يواصل ليفربول مشواره في الموسم الحالي 2025/2026 في جميع المسابقات بعد مباراته أمام كريستال بالاس ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “بريميرليج”.
وخسر ليفربول لأول مرة في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز هذا الموسم أمام كريستال بالاس بنتيجة 2/1، في الجولة السادسة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
وظهر ليفربول بمستوى سيئ للغاية في المباراة إذ لم يكن في المستوى المطلوب خلال أحداث الشوط الأول من المباراة التي شهدت فرصًا كبيرة ضائعة من لاعبي كريستال بالاس.
ولم يفز ليفربول في آخر 3 مواجهات أمام كريستال بالاس إذ تعادل مرة وخسر مباراة كأس الدرع الخيرية ومباراة اليوم.
اقرأ أيضًا | ماذا قدم محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وكريستال بالاس بـ الدوري الإنجليزي؟
بتلك النتيجة توقف رصيد ليفربول عند النقطة 15 في صدارة جدول ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “بريميرليج”، فيما ارتفع رصيد كريستال بالاس إلى النقطة 12 في الوصافة. موعد مباراة ليفربول وجالطة سراي في دوري أبطال أوروبا
يواجه ليفربول نظيره جالطة سراي في إطار الجولة الثانية من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، يوم الثلاثاء المقبل الموافق 30 من شهر سبتمبر الجاري، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية، على ملعب “رامس بارك” معقل الفريق التركي.
After conceding 75 in his first 15 overs, he dismissed Pant, Rahul and Jadeja to put New Zealand in sight of victory
Ashish Pant19-Oct-20241:17
What worked for New Zealand’s bowlers?
William O’Rourke admitted being “pretty streaky” and “hot and cold” in the early part of the second innings of the first Test in Bengaluru. But having gone for 75 off his first 15 overs, he dismissed Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja in three successive overs with the second new ball as India lost their last six wickets for just 29 runs.”Overall, for me, I’ve been pretty streaky, pretty hot and cold with the ball,” O’Rourke said at the end of the fourth day. “Pant and Sarfaraz [Khan] obviously batted very well for a long time there, but that second new ball came on and started doing a little bit for us.”So, credit to Timmy [Tim Southee] for getting that first breakthrough [of Sarfaraz] and then I was lucky enough to get a wee chop on there [from Pant] to give us a bit of momentum going through.”Related
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Sarfaraz, in particular, handled O’Rourke well, picking him for 39 runs in 35 balls and repeatedly throwing him off his lengths with ramps and late cuts. While O’Rourke said he and the rest of the bowling unit could have been tighter with their lengths, he credited Sarfaraz for using the angles and opening up the field.”He [Sarfaraz] played me really well,” O’Rourke said. “With that angle of me sort of falling away, it sort of opens up that little dab shot. Yeah, maybe we could have been in the game a little bit, but he played it so well.”I would have liked to be a little bit tighter. Obviously, one of his strengths is that [the late cut]. So, yeah, I would have liked to be a little bit tighter, but I was missing a little bit wide, and he put me away. So credit to him.”O’Rourke has had a rousing start to his Test career. This is his fifth Test and he has already picked up 26 wickets at 18.84, which includes two five-fors. Fifteen of his 26 wickets have been in the subcontinent. He had an excellent tour of Sri Lanka last month where he picked up eight wickets in two Tests, and has continued his good run in India.William O’Rourke took three wickets in three overs to hurt India•BCCI
“I think we had a really good prep in Tauranga and down in Lincoln,” he said about his success in the subcontinent. “We had a few wickets that were a bit drier than probably what we are used to at that time of the year in New Zealand. And yeah, learning from the guys like Matt Henry, Tim Southee, who have been here before and done it before, it’s been massive for me coming here.”In the first innings here, O’Rourke picked up four wickets, including Virat Kohli’s for a duck.”It’s obviously pretty special getting someone so great, one of the greats of our game, out like that,” he said of the Kohli wicket. “You grow up watching those guys. So to come here and take that wicket, it’s probably right up there as one of the [best] wickets I’ve got.”While O’Rourke has been pleasantly surprised by the bounce he has seen on the Bengaluru surface, he is also loving bowling with the SG ball.”It has got a bit more of a pronounced seam than the Kookaburra [that New Zealand use at home], so it seems to be nice and hard to start with. It goes through nicely and big seams are always a big plus. [It’s] my first time here and [Bengaluru] probably had a little bit more bounce, a bit more pace than we expected coming over here, which suits a bowler like me. So far, I’ve really enjoyed it.”We definitely do our scouting and stuff before games. I’d say at the moment in my career, I’m more of a feel bowler. I like to back what I do, run in and do what I do. But definitely I have a look at the players beforehand, I like to know their strengths and weaknesses. But I think it normally comes back to just being me and doing what I do.”
It has been a quiet summer so far for Aston Villa. After the disappointment of losing out on a Champions League finish at the back end of last season, the Villans have only made a couple of signings to strengthen ahead of the new season.
With the season now less than two weeks away, Unai Emery’s side have reportedly agreed a deal to sign OGC Nice striker Evann Guessand. The 24-year-old, who was also a target for Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, cost £30m including add-ons.
Evann Guessand in action for Nice in Ligue 1.
With Guessand all but through the door, Villa have seemingly turned their attention to another attacker, who can help to strengthen in forward areas.
Aston Villa’s next target after Guessand
The Villans lost Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio at the end of last season, with the loans of both players expiring. There is a clear focus from the club to strengthen in attack, with the signing of Guessand the first new forward through the door at Villa Park.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Now, a report from journalist Graeme Bailey suggests that the West Midlands club are ‘holding an interest’ in Manchester United and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho.
The 21-year-old is said to be a target for three Premier League sides, with a desire to stay in England’s top flight, and Villa ‘have also entered the race’ for his signature.
Manchester United's AlejandroGarnachoduring training
Although it is West London giants Chelsea who are the ‘standout option’ for the youngster, he is ‘open to working’ with Emery, and Tottenham Hotspur are also showing an interest. Last month, it was reported by The Mirror that the Red Devils have slashed their asking price to just £40m.
Why Garnacho would be a good signing
Despite being just 21 years of age, Garnacho has already gained lots of experience at the highest level for United. Statman Dave described him as a “special talent” last season, and there were some standout moments.
Manchester United's AlejandroGarnachoreacts
He played 58 games in all competitions for the Red Devils, whose academy he came through back in 2022. In that time, the winger scored 11 goals and grabbed a further ten assists. However, just eight of those goal involvements came in the Premier League, in 36 appearances.
He has already played a lot of first-team football, notching up an impressive 144 games for United. His record of 26 goals and 22 assists stands out for someone aged just 21, and he’s scored some excellent goals, too. The most famous one came against Everton in 2023/24, with his stunning overhead kick earning him the Puskas Award.
The winger, who was born in Madrid, could well become unplayable with Guessand. Villa’s new attacker shone last term for Nice, scoring 12 goals and grabbing nine assists in 33 Ligue 1 games.
The Ivory Coast international can play right across the front line, highlighted by former manager Antoine Kombouare during his loan spell at Nantes in 2022/23.
Kombouare also described him as a “powerful” and “fast” attacker.
With the Nice academy graduate, a player who is effective both in and around the penalty box and out wide, he could form a deadly partnership with Garnacho at Villa. The winger is a player who loves to drive inside from wide positions, which could lead to some fluid rotations between the pair.
Garnacho’s numbers from the 2024/25 Europa League campaign suggest he could become a regular provider of goals for Guessand. The stats on FBref show he averaged 2.04 key passes per game and 0.37 assists, ranking him in the 82nd and 85th percentile, respectively. If he achieves those numbers for Villa, Guessand could strike gold.
Garancho key stats in 24/25 Europa League
Stat (per 90)
Number
Percentile rank vs. attackers
Assists
0.37
85th
Key passes
2.04
82nd
Shot-creating actions
4.17
73rd
Goal-creating actions
0.65
78th
Progressive carries
5.84
95th
Stats from FBref
Despite his age, Garnacho is already very experienced and has shown his ability to score and assist regularly for United. With Guessand being a striker who facilitates play and creates chances, plus his ability to put the ball in the back of the net, this could become a deadly duo.
£40m is not too much of an investment for 21-year-old Garnacho, with United looking to move him on this summer. Perhaps he is the perfect player for Villa’s new look attack, alongside Guessand.
Dream for Watkins: Aston Villa reach agreement for "Fernandes-esque" star
As Aston Villa seek their first proper signing of the window, could it a “Bruno Fernandes-esque” star?
Arsenal are a club that have been blessed with an abundance of genuinely world-class players over the years.
In the current side, you have the likes of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, and then go back to the last Premier League-winning side, and it’s impossible to look past the likes of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pirès.
However, there is another superstar from the club’s past that many view as the most technically gifted player to wear the red and white: Dennis Bergkamp.
So, fans should be excited about reports linking the club with a player who could become Mikel Arteta’s own version of the Non-Flying Dutchman.
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It’s been a good summer for Arsenal so far this year, as while they suffered two defeats in pre-season, they won their other three games and have been unusually busy in the market.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
New Sporting Director Andrea Berta has made six additions to the first team, with goalscoring phenomenon Viktor Gyokeres and midfield maestro Martin Zubimendi the marquee signings.
However, while that would have been more than enough business for the Gunners in summers past, it now looks like they’re trying to make at least one more addition to the team, someone who could be the new Bergkamp.
Dennis Bergkamp
At least that’s according to a recent report from Ben Jacobs, who has claimed that Arsenal are still very much interested in Eberechi Eze.
Moreover, Jacobs has revealed that while the Crystal Palace ace is open to a move to Tottenham Hotspur, he’s been in talks with Arteta and would “welcome an Arsenal bid.”
It’s not entirely clear how much the £100k-per-week star would cost, as reports from earlier this month claimed that his £68m release clause is set to expire on Friday.
It could therefore be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Eze’s incredible ability, he’d be more than worth it, especially as he could be the club’s new Bergkamp.
Why Eze could be Arsenal's new Bergkamp
So it’s worth pointing out that we aren’t necessarily saying Eze is as good a player as Bergkamp was during his pomp, but he could be, and on top of that, there are some similarities between their transfers, or potential in the Palace ace’s case.
Crystal Palace's EberechiEzereacts
The first point is that, should this move happen, the 27-year-old Englishman would be joining the Gunners at a similar stage in his career to the Dutchman, who was 26 when he moved to Highbury from Inter Milan in 1995.
Moreover, as his move helped to usher in a period of incredible success for the North Londoners, it also feels like the Eagles star has the ability and could be that missing piece that finally brings success to Arteta’s project.
However, away from the similar circumstances around the moves, the other key similarity between the two players is their immense technical abilities.
For example, when he was at his best, the Amsterdam-born maestro was a joy to watch, someone who wouldn’t just score a goal or provide an assist, but do something so utterly brilliant with the ball at his feet that would often leave fans speechless.
The most famous example of this would undoubtedly be his goal against Newcastle United, but there are so many other instances during his time in England when he’d make the improbable seem blasé.
Now, while we are yet to see the former QPR gem score a goal quite as spectacular as that one at St James’ Park, he remains one of the most entertaining players to watch in England today and has a catalogue of strikes most could only dream of.
Eze’s recent form
Season
23/24
24/25
Appearances
36
43
Minutes
2285′
3303′
Goals
11
14
Assists
6
11
Goal Involvements per Match
0.47
0.58
Minutes per Goal Involvement
134.41′
132.12′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Moreover, on top of scoring wonder goals, the “superstar” attacker, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is just as proficient at setting them up or completing the crucial action that leads to one of his teammates setting up a goal.
Finally, after goals and assists, the most exciting thing a player can do is beat an opposition defender with the ball at their feet, and that’s something the Greenwich-born “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, can do with ease.
According to FBref, he ranks in the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers for successful take-ons in the Premier League last season.
Ultimately, even if it’s a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Eze this month, as he could turn into Arteta’s Bergkamp.
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Better signing than Zubimendi: Arsenal plot late move for £78m "monster"
The international superstar would be a game-changer for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta…
A CBF divulgou na noite desta segunda-feira as datas e os horários das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil. O primeiro confronto desta fase da competição será o clássico entre Fluminense e Flamengo, que está marcado para a terça-feira, 16 de maio. Os outros jogos de ida serão no dia seguinte.
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+ Premiação acumulada da Copa do Brasil: veja clubes que mais faturaram desde 2018
A entidade máxima do futebol brasileiro também informou que as partidas de volta da Copa do Brasil foram marcados para os dias 31 de maio e 1º de junho. Confira abaixo as datas, os horários e os locais dos jogos:
PARTIDAS DE IDA:
16 de maio 21h – Fluminense x Flamengo (Maracanã)
17 de maio 19h – Santos x Bahia (Vila Belmiro) 19h – Palmeiras x Fortaleza (Allianz Parque) 19h30 – Grêmio x Cruzeiro (Arena do Grêmio) 20h – Sport x São Paulo (Ilha do Retiro) 21h30 – América-MG x Internacional (Independência) 21h30 – Athletico-PR x Botafogo (Arena da Baixada) 21h30 – Atlético-MG x Corinthians (Mineirão)
Partidas de volta
31 de maio 19h – Bahia x Santos (Arena Fonte Nova) 19h – Fortaleza x Palmeiras (Arena Castelão) 20h – Cruzeiro x Grêmio (Mineirão) 21h30 – Internacional x América-MG (Beira-Rio) 21h30 – Botafogo x Athletico-PR (Nilton Santos) 21h30 – Corinthians x Atlético-MG (Neo Química Arena)
1º de junho 19h30 – São Paulo x Sport (Morumbi) 20h – Flamengo x Fluminense (Maracanã)
Travis Head and Temba Bavuma among batters and Pat Cummins and Matt Henry among bowlers to have moved up this week
ESPNcricinfo staff11-Dec-2024Joe Root isn’t the No. 1 Test batter in the world anymore. The man he said was “far and away the best player in the world at the minute”, Harry Brook, has gone to the top of the pile following his 123 and 55 in the second Test in New Zealand, which came on the back of a 171 in the first Test, which had taken him to the second spot.It’s a slender lead at the top for Brook, though, just one point, with Root doing his cause no harm with a 106 in the second innings of that second Test, which England won by 323 runs to go 2-0 up in the three-Test series. Indeed, how the two of them go in the third Test, starting December 14 in Hamilton, could well determine if Brook stays No. 1 or Root takes back his crown almost immediately.Root had held the top spot since he went past Kane Williamson – currently No. 3 – in July this year. He has been the top batter in Test cricket nine times over his career.Full rankings tables
Click here for the full team rankings
Click here for the full player rankings
Brook was named Player of the Match in Wellington and Root was quick to shower praise on his younger colleague. “Brooky is by far and away the best player in the world at the minute,” he had said. “He can absorb pressure, he can apply it. He can whack you over your head for six. He can scoop you over his head for six. He can smack spin. He can smack seam.”Just 25, Brook has scored 2280 runs from 38 innings across 23 Tests, and currently averages 61.62. Those numbers include eight centuries, including a mammoth 317 against Pakistan in Multan in October 2024.Travis Head and Temba Bavuma move upIt has been a busy time for Test cricket on the whole, with Australia hosting India in a five-match series – of which two have been played so far – and South Africa beating Sri Lanka 2-0 at home earlier this week.Travis Head, who hit 140 in the first innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Adelaide to set up Australia’s ten-wicket win, has zoomed up six spots to fifth, while Temba Bavuma’s 78 and 66 in the second Test in Gqeberha took him up three places to seventh on the table.Bavuma, in fact, was named Player of the Series for his tally of 327 runs.Marnus Labuschagne, who signalled a bit of a return to form in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, has also moved up following his 64 in the first innings, going up three spots to get to 13th.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Competition for Jasprit BumrahJasprit Bumrah, the top-ranked Test bowler, strengthened his position with a four-wicket haul in the first innings in Adelaide, but Kagiso Rabada, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are not too far behind.Hazlewood missed the second Test, but Cummins’ seven wickets in the Test took him up from fifth to fourth past R Ashwin, while Rabada held on to his second spot – he has 856 points to Bumrah’s 890 – after picking up three wickets in Gqeberha.Matt Henry was the other quick bowler to move up within the top ten, his four wickets in Wellington moving him up from tenth to ninth place.
تلقى منتخب مصر للشباب تحت 20 سنة، الخسارة الثانية له في بطولة كأس العالم للشباب أمام نيوزيلندا بهدفين لهدف.
والتقى منتخب مصر مع نيوزيلندا، في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العالم للشباب المقامة في تشيلي.
طالع.. فيديو | خلال 3 دقائق.. نيوزيلندا تسجل هدفين أمام مصر في كأس العالم للشباب
وتقدم منتخب مصر بالهدف الأول، عن طريق أحمد خالد كباكا، في الدقيقة 5 من عمر الشوط الأول للمباراة، بتسديدة قوية من داخل منطقة الجزاء، بعد تمريرة من محمد عبد الله.
وتعادل منتخب نيوزيلندا، عن طريق لوك سميث في الدقيقة 13 من تسديدة من داخل منطقة الجزاء، وجاء الهدف الثاني، في الدقيقة 16 عن طريق شيان لوك من تسديدة داخل منطقة الجزاء وسط غياب دفاعي.
ويتواجد منتخب مصر في المجموعة الأولى لبطولة كأس العالم تحت 20 عامًا، بجانب منتخبات تشيلي ونيوزيلندا واليابان.
ورفع منتتخب نيوزيلندا رصيده إلى 3 نقاط في المركز الثالث بينما منتخب مصر بلا أي نقاط في المركز الأخير. أهداف مباراة مصر ونيوزيلندا في كأس العالم للشباب
كشف صحفي شبكة سكاي سبورتس، فابريزيو رومانو، عن آخر تطورات إصابة نجم نادي ريال مدريد، وذلك عقب نهاية الجولة الثامنة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.
ريال مدريد عاد من جديد إلى سكة الانتصارات، وذلك عقب الانتصار الثمين الذي حققه الفريق الملكي على حساب فياريال يوم السبت الماضي بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف واحد.
واستغل ريال مدريد خسارة برشلونة القاسية أمام إشبيلية بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف واحد يوم أمس الأحد في ملعب رامون سانشيز بيزخوان، ليتصدر الميرنجي الترتيب.
ويفتقد ريال مدريد إلى عدد من اللاعبين في تشكيلة الفريق الأساسية، ومن بين هؤلاء اللاعبين ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد، وأنطونيو روديجير، وداني كارفاخال، وفيرلاند ميندي.
ويعاني أرنولد من إصابة عضلية أبعدته عن تشكيلة ريال مدريد منذ مواجهة أوليمبيك مارسيليا الشهر الماضي، ضمن الجولة الأولة من مرحلة الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
اقرأ أيضًا .. جوتي ينصح لاعب ريال مدريد: عليك الرحيل
وأكد رومانو اليوم الإثنين، أن عملية تعافي أرنولد من الإصابة تتم بشكل جيد للغاية، حيث يبدو الظهير الأيمن واثقًا من العودة إلى صفوف ريال مدريد بعد نهاية فترة التوقف الدولي الحالي.
وأضاف الصحفي الإيطالي، أن أرنولد من المتوقع أن يتعافى بشكل تام من إصابته في غضون أسبوعين، وأن لاعب ليفربول السابق يهدف إلى المشاركة في الكلاسيكو أمام برشلونة.
ريال مدريد سوف يستضيف برشلونة يوم ال26 من شهر أكتوبر الجاري على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو، في قمة الدوري الإسباني، والتي سوف تكون حاسمة في صراع المنافسة على البطولة المحلية.
Tottenham Hotspur have made a new bid worth £43m to sign an attacking midfielder similar to former target Eberechi Eze.
Tottenham move on from Eze with 2-0 win at Man City
Spurs were dealt a major transfer blow last week when Eze decided to snub a move to Thomas Frank’s side in favour of heading to north London rivals Arsenal.
Eze actually phoned Gunners boss Mikel Arteta in order to return to his boyhood side, with Tottenham being forced to look at other attacking targets before the deadline.
However, on the pitch, Spurs put their Eze transfer blow behind them to seal an impressive 2-0 at Manchester City. First-half goals from Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha were enough for Frank’s side to make it two wins from two without conceding a goal.
Talking after the game, Frank was only interested in talking about those that had joined Tottenham.
“I think it’s fair to say that we’ve got a few questions about the transfer market yesterday – a lot about why not, and what if, and all that. What is 100 per cent sure is that we brought two top players into the club, (Mohammed) Kudus and Palhinha. Both of them performed very well, which I’m very pleased with.
“And Palhinha, wow. You know, sometimes players need confidence, and they need to be on top. “I actually don’t think he’s fully fit yet where I want him to be, but very pleased with his performance and he’s definitely helping the team.”
Asked if he had used the Eze situation as inspiration, Frank said: “I think that’s very, very easy – never ever use one word about anything that is not in our club.”
Tottenham hold talks to sign £40m+ UCL winner who Son called "incredible"
The Lilywhites are scrambling to attempt a late move.
1 ByTom Cunningham Aug 24, 2025
With Spurs not back in action until Saturday 30 August, Daniel Levy and co have plenty of time to make progress with a number of alternative targets, and it looks as if they are getting straight to work with one attacking midfielder.
Tottenham make improved Nico Paz offer
According to Sky Sports reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, Tottenham have made an improved offer for Como’s Nico Paz.
Spurs had an initial €40m (£34.6m) bid turned down, with those in north London now raising their offer to €50m (£43m). Como or Paz are yet to respond to Tottenham’s latest bid, with the Serie A side previously valuing the 20-year-old at €70m (£60m).
Di Marzio adds that Paz remains a top target for Tottenham, with talks continuing. Should the Argentina international sign for Frank’s side, they will be getting a talent called “incredible” by Lionel Messi.
Attacking midfielders/wingers similar to Paz
Club
Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid
Bruno Fernandes
Man Utd
Eberechi Eze
Arsenal
Morgan Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest
Maghnes Akliouche
Monaco
As can be seen, FBref have also likened Paz to Eze and other star names in the last 12 months, making his potential move to north London one to watch before the deadline.
Former Worcestershire opener takes charge amid strained relations between ECB and players’ union
Matt Roller16-Jan-2025
Daryl Mitchell had a 16-year playing career with Worcestershire before joining the PCA•PA Photos/Getty Images
Daryl Mitchell has been promoted to become chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) after filling the role on an interim basis for the last six months.Mitchell, who scored 39 first-class hundreds and captained Worcestershire, spent four years as PCA chair from 2017-21 before becoming director of cricket operations and then chief operating officer. He has served as interim chief executive since Rob Lynch stepped down to join MCC as director of cricket and operations, and has now been appointed on a permanent basis after the role was advertised publicly before Christmas.The appointment comes at a time when the PCA is looking to mend its relationship with the ECB after a testing period, which prompted the players’ union to suggest the sense of “genuine collaboration” between the two parties had evaporated late last year. Mitchell said in a statement he will try to build “closer working relationships” with the ECB and counties in his new role.Related
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The PCA were particularly frustrated at what they described as “a severe lack of communication and consultation” in two policy areas late last year: the new stance on No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) and the split of extra money in the Hundred’s salary pot. The men’s county schedule has been another long-standing pressure point between the two parties.”I am delighted to have been entrusted by the PCA players’ committee and the board to lead the association as the chief executive,” Mitchell said. “Representing players has been a key part of my life since I became a PCA rep in 2009.”Evolution is the key to the future of our members and the PCA and forging even stronger relations with players is crucial to the future of our game. Being a cricketer in today’s world provides a wealth of opportunity, albeit with challenges and greater complexities than ever before for our members to navigate, both collectively and as individuals.”Mitchell will be working with a new chair, with James Harris’ second term set to run out in February, while his previous role is now vacant. Harris was part of the interview panel for the chief executive hiring process, along with PCA president Eoin Morgan, and said Mitchell was “the standout candidate from a very strong field”.