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A thrilling Women’s World Cup final at a sold out Lord’s was a match years in the making and can define the future of the game

Melinda Farrell at Lord's23-Jul-2017Where were you when England won the World Cup?Where were you on Sunday morning when the queues to get into the ground, half of them women and girls, stretched along Wellington Parade almost the entire way to St John’s Wood station? Were you in the excited, buzzing throng, ignoring the touts? Who could have imagined they would ever hear the slightly seedy muttering of “Buy or sell any tickets? Buy or sell any tickets?” on their way to a women’s match?Where was the late Baroness Rachael Heyhoe-Flint when the trophy, which many feel should bear her name, floated by balloon into the ground in the arms of a twirling and tumbling courier clad all in white, as if sent to earth from the heavens above? Even the most hardened atheist would wish for an afterlife if they knew Heyhoe-Flint could look down and see the Home of Cricket – a place where she fought so tenaciously for female recognition – jammed with jubilant mothers and fathers and sons and daughters, made over for a wholehearted celebration of the women’s game.Where was Charlotte Edwards when Tammy Beaumont creamed back to back boundaries off Shikha Pandey with the most delicious pair of cover drives? She wanted to be in the middle, she wanted this to be her swansong. But the darling of England cricket made way for the new generation. She has played a bigger part than most in this sport. And she was still at Lord’s, barely able to move through the crowd for fans wanting autographs and selfies. “You ate one of my brownies once at a match!” calls out one delighted fan. Lottie nods and beams and shakes a sea of hands before joining an overwhelmingly female commentary line up: Mel Jones, Lisa Sthalekar, Lydia Greenway, Isa Guha, Ebony Rainford-Brent – legends all – have also played their part in this momentous day and the game’s journey towards it.Where was the Bharat Army when Jhulan Goswami turned the match on its head with back-to-back wickets in a two-over spell of ferocity and guile? There they were, banging out Bhangra beats on a dhol, surely the first to be allowed in a prim and proper Lord’s. They were there waving Indian flags, competing for air space with those bearing the Cross of St George. Flags? At Lord’s? Draped on the balcony outside the Indian dressing room? Of course they were, this was a day when everything seemed possible; when conventions made way for joyful expression.Where was John Etheridge, the ‘s veteran cricket reporter, during the 1993 Women’s World Cup Final at Lord’s? He was in the old press box at the top of what is now the revamped Warner stand, watching England’s 67-run victory over New Zealand in front of a few thousand fans. He would write of the match: “The charm of the game was its femininity. They dressed like girls and played like girls. And Kirsty Bond, the Kiwis’ No 3, had the striking beauty to catch any selector’s eye.”And here was Etheridge on the edge of his seat in the new Lord’s press box, as the game reached its crescendo, writing about the thrilling climax, not the dress, at his second Women’s World Cup final, the scene unrecognizable from the one he witnessed 24 years earlier.A few seats along in a full media centre, containing more female journalists than anyone there could remember seeing in a press box, sat Mike Atherton, his appreciative cry of “Shot!” carrying over the tapping of fingers on keys as Veda Krishnamurthy threaded a perfect cover drive to the boundary. Twenty-four years earlier, as the newly installed England Men’s captain he’d sent a telegram to his female counterpart, Karen Smithies, on the eve of the final to wish her good luck. Now he was one of several high profile newspaper writers – Vic Marks, Lawrence Booth, Scyld Berry among them – biting their nails and craning at replays, completely absorbed in the breathtaking contest.Alex Hartley claimed the key wicket of Harmanpreet Kaur but the main drama was still to come•AFPWhere were you when Punam Raut threatened a rout of England’s bowling? When Mithali Raj couldn’t make her ground? When Sarah Taylor missed a stumping? When catches were dropped and rash shots were played? Were you screaming at the television at home, at work, listening on the radio along with millions of others? Were you Hassam on the M2 motorway? Were you Dharmesh or Anil or Vigay in the Republic of Congo? Or Kinshuk in the Netherlands? Were you Sabbah watching in a tiny village, 7500 feet up in Himalayan Kashmir? Or maybe Aishwaryaa in the rural Tamil Nadu district of Dindigul. James in Taiwan, Dhaval in Bergen, Shiwe in Harfield, Cape Town? Or perhaps you were Oni, sitting on bench number 3, platform number 2, at the Bhatinda Punjab railway station. Sitting by a swimming pool in Crete, like Beni. Sharang in Phoenix, Arizona. Prague, Hyderabad, Shanghai, Darwin, Dallas, Hong Kong. All tweeting with hope and fear and pride and trepidation.Where was 12-year-old Kirin? She was sitting at the back of the Warner stand, cheering loudly with her family. After travelling to Derby and witnessing India beat England in the opening match of the tournament she told her mother she wanted to play for England. The following week she asked her teachers at school if she could start playing cricket. No, they told her. It’s not available for girls. She is now playing rounders.Here, a pause. There is still much work to be done.Where was Anya Shrubsole in 2001? She was in the stands of an empty Lord’s, a ten-year-old girl gazing around the ground while her father, Ian, snapped photos. In one of them, posted on Twitter on the eve of the final, she turns back to the camera and smiles. “What a place!” the caption reads. “I’d like to play here… for England… in a World Cup final.”And there was Shrubsole at a sold out Lord’s playing for England in a World Cup final, arms spread wide after she bowled Smriti Mandhana through the gate, the ball smashing into the stumps. And there was Shrubsole again at the death, with India closing in on the target and the crowd screaming behind her as she shattered the stumps again. This time it was Goswami, this time it was the inswinging yorker that has always been her stock and trade in big moments. And there she was hurling the ball at the stumps. And at the end, roaring with delight as the final wicket fell. How many ten-year-olds roared along with her in a Lord’s as full with the dreams of little girls as it was with physical bodies? Which one of them will stand in the middle sometime in the future, winning a World Cup for their country, while their father tweets pictures of them from this wonderful, glorious day?Where was Raj, for so long the backbone of India, when the dream ended? She was there, comforting her young charges, knowing this was her last World Cup appearance, then she was facing the media with all the class and intelligence she has always shown. Raj and her team-mates may have lost the final but they have won over the world. And most importantly they have awakened India. Seven television stations broadcast the final in that cricket-hungry country in three different languages. And where were senior BCCI officials, rarely seen at women’s matches? They were at Lord’s, they were awarding bonuses worth more than three times an annual contract, they were looking out over a heaving, rocking crowd. They must now surely realize there is an audience for this.And where was Heather Knight? Where was Mark Robinson? Where was England?They were leaping on a podium with the trophy that was flown in from the heavens, showered in champagne and streamers, dripping in laughter and tears and joyful relief.Where were you when England won the World Cup?You were everywhere. And you were here.

Everton are yet to really get going in the transfer market as manager Sean Dyche looks to build his team and veer away from the relegation threat that has plagued the club over the past two seasons, though Kelechi Iheanacho is now being targetting to bolster the ranks.

Who wants to sign Kelechi Iheanacho?

According to Football Transfers, the Nigerian forward is admired by the Toffees hierarchy and could be approached over the coming weeks to provide the misfiring frontline with some new firepower, but only in the event that prime target El Bilal Toure would reject the Goodison Park side.

Well, as it goes, the Almeria striker is reportedly closing in on a transfer to Atalanta to replace Rasmus Hojlund, who is being pursued by Manchester United, which paves the way for Iheanacho's move to Merseyside.

The Foxes forward, aged 26, is expected to cost around £10m to be prised away from the King Power Stadium, and given Everton's tough time in front of goal – the Blues only outscored Wolverhampton Wanderers last term – Iheanacho could be the answer.

How good is Kelechi Iheanacho?

Described as an "excellent" attacker by his former manager Brendan Rodgers, Iheanacho would significantly boost the Toffees' frontal firepower.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a fine player, but alas finds the medical department his stomping ground all too often, while Neal Maupay yields one solitary goal one year on from his £15m move from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Iheanacho is not quite the household name certain segments of the Everton support may covet, but he is a dependable striker with a wealth of experience and a consistent goal-scoring record, having plundered 88 direct contributions from 206 matches for Leicester after arriving from Manchester City, where he scored 21 goals from 64 matches.

Having won the FA Cup with his current club and the League Cup with the Citizens, the 45-cap international also boasts the winning mentality that could be instilled across the Blues ranks, something in short supply after a miserable two years that have indeed threatened the preservation of the side's top-flight status.

Iheanacho could emulate his compatriot Alex Iwobi with a move to Merseyside, the dynamic midfielder leaving Arsenal and penning a deal worth £34m in 2018, and thrive under Dyche's wing as he forges a path to success.

Iwobi ranks among the top 14% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 14% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, and could meld very nicely with a player he knows well from international exploits with Nigeria.

Iheanacho, comparatively, ranks among the top 2% of forwards for assists, the top 13% for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, and having scored five goals from just 11 league starts last term as Leicester plummeted into the second tier, he could be the dynamic component missing from Dyche's system.

With Arnaut Danjuma also signing for Goodison on loan this summer, Iheanacho could be the astute purchase to complete the attacking ranks and ensure that the increments are made to navigate away from the instability that the club have been mired in of recent years.

While West Indies will look to build on their 47-run victory against Sri Lanka, Pakistan will be keen on ending their 12-match winless streak in the World Cup

The preview by Annesha Ghosh10-Jul-2017With the league stage of the World Cup entering its penultimate phase, two of the three teams that are out of contention for the semi-finals will fight for pride in Leicester. While West Indies will look to build on their 47-run victory against Sri Lanka, Pakistan will be keen on ending their 12-match winless streak in the World Cup. Their last victory in a World Cup fixture came in the 2009 edition – against the same opponents.West Indies, however, may read little into that loss, considering it’s one of their only five defeats to Pakistan out of 21 ODIs. Besides, that their captain Stafanie Taylor boasts an average of 64 in 13 ODI innings versus Pakistan – the best by any player with eight innings or more against them – can only help them better the 229 they scored against Sri Lanka on Sunday, their highest in this campaign.Taylor emphasized that even though her team is no longer in the running for a top-four finish, the significance of a victory cannot be undervalued, especially considering Pakistan would be eager to get their first win in the tournament. “We know how important these games are. We definitely want to win and go home on a high,” Taylor said.”Pakistan has always been a fighting team against anyone, but I think everyone thinks West Indies is a team they want to beat. They all come out hard against us.”Taylor’s counterpart Sana Mir, who became the first woman from her country to reach the 100-ODIs landmark on Saturday, fought a lone battle with the bat as her side went down to New Zealand by eight wickets.The fifth straight loss further exposed Pakistan’s woes in the batting department, a fact established by Mir, a bowling allrounder, being the highest run-getter for Pakistan in this tournament so far. Having top scored in the last three games, with 29 against India, 45 against Australia and 50 against New Zealand, Mir hopes the youngsters who “showed promise in the previous tournaments” are able to able to apply themselves better in the remaining matches.”It’s not acceptable at international level that you’re four down for 30 runs in three-four games”, she said.Sana Mir is Pakistan’s leading run-getter in the tournament so far•International Cricket CouncilBarring the first match, where Pakistan posted 206 against South Africa before falling to a three-wicket defeat, the batsmen haven’t been able to post more than 150 in the World Cup.The loss of Bismah Maroof – Pakistan’s leading run-getter in ODIs – to injury robbed their line-up of the security she provides in the top order, and this was echoed by Mir.”We have to be patient with the team. Not having Bismah Maroof around makes things tougher as a batter. There have been a couple of times where we’ve lost early wickets, where she would have come in and given us a platform to put a good total on the board.”It’s extremely important for us to finish this tournament on a strong note,” Mir said. “We started off with a strong game, then things started slipping, so it’s extremely important to finish well.”In the most-recent contest at Grace Road, South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk had run through the Indian line-up with her legbreaks, on a pitch that slowed down further in the second innings. West Indies, who were at the receiving end of a similar salvo from Niekerk in their last outing at the ground, would be mindful of their ten-wicket loss to South Africa.For Pakistan, though, familiarity with the venue may lend a psychological advantage, given they are the only side in this tournament to have played three games at Grace Road, having restricted defending champions Australia to 18 for 2 in the Powerplay in their last match.With the Pakistan spin attack having accounted for 18 of the 29 wickets taken by the bowlers so far, Taylor said West Indies need to “counteract” early in the game.”We know Pakistan’s usual team. They are going to come with their spinners because that’s what they mostly do to all the teams.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in Fluminense midfielder Andre, as Julen Lopetegui seeks reinforcements to replace those that have departed Molineux.

The Spaniard bid farewell to midfield duo Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho this summer, leaving vacancies for talent to take to the stage in the Midlands in a bid to fill the void left by the Portuguese pair.

Who wants to sign Andre?

As reported by Brazilian outlet Bolavip, relayed by Sport Witness, Wolves are ready to battle fellow Premier League representatives to sign Andre.

Both Fulham and Liverpool are also named as those interested in the 22-year-old, who is ‘identified as a target’ by the Old Gold.

As per the report, the midfielder is rated highly by Fluminense, who are stated to ‘only agree to negotiate’ a sale in the region of £35m.

How good is Andre?

Lauded as an “orchestrator” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Brazilian has earned a heap of praise from the scout, who dubbed him “unbelievable” for his antics representing Fluminense.

Rising through the ranks at the club, the defensive midfielder is a live wire in the middle of the park, having strengths in ball retention and carrying as a valued cog in the engine room.

Such compliments are supported by his numbers, winning an average of 62% of his total duels and marking a dribble success rate of 70% in the Brazilian Serie A, as per Sofascore.

The 22-year-old is an integral member of Fluminense’s squad, with a level of importance that could be carried across to Molineux, with the midfielder posing as the perfect puzzle piece to complete Lopetegui’s midfield.

The Spaniard already recruited the other part of the picture in January, in a fellow swoop from Brazil when the Old Gold obtained Joao Gomes from Flamengo.

Wolves could replace their Portuguese core with a new Brazilian one by hiring Andre, who could be the perfect candidate to partner Gomes in the middle of the park.

The duo have the potential to unearth the ideal balance between a combative and ball-playing midfield partnership, one that sparks echoes of Moutinho and Neves before them.

Comparing the numbers that the two Brazilian’s recorded in their most recent seasons in the Brazilian Serie A, it’s clear to see just the impact they could have if partnered at Molineux.

First and foremost, the duo are both strong defenders, with Gomes averaging a monstrous 4.40 tackles per 90 in the 2022 Serie A, with Andre following with an average of 2.10 per 90 this year, via FBref.

Being a competent defender is only half of the job for a deep midfielder, with strengths in distribution also key.

Lopetegui could rest well knowing he has an assured pivot in the engine room, with Gomes averaging a pass completion rate of 86.9% to the Wolves target’s mammoth 93.2% success rate in 2023.

While the Old Gold ace prevailed in his defensive duties, the Fluminense ace showed he is a wizard on the ball, averaging 75.82 attempted passes and 6.31 final third passes per 90 in Serie A, highlighting his desire to be involved in the play.

Lopetegui could land the ultimate coup by securing the signing of the 22-year-old, who has already caught the eye of others in the Premier League.

An unbroken last wicket partnership of 75 between Vernon Philander and Danny Briggs frustrated Leicestershire after the Foxes had looked set to take a big first innings lead on the second day of their championship match against Sussex

ECB Reporters Network10-Jun-2017
ScorecardVernon Philander’s batting prowess boosted Sussex•Getty ImagesAn unbroken last wicket partnership of 75 between Vernon Philander and Danny Briggs frustrated Leicestershire after the Foxes had looked set to take a big first innings lead on the second day of their championship match against Sussex.Australian seamer Clint McKay took four wickets as Leicestershire reduced the visitors to 201-9, replying to the home team’s first innings 340.But Philander, playing his last match for Sussex before returning to South Africa, hit a fine half-century, and Briggs gave him impressively determined support before bad light saw play end with 7.2 overs remaining in the day.Sussex had been under pressure from the start of their innings, after Zak Chappell bowled acting captain Chris Nash with a delivery which seamed back in to the right-hander, as well as keeping a touch low.McKay then won two leg before decisions in as many balls, Luke Wells with a delivery which would have gone on to hit off-stump, and Stiaan van Zyl on the back foot to a ball that would have hit middle.Luke Wright and Harry Finch had added 65 for the fourth wicket before Wright, who had hit eight fours in going to 36, tried to pull a delivery from Ben Raine which also kept low, and lost his off-stump.The bounce was becoming increasingly unpredictable, and Michael Burgess, formerly of Leicestershire, never looked comfortable before going leg before to McKay.Finch, who had battled his way through to a half-century, was bowled by a Raine delivery that straightened to hit the top of off-stump, and David Wiese, having been bowled by a Chappell no-ball, could not make the most of his reprieve, edging another Chappell delivery to wicket-keeper Ned Eckersley.Chris Jordan was fortunate to edge McKay just short of Paul Horton at first slip, but the all-rounder began to settle and with Philander, took the visitors to within reach of the follow-on target of 191 at tea. Shortly after the break, however, Jordan drove at McKay without getting to the pitch of the ball and was brilliantly caught by Tom Wells diving to his left at cover.Jofra Archer hooked a Dieter Klein bouncer straight to Mark Pettini at deep square leg, but Philander and Briggs played with rather more restraint in seeing their side through a further 25 overs before play ended.Earlier the Foxes had lost their last three wickets in adding just 18 to their overnight score of 322-7. Chris Jordan, wicket-less on the first day, had Chappell caught off at mid-off by Nash off a leading edge before McKay wafted outside off-stump to give Michael Burgess a simple catch behind the stumps.Having pulled Jordan dismissively to the midwicket boundary, Mark Cosgrove, on 128, then failed to clear mid-off with an attempted lofted drive.

An update has emerged on Liverpool and their plans to restructure their midfield options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest Liverpool midfielder transfer news?

According to talkSPORT, the Reds are considering a swoop to sign Brighton & Hove Albion defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo during the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Merseyside giants could raid the Premier League side for a second time this summer, following the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister from them last month, if they lose two of their current options in the middle of the park.

Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea are also said to be in the race to land the Ecuador international, who is valued at a staggering £100m by Roberto De Zerbi's club.

Al Ittihad are reportedly in talks over a possible deal to sign Fabinho from Anfield, which could see the Brazil international move to Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson is said to have agreed terms with Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq ahead of a possible permanent transfer.

How good is Moises Caicedo?

The 21-year-old dynamo is a proven Premier League performer who has already showcased his ability as a number six in the top flight, which could allow Jurgen Klopp to forget all about Fabinho by signing him over the coming weeks.

Last season, Caicedo averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.08 across 37 league appearances for Brighton, which is a score that would have placed him sixth in the Liverpool squad and the highest-rated midfielder within the team.

Klopp's Brazilian enforcer averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.87 over 36 outings and showcased his defensive quality with 2.8 tackles and interceptions combined per game to go along with a duel success rate of 50%.

The Brighton star, who was once described as a "Machine Man" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, made an outstanding 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game alongside a 58% success rate in his physical battles.

These statistics suggest that the 21-year-old, who is eight years younger than the Liverpool warrior, could be a significant upgrade on Fabinho in terms of the average standard of his performances, as well as the defensive work that he carries out to win possession back for the team on a regular basis throughout games.

Caicedo could also provide more quality in attack as the talented youngster has averaged more progressive passes and progressive carries combined per 90 (7.37) over the last 365 days in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions in comparison to the 29-year-old battler (5.89).

His use of the ball in midfield could, therefore, allow the Reds to progress the play more frequently than they currently do with Fabinho in that position, which could present the forwards with more opportunities to pick possession up in advanced areas to do their damage at the top end of the pitch.

The Brighton hotshot's impressive qualities on and off the ball at Premier League level suggest that the quality is there for him to be a significant upgrade on the former Monaco man in midfield, which is why Klopp could forget all about the Al Ittihad target by swooping to sign the South American talent before the deadline.

Arsenal "will make" a second midfield signing this summer as manager Mikel Arteta continues his squad overhaul, according to reports.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The north Londoners mean business this summer and sporting director Edu has been very busy so far, having already sealed deals for Germany international Kai Havertz, defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax and a club-record £105 million move for Declan Rice.

Arsenal's total expenditure by the end of this transfer window could total over £200 million, as per claims in the media, with the Gunners also linked to making further signings.

Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia, who is also attracting their interest, may cost around £50 million but Arsenal are believed to be targeting the Belgium international. Further forward, it is also said that they want to sign Montepellier forward Elye Wahi, alongside the likes of Newcastle, Strasbourg and Eintracht Frankfurt.

However, if they're to make these moves, Arsenal may well need to offload certain players to balance the books -with former midfield general Granit Xhaka already making the move to Bayer Leverkusen recently.

Thomas Partey, who was a fixture in Arteta's starting eleven, may well be on the way out himself as Arsenal seemingly plot a major revamp of their midfield.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, backing their interest in Lavia, reporter Ryan Taylor of The Daily Express has assured supporters that they "will make" a second midfield signing this summer. Even if Lavia's price tag is a deterrent right now, Taylor does expect another addition in that area, while he also claims Partey looks certain to make way.

"As we know, Liverpool were there as well and again, my understanding of Lavia is the price tag needs to drop," said Taylor.

"I don't think any of those parties are prepared to pay £45-50 million for him, particularly after Southampton's relegation. So I do believe Arsenal will make a second midfield signing and I do also expect Thomas Partey to make way."

Little else is said on how Edu and co expect to fund the signing of another body in that area, but going by Taylor's claim, Gooners can await more potential transfer activity before the window's closure.

Who else should Arsenal sign?

We believe Lavia is, by far, a brilliant candidate to shore up Arteta's midfield options further whilst providing real strength in depth.

While the 19-year-old's price tag is arguably excessive, especially considering the Saints' drop to the Championship, there is little denying his quality.

If Southampton are willing to compromise on Lavia's asking price, the teenager could be a brilliant addition, with members of the press revering his sky high ceiling.

Last season, the midfielder stood out as a "shining star" at St. Mary's Stadium, at least according to journalist Sam Tighe, who also said that Arsenal supporters should be "excited" by his potential arrival.

"I watched every game Roméo Lavia played last season and he was absolutely incredible," said the reporter on Twitter.

"A shining star despite playing in terrible circumstances most of the time. Arsenal reportedly advancing on a deal…one to be very excited about."

The former Man City starlet has also been praised by Pep Guardiola for his brilliant first season on the south coast.

Australia’s coach, Darren Lehmann, has declined to publicly air his views on the ongoing player pay dispute with Cricket Australia, but has emphasised the importance of the two parties getting a deal done soon

Daniel Brettig18-May-2017Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann has strong views about the fixed revenue percentage model that the players are presently battling Cricket Australia to retain in the next payment MOU. But he’s not going to air them publicly.Lehmann, a former player delegate and president of the Australian Cricketers’ Association and now a highly-paid employee of CA, sat firmly on the fence ahead of the national team’s departure for England and the ICC Champions Trophy – the last tournament to take place before the June 30 expiry of the current pay deal.Though he acknowledged that the dispute would be a distraction for the players over at least the next six weeks, he doubted the Ashes would be disrupted, saying “I wouldn’t think so, and I would hope not as a fan”. Most of all, he stressed the importance of the two parties re-opening effective, respectful communication to get a deal done.”Both parties have got to get talking, that’s what they’ve got to do,” Lehmann said the day after CA rejected the ACA’s request for independent mediation. “Once they get that they’ll get a deal done, and once that happens we’ll be right and get the game going the way it should be.”What I want to do is see both parties come to the table and get a deal done for the betterment of the game. From the grass roots right through to the elite cricketers. From a players point of view they’re sticking together, we support players and support CA. Everyone supports each other, it is just a case of getting a deal done.”Communication has been a hallmark of how Lehmann has coached Australia, and he has continued that theme during the dispute. He has discussed matters at length with the national captain Steven Smith during his IPL stint, and also indicated that he would open the floor to players to discuss matters together when they convene in England, for the start of a campaign that leads ultimately to the 2019 World Cup and Ashes double.”It is going to be a bit of a distraction there’s no doubt about that,” Lehmann said. “But at the end of the day we’re there to concentrate on the cricket, we’ve got to do the best job we possibly can so from my point of view they’ve just got to get talking, simple fact of life. They’re both adults, both will deal with it as best they can and get the outcome right for the game.”We’ll talk about it when we all meet. You have to do that, you’ve got to keep it open in communication so we know the direction everyone’s going. At the end of the day it’s about getting ready for that first game and playing well. The next three years we go to England for one dayers the following year and then we’ve got the World Cup, so it’s a pretty important tournament for us in many ways.”While pointing out that negotiations have often run close to the wire in the past, Lehmann admitted he had not seen such acrimony between the two parties since the 1997-98 dispute that ultimately led to the revenue-sharing arrangement that has existed over the past 20 years.”I was there as a player and a delegate and then president,” he said. “You have those issues, every sport has them, so it’s just about communication and getting the right outcome for both parties. That’s the key. Both sides I’m sure will get there. It traditionally goes quite late, so there’s no panic, it’s just about those two parties getting together.”

The 83-year old has said he will step down in June due to ‘health and personal reasons’

Umar Farooq31-Mar-2017Shaharyar Khan has tendered his resignation from the post of PCB chairman and is expected to step down after the ICC’s annual conference in June. Speaking to reporters in Lahore, soon after a meeting with his board members, the 83-year old Shaharyar said his decision was influenced by “personal and health reasons”.Shaharyar was unanimously elected to lead the PCB by the board of governors in August 2014. He had intended to resign with immediate effect – his tenure ends only in August 2017 – but with the ICC in the middle of restructuring its constitution and Shaharyar’s support being vital to the cause, he has decided to continue at the helm of the PCB until the ICC annual conference in June.”I have taken the board in confidence and conveyed my decision that I will not continue after our mandate is ending on August 18,” Shaharyar told reporters after chairing a board meeting in Lahore. “I will not continue after it as chairman or as in any other capacity and it’s my decision on the basis of personal and health reasons. I have also written to the Patron of PCB who is Prime Minister that I am ready to resign and whenever he deems reasonable he can accept it. And thereafter whatever the legal process constituted, allow it to exercised to bring in my successor.”Sources in the Prime Minister’s office in Islamabad confirmed on Thursday that they have yet to receive Shaharyar’s resignation and had only learnt of his decision through the media. According to the PCB constitution, it is the Patron who makes the first move to pick the new chairman. His request to the election commissioner to hold fresh elections prompts a meeting of the board of governors, who would then select a candidate from among themselves through a majority vote. All of this must be done within four weeks of the chairman’s office becoming vacant.ESPNcricinfo understands that Shaharyar has felt under pressure to make way for Najam Sethi, the current head of PCB executive committee and PSL chairman.Sethi has been chairman of the board, several times in an interim capacity between 2013 and 2014. That was during a period of administrative turmoil at the very top of the board when Sethi and Zaka Ashraf alternated as board heads, later resolved by a Supreme Court intervention that led, eventually to the election of Shaharyar.Sethi was appointed head of a newly-created Executive Committee, and though its power was limited only to making recommendations, Sethi has come to exert considerable influence within the board. His position as chairman of the Pakistan Super League has also helped extend his reach into various departments of the PCB including media, social media, marketing and commercial interests.All this led to the potential for friction at the top of the PCB, something former coach Waqar Younis had alluded to after the World T20 in 2016 when he blasted the lack of administrative direction in Pakistan cricket, asserting that “two heads” were pulling the game in “two different directions”.

Tottenham Hotspur will seriously look at re-signing Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet permanently for around £4 million, according to reports.

Who are Spurs signing this summer?

The Lilywhites, boosted by new manager Ange Postecoglou's official arrival last weekend, have already backed the Australian with a few major signings.

Following both Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro, who have signed permanently from Juventus and Sporting Lisbon respectively, Spurs put pen to paper on deals for both goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and playmaker James Maddison.

Vicario joins Tottenham as an alternative/replacement for long-serving number one Hugo Lloris, who could depart this summer, while Maddison's £40 million move from Leicester City perhaps represents the biggest coup of the lot.

“It’s not just about the talent they bring as footballers," said Postecoglou on Vicario and Maddison.

“Both those guys have got it in abundance. I could hear it in their voices when I spoke to them. I had a couple of chats with both of them before we signed them and I knew that they were the right types to bring into the dressing room."

Manor Solomon, after his successful 2022/2023 loan spell from Fulham, has also joined Spurs for free after a FIFA ruling allowed the player to make the move to north London on a Bosman.

One big achilles heel for Tottenham, though, has been their leaky back line which conceded more league goals than any other side above 15th in the top flight last season.

Postecoglou will be very keen to address that glaring issue, as those concerning defensive numbers don't reflect that of a top side aiming to challenge for silverware.

Micky van de Ven of Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba and Lenglet are the most heavily linked with moves to N17, with one report sharing an update on the latter player.

Barcelona director Joan Laporta recently admitted that he hopes to reach an agreement with Tottenham, but according to Hotspur Reports, the club are eyeing a bargain fee.

The outlet claims Spurs "will strongly look at" signing Lenglet, who has previously won a La Liga title with Barca, for around €5 million (£4m) amid their discussions for van de Ven.

Postecoglou's side have submitted a verbal proposal for the Dutchman and want to sign another centre-back on top of that, though not as expensive as Tapsoba, making Lenglet a prime candidate.

Not much else is said on this or whether Barca would be willing to accept a fee that low, but they could well be glad to get his £204,000-per-week wages off their books.

What's been said about Clement Lenglet?

Called a "very reliable" player by Spurs pundit John Wenham, Lloris has previously endorsed Lenglet as a "modern" defender and tipped him to be a potential success in England.

""He's a modern defender," said Lloris.

"Comfortable to be able to play from the back. He has a great left foot and can be very strong in one v one and he's strong in the air.

"Even if it's never easy when you arrive in the Premier League and he will have to adapt to the intensity of the games but he is a high level player, with experience."