And what’s the worst economy rate for a bowler with ten or more wickets in a Test series?

Steven Lynch12-Aug-2025Is it right that only Don Bradman scored more runs in a Test series in which he was captain than Shubman Gill? asked Narender Singh from India

That is correct: India’s captain Shubman Gill amassed 754 runs in the exciting 2025 Test series against England. Among captains, he’s behind only Don Bradman, who made 810 in the 1936-37 Ashes. The Don started that series – his first as captain – with innings of 38, 0 and 0, but made 270 in the third Test, 212 in the fourth and 169 in the fifth as Australia uniquely came from 2-0 down to win the series 3-2.Bradman also leads the way overall for any series, whether captain or not, having scored 974 in the 1930 Ashes in England. Gill’s haul puts him 19th on that list. The Don only played in 11 Test series in his career, but scored 680 or more runs in six of them.New Zealand’s innings in the second Test against Zimbabwe included three scores of 150-plus. Was this unique? asked Nirmal Mendis from Sri Lanka

New Zealand’s total of 601 for 3 declared in their thumping win over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last week included 153 from Devon Conway, and undefeated innings of 150 and 165 from Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra.This was only the third Test innings to contain three individual contributions of 150 or more. The first was England’s 903 for 7 declared against Australia at The Oval in August 1938: Len Hutton made 364, Maurice Leyland 187 and Joe Hardstaff 169 not out. Another distinguished trio achieved the feat as India ran up 676 for 7 against Sri Lanka in Kanpur in December 1986: Sunil Gavaskar 176, Mohammad Azharuddin 199 and Kapil Dev 163.New Zealand’s recent effort uniquely involved three left-hand batters (of the others, only Leyland was a left-hander).Brendan Taylor has been recalled by Zimbabwe aged 39. Will he be their oldest Test player? asked Richard Martin from Zimbabwe

Having served his 3.5-year ban, Brendan Taylor made his comeback for Zimbabwe in the second Test in Bulawayo last week. It wasn’t exactly a memorable return, as Zimbabwe suffered their heaviest Test defeat.Taylor is 39 years six months old – but that’s almost six months younger than his captain, Craig Ervine, who was born on August 19, 1985.
Two veterans of Zimbabwe’s inaugural Test in October 1992 played their final matches when older than Taylor and Ervine. Dave Houghton, their first Test captain, was 40 years three months old during his final Test, against New Zealand in Bulawayo in September 1997, while offspinner John Traicos made his debut for Zimbabwe aged 45, and played his final Test a few months later, against India in Delhi in March 1993. Sikandar Raza, who also played in the current series, is also 39, while Sean Williams turns 39 in September. The current quartet are the four oldest active Test cricketers.John Traicos was 45 when he debuted for Zimbabwe in 1992•Getty ImagesWhat’s the worst economy rate for a bowler with ten or more wickets in a Test series? I’m guessing it might be Prasidh Krishna, as his was nearly five in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series asked Mohammad Arquam Siddique from India

That’s quite a good spot, as Prasidh Krishna’s 14 wickets in the just-concluded series cost 37.07 apiece, with the runs coming at a rate of 4.94 an over. Only four men have taken ten or more wickets in a series at a higher economy rate. West Indies’ Shamar Joseph picked up 13 in Australia in 2023-24, while going for 5.05 an over; Neil Wagner’s 11 in New Zealand’s home series against England in 2022-23 came at 5.68 an over; another West Indian, Alzarri Joesph, took ten in England in 2024 at 6.12 an over: and top of the pile is the Pakistan legspinner Zahid Mahmood, with 12 wickets at home to England in 2022-23 while going for 6.94 an over (his series figures were 62.3-3-434-12). I just read that Essex scored 560 against Sussex in 1933 without anyone making a hundred. Was that the highest total without one? asked Graham Ferris from the Philippines

Essex made 560 for 9 declared against Sussex in Leyton in September 1933, and the highest individual contribution was Jack O’Connor’s 93 (there were eight other scores between 28 and 88). That’s quite a high score without a century, but it wasn’t even a record at the time: in Derby in August 1899, William Gunn’s 90 was the highest contribution to Nottinghamshire’s total of 581 against Derbyshire.The 560 has since been pushed down to tenth on the overall list. Essex are also currently ninth, with 569 against Kent in Chelmsford in July 2016, when Ravi Bopara made 94 and Ryan ten Doeschate 91.The highest first-class total without a century is now Surrey’s 671 for 9 declared against Kent in Beckenham in May 2022: Ollie Pope scored 96, Jamie Overton 93 and Ben Foakes 91. Everyone made double figures in that innings; Hashim Amla (12) was the only one not to reach 20.The highest Test total not to include an individual century is Sri Lanka’s 531 against Bangladesh in Chattogram in March 2024, which featured 93 from Kusal Mendis and 92 not out by the unrelated Kamindu Mendis.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Most of the players in Pakistan’s Test squad have not played first-class cricket since February

Danyal Rasool10-Oct-2025Pakistan host South Africa for a two-Test series starting on Sunday, marking the beginning of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle for both sides. It is a battle between opposites, with the winners of the previous cycle playing the team that finished last. For Pakistan, it is also their first Test series since January, something their red-ball captain Shan Masood termed unacceptable at the time while hoping his side would find a way to play more matches.More notably, though, Pakistan struggled to get their first-class tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, up and running in time to give their Test players match practice ahead of this series. Only one round of that competition was possible, from October 6 to 9. Even those games were severely curtailed by unseasonal rain in much of the country, and with most of the Test squad already in a training camp by then, only two were able to participate.ESPNcricinfo takes a look at the amount of red-ball cricket the players in Pakistan’s Test squad have played since their last Test.Related

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Shan Masood – 4 games
The Pakistan Test captain’s red-ball participation is one of the brighter sparks in the void. He played two President’s Trophy matches in Karachi in February, shortly after the conclusion of the series against West Indies. He also played two matches for Leicestershire in the County Championship in September, scoring 90 and 111.Abdullah Shafique – 7 games
Abdullah Shafique has played the joint-highest number of first-class games among the players in the squad, though most of them were in February. His only red-ball game since was a County Championship match for Yorkshire with a batting-friendly Kookaburra ball in June, where he scored 5 in his only innings.Babar Azam – 0 games
Despite losing his spot in the T20I squad, Pakistan’s premier batter has been unable to fill his time with any first-class cricket. Pakistan’s most recent Test in January was the last time he played a red-ball match.Imam-ul-Haq – 3 games
Imam-ul-Haq has been on fire for Yorkshire in List A cricket recently, but he has played precious little first-class cricket as he works his way back into Pakistan’s Test squad. He played two President’s Trophy matches in February and March, and one game for Yorkshire in the Championship in July, where he made 19 in his only innings.Mohammad Rizwan scored a hundred in the QEA Trophy in the first week of October•ICC/Getty ImagesMohammad Rizwan – 1 game
Another player who fell out of Pakistan’s T20I squad, Mohammad Rizwan comes into the series against South Africa with extremely limited red-ball match practice. His only game since the West Indies series was earlier this week in the rain-affected round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he scored an unbeaten 123 in a drawn game.Rohail Nazir – 3 games
Pakistan’s back-up wicketkeeper is a case study for how difficult it has been to play first-class cricket in this long gap between Tests. Despite not being part of any international team, his only red-ball matches were in the President’s Trophy in February, where he scored two hundreds in three games to burnish his credentials.Saud Shakeel – 1 game
Saud Shakeel, the Pakistan batter perhaps more suited to this format than any other, has played a solitary first-class game in this period. It came in March in the President’s Trophy, where he scored 2 and 45 for State Bank of Pakistan.Salman Agha – 1 game
With his increased profile within the national set-up, Pakistan’s T20I captain has been busy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that added responsibility has come at the expense of first-class opportunities. His only red-ball game in the last nine months was for Lahore Whites in the first round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy last week, where he scored 47 runs and took one tail-end wicket.Asif Afridi – 3 games
The 38-year-old left-arm spinner’s inclusion in the side gives away the kind of pitches Pakistan will hope to prepare against South Africa. He has never played international cricket and his most recent first-class cricket was also in February, where he took 5 wickets at 31.80 in three games.Kamran Ghulam – 0 games
Kamran Ghulam, who scored a hundred on Test debut against England this time last year, has played no first-class cricket between January and now.Sajid Khan – 2 games
It is a series where Pakistan’s fate depends almost entirely on Sajid Khan and his left-arm compatriot Noman Ali. Despite being one of Pakistan’s MVPs, Sajid has played little red-ball cricket recently. His last two first-class games, too, were in February and he took ten wickets in those President’s Trophy fixtures.Noman Ali and Sajid Khan have also not played any red-ball cricket since February•Getty ImagesNoman Ali – 3 games
The other half of that duo, Noman, is a similar tale. He hasn’t played first-class cricket since February, when he appeared in three matches. If Noman, 38, is to light up Pakistan’s Test arena at home once more, he will have to do so on the back of fairly degraded muscle memory.Abrar Ahmed – 0 games
The fourth spinner in the Test squad is now Pakistan’s premier white-ball option. But Abrar Ahmed has not played first-class cricket since January, despite being viewed as Pakistan’s first-choice Test spinner before the heel-turn that led to the spinning tracks produced, which shot Sajid and Noman back to prominence.Hasan Ali – 0 games
Hasan Ali has had several injuries and gradually nursed his way back to health. He last played first-class cricket in 2024.Khurram Shahzad – 7 games
Arguably Pakistan’s most successful exponent of the red-ball in this barren nine-month period. Despite Pakistan’s clear preference for spinners at home, Khurram Shahzad threw himself into first-class cricket immediately following the West Indies series, playing four games in February. After that, he played another three games for Worcestershire. His performance in the County Championship was adversely impacted to an extent by the use of the Kookaburra ball, which is more conducive to batting and less to the kind of swing he likes to deploy. Even so, he took 6 for 42 in his first innings against Warwickshire.Shaheen Shah Afridi – 0 games
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s waning interest in Test cricket is no secret by now. As his performances in white-ball cricket show signs of resurgence, there is little indication of what that means for his red-ball career. He has not played a first-class match since Pakistan opted to go spin-heavy, his last Test coming in October 2024.

He has been one of the star performers in the domestic circuit in the recent past, and has done his bit to put Central Zone in pole position to win the Duleep Trophy title

Ashish Pant15-Sep-2025In the last 12 months, no offspinner has more wickets in first-class cricket in India than Saransh Jain’s 44. Add to that his 311 runs, and he is one of just four players with the double of 300-plus runs and 40-plus wickets in the last one year. In a country with an abundance of left-arm orthodox spinners, Jain falls in the rare category of an offspin-bowling allrounder. And often, he’s been the difference in bowling attacks for whichever team he has played for.Think back to the Irani Trophy last year when, playing for Rest of India, he picked up 6 for 121 in Mumbai’s second innings, which included the wickets of Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer and Sarfaraz Khan.Or in the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy semi-final, where he beat Ruturaj Gaikwad in flight and had him stumped on 184, finishing with eight wickets for the match.Related

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In the final as well, Jain’s flight and dip, coupled with his high-arm action, troubled the South Zone batters in the first innings as he returned 5 for 49. And then, in the second innings, he added three more to his tally to make it 16 wickets for the tournament, taking Central Zone to the doorstep of a first Duleep Trophy title in 11 years.”I am pleased that I have given a good performance in both these matches because it is very important,” Jain, now 32, told ESPNcricinfo after the fourth day’s play in the final. “The season starts with the Duleep Trophy, so the momentum that you get here carries through the season.”If you remember, I also had a good performance in the Irani tournament last year. See, the thing is, if you want to get highlighted, you need to give back-to-back performances. Only then will the national selectors look at you and select you.”A key feature of Jain’s bowling is adapting to different situations. In the semi-final on the black-soil surface of Ground B of the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, he varied his pace and got the ball to skid, apart from deceiving the batters in the air.On the opening day of the final, on realising he was extracting extra bounce, he gave the ball a lot more air, getting it to grip and jump. Then, on the fourth day, when Ankit Sharma and C Andre Siddarth were involved in a 192-run seventh-wicket stand, he was prepared to take a step back and play the containing role, waiting for the batters to make a mistake.

“When I bat, I compare myself with Rajat [Patidar] and other good batsmen. In bowling, I know what I have to do. But in batting, I try and see how these top-order batters go about their innings and I play accordingly”Saransh Jain

“I have been playing cricket for a long time, so I have faced such situations,” Jain said of his fourth-day tactics. “We were not panicking. This happens in cricket. We can’t always have all five days going our way. One session, one-odd day, can belong to the opposition as well.”We were fine with them having a few sessions going their way. It is not that tough a wicket where the runs wouldn’t get scored. Our main aim was to not leak too many runs. We just wanted to take the game as deep as possible as we were already on top.”A major reason behind Central Zone’s dominance in the final has been the partnership between Jain and Kumar Kartikeya, the duo – who have played for Madhya Pradesh together for a long time – picking up 16 of the 20 South Zone wickets to fall.”We have a clear mindset,” Jain said. “If he bowls well, I support him. And vice-versa. And if he is having an off day, or I am having an off day, we tell each other where we are going wrong. We give each other a lot of input.”Like Rajat [Patidar] and Shubham [Sharma] are my batting partners, Kartikeya is my bowling partner, and has been for a long time.”Saransh Jain punches the ball away during his half-century in the Duleep Trophy final•PTI While bowling is Jain’s stronger suit, he takes a lot of pride in his batting. He said he talked a lot with his Madhya Pradesh team-mates Patidar and Shubham on how to improve his skills and trained a lot. In the last 12 months, Jain has scored three first-class fifties, including back-to-back half-centuries in the Duleep Trophy semi-final and final.”I have liked batting since childhood. If you want to play cricket as a spinner, you can’t just be a bowler. You have to be a proper batter,” Jain said. “I have opened the batting, played at No. 3 in the Ranji Trophy, in a semi-final [against Bengal in 2022-23], and have scored runs.”When I bat, I compare myself with Rajat and other good batsmen. In bowling, I know what I have to do. But in batting, I try and see how these top-order batters go about their innings and I play accordingly.”Jain had won the Lala Amarnath Award for the best allrounder in the Ranji Trophy after the 2022-23 season. With the next Ranji season a month away, it’s a feat he said he wanted to repeat in his quest for the bigger goal, which is “to see the India logo on my jersey”.

Those of a Liverpool persuasion will feel battered and bruised after Arne Slot’s side’s staggering drop-off this season.

The slew of defeats have forced a retreat from their position at the top of the Premier League ladder, and as Alexis Mac Allister said after arresting the losing run at West Ham United on Sunday, the title is not on anyone’s mind; rather, finding a measure of consistency and fluency on the pitch is the incentive right now.

Liverpool might have spent a bucketload this summer, but they also parted with key players, with writer Eddie Gibbs saying, “Liverpool right now look like a side caught between three different ideas of themselves, with none taking root.”

A few tweaks are needed, to be sure. And Liverpool are considering a new wide forward to restore balance across the frontline.

Why Liverpool want a forward

When Liverpool capped off their summer spending spree with the British-record addition of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, the Premier League was in concert: Liverpool had signed a host of elite players.

And while Isak scored his first Premier League goal for the club on Saturday, it’s been a testing start to the season, with injuries and a lack of fluency a by-product of Liverpool’s wider struggles.

Florian Wirtz, too, looks like he is starting to click into gear, but the Reds have been imbalanced in the final third, and adding width would open up a new dimension from which Slot could rebuild his side’s form.

Well, according to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are frontrunners in the race for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who has been among the standout forwards in the Premier League this season.

The Ghana international, 25, has a £65m release clause which becomes active in January, and so Liverpool are not alone in their interest, with Manchester City and Tottenham also ready to lodge bids if the right opportunity presents itself.

In fact, Pep Guardiola’s side have initiated contact, so it’s time for Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes to roll up his sleeves.

Why Semenyo would be a better signing than Isak

Semenyo has only gone from strength to strength since joining Bournemouth from Bristol City in the Championship in January 2023. Andoni Iraola has taken that promising skillset and sculpted it into something special.

Now, Semenyo is considered to be “one of the best players in the league” by BBC writer Umir Irfan and it’s a sentiment many would agree with after a prolific start to the campaign, six goals and three assists posted in the Premier League already.

Two-footed and effortlessly dynamic, Semenyo has proved too tricky to handle for many Premier League defenders in recent memory, something of a monster in the duel and a fearsome, rip-roaring asset down the wing. He is a big-game player besides.

The thing is, Semenyo is conservative in his athletic application; he does not prance about with the force of an uncoiled spring. In this he echoes Luis Diaz, who brought a different flavour to Slot’s title-winning team and has not been directly replaced.

Perhaps Semenyo could be the signing that Liverpool need, one which would prove even more impactful than Isak, who has yet to prove he is worth the record sum, even when banked by such illustrious heights in black and white over the past several years.

Matches (starts)

13 (11)

12 (12)

Goals

4

6

Assists

3

3

Touches*

43.5

49.6

Shots (on target)*

2.5 (0.5)

2.2 (1.2)

Accurate passes*

19.1 (79%)

19.9 (77%)

Chances created*

1.9

1.3

Dribbles*

1.2

1.8

Recoveries*

2.7

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

0.9

1.8

Duels won*

5.2

6.3

Gakpo has enjoyed a quietly effective season on the left so far for Liverpool, even against the current of their crisis. However, he is far less mobile than Semenyo, and he lacks the clarity and sparkle on the ball that Semenyo imbues the Cherries flanks with.

It really cannot be understated how unique Semenyo is. This is a winger who is making incremental gains, a winger who could now bloom into a true superstar not only in the Premier League but in Europe’s elite club competition too.

Liverpool have been imbalanced this season, and this is the profile that Liverpool need. It has the potential to be the best signing of the season for the Reds, albeit one which should have been completed back at the start of the campaign.

Better move than Semenyo: Liverpool set to table bid to sign £53m "machine"

Liverpool and FSG are considering a host of positions ahead of the January transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 1, 2025

Celtic are now considering a January bid to sign Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson, who is also being targeted by bitter rivals Rangers.

Following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, Martin O’Neill has been keeping things steady at Parkhead, with the veteran manager winning his first three matches in charge, most recently defeating Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden.

Extra-time goals from Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand secured a 3-1 victory for the Hoops, setting up a clash with St. Mirren on December 14th, although O’Neill was none the wiser, given his response when asked if he would take charge of the final.

The interim boss said: “I was 73 on Monday, I’m 94 now! I don’t even know when the final is. I would imagine the club are making inroads to a permanent manager.”

Reaching a final is always cause for optimism, but the 55-time Scottish champions’ league form suggests they need to make improvements in the winter window, currently sitting nine points behind league-leaders Hearts.

Celtic considering January bid to sign David Watson

According to a report from The Herald, Celtic are now considering a January bid to sign Kilmarnock midfielder Watson, with the 20-year-old’s current contract due to expire at the end of the campaign, meaning he is free to negotiate pre-contract terms with other clubs.

The Hoops may have to hijack Rangers, however, with it last month being revealed their rivals have also identified the youngster, who could be Danny Rohl’s first signing, as a transfer target.

Foreign clubs have also expressed an interest in the midfielder, which means Kilmarnock could cash-in this January, although they may also choose to retain him until the end of the season to boost their chances of finishing higher in the Scottish Premiership.

Kilmarnock vice-captain Robbie Deas has waxed lyrical about the starlet’s work ethic in the past, saying: “Davey’s fantastic, honestly. He’s one of the hardest workers you’ll ever meet. He’s absolutely fantastic. You see that today, and he’s putting those tackles in later on.”

Not only that, but the Scotland U21 international is already very experienced at senior level, despite his age, making 117 appearances for the Kilmarnock first team, and he has already scored three league goals in 11 outings this term.

As such, there are clear signs Watson could be capable of making the step-up to a club the size of Celtic, but their main priority should be to bring in a permanent replacement for Rodgers.

O’Neill’s solid start has bought Dermot Desmond & co some time, but bringing in a top manager could really help put the pressure on Hearts, with Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen, who has won four league titles in the last five seasons, recently emerging as an option.

Charlie Mulgrew urges Celtic to appoint Jurgen Klopp Charlie Mulgrew shares "big" contract Celtic should now offer Jurgen Klopp

The ex-Celtic star has had his say…

ByTom Cunningham Nov 4, 2025

Aussie’s unbeaten 50 off 32 balls seals victory against Manchester Originals

ECB Media11-Aug-2025Reigning champions London Spirit made it three from three as they downed Manchester Originals in a nail-biter at Emirates Old Trafford, Grace Harris’s beautifully paced unbeaten 50 the stand-out performance.Brimming with confidence, Spirit won the toss and elected to bowl first, enjoying a dream start as Georgia Redmayne brilliantly caught Kathryn Bryce down the leg side before Melie Kerr was needlessly run out going for a non-existent second from a free hit.Beth Mooney counterpunched briefly and from 46 for 4 after 39 balls and Originals batted sensibly, Deandra Dottin mixing solid defence with the occasional blazing strike. She was well supported by Fi Morris and Alice Monaghan to take the home side to 122 for 6, both Charlie Dean and Sarah Glenn going for under a run a ball.Mahika Gaur bowled 15 of the first 25 balls in reply, finding significant swing and ensuring Originals were still in the game before unleashing their own international class spinners. New Zealand leggie Kerr was at the heart of the action, taking catches to get rid of Kira Chathli and Redmayne and bowling Dani Gibson for a duck.But Harris was they key, the big-hitting Aussie who struck 89 not out off 42 balls in Spirit’s first-up win against Oval Invincibles, starting steadily as the run rate climbed. A four off a no-ball, followed by a free hit six, took the equation to 30 off 21, which became 16 off the last 10, at which point Harris hit a six just past Monaghan’s outstretched fingers. But Bryce then dismissed Issy Wong and Dean lbw in successive balls to leave the game in the balance.An edge for four first ball by Glenn made it five needed from the last five, and she hit another boundary off the 98th ball to seal the deal.Meerkat Match Hero Harris said: “I just thought it was a bit of a trickier wicket to start on, and then once you got in, you could try and cash in at the back end. I thought that’s what Deandra Dottin did really well in that first innings. When we got to about needing 26 runs, I thought we’re pretty good. We’d got wickets in hand; we could try and take the game on a little bit more.”Credit to our bowlers. I think we’re just really enjoying how we’re playing at the moment. I’m delighted with how I’m going. I think a lot of the principles that I’ve been working on within my game are paying off, and I just keep summing up conditions and whenever I’m injected into the game, I’m seeing what impact I can have.”

The Chicago Cubs are in the market for a starting pitcher ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline, and the club has a specific target in mind. The Cubs are interested in Washington Nationals lefthander MacKenzie Gore, a first-time All-Star in 2025, according to Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of . Gore, who has pitched to a 3.52 ERA in 117 2/3 innings pitched, has racked up 144 strikeouts, tied for the sixth-most in MLB. He's a sensible trade target for the Cubs, given that the club's rotation has recorded just a 20.2 percent strikeout rate, which ranks 23rd out of 30 teams.

Only the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres' starters have recorded worse ERAs than Chicago's rotation among National League playoff contenders. Gore would bring a much-needed swing-and-miss element to the Cubs rotation, and would immediately slot in as the club's third starter behind Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd.

But there are a couple of caveats. Number one, the Nationals, with an interim manager and general manager in place, may not be keen on parting ways with their 26-year-old starter, who is seen as one of the building blocks of the club's current young core. Plus, should they decide to trade Gore, the Nationals' asking price is believed to be "sky-high," according to .

Keep an eye on the Cubs and Gore, but it's possible Chicago's quest to import starting pitching may take them elsewhere in the lead-up to the deadline. The Cubs (62–43) are currently tied for first place in the NL Central with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Coming into the 2025/26 campaign, expectations were all over the place for Tottenham Hotspur supporters after the hot and cold season prior under Ange Postecoglou.

The Lilywhites finished 17th in the Premier League but won the Europa League, but it wasn’t enough for the Aussie to keep his job – with such responsibility falling into the hands of Thomas Frank.

He’s been tasked with the responsibility of leading the club back up England’s top-flight, whilst also being competitive in the Champions League after their recent European triumph.

The Dane has already made an immediate impact in North London, losing only three of his first 14 games at the helm and subsequently achieving a 50% win rate to date.

Numerous players have already managed to impress during the current campaign, with one first-team member in particular catching the eye after his summer transfer.

How Kudus compares to other PL wingers in 25/26

In an attempt to hit the ground running as Spurs manager, Frank spent big to land the signature of winger Mohammed Kudus – forking out £55m for his signature from West Ham United.

The Ghanaian international arrived with huge excitement, understandably so given the nature of the fee, but it’s safe to say he’s already delivered the goods in North London.

The 25-year-old has already netted his first goal for the Lilywhites, whilst laying on four assists for his teammates – the joint most of any player in the division.

However, Kudus’ underlying stats are just as impressive, with his figures further highlighting how big of an impact he’s already had during the early days of his time at the club.

He’s completed the most take-ons of any player in Europe’s top-five leagues across 2025/26, with his tally of 30 successful take-ons over three times higher than Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.

The Ghanaian also ranks in the 98th percentile for take-ons completed per 90 in the Premier League (3.7) – further showcasing his incredible ability at beating the opposition.

Getting past a defender is one thing, but the former West Ham star has also highlighted his ability to produce the end product at the end of his mazy runs.

Kudus has achieved an average of 7.6 crosses per 90, a tally that ranks him in the top 2% of all attackers in the Premier League, with 1.9 of his efforts finding a teammate in the 18-yard box.

Such a feat has allowed him to register 0.5 assists per 90, which also ranks him in the top 3% of all players in England’s top-flight – with his £55m fee now looking like a real bargain.

The Spurs player who’s now becoming world-class

Despite Kudus’ success in the Premier League, numerous other Spurs players have managed to impress under Frank – helping the side currently sit in 3rd place.

Micky Van de Ven has been a huge presence at the back for the Lilywhites, helping the first-team keep a total of four clean sheets in the first nine league outings of 2025/26.

However, he’s also demonstrated his talents at the other end of the pitch, scoring three times in England’s top-flight and sitting as the club’s joint-top scorer.

Such a feat has also been replicated by midfielder Joao Palhinha, with the Portuguese international making an immediate impact in North London after his summer transfer.

The Lilywhites board secured the 30-year-old’s services on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich, but it was a deal that didn’t satisfy a portion of the fanbase.

However, a couple of months on, the deal is now looking like a phenomenal piece of business, with the former Fulham star undoubtedly one of the best additions in the Premier League this campaign.

Palhinha, who earns £135k-per-week, has featured in every league game to date, subsequently producing numerous incredible figures – the most impressive of which is his tally of 39 tackles won.

Such a figure is the highest of any player in the division at present, with only one other player managing to register 30 or more successful regains of possession in the Premier League.

As a result, he’s currently averaging 5.1 tackles made per 90, whilst also coming out on top in 8.6 duels per 90 – with both tallies ranking him within the top 3% of all players in England’s top-flight.

However, like Van de Ven, he’s also managed to thrive within forward areas, already scoring twice and registering an assist – with his latest strike securing a late point against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

As previously mentioned, it’s his ball-winning ability that has caught the eye most in North London, leading to one analyst labelling him as the “best in the world” for regaining possession for his side.

His current deal has a £30m option to buy next summer, with Frank and the hierarchy desperately needing to trigger such a clause amid his recent form with Spurs.

A dominant number six has been firmly on the club’s agenda over the last few years, with Palhinha finally providing such a quality – but it’s crucial the club don’t let the loanee slip through their grasp.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 29, 2025

Leeds United must wish they could play at Elland Road exclusively in the Premier League.

When looking at just their home record this season in the demanding division, the Whites have only been beaten once on their patch all campaign long, with two wins also collected.

It’s when you look at the West Yorkshire outfit’s away record that you begin to view the cracks, with four defeats picked up from five away contests, also seeing Daniel Farke’s men leak a concerning 12 goals.

This miserable record on the road was clear for all to see on Saturday as Farke and Co. were humbled 3-0 by Brighton and Hove Albion, as the Leeds backline was regularly all at sea on the South Coast.

Games played

5

Wins

1

Draws

0

Losses

4

Goals scored

3

Goals conceded

12

xG

3.58 xG

xGA

8.89 xGA

It was also another no-show from the Leeds attackers at the Amex, too, as a rudderless Dominic Calvert-Lewin now worryingly looks over his shoulder at potential transfer developments this coming January…

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Calvert-Lewin has chipped in with one of Leeds’ three away goals this season, but he is otherwise goalless, away from heading home a past effort against bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Therefore, with Joel Piroe also rumoured to be on the move, it isn’t the greatest shock to see the relegation-threatened side be linked with some fresh blood up top, as Football Insider now reveals that Coventry City star Haji Wright is on their agenda.

Indeed, Football Insider states that Farke’s men are monitoring the Sky Blues’ star man ahead of a potential January switch, although winning his signature is not deemed a priority, despite Leeds’ ongoing frustrations in front of goal. Transfermarkt currently value the forward at £9m.

Still, it is alleged that the free-scoring American is on their potential shopping list, with Noah Okafor presumably jumping for joy at the prospect of working with a striker who has been deemed “too good” for the Championship previously by EFL-based pundit George Elek.

Branded as Leeds’ “best chance of something happening” away at Brighton by journalist Graham Smyth, Okafor will hope he can link up with Wright to devastating effect down the line, as the exciting pair, in theory, attempt to push Leeds out of the relegation mire together, while Calvert-Lewin is demoted to the bench.

How Wright can boost the Leeds attack

Nobody can call out Calvert-Lewin for not trying or cutting a passenger-like figure on the pitch, with five duels won on average already this season by the ex-Everton marksman in league action.

But, he’s stuck on that one goal, and he only managed to fire two paltry efforts at goal across his side’s last two Premier League contests. While he continues to look goal-shy, Wright is tearing the Championship to shreds week in week out for Frank Lampard’s table-toppers, as a Premier League move awaits.

Coming in at a similarly tall 6-foot-3 frame to that of Calvert-Lewin, Wright now has eight second-tier goals next to his name this season from 12 league outings, with the Los Angeles-born forward usually in the right place, at the right time to gobble up an opportunity.

Lampard has even labelled Wright as a “constant problem” for defenders to keep tabs on, with the goalscoring menace only needing 22.7 touches on average this season to fire home his electric Championship goal tally.

Games played

95

Goals scored

40

Assists

10

Hat-tricks

1

Wright has excelled at the Sky Blues with a fast-paced attacker often at his side, with Lampard spoiled for choice this season by having the likes of Victor Torp and Brandon Thomas-Asante also at his disposal.

If the 27-year-old centre-forward were to relocate to Elland Road shortly, he would surely hope he could form a blistering working relationship with Okafor, who has stood out as one of Leeds’ most direct players this season to date.

Indeed, while most of his teammates receded into their shells against Fabian Hurzeler’s men, Okafor would end the one-sided affair with a mightily impressive five successful dribbles under his belt.

Lauded as being a “class difference maker” by Leeds-based content creator Oscar Marrio, too, Farke will hope that if he does bring in Wright in January, the American will be supplied with chances galore by the Swiss international.

The worry might well be that Wright isn’t proven in the Premier League.

But, it’s clear that Leeds need something fresh up top, instead of over-relying on a hit-and-miss Calvert-Lewin to consistently deliver the goods, as the “unbelievable” EFL hotshot – as he was once labelled by ex-international teammate Tim Ream – potentially becomes Leeds’ first foray into the January transfer window.

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Leeds United decided to revamp their options in the centre-forward position in the summer transfer window after they won promotion from the Championship.

The Whites swooped to sign experienced striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton to be Daniel Farke’s first-choice number nine for the Premier League season.

So far, though, the former England international has scored one goal and missed nine ‘big chances’ in eight appearances in all competitions, per Sofascore, for Leeds, with five ‘big chances’ missed in the top-flight.

Because of his struggles in front of goal for his new club, Calvert-Lewin may be worried and looking over his shoulder at emerging academy talent Harry Gray.

Why Harry Gray will have Leeds strikers worried

The 17-year-old centre-forward, who made his first-team debut against Stoke in the Championship last season, has been on fire for the club’s academy, and could be a future star for Farke.

Gray has scored four goals in four Premier League 2 matches for the U21s side this season, per Transfermarkt, whilst he also scored a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United in the National League Cup.

This means that the teenage forward has plundered seven goals in all competitions for the young Whites, whilst Calvert-Lewin has scored one goal for the first-team.

Gray also scored eight goals in 11 matches for the U18s before making the step up to the U21s, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has been a regular goalscorer for several seasons.

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His impressive goalscoring form will have the current Leeds strikers worried because he appears to be on course to crash into the senior side to take one of their spots in the squad, if he can translate his academy form over to the first-team.

The Leeds striker on borrowed time because of Harry Gray

Despite his struggles in front of goal in the Premier League this season, it is not Calvert-Lewin who is on borrowed time because of Gray’s potential. It is Lukas Nmecha.

The former Germany international joined on a free transfer from Wolfsburg, as the first signing of the summer, and scored on his debut from the penalty spot against Everton.

Since that debut goal, Nmecha has rarely been seen by supporters, despite featuring in every match, as he has been used as a late substitute in almost every game.

Lukas Nmecha’s Premier League season

Opposition

Minutes

Everton

12

Arsenal

32

Fulham

70

Newcastle United

21

Wolverhampton Wanderers

1

Bournemouth

1

Tottenham Hotspur

11

Burnley

24

West Ham United

3

Stats via Transfermarkt

No Leeds player who has featured in all eight games has played fewer minutes than Nmecha, per WhoScored, as he is the only player to have played in every match without hitting at least 242 minutes.

Calvert-Lewin, on the other hand, has started six of his seven appearances in the Premier League, playing 534 minutes in total, which suggests that his place in the squad is not under as much threat as Nmecha’s is.

Unlike the former Toffees man, Farke does not seem to trust the German centre-forward to play significant minutes in games, which does not bode well for his future at Elland Road.

Nmecha’s return of five goals in all competitions in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined, per Sofascore, does not suggest that he is likely to catch fire in front of goal and establish himself as a regular starter.

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Therefore, it may be the former Wolfsburg number nine who is on borrowed time because of Gray’s emergence as an incredibly exciting striker prospect at U21 level, as the 17-year-old could break through and take his place to compete with Calvert-Lewin for a starting berth in the not-too-distant future.