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The players from both teams stuck to their own routines, but the buzz is expected to grow when they face each other

Shashank Kishore06-Sep-202513:47

Runorder: What is India’s best XI for the Asia Cup?

Shortly after 7pm, all eyes at the ICC Academy turned towards the nets area of the Pakistan team. They’d just arrived for their final training session ahead of Sunday’s tri-series final against Afghanistan in Sharjah.Would there be a cross-over with India, who were already in the middle of their own preparations? Would players exchange pleasantries or keep their distance? Those hoping for a moment worth filming were left disappointed as both teams stuck to their routines.India’s session spanned nearly three hours in which each of their specialist batters spent more than an hour in the middle, before the allrounders padded up and whacked the ball into all corners to bring down what turned out to be more range-hitting than a net session aimed at players finding touch.Related

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Pakistan batted at the nets area tucked away in a quiet corner, away from the prying eyes. They prepped on surfaces that offered turn, bite and uneven bounce, perhaps simulating what’s in store against Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar and Noor Ahmad come Sunday. Away from the nets, Shaheen Shah Afridi took a few catches and did a light warm-up, while Haris Rauf ran laps.The assortment of surfaces at the ICC Academy, as many as 40 of them – largely Asian but also some that replicate bouncy conditions like at the WACA, Gabba and some that offer swing and seam – were put to good use by as many as 60 players over the last few days, including those from Oman and Hong Kong.By the time training wrapped up on Saturday, the organisers breathed a sigh of relief. Pakistan had a game to play on Sunday, and India announced a rest day.The evening began with India doing a bronco drill with cones placed at 20, 40 and 60 metres distances. The squad split into three groups of five. Trainer Adrian Le Roux called the shots, Sitanshu Kotak kept score, while head coach Gautam Gambhir turned cheerleader. The exercise wasn’t about results as much as it was about simulating match-day conditions in the event that India field first in the heat.Once the lights took full effect, the players shifted into full-fledged centre-wicket nets. Friday had been about easing in, but Saturday had a sharper edge, perhaps even giving us a peek into combinations that are slowly beginning to emerge.Purely on evidence of the first two days, it seems as if Jitesh Sharma may have a slight edge over Sanju Samson as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper. He underwent extended batting stints on Saturday, with Gambhir watching closely from behind the nets. At one point, he appeared to advise Jitesh about some of his premeditated attempts at scoops and pick-up shots.The Indian team during their first training session ahead of Asia Cup 2025•Shashank Kishore/ESPNcricinfo LtdSamson, meanwhile, only took throwdowns to begin with and sat watching the other batters go through their paces. Just before the session wound down, though, he padded up and hit the ball far and long. Out came the pulls, flat-bats and some heaves that had him occasionally grimace at losing his shape.All told, there was little to suggest anything was off. His timing was crisp and the sound it made off the sweet spot had those patrolling the boundaries and beyond repeatedly running distances to fetch the ball hit into the outer periphery of the ICC Academy Ovals, some even into Pakistan’s training area.Long before Samson took guard, Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Tilak Varma were the first to stride out, followed by Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh. For the next 90 minutes, they faced a mix of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya.Then came a battery of local net bowlers that included three wristspinners and two left-arm seamers, all instructed to go flat out. India’s two throwdown specialists jumped in periodically, cranking up the pace whenever the session needed a jolt. India completed a four-hour-long training session close to 9pm.Sunday is rest day, with the Indian team lined up to have two more sessions in the lead-up to their Asia Cup opening game against UAE on September 10.

The three most expensive IPL spells have all come in the 2025 season

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2025The three most expensive IPL spells have all come in the 2025 season. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) fast bowler Will O’Rourke recorded the third-most-expensive IPL figures, conceding 74 runs in his four overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Lucknow on Tuesday. Earlier this season, Jofra Archer bowled the most expensive spell, leaking 76 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Mohammed Shami conceded 75 runs against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Hyderabad, entering second on the list. Here are some of the most expensive spells in IPL history:Will O’Rourke 0 for 74 vs RCB, IPL 2025O’Rourke was playing just his third game in the IPL having been brought in as Mayank Yadav’s replacement at LSG. Bowling the second over in LSG’s defence of 227, he was taken for five boundaries by Virat Kohli, as he gave away 22 runs off the over. He returned to bowl the eighth over and was hit for a six second ball by Rajat Patidar. But O’Rourke bounced back with wickets off the last two balls off the over, removing Patidar and Liam Livingstone to dent RCB. In the 14th over, he conceded 17 runs, with the on-song Jitesh Sharma hitting him for a four and a six. With RCB needing 28 off 18 balls, he was brought back to bowl the 18th over, but it did not go well – Jitesh smashed two fours and two sixes to kill off the chase and eventually seal RCB’s place in Qualifier 1.Related

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Mohammed Shami 0 for 75 vs PBKS, IPL 2025Shami might be among the best new-ball bowlers in India but the Hyderabad track and PBKS batters are sparing nobody. Prabhsimran Singh spoiled Shami’s day from his first over itself by carting him for three consecutive fours. Priyansh Arya, the other PBKS opener, went a step further by starting the third over with back-to-back sixes followed by a four and ended the over by dispatching a full toss over midwicket for six more. Shami then gave away 11 in his third over and would have been hopeful of conceding fewer in the 20th over when SRH were fighting back in the death overs. But Marcus Stoinis dashed those hopes by smoking four sixes on the leg side to end the innings and gave Shami forgettable figures.Jofra Archer 0 for 76 vs SRH, 2025Having entered the last auction as a last-minute addition after some back and forth with the ECB and a paycut in his central contact with them, Archer had the most inauspicious start to a new IPL season with his old side Rajasthan Royals (RR). He came on as first change after SRH had already racked up 55 in four overs and he was taken apart immediately by Travis Head for a 23-run over, which also included a wide. Head’s dismissal didn’t change Archer’s fortunes, though, as Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen carted him around for six more fours and three sixes to make him top this list.Mohit Sharma 0 for 73 vs DC, 2024Mohit Sharma was introduced in the 12th over of the Delhi Capitals (DC) innings in this game from 2024. Rishabh Pant welcomed him with a boundary and continued his assault in the subsequent overs. When Mohit returned to bowl the final over of the innings, Pant unleashed a flurry of sixes. He smashed the GT bowler for 6, 4, 6, 6 and 6, resulting in the most expensive spell in IPL history at the time.Basil Thampi 0 for 70 vs RCB, 2018A brutal night in Bengaluru saw SRH’s Basil Thampi have a torrid time in 2018. When Moeen Ali welcomed him into the attack with back-to-back sixes, it set the tone for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting unit to pile on the runs. AB de Villiers, Colin de Grandhomme and Sarfaraz Khan joined in, hitting Thampi for five fours and six sixes, resulting in a forgettable day.2:03

Hayden on Archer: ‘Not sure I’ve seen a poorer IPL bowling performance’

Yash Dayal 0 for 69 vs KKR, 2023Rinku Singh stunned everyone by smashing five sixes in the final over to pull off an astonishing heist against Gujarat Titans (GT). And it was GT’s Dayal who bore the brunt. Dayal was tasked with defending 29 runs in the last over, with his figures already 0 for 38. However, he couldn’t find an answer to Rinku’s barrage of sixes, ending with 0 for 69.Luke Wood 1 for 68 vs Delhi Capitals, 2024Gerald Coetzee had a stomach bug, and his replacement Luke Wood probably felt a bit queasy himself after his first three balls went for 14 thanks to the baseball-style hitting of Jake Fraser-McGurk. After conceding just eight in the second over, Wood was taken for two sixes by Shai Hope in his third. In his fourth, Tristan Stubbs decided Wood had been hit in front of the wicket enough and hit four consecutive boundaries with scoops and reverse-scoops. The over ended up going for 26.Reece Topley 1 for 68 vs SRH, 2024RCB were hammered for the highest team total in IPL history at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, and it was Reece Topley who felt the heat the most. Despite taking the wicket of Abhishek Sharma, Topley’s figures were 1 for 43 after three overs. His final over turned into a nightmare when Abdul Samad hit 4, 4, 6, 6 and 4, helping SRH surpass the record team total of 263 runs.

England spinner is quietly optimistic as she embarks on her second 50-over World Cup campaign

Andrew Miller19-Sep-2025England’s women begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa in Guhawati on October 3, but their training camp in the UAE is already well underway. On Thursday, the squad took on New Zealand in a warm-up fixture at Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi, and with figures of 3 for 36 in nine overs, Charlie Dean emerged from a handy three-wicket win as the pick of the bowlers on show.It’s been a significant few months for Dean. In August, she took charge of London Spirit in the Women’s Hundred, stepping into the void created by Heather Knight’s hamstring injury to guide her team to the Eliminator, where they were beaten by eventual champions Northern Superchargers. And now, as a 24-year-old offspinner with four years of international experience, she’s about to embark on her second 50-over World Cup campaign, in India no less.”It’s a really exciting place to be a spinner,” Dean told ESPNcricinfo, prior to the squad’s departure for the UAE. “I guess it comes with a bit of pressure, because you know that the conditions might suit you. But equally, there’s a lot of excitement about the opportunity that that brings.”Dean has travelled as part of a four-prong spin attack – and a familiar one at that. Despite the sense, when Charlotte Edwards took over as head coach in March, that a refresh of England’s stocks might be in order, the inherent skill of the team’s frontline options has again been trusted for this latest global tournament.Dean is once again joined in the squad by Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn and Linsey Smith – all four of whom took the field together in England’s opening match of the T20 World Cup, against Bangladesh at Sharjah, this time last year.The less said about the rest of that winter – from England’s grim World Cup exit against West Indies to their 16-0 points whitewashing in the Ashes. Ecclestone, in particular, became the focus of media criticism and subsequently took a mental-health break in the early part of the season while also managing a quad injury. But Dean is adamant that lessons have been learned, on and off the pitch, as they set about restoring their reputation as a team that can challenge at the major events.”Since the Ashes, we’ve all gone away and really tried to upskill ourselves, on and off the pitch,” she said. “I’m looking forward to getting out there with Linsey, Soph and Sarah, and hopefully we can complement each other well, like we have done previously.”Eccles, she is the No. 1 bowler in the world. When I watch her bowl in the nets, I’m just like, wow, she’s insanely skillful and impressive, and she’s been working really hard.Fielding has been an issue for England, but Dean is among the best catchers in their squad•Getty Images”I know Glenny has changed her action a little bit too,” Dean added of her Spirit team-mate, who featured just twice for England this summer, most recently against West Indies in June. This week she announced a change of scene too, with a new deal to join Yorkshire from The Blaze in 2026.”She’s done a little bit of work on her run-up, and it’s feeling a lot smoother,” Dean said. “It’s brilliant that she’s back in the squad after being left out a little bit this summer. And that just proves that, if you go well in domestic and county cricket, you can get back in.”The net result is an England team that will hope to be the same, but different, three years on from their runners-up finish at the last 50-over World Cup in New Zealand. Back then, they were clearly the best of the rest behind a still-dominant Australia, with Nat Sciver-Brunt – their new captain – putting in a heroic display in the final. Now, however, with India primed for a deep run on home soil, England’s expectations are arguably diminished.”We’re in a bit of a rebirth kind of era with Nat coming in as captain, and Lottie as coach,” Dean said. “Hopefully that brings a new lease of life for some of the girls who have been around for a while. So it feels like a really exciting time for us. We’re trying to do a lot of learning and growth in a short period of time, so it feels like a perfect opportunity to see where we’re at.”Coming in, more as dark horses, is probably a great place for us to be,” she added. “We know that on our best day, we can beat any team. We just need to pull out all the stops on that day.”There is a lot of experience in that team, so hopefully we can bounce back from the Ashes, which was a pretty tough time, but we all know that we are better cricketers than we showed over there. Hopefully we can keep practising and training under pressure, and be able to perform in the games that count.”Related

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That, unfortunately, was clearly not the case in England’s infamous exit from the T20 World Cup, when the team collectively lost their heads in a chaotic West Indies powerplay. Edwards’ predecessor, Jon Lewis, was even obliged to come onto the field during the drinks break in an attempt to pull them out of a tailspin.Dean is hopeful that, on Edwards’ watch, many of those traits have now been ironed out – particularly in the course of a hard-fought home summer against India. Though England lost both white-ball series – 2-1 in the ODIs and 3-2 in the T20Is – the fact that they were put under pressure across eight high-octane fixtures was arguably more helpful than a run of stress-free victories.”Lottie brings in this air of calmness,” Dean said. “When she explains the game, she makes cricket seem like common sense, and half the time, it really isn’t. The way she thinks about the game is so clear. And that brings a clarity to the group as well.”No matter the result of the game, we just keep learning from it. All she wants to see from us is growth. And that fits with my way of playing as well. I’m trying to be smarter and play each game situation, rather than just the same script for every game that you play.”Arguably the barometer for England’s performances will be their fielding. It was notably poor at key moments of their last winter campaign, although Dean has consistently stood out as one of the better catchers in the line-up – a trait that she demonstrated in last month’s Hundred with a spectacular one-handed take off Oval Invincibles’ Marizanne Kapp.”We practice day in and day out,” she said. “The narrative of our fielding is it isn’t particularly good, so it comes to me as almost a challenge to prove everyone wrong. Because I know how hard the team is working and how good we can be.”It’s about flipping that narrative and seeing it as a way that we can really show off and prove people wrong. If we see that in little windows, then that’s perfect. Hopefully we can really push towards this World Cup and onwards.”Being a cricketer is all about getting better and learning on your journey. As long as people commit to that, then we don’t care if someone drops a catch, as long as the right attitudes and processes are going on behind the scenes, then we control that narrative. Everyone’s working hard to get better, and I guess that’s all you can ask.”

Ben Jacobs was full of praise for one Manchester United player in their draw with Tottenham Hotspur, comparing him to an Old Trafford treble winner.

Matthijs de Ligt struck deep into stoppage time to rescue Manchester United a 2-2 draw after a dramatic finale at Tottenham. This repeat of the Europa League final in May looked set to go the way of Ruben Amorim’s improving team after Bryan Mbeumo haunted old Brentford boss Thomas Frank with a goal in the 32nd minute.

It sparked boos at half-time from a disgruntled Spurs fanbase which has seen only three home wins in the Premier League in 2025, but the hosts’ turned it around with substitute Mathys Tel able to produce an 84th-minute equaliser.

When Richarlison deflected in a shot by the excellent Wilson Odobert in the first minute of stoppage time, Frank looked set to get the statement home win in the league his five-month tenure had lacked.

Yet wild home celebrations were followed by more late drama as De Ligt powered home a header from a corner in the sixth minute of added time to earn United a 2-2 draw and extended their unbeaten run under Amorim to five matches.

In a dramatic game full of twists and turns, Jacobs picked out one Man United player who enjoyed a display comparable to a former treble winner in the highest praise that he could receive.

Reporter compares Lammens to Schmeichel

Lammens enjoyed an excellent display and was only five minutes away from keeping a clean sheet, only for Spurs to climb back into the game. The two goals didn’t take away from the goalkeeper’s performance, however, with saves from Joao Palhinha and Cristian Romero particularly standing out.

It’s also worth noting that both goals that Lammens conceded suffered deflections, leaving him with no chance in the United net.

Jacobs was one of many to share praise for the summer signing, going as far as to say that he’s Peter Schmeichel “in disguise” following his save from Romero in the second-half.

By the time the full-time whistle sounded, Lammens had made two diving saves and made five recoveries in a solid display. As every game goes by, he’s looking more and more like an excellent signing and the much-needed upgrade on Andre Onana that United have been desperate for.

Amorim’s side are now five games unbeaten in what marks significant improvement on their previous form. Heading into the international break, things are finally looking up for those at Old Trafford. Mbeumo is firing on all cylinders, Lammens is performing and European qualification once again feels like a realistic goal.

Man Utd preparing club-record bid for "world-class" star

There is a feeling that Manchester United’s recruitment has turned a corner this season, even with Ruben Amorim’s side still languishing in mid-table in the Premier League.

Bryan Mbeumo, for instance, has already scored six times for the club, while Senne Lammens has tasted defeat just once in his first six games in the sticks.

More is expected of both Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko – who have scored only three goals between them – yet there have certainly been reasons for encouragement, not least the Brazilian’s stellar showing away at Anfield.

That almost £250m quartet have made an impact, no doubt about it, with the INEOS regime looking to have learned from the mistakes of the previous summer – and those that came before them.

Sancho vs Antony: Who was the worst signing?

The beauty of Mbeumo is that the former Brentford man – signed for around £71m – has hit the ground running. He is delivering what supporters would have hoped for, and more.

That certainly hasn’t been the case for United forwards of the recent past, with far too many expensive gambles having backfired, not least in the case of Jadon Sancho and Antony.

Starting with Sancho, the £73m man was courted for over a year before arriving in the summer of 2021 for what looked like a knockdown price at the time, having chalked up 107 goals and assists in 137 appearances during his first spell at Borussia Dortmund.

Hampered by an ear infection, the Englishman never really got going right from the off, in truth, overshadowed too by the subsequent capture of Cristiano Ronaldo.

After such a drawn-out saga, there was a muted excitement when Sancho did arrive, while he subsequently produced mere moments of quality, including the opener in Erik ten Hag’s first win against Liverpool.

The 25-year-old – now on loan at Aston Villa – has been truly forgettable, while Antony’s 2022 signing remains regrettable, with United forking out £86m on a player who was valued at around £25m just a year or so earlier.

A Ten Hag favourite at Ajax, the mercurial Brazilian did score in his first three league games, but that was about as good as it got in Manchester for the much-maligned left-footer.

Two statement goals did follow that season against Real Betis and Barcelona in the Europa League, albeit with that only heightening the belief that he is more suited to a league like LaLiga, where he is currently thriving.

He did at least have those moments, alongside his FA Cup strike against Liverpool, perhaps giving him the edge in the wooden spoon battle with Sancho – not least with expectations having been quite so high for the ex-England international.

Cost

£86m

£73m

Games

96

83

Goals

12

12

Assists

5

6

PL Games

62

58

PL Goals

5

9

PL Assists

3

6

Miserable marquee moves have, of course, followed since, but INEOS might well have made the worst of them.

Man Utd's biggest waste since Antony and Sancho

£70m might have been spent on Casemiro in that same summer as Antony’s arrival, but for all his flaws, the ageing midfielder is still an important figure for Amorim.

Rasmus Hojlund, at £72m, is another questionable, costly deal of recent times, although the Dane did at least finish his first season as the club’s top scorer in all competitions.

Looking back to last summer, too, the investment in Matthijs de Ligt is beginning to bear fruit, while, despite a shaky showing against Everton, Leny Yoro still looks destined to be a star of the future.

The same, unfortunately, cannot be said of another high-profile capture from that INEOS-led window, in the form of £50m man, Manuel Ugarte.

Now, the merits of selling Scott McTominay can continue to be debated, although the real issue is that having sold the Scotland star for £26m, the club then spent almost double on what only looks to be a downgrade in the midfield ranks.

Indeed, while McTominay has gone to secure Ballon d’Or nods and Scudetto triumphs, Ugarte has remained a polarising presence at Old Trafford, having struggled right from the off following his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain.

Neglected by Ten Hag, the reunion with Amorim initially looked set to be a fruitful one for the Uruguayan, having memorably put in a standout showing at Anfield in January.

Just four months later, however, the 24-year-old was merely an unused substitute in the Europa League final, having reportedly been given a dressing down by Amorim at Carrington in the wake of that defeat.

Like Donny van de Beek before him, even linking up with a former manager hasn’t helped to spark his United career into life, with Ugarte again notably overlooked during Monday’s defeat to Everton.

In the words of his manager, the £120k-per-week flop is “struggling” right now, with his woes on the ball particularly evident.

Among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues this season, he ranks in just the bottom 15% for progressive passes and the bottom 20% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

The £50m man – who has two goals and six assists in 55 games for the club to date – has only actually started two league games this season, with Amorim favouring the experience of Casemiro ahead of him in that midfield two.

Entering what is a pivotal second season for Ugarte, he is showing no signs of being a player for the long term at Old Trafford, with midfield improvements drastically needed in 2026.

To have forked out such a substantial fee for a truly limited player – one described as “embarrassing” earlier this season by journalist Alex Turk – reflects poorly on the INEOS regime, with the ‘struggling’ asset already heading the way of Antony and Sancho as a notable transfer misfire.

Not Lammens: Man Utd flop is becoming their biggest liability since Onana

Manchester United have a player who has massively failed to deliver at Old Trafford since his transfer.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 27, 2025

Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz had himself a night Friday as he powered his team to a 15-3 win over the Houston Astros.

He smacked four home runs out of Daikin Park in Houston, becoming the first rookie in MLB history to hit four homers in one game. It wasn't just the long ball, either. He wrapped up the night a perfect 6-for-6 from the plate with eight RBIs, 19 total bases and six runs scored.

The No. 4 pick in the 2024 MLB draft set plenty of firsts with his historic night, making a case for the best single-game performance ever. Here's a list of the feats Kurtz accomplished with his massive game:

First rookie in MLB history to hit four home runs in one gameFirst player in MLB history to finish a game with at least six hits, six runs and eight RBIsTies a single-game record for total bases (19, Shawn Green)Ninth game in MLB history with six or more runs scored (first since 2004)First player in MLB history with at least four home runs, six hits and eight RBIs in one gameBecomes the 20th player in MLB history with four home runs in one gameFirst player in A's history with a four-homer gameSecond A's hitter with at least five hits and three homers in a game (Jimmie Foxx, 1932)Second game with at least six hits and four homers in MLB history (Shawn Green, 2002)First player in MLB history to have a game with at least four homers, five extra-base hits, six hits, six runs and eight RBIs

Quite the night for the 22-year-old slugger. The wild evening continues what's been an amazing stretch for Kurtz. Per the A's, he's leading the American League in nearly every batting stat over the month of July, including batting average, OPS, home runs and RBIs.

His four home runs gives him 23 on the year. He's now slashing .305/.374/.686 with 56 RBI alongside the 23 dingers.

Look how close he was to becoming the first player ever to hit five home runs in a game, too:

Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson has explained why Ryan Reynolds, Rob Mac and the rest of the club’s board are already planning for life in the Premier League. The Red Dragons have enjoyed a meteoric rise under Hollywood co-owners and continue to make no secret of the fact that their ultimate objective is to deliver top-flight football to the Racecourse Ground.

History makers: Record run of promotions for Wrexham

A historic run of three successive promotions, lifting them out of the National League and into the Championship, has the Welsh outfit needed to take just one more step up the ladder in order to reach the big time. Big money has been invested while chasing that dream.

The odd stumble has been endured this season – with the second tier presenting more problems than the third, fourth and fifth did – but Phil Parkinson’s side are aiming high and cannot be written out of the top-six picture just yet.

Play-off heartache has been endured in the past, but Wrexham are prepared to tread that path again if necessary. They have cleared every hurdle placed in front of them so far and remain confident that they can be competitive among the elite once a standing at that level is secured.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALUltimate target: Premier League now within reach

Ambitious projects on and off the pitch are being lined up, with Williamson telling of how Wrexham are preparing for a Premier League future: “I think during pre-season, before we had announced a lot of players, I made the comment that I want us to be competitive. I want us to be in and around a play-off spot, which if you're sitting 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, you can see how tight this league is and how many points make the difference between that.

“I felt if we were in that kind of position in the table, that if we gave ourselves a chance to make a run for a play-off spot and then ultimately if we were in the play-offs, with the momentum we have and the mentality that this group has and the mentality that our supporters have, I know we haven't done historically well in play-offs but I felt that this was one of those situations where I wouldn't put anything by us.

“The objective was to be competitive and to show that we could go toe-to-toe with any club in the Championship and so far this season, that's what you've seen. In fact, I'd argue that you could see us with several more points if you look at some of the matches where we've had leads that we've given it up for a draw or even starting from the very first one at Southampton where we gave up a goal in the 89th and the 95th minute to lose three points or even one point there.

“I think we could definitely be higher in the table than we are today but the important part is that we've shown that it doesn't matter which club we're playing against in this league, we can go to toe-to-toe with anyone and come out ahead of it.

“From my perspective now, how do we build on and off the pitch to prepare ourselves for when that time comes that we do arrive to the Premier League? It's ultimately our objective, I think everyone is clear of that by now.”

Ambitious plans: Wrexham ready for the top-flight

Williamson added on the Red Dragons facing every challenge head on: “It will be interesting to see where this ends up at the end of the season but for us, we need to be ready whether it's the end of this season, the season after that, or the season after that.

“We need to be prepared on and off the pitch for what it means to arrive to the Premier League because as much of a step up, with challenges both on and off the pitch, that it was going from League One to the Championship – and it is a massive step – it's an even larger, more significant step from the Championship to the Premier League in all those areas.

“It's just making sure that we are in the best position possible so that when we do arrive, just like we did when we were in League One when we arrived at the Championship, that we were in a place where we could build off the foundations and be prepared for it. It's the same thing we're trying to do for when we arrive in the Premier League.”

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GettyWrexham 2025-26: League standing, points total & next fixture

Wrexham have reached the third international break of the 2025-26 campaign sat 13th in the Championship table. They have picked up 21 points from 15 games, leaving them only four adrift of the play-offs in what is a congested division.

The odd question has been asked of Parkinson’s methods this term, despite all that has been achieved during his tenure, and he will be looking to silence more doubters when the Red Dragons return to action on November 22 with a trip to Ipswich.