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'The Bundesliga Tax'. It's a phrase that has become more prominent amongst supporters over the past decade or so, used to describe the growing trend of players who have lit up the German top-flight who have been sold to Premier League clubs for big money, only to fail to replicate that same form when arriving in England.

The debate over how well performances in the Bundesliga translate to the Premier League has reared its head again in the early weeks of this season following the struggles of Florian Wirtz and Xavi Simons at Liverpool and Tottenham, respectively. The pair combined for 40 league goals and assists last term, but have mustered just the solitary assist between them in 17 Premier League appearances thus far despite being sold for almost £170 million ($191m).

Former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Wirtz has struggled to find a suitable role at Anfield, which has led to him being benched on numerous occasions by Arne Slot, while Simons suffered the ignominy of being substituted against Chelsea on Saturday despite having only entered the game off the bench himself earlier in the piece.

There remain question marks, too, over how Benjamin Sesko, Jamie Gittens and Jeremie Frimpong will fare in the Premier League following their summer arrivals from the Bundesliga, and while plenty of players do arrive into England from Germany and thrive – see Erling Haaland, for one shining example – the list of individuals who fail to live up to the hype is in danger of growing to the point that some fanbases will actively call out their clubs for fishing in such an unreliable pond.

GOAL, then, looks back at the most high-profile transfer flops to have arrived into the Premier League from the Bundesliga in recent years:

Getty Images SportJadon Sancho

Borussia Dortmund plucked a 17-year-old Jadon Sancho out of the Manchester City academy back in 2017 and instantly handed him a first-team role. Over the next four years, he became one of the most exciting wingers in Europe, registering 107 goal involvements in just 137 appearances, while also getting his hands on a DFB-Pokal winners' medal alongside fellow young stars Haaland and Jude Bellingham.

In the summer of 2021, United made Sancho the second-most expensive English player ever when luring him away from Signal Iduna Park, and then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confidently predicted the winger would "bring tremendous pace, flair and creativity to the team". Unfortunately, though, Sancho never made good on those words.

He has only scored 12 times for United to date, and has made more headlines for fallouts with managers than his exploits on the pitch. Sancho was exiled by both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, and after temporary spells with former club Dortmund and Chelsea, now finds himself on loan at Aston Villa with no guarantee of regular minutes. Despite possessing all the talent in the world, Sancho's attitude and lack of physicality have prevented him from making any meaningful impact in the Premier League, and he's seemingly been stricken by fear in a way he never was in Germany.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportChristopher Nkunku

Christopher Nkunku has all the qualities a forward needs to succeed on the elite stage: pace, intelligence, immaculate technique and ruthlessness. RB Leipzig saw all of that between 2019 and 2023, as the Frenchman blasted in 70 goals in all competitions to become their talisman, and when Chelsea snapped him up for £52m ($68m) in June 2023, it was seen as a major coup.

But the step up in intensity from the Bundesliga to the Premier League proved too much for Nkunku. He was unable to build any sort of rhythm at Stamford Bridge due to a series of injuries, and after the emergence of Cole Palmer, he was restricted to a bit-part role. 

Nkunku left for AC Milan in the summer of 2025 with a respectable goals tally of 18 from 62 appearances, but few Chelsea fans were sad to see the back of him. Despite flashes of brilliance, the former Leipzig frontman wasn't robust enough for the rigours of English football and too often stood on the fringes of games instead of grabbing them by the scruff of the neck.

GettyKai Havertz

Kai Havertz was on the radar of almost every top club in Europe after a stunning rise to prominence at Leverkusen, where he recorded a combined total of 77 goals and assists after breaking out of their academy ranks. Chelsea eventually won the race for his signature at the end of the 2020 summer window, and some were even billing the Germany playmaker as the next Mesut Ozil despite it not being immediately clear how he would fit into the Blues' starting XI.

Leverkusen put Havertz's versatility to good use in No.8 and No.10 roles, but he was deployed predominantly upfront for Chelsea, and looked like a fish out of water. Indeed, his first season at the club yielded just four Premier League goals, and was only salvaged by his winning strike in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City.

Havertz continued to be a fixture in the Chelsea side over the next two seasons, but never properly silenced his doubters, and the Blues jumped at the chance to offload him when Arsenal came in with a £65m ($85m) bid in June 2023. It's been a similar story for Havertz at the Emirates Stadium, with consistency remaining largely elusive, and the 26-year-old's career has essentially been on hiatus in 2025 due to serious injuries.

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GettyChristian Pulisic

Chelsea initially signed Christian Pulisic from Dortmund in January 2019, with ex-United States star Taylor Twellman describing the deal as a "watershed moment for the American soccer player". Borussia Dortmund were sad to lose a "characteristically flawless footballer", as their sporting director Michael Zorc put it, but Pulisic closed out his time at the club in disappointing fashion, losing his place to Sancho amid struggles for fitness.

That led to claim Pulisic, then only 21 years of age, had "stagnated" and insist Chelsea were "mad" to spend so much money on him. Over the next four years, the German outlet was proven right. Although the USMNT star would pick up Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup winners' medals in west London, and deliver some memorable moments (including a hat-trick against Burnley and a brilliant solo goal against Manchester City), he was dogged by physical setbacks and hampered by Chelsea's chaotic transfer policy.

Pulisic gradually fell down the pecking order as competition for places in attack increased and never recovered. Chelsea eventually accepted a £36m ($47m) loss on the Dortmund academy product when shipping him off to Milan, where Pulisic has since replenished his confidence stocks.

"I felt pressure that I needed to do more when I did get on the pitch," he admitted to when looking back on his time at Stamford Bridge last December. Bad luck also played a part, but Pulisic buckled under that pressure, and it remains to be seen whether he gets another chance at the very highest level, with standards at Milan no longer as high as in Serie A's golden years.

A title-winning manager once described as the “best coach in the world” has been mentioned as an option for Manchester United, should Ruben Amorim lose his job.

Amorim positive after Man Utd's win over Sunderland

The Red Devils picked up a vital three points in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, overcoming Sunderland 2-0 at Old Trafford, thanks to goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko.

Speaking after the game, Amorim assessed a positive day at the office for United, with the Portuguese potentially even saving his job by winning.

“That is the kind of game where when we are not playing well, we are defending well. Today was not a perfect performance. We had our moments. Senne [Lammens] did really well also. We were competitive and an adult team today. We need to win these games and win clean sheets.”

For United and their manager, this really did feel like a must-win game, with dropped points at home to a newly-promoted team feeling disastrous, even though Sunderland have been in good form.

There’s now a two-week break before the Red Devils make the trip to Liverpool after the international break, and while Amorim is safe for now, other managers continue to be linked with his job.

Barcelona legend Xavi waiting for Man Utd job, snubs Saudi offers

According to Caught Offside, Barcelona legend Xavi “could be a name to watch” for Manchester United, should the club part ways with Amorim, with the Spaniard seemingly “waiting” for the job.

The 45-year-old is said to be keen on the idea of managing in England, and has “instructed his representatives to reject offers from Saudi Pro League clubs”.

Xavi would be an interesting option for United, having won the La Liga title with Barca in 2022/23, years after a legendary playing career there. He adopts an attacking 4-3-3 formation, which could go down well with supporters who don’t like Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, and Barca president Joan Laporta once heaped huge praise on him back in 2022.

“I am very lucky to have the best coach in the world, because Xavi, in addition to his great football knowledge, is a man who is always very interesting to listen to with his reasoning, who is also a club man and is very aligned with the club. We share moments together, and also we share much of everything that is being done, and I feel very accompanied and supported with Xavi and all his staff.”

Despite this, United have to be careful not to keep jumping from manager to manager, and should only hire a new head coach if they genuinely feel he is a vastly superior option to Amorim.

100% passing, 8 duels won: Man Utd star just outshone Mount & Sesko

Man Utd were 2-0 victors over Sunderland on Saturday afternoon

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 4, 2025

The Red Devils’ current boss clearly needs to do better, but it is easy to envisage a scenario where Xavi comes in and also finds it hard. He could excel, in fairness, and is a legendary figure in the game, but holding fire for now is arguably the best option.

Leeds United have been hit with an injury blow ahead of their clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road in the Premier League on Saturday.

Wales international Daniel James has suffered an ankle injury that is currently being assessed by the club, although they are hopeful that it will not be a long-term issue.

Journalist Graham Smyth claims that the forward is set for “weeks” on the sidelines, debunking some speculation on social media that he was due to be out for months with an ACL injury.

If James misses several weeks and games through injury with this ankle issue, Daniel Farke should avoid relying on Jack Harrison as an alternative to Brenden Aaronson on the right flank.

Why Jack Harrison should not replace Dan James

The left-footed attacker returned to Elland Road this summer after spending the previous two seasons on loan with Everton in the Premier League, and he has yet to fully win the fans back over.

Harrison has produced no goals, no key passes, no ‘big chances’ created, and no assists in five appearances in the top-flight for Leeds so far this term, per Sofascore, which shows that he has offered virtually nothing at the top end of the pitch.

That should not come as a surprise to many, though, because the former Manchester City academy prospect struggled badly in the final third for Everton in the 2024/25 campaign.

24/25 Premier League

Jack Harrison

Appearances

34

Starts

24

Minutes

2088

xG

3.52

Goals

1

Key passes

34

Assists

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Harrison managed one direct goal contribution in 2,088 minutes of football in the Premier League for the Toffees before his return to West Yorkshire.

This is why Farke should turn to U21 talent Connor Douglas to replace James in the squad whilst the Wales international is missing through injury.

Why Leeds should unleash Connor Douglas

The 19-year-old attacker is a versatile star who can play through the middle as a number ten or out on the right flank, which suggests that he could be a suitable alternative to Aaronson in the short-term, given that the American is a similarly versatile wide option.

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Douglas’ form for Leeds at academy level suggests that he is an exciting young player who has the potential to make an impact at the top end of the pitch, after he scored in a 1-0 win over Norwich City’s U21s on Monday night.

The English winger has scored six goals and provided six assists in 36 appearances for the club at U21 level, as well as six goals and three assists in 27 matches for the U18 side, per Transfermarkt.

These statistics show that he can contribute with goals and assists from a wide position, something that Harrison has struggled to do, and that is why he should be given a chance to see what he can do at first-team level whilst James is out with an ankle injury.

Douglas was described as an “electric” forward who is a “joy to watch” by PureFootball writer Trent Gaffney, which also suggests that he could get supporters off their feet with his front-footed and direct play.

Fans may prefer to see a talented young forward given an opportunity to shine and showcase his exciting potential in James’ absence, instead of Harrison being given yet another chance after failing to impress in the last 13 months or so.

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That is why Farke must unleash Douglas as the replacement for James in the Premier League, for however many matches he misses, instead of just using Harrison.

Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy return for seven T20Is against UAE and Pakistan in May-June

Mohammad Isam04-May-2025

Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das has been formally announced as Bangladesh’s T20I captain, while offspinner Mahedi Hasan has been named his deputy for the seven away T20Is against UAE and Pakistan in May-June.Litton replaces Najmul Hossain Shanto in the role after the 26-year-old quit as Bangladesh’s T20I captain earlier this year. Litton had also led Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series in the West Indies last December, with Shanto unavailable due to a hamstring injury. Bangladesh had clean-swept the hosts 3-0.Litton has led Bangladesh in one Test, seven ODIs and four T20Is, but this is the first time that he has been named full-time captain in any format. The 30-year-old was recently ruled out of PSL 2025, where he was part of Karachi Kings, after he sustained a finger injury during training. He has since recovered.Related

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Najmul Hossain Shanto steps down as Bangladesh T20I captain

Faisalabad returns to calendar for Pakistan vs Bangladesh T20Is

Shanto, meanwhile, is one of five players who have returned to Bangladesh’s T20I squad. Apart from him, the national selectors have also included Towhid Hridoy, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam in the 16-member squad. Hridoy had also missed the West Indies series due to an injury, while Mustafizur was attending to a personal issue at the time.There was, however, no place for Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ripon Mondol and Taskin Ahmed. Taskin is recovering from an ankle injury, while Mehidy’s exclusion is mildly surprising given he has been part of Bangladesh’s leadership group in recent months.Bangladesh will first play two T20Is against UAE in Sharjah on May 17 and 19. They will then leave for Pakistan to play a five-match T20I series, which begins on May 25. The series will conclude on June 3.Bangladesh squad for T20Is in UAE and PakistanLitton Das (capt), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan (vice-capt), Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam

"He has great potential. He's really smart, a guy who's always thinking," Ruben Amorim said after Benjamin Sesko's £74 million ($101m) switch to Manchester United from RB Leipzig at the start of August. "He can play a different type of football. He is going to feel that the Premier League is aggressive. He is going to learn. But Ben can be a striker for United for a lot of years; that's why we paid so much money to have a striker who will have his history in our club."

Unfortunately, that potential has not shone through in his first seven games for the Red Devils. Sesko went six games without scoring, albeit while only starting two, before finally getting off the mark against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium last weekend – bundling home from close range at the third time of asking.

And while that effort was no doubt a moment of relief for the 22-year-old, it ultimately counted for absolutely nothing. United ended up losing the game 3-1 and slipping to 14th in the Premier League table – just one place higher than where they finished last term.

Despite the presence of Sesko, and fellow summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, consistency and goals are still elusive for Amorim's team. Indeed, that trio has only scored three between them from 20 combined appearances across all competitions. It's obviously still very early, but that is an awful return considering the club's £208m ($280m) investment in their services.

Sesko's numbers are not the biggest concern, though. Unlike Mbeumo and Cunha, who have shown plenty of industry on the ball, the Slovenia international has largely stood on the periphery struggling to impose himself. The learning curve wasn't supposed to be steep. But much of the blame for that must be laid at Amorim's door. United are not even trying to play to Sesko's strengths, and at the moment, he's facing an impossible task as the lone striker in a deeply flawed system.

• Getty Images
  

  'Positive energy' already gone

  Sesko had been on the radar of Europe's elite for some time, and Newcastle also made a strong play for his services in the summer transfer window. The Magpies even outbid United, but the talented frontman still opted for Old Trafford, and reportedly agreed to waive a portion of his salary to force through the move.

  That was proof that the Red Devils' pulling power has not completely diminished, despite their misery over the last 12 years or so. The INEOS leadership regime also sold Sesko a compelling story about revolution and a new era of success in recently stablised surroundings, which he bought into.

  "The history of Manchester United is obviously very special but what really excites me is the future," Sesko said at his unveiling. "When we discussed the project, it was clear that everything is in place for this team to continue to grow and compete for the biggest trophies again soon.  

  "From the moment that I arrived, I could feel the positive energy and family environment that the club has created. It is clearly the perfect place to reach my maximum level and fulfil all of my ambitions. I cannot wait to start learning from Ruben and connecting with my team-mates to achieve the success that we all know we are capable of together."

  But that "positive energy" has quickly evaporated. There's still nothing exciting about watching United; they don't look even close to competing with the Premier League's elite sides, and Sesko has looked a shadow of the player who terrorised Bundesliga defences week in, week out at Leipzig.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  Unfair criticism

  According to , Sesko has averaged only 1.8 shots and 14 touches per game in the Premier League so far. He has also yet to create a big chance, and has a passing accuracy rate of just 69%. It's fair to say the Slovenian has looked like a fish out of water. But when you factor in that United have posted the worst xG difference in the entire top flight (7.26), his struggles are not surprising.

  Sesko has just been an easy target after poor results, most notably the stunning second-round Carabao Cup defeat to League Two outfit Grimsby Town. United lost 13-12 in a marathon penalty shootout, having had to battle back from two goals down in normal time.

  Sesko was the 10th player from Amorim's ranks to step up from 12 yards, with even centre-backs Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt going ahead of him. The former Leipzig star converted his spot-kick, but was still vilified in the media, with former Aston Villa striker turned pundit Gabby Agbonlahor among those to brand him a "coward" for going so low down in the order.

  However, like most of the criticism levelled at Sesko over the last few weeks, that was unfair. Amorim later clarified that he "protected" the £74m man because he was suffering from cramps, which was an entirely valid excuse considering that it was his first appearance in United's starting lineup.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Biggest strength going to waste

  People seem to be forgetting that Sesko has only played 419 minutes for United this season. That is not enough time to build any sort of rhythm. He has now made three successive Premier League starts, but Amorim hauled him off at half-time in the 2-1 win against Chelsea, which was an overly conservative move that surely would have zapped his confidence. 

  Sesko didn't get much of a pre-season at Leipzig, but is fully fit now and should be one of the first names on the teamsheet given the money spent on him and his scoring record in Germany. He hit 27 goals across his two campaigns in the Bundesliga, and Amorim has to at least give him the platform to try and replicate that output.

  That should also include a formation tweak, because Sesko's biggest strength is going to waste. Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 is a winger-less narrow set-up, with the likes of Mbeumo and Cunha playing as inside forwards, and as such, the crosses that Sesko thrived on at Leipzig are in short supply.

  He is a 6ft 5in powerhouse who boasts the spring to outjump almost any marker. Indeed, he won 70 headed duels in the Bundesliga last term, more than any United player managed in Premier League competition, and his 14 headed shots beat Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee's combined total of 12. 

  United haven't had a striker with that kind of aerial threat since Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but Sesko will never be able to make the same impact if Amorim continues to be so rigid, because it's far too easy for opponents to mark him out of the game. A simple switch to a 4-2-3-1 could unlock Sesko's full potential, with Mbeumo and Cunha providing proper width and United's chief creator, Bruno Fernandes, playing further forward.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  'There's nothing created for him!'

  Sesko is also putting in a lot of fruitless work off the ball. He plays on the shoulder of the last defender and always looks to make runs in behind, but they too often go unnoticed because of United's predictable passing routines under Amorim.

  The Red Devils' towering new No.9 is trying to receive the ball close to the penalty area, but United are terrible at keeping possession in advanced areas and promising attacks usually peter out because a player knocks it backwards or sideways, or runs into traffic, instead of playing straight through to Sesko.

  It's a problem that club legend Rio Ferdinand pointed out after watching Sesko toil in vain during United's dismal derby defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad. "The one I'm worried about is Sesko. He ain't getting no chances, man, he ain't getting no opportunities, there's nothing created for him," Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

  "That's the concern. A new striker comes in the football club, gets in the team, you've got to think about creating chances for him. Getting him on the end of things. That's something I think has got to be looked at, and fixed quick. I don't want to think about what it could turn out to be."

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos terá que encarar uma suspensão de 30 dias com portões fechados nos jogos enquanto espera o julgamento do seu caso. Nesse intervalo, o time masculino do Peixe terá três compromissos como mandante em competições nacionais e o elenco feminino terá duas partidas para realizar em casa.

+ Até 70% OFF em produtos do Peixe para os torcedores fanáticos!

O Peixe terá duelos contra Flamengo, Goiás e Botafogo, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. Do lado das Sereias da Vila, as jogadoras irão encarar nesse tempo Flamengo e Taubaté.

+ Santos vai buscar novo técnico! Confira treinadores estrangeiros livres no mercado

Como o Santos não terá presença do público como mandante, o time deixará de arrecadar com bilheteria. No Brasileirão, o clube possui renda líquida média de R$168.709,94. Utilizando esse valor como base, o clube deve deixar de ganhar em torno de R$ 675 mil.

Além do déficit financeiro que isso irá gerar, a competitividade também é um ponto de destaque, pois o clube possui um rendimento muito maior como mandante do que fora de casa. Sem o apoio da torcida, a sequência de nove jogos sem vencer pode se prolongar.

Giorgio Chiellini and Juan Mata have become the latest high-profile names to enter British football ownership, following in the footsteps of Luka Modric and Wrexham’s Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The pair have joined Mercury13’s investment in Bristol City Women, marking a significant new chapter as the legends turn their focus to shaping the future of the game.

Mata and Chiellini buy stake in Bristol City Women

Mata, currently with Melbourne Victory in Australia, and Chiellini, who retired after his spell at LAFC, have invested in the Mercury13 group. The company already owns Como’s women’s team in Italy and has now taken a majority stake in Bristol City Women. Both legendary footballers are now expected to play an active role, attending matches and offering support behind the scenes.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesUpwards trend of investing in English clubs

Their move is part of a growing trend of football stars investing in clubs, following Modric’s minority stake in Swansea, and the move made by Hollywood stars Reynolds and McElhenney to purchase Wrexham in 2020. Mercury13 plans to inject £73 million into the women’s game, hoping to attract elite talent to their clubs. Bristol City Women now stand to benefit as they aim to compete with ambitious rivals like London City Lionesses, who recently made the climb up into the Women's Super League.

Mercury13 co-owner believes Mata and Chiellini will help growth

Victoire Cogevina Reynal, co-founder of Mercury13, said: “Yes, absolutely (they will attend some matches). They’re incredible footballers, but they’re also incredible human beings who truly believe in what we’re building. They’ve been very helpful behind the scenes for Como, and I’m sure they will do the same for Bristol City.”

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Getty Images SportBristol City Women: A growing force in WSL2

Mata and Chiellini’s presence at Ashton Gate will shine more light on the growth of women’s football in Britain. With significant investment promised, Bristol City Women could emerge as a serious force in the Women's Super League 2, emulating what the London City Lionesses and Tom Brady's Birmingham City Women achieved last season.

Starc’s career-best figures of 6 for 48 saw India fold for 180 before the batters kept Bumrah and Co at bay

Deivarayan Muthu06-Dec-2024

Mitchell Starc’s sizzling spell with the pink ball headlined the opening day of the day-night Test in Adelaide as Australia responded to their 295-run drubbing in Perth by dismissing India for 180.Jasprit Bumrah then got rid of Usman Khawaja in the twilight but the under-pressure Marnus Labuschagne and rookie opener Nathan McSweeney navigated a tricky passage of play to guide Australia to stumps without any further damage. Their unbroken 62-run partnership helped Australia cut their deficit to under 100 and ensured that the first day belonged to them.The first ball from Starc was a portent for what was to follow. He struck in the first over of each of his three spells, asserting his supremacy in pink-ball Tests. He came away with career-best Test figures of 6 for 48, which extended his pink-ball tally in Australia to 72. It is twice as many as Pat Cummins (36) has taken and 29 more than what Nathan Lyon, Starc’s closest contender in pink-ball Test cricket in the country, has managed.It all started with that first ball to Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had told Starc that he was “coming on too slow” in Perth. On Friday in Adelaide, Starc let rip a full, fast one that threatened to angle down leg before swerving back into the line of the stumps and seaming in the other direction off the pitch to beat the attempted flick and thud into front pad. It was so plumb that Jaiswal didn’t even bother to review. Starc roared at the departing Jaiswal and had the Adelaide crowd, which grew to 50,186 by the close of play, roaring with him.Related

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Cummins hopes for more proactive Labuschagne in pink-ball Test

Shubman Gill, who returned to India’s Test XI after missing the Perth Test with a hand injury, and KL Rahul then briefly settled India’s innings with a 69-run stand for the second wicket. Gill showed little signs of rust and laid into drives whenever Australia’s quicks veered away from their lengths and the stumps.At the other end, Rahul was more circumspect, playing out Cummins for three maidens, before fending at Scott Boland’s first ball, which reared up to threaten the shoulder of his bat. Rahul walked off, thinking he had nicked it behind but a front-foot no-ball from Boland earned him a reprieve. There was nothing on the Snicko either. Five balls later, Boland hit Rahul’s outside edge but Khawaja grassed the chance at first slip.Rahul’s luck, however, ran out when Starc returned for his second spell and struck with his fourth ball. He extracted extra bounce and had Rahul edging to gully for 37 off 64 balls. In his next over, Starc took out Virat Kohli for seven off eight balls with a similar prancing delivery. Soon after, Boland nipped one into Gill’s pads as India lost 3 for 12 in a chaotic 15-minute period before the dinner break.India’s slump continued after resumption, with Boland pinning Rohit Sharma’s pads this time. Playing in his first Test match in over a year, in place of the injured Josh Hazlewood, Boland kept it on a good length, or just back of it, and kept gleaning seam movement. Rohit, who had slid down the order to No. 6 to accommodate Rahul at the top alongside Jaiswal, fell for 3 off 23 balls.Cummins then joined the fun when he bounced Rishabh Pant out, with a back-of-a-length delivery that kicked up at his ribs, for 21 off 35 balls. It meant so much to Cummins that he celebrated it with a big roar. The Australia captain had looked underdone in Perth and wasn’t at his sharpest with the new ball on Friday, but redeemed himself with the big scalp of Pant.Nitish Kumar Reddy pulled a Joe Root on Scott Boland•Getty Images

Despite wickets falling at the other end, Nitish Kumar Reddy remained unfazed and rolled out the big hits. When Starc pitched one too full, Reddy audaciously drilled him over extra-cover for six and in the next over he lined up Boland for a sequence of 6,4,6. The first six was jaw-dropping reverse-swat over the slip cordon, which cleared one of the biggest boundaries at the ground at deep third. It even put a smile on Bumrah’s face, but the joy was short-lived as Starc combined with Cummins to wrap up India’s innings.After having top-scored for India in his debut innings in Perth, Reddy did the same in the first innings in Adelaide, finishing with 42 off 54 balls, including three fours and a six. Reddy was the last Indian batter to be dismissed, with Starc having him hole out to mid-off.R Ashwin, who was picked ahead of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, looked good during his run-a-ball 22 before Starc made him look silly with an inch-perfect inswinging yorker with a 39-over-old ball. The blow to his foot kept Ashwin off the field for the start of Australia’s innings, but India’s team management must have been relieved when he bowled the penultimate over of the day without any apparent discomfort.Bumrah was potent with the new ball and produced India’s only breakthrough on the day when he went around the wicket and had Khawaja jabbing behind with a beauty for 13 off 35 balls. India also had a chance to dislodge McSweeney cheaply when Bumrah found his outside edge, but a diving Pant shelled it. Rohit, at first slip, couldn’t grab it on the rebound either, with the ball hitting his wrist and going down.McSweeney was on 3 at that point, having got off the mark after 17 balls. At the other end, Labuschagne, who is facing considerable heat for his recent lean run, took 19 balls to get off the mark. A freebie on his pads from an erratic Mohammed Siraj then got him going.Harshit Rana lobbed some verbal volleys at the Australia batters and banged the pink ball into the pitch. But McSweeney was ready to fight fire with fire and firmly pulled the chirpy Rana over midwicket for four. After having seen off the new-ball spells of Bumrah and Siraj under twilight, McSweeney picked away five fours off Rana and Reddy and set Australia up for a batting day against the older ball under natural light on Saturday.

Hansi Flick has decided to rest Frenkie de Jong for the Valencia clash after the Netherlands international arrived at the club with Gluteal discomfort

• De Jong sidelined with gluteal discomfort
• Coach prioritises Champions League fixture
• Gavi's knee issue further complicates matters 

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  De Jong has returned to Barca after leaving the Netherlands national team camp with a gluteal injury. According to , the 28-year-old did not train with the squad and has been ruled out for the upcoming La Liga match against Valencia. The midfielder reportedly picked up the injury in Netherland's clash against Poland and the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has already sent a medical report to the club. Flick's decision to rest De Jong is a strategic one, aimed at having him in peak condition for the important Champions League match against Newcastle.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Flick's side are facing a midfield selection crisis early in the season. With De Jong's injury and the lingering issues surrounding Gavi, the Blaugrana's midfield depth are being tested. This situation has forced the coach to rely on other players, such as Marc Casado and Pedri, to form the crucial midfield partnership.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Gavi has suffered a new injury blow with persistent discomfort in his right knee, the same one that was affected by a torn ACL in 2023. As a result, Barca's medical team have decided to give the midfielder a three-week period for conservative treatment to see if the pain subsides on its own. Otherwise, a surgical intervention might be necessary. 

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  With De Jong next set to feature against the Magpies and Gavi returning in October should he avoid surgery, Barca's midfield will have to rely on Casado and Pedri in their absence. Barca will be facing Valencia next in the league before travelling to St. James' Park to face Newcastle in their opening fixture of the Champions League on September 18.

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OVERSEAS: Caleb Jewell, Blair Tickner, AM Ghazanfar (T20)DurhamIN: Emilio Gay (Northants), Will Rhodes (Warwickshire), Sam Conners (Derbyshire)
OUT: Michael Jones (Lancashire), Jonathan Bushnell, Brandon Glover, Oliver Gibson (all released)
OVERSEAS: David Bedingham, Brendan Doggett (April-May), Zak Foulkes (T20)EssexIN:
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OVERSEAS: Kane Williamson (May-Sept), Dane Paterson (April-May), Josh Little (May-Sept)NorthamptonshireIN: Dom Leech (Yorkshire), Liam Guthrie (Queensland, UK passport)
OUT: Emilio Gay (Durham), Jack White (Yorkshire), Alex Russell, George Gowler, George Weldon (all released)
OVERSEAS: Matthew Breetzke (April-July), Harry Conway (May), Ashton Agar (T20), Yuzvendra Chahal (June-Sept)NottinghamshireIN: Conor McKerr (Surrey)
OUT: Fateh Singh (Worcestershire), Luke Fletcher (released), Tom Loten, Toby Pettman (both retired), Alex Hales (retired from domestic white-ball)
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