Our modern game owes so much to Gazza... it's sad to see him grow more fragile by the day, writes OLIVER HOLT
In the context of the English game, no one did more to create the boom of the 1990s and lay the foundations for fabulous new stadiums and the rush of billionaires flocking to invest in, and profit from, our clubs than Paul Gascoigne.
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South Wales Argus
27 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett put England in charge after Ben Stokes' five-for
England's openers reprised their Headingley heroics, which helped them draw first blood in last month's series opener, putting on 166 in 32 overs after India were all out for 358 at Emirates Old Trafford. Neither was able to get to three figures as Duckett fell six runs short and Crawley was out for 84, with England going to stumps after day two of the fourth Rothesay Test on 225 for two. That they only sit 133 behind and in a favourable position to move into an unassailable 3-1 series lead owes much to Stokes, who claimed five for 72 to restrict an India side who were able to call upon Rishabh Pant as he defied an injury to his right foot. A brilliant day for England! 🏴 We trail by just 1️⃣3️⃣3️⃣ runs with 8️⃣ wickets in hand. Roll on tomorrow 💪 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 24, 2025 Less than 24 hours after retiring hurt on 37 and being taken off the field on a golf buggy, Pant resumed his innings although substitute fielder Dhruv Jurel is taking on wicketkeeper duties for the rest of the Test. Amid reports of a broken metatarsal – India have not publicly confirmed the severity of his injury – Pant limped every time he moved forward before being bowled for 54 by Jofra Archer, who claimed three for 73. Archer struck in his first over with the second new ball after squaring up Ravindra Jadeja and drawing the edge but Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar took India from an overnight 264 for four past 300. Stokes ended the union when Thakur was excellently caught at gully by a leaping Duckett for 41, leading to Pant's slow march to the crease, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd for soldiering on. He wore a blow to the gloves from his third ball and runners being outlawed in Tests meant he had to hobble through for singles. His movement was severely restricted but the danger remained as Archer's slower ball after lunch was launched over deep midwicket en route to Pant reaching a courageous fifty. Stokes claimed five wickets to restrict India (Martin Rickett/PA) But then, he was running out of partners as Stokes bounced out Sundar for 27 and nicked off debutant Anshul Kamboj three balls later for his first Test five-for since a career-best six for 22 against the West Indies nearly eight years ago. With Jasprit Bumrah for company, Pant refused a run after smashing Archer only to be cleaned up next ball in a carbon copy of his second-innings dismissal at Lord's, with his off-stump sent flying. After Archer finished proceedings as India lost their final four wickets for 21, Duckett had his heart in his mouth when he gloved his first ball down the leg-side, just out of reach of the diving Jurel. Duckett then flung his bat over his shoulder close to his stumps but he ended Kamboj's eventful first over in an India jersey with back-to-back clips for four and did not look back. A close call for Ben Duckett 😅 Have you ever seen this before? 👀 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 24, 2025 Even Bumrah struggled for containment after being dispatched twice to the boundary in an over, with all of India's seamers coming in for punishment for drifting into Duckett's pads far too often. Crawley took 14 balls to get off nought at a ground where he made 189 in the 2023 Ashes and was initially happy to swim in Duckett's slipstream but he gradually started to assert himself with several fantastic cover drives. While Duckett was first and quickest to fifty, Crawley overtook his partner and hammered Jadeja for a meaty straight six after the slow left-armer was brought on to offer a semblance of control. But Jadeja got the breakthrough having been required to bowl an extra ball after overstepping moments earlier when Crawley hung out his bat and nicked low to KL Rahul, who clung on inches above the turf. Pant was bowled by Archer after batting with a foot injury (Martin Rickett/PA) Nevertheless, Crawley had been at the centre of the timewasting row that erupted last week at Lord's and was once again under pressure after four successive scores under 25 so this knock was some riposte. Having looked short of ideas, India celebrated with a huddle after ending the Crawley-Duckett onslaught – their second best of the last few weeks having made 188 together in Leeds. Duckett made a match-winning 149 on that occasion but he could not ton up here after a wild slash to a Kamboj long hop took the edge through to Jurel to end a fine 100-ball innings. There were no further alarms as Ollie Pope ended the day unbeaten on 20 and Joe Root on 11 not out.
Leader Live
27 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett put England in charge after Ben Stokes' five-for
England's openers reprised their Headingley heroics, which helped them draw first blood in last month's series opener, putting on 166 in 32 overs after India were all out for 358 at Emirates Old Trafford. Neither was able to get to three figures as Duckett fell six runs short and Crawley was out for 84, with England going to stumps after day two of the fourth Rothesay Test on 225 for two. That they only sit 133 behind and in a favourable position to move into an unassailable 3-1 series lead owes much to Stokes, who claimed five for 72 to restrict an India side who were able to call upon Rishabh Pant as he defied an injury to his right foot. A brilliant day for England! 🏴 We trail by just 1️⃣3️⃣3️⃣ runs with 8️⃣ wickets in hand. Roll on tomorrow 💪 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 24, 2025 Less than 24 hours after retiring hurt on 37 and being taken off the field on a golf buggy, Pant resumed his innings although substitute fielder Dhruv Jurel is taking on wicketkeeper duties for the rest of the Test. Amid reports of a broken metatarsal – India have not publicly confirmed the severity of his injury – Pant limped every time he moved forward before being bowled for 54 by Jofra Archer, who claimed three for 73. Archer struck in his first over with the second new ball after squaring up Ravindra Jadeja and drawing the edge but Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar took India from an overnight 264 for four past 300. Stokes ended the union when Thakur was excellently caught at gully by a leaping Duckett for 41, leading to Pant's slow march to the crease, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd for soldiering on. He wore a blow to the gloves from his third ball and runners being outlawed in Tests meant he had to hobble through for singles. His movement was severely restricted but the danger remained as Archer's slower ball after lunch was launched over deep midwicket en route to Pant reaching a courageous fifty. But then, he was running out of partners as Stokes bounced out Sundar for 27 and nicked off debutant Anshul Kamboj three balls later for his first Test five-for since a career-best six for 22 against the West Indies nearly eight years ago. With Jasprit Bumrah for company, Pant refused a run after smashing Archer only to be cleaned up next ball in a carbon copy of his second-innings dismissal at Lord's, with his off-stump sent flying. After Archer finished proceedings as India lost their final four wickets for 21, Duckett had his heart in his mouth when he gloved his first ball down the leg-side, just out of reach of the diving Jurel. Duckett then flung his bat over his shoulder close to his stumps but he ended Kamboj's eventful first over in an India jersey with back-to-back clips for four and did not look back. A close call for Ben Duckett 😅 Have you ever seen this before? 👀 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 24, 2025 Even Bumrah struggled for containment after being dispatched twice to the boundary in an over, with all of India's seamers coming in for punishment for drifting into Duckett's pads far too often. Crawley took 14 balls to get off nought at a ground where he made 189 in the 2023 Ashes and was initially happy to swim in Duckett's slipstream but he gradually started to assert himself with several fantastic cover drives. While Duckett was first and quickest to fifty, Crawley overtook his partner and hammered Jadeja for a meaty straight six after the slow left-armer was brought on to offer a semblance of control. But Jadeja got the breakthrough having been required to bowl an extra ball after overstepping moments earlier when Crawley hung out his bat and nicked low to KL Rahul, who clung on inches above the turf. Nevertheless, Crawley had been at the centre of the timewasting row that erupted last week at Lord's and was once again under pressure after four successive scores under 25 so this knock was some riposte. Having looked short of ideas, India celebrated with a huddle after ending the Crawley-Duckett onslaught – their second best of the last few weeks having made 188 together in Leeds. Duckett made a match-winning 149 on that occasion but he could not ton up here after a wild slash to a Kamboj long hop took the edge through to Jurel to end a fine 100-ball innings. There were no further alarms as Ollie Pope ended the day unbeaten on 20 and Joe Root on 11 not out.
The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Newcastle's handling of Alexander Isak transfer saga slammed by club legend Alan Shearer
Newcastle United's handling of the Alexander Isak transfer saga has been slammed by club legend Alan Shearer. The former Newcastle striker says the club made themselves look 'ridiculous' on Thursday for claiming that Isak was injured amid reports he wants to explore a move away from the club. Newcastle released a statement on Thursday morning to say the Swede would miss the club's pre-season tour of Asia due to a minor thigh problem. Hours later, however, reports emerged that Isak had told club executives he wanted to explore the possibility of a transfer, amid reported interest from Liverpool. Shearer, a Betfair Ambassador, said: 'It's ridiculous what Newcastle put out this morning to say he wasn't on the trip because of a slight thigh injury. 'If they thought people wouldn't see through that… it was disappointing. They should have just told the truth straight away. I understand it's a very difficult situation for them, but it is what it is. '(Magpies head coach) Eddie Howe has to use all his persuasive powers to do what he can and try to make him stay at least one more year. If that can't happen then it is what it is. 'You have to get the very best deal for the football club and if someone is prepared to pay north of £150million, and if he really, really wants to go, you can't step in his way.' Newcastle have so far not commented on the reports around Isak's desire to leave. Isak's 23 Premier League goals last season made him one of the world's hottest properties, and he has been linked with Liverpool in recent weeks. Isak still has three years left on his contract at Newcastle, who he joined in the summer of 2022 from Spanish side Real Sociedad. Liverpool were reported to be interested in signing Isak earlier this month, at the same time as the two clubs were in the hunt for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike. The Reds have since signed Ekitike, understood to be for an initial £69million with a further £10m in potential add-ons.
