Newcastle’s £35m signing of Sven Botman has emerged as one of the signings of last summer as his defensive solidity helped the Magpies secure Champions League football for the first time in 20 years.

The Dutchman is still only 23 years old and has a monumental future ahead of him. Eddie Howe will be looking to repeat this trick and find a more long-term partner for Botman, considering that Fabian Schar turns 32 in five months.

One player tipped to become part of the Tyneside revolution and be a great addition is Joachim Andersen.

What’s the latest on Joachim Andersen to Newcastle United?

Last week, it was reported that Tottenham and Newcastle were both chasing the Crystal Palace star, who the Eagles value at around £50m.

Since arriving in English football in 2020 on loan at Fulham, Andersen has amassed a respectable reputation as a physical, composed, and technically astute defender.

Indeed, despite suffering relegation with the Cottagers in his debut Premier League season, the 27-year-old still performed admirably. In February 2021, he was nominated for the division’s Player of the Month Award in which he captained the side, played every minute, and registered an assist.

It seems strange that a loan player would ever be given the captaincy, but it is a testament to his quality and influence, which earned him a move to Palace and yet more Premier League exposure.

In south London, his consistency reached new heights, as the £80k-per-week titan has started 66 of the club’s last 76 domestic outings, in which the Eagles have nailed down their status as a sturdy mid-table side that has barely been threatened by relegation.

This is partly owed to Andersen’s marvellous ball-spraying ability and commanding leadership from the back. Last term, he won 64% of his duels, made no errors leading to shots or goals, averaged an 80% pass accuracy and ranked within the best 16% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for aerials won per 90.

Would Joachim Andersen be a good signing for Newcastle United?

Andersen’s former coach at Midtjylland, Svend Graversen, has previously lauded his talent, saying: "He always had that calmness. Growing up, what I liked was that he took full responsibility to bring the ball through the lines.

"He was the leader in defence — I put him at centre-back but he was normally a midfielder. You could see the calmness on the ball, his awareness, especially the space in front of him in the defence was very good. There was the potential to be a top defender.

"As an under-17, he was the best in the league. Even though the national team couldn’t see it right away, he was on another level."

If Newcastle seals this deal, it could afford Andersen the chance to replicate Fabricio Coloccini’s heroics. The former captain made 275 appearances for the Magpies and was an instrumental component of the side in the 2011/12 season that finished fifth.

That year, the Argentinian played 35 matches, averaging the most interceptions per game (2.6) and third-most tackles (2.0) per game, and his stint as skipper shows he and Andersen are both deemed leading figures.

Alan Pardew has also previously highlighted his “calmness” on the ball, which Andersen possesses in abundance, so a possible move could see a rebirth of Coloccini at St James' Park.

Chelsea have placed Crystal Palace star Michael Olise "in their list" of targets for the summer, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Michael Olise?

Olise is naturally an attacking midfielder who has played his football in the Premier League and indeed at Selhurst Park since joining from Reading back in 2021, where he was an academy graduate. He's since gone on to become a regular feature of Roy Hodgson's first-team having made 31 starts in the top-flight last season.

Despite still having another three years to run on his contract, the 21-year-old established himself as the Eagles' second best-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 6.99 during the previous campaign and this form has already attracted interest from two clubs in particular in the form of both Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.

Mauricio Pochettino will know that he has to enter the market for central reinforcements before the end of the ongoing window having already lost the likes of Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante just to name a few, and if the following update is to be believed, the Frenchman has been highlighted as a new option.

Are Chelsea signing Michael Olise?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Chelsea have identified Olise as a serious summer target but are currently holding back to discover the possible extent of an injury that he sustained in June. He wrote:

"Chelsea and Manchester City have both Michael Olise in their list. Understand there’s release clause into his contract — around £35m. #CFC #MCFC Both clubs are waiting for clarity about his conditions as he picked up injury last month."

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly hasn't been afraid to empty his pockets so far this summer having recruited the likes of RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku and Villarreal's Nicolas Jackson for decent fees, and with Olise being available for just £35m, he would be an absolute bargain and a player that the chief should definitely consider making a move for.

The Nike-sponsored "joy to watch", as lauded by Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison, racked up 13 goal contributions (11 assists and two goals) in 37 Premier League appearances last season, form which saw him receive five man-of-the-match awards, but he was equally a threat even when his name wasn't on the scoresheet.

The Hammersmith-born talent recorded a total of 242 crosses and 143 shot-creating actions over the course of the previous campaign, both statistics being the highest out of the whole of his squad, as per FBRef, showing his constant desire to get involved in the action and produce moments of quality for his fellow teammates in the final third.

Finally, Olise would be able to add wonderful versatility to the boss' ranks having operated in seven different positions since the start of his career, including four roles in the midfield, out wide on both the left and right flanks and even as a second striker, so should he put pen to paper, it would be a massive coup for Pochettino's new era.

ScorecardKent and Northamptonshire played out a dull, high-scoring draw at Beckenham after Josh Cobb and the Northants lower order comfortably made the 24 more runs they required to avoid the follow-on early on the final day.Northants, resuming on 528 for 7 in reply to Kent’s mammoth 701 for 7 declared, were eventually bowled out for 568. Kent then replied with 184 for 3 in sizzling temperatures, and in front of a sparse crowd, and they took 11 points from this Specsavers County Championship Division Two match and Northants 9.Daniel Bell-Drummond played on to Ben Sanderson on 5, but Sean Dickson made 60 in a second wicket stand of 101 with Joe Denly, who went on to 78 not out before hands were shaken at 4.50pm. Denly, who made 182 in Kent’s first innings, now has more than 900 championship runs this season, at an average above 60, with three hundreds and four more scores above fifty.Dickson, the first innings triple-centurion, skied Max Holden’s off spin to cover after totalling 378 runs in the match, while Denly took his match run aggregate to 260 as Kent captain Sam Northeast kept him leisurely company against an assortment of Northants’ slow bowling – which included the offerings of wicketkeeper Adam Rossington, with skipper Alex Wakely deputising behind the stumps.As the game meandered to its conclusion, indeed, it was a moot point as to whether what was on show could be deemed first-class cricket. Perhaps the championship regulations should allow the umpires to call matches off early, but to their credit Kent’s batsmen did not try to smash the gentle bowling to all parts – merely walking singles into the deep field amid the odd boundary.Northeast, in fact, gifted Ben Duckett his maiden first-class wicket when he skied an attempted big hit at a full toss to cover, on 27. Adam Rouse finished 8 not out.At the start of the day Northants did not lose another wicket until the follow on target of 552 had been passed, with Cobb off driving Pakistan leg spinner Yasir Shah for four to take his side beyond that score.Graeme White, on 11, then skied Shah to mid on before both Nathan Buck and No 11 Sanderson fell cheaply to leave Cobb 34 not out. Buck was leg-before to Shah, as he shaped to play to leg off the back foot, and Sanderson slogged James Tredwell’s off spin to mid on to go for a duck.Northants’ 568 was a record total in first-class cricket against Kent, beating the previous best of 561 for 8 declared at Canterbury in 1995.

Sussex will go into the break from Championship action still in the hunt for promotion from Division Two after completing a 231-run win over bottom of the table Leicestershire at Arundel to claim their third win in four games

ECB Reporters Network08-Jul-2017
ScorecardArundel has boosted Sussex’s promotion hopes•Getty ImagesSussex will go into the break from Championship action still in the hunt for promotion from Division Two after completing a 231-run win over bottom of the table Leicestershire at Arundel to claim their third win in four games.After Danny Briggs took a wicket in the first over on the final day Sussex had to be patient, but once skipper Mark Cosgrove was fourth out at 124 Leicestershire folded, losing their last seven wickets in 23 overs for 70 runs to leave them still searching for their first win of the season.The wickets were shared around but the match-defining spell was bowled after lunch by Chris Jordan, who took 2-14 in a five-over burst where he got the ball to reverse swing expertly to remove Cosgrove and Ned Eckersley.With an end opened up, Jofra Archer and leg-spinner Will Beer piled through. Archer, who took 11 wickets when Sussex won at Grace Road last month, picked up seven more in the match including 4 for 30 in the second innings. Only wicketkeeper Lewis Hill, who made 35, offered much resistance as Leicestershire were dismissed for 193 in 69.1 overs.Leicestershire began the day on 36 for 0 needing an improbable 425 and they suffered an immediate setback when Arun Harinath was caught off a top edge for 17.Paul Horton and Colin Ackermann dug in to put on 52 with Ackermann twice lofting Briggs over the top for six. But Archer returned to the attack before lunch to pick up both batsmen. Horton was leg before in the second over of his spell and Ackermann, who top scored with 43, nicked off.With only three wickets down Leicestershire might have harboured hopes of saving the game at lunch but Jordan produced a decisive burst. Cosgrove was beaten by late movement then Eckersley lost his off stump playing no shot.The gutsy Hill apart, the rest came quietly. Will Fazakerley endured a pair on his first-class debut when he gave a catch to Chris Nash at short leg. Nash had earlier spent time off the field when he was hit on the knee by Cosgrove.Rob Sayer was leg before to a ball which kept low and Matt Pillans gloved Archer’s bouncer to the keeper before Clint McKay drove Beer to short midwicket.Last man Richard Jones helped Hill but on 26 for the last wicket but they were futile blows and Abi Sakande wrapped up victory on the stroke of tea when he had Hill leg before for 35.

The loss of Richarlison has been hugely detrimental to Everton.

Although his move to Tottenham Hotspur has unravelled into a disaster so far, he was an indispensable component for the Toffees across four seasons, netting double figures in the Premier League on three occasions.

The inability of the Everton hierarchy to replace the forward nearly resulted in relegation, but now with a full summer to assess their options, he must be adequately replaced.

As a result, Victor Boniface has been namedropped as a possible target.

What’s the latest on Victor Boniface to Everton?

According to Sacha Tavolieri, Everton took initial information on the Royale Union Saint-Gilloise star as they assess a potential deal. The Toffees are yet to table an offer for the striker, but he is open to a move to Goodison Park.

Although a deal is at the very early stages, it will definitely be one to watch across the summer.

"We are not yet at the stage of formal negotiations but I understand #EvertonFC took initial information on player’s side to glimpse the possibilities of a deal for Victor Boniface," he tweeted. "There is actually absolutely NO offer for the Nigerian striker on the table of #USG even though the player’s open to a move. Interesting transfer to follow this summer."

Is Victor Boniface shades of Richarlison?

The 22-year-old machine has been at Union SG since last summer and has enjoyed the most productive season of his career to date. Across 55 appearances in all competitions, Boniface bagged 34 goal involvements, which has alerted Everton to his talent.

His manager Karel Geraerts has lauded his quality and said:

“I think Boniface, he's doing very good in the team.

"Boniface showed that he has a lot of qualities, he’s strong, he can go with speed. I think now he needs to be physically strong and keep this tempo for 90 minutes.”

The young Nigerian's well-rounded profile and the way he’s excelled in Belgium means he looks ready for a step up to a more fierce league. This is indicated by his rank within the best 13% outside Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for non-penalty goals, assists, progressive carries, and successful take-ons per 90.

There is brimming potential in the youngster with scout Jacek Kulig saying he is renowned for his pace, finishing, instinct, heading, athleticism, and movement.

These dynamic and physical traits were also regularly exhibited by Richarlison during his time in the north-west.

The Brazilian has been praised by his former boss Carlo Ancelotti for his similarly unique skill set:

“He is a modern and complete forward, not very sharp on his feet but coordinated and with great synchronization in the area. He is also strong with his head, although he is not a giant. For me, he is among the best forwards.”

The veteran coach made his admiration for the former Watford dynamo extremely clear and also said:

“Richarlison was a fantastic talent before me and will be a fantastic talent after me. He has skills and ability… power and strength and speed.”

In 152 appearances, he recorded 67 goal involvements and his “hard-working” attitude endeared him to the Goodison Park faithful, where he was one of the most popular members of the squad.

Although Boniface would be a rather risky signing due to his lack of experience, it would undoubtedly be exciting.

He could provide Sean Dyche with a different option to the injury-stricken Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and could easily out-score the anonymous Neal Maupay, who has netted just once in his Everton career.

Liverpool could make a move for Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis during the summer transfer window, according to a key update from reliable journalist Neil Jones.

Who is Florentino Luis?

The 23-year-old is currently a key man for Benfica, proving to be an influential figure sitting in front of the defence and shining in the No.6 role. Last season, Luis featured in 33 of his side's Primeira Liga matches, starting 25 of them, and he averaged 2.5 tackles per game in the competition, as well as completing 90.1% of his passes. In total, he has appeared 86 times for the Portuguese giants, maturing all the time and becoming a very strong player for them.

With Fabinho looking almost certain to leave Liverpool for Saudi Arabia this summer, and Jordan Henderson also likely to go the same way, the Reds will be in desperate need of further reinforcements in the middle of the park, having already brought in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively.

Could Liverpool sign Florentino Luis?

Speaking on his YouTube channel [via Empire of the Kop], Jones talked up Luis as a possible signing for Liverpool this summer, potentially coming in as Fabinho's replacement:

"A name that I would urge you to look out for is Florentino Luis, who plays for Benfica. I think he’s one who could come into consideration. He’s a very Fabinho-type player in terms of defensive midfielder, gets about the pitch, gets his foot in, strong in the tackle, really good defensively. If Liverpool are looking for a like-for-like replacement for Fabinho, they could do a lot worse than look at Florentino Luis.

"Just keep an eye on that name. I haven’t heard if there’s anything moving yet in that regard but it’s certainly one I would keep in mind."

Luis could be precisely what Liverpool are looking for when aiming to fill the Fabinho-shaped void in front of the defence, coming in as a younger version of him who can excel at Anfield in the same way the Brazilian has over the past five years.

The 12-cap Portugal Under-21 international could feel that he has outgrown Benfica at this point in his career, and the lure of playing under Jurgen Klopp could also be too great to turn down.

Granted, Luis is far from the only rumoured Liverpool midfield target, with a host of other names on the list, from Romeo Lavia to Khephren Thuram, but he is an exciting option whose best years should still be ahead of him.

Former Benfica youth coach Joao Tralhao has waxed lyrical over Luis in the past, further highlighting why he could be a fantastic option for the Reds:

“He has the talent and quality to play in elite teams. Remember when Real Madrid had the Galacticos? They needed someone to balance the team, and [Claude] Makelele was so important. More recently, Casemiro did that job, allowing [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Luka] Modric and [Karim] Benzema to attack. Florentino has those capabilities. He’s having an amazing season under Roger Schmidt."

Liverpool could be wise to at least consider a move for the Benfica ace, as this crucial summer window at Anfield continues, and it is imperative that they nail their business following a disappointing 2022/23 campaign.

On the same pitch where 743 runs were scored in one of the greatest run-fests in domestic cricket history, three days later Essex staunchly committed themselves to a day of unremitting toil on a soporific summer’s day

David Hopps at Chelmsford19-Jun-2017
ScorecardNick Browne was rarely fluent but did an important job for Essex•Getty Images

How things change. On the same pitch where 743 runs were scored in one of the greatest run-fests in domestic cricket history, three days later Essex staunchly committed themselves to a day of unremitting toil on a soporific summer’s day.Spectators doubtless expected something less gung-ho as a remarkable Royal London Cup semi-final – which had an agonising outcome for Essex as Nottinghamshire took the prize in the final over – gave way to the gentler rhythms of a four-day Championship match. But at times this felt like slamming it from sixth gear to first in one movement. With a spirited change up to third near the close.From the boundary edge, a straw-coloured pitch gave the impression that its runs bounty would remain unlimited, but it did not turn out that way. It was 100 overs in and the sun was beating down upon it. Only in the final stages of one of the hottest days the English summer can deliver did Essex break free of Warwickshire’s shackles.They will feel that at 263 for 5 they have edged a hard-fought day. Nick Browne has begun to put right a lean season with three successive half-centuries. He perspired over 84 from 244 balls, a worthy affair which, nevertheless, was not about to entice a cricket poet to churn out a few stanzas on the beauty of leather on willow.Ravi Bopara might be worth a rhyming couplet, though, early on the second day. He hasn’t had a Championship century for three years, but he was 84 not out by the close. Both registered their highest scores of the season, Browne grinding on for five-and-a-quarter hours, Bopara comparatively spritely. Their stand of 127 in 42 overs was the substance of Essex’s innings.The weather was so idyllic that by start of play, the banks of the River Can adjacent to the ground were packed with sunbathers committed to nothing more strenuous than idling away a few hours. Browne’s mistiming was so pronounced that it might have brought a protest from the Noise Abatement Society. It took him 47 balls to reach double figures; Essex needed 46 overs to raise the hundred.His invaluable knock ended when he was bowled by a decent ball from Rikki Clarke. Clarke probably felt he deserved it: it was his 45th delivery of the day to Browne who had managed a couple of twos through the leg-side and nothing more besides. The worth of Browne’s innings was amplified when ten Doeschate fell soon after, Clarke bringing the ball back for an lbw.The surface will surely rag for the spinners long before the end, but it remains to be seen whether it will become so slow and low that it negates their effectiveness. Certainly Jeetan Patel roused Warwickshire hearts shortly before lunch when he had Alastair Cook lbw and then drew Tom Westley into an edge to slips. He might also have had Browne on 16, only for Rankin to drop a skier, pedalling back valiantly, at mid-off.When Patel took a breather, Varun Chopra was bowled by Boyd Rankin, leaving a ball that came back sharply, much to his obvous bewilderment. As Browne’s ball-count grew, his confidence began to return: Patel pummelled through mid-on and his fellow spinner, Sunny Singh, driven and swept in successive balls. Luxury indeed for a batsman who stuck at his job. Title challengers need days like this.

شارك المصري محمد صلاح أساسيًا في مباراة فريقه ليفربول أمام إيفرتون ببطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز. 

والتقى ليفربول وإيفرتون في مباراة مؤجلة من الجولة التاسعة والعشرين للدوري الإنجليزي “البريميرليج”.

وتعرض ليفربول للهزيمة في الديربي بهدفين دون مقابل أمام إيفرتون، بملعب “جوديسون بارك”.

في الدقيقة 35 مرر محمد صلاح تمريرة رائعة، وانفرد داروين نونيز وسدد بقوة من داخل منطقة الجزاء وتصدى له بيكفورد حارس مرمى إيفرتون بنجاح.

ومرر محمد صلاح كرة إلى نونيز الذي أرسلها إلى لويس دياز لكن تصدى له بيكفورد، في الدقيقة 44.

ثم صوب صلاح تصويبة قوية من خارج منطقة الجزاء، وارتطمت بالدفاع ثم وصلت إليه مرة أخرى وسدد كرة بعيدة عن المرمى، وذلك بالدقيقة 45.

وقبل نهاية الشوط الأول وصلت كرة من سوبوسلاي إلى محمد صلاح والذي سدد مجددًا من على حدود منطقة الجزاء وارتطمت الكرة بالدفاع.

في الشوط الثاني لعب لويس دياز عرضية وصلت إلى صلاح وسدد المصري لكن تسديدة سهلة إلى بيكفورد، بالدقيقة 56.

بالدقيقة 79 لعب محمد صلاح كرة وصوب من داخل منطقة الجزاء لكن بعيدة عن المرمى. 

وقبل نهاية المباراة، صوب صلاح تصويبة قوية من خارج منطقة الجزاء وتصدى له بيكفورد. ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وإيفرتون

Leeds United remain interested in signing Newcastle United's Karl Darlow, and there is now a good chance the goalkeeper leaves this summer, according to a recent report from The Northern Echo.

What's the latest Leeds transfer news?

Leeds are expected to sell goalkeeper Illan Meslier this summer, although his existing five-year deal is free of a release clause, and Dean Jones believes he will be gone at some point during the transfer window, although it may be after the season starts.

The transfer insider told GiveMeSport: "Leeds know that they can't get caught out in that position. So I think the idea is they'll look to sign someone who will have a view to being the number one.

"As even if Meslier hasn’t gone by the start of the season, the feeling is that he will be gone by the time the transfer window ends.”

There is now a pressing need for the Whites to bring in a new goalkeeper, as Joel Robles has now confirmed his exit from Elland Road, having signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah, who are managed by Robbie Fowler.

According to a report from The Northern Echo, Leeds remain interested in signing Darlow, who has fallen down the pecking order at St. James' Park, and although there's a good chance he leaves Tyneside, Newcastle chiefs are unwilling to let him leave on the cheap.

The Magpies are holding out for a significant transfer fee, which means Hull City and Middlesbrough have dropped out of the race for the 32-year-old, with Hull boss Liam Rosenior saying:

“I don’t think Karl is someone that will be joining us. Karl is someone I loved working with, he’s an outstanding goalkeeper, but the price that Newcastle are speaking about is something we can’t do this summer."

How good is Karl Darlow?

The £30k-per-week shot-stopper has not received a great deal of game time for Newcastle as of late, making just one EFL Cup appearance for Newcastle last season before being loaned out to Hull City in the January transfer window.

During his time with the Tigers, the 6 foot 3 colossus performed very well, averaging a 7.08 Sofascore match rating in the second half of the campaign, the second-highest figure of any player in the squad, displacing Matt Ingram in the starting XI.

The Englishman has displayed a willingness to get involved in the play over the past year, averaging 51.75 touches of the ball per 90, which places him in the 99th percentile compared to his positional peers, and he also ranks in the 85th percentile for his clean sheet percentage.

Meslier let mistakes creep into his game last season, with former Leeds defender Jon Newsome branding the Frenchman "really poor" after he made an error in the 4-1 defeat against AFC Bournemouth, and it is probably a wise decision to let him leave.

Although Darlow has not been able to force his way into a very good Newcastle side, he has proven himself as a top goalkeeper at Championship level, and Leeds should undoubtedly continue pursuing a move.

Sri Lanka’s bowling coach has drawn attention to the tendency to produce spin-friendly pitches in first-class cricket that are stifling the development of quick bowlers

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Pallekele12-Aug-2017Sri Lanka’s bowling coach Chaminda Vaas has become the latest insider to criticise the country’s domestic system, drawing particular attention to its tendency to produce pitches unsuited to quick-bowling.Of the top 15 wicket-takers in the most recent first-class season, 14 were spin bowlers. In the previous Premier League Tournament season (2015-16), the most successful fast bowler had been placed at 15th overall – only two seamers entering the top 20. It is not unusual for spinners to take the new ball in first-class cricket, where dustbowls are routinely prepared, especially towards the end of the season.”We can’t be satisfied with the way first-class cricket is,” Vaas said. “We need to make first-class cricket work for fast bowlers. We talk a lot about what ails first-class cricket, but no matter how much we talk, the issue hasn’t moved forward.”It is widely believed that it is partly because of the poor nature of domestic surfaces that Sri Lanka do not possess a well-honed battery of quicks. Promising fast bowlers are generally picked in the academy, but must largely develop at the A-team and international levels.”If we want to improve our cricket and increase the number of fast bowlers we have – if we want to do justice to our cricket – we need to make pitches that are suited to fast bowlers,” Vaas said. “If we do that I trust that our bowlers would be better off than they are now.”Sri Lanka’s meagre fast-bowling depth was of particular relevance in the ongoing Pallekele Test, in which Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando were the frontline quicks, following injuries to Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal. Fernando is playing only his second Test match. Kumara, 20, is playing his seventh Test, but has played only three domestic first-class games in his career, having been in the Under-19 team only a year ago.”They need to play more, I think,” Vaas said. “If you take our first-class cricket, they don’t have enough first-class experience to play well. If you take quicks from any country, they start bowling well after they have played 20-25 Tests only. We can’t suddenly expect a lot from Vishwa and Lahiru Kumara. It’s with their mindset that they can improve. They need to practice a lot and play a lot of games. With that match experience only they will develop.”First-class surfaces have been unduly spin-friendly for at least five seasons now, and two seasons into their tenure, the SLC board headed by Thilanga Sumathipala has failed to bring about meaningful change to domestic pitches. Sumathipala has conceded the surfaces are a problem area, however. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo in May, he said the board would make improvements on that front.”Next year we’re going to have independent curators approving certain wickets,” he had said. “It’s all costing us money because we have to retain a lot of people.”According to Sumathipala, part of the problem is that some first class clubs – such as Badureliya CC or Ragama CC – do not have grounds of their own, and are forced to hire grounds for their home matches. Those venues, in turn, are not adequately maintained, said Sumathipala.”We’re putting the grounds on notice. By June or July, we’ll tell them they need to have good wickets ready by September. They have to put the top dressing and so on. It takes about three months. Hopefully next year we’ll have some better wickets. We’re importing rollers. We would like to have more of those three-ton rollers, because that is important to getting an even surface. We’ve asked our curators to go around and give the ground staff some training. We need to give some infrastructure assistance to the clubs. By the time we get to September, they’ll be sound.”His board, however, has done nothing to cut down the number of first-class sides, which may help ease pressure on the common grounds that are on rotation in domestic cricket.