The dates and venues for the 2023 Asia Cup have finally been officially confirmed, with the tournament set to take place in Pakistan and Sri Lanka between August 31 and September 17. A detailed schedule, however, has not yet been released.The tournament was originally meant to be held entirely in Pakistan but a hybrid model became necessary after the BCCI said India would not travel to Pakistan. As reported by ESPNcricinfo, in the hybrid model approved by the Asian Cricket Council, four of the 13 matches will be played in Pakistan and the remaining nine in Sri Lanka.This will be the first time since 2008 that matches of a multi-nation tournament will be staged in Pakistan. “I am elated that our hybrid version for the ACC Asia Cup 2023 has been accepted,” Najam Sethi, chair of the PCB management committee, said. “This means the PCB will remain as the event host and stage matches in Pakistan with Sri Lanka as the neutral venue, which was required due to the Indian cricket team’s inability to travel to Pakistan.”Our passionate fans would have loved to see the India cricket team in action in Pakistan for the first time in 15 years, but we understand the BCCI’s position. Like the PCB, the BCCI also requires government approval and clearance before crossing borders.”I now look forward to continuing our discussions and deliberations with the ACC and Sri Lanka Cricket to iron out a few minor operational and logistical details so that we can launch our event planning and preparations.”The 2023 edition will have India, Pakistan and Nepal in one group, and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in another group, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the Super Four stage. The top two from the Super Four stage will then face off in the final. Matches will be played in the 50-over format as preparation for the ODI World Cup in India in October-November.The hybrid model was proposed as a solution due to India refusing to tour Pakistan owing to strained political relations between the two countries. The PCB, as appointed hosts, were keen to ensure that at least part of the tournament was played in Pakistan. The UAE was in the running as a neutral venue but Bangladesh raised concerns over the extreme weather there in September.Sri Lanka are the defending champions, though the 2022 event was played in the 20-over format. The last 50-over Asia Cup was played in 2018 in the UAE, where India beat Bangladesh in a thrilling final.
Everything you need to know about Jonathan David's salary details playing for Lille
Canadian forward Jonathan David joined Ligue 1 side Lille from Gent in the summer of 2020 on a five-year contract. David is considered one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe, and given his young age, he has attracted interest from several top clubs across the continent.
Known for his strong physique and clinical finishing, David has set himself apart from other strikers, scoring over 100 goals for Lille in just five seasons.
His contract is set to expire in June 2025, and it will be interesting to see where the next chapter in his career will take him.
Despite his consistent performances, David earns a relatively modest salary under his current deal compared to the top earners in the Lille squad. So, how much does the Canadian striker actually earn?
GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!
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Jonathan David's wages at Lille in numbers
David's current contract with the French club provides him a weekly salary of £31,888 ($42,754), which is lower compared to the top earners in the team.
His annual earnings total £1.6 million ($2.2m).
Player
Nationality
Weekly wages in GBP
Weekly wages in USD
Annual wages in GBP
Annual wages in USD
Jonathan David
Canadian
£31,888
$42,754
£1,658,153
$2,223,221
AdvertisementAFPTop earners at Lille
Andre Gomes, a Portuguese midfielder, is the top earner at Lille. He is followed by Belgian full-back Thomas Meunier.
Mitchel Bakker ranks third, with French players Samuel Umtiti and Benjamin Andre completing the top five.
Player
Nationality
Weekly wages in GBP
Weekly wages in USD
Annual wages in GBP
Annual wages in USD
Andre Gomes
Portuguese
£89,122
$119,493
£4,634,325
$6,213,616
Thomas Meunier
Belgian
£74,241
$99,541
£3,860,520
$5,176,113
Mitchel Bakker
Dutch
£65,410
$87,701
£3,401,340
$4,560,452
Samuel Umtiti
French
£52,328
$70,161
£2,721,072
$3,648,362
Benjamin Andre
French
£35,322
$47,359
£1,836,723
$2,462,644
Top earners in Ligue 1
Lille players have high earnings, but Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) leads the league's wage structure.
PSG's dominance in Ligue 1 is evident from the top earners list. PSG players occupy the first thirteen spots, with Adrien Rabiot from Lyon at fourteenth.
Player
Club
Weekly wages in GBP
Weekly wages in USD
Annual wages in GBP
Annual wages in USD
Ousmane Dembele
Paris Saint-Germain
£297,548
$393,131
£15,472,512
$20,442,812
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Paris Saint-Germain
£270,438
$357,312
£14,062,794
$18,580,245
Marquinhos
Paris Saint-Germain
£222,235
$293,756
£11,561,405
$15,275,324
Lucas Hernandez
Paris Saint-Germain
£218,202
$288,296
£11,346,509
$14,991,396
Achraf Hakimi
Paris Saint-Germain
£218,202
$288,296
£11,346,509
$14,991,396
AFPHighest paid players in the world
PSG leads Ligue 1, but none of their players are among the top five highest-paid footballers globally.
The top five are all from the Saudi Pro League. Cristiano Ronaldo has the highest salary at Al Nassr.
Karim Benzema, his former Real Madrid teammate, is second. Riyad Mahrez, formerly of Manchester City and now with Al-Ahli, is third.
Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly, both from Senegal, are in fourth and fifth places, respectively.
Former Pakistan captain, coach and selector in line to head new cricket committee in the board
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jul-2023
Misbah ul Haq has been both the Pakistan coach and selector in the past•Getty Images
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq is set to return to the PCB nearly two years after he resigned as head coach of the national side.ESPNcricinfo understands Misbah is likely to be appointed the head of a cricket committee that will soon be formed. He will also be the advisor on cricketing affairs to the current head of the PCB, Zaka Ashraf.The impending appointment is the first major move the new administration will make in the running of Pakistan cricket. Ashraf was appointed head of the PCB’s new management committee earlier this month, after a brief legal tangle following the end of Najam Sethi’s stint as caretaker chairman in late June.Misbah’s role is expected to be an honorary one, which means he will not be paid a salary. The decision was finalised after he met with Ashraf on Monday.It means a return for Misbah nearly two years after he resigned in September 2021, shortly after Ramiz Raja was appointed PCB chairman. Since then, he has worked as an expert and analyst on various TV channels, commitments that he is likely to continue to pursue.Misbah also served as Pakistan coach and chief selector in September 2019, replacing Mickey Arthur as head coach. He had played under Arthur when he was captain of the Test side for a year, with Pakistan becoming the top-ranked side in the world during that time.After his retirement, Misbah was part of a committee that played a role in Arthur’s removal as head coach and he subsequently took over the role, as well as the responsibility of being the chief selector.When Arthur was appointed team director earlier this year, Misbah said the move was a “slap on Pakistan cricket,” not so much that it was Arthur but for the nature of his role and appointment. Arthur has remained in his job as Derbyshire coach, while overseeing the Pakistan side with Grant Bradburn as head coach. “It’s a slap on our cricket system that we are not able to find a high-profile full-time coach,” Misbah told ESPNcricinfo in February. “It’s a shame that the best ones do not want to come and we insist on having someone who is looking at Pakistan as a second option.”I blame our own system, which is vulnerable enough with so many weak lines for anyone to exploit it. We are to be blamed ourselves that we have disrespected and discredited our own people to make a bad image. The present and former lot don’t respect each other, with media and former players using their own YouTube channels for ratings, damaging the credibility and value of our cricket which, as a result, gives an impression that we are not capable.”
The allrounder is still building up to full capacity but Australia are never short of options with the ball
AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff29-Sep-2023Ellyse Perry’s knee injury could keep her from bowling for the entire white-ball series against West Indies that kicks off the women’s home summer.Perry hurt her left knee playing the second one-day international of Australia’s series against Ireland in July. The injury forced her out of the final match against the Irish, as well as England’s franchise tournament the Hundred.In early September, Cricket Australia (CA) named the 32-year-old allrounder in the squad for the white-ball series against West Indies that begins with a T20I at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.CA said at the time Perry was expected to be “fully available” for the six-match series, and on Tuesday she had her first competitive hit-out since July in a one-dayer for Victoria against Western Australia.Related
West Indies women mix experience with youth for upcoming Australia tour
Megan Schutt: 'I didn't have the skill or work ethic, I just happened to be able to swing a ball'
Perry did not bowl in that match and said she may not do so again until after the West Indies series finishes in mid-October.”Nothing’s wrong, it’s just building workloads back up again so I’m fully prepared for the summer,” she said. “In terms of my full fitness, bowling will probably be something that I still work through across this series.”It might mean that I’m not available to bowl until late in the piece or perhaps towards the start of the WBBL.”Australia used Perry’s bowling sparingly during the white-ball legs of the women’s Ashes that preceded the Ireland tour and she has not sent down more than two overs in a T20I since the 2020 T20 World Cup.Australia are rarely short of bowling options in their limited-overs teams. Fellow allrounders Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Tahlia McGrath, Jess Jonassen and Georgia Wareham have all been selected in the squad to face West Indies.Perry shrugged at criticism of CA’s decision to schedule the first match of the women’s summer on the same day and in the same city as the NRL grand final.”The summer scheduling, and how much cricket we need to fit in, you can’t always get things 100 percent in a clear window,” she said. “Given the time of the match, being played early in the day, at a wonderful venue, there’s plenty of value in this fixture. I’m sure we’ll get a good crowd.”Perry played alongside Meg Lanning as Australia’s captain made her return to cricket this week following a four-month medical absence.Lanning hit a half-century in the first of two matches and CA is hopeful she will return to the national side later in the home summer. Perry heralded Lanning’s return to state cricket as a big step towards an Australia comeback.”That’s absolutely significant,” she said. “At the same time, it’s just significant that she’s back and she’s enjoying playing her cricket. She really just picked up where she left off in terms of her batting.”
Sairaj Bahutule will be the bowling coach for the men, while Munish Bali takes charge of the fielding
Abhimanyu Bose11-Sep-2023
VVS Laxman has previously too stepped in as head coach on men’s tours when Rahul Dravid has been rested•Getty Images
VVS Laxman and Hrishikesh Kanitkar will travel as the head coaches for India’s men’s and women’s teams respectively to the 2023 Asian Games, which will be played in Hangzhou in China. Sairaj Bahutule will be the bowling coach for the men, while Munish Bali will be their fielding coach. For the women’s team, Rajib Dutta will be the bowling coach and Subhadeep Ghosh the fielding coach.Both teams will enter the competition at the quarter-final stage. As per the latest schedule, the India men’s quarter-final match is on October 3 with the semis likely on October 5, if they qualify. The final is scheduled for October 7. The India women’s team’s quarter-final is scheduled for September 21, with their potential semi-final on September 23 and final on September 25. The games will be played at the Zhejiang University of Technology’s (ZJUT) Pingfeng campus cricket ground.Laxman, who is the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, has previously too stepped in as head coach on men’s tours when Rahul Dravid has been rested – as was the case recently for the T20I series in Ireland. The India men’s unit at the Asian Games will be a second-string squad, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, with the main squad preparing to play the World Cup that begins on October 5.Related
Harmanpreet to miss first two matches of Asian Games
Gaikwad to lead second-string India side in Asian Games
Kanitkar oversaw the women’s team for the home T20I series against Australia in December last year and then the tri-series in South Africa followed by the T20 World Cup earlier this year. The women’s team has been without a permanent head coach since December last year, when Romesh Powar was moved to the NCA. Former India bowler Nooshin Al Khadeer was appointed interim head coach for the women’s team’s last assignment – a white-ball tour of Bangladesh. The BCCI’s cricket advisory committee had conducted interviews for the women’s head coach position with three shortlisted names, but there has been no update on any appointment.In the men’s squad, there are doubts about Tilak Varma’s availability, as he could be asked to stay on in India on standby for the World Cup, given Shreyas Iyer had suffered back spasms just before the Super Four clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup on Sunday.The women’s team will be led by Smriti Mandhana to start with. If India do make it to the semi-finals, Harmanpreet Kaur, who had been handed a two-match international ban for disciplinary issues, will return to lead in the final or the third-place playoff.
Glasgow Rangers’ hopes of winning domestic silverware ended on Sunday afternoon as Queen’s Park delivered a stunning upset to knock the Ibrox side out of the Scottish Cup.
The result is arguably one of the worst in the club’s illustrious history, right up there with the defeat to Berwick in 1967 and Hamilton in 1987, both early exits in the Scottish Cup.
Given the disparity between squads and the fact Rangers were playing at home, everything pointed to a routine home win. Philippe Clement even gave a first start to Bailey Rice, the brightest prospect to emerge from the academy in quite some time.
Rangers managerPhilippeClementbefore the match
Surprisingly, the tie was evenly poised heading into the final 20 minutes as the Light Blues were labouring. Queen’s Park secured a corner from which Seb Drozd scored a sublime goal to open the scoring for the Glasgow side.
With just minutes left on the clock, the Gers were awarded a penalty after Cyriel Dessers was pushed in the box. The pressure rested on James Tavernier to slot the ball home and send the tie to extra time.
Goalkeeper Calum Ferrie produced a fine stop to deny the captain and the Ibrox side couldn’t score from the resulting corner, slipping to a 1-0 defeat.
This defeat surely settles Clement’s future, as a manager with no credit in the bank won’t be able to survive a loss like this.
It shouldn’t just be the manager who is on their last legs, however, especially as Tavernier delivered a soulless performance which proves exactly why he should be moved on at the first available opportunity.
Why James Tavernier must leave Rangers
Tavernier’s 268 goal contributions – 129 goals and 139 assists – across 496 matches for the Gers is a wonderful record, no doubt about that.
With regards to trophies won, however, his record is fairly dismal. Since joining the club in the summer of 2015, Tavernier has won just three major honours; the 2020/21 Premiership crown, the 2022 Scottish Cup and the 2023 League Cup.
2023/24
58
24
12
2022/23
55
18
10
2021/22
58
18
17
2020/21
46
19
16
2019/20
46
3
16
2018/19
57
17
20
2017/18
46
9
9
2016/17
44
2
7
2015/16
50
15
23
Celtic have been utterly dominant during this period and Tavernier has hid under the pressure, especially when the Gers are on the cusp of something special. Take last season for example. The Light Blues had clawed ground back on Celtic in the title race, they blew it by losing against Motherwell and Ross County, allowing the Parkhead side to surge ahead once again.
The less said about the current campaign the better. With the loss to Queen’s Park, Rangers’ domestic season is over, and it is only the start of February.
While his penalty miss will be the main topic of discussion, his performance against the second-tier outfit was terrible, lacking any sort of desire or dynamism. More importantly, it lacked heart.
Glasgow World journalist Ben Banks gave Tavernier a match rating of 2/10 for his display against the Spiders, explaining that the defender ‘couldn’t clear the ball on the line and failed to offer much of an attacking threat. Couldn’t lead his team out of a crisis then missed a penalty’.
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Rangers' other biggest underperformer against Queen's Park
It wasn’t just the Englishman who failed to deliver during the game. Nedim Bajrami has come under some criticism of late due to a host of underwhelming displays.
Clement unleashed the Albanian against Queen’s Park and many expected him to bounce back with a solid performance. Unfortunately, he was one of the worst players on the pitch.
The 25-year-old looked like an inspired signing when Clement paid £3.4m to secure his signature from Italian side Sassuolo.
Since then, Bajrami has played 33 games for the Light Blues, registering eight assists – four goals and four assists – during that time.
He has demonstrated a glimpse of his talents over the previous few months. A goal against Malmö on his European debut appeared to show that Bajrami would be a great addition to the squad.
The attacking midfielder also scored the winner against Motherwell in the League Cup semi-final back in November, but since then, he has largely been ineffective.
Stevie Clifford, who runs Four Lads Had a Dream, criticised the Albanian last month regarding his recent poor displays, saying:
Deployed on the left wing against the Championship side, Bajrami failed to link up well with Ianis Hagi, who operated in a more advanced role, or Hamza Igamane, during the match.
He was so poor that Clement subbed him at half-time, bringing on Dessers in his place.
Banks also gave him a match rating of 2/10 for his insipid performance at Ibrox stating that he was ‘found seriously wanting and not for the first time. Subbed at half-time after no impact’.
The next few months will be crucial if he wishes to extend his spell at Rangers beyond the summer. It is highly unlikely that Clement will still be in charge by that point, so much will depend on whether the new manager sees Bajrami as part of his plans.
A summer clear-out is required, no doubt about that. Tavernier and Bajrami could well be the top two players on the list that supporters will be keen to see leave Glasgow.
What next for Rangers? In the aftermath of arguably the worst result in the club’s recent history, Patrick Stewart and the board have some big questions that need to be answered.
The supporters won’t be happy until Clement leaves. He can take Tavernier and Bajrami with him, too.
As bad as Tavernier: 2/10 flop just ended Rangers' chance of a trophy
The Glasgow Rangers flop was just as bad as James Tavernier against Queen’s Park.
da doce： O Palmeiras planeja a temporada 2023 com poucos reforços, mas contando muito com as categorias de base, que já têm sido um elemento essencial para o elenco nas últimas temporadas. Em 2023, essa utilização das Crias da Academia se consolidará ainda mais com pelo menos um jovem em cada setor do time, seja reserva ou titular. Isso aproxima o clube de seu sonho, que é fazer do departamento de formação o principal fornecedor de material humano para oprofissional.
>Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2023 clicando aqui
Para o gol, além de Vinicius Silvestre, formado por uma outra geração mais antiga da base, o elenco deve contar com Kaique como quarto goleiro. Provavelmente deverá ser pouco utilizado por conta da hierarquia e devido aos compromissos com o calendário da base, além da Seleção sub-20.
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da betway： Nas laterais, haverá pelo menos um para cada lado. Na direita, Gustavo Garcia será o terceiro reserva, podendo até ser o segundo, caso Mayke siga sendo utilizado na “segunda linha”. Na esquerda, Vanderlan será o reserva imediato de Piquerez, status conquistado na segunda metade de 2022, quando ganhou a “briga” com Jorge, que foi emprestado para o Fluminense.
Na zaga, o representante da base deve ser Naves, que já vem ganhando oportunidades nas últimas temporadas. Com etapa concluída na base, ele ficará definitivamente no elenco principal como um “quinto zagueiro”, mas pode ser promovido caso Kuscevic, que manifestou desejo de jogar mais em outro clube, seja transferido. O clube não deverá buscar reforços para a posição e usará os jovens.
>Palmeiras campeão de novo! Relembre todos os títulos do Verdão em 2022
Já entre os volantes, os nomes estão consolidados há algum tempo. Danilo é titular absoluto, enquanto Gabriel Menino segue sendo importante nas estratégias de Abel Ferreira. Para 2023, a posição vai ganhar a presença fixa de Fabinho, que em 2022 ficava transitando entre a base e o profissional, mas agora terá maior participação e pode ganhar espaço se houver alguma saída.
Um setor “carente” de jovens da base nos últimos anos tem sido o dos meias. Mas em 2023 ele receberá um “reforço”: Jhon Jhon. O garoto recebeu chances no profissional em algumas partidas das últimas temporadas, mas ainda pertencia ao departamento amador disputando torneios sub-20 ao mesmo tempo em que treinava com o time de cima. Agora ele deve se fixar no profissional.
Entre os jogadores de lado de campo, ao mesmo tempo em que Abel Ferreira perde Wesley (vendido ao Cruzeiro), ele recupera Giovani que, livre de lesões, deve ser peça fundamental para a temporada palmeirense. Já nos homens de referência, o principal nome é, obviamente, Endrick. O jovem, que vinha garantindo seu espaço, será titular absoluto no time do treinador português para 2023.
Isso sem contar aqueles nomes que podem “estourar” ao longo da temporada, como Luis Guilherme, ainda sub-17, e Estevão, de apenas 15 anos. Ambos são, neste momento, as principais joias da base do Palmeiras e caso sigam crescendo no atual ritmo, não demorarão a subir para o profissional para brigar por uma vaga nesse elenco “contaminado” pelas Crias da Academia.
>Retrospectiva Palmeiras: 12 fotos marcantes que resumem o ano do Alviverde
O Palmeiras segue fazendo treinamentos virtuais com o acompanhamento da preparação física do clube nesta etapa da pré-temporada e terá a reapresentação na Academia de Futebol no dia 2 de janeiro, quando terão início os trabalhos presenciais com o técnico Abel Ferreira. A estreia do Verdão no Paulistão será diante do São Bento, no dia 14 de janeiro, às 20h30, no Allianz Parque.
وجه أشرف صبحي وزير الشباب والرياضة رسالة خاصة لـ مسؤولي الكرة المصرية، قبل ساعات من انطلاق الموسم الجديد لبطولة الدوري المصري، متمنيًا التوفيق والنجاح لجميع عناصر المنظومة الكروية في مصر.
ومن المقرر أن تنطلق بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز لموسم 2025-2026، يوم 8 أغسطس 2025 وينتهي بنهاية شهر مايو 2026.
ويقام الدوري المصري الموسم الجديد، بمشاركة 21 فريقًا، ومن دور واحد كمرحلة أولى ثم تتنافس 7 فرق في مجموعة تحديد البطل، و14 في مجموعة تحديد الهابطين، ومن ثم تهبط 4 فرق.
وقال أشرف صبحي في تصريحات صحفية: “الوزارة تؤكد التزامها الدائم بدعم وتطوير كرة القدم المصرية، من خلال التكامل مع مختلف الهيئات والمؤسسات الرياضية، من أجل تحقيق الريادة الكروية إقليميًا ودوليًا، وبناء أجيال قادرة على تمثيل مصر بالشكل الذي يليق بها”.
طالع | وزارة الرياضة توضح حقيقة وجود أزمة في تقنية الفيديو قبل انطلاق الموسم الجديد
وأضاف: “الوزارة تتابع بكل اهتمام ودعم الجهود المبذولة من رابطة الأندية المحترفة في إدارة وتنظيم المسابقة المحلية بشكل احترافي يعكس طموحات الجماهير المصرية، والعمل التنسيقي بين الرابطة والاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم يُعد نموذجًا مهمًا في تطوير البنية المؤسسية والإدارية لكرة القدم المصرية”.
وواصل: “هناك سعى من الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم نحو تطوير لجانه المختلفة التي تمثل حجر الزاوية في نجاح الموسم الكروي وخاصة لجان الانضباط والتظلمات والمسابقات فضلاً عن التطوير الذي تشهده منظومة التحكيم المصري وما يتطلبه الأمر من جهود إضافية للوصول إلى أعلى المستويات الفنية التي تلبي طموحات الجماهير المصرية”.
وثمّن وزير الشباب والرياضة الدور المحوري الذي تقوم به الأندية الرياضية في بناء وإعداد اللاعبين، والارتقاء بالمستوى الفني، والتزامها بمعايير الاحتراف، ما يسهم في تحقيق التوازن والتنافسية بين الفرق، ويعود بالنفع على المنتخب الوطني.
كما أشاد أشرف صبحي بالدور الوطني والمسؤول للإعلام الرياضي ومؤسساته المختلفة، مؤكدًا على أهمية تعظيم الرسالة الإعلامية في دعم الروح الرياضية، وتقديم محتوى موضوعي واحترافي يسهم في رفع الوعي الرياضي لدى الجماهير، ويعكس الصورة الحضارية للرياضة المصرية لتحفيز العمل مع المنظومة الكروية المصرية ويحمل الضوابط والأخلاقيات الوطنية التى تنعكس إيجابيا على كل عناصر المنظومة تنسيقا مع مؤسسات الدولة وقطاعاتها المختلفة.
وأوضح: “أثني على نجاح الجهود من كافة الأطراف مرهون بالأساس بالحضور والمؤازرة الجماهيرية ودور وزارة الداخلية وكافة المؤسسات الأمنية التي أبدت تعاوناً كبيراً وحرصاً على تهيئة الأجواء للحضور الجماهيري فى إطار من الروح الرياضية والتشجيع المثالي لمختلف الأندية المصرية”.
وأتم: “انطلاق موسم كروي منظم وقوي سيكون له انعكاسات إيجابية مباشرة على منتخب مصر، من خلال تجهيز اللاعبين بدنيًا وفنيًا، بما يعزز من فرص التنافس بقوة في الاستحقاقات القارية والدولية المقبلة”.
As Usman Khawaja punched Stuart Broad’s full toss down the ground to pass 50 for the third time in four innings, he strolled down towards his partner Marnus Labuschagne. Without smiling, he shook Labuschagne’s hand and held up his bat reluctantly, as though asking the crowd to settle down so he could resume his innings.The TV cameras cut to the Australian supporters in the Mound Stand, all wearing their canary yellow caps, then the away balcony. David Warner, George Bailey, Pat Cummins, Andrew McDonald, Travis Head and Michael di Venuto sat applauding quietly.Watching from a chair at the front of the dressing room, set slightly back from the balcony, Steven Smith was waiting to bat. Smith clapped, too, then let out an uncontrollable yawn. It was that sort of afternoon at Lord’s, a soporific return to the normal rhythms of Test cricket after a series that has been played in fast-forward.Related
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Forget Joe Root’s reverse-scoop and Travis Head’s half-cut-half-slap. Ignore Cummins’ swipe down the ground for six and Zak Crawley’s cover drive. The defining shot of the first eight days of this Ashes series has been altogether more restrained.It has been played 189 times already, 34 of which came on a grim, murky Friday afternoon under the floodlights: Khawaja calmly, watchfully defending one of England’s three main seamers – Broad, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson.Khawaja has faced 486 balls from those three seamers in this series. He has defended 39% of them and has left a further 24%. He has scored 173 runs off them – at a strike rate of 35 – and been dismissed only once, when attempting to squeeze Robinson through backward point in Birmingham.There have been eight days of play in this series and Khawaja has been unbeaten overnight in half of them, the fourth coming at Lord’s on Friday. After seeing out 123 balls in the gloom, he will resume tomorrow on 58 not out with the chance to put the second Test beyond England’s reach.Khawaja has faced 711 balls in the series, more than twice as many as any other batter on either side. His strike rate of 39.52 is, by some way, the lowest of any batter who has faced more than 10 balls; his aggregate of 281 runs is more than 100 runs clear of his nearest competitor, Root.His innings on Friday was characteristic of his series: unflustered, organised and ruthless. He had a life on 19 when Anderson, at short midwicket, allowed a pull to burst through his hands, but otherwise played late and with the control that has eluded most batters. If this really is the Bazball Ashes, nobody told Khawaja.Khawaja’s opening partnership with David Warner was seen as one of Australia’s few areas of vulnerability heading into this tour; at Lord’s, they have added 73 and 63 in perhaps the toughest batting conditions that either side has faced in the match.Usman Khawaja raises his bat on reaching fifty•Getty Images
“They’ve been fantastic,” Mitchell Starc said. “They’ve played a lot of cricket together. There was a big focus heading into the series on the way they wanted to go about their cricket and they’ve both been fantastic openers for a long time. Uzzie’s form over the last couple of years has been phenomenal.”They’ve created a really good partnership over a long period of time. To come into a big series like this [and make] some of the starts they have has been quality, to see them go about their business there. Obviously the opening partnership is a key one but throughout our top order, everyone has stepped up at different moments.”While England’s openers, Crawley and Ben Duckett, have both performed creditably, Khawaja has been the difference between the teams so far. He was named Player of the Match at Edgbaston and he will have the chance to add to his 75 runs at Lord’s on Saturday.England have become preoccupied with trying to save Test cricket over the last 12 months; Khawaja is perfectly content with just playing it. He is not the sort of player that has Lord’s crowds rushing back from their long lunches or skipping dessert on the Nursery Ground; he is not the sort who will care, either.It is worth considering whether, if he qualified for them, this England team would find room for Khawaja. Earlier this year, Ben Stokes was asked by Nasser Hussain if a young Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott or Michael Atherton would have a chance of forcing their way into England’s Test plans.”I’m not saying that’s not the way to play,” Stokes replied, while hinting exactly that. “But in this day and age and this era, while I’m captain and Baz [Brendon McCullum] is coach, that’s not something we’re looking for. That’s the truth. That’s not what we want. We want players who will go out there and put pressure on the bowlers straightaway.”Khawaja is not one of those – yet he has been the best batter on either side. He will be back again on Saturday, defending against Anderson, Broad and Robinson once more.
The full text of Stokes’ statement at Lord’s, in the wake of the publication of the ICEC report
ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jun-2023The long-awaited report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket was published on Tuesday, and offered a damning critique of both English cricket, and Marylebone Cricket Club – the hosts for this week’s second Test against Australia at Lord’s.The issues raised in the report have overshadowed England’s preparations for the contest, and at the start of his pre-match press conference, captain Ben Stokes read the following statement.“Just before I start, I want to make it clear I have not read the report as it only came out last night.”To the people involved in the game who have been made to feel unwelcome or unaccepted in the past, I am deeply sorry to hear of your experiences. Cricket is a game that needs to celebrate diversity on all fronts because without diversity, this game would not be where it is at today.”As a sport, we need to learn from past mistakes and do all we can to make people feel safe and be themselves at every level. I have been an England player since 2011 and I feel very fortunate to have been a part of some incredibly diverse teams and love how everyone has a different story to tell.”We must go further and be more inclusive and diverse because the game I love – and millions worldwide love – should be enjoyed without fear of discrimination or judgement whether that be due to your upbringing, race or gender.”As I said earlier, everyone has a different story to tell. I am Ben Stokes, born in New Zealand, a state-educated pupil who dropped out of school at 16 with one GCSE in PE. I needed help with the spelling and grammar in this speech and I am currently sitting here as the England men’s Test captain.”It is clear there is so much more the game has to do and, as players, we really want to be a part of that to ensure this is truly a sport for everyone.”