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With Arsenal flying high in the Premier League and looking imperious in the Champions League, the narrative from rival fans has been that the North Londoners are boring to watch.

Now, it’s undoubtedly true that set-pieces have been an essential source of goals for Mikel Arteta’s side so far, but the suggestions that the Gunners are unusually dull fall apart when properly scrutinised.

For example, according to FBref, they take the second most shots in the league, play the second most passes into the penalty area, play the most through balls, and take the most touches in the opposition’s penalty area, all per 90 minutes.

Moreover, while Arteta has his fair share of physical monsters in the side, he also has an abundance of brilliant technicians, including one player who’s showing shades of Santi Cazorla in his game.

Why Arsenal fans love Santi Cazorla

Being the massive club they are, Arsenal have had plenty of brilliant midfielders play for them over the years, many who went on to win far more at the club than Cazorla did.

So, why is the Spaniard still one of the most beloved to wear red and white?

Well, there was that free-kick that started the side’s fightback in the 2014 FA Cup final.

There is also the fact that he played for the side during a rather barren spell, and so fans were desperate to see some genuine quality in the team.

However, while both of these factors certainly contribute to the high esteem in which the fans hold him, they remain secondary to the primary reason: his style of play.

The former Malaga gem was the epitome of an Arsene Wenger-type player, someone who was brilliantly effective yet also a crowd pleaser and a genuine magician on the ball.

The 40-year-old was seemingly able to do it all with a ball at his feet.

Ping a ball from one side of the pitch to the other? He could do it. Carry the ball through the middle of the park, beating four players in the process? Easy. Play the perfect defence-splitting pass to set up his striker with a one-on-one? Piece of cake.

Cazorla might not get the respect he deserves from rivals, but Arsenal fans correctly hold him up as one of the most entertaining players to grace the Emirates.

So it’s undoubtedly exciting to see one of Arteta’s signings begin to show shades of the Spaniard in his game this season.

The Arsenal star with shades of Cazorla

When considering who in the current Arsenal squad could be compared to Cazorla, most might look to Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, or perhaps even Eberechi Eze.

Chalkboard

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

However, while there are certainly arguments to be made for those three sharing some traits with the Spaniard, it’s Riccardo Calafiori who is showing shades of him in his game this season.

Now, the Italian obviously plays a totally different position to the former Gunners ace, but he still shares several similarities with him.

For example, and this is a negative one, the former Bologna star has had terrible luck with injuries since his move last summer.

In fact, he ended up dealing with six injuries last season, which resulted in him spending 175 days on the sideline and missing 30 games for both club and country.

Fortunately, the 23-year-old also shares a couple of extremely positive characteristics with the 40-year-old, including the freedom he is allowed on the football pitch and the incredible entertainment he brings.

While Arteta can often be quite regimented in his tactics and instructions with the rest of the team, it has become increasingly clear that he wants and allows the Italian to maraud all over and cause as much chaos for the opposition as possible.

This has become obvious from simply watching him play, but it’s even more evident when examining his heatmap from this season, which shows him popping up all over the place.

Crucially, though, the Rome-born “wild horse,” as dubbed by the Telegraph’s Sam Dean, is making excellent use of this freedom, helping out attacks by stretching the opposition’s backline, popping up in the box and interchanging with his own attackers.

Amazingly, the £120k-per-week maverick has taken the second most shots in the league for the Gunners this season, and his underlying numbers only further show his attacking prowess.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of full-backs in the league for shots, the top 4% for expected goals, the top 7% for goal-creating actions, the top 12% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, this combination of freedom to express himself and the ability to make the most of it is why journalist James Benge described Calafiori as “the most electrifying man in sports entertainment” and why he’s the most Cazorla-esque player in Arteta’s squad.

Arteta can fix Gyokeres blow by starting Arsenal gem who's "shades of Isak"

The promising gem could be the perfect Gyokeres replacement for Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 4, 2025

Kylian Mbappe has broken his silence on Real Madrid’s recent slump, admitting the team “played very badly” in the defeats to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. His comments arrive at a sensitive moment for Xabi Alonso, whose strict methods have unsettled parts of the dressing room and exposed a tactical transition that is proving far more turbulent than expected.

• Stuttering Madrid and growing unease under Alonso

  Madrid entered the season hopeful that Alonso’s discipline and tactical clarity would build on the freedom of the Carlo Ancelotti years. However, Alonso’s high-demand, rigid framework with more video work, stricter schedules and heavier physical load has reportedly unsettled players accustomed to Ancelotti’s open-door, player-first environment.

  While Alonso's team sit top of La Liga, there have been signs of inconsistency, having lost to 5-2 to Atletico Madrid and later going down 1-0 at Anfield in the Champions League. Last week's 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano was the latest reminder of their attacking stagnation. Twenty-plus shots yielded nothing, and the team moved the ball with a slowness and predictability that made Rayo comfortable throughout. 

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  Mbappe addresses tensions at Madrid amid high expectations

  After France’s 4-0 win over Ukraine, Mbappe was inevitably asked about the mood in the Madrid dressing room in his post-match interview. His response was brief but telling: the criticism is loud, the team knows it has underperformed, and the focus must now be on regaining control after the international break.

  "What do you want me to say? I have nothing to say," he said. "When you don't win games at Real Madrid, people talk a lot, and we haven't won the last two. We've played very badly, but we'll come back after the break ready to beat Elche.

  "In the end, we're first in La Liga and among the top eight in the Champions League. It's not perfect, but we all know that when things aren't working on the pitch, people talk and talk. But we're united to win every title this year."

• Madrid's shortcomings against Atletico, Liverpool and Rayo

  Across the three games, Los Blancos' problems have repeated themselves with worrying consistency. The draw against Rayo was the clearest example of a team that dominated possession but created very little. Madrid spent long spells circulating the ball without purpose, struggling to find width or accelerate play. Their forwards were squeezed into crowded central zones, Rayo’s compact shape cut off passing lanes, and even with more than 20 shots, Madrid rarely looked like scoring. The lack of movement off the ball and the absence of a decisive final pass made the whole performance predictable and easy to defend.

  The match against Atletico followed a similar pattern but exposed Madrid in both boxes. Simeone’s side were more intense, quicker to transitions, and far more decisive in key moments. Madrid repeatedly lost second balls in midfield and never established control. Going forward, they created very few meaningful chances, often rushing their final actions or running into Atletico’s organised defensive lines. It was a reminder that when Madrid’s tempo drops, their structure becomes rigid, and teams with discipline can shut them down without much difficulty.

  The Liverpool defeat was the most alarming from a tactical standpoint. Anfield’s press smothered Madrid from the first minute, forcing them into rushed passes and isolating Mbappe and Jude Bellingham high up the pitch. Even in periods of controlled possession, Madrid carried almost no threat, ending the match with just one shot on target. Liverpool exposed how limited Madrid’s attacking variety has become with slow buildups, little coordinated movement, and very few patterns designed to beat an aggressive press.

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  Vinicius issue lingers in the background

  Despite the turbulence, Madrid’s leadership remains committed to Alonso’s long-term vision. There are no plans for drastic decisions. Alonso has the board’s trust and a contract through 2028. But stability does not mean inaction. The club is already evaluating tweaks, especially in training load and tactical approach, to ease player fatigue and rebuild trust.

  Vinicius' future will define the coming months. His relationship with Alonso is strained, his reactions to substitutions have raised eyebrows, and his contract negotiations have stalled. Los Blancos are unwilling to meet his financial demands, and with a €150M price tag set for next summer if talks break down, the situation is now delicate. Whether Alonso finds a way to reconnect with Vinicius could shape the next era of the club.

  After the break, Madrid face Elche, Olympiacos, and Girona, three matches that will test their response to criticism and determine whether Alonso’s ideas are beginning to take hold. They remain top of La Liga and firmly in the Champions League race, but the next few weeks will reveal whether this is a temporary wobble or a deeper structural problem.

Despite strong spells from Warrican and Mujeeb, fielding lapses cost Royals in a tight finish

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Aug-2025Karima Gore continued his superb form in CPL 2025, scoring his second consecutive half-century to guide Antigua and Barbuda Falcons to a commanding six-wicket victory over Barbados Royals on Saturday. Chasing 152, Falcons rode on Gore’s unbeaten 64 to claim their first points of the tournament in front of a home crowd.After a disappointing loss against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in their season opener – despite Gore’s 61 – Falcons bounced back with a disciplined all-round performance. Winning the toss and opting to field, the Falcons bowlers kept Royals in check for most of the innings. Quinton de Kock provided a brisk start with a fluent 57, and captain Rovman Powell added a late flourish with a powerful unbeaten 51 off just 24 balls to take Royals to 151 for 6. Jayden Seales was the pick of the bowlers for Falcons, returning 2 for 15 in an economical spell.In response, Falcons lost a couple of early wickets, but Gore held the innings together. Batting at No. 3, he anchored the chase, rotating strike effectively and finding the boundary when needed. He scored 39 off his first 41 balls, and by the end of the 16th over, Falcons still needed 45 off 24. Gore then accelerated, smashing 19 runs off his next six deliveries – including two consecutive sixes off Eathan Bosch in the 18th over – to ease the pressure. Eventually, it came down to six off the final over, and Gore sealed the chase with two balls to spare.Royals will be left ruing their missed opportunities in the field. Several dropped catches and missed run-out chances allowed Falcons and Gore to flourish. The fielding lapses not only released pressure but also gave Gore at least two reprieves, which he capitalised on to steer the game in Falcons’ favour.Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican and offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman conceded just 43 runs from their eight overs combined and picked up a wicket each, but it wasn’t enough to contain Falcons.

Orla Prendergast claims three wickets as hosts subside once again at Chelmsford

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Sep-2025The Blaze 59 for 0 (S Bryce 33*) beat Essex 211 (Smale 41, Prendergast 3-43) by 35 runs (DLS) Orla Prendergast led the wickets charge as The Blaze won a rain-affected encounter with Essex at Chelmsford to book a home semi-final at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.Prendergast took 3 for 43, including a momentum shifting double strike to help bowl out the hosts for 211. Her efforts were ably supported by Lucy Higham’s 2 for 33 and some outstanding out-fielding, typified by Kathryn’s Bryce’s run-out of Ariana Dowse.Six of Essex’s batters reached double figures, but only Sophia Smale (41) got beyond 40, Jo Gardner making a run-a-ball 36. The pair added 52 for the seventh wicket after the hosts collapsed from 104 for 2 to 133 for 6.Blaze openers Sarah Bryce (33 not out) and Georgie Boyce had knocked 59 off the target in 11.2 overs when the weather closed in.Dowse and skipper Grace Scrivens gave the hosts a a solid start, the former caressing one through the covers and driving another square for four. Scrivens reached 16 before mishitting a half-tracker from opposite number Kirstie Gordon to square leg and a brilliant pick up and throw from Katherine Bryce ran out Dowse for 20.The response to the double setback was good with Lissy Macleod (30) and Lancashire loanee Liberty Heap (33) targeting the straight boundaries in a stand of 59 at almost a run a ball. Essex looked poised to push on, but Heath’s demise, top edging a short one from Prendergast to midwicket sparked a mid-innings slump.Flo Miller was another Prendergast victim and when Higham sent Macleod packing courtesy of a stunning caught and bowled, three wickets had fallen for six runs in 16 balls.Higham then bowled Amara Carr with a beauty, before Smale and Gardner rallied the home side’s flagging effort, the latter striking the ball powerfully back past the bowler in the mid-on/mid-off arc.But before they could entertain hopes of a score of 250, Prendergast splayed Gardner’s stumps and thereafter only Smale who was last out held up The Blaze for long.The bad weather was closing in by the time The Blaze began their reply, Sarah Bryce and Georgie Boyce immediately showing aggressive intent. Bryce hit Gray for the only six of the match while Boyce three times struck the ball firmly to the fence along the floor.By the time rain drove the players from the field enough overs had been completed to constitute a match and The Blaze were a mile ahead on the DLS and looking forward to a semi-final.

The new RCB captain’s coaches and team-mates are confident in his ability to be an effective leader in the IPL

Shashank Kishore21-Mar-20251:12

What makes Patidar a menace for spinners?

Chandrakant Pandit, currently coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders, regards working with Rajat Patidar as one of the highlights of his coaching career. The duo has played a key role in Madhya Pradesh’s rise as a dominant force in Indian domestic cricket since 2021. Their bond strengthened in late 2024, when Pandit, MP’s director of cricket, appointed Patidar as T20 captain for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Patidar repaid the trust by leading MP to the final.Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s head coach Andy Flower and director Mo Bobat closely observed Patidar during that campaign, assessing his decision-making and leadership. Impressed, they flew to Ahmedabad in January to discuss their observations with Virat Kohli, who, while preparing for the third India-England ODI ahead of the Champions Trophy, gave his full backing to Patidar.Last month, RCB officially named him captain for the 2025 IPL.Related

• Andy Flower 'comfortable' with RCB's spin attack for IPL 2025

• RCB hope 18 is the charm as hunt for IPL glory continues

• Clear-minded Patidar leads MP to SMAT final with his sixes

• Kohli on Patidar as RCB captain: 'He will do a great job for this amazing franchise'

• Rajat Patidar appointed new RCB captain for IPL 2025

Patidar’s childhood coach, former India batter Amay Khurasiya, was thrilled at the development. Coaching Kerala ahead of a crucial Ranji Trophy semi-final against Gujarat, Khurasiya took time off to call Patidar, who he’d seen evolve from an aspiring fast bowler who tore his ACL as a 20-year-old to one of the state’s batting stalwarts.”He has never been enamoured by positions or power,” Khurasiya tells ESPNcricinfo. “He was obviously happy, but it didn’t seem like he was overwhelmed by euphoria. He had the same poise about him that I saw all those years ago. Even as a youngster, he’d always speak of wanting to help someone less privileged than him, even though his own journey had been rocky.”When Patidar was a struggling cricketer in MP – he had a difficult time breaking into any of the age-group teams – it was Khurasiya who took him under his wings to work on his batting technique.”Not once have I heard him complain about luck or fate – no ‘kismat kharaab hai [I have no luck]’ or any of that negativity,” Khurasiya says. “He was always clear: he’ll do what it takes. If the result goes his way, he’ll accept it. If it doesn’t, he’ll find something else to be good at. That mindset from very early on made him compartmentalise cricket and life. He’ll be an empathetic leader. Not a boss. And it stems from having seen failure and rejection in his early days.”Patidar has been among the top three run-scorers for RCB in 2022 and 2024; he sat out the 2023 season injured•BCCIAnand Rajan, former MP seamer and domestic coach, has witnessed Patidar’s growth first-hand. They worked together as captain and coach at Malwa Panthers in the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) last year. Rajan, with coaching stints at MP, Uttarakhand, and Puducherry, has also seen MP’s rise from a middling side to a domestic powerhouse, which mirrors Patidar’s journey from the periphery of the state setup to a senior player.”He doesn’t speak a lot, but his reading of the game is top notch,” Rajan says. “[He only ] gives his inputs if needed; he won’t speak just to be seen contributing to a team meeting. When he says something, people strain to hear him because he’s that soft-spoken – but the impact his words have on a group is immense.”The duration of the MPL was very short (each team played just four league games) to build long-lasting relationships. But you could see Rajat’s qualities even there. He could have gotten out in the most wretched manner possible, but if a younger player came up to him, he’d be the first to sit with him and chat, give him time and make him feel better. No one felt awkward going up to Rajat to talk.”Jalaj Saxena, a domestic stalwart, remembers Patidar’s clarity as a youngster vividly, even though it’s been eight years since they played together.In 2024, Patidar led Madhya Pradesh to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final since the 2010-11 season•PTI “It was his Ranji Trophy debut, against Baroda [in 2015-16] and we [MP] had conceded a lead. But Rajat was clear he would look to dominate spin from the get-go, because he felt that was the only way to put the pressure back. He scored an outstanding century, and we set them a target we easily defended. That innings earned the respect of the entire team.”Patidar’s career soared after joining RCB in 2021. He became a household name in 2022 after smashing a century against Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator – the first by an Indian uncapped player in the playoffs – despite entering the season as an injury replacement. Mike Hesson, RCB’s director of cricket, knew then that the franchise had a player for the long haul.”He was always confident in his own skills without having to tell anyone about it,” Hesson says. “You could tell by the way he moved around the group. He would stand behind the nets watching others bat. Just watching, learning and listening and occasionally asking questions, but generally he was trying to align how his game might fit with theirs or picking up parts of everybody’s game. He was inquisitive.”Patidar’s introverted nature, Hesson says, wasn’t a deterrent.”When he spoke, he was always very clear. He’d have actually thought about what he was going to say before he said it. You could tell he processed it. It wasn’t like he would just speak, and the conversation would evolve. He would actually have something insightful to say or a question that you knew that he’d thought about before he asked it.Former captain Virat Kohli has thrown his weight behind Patidar, and sees him leading RCB for the long term•BCCI”He also has a very good sense of humour. That is a nice trait to have in an environment that’s pretty high pressure. And it’s quite subtle. It’s not the in-your-face type of humour; he’s a clever guy who thinks about what he says. I’m sure he will continue that with his leadership style.”Rajat always had a really nice balance between, ‘Hey, I’ll do my work’ and ‘Now I can offer my inputs in my own way to others.’ When he’d stand behind the nets and watch, people batting wouldn’t hesitate to turn back and ask him, and Rajat always had answers, not just to help players but for his own game as well. He was always there and willing. And I think that’s the trait you always like.”Patidar’s ability to offer solutions, stay composed, and build trust makes him a leader who leads with empathy and clarity. If he can handle the pressure of RCB’s passionate fan base and their elusive IPL title, he’ll move closer to fulfilling Kohli’s recent prediction that “he’ll lead for many years to come”.

Tottenham Hotspur were held by Manchester United in the Premier League after Matthijs de Ligt beat Guglielmo Vicario deep into stoppage time to cancel out Richarlison’s deft flick moments earlier.

A real spectacle of a match. But this is more of the same for a Spurs side struggling for form at home and unable to produce the kind of creative performances to sustain a spot at the top of the league ladder.

The season, of course, is still young, but Thomas Frank has much to chew on, having watched his side toil for much of their clash against

the resurgent Red Devils.

Spurs' performance vs Man Utd

Tottenham’s creative issues were on display once again as Man United took control in the opening half. Things improved as Frank made tweaks at the interval, and the late flurry to turn the clash on its head nearly sealed a springboard of a win for the hosts, but a defensive lapse left the club with just one home win from five in the Premier League.

Without the injured Mohammed Kudus, Tottenham were always going to be up against it, and Richarlison and Brennan Johnson largely flattered to deceive down the wings.

Frank’s attacking experiment didn’t pay off, with Richarlison pushed out wide to accommodate Randal Kolo Muani as the central striker. The French loanee was hooked at half-time, and while Richarlison scored late on, it was not his finest overall performance.

Post-match, the Danish coach opted to draw the positives from the performances, but when he sits down in the tactical room and assesses Tottenham’s performance over the international break, he will be sure to settle on some changes.

One of which could be the tough call to drop one of the side’s mainstays. This is a player who is among the most talented down N17, and one whose fragilities were exposed against the Red Devils.

Frank must finally drop Spurs "disaster"

Few would argue against Pedro Porro being one of the most talented and creative full-backs in Europe, but his defending is questionable at times, and when he struggles to make things work on the ball, this is accentuated.

And this was the case against Manchester United.

Bryan Mbeumo scored his customary goal against the Lilywhites, heading home inside the area following Amad Diallo’s whipped cross. The Cameroonian swerved in behind Porro to score the goal.

Moreover, the 26-year-old was culpable of some questionable decision-making and positioning throughout the contest, altogether isolated from the role Frank had hoped he would perform against a team desperate for success and finding their feet.

Hooked after 67 minutes, Porro had struggled to impose himself against the United forwards and lacked his trademark playmaking quality, having lost the ball a shocking 29 times despite not creating a single chance. He attempted 12 crosses and found the mark with only one (data courtesy of Sofascore).

Polish journalist Michael Okonski even called the accuracy of his deliveries a “disaster”.

Football.london handed him a 5/10 match rating and brought to attention these issues, and now Frank must seriously consider making a tactical tweak.

Spence struggled to support the forwards from his unnatural berth on the left, and given his growth both in maturity and confidence in the Premier League over the past year or so, it might be worth moving him into Porro’s space and relegating the Spaniard to the bench.

Forget Palhinha: Spurs star is fast becoming their best player since Kane

Tottenham Hotspur have hit the jackpot on one player who is becoming as crucial as Harry Kane.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 7, 2025

Thomas Tuchel says it gives off a "bad impression" when England players don't embrace the team's collective spirit after Jude Bellingham seemed to take exception to being substituted against Albania. The Real Madrid star returned to the starting lineup for the Three Lions' 2-0 win but was replaced by Morgan Rogers in the second half as the battle for the No.10 spot intensified.

• Bellingham returns to England starting XI

  After four straight games of Rogers being in the England starting line-up, former Borussia Dortmund star Bellingham got his chance to shine, this time away in Albania. The 22-year-old impressed in the World Cup qualifying victory, even though the ball didn't always bounce his way. The midfielder was, naturally, disappointed to be taken off in the 84th minute, but he still celebrated Harry Kane's goals with the team. However, when one journalist accused Bellingham of not "embracing the collective", Tuchel said he would look into the matter, while stressing the importance of everyone being on the same page.

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  'That's a bad impression'

  When asked whether Bellingham is possibly not buying into the collective of the England team, he told reporters: "That is a bad impression. It should be about the collective. What we did in camp is all about the collective. I have to then review it – I was happy about the goal. I had a quick talk with Morgan Rogers and I was sure that everyone celebrated together. I will have a look at it. That is not the image we want to transport. We feel everyone is committed and that everyone accepts tough decisions, be it before the match or in the match."

  The German added about the substitution: "He [Bellingham] has to accept it, he has to accept it. We should not make more out of it than it is. Rogers was not happy when he couldn't start today because he deserves to play, and he wants to play all the time. We gave him a bit of a rest because he came with a lot of minutes playing at club [level] and played for us against Serbia. I also don't want to make more out of it. I stick to my words – behaviour is key. Decisions are made, and you have to accept it as a player."

• Bellingham defended by Ancelotti

  In the build up to these England games, former Madrid boss and current Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti came to the aid of Bellingham when question marks were being asked of his attitude. The former Everton manager said on the Rest is Football podcast that Bellingham was a top player and even likened him to Brazilian great Kaka.

  "I think Jude is a fantastic player. If I have to compare, we were talking about Kaka. He is this kind of player, a really intelligent player, who is physically really strong, fantastic to arrive in the box at the right time," said Ancelotti. "He's doing really well, and maybe he had a problem with his shoulder. He was out for two or three months, now he's back. No question mark. But why do you have to put a question mark on Bellingham?"

  He added, "No, I never had a problem with Jude about his attitude. He is really professional, really serious, works hard in training, like all English players do. And no, no complaints."

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  What comes next for Bellingham?

  It remains to be seen if certain sections of the media are making a mountain out of a molehill or if Bellingham will be punished for his alleged actions. England finished their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 100 per cent winning record, and just when they appear to be on a roll, they will break for a while before returning next year. The Three Lions' fixtures ahead of next year's tournament in North America are yet to be confirmed, but it will be interesting to see what role Bellingham will play in Tuchel's plans going forward.

  Incidentally, the ex-Chelsea boss added on the Albania win, "I cannot believe that I see all of them only in March – it is a tough one for me to swallow. I have to say I love to be on the sideline. I love to compete with them. This will be a long, long period now. They did amazing – from all our players full credit to them. We are very proud. We had a lot of changes and sometimes a lot of changes is not fair to the ones that play because then you miss a core of players who are used to playing with each other, but everyone did well. You could see we had a high quality bench to turn things around and influence things, so why not?"

The Boston Red Sox and breakout rookie outfielder Roman Anthony are in agreement on an eight-year, $130 million contract extension that includes a club option for the final year of the contract, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Anthony will now be under team control through the 2034 season.

Anthony's new deal will begin in earnest in the 2026 season. There are significant escalators in the deal that could take the maximum value of the contract to $230 million.

The 21-year-old Anthony, who was one of the top prospects in all of baseball, was called up earlier this season and has become an integral part of Boston's summer resurgence as one of the premier contenders in the American League.

In 46 games for the Red Sox, Anthony is slashing .283/.400/.428 with an .828 OPS. He has hit two home runs to go along with 19 RBI in his first season with Boston.

The former second-round pick in the 2022 MLB draft is a breakout star for Boston, and will now be a cornerstone for the franchise for years to come.

He doesn’t turn the ball big, doesn’t have mystery deliveries, but whatever little he has is ideal for T20 and he keeps winning big moments

Sidharth Monga04-Jun-20251:27

Moody: Krunal Pandya screams character to me

Don’t look at numbers. Just close your eyes and say if you think Krunal Pandya is among the ten best bowlers in the IPL. You will, of course, say yes on the day that he became the first to win multiple Player-of-the-Match awards in IPL finals, but answer seriously: does he have any business being in the list of top-ten bowlers in the best, most competitive T20 league in the world?Now look at the numbers. He is among the top ten on every major metric in IPL 2025. He is No. 10 on most wickets, No. 7 on economy (among those who have bowled at least 25 overs), and No. 6 on ESPNcricinfo’s list of most impactful bowlers. Add to all that his 73 not out against Delhi Capitals (DC), and you have ESPNcricinfo’s second-most impactful performer of this IPL.This match was the perfect example of why Krunal sneaks into these lists, why he is valued by champion sides – this was his fourth title, after all – despite not looking like he should be. He doesn’t turn the ball big, he doesn’t have the classic action to get him alarming dip or drift, he doesn’t have mystery deliveries. But whatever he has is ideal for T20s: the right pace, the ability to pitch the ball where he wants to, the knowledge of where he should be pitching the ball, and a competitive streak.Related

• Kohli, after all this time, just for this moment

• Flower: 'Tremendous respect' for how Patidar remained calm

• Stats – RCB's 18-year, 6255-day, 286-game wait ends

• Kohli and RCB are finally IPL champions

• Kohli: I've given this team my youth, my prime, my experience

Krunal’s combination of high pace and lengths almost provides him immunity from the shot that spinners hate the most: the sweep. All through this IPL, he has conceded just 65 runs to all the varieties of the sweep shot put together. Nine spinners have gone for more. In the final, they tried sweeping him twice but couldn’t score a run. The option then for the batters is to either get a bad ball or try to manipulate the length by going deep into the crease or skipping down the track.This is where Krunal shows his smarts. When a subdued Prabhsimran Singh finally decided to step out against him, Krunal watched till the end and bowled his slowest delivery till then and also went wide because Prabhsimran looks to make room when he charges a spinner. Bowled at 81.49kph, this also turned the most till then and went out of Prabhsimran’s reach.When Josh Inglis, Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) best batter of the night, charged him, Krunal went the other route: bowling only his second 100kph-plus delivery and looking to cramp Inglis for room because he advances straight down. Both those balls created wickets, but it was as much the work around those deliveries that won Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) their first IPL final.Krunal Pandya has now won four IPL titles•Getty ImagesKrunal bowled unchanged for an analysis of 4-0-17-2 after RCB had been kept to 190, the lowest first-innings score all season in Ahmedabad. In his four overs, Krunal overpitched only once. And that was a yorker. There was nothing in the 2-4m zone that you can hit without stepping out. Only one delivery out of the 20 that he bowled to right-hand batters pitched more than a set of stumps wide.Because Krunal relies on bowling into the pitch and tries to put work on the ball with his hand more than his action, he can tend to err on the shorter side. In T20 cricket, if you must err, it is better you do so on the shorter side. Still, only five balls went shorter than 7m, only one shorter than 8m.The only boundary Krunal conceded was when he pitched shorter than 7m and also went really slow, probably his attempt to turn the ball big gone wrong. His pace ranged from 79.88 to 108.33. Krunal said it takes guts to slow the ball down in T20 even though it did seem to him going slow was the thing to do.Coach Andy Flower said that RCB wanted Krunal precisely for his temperament, his experience of having been part of big matches. He repaid them immediately with his first match in the RCB red. He was only beginning as he meant to end. Now he is one of only eight players to have won four IPL finals. Another top ten you wouldn’t have bet on him making.

India’s batting hero spoke about the challenges she has been through during the World Cup

Sruthi Ravindranath31-Oct-2025

Emotional Jemimah Rodrigues waves at the crowd after her sensational innings•Getty Images

Jemimah Rodrigues revealed the mental battle she faced in the weeks leading up to her match-winning unbeaten 127 against Australia in the World Cup semi-final, describing a period of anxiety that left her feeling “numb” and brought her to tears. Rodrigues broke down during the post-match press conference, saying she hoped sharing her experience could help others facing similar struggles.”I will be very vulnerable here because I know if someone is watching, this might be going through the same thing and that’s my whole purpose of saying it. Nobody likes to talk about their weakness. I was going through a lot of anxiety at the starting of the tournament,” she said, pausing to hold back tears.”It was a lot, you know, before few games also, I used to call my mom and cry the entire time, let it all out. Because when you are going through anxiety, you just feel numb. You don’t know what to do. You are trying to be yourself. And also in this time, my mum, my dad, they supported me a lot. And also there was Arundhati [Reddy], who I think almost every day I have cried in front of her.Related

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“Later I was joking, saying ‘you don’t come in front of me, I will start crying.’ But she checked on me every single day. There was Smriti [Mandhana], who helped me. She also knew what I was going through. Few of the net sessions, she was just standing there. Even yesterday she came, she just stood there, just because he just knows that her presence is important for me.”There has been Radha [Yadav], who has, always been there, taking care of me. I am so blessed to have friends, I can call family, that I didn’t have to go through it alone. And it’s okay to ask for help.”Rodrigues had entered the semi-final on the back of a 76 not out against New Zealand, but her tournament began with a few low scores, including two ducks. She had also been dropped for the match against England as India opted for an extra bowler, a bold call given Rodrigues’ status as one of India’s top batters. She said it was difficult to stay patient, but she chose to hang in and trust that her moment would come.”My family went through a lot, but everyone stood by me, and believed in me when I didn’t, when I couldn’t,” she said. “And it started with the anxiety thing. Then I was dropped from the team [for the match against England]. That really hit me.”When you are dropped, you have a lot of doubts because I always want to contribute to the team. But that day, I couldn’t do much sitting out. And then, when you come back in, it’s a lot more pressure, than everything that was happening in the past month.’I am very grateful for the people who believed in me when I couldn’t, and were there for me and understood me because I couldn’t do this on my own’•ICC/Getty Images

“But sometimes all you need to do is, just hang in there and, things fall into place. So, I am very grateful for the people who believed in me when I couldn’t, and were there for me and understood me because I couldn’t do this on my own.”During India’s chase of 339, Rodrigues was at the crease for nearly the entirety of the innings after entering at No. 3 in the second over. She remained unbeaten on 127 off 134 balls, guiding India to victory with five wickets in hand and nine balls to spare. Her innings, however, included a reprieve when she was dropped by Alyssa Healy on 82. Asked how she would rate her innings, Rodrigues reflected on her mindset.”I mean, how do I rate this innings? Actually, I have not let it sink in,” she said. “All I would say was I didn’t play for my 100. I didn’t play to prove a point at No. 3. I didn’t play for my 50. I just played to make sure India win. I wanted to see India win at the end and that was my only motivation.”I think when you have that thought process, I think God also favours you. You do it for the team, you don’t do it for yourself. And I think I have always played my cricket that way. I’m short of words actually.”Rodrigues also revealed that during a team discussion on the eve of the match, she had expressed a clear goal for the game.”We were just saying what all we could do better in this World Cup and all I said was that I want to be there till the end and finish the game. Whether we are batting first, I know if I am there, I can make a partnership. And get those 20-30 runs extra because I run well, pick gaps, unusual gaps.”And the second thing was if we are chasing, then I want to make sure I take the team through. And this just feels like a dream actually. It just felt like everything was such a set up. Because the last month wasn’t the easiest, but it just felt like a set up for this moment.”