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Cricket Australia chair says, “the Gabba has a use for life that ends in 2030. We need a solution, and are working on it”

Andrew McGlashan18-Aug-2024

The Gabba in Brisbane has played host to plenty of iconic Test moments – the 1960 tie, Ian Botham’s last great Test innings, Shane Warne’s career best, Peter Siddle’s birthday hat-trick, India’s famous 2021 heist and Shamar Joseph’s heroics to pick out a few – but there are now major questions over its future as an international venue.On Sunday it was confirmed that the Queensland government had only signed a two-year hosting agreement with Cricket Australia which means beyond the upcoming India Test and next year’s men’s Ashes fixture there is great uncertainty when, or if, the famous ground will be back on the schedule.The Ashes encounter in 2025-26 will be the 49th consecutive season of Test cricket at the Gabba, but there will be no half-century with it not having one of the four New Zealand Tests the following year. There are, however, discussions ongoing about white-ball internationals with England due to visit that summer for ODIs and T20Is.Related

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The Gabba is coming towards the end of its viable working life in 2030. Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympics and initially, there had been plans to completely rebuild the venue, but that was ditched by the Queensland government due to costs and instead, there is expected to be a renovation along with other stadiums in the city.While a complete rebuild would have taken the stadium out of commission for a number of years, there is still uncertainty over whether it will be usable during a renovation.In an open letter, the chair of Queensland Cricket Kirsten Pike and chief executive Terry Svenson outlined the organisation’s frustrations and concerns for cricket in the state.”The State Government’s decision to not progress with its commitment to rebuild the Gabba and downgrade its proposed Olympic role has resulted in direct and indirect changes to how we proceed with our business,” they wrote.”It is deeply disappointing that the 2026-27 Gabba Test has become a casualty of the uncertainty around the infrastructure planning and development ahead of the 2032 Olympic preparations, specifically around the Gabba.”…and while not being unduly alarmist, the potential outcome of this continuing uncertainty could have a significant impact on participation statewide and fan engagement across men’s and women’s cricket.”The future of the Gabba is under threat by new stadiums around the country, including a proposed indoor venue in Hobart•Tasmania Government

Speaking last week, former Australia and Queensland captain Allan Border called for a new multipurpose venue to be built in the city.”It’s sad, but they [Cricket Australia] have got to have some certainty, probably over the next four years, if they can use the Gabba or not,” he told the . “I’d be knocking down the Gabba and building a new venue from scratch at Victoria Park. A brand new 60,000-seat stadium suits rugby, cricket, Aussie rules and the Olympics, and the Gabba becomes housing.”Whatever the future of a major cricket venue in Brisbane, there could be a potential challenger on the horizon with Tasmania having ambitions to host indoor Test cricket in the proposed new Hobart stadium which is set to be ready in 2029. However, Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said it was hard to envisage a future where Brisbane was not part of the regular Test schedule.”That’s hard to imagine, but we have to have the facilities and a ground that supports it,” he said. “We want the fans to have the best experience as they come and see the world’s best players.”What we do know is the Gabba has a use for life that ends in 2030. We need a solution, and are working with the AFL as well on a long-term solution. We want a great venue in Brisbane, that can support Queensland Cricket and Australian cricket for years to come.”The Queensland Cricket letter added: “We remain hopeful that Test cricket will return to the Gabba after the summer of 2026-27 despite the current lack of detail and uncertainty surrounding the upgrades to the Gabba.”Queensland does have other smaller international venues. Allan Border Field in Brisbane regularly hosts the women’s team and Australia A and the Gold Coast hosted a T20I against West Indies in 2022. In regional Queensland, Mackay is used while Townsville and Cairns hosted the T20I and ODI series respectively against Zimbabwe and New Zealand in 2022.The men’s Future Tours Programme has some winter home cricket on Australia’s schedule in the coming years which could open the door for venues such as Cairns and Townsville. South Africa are due to visit for ODIs and T20Is in August 2025 while Afghanistan have a Test and three T20Is allocated in July 2026 although those would appear unlikely to happen given Cricket Australia’s current stance on bilateral series with Afghanistan.

Bayer Leverkusen boss Erik ten Hag is looking to move on Matej Kovar for a second time after selling the goalkeeper at Manchester United.

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Ten Hag looking to sell KovarSold goalkeeper when in charge of UnitedUnited looking for new goalkeeperFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Czech goalkeeper joined Leverkusen in 2023, making six Bundesliga appearances under Xabi Alonso, and is set to depart the club already. As per , Leverkusen have agreed a deal with PSV to sell Kovar who is looking to become a first-choice number one on a permanent basis. While it marks the second time Ten Hag has shifted Kovar, with Brentford's Mark Flekken arriving to become the main option between the sticks, it was inevitable Kovar would have to leave for regular game time.

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Ten Hag has been tasked with rebuilding a Leverkusen side that has been torn apart by the departure of manager Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid and key first-team players Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz to Liverpool. The Dutch manager, who despite winning the League and FA Cup, endured a torrid time at United and will be hoping to repair his managerial reputation in Germany. The moving on of apparent deadwood will be necessary if Ten Hag is to unleash a revolution at side pipped to the Bundesliga title by Bayern Munich last season.

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United are looking to revamp their own goalkeeping options. Ten Hag's signing, Andre Onana, has proved to be an unreliable figure in-between the sticks at Old Trafford and Ruben Amorim is desperate for a new number one. The Botafogo goalkeeper John has impressed at the Club World Cup and is the latest option United are considering as the Onana replacement.

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR TEN HAG?

Ten Hag will continue to look to improve his Leverkusen squad and put his own stamp on the club. Lukas Hradecky and Flekken provide strong options in net for the Dutchman, but replacements for Wirtz and Frimpong may prove more vital.

تحدث ماريو إيليتش قائد فريق أوكلاند سيتي النيوزيلندي، عن مواجهة بيراميدز، التي تقام بين الفريقين، مساء غد الأحد، في إطار منافسات بطولة كأس إنتركونتيننتال.

ويلتقي بيراميدز مع أوكلاند سيتي، في التاسعة من مساء غد الأحد، على استاد الدفاع الجوي، في الدور الأول من بطولة كأس إنتركونتيننتال.

وقال إيليتش خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت: “نحن دائمًا نضع لأنفسنا توقعات عالية، في كل مباراة نلعبها نريد فيها الفوز، نركز على الأداء أولاً، وحافظًا على صلابتا الدفاعية بالتاكيد ستكون فرصتنا كبيرة للفوز”.

وأضاف: “سندخل مباراة بيراميدز بهدف تحقيق الفوز، مع إدركنا بصعوبة المباراة، وقوة المنافس، لكن لدينا ثقة كاملة في أنفسنا، وقدراتنا على تحقيق المفاجأة”.

وتابع: “نعلم أن بيراميدز فريق كبير وخطير هجوميًا، قد أثبت جدارته بالفعل، بالفوز بدوري أبطال إفريقيا، سبق وأن خوضنا مباراة قوية أمام النادي الأهلي، نتوقع أن تكون هذه المواجهة بنفس الصعوبة”.

طالع | وقت إضافي أم ركلات ترجيح؟.. فيفا يوضح مصير مباراة بيراميدز وأوكلاند سيتي حال انتهائها بالتعادل

وأكمل: “قمنا بدراسة فريق بيراميدز تفصيلاً وحددنا عناصر القوة لديهم، لكنا على علم أنهم متماسكون في جميع الخطوط، وضعنا خطة واضحة ونسعي للالتزام بها حتي نقلل من خطورة بيراميدز ونحقق النجاح المطلوب”.

وواصل: “نعلم أن اللقاء سيكون مرهق بدنيًا خاصة أن الفريق معتاد على الأجواء ونحن قادمين من أجواء شتوية في نيوزيلندا، لهذا قضينا عدة أيام في أبو ظبي قبل اللقاء للتكيف مع الأجواء”.

واستطرد: “استفدنا من تجربتنا السابقة ضد الأهلي كما أن مشاركتنا في عدة نسخ في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية منحتنا خبرة وثقة كبيرة، خوضنا 3 مباريات قوية في مونديال الأندية بأمريكا”.

وأستكمل: “دائمًا ندخل في مثل هذه اللقاءات ونحن الطرف الأضعف، خاصة أننا فريق من الهواة ولاعبينا لديهم وظائف يومية خارج مجال كرة القدم لذلك يكون الضغط الأكبر على المنافس”.

وأتم: “نركز على المباراة دقيقة بدقيقة ونتمسك بالأسس الدفاعية ونعرف أننا قادرون على صناعة الفرص ويبقى الأهم استغلال تلك الفرص عندما تأتي، كرة القدم هي لعبة المفاجآت، حققنا نتيجة تاريخية بالتعادل أمام بوكا جونيور الأرجنتيني في كأس العالم للأندية، لذلك طالما على أرضية الملعب نملك الفرصة في الفوز في النهاية 11 لاعبا أمام مثلهم، سنلعب بخطة واضحة وسنترك الباقي لكرة القدم”.

da poker： Sheffield United are thought to be looking to tie down three different key players to new contracts, according to an exciting new update regarding their futures.

Sheffield United reach defining moment in season

da realbet： The Blades are seven games away from returning to the Premier League, with Chris Wilder’s side topping the Championship table heading into the vital remaining weeks of the season.

United have won four of their last five league matches, seeing them leapfrog a stalling Leeds United side, going two points ahead of them in the process. Perhaps more importantly, they are also only two ahead of third-place Burnley, highlighting how tight things are in the automatic promotion battle.

While on-pitch matters are clearly huge, tying down certain players to new contracts is also essential, with Wilder making it clear that he wants deals for Rhian Brewster, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Jack Robinson sorted: “For me, as you can imagine, all the focus and concentration is on what happens here but if you’re asking me, would I like them all to re-sign, yes. One hundred per cent. They’ve all been outstanding for us and have still got a part to play going forward.”

Sheffield United want new deals for key trio

According to The Star, the futures of Sheffield United trio Brewster, Ahmedhodzic and Robinson were “discussed last week when members of the group that own United, including Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, visited Sheffield”.

Wilder has also claimed that “Steve Bettis is on with that and in discussion with the owners”, as they look to get some big in-house business over the line.

This would be great news for United, with the £90,000-a-week-combined trio of Brewster, Ahmedhodzic and Robinson such important players this season. This season, they have made 89 appearances in the Championship in total, showing how important they are to the cause, with 67 of those starts.

Ahmedhodzic and Robinson have both been reliable members of the Blades’ defence, but the emergence of Brewster has arguably been one of the biggest feel-good stories of the campaign at Bramall Lane.

Having suffered so much with injuries and not kicking after leaving Liverpool as a highly-rated player, the 24-year-old has scored in his last two appearances, including the priceless winner in the 1-0 victory away to local rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

The Englishman’s influence is going to be big in these next few weeks, given his form, and he has the ability to steer United back to the Premier League.

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New deals for him and his two Blades teammates feels like a no-brainer, especially as Wilder values them all so much, and the hope is that all three of them are still at Bramall Lane next season, at which point United are back where they belong.

Towhid Hridoy, Imran Tahir and Will Jacks were some of the standout performers in week four of the BPL

Mohammad Isam15-Feb-2024

Hridoy, Jacks, Shakib, Tahir put in starring performances

Comilla began and ended the week with contrasting chases. Towhid Hridoy was superb in both games, making unbeaten scores of 108 and 91. Comilla aced a 176-run chase against Dhaka with a ball remaining. Hridoy, not quite showing his form from the last season till that point, smashed the tournament’s first century while the others failed around him. His unbeaten 108 came off just 57 balls.Then, Hridoy’s 91 not out helped Comilla chase down 164 against Khulna, which they did with seven wickets and 21 balls to spare. Between these two wins, Will Jacks’ century helped Comilla equal BPL’s highest total when they made 239-3 in their big win against Chattogram.Jacks blasted ten sixes in his 108* off 53 balls, while Litton Das also scored a quick half-century. Moeen Ali struck a quick fifty and then finished off the Chattogram innings with a hat-trick. There was also enough time in the match for legspinner Rishad Hossain to take his maiden four-wicket haul. There was no such luck for Chattogram’s Al-Amin Hossain, who conceded 69 runs in his four overs, the most by any bowler in BPL history.Imran Tahir became the first legspinner to take a five-for in the BPL•Rangpur Riders

Later in the same day, Rangpur crushed Khulna by 78 runs, racking up 219 for 5 batting first. Shakib Al Hasan and Mahedi Hasan blasted fifties before Imran Tahir took a five-wicket haul, the first by a legspinner in the BPL. Alex Hales also struck a quickfire 60, but he was fighting a lone battle.Tahir apart, Rangpur’s other new recruits Reeza Hendricks and Jimmy Neesham also gave them strong performances in their 53-run win against Chattogram.The likes of Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal struck fifties to get Barishal important wins against Dhaka this week. Khulna, however, crashed and burned. After winning their first four games in a row, they have now lost five consecutively.

Batter of the week – Towhid Hridoy

Towhid Hridoy has had one of those dream weeks, having struck an unbeaten century and an unbeaten 91 this week. Both came in chases for Comilla, and he kept his cool throughout both knocks. Particularly against Dhaka, when Comilla were in trouble after a regular fall of wickets. Hridoy played gorgeous shots, particularly his whips and hoicks through midwicket; his cover-driving when in full flow is good to watch too.

Bowler of the week – Imran Tahir

Imran Tahir has added the fun element to the BPL after his late arrival. He had come after completing his SA20 assignments – it’s his first time playing in the tournament in Bangladesh. Tahir took just one wicket in his first game, but then followed it with a five-wicket haul. His celebrations have really struck a chord with the fans in Dhaka and Chattogram, and Rangpur will hope he plays a big role in the latter part of the tournament.

Everton are gearing up for investment in the transfer market this summer, with David Moyes’ impressive return to Goodison Park stabilising the club after many turbulent years.

But things are still changing. The Toffees will drape the curtain on their long and distinguished history at Goodison this summer, moving to the new and fashionable Bramley Moore.

It’s a seismic leap, but one fans hope will advance the club’s restoration. New owners, The Friedkin Group, are reported to have promised Moyes he will be granted significant transfer powers this summer, and he may even be prepared to rock the boat a little (per The i Paper).

So, with that in mind, let’s have a look at how Everton might look on new turf next season.

How Everton's squad is shaping up for Bramley Moore

Everton are set to part ways with no less than 15 first-team players this summer, a staggering number though one which is contextualised by the inclusion of players out on loan, such as Mason Holgate and the notorious Neal Maupay, and loanees such as Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom.

By and large, Everton’s soon-to-depart cohort consists of twilit players. Abdoulaye Doucoure, Seamus Coleman, Ashley Young and Asmir Begovic illustrate that point.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s contract is also up for expiry. Beto’s fine form under Moyes’ wing attenuated the need for a new striker this season, but with Armando Broja’s buy clause unlikely to be activated after an injury-blotted season, fresh firepower will be needed at number nine.

What, then, sits as the first port of call for Moyes and inbound Director of Football Angus Kinnear, who will leave Leeds United at the end of the season?

The door is wide open for incomings. Alongside Charly Alcaraz, whose purchase option will surely be activated, the rumour mill is beginning to speed up. The Blues have been reliably linked by Sky Sports with Sunderland talent Chris Rigg.

Lastly, there’s a growing sense that Jarrad Branthwaite is tempted by a move away from Merseyside. However, the Toffees are understood (via the earlier iNews report) to hope to initiate talks for a fresh deal to ward off suitors.

Everton must part with "struggling" star

If Branthwaite were to leave, it may feel like a pragmatic move to tie Michael Keane down to an extension, but this would actually be a move of stagnancy, maybe regression.

In either scenario, Keane is ageing and approaching the final few months of his contract, having fallen into the realm of insignificance over the past several years.

Everton signed Keane from Sean Dyche’s Burnley in a deal rising to a club-record-equalling £30m in 2017, part of a summer splurge after Farhad Moshiri first appeared on the scene.

He’s paid his due, for sure, but Keane’s deficiencies have been glaring in recent years.

Matches (starts)

22 (20)

10 (9)

Goals

0

2

Assists

1

0

Clean sheets

7

2

Touches*

50.5

41.3

Pass completion

82%

83%

Ball recoveries*

3.1

2.3

Tackles + interceptions*

2.4

2.0

Clearances*

6.3

5.0

Ground duels won*

2.0 (74%)

1.0 (42%)

Aerial duels won*

1.6 (53%)

1.9 (58%)

Branthwaite was out injured for the opening weeks of the campaign, and so Keane deputised alongside James Tarkowski in his stead.

When comparing the respective metrics across the 2024/25 campaign, it becomes clear Keane is dramatically outstripped by his younger peer in relation to defensive security. To his credit, he does have a shrewd eye for goal.

Failing to match Branthwaite isn’t of itself to Keane’s detriment, but he’s long been at odds with fans’ satisfaction, with talkSPORT pundit Terry Groves even commenting that he’s “always struggling.”

As per FBref, the dormant England international ranks among the bottom 18% of Premier League defenders this season for pass completion and the bottom 1% for progressive passes per 90.

While Everton hardly enforce possession-centric football, Keane has failed to uphold even the most rudimentary of ball-playing games. Branthwaite, by comparison, ranks among the bottom 21% of divisional defenders for progressive passes per 90, which is of course still low but indicates more initiative and enterprise on the ball.

And when considering the fact that he earns about £80k per week for the Blues, it becomes very clear that Keane needs to leave when his contract is up this summer.

Considering this, Keane has actually cost Everton more than £26m in wages since arriving from Burnley way back when. Though he’s made 226 appearances for the Toffees across his stay, his positive impact has been nominal in recent years, and it’s the right time to move on.

It’s been an eight-year stay at Goodison for this veteran, but his expiration will coincide with that of the club’s hallowed stomping ground. It’s for the best.

With West Ham United’s Vladimir Coufal on Everton’s radar as he nears the end of his contract at the London Stadium, Jake O’Brien may well find a more permanent home at centre-back, thus mitigating Keane’s potential departure. There would also, for sure, be a central fresh face brought in to deepen the ranks.

Keane still has gas left in the tank at 32 but certainly hasn’t proved in recent years that he is worthy of playing a significant part in the coming era.

Everton need to act with firm intent in the coming months; parting with Keane and replacing him with a younger, more exciting talent would issue a statement to hungry fans: this is a new era, and sights are set on lofty goals.

Moyes can forget Branthwaite by unleashing Everton's "special" academy gem

Everton might need a replacement for Branthwaite if he leaves

2 ByJoe Nuttall Mar 26, 2025

Stars were in the game at various points, but Murphy first and then Vince and Hughes took the game away from them

AAP06-Jan-2024

Opener James Vince and No. 3 Daniel Hughes were dominant, leading Sydney Sixers to an easy BBL win over Melbourne Stars. Chasing Stars’ 156 for 4 on Saturday night at the MCG, Sixers got past the target with 11 balls and seven wickets left.The result lifted Sixers to second place, and broke a run of rain-affected games and Stars’ four-game winning streak. It’s an important result, with Sixers third and Stars fourth on eight points apiece going into the game.Vince and Hughes put on 99 for the second wicket off 67 balls to take the game away from Stars. Vince top-scored with 79 from 57 balls, with 12 fours, while Hughes made 41 from 32 balls four fours and a six.The game was evenly poised midway through the Sixers’ innings, at 68 for 1 in comparison to Stars’ 81 for 3 at the same stage. But Sixers were 128 when Hughes was dismissed at the end of the 15th over and the match was as good as over.Scott Boland returned for Stars and took 2 for 38 from his four overs.Earlier, Sixers won the toss and after Glenn Maxwell threatened one of his special innings that would have torn the match apart, Todd Murphy responded with an outstanding spell in which he claimed the crucial wicket of the big-hitting Stars captain.Todd Murphy was outstanding, keeping things tight and picking up the wickets of Glenn Maxwell and Beau Webster•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Maxwell came to the crease with his side in early trouble at 41 for 2 in the sixth over.He quickly went on the warpath and belted four fours and two sixes in his 31 from 14 balls before Murphy struck – Murphy enticed Maxwell with a wide ball and Sean Abbott caught him at deep cover.Murphy was outstanding, also bowling the in-form Beau Webster for a duck in his 2 for 15 from four overs.After opener Dan Lawrence was dismissed for 36 in the 14th over, Marcus Stoinis and Hilton Cartwright struggled to find the boundary with any regularity in their 56-run partnership. Cartwright hit a six into the second tier of the Shane Warne Stand off Abbott at the end of the 19th over, before he and Stoinis added some much-needed meat to the innings with three fours in the last over.Stoinis scored 34 from 30 balls and Cartwright made 29 from 22.Stars were without wicketkeeper Sam Harper, who was hit on the head while batting at Friday training, but is now out of the hospital. Peter Handscomb took his place behind the wickets as Stars also welcomed back Boland, while Sixers brought back Hughes to great effect.

Matt Parkinson claimed four wickets and took a brilliant catch to hand promotion-chasing Durham a strong start to their LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two clash after bowling out Sussex for 266 on day one.Sussex openers Tom Haines and Tom Clark put on 110 for the opening stand in a wicketless first session for the hosts. But, Parkinson turned the momentum of the day by removing Haines for 51 with a sensational diving grab before he tore through the middle order, including the prized wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara.Tom Alsop top-scored with 59 for the visitors, but Ben Raine and Matthew Potts were on their mettle with the new ball to clean up the Sussex tail, who lost all 10 wickets for 156 runs in the afternoon and evening sessions.The visitors won the toss and elected the bat on the same wicket used in England’s T20I win over New Zealand on Wednesday. Haines struggled to get off the mark, enduring a 21-ball wait to notch his first runs of the morning. Those runs came with the element of fortune edging a Potts delivery through the slip cordon to the boundary.Clark battled the Durham attack and took a blow from Potts to the body. His composure took a slight knock when Bas de Leede found his outside edge, but Robinson put down the opener on 22 with a sharp chance to his left.The Sussex openers found their timing as the morning progressed, ending the first session solidly by bringing up the century stand. Haines secured his fifth half-century of the term by striking Raine’s first ball of the afternoon through cover to the fence. Clark followed suit with his fifty from 99 deliveries, presenting the visitors with a promising platform.But, Parkinson led the Durham fightback in the afternoon session as Sussex lost four wickets for 52 runs. First in the field, he claimed a brilliant diving catch at fine leg running 20 yards to dismiss Haines for 51. He then struck with his first ball from the Lumley End, prising out Clark for 58 as Potts secured the catch at first slip.Parkinson’s accuracy and drift caused Pujara problems as the India international survived a stumping appeal from Robinson before he drilled the next delivery straight to Graham Clark at short cover. The procession continued from Sussex with James Coles handing Parkinson his third on a pitch proving more than helpful for the spinners on the first day.Parkinson’s day could have improved further, but he put down a quick return chance from Alsop on 24. The Sussex man made the most of his reprieve and pressed on to his third half-century of the season, sharing a vital stand of 59 with Oli Carter. George Drissell broke the partnership with his first wicket in first-class cricket for Durham, earning his reward for a tight line.Durham turned a solid day into an impressive outing after taking the new ball. Raine ended Alsop’s resistance for 59, earning his 50th wicket of the season as the left-hander became the third Sussex batter to reach fifty and fail to kick on.Potts collected his first two wickets of the day to remove Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Jack Carson, while Parkinson closed out the Sussex innings as Jaydev Unadkat was caught on the fence. The visitors lost their final five wickets for just 19 runs, failing to capitalise on the platform provided by Haines and Clark at the top of the order. Durham ended the evening six without loss, 260 behind Sussex heading into day two.

Northern Superchargers have progressed to the final of the women’s Hundred after their Eliminator with Welsh Fire was abandoned during a torrential downpour at the Kia Oval.Superchargers, who will play Southern Brave at Lord’s on Sunday, progressed by virtue of finishing second in the group stage. It was a position they sealed by beating Fire on Tuesday in both teams’ last match of the group stages, taking Superchargers to 12 points, one ahead of their opponents.The Eliminator had already been reduced to a 95-ball affair after rain pushed back the start by 45 minutes. And the agony for Fire, who finished bottom in the first two editions, is that the strong progress they made to reach 104 for 2 after 75 deliveries, having won the toss and opted to bat first, was ultimately for nothing.An engaging 38 from Sophia Dunkley set up a platform of 59 for the first wicket, before fellow opener and Fire skipper Tammy Beaumont – 37 not out off 30 – prepared for a late assault with Laura Harris, who had 14 from 5 balls. At that point, standing umpires Sue Redfern and Mark Newell opted to take the players off the field due to the threat of lightning in the area.In accordance with the playing conditions, the players were only permitted to return to the field once officials were confident the storm had passed. However heavy rain set in, bringing the Fire innings to a close, before the match was called off at 4.41pm local time, 30 minutes before the latest time Fire’s 25-ball second innings was permitted to start.”You never want the result to go into a final to be how it is today,” Hollie Armitage, Superchargers captain, said. “But I think that shows why finishing second is so important, just like finishing first and going straight to the final. Obviously, it is a little bit bittersweet, but we’re happy to be on the side that’s going to Lord’s tomorrow.”We’ve won six out of eight games in the group stage and that’s why the group stages are so important. You’ve got to treat every game as a final so you can try and finish at the top of the table, which was obviously our ambition. But luckily today, by finishing second, it’s going to take us to the final.”Having finished bottom in both of the first two editions, Fire’s about-turn, in tandem with their men’s team, has been one of the stories of 2023. To have their tournament ended in such fashion was a tough pill to swallow.”Devastated, absolutely devastated for the girls,” Beaumont said. “The game was going nicely towards what would have been a decent total and I would have backed the girls to defend anything. It would have been easier to take had we been absolutely thrashed or beaten in a close one and actually lost the game.”To go on previous results and table finishes is tough. Everyone is absolutely devastated. But that is cricket. You can’t book the weather. It’s been a pretty poor summer on the weather front, hasn’t it? Sport is cruel, isn’t it?”Rules are rules, aren’t they? At the end of the day, if we’d have won at Headingley on Tuesday and finished second we wouldn’t have been complaining.”Asked if, like the final, the Eliminator should have a reserve day, Beaumont was phlegmatic. Though Fire ended up on the wrong side of the calculations here, she appreciates the nature of the Hundred, and indeed a point of difference with other franchise competitions around the world, is its compact schedule.”They want The Hundred to be condensed and I think that is what sets it apart from any other competition. Just eight games and an Eliminator and final – that is what makes it good.”You hear people saying the Big Bash is too long, the IPL being far too long, the games and the format. In terms of the women’s team, they’ve had the same overseas players throughout and that is what makes it good. [With reserve days] it would have to be another four days. That is pretty good – it has just stitched us up this time.”

Leeds United are considering sacking Daniel Farke in what could prove to be a hugely controversial move after their promotion to the Premier League.

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• Farke could be sacked
• Leeds have confirmed their promotion
• Farke's Premier League record a concern

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per the Daily Mail, Leeds are considering a move to sack Farke despite the club winning promotion to the Premier League. They claim that the club have reservations about the manager's record in the Premier League. He has twice led Norwich to promotion, and has now done so again with Leeds, but in his first full season in the Premier League, Norwich finished bottom. His second season in the top-flight saw him sacked in November, with his Canaries taking five points from 11 games.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Leeds are not likely to make a change unless they can line up a replacement they believe guarantees success. They are also acutely aware that any move to sack a manager who has just won promotion could prove hugely controversial, especially if the club fail to get off to a strong start in the top-flight.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Leeds won promotion over the Easter bank holiday weekend, as they beat Stoke City 6-0. They have two games remaining, against Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle, as the club aim to be crowned champions.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Farke will take charge of the final two games of the season before learning of Leeds' plans for the summer. They are expected to invest heavily ahead of their top-flight return.