The MLSPA revealed MLS player salaries for 2025, and for the third straight year, Inter Miami's Lionel Messi is the highest paid player in the league. The report offered insight into new additions, including LAFC's Son Heung-Min, Messi's teammate Rodrigo De Paul, the Vancouver Whitecaps' Thomas Muller, and Colorado Rapids' Paxten Aaronson.

Getty Images SportThe top 10 highest-paid players

Inter Miami had two players in the top three: Messi at $20.45 million and Sergio Busquets third at $8.8 million. It is worth noting Messi's recent contract extension is not reflected in these numbers. LAFC's new star Son is second to Messi at $11.45 million. Atlanta United's Miguel Almiron and San Diego FC's Hirving "Chucky" Lozano round out the top five.

The 10 MLS players with the highest guaranteed compensation in 2025 Rank Player Club Guaranteed Compensation

1Lionel MessiMiami$20.45M2Son Heung-MinLAFC$11.15M3Sergio BusquetsMiami$8.78M4Miguel AlmironAtlanta$7.87M5Hirving LozanoSan Diego$7.63M6Emil ForsbergRBNY$6.04M7Jordi AlbaMiami$6.00M8Riqui PuigLA Galaxy$5.78M9Jonathan BambaChicago$5.58M10Hany MukhtarNashville$5.31MAdvertisementGetty Images SportAssessing the summer signing salaries

This report also revealed the salaries for De Paul and Aaronson. It is worth noting that the salaries of De Paul and the New England Revolution's Matt Turner represent the compensation the clubs are paying while the players are on loan in MLS. 

Top 10 Highest-Paid MLS Newcomers in 2025 Player Club Guaranteed Compensation

Son Heung-MinLAFC$11.15MRodrigo De PaulInter Miami$3.67M*Nico FernándezNYCFC$3.65MKristoffer VeldePortland Timbers$3.03MDjordje MihailovicToronto FC$2.28MPaxten AaronsonColorado Rapids$2.23MWessam Abou AliColumbus Crew$2.18MIván JaimeCF Montréal$1.99MMatt TurnerNew England Revolution$1.94MRwan CruzReal Salt Lake$1.86MGetty Images SportMLS payrolls

The report also shed light on team payrolls. Inter Miami, at $48.97M, outpace the rest of the league by $18.87 million – with that gap alone higher than the payrolls of 15 clubs in the league. The Herons will have $14.78 million come off the books following this season due to the  retirements of Busquets and Jordi Alba – which could lead to the club bringing in even more talent. 

LAFC are second at $30.1M, while Atlanta United ($28.5M), FC Cincinnati ($23.2M), and the Chicago Fire ($23.1 M) round out the top five. 

Guaranteed Compensation for MLS Franchises in 2025 (Source: MLS Players Association) Club Guaranteed Compensation

Inter Miami$48.97MLAFC$30.1MAtlanta United$28.5MFC Cincinnati$23.2MChicago Fire$23.1MNashville SC$22.4MPortland Timbers$22.4MLA Galaxy$22.3MSan Diego FC$22.3MNew York Red Bulls$22.1MColumbus Crew$19.2MNew England Revolution$19.1MCharlotte FC$19.0MNYCFC$18.8MSeattle Sounders$18.3MSporting Kansas City$17.6MVancouver Whitecaps$17.6MSan Jose Earthquakes$17.1MSt. Louis City$16.9MHouston Dynamo$16.8MOrlando City$16.1MAustin FC$15.7MReal Salt Lake$15.7MD.C. United$14.9MColorado Rapids$14.6MMinnesota United$14.5MToronto FC$13.7MPhiladelphia Union$13.4MFC Dallas$13.4MCF Montréal$12.92MENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesInter Miami frustrating the league?

While Messi has voiced MLS needs more spending, there have reportedly been some frustrations on how his team was able to circumvent the salary cap rules to sign De Paul, according to The Athletic.

It is worth noting that the Whitecaps used a similar mechanism with Thomas Muller, albeit not a loan, but they did sign the German to a smaller deal this season before a DP option for next season. Muller is making $1.44 million this season, according to the MLSPA. 

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke is slowly showing supporters and the wider footballing community that he has what it takes to manage in the Premier League.

It is hard to blame anyone for having doubts over whether or not the German tactician could lead a team to safety in the top-flight, given his record in the division with Norwich City.

Daniel Farke’s Premier League record with Norwich

Stats

19/20

21/22

Matches

38

11

Wins

5

1

Draws

6

2

Losses

27

8

Points

21

5

League position

20th

20th

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Farke won six of his 49 matches in charge of the Canaries in the Premier League before he was sacked after 11 games in the 2021/22 campaign.

However, he has been backed financially in a way that he was not at Carrow Road, which has allowed the Whites to enjoy a solid start to the season.

The West Yorkshire outfit are 15th in the table with eight points in seven games after two wins, two draws, and three defeats, which is a respectable return for the newly-promoted outfit.

Farke is now hoping to emulate the success that Marcelo Bielsa had in the top-flight in the 2020/21 campaign after his side were promoted to the big time.

Ranking Marcelo Bielsa's best Leeds United teams

The Argentine head coach initially joined the club in the summer of 2018 and led the team to a third-placed finish in the Championship, but watched his team lose to Derby County in the semi-finals of the play-offs.

It was a terrific first season at Elland Road for Bielsa, even if it ended in disappointment for the club in the play-offs, but the best was yet to come for the manager.

In the 2019/20 campaign, Leeds racked up 93 points with 28 wins and nine draws in the Championship, ten more points than they managed in the previous season, to earn promotion to the Premier League and the second tier title.

It is, therefore, fair to say that Bielsa’s team in his second season was better than the one he had in his first, as they won ten more points to earn promotion.

However, that promotion-winning team was not the best side that the Argentine tactician had during his time at Elland Road, because of what was achieved in the Premier League the following season.

20/21 Premier League

Leeds

League rank

Points

59

9th

Non-penalty xG

52.5

4th

xG

55.6

6th

Goals scored

62

6th

xGA

57.9

16th

Goals conceded

54

14th

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, Leeds were fun to watch as a free-scoring newly-promoted side that fired their way to a top-half finish in the top-flight, which turned out to be Bielsa’s best achievement in his time in West Yorkshire.

He was sacked after picking up 23 points from 26 Premier League games in the 2021/22 season, which should rank as his worst team, followed by his first season, then his second one, and the ninth-placed finish in the top-flight as his best side.

The team in the graphic above was his most-used starting line-up in the 2020/21 campaign in the 4-1-4-1 formation, including stars like Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha.

With Farke and his team looking to emulate the success that Bielsa’s team had in their first season in the big time, would any of the club’s current stars make it into that best XI?

Chalkboard

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

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As good as Luke Ayling was, and as much as he was a terrific servant for the Whites, there is a case to be made for Jayden Bogle walking into that Bielsa side in the 2020/21 campaign on current form.

Why Jayden Bogle would walk into Marcelo Bielsa's best team

There were some question marks raised over the English full-back’s ability to make the step up to the Premier League this season, because of the Sheffield United team that he was a part of in the 2023/24 season.

Bogle played 34 of his side’s 38 league matches at right-back as the Blades conceded a staggering 104 goals, per Sofascore, the most by any team in a 38-game top-flight season.

However, the 25-year-old star’s start to the current campaign suggests that he is more than capable of delivering quality performances in the Premier League, winning the club’s Player of the Month award for August.

Bogle has started all seven of the club’s matches in the Premier League this season and Leeds rank fifth in the division for xGA (7.9), per FBref, which shows that he is currently part of one of the best defensive units in the division.

Whereas, as aforementioned, Leeds were 16th in the top-flight for xGA with Ayling as their first-choice right-back in Bielsa’s best team at Elland Road.

Premier League

Luke Ayling (20/21)

Jayden Bogle (25/26)

Appearances

38

7

Assists

0

0

Tackles per game

2.9

3.0

Interceptions per game

0.9

1.6

Clearances per game

2.0

2.9

Dribbled past per game

1.0x

1.1x

Possession lost per game

18.6x

11.7x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Bogle’s current defensive numbers topple Ayling’s in the 2020/21 campaign, which may be part of the reason why Farke’s defence is performing better than Bielsa’s did.

On top of that, Ayling did not deliver any assists in that season in the Premier League, which means that Bogle’s current lack of assists in the top-flight should not go against him in this debate.

The former Blades star, who was dubbed “sensational” and a “massive signing” by pundit Micah Richards earlier this year, also delivered more goals and assists combined (ten) last term than Ayling did in the 2019/20 promotion-winning season (eight), per Sofascore, which suggests that he has more potential to excel as an attacking force.

Therefore, there is a genuine case to be made that the 25-year-old star is good enough in the present day to walk into Bielsa’s best team in the ninth-placed Premier League finish.

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Hopefully, the current campaign will be a success, with a similarly impressive league finish, and fans will be talking about which players would make it into Farke’s best team in the future.

Newcastle United are in a six-club battle to sign an “exceptional” Champions League-winning player, sending scouts to watch him in action.

Newcastle handed Livramento injury concern in Arsenal heartbreak

The Magpies lost 2-1 at home to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, as their disappointing start to the season continues.

The nature of the defeat was bad enough, with the Gunners winning it in the dying seconds, but a serious-looking injury to Tino Livramento compounded Newcastle’s misery, with Eddie Howe clearly concerned about it after the game.

“He’s such a big player for us in so many different ways – his versatility, his attitude, his quality. If we’re going to miss that for any length of time, it is going to be a huge blow.”

Losing Livramento for a lengthy period of time would be a massive blow for Newcastle, considering what a key man he has become at both right and left-back, and it could even affect his chances of representing England at the 2026 World Cup.

Away from the injury news, it looks as though the Magpies are still trying to show ambition in the transfer market, with a Champions League winner mentioned as an option for them in 2026.

Newcastle send scouts to watch "exceptional" star

According to a new report from Caught Offside, Newcastle United are “closely monitoring” Real Madrid forward Arda Guler, sending scouts to watch him in La Liga action.

The Magpies are far from alone in expressing an interest in the Turk, however, with Arsenal, Tottenham, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig making it a six-club tussle for his signature. The Gunners have been the most strongly linked, pursuing the Turkey prodigy – who was also wanted by Barcelona before he chose Madrid – since earlier this summer.

Guler is arguably one of the most gifted and exciting young attacking players in Europe, so Newcastle supporters should love the idea of him moving to St James’ Park.

The 20-year-old has tasted Champions League glory with Madrid, impressing with his left-footed guile as a squad player, with Spain coach Luis de la Fuente a big admirer of him.

“Arda Guler is an exceptional player. We’re watching him here in La Liga with Real Madrid. His position has changed, he’s shown that he’s very versatile. He can play in deeper positions, close to the box, and also on the wing. He’s a great player.”

Guler isn’t always a key starter for Madrid, given the world-class attacking depth at their disposal, but he already has three goals and assists apiece in the league this season, suggesting that he is an important player for Xabi Alonso.

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If he decides that he needs a new challenge, though, wanting to be the star man at a club, Newcastle should be at the front of the queue for his signature.

Rangers are continuing their search for a new manager at Ibrox, with an “amazing” 36-year-old now impressing club chiefs as an interesting option.

Rangers snubbed by manager target after Ibrox talks

The Gers sacked Russell Martin last weekend, following a hugely unconvincing spell in charge, and it’s now a case of nailing his successor.

Steven Gerrard has stood out as a leading option to come in, having guided Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title back in 2020/21, but a new update claims that the Liverpool legend has decided not to take the job, looking elsewhere instead.

The Gers will now have to turn their attention elsewhere, and with both Martin and Philippe Clement struggling during their respective tenures, it is vital that the club avoid a third disappointing reign in a row.

Supporters are likely to be split over whether they want another young manager like Martin, or a more proven figure in the mold of Sean Dyche, but a boss who falls into the former category has now been linked with the job.

"Amazing" manager impresses Rangers bosses

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Rangers have been left impressed after talks with Danny Rohl, who is looking for a new job after leaving Sheffield Wednesday earlier this year.

Rohl stands out as an exciting option for Rangers, considering he is still only 36 years of age and impressed at Wednesday, pulling off a hugely laudable escape act in the Championship in 2023/24, often deploying a 4-2-3-1 formation.

It is added elsewhere that in discussions, Rohl has made it clear in talks he is ready to take the job and is already considering various ex-Rangers players who could be part of his backroom staff should he be appointed.

The German’s ability wasn’t lost on Owls legend Chris Waddle, who heaped praise on the job he was doing during his time at Hillsborough.

“I like this style of his tactics he got with the players he had, I think it was very limited, he didn’t really have a budget. You know, it was a lot of free transfers, there was a lot of players who played in League One with that team. I thought he got them organised, he got them together. The players obviously rolled their sleeves up and gave it 110%, and he got his reward. You know, at one stage, we were talking about getting in the playoffs, which was amazing.”

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Rohl’s teams try to play good football, but in a less risky manner to Martin, and if they do miss out on Gerrard, as appears to be the case now, the young German feels like an exciting option to bring in.

Messi's message on MLS salary restrictions might be self-serving, but the larger point about change rings true

Lionel Messi doesn't do enough to promote Major League Soccer – or so we are told. The Argentina and Inter Miami star, since moving to the league, has drawn criticism in some corners for his reluctance to speak. He rarely grants interviews. He's never available to be quizzed by reporters after games.

Messi might have many thoughts. But few hear them, at least publicly.

In the last week, though, he has done two interviews. The timing makes sense. He just signed a contract extension with Inter Miami through 2028. And even if his mere existence in South Florida needs no publicity, these are the standard things you do after committing three more years of your life to America. 

Messi is talking. A little. And most of his words seemed like excellent PR fodder. He said all of the right things about playing for Miami and American soccer. He teased the fact that he might or might not play at the World Cup (Lionel Messi is probably going to play at the World Cup).

But the one comment that has been picked up on repeatedly was in regard to MLS rules. He was asked by an interviewer if he would make any changes to the league. And he knew exactly what he wanted to say.

"Well, for starters, every team should have the opportunity to bring in players and sign whoever each team wants – without limitations or rules for players to bring them in," Messi said.

This is a tired point, to a large degree, and Messi isn't the first to make it. MLS probably should do something about its salary cap rules. But Messi's claim here doesn't read like a careful consideration of financial markets, or the general state of American soccer or flag-waving for the best interests of all 30 MLS teams.

Rather, this sounded an awful lot like a footballer who wants his own way, a player who doesn't talk, speaking up to push for the kind of signings he wants. The funny thing? Now might actually be the time for MLS to listen. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  The salary debate

  Messi is not the first to bring up the fact that MLS's byzantine salary rules aren't the best thing in the world. They, more generally, split opinion. It's pretty clear, at this point, that capping spending in some way – as the league currently does – limits the league's capacity to improve in quality.

  But how, exactly, that should be changed is up for debate. Some have said that restrictions should be loosened, that the league should raise the cap. Others have called for a floor, effectively forcing the teams that are loath to spend to raise the base level.

  The most beneficial middle ground would perhaps be the option to open up more designated player spots – and allow for more quality signings. Don't want to spend? Fine, but don't prevent other teams from doing so.

  Other stars have picked up on a similar point. Thierry Henry slammed the system more than a decade ago after the Red Bulls lost star player Kenny Cooper due to cap restrictions.

  "If you’re in any other league in the world, you keep your good players. Not in this league,” Henry said in 2013. "That’s just the way it is and that’s why most of the time you see players [moving] and being traded. It is an American way of dealing with things, salary cap, draft, trade."

  There is a fine lineage of complaining here. Messi is now part of it.

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• AFP
  

  What unrestricted spending could do

  It's not hard to figure out what more flexibility would mean, in the context of Messi's words: better players for Miami. There was speculation that the Herons might sign Neymar before the 2025 season. It was a fun story. Neymar and Messi are friends. It would complete another Barcelona reunion in Miami.

  The parties would surely be wonderful for the Brazilian legend.  Miami manager Javier Mascherano was asked about it at MLS media day and ruled out the signing immediately on the grounds that the club simply didn't have the cap flexibility to make it happen.

  "We cannot talk about Ney because we have nothing," Mascherano said. "Obviously, Ney is a great player. Every coach in the world wants him but at the moment, but you know the MLS rules around the salary cap. So for us in this moment, it's impossible to try to think about him."

  At the time, it was a throwaway comment in a room full of reporters. Everyone there knew that Miami couldn't wedge Neymar in under the cap – not at a veteran minimum salary that he certainly would not accept. But Mascherano vocalized that fact: it was a non-starter.

  That does not mean, though, that a removal of a salary cap would encourage Messi to reunite all of his old teammates in Miami. More likely, it would allow for the construction of deeper and more complete rosters – albeit with a clear Albiceleste lineage. In Miami's case that would surely mean the presence of a few Argentine stars.

  It is no secret that Messi has wanted to play with Angel Di Maria again. He probably wouldn't mind having Nicolas Otamendi at centerback, either. And then, there are the others. A deluge of Argentine teenagers – highly rated or otherwise – head to Europe every year to fight for spots.

  But Franco Mastantuono, unlikely to make the grade in the big games at Real Madrid, for example, would be an excellent addition to play on the right for Miami.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Miami, cheaters?

  But the more pertinent point here is the fact that Messi is the one saying these words. The rest of MLS has long resented Miami for the way they go about things financially. The Herons have a clear appeal due to would-be signings, and in the past couple of years have deliberately stretched MLS financial rules in order to construct a star-heavy roster.

  The irony? Messi is the one who takes up most of the cash. According to this week's salary release, Messi makes north of $20 million, nearly double the next highest paid player in the league, and more than the total spend of 21 other teams in MLS.

  Throw in the hefty $8.8M that they pay to soon-to-retire Sergio Busquets, and their spending only gets more extravagant. In order to piece together the pieces around them, Miami have been sneaky – though some might say clever.

  Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba are both on team-friendly contracts that are well below players of their quality or prestige. Rodrigo De Paul, signed this summer, is technically on a loan deal that will be made permanent at the end of the season.

  To complement them, the Herons have made a series of other loan signings that really should be outside their scope. Tadeo Allende, an excellent addition in midfield, is here on loan. No team should be able to spend that much money – and then get such good quality players on the cheap. Miami can. 

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• Getty Images
  

  Player power and speaking out

  Yet for all of the anger rival fans might have built up, it's hard to begrudge Messi. Not because he finallygave an interview. Rather, MLS is a league that seems fairly content to run in place. It needs its stars to bring about change. This is no longer a setup that needs the safety net of restrictions. 

  That change, of course, can come from within boardrooms. But loud voices, in any sport, are instrumental in instigating meaningful conversations. Footballers abroad, for example, have repeatedly talked about load management and the demands on their bodies. Complaints from players themselves, along with fan furor, were key in ensuring that the much-maligned La Liga game set to be held in Miami was abandoned. 

  And sure, Messi is acting out of self interest here. He wants his old friends to play football with him in Miami. He likely isn't particularly happy that the Herons struggled so much at the Club World Cup, either. 

  But it is also true that the league will find it difficult to improve without significant investment from owners. Does Messi have that top of mind when he gives a rare interview? It's unclear. There is little evidence to suggest that Messi has a deep empathy for the plight of Montreal fans, for example. But he is certainly aware of the weight that his words may carry. 

حدد المدرب الأرجنتيني ماوريسيو بوتشيتينو موقفه من العودة للتدريب في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بعد أن سبق له وقام بتدريب العديد من الأندية.

ويتولى مدرب توتنهام وتشيلسي وساوثهامبتون السابق حالياً تدريب منتخب الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية ويستعد لقيادته في كأس العالم على أرضه في 2026.

وقد أوضح بوتشيتينو أنه يطمح للعودة للتدريب في الدوري الإنجليزي الذي تركه في عام 2024 بعد مغادرته ملعب ستامفورد بريدج.

أقرأ أيضاً.. أموريم يرد على تصريحات كريستيانو رونالدو: نسينا الماضي ونركز على المستقبل

وذكر المدرب الأرجنتيني في تصريحات لـ “بي بي سي سبورت”: “بالطبع أفتقد الدوري الانجليزي، أنا سعيد للغاية في امريكا”.

وأضاف: “لكنني أفكر في العودة يوماً ما إلى الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، إنه الدوري الأكثر تنافسية”.

وكان بوتشيتينو قد قاد توتنهام للمركز الثاني في الدوري الإنجليزي والصعود لنهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا وكأس الرابطة، ويتشوق لفرصة أخرى للفوز ببعض الألقاب التي كانت صعبة أمام السبيرز.

واختتم المدرب الأرجنتيني: “أعتقد أننا كنا قريبين جداً في توتنهام للفوز بالبريميرليج ودوري أبطال أوروبا وكدنا نحقق ذلك، هذا شيء أرغب في تحقيقه”.

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O Santos está pronto e preparado para encarar o Vasco pela 25ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Na busca pela vitória, o Peixe opta por repetir a escalação que teve sucesso contra o Bahia.

+ Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro-2023 clicando aqui

Portanto, o time de Marcelo Fernandes vai ao jogo com: João Paulo; Joaquim, João Basso e Dodô; Lucas Braga, Tomás Rincón, Lucas Lima, Jean Lucas e Kevyson; Soteldo e Marcos Leonardo.

+ Condição especial para matrícula no curso Gestor de Futebol, aprovado por Dante, Petković, Léo Moura e outros craques. Saiba mais!

O 5-3-2 que trouxe a vitória longe de contra será testado novamente. O treinador interino repete a escalação após muito tempo. O único desfalque para a partida é o de Mendoza, que se recupera de estiramento na panturrilha.

Para frear o ímpeto santista, o Vasco está alinhado com: Léo Jardim; Puma Rodríguez, Léo, Zé Gabriel e Lucas Piton; Medel, Marlon Gomes e Praxedes; Paulinho, Gabriel Pec e Vegetti. O treinador do clube Cruz-maltino é o Ramón Diaz.

A bola começará a rolar na Vila Belmiro, às 16 horas (de Brasília), neste domingo (1º).

Veteran spinner gets one over old club with three matchwinning wickets

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Jun-2025

Samit Patel was a Nottinghamshire stalwart but has since moved to Derbyshire•Getty Images

Derbyshire Falcons broke their duck for the season and recorded a first Blast victory at Trent Bridge since 2013 as Samit Patel delivered a reminder to his former club that he can be a match-winner even at the age of 40.The veteran left-arm spinner, who took 208 T20 wickets in 21 seasons in Nottinghamshire colours, claimed another three for 14 as the Falcons consigned the Outlaws to a third straight defeat on their own turf, going down by 46 runs as they finished on 153 for nine chasing a target of 200.Opener Aneurin Donald’s 73 off 34 balls gave the Falcons a platform that was ultimately exploited by Brooke Guest (37 off 24) and Ross Whitely (35 off 16) in an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 65 of 33 balls out of 199 for five, after leg spinner Calvin Harrison had taken three for 32.Home skipper Joe Clarke posted his third half-century of the season but with Matt Montgomery’s 27 the next best score, his side were never in serious contention, leaving them with just two wins from their opening six matches. Afghanistan’s teenage spinner Mohammad Ghazanfar (two for 26) and on-loan Fynn Hudson-Prentice (two for 38) backed up Patel with the ball.Put in, Derbyshire were 61 without loss in their batting powerplay, Donald riding his luck profitably as he survived chances on five and 39.Harrison found some turn to bowl Caleb Jewell with his first ball and was involved again as Donald, having raised his sixes tally to five after going past fifty in 25 balls, found the all-rounder’s big hands at wide midwicket off left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White, who returned the favour as Wayne Madsen holed out to cover, giving Harrison a second wicket.Rob Lord, on his Blast debut, picked up his maiden wicket as Patel failed to clear mid-off before Harrison had Martin Andersson leg before sweeping. But Guest and Whitely, the latter smiting two sixes as Australian pacer Sams conceded 30 in his last two overs, took Derbyshire to their highest total of the season.A stiff task quickly became harder for Notts as Ghazanfar removed Lyndon James, caught at midwicket, and Jack Haynes, leg before, in his first seven deliveries before Freddie McCann somehow managed to shovel a ball from Fynn Hudson-Prentice over his own shoulder and on to the stumps, leaving them 22 for three before a horrible moment at the start of the sixth over saw wicketkeeper Guest and Ghazanfar, running in from mid-on, collide going for the same catch off Clarke on 25, with neither man holding on, after which a dazed Ghazanfar left the field, thankfully only temporarily.Clarke was dropped again at extra cover on 46, the shot taking him to his third fifty of the season, but a 55-run partnership with Matt Montgomery (27 off 19) ended when the latter was bowled by Patel, who celebrated extravagantly as the Notts skipper slapped a wide delivery straight to Pat Brown on the extra cover boundary at 99 for five, picking up his third in his next over as Tom Moores missed.Sams was caught on the cover boundary, Patterson-White and Lord falling to Brown in the last over as Notts finished on 153 for nine.

Attack leader plays down concerns about workload and past injuries after latest stellar display

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-20254:39

Bumrah: ‘Nobody is dropping catches on purpose’

Jasprit Bumrah resumed Test cricket from where he had left off in Australia with a stress reaction in the already operated-on back: carrying the India attack and looking the most threatening bowler on the park. While he was away, there was concern aplenty if Bumrah had been bowled into the ground and how well he would be able to return from the injury.While Bumrah has kept his medical status close to his and his inner circle’s chest, experts felt another such injury could prove to be the last one for his Test career. The headlines haven’t impressed Bumrah. “I can’t control what people write,” he said. “Nor am I trying to teach people what to write and what not to write about me. Everybody is free to write what they want. I understand cricket is very popular in our country, and I understand that using my name in the headline boosts the viewership. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter to me. Because if I let it get into my head, I will start believing it. I need my beliefs and my ways to dictate how I go. Not the way others want me to play.”I always wanted to play for India. I played for India on my belief. I have played every format on my belief. I have always heard ‘no’ from people. First they said ‘you won’t be able to play’; then they said ‘you will last only six months’; then they said ‘you will last only eight months’, and just like that I have spent ten years in international cricket listening to all this. I have played the IPL for 12-13 years.Related

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“Even now people keep saying this injury will be it. Keep waiting, I will not think about that. I will keep doing my work. Every three-four months there will be headlines but, let’s see, I will play till it is in my destiny. I prepare my best, and leave the rest to god. Whatever [abundance or good fortune] god has given me, I try to carry it forward, and try to take Indian cricket forward.”The last injury does seem to have changed his outlook towards how much he should push himself. He has already informed the team management he will not be available for all the Tests this series. That, he says, is why he opted out of captaincy.Given that it had been announced he would be playing only three Tests, it could increase the sense of urgency around these games – because he will have fewer days to make an impact in. Not for Bumrah. “You don’t look at what is going to happen in the future,” Bumrah said. “You are there in the ground at that moment. You have to do a job. So at that moment I’m trying to assess the wicket. I’m trying to assess what is happening, what are my options, how is the wicket behaving, who’s the batter there, what is he thinking, how do I outsmart him or what do I do? I look at all of those things at that moment. I was not thinking about what will happen or how many games I will play. At this moment, focusing on the Test match. When the match is over, think about all these permutations and combinations.”The expectations, he said, can be extra baggage, which he doesn’t want to carry. “I ask myself this question at night, did I give my absolute best?” Bumrah said. “If the answer is yes, I quietly go to sleep.”

Tawanda Muyeye cemented himself as the leading run-scorer in the Men’s Vitality Blast 2025 with a jaw-dropping maiden T20 century as Kent Spitfires tore rivals Essex apart.Muyeye became Kent’s eighth T20 hundred-maker, with the club’s joint-most sixes in an innings as he hoisted his bat on a stunning 58-ball 100.He and opening partner Daniel Bell-Drummond are the only two players to reach three figures in this year’s competition, with Muyeye’s 362 runs leading the charts.Matt Parkinson’s first T20 five-wicket haul pulled the rug out under Essex’s doomed chase of 214 as they were bowled out for 172, despite Dean Elgar’s patient 50 and Simon Harmer’s late pyrotechnics in scoring 55.Essex wanted to chase, and started strongly with the ball with three tight overs before Muyeye swung Harmer for two sixes in a row to begin his assault on Chelmsford. He put on 71 with Bell-Drummond for the first wicket, 76 with Joe Denly and 43 with captain Sam Billings – all got starts, but there was only one star of the show.There is no secret that Muyeye is one of the most aesthetically pleasing batters on the circuit. His quick hands, paired with a long backswing, caught the eye, but it was the power that had the hosts scrambling.He fired seven sixes in total into the balmy sky, equalling the record for Kent, plus six hammered fours.Muyeye quickly moved to the top of the Blast run-scoring charts for this season, and made a play to stay there for the rest of the campaign, with a half-century ticked off in 32 balls and his ton in 58.In doing so he joined an esteemed and exclusive list of Kent T20 centurions – Denly, Bell-Drummond, Billings, Zak Crawley, Azhar Mahmood, Sam Northeast, and Andrew Symonds being the other inductees.He might have controlled a full toss straight to long-off next ball, but the damage was done. Kent reached 219, with Shane Snater, Harmer and Luc Benkenstein picking up a wicket each, although Mohammad Amir was the only bowler to go at under sevens.A bumper Friday night crowd resorted to gallows humour when Elgar finally found the boundary with the 20th ball of the innings, having already seen Tom Rogers skip one past Michael Pepper.Things heated up later in the third over when Jordan Cox swung and missed. Wicketkeeper Billings threw the ball at the stumps, missed and hit his former team-mate. Cox responded by kicking the ball away and verbals were exchanged at close quarters.Cox punted the following delivery down the ground for four, but the spat ended when Billings gave Cox a send-off after skying to long-on.Parkinson, who had dismissed Cox, then bowled Paul Walter with legspinning perfection with the next ball, but squandered a hat-trick with a leg-side wide.Parkinson added a third when Benkenstein stuck one straight up and another as Matt Critchley found the deep point fielder.Elgar had quietly amassed his 16th T20 fifty, but he was bowled by another Parkinson beauty, the spinner ending up with 5 for 23. Charlie Allison, Noah Thain, Shane Snater and Harmer also fell – with Joey Evison taking two in two at one point.While Essex remain the sole winless side in either group, Harmer entertained the crowd with seven sixes once the match was mathematically lost – he smacked 55 in 21 balls.