'He was cricket and Essex, through and through'

A selection of tributes to former England allrounder, and commentator, Trevor Bailey

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2011″Trevor Bailey is one of the great allrounders in the history of English cricket. One of my abiding memories as a small boy is of Trevor Bailey and Willie Watson batting at Lord’s to save the Test match against the Australians. It was a superb effort, without which we would not have won back the Ashes in 1953… He has certainly earned his place in the history of English cricket.”
“He was a great lover of the game. So many people of that ilk, it becomes absolutely manifest – the game was everything to them. A great admirer of everyone who played it well – a very good man indeed all-round. I suspect a lot of younger people like myself will remember him for what he brought to the radio.
“I shall remember him as a wonderful man first of all. He had a lovely waspish sense of humour. He was a very good clinical commentator. He commentated rather as he played cricket: he played it very hard in a very canny way, and he didn’t have room for people who gave half-measures. He was a wonderful batsman, a wonderful bowler, and he didn’t waste his words at the microphone either.”
Test Match Special”Trevor was a great friend for well over 60 years. We played football and cricket for Cambridge University and were colleagues in the Essex side for about 15 years. He was a great allrounder with a cast-iron temperament… one of a kind.”
“He was cricket and Essex, through and through.”
“Trevor was such a pain if you were playing against him – a damned nuisance in fact. You knew that if you could get this bloke out of the way, the chances were that you would win. All too frequently Ray Lindwall and I would find the task beyond us and it got under our skin.”
“I always felt that in the commentary box he thought like a bowler, rather than a batsman. He would often poke fun at his own stonewalling reputation, as when Kapil Dev had hit Eddie Hemmings for three consecutive sixes at Lord’s in 1990, to leave India needing six more to save the follow-on, with No. 11 in and only one more ball to go in the over. ‘I’d push the single,’ he said with a chuckle, as we all joined in with, ‘You would’.”
Peter Baxter, the former TMS

Finch: Labuschagne's form is an 'alarming sign'

The incumbent No. 3 will be the batter under pressure ahead into the World Test Championship final in June

Andrew McGlashan13-Feb-20252:15

Marnus in or out? Finch and Clarke pick their WTC Final XIs

Aaron Finch believes Australia should drop Marnus Labuschagne for the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s in June with his lean run having extended too far to be accommodated.Australia face some tough selection calls for the final following the recent successful debuts of Sam Konstas, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis which has led to a battle for batting spots.Related

Green hopeful of Shield return and county cricket ahead of WTC final

Australia emerge from Test season with flying colours and new options

Australia face Labuschagne call amid batting squeeze

Travis Head, who opened in Sri Lanka, said he expected Konstas to regain his position at the top of the order against South Africa while Cameron Green is in the frame to play as a specialist batter as he recovers from the back surgery that ruled him out of this season.It leaves Labuschagne, who has one century in his last 51 Test innings and an average of 31.54 since the start of the 2023, under significant pressure for his spot for the first time since establishing himself in 2019.”I’ve gone with Cameron Green or Josh Inglis. They’re at No. 3,” Finch said on ESPN’s when the panel was asked to pick their XIs for the WTC final.”And the reason is, I just think that [Labuschagne’s form] is such a concern because it’s been over four series. If it’s over two or three, I think that you can say, you know what, he’s just around the corner. But the fact that it’s been four, to me, that’s a really alarming sign.Marnus Labuschagne is the Australia batter under scrutiny•Getty Images

“Josh Inglis, I think to get him into the side, he will get that opportunity. Or if Cameron Green is healthy, he just provides so much extra to that bowling line-up as well as with the batting. He’s got the ability to bat anywhere in the order.”However, Michael Clarke and Callum Ferguson retained Labuschagne in their sides for the decider although Clarke said it could be make or break.”I hope they pick him for the Test Championship [final],” Clarke said. “It’s completely different conditions against a different team. He’s played a lot of county cricket. He knows English conditions as well as anyone.”Remember, he bats in the hardest place as well. I think No. 3 is the hardest place to bat in Test cricket. You’re right, the numbers don’t tell a lie. He’s out of form. He’s due.”And to me, I reckon the Test Championship…could be his last opportunity. Going to West Indies, I would like to think that’s an opportunity to give a young player a go if Marnus makes no runs in this Test Championship. If he does, then no doubt he holds his spot because he’s been a wonderful player.”Ferguson, meanwhile, would include both Labuschagne and Green with the latter batting at No. 6 and backing for frontline bowlers.”I’m backing the four bowlers in to get the job done in a one-off hit out in a Test match,” he said. “We didn’t use Mitch Marsh a lot over the last few years. He’s been in that No. 6 position. So we’ve played effectively without that stone cold all-rounder in that position, bowling 10 overs a day. So that’s how I see it.”Stand-in captain Steven Smith backed Labuschagne to emerge for his slump, seeing similarities in how he was low on runs before making four centuries in his last five matches.”Marn’s similar to me, in a way,” Smith said. “I’ve said this a lot of times about myself, there’s a difference between being out of form and out of runs.”I don’t think he’s out of form, personally. I’ve watched him train, I’ve watched him play and a lot of the things that he’s done so well are there. He knows he’d love to score more runs, we’d love him to score more runs, but in my opinion, it’s just around the corner.”

Alejandro Garnacho mural defaced by Man Utd fans as Argentine outcast continues to push for Chelsea transfer

Manchester United fans have defaced a mural of Alejandro Garnacho as the outcast continues to push for a move to Chelsea this summer.

  • Garnacho eager to leave Man Utd
  • Wants to join Chelsea
  • Fans deface mural of winger
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Fans have made their feelings about Garnacho clear by defacing a mural of the Argentine outside Old Trafford. The winger is currently part of the 'bomb squad' at Manchester United, training away from the first team and not part of manager Ruben Amorim's plans for the new 2025-26 season.

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    Garnacho has made it clear to the Red Devils that he wants to play for Chelsea this season but the Blues are believed to be "reluctant" to meet United's demands. The Red Devils are thought to want around £50 million ($67m) for Garnacho, although it remains to be seen if Chelsea will be able to agree a deal with United before the transfer window closes.

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    Garnacho has reportedly told United that he is willing to spend the next six to 12 months on the bench if he does not secure a move to Chelsea this summer.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR GARNACHO?

    Garnacho will be hoping Chelsea and Manchester United can do a deal before the transfer window closes so that he can join the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Jorrel Hato and Jamie Gittens in making the move to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Aston Villa hold talks in Europe this week to sign £80,000-a-week forward

Aston Villa, lead by the club's director of football operations Monchi, have held talks over signing an £80,000-per-week star in Europe this week.

Emery preparing for Liverpool after Conference League disappointment

On Monday, the Villans could take a mighty stride towards Champions League football next season with a good result at home to Liverpool, and manager Unai Emery has urged his side to put Thursday night's disappointing Conference League clash behind them.

Aston Villa monitoring "outstanding" winger who’s scored 3 times vs them

Agent talks have taken place.

ByHenry Jackson May 11, 2024

Villa were tipped as one of the favourites to win this season's Conference League, but bowed out to Greek Super Lig giants Olympiacos following a 2-0 defeat abroad. They lost the tie 6-2, which will come as disappointing given Emery had a real chance to clinch some major silverware.

However, the prospect of Champions League football returning to Villa Park takes much more precedence, and Emery is now on the verge of securing fourth mathematically – barring a late capitulation them and unexpected surge from rivals Tottenham.

“We are motivated and excited,” said Emery ahead of Liverpool. "Of course, we have to be frustrated but not a lot because only one team can win [the Europa Conference League]. If we are frustrated a lot, it doesn’t make sense.

Unai Emery

“My idea is to recover myself as well and my message is clear: move on. We have to try to finish the season doing an amazing, amazing season if we are getting the objective in front. Even if we are without it, we are in Europe next year in the Europa League.”

In the background, club chiefs are also preparing for what will be a crucial transfer window. Villa are keen to sign a new attacker for Emery next season, and if they qualify for Europe's most elite competition, it could go a long way to tempting some of their bigger name targets.

Monchi, according to a report by TEAMtalk, has travelled to Europe this week for discussions over signing an £80,000-per-week forward.

Aston Villa hold talks over signing Iheanacho in Greece

Indeed, Leicester City star Kelechi Iheanacho is set to leave the King Power this summer on a free as things stand – alerting Villa to his availability at zero cost.

Leicester City 2-0 Stoke City

7.65

Leicester City 3-0 Preston North End

7.28

Norwich City 0-2 Leicester City

7.03

Swansea City 1-3 Leicester City

6.95

Leicester City 2-1 Cardiff City

6.88

As per TT, Aston Villa chief Monchi has held talks with Iheanacho's reps in Greece this week, with the club keen to sign an astute back up to Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran.

The Nigeria international, who has 47 caps for his country, has also been praised for his speed by Pep Guardiola and helped Leicester to the Championship title this season.

Leicester City strikerKelechi Iheanacho.

"Incredible. The quality was there, he was a young player here and I believe in that moment with Gabriel and Sergio we didn't have much space," said Guardiola on Iheanacho.

"He is a fantastic person, we had a good relationship together so I'm delighted that it's going well lately. He's playing for the injured Maddison and of course he links really well with the midfield and he's good in behind.

"He's fast and in the final third he has the right tempo, he's so clear in front of the goal".

Rinku Singh to captain UP in Vijay Hazare Trophy

He has not captained a state team at senior level before, and is also working on his bowling to become a more rounded cricketer

Shashank Kishore20-Dec-2024Rinku Singh has been appointed Uttar Pradesh captain for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s 50-over domestic competition, beginning on December 21. He takes over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who led UP at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy that finished last week, where they lost to Delhi in the quarter-final.It’s the first time that Rinku will captain a state team at the senior level. Earlier this year, he led Meerut Mavericks to the UPT20 League title, scoring 210 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 161.54 largely as a finisher.”It was a big opportunity for me to lead Meerut Mavericks in the UPT20 League, and I am happy that I could deliver,” Rinku said ahead of their Vijay Hazare Trophy opener. “I really enjoyed captaincy as it allowed me to learn many things.”I did try my hand at bowling [offspin] too at the UPT20 league. Present-day cricket demands a full package – a cricketer who can bat, bowl and field. Now I am focusing on my bowling too. As captain of Uttar Pradesh, I have got a bigger role to play, and I’m ready for this.”Rinku’s promotion in the UP team comes at a time when Kolkata Knight Riders, his IPL franchise, are mulling their captaincy options ahead of IPL 2025. He has been part of the KKR setup since 2018, and was retained ahead of the mega auction in November, along with Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy and Ramandeep Singh.”I am not thinking too much about the captaincy of KKR in the new IPL season,” Rinku said. “I am focused on my plans for Uttar Pradesh, as I want my team to regain the trophy we had won for the first time in 2015-16.”The Vijay Hazare Trophy will help give the national selectors insight on players when they pick India’s ODI squad for the Champions Trophy in February. While Rinku has become a regular for India in T20Is, he has so far played just two ODIs, having made his debut a year ago in South Africa.Rinku’s overall List A numbers are impressive. He has scored 1899 runs in 52 innings at an average of 48.69, and has a strike rate of 94.8, with one hundred and 17 half-centuries. Rinku, though, isn’t looking at the Vijay Hazare Trophy as an India audition.”I believe in God,” he said. “I didn’t even think of being part of team India when I struck five consecutive sixes in the IPL last year. That turned out to be the biggest game changer in my life. Even now I feel that if God has decided something for me, I will get that surely. But at the same time, I also need to work hard on my job.”UP begin their campaign against Jammu and Kashmir on December 21, and then have games against Mizoram (December 23), Tamil Nadu (December 26), Chhattisgarh (December 28), Chandigarh (December 31) and Vidarbha (January 3).

Tottenham planning £40 million swap deal bid including Emerson Royal

Tottenham are planning a part-exchange bid worth a total of £40 million, including the value of Emerson Royal, as Ange Postecoglou's side set their sights on signing a "strong" player.

Spurs looking to seal new midfielder deal this summer

Widespread reports have suggested that Spurs are looking to bring in a new midfield number six this summer, and one who could add more dynamism in the middle of the park.

Paratici tells Levy to sign £50 million star with Tottenham man set for axe

The Italian still has a real influence at N17.

ByEmilio Galantini May 24, 2024

Tottenham are ready to fund multiple key signings for Postecoglou, which includes a new man in the engine room (Tom Allnutt), as uncertainty surrounds the futures of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Giovani Lo Celso and even Yves Bissouma.

Hojbjerg is looking very likely to quit Spurs after a 2023/2024 season with limited opportunities in Postecoglou's starting eleven, and his contract is set to expire in 2025. The Dane could leave for nothing next year, so it is wide for chairman Daniel Levy to listen to offers for Hojbjerg as we approach the transfer window's opening.

“I think Hojbjerg is almost certain to leave Tottenham in the summer," said journalist Paul Brown to GiveMeSport.

"He's been available for the right price in the last two windows. He is willing to move on if a new challenge arises. He is not the first choice in his position, and at this stage of his career, I think he wants to be playing somewhere where he can start week-to-week.

“Three or four massive clubs have been sniffing around him for the last few months, and I think he would jump at the chance to join. None of them were willing to do a permanent deal for the kind of money that Spurs wanted. They were looking at loans primarily, which is not of interest to Tottenham. But I think in the summer that might change. His price will drop slightly because his contract has less time to run, and I think he will likely leave.”

Manor Solomon *injured for large periods*

198

Bryan Gil

203

Giovani Lo Celso

498

Oliver Skipp

695

Rodrigo Bentancur *injured for large periods*

1010

Lo Celso has hardly been picked by Postecoglou either, making him a sure-fire candidate for the exit door, while it is believed that Tottenham could even consider selling Bissouma if a suitable offer comes in.

If one or two of the aforementioned depart, which is possible, then Postecoglou will require a suitable replacement. Tottenham remain linked with Chelsea star Conor Gallagher and Atalanta midfielder Ederson as two options, but new names appear on a consistent basis as well.

Tottenham planning part-exchange bid for Davide Frattesi

According to Inter Live, it is believed Sassuolo midfielder Davide Frattesi, currently on loan at Inter Milan, is now a target.

davide-frattesi-newcastle-transfer-news-premier-league

Tottenham could launch a part-exchange bid for Frattesi in the next few weeks, including exit-bound defender Emerson, for an operation totaling around £40 million including the Brazilian's value.

This could hand Spurs an advantage over fellow interested sides, and he'd be worth a punt after his excellent campaign at Inter. Frattesi has also been called a "strong" player by Italy teammate Nicolo Barella.

Cristiano Ronaldo ‘needs a best mate’ to tell him to retire – with Portuguese superstar warned against fading out with ‘six goals in the Saudi League’

Cristiano Ronaldo has been told that he needs a “best mate” to push him into retirement and avoid the fate of scoring “six goals in the Saudi League”.

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All-time great still going strong at 39Into final year of contract with Al-NassrHas set himself 1,000-goal targetGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

At 39 years of age, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is offering no suggestion that the most distinguished of boots will be hung up any time soon. He remains part of the Portugal international set-up, with 214 caps to his name, and is expected to play on towards the 2026 World Cup.

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At club level, Ronaldo found the target on 50 occasions for Al-Nassr last season and has already been back among the goals in the current campaign. His contract in the Middle East is, however, due to expire at the end of the season and no extension has been agreed as yet.

GettyWHAT LAWRENSON SAID

Former Liverpool star Mark Lawrenson believes somebody should be advising the all-time great to call it a day before becoming a fading force, with the ex-Republic of Ireland international telling : “Cristiano Ronaldo is still scoring in Saudi Arabia, but would he sign a new contract there? I’m not sure. This is when I think he needs a best mate who says, ‘you’ve had an unbelievable run, and maybe at the end of this season, just hang your boots up and let people remember you for what you’ve done’. He doesn’t want to go through half a season where he scores something like six goals in the Saudi league.”

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WHAT NEXT?

There is no sign of Ronaldo slowing down, or his relentless ambition easing off. Until the day comes that he loses that drive to be the best, he should be expected to continue – with the evergreen frontman already stating his desire to reach 1,000 career goals after recently passing the 900 mark.

إمام عاشور: أنا بارد ولا أركز في الانتقادات.. ولسه اللي جاي أقوى مع الأهلي

أكد إمام عاشور لاعب فريق الكرة بـ الأهلي، سعادته بعد الفوز على العين الإماراتي والتأهل إلى نصف نهائي كأس إنتركونتيننتال، موجهًا رسالة لمنتقديه.

والتقى الأهلي مع العين، في إطار منافسات دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كاس إنتركونتيننتال، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي، واستطاع النادي المارد الأحمر الفوز بنتيجة 3-0.

وقال إمام عاشور في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة ام بي سي مصر: “أشكر الله على المكسب والبطولة وأشكر اللاعبين، أغلقنا صفحة البطولة الماضية وركزنا في مباراة العين وربنا أكرمنا اليوم”.

وأردف: “مازال أمامي مشوار طويل مع الأهلي، من أول يوم دخلت فيه الأهلي أتعلم البطولات دائمًا، كل لاعب معنا يُفكر في ذلك أن الأهلي يلعب على البطولات فقط، ومهما تكلمت عن جمهور الأهلي لن أوفيه حقه، من أول دقيقة لآخر دقيقة الأجواء كانت مرعبة، كنت سعيدا مع هذا الجمهور”.

وتابع: “طالما وضعت رجلك داخل الأهلي أنت تلعب على البطولات، وعندما تخسر بطولة ستفوز بـ 100، طالما دخلت الأهلي تتعود على البطولات، الأهلي معروف في العالم كله مش في إفريقيا فقط، وطالما تلعب في الأهلي أحلم وستحقق كل ما تتمناه ولا يوجد شيء صعب على النادي”.

طالع.. فيديو | محمد رمضان: علي معلول قد يلعب في نادي آخر.. ولم نذبح كهربا

واستطرد: “كهربا أخويا الكبير، هو لاعب كبير ولا يوجد شخص لا يخطئ ووجوده معنا اليوم كان دافعا لنا، وحصل حاجة منه المباراة الماضية ولكن وعدناه إننا سنعود بالبطولة والحمد لله حققنا ما نريده، إحنا هنا كلنا واحد، اللاعبون إخوة وهذا دليل على نجاحنا في الملعب”.

وبسؤاله كيف تتعامل مع الضغوط؟، أجاب: “أنا إنسان بارد ولا أركز في هذه الأمور ومع احترامي لأي شخص ينتقدني كلامه لن يؤثر في وأنا أتدرب وألعب وربنا موجود وسأرى ما هو مكتوب لي”.

وواصل: “أنا أحصل على طاقتي من كلام الناس، وأشكر كل شخص يتحدث عني بشكل سئ وأنا أركز مع الأهلي وعملي فقط”.

واختتم: “الأهلي متعود على البطولات، وأنا دخلت النادي وأصبحت ملزما بحصد البطولات، وأنا سعيد إني في الأهلي انضممت منذ سنة وشهرين وحصدت 6 بطولات و(لسه اللي جاي أقوى)”.

Newcastle may have sold another Lewis Miley for just £1.5m

In the past few years, English clubs – including Newcastle United – have begun to produce a high-level crop of midfield players. Birmingham City can take credit for the development of perhaps the world’s best player at the moment, Jude Bellingham. The 20-year-old now plays for Real Madrid, having played for Borussia Dortmund in between.

Declan Rice, now an Arsenal player, was brought through by West Ham United, after originally being in Chelsea’s academy, and the likes of Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount were successful products of the same famous Cobham academy, with the former an integral player at the Blues and the latter now at Manchester United.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice

More recently, Kobbie Mainoo is the young midfielder breaking through and becoming one of the top talents in the world. It has been a rapid rise for 18-year-old Mainoo, who made his full debut for England’s senior side just five months after his first Premier League start for Manchester United.

Newcastle youngster Lewis Miley is another exciting up-and-coming midfielder and has already played 17 games in the Premier League before his 18th birthday. Aside from Miley, Newcastle have some talented youngsters coming through in midfield, including 21-year-old Joe White, who returned to St James’ Park in January after his loan spell at Crewe Alexandra ended.

However, the Magpies may have let another young talent in midfield slip through the cracks, and depart the club for a major Premier League rival, where he is now making waves and contributing to first-team success.

Newcastle let a talented teen leave for peanuts

It was August 2021 when exciting talent Bobby Clark left Newcastle to join Premier League rivals Liverpool. According to Lee Ryder of The Chronicle Live, the transfer was swiftly completed by the Reds, who convinced Clark to move to Anfield rather than sign a scholarship with the Magpies.

It will surely disappoint Newcastle fans, who would no doubt have wanted Clark to follow in his father’s footsteps and pull on the famous black and white stripes at St James’ Park. The youngster's father is Toon legend Lee Clark, who made 260 appearances for the club across two spells in both the 1990s and early 2000s.

Liverpool's Bobby Clark.

The fee Liverpool paid for Clark is rumoured to be in the region of £1.5m, and whilst it may seem a lot on a young player, there is no denying his talent. After all, the aforementioned Ryder said he reminded the reporter of a "young Paul Gascoigne."

Sadly for those in the north east, according to Clark’s father, he decided to join the Merseyside club due to the amount of knowledge they already had about him as a footballer, and “because one day they believed he could be a first-team player for Liverpool”.

How Clark and Miley compare

It is fair to say that the opportunities Miley has had this season may have also befallen Clark had the Liverpool man decided to stay at St James’ Park all of those years ago.

Bobby Clark for Liverpool

Miley’s 17 games in the Premier League this term originally came due to an injury crisis, but have now been fully deserved. As Matthew Robson said on Newcastle Fan website The Mag, “No matter who he has been up against, Lewis Miley hasn’t looked out of place”.

Clark’s job is harder. He has to break into a settled Liverpool midfield with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai all ahead of him. However, he has played 14 times for Liverpool so far and scored his first goal against Sparta Prague in the Europa League this season, as well as registering two assists, one in the Europa League and one in the FA Cup.

As a footballer, Miley and Clark are not too dissimilar. They are busy midfielders, of a similar profile, excelling in the final third although are both more than capable of playing in all phases, and are not afraid of getting on the ball and looking to impact the game.

Miley averages 50 touches per 90 minutes this season, as per Fbref, and in comparison, Clark averages 47 touches per 90 minutes in the Europa League, according to Sofascore. This shows impressive maturity and bravery in their game, which is rare in midfielders so young.

The pair look after the ball well when in possession, with Miley averaging a pass accuracy of 84% in the top-flight according to Sofascore, and Clark just slightly worse at 78%, although with a much smaller sample size. They enjoy getting on the ball in deeper areas, pulling the strings and kickstarting attacks, before crashing the box looking to get on the end of crosses.

Lewis Miley for Newcastle United against Paris Saint-Germain.

It will certainly frustrate Newcastle that they failed to keep hold of 19-year-old Clark, who is now beginning to break into Liverpool’s first team and show similar levels of talent to Miley. If things had turned out differently, he could’ve helped Newcastle through their injury crisis this season, rather than becoming a breakout star at Anfield.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

Gardner replaces Mooney as Gujarat Giants captain for WPL 2025

The change was made to free up Mooney, who is Giants’ designated wicketkeeper as well as opener

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Feb-2025Australia allrounder Ashleigh Gardner has been named Gujarat Giants captain for WPL 2025, ending fellow national team-mate Beth Mooney’s two-year reign at the helm.”It is an absolute honour for me to be named the captain of Gujarat Giants.” Gardner said in a Giants statement. “I have loved being a part of this team and I am excited to lead this fantastic group in the upcoming season. We have a great mix of young and experienced players and plenty of Indian talent in our squad. I am looking forward to working with the team and making our fans proud.”Related

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Mithali Raj, Nooshin Al Khadeer part ways with Gujarat Giants

WPL 2025: Chinelle Henry replaces injured Alyssa Healy at UP Warriorz

Gardner has been a vital cog for Australia across formats, chipping in with her all-round credentials. In the recent Women’s Ashes, she picked up five wickets including a second-innings four-for in the only Test match – a pink-ball affair at the MCG – and scored her maiden ODI century in the third ODI of the series. She missed the T20I leg of the multi-format series with a calf strain but had provided a reminder of her bowling abilities by picking 16 wickets for Sydney Sixers in WBBL 2024.”She is a fierce competitor,” Giants head coach Michael Klinger said. “Her game awareness, tactical acumen, and ability to inspire players make her the ideal choice to captain Gujarat Giants. We believe she will lead from the front and guide the team towards a successful campaign.”Gardner has been with Giants since the inaugural season and the move to elevate her to captaincy was made to free up Mooney, who is also the designated wicketkeeper and the opening batter for them. Gardner was also Giants’ vice-captain for most of the first season after Mooney picked up a calf injury one game into WPL 2023.Gardner is the No. 1-ranked allrounder in ICC’s ODI rankings while Mooney is the leading T20I batter.”I would like to thank Mooney for her highly valued leadership,” Klinger said. “Now, she will be able to focus on wicketkeeping and opening the batting lineup. She continues to be a major leader of our group.”Ahead of the auction for WPL 2025, Giants rejigged their support staff with assistant coach Nooshin Al Khadeer and mentor Mithali Raj parting ways. Australia assistant coach Daniel Marsh joined as the batting coach while IPL team Lucknow Super Giants’ spin-bowling coach Pravin Tambe is the bowling coach.

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