After losing four Premier League games in a row, it was vital that Daniel Farke made changes to his Leeds United squad to give the side the best chance of survival.

The 3-2 defeat against Manchester City saw the German switch to a 3-5-2 formation, something which the side have stuck with in each of the last three outings.

The Whites have remained unbeaten in such fixtures, even claiming a thoroughly deserved 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Elland Road at the start of December.

Draws against Liverpool and Brentford have moved the club three points clear of the relegation zone, with their fate now firmly in their own hands going into the Christmas period.

However, it could well be the end for one player in Yorkshire, especially considering the lack of action he’s endured over the last couple of weeks amid the formation change.

Brenden Aaronson’s struggles under Farke in 2025/26

Brenden Aaronson generated huge excitement at Leeds back in the summer of 2022, after the Leeds hierarchy forked out a reported £25m for his signature.

The American international has now racked up over a century of appearances in the White of the club, but he’s massively fallen below expectations in many of his outings.

He’s racked up nine starts in England’s top-flight this campaign, but has failed to start in any game in which the manager has utilised the new 3-5-2 formation.

The 25-year-old has only featured for a total of 43 minutes across the last four matches, with all of his first-team action coming off of the substitutes bench.

Aaronson featured for just 17 minutes in the recent clash, completing just six passes and failing to complete any of the crosses he attempted – showcasing his struggles in forward areas.

He also lost 100% of the duels he entered, whilst also committing a foul, with his small frame arguably a luxury rather than a necessity in the club’s hunt for survival.

The midfielder’s time on the pitch is no doubt likely to continue declining over the coming months, which could potentially lead to a winter exit away from Yorkshire.

The Leeds star who could now be on borrowed time under Farke

After spending over £100m on new additions during the summer window, it was always going to be a case of numerous players from the promotion-winning campaign dropping down the pecking order.

Joel Piroe is arguably the biggest example, with the Dutchman ending the previous campaign on 19 goals – the highest of any player within England’s second tier.

However, he’s featured in just eight league games this season, with only two of which coming from a starting role, subsequently highlighting his decline in minutes throughout 2025/26.

The striker isn’t alone in that department, with central midfielder Ilia Gruev another player who has been unable to replicate his best form from the previous year.

The Bulgarian joined the Whites in a £5m deal from Werder Bremen in the summer of 2023, subsequently racking up 60 appearances in his first two years in Yorkshire.

Whilst he struggled with injuries last season, he still managed to make 25 league appearances in 2024/25 – even managing to register two assists in the process.

However, like Aaronson and Piroe, the investment in his position has made competition for places that little bit harder, with the manager still now opting with a three-man midfield.

The arrivals of Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff have only pushed Gruev further down the pecking order, as seen by his recent lack of action under Farke in the Premier League.

Ilia Gruev – PL stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

8

Matches started

4

Minutes played

389

Duels won

3.7

Aerials won

33%

Dribbled past

1.2

Interceptions made

0.9

Chances created

0.4

Stats via FotMob

He’s only started four times to date, but has also made four substitute appearances in such time, subsequently taking his tally of minutes this season to just 389.

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It’s a huge contrast from the previous season, especially after the manager himself labelled the 25-year-old as a “top player” – but ultimately, Farke has to do what’s best for the club.

When Gruev has had the chance to impress, he’s often struggled to match expectations, as seen by his measly tally of just 3.7 duels won per 90 – subsequently ranking him in the bottom 18% of midfielders in the league.

Other tallies, like 0.4 chances created and 1.2 times dribbled past per 90, showcase his all-round struggles in England’s top-flight, with the manager no doubt making the right call in dropping Gruev.

With January on the horizon, it would be a surprise to no one if the Bulgarian international were to depart Elland Road in the hunt for more consistent first-team minutes.

He and Aaronson could well find themselves closer to the exit door in the coming months, with both players evidently not at the level required for success in the Premier League.

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Matara Sports Club defeated Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club a by 12 runs in their Premier Limited Overs match which was held at NCC Grounds today. In a tense, low scoring affair Matara scored just 140 but then bundled out Kurunegala for just 128.Kurunegala had won the toss and elected to field first. The decision looked to have been justified as the opening bowlers exploited the moisture that remained in the wicket after heavy rains during the previous night.Kumara, the opening bowler, proved to be a real handful. He struck two early blows by dismissing Lokuge and Ravin to leave Matara 30 for 2. The batting side slipped to 109 for 7 before being rescued by Ramzan, who top scored with 40 runs. He added a valuable 30 runs with Buddika (30). When the pair were separated, Matara lost their remaining wickets for just 1 run.Kurunegala started the run chase in positive fashion. The openers, Kariyawasam (11) and Rajapaksa (22) added 29 runs for the first wicket. Jayawardana (11) took the score to 49 before he was stumped. The Kurunegalan innings then went into freefall as three wickets fell for just 9 runs.When 24 runs were added for the fifth wicket and 28 for the 6th the batting looked to have recovered sufficiently. However they lost 5 wickets for just 18 runs to give Matara a dramatic victory in the 48th over of the match.

The battle for top spot between the two forces, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Army, continued with the former taking the lead on the third weekend of matches in the Premier League Tier B.Navy thrashed Police SC by an innings, the key features of the match being the legspin bowling of Dulanjana Mendis (he bagged nine wickets in the match) and a maiden first-class hundred from Chanaka Ruwansiri that enabled Navy to recover from a shaky 99 for 4 to 309.Army were held to a draw by Panadura, who took a first innings lead of 142.Burgher RC moved to third place with their first win of the season. They beat Saracens by seven wickets with left-arm spinner Malan Madusanka picking up nine wickets in the match.Gayan Manesha, the former Maliyadeva College left-hand batsman, narrowly missed scoring a century in each innings of a match, making 115 (his maiden first-class century) and 94 in Kurunegala Youth CC‘s drawn encounter against Sri Lanka Air Force at the Welegedara Stadium.

Match facts

Tuesday, August 4, 2015, Harare
Start time 09.00 local (07.00 GMT)3:27

‘We will look to improve on certain areas with the bat’ – Williamson

Big Picture

Zimbabwe’s rollicking chase in Sunday’s first ODI was the ideal start to the series. It heaped pressure on the favourites, New Zealand, and showed that the gap between the two sides, particularly in Zimbabwean conditions, wasn’t as wide as originally perceived.For New Zealand, the defeat revealed a possible lack of depth in bowling resources. While Tim Southee and Trent Boult are world-class new-ball operators in most parts of the world, Sunday’s second-string seam attack looked a little one-note and lacking in guile on a surface without too much help for the quicks. They will have learned a few things from the loss, though, and the second ODI is an opportunity for them to reveal a couple of new tricks.Otherwise, there isn’t too much wrong with this New Zealand side. Their batting is full of class and experience, and will test Zimbabwe’s bowlers again.Zimbabwe’s performance with the ball on Sunday – a good start with the new ball, a struggle for wickets in the middle overs, and a complete loss of control at the death – was a repeat of the pattern that has troubled them all year, and solutions still remain elusive. If anything, the exploits of Craig Ervine and Hamilton Masakadza deflected attention away from the issue.But the win validated the statement the team management has made on multiple occasions recently, that Zimbabwe are only a couple of steps from translating their potential into more consistent performances. On Sunday, their batsmen kept their heads, trusted their methods, and handled the crunch moments brilliantly. Zimbabwe’s fans will hope they can do all those things a lot more often.

Form guide

Zimbabwe: WLLLL
New Zealand: LLLWW

Players to watch

Having sat out the last two ODIs and the one-off T20 against India, Tinashe Panyangara slotted back into the Zimbabwe side and bowled with impressive control on Sunday. He moved the new ball, and bowled intelligent lines at the death even while the other bowlers leaked plenty. In a bowling attack that often lets teams off the hook after strong starts, there will be pressure on Panyangara to maintain his level of performance and keep New Zealand in check.Nathan McCullum was New Zealand’s only wicket-taker in the first ODI, and his dismissals of the Zimbabwe openers showed off his craft and guile perfectly. He will want more support from the rest of the attack, but he will continue to shoulder a large part of the wicket-taking burden on a Harare surface that always has something in it for the spinners.

Team news

Christopher Mpofu went for 84 from his 10 overs in the first ODI, and his place in the Zimbabwe attack might be under threat from Neville Madziva, who picked up six wickets in two ODIs against India.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Chamu Chibhabha, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Elton Chigumbura (capt), 5 Sean Williams, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Regis Chakabva, 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Prosper Utseya , 10 Tinashe Panyangara, 11 Christopher Mpofu/Neville MadzivaJames Neesham’s seam-up looked ineffective in the first ODI, and while his batting is his primary skill, New Zealand might be tempted to go with an extra spin option and choose George Worker ahead of him. Matt Henry looked out of rhythm too, and Adam Milne could take his place.New Zealand (probable): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 James Neesham/George Worker, 7 Luke Ronchi, 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Mitchell McClenaghan, 10 Matt Henry/Adam Milne, 11 Ish Sodhi

Stats and trivia

• Martin Guptill needs 56 runs to become the tenth New Zealander to make 4000 ODI runs
• Four Zimbabwe batsmen likely to play the second ODI – Chamu Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine – have 40-plus averages this year. Of the four, only Chibhabha has a strike rate below 100
• Elton Chigumbura is three big hits away from becoming the first Zimbabwe batsman to 100 ODI sixes

India fast bowler Ishant Sharma and Sri Lankan players Dhammika Prasad, Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne have been charged by the ICC for their roles in several angry exchanges during the fourth day of the SSC Test.”Details to be announced after the conclusion of the Test,” the ICC said on Twitter.Ishant and Prasad faced off during the final session of the fourth day when Ishant, after being bounced several times by Prasad, smacked his helmet repeatedly while running down the pitch, as if asking the bowler to aim at his head. Chandimal walked over from slip, his shoulder brushing Ishant’s, and exchanged words with the batsman.Once India’s innings ended and as Ishant ran back to the dressing room to get ready to bowl, Prasad followed him at a full sprint all the way back. These two incidents were the flash points of an ill-tempered passage of play that involved several stares and words being exchanged between Ishant and Sri Lanka’s players.There was further tension when Ishant gave Upul Tharanga an angry send-off and then went on to celebrate Chandimal’s dismissal by striking the side of his own head repeatedly.Ishant had been docked 65% of his match fee at the end of the second Test for send-offs to Thirimanne and Chandimal. Thirimanne, too, was fined 30% of his match fee for showing dissent at the umpire’s decision during the second Test.

So England’s crammed year of international cricket moves to its next stage. With a young team, Ashes regained, the white ball not something to be feared and spirits lifted the squad embark on what will be a hugely significant and demanding six months in the development of a free-spirited but still often raw side.The UAE is the first destination: a neutral venue, but one in which Pakistan feel very much at home. Three years ago England arrived fresh from the triumph of reaching No. 1 in the world under Andrew Strauss’ leadership, only to come a cropper in the Test matches: whitewashed 3-0, defeats by 10 wickets, 72 runs (chasing 145) and 71 runs (despite bowling Pakistan out for 99). The next month will be about a challenge of the spinning ball – both playing it and bowling it – men around the bat and temperatures that could nudge the 40s.Alastair Cook was still Strauss’ lieutenant in 2012, now he is a captain with his authority and standing restored after a summer where he has shown immense character and fortitude – plus a willingness to adapt, a facet that will be tested again on this tour. He is one of just five survivors from the Test squad of the previous trip – alongside Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Steven Finn (who did not play) – and in an era when overseas wins are tough to come by he is aware of what lies ahead.”It’s definitely going to be a tricky tour with their history in terms of how strong Pakistan are and their record in the UAE,” Cook said. “I think they’ve played six or seven series and haven’t lost a series. That shows what is in front of us. The great thing is in Test cricket is trying to win away from home. It’s getting harder and harder.”In 2012 it was the batting that cost England. They crossed 300 once in six innings and did not score an individual hundred in the three Tests. The bowling, led by Anderson and Broad then allied with the spin twins of Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar for the latter two matches, more than held its own (Pakistan only topped 300 twice) but the batting line-up proved hapless against Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, who combined to take 43 wickets.Neither will be around this time, but they have been handsomely replaced by Yasir Shah, the legspinner who became the fastest Pakistan bowler to fifty Test wickets, and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar. New faces, same threat for England.”You do learn lessons but it happened quite a few years ago. And this is a very different side. Only four of us are going back,” Cook said. “I think also that the pitches have changed a little. The matches seem to be a lot higher scoring than they were in 2012.”Clearly, in the modern way of international cricket, we’ll do some homework on the bowlers and the Pakistan team in general. We haven’t faced many of them, it is quite a different bowling attack to what we have faced in the past. I certainly haven’t faced a couple of them. The legspinner clearly has done incredibly well so far in his short career.”England faced a trial by spin the last time they played Pakistan in the UAE•Getty Images

A point which Cook recalled from the previous series was the manner of dismissals. There were a combined 43 lbws across the three matches – the joint most for any Test series – with England batsman falling 22 times and Pakistan’s 21.”The one thing I remember is that skiddy, back-of-a-length spin that is difficult to face. Rehman and Ajmal bowled well, quick spin, I think there was a world record number of lbws. Trying to force yourself to go forward was quite hard. With DRS now, you can’t just get your pad in the way and say you’re a long way down. If it’s in line, you’re out. We’re going to have to make sure we defend using our bats.”Although Ajmal and Rehman proved the trump cards three years ago, England were not cast adrift when it came to bowling spin: Swann and Panesar shared 27 wickets, Panesar taking 14 in two matches. This time they cannot match such quality in the spin department. Moeen Ali, with 45 Test wickets at 36.04, is the lead man and is likely to be joined by the uncapped Adil Rashid. Samit Patel, a late addition to the squad, has four Test wickets while Joe Root is the other supplementary offering.”I’m confident they can take the wickets, but in a different way to Monty and Swanny,” Cook said. “Mo has had a fantastic start to his international career with his all-round contribution. He’s not an out-and-out spinner in the way that Swanny was, he provides a lot of all-round value. Same as Rash. Monty’s Test record when he played was fantastic but Rash can also bring runs. That’s a real string to his bow. So we have a different balance to the side this time.”The hints appear to be, therefore, that Moeen is favourite to open alongside Cook and Rashid will earn a Test debut, probably as part of a six-man attack alongside four quick bowlers. Anderson, Broad and Ben Stokes are certainties, leaving the final decision between Mark Wood’s skiddy pace and Finn’s height and bounce. The former’s qualities could be more suited to conditions.However, England only have two two-day matches in Sharjah, the first starting on October 5, to get their game back into sync and make final decisions on the composition of the XI for Abu Dhabi. “That’s what we’ve been given. Would we want more? Absolutely,” Cook said. “The guys have just finished the one-day stuff against Australia and we’re now going to the UAE. But that’s what modern cricket is and it’s up to the players to adapt. That’s why it is so hard to win away.”The first Test begins on October 13, followed by matches in Dubai and Sharjah – the first time England will have played a Test at that venue. A four-match ODI series and three T20s make up the tour.

Bangladesh Women’s team captain Salma Khatun has said that the team had readily agreed to tour Pakistan after the BCB had asked them for their approval earlier this month. She said the team is focused on playing cricket in Pakistan rather than the security concerns off the field.”We were not put under any pressure to play in Pakistan,” Salma said. “We are going according to our wishes. We will be given the highest level of security. We are going there to play cricket, so we are not concerned about what is happening anywhere else in the country.”

Bangladesh Women’s tour of Pakistan schedule

September 30 – 1st T20
October 2 – 2nd T20
October 4 – 1st ODI
October 6 – 2nd ODI

Salma also stressed that they have been assured the highest level of security during the nine-day visit, and that their lack of international cricket in the last 12 months meant they were keen to play the series.”The board wanted to know our decision, whether we want to or don’t want to go. We wanted to tour any country to play cricket, since we haven’t played any matches since the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. There is no fear among us. We know that there won’t be any trouble in the area where we will be playing.”The team will leave Dhaka for Karachi at 1.35pm on Monday afternoon and will stay at the Southend Cricket Club in Karachi. Bangladesh Women will take on Pakistan Women there in two T20s on September 30 and October 2, before playing two one-day matches on October 4 and 6. The team will return home on October 7.In addition to BCB vice-president Mahbubul Anam and women’s wing chairman MA Awal, former Bangladesh captain Shafiq-ul-Haq will accompany the team in what is seen as a high-profile tour.Haq had been the manager on the men’s tour on a number of occasions, most notably their last tour to Pakistan. He said that if the team members want, they can even venture outside the Southend Club with adequate security measures.

Chris Cairns has been compared to disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong for bringing shame on the cricket world. Summing up the prosecution case against Cairns at Southwark Crown Court, Sasha Wass, QC, said that the evidence he was involved in match-fixing was “overwhelming”.Cairns has been on trial for the past five weeks, during which time a number of former team-mates have come forward to give evidence against him. He denies two counts of perjury and perverting the course of justice relating to his 2012 libel case against Lalit Modi.Wass said the testimony of nine witnesses should be considered the “building bricks creating a wall of evidence” against Cairns. She warned the jury that attempts would be made by the defence to undermine the claims of Lou Vincent and Brendon McCullum, among others.Vincent has accused Cairns of ordering him to fix matches at the Indian Cricket League (ICL), while McCullum told of approaches made by his childhood “idol”. Vincent’s ex-wife Ellie Riley also testified against Cairns, saying he was confident he would not be caught because “everyone was doing it in India”.Wass said Cairns had not provided a “single, credible reason” to question their motives. Vincent’s confession to Riley about his involvement in fixing in 2008 undermined the idea that the story of Cairns’ involvement had been concocted “late in the day”, she said.”It’s unlikely he would have cooked up this plan to stitch up Chris Cairns in 2008 and spent five years working out how to bring his downfall,” Wass said of Vincent.She added: “Why Ellie Riley would lie? She has no great love for her ex husband.”Wass also referred to evidence given by McCullum, as well as Cairns’ former New Zealand team-mates Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills and Chris Harris, and Australia batsman Ricky Ponting, suggesting none of them had reason to lie. McCullum interrupted his preparation for a Test match against Australia to appear in court in London.”The defence say Mr McCullum is lying,” she said. “But not a single reason has been put forward why a man, at the height of his career, would come to the Southwark Crown Court to falsely incriminate a man he held in such high regard.”She rejected the idea that the ICC wanted Cairns as a “scalp” in the fight against match-fixing, comparing the case to that involving Armstrong and saying his actions had tarnished the sport.”Why would anyone, let alone the governing body of cricket, want the scalp of an innocent man,” she asked. “The last thing [the ICC] would want to do is bring accusations against an innocent man who has captained his country, represented New Zealand for 17 years.”On the other hand, the ICC would want to bring a cheat who corrupted others to justice.”The jury heard that Cairns had shown “arrogance beyond belief” in taking Modi to court. Wass said that he and Andrew Fitch-Holland, who denies perverting the course of justice, “should be ashamed of themselves” and that both were “guilty of the charges laid”.She added that the amount of indirect evidence against Cairns was “unanswerable”.”He has made a mockery of the game of cricket, the fans, the game,” she said. “We know not only that he cheated, he encouraged others to cheat.”We say the evidence against Chris Cairns in respect of match-fixing is overwhelming.”Cairns’ defence barrister, Orlando Pownall, QC, is expected to present his closing arguments on Monday. The trial continues.

In scorching heat the Zimbabwean captain won the toss and elected to bat on a damp wicket at P. Saravamuttu Stadium in Colombo today. It was a brave and confident decision when one considers the watering of the wicket yesterday morning and the was heavy overnight rain. Gus Mackay’s faith in his batsmen was paid off as Zimbabwe batted patiently in the morning, taking the score to 71-1 at the lunch interval.As is traditionally the case at the P.Sara Stadium, the ball moved prodigiously for the first hour of play and all the BCCSL XI seamers looked dangerous. Prabath Nissanka, returning from an ankle injury that he sustained in the U19 World Cup, lacked direction in the early overs and took some time to find his rhythm. His opening partner, Charitha Buddhika, however bowled splendidly, moving the ball both ways off the seam whilst consistently maintaining a good length.During the first hour the Zimbabwean openers, Neil Ferreira and Gavin Rennie, primarily looked to defend. Just when it seemed that that they were going to surface unscathed from the first hours play Kaushalya Weeraratne replaced Prabath Nissanka and immediately struck, dismissing an unlucky Gavin Rennie for 6 runs.Gavin Rennie, one of Zimbabwe’s main batsmen on this tour, was desperately disappointed to be given out, when the ball appeared to have just flicked his pads on the way to young wicket keeper, Prasana Jawardena. Nevertheless the wicket brought to crease, Mark Vermeulen, who changed the tempo of the Zimbabwean innings.Tall and upright in his stance Vermuleun adopted a positive approach from the start, taking the attack to the Sri lankan bowlers whenever they overpitched. When spin was introduced in the form of Niroshan Bandarathilaka he immediately grasped the initiative with a well struck boundary through the legside.At lunch Vermulen had progressed to 37 off 58 balls (4×4) and his patient partner, the left handed Neil Ferreira, had scored 18 off 84 deliveries. With the pitch now drying quickly and conditions becoming perfect for batting, Zimbabwe have a great opportunity to set a competitive target.

Tamil Nadu played themselves into an impregnable position at stumps on the second day of the three day South Zone (under 25) tournament for the Coca Cola Trophy at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Tuesday. In reply to Karnataka’s first innings total of 209, Tamil Nadu were 245 for five at close of play.The Tamil Nadu innings was built around an opening partnership of 139 runs between Ravindra John (83) and S Badrinath (53). Ravindra John was the dominant partner and the two scored their runs off 36.2 overs. Badrinath was first out after facing 103 balls and hitting seven fours. NC Aiyappa, who dismissed Badrinath, then had Ravindra John leg before with the total on 160. He faced 133 balls and hit six fours and a six. Then N Lokesh (28) and Hemant Kumar (45) took Tamil Nadu to within 11 runs of the Karnataka total before the former was leg before to GV Ravi, who in his next over, dismissed R Satish for two. Hemant Kumar and J Harish (18 not out) however took Tamil Nadu past the Karnataka total until off what turned out to be the last delivery of the day, Hemanth Kumar was caught by Vinod off Sudhindra Shinde. He faced 75 balls and hit six boundaries. Play was called off almost as soon as Hemanth Kumar was out because of rain. Aiyappa (2 for 59 off 16 overs) and GV Ravi (2 for 55 off 17 overs) toiled gallantly for Karnataka during the day.In the morning, Karnataka resuming at 201 for eight, were all out for the addition of only eight runs. Off spinner Dhandapani picked up another wicket to finish with six for 60 off 23.5 overs.