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South Africa played like a team intent on silencing the noise around them but still came up second to England once again

Firdose Moonda27-Nov-2020International cricket is back. In South Africa. And by South Africa. But England are still the masters of the white-ball.As recently as 12 days ago, this series was in danger of not happening and CSA was in danger of having its status as the national body of cricket in this country stripped away. The sports minister was ready to step in and potentially prevent them from fielding a team that could call itself South Africa.As recently as Thursday, South African cricket’s chief medical officer warned that if a significant number of players contracted Covid-19, matches could be called off. Two of the 24-man squad had returned positive tests so his fears were not entirely unfounded.And here we are. For the first time in almost eight months, the South Africa men’s team got on the park and it was clear they had something to prove. Until the 17th over of England’s innings, South Africa played like a team intent on silencing the noise. Like a team that wanted to end the wittering around themselves and their culture, the whispers around the administration and the crisis. And even in that over that cost 28 runs and put England on the path to victory, South Africa still played in a way that amplified the sound of bat on ball. Finally. There was cricket.ALSO READ: Bairstow 86* powers England to five-wicket winIn the lead up to this series, the conversation has been about sportsmen and social justice especially when it comes to racial prejudice. Given the history of Apartheid, colonialism and slavery, South Africa could be one of the countries that could best understands and embodies the antiracist doctrine, but it is still grappling with recent schisms and trying to find solutions.CSA’s attempt was to put up two large banners with the message “We stand in solidarity against racism and gender-based violence” and drape them over stands at opposite ends of the ground. But on the day that New Zealand and West Indies took a knee and Australia and India formed a barefoot circle, the absence of any gesture from South Africa was glaring. They are the only one of the six teams that were in action who have not symbolically shown their support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, even though they insist they are working on living out a doctrine of equality.On top of that, they also have other causes to be concerned about. The first 16 days of next month are dedicated annually as days of activism against gender-based violence and both teams wore black armbands to mourn those who lose their lives to abuse and those who have died from Covid-19. In South Africa, the latter has risen to more than 21,000 and with infection rates rising, there are fears of many more. Ten minutes before the start of play, flags were frantically lowered to half-mast, where they should have been flying since Wednesday. Among the many things that needed to be done as Newlands got ready for international cricket, it seemed someone remembered that one just in time.As South Africa lined up to sing their national anthem, directly in front of the SuperSport commentary team, they could hear JP Duminy being asked about BLM and supporting the activist sportsman. An aura of awkwardness settled over the opening salvo and when the final chords of “Nkosi Sikelel’i Afrika” rung out, and everyone remained standing, it felt as though something had been left unsaid, or undone. History will judge South Africa’s (in)action and assess how well they have applied the principles of inclusion they have committed to.It may also see this season as one in which South Africa built on the foundation stone’s laid last summer, when a new coaching regime took over. Their tenure showed promise, with a Test victory but it was clear they needed time. The longest off-season since readmission may not have been exactly what they had in mind but it gave them room to reflect and reimagine the kind of team they want to be.We need more than one match to be able to see what their new approach of “aggressive, but smart,” means but we can already make some deductions. Faf du Plessis best demonstrated it with the bat when he twice went close to hitting one of the Egyptian geese that have made the Newlands outfield their home, but twice evaded them. While Harry the Hadeda, the avian superstar from England’s last tour, was nowhere to be found two adult and four teenage geese occupied positions from the covers to long-on, walking in to almost every ball and scurrying away as soon as it was hit.Kagiso Rabada’s catch gave George Linde a wicket•Getty ImagesDu Plessis played around them and in the same vein as he had been doing at the IPL. In the fifth over, he changed the tone of South Africa’s start from unsure, on a pitch where the ball was not coming on as quickly as might have been expected, to in control when he buried a ball in the construction site, smoked the new one down the ground and on to the railway stand, where the absence of fans meant the few in the ground could hear the ping as it hit a flagpole, and then mowed it through midwicket.The way George Linde, the debutant, was used was the other example of how the new style of play may reveal itself. Linde was tasked with opening the bowling and rewarded his captain with a wicket off the second ball and then switched ends to claim another as Rabada took a stunning low catch. South Africa seldom give a spinner or a new player that level of responsibility but Linde plays his franchise cricket here and has the experience of 81 domestic T20s so they trusted him and it paid off.More’s the pity that Linde did not have his home crowd cheering him on but these are the times. Newlands is not ready for visitors anyway as the construction of an office block continues. And who knows what commentary might have provided late in the game when, with England needing 84 runs from 48 balls, Quinton de Kock turned to Heinrich Klaasen to bowl at Ben Stokes. That was South Africa saying they thought they were so far ahead they could do anything. And they were wrong. Not aggressive, and definitely not smart.Klaasen conceded 14 runs, before de Kock went back to his premier spinner Tabraiz Shamsi. In hindsight, he should have let Shamsi bowl his full quota of four overs, although even that may not have stopped what happened later. Beuran Hendricks conceded 28 runs, including eight wides in an over where he lost control.Some will question why Anrich Nortje, who has just come off a fantastic IPL, didn’t play. Perhaps South Africa thought the pitch would better suit those who take pace off the ball – it looked that way when England was bowling. Perhaps there were transformation targets to consider, which could have been solved in other ways.Or perhaps still it’s that England, who are unbeaten in seven T20 series, are a bloody good team, who bat deep and back themselves until the very end. There is no better opposition to return to international action against. Welcome back, England. Welcome back, international cricket.

Seven from Asian teams figure in a well-balanced XI, complete with three top allrounders

Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom11-Feb-2020Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
Five 50-plus scores in the tournament – including a hundred in India’s semi-final win over Pakistan – Jaiswal was by far the most consistent batsman going around. He displayed a solid defence and showed that he becomes more and more fluent the longer he stays in the middle. As a useful add-on, he can bowl a few quick overs too.Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)
The 73* against South Africa in the seventh-place playoff was his best innings, but even outside of it, the Afghanistan Test opener was the rock that almost always led the way in giving the bowlers something to play with. Afghanistan were at their best when Zadran batted long and became the pivot around which the others did their stuff.ESPNcricinfo LtdMahmudul Hasan Joy (Bangladesh)
He really made it count in the semi-final against New Zealand, where his 100 took Bangladesh to their maiden final, which they went on to win. Quite often, he played the role of the anchor, holding the middle-order together, after starting the tournament slowly.Akhil Kumar (Canada)
Kumar finished joint second on the list of highest wicket-takers, his medium-pace bowling accounting for 16 wickets, but he was also Canada’s dependable top-order batsman. In the tournament’s official fantasy cricket system, he had the most points entering the final, before being overtaken by Jaiswal and Ravi Bishnoi. His four-for rocked South Africa in the group stage while his three-for created a flutter in the Zimbabwe ranks in the playoffs, and his 3 for 37 and 37 with the bat helped Canada finish 13th with a win over UAE.Akbar Ali (Bangladesh – captain, wicketkeeper)
He didn’t need to do much with the bat before the final, but when the onus was on him, he delivered, and how. His captaincy and wicketkeeping had been impressive already, and in the final against India, with his team in a hole at 65 for 4, Ali showed the way, and led Bangladesh to the title with an unbeaten 43.Dan Mousley showed off his range of shots•ICC via GettyDan Mousley (England)
The team’s floater, Mousley first struck a 44-ball 51 from No. 7 against Australia, in a game they lost in a thrilling finish. He then opened the batting against Sri Lanka in the Plate final and scored a fluent 111. In between, he crunched a 36-ball 57 against Japan. If he had opened from the start of the tournament, England’s tournament might have been different.Nyeem Young (West Indies)
Two Player-of-the-Match awards in two tough group games made everyone sit up and take notice of Young. Against Australia, the allrounder struck a patient 61 during a testing period to win his team a close game. Then, against England, he hammered a quick 66, leaving a few windows broken in Kimberley while doing so, and followed it up with 5 for 45 – perhaps the best all-round effort of the competition. He played a big role in his team staying unbeaten all the way to the quarter-finals, where they lost.Kristian Clarke (New Zealand)
Clarke took seven wickets in four games, including a four-for against West Indies in the quarter-final, but what he did with the bat in that game stood out more. His unbeaten 46* from No. 10 rescued New Zealand from certain defeat as they eked out a two-wicket win. Earlier, in what was a crucial group-stage game against Sri Lanka, he was the man of the moment again, hitting a six in the final over to knock their opponents out.Shafiqullah Ghafari takes off in celebration•Getty ImagesShafiqullah Ghafari (Afghanistan)
Ten of his 16 wickets came against one team. In the tournament opener, Ghafari lit up the stage with 4 for 15 to defeat South Africa. After that, South Africa won every game, until they met Afghanistan in the seventh-place playoff. There he ran through South Africa again, conceding 15 runs again but this time for six wickets. In between, his 5 for 23 floored UAE in the group stage.Ravi Bishnoi (India)
The tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 17 strikes, and a close contender for Player of the Tournament, Bishnoi certainly made a big splash. Even if you take the legspinner’s 4 for 5 against Japan out of the equation, every time he came in to bowl, you felt a wicket was around the corner. Importantly, he did well in high-pressure matches: four crucial wickets in the middle overs against New Zealand to help India finish group toppers, 2 for 46 in the win over Pakistan in the semi-final, and then, when he nearly won India the final with 4 for 30 against Bangladesh. In between, there was the crucial 30 with the bat against Australia in the quarter-final.Kartik Tyagi (India)
Tyagi was among the wickets in each India game except the final, when he was wayward. But, whenever he had the ball in his hands, you had to save your toes because his yorkers were so accurate. One of the tournament’s fastest bowlers – he hurt Japan with 3 for 10 and was on the money against Pakistan in the semi-final where he collected two important wickets for only 32 runs. But he will remember the Australia game the best – his three wickets in his first two overs pretty much set up India’s victory.

KL Rahul has been given time off, while Washington Sundar could play the semi-finals if Tamil Nadu get there

Shashank Kishore08-Jan-2025Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna and Abhimanyu Easwaran will all turn out for their respective sides’ fixtures in the knockout phase of the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy from January 9 in Vadodara. KL Rahul has requested for a break, while Washington Sundar may be available semi-finals onwards if Tamil Nadu get to that stage.While Padikkal and Prasidh will fly out with a majority of the Indian contingent from Sydney on Wednesday, Abhimanyu was granted permission to fly out a day in advance. He was subsequently booked on an earlier flight by the Cricket Association of Bengal to be able to link up with the state squad in Vadodara, after stops in Singapore and Ahmedabad.On Wednesday, Abhimanyu will train with the rest of the Bengal squad ahead of their pre-quarter-final fixture against Haryana. Akash Deep, the other Bengal player in the India squad, has been ruled out because of a back niggle, which kept him out of the final Test in Australia, and will instead head to the Centre of Excellence (earlier the National Cricket Academy) in Bengaluru.Related

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Prasidh and Padikkal are expected to join the Karnataka squad by January 10, ahead of their quarter-final game against Baroda a day later. Initially part of only the India A squad that was on a shadow tour prior to the Border-Gavaskar series, Padikkal was an addition to the Test squad following Rohit Sharma’s late arrival because of the birth of his son. Padikkal featured in India’s 295-run win in Perth, but wasn’t picked in any of the subsequent Tests.Prasidh, meanwhile, played the last Test in Sydney – his first Test appearance in a year. He finished with a match haul of six wickets, including the wickets of Steven Smith in both innings. Padikkal and Prasidh had impressed in both the four-day fixtures for India A prior to the Test series.For Abhimanyu, the game against Haryana will be his first official fixture in two months, after he spent all five Tests in Australia on the sidelines. Having been in the race to be a back-up opener who may have been in with a shout to play in Perth in Rohit’s absence, scores of 7, 12, 0 and 17 in four innings for India A in Australia dented his chances of earning a Test debut.Prior to the India A tour, though, he had been in rip-roaring form, hitting four first-class hundreds in four matches across the season-opening Duleep Trophy and the Ranji Trophy that followed.In the aftermath of India’s 3-1 series loss in Australia, which also meant conceding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after ten years, head coach Gautam Gambhir had stated his desire to see Test players making themselves available to play domestic cricket wherever possible.”I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket,” he had said. “That is how much importance domestic cricket needs to be given. Not only one game. If they are available and they have the commitment to play red ball cricket, everyone should play domestic cricket. As simple as it can get. If you don’t give importance to domestic cricket, you will never get the desired players that you want.”

Ramesh Mendis has missed out, while Nishan Peiris has been picked in a slightly different looking Sri Lanka spin department

Andrew Fidel Fernando19-Nov-2024

Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya has been named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the two Tests in South Africa, more than two years after he last played a Test. Offspinner Nishan Peiris, who made his Test debut against New Zealand in September, has also been included.Ramesh Mendis, the offspin-bowling allrounder, misses out on selection, though he claimed six wickets in his only Test appearance this year. Ramesh, additionally, can bat.Though Prabath Jayasuriya leads the spin contingent, this amounts to something of a shake-up in the ranks with Sri Lanka playing in Durban and Gqeberha, where the tracks are expected to take more turn than most South African surfaces, particularly as matches wear on.The squad is largely as expected in the batting and seam-bowling fronts, however. Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha and allrounder Milan Rathnayake make up fast-bowling outfit. Top order batter Oshada Fernando makes it in into this squad, but Nishan Madushka – who has made a bright start in ODIs – does not.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Both Embuldeniya and Oshada have partly been picked on account of their good performances in South Africa in 2019, when Sri Lanka had also played in Durban and what was then Port Elizabeth. Embuldeniya took six wickets at 23.83 across three innings on that tour, while Oshada hit a fourth-innings 75 not out alongside Kusal Mendis to see Sri Lanka home in what could have been a tough chase. Neither player, though, has been especially impressive in domestic cricket over the last season, though Embuldeniya did have a decent outing in the four-day National Super League.Several Test specialists are already in Durban for a pre-series training camp, overseen partially by former South Africa batter Neil McKenzie, who serves as Sri Lanka’s consultant on this trip.Kusal Mendis, Asitha, Kamindu Mendis and Pathum Nissanka have also been pulled out of the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, after Sri Lanka sealed that series on Sunday. This is so those players can have a couple of extra days to recover and begin preparation for the Tests in South Africa.The first Test is scheduled to start on November 27, in Kingsmead, Durban.Both Sri Lanka and South Africa have a shot at finishing in the top two on the World Test Championship table.Sri Lanka squad for Test series in South AfricaDhananjaya de Silva (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Oshada Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Lasith Embuldeniya, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha

Next season will be the start of a new era for Everton.

On Sunday, the Toffees played their 2,791th and final match at Goodison Park, waving goodbye to their home since 1894 with a 2-0 victory over Southampton; Iliman Ndiaye the scorer of a first half brace.

​​​​​​So, come August, the Blues will commence the new campaign at their new home at Bramley-Moore Dock, with a renewed sense of optimism, given that the team have stabilised since David Moyes’ return, while new owners the Friedkin Group offer hope for the future too.

However, with one of Everton’s most-prized assets, potentially, on his way out this summer, have they already identified an ideal replacement?

Everton targeting defensive reinforcements

According to a report in Africa Foot, Everton are ‘considering’ making a move to sign defender Sinaly Diomandé, adding that ‘negotiations between the various parties are… underway’.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, the report adds that the Toffees are said to have ‘begun talks’ with the player’s representatives regarding a potential move.

The 24-year-old Côte d’Ivoire international began his career at Olympique Lyonnais, making 85 appearances for les Gones, before joining Auxerre last summer on a free transfer, albeit, according to L’Équipe, Lyon will receive 50% of any future sale.

So, could the young defender be on the move again, this time to Merseyside?

How Diomande compares to Jarrad Branthwaite

Once again, as was the case last summer, Jarrad Branthwaite’s name features prominently in the transfer rumour mill.

Mick Brown of Football Insider claims that Chelsea are ‘considering’ a move to sign the centre-back, while it would be no surprise to see Manchester United come back into the equation this summer.

A year ago, as noted by Andy Hunter and Ben Fisher of the Guardian, Everton rejected two bids from Man United, the second of which was worth £50m, with Branthwaite valued at closer to £70m.

Nevertheless, even if Everton stand firm, interest in the England international will remain.

So, would Diomandé be a good replacement? Well, let’s find out.

As the table outlines, the duo’s statistics are very similar across the board, with Branthwaite having the slight edge overall, albeit Diomandé does boast a better passing accuracy, while also registering more tackles and interceptions, as well as more touches per game.

One analyst noted that Diomandé is a talented youngster who has “shown some great things” during his time in Ligue 1, while Sébastien Denis of Foot Mercato believes he has “incredible qualities”.

Meantime, João Ruivo of Total Football Analysis praises his aerial prowess​​​​​​​ as well as his ability to register plenty of interceptions, assertions that are supported by the data, while Dom Corrigan of Target Scouting is impressed by his ‘calming presence’, adding that he is ‘capable of brilliant last ditch defending’.

Thus, it is clear that Diomandé is a young defender with serious potential, so, given Everton’s ongoing financial constraints, if they’re able to secure him at a cut-price, he could be an excellent addition to fill Branthwaite’s possible void.

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Everton join race to sign "elite" £17m+ defender also wanted by Aston Villa

The Toffees are now in the frame to sign a centre-back, who is attracting widespread interest from the Premier League.

By
Dominic Lund

May 21, 2025

Looking to rebuild an ageing midfield, Manchester City have now reportedly made contact to sign a Serie A star with sporting director Hugo Viana hoping to secure his signature this summer.

Man City set to kick-start summer rebuild

The Premier League already received a glimpse of what Manchester City’s rebuild may look like in the January transfer window when the Citizens welcomed the likes of Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov. Now, six months on, the Manchester club could seriously step things up. With a Kevin de Bruyne-shaped hole to fill, the rumours have already been coming thick and fast.

Names such as Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz have both been mentioned, with a move for the former looking particularly likely to take place when the summer arrives. Following an excellent season at Nottingham Forest, the midfield star has earned the attraction of those at The Etihad, who are primed to make their move in the coming months.

If there were any doubts that Manchester City needed a rebuild, then their recent 0-0 draw against relegated Southampton should have acted as a timely reminder. The Saints were on course to match Derby County’s record low points tally in the Premier League before the most unexpected point saw them avoid embarrassment.

After a frustrating afternoon, City boss Pep Guardiola went against Ruben Dias’ criticism of Southampton’s defensive approach, telling reporters: “They can do whatever they want.

Big Nunes upgrade: Man City considering move for "outstanding" £40m star

Manchester City are in the market to sign a new right-back this summer, to replace Matheus Nunes, with an “outstanding” PL star “under consideration”.

By
Ben Gray

May 13, 2025

“For many years here, we faced teams in different approaches, and they decided they have to play. It’s on us to break them. In those terms, many times teams have played five in the back or six and the striker has gone on our holding midfielder and there’s no space, it’s difficult.

“You have to break it, and we had the chances. When you review the chances for nothing, we could not score and it happened. Now we prepare the [FA Cup] final and now it is next time and Fulham.”

Man City open talks to sign Reijnders

Away from their frustration on the pitch, meanwhile, the Citizens have pushed on with their summer rebuild. According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Manchester City have now made contact to sign Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and whilst there is yet to be a formal offer, talks have begun and Viana is hoping to get a deal done this summer.

It would certainly be a statement opening for the new sporting director to sign such a talent, especially if Manchester City then go on and rebuild their midfield even further with the likes of Gibbs-White and Wirtz. In three swift moves, Guardiola’s side could be back to their dominant best.

Once dubbed an “immense” signing for AC Milan by U23 scout Antonio Mango, all signs are pointing towards Reijnders becoming equally impressive if he decides to join Manchester City this summer. In a summer of change at The Etihad, the Dutchman could be the start of a much-needed midfield rebuild.

White-ball captain set to return in Caribbean after watching Australia tour from sidelines

Vithushan Ehantharajah30-Sep-2024Even after Sunday’s fifth ODI had been called off, the rain kept coming. As Australia’s victorious squad gathered in the indoor nets for their trophy presentation, Jos Buttler stood out in the open mingling with fans.In between autographs and selfies were occasional grimaces skywards, wondering how much the dark clouds had left. Plenty, as it happens. Steadily, the crowd diluted and, eventually, Buttler retreated inside for cover.Despite not playing at all during this white-ball finale to the 2024 English season due to a calf injury, he remains the big-ticket draw. And thus, a conundrum still to solve. Though he adopted a similar role to Ben Stokes during the Test series against Sri Lanka – rehabbing a torn left hamstring but on deck for every day of it – this rewarding of hardy punters braving the damp was the most statesman-like duty England’s permanent limited-overs captain has performed.Related

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• England channel the spirit of 2019 to give wings to their white-ball revival

• Jofra Archer back on England's fast track as cautious optimism abounds

• Head, Short ensure Australia beat England and the rain to take series

Buttler was far more withdrawn than the Test skipper throughout his hands-off brief. Sky’s cameras had to zoom in to find him on the back row of the home viewing balcony at Bristol, wrapped up warm and making merry with players and coaches, as pundits used the rain delay to pontificate over his part in this white-ball regeneration.Sunday’s finale capped off a September that began with one clear objective from on high. Fresh from being announced as a replacement for Matthew Mott after two unsuccessful World Cup defences in nine months, Brendon McCullum identified the key to revitalising the set-up was to cheer up a “miserable” Buttler.Beyond the long-lens smiles, a man who was lucky to keep his job when Mott was relieved of his has by all accounts been buoyed by what has been a promising first stage of this latest “reset”. A drawn T20I series and a 3-2 loss to the defending 50-over champions having been 2-0 down showed there is plenty for him to work with going forward.”Around the group, it’s been a great opportunity for him [Buttler], just to step back and not worry about the pressures of playing, but have the opportunity to work with players and coaches, talking, building relationships, understanding what’s going on. Sit back and watch a little bit sometimes and see how the team is operating,” interim head coach, Marcus Trescothick, said. “When you’re playing, you’re so engrossed in what’s happening so it’s an opportunity to sit back a little bit.”Tresothick has essentially been acting as McCullum’s surrogate before the Kiwi assumes the job at the start of 2025. McCullum has been involved from afar while preparing for the upcoming Test tour of Pakistan. Communication has been regular, ranging from input in selection matters, such as personnel and roles, along with a handful of debriefs after games.”We are always planning ahead to when Brendon is coming in and the bigger tournaments,” Trescothick said. “That’s going to be the real judge, isn’t it? Bilateral series are great, but the real pinnacle is the Champions Trophies, the World T20s and the World Cups.”It will be the next bilateral, against West Indies at the end of October, when Buttler will return in a playing brief. And it was instructive that Trescothick felt the need to nip any talk of finding a spot in the XI for him in the bud, while admitting the exact guise of his return is up in the air.”Let’s make it clear, he will come straight back in. At what position, I don’t know. We’ll look at that for the Caribbean.”The proximity to the tour of Pakistan – the third Test is scheduled to finish three days before the first ODI in Antigua on October 31 – is likely to mean Buttler reassumes the wicketkeeping. Jamie Smith is likely to be prescribed a rest ahead of flying out to New Zealand for that three-Test series in November, while Phil Salt’s average of 19.90 against Australia suggests he has still not got to grips with the longer of the shorter formats.Harry Brook, too, is highly unlikely to feature against West Indies, which kicks the conversation around longer-term captaincy down the road. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the last month, along with Brook’s return to supreme form, was how at ease he looked with as a leader.Set against Salt’s moonlighting for the T20I series, and Ollie Pope deputising for Stokes for the last half of the Test summer – as well as Buttler’s constant wrestling with the captaincy full stop, both tactical elements and the burn of the extra limelight (and scrutiny) – Brook stands out as a leader in waiting. Trescothick praised Brook’s ability to marshal while setting the standard with the bat, finishing as the leading run-scorer across both teams in the ODI portion, with 312 at 78.00.Harry Brook led the ODI side with aplomb in Buttler’s absence•Getty Images

“He reads the game very well and the way he captains – the field settings and the decision-making – is very positive. He is quiet and unassuming but just gets the job done on everything he has to do.”Brook said he enjoyed his first taste of international captaincy having led England Under-19s before honing his leadership for Northern Superchargers this summer. He went on to state he looked forward to “taking a seat back and letting Jos do it again”.For how much longer remains to be seen. Brook’s impression has been strong enough to bring that conversation forward, at least among those watching from the outside. But the person to bring it to the table will be Buttler.This is still his patch, and the immediate priority is ensuring he slots back in more comfortably than ever before. Whatever shifts and conversations there have been against Australia, whether around playing roles, off-field bonhomie, or simply broader changes of perspective, they have been as much about emboldening the next generation as creating an environment for Buttler to flourish. As McCullum put it, the goal for however long the 34-year-old has left, “is just to enjoy it”.”I expect him to find it really enjoyable going forward,” Trescothick said. “Having worked with Brendon and the other coaches and the style that Brendon wants to implement into the white-ball stuff, it’s what’s been going on before [with the Test team].”There’s no reason why Jos won’t fit back into that mould, score millions of runs, captain well and fit back into the team perfectly.”There are reasons, however, all of which remain untouched because of his on-field absence over the last month. The next step, for England and Buttler, is working through them.

Twelve out of the 24 overseas players under contract in the Hundred could arrive late in the UK

Matt Roller07-May-2024Half of the overseas players in the men’s Hundred could arrive in the UK late this year after Major League Cricket (MLC) confirmed on Tuesday that the two leagues will overlap by six days in July.Last year, the inaugural season of MLC ended two days before the start of the Hundred but the leagues will clash this year. The Hundred’s group stage starts on July 23 while MLC will run until the final on July 28, with the knockout fixtures – which will feature four of the six franchises – starting July 24.Twelve out of the 24 overseas players under contract in the men’s Hundred have already been announced as signings or retentions in MLC and more could follow before the tournament starts on July 5. The vast majority of them will stay in the US until their respective franchises are eliminated.Related

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Travis Head joins Steven Smith at Washington Freedom for MLC 2024

ESPNcricinfo understands that Stephen Fleming is likely to buck the trend by prioritising the Hundred. Fleming, who is in India with Chennai Super Kings, coaches Texas Super Kings in MLC but his Hundred team, Southern Brave, have received assurances that he will arrive in the UK before their opening fixture on July 24. Fleming did not respond when contacted.Depending on which MLC franchises reach the playoffs, some Hundred teams could be without two or even three overseas players for their opening fixture. Fleming’s Brave, for example, could be missing Kieron Pollard (MI New York), Akeal Hosein (Washington Freedom) and Finn Allen (San Francisco Unicorns) for their first match.Player wages in MLC were higher than in the men’s Hundred last year. The top salary in MLC was around US$175,000 (£135,000 approx.) for a minimum of five games across two-and-a-half weeks; in the men’s Hundred, the top salary was £125,000 (US$155,000 approx.) for a minimum of eight games across four weeks.The men’s Hundred is likely to be short on star power for the opening week, also clashing with the third England vs West Indies Test at Edgbaston which runs from July 26-30. Availability is much better in the women’s Hundred, where the only relevant clash is a brief overlap with the Asia Cup.MLC will start on July 5 – a day later than initially planned – and the 21-match group stage will run until July 23. Each team will play seven group fixtures. The four knockout fixtures have been scheduled for July 24 (Eliminator), 25 (Qualifier), 26 (Challenger) and 28 (final). As well as the Hundred, it will directly clash with the Lanka Premier League which is due to run July 1-21.MLC 2024 will be played across two venues•SportzpicsLike last year, two venues will be used: Grand Prairie Stadium near Dallas, Texas and Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina. The ICC said earlier this year that MLC were evaluating the possibility of using the ‘modular’ stadium in Eisenhower Park, near New York – which will host eight T20 World Cup matches in June – but those plans have been shelved.MLC has proved particularly attractive to Australian players this year, with Steven Smith, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell and Jake Fraser-McGurk all due to feature. Two MLC franchises have links with Australian states – Washington Freedom (New South Wales) and San Francisco Unicorns (Victorians) – while a Seattle Orcas squad recently toured Queensland.A desire to attract the best overseas players in the world is among several reasons underpinning the ECB’s plan to sell equity stakes in Hundred teams to private investors later this year. Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, said last month that there is a “strong consensus that we would like to see private investment come into the Hundred”.The ECB has been meeting counties regularly and hope they will agree on a direction of travel this week. Under their latest proposals, they would gift a 51% share in each Hundred team to its host county (or MCC, in the case of London Spirit) and would sell the other 49% itself by the end of the year, sharing the revenue generated across the English game.”Who gets what within that 49%? That’s where the conversation will be over the next couple of weeks,” Stuart Cain, Warwickshire’s chief executive, told last week. “What’s the best way to spread that money around the 18 counties – if you include the MCC, 19 – to try and create a more sustainable, vibrant foundation for the county system?”

The former Australia fast bowler is all set to coach a Test team for the first time

Danyal Rasool29-Apr-2024Jason Gillespie’s resume makes him a strong contender for most coaching jobs, but there’s little doubt that in Pakistan, his nationality also carries weight. Pakistan’s admiration for, and in some cases obsession over, the Australian style of play has made them look to that country for roles as diverse as dressing-room mentors to pitch curators. Just weeks earlier, they made Shane Watson their primary candidate for the white-ball coaching role but he pulled out. Ever since, Gillespie has been first choice for Test coach and an agreement with him and Gary Kirsten – who takes over as white ball coach – is believed to have been agreed weeks ago.But Gillespie hasn’t become a respected coach by telling sides what they want to hear, and in his first remarks since his appointment, he warned that Pakistan shouldn’t simply look to emulate Australia or any other side. “My philosophy is – don’t try to be something that you’re not,” he told the PCB’s in-house media channel on a podcast. “I simply want the Pakistan cricket team to play the style of cricket that’s going to suit them; for me, that’s important.”You’ve got to be authentic in how you go about it. I will go out there and say: just be positive, aggressive, entertaining. Play with a smile on your faces and entertain our fans. There are going to be times when you have to grind it out, and that’s what Test cricket is. It’s a test of your skills, mental capacity, and patience. There are times to attack and times to soak up some periods of cricket from the opposition. If we can be as consistent as we can, then hopefully, the scoreboard will look after itself, and we can pick up some wins.”The former Australian fast bowler has had several coaches roles since he last played international cricket in 2006. Most successfully, Gillespie was Yorkshire’s head coach from 2011-16, overseeing their promotion from the second division in his first season, and won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. He has also taken up T20 coaching roles with Punjab Kings and Adelaide Strikers, as well as Sussex and South Australia.Related

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“The opportunity to be the head coach of Pakistan’s Test side is fantastic,” he said. “It’s an honour. I’ve been coaching for quite a while now in various roles around the world, but one thing I haven’t done is coach an international Test side. When this opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it.”Just how Pakistan plays, and the talented and skillful players Pakistan has, it’s great to be part of the team, and hopefully, I can help the team progress, improve, and play some entertaining cricket.”Gary Kirsten has three ICC events in the next two years as Pakistan’s white-ball coach•Getty ImagesKirsten also spoke to the PCB, calling it a “wonderful privilege” to be offered the job of Pakistan white-ball coach. “I think Pakistan sits as one of the top four to five coaching jobs in the world internationally,” he said. “What is important is that I have the opportunity to work with some of the best cricketers in the world and that excites me.”Kirsten had arguably the highest profile coaching job in the world when he was appointed coach of India in 2008, famously ending his tenure on the shoulders of Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina, who hoisted him up for a lap of honour after India won the 2011 ODI World Cup. If he sees out his current two-year contract, he will oversee Pakistan in three white-ball ICC events: two T20 World Cups and a home Champions Trophy in 2025.”The important thing for me is to understand where the team is at and where we want to go to – whether that is winning World Cup events, which, by the way, is not easy. Often some people think you just pitch in and you’re going to win the championship.”But if you can win one of those three ICC Events, that will be an amazing achievement on its own, whether it’s the upcoming event or it’s two years from now. My job is to make sure that the team operates at its best, it’s as simple as that. And if the team is operating at its best, we will always have a good chance of winning a trophy.”So for me, it is important to understand where is the team now and where its need to go to be able to compete right at the top of the pile, and that’s winning ICC events. You can’t guarantee a trophy, but what you can do is put the steps in place to give yourself the best chance of winning a trophy. And that’s really what I’ll tend to do.”

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da bet sport： A diretoria do Corinthians não voltou a conversar com o estafe de Róger Machado neste domingo (30). A rejeição ao nome do treinador fez com que o departamento de futebol do clube alvinegro desse alguns passos para trás na negociação que foi aberta horas antes do clássico contra o Palmeiras, realizado no último sábado (29).

Assim, Vanderlei Luxemburgo voltou à mesa da diretoria corintiana. Muitas pessoas no entorno do presidente Duílio Alves argumentam que Luxa seria o profissional ideal para o momento corintiano, por conta da experiência, currículo e comando de vestiário. O mandatário do Timão e o gerente de futebol Alessandro Nunes, no entanto, ainda estão bastante reticentes quanto à opção e querem mais tempo para pensar em alguma alternativa diferente. Eles concordam que o perfil de Luxemburgo corresponde ao que ele deseja, mas estão reticentes por conta do histórico recente dos trabalhos do profissional.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansTécnico diz que jogadoras do Corinthians foram ameaçadas após manifestaçõesCorinthians30/04/2023Fora de Campo‘Time entregue, desmotivado e ruim’, dispara apresentador sobre o CorinthiansFora de Campo30/04/2023CorinthiansCorinthians fez contato com esposa de Tite, mas proposta de time europeu foi crucial para o ‘não’ do técnicoCorinthians30/04/2023

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+Róger Guedes e Paulinho são os melhores na derrota do Corinthians no Dérbi

O departamento de futebol corintiano quer tempo para buscar alguma opção no mercado que venha com o máximo possível de aprovação. Tite e Mano Menezes eram as primeiras opções, por conta do prestígio que possuem por parte da torcida, devido aos títulos entre 2008 e 2015, mas ambos negaram as investidas corintianas.

A fim de uma alternativa, técnicos estrangeiros estão sendo considerados. A opção era descartada no primeiro momento, por conta da preocupação do clube alvinegro com a parte financeira, mas após a recusa de Mano Menezes houve consultas a profissionais ‘gringos’. A avaliação, no entanto, é que até mesmo aqueles que estão disponíveis no mercado estariam cobrando caro para trabalhar no futebol brasileiro. Além de receberem os seus salários em moeda internacional, o que aumentaria o gasto.

Sem definição em relação ao novo treinador, o Corinthians segue dirigido por Danilo Andrade, que originalmente comanda o sub-20 corintiano. Até mesmo se o Timão contratar um técnico até terça-feira (2), será o ex-meio-campista quem dirigirá a equipe no duelo contra o Independiente del Valle, do Equador, pela Libertadores.