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Duckett, Crawley reach fifties as England close in on Ireland’s modest first-innings total

Valkerie Baynes01-Jun-2023

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett started the summer in fine fashion•PA Photos/Getty Images

is a TV quiz show in which contestants must guess the most obscure answer to each question, an answer that’s right but which no member of the public surveyed by the show has thought of. But it was Stuart Broad who provided the most obvious solution of all amid the murmurings that there was little point to this Test – as evidenced by Ireland’s undeniable focus on World Cup qualification and England’s understandable caution with their thinning seam-bowling stocks and eagerness to experiment in that department.It would be impossible to argue to Broad that a third five-wicket haul at Lord’s – his first at this ground in a decade – carries zero meaning, just as it would be to tell England that any kind of rehearsal for their upcoming Ashes campaign is pointless. In the same way, it would be futile to tell Ireland that if they are to boost their Test experience – still only seven matches old – that there’s no point turning up. The international season has to start somewhere, so it might as well be here and now, right?Broad’s 5 for 51 restricted Ireland to 172 after they were sent in to bat under overcast skies by a side that loves to chase. The total fell short of Ireland’s first innings the last time these sides met at Lord’s, four summers ago, when they then bowled England out for 85 in their reply before capitulating for just 38 in the fourth innings and the hosts won by 143 runs.Related

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By stumps on the opening day, after the cloud cover had given way to baking sunshine by lunchtime, England had closed the gap to just 20 runs in assertive fashion with nine wickets in hand. Zak Crawley reached fifty off just 39 balls before he perished to a juggled return catch by Fionn Hand, on debut as Ireland’s third seamer, Crawley’s 11 fours comprising some exquisite cover drives interspersed by some streaky inside edges. Ben Duckett reached his own half-century off 53 balls and remained unbeaten on 60 at the close, joined by Ollie Pope on 29.Broad took a flurry of three wickets in the space of eight balls to leave Ireland floundering at 19 for 3 early in the morning session and claimed two more, shortly after lunch and early in the evening session, as James McCollum, Curtis Campher and Paul Stirling all made it into the 30s but failed to press on. McCollum was patient, Campher spirited and Stirling enterprising but the task was too big, and arguably made even bigger by the well-publicised absence of Josh Little, their best bowler who is resting after the IPL and before next month’s 50-over World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe as well as the European T20 World Cup Qualifier in Scotland a month later.With his usual new-ball partner James Anderson sitting out to manage his return from a groin problem ahead of the Ashes, Broad opened the bowling with Matthew Potts and while the latter probed impressively, it was Broad broke through with the second ball of his third over, a fuller one which pitched a fraction outside off stump then angled back beautifully as PJ Moor walked across his stumps and was struck halfway up his front pad in line with middle and leg.Crawley pulled off an excellent dive from second slip to snaffle Andy Balbirnie’s outside edge as the Ireland captain departed for a five-ball duck and Broad claimed his second. Harry Tector followed two balls later, advancing to Broad and tucking the ball straight to Potts at leg slip.Broad thought he had a fourth wicket immediately, as did umpire Paul Wilson, when he struck Stirling flush on the front pad as he played across the line, but Stirling survived on review when ball-tracking showed it to be missing leg stump by a whisker.Debutant Josh Tongue, the Worcestershire seamer originally drafted as injury cover for Anderson and Ollie Robinson, who is also being kept on ice after hurting his ankle playing for Sussex, replaced Broad from the Pavilion End in the 11th over and tested McCollum immediately, sending down twin maidens to begin with. He conceded 40 runs off 13 wicketless overs but he bowled excellent line and length while finding extra bounce and carry.Stuart Broad leads England off the field•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

McCollum survived an England review for caught behind off a Tongue short ball which beat his inside edge, nipped back sharply and just evaded the bat as it sailed over the stumps, brushing his thigh pad instead. By lunch, he had faced 93 deliveries for his 29 not out, whereas Stirling reached 30 off 35 balls, including back-to-back fours off Tongue among his five boundaries, before he shaped to sweep Jack Leach and the ball looped off his glove to a waiting Jonny Bairstow, back behind the stumps after nine months out of international cricket with a broken leg.Broad struck again in the fifth over after lunch as McCollum edged to Joe Root at slip and he bowled Mark Adair with an excellent inswinger that clipped the top of off stump as Ireland lurched to 169 for 8 shortly after tea.Campher fell advancing on Leach and missing as the ball rattled his stumps to give the England spinner his third and Potts claimed his second wicket, having broken a 38-run stand between Campher and Andy McBrine, when he had Hand caught behind to wrap up the innings.

While he’s made consistent contributions for state and country through the 2022-23 season, a dearth of big ones was a source of frustration

Andrew McGlashan06-Jan-2023

Usman Khawaja clips neatly into the leg side•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

For the third time in three Test innings Usman Khawaja was able to celebrate a century at the SCG and, though he will have spent two nights unbeaten 195 and hoping for the chance for a maiden double-ton, he was relieved to convert into three figures in a frustrating season.Khawaja had made consistent contributions for both Queensland in the Sheffield Shield and then against West Indies, but had not been able to turn one of his five half-centuries into something more substantial. However, he still ended 2022 with more than 1000 runs in Test cricket and has now cashed in at the start of the new year.”I’ve played some really good cricket this year and haven’t cracked a hundred,” he said. “Got three 50s in the Shield in consecutive games then got a couple of 50s at the start of the Test tour. Then a diabolical wicket at the Gabba and we won which was fine, [and] missed out last game. More of a personal battle when I got to fifty, continuing the process and see how long I can continue for. To get that reward was a nice feeling, I feel like I’m doing all the right things.”It was difficult for Khawaja to compare the experience this year with his comeback centuries against England because that opportunity had been so unexpected. However, he continues to be in a sweet spot in the latter stages of his career where he is batting serenely and is savouring the environment of the Test side created by coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins.”Best environment I’ve been in,” he said. “I haven’t done a warm-up in about seven Test matches. Nothing hurts you more than a warm-up. Think it’s added two more years to my career, 100%. Ron’s [McDonald] been great about that, so has Patty. It’s those small things that has really helped the environment. I used to find it really intense and it used to take a lot of mental energy, all the, I call it the fluff, the box ticking. Since I’ve been back there really hasn’t been any of that. It has really opened up a lot of space in the mind.”After glancing skywards on bringing up his hundred, Khawaja brought out another of the dance-move celebrations that he unfurled against England. “Religion is a big part of my life…my family and religion the two most important things in my life,” he said. “I keep the religion thing pretty private and do my own thing. The celebrations after it, I always enjoying bringing a bit of colour to Test cricket, both figuratively and literally.”He is looking forward to next month’s tour of India, believing he’s playing “as well as ever” against spin, although was cautious about linking conditions at the SCG – which have been tempered by the rain – to what Australia will face on that trip. His success in Pakistan last year, the runs he scored on the 2019 one-day tour where he was Player of the Series and for Australia A leave him with plenty of good memories to draw on.”There’s no guarantee in cricket, I could get eight ducks in a row, but I know a process that works for me,” he said.Regardless of whether Khawaja gets the chance to cross 200 – the odds suggest he will get the opportunity as Australia look to extend the follow-on target unless day four is further delayed by rain, which could be the case – South Africa face a big task to bat for the best part of two days to save the game given they have passed 200 once in their last eight innings. However, they have been urged to take a leaf out of Khawaja’s book.”You can easily go into that mindset of just trying to survive…in comparison to still being in a positive mindset, that doesn’t mean you need to be reckless,” batting coach Justin Sammons said. “What Khawaja has done so well is to stay in his game plan. He was positive, but scored within his game plan, think that will be key for us. We’ve still got this game then two against West Indies to finish our season and we want to take as much confidence going into that series as we can.”

Graeme Swann returns in mentor role, as Tom Abell takes charge of white-ball team

Vithushan Ehantharajah13-Jan-2023

Haseeb Hameed was in fine form in 2022 after a tough Ashes tour•Getty Images

Haseeb Hameed will captain England Lions for their red-ball tour of Sri Lanka next month.The Nottinghamshire opening batter will take the reins for a three-day warm-up match in Colombo on January 25, before leading the Lions in two four-day “Tests” against Sri Lanka A in Galle. Somerset captain Tom Abell will then skipper the white ball team for three unofficial ODIs against Sri Lanka A in Colombo.Hameed earned the most recent of his 10 Test caps at the start of 2022 in Sydney before being dropped for the fifth and final match of a disastrous Ashes campaign. He looked revitalised for Nottinghamshire in the summer, however, playing a key role in their promotion from Division Two of the County Championship with 1,235 runs at an average of 58.80, with four centuries and a top score of 196. Not only was it his most productive summer in terms of tally and average across a domestic campaign, but a strike-rate of 62.40 suggested a change of tack from the 25-year-old, to become more of a run-getter than an accumulator.That was particularly evident on the Lions training camp in the UAE last November when Hameed scored 145 from 172 deliveries against the full England team ahead of their tour of Pakistan. Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, who have led the revolution that has resulted in the Test side playing in a more authoritative manner, were suitably impressed by the manner in which Hameed had showcased his higher gears.Hameed has previously captained England at Under-19 level, and captained Nottinghamshire in last season’s Royal London One-Day Cup having been appointed vice-captain of the club. Speaking about the decision to hand him more responsibility, men’s performance director Mo Bobat praised his qualities as a leader.”We thought long and hard about the options and there were lots of good options, people I’d regard as senior players,” Bobat said on Friday, having also overseen the UAE training camp, which began with three intensive weeks in Dubai in October. “You’ve got Alex Lees, who’s done a little bit of Lions captaincy before, he could no doubt do this pretty well. Tom Abell himself has captained Somerset, he could easily have captained the Test stuff. You’ve got other experienced players, Sam Cook, Matt Fisher who I regard as pretty senior players, Tom Haines who has captained at Sussex. Loads of good options but we felt Haseeb would be a good shout.”When he did bits of leadership on the training camp we found he was very astute tactically and very creative with how we might take wickets in those conditions, which is going to be important in Sri Lanka. He’s done bits of captaincy and been vice-captain at Notts and captain in Royal London. He’s done some age-group captaincy with England so it’s great to give him that opportunity.”Neil Killeen will operate as head coach of the Lions across both formats, having joined the ECB this week as men’s elite bowling coach. He will be assisted by Ian Bell and Min Patel, who reprise their winter roles as batting and spin bowling coach respectively. Somerset’s Paul Tweddle will oversee fielding and wicketkeeping duties, though mainly for the limited-overs part of the tour once he has fulfilled off-season duties at Taunton.Graeme Swann has been a regular in the media since retirement but is inching towards a coaching role•Getty Images

There will also be a return to the Lions set-up for Graeme Swann. Regarded as one of England’s greatest spinners, with 255 dismissals across 60 Tests, Swann will act as a mentor for the first half of the trip, a role not just restricted to working with the spinners.It is a job he fulfilled in the UAE before taking on commentary duties for the T10 and something he has long craved. Players and staff were impressed by Swann’s knowledge and energy among the group.That was his first formal involvement with an England team since his retirement at the end of 2013. His move into coaching is a recent development, though he has spoken often about his willingness to help the next generation of English spinners. He was part of the backroom staff for Trent Rockets in 2022 during their successful men’s Hundred campaign.That he is back hints at a greater involvement in the national set-up as a whole going forward. Indeed, Bobat believes the manner in which Swann approached his game is aligned with what Stokes, McCullum and director of men’s cricket Rob Key are trying to instil throughout the English system.Related

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“It will be great to have him supporting the spin bowlers in particular,” Bobat said. “But not just them. He added so much value in the UAE, with all players around tactical understanding and insight.”The type of cricket the Test team is trying to play, Swanny’s a great example of that with his positivity and energy and even just tactically, working with the captains.”When Keysy first started, he and I spoke about trying to get the right personalities and characters around our players, people who really embody the type of cricket we’re trying to play. He [Swann] was someone who certainly came to mind.”We all saw the way he approached his bowling. He used to take a lot of wickets in his first over, freakishly so. It was often because he literally tried to take a wicket. It sounds so basic but often a spinner will start thinking ‘I’ll ease into my spell’ or ‘I’ll start with sweepers out and build to attack’.”But Swanny just thought from ball one: I’m here to attack. That fantastic mindset we want our players to embody. The way he embodied his spin bowling, yes, but also the way he batted. He was always aggressive, had an impact with the way he batted and approached things in the field. It’s infectious.”He brings great energy as well and you want to have that in the environment. He’s had great success in the sub-continent and will know how to win Test matches in that part of the world. More importantly, getting him to work with the spinners, to think about attacking lines, attacking lengths, attacking fields. Thinking non-conventionally, like Stokesy has done as captain, is something Swanny has done really well.”

حرص هيثم فاروق، نجم الزمالك السابق، على توجيه رسالة إلى رباعي فريق القلعة البيضاء، محمود شيكابالا ومحمد عبد الشافي ومحمود الونش وعمر جابر.

وفاز الزمالك ببطولة كأس مصر لموسم 2024-2025، على حساب بيراميدز في المباراة التي أقيمت الخميس الماضي باستاد القاهرة الدولي.

طالع| أمير مرتضى يوجه رسالة إلى محمد عبد الشافي بعد اعتزاله وحقق الزمالك الفوز بنتيجة 8-7 بركلات الترجيح، بعد انتهاء الوقتين الأصلي والإضافي بالتعادل بنتيجة 1-1.

وقال هيثم فاروق، في تصريحات لبرنامج “زملكاوي”، على قناة “الزمالك”: “أقول لشيكابالا وعبد الشافي والونش وعمر جابر فخور بكم والإخلاص والانتماء صعب يتكرر”.

وتابع: “هؤلاء اللاعون مثال كبير للإخلاص والوفاء وليس كل شيء الأموال، الانتماء للزمالك شرف لا يناله إلا الرجال، وأنا فخور أنني زمالكاوي، أخذت قرارات كثيرة في حياتي منها الخطأ والصحيح، لكن أهم قرار أخذته صحيح في حياتي هو تشجيعي لنادي الزمالك”.

Derby County are interested in signing an “outstanding” Championship player on deadline day, according to an update from reliable journalist Alex Miller.

Derby transfer news

The Rams still just about have time to make new signings on deadline day, with West Brom attacker Karlan Grant linked with a move to the club in the final hours of the transfer window.

The 27-year-old has scored six times in the Championship this season, starting 24 times in the competition, so Derby wouldn’t be signing a player who has been surplus to requirements throughout the campaign. They have already made an approach, but it remains to be seen if a deal can be struck.

Meanwhile, Matt Clarke has already joined the Rams, sealing a move there last week, having spent a couple of years on loan at the club earlier in his career. This deal is permanent, however, bolstering Paul Warne’s back-line in the process.

It was also hoped that Derby could snap up Middlesbrough midfielder Dan Barlaser before the end of the window, but that transfer hasn’t materialised, despite talks taking place. Now, another update has emerged regarding a separate target.

Derby want to sign "outstanding" player

According to The Star‘s Miller on X, Derby “have an interest” in Sheffield Wednesday stalwart Liam Palmer, although a deadline day move does still feel “unlikely” at this point.

“Told Derby County have an interest in Sheffield Wednesday stalwart Liam Palmer. Vitally, however, understand any deal for the Owls vice-captain is unlikely as things stand.”

The £12,000-a-week Palmer may now be 33 years of age and no longer at his absolute peak of his powers, but he is a hugely experienced player who could add nous and versatility to Derby’s squad for the second half of the season, being able to shine at right-back, centre-back and even in midfield.

The Englishman has made a highly impressive 457 appearances for Wednesday, standing out as a modern legend alongside Barry Bannan, and manager Danny Rohl heaped praise on him last year.

It would be an ambitious piece of business if Derby could sign such a highly thought player from one of their Championship rivals.

Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season

Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025

Only seven starts have come Palmer’s way in the league this season, so the Rams may hope that his head is turned by the promise of more minutes at another club in the coming months, but at this stage, it looks as though Warne will miss out on his man.

Deadline day for the January transfer window, despite it being February, has finally arrived and it appears as though Celtic still have plenty of business left to be done.

The club’s only signing of the window so far, Jota, made a joyous return to action for the Hoops with a goal in the 3-1 win over Motherwell away from Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

He may not be the only winger to arrive at Paradise before the deadline passes, however, as the Scottish giants reportedly had a bid rejected for Sarpsborg forward Sondre Orjasaeter, who is valued at £7m by his club.

A left-back could also be on the agenda for Celtic after they failed to bring Kieran Tierney, who is due to join on a free transfer in the summer, in during the current window.

Alex Valle’s loan from Barcelona was cut short last month and the Hoops have been linked with an interest in signing Manchester United full-back Tyrell Malacia on loan.

Celtic are also in need of a new centre-forward after they sanctioned the sale of Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes earlier this window, but it does not look like Mathias Kvistgaarden will be his replacement.

Why Celtic are unlikely to sign Mathias Kvistgaarden

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph recently revealed that the Hoops have moved on to other targets after they failed to agree a deal with Brondby for the Denmark U21 international.

The journalist claimed that discussions between the two clubs reached an impasse due to a difference in valuations of the 22-year-old marksman, but it is one that they could pursue in the summer transfer window if the opportunity is there to do so.

Transfer Focus

That came shortly after Joseph posted that Brondby were looking for a fee of £10m, which would be a club-record sale for the Danish side, amid interest from Celtic.

Unfortunately, the Bhoys were unwilling, or unable, to spend that kind of money on Kvistgaarden, which is a shame because his form this season suggests that he could have been an exciting addition to the squad.

Appearances

15

Goals

10

Big chances missed

6

Conversion rate

26%

Assists

4

As you can see in the table above, the £10m-rated centre-forward has been in staggering form in the Superliga for Brondby, with a return of 14 goal contributions in 15 matches.

These statistics suggest that the Danish number nine could have offered a big threat in the final third for Celtic in the second half of the season if they had managed to reach an agreement to secure his services before the deadline.

Brendan Rodgers and the recruitment team could sign a fantastic alternative to Kvistgaarden, however, by swooping to sign one of their other striker targets.

Celtic's interest in £8m forward

The Daily Record claims that Slovan centre-forward David Strelec is one of the players the club are looking at in their pursuit of a new number nine.

However, Slovan’s director general Ivan KmotrIk has confirmed that it will take a club-record fee for him to move on from the club and that an exit before the deadline is unlikely.

He told Sportnet: “If David leaves, it will definitely be a Slovak record. In the situation we are in today, however, I do not realistically see him leaving in the winter transfer window.”

The Daily Record adds that it would take a fee of £8m to sign the 23-year-old striker, as Slovan’s current transfer record stands at £5m, and that means that he would be £2m cheaper than Kvistgaarden.

However, it currently remains to be seen whether or not the Scottish giants are prepared to go to £8m to acquire the Slovakian forward, after they failed to agree a deal for the Danish ace.

Rodgers should, though, push for the Hoops to get a deal over the line for Strelec on deadline day because he could be a great alternative to Kvistgaarden.

Why Celtic should sign Strelec

As well as being £2m cheaper than the Brondby star, the Slovakia international has played in the Champions League this season and could immediately contribute in the play-off clash with Bayern Munich.

Strelec scored two goals in eight appearances in the league phase, which shows that he has experience in the competition and has the quality to find the back of the net at that level, and featured against Celtic.

The Hoops beat his side 5-1 on the night but the striker did offer a physical presence, winning three of his four aerial duels, and completed 89% of his attempted passes. This suggests that he could provide a strong option for Celtic when they need to go long, as he has the ability to dominate centre-backs aerially.

Strelec, who also produced three goals and four assists in eight Champions League qualifiers, has been on fire in domestic football for his current club, scoring goals on a regular basis in the Nike Liga.

Appearances

18

Starts

11

Goals

10

Big chances missed

5

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, the £8m-rated star has been directly involved in 12 goals in 11 starts in the league for Slovan, and has been efficient with his finishing.

Strelec, who was described as “brilliant” at link-up play by writer Kai Watson, has only missed five ‘big chances’ to reach ten goals, which shows that the striker rarely passes up a good opportunity to find the back of the net.

His record is also comparable to Kvistgaarden’s at league level for Brondby and this suggests that they could offer a similar threat in the final third, whilst the Slovan ace would come in with the added experience of having already played in the Champions League.

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Therefore, Strelec could be a ‘brilliant’ alternative to the Dane due to his physical qualities, his experience, his price tag, and his finishing quality.

There was confusion over the status of Colin de Grandhomme in the BBL draft after he was selected by Adelaide Strikers, with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) saying they had not been approached by him to play in the tournament.Strikers took de Grandhomme as their second pick, with head coach Jason Gillespie citing his availability as a key factor. However, he is centrally contracted by NZC who, as of Monday morning, said were unaware of the allrounder’s intentions.Related

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“As it stands, Colin is a centrally-contracted player and has not requested a release,” an NZC spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo. “We’re now in discussions with Colin to find the best possible way forward.”There was initial surprise at de Grandhomme’s name being announced because he had not been on the final list of 332 players circulated earlier in the week ahead of the draft. However, ESPNcricinfo understands that he had nominated himself before the cut-off last Sunday though his final paperwork took more time to come through, and so CA weren’t able to confirm his name in the list.”We think he complements our squad perfectly,” Gillespie said. “We feel with our squad and what will complement our local players most effectively is someone that can bat in the middle, offer some overs and is good in the field. He’s very experienced and has played a lot of cricket all around the world. Colin was high in our thinking. We’re absolutely delighted we’ve managed to get him.”De Grandhomme has not played for New Zealand since the Lord’s Test against England in June, where he suffered a heel injury that was expected to sideline him for three months. While he is not a certainty to return to the side, New Zealand have a tour to Pakistan in late December, which overlaps with a significant portion of the BBL.And even if he wasn’t selected, de Grandhomme would still require a No Objection Certificate from NZC. Centrally-contracted players are also expected to make themselves available for the domestic Super Smash tournament, which runs through January.Trent Boult, who was a platinum player in the draft and was picked by Melbourne Stars, was released from his central contract earlier this month at his request. NZC said he would no longer be guaranteed selection, with preference given to those contracted either centrally or domestically.However, Boult is expected to be part of the T20 World Cup, while also being part of the squad for three ODIs against Australia starting next week in Cairns.

Reactions from former Madhya Pradesh players after the team’s maiden Ranji Trophy victory

Shashank Kishore, Nikhil Sharma and Afzal Jiwani26-Jun-2022

Madhya Pradesh players celebrate after the win•PTI

Chandrakant Pandit, title-winning coach of Madhya Pradesh (as told to the BCCI website)
“It is becoming a little emotional because missing out when I was captain to win this trophy on the same ground after 23 years. Some say father could not do it but son has done it. Aditya Shrivastava has done it. I owed Madhya Pradesh the trophy that I missed out.”I used to play for Madhya Pradesh in ’94-’96 [1994-95 to 2000-01]. Almost six years I played. The offer [to coach them] came to me in March and I didn’t hesitate. Before that I had a couple of offers and then I thought about going back to Madhya Pradesh because I had left something 23 years back. Probably God willed me back to the same place and we came back to play the final at Chinnaswamy Stadium.”I would definitely say Aditya Shrivastava has been an outstanding captain with his plans and strategy. Whatever we discussed, I think he has never hesitated to implement on the ground. The captain makes the team win 50% according to me and that is what I wanted him to do. He has done a fantastic job and though he wasn’t getting runs I always had confidence in him. At the same time, Rajat Patidar, Shubham Sharma, Kumar Kartikeya, there are many many guys – young guy Akshat Raghuwanshi – has also come out well for MP.”Jalaj Saxena, former Madhya Pradesh allrounder
“It’s been seven years since I moved from playing first-class cricket for Madhya Pradesh but my heart has been pounding away watching the final. The only thought that kept playing in my mind at the start of the day were the memories of 1998-99, where we took a lead and had the final under control before one bad session cost us the game. I’m so happy to see how calmly they approached it.”When I started for MP 17 years ago, it was a dream to play in a Ranji final. We had talent but as a group, winning remained just a dream. To see these guys lift the trophy is a gift to the entire cricketing fraternity in MP. It has the potential to open several avenues.”Coaches and talent scouts will keenly look out for talent from MP even more now. We’ve already seen so many names coming through – Rajat Patidar, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Kumar Kartikeya. Many more could emerge. These guys have all been trendsetters for the younger players. So many youngsters in MP are now encouraged by seeing these guys perform on the big stage, and a platform like the IPL only magnifies your performances and provides a lift to the region.”We always knew MP had a strong team, but it was always a question of being able to hold our nerves on the big stage. After this win, that perception is bound to change. This win has the power to transform the direction of MP cricket for the better.