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Cricket Australia is currently trying to forge a path through a grants dispute with NSW and Queensland

Daniel Brettig03-Aug-2020State-based calls for governance reform at Cricket Australia may gain or lose impetus depending on the outcome of the Cricket Victoria board elections, set to be contested by four candidates for two spots in Melbourne at the end of this month.The successful election of Premier Club-aligned duo of Simon Tobin (ex-Essendon president) and Amanda Bond (a KPMG partner backed by Northcote Cricket Club) would potentially result in the replacement of the current Cricket Victoria chair Paul Barker with the former WACA delegate Peter Williams, a long-time adversary of CA’s independent board and its chairman Earl Eddings.Two alternative candidates, the former Dandenong Cricket Cub president Ross Hepburn and the women’s Premier panel chair Penelope Cleghorn, have submitted their intentions to contest the Cricket Victoria board election in the past week. Hepburn and Cleghorn are both well-liked within Victorian cricket circles, in contrast to Tobin who has been a more polarising figure.Should Williams not gain the chair, it is likely to fall to David Maddocks, a partner in Perry Maddocks Trollope Lawyers and the former president of North Melbourne Cricket Club before it merged successfully to become part of the Greenvale Kangaroos club. Eddings, who has another year to serve as CA chairman as part of his current term, also has deep links to the North Melbourne/Greenvale club and preceded Maddocks as its president.Eddings only retained his place as chairman of CA in 2019 by moving from his place as the Cricket Victoria-nominated director to one of the three places reserved for independents on the CA board after his home state withdrew its support. Eddings’ role was subsequently taken up by former Australia Women’s cricketer Mel Jones.Both Hepburn and Cleghorn represent areas that were subject to vicious staff and funding cutbacks earlier this year when Cricket Victoria announced savings measures under the cover of the Covid-19 pandemic, slashing resources to community, women’s and junior cricket while not touching the annual distributions to premier clubs. These decisions have been styled as grounds for Melbourne Premier Clubs to question the leadership of Barker and the Cricket Victoria chief executive Andrew Ingleton, when it is all other areas of Victorian cricket that have suffered most grievously as a result.CA is currently trying to forge a path through a grants dispute with New South Wales and Queensland, with all states to have their annual funding altered on the same basis of terms that are ultimately agreed. However, the state associations have made their interest in wider governance change known, most pointedly in the words of the Queensland Cricket chairman Chris Simpson, a close ally of the NSW chairman John Knox.The most likely change would be to a system of six directors directly representing each state, with three independents. Such a change would require the support of five of the six states and would occupy a lengthy and laborious reform process, as was the case when the board moved from a system of 14 state representative directors to nine independents in 2012.”For all of its wealth and associated power, CA needs to be seen as more of a partner in the development of the game – rather than its master,” Simpson wrote to Queensland Cricket stakeholders in June. “Until we are able to achieve this, states will simply be told what to do from Jolimont Street and that’s exactly not the way to run cricket.”Tobin was previously part of the “new six” ticket, championed by the Footscray Cricket Club president Geoff Collinson who attempted to join the Cricket Victoria board en masse in 2017, largely in protest at the Victorian board’s attempts to change the association’s constitution to reduce the influence of Premier Cricket Clubs on electing board directors. The competition currently holds 18 of a possible 25 delegate votes at each election of the six elected board members – three are appointed independents.Among other elements of community cricket, the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association has two votes, Women’s Premier cricket three, and the Victorian Country Cricket League and Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union one apiece.While the attempt to force all six candidates onto the board at once was unsuccessful, a slower process of elimination has seen Williams joined by other “new six” members Phil Hyde and Jane Nathan. The looming retirements of Paul Jackson and Claudia Fatone from the board have created room for Tobin and Bond to attempt to join them and form a voting majority.

Arsenal take on Tottenham on Sunday in the north London derby and have been forced to wear their away kit for the fixture.

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Tottenham hosting Arsenal in Premier LeagueBoth teams usually wear traditional colours for gameBut Gunners forced to change this seasonGetty/GOALWHAT HAPPENED?

The first north London derby of the 2024-25 season takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday in what will be an eagerly-anticipated clash by fans of both sides as the Premier League resumes after the international break. Arsenal and Tottenham usually wear their traditional colours for the famous fixture but this time around the Gunners have been forced to change.

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Arsenal have confirmed that they will be in their new black away kit for the match as the Gunners' home strip contains "too much white" and clashes with Tottenham's traditional colours. Mikel Arteta's side did discuss wearing red shorts and socks for the match but the offer was rejected. The Premier League and PGMOL have also decided that Tottenham will return the favour at the Emirates and change colours when the two teams meet again later in the season.

DID YOU KNOW?

Arsenal have worn their away kit once so far this season in a 2-0 win at Aston Villa last time out.

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Arsenal are aiming for a third straight win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they aim to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. Tottenham's only win so far came on the opening day against Everton.

Aston Villa are rapidly closing in on their first transfer deal of the summer, it has emerged, with the club in advanced talks with a "machine" over a potential move to Villa Park.

Emery and Villa keen to push on

Despite clinching Champions League football for the first time since the 1980s, Villa and Unai Emery are in no mood to rest on their laurels this summer, with the club keen to continue pushing on to the very top of English football in the years to come.

The Villa boss admitted as much after the Premier League final day thrashing by Crystal Palace, though added it would be hard for his side to reach the same levels of consistency as Arsenal and Manchester City.

"It is a dream. It is very difficult. When we were at the beginning of the season playing two matches against City and Arsenal, we won both matches. We were there.

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ByBen Browning May 20, 2024

"Those teams are amazing with consistency. I want to get better and I have my dreams and I believe in my dreams. Of course my objectives is to win the Premier League or the Champions League."

Squad depth is an area where the club may need to improve though, with the tolls of playing in both the UEFA Conference League and the Premier League this season showing in the final stretch of the campaign.

Players minutes played (all comps)

Club

Over 3000 minutes

Over 4000 minutes

Aston Villa

10

5

Manchester City

11

2

Arsenal

8

5

Now, the level required will be even higher with the return of the Champions League, and the added games on offer courtesy of the new-look format, which will see the Villans play eight games in the first stage rather than six. As a result, they are already seeking reinforcements.

Villa closing in on Premier League midfielder

Now, it has been reported that Aston Villa are closing in on a deal to bring Ross Barkley back to the Midlands, after the ex-England midfielder was relegated with Luton Town.

Barkley, who has also been linked with Man Utd in 2024, shone for the Hatters despite their eventual fate, with the 30-year-old grabbing five goals and four assists in 32 outings.

He drew plenty of praise from former Chelsea teammate Cesc Fabregas too, with the Spaniard dubbing him a "machine" for his work rate and physicality.

"Physically, he’s a machine, physically, he’s one of the best, or the fittest players I played with, and he has adapted to this, but especially the personality he plays with, I think he’s the stand-out for this Luton side", the ex-Arsenal and Barcelona man explained.

He only penned his current £30,000 per week deal with the Hatters last summer, and though there is no confirmed contract length it is believed to run into next season, with Rob Edwards himself claiming that "I think he’s longer than a year", though he refused to be drawn on the specifics.

Now, Villa are trying to prise him away from Luton, with Fabrizio Romano revealing that Villa are in "advanced talks" and that Barkley is "keen on the move", which would see him return to a club he spent the 2020/21 season on loan with.

Emery, meanwhile, "really likes" the 30-year-old and "believes he could be a smart signing" to help add further depth in midfield and allow the Villans to sustain a higher level across all of their games next season.

Available at a modest fee, he could well prove to be just that.

Just how important was the signing of Morgan Rogers? Sure, Aston Villa's successful season has so many different threads, so many compelling plotlines, but completing the signing of this Championship up-and-comer at the midpoint has paid dividends.

Signed from Middlesbrough on transfer deadline day in January for a fee of £15m, the Manchester City academy graduate has repaid the faith with an excellent start to life in the Midlands, scoring three goals and placing one assist across 11 Premier League appearances, eight starts.

As per Sofascore, the 21-year-old complemented his noteworthy threat in front of goal with 1.5 dribbles per game, highlighting his ability to push the ball into dangerous positions with regularity.

But it's the nature of his strikes that have been so immense for Villa, opening his account with the second strike in a 3-3 draw against Brentford in April, then restoring parity on the stroke of half-time against Bournemouth later in the month – Villa would go on to win the game 3-1. Finally, it was Rogers' goal that provided Unai Emery's side with a two-goal lead at home against Chelsea.

The Blues would salvage a point but the fact of the matter is that Rogers has provided his team with some crucial goals to maintain momentum en route to historic Champions League qualification.

Finishing fourth, five points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur with a game to play, Aston Villa have triumphed during Emery's first full season, and while Morgan has impressed, he's not the youngster with the most emphatic of contributions.

That tag lies with Jhon Duran, Villa Park's very own agent of chaos.

Jhon Duran's season in numbers

Duran stole the show last time out, entering the field in the second half with Villa Park trailing 3-1 against Liverpool in the Premier League, handing Spurs a window of opportunity in their fight to qualify for the Champions League.

The young Colombian, only 20, showcased his power and raw finishing quality to salvage a draw and put his outfit within touching distance of a start among Europe's elite, confirmed one day later when Tottenham Hotspur were defeated against Manchester City.

With the heavy lifting now done and dusted this season, Aston Villa can contest their final fixture, a trip to Selhurst Park against in-form Crystal Palace, with freedom and gusto, targetting a point or more that will hit that 70-point mark.

Duran, one would think, is in with a good shout to earn only his third top-flight starting berth of the season, having scored five goals in the Premier League.

As per Sofascore, the South American striker has only taken 8.5 touches per game this season, has averaged 19 minutes in action per outing. This makes it hard to measure his success.

He has breathtaking physical attributes and is demonstrably effective in front of goal, performing well above his xG (expected goals) rate in the Premier League, with Understat revealing that he would have been expected to score 1.91 goals in the division this term.

While xG is often taken with a pinch of salt, it serves as a good gauge of Duran's potential as a first-choice member of the Villans first team – might Emery already have the heir to Ollie Watkins' throne residing in his ranks?

Goals and assists are not the only yardstick by which forwards can be analysed; Duran's teammate, the indefatigable John McGinn, remarked that the 6 foot 1 starlet is “a nightmare to play against," while Emery hailed him as a "special player" but carried undertones of caution within his praise.

1.

Jeremy Doku

£56m

1.

Rasmus Hojlund

£56m

3.

Evan Ferguson

£51m

4.

Cole Palmer

£47m

5.

Levi Colwill

£43m

6.

Destiny Udogie

£39m

7.

Alejandro Garnacho

£34m

7.

Romeo Lavia

£34m

7.

Pape Matar Sarr

£34m

10.

Rico Lewis

£33m

And rightly so. As the table above highlights, there are plenty of U21 players enjoying pathways to prosperity on the Premier League scene. Duran has chipped the ice but he must work tirelessly to cement a place among the division's best.

Duran is at the dawn of a potentially prosperous career in Europe, but he has not yet reached his ceiling and must be guided to the fore over the coming years.

Jhon Duran's market value in 2024

Aston Villa signed Duran from Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire in an £18m transfer in January 2023, with Emery moving just months after being appointed as Steven Gerrard's successor to land a highly-talented teenage talent.

A wild footballer capable of "outrageous" moments, Duran played a part during the second half of Villa's 2022/23 Premier League campaign but failed to really make his mark, featuring 12 times off the bench and failing to score or assist.

But the naturally-rooted skills were there, latent, awaiting channelling, and the £30k-per-week has now demonstrated his style to resonant effect. Next season, who knows how important a part he will play in Emery's still-improving project.

But one thing's for certain, his market value is only going to skyrocket. Currently, the eight-cap international is valued at £17m by CIES Football Observatory, which already places him above the aforementioned Rogers (£8m) and even seasoned veteran Diego Carlos, who is valued at just £4m following his damaging anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in 2022, shortly after signing for the club.

Rogers and Duran have showcased the value of investing in youth with bright colours, and while there is plenty of work to do next season, on a bigger, more daunting stage in the Champions League, Villa Park is in safe hands indeed.

Duran has so much to offer, and with his beast-like presence on the pitch making him an apt component for the Lions team, Emery must surely know that he's hit the jackpot with this one.

Emery must ditch Aston Villa flop who earns more than Duran

Aston Villa must cut their losses on this defender.

ByJoe Nuttall May 16, 2024

Overlooked for Test and ODIs after attending England training camp, Overton bags 5 for 38

ECB Reporters Network02-Aug-2020 Somerset 296 (Davies 81, Brooks 72) and 131 for 2 (Hildreth 45*, Abell 44*) lead Glamorgan 131 (C Overton 5-38) by 296 runsCraig Overton gave the England selectors a reminder of his talent with some quality seam bowling on the second day of Somerset’s opening Bob Willis Trophy match against Glamorgan at Taunton.Overlooked for both the Test and one-day international squads after attending the England training camp at the Ageas Bowl, the 26-year-old all-rounder responded with 5 for 38 from 17 hostile overs.Four of Overton’s wickets came in a morning session that saw Glamorgan collapse from 15 without loss to 38 for 6 before being bowled out for 131 to concede a first innings deficit of 165.By the close of a day in which 13 overs were lost to rain, the home side had posted 131 for 2 in their second innings and led by 296.Overton, keen to add to his four Test appearances, opened up at the River End and was soon getting bounce and seam movement from a responsive pitch that had good pace in it.He proved too hot for Glamorgan to handle, sending back Charlie Hemphrey, Kiran Carlson, Chris Cooke and Dan Douthwaite, who could contribute only 16 runs between them.The accurate Josh Davey provided excellent support with 2 for 9 from his opening stint, accounting for Nick Selman and Billy Root.Graham Wagg and Kieran Bull provided some resistance either side of a 20-minute rain break, but at lunch the visitors were 71 for 6, still needing 26 runs to avoid the prospect of following on.It was 91 for 7 when Wagg, on 28, became Overton’s fifth victim, caught at first slip by James Hildreth, and 100 for 8 when Bull fell lbw to Jack Brooks for 23.Jamie Overton, bound for Surrey at the end of the season, then cleaned up the tail, having Marchant de Lange caught at mid-on off a top-edge and forcing Ruaidhri Smith to sky a catch to wicketkeeper Steve Davies.Smith batted with a runner after straining a hamstring on day one, but still managed to hit four fours and a six in his defiant 23 as the follow-on was avoided.The start of Somerset’s second innings was delayed by more rain and an early tea was taken.With the floodlights on, openers Tom Lammonby and Eddie Byrom took the total to 26 before Lammonby was caught behind down the leg-side off Wagg for 8.Byrom produced some sweetly timed shots in moving to 27, but with the total on 38 edged de Lange, who had replaced Michael Hogan at the River End, to wicketkeeper Cooke.The impressive de Lange was by far the sharpest of an attack lacking the injured Smith. He was missed as Tom Abell and Hildreth set about batting Glamorgan out of the game. Both batsmen were quick to capitalise on anything loose, driving with elegance and punching short deliveries crisply off the back foot.Off-spinner Bull was prepared to give the ball air and Hogan went past the outside edge a few times, but neither could break the increasingly confident partnership. By the close it was worth 93, with Abell unbeaten on 44 and Hildreth on 45.Craig Overton said: “The England selectors have told me to try and add a yard of pace to my bowling without letting it affect my accuracy and that is what I have been working on. The ball came out well today and I am pleased with the way things are going. I know what I have to do to get the regular Test Match place I want.”

Harry Kane has been backed for a shock NFL career switch in the near future, with Tom Brady set to "open doors" for the Bayern and England star.

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Kane has an affinity for the NFLBrady and Kane are friendsStriker backed to pursue NFL career at 35WHAT HAPPENED?

Kane celebrated his 100th international cap by scoring a brace in England’s comfortable 2-0 victory over Finland in the UEFA Nations League. However, at 31, Kane is approaching the twilight years of his football career and the NFL could be an alternative option that may keep him on the field for a bit longer.

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Kane and Brady share a unique friendship rooted in their love for American football. Their relationship began with casual conversations on Instagram, sparked by Kane’s admiration for the NFL and its legendary quarterback. The English striker, who is fascinated by Brady’s longevity, has admitted that he has already taken a leaf out of the American's fitness book in a desire to stretch his career for as long as possible, with his idol having won his seventh Super Bowl at the age of 43.

WHAT HENRY WINTER SAID

Speaking on , journalist Henry Winter spoke about Kane’s potential transition to the NFL. He said: "I think Harry Kane will be a kicker in the NFL by the time he's 35. He's 31 now. I think he'll obviously have a good time at Bayern Munich, win some things there. But I can seriously see him doing that. Honestly, I can see Harry Kane doing that because he likes America and he loves kicking in the NFL. He's talked about it before and I'm sure Tom Brady could open some doors for him."

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Kane's desire to transition into the NFL has been public knowledge for some time. As early as 2019, Kane expressed his interest in becoming a kicker, telling ESPN that he would "definitely want to try" taking on the challenge within the next "ten or twelve years". More recently in 2023, he admitted that a career in the NFL would be "something very special" as he has already been receiving pro tips from Brady.

In fact, Kane has even named one of his dogs after Tom Brady, showcasing his admiration for the former New England Patriots quarterback. His other dog is named after Russell Wilson, another highly regarded NFL quarterback, further underlining his connection to the sport and its icons.

Gary Neville has accused the Premier League of acting like a "bully" and being both "selfish" and "greedy" in talks over funding for the EFL.

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Premier League and EFL talks on holdParliament to debate football regulatorPL committed to investing £1.6bnFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Neville has slammed the Premier League in a remarkable rant about the organisation's behaviour in relation to negotiations over extra funding for the football pyramid. The EFL and the top-flight's talks over a new television deal have been on hold since March and parliament will debate the introduction of an independent football regulator, who could settle the dispute, in the coming weeks.

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The Premier League is committed to investing £1.6bn ($2.1bn) over the next three seasons into the pyramid but Neville is unimpressed with how they have conducted themselves, calling for a new deal to help clubs such as his own Salford City stay sustainable within the EFL.

WHAT NEVILLE SAID

Neville said at the Labour party conference in Liverpool: "I have no idea what they're playing at – they look awful to me. They look selfish. They look greedy. Everything you wouldn’t want to be in life, everything your parents wouldn’t want you to be.

“We’re happy to accept conditions around the money coming down, because the reality is, we want a sustainable game. I’m an owner of a football club, I want my club to be sustainable.

“[Football] is not sustainable, and we have a Premier League that are entitled. They feel entitled. They’re the big brother that sit there and distribute scraps of food to the little brothers around the table. It’s not what you do when you’re in a family.

“I know exactly what they’re doing – if they had wanted to have done a deal, they would have done a deal. But their mindset is such of a bully, their mindset is that they can influence a regulator once a regulator is introduced and get a better deal potentially the other side of the regulator coming in.”

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The Premier League is continuing to negotiate with the government over the introduction of an independent regulator. It remains to be seen exactly when it could be put into action.

The summer transfer window is just a couple of weeks away, and even though it's been less than that since they ended a gruelling Premier League campaign, Tottenham Hotspur are already busy looking for their next superstars.

Ange Postecoglou enjoyed a relatively successful summer last year, bringing in the likes of James Maddison, Guglimlo Vicario, and Micky van de Ven, but he'll need to add even more quality this year to help bridge the gap to the Champions League places.

However, a player touted for a move to the club just a few months ago may well be able to do that, even if it's bad news for Richarlison.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

As reported a few months ago by Graeme Bailey, via HITC, Tottenham Hotspur were one of several clubs interested in signing Sporting CP's incredibly prolific striker, Viktor Gyokeres this summer.

The report named Chelsea, West Ham United, Manchester United and Arsenal as the other English clubs keen to bring the Swede to the Premier League, while AC Milan wanted him to come to Italy.

Unfortunately for the Lilywhites, the level of competition for the striker isn't the only hurdle in this potential deal, as another report from January revealed that the Portuguese club would not entertain any offer below the forward's €100m release clause, which converts to around £85m.

It would be challenging to get over the line, but if Daniel Levy and Co want to give Postecoglou the best chance of achieving his goals next season, they should stump up the cash, even if that leaves Richarlison in the cold.

How Gyokeres compares to Richarlison

So, if the Lilywhites can get ahead of the competition in the summer and bring Gyokeres to N17, he won't be coming to sit on the bench, which means the club's main number nine, Richarlison, would be in real danger of losing what little game time he still gets.

With that said, how do the two forwards compare? Well, from a pure output perspective – arguably what matters most in their positions – it's a landslide victory for the former Coventry City star, as his haul of 43 goals and 15 assists in 50 games dwarfs the Brazilian's 12 goals and four assists in 31 games.

That means the Stockholm-born "powerhouse", as described by data analyst Ben Mattinson, averaged a goal involvement every 0.86 games, whereas the man he might replace managed an average of a goal involvement every 1.93 games.

Appearances

50

31

Goals

43

12

Assists

15

4

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

0.51

The comparison is just as one-sided when looking at the pair's underlying numbers.

For example, the "remarkable" Swede, as dubbed by Estoril manager Vasco Seabra, produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, produces more progressive carries, receives more progressive passes, takes more shots on target and scores from more of them, produces more shot and goal-creating actions, completes more successful take-ons, and wins more aerial duels, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.78

0.70

Goals

0.87

0.62

Assists

0.31

0.21

Progressive Carries

3.66

1.57

Progressive Passes

1.68

2.29

Progressive Passes Received

10.8

6.39

Shots on Target

1.53

1.45

Goals per Shot on Target

0.45

0.43

Passing Accuracy

71.7%

68.1%

Shot-Creating Actions

4.08

2.05

Goal-Creating Actions

0.66

0.30

Successful Take-Ons

1.96

0.60

Aerial Duels Won

1.88

1.51

In his defence, the former Everton man produces more progressive passes, but that really is about it for him in this comparison.

Ultimately, while Richarlison has enjoyed a few purple patches for the Lilywhites this season, Gyokeres has been on another level entirely, so if the club can sign him, they absolutely should.

Spurs keen on signing £70m star to partner Romero

The towering star could help tighten up the Lilywhites’ defence next season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 31, 2024

Pooran launches ten sixes as Amazon Warriors cruise home in 151 chase

The Report by Matt Roller30-Aug-2020Nicholas Pooran hit his maiden T20 hundred from just 45 balls to lead Guyana Amazon Warriors from 25 for 3 to a seven-wicket win with 21 balls to spare in a chase of 151 against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, taking his side into play-off contention after a wretched start to the tournament.Pooran dominated an unbroken 128-run stand for the fourth wicket with Ross Taylor, who was happy to play second fiddle with 25 not out off 27 balls. Pooran hit 10 towering sixes on a tricky Queen’s Park Oval pitch on which St Lucia Zouks had defended 92 earlier in the day, and his hitting was breathtakingly clean as he targeted the Patriots spinners, effortlessly lofting them over wide long-off and heaving through midwicket.After Joshua Da Silva’s 59 had dragged the Patriots up to 150 for 5 and Jon-Russ Jaggesar took two wickets in the final over of the Powerplay, the Amazon Warriors looked in all sorts of trouble, not least with their batting line-up misfiring throughout the season. But Pooran made any suggestions of their demise look startlingly premature.Selection surprisesEvin Lewis looked in all sorts of pain batting at No. 7 after a groin injury on Saturday night, but was named in the Patriots side at the toss, while Sheldon Cottrell missed out due to a niggle. But it was a real shock to see Chris Lynn left out, even after 73 runs in six innings, and fellow overseas player Nick Kelly was also left to carry the drinks.Guyana sprung a surprise too, leaving out Lynn’s future Mumbai Indians team-mate Sherfane Rutherford and dropping Chandrapaul Hemraj after a poor run this season. Their batting line-up looked particular short with Kevin Sinclair – a lower-middle order option for WI Emerging Players in the Regional Super50 last season – as a makeshift opener and Keemo Paul carded at No. 6.Sinclair starsSinclair, the 20-year-old Guyanese allrounder, was handed the new ball as Chris Green opted to bowl six overs of offspin in the Powerplay, and he upstaged his captain with a fine spell. He struck in his second over, as Lewis chopped an offbreak onto his own stumps, and celebrated in style that would make a professional gymnast proud.

Sinclair strikes… But that celebration #CPL20 #SKPvGAW #CricketPlayedLouder pic.twitter.com/Go7eyIn9f2

— CPL T20 (@CPL) August 30, 2020

He continued to keep the Patriots quiet with a combination of arm balls and regulation offbreaks, varying his lines and pace, and conceded only nine runs from his allocation of four overs.Nicholas Pooran frees his arms•Randy Brooks – CPL T20 / GettyDa Silva acceleratesDa Silva was a team-mate of Sinclair’s in WI Emerging Players’ improbable run to the Super50 title last year, and despite him impressed with runs in the warm-up games on West Indies’ tour of England, the general consensus was that he was not suited to T20 cricket.He had done little to dispel that idea in the first 12 overs of the innings today, nudging his way to 16 off 26 balls having been dropped earlier in the tournament amid concerns about his strike rate. But after swatting Ashmead Nedd through mid-off, he turned on the style once Guyana threw the ball to a seamer, Keemo Paul, for the first time in the 14th over.Despite struggling in the heat, Da Silva heaved Paul’s slower balls for six, before hitting Imran Tahir for four and then bringing up his maiden T20 fifty, upper-cutting a Naveen-ul-Haq slower ball for three before smacking him for two boundaries to finish the 17th over. He had laid the foundation for late acceleration, with Denesh Ramdin – whom he had dislodged from the Trinidad and Tobago side in first-class cricket last season – whacking two sixes at the death to take the Patriots to 150.King loses his crownBrandon King was the leading run-scorer in the CPL last season but has had a miserable time of it this year. After hitting Alzarri Joseph for two early boundaries – as the Patriots opened the bowling with the only two bowlers to take an IPL six-for – King swatted awkwardly at a short ball, giving Ramdin an easy catch behind the stumps.That left his returns for the tournament at 60 runs at 8.57 from seven innings, and when Jaggesar took two wickets in the final over of the Powerplay, Guyana were in disarray at 25 for 3. But that brought Pooran and Taylor together, who quickly turned the game on its head.Pooran wins it

CENTURION!!! What an innings by Nicholas Pooran. #CPL20 #SKPvGAW #CricketPlayedLouder pic.twitter.com/cpXM775mW6

— CPL T20 (@CPL) August 30, 2020

As the required run rate soared to 9.5 runs per over, Pooran decided to take the attack to the Patriots, slapping Jaggesar for two sixes over long-off as Taylor short-arm jabbed Emrit over midwicket. Pooran then attacked Imran Khan, hitting him for two sixes and a four in the 11th over, before adding another towering blow off Jaggesar.Joseph’s return did little to stem the flow, as the partnership ticked up towards the first century stand of the tournament with two boundaries off him and a towering six over midwicket off Ish Sodhi, eventually reaching it with an enormous lofted drive through mid-off from Sohail Tanvir.A maiden ton looked out of reach with Pooran on 82 at the start of the 17th over with only 16 runs required, but he hit each of Sodhi’s three balls over the ropes, roaring in celebration as he sealed the win and made the first hundred of the CPL season in the process.On this form, there is little stopping Pooran, who was brutal down the ground and in front of square on the leg side and calmly ticked over with well-placed singles when his calculations suggested that a boundary wasn’t possible. Tonight will be a huge positive for West Indies, with evidence that he can fire even on difficult, turning wickets ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in India.

Liverpool have reportedly made an enquiry over a possible move to sign a club captain who has a £19m release clause.

Arne Slot eyeing reunions at Liverpool

It could well be a busy first transfer window for Arne Slot at Anfield, with the Dutchman able to work alongside CEO Michael Edwards, sporting director Richard Hughes and technical director Julian Ward when it comes to bringing in new players.

It has been a complete off-field shake-up by FSG as the Reds target Premier League glory once again, and it seems as if Slot could actually look at signing players he has worked with in the past.

Reports have suggested that Newcastle United’s Yankuba Minteh, who spent last season on loan at Feyenoord, is a target for Liverpool, with the Magpies potentially needing to sell to keep in line with FFP.

Meanwhile, Slot is also thought to be keen on signing Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida, with the 23-year-old capable of playing as a right-back, centre-back or holding midfielder.

It won’t all be players who Slot has managed in the past, though, with Liverpool thought to be readying an offer for Benfica midfielder Joao Neves. And now, contact has reportedly been made for a new target.

Liverpool make Waldemar Anton enquiry

According to journalist Felix Arnold, previously of Sky Sports and now a reporter for BILD, Liverpool have made a first enquiry to sign Waldemar Anton from VfB Stuttgart.

“England's top club @LFC has inquired about captain Waldemar #Anton from @VfB Stuttgart. In addition to LFC @BVB and #B04 are also interested in the defensive leader from Stuttgart, who will be available in the summer for €22.5 million thanks to a release clause.”

A race could be on to sign the 27-year-old, who is primarily a centre-back but can turn out a right-back and as a defensive midfielder. The Stuttgart captain has also been selected in Germany’s Euro 2024 squad.

Coming through the youth ranks at Hannover 96, Anton made the move to Stuttgart in 2020 and has gone on to make 141 appearances, more than the 137 he managed for his previous employers.

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He appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €20m Transfermarkt valuation, so a £19m deal could be seen as good value, especially with the Reds on the hunt for a new defender to replace the outgoing Joel Matip. Anton came in for praise from Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeneß lat last year, who said:

"Waldi flys a bit under the radar. He plays incredibly consistently, is an unbelievable stabilizing factor, and makes very few mistakes. That's a very important characteristic for a defender. Both on and off the ball, Waldi has delivered performances that render him worthy of a look [for the national team].

"I don't mean to demand anything. There are plenty of other lads who are also good. But Waldi has played a really good season. Waldi is solid in so many areas. He brings the overall package. He's a real leader not just in matches but also in training. He fulfills that role uniquely."