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In the past five years, there has been a sharp increase in the proportion of players who consider the T20 World Cup to be the most important ICC event

Matt Roller28-Jun-2024

ICC/Getty Images

The T20 World Cup is on course to overtake the 50-over World Cup as the “most important” ICC event to players around the world, according to new survey data seen by ESPNcricinfo.The newly-rebranded World Cricketers Association (WCA), formerly FICA, conducts regular surveys which are circulated to several hundred players around the world. In the past five years, there has been a sharp increase in the proportion who consider the T20 World Cup to be the most important ICC event, especially among young players.In 2019, 85% of respondents ranked the 50-over World Cup as the most important ICC event, compared to 15% who chose the T20 World Cup. In 2024, only 50% chose the 50-over World Cup, compared to 35% who said the T20 World Cup and a further 15% who picked the World Test Championship.Latest WCA (formerly FICA) survey data•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

For players under 26, the change is even more stark. In 2019, 86% picked the 50-over World Cup compared to 14% who chose the T20 World Cup. In 2024, just 49% said the 50-over World Cup, while 41% picked the T20 World Cup and 10% chose the World Test Championship.The trend is reflected more widely across the game, beyond ICC events. Five years ago, 82% of survey respondents picked Test cricket as the most important format while 11% chose T20. This year, only 48% of players chose Test cricket compared to 30% who said T20.The WCA say that the sample size for this year’s survey – which will be released in full later in the year – was around 330 professional players from 13 different countries, the majority of whom are current internationals. The data is skewed by a higher proportion of female respondents in 2024 but the WCA say the trends hold true when isolating responses from male players.India, Pakistan and Afghanistan players are among those who are not represented by the WCA since they are not unionised. But the survey responses are spread across players from cricket’s other major nations, which include Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies.Tom Moffat, WCA’s chief executive, was in New York and Barbados during the group stages of the T20 World Cup to meet with players. He told ESPNcricinfo: “This Men’s T20 World Cup has been a great spectacle and our latest global player survey data continues to highlight the trend in player preferences towards T20 cricket in particular.”The WCA will invite players to scheduling symposiums in August and September, and Moffat believes that they must be involved in collective discussions if the game is serious about solving its issues. “The rapid evolution in the game is exciting but also presents challenges of leadership in a sport that has traditionally not come together coherently on many global issues outside of ICC events,” he said.Latest WCA (formerly FICA) survey data•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“Scheduling in particular is still managed based on individual deals and regional interests and if you looked closely enough, you would probably find some countries have already filled up their calendars with bilateral international cricket for the best part of the next decade.”Given the domestic T20 leagues are also filling up calendar space and becoming a preferred option for many players and those investing in the game, that doesn’t make much sense.”Moffat believes that bilateral international cricket has been significantly weakened by boards acting in their own self-interests and scheduling it alongside franchise leagues.”As an industry, we either accept there will be two parallel calendars and a split player employment market – which means international cricket isn’t going to be best vs best – or we come together to try and find a way to ensure both landscapes can co-exist, with scheduling windows and a properly structured international calendar,” he said.”Either way, the players should be collectively involved in decisions on game structure and regulations that impact their careers. The players drive and are invested in the game’s success, and their decisions are shaping its future.”The WCA and the ICC recently renegotiated players’ squad terms for the next four years of ICC events, which cover commercial and image rights. A deal was struck in the days leading up the T20 World Cup after many months of negotiations and the WCA believe the new collective model will benefit players from smaller nations.

Liverpool are marching their way through the summer transfer window like nobody’s business, with the signings made thus far fitting additions to a Premier League-winning team.

It’s a good thing too, for the Anfield side’s domestic rivals are looking to reel in impactful additions of their own as they look to challenge for the top-flight title next term.

FSG will slow down now, though, having signed two full-backs and Florian Wirtz (for a British-record £116m fee) to boot.

And there’s more still to come. The Merseysiders have placed themselves in a strong financial position after biding their time across recent transfer windows and claiming a windfall from sealing the league title.

Where might FSG strike next?

Where Liverpool are planning to strengthen

There’s plenty of noise surrounding Liverpool’s planned signing of a centre-forward, but with Bayern Munich plotting to sign Luis Diaz, we may see a left-sided winger arrive at the club in the coming month too.

The usual rumours linking Liverpool to Anthony Gordon have resurfaced; might we see the Three Lions star playing alongside Alexander Isak, his Newcastle United teammate, at Anfield next season?

After such a fierce wave of activity, Liverpool can now afford to be opportunistic, though there is still a pressing need for a central defender as Jarell Quansah prepares to join Bayer Leverkusen for £35m and Ibrahima Konate’s contractual uncertainty rumbles on.

Liverpool had attempted to bring Dean Huijsen over from Bournemouth, but that one’s off the cards.

Huijsen might have signed for Real Madrid, but Liverpool have shown they still want to sign a centre-back, and there’s one man in particular in Richard Hughes’ sights.

Liverpool agree personal terms for Premier League star

As per journalist DaveOCKOP, Liverpool have reached an agreement on personal terms with Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

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Guehi is out of contract at the end of the 2025/26 season and Liverpool are planning to take advantage of the market opportunity, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, with talks been the clubs slated for this week.

Liverpool and Palace are apart on their valuations, so the coming days will prove crucial. The Reds hope to strike a deal for £30m.

Why Liverpool want natural leader Marc Guehi

With so much change taking place at Liverpool this summer, it would be good to sign an experienced Premier League star, and Guehi fits the bill in that regard.

Praised by England U21 coach Lee Carsley for showing “leadership qualities on and off the field”, Guehi may even find himself in contention for the armband down the line, having captained the Eagles in each of his 44 appearances across all competitions last season, leading his side to the FA Cup title after beating Manchester City in the final.

In this regard, the England international might even become Liverpool’s next Jordan Henderson, arriving for a fairly large fee from a Premier League rival after demonstrating authority and influence to marry with the technical quality.

Guehi, it must be said, is one of the most composed and cultured ball-playing centre-halves in the Premier League, actually ranked among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe over the past year for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

His completeness and potential to guide Liverpool through a new era over the coming years speak of a certain similarity to Henderson, especially as he would play alongside a legend in Virgil van Dijk for the next few years as the Dutch captain approaches his twilight. In Henderson’s case, this was applicable to Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool signed Henderson from Sunderland for £20m back in 2011. He had already been capped by England and was considered a hugely promising midfield talent.

No one could have imagined what he would achieve. Across 492 matches for Liverpool, Henderson notched 91 goal contributions and captained Liverpool toward the Premier League, Champions League and many more.

Now, a new leader in Guehi can follow suit. He might be a little older, but the defender can emulate his compatriot, having established himself in a settled Premier League outfit, standing out.

Marc Guehi in the Premier League

Stats (* per game)

23/24

24/25

Matches (starts)

25 (23)

34 (34)

Goals

0

3

Assists

1

2

Clean sheets

4

11

Touches*

61.6

64.9

Pass completion

87%

84%

Key passes*

0.3

0.5

Ball recoveries*

4.8

4.3

Dribbles (success)*

0.3 (64%)

0.4 (86%)

Tackles + interceptions*

1.8

2.6

Clearances*

3.5

4.6

Duels (won)*

3.6 (60%)

4.9 (59%)

All data via Sofascore

It’s clear that this is a man of consistency and incremental, steady improvements. Regarded as a “monster in defence” by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, the stocky defender won’t just be an exciting addition, but an instrumental one.

Liverpool, having lost Trent Alexander-Arnold and with Andy Robertson potentially on the move too, must ensure that they don’t create too youthful an underbelly to Slot’s title-winning squad, and Guehi will thrive in bringing his wealth of leadership qualities to the fold.

Liverpool might have two of the most talented central defenders in the game, but the Reds need to replace Quansah with a player capable of playing a bigger part, the England U21 star only handed four top-flight starts.

Guehi is clearly an upgrade across every facet, both from a technical standpoint and in regard to his maturity.

Moreover, he’s a natural-born leader, and coming from a divisional rival having carved success for himself, perhaps Slot will see his own version of Henderson welcomed to the ranks in the coming weeks or months.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 1, 2025

أوضح الإعلامي أحمد شوبير حقيقة قرار النادي الأهلي بشأن تجديد عقد اللاعب أحمد عبد القادر، بعد رحيل الإسباني خوسيه ريبيرو عن القيادة الفنية للفريق.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر راديو “أون سبورت إف إم”: “أحمد عبد القادر، بالتأكيد تعرفون موقفي منه، قلت قبل ذلك أنني أرفض رفضًا باتًا أن يكون هذا اللاعب خارج التدريبات، فهذا ليس له أي علاقة بالعدالة، ولا بد أن أحمد عبد القادر يعود للتدريب، حتى لو كان مرتبطًا مع ناد آخر، لكنه طالما لاعب على ذمتك، أهلا وسهلا”.

وتابع: “أول قرار اتخذه كابتن عماد النحاس مع كابتن وليد صلاح كان: (اتفضل يا أحمد، انزل الملعب، ورينا نفسك، ورينا مستواك، والعدالة بين الجميع)”.

طالع أيضًا | الكشف عن آخر مستجدات المدير الفني الأجنبي لـ الأهلي

وأضاف: “إذا أصبحت لدى أحمد عبد القادر فرصة الآن ليكون موجودًا في الفريق، الكرة بين قدميه، فهو الوحيد الذي يستطيع تحديد مستواه”.

وواصل: “البعض تحدث عن تجديد النادي للاعب، هذا الأمر غير صحيح، الأهلي أغلق ملفات التجديد حاليًا حتى يظهر اللاعب ويرى أداؤه، حتى أحمد عبد القادر نفسه سيرفض الآن إذا وجد نفسه لا يشارك وليس له مكان في الفريق، سيقول لنفسه سأنتظر وأتحمل وبعد ذلك سأرحل بانتهاء عقدي”.

واختتم: “أحمد عبد القادر الحسم في رأسه وبين قدميه، اثبت نفسك، جاءت لك الفرصة، عد من جديد، وأقول له أنه لاعب بإمكانيات رائعة، لكن عليه أن يفرغ ما في رأسه ويركز في كرة القدم فقط”.

Seventeen wickets fall on opening day as Glamorgan are thwarted after early dominance

ECB Reporters Network30-Jun-2024

Timm van der Gugten claimed a five-wicket haul•Getty Images

Marchant de Lange played a key role with bat and ball as Gloucestershire staged a spirited fightback on the opening day of the Vitality County Championship Second Division match against Glamorgan at Cheltenham.The larger-than-life South African scored 46 not out and shared in a record-breaking stand of 75 with Ajeet Singh Dale as the home side recovered from 88 for 8 at lunch to post 179 in their first innings. He then took 2 for 21 in six overs with the ball as Glamorgan subsided to 133 for 7 by the time bad light brought a premature close with 3.5 overs unused.Timm van der Gugten was the pick of the Glamorgan bowlers, returning season-best figures of 5 for 59 to justify skipper Sam Northeast’s decision to field first. But his efforts were matched by Gloucestershire overseas all-rounder Beau Webster, who produced a startling three-wicket burst in 12 balls on a day when 17 wickets fell.Kiran Carlson top-scored for Glamorgan with 37, but the Welsh county still trail by 46 runs with three first innings wicket remaining.Twice dismissed cheaply when suffering a chastening innings defeat at the hands of Yorkshire in Scarborough earlier in the week, Gloucestershire’s batsmen faced a test of nerve after being inserted on a green-tinged surface beneath cloud-laden skies. Although the pitch was initially low and slow and the new ball moved off the seam, there could be no mitigating circumstances to explain away an abject surrender that saw the home side go into lunch on 88 for 8, a parlous situation characterised by poor shot selection and execution.Cameron Bancroft set the tone in the very first over, edging van der Gugten’s second delivery behind to provide the first of five catches for wicketkeeper Chris Cooke. Ollie Price fell to the same bowler in identical fashion, pushing at a delivery that kept low and being caught at the wicket.Ben Charlesworth and skipper Graeme van Buuren succumbed cheaply to ill-advised leg-side shots as Dan Douthwaite produced an incisive five-over spell of 2 for 7 from the College Lawn end, while James Bracey missed an attempted leg-side glance and was bowled by a ball from Andy Gorvin that deflected off his pad and onto the stumps as Gloucestershire subsided to 49 for 5.Marnus Labuschagne came on to bowl seam up and afford the batsmen a period of respite, Miles Hammond and Webster adding 36 for the sixth wicket and hinting at a recovery. But the return of van der Gugten served to reinforce Welsh superiority, the overseas recruit removing Hammond lbw for 21 and then making a mess of Webster’s stumps when the Australian played down the wrong line to a ball that moved back into him. Labuschagne then had Zaman Akhter caught behind without scoring to give the home side food for thought during the interval.When Matt Taylor was comprehensively bowled by van der Gugten with the score on 104 shortly following the resumption, the end of the innings appeared to be in sight. But de Lange and Singh Dale had other ideas, the last wicket pair opening their shoulders to post a quickfire 50 in 47 balls and force Glamorgan’s seamers onto the back foot for the first time.By the time Singh Dale hoisted Mason Crane’s leg spin to long-on and departed for a 45-ball 32, he and de Lange had surpassed the 73 made by John Mortimore and Jack Davey in 1972, the previous highest last wicket partnership for Gloucestershire in matches against Glamorgan.Gloucestershire were grateful to the spirited de Lange, whose agricultural approach yielded an unbeaten 46 from 37 balls, with a quartet of fours and 2 sixes, and enlivened a hitherto subdued festival audience. It said a good deal about what had gone before, that these two were able to score more runs than the combined efforts of Gloucestershire’s top seven.Buoyed by the antics of their lower order, Gloucestershire kept plugging away with the ball end enjoyed no little success. Taylor had Eddie Byrom held at mid-on in the act of pulling, Akhter claimed the prized wicket of Labuschagne, who pulled to deep mid-wicket for 19, and de Lange induced Billy Root to edge a catch behind and depart for 21 as the visitors slipped to 59-3 in the 23rd over.Gloucestershire then passed up an opportunity to dismiss Carlson on 11, de Lange putting down a chance on the deep fine leg boundary off the bowling of Singh Dale. No matter. Webster more than made amends when removing Northeast and Cooke in the space of three deliveries in the 35th over to reduce the Welsh county to 104 for 5.Northeast contributed 19 in a stand of 45 for the fourth wicket with Carlson, only to then push at a length ball and offer a catch behind. Cooke fell in identical fashion and Douthwaite then succumbed to a leg-side strangle, caught at the wicket as Webster made further inroads to finish with 3 for 16 from eight overs.De Lange then struck a potentially crucial blow shortly before the close, persuading Carlson to send a top-edged hook down the throat of Hammond at deep fine leg and depart for a 62-ball 37 with Glamorgan still 54 behind.

Newcastle United’s pre-season schedule is up and running.

On Saturday, in a behind-closed-doors match at the training ground, Eddie Howe’s team smashed Carlisle United 4-0; Sean Longstaff, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy and youngster Ben Parkinson all on target.

Next up on Saturday, accompanied by 10,000 Geordies, the Magpies will take on Scottish Premiership champions Celtic at Parkhead, which promises to be a slightly more high-profile affair.

Before then, will the Toon Army have another new signing to get excited about?

Newcastle looking to bolster their midfield

So far this summer, Newcastle have signed Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, costing a reported fee of £55m.

This makes him the second-most expensive signing in the club’s entire history, behind only fellow Swede Alexander Isak, but is certainly an exciting addition, considering only two players registered more assists in the Premier League last season than Elanga.

Now, according to a report by Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Newcastle ‘have been told’ that a £50m bid for Conor Gallagher would be accepted by Atlético Madrid.

They add that los Colchoneros ‘are not actively looking to sell’ the England international, but would do a deal at the right price, just 12 months after he arrived in the Spanish capital from Chelsea for a reported fee of £34m.

Gallagher made 50 appearances for Atleti, only 27 of which were starts, scoring four goals, most notably on target during the Champions League derbi Madrileño in March, as his side were dumped out on penalties by Real Madrid at the Metropolitano.

Now, could Gallagher be on his way back to England?

How Conor Gallagher would fit in at Newcastle

Gallagher did not establish himself as an every-game starter at Atlético Madrid, but certainly made an impact last season, as the table below documents.

Gallagher’s Atlético Madrid career

Statistics

Gallagher

Atleti 24/25 rank

Minutes

2,446

13th

Starts

27

14th

Assists

6

7th

Shots

33

8th

Attempted passes

911

13th

Pass completion %

85.9%

6th*

Progressive passes

77

10th

Goal-creating actions

10

8th

Tackles

57

3rd

Blocks

32

4th

Interceptions

34

4th

Ball recoveries

126

6th

*minimum 700 passes attempted

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

Despite somewhat limited opportunities, Gallagher ranked highly for all sorts of metrics at Atlético Madrid last season and the fact that the England international ended up in the top ten in terms of shots, assists, passing accuracy, tackles, blocks, interceptions and ball recoveries underlines that he is an all-action, well-rounded midfield player.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Čech asserted that he has “special abilities to be a leader”, while current manager Diego Simeone praised his “energy and intensity”, adding “he brings a lot” both in and out of possession.

So, the question remains, how would he fit in at Newcastle?

The Magpies’ most-used midfield trio last season was Bruno Guimarães alongside Joelinton and Sandro Tonali, so let’s assess how Gallagher compares to that tried-and-trusted triumvirate.

Gallagher vs Newcastle’s CMs 2024/25 (league only)

Statistics (per 90)

Gallagher

Bruno

Tonali

Joelinton

Shots

1

1

0.8

1.2

Chances created

0.7

1.4

0.9

0.8

Passes attempted

44.9

48.3

50.1

37.9

Passing accuracy %

86.59%

83.67%

85.92%

83.76%

Duels contested

12.5

12.8

8.4

13.9

Duels won

6.1

6.3

4.6

6.7

Ground duel success %

51.79%

52.58%

54.79%

40.68%

Tackles

2.5

2.3

1.8

2.2

Interceptions

1.2

0.8

1.2

0.9

Touches

63.4

66.8

65.8

55.4

Ball recoveries

6

5.2

6.1

5.6

All statistics courtesy of Squawka

The very abbreviated summary of the admittedly gigantic table above is that Gallagher would fit into Newcastle’s team perfectly.

His statistics are comparable to those of Guimarães, Joelinton and Tonali pretty much across the board, particularly when it comes to duels contested and touches per 90, with Gallagher coming out on top for passing accuracy, tackles and interceptions.

The England international’s out-of-possession ability and work-rate would see him seamlessly slot into Howe’s team, even if he’d have to work to earn a starting spot, with Luke Edwards of the Telegraph asserting that the existing trio is the best in the Premier League.

Nevertheless, back in the Champions League, which means a more hectic schedule, Newcastle will require depth, and Gallagher could be just the man they require to get the best out of Guimarães, with the Englishman able to do more of the dirty work, allowing the Brazilian to be deployed higher up the pitch where he can do damage.

As the numbers suggest, the former Chelsea player has all of the tools to enable that to happen.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 14, 2025

تقدم فريق أولمبيك مارسيليا الفرنسي بهدف أول أمام ريال مدريد الإسباني، خلال المباراة الجارية بينهما الآن بمنافسات بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويستقبل ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” ملعب مباراة ريال مدريد ومارسيليا، بالجولة الأولى في مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وأحرز تيموثي ويا هدف مارسيليا الأول في شباك تيبو كورتوا في الدقيقة 22 من عمر المباراة أمام ريال مدريد.

وخطف ماسون جرينوود الكرة من أردا جولر، ثم مررها إلى تيموثي ويا، الذي سددها بقوةٍ في مرمى تيبو كورتوا، مسجلاً الهدف الأول لمارسيليا. هدف مارسيليا الأول أمام ريال مدريد

ثم تحصل ريال مدريد على ضربة جزاء بعد خطأ ضد البرازيلي رودريجو، وتوجه كيليان مبابي للتسديد ونجح في التسجيل وإدراك التعادل لفريقه في الدقيقة 29. هدف مبابي في مباراة ريال مدريد ومارسيليا

وشهدت المباراة بعد مرور 5 دقائق إصابة لترينت ألكسندر أرنولد ظهير ريال مدريد، وشارك داني كارفاخال بديلاً له.

ويمكنك متابعة التغطية المباشرة لمباراة ريال مدريد ومارسيليا، لحظة بلحظة بالفيديو من خلال الرابط.

All the major movements ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 season

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Aug-2024 • Updated on 13-Aug-2024

Central Districts have confirmed that Natalie Dodd isn’t retiring right away•Getty Images

Central DistrictCentral Hinds’ captain Natalie Dodd has opted out of the annual domestic contracting process for the forthcoming season as she is expecting her first child later this year. Dodd, a top-order batter and wicketkeeper, was the 2021 and 2023 Hinds Player of the Year and has been a vital cog in the side since moving to Central Districts from Northern Districts in 2018. Under her leadership, Hinds won the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, New Zealand women’s premier domestic one-day tournament, in 2018-19, with Dodd ending the competition as its highest run-getter.They are coming off a good 2023-24 season, where Hinds made it to the Super Smash final in the summer, and took a mid-table finish from a weather-affected one-day campaign.”As a team and as an association, first and foremost we’re obviously thrilled for Natalie and her husband at this special time in their lives,” Central Districts high-performance manager Dave Meiring said. “We completely support Natalie’s decision to focus on family this summer, and it now presents an opportunity for others to put everything they have learned from her into practice on the field.”She isn’t retiring but, for now, it will be a case of several players stepping up to perform her usual roles.”Seam bowler Anna Gaging will join her identical twin sister Kate Gaging after being awarded a Central Hinds contract for the first time. Like her sister, the 23-year-old Anna also debuted as a teen in the 2020-21 season, and now has five caps across the two formats that Hinds play. She took her maiden four-wicket haul against Northern Districts in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield earlier this year.Anna is the only new name on the initial list of 12 players contracted for the 2024-25 season, with one name to be added later this month to fill the 13th and final spot in the group.The captain hasn’t been announced so far, but of the squad named, New Zealand international Hannah Rowe has previously led the team.Last year’s trio of fresh young faces on the contracts’ list – pace bowler Aniela Apperley, batter Emma McLeod and spin-bowling allrounder Flora Devonshire – have all retained their spots.Contracted players: Aniela Apperley, Georgia Atkinson, Ocean Bartlett, Flora Devonshire, Anna Gaging, Kate Gaging, Claudia Green, Mikaela Greig, Ashtuti Kumar, Emma McLeod, Thamsyn Newton, Kerry Tomlinson CanterburyAllrounder Kate Anderson has rejoined the domestic list for Canterbury after missing out on an NZC central contract for 2024-25. Spin-bowling allrounder Harriet Graham earned her first domestic contract after being a part of the wider squad in recent seasons, even though she played only three matches last season in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.”We’re committed to developing our young talent and ensuring they have the support and guidance needed to thrive at this level,” head coach Rhys Morgan said. “The experience our senior players bring will be invaluable in helping our younger players grow and contribute to the team’s success.”Contracted players: Kate Anderson, Sarah Asmussen, Missy Banks, Natalie Cox, Jodie Dean, Harriet Graham, Abigail Hotton, Laura Hughes, Frankie Mackay, Izzy Sharp, Jess Simmons, Gabby SullivanAucklandLegspinner Rishika Jaswal and batter Cate Pedersen have joined the list after both debuted for Auckland last season, while batter Anika Todd has been awarded a contract for the first time after rising through Auckland’s pathway system. Pedersen first represented Central Hinds before turning out in both formats for Auckland last season.Allrounder Skye Bowden and Anna Browning are the notable names missing from the list. Bowden, after six years with Auckland Hearts, has joined Northern Districts, though she won’t be domestically contracted. She was Auckland’s leading wicket-taker in last year’s Super Smash, with ten wickets at an average of 12.2. Browning has moved to Otago ahead of the 2024-25 season.Contracted players: Olivia Anderson, Bella Armstrong, Elizabeth Buchanan, Prue Catton, Amie Hucker, Bree Illing, Kate Irwin, Rishika Jaswal, Cate Pedersen, Josie Penfold, Saachi Shahri, Anika ToddBernadine Bezuidenhout has returned to the contracts’ list after announcing her retirement from international cricket in May•Getty Images

Northern DistrictsAllrounder Marina Lamplough has earned her first domestic contract. Lamplough, who has previously represented Otago domestically and Hong Kong internationally, made the move to Northern Districts at the start of the 2022-23 season and featured in all ten of the Super Smash matches last summer, taking six wickets at an average of 10.6.Pace-bowling allrounder Jesse Prasad is another new face. She made the move to Northern Districts last season after being with Auckland for four years. She featured ten times across formats for Northern Districts in the 2023-24 season.Wicketkeeper-batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout also returned to the list after announcing her retirement from international cricket in May.Contracted players: Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Caitlin Gurrey, Eve Wolland, Holly Topp, Jess Watkin, Jesse Prasad, Kayley Knight, Marama Downes, Marina Lamplough, Nensi Patel, Shriya Naidu, Tash WakelinWellingtonWellington Under-19 captain Rachael Bryant has earned her first contract. The offspinner led the side to the national Under-19 tournament title during the 2022-23 season and made her Wellington Blaze debut a few months later against Central Hinds in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.Contracted players: Antonia Hamilton, Caitlin King, Hannah Francis, Jess McFadyen, Kate Chandler, Leigh Kasperek, Tash Codyre, Nicole Baird, Phoenix Williams, Rachel Bryant, Rebecca Burns, Xara JetlyOtagoFast bowler Louisa Kotkamp and allrounder Harriet Cuttance have been offered their first domestic contracts.Kotkamp featured five times for New Zealand at the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa last year and made her domestic debut for Otago in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, against Northern Districts. in February. A product of the Otago pathway system, Cuttance made her domestic debut in the 2022 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield final against Wellington Blaze.Auckland pathway product Anna Browning has moved to Otago. The former New Zealand Under-19 opener had played 24 matches for Auckland over the past two seasons. She was also a key role in New Zealand’s campaign at the 2023 Under-19 World Cup where they reached the semi-finals.Contracted players: Emma Black, Caitlin Blakely, Anna Browning, Harriet Cuttance, Chloe Deerness, Olivia Gain, Bella James, Louisa Kotkamp, Felicity Robertson, Molly Loe, PJ Watkins, Saffron Wilson

أكد رودريجو جوس، نجم نادي ريال مدريد، أنه كان واثقًا من مشاركته بشكل أساسي يوم أمس الثلاثاء أمام أوليمبيك مارسيليا في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، وذلك في ظل عمله الكبير طوال الفترة الماضية.

وعول مدرب نادي ريال مدريد، تشابي ألونسو، على خدمات رودريجو بشكل أساسي كجناح أيسر خلال مواجهة الفريق الملكي مع مارسيليا لحساب مرحلة الدوري من دوري الأبطال على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو.

واستطاع ريال مدريد الفوز على مارسيليا بهدفين مقابل هدف واحد، حيث سجل هدفي الفريق الملكي كيليان مبابي من ركلتي جزاء.

اقرأ أيضًا .. كورتوا يكشف عن تعليمات ألونسو بين شوطي مباراة ريال مدريد ومارسيليا

وأشار رودريجو في تصريحات إلى شبكة دازن، إلى أنه يستمتع حقًا بالعمل إلى جانب زميله في ريال مدريد، كيليان مبابي.

وقال رودريجو: ”كنت أعلم أنني قادر على اللعب بفضل العمل الذي بذلته هذه الأيام، أنا مستعدٌ عندما تتاح لي الفرصة”.

وعن اللعب بجانب كيليان مبابي، أضاف رودريجو في حديثه: “ما مدى انسجامي مع مبابي؟ لطالما قلت إنه من دواعي سروري اللعب مع كيليان، لدينا ترابط رائع، ونتعاون كثيرًا حتى في التدريبات”.

وأوضح رودريجو: ”إنه في قمة تألقه وآمل أن يستمر على هذا المنوال وأن يواصل تسجيل الكثير من الأهداف”.

وعن دوره الدفاعي خلال مواجهة مارسيليا اختتم الدولي البرازيلي: ”اضطررت للدفاع كثيرًا منذ أن كنت مع كارلو أنشيلوتي وهذا لم يتغير بالنسبة لي”.

Lancashire skittled before hitting back with ball, but visitors have final word with Jennings dismissal

ECB Reporters Network17-Sep-2024

Craig Overton made early inroads for the hosts•Getty Images

Twenty-one wickets fell on the first day of the Vitality County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford where title-chasing Somerset earned just a six-run first-innings lead over Lancashire, who probably need to win this game to avoid relegation.Replying to Lancashire’s 140 on a seam-bowler’s pitch, Somerset made only 146 but then took the vital wicket of Keaton Jennings for 4 as the home side ended a bizarre day on 16 for 1, giving them a lead of ten runs.In the first three hours of of play, Lancashire were dismissed for 140 in 40 overs with Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory picking up four wickets apiece and the only substantial resistance being offered by the home side’s skipper, Jennings, who made 56.However, Lancashire’s seamers operated just as effectively, George Balderson taking 4 for 50 and Tom Bailey 4 for 37 as Somerset took a seemingly paltry lead.Having opted to field, Somerset’s quicker bowlers made good use of an olive-coloured pitch on the edge of the square to take four wickets in the first session. The first batter dismissed was Harry Singh, whose maiden Championship innings ended on 7 when he edged Overton to Tom Lammonby at third slip.Four overs later, Josh Bohannon followed for just 4 when he was beaten by a fine ball from Overton and nicked a catch to wicketkeeper James Rew. Rocky Flintoff was bowled for 7 when he inside-edged an attempted off drive to a ball from Kacey Aldridge into his middle stump and the same bowler took his second wicket in similar fashion when Jennings’s front-foot slash only diverted the ball into his stumps.Three balls previously, Jennings had reached his fifty and three runs off the next delivery from Brett Randell saw him reach 1000 Championship runs for the season. However, his dismissal for 56 left Lancashire on 85 for 4 and Somerset might have been reflecting that things would have been even better for them had not Aldridge dropped Jennings at slip off Overton’s first ball of the game.Things declined rapidly for the home side early in the afternoon session as they lost their next four wickets for one run in 24 balls and their last six for 33 runs in less than an hour’s cricket. Gregory dismissed four of the batters to finish with 4 for 50 and Overton picked up two more to return figures of 4 for 32 from 15 overs.Despite losing Andy Umeed, caught by Jennings off Tom Bailey, to the first ball of their innings, Somerset added 58 runs in relatively untroubled fashion until they lost three wickets in 13 balls just before tea.Archie Vaughan, who made 21, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore were both caught behind off Balderson and those dismissals sandwiched the departure of Lammonby, who pushed forward to Will Williams when he had made 36 and nicked a catch to George Bell at slip.Things got no better for Somerset immediately after tea when Rew became the third batsman to be caught behind by Matty Hurst off Balderson and Rew’s dismissal for 4 was quickly followed by that of Aldridge, who lost his off stump to Balderson when he had made a single, to leave Somerset on 83 for 6.Gregory and Tom Abell inched their side towards Lancashire’s total with a 34-run partnership for the seventh wicket but Bailey had Abell caught behind for 22 and then dismissed Overton and Randell, both leg before wicket, in the space of three deliveries, Overton falling to an outrageous slower ball.Jack Leach then helped Gregory put on a priceless 25 for the last wicket before he was caught behind off Anderson Philip for 13, Hurst taking his fifth catch of the innings.Five overs before the close, Jennings edged Gregory to Andy Umeed at slip and the day ended with Singh and nightwatchman Williams defending stoutly against the Somerset attack.

Liverpool fans were treated to some fine football last season, with Arne Slot’s Reds barnstorming their way through the 2024/25 campaign and winning the Premier League comfortably.

To think that Slot achieved this, taking the baton from Jurgen Klopp as he did, without any real first-team investment, is quite unbelievable. FSG did move to sign Federico Chiesa from Juventus for £12.5m, but he only started once in the top flight all term, that appearance coming in May, after the title had been wrapped up.

This summer, however, paints a different picture. Wide defenders Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong look fit for a title-winning squad, and Florian Wirtz even more so, the German creative joining Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for a British-record £116m fee.

The matter of a centre-forward remains unresolved. Liverpool’s top target is Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, but the Magpies are rather fond of their prized silver.

As such, a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is in the works, with the Frenchman actually submitting a transfer request to speed things along. Such a profile is duly needed, especially with Luis Diaz facing a potential Anfield exit.

The latest on Luis Diaz's Liverpool future

Diaz, 28, is one of Slot’s most trusted lieutenants. Last season, he enjoyed a career-best in England after notching 25 goal contributions across all competitions.

The Colombian, however, has entered the penultimate year of his contract and wants a pay rise. Such a rise doesn’t seem to be forthcoming, and thus, he’s seeking a route out of Merseyside.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich have been among the frontrunners, both enticed by Diaz’s electric pace and his potency and his versatility across wide and central attacking berths.

However, Barcelona are now pushing ahead with a deal for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, leaving Bayern and suitors over in the Saudi Pro League to engage in a straight shootout.

If Diaz does go, Liverpool will need a replacement, even though Cody Gakpo grew in strength last term and even though FSG plan to sign the versatile Ekitike.

Liverpool line up Diaz heir

Spanish reports have indicated that, while Arsenal remain favourites, Liverpool may yet push ahead and pursue a deal for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo this summer.

The South American is widely considered one of the most talented forwards in the world, but Xabi Alonso’s chock-full frontline has made him expendable.

Arsenal are preparing an offer worth €80m (£68m) for the Brazilian forward, though Los Blancos are expected to reject this as they hold out for their original €100m (£85m) asking price.

The potential for advancement over on Merseyside hinges solely on the outcome of Diaz’s transfer saga.

Why Liverpool want Rodrygo

With Rodrygo’s illustrious Real Madrid journey seemingly drawing to a close, Liverpool might find themselves regretting not making their move, should Diaz indeed leave.

The 24-year-old’s track record speaks for itself. However, Rodrygo is rarely deployed on the left wing, his favourite and most productive position, for the Spanish giants have Vinicius Junior in that position, and Kylian Mbappe too.

By signing Rodrygo, Liverpool could secure a “world-class” winger, as he has been dubbed by former teammate Luka Modric, for the coming era, one who could combine with Ekitike to create a deadly strikeforce on the same level as Liverpool’s before, when Jurgen Klopp was in his Anfield heyday.

This blend of experience and up-and-coming exuberance could work wonders for Slot’s side, especially when considering there’s a legendary figure in Mohamed Salah to complete the set on the right flank.

Even in spite of a ‘poor’ season, Rodrygo has finished with as many goal involvements as Diaz, and indeed, has wonderfully illustrated his propensity for impact when coming off the left, with six goals and six assists across only 12 matches as a left winger.

Rodrygo – Real Madrid Stats by Position (24/25)

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Right winger

31

8

5

Left winger

12

6

6

Centre-forward

10

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, his six-goal haul in La Liga, while not a fine representation of his clinical edge by any stretch, also returned only one missed big chance, as per Sofascore, which plays right into Ekitike’s hands.

Frankfurt’s rising talent has the makings of an elite goalscorer, but he’s also a sharp and intuitive player, capable of achieving a wide range of things when in full flow, which could make him a dream partner for Rodrygo at the top end of the pitch.

As per FBref, the 23-year-old ranked among the top 10% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 20% for ball recoveries per 90.

What can we ascertain from this? Well, Ekitike’s movements and link-up play would actively promote Rodrygo’s own quest for goals. Hardly a target man in the strictest sense of the word, the adroit forward’s ability to create and his knack and deceiving opponents with off-the-ball movement would play right into Rodrygo’s goalscoring focus.

Not that the Real Madrid man is so one-dimensional. After all, in La Liga last season, he completed 91% of his passes while averaging 1.6 key passes per game, which is an absurd rate of crispness for one performing in and around the final third, especially when considering he chipped in with regular creative balls.

With a rich attacking crop and a system which was set up without a hitch last season, Slot will be confident that by adding players such as Ekitike and Rodrygo, he can grow his Liverpool team into an even more powerful and threatening state.

Such players could combine to create something truly special, not just set up to defend their Premier League title but also to challenge for the biggest prizes across the board. Year in, year out.

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