Category Uncategorized

Composure in the midst of controversy epitomises captain’s influence on title-winners

Vithushan Ehantharajah17-Jul-2022James Fuller dropped to his knees, visibly distraught. Chris Wood looked angry, flinging the stump he had grabbed as a souvenir in the general direction of where he’d ripped it from the ground. Liam Dawson turned away in disbelief, crouching down with his head in his hands, perhaps because he had turned to face the big screen which had “NO BALL” in big block letters staring back at him.All three were representative of the grief among the Hampshire players when television umpire Paul Baldwin called down to the standing Graham Lloyd to let him know Nathan Ellis had overstepped when yorking Richard Gleeson. Suddenly four off one was two off one, with all modes of dismissals aside from a run-out not in play with the free hit. And as Hampshire went into their fielding positions, the smoke from the premature victory fireworks still hanging in the air, they must’ve wondered if that was it. Lancashire were back from the dead and surely could not die again. Just as the feeling of inevitability descended on Edgbaston, James Vince shouted to his players to come meet him at mid-off.”We just had to take our time,” Vince said, sensing at the time that the shell-shock of the no-ball had not worn off. “We weren’t under any time pressure at that stage, so had to take a deep breath, make sure everyone was aware of the situation and just slow the game down a bit, make sure we were re-focused. That was just a moment where we had to regroup.”They did, and after another slower ball from Ellis, a bye and a mess of bodies and regulations that were still trying to be untangled on Sunday, Hampshire had secured a third T20 Blast trophy, and first at Edgbaston, by a single run.The calmness Vince showed is perhaps one of the most under-rated elements of him as a cricketer, and was particularly evident not just with the impromptu huddle but when he ran out Luke Wells with a direct hit off the final ball of the 19th over. A clutch moment, both in getting rid of the last recognised batter, and saving a precious run.Nathan Ellis kept his cool after Vince instigated a break before the final ball, and delivered the T20 Blast trophy•Getty ImagesThe shapes and sounds of Vince’s batting tend to take the headlines, whether prim and middled or loose and edged. It’s consistently been the former in the Blast, as he finished as the outright top run-scorer with 678 runs at 48.42 and a strike-rate of 146.12. But the latter has always been used to extrapolate a flightiness, even unreliability to Vince’s career. Of someone who isn’t that keen on responsibility. Perhaps the average England supporter carries that view off the back of a high-profile Test career of 13 caps and an average of 24. Everyone associated with Hampshire, however, are under no illusions as to his merits. Even the ones who haven’t been there long.”He’s definitely one of the calmer captains I’ve played under,” Ellis said, and that is saying something given the Australian has international, Big Bash League and Indian Premier League experience. “Then on top of that, he’s obviously had an amazing tournament and led from the front with his performances. That’s all you can ask for.”It’s quite a big role with that amount of cricket over here in all formats. I can’t imagine being up and about and being able to lead from the front, day in, day out like he does. I’ve obviously got a small glimpse of it in the Blast. He’s been phenomenal.”Ellis was sitting next to Vince at the time, but was unafraid to big him up late on Saturday evening while Vince looked the most uncomfortable he had all day. “That’s the contract secured for next year,” he joked once Ellis had said his piece.There has always been a belief at Hampshire that they are one of the luckiest counties going. But in Vince they have someone who doubles up as the best batter in domestic cricket and the best captain, and so – with the availability of England players a contentious issue in the latter stages of the Blast, and indeed Finals Day – Vince’s presence throughout the season ranks as something of an unexplainable boost.His absence from international white-ball cricket is bemusing, given he scored a century against Pakistan in his most recent ODI appearance last summer and a fifty in a T20I against West Indies in March, his last appearance in any format. At 31, he has plenty more to offer England, perhaps even in Tests. But while they continue their considerations, Hampshire will continue to benefit handsomely from his quality and nous.ESPNcricinfo LtdA campaign beginning with four straight defeats is usually one to write off altogether. Vince, however, remained steadfast in his belief that outright victory, not just getting out of the South Group, was still on the cards. That spread throughout the group and, 12 wins out of 13 later, he was proved right. As he was the year before, when things had been a little more precarious.Getting into the quarter-finals required a quick win against Glamorgan and results elsewhere to go their way as Hampshire sat sixth into that final group game. They knocked off 185 inside 14.1 overs, as required, and then benefitted from Gloucestershire’s defeat to Somerset to sneak through in fourth by 0.056 on net run rate. In their first knockout game, they defended 125 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge after instigating an improbable collapse.They went on to lose in the first match of that Finals Day, by only two wickets to Somerset who they bested this time around in the second semi. But the experience garnered by a young squad has been carried over, likewise Vince’s appreciation of those around him. He mentioned the 2021 game as a reason for taking the group pause before the final delivery on in 2022. “We said after the game that last year, in the semi-final, we maybe sped up a bit under pressure. So today, in the pressure moments, let’s make sure we take our time and give it some proper thought.”No doubt the controversy around the finish will continue, and there is no reason why it cannot be in conjunction with credit for how a total of 152 for eight was defended so well on a prime batting track. The credit belongs to Dawson and Mason Crane for taking 15 for two between them in a four-over period from 66 for one after seven, which tilted the run-rate against Lancashire. Barring a comical misunderstanding between wicketkeeper Ben McDermott and Brad Wheal at third man that gave Wells a life, the fielding, especially along the ground, was clean. The collective nerve-holding at the death was also noteworthy, both Ellis’ pluck after swapping ends in order to bowl the final over, and Vince’s gut feel to give it to him rather than Chris Wood.Related

Mason Crane and Hampshire embrace Shane Warne's legacy

Nathan Ellis keeps his cool – twice – to seal one-run thriller for Hampshire

Nathan Ellis on final-over drama: 'It was a little bit of cat-and-mouse'

“It’s the resilience and the belief within the group,” Vince explained. “It probably comes through winning. You’ve got to experience those situations to build the belief, not just in T20 but across four-day cricket as well. Now that we’ve been able to lean on a few occasions where we have defended low totals or come back from games we’ve been behind in, that belief grows and grows.”Tonight is another example of where, going forward, we know we’re never out of the game. It would have been easy after the start they got off to sit back and let them cruise to victory, but there was no point just me saying it. The guys had to act it as well and they did brilliantly as they have done all year.”The last slide of Hampshire’s presentation ahead of Finals Day was of former Hampshire legend Shane Warne and his famous words, “Never give up. Just absolutely never give up.” But, for all that a county boosted by Warne paid the late Australian the perfect tribute with a spectacle he would have loved, the team and the performance on the night were very much the product of Vince.

It’s Mr Cool’s 39th birthday. So, time to test whether you’ve been watching closely and taking notes on how to be not just cool but MS cool

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jul-2020

Outgoing Western Australia head coach Adam Voges will take the reins of Seattle Orcas in next season’s Major League Cricket as he furthers his leadership credentials on the T20 franchise circuit.Voges replaces Australian compatriot Matthew Mott, who was fired after Orcas lost their first five games of the 2025 season. Having recently announced that he will step down as WA head coach at the end of the current domestic season, it was widely anticipated that Voges would take up a senior role at an MLC franchise.”I am very excited to be joining the Seattle Orcas for the upcoming season,” Voges said. “The MLC competition continues to grow and I look forward to working with the owners, players and staff to help bring success both on and off the field.”Overseeing an incredible run of success for WA after replacing Justin Langer in 2018, Voges has long been touted as a successor to Australia head coach Andrew McDonald whose current contract runs through to 2027. McDonald has indicated that he is unlikely to seek an extension having been in the job since early 2022.Voges has previously coached Australia A and worked with the national side.In the meantime, Voges has decided to further his coaching development through T20 franchise cricket. As flagged by ESPNcricinfo, Voges has joined Trent Rockets in the Hundred as an assistant coach.WA Cricket are continuing discussions with Voges about staying on as Perth Scorchers head coach in the BBL having led the franchise to back-to-back titles in BBL11 and 12. Voges also twice lifted the trophy as captain of Scorchers.Related

• Seattle Orcas part ways with coach Mott

Assistants Beau Casson and Tim MacDonald will likely be in the mix to replace Voges as WA head coach.Voges, who averaged a remarkable 61.87 from 20 Tests for Australia, will be tasked with lifting Orcas back up the ladder. After making the final in MLC’s debut season, Orcas won just four of 17 games across 2024-25.”We are thrilled to welcome Adam Voges to the Seattle Orcas family,” Orcas chief Hemant Dua said. “He brings a proven pedigree of winning, a distinctive ability to develop world-class talent, and a deep understanding of the nuances of T20 franchise cricket.”His dominant run with Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers speaks to his expertise. We believe Adam’s calm demeanor, tactical intelligence, and commitment to building a high-performance culture will be pivotal as we aim for the Major League Cricket title.”We are building something special in Seattle, and Adam is undoubtedly the right person to lead the charge.”Orcas are co-owned, among others, by GMR Group and JSW Sports, who are also co-owners of Delhi Capitals in the IPL and WPL, and their entities in SA20 (Pretoria Capitals) and UAE’s ILT20 (Dubai Capitals).

يستعد الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، لمواجهة هامة أمام الجيش الملكي، ضمن منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويحل الأهلي ضيفًا على الجيش الملكي، في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات ببطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا مساء غد الجمعة في تمام الساعة التاسعة بتوقيت القاهرة على استاد “الأمير مولاي الحسن”

ويسعى الأهلي، تحت قيادة مدربه الدنماركي ييس توروب لمواصلة انتصاراته في البطولة من أجل حسم بطاقة التأهل مبكرًا.

طالع.. اتحاد الكرة لـ”بطولات”: زيزو المنتصر في أزمة مستحقاته.. وموقف الزمالك ضعيف

وشهدت قائمة الأهلي استبعاد محمد الشناوي حارس مرمى الفريق من رحلة المغرب لمواجهة الجيش الملكي، بسبب الإصابة في العضلة الضامة، فيما عاد أشرف داري وأحمد رضا بعد تعافيهما من الإصابة.

 وكان الأهلي، حقق الفوز على شبيبة القبائل الجزائري، في الجولة الأولى برباعية مقابل هدف والتي أقيمت على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

ويتصدر الأهلي المجموعة بالتساوي مع يانج أفريكانز التنزاني بعد فوزه على الجيش الملكي في الجولة الأولى.

Chelsea have now made contact with Ateltico Madrid over signing Pablo Barrios, according to reports, and have been told how much it will take to lure the midfielder away from Spain in 2026.

With the January transfer window less than two months away, the Blues have already got an eye on potential reinforcements. It’s a rare day when those in West London aren’t thinking about the transfer window and Todd Boehly could be about to spend big yet again to help Chelsea bridge the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Having already welcomed the likes of Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro in the summer, those at Stamford Bridge are now reportedly interested in signing Ousmane Diomande.

The Sporting CP defender is one of the most promising centre-backs in Europe and certainly fits the criteria of young stars that Chelsea have been recruiting in recent years. But he’s not the only target in their sights.

The Blues have also been linked with a midfield upgrade in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. The England international is among the most sought-after talents in the Premier League and will have the biggest decision of his career to make sooner or later. Whether that results in a move to West London remains to be seen.

With Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez at the base of the Blues’ midfield, it would take quite the talent to take a starting spot in the middle of Enzo Maresca’s side, but that may not stand in the way of BlueCo’s spending.

If it’s not Wharton that arrives in 2026, then it could be Atletico Madrid star Barrios, who has entered Chelsea’s radar ahead of the January transfer window.

Chelsea launch contact to sign Pablo Barrios

According to reports in Spain, Chelsea have now made contact over signing Barrios from Atletico Madrid, only to be told that the Spanish club will only be accepting offers in the region of €100m (£88m).

Chelsea have Palmer 2.0 with a "left foot made of gold" & it's not Estevao

The promising talent could be the perfect solution to Chelsea’s Cole Palmer problem.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 22, 2025

Whilst money hasn’t been a problem for Chelsea in the past, they should question whether they actually need another midfielder with Caicedo and Fernandez already performing so well together this season.

Barrios has certainly impressed enough to force Chelsea to ask themselves the question about his potential arrival, but whether they can lure him away from Atletico Madrid is another question entirely.

Diego Simeone is a big fan of the midfielder and told reporters when the 22-year-old was first breaking through: “He has a fantastic game, and I told him that we’re going to work to shape it. Koke is there now (at the ‘5’) and we are trying to bring out Pablo’s full potential. He has to grow, but he’s doing very well. I’m excited. He’s a kid from the academy, and he can play several roles.”

Forget Delap: 18-year-old star is destined to be Chelsea's future number 9

As far as Arne Slot’s Liverpool are concerned, there hasn’t been much to write home about this season.

It’s been difficult, for a great number of reasons, and the Reds have slumped to five defeats from six matches in the Premier League. They say it’s too early to make such calls at this stage of the campaign, but Liverpool simply cannot be considered as title contenders unless something significant shifts in the coming weeks and months.

Physicality and control. Two central tenets of any Premier League midfield worth their salt, and especially so for Liverpool. However, Slot’s side have lacked both in equally concerning measure for much of the term so far.

And with that in mind, we can’t help but recall the days of Gini Wijnaldum in the middle of the park, for the Dutchman is very much missed right now.

Why Gini Wijnaldum left Liverpool

Wijnaldum has plied his trade away from Anfield for four years now, and it’s perhaps fair to say that Liverpool have not replaced his profile in the years since. The 35-year-old was very distinctive in his style for the Reds.

Liverpool signed Wijnaldum from Newcastle United in 2016 after their relegation from the Premier League. Wijnaldum was among the standout Magpies that year.

He was an attacking midfielder and had put four past Norwich City early in the campaign, a bright flicker in a dark year on Tyneside. However, Jurgen Klopp fashioned the Dutchman into an industrious, press-resistent central midfielder, part of an energetic centre that charged Liverpool’s glittering success of the past decade.

Though Wijnaldum didn’t score often for the Merseysiders, he came up trumps on a few occasions, alright, and scribed his name into the record books when bagging a brace off the bench on that night against Barcelona.

So cool and composed and calm on the ball, Gini was the metronome in the middle. To think that he played in advanced roles with consistency during his days with Newcastle and PSV Eindhoven before that is a marker of Klopp’s tactical brain, successfully reshaping into something that produced fewer show-stopping moments but contributed more greatly to the Liverpool project.

Liverpool miss him, for sure, but there’s a member of Slot’s squad who is beginning to show signs of the Netherlands man’s former qualities.

Liverpool's new version of Wijnaldum

Slot’s own ‘version’ of Wijnaldum might not be stylistically the same, but he’s playing a versatile and yet singular role for the Anfield side this season.

Enter Dominik Szoboszlai, the shining light of Liverpool’s dreary campaign so far.

The Hungarian has been hailed by reporter Lewis Steele as being Liverpool’s “player of the season” so far. Admittedly, the bar isn’t high, but Szoboszlai ranks highly across the whole of Europe in regard to individual efforts, having matured into a leader as well as a tireless source of energy and a technically proficient technician.

To say that he’s come on leaps and bounds would be quite the understatement, and this with Liverpool struggling to muster any kind of form.

Klopp oversaw the £60m signing of RB Leipzig’s talented playmaker in 2023, beating Newcastle to his signature. Szoboszlai has ebbed and flowed in a Liverpool shirt, criticised at times for his lack of end product. At the end of Klopp’s reign, Szoboszlai fell out to the fringes, starting only one of the final six Premier League fixtures of the term, and was hooked at half-time during a miserable home defeat to Crystal Palace before that.

Matches (starts)

36 (29)

11 (11)

Goals

6

1

Assists

6

1

Touches*

46.1

82.6

Accurate passes*

29.6 (86%)

52.1 (87%)

Key passes*

1.6

1.5

Dribble (success)*

0.6 (55%)

0.8 (60%)

Recoveries*

3.7

6.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.4

2.7

Clearances*

0.4

2.5

Duels (won)*

2.8 (43%)

4.2 (51%)

Since Slot has taken to the dugout, Szoboszlai’s role has changed some, and that has become crystal clear this season, for he has never been more involved, never more entrusted with a starring role in the side, hailed as a “proper leader” and Liverpool’s star man by content creator Jonathan Morley.

Szoboszlai is a player whose skill and tenacity out of possession, his intelligence and vision and ability to do the right thing at the right time, make him a unique and priceless part of a system. Wijnaldum-esque, perhaps.

Gini was, after all, lauded as being “irreplaceable” for Liverpool by correspondent Richard Jolly. He wasn’t a vocal leader on the field, but the former Netherlands international provided a calming presence, redefined once he settled in on Merseyside and then became a central part of one of the glittering outfits of their age.

Liverpool may not be at the races this season, but there’s a long road still ahead, and with Szoboszlai shaping into an all-action midfielder of the highest class, Slot’s own version of Wijnaldum, there will be hope that the rest of these talented players can recover their levels and match Szoboszlai’s commitment and desire.

His free-kick against Arsenal, sealing victory against Mikel Arteta’s title challengers toward the start of the season, his Man of the Match performances on a number of occasions already, Szoboszlai is the real deal, alright, and when Liverpool do return to form, he might just reach even loftier levels under Slot’s wing.

Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s standout player this season, and though this has been tempered by the otherwise miserable performances, solace can be found in the knowledge that Slot has unearthed the club’s latest superstar.

FSG sold an "incredible" Liverpool talent & it's a bigger mistake than Diaz

Liverpool are already starting to regret this £15m sale.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 14, 2025