The WACA had been due to stage a three-day game between India and India A, although it would have been behind closed doors
Tristan Lavalette01-Nov-2024
India’s initial schedule included a three-day intra-squad match at the WACA•Getty Images
The first Test against Australia in Perth will be India’s first competitive match on tour after the BCCI scrapped a three-day intra-squad game at the WACA.Bidding for a third straight Test series victory in Australia, India’s tour was set to start against India A in a warm-up behind closed doors from November 15-17.But ESPNcricinfo understands India’s hierarchy have changed plans and instead opted for the squad to train during those three days, which will include net sessions and centre wicket match simulation scenarios at the WACA.Australia will likely train at the WACA after India’s stint at the ground in what will be important preparation for some players who have had limited matches under their belt.”Going to be some good centre wickets with our boys bowling in Perth, in similar conditions to what you’re going to get at Optus Stadium. [It’s] probably going to be enough,” Steven Smith recently said about preparing for the Test series with centre wicket practice at the WACA.India had initially decided on an intra-squad game as their sole warm-up before the first Test starting on November 22 rather than a practice match against an Australian domestic side.This is a departure from their last two tours of Australia having begun the red-ball leg of their 2020-21 tour with a three-day game against Australia A, while they played a four-day game against a Cricket Australia XI ahead of the 2018-19 series.The intra-squad match at the WACA was set to be played behind closed doors at the request of India’s hierarchy. There had been hope initially that the game would be open to the public much like India’s two matches against a WA XI side before the 2022 T20 World Cup.Near capacity crowds of around 2500 fans at the WACA, which is currently under redevelopment, attended those matches with a AU$5 entry fee going towards the WA Cricket Foundation.India’s squad is set to depart for Australia shortly after the third and final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai finishes on November 5.Led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, India A were supposed to play India’s Test squad after their four-day matches against Australia A in Mackay and the MCG.India A’s 15-player squad had staggered arrivals into Brisbane on October 25 and 26, with the first contingent of players faced with a delay disembarking off their flight due to an unwell passenger.
Chelsea’s opening Premier League match is under three weeks away, yet it doesn’t appear as though Enzo Maresca is finished with his transfer business.
Despite adding plenty of talent to his already bloated squad, including the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens, the Italian is still on the hunt for more attacking players.
Over the previous few weeks, Tyler Dibling, Karim Adeyemi and even Real Madrid starlet Goncalo Garcia have all been linked with moves to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescabefore the start of the second half
While initial links have been established, nothing concrete has been made regarding any of these three players as of yet.
All of Maresca’s attention is being taken up by the potential transfer of Dutchman Xavi Simons.
The RB Leipzig starlet is edging close to a move to the Blues, and given his performances in the Bundesliga since the summer of 2023, could he be the final piece of the attacking jigsaw for the club?
RB Leipzig's Lois Openda and Xavi Simons.
Any move could potentially go through at some point this week, but what exactly will the former PSG sensation bring to Chelsea?
Why Chelsea are trying to sign Xavi Simons
On Sunday, journalist Ben Jacobs gave an update on X regarding the club’s pursuit of the attacking midfielder.
“Chelsea advancing talks with Xavi Simons. Terms now broadly in place,” said Jacobs. “Club-to-club talks ongoing. Chelsea expected to place a first formal offer soon after verbal discussions over numbers. Talks described as positive.”
RB Leipzig'sXaviSimonsreacts after the match
If all goes to plan, Maresca could be welcoming Simons to Stamford Bridge sooner rather than later, and it will give him more firepower.
The playmaker could cost Chelsea a reported £70m, but on the surface, this could be money well spent by the London outfit.
The Blues return to the Champions League this season for the first time since 2022/23. As such, signing someone who can make a difference in this competition makes perfect sense.
Step forward, Simons. When compared to his positional peers in the Champions League last season, the Dutch starlet was sublime across a range of performance metrics.
Not only did he rank in the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.88), but the 22-year-old also ranked in the top 2% for shot-creating actions (5.91) and in the top 11% for progressive carries (3.22) in Europe’s premier club competition.
With ambitions heightened ahead of European competition next term due to the club’s success at the Club World Cup this summer, signing Simons would give Maresca a chance of taking his team deep in the tournament.
Given that João Félix seems to be moving on in the next few days, with Chelsea recouping the same fee that they paid for him a year ago, there is space for Simons to come in.
Despite his obvious strengths and his growth potential, do the Blues really need to make him a priority signing?
Indeed, it’s arguable that their defence needs more work ahead of the Premier League campaign.
Chelsea closing in on another signing
The links to attacking players seem to grow day by day, but there haven’t been as many defenders linked with a move to the club.
One player whom the club have shown plenty of interest in, however, is Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Blues “will be in direct contact” with Hato regarding a potential deal. Romano also went on to state that Hato “only wants Chelsea” which should pave the way for Maresca to wrap up this deal as soon as possible.
David Ornstein of The Athletic has further reported that personal terms have already been agreed with Chelsea closing in on a deal that may be worth around £40m.
The squad is heavily stacked from an attacking perspective, but there is no doubt that Chelsea needs another couple of defenders to freshen things up.
As such, could Hato turn out to be an even better signing than Simons ahead of the 2025/26 campaign?
Why Hato would be a better signing than Simons for Chelsea
One reason why Maresca is keen on adding the teenager to his squad is surely due to his positional flexibility.
Over the course of his embryonic career thus far, Hato has played 88 games at left-back and 70 matches as a centre-back.
Hato’s league numbers for Ajax by season
Stat
22/23
23/24
24/25
Games played
11
33
31
Goals scored
0
1
2
Assists
0
2
6
Touches per game
57.4
94.8
67.2
Accurate passes per game
42.6 (91%)
72.8 (93%)
45.2 (90%)
Total duels won per game
3.1
5.5
4.1
Clean sheets
1
5
11
Stats by Sofascore
Last season, however, saw the 19-year-old operate on the left side of the defence and he showcased his talents, both going forward and defensively.
In the Eredivisie. The defender helped Ajax keep 11 clean sheets while he averaged 1.9 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and was dribbled past only 0.3 times per match.
Along with his eight goal contributions, Hato also managed to create six big chances in the top flight, while averaging 0.6 key passes per match, thus displaying plenty of attacking intent for his club.
Furthermore, when compared to his positional peers in leagues similar in reputation to the Dutch top-flight over the previous 365 days, Hato ranked in the top 5% for assists (0.21) per 90, along with ranking in the top 11% for touches in the opposition penalty area (2.33) per 90.
On this evidence, Hato would offer plenty at both ends of the pitch for Chelsea, thus giving Maresca a major boost.
There was no doubt that the 2024/25 season was his major breakout campaign for the Dutch giants, one that was largely praised by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Netherlands' JorrelHatois shown a red card by referee Glenn Nyberg
“Jorrel Hato is having an excellent season,” said Kulig. A fantastic mix of complete full-back, playmaking full-back, and ball-playing centre-back. Over 100 games for Ajax and 6 caps for Oranje at 19. Immense quality and experience for such a young defender.”
Simons will bring something extra to the Chelsea attacking department; there is no doubt about that. Still only 22, he will only go from strength to strength in the next few years.
Hato, on the other hand, may well turn out to be the better signing for the Stamford Bridge outfit given that the Blues are already stacked in offensive areas.
By signing both players, it would signal yet another statement of intent by Maresca. Chelsea will surely be a force to be reckoned with this season if the squad can gel swiftly.
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The start of Rangers’ competitive season is fast approaching.
In just ten nights’ time, the Gers will commence their Champions League campaign, entering in the second qualifying round, thereby needing to come through three ties to get into the group stages for only the second time since 2010.
So, before that massive tie, will Russell Martin add to his six summer signings?
Rangers looking to add a new winger
In an otherwise generally miserable campaign, Václav Černý starred for Rangers last season, scoring 18 goals in 52 appearances for the club, on target six times during their run to the Europa League quarter-finals, meaning only Bruno Fernandes, Kasper Waarst Høgh and Ayoub El Kaabi bettered his tally in the competition.
The problem though, is the fact that the Czechia international was only on loan from Wolfsburg, and will not be returning, leaving a rather large void in the squad, one that’ll require replacing.
Thus, according to a report by Sky Sports News, Rangers are ‘close to finalising a deal’ to sign Sheffield Wednesday winger Djeidi Gassama.
Manager Martin stated that the deal is “all done at our end”, stating that he “fully expects” the move to be completed “very, very soon”, adding that Gassama provides something “different to what we’ve got”.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Andrew Newport of the Daily Record claims that the 21 year old will cost £2.5m, with controversial Owls’ owner Dejphon Chansiri ‘stalling’ in an attempt to create some sort of bidding war, thereby driving up the price, even though the EFL Championship side are ‘desperate to raise funds’ as they risk going into administration.
Nevertheless, this all suggests a deal will be finalised sooner rather than later.
How Djeidi Gassama will improve Rangers
Gassama first caught the eye playing for Paris Saint-Germain’s youth teams, scoring five goals in eight UEFA Youth League matches for les Rouge-et-Bleu in 2021/22, spending the following season out on loan at Belgian club Eupen, before making a surprise move to Sheffield Wednesday two summers ago.
The French youth international scored just 12 goals and registered four assists in 84 appearances for the Owls, but his performances have earned plenty of plaudits.
He was named Supporters’ Player of the Year last season, while writer Kai Watson labelled him “clinical in front of goal”, adding that he is an “exciting player to watch”, who “loves carrying the ball” and is “capable of producing moments of brilliance”.
Meantime, analyst John Walker is impressed by his dribbling ability too, stating that supporters should be “very excited” about this addition.
So, let’s assess how his statistics compare to those of Černý.
Appearances
47
52
Minutes
3,197
3,933
Goals
8
18
Assists
1
9
Shots
1.5
2.6
Shooting accuracy %
46.94%
55%
Chances created
1.2
2.1
Take-ons completed
2
2.1
Dribble success %
44.6%
51.3%
Touches
44
55.2
Touches in the box
4.7
5.6
Average SofaScore rating
6.9
7.39
As the table outlines, Černý’s statistics are universally more impressive than Gassama’s, but there are caveats.
The Czech winger was playing for a dominant team in Scotland, outlined by his touches and touches in the opposition penalty area statistics, while Sheffield Wednesday finished 12th in the EFL Championship.
The encouraging aspect ahead of Gassama’s move to Ibrox is the fact his numbers are very similar to Černý’s, attempting a near-identical number of take-ons per 90, with a similar number being completed, emphasising their stylistic similarities.
Thus, still only 21 years old, he is clearly a high-potential player, and one who could certainly arrive at Rangers and make a big impression.
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Tim Southee has been handed an official reprimand for smashing a hand-sanitiser dispenser, which breached the ICC’s code of conduct that doesn’t take too kindly to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match”.This was during the West Indies vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2024 match in Tarouba on June 12. Dismissed by Alzarri Joseph for a first-ball duck in the 18th over of New Zealand’s chase, Southee smashed the dispenser on his way back to the dressing room. He was reprimanded officially for his troubles and had one demerit point added to his disciplinary record – it was the first offence in a 24-month period.For the record, when a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned; two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player. The demerit points remain on a player’s disciplinary record for a period of two years from their imposition, following which they are expunged.Related
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It wasn’t a happy day for Southee or New Zealand – it hasn’t been a happy time for them at the World Cup on the whole – as they went down by 13 runs for their second loss in a row. With West Indies and Afghanistan getting to three wins and qualifying for the Super Eight stage from that group – Group C – New Zealand had a rare ICC event where they didn’t make the Super Eight stage.Their campaign isn’t over, though. They still have games against Uganda and Papua New Guinea to come, but wins there can only lift them to third place in the group.Southee returned 2 for 21 in that game, his first at the tournament after he sat out the opening loss to Afghanistan.
It is perhaps the worst-kept secret in football that Arsenal are trying to sign a new striker for Mikel Arteta this summer, following a 2024/2025 campaign marred by the struggle to break sides down as often as they should.
Arsenal search for new striker after disappointing 2024/2025
Arteta watched on from the sidelines as his Gunners side drew more Premier League games than any other side in the top half whilst scoring just 69 goals in the top flight, a far cry from the 91 and 88 they’d scored in the previous two seasons.
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Major factors at play were the long-term injuries sustained by Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, who were both sidelined for extended periods midway through the campaign, prompting Arteta to deploy Mikel Merino in an emergency striker role.
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)
Money on new signings
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
Arsenal’s lack of potency in the final third saw them surrender the Premier League title to Liverpool by a seismic 10 points, and sporting director Andrea Berta appears determined to ensure they don’t repeat that scenario next term.
According to reliable media sources, Berta’s two top striker targets for Arsenal are Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Arsenal began “concrete” talks for Sesko last week, and some reports in Portugal claimed that Gyokeres received a contract offer from Arsenal. The north Londoners appear to be laying groundwork over both deals before they formally move towards their best option, and the two frontmen have very enticing credentials.
That being said, there are alternative options under consideration, and one of them was Botafogo striker Igor Jesus.
Botafogo'sIgorJesuscelebrates scoring their second goal
Last month, Arsenal were reported to have made contact over a deal for Jesus, who actually has an £84 million release clause in his contract.
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However, according to journalist Graeme Bailey in a piece for The Boot Room, Arsenal appear set to miss out on a move for the highly-rated Brazilian.
It is reported that Jesus is “now set to join” Nottingham Forest instead, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side closing in on a £30 million deal for the 24-year-old after opening talks. The striker was also attracting interest from Brentford, Everton, Leeds United, Newcastle, and West Ham, but Forest are now far out in pole position to secure his signature.
Arsenal have one less option to turn towards in the event they cannot strike deals for Sesko or Gyokeres, which comes as a minor setback for Berta considering Jesus’ glowing reputation.
“Igor Jesus has had an incredible year,” said journalist Zach Lowy in late 2024. “Started 2024 off on fire in the UAE, went back home after four years abroad, made his Brazil debut, started in each of their last four matches, led Botafogo to the greatest year in their entire history.
Leeds United will be playing Premier League football next season. Daniel Farke, his staff, and the players all celebrated after the full-time whistle of Burnley’s win over Sheffield United.
Sky Sports were on hand to capture the celebrations and took a moment to have a word with the German manager, who was not too interested in looking ahead to the future.
Daniel Farke
Farke said “don’t scare me with the Premier League” to the reporter, partly in jest, but that is now the big problem that the club have to solve in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The West Yorkshire outfit will be tasked with building a team and a squad that is capable of stepping up to the Premier League without coming straight back down.
This means that Farke and his staff will have to make some incredibly ruthless decisions on players and their futures at Elland Road, as some may not be cut out to make the step up, and one player who could be on the chopping block is Patrick Bamford.
Why Patrick Bamford could leave Leeds this summer
The former England international is still contracted to the club through to the summer of 2026, which means that it is far from a certainty that he will be on his way out ahead of next season.
Bamford has made a return to the team in recent weeks, coming off the bench in the last five matches, but there has been little evidence to suggest that he would be good enough to be an option in the Premier League.
Since the start of last season, the English striker has scored eight goals from 11.63 xG in 48 Championship matches, including zero goals from 2.11 xG in 15 games in the division this term.
There is not much hope of Bamford being an effective player in the Premier League for Leeds next season if he cannot make the most of his chances in the second tier, underperforming his xG by almost four goals.
Patrick Bamford’s declining form
Season
Appearances
Goals
24/25
16
0
23/24
35
8
22/23
31
6
21/22
10
2
20/21
38
17
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, he has failed to kick on since his return of 17 goals in the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign, failing to hit double figures in all competitions in any of the following four seasons.
These statistics suggest that the left-footed dud should be moved on by Leeds in the upcoming summer transfer window, in order to make room for a player who could make the step up.
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Bamford was linked with a move to Wrexham during the January transfer window and this suggests that there could be a level of interest in his services heading into the next window, which Leeds could now capitalise on.
This also means that he may not be one of the first players out of the door, though, because his contract is not expiring and it may take time for a deal to be finalised for him to move on from Elland Road, particularly as the top earner on £70k-per-week – as per Capology.
Instead, one of the first players who should be axed by the Whites this summer, ahead of a Premier League season next term, is versatile defender Sam Byram, who is out of contract this year.
Why Leeds should release Sam Byram
The 31-year-old defender’s deal runs out at the end of June and this means that Leeds have an instant decision to make on his future in the coming weeks.
Farke loves the English full-back, as evidenced by the reported claim that he had to convince the club to sign him on a free transfer in 2023 despite reluctance from above him, but the manager must be ruthless with his decisions to build a team capable of competing in the Premier League.
The German boss, who also signed him during his time in charge of Norwich City in 2019, must axe Byram from the squad and attempt to recruit competition for Jayden Bogle in the right-back position.
His availability is a slight concern because the defender has not played more than 18 matches in all competitions in six of the last eight seasons, but he has played 73 times for Leeds in the last two campaigns combined.
Signing him to a new deal would require a show of faith that his fitness issues are fully behind him and that he is able to cope with the intensity and the rigours of the Premier League week-in-week-out.
24/25 Championship
Sam Byram
Appearances
34
Starts
15
Key passes per game
0.2
Assists
1
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.5
Duel success rate
55%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Byram has been a solid, but unspectacular, performer in the Championship for the Whites in the current campaign.
But it remains to be seen how useful the defender would be in the Premier League if his current role is only to be a back-up option in the second tier. His lack of outstanding displays at that level suggests that he would not handle the step up to the top division.
Leeds defender Sam Byram.
This is why Leeds must be ruthless by axing the £20k-per-week ace from the squad, particularly with his contract situation providing the club with an opportunity to move him on without having to find a buyer.
The Whites need to build a squad that can survive in the Premier League and that is why they should brutally part ways with the out-of-contract defender to make room for another player to come in and take his place in the squad in the summer transfer window.
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This could make Byram the first player to be moved on ahead of promotion to the Premier League this summer, with Bamford possibly following him out of the door later in the window.
After defeat against Fulham exposed the problems that Arne Slot must still solve, Liverpool are now reportedly expected to hold talks with one attacking addition over a summer move worth £87m.
Fulham expose Liverpool weaknesses
Whilst on paper the Reds are still just four wins away from Premier League glory, the reality is that they’ve now lost three of their last four games in all competitions having suffered defeat against Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United before the international break. All of a sudden, an unstoppable Liverpool side has looked very much stoppable and one with problems to solve.
Slot spoke about his side’s imperfections following their 3-2 defeat at Craven Cottage, telling reporters: “There’s always a lot of attention around Liverpool. That doesn’t start now, that’s been there the whole season.
“Of course, people want to make stories but for me it’s all about playing Fulham. They’re a good team, and if you then make three errors it’s going to be very difficult to win the game against them.
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“In general, we are not making many of these errors, let alone three in one game. Today, we also had (Ibrahima) Konate losing the ball too. The second half was so much better than the first, but it’s hard to win a game of football at this level if you concede three goals like this.”
The Dutchman was happy to defend his side, but there’s no denying their recent woes and that they need a number of fresh faces when the transfer window swings open. Among those particularly guilty against Fulham was Andy Robertson, who made three errors in one to gift Alex Iwobi the Cottagers’ third goal before the break.
As links continue to emerge with the likes of Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, the Scotland captain may well coming to the end of his best years in a Liverpool shirt. Meanwhile, in search of a creative spark not named Mohamed Salah, those at Anfield have reportedly kept their attention on one £100m star.
Liverpool expected to hold talks with Wirtz
According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Liverpool are expected to hold talks with Florian Wirtz this summer in an attempt to jump ahead of Manchester City and land his signature for a reported £87m.
As the Citizens go in search of replacing the departing Kevin de Bruyne, the Reds could land their very own version of an undeniable Premier League legend, albeit they may have to drive that price up closer to £100m.
Bailey told The Boot Room: “Whilst Bayern and City have done the most work to this point, I am told not to totally discount others, especially in just making an offer – if you are Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or even Real Madrid – who all like him – why wouldn’t you at least have the conversation?”
Stats comparison
De Bruyne in 2019/20
Wirtz in 2024/25
Appearances
48
39
Goals
16
15
Assists
22
13
An instant positive that stands out when looking at arguably De Bruyne’s best individual season at Manchester City compared to Wirtz in the current campaign is how the German has almost matched the Belgian for goals.
Of course, De Bruyne at the peak of his powers would blow away almost anyone on the assists front but Wirtz hasn’t exactly got a bad record himself and still has time to catch the Premier League icon.
Dubbed “special” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Wirtz would take Liverpool’s attacking play to a whole new level.
Bad weather has marred the build-up in Dallas while ticketing issues threaten to cast an even longer shadow
Cameron Ponsonby01-Jun-2024Well, at least the officer at immigration knew the T20 World Cup 2024 was on.The streets of Dallas are not awash with cricket fans giddy at the arrival of the big show. Uber drivers don’t know it’s happening, billboards are advertising FC Dallas vs LA Galaxy rather than Nepal vs Netherlands, and the opening match between USA and Canada is not a sellout. The stadium holds 7000 people.As these things go, it walks straight into the zone of “what are we doing here?” Why is the premier cricket event of 2024 going to kick off in Dallas – in front of an as-yet-unknown number of people – rather than, well, somewhere else?Related
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It’s a good question. And looking out at the soaking outfield at Grand Prairie Stadium as yet another thunderstorm passes through, it doesn’t immediately bring about a good answer.A concerning set of circumstances is building ahead of launch day – that things outside of the organisers’ control are not going to land their way, and neither are the things that were in their control. Flash-flood warnings and thunderstorms have been present throughout the week. A few days ago, the big screen fell down because the winds were so strong. Out the back where the media tents have been built, it’s almost entirely mud.You can’t control that. If Saturday arrives and so does a thunderstorm, that’s sad. But that’s life.The ticketing, however, has been a mess. As of two months ago, the opening fixture between USA and Canada did not have any public tickets available. One would assume that meant it had been sold out. Wrong.Hopes of sellouts have given way to announcements that availability is “limited”, before the reality was revealed in a USA Cricket press statement on Wednesday. In what was billed as an “exclusive ticketing offer”, members of USA Cricket could now purchase up to six tickets to the must-see event of the year at a 25% discount. Get your hot cakes here. They’ll give you 20 for free if you agree to go to USA vs Canada.
“Cricket cannot bemoan the concentration of finances within the ‘Big Three’ and worry about the health of the sport outside those countries while giggling at the notion of the USA giving the sport a go”
The ICC does not publish a running tally of tickets sold, but did say on Saturday it has “seen strong sales and expect a good crowd”. Officials also said that it had always been the plan to hold back tickets until four days out for US cricket members to purchase at a discount.There is reason to doubt this. The ODI World Cup in India last year ago faced similar problems of sparsely populated “sold out” stadiums early in the tournament. This is not new and how these events are marketed and tickets sold deserves scrutiny.Furthermore, the release of more tickets for this World Cup sits at odds with previous statements that came from the ICC, including from tournament director Fawwaz Baksh, who told in February that the matches in America had been “oversubscribed”.”It’s an unfortunate reality that not everyone who applied for tickets will get tickets,” Baksh said at the time. “I wish everyone could get a ticket but that’s just not possible.”The wriggle room the ICC gives itself here, and as Baksh himself said later in the same interview, is that more tickets could become available if sponsors return some of their tickets to the pool.This is what the ICC has claimed is the case following an announcement on Saturday, which released additional tickets for seven matches that had previously been given the “sold out” treatment. All the matches were in America and for fixtures where “general admission allocations were previously exhausted”. Oversubscribed, but now readily available all at once. If you wanted to attend the World Cup months ago, missed out on tickets, and now have plans next week so can’t go, well, that’s just tough luck.A crane removes a structure damaged by storms in Dallas•Getty ImagesIt is mind-numbingly frustrating. Because at the heart of all this is a fundamental truth. That trying to grow the game in America is a good thing. The game cannot, on the one hand, bemoan the concentration of finances within the “Big Three” and worry about the health of the sport outside those countries and, on the other, giggle at the notion of a nation like the USA giving the sport a go.If people turn on the TV and see empty seats, for many their reaction might well be “of course no one’s there, people don’t like cricket in America”. Which is not true. There is genuine passion and interest in the game here. And especially in Dallas.For cricket websites and broadcasters, the USA ranks high in terms of eyeballs because of the 4.5-million-strong South Asian diaspora that lives here. The difficulty US administrators face is turning that interest into bums on seats because of how diluted the fanbase is across the country: 4.5 million people is a lot, but not when you spread them over a nation the size of a continent.That is a reasonable excuse for why you shouldn’t expect the World Cup to have cut through to Joe Average of America, but it isn’t if they fail to fill Grand Prairie for the opening game of an ICC tournament.Every week, over 200 club matches are played in the Dallas area. That’s over 2000 people who enjoy playing the sport who are within driving distance of the stadium. And if there are over 2000 people in the area who want to play the sport, there must be 7000 people who want to watch it.And if they did, they’d come to a great stadium fit for the occasion of a tournament opener.”It’s an amazing facility,” Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar said. “We played our first warm-up game here and it was top class. For all of our players, it’s been our dream to represent Canada at the World Cup.”A spotless outfield, a proper pitch and a newly added outdoor training block out the back. The facility is unanimously popular with players. And if you’re a fan you get good viewing points the entire way round, food and beverages readily available, easy access by car and heaps of parking. It’s a great place to come and watch cricket.But as the saying doesn’t quite go, build it and they still might not come.
What happens if South Africa fail to qualify for the World Cup? And what are the implications for the ODI format?
Firdose Moonda13-Jul-202210:30
Newsroom: Are South Africa taking a calculated risk?
Cricket South Africa’s withdrawal of its men’s team from three ODIs in Australia has spotlighted the schism that’s stalked world cricket for the best part of the last decade. That schism may become more evident at the ICC’s AGM at the end of this month, where a new Future Tours Programme is expected to be unveiled.The argument most commonly associated with football and, more recently, rugby will now dominate cricket as more T20 leagues squeeze international fixtures into smaller and smaller windows. As more and more Full Members look to T20 leagues as their revenue-generators, bilateral international cricket risks being eclipsed. And history may remember South Africa’s decision to pull out of these ODIs to concentrate on launching their T20 league as the first domino. So why has CSA made this decision and what could be the broader ramifications?What has Cricket South Africa done, and why? On the face of it, all CSA has done is opt out of a three-match ODI series, ostensibly a much smaller reneging of a bilateral agreement than Australia pulling out of three Tests last March. But these are not just any ODIs. They are ODIs that form part of the World Cup Super League, where South Africa lie in 11th place, outside the automatic qualification zone. By forfeiting their points, which will go to eighth-placed Australia, South Africa will be left with only eight matches to play to try and finish in the top eight. Those matches are against India (three, away), England (three, at home) and Netherlands (two, home). Even eight wins could leave South Africa short of the points total they need to go straight to the 2023 World Cup. Next year’s qualifying event is a real possibility for South Africa, which could give the ICC a potentially blockbluster pre-World Cup tournament, but that is another story.While there is no guarantee that playing the matches in Australia would have improved South Africa’s chances, it would have least given them greater opportunity, so you’d assume CSA has a very good reason for potentially making the team take the scenic route to the World Cup. Financially, it does.CSA is aiming to launch a new T20 franchise league in January, at the same time the ODIs were scheduled to be played, with the goal of making it the second-biggest in the world after the IPL. Tenders for the six teams close today and IPL owners and big business people are believed to be among those interested. Sundar Raman, the former IPL chief operating officer, and the South African broadcasters SuperSport own stakes in the league and CSA’s projections show it making the kind of money that will leave the board less reliant on India for bilateral-series profits and more self-sustaining. But for the league to work, it needs high-profile players, and that includes those who would have been in an ODI squad in Australia. So instead of being there, the big names will be at home to play in the league and give it the seed-capital it needs to succeed.While the word is that South Africa’s players would prefer to play the ODIs in Australia, they are aware of the inevitability of world cricket changing•ICC via GettyOk, how much money are we talking about? In a working document from April, CSA planned for the league to break even after four years and make a profit from the fifth year onwards. Over ten years, it has estimated costs at USD 56 million and revenue at USD 119 million, which will leave the board with a profit of USD 63 million, which is a lot more money than it makes from bilateral cricket. And that’s only the benefit to CSA. From its first year, the league will pay players bumper salaries in US dollars, which dwarf the Rand amounts they earn from domestic franchises and even international cricket at home. And that’s despite the tournament competing with leagues such as the UAE T20 and the BBL, which are expected to run at the same time.In short, the league is the only way for CSA to keep cricket financially viable given the unsustainability of international cricket, where it only makes money when hosting India. Even in the 2019-20 summer, when England and Australia toured South Africa, CSA reported a loss.But what’s at stake if you miss a World Cup? Financially, not much. CSA could earn around USD 2 million in participation fees and endorsements, but there are longer-term consequences around sponsorship, for example, that could cost more. You’d imagine there’ll be few kit manufacturers who are falling over themselves to put their names on the shirt of a team that did not qualify for a World Cup.Of course, the World Cup is about more than the money. For the players, it’s a chance to win a major trophy and reach what administrators including CSA’s board chair Lawson Naidoo, call the “pinnacle” of their careers.Many players plot their career trajectories with World Cups in mind and may eye the event as a swansong, or a reason to keep going. For South African players, there’s even more importance attached to a World Cup, because they have never won one, and even more now, because they are due to host the following edition of the tournament, in 2027. Asked what impression it would create if the hosts of the 2027 World Cup miss out on the 2023 one, CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki told ESPNcricinfo it would be a “disaster”, which only means the pressure is on South Africa’s players to qualify.What do the players think of all this? Word from both CSA and insider sources is that while the players would have preferred to compete in the ODIs in Australia, they understand the situation their organisation is in and have accepted their fate, and the inevitability of world cricket changing. Their association, the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA), and its mother body, FICA (Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations), have long called on the ICC to take greater control of the situation and regulate windows for league cricket while also leaving space for bilateral cricket.Given a choice, would a big-name player like Faf du Plessis prefer playing in the BBL or in CSA’s league?•BCCIThe trouble, as Moseki pointed out, is that there are several members who want dedicated time slots for their respective T20 leagues, which not only leaves little space for international cricket, but also diminishes the quality of the leagues. South Africa’s, for example, will take place at the same time as the UAE T20 and the BBL, and will compete with both for players and eyeballs. CSA is hopeful the strong contingent of domestic players in South Africa, compared to the UAE, will ensure the quality of cricket in the South African league is attractive enough to draw eyeballs and money to them while the favourable time zone, compared to Australia’s, could do the same. But whether they will attract bigger global stars than those leagues remains to be seen. And there’s also the tricky question of which league their own free agents will choose. Will Faf du Plessis opt for the Big Bash or the CSA league? We’ll know in a few days, which could also provide some insight into how players view the South African league compared to others.So where does all this leave world cricket? With a problem. A big one.A quick glance at a calendar will tell you that if the South African and UAE leagues and the BBL take place in January, followed by the PSL in February and March, the IPL from mid-March to May, The Hundred in June-July, and the CPL in August, it leaves only September to December for international cricket, and there won’t be room to fit it all. Something will have to give. ESPNcricinfo’s Osman Samiuddin has already argued it will be bilateral ODIs, and it’s difficult to disagree.The World Cup Super League gave the format relevance – though, as South Africa have shown, even that was not enough to ensure all teams honoured all their commitments – and scrapping it from the next cycle is a step that could end ODIs beyond World Cups, the Champions Trophy, and preparatory matches for those tournaments.Naturally, there will be concerns around the other formats too, and there’s a chance of fewer bilateral T20Is and more T20 leagues. Tests, which are the most expensive to host and the least lucrative, could be limited to the Big Three, and occasionally Pakistan and South Africa, even though all the members have emphasised a commitment to the format. Monetarily, many may simply not be able to afford to put on Test cricket.We could also see international cricket played at different times. South Africa are already talking about starting their international season in August (technically still winter) if need be, and ending it after the New Year’s Test in the first week of January to accommodate the league. Australia will do something similar from next year.At the end of this, world cricket could be fundamentally different. The signs have been there for a while, from central-contract disputes in places like the West Indies to countries fielding different teams in different formats at the same time, as England and India have done recently, but here we’ve seen a national board that is not the BCCI make the decision to put its own domestic interests above an international commitment, which has an impact on a major tournament. That’s sending a strong message. Things will not be the same.
When he won the Under-19 World Cup as part of Kohli’s team, the world was at his feet. But his career didn’t quite take off and he says that’s okay
Shashank Kishore in Rajkot11-Mar-2020Twelve years ago, Shreevats Goswami was part of Virat Kohli’s batch of India Under-19s that became World Cup champions in Kuala Lumpur. Within a week of his arrival in India, he had an IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore, had the kind of money “which kids could only dream of”, bought his first car, shared a dressing room with Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis. And to top it all, he finished the inaugural edition with the emerging player award. The world was at his feet, everyone assumed.”Even before that Under-19 World Cup final, the BCCI had announced each franchise could pick two players from our squad. We had already started dreaming and thinking about IPL, Dav Whatmore (head coach) had to strictly tell us ‘listen boys, there’s a World Cup final coming up.’ It was that mad,” Goswami, now a mature 30-year old, tells ESPNcricinfo. “We all got carried away by the attention, money. Virat (Kohli) and I were picked for RCB. Everyone called it a party franchise. We didn’t win much that year, but we were a rocking team with the glamour element. It was a different world.”But he’d soon realise, the initial name and fame was meant to last for “a while” and once the novelty factor vanished, it was back to the hard grind. When the realisation hit Goswami, he had to contend with being an understudy to Wriddhiman Saha at Bengal. It remained that way for a better part of his first seven years as a first-class cricketer, until 2015. His career is a mirror to Saha’s and his struggles because of being an understudy to MS Dhoni during his prime. That explains why Goswami has managed to play just 55 first-class games in close to 12 years. And this season, having featured in 10 matches, he had to make way for the returning Saha in the grand finale.
“I’ve never felt pity on myself. If I keep thinking I am a victim of circumstances, I will never enjoy my cricket”
You throw this comparison to Goswami, half-expecting him to play the victim card. Refreshingly, he looks at his situation in a lighter vein, without blaming circumstances or luck. It’s not common, and most certainly very rare in cricket, with stifling competition all around.”Even in the IPL, Wriddhi is ahead of me in the pack at Sunrisers Hyderabad,” Goswami laughs. “But look, we are good friends, we have a good vibe together. Sometimes, I put on a third person’s hat and think: ‘If I was in his shoes and there was someone else behind me, would it have been any different? The answer is no.”When you stop thinking about yourself and look at it from a neutral perspective, you get clarity. That has helped me calm down. This is how sport is and I have to accept it. I’m not the first person, I won’t be the last to be in such a situation. So I’ve never felt pity on myself. If I keep thinking I am a victim of circumstances, I will never enjoy my cricket. And you play for a short time, 10 years, maybe 12-15 if you’re fortunate. Why not play it with happiness? I cherish the travel, the friendships I’ve forged, the bonds, the feeling of being in a team and winning tournaments. I’m that kind of person.”Shikhar Dhawan and Shreevats Goswami walk out amid fireworks•BCCIGoswami finds it hard to say if he lost his way, but certainly looks back at a few vital moments and wonders what could have been. Like in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2009-10, where he finished as the highest run-getter in the competition as a 20-year old, ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara, Shikhar Dhawan, Kedar Jadhav, Robin Uthappa and Abhinav Mukund, to name a few. That season, he struck 568 runs in seven innings, with three centuries and a half-century as Bengal finished runners-up to Tamil Nadu.”I won’t say I lost my way,” he says. “Let’s be honest. Selection criteria in cricket has changed. When I was the highest run-getter in the domestic 50-over competition, I didn’t get picked either in the India Emerging squad or for India A. Today, if a 20-21 year old, straight out of a successful Under-19 World Cup does that, chances are he will be fast-tracked. Maybe it was also the timing.”When I scored those runs, I was playing as a specialist batsman and not keeping, because Wriddhi was. So you could say bad timing. After my first IPL season, I won the emerging player’ award, I hardly got chances in the second season. So there have been a few moments that could have panned out differently. In Ranji Trophy cricket, I’m the first one to say I haven’t done so well to be noticed. My keeping has been good, batting numbers not so good. People judge you by numbers. I got just one game for India A a couple of years ago, when Rishabh Pant was injured. I did decently, I thought, but it is what it is.”
“Earlier, if nobody picked me, I’d be like ‘no worries’. Now when I reflect, I guess I may have been wrong. But I can’t worry about it now”
Goswami admits this kind of maturity has taken a while to come. He wasn’t this way during his “carefree” younger days. It’s time and experience that has lent a new dimension to his overall outlook. One look at his Twitter feed, and you’d know how genuine his feelings are towards team-mates, both seniors and juniors, who have done well for Bengal or for their respective IPL teams. For him, these things are as valuable as runs and wickets.”Back then, I was a different person,” he says of his teenage days. “If nobody picked me, I’d be like ‘no worries’. Now when I reflect, I guess I may have been wrong. But I can’t worry about it now. Now, even if I score 2000 runs in a season, there will be those who will say, ‘oh, he’s 30’. So yes, now it’s more about playing without worrying about what the future holds.Shah Rukh Khan gives Shreevats Goswami a kiss•AFP”I keep looking at my cricketing journey and think: ‘how many people have had a chance to play with geniuses like Dravid or Kevin Pietersen, Mark Boucher – I have. For me, it’s the memories of being part of winning teams, sharing dressing rooms with legends, relishing friendships I’ve made along the way – all these things matter.”Goswami is spontaneous when asked about who his biggest critic is. “I am,” he responds. “I always criticise myself. In India, there are thousands of people to tell you what to do, but not many to tell you how to do it. So all that doesn’t matter. I have looked at myself harshly at times. So I am my biggest critic.”For an Indian cricketer to be so articulate about his thoughts, have this kind of self-awareness is very rare. Surely, he must be well-read, drawing inspiration from someone, somewhere? Goswami’s case is different. He has no idols to speak of, and prefers to draw inspiration from every day life.
“I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m excited. End of the day, if you can wake up with that feeling, you can’t ask for anything more”
“I don’t draw inspiration from a particular person,” he says. “It’s every day life I look at. Like in the semi-final, Anustup Majumdar bailing us out from 67 for 6 on a green wicket to make 149 was inspirational, match-turning. Manoj Tiwary making a triple century was inspirational. Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar, coming from the backgrounds they do to play and be the champions. They are is inspirational. Shahbaz Ahmed rescuing is in the quarter-final with bat and ball – these are the kind of things that inspire me.”All along this up-and-down journey, Goswami hasn’t let his parents get involved in his cricket, hasn’t let his emotions show. Both during the good and bad times. “I know they’ve always supported me,” he says. “I didn’t go much to school because of cricket. The only option I had was this game. I was playing for Bengal since Under-14 days. They said ‘this is his career, this is what he wants to do, let him pursue it’. My wife today says the same. Whether it’s a good day or bad day, she’s always supportive, says the right words.”Someone so serious about his thought process may need a release from time-to-time, you’d think. For Goswami, that comes in the form of annual vacations, impromptu trips with his wife Payal, a sports rehabilitation specialist and trainer from South Africa. She works with orthopaedic patients, chronically ill individuals and disabled sportspersons.”Coming from sports background, she has sound understanding of a sportsman’s mind,” he says. “We train together while I’m away from cricket. We plan a yearly holiday after the season is over, sometimes pack our bags and head off spontaneously. We’re not someone who plan trips. Right now, I’m in this kind of space where I’m very happy. The thirst for success drives me, but that is subjective. End of the day, you have to be happy. I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m excited. End of the day, if you can wake up with that feeling, you can’t ask for anything more.”