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A fresh timeline for when Sheffield Wednesday’s takeover could be completed has now been shared after several interested parties presented proof of funds worth £50m.

It’s been a chaotic couple of weeks for the Owls, who finally got the chance to show nightmare owner Dejphon Chansiri the door as he took them into administration. Since then, fans have flocked to the club shop and to Hillsborough in support of Henrik Pedersen’s side as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Norwich City in midweek.

Pedersen shared his pride in Sheffield Wednesday after a well-earned point, telling reporters: “We had courage to play today, it’s the best offensive game we have played this season. We also created big chances after the goal, so proud of the performance and we go in the right direction.

“The first half defensive[ly] we were strong, we were solid. The players are working so hard and I think they deserve better today, but we have to learn, we have to train more. But the positive thing now is we’re creating chances.”

Now on -4 points in the Championship after being hit with a 12-point deduction following their administration, survival seems almost impossible for the Owls, who are paying the price in full for Chansiri’s ownership.

Nonetheless, the good times are at least on the horizon again. The Chansiri era is over and new ownership is on its way. Just who that new owner will be is the big question.

Names such as Mike Ashley and John Textor have both been mentioned in the last week or so, but it remains to be seen whether either of the former Premier League owners make their move to buy the club.

Reporter shares fresh Sheffield Wednesday takeover timeline

The good news for those at Hillsborough is that they may not have to wait long before a new era commences. According to The Star’s Alex Miller, Sheffield Wednesday could have their takeover completed by November 23 when they square off against rivals Sheffield United.

What’s more, at least one well-funded American group has reportedly progressed to the furthest stage of the takeover process in what is a major boost for the Owls.

BBC reporter shares latest £50m step that 3 Sheffield Wednesday candidates have just taken

Things are looking up for the Owls.

ByTom Cunningham Oct 31, 2025

Co-administrator and managing partner at Begbies Traynor, Kris Wigfield also provided a positive update on the takeover process in the build-up to the Norwich game.

Although relegation seemingly looms for the Owls, everything is pointing towards positive days ahead which will feature new owners.

John McEvoy: Who is the American billionaire looking to buy Sheffield Wednesday?

To no one's surprise, Ichiro Suzuki is a Baseball Hall of Famer. to no one's surprise, he had the most on-brand reaction to this legacy-defining development.

On Thursday, the Seattle Mariners released a video of Ichiro receiving the phone call with the news … and the 10-time All-Star barely batted an eye. Maybe he was in shock, or maybe he was nervous. Maybe he was just feeling confident that he'd get the bid and didn't feel the need to over do it. But whatever the emotion, it all felt very Ichiro, which is the best reaction, anyway.

Plus, it's worth noting that he appear to visibly relax a bit once the call ends, slumping in his seat a bit and even cracking a smile.

Watch that below:

The one-time American League MVP, single-season hits record-holder and 10-time Golden Glove winner was tapped for the Hall of Fame earlier this month after 19 stunning seasons in the major leagues. He received 99.7% of the vote, meaning he was just shy of a unanimous bid.

We'll get another chance at a very Ichiro reaction at the 2025 induction ceremony, which will be held on Saturday, July 27 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured a topsy-turvy spell over the last couple of years, with Ange Postecoglou’s reign one that was as turbulent to say the least.

The Aussie achieved a fifth-placed Premier League finish in the 2023/24 campaign, but he was ultimately unable to replicate such levels in his final year in North London.

He could only guide the Lilywhites to a 17th-placed finish last time around, subsequently losing 22 games in the process – the most of any side who haven’t been relegated from England’s top-flight.

However, the 60-year-old did win the Europa League last campaign, ending the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy, but it wasn’t enough to keep him in the role in North London.

He was subsequently sacked in the summer, with Thomas Frank taking the reins as a result, with the Dane potentially wanting to offload numerous of the Aussie’s additions in the upcoming window.

The players who could leave Spurs in the January window

During Postecoglou’s tenure at Spurs, he made numerous high-profile additions, with Dominic Solanke arriving in a club-record £65m transfer from Bournemouth in 2024.

Such excitement was generated given the nature of the transfer fee, but ultimately, his move to North London has been a failure, with injuries massively halting his progress of late.

The 28-year-old has only featured for a total of 31 league minutes in 2025/26, with Frank often unable to call upon the Englishman when needed during the early months of his tenure.

As a result, the manager may look to move the centre forward on in January, according to recent reports, which could allow for added investment in a new striker to bolster the attacking department.

He could also be joined in departing the club by numerous other players, with Manor Solomon a player who is seemingly edging closer to the exit door.

Like Solanke, the Israeli international joined under Ange’s guidance, but he’s also struggled to make the impact he would’ve envisaged upon his switch to North London.

He’s only made six senior appearances for the Lilywhites, even being sent on various loan spells – with the 26-year-old currently spending the year on loan at Spanish side Villarreal.

However, his tally of five combined goals and assists in just six games could lead to a permanent exit, which could bring his two and a half year spell at the club to an end.

The Spurs player who may now need to leave

The lowly Premier League finish last season highlights the job Frank has had on his hands since taking over, but the Dane has been unable to fully fix the problems at Spurs.

His side currently sit in fifth place in the Premier League 2025/26, even sitting 10th in the Champions League table, but the underlying problems are still evident.

The Lilywhites have only won one game on home soil in England’s top-flight to date, with such a record placing them second bottom for home form in the division.

However, away from home, the club appear unstoppable, with Frank’s men winning four and drawing one of their five league outings – subsequently boasting the best record in the league.

Other problems are also evident within the first-team squad, with Brennan Johnson a player who has seen his form take a nose-dive over the last couple of months.

The Welshman joined in a £47.5m transfer from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023, with many supporters raising eyebrows at the nature of the fee.

Last season was by far and away his best of his career in North London, as the 24-year-old ended 2024/25 on a total of 18 goals across all competitions – the highest of any player in the squad.

However, Mohammed Kudus’ arrival has pushed the Welsh international down the pecking order and highlighted his struggles which were masked by his goalscoring tally last year.

Johnson has only started five times in the league to date, only scoring on two occasions, with his last effort in England’s top-flight coming way back in August.

His underlying figures further suggest he’s underperforming this year, with Frank desperately needing to sell the £100k-per-week star in the upcoming window.

Johnson has only completed 0.5 dribbles per 90 at a success rate of just 42%, which has led to criticism from the supporters over his lack of talent at getting past his opponents.

Games played

11

Games started

5

Goals scored

2

Dribbles completed

0.5

Dribble success rate

42%

Shots on target

0.3

Shot on target accuracy

30%

Big chances missed

2

In front of goal, he’s been just as terrible, only achieving a total of 0.3 shots on target per 90, at an accuracy rate of just 30% – with the winger unable to match his goalscoring heights from last year.

In the view of talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan, he’s a “work in progress” and a “speedboat without a brain”.

Given Kudus’ arrival and Johnson’s lack of impact, it would be a surprise to no one if the club decided to cash in on his services to avoid losing a small fortune on their investment.

It’s clear both parties need a fresh start in the months ahead, which could allow the club to invest needed funds in other areas to help them rise up the Premier League table in the second half of the season.

Spurs have another Kane in the making but he's likely to leave like Parrott

Tottenham have to watch from afar as Troy Parrott emerges as a clinical forward on the global stage.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 17, 2025

Suryakumar Yadav had a poor tournament with the bat, scoring just 72 runs in seven innings, but he wasn’t fussed about it

Shashank Kishore29-Sep-20252:03

Chopra: Tilak understood the need of the hour

It was well past midnight on Monday in Dubai when Suryakumar Yadav walked into the press conference room. It had been a night mired in chaos and confusion. Who would present India the Asia Cup trophy? Would India accept it if it came from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi? Would Pakistan even turn up for their press conference, amid rumours that their team bus had already left? We got the answers by and by.Suryakumar had endured a poor tournament, and the non-cricketing issues may or may not have taken a toll on his form.There was the unbeaten 47 in India’s second game of the tournament, against Pakistan, but he had scores of 0, 5, 12 and 1 to end the Asia Cup with. On Sunday, his dismissal attempting to loft Shaheen Shah Afridi on the up left India precariously placed at 10 for 2 in their chase of 147.Related

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The night Tilak and Dube went from promise to performance

“I feel I am not out of form, I feel I am out of runs,” Suryakumar said. “I believe more in what I am doing in the nets and my preparation. So in matches, things are on autopilot.”His record as captain, though, has been impeccable. Since becoming full-time T20I captain, he has racked up series wins over Sri Lanka, South Africa and England and now at the Asia Cup, where India won seven games in a row to win their ninth title.Having answered the question on his form, Suryakumar directed the mic jovially the other way, egging journalists on to direct some of the questions towards Abhishek Sharma, the Player of the Tournament who sat alongside him. “I’ve felt personally that when you are not scoring runs, it is difficult to take the team along. But Surya is the same irrespective of whether he has scored runs or not,” Abhishek said, throwing his weight behind his captain.

“The boys took it [the controversies] in their stride. Since day one, I was just telling them to focus on cricket and enjoy the game”Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar had to contend with more than just cricket at the Asia Cup. It began with a handshake with Asian Cricket Council and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi during the captains’ press conference – a routine gesture that quickly turned contentious and set the tone for what followed.Days later, at the toss on September 14, Suryakumar’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Agha added fresh spark to the issue. Next came a series of gestures and confrontations from both sides, eventually forcing the match referee to step in for disciplinary hearings.”I feel it was not that difficult [to deal with],” Suryakumar said. “The boys took it in their stride. Since day one, I was just telling them to focus on cricket and enjoy the game. The boys took it in a positive way. We were very focused in every game.”Suryakumar stressed that despite everything that went on, there was a bigger sense of satisfaction around where India were at in the runway to the T20 World Cup early next year, where they are defending champions.Suryakumar Yadav pretends to carry a trophy he refused to receive•AFP/Getty Images”What we wanted to achieve in this tournament, we have achieved,” he said. “There are a lot of things which you don’t get to achieve in a bilateral tournament. This was like a knockout tournament.”As soon as we entered the Super Four, I told the boys that let’s approach it like a quarter-final, semi-final and final. So we played a semi-final type of game against Sri Lanka, and then it was a perfect final. There are nerves, responsibility and pressure, and it was a perfect final.”When asked about half-centurion and Player of the Match Tilak Varma, the only name barely touched upon in an unusually long press conference, Suryakumar chose to throw the spotlight on the entire team.”I wouldn’t want to point out one player,” he said. “From the first game to the final, a lot of players came in and stepped up at crucial moments. Tilak played an unbelievable knock in the final. We’ve seen him do that before. Kuldeep [Yadav] and Varun [Chakravarthy] came back with the ball. This is just not about the final. Throughout the journey in the tournament, we’ve stepped up and seized small moments. This was a collective effort.”

With everything on the line, here's how Gotham FC can top the Spirit for the 2025 NWSL Championship.

For the second time in three years, Gotham have charged into the NWSL Championship after delivering upsets to higher-ranked teams. Jaedyn Shaw disagrees that they’re underdogs, per se (see: “underdog, my ass” comment after they downed Kansas City), but they’ve been the surprise story of the postseason. Saturday night, they could take their Cinderella run all the way to the title. Here’s a few reasons why they might:

Getty ImagesReason 1: Defensive strength

Simply put, Gotham is hard to score on. In part, that’s because they have one of the best goalkeepers in the league (more on that shortly). But notably, they also don’t allow their opposition many chances to score. With a team that defends from the front, a midfield that’s hard to cut through, and a solid defensive line waiting behind, Gotham finished the 2025 season having allowed just 76 shots on target. That’s an average of 3 per game and is tied with the first-place Shield winners, Kansas City, for fewest shots on goal allowed in NWSL. 

There’s a number of reasons they’re dynamic defensively, and it involves players across all of their lines. Emily Sonnett is in top form as a leader in their backline. Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale awaits her opportunity at left back to thwart Rose Kouassi creating from the right. Jaelin Howell, who just earned her first USWNT callup since 2022, could have a massive match as she jockeys for control of the midfield. 

As a team that likes to have possession, they’re also effective at limiting the opposition by reducing their opportunities to get on the ball. The Spirit are also hard to score on, but they allowed 107 shots on target throughout the season, averaging four per game. They also conceded 33 total throughout the year, compared to Gotham’s 25. In a game of margins, that could matter.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesReason 2: Ann-Katrin Berger

Gotham may have the Rookie of the Year (Lilly Reale), but they’re also stocked with veteran talent. One of Gotham’s most essential veterans is 35-year-old German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. 

Berger was named Goalkeeper of the Year in 2024 and was nominated in 2025 after another strong season cleaning up the few shots that Gotham does allow. Berger’s steady presence has been pivotal for club and country the past few years. The German keeper helped see her team to an Olympic bronze medal in 2024 and a semi-final finish at Euro ‘25 with clutch penalty heroics and massive saves. 

This postseason, Berger has come through for Gotham multiple times. She made seven essential saves in their upset of Kansas City, and was called on to make a few key ones against Orlando to see them to the final. Saturday in San Jose, she could be a difference maker.

Getty ImagesReason 3: Peaking at the right time

The Washington Spirit finished the season in a comfortable second-place position and have been the more consistently strong team throughout the year. But Gotham is glistening at the moment, with multiple players hitting their top form at just the right time. 

That includes USWNT midfielder Rose Lavelle, who was out with injury in the first half of the year but has five goals and two assists in 16 games since returning. That also includes 20-year-old Jaedyn Shaw, who joined Gotham in early September and has looked like a unique talent finally in the right spot with the move. 

Shaw has been electric for Gotham in the postseason, scoring in both of their playoff tests, including the stoppage-time match-winner against Orlando. The team’s top scorer, Spanish striker Esther Gonzalez, is just returning from injury and hasn’t scored in five games, isn’t in her top form of the season. But Esther has scored game-deciding goals for Gotham in two previous trophy matches. If she catches fire Saturday night, it’ll be hard to discount this ‘underdog’ team that’s hitting its collective stride at precisely the right moment.

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Getty ImagesChampionship

Gotham FC will face the Spirit on Saturday, November 22 at 5pm ET on CBS and Paramount+.

The San Francisco Giants nabbed one of the most improbable walk-off wins you'll ever see Sunday as they played the Texas Rangers. Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos stepped up to the plate to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning in a tie game. When he hit a swinging bunt, there was no way he thought he'd cross home safely to win the game.

He made contact on the first pitch he saw, which dribbled into the shallow infield and was fielded by Rangers pitcher Luke Jackson. Jackson tried to make the play at first, but his momentum saw his throw go outside of first baseman Jake Burger and down the right-field line.

Ramos coasted into second base before he realized Burger was still tracking down the ball and then decided to head for third.

Burger's throw to third went wide and sent the ball down the left-field line, allowing Ramos to pop up and head for home where he slid in safely for a walk-off, Little League style home run.

You don't see that very often, let alone to end the game.

The improbable win continued the Giants' hot start to their 2025 campaign, sitting atop the NL West at 19-10 with a half-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants are only a half of a game behind the New York Mets for the best record across the MLB.

Sunday brought San Francisco's fourth win in their last five games. And it couldn't have happened in more thrilling fashion.

Arsenal have been utterly sensational so far this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side are flying in the Champions League, and look near enough unstoppable when it comes to the Premier League.

More impressively, the Gunners tore Tottenham Hotspur to shreds on Sunday afternoon without the man many would consider to have been their best player so far this year: Gabriel Magalhães.

The Brazilian has been sensational in defence and attack, and so fans should be excited about reports linking Arsenal with a star who could be looked at as another version of him.

Arsenal target another Gabriel

With the transfer window just over a month away from opening, it’s not been a surprise to see reports starting to link Arsenal with some brilliant players in recent weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, while the Gunners are fairly well-stacked in the position, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson has been touted for a £120m switch to the Emirates.

Likewise, despite Leandro Trossard’s impressive form this year, Kenan Yıldız continues to be linked with a move to the Premier League title challengers.

However, while incredibly talented, neither of these players can really be compared to Gabriel, unlike Murillo.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of a few clubs interested in the Brazilian defender.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Chelsea and Barcelona are keen to sign the talented centre-back, who Forest value at up to €90m, which is about £79m.

Therefore, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given his ability and similarities to Gabriel, one Arsenal should be pursuing.

Why Murillo would be another Gabriel

So to start with, there are the more superficial similarities between the pair, such as both being Brazilian centre-backs.

On top of that, there is the fact that when Arsenal signed Gabriel from LOSC Lille in the summer of 2020, he was 22 years old, and if they sign Murillo in the winter window, he’ll be just 23.

However, the comparison goes deeper than that, as, in addition to playing in the same position, the two defenders tend to play in a similar style as well.

For example, while he’s not quite as tall as the Gunners star, the “monstrous” Forest man, as dubbed by journalist Ryan Taylor, is someone who makes the most of his physicality.

Whether it’s in the air or on the ground, the former Corinthians gem is more than happy to go in for a full-throated challenge, which, more often than not, he comes out better off from.

However, don’t let that fool you into thinking the Sao Paulo-born titan is just an old-fashioned defender who can’t compete when it comes to the technical side of the game, as that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Like his compatriot, the 23-year-old is far more accomplished on the ball than most who don’t watch him on a weekly basis would expect.

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 5% of centre-backs in the league for successful take-ons, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for through balls and shot-creating actions from live-ball passes, the top 13% for progressive passes and more, all per 90.

% of Dribblers Tackled

100.0%

Top 2%

Blocks

1.83

Top 3%

Shots from Free Kicks

0.12

Top 5%

Interceptions

2.07

Top 5%

Successful Take-Ons

0.49

Top 5%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 7%

Passes Blocked

0.85

Top 7%

Ball Recoveries

4.87

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

1.46

Top 9%

Tkl+Int

3.65

Top 9%

Goals/Shot

0.25

Top 11%

Goals – xG

+0.09

Top 11%

Non-Penalty Goals – npxG

+0.09

Top 11%

Passes Attempted (Long)

9.99

Top 11%

Through Balls

0.24

Top 11%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

1.10

Top 11%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.12

Top 11%

Progressive Passes

4.87

Top 13%

SCA (Shot)

0.12

Top 13%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.24

Top 13%

Goals

0.12

Top 15%

When you consider those technical qualities alongside the fact that he helped Forest produce one of the defensive record in the country last season, it’s easy to see why one analyst made the bold claim that he’s “one of the best defenders in the Premier League.”

Ultimately, while he might not be on the exact same level as Gabriel – few defenders are – Murillo is clearly an exceptional player. Therefore, Arsenal would be wise to sign him before one of their rivals gets there first.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 24, 2025

Luka Modric admits he took "a step down" by joining AC Milan after his spell at Real Madrid came to an end, but the midfielder insists he made the "right" decision by accepting the Serie A side's offer. Still going strong at 40 years old, the midfielder is aware his longevity has been "incredible" as he explained why he abandoned his plan to retire in Madrid.

Modric still a key component at 40

Modric bailed on his initial plan to end his playing career at Madrid by joining Milan in the summer. Having since turned 40, the midfielder has thoroughly impressed in Serie A, earning immense praise from his team-mates and many former heroes of the Italian game. The six-time Champions League winner has one goal and two assists to his name for the Rossoneri so far, immediately taking on an integral role as Massimiliano Allegri's side target the Serie A title. His performances have already sparked rumours of another transfer, but the ex-Tottenham star has opened up on his attraction to the San Siro club and his joy at wearing the red and black shirt.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportVeteran midfielder explains AC Milan move

As per the Croatian, it was Milan's reputation that prompted him to sign a one-year deal at the club. He explained to : "After Real, I've always said it, wherever you go it's a step down. There is no doubt about this and all players can confirm it. But I think I arrived at a club that is very close to Real Madrid in terms of reputation and history: for me it is the most ideal situation that could have happened to me. Especially because I love Milan and as a child I grew up with Italian football. Milan was the club I adored the most. When Milan's option presented itself, it was the right one for me."

Speaking on his experience in the city and at the club, he claimed, "The city is wonderful. People welcomed me phenomenally, both inside and outside the club. The teammates, the coach, the fans, everything is really high-level. You can see that Milan is a great historic club, one of the biggest in the world. You can feel it at every step, so I'm really happy and I'm enjoying all of this."

Modric admits leaving Madrid was difficult

Modric won 28 trophies during his 13-year tenure at the Spanish capital, and that includes six Champions League titles and four La Liga accolades. However, departing from the club was tough for him, as he mentioned: "Honestly, it wasn't easy, because I spent 13 years, almost half of my life, practically in a club, in a city. It was one of the best times of my life. I arrived in Madrid perhaps relatively late, at 27, but at the right time. I was ready for that step. The four years in England helped me a lot. And everything I experienced and achieved in Madrid afterwards seems unreal to me.

"Apart from the trophies and victories, staying 13 years in such a club… I arrived at 27 and I stayed almost until 40 and it is something incredible! Because you know what kind of club Madrid is, you know that they don't tolerate mediocrity, and to stay at that level, in a club like that, for so many years, with all the successes I've experienced there, it's something incredible. In my previous way of thinking, I believed that I would be satisfied if I ended my career at 35. But my professional curriculum has long since exceeded that limit, and I do not hide my gratitude: I am still, thank God, at that level and it is something incredible!"

He added: "I've always said it and it wasn't platitudes, flattering the fans or the club – my big wish was to retire in Madrid. But simply, everything has a beginning and an end."

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Getty Images SportWhen will Modric play again?

Sitting second on the Serie A table, Modric's Milan will take on Lazio on Saturday at San Siro with the aim of leapfrogging Roma into first place, temporarily at least. Modric, who enjoyed a full 90 minutes in the Rossoneri's 1-0 win over arch-rivals Inter, is expected to start once again this weekend. 

Former England captain is optimistic about prospects but warns against presuming all-out pace is key

Vithushan Ehantharajah31-Oct-2025Michael Vaughan believes winning the Ashes would vindicate Ben Stokes’ work as Test captain, adding the allrounder may prove to be England’s most valuable bowler on “very English” Australian pitches.With the first Test in Perth just three weeks away, the majority of England’s Test squad are in New Zealand, either involved in the ongoing ODI series or training alongside it. The Ashes group will come together in Western Australia on Monday, where they will be joined by the England Lions who will help them prepare with a three-day game starting on November 13, eight days before the series opener at Optus Stadium.Despite their last Test win on Australia soil coming in January 2011 – confirming a historic 3-1 success – and an aggregate 13-0 scoreline in the three tours since, England are optimistic. Much of that is down to the belief and more confrontational style instilled in the group by Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.Results have dramatically improved under Stokes. He has personally overseen 22 wins in 36 Tests as full-time skipper, flipping a slump of one win in 17 prior to his appointment. However, England have yet to win a five-match series since he and McCullum took the reins at the start of the 2022 summer, which includes a 2-2 draw in 2023’s home Ashes. They have also failed to make an impression in the World Test Championship, sitting sixth in the current cycle after drawing with India this summer.Speaking at a Viagogo event, Vaughan, who marshalled England’s 2005 Ashes success, ending an 18-year drought, feels the time has come for Stokes to mark his captaincy with some tangible success.”I think they need a trophy,” he said.”I mean, would I take two-all now? Probably, let’s be honest. In the last few series, 2010-11 is the only time that I’ve seen England have success. We won one Test match in 2002-03, we won three Test matches in 2010-11. We haven’t won a Test since. So actually looking at growth in terms of what English cricket is delivering and, crikey, if you could get a two-all series, you’d obviously take that.Michael Vaughan and Chris Woakes speak to the media at a Viagogo event in London•Viagogo”But I think Ben and his mentality, and the way that he plays his cricket, this is his moment. He has to deliver and he has to get that urn in his hand. And it’s not putting him under pressure. They’ll be speaking in this kind of language in the dressing room. They will expect to win this series and now’s the time to deliver.”Vaughan also warned England not to get carried away with the notion that all-out pace is the way to go in Australia.The tourists have spent the last two years cultivating a more rounded seam attack for all conditions, but particularly in Australia with the Kookaburra ball.James Anderson was pushed into retirement last year, ultimately, because they did not believe, at 43, he would be effective on this tour. In turn, there was a focus on raising the average speed of their attack and favouring those with high release points, with the likes of Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue. Diligent work behind the scenes has ensured Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, two of the quickest in the world, have made it to this hallmark series.As such, England believe they possess the fastest attack they have ever taken on an Ashes tour. However, it is worth noting recent Australian pitches have tended to be greener and thus more amenable to the Kookaburra ball.The numbers highlight the shift, with top seven batters averaging 30.22 since the start of the 2021-22 Ashes, compared to 38.14 in the previous 20 Tests. Following the retirement of Chris Woakes and the non-selection of Sam Cook, Vaughan sees Stokes as the only bowler with the wares to excel if conditions turn out to be more sporting than anticipated.”I don’t think it’s all about pace,” said Vaughan. “I’d be very, very wary to just think that because we’ve got Jofra, because we’ve got Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson that can bowl with a bit of gas, that’s all you need.Related

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'The more the merrier' – Hazlewood calls for more allrounders in Ashes XI

“Scott Boland, he averages 12 (12.63) because he hits the top of off stump more often than not, and the ball just wobbles around a bit. This series is the series that I look and think. ‘give me a Chris Woakes or a Sam Cook’ just in case, because we might get conditions that are very, very English and top of off will still be the main threat. And it’s who’s going to consistently hit the top of off stump.”There’s not many quick bowlers that hit the top of off stump. They’re basically there to bowl a bit of pepper and change up the pace of play.”I guess Ben’s the one bowler that you can just go, okay, you go back to top of off. It’s the one concern I have about the England attack that I’m thinking, who’s going to continuously hit the top of off if the ball’s wobbling around? Pace, yes, but it might be a series where the top of off stump is the area to go for.”Though Stokes is working his way back from a shoulder injury in New Zealand, he comes to Australia in perhaps his best bowling form. His 17 wickets at 25.23 in the home season’s Anderson-Tendulkar trophy were his most productive, beating a previous best 15 in 2013-14 Ashes, his first Test series.Despite arriving into the 2025 summer off the back of two right hamstring tears in the space of six months, Stokes was remarkably fit. His speeds were consistently challenging, around the mid-80s, and his skills undimmed. That he had also retained his will for long spells was a nod to his remarkable endurance, but also a familiar cause for concern when he broke down on the final day of the fourth Test against India.Feeling discomfort in his right shoulder, he continued bowling, subsequently ruling himself out of contention for the decider at the Kia Oval. England went on to lose a thriller, allowing India to square the series. It was the fifth Test Stokes had missed in the space of 12 months.Woakes, who dislocated his shoulder on day one of that fifth Test, leading to his international retirement, urged his former teammate to play it sensible to ensure he features throughout the series.”He’s bowling probably the best he’s ever bowled in his career,” said Woakes. “He’s as fit as he’s ever been. But as he’s getting older and you know, he’s a chance of breaking down.”I think at Old Trafford this year, I think he knew was f**ked, basically. ‘I’m broken anyway, I’ll just keep going’. Which isn’t a clever thing to do, but that’s the way Stokes is. He wants to give all to the team, as a leader, he wants to be the guy to do it. We need him to play all five Test matches.”

Fan voting for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game—the 95th in history!—opened Wednesday. This date on the calendar can sneak up on you.

Well, if you have some research to do for your ballot, we’re here to help. Our five-member staff roundtable covers some of the more difficult decisions on the ballot as well as an early look at the favorites to start on the mound.

1. Make the case for someone to make their All-Star Game debut.

Tom Verducci: The easy pick here is Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs, one of the major breakout stars of the season. I’ll go with a slightly less obvious pick: James Wood of the Washington Nationals. In NL OPS he trails only Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber. He also is top five in the league in home runs, RBI and total bases. He hits lefties, he’s a .305 hitter with runners in scoring position and he absolutely mashes fastballs (.667) with his easy off-field power.

Stephanie Apstein: It has to be Cal Raleigh, right? He’s on pace for the greatest season of all time by a catcher. Raleigh has played in every game for the Seattle Mariners this season, he leads the league in dingers and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Sign him up for the Home Run Derby while we’re at it. 

Nick Selbe: There are plenty of candidates here who need no political stumping—Raleigh, Crow-Armstrong and Hunter Brown will all be heading to Atlanta (at least let’s hope so). So I’ll use this space to campaign for Nick Pivetta, who’s enjoying the best year of his career in his age-32 season. Pivetta waited until mid-February to sign with the San Diego Padres despite posting the league’s fifth-highest strikeout rate from 2023 to ’24 (minimum 250 innings pitched). The owner of a 4.76 career ERA heading into the ’25 campaign, Pivetta has put it all together through the first couple months, posting a 6–2 mark with a 2.74 ERA backed up by a 2.97 FIP. It’s a crowded field of worthy arms in both leagues, but he’s done enough to earn a roster spot.

Ryan Phillips: The Chicago White Sox aren’t as bad as they were last year but they’re still terrible. Despite that, they need an All-Star, and it’s not easy to find one on their roster. Enter rookie righty Shane Smith. A Rule 5 pick this year, he’s 2–3 with a 2.45 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 60 strikeouts against 25 walks in 62 1/3 innings. He also leads the team with 1.7 WAR, making him an easy pick as their lone participant. And he’s a former undrafted free agent, so this is a great story to boot. 

Will Laws: We’ll get to Crow-Armstrong in just a second, so let’s talk about a player who may never again get a shot at an All-Star Game. In his eighth MLB season, Baltimore Orioles DH Ryan O’Hearn has already surpassed his previous career high in WAR (2.1). A former eighth-round pick of the Royals, O’Hearn has proven to be quite the find for the O’s over the last several years and is somehow the team’s most deserving nominee amid a hugely disappointing season in Baltimore. And while the batted-ball metrics indicate O’Hearn’s breakout at age 31 shouldn’t be taken lightly, he can’t exactly be counted on to be slashing .326/.411/.519 through 52 games again. He’ll battle with Rafael Devers for the starting AL DH slot—and I kind of want to give credit to O’Hearn for playing three different positions.

2. The National League outfield race is especially crowded. Which three most deserve to start?

TV: The future is now. How about this outfield when it comes to youth and athleticism: Crow-Armstrong, 23; Wood, 22; and Corbin Carroll, 24. No offense to Fernando Tatís Jr. and Kyle Tucker, but those three rank 1-2-3 in some order in slugging and total bases among NL outfielders.

SA: I think Crow-Armstrong is a lock here, and I expect Padres fans to vote in force for Tatís, which is very reasonable. Carroll makes a good case, as does Tucker, but I think for me the third spot goes to Wood. The light-tower power, the poise at age 22 and the fact that he was asked to replace Juan Soto and then basically —this guy is incredible.  

NS: Crow-Armstrong, Wood and Tucker. Aside from their natural defensive fits, these three have the slightest of edges on their competitors. Wood has the highest wRC+ (163) among all NL outfielders and is tied for the lead in home runs. Tucker ranks second in wRC+ and has the highest on-base percentage (.394). And Crow-Armstrong ranks first in runs, second in RBI and stolen bases, and leads all center fielders in Outs Above Average (10) and ranks second in defensive runs saved (8). Apologies to Carroll and Tatís, but this is the trio I would choose.

RP: Crow-Armstrong should be a lock to start as he leads the National League in WAR (3.7). While it’s a deep field, I’m going with the guys who are second and third in WAR. Tatís (3.0) started the year on fire but has cooled a bit. Still, he’s one of the most exciting players in the game and should start the All-Star Game. James Wood (2.7 WAR) gets my other nod. The 22-year-old owns a .925 OPS and 16 home runs. Here’s hoping he’s in the Home Run Derby too.

WL: There are nine players with at least 15 homers and only four with at least 20 stolen bases. Crow-Armstrong is the only player in both clubs, and he’ll be starting. It’s very hard to distinguish between the other four contenders, but I’ll go with Carroll—for his position-high 18 home runs and 3.0 fWAR, behind only Crow-Armstrong among NL outfielders—in right and Wood in left for his position-best 160 wRC+. Tatís also deserves to be penalized for this.

3. Who’s your current pick to start at shortstop for the American League—Bobby Witt Jr., Jeremy Peña or Jacob Wilson?

TV: You can never go wrong with Bobby Witt Jr. But I’m fascinated by Jacob Wilson, a .363 hitter with his 86 hits and 16 strikeouts. He could join Placido Polanco as the only righthanded hitters in the past 50 years to get 200 hits with less than 40 strikeouts. He also leads AL shortstops in OPS.

SA: It’s really close, but I'll go with Jeremy Peña. It’s probably not fair to call his last two seasons disappointing, but after his outrageous postseason in his rookie year, he’s only been about average as a hitter. The chance to hit leadoff this year (the incumbent José Altuve needed a few extra minutes to catch his breath after running in from his new position in left field) seems to have unlocked something in Peña, who’s been by offensive WAR the fourth-best player in the American League. He’s also a stellar defender, although that’s always been true.

NS: Few would dispute the notion that Witt is the bigger star, and it’s not often you see a player hit .355 to begin their rookie season, but Peña gets the spot for now. The 27-year-old has maintained his usual stellar defense, but has elevated his hitting to another level. A league-average hitter for his career with a 100 wRC+ prior to this season, Peña has put up a 145 mark to date, trailing only Wilson. Based on their performances this season, Peña’s edge on Witt’s offensive production and Wilson’s defensive capabilities make him the pick by the slimmest of margins.

RP: Peña has earned this one. He leads AL shortstops in WAR by nearly a full point—he’s at 3.6 while Witt is at 2.8. But he’s also having a great season across the board statistically. He has the edge on Witt in OPS, .854 to .842, and has two more home runs. Wilson is really fun, but he’s not an All-Star starter yet. 

WL: Wilson trailing only Aaron Judge and Freddie Freeman in batting average while compiling more extra-base hits than the likes of Austin Riley, Trea Turner and Paul Goldschmidt (having a very nice rebound year with the Yankees) vaults him to the top of the race for now. But this could end up being the closest race.

4. Last year, four rookies (Paul Skenes, Jackson Merrill, Shota Imanaga, Mason Miller) were named All-Stars. Do any rookies besides Wilson deserve selections this year? If so, who?

TV: Shane Smith of the White Sox (2.45 ERA in 12 starts) deserves consideration. Chad Patrick of the Brewers (2.97 ERA in 63.2 IP) and 35-year-old Tomoyuki Sugano (3.04 ERA in rookie-high 71 innings) of the Orioles bear watching. I like catcher Drake Baldwin of the Braves but don’t see enough volume at this point.

SA: Baldwin has been a really fun story for Atlanta, and the Drake Rakes T-shirts are sick, but he just hasn’t played enough this season to unseat Will Smith and Gabriel Moreno. 

NS: There aren’t any rookies impressing to the level that Skenes, Merrill & Co. did last season. But a couple stand out to me (aside from Wilson): White Sox starter Shane Smith and Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez. Both get nods partially due to a lack of options—after Raleigh, there aren’t any slam-dunk choices for backup AL catchers, and  has to be the White Sox representative. Narváez will have to fend off guys like Dillon Dingler, Alejandro Kirk and Shea Langeliers for a roster spot. Smith, on the other hand, won’t face much competition in his own clubhouse for an invitation to the Fall Classic. The top pick in December’s Rule 5 draft, Smith owns a 2.45 ERA over his first 12 career starts, yet has just two wins to show for it—occupational hazard of pitching for the South Siders.

RP: Smith and Wilson make it for me. I’d put Dodgers reliever Ben Casparius and Orioles starter Sugano on the borderline. 

WL: Smith’s odds are looking pretty good, and not by default of the White Sox needing a representative. Patrick has had a nice start, but I don’t love his odds of keeping pace in a crowded NL pitching field. Narváez and Baldwin have both impressed behind the plate, but I’d like to see either officially take over as their respective team’s starting catcher before they make the All-Star team.

5. Though the fans don’t vote for pitchers, who would be your picks as the starting pitchers?

TV: Garrett Crochet of Boston and Skenes of Pittsburgh. The AL call is a difficult one. Kris Bubic of the Royals, Hunter Brown of the Astros and Max Fried of the Yankees all have sub-2 ERAs, but I’ll go with Crochet (1.92), who also leads the league in innings and strikeouts. The NL starter is obvious. Skenes (2.05 ERA, league leader in WHIP and innings) should get his second All-Star start in as many seasons. Skenes is the Pedro Martínez of this generation: The best put-away pitcher in baseball because he has so many options to finish hitters. He has thrown 410 pitches this year with two strikes and given up only 14 hits and an .082 batting average. How good is that? The lowest recorded average allowed with two strikes by a pitcher with at least 25 starts is .080 by Hideo Nomo in 1995.

SA: Tarik Skubal and Logan Webb would be fun, in part because they’re ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in FanGraphs WAR and also because they are so just so stylistically different. Skubal throws a billion miles an hour and tries to strike everybody out; Webb directs his sinker into hitters’ bat paths and makes them roll over to the infield. It would be a nice reminder that there are still a lot of ways to get outs. 

NS: Skubal gets the ball for the AL. The reigning Cy Young Award winner has the league’s best strikeout rate (34.7%), walk rate (2.5%) and WHIP (0.79). For the NL, give me Logan Webb, who’s put up a 2.55 ERA and an MLB-leading 2.14 FIP over an NL-leading 81 1/3 innings. There’s a not-so-short list of other players putting up ace-like numbers, so expect them to jockey for position over the next few weeks to make this a tight race.

RP: Skenes is a no-brainer to start for the National League. The American League crowd is a lot tighter. I’d pick Royals lefty Bubic and his 1.43 ERA over Brown and Crochet, but it’s incredibly close for me.

WL: Skubal is on pace to be the first qualified pitcher in history to average more than 11 strikeouts and less than one walk per nine innings. Skenes leads NL pitchers in win probability, batting average against (.181) and WHIP (0.88) and ranks second in both ERA (2.05) and FIP (2.57). This matchup would be a clash of titans (for two innings, anyway).