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Mominul Haque also scored a half-century even as Andy McBrine took all four wickets for Ireland

Mohammad Isam19-Nov-2025Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 99, in his 100th Test, at the end of the first day of the second Test against Ireland in Mirpur. He kept the fans on their toes going into the second day, ready to become the 11th batter to reach a century in their 100th Test.Bangladesh finished on 292 for 4, with half-centuries from Mushfiqur and Mominul Haque, with Litton Das three runs away from one as well. Andy McBrine took all four wickets to fall, ending the day with figures of 4 for 82.The day, however, belonged to Mushfiqur, who was given a reception after toss in the morning. His family, and former Bangladesh captains, including Akram Khan and Habibul Bashar, were present on the occasion, with the BCB presenting him with several mementos.Related

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Mushfiqur, however, remained focus at the job in hand. He played tightly for the first 67 balls, as he tried to rebuild after Bangladesh lost three wickets in the first session. Mushfiqur struck his first boundary with an inside-out blow against Matthew Humphreys in the second session. His second boundary brought up his half-century, off the first ball of the third session.Mushfiqur struck another four later in the over, a sweep off Humphreys. He continued to bat calmly, even as a short ball from legspinner Gavin Hoey was dispatched for a boundary in the 73rd over. Another short delivery, this time from McBrine, got him into the nineties, brought up with a punch through the covers.Mushfiqur went through the nineties smoothly, taking a lot of singles towards the end of the day. He kept the small crowd on their feet as he needed three runs to reach his century in the last over of the day.Andy McBrine took all four wickets on the first day•Sportsfile/Getty ImagesMcBrine had given Ireland a great start in the Test, picking up the first three wickets in the morning session. Shadman Islam and Mahmudul Hasan had given the home side a sound start, adding 52 runs for the opening stand. The openers hit eight boundaries between them in a short span as they looked towards another big partnership, like in the Sylhet Test, where they had added 168. In Mirpur, though, Shadman was lbw to McBrine for 35, which ended the opening stand at 52.Mahmudul, who made 171 in the first Test, couldn’t quite follow up in this innings, falling lbw to a slider from McBrine. Ireland got the wicket through the review as Mahmudul made 34 off 86 balls.Offspinner McBrine then had the Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto with another slider, this one beating the left-hand batter on the back foot. With that, McBrine became the first Irish spinner to take three wickets in the first session of a Test match.Shanto’s wicket brought Mushfiqur to the crease, much to the appreciation of the Shere Bangla National Stadium faithful.Mushfiqur and Mominul calmed things down till the lunch break, before continuing with their steady partnership. Mominul survived two dropped catches on 23 and 49. First, Cade Carmichael dropped a skier, before Paul Stirling couldn’t hold on to a difficult chance at slip.Mominul’s luck, however, ran out after the tea break. He swept McBrine but the ball deflected off his bat and on to his boot, before Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie completed the catch. Mominul made 63 off 128 balls, with a single boundary.

We tend to measure over rates in terms of overs lost per day; it belies a lack of both empathy for players and understanding of the issue at hand

Sidharth Monga20-Jul-20252:55

Harmison: ‘Stokes will go over broken glass to make sure his team wins’

On day one of the Lord’s Test, 83 overs were bowled with the addition of the extra half-hour. Seven overs lost, never to come back. On day two, India ended England’s innings within the first 30 overs, and England bowled 43 overs by stumps, again with the use of the extra half-hour. Fifteen overs lost, never to come back. On day three, India batted for another 77 overs and bowled one at England in the scheduled six hours plus the extra half-hour. Ten overs lost never to come back.There has been widespread hand-wringing and criticism of the teams, the match officials, and the ICC for “robbing” patrons of cricket. Is it fair to look at over rates through the lens of overs lost, though? What does it say about our empathy for players and our understanding of Test cricket’s competitive framework?Over rates are not calculated every day or even every innings, but across a match. If a bowling side is able to bowl the opposition out in under 80 overs, that innings is not considered for calculations unless the over rate goes beyond the required 15 per hour.Related

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Note the intrinsic understanding of the ICC: if you bowl your opposition out in under 80 overs, you are providing the patrons enough entertainment so they don’t feel “robbed” of the extra few overs. At any rate, unless you get wickets with the last ball before a break, you get an allowance of 18 minutes for taking nine wickets, not counting the one that ends the innings. Drinks breaks are worth four minutes each.So, assuming you have bowled a side out in 80 overs in six-and-a-half hours, you can directly chop off the extra half-hour as allowance for wickets and drinks. Add DRS reviews – at least three because the batting side generally exhaust theirs if they are bowled out – injury timeouts, ball changes, and running repairs, and you lose about 15 minutes in a day. So the over rate here is 80 divided 5.75, which is close to 14 an hour, which isn’t as shabby as the crude boiling down to ten overs lost that viewers will never get back.It is important to remember that even the ICC doesn’t expect teams to bowl all 90 overs in a day if they are using a lot of fast bowling. Match referees privately say that 90 overs of predominantly fast bowling is too much to expect, and needs a review. The question we need to grapple with here is: do we want generous amounts of part-time spin to complete the chore of 90 overs every day, or do we want Test cricket at its highest intensity?Umpires and referees tend to lean towards the latter, which is why they are lenient towards players taking frequent breaks, be it to change sweaty gloves or worry about the ball’s shape. Even gamesmanship, as in the dying moments of day three at Lord’s, can create intense drama between two competitive teams doing what they should: England wanting to face as few deliveries as possible and India trying to bowl as many as possible. These are Test cricketers, not obedient schoolboys who should meekly face two overs or quietly bowl just one when denied the chance for another.More of this, or more overs from part-timers to meet over-rate requirements?•Getty ImagesThe ICC is not saying it in as many words because it will attract even more criticism, but the playing conditions and the track record of match officials tend to suggest that expectations for overs bowled in a day are realistic at a time when draws without weather interruptions are extremely rare, even on flat Bazball pitches, and when Test cricket is being played at a higher intensity than ever before.It is easy to bowl 90 overs in a day when the batters are letting you bowl to a plan unchallenged. Batting is more attacking than even before, and asks the bowling team to think on their feet and make more fielding changes to counter it. It is no surprise that all the recent instances of teams being docked World Test Championship (WTC) points for over-rate offences have either come in high-scoring games, or Tests involving a lot of fast bowling, or both. Before Lord’s, Pakistan were the last team to be penalised: they went for 615 in Cape Town, where they had only one spinner in a five-man attack. Before that, both England and New Zealand were penalised in Christchurch: again lots of runs and lots of fast bowling.Another argument does hold some merit: there is competitive advantage to be gained by bowling too slowly, either as gamesmanship or by way of hiding a lack of fitness and conditioning. This is perhaps a more salient cause for concern and more relevant in limited-overs cricket – as is the general over-rates problem – but we can trust the match officials for that. They are consistent with the allowances they make. They don’t want the spotlight on them, so they push teams less conspicuously than by waving their arms and sending back drinks on live TV.The Lord’s Test showed us that even time-wasting can make for breathtaking theatre•Getty ImagesThere remain concerns to be addressed. The penalties for slow over-rates seem to be disproportionately harsh given the otherwise empathetic attitude of match officials. England’s over rate cost them a sixth of the WTC points they earned for winning the Lord’s Test. Then again, you can argue that teams should pay dearly if they are still slow after all the allowances they get, and after the introduction of stop clocks.The over rates at Lord’s were fairly similar in the first innings, but India used more spin in the second innings – not to make up time but because their spinners became threatening – and went past 15 overs per hour and improved their overall over rate for the match.While England, too, bowled India out in less than 80 overs in the second innings, they couldn’t go past 15 per hour with an injured spinner in their ranks. So their second-innings over rate had no impact on the overall calculations.Teams playing more often in conditions that call for predominantly quick bowling find themselves under more pressure on over rates. The ICC is not unaware of this. Perhaps a solution will be worked out by the next WTC cycle. Until then, if we take a moment to appreciate how much Test cricket has changed and how over rates are really calculated, we will be less angry about overs lost.

Ashwin now has 11 Player-of-the-Series awards, the joint-highest with Muthiah Muralidaran

Sampath Bandarupalli01-Oct-202415 – Test matches for India against Bangladesh without a defeat, out of which they have now won 13. Only two teams have played more Tests against an opposition without losing a single game: 20 by Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe and 17 by New Zealand against Zimbabwe.18 – Consecutive Test series wins for India at home, a streak that began with a whitewash of Australia in 2013. England, in 2012, were the last team to defeat India at home in a Test series.India haven’t lost a Test series at home or away since their defeat to South Africa in 2021-22. They have won six of the seven bilateral Test series played in this period.312 – Balls batted by India across the two innings in Kanpur – the fourth-fewest by any team to win a men’s Test. The lowest is 276 balls by England against West Indies in Barbados in 1935, while India batted only 281 balls for their win against South Africa earlier this year in Cape Town.ESPNcricinfo Ltd7.36 – India’s run rate across the two innings in Kanpur, the highest for any team in a Test match where they scored 300-plus runs. The previous highest was 6.80 by South Africa, who made 340 in 50 overs in the only innings they batted in against Zimbabwe in 2005.1040 – Number of balls bowled in Kanpur, making it the third-shortest completed Test match to have gone into the fifth day.The 2000 Centurion Test that ended on the fifth day saw only 883 balls bowled, but both South Africa and England forfeited one innings each on that occasion.England needed only 909 balls to complete a win against South Africa at The Oval in 2022, where no play was possible on the first two days.128.12 – Yashasvi Jaiswal’s strike rate in Kanpur is the third-highest among the batters with fifty-plus scores in both innings of a men’s Test (where data is available). The highest is 137.7 by David Warner against Pakistan in the 2017 Sydney Test, while Harry Brook had a strike rate of 132.59 in the 2022 Rawalpindi Test.1 – Jaiswal is now the first Indian batter to score fifties in both innings of a Test match in fewer than 50 balls. Nine others have had fifties in less than 50 balls in the same Test, with the last being Pathum Nissanka against England at The Oval in September.ESPNcricinfo Ltd8 – Fifty-plus scores for Jaiswal in 13 Test innings at home – all have come in 2024. These are the most fifty-plus scores by any batter in a calendar year on Indian soil in Tests.His 901 runs are also the third-highest in a calendar year in India, behind GR Viswanath’s 1047 in 1979 and Virat Kohli’s 964 in 2016.11 – Player-of-the-Series awards for R Ashwin in Test cricket, the joint-highest alongside Muthiah Muralidaran.7 – Instances of a team winning a men’s Test match despite no player scoring 75-plus runs in an innings and no bowler with a four-plus wicket haul.No Indian took a four-wicket haul in Kanpur despite four three-wicket hauls across two innings, while Jaiswal’s 72 in the first innings was their highest individual score in the match.

Essex 350 for 4 (Westley 124*, Walter 86) vs Warwickshire Tom Westley’s rich vein of form in the Rothesay County Championship continued as he notched his third century in five innings to frustrate Warwickshire at Chelmsford.In addition to hitting his 32nd first-class hundred in an innings of sublime stroke-play, the Essex captain also passed 14,000 career runs in red-ball cricket. With Paul Walter, who hit 86 from 160 balls, Westley put on 132 for the second wicket and 81 for the third with Jordan Cox. At stumps, Westley was unbeaten on 124 from 234 balls with Essex 350 for 4.Walter, posting his fifth score above fifty this season, two of them centuries, launched two sixes and nine fours. It enabled Essex to build on the euphoria of only their second Championship win of the season last week at Hove, a win that lifted them out of the relegation places.The only redeeming feature for Warwickshire on a gloomy day that matched their deteriorating mood, was arguably the first career wicket for part-time legspinner Zen Malik. Brought on to eat up an over before the arrival of the second new-ball, Malik had Cox attempting to hit his fifth delivery out of the park, but instead the batter ended up on his backside with his stumps akimbo.Before the start of the play, Essex’s own bowling plans had twice been thrown into disarray in the space of 24 hours. They had already lost one member of their attack when Indian international pace bowler Khaleel Ahmed pulled out of a contract due to run to the end of the season, citing “personal reasons”. Then, less than quarter-of-an-hour before the start of the match, offspinner Simon Harmer, who had taken part in all the warm-up routines, withdrew also offering “personal reasons” for his absence.Those problems were shelved for the time being as Essex were put into bat on a hybrid pitch with plenty of grass left on to help encourage greater carry for the bowlers. In fact, it encouraged the batters and a flurry of straight-driven fours enabled the Essex openers to compile 68 runs without undue alarm in 19 overs.Dean Elgar, overcoming a torrid first over from Oliver Hannon-Dalby, brought up the fifty partnership with an uncharacteristic slash at Beau Webster that cleared the slip cordon. However, he departed soon after to his second rash shot of the innings, pulling the Australian low to midwicket.On one occasion Walter, so strong off the back foot, came down the wicket to waft Corey Rocchiccioli for six over extra cover and post Essex’s first hundred. He reached his half-century from 79 balls with a well-placed push into the off-side for two. Walter took a liking to the Australian offspinner with another six, this time over long-on.At the other end, some of Westley’s strokes were exquisite. He produced a classically-executed cover drive for four off Ethan Bamber and later essayed a textbook straight-drive off Webster. Another off-drive for four by Westley off Webster took the stand with Walter to three-figures, of which both batsmen contributed 49. Three balls later Westley reached a 107-ball fifty.Westley had just taken Essex past 200 with only one wicket down when, next ball, Walter’s four-hour innings came to an end. He got an outside edge to a delivery from Rocchiccioli, the ball ricocheting off wicketkeeper Kai Smith’s thigh and ballooning up for a diving Alex Davies to claim at slip.Bamber switched ends straight after tea and immediately extracted some rare bounce and lift that had Westley groping at thin air. Normal service was quickly resumed, though, and soon Westley was angling Ed Barnard to third man for the boundary that took him to his century from 185 balls.Bamber finally gained some reward late on when he had Matt Critchley swinging and bottom-edging through to the wicketkeeper.

Manchester United’s draw against West Ham United yesterday once again highlighted the struggles faced by the side during Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford.

Diogo Dalot’s strike looked as though the Red Devils would secure all three points for the second time in a week, but their inability to defend set pieces ultimately cost them all three points.

Soungoutou Magassa’s effort was enough to secure the visitors a point, with Amorim left frustrated by his side’s lack of killer instinct to put the game to bed in the second half.

The result leaves United in eighth place in the Premier League, just two points off fourth, but the season could already look a whole lot different had the side managed to once again hold on for the win.

Numerous players failed to deliver during the meeting at Old Trafford, which could see the manager make some needed changes ahead of their next outing over the weekend.

United’s poor performers against West Ham last night

During the draw against Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, Luke Shaw was once again handed a start in the Premier League, now taking his run of starts to 14 in a row.

However, it was yet another performance to forget for the Englishman, with the centre-back struggling to deal with the threat posed by opposition forward Jarrod Bowen.

Shaw was dribbled past twice, lost 75% of the ground duels he entered, whilst also committing three fouls – showcasing his inability to stop his compatriot from impressing.

At the other end of the pitch, Bryan Mbeumo also struggled to continue his fine recent form in the Premier League, as the Cameroonian once again failed to find the back of the net.

Like Shaw, he struggled in his duels against the Hammers at Old Trafford, as seen by his measly tally of 100% aerials lost out of the five battles in which he entered.

He also failed to complete any of the crosses he attempted, whilst only placing one of his shots on target, subsequently being unable to provide the added threat needed in attacking areas.

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After failing to win for an eighth time in the league this campaign, Amorim will certainly need to find a winning formula quickly if he is to be a success as United manager.

He’s massively come under fire over recent months for his lack of success in the role, no doubt down to his reluctance to move away from his 3-4-2-1 system in key moments.

At 1-1 last night, he had the opportunity to bring Kobbie Mainoo onto the pitch in an attempt to secure victory, but it was his conservative substitutions which led to the draw.

The 40-year-old simply laughed in his post-match interview when one journalist suggested that the Englishman should have been brought on to push for the win.

Such a move wasn’t the only questionable decision made by Amorim last night, with the manager deciding to utilise Ayden Heaven at centre-back alongside Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui.

The youngster was handed his first league start of the campaign, but it was a decision that massively backfired, given his struggles at the Theatre of Dreams last night.

He featured for 45 minutes during the contest, before being replaced at the break after picking up a yellow card for a rash tackle on Bowen during the closing stages of the half.

The 19-year-old lost 100% of the duels he entered, whether that being on the ground or in the air, whilst committing two separate fouls, which no doubt led to his booking.

Heaven was also only able to complete a measly tally of six passes out of a possible ten, with none of his long balls being completed – showcasing his struggles in possession.

His struggles were compounded by his lack of involvement during the first half, only achieving a tally of 17 touches of the ball – with goalkeeper Senne Lammens having more, as seen by his tally of 29.

After such a performance, the manager must surely look to more senior options to fill the void, when his Red Devils side face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night.

Leny Yoro was brought on to replace the Englishman at the break, with the manager needing to select the Frenchman next time around to help the side return to winning ways.

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Their contribution to ODI cricket has been rooted in identity and belief

Greg Chappell23-Oct-2025Author and Philosopher Bo Bennett once said “Success is not what you have but who you are.”In an era where cricket often bends to the whims of fleeting formats and instant gratification, two Indian giants stood tall, not just for the runs they scored but for the men they became. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two pillars of modern Indian cricket, carved their legacies through distinct journeys, both marked by immense skill, fierce preparation, and an abiding respect for the 50-over format. Their contribution to ODI cricket wasn’t accidental – it was deeply personal, rooted in identity and belief.Kohli was never just a batter, he was a movement. He arrived on the ODI scene in 2008 with raw promise, and by 2017, when he was full-time captain in the format, he had seized the reins of a side in transition and reshaped it. He brought what few dared to – a warrior’s mindset. He turned India’s ODI side into a sharp, focused and supremely fit unit that played to win, home or away.But what truly set him apart, even from the legends who came before him, was his detachment from personal statistics. While the world raved about centuries and aggregates, Kohli cared only about the outcome. He once said that he played for India, not for records – a statement that defined his leadership. Individual feats were often the focal point of India’s cricketing narrative; Kohli sought something larger. His currency was legacy, not numbers.Related

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Under his watch, India beat Australia 2-1 in an ODI series in 2018-19. They held fort at home like a colossus, dominating bilateral contests and ICC events. Kohli made chasing a priority, fielding a crop of finishers who could rattle teams even in high-pressure chases. He transformed India’s attitude from reactive to relentlessly proactive.Where Kohli’s rise was meteoric and defined by intensity, Rohit’s journey was more about a slow-burn path to greatness. For years he dazzled in limited-overs cricket; his timing, poise and flair made him a household name. But it didn’t come easy: though he made his debut in 2007, inconsistency and middle-order struggles kept him from cementing a place, especially in big tournaments.Then came 2013. Promoted to open during a home series against England, he seized the opportunity with quiet confidence. There was a double-century against Australia. Elegant hundreds, of which the first came also against Australia that year. Sudden comfort against the swinging ball. Something had changed – not just in technique but in belief. What followed was one of the most remarkable second winds in Indian cricket. Rohit didn’t just adapt to ODI cricket, he conquered it.

Where Kohli’s rise was meteoric and defined by intensity, Rohit’s journey was more about a slow-burn path to greatness

His batting, so often described as “effortless”, now carried the weight of responsibility. The short-arm pull, the nimble footwork against spin, the patience outside off stump – all made for a batter who could both grind and grace. A blistering 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014 cemented his credentials as a record-breaker, while his measured leadership in the 2023 ODI World Cup showed a cricketer at peace with pressure.When Kohli stepped down as captain in 2021, it was Rohit who inherited the mantle – not by clamour but by quiet readiness. Where Kohli roared, Rohit observed. His captaincy was marked by calm decisions, clear planning, and unwavering support for younger players. He doesn’t chase the camera. He lets his cricket speak – and speak it does, fluently.Their captaincies were a study in contrasts, but both chased one of the same ends – Indian excellence in ODIs. Kohli led in 95 ODIs, winning 65 – among the top two highest by an Indian captain. His win rate of over 68% came against the best teams, in the toughest conditions. Rohit, newer in the role, led in just a little under half as many matches as Kohli and had an even better win percentage – 75%. Together they ensured that India remained an ODI superpower, not just a red-ball giant.Technically, Kohli’s game was forged in fire. His mastery of pace, particularly the searing quicks of Australia, England, and South Africa, made him a modern-day gladiator. His cover-drive became a symbol not just of class but of courage. Off the field, his dedication to fitness, diet and relentless improvement made him a trendsetter.Rohit, on the other hand, thrived on rhythm. His strokeplay is a masterclass in timing. Few play spin better; fewer still can pull like he does. He doesn’t impose himself on bowlers initially – he outsmarts them, and then dismantles them relentlessly. Mentally, both men were titans – Kohli driven by the fire of legacy, Rohit by the calmness of knowing his time would come.There were moments when they didn’t just shine, they paused the game itself. Kohli’s 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup, in a high-pressure chase, showed he wasn’t afraid of the big stage. His leadership in the 2018-19 Australia series win remains a defining Indian cricket moment.It’s one last time into the breach in Australia for the two•ICC/Getty ImagesFor Rohit it was the 264 against Sri Lanka, the innings that declared him an ODI phenomenon. Then the five centuries at the 2019 World Cup, where he tamed global attacks with poise. And more recently, his tactical nous through the 2023 World Cup campaign as captain.But beyond individual brilliance in ODIs lay something rarer: their love of and devotion to Test cricket. Kohli wasn’t shy about it – he spoke often, and passionately, about the purity of the format. He made it cool again to care about playing in whites. Rohit, through his transformation, showed that Test cricket rewards those who respect its tempo.In an age where players often chase leagues, fame, and IPL contracts, Kohli and Rohit were naturals who became the face of their franchises for over a decade. No matter the format, they dominated. They were never trying to be viral. They were trying to be vital.Praise for them came from everywhere. Michael Vaughan was effusive in his admiration of Kohli as an ODI player, and Ravi Shastri lauded his obsession with chasing success. Ben Stokes admired Rohit’s calm control. Steve Smith admired Kohli’s competitiveness. Ajinkya Rahane said once that Rohit always made you feel like the team came first. Their team-mates loved them. Their opponents respected them. Their fans, like us, will remember them as more than just batters, as torchbearers.Now, as the cricketing world moves forward, new names will rise. New captains will lead. But this golden chapter – the Kohli-Rohit era – will remain engraved not just in record books but in the hearts of every fan who understood what they stood for. Kohli’s passion, his refusal to settle, his belief in legacy over statistics. Rohit’s elegance, his humility, and his redemption arc, which reminded us all that timing is everything – in cricket, and in life.What they gave the game can’t be fully measured in runs or centuries or wins. They gave it belief, dignity, and character – which, as Bo Bennett reminded us, is the true measure of success.

Leeds United have made a major decision in their pursuit of AZ Alkmaar and Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott.

Parrott has made himself a national hero in Ireland in recent weeks, producing plenty of goalscoring heroics in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, scoring five times in two matches.

The 23-year-old scored the vital winner away to Hungary that booked his country’s place in the playoffs next years, with Ray Houghton waxing lyrical about his impact.

“In moments like that you are trying to find the right words to actually put across your feelings. As an ex-player, you know what’s at stake, you know what they’ve been through, you know that when you go through hard times you want to remember the good times even more, and it means so much to you.

“I understood it, that Troy was a young lad who came through and was going to be a sensational talent, went to Spurs as a kid, made his debut when he was 17 and had so much ahead of him, but it didn’t quite go the way everyone anticipated. He had to reinvent himself as a player, so to see the joy he had playing for his country and doing what he did, hopefully it will inspire the next generation of players.

Leeds have been linked with a move for Parrott, looking to bring him back to England, and there has now been a development regarding the situation.

Troy Parrott now moving up Leeds striker shortlist

According to a new report from talkSPORT‘s Alex Crook, Leeds now have Parrott “high on their list” of attacking options. Both the Whites and Wolves are “among the clubs” keen on snapping him up in 2026, with his current club demanding as much as £20m for his signature.

Parrott is the man of the moment, with his stock never higher in his career to date, and he could be a strong signing for Leeds, whether it be in the January transfer window or next summer.

Whites supporters will no doubt hope that it is the former, in order for the Irishman to help Daniel Farke’s side avoid relegation from the Premier League back to the Championship.

Parrott is far from a flash in the pan, having been highly-rated as a youngster and Tottenham, and being lauded by Alkaar head coach Maarten Martens.

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There were no bigger sellers at the MLB trade deadline than the Minnesota Twins. Identifying a seller’s market and with solid assets to offer to contenders, the Twins unloaded the roster in hopes of building the foundation for a better future.

One of their biggest deadline deals was trading away electric closer Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies. Duran is a flamethrower, and his aura was all the greater thanks to the electric entrance that the Twins had put together for him when he took the mound.

It wasn’t clear how that entrance would carry over to Philadelphia, but when Duran stepped up for his first career save as a Phillie over the weekend, the lights went down, the phones came out, and the bell of the Undertaker tolled.

It was epic.

How were the Phillies able to recreate the magic of Duran’s entrance? Mostly thanks to the Twins. As Matt Gelb reported in a story for , the Twins had worked with the Phillies, providing digital assets and music, to ensure that his first moment on the mound with his new team was a memorable one.

Dustin Morse, the Twins vice president of communications, had asked Duran what he wanted to do regarding his entrance shortly after news of the trade broke, and the closer said it was simply too good to give up. Morse agreed, and took the idea to the rest of the team’s top officials. Not long after, they were trading emails with their counterparts on the Phillies to make sure they could put together a similar entrance at Citizens Bank Park.

“We collectively thought, ‘This is for the greater good of baseball fans,’” Morse told Gelb. “This is a fun atmosphere. All baseball fans should get to see it and experience it. We all know that the atmosphere at Citizens Bank is already nuts. This would go over well.”

It certainly did. A crowd of 43,241 Phillies fans roared for Duran in his debut, and he secured the save with just four pitches.

Morse texted Duran after the save congratulating him on his success, and noting that the entrance still looked great. “Thank you so much, Dustin,” Duran replied. “Thank you for being a part of that creation.”

Duran’s first few days in Philadelphia have already been memorable. On Sunday, he was able to secure another save for the Phillies, this time on the airwaves of ESPN, and threw a few of the fastest pitches in team history in the process. The entrance still looked stellar.

The Twins certainly didn’t have to do what they did to help the Phillies recreate Duran’s theatrics—the entrance represented hundreds of hours of work Minnesota’s team put into ideation, creation and execution. But as Morse said, it was a move that was made for the greater good of baseball fans, and that truth has already been proven plenty after just a few days in Philadelphia.

The USMNT’s placement in Group D for the 2026 World Cup – alongside Paraguay, Australia, and the winner of Play-Off C (Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo) – quickly ignited debate. Fans, analysts, and pundits reacted in real time, sharing everything from excitement to anxiety as the draw unfolded.

USMNT DRAWN INTO GROUP D

After four years of anticipation, the USMNT has finally learned its 2026 World Cup fate, drawn into Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and the Winner of Play-Off C (Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo), their first home World Cup since 1994. With the tournament just months away and serving as a crucial test for Mauricio Pochettino's squad on home soil, there is plenty at stake for the Americans – and fans are building excitement across social media platforms.

GOAL takes a look at the best social media reactions following the USMNT's favorable group stage draw, with supporters already analyzing potential knockout round matchups should they advance as expected.

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The group draw has contributed to the growing narrative of the 2026 World Cup as a pivotal moment for American soccer. Social media conversations reflect a broader enthusiasm for the sport’s growth in the U.S. and the opportunity to showcase the national team on a global stage. The matchup against diverse opponents in Group D symbolizes the challenges and opportunities facing the USMNT as they seek to make a deep run in the tournament.

Big Picture: Series on the line, with T20 World Cup on the horizon

India’s brilliant bowling performances, bamboozling Australia with spin, in Hobart and the Gold Coast has turned the series on its head. Josh Hazlewood’s stranglehold of India’s batters earlier in the series feels like a long time ago as a shorthanded Australia – without frontline players turning their focus to the Ashes – stare down the barrel of a series defeat.Australia can’t win the series, but can salvage a draw in the fifth and final T20I at the Gabba. Even though almost all the attention across the country is on the Ashes, meaning scrutiny on this series is minimal, Australia’s hierarchy have a few things to ponder ahead of a fast-approaching T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.Related

• Axar, Dube, Washington power India to 2-1 series lead

• Axar's deceptive simplicity dismantles Australia's threat

• Australia's power play doused by Indian spin

Australia have a clear plan of all-out attack, which can look spectacular on faster surfaces or against the right match-up. But this high-voltage batting-order failed to execute on a slower Gold Coast surface in game four. Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar completely dominated as Australia collapsed to a sizeable defeat after laying a good platform.With the T20 World Cup to be played in what could be spin-friendly conditions, Australia are facing questions over whether they can combat high-quality spin attacks. A faster Gabba pitch is unlikely to provide answers, but Australia will want a confidence boost and to avoid a third straight T20I defeat – undoing somewhat the team’s rousing form since the last World Cup.After a sluggish start to the series, India have continued their strong record having never lost a T20I series in Australia – bar a one-off match in 2007-08. With their slew of spinners running rampant, India have proven why they are so hard to beat in this format as they eye becoming the first country to successfully defend their T20 World Cup crown.After conditions were to their liking over the past couple of games, India will face a challenge in Brisbane and the spotlight will be on how their top-order can fare even though a Hazlewood-less attack is slightly a less scary prospect.If they seal a series triumph, India will head home feeling well pleased ahead of a T20 World Cup they will start as favourites.

Form guide

Australia LLWWW
India WWLWW
Australia have had a strong run in T20Is but won’t want to lose three in a row•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

In the spotlight: Josh Inglis and Shubman Gill

It’s been a frustrating start to the Australian season for Josh Inglis, who suffered a calf injury before the tour of New Zealand and it took longer to recover. Inglis has finally made it back, but his returns with the bat this series have been modest with just 33 runs in three innings. A noted player of spin, Inglis was completely bamboozled by Axar on the Gold Coast in a poor dismissal. At No. 3, Inglis holds a valuable spot in the order and his struggles have contributed to Australia’s indecisiveness this series. He will also be eyeing a good hit-out in the middle before switching to the red ball in the Sheffield Shield having been selected in Australia’s first Test Ashes squad as the reserve wicketkeeper. He is the only member of the 15-player squad playing in this game.It has not been a fruitful tour for Shubman Gill, who could not get going with the bat as India slumped to an ODI series loss to start his captaincy reign in the format. Without the captaincy burden in the T20Is, he has fared slightly better in this series although has still yet to crack a half-century on tour. He came close on the Gold Coast when he top-scored with 46 off 39 balls. Gill, however, lacked fluency in the innings, struggling against the new ball before some of his favoured flat-bat shots started to return. He will be hoping the momentum can carry over as he looks to end a tough tour on a high.Nathan Ellis has been outstanding•AFP/Getty Images

Team news: Philippe’s middle-order role, India to remain unchanged

Fringe white-ball player Matt Short was in good touch on the Gold Coast after replacing Travis Head, who is preparing for the Ashes. Short made 25 off 19 balls before the wheels fell off the innings. Josh Philippe made just 10 at No. 5 in his first T20I innings in almost two years and may be battling to hold his spot, with Mitch Owen a chance to return.Australia (possible): 1 Matt Short, 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 3 Josh Inglis (wk), 4 Tim David, 5 Mitch Owen/Josh Philippe, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Xavier Bartlett, 9 Ben Dwarshuis, 10 Nathan Ellis, 11 Adam ZampaIndia are unlikely to tinker with their successful blueprint and should roll out the same XI even though conditions probably won’t be as conducive to turn.India (possible): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Axar Patel, 6 Washington Sundar, 7 Jitesh Sharma, 8 Shivam Dube, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

Pitch and conditions

As is the norm this time of year in Brisbane, there is the threat of thunderstorms later in the day. The Gabba surface traditionally has plenty of pace and bounce to encourage the seamers, but runs can also flow freely with BBL games at the ground often noted for high totals.

Stats and trivia

• Jasprit Bumrah is one away from 100 T20I wickets. He would become the first India player to have 100 wickets in all three formats.
• The last time Australia lost at least three straight T20Is was a four-game skid to West Indies and Bangladesh in July 2021.
• India have not won three consecutive T20Is against Australia since a clean sweep in January 2016 in Australia.
• Australia’s four-run victory over India in November 2018 is the only previous T20I match between the teams at the Gabba.

Quotes

“I find it challenging in bilateral series because you’re bowling to the same batters every second night, every third night. So it becomes a little bit of cat-and-mouse of what did I do to them last time, what are they looking for?”
“The quality bowling we have, the spinners, the fast bowlers, I trust them and the whole team trusts our bowlers.”