Liverpool are “closely monitoring” a Premier League player hailed as “one of the top” players in his position, and he is even quicker than Jeremie Frimpong.
Slot discusses Liverpool's Guehi disappointment
The Reds’ failure to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace on deadline day was a big disappointment, with the Eagles not allowing him to leave at the eleventh hour, despite a deal being agreed.
Now, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has opened up about the Premier League champions missing out on the England international, admitting it was frustrating for many parties.
“For us it was of course a disappointment, for the player I assume, as well, because he was expecting to come to us. I try to put myself in the player’s shoes, but that can happen with a player from us as well, maybe a player wanted to leave but in the end couldn’t because we couldn’t get a player we wanted, that happens in football many times and the good thing in football is, especially after the international break, everybody comes back, accepts the situation and knows he has to perform well.
“But if a player wants a transfer that he doesn’t get, then you always feel for him. If it’s a player of my team, you talk to him, make sure he gets his energy back and keeps going again, and that is probably what has happened at Palace with Marc Guehi.”
Liverpool eyeing Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven
According to The Boy Hotspur, Liverpool are among the clubs who are “closely monitoring Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven, as they eye a move for him in 2026.
The Reds presumably consider him an alternative option to Guehi, with Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich also keen on snapping up the Spurs ace.
Van de Ven is arguably one of the leading centre-backs in the Premier League currently, so the idea of Liverpool signing him is a mouthwatering prospect.
The Dutchman is famed for his lightning speed, hitting a top Premier League top speed of 37.12 km/h in 2024/25, quicker than any Reds player, including new signing Frimpong, who hit 36.34 km/h.
Rio Ferdinand also heaped praise on Van de Ven last year, highlighting his pace.
Their own Bellingham: Liverpool have "one of the best youngsters in Europe"
Liverpool may have found their own Jude Bellingham in 17-year-old star
1 ByWill Miller Sep 19, 2025
Liverpool fans may be split over whether Van de Ven or Guehi is the best option next year, but signing either of them has to be considered priority business. In fact, if Ibrahima Konate doesn’t sign a new deal, bringing in both would be a great idea.
O goleiro Carlos Miguel é alvo de algumas equipes da Europa. Esses clubes, que não tiveram o nome relevado, até o momento, procuraram o Corinthians a fim de buscar mais informações sobre questões contratuais e parte financeira relacionada ao atleta.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasMercado do EsporteCorinthians fecha parceria para área de alto rendimento e recoveryMercado do Esporte04/08/2023CorinthiansPaciência e segurança elevam Carlos Miguel como herdeiro de Cássio no CorinthiansCorinthians04/08/2023CorinthiansLuciano Vietto no Corinthians? O que sabemos sobre o assuntoCorinthians04/08/2023
+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF
O Timão acenou inicialmente que não deseja vender Carlos é que possui um projeto de carreira para o camisa 22. No entanto, internamente, o entendimento é que não há jogador inegociável no elenco e que todas as propostas são analisadas pela direção em conjunto com o estafe do profissional.
Ainda que não tivéssemos acesso sobre quais são os times que estão interessados em Carlos Miguel, o Lance! soube que eles fazem parte de ligas importantes da Europa, e não de mercados alternativos.
continua após a publicidade
Os representantes do goleiro estão cientes dos contatos recebidos e analisam as possibilidades de mercado e projetos envolvendo Miguel. Eles têm ‘carta branca’ dada pelo próprio atleta para tocar as decisões de carreira.
+ Veja tabela e simule os próximos jogos do Corinthians no Brasileirão
A tendência é que, pelo menos, um dos clubes interessados por Carlos Miguel apresente ao Corinthians alguma proposta oficial até o fim do mês, período em que a janela de transferências estará aberta mas principais ligas europeias.
continua após a publicidade
Contratado em agosto de 2021, Carlos Miguel ganhou sua primeira oportunidade com o técnico Vítor Pereira, mas desde a temporada passada desbancou Matheus Donelli, tornando-se o reserva imediato na meta alvinegra. Ao todo, o camisa 22 disputou nove jogos pelo Corinthians, com sete vitórias e dois empates.
عاد المدرب الإسباني رافائيل بينيتيز بطل دوري أبطال أوروبا مع ليفربول لتولي مسؤولية تدريب فريق جديد في أوروبا.
وحسبما أُعلن، فإن رافائيل بينيتيز قد عاد إلى الملاعب بتوقيع عقد جديد مع نادي باناثينايكوس أحد أعرق الأندية اليونانية.
Panathinaikos welcomes Rafa Benítez as the club’s new head coach. This is the start of a new era. ☘️#PAOFC #Panathinaikos pic.twitter.com/hgkRPDGYVH — Panathinaikos F.C. (@paofc_) October 24, 2025
وتعد هذه هي التجربة الرابعة عشرة لمدرب ريال مدريد وليفربول السابق على رأس الجهاز الفني، وسيضيف بينيتز لفريقه الجديد الكثير من الخبرة والهيبة.
وينهي رافائيل بينيتيز بذلك فترة من الغياب عن التدريب استمرت لـ 19 شهراً منذ إقالته من تدريب سيلتا فيجو الإسباني.
أقرأ أيضاً.. لاعب مانشستر سيتي: كنت قريباً من الاعتزال لهذا السبب
ويملك بينيتيز سجلا حافلا بالألقاب بما في ذلك دوري أبطال أوروبا ولقبين دوري إسباني مع فالنسيا، وأمامه تحدي لإعادة باناثينايكوس لصدارة الدوري اليوناني.
وكان بينيتيز قد رحل عن سيلتا فيجو في مارس 2024 ودرس عدة عروض قبل ان يختار مشروع أحد عمالقة الدوري اليوناني الممتاز.
وتمنح مسيرة رافائيل بينيتيز الكبيرة مع الأندية التي دربها مثل ليفربول وريال مدريد وإنتر ميلان وتشيلسي المصداقية اللازمة لقيادة مشروع إعادة بناء الفريق اليوناني وتحقيق طموحاته الأوروبية.
Puthur, who made an impressive debut this season, has had bone stress reactions in both shins
ESPNcricinfo staff01-May-2025
Raghu Sharma joins the main squad at his base price of INR 30 lakh•Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians’ (MI) left-arm wristspinner Vignesh Puthur has been ruled out of IPL 2025 with bone stress reactions in both his shins. The franchise has signed uncapped legspinner Raghu Sharma as Puthur’s replacement.Puthur had a memorable debut earlier this season, picking up three wickets against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In all, he took six wickets in five games at an economy rate of 9.08.”Vignesh will continue to be with the team to focus on his recovery and rehabilitation with the Mumbai Indians medical and S&C team,” the franchise said in a statement.Related
Auto-rickshaw driver's son latest entrant to MI's talent club
Raghu, 32, was part of MI’s net bowlers and joins the main squad at his base price of INR 30 lakh. Just like Puthur, this will be a maiden IPL stint for him.He has represented Punjab and Puducherry in domestic cricket over the years. In 11 first-class matches, he has 57 wickets at an average of 19.59. He has 14 wickets in nine List A games and three in three T20s.MI had a slow start to the tournament with one win from their five games. Since then, they have stacked five wins in a row and are currently third on the points table with 12 points from ten games.
For all the scrutiny on Newcastle United’s inconsistent attack, their defensive organisation has been the team’s saving grace.
Eddie Howe’s side may not have been firing at the other end, but their solidity at the back has provided a foundation to build from.
Heading into their meeting with Arsenal, Newcastle had conceded the lowest expected goals against (xGA) in the Premier League at just 2.5. Compare that with their efforts in offence and the difference is stark.
Lowest Expected Goals (xG) – 2025/26
Burnley
4.5
Aston Villa
5.0
West Ham
5.0
Newcastle United
5.2
Wolves
5.6
Source: Fotmob
That xGA record slipped slightly after the defeat to Mikel Arteta’s side, but they still sit second in that particular metric – underlining the strength of their structure without the ball.
Across their opening fixtures, the Magpies have conceded only five goals, keeping four clean sheets. Only Liverpool and Arsenal have managed to score against them in the league play.
A big part of that early-season resilience has been the work of Tino Livramento, who added balance with his pace and anticipation on the flank.
His injury against Arsenal, which looked serious, could prove damaging to Howe’s plans.
Yet it also highlighted the broader point: Newcastle are in the process of rejuvenating their defensive line.
The partnership of Dan Burn and Fabian Schär has been a reliable one, but with Champions League football and a congested schedule, rotation is no longer optional.
Howe has made it clear that everyone must be ready to slot in seamlessly and that process is beginning to accelerate as one fantastic servant edges towards the twilight of his career.
How Fabian Schär became Newcastle's defensive heartbeat
When Newcastle signed Schär from Deportivo La Coruña in 2018 for just £3m, few predicted he would go on to become one of the club’s most consistent performers of the modern era.
Now into his sixth season, the 33-year-old has amassed 235 appearances, scoring 21 goals and contributing 10 assists – remarkable numbers for a centre-half and a reminder of his set-piece threat.
What sets Schär apart is his technical ability.
Described as a “true legend of the club” by one Newcastle content creator earlier this year, he is most notably comfortable receiving the ball under pressure. The Swiss defender can step out of the backline, carry into midfield, and fire incisive passes through the lines.
Under Howe, that skill has been essential in moving Newcastle away from being a purely reactive side to one that can build attacks from deep.
Chalkboard
He also brings invaluable experience. With 86 international caps for Switzerland before his retirement last year, Schär has featured at World Cups and European Championships, developing into a leader by example rather than volume.
Supporters regard him as one of the best value-for-money signings in the club’s history.
Yet even leaders decline. At 33, Schär has become more vulnerable to injuries, missing recent fixtures due to concussion protocols after a heavy knock against Barcelona in the Champions League.
Subtle lapses – slower reactions to second balls, occasional mistimed challenges – have also crept in.
While his passing remains assured, there is a growing sense that Newcastle must prepare for a future where he is no longer the constant at the heart of their back four.
Newcastle's future leader ready to replace Schar
If Schär represents the present, new signing Malick Thiaw may well be the future.
Signed from AC Milan in the summer for £30m, the Germany international arrived with a reputation as one of Europe’s most technically capable young centre-backs.
Malick Thiaw.
At 24 years old, he already had 85 senior appearances for Milan and experience in the Champions League – proof that he can handle high-pressure environments.
Thiaw’s qualities are exactly what Howe seeks in a modern defender.
He is calm in possession, able to turn away from pressure, and plays progressive passes that cut through midfield lines.
Malick Thiaw – 2024/25
Matches Played
22
Tackles
24
Blocks
14
Interceptions
15
Aerial Duels Won
49
Source: FBref
His statistical profile backs this up: with a 93.2% pass completion rate, ranking him in the 95th percentile among his positional peers across Europe, he rarely concedes possession cheaply.
He also averages nearly five progressive passes per 90 minutes, placing him in the 85th percentile – evidence of his willingness to play forward rather than sideways.
His performance against Arsenal offered a glimpse of his potential. Thiaw won four of six aerial duels, cleared the ball eight times, and crucially, was not dribbled past once.
In possession, he completed 20 of his 23 passes, showing the kind of poise that makes him such a natural fit for Howe’s tactical approach.
Defensively, he read danger well, stepping out to intercept once and shepherding Arsenal’s attackers away from goal with his positioning.
Stylistically, Thiaw has drawn comparisons with Ibrahima Konaté and Micky van de Ven – defenders who blend physical dominance with technical assurance.
Newcastle fans already see the potential for Thiaw to form a long-term partnership with Sven Botman, one that could anchor the club’s backline for the next five years.
Of course, the summer arrival still needs to adapt fully to the pace and intensity of the Premier League, but the early signs are encouraging.
With Champions League fixtures demanding rotation, Howe may soon face a decision that seemed unthinkable only a year ago.
Phasing out one of the club’s most reliable veterans in favour of a player who looks ready to lead Newcastle’s defence into a new era.
Newcastle can axe Gordon by unleashing 18-year-old who's "similar to Mbappe"
Anthony Gordon hasn’t been at the races this season for Newcastle United.
Luis Reece claims 3 for 21 to help wrap up comprehensive innings victory for home side
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay26-May-2025
Luis Reece is congratulated on a wicket•Getty Images
Luis Reece led Derbyshire’s victory charge as they rolled over Kent before lunch on the final day of the Rothesay County Championship Division Two match at Derby. The allrounder picked up two wickets to claim outstanding figures of 3 for 21 from 10 overs with Derbyshire beating the visitors by an innings and 14 runsAfter Zak Chappell struck with the first ball of the day, Kent folded in feeble fashion, losing four wickets in eight overs, to slump to 247 for 9, the injured Jake Ball unable to bat.It was Derbyshire’s second win of the season which takes them above Glamorgan to second in the table while Kent have now lost four matches in a row.Kent’s slide to another defeat started when Tawanda Muyeye was caught behind taking on a short ball from Chappell. Muyeye clearly thought it had come off his shoulder but given his side were still 104 runs behind with three wickets already down, it was not a great shot for the situation.That was a straightforward catch for Brooke Guest but the wicketkeeper took a much sharper one five overs later standing up to Luis Reece when Chris Benjamin pushed forward and edged into his gloves.Kent’s hopes of at least frustrating Derbyshire now rested with Jack Leaning and Harry Finch but the pair were quickly parted with Reece celebrating a second success of the morning. Leaning failed to get over a drive and substitute fielder Nick Potts took a good tumbling catch diving forward at deep mid-off.Derbyshire were now all over the visitors and in the next over, Finch went to turn Anuj Dal off his legs but the ball came off his thigh pad and onto the stumps.Matt Parkinson had resisted well as nightwatcher in the first innings but this time he lasted only seven balls before he went half forward to Jack Morley and was lbw. Grant Stewart struck some muscular blows , pulling Pat Brown for six, but the end came 15 minutes before the interval when he sliced the fast bowler to third man where Potts pulled off a superb diving catch.
A vitória do Grêmio sobre o Cruzeiro por 3 a 0 neste domingo (27), na Arena, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, teve nome e sobrenome: Luis Suárez. O uruguaio deu um show à parte com um gol e uma assistência espetacular para ajudar o Tricolor a subir para o 3º lugar da competição, com 36 pontos. Pepê e Carballo marcaram os outros gols. Com a derrota, a Raposa estaciona em 12º, com 25 pontos. Veja os melhores momentos no player acima!
RelacionadasBrasileirãoBrasileirão: Grêmio é superior e goleia CruzeiroBrasileirão27/08/2023PalmeirasVeiga decide com golaço, e Palmeiras vence o Vasco pelo BrasileirãoPalmeiras27/08/2023Fora de CampoEx-árbitro PC Oliveira diz que gol do Vasco contra o Palmeiras foi mal anulado e explica o motivoFora de Campo27/08/2023
+ Veja a tabela de classificação do Brasileirão e os próximos jogos
أصبح النجم المصري محمد صلاح على وشك تحطيم رقم قياسي جديد في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، عندما يلتقي ليفربول مع أستون فيلا على ملعب “أنفيلد” يوم السبت المقبل.
ونشرت “TRIBUNA” أن محمد صلاح على وشك تحطيم الرقم القياسي الذي يحمله واين روني منذ فترة طويلة لإجمالي الأهداف والتمريرات الحاسمة لنادي واحد في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
وكان صلاح قد انضم إلى ليفربول في عام 2017 وساهم في 275 هدفًا في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، حيث سجل 187 هدفًا وصنع 88 هدفًا.
اقرأ أيضاً.. صحفي إنجليزي يكشف وجهة محمد صلاح المتوقعة بعد رحيله عن ليفربول
ويأتي النجم المصري بفارق هدف أقل عن واين روني الذي ساهم بـ276 هدفًا مع مانشستر يونايتد حيث سجل 183 هدفًا وصنع 93 تمريرة حاسمة.
وكان مهاجم مانشستر يونايتد واين روني قد حقق رقمه القياسي على مدار مسيرة امتدت 13 عامًا في “أولد ترافورد”.
وحقق المهاجم الإنجليزي السابق خمسة ألقاب في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز وكأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي ودوري أبطال أوروبا، بينما انضم صلاح وهو يبلغ 25 عاماً إلى ليفربول ويحرص عللى ترك بصمته في كرة القدم الإنجليزية.
وكان صلاح قد ساهم بـ275 هدفًا، بالهدف الذي سجله ضد برينتفورد يوم السبت الماضي، وحقق المصري هذا الإنجاز في 96 مباراة أقل ويمتلك 4 أهداف أكثر من روني.
Fear not, Arsenal fans, the international break is finally coming to an end this weekend.
However, while the return of the Premier League can’t come soon enough, the Emirates faithful have been able to watch a number of their stars excel for their nations over the last week and a half.
One of those who has been particularly impressive has been Bukayo Saka, who scored a wonder goal against Wales and then picked up an assist against Latvia.
So long as he remains fit, the Hale Ender will surely be one of the first names on the team sheet at the World Cup, as his importance to the Three Lions is only eclipsed by his importance to the Gunners.
With that said, while Saka will likely remain the North Londoners’ talismanic number seven for as long as he’s playing, Mikel Arteta and Co may already have the perfect long-term heir in one of the most exciting talents in the country.
Arsenal's recent number sevens
Despite the amount of change the squad has been through, Arsenal have only had three first-team players wear the number seven shirt since 2016.
The first of those was Alexis Sanchez, who took the number ahead of the 16/17 season following the departure of Czech international Tomas Rosický.
The former Barcelona ace was already an undeniable superstar for the Gunners at this point, having produced 37 goal involvements in 41 games the season prior.
However, with his new number on his back, the Chilean international reached another level, scoring 30 goals and providing 18 assists in 51 appearances, totalling 4230 minutes, in the 16/17 season.
That comes out to a staggering average of a goal involvement every 1.06 games, or every 88.12 minutes. If that wasn’t enough, he also scored the opening goal in the club’s 2-1 FA Cup Final triumph over Chelsea that summer.
Alexis Sanchez’s Arsenal record
Season
14/15
Appearances
52
Goals
25
Assists
12
Goal Involvements per Match
0.71
Season
15/16
Appearances
41
Goals
17
Assists
11
Goal Involvements per Match
0.68
Season
16/17
Appearances
51
Goals
30
Assists
18
Goal Involvements per Match
0.94
Season
17/18
Appearances
22
Goals
8
Assists
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.54
All Stats via Transfermarkt
However, all good things must come to an end, and midway through the following season, he moved to Manchester United in a swap deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan come the other way.
The Armenian international took the seven shirt off the departing winger, but, interestingly, had to wear 77 in Europa League matches because two players are not allowed to wear the same number in the same campaign.
Unfortunately, while the Yerevan-born player is undeniably talented and has been brilliant in Italy, he failed to deliver in North London and, within a year and a half, was sent on loan to AS Roma, with just nine goals and 13 assists in 59 games for the club.
The loan was made in the summer of 2020, and in July, the seven was handed to one of the club’s own: Saka.
While he hasn’t had a season as explosive as Sanchez’s 16/17, the Hale Ender has become a reliable source of goal involvements as well as someone who can step up in the big moments.
Moreover, and arguably just as crucial, he has also become the face of Arteta’s project and rejuvenation of the club, with him netting his 100th Premier League goal involvement in just his 200th league appearance before the international break.
In all, the Gunners’ “legend in the making,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored 73 goals and provided 72 assists in 270 games for the club, totalling 20448 minutes.
In other words, since his first-team debut, the dazzling winger has averaged a goal involvement every 1.86 games, or every 141.02 minutes, which is made all the more impressive by the fact he spent much of his early career at left-back, or being played all over the place.
So, it’s clear that, so long as he can remain fit, Saka will almost certainly remain Arsenal’s number seven for potentially the next decade or so, and in even more good news, the academy looks like it’s producing someone who could be his long-term heir.
Arsenal's future number seven
There is certainly an argument to be made that Ethan Nwaneri could end up being Arsenal’s future number seven, as most of his games last season came off the right, in place of Saka.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, it has become increasingly clear this season that the club view him as a central player, and anyway, there is now another, younger Hale End gem who looks like he could thrive out wide and eventually make the number his own: Max Dowman.
It is hard to think of another academy gem who has received as much media attention as the 15-year-old, but it’s not just fans and pundits waxing lyrical about him.
For example, at the start of last season, Kulig claimed the teenager was the “most exciting prospect” he had seen “since Lamine Yamal”, and then last November, Hale End expert Will Balsam called him “the biggest talent in England.”
It might all sound somewhat hyperbolic, but his numbers from last season suggest it might not be.
Dowman in 24/25
Appearances
23
Minutes
1945′
Goals
19
Assists
5
Goal Involvements per Match
1.04
Minutes per Goal Involvement
81.04′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
In just 23 appearances, totalling 1945 minutes, he scored 19 times and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of 1.04 goal involvements per match, or one every 81.04 minutes.
Moreover, he played brilliantly in pre-season, winning a penalty against Newcastle United, and then did the same at home to Leeds United in the league, with respected analyst Ben Mattinson pointing out that he “hasn’t even done his GCSE’s but he’s humiliating Premier League players.”
Finally, while there is a case for his future being in the middle of the park, his best attributes seem to be his agility, ability to beat opposition defenders, and his ability to burst into the penalty area, all of which feel like key skills for a top-class winger.
On top of that, his first team experience has come off the right, and he is currently playing out wide and thriving for England’s U19 side.
Finally, if the Gunners want to have him and Nwaneri in the team in the future, leading the way for Hale End, then it makes sense to play the latter in the middle and keep the former on the wing, where he can make the most of his incredible gifts.
Ultimately, Dowman is not going to take the number seven shirt from Saka in the foreseeable future, but given how young he is, there is every chance he becomes the 24-year-old’s long-term heir at the Emirates.
Arteta can drop Gyokeres by unleashing Arsenal star who's emulating Haaland
Viktor Gyokeres should be under pressure to perform at Arsenal.
Australia appealed but umpires signalled ball was dead after it briefly became lodged behind pad flap
Andrew Miller12-Jun-20251:26
Bedingham: ‘Way I picked up the ball came across dodgy’
South Africa’s David Bedingham admitted he had “panicked big time” during a handled-the-ball incident on the second afternoon of the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, one that briefly threatened to thrust Australia’s wicketkeeper Alex Carey into another spirit of cricket rumpus.Two years on from his contentious stumping of Jonny Bairstow during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, Carey was once again at the centre of an unusual Australian appeal, as Bedingham – on 31 at the time, and in the final over before the lunch break – played off the back foot to Beau Webster, and inside-edged the ball into his pad-flap.Although the on-field umpires, Richard Illingworth and Chris Gaffaney, subsequently called the ball dead, Bedingham’s continued movements had briefly threatened to dislodge it from his pad-flap. With Carey swooping round from behind the stumps in a bid to gather it before it hit the turf, Bedingham responded by reaching down to his knee, and throwing the ball to the ground.Related
South Africa 'very confident' of chasing down target on challenging pitch
Lungi Ngidi burst puts selection questions to bed
Live Report – Australia vs South Africa, World Test Championship final
Cummins eighth Australia bowler to reach 300-wicket milestone in Tests
Australia ahead after Cummins, Rabada and Ngidi dominate pulsating second day
“Yeah, I think I panicked big time,” Bedingham said at the close. “Because Carey was standing up, he was quite close. The umpires said, regardless, it was dead ball. But I think the way I picked up the ball and dropped it came across a bit dodgy.”Pat Cummins, Australia’s captain, played down the moment in his post-match press conference, but acknowledged that he would likely have withdrawn the appeal had the umpires not signalled dead ball. Notably, he chose not to do this two years ago against England, when Carey capitalised on Bairstow’s habit of walking out of his crease after each delivery to throw down his stumps with an opportunistic under-arm shy.”I’m just glad they withdrew the appeal, because there [would be] more controversy and that type of stuff,” Bedingham said. “I’m glad nothing happened out of it, really. The slip cordon just told me, ‘don’t panic, just leave it…’ but in the moment, I think I panicked big-time.”The Bairstow dismissal caused a huge row, with Australia’s fielders coming in for abuse from MCC members within the Long Room as they left the field at the end of the session, and England’s captain Ben Stokes subsequently stating that he wouldn’t want to win a game in such a manner after Australia sealed a 43-run win later that afternoon.David Bedingham drops the ball from his pad just as Alex Carey comes forward to catch it•Getty Images
However, that moment, as with this latest incident, clearly fell within the remit of the laws of the game.According to Fraser Stewart, MCC’s head of cricket and the former laws manager, the eventual decision was “right for the game”, even if a strict interpretation of the Law 20.1.1 – which pertains to dead balls – might argue that the ball hadn’t been completely stationary at the moment of Bedingham’s intervention.According to the relevant laws, a ball becomes dead when: In a 2001 Test in Ahmedabad, England’s Michael Vaughan was given out handling the ball after placing his hand on the ball after it had already hit the turf, seemingly to prevent it from rolling back onto his stumps.Vaughan is the last of seven batters to be given out handled the ball in a Test match, because since 2017, that mode of dismissal has been subsumed into obstructing the field. In 2023-24, Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim fell in that manner after handling the ball against New Zealand in Mirpur.