There are plenty of rumours to be found regarding Season 4 of Ted Lasso, but Brett Goldstein – who plays Roy Kent – says “the plan is not in action”.
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Popular show ended in May 2023
Cast members excited by return rumours
No definitive plans in place as yet
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Warner Bros have reportedly taken up options on three of the show’s main stars, while plenty of others have expressed their excitement at potentially rejoining the ranks at AFC Richmond. There have been reports of pre-production getting underway in early 2025.
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THE GOSSIP
There has, however, been no official word from Apple TV+ or Jason Sudeikis – who fills the roles of title character and writer – meaning that expectation needs to be reined in somewhat. Goldstein claims to have no insider knowledge on when fans could be encouraged to “Believe” once more.
WHAT BRETT GOLDSTEIN SAID
Goldstein, who won a legion of fans with his grumpy Kent character, has told when asked about the Lasso speculation: “I don’t know anything. I heard about it in the press. I heard about it because I got a phone call from my team saying it had been picked up. See! What are we f*cking doing? I feel sorry for you – I feel sorry for me – that we have to do this. But in this case, I genuinely know nothing. There will be a plan put into action soon, but so far the plan is not in action.”
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DID YOU KNOW?
Goldstein added when asked about the mixed response to Season 3, as Lasso brought the curtain down on his time as a coaching novice in English football: “It’s a difficult question because I don’t take time to reflect and have feelings. How do I feel about it? We were following a vision, and there are things that I really admire about Jason Sudeikis and sticking to the vision. We were aware of the internet and what people enjoyed and wanted. But we had to ignore all of this and stick to the vision – for good and bad, regardless of outcome. That’s a pretty impressive and unusual quality, certainly in a populist arena. It was received mixed-ly, but that’s the risk of taking the art route.”
Left-armer skittles Essex for 140 as Sussex take charge against South Group leaders
ECB Reporters Network17-Aug-2020
George Garton trapped Alastair Cook lbw•Getty Images
George Garton’s maiden five-wicket haul put Sussex in a strong position against Essex in the Bob Willis Trophy at Hove.The left-arm seamer took 5 for 26 including former England captain Alastair Cook as the south group leaders were dismissed for 140 in response to Sussex’s 194 on day three at Hove. In the 21 overs before stumps Sussex reached 57 for 2 in their second innings and lead by 111 with a day to go.All results are still possible on a pitch offering some uneven bounce, but Sussex will fancy their chances of claiming a second win in the competition after dismissing the county champions for their lowest total since last August when they were bowled out for 114 by Kent at Canterbury.Only Paul Walter, who top scored with 33 before becoming Garton’s third victim to the first ball after tea, got the measure of the conditions and an accurate Sussex seam attack.By the time Garton came on in the 14th over to strike with his sixth ball, Essex had already lost Nick Browne, bowled by Mitch Claydon in the first over, and Tom Westley who was superbly caught by the diving Tom Clark at square leg to give 19-year-old seamer Henry Crocombe his maiden first-class wicket.Garton’s ability to make the ball bounce disconcertingly off a length made him a handful. His first victim Dan Lawrence was caught behind off the shoulder of the bat before he pinned Cook on the crease.Ryan ten Doeschate was turned around by Tom Haines and feathered a catch to slip and when Adam Wheater under-edged Stuart Meaker to give the former Surrey man his first wicket for his new county Essex were in a hole at 90 for 6.Walter and Simon Harmer added 29 for the seventh wicket to steady the innings but Garton produced a beauty which pitched on middle and hit the top of off stump to unseat Walter. Garton extracted more bounce to have Aaron Beard caught at second slip and after Harmer had been trapped on the crease by Claydon, Garton finished things off by bowling last man Matt Quinn for 13.Garton wasn’t the only bowler celebrating on a day when 16 wickets fell with Jamie Porter claiming the 13th five-wicket haul of his career. Porter finished with 5 for 60, claiming his fourth wicket in the third over of the day when Garton nicked off for 18.He would have had a fifth wicket had Westley not dropped a straightforward catch at third slip to reprieve Aaron Thomason on 18 but Porter didn’t have long to wait when Meaker was taken low down at second slip by Harmer pushing forward.The obdurate Thomason had faced 105 balls for his 30 before Harmer, who took 3 for 48 from 27 overs, had him caught by Cook at slip and Beard wrapped up the innings when Claydon drove at an outswinger and Cook bagged his fourth catch of the innings.When Sussex batted again, Porter struck in his third over when late movement unsettled Haines, who edged to second slip where Harmer held on to a juggling catch. But Phil Salt and Harry Finch added 50 and their side would have been in an even stronger position had Finch not been caught down the leg side off Beard from the final ball of the day for 32.
There’s no two ways about it: Manchester United’s form this season has been absolutely abysmal, so poor that even an FA Cup victory won’t be enough to mask the issues.
Erik ten Hag’s side has particularly struggled during the business end of the campaign, picking up just one win in eight Premier League games, which was against Sheffield United.
The Red Devils can put an end to this run with a convincing performance against Newcastle United this evening, although they will be in for a challenging test.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at which player could return to the fold this evening, who won’t only bolster the side but potentially save Casemiro’s Man United career.
Casemiro’s recent performances
The downfall of Casemiro has been well-documented in recent months, and he has rightfully received plenty of criticism for his uninspiring performances.
Football creator Liam Canning is one of those critics, taking to X to state that “Casemiro cannot run,” with his lack of athleticism without doubt one of his biggest flaws.
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro
However, in recent weeks, Ten Hag has been forced into playing the former Real Madrid star in a centre-back role due to the sheer number of injuries in that position, and unfortunately, his performances have been concerning.
Casemiro was at fault for Arsenal’s only goal at the weekend, and he was also exposed against Crystal Palace, with his decision-making and positioning allowing him to be dribbled past seven times. For context, not a single Palace defender was dribbled past once.
Therefore, Ten Hag must tweak his side, and the return of one player could just supercharge the struggling Casemiro.
How Lisandro Martinez could save Casemiro
It’s rather simple: Man United and Ten Hag have desperately missed Lisandro Martinez this season, having been on the sidelines for 36 games through numerous injuries.
Because of this, the Argentine has started just seven Premier League matches this season, boasting an average of 65 minutes per game.
Luckily, Martinez’s return is imminent, and he will be in the squad to face the Magpies this evening. If he does return, it will surely ensure that Casemiro returns to his usual midfield role.
Games
27
16
24
Touches
68.5
42.4
54.7
Pass accuracy
87%
85%
87%
Tackles
2
0.5
1
Interceptions
1.2
0.8
0.5
Dribbled past
0.5
0.06
0.4
Duels won
4.1
2.4
3.1
As you can see from his league statistics last season, the number six is a complete defender who excels on the ball and during build-up play, in turn taking the responsibility off Casemiro, who has a pass accuracy of just 83% this season.
Furthermore, the former Ajax star isn’t afraid to enter duels and be aggressive, as shown by his tackles and duels won, which should enable United to play a slightly higher line, therefore reducing the lack of ground that Casemiro has to cover.
Other than his influence on the 32-year-old, Martinez is so valuable to the entire side, and it’s no surprise to see Liam Canning call him a “diamond.” Even Ten Hag referenced his importance this week, stating:
“When he’s fit his standards are high and he is an absolute leader for us, a warrior who has the right spirit. He is a very important player in our defensive line and we missed him across almost the whole season.”
Overall, it’s glaringly obvious that Martinez’s return can’t come soon enough, but can he help save his midfield teammate and potentially his boss?
Man Utd struck gold with star now worth more than Mount & Martinez combined
The Manchester United star cost the club £0 and is now worth a pretty penny.
Derby County will already be setting the wheels into motion over what the Rams squad will look like when re-entering the Championship, having sealed promotion back up to the second-tier under Paul Warne this season.
With plenty of incomings speculated to join the ranks at Pride Park in the weeks to come, there will also be a number of outgoings revealed to balance the books and fill the camp with Championship capable stars instead.
Korey Smith could be an unfortunate casualty in the latter category, therefore, with the 32-year-old central midfielder out of contract this summer and earning a hefty salary.
Korey Smith's season in numbers
Smith had become a key cog for Warne again in the crunch promotion-deciders his side had been involved with in the last few weeks, after being sidelined with a major injury issue that saw him ruled out for all of December and January.
Bouncing back to be in his manager's starting XI for the last six League One games of the season, the experienced 33-year-old could feel harshly treated if he is discarded in the summer.
Helping himself to a goal and an assist from his 37 league games, the ex-Norwich City midfielder might well give the Rams some experience and grit in the centre of the park moving back up to a division where he has notched up 245 appearances previously.
Yet, with Derby reportedly eyeing up a deal for young Celtic star Bosun Lawal on top of a potential permanent swoop for Ebou Adams in central midfield, Smith could find his minutes are very limited next season.
Smith's excessive wage could also make cutting ties with the ageing midfielder easier to take, with the Rams number 12 raking in more than defensive superstar Eiran Cashin is currently on, according to Salary Sport.
Smith's wage at Derby
Just £900k-per-week off matching Max Bird's Rams wage, which will no doubt be increased moving onto Bristol City, Smith finds his pay packet at Pride Park coming in at a handsome £7k-per-week.
Amazingly, despite making 52 appearances for Warne's men this season in all competitions, one-time Brighton and Hove Albion target Cashin finds himself earning a paltry £3.3k-per-week in contrast.
To keep their standout Irishman around past this summer, with suitors presumably testing the waters soon about a potential deal for their homegrown sensation, Cashin's salary will need to be bumped up with Smith then axed to free up more space on the wage bill.
Playing a key role in the Rams being so defensively resilient this season, with Warne's men boasting the meanest defence in the league with just 37 goals shipped, keeping Cashin around for the jump-up feels paramount.
Derby County defender Eiran Cashin in action.
Whereas, with Smith being 11 years older than the bright Derby number six and arguably past his prime when it comes to second-tier football, getting rid of the £7k-per-week man soon might be a smart call.
Regardless of who stays or goes, Derby fans will just be excited by the prospect of watching Championship football again next season with their beloved team taking part.
Derby could pull off "outstanding" first signing after promotion
Derby County will hope this signing in through the door stands them in good stead for the Championship.
Manchester United are believed to be battling one of their biggest rivals for the signing of an “insane” Premier League star, according to a new transfer update.
Man Utd transfer news
The Red Devils have been linked with numerous potential signings in recent weeks, ahead of what promises to be an intriguing summer transfer window with Sir Jim Ratcliffe at the helm.
One such figure is Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong, who has played a huge role in his side's Bundesliga title win this season, offering plenty of quality down the right flank. The 23-year-old has scored eight goals and registered seven assists in the competition in 2023/24, and could be viewed as an upgrade on the likes of Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Manchester United transfer target Jeremie Frimpong in action for Bayer Leverkusen.
Jarrad Branthwaite has also emerged as a top target for United at the end of the season, following an excellent campaign for a struggling Everton side in the Premier League, which included scoring the opening goal at home to Liverpool in the recent Merseyside derby.
Centre-back is a key position that needs to be focused on in the summer, considering there are several ageing players in that position, and highly-rated Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo has emerged as another option for Erik ten Hag.
On the flip-side, it could be that certain current players leave once the current campaign comes to an end, and Marcus Rashford is one individual the club could be willing to sell, following an underwhelming season.
Man Utd want "insane" Premier League ace
CaughtOffside recently relayed a report from Spain which claims Manchester United are keen on signing Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma this summer, with Ratcliffe seeing him as a superb option to bring in.
However, the Japanese ace is also wanted by Premier League rivals Manchester City and Arsenal, so there could be a big battle to acquire his signature ahead of next season.
Mitoma could be a fantastic signing by United this summer, having stood out as such an eye-catching player for Brighton since arriving from Kawasaki Frontale back in 2021. His pace, dribbling and unpredictability have all stood out, and Seagulls manager Roberto De Zerbi has heaped praise on him in the past, saying:
"I have no words left for Mitoma. He's really underrated but trust me, he's so, so underrated. The world of football hasn't understood the value of Mitoma. He can be an incredible player for any manager, not just for me. He's insane."
Mitoma could even be viewed as an upgrade on Rashford this summer, should the Englishman be moved on, scoring three goals and registering four assists in the league this season.
He has also averaged 2.1 dribbles per game, compared to 1.5 for the current United man, as well as 1.3 key passes per game (Rashford has 0.8), suggesting that he could be a more direct and creative option capable of causing defenders bigger problems, or at the very least superb competition for the England winger.
It could be argued those numbers would improve if he was surrounded by superior players, and at 26 years of age, there is still so much more to come from him.
Ten Hag must ditch Eriksen & unleash Man Utd ace who “loves a goal”
The Man United star has netted seven Premier League goals this season.
ByTom Lever Apr 27, 2024
The threat of City and Arsenal is great, considering the pair are better teams than United currently, but the hope is that Ratcliffe can persuade him to move to Old Trafford, selling his plans for the future to him.
Paris Saint-Germain's post-Kylian Mbappe era is gathering pace after the signing of Rennes star Desire Doue for a reported €50 million (£42.6m/$55m).
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Mbappe leaves PSG for Real MadridFrench side enter new eraComplete €50m Doue signingWHAT HAPPENED?
PSG have confirmed winger Doue has signed for the Ligue 1 giants on a five-year contract. After being linked with Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester United, the French outfit have won the race to sign the 19-year-old.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
PSG have entered a new era, without their talismanic, record-scorer Mbappe, who left for Real Madrid earlier this summer. Finding a way to replace his goals and still be a force in France and Europe is a big task. While it is not fair to put all of that pressure on Doue, he and the club will hope he can hit the ground running for them this season after his big-money signing.
Getty ImagesWHAT DESIRE DOUE SAID
He told the club's website: “I'm delighted to be joining Paris Saint-Germain. I'm really excited, and also happy and proud. It's a dream come true. I can't wait to discover the Parc des Princes in a PSG jersey and to play in front of these fans."
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WHAT NEXT?
Doue, who scored seven goals and bagged six assists in 57 appearances for Rennes in Ligue 1, helped France win a silver medal at the Olympics and after a break, he will link up with his new PSG team-mates in the coming weeks.
صمدت العديد من الأرقام القياسية حتى جاء محمد صلاح، ولا يزال مع ليفربول، يسعى النجم المصري لمعادلتها وتحطيمها، على مستوى التسجيل أو الصناعة.
صنع محمد صلاح أمس هدفًا في مواجهة ليفربول وأستون فيلا وسجل آخر، ولكن صناعته للهدف الأول لـ لويس دياز، جعله يتخطى تيري هنري، في أكثر اللاعبين الذين صنعوا أهدافًا في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
محمد صلاح بـ75 هدفًا، متفوقًا على تيري هنري، أصبح يتطلع الآن لتخطي أساطير أخرى في القائمة التي يتصدرها رايان جيجز بـ 162 تمريرة حاسمة خلال 632 مباراة.
طالع أيضًا.. أوناي إيمري: مباراة ليفربول وأستون فيلا انتهت بعد هدف محمد صلاح
اللاعب الأقرب لـ محمد صلاح الآن هو تيدي شيرنجهام أسطورة مانشستر يونايتد، بفارق هدف واحد فقط، كما هو الحال لـ كريستيان إيريكسن لاعب توتنهام وبرينتفورد السابق ومانشستر يونايتد الحالي.
وفي حالة تخطيه الثنائي، سيكون ديفيد بيكهام أسطورة الشياطين الحمر أيضًا، هو الهدف القادم للمصري، حيث يحتل المركز العاشر برصيد 80 تمريرة حاسمة.
محمد صلاح الآن ضمن أفضل 10 هدافين في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، والآن قريب من دخول نفس القائمة من حيث الصناعة، ويحتاج لـ 6 تمريرات حاسمة فقط لتخطي ديفيد بيكهام.
The contest was four balls short of being a match with the Thunder ahead of what the DLS target would have been
Andrew McGlashan21-Dec-2019The BBL match in Canberra was abandoned – four balls short of being a game – after smoke from the devastating bushfires, which are raging in New South Wales, drifted back over Manuka Oval on Saturday evening leading the umpires to suspend play due to poor visibility and air quality.The situation did not improve by the 9.14pm cut-off time to resume the game so each side took one point. The Thunder were ahead of both the par score after five overs (34) and what an adjusted five-over target would have been if there was time to resume for five more deliveries (38). When play was initially suspended, Callum Ferguson showed his frustration, although players and officials from both sides were quick to express their understanding of the situation.”There’s some people in the wider area going through some horrific times, so the fact you drop a point is not anything compared to what other people are going through,” Shane Bond, the Thunder coach, said. “The decision was made, we respect that decision and we are happy with the one point.”Visibility got poor during Sydney Thunder’s chase•Getty ImagesUmpire Paul Wilson told Fox Cricket: “I understand that the Thunder have four balls to go. We can’t take that into consideration. It’s about air quality. We would not have started like this.”A BBL statement said: “The KFC Big Bash League advises that tonight’s match between the Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers at Manuka Oval has been abandoned due to dangerous and unreasonable playing conditions. The decision was taken by match officials after conducting a thorough assessment of conditions at the ground, with participant safety the number one priority. The League and all Clubs wish to reiterate that our thoughts and best wishes are with the people and communities affected by the current bushfire emergency.”Conditions had been assessed before the game started – with hazardous levels of air quality reported in the region – following heavy smoke at the venue on Friday, but the air had cleared sufficiently for the match to begin on schedule. The first innings was completed without incident, but in a matter of minutes during the chase, the smoke rolled in across the ground.”It’s been a bit hard to breathe all game, really,” Jake Weatherald said to the host broadcaster shortly after play was suspended. “You can see it coming though. Even the smell a little bit, we noticed it yesterday when we were training. We were training and there was this repugnant smell of fire.”Jonathan Wells hooks during his rapid half-century•Getty ImagesIt is the first professional match to have its result impacted by the fierce bushfire season, which has struck across Australia. Earlier this month, the Sheffield Shield game between New South Wales and Queensland at the SCG was completed in extremely hazy conditions, which raised a health and safety debate. There are concerns about the situation that could arise during the New Year Test at the SCG early next month, with Sydney having been blanketed in smoke regularly in recent weeks.Though when this match was called off the Thunder were within touching distance of victory, if the game had run its distance, the Strikers could have come back. Rashid Khan was just two balls into his first over, although the in-form Ferguson was hitting the ball crisply after Usman Khawaja had been superbly held at slip by Cameron White as Alex Carey dived in front of him.The Strikers’ innings had started poorly with Daniel Sams beginning with a wicket maiden, removing Phil Salt for a five-ball duck, before Matt Short was lbw sweeping at Jono Cook. However, Weatherald began the recovery with a well-paced 42 only to be undone by Sams’ perfect slower-ball.When Chris Morris, making his first appearance for the Thunder, removed Alex Carey and Rashid in the space of three balls, it appeared as though the innings would stutter to a finish, but Jono Wells struck a thumping 55 off 32 balls as 36 runs came from the last three overs.
Aston Villa's recent signings have all been fantastic, but none of them can top the arrival of Unai Emery.
The Villans have been completely transformed by the Spaniard, to the point where Villa Park could be playing the Champions League anthem next season.
However, what is always a great sign to suggest a transfer strategy is successful is whether those who are let go of don't reach new heights after leaving.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the player that Villa truly hit the jackpot on by letting them go in the summer.
Aaron Ramsey's time at Aston Villa
Just like his older brother Jacob, Aaron Ramsey began his career in the Villa academy as a youngster before progressing through the ranks to become one of the most promising players in the youth setup.
In 53 games for the U23s and U21s, the attacking midfielder scored 24 goals and provided 13 assists, but the English youngster only made one appearance for Villa's first team, which was in the 6-0 win over Barrow in the EFL Cup in 2021.
Aaron-Ramsey-Middlesbrough
However, most of his Villa career as a professional was spent on loan at numerous EFL clubs, with his performances for Norwich City and Middlesbrough impressing enough for scout Jacek Kulig to describe Ramsey's campaign as "fantastic."
The first half of the campaign saw the 21-year-old play 18 Championship games for the Canaries, where he scored three goals and provided three assists.
Ramsey then joined Michael Carrick's side for the second half of the season, with the aim of achieving promotion. Boro ultimately missed out on that goal, but the Villa loanee scored five times and registered one assist in 11 league games.
Aaron Ramsey's 2023/24 season in numbers
In the summer, Ramsey's time at his boyhood club came to an end, with Emery deciding that the academy graduate was surplus to requirements. Vincent Kompany identified the attacker as a target, and in August, he secured the services of the Villans ace for £14m.
Ramsey only made one appearance in pre-season, but that was for Villa in the 1-1 draw against Walsall. The lack of games saw him take longer to return to fitness, and he made his Burnley debut in the matchday three 3-1 defeat to his former club Villa as a second-half substitute.
Three days later, the versatile star made his first start for the club, but just after the break, he suffered an injury that saw him miss just under a month of action. It wasn't exactly the dream start to life at Turf Moor that he would have imagined.
From that point on, Ramsey has been in and out of the team and failed to register a single goal contribution, making just 14 appearances and five starts, with an average of 37 minutes per game. Unfortunately, his season statistics will stay at that after he picked up a terrible knee injury against Arsenal recently, which will keep him out for the rest of the campaign.
Appearances
14
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots per game
0.4
Touches per game
17.8
Key passes per game
0.07
Successful dribbles per game
0.2
Unfortunately, Ramsey has had a few injury problems over the years, with one at the start of 2023 also causing him issues, but as you can see by the table, he was largely ineffective and poor during the matches he did play in, and to receive £14m pure profit for the attacker was certainly a smart decision by Villa.
On and off the field Australia is leading the way for women’s cricket and it’s starting to show around the world
Alex Malcolm18-Oct-2019The WBBL might be about to highlight a problem. It’s not a problem for Cricket Australia, but it could be for the ICC and the rest of the boards around the world.There is a distinct possibility that WBBL05, a domestic competition, will be the highest standard of women’s cricket played around the world at the moment.CA’s investment in the women’s game along with a generation of outstanding players has combined to turn women’s international cricket into a tour de force for Australia over the last two years. Since the start of 2018 Australia have played 45 internationals and lost just three, including setting a new world record streak of 18 ODI victories and winning the 2018 T20 World Cup in the West Indies.New Zealand allrounder and the Adelaide Strikers import Sophie Devine believes the collection of players at the WBBL is second to none and the even distribution of Australian talent across the eight teams makes it the gold standard of women’s cricket, at least among the domestic leagues.”I think at the end of the day they’ve got the best players from around the world playing in it and I think that makes a huge difference,” Devine told ESPNcricinfo. “If you want the competition to be the best you’ve got to have the best and I think that helps the WBBL in terms of the standard of the game. The collection of players that every side has got, not just overseas but domestic and their Australian players, it just makes such a big difference.”However, there are some big names absent this season. The tournament will be without India’s stars without India’s stars with the new standalone tournament running from late October to mid-December clashing with India’s tour of the West Indies.West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor, who has signed with the Strikers this season after four years at the Sydney Thunder, is only available for the bookends of the tournament due to that tour but will form a formidable trio at the Strikers alongside Devine and Suzie Bates when available.Nida Dar will create history as the first Pakistan player in the WBBL and Ireland’s Kim Garth returns to the tournament, but what continues to standout is the depth available to Australia and there are concerns the gap will continue to grow.Brisbane Heat are crowned WBBL champions•Getty ImagesElyse Villani has fallen out of favour but was one of the leading run scorers in the WBBL last season and will captain the Melbourne Stars this year. Sophie Molineux has likewise been on the fringes of the national side but is one of the competition’s best allrounders for the Melbourne Renegades, and nearly stole last year’s semi-final from the Sydney Sixers off her own bat.However, it’s not just the talent, it’s the professionalism. The fielding, fitness, and athleticism of the WBBL players stands out to Devine as a leading indicator of why the competition stands out.”Having the professionalism of the women’s game over here domestically, you’re not just talking about 15 of your top players being contracted but it’s 90-odd players here that are full-time athletes,” she said. “That helps raise the standard. And I think the biggest difference I’ve noticed over the last couple of years are in the field, diving, moving, throwing, catching, all those skills have improved massively over here and that just adds to the whole spectacle of it.”You only have to look at the semis and the final last year to see how much great athleticism was shown by all the teams out there. So those are the things that make cricket great but it also makes it a great product for people to watch.”Erin Burns’ diving stop to deny Molineux in the semi-final and Haidee Birkett’s stunning outfield catch stand in stark contrast to some of the shoddy fielding and running between the wickets from West Indies during Australia’s 6-0 sweep on the recent tour of the Caribbean.Devine said the wheels are slowly turning in terms of global investment into the women’s game. New Zealand Cricket recently increased the number of central contracts, development deals have been offered and there is a domestic contracts structure albeit at a significantly lower sum than in Australia.”We’ve been really fortunate that we’ve just negotiated a new MOU, with the White Ferns and also some development contracts,” Devine said. “So an increase in pay, which is going to help us train more full time, which we’ve got to do to keep up, not just with Australia but with England, India, South Africa, West Indies. A lot more teams are putting the money and the resources to stay up with the top teams. We’re really fortunate for that.”Visibility is another issue. Australian supporters are seeing their heroes, not just on the pitch on free-to-air television, but in places where they have yet to reach in other nations.”I was in the supermarket the other day and I saw some of the Aussie women’s cricket team on [cereal] boxes,” Devine said. “Things like that, to me just brings a massive smile to my face to see that there’s positive female athletes being represented out there.”I remember growing up I didn’t even know there was a women’s cricket team in New Zealand. I was always following the Black Caps and men’s teams going around. It wasn’t until about the 2000 World Cup that I remember actually watching my first ever women’s game down at Lincoln where they obviously won it for New Zealand, their only time so far. I just think to be seen is such a huge thing for young girls growing up to see them and to normalise it as well.”Particularly cricket, it’s so often referred to as a gentleman’s game but to see the likes of Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning, Suzie Bates, there’s so many great female athletes out there it’s just awesome to see how the visibility is getting better. There’s still a long, long way to go but it’s certainly a starting point and it’s great to see.”