All posts by h716a5.icu

Tottenham secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday evening, strengthening their bid for automatic Champions League qualification with a commanding performance.

Thomas Frank’s side also extended their 100 per cent home record in Europe with their third consecutive N17 victory, all without conceding a single goal in that time.

Spurs have now climbed into a coveted top eight place as a result, and there were a few star performers on the night.

David Zima’s bizarre own goal opened the scoring on 26 minutes, with the Czech defender inexplicably heading Pedro Porro’s dangerous corner past his own goalkeeper after Cristian Romero’s initial flick-on.

The opening period proved slightly chaotic, with Tottenham dominating possession yet struggling to convert superiority into clear-cut opportunities against Slavia’s resilient defence.

Richarlison should have given Spurs the lead within 45 seconds, heading Wilson Odobert’s excellent cross straight at goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek from point-blank range.

Slavia threatened sporadically, with Stanek producing several outstanding saves to deny Tottenham’s attack. The Czech international frustrated Mohammed Kudus and substitute Mathys Tel — who was named in the squad despite being left out of their original 22-man list — with exceptional saves.

Thomas Frank confirms injured Tottenham star won't be back for a "long time"

The timeline is unclear.

ByEmilio Galantini 6 days ago

However, two second-half penalties then secured Tottenham’s victory.

Kudus converted their first spot-kick before Xavi Simons completed the scoring after being fouled inside the area, though Slavia’s Igoh Ogbu escaped a second yellow card for the challenge that conceded the penalty.

In some bad news, Micky van de Ven received a booking that rules him out of the crucial Borussia Dortmund clash, representing the evening’s only negative for Frank.

Ben Davies made his first appearance of the campaign during stoppage time, providing a sentimental moment with Son Heung-min watching from the stands following his emotional farewell visit to North London.

The victory maintains Tottenham’s remarkable 22-match unbeaten run at home in European competitions whilst extending Slavia’s winless streak to six Champions League games. The Czech champions also remain without a goal across their last four European matches.

Tottenham now need just four points from their remaining fixtures against Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt to guarantee at least playoff qualification, with top-eight automatic progression firmly within reach.

A lot of the noise has centered around yet another convincing performance from Simons, his second on the bounce after Brentford last weekend, but according to Hargreaves, it was another man who stole the show.

Owen Hargreaves praises 'exceptional' Mohammed Kudus

While the media have lavished Simons’ 9/10 display, it was Kudus who attracted serious praise from TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves.

Speaking after the match, Hargreaves told TNT that Kudus was Tottenham’s ‘best player by far’ and put in a truly ‘exceptional’ display.

The Ghanaian will be facing off against England at the World Cup, potentially Djed Spence, who jokingly said that he was going to pocket his teammate in the States.

However, if we were Spence, we’d certainly be worried.

Kudus has been Tottenham’s standout attacking star by some way this season, and it’s hard to imagine where Frank’s side would be without the former West Ham sensation, who crossed the London divide in July.

The 25-year-old, on top of his nine goal contributions in all competitions this season, has also averaged more successful take-ons per 90 than any other player in the Premier League — marking himself out as England’s most devastating dribbler (WhoScored).

Last night was yet another example of the excellent business done by Spurs to tempt Kudus to north London, and the best could still be yet to come.

The defeat all but ended Sydney Thunder’s qualification hopes

AAP30-Nov-2025An Ellyse Perry masterclass has catapulted the Sydney Sixers back into the WBBL’s top four, with the allrounder leading her side to a crucial win over the Thunder.Chasing 175 for victory on Sunday, Perry scored an unbeaten 77 to take the Sixers to victory with six wickets and five balls to spare.The result all but ends the Thunder’s finals hopes, after a season where they have won just two of their seven completed games.On a crucial day in the WBBL’s finals race, Adelaide Strikers also kept their finals hopes alive with a last-over victory over the winless Brisbane Heat.The victory left them equal on eight points with the Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers, with all three teams having two games to play. The Sixers are one point ahead in third with a game in hand, with the four sides now seemingly battling for the last two spots in the finals.Seemingly down and out when bowled out for 42 against the second-placed Melbourne Stars 10 days ago, the Sixers have not lost since.After Heather Knight (65) and Anika Learoyd (43) rescued the Thunder from 58 for 4 at the end of the 10th over to post 174 for 6, Perry took charge in front of a crowd of 5024.She hit Sam Bates for two big sixes down the ground, including one that landed next to the famous Fig Tree at one end of North Sydney Oval.The veteran also charged quick Shabnim Ismail and hit her over long-on, with Perry rarely looking troubled in her 44-ball 77.Englishwoman Sophia Dunkley also hit 44 up top for the Sixers, while Alyssa Healy provided a quickfire 33 before perishing late.

Arne Slot has confirmed that he will be holding talks with Mohamed Salah at the end of a mutinous week at Liverpool, but has stopped short of announcing whether or not the Egyptian forward has a role to play in the Reds’ Premier League clash with Brighton. Salah was dropped for a Champions League trip to Inter after speaking out against the club.

What Salah said in explosive outburst against Liverpool & Slot

Two-time title winner Salah, who has spent eight memorable years on Merseyside, has not taken kindly to seeing bench duty across three consecutive top-flight fixtures. He saw no game time as Liverpool were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw away at Leeds.

Speaking to reporters after that contest at Elland Road, as his restricted role and working relationship with Slot were addressed, Salah said: "Now I'm sitting on the bench and I don't know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That's how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I got a lot of promises in the summer and so far I am in the bench for three games so I can't say they keep the promise.

"I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don't have any relationship. I don't know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club."

AdvertisementGOAL Private talks: Slot to sit down with frustrated Salah

Having faced plenty of criticism for airing his grievances in public, Salah was subsequently left out of a 1-0 victory over Inter at San Siro in elite European competition. He will be heading off on Africa Cup of Nations duty once a meeting with Brighton is taken in on Saturday.

Quizzed on whether Salah will be involved against the Seagulls, Dutch tactician Slot said of collective plans at Anfield: "What I need is a conversation with him and the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. There's not much more I can say. I speak to him today and the outcome determines how things will look tomorrow.

"You can try (the question) in multiple ways but I said the next time I speak about him should be with him. I think there's been a lot of conversation since last week between his representatives and ours."

Asked if Salah needs to say sorry to anyone that he has offended, Slot added: "An apology? Normally I'd say you've had your three questions!"

Do Liverpool want Salah to say? Slot answers future question

Liverpool’s manager went on to say when quizzed again on his talismanic No.11 and whether the 250-goal forward has a long-term future with the Reds: "Who made the call (to leave Salah out of squad for Inter)? I think we decided as a club and I was part of that not to take him to Inter. I am always in contact with them with line up and squads, that is always left to me. I talk to Richard Hughes more than Michael Edwards, we speak about many things.

"Do I want him to stay? Another way of asking but the next time I speak about Mo will be with him. I have no reasons not to want him to stay."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesTransfer rumours: Salah linked with Saudi Pro League clubs

Salah only committed to a two-year contract extension with Liverpool back in April, with the reigning PFA Player of the Year intended to remain on Merseyside through to the summer of 2027 – taking him to a decade of service with the Reds.

Serious questions are now being asked of whether that deal will be honoured, with big-spending teams in the Saudi Pro League reportedly ready to test the Reds’ resolve when another transfer window swings open in January. If Salah really does feel as though he is being forced out, as he becomes a supposed scapegoat for struggles in 2025-26, then the 33-year-old will likely open himself up to discussions with interested parties.

Few things in baseball—actually, few things in all of sports—are more exciting than an inside-the-park home run. It's almost impossible for a player to get one without something unusual happening, whether it be a catastrophic miscalculation from a fielder or the ball taking a zany bounce. Point is, if someone tells you that there was an inside-the-park homer, you're going to want to see it.

Tuesday night brought two of those strange round-trippers to Major League Baseball. First, Lawrence Butler of the Athletics casually cruised 360 feet to lead off the game against the Atlanta Braves.

Later, the San Francisco Giants' Patrick Bailey ran very fast to walk off the Philadelphia Phillies after his shot to right-center decided to explore the space far away from any fielder.

They've been playing baseball for a long, long time. So it's a bit surprising to learn that this was the first time in Major League Baseball history that a leadoff inside-the-parker and a walk-off inside-the-parker occurred on the same day.

Considering the fact that baseball teams used to play in bizarrely-shaped playing surfaces back in the day with cavernous power alleys, one would think something like this would have happened before. But considering Butler's scamper was the Athletic's first leadoff inside-the-parker since 1943 and Bailey's was the first walk-off of the variety across all baseball in the last decade … yeah, definitely a rare night.

Manchester United have now accelerated contacts to sign a “wonderful” Real Madrid star, who is attracting interest from a number of top Premier League clubs.

Man Utd looking to sign new playmaker despite Mount resurgence

Mason Mount hasn’t had the easiest of times at Man United, having spent a lot of time out with injuries, but there are signs the attacking midfielder is now getting back to his best, being voted Premier League Player of the Matchweek courtesy of a top display against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

With Mount showing signs of improvement, and Bryan Mbeumo hitting the ground running at Old Trafford, having already scored six Premier League goals, Ruben Amorim has some top quality attacking options at his disposal.

Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes also provided an attacking threat in the 4-1 victory against Wolves, with the latter bagging a brace, but the Red Devils remain keen on signing a new attacking midfielder.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Man United have now held talks to sign Real Madrid star Arda Guler, recently accelerating contacts to sign the Turk, who has a reported price tag of £88m.

United are in the front row for Guler’s signature, alongside Arsenal, with both clubs making moves to secure his signature, alongside Liverpool, so there could be stiff competition.

At the moment, however, Madrid aren’t planning to cash-in on the 20-year-old, so the interested Premier League clubs may have to be patient.

"Wonderful" Guler could excel at Old Trafford

The youngster has been impressing with some of his performances for Madrid this season, being singled out for high praise by The Athletic journalist Guillermo Rai earlier this month.

The playmaker already has seven assists to his name in all competitions this term, two of which came in the Champions League, while he has also provided three goals.

Xabi Alonso is also clearly very happy with the starlet too, saying: “With his quality, he’s a mix between Özil and Guti. Guti had that vision and finesse to link play or operate closer to goal, and with Mesut I enjoyed football so much. Arda has that something special — that natural talent you can’t teach.”

Man Utd express interest in signing South American striker who tore PSG apart

United have set their sights on a new striker, with Joshua Zirkzee’s Old Trafford future in doubt.

ByDominic Lund 4 days ago

Of intrigue to United supporters may be the fact that by scoring on his European Championship debut for Turkey in 2024, he became the fifth-youngest goalscorer in the tournament’s history and the youngest debutant to find the net, breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous record.

That said, signing a new attacking midfielder shouldn’t be a priority for Man United, given that Mount is exhibiting very promising signs, and Fernandes has continued to impress, but Guler is clearly a very talented player, with a bright future ahead.

Caoimhe Bray, the teenaged fast-bowling sensation, is expected to miss several months of cricket, likely ending her season with both New South Wales and Sydney Sixers

AAP10-Dec-2025Sydney Sixers’ teen sensation Caoimhe Bray is facing a stint on the sidelines after a re-emergence of a stress fracture in her back.Bray was on Wednesday ruled out of Sixers’ WBBL Challenger against Perth at North Sydney Oval on Thursday after scans showed a return of the stress injury. The 16-year-old is expected to miss several months of cricket, likely ending her season with both New South Wales and Sixers.It comes after the multi-sports athlete also missed the end of last summer with the stress injury.One of the most exciting prospects in Australian sport, Bray played as goalkeeper for the Young Matildas in 2024 before debuting for Sixers months later. She then became the youngest player to take a hat-trick in any of the main women’s T20 leagues, doing so against Sydney Thunder last month.

“If you don’t know the future, neither do I. I don’t know what it will be like in a few years. But I am going to try and stick to [doing both] as much as I can”Caoimhe Bray on being a two-sport athlete

But she was sent for scans this week, and they came back with bad news.Regularly compared to Ellyse Perry given her ability across football and cricket, Bray has indicated she wanted to play both sports for as long as possible.”I have to commit myself to cricket for the summer part of the season, and when winter comes around, that’s when soccer comes back,” she said last month. “So many people are asking the question: ‘will you still be playing soccer or still be playing cricket’. People have their own opinions, like ‘go into cricket, surely’.”But so much can change. I have the three years signed with the Sixers, and so much can change over that period. If you don’t know the future, neither do I. I don’t know what it will be like in a few years. But I am going to try and stick to [doing both] as much as I can.”The winners of Thursday night’s match face Hobart Hurricanes in Saturday’s WBBL final at Bellerive Oval.

Manchester United and Bayern Munich have reportedly locked horns in a battle to sign Liga de Quito’s 16-year-old sensation Ederson Castillo. The midfielder has attracted serious interest from the European heavyweights after dazzling displays at youth level, though they face stiff competition from Atlético de Madrid and Anderlecht who are also tracking his progress.

European giants circle Ecuadorian wonderkid

According to reports emanating from and , the teenage midfielder has become the primary target for a host of Europe's most prestigious clubs. Castillo, who is currently plying his trade with Liga de Quito (LDU), has seen his stock rise meteorically following a breakthrough campaign with the youth sides.

Despite being just 16 years of age, he was an instrumental figure in LDU’s recent triumph in the Ecuadorian U-19 tournament. His performances were marked by a maturity that belies his years, prompting the club’s hierarchy to invite him to train with the senior squad on multiple occasions. Reports indicate that both United and Bayern have moved to the front of the queue, registering concrete interest in the player as they look to secure his services before his valuation skyrockets. The battle for his signature is expected to be fierce, with European scouts now a regular presence at LDU's Pomasqui training complex, analysing every touch and pass the youngster makes as they prepare their final reports for club directors back in Manchester and Munich.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportUnited and Bayern face stiff competition

While the financial might of United and Bayern often clears the field, this transfer battle is far from a two-horse race. Atlético de Madrid are reportedly monitoring Castillo closely. The Spanish giants, led by Diego Simeone, have a long history of success with South American players who possess the requisite grit and technical quality. 

Furthermore, Belgian outfit Anderlecht are firmly in the mix. While they cannot compete financially with the likes of United or Bayern, they offer a compelling sporting project: a proven pathway to first-team football in a development-friendly league. Anderlecht have already successfully recruited from Liga de Quito in the recent past, signing Nilson Angulo, which could give them a unique advantage in negotiations. The Belgian route is often seen as a smarter intermediate step for South American talents before making the jump to the Premier League or Bundesliga, allowing them to adapt to the European game away from the blinding spotlight of the very top tier.

Ecuador's golden generation spurs interest

This developing transfer saga is emblematic of a wider shift in the transfer market. Ecuador has rapidly established itself as the new "gold mine" for elite talent in South America. The unprecedented success of players like Moises Caicedo, Piero Hincapie, and Pervis Estupinan in Europe’s top five leagues has convinced top clubs that the region is producing "best-in-class" athletes who can adapt physically and technically to the rigours of European football.

For United, a move for Castillo would be entirely consistent with the club’s revamped recruitment strategy under their new sporting structure. The Red Devils are keen to move away from paying exorbitant fees for established stars, focusing instead on identifying high-ceiling teenagers. Bayern share this philosophy, with their "Bayern Campus" project designed to integrate top international talents into the first team at a young age. Both clubs are desperate to find the "next Caicedo" at source, rather than paying a British record fee for him years later as Chelsea did.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportFIFA regulations delay potential move

Despite the intense speculation, any potential deal for Castillo comes with a significant logistical caveat: FIFA’s regulations on the international transfer of minors. Under current rules, Castillo cannot officially register and play for a European club until he turns 18. This means that any agreement reached in the coming months would likely mirror the structure of Chelsea’s high-profile deal for Kendry Paez, who is now on loan at Strasbourg.

The fellow Ecuadorian wonderkid agreed to join the Blues at 15 but remained at Independiente del Valle to continue his development until he was old enough to move in June this year. For Castillo, a similar "pre-contract" arrangement is the most likely outcome. He would theoretically sign for a European giant but remain on loan at LDU for the next two years. This period would allow him to gain vital experience in the Ecuadorian Serie A and potentially the Copa Libertadores before crossing the Atlantic, ensuring he arrives in Europe ready to compete for a first-team place immediately. 

MLB All-Star voting races are heating up and the All-Star break is around the corner, which means that it will soon be time to see baseball's biggest stars take center stage in the Midsummer Classic at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga. But prior to the 2025 All-Star game, baseball fans will get an appetizer in the form of the Home Run Derby, in which some of the game's best sluggers will aim to test the limits of Truist Park on July 14.

The Derby certainly hasn't been short on stars in past years, and this year is no different. The Home Run Derby field is officially set with eight sluggers.

During a June 25 appearance on , Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first player to announce he'd be participating in the Derby. But Acuna, who had missed a July 8 game against the Oakland Athletics due to back tightness, withdrew from the Home Run Derby on July 11, saying he was doing so as a "precaution." Acuna's Braves teammate Matt Olson replaced him in the Derby, ensuring there will be a representative of the Braves at Truist Park.

MLB's home run leader and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh announced his intention to take part in the first Home Run Derby of his career on June 27. It will be a family affair for Raleigh, as his father Todd will throw to him and his younger brother, Todd Jr., may catch at the event.

On July 3, Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood announced via Instagram that he would be taking part in the Home Run Derby for the first time in his career. Then, the Derby got its fourth contestant on July 7 when Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton on Instagram announced his intention to participate, later revealing his son Brixton's adorable plan to help his father during the competition.

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz was added to the list of participants Tuesday, making him the fifth player to commit to the Home Run Derby. On Wednesday, Tampa Bay Rays rising stra Junior Caminero entered the Derby via an Instagram post. On Thursday, Oakland Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker took to Instagram to announce that he'll be participating in the Derby, making him the seventh player.

Finally, New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. became the eighth and final participant added to the Derby on Thursday, July 10. Chisholm confirmed his interest in the event after a two home run night for the Yankees against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. Since his return from a stint on the injured list, Chisholm has been on an absolute tear, with seven home runs in his last 12 games.

Full List of Every Player in the 2025 Home Run Derby

Player

Participated in HRD Before?

Home Runs

Average exit Velocity (mph)

Max exit Velocity (mph)

Average launch angle (degrees)

Matt Olson

Yes

17

93.7

113.8

14.4

Cal Raleigh

No

33

92.0

113.2

23.7

James Wood

No

22

94.0

117.9

6.2

Byron Buxton

No

20

91.5

112.5

18.1

Oneil Cruz

No

15

96.1

122.9

8.4

Junior Caminero

No

21

91.2

116.5

10.1

Brent Rooker

No

19

91.5

112.4

14.5

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

No

17

90.0

112.1

11.9

Who's out? Players who have declined to participate in Home Run Derby

Unfortunately for MLB, some of baseball's brightest stars have already declined to participate in the Derby. Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Elly De La Cruz, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., just to name a few. Perhaps most notably, four-time Derby participant and two-time champion Pete Alonso also won't be taking part in the festivities this year, citing a desire to enjoy the time off during the All-Star break. As mentioned earlier, Acuna, the first player to enter the Derby, withdrew on July 11.

Home Run Derby participants by the numbers

With the field of eight sluggers presumably set, let's take a deeper statistical dive into the participants for the 2025 Home Run Derby. We'll rank the sluggers in a series of Statcast metrics, first with average bat speed.

Player

Avg. Bat Speed (mph)

Oneil Cruz

78.6

Junior Caminero

78.0

James Wood

76.1

Cal Raleigh

75.1

Byron Buxton

74.9

Brent Rooker

73.8

Matt Olson

73.7

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

73.4

Next, we'll rank the sluggers by barrel rate.

Player

Barrel Rate (%)

Oneil Cruz

22.5

Cal Raleigh

20.0

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

19.0

James Wood

18.6

Matt Olson

16.3

Byron Buxton

15.0

Brent Rooker

14.4

Junior Caminero

11.0

Finally, we'll take a look at the Home Run Derby participants ranked by their hard-hit percentages, another key metric when evaluating home run hitters.

Player

Hard-Hit %

Oneil Cruz

58.1

James Wood

55.8

Matt Olson

54.1

Byron Buxton

53.9

Cal Raleigh

49.2

Junior Caminero

47.7

Brent Rooker

47.5

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

45.6

It’s the perfect pairing – one brings in experience, the other local expertise and reports are the pair have a calming influence on the team

Mohammad Isam19-Feb-2025That Bangladesh are a team in transition will soon be on display during the Champions Trophy 2025. The absence of Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, two of the team’s greatest cricketers, has wiped a lot of experience away from their ODI depth. But can the coaching duo of Phil Simmons and Mohammad Salahuddin add substance to a set-up lacking big names?As much as it sounds hard to believe that Simmons and Salahuddin can replace Shakib and Tamim in any capacity, Bangladesh have always been a team dependent on coaching. It has been the trend since their cricketing inception in the 1990s. The lack of international exposure made coaches like Gordon Greenidge, Eddie Barlow and Dav Whatmore among the biggest influencers in Bangladesh cricket. The combined experience and knowledge of Simmons and Salahuddin will be effective for this Bangladesh team in different ways.Simmons is among the most experienced coaches in world cricket, having recently become only the fourth coach to be in charge of 400 international matches. Salahuddin’s career highlights include the four BPL titles he won with the Comilla Victorians, but he is also recognised and celebrated in these parts as the country’s go-to coach for technical and tactical troubleshooting.Shakib is Salahuddin’s most famous student, having known each other from their days in the BKSP sports institute where Shakib was a student and Salahuddin a coach. In 2015, Shakib famously sought Salahuddin’s help with his bowling action so they did the consulting over a video call. Shakib once called up Salahuddin to the IPL in 2019 and later credited this stint with him as the reason for his blockbuster performance at the ODI World Cup that year. Tamim, Mominul Haque, Soumya Sarkar and Jaker Ali are among those – from past and present – who have worked extensively with Salahuddin.

****

The BCB appointed Simmons and Salahuddin late last year with a short contract till the Champions Trophy. The team had the home Tests against South Africa, the ODI series against Afghanistan and the full tour of West Indies under Simmons. According to those who have worked closely with the team in recent training camps, both coaches have gelled well – with each other and the team.”The first thing that caught my eye was the communication between the two coaches,” Sohel Islam, a coach who worked with the Bangladesh team earlier this month, told ESPNcricinfo. “It was good to see that they have gained each other’s trust. I think it is a really important factor, particularly in the Bangladesh team setup.”Simmons doesn’t speak a lot, but he notices every little detail. I think when he does speak, it leaves an impact on the players. Simmons also encourages the players to express themselves. I really liked his style.”I have worked with Salahuddin for many years. He has retained his coaching style. The players really trust him. Both Simmons and Salahuddin want to make sure that the players get the most out of each practice session. They want the players to get some reward out of every little thing that they do in training.”Salahuddin has seen the emergence of Bangladesh’s players with his presence in the BPL•Bangladesh Cricket BoardTalha Jubair, who worked as a bowling coach in the recent camp, felt that the duo brought in a refreshing energy to the set-up.”I have worked with previous Bangladesh coaches, but I never felt I was welcomed into those setups,” Jubair said. “This time, it felt a lot different. You had Salahuddin and Phil Simmons always bouncing off ideas with him.”Generally, I noticed a happy and comfortable dressing room. I think we have had coaches who were too dominating in the past. It can restrict players, and by chance, if a player is shy about expressing himself, he generally goes into a shell in those situations. I think what this coaching pair has done, is refreshing.”Related

Rapid Rana is at the bleeding edge of Bangladesh's proud seam-bowling tradition

Batch of new quicks gives in-transition Bangladesh hope

Phil Simmons: 'Coaching in 400 internationals means I have done something right'

While the BPL was on, Simmons worked regularly with the captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. Shanto wasn’t a regular in the Fortune Barishal XI, which allowed him time with the Bangladesh head coach in a separate setup almost daily in the latter part of the tournament. It allowed for the two to understand each other. ESPNcricinfo has learned that Shanto and Simmons have developed a solid rapport too.Salahuddin, meanwhile, spent the BPL observing, working with, and talking to the Bangladesh players. He is appointed as the senior assistant coach, but everyone in Bangladesh knows that they can all turn to Salahuddin for help.Bangladesh haven’t performed that well under Simmons so far, but their Test win in Jamaica and the 3-0 T20I series win against West Indies was seen as a step in the right direction for a struggling side. With no Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim and Towhid Hridoy during the West Indies tour, they blooded in Jaker Ali, Tanzid Hasan and Nahid Rana with a clear focus on the future.

****

ESPNcricinfo has learned that the BCB considered Salahuddin for the job after finally deciding that a Bangladeshi coach must be part of the coaching setup. They wanted someone who could communicate better with the players, and someone the players knew from their formative years. Salahuddin was the most eligible candidate.The BCB is also familiar with both coaches. Between the Chandika Hathurusinghe stints, Simmons was in conversation with the BCB for a coaching role. In 2018, shortly after Hathurusinghe had left the job, Simmons had flown to Dhaka for an interview. The board opted for Steve Rhodes instead.Salahuddin also worked for Bangladesh many years ago. He was the assistant coach from 2009 to 2011, when he was known to have guided youngsters like Shakib, Tamim and Mushfiqur. Salahuddin worked at a Malaysian University for a while before getting into the BPL. The four titles with Comilla also show a winning pedigree in his coaching career so far, and the reputation of working with Bangladesh’s best adds to his sheen.Can Najmul Hossain Shanto lead Bangladesh to Champions Trophy glory?•ICC/Getty ImagesBut for Salahuddin, this has come after some opposition. The BCB had reportedly appointed Salahuddin as the assistant coach in 2017 but changed their decision at the last minute after a board director voiced his dissent. Salahuddin had since stayed away from the BCB, often criticising the board. When Faruque was elected president in August last year, one of the first things he mentioned was the plan to appoint a Bangladeshi in the coaching setup.The general feeling of calmness in the dressing room is a welcome change that many, including those at the BCB, have observed. Bangladesh have often operated in difficult, chaotic situations – particularly in ICC tournaments – in the recent past. It usually resulted in very little success for the team.There is a belief within the Bangladesh camp that the calmness and assuredness that Simmons and Salahuddin have brought to the team could be the difference makers. Interestingly, their contracts expire at the end of the Champions Trophy. Surely the BCB will back them for a longer stint?

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his torrid postseason on Sunday night as the Blue Jays fought off the Mariners to force a winner-take-all Game 7 against the Mariners. Guerrero's sixth-inning home run was his sixth of the playoffs and he carries a .462/.532/1.000 slash line into Monday night's action.

He had seemingly done it all for the Blue Jays in October when he stepped into the batters' box in the eighth inning so he had to get extremely creative to create something new. A broken-bat single on which his bat made contact with the ball three times certainly qualifies.

Here's the slow-motion replay of the oddity, which proves that when things are going well at the dish, everything seems to work.

For as rare as such an occurrence is, there is some late-October precedent. The Giants' Hunter Pence parlayed the trick into some wicked spin and a two-run single during Game 7 of the NLCS back in 2012.

What will Guerrero do for his next trick as he steps on to the biggest stage of his young career? That depends on how willing the Mariners are to pitch to him.