U-TURN YEAR: After the high of 2024, Barca’s Yamal (left) and Liverpool icon Salah discovered fame is fickle. (Image: TNN)

RAW TALENT Fancy a swig of raw milk? Good for your gut, and legs it seems. Head too. It’s superfood, just ask Super Haaland. He loves to visit a Cheshire farm to get his locally sourced bottles. And as you know, he rarely bottles up in front of goal – scoring 25 times in his 23 matches for City so far. For Norway, 13 goals in 5 matches including a fifer against Moldova in Sept ensured 2026 World Cup qualification. Isn’t it good/ Norwegian wood. Knock, knock!AN OVAL CUPWho is gonna take away the World Cup? Your guess is as good as ours but we are willing to bet our bottom dollar on a certain Mr. Doland… sorry, Donald Trump. This is the closest an American will perhaps ever get to the trophy, and the recent renovation at the White House suggests there will be a new Oval Office to go with it. The Club World Cup may be already there. Winners Chelsea lifted a replica – Trump wanted to steal their celebration too but Cole & Co. were too clever to let him take the limelight. Replicas are as good as it gets – the original is safe at the FIFA HQ in Zurich.

PARIS FINDS ITS MATCH Ooh la la! PSG’s success story in 2025 is one to behold — How Luis Enrique rebooted the continent’s nearly men into European champions with discipline, teamwork, tactics, belief while deleting the individualist approach. All for one and one for all, Luis’ musketeers reeled in trophy after trophy but there was one battle PSG lost, to former talisman Kylian Mbappe, in the boardroom and the courtroom. In this sabre fencing, Paris employed the slashing technique, cutting off the Frenchman’s salary that included a so-called ‘ethics bonus’. Mad in Madrid, Mbappe’s riposte was of the legal kind. After the back and forth, the court ruled that the former employers pay up unpaid wages of 60m euros. Back in Spain, Mbappe earned some Real love from the Bernabeu faithful, after scoring 59 goals in 59 games, equaling his ‘hero’ Cristiano Ronaldo’s record, the most in a calendar year. How did he celebrate it? Siuuuuu…NO FAN’S LAND The Big Leagues’ global expansion was put on hold. La Liga president Javier Tebas’ plan to ‘host’ a league match between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami 7,500-km away from the shores of Spain was cancelled. The league had also chartered planes to take around 2,000 to 3,000 Villarreal fans to the US of A. In Oct, there were league-wide protests, stopping active play to express displeasure. Ultimately, Tebas had to bow down as organisers pulled out. Last week, a high-profile plan to stage a Serie A match — AC Milan vs. Como — in Perth was scrapped.DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER One of the most viral pics of 2025 was of Georgina Rodriguez’s oversized diamond engagement ring reported to be valued between $2 and 5m, the kind of flashy display that one can associate with her fiancé Cristiano Ronaldo. Off the pitch, he definitely glittered. On it, the Portuguese became the top scorer in the history of the World Cup qualifiers with 41 goals with a brace against Hungary. Hours later, in his current home Miami, Lionel Messi was not to be surpassed with his double assist for Argentina against Puerto Rico making him the supreme provider in internationals with 59, beating Neymar’s record.While their club lives in the Saudi Pro League and MLS are at the fringes of people’s interests, the legends are at the forefront of our consciousness. The kind of fanfare and chaos that followed Messi on his whirlwind India tour is proof of that. Please save the last dance for the World Cup finals.

END OF DREAMS‘How many times did we say: Just bring Jota on’ was a striking tribute to the very likeable Diogo Jota at Liverpool’s Anfield ground, after a tragic car crash in Zamora stole the lives of the Portuguese and his brother Andre Silva. Manager Slot said he was looking for Jota on the bench when the scoreline was 2-2 against Bournemouth. Salah won it that day, and the tears flowed. Since then, fortunes have taken a different turn for both Liverpool and Mo. After promising and delivering a record-equalling 20th league title in April, ‘the Egyptian king’ found himself on the sidelines, and an outburst against club and gaffer, left him on the brink of an exit as he proceeded to AFCON duty with his legacy under threat and a question mark over his return. In Spain, close on the heels of a successful Euro campaign, Lamine Yamal finds himself ostracized — from ‘wonderkid’ to ‘bad loser’, with his moves scrutinized in public by a damning jealous social media. His alleged infidelity, luxurious lifestyle, outspoken statements, athletic pubalgia have all been discussed at length. How will an 18-year-old handle this? “Let him grow, do not put him under pressure so we can enjoy a talent like this for many years,” advises a 40-year-old Ronaldo

Allah Ghazanfar for MI Emirates in action

MI Emirates secured a top-two finish with a dominant eight-wicket victory over Dubai Capitals at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday, booking a Qualifier 1 showdown against Desert Vipers on Tuesday. Skipper Kieron Pollard led from the front with an unbeaten 44, peppered with five sixes, as MI Emirates made light work of the chase.Earlier, the MI Emirates bowlers, led by young spinner Allah Ghazanfar (3/28) and Shakib Al Hasan (1/11), strangled the Capitals to 122/8. Consistent pressure through the middle overs left Dubai struggling to gain momentum despite a brief cameo from James Neesham.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Chasing a modest target, openers Muhammad Waseem and Andre Fletcher provided early impetus before Pollard and Tom Banton calmly steered the innings. Pollard’s decisive assault on Waqar Salamkheil in the 14th over, which yielded 30 runs, effectively sealed the contest. The chase was completed comfortably, with Pollard and Banton adding an unbeaten 67-run stand.

Tom Banton and Kieron Pollard of MI Emirates during Match 29 of the World ILT20 between the MI Emirates and the Dubai Capitals

The result also confirmed that the winner of Sunday’s league finale between Gulf Giants and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will meet Dubai Capitals in the Eliminator on January 1.Player of the match Allah Ghazanfar said, “I bowled with the same confidence and stayed true to my plans. As a finger spinner, executing variations isn’t easy, but the work I put in behind the scenes really pays off. On the caught-and-bowled dismissal, I knew there was a chance I could be hit for six, but I backed my best delivery, stayed committed, and it created the opportunity.”

Haider Ali of Dubai Capitals bowls during Match 29 of the World ILT20 between the MI Emirates and the Dubai Capitals

Dubai Capitals skipper Mohammad Nabi said, “We didn’t put enough runs on the board on this surface, and credit to the MI Emirates — they bowled very well. As a bowling unit, we gave it our best, but Pollard took the game away from us. The conditions in Dubai suit us, and hopefully we can bounce back with a strong performance in the next match.”

Brief ScoresDubai Capitals: 122/8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Nabi 22 not out, James Neesham 21, Shayan Jahangir 17; Allah Ghazanfar 3/28, Shakib Al Hasan 1/11)MI Emirates: 126/2 in 16.4 overs (Kieron Pollard 44 not out, Tom Banton 28 not out, Muhammad Waseem 27; Haider Ali 1/14)

Both sets of fans sang chants in Jota’s name in the 18th and 20th minutes — the shirt numbers he wore during his spells at Molineux and Anfield respectively. (Getty Images)

Florian Wirtz’s first Liverpool goal fired the Reds into the Premier League‘s top four despite an unconvincing 2-1 win over Wolves on a day both clubs paid tribute to Diogo Jota. Jota, who was killed in a car accident alongside his brother Andre Silva in July, won four trophies after joining Liverpool from Wolves in 2020.Two of his children led the teams out as mascots, while his wife Rute Cardoso watched on from the sidelines.

Both sets of fans sang chants in Jota’s name in the 18th and 20th minutes — the shirt numbers he wore during his spells at Molineux and Anfield respectively.“After the tragedy happened until now, I have seen so many special moments — where the fans remembered him or our players conducted themselves unbelievably in the circumstances,” said Liverpool boss Arne Slot.“Not only our fans but the fans of away teams have shown the respect both Diogo and his brother deserved. It was special to see his children being the mascot and how emotional it was before the game and then in the 20th minute.”On the field, both clubs have suffered this season with Wolves staring down the barrel of relegation after taking just two points from their opening 18 league games.Liverpool’s form has improved of late and Wirtz is beginning to show flashes of the brilliance that lured the English champions into paying Bayer Leverkusen £100 million ($135 million) for the German international.The 22-year-old registered his first Premier League assist last weekend for a goal that came at some cost to Liverpool as Alexander Isak suffered a broken leg in opening the scoring against Tottenham.Shorn of the most expensive player in English football history for the coming months, there is even more pressure on Wirtz to deliver on his hefty price tag.“He’s been very important for us throughout the season. But in football it is about results, you are mainly judged on results or on goals and assists,” added Slot.“I think today he showed much more than just the goal he scored; he was special for us in many parts of the game.”Wirtz finally opened his account in his 23rd Liverpool appearance by prodding home Hugo Ekitike’s pass to double the home side’s lead.Just 90 seconds earlier, Liverpool had made the breakthrough when Ryan Gravenberch slammed in Jeremie Frimpong’s cross.Yet, even with a 2-0 half-time lead against a side on course to become the worst in Premier League history, Slot could not relax.Santiago Bueno exposed Liverpool’s frailty from set-pieces to pull a goal back just six minutes into the second half.Slot’s men have made a habit of late collapses at Leeds and Tottenham in recent weeks and needed a perfectly-timed tackle from Conor Bradley to deny Jhon Arias a late equaliser.

India vs. Bangladesh. (Image: Agencies)

This year, most scrambled to check the Google Maps to find Curacao when the smallest-ever nation, in terms of population and size, qualified for next year’s mammoth World Cup 2026. With 155,000 inhabitants, the Caribbean island was guided to the top tier by Dick Advocaat, the former Rangers and PSV boss who has also worked with eight national teams including his native Netherlands (1992-94). Sebastian Migne never set foot on Haiti, another Caribbean nation, because international flights do not land there. They played all their World Cup home qualifiers in Curacao, some 500 miles across the sea.

These football stories are the brightest beacon of 2025. In contrast, the darkness around Indian football seems to have grown deeper, unfathomable, with no light at the end of the tunnel. Annus horribilis. The year gone by has seen All India Football Federation officials spend more time making rounds of the courts than the national team spent on the field. It might delight a research scholar to know that AIFF has presented itself to the Supreme Court 16 times and counting. The national team has played only 12 matches. None of it, though, will bring cheer to the fans. Never since Independence has Indian football slipped into such a deep abyss. For the first time since 1996, when the national league was begun by then-AIFF president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, it has stalled. One can say with a heavy heart that the league is an orphan now. The sponsorship ran out. The new occupants of Football House, who took charge in 2022, were aware of the matter. But the negotiations just refused to yield any money, assurance, or hope. Since 2010, the AIFF received Rs 50 crore every year from Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), a Reliance Industries subsidiary, as part of an agreement. The 15-year contract ran out on Dec 8. It was obvious to all, except those in Football House, that no one wants to waste money to keep Indian football – once called a sleeping giant by Sepp Blatter just over a decade and a half ago – alive and awake. Till reports last came in, the AIFF plans to start the elite league around Feb 7-8 after presenting a 20-year plan to the ISL clubs. In accordance with the constitution, the league will be owned and operated by the AIFF and will “implement the principles of promotion and relegation.” “I am convinced we can start the league and then work out a long-term solution,” said IFA secy Anirban Dutta, a member of the committee to resolve the ISL crisis. All year, the stakeholders went into hair-splitting debates and nuanced offerings but the outcome, sadly, has been zero. Even a few clubs had temporarily stopped paying salaries to the players. There has been a frustrating sense of ennui. Last heard, there was some warmth shown by the beleaguered clubs towards the AIFF’s proposals. The format for a truncated league is expected to be confirmed in the year’s final week. Add to it the dismal performance of the national team. Hours after India lost to Bangladesh in their last Asian Cup qualification engagement, Haiti’s ticket to the World Cup sent euphoric shock waves around the world. To watch India’s matches this year, under coaches Manolo Marquez and Khalid Jamil, was like visiting the dentist with a severe toothache. The Indian senior men’s team failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which means no competitive football until at least Nov 2027. That is nearly three years without meaningful matches. One wonders what will be Khalid Jamil’s work schedule now? One question keeps haunting, though. If Curacao are able to hire the services of a world-renowned coach like Advocaat, why could India, claimed to be the fourth-largest economy in the world, never reach beyond the Manolos and the Stimacs and the Koevermans? One can keep waiting for an answer but there will only be silence from the All India Football Federation. Following some creditable performances against Bahrain (2-0) and Brunei (6-0), U-23 coach Naushad Moosa got stuck in Doha. Not one to be easily perturbed, even by the sudden bombing of the Qatari capital, Moosa showered rousing praise on the boys. But his enthusiasm was laced with bleakness. “What’s next for the boys? They will go back to their clubs and warm the bench. They won’t be getting any minutes,” he had said in Sept. With the U-17s, Bibiano Fernandes also made headlines by helping the boys cross the Asian Cup qualification hurdles. Repeating himself, Moosa confirmed his apprehensions in Dec. “Nothing is happening. The players too are sadly cooling their heels.” And we couldn’t but recall the days not too long ago, when the AIFF had to put a cap of 45 matches on the national team players. One may point out that these are silver linings. If so, then why can’t Manolo or Jamil do without Sunil Chhetri, India’s weather-beaten warhorse who is past 40? The striker had to break his retirement vows and don the India shirt again, confirming that Indian football’s cupboard is starkly bare.The year 2025 will stay in memory as the lowest point in Indian football. PLUMBING THE DEPTHS LEAGUE UNCERTAINTY: It’s the end of December, half-time in most football seasons, a time when clubs redraw their strategies, depending on the progress they’ve made in the league. This year, nothing. Indian football has never seen anything like this. There’s no word on the top tier ISL or the I-League, because the AIFF has simply failed to find a commercial partner. Everything’s at a standstill: clubs have paused first team operations, players have stopped training and many foreigners plan to move elsewhere once the transfer window opens on Jan 1. One club has told players they will have to “forego salaries” for months and they’d be “happy to resume payments” only from the date of restart. CAMPS WITHOUT PLAYERS: National team camps often kicked off without half the players. Coach Khalid Jamil wanted more time with the boys, but clubs refused to release players outside the FIFA international windows. It was no different for U-23 assignments. The trust deficit between the two parties has grown so much that Mohun Bagan SG, who have the maximum players at national camps, even accused the federation of negligence over the handling of their captain Subhashish Bose. MONUMENTAL FAILURE: In the 15 months between May 2024 and August 2025, the national team had three coaches — Igor Stimac, Manolo Marquez, Khalid Jamil — none of whom could ensure that India makes it to the AFC Asian Cup, the country’s first failure since the tournament was expanded to accommodate 24 teams. In the final round of qualifiers, India were the highest-ranked side but finished at the bottom, unable to register a single win and in five matches, scoring just twice. The defeat to Bangladesh in Dhaka, the first in 22 years, rankled the most. THE BIG EXIT: The City Football Group’s exit from Mumbai City FC was probably the biggest reflection of the mess that is Indian football. CFG, the world’s leading private owner and operator of 13 clubs, including Manchester City, had joined hands with Mumbai City with much fanfare. Their decision to divest its shareholding in the club is a huge blow. The reason: “CFG made this decision following a comprehensive commercial review and in light of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League (ISL).”BUT, A SILVER LINING: The women’s team provided joy in an otherwise grim state. The senior team defied the odds to defeat World Cuppers Thailand and qualify for the AFC Asian Cup. The U-17 and U-20 teams also left India with three continental competitions to play for in the opening months of 2026. At club level, East Bengal’s SAFF Club Championship triumph and a first group stage win in the AFC Women’s Champions League brought cheer.INDIA IN 2025UNDER MANOLO MARQUEZ

UNDER KHALID JAMIL

India won Bronze Medal at CAFA Nations Cup

TOTAL MATCHES: 11India Won: 3India Lost: 5Drawn: 3Goals Scored: 8Goals Conceded: 12

Virat Kohli (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has sparked fresh debate around Virat Kohli’s Test retirement with an emotional Instagram post that has resonated widely among fans. Posting on Saturday, Sidhu wrote, “If God granted me a wish I’d say bring Kohli out of his retirement & make him play Test Cricket …. Nothing would give more joy and ecstasy to a country of 1.5 billion! His fitness is that of a twenty year old — he himself 24 carat gold.”

Navjot Singh Sidhu insta post

Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket earlier this year, officially stepping away from the format on 12 May 2025. He brought down the curtain on a distinguished red-ball career after 123 Tests, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries to his name.

Kohli had already retired from T20 internationals last year, bowing out after India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in Barbados. Following his Test retirement, the former India captain is now a single-format player, focusing solely on One Day Internationals. Despite stepping away from two formats, Kohli’s form in ODIs has remained outstanding. After India’s Champions Trophy triumph earlier in March, the team toured Australia for a bilateral series. The tour began on a rare low for Kohli, who registered back-to-back ducks in the first two ODIs — the first time that had happened in his international career. However, the turnaround was emphatic. In the Sydney ODI, Kohli rediscovered his rhythm, scoring an unbeaten 74 as India chased down 237 with ease. Rohit Sharma led the way with a commanding 121 not out off 125 balls, striking 13 fours and three sixes, as the pair finished the job with more than 11 overs to spare — in what could potentially be their final international appearances in Australia. Kohli carried that momentum into the South Africa tour, where he produced back-to-back centuries in the first two ODIs. He then capped the series with an unbeaten 65 in the third match, guiding India to a successful chase of 271 and sealing a 2–1 series win. The numbers underline the resurgence. The 37-year-old finished the year with 651 ODI runs from 13 innings, averaging an exceptional 65.10 — a testament to the enduring quality that prompted Sidhu’s heartfelt appeal for a Test comeback.

Virat Kohli and Vishal Jayswal (Insta)

Virat Kohli looked set for another dominant outing while turning out for Delhi in their second Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Gujarat on Friday at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. From the moment he walked out to bat, Kohli was in full flow, playing with authority and attacking intent. At 37, he showed no signs of restraint, taking on the bowlers early and finding gaps all around the ground.

Virat Kohli and Vishal Jayswal

Kohli appeared firmly on course for a second successive hundred, but the innings ended unexpectedly. Against the run of play, Gujarat spinner Vishal Jayswal provided the breakthrough. The left arm orthodox bowler managed to draw Kohli out of his crease as the ball spun away from the outside edge. The wicketkeeper was quick to react, removing the bails and sending Kohli back after a well made 77 off 61 balls.

For a brief period, Gujarat looked in control and threatened to snatch the contest away from Delhi. However, a late collapse turned the tide, allowing Delhi to escape with the result despite the pressure applied by the Gujarat bowlers.

Vishal Jayswal gets signed ball from Virat Kohli

After the match, a warm moment unfolded between Kohli and Jayswal. The former India captain spent time with the spinner who dismissed him, signing the match ball and posing for a photograph. Jayswal later shared the image on Instagram, describing the moment as a surreal experience after growing up watching Kohli on television.The spinner also posted a video of the dismissal, capturing his emotional reaction to taking such a prized wicket. In another message, Jayswal spoke about the significance of the moment, calling it one he would cherish forever and expressing gratitude for the journey the game has given him.Kohli’s return to domestic cricket saw him feature in Delhi’s first two matches of the tournament, scoring 131 against Andhra before following it up with 77 against Gujarat. He was later seen leaving Bengaluru airport on Friday evening and is not expected to take part in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy fixtures.

Stuart Broad (Screengrab-X)

England finally broke their long Australian hoodoo by winning the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, chasing down a target of 175 despite losing six wickets on the final day. The victory ended an 18-match winless run for England in Australia and marked their first Test success Down Under since 2011. While the result did not change the fate of the Ashes, with Australia leading the series 3-1, it carried enormous emotional weight for Ben Stokes and his side.Stuart Broad’s reaction became one of the most talked-about images of England’s breakthrough win at the MCG, perfectly capturing the emotional swing of this Ashes Test. The former England fast bowler, now part of the commentary team, wore a broad smile as the winning runs were struck, a sharp contrast to the dejection seen earlier in the series.

The moment stood out because fans had not forgotten Broad’s expression during the Perth Test. Sitting in the commentary box then, Broad was caught looking crestfallen as Joe Root was clean bowled, an image that quickly went viral. In Melbourne, the story flipped completely. As England crossed the line in a tense chase of 175, Broad could be seen beaming, celebrating a result that ended England’s long wait for success in Australia. The joy of the win was matched by strong criticism of the pitch, which produced a result inside two days. “When you go out there and you’re faced with those conditions, you’ve got to crack on and deal with it,” Stokes said after the match. “But being brutally honest, that’s not really what you want. You know, Boxing Day Test match, you don’t want a game finishing in less than two days. It’s not ideal.” Australian captain Steve Smith echoed those concerns, pointing to the heavy grass covering. “It was tricky. No one could really get in,” Smith said. “I think when you see 36 wickets across two days, that’s probably too much. It probably did a little bit more than they wanted it to.” Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg was even more blunt, warning about the wider impact. “A simple phrase I’d use is short Tests are bad for business. I can’t be much more blunt than that,” he said, adding that a better balance between bat and ball was needed. Former players were equally scathing. Michael Vaughan labelled the pitch “a joke”, while Alastair Cook called it “an unfair contest”. Yet amid all the debate, it was Broad’s smile that lingered. From visible despair in Perth to pure joy in Melbourne, his reaction mirrored England’s Ashes journey, one that finally delivered a rare and emotional win on Australian soil.

Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki celebrates with Erling Haaland (Barrington Coombs/PA via AP)

Rayan Cherki delivered another decisive statement of his growing influence at Manchester City as his late strike secured a 2-1 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest and lifted Pep Guardiola’s side to the top of the table on Saturday. The France international was at the heart of everything City did well at the City Ground. After setting up Tijjani Reijnders for the opening goal early in the second half, Cherki returned in the closing stages to fire home the winner, capping a standout display that underlined his importance to City’s title push. City had to weather sustained pressure from Forest, who matched Guardiola’s men for large spells and were level soon after falling behind. Omari Hutchinson, scoring his first goal for the club, punished a rare City mistake to bring the home side back into the contest and briefly threaten another memorable result against the champions. Guardiola’s team eventually found a way through, extending their winning run to eight matches in all competitions and six straight league victories. The result moved City one point clear of Arsenal, although the Gunners could reclaim top spot later in the day with a home win over Brighton. Before kick-off, Forest paid tribute to club legend John Robertson, who passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 72. The former Scotland winger was a central figure in Forest’s back-to-back European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980, and his flair and end product were fondly remembered by the City Ground crowd. Cherki, who joined City from Lyon in the summer, appears to share that same blend of creativity and cutting edge. At just 22, he has quickly become a key figure in Guardiola’s side and, should City edge Arsenal to the title, his contribution is likely to be pivotal. Guardiola had set a stern tone over the festive period, warning his players against excess and making it clear that fitness standards would not be compromised. He even cancelled a planned rest day after last weekend’s win over West Ham. When asked about his squad’s condition, Guardiola joked that he was the only one who had put on weight. Despite that discipline, City looked flat before the break and Forest had the better chances. Morgan Gibbs-White went close after meeting a Callum Hudson-Odoi cross, while City struggled to impose themselves. Erling Haaland, who has 19 league goals by Christmas, the joint-most at this stage in Premier League history, was largely kept quiet. The visitors finally found their rhythm just after the interval. Cherki drifted inside and slipped a clever pass to Reijnders, who finished calmly from 12 yards for City’s first shot on target. Cherki then tested goalkeeper John Victor with a fierce effort moments later. Forest responded swiftly. Reijnders lost possession near his own area, allowing Gibbs-White to release Igor Jesus, whose cross was drilled home by Hutchinson from close range. With City wobbling, Neco Williams forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a save before Nicolo Savona blazed over from the rebound. The decisive moment arrived in the 83rd minute. A loose ball fell to Cherki just inside the box and the Frenchman lashed an unstoppable finish past Victor. He celebrated by mimicking Haaland’s trademark calm pose in front of the travelling supporters. It was a fitting end to a performance that highlighted why Cherki is fast becoming one of Guardiola’s most trusted match-winners as City continue their relentless pursuit of another Premier League crown.

Australia’s Steve Smith directs fielders on Day 2 of their Ashes cricket test match against England in Melbourne. (AP)

Steve Smith, who is leading Australia in Pat Cummins’ absence during the ongoing Ashes series, spoke about the Boxing Day Test that ended inside two days and said such matches are not good for finances.Australia had already sealed the five-match Ashes series by winning the first three Tests, but their chance of a 5-0 result ended after England beat them by four wickets in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The win was England’s first of the tour and took the series scoreline to 3-1.

The Boxing Day Test finished in two days, with 36 wickets falling on a pitch that Smith said offered “a bit too much” help to bowlers. The opening Test of the Ashes 2025-26 in Perth had also finished inside a couple of days.Speaking at the post-match press conference, Smith said it was disappointing that the match ended so early, especially with a full house expected on the following day. He said it affected both finances and fans. Smith added that Tests are being played at a faster pace due to aggressive batting, but said it would have been better if the match had gone on longer.“Obviously finances aren’t great. I think it was a sell-out tomorrow if we got there. So, yeah, disappointing for those that wanted to come along. But it happens sometimes in cricket. It goes quick. A lot of the tests, regardless of the wicket, kind of been played in fast forward. The way both teams have been playing with the bat quite aggressively and getting scores quickly. But, yeah, this one, over in two days, not ideal. Would be good if it was a little bit longer and we were able to entertain some fans a bit more. But it wasn’t to be on this occasion.”In the match, England chose to bowl first. Josh Tongue took five wickets as Australia were dismissed for 152. England were then bowled out for 110, trailing by 42 runs. Australia again struggled in their second innings and were dismissed for 132, setting England a target of 175.England were helped by opening partnerships from Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett during the chase. Despite losing wickets later, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith stayed till the end to secure a four-wicket win.Australia had won the first three Tests at home and extended their unbeaten run against England in Australia to 16-0. England’s victory in the fourth Test ended that run.