All posts by n8rngtd.top

If Memorial Day is the first serious checkpoint of the MLB season, then the Fourth of July qualifies as the second. The regular season is now past its midpoint as teams hanging around .500 must soon decide whether they’ll be buyers or sellers with the trade deadline less than a month away.

As our long-term views on the 2025 season continue to crystallize, let's recap what's gone on thus far and what could lie ahead.

1. Which team has been the pleasant surprise of the season?

Tom Verducci: The Tampa Bay Rays. The schedule is a bear. Only 16 home games in July and August. A minor league ballpark for a home. An ace (Shane McClanahan) still not back. But this is the hardest throwing staff in recorded history and Junior Caminero swings one of the two fastest bats in baseball. They have the best record in baseball against winning teams. They have one of the most athletic teams in the game, even if they tend to be careless on the bases. Believe it. The Rays are for real.

Stephanie Apstein: The timing of this question is funny. A few weeks ago, I probably would have said the New York Mets or the San Francisco Giants, but a couple of losing streaks later, they're in danger of becoming the answers to question 2 (see below). So I think I'll go with the Tampa Bay Rays. In one sense their success is unsurprising, because this is what they do most years, but keep in mind that most years they don't have to do it in an open-air minor league ballpark where game-time temperatures regularly hit the mid-90s. 

Nick Selbe: The Toronto Blue Jays seemed to be nearing the end of a contention window with last season's 74-win campaign and a core group of players that seemed closer to the decline phase than their primes. Instead, Toronto doubled down, signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year extension worth half a billion dollars and adding Anthony Santander to a five-year deal worth nearly $100 million. The latter hasn't worked out so far, but it hasn't prevented the Blue Jays from keeping pace with the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East, Pythagorean record be damned. Toronto might not have the pitching depth at present to keep up this pace, but its offense looks dangerous enough to remain in the division hunt throughout the second half.

Ryan Phillips: The Chicago Cubs have arrived a year (or more) earlier than expected. While the pitching has been suspect, Chicago's offense has been relentless. Pete Crow-Armstrong has become a legitimate star and leads the National League in WAR, while Kyle Tucker is second. The Northsiders are a ton of fun and are baseball’s biggest surprise for their dominance (MLB’s best run differential) if not for their division standing. 

Will Laws: Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that the Rays have figured out how to stay competitive with a bottom-five payroll. Nevertheless, SI predicted them to finish 76–86 after they missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 2018. Instead, they're just a game out of first place in the AL East with the AL's third-best run differential thanks to a strong, balanced offense and anold-school rotation that leads the junior circuit in innings pitched.

2. Which team has been the biggest disappointment?

TV: The Baltimore Orioles. I didn’t like their pitching depth coming into the season, and it got exposed right away. The continued decline of Adley Rutschman is a problem and some touted prospects have not stepped up while veterans like Tyler O’Neill and Ryan Mountcastle have done little. Hard to believe this team played itself out of the race in less than 50 games.

SA: The Mets and the Giants have had a bad three weeks, but for me, the true shock of the season has been the Orioles. They won 101 games two years ago and 91 last season, and all their young stars should be hitting their prime. But other than shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who's been worth 2.4 wins above replacement by Baseball-Reference's calculations, none of those guys is on track for even an All-Star caliber season, let alone the MVP-type campaign we were ready to expect from them. And the organization at times seems to be in turmoil; the front office fired manager Brandon Hyde in May, but GM Mike Elias did not address the decision for three days, and owner David Rubenstein still hasn't. When Hyde was whacked, the Orioles were 15–28; under his replacement, Tony Mansolino, they've gone 22–21. And it's getting late early in Baltimore: First baseman Ryan Mountcastle can be a free agent after next season, catcher Adley Rutschman can follow him the next year, and the rest are not far behind. 

NS: The Orioles endured half a decade of tanking—a run that saw three seasons with 100-plus losses—to put the organization in a position to build a true-blue title contender. Bottoming out like that was supposed to yield more than two playoff runs that ended in first-round sweeps, and now Baltimore is back in a seller’s position as the trade deadline nears. With an interim manager at the helm, the club's leadership is in a state of transition. The urgency will be dialed up to 11 for the front office to somehow chart a path toward a more balanced roster for 2026—otherwise, further leadership changes will likely be quick to follow.

RP: This is a slam dunk. The Orioles entered the season with World Series hype, and the only question was whether they could find an ace before the deadline. Now, everyone expects them to sell as they're languishing in last place in the AL East. 

WL: Yes, the Orioles have been awful, but their downfall was somewhat predictable given their glaring lack of arms. The Atlanta Braves, meanwhile, were widely seen as one of the Los Angeles Dodgers' biggest threats in the NL. Instead, they're likely to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Spencer Schwellenbach is the latest starting pitcher slated for a long stay on the IL. Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna all ranked in the bottom 10 of OPS among 183 qualified players in June. They'll need more than a blazing-hot Ronald Acuña Jr. to climb back in the playoff picture, and anything less than a postseason berth would qualify as a massive disappointment for a team that not long ago looked like it could dominate this decade.

3. Which team on top of its division is most vulnerable to losing its lead?

TV: The Yankees. I still believe it’s their division. But the Jays and Rays are not going away. The Boston Red Sox will play thsmselves back into the race in the second half. New York will prevail, but it will be pushed.

SA: Well, the Yankees lead the AL East by only one game over the Toronto Blue Jays, so mathematically, I guess that's the answer. But I believe in the Yankees, even without ace Gerrit Cole, in a way I don't buy the Blue Jays long-term. The Jays have played over their heads, which their +4 run differential reflects; the Yankees have Aaron Judge. It's hard to bet against him. 

NS: It's a tale as old as time: The Philadelphia Phillies can't find the right bullpen combination. Not that the rest of the NL East has really looked impressive—the Miami Marlins' recent hot streak still leaves them 11 games behind first place, the Braves and Washington Nationals remain a mess, and the Mets are in a total tailspin. But New York has too much talent, and the Phillies have too many question marks, for this lead to feel safe. Expect these two financial behemoths to be neck-and-neck all the way through Game 162.

RP: The Phillies will almost certainly make the postseason, but the Mets aren't far behind them and have to be better than they've shown. Right? New York has been rough since mid-June, losing 14 of 17 at one point, but that won't last forever. The roster is too good to be down that long. 

WL: This question had a little more juice to it when posed a few days ago; now, the answer is clearly the Yankees, who are clinging to a one-game lead in the AL East over the Blue Jays and Rays after losing three of four to Toronto. The Red Sox can't be counted out yet, either, despite their bizarre season thus far.

4. Which team not currently in playoff position is most likely to qualify?

TV: The Texas Rangers. The core hitting group of Adolis Garcia, Marcus Semien and Corey Seager are starting to snap out of their early season funks. The Rangers are clicking just in time for Chris Young to find a bat to add to this offense. With Nathan Eovaldi back and Jacob deGrom looking his best in years, Texas has too much elite talent not to make a run.

SA: I will go with the San Diego Padres, who are currently tied with the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL’s last wild-card berth. If the Mets don't fall further into the hole they're digging, the Cardinals, who employ exactly one regular with an OPS over .800 (DH Iván Herrera, .925), could be good for a late-season collapse. 

NS: The middle is very muddled in both leagues, so here's a bet that the Rangers—who have baseball's best ERA at time of writing—can add a bat or two to separate themselves from the pack of less than impressive wild-card contenders.

RP: The Rangers are currently on the outside looking in, but have played much better baseball over the past few weeks. They're chasing down the Seattle Mariners and Rays for the final two wild-card spots, and both teams have serious flaws. A few smart deadline acquisitions could flip the script.

WL: I wasn't a believer in the Giants heading into this season, but the revival of Robbie Ray and the acquisition of Rafael Devers has convinced me that they may have what it takes to eke out a wild-card berth despite their gloomy June (in true San Francisco fashion).

5. What's your World Series pick?

TV: Los Angeles Dodgers over Detroit Tigers. Both teams have nasty stuff on the mound from spots 1–13 on the pitching staff—or in the Dodgers’ case, 1–14 with Shohei Ohtani getting stretched out for October. Dave Roberts and A.J. Hinch are masters at using postseason off days and high leverage bullpen arms to maximum advantage. They look like the best tournament teams.

SA: This is such a boring answer, but until I see some evidence to the contrary, I have to go with the Dodgers over the Yankees. Sorry, everyone.

NS: Dodgers over Tigers. Detroit looks like as complete a squad as there is, but if the Dodgers can reach  semblance of pitching health by the time October comes around, they'll be tough to pick against.

RP: The fact that the Dodgers have the best record in baseball despite getting a combined 52 1/3 innings from Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki so far makes them almost impossible to pick against. I've got them beating the Houston Astros in a rematch of the controversial 2017 World Series. It'll go seven games again. 

WL: I'm far less steady in my conviction in the Dodgers than in spring training, when I thought they had a real chance to break the 2001 Mariners' win record. Their pitching depth has yet again been whittled down to the bone. So I'll take a swing on the Phillies making a big move or two before the deadline to take advantage of their closing title window, and the once-again contending Astros emerging from a weak AL bracket once Yordan Alvarez is back at full strength. In a rematch of the 2022 World Series, this time the Phillies win in six.

Kusal Perera, with just four appearances, gets a mention

Danyal Rasool27-May-2025

Sahibzada Farhan (Islamabad United)

449 runs, 37.41 average, 152.20 strike rate, one hundred, three fifties
Coming off a prolific domestic season, Sahibzada Farhan carried his form into the PSL. A scintillating 52-ball 106 in the second game forewarned of his ascent into one of the league’s elite openers, and he continued that hot streak right through the competition. Three further half-centuries made him the highest run-scorer of the tournament, and gave United devastating power up top.

Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars)

439 runs, 33.76 average, 152.96 strike rate, four fifties
Injuries, age, discontent, talk of retirement plagued his arrival into the tournament. Vintage Fakhar Zaman came out the other end. Second-highest run-getter in the tournament, his fire-starting was absolutely essential to Qalandars’ triumph (and a reminder to Pakistan of his evergreen value).Related

• Mohammad Naeem, and the curious case of PSL's emerging player rule

• Kusal Perera, Sikandar Raza star in record chase to take Qalandars to PSL title

• From Nottingham to Lahore: How Sikandar Raza travelled the world for Qalandars' PSL glory

• There's a value to making Shaheen Afridi feel loved and the PSL has shown that

Kusal Perera (wk) (Lahore Qalandars)

170 runs, 56.66 average, 173.46 strike rate, two fifties
That he makes this list after playing just four games is testament to the outsized impact Kusal Perera had on Qalandars’ title charge. Drafted in as a replacement when the league resumed after a brief suspension, the Sri Lankan played four must-win matches, contributing valuable high-impact runs in each of them. It culminated in a 35-ball 61 in the second qualifier, followed by an unbeaten 31-ball 62 in the final, where he was awarded the Player of the Match as Qalandars lifted the trophy.

Hasan Nawaz (Quetta Gladiators)

399 runs, 57.00 average, 162.19 strike rate, one hundred, three fifties
Hasan Nawaz was boom or bust in his debut international series against New Zealand, one century complemented by just one run in the other four innings. He found frightening consistency in the second half of the PSL with Gladiators, though, smashing 313 runs in his final five games for just two dismissals. It included an unbeaten 45-ball 100 against United, a last-ball six to ace a chase against Multan Sultans, and a 43-ball 76 in the final.Shadab Khan made an impact with bat and ball•PCB

Shadab Khan (Islamabad United)

173 runs, 24.71 batting average, 155.85 strike rate, 14 wickets, 16.57 bowling average, 7.9 econ
It was an unspectacular, low-profile but high-performance season for the United captain. Shadab Khan will be disappointed with his team tailing off after an electric start but happy that he seems to be returning to more solid form with the ball.

Sikandar Raza (Lahore Qalandars)

254 runs, 42.33 batting average, 169.33 strike rate, 10 wickets, 17.2 bowling average, 7.75 econ
Another one of Qalandars’ MVPs, Sikandar Raza’s commitment to the campaign was illustrated best by his journey to the final. But he made an all-round impact through the season, in important wins against United, in games against Sultans and, of course, most memorably in the final.

Jason Holder (Islamabad United)

15 wickets, economy rate 9.36, two four-wicket hauls, 69 runs, batting average 34.50, strike rate 164.28
Perhaps things would have been different for United if Jason Holder had been available for the playoffs, because he was unstoppable for the first two-thirds of the tournament. His ability to take wickets, particularly through the middle and later stages of an innings, proved handy for the defending champions time and again, and he was far and away the leading wicket-taker until the league was suspended.Faheem Ashraf was a late pick in the draft, but showed his worth for Quetta Gladiators•PCB

Faheem Ashraf (Quetta Gladiators)

17 wickets, economy rate 11.19, one four-wicket haul, one five-wicket haul, 163 runs, strike rate 155.23
Faheem Ashraf’s star appeared to be fading before this tournament, but his late pick at the draft by Gladiators proved a masterstroke. While extremely expensive, his effect on the side was measured in moments, and his knack of taking wickets in clumps put him close to the top of the wickets charts; only Shaheen Shah Afridi took more. Towards the tail-end of the tournament, he’d found his hitting range too, a couple of blistering cameos helping propel Gladiators to the final, where another high-impact knock took them to within touching distance of glory.

Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt, Lahore Qalandars)

19 wickets, 16.42 average, 7.76 econ
Clutch much? Ten of Shaheen Shah Afridi’s 19 season-topping wickets came in the last four games, including breathtaking opening spells back-to-back in the second qualifier and then the final. A third PSL triumph as captain and one knockout retort to the critics and sceptics.

Abrar Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators)

17 wickets, 19.23 average, 7.34 econ
The league’s best spinner by some distance and one of only two specialist spinners in the top ten wicket-takers. This was arguably the most assured version of Abrar Ahmed we’ve seen. Difficult to get away, never easily read, always a wicket-taking threat.

Luke Wood (Peshawar Zalmi)

11 wickets, average 18.90, economy rate 7.13
In a phenomenally high-scoring season, Zalmi’s Luke Wood found a way to keep batters on a leash. In all phases of the innings, his canny variations backed up by a truly quick stock delivery, made him devilishly hard to put away. No bowler in the league was more economical, and he often had little support from the other end. In a must-win game against Karachi Kings, Zalmi conceded 237; Wood’s figures read 4-0-19-2.

The Savannah Bananas brought their traveling baseball party to legendary Fenway Park in Boston this past Saturday and brought back some special Boston athletes and former Red Sox players to join in on the fun.

One of those guys was Brock Holt, a former infielder who spent seven seasons in Boston and won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2018.

Holt made a dramatic entrance for his at-bat, walking through the stands before making his way to home plate while the sold-out crowd gave him a huge ovation. Then a few moments later, he suffered the unluckiest of outs as a fan caught his foul ball, which per Savannah Bananas rules counts as an out.

Here's the fan robbing Holt of a chance to get a hit in front of a crowd that wanted to see the best for one of their former players. And yes, this guy was immediately booed for doing what he did:

Not cool, dude!

Mason Mount arrived at Manchester United in the summer of 2023, with eyebrows being raised over the Red Devils forking out a fee in the region of £60m for his signature.

The Englishman left boyhood club, Chelsea, to move to Old Trafford, but his time in the North West has failed to live up to his mammoth price tag.

He’s only made a total of 54 appearances across all competitions, scoring just five times, with his latest effort coming against Sunderland in the Premier League.

However, injuries have massively plagued the 26-year-old in recent years, subsequently failing to register over 20 appearances in the league in any of his two full seasons in Manchester.

It’s unclear what levels he can reach at the Theatre of Dreams, but part of his struggles in previous seasons could be down to the pressure generated from the number seven shirt.

Ranking United’s best #7 in the Premier League era

Over the last few years, the number seven shirt at United has been somewhat of a curse, with numerous players struggling to match the expectations it comes with.

The likes of Ángel Di María, Michael Owen and Alexis Sanchez have all been unable to impress when wearing the number on their back – but that hasn’t always been the case.

Eric Cantona was an iconic figure at Old Trafford, but that came in more ways than just his performances with the ball, with numerous talking points emerging from his spell at the Red Devils.

The Frenchman became known for his infamous king-fu kick on a supporter, leading to a hefty ban, but he still managed to rack up some incredible numbers during his seven-year spell.

He scored 82 times in his 185 appearances in Manchester, arguably being one of the best players to ever wear the number seven shirt for the Red Devils.

However, he wasn’t quite able to reach the levels produced by Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Portuguese international exceeding everyone’s expectations at United.

He arrived as an unknown quantity to many supporters in 2003, but he would go on to rack up over 340 appearances across two separate spells at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo even won a Ballon d’Or during his first stint at the club, highlighting the quality he possesses and even becoming known as CR7 as a result of his spell in Manchester.

However, arguably the most iconic player to wear such a shirt at the Theatre of Dreams is David Beckham, with the Englishman being constantly associated with such a shirt throughout his career.

A product of the club’s academy, the midfielder made himself more than just a footballer, with Beckham now being a household celebrity around the entire globe.

From halfway line strikes to incredible free-kicks, he truly did manage to produce everything for the Red Devils, with a real hope that one other star can replicate such a feat in the future.

The United star who could take the #7 shirt off Mount

The United hierarchy backed manager Ruben Amorim during the summer transfer market to try and aid his chance of success in 2025/26 and beyond.

The 40-year-old spent over £200m on new additions within the final third to try and offer a new and impressive attacking department to his first-team squad.

Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko all arrived at Old Trafford, but none of them took the iconic number seven shirt away from Mount.

However, whilst the Englishman still wears such a shirt, that could be about to change in the years ahead with the emergence of academy star Shea Lacey.

At 18, the forward has a huge future ahead of him, but he’s already shown glimpses of his quality within the youth levels of the Red Devils in the last few seasons.

Shea Lacey – stats for Man Utd at youth level
Competition	Games	Goals	Assists
U18 Premier League	33	9	7
UEFA Youth League	4	0	0
FA Youth Cup	3	0	2
Total:	40	9	9
Stats via Transfermarkt

He made 13 appearances across all competitions last campaign, netting just twice, but he’s already matched such a tally in his first three outings of 2025/26.

Lacey, who’s been labelled “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is a left-footed forward who favours cutting off the right side onto his stronger foot – a really impressive quality that could make him a huge threat.

He’s also demonstrated his ball-carrying skills in the past, making the step-up to action after his previous injury lay-off – possessing the fearlessness that United have often lacked in the final third.

The winger’s highlights from recent months showcase the natural raw ability he has in his arsenal, but it’s crucial that he’s managed in the right way to reach his full potential.

Young academy prospects have made themselves at home in the United first-team of late, but given the recent struggles on the pitch, it’s important Lacey is catapulted into the limelight at the right time.

However, he does have all the tools to thrive in England’s top-flight in the years ahead, with the youngster potentially having all the tools to take the number seven off Mount’s back.

Man Utd's "£100m + footballer" is becoming the new Hojlund & it's not Sesko

Manchester United simply must manage one player to prevent a Rasmus Hojlund repeat.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 17, 2025

Christian Yelich is using a custom Bob Uecker bat for the Brewers' MLB Players Weekend series against the Reds. On Friday night, Yelich and the bat did Uecker proud going 4 for 5 at the plate with two home runs as Milwaukee won their 13th consecutive game, tying the longest winning streak in franchise history.

Milwaukee also came back from a seven-run deficit in the game thanks in no small part of the work of Yelich and that special bat.

Yelich hit a home run to lead off the second inning and tie the game at 1-1. After the Reds scored seven runs in the 2nd inning, Yelich doubled in a run in his second at-bat and then drove in another with a single in the 4th. By the time he came back to the plate in the 6th the game was tied and he only needed a triple for the cycle.

Instead he hit another home run.

The former MVP also paid tribute to Uecker with his outfit on opening day. The legendary Brewers announcer passed away in January.

What a night for a number of reasons.

Pete Alonso became the Mets' all-time leader in home runs earlier this week as part of an offensive explosion so big the team ran out of fireworks. When Alonso passed Daryl Strawberry it was a nice moment for a team in the middle of a very rough patch and SNY's play-by-play voice, Gary Cohen, responded with an enthusiastic call to mark the occasion.

One person who didn't appreciate the call was Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, who went on the next morning to rant about the Mets celebrating the accomplishment. Near the end of his rant he also called out Cohen for his nickname-centric call saying, "I love Gary, I hate to do that. ‘Polar Bear on an iceberg?’ I mean, really now? This is not Henry Aaron against Al Downing!”

Unsurprisingly, there was at least one person who then took issue with Russo's rant. That would be ESPN New York's Don La Greca who went on his show later in the day to explain that the call wasn't for Mad Dog.

"Dude, this is a Met moment," said La Greca. "If you're a Yankee fan or Chris Russo, a Giant fan, a Red Sox fan, don't care about baseball. What do you care to have an opinion? It was for the Mets fans. It's a Met broadcast by a Met announcer who grew up a Met fan talking about a Met record. He's playing it to the room."

"You're not involved! You weren't invited," La Greca continued. "I don't understand why you should even care. I don't need to hear a San Francisco Giant fan peeing all over it. It's disrespectful to Gary. It's disrespectful to Met fans. Chris, I love ya. I don't care what you think. I don't! Your opinion doesn't count because you're not part of the club that that call was for. That call was for Mets fans. Watching the game. Living and dying with the team. Not a guy that's a San Francisco Giant fan that doesn't get it. Of course you don't get it because you don't know because you're not a Met fan."

As far as media feuds go, this one features a lot of players. You've got ESPN, ESPN Radio, SiriusXM, SNY, First Take, Peter Schraeger giggling. Pretty much everybody and everything.

And what’s the most wickets in a Test by someone who also bagged a pair?

Steven Lynch17-Mar-2020Who was Yabba, apparently the only spectator at the recent ODI between Australia and New Zealand? asked Maurice Evans from New Zealand

“Yabba” was the nickname given to Stephen Harold Gascoigne, a Sydney rabbit-seller who became famous for his raucous pronouncements from the Hill during matches at the SCG. Arguably the best-recalled example of his output was his advice to the England captain Douglas Jardine during the Bodyline tour: “Leave our flies alone Jardine! They’re the only friends you’ve got out here.”A statue of Yabba was unveiled on the Hill in 2008, which is why he was, poetically speaking, the only onlooker at the recent ODI in Sydney, after spectators were excluded for health reasons. The official attendance of zero would appear to be an unbeatable record low: according to the Melbourne statistician Charles Davis, the previous-smallest daily attendance for an international match in Australia was 17, for the final day of the 1967-68 Adelaide Test – India were nine down overnight, and 161 behind; Australia needed six overs on the final morning to pick up the last wicket.Ian Chappell, in a recent ESPNcricinfo article, entertainingly recalled a Sheffield Shield match that started with just one spectator in attendance. I seem to remember a report of a match in Zimbabwe that started with no one watching at all, but I’m not sure when that was!I noticed that Mitchell Starc has bowled 70 of his 178 victims in ODIs, which is almost 40%. Is this a record? asked Rick McDonough from Australia

Mitchell Starc’s percentage of bowled dismissals in one-day internationals – 39.33% – is indeed a record for anyone with more than 100 wickets. Next come Waqar Younis, with 151 out of 416 (36.3%), the West Indian Jerome Taylor, with 45 out of 128 (35.16%) and Wasim Akram, with 176 out of 502 (35.06%). If we drop the qualification to 50 wickets, Starc comes in third, behind another Pakistani – offspinner Tauseef Ahmed, with 23 bowled out of 55 wickets (41.82%) – and another rapid Aussie, Shaun Tait, with 25 out of 62 (40.32%).How many men have scored a Test triple-century in a team’s second innings? asked Ahmed Raza from Pakistan

Only two batsmen have managed a triple-century in their team’s second innings in a Test. For a long time the only one to achieve it was Hanif Mohammad, with his monumental match-saving 337 against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1957-58. With Pakistan trailing by 473 runs after the first innings, Hanif batted for 970 minutes (or 999, by some accounts), and Pakistan escaped with a draw. Nearly 56 years later, in February 2014, Hanif was joined by Brendon McCullum, who made 302 (in 775 minutes) for New Zealand against India in Wellington.The highest score in the fourth innings of a Test is 223, by George Headley for West Indies against England in a timeless Test in Kingston in 1929-30. For the full list of second-innings double-centuries, click here.Sachin Tendulkar has been dismissed in the nineties in ODIs 18 times, and has been out for 99 thrice•Getty ImagesI noticed that Kane Williamson had made seven nineties in ODIs, and Virat Kohli six. Who’s top of this list? asked Anuram Bhatti from India

Kane Williamson’s current tally of seven scores of between 90 and 99 in one-day internationals puts him joint-sixth (with India’s Mohammad Azharuddin) on this particular list. Jacques Kallis made eight, and Nathan Astle, Aravinda de Silva and Grant Flower nine – but way ahead, with twice as many, is Sachin Tendulkar, whose 18 included three 99s.What’s the most wickets in a Test by someone who also bagged a pair? asked Ron Houghton from England

The Surrey and England bowler George Lohmann holds this particular record. He took 15 wickets – 7 for 38 and 8 for 7 – against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 1895-96, but was also dismissed for ducks in both innings.More recently, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar took 12 for 104 (two 6 for 52s) for India against Australia in Melbourne in 1977-78, and Waqar Younis 12 for 130 (7 for 76 and 5 for 54) for Pakistan against New Zealand in Faisalabad in 1990-91. In all, there have been 11 instances of a bowler combining ten or more wickets in a Test with a pair with the bat.Use our
feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Some players are getting key match practice as franchises keep keen eye on form

Varun Shetty20-Aug-2020Eighteen IPL players have already taken the field in Trinidad in the first two days of the CPL, which is good news for the IPL franchises. They have had little flexibility in terms of getting their players ready for a high-intensity tournament like the IPL because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and will probably rate match practice higher than under a month’s worth of nets. Here’s a look at the IPL players and franchises who might most benefit from the CPL.Who are the key players getting games in CPL?If you are Chennai Super Kings, you’re already thrilled because Mitchell Santner has got runs and bowled a tight spell, Dwayne Bravo has sealed a nervy chase with the bat and Imran Tahir is in the wickets. In fact, there are few players who have shown up so far who wouldn’t be first-choice overseas picks for their IPL teams. Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders), Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians), Andre Russell (KKR), Nicholas Pooran (Kings XI Punjab) and Rashid Khan (Sunrisers Hyderabad) are all core players for their respective teams.Even players like Oshane Thomas (Rajasthan Royals), Keemo Paul (Delhi Capitals), Mohammad Nabi (Sunrisers), Shimron Hetmyer (Capitals) and Mujeeb ur Rahman (Kings XI), who may not normally play all games in a season, could end up playing crucial roles in the beginning of the IPL. This could be the result of teams building strategies around the various isolation norms for players who will arrive later than others. All of them will have game time during the CPL.Which franchises will be affected most?The roadblocks for player preparation is primarily around two issues right now: first, the South African players may only arrive in the UAE in September, at least a week after most franchises get there. Second, the England-Australia series is scheduled to end only three days before the IPL begins, so players coming from there will not be immediately available in the IPL because of the quarantine protocols in place.The teams that will be most affected by these are the Royal Challengers Bangalore (AB de Villiers, Chris Morris, Dale Steyn, Josh Philippe, Aaron Finch, Kane Richardson and maybe Moeen Ali), the Royals (Steven Smith, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes), Sunrisers (David Warner, Jonny Bairstow and Mitchell Marsh) and the Super Kings (Faf du Plessis and Lungi Ngidi). The Royal Challengers and the Royals will have the biggest problems in terms of core structure, and between them they only have one representative in the CPL – Thomas (Royals).On the other hand, there are IPL teams benefitting from their players participating in the CPL: the Super Kings have three key names getting games in Trinidad and the Sunrisers also have Rashid and Nabi playing the CPL, and would have had Fabian Allen too if he hadn’t missed a flight to miss the tournament. Alongside the Kolkata Knight Riders, who will probably have Narine and Russell match-fit before the IPL, these two teams will probably benefit the most. Kings XI will also be encouraged with bowlers Mujeeb and Sheldon Cottrell getting game time.An IPL for overseas spinners?Eight IPL-tied spinners have played in the CPL so far. Given that matches are going to be restricted to two venues in Trinidad, the pitches and conditions could soon favour the spinners as the tournament progresses. It is too early to say that the IPL might go the same way but historically, pitches in the UAE too have assisted slow bowling. Bowlers like Nabi, Sandeep Lamichhane (Capitals) and Chris Green (KKR) could well make cases for themselves to be picked regularly through the upcoming IPL, either alongside or in place of Indian bowlers who have not played since March.

Also, is it sustainable for them to approach all series like they did against South Africa?

Danyal Rasool08-Feb-2021After Pakistan wrapped up a famous win in Rawalpindi to seal just their second series victory against South Africa, ESPNcricinfo looks at what lessons can be learned from an absorbing couple of Tests in Pakistan.Related

• Babar Azam: No 'negative thoughts' even when Pakistan were under pressure

• Stats: South Africa's horror run in Asia and a rare fourth-innings feast for fast bowlers

• Hasan Ali ten-for gives Pakistan first series win over South Africa since 2003

• Rizwan learns from Shafiq to make Pakistan No. 6 spot his own

• Hasan Ali resurfaces with threatening zeal from slump and life in the sidelines

Pakistan will prepare pitches to maximise home advantage It was this second Test in Rawalpindi that was the real giveaway. The Karachi Test produced outrageous turn, but a curator barely has to break sweat to get a Karachi pitch behaving that way. When the action moved to Rawalpindi, Pakistan demonstrated how eager they were to make up for lost time in maximising any edge playing at home can give you.Rawalpindi is a fast bowler’s paradise, and has always been so. The milder climate, the harder surface, the greater moisture in winter has meant quick bowlers have always thrived in a city that produced the likes of Shoaib Akhtar. Pakistan have always prided themselves on the richness of their pace-bowling history, throwing the absence of that tradition in the rest of the subcontinent into sharp relief.This time, Pakistan dispensed with all of that and swallowed their pride. Recognising that South Africa didn’t possess as much quality in the spin department, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq declared that Pakistan were trying to dry out the surface days in advance to get it to crack up earlier. They shelved any thoughts of an extra fast bowler and lined up with two spinners once more. They wanted to win, and everything else was secondary.It might not have panned out quite like that, but this series is an indicator for what New Zealand, Australia and England can expect when they finally rock up here in the next two years. Pakistan are at home, and they want everyone to know it.Fast bowlers remain a factor in Pakistan more than anywhere else in Asia In the battle between the Pindi groundsmen and the surface itself, there was a clear winner. No matter what the groundstaff tried – and it was evident to anyone paying attention they did whatever cutting edge soil science would permit – three of the four five-wicket hauls went to quick bowlers, including a career-best ten-for by Hasan Ali. But for a brief period on the third evening when Pakistan struggled to negotiate George Linde and Keshav Maharaj, fast bowlers continued to carry the greater threat for both sides. And on the final day, by which time, had this pitch been more pliant to the groundstaff’s needs, it would have been a minefield, Shaheen Afridi and Hasan took nine of South Africa’s 10 wickets.This suggests that Pakistan could produce some diverse cricket at home. There are places like Karachi, where having quality spinners is an asset, but those conditions are not replicable everywhere. Once Test cricket branches out past Karachi and Rawalpindi, the varying climates of Lahore, Multan and other potential venues means there may be a variance to conditions in Pakistan to a degree not seen on the subcontinent.That means most visiting sides may feel they have a chance at success here, just as South Africa had their opportunities in both Test matches. Equally, Pakistan’s fast bowlers need not worry about redundancy, and the second Test shows Pakistan will never fully turn its back on their storied fast-bowling stockpile.Despite the series win, Pakistan will be wary that Azhar Ali hasn’t fully emerged from a slump in form•PCBThe way Pakistan won this series is unsustainable The openers can’t buy a run, Azhar Ali hasn’t fully emerged from a slump in form, Babar Azam had his least prolific series in well over a year, and the spin bowlers were largely anonymous for most of this Test – and yet Pakistan still managed a clean sweep.A 2-0 scoreline can gloss over all of that, but Pakistan ignore these concerns at their peril. Faheem Ashraf was the highest scorer for the hosts, but that’s as much an indictment of the rest of the order as it is a tribute to the all-rounder’s utility. Mohammad Rizwan – named Pakistan’s Test cricketer of the year today – is taking on much more responsibility with the bat than an ideal Test side would accord to a No.6 wicketkeeper-batsman. Abid Ali has, ten Test matches in, still scored half his Test runs in his first two, and averages under 17 since and the other opener doesn’t even exist currently.It is encouraging that the lower-middle order contributed, and the tail wagged; Pakistan have recently been accused of carrying three number 11s in their side, so this makes for a welcome change. But it isn’t a replacement strategy for a misfiring top order, and while Azam’s indifferent series was most likely a one-off, the top of the order continues to be a cause for concern.Despite a not-so-stellar series with the bat, Pakistan won’t have too many complaints with Babar Azam’s captaincy•AFP via Getty ImagesBabar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are a better captain/vice-captain combo than many feared Like an umpire, a doctor or a politician, it’s generally when a captain is bad at their job that they tend to be noticed. And perhaps the biggest compliment you could pay Azam this series is that few people cribbed his on-field captaincy. The bowling changes were sharp and proactive, and, bar a little spell on the final morning, the field placements made sense. It is, of course, easier on these grounds that he will have known since childhood, but the hierarchy at the PCB may be relieved Azam isn’t quite as overwhelmed with captaincy as many feared he might be. He doesn’t talk about the game in the most engaging way, but that doesn’t mean he has no ideas worth putting into practice.And alongside him, it pays to have a deputy like Rizwan, whose blossoming confidence in his role is one of the highlights of Pakistan over the last year. Not content with the runs and flawless wicketkeeping, he’s assumed a more vocal leadership role on the field than even Azam himself. Having had the experience of captaincy in New Zealand would not have hurt, despite the result, and now the Azam-Rizwan double act looks promising for Pakistan.Pakistan – dark horses for WTC 2023? On a final, speculative note, the series win might provide a template for how Pakistan approach hosting England, New Zealand and Australia, all of whom are due a visit during the 2023 World Test Championship league cycle. If Pakistan can take advantage as they did of South Africa, they might be able to capitalise on a somewhat easier run when it comes to away series: they travel to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the West Indies in that league cycle, giving them perhaps the clearest shot at a final berth that a side of their quality will ever have.

India’s champion quick was the key catalyst behind a magnificent team performance

Nagraj Gollapudi16-Aug-20213:29

Laxman: This win on par with the Brisbane win for India

Jos Buttler flashed hard at a delivery that pitched just short of a length but well outside off stump. The thick edge flew to Virat Kohli at first slip. Kohli’s eyes bulged as he lined up to pouch the catch. But the ball burst through his reverse-cupped hands. A discordant chorus of loud cheers and sighs rang out around Lord’s, lit by floodlights in the late afternoon.Jasprit Bumrah, the man who created the chance, had begun to rush excitedly towards Kohli, only to stop mid-stride, raise his right leg high, and kick the turf in disgust. At the end of the over Kohli aplogised to Bumrah, indicating that he hadn’t quite sighted the ball as it flew quickly towards him. Bumrah accepted the apology, but a bit of disappointment may have continued to simmer underneath.Related

• James Anderson vs India: A history of wickets and verbals

• Jos Buttler dredges deep but can't block out reality as England come crashing down

• As it happened – England vs India, 2nd Test, Lord's, 5th day

• Bumrah and Shami – 'lower order batters', not 'tailenders'

• Bumrah and Shami, endless mindgames, and England's great malfunction

He was in the middle of an incisive second spell. Buttler was batting on 2. India were five wickets away from clinching a Test of several twists and turns. Bumrah had influenced a number of those twists. One of them had come barely a minute into the final session of the match, when he induced an error from the best batter in the series so far, Joe Root.Root had been England’s unshakeable rock in this series, scoring unbeaten 180 in the first innings here to go with 64 and 109 in the first Test at Trent Bridge. Despite the rest of England’s line-up being riddled with uncertainty, Root had remained on the lookout for runs at all times. On this afternoon, he had walked in after both openers had fallen for ducks – a first for England at Lord’s.At Trent Bridge, Bumrah had utilised the second new ball to find Root’s edge late on the fourth afternoon to put India in a favourable position before rain wiped out the entire fifth day. In the first innings here Root had lorded over the Indian bowling, and walked back undefeated.A five-Test series allows both batter and bowler to keep finding ways to stay one step ahead of the other. Out of that can emerge duels so engrossing they become theatre.Root had once again settled down and rushed into the 30s, but India’s pace quartet had kept the pressure constant, chipping away at the other end. Bumrah had sent alarm bells ringing in the England dressing room in the very first over their innings when he scrambled Rory Burns into closing his bat face early and spooning a leading edge to mid-off. Burns’ expression, and his slow head-shake before unwillingly leaving the crease, told you all you needed to know about the pressure Bumrah had put him under.Bumrah had attacked Root’s off stump constantly, making the England captain play at almost everything with utmost vigilance. The ball that eventually got Root was masterful: from his usual spot wide of the crease, Bumrah angled the ball into the corridor outside off stump, with the seam canted towards the slips. The ball pitched on a length, the initial angle drew Root into a defensive shot, and then it straightened to take a quick edge that Kohli lapped up, low and in front of him.Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli react to Rory Burns’ early dismissal•Getty ImagesPop-eyed, finger on lips, Kohli took off, and the Indians in the crowd screamed in delight. Root dug his bat and head down in disappointment. In front of him was Bumrah, who stamped the Lord’s turf with relief as well as the authoritative air of a man who had just sprung the perfectly laid trap.None of this was surprising, of course. In the morning, however, Bumrah had punched England in the gut in the most unexpected manner, with bat in hand, as he and Mohammed Shami had turned the match with a surreal, unbroken stand of 89 for the ninth wicket.Monday had begun with all four results possible, and England quickly took the initiative with the wicket of Rishabh Pant – India’s last recognised batter – in the fourth over of the morning. In less than two hours, however, Shami and Bumrah had shredded that script apart.Now Bumrah had taken out England’s best batter, but the match was still to be won. When he returned to the attack with 16 overs remaining, England were seven down, but the pair at the crease – Jos Buttler and Ollie Robinson – had been there for 5.4 overs, with the former having already faced 68 balls.Minutes before, Buttler had had a quiet word with Kohli, who had been chirping away incessantly throughout the innings. Irritating as that might have been, surviving Bumrah was a task of an altogether more serious magnitude.Straightaway Bumrah attacked Buttler, forcing him to defend his off stump, then to duck a bouncer, and then squared him up and drew an outside edge that landed in front of KL Rahul at second slip. The over ended with another edge, this one racing between second slip and gully. Drinks came onto the field. The match was into its final hour.Buttler and Robinson were not going to be separated easily. Five more overs went by, the tension growing by the minute. Then Bumrah went around the wicket to Robinson. He began this new line of attack with a pair of bouncers, overstepping on the second occasion. Would there be a change-up next? And what would it be?Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah added an unbroken 89 for the ninth wicket•Getty ImagesThe next ball, the penultimate ball of the over, would also turn out to be the penultimate ball of Bumrah’s match. And possibly, quite simply, the ball of the match. From around the wicket, Bumrah whirred that fast arm once again, with a last-minute flick of fingers and wrist at the last instant to take pace off the ball. A slower offcutter, coming down at Robinson with a scrambled seam.Robinson, stuck on the crease, played for the angle, opening his bat face to steer it square on the off side. It beat him twice: for lack of pace, and then with wicked inward movement past the inside edge to hit his back pad. A delivery to move anyone, but not, on this occasion, umpire Richard Illingworth.Kohli checked with Bumrah if the ball had pitched in line, and asked for a review. The ball had pitched in line with leg stump, and was straightening enough to hit middle, according to ball-tracking. Bumrah clapped enthusiastically, a smile lighting up his face. “Absolutely brilliant bowling” was the on-air verdict of Michael Holding, never a man for easy praise.The end was nigh, and it only took Mohammed Siraj five balls to take out the last two wickets, knocking back James Anderson’s off stump to send the Indians into a frenzy. At square leg, Bumrah jumped high and punched the air wildly.It has been an emotional series for Bumrah. After the Trent Bridge Test he tweeted the words: “Still don’t need you.” Was he shushing everyone who had criticised him after he’d gone wicketless in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand? Who knows.In the first innings of this Test, Bumrah went wicketless again. He ended that innings with an incident-packed 10-ball over that included four no-balls and a barrage of short-pitched deliveries at Anderson, including one that hit him on the helmet. England’s highest wicket-taker did not take kindly to it, and he argued animatedly with Bumrah as they walked off the ground at the end of the innings.That incident prompted England to attack Bumrah with short balls on the fifth morning, including one that smacked into the earpiece of his helmet. It fired him up, and he engaged in several verbal jousts with the opposition. The nervous energy of those early minutes of his innings dissipated as the Bumrah-Shami partnership grew, gradually loosening England’s hold on the Test match.And by the time he was done with the ball, India were well on their way to victory. Bumrah’s display wasn’t single-handed, but even if it was part of a magnificent team performance, it was a key catalyst behind India taking the series lead.