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First hundred as Ben Stokes stand-in reaffirms credentials of England’s No. 3

Andrew Miller06-Sep-2024For three hours on Friday afternoon, the Kia Oval was as dank as dank can be. The weather was as void as a day-five Test ticket; a blanket of moderate, moist nothingness enveloping London even as an apocalyptic downpour rumbled through the Surrey hills, several miles to the south. It was a microcosm of the modern English Test summer, a permanent hostage to more potent weather patterns elsewhere in the globe.For Ollie Pope, however, it proved to be the perfect place to be stuck in the doldrums.Pope was 14 not out from 21 balls when, at 12.18pm, the umpires bowed to the bleakness and pulled the teams from the field. Already he had produced his best innings of the series, not quite in terms of runs (that, for the time being, remained his 17 in the second innings at Lord’s), but in terms of that elusive parameter “intent” – which, as his recent dismissals could attest, can be a fickle, double-headed beast.It had been “intent”, after all, that did for Pope in each of the first two Tests, including the top-edged uppercut that flew straight to deep point as England pushed for quick runs in that most-recent innings. And it was “intent” that lured each of England’s three dismissed batters to their doom at The Oval – including Ben Duckett, who died as he had lived during his anarchic knock of 86 from 79 balls by playing one scoop too many, almost as if it were a tribute to Joe Root’s own obsession with the stroke in recent times.Related

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And likewise, there was Dan Lawrence, onto whom that ever-roving media spotlight is sure now to fall after five increasingly sketchy auditions as a Test-match opener. In fact, Lawrence’s botched pull to gully had an awful lot in common with Pope’s first-innings extraction at Lord’s – “a long-hop that needed to be hit for four,” as Duckett recalled it in his defence of his captain’s up-and-at-’em approach.For some reason, the sins elsewhere in England’s batting approach are considered more forgivable. It’s as if Pope’s flighty footwork early in an innings, and his propensity to make decent deliveries look unplayable, are character flaws rather than technical ones. A manifestation of “weakness” in the literal sense, rather than just a slight deficiency in his alignment.However, the narrative moves almost as quickly as the scoreboard in this England regime, and by the time the bleakness descended over the Oval again, Pope had lifted his own gloom in the manor to which his career has been born. It’s early days to claim he is “synonymous” with The Oval – Jack Hobbs and Alec Stewart won’t be surrendering their gates just yet – but this first Test hundred at his home ground was also the 12th of a first-class career in which he averages in excess of 83.68 at the venue.That’s better than Mahela Jayawardene’s record at the SSC (a venue at which he truly is synonymous), not to mention every other batter to have dominated a single first-class venue since 2000, including Mark Ramprakash, another Surrey and England cricketer whose domestic dominance also attracted askance suggestions that he wasn’t quite cutting it at the highest level.

“As for proving he had the requisite character for this job, even Pope’s hardest-to-please critics would struggle to fault a matchwinning century to cap a 3-0 series sweep”

Reading between the lines, that statistic perhaps explains some of the unsually intense scrutiny that Pope has attracted of late. It was only 24 hours earlier, after all, that Brendon McCullum, England’s Test coach, had been spelling out the real and lasting differences between the requirements at Test and county level, as a means of justifying Josh Hull’s selection on the strength of two Championship wickets at 182.50 this season.Three summers ago, on the other hand, Pope had been averaging a literally Bradman-esque 99.94 at The Oval, only to return from the 2021-22 Ashes with 67 deeply skittish runs at 11.16, a performance that made one of the most visceral cases yet for the extent to which England’s first-class system had been letting down its best young talent. Some of the residual criticism he attracts could well stem from him being a symptom, not a cause, of England’s previous struggles. In an era of renewed batting success, he’s not yet proven which mould he truly belongs to.Roll the tape forward another two years, however, and we’re starting to peer down the other end of the telescope. Pope’s recent “struggles”, if that is even the right word, hark back to the single greatest performance of his lifetime, and many others’ combined: that preposterous 196 in England’s first-Test victory over India in Hyderabad in March, when he swapped his hard-handed defensive prods for swishy-wristed reverse-sweeps for ones, twos and fours, and propelled this regime to one of their greatest overseas Test wins of all time.Never mind that his returns dipped for the rest of that tour as India’s spinners wised up, Pope’s apparent loss of equilibrium since Hyderabad was best expressed by his early-season displays for Surrey right here at The Oval: 156 runs at 26, and just one half-century in seven innings. But, as if to prove that the Hull Paradox is now England’s lodestar, he quickly put all that behind him with a century at the second attempt against West Indies (albeit he still gave the impression that something wasn’t quite right with his game).This, however, is a far more emphatic retort. A first Test century as England captain, and the second-fastest by an England captain too, from a racey 102 balls. Uniquely, it also made him the first player in history to score each of his first seven centuries against different opponents – a sign of his versatility on the one hand, but maybe also of his failure to grasp any single series by the throat, in the manner that might be expected of an international No. 3.Ollie Pope was proactive on the way to his fastest Test hundred•Getty ImagesNevertheless, it’s been a dizzying few weeks for England’s stand-in skipper, who has already led the Test team on three more occasions than he has ever led Surrey in the County Championship. Ben Stokes tried to warn him in advance about the accompanying uptick in press scrutiny, but that reached quite the crescendo during last week’s Lord’s Test, when Michael Vaughan unleashed the sort of character assassination that can be hard to live down – especially if you are, as Vaughan put it, “not the kind of personality” that should be leading his country in a Test match.Unless, of course, you can respond as he did here, on the patch of south London real estate that he knows better than any of his contemporaries. Pope’s internalised response to the moment of his three figures spoke volumes for the pressure he’s been under, as he roared with initial glee before scrunching it down into a deeply relieved, and no doubt satisfied, moment of self-reflection. And much as he’d been leading the glee on the Lord’s balcony for the feats of Root and Gus Atkinson last week, it was left to his team-mates to truly let rip with the celebrations.”Everyone’s so happy for anyone’s success in this dressing room, it’s an incredible place to be,” Duckett said. “It shouldn’t be the case, but there has been quite a lot of noise around Popey in the last few weeks. The only judgment I’ve seen is that he’s taken over as Test captain, and you only have to look at an innings like today [to see] that’s had no impact on him.”Sure, he had some luck – not least with the ropey efforts of a Sri Lanka seam attack that, in the generous assessment of their bowling coach, Aaqib Javed, got “overexcited” by the possibilities on such a dank day. On another day, his misjudged steer through the cordon would have gone to hand, but in riding out three blows to his elbow, the first of which drew blood and required lengthy treatment, he also showed it was no picnic out there, in spite of his fondness for this particular patch of grass. As for proving he had the requisite character for this job, even his hardest-to-please critics would struggle to fault a matchwinning century to cap a 3-0 series sweep.”I know what it’s like at the top of the order, and he’s had a far better summer than I have,” Duckett added. “The fact of the matter is he’s batting No. 3 in England, which is one of the toughest spots to bat in. To block that out and go and score an incredible hundred today was so good, and you could see that from his emotions as well. We’re all extremely happy for him.”

They are far from perfect, but have put together a solid body of work over the past few seasons

Himanshu Agrawal15-Feb-2023Bengal have a shot at Ranji Trophy glory nearly 34 years after they last won it, and have in their ranks two players – Manoj Tiwary and Anustup Majumdar – who might be getting a shot at the biggest prize in Indian domestic cricket for the last time.For a while now, the two have been the team’s go-to men, not just as senior players but also as friends and mentors to the younger players trying to make a name for themselves. Among them, Abhimanyu Easwaran is a star in the line-up, and is even at the doorstep of the national team. There is a core of regular first-XI players. While others, like Sudip Kumar Gharami, Karan Lal, Abishek Porel, Kazi Saifi and Koushik Ghosh are working their way up. All playing their part in a period of transition for the team.”I just want someone to grab that [second] opening slot and support Abhimanyu,” Tiwary, the Bengal captain, told ESPNcricinfo ahead of the final against Saurashtra starting Thursday. “But, despite that, I believe that the reserve players in Bengal are good enough to be a part of the XI.”Anustup Majumdar is ‘the backbone of the side’Bengal have tried as many as six opening pairs this season with Abhimanyu, after returning from India A duty, the only constant. Majumdar, as he did during their inspired run to the final in 2019-20, has been the glue that has held the batting together. He’s the team’s crisis man who has made “tough runs” time and again, like he did in the semi-final last week, in making 120 and 80 to oust defending champions Madhya Pradesh.”People don’t talk about Anustup, what a hero he is,” Arun Lal, former coach and member of the last Ranji-winning side, said. “He is the backbone of the side. I get worried when he gets out.”Arun Lal on Anustup Majumdar: “I get worried when he gets out”•Cricket Association of BengalArun’s worries stem from the fact that the younger batters have often failed to make the most of their opportunities. But there’s hope. Gharami, who debuted during the 2019-20 final, averages nearly 43 in first-class cricket across 28 innings with four hundreds. Three of those have come this season, including one in the semi-final.”Sudip will be a sensation,” Arun said. “He is young and hungry, and will be a big name in the next ten years.”Tiwary as also optimistic about Abishek Porel, the wicketkeeper, who has become a regular member of the side following the departure of Wriddhiman Saha and Shreevats Goswami to Tripura and Mizoram respectively. Last year, Abishek was part of India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning squad. While the transition to first-class cricket hasn’t been the smoothest for him, there has been plenty of promise with both bat and gloves.”Abishek is a very aggressive player,” Tiwary said. “And look at some of his catches this season; they show the hard work he has put in.”Fast bowlers are making the difference for BengalSince Ashok Dinda’s departure following a tiff with the coaching staff in 2019-20, Bengal have relied on a youngish pace attack to carry them forward. And each of them, Mukesh Kumar, Ishan Porel and Akash Deep, have delivered stunning returns, with plenty of support from spin-bowling allrounder Shahbaz Ahmed.Related

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Across the last three Ranji seasons, the 258 wickets the Bengal quicks have picked up is the best for any team. This Ranji season, the 348 for 4 Himachal Pradesh scored against them in a drawn game is the most they have conceded in an innings. Uttarakhand’s 272, in another draw, is the second highest.These performances have resulted in a national call-up for Mukesh, while Akash Deep and Ishan Porel have been knocking on the doors of India A. Shahbaz, meanwhile, made his India debut in the shorter formats late last year.”Currently they are the best bowling side in the country by far,” Arun Lal said. “There’s no respite [against them]. Akash has been a revelation: he won’t bowl every ball at 140kph, but his line and length stands out.”This season, Akash Deep has picked up 37 wickets at 20, including three five-wicket innings hauls and a ten-wicket match haul. That consists of a 4 for 62 in the quarter-final, and 5 for 42 in the semi-final. Mukesh has pocketed 18 wickets in only four games, while Ishan Porel, too, has had his moments, beginning with a five-for against Uttar Pradesh.Akash Deep has picked up 37 wickets this season, including three five-wicket innings hauls and a ten-wicket match haul•Cricket Association of BengalShahbaz’s contribution hasn’t been limited to just the ball. While his 20 wickets have cost only 27.80 apiece, he has scored 339 runs at 48, including 81 in the quarter-final. Since the 2019-20 season, Shahbaz is one of only two players to have scored at least 1000 runs and taken 50 wickets in the Ranji Trophy.”We’ve got a champion in Shahbaz,” Arun Lal said. “He provides solid depth from No. 6 or 7. The era has changed. Now you need an allrounder to get you a hundred. That is where the difference really arrives.”In a further positive for Bengal, the oldest of the quartet of bowlers are Mukesh and Shahbaz, both 29. Safe to say then that Bengal’s bowling is in great hands at least in the medium term.’Everybody will have to chase Bengal cricket’Two months back, Tiwary had hinted that this season could be his last. With Abhimanyu away on national duty, he accepted captaincy again and has nurtured a young group of players, placing a lot of emphasis on team spirit and camaraderie, which hasn’t been Bengal’s strongest suit in the past. Having spent considerable time with them in a high-performance environment, Tiwary liked what he’s seen and was optimistic of the future.”The youngsters have established themselves,” he said. “The pace bowlers have been so good that with all due respect to Dinda, I haven’t really missed him as captain. Obviously Wriddhi was experienced and consistent, but Abishek has shown promise Today’s youngsters represent India A quite often, and also get to play in the IPL. hat has helped them develop outstanding work ethic. Those things give you dividends.”Come Thursday, all of them will take the field with one common dream: to recreate there magic of 1989-90. Even if that doesn’t happen, Arun Lal suggested that it was only a matter of time. “In the next five years, this mature group of younger players will help Bengal win the Ranji at least twice,” he predicted. “Everybody will have to chase Bengal cricket.”

He and the rest of the South Africa line-up will make sure they take the fight to England in the upcoming series

Mark Nicholas26-Nov-2020How many cricketers on this earth are a shoo-in for a World XI in all three formats of the international game? Not many. David Warner and Jasprit Bumrah, perhaps? Maybe not Virat Kohli right now, after an IPL that seemed to have left his T20 game somewhat in limbo. Then again, maybe Kohli is an unwise omission. Babar Azam? Kane Williamson possibly? Ben Stokes surely! And which of Kagiso Rabada, Jofra Archer and Pat Cummins, or all three? Trent Boult? Mitchell Starc? Ah, here’s one. Quinton de Kock. Yes, certain tick – Quinny the Quiet, with his gifts from the gods.You can argue the point, and doubtless will, but I can’t think of a wicketkeeper-batsman who maintains such standards while switching from one format to another. Jos Buttler and Wriddhiman Saha are potential contenders but de Kock has the title. Come to think of it, a single team can be chosen that would perform brilliantly well in all formats – the surest illustration of a game and its players that is moving into a new age. Increasingly, cricket allows for innovation – demands it, even – and the impact on the players has been to unlock their imagination.In the early 1970s the Dutch football team, inspired by Johann Cruyff, was credited with “total football”, a phrase loosely meaning that the 11 players could interchange roles without any obvious effect on their performance. This wasn’t quite true but it gave the magic a little extra myth. Holland lost the 1974 World Cup final to a pragmatic West Germany; of course they did: art undone by architecture.ALSO READ: Five areas of focus for South Africa as international season beginsSir Matt Busby is supposed to have said that George Best was not just the best player at Manchester United but the best player in every position – “but don’t tell Alex Stepney,” added Sir Matt. Stepney was the goalkeeper.Often it seemed that Cruyff and Best hypnotised their opponents, so flat-footed were the responses to their control and use of the ball. Neither saw this high level of skill as an excuse to not do the hard yards; both earned general respect for their all-round contribution to matches played in conditions good and bad. They were glamorous too, and typically surrounded by acolytes and parasites. Best was rather “looser” than Cruyff when it came to lifestyle, but in both cases the admission money was cheap at the price. It wasn’t just the dribbling – it was the dash and the derring-do.Cricket’s litmus test is the three formats and de Kock passes that test. Let’s deal with the keeping first. He catches the ball, which is a good place to start. It’s not an exemplary technique but with the keenest eye and a ball player’s natural hands, he gets the job done. Sometimes he flies like a bird to pluck the ball out of Johannesburg’s thin air, other times he stands on his regular spot, all understated humility, to gather it in like a clergyman accepting Sunday morning’s collection. Up to the stumps, he uses instinct above all else, waiting late to strike early. If the feet go, so too does his head and all is well; if they remain stuck, it’s those hands again, like lightning, to save the day. You wouldn’t swap him for anyone because of the possibilities. MS Dhoni was similar: an unorthodox in the clothes of the conventional.Now, let’s look at some QdK stats. 47 Test matches, strike rate of 71, five hundreds, 21 fifties, average a tad under 40; 121 one-day internationals, strike rate 95, 15 hundreds, 25 fifties, average 44.6; T20 strike rate 138.6, average 33.5. Very good.ALSO READ: Which players would make it to a current World Test XI?And at Adam Gilchrist – 96 Tests, strike rate 82, 17 hundreds, 26 fifties, average 47.6. 287 ODIs, strike rate 97, 16 hundreds, 55 fifties, average 35.8. T20 strike rate 140, average 27. Very good.Amazing really, both of them. Quite similar in their way. Richie Benaud thought Gilchrist the cleanest striker of a cricket ball he had seen, just pipping one Garfield St Aubrun Sobers to that place in the pop charts. Is it an advantage to keep wicket and open the batting, at least on the occasions when that is the sequence? Probably this is because the eyes have done their adjusting. But these occasions only apply for approximately half the number of matches they play. The rest of the time they are in the pack. Fact is, very few wicketkeeper-batsmen swing the bat with fear; it is as if the hard part is with the gauntlets on and the rest is easy.Perhaps the best thing we can say about them both is that, like Cruyff and Best, you make sure you are in your seat when they walk on out there. At the recent IPL, de Kock was quite likely to hit the first ball into the stands. This was never a slog, more a brushstroke with vigour. His cutting of the ball is killer, his shots over wide long-on as powerful as those of the big men, and he is only a slip of a thing but wiry-strong and blessed with timing. Only when he went rogue – ramping and scooping – did he miss. When he kept it straightforward, the sound of ball on bat was very Gilchrist. He’s a thrill a minute is the South Africa captain, with a hint of genius thrown in.

Sometimes he flies like a bird to pluck the ball out of Johannesburg’s thin air, other times he stands, all understated humility, to gather it in like a clergyman accepting Sunday morning’s collection

To the captaincy we come: the job in which when you win, you’re supposed to, and when you lose, it’s your fault. Captaincy is a hard-knock life, unless you’re Clive Lloyd with attack or Steve Waugh with other. Will de Kock rise with the responsibility or shrink with the burden? He needs his young players to grow up fast and his support staff to take care of the myriad off-field distractions that plague captains. He is not a waster of words but neither will he mince those words when needs must. Strong tactically, trusted and liked, his time has come in short-form cricket, and if it is his wish, will come soon enough in Test match cricket too. The trick for the selectors is to not paralyse him with promotions.This short series against England brings to end South Africa’s longest period without international cricket since returning from isolation in 1992. There will be rust in the joints and blips in the minds of all except those who were at the IPL. Now, of course, isolation has a new meaning and the coaches will be aware of the need to keep tabs on their number. The bubble is easier for some than others.The pitches at Newlands and in Paarl are likely to be slow, and the skill sets required to take a game by the scruff of the neck all the more demanding because of it. The South African IPL stock – de Kock, Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Faf du Plessis, David Miller, and Lungi Ngidi – have all had plenty of time with bat and ball. Their names are a reminder that England will not have it all their own way, so too will the scoreline last February, when some nerve-shredding matches had folk jostling for position in front of TV screens.Mark Nicholas’ current all-format world XI

1. David Warner
2. Quinton de Kock
3. Babar Azam
4. Ben Stokes
5. Kane Williamson
6. Jos Buttler
7. R Ashwin
8. Rashid Khan
9. Jofra Archer
10. Kagiso Rabada
11. Jasprit Bumrah

It is clichéd to say that these matches mean a great deal to South African cricket. Chaos reigns within the corridors of power but attention is turning to those who play instead of those who administer, which is a boost for morale in itself. England’s willingness to return so soon after the last visit reflects a world that is joining up the dots. From the tour, South Africa will make something in the region of 70 million rand (approximately US$4.6m), crucial money at a troubled time. This will kick-start the television-rights pathway, allowing CSA to sell its wares far and wide.One thing we know, they all want to watch de Kock bat, and Stokes. They all want to watch Rabada bowl, and Archer. This is a golden age for sport on television simply because there is nowhere else for it to be. An empty ground promises little but realises a great deal. The IPL was proof of that, so too England’s summer series against West Indies and Pakistan. That the game has come together in this way is a thing of beauty in itself. Come Friday evening, 6pm South Africa time, don’t miss the moment when Archer sprints in to de Kock. It’s the knuckle of sport.Oh, and as for that team… in T20 batting order (to be tinkered with for a Test match by swapping de Kock and Williamson): Warner, de Kock, Babar Azam, Stokes, Williamson, Buttler, R Ashwin, Rashid Khan, Archer, Rabada, Bumrah, with Kohli the floater, stirred up and busting to stamp his authority on everyone and everything. And Boult (or Starc) in the party of 13. You could travel the world with that lot and not go far wrong.Mind you, it is a list without Rohit Sharma – such a talent! – and one that sorely misses AB de Villiers, whose retirement from Tests and ODIs still breaks the heart. In him is a bit of both Best and Cruyff, and of course, a signpost to “total cricket”. These may be far from the days of our lives but from sport comes a sense of optimism and the chance to marvel at performances that continue to evolve and entertain. We can be thankful for that, even without de Villiers at Newlands on Friday evening.

His career is still just a few matches old, but Cooper Connolly has already shown a love for the big occasion, and appears to thrive in pressure situations

Andrew McGlashan02-Sep-20242:32

Bailey impressed with Connolly’s ‘versatility’

Australia’s T20I squad for the matches against Scotland and England this month is with an eye on the future, especially the selection of Cooper Connolly after a professional career that includes just 15 T20s and 20 matches across formats.However, in that small sample size, he has already shone in the pressure situations. Having made an important 20 off 11 in his first T20 innings, he shot to prominence in just his second when he struck 25 off 11 balls to help Perth Scorchers to the BBL title when they needed 39 off 19 deliveries. Then last season, he compiled a classy 90 on his first-class debut in the Sheffield Shield final.”He’s a lot more calming than a kid should be in that position,” Nick Hobson, his partner in the BBL match-winning stand, said at the time.Related

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His Scorchers and Western Australia coach Adam Voges has seen Connolly at close quarters through the early stages of his career and believes he’s a player who embraces the pressure scenarios.”While he’s still young in terms of games played, he’s put some eye-catching performances… he’s a character that doesn’t get overawed by big moments, that’s what the selectors must have seen and been happy to get him involved,” Voges told ESPNcricinfo. “He’s a relatively laidback character. I think that probably helps in those really high-pressure moments, but while he’s young in games played there’s a maturity about his cricket and an understanding of how he goes about his game.”It’s a view shared by Australia’s T20I captain Mitchell Marsh, who is also a domestic team-mate of Connolly’s.”The one thing that stood out to me, and we saw it in Big Bash, is he loves the big moments,” Marsh told . “He’s going to fail at certain times in those moments, but I know that he doesn’t get overawed by that, he’s a very calm character. He’s a confident, humble young man, and I think Australia will fall in love with him.”Connolly has long been in Australia’s pathways: he was the youngest member of their 2020 Under-19 World Cup squad and captained them in the 2022 edition. He has also been to the MRF Academy in India. Domestically, Connolly’s path to the professional game was through the Scarborough Club where he has played since the Under-13 level. Last season, he was made captain late into the campaign and guided them to the first grade final. Andrew Tye plays for the same club and the two have a close bond, a friendship forged through Connolly’s father.

“Anyone who can have success in that finishing role needs to be able to read the game well, needs to be able to understand what the situation requires, then be able to go up and down gears depending on that. I think Cooper has that”Adam Voges

“I just want to be like Coop,” Tye said the day after his BBL heroics in early 2023.When Cameron Bancroft suffered a nasty bike accident just days before the Sheffield Shield final in March, Connolly was handed a first-class debut that would likely have come earlier in the summer if he hadn’t been in a boating accident. Voges didn’t consider it a gamble to throw him into a decider with Connolly having come off strong form for Scarborough, including a knock of 181 off 189 balls (out of a total of 343) and another of 67 off 76 which new Scarborough coach David Baird considered just as good.”Those two innings were outstanding, we’re not winning either of those games without his contribution,” Baird told ESPNcricinfo. “As the season went on, his leadership really developed, he was great for us in the finals.”He’s truly a Scarborough player. There’s no airs and graces, and that’s set by those around him. He slots back into the side very nicely. I think at certain points he also felt guilty to come back in and captain when he’d been away, but that certainly wasn’t the case.”Cooper Connolly made his first-class debut in the Sheffield Shield final and scored a classy 90•Getty ImagesFor the upcoming six T20Is, Connolly has been picked with a middle-order finishing role in mind. Batting at Nos. 6 and 7 in the BBL, he has a strike rate of 154.76. “That ability to bat from four to seven, we find it is a challenging spot to find and maintain players through that area,” national selector George Bailey said.Last season, Scorchers tried him as an opener early in the tournament, where Connolly struggled with 31 runs in four innings. Voges believes the disrupted preparation didn’t help and envisages him batting higher in the future, but he will remain around No. 6 for this summer.”Anyone who can have success in that finishing role needs to be able to read the game well, needs to be able to understand what the situation requires, then be able to go up and down gears depending on that,” Voges said. ” I think Cooper has that, he’s got the ability to clear the boundary, that’s critical in the back end of games, but equally he has the smarts to understand what is required as well. He’s played that role for us for a couple of years now, we tried him up the top but he certainly found that nice role at No. 6.”With Glenn Maxwell rested, Cooper Connolly will provide the spin support to Adam Zampa•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesThe other aspect of his game, which is valuable, and potentially not just in white-ball cricket, is the developing left-arm spin which brought six wickets in 11 overs last season. With Glenn Maxwell rested for the T20 leg of this tour, Connolly will provide support for Adam Zampa, while in this season’s BBL, he is being viewed as the No. 2 to Ashton Agar at Scorchers.”I think there’s a lot of upside with his bowling,” Voges said. “It’s still clearly the second string at the moment but it’s more than handy. We saw him bowl some really important spells for us last year. We feel he is already the support to Ash. While they do both bowl left-arm spin, I think they are very different bowlers and we have absolute faith that Coops will be able to play a role there as well.”

Catching a baseball in the stands is hard enough. Now, imagine trying to snag a foul ball with your eyes closed. Impossible, right?

Well, that incredible feat happened today at Yankee Stadium as the New York Yankees took on the Tampa Bay Rays. As a Yankees fan saw a foul ball coming his way, he had his glove ready. But he had an adorable, young fan atop his shoulders who decided to make the catch way more difficult than it had to be.

She used her hands as a human blindfold, covering the fan's eyes as he tried to bring the ball in. Somehow, he still made the grab even through the massive distraction. What a diabolical move by the young girl, smiling as her intrusive thoughts took over.

"That's dad power right there," Yankees broadcaster Jeff Nelson said as the highlight played on YES Network.

The dad still handed the ball off after the incredible catch, too—he's probably used to the shenanigans.

The Rays beat the Yankees 3-2 Saturday, even as Yankees superstar Aaron Judge smacked his 11th home run of the season. Tampa Bay snapped a four-game losing streak thanks to a two-run inning where they took the lead in the top of the eighth inning.

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Outro ponto importante na desclassificação do Corinthians na fase de grupos é que o time da capital paulista corre o risco de ficar fora da próxima edição da Copa do Brasil, em 2025. Isso porque o regulamento da competição nacional mudou e, com isso, os Estaduais têm uma importância fundamental para chegar à classificação do torneio.

Na edição de 2023, dez equipes conseguiram suas vagas via o ranking nacional de clubes. Após a mudança da regra, para 2024, a classificação para a Copa do Brasil começou a se basear em um ranking utilizado pela CBF. A partir daí, haverá a definição de quantas vagas cada um terá direito a distribuir nas suas competições estaduais.

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As federações mais bem colocadas, como São Paulo e Rio de Janeiro, terão direito a seis vagas via competições locais, ou seja, os seis primeiros colocados do Paulistão garantem vaga na próxima Copa do Brasil.

De acordo com a classificação das equipes na Libertadores ou com o título da Copa do Brasil, as vagas vão sendo repassadas para os próximos colocados do Estadual. Atualmente, o Alvinegro é o 12º colocado do Paulistão, com 13 pontos, e ainda resta uma rodada na fase de grupos.

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Campeonato PaulistaCopa do BrasilCorinthiansFutebol Nacional

Three wickets in reply keep contest in balance after first-day wash-out

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-Sep-2025

Gloucestershire 65 for 3 (Bracey 18*, Price 16*) trail Northamptonshire 206 (Zaib 76, McManus 44, van Buuren 3-23, M Taylor 3-48) by 141 runsMatt Taylor and Graeme van Buuren produced standout performances with the ball as Gloucestershire made up for lost time on day two of their match Rothesay County Championship Second Division match against Northamptonshire at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.Following a first-day washout, left arm seamer Taylor returned figures of 3 for 48 to take out the top-order, while slow left armer van Buuren claimed 3 for 23 to rip through the tail as Northants were dismissed for 206 in 63.5 overs in their first innings after losing the toss.Only Saif Zaib mustered meaningful resistance, the in-form left-hander top-scoring with 76 to take his first-class run tally for the season to 1,268 at an average of 63.4. Stubborn opener Lewis McManus contributed an obdurate 44, but too many Northants batters surrendered their wickets cheaply on a day when bowlers held sway.Gloucestershire fared no better in the final session, reduced to 40 for 3 by some incisive new-ball bowling from Northamptonshire’s seamers. Ollie Price and James Bracey then held firm to reach the close unbeaten on 16 and 18 respectively, bad light curtailing play with 11.4 overs unused. The fourth wicket pair will resume on 65 for 3 in the morning, still 141 runs behind.Stand-in Gloucestershire captain Bracey won the toss, elected to bowl and looked on from behind the stumps as Northants openers Luke Procter and McManus negotiated the first hour without any major scares on a green-tinged pitch. Only when Matt Taylor switched to the Bristol Pavilion end did Gloucestershire enjoy success, the left arm seamer hitting the top of Procter’s off stump with a ball that nipped back. Having chiseled 21 from 40 deliveries with three boundaries, Northamptonshire’s skipper departed with the score on 34. Taylor struck again three balls later, new batsman Calvin Harrison playing on as the visitors slipped to 39 for 2 in the 14th.That soon became 54 for 3, Josh Shaw locating James Sales’ outside edge and Ben Charlesworth taking a tumbling catch at first slip as the home side registered a first bonus point. Mindful of the need to shore things up, McManus continued to eschew risk as he moved to within seven runs of a half century, but Zaib adopted a more forthright approach, twice driving Ajeet Singh Dale for four and punching Zaman Akhter to the deep mid-wicket boundary as the fourth wicket partnership advanced to 46 by the time lunch was taken with the score on 100 for 3.The stand was worth 65 when Taylor made the breakthrough Gloucestershire so badly needed, McManus playing down the wrong line to a ball that hit off stump and terminated his patient innings on 44. He had faced 92 balls and accrued 3 fours and Northants were back under pressure at 119 for 4. Broad never looked comfortable against Singh Dale’s pace and was caught at the wicket for 12 with the score 147 for 5 as Gloucestershire’s seamers made further in-roads.Unfazed by events at the other end, Zaib continued to play positively, raising 50 from 78 balls with 9 fours and prompting Gloucestershire skipper Bracey to introduce spin in the form of van Buuren from the Ashley Down Road end. Zaib issued a statement of intent, hoisting the slow left armer over deep mid-wicket for six as he progressed towards three figures.Bidding to become only the fifth Northants player and the first since Rob Bailey in 1990 to score seven first class hundreds in a season, the 27-year-old left-hander fell short on this occasion, pushing defensively at a delivery from Akhter and edging a catch behind. His score of 76 from 112 balls included 10 fours and a six and served to keep his team afloat. Rob Keogh and Aadi Sharma mustered resistance thereafter, the seventh wicket pair making it through to tea with the score 194 for 6.Sharma fell soon after the restart, hitting van Buuren’s first delivery high to mid-on where Matt Taylor took a comfortable catch to reduce Northants to 199 for 7. Gloucestershire’s experienced all-rounder struck a further blow with his next delivery, pinning Ben Sanderson lbw without scoring as the visitors displayed signs of lower-order fragility. Ben Whitehouse survived the hat-trick ball, but the home side sensed an opportunity to dismiss their opponents cheaply.When Keogh was bowled for 13 in the act of playing across the line, van Buuren had claimed three wickets in a remarkable nine-ball burst and Northants were in freefall. Singh Dale wrapped up the innings in quick time, bowling Sanderson for six in the next over, at which point the visitors had lost their last five wickets for just 28 runs in 10 overs.If Gloucestershire’s intention was to see off the new-ball threat posed by Sanderson, it proved easier said than done, the veteran seamer summoning a superb in-swinger to bowl Charlesworth for 14 in an impressive spell of 1 for 10 in six overs with three maidens. Broad then accounted for Joe Phillips, who nicked off to Harrison at second slip, while Procter bowled Miles Hammond as the home side lurched to 40-3 inside 19 overs.Bracey and Price batted diligently thereafter, staging an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 25 to keep the visitors at bay.

This comes after India forfeited two games, including the semi-final, against Pakistan due to strained political relations between the two countries

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Aug-2025The PCB has issued a “blanket ban” from future participation in the World Championship of Legends (WCL), citing “biased” conduct by the tournament organisers. This comes after India Champions forfeited two games, including the semi-final, against Pakistan Champions due to strained political relations between the two countries.The board also criticised WCL’s decision to award points to a forfeiting team – the teams shared points when India had refused to play Pakistan in the group match – saying it was “tainted with hypocrisy and bias”. The board also took issue with what it described as a selective use of the “peace through sport” narrative, accusing the organisers of allowing political considerations and commercial interests to interfere with the tournament. The statement comes after the PCB’s 79th board of governors meeting, held virtually under the chairmanship of Mohsin Naqvi.”The cancellation was not based on cricketing merit but on appeasing a specific nationalistic narrative,” the PCB said in a statement. “This sends an unacceptable message to the international sporting community.Related

India Champions pull out of WCL semi-final against Pakistan Champions

“However, we cannot allow our players to be part of events where the spirit of the game is overshadowed by skewed politics that undermines the very essence of sportsmanship and the gentleman’s game.”The WCL had issued an apology for “hurting sentiments” following India’s withdrawal.”The WCL’s apology for ‘hurting the sentiments’, whilst being farcical, inadvertently acknowledges that the cancellation was not based on cricketing merit, but rather on succumbing to a specific nationalistic narrative,” the statement further said. “This bias, masquerading as sensitivity, sends an unacceptable message to the international sporting community.”While reaffirming their commitment to global cricket and healthy rivalries, the board said they would not permit their players to participate in tournaments that “undermine the spirit of the game.”

The search for Celtic’s next manager is now officially underway following Brendan Rodgers’ shock exit and a number of names are already emerging as early candidates for the job.

Celtic's manager search: The early candidates

Following defeat against Hearts at the weekend, Rodgers has officially resigned as Celtic manager to bring an end to his second spell in charge. Tensions had been boiling both behind the scenes and in public since a disappointing summer transfer window and the manager decided that was that on Monday evening.

Given the reaction of majority shareholder Dermot Desmond too, the chances of Rodgers ever taking a third spell in charge are now fairly slim. Desmond didn’t hold back once, claiming that Celtic did offer their manager a new deal and anything that has suggested otherwise, including the words of Rodgers, is “simply untrue”.

The fallout will undoubtedly continue in the coming days, but so will Celtic’s managerial search. Having appointed Martin O’Neill on an interim basis, the Bhoys have bought themselves some time to assess their options.

Several names are already beginning to emerge, including former manager Ange Postecoglou. The Australian was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest less than two months after he was appointed and desperately needs the chance to fix his reputation.

As someone who has won the Scottish Premiership twice at the club, Postecoglou represents a top option that Celtic should consider. Despite his recent failure, there’s no doubt that the former Tottenham Hotspur boss knows how to get the job done.

That said, Postecolgou isn’t the only candidate at this early stage. Joining him on the list of options at Celtic is a Champions League finalist who is still searching for his next job.

Edin Terzic now a candidate to replace Rodgers

As reported by The Daily Record, Edin Terzic is now an early candidate to take the Celtic job and replace Rodgers. The former Borussia Dortmund manager has been out of a job since leaving the Bundesliga giants in the summer of 2024 and could now make a return to the dugout courtesy of the Bhoys.

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The 73 year-old returns to the Parkhead dugout along with Shaun Maloney.

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At 42 years old, the German is one of the most interesting candidates. It was only in 2024 that he led Dortmund to a Champions League final, where they lost against Real Madrid, and he also cut Bayern Munich incredibly close in the Bundesliga. This is very much still a young manager full of potential that Celtic could unlock in full.

Terzic’s arrival would also spark an intriguing dynamic in the Old Firm derby between the young German manager and recent Rangers hire Danny Rohl, but it remains to be seen whether Celtic explore that possibility.

Black Caps quick restricted Sussex to 166, which was chased down with two overs to spare

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay06-Jun-2025

Somerset 169 for 3 (Kohler-Cadmore 64, Carson 1-22) beat Sussex 166 for 8 (Simpson 58, Henry 3-29) by seven wicketsSomerset maintained their 100% record in the Vitality Blast after cruising to a seven-wicket win over previously unbeaten Sussex Sharks at Hove.Having restricted them to 166 for 8 after putting Sussex in, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Lammonby broke the back of Somerset’s chase when they added 89 off 45 balls for the second wicket after Will Smeed departed in the first over.Kohler-Cadmore top scored with 64 – his 42nd fifty in the format – while Lammonby made 35 and Tom Abell an unbeaten 36 as last season’s beaten finalists sealed their third victory in this season’s competition with 12 balls to spare. Once again they look the team to beat in the South Group, although strangely this was only their third win at the 1st Central County Ground in T20 history.Somerset laid the foundations with good bowling at the start and end of the Sussex innings. The Sharks could only score 36 in the powerplay and lost three wickets, and they couldn’t regain momentum when skipper John Simpson, who top scored with 58, was dismissed in the 16th over, the first of four wickets to fall for 26 as Somerset’s seamers, led by Matt Henry (3 for 29) turned the screw.Sussex had already lost openers Dan Hughes and Harrison Ward cheaply when Henry had James Coles caught at wide mid-on off a leading edge, leaving Sussex 29 for 3 in the sixth over.Simpson led a spirited response, first in partnership with Tom Alsop with whom he added 63 off 35 balls. Somerset only bowled one over of spin by Lewis Goldsworthy which went for 13 and were in need of a breakthrough, which Henry provided in the 11th over when Alsop was caught behind off an under-edge for 23.Simpson, promoted to No3 for Sussex this season, logged the tenth T20 fifty of his career from 34 balls and found another useful ally in Tom Clark, who helped his captain add 41 for the fifth wicket after being dropped in the deep by Riley Meredith when he’d made just four.Simpson was trying to clear the rope for the seventh time when he was caught at deep backward square off Craig Overton’s bouncer and when both Jack Carson and Clark failed to clear long on as the innings gently declined.Somerset suffered an early blow in their reply when Smeed, having hit two boundaries, lost his off stump to Ollie Robinson. But Kohler-Cadmore and Lammonby displayed impressive power and placement in their ball striking. They took 68 from the powerplay to lay the platform for victory.Lammonby (35) was caught at extra cover in the 11th over giving himself room to hit off-spinner Carson over the top and Kohler-Cadmore, who was dropped on 59, played on to Tymal Mills in the 14th over for 64 off 43 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes). But Somerset only needed a further 34 at that stage and two more Toms – Abell and Rew – got the job done with a minimum of fuss, Abell hitting Coles to the extra-cover boundary off the final ball of the 18th over to seal victory.