Category Uncategorized

George Linde, the left-arm spin bowling allrounder, will join the South African squad as a traveling reserve as cover for Aiden Markram at the Champions Trophy. Markram injured his right hamstring in the field against England and spent the rest of the match on the sidelines. He will undergo a fitness test at training on Tuesday evening to determine his availability for the semi-final against New Zealand.Markram is the latest in a massive list of injured players. Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Burger, Lizaad Williams – all fast bowlers – were ruled out even before the tournament started.Linde will join the South African camp on Tuesday evening but will not officially replace Markram in the squad unless he is ruled out and the ICC’s event technical committee confirms the swap. It is likely that South Africa added him to the group in the event that they qualify for a Dubai final against India, where conditions are drier and they need an extra spinner. They currently have two specialist spinners in the squad: Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, but only Maharaj has played in Pakistan. India played four spinners in their most recent match against New Zealand in Dubai.Related

• South Africa, New Zealand gear up for run-fest as even contest beckons

In the 2025 SA20, Linde played a key role in MI Cape Town winning their maiden title. In 11 games, Linde scored 161 runs at a strike rate of 153.33 and picked up 11 wickets at an economy of 6.29. More recently, playing for Western Province in the One-Day Challenge Division One, he scored 106 runs and took four wickets in five games.Left-arm fast bowler Kwena Maphaka is also with the squad as a traveling reserve. Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi have recovered from illness and will train this evening.

Arsenal are now very serious about signing a “world-class” star in a loan-to-buy deal, as he is protected by a massive release clause, according to a report.

Gunners still keen to strengthen in attack

Viktor Gyokeres got off to a dream start in an Arsenal shirt, scoring on his debut in a 3-0 win against Athletic Bilbao, while Mikel Arteta has also waxed lyrical about Noni Madueke since the former Chelsea man’s arrival.

Arteta said: “He’s a real threat, I wouldn’t want to play against him and we want to find something else and playing with natural-footed players, he’s going to give us that solution.”

However, with the new Premier League campaign edging ever closer, the Gunners remain keen on strengthening their attacking options, and there have been suggestions they are now closing in on Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.

With a deal for Eze set to be on the expensive side, the north Londoners may not have much money left to spend this summer, which could be why they are looking at signing a different attacker in a loan-to-buy deal.

That is according to a report from Spanish media, which states Arsenal are now very serious about signing Rodrygo, having made plans to sign the Real Madrid forward on an initial loan deal, which could include a mandatory purchase clause.

The Brazilian is thought to be valued at around the €90m (£77m) mark, although he is also protected by a €1bn (£866m) release clause, which showcases how highly the forward was regarded by the Spanish club when signing his most recent contract.

Berta eyes bid as Inter fear Arsenal will hijack "world class" player

Arsenal are looking to further add to their attacking depth.

By
Callum Kemp

Aug 11, 2025

The 24-year-old’s high wage demands have also proved to be prohibitive in the past, so it could be difficult for the Gunners to get a deal over the line.

"World-class" Rodrygo could flourish at the Emirates

The Brazil international is clearly the type of proven top-level player who could elevate Arsenal’s standards and help them finally win a major trophy, having proven himself in a Madrid shirt over a number of years.

The former Santos man has now chalked up 270 appearances for the Spanish giants, during which time he’s picked up 68 goals and 51 assists, and he is also vastly experienced in the Champions League, scoring 25 goals in the elite competition.

That said, while he has been lauded as “world-class” by Luka Modric, there are doubts over whether the Osasco-born forward is a necessary signing, given that Arsenal have already splashed the cash this summer, signing Madueke and Gyokeres to bolster their attacking options.

With Eze looking increasingly likely to move to north London too, it may only be possible to sign Rodrygo on a loan-to-buy deal, and a deal of that nature may not appeal to Madrid, given that it wouldn’t be immediately beneficial.

West Ham United head into the new season with a renewed sense of optimism.

After finishing 14th in the Premier League last season with just 43 points, the club has made it clear that progress is needed.

Graham Potter, who replaced Julen Lopetegui in January, has brought fresh ideas.

The former Chelsea boss signed a two-and-a-half-year contract and immediately faced the challenge of steadying a side that had been struggling under his predecessor.

Despite inheriting a squad lacking in depth in crucial areas, Potter has tried to lay the foundations for a more resilient West Ham side. The Hammers have already moved to secure several key additions.

Lucas Paqueta, cleared of betting allegations, will be keen to repay the club’s support with strong performances this season. The club has also added the likes of El Hadji Diouf, Mads Hermansen, Kyle Walker-Peters, and Callum Wilson.

Mohamed Kudus, a key figure in West Ham’s previous campaigns, has departed to Spurs for £55 million, creating both a gap in midfield quality and an opportunity for fresh talent to step in.

Despite these changes, one of the club’s ambitions this summer remains shoring up their midfield in a way that can transform their competitiveness in the Premier League.

West Ham have reportedly set their sights on a player widely regarded as potentially their best midfielder since Declan Rice.

West Ham eyeing move for Premier League midfielder

Yves Bissouma is a 28-year-old central midfielder currently on the books at Tottenham Hotspur who is attracting West Ham’s gaze, according to Sacha Tavolieri.

The report claims that the Hammers are one of the clubs in the race to potentially land the midfield maestro, alongside Premier League rivals Everton.

Having joined Spurs from Brighton in 2022 for £25m, this “absolute monster” has demonstrated his quality over 100 appearances, scoring six goals and contributing three assists.

Yet, despite these solid contributions, he has found himself on the fringes of the Spurs first team, mirroring the situation faced by other high-profile players in need of a fresh start.

Football Insider recently reported that Spurs would only allow Bissouma to leave if a replacement could be found, and it now appears increasingly likely that the player will depart this summer.

Palhinha has joined on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich, while the club eyes Atlético Madrid’s Conor Gallagher as a potential replacement. Gallagher’s reported £40m price tag has not deterred Spurs, though Madrid remain reluctant to sell.

The timing could be perfect for both player and club. With his contract expiring in 2026, Spurs may view a summer sale as their last opportunity to recoup investment on a player who has yet to consistently feature in Thomas Frank’s plans.

For West Ham, landing a midfielder of Bissouma’s calibre would represent a statement of intent, addressing a key area of the pitch that has long required reinforcement.

The Declan Rice benchmark

West Ham fans will naturally draw comparisons to Declan Rice, who left the club for Arsenal in a £100m deal.

Rice, a product of the West Ham academy, played 245 times for the Hammers, scoring 15 goals and assisting 13, per Transfermarkt.

Declan Rice Stats – West Ham 2022/23

Matches Played

37

Minutes

3,273

Goals

4

Assists

1

Progressive Carries

89

Progressive Passes

240

Shot Creating Actions per 90

2.75

Tackles

79

He flourished under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, proving his value not only defensively but as a driver of forward momentum.

In terms of statistics, Rice excelled in progressive carries per 90 (94th percentile, 2.66), shot-creating actions (81st percentile, 3.25), and touches in the attacking penalty area (90th percentile, 2.68), per FBref.

While Bissouma does not directly replicate Rice’s profile, he offers similar defensive reliability and the ability to influence the tempo of matches.

Rice’s departure left a void that West Ham have struggled to fill adequately, and Bissouma represents a realistic and attainable option to fill it.

His presence could elevate the team both defensively and in possession, giving Potter the balance required to implement a more consistent game plan.

According to FBref, he ranks in the 83rd percentile for pass completion (88.6%), 91st percentile for tackles (3.09 per 90 minutes), 83rd percentile for interceptions (1.39), and 92nd percentile for clearances (2.65).

His style has been likened to the likes of Boubacar Kamara at Aston Villa, blending defensive solidity with the capacity to drive the ball forward and influence transitions.

West Ham already have several players in the central midfield area, including Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, and Tomas Soucek.

The addition of Bissouma would give Potter a more dynamic and versatile selection, with a player capable of shielding the defence, winning duels, and contributing to attacks.

With West Ham intent on competing not only for league stability but also for European football, adding a midfielder of Bissouma’s calibre could be transformative.

As West Ham prepare for the new season, they face an opening fixture at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

Yet, with the summer window moving quickly and Bissouma reportedly nearing the exit from Spurs, Potter could soon have an ideal addition to his midfield.

Potter's own Xhaka: West Ham now targeting "technically gifted" £15m star

The brilliant midfielder could become West Ham United and Graham Potter’s own Granit Xhaka.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 16, 2025

The club’s summer strategy, combining new signings with the potential acquisition of a proven Premier League talent, suggests an ambition to climb the table and challenge for European spots.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers made use of dry balls and a slow pitch, but West Indies had to bowl with slippery ones

Andrew Fidel Fernando21-Oct-2024

West Indies have been unhappy with the state of the pitches in Sri Lanka. After their 2-1 defeat in the T20I series in Dambulla, coach Daren Sammy went as far as to claim a “moral victory” for West Indies, for having supposedly pushed Sri Lanka into producing turning tracks for games two and three.In the first ODI, West Indies didn’t just get another dry surface, the weather in Pallekele also conspired against them. Having won the toss and batted first, the rains coming through in the 39th over of the West Indies innings could barely have affected them worse.Not only did the interruption last long enough to ensure that Sri Lanka’s bowlers – who had had dry conditions to operate in before the weather arrived – did not have to bowl with a wet ball. It also meant West Indies had to contend with a slippery ball right through the second innings – something Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka noted as a factor in his team’s victory in the post-match presentation.After the game, Nishan Madushka, who hit 69 off 54 balls on ODI debut, and was part of a match-winning 137-run partnership with Asalanka, reiterated this.”Their bowlers were really good, but because of the rain around, I think they had trouble gripping the ball,” he said. “There was less turn on the wicket too, to be honest. But they still bowled well. “In fact, when West Indies still had the new balls (they use one ball at either end in ODIs) and they had not yet become especially damp, their bowlers had dominated. Sri Lanka lost three wickets inside the first seven overs, before Madushka and Asalanka produced their big fourth-wicket stand.During that partnership, the batters repeatedly hit the balls over the boundary and into areas of the ground and drainage areas that were waterlogged, thereby substantially changing the condition of the ball. In fact, West Indies’ bowlers brought this to the umpires’ attention at least twice, but were not successful in having the balls changed for drier ones.Part of Sri Lanka’s strategy at 45 for 3 may have been to hang around until bowling became significantly more difficult. “What Charith said was to take the game as deep as possible – to start with dragging the game to 20 or 25 overs, before we reassess,” Madushka said. “I think that positive mindset affected me positively as well, and helped me perform.”With the two remaining ODIs also to be played in Pallekele, a notoriously wet venue, conditions may continue to play a significant role in the outcome. So far this tour, from West Indies’ perspective, they are the side that has been at a substantial disadvantage.

كشف الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم عن الحكم الذي سيتولى إدارة مباراة فريقي ريال مدريد وريال سوسيداد، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني، والتي ستُقام غدًا السبت.

ويستضيف ملعب “ريالي أرينا” مباراة ريال مدريد وريال سوسيداد، في الجولة الرابعة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني، موسم 2025/26.

ويتصدر ريال مدريد جدول الدوري الإسباني برصيد 9 نقاط، العلامة الكاملة، بعدما حقق الفوز في الجولات الثلاثة الماضية، في حين أن ريال سوسيداد لديه نقطتين فقط في المركز السادس عشر.

اقرأ أيضًا | كلاسيكو و3 صدامات قوية.. ريال مدريد يفتقد روديجر في 18 مباراة بعد إصابته

وحسبما أعلن الاتحاد الإسباني، فإن الحكم خيسوس خيل مانزانو سيتولى إدارة مباراة ريال مدريد وريال سوسيداد المرتقبة يوم السبت، 13 سبتمبر 2025.

في حين أن الحكم خورخي فيجيروا فاسكيز سيكون مسؤولًا عن تقنية الفيديو في تلك المباراة، حسب إعلان الاتحاد الإسباني في بيانه.

Kiran Carlson scores 71, Chris Cooke 58 as hosts set about building match-winning lead

ECB Reporters Network24-Jun-2024

Marnus Labuschagne top-scored with 93 as Glamorgan took control of their Vitality Championship match against Northamptonshire in Cardiff. Glamorgan reached the close on 390 for 8, 111 runs in front of Northamptonshire’s first-innings total.Kiran Carlson made 71 and Chris Cooke scored 58 as Glamorgan set about building a match-winning lead.Northamptonshire had a couple of chances that went begging and a few close lbw shouts that were unsuccessful, but Glamorgan maintained control for most of the day. Luke Procter’s 3 for 36 was the best return for the visitors.Glamorgan will resume with two first-innings wickets in hand and will be hoping to continue their push for a second Championship victory of the season.Glamorgan began day two on 36 without loss and Billy Root and Eddie Byrom did a good job at blunting what was left of the new-ball threat with a stand of 63. It was the introduction of the left-arm spin of Liam Patterson-White that brought about the first wicket when Byrom edged his second ball to Privthi Shaw who took a sharp catch at first slip.Root was dismissed by Justin Broad when he was trapped lbw by a ball that nipped back into him to leave Glamorgan 85 for 2. From there Labuschagne and Carlson batted brilliantly for a stand of 140 that took Glamorgan towards parity with Northamptonshire’s first innings.Labuschagne and Carlson were busy throughout their stand and ran well to put pressure on the Northamptonshire fielders, scoring at 4.5 runs an over. Labuschagne looked certain to make it to his 10th Glamorgan hundred, but he was also trapped by a Broad inswinger that hit him in front of the stumps.Sam Northeast hit his first ball to the boundary for four, but he edged Procter behind three balls later. When Carlson fell, Glamorgan had lost three wickets for 42 runs and were in danger of surrendering the strong platform they had built for themselves. With a relatively long tail in this match they needed some lower-order support to take them into the lead.Timm van der Gugten was promoted to seven and his stand with Cooke put on 68 runs and took Glamorgan into the lead. Van der Gugten was the aggressor, making 41 of those runs from 63 balls. His innings came to an end when he edged the new ball to the keeper McManus off the bowling of Procter.At the fall of van der Gugten’s wicket Glamorgan were 56 runs in front, a useful lead but not yet a match defining one. Cooke went some way to putting Glamorgan into a winning position with a 120-ball fifty with support from James Harris.Cooke fell in the closing stages of the day, but Harris and Mason Crane got Glamorgan to the close with the lead past three figures. Pitches in Cardiff have often flattened out as the match progresses, but Glamorgan are far enough in front to think they can push for victory.

What’s a tour of England without some nostalgia – or a lot of it?

Sidharth Monga07-Aug-2025July 20
National Football Museum in Manchester. Its glass exterior has lyrics of “Don’t Look Back in Anger” inscribed on it. Manchester is, of course, Oasis country. Pronounced “oh- weɪ-ˈsʌs” in the north. They are on tour and playing in Manchester tonight. Ticket prices too high at the last moment. Or at the first. See a reel of a woman at the concert using Shazam to identify the song being played. It is “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve, who are opening for Oasis.July 21
Could spend hours in Strawberry Field, the children’s home run by the Salvation Army when John Lennon was a kid in Liverpool. Went on to immortalise the place with the Beatles song “Strawberry Fields Forever”. Was demolished in 1973 but the iconic red gates are now open to visitors.End up spending hours as it rains. Find shelter under tall trees in the beautiful garden. Imagine Lennon here as a child, escaping the world and getting lost in Strawberry Field. Now, famous Beatles lyrics are inscribed around the place. Once it stops raining, come out to see this inscription: “No one I think / Is in my tree”.July 22
A short walk from Strawberry Field is 251 Menlove Avenue, where Lennon lived from 1945 to 1963. Find there a Peruvian man, Jhon Vilchez Cordova, born in 1971, named for Lennon by his father, a big Beatles fan. Jhon is in tears, having made it to Lennon’s home. Help him photograph himself outside Lennon’s house.Walk to St Peter’s Parish Church where John and Paul first met. In its graveyard rests Eleanor Rigby. Not far from her rests John McKenzie. However, this Eleanor Rigby died in 1939. Paul McCartney has said the woman in his song is fictitious, and any connection to this graveyard – where they used to sunbathe and “probably had a craft fag” – is subconscious. “This is just bigger than me.”End up on Mathew Street, where, at the Cavern Club, the Beatles were discovered. Whole street now is a Beatles tribute.Fab forever: a tile in memory of John Lennon outside Strawberry Field in Liverpool•Sidharth Monga/ESPNcricinfo LtdJuly 23
Been in the UK long enough to suspect the efficacy of the buttons for signals at pedestrian crossings. Read up to find out most of these are just placebo, especially during busy hours. For example, the BBC says the one at the intersection of Regent Street and Cavendish Place near its HQ in London takes 105 seconds for the red man to become green irrespective of whether the button is pressed or not. However, there are some busy intersections where one press the button or the cycle will skip the pedestrian phase.July 24
In Nitish Kumar Reddy’s absence, India are doing a bit of placebo with themselves. They are playing three allrounders according to them, but none of them is a strike bowler in the conditions we have. The bowlers are struggling with their workloads and are being bowled into the dirt. England end day two on 225 for 2 in response to India’s 358.July 25
Old Trafford is a convenient cricket ground despite the infamous, seemingly permanent, temporary stand. Despite the hotel and the conference centre, the Point, taking prime real estate away from working-class cricket fans. Convenient because the tram drops you off almost inside the ground. Reminiscent of Kotla in Delhi – not pretty by any stretch but located right where old Delhi meets new, by the Dilli Gate metro station. Old Trafford also has a “sensory room”, where people troubled by excessive noise or light can take refuge.This could be a day at the Kotla. Pitch dying, bowlers tired, England make their way to 544 for 7.July 26
Test-match Saturday, and finally feel the strain of crowds on the tram. Absolutely jam-packed. Use skills learned in Bombay local trains. Stand not in the doorway but lean against wall right next to it. Anyone who has done a rush-hour commute in Bombay knows the premium on that space: don’t have to make way for anyone at stops, easy to exit when your stop arrives.In the pink: Roger Waters’ one-time home in Cambridge•Sidharth Monga/ESPNcricinfo LtdMassive crowd in, expecting England will seal the series, but India resist, losing only two wickets, those in their first over. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill bat together for 69 overs.July 27
England throw everything at India, including an injured Ben Stokes, but India, already missing Rishabh Pant with a broken foot, hang on for a draw. Stokes offers India handshakes at the first instance of their becoming available, but India want to bat on so Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar can complete their centuries. Both sides are within their rights to do what they do. England within their rights to bowl part-timers and protect frontline bowlers. However, virtue-signalling from England leaves bitter taste. Disappointed, India pull out after centuries, not continuing to bat till the scheduled close of play.July 28
Piccadilly Station in Manchester has a public piano for anyone to play. Everybody seems to be having a good time, but as with everything, there exist online reviews:

“Very quiet piano. Felt like I had to slam down a bit. Needs a bit of a tune up but can’t argue with a public piano!”

“Has seen better days 🙁 Many out of tune keys and some keys that don’t even work, plus no seat available. A shame.” – (Can vouch to Jacob that a seat is available now.)

“Sadly very low quality. Absolutely battered. Quite a few keys not working at all.”

, written by John Cleese (centre), based on the 1970s sitcom of the same name, opened in London last year•James Manning/PA Photos/Getty ImagesJuly 29
Pink Floyd pilgrimage in Cambridge. Unlike Liverpool and the Beatles, no tourism trap here. Stand with goosebumps outside the house where Syd Barrett, once the creative genius behind Floyd, lived and died alone as Roger Barrett after leaving Floyd, his alter ego and public life in the 1960s. Neighbours have in the past spoken of hearing deathly screams in the middle of the night, or hearing him barking like a dog.This semi-detached house is not far from where Barrett grew up. Nearby is Rock Road, where Roger Waters moved into a house with his mother when he was two. That house is completely obscured by magnolia growing in the front yard – echoing how Waters would perform from behind a wall in later years.About a hundred yards away is a Quaker Meeting House, likely where Roger’s mother, a radical atheist whose front room was almost a Labour Party office, would often go, telling her sons that while she didn’t share the Quakers’ beliefs, “they are good people”.End up doing some punting on the river Cam in the backyards of some of the most prestigious colleges in the world. Punting ends near the Anchor Pub, which is where Roger Barrett became Syd, back when the place was called the Riverside Jazz Bar. Barrett greatly admired resident drummer Sid Barrett, and inevitably was nicknamed after him, with a “y” for distinction. A wall now bears a big mural of Syd with an inscription of the lyrics from “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”: “Caught in the crossfire/ of childhood and stardom”.July 30
Keep noticing small, often cemented-up windows in some of the older buildings all over England. Find out now that it was done to avoid paying a ridiculous “window tax” imposed in England and Wales from the 17th century. This is where the phrase “daylight robbery” originated.July 31
It is indeed daylight robbery that India haven’t won a single toss in these five Tests, taking their toss-loss run in international matches to 15. Once again, they have two placebo allrounders in the side, who are essentially batters in these seaming conditions. With eight batters and three bowlers, India end the day at 204 for 6.Attention Russian billionaires: the Oval gasometer will be replaced by luxe flats soon•Sidharth Monga/ESPNcricinfo LtdAugust 1
A London playlist, especially when living in Herne Hill and Brixton.”The Guns of Brixton”, by The Clash
“LDN”, by Lily Allen
“London Boy”, by Taylor Swift
“Maid of Bond Street”, by David Bowie
“South Of The River”, by Tom Misch
“Streets of London”, by Ralph McTell
“Portobello Road”, by Cat Stevens
“London Bye, Ta-Ta”, by David BowieBye bye, ta-ta is not far. Soon this heightened state of purposefulness will be replaced by a temporary void. The three-man India attack promise us one final classic, bowling England out for a lead of just 23, which is wiped out in no time. Real life can wait at the door, we have one final thriller to oversee.August 2
Have always wondered what is inside the gasometer near The Oval. Have never managed to get in. Can’t do it anymore because it is now a construction site – being turned into luxury residences. Same as with Battersea Power Station, the site of the iconic cover of the Floyd album .Overhear on a Thameslink train two people decrying the conversion of old heritage buildings into high-rises. As the train crosses a bridge, one is excited to point to the other an old house that has survived. He is quick to tell her the story of the house: an old inn in Southwark, which has survived because it gets heritage protection by virtue of being associated with a Shakespeare theatre group. It most likely is the Falcon Tavern, a frequent haunt of Shakespeare and other writers.August 3
End up in Chinatown after watching India struggle with just three fast bowlers, defending 373, but still managing to stay alive thanks to Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. On way back, go past a theatre running . Most of the original cast is gone, but John Cleese, 85, ploughs on – he is the writer of this stage version.August 4
A breathtaking end to a great series, with Siraj outlasting everyone for a six-run win for India. Twenty-five days of hard work comes down to one hit or one wicket. Siraj delivers the wicket, with a yorker, his fifth-quickest ball of the series.And suddenly everybody is saying goodbyes, and what a privilege it has been. Reality has burst through the door. England, London, foxes in the Herne Hill backyard, you will be missed.

Several key themes emerged, some predicted, some not, from the second edition of the BBL overseas draft

Alex Malcolm04-Sep-2023Availability wasn’t a major worryAll the talk coming into the draft was that BBL clubs would prioritise the availability of overseas players above all else to the point where several clubs hinted they would only take ILT20 players who could play all 10 home and away games, instead of players signed up for the SA20 that starts earlier in January, or players who were likely to have international duty during the BBL. That situation did not eventuate.Rashid Khan and Quinton de Kock were both taken in the first four picks despite not being available beyond January 5 while England’s Test tour of India in mid-January did not prove a major deterrent with Harry Brook, Zak Crawley and Rehan Ahmed all snapped up. Tom Curran, Chris Jordan and Haris Rauf could also be called away for international limited-overs duties, and yet all three were taken in the first nine picks. Clubs appeared happy to take the best players on offer and will back themselves to find replacements if and when they need them.Related

Harry Brook withdraws from the BBL

Kapp goes pick one to Thunder in WBBL draft as Scorchers retain Devine

How the drafts played out

De Kock to make his BBL debut while Brook and Crawley find new clubs

Three clubs only take two overseasThe WBBL draft was plagued by passes in the third and fourth rounds as seven of the eight clubs only took two overseas players due to the bespoke direct nomination rule. There was a similar spate of passes in the BBL draft despite no such rule being in play. But clubs were allowed to take only two overseas and then sign a third at a later stage, provided the player had nominated for the draft. Melbourne Renegades, Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder all took this option. The major reason for only taking two players is flexibility.One of the negatives of the draft from a club perspective is that they are locked into signing a player in September when so much can change in terms of injuries and availability between now and the start of the tournament in December. The negative from the BBL’s perspective is the later rounds of the draft can fall flat when there are more passes than expected. It may be something the BBL needs to look at next year.James Vince still got to the Sixers despite being available to be poached•Getty ImagesLoyalty remains valued despite retention being testedThere were two intriguing storylines into the draft with Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat both set to be severely tested by other clubs given they could only use one retention pick. Sixers had three retention options among the platinum players in Curran, Jordan and James Vince. Hobart Hurricanes tested Sixers’ mettle early using pick three on Curran knowing they could get one of the others. Sixers bit straight away, retaining Curran. Hurricanes then took Jordan, filling their need for a bowling allrounder. It left one of the BBL’s most consistent overseas performers in Vince up for grabs to any club who wanted him for 10 straight picks. But no one took him, and Sixers were able to pick him at pick 14.Similarly, there was pre-draft talk of a club potentially trying to force Heat to choose between Colin Munro and Sam Billings. In the end, Heat didn’t have to use their retention pick on either. Billings was actually available to Hurricanes at pick 11 but they opted for Heat’s other retention pick in Sam Hain and Heat let him go, then took Billings with pick 15.Eight players – Vince, Munro, Billings, Rauf, Adam Hose, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Alex Hales, and Laurie Evans – returned to their previous club without a retention pick needed. Only two were used to retain Rashid and Curran, and only four players – Hain, Jordan, Brook and Crawley – were selected by a new club. Despite the BBL wanting more player movement, loyalty, familiarity, and culture remain strong forces among the BBL clubs in selecting overseas players.Hundred is the BBL’s major overseas recruiting farmThe two competitions are closely linked with so many Australian administrators, coaches and players working across both competitions. It should be no surprise then that so many of this year’s draftees have come from the Hundred. Eighteen of the 21 players drafted played in the Hundred including eight from the two finalists, Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals. Player of the tournament Jamie Overton will make his BBL debut this year after being shrewdly selected by Strikers.Zaman Khan was a surprise selection at pick 13•Getty ImagesPakistan gems still sought-after commoditiesPakistan players have long been attractive prospects for BBL clubs and quite often it is those just under the international radar that are the most sought after following the success of Rauf. Two more get to follow in his footsteps in Zaman Khan and Usama Mir although unlike Rauf, both have already played international cricket and have been appearing in a number of leagues around the world this year alone. Stars are hoping Mir will fill the huge spin hole they have and become a cult hero bowling his fast legspin at the MCG, while Thunder have added Zaman. Thunder’s selection was especially bold at pick 13 given the number of high-quality fast bowlers available.American Anderson not a forgotten manHurricanes’ head of strategy Ricky Ponting said moments after selecting Corey Anderson that he was “a forgotten man” in global cricket. The former New Zealand allrounder has not played an official T20 since August 2020 having not featured in international cricket for New Zealand since 2018 after announcing his intention to qualify for USA. But Anderson, 32, has re-emerged this year in Major League Cricket for San Francisco Unicorns, a team run by Cricket Victoria and coached by former Australia allrounder Shane Watson, who is a close friend of Ponting.Hurricanes captain Matthew Wade also played with Anderson and witnessed firsthand his stunning 91 not out off 52 balls where he torched a MI New York attack featuring Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult and Kieron Pollard. That was enough for Hurricanes to take him with their third pick and they hope he can replicate those feats on the small dimensions of Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

The Ireland series was a historic event in the calendar but Covid-19 still ended up having the final say

Peter Della Penna29-Dec-2021The opening encounter for USA vs Ireland may not have been the biggest crowd to ever grace the Broward County Stadium. The venue has played host to 10,000 people for the CPL, West Indies, New Zealand and India over the years. The official tally was 328 fans for the first T20I between the host country and their Full Member counterpart. But considering just 19 people turned up to see USA play their first ever home ODI a little over two years ago, it was progress.One of those people is Phil Mielke, a man originally from Wisconsin but now residing in Ohio. He discovered cricket while on a work trip to France in 2008 when it was being shown on one of the only English language channels available in his hotel room. He’s since turned into USA’s unofficial super fan, having travelled to see them play live across the country and around the world: from Morrisville, North Carolina, to Los Angeles; from Toronto to Kampala, Uganda to Dubai, where he was the lone USA fan to see them play ODIs against Scotland and UAE in December 2019 and was rewarded with a jersey straight off the back of Elmore Hutchinson. But on most of those occasions, Mielke was not just a super fan. He was literally the only fan. Not so in Florida.”To hear people cheering for USA Cricket and to chant, ‘U-S-A! U-S-A!’, it’s something I’m not even sure I thought I would be able to hear in my lifetime,” Mielke said from the stadium ahead of the second T20I on December 23. “I felt like crying. Just being a fan for as long as I have been, you go some places and you’re the only person there. So, a big change.””I wanted to see two matches and this was the only time to do two days in a row. It just so happened that it was the first ones, which is even better. It’s historic for sure and to get the win yesterday was amazing.”When the USA players walked off the field upon completing the historic 26-run victory over Ireland, they made clear that they were not taking it for granted. The entire squad walked across to the east stand where all the fans who had been chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” were assembled, and showered them with applause. Some of the players even shouted back, “Thank you! Thank you! Please come back tomorrow night!”USA captain Monank Patel leads the team to thank the fans for their support•Peter Della PennaWhich they did. More than twice as many people came for the second T20I as attendance for the two games eclipsed 1,000. On paper, yes, this is still not much in a venue that has had more than 10 times that number crammed in like sardines to watch India play.But it was a sign that momentum was building, in spite of the obstacles that included a series announced with less than six weeks notice, many fans who could not come due to previously arranged holiday plans over the Christmas period, not to mention a spike in Covid cases that made the remaining available fans hesitant to travel. The publicity from USA’s first win over Ireland was so good that local celebrities from other sports, former England international and current Inter Miami manager Phil Neville as well as South African golfing legend Ernie Els, were rumored to be joining the VIP hospitality suite for the final ODI on December 30.Yet just as quickly as it was snowballing for the remaining fixtures in the tour, the momentum melted in the Florida heat. Initially it was an umpire that tested positive, causing the first ODI to be canceled out of logistical complications – they couldn’t get replacements in at short notice. Then the rest of the series was scrapped after the visiting support staff and family members tested positive, though, no Irish player caught the virus and all but one USA player had been deemed fit to go.It may make people wonder, why were these final matches canceled when a similar situation unfolding in Melbourne resulted in a Test match continuing uninterrupted? Why were the T20Is also allowed to go ahead despite five USA players being ruled out with Covid yet an entire ODI series was canceled just days later when all but one out of 30-plus players returned a negative test? The short answer is that the Irish side did not want to risk running into any quarantine complications entering Jamaica for the second leg of their international tour. If the USA had been their only destination, it is highly probable that the matches would have gone on as scheduled.Mick Kirby-West (left) and Dave Kirby drove 137 miles to discover the ODI they had tickets for was canceled•Peter Della PennaBut the decision to cancel the matches over the “risk of further players testing positive if the series continued” looks even more incongruous when the USA team was immediately booked on flights home later that same day. So it’s unsafe to be playing a cricket match with everyone spaced out on a massive outdoor field, but heading straight to the airport to get on jam-packed, sold-out, five-hour domestic flights is perfectly fine?The extreme caution with which the decision was made left a sour taste in the mouths of some fans. Dave Kirby and Mick Kirby-West, a 74 and 53-year-old father and son originally from Portsmouth, England, had driven two hours on the morning of the second ODI from Mick’s current home on the west coast of Florida in Cape Coral. Only after completing their 137-mile trek were they informed at the stadium office that the match was called off.Kirby-West had not seen a match since he left England in 2015, and his father had never seen one live. They had bought tickets off the USA Cricket website at 6:43 pm on December 27 and got a standard confirmation email almost immediately. But when news of the postponement came out less than two hours later at 8:21 pm on USA Cricket’s website and social media, neither saw it. Both men wondered why there was no follow-up email sent directly to ticket holders to inform them of the initial scheduling change.”If they are seriously thinking about hosting a Cricket World Cup [sic: The ICC hosts World Cups, not the local board], I think they need to get their s**t together,” Kirby-West said. “You can’t organise a Cricket World Cup if you can’t get a little bit more organised than what they have for these games.”USA super fan Phil Mielke (right) was all smiles after the win over Ireland•Peter Della PennaThough the face value of the tickets was USD 15, the reality is that lots of people travelled from long distances to attend. The true price of admission is closer to USD 1000 when flights, hotels, local transportation and meals are included. The fans are eating that cost, and not USA Cricket.Diane Palmquist, a Minnesota native currently living in New York City, would go to see Test matches in England almost every summer prior to the pandemic. She was at the 2019 World Cup and had also attended numerous events on US soil, including the 2015 Tendulkar vs Warne Cricket All-Stars tour. She was so desperate to see live cricket again that she booked a detour from her family Christmas trip in Minnesota to fly to Florida for the second ODI before returning to New York. Instead, she wound up going to Key Largo for the day when the match was scrapped.”There’s a lot of issues with USA Cricket,” Palmquist said, “But I think we were all hopeful that they would be able to play and I’m just very sad that Covid is getting in the way of everything. I don’t know if they could handle it better. I like that they tried hard to handle it and let the game go on until they couldn’t. I’m pretty tired of everything getting canceled way ahead of time. So I would actually rather come down here and have them try to play and not be able to than just cancel it weeks in advance. Because everything else I have tickets for is getting canceled two months early and I’d rather try to make it happen.”I certainly hope that there are more USA matches like this. I was very excited to have the opportunity to see USA Cricket play here. I would love to come to other matches here and see other international matches here.”