THE STORY SO FAR
"Attack wins you matches, defence wins you titles" - Sir Alex Ferguson. If the mightiest of foreign bodies invade Earth to conquer it, you know the Sunrisers will defend the planet with the utmost of ease. That's how good they've been with the ball this IPL. Sixes and fours make a game exciting but so does sturdy defending. SRH defended 118 runs against the colossal Mumbai Indians batting even though their star performer, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar was kept out due to an injury. The Kane Williamson led side are 3rd on the league standings and look determined to make it to the top. SRH vs KXIP, the battle for the number 1 spot is on.
Fast bowler Ben Sears, who signed with Yorkshire for the 2025 campaign, will get there in time for the team's second County Championship match of the year at Headingley against Worcestershire.
When Sears, 27, took five wickets at Christchurch in 2024 against Australia, including four for ninety in the second innings, he demonstrated his raw pace for New Zealand. This was his lone Test match yet. Previously, in 2021, he made his T20I debut against Bangladesh.
The club has also drawn comparisons with his countryman and former Yorkshire foreign star Lockie Ferguson. He will be joined at Headingley by fellow New Zealand fast Will O'Rourke, who has signed for the T20 Blast.
"I can't wait to get over to Headingley and start playing with the guys," commented Sears. "I hope I can add to the fantastic signings that have already been made.
In any season, it's critical to establish the mood early. There are several important games in that first block, and I'll be prepared to start the team as strongly as possible.
"Ben is a true talent who can get some extra bounce when he bowls," stated head coach Anthony McGrath. I'm eager to get him over and begin working with him because he'll be a real handful during the early part of the year when pitches can be slower or greener."
Cricket General Manager Gavin Hamilton also said: "The club's ability to draw in such gifted bowlers as Ben is evidence of Yorkshire's appeal on a global scale. Ben is a talented player who will add something extra to the team that will be vital this season.
We are overjoyed that he has committed, and we can't wait to have him visit Headingley in April.
A week ago (as I write this) Manchester United looked imperious and unassailable at the top of the Premier League. Two straight defeats and the story is quite different. While they still hold a lead in the Premier League, a Liverpool win tomorrow would cut that back to one point. The real story is not arithmetical, however, but psychological. Liverpool, on the back of convincing wins against Man United and Real Madrid, will take fresh confidence from their rivals' defeat at Fulham today, and revitalise their belief that they can still win the title. Chelsea, having lost to Tottenham today, failed to capitalise on their opportunity to close the gap.
This week has seen two football managers from the English Premier League (West Ham and Newcastle United, respectively) quit their posts. In both cases the issue appears to be their loss of control over transfers, and perhaps other aspects of the club management.Does this signal the end of the British football manager?