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They are the only two players in Bangladesh’s squad who have toured Pakistan before, back in 2008

Mohammad Isam21-Jan-2020

Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal are the only two cricketers in Bangladesh’s T20I squad for the three-match series in Pakistan, who have toured the country before, back in 2008.It goes without saying that in the absence Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza, a large part of the responsibility will have to be shouldered by those two.Mahmudullah, the T20I captain, has been the side’s designated big-hitter in the slog overs in the last four years, having re-engineered his batting for the shortest format with a lot of success. But in the absence of Mushfiqur, it remains to be seen if Mahmudullah will continue to hold on to that role in the middle overs.Ideally, Mahmudullah is best suited for the last six to seven overs, while Tamim is usually trusted to give the team a sound start, with the likes of Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar batting around him.Unsurprisingly, Mahmudullah believes that he and Tamim will have to take charge of the batting line-up as they have done before, but this time there is going to be a heightened sense of responsibility.”Tamim and I both feel that we have a little more responsibility,” Mahmuudllah said. “Tamim’s experience would matter a lot in the top order. He is in good rhythm, having made runs in the BPL. I will also try to fulfill my responsibilities too. My role would be to bat deep. The others are already adapting mentally that they may have to bat out of position in this series.”Bangladesh’s coach Russell Domingo has already mentioned that nearly all batsmen in the team may have to bat out of position, and Mahmudullah said that someone like Afif Hossain could get a top-order spot after he had done well as an opener for BPL champions Rajshahi Royals.”Afif played in the middle order in the last two series, but he batted well in the top order in the BPL. Some of the top or middle-order batsmen may have to bat down the order.”It is important to cope with the mentality, but I think every player knows how much effort one is giving in the match or at practice, is the most important factor.”Mahmudullah is also banking on an experienced pace attack that includes Shafiul Islam and Al-Amin Hossain, both of who performed quite well in India, as well as a revamped Mustafizur Rahman, who just took 20 wickets in the BPL. Bangladesh have also included Rubel Hossain and newcomer Hasan Mahmud in their attack. However, in a rare move, the team did not select a left-arm spinner for the squad.”Having a proper variety of pace bowlers makes a lot of difference in T20s,” Mahmudullah said. “Plus, spinners won’t really come into play in Australia (for the World T20) so you are seeing a number of pace bowlers in the squad. Rubel, Al-Amin, Shafiul and Mustafizur have done well in the BPL.”They provide variety to our bowling attack. I am not too worried about the lack of a spinner. I think probably our pace bowling attack is more experienced, and I will rely on them.”Mahmudullah also said that Bangladesh will not change their approach to the series despite Pakistan’s dismal form of late in T20Is. He believes the team’s best bet would be to utilise all the players who are in good nick with bat and ball from the BPL.”Everyone in the squad has done well in the BPL. I am confident with my team. We have to see how well we can apply ourselves in Pakistan.”Pakistan may have not played up to potential in the last few series but they are a strong side. I am sure they are concerned about their series loss to Sri Lanka. But we are focused on our game. We must utilise the number of in-form cricketers we have in the squad. If we play to our potential, we can win the series.”

Although the present isn’t quite so brilliant at Manchester United, the future certainly looks extremely bright.

The star leading the rebuild will most definitely be Kobbie Mainoo, who’s been absolutely fantastic since breaking into the first team.

The 18-year-old has now started 18 Premier League games this season after making his debut against Everton in November, and has even made his England debut.

However, there’s a young talent in the United academy who has the potential to be the best talent since Mainoo, while also potentially ending up being a successor to Rasmus Hojlund.

Rasmus Hojlund’s first campaign at United in numbers

With the pressure of a £72m price tag on his shoulders and the demand to instantly succeed, Hojlund initially struggled to adapt to the Premier League.

Fast forward to today, and the Dane has seven goals and two assists in the English top flight, but his output has dried up in recent weeks.

The 21-year-old now hasn’t scored in all of United’s last four Premier League games, but he spends most of his time on the field chasing shadows and receiving no service whatsoever.

Had there been a replacement in the squad for Hojlund, he may have been rotated, but there’s no doubt that he has the potential to lead the line for years to come, and he may have some competition via an academy player extremely soon.

Related Man Utd were rinsed by flop who earned more than Hojlund & Fernandes

The exceptionally gifted star drained the Red Devils and offered very little in return.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 22, 2024 Ethan Wheatley could be up next

Ethan Wheatley isn’t a name that many of the United faithful will have heard before, but the 18-year-old made his first matchday squad against Bournemouth at the weekend.

The academy star is a relentless centre forward who’s thrived in the U21s and the U19s this season, and he certainly loves to score goals.

The number 84 has played 25 games across all competitions this season, boasting a record of 11 goals and also registering four assists, which is a fantastic return.

Earlier this season, Wheatley particularly impressed against København in the UEFA Youth League when he scored and assisted in a 2-2 draw, which proves he can provide much more than just goals.

As you can see from the clip above, Wheatley is an extremely dynamic striker who’s comfortable on the half-turn while having the confidence to unleash a strike from range.

It also highlights that he’s the type of forward who can create moments of magic out of nothing, even if there’s a lack of supply, which is an aspect that even Hojlund needs to develop.

However, he also has the characteristics of a goal-poacher, using clever movement to buy himself a yard of space in the box, where he often finds the back of the net.

Overall, the “sensational” attacker, as dubbed by Statman Dave, has an extremely bright future ahead of him, and Erik ten Hag has shown how keen he is to integrate him into the first team setup.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

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أعرب إسلام الشاطر مدير منتخب مصر للشباب تحت 20 عامًا، عن سعادته بالفوز الذي حققوه الفراعنة الصغار على المنتخب الليبي بهدفين مقابل هدف، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة شمال إفريقيا.

وحل منتخب ليبيا ضيفاً على نظيره المصري، على استاد هيئة قناة السويس، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من بطولة شمال إفريقيا.

وقال إسلام الشاطر في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “أبارك لمنتخبنا ولكن حتى الآن لم يحدث شيء، حققنا ثلاثة نقاط، ووجهة نظري كان ممكن أن نفوز بعدد كبير من الأهداف ولكن التوتر الواضح على اللاعبين فارق جدًا، نتمنى التوفيق في نتائج المباريات المتبقية للمنتخبات، ونحقق الفوز على تونس”.

طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | منتخب مصر يخطف فوزًا قاتلًا من ليبيا ويبقي على آماله للتأهل إلى أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عامًا

وتابع: “يوجد ضغط مباريات، خضنا 3 لقاءات في أقل من تسعة أيام، هذا شيء صعب جدًا، اللاعبون بذلوا مجهودًا كبيرًا جدًا”.

وأتم: “شكرًا جدًا على الحضور الجماهيري وأتمنى كل جماهير الإسماعيلي والمصري يكونون حاضرين يوم 26 الساعة السادسة”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O empate do Santos contra o Sport por 0 a 0, na Vila Belmiro, na noite desta quarta-feira, fez o volante Camacho relembrar a partida contra o Juventude, na terceira rodada do Brasileirão.

RelacionadasSantosATUAÇÕES: Santos tem noite apagada em empate sem gol contra o SportSantos30/06/2021SantosSem inspiração, Santos só empata com o Sport na Vila BelmiroSantos30/06/2021

Na oportunidade, o Peixe também teve dificuldade em furar a marcação do adversário e, com isso, o jogo acabou empatado sem gols naquela oportunidade.

– Tínhamos que ganhar. Não entramos nessa retranca nesses dois jogos (Sport e Juventude). Jogo era pelo lado, meio estava afunilado. Cruzamos muito e chutamos pouco. Não quiseram jogar, fizeram cera e juiz foi conivente, mas temos que aprender a jogar assim – disse Camacho.

O Santos agora enfrenta o América Mineiro, fora de casa, na nona rodada do Campeonato. Como visitante, o Peixe tem duas derrotas e um empate. Já o Coelho ainda não venceu em seus domínios, mas nessa quarta-feira o time ganhou do Bahia jogando em Salvador.

Saqib Mahmood drafted into Test squad after latest set-back for England fast bowler

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Feb-20201:41

EXCLUSIVE: Archer: It’s not Root’s fault I’m injured

Mark Wood’s injury-plagued career has suffered another massive setback, with the news that he will miss England’s Test tour of Sri Lanka after the re-occurrence of a left side strain.Wood was England’s stand-out seamer on the recent tour of South Africa, claiming 12 wickets in his two appearances at Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg. He was named Man of the Match for his career-best haul of 9 for 100 in England’s 191-run victory in the latter, which came in bursts of raw speed that consistently topped 90mph.However, Wood came into the tour having not played competitively since sustaining another side strain during England’s World Cup final victory over New Zealand at Lord’s in July, and he might not even have featured at the Wanderers had it not been for Jofra Archer pulling out on the morning of the fourth Test with what was later diagnosed as a fractured elbow.According to the ECB, Wood sustained this latest injury at the end of the South Africa tour – he also featured in the three-match T20I series, having rested during the ODIs – and after undergoing several scans in London, a small tear to his left side was confirmed.He has been replaced on the Sri Lanka tour by the young Lancashire pace bowler, Saqib Mahmood, who will link up with the squad ahead of their departure for Sri Lanka on Monday.Wood in the meantime will embark on another injury rehabilitation programme, working with England and Durham medical teams respectively, with his next goal being England’s home Test campaign against West Indies, which begins at The Oval on June 4.He has had a terrible run of injury misfortune since making his Test debut in 2015, undergoing three ankle operations, and featuring in just 15 Tests in five years. His two Test appearances in South Africa were his first back-to-back Tests since July 2017.Though a change to a longer, more rhythmic run-up has helped to take some of the strain off Wood’s body, the effort required to touch speeds that few English bowlers have ever matched is still palpable.However, this latest setback means that there will be more questions asked of England’s management of their fast bowlers, with Archer also ruled out of the Sri Lanka tour, along with James Anderson, despite his recent insistence that the broken rib that ended his South Africa tour after two Tests is on the mend.Joe Root, in particular, has come under criticism for his handling of England’s fast bowlers, with Archer bowling 42 overs for a solitary wicket on a flat deck at Mount Maunganui in November.Archer himself, however, has defended his captain, in an extended interview with ESPNcricinfo, due to be aired next month.”It’s not his fault I’m injured,” Archer said. “I’ve seen that said a lot actually. It’s not my fault, it’s not anyone’s fault. If everyone knew when they were going to get injured, then there wouldn’t be physiotherapists, there wouldn’t be any injuries really.”I don’t like it when people get blamed wrongfully. It’s hard work being captain, being a relied-on batter as well, it all comes with its own pressures. I don’t think anyone needs additional pressures which will hamper them, and evidently, hamper the team.”I always say you look out for who looks out for you, and I guess the team has a big part to play in that as well,” he added. “If everyone knows what they have to do, then he doesn’t have to repeat that and he can spend that time focussing his energy elsewhere. So it makes the team more efficient”He is a good leader, and we’ve got a good bunch of boys who want to be led as well.”

West Ham United have already begun their hunt for a new manager, it has been reported, and have even gone on to make an early offer for their David Moyes replacement.

Moyes going down swinging

Despite constant speculation about his future, West Ham boss David Moyes isn't going down without a fight, and neither are his side. A late Michail Antonio header helped them hold Liverpool to a point at the London Stadium, and effectively ended Liverpool's Premier League title hopes in the process.

A point didn't really help either side though, with West Ham now sitting four points behind Newcastle United in the Premier League having played a game more.

The Reds will be hunting for a new manager at the end of the season with Jurgen Klopp's departure, and there appears to be a strong possibility that the east Londoners may be doing so too, with Moyes set to be out of contract as things stand.

New manager offer made but move unlikely

Now, reports have once again linked the Hammers with a replacement for Moyes, and even goes as far to suggest that the Londoners have made an offer. The man in question? Ex-Sevilla, Spain and Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, who has been out of work since leaving the Molineux outfit days before the new season.

There had already been reports of talks, but now Italian sources [via Sport Witness] claim that the Hammers have put forward an offer for the ex-Real Madrid boss. Not just any offer either. They claim that David Sullivan has tabled a ‘rich offer’ for his services this summer.

However, a move seemingly remains unlikely, with the report going on to note that Lopetegui prefers the opportunity to manage AC Milan, which is another option for him at present with current boss Stefano Pioli expected to leave San Siro this summer.

Related West Ham could take Kudus to new heights with "perfect" Amorim alternative

This tactician would be a fantastic alternative to Ruben Amorim

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Apr 27, 2024

And some in Milan are keen to see him arrive, with former Rossoneri star Filippo Galli singing Lopetegui's praises: "It’s true, things didn’t go well for him at Madrid and Porto, but as coach of Spain they achieved great results, offering spectacular football, and he won with Sevilla.

"Let’s not forget that he belongs to the Basque school, from Xabi Alonso to Arteta and Unai Emery, many are doing very well. Lopetegui is a modern coach, who builds his teams according to the principles of positional football."

Moyes vs Lopetegui in the Premier League

David Moyes

Julen Lopetegui

Games managed

694

27

Win %

39%

37%

Points per game

1.42

1.3

Goals scored per game

1.35

1.15

Goals conceded per game

1.3

1.56

Meanwhile, there isn't consensus over Lopetegui moving back to England, and The Guardian add that "key figures at the London Stadium are understood to be split on whether the former Spain and Real Madrid manager is the right man to replace Moyes".

They even add that there is still a glimmer of hope for Moyes, and that the Hammers could make "a late U-turn", though at this point there seems to have been too much smoke not to be fire regarding his departure.

كشفت صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية عن اجتماع هام سيجمع بين مدرب ريال مدريد، كارلو أنشيلوتي، ورئيس النادي، فلورنتينو بيريز، بعد السقوط أمام ليفربول في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وعاد ريال مدريد إلى نتائجه السيئة في البطولة القارية بعد الخسارة ضد ميلان بالجولة الماضية ليتصعب موقفه بالتأهل إلى دور الـ16، حيث يحتل الفريق المركز الرابع والعشرين من جدول الترتيب.

مستوى ريال مدريد كان سيئًا للغاية وهو ما دفع فلورنتينو بيريز لاستدعاء أنشيلوتي في اجتماع عاجل قبل العودة إلى الدوري الإسباني ومباراة خيتافي المقبلة.

وأفادت الصحيفة أن الاجتماع متكرر في هذا الموسم خاصة وأنه دائمًا ما يأتي بعد النتائج السيئة التي يحققها الفريق، سيخبر كل طرف الآخر بما يفكر فيه بشأن العمل المنجز في الفترة الماضية.

اقرأ أيضًا | مبابي يقودنا للهاوية.. جنون الصحافة الإسبانية بعد سقوط ريال مدريد أمام ليفربول

وسيتم الكشف عن مقياس الثقة بين الطرفين والذي لم يكن موضع شك حتى الآن بين الجانبيين حيث ترى الإدارة أن الهزيمة في “أنفيلد” لم تكن بسبب قلة الرغبة من جانب اللاعبين أو المدرب في الفوز.

حيث كانت هناك ردة فعل قوية وإيجابية بعد الخسارة أمام ميلان في الجولة الماضية، بجانب أنه إذا أحرز مبابي ركلة الجزاء لكانت أمورًا كثيرة قد تغيرت.

لكن هناك حزن بالفعل كبير من جانب الإدارة لأن الفريق على حافة الهاوية، مع الانتقادات التي يتلقونها بسبب عدم التدعيم بالصفقات خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية والإصابات التي تعرض لها العديد من اللاعبين مع عدم وجود بدائل.

لأن في كل مباراة يسقط لاعب أو آخر في إصابة كما حدث بالأمس مع إدواردو كامافينجا أمام ليفربول ولم يُعلن حتى الآن عن نتائج فحوصاته الطبية.

Liverpool squandered a two-goal lead late in Jurgen Klopp's penultimate match as the club's manager as Aston Villa fought tooth and nail to secure a draw in the Premier League and step closer toward Champions League qualification, eventually drawing 3-3.

There's been an acute drop-off within this talented Liverpool side in the past few months, who, let's be honest, were performing above expectations for much of this emotional campaign, turbo-charged by the brilliant guiding light of Klopp's swansong.

Frailties were glaring at Villa Park, but so too were the strengths and the style of a team still developing, yet to enter its new era under Arne Slot.

The future of vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold remains up in the air, out of contract at the end of the 2024/25 season and reportedly attracting ominous attention from Real Madrid, and while he's a world-class player, he will be displeased with his effort against Unai Emery's side.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's performance vs Villa

Alexander-Arnold has endured a bit of a frustrating campaign for Liverpool, producing some resounding performances when Klopp's team was at its best throughout the opening half of the campaign before falling prey to injuries that have disrupted much of the latter half of the term.

Still, he's bagged three goals and nine assists in all competitions and has started Liverpool's past five top-flight fixtures, but he flattered to deceive against the Villans.

Trent Alexander-Arnold: Stats vs Aston Villa

Stat

#

Minutes played

90'

Touches

82

Accurate passes

49/58 (84%)

Shots on target

1

Shots off target

1

Key passes

1

Possession lost

16x

Tackles

1

Interceptions

2

Error leading to shot

1

Duels won

1/7

Dribbled past

5x

Sourced via Sofascore

It wasn't a dreadful display but it did leave plenty to be desired, with The Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle handing the creative full-back a 6/10 match rating, noting his early attempts to push forward and affect the play but gradual shift into a more defensive role to deal with the hosts' advances.

The reporter wrote: 'Regularly drifted into a central midfield position early on but forced into more defending before break and second half more one of attrition. Denied by Martinez with one thunderbolt.'

But Doyle's thoughts do not hone in on the dismal defensive efforts that allowed Villa to slice through the Reds' defence with ease at times, winning just one duel out of seven battles all night and also being dribbled past five times.

The 25-year-old also made an error and created just one key pass. He might have fired a ferocious strike at Emiliano Martinez but this was not a good demonstration of his superabundance of talent.

As The Athletic's James Pearce aptly puts it: "Defensive issues for Slot to address this summer. One clean sheet in the last 16 PL games tells a story."

Last season, a horribly substandard and disjointed Liverpool side shipped 47 goals in the Premier League; this term, if a clean sheet is kept against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the closing day of the campaign this weekend, that figure will have been bettered only by six.

There is much work to do, and while Slot and all involved at Liverpool would despair at the thought of Alexander-Arnold plying his trade elsewhere, he will need to improve in the defensive third – this felt like something of a regression.

Related Darwin Nunez axed, £180m trio sign: Arne Slot's dream XI at Liverpool

Things could be looking rather different at Anfield come August.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair May 9, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

Embora o Corinthians tenha conquistado uma importante vitória ao bater a Chapecoense por 1 a 0, nesta quinta-feira, o torcedor não gostou muito da pressão sofrida pelo time no fim do jogo, que exigiu que Cássio fizesse duas defesas para garantir os três pontos. Por essas e outras, Sylvinho precisou explicar o que causou o “sufoco” e afirmou que a equipe tem muito a melhorar.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVídeoVÍDEO: Assista ao gol de Jô na vitória do Corinthians sobre a ChapecoenseVídeo09/07/2021CorinthiansCantillo sofre entorse no tornozelo e vira dúvida no CorinthiansCorinthians08/07/2021CorinthiansJô comemora gol da vitória sobre a Chape e a volta da boa fase pelo Corinthians: ‘Nunca desisti’Corinthians08/07/2021

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

GALERIA
> Veja 30 técnicos brasileiros que estão sem clube

Em entrevista coletiva após a partida pela 10ª rodada do Brasileirão-2021, o técnico corintiano analisou a atuação do time na Arena Condá e viu bons momentos durante o duelo, até com a possibilidade de aumentar o placar. Com o desgaste físico e mental, a equipe acabou recuando e dando campo para o adversário levar perigo na busca pelo gol de empate no fim.

-Nós tivemos um primeiro tempo muito bom, jogando no campo do adversário por muito tempo, em busca de um gol, tivemos várias ocasiões e isso causa um grande desgaste físico e às vezes mental, porque você faz força, tem ocasiões de gols e não consegue estar em vantagem no marcador. No segundo tempo nós voltamos bem novamente para o jogo, sabíamos que dependíamos de um nível de concentração e entrega maior e conseguimos um gol. Tínhamos a condição de fechar o marcador e não fizemos – disse antes de completar:

-Time sente, sim, mas não é físico, é uma queda de muitas vezes de você não terminar o resultado, não fazer o gol e não fechar partida e manter o resultado aberto. Resultado perigoso, difícil, você continua atacando, com as possibilidades, mas o adversário também, faz mudanças, coloca mais jogadores na área e em qualquer bola longa, cruzamento, pode empatar o jogo. Foi em decorrência do desgaste e não fechar a partida antes.

Apesar da pressão sofrida, o Corinthians saiu de campo mais uma vez sem ser derrotado. Agora são seis partidas de invencibilidade com Sylvinho, que fez uma análise de seu trabalho até aqui em meio a uma maratona de jogos. Para ele, já há uma nítida evolução do trabalho, mas ainda há muito a melhorar.

-Nem conto os 12 (jogos), porque no dia a dia de trabalho, desde que cheguei é quarta e domingo, como não dá nem tempo de contar nada, nem menos a invencibilidade. Um time que está melhorando, organizando, tem muita coisa para fazer e melhorar. Atleta se entregando já o que a gente quer. Estamos acelerando etapas, mas não se pula. Mensagens que tem que ser dadas com o tempo em que seguir trabalhando. Feliz com as respostas que os atletas têm dado, de muita entrega, entendimento de conceitos e ideias. Bom, mas tudo o que é bom tem que ser melhor e a gente tem que melhorar bastante – concluiu.

O Corinthians agora viaja para Fortaleza, onde enfrenta o time Fortaleza, no Castelão, no próximo domingo, às 20h30, pela 11ª rodada do Brasileirão-2021. Com a vitória sobre a Chape, o Timão foi a 14 pontos e subiu para o 10º lugar.

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Protocols spell out contingencies for full return, as players prepare for socially distanced training

George Dobell13-May-2020All players and support staff at the elite level of sport must be allowed to opt out of a return to action during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to government guidelines released today.The policy, which covers all elite, adult athletes in the UK, was unveiled among a raft of protocols issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on Wednesday as part of an attempt to coordinate the resumption of elite sporting training ahead of a return to competitive sport.While it would appear to bring the return of sport – at least at elite level – closer, it does make clear that a return to group training – “social clustering”, as the document puts it – will only be allowed as a second step once Public Health England (PHE) permits it. Step one will see athletes training alone or at a safe distance from support staff or fellow players.Among the guidelines is a demand that players and support staff must “have actively opted in” and “understood the sport specific risks” before they return to training. And it states all involved should be entitled to opt out “at any time without unreasonable steps being taken against them consequently”.”All athletes and support staff should be engaged in a 1:1 check-in prior to resumption of organised step one training to ensure they have understood the sport specific risks and mitigations, training site protocols in place, are physically and mentally well enough to engage in return to training and have actively ‘opted in’ to engaging in step one return to training,” the document states.”It will be for individual sports to agree with their athletes any conditions for their return. All athletes and staff should also be clear on their route to ‘opt out’ of the organised training environment under Step One conditions at any time without unreasonable steps being taken against them consequently.”ALSO READ: Closed doors open opportunities for fringe players – Mo BobatThe ECB issued similar guidance to players ahead of the tour to Bangladesh in 2016. Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales both opted out due to security concerns without it compromising their long-term role in the team.On this occasion, players will be briefed in detail on what conditions inside a training camp might look like before they are asked to consider their involvement. While few of the players – Jack Leach is a possible exception – would be considered vulnerable, the mental and physical welfare of relatives will also come into consideration. It may be relevant that England returned from their Sri Lanka tour not because of fear of infection in the country – the UK has, at this stage, been hit harder by the virus – but because it was felt that, at a time of anxiety, players wanted to be with their families.The DCMS recommendations, which have been compiled after consultation with PHE and major sporting governing bodies, come as the ECB are expected to out-line individual training plans for prospective England players on Thursday. Some players – notably the bowlers – are expected to return to training within days, with a hope that the squad will be able to train together in the coming weeks. The ECB remain keen to fulfil as much of the international season as possible with July 8 the preferred start date.Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy walk out to bat•Getty Images

As a first step, however, it will be necessary for all involved to adhere to current social distancing guidelines. Players and support staff will also need to be “formally appraised of the risks” of their involvement and must be screened for Covid-19 symptoms every time they arrive for training. Initially, at least, training sessions may feature one player, one coach and one medic with social distancing observed. Only as a move to “Step Two” will group training be permitted. No date has been published to indicate when step two might be anticipated.”A move to Step Two will be characterised by the allowance of a level of ‘social clustering’ within the training environment where small groups of athletes and staff will be able to interact in much closer contact (e.g. close quarters coaching, combat sports sparring, teams sports tackling, equipment sharing, etc),” the document states. “The additional guidance necessary for operating under step two will be finalised and communicated once when the government has agreed to move to this step, following advice from PHE and medical experts that it is safe to do so.”The ECB will also be required to demonstrate protocols about cleaning equipment and training facilities between usages and guarantee “minimum but necessary staffing levels” at every training session which is “calculated to balance training need, distancing protocols and reducing risk of burden to the NHS”.There is continuing sensitivity in cricket that any return to action should not come at the expense of medical attention provided to essential workers. To that end, all support staff – including cleaning staff, drivers and caters – should be issued with personal protective equipment (PPE) and have been as well appraised of the potential risks as the athletes they are serving.