As the NFL power rankings hit the midseason point, it's more than simply ranking teams. This is the perfect time to see what each team needs to do to up its performance, or, more accurately, which players on each team need to step up their games.
So that's what we have going this week. Our NFL Nation reporters selected one player on their teams who can most help their squads by producing more down the stretch. From running backs who haven't quite hit their stride to defenders who have more to give, we're calling people out -- in a way. Our power panel -- a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities -- evaluates how teams stack up throughout the season.
Getting Wynn back from injured reserve (he is eligible to play Nov. 17 at Philadelphia) -- and keeping him healthy -- would go a long way toward solidifying an offensive line that has not been able to consistently create openings for the running game. Veteran Marshall Newhouse has filled in admirably, and the Patriots are in good shape at 8-0, but one could also argue they are living dangerously by not having the running game to help settle things down. Without it, there is too much pressure on Tom Brady and the passing attack. -- Mike Reiss
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Ryan: 49ers are the best team in the NFL
Rex Ryan considers the 49ers the best team in the NFL because of their defense and strong, run-heavy offense.
It hasn't been entirely his fault, as he has had to deal with a game of musical long snappers, but Gould has missed seven field goals in his first seven games, more than he has ever missed in a season. By his own admission, it's one of the worst streaks of his career, and improvement is necessary as the Niners inevitably get into some closer games. Original long snapper Kyle Nelson is back from suspension, which should help, but the Niners will need more from Gould & Co. over the season's final half. -- Nick Wagoner
Although the Saints have been extremely successfully relying on WR Michael Thomas and his league-leading 73 catches, they need to find more reliable targets. No other Saints WR or TE has more than 20 catches this season -- an issue that was also their Achilles' heel down the stretch last season. Cook, who joined the team in free agency this year to help address that problem, was starting to come on a little with his first two TD catches of the season in Weeks 5 and 6 but has missed the past two games with an ankle injury. The Saints could really use a second-half boost from him. -- Mike Triplett
King has gotten over the first hurdle: staying healthy. After two injury-filled seasons in which he missed more games (17) than he played (15), he has appeared in all eight games so far this season. At times, he's been productive (he has a team-high three interceptions), but he's also had his breakdowns. The Packers are going to need to cut down on the explosive pass plays allowed, and King could help do that. -- Rob Demovsky
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Stephen A.: Rodgers not the MVP, yet
Stephen A. Smith wouldn't put Aaron Rodgers as the MVP favorite right now due to his inconsistent play in the beginning of the season.
The Chiefs benched McCoy on Sunday night against the Packers after he lost his second fumble of the season, this one leading to a Green Bay touchdown. McCoy is too valuable to the Chiefs -- particularly when they're playing without Patrick Mahomes -- to be on the bench. He's their most talented back with the ball in his hands. "He's not a fumbler," coach Andy Reid said. "That's not been his deal. ... He'll work on it. He's a pro." McCoy needs to fix the problem fast. -- Adam Teicher
Honestly, you can insert any Baltimore outside linebacker in this spot. The Ravens have recorded a meager 12 sacks, the fifth-lowest total in the league, and they've lost Pernell McPhee to a season-ending triceps injury. That means Baltimore needs Judon to take it to the next level as a leader and pass-rusher. Judon has four sacks this season, and the Ravens will need more from him considering the other pass-rushers -- Tyus Bowser, Jaylon Ferguson and Jihad Ward -- are not top-tier threats from the edge. -- Jamison Hensley
Barring a trade for another team's starter, the Seahawks will turn to Hunt at center now that Justin Britt is out with a knee injury. Hunt is a bit undersized but is known for his intelligence, which should serve him well -- though he takes over with only three starts in his first 3.5 NFL seasons. Hunt will be a restricted free agent after this season. Britt, meanwhile, is scheduled to have the third-highest cap number among centers -- $11.67 million -- in the final year of his contract next season as he comes off a serious injury. This is very much an audition for Hunt. -- Brady Henderson
Elflein's move from center to left guard has come with its share of struggles. The third-year offensive lineman averaged two pressures per game in the first eight weeks, allowed four sacks and has been flagged five times. The Vikings moved Elflein to left guard because they felt it would be a better fit with rookie Garrett Bradbury at center, but the left side of the offensive line has taken a hit with Elflein's struggles in pass protection. His run blocking has been great, so if Elflein can improve his blocking when Kirk Cousins drops back to pass, the Vikings will be able to routinely create clean pockets. -- Courtney Cronin
With J.J. Watt out for the year with a torn pectoral muscle, Mercilus is the only proven pass-rusher on the roster right now. He had a strong first half of the season (5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception) but will need to continue to get to the quarterback if Houston is going to put any pressure on opponents for the rest of the season. -- Sarah Barshop
Gurley has yet to have a signature game in 2019, which perhaps shouldn't come as a surprise given the amount of offseason speculation about the health of his left knee and his tempered workload throughout training camp. However, the Rams and Gurley have repeatedly stated that his health is fine, which means it's time -- with eight games remaining in the season -- for the Rams to turn up his workload and for Gurley to prove that he still remains a dynamic playmaker who can power his team to a deep playoff run. -- Lindsey Thiry
Campbell, a speedster out of Ohio State, has been dealing with injuries most of his rookie season. He missed a significant portion of training camp due to a hamstring injury and just returned from a two-game absence following abdominal surgery. Campbell, a second-round pick, is the perfect player to fit in coach Frank Reich's offensive scheme because he can be used a number of ways. But he has totaled only 10 receptions for 62 yards in five games this season. A strong second half of the season will help Campbell move up the depth chart, where there's no obvious No. 2 receiver behind T.Y. Hilton. -- Mike Wells
Smith leads the Cowboys in tackles, has two sacks, two tackles for loss, two pass deflections and two quarterback hurries, but he has not played as well as he played last season, which is why the coaches moved to a rotation of sorts between Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, Sean Lee and Joe Thomas. Smith had his best game of the season against Philadelphia in Week 7. He was active, forced a fumble and was involved in sideline-to-sideline plays. Considering the strength of schedule and some of the offenses remaining, Smith has to be at his best if the defense is going to be feared. -- Todd Archer
From Weeks 10 through 17 last season, only 14 wide receivers had more yards than Foster -- and none had has many yards with his number of catches. In fact, his 20.4 yards per reception led all receivers with at least 15 catches in that time frame. This year, however, he has been active for only four games and is without a catch on just four targets. The Bills have shifted toward a more intermediate passing game, but Foster's ability to take the top off a defense would alleviate some of Buffalo's offensive struggles. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Cox is finally starting to round into form following offseason foot surgery. He has 2.5 sacks this season, all coming in his past two games. The Eagles have had issues on all three levels of their defense, but many of those issues would lessen if Cox can reemerge as a line-busting game-wrecker. -- Tim McManus
Samuel was the de facto MVP of training camp and had a great rapport with Cam Newton, but that hasn't carried over to the regular season with Newton or Kyle Allen. He has 27 catches on 54 targets for only two touchdowns. He hasn't taken the pressure off Christian McCaffrey to carry the offensive load or become the consistent deep threat that opens up the offense. -- David Newton
Flowers already started picking up his game in Sunday's win over the Giants with two sacks, but the Lions didn't give him a five-year, $90 million contract to merely sometimes make plays. He has been hurt, somewhat, by Detroit using three rushers a decent amount at the beginning of the season, but for the Lions to have a better second half, they need more pressure (not necessarily sacks, but at least pressure) from Flowers. Forcing teams to account for him more will open up lanes for Romeo Okwara, Jarrad Davis and Devon Kennard to get to the quarterback even if Flowers doesn't himself. -- Michael Rothstein
Mitchell Trubisky is too easy of an answer. The Bears have a multitude of issues beyond quarterback, and tight end is at the top of the list. Chicago signed Burton to a four-year deal that included $22 million in guarantees. Burton is making $6.8 million in 2019. The "U" tight end is a critical position in the Andy Reid style of offense, but Burton has 14 catches for 84 yards and zero touchdowns. -- Jeff Dickerson
Picking Tannehill is an easy choice because of how the Titans are built. The defense is one of the NFL's best. All Tennessee needs is for Tannehill to not turn the football over while capitalizing on turnovers the defense creates and put together a few quality drives to get points on the board. Tannehill needs to keep the offense's red zone efficiency going after leading the group to a perfect six scores in six visits inside the 20-yard line. If Tannehill can continue the success of his first two starts, the Titans will be a tough out down the stretch. -- Turron Davenport
This is not a slam on Carr, who entered last week with an NFL-best completion percentage of 74.1. Thing is, quarterbacks get too much glory when things are going well, too much blame when things go south. It's not Carr's fault the Raiders defense could not get off the field in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Texans, and it's not his fault Tyrell Williams had two costly drops in the fourth quarter. But if the Raiders want to run off a few victories in a row on this upcoming three-game homestand against the Lions, Chargers and Bengals, it starts with Carr limiting those inconsistent lapses. -- Paul Gutierrez
It's a little unfair to put pressure on the rookie third-round pick because he has played in only two games to this point (he missed the preseason and the first six games because of a hamstring injury,) but the Jaguars need to get something from the tight end position. Jaguars tight ends have combined for just 30 catches and are averaging only 8.4 yards per catch through eight games (second-lowest in the NFL). Oliver got his first two targets last weekend: He dropped the first and caught the other for 6 yards. The receivers are banged up, and Oliver needs to help offset that and give Gardner Minshew II/Nick Foles a reliable target in the middle of the field. -- Mike DiRocco
It's not entirely his fault that he has had a forgettable first half of the 2019 season. Losing Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2 hasn't helped the offense, but Smith-Schuster also needs to prove he's capable of being the No. 1 WR the team needs with the departure of Antonio Brown. Smith-Schuster has only 25 catches for 340 yards and two TDs through six games. He also had two TDs at this point a year ago, but he had nearly double the catches (42) to go with 561 yards. -- Brooke Pryor
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Stephen A: The Browns don't know how to play football
Stephen A. Smith doesn't think Freddie Kitchens should be the head coach of the Browns due to how many mistakes the team makes.
Though he's hardly alone among the Browns, even Mayfield would admit he hasn't played up expectations overall through the first half of the season. That said, there are signs of his turning a corner, including a steady effort Sunday in New England against the league's No. 1 defense. Continuing to limit the turnovers will obviously be paramount. If Mayfield can do that, the rest of the offense could finally begin to realize some of its potential. -- Jake Trotter
The Wisconsin product is off to a slow start since his return from a holdout, totaling 112 rushing yards (2.5 per carry) in four games. The Chargers are 1-3 in those contests. Head coach Anthony Lynn wants to create balance for an offense that's averaging just 19.6 points a game. That means Gordon and the offensive line have to get on the same page, generating more explosive runs and taking pressure off Philip Rivers to carry the offense with the passing game. -- Eric D. Williams
Johnson has yet to have a breakout game and has been hampered by injuries in the first half of the season. To step up in the second half, Johnson needs to produce 100-yard games on a regular basis, whether that's rushing or receiving. And to do that, he needs to be more consistent hitting holes, making players miss and creating after the catch. -- Josh Weinfuss
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Clark: Flacco needs to take accountability for Broncos' struggles
Ryan Clark asserts that Joe Flacco's postgame comments were unacceptable, suggesting his play through eight weeks is partially to blame for the Broncos' 2-6 record.
Player who needs to step up: A quarterback, any quarterback
The Broncos need one of their three 20-something quarterbacks -- Brandon Allen, Brett Rypien and Drew Lock, who have played a combined zero snaps in an NFL regular-season game -- to find some mojo. Joe Flacco will miss at least Sunday's game against the Browns with a herniated disk in his neck, and his season is in jeopardy. Right now that puts Allen, who was claimed off waivers Aug. 31 from the Rams, in the starting lineup. The Broncos will decide in the coming days if Rypien, a rookie, will be moved off the practice squad or if Lock, also a rookie, will be moved off injured reserve. Lock hasn't practiced since mid-August because of a right thumb injury (his throwing hand). -- Jeff Legwold
Winston is not getting a lot of help from the ground game, and his offensive line has had more than its share of hiccups, but he has two Pro Bowl-caliber receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and a top red zone target in tight end Cameron Brate. Turnovers, red zone incompletions and communication issues continue to plague the Bucs. That's where Winston comes in, not just as a QB, but as a team leader. -- Jenna Laine
This season is all about the No. 6 overall pick. The Giants need for Jones to continue to grow in this lost year. He can do that by improving his ball security and decision-making. Jones has 12 turnovers in six starts. That's too many. It would be promising to see him do better in that area over the final eight weeks. -- Jordan Raanan
Freeman hasn't been the same since undergoing season-ending, core-muscle surgery last year, but he has shown flashes of his old self. He entered this week's bye fresh off an eight-catch performance against the Seahawks. Now he has to string together a few 100-yard rushing games against some tough NFC South defenses. -- Vaughn McClure
The Jets' season already is a bust, leaving Darnold's development as the main storyline. After back-to-back stinkers (seven interceptions), he seems to be regressing behind a porous offensive line. Problems that plagued him in his final season at USC have resurfaced, which is to say he's pressing and making bad decisions under duress. It's on coach Adam Gase to clean up Darnold's bad habits. In theory, the schedule should help. They have six games against defenses ranked in the bottom eight in yards allowed. -- Rich Cimini
The problem here is that we don't yet know when he'll get the starting job this year. The Redskins would like him to sit as long as possible before playing him, but that doesn't mean there aren't ways he can still develop. The Redskins need him to have a firmer grasp on what they're doing and to prepare every week as if he is the starter. The coaches can help by providing more periods during and after practice to further develop him. Make no mistake: It's a shared responsibility. But Haskins also needs to first and foremost give them a reason to believe he's ready. -- John Keim
Mixon's season has been disappointing for various reasons. The AFC's leading rusher from a year ago has failed to score a rushing touchdown and has four games with 20 rushing yards or fewer (yes, that's not a typo). Most of the blame falls on a very inefficient offense and an offensive line that has struggled to open holes. However, Mixon earns the nod since he carries the most potential of anyone on the roster. He'll need to take advantage of opportunities to reel off big runs, even if they've been rarer than anticipated in 2019. -- Ben Baby
First, Wilson has to stay healthy for the rest of the season and return to the explosive YAC monster he was before hip and lower body injuries slowed him down. He has missed four games this season and hasn't made the game-changing impact he flashed early in 2018. Wilson has eight games left to show he can be an explosive playmaker worthy of being a part of the Dolphins' long-term future. A second half of the season that consists of 35 catches for 400 yards would be a strong goal for Wilson to pursue. -- Cameron Wolfe
HOUSTON -- When Stephen Strasburg made his first major league start for the Washington Nationals, on June 8, 2010, fans lined up outside Nationals Park hours before the game -- some waiting since morning for the Tuesday night game. Team officials referred to the game as "Strasmas," the highly anticipated debut of the pitcher the Nationals had drafted a year earlier, a player many scouts had called the greatest pitching prospect they had ever seen.
The Nationals issued more than 200 media credentials and hired extra security guards and ushers. More than 40,000 fans packed the ballpark -- the Nationals would draw under 19,000 the next day -- and watched their new pitcher dominate the Pirates over seven innings. He twice hit 100 mph on the radar gun, a notable achievement at a time when Aroldis Chapman had yet to reach the majors and make 100 a regular thing. Strasburg struck out the final seven batters he faced, finishing with 14 K's, and his 94th and final pitch was 99 mph. He left to a standing ovation.
Anything was possible.
More than nine years later, we've gotten to this point. Tuesday night is Game 6 of the World Series, and Strasburg will make the biggest start of his career in the biggest game in Nationals history, looking to push the World Series to a seventh game against one of the best teams in the sport's history. In many ways, of course, it will be a defining moment for Strasburg. Of course, we've also spent his entire career trying to define it for him.
As Strasburg transformed from a chubby freshman at San Diego State who threw 37 innings -- all in relief -- into the flamethrowing junior who had scouts and baseball people in awe of his talents, we put him into the Hall of Fame as soon as the Nationals drafted him first overall in 2009. When he blew out his elbow 11 starts after that debut and had Tommy John surgery, we decided what that meant. When he returned in 2012 and was shut down for the postseason, we pilloried him (and the Nationals). As he battled nagging injuries at various points in his career, we said he couldn't stay healthy. When he signed a seven-year, $175 extension with the Nationals, we called him overpaid.
It's never been enough -- and that hasn't been fair. Because here we are and Strasburg, now 31, is pitching better than ever and is in the midst of a terrific postseason. He's one of the best starters in the game and might be just entering the best seasons of his career. It is enough.
Strasburg doesn't say much in interviews. His prestart media conferences during the playoffs are standard fare about facing the opposition, treating it like any other game and executing his pitches. Colleague Buster Olney calls Strasburg a very private person. Maybe that has created a certain image in the media. At the beginning of the postseason, during the division series against the Dodgers, he said, "I just learned over the years that pressure's a funny thing. I think it's something you have complete control over."
That mindset has helped Strasburg get to this point. He's 4-0 this postseason with a 1.93 ERA over four starts and one relief appearance. He has 40 strikeouts and just two walks over 28 innings, and the Nationals have won all four of his starts. His career postseason ERA is 1.34 over 47 innings. If the baseball writers gave out an award akin to the NHL's Conn Smythe for the most valuable player of the playoffs, Strasburg might be the front-runner -- particularly if he can shut down the Astros in Game 6.
He has been in complete control. He had a healthy season, making 33 starts, and the pitcher who always missed time led the National League in innings pitched. "I think mechanically I've been able to be a little bit more consistent when I go out there and pitch," he said prior to Game 5. "Just made some minor tweaks in the offseason training program. I kind of put more emphasis on just strength, not so much endurance, and trying to get my weight up. And I was able to kind of ride that throughout the year."
On media day before the start of the World Series, Strasburg mentioned how he often likes to watch the bullpen sessions of his fellow starters. He said that might sound a little strange, that he has nothing in common with a slider-heavy left-hander like Patrick Corbin (Strasburg rarely throws his slider these days) or an off-speed specialist like Anibal Sanchez (Strasburg throws much harder). He said there's always something to learn.
All along, maybe we've underestimated Strasburg's competitiveness or how much he enjoys pitching. He's become a craftsman on the mound, and if you watch the way he mixes in his curveball and his drop-dead changeup, you can appreciate how he's evolved from the electric-armed youngster to a thinking man's pitcher -- albeit one who still averages 94 mph with his fastball.
The other thing we've underestimated all along: just how good he is. Among active pitchers with at least 1,000 innings, Strasburg's 3.17 ERA ranks sixth behind only Clayton Kershaw, Jacob deGrom, Chris Sale, Madison Bumgarner and Corey Kluber. His strikeout rate ranks third behind Sale and Yu Darvish. He just finished his age-30 season, but look how he compares with teammate Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander, his Game 6 opponent, through the same age:
Strasburg: 112-58, 3.32 ERA, 1,438 IP, 1,695 SO, 130 ERA+, 32.6 WAR
Scherzer: 105-62, 3.46 ERA, 1,468 IP, 1,597 SO, 120 ERA+, 30.6 WAR
Verlander: 137-77, 3.41 ERA, 1,772 IP, 1,671 SO, 127 ERA+, 40.7 WAR
Scherzer and Verlander have had some of their best years in their 30s. It wouldn't be surprising to see Strasburg do the same. In some fashion, if you can reach age 30 with your stuff and your arm intact, good things lie ahead, kind of a Darwinian theory of survival. Strasburg's next five seasons might be his best five seasons.
Those might not necessarily come in a Nationals uniform, however. Strasburg has an opt-out clause in his contract, which is set to pay him $100 million over the next four seasons. If he decides to test free agency, he could get more long-term money than that.
For now, the focus remains Game 6. The Nats believe Strasburg is the man to keep them alive -- even as they scored just three runs in their three home losses after winning the first two games in Houston.
"We have Stephen Strasburg on the mound, who has been unbelievable for us this year," manager Dave Martinez said Monday. "The guys feel good. We were talking last night after the press conference, and they're all upbeat. This is way far from over."
In his Game 2 start against the Astros, Strasburg held Houston to two runs over six innings -- giving up two runs in the first inning and then throwing five scoreless frames. His changeup and curveball have been lethal in the postseason, with opponents hitting .152 against the changeup and .125 against the curveball. They have hit .368 against his four-seam fastball, however, and .391 against his two-seamer. As a result, Strasburg has cut down his usage of his four-seamer. In the regular season, he threw it 28% of the time. Against the Astros, he threw it on 17% of his 114 pitches. The two-run home run Alex Bregman hit off him, however, came off a changeup.
Maybe Strasburg will adjust. Maybe the Astros will adjust. Mostly, though, Strasburg will just pitch. "The important thing is to go out there and pound away and trust your stuff," he said Sunday.
Trust your stuff and carry your team to Game 7. Luckily he doesn't feel the pressure.
Over the weekend, the 2019 ITTF World Cadet Challenge kicked off in Wladyslawowo, Poland. In the competition, teams representing their respective continents compete against each other and in addition to these continental teams, the host team from Poland and a representation of the Hopes Team compete in the Challenge event.
Before the teams began their campaigns on Saturday, the players practiced under the expert guidance of one of Poland’s table tennis legends, Leszek Kucharski. Continental teams rotated practice with each other in the spirit of solidarity for three days. The practical element was complemented by two educational sessions, attended by both coaches and players.
The coach development expert Jerzy Grycan spoke about “”. Mr. Grycan is a former national team coach of Poland and Australia, and runs a company which specializes in education of coaches with a particular strength in player and match analysis.
Mr. Grycan introduced his audience to winning tactics and tools of top ranked players that set them apart from the others. His points were underlined by outtakes from matches that showed how these players were able to win points in specific situations.
With his broad knowledge on and off the table the Polish expert captured the interest and curiosity of the entire room. One aspect crystalized as his main takeaway: different styles in the same environment can make the players better champions for the future.
The course was well received and praised by the coaches present, with its relevance and usefulness endorsed by the largest group of coaches from the ITTF Hopes Team:
“As a team we found the analytical breakdown of matches and presentation of statistical information to be very interesting. Notably this is a process which is frequently overlooked by coaches and national teams in table tennis, especially with this level of detail and focus. The combination of presented data and visual video examples was extremely useful and we all take away some insightful thoughts to use in our future coaching careers.” ITTF Hopes Team
The second educational session was conducted by ITTF High Performance Elite Coach Massimo Costantini, who spoke about “”. He first explained the definitions of education, learning and training, before continuing to assess the purpose of this particular training.
Following on from this, he drew the connection between education and training, which he saw as being closely connected. Players were encouraged to participate in the session by drawing the connections themselves and taking into their personal experiences.
“I believe the process of of being educated, learning and training has to be a mixture of enjoyment, involvement and thinking. To convey this was my goal for the lecture.” Massimo Constantini
Inspired by the words of the experts, players and coaches finally kicked off the team competitions. In the end, Team Europe emerged victorious in the Girls’ competition, while Team Asia came out on top in the Boys’ event. Sensationally for ITTF, Team Hopes claimed the silver medal in both events!
After an intense two days, the organizers invited all participants on a tour of Gdansk’s old town during Monday’s cultural day. Led by a tour guide who elaborated on the city’s rich history, participants were invited to explore the famous Long Lane and Long Market in the old part of town, before venturing towards the docks to hear about Gdansk’s maritime trading history.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to the organizers for arranging this fantastic tour. Later that day, the Mixed Doubles draw took place, where players found out who they would be partnered with during the World Cadet Challenge’s Mixed Doubles competition.
The field is set for the Singles and Doubles events!
South Africa head coach Ressie Erasmus expects winger Cheslin Kolbe to be available for Saturday's World Cup final against England.
Kolbe, who has been described as an "X-factor player" by England full-back Elliot Daly, missed the semi-final win over Wales with an ankle injury.
But Erasmus said on Tuesday: "We are lucky enough to have all 31 players available and ready to train.
"It will probably be exactly the same 23, with Cheslin Kolbe coming back in."
Two-time winners South Africa have faced some criticism for their direct style of play and tactical kicking at the tournament in Japan, and Erasmus has already said the Springboks will "grind it out" against England in Tokyo on Saturday (09:00 GMT kick-off).
"You have to have some building blocks in place," he added on Tuesday.
"We have followed a certain route - according to the stats and the way the game is being refereed currently - and what it gives you is short-term results on the scoreboard.
"We certainly accept that there are some things in our game that we need to improve, and we take that on the chin.
"But we have put ourselves in a position to win the World Cup, which is where we want to be."
England wary of 'X-factor'
If he does return to their side, England full-back Daly expects South Africa to give Kolbe - who has scored seven tries in 13 Tests, including two at this World Cup, "as much of the ball as possible".
"He is one of their X-factor players," said Daly, who has faced the 26-year-old Toulouse winger at club level with former side Wasps.
"I have played against him a couple of times in Europe. He is a good player with very good feet.
"I don't think it will change their structure too much, but they will probably just try to give him the ball in space a bit more."
England defence coach John Mitchell became aware of the "fabulous" Kolbe while working in South Africa.
"He is well watched by a lot of fans because every time he touches the ball, he's exciting," said Mitchell.
Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde says he is glad their World Cup bronze match is against New Zealand.
South Africa beat Wales 19-16 in the semi-finals, while the All Blacks - champions in 2011 and 2015 - were outplayed by England.
Wales will now try to match the third-place finish they achieved in 1987 in Tokyo on Friday (09:00 GMT).
"I don't think it would be the same if we were facing somebody else," said former hooker McBryde.
"But not every team gets the opportunity to face them, especially in a World Cup."
"I'm glad the game exists because it's against the All Blacks," said ex-Wales hooker McBryde.
New Zealand are the only opposition Wales have not beaten under head coach Warren Gatland - who takes charge of the side for the last time on Friday - and they are looking to achieve a first victory over the three-time world champions since 1953.
"It's the only thing we haven't done and this is the last opportunity for us," said McBryde, who earned 37 caps for Wales as a player.
"Any time you face the All Blacks it will be a good encounter and a great experience.
"You can't shy away from it, you have to embrace it - facing the haka."
'Hansen, he's miserable as hell isn't he?'
Gatland's New Zealand counterpart Steve Hansen, who McBryde played under when he was Wales coach at the 2003 World Cup, will also be taking charge for the last time.
McBryde joked: "It would be good to get one over on Steve Hansen - he's miserable as hell isn't he?!"
"I can say that because I know him pretty well. I've got the utmost respect for them as a coaching team. We go back a long way.
"I look forward to crossing paths again - and if we manage to get one over on them, then brilliant."
Wales have decided not to fly anybody out to Japan to cover injuries to Liam Williams, George North and Tomas Francis.
The remaining squad are still coming to terms with semi-final defeat, but McBryde revealed they received a post-match reception to lift the spirits.
"We had a brief chat in the changing rooms, then we came back to the hotel as a group and had a fantastic welcome," said McBryde.
"It was a sea of red, all applauding the players back into the hotel and it's good for the players to see that."
Wales have received some criticism for their gameplan in Sunday's narrow semi-final defeat by South Africa, but McBryde says the squad were boosted by fans' reception and messages.
"We're in a bubble over here in Japan, but the number of messages we've had saying the nation is still proud of what we have achieved has been great.
"Anything that comes from outside our camp doesn't matter because they don't know what's going on. That's for other people to discuss."
McBryde has challenged his players to use that hurt of defeat as motivation in their final game of this year's tournament in Japan.
"There was a big disappointment after coming so close to making it to the final," said McBryde.
"We have to get rid of that now, focus on Friday and finish the job.
"We've been together for five months. It's an opportunity to go out there and show what we've been working on.
"It's the last game of the World Cup, playing against the All Blacks. It's a fantastic chance to go out there and just enjoy it."
This week represents the final game as a coaching group, with McBryde having been part of Gatland's backroom staff for the past 12 years.
After the World Cup, he will join Leinster as forwards coach, while Gatland is returning to New Zealand to lead the Chiefs in Super Rugby.
'What's the magic recipe? What's the secret?'
Wayne Pivac will take over from Gatland, with Stephen Jones and Jonathan Humphreys in his backroom staff, and McBryde is predicting a bright future.
"I've had my time but I'm jealous of any coach that is going to grab hold and work with these players," said McBryde.
"Look at the ages of some of them and the successful experiences they've had - knowing how to win games, being in tight situations, getting out of it on top.
"If you don't win, you're always wondering: 'What's the magic recipe? What's the secret?'
"Those players have experienced it first hand, so they know it's down to hard work and some of those values I've spoken about.
"Any coach coming in to work with these individuals, they have to be excited.
"The talent is there. Tomos Williams to name one who has stood out, Aaron Wainwright is another one.
"These are young men with bright futures."
McBryde's 'difficult time'
McBryde has experienced a traumatic few weeks following the death of his mother Diana while he has been out in Japan and he revealed how his family and the Wales squad had helped him cope.
"It's been a difficult time," said McBryde.
"I'm very fortunate to be surrounded by strong women in my life - my wife and my sisters.
"With their support I've been able to stay out here and just focus on the work.
"The players and the management out here have also made it a lot easier for me."
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Ron Watson, founder president of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, died Sunday evening at the age of 72, leaving a legacy of remarkable accomplishments in creating the MSHFA, then molding it into a respected organization that honors all forms of motorsports.
Watson, a native of Bloomington, Indiana, was a resident of Ormond Beach, Florida, along with his wife, Donna. They moved to Florida in 2016 when the MSHFA relocated from its longtime home in Detroit to Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Ron Watson
“Our thoughts are with Ron’s families – his own family, plus the huge extended family the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America represents,” said speedway president Chip Wile. “His tireless work ethic and commitment to making the hall of fame part of this nation’s motorsports fabric were something to admire. He was a great business associate – and a better friend.”
The MSHFA is housed in the speedway’s Ticket and Tours Building where it greets more than 100,000 guests annually. Watson made the move happen, working with Daytona Int’l Speedway and then-speedway President Joie Chitwood III. The relocation invigorated the MSHFA, which immediately became an integral part of the speedway’s immensely popular fan tours.
Prior to founding the MSHFA in 1989, Watson was a city councilman in Novi, Michigan (1977-89), including a stint as Novi Mayor Pro Tem (1981-85). Watson earned his undergraduate degree at Michigan State University and a law degree from Wayne State University. He practiced law from 1972-93. He was scheduled to retire from his position as MSHFA President in April, 2020 and be replaced by longtime MSHFA Board of Directors member George Levy. That transition had yet to be announced, having been approved by the board earlier this fall.
“Ron felt that motorsports needed a great hall of fame,” said Levy, “then worked tirelessly for the next 30-plus years to make that dream a reality. In so doing he built an institution that’s respected the world over and became himself one of the most important voices in the sport. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.”
In addition to Donna, Watson is survived in his immediate family by their children, a daughter Stephanie (Ted), son Brendan (Kate) and their beloved grandchildren.
Trying to predict the NHL Award winners after the first month of the season is like trying to prove that the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres will still be first-place teams come April. We can observe where they are currently. We can project what they might become eventually. But who in their right mind thought these teams would be in first place now, let alone expects them to be there months from now?
Nevertheless, it's time to survey the fields for the NHL's major 2019-20 hardware such as they are.
Here's the NHL Awards Watch for October. Again, this is a prediction of how I expect the voters would consider the current candidates, with a look at their merits. Keep in mind that the Pro Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) votes for the Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke and Lady Byng, broadcasters vote for the Jack Adams, and general managers handle the Vezina. Also keep in mind the "you gotta be in it to win it" protocol for the Hart and the Jack Adams.
Last season, McDavid finished third in the Hart voting despite his team's finishing 11 points out of a playoff spot. Imagine how many votes he'll get if the Oilers make the postseason! Though 12 games, they're a playoff team, and that can be directly credited to the play of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who each have 21 points in that span. McDavid has been on the ice for 14 of the Oilers' 21 even-strength goals and all 11 of their power-play goals. He has had more highlight-reel plays in a month than most players have in a season.
One could make the argument that Draisaitl is just as worthy of the Hart because one could make the argument that he has been even better than McDavid this season -- he's second to Alex Ovechkin in expected goals in all situations -- but it's hard to imagine him getting more support than McDavid, a magnet for postseason accolades. This is the plight of "the other guy" on a team with two superstars. Just ask Evgeni Malkin.
What McDavid didn't have through the first 12 games was the NHL points lead. That belonged to Pastrnak, the burgeoning superstar for the Bruins who was averaging an astounding 2.09 points per game. His line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron is next-level: The Bruins get 65.49% of the shots with the three of them together and 47.71% without any of the trio on the ice (at 5-on-5). That's evidence that the Bruins are being driven by this line, much like the Oilers are by the McDavid line. Yet it's easy to see voters putting McDavid over for the Hart when considering the perceived quality of the defending Eastern Conference champions vs. that of the Oilers.
The third Hart spot has a variety of possibilities, with Draisaitl, Marchand, Ovechkin, Nathan MacKinnon and Mark Stone among them. Sidney Crosby's seven-game point streak as the Pittsburgh Penguins lost Malkin to injury was a strong opening bid from the seven-time MVP finalist. He's right in the mix. But the call, for now, is Eichel.
The Sabres are one of the biggest stunners in the first month of the season, and Eichel's 17 points in 13 games can be seen as a catalyst. In the team's nine wins, he has 15 of his points. He's averaging 2.59 points per 60 minutes at even strength, right around the lead for the Sabres, and that's with eight of his points coming on the power play. The strongest Hart candidates, as far as vote-getters, are the ones who put some separation between themselves and their teammates in the scoring register; think Taylor Hall's win in 2018, when he finished 41 (!) points better than any Devils teammate. Eichel's up six on Jeff Skinner already.
But at the moment, it's a two-horse race for the MVP between McDavid and Pastrnak -- nless you believe Draisaitl is actually the Oilers' entry in said race.
If the vote were held today, would any other defenseman get one? Carlson has 21 points in his first 13 games. This is not an anomaly: Since 2017, Carlson (159 points) trails Brent Burns by only three points for the most among NHL defensemen. It's a hallmark of the Norris Trophy that the leading point-getter for blueliners is more often than not the favorite to win the award. Through 13 games, Carlson is eight points better than any other D-man.
That said, his underlying numbers at even strength aren't exactly stellar: He has an expected goals-scored percentage of minus-4.13 relative to his teammates and is on the negative side in shot attempts in most situations. Josi, in contrast, is at a 16.68% expected goals-scored relative to the rest of the Predators at 5-on-5. He was second to Carlson in points (13) through 11 games, starting just 46% of the time in the attacking zone. He's a plus-10 in goals at even-strength, with an individual expected goals of 1.23, and the Predators are a plus-61 in shot attempts with him on the ice. Carlson is without question the favorite for the Norris, but Josi might be the league's best defenseman early in the season.
Letang is Letang: strong numbers across the board, skating more than 25 minutes per game (usually critical minutes), scoring 10 points in 12 games. It's solid stuff, even with the Penguins in an injury flux early in the season. Shout-outs to Dougie Hamilton of the Carolina Hurricanes and Jake Muzzin of the Toronto Maple Leafs for being in the mix.
This is going to require an explanation of the voters' lizard brains for the Selke Trophy, in three acts.
Bergeron and Couturier are neck-and-neck at this point for the Selke. Both have been tremendous in preventing high-danger chances and passes to the slot. Both are doing their thing on possession, with the Flyers getting 65.38% of the 5-on-5 shot attempts with Couturier on the ice and the Bruins getting 58.70% with Bergeron out there. Couturier has an expected goals against per 60 minutes of 2.09, and Bergeron's at 1.72. No player with at least 100 faceoffs this season has a higher winning percentage than Couturier's (67.3) -- not even Bergeron (56.0).
Where the lizard brain comes in: Bergeron is the default Selke choice for many voters. He was a finalist the past two seasons -- and had 31 first-place votes on the 2019 ballot -- despite playing 65 games or fewer. That's OK. He's really good.
What puts him ahead of Couturier at this point is lizard brain, part deux: Couturier is currently a minus-7. In the past decade of voting, only one player with a minus rating has made the top three: Anze Kopitar in 2015, at a minus-2 with the Kings. Before that, the last time it happened was 2007. So one could get nominated, maybe. But one is not winning the Selke with a minus, per lizard brain rules.
Stone, meanwhile, is by reputation and observation one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL. He should have a Selke by now but doesn't because he plays on the wing rather than at center. He broke through and finished second to Ryan O'Reilly of the Blues in last season's Selke voting. His profile has never been higher, and for good reason: To watch Stone is to watch perhaps the NHL's best pickpocket since Pavel Datsyuk, as he has 14 takeaways in 13 games.
Here's the problem: Defensively, he hasn't been up to his standards this season. An expected goals against per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 of 1.94 goals is great. A minus-4 in even-strength goals differential and a .879 on-ice save percentage are less so. Vegas as a team has taken a hit defensively early.
Lizard brain tells us that preseason hype would be enough to get Stone a nomination now, despite all that. And Stone will be fine. But he has some catching up to do.
(Note: The NHL's general managers vote for this award.)
Rinne was 6-0-1 with a .960 even-strength save percentage, a 1.98 goals-against average and a shutout in his first seven games for the Predators. His backup, Juuse Saros, has an .872 save percentage in four appearances. The rest of the stats don't really matter when the glamour numbers are that gaudy, especially for the general managers voting.
But truth be told: Rask has been the better goalie. He leads the NHL with 7.65 goals saved above average and is third in expected goals saved above average (3.84). Every one of his six starts has been considered a quality one by that metric. As usual, playing behind the Bruins is its own reward in the eyes of many -- witness that 1.48 goals-against average -- but that .959 even-strength save percentage is right there with Rinne.
Fleury fits here as that "great goalie but also MVP" candidate for the Vezina. His numbers are good, with a 6.17 goals saved above average. The Golden Knights have openly discussed how his goaltending has been the difference between a middling start and a disastrous one. "We haven't been defending well at all. [Fleury] has been bailing us out," Max Pacioretty said recently. That's quite an endorsement.
Olofsson has cooled off from his torrid start, with two assists in five games after his six goals in seven games introduction. As of Monday, he led the NHL in goals and points by a rookie. Calder voters love when candidates make history, and Olofsson's scoring his first eight NHL goals on the power play (going back to last season) set an NHL record dating to 1934.
Makar was tied with Olofsson and Toronto's Ilya Mikheyev with 10 points as of Monday and obviously is in position to thrive with the Avalanche as a rookie defenseman. But coach Jared Bednar admitted that Makar was fighting the puck a bit this month. "It gets harder when you're playing with the big boys. You put a little more pressure on [yourself], and I just want him to relax and go play his game," he told the Denver Post.
Hughes has been good for the Canucks on defense, and he's second to Edmonton's impeccably named Ethan Bear in average time on ice (20:38) among rookies. He has seven points in 10 games. Both Hughes (65.71%) and Makar (64.29%) are being sheltered with offensive zone starts at 5-on-5, but that's to be expected.
Overall, the rookie race is just getting warmed up. Jack Hughes seems to be finding his comfort zone in New Jersey, Cody Glass is trying to earn a bigger role in Vegas, and no fewer than three goalies -- Washington's Ilya Samsonov, Vancouver's Thatcher Demko and Mackenzie Blackwood of the Devils -- could have a say before it's over.
Here's hoping Kaapo Kakko (one goal, one assist in nine games) joins the party, too. Because speaking from experience, if there's anyone you want at the party, it's a Finn.
Lady Byng Trophy (gentlemanly play)
This is where we remind you, dear readers, that the Lady Byng Trophy is given "to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."
As hockey writers, we're not exactly the greatest arbiters of what constitutes sportsmanship, and we're the last ones who should be asked to judge "gentlemanly conduct." This is an award the PHWA should hand over to the players themselves or to the NHL's on-ice officials, perhaps the group most qualified to assess such matters.
As for the current field, it's October, and everyone's on their best behavior. We had to wait until the 28th day of the month for our first suspension for an on-ice incident. Check back in November.
This is an easy one to call at the start of the season, as the Sabres shot out of the gate playing solid, complete games and singing the praises of the culture Krueger brought to the team. Plus, because this award is voted on by the broadcasters and Krueger is the kind of philosophical super-brain whom you could listen to for hours, he has an advantage there.
Tippett had the Oilers in first place for most of the month, good enough for a spot in the top three, even if his candidacy is evidence that two players can carry a coach to the Jack Adams as much as one goalie can. Trotz won the award last year for the second time and could make it a hat trick if the Islanders keep rolling on seven-game win streaks this season.
Jaap Stam has stepped down from his role as Feyenoord manager after less than five months in charge, the Dutch top-flight club has said.
Under former Manchester United defender Stam, who took over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst in June, Feyenoord have won just three of their 11 league games this season, leaving the Rotterdam club in 12th place.
The race for the 2019-20 Carabao Cup is intensifying with eight matches on Tuesday and Wednesday, all live on ESPN+, to determine who reaches the quarterfinals. It's been a fun tournament so far, with several high-profile shocks and an average of over three goals per game. But it's not just the big clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United taking part: three League One teams and two from League Two are still alive.
ESPN's Rob Dawson runs the rule over the competition with the viewing guide you'll need to plan out your day.
Who wants to win the Carabao Cup most?
Both Chelsea and Manchester United (live on ESPN+, Wednesday, 4.05 p.m. ET) have bigger concerns this season than the Carabao Cup but two managers in their first full campaigns -- Frank Lampard and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer -- will also know the value of an early trophy. Lampard and Solskjaer made plenty of changes for their respective third-round ties, and there will be more rotation at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, but neither manager will be in the mood to throw the game away.
United have suddenly rediscovered how to win away from home and should head to west London with renewed confidence after beating Partizan Belgrade and Norwich. Solskjaer is likely to rest one or two key players ahead of another away day against Bournemouth on Saturday, but he picked Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Paul Pogba (who is now out until December) against League One side Rochdale in the last round and not everyone will get the night off. Still, it's likely youngsters Brandon Williams, James Garner and Mason Greenwood will feature.
After a mixed start to the season for Lampard, it was the 7-1 thumping of Grimsby in the third round that triggered their seven-match winning run. Christian Pulisic was a substitute when United battered Chelsea 4-0 on the opening weekend, but the manager would be a brave man to drop the American for this one after his hat trick against Burnley.
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Burley: Subbing Xhaka shows the state of Arsenal
Craig Burley says Arsenal subbing off its captain in two consecutive games shows dysfunction at the club.
How do you solve a problem like Xhaka?
Liverpool and Arsenal (live on ESPN+, Wednesday, 3.30 p.m. ET) had differing weekends. Liverpool engineered a stirring comeback to beat Tottenham; Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead to draw with Crystal Palace and heap more pressure on manager Unai Emery. Oh, and fans at the Emirates booed captain Granit Xhaka when he was substituted, which he did not react well to.
Emery and Arsenal officials are planning to talk to Xhaka before the Liverpool game and the key question is whether the midfielder will captain the side again. Though it may be that he is taken out of the firing line altogether.
Emery's position is becoming more precarious and defeat to a young Liverpool team -- weakened team or not -- won't help the situation. After Liverpool, Arsenal have got games against Wolves, Vitoria Guimaraes (in the Europa League) and Leicester before the November international break and the Spaniard cannot afford to give the board any more reasons to pull the trigger before the January transfer window.
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Southampton's 9-0 loss was a 'disaster'
Craig Burley didn't mince his words on Leicester City's 9-0 drubbing of Southampton.
How many will Manchester City get against Southampton?
Another manager who had a weekend to forget was Ralph Hasenhuttl. He watched his Southampton team concede nine goals against Leicester on Friday night in what was the largest top-flight home defeat in the 131-year history of the Football League. And now there's even more reason to panic as up next are two trips to Manchester City (live on ESPN+, Tuesday, 3.45 p.m. ET), who have scored 10 times in their last three fixtures.
Southampton are backing Hasenhuttl for now but two heavy defeats at the Etihad Stadium would ramp up the pressure further. He shouldn't expect any favours from his opposite number Pep Guardiola, either. City were drawn against Championship side Preston in the last round but Guardiola still felt it necessary to start with Joao Cancelo, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, David Silva and Raheem Sterling. And Southampton's last visit to City saw them lose 6-1.
Can Wolves keep stretching themselves?
Aston Villa and Wolves (live on ESPN+, Wednesday, 3.45 p.m. ET), are both likely to make changes but there should still be plenty of needle for this Midlands derby at Villa Park.
Nuno Espirito Santo is already having to juggle his Wolves squad as he balances the demands of the Premier League with what could become a gruelling campaign in the Europa League. Dean Smith, meanwhile, is focused only on top-flight survival, but he won't want to let a good result at Brighton in the last round go to waste by falling at the next hurdle.
Jack Grealish, a scorer in the 3-1 win at the Amex Stadium, is likely to be missing after suffering a calf injury in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday.
What's the best of the rest?
While there are certain to be heavyweight casualties at Stamford Bridge and Anfield, there will definitely be lower league representation in the draw for the next round with a host of matches live on ESPN+ on Tuesday at 3.45 p.m. ET.
League Two rivals Crawley Town and Colchester United go head-to-head, while there is also a League One battle between Oxford United and Sunderland.
The Premier League's bottom club Watford travel to Goodison Park to play Everton, while Leicester, fresh from their record-breaking demolition of Southampton, face a trip to League One Burton Albion. The last time the two teams met in the competition in August 2012, Burton -- who reached the semifinals last season -- ran out 4-2 winners.
An upbeat Sri Lanka went to Australia threatening to continue their outstanding Pakistan form, but like a skyrocket that veers off and flies through the neighbour's open window, they only managed to wreak the most alarming - though spectacular - type of damage. It is difficult to imagine how the Adelaide match could have gone any worse. Kasun Rajitha's record 0 for 75 made headlines, but the spinners also went at more than 10 an over, and Lasith Malinga went wicketless. On the batting front, no one made 20. Sri Lanka have had some limp limited-overs performances in the past two years, but this was among the very worst.
Australia don't exactly have the record of an ace T20 side, having won only two of their seven most-recent series, but may have reason to consider themselves one of the best outfits in the world, with the return of David Warner and Steve Smith. Plenty is known about the explosive top three - Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell rounding it out - but there is a cohesive attack there too. On Sunday, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins essentially ended what slim chances Sri Lanka had of chasing down a gargantuan target, by blasting out the top three inside four overs. Sri Lanka could then barely get the Australian spinners off the square, and surrendered a clump of wickets to the wristspinner Adam Zampa, as they often do.
One year out from the T20 World Cup at home, Australia seem like they have the building blocks of a strong team at their disposal. When they arrived in Australia, Sri Lanka thought they had building blocks too. They have the galling challenge of winning in Brisbane if they are to avoid not only a series loss, but also talk of the Pakistan series having been a false dawn.
Australia WWWLW (completed matches, most recent first) Sri Lanka LWWWW
In the spotlight
There seems to be no team Glenn Maxwell enjoys playing more. He walloped 62 at a strike rate of 221 on Sunday, but going by his overall record against Sri Lanka, he might have actually underperformed. In four innings against them, he averages an astounding 140.5 (there are two not outs in there), with a strike rate 225. Particularly on tracks that do not offer drastic turn, Maxwell appears to have a psychological hold over the Sri Lanka attack - their bowlers seemingly incapable of out-manoeuvring or out-thinking him. More than a fifth of Maxwell's career boundaries have come against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka made a litany of mistakes in the first match, but the first might have been to put Australia in to bat on what seemed an excellent batting surface. The decision seems especially strange when you account for Sri Lanka's four previous T20s, which they had won batting first. Captain Lasith Malinga, who finds himself in the odd position of having to reimpose his leadership after the team did well without him in Pakistan. A victory at the Gabba could ease the pressure on him a little.
Team news
Mitchell Starc will miss the second T20 to attend his high-jump champion brother's wedding. Billy Stanlake will likely play in his stead.
Australia (possible): 1 David Warne, 2 Aaron Finch (capt.), 3 Glenn Maxwell, 4 Steve Smith, 5 Ashton Turner, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Ashton Agar, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Kane Richardson, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Billy Stanlake
Sri Lanka will likely leave Rajitha out and get Isuru Udana into the XI. They may also consider dropping the out-of-form Kusal Perera for Niroshan Dickwella.
There is no rain expected, but cloud cover is forecast, which could aid swing with the new ball. Otherwise, expect your standard fast, bouncy Gabba surface.
Stats and trivia
Sri Lanka have lost seven out of the eight-most recent T20s that Malinga has captained. Their only victory came against New Zealand, when Malinga took four wickets in four balls.
Maxwell's three most-recent T20I scores are 62 off 28, 113* off 55, and 56 off 43. The 113 and 56 had come in February, in India.
Sri Lanka have won each of their three previous T20 series in Australia.
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