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Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche arrived at the City Ground to replace Ange Postecoglou in October and has enjoyed a fairly strong start to life in the Midlands.

The English tactician has won three of his six matches and kept three clean sheets, most recently masterminding the incredible 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, though, the player Dyche knows the most within the Forest squad, Chris Wood, has been unavailable for selection due to a knee injury.

The latest news on Chris Wood's injury

The New Zealand international suffered a knee injury in October that has kept him out of action for over a month, and he is yet to feature under Dyche for the Tricky Trees.

Prior to the Liverpool win, Dyche said: “It is just a settling period (for Wood), it is nothing too serious, it is a grumbling knee. It is serious enough to stop him from loading it; from loading in daily training, but it is settling down.”

This means that it is a case of wait and see for the experienced frontman before he can return to training and Premier League action, after he scored a staggering 20 goals in the top-flight for Forest last term.

The former Burnley man only scored two goals from 2.77 xG in the first eight matches of the current Premier League season, though, per Sofascore, and it will be interesting to see if Dyche can get him back to his best.

Meanwhile, Forest are reportedly eyeing up a January transfer window swoop for Porto centre-forward Samu Aghehowa, who could be the manager’s new version of Wood.

Why Samu could be Dyche's new Wood for Nottingham Forest

The current Tricky Trees striker turns 34 next month and there is no guarantee that he will come back from this knee injury to deliver goals on a consistent basis, which may be why a new striker is on the agenda for January.

Like Wood, who is 6 foot 3, Samu is a physically imposing centre-forward who stands at 6 foot 4 and has the strength and size to compete with Premier League defenders to be the kind of focal point that Dyche wants his number nine to be.

Journalist Zach Lowy once claimed that the Porto marksman can be “one of the best STs in Europe” and his form in Portugal suggests that he is now living up to that praise.

The Spain international scored six goals in nine Europa League matches in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, whilst his form in the Portuguese top-flight has been phenomenal.

Samu – Liga Portugal	24/25	25/26
Appearances	30	10
xG	14.07	4.98
Goals	19	6
Minutes per goal	119	105
Assists	3	1
Aerial duel success rate	51%	60%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Samu has provided a consistent and clinical threat in the final third for Porto in the Liga Portugal since the start of last season, whilst also winning the majority of his aerial contests in that time.

These statistics suggest that the 21-year-old centre-forward would be the perfect signing for Dyche as his next version of Chris Wood, because he has the physique, the finishing skills, and the aerial ability to be a complete number nine for the Forest boss.

The Spaniard would also have Wood at the club as an experienced mentor for him to continue his development, as the ex-Burnley ace is 12 years his senior and could be an excellent role model to help with his transition to English football.

Therefore, Forest should push hard to get a deal done for the Porto sensation because he could be an excellent addition to the squad as Wood’s natural successor under Dyche.

Gibbs-White would love him: Nottingham Forest looking to re-sign £20m star

This star could improve Forest’s midfield and benefit Gibbs-White

By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 24, 2025

Form and familiarity with conditions are in Afghanistan’s favour; off-field issues and poor results have bogged Bangladesh down of late

Mohammad Isam05-Nov-2024Advantage Afghanistan in SharjahThere’s considerable difference in the recent form of the two sides.Afghanistan come into this series on the back of their first bilateral ODI series win over South Africa. That was in September, and in Sharjah, one of their unofficial home grounds.Bangladesh are massively short of confidence after the recent results against South Africa at home, where they lost both Tests – in Dhaka and Chattogram – quite convincingly.While Afghanistan are familiar with Sharjah, Bangladesh are going to play ODIs there for the first time in 29 years, after the 1995 Asia Cup. They have also played three T20Is at the venue, the last of which was a seven-wicket defeat against Afghanistan in the 2022 Asia Cup.First look at Sediqullah Atal and Bilal Sami for BangladeshAfghanistan have brought in opening batter Sediqullah Atal and left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad in place of the injured pair of Ibrahim Zadran (ankle) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (hand).Atal grabbed a lot of attention at the recent Asia Cup for emerging teams, where he struck three quick fifties to finish as the highest scorer. There is also the 20-year-old uncapped fast bowler Bilal Sami, who used the short ball effectively against Sri Lanka A at the emerging team’s tournament recently.There are familiar faces to be wary of too. Noor recently took 22 wickets in the CPL to finish as the Player of the Tournament. There is star quick Fazalhaq Farooqi, who rocked them in the last bilateral ODI series between the two sides last year, picking up eight wickets in three games.And Bangladesh will also do well to watch as much footage of 18-year-old offspinner AM Ghazanfar, who was among the wickets against South Africa and also did well in the emerging tournament.Nahid Rana made a big impression during the Test series in Pakistan•AFP/Getty ImagesNahid Rana gets a go in ODIsForm, availability and fitness issues have forced Bangladesh to make several changes to the ODI side that played in March, the last time they played the format. Shakib Al Hasan has reportedly opted out of the Afghanistan series, Litton Das is down with a fever, and Tanzim Hasan is out with a shoulder injury.One of the players to get a look-in is Nahid Rana, with Zakir Hasan and Nasum Ahmed also coming in. With Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam also around, it’s a solid-looking fast-bowling attack. However, Nasum and Nahid are still awaiting their UAE visa, and are unavailable for the first ODI.Rana was fast-tracked to the national team, and made a big impression when he played a major role in Bangladesh’s Test series victory in Pakistan in August. There have not been too many of them over the years – a proper Bangladeshi fast bowler. Sharjah might not be the best place to bowl fast, but Rana will be one to watch out for, especially to see how he goes in a new format.Can Bangladesh ignore their off-field issues?While Afghanistan have had a straightforward lead-up to the ODI series, the situation is very different for Bangladesh. Najmul Hossain Shanto is captain, but there’s still no proper clarity on his situation after he had informed the BCB that he wanted the Test series against South Africa to be his last as the captain.There has also been all the confusion around the coach. Chandika Hathurusinghe was suspended first and then sacked in a couple of days, with Phil Simmons joining the team in between. All around the time the fiasco around Shakib’s Test retirement was on, which was followed by the champion allrounder not being able to travel to Bangladesh for the South Africa series because of concerns around his security.Bangladesh found it tough to put it all behind them, at least on the evidence of the South Africa series, but they have to move on. The sooner the better. Ideally starting with this series.

West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo is a planning a serious overhaul of his squad as he makes ‘big plans’, according to a former Hammers employee.

West Ham battling relegation with January crucial

The Hammers find themselves embroiled in a desperate fight for Premier League survival following one of their most turbulent campaigns in recent memory, with the January transfer window representing a potential lifeline for Nuno’s struggling side.

Currently languishing in 18th with just 11 points, they’ve endured a nightmare start that saw Graham Potter dismissed after recording the second-worst win percentage of any West Ham boss in Premier League history.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12 Graham Potter

26.1%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

Recent form under Nuno has offered some encouragement, but the Portuguese faces an uphill battle to drag his squad away from the relegation zone.

West Ham play Man United in a vital clash tonight, which has been made all the more important by Leeds United and Nottingham Forest’s victories this week, with Nuno desperate not to let the points gap at the bottom grow any further.

Securing a striker has also emerged as the club’s absolute priority ahead of the winter window.

Niclas Füllkrug’s disastrous spell appears destined to end after just 18 months, with the German international managing only three goals since his £27 million arrival from Borussia Dortmund.

His agent publicly admitted a January departure “makes sense,” and West Ham have already begun identifying replacements.

Union Saint-Gilloise forward Promise David is a very solid candidate in this regard.

West Ham hold talks with £20m star who has the same agent as Kyle Walker-Peters

The Hammers already have a productive relationship with his representatives.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 3, 2025

The imposing 6 foot 5 striker has notched 34 goals in 63 appearances for the Belgian champions and could be available for just £17.5 million, representing excellent value for the east Londoners, who are reportedly in pole position after making contact.

West Ham also want a new defender and midfielder, according to insiders like ExWHUemployee, and this has been backed up by another former worker of the club.

Nuno making 'big plans' at West Ham in transfer revelation

Speaking to Football Insider, ex-West Ham senior scout Mick Brown has claimed that Nuno is making ‘big plans’ for the transfer market and wants to bolster an array of key positions.

Brown went on to claim that West Ham also have their eyes on a centre-half, midfielder and a top goalscorer, so there is a lot of work for David Sullivan to contemplate if they manage to stay in the top flight.

In terms of the budget for January to pull off this overhaul, West Ham may not have much to play with, as reports suggest they’re set to operate with limited spending power.

For Nuno to realistically get his wish, it’ll likely be over multiple windows, but that will again be dependent on West Ham’s standing come May.

Seamer Sami got his maiden five-wicket haul after Zadran’s patient 95 and Nabi’s blazing 62* took Afghanistan to 293

Mohammad Isam14-Oct-2025Afghanistan completed their decimation of Bangladesh, wrapping up a 3-0 ODI series win with a 200-run win in the third game in Abu Dhabi. After managing to put up 293 for 9, they shot out Bangladesh for just 93. Afghanistan’s ODI series win comes by the same margin as Bangladesh’s in the T20Is.After Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi bookended Afghanistan’s batting effort with excellent half-centuries, seamer Bilal Sami took his maiden five-wicket haul. But much of the rout came about once again due to Rashid Khan, who took three wickets in his first three overs.Bangladesh’s batters capitulated ad nauseum. They hardly any impact on the contest throughout the series, thus continuing the trend in the third game. The procession started with Mohammad Naim struggled for 23 balls before Azmatullah Omarzai had him caught at slip for 7.Leading up to his dismissal, it was only one-way traffic of runs from the other end. Bangladesh looked like they could get out of some early trouble leaning on Saif Hassan. He didn’t disappoint, scoring heavily in the powerplay with a couple of sixes and a four.However, Najmul Hossain Shanto continued his poor form in ODIs when Sami had him bowled off an inside edge. Saif tried to get Bangladesh out of trouble, but hardly had the strike.Then, as it has often happened, it was the Rashid show. Towhid Hridoy fell on his first ball, unable to read the rapid googly. In the next over, it was Saif who missed the googly by a whisker, the ball sneaking through his bat and pad. He finished as the top-scorer with 43 off 54 balls with two fours and three sixes.Ibrahim Zadran fell for 95•Afghanistan Cricket Board

Sami then took his first wicket by getting Mehidy Hasan Miraz caught behind for 6, before Shamim Hossain got run-out next ball. Nurul Hasan had played the Sami delivery towards point, where Nangeyalia Kharote caught Shamim fidgeting out of his crease.Rashid took his third wicket in as many overs when he had Nurul lbw in the 21st over. Bangladesh’s procession continued when Sami added his third by having Tanvir Islam caught-and-bowled in his next over. Rishad became Sami’s fourth victim when he top-edged him to mid-on. Sami took his fifth when Hasan Mahmud holed out in the 28th over.Afghanistan had earlier set themselves up nicely for a big total. Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz sped away to add 99 runs for the first wicket. Gurbaz was, as usual, the enforcer, striking five fours and a scrumptious six in his knock of 42. Zadran wasn’t going to hang back, though, after his sedate 95 in the previous game. He reached his fifty shortly after Gurbaz got out, before adding another 74 runs for the second wicket with Sediqullah Atal.The pair gave Afghanistan the perfect launching pad at 173 for 1 in the 32nd over, but Saif upended their plans at that stage. The part-time offspinner took three wickets in four overs, as Afghanistan lost four wickets for 15 runs in the space of 25 balls.Omarzai struck three fours to keep them afloat, but Afghanistan kept slipping, until they reached 249 for 9 in 48 overs. Nabi was batting at 24 off 25 balls at that stage, but no sooner had Nahid Rana left the ground suddenly after bowling two legal balls in the 49th over that Nabi sprung into action.He struck Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who stepped up to complete Rana’s over, for three sixes in four balls, before pasting Mahmud for a six and three fours in a 19-run last over. Afghanistan picked up 44 runs in the last two overs to upend Bangladesh’s recovery with the ball.

أعلن الكرواتي كرونسلاف يورتشيتش المدير الفني لفريق بيراميدز قائمة لاعبيه لمباراة بتروجت في الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويحل بيراميدز ضيفًا على بتروجيت في الثامنة من مساء السبت على استاد بتروسبورت في اللقاء المؤجل من الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

طالع.. رابطة الأندية تقرر إيقاف ثنائي بيراميدز وكهرباء الإسماعيلية.. وغرامة مالية قائمة بيراميدز لمباراة بتروجيت في الدوري

حراسة المرمى: أحمد الشناوي – محمود جاد – زياد هيثم.

خط الدفاع: محمود مرعي – علي جبر – أحمد سامي – طارق علاء – محمد الشيبي – محمد حمدي – كريم حافظ – عبد الرحمن جودة – أسامة جلال.

خط الوسط: أحمد توفيق – محمود دونجا – مهند لاشين – – عبد الرحمن مجدي – أحمد عاطف قطة – مصطفى زيكو – – محمد رضا بوبو – مصطفى فتحي.

خط الهجوم: فيستون ماييلي – دودو الجباس.

The three wickets Rashid Khan took in the chase took him to No. 1 on the wicket-taker’s list in men’s T20Is

Danyal Rasool01-Sep-2025

Rashid Khan became the highest T20I wicket-taker•Emirates Cricket Board

Afghanistan survived a brief scare from Muhammad Waseem to ultimately secure a comfortable 38-run victory, their first of the competition, on Monday. As so often, it was Rashid Khan who led the way for them, his 3 for 21 derailing the UAE at a critical juncture midway through their innings just when they looked to have made a fist of chasing 189. He also became the highest wicket-taker in men’s T20Is in the process.That target was set thanks to half-centuries from Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal, whose 84-run partnership put their side on course after the early loss of Rahmanullah Gurbaz. UAE turned in a better bowling performance than they did against Pakistan, with their seam bowlers keeping Afghanistan quiet for the most part through the powerplay and then in phases during the middle overs, but paid the price for losing their discipline at the death. A priceless cameo from Karim Janat in the penultimate over meant 22 runs were added, and helped Afghanistan finish above par.UAE rely so often on Waseem for a realistic shot, and that’s exactly what he provided as he flew out of the blocks. They suffered none of the early difficulties Afghanistan had at the start as they stayed ahead of the asking rate thanks largely to their captain. But it always had the feel of a solo effort, and when he was dismissed, no one could replicate that scoring rate, and Afghanistan had enough on the scoreboard, and with the ball, to make the win look cushier than it once looked.Early jittersThe pressure was squarely on Afghanistan at the start, having lost the toss and beginning the day at the bottom of the table. That pressure was compounded after Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Rohid got through three tight overs that allowed just 16, before Rohid drew an edge from a struggling Gurbaz to send him on his way. Atal and Ibrahim saw through a further couple of overs with the first five overs of the powerplay decisively going the home side’s way.Afghanistan turn it aroundBut UAE introduced seam bowler Saghir Khan for the final over of the powerplay, and the pair saw an opportunity. A slot ball first up was whipped over midwicket, and Saghir’s lengths didn’t improve as the over went on. Afghanistan plundered 18 from it, and it set the partnership on its way.Atal picked his moments through the remainder of the partnership, finding a four or a six just about every over, with Ibrahim cashing in when Dhruv Parashar sent down an errant over. It wasn’t until the Afghanistan 100 was brought up that UAE finally broke the partnership, but with eight overs to go, Afghanistan had the platform they needed to launch.Ibrahim Zadran made 63 in 40 balls•Emirates Cricket Board

Dash at the deathAnd launch they did. Throughout much of the innings, UAE had held on to Afghanistan’s coattails, making sure they never pulled too far ahead. That faded in the final four overs, though, as the wheels came off for the hosts and Afghanistan’s lower-middle order plundered 49 off the following three overs.Azmatullah Omarzai – whose cameo was pivotal to his side’s acceleration – triggered the gear change with a six over the on side, with Ibrahim matching him later in the over. Omarzai would go after Saghir too, but it was Janat’s takedown of Rohid – who had given away just 12 in his first three and taken two wickets – that took the game out of the UAE’s hands. Two sixes and two fours saw Rohid bleed 22, and though Siddique would follow with a sensational final over, the damage by now had been done.Rashid triggers implosionTalismanic captain Waseem had put UAE on course with another excellent display that combined power with timing and judiciousness, keeping up with the asking rate without appearing to take too many risks. There were imperious signs that belligerence would continue unabated when he piledrove Rashid for a straight six over the sight screen in his second over; by the end of the ninth over, they required just over nine with eight wickets still in hand.All of that changed in four deliveries. Waseem miscued one off Sharafudin Ashraf and was gone for a 37-ball 67, leaving Asif Khan to try and repeat the heroics that came in vain against Pakistan.The first ball he faced off Rashid, though, Asif misread the turn, and found his off stump rattled. UAE’s two main attacking threats gone and the asking rate climbing, Rashid sliced through the batting, polishing off Ethan D’Souza and Parashar to finish his spell. By now, the asking rate had climbed to nearly 16, and only an unbeaten half-century from Rahul Chopra, achieved with a six off the game’s final ball, reduced Afghanistan’s margin of victory.

India’s selectors are due to pick the squads for the white-ball tour of Australia on Saturday

Yash Jha03-Oct-2025India’s selection panel, which includes RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha for the first time, is meeting on Saturday to pick the squads for the ODI and T20I tour of Australia beginning on October 19. It is likely to mark the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are retired from T20Is and Tests and haven’t represented India since the Champions Trophy victory in March.The tour begins with three ODIs on October 19, 23 and 25, followed by five T20Is between October 29 and November 8. Here are some of the key questions ahead of the selection.

Should the all-format players get a break?

After a rare break following the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England, India have a packed calendar, with the Asia Cup followed by the ongoing two-Test series versus West Indies, and the first ODI in Australia scheduled five days after the end of the second Test. Less than a week after the fifth T20I in Australia, India host South Africa for a two-Test series followed by three ODIs and five T20Is.Three players appear to be certainties in all three formats: Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav. Given the workloads, the quick turnarounds between formats, and the fact that the next major ODI tournament is the World Cup in 2027, India might consider resting these players for the ODIs in Australia. If they are picked for the 50-overs games, they could be released midway through the T20I series to prepare for the Tests against South Africa.If Gill were to be rested for the ODIs, Yashasvi Jaiswal – who was withdrawn from the Champions Trophy squad after being named in the provisional squad – should be his replacement. He could also join Abhishek Sharma at the top in the T20Is.Will Jasprit Bumrah get a break?•Associated PressWhile Kuldeep does not have a like-for-like replacement, India might have to reconfigure the spin-heavy squads they picked for the ODI Champions Trophy and the T20 Asia Cup to suit Australian conditions.

Who’s in for Hardik Pandya?

Hardik Pandya missed the Asia Cup final with a left quadriceps injury and there are doubts over his availability for the tour of Australia too. Nitish Kumar Reddy is an option to join Shivam Dube as the seam-bowling allrounder in the T20I squad.The replacement for Hardik in ODIs is an interesting question: Dube played the last of his four ODIs in Sri Lanka last year, while Reddy is yet to feature in the format. The 2027 ODI World Cup is in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. India will want to explore their options for seam-bowling allrounders as back-up for Hardik, and Australia might be the right place to get started.

Who are the specialist quicks?

Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are Nos. 1 and 2 in the line behind Bumrah – both were part of India’s squads at the Asia Cup as well as the Champions Trophy. But who is the third specialist fast bowler should Bumrah be rested in either, or both, formats in Australia?Mohammed Siraj could be in line for an ODI comeback, having last played in Sri Lanka over a year ago. Prasidh Krishna is an option too, should India prefer his hit-the-deck style as a middle-overs enforcer. Prasidh – the Purple Cap winner at IPL 2025 – is the likely third seamer in the T20I squad if Bumrah is rested.Will Tilak Varma make it to the ODI squad?•AFP/Getty Images

Spin allrounders: who and how many?

India’s most recent ODI and T20I squads have featured several spin allrounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar were at the Champions Trophy, while Axar played the Asia Cup where Washington, along with Riyan Parag, was a standby.A similar number of spin allrounders is unlikely given the conditions: it’s hard to see India picking both Jadeja and Axar in an ODI in Australia, and the series could be a good opportunity to blood some seam-bowling allrounders instead.Parag featured in both white-ball teams last year, and had scores of 67 and 58 in two List A games for India A against Australia A this week. Tilak Varma – who scored 94 in the second of those matches after his Asia Cup final heroics – could also be a contender for the ODI squad.

No Pant – who’s back-up wicketkeeper in the ODI squad?

Rishabh Pant is unlikely to make it to the squads for Australia as he is still recovering from the fractured foot he suffered in England. While he hasn’t played a T20I since August 2024, Pant was India’s back-up wicketkeeper to KL Rahul at the Champions Trophy.Sanju Samson’s last ODI was in December 2023 in South Africa, where he batted No. 3 and scored his maiden hundred. Jitesh Sharma and Dhruv Jurel are the other wicketkeepers to feature in India’s recent T20I squads, but neither has compelling List A credentials.

Brendan Doggett says he’s been waiting on an Ashes call for a long time and believes he is ready to go if Australia’s selectors add him to the first Test squad which is likely to be announced on Wednesday.Doggett, 31, appears all but certain to be included in Australia’s first Ashes Test squad after a successful return to Sheffield Shield cricket following a minor hamstring injury, but even with Pat Cummins ruled out of the first Test, Doggett is unlikely to make his Test debut in Perth as he is set to be a reserve for Test incumbents Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.Speaking in Adelaide on Tuesday, Doggett said he had yet to hear from the national selectors but said he was waiting by the phone having been part of Australia’s Test squad for the WTC final and the West Indies tour in the winter before being withdrawn because of a hip injury.Related

• Ashes tracker: Key questions remain around Australia's squad

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“Absolutely. [I’ve] been waiting for this for a long time,” Doggett said. “I feel like if I do get a call to join that squad, I’ll be ready. And then we’ll see what happens.”Doggett took 6 for 48 and 1 for 38 in his first Shield game of the season for South Australia, against Western Australia at the WACA ground in Perth last week. It was his first first-class game since May and only his second game of any form in that period. He had missed the opening two Shield rounds after suffering a minor hamstring injury while batting in South Australia’s opening One-Day Cup match of the season on September 20, and both South Australia and Cricket Australia’s medical staffs, in conjunction with the national selectors, were ultra cautious with his return given his importance to Australia’s pace-bowling depth for the upcoming Ashes series.”To get injured batting is unlike me,” Doggett said. “It was unfortunate. There’s not much I can control in that. So it was just about getting my rehab right and trying to get back as soon as I could to play for South Australia”I guess the timing is perfect to take a six-for but obviously I was just really happy to get back on the park and contribute.”Doggett has risen in the ranks to be Australia’s next fast bowler in line behind the big four, particularly on flatter Test surfaces, given his ability to swing the new ball in combination with his extra pace and height.Brendan Doggett celebrates a wicket•Getty Images

He starred in last year’s Shield final on a flat surface at Karen Rolton Oval and took 11 wickets for the match to help South Australia to their first title in 29 years. He played three County Championship matches for Durham immediately following that in April and early May and took nine wickets in his first two before a minor injury saw him withdrawn, with Australia’s selectors wanting him fit and on standby for the WTC final and the West Indies tour.”I really enjoyed my time in Durham,” Doggett said. Unfortunately, I got injured halfway through my stint. I had probably a bigger finish to our domestic season, obviously with the Shield final, I got through 50-odd overs [46.5] in that I think, so it was big finish for me to head straight over and play over there.”But I really enjoyed it. The conditions are so different, and it was just a really good learning curve for me. And the whole purpose of that was to sort of try being in and around that World Test Championship squad, which I was fortunate enough to be included in. I really enjoyed it, and I’d probably love to go back if I had the opportunity.”Doggett has long been regarded as a possible Test option having first been picked in an Australia Test squad back in 2018 after starring in the 2017-18 Shield final when he was playing for Queensland. But injuries and a move to South Australia had seen him drop down the pecking order as the likes of Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser and Boland all made their debuts in the years immediately after that. Australia have not had a new fast bowler debut in a Test match since Boland was picked for the third Ashes Test on Boxing Day in 2021.Doggett returned to the Test squad for the first time in six years for the second Test of last summer’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series following his 6 for 15 for Australia A against India A in Mackay. That was the first of four six-wicket hauls he has taken in his last 12 first-class matches along with two other five-wicket bags. He has 57 wickets at 20.40 in that time at a staggering strike-rate of 39.5.Doggett’s rise has coincided with former Australia Ashes hero Ryan Harris taking over as South Australia coach.”Rhino has had a big impact for me, especially, probably in the last 12 months,” Doggett said. “More than anything, he sort of just given me a lot of confidence and just passed down his knowledge and the way he goes about coaching, he’s really passionate and he just wants the best for us as his players.”It’s probably just nailing my strengths. Being able to go out and feel backed and feel confident to try and swing that new ball, or bowl aggressively and try and bowl quick and just probably do whatever the team needs.”

Baseball has a funny way of bringing things full circle.

Cubs legend Anthony Rizzo was in attendance Saturday as he was honored in a ceremony at Wrigley Field Saturday and retired a Cub as he's set to become an ambassador for the team. He decided to take in some of the game against the Rays from the Wrigley Field bleachers. Unbeknownst to him, he picked the perfect spot.

Moisés Ballesteros, the 21-year-old Cubs designated hitter, smacked the first home run of his young MLB career on Rizzo's special day. In incredibly miraculous fashion, he hit the ball directly to the heart and soul of Chicago's 2016 World Series championship team.

Ballesteros took an inside fastball to the opposite field up and over the left-field wall. Rizzo saw the ball coming his way and stepped on top of the bleacher where he was sitting to try and make the play. The home-run ball hit him directly in the right hand and bounced two rows above where Rizzo was sitting.

He celebrated with the fan who ended up with the ball after the play as he appeared unable to believe what just happened, similar to the rest of us. Check out one of the most improbable baseball moments you'll ever see below:

"That's why I'm retired," he hilariously mouthed in the crowd after the play.

Maybe Rizzo can make an easy trade with the fan for Ballesteros to get the ball back.

Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo's Sunday firing was not your average executive dismissal.

When they let Rizzo go, the Nationals bid adieu to a figure who had seen almost the entire history of the franchise in D.C.. Washington hired Rizzo before the 2007 season, the team's third after its relocation from Montreal. Several former Montreal Expos and Expos draftees were on the roster at that point.

Gradually, Rizzo helped turn the Nationals into winners and—in 2019—world champions. Perhaps for this reason, the former general manager is giving back to the fans in an unusual way.

"As a way to say thank you to the fans for 19 amazing years with the Washington Nationals, grab a 'Round on Riz' Monday, July 14 before the Home Run Derby at Penn Quarter Sports Tavern or Walter’s Sports Bar," Rizzo said on Instagram through his foundation, referencing two local sports bars. "First round of beer is on us from 5-7 pm. Cheers to an incredible ride!"

Nationals left fielder and designated hitter James Wood will compete in the event in the midst of a stellar season. He will be the first Washington player in the Derby since right fielder Juan Soto in 2022.

Now, thanks to Rizzo, Nationals fans have two economically friendly places to watch their budding star work.