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England batter Harry Brook, who scored 158 in the first innings at Edgbaston, is now the top-ranked Test batter in the world as per the ICC rankings. Brook replaced his team-mate Joe Root at the top, and is now 18 points clear of Root, who has moved down to second.India Test captain Shubman Gill’s historic knocks of 269 and 161 in the second Test, which India won by 336 runs, helped him climb 15 places to move up to No. 6, with a career-best ratings points of 807. Between Brook, Root and Gill, there are Kane Williamson (third), Yashasvi Jaiswal (fourth) and Steven Smith (fifth) on the charts.England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith was also among the beneficiaries after the Edgbaston Test. His twin contributions of a career-best 184*, during which he rescued England from 84 for 5 in the first innings along with Brook, and 88 in the second innings helped him rise 16 spots to No. 10.

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South Africa allrounder Wiaan Mulder, who got a mammoth 367* in the second Test against Zimbabwe, gained in both batters’ and allrounders’ rankings. While he jumped 34 places to No. 22 among the batters, he also went up 12 places to No. 3 among allrounders. Ravindra Jadeja still leads the allrounders’ rankings.In the ODI rankings for batters, Sri Lanka’s duo of captain Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis gained after impactful performances in their 2-1 win against Bangladesh.Kusal entered the top ten by rising ten spots after scoring 225 runs in the series, including knocks of 124 and 56, that got him the Player-of-the-Series award. Asalanka, meanwhile, rose two places to No. 6 after his match-winning innings of 106 and 58 in the first and third ODIs, respectively.

Leeds United were willing to splash the cash to back Daniel Farke in the summer transfer window to bolster the squad for a season in the Premier League.

Whilst they may not have brought in the winger, Harry Wilson, that they wanted on deadline day, the Whites did add to the manager’s options in several key positions across the pitch.

Their work in the summer window has helped them earn eight points from their first seven Premier League matches. A very respectable return for a newly-promoted outfit.

Ranking Leeds United's summer signings

The Championship champions brought in ten new signings to improve the squad in the summer, and we have ranked them based on how they have looked so far.

We have gone for Noah Okafor in first place because the winger has scored two Premier League goals already and looks like he could be a real difference-maker in the final third, which could be the difference between being relegated and staying up.

1

Noah Okafor

2

Anton Stach

3

Gabriel Gudmundsson

4

Sean Longstaff

5

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

6

Lukas Nmecha

7

Lucas Perri

8

James Justin

9

Jaka Bijol

10

Sebastiaan Bornauw

Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and James Justin are all in the bottom three because they have played 18 minutes of Premier League football between them.

Sean Longstaff, Gabriel Gudmundsson, and Anton Stach have been regular starters and established themselves in the XI fairly quickly, hence their rankings, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin still has a bit to prove with one goal and eight ‘big chances’ missed in all competitions, per Sofascore.

Whilst it remains to be seen how these signings will be remembered in the future, we can review how some of the club’s signings performed when they were last promoted to the Premier League.

The Whites splashed the cash to break their transfer record to sign Rodrigo for Marcelo Bielsa in the summer of 2020, and the transfer did not go exactly to plan.

How much money Leeds United lost on Rodrigo

Leeds reportedly paid a fee of £27m to sign the Spain international to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch, but he failed to provide consistent quality in the final third.

Rodrigo scored seven goals and provided two assists in 27 Premier League matches in the 2020/21 campaign, before a return of six goals and one assist in 31 games in the 2021/22 season, per Sofascore.

At the end of that second season, journalist Phil Hay said: “My criticism more and more is that the impact of that investment just hasn’t been felt. Not enough of their signings have made a difference.

“Even on Wednesday, watching Rodrigo against Chelsea, I still can’t work out what he is. Where does he really fit in and is he ever going to work. That’s a £27million player.”

The reporter could not work out where the left-footed forward would fit in, and it was fair to question his contributions after 13 goals in two seasons as a £27m club-record signing.

In that 2021/22 campaign, pundit and former player Michael Dawson also claimed that he was “hiding” and “non-existent” in a clash with Southampton in October 2021, which shows that pundits and journalists alike were unimpressed with his performances.

Rodrigo scored 13 goals in the 2022/23 campaign, as Leeds were relegated from the Premier League, and eventually left the club to join Al-Rayyan for a fee of just £3m.

This shows that the Whites had a howler with the signing of the Spaniard because he was criticised by pundits and journalists in his first two seasons at the club, scored goals in a season that the team struggled in, and then left for £24m less than what he was signed for.

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It was a signing that did not prove to be value for money in the long run, and Farke and the 49ers will be hoping that none of this summer’s transfers are remembered as poorly as this one.

Mady Villiers and Mia Rogers shared a stand of 98 as Durham made it back-to back wins in the Metro Bank One-day Cup women’s competition with a six-wicket victory over hosts Essex.Rogers led the charge with an unbeaten 66, while Villiers, back on what was her home ground for more than a decade until her move north over the winter made 46 as the visitors recovered from 55 for 3 to win with 70 balls to spare.Earlier, a catastrophic runout sparked a collapse by the hosts in which they lost seven wickets for 53 runs in 81 balls, Villiers taking 3 for 28, while Ariana Dowse was left stranded on 43 not out.Lissy Macleod was dropped on 2, but that scare aside Essex began well after being sent in. Macleod lofted Grace Thompson back over her head for six, while in-form skipper Grace Scriven unfurled a couple of square cuts as the openers posted a 50-stand in 49 balls.Thompson switched ends to break the partnership with the last ball of the powerplay, Macleod strangled down the leg side. The same combination accounted for Scrivens soon afterwards, the host’s skipper wafting at a wide one outside off stump.Dowse and Sophia Smale steadied matters, the latter driving Villiers for four before sweeping Susie Bates to the legside boundary as the pair added 51 in 12 overs.Smale perished tentatively paddling one from Villiers around the corner to backward square but Essex still looked handily placed at 120 for 3 at halfway.Then came the runout, confusion over a second leaving both batters mid-pitch, Amara Carr unable to turn and beat Villiers’s throw. It was the catalyst for the collapse, in-form Phoebe Turner taking two in an over, including Jo Gardner for a second-ball duck.Dowse stood firm to remain unbeaten on 43, but spin twins Villiers and Katy Levick, proved too much for the home side’s tail.Needing early wickets Essex made a dream start, New Zealand international Bates edging a swinging ball from the excellent Eva Gray to a diving Carr. If that was a good ball, Esmae MacGregor produced a beauty to befuddle skipper Hollie Armitage and clip the top of off.Emma Marlow’s response to adversity was to plunder three boundaries from MacGregor’s next over in racing to 30, but comical runouts were catching and a mix up saw her sent back by Villiers, the square leg umpire adjudging her short of her ground, though replays suggested the batter had made it home.Villiers and Rogers managed the rebuild, both driving Smale for four, while the former clubbed one from Abtaha Maqsood back over her head to raise the 50 partnership.Villiers fell just short of 50 top edging an attempted pull to Gray at mid-on, but Rogers completed her half century with the help of six fours.

After a couple of handy knocks since joining CSK this season, Ayush Mhatre took his game up a few notches against RCB on Saturday, smashing 94 from 48 balls

Ashish Pant04-May-20251:11

What makes Ayush Mhatre so effective?

Ayush Mhatre is all of 17 years and 292 days, but already has the makings of a top-drawer T20 cricketer. He looks pleasing to the eye, has shots all around the park, and the power game required for a modern-day T20 batter. But what impressed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming the most about Mhatre is the temperament and the composure he displayed at the trials and how he has backed it up at IPL 2025.”He’s got talent. He’s got hand-eye coordination. He’s got a beautiful, silky swing. He’s aggressive. Everything that we like about a modern-day T20 player,” Fleming said about Mhatre at the press conference after CSK lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday night. “But, to me, it’s the temperament and being able to execute in a trial and then on the big stage. That’s what I’m most impressed with.”It’s one thing to have a lot of shots, but to be able to execute that game plan on a big stage in front of some of the biggest players in the world is what I admire.”Related

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Ayush Mhatre's big night out in the IPL

In a season where very little has gone CSK’s way, Mhatre has been one of the few positives. He came into the team as a replacement for captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was ruled out five games into the season with an elbow injury. Mhatre’s season debut was also his T20 debut, in the game against Mumbai Indians (MI). He scored a 15-ball 32 in his first match, followed by a 19-ball 30 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).On Saturday, he moved his game up a couple of gears and smashed a 48-ball 94 against RCB, becoming the third-youngest player to score a fifty in the IPL. While his innings did not result in a CSK win, it’s ensured the franchise had a player for the future.”It’s sometimes hard to explain, but there’s just a quality around what he was doing,” Fleming said about Mhatre’s selection as Gaikwad’s replacement. “It’s early days, but we have been very impressed with his skills right from when he trialled and was with us at the early part of the season.”We have enjoyed a lot of the shot play from young players in this tournament and we’re delighted that we’ve got one ourselves. So, yes, excited about the future for him.”Despite being with CSK only for the last month or so and despite his young age, Mhatre has fitted into the team well.”We have a pretty relaxed camp, which has always been our style. He has some team-mates [from Mumbai] on the side. [Shivam] Dube, is one that has seen a fair bit of him,” Fleming said. “Again, it comes back to his maturity. He fitted in seamlessly. It’s often not what the team around him does, but it’s just the way that he behaves.”He was very comfortable right from day one and the team was very comfortable with him. Hopefully, it’s the start of a long relationship.”Ayush Mhatre took 26 runs in an over off Bhuvneshwar Kumar•Getty Images

In just this last week, IPL 2025 has had two teenagers rip into bowlers of international repute. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 14, had on Monday become the youngest centurion in men’s T20s, while Mhatre fell six short of a century on Saturday. While being fearless is one thing, Fleming has been impressed by the skills that these teenagers possess, and also a little worried for some of the Under-19 opponents these two will come up against in the near future.”It’s amazing, really,” Fleming said. “It’s extraordinary to watch that fearless approach. But you’ve got to have skills as well. And to have the skills that these young players have and to be able to execute them against some of the best bowlers in the world is quite remarkable.”It doesn’t matter whether you’re 14, 18, 21. The innings that we’ve seen being played, particularly by these two youngsters, is just top class. It shows maturity beyond their years, but it shows a skill set that is quite daunting, I think, particularly for bowlers around the world.”I worry a little bit about the Under-19 opposition. They’ll come up against two pretty handy openers when a World Cup comes around. But it’s amazing how much talent and how composed they are.”

Newcastle United’s pursuit of a striker seems like it will continue into the final days of the transfer window. Eddie Howe’s side are still without Alexander Isak, who is still not back in training after remaining adamant that he will join Liverpool this summer.

That is a deal that seems likely to go on until Monday’s transfer deadline. In that time, the Magpies will need to focus on centre-forward targets of their own. One of those players is Jorgen Strand Larsen. The Norwegian star got his first couple of goals of the new campaign on Tuesday night, hitting two against West Ham United.

The North East giants do seem to have some alternatives lined up if a deal for Strand Larsen does not materialise.

Latest on Newcastle's striker search

The Magpies’ pursuit of Strand Larsen this summer has certainly been frustrating. Howe’s side recently saw a £50m bid rejected by his club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and could return with a new offer before the deadline, with the player himself ‘keen’ to join.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, the former Celta Vigo star is not the only Norwegian striker in their sight. According to a recent report from The Athletic, a move for Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth has ‘been discussed’ by the higher-ups at St James’ Park in the past few days.

Of course, he is one of a number of targets for Newcastle, but with options now becoming few and far between so close to Deadline Day, a move for the 29-year-old could materialise.

As for his price, Atleti would accept anything that exceeds the £30m they spent on the striker last summer, as per reports.

Why Sorloth would be a good signing

If Newcastle can sign Sorloth this summer, there is no doubt they would be landing a striker at the very top of his game. Described as a “phenomenal” player by manager Diego Simeone, he was excellent for Atleti last term.

In 54 games across all competitions for the Spanish giants, Sorloth bagged 24 goals. Impressively, he found the back of the net 20 times in La Liga, playing 35 games and 1561 minutes, the equivalent of 17 full 90-minute games.

Already, the former Crystal Palace star has started the season on fire. Despite only playing 76 minutes this term, he has already bagged his first goal of the season, scoring the opener against Elche in what ended a 1-1 draw last weekend.

Despite being at a different stage of his career, it is easy to see why Sorloth could be considered a better signing than Strand Larsen. The Wolves star has shone for the Old Gold so far, and impressed in La Liga before that.

Last season at Molineux, the 25-year-old scored 14 goals in 35 Premier League games, six fewer than what Sorloth managed for Atleti. In Strand Larsen’s second full season in La Liga for Celta Vigo, he could only bag 13 goals, again less than what his countryman managed.

That experience of scoring regular goals consistently might certainly make Newcastle more interested in signing Sorloth this summer. The former RB Leipzig star, who could be considered something of a journeyman, has played right across Europe and has built up key experience and a knack for finding the back of the net.

In fact, the underlying stats from next season suggest Sortloth would be a better signing than Strand Larsen. For example, he averaged 1.15 goals per 90 minutes compared to just 0.49 goals each game for the Old Gold striker.

Goals

1.15

0.49

Expected goals

0.97xG

0.36xG

Shots on target

2.3

1.15

Goals per shot on target

0.48

0.42

Aerial duels won

5.63

2.33

The fee to sign Sorloth this summer will not break the bank for Newcastle, especially if they sell Isak. The Norwegian star is a true number nine with a great record behind him in recent seasons. It is easy to see why he would be a better addition than Strand Larsen.

With the Magpies looking to bring in a striker who can find the back of the net regularly, Sorloth could be the man to answer their problems.

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The left-arm quick will continue playing T20 having recently signed a three-year deal with Melbourne Renegades

Tristan Lavalette26-Feb-2025Left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff has announced his retirement from state cricket after 16 years at Western Australia. But he will continue to play on the T20 franchise circuit where he has enjoyed considerable success.Behrendorff, who turns 35 in April, does remain available for national selection having played 17 T20Is with the last being against West Indies in Perth 12 months ago. He also played 12 ODIs from 2019-22.His retirement comes on the back of leaving Perth Scorchers at the end of last season – having just finished as the BBL’s leading wicket-taker – and signing a three-year deal with Melbourne Renegades. He won four BBL titles with Scorchers over a 13-year, 106-game career.”It is the end of one chapter which has been a really exciting one,” Behrendorff said after announcing his retirement on Wednesday. “It’s been so much fun. I’ve been able to live my childhood dream playing state cricket to then have played cricket for Australia as well. The WACA ground has been my home for so long now.”After growing up in Canberra, Behrendorff joined WA as a 19-year-old and quickly became a key part of their attack across formats. He won five One-Day Cup titles and claimed 75 wickets to sit fifth on WA’s all-time list. His last List A game came at the beginning of the current season.Behrendorff also took 126 wickets at 23.85 from 31 first-class matches, but was forced to give up red-ball cricket after the 2017-18 season due to a slew of back injuries.Even though his Shield career was limited, playing in the midst of a long title drought for WA, Behrendorff produced one of the greatest performances in the competition’s history when he claimed 9 for 37 in Victoria’s first innings at the WACA in 2017. It was the second best figures by a WA bowler and his match haul of 14 for 89 is only bettered by Terry Alderman’s 14 for 87.Before his wretched run of injuries, Behrendorff had been considered a potential Test replacement for Mitchell Johnson. Towering at 6 foot 4, Behrendorff’s awkward bounce and prodigious swing with the new ball made him an appealing option.He was consistently on the fringes for Australia in the shorter forms. His international career highlight was when he claimed a five-wicket haul at Lord’s during the 2019 World Cup, ripping through eventual champions England in a 64-run Australia victory.Behrendorff does not have any immediate T20 franchise plans, but he should be in demand. He previously played a couple of seasons for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL and enjoyed a standout campaign in 2023 with 14 wickets. But his hopes of returning to MI last year were unluckily dashed on the eve of the tournament after suffering a freak leg injury while batting at training.Behrendorff played in the recent season of the SA20, where he took two wickets in three matches for Pretoria Capitals.Away from franchise cricket, Behrendorff plans to spend more time with his family. “It played a huge part in my decision to retire, he said. “I know that I’m away with international commitments, franchise leagues and the like, but I want to be home and present for my kids. In particular, things like school pick-up and drop-off.”To be able to do those things I don’t always get to do, to spend more quality time with my wife, Juvelle … to be able to immerse myself more in family life.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Ainda discutindo a sua renovação contratual com o São Paulo, Luan viu suas portas se abrirem para um retorno à equipe. Durante sua apresentação como novo técnico do Tricolor, nesta sexta-feira (21), Dorival Júnior apontou que pretende utilizar o volante, diferente do que fez o antecessor Rogério Ceni, que deixou o jogador afastado enquanto não definisse o seu futuro. Confira:

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A “terrific” Premier League player sees Newcastle United as his preferred destination this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim from The Athletic.

Howe discusses Isak's Newcastle future

The future of Alexander Isak has been the summer’s main talking point at St James’ Park, with the Swede pushing for a move to Liverpool ahead of the new season.

Isak has been made to train away from his Newcastle teammates by Eddie Howe, with the manager no doubt not wanting an unhappy player around, and he spoke about the saga over the weekend.

“I think everything is in play. I’ve said many times he is contracted to us. He is our player. The club make the decision on his future. I don’t know what that will be. Of course I have a preferred outcome. I want the best and the strongest squad possible, but I also want players that really want to play for this football club.”

Regardless of what happens with Isak, more signings are needed for Newcastle before the summer transfer window reaches its conclusion, and they have been boosted by the news that one individual would like to play for the club.

Aston Villa star Ramsey keen on Newcastle move

According to a new update from The Athletic, Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey sees Newcastle as his “preferred destination” this summer.

The report states that the Magpies “made an approach for the former England youth international in January 2024”, with Howe described as a “big fan” of his. While West Ham are also keen on signing the 24-year-old valued at £40m, “Newcastle’s project and the chance to work under Howe are thought to carry the greatest appeal” to him.

This is a big positive for Newcastle, should their interest in Ramsey be as strong as it was last year, with the Villa ace a hugely talented footballer.

Granted, he arguably hasn’t quite kicked on as much as some predicted, but Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has hailed his ability, having managed him when he was at Villa Park.

“He’s not following in anyone’s footsteps. Jacob Ramsey is Jacob Ramsey. He will be a terrific player. It won’t be long before the whole country is watching him I’m sure. He is right up there, let me tell you.”

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Ramsey only started half of Villa’s 38 Premier League games last season, and he could feel that a new challenge is needed at this point in his career, seeing Newcastle as the ideal next step.

Bayern Munich legends Didi Hamann and Lothaur Mathhaus have slammed supremo Uli Hoeness for his harsh criticism of sporting director Max Eberl.

• Hoeness makes controversial comments about Eberl
• Hamann slams Bayern chief
• Matthaus clarifies he doesn't get along with chief

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bayern's honorary president caused a stir with his criticism of Eberl after a busy transfer window that saw the German giants miss out on several high-profile targets, including their failed public pursuit of Nick Woltemade. As well as claiming that Eberl is "quite sensitive", Hoeness said that he and fellow board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge will hand over Bayern's business when they have the right people in the right position, which Hamann believes was a dig at the under-fire sporting director. The former player has demanded that the duo sort things out by communicating privately instead of publicly criticising each other. Matthaus, on the other hand, has stated that he found Hoeness' comments embarrassing. 

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As well as missing out on the signing of Woltemade, despite reaching an agreement with the new Newcastle striker, the Bavarians also saw Florian Wirtz head to the Premier League despite Hoeness' best efforts to snap him up. Attempts to sign Nico Williams and Bradley Barcola also collapsed, but the German champions were able to splash out £66 million ($88m) to sign Luis Diaz from Liverpool. Bayern hoped to make another big attacking signing but settled for the arrival of Nicolas Jackson on an expensive loan that Hoeness says has no chance of becoming permanent due to the conditions of the £56m ($76m) obligation to buy.

  Hoeness warned that granting Eberl's request to buy a player would have been disastrous for the club financially, but his dig about Eberl's sensitivity is what angered Hamann, who feels such public debates will only lead to a breakup.

• WHAT HAMANN AND MATTHAUS SAID

  Hamann said to : "The statements lead me to believe that the relationship will end in the foreseeable future. I don't know how things should continue after what was said. They shouldn't talk about each other publicly, but rather with each other. These are things they have to resolve at some point."

  Matthaus also addressed the issue, saying: "I found most of what Uli said embarrassing. Not only regarding me or Max Eberl, but also his statements regarding Nicolas Jackson's contract details. Hoeness criticises transfer fees, but Bayern itself participates in and contributes to these. That's why I don't know what Uli wants from me. They also took the €30 or €35 million for [Kingsley] Coman from Saudi Arabia. There are many contradictions there. If Bayern didn't need a player, they wouldn't spend €75 million on Luis Diaz. After the departures of [Thomas] Muller, [Leroy] Sane and then Coman, they were suddenly under pressure and signed Diaz and Jackson. Max Eberl should actually be handling the transfers on his own, but ultimately, everything has to be approved from the top."

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  WHAT'S NEXT FOR BAYERN?

  Bayern are off to a strong start in the Bundesliga despite the off-field drama around the Allianz Arena. They are in action on Saturday against newly-promoted Hamburg, who have taken one point from their first two games.

Stakes in all Hundred teams for sale for 2025 with ECB sending prospectuses to potential investors next month

Matt Roller21-Aug-2024Lancashire want to partner with an IPL franchise and run Manchester Originals as a joint venture from 2025. The ECB will distribute prospectuses to potential investors early next month, with stakes in each of the eight Hundred teams for sale, and Lancashire have met with various interested parties over the last month.The club have actively grown their profile in India over the last five years, with a strategy which has included men’s and women’s pre-season tours, friendlies against teams linked to Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and the signings of Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar and Venkatesh Iyer as overseas players.As the owners of Emirates Old Trafford, Lancashire will be gifted a 51% stake in Manchester Originals by the ECB as part of the Hundred’s sale process. They have made clear that they are looking for a “sporting partner” rather than a purely financial investor, and their chief executive, Daniel Gidney, told ESPNcricinfo that they would “love” to work with an IPL franchise.Related

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“Our preference is a partner who will partner with us on cricket, who can really help us grow our cricket, and clearly we have a strong interest in India,” Gidney said. “We’d love to work with an IPL team, of course, because of the opportunities that would bring – both for us and for them… our pathway is the best in the country, and so is our medical staff.”The ECB is running the sale of stakes, with the Raine Group – the American bank involved in the recent deals at Chelsea and Manchester United – and Deloitte acting as financial advisors. But Lancashire will be actively involved in choosing a partner, and hosted officials from several franchises – understood to include Lucknow Super Giants – during the Hundred.The two London Hundred franchises – London Spirit (Lord’s) and Oval Invincibles (The Oval) – are expected to be worth the most, with Manchester Originals and Birmingham Phoenix (Edgbaston) following. “As I’ve said to different people from that part of the world, the first round is being run by the ECB, so you need to get your number up,” Gidney said.”If you want an ego and to pay a lot of money, then London is your gig. There’ll be loads of people that want London, but there’s only two teams, and one of those only wants a passive investor so it narrows your choice down. Outside of that, I said to people: ‘If you want cheap, we are not it. If you want the best , we are it.”Avram Glazer, the co-owner of Manchester United, owns Desert Vipers in the UAE’s ILT20 and is understood to be considering a bid for a stake in a Hundred franchise, with representatives attending matches over the past few weeks. But the Glazer family’s ownership has been unpopular with United fans, meaning a bid for a stake in the Originals appears unlikely.

“You can’t have a scenario where [Shaheen Shah] Afridi is choosing to play in Canada over us. That’s just nonsense.”Lancashire chief executive Daniel Gidney

“We are unique in the cityscape of the UK in having two massive brands and Premier League football teams that both [feature] the name of the city,” Gidney said. “All I’m going to be drawn on that subject is I think it would be very difficult for Manchester Originals to be renamed either Manchester United or Manchester City.”A Lancashire spokesperson said that the club have also held talks with other American sports investors, including from the NFL, women’s football and the NBA and are not ruling any options out before the process officially gets underway.Gidney believes that the ECB should consider increasing the number of overseas players per team in the Hundred from three to four when private investment arrives and salaries increase. He would also favour a tweaked draft system which would allow for more “local heroes” in Hundred squads, with two of Lancashire’s best players – Liam Livingstone (Birmingham Phoenix) and Saqib Mahmood (Oval Invincibles) – not involved in the Originals set-up in the Hundred’s first four seasons.”I would absolutely see the benefit of some form of consolidated contracting,” Gidney said. “An opportunity for us to have a bit more Lancashire personality would be great. You’ve still got to be best vs best, you’ve still got to get in the XI, but originally, we talked about having some local heroes within a squad and I would love to see that come back in.””The key for the success of the Hundred going forward is that player salaries have to go up – on both the men’s and women’s side – to attract the best talent. You can’t have a scenario where [Shaheen Shah] Afridi is choosing to play in Canada over us. That’s just nonsense.”I think there’s probably 30 to 40 players who are currently playing in the Hundred but I don’t think they should be. I think they should be playing in the One-Day Cup… if you’re looking at the investment, you have to have best vs best. On some occasions, have you had the best players in the world playing in that game? I would say the answer is no.”August 22, 1000 GMT – This story was updated to include a clarification from a Lancashire spokesperson.