices. During an appearance on last week, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, while noting that a deal would be unlikely, stated that "there are teams that are already going to ask about Paul Skenes at the trade deadline."

And, thanks to Jon Heyman, there is now an idea of how the Pirates would respond to trade inquiries about the flamethrowing righthander.

Skenes is not getting traded, a Pirates source told Heyman. In fact, the words, "no chance, no way, no how" were used, aptly describing Pittsburgh's emphatic stance when it comes to Skenes's future.

During one of the most impressive rookie seasons in MLB history, Skenes, 22, became the sixth-youngest pitcher to start the MLB All-Star Game, won National League ROY and finished third in the NL Cy Young Award race. Skenes had a 1.96 ERA and 11 wins in 23 starts as a rookie, but an alarming trend—the Pirates' bats or bullpen failing to hold up its end of the bargain for the ace starter—developed during the '24 campaign. And it's continued into the '25 season, as Skenes has a sub-3.00 ERA but has a 3-5 record. The Pirates are 3-7 in his 10 starts this year.

Skenes himself has even admitted that it's been "difficult" seeing the team struggle despite his own individual success. But given the Pirates' lack of recent success—six straight losing seasons—there's not a whole lot of faith that the organization can field a club that reflects Skenes's own brilliance.

Trading the ace for a king's ransom could set up the organization for long-term success while allowing Skenes to where his skills can directly translate to team victories.

As of this point, a Skenes trade is not an idea the Pirates are even willing to discuss.

Nottingham Forest’s revival since Sean Dyche’s arrival at the club has been nothing short of sensational, with the 54-year-old having an immediate impact at the City Ground.

He’s led the Reds to four wins out of a possible five in the Premier League, taking the side out of the relegation zone and now looking upwards rather than over their shoulder.

Dyche has allowed numerous players to recapture their best form in the East Midlands, but none more so than Morgan Gibbs-White, as seen by his form in November.

The Englishman scored three times in his four appearances last month, resulting in the 25-year-old being nominated for the division’s Player of the Month award.

He could be joined by multiple other attacking options after the January window, with owner Evangelos Marinakis once again preparing to invest in the first-team squad.

Forest’s hunt for added reinforcements in the January window

Over the last couple of days, Forest have been just one English side touted with a potential move to land Lyon star Tyler Morton in the upcoming transfer window.

It’s been reported that Dyche’s side could see the 23-year-old as a possible replacement for Elliot Anderson should the England international leave in the winter market.

However, it’s also been reported that Marinakis is unwilling to sanction a January exit for their star player, with a £100m valuation already being slapped on his head.

Morton isn’t the only player on their shortlist at present, though, with Parma striker Mateo Pellegrino another option currently being considered by the hierarchy.

According to Sport Witness, the Reds are just one of multiple Premier League sides considering a move for the 24-year-old forward, who’s already netted seven goals this season.

The report also states West Ham and Spurs have also tracked his progress, with an unnamed English outfit already making a £13m bid for his signature in the summer.

Why Forest’s latest target would be an upgrade on Jesus

During the recent spending in the summer, Forest completed a deal for Botafogo striker Igor Jesus, after the Brazilian impressed at the Club World Cup during the summer.

Such a move generated huge excitement among the fanbase, with the 24-year-old already making an immediate impact in England after his transfer during the off-season.

He’s already found the net on six separate occasions to date, with three of his efforts coming in the Europa League during the club’s first European campaign in 30 years.

Jesus finally netted his first Premier League goal of the season against Wolves on Wednesday night, with his effort hopefully the first of many during the 2025/26 campaign.

However, he could find himself further down the pecking order after January, especially if the hierarchy complete a deal for Pellegrino during the upcoming window.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the ongoing campaign, the Argentine has outperformed him in key areas, showcasing why he would be an upgrade in the Brazilian.

Pellegrino, who’s been labelled a “freight-truck” by Serie A commentator Jose Rodriguez, has registered more league goals in 2025/26 to date, whilst also achieving a better goal per shot on target rate.

Games played

13

13

Goals & assists

4

1

Shot on target accuracy

38%

25%

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.1

Passes into final third

1.1

0.6

Take-on success

64%

27%

Fouls drawn

2.3

1.4

Aerials won

4.6

3.9

Aerial success rate

55%

41%

Such numbers showcase his incredible ability when in front of goal, whether that be in the air or on the ground, with the Argentine possessing serious quality in the box.

He could be the perfect Dyche centre-forward, as seen by his tally of 4.6 aerials won at a success rate of 53%, potentially offering the focal point, an area in which Jesus has struggled.

The Parma talisman has also completed more of the take-ons he’s attempted, whilst making more passes into the final third, arguably being a better all-round option than the Brazilian.

It’s unclear if the player himself would be open to a winter switch to the Premier League, but it’s clear Pellegrino would be a perfect fit for the current system at the City Ground.

He and Jesus are two players who could certainly share the responsibility at the top end of the pitch, with the former of the pair the best option to lead the club into the unknown.

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Fast bowler says Perth defeat is “going to hurt and it should hurt for a few days”

Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Nov-20252:51

Ehantharajah: This defeat will hurt for England

Mark Wood has called on England to rouse themselves from the canvas and “throw some back” at Australia in the next four rounds of this Ashes campaign.Travis Head’s haymakers confirmed a two-day defeat at the Optus Stadium, but England’s batters were culpable for letting Australia off the ropes, having led by 105 with nine second-innings wickets in hand. Head’s 123 takedown evoked Mike Tyson’s observation that “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face”, as an attack who were relentless in their aggression and accuracy in the first innings were rocked comprehensively in the second.Out and about ahead of the match, England’s players kept a low profile on Sunday. Many stayed in their hotels rooms, as much to come to terms with the chastening defeat as avoid a city teeming with buoyant Aussies and demoralised English punters wondering to do with their spare days. While there is more introspection to come, Wood, whose 38th Test cap was his first competitive appearance in close to nine months after knee surgery in March, has urged the team to come out fighting.Related

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'Shellshocked' Stokes hails Head for 'knocking the wind' out of England

Switch Hit: Travball 1-0 Bazball

“We know this is one of five,” Wood told Stuart Broad on the For The Love Of Cricket podcast. “There has to be reflection of what went on, understand the disappointment but also know we did some good things in this game.”Can we take them into the other four games? This is not one, it’s one of five. We’ve been hit pretty hard in round one, but we’ve got other rounds to try and throw some back.”With the second Test at the Gabba still 10 days away, Wood admitted he looked into driving from Perth to Brisbane – a coast-to-coast journey that takes over four days. He even explored hiring a camper van, before being convinced otherwise. “I did speak to a local who said if you go across the country, that’s a big danger. So you’d have to drive around the coast. But I did look at it.”Instead, the 35-year-old will take a less-fancied flight with the majority of the Ashes squad on Wednesday. Jacob Bethell, Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts are the only three who will drop into the Prime Minister’s XI match for the Lions, leaving for Canberra on Tuesday. The onus has been on keeping the group together until the “shellshock” wears off.Mark Wood grimaces as Australia fly out of the traps•Getty Images”When you have a loss like that, you want to stick together” Wood said. “I think that’s really important. Emotions will be raw for everyone at home, when you get close and start believing in the team and have that letdown feeling. There’s nothing I can say on a podcast that will make people think, ‘oh they’ve solved it, I feel better now’. It’s going to hurt and it should hurt for a few days, the players feel that as well.”It is difficult but what can you do? We’re stuck here, it’s not as though we can get up and leave for Brisbane. If I could drive across the country I probably would just to keep my mind going but we’re stuck here.”That Wood bowled just 11 overs in the match – fast throughout, striking batters, including Cameron Green on the grille, but finishing wicketless for 44 – suggests he should be good to go again for the day-night Test. He played one of two pink-ball games on the previous Ashes tour, starring in the final match at Hobart with 6 for 37 in the second innings and nine in the match.Indeed, the whole attack could be rolled out again. Despite getting bossed by Head in the second innings, there was plenty of encouragement in the first – snuffing the hosts out for 132 for what should have been a match-defining 40-run lead – to suggest an all-pace attack can get the job done on Australian pitches, whatever colour the ball.”I definitely feel we’ve got 20 wickets, certainly. The team has been designed to take 20 wickets in these conditions,” Wood said.”[Brydon] Carse bowled beautifully this game, ran in all the time. He made things happen, he was constantly at people. Gus [Atkinson] didn’t get any wickets but he nibbled it around and beat the bat a lot. Jofra [Archer], I thought we saw the best of him, especially that opening spell.”As a group we can take a lot of confidence from that game. Being a day-night Test, we know around night time it can zip around. If it can zip around at pace that can make it doubly difficult.”Australia will have confidence from that win. I know it’s only one guy who’s played particularly well but as a group that will give them a lift, winning that type of game. Their batters will be more confident – can one of them play an innings like that? It’s up to us to fight fire with fire, come back in and try to knock them over again.”