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Everton have been hit with a 10-point penalty for breaches of Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

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Toffees considered to have broken rulesDrop to joint-bottom of the tableMerseyside outfit to appeal decisionGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Toffees have been plunged into the English top-flight relegation zone as a result of the ruling, with Sean Dyche’s side now sitting on four points alongside rock-bottom Burnley. Time is still on their side when it comes to staging a recovery, while an appeal is being planned at Goodison Park.

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Action has been taken against Everton after they posted financial losses of almost £372 million ($462m) over a three-year period, with those figures sitting more than £250m ($311m) above the threshold laid out in Premier League guidelines.

GettyWHAT THE PREMIER LEAGUE SAID

A statement from the Premier League read: “An independent Commission has imposed an immediate deduction of 10 points on Everton FC for a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs). The Premier League issued a complaint against the Club and referred the case to an independent Commission earlier this year. During the proceedings, the Club admitted it was in breach of the PSRs for the period ending Season 2021/22 but the extent of the breach remained in dispute. Following a five-day hearing last month, the Commission determined that Everton FC’s PSR Calculation for the relevant period resulted in a loss of £124.5million, as contended by the Premier League, which exceeded the threshold of £105million permitted under the PSRs. The Commission concluded that a sporting sanction in the form of a 10-point deduction should be imposed. That sanction has immediate effect.”

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HOW EVERTON RESPONDED

The Toffees’ response read: “Everton Football Club is both shocked and disappointed by the ruling of the Premier League’s Commission. The Club believes that the Commission has imposed a wholly disproportionate and unjust sporting sanction. The Club has already communicated its intention to appeal the decision to the Premier League. The appeal process will now commence and the Club’s case will be heard by an Appeal Board appointed pursuant to the Premier League’s rules in due course. Everton maintains that it has been open and transparent in the information it has provided to the Premier League and that it has always respected the integrity of the process.

"The Club does not recognise the finding that it failed to act with the utmost good faith and it does not understand this to have been an allegation made by the Premier League during the course of proceedings. Both the harshness and severity of the sanction imposed by the Commission are neither a fair nor a reasonable reflection of the evidence submitted. The Club will also monitor with great interest the decisions made in any other cases concerning the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules. Everton cannot comment on this matter any further until the appeal process has concluded.”

Who has coach Shui Qingxia selected in China Women's World Cup squad? GOAL takes a look…

The China national women's team will be playing in their eighth FIFA World Cup finals in July, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand.

Shui Qingxia's troops are the reigning Asian champions and qualified directly for the tournament.

In 1999, they finished as runners-up, which is their best performance to date and in this edition, they would like to create history by lifting the World Cup.

In the 2023 Women's World Cup, they have been drawn in Group D with Denmark, England and Haiti.

Who has made Qingxia's final 23-player World Cup squad? GOAL takes a look…

(C)Getty ImagesGOALKEEPERS

Xu Huan is the undisputed number one for China between the sticks. The 24-year-old keeper of Jiangsu LFC is the most-trusted lieutenant of Qingxia under the bar and should have the gloves in the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Zhu Yu should be the second-choice keeper. She was given an opportunity to impress against Sweden and claim the No. 1 spot but conceded four goals in that match which saw Xu brought back against Ireland.

Meanwhile, the fight for the third spot should go to experienced keeper Zhao Lina of Shanghai Shengli.

Name Club

Xu HuanWuhan Jianghan UniversityZhu YuJiangsuZhao LinaShanghai ShengliAdvertisementGettyDEFENDERS

Qinxia sets her team up with a four-woman backline. They generally play deep to keep things tight at the back.

Their efforts paid dividends in the 2022 Asian Cup as they conceded just five goals in the entire tournament. It would not be surprising if they defend with two banks of four to frustrate the likes of England and Denmark.

Paris Saint-Germain's Li Mengwen, on-loan from Jiangsu, should be the first choice at right-back. And if Mengwen is unfit, Gao Chen can slot in her place.

The likes of Duo Jiaxing, Yao Wei and Wang Linlin are among the first-choice centre-backs.

Chen Qiaozhu should be fielded in the left-back position.

Name Club

Wu HaiyanWuhan Jianghan UniversityYao WeiWuhan Jianghan UniversityWang LinlinShanghai ShengliGao ChenChangchun Dazhong ZhouyueChen QiaozhuMeizhou HakkaLi MengwenParis Saint-Germain (on-loan)Dou JiaxingJiangsuLou JiahuiHenan Jianye(C)Getty ImagesMIDFIELDERS

It is primarily a four-woman midfield with Yao Lingwei entrusted with the responsibility to break down attacks and act as a defensive screener. She is supported by Zhang Rui, who has the license to go forward and join the attack.

Yang Lina is another option who can sit back and absorb the pressure. She will be useful against offensive teams when China will most likely sit deep and maintain their shape, with Zhang Linyan usually deployed on the left.

The likes of Wu Chengshu and Shen Mengyu add further depth in midfield.

Name Club

Zhang RuiShandong Sports LotteryYao LingweiWuhan Jianghan UniversityGu YashaWuhan Jianghan UniversityZhang XinShanghai ShengliYang LinaLevante Las Planas (on-loan)Wu ChengshuCanberra UnitedZhang LinyanGrasshoppersShen MengyuCelticENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesFORWARDS

China's veteran forward Wang Shanshan is the key player of the squad. The forward has close to 150 caps and scored over 50 goals.

She is one of those rare players who can play at both ends of the pitch with aplomb. In the 2022 AFC Asian Cup she was fielded as a centre-back in the semi-final and final, and yet she came out with flying colours.

Shanshan was named as the Chinese Women's Footballer of the Year in 2022, and her presence will be key in what will be her third World Cup.

Wang Shuang has over 120 international caps and has scored 43 goals for China. Her scathing pace along with her dribbling abilities make her a potent threat in the wide areas.

Tang Jiali can be the X-factor in the Chinese team as she boasts of having spent the previous 18 months in Europe with both Tottenham and Madrid CFF, becoming the first female Chinese player to play in England.

She has the vision to split open defences and is strong on both feet, making her an exceptional talent in attacking.

Name Club

Wang ShuangRacing LousvilleWang ShanshanTianjin ShengdeTang JialiShanghai ShengliXiao YuyiShanghai Shengli

A round-up of the Dhaka Premier Division matches played on November 15, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Nov-2014Nazmus Sadat’s 91 was in vain as Brothers Union failed to chase down a target of 238 and lost by 14 runs to Prime Bank Cricket Club. Sadat had little support from the other batsmen of Brothers Union as they were reined in by the Prime Bank bowlers. Mohammad Forkan picked up 3 for 26, while Tapash Baisya, Farhad Reza, Enamul Haque jnr all picked up two wickets apiece. Earlier, as many as four Prime Bank batsmen were out for ducks but fifties from Dilshan Munaweera (53) and Reza (51*) helped the side post 237 for 9 on the board.An all-round performance from Jeevan Mendis, who scored a fifty and took a four-for, helped Kalabagan Cricket Academy successfully defend a total of 231 by 11 runs against Old DOHS Sports Club. Mendis broke a thriving 115-run, second-wicket stand between Shanaj Ahmed (72) and Shehan Jayasuriya (74), and then quickly snaffled three more wickets to hasten the batting side’s slide towards a defeat. Earlier, his knock of 62 and a 119-run, fifth-wicket partnership with Mahmudul Hasan (54) hauled Kalabagan from a grave 39 for 4 to 158 for 4. Mohammad Sharif’s 18-ball 33 at No. 9 then helped the team finish at 231.Chamara Kapugedera’s 106 was in vain as Victoria Sporting Club lost to Mohammedan Sporting Club by 53 runs (D/L method) in a match affected by bad light.Mohammedan Sporting Club had put up 282 runs on the board but Victoria were set a revised target of 275 in 46.1 overs. At the end of their allotted overs, the side could manage only 221 for 9 as the other batsmen failed to support Kapugedera. Alauddin Babu and Rahatul Ferdous picked up three wickets each.Earlier Naeem Islam’s 92, supported by fifties from Mohammad Mithun (83) and Angelo Perera (50), propelled Mohammedan Sporting Club’s strong total. Naeem added 122 runs for the third wicket with Mithun to help the side overcome the loss of early wickets and then added 76 for the fourth wicket with Perera.

Mohammad Amir’s possible appearance in the Big Bash League didn’t materialise as Sydney Thunder weren’t keen on signing the fast bowler

ESPNcricinfo staff19-May-2015Mohammad Amir’s possible appearance in the Big Bash League didn’t materialise as Sydney Thunder weren’t keen on signing the fast bowler. Amir’s London-based agents contacted Thunder to find out their interest in Amir, but the franchise’s general manager Nick Cummins said they were looking for an allrounder rather than a bowler to join Jacques Kallis as their second International player.”We approached the Sydney Thunder and at that point we thought they still had a spot left for a similar type of player,” Simon Auteri, whose company Insignia Sports International represents Amir, was quoted as saying in the . “With the World Twenty20 coming up early next year we thought it might have been a decent fit.””We appreciate with a lot of these teams abroad it will probably be a tough sell especially until he gets back playing at the highest level. He’s back fully playing and he wants to play abroad, and he’s still so young. We think that he does deserve another go and that’s what we’re trying to do.”Amir, banned for five years in 2010 for his role in spot-fixing, was allowed an early return to domestic cricket in January after he adhered to criteria stipulated by the new anti-corruption code. He picked up three wickets in a Grade-2 game, his first competitive fixture since 2010. Amir also turned up for Rawalpindi Rams in the Super 8 T20 Cup.

USMNT leged Clint Dempsey believes that the 2024 Copa America could either be the peak or end of boss Gregg Berhalter's tenure.

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Dempsey gives exclusive Berhalter interviewBelieves Copa America is make-or-break for USMNT bossSays 'questions' will come about if bad performances arriveWHAT HAPPENED?

On the set of with CBS Sports Soccer, Dempsey spoke to the Daily Mail about Berhalter's current form with the USMNT. The ex-striker believes, now, that the next year will define the American's time with the USA – NOT – the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The result of that tournament is in the past, and this is a new era for his squad, meaning they can only look forward.

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Berhalter's performances of late have put him under the scrutiny of many after falling to Germany in an international friendly in October, and then suffering an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Trinidad and Tobago in the Concacaf Nations League in November. Now, with the biggest tournament of 2024 upon him, Dempsey believes that Copa America could define his tenure with the USMNT.

WHAT DEMPSEY SAID

"I think Copa America is truly how you're going to be graded for the team,' Dempsey told Mail Sport, 'And, you know, for the coaches, are we doing the right thing? Because you're not gonna get another bigger opportunity to do well in the World Cup on home soil in 2026. So if you do well in [the Copa America] and you're building towards something, then that's great. But if you're not, I think there's still time to change things if you need to.
"You don't do well, then you're always on the chopping block,' Dempsey added. "That's what comes with every job, right? If you're not performing, the question starts to be asked. So I think there's still time to show what you can do. But I think Copa America is going to be a huge test for this team and for this coach in terms of where we're going."

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WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

The USSF have scheduled an international friendly against Slovenia for January 20, with the first test of the year for Berhalter and co. being against the EURO 2024 side. For now, though, Berhalter will be having his eyes on his player's club performances, especially that of Ricardo Pepi, who notched a stoppage-time winner for PSV in the Champions League Wednesday.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is hopeful that the funds it has expended in clearing Kusal Perera of doping charges will be covered by the ICC

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-May-2016’WADA code ineffective in safeguarding clean athletes’

Tony Irish, the executive chairman of FICA (Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations), has expressed his concerns over some of cricket’s anti-doping regulations following the ICC’s withdrawal of disciplinary proceedings against Kusal Perera.
“We are pleased that the right result has been achieved and welcome the decision, however, this case brings to light several issues in regard to anti-doping regulation in cricket” Irish said in a statement.
“The damaging impact of the error on Kusal’s career is not to be underestimated. He has been removed from the game for a significant period of time in the middle of a developing career, for reasons which have been found to be unjustifiable.
“The case highlights many of the pre-existing concerns held by FICA and athlete representatives around the world around the inflexibility and unfairness of the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) code, the requirement for sports to be compliant and its appropriateness for sophisticated team sports such as cricket. We have voiced these concerns to the ICC over the past year, and will seek to discuss this further.
“The concerns raised have included the view that the WADA programme is ineffective in safeguarding the interests of clean athletes and is open to penalties being imposed on players who are not ‘cheats’.
“FICA is supportive of fair, proportionate and appropriate measures to ensure that cricket is a clean sport. However, the game must ensure that any measures are effective and tailored to the game of cricket.”

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) could not rule out further legal action after the ICC withdrew its charges against wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera, board president Thilanga Sumathipala said. SLC is unlikely to initiate a lawsuit against the ICC, but was hopeful that the funds expended in clearing Perera will be covered by the governing body. The Qatar-based lab whose findings led to Perera’s five-month suspension will also come under scrutiny.”We have to definitely get our costs back,” Sumathipala said. “By that I mean the direct costs. The indirect costs are colossal. So we will discuss that separately.”Sumathipala said the board had spent at least 13 million rupees (approx. USD 92,000) on the case. This included the money spent on a polygraph test on Perera, a hair analysis commonly used in forensics and a separate urine test, the results of which all helped leverage Perera’s case and bought his legal team time. SLC had also paid for the consultation of UK-based Morgan Sports Law firm, during the challenge on the lab’s findings.Sumathipala said the board would discuss the matter with Perera and the nation’s sports ministry before any further action is decided upon.”We got the hard part right and now we have a definite claim, now that we have proved our player is innocent,” Sumathipala said. “I’m sure Sri Lanka Cricket will go forward and discuss with ICC. We can’t sour the relationship also. If the sports minister has a directive that is separate, we want to discuss that as well. Definitely the player has a claim.”Sumathipala also likened the results of Perera’s case to Muttiah Muralitharan’s campaign to have his action, and later his doosra, cleared by the ICC. On that occasion, Muralitharan’s action proved a catalyst for further scientific testing, which ultimately led to a landmark change in the ICC’s playing conditions – specifically, 15 degrees of flexion was deemed legal, as almost all bowlers were found to straighten their arms.In addition to consulting local and foreign legal teams, SLC and Perera’s management also approached chemical pathologists and independent lab operators for their views.”We decided to go the scientific route,” Sumathipala said. “We have seen SLC do the same thing in the past with the straightening of the arm issue. We did it after Murali was no-balled in Boxing Day 1995. Then we did it again when the doosra was banned. Once we concluded that route, we were that much stronger with the ICC.”Prompted by our scientific evidence, we have taken the ICC to a different level about how they should process this kind of situation in the future. We’re happy about that. We’ve taken an approach that we’re not sure anyone has taken in the past. We were very happy.”Sumathipala said the board believed in Kusal from the outset. His board had initially set aside five million rupees to fight the case, but that figure was repeatedly revised upwards.”We spoke about this at the board and we decided that we trusted him, and that he was telling the truth. We decided to represent him as best we can. We thought that we would be able to get him cleared, so we set aside 15 million rupees to spend on him, which is unprecedented for this board.”Perera is eligible for selection for Sri Lanka with immediate effect, but the selectors have not yet decided whether to add him to the Test squad currently in England.

The Premier League is set to have a match take place on Christmas Eve for the first time in 28 years this year, according to reports.

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Molineux match moved to Christmas EveOriginally scheduled for December 24Supporters groups angered by decisionWHAT HAPPENED?

The clash between Wolves and Chelsea at Molineux Stadium was originally scheduled to be played on December 23, but reports that it has been moved back by 24 hours as part of the Christmas programme.

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states that the decision has been made to fulfill the Premier League's broadcasting requirements.

The match will be the first since 1995 to take place on December 24, when Leeds beat Manchester United 3-1 thanks to goals from Brian Deane, Tony Yeboah and Gary McAllister.

WHAT THEY SAID

The Football Supporters’ Association has hit out at the move, saying: "It would be a huge kick in the teeth for supporters who have consistently made clear their opposition to games the day before Christmas – as it’s not the first time this has been proposed.

"Back in October 2017 there were reports that Sky Sports wanted to broadcast games on Christmas Eve which we said represented: 'a new low point in putting the interests of football broadcasters over those of matchgoing fans'.

"It would put many supporters in an impossible choice between going to the match or spending festive time with their families – and that’s before you factor in the added challenges of travelling on a Sunday (which Christmas Eve falls on this year)."

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Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Premier League is yet to confirm the rescheduling of the fixture. In the meantime, Chelsea will take on Arsenal in the league on Saturday, while Wolves will visit Bournemouth.

Sir Elton John believes Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will be having “more fun” at Wrexham than any movie or television show they have ever made.

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Hollywood stars completed takeover in 2021Guided Welsh outfit back into the Football LeaguePop superstar a former chairman at WatfordWHAT HAPPENED?

The Hollywood superstars completed a stunning takeover at SToK Racecourse back in the spring of 2021. They have experienced an emotional roller coaster since then, with the pain of Wembley and play-off defeats being countered by the joy of a record-breaking promotion back into the Football League.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT SIR ELTON JOHN SAID

Sir Elton knows all about the stresses of club ownership from his time as chairman of Watford, but believes Reynolds and McElhenney will be loving the ride. The music industry icon has told : “It’s great and I phoned Ryan when they won and they got promoted and I just think it’s fantastic. They’re on the ride that I was on. It’s slightly different because times have changed but it’s no more un-exciting… it’s so exciting for them. I bet they have more fun doing that than any movie they’ve ever made.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Watford climbed into the top tier of English football during Sir Elton’s time at the helm, finishing as runners-up behind Liverpool in 1983, and reached the FA Cup final in 1984 – losing 2-0 to Everton at Wembley Stadium.

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

Reynolds and McElhenney have never shied away from the fact that they want to see Wrexham become a Premier League side at some point, with considerable faith and funds being invested in a project that currently has the Welsh outfit sat fourth in the League Two table.

A round-up of the Regional four-day matches that ended on March 24, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Mar-2014Combined Campuses and Colleges rode on centuries from Shacaya Thomas and Chadwick Walton to roll Guyana over by seven wickets and record their first win of the season. Their efforts were crucial to securing a first-innings lead before spinners Ryan Austin and Akeem Dewar reinforced CCC’s dominance.Guyana’s batting this season has featured a father-son duo in Shivnarine and Tagenarine Chanderpaul but the sheen of the event was taken off slightly when both of them fell for single-figures. Opener Assad Fudadin (71) gave structure to the innings with a composed half-century. But he was left lacking for support, until No.8 Anthony Bramble hastened to a 68-ball 64. He spearheaded a ninth-wicket stand of 40 at better than run-a-ball to hike the total to 263. Austin was the best bowler with 5 for 71.Guyana would have counted on the momentum of that late surge to muzzle their opposition but Thomas plundered 176, with 14 fours and 4 sixes while Walton struck 107 off 193 balls to usher CCC to 391 before they declared. Spin held sway again with Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo taking six of the nine wickets to fall.The most drastic impact of the slow bowlers was reserved for the third innings when Austin (4-22 in 26.5 overs) and Dewar (4-61) ran through Guyana. Tagenarine top-scored with 43, but his efforts were only good enough to post a highly gettable target of 46, albeit CCC lost three wickets in overhauling it.Four-wicket hauls by Sulieman Benn and Ashley Nurse helped Barbados to an innings win over Trinidad and Tobago at Kensington Oval with a day to spare. Nurse followed up his first-innings century with six wickets in the match, while Benn finished with a match haul of eight.Barbados opted to bat first and got off to a bad start, losing their captain Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck. Steady contributions by the middle order helped Barbados take control, thanks to Omar Phillips’ fifty and forties by Kirk Edwards and Jonathan Carter. The wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and Carlos Brathwaite added a quick 82 for the sixth wicket before Dowrich fell for 53. Brathwaite and Nurse then added an unbeaten 190 for the eighth wicket, with Brathwaite scoring 109. Nurse blazed an unbeaten 130 off just 111 balls before the declaration at 479 for 8.Carlos Brathwaite struck early with his seamers and it paved the way for Benn to strike with his left-arm spin. Only Jason Mohammed resisted with 43 as the T&T collapsed to 120 in 37 overs. Benn was brought on to bowl immediately after T&T were asked to follow on. The openers Adrian Barath and Evin Lewis added 68 before Benn struck, removing Lewis for 61. Darren Bravo then cut Jason Holder to backward point before Barath was caught behind off Benn. When Mohammed was caught at leg slip off Nurse, T&T had lost three wickets for just ten runs.T&T went into lunch at 138 for 4, but lost wickets in a hurry and were bowled out for 199.

Stephen Cook has been appointed first-class and 50-overs captain. Neil McKenzie will lead the 20-over side while Temba Bavuma will serve as vice-captain across formats

Firdose Moonda09-Jun-2014A new-look Lions leadership pack, headed by Stephen Cook, will take the franchise into the 2014/15 season. Cook has been appointed first-class and 50-overs captain while Neil McKenzie will lead their 20-over side. Batsman Temba Bavuma will act as deputy in all three formats. Alviro Petersen, who stepped down as captain last season, remains part of Lions’ squad but has not been tasked with any leadership duties.”I am greatly honoured to have been given this job. I grew up on the banks of the Wanderers watching my dad play and leadership is something I’ve always wanted to be involved in,” Cook told ESPNcricinfo. “I know its going to be a tough challenge but I am really looking forward to it.”After finishing second in the first-class competition and winning the twenty-over trophy in the 2012/13 season, Lions were rudely brought back down to earth last summer. They finished bottom of the points table in all three competitions in a season that was plagued by injuries and unhappiness. While seamer Chris Morris battled an ankle injury, Petersen stood down on the morning of a match after what he called interference by the selectors, forcing Thami Tsolekile to take over at the 11th hour.That marked the lowest point in the Lions’ dismal season and Cook is keen to move on. “Our players did not become bad overnight. I think what happened is because we had done so well the season before, we didn’t adapt to the fact that other teams had improved and we were caught on the hop,” he said. “But we have resisted the urge to make too many changes.”Lions have held on to their players from last summer and have made two additions to their group. Devon Conway, who was named the provincial one-day cricketer of the year at CSA’s awards last week, has been added to the contracted list along with under-19 World Cup winner Kagiso Rabada, who made his first-class debut at the end of last season.They have three nationally-contracted players on their books: Petersen, Quinton de Kock and Lonwabo Tsotsobe and an experienced core which includes Cook, McKenzie and Tsolekile. McKenzie will turn 39 in the coming season but has committed himself to playing in all formats for Lions.Cook has made it clear everyone, including the new faces, will have more demanded of them this season. “We are all really motivated to do well and guys know they will get will get pressed a little harder and asked to work a little smarter,” he said.For Cook, the goal is simple. He wants the franchise to be able to add to the trophy cupboard and if he has it his way, it will be in the longest format. “Every competition is important but for me, it would be most special to win the first-class [competition] because that is the one that really tests you as a squad,” he said. “You have to play good cricket for 40 days, whereas with the limited-overs [game] you could end up third and have a good day and then make the final. The first-class is also the competition I have never won with Lions. The last time they won it here was the season before I made my professional debut.”That was 15 years ago in the 1999/2000 season, before the franchise system had formed. Back then, all Cook wanted to do was play for what was then Gauteng and eventually for South Africa. A decade and a half later, it is still all he wants. “I have never given up on playing for South Africa. That’s my driving force.”Cook is a regular among the top ten run-scorers in the first-class competition but has struggled for higher honours largely because of where he bats – in the top two. The presence of Graeme Smith in the Test team made it difficult for Cook to get a look-in but with Smith retired, a vacancy in the national team and a platform from which to audition for it, Cook still believes anything is possible, for both him and his Lions.