Chris Wright claims five-for as Stoneman shares 164-run stand with Rory Burns, who contributes 75
ECB Reporters Network09-May-2021A damp outfield that delayed the start of play for nearly three hours, coming on top of the loss of the entire third day to the weather, resulted in Leicestershire and Surrey settling for a draw in their LV= Insurance County Championship match at The UptonSteel County Ground.There was some fine cricket played in the 48 overs possible however, as after Surrey resumed on 146 without loss, Leicestershire took all ten of the visitors’ first-innings wickets for a further 178 runs.Seamer Chris Wright led the way by picking up 5 for 60, with left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson taking three wickets as the pitch began to offer turn.Mark Stoneman’s fine century, made from 208 deliveries, ensured Surrey picked up three batting bonus points.Related
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There had been speculation that with Surrey going into the final day 350 adrift on first innings, agreement might be reached regarding Leicestershire setting the visitors a target.By the time umpires Ian Gould and Richard Illingworth decided play could start, however, there was not enough time for that to be a realistic proposition.Rory Burns quickly became Wright’s first victim, top edging an attempted pull high to midwicket, before Hashim Amla’s full-blooded cut at Ben Mike was beautifully caught by Colin Ackermann at gully.Ollie Pope, going for quick runs, should have been stumped off Parkinson before he was bowled by Wright, then the spinner produced a beautiful delivery that turned off middle and hit the top of Ben Foakes’ off stump.Jamie Smith and Jordan Clark were bowled by Wright deliveries that kept low, and Ackermann, standing wide at slip, made another fine catch to see the back of Stoneman, cutting at Wright.Jamie Overton turned a long hop straight to midwicket, Reece Topley skied an attempted straight hit to cover and Rikki Clarke was bowled by Ed Barnes – the Yorkshireman’s first wicket for Leicestershire – to bring the innings and match to a close.
Amelia Kerr, Devon Conway also pick up top honours at the New Zealand Cricket Awards
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-2021
Kane Williamson scored a career-best 251 against West Indies in Hamilton•Getty Images
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has been awarded the Sir Richard Hadlee medal for the fourth time in six years, while women’s allrounder Amelia Kerr and rising star Devon Conway also claimed top honours at the New Zealand Cricket Awards for the 2020-21 season.Williamson was given the award on the back of his impressive run in Tests during the summer, where he scored a career-best 251 against the West Indies in Hamilton, followed by a century on his home ground in Tauranga during the Boxing Day Test. He also made a double-century against Pakistan in Christchurch, which helped New Zealand book their place in the ICC World Test Championship final. Overall, New Zealand won 17 out of 20 matches they played during the summer, and claimed all seven series.Related
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Williamson, the highest ranked Test batsman, was also named the International Test Player of the Year and awarded the Redpath Cup for first-class batting, after he amassed 639 runs in just four innings at an average of 159.”Going into the Test summer – there was that Championship final carrot and there was a real drive there for the guys,” Williamson told Richard Hadlee on a phone call, upon receiving the news of the award. “Although it seemed a long way off, winning four Tests before you’ve started one is a pretty lofty goal. To spend some time at the crease personally and make contributions towards that … certainly proud as a leader and a player in this side that we were able to achieve some of those things and we’re looking forward to that final.”In the women’s category, Kerr won the Super Smash and the International T20 awards. The legspinning allrounder played a key role in the White Ferns’ wins over Australia in Brisbane last December and in Napier last month. She averaged 51 with the bat, striking at 134 in the Super Smash T20s. She also took 14 wickets, including a hat-trick for Wellington Blaze in the final.Conway, meanwhile, was named the men’s player of the year in both ODIs as well as T20Is. He had smashed 473 T20I runs at a strike rate of 151 during the season, including four half-centuries, to edge out Glenn Phillips (366 runs at 40.6) and bowlers Tim Southee (21 wickets at 16.7) and Ish Sodhi (20 wickets at 15.4) for the award. He was equally dominant in the ODIs, hitting 225 runs, including his maiden century, in the three-match series against Bangladesh in March.Finn Allen, the 21-year-old opener who recently made his international debut, was named the Super Smash Player of the Year in the men’s category after scoring 512 runs at an average of 56 and a strike-rate of 193.Kyle Jamieson, a key member of New Zealand’s Test attack, was given the Windsor Cup for first-class bowling, his first NZC award. Jamieson had picked up 27 wickets during the season, including a haul of 11 in the final Test against Pakistan in Christchurch. In the Plunket Shield, he picked up 20 wickets in just three matches for Auckland, including a hat-trick at Eden Park Outer Oval.Stand-in captain Amy Satterthwaite was named the women’s ODI Player of the Year, courtesy 304 runs in six matches on her comeback trail.Former batsman Jeff Crowe was honoured with the Bert Sutcliffe Medal for outstanding services to cricket. Crowe represented New Zealand in 39 Tests and 75 ODIs between 1983 and 1990, captaining the side on 22 occasions. He was later appointed manager of the national team. Since 2004, Crowe has been an ICC match referee, overseeing 103 Tests, 301 ODIs and 137 T20s.
Nottingham Forest, after opening their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, are reportedly set to sign a Premier League defender with a medical already booked.
Nottingham Forest transfer news
The Reds have already had a busy transfer window, welcoming Nikolo Milenkovic, Elliot Anderson, Jota Silva and, most recently, Ramon Sosa among others. Handing Nuno Espirito Santo quite the boost in his first full season in charge, Forest will hope to see their side move away from any relegation concerns and into the comforts of the Premier League's mid-table.
Welcoming Sosa, the club's Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson told Forest's official website: "Ramón has been coveted by many clubs but was so clear in his desire to join Nottingham Forest.
“We could all feel his energy, emotion, pride and excitement to be here from the first minute he arrived. He can’t wait to get started and we are delighted that he is here with us.”
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Even after signing the winger, however, those at the City Ground are not done there it seems. According to Fabrizio Romano, Nottingham Forest have now reached an agreement to sign Alex Moreno from Aston Villa after initial talks, with a medical already booked for the left-back.
Falling out of favour under Unai Emery amid competition from Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen, a switch to fellow Midlands side Forest certainly makes sense for Moreno before the summer transfer window comes to a close on August 30.
Moreno could instantly compete with Aina
Adding depth may well be the key to unlocking survival for Forest once again this season. Of course, they've already done that by adding Sosa to an already-exciting frontline, but now they look set to follow that up by reinforcing their backline with the addition of Moreno. The experienced left-back, who earns a reported £35k-a-week, will undoubtedly give Ola Aina plenty to think about.
Premier League 23/24 P90 (via FBref)
Alex Moreno
Ola Aina
Progressive Carries
2.78
2.82
Key Passes
0.96
0.59
Tackles Won
1.04
1.65
Ball Recoveries
3.48
5.16
Minutes
1,031
1,692
Matching Aina on the ball last season, despite struggling for similar minutes, Moreno's know-how should quickly prove to be an invaluable trait for Forest in search of turning their Bournemouth draw into a solid start to their Premier League campaign.
Alex Moreno
The Spaniard is now 31 years old, so although it's unlikely that he'll have the chance to feature week in week out, he could find himself at the centre of Forest's most important moments.
Reportedly sealing their seventh signing of a busy summer transfer window, Forest should be well positioned to navigate their way towards Premier League survival and potentially more under Espirito Santo this season.
Leeds United still have around a month left to go in the summer transfer window to make further additions to their first-team options across the park.
Daniel Farke has already added three new signings to the group, with Joe Rodon, Alex Cairns, Jayden Bogle, and Joe Rothwell coming through the door.
The Whites failed to secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, and are now set to embark on another attempt to fight their way out of the Championship.
Daniel Farke before a game with Leeds United.
They could improve their chances of finishing in the top two by signing a player who has already proven himself to be a fantastic player at that level.
Leeds interest in Championship star
According to HITC, Leeds would love to sign Norwich City attacking midfielder Gabriel Sara to bolster Farke's options in the middle of the park.
The report claims that the Whites are big fans of the former Sao Paulo ace, whose left foot was dubbed "magical" by analyst Ben Mattinson, and would be interested in bringing him to Elland Road this summer.
It adds, however, that their Championship rivals are set to demand a fee of at least £20m for their £19k-per-week star, who they bought for £6m in the summer of 2022.
HITC claims that the West Yorkshire side may not have the funds available to sanction a deal for the Brazilian unless they cash in on one or two of their own stars, namely Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto.
Gabriel Sara would be a dream for Ethan Ampadu
Farke could land a dream signing for Ethan Ampadu by landing Sara this summer, as the Norwich whiz could brilliantly complement him in midfield.
Whilst the Wales international is a defensive enforcer who does not provide much in the way of quality at the top end of the pitch, the left-footed sensation has the ability to make a consistent impact in the final third.
In the 2023/24 Championship campaign, no central midfielder for Leeds managed more than one goal or more than three assists, which suggests that the team lacked a goal threat from that position.
Appearances
46
Appearances
46
Goals
13
Goals
0
Assists
12
Assists
1
Big chances created
16
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.9
Key passes per game
2.6
Ball recoveries per game
6.9
Dribbles completed per game
0.9
Ground duel success rate
57%
Duel success rate
54%
Aerial duel success rate
63%
As you can see in the table above, Sara racked up a staggering 25 direct goal contributions in 46 matches from a central midfield role for Norwich.
Meanwhile, Ampadu is a dominant defensive presence at the base of the midfield, whilst also being able to operate at centre-back, who who can win the majority of his physical duels and win possession back through tackles, interceptions, and recoveries.
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Sara could, therefore, be a dream signing for the Welsh brute as he has the attacking quality to burst forward from midfield to make things happen in attack, whilst the ex-Chelsea man can sit back and sweep up out of possession.
Leeds United's failure to earn promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt left them vulnerable to clubs coming in to poach their top talent.
The Whites have already cashed in on teenage sensation Archie Gray, who completed a transfer to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
Central midfielder Glen Kamara has also moved on from Elland Road, after one year in West Yorkshire, to sign for Ligue 1 outfit Rennes on a permanent deal.
Academy graduate Charlie Cresswell completed a permanent move away from the club earlier in the summer to join Toulouse and Leeds are now reportedly keen on a defender who could brilliantly replace him.
Leeds pursuing deal for versatile ace
According to Football Insider, Leeds are pursuing a deal to sign PEC Zwolle enforcer Anselmo MacNulty before the end of the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Whites have already made initial contact with the Dutch club to see what it would take to secure his services ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
It states that the club are in the market to add another left-back to their squad and that MacNulty, who was hailed as "physically strong" by former Zwolle director Marcel Boudesteyn, has emerged as an option for them.
Football Insider does not, though, reveal whether or not Zwolle are prepared to sell the Ireland U21 international or how much they would want for him.
Leeds must now press ahead to get a deal done for the Irish defender as he could brilliantly replace Cresswell by providing versatile cover across the backline.
Why MacNulty would brilliantly replace Cresswell
Firstly, MacNulty has played the majority of his career matches as a central defender and this means that he can easily slot in to the left-sided centre-back role.
Cresswell was only used as a back-up in that position last season, with five Championship appearances, and was kept in case of emergencies at the back, which is how the Irishman could be utilised at the heart of the defence.
Where the Zwolle star could come in and offer more than the England U21 international, however, is his ability to play on the flank as a left-back, which means that he could provide vital cover in multiple positions.
23/24 Eredivisie
Anselmo MacNulty
Appearances
31
Tackles + interceptions per game
3.6
Ball recoveries per game
3.6
Error led to goal/shot
0
Ground duel success rate
55%
Aerial duel success rate
63%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, MacNulty enjoyed a fantastic season as a defensive presence at the back in the Eredivisie with his ability to make multiple interventions per game to win possession back for his side.
He won the majority of his physical duels, on the deck and in the air, and did not make any direct errors that led to a shot or a goal for the opposition, which speaks to his reliability as an out-and-out defender.
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Therefore, MacNulty could be a sublime option for Daniel Farke to bring in as a versatile defensive option to make up for the cover that was lost when Cresswell was sold to Toulouse.
أعلن نادي ريال مدريد عن غياب لاعبه أمام ريال مايوركا بالدور نصف النهائي من بطولة كأس السوبر الإسباني مساء اليوم، الخميس.
ويلتقي ريال مدريد وريال مايوركا مساء اليوم في تمام الساعة التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة” على ملعب “الجوهرة المشعة” في مدينة “جدة” في المملكة العربية السعودية.
وكان برشلونة قد افتتح مباريات البطولة بالأمس وفاز على أتلتيك بلباو بهدفين نظيفين وينتظر الفائز من مباراة ريال مدريد وريال مايوركا في النهائي يوم 12 يناير.
اقرأ أيضًا | يامال: ريال مدريد أم مايوركا؟ لا يهمنا الخصم في النهائي.. وعلينا العودة باللقب
Parte médico de Modrić.#RealMadrid — Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) January 9, 2025
ولكن بيان ريال مدريد عبر موقعه الرسمي الإلكتروني يؤكد أن لاعب وقائد الفريق، لوكا مودريتش، لن يتواجد في مباراة ريال مايوركا اليوم للمرض.
حيث تعرض مودريتش لإصابة بعدوى فيروسية، وبالتالي، لن يتمكن من التواجد في قائمة المباراة اليوم في انتظار تحسن حالته.
ولم يكشف ريال مدريد عن موقف مودريتش من المباراة النهائية في حالة الفوز على ريال مايوركا والتأهل إلى النهائي لمواجهة برشلونة في كلاسيكو منتظر.
Glasgow Rangers have begun pre-season training this week as the 2024/25 campaign looms on the horizon.
Philippe Clement will be determined to right the wrongs of last season – losing both the Premiership and Scottish Cup to Celtic – as he looks to make his mark on the current squad.
The transfer business has been solid, if unspectacular, thus far, as five players have left while five new arrivals have joined the Light Blues.
This is hopefully just the start, as plenty of talented individuals have been linked with a move to Ibrox in recent weeks. The question is, does Clement have the funds to sign them all?
The Belgian will be hoping to replace some of those who departed at the end of last season, especially Abdallah Sima, who enjoyed a wonderful season in Scotland last year.
Abdallah Sima’s Rangers statistics
The Senegal international winger joined on a season long loan deal last summer as Michael Beale sought to improve his faltering attacking options.
The 22-year-old had failed to make a single appearance for Brighton and Hove Albion, yet it didn’t take him long to settle into life in Scotland.
Abdallah Sima
Between August and January, he netted 14 goals in all competitions, becoming a key member of the first team squad.
He suffered an injury while representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the year, however, which ruled him out of 14 games, disrupting the momentum that he had built up during his first six months at the Light Blues.
Despite an injury-hit final six months, it looked as though Clement was keen on signing the winger on a permanent basis ahead of next term, yet it swung on the transfer fee that the Seagulls would demand.
A few months on from this initial interest, nothing more has materialised with regard to bringing him back to the Gers, which indicates that Clement has moved on and is seeking other targets.
Metric
Premiership
Europa League
Goals
11
3
Assists
2
0
Big chances created
2
0
Key passes per game
0.8
1
Successful dribbles per game
1.2
1.8
Shots on target per game
0.9
1.3
Could he turn to the Netherlands in order to forget about the Brighton starlet? As the Light Blues appear keen on signing a winger who shone in the Dutch top flight last season…
Rangers eye up move for Moroccan winger
It is no secret that Clement is turning to previously untapped markets in order to sign players for the club.
According to Dutch presenter and reporter Mounir Boualin (via The Daily Record), the Gers are showing interest in winger Couhaib Driouech, who starred for Excelsior in the Eredivisie during 2023/24.
His contract is set to expire in 2025 and the club are open to selling him this summer for the right fee, rather than lose him for nothing when January comes around.
The Ibrox side could face some competition, as RC Lens are keen on the youngster, while Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven are said to be sniffing around the Moroccan starlet in a bid to bolster their squad.
His performances last season have certainly grabbed the attention of some big clubs. Could he be the answer for Clement to solve his issues on the left flank?
Couhaib Driouech’s statistics last season
Despite Excelsior suffering relegation from the top flight last season, the performances of Driouech came so close to preserving their status in the Eredivisie.
Across 35 matches in all competitions, the 22-year-old scored eight goals and registered eight assists, predominantly from the left wing slot, but he was also able to operate on the right flank in several games, highlighting his positional flexibility.
Among his teammates, the winger ranked first with regards to Sofascore rating (7.18) in the Eredivisie, while also ranking second for goals and assists (12), second for shots on target per game (0.8), first for big chances created (nine) and for successful dribbles per game (2.3), which indicates that the player offers much more than just a goal threat in the final third.
Not only that, but when he is compared to his positional peers in similar leagues, the Moroccan also stands out. Indeed, he currently ranks in the top 3% for progressive carries per 90 (5.77) and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90 (2.81) over the previous 365 days in the men’s next 14 competitions.
This is further evidence of his ability to burst down the wing and take on opposition defenders with ease, something that Rangers badly need heading into the new season.
What Couhaib Driouech can offer Rangers
As mentioned, the Excelsior star offers both a wonderful attacking threat in front of goal but is also able to create a plethora of chances for his teammates due to his sublime dribbling ability and creative powers.
Clement will be looking for more players to step up and contribute goals and assists next season. Signing Driouech could be vital in this regard.
Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson praised the youngster amid the links to the Light Blues, saying: “Couhaib Driouech (good luck with that) was one of the best dribblers and most exciting wingers in the Eredivisie last season!
“Excelsior were relegated so that could mean he’s available at a cut price, one to watch.”
If the Belgian can secure a move for the wide man this summer for a cut-price fee, it should be a deal he is all over, especially with the qualities that he could offer the club going forward.
Sima’s goals will be hard to replace next season, but if Driouech comes in and hits the ground running, he could be an instant hit among the Ibrox faithful.
It is refreshing to see Clement pursue targets who have gone under the radar of later, rather than spend massive wages on players who are seeking one last big payday before retiring.
This new strategy may be a gamble, but it is one the club need to take in order to try something different, as the same approach hasn’t gotten the Gers anywhere in recent years.
The next few weeks could be interesting indeed, especially with the amount of players Rangers have been linked with.
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Everton are looking into potential replacements for defender Jarrad Branthwaite ahead of the centre-back's potential exit this summer.
Everton transfer rumours
Despite their points deduction, Everton were able to stave off relegation from the Premier League this past season, finishing 15th in the league and 14 points clear of 18th-placed Luton Town. Sean Dyche must now turn his attention to the summer transfer window, where he will no doubt be keen to improve his squad and take a step closer to returning the Toffees to the top half of the table.
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In a bid to improve their squad, Everton are said to be one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing Hoffenheim forward Jacob Bruun Larsen this summer. The Merseysiders are also close to signing Ceiran Loney from Partick Thistle this summer and are believed to be willing to pay €20m (£17m) to sign former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.
Elsewhere, Everton are thought to have joined Italian giants Juventus and Napoli in plotting a move for Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram, who has previously attracted interest from Merseyside rivals Liverpool.
Nice midfielderKhephren Thuram.
Everton eye Jarrad Branthwaite replacements
At present, however, Everton's priority is likely to be signing an adequate replacement for Jarrad Branthwaite should he leave Goodison Park in the coming months. It was reported this week that Manchester United have agreed terms with the Englishman over a contract worth between £150-160k a week, with the Toffees wanting to secure around £65m in order to part ways with their star centre-back.
Should Branthwaite indeed move on, which seems likely this summer, those in a position of power at Goodison Park face the unenviable task of signing a replacement for the 21-year-old.
Now, HITC has outlined some potential replacements for Branthwaite, with Manchester United and Sweden centre-back Victor Lindelof named as a potential option. The Swede, who currently earns £120,000 a week, has shown patches of quality since his move to Old Trafford and was labelled as "technically brilliant" by teammate Harry Maguire this past season.
"Victor [Lindelof] is technically brilliant," Maguire said. "You’ve seen over the years that he’s a great footballer. I’m really pleased for him, he was brilliant today. Set plays are a big part of the game and today we won from the second phase of a set play. We’ve improved this year because, in my time at this club, we haven’t been good enough at attacking set plays."
However, the 29-year-old made just 19 Premier League appearances across 2023/24, and with Branthwaite potentially going the other way, HITC suggests Lindelof may decide it is time for him to leave the Red Devils, who are thought to be open to allowing a sale.
Away from Lindelof, the aforementioned report claims Hull City’s Jacob Greaves is also of interest to Everton as they eye up replacements for Branthwaite. The 23-year-old made 43 appearances for Hull last term as they narrowly missed out on a Championship play-off place.
Chris Davies, now fresh in the Birmingham City hot seat, will want to crack on and start adding signings to his new Blues roster, ahead of entering into the cut and thrust of League One.
The new Blues manager, who has left the comforts of Tottenham Hotspur behind for the challenge of getting the sleeping giant immediately promoted, will hope he's adequately backed in the transfer market, as the American owners at St. Andrew's also pray for a short but sweet stay in the third-tier.
Losing Jay Stansfield, who has returned back to the luxuries of Premier League Fulham after a fruitful loan stay, is an obvious blow, having been a constant ray of positivity during dark recent times in the West Midlands.
But, they could immediately replace him with this potential buy in the works.
Birmingham linked with Stansfield replacement
According to a recent report in The Sun, Birmingham – alongside a whole host of other EFL clubs – are queueing up to try and win the services of forgotten Burnley man Scott Twine, who will be sold by the Clarets this transfer window.
Adept at playing down the wings, as an attacking midfielder, or up top, Twine would be an ideal replacement for the out-going Stansfield, who can equally play in all of these roles competently.
Likewise, Twine would also be able to replace Stansfield in terms of goal numbers, with the promising Fulham youngster bagging 13 goals last season for the Blues, even with the on-field situation being bleak for the majority of the campaign.
The Clarets target has also proven himself to be a goalscoring machine in the EFL from memorable stints at clubs away from Turf Moor, but it won't be a foregone conclusion that the 24-year-old relocates to Birmingham, with interest from the Championship in Bristol City and Sunderland no doubt more tempting.
Yet, with the upward trajectory of his career grinding to somewhat of a halt in Lancashire, moving down to League One could be the confidence-boosting switch he needs, to find his shooting boots once more.
How Twine could be Birmingham's next Stansfield
The 24-year-old never quite settled at Turf Moor after a whirlwind rise all the way up from League Two to the Championship, with the agile attacker suffering from unfortunate luck with injuries, alongside a whole plethora of other exciting forwards at Vincent Kompany's disposal being available over him.
Twine's record in League One will, however, make Davies' eyes light up in the Blues dug-out regardless of his up-and-down stint at Burnley, with the slick forward bagging 20 goals last time he was in the division for Milton Keynes Dons, which actually betters Stansfield's one-season goal return when he was plying his trade with Exeter City on loan in the same league.
Stat
Twine
Stansfield
Games played
47
36
Goals scored
20
9
Assists
13
7
Shots per game
3.3
1.4
Big chances missed
6
7
Big chances created
17
7
Stats by Sofascore/Transfermarkt
Ending his last season in the third tier with a ridiculous 33 goal contributions, it's no shock to see that Twine's ex-MK Dons manager Liam Manning wants to add him to his Bristol City group now, having once described the 24-year-old as a "terrific" talent when the pair were together at Stadium MK.
Twine's numbers at Championship level, before his Clarets career began to fizzle out, aren't far off Stansfield's this season just gone either, tallying up nine goals and four assists in the division across 49 total games, which included a sublime free-kick being fired in on the way to Kompany's men winning the title.
This would arguably be a statement signing from Birmingham, and one that would instantly lift the spirits at St. Andrew's, ahead of what they hope is a promotion-winning campaign.
Dividing teams into two clusters also being mulled, with less than three weeks to go
Shashank Kishore30-Aug-2020IPL 2020 is less than three weeks away, but the tournament’s schedule – which some believe may be dynamic to account for unforeseen situations, like members of a team testing positive – hasn’t been announced yet. The news of several members of the Chennai Super Kings contingent testing positive for Covid-19, including two players, has potentially further complicated the scheduling challenge.”We’ll see if they [Chennai Super Kings] can start as per schedule,” BCCI president Sourav Ganguly told the . “I hope the IPL will be conducted well. We have a long schedule for the tournament, and I sincerely hope everything will go on just fine.”Brijesh Patel, the IPL governing council chairman, and Hemang Amin, the IPL chief operating officer, are believed to be discussing the matter with UAE government officials and health authorities. While they work it all out, we take you through a number of scheduling scenarios that have emerged as potential options over the last three weeks.First part of the tournament in Dubai? Six out of the eight teams are currently based in Dubai and have been allowed to train at the ICC Academy. Most sides won’t be training at the stadiums till match day. One of the proposals doing the rounds is to have at least the first 20 games in Dubai. This would mean only two teams – Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians, who are based in Abu Dhabi – would have to change emirates for matches, negative test reports in tow. That’s a simpler option compared to the six Dubai-based teams having to head to Abu Dhabi – or even Sharjah – for their matches.There has been a spike in infection cases in the UAE, and mandatory checks have increased at the Abu Dhabi-Dubai border, making travel into Abu Dhabi more time consuming than before. Each crossing into Abu Dhabi involves testing 48 hours before the journey to account for the more stringent requirements of that emirate.Teams will likely have to undergo a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test and/or a DPI (Dye Penetration Inspection) test before being permitted to enter at the border. Similarly, if the Abu Dhabi-based teams have matches in Dubai, they will likely need to be tested in the 48 hours leading up to their return from Dubai.It is to minimise these lengthy procedural delays that the idea of having the first leg in Dubai alone is being discussed. While IPL officials have obtained certain clearances after discussions with local officials and the Emirates Cricket Board, a full withdrawal of protocols for a cricket tournament is unlikely.Cluster scheduling? One of the ideas is to have two unofficial groups with simultaneous schedules, possibly on a weekly or fortnightly basis. If a situation arises where a team in one of the groups isn’t able to take the field because of infections or isolation protocols, the other group can continue to play out their matches undisturbed.If a player tests positive during the tournament, he will have to go into quarantine for 14 days as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and will be allowed to re-enter the bio-bubble only after clearing two tests after the two-week period. The other members of the team and support staff will have to be quarantined for six days and go through three tests – on days 1, 3 and 5 – and can get on with their business only upon clearing these tests.Cluster scheduling will allow at least half of the tournament to move forward in such a scenario, with the team that is missing out having to catch up with their matches in their group after coming through testing and quarantine regulations.Should cluster scheduling be sanctioned, it is as yet not clear what the protocol will be for the other three teams in the infected team’s group – whether they will continue to play among themselves, or if the whole group’s matches will come to a halt while these other teams are also tested as a precaution.While such a possibility will throw a team(s) off gear, given they won’t be allowed to train outdoors during quarantine, it’s a reality everyone has to be prepared for.Question mark over double-headers? Some teams are understood to have reservations about playing games in the extreme afternoon temperatures of the UAE summer – the early game in a double-header is scheduled to begin at 2pm local time, and ten double-headers had tentatively been penciled in by the IPL governing council when it announced the decision to shift the tournament to the UAE. Whether that is still a concern or not remains to be seen.