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The full transcript of former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum’s MCC Spirit of Cricket lecture, delivered at Lord’s on June 6, 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jun-2016To Roger Knight, President of the MCC and Derek Brewer, Chief Executive and Secretary of the MCC; thank you for the opportunity to deliver this lecture in the name of Colin Cowdrey.To Mike O’Farrell and Richard Goatley, Chairman and Chief Executive of Middlesex CCC respectively; thank you for the opportunity to play for Middlesex and to be in London.To the members of the late Colin Cowdrey’s family – it is a privilege to be with you.And to the members of the MCC – thank you for being here this evening.I was the kid in South Dunedin who lived for Saturday mornings, when I’d pull the curtains back and hope it wasn’t raining, that the wind was blowing from the north and the sun shining. Any of you who’ve spent a summer in Dunedin will know I was often disappointed. Scottish mist, the locals call it, but there’s a time and place for everything, and you could argue that summer in the South Pacific is neither. So I grew up not taking summer for granted. A day of sunshine was precious, because a day of sunshine meant cricket.I remember the excitement of travelling to the ground with kit bags in the boot of our mum and dad’s car, finding a park some distance from the entry to Logan Park, and walking past dozens of games being played by children of all ages.Turning up at the ground, my thoughts were not of nervousness or fame or fortune; nor of disdain for the opposition. It was all about the game; it really was the beauty and innocence that sport can bring.There were no concerns that if I didn’t perform I may lose my contract.No worries about lost fame or relevance in a game that can make you a household name in countries all over the world. There was no anxiety of having to testify against a former team mate in the Southwark Crown Court.No concern about how to integrate a team-mate who had lost the captaincy which I had since taken over. No media that seemed to delight in criticism.No second thoughts about charging the spinner only to check myself because I remember the mortgage, the mouths to feed at home and the ramifications if I ran past the ball.My father Stu played 76 first class games for Otago – he must have been a great team man and tourist as he sat on the bench for about the same number of games! The Otago team at the time are held in folklore back home as a group of gnarly uncompromising men from the deep south of New Zealand. They played the game hard, very hard. According to lore, they were remunerated with a per diem that covered a pie, a pint and a punt, of which my old man enjoyed all three in abundance.When dad talks today about his cricketing experiences he doesn’t refer to runs, wickets, averages or aggregates but, rather, the friendships, camaraderie and experiences of his time as a semi-professional cricketer.It is, of course, cricket that’s brought me here, to the other side of the world, to stand before you, one of the proudest and most distinctive sporting clubs in the world, to deliver the Spirit of Cricket lecture named after the great Colin Cowdrey.I may be a veteran these days, as my knees and back keep reminding me, but I’m almost ten years younger than Cowdrey was when he finally called an end to his involvement in Test cricket.I never saw him play, but he was one of the first great players I remember becoming aware of as a boy. My friend and lawyer, Garth Gallaway, who is here this evening, remembers the England side touring New Zealand in 1970-71. Cowdrey, a man of the church, missed the first Test in Christchurch through illness and travelled to Dunedin at the invitation of Garth’s father, Iain, to preach at St Paul’s Cathedral. He had dinner at the Gallaway home and brought with him the cricket correspondent, Michael Melford – and Cowdrey and Melford spent an hour on the back lawn bowling to seven-year-old Garth.Unfortunately, I can’t see that happening these days – a seven-year-old boy would be far too good for most of the cricket writers I know!Cowdrey’s record is there for all to see and, to my mind, he personified everything that is wonderful about cricket. He was (from all accounts) a courageous and skilful player but never combative and unpleasant – elegant, prodigious, calm and, most of all, he played the game fairly.Against the West Indies in 1963, Cowdrey’s arm was broken on the fourth day of the Lord’s Test, fending a Wes Hall bouncer from his unprotected face. On the fifth day England were battling for a draw and, with just a couple of balls to go and England nine down, Cowdrey, plaster-cast on his left arm, went to the crease and helped see England home.Just as inspirationally, he was summoned to Australia in 1974-75 after England had been hammered in the first Test at the Gabba. He hadn’t played a Test in four years and there he was, with no warm-up game and coming out from an English winter, batting at three for England against Thomson and Lillee.It’s no wonder the crowd gave him a standing ovation as he walked out to bat.Legend has it that he looked at Jeff Thomson and said, “Mr Thomson I believe? How good to meet you.” To which the Australian quick said, “That’s not going to help you fatso, piss off.”Some things never change!Cowdrey made 22 in the first innings facing 101 balls and batting for over two hours. In the second innings he offered to open and, in scoring 41, he withstood Thomson, Lillee, Walker and Mallet for over two hours. He was nearly 42 years old!If ever we needed proof that the game can be played with grit and determination, with courage and with dignity and, above all, in the appropriate spirit – we need look no further than Michael Colin Cowdrey.So it’s with considerable humility that I stand before you today and deliver this lecture in his name.Even though, for much of my career, I’m bound to say (sadly), I was very unlike Colin Cowdrey.In the early days of my international career I was proud to be called brash, aggressive and perhaps even arrogant.When I first made the New Zealand ODI team, there were at least a couple of guys who were my heroes who had a swagger and sense of entitlement and arrogance about them.Did I want to be like them? You bet I did!I became incredibly competitive; winning was everything and I didn’t really care what it took to win.I now look back on that part of my game with regret. There are many things I would change if I could. I guess growing up in a cricketing sense is no different to growing up in life, except that it’s a much more public rite of passage where everything you do is scrutinised.There’s no escaping some of the things I’ve done. It’s on video – posterity in the worst possible way.You probably want an example and fair enough too. Much as it pains me to talk about it publicly, I’ll tell you how I ran out Muttiah Muralitharan.We were playing Sri Lanka at Lancaster Park in Christchurch in late 2006. Kumar Sangakkara scored a magnificent 100 in the second innings. When Kumar reached his 100, Sri Lanka were nine down – the ball was still in the air being returned to me as wicketkeeper when Murali left his ground to congratulate Kumar. When the ball arrived in my gloves, I removed the bails and appealed. Murali was given out and we went on to win the match.Not surprisingly, the incident created controversy and bad feelings. The Sri Lankans were stunned. Their captain Mahela Jayawardene said at the time: “Legally it was run out, the ball was alive, but we play in an age where we talk about the spirit of the game. Hopefully it won’t happen again. It’s not the way to play cricket.”If I could turn back time, I would. We were within the laws of the game but not the spirit and there is a very important difference which is glaringly obvious to me years later, and it’s that aspect that I want to focus on a little more this evening.Because nearly ten years after running out Murali, I view things very differently and I would hope that I am am a very different person. Kumar Sangakkara is here tonight. Sanga, I admire you enormously. I regard you as a friend. And I take this opportunity to apologise to you and Murali for my actions on that day.I want to share with you the things that I think were the primary catalysts for my change of approach. And I think it’s fair to say that they came late in my career.At the time they were particularly challenging for me and forced me to confront my character and question why I was playing the game. Eventually, they allowed me to see what was important about playing cricket and, as a consequence, my love of the game returned – very slowly at first and then in a flood.The first event was my first Test as captain of New Zealand. I had taken over the captaincy of the team from Ross Taylor and, to put it mildly, it was a controversial decision – played out constantly in the national media. To give you an example of the depth of feeling in New Zealand, the late Martin Crowe, a magnificent player, announced to the media that he had burned his New Zealand blazer in disgust. Strong stuff.In early January 2013, we played South Africa at Cape Town. It was a gorgeous day, but the pitch at Newlands looked a little bit green. I’d read about ‘the table cloth on Table Mountain’. If there was no table cloth – no cloud cover – then the theory was that you bat first on winning the toss. But if there is cloud on the mountain then the rule is to put South Africa in. I stared at the mountain looming over the city and saw bright blue sky, not even a wisp of cloud. So when I went out out to the pitch to toss the coin with Graeme Smith, I’d decided that if we won the toss, we’d bat. I wanted to make a strong statement, particularly to my team but also to the opposition.Nineteen overs and two balls later we were all out for 45. I’m not sure what happened to the table cloth – it felt like Steyn, Morkel and Philander had whipped it away under us.The tenth lowest total in 2069 Tests.If an innings of 45 all out doesn’t force you to reconsider what you’re doing, I guess nothing will.After returning to my room that evening, there was a knock on my door. It was the coach, Mike Hesson. Soon after we were joined by Mike Sandle, the manager, and then Bob Carter, the assistant coach. This uninitiated meeting was to play a significant part in what was to unfold over the next few years.We grabbed beer from the fridge and talked. We didn’t ‘white-board’ it, we just spoke from our hearts; about who we were as a team and how we were perceived by the public. It was agreed that we were seen as arrogant, emotional, distant, up-ourselves and uninterested in our followers.The environment that the younger players were being welcomed into was really poor – there was a very traditional hierarchy, where senior players ruled the roost.Ultimately, we concluded that individually and collectively we lacked character. The key for all of us was the team had no ‘soul’. We were full of bluster and soft as putty.It was the first time I had really stopped to consider this in 11 years of international cricket.The significance of what occurred that evening day was that we recognised that we had to change. We wanted to personify the traits that we identified in New Zealanders – to be humble and hardworking. We wanted to be respected by our long-suffering fans in New Zealand. We wanted to be respected by our opposition; and before we could demand this we had to learn to respect them.A lot has been written about how the New Zealand team played in subsequent years. I think that no one has captured it better than former Middlesex captain, Ed Smith. Writing for Cricinfo, he said: The manifestations of that contribution are well known – freedom, openness, sportsmanship, the embrace of risk and adventure, and rowing back from the toughness-is-sledging delusion. But how did McCullum reach the insights that led to those characteristics and opinions? And why was he able to stay true to them on the big stage?He went on to say: Athletes and sports teams waste huge space and energy on external motivators – mission statements about trying to be the best team in the world by 2057; blueprints for global dominance; strategic flow charts about key performance indicators. In fact, if every sportsman simply tried to be the best he could be, and attempted to behave decently along the way, you’ve pretty much summed up every available optimal strategy in one simple sentence. After all, you can’t be better than your best. And nothing matters more than how you feel about the way you’ve lived your life.I couldn’t agree more with Ed’s comments. The things that worked for us may not work for everyone. In changing the way we approached the game, and respected the opposition, we wanted to be true to our national identity.In terms of that, New Zealanders identify with strong silent types. Perhaps our greatest hero is Sir Edmund Hilary – the first person to climb Mt Everest.He had a chiselled jaw – he never spoke boastfully about his remarkable achievements and he devoted a considerable part of his life seeking to improve the quality of life of the Nepalese people he loved so much.Ed Smith recognised in his article the fact that sports people can spend an awful lot of time deep in analysis – every breath they take is analysed, nothing is left to chance. For us as New Zealand cricketers we wanted to remove a lot of the analysis; we wanted to be ‘blue collar’ in how we went about things, not aloof and superior. We reduced the various theories that had dominated so much of what we did; we planned less, had fewer team meetings and we tried to be the very best we could be. We wanted to be a team that people could be proud of; and if in doubt we wanted to play the game aggressively, not fear failure. I have been given far too much credit for what we achieved – the approach was taken by every member of the squad. Everyone bought into it and lived and breathed it.And the joy of respecting the opposition was a revelation. There are times in a game where you simply have to enjoy the skill of the opposition and acknowledge it appropriately. Recently I played for the Gujarat Lions in the IPL. We took on the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who batted first. After three overs RCB were 10 for 1 with Chris Gayle back in the pavilion. From there followed a slaughter of our attack by AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli – they broke the world record for the highest T20 partnership, scoring 229 runs between them. We tried everything to remove them; we bowled full, short, wide, into the pads and so on. The quicks tried taking the pace off the ball. Nothing worked. AB and Virat’s batting that day was breathtakingly skillful.Fielding at cover or mid-off for most of the innings the fan in me, the cricket lover, had the best seat in the house. Rather than admonish our bowlers for what occurred this was a time to celebrate genuine mastery.In a similar vein, I was interested to see the reaction to Alastair Cook’s very considerable achievement of becoming the youngest player to score 10,000 runs. In an age where superlatives are thrown about willy-nilly, Alastair’s achievement is truly remarkable. But much of the coverage that followed focused on whether he can beat Tendulkar’s record tally of Test runs – with calculations being undertaken of how many Tests he may play, how many runs per season he could score and a prediction being provided accordingly.It is, I suppose, only natural that people would want to speculate in this way; but in doing so, in my view they risk failing to enjoy the moment; to reflect on what has been achieved here and now by a very fine player.I want to talk now of the other really significant happening that affected my approach to the game. The events leading to it took place at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 25 November, 2014. On that day, Phil Hughes suffered injuries that were to prove fatal, playing for New South Wales against South Australia. Phil was a good man. He was likeable both on and off the field. The outpouring of grief that followed the tragedy were testimony to how much he was loved at home in Australia.The New Zealand team was in Sharjah playing in a Test series against Pakistan when the news came through that Phil had been hit and was in intensive care.We were about to begin the third and final Test against a dominant Pakistan side; they had recently demolished Australia 2-0 at the same venues as we were playing. We had been well beaten in the first Test at Abu Dhabi. To put the thumping we received in context, it was the largest winning margin (by runs) by Pakistan against any New Zealand team; and we took just five Pakistan wickets in the match.We drew the second Test but certainly performed better.Going into the third Test, we were very conscious that we hadn’t lost a test series since 2012, and we desperately wanted to preserve that record by getting a win at Sharjah to level the series. But even as an eternal optimist, I had my doubts that a Test win in the UAE is possible.Misbah won the toss and at the end of day one Pakistan were 280 for 3. Just before the start of play on the second day, the bombshell arrived – Phil had died.On hearing the news, my initial attitude was that we shouldn’t be playing. I looked around the dressing room and felt that no one wanted to be playing cricket. It had lost all meaning. There was also the realisation that it could have been any one of us. None of us ever anticipated that someone could die from a cricket ball, not in this day and age. I always wanted our fast bowlers roaring in, having a winning attitude; intimidating, ready to exploit any lack of certainty or technique in a batsman, but not at the expense of someone’s life. Cricket was meant to be a game, not a life or death struggle. It hit us all hard that for Phil, it had become exactly that.Mike Sandle, Mike Hesson and I spoke to the match referee, Andy Pycroft from Zimbabwe. We told him we didn’t want to play. The umpires were Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker, both Australians. They were broken and barely able to leave their room at the ground.It was decided that we should take the day off and see how things looked the following day.That night I rang Gilbert Enoka and told him that I didn’t know what to do.Gilbert is a sports psychologist in New Zealand who is held in very high regard. He has worked with the All Blacks and New Zealand cricket teams for years.I explained to Gilbert that we had a group of men who were shattered and wanted to get on a plane home as soon as possible. It didn’t feel right to continue playing, but we knew there was a good chance we’d have to. We were the only international game underway at the time and I felt we had to plan for the fact that we may be told we had to carry on.Gilbert was incredible. He said we should not judge anything that anyone did during the week, and that people should grieve in their own way and concentrate their energy and emotions on themselves rather than the team.He told me to try and bring everyone together; to try to lighten the mood if at all possible. Most meaningfully Gilbert said: ‘All your preparation, all you have ever thought about in cricket, just throw it out the window for this one game.’In saying this, it was like Gilbert took the weight off my shoulders and gave me a way to deal with what was happening – to realise that there were no rights or wrongs and the rule book could be thrown away.That night most of the team shared a few beers in my room. The mood lightened at times but there was such a profound sense of disbelief, shock and sadness. We knew had to be at the ground the next day but deep down I think we all hoped the game would be abandoned and we’d be heading home.Soon after arriving at the ground we were told that the game was going ahead, like it or lump it. The decision had been made for us. Looking back, I think this was the right decision but, at the time, it seemed wrong. In our dressing room there were a number of players weeping uncontrollably. It was to remain a common theme – as we walked onto the field the tears rolled down the faces of many of the lads and this continued sporadically during the day.As a captain, I felt unable to protect the team and, as we stood in the middle before play began, I apologised to them for having to play.I fell back on Gilbert’s words; ‘All your preparation, all you have ever thought about in cricket, just throw it out the window for this one game.’I reminded the team that there would be no harsh judgement on any player’s performance and no consequences for failure. I believe that what motivated us was Phil Hughes. We knew we had to play and we would do that as best we could, to honour Phil and the game itself.The outcome of the ‘uncaring’, no-consequence play was a revelation to me. I suspect it was something I had been trying to achieve on a personal level for years; but I had been unable to do so, except for fleeting moments. Here there was a release of many of the external factors that can creep in and influence a player. There was an instinctiveness that took over – no fear of failure, just playing and being ‘in the moment’.From 281 for 3 at the end of day one, and 311 for 5 at drinks in the first session of what was effectively day two, Pakistan lost their last six wickets for 40 runs; and that opened the door for us, a little.We put together 690 runs, the biggest total ever by a New Zealand side and the second-highest score against Pakistan by any team. As a team we averaged nearly five runs an over and we hit 22 sixes; a world record number in a Test innings. In my new-found mental freedom, I managed a double-century and Kane Williamson scored a much finer 192.Pakistan were all out for 259; a splendid win by an innings and 80 runs and the Test series was squared.This test was New Zealand’s first win against Pakistan in Asia in 18 years, and the first innings win by New Zealand against any team in Asia in 30 years.The way that Phil’s death affected what happened didn’t go unnoticed by those who witnessed it. Cricinfo saw it this way: ‘The Kiwis were badly affected by the incident and didn’t even celebrate any of their achievements. A remarkable thing to note here is that they barely applauded a wicket. Consider this: just the two bouncers bowled today and no close-in fielders in front of the wicket! Takes some doing and still they won the game in four days to level the series 1-1… full marks and hats off to the Kiwis for the spirit they have shown throughout the series. Certainly an example set for all the other sides to follow and act upon. Long live their attitude!’The realisation of how we achieved the result through the manner of our play came sometime later. The team had drawn strength from one another and Gilbert Enoka’s ‘no consequences’ brought a ‘joy of life’ in a cricketing sense that was richly ironic but, nevertheless, liberating. The big thing I took away from this Test is the way Phil’s death affected our mind-set and the way we played in the rest of the match. It was so strange, and yet it felt so right, that after Phil’s death we didn’t really care any more about the result. Because nothing we could or couldn’t do on the field really mattered in comparison to what had happened to Phil. Our perspective changed completely for the rest of my time playing Test cricket for New Zealand, and we were a much better side as a result.Many observers have said that we were playing the way it should be played; as gentlemen who respected the history of the game. People undoubtedly warmed to the fact that we no longer sledged the opposition.We worked out what would work for us, based on the traits of being Kiwis. To try to be humble and hardworking and to enjoy what we were doing. It is vital that you understand that we were never trying to be ‘nice guys’. We were just trying to be authentic in how we acted, played the game and carried ourselves. For us, sledging in an abusive manner just didn’t fit with who we believed we had to be. It wasn’t authentic to being a New Zealander.This is not the time to go through a microscopic examination of ‘what is sledging’ and to seek to define it. Everyone has a view of how the game should be played and everyone is entitled to their view – Jeff Thomson probably shouldn’t have called Colin Cowdrey ‘fatso’ and told him to ‘piss off ‘. But it’s a great story and Colin had broad shoulders from all accounts.The truth is that cricket is unique – you spend a lot of time out there, ‘in the middle’. Humorous comments made in the heat of battle are gold. And when Colin Cowdrey’s funeral took place at Westminster Abbey (with 2,500 people in attendance), it was Thommo who carried the Australian flag. Enough said.In terms of our New Zealand side, we weren’t righteous in our stance and demanding that other teams follow our lead, but for us it was so good to play free of the shackles – to genuinely love the game again, to acknowledge and enjoy the opposition. And for me, when I pulled back the curtains in the morning, wherever we were, I smiled when the sky was blue and felt the same anticipation I did growing up in Dunedin.And so, in reflecting on my 14 years of international cricket, I again acknowledge my numerous failings and mistakes throughout my career. But I also celebrate that when I retired from international cricket the New Zealand team, through the contribution of everyone, has rediscovered its soul. It’s now a team that our country is proud of. Our followers know that New Zealand won’t win every game or be the world’s best team, but I think they are able to look at the team as a representation of our culture. The team now has a magnificent player and leader in Kane Williamson – he will rightly stamp his own leadership style on the environment but I am certain he will always play the game with a strong influence of being a New Zealander – humble and hardworking. Like Sir Edmund Hilary.I have talked about the final three years of my career in particular and the fact that during that time, I rediscovered my love of cricket. It wasn’t, however, all ‘beer and skittles’. Throughout much of that period the spectre of the allegations of match-fixing by Chris Cairns hung over me – and then, of course, the trial at the Southwark Crown Court, London, when Cairns faced charges of perjury.I have no doubt that you will be very familiar with the evidence I gave in the trial in London last year. Namely that Cairns, my former hero, approached me to fix matches in 2008; once in Kolkata when I was playing in the IPL for the first time, and again during the New Zealand tour of England when we were in Worcester.At the outset, I think it is appropriate, standing here at the ‘Home of Cricket’, to confirm that I stand by everything said in my statements and the evidence I gave at the Southwark Crown Court.I did not initially report Cairns’ approaches to me. As I said in the witness box when under cross-examination, it’s not easy ‘ratting’ on someone I regarded as a mate. And, frankly, I was scared; and, frankly, I felt completely out of my depth. I unreservedly accept that I should have reported the approaches at the time that Cairns made them; but it was a dreadful situation to be in.In any case, before the New Zealand team’s first game in the World Cup of 2011, John Rhodes, a representative of the ICC’s anti-corruption unit, addressed us. He told us that if we had been, or were, approached about match-fixing and we did not report it then we were, in the eyes of the ICC, just as guilty as the person who approached us. I had told other people about Cairns’ approaches – one of them was my captain and friend, Dan Vettori.After John Rhodes completed his address I approached Dan and we went and saw Rhodes, telling him I had something to share with him. Rhodes took us to his hotel room where I detailed the approaches made by Cairns. Rhodes took notes – he did not record our conversation. He said he would get what I said down on paper and that it would probably end up at the bottom of the file with nothing eventuating.Looking back on this, I am very surprised by what I perceive to be a very casual approach to gathering evidence. I was reporting two approaches by a former international star of the game. I was not asked to elaborate on anything I said and I signed a statement that was essentially nothing more than a skeleton outline.Needless to say, by the time I sat in the witness box in London in October 2015, I had made three statements in relation to the issues. The second statement was requested by the ICC’s anti-corruption unit much later on – a clear indication that my first statement was inadequate – but how on earth could I have known that. As a player I had reported an approach – and it was recorded sparsely by the person I reported to.My third statement was requested by the Metropolitan Police – later still – and, suffice to say, they were streets ahead in terms of professionalism. They asked me so many questions, testing my memory, and took a much more comprehensive brief.Cairns’ lawyer made much of the fact that I had made three statements and, when I was cross-examined, he hammered me on the basis that my evidence was unreliable because I did not say everything at the outset when interviewed by John Rhodes.In fairness to Rhodes, I don’t think either of us could ever have foreseen that my first statement would be used in a perjury trial in London four years after it was made. But the point I wish to make is that it must have been feasible that I would have to give evidence somewhere, sometime. I think players deserve better from the ICC and that, in the future, the evidence-gathering exercise has to be much more thorough, more professional. In my opinion a person taking a statement should ensure that the witness is advised about what may occur – that if evidence were to be given in the future and the witness did not put everything in that initial statement or changed what they said in any way, then this would likely impact on their credibility. When I made my first statement to the ICC, my impression was that it would be put in the bottom draw and never see the light of day again. No attempt was made to elicit a full and comprehensive statement from me on that occasion.I had no legal obligation to turn up in London and give evidence against Cairns. Living in New Zealand, I could not have been compelled to give evidence and, frankly, I would much rather have stayed at home. But I believe I had a moral obligation to tell the truth – and I believe that the interests of the game of cricket and common decency demanded my attendance. But I do wish that the ICC had handled my initial approach more professionally for the reasons I have given.Worse still (in May 2014) my testimony was leaked to Ed Hawkins at the . Everything I had said was in the newspapers for everyone to see.I do not wish to dwell on the personal effect that the leak had on me – suffice to say it was, however, a dreadful situation as the media attention then focused on me. No witness who has provided evidence to the ICC should ever have to go through such a scenario again. The leak has never been explained to me; to my knowledge no one has been held accountable and, in those circumstances, it is difficult to have confidence in the ICC. To report an approach and to give evidence requires considerable courage – players deserve much better. How can the game’s governing body expect players to co-operate with it when it is then responsible for leaking confidential statements to the media? It goes without saying that if players do not have confidence in the organisation, they will be reluctant to report approaches and the game is worse off. If we are to get rid of the scourge of match-fixing, a robust governing body is essential.The other aspect that I want to touch on very briefly before closing is the position Lou Vincent is in – I played with Lou for a number of seasons. As will have become apparent during the course of his testimony in the Cairns’ trial, Lou has his demons. He was always a vulnerable character; there are many similar characters who play the game. While loathing the fixing activities Lou took part in, I have nothing but admiration for him for the way in which he accepted responsibility for his actions and acknowledged guilt. I also think he demonstrated remarkable courage in giving evidence against Cairns.The insight that Lou was able to provide into the dark and sinister world of match-fixing was, I think, invaluable. It would have been very easy for Lou to say nothing – to refuse to co-operate – but instead he laid his soul bare at considerable personal cost.Lou’s punishment from the ECB was to receive 11 life bans; one for each offence which carried that penalty. Lou is banned from having any involvement whatsoever in cricket. Perhaps the worst part is that Lou is unable to go to a cricket ground anywhere in the world. He can never watch his children play at any level. I struggle with the severity of this when a player has co-operated fully and accepted responsibility. While it was reported that Lou had agreed to the 11 life bans, I suspect that sitting in New Zealand without a dollar to his name, he was unable to do anything else. In the criminal law in New Zealand a defendant is given some clemency for co-operation and entering a guilty plea. It seems to me that Lou did not receive any such acknowledgement but, rather, had the book thrown at him.I raise this issue because if we are to expect players to feel able to come forward and confess all, then there has to be some recognition of this. Many of the players who become involved in match-fixing in the way that Lou did will be weak or vulnerable; it is well known that the people who seek to engage players in this way will look for players of a similar disposition. If players co-operate with the authorities and provide the game with a rare and critical insight into the workings of this pernicious influence, then there must surely be something that can be done beyond giving them the maximum ban available. I have no doubt that the ECB’s severe punishment of Lou has robbed the game of a golden opportunity to have him provide education to players, something I feel could have made a difference in the future. Further, it ignored his extreme vulnerability in a callous way.In conclusion, none of what I have said changes my view that all players must report any approaches. It is a fundamental responsibility that we all share for the greater good of the game. But it is equally vital that players who do report are treated professionally and that their report is kept confidential.Unless players can have confidence in the authorities and their processes, then I am sorry to say that the game will be the loser. Similarly, it is vital that players found guilty of offences having acknowledged wrongdoing are shown a degree of clemency – failing which there seems to be very little incentive for them to come forward.I have talked for far too long and it is time to close. Before doing so, I would like to acknowledge the considerable assistance I received from New Zealand Cricket throughout the period that I have referred to in my address. In particular I acknowledge the Chief Executive, David White, for his unwavering support of me – I remain eternally grateful.If I may be permitted to make one final comment – then it is this. Cricket is a wonderful game that is played in many parts of the world. It is unique and it should be treasured and preserved; players and administrators alike are guardians.I feel incredibly fortunate to have played the game for so long and to have had the experiences I have had. While I have earned more than a pie, a pint and a punt per day through being a professional cricketer, I have retired from first-class and international cricket without memories of aggregates, runs, wickets, catches or matches won. Rather, I treasure the memories of playing with and against so many wonderful people – as my father did before me.

Chelsea are one of numerous Premier League clubs interested in signing Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer, according to a new transfer report.

How good has Palhinha been this season?

The 27-year-old has arguably been one of the standout midfielders in the league so far this season, catching the eye with his off-the-ball ability. In fact, no player in the entire division has won more tackles than him in 2022/23 to date, with a tally of 129 coming his way.

Palhinha has been a big reason for Fulham's success, with relegation never looking likely despite pre-season prediction suggesting otherwise, and the west Londoners will be desperate to keep hold of him at the end of the season. His current deal expires in the summer of 2027, so it is likely that only a sizeable fee will be able to prise him away once the summer window arrives.

Midfield is an area of the pitch that Chelsea will be only looking for reinforcements in moving forward, and it looks as though the £50,000-a-week Portuguese is a potential option to come in.

Are Chelsea in the mix to sign Palhinha?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are one of many teams who are "interested" in signing Palhinha this summer, although it clearly won't be easy for them to get their man. Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are also reportedly in the mix, while Aston Villa are also confident of being able to compete financially with those clubs.

It is stated that Fulham are "resigned to losing" the Portugal international once this season reaches its conclusion, "given the mass amount of interest in his signature".

Palhinha could be exactly what Chelsea are looking for in the middle of the park moving forward, possessing the ability to cover ground, bite into tackles and generally help them dominate games. With N'Golo Kante's future up in the air and Mateo Kovacic turning 29 earlier this week, bringing in fresh blood is essential, and the Fulham man could be an ideal partner for Enzo Fernandez, possessing more physicality than the Argentina World Cup winner.

There are very few things working against the move, although the Blues' lack of European football next season could certainly be an issue, with others reportedly keen on him being able to promise him Champions League next season, which can often be a massive lure for players.

Palhinha has been lauded by Jamie Redknapp for having a "real presence about him" and for being a "fantastic" signing by the Cottagers, and Chelsea signing him could be a masterstroke.

Chelsea are set for a bidding war with Premier League rivals Liverpool over AS Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana, according to a recent report from The Daily Star.

Which midfielders could Chelsea sign this summer?

Chelsea are one of a number of Premier League clubs in the race to sign Fulham's Joao Palhinha this summer, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur also said to be interested in the central midfielder.

The need to bring in some new options in the engine room has been increased amid the uncertainty around Mason Mount's future, and the Blues could also look at signing Sporting CP's Manuel Ugarte, who are they in a good position to win the race for.

Manager-elect Mauricio Pochettino has set his sights on signing Barcelona starlet Gavi, although the youngster does not want to leave the La Liga club, which means it will not be easy for Todd Boehly to orchestrate a deal.

According to a report from The Daily Star, Chelsea are now set to battle Liverpool for the signature of Fofana, and he could be available for a bargain fee, with the report detailing Monaco would be willing to sanction his departure for £25m.

Both clubs see the Monaco star as a low-cost alternative to Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, who could cost around £100m in the summer, although his price could be driven up if a bidding war breaks out.

The Blues are also searching for a long-term replacement for N'Golo Kante, as they have grown concerned about the amount of injuries the Frenchman picks up, and want to bring in a similar type of midfielder.

Should Chelsea sign Fofana?

Given that Rice has expressed his desire to play in the Champions League, Chelsea are unlikely to win the race for the West Ham captain, and Fofana could be a quality alternative.

Hailed as "magnificent" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the 24-year-old has been absolutely vital for Monaco this season, making a total of 32 appearances in Ligue 1.

During that time, the Paris-born midfielder has averaged 2.2 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game, the third-highest combined figure in the squad.

Although Fofana is not on the same level as Rice, ranking lower than the Englishman on a number of key defensive metrics per 90 over the past year, he is also a fraction of the price, and could be an excellent addition to the Chelsea midfield.

ECB Reporters Network03-Jul-2016
ScorecardKagiso Rabada’s bowling livened up the final session•Getty ImagesAlastair Cook fell to the last ball of the day at Chelmsford sun after an intriguing duel in the sun with the South African paceman Kagiso Rabada.The England captain had reached 49 off 93 balls when a yorker by Rabada off the fifth ball of the last over trapped him lbwIt was a disappointing end to a day in which Essex had been in full control of the top of Division Two clash from the start.It had not been plain sailing before that, either. Rabada had Cook nervously dancing around in his crease at the start in the face of some serious pace and the awkward bounce that had helped the Essex bowlers so much earlier in the day.This was Rabada’s first red-ball outing since he took 13 wickets against England at Centurion in the fourth Test. The England captain was not one of his victims then, but he had been out twice to him in the second Test.Cook and Nick Browne saw off Rabada’s fierce opening spell, even if they had only reached 20 off 11 overs. Rabada rested after six overs, which had gone for just nine runs, before returning near the close after a 10-over break.Cook freed up with Rabada out of the attack, caressing the first four of his innings through the covers off Mitch Claydon. He repeated the punishment a couple of overs later as Claydon went for three fours through the off-side, one square, another through 45 degrees and the third through the covers.Browne was the first to go, getting to the ball late and spooning Rabada to Sam Northeast at mid-on for an 84-ball 33.Essex had taken advantage of a contested toss and put Kent in on a green wicket, and one on which there was swing through most of the first two sessions and some erratic bounce.Only Alex Blake, with an unbeaten 89, his highest Championship score of the season, showed much resistance to the Essex seamers. Led by Jamie Porter’s 3 for 51, Essex had reduced Kent to 48 for 4 when Blake arrived at the wicket mid-morning.His stay of 116 balls included 13 fours and he dominated a seventh-wicket stand of 56 with Callum Jackson that helped Kent post a larger total than looked likely at one stage.Kent’s wickets fell evenly between the morning and afternoon sessions with the visitors going to lunch at 88 for 5.Fabian Cowdrey was first to go when Graham Napier sent his leg-stump cartwheeling with an inswinger. Joe Denly and Sean Dickson survived some close calls before they departed within four balls, both to catches behind by James Foster off Ravi Bopara and Porter respectively.Kent captain Northeast became Foster’s third victim soon after when he wafted outside off stump to Matt Quinn and Darren Stevens was trapped lbw by Bopara.Adam Ball went soon after lunch, but not before he had been dropped at third slip by Nick Browne and had a visit by the physio to treat a hand injury. That was clearly on his mind as he tried to fend off a lifter from Porter and the ball spiralled to Jaik Mickleburgh at gully.That brought together Blake and Jackson to steady the innings. Blake reached his half-century off 72 balls with his 10th four.Jackson, making his Championship debut in the absence of Sam Billings, who is on England duty, was happy to play the junior role. He was eventually out for 19 when he tried to push Ryan ten Doeschate through the covers, missed and was trapped lbw.The last three wickets added another 50 runs to take Kent past the 200 mark. James Tredwell lost his middle-stump to become Porter’s third wicket, Rabada was bowled by Dan Lawrence and Claydon dollied one up to Mickleburgh in the gully off Napier.

Misbah-ul-Haq said it was important for the players to apply themselves and not get overawed by the conditions on their tour of England

Umar Farooq18-Jun-2016Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s Test captain, has said it is important for the players to apply themselves and not get overawed by the conditions on their tour of England, where they play four Test matches, five ODIs and a one-off T20 international.Pakistan left for England from Lahore on Saturday morning, determined not to stir the memories from their previous tour, in 2010, when Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were mixed up in the spot-fixing scandal.Pakistan last played a Test seven months ago in the UAE, against the same opposition. Since then many of their players, including Misbah, have been idle for a large portion of time, though players like Sarfraz Ahmed, Amir and Wahab Riaz have played in limited-overs cricket. From the current touring party, only Azhar Ali, Amir and Wahab Riaz were a part of the squad that travelled in 2010. The inexperience has led to former players being sceptical of how they will fare, but Misbah exuded confidence on the eve of the team’s departure.”This is true that it will be a challenging series, but, overall, we have experience of playing good cricket irrespective of the conditions, and that is what we are confident about,” he said. “Our batters have scored enough runs … they all have done well in Test cricket, so I don’t see how it [the inexperience in English conditions] will make much of a difference.”We only have to apply ourselves, have to fight, and these boys love challenges. This is another challenge for them and they are ready for it. Nothing is easy and each time we have to fight it out to win, so this is yet another task for the boys. If we succeed in scoring around 350 runs in a Test [innings], we will have bright chances of winning. Our bowling attack is also outstanding and it has the ability to destroy even the strongest of batting line-ups. We need to be focused and should not get overawed by English conditions. I see the tour as a big opportunity for our players to prove their mettle and play their due role in Pakistan’s victory.”Pakistan have not won a Test series in England in 20 years, after their 2-0 triumph in 1996 under the leadership of Wasim Akram. Both their previous tours ended in defeats – 0-3 in 2006 and 1-3 in 2010. Including their first tour, in 1954, Pakistan have played 13 Test series in England and have won three, consecutively between 1987 and 1996. England have won seven, while three were drawn.Pakistan arrive in England as the No. 3-ranked team in the world, one place above England. Pakistan will have a two-week conditioning camp in Hampshire, before they formally begin their tour with a three-day practice match against Somerset from July 3. Misbah said it was important to focus on the cricket and not let the unsavoury moments of the past affect them.”It indeed is a tough series, but the easy way to deal with this tour is to just focus on your game,” Misbah said. “We don’t have to look around and there is no need to peep into the past, otherwise you will never move ahead. Just believe in your training, your practice and enjoy your cricket. This is the only way to keep away from controversies.”It’s not like Pakistan never played well in England conditions. No doubt they are good in their own conditions and very familiar with their venues, but we have a chance. Bowling is our strength and we are also coming with a winning state of mind. So we have an opportunity to do our best and it’s hope that keeps you alive, otherwise you can’t do anything.”With Amir set to play his first Test in more than five years, Misbah backed him to come out of the shadow of the spot-fixing controversy. After serving a five-year ban, Amir, who was the Man of the Series in 2010, has become an automatic selection, allowing him to resume his Test career and pick up from where he left off at Lord’s. “Whatever happened in past is gone, but it has resulted in some solid life lessons for him,” Misbah said. “He has changed, and now he has an opportunity to prove himself as a bowler and as a person as well.”So performance is the only way he can reintegrate himself with the England fans and he can do it. He is mentally strong and can handle pressure, and I expect him to play an important role in Pakistan’s victory.”

Manchester United will have Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani among their list of striking targets; however, they are likely to favour moves for Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen, says journalist Dharmesh Sheth.

What's the latest transfer news involving Randal Kolo Muani?

As per 90min, Eintracht Frankfurt have slapped a price tag worth €90 million (£78 million) on the head of Kolo Muani heading into the summer amid interest from around Europe in his services.

Several high-profile sides are said to be keen on signing the 24-year-old, including Manchester United, Napoli, Barcelona, Newcastle, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

The Independent have reported that Bayern Munich 'believe they have everything in place' to acquire Kolo Muani in the off-season and could be willing to pay around £100 million to prize him away from Deutsche Bank Park.

Manchester United are also keen on other striking targets, with Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen both having been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford.

According to The Manchester Evening News, Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund, Ajax attacker Mohamed Kudus and Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos have also been weighed up by Erik Ten Hag.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Sheth thinks that Kolo Muani will be one of many targets Manchester United have in mind to strengthen their forward line.

Sheth said: "Obviously, there will be targets which are of more priority than others, like Harry Kane, like Victor Osimhen. But players under the radar, like Muani, I wouldn't be surprised if United are doing their homework on these players.

"We keep talking about this takeover, or proposed takeover or proposed investment. I think that's going to dictate what United can do, and I think they really need to have that sorted one way or another so that they can know whether they can go for a Kane or an Osimhen or whether they're going to have to go for a player that doesn't cost as much. But 100%, United will be looking at a number of players in that position, for sure."

Would Randal Kolo Muani be a good signing for Manchester United?

Kolo Muani is an excellent centre-forward and his numbers in front of the target have been commendable, with the 24-year-old registering 21 goals and 15 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored also notes that Kolo Muani has gained an average match rating of 7.22/10 for his exploits on the pitch in 2022/23, statistically making him Eintracht Frankfurt's most consistent performer.

The France international has also managed to provide 102 shot-creating actions this term, illustrating his ability to be a productive focal point in attack for the Bundesliga outfit, as per FBRef.

With Manchester United in the market for a new number nine this summer, Kolo Muani would fit the bill as a statement signing as Ten Hag looks to transform his side into Premier League title challengers in 2023/24.

Arsenal were enjoying a season of unprecedented success until April came around as Premier League glory seemed to slip from their grasp at the final hurdle.

Having led the league for most of the campaign, Manchester City were constantly forced to play catch-up as Mikel Arteta's men continued their relentless pursuit of the title. However, as is always the way with Pep Guardiola, when his rivals drop points, his team will be there to immediately apply pressure.

Whilst their three draws leading up to their loss at the Etihad could be chalked down to mental fragility, there was one clear moment that acted as the catalyst for the loss of form: the injury to William Saliba.

Without a viable backup, forcing Rob Holding into a sustained period in the starting side, unsurprisingly his lack of quality told. Of his last five league appearances, only one has merited a Sofascore rating of over 6.5, and even that somewhat flatters the 27-year-old, given it was buoyed by a late consolation goal in a 4-1 loss.

Edu cannot allow his manager to suffer with such a weak link in his squad and must seek to rectify this glaring issue this summer.

What's the latest on Edmond Tapsoba to Arsenal?

It will therefore please fans to see that transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has offered an update on their pursuit of a centre-back, highlighting a few potential names that the north London outfit could pursue.

Speaking on his Youtube channel, the Italian journalist started by claiming:

"Arsenal will have a big, big impact in the market in the summer. They are looking for a new centre back, and they sent their scouts multiple times to follow many players in that position."

He continued by outlining one name who has reportedly been a long-time target of the Gunners:

"Another player they have always appreciated is [Edmond] Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen, so they are following centre-backs."

It's not the first time that the Gunners have been linked with a move for the Bundesliga star and ahead of the 2022 January transfer window, they were reportedly quoted an asking price of around €70m (£60m). It remains to be seen if this sort of figure still remains, though FootballTransfers currently value the Leverkusen man at £28m.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

Although he may not be the most technically proficient defender in Europe, the 24-year-old boasts all the physical assets needed to thrive in the heart of defence.

Standing at 6 foot 4 yet in possession of some frightening speed, the Burkina Faso international has shone at the back for Xabi Alonso's new-look side of late.

His 6.92 average rating in the league gives way to 1.6 tackles and 2.9 clearances per game, and he pairs this with a respectable 86% pass accuracy too, via Sofascore.

His ability to thread passes between the lines could quickly be nurtured by Arteta too, and he would likely be afforded ample time as an understudy to both Gabriel Magalhaes and Saliba.

The latter actually boasts relatively similar statistics to the 24-year-old, despite his importance to the team, which is best emphasised through Arsenal's loss of form without him.

With 1.3 tackles and three clearances per game, it is his 91% pass accuracy that truly sets him apart from Tapsoba (via Sofascore), and given the fact they have won just nine points from their last 21 available where he has been sidelined.

Considering there is a clear lack of an implausible gulf in quality between the two, a move for the Leverkusen gem would finally offer ample competition for a position that has proven vital to the Gunners' intricate system.

Having always been destined for big things, a former coach of the highly-rated defender in Ivo Vieira even suggested: "Tapsoba was one of the best centre-backs to play in Portugal, he deserves whatever comes his way."

Perhaps he could now seek to realise this undoubted potential at the Emirates, as that key addition to avoid another collapse like this season.

England chose not to enforce the follow-on after Pakistan crumbled for 198, a deficit of 391, in the Old Trafford Test with only their captain, Misbah-ul-Haq reaching a half-century

The Report by David Hopps24-Jul-2016England 589 for 8 dec and 98 for 1 (Cook 49*) lead Pakistan 198 (Misbah 52, Woakes 4-67) by 489 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA first-innings lead of 391 against the Pakistan side that had beaten them at Lord’s should have been an occasion for ecstasy among England supporters following the Old Trafford Test. It was a time for bunting in the streets, BBQs on the lawn and dancing in defiance of the squally Manchester showers that long before the end had drained the tension from a prolonged third day.But as Alastair Cook chose not to enforce the follow-on, England’s utterly dominant position was strengthened to a background of muttering and grumbling that their appetite for a quick kill had not been satisfied. If there was any risk at all in making Pakistan bat again, many could not see it.Few Test captains put the opposition in again these days without misgivings, but having dismissed Pakistan in 63.4 overs, Cook’s reluctance was highly debatable even allowing for modern trends and the non-stop schedules that make captains reluctant to ask their bowlers to go the extra mile. Understandable, perhaps in the case of Ben Stokes, who had just returned from a knee operation. Others can be tasked with debating the pros and cons more deeply.England advanced that lead to 498 in 21 overs for the loss of Alex Hales, one player who might have benefited from Cook’s decision as he addresses a tendency to plant his front foot before the ball is released but who fell to Mohammad Amir for 24, an inside edge this time and a frustrated walk off without waiting for the umpire’s decision. Just as disturbingly, Hales has adopted a pencil moustache which gives him the look of a shifty character in a Miss Marple murder mystery.As for England’s malfunctioning middle order, James Vince and Gary Ballance, neither will get the chance to play a meaningful innings. In fact, with England already in an impregnable position according to Test-match statistics, they might not get to the crease at all.Whatever the considerations, Pakistan’s captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, would nevertheless have allowed himself a moment of satisfaction at the decision. At lunch, with Pakistan having subsided from four down overnight to be 119 for 8, the potential for a three-day defeat felt real, but that calamity was averted, first by a half-century of baleful countenance and stubborn stroke by Misbah, and then by another display of stubbornness by his England opposite number.Misbah added 60 in 15 overs with Wahab Riaz for the ninth wicket to hold up England after lunch before a top-edged sweep against Moeen was held by Cook at short fine leg. Wahab continued to eye Moeen’s spin, slog-sweeping him for six and then reverse-sweeping him just short of the ropes, before Moeen had him caught at deep midwicket by Hales. Moeen was challenged to prove himself in this Test, but as luck would have it he has so far batted nine balls for 2 not out and bowled 7.4 overs. At least he can claim he has done nothing wrong.Pakistan’s first innings went from bad to worse as they lost four wickets in the morning session. All four England quicks took a wicket in a session that was interrupted for an hour by rain.Their starting position was a dispiriting one: four wickets already lost for 57, still 532 runs in arrears. On a cloudier day, there was bounce and zip in the pitch and Pakistan proved unequal to the task.It took six balls for England to sense that it might be an excellent bowling morning, Shan Masood edging James Anderson on the bounce to Vince at third slip. Masood managed a more controlled boundary off Anderson, clipping off his pads, but a jab at a rising delivery later in the over gave Joe Root an inviting catch at second slip.Misbah, as one would expect from the old fox, met everything thrown at him with phlegm. He could not disguise his surprise when a back-of-a-length delivery from Broad exploded from the pitch, flew over his horizontal bat, and landed directly in the hands of Cook at first slip. More discomfiture followed from a well-directed bouncer from Chris Woakes in the last over of the morning, which flicked his glove as he jerked his head away in self-preservation and he lost a piece from his helmet in the process. He just got on with it, giving the impression that he had seen it all before.The rain break interrupted England’s progress, but when they resumed at 12.30pm it was not long before Asad Shafiq fell to a slower offcutter by Stuart Broad, a front-foot drive flying to Hales at backward point.The most idiosyncratic innings, though, was played by Sarfraz Ahmed, whose slash at two of his first three balls, from Broad, indicated his state of mind. His counterattack lasted 18 balls, 26 riskily assembled, before he edged Stokes to second slip.All it required was for Woakes to take a wicket for England’s pace bowlers to complete the set. It duly arrived with Root’s third slip catch of the morning – and fourth of the innings – enabling England to go to lunch a ball early.Woakes had his fourth wicket of the innings, a self-effacing allrounder making a name for himself. Not that he will make much of it: he seems the sort who signs leaving cards in tiny handwriting where he will not get in the way of others. But he has had a fine Test and his haul was a rewarding moment on a day that deteriorated with the weather.

The future structure of England’s T20 competition might be in doubt, but there is no doubting the success of NatWest Blast Finals Day with sales again buoyant even before all four finalists are known

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Aug-2016The future structure of England’s T20 competition might be in doubt, but there is no doubting the success of NatWest Blast Finals Day.Tickets for the three-match climax at Edgbaston on Saturday 20 August have now sold out, with the exception of the allocation of 3,200 tickets reserved for the competing semi-finalists.This is the first time in the history of NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day that the event has sold out before all semi-finalists have been confirmed.The four teams that will qualify for two semi-finals and a final in a full day of T20 action receive an allocation of only 800 tickets for Finals Day.Should any of these tickets remain unsold, Edgbaston will release a final allocation at 1000 on Tuesday August 16.Notts Outlaws and Northamptonshire Steelbacks have already won through following the first two quarter finals. Gloucestershire meet Durham on Wednesday and Glamorgan face Yorkshire on Thursday.Gareth Roberts, Commercial Director of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, said: “NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day is the biggest day in the domestic cricket calendar and is growing in demand each year, with tickets for this year’s event selling out in record time.”This will be the eighth NatWest T20 Blast Finals that Edgbaston has hosted and is part of our long-term staging agreement, which sees the event played here in Birmingham until at least 2018.”Controversy surrounded the start of the tournament in May when Colin Graves, the ECB chairman, who favours a big-city competirion that would by-pass the 18-team county system, called the present competition “mediocre”.Despite that, attendances have shown a slight improvement this season, following a large leap in 2015, even though there has been additional competition from the European football championships and, latterly, the Olympic Games.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is 'confident' that he can tie more players down to long-term contracts at the Emirates Stadium following Bukayo Saka's agreement to sign a new deal at the Gunners, according to journalist Dharmesh Sheth.

What's the latest news involving Bukayo Saka and who else could sign an extension?

As per The Mirror, Saka has signed a new £300,000 per week contract at Arsenal that will tie him to his boyhood club until the summer of 2027.

The report states that Gunners' boss Arteta is planning a 'transformational' rebuild in the off-season and is keen to get his ducks in a row, with squad members Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney all in danger of being axed as the Spaniard eyes a rebuild.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has also revealed that Arsenal plan to sit down with club captain Martin Odegaard and offer him a new deal, though they can also extend his terms until 2026. The Italian stated on Twitter: "Arsenal have an option to extend Martin Ødegaard’s current contract until June 2026 — but negotiations will take place soon over new long term deal. Ødegaard loves the club and Arsenal want Martin to be part of their long term project."

FootballTransfers detail that Arteta himself is in line to be handed a new deal in north London as the Premier League giants plan for the future with him at the helm.

It is believed that William Saliba could also sign on the dotted line at Arsenal and commit to an extended stay at the club, with discussions over 'minor disagreements in agent commission' not expected to derail the process of negotiations.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Sheth has been in contact with Arteta in his capacity as a reporter for Sky Sports News and thinks he is 'quietly confident' that more of his players will extend their stay at Arsenal.

Sheth said: "I actually spoke to Mikel Arteta for Sky Sports News yesterday and put it to him, 'Look, great news about Saka, are you expecting even more good news with some of your other top players?' And I think he's quietly confident that the players that he wants to keep and extend contracts for, they will end up staying at Arsenal."

Should Arsenal's key assets commit their future to the club?

Arsenal are clearly a club on an upward trajectory. Arteta and his players exceeded expectations this campaign by finishing second in the Premier League table and securing Champions League qualification.

If their summer transfer plans are anything to go by, the Emirates faithful could be in for a treat. The Athletic have reported that Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan, West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice and Chelsea playmaker Mason Mount are among some of their transfer targets in the upcoming window.

Pursuing a trio of high-profile players to strengthen their squad is a sign that the Gunners are showing ambition to continue to improve and challenge for the Premier League title.

Understandably, current players at Arsenal will feel like the club is pulling in the same direction as their own visions of competing at the highest level and potentially winning silverware, therefore making it an easy decision to commit their future to the club for the long-term.