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Pietersen's England career is over

England will enter a new era without one of their greatest-ever batsmen, after the ECB decided not to consider Kevin Pietersen for selection for the forthcoming tour of the Caribbean and subsequent World Twenty20

David Hopps04-Feb-2014England will enter a new era without one of their greatest-ever batsmen after the ECB decided not to consider Kevin Pietersen for selection for the forthcoming tour of the Caribbean and subsequent World Twenty20.A career that spanned 104 Tests and more than 150 limited-overs appearances over nine years, during which time Pietersen became England’s leading run-scorer in international cricket yet became one of the most divisive players in their history, now appears to be over.The final separation comes little more than a year after Pietersen’s successful “reintegration” to the team on the tour of India.The ECB said in a statement that the decision had been unanimous among the England management, adding that “now was the time to start the rebuilding process” after the disappointment of being whitewashed in Australia.Kevin Pietersen’s England career is over•Getty Images

Paul Downton, the new managing director of England cricket, has overseen a strong-minded and controversial decision in his first week in the job.He led discussions with Alastair Cook, the Test and one-day captain, Ashley Giles, the limited-overs coach who has just returned from Australia, and James Whitaker, the national selector. Downton also met with Pietersen, who had previously indicated his desire to play on, tweeting that he was “determined to help regain the Ashes in 2015” in the wake of England’s 5-0 defeat. There was even a teleconference with the ECB’s executive board. Democracy has been extensive, if as yet ill explained.With the announcement of England’s World Twenty20 squad expected on Thursday, the ECB took the unprecedented step of holding “policy meetings” solely to discuss the eligibility of one player: Pietersen. He spent the day of his sacking giving a class on how to play spin bowling to his Surrey team-mates at The Oval.”Clearly this was a tough decision because Kevin has been such an outstanding player for England as the fact that he is the country’s leading run scorer in international cricket demonstrates,” Downton said.”However everyone was aware that there was a need to begin the long term planning after the Australia tour. Therefore we have decided the time is right to look to the future and start to rebuild not only the team but also team ethic and philosophy.”England cricket owes a debt of gratitude to Kevin who has proved to be one of the most talented and exciting players to ever represent the country and his 13,797 runs are a testimony to his immense skill. This decision brings some clarity now for the future of the England teams and we all wish Kevin the very best in the rest of his career.”Pietersen and his representatives seemed to have accepted the inevitable. Adam Wheatley, director of Missions Sports Management, Pietersen’s agent, tweeted: “Had a couple of meetings today. What’s everyone else been up to?”In a statement released by the ECB, Pietersen: “Playing cricket for my country has been an honour. Every time I pulled on the England shirt was a moment of huge pride for me and that is something that will live with me forever.”Although I am obviously very sad the incredible journey has come to an end, I’m also hugely proud of what we, as a team, have achieved over the past nine years. I feel extremely fortunate to have played at a time of great success for England cricket alongside some of the best cricketers the country has ever produced.”I want to thank everyone for their fantastic support and I wish the team the very best of success going forward. I believe I have a great deal still to give as a cricketer. I will continue to play but deeply regret that it won’t be for England.”The news of England forcibly retiring one of their most experienced players comes less than a week after Andy Flower stepped down as team director and follows the retirement of Graeme Swann during the disastrous Ashes tour.Few would seriously contend that there are valid cricketing reasons to omit Pietersen for the World Twenty20 and, whatever rumours and counter-rumours swirl around England’s most controversial son, no specific examples of misbehaviour in Australia have been made public.England have not revealed any disciplinary issues on the tour of Australia, which could have led to an official fine or reprimand. Neither have they confirmed reports in the that Pietersen and Cook were involved in a ”heated” discussion at the SCG members’ bar on the eve of the fifth Test.People will wonder how Flower and his extensive management team, amounting to more than 20 backroom staff, could still fail to manage England’s most maverick player – and whether the supposedly collapsing “team ethic and philosophy” is being blamed solely on one man.Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, was one of the first ex-stars to ask for clarification. “I think the ECB have to explain to everyone exactly what KP has done so we can all have clarity and reasoning,” he tweeted.There have been suggestions that Cook’s opinion would be highly influential in the decision – it had even been said in some quarters that he would “have the final word” – yet if that was true it would raise disturbing inconsistencies. Cook might be England’s Test captain but he does not even play Twenty20 cricket – yet his opinion could have swung the decision on whether Pietersen was available for the World Twenty 20.England’s rejection of Pietersen will now make him an even more coveted asset in IPL. The IPL auction takes place on February 12 and Pietersen, even at 33, would be bound to attract a sizeable bid if he was available for the entire tournament and driven by a determination to prove England wrong. He is a free agent after being released by Delhi Daredevils, who did not retain any of their squad.He remains centrally contracted to the ECB and, although there has been no indication of whether he will be treated differently from any other England player – those hoping to play in the IPL must be back in the UK by May 13, ahead of the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka – the nature of the joint statement suggests he can stay for the duration. It will be intriguing to see whether he also plays one-day cricket for Surrey.The 5-0 whitewash in Australia seems to have reopened rifts in the England dressing room. Pietersen is thought to have regarded Flower’s management as overly intense and serious and was thought to be hopeful that Giles, the limited-overs coach, would encourage a more relaxed environment. But Pietersen was rested from the limited-overs leg of the Australia tour as England lost the ODIs 4-1 and went down 3-0 in the T20 series.Friction between Pietersen and the ECB existed long before the Ashes series. At the start of 2009, he lost the captaincy after questioning the qualities of the coach, Peter Moores, who was also sacked; in 2012, he retired from ODI and T20 cricket and then was dropped after sending texts to members of the touring South Africa team.Pietersen was Man of the Tournament when England won the World Twenty20 in 2010•Getty Images

Reports after the conclusion of the Test series against Australia had suggested that Flower wanted Pietersen excluded from the England set-up if he was to continue as team director. Flower denied giving the ECB an ultimatum but pointedly did not extend his support to Pietersen.Giles, the favourite to replace Flower as team director, had previously called Pietersen a “million-pound asset”, when asked about his future in Australia. If the decision to dispense with his services was unanimous, that represents quite a financial crash.Cook was central to Pietersen’s return to the Test side in India in 2012, where England claimed an historic series victory. However, it seems that support has evaporated for a player routinely described as one of the most exciting and talented ever to represent England.It is understood that Flower was not part of the meeting about Pietersen’s future but he has remained as a selector for an as-yet unstated interim period and has indicated that he will sit on the selection panel to choose the one-day squads for the West Indies and World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.Pietersen is England’s leading run scorer in all formats, with 13,797 runs in 277 matches. He is fourth on England’s Test match runs list and second in terms of centuries, behind only Cook. Ahead of Pietersen playing his 100th Test in the first match of the Ashes in Australia, Mark Nicholas wrote: “That he does so on Thursday says much about his fabulous ability and something more about a ruthlessness in him that is not always apparent. He is close to being regarded as a truly great cricketer, England’s first since Ian Botham.”

Franchises relieved with IPL schedule

An easier travel schedule, familiar playing conditions and more freedom to fulfill sponsor obligations are the major advantages of the IPL’s decision to conduct some games in the UAE and Bangladesh, franchises feel

Nagraj Gollapudi and Amol Karhadkar12-Mar-2014

Franchises are happy players would be getting conditions similar to India, in the UAE and Bangladesh•BCCI

An easier and more relaxed travel schedule, familiar playing conditions and more freedom to fulfill sponsor obligations are some of the major advantages of the IPL’s decision to conduct the first, and if need be middle, phase of the tournament in the UAE and Bangladesh, according to franchises.With just 16 matches being played in the first phase in the UAE, franchises say they are much relieved after anxiety over the past few weeks over the overseas venue and schedule. A substantial part of that edgy feeling, franchise officials have pointed out, emerged from the nervousness of their sponsors who were eager to know if the displacement of the tournament overseas would affect the activation exercise of their brands.”It is a good start. The IPL has taken a good first step,” said Hemant Dua, chief executive of Delhi Daredevils. “It removes the uncertainty. The advantages of having the tournament in India are obvious from the sponsor and revenue point of view. I do not need to adjust to the demands of the sponsor if the league does not happen in India.”During the auction most franchises had displayed a chin-up attitude stating they had assembled squads that could compete in any conditions. But subsequently their tone became more defensive as a few suggested that if half the tournament was played on bouncier pitches in South Africa before returning to India, it could damage their chances of making the knockouts.However, with the UAE and Bangladesh being familiar terrain, the franchises have assumed a more confident tone. “Playing in familiar conditions is an advantage,” a franchise head coach said. “And once the tournament shifts back to India it would be smooth considering the playing conditions would be virtually similar.”Considering the three venues across the UAE would host 16 matches, each of the eight teams would play four games in the first two weeks of the tournament. “Four matches in 14 days is not terrible,” the franchise head said. “It is not make or break for a team in the initial part of the tournament. That would also mean it is a pretty relaxed schedule for every team considering you would be staying in one place. The travel headaches would be significantly less.”This cheerful mood was non-existent in the last two weeks especially. Most franchises ESPNcricinfo spoke to confided that their sponsors, both old and new, were curious as to how they would carry out the activation programmes where players endorse their brands. Officials pointed out that many sponsors did not even want to “lock” the deals till the final venue was announced.”Realistically it should not make a difference. What the local sponsors are worried about more is the activation,” said Venky Mysore, Kolkata Knight Riders’ chief executive. “When we play in Kolkata, does that help a local sponsor in activating in a big way? To some extent, possibly, but at the end of the day as long as KKR are playing, it is on TV then it is business as usual. For a sponsor there is no change in visibility factor since it is on TV. The only difference is when you play on your home ground there is more buzz. There is no doubt. But difference this time is instead of having the whole tournament played outside, only part of it would be played abroad.”According to a franchise marketing head one of the major concerns of the sponsors was the extent of costs. He said sponsors now expect more value for their money compared to 2009 when the entire IPL was played in South Africa. “Between 2009 and 2014 the difference is the sponsors’ value has gone up substantially,” the marketing head said. “Five years ago sponsors were not paying too much but now they pay us big sums. So to some extent sponsors will expect some sort of discount in exchange for the tournament being displaced overseas. Like if the sponsor wants to entertain some friends he might ask me to pay part charges of having them flown overseas.”According to him, sponsors are not just limited to the ones seen on players’ uniforms and kitbags. There are others such as associate sponsors who will look for interactions with players. “People who have paid big dollars will ask me (help us in some way atleast),” the marketing head said.Mysore said that franchises need to get more creative in helping sponsors activate their brands. “We might end up having to upgrade some of the timelines. If it was a full tournament in India you had seven weeks to spread in terms of sponsor activation,” Mysore said. “On the other hand there are going to be only 60 compared to 74 (actually 76) matches last year. So that is a positive. When it was 74 games you did not have too much respite. So in terms of sponsors activates players did not have too many off days. Here there could be. So we will have to be creative.”The marketing head agreed with Mysore. “It is an opportunity to convert this weakness into a strength. I was telling the sponsors that earlier we would get them to watch a match of the franchise. Today I can tell them that you can watch the match abroad and even meet the players which is easier abroad compared to in India. That is because players’ movement is restricted and that way they are captive in their hotels and more sponsor activities can be done. There are positives also.”According to the marketing head, the skeptics are wrong when they say the tournament might be played in front of empty grounds, a familiar feature during the majority of the international matches that have been organized in the UAE, the home venue for Pakistan. The presence of Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty, who are co-owners at different franchises can attract a lot of fans not only from the Indian diaspora but also from Pakistan, where these actors have a lot of support.Asked about the perception that a venue like Sharjah had been vulnerable to free movement of bookies during the match-fixing years in the late 1990s, franchises indicated that the IPL as well the ICC had extended all possible support to erase any doubts. “All the franchises have learnt a lesson from the last year’s fiasco and will be extra vigilant irrespective of the venue,” a franchise official pointed.According to a senior BCCI official things had improved a long way and the UAE had worked hard to wash away the stains of the match-fixing years. “The BCCI has not been averse to playing in the UAE,” the official said. “Had it been that way, why would we have played two ODIs in Abu Dhabi (in 2006)? Don’t forget that the working committee unanimously decided very recently that the BCCI is willing to play a series against Pakistan at a neutral venue. This was decided keeping in mind that the only venue would be the UAE and we were fine with it.”

مدرب نانت عن تألق مصطفى محمد: كل فريق يحتاج إلى مهاجمين مميزين مثله

أشاد المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي نانت، بيير أريستوي، بأداء مهاجمه المصري المتألق، مصطفى محمد، بعد هدفيه يوم أمس في الدوري الفرنسي أمام موناكو.

وساهم الفرعون المصري في تحقيق نانت لنقطة أمام موناكو بالتعادل 3-3 بعد مباراة ماراثونية في الجولة الثالثة من الدوري الفرنسي موسم 2023/2024.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ترتيب هدافي الدوري الفرنسي بعد ثنائية مصطفى محمد أمام موناكو شاهد ملخص لمسات مصطفى محمد في مباراة نانت وموناكو في الدوري الفرنسي

وتحدث أريستوي عن مصطفى محمد في مؤتمره الصحفي بعد المباراة، وقال: “لقد أسعدني بمستواه وهدفيه، لأن هذا ما نعمل عليه في التدريبات رغم صعوبة جدول مبارياتنا”.

وعن مهاجمي الفريق بوجود لاعب الزمالك وجالطة سراي السابق: “هناك العديد من اللاعبين الرائعين لدينا في نانت، نحن نعمل من أجل تأقلمهم معًا”.

وتابع: “المنافسة بين المهاجمين صحية للغاية، الأمر متروك لهم لإثبات أنفسهم”.

وأضاف في النهاية: “لقد سجل مصطفى محمد الأهداف لنا دائمًا، فهو قناص حقيقي، كل فريق يحتاج إلى لاعبين مميزين، وهو مميز في دوره كمهاجم”.

Carille terá conversa com Everaldo antes de liberá-lo para estrear

MatériaMais Notícias

Já inscrito no BID (Boletim Informativo Diário) da CBF, o atacante Everaldo está liberado para estrear com a camisa do Corinthians, domingo, contra o São Paulo. Apesar disto, o jogador deve esperar um pouco mais para ganhar uma oportunidade no Alvinegro. No CT Joaquim Grava desde o início da semana, o reforço terá uma conversa com o técnico Fábio Carille nesta segunda para ver como pode ser utilizado no Timão.

Contratado por R$ 2,5 milhões por 50% de seus direitos econômicos, Everaldo está acostumado a jogar pelo lado esquerdo do campo. A comissão técnica do Corinthians, no entanto, quer saber em quais outras opções o jogador pode atuar para potencializar seu rendimento na equipe.

– Um jogador que vai nos acrescentar nessa questão de transição, drible, um contra um. Não teve nem um treino comigo ainda, pouquinho de calma ainda (referindo-se à possibilidade de estrear contra o São Paulo, no domingo). Não sei se é tímido, se não é. Tenho de conversar com ele, saber se ele se sente bem em outras posições. Sempre o vi pelo lado esquerdo. É no lugar do Clayson se ele se definir por ali – avisou Carille em entrevista coletiva após a vitória sobre o Deportivo Lara, na última quinta.

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Embora não vá entrar em campo contra o rival São Paulo, Everaldo deve ganhar chances logo mais no Corinthians. Isto porque, o jogador estava atuando no Fluminense e não precisa readquirir a forma física. Além disso, o Alvinegro perderá Mateus Vital e Pedrinho para a Seleção Brasileira Olímpica na próxima segunda, logo após o Majestoso.

Apesar disso, no entanto, o ex-jogador do Fluminense não poderá entrar em campo nos jogos da Copa Sul-Americana e da Copa do Brasil. Isto porque, já defendeu a equipe das Laranjeiras em ambas as competições nesta temporada.

– Vou ter que ter muito cuidado para não tirar o Clayson da rotina sendo que o Everaldo não está nem na Sul-Americana nem na Copa do Brasil. Sei que segunda-feura eu perco Vital e Pedrinho, dois jogadores de frente, então no Brasileirão ele vai ser importante – concluiu Carille.

Foakes best lifts Essex hopes

Ben Foakes chalked up the highest score of his career as Essex took control against Gloucestershire at the County Ground

Press Association29-Apr-2014
ScorecardBen Foakes extended his third first-class hundred to the best score of his career•Getty Images

Ben Foakes chalked up the highest score of his career as Essex took control against Gloucestershire at the County Ground.Bad weather had blighted the first two days of play in the Division Two clash in Bristol and another hour was lost on Tuesday morning. The hosts resumed on 104 for 6 but added just 30 more runs for their remaining wickets, and a 218-run partnership between Foakes and James Foster helped Essex to 305 for 8 at the close.David Masters took his fifth wicket in the fourth over of the day to snare Ian Saxelby for a single, and Gary McCarter’s scalp made it six for the innings for the Essex paceman. All the Gloucestershire wickets were shared between Masters and Graham Napier, who also took two on Tuesday, including the final one of Chris Dent.Opener Dent had stayed firm while all others fell around him and was eventually out for 61, caught by Alistair Cook. The England captain scored centuries in both his first two county matches of the season but lasted just five balls this time before being caught by McCarter off the bowling of Matt Taylor for 4.Cook was followed back to the pavilion by Tom Westley, who gave injury-hit bowler Saxelby his first Championship wicket since August 2012. And Essex looked in danger of not even passing Gloucestershire’s meagre total when they slipped to 71 for 5.The visitors lost three wickets in close succession having been 59 for 2, with Ravi Bopara, Greg Smith and Jaik Mickleburgh all falling. That brought Foakes and captain Foster together, and it took Gloucestershire 44.2 overs to break the partnership. Foster was within nine runs of a century himself when he edged Saxelby behind.Napier and Masters went before the close, too, but Foakes stayed resolute, taking his score to 132 not out, surpassing his previous best of 120. With a lead of 171 runs, Essex also opened up the possibility of going for victory on the final day of play on Wednesday.

Igor Henrique espera Guarani focado para vencer o Coritiba na Série B

MatériaMais Notícias

O Guarani retorna aos gramados nesta terça-feira para encarar o Coritiba, no Brinco de Ouro da Princesa, em Campinas, pela oitava rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. Contratado pelo clube paulista após passagem pela rival Ponte Preta esse ano, o volante Igor Henrique destacou a importância deste compromisso em Campinas para o Bugre.

– O Coritiba tem uma grande equipe, sem dúvida, e vem em busca de pontos em nossa casa. Vamos ter o máximo de atenção durante os noventa minutos para vencermos diante da nossa torcida e para irmos à parada para a Copa América fora do Z4. Isso nos dará tranquilidade durante esse período – afirmou.

Segundo o atleta, o Bugre tem tudo para fazer uma grande sequência na Série B, e crescer na competição. Para ele, cada rodada importa se o Guarani quiser almejar grandes conquistas no torneio.

– Temos um ótimo grupo, experiente e que pode fazer uma boa sequência nas próximas rodadas da disputa. Nossa ideia é fazer um campeonato seguro. Vamos pensar jogo a jogo, sem ansiedade. Cada jogo será final para todos aqui – disse o jogador de 27 anos.

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موعد والقنوات الناقلة لـ قرعة بطولة الدوري الأوروبي 2023/2024

يوشك الموسم الأوروبي على البدء من جديد، وهذه المرة ببطولة الدوري الأوروبي، حيث ينتظر محبو ومتابعو كرة القدم، قرعة بطولة الدوري الأوروبي 2023/2024.

وتنطلق النسخة الحالية من البطولة بداية من دور المجموعات، في 21 سبتمبر المقبل، بمشاركة ليفربول، الذي فشل في التأهل إلى بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، واحتل المركز السادس في الموسم الماضي من الدوري الإنجليزي.

ويغيب البطل التاريخي للمسابقة، إشبيلية الإسباني، عن دور المجموعات لهذه البطولة، حيث يلعب ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، ووقع في المجموعة الثانية مع آرسنال وآيندهوفن ولانس.

طالع أيضًا.. الفرق المشاركة في بطولة الدوري الأوروبي 2023-2024 موعد قرعة الدوري الأوروبي 2023/2024

وستقام القرعة اليوم الجمعة 1 سبتمبر، في تمام الثانية عصرًا بتوقيت القاهرة. القنوات الناقلة لـ قرعة الدوري الأوروبي 2023/2024

سيتم بث القرعة على موقع الاتحاد الأوروبي، وكذلك قناة بي إن سبورتس الإخبارية وعلى قناتهم على يوتيوب.

 

Resultados da oitava rodada na Série C do Brasileirão

MatériaMais Notícias

Prosseguiu em grande parte nesse domingo (16) a Rodada 8 da Série C do Campeonato Brasileiro tendo, nesse momento, oito dos dez compromissos já cumpridos.

Destaque para o que seria a repetição do compromisso que valeu pela semifinal da Copa do Nordeste entre Náutico e Botafogo-PB, só que, dessa vez, o compromisso estava programado para acontecer nos Aflitos e não no Amigão como na competição eliminatória.Seria.

Isso porque, inicialmente marcado para o domingo (16), o confronto precisou ser adiado em função de chuvas fortes que castigaram a cidade de Recife e acontecerá na segunda-feira (17) às 18h30 (horário de Brasília).

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Jogos da Rodada 8 no Brasileirão da Série C

13/06

São José 1 x 0 Remo

14/06

Juventude 1 x 0 Volta Redonda

15/06

Paysandu 0 x 0 Luverdense
​Sampaio Corrêa 1 x 0 ABC

16/06

Treze 1 x 3 Confiança
​Boa Esporte 2 x 1 Ypiranga
​Atlético-AC 2 x 1 Tombense

17/06

​Náutico x Botafogo-PB – 18h30
Globo x Santa Cruz – 20 h

"كاف" يختار 6 حكام مصريين في القائمة المبدئية لـ كأس أمم إفريقيا

كشف الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف” النقاب عن قائمة الحكام المبدئية المرشحة لنهائيات كأس أمم إفريقيا 2023.

بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا من المقرر إقامتها في يناير المقبل في كوت ديفوار، بمشاركة 24 منتخبًا.

وشهدت قائمة “كاف” لاختيارات الحكام المبدئية المشاركين في كأس أمم إفريقيا، تواجد 6 حكام مصريين.

كاف يُعلن طرح تذاكر مباراة الأهلي واتحاد العاصمة في السوبر الإفريقي وأسعارها

وضمت قائمة الحكام كلاً من: أمين عمر، محمود البنا، محمد معروف، أحمد حسام طه ومحمود أبو الرجال، إلى جانب محمود عاشور على تقنية الفيديو.

يذكر، أن محمود أبو الرجال قد شارك في نهائيات كأس العالم الماضية “مونديال قطر 2022″، والتي توج بها المنتخب الأرجنتيني. منتخب مصر يتأهل إلى نهائيات أمم إفريقيا

وكان منتخب مصر قد نجح في حسم بطاقة صعوده إلى نهائيات كأس أمم إفريقيا كوت ديفوار 2023، بعد اكتساحه لمنافسيه في مرحلة التصفيات.

وجاء ذلك بعد أن نجح منتخب مصر في احتلال صدارة المجموعة الرابعة برصيد 15 نقطة حصدها من 5 انتصارات بينما نال خسارة واحدة.

ويستعد منتخب مصر لمالاقاة تونس وديًا مساء الثلاثاء المقبل على ملعب استاد الدفاع الجوي، تمهيدًا للمشاركة في كأس أمم إفريقيا.

Simmons signs three-year deal with Strikers

Craig Simmons has followed up his breakout Big Bash League last summer by signing a three-year contract with the Adelaide Strikers

ESPNcricinfo staff28-May-2014

Craig Simmons has taken up a three-year deal with the Adelaide Strikers•Getty Images

Craig Simmons has followed up his breakout Big Bash League last summer by signing a three-year contract with the Adelaide Strikers, leaving the title-holding Perth Scorchers “shocked and disappointed” at his departure.A fringe state cricketer for most of his career, 31-year-old Simmons moved from New South Wales to Perth and rode a torrent of club runs into the Scorchers’ squad, where he twice clattered centuries in 2013-14 to help the Western Australian side to their first silverware.However those performances made him an attractive option to other teams, and the Strikers have taken advantage of their greater salary-cap room to land Simmons in a contract thought to be worth six figures over each of the next three seasons.”No other player managed a century in BBL 03 and Simmons did it twice. Simmons is a genuine hitter of the ball and an exciting talent,” the Strikers coach Darren Berry said. “He knows what it takes to win a BBL final and we can’t wait to see what he can do at Adelaide Oval.”Berry’s words contrasted with those of the Perth coach Justin Langer, who had overseen his side’s 2014 tournament win only to now be wrestling with increased payment and contract demands from his successful squad.”He was a bit of a pin-up boy for us,” Langer said. “My reaction was one of great shock and, of course, disappointment. Craig Simmons is a fantastic bloke and a fantastic West Australian and he was one of the stories of the year of our BBL win last year.”That said, I’ve been saying since day 1 in this job that one of the main foundations of our cricket going forward is club cricket. If we take something from this: it’s very exciting to see West Australian cricketers like Craig doing so well for the Scorchers and it’s enabled him to have another opportunity and, while we’d love to still have him at the Scorchers, it’s now time to find the next Craig Simmons out of West Australian cricket.”The Strikers announced Simmons’ signature on the day the South Australian Cricket Association chief executive Keith Bradshaw and president Andrew Sinclair were due to meet members of Cricket Australia’s integrity unit as investigations continued into the state’s BBL recruiting.Jamie Cox was sacked from his role as the SACA’s cricket supremo on Friday after CA informed the state that it was under investigation for possible breaches of contracting regulations.

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