Patrocinadora do São Paulo lança documentário para comemorar título do Campeonato Paulista

MatériaMais Notícias

Dizem que uma imagem vale mais do que mil palavras. Quando ela representa todos os sentimentos de um título, então, o que não falta é emoção. E se o grito de campeão paulista chega após 16 anos de espera, nada melhor do que um documentário especial para contar essa história.

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Para homenagear a mais recente conquista do São Paulo, a Brahma, patrocinadora do clube, leva para os torcedores momentos exclusivos dessa trajetória, com entrevistas inéditas de jogadores, histórias únicas e depoimentos da própria torcida são-paulina.

As reações da comissão técnica e dos jogadores ao levantarem a taça e toda a preparação para a decisão, são apenas parte do enredo. O documentário tem os torcedores como protagonistas e mostra como o título serve de inspiração para glórias futuras.

O lançamento acontece nesta sexta-feira, dia 23, às 20h30, no canal oficial do clube no YouTube.

– Conquistar um título é sempre o ápice de qualquer clube. Em um momento tão importante para a agremiação e seus torcedores, encontramos um jeito especial de homenageá-los. Estamos sempre ao lado das torcidas em todos os momentos para exaltar cada vez mais a paixão pelo futebol e por seus times de coração. O são-paulino esperava tanto uma nova conquista e agora vai poder acompanhar imagens únicas dela – afirma Paolla Pio, gerente de Marketing Regional da Cervejaria Ambev.

Rajat Bhatia announces retirement from all forms of cricket

Having pursued a course in the USA, the Ranji Trophy winner wants to now shift focus to a career in biomechanics

Shashank Kishore29-Jul-2020

BCCI

Veteran domestic allrounder Rajat Bhatia has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, bringing an end to a career that started in 2000. Bhatia, 40, last played first-class cricket in 2018-19 for Uttarakhand, but not being selected for the 2019-20 season and his own interest in pursuing a career in biomechanics made the retirement decision an easy one.”I was keen on pursuing a career in biomechanics, and when I didn’t hear back from Uttarakhand last season, I thought it’s best I focus on my interests outside the game too instead of blocking a youngster’s place,” Bhatia told ESPNcricinfo. “I’ve pursued a biomechanics course with specialisation in training and pain management in the USA. It is a one-of-a-kind course. There are many biomechanics practitioners in India for bowling, but very few in my field, so I wanted to break new ground there.”Bhatia played 112 first-class games, scoring 6482 runs at an average of 49.10 and taking 137 wickets at a shade under 28. In List A cricket, he had 3038 runs at 41.05 along with 93 wickets. It was the IPL though where his value hit greater heights; his canny right-arm medium pace mixed with slower ones made him a difficult bowler to get away during the middle phase. He was part of the title-winning Kolkata Knight Riders side in 2012.”Individually, dismissing Sachin Tendulkar thrice in the IPL is among my cherished memories, but as a team, winning the IPL in 2012 remains my favourite,” he said. “At the IPL, a lot of international cricketers didn’t rate me highly. They thought with my pace, I wouldn’t be able to trouble many top batsmen, so the fact that I managed to play in the IPL for ten years and enjoy the kind of success I did in a way was something I cherish, because I was able to prove people wrong.” In all, he played 146 T20 games, scoring 1251 runs and picking up 111 wickets.Bhatia started his career with Tamil Nadu before moving to Delhi in 2003-04 and played most of his cricket for them. His 525 runs and 26 wickets in nine matches – including a 139 in the final against Uttar Pradesh – were instrumental in Delhi lifting the Ranji Trophy in 2007-08. He played 81 first-class games for Delhi before moving to Rajasthan in 2015 after he was left out of the Delhi Ranji Trophy squad in the wake of administrative troubles in the Delhi circuit. In 2018-19, he moved to Uttarakhand and led the new entrants to the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy.In 2008, he travelled to Israel with India A along with the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, M Vijay and Wriddhiman Saha, but Bhatia didn’t make much of it.”I thought that tour was a mere formality, where we were promoting cricket, so I didn’t look at it as coming close to playing for India,” he said. “For me, I drew more satisfaction from playing for Delhi and winning the Ranji Trophy with them in 2007-08. We had a terrific side, with some prolific India players like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Aakash Chopra. Guys like Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma and Virat Kohli were just making their mark. That period was really good for Delhi cricket.”Bhatia also dabbled in Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League where he played four List A games for Mohammedan Sporting Club in 2018-19. That remains his last appearance in representative cricket.

Na moda! São Paulo fecha parceria com marca de trajes sociais

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo anunciou nesta quarta-feira (21), uma parceria com aVR Collezioni, marca de trajes sociais, que passará a ser a fornecedora oficial de trajes customizados do clube. A delegação do Tricolor passará a usar a coleção personalizada da marca, que conta com o escudo do clube bordado no paletó.

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Os trajes serão utilizados para viagens oficiais e em deslocamentos para estádios antes de grandes jogos, como clássicos e decisões. Para a partida do São Paulo contra o Racing, pela Libertadores, atletas e membros da comissão técnica viajarão para a Argentina vestindo os costumes da VR Collezioni.

Os torcedores também poderão adquirir, em breve, os ternos customizados para o São Paulo, com o escudo do clube. Eles estarão disponíveis para compra nas lojas VR Collezioni. Para o sócio-torcedor, haverá vantagens e descontos.

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador da Libertadores clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

ATUAÇÕES: Marquinhos vive noite mágica na Libertadores e vira herói na classificação do São Paulo contra o Racing

– Gostaria de saudar a chegada da VR numa parceria ampla, não só de marketing, mas também com camarote, e também com vantagens para o sócio-torcedor. Nos traz muito orgulho de ter uma marca tão conceituada no Brasil e no exterior agora vestindo o São Paulo Futebol Clube – afirmou o presidente do São Paulo, Julio Casares.

O traje social já era assunto no São Paulo devido ao estilo do técnico Hernán Crespo, que costuma usar terno no banco de reservas durante as partidas.

"لم يتعاملوا معي بالأصول".. سيد ياسين يوضح كواليس قرار إقالته من تدريب إنبي

تحدث سيد ياسين المدير الفني السابق لفريق إنبي، عن تفاصيل قرار إقالته من تدريب النادي البترولي بشكل مفاجئ، ذلك بعد مباراة الإسماعيلي التي أقيمت أمس الأحد.

وحقق فريق إنبي الفوز على الإسماعيلي بهدف دون رد، في مواجهة الجولة الرابعة من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وبشكل مفاجئ تم إعلان رحيل سيد ياسين عن تدريب إنبي وتعيين محمد إسماعيل مدير الكرة بالجهاز الفني مديرًا فنيًا.

وقال ياسين خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورت 2” لبرنامج “هاتريك”: “لم يكن هناك اتفاق على الرحيل قبل اللقاء، لكن كانت هناك كواليس واللاعبون كانوا مستاءين من بعض الأمور”.

طالع.. فيديو | شكشك يقود إنبي لفوز مثير أمام الإسماعيلي في الدوري

وأضاف: “هذا قرار الإدارة ولا أريد أن أخوض في الحديث لأن في النهاية هذا نادينا، الأمر لا يتعلق بالأمور المالية، ومن يُسئل في القرار هي الإدارة، إنبي قدم أداء جيدا منذ بداية الموسم رغم أن قوام الفريق ليس مثل باقي الأندية التي دعمت بالملايين، لكنهم كانوا رجالا”.

وتابع: “أولًا وأخيرًا هو نادينا وأتمنى لهم التوفيق، لكن أكثر ما أحزني أنني أبن من أبناء النادي ولم يتم التعامل معي بالأصول، الذي كان يُدار عني في الفترة الماضية لا يُناسب المجهود الذي أبذله، وكنت أتحمل أمورًا كثيرة، لكن قدر الله وما شاء فعل وأتمنى التوفيق للفريق”.

وواصل: “الهدف الذي كان مطلوبا مني هو البقاء في الدوري، لذلك على أي أساس تمت إقالتي بعد 4 مباريات، المفترض أن الإدارة لا تتخذ قرارت غير مدروسة أو متسرعة، وأتمنى ألا يؤثر ذلك على الفريق في المستقبل”.

وعن تعيين محمد إسماعيل مساعده بدلًا منه، أوضح: “لا أريد أن أخوض في هذا الأمر، لأن الوضع واضح للجميع، أتمنى التوفيق لكل الناس وإن شاء الله إنبي يستمر في مكانته التي تليق به”.

ويحتل إنبي المركز الحادي عشر، في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 4 نقاط بعد مرور 4 جولات، فاز في مباراة وتعادل في مثلها وخسر في مواجهتين.

Tottenham considering move for "quality" £80,000-a-week Werner alternative

Tottenham may have finally reached a decision on Timo Werner's loan move after it emerged that they are eyeing another option to play in his role this summer.

Werner left wondering

Tottenham are certain to be strengthening this summer, but whether RB Leipzig loanee Werner falls into that bracket remains unclear.

The German arrived from Leipzig on loan in January, and made a positive impact for Ange Postecoglou's side. In his 13 Premier League appearances for the Lilywhites, the former Chelsea man found the net on two occasions, grabbing another three assists to help Spurs finish in a Europa League spot.

Timo Werner in action for Tottenham.

But at 28 years old he is unlikely to get much better than he already is, and though there is a £15m option to buy the forward written into the loan deal, there is as of yet no indication that it will be triggered. Any agreement needs to be made quickly, with the clause only valid until the European Championships kick off in less than a month's time.

£55k-p/w Tottenham ace praised by Conte and Mourinho set to leave for £0

His career in north London has fizzled out and he seems set to leave.

ByBen Browning May 20, 2024

Quizzed on the move last month, Postecoglou refused to be drawn, saying: "In terms of his future, like most players, the decisions will be made at the appropriate time. I think he's been a great signing. He's been a really important part of our structure and I think he can also improve."

Now, Leipzig have perhaps been handed the biggest indication that Spurs will opt out of a permanent move, as it has emerged that they are eyeing up alternatives just days after the end of the season.

Spurs considering move for Premier League alternative

That comes courtesy of Tottenham insider and transfer intermediary Paul O Keefe, who has taken to X to reveal that Tottenham "are looking" at replacing one ex-Chelsea man with another, in the form of Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Moving to Forest for £3m last summer, the once Bayern Munich target has enjoyed a fruitful season, netting eight goals across his 29 appearances, three more than Brennan Johnson (who he replaced at Forest) managed across the season for Spurs.

The winger has drawn plenty of praise this season too, with Jermaine Jenas waxing lyrical about him on Match of the Day following two goals against Sheffield United.

“It was Callum Hudson-Odoi who shone for Forest. The quality was there to see", he explained. “So much has been spoken about him. Technically it’s an incredible finish for the first goal on the bounce. A bit of top-spin and bend it to get into that corner. It’s a real quality finish.

Werner vs Hudson Odoi 23/24

Werner

Hudson-Odoi

Appearances

13

29

Goals and Assists

5

9

Goals – xG

-1.7

+5.3

Mins per goal/assist

163

206

Shots on target per 90

0.78

0.97

Key passes per 90

1.67

1.75

“Every time he came down the left-hand side he sat Jayden Bogle down".

It remains to be seen whether Forest would entertain a sale for the 23-year-old, who still has two years to run on his £80,000 a week contract at the City Ground, but with financial fair play firmly still a concern for the Reds, a reasonable bid may well give them pause for thought.

Rangers dealt exit concern as rich club prepare bid to sign £67,000-p/w duo

With numerous fresh faces expected to arrive at Ibrox this summer, recent developments suggest that the transfer window could see some big names leave Rangers.

Latest Rangers transfer news

After losing out in both the Scottish Premiership and cup to Celtic, it is clear that Rangers will have to make some big moves in the transfer market if they are to get the better of their rivals next season.

Rangers eye move for set-piece specialist to replace Barisic

Rangers look to be seeking another signing in the coming weeks…

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 3, 2024

One name touted for a move to Ibrox is Kalvin Phillips. The midfielder is free to leave Man City on loan this summer with Rangers reportedly among the parties interested in agreeing a deal for the former England international. Another top six want-away Rangers have their eye on is Arsenal's Reuell Walters. At 19 years of age, the versatile defender would be a strong depth option for Phillippe Clement next season.

The Gers are also interested in keeping hold of existing talents with defensive veteran Leon Balogun reportedly in talks over a new deal at Ibrox. Despite being certainly past his prime aged 35, Balogun is an important part of the club and still has a lot to offer Rangers at the back.

Whilst much of the attention at Ibrox is on incomings, a new development has seen Rangers' two highest earners linked with moves away from the club this summer.

Steven Gerrard plots Rangers raid this summer

Reports out of Saudi Arabia via The Daily Record are suggesting that current Al-Ettifaq boss Steven Gerrard has prepared a bid to sign Rangers stars Connor Goldson and James Tavernier.

The ex-Rangers boss is eager to take from his former club to bolster his new side's backline. Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq only managed to finish sixth in the Saudi Pro League last season despite bringing in high-profile overseas talents such as Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum.

Losing the duo would be a major blow to the Glasgow outfit with the pair playing vital roles in Rangers' recent success. Tavernier played every game throughout the league campaign, whilst Goldson made 30 appearances as the Ibrox side lost out on the title to their city rivals Celtic.

The departure of Tavernier would likely hit hardest with the full back a vital part of Clement's side on the attacking front despite being a defender by trade.

James Tavernier Scottish Premiership Stats 2023/24

Total

Rangers Rank

Goals

17

1st

Assists

10

1st

Matches Started

38

1st=

Shots

79

2nd

Minutes Played

3409

2nd

As per a report by The Scotsman, Tavernier and Goldson currently stand as Rangers' two highest earners. Commanding wages of £30,000 per week and £37,000 per week respectively, getting these figures off the books would likely not be worth the loss of two quality players.

Glasgow Rangers captain James Tavernier.

With the eye-watering figures often paid by Saudi sides well known, the offer that arrives for the duo may be too good for Rangers to turn down. Gerrard is reportedly eager to get the deal done before his side's pre-season starts in mid-July, meaning that the transfer will have to be struck well before the window closes.

جوارديولا: حزين على لاعبي فريقي.. ونحتاج إلى 50 لاعبًا بسبب الإصابات

تحدث بيب جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي عن تعدد الإصابات في فريقه ودفاعه المتهالك، وألقى باللوم على جدول المباريات المزدحم.

ويلتقي مانشستر سيتي في الديربي مع مانشستر يونايتد يوم الأحد بمنافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

جوارديولا ظهر خلال مؤتمر صحفي اليوم الجمعة للحديث عن المباراة، وتطرق للإصابات في فريقه.

وقال جوارديولا: “لا أعرف ماذا علي أن أفعل، أنا بحاجة إلى لاعبين، لدينا ثلاثة لاعبين ولكن سنرى ما سيحدث”.

وأردف: “ربما يتعين على أحد اللاعبين الجناحين اللعب كظهير أو ربما نلعب بخمسة لاعبين في الخلف”.

اقرأ أيضًا | جوارديولا يكشف استراتيجيته للتعامل مع سوء نتائج مانشستر سيتي.. ويصرح: أنا تحت التدقيق في كل خطوة

وأكد جوارديولا: “نحن نفكر فيما يجب أن نفعله، لكن روح الفريق موجودة، أنا حزين على اللاعبين”.

وأشار: “أعرف وأتفهم تمامًا أن جماهيرنا قد تكون حزينة، لقد صنعت هذه المجموعة من اللاعبين حقبة وفعلت أشياء لم يفعلها أحد آخر، حطموا أرقامًا قياسية، أنا فقط أدعو المشجعين إلى التواجد حتى النهاية”.

وأضاف: “لدينا إصابات أكثر من أي وقت مضى وهذا جعلني أعتقد أنك بحاجة إلى فريق من 45/50 لاعبًا، سيكون الأمر أكثر تكلفة في الصيف ولكن ربما تحتاج إلى مزيد من العمق في الفريق”.

وأتم جوارديولا: “الجدول الزمني هو المشكلة، وليس المعالجين الطبيعيين أو الأطباء أو اللاعبين، هذه هي الحقيقة”.

MS Dhoni a 'pure instinct man' – Rahul Dravid, N Srinivasan discuss data and leadership

Along with data, “instinct comes in and ability to read the game, which Dhoni clearly has”, says Dravid

Deivarayan Muthu02-Aug-20201:17

Nehra: This IPL has nothing to do with Dhoni’s international career

T20 is a format that’s fickle and frantic, but MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings have somehow cracked consistency, reaching the IPL knockouts in each of the ten seasons they have been a part of. Rahul Dravid, who has come up against the Super Kings both as captain and coach, put down the team’s success to a combination of their use of data and Dhoni’s instincts.Dravid was speaking at a webinar hosted by the Great Lakes Institute of Management, where N Srinivasan, the former BCCI chief and head of India Cements, which owns Super Kings, was also present, and he labelled Dhoni a “pure instinct man”.”If you look at the success CSK has had, they’ve got really good access to data and they’ve got really good access to people behind the scenes and they’ve run cricket teams at the junior level,” Dravid said. “They understand talent and they’ve obviously got a good scouting process in place. But, what they also have is a captain who really understands instincts. So, I mean, look, I know Dhoni quite well and I hope he hasn’t changed, but I know Dhoni is probably not one to look at reams of data and statistics.”And he’s probably not going to get as involved in the auction process because when you’re looking at picking a squad of say 25 players or 28 players as CSK would, they need so much of information because there are so many players that they can pick from. They are probably not going to have the ability to see each and every one of the thousands of cricketers who play cricket in India and the overseas players, right?”So, you’re going to heavily rely on data and whatever metrics you put up. And, I think, the right metrics is critical because obviously CSK does that when assembling a squad. Then, what you do is once you’ve handed over the squad to the coach and to captain on the field, it’s critically important to have somebody with instincts and get the better of it, which obviously Dhoni is good at.”In the heat of the battle, you have your analysis, you got your coach and you’ve probably planned the game. But there are critical moments in a game, especially in a Twenty20 game, when every over matters. You can’t rely on data all the time… because you collect it from a past event. But, on that particular day, he (the player) might not be feeling very well or the captain might have noticed that his form is not good on that particular moment. That’s where instinct comes in and ability to read the game, which Dhoni clearly has.”Dhoni’s instinct and game-smarts came to the fore again during the 2010 IPL final, where he trapped Kieron Pollard with a funky field. Given Pollard’s propensity to hit the ball down the ground, Dhoni posted Matthew Hayden at straight mid-off and challenged Pollard to clear that fielder. However, Pollard only scooped Albie Morkel straight to Hayden as Super Kings went on to win their maiden IPL title.More recently, during the 2019 IPL final, Dhoni had one of his best fielders, Faf du Plessis, at straight long-off or straight long-on against Pollard. And when R Ashwin was at the Super Kings, Dhoni used the spinner as a powerplay option and often deployed a leg slip for him.During a Champions League T20 fixture in 2010 against Victoria in Port Elizabeth, Dhoni entrusted part-time offspinner Suresh Raina with the responsibility of defending 11 off the final over. Raina plucked two wickets and gave up two boundaries before Bryce McGain’s run-out off the last ball helped the Super Kings tie the game.Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Srinivasan agreed that Dhoni’s tactics and judgment had been central to Super Kings’ set-up. He also said that Dhoni didn’t really believe in team meetings, something Dwayne Bravo revealed last year.”We’re awash with data just now,” Srinivasan said. “To give you an example, there are bowling coaches and in a T20 game, they play videos of every batsman whom they’re going to come against and they see how he got out, what’s his strength, what’s his weakness etc. So, MS Dhoni doesn’t attend this, he’s a pure instinct man. The bowling coach, [head coach Stephen] Fleming will be there and everybody will be there, everyone is giving opinions, [but] he’ll get up and go.”In the context of instinct, he feels that he can assess a batsman or player on the field, that’s his judgement. On the other hand, there is so much of data that is available to help a person also analyse. It’s a very difficult line to draw [between data and instinct].”Srinivasan also outlined the challenges of bringing players from different cultures together and running an IPL franchise.”There was one outstanding player that we suggested to MS, he said: ‘no sir, he will spoil the team’. The cohesion within the team is important and see in America, franchise-based sport has been there for such a long time,” he said. “In India, we’re just starting and we’re new to it. But we at India Cements have had a lot of experience running teams at junior levels – Rahul has been part of us – [and] one aspect is that we understood from the beginning is when you manage and run a team, you own the franchise, not the player. You own the team, but not each and every player.”If we’re talking of competitive IPL or competitive T20, all of them are outstanding performers. To get 10-12 people together and to keep the peace between them itself is not an easy task.”

Ceará tenta aumentar invencibilidade e entrar no G-6 da Liberta

MatériaMais Notícias

O Ceará vive um grande momento na temporada 2021. Após as turbulências com os vices no estadual e regional e a eliminação na Copa Sul-Americana, Guto Ferreira recolocou o time nos trilhos.

+ Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada

A prova da fase positiva é a classificação do Campeonato Brasileiro, onde a equipe aparece na 7ª colocação e com 10 jogos de invencibilidade.

Agora, a ordem no Vozão é pisar no acelerador e aproveitar o momento positivo para aumentar os números e entrar no G-6 da Libertadores.

Com 22 pontos, o Vozão retorna a campo no fim de semana e o adversário é o Atlético-GO, na Arena Castelão. Para entrar na zona da Liberta, o time de Guto precisa vencer e torcer por tropeço do Athletico.

Vale lembrar, que o Furacão entra em campo no sábado, quando mede forças contra o São Paulo, na Arena da Baixada.

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Rod Bransgrove warns against 'knee-jerk' reforms to County Championship structure

Hampshire chairman says sanctity of first-class format must be protected for future seasons

George Dobell22-Sep-2020

Rod Bransgrove pictured during the Ageas Bowl Test against India in 2018•Getty Images

Rod Bransgrove has warned against the “knee-jerk” reaction of adopting the format of the Bob Willis Trophy (BWT) beyond the 2020 season.While Brangrove, the chairman of Hampshire and a former member of the ECB board, accepts the merits of the competition in the unique circumstances of this season, he is concerned by the prospect of a similar format being utilised in 2021 and, perhaps, beyond.As things stand, the ECB are set to confirm a new-look County Championship programme for 2021. This will see the 18 teams split into three conferences – arranged not regionally, as in 2020, but on their finishing positions in 2019 – in which they will play 10 games. After the mid-season break for white-ball cricket, the Championship will then return in what they are hoping becomes known as ‘super September’, with the counties now split into three divisions. In those they will play four more games, before the top two in division one contest a final.While that schedule is, at present, recommended only for 2021, there are whispers the format could be adopted permanently.But Bransgrove, at least, is underwhelmed by the proposals. In an email to other county chairs which has been seen by ESPNcricinfo, he has questioned both the motives for the changes and the lack of consultation with which they have been made.In particular, Bransgrove has reservations about incorporating a final into the County Championship schedule and questions the lack of consultation with spectators.”The County Championship is a truly great competition and we are constantly being told that it is the competition that players most want to win,” Bransgrove wrote. “And why not?  It is an endurance marathon comprising 14 matches and covering up to 56 days each of six hours or so.”The competition is designed to iron out the huge anomalies that exist in this amazing game; the toss, overhead conditions, bad light, pitch conditions, weather interruptions, form, fitness, injury, official’s decisions, England call-ups, Lions call-ups. Any single one, or any combination, of these issues can conspire to impact hugely on the outcome of a one-off match but, over a symmetrical programme of 7 home and 7 away matches, these issues tend to balance out and the Champion is always the best team in the Competition.”Why on Earth would anyone want to then force such a Champion to play a one-off, ‘winner takes all’ fixture against the top losing team with all the vagaries mentioned above? There is a reason that Test Matches are played in series!”In addition, Bransgrove warned that the concept of a one-off final was a “sub-optimal, compromise solution”, whose apparent attractiveness could not be established without a degree of market research. The absence of spectators for 2020 meant that there had been “absolutely no customer feedback”, while he pointed to the failure of the ECB and Sky Sports to agree to a TV broadcast as further proof that the concept had been “spurned by the broadcasters”.”The currently-approved County Championship was the basis upon which our Members (customers) all purchased their 2020 memberships,” he added, “and, in the main, these memberships are being rolled on to next year following the cancellation of this year’s competition. Do we have the right to gratuitously change this without even discussing it with our fee-paying customers and supporters?”Bransgrove appears to blame the Professional Game Group (PGG) for the proposed changes. The PGG consists of a quartet of county chief executives – Rob Andrew (Sussex), Richard Gould (Surrey), Lisa Pursehouse (Nottinghamshire) and Tim Bostock (Durham) – who won widespread praise for driving through the staging of the BWT this year.ALSO READ: Cream rises to the top as Essex and Somerset prepare for Lord’s finalBut Bransgrove feels they are exploiting the current situation to push through their own agendas and feels the episode has lacked the “consultative process” which should have prefaced such changes.”Just over two years ago, the ECB embarked upon a major consultative process to review the Domestic Structure of our game,” he wrote. “There were strong views expressed all round but the robust process led ultimately to a structure which the County Chairs approved and committed to. We had just one season’s experience of the new structure before the catastrophic events of 2020 which resulted in a major part of this year’s cricket programme being obliterated.”When the dust has settled on this very troubled season, the Counties need to debate calmly and openly whether or not they need to reconsider the Domestic Structure and the views of the small, but dedicated, customer base for the four-day format should be a major consideration. In my opinion, there is no case at present for a “knee-jerk” change to the Domestic Structure of domestic cricket in 2021.”Bransgrove’s stance drew qualified support from Tom Abell, Somerset’s captain, who acknowledged that this year’s BWT final was the best that county cricket could hope for in the circumstances, but that the County Championship’s existing format remained his preference.”In the immediate future, it’s obviously very special to be involved in a Lord’s final given the Covid situation,” Abell said. “It’s as good as we possibly could have had. But personally, I’m a big advocate of of the County Championship. Over the course of 14 or 16 games, the best team will often prevail and I think that’s the way it should be.”

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