رسميًا | تشيلسي يعلن تعاقده مع صفقة جديدة

يواصل نادي تشيلسي استعداداته وتحضيراته للموسم الجديد على الرغم أنه ما زال ينافس في كأس العالم للأندية، التي تستضيفها أمريكا في الوقت الحالي حتى 13 يوليو الجاري.

وتأهل تشيلسي فجر اليوم إلى نصف نهائي كأس العالم للأندية، بعدما فاز على بالميراس، حيث سيواجه نظيره فلومينينسي الذي انتصر بدوره على الهلال.

وقد أعلن نادي تشيلسي عن تعاقده مع جيمي جيتينز نجم بوروسيا دورتموند حيث سينضم بعقد حتى عام 2033.

أقرأ أيضًا.. لاعب تشيلسي يوافق على الانتقال إلى آرسنال

وذكر تشيلسي في بيان رسمي: “يصل اللاعب صاحب الـ20 عامًا إلى ستامفورد بريدج بعد اكتسابه خبرة كبيرة في الدوري الألماني ودوري أبطال أوروبا ومشاركته في أكثر من 100 مباراة مع الفريق الألماني منذ ظهوره الأول، ولعب مع منتخب إنجلترا تحت 21 عامًا”.

وقال نجم بوروسيا دورتموند السابق في تصريحات للموقع الرسمي لنادي تشيلسي: “إنه شعور رائع أن أنضم إلى نادي عريق مثل تشيلسي”.

وأضاف: “أتطلع بشوق للتعلم من جميع أفراد الفريق ولأبذل قصارى جهدي هنا، إنه شعور رائع”.

وكان جيتينز قد انتقل إلى ألمانيا قادمًا من مانشستر سيتي عام 2020 وأثبت جدارته كلاعب أساسي في الفريق الأول مع دورتموند.

وظهر جيتينز لأول مرة مع بوروسيا دورتموند في نهاية موسم 2021-2022 قبل أن يتألق في الموسم التالي ويسجل أول أهدافه مع الفريق الأول في أغسطس من ذلك العام.

وبرز نجم تشيلسي الجديد بقوة في الدوري الألماني ودوري أبطال أوروبا وكأس ألمانيا حيث شارك في 20 مباراة وسجل ثلاثة أهداف وفي الموسم التالي ساهم بعشرة أهداف في 34 مباراة في كل المسابقات.

وواصل جيتينز تألقه مع دورتموند خلال موسم 2024-2025 حيث سجل 17 هدفًا في كل المسابقات قبل أن يشارك مع فريقه السابق في كأس العالم للأندية.

McCullum: Bairstow dismissal will 'galvanise' England in Ashes comeback bid

England coach says controversial stumping call will affect spirit series is played in

Vithushan Ehantharajah03-Jul-20232:08

Has the Bairstow dismissal been blown out of proportion?

Brendon McCullum has warned Australia that Alex Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow at Lords will see the remainder of the series play out less amicably against a galvanised England team.The incident has dominated the news cycle following Australia’s 43-run victory in the second Test at Lord’s, which gave them a 2-0 lead over England. With the third Test starting on Thursday, captain Ben Stokes said he expected the ill-feeling to spill over into Headingley, a ground famed for its febrile atmosphere.It was here Stokes produced his second epic of the 2019 summer, drawing England level against Australia with 135 not out. It was an innings he almost replicated at Lord’s when he channelled the controversy to strike 155, with nine sixes and as many fours.Related

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Cummins: England should focus on themselves, and not spirit of cricket

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What was originally pegged as an amicable series between the two teams has now developed an edge. On Monday, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak stepped in, adding his voice to those admonishing the tourists for not abiding by the spirit of cricket.While those not involved have made the loudest noises away from the field, McCullum stated the rift between English and Australian players would lead to a spikier series. He also reiterated Stokes’ view that England would have withdrawn the appeal if the shoe were on the other foot.”I imagine it will affect it, I think it has to,” said McCullum of the spirt in which the remaining three Tests will be played . “In the end, they made a play, they’ve got to live with that. We would have made a different play, but that’s life.”From our point of view, we believe that we can still come back in this series, and that’s where our focus has got to be. What I will say is it’s a galvanised unit up there [the England dressing-room] and we saw the fight from the skipper, Broady [Stuart Broad] and the boys at the end there as well, which shows how much this means to the side. We’ll lick our wounds and try and come back and rectify things.”In the end, Australia won the Test match and fair play to them. It’s just a shame that when you’ve got millions of people all around the world, and you’ve got a full house at Lord’s, and you’ve everyone’s eyeballs on this series, that for the next couple of days probably the most talked about aspect is going to be that [the dismissal] and that’s disappointing.”McCullum acknowledged his own history with acts not too dissimilar to Carey’s. Back in 2006, during the second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka, the former New Zealand wicketkeeper ran out Muttiah Muaralitharan after he had left his crease to celebrate team-mate Kumar Sangakkara’s hundred after completing a single. McCullum addressed the incident in a 2016 Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s, stating he would not have affected the dismissal if he could “turn back time”. He anticipates it will have an effect on Australia.Brendon McCullum said Australia’s dismissal of Jonny Bairstow would colour the rest of the series•PA Images via Getty Images”Obviously I’ve made an apology to Murali in my Cowdrey Lecture,” McCullum said. “When I was a younger man, I didn’t quite understand the significance of what the game and the spirit of the game means to the game. It’s what the defining point of the game is compared to others, and it’s only with the benefit of time and experience that we’re able to learn that and cherish it. In time, we’ll see, but I get the feeling that it might have an effect on them.”Not since Don Bradman’s Australia in the 1936-37 series has a team overturned a 2-0 deficit and go on to win the Ashes. England can take heart from how close the two matches have been, particularly the opener at Edgbaston, which Australia won by two wickets. Should the hosts turn the tables, it would undoubtedly be their most memorable win of this rivalry.Naturally, McCullum has faith in his charges to do the remarkable, provided they learn from mistakes in pressure situations. The mood among the players remains positive, along with a palpable optimism they can do something spectacular.”3-2 has a nice ring to it,” McCullum said. “We’ve got to polish up a couple of the areas where the game has sat on a knife-edge and we haven’t been able to grab it. We knew coming into this series it was going to be tight and there was going to be those moments. If we can do that, there’s no reason why we can’t bounce back. Morale is high and we’ve played some good cricket amongst things as well, and we look forward to the opportunity.”We always say that if we are winning and things are going great, you don’t want to get too high, and if we are losing you don’t want to get too low either. We are on a path to where we want to get to and want to stick to that. Because a) it’s fun, and b) I think it gives us our best chance. Albeit we are 2-0 down at the moment, I think it gives us our best chance of winning the series.”

Chelsea now battling Barcelona for "warrior" £25m defender who pocketed Leao

Chelsea have now joined the race for a £25m right-back, but they are set to face competition for his signature from Barcelona and Liverpool, according to a report.

Reece James back to his best

There is arguably little reason for the Blues to make a move for a new right-back this summer, given that they are well-stocked in that area of the pitch, with Reece James now showing signs he could be back to his best after several injury setbacks.

James returned to the England team for the first time in two-and-a-half years against Latvia, and the 25-year-old put in a top-quality performance, opening the scoring in the Three Lions’ comprehensive 3-0 victory.

That said, Enzo Maresca may want to err on the side of caution, given that his captain is very susceptible to injuries, and there has also been speculation about Malo Gusto’s future, with Liverpool shortlisting the right-back as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold.

As such, a new right-back may be required in the summer transfer window, and Chelsea have now entered the race to sign Feyenoord’s Givairo Read, according to a report from Caught Offside.

AC Milan make £33m bid for Chelsea star; confident deal will be done

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By
Dominic Lund

Mar 24, 2025

Liverpool and Barcelona are said to be in fierce competition for Read’s signature, with the Merseyside club looking set to lose Trent Alexander-Arnold amid interest from Real Madrid.

Manchester United and Atlético Madrid are also named as potential suitors for the defender, but Feyenoord should be in a strong negotiating position, given that he remains contracted until 2028, meaning they could hold out for €25m – €30m (£21m – £25m)

Read impressing in the Champions League

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded the 18-year-old for his performances in both legs of Feyenoord’s Champions League tie against AC Milan earlier this season, while also branding the teenager a “warrior” of a defender.

The youngster was faced with the difficult task of dealing with left-winger Rafael Leao, but he managed to keep the Portugal international quiet across the two legs, helping his side to a clean sheet with a solid performance in the first encounter.

AC Milan's Rafael Leao in action with Feyenoord'sGivairoRead

The starlet has also been impressive in an attacking sense this season, picking up six assists in 17 Eredivisie outings, indicating that he is a well-rounded full-back.

Read’s performances for Feyenoord suggest he could be a fantastic long-term addition for the Blues, however, there are question marks over how much game time he would receive, should Gusto stay at Chelsea and James remain injury-free.

Fora da Libertadores este ano, São Paulo ganhou mais em premiações na Copa do Brasil que rivais

MatériaMais Notícias

Fora da edição deste ano da Copa Libertadores, o São Paulo ganhou, digamos assim, um prêmio de consolação em relação aos adversários que jogam o principal, mata-mata nacional: ganhou mais em premiações na Copa do Brasil até aqui que os outros semifinalistas da competição.

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GALERIA
+ Casemiro no United: veja clubes brasileiros que podem faturar com mecanismo de solidariedade da Fifa

Segundo informações da própria CBF, o São Paulo já faturou aqui R$ 19,570 milhões por ir avançando de fase.

Diferente de Flamengo, Fluminense e Corinthians, que jogaram a Libertadores e com isso só entraram na Copa do Brasil a partir da terceira fase, ganhando R$ 16,80 milhões até agora, o Tricolor joga o torneio desde o início. O que já o fez acumular R$ 19,570 mi em premiações até agora.

Para chegar na semifinal, o São Paulo teve de passar por Campinense (PB), Manaus, Juventude, Palmeiras e América-MG. É a quinta vez em dez anos que o clube do Morumbi atinge esse estágio da Copa do Brasil.

A CBF confirmou na noite de sexta-feira (19) a realização do primeiro jogo da semifinal da Copa do Brasil entre São Paulo e Flamengo nesta quarta-feira (24), às 21h30 (de Brasília).

O duelo de volta entre paulistas e cariocas acontecerá no dia 14 de setembro (também quarta-feira), às 21h45 (de Brasília), no Maracanã.

TABELA
> Confira classificação, jogos e simule resultados do Brasileirão-22
> Confira todos os jogos da Copa do Brasil-22
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> Conheça o novo aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

MCC introduce stricter pavilion regulations after Long Room chaos

Club chair calls for further evidence with three members already suspended

AAP07-Jul-2023

MCC members queue outside Lord’s•PA Images/Getty

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) members face restrictions on their movements and more space between them and players in the Lord’s Long Room as investigations continue into the second Ashes Test.Australia faced a mixed reception at Headingley on Thursday, with the country’s national anthem booed by some sections of the crowd before play on day one.Fans in Leeds were largely well behaved following the ugly scenes at Lord’s, but each Australian was still jeered onto the field as they came out to bat.The largest boos were unsurprisingly saved for Alex Carey and Pat Cummins, with the pair viewed as Australia’s chief villains in England for Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow.But while some fans still posed with players for photos before play in Leeds, the use of camera phones was condemned by MCC chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown in an email to members.In a lengthy address, Carnegie-Brown said members who had abused Australia’s players on day five at Lord’s had brought shame to the entire Marylebone Cricket Club. He also criticised members for posting videos of the drama, which has brought the full extent of the abuse Australia copped to light.”The video footage captured on Sunday (including some which was taken in clear breach of our regulations) is there for all to see,” Carnegie-Brown said. “The members shown on camera have brought shame on MCC. Their actions hinder our efforts to promote the positive things our club does to promote and celebrate the game.”As a result of Sunday’s drama, which included players being sworn at, abused, and tripped over as they walked up the stairs, MCC will distance players from fans for the rest of the summer.The measures will include proving a wider roped-off space for players to walk through the Long Room away from members, while also stopping members from being on the stairs when players come on and off the pitch.Related

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Taufel: Which part of the Spirit of Cricket did Australia breach?

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Captains expect fiery Lord's atmosphere to spill over to Leeds

The rules will come into place for Australia’s women’s T20I against England on Saturday night. MCC have already suspended three members for directly confronting Australia’s men’s players, and have asked people to help identify other culprits.”The behavioural issue amongst members that day does not end there,” Carnegie-Brown said. “Were more evidence to come to light, and additional witness statements gathered, further disciplinary sanctions would undoubtedly be warranted.”We encourage any member with information that could lead to the identification of others involved to come forward.”It is unacceptable for any of us to point the finger of blame at others unless we are willing to intervene ourselves when we see behaviours which fall short of what is expected of members.”

David Warner's spot could come under scrutiny for Old Trafford Test

David Warner’s position could come under scrutiny for the Old Trafford Test with Australia facing a selection squeeze after the impressive return to the side of Mitchell Marsh.Cameron Green, who sat out the Headingley match opening the door for Marsh’s comeback, is on track to be fit for the fourth Test after a minor hamstring strain. He bowled and did sprints ahead of the final day’s play in Leeds as well as briefly acting as a substitute fielder.But Marsh’s stunning century on the opening day, in his first Test for four years, has made him very tough to leave out which means someone else will have to make way unless they opt not to bring Green straight back in.The spotlight has again returned to Warner after his twin failures at Headingley where he twice edged Stuart Broad to slip from around the wicket, making it 17 times he has now fallen to Broad.Related

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  • Old Trafford Test: can Australia fit in both Marsh and Green? What about Warner?

  • Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc bust a gut for the cause but Australia's over-reliance is telling

  • Brook cherishes winning feeling after home-ground heroics

However, that followed some useful contributions earlier in the series, led by the 66 on the opening day at Lord’s in tricky batting conditions, although he was dropped in the slips on 20. His overall Test average since 2021 remains 28.17 and that includes the double century against South Africa at the SCG.Captain Pat Cummins, who is not a selector, said that Australia would use the break before Old Trafford to take stock of their options as they look to avoid the Ashes going to a decider at The Oval.”You keep all options open,” Cummins said. “We’ve got nine or 10 days now, so we’ll take a deep breath. We’ll go away for a few days.”But everyone comes back into it. Greeny should be fit for Manchester. Josh [Hazlewood] will be back in there as well. So we should have a full roster and we’ll have a look at the wicket and have a chat and work out the best XI.”Marsh’s third Test century, all of which have been against England, came from 102 balls while he also chipped in with a couple of wickets.Cummins conceded he would be difficult to omit. “Yeah, it’s possible but, I mean, it was a pretty impressive week, wasn’t it?” he said.David Warner smiles after being dismissed by Stuart Broad for the 17th time•Getty Images

Warner has mapped out his retirement plan, announcing earlier in the tour that he hoped to finish against Pakistan on his home ground of the SCG in January. Prior to that, the original Ashes squad was only selected up to the end of the Lord’s Test which raised further questions over Warner, but he did enough in the early matches to dampen talk somewhat.The situation Australia now find themselves in is not dissimilar to what happened on the 2019 tour when Marnus Labuschagne performed so well as Steven Smith’s temporary replacement that someone else had to make way for Smith’s return. On that occasion the fall guy was Usman Khawaja.Meanwhile, Cummins indicated that he remained on track to play all six Tests on the tour which he had stated as his aim before the World Test Championship final against India. He is the only Australian quick to play all four matches to date. England have had Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson in all three of their attacks, but the latter is now under an injury cloud after suffering back spasms at Headingley.”I feel great, actually, probably better than I would have hoped,” Cummins said. “I don’t have any niggles or injuries. So fingers crossed, should be sweet.”Elsewhere in the squad, Michael Neser has been released to play the next round of County Championship matches for Glamorgan while Josh Inglis, who flew home after Edgbaston for the birth of his child, will return on Friday. Jimmy Peirson filled in for him as reserve wicketkeeper.Australia’s players will break up for a few days and make use of the longer gap between these two Tests before beginning preparations for Old Trafford – the venue where they were able to retain the Ashes in 2019.Cummins gave a succinct response when asked if he felt England’s win would shift the momentum in the series. “No, not really. It’s 2-1.”

‘She’s still alive!’ – Leonardo Bonucci jokes after crazy tackle on Steph Houghton during Soccer Aid

Italy legend Leonardo Bonucci has gone viral for a brutal challenge on former England Women's captain Steph Houghton during Sunday's Soccer Aid match.

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Bonucci did not hold back in charity matchWent flying into Steph Houghton with sliding tackleFormer England star left needing treatmentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Bonucci was part of the World XI team that beat England 5-4 in Sunday's Soccer Aid match at Old Trafford. The Italy legend may have hung up his professional boots only last year but showed he has lost none of his competitive edge with a brutal challenge on former England Women's captain Steph Houghton. Bonucci left Houghton in a heap, and needing treatment, but was quick to put the ball out of play so she could receive some attention.

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Footage of the challenge quickly went viral on social media and left many fans bemused. Supporter @amit_mavar wrote: "Bonucci Not about the Woke life," while @SStaniford posted: "Bonucci doesn't care! He's Italian, he's Defending everyday of the week." And @Treborchamp added: "Proper challenge. Houghton can take it and wouldn’t want it any other way."

WHAT BONUCCI SAID

Bonucci was quick to react after the match, with the two players still on good terms despite the clash. The former Juventus star posted a picture of the pair on social media along with the caption: "She's still alive!!" Houghton responded with the words "My guy."

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Bonucci ended the night celebrating as the World XI emerged victorious. The former Italy international could also soon be back to work on a permanent basis. He has been tipped to take up a coaching role with the Azzurri as part of new manager Gennaro Gattuso's staff.

'You have to play a spinner' – Moeen answers Murphy question for Australia

Josh Hazlewood thinks Murphy “has done a great job so far” as Nathan Lyon’s understudy, and expects more of the same from him

Andrew McGlashan17-Jul-2023

How Pat Cummins handles Todd Murphy (if he is in the XI) at Old Trafford might be crucial to the outcome of the Test•Getty Images

What England say will likely be low down the information Australia take on board when deciding their XI for Old Trafford, but Moeen Ali believes they have to play Todd Murphy as a frontline spinner.Murphy sent down only 9.3 overs at Headingley and just two one-over spells during England’s successful chase after having come in for the injured Nathan Lyon, and one option to squeeze in the fit-again Cameron Green would have been to go without a specialist spinner.However, Australia have not picked an all-pace attack since the 2011-12 Test against India in Perth and the expectation is that spin will have a role to play in the fourth Test even though the forecast for the weekend is uncertain. Pat Cummins, Andrew McDonald and on-tour selector Tony Dodemaide all spent time inspecting the surface as the rain stayed away during the afternoon after interrupting England’s training.Spin bowling in Ashes cricket at Old Trafford has a long legacy, not least Shane Warne’s ball of the century in 1993. Warne enjoyed the bounce and turn on offer at the ground, taking 21 wickets in three matches, although Lyon found less success in his two outings in 2013 and 2019 where he claimed three wickets.Related

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Although the ground has a reputation for helping spin, in the last ten years it has the second-highest average for spinners of men’s Test grounds in England. However, Moeen, who has taken 16 wickets at 18.50 in three Tests at Old Trafford, argued that a frontline spinner is vital and that how Murphy is used by Cummins will be crucial part of the game.”You have to play a spinner in a Test match no matter where it is, in my opinion, but Old Trafford especially,” Moeen said. “I think the way they used him [Murphy], it was a difficult one, I think the chase was a difficult one because we would have preferred facing a spinner. [They] were missing Nathan Lyon, who has been a massive part of the team and does an amazing job for them.”Todd’s good, he looks really good, he’s got really good potential and I’m sure he’s going to bowl a lot more here. From a captain’s point of view, it’s not always easy to use somebody who’s pretty new into the side, especially a spinner, and I think that’s where captaincy really comes into it now.”Because when you’ve got a good spinner like Swanny [Graeme Swann] used to be or Nathan Lyon, it’s quite easy, just give them the ball. But now I think for Pat it will be a test of real captaincy and let’s see how good you are now, but he’s done a good job so far.”Josh Hazlewood, who took six wickets in Australia’s 2019 victory at Old Trafford to retain the Ashes, is set to replace Scott Boland, having sat out at Headingley, and he backed Murphy to have a much more substantial role this week.”Todd’s had a great start to his career particularly in the subcontinent against the best players of spin the world, India,” he said. “I know we are going to miss Gazza [Lyon] from time to time when we are in the field but think Todd as his understudy has done a great job so far and expect the same again.”Further clues to Australia’s make-up appeared to be on offer during their training session on Monday. David Warner, whose place looks secure, fielded at first slip and Mitchell Marsh in the gully, while Green was with the reserve players, although he did have a bowl on the square during the afternoon.Meanwhile, Hazlewood is confident of being able to get through the final two Tests. Having been pulled from the World Test Championship final squad, Edgbaston and Lord’s – where he took eight wickets – were the first time he had played back-to-back first-class matches since 2020-21.”We haven’t bowled a lot of overs in terms of what Test matches usually look like for us,” he said. “The way England play, it gets us in the field for a little less in terms of workload. I felt pretty good going into [Headingley]. It was probably the right call now I can sit back and look at the big picture. I was desperate to play, which is obvious. But now it makes sense.”I was probably a little bit underdone for that World Test Championship and then got ready for the first game. I didn’t seem too rusty when I was out there in the middle. Once you get that big day of workload underneath you, you feel a lot better for the run. I felt better and better as I was going along. Hopefully after that little break, I’ll coming out firing again.”

Alex Hales: I would 'do a Will Smeed' if I were 21 again now

Alex Hales played across all three international formats for England, but has admitted that if he were a young player now, he would “chuck my eggs into the T20 basket”, and abandon any ambitions in Test cricket.Hales quit red-ball cricket in 2018, less than two years after playing the last of his 11 Tests for England, and said in a wide-ranging Sky Sports interview with Michael Atherton in the wake of his international retirement that he had not missed the format: “The pros outweigh the cons for that decision.”And while he spoke of his pride at having represented his country 156 times and playing for them across formats, Hales conceded that if he were coming through as a 21-year-old now, he would look to emulate the Somerset batter Will Smeed in signing a white-ball-only county contract.Related

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  • Alex Hales: 'I thought my chance would never come again'

“Just with the way I play, and my instincts and my technique, I would’ve chucked my eggs into the T20 basket – for sure,” Hales said. “I would do a Will Smeed – and fair play to him for doing that. It’s a bold decision. Hopefully, it works out for him. I think the way the game is now, you’re seeing fewer and fewer people who are exceptional at all three formats. There’s obviously a select handful who are brilliant at all three, but you see the way the game has gone – especially the last sort of five years – you see more and more specialists.”I’ve always found the technique and skillsets very different across the formats: bowlers looking to bowl slow and wide, yorkers, slower bouncers, and then you go back to a four-day game, looking to hit the top of off. It’s very difficult to make sure your skillset is at the top for all three formats.”Hales was an aggressive batter for Nottinghamshire in red-ball cricket, finishing his first-class career with a strike rate of 59.06, but found himself fighting his instincts during his brief run in England’s Test team, where his strike rate dipped to 43.84.”I was definitely fighting a lot of my instincts opening the batting here in England,” Hales said. “It’s a seriously tough place to open the batting. To see the way Zak [Crawley] and Ben [Duckett] have done it this summer has been unbelievable, to go out there and play their shots.”Maybe, looking back, if I could have gone about it in my natural way, I may have had a bit more success. I actually think I may have been more suited to the middle order… I’ve always sort of been pushed up to open the batting, maybe against what would suit my natural games. Had I got a crack now, amongst the Bazball stuff? Who knows?”Hales will continue to play franchise cricket around the world, and is a journeyed T20 cricketer, having already represented seven different teams since his most recent England appearance in last year’s T20 World Cup final. He believes that there are misconceptions around T20 freelancers having “an easy life”.”Fitness can be tricky, especially when you’re going to different countries,” he said. “You’re living in hotels all the time, you’re living out of a suitcase. Keeping on top of your diet can be tricky. I’m probably only with Notts maybe for six, seven weeks of the year, so you have to be very independent.”The Indian franchises have bought quite a few franchises across different countries: maybe they’ll look after the players all year round? That will be an interesting one. But it wouldn’t surprise me if guys start looking after themselves and have their own backroom staff, like you see in tennis and golf.”Sometimes T20s have that label of being the easy way out and an easy life… When you’re playing in these tournaments, you are an overseas player. You’re expected to score runs, to perform in foreign conditions. And if you don’t, there’s a big queue of players looking to do it.”The hundred against Sri Lanka at the 2014 T20 World Cup is among Hales’ most cherished knocks•AFP

Explaining the timing of his retirement, Hales said he saw it as an opportunity to bow out at the top. “Winning a World Cup final is the highest of highs for me,” he said. “To get to do that after I thought I would never get that chance, after what happened in 2019… it’s rare as a sportsman to get to bow out at the top and on your own terms.”Being in my mid-30s now, without a central contract, it becomes difficult to play bilateral series… missing out on the franchise gigs, it becomes a financially tougher decision, the older you get. When you’re in the twilight like I am now… it just feels like the right time.”Hales said he would look back with pride at his England career, pinpointing ODI hundreds against Pakistan and Australia at Trent Bridge, his home ground, among his favourite innings. He also mentioned his unbeaten hundred against Sri Lanka at the 2014 T20 World Cup, and his 86 not out against India at last year’s World Cup as ones he cherished most.”To do that with Jos [Buttler] against the biggest cricket nation in the world was an incredibly special feeling,” he said. “If you told me as a 16-year-old, dreaming to play for England, that you would get the chance to do it 150 times across three formats, I would have snapped your hand off for it.”Hales was speaking to Atherton ahead of Trent Rockets’ fixture in the Hundred against Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston, which was abandoned without a ball bowled due to heavy rain.

Maharaj replaces de Kock as Durban's Super Giants captain

“He is still a leader within the team and his experience and knowledge of the game is invaluable,” Maharaj says of de Kock

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jul-2023Quinton de Kock has been removed as captain at SA20 side Durban’s Super Giants and replaced by Keshav Maharaj for the 2024 edition of the tournament.”I am super happy, humbled and privileged to accept the opportunity as the captain of the DSG franchise in the next SA20 league,” Maharaj said in a video released by the franchise on Friday. “I am super excited, being a Durban boy – been here 18 years of my life, and it’s a place that I call home for me. So I am hoping I can bring some performances from domestic cricket into the SA20, from a leadership perspective and from a player’s perspective.”Former South Africa captain de Kock, a part of the squad at both the Super Giants franchises – Lucknow in the IPL and Durban in the SA20 – led the team in the inaugural season of the six-team South African league, where they finished one off the bottom after winning four of their ten games (the same as third- and fourth-placed Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Paarl Royals, respectively, but behind them on net run-rate). De Kock was one of the better performers with the bat for the team, scoring 271 runs at a strike rate of 151.39 in nine innings.”I’d like to thank Quinny for all the hard work that he has done on and off the field,” Maharaj said. “However, his job is not over. He is still a leader within the team and his experience and knowledge of the game is invaluable to this unit. And it’s going to be a large and integral part to play for us in terms of bringing the trophy to Durban this year.”

De Kock also mostly warmed the bench at the IPL this year, with Lucknow preferring Kyle Mayers to him. De Kock reached the IPL late after being on national duty, and Mayers, his replacement at the top of the order, scored 73 in 38 balls and 53 in 22 balls in the two games the team played before de Kock’s arrival. De Kock did slam a 41-ball 70 in one game – against Gujarat Titans – when he opened with Mayers after an injury had ruled KL Rahul, the regular captain and opener, out of the competition.Maharaj, who hasn’t played competitively since early March this year after rupturing an Achilles tendon during the Johannesburg Test against West Indies, didn’t have a particularly impressive SA20 2023, bowling in eight innings (23 overs) and picking up four wickets at an economy of 7.86.He has, however, been looked at as a leader in South African cricket, and has led the national side in seven ODIs and five T20Is between 2021 and 2022.

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