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England’s multi-talented stand-in is about to be handed a chance to seize the spotlight

Cameron Ponsonby29-Oct-2024He’s a confident lad is Jordan Cox. During training he wears his cap backwards in the way only the cool kids can. And then you remember he isn’t just the kid who’s best at school anymore but he’s playing cricket for England. And then you remember that, when he’s not playing cricket for England, he’s on the golf course playing off his better-than-scratch handicap. If anything, it makes you sick.Cox is on the cusp of becoming England’s master-of-all-trades. Although he only has two T20I appearances to his name, he will be a lock for the upcoming ODI series as a specialist batter and he is in line to keep wicket in all three Tests against New Zealand.England like Cox. He’s multi-skilled, brash, hits bombs, hits fairways and probably sinks pints too. The business world would call his elevation to the national set-up a successful culture hire.”It can come across so rude or arrogant,” Cox said of his attitude towards cricket. “Or that I don’t really care. But I do care. I really do. I care about doing well. I care about winning.”Cricket is such an up-and-down sport…I’m just trying to stay as level-headed as I can.”When I was younger, I didn’t care. I was having fun with friends. I did well then, so why would I change? Now I’m having fun with new friends.”Those new friends are the likes of Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook and Brendon McCullum, for whom he has been carrying drinks for for the best part of three months.Cox was first called up to the Test squad as batting cover for the Sri Lanka series, before playing in both the completed T20Is against Australia, being unused across the ODIs and then unused in the Tests against Pakistan.Cox made his T20I debut against Australia in September•Getty ImagesCox, along with Rehan Ahmed, will be one of only two players to be on all three tours of Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand.”I was speaking to my old man on the golf course the other day,” Cox said. “And he asked me how I was feeling. ‘Pretty fresh,’ I said. The thing is you have to bide your time.”I think being 24 I can juggle that. I think if selected to play all three [formats] I’ll never say no.”In his own words, just being around the international set-up breeds rapid learning. Two years ago he was part of the squad that travelled to Pakistan for a seven-match T20I series, a month which, despite not playing, he says taught him “more than my five years at Kent”.”I’m learning really quickly,” he added.Related

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Switch Hit: Spindi to win

Part of what he’ll have to learn again is keeping. A gruesome finger injury in the 2023 Hundred has meant it is 15 months since Cox last kept wicket and, with Phil Salt set to have the gloves during this ODI series, Cox will be going in cold at Christchurch in four weeks’ time.”Keeping is something that I absolutely loved,” Cox said. “I’ve kept since the age of 11 and then obviously had that nasty injury so now it’s about building up.”I’ve probably been three, four months of keeping again, so not long. But you know, as people say it’s like riding a bike.”Cox spent much of his time in Pakistan practicing keeping with McCullum, but he also credits the absence of the gloves for contributing to his finest year with the bat as a professional. Across the 2024 season with Essex, he made four centuries and averaged 65.57.”It’s made me cherish my wicket a lot more because you’ve only got one skill to change a game,” he said.”Because of my finger, I can’t stand at slip so I can’t take good catches and change a game like that so I’m standing at mid-off falling asleep!”Cox enjoyed his best summer in first-class cricket with Essex•Getty ImagesThe conundrum with Cox is whether he’s about to take over English cricket or if this is a gap-year fling.Currently, he is not in any of the three formats’ first-choice XIs, but he is in all three formats’ first-choice squads. His opportunity in New Zealand is in effect a three-match loan deal. Look after the gloves for Jamie, who’s absent on paternity leave, and then wait your turn.But with Ollie Pope under pressure, that equation is no longer so simple. Cox is naturally a top-order batter and an avalanche of runs could force England into a change.”It’s professional sport, you never know what will happen,” Cox said. “Let’s say Popey goes and scores three hundreds, let’s say I score a hundred and win the Test match, what happens there? The media are always going to say different things but everyone’s trying to make a living and have fun.”Obviously, I don’t want someone to get injured, for me to get in their spot. But I’ve got an opportunity in New Zealand to put a stamp on potentially keeping in all three Test matches and scoring some runs.”And if anyone’s to bet on Cox to do exactly that, it will be the man himself.

Roy Keane believes Liverpool can no longer be considered Premier League title contenders, saying their 3-0 thumping at Manchester City proves they are in a "crisis". Goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez, and Jeremy Doku saw Pep Guardiola’s City confirm themselves as the likeliest challengers to league leaders Arsenal, in what was a damaging defeat for the reigning champions.

Haaland, Gonzalez & Doku all on target against lacklustre Liverpool

All eyes were on the Etihad Stadium on Sunday as City and Liverpool aimed to not only dent each other’s title hopes, but equally close the gap on an Arsenal side who were held to a 2-2 draw with Sunderland the previous day.

And on the 1,000th game of Guardiola’s illustrious managerial career, it was City who outlined their title credentials, roaring past a Liverpool side for whom it looked like it was one game too many in their mini-revival following victories over Aston Villa and Real Madrid.

Haaland, Gonzalez and man-of-the-match Doku did the damage for City, who are now second in the table and just four points behind Mikel Arteta's Arsenal. Meanwhile, Liverpool remain eight points adrift of the Gunners, having lost a fourth consecutive away game in the league for the first time since 2012.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportManchester United icon Keane lays into Slot's Reds after the game

And such was the sluggish nature of Liverpool’s loss at City that Manchester United legend Keane feels Arne Slot’s men are now unlikely to defend the title which they claimed last season.

In the immediate aftermath of the match, Keane told "You can't be considering Liverpool for the title. That was a sore defeat. But this reminded me of [the] City of old. They were outstanding. They are back in the mix."

He then said it is "crisis time for Liverpool," adding: "It's okay to lose to a club like Man City – it's a tough place to come. But to lose seven in ten – five league losses already – It has to be a crisis for a club like Liverpool.

"I thought Liverpool looked like a really weak team today. The manager said he was pleased with the second half, but the game was over! It's easy to play well when you're not playing for anything. 

"I thought [Slot's] assessment of the game was spot on. City looked stronger, technically better and more physical than Liverpool today. [Liverpool] still had moments, they've always got quality, but the goals they're giving away – their decision making  – was not good enough. There was a lack of intensity, a lack of energy. The subs, when they came on, looked really soft. I think it is a crisis for Liverpool."

Van Dijk stops short of getting involved in debate over disallowed goal

While Liverpool were second best for the majority of the match, they will feel aggrieved they did not register at least one goal in the game. 

The Merseysiders thought they had delivered a sucker punch in the first half when captain Virgil van Dijk headed home from Mohamed Salah’s corner, but the goal was ruled out after Andy Robertson was adjudged to have been interfering with play from an offside position.

However, Netherlands international Van Dijk refused to get embroiled in a debate over the decision, saying "it doesn’t matter what he thinks about the incident."

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Getty Images SportNetherlands centre-back insists 'it doesn't matter' what he thinks

When asked about his disallowed goal after the final whistle, Van Dijk told "In football the officials are deciding the key decisions and we have to deal with it on the pitch. There is no point discussing this from my point of view. The reality is that we lost 3-0 and that is a big blow.

"It doesn't matter what I say [about the goal] because anything I say will be in the media and the whole international break will be about my comment on the decision. I just focus on the fact we lost. You guys can debate if it should have stood.

"It's about finding consistency and carrying on. Now we go to our countries, stay fit and be ready for a big run after. We are not going to give up whatsoever. We are in November and we are ready for a long season and a big fight."

Keeper-batter’s first List A century for Durham was followed by Will Rhodes’ maiden List A five-for

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay05-Aug-2025A brilliant century from Ollie Robinson and an excellent all-round effort from Will Rhodes led Durham to a 51-run victory over Sussex in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.Robinson’s counter-attacking century, which was his first List A ton for Durham, supported by a gutsy innings from Rhodes fired Durham to a total of 310 for 7 from their 50 overs, with Archie Lenham the pick of the Sussex bowlers.Sussex’s chase of 311 got off to a poor start as they found themselves 86 for 4 at one point, but middle order runs from Danny Lamb dragged his side back in the game.However, Rhodes secured Durham the opening day victory with his first ever List A five-wicket haul.Sussex won the toss at a sunny Roseworth Terrace and elected to bowl first and they got off to a great start as Alex Lees edged a Fynn Hudson-Prentice delivery behind to Charlie Tear in the opening over.Rhodes and Emilio Gay settled Durham down after the early loss and reached 50 in the powerplay as the former produced a crunching straight drive for four.Rhodes then reached his half-century from 43 balls on his List A debut for Durham, while Gay started to show some aggression as he took the aerial route to find the cover boundary.Gay then tried to launch a Jack Carson delivery down the ground for six, but he was caught well by Ari Karvelas for 34. Sussex then struck again as Lamb bowled Colin Ackermann for 14 to leave things finely poised.Robinson joined Rhodes at the crease and looked to be proactive as he pulled a Lenham ball for four and he followed that up with a cut shot on the back foot that went for four.Rhodes then hit the first maximum of the day as he gave a Carson ball the treatment with a beautiful slog sweep.Robinson then got his fifty from 47 balls, getting to the milestone with a six, but Rhodes fell four short of his century as Lenham got him caught at deep square. Wickets then came like buses for Sussex as Lamb got Ben Raine for six. Despite the wickets, Robinson kept the scoreboard ticking over and picked up another maximum as he pulled a Henry Crocombe ball over the ropes.Haydon Mustard, making his first appearance of the season, also looked to move Durham towards 300 as he picked up a couple of boundaries including a lovely cut shot.Mustard then fell for a lively 36, but Robinson reached his century off 78 balls to take his side to a big total. The centurion fell for 100 exactly, Ari Karvelas picking up the wicket, but Durham reached 310 for seven at the end of their 50 overs.Tom Haines and Danial Ibrahim started Sussex’s chase of 311, but it got off to a bad start as Ibrahim was caught behind off the bowling of Codi Yusuf for two.Durham cranked up the pressure as George Drissell got Tom Clark caught behind for 14.Haines showed a glimpse of some aggression as he reverse swept Drissell for four, however, Tear departed for nine after he pulled a Mitch Killeen delivery straight to Yusuf in the deep.Killeen then struck again as he got Haines for 23 as he chipped one straight to Ackermann at mid-on.Hudson-Prentice was frustrating Durham and he took a liking to James Minto’s bowling as he smashed one over the square boundary and out of the ground.Durham got the big wicket of Hudson-Prentice for 43 as he went for a second run, but a throw came in from Yusuf and Robinson whipped the bails off with aplomb.Oli Carter then hammered one from Drissell down the ground for six and followed that up with a four off Minto. Danny Lamb then hit Ben Raine for six to boost his team’s hopes and he backed that up with a tidy flick off his legs for four a few balls later.Lamb continued his charge, dragging his side back into the game with some powerful strokes and reached his fifty from 35 balls.However, Carter departed for 38 as Rhodes got him caught behind to halt Sussex’s momentum. Lamb continued his assault on the Durham attack as he pulled a Yusuf ball for four, but Rhodes got another wicket, getting Carson caught and bowled for four.Rhodes got his third, removing Lamb for an excellent 74 to leave Durham on the verge of victory.Rhodes then wrapped things up for Durham to bowl Sussex out for 259 and he finished with figures of 5 for 30.

The All-Star break is behind us and the 2025 MLB season is heading for the home stretch. With 15 teams legitimately in contention for Wild Card spots, the race to the finish could get hectic, which might make this one of the most active trade deadlines in recent years.

Over the next few weeks contenders will attempt to position themselves for the stretch run by making deals to fill needs. What follows is a look at the five most glaring holes National League contenders have as we head toward the deadline.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Starting Pitcher

Despite a rash of injuries to their pitching staff, the Dodgers still look like a juggernaut capable of repeating as World Series champions. With Tyler Glasnow back, Blake Snell close to returning and Shohei Ohtani working himself back into shape, things are beginning to look much better for their starting rotation. But can they trust it? L.A.'s rotation pieces all have lengthy injury histories and there's a pretty good chance they don't remain healthy for the rest of the season. With a ton of organizational depth and a stock farm system, the Dodgers can aim high at the deadline.

Prices will be sky-high for good rotation pieces, but the Dodgers can pay whatever it takes to improve. If they want to become the first back-to-back World Series champions since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000, they should be willing to add to their rotation.

Philadelphia Phillies: Bullpen Help

The Phillies reached the break with a 1/2-game lead over the New York Mets for supremacy in the NL East, and those two teams should be slugging it out for the rest of the season. If Philadelphia wants to prevail, it must address its biggest weakness. The Phillies' bullpen currently ranks 23rd in ERA (4.38) and has blown 17 saves in 44 opportunities. None of the team's relievers has an fWAR of 1.0 or better. The team's revolving door at closer hasn't helped things.

There will be relievers aplenty to go around, but they won't be cheap. That said, after watching helplessly as the Mets scored 19 runs in the sixth inning or later during their NLDS series in 2024, the Phillies can't enter the postseason with a weak bullpen.

Chicago Cubs: Starting Pitcher

The Cubs have one of MLB's best offenses and come out of the break a game up on the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. The team's starting rotation, which has a Justin Steele-sized hole. With Steele out for the year following elbow surgery, Chicago's rotation has had its ups and downs. Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga have been excellent, but the team's starters rank 18th in baseball in ERA (4.06) and have allowed the second-most home runs (84).

It's highly likely the Cubs only have Kyle Tucker for the next few months, as he's set to seek an enormous contract in free agency. While he's still in town and they have an elite offense, the franchise should go all-in. Netting a top-tier starting pitcher could be the difference between the Cubs making a run to the World Series or suffering an early exit in the postseason.

New York Mets: Center Fielder

Yes, the Mets could use another starting pitcher, but the rotation looks much healthier now, led by Kodai Senga, David Peterson, and Clay Holmes. The real issue is the team's lack of production from center field. Tyrone Taylor has played 85 games in center and has an OPS of .580. There isn't a good option to replace him on the roster, so New York needs to go shopping.

Steve Cohen didn't give Juan Soto $765 million to have a flawed roster, the team's owner is almost certain to go all-in during his superstar's prime. There are a number of center fielders out there the Mets could make offers on, with Luis Robert and Cedric Mullins leading the list.

San Diego Padres: Catcher

While left field is also a major hole for the Friars, nothing is more pressing than San Diego finding a catcher that can hit. So far this season, Padres catchers have a combined WAR of -0.9, worst in baseball. The combination of Elias Diaz and Martin Maldonado has been a flop, and something has to change at the position. General manager A.J. Preller is always looking to wheel and deal, and he'll earn his paycheck if he can find a reliable backstop.

Catchers who can hit are a rare commodity in baseball these days and finding one won't be cheap. But even a league-average catcher would be a massive improvement for the Padres at this point.