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Brooks becomes county cricket’s first Covid sub in match against Middlesex

Matt Roller01-May-2021Jack Brooks, the Somerset seamer, has become county cricket’s first Covid-19 replacement after Lewis Gregory was ruled out of the final two days of their Championship fixture against Middlesex.Gregory, who himself contracted Covid while playing for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League in March, was replaced in the Somerset side ahead of the third day after his girlfriend reported symptoms of the virus. It is understood that she has returned a negative lateral flow test but is waiting for the result of a PCR test. If that test is negative, Gregory should be available for Somerset’s fixture against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl next week; however, he will play no further part in the Middlesex game.Related

• Gubbins, White give Middlesex the edge on solid first day

• Hildreth records Somerset milestone as Middlesex chip away

“Somerset County Cricket Club can confirm that Jack Brooks has been made available as a Covid-19 substitute for the remainder of the current LV= Insurance County Championship match against Middlesex at the Cooper Associates County Ground,” a club spokesperson said.”A member of Lewis Gregory’s private bubble was feeling unwell this morning and has taken a lateral flow test. This test proved to be negative, but protocol dictates that until the results of a further test have been received, Lewis will remain in isolation as per government guidelines.”The ECB’s Covid replacement regulations dictate that a “like-for-like” replacement should be used where possible, and the nomination of Brooks was approved by Wayne Noon, the match referee. Gregory took 2 for 87 in Middlesex’s first innings, and was yet to bat in Somerset’s response.Brooks is the first Covid replacement used in county cricket, and the second in first-class cricket overall after Auckland’s Ben Lister. Nick Gubbins, the Middlesex batter, was withdrawn from a fixture in the Bob Willis Trophy last summer to self-isolate, while Jordan Cox of Kent missed a game after breaching protocols by taking a photo with a fan.

Though there is ostensibly an organisation to look after their needs, it doesn’t really fulfil that purpose

Karthik Krishnaswamy17-Jul-2024On June 30, BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced a reward of Rs 125 crore (about US$15 million) for India’s victorious T20 World Cup contingent.On July 2, Sandeep Patil appealed to the BCCI via newspaper column to provide financial aid for the treatment of his former India team-mate Aunshuman Gaekwad, who is currently battling cancer in London. Patil wrote that he and Dilip Vengsarkar had sought BCCI treasurer Ashish Shelar’s help on this. “I’m sure he will facilitate this and, at the risk of sounding macabre, save Anshu’s life.”Eleven days later, Kapil Dev stepped in. “I know the Board will take care of him,” he wrote in a letter to the BCCI. “We are not compelling anyone. Any help for Anshu will have to come from your heart.”Related

• Aunshuman Gaekwad knew to put guts over glory, and that is no small thing

• BCCI to release INR 1 crore for Aunshuman Gaekwad's cancer treatment

• BCCI announces INR 125 crore award for T20 World Champions India

• BCCI president Roger Binny: No need for contracts in domestic cricket at the moment

• Lodha panel recommends forming players' association

Last Sunday, the BCCI announced that it would release Rs 1 crore (about $119,000) for Gaekwad’s treatment.If these two events – the windfall for the World Cup winners, the plight of the former player and coach – don’t already strike you as juxtaposable, throw in this fact: Gaekwad is the president of the Indian Cricketers’ Association, the official, BCCI-recognised body responsible for the welfare of retired cricketers.The ICA, which came into existence in 2019, has through its brief history been more notable for what it isn’t than what it is. Its membership is restricted only to former players, and it isn’t affiliated to the World Cricketers’ Association (formerly known as the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations). The ICA falls well short of being a genuine player union, and it falls short by design. Even the Lodha Committee – tasked by the Supreme Court to recommend sweeping reforms to the BCCI in the wake of the IPL betting scandal of 2013 – specified, when it called for the formation of the ICA, that it would not act as a union.India and Pakistan remain the only two major cricketing nations without a recognised players’ body.

The BCCI’s munificence towards those at the top of the player pyramid can be viewed as a mechanism for weakening the collectivising impulse within them

Against this backdrop, Shah’s reward begins to look like, well, a Shah’s reward. Who sat and decided what the players, coaches and selectors – all of whom are among the beneficiaries – would receive as a performance bonus? Did the players, coaches and selectors have a say? Or was it all decided, as it seemed to the outside world, arbitrarily, minutes before it went out on X, formerly Twitter?And if the BCCI can make such a decision so quickly, why does it take so long to take notice of other matters?These questions are, of course, rhetorical, because this is how things have always been.The BCCI is the richest cricket board in the world, by far. India’s cricketers are among the richest in the world too, but there’s a caveat here. It’s true – well, kind of – if you’re talking about India the cricket team, but not so much about Indian cricketers at large. Most of the professional cricketers who play in the BCCI’s senior tournaments aren’t contracted in the IPL or the WPL, where the most money is concentrated. They aren’t contracted by their domestic teams either, despite a growing demand for this to happen, and continue to mostly get by on match fees.It’s a precarious way to earn a livelihood, in a career that stretches into your late 30s if you’re lucky. A measure of this precarity came when Covid-19 tore through the 2020-21 domestic season, forcing the cancellation of the Ranji Trophy, the tournament with the most match days and therefore, the highest earning potential. Because of this, the average male domestic player, ordinarily earning somewhere around Rs 12-14 lakh per season (about $15,500 at the current exchange rate), stood to take home something in the region of Rs 3-4 lakh ($4800) for 2020-21.A PCA event in 2023. The UK’s PCA is a full-fledged players’ organisation of the sort India and Pakistan lack•Nathan Stirk/Getty ImagesThe BCCI eventually paid the players 50% of their normal match fees for tournaments cancelled in 2020-21, but that compensation only arrived in January 2022. Another delay to place next to the promptness of the World Cup reward announcement. Or next to another delay: it took the BCCI nearly 15 months to disburse the prize money – awarded not by them but by the ICC – to India’s squad for their runners-up finish at the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup.The bigger picture is clear enough. There are two Cs in BCCI, and Control comes before Cricket. To this end, it has historically done everything in its power to prevent players from organising – even the Lodha Committee, so adversarial towards the BCCI in so many respects, took on board its “apprehension of unionisation”. Even the BCCI’s munificence towards those at the top of the player pyramid can be viewed through this prism, as a mechanism for weakening the collectivising impulse within them.It isn’t unknown for top international players to look out for their less fortunate colleagues. In 2017, for instance, Australia’s biggest stars rejected a financial deal from Cricket Australia that would make them richer at the expense of domestic players, and stood their ground through a bitter and protracted dispute. It’s reasonable to assume that India’s international superstars worry about the livelihoods of their Ranji Trophy team-mates and their counterparts in the women’s system, but there’s no real way for them to do anything about it. They can ask the BCCI nicely, but that’s about it, in the absence of an Indian equivalent of the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) or Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA).What exists in this hypothetical body’s place, the ICA, seems to have little scope even to serve the needs of the retired players it represents, including its president. Like everything and everyone else in Indian cricket, it can only appeal to the goodness of the BCCI’s heart.

The Spain shot-stopper produced a remarkable double-save to keep out Mateo Retegui in what proved to be the key moment in Thursday's stalemate

Arsenal were indebted to David Raya as the goalkeeper again produced heroics to help secure a 0-0 draw with Atalanta in the Gunners' opening game of the Champions League season in Bergamo.

Mikel Arteta's side had the better of the few chances that were created during the first half as Bukayo Saka had a free-kick saved by Marco Carnesecchi before Gabriel Martinelli spooned an effort from the edge of the box over the bar.

The home side were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead early in the second period, however, as Thomas Partey tripped Ederson inside the area, only for Raya to deny Mateo Retegui both from the penalty spot and, unbelievably, as the striker looked to head in the rebound from close-range.

Both sides had further opportunities to break the deadlock, as Juan Cuadrado twice curled shots narrowly off target before Martinelli wasted a great chance after being played in behind by substitute Raheem Sterling. In the end, however, neither team could find a breakthrough and were made to settle for a point.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Gewiss Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  David Raya (8/10):

  Barely tested until the penalty, but stood up for his team when it counted with a remarkable double-save. The second stop from Retegui was even better than the one the Spaniard pulled off to deny Ollie Watkins a few weeks ago.

  Ben White (6/10):

  Kept Lookman pretty quiet down the Atalanta left. Unable to offer much in attack, however.

  William Saliba (8/10):

  A human shield, the France international repelled everything that came his way with ease. Superb late tackle denied Lookman when clean through.

  Gabriel Magalhaes (8/10):

  Ensured Retegui didn't get a sight of goal from open play as he regularly outmuscled the Italy striker. A colossus.

  Jurrien Timber (6/10):

  Neat and tidy in possession without ever offering any kind of incisive passing. A little suspect defensively at times.

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  Midfield

  Kai Havertz (5/10):

  A performance more akin to what Havertz offered in the first half of last season before he was moved further forward. Wasn't afraid to put himself about physically, though.

  Thomas Partey (4/10):

  Overrun at times and was clumsy in bringing down Ederson for the penalty. Replaced not long after the spot-kick.

  Declan Rice (6/10):

  Covered every blade of grass without ever imposing himself on the game. Best moments came when he made some key defensive interventions.

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  Attack

  Bukayo Saka (6/10):

  Tested Carnesecchi with a clever first-half free-kick, but Arsenal couldn't get him in the game nearly enough. Did look a threat on the rare occasion he got into dangerous areas.

  Gabriel Jesus (3/10):

  Handed his first start of the season but looked very rusty. Some of his touches were heavy and he never truly got up to the speed of the game before being replaced early in the second half.

  Gabriel Martinelli (2/10):

  Continues to look a shadow of the player who was tearing defences apart this time last season. Wasted one decent shooting position in the first half before missing an even better chance after the break.

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  Subs & Manager

  Jorginho (6/10):

  Added some stability to the midfield after replacing the tiring Partey.

  Leandro Trossard (5/10):

  Struggled to offer much as a central striker after coming on for Jesus.

  Riccardo Calafiori (6/10):

  Returned from injury to play the final 20 minutes in his homeland.

  Raheem Sterling (6/10):

  Instantly created a chance for Martinelli but struggled to get in the game thereafter.

  Mikel Arteta (6/10):

  Will be satisfied with a point. Prospect of facing Manchester City in three days' time meant key players had to be taken off earlier than he might have otherwise liked, but at least his side came away with no more injuries to worry about.

After Ange Postecoglou’s dismal season in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, changes simply had to be made if Tottenham Hotspur were to progress in the right direction.

His Europa League triumph certainly papered over the cracks, but former chairman Daniel Levy saw the bigger picture and decided a switch in manager was needed.

Such responsibility fell into the hands of Thomas Frank, with the former Brentford boss tasked with the responsibility of transforming the Lilywhites’ fortunes in England’s top-flight.

The backline was a real issue for the club last time around, but the 51-year-old has already made an immediate impact – as seen by their tally of six clean sheets across all competitions.

However, the upcoming January transfer window is rapidly approaching, which could see added quality being injected into the opposite end of the pitch.

Spurs’ hunt for new attacking talent in January

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have once again been linked with a deal to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo after previously wanting him during the summer.

The Ghanaian international has enjoyed a phenomenal start to 2025/26, scoring on six occasions and registering three assists within his first eight outings.

However, he’s not the only Premier League forward currently on their radar, with Sporting Director Fabio Paratici targeting a move for Everton star Iliman Ndiaye.

The latest report from TEAMtalk states that the Lilywhites see the 25-year-old as a top target for the winter window, but face competition from a fellow top-flight rival.

Newcastle United are also in the race to land the versatile forward in the coming months, which has seen a £60m price tag mooted to prise him away from the Toffees.

Why Spurs’ latest target is even better than Kudus

Landing an attacker from another Premier League side certainly isn’t alien to Spurs, as seen by their deal to land winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.

The hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £55m for the 25-year-old’s signature, with the Ghanaian seen as the player to take the frontline to the next level.

It’s safe to say he’s already had an immediate impact at the Lilywhites, scoring once and notching four assists within his first eight Premier League appearances.

Kudus has certainly nailed down the role on the right-hand side of the frontline, but he could be joined by another phenomenal talent in the form of Ndiaye.

The Toffees forward has rapidly progressed under David Moyes over the last couple of months, with the Senegalese international now one of the most potent attackers in the division.

When comparing his stats to those of the new Lilywhites addition, Ndiaye has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas throughout the early stages of 2025/26.

The Toffees star has achieved a better shot on target rate and a higher goal per shot on target average – which showcases the added goalscoring threat he possesses.

He’s also completed more passes and registered a higher tally of key passes per 90 – leading to one analyst labelling him as “one of the best” talents in the Premier League.

Ndiaye’s dominance over Kudus is further reflected in his higher take-on success and better tally of carries into the final third per 90 – highlighting his ability to progress the ball into dangerous areas whenever possible.

£60m would be another huge statement from the hierarchy, but it’s a deal that could add further quality into Frank’s frontline in his quest for success in North London.

The prospect of Ndiaye thriving with Kudus at the Lilywhites is truly one to behold, which could see the club be the home to two of the division’s best attacking talents.

However, the board will have to act quickly in January to complete a deal for his signature, especially given the interest from rivals Newcastle United.

Forget Spence: Frank can bin Porro by unleashing "future £100m" Spurs star

Tottenham Hotspur already have another phenomenal talent within their ranks in North London.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 24, 2025

Fourth-wicket pair add 224 as Leicestershire experience chastening start to campaign

ECB Reporters' Network08-Apr-2021Contrasting centuries from James Vince and Tom Alsop saw Hampshire establish a dominant position in their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Leicestershire at the UptonSteel County Ground, Grace Road.Hampshire skipper Vince was all power and timing as he took full advantage of some wayward bowling from Leicestershire’s inexperienced seam attack, hitting 17 fours and two sixes in racing to three figures off just 81 balls.Alsop, who had just reached his half-century when Vince came to the crease on the dismissal of Sam Northeast, was less fluent, but while his century came off 153 deliveries, and included 17 fours, it was no less valuable to his side.Together the pair added 224 for the fourth wicket before Alsop got a leading edge trying to turn a delivery from Alex Evans into the leg side and was caught at point. Vince, however, remained unbeaten, reaching his 150 off 140 deliveries before closing on 168 not out. It is the sixth time he has made a score of 150 or more in his first-class career.Vince started the day as well as he ended it, winning the toss and choosing to bat first on a slightly drier pitch than might normally have been expected for the time of year – Leicestershire have two spinners in their side.Ian Holland was the first man dismissed, edging a Chris Wright outswinger to wicketkeeper Harry Swindells, but Joe Weatherley looked in good order, stroking seven fours in going to 41 before top-edging a pull at a short delivery from Gavin Griffiths and skying a catch to Swindells.Northeast was dismissed shortly after lunch, leg before to Wright to make the score 127 for 3, and Vince edged his first ball from Wright towards Leicestershire skipper Colin Ackermann at second slip. It dropped an inch short, and that was as close as the Foxes came to dismissing the England international: from that moment on he was in complete control.

Marc Cucurella has helped Estevao along massively since the teenager arrived at Chelsea, contributing to his explosion of form. The Blues agreed a deal with Brazilian side Palmeiras to sign the youngster last year but he was unable to move to Stamford Bridge until after his 18th birthday back in April. Estevao has since made a huge impact in west London, quickly established as a fan favourite.

• Estevao was instrumental as Chelsea downed Barca

  Estevao scored his fifth Chelsea goal of the season in midweek as the Blues eased to a 3-0 home win over Barcelona in the Champions League. Chelsea went ahead midway through the first half through a Jules Kounde own goal following some good work from Marc Cucurella down the right.

  The Brazil international doubled Chelsea's advantage 10 minutes after the break before Liam Delap confirmed the home triumph over Barcelona, who were reduced to 10 men shortly before the interval after Ronald Araujo received his marching orders. Estevao rightly received praise for his showing on the right flank against the Blaugrana, but it was Cucurella who was named Player of the Match in the Stamford Bridge success.

  The Spanish left-back was instrumental in minimising compatriot Lamine Yamal's impact down the Barcelona right. Yamal managed just one shot and created only two chances before he was replaced by Dani Olmo with 10 minutes to play.

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  Cucurella told Estevao to 'put shin pads on' to prepare for Yamal showdown

  And Estevao faces off against Cucurella in training, which the notes the Spaniard "takes serisously" despite being one of the biggest jokers in the squad. When the youngster's one-vs-one battle in training is often tougher than actual games, it is incredibly helpful.

  It meant that the Brazilian came in for the same treatment that Yamal was on the receiving end of in the capital on Tuesday night. Cucurella even joked that he'd use Estevao in the days beforehand as practise for Chelsea's game against Barcelona as the defender geared up to face Yamal at Stamford Bridge.

  While Cucurella insisted that Chelsea's game against Barcelona was "not Yamal vs Cucurella, it's Chelsea vs Barcelona", the Blues star finally relented. When asked about his preparation in training for his battle against Yamal, Cucurella said: "I told Estevao to put shin pads on this week because I’m going to be practising on him."

  Cucurella made good on his word to stop Yamal by any means necessary, making five tackles and committing four fouls on the way to Chelsea's 3-0 win. Estevao, meanwhile, created three chances and completed two dribbles to go with his goal a the Brazilian winger tormented Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde.

• Cucurella set for another tough task on Sunday

  Cucurella can expect another tough test on Sunday afternoon when Chelsea host league leaders Arsenal. Six points separate the pair at the top of the table with the Gunners looking to land a first Premier League title in over 20 years having finished second in each of the last three league seasons.

  And the Spaniard is set to face off against Bukayo Saka on home turf to round weekend's Premier League action. And ahead of the game, Blues boss Enzo Maresca lavished praise upon Cucurella, stating that "the more players you have like Marc, the better it is".

  "It is the focus and attention he has for 95 minutes," Maresca said of Cucurella ahead of Sunday's London derby. "For defenders you can be good for 94 minutes and then you can drop the attention for one minute and concede something."

  The Italian boss then jokingly added: "The good thing about Marc is that for 95 minutes he is always focused – apart from Tottenham away [last season] when we conceded two goals in two minutes because of him! Overall, Marc has always been top, and he is always thinking how he can defend better."

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  Maresca praise for Cucurella ahead of Arsenal showdown

  Maresca also praised Cucurella's impact for the club both on and off the pitch. A number of Chelsea stars have commented that the former Brighton man is a big personality in the dressing room, a quality that has impressed Maresca.

  "He is the biggest joker, for sure, one of the characters inside the building, and he has the capacity to switch from laughing and joking to being serious," the Italian added. "I want all the players to have that mentality. The more players you have like Marc, the better it is."

  Chelsea can close the gap to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table to three points with a win over the Gunners this weekend. The Blues, though, have drawn their last two home games against their London rivals, and have failed to win their last six home league meetings with Arsenal, losing three times.

After recent criticism about his Liverpool form, one national team manager has had his say on one of Arne Slot’s stars — claiming that the Reds’ recent dip is “not his fault”.

Carragher reveals Liverpool frustration

To say it’s been a month to forget for Liverpool would be an understatement.

The Reds entered the October international break off the back of three straight defeats for the first time under Slot, and several players have been hit with criticism as a result.

The Chelsea defeat will have particularly frustrated Slot, who saw Estavao Willian seal the points for Chelsea in last-gasp fashion.

By the time that the full-time whistle sounded at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool may have even been relieved to be entering the break, but that has only left the door ajar for further criticism from the likes of Jamie Carragher.

The Anfield legend revealed his current frustration, saying:

“The thing that has frustrated me in the last two games is that we have allowed a situation [to finish] end-to-end.

“Sometimes when you are playing a game, ‘Liverpool are playing Crystal Palace and Liverpool are better than Crystal Palace and are the favourites to win the game’. But you have been battered in the first-half, it’s 1-1, they’re on an unbelievable run, I am like ‘get out of there with a point’.

“Slightly different with Chelsea because when it went 1-1 I think a title-winning team go and win that game especially with the problems Chelsea have. But Liverpool were never in control of the game I felt after it went 1-1. You’d expect them to win the game, but they were never in control.”

It’s not just Carragher who has had his say, either. The international break has also handed one national team manager the chance to defend one of his star men amid Liverpool criticism.

Nagelsmann: Liverpool form not Florian Wirtz's fault amid real truth

Defending his star, Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann claimed that all of Florian Wirtz’s struggles have not been all his fault — suggesting that some of his Liverpool teammates can take the blame as well.

Revealing that Wirtz has been among the top creators in the Premier League this season, there’s certainly some truth in Nagelsmann’s defence.

The German has been below his best form, that can’t be denied. But he is not the problem at Liverpool. When he emerged from the bench against Chelsea, the Reds looked a different side going forward.

Liverpool now preparing move to sign Guehi alternative in PSG star compared to Gabriel

The Reds are still looking to solve their centre-back problem.

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 11, 2025

It’s simply about finding the right balance, whether that means dropping the likes of Alexis Mac Allister or handing Curtis Jones a starting place.

We’ve narrowed it down to 10… which one gets your vote?

S Sudarshanan22-Apr-2024If the list does not appear below, tap here to reload the page.