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Leeds United are active in the market and have now held a meeting to sign a talented playmaker who they have been heavily linked with this window, per recent developments.

Daniel Farke set to make key Leeds United transfer decisions

While the window rumbles on, Daniel Farke has plenty of decisions to make at the Elland Road helm, including who to keep and who to sell from his existing squad.

Addressing the future of one star under the microscope, Farke has confirmed Jack Harrison could be a part of Leeds United’s plans this season if he is able to win back the trust of supporters after spending two years on loan at Everton.

He stated: “Jack has many Premier League appearances and we would be stupid if we didn’t want to use that. It is a bit tricky if you have a couple of years away but that was a decision before my time.

“Right now he is back with us. He is a great guy, a hard worker and very reliable. It is up to him to win the confidence and trust back.”

Nevertheless, Leeds United are expected to turn to the market for more reinforcements, and Leicester City’s James Justin could move to Elland Road as he enters the last year of his deal at the Foxes.

Terms agreed: "Dominant" £17m star says yes to signing for Leeds United

Leeds United appear to be closing in on their first signing of the summer window.

ByDan Emery Jun 15, 2025

Artem Dovbyk and Rodrigo Muniz are targets to strengthen Leeds’ forward line, albeit it remains to be seen whether Roma and Fulham, respectively, would be willing to let either leave for Yorkshire.

Focusing on the foil behind the strikeforce, Farke and the 49ers may now be closing in on a landmark deal for a statement addition, per reports.

Leeds hold meeting with camp of Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss

According to Sacha Tavolieri on X, Leeds have held a meeting with Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss’s camp, Stirr Associates, and they have indicated that they would be willing to pay the Morocco international’s £24.5 million release clause.

His agency also represent new Whites signing Sebastiaan Bornauw, which could open the door to a deal being done following their previous successful negotiations with one of their clients.

Labelled a “sensational prospect” by Ben Mattinson, El Khannouss registered three goals and six assists in 37 appearances last campaign as Leicester suffered relegation.

Crystal Palace are also interested in his services, though Tavolieri has confirmed that Oliver Glasner would need to sell Eberechi Eze before a transfer could become viable for the South London-based outfit.

Taking note, Leeds now appear to be in the box seat to bring El Khannouss to Elland Road, providing they can navigate all moving parts of an evolving situation.

Bayern Munich chief Uli Hoeness says the club's cash position is as important as its sporting success while pointing out Barcelona's huge debt.

• President says club needs act cautiously
• Believes burning cash can lead to huge debts
• Claims club's transfer choices are collective decision

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bayern have been criticised for not spending enough in a transfer window for Vincent Kompany and Co. The German club's primary transfer targets – Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade – joined Liverpool and Newcastle respectively after multiple efforts were made to bring them to Allianz Arena. At the centre of this criticism is sporting director Max Eberl, who was reportedly expected to resign, given the limitations to the transfer budget. Board member and honorary president Hoeness dismisses these rumours, claiming Eberl's commitment was never an issue despite them having controversial discussions.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Critiqued for his missteps in transfer policies, financial management issues, and internal tensions, Eberl still retains official support, as Hoeness believes it was a difficult time for the sporting director given the pressure he was under. The club legend points out that Eberl does get "sensitive" in these matters, but one must understand that overspending can lead to nightmarish situations, providing the example of Barcelona's recklessness and overspending behaviour, which eventually resulted in them generating €1.2 billion (£1.04bn/$1.4bn) in debt.

• WHAT HOENESS SAID

  When asked to comment on Eberl's transfer business, the Bayern chief said on : "He would have liked to buy a player, but we know our cash position. In the end, that's just as important as sporting success. Barcelona sends its regards. If you buy, buy, buy… Suddenly you have 1.2 billion euros in debt. See you later.

  "Eberl often argued like mad with [board member] Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, but when the door closed behind us, it was okay again, Max is quite sensitive in that regard."

  Clearing the air around Eberl's resignation rumours, the ex-German international said: "If he thought that way, they'd have to ask him themselves. We [the supervisory board] naturally had controversial discussions, as always, but the Eberl issue was not an issue at all, whether they were parting ways with him or anything like that.

  "Eberl was constantly under pressure from outside. And it was always said: 'He didn't get him, he didn't get him'. There is no Eberl transfer, there is no Hoeness transfer, there is no Rummenigge transfer, but an FC Bayern transfer. FC Bayern buys players, not the individual. And if it doesn't work out, it's not the individual's fault, but all of us."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?

  Even though Bayern missed out on their primary targets, they eventually signed some good players, including Luis Diaz, Nicolas Jackson and Jonathan Tah. However, losing out on their dream deals, coupled with the club's reserved belief about overspending, speaks volumes about the shift in their standing in the transfer market.

Griffin coached Western Storm to two KSL titles in first of two stints in charge of regional side

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Oct-2024

Somerset have appointed Trevor Griffin as head coach of their women’s team. Griffin, who has signed a two-year deal, previously had two spells coaching Western Storm in the women’s regional structure.He oversaw Storm’s two Kia Super League successes between 2017 and 2019, before moving on to coach Sunrisers and London Spirit in the Hundred. He also had a four-season spell in charge of Sydney Thunder in the WBBL.A former district sales manager with Nationwide, Griffin took an unusual route into coaching, via the Devon Cricket Board, Chance to Shine, and the University of Exeter. He worked for Canterbury Cricket in New Zealand before being offered the job of analyst and assistant coach at Western Storm, and was subsequently promoted to head coach when Caroline Foster stepped down.Griffin returned to take charge of Storm in 2022 and will now oversee the reintegration between women’s cricket and the county game at Taunton.”I’m absolutely thrilled. To be the first Head Coach and lead Somerset Women into this new era is a huge honour and I’m really excited for the future,” Griffin said. “Women’s cricket is going from strength to strength, and we’ve seen tremendous growth in the southwest in recent years. To be able to build on this as we move forward with Somerset is incredibly motivating for staff and players alike.”Somerset has a great history of supporting women’s cricket, and I can’t wait to share our knowledge and experience and work alongside their staff and players as we build a women’s squad to compete for top honours, inspire others and entertain the fans.”Somerset director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said: “Trevor is a coach who has achieved domestic success both in England and in Australia. He has a really strong understanding of our domestic structure which will enable him to lead this team into an exciting new era for the women’s game.”He has built and developed key relationships with players and staff across the region during his time with Western Storm and he is someone who shares the values that we at Somerset adhere to both on and off the field.”Trevor is held in high regard by players and staff alike and we very much look forward to working with him as we commence our journey to build a team and a brand of cricket that competes on all fronts and inspires the next generation of players.”

Rangers finally have new owners, with the 49ers Enterprises completing a takeover, and the search for a new Ibrox manager is also finalised, with Russell Martin landing the permanent job.

Now, attention can turn to the transfer window, with the 49ers and Martin looking to bolster their squad ahead of the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership campaign.

The Gers have lifted just one league title win in 12 years, something Martin will be aiming to change, and to do so, may need to be active in the window.

A deal to sign Lyall Cameron from Dundee was agreed earlier in the year, but who else could join the midfielder in Glasgow?

The dream XI Martin could build at Rangers: Vardy and £15m duo all sign

Now that Rangers have officially appointed Russell Martin as their new manager, we assess the dream lineup the new boss could build at Ibrox.

1 Jun 5, 2025

Well, Grok, the AI tool on X, has predicted four more signings Rangers could make this summer ahead of Martin’s first season at Ibrox.

AI predicts 4 players Rangers will sign this summer 1 Almamy Toure Free agent

Starting off with a cut-price transfer for a versatile defender, Rangers have been linked with a move to sign Almamy Toure when he leaves FC Kaiserslautern this summer.

A Mali international who is primarily a centre-back, Toure could replace Leon Balogun who is leaving Ibrox when his deal runs out and a transfer was thought to be advancing last month.

Toure, who actually played for Eintracht Frankfurt against Rangers in the 2022 Europa League final, can also provide cover at right-back and Grok say that his ‘experience in European leagues aligns with Rangers’ need for reliable depth’.

2 Jamie Vardy Free agent

Another free transfer Rangers have been backed to make by Grok is Jamie Vardy. The experienced forward announced he will leave Leicester City towards the end of the Premier League season and the Scottish giants have been linked with a move.

Leicester City

200

Fleetwood Town

34

Halifax Town

3

England

7

The English striker picked up a whopping £140,000-a-week at the King Power Stadium, but Rangers have been weighing up making an offer for the 38-year-old. However, Grok also adds his ‘age and wage demands could be a hurdle’.

3 Joe Aribo Southampton

A player who both Rangers fans and Martin knows well is Joe Aribo, with Grok feeling the new Gers boss may look to reunite with a former player at Ibrox.

Sold to the Saints for an initial £6m, Grok say Aribo ‘could return for a second stint, bringing versatility and familiarity.’

Since moving to the south coast in 2022, the Nigeria international has gone on to make more than 100 appearances for Southampton but is set to be out of contract in 2026. And, with the Saints suffering relegation, a move back to Rangers may appeal to the versatile central midfielder.

4 Yusuf Kabadayi FC Augsburg

Finally, Rangers have been predicted to sign Yusuf Kabadayi, a player they were in for in 2024. There were claims the Gers were in pole position to sign the 21-year-old forward 12 months ago, however, he ended up moving to FC Augsburg instead.

Kabadayi would make just five Bundesliga appearances in 24/25 due to a serious knee injury, and as he’s under contract until 2028, a move does feel unlikely.

However, Grok say that Kabadayi’s ‘youth and potential fit Martin’s preference for dynamic, developing players’, although it could be putting two and two together from last year’s transfer rumour mill.

Pitches in St Lucia have been friendlier to batters than most in this World Cup, with three totals of 180 or more in four innings so far

S Sudarshanan17-Jun-20241:08

Will West Indies batters vs Afghanistan spinners decide the game?

Match detailsWest Indies vs Afghanistan
Gros Islet, 8.30pm localBig picture – Battle of two unbeaten teamsWith a line-up packed with power-hitters from top to bottom, West Indies have always been the prototype of a perfect T20 batting side, and it’s no different at T20 World Cup 2024. Add the incisive fast bowlers and effective spinners and they look like the team to beat.The balance of the Rovman-Powell-led team resembles the ones they had during their title-winning runs in 2012 and 2016. Samuel Badree gave them successful starts with the ball with his legspin then, a role Akeal Hosein has assumed this time with his left-arm orthodox. It may not be a mere coincidence that Daren Sammy, who captained West Indies to the title in those two editions, is at the helm as head coach now.Related

Hazratullah Zazai replaces injured Mujeeb in Afghanistan squad

Time for Johnson Charles to put on a show

With all Super Eight spots decided, West Indies’ clash against Afghanistan has little significance. But try telling that to the players that. “Momentum” and “pride” were the keywords in the pre-match press conference that Powell and Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott addressed.Afghanistan will have tough competition in the Super Eight round, having been clubbed alongside India, Australia and Bangladesh, and will want to carry positive vibes into it. Having enjoyed an unbeaten run thus far, neither team will want to trip up heading into the business end of the competition.Form guideWest Indies WWWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Afghanistan WWWWWIn the spotlight – Rovman Powell and Rashid KhanAmong those in the current squad, only Nicholas Pooran (1914) and Brandon King (1365) have more T20I runs for West Indies than Rovman Powell (1351). Pooran (487) and King (621) also are the top scorers for them in T20Is since January 2023 with Powell (461) at third. But Powell’s strike rate of 163.47 is far superior to that of the other two, which highlights his destructive powers. However, he is yet to fire in this World Cup – 39 runs in three matches at a strike rate of 105.40. A decent hit ahead of the Super Eight will bode well for the co-hosts.Rashid Khan has six wickets in this World Cup, and all of them have come in the middle overs. In his T20I career, he has only nine wickets in eight matches against West Indies. They are one of only four teams against whom Rashid averages in the 20s. But against a line-up dominated by right-hand batters, Rashid should be licking his lips to have a perfect outing.Will Rashid Khan be effective against West Indies’ power-hitters?•ICC via Getty Images

Team newsBarring any last-minute injuries, both teams are likely to be unchanged. It could perhaps be a last chance for Johnson Charles to come good, with Shai Hope waiting in the wings.West Indies (probable): 1 Brandon King, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 4 Roston Chase, 5 Rovman Powell (capt), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Sherfane Rutherford, 8 Akeal Hosein, 9 Romario Shepherd, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Gudakesh Motie.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Gulbadin Naib, 4 Azmatullah Omarzai, 5 Mohammad Nabi, 6 Najibullah Zadran, 7 Karim Janat, 8 Rashid Khan (capt), 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi.Pitch and conditionsThe pitches so far in Gros Islet have been more conducive for batting than most at this World Cup, with teams scoring 180 or more in three out of four innings. At this venue, teams generally prefer to bowl first after winning the toss. In 14 T20s since the start of 2022, only twice have teams opted to bat first. But the results have been mixed: teams batting first have won six times and teams bowling first have also won six times, while two games were washed out.There’s no threat of rain on Monday but expect it to be a bit windy, as was the case in the last two games here.1:34

Bishop: Hard to name someone with Farooqi’s skillset

Stats that matter Since the start of 2023, West Indies’ run rate of 11.94 in the death overs (17-20) is the highest among all participating teams in this World Cup. Afghanistan have been the most frugal spin-bowling team at this World Cup with an economy rate of 4.88. West Indies are next-best at 5.04. Rahmanullah Gurbaz has a strike rate of 148.48 (49 runs off 33 balls, one dismissal) against left-arm spin at this World Cup. With West Indies having Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie in their line-up, it will be an interesting match-up.Quotes”We start with Akeal Hosein. His strength is predominantly in the powerplay and while he does such good work in the powerplay, right as we come out the powerplay is Gudakesh Motie’s time. So it’s like Akeal Hosein passing the baton to Gudakesh Motie and it’s been very good so far. When we sat down as a selection group and picked the World Cup team, we picked both knowing the role that they would play on these Caribbean wickets.”
“I said to them, ‘When you were a youngster and I said you were going to play against West Indies in St Lucia in a World Cup, you would have bitten someone’s hand off for that opportunity. So don’t let this opportunity pass you by just because there’s nothing on the line with regards to qualification.”

It feels as if this summer is make-or-break for Ruben Amorim’s long-term future at Manchester United.

Amorim’s stint in charge to date hasn’t gone to plan whatsoever, with 17 wins and 17 defeats coming his way from 42 contests, culminating in the Red Devils having to stomach a shambolic 15th final place finish in the Premier League.

Therefore, the recruitment in and out of Old Trafford this chaotic transfer window has to be spot on, with the underperformers nearly nailing down the signature of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha to offer up at least one ray of much-needed positivity.

Unfortunately, that excitement has been short-lived as modern-day United great Bruno Fernandes now reportedly edges closer to the exit door. But his departure could be softened immediately by one bold replacement entering the Theatre of Dreams.

Man Utd lining up Fernandes replacement

The graphic above gives you just a flavour as to why the Portuguese ace leaving would be a disaster, with the 30-year-old just fresh off a combined 19 goals and assists in Premier League action, despite United sinking to 15th spot.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

But, Amorim and Co. would surely bounce back from Fernandes’ exit swiftly if they were successful in landing Sporting star Pedro Goncalves, with a new report from Portuguese outlet A Bola – via Sport Witness – indicating that he is being lined up as a like-for-like replacement.

The suggestion is that the Red Devils are ‘considering making an offer’ for the 26-year-old, with any move likely to be ramped if Fernandes departs – although it could still take place regardless.

Losing the experience United number eight to Al-Hilal for mega millions would be able to finance the deal, with the report further stating that Amorim’s ex-employers would only cash in if his €80m (£67m) release clause is met.

How Goncalves compares to Amad

Signed the exciting “creative force” – as he’s been glowingly branded by football analyst Ben Mattinson – wouldn’t be purchased to just plug the gap of Fernandes.

The former Wolves flop is also a tricky customer down the left or right flank, thus representing a potential upgrade down the channels than another of United’s bright gems in Amad Diallo.

Goncalves will be chomping at the bit to change his negative Wolves narrative if he does return to England, having already caused ripples when scoring this blinder away at Arsenal in 2023.

Amad has also had to bounce back from his own difficulties at Old Trafford, albeit while tallying up 11 goals and ten assists last season as the United ship regularly hit icebergs.

That said, the “incredible” Goncalves – as he has been praised by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – might well have the beating of the Ivorian down either channel or through the centre as a number ten when assessing his glittering career numbers in Lisbon.

LW

98

28

34

RW

55

34

9

CM

36

18

12

SS

3

1

0

AM

3

1

0

When assessing the table above, it’s clear how flexible Goncalves can be for the cause, with an amazingly high 30 goals and assists tallied up from 36 games centrally, on top of also registering a combined 105 goal contributions down either wing in the Portuguese capital.

On the flip side, Amad, who is still raw at an earlier stage in his career, has just 26 goal contributions overall when donning a Red Devils strip, meaning he might well have to forfeit some first-team action if the Bruno-like target does join the building.

The overriding anxiety will be that Goncalves has already flopped once in England, which could result in another high-profile failure coming up on his CV.

But, Fernandes entered the English game back in 2020 with a similar hype surrounding his name, having amassed an astounding 113 goals and assists from just 137 appearances for Sporting.

Consequently, it just feels written in the stars that this deal could go down as a similarly golden hit, as Goncalves aims to be a transformative figure that guides United to better days.

Not just Bruno: Man Utd star in talks to leave in another McTominay repeat

Manchester United could repeat their Scott McTominay disaster by selling this star.

ByDan Emery May 30, 2025

Nottingham Forest retain hope of claiming a Champions League slot and could look to sanction a statement deal this summer if they manage to pull off that feat at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest look to make a summer statement

The Tricky Trees have endured a frustrating few weeks in their hunt for continental qualification. However, they could still find a fairytale ending if Nuno Espirito Santo can rectify a run of one win in five matches. Inevitably, Nottingham Forest were going to drop points towards the business end of the season. Still, they have a favourable run-in compared to some of their direct competitors for a European slot.

Should they manage to secure a place in either the Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League, an exciting summer could lie in waiting at the City Ground and some intriguing targets are said to be on their radar.

Girona midfielder Yangel Herrera is on Nottingham Forest’s radar and could be an early contender to replace Morgan Gibbs-White, who is being lined up by Manchester City.

On the same token, the Tricky Trees are willing to make a significant offer to sign Juventus defender Federico Gatti, even if the Italy international is happy to remain in Turin as it stands.

Worth more than Anderson: Nottingham Forest have hit gold on "superb" star

Nottingham Forest have a player who’s now worth more than their two record additions.

ByEthan Lamb May 4, 2025

Evaluating the last couple of years, speculating to accumulate is a strategy that has worked in the Midlands. PSR regulations will need to be adhered to, but there are plenty of sellable assets to make up any shortfall if Nottingham Forest need to bite the bullet.

Now, Espirito Santo is plotting a move for a talented midfielder that could be open to a fresh challenge this summer, per developments.

Nottingham Forest turn attention to Liverpool's Harvey Elliott

According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest hold growing belief that they can sign Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott as his future at Anfield remains up for debate this summer.

Arne Slot is set to make a decision on the former Blackburn Rovers loan star. He is keen to play regular Premier League football at this stage of his career and is open to the possibility of switching sides once the window opens.

Harvey Elliott’s limited minutes in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

25

Goals

4

Assists

2

Nottingham Forest believe they could match Liverpool’s asking price of between £40 million and £50 million for the England Under-21 international. Intriguingly, he has emerged as a contingency plan if Gibbs-White were to join Manchester City as the Citizens plot how to replace outgoing legend Kevin De Bruyne.

Labelled “exceptional” by Rio Ferdinand, 22-year-old playmaker Elliott has recorded a long-ball accuracy rate of 78.9% on Premier League duty. Nevertheless, his chances to shine at Liverpool have been limited, putting Nottingham Forest in an advantageous position to land his signature.

Having said that, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bournemouth and Newcastle United are also in pursuit, so there is plenty of work to be done if they are serious about winning the race for Elliott.

Ipswich Town have signed a versatile teenager in an out-of-window move, according to a new update.

Ipswich Town looking to summer with Premier League relegation on the cards

The Tractor Boys are on course for an immediate return to the Championship after just one season in the Premier League.

Kieran McKenna’s side are currently 14 points away from safety with just six games to go and look destined to drop back to the second tier alongside fellow promoted sides Southampton and Leicester City despite spending big across the 2024/25 season.

Omari Hutchinson

Chelsea

€23.5m

Jacob Greaves

Hull City

€21.5m

Liam Delap

Man City

€17.85m

Jack Clarke

Sunderland

€17.7m

Dara O’Shea

Burnley

€14.2m

Sammie Szmodics

Blackburn Rovers

€10.6m

Arijanet Muric

Burnley

€9.55m

Chiedozie Ogbene

Luton Town

€9.5m

Jens Cajuste

Napoli

Loan

Conor Townsend

West Brom

€590,000

Ben Johnson

West Ham

Free

Kalvin Phillips

Man City

Loan

Jaden Philogene

Aston Villa

€23.7m

Alex Palmer

West Brom

€2.4m

Julio Enciso

Brighton

Loan

Ben Godfrey

Atalanta

Loan

Relegation looks set to result in a busy summer of departures from Portman Road, with Liam Delap attracting interest from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. Approaches have been made by both clubs for Delap, who will be available for £30m if Ipswich go down.

Talking about Delap’s future, McKenna said before the 2-2 draw at Chelsea: “It’s not something that’s been discussed loads internally at because everyone’s focus, honestly, has been on Bournemouth, on Wolves, now on Chelsea. But if you ask me, is that a possibility? I think it’s certainly a possibility. Liam’s a young striker. He’s developing really, really well at the football club.

“He’s happy and he’s improving every week and we’re enjoying working with him. I’m sure there’s lots of different possibilities. But Liam’s an Ipswich player. He enjoys being an Ipswich player and that’s where his full focus is.”

A replacement could soon be needed for the star striker, with both Hearts forward Lawrence Shankland and Sheffield United teenager Ryan One both mooted as transfer targets to come in for Delap.

Targeting youth with a move for One shows that Ipswich appear to be looking long-term at potential signings, and they have now agreed a deal to sign another teenage talent.

Ipswich Town sign versatile youngster Corbin Mthunzi

As reported by The East Anglian Daily Times, Ipswich Town have signed 17-year-old Corbin Mthunzi following a successful trial.

Previously of Brighton & Hove Albion, Mthunzi has penned a two-year professional contract at Portman Road after turning out twice for Ipswich’s U21s last month.

Ipswich Town "monster" open to Portman Road exit as big clubs make contact

New approaches have been made.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 15, 2025

Mthunzi played as a centre-back in the fixtures against QPR and Chelsea, however, the teenager can also turn out as a midfielder if required.

He’ll now be looking to break into McKenna’s first team plans over the coming years, so Mthunzi’s progress at Portman Road will be one to watch.

Full-time mom, Cricket Scotland administrator and elite sportsperson. She doesn’t want to have any regrets later

Shashank Kishore06-Oct-2024Abbi Aitken-Drummond has a full-time role as the executive assistant to Cricket Scotland’s CEO in her day job. Away from work, she co-parents her 13-month-old daughter. Between these two demanding roles, she plays cricket, and is now, quite incredibly, part of Scotland’s maiden T20 World Cup 2024 squad.Aitken-Drummond, 33, is one of Scotland’s longest-serving players, having first come into the set-up in 2003-04 at the age of 14. She captained from 2008 to 2015 and was more recently the team manager at the 2023 Women’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa to players she now calls colleagues.”The other day, we were chatting about our journeys and Olivia Bell told me she was one year old when I made my debut,” Aitken-Drummond tells ESPNcricinfo. “I was like, ‘Wow, thanks for making me feel so old’ ().”Related

• Powerplay podcast: First impressions from the Women's T20 World Cup

• Bryce sisters to lead Scotland at Women's T20 World Cup 2024

For Aitken-Drummond, the World Cup seemed like an afterthought, especially after she had to miss the Qualifiers to be on parental leave. But she made the push when a second shot at being part of a history-making squad presented itself.”I knew it wasn’t a right that I’d be back when available,” she says. “I had to work for it. I played for Scotland A with county teams in England [during the build-up], featured for Scotland in a tri-series with Netherlands and Papua New Guinea. But in my mind, I wasn’t sure I’d done enough.”But upon her return to Edinburgh, when Aitken-Drummond received an unexpected phone call from Cricket Scotland, her heart fluttered. “It was our head of performance to tell me I’d been picked,” she remembers.”When my phone rang, I was actually eager to know which of my phones were ringing: work phone or personal phone. I was kind of hoping it wouldn’t be the work phone () because it would’ve then been some admin-related stuff.”When the phone rang, in my mind I was like ‘this is now or never. Which phone is it?’ And then I saw his name pop up on my personal phone. I kind of knew it was about selection. Had I known we’d get calls that day, I may have been beside the phone, restless all day. It’s a good thing I didn’t know when the squad was being picked.”

“I know just being part of the 15, whether I play or not, I can provide a lot of support. I’ve been team manager to four of them in the past and I’d like to think my door is always open.”Abbi Aitken-Drummond

Aitken-Drummond isn’t privy to sensitive matters, such as selection, despite being a Cricket Scotland employee. It’s a boundary she has learnt to draw having juggled a career as a player and administrator. Having studied Event Management in university, Aitken-Drummond has loved to apply some of her learnings to “this side of the rope as well as the other side.””Most players tend to go down the coaching path, but my passion lies in the administration,” she says. “Our CEO Trudy Lindblade has been in the role for eight months now. She’s my line manager back home, but over here [in the UAE] she’s like, ‘we’re not speaking work. Focus on your game and enjoy it.’ I’ve been away from my laptop, enjoying being on this side of the fence.”Aitken-Drummond had to put in long days – sometimes they stretch 18 hours – to make this journey possible. The motivation for her daughter to say, “my mum played in Scotland’s first World Cup” and for her partner [Annette Drummond, former Scotland player] to “live a dream she missed out on” pushed her.”It has needed a whole new level of organisation skills,” she says. “I’m at work for 10 hours a day, four days a week – Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm. Quite often I’m able to work from home, so that helps being around our daughter. Then I head to the nets for my training. No two days are the same. It’s so much easier when you have a routine, but that’s been challenging.”Sometimes, it’s not possible and then I’d feel that guilt of not training enough. But I also recognise if you’re not able to sleep enough, those gym sessions are unlikely to be productive either. So, I’ve learnt to be flexible about these things. So, most days after dinner, when I’ve put my daughter to sleep, I head over to the gym, try sneak in a session or two indoors. It’s tough to juggle everything, but you try and do as best as you can.”I don’t want to look back and regret these small things later on, they grow up quick. But I’m really grateful to my partner for the support. This wouldn’t be possible without her. She pushed me, saying, ‘I don’t want you to regret later, this is your chance, go get it.'”For the moment, Aitken-Drummond is happy being part of the group, irrespective of her role within the set-up. “If you’d told me 20 years ago Scotland would play in a women’s World Cup, I’d have laughed.”The big goal was to make sure I was here. I know just being part of the 15, whether I play or not, I can provide a lot of support. I’ve been team manager to four of them in the past and I’d like to think my door is always open.”I enjoy one-on-one sessions. If girls are struggling, happy or overwhelmed – just be there for them. Any game I play, I play like it’s my last. Life changes quickly, juggling so many priorities, I don’t want to regret that I could’ve potentially played my last game not having known that. So, I tried each day as it comes.”

A series of coincidences made it possible, but a team struggling for identity needs his runs

Vithushan Ehantharajah07-Sep-2022On Friday, after news of Jonny Bairstow’s freak leg break was made public, along with confirmation he was out for the rest of the year, Jos Buttler was already putting the feelers out regarding his replacement in the T20 World Cup squad.The identity of the alternate in his mind was under no doubt. Alex Hales was the main talking point during the first selection meeting last week, before it was decided to do without the 33-year-old opener. And with that decision made, taking him on the seven-T20I tour of Pakistan as some form of reintegration was seen as a waste of his time and of a spot for a younger batter to gain valuable international experience.Buttler was very much pro-Hales in this meeting, which also featured limited-overs coach Matthew Mott and men’s managing director Rob Key. He also understood the awkwardness of bringing back a player who had fallen out with the wider group since a second failed drugs test in the build-up to the 2019 50-over World Cup. Now he wanted to see just how awkward it really was.He called up senior members in the group to gauge their thoughts. Once ascertained it would not be a problem, re-selection sat a little more comfortably.The official call came from Key, just a few days after the pair had discussed why Hales did not make the original cut – a conversation instigated by Hales. Buttler also spoke to Hales to inform him the rest of the squad were receptive to his inclusion and that, above all else, the limited-overs captain was pleased to have him back.It was telling, however, that Ben Stokes, one of those consulted last Friday, focussed on lauding the player rather than the man. “When it comes down to the big moments in games and World Cup games, knockout games, you want your best players there to be taking that pressure on and he certainly is one of those,” the Test captain said at the Kia Oval on the eve of the third and final Test of the summer with South Africa. When asked of his current relationship with Hales, he was far less emphatic: “We’ve both got the same goal to win the World Cups.”Alex Hales hasn’t played for England since the tour of the Caribbean in 2019•AFPStokes’ response was to be expected. Having referred to Hales as “his friend at the time” in his documentary when revisiting the Bristol street fight in September 2017, any questions on the matter during press junkets were quashed by the attending PR. But the overarching feeling is that Hales gives England the best chance of success in Australia.Since picking up the last of his 141 caps against West Indies on March 10, 2019, Hales has been one of the best short-form batters in the world. His 4,587 T20 runs are second only to Babar Azam (4,639). Even more impressive is the fact that among the 16 batters who have scored over 3,000 runs during this period, Hales’ strike rate is the highest (152.74), and the only above 150. The experience along with his work for Nottinghamshire, Trent Rockets, Sydney Thunder, Islamabad United, Barbados Tridents and Durban Heat will be invaluable. In many ways, he is a luxury – a reliable, world-class plug-and-play option in the most volatile format.Form, however, has never been the issue, even if Key cited it as the only deciding factor when the original squad was picked. Even Eoin Morgan, the sternest advocate of Hales’ time in the wilderness, never doubted his qualities out in the middle. The issue throughout was “the huge breakdown in trust” and “complete disregard” for the values that Morgan’s team had taken four years to instil.Morgan always maintained that time would be the healer, and perhaps it has been, albeit in a hyper-accelerated fashion. For it is hard not to wonder at the high-profile and coincidental sequence of events that got us to this point.Working backwards is the best way to zoom out. Bairstow’s catastrophic slip on his approach to a tee box at the Pannal Golf Club. Jason Roy’s disastrous loss of form. Morgan waking up in the WestCord Fashion hotel in Amsterdam on Monday, June 20, and deciding to retire from international cricket. Key, a man with few hang-ups and a desire to make decisions on merit rather than comfort, becoming the new MD, beating more traditional options who might have simply adhered to the status quo. A series of unpredicted events creating a domino effect bringing one of the most discussed hypotheticals in this era of English cricket to reality.Related

• 'Freak' injury puts Bairstow out of third Test and T20 World Cup

• Jason Roy's wretched summer capped by horror and high farce

• Eoin Morgan announces England retirement

• Rob Key brings sense of calm at turbulent time for English cricket

• England's Alex Hales banned for recreational drug use

In the midst of all that is Buttler’s ascension to the white-ball captaincy, which has ultimately bound these factors together and brought the recall to reality. He and Hales were very good friends, and even though the relationship soured in 2019, Buttler still harbours plenty of affection.The main friction between Hales and the England group came when a statement was released upon the second failed drugs test that stated he would be “unavailable for selection for personal reasons”. The ECB directive was for discretion, but many, including Buttler, were concerned Hales was struggling with other issues and required time away from the game.That concern turned to anger when news broke in the media of the real indiscretion, with some believing they had been deliberately misled by Hales. That was exacerbated when it was felt Hales showed little remorse when reconvening with the ODI squad for a training camp in Cardiff a month before the start of the World Cup. He left early when Morgan, along with the director of cricket Ashley Giles and head coach Trevor Bayliss – who had struggled to trust him following the Bristol incident – agreed he was only going to be a disruptive influence on the group at the most important moment in their careers to date.Even during his time away from the England set-up, controversy has dogged Hales. Last year he “categorically denied” allegations made by Azeem Rafiq in front of the DCMS committee that he had named his black dog “Kevin” after a term he and Gary Ballance allegedly used to describe people of colour. He was also subject to an ECB investigation when The Sun published photos of him in blackface from 2009 when he attended a party dressed as rapper Tupac Shakur.Indeed, there will be a degree of wariness from certain figures at the ECB now that Hales is back in the fray. There is an unshakeable sense that trouble seems to find him.Evidently, Buttler is not one of them. As such, this could rank as the most important call he makes under his tenure. In its own way, it feels like a decision that unequivocally makes this ODI team his own. After just four wins in 12 white-ball matches as full-time skipper, there was a worry Buttler was struggling to assert himself on a side coming to the end of its life cycle, and one that still carried the hallmarks of his predecessor. Hales’ presence gives Buttler a little more ownership.As for acceptance, runs will be the bricks, steel and mortar of any and all the bridges Hales might need to rebuild. That, really, is the crux of the matter. Above all else, the management group, the players and Buttler trust his cricket.