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أعرب محمد هاني، الظهير الأيمن لـ منتخب مصر، عن سعادته بتأهل الفراعنة على بطولة كأس العالم 2026 بشكل رسمي.

وقال هاني، عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “أعتقد أنه من الطبيعي أن تتأهل مصر إلى كأس العالم، فالمجموعة الحالية تستحق التأهل والتتويج بأمم إفريقيا”.

طالع.. مصطفى محمد: التأهل لكأس العالم خطوة أولى.. ونريد أن يزداد طموح الجمهور

وتابع:” اللاعبون الحاليون قادرون على المنافسة، وأي لاعب في المنتخب يستطيع اللعب في أوروبا، ولا توجد مباراة سهلة، فمنتخبات إفريقيا لم تعد سهلة، جميع المنتخبات الآن تمتلك لاعبين يلعبون في أوروبا”.

واستمر: “بطولة إفريقيا صعبة، لكن الفوز بها ليس صعبًا علينا، نحن قادرون على ذلك، نمتلك لاعبين محترفين ومحليين على أعلى مستوى ويمكننا التتويج باللقب”.

بينما أضاف مروان عطية، لاعب خط الوسط، عبر نفس القناة: “ألف مبروك للشعب المصري ولكل مصر، فرحة لا توصف، الصعود إلى كأس العالم ليس بالأمر السهل، وسيُسجل في سيرتنا الذاتية”.

وأكمل: “فخور بنفسي وزملائي، وإن شاء الله سنتمكن من تقديم أداء جيد ونتوج بـ كأس أمم إفريقيا، أحاول تنفيذ التعليمات والاستماع جيدًا والاجتهاد، والله معي دائمًا”.

واسترسل: “نحلم بالفوز بكأس أمم إفريقيا، ولا يقل طموحنا عن ذلك، فنحن منتخب كبير ولنا القدرة على التتويج بالبطولة”.

وأتم: “كان لدي إصرار على العودة من الإصابة لأساعد زملائي ولو بالكلمة، فكل لاعب يجب أن يكون على قدر المسؤولية، وجميع اللاعبين في المنتخب يتحلون بذلك، أحمد الله بعد التعافي من الإصابة، وقد ساعدني زملائي في العودة سريعًا”.

Ex-Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has reportedly rejected a return to one of his old clubs in a bid to protect his finances following his sudden departure from Bayer Leverkusen. Ten Hag returned to management in the summer after being sacked by the Red Devils last October, but only lasted two leagues games in the BayArena hot seat.

GettyWhy Ten Hag won't accept FC Twente job?

According to , Eredivisie side FC Twente had shown interest in Ten Hag, who previously enjoyed three spells with the club as a player. Twente have parted company with Joseph Oosting, leaving them with a void to fill in their dugout. Ten Hag has decided not to head back to his homeland, though, because joining a new club so soon after his Leverkusen sacking would severely impact his €6m (£5.2m) severance package, which equates to €100,000 (£86,631) a day.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAnother ex-United coach could benefit

Twente could now approach another man with strong ties to United in the form of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The former United striker coached the club on a caretaker basis after Ten Hag's sacking, and is said to be a potential candidate for the Twente job after seeing his 27-game spell in charge of Leicester City brought to a close in June.

Why did Leverkusen sack Ten Hag?

Leverkusen collected just one point from their first two Bundesliga games of the new season, with a 3-3 draw against ten-man Werder Bremen proving to be the last straw for Ten Hag. The 55-year-old later expressed his frustration at the club's "unprecedented" decision to let him go and accused the board of failing to give him any trust.

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Getty Images SportLeverkusen preparing for Champions League opener

Leverkusen moved quickly to hire former Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand as Ten Hag's replacement. Hjulmand inspired Leverkusen to their first win of the season against Eintracht Frankfurt last week. The club are now preparing to face Copenhagen in their Champions League opener on Thursday.

He has 14 days to respond to charges that related to international games and LPL matches

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Aug-2024Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama has been charged by the ICC for breaching three counts of the anti-corruption code relating to corrupt approaches in international matches and the Lanka Premier League.According to an ICC statement Jayawickrama, 25, was charged under articles 2.4.4 and 2.4.7 of the code as follows: Failing to report to the Anti-Corruption Unit, without unnecessary delay, details of an approach he received to carry out fixing in future international matches. Failing to report to the Anti-Corruption Unit, without unnecessary delay, details of an approach he received in which he was asked to approach another player, on a corrupter’s behalf, to carry out fixing in the 2021 Lanka Premier League. Obstructing the investigation by deleting messages in which the approaches and offers to engage in corrupt conduct were made.Jayawickrama has 14 days from August 6 to respond to the charges. In accordance with the anti-corruption code, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the ICC have agreed that the ICC will take action concerning the LPL charge alongside the charges relating to international matches.Having made his international debut in a Test against Bangladesh in April 2021, Jayawickrama has played five Tests, five ODIs and five T20Is. His last appearance for Sri Lanka was in a T20I series at home against Australia in 2022.In LPL 2021, Jayawickrama was a part of the Jaffna Kings side that won its second title. He played one match that season, taking two wickets. In LPL 2024, he turned out for Dambulla Sixers.

Manchester City won’t be taking the Club World Cup trophy home with them after all, after a dramatic 4-3 loss to Al-Hilal in the pre-season tournament.

Pep Guardiola and Co.’s defensive frailties were clear for all to see when watching the back-and-forth knockout tie in Orlando, with the Citizens registering a bumper 30 shots in total, only to be undone in extra-time by Simone Inzaghi’s never-say-die side.

With the tournament now out of the way, City can press on with even more signings away from previously landing Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Rayan Ait-Nouri in quick succession, as the rumour mill begins to kick back into life.

Man City's transfer latest

It has been somewhat quiet on the transfer front from City’s point of view after landing all those high-profile names in quickfire fashion, with the main hot topic centring on Kevin De Bruyne finding a new club to call his home in Napoli, alongside Oscar Bobb reportedly being looked at by Serie A giants Juventus.

However, a new development seems to suggest City will be busy with another fresh incoming very soon.

Indeed, Football Insider’s Mick Brown has now revealed that City will accelerate a move for Newcastle United star Tino Livramento to join the Etihad ranks, with the Magpies defender now done with his England U21 international duties at the Euros.

Scouts had even been sent on City’s end to watch Livramento in action at the tournament as Guardiola’s men try and hunt down a long-term right-back replacement for Kyle Walker.

After lifting the Euros trophy, the in-the-spotlight 22-year-old’s summer could become even better if he seals a switch to the sky blue half of Manchester shortly, with Livramento’s attacking qualities playing out from defence in the Premier League potentially making him a perfect candidate to be Guardiola’s next João Cancelo.

Why Livramento can be Pep's next Cancelo

Cancelo was once a regular mainstay of the City XI, but in Orlando, he was having the last laugh over his ex-employers when contributing with an assist for Al-Hilal to down the Citizens 4-3.

Irrespective of this memorable contribution souring his relationship with his former side even more, the Portuguese full-back was a firm fan favourite previously, with nine goals and 22 assists coming his way from 154 appearances at the Etihad.

Three Premier League titles would even be lifted by the long-standing City servant before a move to Al-Hilal opened up, with Guardiola never fully recovering from Cancelo’s exit, arguably, having had to now force Matheus Nunes into an uncomfortable position down the right-hand side when he’s far more suited to a central midfield role.

This is where Livramento could well come to the rescue in offering the Spaniard a more reliable, attack-oriented option down the right resembling Cancelo at this peak, with their similarities not just ending there.

Much like the one-time Champions League winner, the promising 22-year-old can also comfortably slot into any side in the left-back spot away from just the right, as seen in his 19 career games lining up on the opposing channel.

The London-born defender is some way off hitting Cancelo’s elite level when you consider the table further, but with Ait-Nouri already making that left channel look his own at the Club World Cup – with two key passes registered from his 119 touches versus Al-Hilal – Guardiola would surely drop Livramento into any upcoming City team selections on the right.

Having also amassed 14 goal contributions further up the pitch in the right midfield position, this could really go down as a golden deal much like when Cancelo first entered the building, with Toon content creator Kendall Rowan once referring to the youngster as a “superstar.”

City clearly requires even more fresh blood after a reality check loss to Al-Hilal, with their next major buy perhaps coming in the form of snapping up Livramento for a substantial £60m.

Man City believe "excellent" £50k-p/w ace wants to join, bid being prepared

The Citizens are feeling confident.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 28, 2025

The first of two transfer windows this summer is now open, with Chelsea set to be very active before the initial 10th June deadline.

According to a report by David Ornstein of The Athletic, Liam Delap is on the cusp of joining Chelsea, noting that personal terms have been agreed and that a medical will take place on Monday, with the Blues having agreed to pay his £30m release clause.

The 22-year-old will therefore be eligible to make his debut in just a couple of weeks time, given that Chelsea commence their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Los Angeles FC in Atlanta on 16 June.

However, could the Blues also be showcasing another new striker by the time that clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium rolls around?

Chelsea's search for another striker

According to widespread reports, including by the Daily Post in Nigeria, Victor Osimhen’s entourage are ‘working’ on a deal to get the striker to Chelsea this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

They relay quotes from Peter Okoye, one of Osimhen’s close associates, who said that last summer, both he and former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel “made every effort to secure the signing of Victor Osimhen for Chelsea”.

Well, a year on, it’s revealed that they “remain steadfast” in their pursuit and “will continue efforts this summer.”

Now that the season is over, the 26-year-old is once again a Napoli player, having scored 76 goals in 133 appearances for I Partenopei, the Capocannoniere (top-scorer) in Serie A in the 2022/23 season, firing the club to their first Scudetto for 33 years.

Last summer, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis placed a €130m (around £110m) price tag on Osimhen, hoping to create some sort of bidding war, but after no concrete offers were made by the time the vast majority of European windows had shut, the Nigerian striker spent last season on loan at Turkish Süper Lig side Galatasaray.

Now, reports believe he would be ‘available for £60m’, so could he soon be swapping the Bosphorus for the King’s Road?

How Victor Osimhen would improve Chelsea

It is pretty difficult to dispute the fact that Osimhen is one of the best centre-forwards on the planet.

During his one season with Galatasaray, he scored 37 goals in just 41 appearances, thereby averaging a goal every 87 minutes.

26 of these came in the Süper Lig which, according to Global Football Rankings, is the 18th strongest league in the world, firing the İstanbul giants to a record-extending 25th title, while he also netted six times in seven Europa League appearances, including bagging a brace during a victory over Tottenham in November.

Youssef Maaoui of Talent Football Scout praises Osimhen’s athleticism, describing him as a ‘fast and imposing striker’ who possesses ‘elite goal-scoring instincts’, making him ‘one of the most exciting and unique talents’ in world football.

Meantime, Jack Chippendale of Total Football Analysis outlines how the Nigerian was the ‘focal point’ of Galatasaray’s attack, allowing him to take a high volume of shots, while journalist Paolo Esposito simply labelled him “superhuman”.

So, how does Osimhen compare to potential future teammate Delap?

Appearances

41

40

Minutes

3,236

2,670

Goals

37

12

Assists

8

2

Shots per 90

5.62

2.28

Shots on target %

42.7%

43.3%

Big chances missed

43

10

Big chances created

12

3

Shot-creating actions

25

62

% of aerials duels won

63.6%

42.6%

Touches per 90

29

28

% of touches in opposition box

37%

13%

Average Sofascore rating

7.72

6.85

First things first when comparing these two players, it has to be noted that Osimhen was playing for the dominant team at a lower level this season, while Delap was playing for a relegated Premier League outfit, skewing the data of both somewhat.

Nevertheless, even with that caveat, we can still learn plenty from the data.

What the numbers underline is that neither get overly involved in build-up play, while Osimhen’s statistic of 5.62 shots per 90 is astronomically high, taking an average of 7.32 shots per 90 in this season’s Europa League, almost three more than anybody else.

Also, the fact that the Nigerian records over a third of his touches in the opposition penalty area is further evidence that he is a proper penalty box poacher, even if his tally of 43 big chances missed proves there is room for improvement.

Nevertheless, as outlined by Liam Twomey of the Athletic, a world-class number nine is what Chelsea need to reach the next level, and Osimhen, more than the soon-to-arrive Delap, has all the attributes to be just that. He’s a true elite striker.

Big Sancho upgrade: Chelsea step up move for 'one of the world's best'

Chelsea could be ready to land an upgrade on Jadon Sancho this summer

1 ByRobbie Walls Jun 1, 2025

Liverpool are now plotting an opening offer for a “very special” Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement, with the right-back now confirming he is set to exit Anfield this summer.

Trent set to leave Liverpool this summer

It has been rumoured for quite some time, but Trent has now officially confirmed he is planning to leave his boyhood club at the end of the season, with a move to Real Madrid seemingly in the pipeline.

The right-back’s decision to leave has caused mixed reactions to say the least, given that Arne Slot’s side should be in a strong position to compete for major honours in the future, having won the Premier League title in the Dutchman’s first season.

However, with Trent now set to move on, Slot’s next task will be to find a suitable replacement, should the manager decide that Conor Bradley is not yet ready to get the nod as a regular starter.

According to a report from Empire of the Kop, Liverpool are now expected to make an opening offer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, with FSG looking to get a deal done as quickly as possible.

A bid for Frimpong is set to be made soon, having made contact with the full-back’s agents a few weeks ago, and there are plenty of signs that a deal could be a real possibility.

The Dutchman is believed to be keen on a move to the Premier League, which could make negotiations easier, with a €35m-€40m (£30m – £34m) offer now in the works.

Elite Isak alternative: Liverpool in contact to sign the "the new Haaland"

Liverpool’s main transfer priority this summer is to sign a new striker.

1 ByAngus Sinclair May 6, 2025 "Very special" Frimpong could be ideal Trent heir

The Reds have their own ready-made Trent replacement in Bradley, but Frimpong’s versatility potentially makes him an ideal option, given that he would be able to rotate with the Northern Irishman, who may not be ready to start every match.

The Leverkusen star is also able to play further forward at right-wing, while also featuring at left-back and attacking midfield sporadically throughout his career, which makes him a “very special” player, according to reporter Christian Falk.

Much like Trent, the 24-year-old is particularly impressive on the front foot, picking up four goals and six assists in the Bundesliga this season, while also placing very highly on some key attacking metrics over the past year, when compared to other full-backs.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.11 (85th percentile)

Assists

0.22 (88th percentile)

Touches (Att pen)

5.18 (99th percentile)

It is understandable that fans are disappointed by Trent’s decision to leave this summer, but Frimpong has proven he could be a fantastic replacement.

Arsenal have privately refused to rule out signing a former Man City forward for manager Mikel Arteta this summer, with new sporting director Andrea Berta and the Gunners hierarchy set for a key transfer decision.

Arsenal cruise into Champions League semi-finals after Real Madrid win

It’s been a sensational week for Arteta and co, who made history by becoming the first ever side in history to win at the Bernabeu on their first two visits – breaking a record which stood for 77 years.

Arsenal given 50% discount for £280k-per-week forward after opening talks

Andrea Berta could now strike a half-price deal.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 18, 2025

Goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli sealed a stunning 5-1 aggregate win for Arsenal in the Spanish capital, making a serious statement to the rest of Europe that they’re genuine contenders to win this year’s Champions League title.

A tough test in Ligue 1 champions PSG awaits in the semi-finals, but their tails will surely be up after a potentially season-defining quarter-final tie.

“The feeling that we have is our reality, basically,” said Arteta on the mood around Arsenal after their triumph over Real Madrid.

“And in the feeling that I had before the game, when the players were transmitting and how prepared I could feel the team, that we are ready to compete against anybody. Now we have to continue to do that because I think we have some momentum now.

“Where we finished last year and the way we’re doing it this year, the teams with their eyes on us and the competition, it’s incredible. Big credit to [Madrid}, it was my first time as a coach in that dugout, and today I realised after three minutes in this stadium, anything is possible. They are specialists of creating such chaos and belief, and it’s very difficult to really understand what’s going on in the game and have certainty about how we controlled it. I think they showed a lot of maturity.”

Arsenal refuse to rule out signing Raheem Sterling permanently

Privately, Arsenal are making plans to build the squad further and provide Arteta with new wide attackers.

In the last week, Arsenal have repeatedly been linked with a move for Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, not to mention Athletic Bilbao sensation Nico Williams, but there is also the matter of Raheem Sterling and his future at the Emirates.

It hasn’t exactly been a dream loan move from Chelsea for the Englishman, who’s seen precious little game time under his former City assistant coach, with Arsenal paying around £163,000-per-week of his £325,000-per-week salary during his temporary stint.

Berta would need to renegotiate contract terms and a fee with Chelsea to make his move permanent, but according to The Mail, as quoted by TEAMtalk, Arsenal have refused to rule out signing Sterling permanently and are yet to inform him of a final decision.

It would be a bizarre call by the north Londoners at this point, considering the 30-year-old boasts just one goal and five assists all season, but it is believed his stay may not be completely off the table, contrary to reports.

Delhi Capitals’ win over Lucknow Super Giants on Monday night in IPL 2025 was the fifth one-wicket win in the history of the tournament

Srinidhi Ramanujam25-Mar-2025

Ashutosh Sharma played an innings for the ages•BCCI

KKR beat KXIP, Kolkata, IPL 2015It was the first one-wicket victory in IPL history, in Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) final league game of IPL 2015, at home. The Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) spinners had KKR at 83 for 4 in the 11th over in pursuit of 184, but a fifth-wicket stand of 53 in 4.1 overs between Andre Russell and Yusuf Pathan revived the chase. Pathan fell for 29 off 19, but Russell went on to hammer 51 off 21. When Russell was dismissed with 25 needed off 19, Piyush Chawla levelled the scores before the last pair of Umesh Yadav and Sunil Narine scrambled a leg-bye off the penultimate ball to finish the job. This was so long back that Narine was the team’s No. 11.Bravo, Dwayne! It was CSK’s comeback match in the IPL, and they showed the fans what they had been missing•BCCICSK beat MI, Mumbai, IPL 2018Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were coming back from their two-year ban, and it was a game – the season-opener – Mumbai Indians (MI) were well-placed to win at the Wankhede. MI overcame a poor start to post 165 for 4. In the chase, CSK slipped to 75 for 5. But Dwayne Bravo’s stunning assault brought them back to life. CSK needed 46 from 17 and Bravo hit two sixes and a four in that 18th over against Mitchell McClenaghan and three sixes in the next off Jasprit Bumrah before falling off the last ball of the 19th. But all CSK needed was seven from the last over. An injured Kedar Jadhav walked out after having retired earlier to smash a six and a four off the final over, bowled by Mustafizur Rahman.SRH beat MI, Hyderabad, 2018MI had huffed and puffed their way to 147 for 8 in their second game of the season. At 56 for no loss after six overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) looked like they would coast to victory. But they lost nine wickets for 75 runs from there, before the last-wicket pair of Deepak Hooda and Billy Stanlake held their nerve to make it two out of two for SRH in the season. Hooda’s unbeaten 32 included a sensational final-over six off a wide yorker from Ben Cutting, which reduced the equation to five off five. A wide and three singles brought it down to one off the final delivery, a slower one, which Stanlake hoicked to midwicket.LSG’s musclemen Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis smashed their way past RCB in IPL 2023•BCCILSG beat RCB, Bengaluru, IPL 2023In a see-sawing contest, LSG stunned the Chinnaswamy amid high drama. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had reduced LSG to 23 for 3 in four overs in their chase of 213, but Marcus Stoinis’ 30-ball 65 gave them a platform, from which Nicholas Pooran’s 19-ball 62 and Ayush Badoni’s 24-ball 30 took them to the doorstep of victory. Badoni fell in the 19th over and LSG needed four from the remaining five balls with three wickets in hand. They lost Mark Wood and Jaydev Unadkat, too, in the final over. Harshal Patel bowled the last ball, No. 11 Avesh Khan missed, and the batters scampered. RCB wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik fumbled twice and then missed his throw at the stumps and LSG were victors.DC beat LSG, Visakhapatnam, IPL 2025A chase of 210. There was no KL Rahul. DC were tottering at 65 for 5, and it became 113 for 6 when they lost Tristan Stubbs. At the end of 13 overs, it seemed like DC had no chance, but Vipraj Nigam’s 39 off 15 (on IPL debut) and Ashutosh Sharma’s awe-inspiring 66 not out off 31 deliveries scripted a thrilling comeback, and LSG were beaten. This was after Ashutosh had been on a run-a-ball 19.

Delivery to Pope proves that, in this format, Starc is the best in the world at what he does

Matt Roller01-Jul-2023Mitchell Starc is probably not the best bowler in the world, but he might be the bowler who bowls the best balls. And on Saturday afternoon, a couple of minutes after five o’clock, Ollie Pope faced one of Starc’s best.It was the ball that left-arm fast bowlers dream about: fast, full, angling across, swinging back in, bursting through the gap between bat and pad. On a day where England’s bowlers hardly bowled a ball that would have hit the stumps between them, Starc ripped Pope’s middle stump out of the ground.Starc stuck his right arm out with his first finger raised and let out a scream so loud that every muscle in his neck was visible, popping out from under his skin. He wore an expression of genuine anger, giving Cameron Green a high-ten hard enough to sting his hands. It was close to perfection.Related

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And the context made it even better. Starc’s first ball of the over, his third, was angled across Pope, holding its line up the slope to beat his outside edge. It created enough doubt that, facing the next ball, Pope planted his front foot slightly tentatively and played down an off-stump line.He missed the ball by inches, his head falling over to the off side. After it flicked his pad and crashed into his stump, Pope kept falling. He peered around his right hip to see the stump lying on the floor, with a camera cable attached to it. England were 13 for 2, needing another 358 to win.Starc has never been – and will never be – a bowler who exerts control, and Australia have never quite trusted him in England for that reason. Four years ago, he played only one of the five Ashes Tests, with Peter Siddle and James Pattinson among those preferred; in Birmingham last week, Scott Boland got the nod ahead of him.At Lord’s, Starc started the second innings by spraying one so far outside Zak Crawley’s off stump that it was called a wide; three balls later, with Ben Duckett on strike, he so short and wide outside his off stump that the man who prides himself on never leaving the ball had no other choice.Starc’s economy rate across his Test career is 3.33 and in this match, he has gone at 4.74 an over. None of his 27 overs has been a maiden and at times, England have been able to get after him. But his attributes are irresistible: height, bounce, pace, swing, all from a left-arm angle.That cocktail lends itself to chances. At the end of Starc’s first over, he found some extra bounce from a length to take Duckett’s outside edge, Green unable to cling on as he flung himself to his left in the gully; his next ball, the first of his second over, was near identical but this time to the right-handed Crawley, and resulted in a leg-side strangle.Mitchell Starc strangled Zak Crawley down the leg side•Getty ImagesTwo balls later, he pinned Duckett with another beauty, a ball which angled in, swung away and thumped him on the knee roll of his back pad. Given out on field by Chris Gaffaney, Duckett survived on review but only just, ball-tracking predicting it would have missed the top of off stump by a hair’s breadth.Starc was baffled when his catch at deep fine leg off Duckett was given not out by the third umpire in the final stages of the fourth day, captured by TV cameras asking: “What the hell?” The same question must have gone through Pope’s mind two hours previously – and last week, when Pat Cummins uprooted his off stump with a wicked yorker.This was Starc at his best, coming up with a spell where nobody – not him, not his team-mates, and certainly not England’s batters – seemed to know whether he was about to spray one down the leg side or rattle the stumps. Pace – or, as Starc calls it, “airspeed” – creates doubt; doubt causes chaos, and a batter’s demise.Few players convey the sense that this – white clothes, red ball, five days – really is the pinnacle in the way Starc does. The two other truly elite left-arm seamers, Trent Boult and Shaheen Shah Afridi, have not played a Test between them in the past 11 months. In this format, he is the best in the world at what he does.Starc does not play in the IPL, or the Big Bash, or in any franchise leagues. He plays for Australia and can’t get enough of it. “The money’s nice,” he said before this tour, “but I’d love to play 100 Test matches.” Not many cricketers have the financial security to turn down the T20 money, but it is clear just how much this means to Starc.This tour is legacy-defining for Starc. He had already ticked the white-ball World Cups off but since arriving in the UK, he has become a World Test Champion; now, he is bowling magic balls that will likely contribute to Australia taking a 2-0 lead in an away Ashes series. It doesn’t get much better.

In their quest for Eldorado, English cricket may have saddled itself with fool’s gold

George Dobell15-Jul-2021″You’ve got a lot of nerve, to say you are my friend,” sang Bob Dylan in the opening line of . It was the song Bob Willis had playing in the background when he died after a long battle with cancer in December 2019.To celebrate Bob’s life – Bob Willis’ life, that is – Edgbaston (his old ground) was tangled up in blue during the third ODI against Pakistan on Tuesday night. Spectators had been encouraged to wear blue to both celebrate his life and raise awareness and funds for the fight against prostate cancer. It’s a surprising choice of final song, in a way. It’s not a peaceful song. Nor gentle or even kind. It’s furious, really. Hateful, even. It sneers at hypocrisy. It angrily demands honesty. And it remains as relevant now as it was when he wrote it almost 60 years ago.Maybe that opening line is a phrase that could be directed towards the ECB executive right now. They are meant to be the guardians of our game, after all. But Tuesday’s was the final ODI before the domestic 50-over competition in England (and Wales) is downgraded into what has been termed a “development” competition. Its final, once a showpiece event in the season, will now be played on a Thursday.It will take place at the same time as the Hundred, you see. And that means it will be without many of the best white-ball players in the land. Surrey, for example, lose 12 players to the Hundred; Sussex lose eight; Somerset lose seven as well as their head coach. And that’s even before we consider the impact of Covid.In a format in which we are told attention to detail and role definition are so important, you wonder what impact this will have when England next play a 50-over World Cup, in India in 2023. It means the best new, white-ball players could be picked for the ODI side without ever having played a professional 50-over game. This week’s success, achieved by a third-choice side against a strong Pakistan team, might prove a high-water mark in the history of England’s ODI cricket.England’s 3-0 clean sweep may come to be seen as the high-water mark of England’s 50-over fortunes•Getty ImagesIt’s not just the 50-over competition which has been forced to compromise, either. The T20 Blast, a competition which has kept the counties afloat in recent years, has been squeezed into a window 40% shorter this year. Even before Covid intervened, clubs had almost no chance to retain the spectator numbers that had been so impressive in previous years based on the premise of regular Friday night fixtures, with room for variance for local factors. This year, Surrey, for example, played six home games in the space of 12 days. Two of them were on Mondays and two more were on Wednesdays. Really, it’s almost as if some people wanted it to fail.Some will scoff at that suggestion. But given the potential direction of travel – the decreasing relevance of the county game and the growing dominance of those based at Test-hosting grounds – many of us fear that the Hundred is an attempt to reduce the number of counties by stealth. And even if it isn’t, might it not be easier to justify the new format if you can demonstrate the existing competitions have failed? It would explain the ECB’s reluctance to sing the success of the Vitality Blast from every rooftop. It has, let us remember, sold out almost every game at several venues – including the London ones – for years. It’s attracted some great overseas players, too. Had it been embraced by a free-to-air broadcaster, it really could have been the vehicle to growth.And remember: these new team identities, some of them based many hours from the regions which they supposedly represent, have never produced a player. They have no pathways, no academies and no existing support base. They are parasites feeding on the players and supporters the county game has produced. It’s a bizarre act of cannibalism to stage a new competition at the same time as an existing one. Even if the new tournament works, it could push existing teams into obsolescence.We haven’t even talked about the first-class game yet. But it’s hard to dispute it has been compromised in the desire to create a white-ball window. At the start of this century, when the Championship was split into two divisions playing four day-cricket, it produced a Test team that went to No. 1 in the world. So well did it prepare people for Test cricket, that four of the top seven (Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott and Matt Prior) made centuries on Test debut and two more (Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen) made half-centuries. One of the bowlers (James Anderson) took a five-for on debut and another (Graeme Swann) claimed two wickets in his first over. The County Championship worked.The County Championship produced players good enough to propel England to No.1 in the world in 2011•Getty ImagesNow? Well, aspects of it are still outstanding. But instead of nurturing it, the ECB have devalued it. It starts before Easter and ends to a backdrop of the boys from the NYPD choir singing Galway Bay. It’s played on surfaces which are sometimes more crazy golf than Masters. It provides little opportunity for spinners or fast bowlers and has proven unable to develop batters with the technique and temperament for Test cricket. The evidence of recent times would suggest it isn’t really working.But let us not talk falsely: there are some good reasons behind the birth of the Hundred. Much as it may pain some of us to admit it, the game’s relevance was diminishing in England and Wales. It had largely disappeared from state schools and free-to-air television. Unless you were privately educated or had a family member interested in sport, it was entirely possible you would never experience the game. It was well on the way to becoming a niche sport.And much as some of us cherish the counties, we might also accept that some of them were failing in their duty to embrace working-class and non-white communities. While some counties have worked hard to remain relevant and solvent, others had been a little too willing to pocket the centrally distributed resources and do an absolute minimum to justify it. Even those of us who passionately care for the 18-county system will admit privately that one or two counties are tough to defend. The fact that one of those is hosting a Hundred side is ironic.More than that, the reputation of the game was tainted. Perhaps unfairly – okay, undoubtedly unfairly – many broadcasters and potential spectators weren’t interested in it. The length of games was stretching a bit long. There probably was room for a re-launch. There probably was logic in the need for change. There almost certainly are good intentions at the root of all this. But never forget: the BBC signed up to the new competition when they thought it was a T20 tournament.There are quite a few such misconceptions about the Hundred. One of them is that it provides a high-profile women’s competition. Which sounds reasonable. But then you remember that the ECB abandoned the Kia Super League (KSL), the women’s domestic T20 competition, at the end of 2019.

Even those of us who passionately care for the 18-county system will admit privately that one or two counties are tough to defend. The fact that one of those is hosting a Hundred side is ironic.

Why? Well, maybe because in its absence it was easier to build a compelling argument for the development of the Hundred. It allowed them to claim that this wasn’t all about money, but also about diversity and inclusion. As if those who oppose the Hundred in some way oppose opportunities for women.There’s the much-repeated argument that the first-class counties needed the money that the Hundred will bring in, too. But, again, it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Before the Hundred was introduced, the ECB had reserves in excess of £70 million. They could easily have shared some of that with the counties. Instead, they kept them in need to ensure their compliance. The counties have managed to be bribed with their own money. And now those reserves have gone; squandered on a competition which is costing more than it will earn.Equally, supporters of the Hundred – and it’s noticeable that a sizeable proportion of those supporters have some financial incentive for wishing it well – like to portray the county game as reactionary and staid. But again, it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Where was one-day cricket born? Where was T20 cricket born? Where were free-hits and DLS born? County cricket, that’s where. The ECB should have been wooing and seducing broadcasters, not telling them their existing competitions were rubbish.And that’s an issue to which we keep coming back here: the Hundred is the ECB’s answer to problems they created. If they hadn’t allowed cricket to disappear behind a paywall and if they hadn’t cancelled the KSL, there would be no need for it. We have a great sport. We just need to ensure more people have the opportunity to experience it.Related

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It could yet work. Whether it’s played over 100 overs, 100 balls or five days, cricket is a great game. Perhaps the increased broadcast exposure will counteract all these other factors. But make no mistake: the ECB has bet the farm on this competition. If it fails, it could set the sport back a generation. And if it succeeds, the collateral damage to the other formats and the counties could still lose more than we gain. It feels like a wild, unnecessary gamble.Maybe, had the initial launch been handled differently, existing supporters would have been more accepting of the shortened format or amended regulations. We’ve lived with overs of almost every length over the years, after all. We’ve accepted many other innovations.But the first impressions were awful. The ECB seemed to delight in offending existing cricket lovers. They seemed to revel in sneering ‘we can do without you’. And by the time they realised their hubris had let them down, it was too late. In years to come, you wonder if the initial roll-out of the idea will be studied as a text-book example of how not to do it. If they had their time again – and the ECB has a much-improved communications team these days – you can be quite certain they would do it differently.Partially because of this, The Hundred has become the of its time. And that doesn’t mean the fabled city. It means the BBC soap opera whose reputation was so poor before the first episode was broadcast in 1992 that it was doomed from the off. Many people (63 percent according to a recent survey conducted by the Cricket Supporters’ Association) who love cricket resent and fear and hate the Hundred. The inability of the ECB to bring many cricket lovers with them on this journey may be the defining mistake in this whole saga.The point of all this? Eden is burning, as Bob Dylan put it. The game we knew is being compromised to accommodate a competition we shouldn’t need. A county game which helped England to No. 1 in the world in all three formats, which attracted record attendances, which could, with just a little adaption of the broadcast deal, have been the vehicle to a new audience, is being dismantled. It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there. Really, the ECB have a lot of nerve to pretend they are county cricket’s friend.