Ex-England captain stars with bat and ball at Taunton

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay01-May-2025

Heather Knight staged an outstanding all-round performance to propel Somerset to a comfortable five-wicket victory over Essex in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition at Taunton Vale.The England international claimed 3-7 with the ball and then added 45 crucial runs with the bat as the cider county ultimately made light work of chasing beneath blue skies and sunshine to register a second win in three games and send a crowd of several hundred home happy.Put into bat on a worn pitch, Essex slipped to 2-3 and 50-5 in the face of accurate seam bowling from Laura Jackson and Ellie Anderson, who took 2-12 and 2-44 respectively. Amara Carr redressed the balance with a defiant innings of 67 from 92 balls with 5 fours, only for Knight to mop up the tail with her off breaks as Essex were dismissed for an inadequate184 in 42.5 overs.Knight, Sophie Luff and Fran Wilson all contributed useful runs to carry Somerset to within sight of their target before the irrepressible Charlie Dean raised a quickfire 45 not out from 49 balls with 6 fours as Somerset won with 14.1 overs in hand.Somerset skipper Luff won the toss, inserted the opposition and looked on as her seamers made the new ball sing. Having failed to post a score in excess of 200 in their two previous matches, Essex again fell short of expectations, three of the top four failing to score as they slumped to 2-3 in the second over. Playing a loose shot, Jo Gardner hit Jackson straight to Dean at mid-wicket, while Anderson had Cordelia Griffith held at slip and then bowled Jodi Grewcock next ball to further undermine the top order.Under pressure to repair the damage, Essex captain Grace Scrivens led a partial recovery, straight-driving Anderson for an imperious four in adding 48 for the fourth wicket with Flo Miller. But England spinner Dean struck a crucial blow in the 13th over, Scrivens attempting a back-foot drive, finding Amanda-Jade Wellington at mid-off and departing for a 32-ball 27. Attempting an ill-advised pull shot against Jackson in the very next over, Miller holed out to Alex Griffiths in the deep as wickets continued to fall in clusters, Essex subsiding to 50-5.Carr and Sophia Smale launched a cautious recovery of sorts, safely negotiating the spin of Wellington and Dean to add 41 for the sixth wicket. Somerset’s bowlers continued to build pressure and Smale, having scored 10, played back to Wellington and inadvertently trod on her wicket. Luff marshalled her bowlers well and Griffiths struck in her first over, Eva Gray driving straight to Knight at silly mid-on and falling for 17, having helped add 37 with Carr.While the determined Carr continued to hold sway, there was hope for Essex. The former Western Storm player went to 50 from 73 balls and led by example as she attempted to usher the lower order towards a competitive total. But former England captain Knight accounted for the tail in quick time with her off breaks, pinning Esmae Macgregor and Kate Coppack lbw before bowling the obdurate Carr to wrap-up the innings inside the distance.Acutely aware of the need to make the new ball count, the visitors engineered an early breakthrough, Gray locating Emma Corney’s outside edge and Smale taking a regulation catch in the slips with 33 on the board. Although scoring freely remained far from straightforward, Knight and Luff brought their considerable experience to bear upon the situation, staging a reassuring alliance of 38 for the second wicket before the latter nicked behind and succumbed to Abtaha Maqsood’s spin for 24.Knight had advanced her score to 45 from 41 balls, accrued 7 fours and was threatening to take the match by the scruff of the neck when she was caught behind off the bowling of Maqsood with the score on 96 in the 18th. Fran Wilson mustered the first six of the match at the expense of Maqsood before losing off stump to Grewcock and departing for 23, a dismissal that kept Essex in the hunt.But the home side quickly regained control, Dean and Katie Jones playing positively to bring the required rate down and raise thoughts of a bonus point victory. Jones was eventually run out for 16, but Dean continued to score at a run a ball to hasten victory.

Thomas Tuchel admits that Bukayo Saka has given him a nice "problem", with the Arsenal winger starring for England against Wales after seeing club colleague Noni Madueke miss out through injury. Saka, making his first appearance for the Three Lions since facing Senegal in June, scored a stunning goal for the Three Lions as they eased to a 3-0 victory over geographical neighbours at Wembley Stadium.

• Saka stunner: Arsenal star scores screamer vs Wales

  Saka missed out on selection in September when nursing a fitness problem of his own. He was recalled for a clash with Wales and a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Latvia. The 24-year-old made the most of his opportunity in the first of those fixtures, with the Gunners forward lining up on the right of England’s attack.

  He saw Morgan Rogers fire Tuchel’s side into an early lead before another Aston Villa star, Ollie Watkins, doubled that advantage. Saka made it three inside the opening 20 minutes when he curled a spectacular strike into the top corner, having drifted inside onto his wand of a left foot.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Madueke misfortune: Gunners winger nursing injury

  Emirates Stadium team-mate Madueke had been on target for England in a World Cup qualifier with Serbia last time out, as he opened his senior international goal account, but he is now nursing a knee complaint and is not expected to be back in action until November.

  His loss has been Saka’s gain, with a man that has 45 caps and 13 goals to his name reminding everybody what he is all about. He timed his moment perfectly as Tuchel had admitted during the build-up to a meeting with Wales that he is happy to select a settled team if everybody is performing.

• More to come: Tuchel excited by Saka

  Saka appears to have forced his way back to the front of the queue when it comes to right wing berths, with Tuchel telling reporters of the selection headache that he faces: "Good. That’s what we want. Noni is unfortunately injured. Noni was excellent in the last camp, he was electric. He then continued to play for his club while Bukayo was out for Arsenal in the same manner. We were very, very sad that he’s now injured, but Saka stepped up. He had to step up also."

  Tuchel added on there being even more to come from Saka, who has now scored in his last three appearances for club and country: "It was like his first camp where he comes without injury and it’s necessary. Like I said, the competition is on. Bukayo had a good performance like everyone else and showed what he’s capable of.

  "I still feel there is a step to go for Bukayo to regain his rhythm, naturally after one or two injuries now, to regain his rhythm and his stamina. Then, he is a very important player for us and he will fight for his place because that’s what he does. He’s played for many, many years for Arsenal at the highest level and this is what we demand of him for England. He’s ready to go and that’s what he showed today."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  England history: Saka sets goal record for Arsenal stars

  Saka’s eye-catching strike against Wales saw him claim his own piece of England history. A 13th goal for his country has made him the highest-scoring Arsenal player for the Three Lions – overtaking Gunners legend Cliff Bastin, who registered his last international effort some 87 years ago.

  England legend Stuart Pearce told of Saka’s sizzler at Wembley: "The ball's played past him and all of a sudden there's a two-on-one overload and England are finding so much space. And that is one of the best goals I have ever seen in this stadium. An incredible finish."

  Saka will hope to retain his starting berth for a World Cup qualifying clash with Latvia on Tuesday. Tuchel may, however, decide to shuffle his pack slightly for that fixture, with Arsenal – who have moved to the top of the Premier League – eager to ensure that their collection of international stars are returned to north London in full working order.

Vinicius Junior’s time at Real Madrid has been full of highs and lows. Now, former teammate Lucas Vazquez has lifted the lid on what life was like for the Brazilian inside the dressing room during his struggle last season on and off the field, revealing how he "didn’t always listen" to advice from senior players.

Vazquez recalls how Vinicius struggled with outside noise

In an interview with , the former Real Madrid defender spoke about his time at the club and revealed that Vinicius, who has often faced heavy media and fan scrutiny, sometimes struggled to block out the outside noise, even as his teammates urged him to stay calm and focus on football. The Brazilian winger, who came close to winning his first Ballon d’Or in 2024, has faced constant criticism from Spanish media and fans for his on and off-field behaviour ever since joining Los Blancos in 2018.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'He didn’t always listen' – Vazquez on Brazilian's struggles

Vazquez, who left the club this summer after 18 years, spoke about how Vinicius struggled to deal with the hostile treatment he often received from rival fans. "It was tough on away match days because you see your teammate and friend not having a good time,” Vazquez said. "You want him to be at his best, and he can’t be in the spotlight for things that aren’t football-related. We told him not to let it affect him, but he didn’t always listen."

Vinicius stays under spotlight despite strong start

After struggling to find his rhythm last season, the Brazilian international looks back to his best. The 25-year-old has kicked off the new campaign in fine form, scoring five goals and providing four assists in eight La Liga games. He is linking well with Kylian Mbappe and has helped Real Madrid win seven of their first eight matches to sit at the top of the table. Still, the noise off the pitch hasn’t gone away. Vinicius recently apologised publicly to Brazilian influencer Virginia Fonseca after it was claimed their brief relationship ended over messages he sent to other women.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWhat's next for Vinicius?

While he continues to play a key role in Xabi Alonso’s team, Vinicius continues to find himself in a contract standoff with the Spanish giants. The club are reportedly unwilling to improve their current offer, despite the winger’s demand for a pay rise. The Brazilian's current deal runs until June 2027, but unless an agreement is reached soon, his future at the Bernabeu could once again become a major talking point as the season unfolds.

West Ham chairman David Sullivan and the Hammers board have come under fire from supporters for a long time — even more so after their downward trajectory since 2023.

West Ham braced for fan protests as tension with ownership escalates

As per The Telegraph, West Ham supporters are poised to stage protests against the ownership at every Saturday home game this campaign — sending a clear message of discontent towards the hierarchy.

Their controversial move to the London Stadium, which forced loyal supporters to wave goodbye to the beloved Boleyn Ground in 2016, was promised to bring a change of direction — with supporters told they would get a “world-class stadium for a world-class team” (The Telegraph).

However, after what was an unforgettable closing ceremony at the Boleyn, made better by a 3-2 win over Man United that night, West Ham have done little to make good on their pledge to kick on.

David Moyes guided the club to three consecutive seasons in Europe during his second spell in charge, including a journey to the Europa League semi-finals in 2022, and West Ham topped off their exploits abroad by winning the Conference League.

Their glorious night in Prague ended the Irons’ 43-year-wait for silverware, with West Ham also lifting their first European trophy since 1965.

However, apart from a brief adventure under Moyes, their move to the London Stadium has failed to deliver what was promised by the board — and West Ham have only got worse since their Conference League victory.

A succession of managers in Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter were shown their marching orders after failing to build upon Moyes’ era, with Nuno Espírito Santo now in the West Ham hot seat as he seeks to deliver where his predecessors failed.

Worst West Ham managers in the Premier League

Win percentage

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12 Graham Potter

26.1%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

Nuno is making his presence known by axing James Ward-Prowse already, and some reports suggest that West Ham are prepared to back their new manager with new signings in January.

However, tensions between the fanbase and West Ham have now reached breaking point, with former boss Harry Redknapp now predicting a bold move by Sullivan to transform the club.

Harry Redknapp predicts David Sullivan decision to transform West Ham

Speaking to GiveMeSport, the ex-West Ham and Tottenham manager has predicted that Sullivan will sell his West Ham shares to billionaires from the Middle East.

Interestingly, the 78-year-old has actually moved to defend Sullivan too — claiming that the divisive chair has pumped his own money into the club and a lot of the blame for West Ham’s woes lies with their recruitment department.

West Ham take on Arsenal this Saturday as Nuno prepares for his second game in charge, with Mikel Arteta’s side overwhelming favourites, especially considering their major threat from set pieces.

Failure to deal with dead balls has been a real thorn in West Ham’s side this season, so Nuno’s men are seriously up against it at the Emirates, as they also look to contain Arsenal’s plethora of attacking talent.

Wayne Rooney has bemoaned one “crazy” West Ham United “problem” and Graham Potter’s “lack of belief”, following the recent 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace.

West Ham suffer another setback against Crystal Palace

Potter appears to be on very thin ice after the 2-1 defeat at home against Crystal Palace last time out, with the West Ham hierarchy now running the rule over potential replacements.

Following the most recent loss, the Hammers are 19th in the Premier League table, having tasted defeat in four of their opening five games, with Gary O’Neil and Sean Dyche also entering the frame as potential Potter replacements.

In the wake of yet another loss, Rooney has bemoaned the Hammers’ inability to defend set-pieces, while also calling into question the atmosphere at the club.

West Ham now weigh up concrete approach to sign £17m England international

West Ham now weighing up concrete approach for £17m England international.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 21, 2025

The former Manchester United man said: “I analysed the set-pieces yesterday, last night, on Match of the Day and it’s all second balls. Graham Potter came out and said they’ve been working on set plays, so as a coach there’s only so much you can do, but they’re not winning the first header and the problem is they’re not reacting quick enough, and then the second ball, they’re conceding goals.

“So, it’s crazy to concede seven from five, but when you have a lack of confidence and a lack of belief – I think that’s clear with the West Ham players and the fans as well I can imagine. There’s a lack of a belief in the team, and it looks like the owners and the manager.”

Potter must fix defensive issues to keep his job

Defending from set-pieces has undoubtedly been a major issue for the Irons, with Potter saying: “We’ve addressed [our weakness from dead-balls] and we’re working to improve it. We conceded too many, had to defend a lot. That is something we also have to look at. It’s just constant work on the training ground.”

However, having been in the dugout since January, the 50-year-old has had more than enough time to fix the glaring problems, and there have been very few promising signs, winning just six of the 25 games he has taken charge of.

The Hammers have also conceded 13 goals already this season, the highest number of any Premier League side, so it is clear their top-flight status could be in jeopardy if there is not either a radical improvement or a change in manager.

While he arguably wouldn’t be the flashiest of appointments, Dyche could be a solid option for West Ham, at least on a short-term basis, having led Everton to safety when the Toffees were in a similar position.

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Delhi Capitals (DC) match in IPL 2025 in Dharamsala has been called off after 10.1 overs.”The Punjab Kings v Delhi Capitals match (Match#58) in Tata IPL was forced to be abandoned due to a significant technical failure at the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala,” an official statement from the IPL said. “Due to a power outage in the area, one of the light towers at the HPCA stadium malfunctioned. BCCI regrets the inconvenience caused to the in-stadium attendees.”In the 10.1 overs possible, PBKS openers Priyansh Arya (70) and Prabhsimran Singh (50*) dominated proceedings, stitching up a 122-run opening stand off 61 balls.Arya fell in the first ball of the 11th over, top-edging a T Natarajan slower-ball bouncer onto his helmet, which popped up for a simple catch. The players then left the field due to a floodlight failure at the stadium. Around 9.40pm IST, the match was called off.Before the abandonment, Arya and Prabhsimran took down Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera in the powerplay as PBKS raced away to 50 for no loss in four overs.After the powerplay, the pair took down Kuldeep Yadav as well, smashing him for two sixes and two fours. Arya reached his third fifty-plus score of the season in the seventh over off just 25 balls. Prabhsimran reached his own fifty in the tenth and in the process became the first uncapped batter to hit four half-centuries in a row in the IPL.PBKS next play Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 11, a game that was shifted from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad. DC will play Gujarat Titans (GT) in Delhi on the same day.

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim bounced back with a win against Sunderland on Saturday, and a key update has now emerged over the manager’s future.

Amorim's future still in doubt after Sunderland win

Admittedly, opting to relieve managers of their duties over the years hasn’t necessarily made Manchester United a better side. Still, pressure is continuing to grow on Amorim as he attempts to arrest his side’s slump in form.

Gareth Southgate has been linked to the Old Trafford hotseat and could be a safe option in light of his steady progress with England, and Peter Crouch believes that if a change is coming in the dugout, the ex-Three Lions boss is an ideal fit to step in.

He said via The Mirror: “I love Gareth (and) he’s had some stick unfairly. He took us to the finals. It was frustrating, you know, not to get over the line. If he won one game, then would there be a statue of him.

“He’s gone from a statue to people thinking he’s not good enough for the Man United job. It’s such a fine line in football. I think he’s someone that could build something there. You keep getting managers over that are here for the short term, like I think Gareth Southgate is someone who can build something big.”

Reportedly, Manchester United would need to pay £12 million to sack Amorim, which would be a hefty price to pay if they decide he is not the right man to take them forward, and a cost which they can now avoid at least a little longer after Saturday’s rather comfortable 2-0 victory against the Black Cats at Old Trafford.

"First class" manager who brings "fun factor" to training speaks about links to Man Utd

Ruben Amorim is under increasing pressure…

ByBen Goodwin Oct 3, 2025

Either way, there needs to be some clarity one way or another; something that Ornstein now looks to have provided in his latest update on events at Old Trafford.

David Ornstein shares how Man Utd feel about Ruben Amorim

Speaking to NBC Sports, Ornstein made it clear that Man Utd are keeping faith in Amorim and both parties want to keep moving forward in the right direction, while he still retains the backing of the squad.

He said: “Ruben Amorim is under major pressure, but I think most of that pressure is applied on him by himself, as well as the burden of being Manchester United manager. Manchester United themselves, as I understand, they’re not planning to sack him. They don’t want or intend to, and I don’t think he’s planning to walk away from this.

“Last season, I think he really felt the strain, and people I speak to say he was questioning if he could succeed there. But I do think, incrementally, there is a bit of improvement felt, however small, especially with some of the new signings, and it is still very early.”

Later, he added: “Results will need to improve; we can’t get away from that, and we know how this industry operates, but I think they would like to give him more time.”

Ultimately, giving managers more time is a game of risk versus reward. Manchester United know that the grass isn’t necessarily always greener, but the impact of a bounce under a new coach could also spark their season into life.

There will be plenty of conflicting opinions on Amorim’s future, though he appears to be safe for now as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS favour continuity over instability.

Tournament chief Arun Dhumal says they are working with the government on how to move forward

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2025IPL 2025 will continue for the moment despite mounting tension between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of missile strikes carried out by the Indian army in the early hours of Wednesday on sites across the border. The Indian government said Operation was its response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed, in April.While the BCCI has not issued any public statement yet, doubts had surfaced over whether the two IPL matches scheduled this week in the north Indian town of Dharamshala, the second home venue of Punjab Kings (PBKS), will go ahead. PBKS are scheduled to play Delhi Capitals (DC) on May 8 and then Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 11.MI, who lost a last-ball thriller at home against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Tuesday, were scheduled to land in Dharamshala by Thursday, but it is understood their travel plans have been put on hold owing to the Kangra airport shutting down. Even the Chandigarh airport, which is the nearest to Dharamsala, has been closed according to which has reported that the Indian government has temporarily shut down at least 18 airports in the north and west of the country including Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Amritsar, Pathankot, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Shimla and Jamnagar.According to Arun Dhumal, the IPL chairman, the Thursday evening fixture between PBKS and DC is currently scheduled to go ahead.”We will abide by the Indian government advisory,” Dhumal told ESPNcricinfo. He confirmed that as of Wednesday morning there had been no directive issued by the government. Dhumal said the IPL operations team was coordinating with the concerned government agencies to figure out how to get teams in and out of Dharamshala. PBKS have been based in Dharamshala since last week and won their most recent home game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday.Asked whether there was a possibility of shifting the May 11 match between PBKS and MI elsewhere, Dhumal said the IPL team was “working on the logistics” and if there was any “alternate planning” needed, they would be prepared.

Harry Kane moved into an elite goalscoring club as he scored twice to help England qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The Bayern Munich striker bagged a first-half brace to help the Three Lions defeat Latvia 5-0 and book their place at next summer’s tournament, continuing a rich vein of form which has seen him score 21 goals in just 13 games for club and country this season.

Kane leads the way as England secure emphatic Latvia win

Kane played a key role in helping England reach the World Cup in emphatic fashion on Tuesday evening. Already ahead thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon, the captain doubled his side’s lead against Latvia with a lovely left-footed effort after 44 minutes. And Kane did not have to wait too long to grab his second of the night, converting a penalty which he won himself following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. Further gloss was added to England’s victory as an own goal from Latvia defender Maksims Tonisevs and an effort from Arsenal forward Eberechi Eze saw Thomas Tuchel’s men secure their sixth win from as many games in World Cup qualifying.

AdvertisementEngland captain joins Ronaldo in elite goalscoring club

And as a result of his heroics against Latvia, Kane joined a list of goalscoring royalty which includes Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. By netting twice in Riga, Kane took his goal tally for England to 76 in 110 caps, meaning he is now among the top five European scorers in international football history. Kane sits behind Hungary legend Ferenc Puskas (84), Poland striker Robert Lewandowski (87), Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku (89) and Ronaldo, who leads the way with 143 international goals for Portugal. The Selecao striker matched Kane by scoring twice on Tuesday night, though Roberto Martinez’s side were held to a 2-2 draw by Hungary in Group F.

Kane pays tribute to England fans after pointed Tuchel chants

While Kane and his team-mates were roared on by the passionate England faithful against Latvia, manager Tuchel faced pointed chants from the travelling fans. After the German criticised the support his players received in their 3-0 friendly win over Wales on Thursday, 9 October, chants of “Thomas Tuchel, we’ll sing when we want!” and “Thomas Tuchel, are we loud enough for you?” could be heard from the stands as the Three Lions cruised to victory at the Daugava Stadium.

And while Tuchel was in good spirits over the banter, Kane was keen to pay tribute to the England supporters after the game, telling : "I know Thomas came out after the last game and said the fans weren't great, but I don't think you can question our away support ever. The way they were tonight was fantastic. And look, we've qualified for another major tournament. We know the England fans enjoy going out – and America's going to be a special place to play – and we've got something to look forward to now. Yeah, credit to them for travelling out here and showing the noise they did.”

Tuchel, meanwhile, was quick to heap praise on Kane after his latest two goals for England, saying: "It's a pleasure to have him. He's in excellent shape, mentally, physically, in top form, top shape. Apart from scoring another two goals, look at the goal in the 85th minute from [Eze], we have a ball loss and Harry goes all the way back to his own half and puts his head down in another sprint defensively.

"As a captain, as the No 9, there's no real need to do this. No-one will ever blame him if he didn't do it. But he does it, and that sets the standards. That is so brilliant to see, because he helps us win the ball and this in the end results in the goal from [Eze]. Harry is ready to put in the intensity and the shift that is needed.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Kane's next match: Bayern host Dortmund in Der Klassiker

Kane will return to Bundesliga action when Bayern entertain rivals Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker on Saturday evening. The 32-year-old is the current leading goalscorer in Germany’s top flight, having netted a remarkable 11 times in just six games. He has also scored four goals in just two Champions League appearances so far this season, netting back-to-back braces against both Chelsea and Cypriot outfit Pafos. Vincent Kompany's Bayern are currently top of the Bundesliga table on 18 points, four ahead of Niko Kovac's in-form Dortmund side.

The club bounced back from five straight losses last season to make the finals

ESPNcricinfo staff20-May-2025

Peter Moores has signed a two-year extension as Melbourne Stars head coach in the BBL following a season where the team produced a remarkable turnaround to reach the finals.Stars lost their first five matches but then went on a five-game winning surge before falling to Sydney Thunder in the Knockout final. With Hobart Hurricanes winning the title last season, Stars are now the only club not to have a title in BBL history.”I’m absolutely thrilled to sign on for another two years,” Moores said. “I’ve already experienced some incredible moments with the club and there was no better place to be last summer than the MCG when we got on a roll. It was a great reminder of what this club and our members and fans are capable of.”Stars were captained by Marcus Stoinis who Moores said “will only grow in that role again.” They currently have 10 players on their list, including allrounder Tom Curran and new signings Liam Hatcher and Mitchell Swepson, with the overseas draft to take place on June 19.”Our list is in a really good place, and we’ve got a great opportunity to strengthen a couple of key areas in the upcoming draft,” Moores said. “I’m not putting a limit on what we can all achieve together.”Stars general manager Max Abbott said: “The feedback from all parts of the organisation has been overwhelmingly positive in the way Peter led the group as coach over the last two seasons.”You don’t come back from a 0-5 start to make the finals without leadership in the dressing room and that is a testament to the way Peter was able to maintain camaraderie and belief within the playing group to turn the season around.”Moores’ new BBL contract follows the appointment of Andy Christie as Stars’ WBBL head coach on a two-year deal after the club parted ways with Jonathan Batty following just two wins in 10 games during the 2024-25 campaign.