Browsing: Harry

Brook was keen to stress before this series there would be no talk about next month’s Ashes series within his white-ball group, insisting his focus is on preparing for the T20 World Cup in February.

Whether that is true or not is irrelevant, any Brook runs are of benefit to both outfits.

Brook’s T20 international record is modest for a man of his talents – an average of 29 and five fifties in 50 innings – but this was one of his best knocks in either white-ball format as captain.

All his sixes were clean strikes over mid-wicket – three off the spin of Mitchell Santner and one each off seamers Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson – on the same surface his side struggled in the washed out first T20 on Saturday, but which had flattened out.

Salt’s knock follows scores of 89 against Ireland and 141 not out against South Africa in his six T20 innings since the start of September. He hit one six but 11 fours, targeting the covers and behind square on the leg side.

Salt and Brook both holed out in the 18th over after which Tom Banton’s cameo saw him finish unbeaten on 29 from 12 balls as England romped past the ground’s previous high score of 208-5.

Although Jos Buttler hit to mid-off for four and Jacob Bethell found mid-on having stuck four boundaries in a 12-ball 24, England’s T20 batting line-up is starting to take shape.

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Harry Kane has said that his penalty heartbreak against France at the last World Cup has changed him as a player and given him extra motivation to lead England to glory at the tournament next summer.

The captain missed from the spot in the 84th minute of the quarter‑final in Qatar in 2022 as England slipped to a 2-1 defeat – a moment Kane describes as the lowest of his career, worse than losing any club final. The Bayern Munich striker lost three of them with his previous club, Tottenham, including the Champions League final in 2019.

Kaneâ€s response to the failure against France was to work at introducing greater variation to his penalty-taking technique, principally a stutter run where he waits for the goalkeeper to move before striking the ball. The results have been spectacular.

Kane went on a run of 31 successful conversions for club and country after France, the sequence broken at the start of this season when he missed for Bayern in the German Cup against Wehen Wiesbaden. Since then, he has scored six in a row, the latest coming in Englandâ€s 5-0 win against Latvia in Riga on Tuesday. The result secured qualification for the World Cup finals, which will be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

“I always try to learn from those moments,†Kane said. “After that penalty, I went 31 without missing. I changed my technique a little bit. I improved in that sense, which I was proud of. In terms of that being my last memory of a World Cup … yeah, Iâ€m looking forward to the next World Cup to try to put that right, to try to go further, to try to lift the trophy as we all dream of doing. Those moments only shape you as a person, as a player and itâ€s definitely helped me to become a better player.â€

It was striking to hear Kane open up about the miss against France. “Iâ€d say that was probably the worst that I felt in any moment,†he said. “Obviously Iâ€ve lost finals before. To have that responsibility, you almost feel like it fell on my shoulders and I guess not being able to execute something that Iâ€ve been able to execute many a time in my career … I think that was the hardest part to process and take.

“Always as a sportsman, putting yourself in that situation … thereâ€s going to be moments where it doesnâ€t quite go your way. But [itâ€s] the way I learned from that … the way that motivated me to get even better and improve – not just from the penalty side in terms of improving my technique but as an all-round player. To know I want to be back there at the World Cup, to help England get back there.â€

Kane scored twice in the victory against Latvia to move to 76 England goals. If Wayne Rooneyâ€s previous record for the nation of 53 is fast becoming a speck in the rearview mirror, the prospect of Kane reaching an astonishing century feels increasingly feasible.

Kane is overcome with disappointment after missing from 12 yards against France in Qatar. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

“I think itâ€s there,†the 32‑year‑old captain said. “The way Iâ€m feeling right now, Iâ€m not slowing down any time soon. I want to stay at this level for as long as I can. Iâ€m on 76 now so that leaves 24 and we have a few more games between now and the World Cup … and then try to edge closer to that 100.â€

Kane has scored 18 goals for Bayern this season plus three for England. He feels he is in the form of his life. “I think so. The goals are there and the numbers speak for themselves. The way I feel on the pitch, the way I am seeing the game, physically and without the ball, pressing … I feel in a really good place. I feel like I have stepped up another level this season.â€

The England head coach, Thomas Tuchel, who signed Kane at Bayern in the summer of 2023, paid tribute to his professionalism. “For me, he never misses a penalty,†Tuchel said.

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“He was not happy [when he missed against Wiesbaden] but I was kind of … not happy but relieved that his incredible series broke – and not for me.

“I thought: ‘OK, this is a good moment for me to build a new series.†Because otherwise I would have been maybe overcautious … donâ€t let the series break in the middle of a World Cup game.

“We have this out of the way so we start a new two‑year run now without a miss. But heâ€s in top shape. He puts so much effort in these penalty takings. Iâ€ve never seen that before – how he trains it, the effort that he makes.â€

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Harry Kane says his interest in returning to the Premier League has cooled and he is willing to open talks with Bayern Munich about a new contract.

Kane is halfway through the four-year deal he signed when joining from Tottenham Hotspur for £86.4m in the summer of 2023.

The 32-year-old has scored 103 goals in 106 appearances for the German club, helping them win the 2024-25 Bundesliga title – the first honour of his career.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has said he would like to see Kane return to England, where he needs 48 goals to eclipse Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League scoring record of 260.

But the England captain says he is no longer as keen on returning home as he once was, and would consider extending his stay in Bavaria.

“In terms of staying longer, I could definitely see that,” he said.

“I spoke openly a couple of weeks ago that I have not had those conversations with Bayern yet, but if they were to arise I would be willing to talk and have an honest conversation.

“Obviously it depends on how the next year or so goes and what we achieve together. Right now, I would say we are in a fantastic moment and I am not thinking about anything else.

“In terms of the Premier League, I don’t know. If you had asked me when I first left to go to Bayern, I would have said for sure I would come back.

“Now I have been there a couple of years I would probably say that has gone down a little bit, but I wouldn’t say I would never go back.

“What I have learned in my career is that different opportunities and different timings happen and things fall in place. Going back to my first point with Bayern right now I am fully all in with Bayern.”

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Harry Kane says he is open to extending his stay at Bayern Munich and believes a return to the Premier League is no longer guaranteed.

The England captainâ€s deal expires in 2027 and suggestions of a £56.7m release clause that can be activated at the end of this season led to speculation over his future. Thomas Frank, the Tottenham manager, has said Kane would be welcomed back if he wanted to move.

That remains a distant prospect, even though coming back to England would give Kane an opportunity to get the 48 goals he needs to break the Premier Leagueâ€s scoring record. The 32-year-old is hungry for more success after winning the Bundesliga last season to end his wait for a trophy, and his views on playing in English football again have evolved in the two years since he left Spurs for Bayern.

“In terms of staying longer I could definitely see that,†Kane said. “I have not had those conversations with Bayern yet but if they were to arise I would be willing to talk and have an honest conversation. Obviously it depends on how the next year or so goes, what we achieve together. We are in a fantastic moment and I am not thinking about anything else.

“In terms of the Premier League, I donâ€t know. If you had asked me when I first left to go to Bayern, I would have said for sure I would come back. Now I have been there a couple of years I would probably say that has gone down a little bit, but I wouldnâ€t say I would never go back.

“I am fully all in with Bayern. If there was a conversation about extending then we will see, but I have still got this season and another season. It is not like I am in my last year, it is not like there is any panic. I am calm, I love the manager at Bayern and as long we are improving and I am improving then I am happy to see what we can achieve.â€

Kane has made a sensational start to the season, scoring 19 goals for club and country. But he knows that being crowned the best player in the world will require winning the Champions League with Bayern or the World Cup with England next summer.

“I would love to win the Ballon dâ€Or,†Kane said. “Essentially it is a team trophy that the best individual from that team wins, so it is going to be a Champions League winner or a World Cup winner … It would be an accumulation of doing something great individually and as a team. It would be almost the perfect season.â€

Harry Kane is preparing for Englandâ€s matches against Wales and Latvia. Photograph: George Wass/PPAUK/Shutterstock

Kane considered whether he has become a better player at Bayern. His analysis was that he is “seeing the game at the highest level Iâ€ve ever hadâ€. It was interesting to note that Vincent Kompany, Bayernâ€s manager, talked about Kaneâ€s work out of possession after he scored twice against Chelsea last month.

“When you win a title maybe it could be easy to go the other way and be like: ‘OK Iâ€ve done what I wanted to achieve,â€â€ Kane said. “But itâ€s given me motivation to do more. My numbers are 11km a game, a lot of high‑speed running. Sometimes when Iâ€m watching the games back, Iâ€m more looking forward to watching tackles or one of my defensive actions than watching my goals back. I donâ€t know if that means Iâ€m getting a little bit bored of my goals or like the tackling part as well but itâ€s been enjoyable.

“I was interested in how I would feel after winning a trophy. It could have been easy to be a bit more relaxed. I pushed myself the other way, being even better, eating even cleaner, doing more gym.

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“I do eat clean anyway. Itâ€s just whether the cheat meals after games are not so much, or when youâ€re out with the family not having as much ice cream. Small details, but at the highest level those make a big difference.â€

Kane is preparing for Englandâ€s friendly against Wales on Thursday and World Cup qualifier against Latvia next Tuesday. The focus has been on Thomas Tuchel leaving Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden out of his squad. Tuchel has said he wanted to reward the players who excelled in training and against Serbia last month.

“There are a lot of players who are different from past tournament squads,†Kane said. “But I think the boss has made it pretty clear that those players, itâ€s not like theyâ€re out of the squad for sure. A lot of them are maybe just coming back into form. Some of them, Jude especially, heâ€s not been fit, and just played one or two games. It is a big change, but thatâ€s not my decision. Thatâ€s the boss – he will feel the feeling amongst the players.â€

Kane urged England to maintain the standards set during the 5-0 win over Serbia. “The energy around the place was in a really good place,†he said. “Probably the best camp since Gareth [Southgate] left I would say was the September camp but now that is the standard.â€

England have added Manchester Cityâ€s Nico Oâ€Reilly to the squad after the Chelsea right-back Reece James withdrew with a minor injury. Declan Rice reported after going off in Arsenalâ€s game with a back injury.

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Harry Kane scored at Barcelona last season and a tactical trend has emerged

By

Football tactics correspondent

Barcelona have lost their latest two games and there is a Harry Kane-inspired tactical tweak that teams are using to create chances against them this season.

Budding strikers are often advised to pay attention to defensive lines and stay onside, but in the professional game there are forwards who deliberately occupy offside positions in order to score later on in attacking moves.

Why strikers are standing ‘offside’

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Barcelona’s Hansi Flick is known for his front-footed managerial style

PSG recently beat Barcelona in the Champions League as striker Goncalo Ramos scored a 90th-minute winner.

When discussing how the goal happened, Ramos said: “I think a lot about beating a high line. Against Barcelona, [there is] a video of Harry Kane, I think two years ago, and he did something like I did on the goal, and he scored.”

But what did he mean by this?

Interestingly, both Ramos and Kane were able to score against Barcelona’s high defensive line by initially waiting in an offside position, something defenders aren’t used to.

Image source, BBC SportImage caption,

Bayern Munich striker Kane began behind Barcelona’s high defence in a move that eventually led to him scoring in last season’s Champions League game

Thomas Muller has previously spoken about attackers positioning themselves in this way.

Long-serving Bayern Munich forward Muller, who left at the end of last season to join Vancouver Whitecaps, said: “It is easier to defend a guy that comes to the ball because then the striker is in front of them. They can see and defend him.

“But when you have a guy that is [behind you], you always have to turn [but] you don’t want to give up your offside line.”

The unusual positioning disrupts central defenders and removes some of the tools they use to marshal their opposing striker.

Momentum prevents Barcelona getting back

Barcelona look to catch opponents offside and as a result the defenders face the ball, looking to step up the pitch.

PSG last week – and Bayern before them – had players facing Barcelona’s goal with their weight and momentum in the right direction, ready to run in behind.

This made it difficult for Barcelona’s defence to recover. Having to turn before accelerating again reduces how quickly they can get back to defend their goal.

This problem has been made worse with the strikers having a head start in their offside position. In the case of the Ramos and Kane goals, the wide players in PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Bayern’s Serge Gnabry also had the pace to go beyond the Barcelona defence.

Image source, BBC SportImage caption,

Barcelona’s defence try to step up forward while Ramos and Hakimi are positioned well to run in behind

In both examples, the ball was switched to a quicker wide player running in behind. Crucially, they were onside when the pass was played to them, while the comparatively slower striker caused uncertainty centrally, in an offside position.

This scheme helps teams to score against Barcelona’s high line even if they don’t have the paciest striker, by instead looking to release their quicker wide players first in onside positions.

Image source, BBC SportImage caption,

Hakimi has the pace to bring the ball past the defensive line which quickly ensures Ramos is onside

Getting back onside to score

With the tactic deployed, both strikers moved towards the back post rather than coming towards the ball, giving them time to move into an onside position as the wide players carried the ball up the pitch.

The central attacker’s positioning towards the back post allowed for the pass to be played into space for them to meet, with time for the pass to curl back towards them and away from the goalkeeper.

From their initial offside position, the strikers – now onside – were able to maintain an advantage in order to receive the ball uncontested for a clear sight of goal.

Image source, BBC SportImage caption,

Gnabry assists Kane who arrives at the ball before any of the Barcelona defenders can get back

The similarities in both goals analysed are stark, but examples of this scheme have not been limited to these two games.

Concerningly, Barcelona have conceded similar chances against the likes of Levante, Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla in the league this season.

Sevilla beat Barcelona 4-1 on Sunday.

Given how effective the tactic has proven, it is likely more teams will begin to implement it, against Barcelona and teams who play with high lines in general.

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England have named a 16-player squad as they look to regain the Ashes in Australia this winter.

The series starts on 21 November, with the fifth and final Test beginning on 4 January.

The core of England’s group is settled, with all-rounder Will Jacks the surprise inclusion as the second spinner.

BBC Sport profiles each of the players, looks at their Test career and previous record in Australia.

Ben Stokes (captain and all-rounder)

Tests: 115, Runs: 7,032, Average: 35.69, Wickets: 230, Average: 31.64

England’s talismanic leader sat out of the final Test against India with a shoulder injury but the 34-year-old was back training in early September.

Stokes has also had two serious hamstring injuries in the past couple of years and England’s chances are likely to hinge on his availability.

He has played nine Tests in Australia and averages 28.61 with the bat, while he’s claimed 19 wickets at 40.94.

His presence is key to England’s ability to balance the side and he was arguably the pick of their bowlers this summer.

Ben Duckett (opening batter)

Tests: 38, Runs: 2,872, Average: 42.86, Centuries: Six

The 30-year-old will open the batting for England and has played a pivotal role with his counter-attacking style under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.

He’s having a fine 2024 too, averaging 60.20, but he’s yet to play a Test in Australia.

The left-hander averaged 35.66 in the five-Test home series against Australia in 2023.

Zak Crawley (opening batter)

Tests: 59, Runs: 3,313, Average: 31.55, Centuries: Five

The right-hander has come under external pressure for his place in the side after a lean couple of years, but England have stuck by him with this series in mind.

They believe the quicker, bouncier pitches in Australia will suit Crawley and his naturally aggressive style can put the hosts on the back foot.

He averaged 27.66 in three Tests on the last tour down under.

Ollie Pope (Top-order batter)

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Ollie Pope has lost the vice-captaincy to Harry Brook

Tests: 61, Runs: 3,607, Average: 35.36, Centuries: Nine

Another whose place has come under scrutiny, but having filled in as captain when Stokes was injured he was always going to be part of the group.

However, Pope has lost the vice-captaincy to white-ball skipper Harry Brook for this series.

Pope will act as the back-up wicketkeeper in case of any injury or illness to Jamie Smith.

He’s averaged 47.70 so far in 2025, but that is boosted by 171 against Zimbabwe.

The right-hander has played three Tests in Australia and averages a measly 11.16.

Joe Root (top-order batter)

Tests: 158, Runs: 13,543, Average: 51.29, Centuries: 39

England’s Mr Reliable, but not always in Australia.

He may be England’s all-time leading run-scorer but he’s yet to score a century in 14 Tests in Australia.

The right-hander averages 35.68 in that time, but let’s hope that first century comes or we’ll have to deal with a naked Matthew Hayden, external walking round the MCG in Melbourne.

Harry Brook (Vice-captain and middle-order batter)

Tests: 30, Runs: 2,820, Average: 57.55, Centuries: 10

Perhaps England’s X-factor with the bat. He can produce a sensational innings but can also frustrate with rash shots at times.

The right-hander averages 53.90 this year and had a decent 2023 Ashes with an average of 40.33 in five games.

This will be his first taste of Ashes cricket in Australia.

Jacob Bethell (top/middle-order batter)

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Jacob Bethell made scores of six and five in his last Test against India

Tests: Four, Runs: 271, Average: 38.71, Centuries: None

The 21-year-old is likely to be England’s spare batter. He impressed during a debut series against New Zealand last winter but has had a frustrating summer with limited opportunities.

He scored his first professional century in a one-day international against South Africa earlier this month though and England would feel comfortable picking him if needed.

Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper)

Tests: 15, Runs: 1,075, Average: 48.86, Centuries: Two, Dismissals: 54

Smith has been very accomplished with the gloves and bat since making his Test debut in 2024.

However, by the end of the first five-Test series this summer he did look fatigued and frazzled.

England’s aggressive style with the bat means he could spend most – if not all – days in the field in the series so it could be another learning curve on his first tour of Australia.

Will Jacks (all-rounder)

Tests: Two, Runs: 89, Average: 22.25, Wickets: Six, Average: 38.66

The wildcard in the squad, with Jacks’ two previous Tests coming in Pakistan as a second spin option in December 2022.

However, the Surrey man has been picked over Leicestershire’s Rehan Ahmed, Hampshire’s Liam Dawson or out-and-out spinner Jack Leach as the second spin option.

He will offer England depth with the bat but his spin is untested really.

He has bowled just 74 overs in the County Championship this season, taking five wickets at 38.80.

Jofra Archer (pace bowler)

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Jofra Archer took nine wickets in two Tests against India after a four-year gap between red-ball appearances for England

Tests: 15, Wickets: 51, Average: 30.62, Best figures: 6-45

Definitely the X-factor with the ball. A series of injuries have hampered Archer’s Test career but his long-awaited return against India this summer was undoubtedly a success.

He will have to be carefully managed throughout the series – and how England do that may determine their chances.

The right-armer is yet to play a Test in Australia, but enjoyed success with 22 wickets in his debut series in 2019.

Mark Wood (pace bowler)

Tests: 37, Wickets: 119, Average: 30.42, Best figures: 6-37

England’s prime speedster, but can they get him on the field? His last Test was in August 2024 and he hasn’t played any cricket since February after surgery on a knee injury.

He was targeting a couple of matches for Durham before the end of the season but that now seems unlikely. He’s been left out of the white-ball squads for New Zealand in October too so he’ll be relying on the warm-up game against England Lions to get up to speed.

The right-armer picked up 17 wickets in four Tests during the last Ashes down under.

Brydon Carse (pace bowler)

Tests: Nine, Wickets: 36, Average: 30.11, Best figures: 6-42

The Durham seamer has been impressive since his debut last summer and his style of banging the ball into the pitch could bring rewards in Australia.

He is unlikely to make it through all five Tests though, so England will again have to decide where he’ll be most effective.

This will be first taste of Ashes cricket.

Gus Atkinson (pace bowler)

Tests: 13, Wickets: 63, Average: 22.01, Best figures: 7-45

The Surrey seamer provided a pretty quick reminder of his ability and threat when he returned for the final Test against India in July.

Atkinson has been superb since being introduced to the Test fold in 2024 and he looks set to take the new ball in Australia and could be the leader of the attack in his first Ashes series.

Josh Tongue (pace bowler)

Tests: Six, Wickets: 31, Average: 30.00, Best figures: 5-66

The Nottinghamshire seamer impressed against India this summer. There were questions about his ability against the top order but he grew as the series progressed and was a banker for this squad.

He played one Test in the 2023 series against Australia, taking five wickets, but this will be his first taste of conditions down under.

Matthew Potts (pace bowler)

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Matthew Potts’ previous Tests have come in England, New Zealand and Pakistan

Tests: 10, Wickets: 36, Average: 29.44, Best figures: 7-68

The outsider who has forced his way in.

It seemed like Potts had fallen out of favour but the Durham man is included over Chris Woakes, whose record overseas isn’t as strong as at home and is recovering from a shoulder injury sustained against India in August.

Potts has taken 28 wickets in 10 County Championship matches at 39.60 this summer.

This will be first taste of Ashes cricket.

Shoaib Bashir (spinner)

Tests: 19, Wickets: 68, Average: 39.00, Best figures: 6-81

The 21-year-old will be England’s frontline spinner in the Ashes.

He’s had a successful start to his Test career and became the youngest Englishman to take 50 Test wickets, but he can be expensive and has been targeted by some sides.

That is likely to be the case for some of Australia’s batters, including dangerous middle-order batter Travis Head, so how Bashir and England can limit the damage will be important.

He could also be rusty having missed the final two Tests of the summer with a broken finger. It means the warm-up in Australia will be his only cricket in the past four months by the time the first Test starts in Perth.

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