In a relief to fast bowler Sreesanth, the Kerala High Court has ordered the BCCI to lift the life ban on him for his alleged involvement in the IPL spot-fixing scandal of 2013

Arun Venugopal07-Aug-2017In a relief to fast bowler Sreesanth, the Kerala High Court has ordered the BCCI to lift the life ban on him for his alleged involvement in the IPL spot-fixing scandal of 2013. The order was issued after he had moved the court challenging the BCCI’s decision to not lift the ban despite his being cleared by a Delhi trial court in 2015.”Many people supported me [through] thick and thin,” the quoted Sreesanth as saying. “They stood with me. I am really indebted to them and I will not let them down.”According to media reports, the Kerala High Court observed that the BCCI’s refusal to lift the ban was a violation of natural justice. After Sreesanth and two other Rajasthan Royals bowlers – Ankit Chavan and Ajit Chandila – were arrested for alleged fulfilling promises made to bookmakers in May 2013, they were banned for life by the BCCI.The court’s observations took into account that in 2015 Sreesanth was exonerated of spot-fixing charges by a Delhi trial court due to insufficient evidence under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), a special law passed by the Maharashtra state government to tackle organised crime syndicates and terrorism.The BCCI, though, is yet to make a decision on allowing his return to cricket. The BCCI’s acting president CK Khanna said the board’s legal team would study the order and furnish a report on the matter. “Once we get their opinion, we will take it up in the appropriate forum,” Khanna told ESPNcricinfo. “There is no time frame as such but we will do it at the earliest.”Another BCCI official said the option of an appeal to the Supreme Court couldn’t be ruled out. “One has to see the order first. Before that, anything is a matter of conjecture.”The BCCI’s position in the past has been to delink its decisions from any legal proceedings. In 2013, the board’s investigation, conducted by the BCCI’s then anti-corruption unit chief Ravi Sawani, only needed to focus on the conduct of the players and not their alleged connections to organised crime syndicates. The BCCI’s decisions were therefore “independent to any criminal proceeding” and “based on its independent disciplinary action, shall remain unaltered.”As a result, Sreesanth’s request for a no-objection certificate to play league cricket for Glenrothes CC in Scotland was shot down in January. With a similar request having been denied the year before as well, Sreesanth told ESPNcricinfo that he had not received any formal communication from the BCCI. He last played official cricket during the 2013 IPL.

Endrick is gearing up to join Real Madrid from Palmeiras in 2024, but his father has revealed just how close he came to signing for Chelsea instead.

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Endrick to join Real after 18th birthdayWas at centre of tug-of-war in 2022Came mightily close to joining ChelseaWHAT HAPPENED?

The prodigious striker will officially sign with Los Blancos in the summer once he turns 18, per FIFA regulations, but he could easily have been on his way to west London. Endrick and his family even visited the Blues' Cobham training ground in 2022 and had begun to envision their lives in England, even down to their church, but a deal was scuppered by Palmeiras' lofty £51 million ($64m) valuation of the then-16-year-old. Real Madrid then pounced, agreeing to sign him for that fee in December 2022 to see off competition from Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

AdvertisementWHAT ENDRICK'S FATHER SAID

Speaking to , Endrick's father, Douglas, revealed his son could so easily have been destined for Stamford Bridge instead.

"I have to admit I do not like the cold but my wife and Endrick do," he said. "Endrick really likes playing in the rain. So we received an invitation from Chelsea, from the owner, and we went there to see the club and the country. We watched Chelsea play Arsenal and we got to see the coach, the facilities, Jorginho, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva.

"They explained everything to us. They introduced us to the person who would help us settle in. She showed us the house we would live in, the school Endrick would go to, the church we would attend. Everything was right with us and Chelsea.

"I can’t say 100% because I hadn’t signed, but the deal was agreed. I had already got it into my head that I would live in London with all that cold weather. But then at night, my son’s manager phoned and said that the Chelsea owner had backed out of the deal because the price they would have to pay for Endrick would inflate the market. It was €60m (£51m/$64m) for a 16-year-old boy who would only arrive in the country almost two years later."

Endrick himself, added: "I was very close. My parents really liked London and everyone speaks very highly of it."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Chelsea may now be ruing their decision, with Endrick going on to fire his side to the Brasilerao title earlier this month as he hit double figures in Serie A, and earning a senior Brazil call-up despite his tender years – beginning to demonstrate his full potential as he prepares to move to Madrid in the summer.

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WHAT NEXT FOR ENDRICK?

Endrick will be enjoying some well-earned rest having played a key role in Palmeiras' title win. However, with domestic football resuming in April in Brazil, the teenager faces the strange scenario of starting a new season with Palmeiras before leaving for Madrid – and another pre-season there – once his contract begins.

Manchester United are aiming to poach Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth, with the Magpies already lining up a replacement.

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• United want to appoint Ashworth
• Newcastle lining up Bournemouth's Richard Hughes
• Red Devils must complete takeover

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per The Sun, United are considering a move to appoint Ashworth and Newcastle have subsequently identified Richard Hughes, who works for Bournemouth, as his potential replacement. The Magpies expect an approach for Ashworth once Sir Jim Ratcliffe's buy-in at Old Trafford is confirmed.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ashworth has been with Newcastle since February of 2022 and has also previously worked as a technical director at Brighton. In addition to his club work, he has also worked with England, operating as the FA's director of elite development. He has been linked with United in previous years, though no appointment has yet materialised.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ashworth was head of the FA's elite development plan when England won the Maurice Burlaz Trophy in 2017. The trophy is awarded to the national association that has the best results in UEFA youth competitions. It was established in 1990 and is awarded every two years; England have only won it once.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ASHWORTH?

  If United really are interested, he will have to wait for the ratification of Ratcliffe's buy-in before making a move. In the meantime, Ashworth is likely to be preparing for the January transfer window with Newcastle as the Magpies look to respond to a troubling injury crisis.

Hampshire 119 for 2 beat Glamorgan 118 for 6 by eight wicketsMason Crane marked his maiden England Test call-up with three wickets as Hampshire closed the gap on Glamorgan at the top of the NatWest T20 Blast South Group.Legspinner Crane was picked for the Test squad to face the West Indies later this month before leaving Glamorgan in a twist. James Vince then completed the thrashing with his 21st T20 fifty to ease Hampshire to an eight-wicket victory.Glamorgan won the toss and chose to bat on a slow pitch which had seen the Western Storm struggled to 70 in their Kia Super League defeat to Southern Vipers earlier in the day.Liam Dawson put aside his disappointment of failing to return to the England fold by bowling Aneurin Donald third ball of the match. And the left-arm spinner bagged the huge wicket of danger man Colin Ingram, who had smacked Gareth Berg over the fence, in the following over as Chris Wood held on at long-on.The visitors were struggling as they only reached 34 in the Powerplay and it was only going to get worse as Crane then came into the attack and proved why he has been called upon by the England selectors.The 20-year-old showed off his incredible googly to bowl opener Nicholas Selman to further pin Glamorgan.Crane then dragged Chris Cooke down the track to sky a top-edge to Gareth Berg at cover before snatching a third scalp a ball later on his dream day by having former South Africa Test star Jacques Rudolph stumped.The home grown leg-spinner ending with figures of 3 for 21, to boast a combined analysis of 5 for 36 with spin twin Dawson. Another Hampshire academy graduate, keeper Calvin Dickinson, again impressed with his quick hands on debut to stump Craig Meschede off the wily Shahid Afridi – leaving the visitors 65 for 6.Pakistan legend Afridi chalked up returns of 1 for 16 – although a dropped caught-and-bowled tainted his evening slightly.The Welsh side were heading for a sub-100 total before Andrew Salter crashed his highest T20 score of 37 – which included a huge six over long on – to help his side score 16 from the final over and set Hampshire 119 to win.Isle of Wight-raised Dickinson opened on his first professional appearance but departed in the first over as he was lbw to Ingram, while attempting a hoicked sweep.But from there Vince and Tom Alsop looked in fantastic nick pummelling the ball to all angles of the Ageas Bowl in a 68-run stand for the second wicket.Alsop in particular punched back-to-back powerful on-drives straight down the track.But after reaching 28 he picked out Marchant de Lange off Ingram on the long-on boundary to end an entertaining knock.At the other end, skipper Vince was caressing the ball through holes in the field with pure guile and appeared unstoppable as he reached a 32-ball fifty – eventually reaching an unbeaten 60.At the half way point Hampshire only required 26 – and they reached the target with 37 balls to spare to go second and within a point of Glamorgan.

The left-arm spinner replaces Beth Langston in only change to the squad that clinched theWomen’s World Cup in July

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-2017

Eighteen-year-old left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who made her ODI debut last year, has been named in the England women squad as they attempt to regain the Ashes, which begins in Australia on October 22. Ecclestone replaced medium-pacer Beth Langston as the only change to the squad that clinched the Women’s World Cup in July this year.”Sophie Ecclestone has finished school now and has had a great summer domestically,” England coach Mark Robinson said. “Her selection will provide another option to our attack.”England leave for Brisbane on October 7 for the multi-format series that starts with three ODIs. That will be followed by a day-night Test in Sydney, before the tour concludes with three T20Is.”Ashes tours don’t come around all too often, so it’s always a special opportunity,” England captain Heather Knight said. “Australia are going to be very strong opponents on their home soil, so we’ll have to be at our best, across all three formats.”England women squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Nat Sciver, Sarah Taylor (wk), Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt

Amid the talk of who should make up England’s batting line-up for the Ashes, there has been a growing mood behind Alex Hales after his shift down the order

Jon Culley30-Aug-2017In the days when a strong performance in a one-day final at Lord’s could make up the mind of an indecisive England selector, Alex Hales would surely have had his winter itinerary firmly mapped out by now, with Christmas in Australia at the centre.After all, it is hard to imagine anything much stronger than his record-breaking unbeaten 187 as Nottinghamshire beat Surrey to lift the Royal London Cup.Yet things are different now on two counts. The selectors – apparently – are a bit more scientific in the way they go about their business. And the one-day final takes place not in September but July.Whether something special on Finals Day in the NatWest T20 Blast can make any difference, therefore, is open to debate. Nonetheless, Hales will be doing all in his powers at Edgbaston to put himself in the spotlight again and, perhaps, revive a Test career that has been on hold since the Pakistan home series in 2016.”To go on an Ashes tour would be an unbelievable experience and I will try to keep knocking on the door,” he said. “I know it’s a cliché, but all you can do is score runs.”So the ball is in my court now to score as many as I can across all formats before the end of the season and leave the selectors with a tough decision to make.”In fact, even though there will not be September showcase at Lord’s to take into account, they almost certainly will be looking at Hales’s white-ball form for guidance. They have no choice. With a one-day series against West Indies taking up much of the final month of the season, Nottinghamshire’s Championship fixture against Worcestershire next week will be his last opportunity to face a red ball in a season that has generally not afforded him many.”That has been a bit of a frustration,” he said, speaking during Nottinghamshire’s match against Northamptonshire in the Championship this week.”Before this match, I played three four-day games at the beginning of the season, then a random pink-ball game in June and then a game in the middle of the T20 block at the beginning of August.”I have not really had a run of four or five games in a row of red-ball cricket. It’s been sort of stop-start.”In all of those games, what’s more, he batted only once, which means no one has had much of a chance to assess his form since swapping his place at the top of the order for the No.5 slot, in which he hopes the judgment the Test selectors evidently reached after his 11-match run as an opener can be reversed.

I have a chance to go on an Ashes tour, and there is also the chance to play in South Africa and maybe the Big Bash too and develop my white-ball game, so whatever happens it is going to be exciting

Yet Hales believes 2017 has seen his game rise to another level in every aspect, in every competition. And there is evidence to back it up. Thrown in with all the brilliant moments in one-day cricket, he has a Championship double-hundred against Derbyshire in the early-August round to support the claim.”The highlight of the year has certainly been the Lord’s final,” he said. “To beat a strong Surrey side in that manner when we had our backs against the wall for a lot of the game is probably one of the highlights of my career so far.”I definitely think it was as well as I have ever played, up there if not better than the Pakistan innings at Trent Bridge [when he made England’s highest ODI score of 171 in their world-record total of 444], just because of the occasion it was for the club and how we were up against it against a team that had their tails up.”But I have really enjoyed batting where I have been batting in the Championship side. Across all three formats this year I have felt really on top of my game and felt that I have taken it to that next level.”Working with Peter Moores, he says, has had a lot to do with that, not so much in anything the new Nottinghamshire head coach has done in terms of technical advice but in giving him confidence to play his own game.”He is very good at player management, he understands what players need and what certain players don’t need. He just lets me get on with my stuff.”And he brings this constant positive energy. There is never a day when he is down, never a day when he is frustrated. His general all-round positive energy has been a massive lift for the squad and it is something I have really enjoyed.”It has helped give that squad a chance to mark Moores’ first season in the role with a treble, assuming that the Division Two title is in the bag along with the One-Day Cup.Hales, meanwhile, has found his own way of taking a relaxed view of his Ashes prospects. “The next few months is a win-win situation for me,” he said. “I have a chance to go on an Ashes tour, and there is also the chance to play in South Africa and maybe the Big Bash too and develop my white-ball game, so whatever happens it is going to be exciting.”It has been an approach that has served him well in the NatWest Blast so far. His strike rate of 206.38 is the best in the country, he has a first domestic T20 century to his name and, against Durham, at Trent Bridge in August, he would have equalled Chris Gayle’s 30-ball world record for the fastest T20 hundred had he not been out attempting to hit a 10th six.Anything similarly explosive at Edgbaston on Saturday would only add to a dilemma the selectors are surely facing already.

Chelsea will send an "improved" bid to Brighton & Hove Albion for their star midfielder Moises Caicedo this week after their initial offers were deemed too low, claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Moises Caicedo joining Chelsea?

It doesn't matter how Chelsea have fared the season beforehand; they could be European Champions or languishing in the bottom half of the table; you can always guarantee that when the transfer window opens, west London will become a hive of activity and that is precisely what's happened yet again.

The last few weeks have seen a slew of faces leave Stamford Bridge as the Blues have sold practically a full first eleven of first-team quality players, either to Premier League rivals in the case of Kai Haverz or to the unimaginable riches of the Saudi Pro League like in N'Golo Kante's case.

It's not been all about departures, though, as the Pensioners have now started to welcome new faces into the club, notably the youngsters Nicolas Jackson, Angelo Gabriel and Diego Moreira.

However, it wouldn't truly be silly season in West London unless there was also a costly and protracted transfer saga throughout the summer, and that is exactly what's happening with Brighton's Ecuadorian superstar, Caciedo.

The dynamic midfielder has become Chelsea's number one target over the last few weeks, a few weeks that has seen the club involved in extended conversations with the Southcoast side over their midfield maestro.

According to the Evening Standard, the Blues had their previous offer of £60m rejected outright by the club, as they value him closer to £100m, a benchmark set by Arsenal's purchase of the positionally similar Declan Rice.

However, the negotiations have been more conversational and not held in the traditional sense of one team making an offer and either being rejected or accepted, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"I am told that this week that Chelsea are prepared to improve their proposal for Moises Caicedo.

"It's a verbal conversation, as I am always telling you so it's not an official bid and official answer. It's a direct communication between Chelsea and Brighton but if the initial discussion was around £70m plus add-ons and it was not enough for Brighton, now Chelsea are prepared to go for a bid that will be more than £70m guaranteed plus add-ons to convince Brighton."

Who else is linked to Chelsea in the transfer market?

With the club welcoming young striker Jackson to the side, there is an expectation that they could also be signing another, more experienced striker to properly lead the line next season, especially after the departure of Havertz and the likely departure of Romelu Lukaku.

The striker most frequently linked to Mauricio Pochettino's side so far has been Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic. The Serbian striker has had a tough 18 months in Turin following his £66m move from fellow Serie A side Fiorentina, but with his impressive body of work in Florence, teams seem willing to take a risk on him.

According to the Daily Mail, the Old Lady are demanding around £77m for their "extraodinary" frontman, which might prove to be a step too far for Chelsea. However, Italian publication Corriere dello Sport have reported that the price could fall to as little as £21m should Lukaku be included in the deal, an opportunity that might be too good to pass up for Todd Boehly and Co.

If Chelsea can secure the services of both Vlahovic and Caicedo, they could be a genuine threat to the top sides once again next season, and the likes of Manchester City might just have to look over their shoulder once or twice.

Newcastle United are intending to sign three new players in key different areas of the pitch this summer, according to an exciting new transfer update.

Who have Newcastle signed in 2023?

The Magpies enjoyed a superb 2022/23 season, arguably exceeding all expectations and eventually finishing fourth in the Premier League. It means that they are back in the Champions League next term, which will lead to some memorable European nights at St James' Park in 2023 and hopefully 2024.

It is imperative that Newcastle don't sit still this summer and fail to kick on from last season's excellence, however, making sure their squad is bolstered enough to reach another level in 2023/24. Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali has already been brought in from AC Milan, but their business cannot afford to stop there.

The money is seemingly available for the Magpies to continue their recent spending, so Eddie Howe should be able to have an even more formidable-looking starting lineup by the time their opening fixture of the new campaign rolls around at home to Aston Villa next month.

While Newcastle look well-stocked in certain positions, not least midfield, especially after the signing of the highly-rated Tonali, there are other areas that look a little light currently, and that could do with summer surgery. A new update suggests that the Magpies have the situation under control, though.

Are Newcastle linked with new signings?

According to Football Insider, Newcastle still want to sign a left-back, a centre-back and a wide attacking forward this summer, in order to perfect their squad.

They see those areas as key points of focus, in order to have more options moving forward, and it will be "another big money window" according to this report.

This is encouraging to hear for Newcastle, with all three positions mentioned in needed in strengthening, if Howe's men are to go up another gear and secure back-to-back top-four finishes in the Premier League.

Dan Burn did a commendable job at left-back last season and remains an important figure, but it is important that a more natural left-sider comes in there, at least to provide competition and a different style of play to the towering Englishman. Arsenal's Kieran Tierney has been linked with a move to St James' Park and he could be ideal, in that respect.

Meanwhile, a younger centre-back is needed to come in and be a long-term replacement for Fabian Shcar, who at 31 years of age, has arguably reached his peak as a player. Monaco favourite Axel Disasu continues to be a target and a player of that ilk would be perfect.

Finally, another winger is also of the utmost importance for Newcastle, especially with Allan Saint-Maximin potentially heading off to pastures new, with a move to Saudi Arabia mooted in recent days.

The Frenchman is a threat on his day, but an upgrade is required moving forward, in terms of someone who can provide more reliable end product. Harvey Barnes looks like a primary option to come in and be that man, having scored 13 times in the league for a Foxes side who ended up being relegated from the Premier League last season.

James Vince admits he was as surprised as anyone to find himself in the England squad named for this winter’s tour of Australia.The 26-year-old Hampshire batsman, who played seven Tests in 2016 but has not been selected since after averaging just 19.27, was preferred on the basis that, despite a relatively thin summer in domestic red-ball cricket, his game is better suited to Australian conditions than some of the other candidates for the middle-order slots.”Until the last few days and reading a couple of articles in the papers I hadn’t really considered it,” he said. “I felt my own red-ball form this season has been a little bit indifferent, although I have played a lot of cricket in April and September when conditions have been a bit tough.”But I got a call from James Whitaker on Tuesday night and it turned out to be a busy few hours on the phone. My winter was pretty much planned out with Twenty20 stuff so it is a bit of a surprise.”He concurred with the selectors’ view that his batting style is the kind that can prosper on fast, bouncy Australian pitches.Vince feels his game is suited to Australian conditions•Getty Images

“When I have played in Australia in the past and more recently in South Africa on a Lions tour I have found that playing with a different ball in different conditions, with more pace but less natural movement than you get here, I have found my game is quite well suited to that and I have done well there so far.”The wickets are a bit truer and the Kookaburra ball does not do so much or for so long. It is a different test but when I have played in those conditions I have enjoyed batting.”He said his first taste of Test cricket had been a frustrating experience given how much confidence had been invested in him but says he had enough faith in his ability to believe another opportunity would come his way in time.”It got me down a little bit in that I was frustrated when I did get to 30 or 40 I didn’t go on and get big scores. If I had managed to convert a couple of those it would have been a different summer and maybe people would have had a different opinion of me.”But no part of me thought I wasn’t up to playing at that level and having had a taste of it I went away with a hunger to work hard and get back in the side.”

Jurgen Klopp says he went against the advice of Liverpool's medical staff when he sent Diogo Jota on to score in his team's 2-0 win against Burnley.

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• Jota made return after a month out
• Scored as Liverpool won 2-0 against Burnley
• Medical staff did not want him to play

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Jota had been out of action for Liverpool since he sustained an injury in their match against Manchester City on November 25. After over a month on the sidelines, he made his return when he came off the bench in the final six minutes and scored to secure a 2-0 win for the Reds.

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  WHAT KLOPP SAID

  "We sneaked him in somehow on the squad list because he trained only twice and the medical department wanted to give him extra training and I said he can have that in Burnley," Klopp said at a press conference. "He had that tonight and now he can train tomorrow properly and then he will be ready for Newcastle, which is really helpful. Two-nil, no injuries, all good."

  He added: "I love Diogo Jota but he missed chances in the past as well. He had some fortune like that. It’s the nature of the thing that we always ask for, always the players who are not involved and then all of a sudden they think they can change the world. Diogo is an incredibly important player for us. Having him changed the whole dynamic, that’s true, but before in his life he missed some chances."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Jota's return adds some much-needed fire power to the Reds, who have had a tough time getting their front three to score in recent weeks. They drew important matches against Manchester United and Arsenal before returning to winning ways thanks to Darwin Nunez and Jota on Saturday.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mohamed Salah was the only forward to score in Liverpool's previous five matches in the Premier League before Nunez struck in the Boxing Day match at Turf Moor, with their other goals in those games coming from midfielders and defenders.