England winger Bukayo Saka knows he has to bring his club form to the international stage – and his manager Thomas Tuchel agrees.
The 24-year-old, whose early season was curtailed by injury, returned to Tuchel’s side for the 3-0 friendly win over Wales at Wembley and marked the occasion with a stunning goal.
That saw him become the top-scoring Arsenal player in an England shirt with 13, though Tuchel quipped it should be 30, not 13.
Saka has been one of the stars of the Premier League for the Gunners over the last few seasons, recently completing 100 goal contributions, but knows he has to do more in an England shirt.
“I have missed a lot of England games, especially under Thomas and I haven’t scored for a while either, so to come back and put the ball in the back of the net is a special feeling,” he said after he found the top corner with a brilliant effort.
“The way I perform for Arsenal I want to take it into England and perform better in games and be more effective. That is always my plan.
“Last camp I was really gutted I had to miss it, so coming back into the team today is a really nice feeling and to get that opportunity to put the shirt on again and score is an amazing feeling.”
Tuchel challenges Saka to score more for England
Tuchel has challenged the winger to bring more to his side, insisting he has all the conditions to perform.
Tuchel said: “How many goals did he score for England? Thirteen? One three? It has to be more, it’s not enough.
“He needs to keep on going. I thought it was 30, at least, and then I would have said it’s not enough, because I am never satisfied.
“He is such a threat for Arsenal in the most difficult league in the world, so why would he not be at international level?
“We have the position for him, he has the attitude, the stamina, the talent, everything to be a top player at international level, and that’s what he has to show.
“We can just encourage him to be influential, like he was today. Next game, he needs to try to repeat it.”
نجح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة في تحقيق فوز مهم على حساب نظيره إلتشي، في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.
وخاض فريق برشلونة مباراة إلتشي، مساء اليوم الأحد، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني لموسم 2025-2026.
واستقبل برشلونة نظيره إلتشي، ضمن منافسات الجولة الحادية عشر من بطولة الدوري الإسباني “الليجا”، على ملعب “مونتجويك”، في المباراة الجارية الآن.
وأحرز لامين يامال الهدف الأول بعد تمريرة ولا أروع من بالدي الذي اقتحم منطقة وسط الملعب ومرر إلى لامين الذي سدد الكرة ببراعة على يسار حارس المرمى، في الدقيقة 9.
وأضاف اللاعب فيران توريس الهدف الثاني لصالح برشلونة في الدقيقة 12 بعدما انطلق فيرمين لوبيز بالكرة إلى منطقة الجزاء وأرسل عرضية رائعة إلى فيران الذي وضعها بسهولة في المرمى.
اقرأ أيضًا | موعد مباراة برشلونة القادمة بعد الفوز على إلتشي في الدوري الإسباني
ثم سجل رافا مير الهدف الأول لصالح فريق إلتشي في الدقيقة 42 وأضاف راشفورد الهدف الثالث لنادي برشلونة ليقضي على آمال إلتشي في العودة ويطمئن جماهير برشلونة.
وتم اختيار اللاعب الدولي الإنجليزي ماركوس راشفورد رجل المباراة نظرًا لتألقه المميز وظهوره الرائع في المباراة أمام إلتشي بالمباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.
وحصل راشفورد على تقييم 7.4 من موقع فوت موب بعد مشاركته في أهداف المباراة واستعادة برشلونة نغمة الانتصارات مرة أخرى.
بتلك النتيجة، أصبح برشلونة في المركز الثاني برصيد 25 نقطة في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني الممتاز، خلفًا لريال مدريد صاحب المركز الأول برصيد 30 نقطة.
Londrina e Ituano se enfrentam nesta quinta-feira (14), pela 28ª rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. A bola rola às 18h30 (de Brasília), no Estádio do Café, em Londrina, no Paraná.
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Enquanto o Londrina briga para somar pontos e sair da zona de rebaixamento, estando na penúltima posição da tabela com apenas 20 pontos, o Ituano está na 13ª colocação, com 32 pontos, cinco a menos que a Chapecoense, primeiro time no Z-4. Na última rodada, as duas equipes foram derrotadas. Os donos da casa perderam para o Ceará por 3 a 1, e os visitantes foram superados pelo Vila Nova por 2 a 1.
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O Londrina, agora no comando do técnicoRoberto Fonseca, poderá contar com os retornos do zagueiro Rafael Vaz e do atacante Paulinho Moccelin, que cumpriram suspensão contra o Ceará e voltam a ficar à disposição. No entanto, o volante Fabrício Baiano foi substituído com dores no início do primeiro tempo na última rodada e teve constatada uma lesão muscular na coxa. Dessa forma, ele deve ser vetado pelo departamento médico.
Do lado do Ituano, o treinador Marcio Freitas terá o retorno do meia José Aldo, que cumpriu suspensão na derrota para o Vila Nova na última rodada. Porém, o lateral Kauan Richard e o atacante Felipe Saraiva serão desfalques, já que estão suspensos.
FICHA TÉCNICA LONDRINA x ITUANO
Data e horário: 14 de setembro de 2023, às 18h30 Local: Estádio do Café, em Londrina (PR) Árbitro: Dênis da Silva Ribeiro Serafim (AL) Assistentes: Rondinelle dos Santos Tavares (AL) e Karla Renata Cavalcanti de Santana (PE) VAR: Philip Georg Bennet (RJ) Onde assistir: SporTV (TV fechada) e Premiere (pay-per-view)
PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES LONDRINA:Neneca, Ezequiel, Gabriel, Luan Freitas e Marcos Pedro; Ariel, João Paulo e William Barbio; Fabricio Baiano, Higor Leite e Iago Dias. Técnico: Roberto Fonseca.
ITUANO:Jefferson Paulino, Iury, Claudinho, Marcel e Kauan Richard; Lucas, Rafael Carvalheira, Hélio Borges, Yann Rolim e Wesley Pombo; Matheus Cadorini. Técnico: Marcio Freitas.
A number of decisions made by TV umpire Adrian Holdstock during the Barbados Test between West Indies and Australia have come in for scrutiny
Andrew McGlashan27-Jun-2025
Pat Cummins had Roston Chase lbw on 40 but was it off the inside edge?•Randy Brooks/AFP/Getty Images
West Indies coach Daren Sammy has raised questions about the work of TV umpire Adrian Holdstock during the opening Test against Australia in Barbados after the second day’s play involved a number of contentious reviews.Sammy met with match referee Javagal Srinath after play on Thursday to seek clarity over the decision-making, adding that he held concerns about Holdstock’s officiating from the recent ODI series in England, where he was TV umpire for two matches and on-field for the other.The two key decisions which West Indies felt went against them on the second day were an lbw against captain Roston Chase off the bowling of Pat Cummins, despite what they believed was evidence of an inside edge, and Shai Hope being brilliantly caught behind by Alex Carey off Beau Webster with the catch ruled clean after it was sent upstairs by the on-field umpires.Related
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“We are just trying to find some sort of understanding as to what the process is,” Sammy said. “We only hope for consistency. That’s all we could ask for. When there is doubt in something, just be consistent across the board.”I have noticed, especially with this particular umpire, it’s something that for me started in England. It’s frustrating. I just ask for consistency in the decision-making.”When asked to clarify whether he was specifically referencing Holdstock, Sammy said: “Yeah, look, you don’t want to get yourself in a situation where you’re wondering about certain umpires. Is there something against this team? But when you see decision after decision, then it raises the question. I know he’s here for the series. You don’t want to go in a Test match having that doubt.”So I want to have that conversation as to the process… so we could be all clear. Because, at the end of the day, you don’t want to be going into a Test match not trusting the umpires. And that’s not what our team is about. So we’re just looking for some clarity as to the decisions.”Asked whether West Indies would be lodging a formal complaint, Sammy said, “You’ll have to wait and see for that.”On Chase’s dismissal, which came at a crucial moment after lunch with the sixth-wicket stand with Hope on 67, he said: “In our opinion, we saw the ball deviated onto the pad.”With regards to Hope’s wicket, an inside edge that was held to his left by a diving Carey, Sammy did not say he did not believe it was a clean catch but drew a comparison with the reprieve Travis Head received on the first day when a catch taken by Hope behind the stumps was ruled to not have carried.”I’m just saying, judge what you see,” Sammy said. “If you see the same thing and one is not out, there is even more doubt on the other one than you give it out. Again, I don’t know what he’s seen but from the images that we’ve seen, the decisions are not fair enough for both teams. We’re all humans. Mistakes will be made. I just want fairness.”Australia also thought they had a decision go against them in the first over of the day when an lbw appeal against Chase was referred with the belief it was pad first, which initial replays suggested could be the case, before Holdstock determined there was insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision. Mitchell Starc questioned whether the images and audio on the replays were matching up.The Test is still in the balance with West Indies striking on the second evening after taking a lead of ten runs•Randy Brooks/Associated Press
“There’s been some interesting ones,” Starc said. “Obviously a couple more have gone against the West Indies than us. One for us [against Chase] looked like there was a gap between the bat and the ball, it cost us 40-odd runs, but then a contentious one to then get the wicket.”As players, you can only ask a question. We don’t use the technology to make that decision. It sort of felt like, or looked like, that the Snicko and the images were out of sync to some capacity.”Starc added that the Australians thought that Head’s edge through to Hope the previous day was out.Sammy, meanwhile, was aware of the risk of commenting on the match officials and had not wanted his players speaking on the decisions after play. “We know the rules. We know fines going all across the board,” he said. “I don’t want them to focus on that. Yes, we’re kind of shooting ourselves in the foot by dropping so many catches, but look at the Test match, [us] against our own selves, some of these decisions, and we’re still in a position to win.”
علق عماد متعب نجم الأهلي السابق، على فوز المارد الأحمر أمام الزمالك، في نهائي كأس السوبر المصري، والتتويج باللقب المحلي للمرة الـ16 في تاريخه.
وحقق فريق الأهلي الفوز على نظيره الزمالك، بهدفين دون رد، أحرزهما أشرف بن شرقي ومروان عطية، ليتوج الأحمر ببطولة كأس السوبر المصري للمرة الخامسة على التوالي.
طالع | سجل أبطال كأس السوبر المصري عقب تتويج الأهلي باللقب الـ16 على حساب الزمالك
وقال عماد متعب في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “مباراة مهمة جدًا، لتوروب واللاعبين والصفقات الجديدة، والنادي الأهلي سيبني على هذا الفوز”.
وأكمل: “البداية كانت بضغط عالٍ من الأهلي، وتمكن من تسجيل الهدف الأول، ثم تراجع قليلًا في الشوط الثاني، لكن من خلال التكملة العكسية والتنوع بين مراكز اللاعبين، عاد من جديد”.
وأردف: “هذه هي النقطة التي كان يحتاجها الأهلي في الفترة الماضية، واستطاع تسجيل الهدف الثاني”.
وأشار: “الأهلي ما زال يعاني من مشكلة في مركز المهاجم، لكن الأجنحة تعوض هذا النقص”.
وأتم: “الفوز على الزمالك في حد ذاته يُعد بطولة، والتتويج باللقب يُمثل بطولة أخرى”.
Leeds United play host to West Ham United at Elland Road in the Premier League this evening as they look to bounce back from their defeat to Burnley last weekend.
Daniel Farke’s side created four ‘big chances’ against the Clarets at Turf Moor last Saturday, but were unable to score any of them in a drab defeat.
It is safe to say that the German tactician needs more from his players at the top end of the pitch to pick up enough points to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The Whites only made three attacking signings in the summer, Noah Okafor, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Lukas Nmecha, and they are the only attackers in the squad who have directly contributed to goals.
Leeds attackers in the 25/26 Premier League
Player
Goals
Assists
Noah Okafor
2
0
Lukas Nmecha
1
0
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
1
0
Brenden Aaronson
0
0
Dan James
0
0
Wilfried Gnonto
0
0
Jack Harrison
0
0
Joel Piroe
0
0
Stats via WhoScored
As you can see in the table above, not a single attacker in the squad has registered an assist in the league, and none of the players who were already at the club before the window have scored any goals in the top-flight.
Jack Harrison started on the left flank, in a 4-3-3 system, in the loss to Burnley last time out, and Farke should drop him from the team for this clash with the Hammers.
Why Jack Harrison should be dropped
The German head coach should drop the left-footed forward from the starting XI because his current form and his form from his two seasons with Everton suggest that he is not the answer to their problems.
Leeds, as aforementioned, are lacking goals from their attacking players. That was an issue against Burnley as the Whites missed all four of their ‘big chances’, one of which was spurned by Harrison.
Vs Burnley
Jack Harrison
Minutes
66
Shots
2
Shots on target
0
Big chances missed
1
Key passes
1
Big chances created
1
Successful crosses
0/7
Possession lost
14x
Stats via Sofascore
Harrison, as shown in the table above, did create a ‘big chance’, for Brenden Aaronson, in his defence, but that was one positive in an otherwise dismal showing.
The 28-year-old dud has now failed to provide a goal or an assist for the team in seven Premier League matches, per Sofascore, whilst creating just one chance in that time.
Harrison also managed just four goals in 63 Premier League outings for Everton during his time on loan at Goodison Park, per Sofascore, which included one goal in 34 appearances in the 2024/25 campaign for the Toffees.
This suggests that Farke cannot rely on the left-sided attacker to turn things around and prove himself to be a consistent threat at the top end of the pitch for his side in their battle against relegation this season.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
It is also why Farke should take Harrison out of the starting line-up for this clash with West Ham United, because it seems unlikely that he will provide the ruthlessness they need in front of goal.
The manager, as shown in the post above, suggested in his pre-match press conference that Noah Okafor may return from his adductor injury to be involved this evening.
Why Noah Okafor is a difference maker for Leeds
AllLeedsTV present Oscar Marrio described the Switzerland international as a “class difference maker” for the West Yorkshire outfit earlier this month, but why is that the case?
The simple answer is that it is down to quality. Okafor’s technical ability, on this season’s showing, is on another level compared to the other attackers in the first-team squad.
Per Sofascore, the Swiss star has completed 2.2 dribbles per game on average in the Premier League. No other player in the team has completed more than 1.3 per game and no one other than Gabriel Gudmundsson has completed more than 0.9 dribbles per game.
The statistic in the post above shows that his dribbling skills have been impressive by Premier League standards, not just Leeds United standards, which further speaks to the ability that he can provide on the ball.
Okafor is not just a flashy dribbler who can take players on and get fans off their seats, though, as he has also shown that he has end product to his performances.
25/26 Premier League
Noah Okafor
Starts
4
xG
1.16
Goals
2
Conversion rate
33%
Big chances missed
0
Big chances created
1
Assists
0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the £18m signing from AC Milan has provided genuine quality at the top end of the pitch with two goals from 1.16 xG, without missing a single ‘big chance’.
Okafor’s goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the club’s 3-1 win back in September was a great example of him combining his pace, composure, and quality all into one piece of play.
The 25-year-old dynamo is a difference maker because he has attributes that allow him to make an impact in the final third, whilst Harrison’s statistics suggest that he does not share many of those attributes.
Okafor, given his start to life at Elland Road, seems far more likely to produce a moment of magic to win Leeds points against West Ham this evening in the Premier League, which is why Farke should drop Harrison to bring him into the starting line-up.
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Leeds United have a teenage prospect in their academy ranks who could replace Jack Harrison.
ByDan Emery Oct 22, 2025
Prior to the news that Okafor was in contention to feature, Football FanCast, in the article above, suggested that U21 starlet Connor Douglas could be an alternative to Harrison. If the Swiss star does end up not being fit enough to start, the 20-year-old gem could still be an option.
Mesmo ainda sem o Brasileirão finalizado, o Grêmio já começa a projetar a temporada de 2024. O Tricolor faz uma avaliação do elenco e analisa quais contratos devem ser renovados para o próximo ano.
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Do time gremista atual, além do técnico Renato Portaluppi, o Tricolor tem nove jogadores com vínculo se encerrado em dezembro: Caíque, João Pedro, Bruno Alves, Bruno Uvini, Geromel, Iturbe, Luan, Galdino e André Henrique.
Os jogadores ainda estão em avaliação da comissão técnica e do departamento de futebol. O lateral-direito João Pedro já começou as conversas por sua sequência. Geromel também projetou sua sequência em Porto Alegre. A intenção é se aposentar na Capital. “É sentar e conversar”. Os demais ainda não começaram tratativas para continuar na Capital.
Australia now lead by 181 with four wickets in hand but West Indies had given themselves a glimmer
Andrew McGlashan14-Jul-20250:51
Khawaja and Smith both knocked over cheaply
West Indies’ pace bowlers surged under lights on the second day at Sabina Park as the Test moved at a breakneck speed, with Australia stumbling to 99 for 6 amid a torrid working over in some of the toughest conditions imaginable.Sam Konstas’ miserable series ended with a duck, leaving his Test prospects for the Ashes in jeopardy. Cameron Green, on the other hand, played outstandingly for an innings worth far more than the 42 on the scoreboard, although he could have been run out on 14. By the close of another hectic day, which saw 15 wickets fall, Australia held a lead of 181 which was already considerable in the conditions, but West Indies had given themselves a glimmer.Related
Konstas will play for Australia again, but will he play Ashes?
Earlier, West Indies had been dismantled for 143, with Australia’s bowling sharing the success. Scott Boland, who replaced Nathan Lyon in the XI, finished with three wickets. Australia took a first-innings lead of 82, but it also meant they started their second innings at the beginning of the final session, as the lights took full hold.The passage of play when West Indies took the new ball was electrifying. Konstas wasn’t able to get off the mark as he jabbed at a short-of-a-length delivery from Shamar Joseph and was caught in the gully. It left Konstas, who had been billed as the future of the top order, with 50 runs in the series at 8.33.Usman Khawaja managed to take his balls-faced tally in the series to over 300 – a not-inconsiderable achievement given the conditions – but inside-edged a big drive against Shamar Joseph into his stumps, making it all six dismissals for the series from around the wicket.
Then, Alzarri Joseph turned up the throttle against Steven Smith with a spell where he touched 147kph and produced the fastest over by a West Indies bowler in the series. He had only been able to bowl seven overs in the first innings due to back problems but was cleared after scans in hospital.Smith was dropped on 1, a low chance to Justin Greaves at second slip, and appeared to have trouble sighting the ball, which is a challenge he has spoken about in day-night Tests. With Alzarri Joseph’s 12th delivery to Smith, he found the inside edge with a fuller delivery, pinning Smith back in the crease.West Indies spurned a golden chance to remove Green when he and Travis Head were caught ball-watching over a single. The pair resisted briefly, but it couldn’t last for much longer as Head sent a low catch to second slip against Greaves.Beau Webster was defeated by late movement from Alzarri Joseph, on a virtually unplayable delivery, and Alex Carey edged a wild drive to slip two balls after being clanged on the helmet by a bouncer that necessitated repair work on it. Carey’s stroke was one of a batter not backing their chances of hanging around.Scott Boland, who replaced Nathan Lyon in the XI, finished with three wickets•AFP/Getty Images
As with the opening day, the game moved at a much more sedate pace for the first two hours. West Indies had fought hard during the morning session, which took on a similar pattern to Australia’s first innings, where the scoring rate was low. They were 73 for 3 at the interval and later 124 for 5, before tumbling in a heap thanks to a mixture of good deliveries and poor batting.Brandon King, who had opened after injuries to John Campbell and Mikyle Louis on the first day, had been solid during the opening exchanges before falling to a bail-trimming lbw against Josh Hazlewood.There was a brief moment of controversy when Campbell was nearly run out by Pat Cummins’ under-arm flick from mid-on. Nitin Menon didn’t call for the TV umpire and said Australia hadn’t appealed. Replays showed Campbell’s bat bounced but had been ground fractionally over the line beforehand. There was a heated conversation between Cummins and Menon in the aftermath.Pat Cummins celebrates dismissing Roston Chase•AFP/Getty Images
Roston Chase had battled through 70 balls when he edged a lifter from Cummins to first slip as he tried to drop the bat and gloves out of the line.Campbell, meanwhile, had shaped up well, showing good judgement with tip and runs while latching onto anything slightly lose, especially a crunching cover drive against Hazlewood. However, a moment of misjudgment ended his stay when he shouldered arms to Boland.Louis, who hurt his knee on the opening day, played the worst shot from the top order – a swipe across the line – to leave West Indies 95 for 5.But Australia were not blemish free. Carey missed two chances – the first when he dived across in front of first slip for an edge off Greaves, and then a low inside edge from Shai Hope. However, Hope fell on the next ball, when a delivery nipped sharply from Boland and scooted past the inside edge.From there, the innings – which also included Greaves being run out coming back for a third, beaten by Konstas’ excellent throw from the deep – subsided till they were all out.
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All the runners and riders in Group B of the county 50-over competition, which returns this week
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-Aug-2025
Archie Vaughan was in action for Somerset in last year’s final•Getty Images
The Metro Bank One-Day Cup returns this week, with Glamorgan defending the title they won at Trent Bridge in 2025. Here are the runners and riders in Group B:DurhamPreviewed by Graham HardcastleCaptain: Alex Lees 2024 Position: Fifth (Group A) 2024 Most Runs: Colin Ackermann (316) 2024 Most Wickets: Paul Coughlin (12)Why they can win the competition: Durham are coming off the back of an excellent Vitality Blast campaign, which saw them finish second in the North Group. They were 50-over finalists in 2021 and will be desperate to win their first white-ball title since 2014 when they won a previous incarnation of this competition. Their squad is well balanced and hasn’t been ravaged by the Hundred.Player to watch: Ollie Robinson, the 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, hasn’t played in this competition since 2022 due to Hundred commitments. That season, he won the title as a Kent player. He scored a career-best 206 not out during that particular campaign. This season, he’s available to his county and is likely to be a linchpin of their top order.Young gun: Wicketkeeper-batter Haydon Mustard, 19, is set for his first first-team exposure of 2025 in this competition. An ever-present last year in the lower middle order, the former England U19 posted a top-score of 35. He even hit a six in a match against Lancashire at Sedbergh which was caught in the crowd by his dad, Phil.Final thought: South African overseas quick Codi Yusuf is available for this competition. He represented the county in the Rothesay County Championship during the first half of the summer before heading off to Zimbabwe in late June and early July to make his Test debut for the Proteas, taking the new ball and claiming 10 wickets in a 2-0 series victory. He returned to the Riverside on a deal until the end of the season and will add significant firepower to Durham’s bowling attack. Kent- ECB Reporters Network supported by RothesayCaptain: Grant Stewart and Harry Finch 2024 Position: Seventh (Group A) 2024 Most Runs: Jack Leaning (262) 2024 Most Wickets: Matt Parkinson (12)Why they can win the competition: Only three first-teamers are playing in The Hundred and the white-ball squad looks significantly stronger than the red. Kent won this competition as recently as 2022 and six of the team that surprised a full-strength Lancashire in that final are still with the club, although whether the Warwickshire-bound Nathan Gilchrist will be selected is uncertain.Player to watch: Harry Finch keeps on reinventing himself. A player who openly admits he wasted the first part of his career with Sussex, he got a second chance at Kent, taught himself to keep wicket and this year has starred at both number three and as an opener in the Vitality Blast. Asked what he’d try his hand at next, he replied: “football”.Young gun: Orpington-born, batting all-rounder Ekansh Singh has broken into the Rothesay County Championship side this season and recently starred for the England Men U19s, making a century in the second Youth Test at Chelmsford. The 19-year-old also went to school in Tonbridge, a town that’s nurtured talent including Colin Blythe, Colin Cowdrey and Ed Smith.Final thought: Politics derailed Kent’s 2024 campaign – Ben Compton was sidelined, reportedly due to his contract situation, and Kent sorely missed his ability to pace an innings, as a bowler-heavy line-up threw away a chance of qualification. This time round the business has been done early, with Compton and Joey Evison, player-of-the-match in the 2022 final, both signing new deals while leg-spinning all-rounder Mohammed Rizvi has been signed after impressing with the 2nd XI.Josh Bohannon whips off his pads through square leg•MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
LancashireCaptain: Marcus Harris 2024 Position: Ninth (Group A) 2024 Most Runs: Josh Bohannon (274) 2024 Most Wickets: Charlie Barnard (8)Why they can win the competition: As mixed as their performances have been in the Rothesay County Championship this summer, Lancashire were excellent in the Vitality Blast, finishing top of the North Group and qualifying for the quarter-finals. If they can transfer that momentum into 50-over cricket, they will have a chance. But their senior players have to be better in this competition than they were last year.Player to watch: Josh Bohannon is Lancashire’s linchpin batter in this format and has been their leading run-scorer in the past two campaigns, scoring a century in each of them. Former England Lions captain Bohannon is likely to bat at number three with the aim of batting through the innings and cashing in at the end.Young gun: Left-arm spinner Charlie Barnard led the way for the Red Rose in last season’s competition with eight wickets and impressed hugely on their pre-season tour of India. A wily spinner, an old head on young shoulders type, the 20-year-old took four wickets in three Vitality Blast matches in late May and early June and should be front and centre over the next month.Final thought: Lancashire, bottom of the pile last year, have not won a major List A title in more than a quarter of a century but came close in this competition in 2022 when they were beaten by Kent in a Trent Bridge final. Australian overseas batter Marcus Harris will captain the Red Rose, with Keaton Jennings and Sir James Anderson both having been selected in The Hundred. They have also signed emerging batting all-rounder Arav Shetty until the end of the season.MiddlesexCaptain: Ben Geddes 2024 Position: Sixth (Group A) 2024 Most Runs: Joe Cracknell (306) 2024 Most Wickets: Luke Hollman (12)Why they can win the competition: One cause for optimism should certainly be the depth of Middlesex’s pace attack. Ireland left-armer Josh Little will bring plenty of international white-ball experience to the table, supported by a clutch of exciting young talents such as Noah Cornwell, Naavya Sharma, Sebastian Morgan and Jamie Feldman – all under 21 and hungry to impress.Player to watch: Ben Geddes. The 24-year-old has performed well in both four-day and T20 formats since his winter move across the Thames from Surrey, can bat anywhere from one to seven and has earned his captaincy opportunity. With many top-order regulars involved in The Hundred, the 50-over tournament should provide further opportunities for Geddes to shine.Young gun: Naavya Sharma. The pacy 19-year-old was leading wicket-taker for England Under-19s in their Test series against Sri Lanka last summer and Middlesex were unafraid to pitch him in at the deep end for their County Championship campaign this year. Sharma bowled consistently, repaying the club’s faith by claiming six wickets in their innings victory over previously undefeated Leicestershire.Final thought: Middlesex are notoriously slow out of the blocks in this tournament, having failed to win their opening fixture since 2019 – a year that also brought the county’s most recent appearance in the knockout stages.Despite losing spinner Zafar Gohar to injury, Middlesex’s bowling options look strong. The question may be whether they can put match-winning totals on the board – the likes of Sam Robson, Ben Geddes and Joe Cracknell may need to go big more often than not.Prithvi Shaw was Northamptonshire’s top run-scorer in 2024•MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
NorthamptonshireCaptain: Lewis McManus 2024 Position: Eighth (Group A) 2024 Most Runs: Prithvi Shaw (343) 2024 Most Wickets: Justin Broad (13)Why they can win the competition: Despite losing more players to The Hundred than ever before, Northamptonshire boast a strong squad who mounted an impressive challenge in the Vitality Blast. They are boosted by Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who has been in devastating form in the Rothesay County Championship and Tim Robinson, fresh from New Zealand’s recent white-ball tour of Zimbabwe.Player to watch: Last season’s leading wicket-taker, allrounder Justin Broad is firing with bat and ball, with back-to-back scores of 150 plus in the Championship during July.Young gun: After impressing in the Second XI and Academy, 17-year-old spinner Nirvan Ramesh recently signed a two-month rookie contract and was named in the squad for the recent Championship game against Derbyshire to give him more experience. Highly rated by the coaching staff he looks set to feature during the Metro Bank One Day Cup.Final thought: Northamptonshire need to channel the white-ball form that saw them open their T20 campaign with six straight wins. Even without key bowlers in Ben Sanderson and George Scrimshaw, Northamptonshire can call on a battery of seamers led by Broad and the experienced Luke Procter. The Steelbacks will also hope Kiwi international Robinson can help plug the run-scoring gap left by the prolific Saif Zaib on Hundred duty.SomersetCaptain: To be named 2024 Position: Finalists 2024 Most Runs: Andy Umeed (492) 2024 Most Wickets: Jack Leach (15)Why they can win the competition: The loss of eight players to The Hundred is less than last season when Somerset still finished runners-up in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, winning six of their eight group games and a semi-final against Leicestershire before losing a rain-affected final against Glamorgan. That was the third trophy to narrowly elude the team last summer and the bitter memory will strengthen resolve to go one better.Player to watch: Andy Umeed has flourished in the 50-over competition over the past two seasons, hitting three centuries in 2023 and another against Kent last year on his way topping Somerset’s One-Day Cup batting averages. Overlooked in other competitions this season, the 29-year-old Scot will be keen to reproduce the exciting form that launched his career with the club.Young gun: At the tender age of 17, Thomas Rew already boasts the fastest century for England Under-19s, made against India this summer, and looks set to follow elder brother James into the Somerset team on a regular basis, having made his debut in this season’s Vitality Blast. Long rated the club’s brightest prospect, the One Day Cup looks sure to showcase his special talent.Final thought: Even without the players on duty in The Hundred, Somerset have enough experience blended with exciting young talent to deservedly rank among the favourites for the One-Day Cup. Support for 50-over cricket remains strong at the Cooper Associates County Ground and the team are guaranteed fervent backing while looking to capitalise to the bat-friendly pitches at their home venue.SussexCaptain: John Simpson 2024 Position: Ninth (Group B) 2024 Most Runs: Tom Haines (326) 2024 Most Wickets: Henry Crocombe (10)Why they can win the competition: Sussex regard the Metro Bank One-Day Cup primarily as a development competition and the focus will again be on giving youngsters opportunities. Many will be better for the experience they had in 2024, even though they only won one game, and if they can make a good start they could make the knockout stages, as they did in 2022 with a similarly inexperienced team.Player to watch: Henry Crocombe was one of the stars of Sussex’s Vitality Blast campaign with 15 wickets in his nine games and he was their leading wicket-taker in the One-Day Cup last season. With his strong action, the 23-year-old is capable of bowling with serious heat and will relish his likely role as leader of the seam attack.Young gun: George Thomas has had few opportunities since his winter move from Somerset, but the opening batter offered glimpses of his potential when he broke into the Vitality Blast team. He made his maiden hundred in this competition last year for his former county and a run of games will offer the 21-year-old an opportunity he should relish.Final thought: Batting coach Grant Flower will be in charge for this competition, and it will be interesting to see his approach. Sussex only won one game last year, but they lost twice by one wicket and were competitive in most. John Simpson, who missed three games last year, will be captain for the tournament which is a welcome development. So is the return to Arundel which stages its first one-day game since 2013 against Kent as part of a four-day festival of cricket.Ed Barnard was a prolific performer for Warwickshire last year•Getty Images
WarwickshireCaptain: Ed Barnard 2024 Position: Semi-finals 2024 Most Runs: Ed Barnard (433) 2024 Most Wickets: Ed Barnard (19)Why they can win the competition: Semi-finalists last season, Warwickshire have some talented young players who drive the team in this competition. A year on from the under-performance in the last four against Glamorgan at Cardiff, those emerging players are more experienced and better-equipped to handle the bigger, make-or-break games.Player to watch: Kai Smith. The wicketkeeper batter is pushing hard to become a regular in all formats. Solid behind the stumps, he bats with a freedom and power which can transform games. His unbeaten 130 from 104 balls against Worcestershire at Edgbaston in this competition last season was a scintillating exhibition of how to turn pressure back on the opposition.Young gun: Hamza Shaikh. Although only just turned 19, top-order batter Shaikh has some first-team cricket under his belt now in both first-class and 50-over formats. His 84 and 112 as captain of England Men U19s against India at Beckenham last month suggests he is ready to take the next step and deliver match-shaping innings for his county.Final thought: Ian Westwood’s first season as head coach at Edgbaston has contained some promising signs – Warwickshire have delivered some eye-catching Rothesay County Championship wins and qualification for the Vitality Blast quarter-finals. To lift the Metro Bank One-Day Cup would assure supporters that their side is settling again after the long period of transition since winning the 2021 County Championship – and also underline Ed Barnard’s credentials to be the next club captain.YorkshireCaptain: Dom Bess 2024 Position: Sixth (Group B) 2024 Most Runs: Will Luxton (247) 2024 Most Wickets: George Hill (17)Why they can win the competition: Added to Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid and Joe Root, Yorkshire have – as things stand – only got two other players away at the Hundred. They are Jafer Chohan and Jordan Thompson. They are determined to put right a failed Vitality Blast campaign which saw them win only five games and finish second bottom in the North Group.Player to watch: All-rounder George Hill, aged 24, is having a great summer, especially with his seamers. He has topped the 40-wicket mark in the Rothesay County Championship and has gained England Lions recognition. In the last few years in 50-over cricket, Hill has posted a score of 130 in the middle order and has returned a haul of 6-30 with the ball.Young gun: David Lloyd lives close to top-order batter Will Bennison’s club, Sheriff Hutton Bridge, and has watched lots of the 18-year-old. Bumble even announced Bennison’s maiden rookie professional contract on Yorkshire’s social media accounts last month, saying: “He’s the real deal”. Bennison loves to score runs in big chases. Expect to see him later in the competition, as Yorkshire start off with experience.Final thought: With Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan – Yorkshire’s Championship and T20 captains – away at The Hundred, spin-bowling all-rounder Dom Bess will lead Yorkshire’s pursuit of a first limited overs trophy since 2002. They beat Somerset in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy final that year when current head coach Anthony McGrath was in the team. The White Rose will have Pakistani top-order batter Imam-Ul-Haq available to them for the duration of the competition, and look well placed to have a crack at the title.