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Rumbling along for more than 18 months, Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) attempt at a global, franchise-based Twenty20 tournament has become one of the costliest and most convoluted issues in the organisation’s history. From the original launch, through a player draft for a league that never happened, expensive payouts, boardroom fallouts and reshuffles, legal wrangles and a second attempt, we’ve plotted a timeline to help make sense of how CSA’s bold play at moving into the T20 big leagues went awry.January 2017
CSA seeks ICC approval for the launch of the T20 Global League, a tournament designed to replicate the success of leagues like IPL and BBL.February 2017
CSA announces the league, and a worldwide tender for franchise owners with a deadline of March 3.March 9 2017
CSA reports over 150 expressions of interest in owning teams, with more than a third coming from India.June 19 2017
CSA officially launches the league at the Bulgari hotel in London. Eight franchises unveiled, with two IPL and two PSL owners on board. Faf du Plessis says the new league is the “best way” to keep players from leaving South Africa.August 14 2017
Brimstone Investment Corporation Ltd pulls out as owner of the Stellenbosch Monarchs franchise, leaving no local owners for any franchise.August 26 2017
Draft held in Cape Town. Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Dwayne Bravo and Eoin Morgan are among the marquee players.September 8 2017
Indian movie star and Kings XI co-owner Preity Zinta takes over Stellenbosch Monarchs, taking the number of IPL owners to three.September 13 2017
CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat hints that SuperSport, Africa’s biggest sports broadcaster, may be the only viable broadcast partner as concerns over a TV deal mount.September 28 2017
Lorgat parts ways with CSA over “untenable differences” in the handling of the league. CSA President Chris Nenzani suggests that the issues between Lorgat and the CSA board began in January, and came to a head at a board meeting on May 13.October 6 2017
CSA acting CEO Thabang Moroe says a loss of USD 25 million is likely from the inaugural edition, more than half of CSA’s cash reserves, but promises it will go ahead.October 10 2017
With no broadcast deal or title sponsor secured three weeks before the scheduled start, CSA announces the postponement of the tournament. The South African Cricketers Association calls for an “independent review”, and later South African players are paid out 60% of their contract value and foreign players 50%.November-December 2017
South Africa’s domestic T20 competition is moved into the window left vacant by the postponement, with SuperSport – who already hold rights to all cricket played in South Africa – in place as the broadcaster.March 2018
Hiren Bhanu, a UK-based businessman and owner of Pretoria Mavericks, proposes to pay CSA USD 70 million to own and run the T20 league for 11 years. CSA turn down the offer.March 13 2018
CSA holds a teleconference with franchise owners, where it is decided that CSA will go back to SuperSport to discuss either a proposal on the original model, an alternative model, or one involving a league co-owned by CSA, owners and the broadcaster.June 8 2018
CSA announces a new tournament to take place in November and December. The tournament is not named, but CSA will be the majority shareholder and SuperSport part-owners. Details around the number of teams, matches and allowances for overseas players are thin, but it becomes clear that none of the eight team owners from the GLT20 will be involved.June 20 2018
CSA begin giving back the deposits paid by the GLT20 team to reimburse them for expenses incurred in planning for the tournament, but Qalandars CEO Sameen Rana weighs up legal options, saying: “We simply need CSA to respect the agreements around the awarding of the franchise to us, which they themselves have given to us in perpetuity. I do not agree to this refund as condition to give up my rights so we will challenge CSA via legal [proceedings].”June 26 2018
Moroe says CSA believes it is “in a partnership” with the former franchise owners and “would ideally like to retain the relationship in case there’s an opportunity in selling equity in teams” but the threat of a messy legal battle builds.July 17 2018
Moroe admits there are “issues of trust” with previous team owners, says that CSA has “signed an equity model” with SuperSport, giving the broadcaster a 49% share while scrapping the privately-owned franchise model.July 31 2018
CSA announces that the revived T20 league will have only six teams, making it impossible to hold on to all the former owners. Moroe does not elaborate on how CSA plans to solve this new dilemma.August 13 2018
CSA representatives fly to Dubai and Mumbai for four days of heated meetings with franchise owners, who demand the 49% share held by SuperSport be handed over to them. Seven of the eight owners – all except Cape Town Knight Riders who excused themselves from the meetings – want first option to buy into a new league, given their involvement in the previous one. Hiren Bhanu intends to stop any new league from going ahead without the original franchise owners.August 17 2018
South Africa’s stadiums are asked to submit bids to host a team in the new T20 tournament. The six venues will correspond to the six teams.August 20 2018
South African sports minister Tokozile Xasa is asked to consider issuing a moratorium which would prevent CSA from issuing any announcements on a new T20 tournament until plans for the event have been scrutinised by a parliamentary committee.August 20 2018
SuperSport pull out of their equity deal with CSA, leaving the organisation without an outside shareholder while seemingly reopening the option for the franchises to be privately owned. SuperSport remain interested in broadcasting the event.August 24 2018
CSA sets a deadline of mid-September for a decision on whether or not the league will be staged in the 2018-19 season. The board suggests the tournament could be owned and run completely in-house.September 8 2018
CSA’s members’ council votes unanimously to launch a T20 league this year. It will include six teams, consist of a 30-match league phase, an eliminator match and a final, and will be played from November 9 to December 16. Sponsors and a broadcaster are not named, though it is expected that SuperSport will broadcast the games.September 25, 2018
CSA relaunches T20 tournament – calling it the “T20 Cricket League” – in partnership with South Africa’s state-owned broadcaster SABC.

Southampton could be set to lose one of their summer signings to injury for the forseeable future, and one journalist has reacted to the disappointing news he’s hearing from St. Mary’s.

Hull vs Southampton team news

In the Championship, Russell Martin already has Jack Stephens on the sidelines having been missing since August, but there has recently been some more encouraging news regarding the fitness of a fresh face who is yet to make his first appearance for the club.

According to Saints reporter Mark Wyatt, Ross Stewart could be set to make the bench for this weekend’s second-tier game vs Hull City at the MKM Stadium, but with one player likely to return to domestic action, another is unfortunately expected to take his place in the treatment room on the south coast.

Since putting pen to paper on a season-long loan over the summer, Manchester City centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis has started all six of the games he’s featured in, and he’s formed a solid defensive partnership with Jan Bednarek (WhoScored – Harwood-Bellis statistics), but there is a chance that he might be ruled out for an unknown period of time.

England’s youth international returned from representing his nation early last week after sustaining an injury, but with further assessment and any kind of comment yet to be released regarding the extent of the 21-year-old’s problem, it isn’t looking good.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis injury update

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Dean Jones offered his verdict following the injury update on Taylor Harwood-Bellis and admitted that it will be a concern should he get sidelined at Southampton.

He said: "Yeah it would be [a blow]. He's played a significant role this season and obviously, of all of the things that have gone wrong for Southampton, at least they had the makings of a partnership that was showing real promise.

"Obviously, they are getting back in and need to check him out thoroughly, and they won't take any risks on him. But from a Southampton perspective, they really will hope they can get him back in that team as soon as possible."

How tall is Taylor Harwood-Bellis?

Standing at 6 foot 2, Harwood-Bellis has been a rock at the heart of Southampton’s backline since joining, where he’s been averaging 4.2 clearances and 2.8 aerial wins per game in the Championship, highlighting the real physical presence he provides.

The Stockport-born talent is also capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch having posted 15 contributions, ten goals and five assists, since the start of his career, showing the threat he can pose when it comes to set pieces (Transfermarkt – Harwood-Bellis statistics).

Additionally, Harwood-Bellis knows what it takes to get out of the division having achieved promotion with Burnley last term, where his fighting spirit saw him hailed a “warrior” by journalist Josh Bunting, but this is another attribute that Martin could have to cope without.

Liverpool are believed to be in direct contact over a high-profile transfer for 2024, according to a fresh transfer update.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds have really clicked of late, enjoying a promising start to the season and looking like a very different team to the one that struggled so much last time around. A huge reason for that has been Liverpool's revamped midfield, with Jurgen Klopp clearly aware that he needed younger, more energetic options there after the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson struggled so badly when it came to covering ground in 2022/23.

Bringing in the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch has transformed the Reds as a team, making them look like Premier League title contenders, but that's not to say that further signings in other positions aren't needed moving forward.

Liverpool have surprisingly been linked with several attacking players despite their depth up front, from Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala to Athletic Bilbao youngster Nico Williams, and it would be a surprise if they didn't at least consider delving into the transfer market once the January window opens in the New Year.

It looks as though progress could be being made regarding another Reds target, with an exciting update emerging.

Liverpool in talks with Osimhen

The Reds have been strongly linked with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, and while Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed rumours of a pre-agreement were false, a new report from Calciomercato says Liverpool are in "direct" talks with the Osimhen's representatives.

His contract situation at the Serie A champions is up in the air at the moment, but should he decide he wants a fresh challenge, it looks as though the Reds are the most advanced in their efforts to convince the player.

The idea of Osimhen in a Liverpool shirt is mouthwatering, considered he has been one of the standout attacking players in world football over the past 12 months or so, even being compared to Didier Drogba by Jose Mourinho.

The 24-year-old was arguably the key reason for Napoli winning their first Serie A title in 1990, with Osimhen's statistics standing out with 26 league goals en route to glory, not to mention netting five times in the Champions League. He has been hailed as a "world-class" player by Folarin Balogun, too.

Victor Osimhen's 2022/23 season for Napoli

Total

Appearances

39

Goals

31

Assists

4

While the Napoli hero would be a sensational signing for Liverpool, given the pace, power and prolific goal threat he possesses, it is arguably difficult to see them making a move for him, considering the wealth of attacking options Klopp already has to choose from.

The Reds spent a lot of money on Darwin Nunez and surely see him as a player who will only get better and lead the line regularly eventually, while Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota also represent great options, not to mention Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz out wide.

Given how much Osimhen would likely cost, it would make more sense for Liverpool to use those funds on improving their defensive options or bringing in an out-and-out defensive midfielder, or even eye up a big-name long-term replacement for Salah.

نجح فريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي في تسجيل الهدف الثاني بشباك نظيره الداخلية، في المباراة الجارية بينهما حاليًا ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري “النيل”.

المباراة تقام على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي ضمن منافسات الجولة التاسعة والعشرين من عمر الدوري.

تشكيل الأهلي أمام الداخلية في الدوري المصري.. وسام وعبد القادر يقودان الهجوم

واستطاع وسام أبو علي تسجيل الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 41 عن طريق ركلة جزاء نجح في تنفيذها، بعد أن احتسبت جراء لمسة يد على معاذ الحناوي.

وكان الأهلي قد أحرز الهدف الأول عن طريق وسام أبو علي في الدقيقة 35 من عمر اللقاء مستغلًا عرضية قوية من حسين الشحات.

ويتواجد الأهلي في المركز الثاني بجدول ترتيب بطولة الدوري برصيد 51 نقطة، حصدها من 21 مباراة، فيما تتبقى له 7 مؤجلات.

وحقق الأهلي 16 فوزًا و3 تعادلات فيما تلقى هزيمة واحدة، وسجل لاعبوه 45 هدفًا واستقبلت شباكه 17 هدفًا. ويرغب لاعبو الأهلي في مواصلة مطاردة فريق بيراميدز صاحب صدارة ترتيب الدوري المصري لحين انتهاء فرق المواجهات، والتي تصل لـ5 مباريات.

بينما فريق الداخلية يحتل المركز الثامن عشر في سلم ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 19 نقطة حصدها من 28 مباراة، فاز في 3 لقاءات والتعادل بـ10 مواجهات وتلقى 15 هزيمة. هدف الأهلي الثاني أمام الداخلية

The CSK spinners took out RCB’s big guns within the first eight overs and from thereon turned a blockbuster contest into damp squib

The Report by Alagappan Muthu05-May-2018
3:55

Dasgupta: RCB paying for the mistakes made at the auction

Ravindra Jadeja took out Virat Kohli first ball. Harbhajan Singh took out AB de Villiers first ball. Chennai Super Kings took out Royal Challengers Bangalore for 127. And at the end of it all, MS Dhoni just smiled. He wielded a slow pitch like a magic wand, turning a docile bowling attack – economy-rate of 9.19 – into a mythical match-winning entity.The left-arm wrecking ball
Jadeja’s arm has been gathering dust this IPL and the situation got so bad that he was malfunctioning. He wasn’t scoring runs. On Thursday, he dropped two catches in two balls. He wasn’t taking wickets. And the coach was forced to call him out at a post-match press conference.But everything changed the moment CSK won the toss on Saturday. An arm ball zipped past Kohli’s cut shot and thudded into the off stump. A full-blooded sweep from Mandeep Singh found deep square leg. And even the top-scorer Parthiv Patel popped a catch straight back to him. Jadeja didn’t celebrate any of those wickets and instead wore a look that said: is this really happening? Considering they collapsed to 89 for 8, RCB might have wondered the same thing.2:14

Dhoni is the key on and off the field – Hussey

The right-arm straightjacket
Harbhajan used to be a linchpin with Mumbai Indians. But his 10-year relationship with them ended this season and he has found a foolproof way to cozy up to his new fans – tweet in Tamil, the first language in Chennai, and keep taking wickets. Big ones. Like de Villiers, stumped while playing the reverse sweep.Harbhajan’s success – and Jadeja’s too – was the result of being accurate, looping the ball up on off stump but rarely allowing batsmen to reach the pitch of it. Most played for non-existent turn and were ambushed by straight balls. The two spinners bowled eight overs, conceded only three boundaries and picked up five wickets. Even batsmen of the class of Kohli and de Villiers – who made only 9 runs put together – couldn’t cope.The baby-faced hero
Imagine the kid at the amusement park standing on tip-toe to prove he is tall enough to ride the rollercoaster. Now swap them out with Parthiv and you’ll just about understand how much he’d like to prove he belongs in an RCB batting line-up. He struck three fours and two sixes in the Poweplay, taking advantage of David Willey and Lungi Ngidi straying into his pads. There was one that he sent straight into the CSK dugout, making M Vijay run for cover. But in between those big hits, he ate up too many dot balls. The wickets at the other end began to take a toll as well. And eventually he fell for 53 off 41 balls. The next batsman to get into double digits was No. 8 Tim Southee, who made 36 off 26.The formalities
A chase of 128 presented the opportunity for CSK to experiment. They had handed a debut to David Willey and the English allrounder has experience as a pinch-hitting opener. But his work was limited to the ball, as a firmly traditional approach took them to the target in the 18th over. Traditional down to Dhoni finishing things off with a blaze of sixes.

قضى فريق الكرة الأول بنادي بيراميدز على آمال الزمالك في المشاركة بمنافسات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا الموسم المقبل 2024-2025 حال الاحتكام لنتائج الدور الأول.

وجاء ذلك بعد تحقيق فريق نادي بيراميدز الفوز على نظيره سموحة، بثلاثية دون رد في خضم مؤجلات الجولة الحادية عشر من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز “النيل”.

ويتربع نادي بيراميدز على عرش صدارة ترتيب بطولة الدوري برصيد 56 نقطة حصدها من 17 انتصارًا.

الزمالك يعلن غياب 12 لاعبا في مباراة سيراميكا كليوباترا بـ الدوري المصري

وكان الاتحاد الافريقي لكرة القدم “كاف” قد حدد موعد إرسال أسماء الأندية المشاركة في البطولات القارية قبل نهاية موسم الدوري.

وفي ظل سعي مسؤولي رابطة الأندية للحصول على استثناء بإرسال أسماء الأندية، إلا أنه قد جرت العادة في المواسم السابقة من الدوري المصري، أن يتم إرسال الأندية وفق نتائج الدور الأول من الموسم.

ويتأهل لبطولتي دوري أبطال إفريقيا والكونفدرالية، أربعة فرق من الدوري المصري، بواقع ناديين بكل منافسة.

ووفق ترتيب الأندية لجدول الدور الأول فقد حسم فريق بيراميدز أحد مركزي المقدمة المشاركان في دوري أبطال إفريقيا، إذا بات يملك 35 نقطة من 16 مباراة فيما يتبقى له مواجهة مؤجلة أمام الأهلي.

أما الزمالك فيملك 21 نقطة من 13 مباراة ويتبقى له 4 مؤجلات أمام ضد سيراميكا وفاركو وبلدية المحلة وطلائع الجيش.

بذلك يحجز فريق بيراميدز مقعدًا في دوري أبطال إفريقيا حال الاعتماد على نتائج نقاط الدور الأول من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

الجدير بالذكر، أن الزمالك قد نجح في الفوز ببطولة الكونفدرالية موسم 2023-2024 على حساب نهضة بركان المغربي.

South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock has been ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series, and the T20s against India after suffering a left wrist injury during the second ODI in Centurion. De Kock will require two to four weeks to recover, which could put his participation in the Test series against Australia, which begins on March 1, in doubt.Heinrich Klaasen, the only other specialist wicketkeeper in the squad, is almost certain to make his ODI debut in Cape Town. AB de Villiers is also injured but is expected to return for the fourth ODI at the Wanderers on Saturday, though it is not yet known whether he will take the gloves. The selectors have not named a replacement in the squad.BCCI

“Quinton suffered an extreme blow to the left wrist while batting in the second ODI on Sunday and felt severe pain and discomfort,” team manager Mohammed Moosajee said. “Further investigation revealed severe bony bruising to the area, with associated swelling around the tendon in the wrist. This type of injury will require between 2-4 weeks to heal. The Cricket South Africa medical team will aim to have him ready for the Test series against Australia starting next month.”De Kock’s injury leaves South Africa without an opening batsman and their first-choice keeper, but he has endured a torrid time during the India tour. He has not crossed fifty once in eight innings across all formats.De Kock is the third South African player to suffer an injury in the last 10 days, after de Villiers and Faf du Plessis, who are currently recovering from finger injuries. Dale Steyn, who was not named in the ODI squad, is still recovering from a heel concern.India lead the six-match series 2-0 after routing South Africa by nine wickets in the second ODI at SuperSport Park.

Two months after the announcement of a five-year plan that involved West Indies touring Pakistan every year until 2022, PCB chairman Najam Sethi has walked back on that claim, saying it was a cost-ineffective option. In November last year, Sethi had stated that the PCB and Cricket West Indies (CWI) agreed to play a series of Twenty20 matches annually over the next five years that involved matches in Pakistan as well as the USA.

Sethi cites fatigue, injuries as factors in NZ whitewash

Commenting on Pakistan’s recent struggles in New Zealand, where the side was whitewashed 5-0 in the ODI series, Najam Sethi cited fatigue as a possible explanation. He also said several frontline bowlers were injured, which hampered Pakistan during the series. Pakistan had Mohammad Amir, the leader of the pace attack, and No. 1 ranked ODI bowler Hasan Ali available to them, as well as Rumman Raees, though Usman Khan and Junaid Khan were injured.
“Part of it is down to fatigue,” Sethi said. “Some of our fast bowlers are playing county cricket, others are playing various leagues. I am going to meet with Inzamam-ul-Haq and Haroon Rasheed to develop a formal policy concerning the number of T20 leagues any individual player is allowed to participate in. I’ve asked Mickey Arthur to prepare a management plan for each individual player, so we can analyse their fitness and performance, and take decisions on which leagues they can play and when.”
Sethi’s concern over the number of leagues players participate in is at odds with his position in the past. Last month, he approved permission for Pakistan players to participate in a T10 League in the UAE, despite strong opposition from several parties, most of all owners of at least four PSL franchises. Sethi, however, had the authority to take the final decision as PCB chairman, and allowed players to take part.

Sethi insisted that West Indies’ upcoming tour to Pakistan in March was “on so far”. That three-match T20I series is scheduled to be played in the last week of March. The games were originally meant to be played in November last year, but logistical challenges, as well as heavy smog that swept across large parts of the country in the first half of November, forced the tour’s postponement. Both CWI and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) had given their approval for the tour providing the security situation in Pakistan remained satisfactory. Pakistan hosted a World XI side for a three-match T20I series last September, followed by the third match of a T20I series against Sri Lanka in October.”It’s on so far, and by that, I mean even the dates are final,” Sethi said, while providing details on West Indies’ tour to Pakistan. “Earlier, we had a plan that West Indies would come here every single year and we would go to America to play a triangular series. But when we did our calculations, we found out that matches here are loss-making and they (West Indies) thought it would be a profit-making. The reason is the high production cost and player cost.”A full series would probably make a difference, but with three games, we do not get enough sponsors. So then the West Indies said if we don’t get anything from this tour, then let’s just go with a one-off series and play a triangular series in Florida which is profitable for all. So, a new MoU is being prepared that will not affect the series in March, and the arrangements for that are going well.”Since hosting the World XI and Sri Lanka T20Is in Lahore, the PCB has heavily courted West Indies as the next possible team to visit Pakistan for a series. Before they could finalise the schedule, both CWI and WIPA had sought a security and risk assessment from Eastern Star International (ESI), an independent security firm owned by security expert Reg Dickason. After prolonged deliberations, WIPA was assured that the threat levels had not “materially changed” since the World XI games. The PCB saw that report as an endorsement of the way they had handled security concerns for the World XI and Sri Lanka visits. The PCB and the Punjab government had assured CWI that the level of security offered to West Indies would be on par with the arrangements in place for the World XI and Sri Lanka.

Burnley could be on the prowl for another striker this summer, with reports linking the club to another talent in what has been a busy transfer window for Vincent Kompany.

The Clarets couldn’t have started their return to the Premier League in tougher fashion, as treble winners Manchester City graced the field of Turf Moor, where Kompany suffered opening day defeat at the hands of his former club.

While their movement in the transfer window has been busy, their start to life in the top-flight has been the opposite, with Burnley missing out on game week two due to Luton Town’s inability to host their fixture due to ongoing improvements to Kenilworth Road.

With 13 new arrivals already through the door at Turf Moor, recent reports have pointed to another potential signing that the Clarets are targeting.

Who could Burnley sign this summer?

Earlier this week, journalist Dominik Schneider revealed Burnley’s interest in Portuguese midfielder Renato Veiga, with an offer of £5.5m put on the table for Sporting Lisbon to consider.

In other reports, Football Insider has named the Clarets as one of the clubs in the race to sign Hertha Berlin starlet Derry Scherhant, with Championship trio Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers and Preston North End also eyeing a loan move for the German.

Football Insider stated that Burnley have already enquired over the 20-year-old’s availability earlier in the summer, with the player said to be valued at around £1.5m.

Who is Derry Scherhant?

Deployed as a left-winger with the ability to be positioned as a number nine, Hertha’s starlet is certainly a player to watch the movements of.

The 20-year-old is currently playing for the side’s ‘B’ team, featuring in the Regionalliga Northeast league in which he has made a flying start by scoring three goals and registering one assist over the opening two fixtures, via Transfermarkt.

Playing in the league since the 2021/22 campaign with Hertha BSC II, the German has contributed to 38 goals in 48 appearances, scoring 27 and assisting 11 to showcase just how dazzling his talents are in the final third.

While the Premier League is far from the fourth tier of German football, the 20-year-old’s talents have been repaid, with him earning 10 Bundesliga appearances last campaign in which he scored his first goal in the top-flight.

Described by journalist Leon Potuzhek as being “too good” for the league he is most regularly playing in, the dynamic youngster could be the perfect addition to one day flourish in Kompany’s side.

It wouldn't be the first time that Turf Moor had seen a winger making an impact on the left flank, with former star Dwight McNeil once bringing excitement for the Clarets before he joined Everton.

The Englishman netted seven goals in the Premier League during his time at Burnley, where he was praised as “fantastic” as a 19-year-old playing under Sean Dyche.

The youthful spark and electrifying cameos that the Everton ace once brought to Turf Moor could be encapsulated through a signing as promising as Scherhant, who has a similarly direct nature of play to the former winger.

With interest coming from a host of levels in England, Kompany should act fast if he is to capture the rising talent, in what could be a huge move for both player and club.

The Australia fast bowler laughed off a comparison to the WWE wrestler, and was in great spirits after picking up his first international wickets

Arun Venugopal in Guwahati11-Oct-20171:27

Dad was ‘speechless,’ says Jason Behrendorff

By the time Jason Behrendorff had finished shredding India’s top order, the internet was going mental over his supposed likeness to WWE wrestler John Cena. And after Australia strolled to an eight-wicket win in the second T20I, Behrendorff was told of the comparison.He’s “a fair bit bigger than I am,” Behrendorff said as he burst out laughing, the mood set by his four-wicket haul that led to an Australian win in only his second international appearance.”It’s an unbelievable feeling to be honest,” he said, having dismissed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey and Shikhar Dhawan as his first four international wickets. “… to bowl four overs tonight and take four wickets, but mainly to get a win. To get the boys back up and about after a pretty tough time in the the one-dayers, it’s very, very special.”Just like he had in his only over in the first T20I in Ranchi, Behrendorff began his spell in Guwahati by conceding a boundary. But while he was wicketless on Saturday, he snared two in his first over on Tuesday.Behrendorff had Rohit lbw by bowling the quick inswinger, a method used by other left-arm quicks like Mohammad Amir against the batsman. The delivery also got Kohli two balls later, and Behrendorff said the plan was indeed to nip the ball into India’s right-handers.”I was really happy with that,” he said of his comeback, after being hit for two fours by Rohit in the first over. “Few ones that I got hit to the boundary probably weren’t where I needed to be bowling. But then to get the ball up there, swinging the ball, hit guys on the pads and nick blokes off: those are the things we talk about in our meetings. To get the balls in those areas especially up front.”1:40

Agarkar: Starc-Behrendorff combination would be great for Australia

While Australia’s spearhead Mitchell Starc has been injured and out of international action since the Champions Trophy, Behrendorff looked forward to talking shop with his fellow left-arm quick. “I know Mitch reasonably well. I’ve spent a bit of time playing with him occasionally but mainly against him,” he said. “He’s someone that I feel I can talk to and get some advice off as well. He’s a very, very good guy to have around.”A look at Behrendorff’s Linkedin profile indicates that he is a man of varied interests. He has a degree in exercise and sports science from the Edith Cowan University, and has interned with the strength and conditioning coach of the Australia men’s hockey team. He also wants to improve his “presentation and interviewing skills” in the the media. Early evidence is that he’s on track.”It’s nice to have a bit of knowledge of what’s going on,” Behrendorff said of how his background in sports science helped him handle his injury-prone body. “I can talk to physios and doctors and understand exactly what’s going on and what I need to do. To be honest, the main thing is doing the rehab and getting back on the park and now enjoying playing international cricket for the first time. It’s something I’ve worked so hard for and I’m loving every minute of it.”Behrendorff has a reputation of being a nice guy. The likeness apart, there’s no – “You want some, come get some” – Cena trash talk.”You don’t have to be mean and nasty all the time,” Behrendorff said. “Generally I’d try and let my skills and the ball do the work and let that do the talking for me instead of getting into a verbal battle or anything like that. Some guys enjoy that and that’s what fires them up and gets them going. But that’s not really my style.”