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Doggett, who is a good chance of being in Australia’s Ashes squad, claimed six wickets to keep South Australia in the game

Tristan Lavalette29-Oct-2025Cameron Green, playing as a specialist batter, fell for a duck but Western Australia team-mate Cameron Bancroft issued a reminder of his indefatigable approach at the top of the order with a determined century at the WACA.Bancroft’s 122 off 255 balls guided WA into a position of strength against South Australia on day two despite the stirring efforts of spearhead Brendan Doggett who finished with 6 for 48 from 21.2 overs.Related

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Doggett is pushing to be a fast-bowling reserve for the Ashes having been part of the World Test Championship squad earlier this year and originally due to tour West Indies before injury struck.”There has been a little bit of noise, but trying not to think about it,” Doggett said about his potential Ashes chances. “I just want to keep playing for South Australia and keep putting good performances together. I think that’s all I can control at the moment.”After missing the India ODIs due to side soreness, Green had a starring role in the field on day one as he eyes making a bowling return in WA’s next Shield match against Queensland starting on November 11.But Green, batting at his preferred No. 4, lasted just six deliveries after whacking Doggett straight to mid-off. It was left to Bancroft to anchor the innings and he returned to form with steely defence mixed with classical drives.A slow start to the season has seen him slip outside of the Ashes selection mix on the back of making just 344 runs at 26.46 last season compared to an average of 48.37 across WA’s hat-trick of titles.Cameron Green fell for a duck as he builds towards the Ashes•Getty Images”I’ve had my time at that level, feel really grateful. If an opportunity came to play for Australia, that’s great, but certainly not feverish about it,” said Bancroft, who played the last of his 10 Tests during the 2019 Ashes.After dominating the opening day, WA resumed on 87 for 0 with Bancroft and skipper Sam Whiteman having to contend with far more disciplined bowling from South Australia’s quicks.In his return from a hamstring injury, Doggett had been sluggish late on the opening day but found his rhythm from the get go amid overcast morning conditions. Doggett had Whiteman edging to second slip to break the 93-run opening stand and immediately caused Hilton Cartwright problems by pitching up and targeting the pads.Cartwright was made to dig in as he shifted up the order from his customary No. 4 spot due to Green’s return. With the surface flattening out after notable sharp bounce and carry on the opening day, Bancroft and Cartwright started to take the game away from South Australia as they built a half-century partnership and batted into the second session.Cameron Bancroft drives during his century•Getty ImagesWith South Australia needing a spark, it was up to Doggett to bend his back and he did exactly that after lunch with a stirring spell that accounted for Cartwright and Green in consecutive overs.But South Australia’s momentum was halted by Cooper Connolly, playing his first Shield match of the season having recently impressed in the India ODI series. Connolly has already proven he’s a three-format player in his fledgling career and seemed set to add a sixth half-century in eight Shield innings as he scored at a run-a-ball pace.Connolly was particularly aggressive against offspinner Ben Manenti and the approach rubbed off on Bancroft with the pair trading sixes as WA powered past South Australia’s first innings total of 215.But Connolly’s cavalier knock ended on 33 when he whacked Nathan McSweeney to extra cover before rain halted play for an hour. On resumption, McSweeney unexpectedly turned the game briefly with the further scalps of Bancroft and Aaron Hardie, who threw away his wicket after miscuing a reverse sweep.WA did finish with a 92-run first innings lead but were unable to make a breakthrough before stumps were called early due to bad light.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has now dropped a fresh injury update on Cole Palmer ahead of the tough Champions League clash against Barcelona on Tuesday night.

The Blues are gearing up for a difficult fixture in mid-week, taking on reigning La Liga champions Barca in their fifth Champions League fixture this season, and Maresca’s side will be aiming to put things right after only being able to muster up a 1-1 draw against Qarabag last time out.

However, the west Londoners have been struggling on the injury front for quite some time, which will be a concern for the manager, with the likes of Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia and Palmer still sidelined, missing the 2-0 victory against Burnley at the weekend.

The Italian will no doubt be frustrated the England international has missed large parts of the campaign, having said back in January: “His team-mates see him as a top player so at the moment when we have some difficulties and we are looking for the closest one to help us, we need Cole to step forward in that moment.

“In that moment, in the second-half against Wolves, he showed his team-mate he is a leader inside the pitch.”

However, there has now been a promising update on the 23-year-old’s injury ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Barcelona…

Enzo Maresca drops injury update on Cole Palmer

As relayed by Football London, Maresca has now confirmed Palmer has already returned to training, saying: “Yeah, we don’t know when, but for sure, it will be soon. He is already on the pitch, touching the ball and the feeling is good.”

The 45-year-old stopped short of confirming whether the £130k-a-week star will be available for the tough test against Barca, but a swift return appears to be on the cards, which will be welcome news, heading into a tricky run of fixtures.

Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures

Date

Barcelona (h)

November 25th

Arsenal (h)

November 30th

Leeds United (a)

December 3rd

AFC Bournemouth (a)

December 6th

Atalanta (a)

December 9th

The Blues may have an outside chance of winning the Premier League title, having moved into second place courtesy of the victory at Turf Moor, and they could make a major statement by defeating league leaders Arsenal at Stamford Bridge this Sunday.

However, Maresca will need his best players available if Chelsea are to stand any chance of beating the Gunners, and the former Manchester City man is certainly in that category, having contributed 45 goals and 29 assists in 101 appearances since moving to west London.

Palmer will also be eager to receive consistent game time to ensure he is on the plane to the World Cup with England, having proven his ability to deliver in big games by scoring against Spain in the final of Euro 2024.

Chelsea have Palmer 2.0 with a "left foot made of gold" Chelsea have Palmer 2.0 with a "left foot made of gold" & it's not Estevao

The promising talent could be the perfect solution to Chelsea’s Cole Palmer problem.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 22, 2025

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Os torcedores criticaram o nível do jogo entre Flamengo e Botafogo nas redes sociais. Para muitos, o clássico está sendo “assustador” e de dar sono. Confira as reações abaixo.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasBrasileirãoFlamengo x Botafogo: Pedro e Júnior Santos fazem duelo de artilheirosBrasileirão28/04/2024FlamengoFlamengo x Botafogo: onde assistir, horário e escalações do jogo do BrasileirãoFlamengo28/04/2024NotíciasNa mosca! Aposte R$50 e leve R$312 no resultado comum entre Flamengo x Botafogo!Notícias28/04/2024

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When the MLB All-Star rosters were released, one of the biggest snubs was New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto, who's made the previous four All-Star games.

Soto's initial reaction to being snubbed on the All-Star bid was criticized since he was mostly upset about missing out on a lot of extra money due to a bonus in his contract. Otherwise he doesn't sound too upset about the snub—it just gives him some motivation to make sure he doesn't get passed over again.

He seems to already be moved on, too.

"Forget about that. It's baseball, it's part of it," Soto said after the team's 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. "It's really tough to get in—whatever, next time, I'm gonna try harder and see what I can do."

Soto is taking his own advice very seriously as he's been putting up strong performances since the snub. Since the All-Star rosters were released on July 6, Soto has posted five hits, five RBIs and two home runs.

The winger, who has been a steady contributor for the MLS Cup hopefuls, talked to GOAL about his impressive season since returning to North America

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Emmanuel Sabbi knew Vancouver had what it takes from early on. All of the signs were there: a manager in Jesper Sorensen who was locked in and invested, a motivated squad, and a fanbase that was truly willing to get behind the team. 

"When I got here, I saw the firepower we had. It's been next man up mentality since Day 1, since I got here, and we've really shown that, and it looked prevalent early. You know, our coach demands a lot from us," he tells GOAL. 

But could he have ever hoped that they would be playing in MLS Cup? That's less certain. Still, the work has been put in:

"So it's just a testament of hard work, and the reality now is here," he says. 

And it's deserved, in truth. Vancouver started hot, stayed hot, and then got that extra piece in Thomas Muller to take them over the line. Sabbi, meanwhile, has been a mainstay. He tallied double-digit goal contributions with seven goals and three assists for the Whitecaps and has been a steady presence in attacking areas all year. Where that lands him remains to be seen. He has one cap for the USMNT. There could yet be others. But first, there is a trophy to win. And it's a big one.

Sabbi joined GOAL Convo, a weekly Q&A with central figures in North American soccer, and talked about Vancouver's improvement, playing against Lionel Messi, and why he hopes to be in the USMNT conversation in the future. 

Getty Images SportON PREPARING FOR THE FINAL

GOAL: You're playing in MLS Cup, a massive final. What's going through your head?

SABBI: Yeah, I didn't really know what I was coming to. But yeah, I'm here, talked to Jesper [Sorensen] and Ryan Gauld, and got a real gist of what Vancouver is like, and ultimately made my decision to come. And it's been a great season.

GOAL: What has surprised you the most about playing in MLS?

SABBI: The pace, honestly. The pace is really, really high here. There are great, tremendous players around and, yeah, it's very pacey here. So I really like that.

GOAL: Do you think that suits your game?

SABBI: Definitely. You've just got to get into it, right? I mean, I came, got a little injury, and then just had to get up to speed. And once I got up to speed, it was really amazing to be in MLS.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportON CONTENDING FOR MLS CUP

GOAL: When you came into the season, did you in the back of your mind say, 'MLS Cup is a reality,' or when did it start to really hit you that this is a contending team?

SABBI: When I got here, I saw the firepower we had. It's been next man up mentality since Day 1, since I got here, and we've really shown that, and it looked prevalent early. You know, our coach demands a lot from us. And also, we demand a lot from each other. Honestly, it looks like we would get here from all the games that we've played and how we perform. So it's just a testament of hard work, and the reality now is here. 

GOAL: What makes Jesper Sorensen so unique as a manager? You always hear from players like, 'oh, this guy, he's, he's laid back,' or 'this guy is he's super tactically driven or focused.' What makes him special?

SABBI: He kind of has everything, honestly: tactically, he's sound mentally, he's prepared for every game. I think all-around, he's a great coach. He helps the young ones as well, as you've seen a lot of young players play and played a big role. So I think all-around, he is a great coach. He helps everyone. He's also into our personal lives. And it's really nice to have a coach like that.

Getty Images SportON MIAMI

GOAL: Who is your favorite player?

SABBI: [Laughs] Lionel Messi. 

GOAL: You played against Messi in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. What's it like playing against him?

SABBI: I mean, it's the best player of all time, and you're standing on the pitch with him and playing against him and trying to defend him. And, you know, it's surreal. 

GOAL: What's your earliest Messi memory?

SABBI: Honestly, his first goal was insane. And just getting a pass from Ronaldinho like that, and just finishing it the way he did. It's insane. It's incredible to see that he's still doing it today, and yeah, hopefully he doesn't go against us! 

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GettyON THE USMNT

GOAL: You've been capped before. Do you ever think about the possibility of being on the national team again? 

SABBI: I hope so. My job was to try to have good performances and be consistent. And I hope that, you know, the national team has seen that, that I'm a candidate to try to make my mark there as well. And I'm just grateful for the opportunity to come back and play in MLS and show how good I am and that I'm ready.

GOAL: Was that part of your decision to come back to MLS, to get a little more visibility? 

SABBI: Not really. I think the national team looks at all the leagues, honestly. And it was just a different choice for my family and me, and I listened to my family and talked to my agent, and then had a couple of calls with Vancouver, and that's how it became possible.

As the new head coach of the franchise, Nayar reflects on the landscape ahead in the women’s game

Ashish Pant10-Aug-2025Abhishek Nayar has whipped up quite a CV despite only retiring from all forms of the game six years back: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) assistant coach, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) head coach, India batting coach and endorsements from players of international repute. His latest role sees him venture into women’s cricket as head coach of UP Warriorz (UPW) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for the 2026 season.The Nayar-UPW association isn’t a new one. He’s run a few training camps for them in the last few years and worked with a some players individually, including captain Deepti Sharma. He is also good friends with Kshemal Waingankar, his former Mumbai team-mate and the COO and director of cricket for UPW. So when the possibility of leading the UPW backroom staff opened up, the decision was an easy one for Nayar.”I have spent some time with people associated in the UP Warriorz ecosystem. I used to follow how they’re going, their performances. There was a bit of an emotional connect even without really, really being associated with them,” Nayar told ESPNcricinfo. “For me, when the opportunity came and they were trying to restructure the support system, it was quite an easy decision, because I already had a bit of affinity towards the franchise, an understanding of how the franchise works, the ownership, and their whole value system and approach to the WPL and to women cricketers. So for me, it wasn’t a very hard one.”The hardest decision in my head was more about, will I be able to understand women’s cricket as well as I’ve managed to understand men’s cricket. But I pride myself on doing the work and hopefully getting there.”While this is Nayar’s first time helming a women’s franchise team, he has had stints with women’s teams in recent years. Ahead of the 2024 women’s T20 World Cup, Jon Lewis, the then head coach of England women (and UPW), got the team to India for two training camps, which were overseen by Nayar. While he agrees it was a different kind of challenge, Nayar says the stint helped enhance his coaching prowess.Related

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How Nayar helped KL Rahul rediscover the music

Nayar appointed UP Warriorz head coach

“For me, it was an experience like this one is, and I never let go of an experience in life,” Nayar said. “So I took up the challenge. It was very, very awkward for me the first day, because getting the… you’re so used to saying ‘batsman’ all the time, so to start saying batter was my initial challenge. But now I’m getting a hold of it.”Luckily, commentary then helped me a lot to understand the 25 yards, 30 yards, the small differences, but yeah, it was a challenge, but I absolutely loved working with the England women players. And that was my first thought process that I can coach a lot more than manage.”[I am] still in touch with a lot of the players there and a lot of the people that I worked with who are now actually actively currently part of the last series that India played [against England in July].”

“You see fitter cricketers, you see their movement patterns a lot better. Their throws are a lot faster. That is a statement as to where WPL is taking Indian cricket and the impact it’s going to have in the years to come, just like IPL had on men’s cricket”Abhishek Nayar

By taking up the UPW role, Nayar finds himself in a unique position. He is the only one with a high-profile role in both the WPL and IPL – UPW head coach and KKR assistant coach. According to Nayar, while the basic process remains the same, there is a lot more coaching involved in women’s cricket and the space to enhance the skills of a player as opposed to men’s, where it is mostly about management.”With men’s cricket, once you start working with elite players, there’s less coaching, there’s more mentoring because it’s more about understanding the mind and not so much the technique,” Nayar said. “I think with women cricketers today, in regards to a coach, there’s a lot of excitement because you can actually help amplify the skill as well as the mindset. You can coach a lot more.”In men’s cricket, you need to manage a lot more rather than coach. You’re not really developing a player when you’re coaching in men’s cricket. Very rarely will you see someone innovating and coming up with a new shot, or you’re suddenly saying, ‘oh, Shubman’s playing something different or he’s playing a scoop shot’. Very far and few.”I was watching this recent India-England [women’s] series, and I could see that our women cricketers are growing. You can see a difference in the shots they’re making, you can see that they are bowling new deliveries, they’re tactically sounder. So you can see that growth. Men’s cricket is still a lot between the ears. With women’s cricket, there’s a lot in the skill as well, but a lot you can do in between the ears as well. So I think it’s exciting. It’s going to be fun.”With the next WPL season just a few months away, Nayar has already linked up with the UPW backroom staff to formulate plans. They had a training camp and trials in Chennai recently, with Nayar trying to understand the domestic ecosystem and “what the talent is besides all the top players in Indian cricket”.Nayar has followed the WPL from the inaugural season and firmly believes the tournament is a game-changer for women’s cricket.Apart from his role as UPW head coach, Abhishek Nayar is also assistant coach at KKR•kkr.in”I think the cricket has been crazy [at the WPL]. While I have my trials here [in Chennai], there’s a stark difference in me watching a trial two years ago to what I’m seeing today in regards to the six-hitting ability of a women’s cricketer and the ability to play a sweep and reverse sweep initially in the innings. And that all boils down to the WPL.”For me, the biggest difference has been the levels of fitness in every women’s cricketer. You see fitter cricketers, you see their movement patterns a lot better. Their throws are a lot faster. That is a statement as to where WPL is taking Indian cricket and the impact it’s going to have in the years to come, just like IPL had on men’s cricket. I’m 200% sure that the WPL will continue to have this sort of an impact on women cricketers all around.”The one aspect Nayar is yet to get his head around as he gets more involved in women’s cricket is the scouting and introduction of newer players into the system. But with the onset of women’s leagues in Bengal, Maharashtra, Delhi and now Karnataka, Nayar is confident that scouting will get easier.”It’s very new to me. I’ve been looking up to the KKR scouting for a while and that helps you understand men’s cricket a lot better. You already have your contacts in men’s cricket,” Nayar said. “With women’s cricket, I’m trying to use the same formula now that I’ve just come in.”It’s still very early stages, but I think it will end up being quite similar wherein you start following leagues. There’s a Delhi Premier League, a Bengal league that happened, a Maharashtra league. We’ll have to start tapping into that slowly and start understanding that.”Luckily, we have time this year. So I think it will still be pretty much the same where we try and get feedback from coaches who’ve been in the system for a long time. Coaches who’ve understood women’s cricket and been part of it right from the inception and academies around India as well who play a major role in making sure these cricketers then go on to play state.”After a strong start in 2023, where they qualified for the playoffs, UPW have had two underwhelming seasons in 2024 and 2025, finishing second to bottom and bottom on the points table. Now with Nayar on board, the franchise will hope for a better 2026 season as they chase the elusive WPL title.

The 2025 MLB season is fully into its stretch run, and the playoff picture has solidified. While a number of the usual suspects will likely reach the playoffs, a lot has happened since the All-Star break.

When digging into the numbers of baseball's second half, several surprising, even shocking trends have emerged. The Brewers have emerged as a powerhouse. Kyle Schwarber and Nick Kurtz have been the second-half MVPs. Meanwhile, a number of teams and players are doing things you wouldn't expect.

What follows is a look inside the numbers of the surprising trends across baseball since the All-Star break.

14.3 — fWAR by Blue Jays hitters, best in baseball, to go along with a team-wide 131 wRC+, again, the best in baseball.

8.7 — fWAR produced by the Dodgers pitchers, best in MLB since the All-Star break, a full 1.5 points higher than the Reds and Phillies, who sit in second place. Their team FIP (3.37) is also tops by a wide margin over the Pirates (3.73).

197 — Runs scored by the Astros, which ranks 29th in MLB. Only the Cardinals (185) are worse. Houston's hitters have a collective fWAR of 5.2, worst in baseball among contending teams in the second half.

265 — Runs by the White Sox since the break. That ranks fifth in baseball.

287 — Runs by the Brewers since the break, best in baseball.

3.57 — Team ERA for the Brewers, second-best in baseball behind the Dodgers. So Milwaukee is scoring the most runs and has the second-lowest team ERA since the break.

4.93 — ERA of Mets pitchers since the break, 24th in baseball and worst among contending teams. Their collective WHIP (1.41) ranks 26th and is also the worst among contenders.

14 — Second-half home runs by Trent Grisham, which is second on the Yankees. Aaron Judge's 11 home runs since the break are actually tied for fourth on the team with Jazz Chisholm. (Giancarlo Stanton leads the club with 16.)

20 — Second-half home runs for Kyle Schwarber to lead MLB. The Phillies slugger is slashing .230/.348/.592 with 54 RBIs and a wRC+ of 154 since the All-Star break. The pending free agent seems to have earned himself an obscene amount of money with his performance over the past few months.

21 — Stolen bases by (*) Juan Soto… to lead all of baseball since the All-Star break. Weird. Soto had 25 total stolen bases over the past three years entering 2025 and had never topped 12 in a season before. He only stole 11 bases in 96 games in the first half.

33 — Wins for the Brewers since the All-Star break, best in baseball.

154 — Second half wRC+ for Rafael Devers, who is slashing .269/.367/.538 since the break with 14 home runs. After a slow start in San Francisco, he has found his groove offensively.

220 — Second half wRC+ by Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz, by far the best in baseball. Kurtz is slashing .361/.474/.715, his OPS of 1.189 leads baseball, as does the 3.0 fWAR he has produced.

2.5 — fWAR for Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez, best among MLB starting pitchers since the break. He is 5–3 with a 2.67 ERA and a sparkling 2.13 FIP. With Zack Wheeler out for the season, he's Philadelphia's best starter heading into the playoffs.

0.84 — ERA for Cubs rookie Cade Horton, best among qualified starting pitchers since the break. Horton has a 7–1 record in 10 starts, has produced 1.6 fWAR, and is just what Chicago needed after losing Justin Steele for the season.

1.74 — ERA for Paul Skenes since the All-Star break. His 2.11 FIP is the best among qualified pitchers since the break, and he's averaging 11.37 strikeouts per nine innings. If anything, the Pirates star has gotten better as his second season has gone along.

99.5 — Average fastball velocity for Hunter Greene since the break. The best among MLB starting pitchers. The Reds ace is 2–1 with a 2.35 ERA since the break.

101.6 — Average fastball velocity for Padres reliever Mason Miller since the break, best among all MLB pitchers. He's 0–0 with two saves and a 1.00 ERA in 18 innings in that time and is averaging an eye-popping 15.5 strikeouts per nine innings. This one may not be surprising, but like Skenes, he appears to be getting better as his second full season goes along.

Netherlands have handed a maiden call-up to 17-year-old batter Cedric de Lange and recalled right-arm quick Sebastiaan Braat and allrounder Sikander Zulfiqar for the upcoming T20I series in Bangladesh starting August 30. The changes had to be made after Ryan Klein and Fred Klaassen were ruled out with injuries, while Saqib Zulfiqar withdrew due to personal reasons.De Lange has been a consistent performer at the Under-19 level as well as for his club and in the recent Pro Series, the domestic T20s in the Netherlands which concluded on August 20.”It’s always exciting to bring a youngster into the squad,” captain Scott Edwards said. “Cedric has been impressive all summer and he’s really earned this call-up. We’re looking forward to seeing what he can offer us on this tour and, hopefully, across a long career ahead of him.”Related

• Vikramjit back in Netherlands squad for Bangladesh T20Is

Braat returns to the Netherlands side for the first time since 2021, when he played T20Is against Nepal, after solid numbers in domestic cricket as well as club cricket.Sikander Zulfiqar’s absence from international cricket was even longer, having last turned out in T20Is in 2019.”It’s also great to welcome Sebastiaan Braat back into the side,” Edwards said. “It’s been a couple of years since he last played for us, but he’s had a very strong summer at club and domestic level, and we’re looking forward to having his experience back in the group as well.”Sikander has been a valuable member of our national team before and I’m glad to see him back in orange. He’s got phenomenal ability to clear the fence late in the game and I can’t wait to see him back and amongst the group.”Netherlands have only played five T20Is against Bangladesh and this will be their first time touring Bangladesh. The series acts as a preparation ground for Netherlands, ahead of the T20 World Cup early next year, while Bangladesh will use the series as an opportunity to finalise their line-up for the Asia Cup starting September 11.Netherlands train in Sylhet for three days before their first T20I on August 30, the second on September 1, and the third on September 3.

Netherlands squad for Bangladesh T20Is

Scott Edwards (capt & wk), Noah Croes, Max O’Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Teja Nidamanuru, Sikander Zulfiqar, Cedric de Lange, Kyle Klein, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren, Shariz Ahmad, Ben Fletcher, Daniel Doram, Sebastiaan Braat, Tim Pringle

The Tasmania left hander made a case over the last 18 months that the selectors couldn’t ignore

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-20253:09

Australia’s Ashes squad: No Konstas, Labuschagne to open?

Jake Weatherald believes maturing as a player and a cricketer has helped put him on the cusp of a Test debut he feared may never come.An aggressive left-hander, Weatherald has been picked in Australia’s 15-man squad for the first Ashes Test in Perth following a stunning career revival in Tasmania.Darwin-raised, Weatherald’s first-class career started brightly in South Australia, before a form slump and mental health challenges ended in him being dropped from the Sheffield Shield team.Related

• 'Greyhound' Doggett in line to become Australia Test Cap No. 472

• Konstas dropped, Weatherald called up for first Ashes Test

• Ashes squad talking points: Kingmaker Green to dictate Australia's plans

• Cummins feeling good for Gabba, but rest may be needed

But having scored 1391 runs at 53.5 from his past 15 first-class games since his move to Tasmania, the 31-year-old is a chance to open the batting for Australia this summer.”Playing for Australia’s the hardest thing to do in Australian sport,” Weatherald said in Hobart on Friday. “It was always a goal that felt maybe a little bit out of reach at times.”But at the same time, I probably got comfortable with myself to know that if I did the right things, at the right time, and I took my opportunities, then I’d be ready to go. It is a pinch-yourself moment.”As a kid in Australia, you grow up wanting to play professional sport; representing Australia in cricket is the highest honour, and something that I’ve aspired to my whole career.”If selectors decide to go with Weatherald, he will partner with Usman Khawaja at the top. Khawaja raised eyebrows last week when he firmly backed in his Queensland team-mate Matt Renshaw to earn an Australian recall.But Weatherald, who was getting coffee with mates when George Bailey rang with the good news, laughed off the comments, with Khawaja fully behind the newest member of the Australian squad. Khawaja joined in the fun with a “Who this?” reply to a clip of Weatherald’s interview with the .”He didn’t have me in four days ago,” Weatherald joked when asked about Khawaja now backing him to play. “You get the backing of someone like that who’s played so much first-class cricket, so much Test cricket.Jake Weatherald had been a stand out in domestic cricket•Getty Images

“He’s made so many hundreds for Australia and is such a respected cricketer within our community. I’d be really excited to partner up with him at some point.”Speaking to Fox Cricket on Thursday, Khawaja said: “He’s been knocking the door down. I’ve played a lot of cricket against him…he’s a terrific player. Conditions last year were pretty hard at Shield cricket, and he was a standout.”Weatherald’s hopes of getting into the XI could hinge on allrounder Cameron Green being able to bowl enough overs in the next Shield game for Western Australia. Labuschagne will almost certainly be back after finding form following his axing for the three Tests in the West Indies.Green batted at No.3 in the Caribbean, but could shuffle down to No.6 to accommodate Labuschagne, as well as Weatherald as an opener, if he is able to justify his position as a genuine allrounder.But Labuschagne opening, as he did unsuccessfully in the World Test Championship final, also remains an option for selectors.Green is the only member of Australia’s squad aged under 30, leading to ‘Dad’s Army’ jibes from the English. But Weatherald is confident he is only in contention for Australia because of how he has matured as a cricketer.”People laugh about it, talking about the old team that we have,” Weatherald said. “But the same time, I think that’s the biggest blessing is we’ve all matured as cricketers.Jake Weatherald’s career was transformed last season with over 900 Shield runs•Getty Images

“We’ve got to a point in our careers where we understand our games and how to handle the media, how to handle the pressures of playing first-class cricket. Hopefully that keeps me in good stead.”When the squad was announced, Bailey spoke about Weatherald’s positive approach with the bat, something the selectors have been looking for since David Warner’s retirement, but while Weatherald will bring his natural game to Test cricket he is also willing to adapt.”I think the way I operate is probably around that [being positive],” he said. “But at the same time, I’m not too preconceived about what I want to do. I feel adaptable. I don’t feel like a one-gear player. I feel like I can do different things.”If that means I have to lock in and bat a day and score 50 runs, that’s the best thing for the team and the conditions, that’s what I’ll do. But at the same time, if the opportunity is there, I’ll definitely take it.”Weatherald, who reflected on the 2005 Ashes as “his first fond memory of cricket”, is also confident of being able to deal with everything Ashes cricket will throw at him.”I think so, in terms of my mindset,” he said. “I think I’m pretty understanding of what I need to do to get ready as a cricketer but also how to deal with the pressure that comes out. I’ve never been a part of it. I’ve only been from the outside looking in. I’m sure the pressures and things that will come will be intense. But at the same time, I just see it as a great opportunity to be a part of it. And whatever happens, happens. It’s just going to be a cool thing to be a part of.”You know, the media, the Barmy Army, all that sort of stuff is going to be a pretty incredible experience.”

The Apertura 2025 Liguilla is officially set, and once again the Play-In delivered more noise than impact. For the third straight year, the top eight teams from the regular-season table advanced, reaffirming criticism of a format that never allowed ninth or 10th place to break through. With Liga MX preparing to scrap the Play-In in 2026, attention now shifts fully to the quarterfinals and Toluca’s bid for back-to-back titles.

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  What is at stake?

  Tijuana, Juárez, Pachuca, and Pumas battled for the final two postseason spots, but the decisive matchup only reinforced the existing hierarchy. Juárez earned its first-ever Liguilla berth by beating Pachuca – though the Bravos were already eighth in the table – adding to the belief that the Play-In has created more fatigue than competitive balance. This will be the final tournament using the format before the league returns to a traditional top-eight qualification system in Clausura 2026.

  With the bracket set, the quarterfinals begin Wednesday, Nov. 26: FC Juárez vs. Toluca, Rayados vs. América, Tijuana vs. Tigres. On Thursday, Nov. 27, Chivas vs. Cruz Azul closes the first legs.

  The second legs follow on Saturday, Nov. 29, before Cruz Azul vs. Chivas wraps the round on Sunday, Nov. 30.

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  No 1. Toluca vs. No. 8 FC Juárez – The most uneven quarterfinal duel

  Juárez’s qualification came with a dramatic 2-1 win over Pachuca, but the Bravos now face the tournament’s most dominant side. Toluca enter the Liguilla as the reigning champions, top of the table, and overwhelming favorites.

  The clubs have no Liguilla history between them; their only knockout meeting was a Repechaje won by Toluca. Their most recent league match ended 2-0 for the Diablos at Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez, with goals from Paulinho and Juan Domínguez.

  Toluca – Key to Success

  Long rest may be their only concern. With 18 days since their last official match, rhythm could be an issue. Otherwise, Antonio Mohamed’s team has been a powerhouse all season. Over two legs, they remain heavy favorites.

  Player to Watch: Paulinho

  The Portuguese striker claimed his third consecutive Liga MX Golden Boot and formed a dangerous partnership with Alexis Vega.

  FC Juárez – Key to Success

  Juárez enter as a pure underdog. To shock the champions, they must contain Paulinho and Vega at the Nemesio Díez – something few clubs have managed.

  Player to Watch: Óscar Estupiñán

  Eight goals in 13 matches made him Juárez’s primary threat. He’ll need a near-perfect series.

  GOAL's Pick: Toluca advance comfortably.

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  No. 2 Tigres vs. No. 7 Tijuana – Ángel Correa vs. Gilberto Mora

  Tigres and Tijuana have met only once in Liguilla history, a matchup won by Tigres. Their regular-season meeting also went to Tigres, 2-0, with goals from Gignac and Correa.

  Tigres – Key to Success

  Guido Pizarro’s side had the league’s best away record (four wins, four draws, no losses) and the best defense (16 goals conceded). They were also the second-best attack. Maintaining those standards should be enough.

  Player to Watch: Ángel Correa

  The World Cup winner has adapted seamlessly and is central to Tigres’ attack alongside Brunetta, Lainez, and Gorriarán.

  Xolos – Key to Success

  Sebastián Abreu’s side looked sharp in the Play-In but now face one of Liga MX’s toughest teams. Xolos must take advantage of the first leg at home to have any chance.

  Player to Watch: Gilberto Mora

  The 17-year-old showed confidence with a Panenka against Juárez, but Xolos need more than just him to pull an upset.

  GOAL's Pick: Tigres move on.

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  No. 3 Cruz Azul vs. No. 6 Chivas – A matchup that promises plenty

  Cruz Azul and Chivas have met three times in Liguilla play, with Guadalajara winning two series. Their most recent match came on Matchday 7, a 2-1 Cruz Azul win at Estadio Akron.

  Cruz Azul – Key to Success

  Nicolás Larcamón’s team secured third place and turned Estadio Olímpico Universitario into a fortress. If they maintain their defensive consistency, they enter as favorites.

  Player to Watch: Gabriel Fernández

  Unexpectedly retained, Fernández delivered with seven goals in the tournament.

  Chivas – Key to Success

  Gabriel Milito’s side closed the season strongly with a three-match winning streak. However, they ranked low among qualifiers in goals scored and need Armando González to continue his breakout form.

  Player to Watch: Armando González

  The 13-goal scorer shared the Golden Boot and is essential to Chivas’ chances.

  GOAL's Pick: Cruz Azul in a tight series.