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231-run stand between 36-year-old club captain and 20-year-old rookie sets up home win

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay20-Aug-2025Tom Westley and Charlie Allison chalked up career-best List A scores while posting a 231-run third-wicket partnership that underpinned Essex’s third successive Metro Bank One-Day Cup victory.The Essex captain’s 141 was his eighth List A century, while Allison’s 131 was his first in the white-ball format but his fourth of a summer in which the 20-year-old has established himself as a forceful and elegant middle-order stroke-maker. As a statistical curiosity, both players’ innings lasted 113 balls.Allison slammed five sixes and 15 fours, while Westley chipped in with 16 fours and three sixes. Simon Harmer made sure the target was beyond Glamorgan with a 22-ball cameo including four sixes in 42 and then ripped through the visitors’ brittle batting with best bowling figures of 5 for 47.Glamorgan captain Kiran Carlson smashed four sixes in a defiant 36-ball 64, and Asa Tribe a pedestrian 71 from 79, but it only delayed the inevitable in a day-night match that barely reached nightfall. The reigning champions, still without a win this season, succumbed to 181 all out to lose by 190 runs inside 33 overs.Having elected to bat on a well-used hybrid wicket, Essex lost both openers inside the first eight overs. Matt Critchley attempted to loft Zain ul Hassan straight down the ground, instead hitting high but barely clearing the square, before Robin Das fizzed a delivery from Ned Leonard low to backward point.However, Essex’s tentative start gave way to a free-flowing partnership. Both batsmen dealt almost exclusively in boundaries for a spell, Allison hitting three in an over from Dan Douthwaite. He also added back-to-back fours off Carlson, the first through extra cover, the second a very late cut, before launching the off-spinner over long-off for six.Westley was no less aggressive, whipping Leonard through midwicket, driving the same bowler through the covers and next ball hooking a third boundary. Allison brought up the century partnership with a second six over long leg off Ben Morris. A third six over extra cover off Asa Tribe took Allison beyond his previous best of 85 as well as marking the pair’s 150-run stand. Soon after, he turned Leonord off his legs to reach a 92-ball hundred.Neither player gave a chance until Westley, on 99, drove uppishly to short extra cover where he was dropped by a leaping Henry Hurle while reaching three figures from 93 balls.Eddie Byrom dropped Allison at deep square leg on 126 but made amends shortly after when he held on at cow corner to give Tribe the first of two wickets in four balls. Luc Benkenstein sliced to long-off to give Hurle some compensation.Westley added two more sixes but fell to a similar catch in a similar position to the same fielder as Allison to complete the symmetry of their respective innings.Harmer kept up the barrage before he was caught in the deep from the last ball of the innings to give ul Hassan a third wicket.Jamie Porter struck with his first ball in Glamorgan’s reply when he had Byrom edging to slip and Shane Snater upped the pressure when Hurle nicked behind in only the fifth over.However, Kiran Carlson took up the challenge almost single-handedly. He dominated the first fifty runs of the 78-run third-wicket stand, to which Tribe contributed just seven, and reached his own half-century from 31 balls with an audacious reverse-sweep off Harmer for his third six. A fourth maximum, to cow corner off Benkenstein, followed before he fell, driving Harmer to mid-off.Then the collapse began in earnest. Will Smale lasted just four balls before attempting a lavish sweep against Benkenstein and was lbw. Billy Root didn’t hang around much longer, sweeping Harmer to the square-leg boundary, while ul Hassan’s three-ball stay ended when he was caught behind. Harmer claimed a simple caught-and-bowled to remove Douthwaite and then bowled Tribe for his fifth wicket.

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O Corinthians se prepara para encarar o Cruzeiro, pelo jogo de ida da semifinal da Copa do Brasil. A partida será nesta quarta-feira (10), às 21h30 (de Brasília), no Mineirão. Raniele ficou fora dos dois últimos treinos do Timão e se tornou preocupação para Dorival Júnior.

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A informação foi trazida pelo ‘ge.globo’. O volante sentiu dores no tornozelo esquerdo e não participou das atividades promovidas por Dorival Júnior na segunda e na terça-feira. O atleta deve viajar com o elenco para Belo Horizonte e será reavaliado antes da partida.

No domingo (7), no empate por 1 a 1 com o Juventude, Raniele entrou na segunda etapa. O jogador deixou o jogo com um inchaço no tornozelo esquerdo e iniciou o processo de tratamento com o departamento médico. O volante disputou 49 partidas na temporada e é peça fundamental na equipe de Dorival Júnior.

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O treinador utiliza Raniele tanto como primeiro volante, quanto como terceiro zagueiro, muitas vezes durante uma mesma partida, como variação tática. Sem o jogador, Dorival Júnior terá que contar com os reservas imediatos para posição: José Martínez ou Ryan são os mais cotados.

Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

Dores de cabeça no Corinthians

Garro e Yuri Alberto também são dúvidas para o confronto. O argentino se recupera de um estiramento no sóleo, músculo localizado na panturrilha, e ficou fora dos últimos dois jogos. Yuri Alberto sofreu uma inflamação no adutor da perna esquerda e também perdeu as últimas partidas.

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A dupla avançou no processo de recuperação, estiveram em campo nos dois últimos treinamentos e podem ser novidade contra o Cruzeiro. Memphis, recuperado de um edema ósseo no joelho esquerdo, entrou em campo contra o Juventude e será reforço do Corinthians na semifinal.

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Copa do BrasilCorinthiansFutebol Nacional

Leeds United are on the lookout for attacking potency in January and could be set to back Daniel Farke in his pursuit to bring a talented forward to Elland Road.

The Whites find themselves embroiled in a fight against the drop, and not everyone is feeling wholly confident in the former Norwich City boss, even if his side has produced some encouraging moments this term.

All too often, fine margins determine the outcome of Premier League matches, and Farke’s side has been on the wrong side of them, leading some to question his ability to lead the Whites forward.

With that in mind, Leeds are keen to source proven quality in the form of Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, even if his £325,000 wages may prove to be a stumbling block in negotiations.

Signings or no signings, Farke has vowed that his side won’t change as they aim to secure top-flight football for next term, claiming that their approach to being successful will pay off in the long run.

He said before his side took on Aston Villa: “If you follow our way of working over the past two and half years, you know exactly what we are doing, how we try to approach a game and try to be successful. This won’t change at all.”

Sticking by your principles can be the defining choice that determines whether a manager is successful in keeping their job. Farke has been a nice fit for Leeds since arriving at Elland Road, though he has routinely come under scrutiny and is now back under the spotlight.

Either way, the January transfer window is creeping closer, and the 49ers could now be set to back their man as they pursue an exciting striker.

Leeds in pursuit of Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia

According to The Mirror, Leeds are willing to sign Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia on an initial six-month loan with a £20 million mandatory purchase option in the summer as the 49ers aim to back Farke in the New Year.

However, there has been a twist as Los Blancos boss Xabi Alonso is said to have blocked the move, notifying the forward that he is still part of his plans both in the immediate term and further down the line.

Gonzalo Garcia at Real Madrid – all competitions

Appearances

21

Goals

5

Assists

3

Intriguingly, Leeds were confident that they could lure Garcia to England before the ex-Liverpool star’s intervention, and the Spain Under-21 international was also said to be keen on a move to the Premier League after finding regular minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu hard to come by.

Alonso is aware he will need to utilise his whole squad, potentially offering more openings for the 21-year-old to feature as Real Madrid chase more silverware both domestically and in Europe.

Leeds are also eyeing an alternative £20m forward

Bursting onto the scene at the Club World Cup, Garcia would certainly be a viable option in the Leeds attack if they were able to complete a deal, though any chance of that now looks to be unlikely unless circumstances change.

Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for quality attacking reinforcements come January and have now been told how much it will take to land a winger who is thriving in one of Europe’s top-five leagues.

Thomas Frank has had mixed luck with signings since walking through the door in N17, and many would argue that Spurs’ capture of Mohammed Kudus has been their best bit of business so far.

On the flip side, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani may take a little longer to fully settle at the club after some mixed performances, which is part and parcel of football at the end of the day, and the latter’s been very stop-start due to multiple injury problems.

As January approaches, signings will be necessary for Tottenham to kick on under Frank’s stewardship, and he already appears to have identified some exciting names to help their push for a strong Premier League finish.

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo is a high-profile Spurs target and may be on his way to N17 amid the Lilywhites’ wish to recruit a new winger as a top priority, rather than a fixed number nine.

Looking towards in-form Premier League stars may be their preference. Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye is another name wanted by Tottenham, and they have made an approach for the Senegal international, even if he could cost close to £70 million.

Truthfully, Spurs have the financial muscle to acquire top talent, but half the battle may be convincing players that their project has more to offer in the long term than rival clubs.

Competition for new additions in mid-season is usually fierce, though Tottenham have been told in no uncertain circumstances how much it may cost to bring one of their known targets to North London if they decide to press ahead with a move.

Tottenham told how much it will cost to land Takefusa Kubo

According to Pete O’Rourke on Football Insider’s Inside Track, Tottenham target Takefusa Kubo has a £52 million release clause inserted in his Real Sociedad contract, and any bid submitted matching that figure would be enough to enter direct negotiations with the player.

He explained: “He’s been continually linked with the move to the Premier League with Tottenham, Liverpool over the years, Aston Villa as well. Top young player who’s done really well for Real Sociedad. So, it’s no surprise that the top European clubs are looking at the Japanese international as well.

Takefusa Kobe at Real Sociedad – is he worth £52 million?

Appearances

147

Goals

24

Assists

18

“He has got a release clause in his contract, so it would be straightforward if Tottenham wanted to go and sign him in January. £52million, it’s not a cheap deal by any stretch of the imagination. So, that will come into consideration if Tottenham are to firm up their interest in Kubo as well.”

Lauded by Zinedine Zidane for his “very interesting” tendencies as a player, Kubo has emerged as a target amid concerns over whether Everton would be willing to let go of Ndiaye, though it remains to be seen whether Spurs can land either of their targets.

Arne Slot’s contentious selection decision for Liverpool’s latest in a long litany of defeats was a gamble, alright, but whether it has paid off is anybody’s guess at this stage.

Crystal Palace secured a 3-0 win at Anfield against a second-string home side, and Liverpool are now out of the Carabao Cup. But the tactical fault lines run far deeper, and the Reds know that their upcoming run of games will prove decisive in exactly how the club emerge from this dismal run of form.

Aston Villa travel to Merseyside at the weekend, and then next week’s double header of Real Madrid and Manchester City will perhaps show exactly how Slot will fare over the coming months.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Liverpool have one of the most talented and expensive squads in the world, after all, and have seen a few stars go from strength to strength over the past several months.

Chief among them is the tireless Dominik Szoboszlai, but, despite his smaller role, Federico Chiesa has been just as impressive.

How Chiesa is rebuilding his Liverpool career

Liverpool only signed one player during the 2024 summer transfer window: Chiesa. What a contrast to the window just passed. The Italian arrived for a cut-price £12.5m fee, but injuries and Slot’s wariness kept him on the fringes.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed quite the revival this season, among the most prolific players in Slot’s squad. Despite starting only two matches in all competitions (both of the Reds’ domestic cup fixtures), he has notched two goals and three assists.

And still he waits for his first Premier League start of the season. Chiesa is earning starts on tournamental fronts but will perhaps feel somewhat aggrieved by sitting in the centre on Wednesday evening, flanked as he was by teenagers Rio Ngumoha and Kieran Morrison.

Hugo Ekitike

13

6 (1)

Mohamed Salah

13

4 (3)

Cody Gakpo

13

4 (3)

Federico Chiesa

10

2 (3)

Alexander Isak

8

1 (1)

Florian Wirtz

13

0 (3)

Rio Ngumoha

7

1 (0)

Chiesa has in the past proved he has the talent to sit alongside the world’s best forwards. He has been deeply unfortunate with injuries, but his mental fortitude and underlying talent are beginning to shine, and there is a real chance for him to lay down a marker over the coming months, especially when you consider Mohamed Salah will be away at AFCON come January.

Liverpool's new version of Chiesa

Last season, Chiesa drifted through Liverpool’s title-winning campaign. Clearly, he was a talented player who had the skills to make a mark, but for whatever reason, Slot opted against unleashing him.

Now that he’s seen Calvin Ramsay put in a fine showing against Crystal Palace, the Dutch coach may want to avoid repeating that same mistake. Right-back Ramsay has not played much football over the past several years, but he showed what he can do against the Eagles.

The 22-year-old was composed on the ball and looked to progress play forward when the chance arose. In the first half, he played a Trent-esque diagonal cross over to Ngumoha, demonstrating a range of strings on his bow.

Liverpool signed Ramsay from Aberdeen in July 2022, adding him to the squad for an initial £4m fee. Jurgen Klopp once said “the sky is the limit” for the one-cap Scotland international, but a low-hanging fog has clouded his potential over the past three years, restricting him to just three first-team appearances for the Merseysiders and a string of unsuccessful loan spells.

But there’s a real player in there.

Against Palace, the Scotsman won six duels, made seven recoveries and four clearances, as per Sofascore. Promising stuff, even if the rust was clear to see, losing the ball 19 times despite not creating a chance.

Like Chiesa, Ramsay has been shaken by injuries over the past several years, and at the early stage of his career, this has had a detrimental impact on his hopes of getting going at the highest level.

Liverpool have lost six of their past seven matches in all competitions, with that emphatic win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League an outlier born from the Germans’ own deep defensive deficiencies.

Analytical Reds writer Sam McGuire even said that Slot’s decision to exclude Ramsay previously is “a sackable offence”. Of course, we must take this as tongue in cheek, but it does underline the quality of talent Liverpool have in this Scottish defender, and it’s certainly frustrating that he is now unavailable for the men’s team over the next few months.

Chiesa stands a real chance of continuing to go from strength to strength in Liverpool’s senior squad this year, adding a dimension that Slot simply cannot ignore.

With Jeremie Frimpong not quite a natural full-back and Conor Bradley’s performances leaving something to be desired, might there not be a chance for Ramsay to sneak his way into the club’s plans too?

The defeat to Crystal Palace, the third of the campaign, emphasised the scale of Liverpool’s plight at the moment, with wholesale changes and a bench full of youngsters backing firing on a head coach who now stares down the barrel of a gun, preparing to take on some of Europe’s most threatening outfits.

He will need every tool at his disposal, and allowing Ramsay to taste some more action might not be the worst thing in the world for a side currently lacking solutions.

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Liverpool are in desperate need of defensive reinforcements in 2026.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 29, 2025

Josh Naylor had the best season of his career in 2025. After starting the year with the Diamondbacks, Naylor was dealt to the Mariners at the trade deadline, where he played a big role in the team’s run to the ALCS. Now, he’s set to hit the open market for the first time in his career, and he figures to have plenty of teams interested in him in free agency.

Naylor racked up a career-high 3.1 bWAR in ‘25, including 2.2 in just 54 games in Seattle. He recorded a .812 OPS with a .295 batting average, and launched 20 home runs with 92 RBIs. In addition to his prowess at the plate, Naylor was an extremely effective baserunner, racking up 30 stolen bases despite never having swiped more than 10 bags in any previous season.

The Mariners will certainly be hoping they can work out a deal to keep Naylor in Seattle on a new contract, but with free agency awaiting the 29-year-old, they’ll have to fend off some staunch competition for his signature.

Naylor is projected by ESPN to be in line to receive a contract worth around $52.5 million over three years. That feels a bit low, and it’s certainly possible that price tag would rise, potentially dramatically, if multiple teams got in the mix.

So, what are some possible landing spots for Naylor when he hits the open market?

Seattle Mariners

Naylor was an outstanding fit for the Mariners after being acquired at the trade deadline. Bringing him back should be a top priority for Seattle this offseason. That much has been echoed by the organization’s front office, as GM Justin Hollander has expressed his desire to keep Naylor in the PNW.

The Mariners enjoyed their longest stay in the postseason in franchise history this year, despite finishing just one win shy of a World Series berth. They’ll be determined to finish the job in 2026 and try to punch their first-ever ticket to the Fall Classic. Naylor was fantastic during the team’s run in October, registering a .957 OPS in 12 games, and bringing him back feels like a must for Seattle.

San Diego Padres

The Padres have a glaring need at first base, and after a disappointing showing in the postseason, San Diego will be determined to bounce back in 2026. Offense was hard to come by for the Padres last year, and without an established first baseman currently on the roster heading into the ‘26 campaign, Naylor feels like an excellent fit for the organization.

The Padres were 28th in MLB in home runs last year (152) and were in the middle of the pack in OPS (.711). Those are both areas where Naylor could make an instant impact. Naylor started his career in San Diego, playing 94 games for the organization as a rookie in 2019 before getting traded to Cleveland the following season. He could return to the team where he got his first taste of MLB action, while providing the Padres with a much-needed boost on offense.

Cincinnati Reds

The Reds have been linked to Naylor in the past, and after failing to bring him aboard in recent seasons, they could stage another attempt during free agency. Cincinnati narrowly missed out on the postseason last year, but adding a player of Naylor’s caliber could help them get over the hump.

Cincinnati ranked in the bottom half of MLB in home runs, batting average, OPS and hits. Spencer Steer had a decent season at first base, but Naylor would certainly be an upgrade over him and also has the flexibility to move into the outfield or even be used at DH. Only two players on the Reds hit 20 or more home runs last year and no one had more than 22. Naylor could achieve those numbers in the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park with ease.

New York Mets

If the Mets and Pete Alonso are truly parting ways this offseason, with the veteran slugger destined for free agency, New York will be in the market for a new first baseman. Naylor could be a great fit, providing the team with some more consistent hitting as opposed to pure power.

The Mets ranked in the middle of the pack in terms of batting average in 2025, though their OPS was among the best in the league. Getting another reliable hitter in the middle of the order, one who flirts with a .300 batting average, would be a great way to replace one of the league’s biggest sluggers.

Pitching will be one of the main focal points for New York this offseason, but if Alonso doesn’t return, they’d be hard pressed to find a more suitable replacement at first base than Naylor.

West Ham United are now working on a January signing to replace Max Kilman, who has been “nowhere near good enough this season”.

West Ham have struggled from a defensive point of view so far this season, having shipped 25 Premier League goals, the second-highest of any side, behind only Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have taken just two points from their opening 12 games.

Although results have been much-improved in recent weeks, with the Hammers taking seven points from their last three games, they have been unable to fix their defensive issues, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last nine Premier League games.

Even in the 3-2 victory against Burnley earlier this month, Nuno’s side looked shaky at the back, with Alphonse Areola making an error leading to a goal, before Kilman went on to give away a penalty in the 2-2 draw at AFC Bournemouth last time out.

It appears as though the 28-year-old’s latest mistake may be the final straw for the Irons, with a replacement now wanted in the January transfer window…

West Ham working on January move for Max Kilman replacement

In an interview with Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown has now confirmed West Ham are looking to improve their centre-back options this winter, saying: “West Ham would like to upgrade on Max Kilman,

“They’ve assessed that he isn’t good enough for where they want to be, so the next step is identifying somebody who they can bring in to improve.

“They will already be aware of some who might be available and working to find out about others.

“Kilman, though, is definitely somebody who they think they can improve upon because his performances have been nowhere near good enough this season.

“In that game against Bournemouth, first of all he gave away the penalty, and then it was his mistake which led to the second goal as well.”

Wayne Rooney has since suggested the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man was lucky to avoid being sent off too, saying: “It’s a penalty, and it has to be a red card, he’s six yards out. It’s a clear goal-scoring opportunity, so it baffles me that it isn’t a red card”

It is no surprise the Hammers are looking to bring in a new centre-back, given that the Englishman has struggled at times this season, failing to win any of the three duels he contested in the victory against Burnley.

Reporter Joshua Mbu also took to X to single the centre-back out for criticism for his performance against the Clarets.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man is one of West Ham’s highest earners, raking in £100k-a-week, and given that he hasn’t earned those high wages so far this season, it may be worth cashing in this January.

West Ham looking to reignite talks to sign Ligue 1 defender amid Max Kilman uncertainty

West Ham looking to "reignite" talks for 23-year-old they were once "close to signing"

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will be busy in January.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 20, 2025

Fresh from losing Rob Edwards, Middlesbrough have reportedly set their sights on a former Premier League striker who has since moved into manangement, with an endorsement from Gareth Southgate.

Things were all going well in Teesside. Boro had made an impressive start to the Championship campaign and Edwards was proving his worth in full as all involved set their sights on promotion. And that’s when Wolverhampton Wanderers came calling to spoil the party.

In one swoop, the Premier League side secured Edwards’ signature, leaving Middlesbrough without a manager and incredibly disappointed. The Championship side released a statement after the manager’s exit was confirmed, expressing their frustration.

Edwards, meanwhile, issued a statement of his own in attempt to control the damage done by his move – taking to social media to say: “This has been one of the toughest decisions of my career. In truth, I wouldn’t have considered leaving Middlesbrough for any other club.

“Wolves is a special club for me. It’s where I grew as both a player and a coach. It’s still where my family calls home. It has always been my dream to come back and these opportunities do not come around too often.”

His words are unlikely to change how those in Teesside are feeling and they won’t change the fact that they’ve now got to find a new manager as soon as they can during the international break.

Related Middlesbrough make "impressive" manager top target to replace Rob Edwards

He’s available right now.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Nov 13, 2025

To that end, rumours are already arriving as to who could arrive. Names such as Steven Gerrard and Tony Mowbray have already been mentioned as potential candidates and a move for the former would certainly make plenty of sense to follow in the earlier footsteps of Michael Carrick.

The Liverpool legend isn’t the only former Premier League player to be linked with the vacant position, however, with Hasselbaink also emerging as a candidate to arrive.

Middlesbrough now considering Hasselbaink move

As reported by Alan Nixon on his Patreon, Middlesbrough are now considering a move for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in what would hand the former Chelsea striker his first managerial role since his second spell at Burton Albion in 2022.

The 53-year-old has also taken charge of Royal Antwerp, Queens Park Rangers and Northampton, but his most impressive experience arguably came in a coaching role with England, where he impressed Southgate. The former Three Lions boss is now reportedly willing to give Hasselbaink a recommendation to Middlesbrough as they weigh up whether to hire the Dutchman.

Several England stars also chose to praise Hasselbaink as they reached the final of Euro 2024 before losing against Spain, with Trent Alexander-Arnold saying: “He knows the pressures and everything that comes with being a footballer and in tournament football too, so he is good to have around. He works a lot with the attacking players, more than anyone, helps us with the penalties and things so he is a great addition to the backroom staff.”

So, whilst the ex-Premier League star hasn’t been in the technical area for a number of years, his time with England suggests that he could be a viable option for Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough keen on Championship title-winning manager alongside Gerrard

Two years ago, she was forced to miss the ODI World Cup semi-finals due to Covid-19. At 38, she is excited to have another crack at it, in UAE

Shashank Kishore17-Oct-2024Afy Fletcher, the West Indies legspinner, doesn’t need to look at the clock to know it’s 3pm. It’s as if she is wired with an in-built alarm that is coded as the “good morning call” to her three-year-old back in Grenada.It’s a reflection of Fletcher’s life on tours ever since she returned from an 18-month maternity break in January 2022. At the time, she didn’t think a return was possible. But when she dropped in at a West Indies camp in Barbados, her team-mates and coaches were amazed at her transformed fitness barely a few months into motherhood.That confidence, coupled with her own drive to be an inspiration to other mums, fueled Fletcher’s return at 34. In Dubai, ahead of West Indies’ semi-final at the T20 World Cup, Fletcher reflects on that moment as one of the turning points in a long career that began in 2008.Related

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“It’s overwhelming, it’s unbelievable, it’s a joy,” Fletcher tells ESPNcricinfo about balancing motherhood and competitive sport, which has been her lifelong passion.At the World Cup in UAE, Fletcher has played a key role in West Indies’ run to the semi-finals. Two nights ago in a must-win game, she cut England’s batting line-up to size with a three-wicket haul, before Qiana Joseph delivered the knockout blow.For Fletcher, it’ll be a crack at another semi-final, a prospect she’s excited by. Two years ago in New Zealand, she was forced to miss the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup due to Covid-19. West Indies lost to eventual champions Australia with Fletcher watching it all unfold in quarantine.It’s a feeling she describes as “heart-sinking for being so near, yet so far.””To find out the news before the game was a sinking feeling,” Fletcher says. “You’re like, damn, it’s Covid and you can’t do much. I was in quarantine. You could only go out when alarms would ring at different times during the day. Mentally it was tough.”The only good thing was at least you could go out and get fresh air. My son had just been born; he was back home. As it is, things can be overwhelming being a young mother. Covid made me tougher. Looking back on that journey, I feel blessed to have been able to comeback and give myself another chance.”Initially, I had so many questions. Can I come back? Will my body allow me? Will I have the same level of skills? How can I manage my emotions of being away from my child on tours? But unless you actually put yourself through it, you can’t really tell how strong you are.”Fletcher describes the first few months of return as “really tough on the body” but once she had decided to give cricket another crack, she decided to go all in.Afy Fletcher was part of the title-winning squad in 2016•ICC/Getty Images”I think that was the challenging part, having to get your body back into it gradually,” she says. “You can’t just rush into it because you remember the cuts [from caesarian delivery] and have to be rather cautious. I have no regrets in continuing my career. I mean, it has been challenging, but when you overcome challenges to find success, it makes it all worth it.”I know that I am a role model to some. I know that it will be inspiring to a lot of young girls around the world, whichever profession they’re in. I know that I did make some impact and give them motivation and courage.”Fletcher was part of the victorious squad of 2016, but believes this current group is equally special. “We just go to the nets and try to have fun,” she says. “Most importantly be relaxed. We don’t just sulk around after a defeat. We decided we’re going to still keep that push and that drive, rallying around each other.”

“One of the next things I would love to do is get an academy up and running in Grenada, give back to the game and create a pathway for young girls in my island.”Afy Fletcher

Fletcher says this energy makes her feel younger and want to push for more, even though she’s touching 38 and is among the oldest players at the tournament. Having put in the hard yards, she sees this as a reward for her hard work.It wasn’t always this way. After just two T20Is in 2008, she had to wait for seven years to make a comeback. During this period, she became a football referee to become an assistant in local club games, and started working a full-time job -“secretarial work” – at the ministry of sport in Grenada, until cricket found a way back into her life.In 2014, she moved out of Grenada to Trinidad and Tobago to play club cricket. A season full of wickets for Technocrats fueled her comeback. While doing all of this, Fletcher also finished her Level 1 and 2 coaching certifications to “learn and grow.””Back then when I had much time on my hand, I was always keen on helping young people at training. That was partly why I wanted to get into coaching certifications. Even today, all this success I’ve had in my career, it’s only because I’ve always been hungry to learn.”One of the next things I would love to do is get an academy up and running in Grenada, give back to the game and create a pathway for young girls in my island. I am looking for some support [funding and infrastructure]. If people are reading this, and they’d like to get in touch, I will be delighted to chat with them.”

LOS ANGELES — From a business perspective, there has never been any question that Shohei Ohtani is most valuable to the Dodgers as a two-way star: Designated hitters don’t tend to become national heroes in Japan and earn their teams an estimated $70 million in sponsorship revenue. From the player’s standpoint, there has never been any discussion, either.

“The reason why I’m a two-way player is because that’s who I am, and it’s what I can do,” Ohtani said last week.

But viewed through the lens of baseball, there was reason to be cautious. It wasn’t just the injury concern, although that certainly caught the Dodgers’ attention; Ohtani’s return to pitching this season has come after his second elbow reconstruction. “There is a cost,” acknowledges manager Dave Roberts. He adds, “What [another ailment] would essentially do is lose two players.”