Looking to spend big once again in 2026, Manchester United are now reportedly ready to outbid both Arsenal and Chelsea in the race to sign a talented attacker.

Ratcliffe sets Ruben Amorim timeline

Whilst everyone else continues to panic at Old Trafford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS seemingly remain calm. The minority owners are well aware that the Red Devils’ start has been far from ideal, but are still backing manager Ruben Amorim. Speaking to The Business podcast recently, Ratcliffe revealed that he will not be making any “knee-jerk reactions”.

Ratcliffe said: “He has not had the best of seasons. Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years. That’s where I would be.

“The press, sometimes I don’t understand. They want overnight success. They think it’s a light switch. You know, you flick a switch and it’s all going to be roses tomorrow. You can’t run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week.”

Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd's £42m flop is now on borrowed time under Amorim

Manchester United’s lack of success in the transfer market has been highlighted by the failures of two players.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 9, 2025

The owner’s verdict should signal major relief for Amorim, who has been a man under pressure in recent months. Reports have even drawn up a list of replacements in the last few weeks, which range from Gareth Southgate to Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, but it looks as though United are sticking with their man for the long haul as things stand.

With that said, the transfer window is once again one to watch. If INEOS are set to stick with Amorim, then they must back him once again and potentially welcome one of the brightest young talents around.

Man Utd ready to prioritise Yildiz deal

As reported by Caught Offside, Man United are now ready to prioritise a deal to sign Kenan Yildiz in 2026 and outbid both Arsenal and Chelsea in the process.

The deal won’t come cheap, with reports suggesting that it could rise to as high as €90m (£78m) next summer. It is, however, one that is worth going all in on. Yildiz is that talented.

The Juventus star has once again been the main man in Turin so far this season, scoring two goals and assisting another four in eight games in all competitions. At just 20 years old, this is just the start for the Turkish winger, who could yet get the chance to showcase his talent on one of the biggest stages in the Premier League if United match his price tag.

Juventus teammate Gleison Bremer even went as far to describe Yildiz as their “own Lamine Yamal” earlier this season and that should tell INEOS all they need to know about the winger, who can also play attacking midfield.

After spending big in the summer, those at Old Trafford should go all out to beat Arsenal and Chelsea to sign the Juventus star next year.

Tottenham have been criticised as of late for a perceived lack of creativity, with it being clear they’re far from the finished article.

Tottenham travel to Everton after lacklustre Monaco draw

Thomas Frank’s side travel to Everton on Sunday with the aim of getting back to winning ways after two uninspired performances.

Their 2-1 loss at home to Aston Villa last weekend heightened concerns around Spurs’ inability to dominate matches or create openings on a consistent enough basis, as critics call for Frank to shake things up.

Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur have been in fantastic form individually, particularly the former, but questions surround whether they should be the north Londoners’ starting pair in central midfield every game.

Frank’s men are struggling to connect defence with attack, and this was on full display during their stalemate in France.

Goalkeeper Gugilelmo Vicario was by far their player of the match against Monaco, saving Spurs time and time again with a string of excellent stops — thwarting ex-Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun three times in the first 45 alone.

Monaco 0-0 Tottenham – Champions League

Monaco

Team Stats

Tottenham

21

Shots

10

9

Shots on target

4

50%

Possession

50%

399

Passes

328

91%

Pass accuracy

89%

13

Fouls

12

0

Yellow cards

1

0

Red cards

0

1

Offsides

1

5

Corners

4

In terms of their attacking players, some believed winger Wilson Odobert had his “best game in a Spurs shirt” at the Stade Louis II, but the Frenchman was forced off through injury in the second-half and couldn’t make a further impact.

Even though Vicario has attracted criticism for his handling of crosses into the box this term, based off their 0-0 at Monaco, Frank’s goalkeeping department looks like one of the areas least in need of strengthening come January.

However, journalist Graeme Bailey reports that co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange now have the chance to bring in a pretty big name for that position.

Tottenham offered Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen on loan

According to Bailey, speaking to TBR Football, Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has been offered out to Spurs, with the 33-year-old told that he can leave in January.

Ter Stegen, who’s made just nine appearances in all competitions since the beginning of last season due to injury, has watched summer signing Joan Garcia take his number one spot.

The German, who is still captain of Barça regardless of his unavailability over the last 12 months, is close to returning from a back problem, but the La Liga champions have told his camp to find him a new club when the winter window opens.

Tottenham have been approached by intermediaries over signing ter Stegen as a result, with the Lilywhites handed an opportunity to strike a temporary deal.

A six-time Spanish champion with Barça and Champions League winner, ter Stegen’s proven top-level experience could be invaluable to a largely young Spurs dressing room.

However, his fitness issues, combined with a pretty lofty £280,000-per-week pay packet, makes this potential move a fairly risky one, even on loan.

Vicario’s heroics against Monaco prove that Frank already has that base pretty covered, and the club should really be prioritising new additions further forward.

Dominic Solanke’s fitness issues and concerns around Richarlison’s form have prompted reports that Tottenham are targeting a new striker in 2026, with ex-Brentford star Ivan Toney among the names linked as Frank looks to bolster his attack.

Paratici and Lange, after Tottenham failed to sign Savinho in the summer, could also look to target a new winger in the winter.

The atmosphere around West Ham United at the moment is starting to feel rather toxic.

Nuno Espírito Santo was able to earn a point and inspire an impressive fightback in his opening game away to Everton, but since then, things have gone from bad to worse.

A loss away to Arsenal is understandable, but the defeats to Brentford and Leeds United were diabolical, and some major changes are needed to inspire the side to Premier League survival this term.

Therefore, while it’s risky, Nuno should look to play a few of the club’s promising academy talents, including one who could develop into a future Mark Nobel-type figure for them.

The West Ham youngsters Nuno should give a chance

Now, it should be said that if West Ham were playing even remotely well this season, then bringing in a few youngsters would probably be a bad idea.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, as things stand, the East Londoners are the second-worst team in the league, so it’s probably worth throwing in some promising prospects, as at least they would give it everything and help address the side’s dire lack of athleticism.

One of those who should be given a go is 20-year-old Mohamadou Kanté, who just signed a new deal with the club.

The “colossal” French midfielder, as dubbed by one analyst, is a particularly promising talent and has even been compared to former Hammer “Mo Diame” for his “intelligent composed passing” and “long-ranging legs that eat up ground.”

On top of having that pace and power, which is severely lacking in Nuno’s squad, the youngster is also proving to be something of a goal threat for the junior sides.

For example, despite playing in central and defensive midfield, he has already scored and assisted two goals in nine appearances for the U21s this season.

Speaking of goalscoring prospects, with Niclas Füllkrug out and Callum Wilson simply not good enough, it might be time to give Josh Landers a go in the first team.

Appearances

6

Minutes

359′

Goals

5

Assists

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.83

Minutes per Goal Involvement

71.8′

So far this season, the 18-year-old Scotsman has scored five goals in six appearances for the U21s, totalling just 359 minutes.

Finally, it might be time to give Preston Fearon a proper runout with the senior side.

The 18-year-old gem made an appearance during pre-season and has been described as a “special player” by Jarrod Bowen, who added that he’s “never seen someone nutmeg so many people in training.”

With all that said, there is another, slightly older academy graduate who has played for the first team, but should now be getting even more minutes, someone who could be a future Noble.

West Ham's future Noble

Now, while someone like Fearon could go on to emulate some of the best qualities of a Noble, he’s still only 18, and so it’s difficult to predict what sort of player he’ll become.

The same is not necessarily true of Freddie Potts.

There is still a long way to go in the 22-year-old’s career, but even so, there are already some key similarities between him and the West Ham legend.

Firstly, he is very much one of the Hammers’ own, as he spent his entire youth career with the East Londoners and has only played for other teams while out on loan.

Moreover, he is a fan of the club, and so when the supporters sang “Freddie Potts, he’s one of our own” away to Everton earlier this season, it was one of those rare occasions when that phrase is entirely true.

This is also why journalist Dan Woffenden said that, unlike some of the other players in the squad today, he “at least understands what it means to wear the shirt.”

On top of all this, the Barking-born ace is also positionally similar to the Irons legend, with his best position being in the middle of the park.

Furthermore, while he isn’t likely to go on any mazy runs or score wonder goals like some other midfielders, he looks to be a reliable, no-nonsense throwback of a footballer.

That’s not to say he cannot help out with attacking phases of play, though, as respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described the 22-year-old as someone blessed with an impressive “passing range and powerful carrying” ability.

Ultimately, Noble is a legend, and while West Ham aren’t going to find someone just like him, Potts looks like he could develop into the modern version of him for Nuno this season.

£40m West Ham flop is the biggest waste of money since Scamacca & Haller

The West Ham ace has been terrible for Nuno and Potter this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 27, 2025

تقدم منتخب إنجلترا بالهدف الأول أمام مصر في المباراة التي تجمع بينهما الآن ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا.

وتقام مباراة مصر ضد إنجلترا على ملعب رقم (7) في منطقة أسباير بالدوحة، في إطار لقاءات الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة المجموعات لـ كأس العالم للناشئين.

طالع | تشكيل منتخب مصر أمام إنجلترا في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا

ويدخل منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا المباراة بثقة كبيرة بعد أداء مميز في أول جولتين؛ إذ استهل مشواره بانتصار قوي على هايتي بنتيجة 4-1، ثم تعادل مع فنزويلا 1-1 ليجمع 4 نقاط وضعته في صدارة المجموعة.

وأحرز ريجان هيسكي هدف إنجلترا الأول أمام مصر من تسديدة قوية، من على حدود منطقة الجزاء على يسار الحارس داخل الشباك بالدقيقة 14. هدف إنجلترا الأول أمام مصر في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا

Wojciech Szczesny has recommended the Real Madrid and Barcelona players to practice "meditation and breathing" in the aftermath of last weekend's El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu. Tempers flared between the players of the two rivals following the hosts' 2-1 win, with the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Vinicius Junior, and Lamine Yamal engaging in a tense exchange.

• El Clasico turned into a feisty affair

  Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu last weekend to end their four-game losing streak against the reigning La Liga champions, thanks to first-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham. 

  However, tempers flared between the two arch-rivals, with Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, and Vinícius Junior engaging in a tense exchange with Lamine Yamal. Madrid players were fired up ahead of the highly-anticipated match after Yamal, during a live stream, implied that Los Blancos “rob, complain, and do things" to win by questionable means.

  After the full-time whistle, Carvajal, the Madrid captain, told Yamal: "You speak too much. Speak now." Yamal reportedly responded by saying: "See you in the tunnel," as he pointed towards the tunnel repetitively.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Szczesny urges everyone to meditate

  Speaking in a chat with Polish YouTubers, Szczesny said: “I learned early in my career that emotions don’t help me, so I try to disconnect. For example, after El Clasico, everyone was arguing and fighting, and I just thought, ‘We lost the match, but we have to move on.’ I would recommend that everyone practice meditation and work on their breathing. I do breathing exercises before the match and at halftime. People look at me strangely because I do it right in the middle of the locker room. I recommend working on your breathing in extreme conditions — in both cold and heat.”

• Revealed: What makes Szczesny an expert at saving penalties

  Barcelona had their third-choice goalkeeper Szczesny to thank for ensuring Madrid didn't complete a demolition job of Barcelona at the Bernabeu last weekend. He made nine saves – the most by a goalkeeper in an El Clasico since April 2017 – which also included a second-half save against an Mbappe penalty. It's the first time since the 2015-16 season that a goalkeeper made a successful penalty save in El Clasico. 

  With that, he has now saved the penalties of some of the greatest players in football history, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar. When asked how he prepares for penalties, the Polish goalkeeper said: “I study the penalty takers a lot before matches. I usually watch the last 20 penalties taken by the two or three players responsible for taking them and try to find the pattern in their shots. Sometimes their run-up also gives me information. There are players who shoot differently at important moments in the match or if the team is winning or losing. I try to gather all that information and then go with my instincts. 

  “As for Mbappe, he scored the last penalty against me (in the 4-3 win at home last season). I was feeling confident and knew he would choose the same side. Then you have to hope it happens, and luckily it did."

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  Szczesny saving Barca's blushes amid injury crisis

  It must be remembered that Szczesny was a happily retired professional around a year ago, enjoying life with his family. However, an ACL injury to then first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen forced the club to look for emergency options, and they turned towards the former Arsenal and Juventus custodian. He established himself as a first-choice keeper under Hansi Flick in the second half of the season after coming out of retirement, proving that he still had enough in his tank to deliver at the highest level.

  He agreed to renew his deal by another season over the summer, expressing his happiness at being third-choice behind summer signing Joan Garcia and Ter Stegen. In fact, he has emphasised that he wants to spend the season mentoring Garcia, believing that the 24-year-old has the potential to become the best goalkeeper in the world. 

  Injuries to both goalkeepers above the Warsaw-born player in the pecking order saw him being called into action. He has played six games on the trot and doesn't look out of place. However, both Szczesny and the club will be hoping that Garcia doesn't suffer further setbacks once he recovers. The ex-Espanyol goalkeeper underwent knee operation in late September, but there's optimism within the club that he could return to the lineup before the upcoming international break. 

  In any case, Garcia's return will not be rushed, which means we can expect Szczesny to retain his spot for the next few games, if not more.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em seu último GreNal com a camisa do Grêmio, Suárez até marcou após cobrança de falta na segunda etapa, mas não conseguiu evitar o resultado negativo. Na tarde deste domingo (8), no Beira-Rio, o Tricolor Gaúcho foi derrotado pelo Internacional por 3 a 2, e perdeu forças na já complicada missão de brigar pelo título do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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Em entrevista, o atacante uruguaio criticou a postura do time nos minutos iniciais do clássico, cobrou concentração dos companheiros e comentou as chances de título da equipe na competição nacional.

– Faltou concentração. Neste tipo de jogo tem que começar focado. Demos de presente para eles (Internacional) os primeiros 15 20 minutos do GreNal. Nesse tipo de jogo se paga muito caro. Procuro sempre fazer o melhor para ajudar o time, mas hoje não foi possível. Se quisermos ter a mínima chance de brigar pelo título, temos que ganhar este tipo de jogo. Agora é descansar, focar no próximo jogo para procurar ficar na zona dos quatro primeiros – comentou o atacante.

Com o resultado, o Tricolor permaneceu com os mesmos 44 pontos e se manteve na terceira colocação, graças aos tropeços de Palmeiras e Fluminense na rodada, mas viu a distância para o líder Botafogo subir para onze pontos.

Por conta da data Fifa, o Grêmio ficará dez dias sem disputar partidas oficiais. A equipe volta a campo contra o Athletico, na quarta-feira (18), em sua arena, às 19h (de Brasília).

Du Plessis, Hosein and Ferreira had combined to give Texas Super Kings a fighting total, but it was no match for the power of Pollard and Pooran

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jul-2025

Kieron Pollard. A batting coach at Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Apt, seeing that he is 38-plus. But a full-fledged allrounder elsewhere around the world, including at MLC, where he is such a key part of MI New York. Just how key, he showed on Friday night in Dallas, walking out with MINY’s asking rate over 12, smashing 47 not out from 22 balls, and putting his team in the MLC 2025 final at the expense of Texas Super Kings, who must have felt they were going to the title round till Pollard happened.The chase wasn’t massive: 167. But MINY lost Quinton de Kock and Michael Bracewell for single-digit scores by the seventh over. That they had 43 on the board when Bracewell fell was mainly down to Monank Patel, but he was going at a strike rate of just around 120. Nicholas Pooran, who had walked out at the fall of Bracewell, was at just about a run a ball. And when Monank, after trying hard, fell for 49 off 39 in the 13th over, MINY had only reached 83.They needed a shift in gears. Pollard, facing his first ball, off Noor Ahmad, saw the ball in his arc just outside the off stump and went thump – 100 metres down the ground.Akeal Hosein hit a quick half-century to give Texas Super Kings a fighting total•Sportzpics for MLC

Somehow, though, TSK stayed in the game. And after 16 overs, the asking rate was still 12.50. Then Zia-ul-Haq found the ball in his hand, Pollard across the pitch from him second ball onwards, and Pollard went 6, 4, 4, 2, 6. The over went for 23. That was the shift MINY needed, and TSK must have been dreading.It was straightforward after that, till Pooran finished it off with his third six off the last ball of the 19th, walking off with 52 from 36. Pollard walked off with him, 47 off 22. And MINY were in the final, where they will play Washington Freedom, having completed a dramatic switch after finishing the league stage with three wins from ten games and having to go through the Eliminator-Qualifier 2 route, which they have now.To be fair, the chase should have been more comfortable when TSK were kept to 166. Faf du Plessis had to play pretty much a lone hand for the best part of the innings, till the 13th over, with the rest of the batting collapsing like a pack of cards. Smit Patel, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shubham Ranjane and Marcus Stoinis all fell for single-digit scores, and du Plessis’ 42-ball 59 was the only reason TSK were in the contest.His fall, though, gave TSK their best phase with the bat, as Donovan Ferreira joined Akeal Hosein with the scoreboard reading 85 for 5 with just over seven overs to go. Hosein hit 55 in 32 balls, Ferreira hit 32 in 20, they put together an unbroken stand of 81 in 45 balls, and gave TSK hope. Pollard, in the main, and Pooran dashed it 19 overs later.

With the series on the line, the hosts go in as favourites with their bowling attack firing as a unit

Danyal Rasool21-Jul-2025Big picture: Bangladesh eye series winPerhaps it will never be possible to conclusively establish which was worse – the Mirpur pitch or how Pakistan went about batting on it. But with the series on the line, Pakistan coach Mike Hesson will know his side can only control the latter. In the first T20I, on a somewhat two-paced surface where Fakhar Zaman got them off to a fast start, Pakistan would shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly, lacing the innings with three run-outs and several soft caught dismissals. It ground their innings down to a halt before the hosts pulled off a clinical, pressure-free chase with 27 balls to spare.Bangladesh have, seemingly out of nowhere, found their T20I groove in what was a dismal year in the format for them. A fortnight ago, their most recent T20I series had seen them get brushed aside by Pakistan 3-0, their only victory all year coming against the UAE in a series they would go on to lose 2-1. But with their injury and availability issues starting to ease, they effected a turnaround with a crushing win over Sri Lanka, turning that series around before Sunday’s dismantling of Pakistan helping them reel off three successive wins.Related

Pakistan suffer rude awakening at the start of Bangladesh T20Is

Hesson slams 'unacceptable' Mirpur pitch

While there were flashes of batting brilliance up top from Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon even when the side was struggling for wins, it is the coming together of the bowling attack as a unit that has lit the touchpaper for Bangladesh’s form. It began with that 83-run trouncing of Sri Lanka eight days earlier, one where each of the five bowlers took wickets before they stifled the batters in the series decider. With Taskin Ahmed joining the fray, it was notable Bangladesh’s quicks took all but one of the Pakistan wickets that weren’t run-outs, indicating the potential blossoming of a more rounded bowling attack.Pakistan will have to demonstrate the first game was a bump in the road and not an indication their young fiery batting order will struggle on surfaces not attuned to their preferences. The Gaddafi Stadium, where they eased past Bangladesh so comfortably, were batting featherbeds, with a weakened bowling attack given well above par to defend. In lower-scoring games, though, those weaknesses will invariably be magnified and exploited; this series could well be a litmus test for the suitability of this approach in the medium term.Form guidePakistan LWWWL Bangladesh WWWLLIn the spotlight – Emon and MirzaParvez Hossain Emon has been a bit feast or famine, but is perhaps Bangladesh’s most dynamic T20 batter. Cheap early dismissals in two of the three games in each of the series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka belie the sheer destructive power he possesses when he finds his rhythm. A 34-ball 66 in the final game against Pakistan last month was followed up by a similarly impactful cameo – 38 off 22 – against Sri Lanka. He would not score a run in that series afterwards, but showed no hesitancy after two early wickets fell in Sunday’s low chase, his unbeaten 39-ball 56 carrying Bangladesh home with ease. Alongside his more consistent but perhaps slightly less watchable opening partner Tanzid, Bangladesh appear stood on the precipice of a truly modern T20 opening pairing.Bangladesh outbowled Pakistan in the first game, with Pakistan’s lack of star bowling firepower painfully visible. Without Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah or Haris Rauf, it was Salman Mirza who spearheaded the attack. Shaheen and Rauf’s Lahore Qalandars team-mate was the only bowler to make any inroads while there was jeopardy in the game, reducing Bangladesh to 7 for 2 after his first eight balls. But if support from elsewhere is not forthcoming, Mirza needs to repeat – and potentially improve upon – his showing if Pakistan’s quick bowlers are to match Bangladesh’s as they scramble to keep the series alive.Team news Bangladesh are unlikely to tinker with the side which produced a comprehensive win. Expect the same eleven to try to wrap the series up.Bangladesh : 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Parvez Hossain Emon, 3 Litton Das (capt), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Jaker Ali (wk), 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Mahedi Hasan 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Taskin AhmedNeither side trained so there’s little to reveal Pakistan’s thinking. The batting is unlikely to change with Salman Agha and Hesson promising to back their players. If Pakistan want another specialist spin option, though, Sufiyan Muqeem could find his way in.Pakistan: 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Mohammad Haris (wk), 4 Hasan Nawaz, 5 Salman Ali Agha (capt), 6 Mohammad Nawaz, 7 Khushdil Shah, 8 Abbas Afridi, 9 Faheem Ashraf, 10 Salman Mirza, 11 Abrar AhmedPitch and conditionsThere’s a strong chance of an evening shower as Bangladesh remains in the grip of the rainy season.Stats and trivia Bangladesh’s victory over Pakistan was achieved with 4.3 overs to spare; it is their largest such victory over Pakistan, and their fifth largest overall Zaman is 107 runs away from becoming just the fifth Pakistani to 2000 T20I runs

Tim David produced a brutal display of hitting with Australia’s fastest T20I century from 37 balls as the visitors surged to a series-winning victory by chasing 215 with a massive 23 deliveries to spare on a boundary-filled night in St Kitts.Shai Hope’s maiden T20I century, in which he formed an opening stand of 125 with Brandon King, helped West Indies post 214 for 4 and when Australia wobbled on 87 for 4 in the ninth over, the target was a considerable distance off.However, David produced a breathtaking performance which rewrote the record books with firstly Australia’s fastest fifty from 16 deliveries, and then the century mark with the boundary that also brought victory. In all he plundered 11 sixes in his maiden T20 century.Mitchell Owen, in his first international series, played his part with 36 off 16 balls in a fifth-wicket stand of 128 from just 46 balls.

David’s masterclass

This was only the eighth time in his 42 T20I innings for Australia that David had batted higher than No. 6 when he walked out following a scratchy innings from captain Mitchell Marsh. He was 15 off seven balls when he faced up to Gudakesh Motie in the 10th over and collected four consecutive sixes.In the next over from Akeal Hosein he added two more, with a boundary between them taking him to fifty off 16 balls. Such was his focus and confidence of match-ups, that he turned down a single in Roston Chase’s only over so he could retain the strike against the offspinner and proceeded to take three further sixes as the chase quickly came down towards a run-a-ball. Numerous times the umpires needed to call for the replacement box of balls with a few souvenirs now lying outside Warner Park for anyone who wanted to have a look.0:17

Watch – Shai Hope records first T20I century

The game was probably gone from West Indies, but they gave David a life on 90 when King dropped a sitter at deep midwicket. After that, the only slight danger to the century record was whether Owen would finish the game first. But despite Owen being handed a six when Rovman Powell stepped on the rope taking a catch at long-on, David wasn’t denied and comfortably eclipsed the previous record of 43 balls set by Josh Inglis against Scotland last year.

Shai gives hope

West Indies’ captain put together a top-class innings to dominate the home side’s display, becoming just the second West Indian after Chris Gayle to have centuries across all formats. He was a little sluggish initially and was 5 off seven balls before finding his first boundary but from there was in control throughout. He hit his stride by taking advantage of Glenn Maxwell’s powerplay over with a four and consecutive sixes, and then put Owen out of the ground – the first, but not last instance of that for the night.Hope’s fifty came from 26 balls – with King’s following off 30 deliveries – and he then motored towards three figures including consecutive sixes off Adam Zampa. However, it took him eight balls to go from 92 to his century, reaching from 55 deliveries, as Australia again bowled well in the closing overs.

Abbott stands out

As well as West Indies started, there was always a question of how many would be enough on the postage stamp ground where mis-hits would sail for six. After the opening stand of 125 was broken they also struggled to really put their foot down in the latter stages of the innings with overs 15 to 18 providing 36 runs. Sherfane Rutherford produced an especially momentum-sapping 12 off 13 balls.In a game where the ball was regularly flying over the rope, Sean Abbott’s figures stood out like a beacon. Having been recalled in place of Matt Kuhnemann, he finished with 4-0-21-0 including 14 dot balls. He bowled two inside the powerplay for 11, a third in the midst of the King-Hope stand which cost just three in the ninth over then his last in the 17th.As so often, Nathan Ellis also played his part by conceding just six off the 18th over as Hope and Rutherford became stuck in the closing overs. Australia were not blemish-free in the field, particularly around the boundary, but David’s display meant it barely mattered.

It's true that New York Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz hasn't been his best self for much of 2024—his mortal 3.59 ERA can attest to that.

However, you can't say that Diaz doesn't know how to enter a ballgame.

Since the Mets' 2022 breakthrough—when they went 101–61 and made their first postseason in six years—Diaz's entrance has become synonymous with New York's renaissance. He strides onto the field to "Narcos" by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet, Citi Field transforms into a pulsing club, and the other team usually loses.

As SNY indicated in a Friday morning tweet, the scene is even more mesmerizing from the air.

Citi Field, like its predecessor in Shea Stadium, is a stone's throw from LaGuardia Airport.

The Mets, for their part, are a stone's throw from a playoff appearance; they lead the Atlanta Braves by two games in the race for the National League's final wild-card playoff spot entering Friday.