New Zealand’s opening batter looks to put the disappointment of a group-stage exit at the home ODI World Cup in 2022 behind her

Valkerie Baynes19-Oct-2024While a T20 World Cup final represents a prime opportunity to inspire young children to start playing cricket, this one in particular carries important meaning for another group – women in their mid-to-late 30s who are not ready to give up on sport. And nor should they, says Suzie Bates.Bates, New Zealand’s 37-year-old opening batter – and sometimes closing bowler, says she is proud to fly the flag for women against “ageist” attitudes.”I probably take it for granted, but the fact that I’m over 35 and still competing and that I’ve never given up on my dream, I think as females you do feel societal pressure to give up on pursuing your dreams,” Bates said. “People expect you to do other things at a certain age, and that is what is so exciting about women’s sport, it is just growing and growing and we are breaking down barriers every single day.Related

• The Soph and Suze show – hit sitcom seeks one last high

• Bates' final over leaves New Zealand one step from glory

• Beyond the big three – doing it despite 'not having it like others'

• The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the South African sky

“It’s not just the young players, it’s players in our team coming back after having children. I’ve even been in the team with two parents [Amy Satterthwaite and Lea Tahuhu] who are able to have a career and have children. I just think we can be a little bit ageist and even more so with females in terms of what they can and can’t do. So I’m happy to wave that flag.”I keep myself young by hanging out with people who are a lot younger. When I hang out with people my same age, I’m like, ‘oh yeah, that’s right, grow up!’ But there’s a lot of potential to challenge those notions. At the end of the day, age becomes a factor, but as long as you can keep contributing, it shouldn’t matter.”She was speaking on the eve of Sunday’s T20 World Cup title clash in Dubai, where New Zealand will play last year’s runners-up South Africa, guaranteeing a new champion.But throughout almost three weeks of competition, many stories involving players approaching the age of 40 and performing at the highest level have come up.New Zealand have Bates, 35-year-old captain Sophie Devine, and seam bowler Tahuhu, who just turned 34 but whom Bates jokingly considers a fellow “grandma” of the team.Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu all have been playing international cricket for over 15 years now•ICC/Getty ImagesLegspinner Afy Fletcher, who was part of the West Indies side knocked out in the semi-finals by New Zealand, is a 37-year-old mother to a toddler. She ended the tournament with ten wickets, which before the final was equal to Nonkululeko Mlaba of South Africa and just two behind leading wicket-taker Amelia Kerr of New Zealand, drawing praise from coach Shane Deitz for her ability to reinvent herself as a bowler at this point in her career.”Age is just a number for Afy, so we don’t worry about her age,” Deitz said. “Our bowling coach, Ryan Austin, has done a really good job with her. They sat down and had a chat early in the year… he challenged her to be the highest wicket-taker for this year in the team.”She really took that on board and got more variations and she’s worked really, really hard on her fitness and all aspects of her game and batting as well. And now she’s got a few more years left in her, I hope.”Pakistan’s Nida Dar will turn 38 in January, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur is 35 and Sri Lanka have three bowlers – Inoshi Priyadharshani, Inoka Ranaweera and Udeshika Prabodhani – aged 37, 38 and 39 respectively.But age and experience has done nothing to dampen the excitement of taking her team into a first World Cup final in 14 years for Bates, at least not once the tension of an eight-run win over West Indies had eased.

“I keep myself young by hanging out with people who are a lot younger. When I hang out with people my same age, I’m like, ‘oh yeah, that’s right, grow up!’ But there’s a lot of potential to challenge those notions”Suzie Bates

“It wasn’t actually until today when I went and had a swim in the beach that it hit me and I got a bit teary-eyed,” Bates said. “With the adrenaline and everything that’s going on, you’re in a bit of shock.”If you’ve been a White Ferns fan while I’ve been in the team, there’s been a lot of ups and downs, highs and lows, and they’ve ridden that rollercoaster with you. So we’re carrying those emotions, that they’ve got something to celebrate as well as us.”The celebrations are all the sweeter now, not only because New Zealand came into this tournament on a ten-game losing streak, but the fact that they failed to get out of the group stages in their home ODI World Cup in 2022.”When you get one opportunity in a career to have a home World Cup and you don’t quite nail it, that comes with a lot of disappointment,” Bates said. “We had a really great fan base during that World Cup and we had some really tight matches and we were so close to getting through to that semi-final stage, so personally that’s really motivating.Suzie Bates is happy to fly the flag against “ageist” attitudes•ICC/Getty Images”Especially from where we’ve come from, when a team’s been able to bounce back after ten losses in a row, the pride and the resilience that we have as a group makes it so special and we’ve never given up on each other.”And that’s the support staff, [head coach] Ben Sawyer, he’s been through the wringer trying to get this team believing in themselves, and a huge credit has to go to him for just keeping on backing that same group when results weren’t coming our way.”As this will certainly be Devine’s last T20I as captain following her decision to hand over the team to the next generation of leaders, New Zealand’s desire for her to sign off with a title burns bright.”When you play team sport, your goal, your ultimate goal is to be a world champion,” Bates said. “It’s been all those tournaments that have motivated me, and I know Sophie as well. It feels like it’s just all built to this moment and we get one more opportunity tomorrow to have a good dig. The most overwhelming thing about it was it has felt like a really long journey to get back to this point.”New Zealand cricket and women’s sport is all the richer for the fact that players like Bates have stuck around for so long.

Southampton are now eyeing Russell Martin as a replacement for Will Still, who was dismissed on Sunday night, but there could be competition for his signature from their Championship rivals.

After being relegated from the Premier League last season, the Saints were expected to mount a promotion push, but it has been nothing short of a terrible start to the campaign, having taken just 12 points from their opening 13 matches.

The 2-0 defeat at home to Preston North End was the final straw for Sport Republic, who relieved Still of his duties on Saturday, and Under-21s head coach Tonda Eckert has now emerged as a contender for the first-team manager’s job.

It would be a gamble to appoint Eckert, however, given that he is just 32-years-old and yet to prove himself at senior level, and an external appointment is also being considered…

Southampton eyeing Russell Martin to replace Will Still

According to journalist Alan Nixon (via GiveMeSport) Southampton are now eyeing former manager Martin as a replacement for Still, with the 39-year-old on standby for a swift return to management, having recently been dismissed by Scottish giants Rangers.

The Saints are not the only Championship club that hold an interest, however, with it being revealed that Norwich City are also considering the Englishman, given that there are doubts over Liam Manning’s future.

The Brighton-born manager is available without any compensation, which means he is an appealing option for the two Championship clubs, who could do battle for his services.

In truth, the former Rangers manager’s spell at Ibrox was a complete disaster, being sacked after just 17 games in charge, making him the shortest-serving permanent boss in the Scottish side’s history.

That said, the “exciting” manager, as hailed by analyst John Walker, could still be a good appointment for Southampton, considering the work he did at St. Mary’s previously, guiding them to promotion in the play-off final in the 2023-24 campaign.

The ex-Swansea City boss, who prefers to implement a 4-3-3 system, is also very experienced at Championship level, having taken charge of 138 second tier matches.

That said, it would arguably be a backwards step to appoint Martin, given that he was sacked by the Saints less than one year ago, after being unable to make the step-up to the Premier League, with his side losing 13 of their opening 16 Premier League games.

Southampton plotting move for James Ward-Prowse in January

He's been told to leave: Southampton now plotting move to sign £30m PL star

The Saints could pull off an impressive move.

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 2, 2025

Meg Lanning hits another half-century but home side stumble short of the line

ECB Media09-Aug-2025Manchester Originals held their nerve to claim a nail-biting two-run victory over Oval Invincibles in a dramatic clash at the Kia Oval, leaving Invincibles still searching for their first win of their 2025 campaign in the Hundred women’s competition.After being sent in to bat, Originals captain Beth Mooney showed her class, anchoring the innings with 70 off 45 balls. She combined early with Kathryn Bryce, before the latter was bowled by South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp, who impressed with figures of 2 for 22.Amelia Kerr added 15 before falling to a stunning diving catch from the returning Tash Farrant, off the bowling of Phoebe Franklin (1 for 17). Despite losing wickets in the latter stages, Mooney’s efforts saw the Originals post a competitive 139 for 6.In response, Invincibles came out firing, racing to 42 without loss in the powerplay. Skipper Lauren Winfield-Hill contributed 33 off 25, while Australian great Meg Lanning held strong in the chase with a well-paced 56 off 42 balls.The match swung late when Sophie Ecclestone dismissed Alice Capsey for 17. With 26 needed off the final 12 balls, pressure mounted. A crucial moment came when Fi Morris spilled a catch on the boundary – only for Lanning to fall shortly after, caught by Alice Monaghan with five balls to go and 13 still needed.Paige Scholfield briefly reignited hopes with a boundary and single, but with four required off the final delivery, Kapp was unable to find the rope leaving Originals to take the win.Mooney, the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “You can’t really get too high or too low in this format. It can change pretty quickly. But I was really pleased that [Kathryn] Bryce came out and hit the ball like she did. She’s an excellent player and can match it with the best in the world – so to see a take on Kapp like that was awesome.”I thought they bowled well up front; the ball was doing enough to make you second-guess yourself, but when I’m at my best, I’m not really thinking about it and hopefully can hit some out of the middle, and there are a few more in me for the rest of the tournament.”

Leeds United are now racing to sign FC Midtjylland striker Franculino Dju, but it could take a huge offer to get a deal over the line.

Leeds strengthened their forward line considerably during the summer transfer window, but Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have so far flattered to deceive, having scored just three Premier League goals between them after 11 matches.

Some of Calvert-Lewin’s performances have been particularly concerning, with the former Everton man now on a six-game goal drought, losing his place in the starting line-up after registering an xG of just 0.03 in the 3-0 drubbing at Brighton & Hove Albion.

There is a case to be made that Daniel Farke’s side are not playing to the Englishman’s strengths, with Ross McCormack saying:

“The team has got to be built around him. Your full-backs and your wingers have got to put crosses into the box, and I don’t feel Leeds United do that enough.”

However, a return of just one goal in ten matches across all competitions is still way below par, and the Whites have now set their sights on a new striker ahead of the January transfer window.

Leeds join race to sign Franculino Dju

According to transfer expert Graeme Bailey, in a report for Leeds United News, Leeds have now joined the race for Midtjylland striker Franculino, but they will have to pay a club-record fee to get a deal over the line.

Bailey said: “He’s got a lot of teams looking at him. West Ham like him a lot, they looked at him in the summer. Midtjylland have put a £40m price tag on him.

“Teams will possibly try to soften that by putting in lesser offers. He’s got an awful lot of interest; I’m told over 20 clubs across Europe like him. Leeds have looked at him, he’s on their radar, they’ve watched him.”

With Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin underperforming, it is no surprise the Whites want to bring in some additional attacking firepower, and the 21-year-old is off to a flying start to the campaign, amassing 19 goals in 26 matches in all competitions.

Franculino’s goalscoring record this season

Appearances

Goals

Superliga

14

14

Europa League qualifying

6

1

Europa League

4

3

Oddset Pokalen

2

1

The Guinea-Bissau international has now earned the chance to prove himself at a higher level, having been a consistent goalscorer for the Danish side for quite some time, picking up a total of 52 goals and 13 assists in 99 outings.

Having been prolific in front of goal, the centre-forward was also lauded as “unstoppable” by scout Jacek Kulig earlier this season.

With some tricky fixtures on the horizon, Leeds may need someone to come in and save their season in January, and it would certainly be worth taking a gamble on Franculino, although the huge asking price could be a stumbling block.

Leeds in contact to sign Brazilian forward with January move possible Leeds in contact to sign "exceptional" Brazilian ace, January move possible

The Whites have made an approach to sign a new forward, and a winter move could be on the cards.

ByDominic Lund Nov 11, 2025

Newcastle United’s topsy-turvy campaign continued away at Brentford on Sunday afternoon.

Fresh off collecting another Champions League victory versus Athletic Club at St James’ Park in mid-week, the hope would have been that Eddie Howe’s Magpies would travel to the Bees and start to turn around their stuttering domestic campaign.

Unfortunately for the travelling masses at the Gtech Community Stadium, Newcastle would, instead, crash to their fifth defeat of the Premier League season already, as an Igor Thiago-inspired comeback clinched a 3-1 win for Keith Andrews’ hosts.

Eddie Howe has nowhere to hide after “another awful away day” as journalist Craig Hope brutally put it, with Dan Burn’s sending off late on starting the demise, which saw Brentford sneak home two quickfire efforts inside the final 12 minutes.

The 6-foot-7 warrior wasn’t on his own, though, in putting in another disastrous defensive display, as one of his partners on the day in Sven Botman, was also exposed as a weak link throughout the 3-1 loss.

Botman's poor performance in numbers

This is the second Sunday in a row where Newcastle have travelled to London and surrendered a one-goal lead, with West Ham United also getting the better of them by the exact same scoreline to start November.

In both defeats, the Dutchman has looked shaky and susceptible, with Botman even managing to score an own goal against the Hammers.

While he was spared his blushes in this regard against the Bees, he was still a liability in the centre-back positions throughout, as Thiago’s late 95th-minute game-clinching strike saw the below-par number 4 fail to keep a close eye on the action.

Away from being run ragged by the 24-year-old hotshot, Botman also trudged off at the end with only two of his six duels being won, alongside failing to win a single tackle to try and stop a Brentford side who only grew in confidence, the more the game went on.

Howe might well be tempted to throw Fabian Schar back into his starting XI if Botman keeps up these shoddy performances, with the 25-year-old only managing to collect a slim two clean sheets in league action this season when featuring for the up-and-down Magpies.

With Burn now suspended for Newcastle’s next league tie after the international break against Manchester City, and Nick Pope taken off towards the latter stages of the 3-1 loss, it could be a new-look defence that takes to the field against the revitalised Citizens, as another underperformer at the back fears Howe’s selection wrath.

Newcastle star was just as bad as Botman

Howe is now being stung for being too loyal towards long-standing St James’ Park servants, with Burn very visibly not at the required level anymore to be a starting left-back.

Kieran Trippier also struggled throughout on the right flank against Andrews’ hosts, with the return of Tino Livramento from injury – who Howe stated could be back for the clash against Pep Guardiola’s men – only troubling the 35-year-old’s starting position going forward even more.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

81

Accurate passes

47/60 (78%)

Accurate long balls

2/5 (40%)

Accurate crosses

0/5

Possession lost

20x

Dribbled past

2x

Total duels won

4/11

Often, the ex-Atletico Madrid defender’s saving grace is his ability to conjure up an opening from nowhere, with an inch-perfect free-kick delivery getting the ball rolling in the Champions League last Wednesday night, as Burn then headed home the right-back’s inviting delivery.

Against Brentford, though, this split-second creativity was nowhere to be found, with Trippier failing to register a single accurate cross, which led to Nick Woltemade cutting an isolated figure up top, once more.

Trippier also gave up possession a high 20 times, while also looking rusty when Brentford attacked with pace and energy – much like Botman – with only four of his 11 duels being successfully won.

Livramento’s return from injury has possibly come at the perfect time, so Howe doesn’t have to persist with selecting his declining captain, with Burn also fearful he will be removed from the team for good, for Lewis Hall to take over left-back duties.

Howe stated at the full-time whistle that there are “no excuses” after the Toon succumbed to their fifth Premier League defeat of the season to date, with Newcastle needing to return after the international break refreshed and ready to break out of their inconsistent form, with both Trippier and Botman dropping down to the substitutes bench.

Newcastle star dubbed "utterly embarrassing" was just as bad as Burn vs Brentford

An afternoon to forget for the Magpies.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 9, 2025

Leeds United have made an approach to sign Flamengo winger Gonzalo Plata, alongside two other Premier League clubs, and a January move could now be possible.

A lack of goals has been an issue for Leeds so far this season, having scored just ten Premier League goals, the joint-second lowest figure in the top flight, with Danny Murphy bemoaning their lack of quality attacking options back in September.

Murphy said: “I think the biggest problem for Burnley and Leeds is firepower. I agree with what we talked about earlier. I think all the newly promoted sides doing well is great for the Premier League.

“I’d like to see them all stay up, actually. But I don’t think it’ll be the case.

Since then, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has continued to struggle in front of goal, having found the back just once in nine league outings, although Daniel Farke will be glad Lukas Nmecha scored his first goal from open play at the weekend, albeit in a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

As a result of that loss, the Whites are just one point above the relegation zone, sitting in 16th place, and it has been revealed they have now made an approach to sign a new forward ahead of the January transfer window.

Leeds make contact to sign Gonzalo Plata

According to journalist Fabricio Lopes (via Sport Witness), Leeds have now made contact to sign Flamengo winger Gonzalo Plata, and the Brazilian club could be willing to sanction a move in the January transfer window.

Indeed, Flamengo have become increasingly frustrated with Plata, given that he went to a nightclub before an important match, which means they will now be open to offers this winter, although there could be competition for his signature.

AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United have also made enquiries over a deal for the Flamengo star, who remains under contract until June 2029, putting his current employers in a strong negotiating position.

There may be some concerns over the 25-year-old’s off-field issues, but he certainly has plenty of ability, having been lauded as “exceptional” by scout Jacek Kulig earlier this year.

The Ecuadorian is established at international level, having scored eight goals in 45 appearances for his national side, while the versatile attacker, who is also capable of playing at centre-forward, has also chipped in with 17 goal contributions in 63 appearances for Flamengo.

Leeds may need a fresh injection of quality in attack if they are to avoid the drop, given that not a single one of their players has scored over two goals this season.

Leeds’ top scorers

Number of goals

Joe Rodon

2

Lukas Nmecha

2

Noah Okofor

2

Sean Longstaff

1

Brenden Aaronson

1

Anton Stach

1

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

1

That said, it would be a risk to sign Plata, given that the Ecuador international is unproven in the Premier League, and wasn’t exactly prolific in the 2025 Brazilian Serie A, netting four goals in 24 outings.

Leeds identify Brendan Rodgers as Daniel Farke replacement Leeds could replace Farke with FA Cup winner who once went 62 games unbeaten

Leeds United could end their Daniel Farke misery by going after this world-class upgrade.

1 ByKelan Sarson Nov 10, 2025

Zinedine Zidane’s long-awaited comeback to management is finally taking shape with France preparing to appoint the former Real Madrid boss as their next head coach after Didier Deschamps steps down following the 2026 World Cup. The move is poised to end months of speculation and ignite fresh excitement around Les Bleus, who have recently faced criticism for lacking innovation.

• Zidane’s return takes shape as France prepare for a new era

  Zidane’s anticipated return to the sidelines may finally become reality. As reported by AS, France intend to appoint him as their next national team manager once Deschamps completes his final tournament at the 2026 World Cup. For months Zidane has hinted that he is ready to coach again, and France have been waiting for the right moment to bring him home.

  The timing aligns with France’s need for renewal. Critics have increasingly lamented Deschamps’ recent handling of the squad, arguing that his approach has turned predictable, conservative and overly dependent on earlier experiments. Many felt the team had stopped evolving in key areas such as tactical flexibility, attacking variety and squad rotation.

  Zidane’s arrival is therefore viewed as a chance to inject new flavour into a team rich with talent but in need of a fresh tactical lens. 

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Deschamps’ era

  Deschamps’ contract is nearing its end, closing a monumental chapter in French football. Appointed in 2012 after Laurent Blanc, Deschamps took France to heights that cemented his legacy. He guided the nation to the Euro 2016 final, delivered World Cup glory in 2018, reached another World Cup final in 2022, and maintained consistent competitiveness throughout more than a decade in charge.

  But his reign was not without low points. The round-of-16 exit at Euro 2020, tactical rigidity at times, selection decisions that raised eyebrows, and an increasingly repetitive approach left the impression that France were not fully maximising their extraordinary talent pool. 

• Zidane’s resume signals a new direction for Les Blues

  Recent years have seen a growing consensus among critics: France under Deschamps had become predictable. Analysts repeatedly pointed to the same issues — conservative game plans, slow in-game adjustments, and a reliance on ideas that once worked but no longer fit a squad bursting with dynamic, attack-minded talent. In several matches, France looked like a team playing within themselves, constrained rather than liberated.

  Commentators argued that even with Kylian Mbappe, and emerging talents like Eduardo Camavinga and Warren Zaire-Emery, France often played with unnecessary caution, absorbing pressure instead of dictating games.

  That is where Zidane’s profile stands in sharp contrast, as he won three Champions League titles in three seasons and a La Liga crown in Madrid.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  Why France will still miss Didier Deschamps

  Even with the excitement surrounding Zidane’s expected arrival, France will deeply miss Deschamps. France will miss the unique personal bond Deschamps built inside the dressing room, a connection rooted in trust, continuity, and genuine care for his players. He wasn’t just a tactician; he was a stabilising force who understood how to manage personalities across generations. His reliance on experienced leaders like Hugo Lloris created a mentoring culture that helped young players settle quickly under the pressure of international football. 

Glasgow Rangers underwent a squad overhaul during the summer transfer window after a change in ownership and a change in the coaching department with Russell Martin’s arrival.

Kevin Thelwell also joined as the team’s new sporting director and the former Everton chief was given plenty of money to play with to bolster the squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Unfortunately, as shown in the graphic above, that ended with Martin winning five of his 17 matches in charge of the Ibrox giants before being relieved of his duties last month.

Thelwell’s attacking signings, in particular, have to be placed under the microscope as he signed Youssef Chermiti from his former club for a fee of £8m, the most money spent on a Rangers signing since Tore Andre Flo for £12m in 2000.

So far, the Portugal U21 international has only scored one goal in all competitions for the Light Blues, which shows that they have not received value for money on that £8m yet.

Chermiti was brought in after the club sold centre-forward Hamza Igamane to Lille for a fee of £10.4m, and it is fair to say that they have not replaced him very well on current evidence.

Where Hamza Igamane ranks in the most expensive Rangers sales

The Morocco international only went for a fee of £10.4m because of a reported release clause in his contract, which would have been in place before Thelwell took over as sporting director, which means that he cannot be blamed for that situation.

Igamane ended his only season with the Ibrox giants with a return of 16 goals and three assists in 49 appearances in all competitions, which included 12 goals in 33 outings in the Scottish Premiership, per Transfermarkt.

The 23-year-old attacker also showcased his quality in the biggest matches, scoring the winner against Celtic in the clip above and scoring four goals in the Europa League.

As you can see in the table above, the Morocco international does still rank as the third-most expensive sale in the club’s history, behind Nathan Patterson and Calvin Bassey, but the release clause possibly stopped him from climbing higher up that list.

His departure has been a big loss for the Gers, on top of that, as Chermiti and fellow summer signing Bojan Miovski have combined for two Premiership goals after coming in to replace him and Cyriel Dessers.

Whilst Igamane was a big loss in the summer, there is a Rangers star attracting interest whose departure from Ibrox would be an even bigger loss for Danny Rohl.

Rangers star attracting interest ahead of January

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed that there are clubs circling around Light Blues central midfielder Nicolas Raskin ahead of the January transfer window.

O’Rourke told Football Insider: “There was interest in Raskin in the summer window from a number of clubs in the Premier League and across Europe as well. There is still interest in the Belgium international and that’s not going to go away.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

“I’m sure clubs are keeping tabs on the situation at Rangers. I don’t think Rangers ideally would want to lose him midway through the season. It would have to be a big, big fee for Rangers to even consider selling him, that’s what I think it would take for them to let him go in January.”

Football Insider adds that the Belgium international is ‘tempted’ by the prospect of a move to the Premier League in January, amid interest from Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur.

However, as O’Rourke outlined in those comments, it would take a significant fee for the Scottish giants to consider parting ways with the midfield star, whose contract expires at the end of next season.

Why Rangers must keep hold of Nicolas Raskin

The Light Blues must resist any attempts to prise the Belgian star away from Ibrox in January because losing him would be an even bigger blow than it was to sell Igamane in the summer.

Of course, the Morocco international’s goals were important and his absence has been felt, mainly because of Chermiti and Miovski’s struggles, but he mainly impacted games in possession with his attacking play.

Raskin, however, is an exceptional box-to-box midfielder who can influence matches with his play in and out of possession, which means that he is even more important than Igamane to the overall structure of the side.

The 24-year-old star, who scored against Dundee in the Premiership before the international break, produced four goals and ten assists in the Premiership during the 2024/25 campaign, whilst also winning 57% of his duels, per Sofascore.

In the current campaign, the midfielder has delivered one goal and two assists along with 6.7 duels won per game at a success rate of 54%, per Sofascore, which shows that he is impacting matches at both ends.

As you can see in the table above, the Belgium international ranks highly among his teammates in a host of key metrics both in and out of possession in the league this season.

In fact, Raskin ranks within the top 11% of midfielders in the division for duels won (60) and the top 18% for tackles won (20) in the Premiership this season, which shows that he has been a standout defensively both by Rangers and Premiership standards.

The former Standard Liege ace, who was once dubbed “sensational” by former teammate Scott Arfield, is clearly crucial to what the Gers do at both ends of the pitch, with his contributions offensively and defensively.

That is why losing him would be an even bigger blow than when they lost Igamane in the summer, as the Moroccan forward only won 39% of his defensive duels and made 23 tackles over the entire season in the Premiership last term, per FotMob.

Rohl can unearth bigger talent than Gassama in £3.5m Rangers flop

Danny Rohl could unearth a bigger talent than Djeidi Gassama in this Rangers flop.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 15, 2025

Therefore, even if a ‘big’ offer comes over the desk in the January window, the club should look to keep hold of him until they have the summer window to take their time to replace the midfield star.

GT have assembled a squad of neatly interlocking parts, with a bowling attack that allows their top order to play to their strengths and maximise them

Karthik Krishnaswamy18-May-20251:21

Moody: Gill, Sai Sudharsan now have five gears

On Saturday night, Bengaluru’s cricket fans paid tribute to Virat Kohli’s Test career when they poured into the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for a T20 game that never happened. On Sunday night, another man from Bengaluru paid his own tribute to Kohli – in Kohli’s hometown, no less – though this was a T20 tribute in a T20 game.It came in the 19th over of Delhi Capitals’ (DC) innings against Gujarat Titans (GT), and it came off a ball that pitched 8.7m from the stumps. That’s solidly back of a length, a length that’s incredibly hard to hit down the ground for six, especially off a rapid, hit-the-deck bowler, with a bat not quite vertical but certainly more vertical than horizontal.Kohli famously hit a 19th-over six like that, off Haris Rauf at the MCG. Sunday’s effort at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, from KL Rahul off Prasidh Krishna, was similar in conception and mechanics, even if it went over long-off rather than back over the bowler’s head.Related

Gill and Sai Sudharsan 'have learnt how to move through the gears'

Moody: KL Rahul 'a lot better player than a lot of people give him credit for'

Race to IPL 2025 playoffs: three teams battle for one spot

Sai Sudharsan: 'I have expanded my batting; mentally I'm a bit more free and expressive'

Stats – GT second team to pull off double-century chase without losing a wicket

Rahul hit GT’s fast bowlers for three sixes over long-off during his unbeaten 112 on Sunday, and none of them was straightforward. The one off Prasidh took the prize for difficulty level, but the two off Kagiso Rabada didn’t come off slot balls either. In the sixth over, he used his reach to extend his arms through a lofted front-foot drive off a 6.75m ball – 6-8m is the fast bowler’s good-length band. In the 11th over, Rabada followed his movement away from leg stump with a 6.99m ball, seemingly cramping him for room, only for Rahul to manufacture a straight-bat jab down the ground.There were only four sixes in Rahul’s innings – that’s the joint-fewest he’s hit in his seven T20 hundreds. That he hit only four sixes, and that three of them came off genuinely hard-to-hit balls, told a tale – an important tale in the context of this match and of IPL 2025 on the whole, but one that won’t immediately leap out of the scorecard.That scorecard is dominated by three big innings from opening batters – Rahul’s 65-ball 112, B Sai Sudharsan’s 61-ball 108, and Shubman Gill’s 53-ball 93, all three unbeaten, all three scored at strike rates between 172 and 178.GT won by ten wickets, with an over to spare, and they romped home in a manner so clinical that the target they were chasing, 200, seemed inadequate. It probably was, but the story of this match wasn’t the usual story of matches like this, of the team batting first showing too little ambition and ending with a below-par total, of the first-innings centurion ending up with question marks over his intent or lack thereof.1:13

‘DC got it wrong with their bowling match-ups’

Those questions have been asked of Rahul numerous times in his career, but Sunday’s innings wasn’t that sort of innings. If DC only made 199 despite losing just three wickets, they did so not because they didn’t take enough risks with the bat but because GT tied them down with the quality of their bowling.And that quality, though apparent if you watched closely, only really began to stand out when it had something to stand out against. And that something was the opposition’s bowling.Sai Sudharsan and Gill batted brilliantly, in a manner we have come to watch with open jaws, putting on an unbroken 205, their highest partnership in a season that has so far brought them 839 runs as a pair, at an average of 76.27, with seven 50-plus stands of which three have gone past the century mark. It’s almost unheard of for an opening pair to score so consistently, with such control, while seeming to take so few risks, without leaving you wondering if they left ten or 15 runs out in the middle.It’s a neat trick, and it’s partly explained by the quality of batsmanship: you only need to watch Sai Sudharsan’s no-look flicked six off T Natarajan, or Gill’s flicked six off the same bowler, hit nonchalantly against the angle, to know that these are hugely gifted strokemakers.But that’s not the whole story. The other thing that makes this trick possible is GT’s bowling attack, which gives Sai Sudharsan and Gill the luxury of taking chances less frequently than opening pairs who play for teams with inferior attacks.Watch the highlights of Rahul’s innings and count the boundaries off hit-me balls. Do the same with the highlights of GT’s chase. Compare.1:07

Moody: ‘Rahul has managed to adjust again to a different role’

Sai Sudharsan hit four fours and a six off the first nine balls he faced, and four of them came off hit-me balls: two hip-high balls angling down the leg side, two short balls offering room to free the arms.There were periods when DC managed to string together sequences of quiet overs – they only conceded 27 from the fifth to the eighth overs, for instance – and neither Sai Sudharsan nor Gill tried to break free by manufacturing a boundary. But DC simply couldn’t sustain that pressure for long enough, and this is how most IPL attacks operate.And GT, at all times, were only chasing 200, because their attack hadn’t operated like most IPL attacks. They operated, instead, like an attack that had Ashish Nehra’s eyes on them at all times.As GT’s head coach, Nehra’s bowling philosophy is simple: bowl good lengths, bowl to your field, and keep at it; if the batter still manages to find the boundary, say “well done, let’s see you try that again”. A lot of coaches talk the same game, but few keep their bowlers on as tight a leash as Nehra does, screaming instructions from the edge of the playing area.And it helps when those instructions are carried out by fast bowlers as good as Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh – both of whom have benefited immensely from the simplicity of Nehra’s stick-to-your-strengths philosophy – and spinners as good as Rashid Khan and R Sai Kishore. All four have featured in all of GT’s matches this season.2:40

What could DC have done differently?

The moment that best illustrated GT’s bowling quality on Sunday came from their one questionable tactical call, giving Sai Kishore the 16th over when Axar Patel was at the crease. That over, pitting a left-arm fingerspinner against a left-hand batter known for his prowess against spin, brought DC 15 runs, but Sai Kishore really made Axar earn his runs. Both the four and the six he hit in that over came off quick, good-length balls angled away from his hitting arc; both times, Sai Kishore forced Axar to use all of his immense reach to find a way to hit down the ground.The contrast between that over and the big overs that littered GT’s innings was stark, the latter invariably chock-full of slot balls or balls offering width.And this wasn’t just the story of this match. It’s been the story of IPL 2025. GT have assembled a squad of neatly interlocking parts, with a bowling attack that allows their top order to play to their strengths and maximise them. DC have never quite found that sort of structure or coherence – they didn’t have it even during their run of four straight wins at the start of the season.It’s why the two teams are where they are right now. GT are into the playoffs, and DC need other results to go their way to have a chance of joining them. And while the top order will take a lot of credit for how GT’s season has gone, they will know that their bowlers have made things a lot easier for them.

He did it all with the bat on Saturday, leaving observers salivating over what he had already done and what he can still do

Alagappan Muthu28-Dec-2024Nitish Kumar Reddy was horrified. He was 85 off 119 when a spell of rain forced the players off the field. When they came back on, the ball started decking around a bit. So he decided he would start again. Pretend he was on 0. He took 48 deliveries to score his next 12 runs and then, with a maiden Test century just one hit away, he saw one land right in his hitting arc and he just couldn’t resist. The ball went straight up in the air.This was the MCG. More than 80,000 people were watching. Millions more back home. All of them were waiting. He might have been as well. Not just through the course of this innings or this tour. The fact that he’s here in an India shirt means he’s been going to bed almost every night dreaming of this moment. Some mistakes help people grow, but this one…The leading edge spiralled off over cover and landed just beyond Pat Cummins’ reach. Reddy went from 97 to 99 with his hand clutching the top of his helmet.Related

• Nitish Reddy cleared to join SRH squad after recovering from side strain

• Allrounder Reddy wants more: 'Not happy with the way I'm bowling'

• Australia go from sunshine to gloom, like they have before against India

• Nitish Kumar Reddy's MCG century – in numbers

• Nitish Kumar Reddy's dramatic 105* leads India's rearguard

A scoop shot inside the first hour of play on day three had brought him out to the middle. It felt like that shot would define the play; possibly even the whole Test. As Rishabh Pant walked off the field, he flipped his bat around and stared at the toe-end. That’s where he’d made contact with the ball. The argument in favour of these shots, usually, is . Okay. Sure. He would have got four, maybe six runs. That still would have left Australia with 279 more in the bank.That’s why the risk wasn’t worth it. Not because of the shot. Not because it backfired. But because, at that time, India would have gained little with its success but they would lose a lot with its failure.”He should not be going into that dressing room,” Sunil Gavaskar said on . “He should be going into the other dressing room.”Reddy walked into this tumult and restored order. But on 99, he was stuck at the non-strikers’ end, watching India lose their ninth wicket and dark clouds gathering out in the west.2:10

Washington: Nitish’s hundred ‘will be remembered forever’

? It almost didn’t. Cummins beat his outside edge the very first ball. ? It had been the first spanner in the works; until that shower that prompted an early tea, Reddy was going at a strike rate of 71. After the intrusion, it dropped to 35. It was a necessary adjustment, but now…Siraj ducked under a Cummins bouncer and immediately Reddy brought his bat up and with one hand and punched it with the other. One more ball till he would be back on strike. Siraj defended it and held the pose.Reddy’s father was at the MCG. In 2016, he had left his job because it would have taken him and his family out of station at the wrong time. His 13-year-old son had just been picked by the Andhra Cricket Association for the district-level trials. Mutyalu couldn’t bring himself to go. He couldn’t do that to his son. He could never have known that the sacrifice would pay off this handsomely. He was in tears when the hundred finally came, falling back into the crowd behind him, clutching his hands together in prayer.Nitish Kumar Reddy’s century had his father in tears•Cricket Australia via Getty ImagesReddy, meanwhile, went down on one knee on the same turf that Shane Warne had picked up his 700th Test wicket. He planted his bat down into the same outfield where India had piled into Ravi Shastri’s Audi and ridden around to celebrate winning the 1985 Benson and Hedges World Championship of Cricket final. He plonked his helmet on top of the handle, and went down on one knee to recreate the hero’s pose from the movie .”It’s a celebration. He’s killed it, honestly,” Washington Sundar said at the end of the day’s play. “I’m sure he’s got many more up his sleeve and it’s just a matter of him getting many more hundreds.”

The Reddy family has been a bundle of emotions today. Witness the magical moment as they embrace Nitish after he wowed the world with his extraordinary maiden Test century at the MCG.

A day etched in memories… pic.twitter.com/uz9mrASuRm

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 28, 2024