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Trey Yesavage made history during the Blue Jays’ win in Game 5 of the World Series against the Dodgers. The rookie, who only made his first MLB start in September and started the year at Single-A, dominated on the road in Los Angeles, striking out 12 batters across a seven-inning outing.

No one was more fired up for the 22-year-old than veteran starting pitcher Max Scherzer. After a big double play got Toronto out of the seventh inning, Scherzer could be seen on the bench going ballistic. The 41-year-old was smacking the railing inside the dugout and proceeded to throw his sunflower seeds in excitement.

Have a look:

Scherzer could then be seen speaking to Yesavage in the dugout, clearly still amped by his impressive performance.

When you have a three-time Cy Young winner and two-time World Series champion acting like that in the dugout, you know you’re putting on a show. And that’s exactly what Yesavage did on the mound Wednesday night.

The rookie had all three of his signature pitches working to perfection. His combination of his fastball, slider and splitter, mixed with his unique release point, was a puzzle the Dodgers’ lineup was simply unable to solve.

Scherzer was loving every minute of it from his viewing point in the dugout, and he couldn’t contain his excitement after the inning-ending double play.

Pakistan were 119 for 4 after 16 overs in the T20 World Cup final against England at the MCG but managed to score only 18 for the loss of four wickets in the last four overs, and their approach at the death was a “massive mistake” according to former New Zealand captain and current Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming.”[Pakistan were] 121 [119] for 4 in 16 overs. There’s enough in that wicket to suggest that a 165-score is going to be a real good challenge,” Fleming said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out show after the first innings. “There was inconsistent bounce, there was a little bit of movement on offer and it was turning.”So as a unit, you should be saying that ‘we’ve got some artillery here, we know that we just need to get a score on the board and we will be competitive’. The fact that the last four overs went for 16 [18] runs, I think that’s a massive mistake.””Even at 10 [runs per over], you get to 161 and if you have one good over, you get to 165 which I think is more than competitive given what we have seen,” Fleming said. “Especially given the turn, which was unexpected, and the little bit that’s on offer for probably a quicker and more skilful pace attack. So yeah, there was a lot going on up to that point, but Pakistan missed a massive trick.”Fleming said that Pakistan did not read the ground dimensions and conditions well. “Teams often go to the MCG and they think traditionally, we’ll get to 16 overs and then we’ll whack ourselves 15 runs an over and we’ll get a great score. The MCG is not that ground. If there’s any research that should have been done is on how to finish off an innings.”Shadab Khan was one of several batters caught in the deep•Getty Images

Pakistan’s last three recognised batters – Shan Masood, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz – were all caught attempting the big hits at the MCG. “The ones and twos that were so good all the way through the innings, they disappeared and all of a sudden they were just trying to hit it out of the ground over 85 metre boundaries,” Fleming said. “And that just doesn’t work. Livingstone’s there, just picking it off. Sorry, I reckon it just wasn’t smart and it could cost them, the score of 165 was easily there.”Former Australia allrounder Tom Moody said that Masood, who scored 38 off 28 in the final, laid down the right template with his running between the wickets.”We saw Shan Masood show the way to how to score runs at the MCG. His running between the wickets was superb, the twos that he ran, the pressure he put on the outfield, that didn’t really need to change,” Moody said, adding that Babar Azam’s dismissal was the turning point in Pakistan’s innings.”I think it was in the 12th over Babar was dismissed, and from then onwards, it just went south where they just seemed to lose sight of how to accumulate runs and get to that 160-165 that Flem’s [Fleming] talking about,” Moody said. “In a total of 120 balls, if you’re scoring six fours and two sixes [Pakistan scored eight fours and two sixes], I think that shows more than anything that no one else really got in on that surface to be able to in those last four overs pick off a few boundaries.”It was a pretty disappointing finish from Pakistan, they should be more than what they got and it’s really down to some poor management with their batting in the back 10 overs.”Former India captain and head coach Anil Kumble said Masood’s dismissal put the pressure back on Pakistan. “I think, like Flem [Fleming] mentioned, they were probably thinking boundaries and sixes and that’s what you are sort of tuned to in the last four overs. I think Shan Masood getting out at that time certainly put the pressure back on Pakistan, because he was someone who looked comfortable and he was in control of his scoring,” Kumble said.”And that’s something I didn’t see in even Babar, even though Babar batted well till he got out. Shan Masood looked in better control of the proceedings, in terms of how he wanted to manoeuvre the bowling.”That’s something, once he got out, it put pressure back on Pakistan batters and they only looked for boundaries which never came.”From 119 for 4, Pakistan finished on 137 for 8 in 20 overs – it was their lowest total batting first in this T20 World Cup.

بدأ الموهبة الشابة كيس سميت مسيرته الاحترافية مع نادي ألكمار الهولندي في مارس 2024، وهو في الثامنة عشرة من عمره وشق طريقه إلى الفريق الأول.

ورغم أنه لم يكن لاعباً اساسياً بعد، إلا أن اللاعب الشاب جذب اهتمام العديد من الأندية الأوروبية الكبرى، بما في ذلك ريال مدريد وبرشلونة وتوتنهام وبايرن ميونخ.

اقرأ أيضاً.. ريال مدريد يخطط للتخلص من لاعبه في انتقالات الصيف

ولعب سميت دوراً محورياً مع منتخب هولندا في بطولة أوروبا تحت 19 عاماً، وساعد الطواحين على الفوز بالبطولة وأختير كافضل لاعب لأدائه المميز.

ويتميز الموهوب الشاب بالمهارات الفنية وقدرته على التحكم الدقيق في المساحات الضيقة والتحكم في إيقاع المباراة.

وعلق سميت في تصريحات صحفية عن اهتمام ريال مدريد وبرشلونة به: “أولاً ، أريد أن أثبت جدارتي وأكون لاعباً أساسياً في ألكمار، اهتمام مدريد وبرشلونة إيجابي”.

وأضاف: “إذا ذهبت إلى هناك لا أعرف كم عدد المباريات والوقت الذي سأحصل عليه، لقد استمتعت بمتابعة المباريات وقراءة أخبارهما”.

وواصل: “إنهما ناديان جيدان للغاية، ربما أكبر ناديين في العالم لكن لا يوجد شيء ملموس، مجرد اهتمام”.

وعلى الرغم من أنه تم التقاط صور للاعب في وقت سابق يحتفل بقميص ريال مدريد، إلا أن انتقاله للعاصمة الإسبانية مستبعد هذا الصيف رغم متابعته عن قرب.

England captain Harry Kane has revealed that an 'NFL-like playbook' will help the Three Lions set-piece their way to the World Cup in North America next year. England have maximised dead ball situations to great effect in qualifying having scored five goals from set pieces and a further two from the penalty spot as they booked their flight across the pond with ease.

AFP25% of England's qualifying goals have been from set pieces

England complete their World Cup 2026 qualifying on Sunday evening when they take on Albania. The Three Lions will look to round off their qualification campaign with a 100% record having won all seven games so far and having beaten Albania at Wembley earlier this year, they'll fancy their chances of claiming another three points.

Thomas Tuchel's men are also yet to concede a goal in their seven matches so far and have netted 20 times on their way to booking their trip stateside next summer. England have fully utilised the set-piece weapons at the their disposal with 25% of their goals coming from corners or free kicks.

And Kane has now revealed that England have been developing an 'NFL-like playbook' as the Three Lions look to secure World Cup glory for the first time since 1966 in North America next year.

AdvertisementKane explains England's World Cup plan

Ahead of Sunday's game against Albania, Kane was asked about the importance of set pieces in USA, Mexico and Canada next summer. "It is massive to be honest," he said.

"I know it is not the prettiest part of the game, but we have always been big on set plays, both defending and attacking. I feel like we are getting in some really good routines attacking-wise. Obviously Dec and players like that can put in perfect crosses and are doing it week-in, week-out for their clubs as well."

Kane also revealed that he has been working with assistant coach Anthony Barry and set-play analyst Paul Quilter, who worked together at Chelsea, as England look to nail their set-piece routines.

"We want to build a book of set plays," Kane added. "So we can go into the tournament, where there is not a lot of time to practice. You want to have an NFL-like playbook in a way. Where you look at the opposition and see if they are zonal or man-marking and we can pick what we want to do.

"We don’t get loads of time to do it on the grass, as meetings are really important. With Paul and Anthony here, they try to go through the detail. It is about the lads taking it in – more mentally than physically – and hopefully by the summer we will have a good mixture of set plays that we can go from."

AFPEngland no strangers to set-piece dominance

Kane was part of the England squad that made it to the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup. The Three Lions relied heavily on set pieces to progress to the last four in Russia under Gareth Southgate, scoring six times from corners of free kicks, more than any other nation.

As such, the England captain knows just how important set pieces can be, adding: "Ultimately, the best team at set plays normally goes on to be the best team in the tournament. They go on to have clean sheets, they go on to the latter stages. We did that in 2018, we did that in Euro 2020. Our defensive record is really good as well. So, that is a big part."

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Three Lions could lean on Arsenal expertise

England boss Tuchel is able to call upon Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, the pair crucial in the Gunners' superb start to the season. The north London side sit top of the table after 11 matches, four points clear of second placed Manchester City and eight above defending champions Liverpool.

Arsenal have maximised set piece situations in their title bid and have scored more goals from corners or free kicks (10) than any other team in the Premier League this season, coining the term 'Set Piece FC' as a result. Rice himself ranks joint fourth for chances created from set pieces in England's top tier this term, with nine, 

Pep Guardiola has claimed he had never heard of Jobe Bellingham as the Borussia Dortmund midfielder and brother of England and Real Madrid star Jude prepares to face Manchester City in the Champions League. The younger Bellingham followed his older sibling's path by moving to Dortmund last summer from Sunderland, having also come through Birmingham City's youth ranks.

Jobe Bellingham enduring slow start at Dortmund

Bellingham has made a slow start to life at Dortmund following his £32 million ($41m) transfer, starting only four games across the Bundesliga and the Champions League. Bellingham’s status as a squad player rather than a regular starter has reportedly led to tensions between his parents Mark and Denise and coach Nico Kovac. 

It was reported that both parents were banned from the Dortmund dressing room after arguing with Kovac over Bellingham's reduced role in the squad. And last month it was reported that Jobe had been left feeling "massively insecure" about his place in the team. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGuardiola knew little about Jobe's exploits for Sunderland

The younger Bellingham played a key role in Sunderland's promotion to the Premier League last season and has generated a huge amount of attention after following a similar, albeit less rapid, path to Jude – who has helped knock City out of the last two editions of the Champions League with Real Madrid. However, Guardiola was nonplussed when asked whether he knew much about Jobe. "No…I didn't know him back then," the coach told a press conference.

Guardiola explains why he gave City squad day off

The day before a Champions League match is usually a busy one for teams involved in the competition as they run through tactical plans in their training session, which is normally played out in front of reporters and television cameras for 15 minutes. But in a surprising and rare move, Guardiola cancelled training and opted to give his players the day off, with the exception of Erling Haaland who did media duties. His side will instead train on the morning of the game. 

Guardiola explained that he wanted to give his players more time to recover from their 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday. Dortmund had two extra days to prepare for the game, winning 1-0 at Augsburg on Friday.

The City boss said: "We will train tomorrow morning. No [it is not unusual]. I have done it a few times. Not a lot but I have done it a few times and sometimes I prefer it. It was such a demanding game against Bournemouth that I prefer today at home and tomorrow we train." On Dortmund having more time to recover, he added: "We are used to it. It is what is. Nobody is going to change the schedule. In Germany, in France, all the teams in the Champions League they try and play on Friday to get more [rest]. I don't like it but it is what it is."

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Getty Images SportGuardiola expecting easier path to knockout rounds this time

City endured a torrid time last season in the first edition of the revamped Champions League. They only scraped their way into the knockout playoffs as they finished 22nd out of 36 teams in the league phase thanks to a comeback victory over Club Brugge in their last game. The sides placed ninth to 24th qualify for the playoffs to advance to the last 16 and City were in serious danger of missing out after drawing at home to Feyenoord and losing away to Juventus, Sporting CP and eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.

City have taken seven points from their first three games and have their next two fixtures, against Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, at the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola believes they will have a calmer path to qualifying for the playoffs, if not directly to the last 16 by virtue of finishing in the top eight, as the squad is not depleted by injuries as it was this time last year.

"It is not about being not prepared last season," he said. "Last season we were injured. Fifty-percent of the squad were injured during months and months and especially during that period when there are a lot of games. Of course we are prepared for the format and for the old one. We will be ready. It is just last season, we had a lot of problems in terms of not having players and that was more difficult."

Visitors win basement battle despite all-round efforts of Amanda-Jade Wellington

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay15-Jun-2025Bess Heath demonstrated maturity aplenty to carry Durham to a four-wicket victory over Somerset in the Vitality Blast women’s competition at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.Chasing 139 to win, the visitors were indebted to the 23-year-old middle order batter, who scored 38 not out from 25 balls under pressure to help the visitors reach their target with 11 deliveries to spare. Suzie Bates top-scored with 49, while Somerset seamer Mollie Robbins returned figures of 3 for 22 in a losing cause.Put into bat, Somerset were in good shape at 75 for 2, thanks to knocks of 36 and 31 from Bex Odgers and Niamh Holland respectively. But Sophia Turner and Mady Villiers claimed two wickets apiece as Somerset lost their way during the middle overs, and it required a breezy 31 from Amanda-Jade Wellington to haul the cider county to a modest 138 for 7.Durham have now won two of their six games in the short format, but Somerset remain without a victory and continue to prop up the table.Eager to make amends with the bat following a series of modest scores, Somerset made a disappointing start, Amelie Munday chasing a wide delivery from Grace Thompson and finding backward point in the opening over. Doing her best to redress the balance, Odgers pulled Lauren Filer for six, while Holland twice drove Thompson to the boundary as the powerplay gathered momentum.Katie Levick’s legspin proved expensive as Durham struggled to stem the flow of runs in the face of aggressive batting from Somerset’s second-wicket pair, Holland ramping Filer for another six as the partnership realised 50. The stand was worth 58 when Holland, having contributed a progressive 31 from 20 balls, attempted to drive Villiers over the top and found long-on with the score 63 for 2 in the eighth.Odgers advanced her score to 36 from 33 balls and had a half-century in her sights, only to then dance down the pitch to Sophia Turner and be comprehensively stumped by Mia Rogers as Somerset slipped to 75 for 3 at the halfway stage.Sensing an opportunity to apply pressure, the experienced Bates and Levick successfully restricted the scoring and Sophie Luff and Fran Wilson, tied down and unable to find the boundary, both succumbed to frustration as the home side slipped to 91 for 5. Charlie Dean came and went quickly, removed by Levick, as Durham continued to turn the screw and Somerset were 102 for 6 when Wellington joined Alex Griffiths in the middle.Again cast in the role of saviours, the seventh-wicket pair dug their team out of a hole, adding 36 from 22 balls to disrupt the opposition bowlers and carry Somerset to their highest short-format total of the season so far. Adept at working the field, Australia international Wellington scored 31 off 17 balls and accrued five fours, while Griffiths finished unbeaten on 11.Somerset needed early wickets and Robbins removed Leah Dobson for 11 in the fifth, but the indefatigable Bates proved an altogether different proposition. The New Zealand international dominated the reply, contributing four boundaries in a powerplay that yielded 49 and staging an opening stand of 38 with Dobson to afford the chase solid foundations.Villiers took on Wellington’s legspin, harvesting a brace of fours before falling to the Australian with the score 49 for 2, but Hollie Armitage proved obdurate in contributing 14 at a run a ball in an alliance of 38 for the third wicket with Bates. Griffiths bowled Armitage to give the home side renewed hope and, when Robbins had Bates caught at mid-on in the 13th, Durham were 87 for 4, needing a further 52 at 6.5 an over with two new batters at the crease.Robbins was enjoying herself and she induced Rogers to hole out to Griffiths in the deep to further reduce the visitors to 93 for 5, at which point the contest was back in the balance. Katherine Fraser was run out by Griffiths for 10 to set-up a potentially interesting finish, but Heath demonstrated sound temperament in an unbroken stand of 20 with Thompson to settle the outcome.

Kundai Matigimu picked up the ball in his follow through and hurled it at batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius, “hitting him at close range on the wrist”

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2025Kundai Matigimu, the Zimbabwe quick bowler, has been fined 15% of his match fee and handed a demerit point for “inappropriate and dangerous” conduct during the ongoing second Test against South Africa in Bulawayo.The incident in question took place on the first day of the Test match, in the 72nd over of South Africa’s first innings. Matigimu fielded the ball in his follow through and hurled it at the batter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, “hitting him at close range on the wrist”, as an ICC statement put it.It was a breach of Article 2.0 of the ICC’s code of conduct for international cricket, which penalises throwing “a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment) at or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner”. Matigimu admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction from match referee Ranjan Madugalle, ruling out the need for a formal hearing.This, being Matigimu’s international debut, was his first demerit point.Zimbabwe have been on the back foot for the most part in the game. By the end of the first day, South Africa had reached 465 for 4 on the back of captain Wiaan Mulder’s 264 not out, which he subsequently took to 367 not out before declaring the innings on 626 for 5. They then bowled Zimbabwe out for 170 in their first innings, setting up a possible innings win.Matigimu was one of Zimbabwe’s more successful bowlers, returning 2 for 124 from 21.3 overs, with Pretorius and Dewald Brevis his victims.

Our first batch of team report cards for 2022 also includes Ireland, Afghanistan, West Indies and Zimbabwe

31-Dec-2022

England

by Andrew Miller
I’ll try to keep it brief… but good grief.This was a year like no other for the England men’s Test team, one where winning a World Cup to become the first team to hold both white-ball world titles at the same time was arguably not the greatest of their successes. It began amid existential despair at the Ashes, and ended with a triumph in Pakistan as absolute as it was unprecedented. It began with an abject record of one Test win in 17, and ended with nine incredible wins in ten. It began with Joe Root clinging on as Test captain because there were no realistic alternatives, and ended with Ben Stokes being hailed as England’s best since Brearley.And by the end of the year, England had desecrated Test cricket in the best and most literal sense – “Bazball”, as everyone bar the team themselves were describing Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s new liberated approach to the ancient format, had stripped back the pomp and unleashed that inner white-ball beast.Suddenly England were playing a version of the game in which nothing mattered bar the endgame – “Strip it back, it’s only you and the bowler there,” as Jonny Bairstow put it after his sensational century in the second Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, the moment at which it was clear that this England team had entered a collective zone quite unlike anything the game has ever before witnessed.For the women, it wasn’t quite such a cathartic year, for all that it began with a similarly shattering trouncing in the antipodes. Nat Sciver’s heroic century against Australia in the World Cup final ensured a dignified end to a gruelling winter, but it couldn’t disguise the sense that a champion team had reached the end of its road.At least in the likes of Issy Wong, Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp, the team had a knot of oven-ready starlets, honed in the Hundred and ready to step. But the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham came too soon for an exciting but raw side, and India proved too strong. With Heather Knight and Sciver missing key portions of the summer, it wasn’t until December’s tour of the Caribbean (under new head coach Jon Lewis) that they returned to regular winning ways. Unlike the men in Pakistan, however, their clean sweep raised barely a mutter of recognition.High point
Nine Test wins in ten, and every one of them a stunning display in its own right. But the Rawalpindi victory was in a different league entirely. That first-day total of 506 for 4, that last-day surge after Stokes’ impeccably judged declaration. And all achieved in spite of a debilitating sickness bug on the eve of the Test. All the recipes for instant greatness.Low point
Did the Ashes even happen this year? The midwinter misery of 2021-22 could not seem a more distant memory. But if we have to dredge into long-forgotten horrors, then the loss of ten wickets for 56 runs in 22.5 overs on the final day of the series in Hobart seems a suitably bum note to hit.ResultsMen
Tests: P15 W9 L3 D3
ODIs: P12 W5 L6 NR1
T20Is: P27 W15 L11 NR 1Women
Tests: P2 D2
ODIs: P21 W11 L10
T20Is: P18 W13 L4 NR1
India had some high-profile losses to contend with in 2022, including in the deciding Test of the England series, in Edgbaston•Associated Press

India

by Sidharth Monga
Losing a Test series in South Africa, losing the decider of the Test series, brought forward from last year, in England, an early exit in the Asia Cup, losing in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in Australia, losing an ODI series to Bangladesh in Bangladesh – this is hardly the honeymoon period either Rohit Sharma, the new captain of the men’s side, or Rahul Dravid, the new coach, would have hoped for. Especially after the heady highs of last year’s Test series win in Australia.The disappointment from both the fans and the board despite the best win-loss ratio among ICC Full Members in all international cricket should tell this team in transition that they aren’t expected to just get by but to win big Test series away and win ICC tournaments.The women finished fifth in a field of eight in the ODI World Cup. They played no Test matches. They lost a home T20I series to Australia. Musical chairs involving the coaching staff remained the stuff of intrigue. Two of their greatest players, Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj, retired during the year.Yet there were some silver linings: they made the final of the Commonwealth Games, beat England 3-0 in ODIs in England, and finally got a WIPL.High point
India Women went to the home of the ODI World Cup runners-up, England, as absolute no-hopers. However, after finishing the Commonwealth Games two shots from the title, they continued their good form in the bilateral ODIs against the hosts, providing Goswami with a perfect farewell . Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain, scored 221 runs while getting out only once, Renuka Singh emerged as a new fast-bowling hope, and they rattled a few cages by running out a batter who was backing up too far before the ball left the bowler’s hand.Low point

The men could smell a series win in South Africa. In fact, after the first Test, which they won comprehensively, and after three innings of the second, it looked like it was theirs. This team was known for winning if it won the toss, especially when it had well above 200 to defend in the last innings. However, they failed to defend 239 and 211 in that second Test and the one that followed, on spicy tracks. It was not just that they lost; they lost by seven wickets each time and conceded the runs in a hurry. India had a good attack but the pitches suited the taller South African bowlers more, costing the visitors their best chance at a series win in South Africa to date.ResultsMen
Tests: P7 W4 L3
ODIs: P24 W14 L8
T20Is: P40 W28 L10 T1 NR1Women
ODIs: P18 W10 L8
T20Is: P25 W14 L11West Indies’ first-round exit in the T20 World Cup was perhaps the nadir of an already dismal year in the format for the two-time tournament champions•David Gray/AFP/Getty Images

West Indies

by Shashank Kishore
Three wins and two draws in seven Tests, including a series victory over England at home, should count as a good year, but by the end of 2022, West Indies’ tendency to fail in Australia, where they haven’t won a series since 1992, once again elicited the age-old debates about their Test future.If the debacle in Australia to wind down the year was utterly predictable, their T20 fortunes – which plummeted to an all-time low with their failure to qualify for the Super 12s of the World Cup – is something many didn’t see coming.It all started with Kieron Pollard’s retirement in April following a testy relationship with the cricket board. No inkling of his stepping away was on the horizon even two months prior, when he led the team on their white-ball tour of India, but rumblings began after they were blanked 6-0.In ODIs as well, West Indies endured a horror home run, losing 2-1 to Ireland and New Zealand and 3-0 apiece to India and Bangladesh. They were equally poor away, losing to Pakistan, and being swept aside in India.West Indies only success this year overseas was in the Netherlands, where they won 3-0 with a young team under new captain Nicholas Pooran – though he eventually stepped down from the post after their ignominious World Cup exit. Their qualification for next year’s 50-overs World Cup a year out isn’t a done deal yet; they are tussling with three teams for one remaining spot.The women’s team perhaps exceeded expectations by reaching the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup, but off-field issues were ever present. If Covid proved challenging, their immediate future without talismanic allrounder Deandra Dottin could be tougher yet.Dottin retired in the middle of Barbados’ Commonwealth Games campaign citing a less-than-ideal “current climate and team environment” and taking potshots at the administration.Like at the start of the year, West Indies cricket at large is once again at the crossroads and in need of a thorough rejuvenation.High point
Beating hosts New Zealand and England back to back to begin the Women’s World Cup with two massive wins many didn’t anticipate.Low point
The men’s home ODI series loss to Ireland, who would also knock them out in the first round of the T20 World Cup with a nine-wicket pounding.ResultsMen
Tests: P7 W3 L2 D2
ODIs: P21 W5 L16
T20Is: P24 W8 L15 NR1
Women
ODIs: P18 W5 L11 NR2
T20Is: P10 W1 L9Bangladesh pulled off an unprecedented eight-wicket Test win against New Zealand in New Zealand for the first time in their history•Getty Images

Bangladesh

by Mohammad Isam
The numbers don’t suggest it but 2022 was one of Bangladesh’s most productive years in international cricket – they won more matches in 2021, but 2022 is comparable to 2015 in terms of the quality of the opposition they defeated.They beat New Zealand for the first time in a Test match, and in New Zealand at that. They also beat South Africa in the ODI series in March, in that team’s backyard. Bangladesh were previously winless in both countries, so these were two special performances. They rounded off the year with a second successive ODI series win at home against India, and nearly toppled them in their last Test this year, in Dhaka.Litton Das had a stellar year in all formats, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz established himself as a reliable allrounder for the team. The rise of Bangladesh’s fast bowling across formats has been noteworthy too.The sole highlight for the women’s team was the win over Pakistan in the World Cup. They struggled in the T20 Asia Cup later in the year, where, despite being defending champions, they couldn’t reach the semi-finals. Captain Nigar Sultana had a good year with the bat, topping the batting charts in ODIs and T20Is, while Salma Khatun and Nahida Akter were among the main wicket-takers.High point
The miracle at Mount Maunganui and the 2-1 wins over South Africa and India in ODIs were high-water marks in Bangladesh’s cricket history.Low point
Bangladesh lost to Zimbabwe in ODI and T20I series for the first time in nine years.ResultsMen
Tests: P10 W1 L8 D1
ODIs: P15 W10 L5
T20Is: P21 W6 L14 NR1Women
ODIs: P10 W1 L7 NR2
T20Is: P17 W10 L7Fazalhaq Farooqi took 3 for 11 in Afghanistan’s opening win over Sri Lanka in the T20 Asia Cup in August•AFP via Getty Images

Afghanistan

by Peter Della Penna
Afghanistan may not have the seismic upset results over the years that other teams have had on the pathway from Associate to Full Member status, but 2022 showed that they continue to make steady progress in gaining respect with a steady march up the global rankings.In the ODI World Cup Super League, they beat the teams they were supposed to (sweeping a pair of three-match series against Netherlands and Zimbabwe) as well as winning a few games that were not nailed-on results (winning one match each against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka). Their consistency in ODIs has helped secure an automatic berth into the 2023 World Cup with a guaranteed top-eight finish in the 13-team tournament, which is all the more remarkable considering they still have nine matches left to play.As for T20Is, they once again showed flashes of immense promise thanks to their factory line of T20 franchise stars. Afghanistan advanced to the Super Four of the Asia Cup, but stumbled once there. Their T20 World Cup experience was severely rain-affected, with two matches washed out, though they gave defending champions Australia a scare in what amounted to a consolation match to end the group stage. It showed that a victory over the Aussies, which may have seemed far-fetched a decade ago, is not so hard to envision anymore.High point
Beating eventual champions Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to top Group B in the first round of the Asia Cup.Low point
Continued inactivity for women’s cricket initiatives at domestic and national team level, which is part of the criteria to be a Full Member of the ICC.Results
Men
ODIs: P12 W8 L3 NR1
T20Is: P18 W8 L10Sikandar Raza’s three wickets in five balls helped Zimbabwe clinch a famous win over Pakistan at the T20 World Cup•Getty Images

Zimbabwe

by Firdose Moonda
A year of two halves started with Zimbabwe’s men’s team losing 11 of their first 14 international fixtures – including series defeats to Afghanistan and Namibia – before winning 13 of their next 25 matches. The difference? A change in coach.Dave Houghton, the country’s first Test captain, had an immediate impact after he replaced Lalchand Rajput – who moved sideways into the position of technical director – in June. Zimbabwe won the T20 World Cup Qualifier, held at home, a month later and earned a spot at an ICC event for the first time since 2016. They also had an impressive run through the T20 World Cup, where they got into the Super 12. They also beat Bangladesh in an ODI series for the first time since 2013 and won an ODI in Australia for the first time ever, but remain out of automatic contention for the 2023 World Cup.Zimbabwe did not play a single Test in 2022 and only have five scheduled in 2023 (two against West Indies and one against Ireland at home, and two against Afghanistan away). Their focus seems to be shifting to the shorter formats, and they will even host a T10 tournament in January 2023. They do, however, remain committed to long-format players. Gary Ballance, who was schooled in Harare and has played 23 Tests for England, opted out of his Yorkshire contract early and has signed a two-year deal with Zimbabwe Cricket.The women’s team did not play any ODIs in 2022, but came agonisingly close to qualifying for the 2023 T20 World Cup, their hopes being ended by a four-run loss to Ireland.High point
Zimbabwe stunned eventual finalists Pakistan in the T20 World Cup by defending an under-par 130 in Perth. Pakistan were on track on 88 for 3 before Zimbabwe’s man of the year, Sikandar Raza, took three wickets in five balls. Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani squeezed the Pakistan batting and Brad Evans defended ten runs off the last over to secure a massive upset.Low point
It’s tough being always eclipsed by South Africa, but imagine when even Namibia overshadow you? In May, Zimbabwe lost a T20I series to their lower-profile neighbours, but they did make up for it by qualifying for the Super 12 at the T20 World Cup when Namibia didn’t.ResultsMen
ODIs: P15 W4 L11
T20Is: P24 W12 L11 NR1
Women
T20Is: P15 W12 L3UAE qualified for the men’s T20 World Cup and prevented Namibia from making it to the Super 12s by beating them in Geelong•AFP/Getty Images

UAE

by Peter Della Penna
Having not played in a World Cup of any kind since 2015, UAE made a spectacular splash in 2022. Not only did they qualify for the men’s T20 World Cup by winning the qualifying event in Oman in February – a performance that included a pair of victories over Ireland in both the group stage and the final – they also managed to spring a surprise upset of Namibia to end the group stage of the T20 World Cup itself, a result that denied Namibia what would have been their second straight trip to the Super 12s.In ODIs, the year started off in positive fashion for UAE before tailing off significantly. The loss of form was not without consequences. After the team went winless on their ODI tour of Scotland, Ahmed Raza was sacked as captain and replaced with CP Rizwan. Initially the move was announced as a change for T20Is only, but Rizwan continued to lead UAE in ODIs in their next series, against Nepal, as well. That apart, long-time allrounder Rohan Mustafa was shockingly left out of the T20 World Cup squad despite having been one of UAE’s better-performing players in the Qualifier.The men were not the only team to make waves in the year. The Under-19 Women beat Thailand to clinch the Asia Regional Qualifying spot in the inaugural Women’s U-19 World Cup in South Africa. The senior women continued a streak that began in 2021, to ultimately win 18 T20Is in a row before the run was snapped by a loss to Thailand. Though they could not secure a spot at the T20 World Cup, the women scored a famous win over Zimbabwe at the qualifier in Abu Dhabi, winning off the last ball by four wickets.High point
Fighting off the cold in Hobart, and a talented opponent in Namibia, to win a match at the men’s T20 World Cup.Low point
Very nearly blowing a chance to reach the T20 World Cup in the first place with a two-run loss to Bahrain to end the group stage of the men’s qualifier in Oman.ResultsMen
ODIs: P21 W10 L10 T1
T20Is: P16 W8 L8Women
T20Is: P28 W16 L10 NR2Bilal Khan’s 76 wickets in the CWC League 2 were among the few highlights for Oman in an otherwise underwhelming year•Getty Images

Oman

by Peter Della Penna
After a spate of successes under the leadership of head coach Duleep Mendis, Omanwere underwhelming in 2022. Less than four months after being co-hosts of the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup with the UAE, they could not secure a berth for the next edition of the tournament, despite hosting the qualifier. A loss to Nepal in round-robin play meant they finished as runners-up in Group B, pitting them against Group A leader Ireland in a crossover semi-final that wound up being fairly one-sided.In ODIs, they became the first team to wrap up the full slate of 36 matches in Cricket World Cup League Two, ending with two wins out of four against USA and Nepal in Texas to take 44 points from 36 matches. Though they will not finish as winners of the seven-team competition, their spot in the top three is nearly assured, which will put them into the ten-team ICC World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe in 2023. It will be their first appearance in the 50-over World Cup Qualifier since 2009, bringing them full circle from the depths of World Cricket League Division Five in 2016.On the women’s side, Oman won four of five T20Is on home soil to finish runners-up to the UAE in the six-team Gulf Cooperation Council Women’s T20 Championship. However, they were less successful away from home, losing all three completed matches at the Asian Cricket Council Women’s T20 Championship in Malaysia.High point
Bilal Khan finishing as the leading wicket-taker in CWC League 2 with 76 wickets.Low point
A clumsy chase against Ireland that saw Oman go from 68 for 2 at the halfway points chasing a target of 166 to 109 all out in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup Qualifier.ResultsMen
ODIs: P16 W7 L8 T1
T20Is: P15 W6 L9Women
T20Is: P9 W4 L4 NR1Scotland’s win over West Indies in the T20 World Cup was an epic moment for them, but that was their only victory in five T20Is in 2022•ICC via Getty Images

Scotland

by Peter Della Penna
Change would a recurring theme for Scotland in 2022, both on and off the field. Allegations by former spinner Majid Haq, among others, sparked an independent review that concluded that Cricket Scotland’s governance and leadership practices were “institutionally racist”. In anticipation of the report findings being made public in July, the entire Cricket Scotland board resigned en masse.Earlier in the summer, long-time men’s captain Kyle Coetzer stepped down from the national team captaincy and retired from T20Is. New captain Richie Berrington led his charges to a famous win over West Indies to start their T20 World Cup campaign in Hobart, but they were unable to sustain that momentum and were beaten by Ireland and Zimbabwe in successive matches to fall short of the Super 12s. Scotland’s ODI form, however, was mighty impressive and they ended the year in first place in the seven-team CWC ODI League Two competition.As for the women, they could not maintain the progress made in 2021, when they defeated Ireland to be champions of the Europe Regional T20 World Cup Qualifier. Two losses in Edinburgh in early September to Ireland were followed by another in a must-win match at the T20 World Cup Qualifier in the UAE, ending Scotland’s dreams of advancing to the Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa. However, the junior women were able to defeat Netherlands to secure a berth in the inaugural Women’s U-19 World Cup.High point
Not just beating West Indies, but the manner in which they did it. A thumping 42-run win highlighted by Mark Watt’s trio of wickets off deliveries bowled from 25 yards away.Low point
Calum MacLeod abruptly announcing his retirement at age 32, following the end of the T20 World Cup after a summer in which he was in blistering form with the bat.ResultsMen
ODIs: P21 W15 L6
T20Is: P5 W1 L4Women
T20Is: P11 W4 L7More in our look back at 2022

Barcelona star Joan Garcia has come under fire on social media after his costly mistake was instantly punished by Alberto Reina's stunning 40-yard strike for lowly Real Oviedo. The goalkeeper was drawn out of his box by a long ball over the top and just when it looked like he had dealt with the danger, his wayward pass was pounced upon by the Oviedo midfielder to give them a 1-0 lead.

• Garcia makes costly mistake for Barcelona

  After Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford twice went close for Barca, Raphinha hit the post, and Ronald Araujo was well denied by Oviedo stopper Aaron Escandell, the hosts – who were in the relegation zone – took the lead in remarkable fashion. Reina scored a goal of the season contender with a long-range strike in the 33rd minute as he made Garcia pay for his sloppiness at the back. And fans on social media didn't hold back in mocking the summer signing.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Fans tear into Garcia after error

  @fran_navarr0 wrote on X: "Joan García is an outstanding goalkeeper, but with his feet, he plays worse than me. XXL blunder going out so far to gift it, and Oviedo doesn’t forgive, 1-0."

  @Jnr_Marcelo12 posted: "What a nice assist from Joan Garcia. Kudos."

  @al__varo77 commented: "The most funniest goal I’ve ever seen. Real Oviedo takes the lead."

  @a_derll put: "But what will even make you shoot from this point. Real Oviedo what are you cooking?" and @Ebon_808 added: "Joan Garcia hype lasted 5 games."

• Barcelona under pressure to catch rivals Real Madrid

  Going into this game at Carlos Tartiere Stadium on Thursday night, Barcelona's bitter rivals Real Madrid held a five-point cushion over Hansi Flick's side, although they have played an extra game. The defending La Liga champions cannot afford to let Los Blancos get too far ahead in this title race, particularly with Xabi Alonso's team looking so potent this season. The Blaugrana will hope Garcia's errors this term are few and far between.

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• AFP
  

  Busy period for Barcelona continues

  Barcelona are set to play three times in less than a week. After this match with Oviedo, they host Real Sociedad in the Spanish top-flight on Sunday evening. Then, they entertain Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain on October 1, before travelling to Sevilla four days later. This could be an exhausting stretch for the Catalan outfit.

Sussex 528 (Simpson 181*, Clark 140) and 313 for 7 dec (Alsop 82*) drew with Warwickshire 454 (Yates 115, Barnard 82, Davies 66, Mousley 63) and 104 for 2 (Yates 65*)Warwickshire and Sussex banked solid points from a draw after their high-scoring Rothesay County Championship Division One match drifted up the predictable cul-de-sac at Edgbaston.Sussex declined to set up a contest on the final day, batting themselves safe before finally declaring their second innings on 313 for 7 after Tom Alsop’s unbeaten 82 from 131 balls. That set the home side a notional target of 388 in a minimum of 44 overs.Warwickshire closed on 104 for 2, Rob Yates ending unbeaten on 65 to complete his excellent start to the season with 180 runs for once out, three wickets and a catch in the match.If the fourth day offered less than thrilling fare for the spectators, there was plenty of satisfaction from the match for both teams – Sussex on their return to Division One and Warwickshire having narrowly avoided relegation last year – at making a solid start to the season.After Sussex resumed on the final morning on 126 for 3, James Coles soon lifted Yates for a handsome straight six but the spinner hit back with his third wicket when nightwatcher Jack Carson scooped to Vishwa Fernando at short fine leg.Coles was on the threshold of his second half-century of the match when he became Fernando’s first victim for Warwickshire, caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Kai Smith.In the hour before lunch it became clear that the match was going nowhere as Alsop and John Simpson plodded through a partnership of 47 from 15 overs. Simpson fell lbw to Dan Mousley just before the interval, after which Alsop continued to put his first innings first-baller firmly behind him by moving to a compact 100-ball half-century.Alsop and Fynn Hudson-Prentice added 71 in 15 overs before their alliance ended in slapstick fashion. The batters were on different wavelengths over the merits of a third run and found themselves at the same end, the latter run out for 30 off 53 balls. The declaration soon followed.Warwickshire reached 27 without loss at tea at which point they faced the tempting challenge of scoring 361 from 36 overs in the last session. They resisted the temptation.Jayden Seales pinned Alex Davies lbw with the first ball of the evening session and Carson bowled Hamza Shaikh with a beauty for the second time in the match. Thereafter, Yates and Sam Hain saw out time as the match petered out in a similar way to Sussex’s first ever Championship visit to Edgbaston in 1905 (the famous match in which Bradford-born left-arm spinner Albert Cordingley made his 15th and last appearance for Sussex).