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Game 7 of the 2025 World Series simply had it all.

There was Bo Bichette’s no-doubt homer to get things started, Blue Jays manager John Schneider vocalizing complaints about a little-known rule, and a hit-by-pitch that cleared both benches. And then, of course, there was the ninth inning—one that will be remembered for Miguel Rojas’s game-tying solo shot and Andy Pages’s game-saving catch in center field.

After 11 innings of baseball, it was the Dodgers celebrating on the field at Rogers Centre on Saturday night, closing out the best-of-seven World Series with a dramatic 5–4 comeback win over Toronto.

The Dodgers are MLB’s first back-to-back champions since the Yankees won three straight titles from 1998 to 2000.

Before the Los Angeles area heads into a champagne-stained celebration that hopefully lasts for days, here are three takeaways from an unforgettable Game 7:

The Dodgers are inevitable

If we learned anything Saturday night, it’s to never count out a $350 million payroll.

When they needed a big play late in Game 7, though, it wasn’t Shohei Ohtani or Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman authoring a signature moment. It was 36-year-old veteran infielder Miguel Rojas crushing a 3–2 pitch from closer Jeff Hoffman to tie Game 7 with two outs in the ninth inning.

In the 11th inning, one of the Dodgers’ prized franchise players did step up. Los Angeles catcher Will Smith hammered a solo home run to left field for a 5–4 lead, enough for the Dodgers to hang onto at the end.

The Blue Jays were no Cinderella story—they boast the fifth-highest payroll in baseball. But the depth of star pitching the Dodgers threw in Game 7 alone—Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto—made it clear Los Angeles is truly in a class of its own.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, World Series hero

Yamamoto threw 96 pitches in the Dodgers’ 3–1 win in Game 6. Entering Game 7, Los Angeles manager David Roberts told the media that Yamamoto would be available for Game 7 if needed.

And, boy, did they need him.

Yamamoto entered a 4–4 game in the ninth inning with a runners on first and second. He hit Alejandro Kirk with a pitch, but then got out of the jam with a groundout and fly out. Yamamoto sat down the Blue Jays in order in the 10th and was on the mound in the 11th when Betts tagged second base and threw a strike to Freeman for the game-winning play.

In three World Series outings—two starts and a relief appearance—Yamamoto allowed just two runs in 17 2/3 innings.

Game 7 Ohtani wasn’t quite cinematic

Late Friday night, Ohtani learned he was going to start Game 7 on the mound. It set the stage for a potential unbelievable Game 7 with baseball’s brightest star shining both on the mound and in the batter’s box while fighting for a championship.

Although Ohtani had a nice night at the plate, he didn’t quite meet the moment on the mound.

Ohtani cruised through the first inning and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second. But he was pulled in the third inning when Bichette crushed a three-run homer to center field for a 3–0 Blue Jays lead.

Ohtani wrapped up his second career postseason batting .265/.405/.691 while logging a 4.43 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings in four starts.

Could he be more productive? Should he be more selfish? Beauty of Test cricket is there’s always room for more of both

Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Jun-20253:26

Harmison: Not sure India believed they could get Duckett out

As a batter, the beauty of Test cricket is that it is a code of the sport where individual success has a greater onus on the team’s success.Such traits do exist in white-ball cricket. But the way line-ups are pieced together, with precise skillsets required for clearly defined roles, batters can bat too long, too short, and face strike too little or too much to knock whole plans out of joint. In the red-ball game, however, when you are, let’s say, faced with a chase of 371, greediness is welcome. Where Test history is concerned, the one with themselves in mind can be king.And so there was Ben Duckett, about half-an-hour after the 6.29pm finish, metaphorical crown on his head, very real magnum of bubbly in his hands. A sixth Test hundred – 149, his third-highest score – had him as Player of the Match after England’s second-highest successful chase. Greed had served him well, siphoning off almost 40% of the runs for himself, and standing out in a Test with five other centurions, one of whom had two.Related

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Duckett 149 lays the foundation as England hunt down 371

England were cruising while Duckett was at the crease. The initial contrast with his opening partner Zak Crawley was clear. A stand of 188 in which Crawley, the one with the license to thrill, provided just 65, having posted his slowest half-century from 111 deliveries while Duckett had taken just 55 for the second half of his full one.The sketchiness when he departed, however, underlined his bombast and brilliance, having left just 118 for the rest to clear. As he watched on from the balcony, it was akin to the sporting equivalent of earwigging your own funeral. The situations beyond his innings confirmed the scale of its quality.Ben Stokes’ approach to playing the reverse sweep against Ravindra Jadeja – half of his 16 shots botched, just eight runs from the shot – highlighted just how good Duckett had to be to score 31 from 12 attempts. There were six boundaries among them, including the four that took him to three figures from 121 deliveries, and a ludicrous flat six over cover point. Tuesday was the seventh time Stokes has been dismissed by Jadeja. Duckett has not only avoided such a fate but boasts the highest strike rate of anyone to have faced the left-arm spinner.The reverse sweeps might not have come through for Stokes, as he scuffed one to opposition skipper Shubman Gill at short third. But it was more effective than his neither forward nor back approach before tea, which produced the odd pop up to keep the close fielders interested. As it happens, the shift in method came after seeking inspiration from Duckett, who by now had showered, got into his training gear and was settling in to enjoy the culmination of a chase he never lost faith in. This was Stokes’ manor in 2019 and here he was six years later, asking someone else for directions.Ben Duckett rolls out a reverse-sweep•Getty Images”I actually spoke to him when we came off for that tea break,” revealed Stokes later. “He’s one of the best in the world at reverse sweeps, sweeps, a fantastic player of spin, particularly on really tricky surfaces. I had a little word with him about what he thought I could potentially look at doing a little bit better, to give myself a better chance.”Part of Stokes’ desired hurry-up was related to the eventual return of Jasprit Bumrah, with 102 still to get in the final session. Duckett was the only one to not just sit on him, though he blocked – and even left – some of the 33 dots of the 49 deliveries exchanged. But among the other 16 was a four punched down the ground – something which no one else had done. Partly it was because the Indian great thought pushing for the stumps was a tactic, because other avenues had been exhausted. So came a flick through midwicket. A retaliation bumper, pulled off the nose, all-but ended Bumrah’s threat with the first ball.The 31-year-old bowled three more overs with it after Duckett had chipped Shardul Thakur to cover. Stokes and Joe Root bunkered down, taking just two singles. Part of that was down to lacking the hold Duckett seems to have over Bumrah, which, since the start of 2024, amounts to scoring more runs against him – 110, off 170 deliveries, for three dismissals – than any other batter.But the lack of intent to Bumrah was also because England were ahead of the game, and risks were unnecessary. Duckett had taken them all for himself. His dismissal as the third wicket came midway through the 55th over with 253 on the board. It meant India needed snookers to protect as much of the remaining 118 to ensure they could make the second new ball count.3:52

Stokes: Always try and keep everyone calm in chases

In the end, it was used for just two overs, bowled by Mohammed Siraj and Jadeja. As Jamie Smith blitzed the stands to confirm the win with Bumrah left grazing on the leg-side boundary, England’s joy was enhanced. The three “Bumrah Tests” were always going to be that little bit more important. This opening victory came with a welcome sense that the next two may not be as treacherous as first feared after a wicketless 19 overs when he was needed most.There’s a strong argument that Duckett is the best multi-format batter in the world right now. The problem is such debates tend to elicit the kind of tedious back and forth that last long enough for a drop in form.But fresh from what ranks as his greatest knock, in one of England’s best wins, let’s lay a few things down. Like the fact that, since his return to the Test side for 2022’s tour of Pakistan, only Root has been more productive. And yes, while England do play a lot of Test cricket, Duckett’s average in that time – 47.37 – is higher than both Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja, who have played as many as his 30 matches.There’s also the fact that he is now averaging more as an opener (44.98) than Alastair Cook (44.86). One of Brendon McCullum’s favourite lines is that opening the batting in England is so hard that the last two to do it well – Cook and Andrew Strauss – were knighted.1:53

Did we see a refined version of Bazball?

From another Sir dumping a drink over his head on the 2017-18 Ashes tour (James Anderson), to sword-on-the-shoulder numbers, Duckett’s journey to this point has not been straightforward. Time coming back from a chastening first go in Tests, time on the naughty step, time under the knife for a ring-finger injury in 2018, and time reworking a grip corrupted by an early return to action have been drivers towards this incredible purple patch. If ever there was someone who was not going to take any of this for granted and make up for what he might have lost, it is him.Which brings us to the drop on 97. A genuinely hair-raising moment for English observers when Siraj was hooked out to Yashasvi Jaiswal at deep square-leg, it signified that Duckett may not be greedy enough.Even with 167 on the board, the focus was on building a bigger platform and further demoralising an India attack for his team-mates’ benefit. An attack that was gradually realising the consequences of its own errors with the bat in the first and second innings.Could he be more productive? Should he be more selfish? The beauty of Test cricket is that there is always room for more of both, hand in hand. Right now, though, Duckett is not just doing more than most, he’s doing it better than some of the best, and on the path to joining them outright.

Rocchiccioli was the most successful Australian bowler, picking up 3 for 159

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2025Devdutt Padikkal scored his seventh first-class hundred to lead India’s response as the first four-day game in Lucknow ended in a high-scoring draw.India A resumed the day on 403 for 4 with Padikkal on 86 and Dhruv Jurel on 113. Jurel could add only 27 to his overnight score but Padikkal carried on. Along with Tanush Kotian, he added 41 for the sixth wicket. Padikkal hit 14 fours and a six in his 150 before falling to Corey Rocchiccioli’s offspin.Soon after that, India declared their innings, on 531 for 7, one run behind Australia’s first-innings total. The Australian openers, Sam Konstas and Campbell Kellaway, came out to bat for 16 overs, in which they added an unbroken 56.Just like the previous three days, rain once again interrupted play on Friday.”Unfortunately, the rain probably didn’t help us over the four days,” Rocchiccioli said. “I think if there were no rain, it probably would have allowed for a result somewhere along the line. But it was an invaluable experience with the group that we have picked. The players who have played here… first hit out for some of them in a while. So to be able to play in some foreign conditions, learn your game a little bit better, have some really good conversations in the change rooms, I think has helped everyone be better for these conditions and move forward to the next game.”Rocchiccioli was the most successful Australian bowler, picking up 3 for 159 in 36.1 overs. Apart from dismissing Padikkal, he got rid of Shreyas Iyer and Kotian.”Look, there’s actually probably no direct plan,” he said when asked about the Iyer lbw. “I was just hoping to land the ball on the stumps. I probably didn’t bowl my best leading into that moment. Luckily enough, one sort of spun and took his pad. He is obviously a really big player that we looked at a lot during the pre-game, but there was nothing there that I thought was a weakness or anything. I just knew that I had to bowl good balls and ask good questions and I was lucky enough to have the wicket at that moment.”The second four-dayer will also be played in Lucknow, from September 23.

Interest in Oscar Mingueza is accelerating ahead of the winter window, with Newcastle, Aston Villa and West Ham joining RB Leipzig and Marseille in monitoring the Celta Vigo defender. The former Barcelona full-back is out of contract in 2026, but Celta’s refusal of €14 million bids last summer and their inability to secure a renewal has created a market opening that rival clubs are now prepared to exploit.

Premier League and European giants move for Mingueza

Mingueza has quickly become one of La Liga’s most in-demand defenders, with Celta now facing the prospect of losing him far below their expectations, or even for free. The 26-year-old, whose rights are split 50-50 between Celta and Barcelona, has attracted interest from Newcastle, Villa and West Ham in the Premier League, as well as Leipzig and Marseille on the continent. All five clubs are preparing for movement once the January window opens, according to .

The Sky Blues rejected offers between €12m (£10m/$13m) and €14m (£12m/$15m) last summer, hoping instead to secure a contract renewal. But talks have stalled since the autumn, and Mingueza’s role has become less prominent in recent weeks. With his contract expiring in June 2026, clubs sense an opportunity to strike early, or wait until the situation weakens further. Barca, who sold the defender in 2022 after his breakthrough under Ronald Koeman, remain attentive. The Catalans still own 50% of the player’s rights and stand to benefit from a future sale, but they are not expected to re-sign him as they already have Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia for the right-back position.

Mingueza’s strong form in Galicia, where he has grown into one of Celta's most reliable performers across multiple positions has placed him firmly on the radar of clubs seeking athletic, technically secure full-backs. As interest intensifies, the situation now enters a stage where Celta’s reluctance to sell last year may prove costly.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportCelta must act fast as transfer interest grows

The growing list of suitors underlines the former La Masia graduate's rising market value. Premier League clubs view him as a rare profile: a defender comfortable at right-back, centre-back and even wide centre-back in back-three systems. The Magpies see him as essential depth for a squad competing in Europe, while the Lions regard him as a potential long-term fit for their aggressive, high-line structure. Leipzig’s interest reflects their recruitment model of targeting versatile, tactically adaptable players in their mid-20s. Marseille, meanwhile, are under pressure to rebuild with more athletic full-backs and have tracked Mingueza since the summer.

For Celta, this moment highlights a strategic tension: rejecting mid-tier offers last year was intended to protect their asset’s value, but failing to extend his contract leaves them exposed. His €20m (£17m/$22m) release clause complicates negotiations, especially given that Barcelona would receive €10m (£8m/$11m) of any fee. 

Rival clubs know Celta must choose soon between negotiating now or risking a depreciating asset heading into the final year of his deal. This dynamic also explains why several clubs are prepared to wait until June, when uncertainty peaks and leverage shifts decisively toward the buying side.

Squad context, past reports and what the move would mean

Mingueza’s development at Celta has been notable. After leaving the Catalan giants, where he initially excelled under Koeman before falling out of favour under Xavi, he found consistent minutes and confidence in Galicia. His ability to progress the ball, defend one-on-one and adapt to multiple systems has been highlighted by analysts and scouts across Europe.

Newcastle’s need arises from repeated injuries across their defensive line, while Villa continue to build a squad capable of sustaining European competition deep into spring. West Ham, despite their struggles, remain interested but are seen as outsiders due to their position in the table and uncertainty around their long-term sporting plan.

Celta’s push to renew the defender has stalled partly because his influence has dipped in recent months – a shift that has emboldened interested clubs. Internally, Barcelona are hoping for movement in January, as any transfer would provide them with an immediate financial injection.

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Getty Images SportJanuary pressure builds as decision time nears

With the transfer window approaching, the Sky Blues must decide whether to reopen renewal talks, entertain bids or hold firm until summer. The latter option is risky, as a failure to extend Mingueza’s contract would place them in a vulnerable negotiating position. Newcastle and Villa are expected to formalise interest in January, while Leipzig are monitoring the situation with long-term planning in mind. Barcelona will continue tracking developments, hoping that a winter move triggers their 50% cut.

All eyes now turn to January, the point at which Celta must either commit to protecting their asset or accept that Europe’s elite are ready to move decisively for a player whose market momentum shows no sign of slowing.

West Ham are willing to take a significant financial hit by selling a mainstay player who hasn’t done enough to impress Nuno Espírito Santo, according to a new report.

West Ham enjoy mini Nuno revival ahead of Aston Villa clash

West Ham supporters have witnessed encouraging signs of recovery under Nuno, with the Hammers suffering just one defeat across their previous six fixtures as they prepare to face Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

The Portuguese’s impact has gradually manifested following a nightmare start that saw West Ham collect merely four points from nine Premier League matches.

Recent performances suggest Nuno has successfully identified solutions, with his side demonstrating renewed resilience.

Their latest outing saw them salvage a dramatic 1-1 draw at Brighton on Sunday, with Jarrod Bowen’s exceptional sliding finish almost securing all three points before Georginio Rutter’s controversial stoppage-time equaliser denied them.

Prior to that, West Ham fought back to claim a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Man United, with Soungoutou Magassa’s late intervention sending the travelling contingent into raptures.

The mini-revival includes other positive results against Newcastle, Burnley and Bournemouth, with only the 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool interrupting their momentum.

That defeat was largely self-inflicted, as Lucas Paqueta received a bizarre red card for dissent that arguably cost them the game.

Saturday’s clash at home to Aston Villa represents another significant test. Unai Emery’s side currently sit third, just three points behind Arsenal following their recent victory over the Gunners, and some suggest they could well be outside title challengers.

Villa are also on a formidable run of form, winning seven of their last seven games in all competitions, with Emery’s last defeat coming at the very start of November.

West Ham 'set to sign' prolific Tottenham starlet as Mark Noble seals 'coup' of a deal

The Hammers sporting director played a key transfer role.

By
Emilio Galantini

6 days ago

It is a tall order for West Ham to upset the applecart, especially with Villa buoyed by their dramatic weekend win over the league leaders, so they’ll need every man at their very best.

That includes £40 million defender Max Kilman, who’s attracted criticism this season.

West Ham ready to take huge loss on Max Kilman

However, according to club insider Claret & Hugh, the Englishman might not be relied upon for very long.

It is believed that West Ham are willing to green-light Kilman’s departure for £25 million in January, representing a substantial £15 million loss on their record defensive acquisition signed just 18 months ago.

The 28-year-old arrived from Wolves last year as part of Julen Lopetegui’s extensive recruitment drive that witnessed ten players secured for £145 million.

However, few acquisitions from that recruitment spree have justified their substantial price tags.

Recent speculation linking Kilman with Crystal Palace has been dismissed by C&H sources close to the London Stadium hierarchy as fabricated transfer gossip.

Nevertheless, insiders have also confirmed that West Ham would immediately accept any legitimate £25m proposal, highlighting their eagerness to recoup finances on the struggling defender.

Kilman featured regularly under both Lopetegui and Graham Potter, establishing himself as an ever-present selection despite underwhelming performances.

The same can be said under Nuno, with the centre-back starting 13 out of West Ham’s 14 league matches this season and playing the third-most minutes out of any player in their squad.

However, Kilman has apparently ‘failed to impress’ Nuno in that time, and reports suggest that West Ham are in the market for a new centre-back next month.

Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell, who was ‘close’ to joining in the summer, is believed to a top target for the club in that regard (ExWHUemployee).

The Madhya Pradesh captain in the Ranji Trophy hasn’t played a T20 game in two years, never featured in the IPL, but is comfortable in his skin in the long game

Himanshu Agrawal03-Sep-2025Shubham Sharma is content living a low-profile life as a cricketer. He hasn’t had a chance to play in the IPL, and is not a regular for his team, Madhya Pradesh (MP), in T20s. Batting in T20 cricket isn’t Shubham’s strength; that lies in his ability to accumulate runs and grinding his way through in the longer formats.Shubham’s batting style and trigger movement remind viewers of Wasim Jaffer: he leans into the shots, and drives the ball late as he gets low.It has been nearly 12 years since his first-class debut for MP, and two years since he was named the MP captain for the Ranji Trophy. While plenty of young cricketers graduate through the junior ranks, Shubham never got the chance to play for India Under-19s. The closest he came was when he was named among the probables for the Under-19 World Cup in 2012, but wasn’t selected in the final squad – India went on to lift the trophy under Unmukt Chand.Related

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Despite toiling for years in domestic cricket, Shubham hasn’t been able to make the step up to India A. Set to turn 32 later this year, he knows higher honours may have passed him by even as his MP team-mates Rajat Patidar, Avesh Khan, Venkatesh Iyer and Kuldeep Sen have made their India debuts in recent years. Shubham’s motivation, however, comes from trying to achieve excellence in domestic cricket.”It’s a great feeling to have played for this long, and I want to keep doing well in domestic cricket,” Shubham told ESPNcricinfo after his side Central Zone (CZ) progressed to the semi-final in the season-opening Duleep Trophy by beating North East Zone (NEZ).Since the 2021-22 domestic season, Shubham, far from the limelight, has the most runs (2849) by any batter to have played at least 40 innings across all top-flight first-class domestic competitions in India. His nine hundreds are the joint-second-highest in this period, and he averages 52.75.