The India batter revealed her Brisbane Heat team-mates encouraged her to take a positive approach

Sruthi Ravindranath11-Nov-20242:16

Rodrigues welcomes ICC’s initiative to tackle social media abuse

India batter Jemimah Rodrigues is hoping to apply the Australian “mindset” she has picked up from her WBBL team-mates in her game.Rodrigues, who’s back in the tournament for her third stint having last played in 2022 for Melbourne Stars, has played four games so far for Brisbane Heat. She scored a 40-ball 61 in a match-winning effort against Adelaide Strikers after scores of 13 and 5 in the previous two games, crediting the turnaround to her Heat team-mates’ encouragement to play “positively”.Related

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“I think the last two innings of mine [in the WBBL] didn’t go that well,” Rodrigues said. “Grace Harris and Laura Harris both of them texted me and said, ‘Jemi, your over extra cover drive is the best. Don’t stop yourself from playing that. Even if you get out, it’s fine. But just keep dominating’. So I think that really helped me in [the Strikers] knock just to have that kind of backing firstly from your team that the team still believes in you and at the same time, just they’re like, ‘No, we’re still going to take the positive route. We’re still going to play positive cricket and bat with intent’.”So 100%, that mindset – just to learn from them [Australians]. There’s a saying always that if there are two options, always take the positive one. So I think that is something I have also been really working on in my game and just to have people around you after two failures, I had those doubts – ‘should I still play with this mindset or should I not?’. They were like ‘just go all out’ and that really helped me. This is something that I will take with me 100% hopefully bring it out with the Aussies and just continue to do well.”Rodrigues feels facing other international bowlers in leagues around the world is good for her confidence, especially with the ODI World Cup scheduled in less than a year.”Playing these foreign leagues and playing the WPL, it does help because you play against the best in the world in all these leagues and at the same time you get to play in different conditions,” she said. “Every ground is so different to the other and I think that is one of the best parts of playing franchise cricket that you get used to the conditions and you get to play the top bowlers in women ‘s cricket.Jemimah Rodrigues’ innings at the Gabba proved to be a match-winning one•Getty Images

“Imagine just going out there and doing well, how much confidence you’ll get coming back into the Indian team when you’ve taken on these bowlers. So I think it’s a good preparation leading into the World Cup. At the same time, it’s just good games because the more matches we play, the better we become. I think that’s the best part about having WBBL, the WPL, the Hundred, the Caribbean Premier League, all the leagues.”India started their preparation for the World Cup with three ODIs against New Zealand at home recently, which they won 2-1. Their next assignment is against Australia in December when they will play three ODIs in Brisbane and Perth. Rodrigues believes playing in the WBBL will be good preparation for the ODIs despite the format being different.”For me, nothing much changes in my technique,” Rodrigues said. “Nothing much will even change in my mindset. I think I will still back myself to play positive cricket, but at the same time being more sensible because it’s a longer format and trying to extend this innings even longer, scoring more and more runs for India. So I think that’s the similar mindset. Again, it’s about how I assess the conditions and assess the situation.”Recently, the ICC successfully trialled an AI tool to eliminate social media abuse in the women’s game. Rodrigues welcomed the move, saying she was glad the players don’t have to deal with it anymore and focus just on playing.”I think that was a very good initiative by the ICC. I remember when I had gone in that line because sometimes social media can be harsh. At the end we all are humans, we all are we here doing our best, trying to do whatever we can. Some ways we are great. Some ways we are not. So it’s just harsh when we see people just commenting all sorts of things on social media. But it was such a nice thing from ICC just to protect us and just to keep the game so pure. We [needed to] just go out there and play cricket and enjoy cricket than dealing with all these things. So it was, it was really nice from ICC.”

Manchester United continued their pre-season preparations with a fairly drab 0-0 draw against fellow Premier League side Leeds United on Saturday.

Ruben Amorim’s side featured two new signings in Diego Leon and Matheus Cunha, whilst the Red Devils are still finalising a deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.

Whilst there will be a lot of focus on who Manchester United bring in to bolster their squad during the summer transfer window, the club also need to move on the players who are not going to be involved under Amorim next season.

One of those players, Marcus Rashford, appears to be on the verge of a move away from Old Trafford, as Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign the England international.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona are set to sign the 27-year-old attacker on a season-long loan, with an option to make the deal permanent next summer.

David Ornstein has added that the Spanish giants are also set to pay 100% of the forward’s wages during that loan spell, in what will come as a welcome relief to Manchester United.

Why Rashford to Barcelona is a good move for all concerned

Rashford is reportedly on £300k-per-week at Old Trafford, as per Capology, and that equates to around £15.6m per year, which shows that the club are set to save a huge amount of money as part of this deal.

Whilst it is not set in stone that the winger will sign for Barcelona on a permanent transfer next summer, as it is only an option, United can be thankful that they are not paying his enormous wages next season, given that he was not a part of Amorim’s thinking.

It is money that could be allocated elsewhere, potentially to bring in further attacking reinforcements, as Rashford has not been consistent enough in the final third to prove that he is worth spending that kind of money on.

The England international was sent out on loan to Aston Villa for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that Amorim did not see a future for the academy graduate in his side.

24/25 (Man Utd & Villa)

11

£15.6m

£1.4m

23/24 (Man Utd)

8

£15.6m

£1.95m

22/23 (Man Utd)

30

£10.4m

£346k

21/22 (Man Utd)

5

£10.4m

£2.08m

As you can see in the table above, Rashford has failed to hit double figures for goals in two of the last four seasons in all competitions, and has only cost under £1.4m per goal scored in a season in one of the last four.

These statistics suggest that it is for the best that the English forward joins Barcelona on loan, with his wages paid in full, because United will be offloading a player, even if potentially just for next season, who has not justified his cost.

His exit will also create a space in the squad for United to bring in a replacement for him before the end of the summer transfer window, and the club are reportedly eyeing a star who could be an upgrade on him.

Man United make contact to sign Ligue 1 star

According to Foot Mercato, Manchester United are interested in a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s versatile attacker Randal Kolo Muani.

The reporter claims that the Red Devils have already made contact with the Ligue 1 champions, as they pursue a potential transfer for the France international.

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Aouna adds, though, that Newcastle United have also made contact with PSG over a potential deal for the forward, which means that there could be stiff competition for his signature this summer.

The journalist’s article on Foot Mercato also reveals that Juventus are interested in a deal to bring him back to Turin, after he spent the second half of last season on loan with the Italian giants.

This latest report does not outline how much money it would take to strike a deal with PSG for Kolo Muani, but a price tag of £50m was mentioned earlier in the summer.

Why Man Utd should sign Randal Kolo Muani

The Red Devils should push to win the race for his signature in the coming weeks because he could arrive at Old Trafford as an upgrade on Marcus Rashford.

Like the soon-to-be Barcelona player, the French attacker is a versatile talent who can play out wide on either flank or through the middle as a centre-forward, which would provide Amorim with a plethora of ways in which to utilise his qualities.

In fact, France teammate Kylian Mbappe described Kolo Muani as being a “very complete” forward, and United could benefit from his brilliant all-round play as their new centre-forward, if they can secure a deal for him this summer.

The 26-year-old star scored eight goals and provided one assist in 16 matches in the Serie A during the second half of last term, whilst Rashford only scored six goals in 25 outings in the Premier League.

xG

0.36

Top 41%

Goals

0.62

Top 9%

Shots on target

1.08

Top 27%

Successful dribbles

1.39

Top 20%

Touches in opposition box

6.03

Top 20%

Interceptions

0.31

Top 14%

As you can see in the table above, the Juventus loanee produced high quality in a host of key metrics, as he excelled as a dribbler and a goalscorer, whilst also putting in hard work to win the ball back for his side.

Whilst, with one assist, the creative side of his game was not on full display, Kolo Muani did assist 17 goals in 46 games for Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2022/23 campaign, which shows that he can be a fantastic creative threat when at his best.

The £50m-rated star, who scored two goals in three games at the Club World Cup, has delivered at least ten goals in all competitions in each of the last five seasons, whilst Rashford, as aforementioned, has only managed that in two of the last four years.

Kolo Muani could arrive as an upgrade on the England international because of his impressive form for Juventus in the second half of last season, as well as the almost guaranteed goals that his record suggests that he would provide in the final third.

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The appointment is understood to be a prelude to a role with the franchise at the PSL

Danyal Rasool01-Nov-2024Darren Gough has been appointed head coach of Lahore Qalandars. His first assignment with the franchise will be the Global Super League (GSL) in Guyana, which starts on November 26.The appointment is understood to be a prelude to a more permanent role in Qalandars’ stock competition: the PSL. Aaqib Javed, who served as head coach and director of cricket operations for Qalandars for eight years, quit last month to focus on a new role at the PCB with Pakistan cricket: he is now a member of the selection committee for the Pakistan men’s national team.Qalandars won back-to-back PSL titles in 2022 and 2023 before stumbling this year, finishing bottom. Aaqib’s departure left a vacancy at the franchise, one they wish to ensure is filled well before the PSL begins in April next year. Gough, who retired in 2006 as England’s leading ODI wicket-taker (and is still No. 2 on the list behind James Anderson) is understood to be keen on the role, with the GSL seen as a useful opportunity to allow him to get his feet under the table before a permanent decision is made.”It’s an absolute honour to have been asked by the Lahore Qalandars to be the head coach for the upcoming Global Super League in Guyana,” Gough said in a statement. “I’m really excited about this opportunity because I’ve been fortunate to work with the Qalandars in Lahore on several occasions, assisting with their PDP [player development programme].”We know that Lahore Qalandars are all about giving young players opportunities they’ve never had before -developing their skills and shaping them into players who can go on to represent the Qalandars, and hopefully make Pakistan cricket proud.”Gough most recently served as managing director at his old club, Yorkshire, after being appointed in December 2021 following the racism allegations that rocked the club. He parted ways with Yorkshire in March this year. Before that, he had a stint as England’s bowling consultant in 2020. Not long after Gough joined Yorkshire in 2021, the club launched a partnership with Qalandars aiming to “nurture talent [by] reducing barriers to entry” following the racism crisis.Sameen Rana, co-owner of Qalandars, said Gough’s vision aligned “seamlessly with our commitment to player development”, referring to the appointment as an embarkation on “a new journey”.The GSL will be contested by five teams. Qalandars are joined by Hampshire Hawks from the T20 Blast, Rangpur Riders from the BPL, Victoria from Australia, as well as the hosts, Guyana Amazon Warriors. The final will take place on December 7.

Nottingham Forest are in “talks” with an “outstanding” player over a move to the club in the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Nottingham Forest willing to spend big in midfield

The Reds continue to be linked with moves to the City Ground before the new Premier League season gets underway, with AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah seen as an exciting option before the window slams shut.

Forest are reportedly willing to pay as much as £26m for the USA international, with the Midlands outfit also hoping that they can “close the deal quickly”, enhancing Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad depth in the middle of the park.

Away from the Reds’ pursuit of Musah, other exciting options are also being targeted, including Ipswich Town winger Omari Hutchinson. Forest are said to be in talks over a summer move for the Englishman, with a £35m bid tabled.

Juventus ace Douglas Luiz has been heavily linked to the Premier League side, while RB Salzburg’s Mads Bidstrup has been mentioned as an alternative to the Brazilian.

Nottingham Forest in "talks" to sign midfielder

Now, according to Plettenberg on X, “talks have taken place” between Salzburg and Nottingham Forest over the signing of Bidstrup this summer, and with the player himself, who is open to a new challenge.

This is another encouraging update regarding the Reds acquiring the midfielder’s signature, with the Dane looking increasingly like a leading option to move to the City Ground before deadline day ends.

Bidstrup has now racked up 84 appearances for Salzburg, not to mention representing Denmark across five different youth age groups, and analyst Chris Kearney has heaped praise on him.

Still only 24, Forest would get the best years of Bidstrup’s career out of him, with his peak still likely to come, and he can provide welcome competition in midfield, as well as being compared in style to Luiz by FBref.

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The fact that the Salzburg man has the same agent as Taiwo Awoniyi could be a bonus in smoothing negotiations along, and if the Reds can strike a deal, it could prove to be vital business as they prepare to shine in both the Premier League and Europe this season.

Glasgow Rangers have agreed a fee with a club over the signing of an “aggressive” player this summer, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

McCoist gives Martin his backing at Rangers

It’s fair to say that Russell Martin has experienced a testing start to life in charge of the Gers, calling out his players after the opening Scottish Premiership game of the season, and drawing their opening two matches in the competition.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Rangers legend Ally McCoist has shown his support for Martin, though, amid early pressure on the Englishman’s shoulders.

“They’ve got to give him that time. Of that there’s no doubt. He’s got to get his new players in. The first thing you’ve got to say is recruitment. When I say recently, I don’t mean under Russell Martin’s tenure because it’s far too early to judge. But recruitment’s not been good enough. Recruitment’s been shocking, effectively.

“What’s highlighted that is the fact that recruitment across the city has been very, very good. Recruitment at Celtic, particularly under Big Ange, you’ve got a couple of the Japanese lads in. They’ve been excellent. Terrific. So, with a combination of Celtic’s recruitment being very good and Rangers’ being very poor. You’re right up against it. You must give Russell Martin time.”

New signings will only help Martin in his quest to turn things around at Rangers, and a new update claims that some key business is closer to being done than ever.

Rangers agree fee with club over "aggressive" ace

Taking to X, Tavolieri claimed that Rangers and Real Betis have agreed a fee for the signing of Nobel Mendy, with the 20-year-old set to move to Ibrox in a £2.5m deal. In new information, Tavolieri said on Tuesday that Mendy is expected in Scotland on Wednesday to have a medical and that there is also a 20% sell-on clause.

“Betis Sevilla & Rangers FC agreed on a €3M for Nobel Mendy! Understand there will an extra 20% on the added value on the case of a future sale for Betis. Mendy now waiting for documents and expected tomorrow in Scotland to have medical & complete move.”

This will be music to Martin’s ears, with Mendy a young centre-back who can add so much quality and depth to the 39-year-old’s back-line.

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The Senegalese has been linked with a move to Rangers for some time now, standing out as a primary target, and it is encouraging to see them close to striking a deal for him.

At 20, Mendy isn’t going to necessarily be a key starter every week, with some inconsistency likely to still be a part of his game, but he has been hailed for his “aggressive” style by The Rangers Journal, and his versatility allows him to thrive at left-back, too.

As Celtic gear up for yet another title defence, Brendan Rodgers now reportedly believes that they hold a key advantage in the race to sign an impressive midfield star.

Rodgers still aiming to "push" for arrivals

Despite welcoming as many as six fresh faces following another dominant Scottish Premiership campaign last time out, Rodgers admitted that he’s still pushing the Celtic board to secure more additions.

He told reporters: “We have gaps in the squad that are very clear. I have to convince the board to really push to get the players in that we really need. Clearly, I’m not doing that job well enough, but I will continue to push and hopefully we can get the players in by the end of the transfer window.”

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“When you lose important players, you want to fill those gaps. That attacking department is the strength of my team. It always will be. We were very, very good last year in that front in terms of both the score and both the creativity.

“I’m fairly confident that we will do the business that will fill those gaps and with the necessary quality that’s needed to keep the team moving forward, because that’s what we all want. That’s what the supporters want. They want to see a team that’s exciting and that can dominate games and really attack games and that’s our goal.”

Just who those additions will be is the question. It looks as though the Bhoys are at least set to welcome Manchester City youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan, but that’s not to say other targets have fallen away from their radar.

Those at Celtic Park have also reportedly set their sights on winning the race to land a bargain deal in the next month and Rodgers believes that they hold one key advantage over the rest of the chasing pack.

Rodgers believes Celtic have advantage in Brownhill race

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Rodgers believes that Celtic have the advantage in the race to sign Josh Brownhill this summer thanks to their Champions League place. Whilst the likes of West Ham United and Everton chase his signature, the Bhoys will be able to offer the 29-year-old his first taste of Europe’s elite.

Dubbed “brilliant” by Burnley boss Scott Parker, Brownhill represents one of the few bargain deals still on the market and one that Celtic should go all out to snap up this month.

Darwish Rasooli’s maiden international half-century propelled Afghanistan to 153 for 6 before their bowlers delivered to help Afghanistan comfortably win the second T20I against Zimbabwe and draw level in the series with one to play.Zimbabwe won a last-ball thriller to post their first T20I victory over Afghanistan on Wednesday, but the visitors ensured there was no drama this time around, routing the home side by 50 runs with 14 balls to spare.Rasooli found support from Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib to prop up Afghanistan. Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan then picked up three wickets each, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman dealt a crucial double-blow in the middle overs.

Afghanistan stutter in the powerplay again

Afghanistan’s top order failed to fire for the second game in a row; they lost three wickets in the space of nine balls to finish the powerplay on 41 for 3 – a minor improvement on their 34 for 4 in the first T20I.Rahmanullah Gurbaz got going with a boundary punched through square in the first over, while Sediqullah Atal hit Blessing Muzarabani for two fours through the off side in the second.But Trevor Gwandu made an instant impact, striking with his first ball, Gurbaz spooning a catch to mid-off. Two balls later Zubaid Akbari was run out trying to pinch a single to backward point that was never there.Trevor Gwandu struck with his first ball of the match•AFP/Getty Images

Atal tried to keep Afghanistan’s momentum going, pulling Muzarabani in front of square for his third boundary off the seamer, but Muzarabani had the last laugh as he had Atal caught at cover point next ball.Afghanistan could have lost a fourth wicket in the powerplay thanks to another mix-up, but Azmatullah Omarzai survived. Rasooli got going with a pickup shot behind square off Gwandu, and then lofted Wellington Masakadza over extra cover in the first over without fielding restrictions.

Burl pegs Afghanistan back with a double-strike

Omarzai, who took some time to settle, pulled a Sikandar Raza half-tracker over midwicket for the first six of the match in the tenth over.He followed that up with another six down the ground in the next over but holed out trying to hit Ryan Burl in the same areas. Brian Bennett took an excellent catch running across to his left from long-on, catching it high and throwing it up before taking one step outside the boundary rope and coming back in to complete the catch.In his next over, Burl dropped one short and Nabi miscued a pull to deep midwicket’s left and Wessly Madhevere held on to a screamer at full stretch. Now Afghanistan had half their side back in the hut.

Naib fined for breaching ICC code of conduct

Gulbadin Naib has been fined 15% of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second T20I. He breached Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “showing dissent at an Umpire’s decision during an International Match.”

Rasooli gives Afghanistan late surge

Rasooli slapped Gwandu over mid-off in the next over before going downtown again when Burl almost pulled off yet another fantastic parried-grab on the boundary, but replays showed he had made contact with the ground outside the boundary rope at the wrong moment.Naib then edged a four off Raza, as Afghanistan collected 22 runs from the two overs after Nabi’s wicket.The best was yet to come. In the penultimate over, Rasooli hit Ngarava for three fours on the trot, bringing up his maiden T20I fifty in the process. That was 17 for the over, and Afghanistan were in sight of 150. Gwandu got him in the final over and conceded just the six runs though, to keep Zimbabwe’s target down to 154.

Omarzai, Naveen deal early blows

Zimbabwe started to build momentum from the second over of their chase, with both openers hitting Mujeeb for a four each before Bennett dispatched Naveen over deep midwicket for six.But soon enough Naveen spotted Tadiwanashe Marumani coming down the track and pulled his length back and the batter ended up slashing it to deep backward point.Omarzai struck with another short ball, having Dion Myers caught at deep backward square.Brian Bennett could not carry on after getting a good start•AFP/Getty Images

Mujeeb derails Zimbabwe’s chase

Mujeeb came back in the attack immediately after the powerplay and had Madhevere hitting a drive straight to short cover.In his next over, he bamboozled Bennett as he got one to turn past his outside edge and just clip the off bail.Rashid then joined in the fun when he trapped Burl in front trying to sweep and at 57 for 5, Zimbabwe were on the ropes.

Naveen, Rashid close the game out

Tashinga Musekiwa, who hit the winning runs off the final ball of the first T20I, took Mujeeb on in his final over, driving him through extra cover and launching him over long-on off consecutive deliveries.But Musekiwa’s counterattack was short-lived; Naveen rushed him with pace in the next over and he miscued a simple catch to cover.Rashid then struck twice in an over and the game was all but done.Naveen had Raza caught at deep midwicket in the 17th, and Fareed Malik finished things off castling Muzarabani next over.

A shirt worn by Cristiano Ronaldo has smashed an auction record – knocking great rival Lionel Messi off top spot in the process.

Ronaldo jersey goes on sale at auctionTops list for most valuable match-worn shirtsPortuguese edges out great rival MessiFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

MatchWornShirt.com has revealed that the top donned by Ronaldo during Portugal's 5-0 World Cup qualifying win over Armenia, where the 40-year-old bagged a brace, is currently at £61,657 (€71,0126) in a live auction. Even with four days to go, the Portuguese's shirt has surpassed the website's previous number one sale – Messi's Paris Saint-Germain-worn jersey against Reims in 2023. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ronaldo and Messi's shirts make up eight of the top 10.

AdvertisementGetty Images/GOALMATCHWORNSHIRT’S TOP 10 MOST VALUABLE SHIRTSCristiano Ronaldo – €71,026 (£61,657)Lionel Messi – €55,019 (£49,446)Lionel Messi – €50,517 (£44,598)Heung-Min Son – €48,907 (£41,221)Cristiano Ronaldo – €45,012 (£39,148)Lionel Messi – €43,623 (£38,689)Cristiano Ronaldo – €43,206 (£36,942)Lionel Messi – €42,786 (£36,786)Cole Palmer – €41,127 (£34,411)Lionel Messi – €37,405 (£33,372)THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo and Messi will go down as some of the greatest footballers of all time, with the debate raging on about who is the best. But football fans have been truly privileged to see the Al-Nassr ace and the Inter Milan star play for so long. Despite being in the winter years of their careers, fans still clamour for a piece of them.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

The MWS website states that there are still four days and four hours left, at the time of writing, for fans to bid for Ronaldo's Portugal shirt. The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid man is clearly still a phenomenon in the sport.

In what would be a bargain deal, West Ham United have now reportedly submitted an opening offer to sign a much-needed attacking reinforcement for Graham Potter.

West Ham's need for a striker

Following Michail Antonio’s departure at the end of last season, West Ham no longer have their trusty forward to fall back on when other options fail to live up to the hype. And that’s a problem that they must fix this summer.

Niclas Fullkrug, amid his injury record and poor form ever since swapping Borussia Dortmund for the London Stadium, is unlikely to become that solution at 32 years old. Meanwhile, new arrival Daniel Cummings is one for the future rather than a player who will make an instant impact. So it’s back to the drawing board for the Hammers.

Appearances

20

Goals

3

Assists

2

Games Missed

28

To that end, just who West Ham choose to turn to is the big question. In an ideal world, Evan Ferguson’s loan spell would have lived up to its potential and the Hammers would be chasing a permanent deal. Following his struggles, however, West Ham have now reportedly set their sights on alternative targets while the Irishman heads to AS Roma.

The likes of Gonzalo Garcia have entered West Ham’s reported radar. The Real Madrid star recently broke into Xabi Alonso’s side at the Club World Cup and stole plenty of headlines. Now, he could be on his way to the Premier League on loan.

Given how he burst onto the scene this summer, a loan move for Garcia would be quite the coup for all involved at the London Stadium this summer. Like Cummings, though, there would be concerns about the youngster’s lack of experience.

As impressive as the Madrid man is, West Ham have now reportedly submitted an opening offer to sign a far more proven option.

West Ham offered chance to sign Callum Wilson

According to talkSPORT, West Ham have now submitted an opening offer to sign Callum Wilson this summer. The Hammers have reportedly tabled a minimal salary with bonuses for goals and appearances after being approached by his agent, Will Salthouse, who David Sullivan knows well.

Given that Wilson turned down a similar offer from Newcastle United earlier this summer, it seems unlikely that he’d accept those terms at West Ham. That said, he is more likely to receive the game time that he desires at the London Stadium than at St James’ Park.

Appearances

392

Goals

141

Assists

48

If West Ham want a proven goalscorer then Wilson is their man, especially if he can finally put any injury troubles to rest. His presence, combined with the emergence of Cummings, could prove to be crucial for the Hammers.

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The deal wouldn’t break the bank, either. West Ham have offered a minimal salary and will not have to pay a transfer fee, as Wilson is a free agent. A player who Newcastle boss Eddie Howe described as “incredible” in 2023, Wilson is still capable of making an impact in the Premier League.

England legend steps into new role at club despite controversy for remarks on ICEC report

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Dec-2024

Sir Ian Botham, pictured commentating for Sky in 2018, has been elected as Durham’s Honorary President•Getty Images

Ian Botham has been elected as honorary president of Durham, after completing a seven-year term as the club chair, with Phil Collins, his vice-chair, stepping into the role with immediate effect.Botham, who was appointed in 2017 having played for Durham in the club’s maiden seasons as a first-class county in 1992 and 1993, attracted controversy last year for his scathing response to the report into cricket’s racism crisis by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), which he described as “nonsense” and claimed he “threw down on the floor”.In response, ICEC chair Cindy Butts told MPs at a Culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing in February that the ECB lacked “a moral backbone” in failing to distance itself from Botham’s comments, adding that Botham himself had been asked to give evidence to the inquiry, but had not responded.Speaking after the end of Botham’s Durham tenure was confirmed, ECB Chair Richard Thompson said: “Over 50 years, Lord Botham has made a huge contribution to English cricket and in particular to Durham, first as a player before returning as chair in 2017 at a very challenging time for the club.”Collins, who became vice-chair and a director of Durham in 2017, enters the role with over 35 years’ of commercial and marketing experience in various industries, along with a lifelong passion for cricket.He takes over with Durham restored to the top flight of the County Championship, having been relegated back in 2016 as punishment for a financial crisis that required the ECB to bail them out.Botham took over as chair soon afterwards, and said in a press release from the club: “I am delighted with what has been achieved at the Club during my tenure both on and off the field.”Our men’s team have performed superbly in recent times and this was evident with our promotion to Division One and our performances last year in the topflight.”Our successful Tier 1 bid is huge for the region and we are absolutely delighted to bring professional women’s sport to the region.”It’s a huge endorsement of the pathway we already have at Durham and the potential of the region and our squad and coaching staff is coming together very nicely.”I look forward to working with Phil to achieve our goals and build on our successes, as I wish him all the best as our new Club Chair.”Collins added: “I’m delighted to have taken on the role of chair in what is a very exciting time for Durham Cricket. Lord Ian and the board has laid strong foundations for many years and I am looking forward to building on the work which has been achieved.”The response to my election has been magnificent and everyone has been very supportive. “I can’t wait for the season to start and for our men’s and women’s teams to get competing on the field, while we work on some exciting projects off it too.”